--- title: A Historical Tale., part 6 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees description: A Historical Tale., part 6, «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: He disappeared through the door and left his host in the greatest amazement at his odd advice. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/23/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/) / A Historical Tale., part 6 # A Historical Tale., part 6 A Historical Tale., part 6 of «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole text, 103 sentences and 2564 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/23/page/2/) He disappeared through the door and left his host in the greatest amazement at his odd advice.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") True, his astonishment gave place to scornful laughter, and Adam concluded to himself not to permit himself to be made a fool of; but as he found, several hours afterwards, that a new robbery had been committed, he decided, nevertheless, to follow the stranger's advice.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a glorious still night.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") In the shadows sang the queenly nightingale.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The full moon shone in the cloudless heavens.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The precipitous wall of the Sachsenstein stood in shadowy contrast against the star-powdered blue, and seemed in the magical moonlight as if silvered.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Herr Adam stood early in his peafield watching, and as the bell in the neighbouring Sachsa rang out the midnight hour, he struck, as the stranger had advised, with the willow rod he had brought with him up and down in the air, and soon saw, with the greatest amazement, two tiny beings, who, with folded hands and terrified mien, looked up to him.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") If they had taken advantage of Adam's surprise, they might have made their escape; but fear and terror rooted them to the spot till he had recovered himself, seized them with a firm hand, and asked in a stern voice who they were, and where they came from.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") "Ah!" replied one of the little creatures, "we are poor dwarfs, who house there in the Sachsenstein, and never do anybody any harm.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") But hunger drove us this time to take some peas from your field.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") We beg you to forgive us, and we will make good the damage we have done."[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") "Of course you will," answered Herr Neubauer, who observed closely the little men, of whose acts and deeds he had already heard so much; "but the reckoning will be large, for you have long done mischief to my property.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") First of all, tell me how it happened that my watchers did not discover you, nor I myself till I struck with the willow rod?"[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") "We possess \_Nebelkappen\_,"\[1\] said one of the two dwarfs, "which render us invisible to the human sight.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") You knocked them off our heads with the willow rod, and then we became visible.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Will you permit us to look for them?"[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] \_Nebelkappen\_--magical caps; literally, fog caps.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") "Certainly not," returned Adam. "[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you fancy I shall be so stupid as to put the means into your hands of escaping?[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") No, no; you follow me into my house, and will not regain your freedom till you have paid me!"[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The dwarfs wept, and pleaded so pitifully to be released, that Adam's mild heart grew soft; but a glance at his field hardened it again, and he took his trembling prisoners home with him.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The next morning the two guilty dwarfs were examined, who related that they, governed by a king, had dwelt for untold ages in the caves of the Harz, more especially in the Sachsenstein, and had been happy; but now subterranean floods and landslips had caused them heavy losses, so that they had been compelled to appropriate the possessions of men for their necessities.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") They would, however, never again venture to do so, and once more expressed their willingness to pay for the damages they had caused, and begged to know the sum demanded of them.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") "If I should reckon all the mischief you have caused," said Herr Adam, "a pretty long account would be the result; but I demand only the value of the peas, and if you pay me three Gulden I will set you at liberty."[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The dwarfs were well satisfied with this demand, but protested that they had neither money nor articles of value with them, and begged permission to go and bring the money.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") But Adam could not be induced to permit this.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Even to keep one as hostage, and allow the other to depart, he absolutely refused.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") "Well, then, give us a rose-leaf and a pin," begged the dwarfs. "[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") We will write to our king, and he will undoubtedly at once release us from our painful positions."[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") After some reflection, Adam permitted his wife, who looked at him with beseeching eyes, to bring the required objects.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as the dwarfs had bescribbled the rose-leaf, they handed it to him with directions to carry it to the Sachsenstein, and blow it in through one of the crevices, and a reply would speedily follow.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The features of the little creatures grew cheerful as they heard that their odd letter had been posted as directed, and they became merry and contented, although the day passed without anything happening for their release.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") But when night came on, and the moon and stars shone in a clear sky, the door of the room opened suddenly in which Adam sat with his prisoners, and a troop of handsome dwarfs, neatly dressed, entered.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") At their head walked the king himself, in gold and purple, and wearing a sparkling crown.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") As soon as the prisoners beheld their sovereign they knelt reverently before him, and remained in that humble position until the monarch motioned to them to rise.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The presence of the pygmean ruler was indeed so commanding, that Herr Neubauer himself involuntarily uncovered his head before him.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the king broke the silence, and said: "Ye have made two of my subjects prisoners, and I am come to interest myself on their behalf, for they are otherwise good men, who now only through pressure of circumstances have been led astray to do you damage.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover, that ye may see that I approve of your demand, I will cause ten times as much to be paid."[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") His Majesty signed to one of his suite, who immediately approached, and counted from a bag which he carried under his arm thirty shining new Gulden, and laid them on the table.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Adam opened his eyes on seeing so much money.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") He had already decided in his mind to set the delinquents free without ransom, as soon as he had frightened them a little.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Surprised at the royal generosity, he at once proclaimed to the prisoners their liberation, who sprang up with eyes shining with joy, fell at the feet of the Dwarf King, and thanked him for their freedom in the most touching expressions of gratitude.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") After the king had graciously raised them from their knees, he turned again to Adam, and said: "I thank you that you have not harmed these poor people, and notify you that in future you have nothing to fear from us, for on St. John's Eve I shall march from this place over the bridge with my subjects.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Already for a long period the subterranean water-floods have threatened to drive us from the Sachsenstein, which we have inhabited so long, and I shall leave only a few of my people, in order not to wholly lose this ancient possession; from them, however, you will suffer no molestation."[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The sovereign bowed graciously and departed, attended by his train.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The two released prisoners followed with joyful gestures, hand in hand.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") St. John's Eve, Frau Anna and her husband, full of curiosity, together with the servants, hid themselves near the bridge to see the dwarfs march over.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Scarcely had the darkness come on, when the procession appeared in sight, a well-ordered company, and the concealed heard their march till the rising of the sun, and the noise thereof was like the light trampling of a flock of sheep.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Since that time nothing has been seen or heard of the dwarfs, and not only here but everywhere they are vanished; but their memory lives in the mouth of the people, and when the icy north wind blows, and the snow beats against the windows, young men and maidens gather around the fire in confidential chat, and to the rattling of the wheel tell of the deep clefts of the mountains, where in eternal night the dwarfs once held their weddings, and where gnomes and nymphs and fairies in darkness dwell.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/23/page/2/) - ← previous: [A Historical Tale., part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/22/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/23/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)