tions for a trace of the old village with its weather-beaten roofs,
and for the road by which he had come. In all directions ex
tended a dense alder-thicket broken only by an occasional willow.
The day became brighter and brighter but the increasing light
disclosed nothing new. Arnold wandered about in search of the
village until he reached the stone upon which he had made his
sketch of the maiden on the previous day. He now knew in
what direction to go, and he quickly followed the path which they
had taken. He arrived at the spot from which he first saw the
village, but a large morass lay before him instead. The village
had certainly disappeared.
Worn out and discouraged, he threw himself down under a
tree, and taking Gertrude’s picture from his portfolio, he looked
sorrowfully at her beautiful features. The foliage behind him
rustled, and looking around quickly, he found an old hunter look
ing in astonishment at his torn clothes and disheveled appearance.
“ Thank God! ” cried Arnold as he shoved the picture into,his
portfolio and greeted the old man. “ You come at an opportune
moment for I believe that I have lost my way,”
“ Did you lie here all night when there is an inn a mile from
here at Dillstedt ? You look as if you had gone head over heels
through the swamp.”
“ Are you well acquainted with these woods? ” asked Arnold.
“ I should think so,” laughed he as he lit his pipe.
* ‘ What is the name of the next village ? ’ ’
“Dillstedt —you will be able to see it from yonder height.”
‘ ‘ How far is it to Germelshausen ? ’ ’
‘' Where ? ” asked the hunter in surprise.
“To Germelshausen.”
“God be merciful to me! ” exclaimed the old man; “ I know
the forest well enough but I do not know how many fathoms
under the earth the enchanted city now lies. God alone knows
that and it does not concern us.”
“The enchanted city?” cried Arnold in astonishment.
“Germelshausen—yes,” said the hunter. “It stood in the
midst of that swamp, where the willows and alders now stand
centuries ago, but it afterwards sank from sight. No one knows
why or where it disappeared, but according to tradition it is again
raised to light on a certain day in each century. I would not like,
to have a friend of mine visit the village. But why do you look
so white ? Here take a sip of brandy. ”