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CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE KBOTENKOPF AND THE KKAMER, 



BAUER was to come from Farchant, and meet me at 

 the Oester Berg ; I therefore started alone for Parten- 

 kirchen, and went up the well-known path leading 

 to the hut. As I walked slowly on, with that delibe- 

 rate pace which, when you have a long ascent before 

 you, it is well to choose, I presently reached a bushy 

 spot, where however a precipitous steep on one side 

 showed the valley, with its winding stream and cot- 

 tages and pasturage lying at my feet. On a sudden, 

 from out the green branches on my right, rose Bauer 

 to his full height, and gave me a cheerful greeting. 

 It was like one of Roderick Dhu's men starting up 

 from his ambush of heather. 



"I thought you would soon come," he said; "so I 

 sat down here to wait for you, and was looking across 

 to my sister's cottage at Ettal. It is just visible 

 through that dip in the hill yonder. She was in the 

 garden a moment ago, and then somebody came in 

 from the road. I could see all capitally from here." 



