on the
pleasures and hardships of mining. One said "I don't believe the old
man is here without some object. He has been climbing to-day among the
hills, and has doubtless discovered good signs. We will ask him when he
comes in again."

"See here," said another, "we might ask him to hunt up a well for our
village. Good water is far off, and a well would be right welcome to
us."

"It occurs to me," said a third, "that I might ask him to take with him
one of my sons, who has already filled the house with stones. The
youngster would certainly make an able miner, and the old man seems
honest, and one who would bring him up in the way he should go."

The merchants were thinking whether they might not establish, by aid of
the miner, a profitable trade with Bohemia, and procure metals thence
at low prices. The old man entered the room again, and all wished to
make use of his acquaintance, when he began to say:--

"How dull and depressing is this narrow room! The moon is without there
in all her glory, and I have a great desire to take a walk. I saw
to-day some remarkable caves in this neighborhood. Perhaps some of you
would like to go with me; and if we take lights, we shall be able to
view them without any difficulty."

The inhabitants of the village were already acquainted with the
existence of these caves, but no one had as yet dared to enter them. On
the contrary they were deceived by frightful traditions of dragons and
other monsters, which were said to dwell therein. Some went so far as
to say that they had seen them, and insisted that the bones of men who
had been robbed, and of animals which had been devoured, were to be
found at the entrances of these caves. Others thought that a ghost
haunted them, for they had often seen from a distance a strange human
form there, and songs had been heard thence at night.

The old man was rather incredulous upon the point, and laughingly
assured them that they could visit the caves with safety under the
protection of a miner, since such monsters must shun him; and as for a
singing spirit, that must certainly be a beneficent one. Curiosity
rendered many courageous enough to accept his proposition. Henry wished
also to accompany him, and his mother at length yielded to his
entreaties, and the persuasion and promises of the old man, who agreed
to have a special eye to his safety. The merchants promised to do the
same. Long sticks of pitch-pine were collected for torches; part o