X24 Hole* for the Month. [Auo. 



the stranger travelled for the latter exhibited no suspicions or apprehen- 

 sion of those about him, but spoke freely of his intended road, though he 

 never mentioned any thing of the charge he carried having ascertained this 

 fact, he allowed the rider to depart, and after a short time, followed by a 

 shorter track through the forest, which was practicable only to persons on 

 foot, and which would enable him, had he even started later, easily to 

 overtake the mounted traveller. Now, knowing that his nearer road saved, 

 as has been noticed, full a league of ground, the " Woodsman" moved 

 on slowly ; and accounted that, when he reached the point at which they 

 were to meet, he should still have some time to wait for the stranger ; on 

 emerging, however, into the high road, he found him to his surprise 

 already approaching; and, what was still more extraordinary, mounted 

 upon a black horse, when that on which he had left the inn, had certainly 

 seemed to be a brown. The portmanteau, however, which was all that 

 Conrad looked to, was still behind the traveller, and on he came riding as if 

 nothing at all was the matter : the " Woodsman" never hung back, or staid 

 to reflect, but levelled his riflle, and called upon him to " Stand and deliver," 

 or his next moment was his last. The traveller upon this pulled up his horse 

 with an air of great coolness ; and, looking upon Conrad, said something, 

 which, as the robber since says, he verily believes was " That he hoped 

 he had not kept him waiting 1 " or words to that purpose; but he was 

 too busy at the time to pay much attention to discourse. " Do you know 

 who it is you are going to rob though ?" asked the stranger, addressing 

 the " Woodsman," directly. " Not I," replied the latter, boldly : " but, 

 if you were der Dyvel himself, descend from that horse, and deliver the- 

 bags of money that you have on you, or you shall die !" Upon this, 

 the black rider said no more ; but dismounted quietly, although he had 

 pistols in his holsters ; and Conrad, immediately taking the 'portmanteau 

 from the horse's back, was so eager to be sure of the contents, that he 

 drew his knife, .and cut the fastenings on the spot. In the meantime, the 

 traveller might have fallen upon him unawares, and to advantage, but 

 the " Woodsman" endeavoured to keep an eye upon him, while he went 

 on forcing the valixe open as well he could. At length the straps were 

 all cut, and the robber thrust his hands in eagerly, making suro to find 

 the bags which he had seen the preceding evening, for he had dis- 

 tinctly felt them from the outside. But, when he drew out his hands, 

 there was in one only & halter, and in the other apiece of brass in the shape 

 of a gibbet ! And, at the same moment, a gripe was laid upon his arm ; 

 and a deep low voice, which seemed to be close beside him, pronounced the 

 words " This shall be thy fate /" When he turned round in horror and 

 consternation, the horse, and the rider, and the portmanteau, all were gone; 

 and he found himself within a few paces of the inn door which he had 

 quitted in the morning, with the halter and the brass gibbet still remaining 

 in his hand. The narrative states farther, that this horrible rencontre so 

 affected Conrad Braunsvelt that he forthwith delivered himself up to 

 the rangers of the forest, and was sent to Cassel to await the pleasure of 

 the Grand Duke. He is now confined in an asylum for repentant cri- 

 minals, desirous of being restored to society; and his miraculous warning 

 is noted in the records of the institution. 



