RELICS OF POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. 



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found a sealed commission lying on his table, enclosed with these 

 woj^'ds from his captain — " I was mistaken and forgot myself. If 

 you condescend to remember and resent the affront, we are equals 

 now, and the ramparts will serve for our private meeting at day- 

 break." Hendrig did not neglect the appointment ; and first put- 

 ting his right hand into the young offender's, he returned him the 

 commission with the other. " I believe you are right," said the . 

 generous boy, " it ought to come from a better hand." He said 

 no more on the subject, merely returning Hendrig's friendly ges- 

 ture ; but a few days after, Frederick himself gave the colours in- 

 to his hand, asking him if he had any other wish — " I do this to 

 please myself," added this kingly soldier — " I must do something 

 more to gratify your new friend, Hermanwald." Hendrig replied 

 that he could ask no greater honour than to serve by his side. 



From that moment an affecting and noble intimacy began be- 

 tween the young ensign and his seeming benefactor. The decrepit 

 old matron from whom it had sprung, was never seen in public, 

 and it was whispered that her husband gave her the largest 

 part of his pay as the price of her quiet retirement. The first 

 leave of absence was solicited by Hermanwald for himself and his 

 friend, that he might introduce him, as he said, to the friendship 

 and protection of his recluse father, Eric of Heinnichshohe. They 

 set out together, unattended, except by one person, to the Moun- 

 tain-House, situated among the Hartz territories in Hanover. The 

 sun was just rising above the horizon, and a few thick clouds were 

 gathered on the pinnacles of the surrounding hills. As the tra- 

 vellers ascended a pile of granite rocks called the Tempelskanzel, 

 they saw in the distance before them, among volumes of white 

 clouds which rolled like the billows of a hazy ocean, a semblance 

 of a ship with bare masts, and human figures scattered on the 

 deck. Young Hermanw^ald saw his companion grow pale, and 

 fix his eyes intently on the apparition, which gradually sunk and 

 disappeared. They pursued their way towards the Worm Moun- 

 tains, conversing on the Giant Spectre of the Broken, which for 

 so many years has been the wonder of rustic Hanoverians, and the 

 speculation of curious travellers. Hermanwald had wit and sci- 

 ence ; and he talked ingeniously on those deceptions of the atmos- 

 phere, and that morbid state of the brain, which, without either 

 prejudice or superstition, may combine to form certain images. 

 " But," said the person who accompanied their route, " what was 

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