--- title: A Historical Tale., part 7 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees · page 2 description: A Historical Tale., part 7, «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A powerful Kaiser was come into the district with a vast retinue and an army, had built himself a Burg on the banks of the Bod --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/24/page/2/) [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 7 # A Historical Tale., part 7 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/24/) **2** The border of the wood was soon reached, but no trace of the dogs was to be seen.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") They had already penetrated the thick underbrush, and a stripe in the dewy grass showed the way they had taken.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") "Wilt thou remain here, father, and watch that no wolf come out of the wood and scatter the flock?" said the son, and hurried on in the direction the dogs had taken.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") The father remained standing, keeping his eyes on the lambs; but it was not long before he heard the missing dogs bark, and fancied he heard also the voice of his son.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") He listened.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") He was not mistaken.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") The son called with all his might his father's name, who, terrified lest something dreadful had happened, hastened after the voice.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") The way he had to take was perfectly strange to him, although he had often been in the same wood before; also the forest seemed very much altered; in the place of the young, slender trees, stood primeval, mighty oaks, and under their deep shades, through an opening in the trees, rose the grey dilapidated walls of a ruined church.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") At the entrance to this church, half hidden by wild briars, trees, and ivy, he saw his son standing with a look of amazement and with an uncertain air, for he too had never discovered these ruins, and curiosity and fear of enchantment fought a sharp contest in his breast.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") The arrival of the father, however, put an end to all fear, and after a short consultation, whether they should enter the desolate, ghost-like ruins, curiosity triumphed, so much the more, since they observed that the track of the dogs led through the bushes into the wall.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") With considerable effort they made their way through the rank weeds and thorns, and reached a high portal, fallen in on one side.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") They went through it, and saw themselves surrounded by a dim twilight, since the openings in the arch ceiling were insufficient to light the interior, and the slender arched windows were so overgrown with ivy and other plants that they stood in a green night.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") They could scarcely distinguish the spot where the altar had stood, and where masses of broken, scattered stones betrayed the fury of the storm that had destroyed it.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") Approaching the spot, they were seized with trembling as they discovered an old crucifix in the wall, and, bending the knee, murmured a prayer.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") A noise startled them; looking around they perceived the dogs behind a portion of the broken altar, scratching and digging, without troubling themselves at the presence of their masters, as if they had been fastened by enchantment to the spot.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") The shepherds approached the corner where they were scraping and pawing, and looked attentively at the hole growing every moment larger and deeper in the ground, and soon a sheet-iron chest became visible.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The dogs barked as if for joy at the discovery, stopped their work, and sprang barking from one shepherd to the other.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") The shepherds set to work to lift out the chest, which they found tremendously heavy.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") It contained a mass of gold and silver coins with a stamp of a time long past.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Before they could recover from their astonishment, the dogs began again to scratch the ground in the same spot, and soon a second chest came to view, in which the shepherds found golden goblets, candlesticks, and other sacred vessels of immense value.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Not till now were the dogs satisfied, but as the second chest was opened they hurried back to the flock, and displayed an unwonted zeal to fulfil their duty.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") The two shepherds repaired to the Abbess of the St. Servatius Convent in Quedlinburg, related what had occurred, and expressed a wish that two towers should be built on the new Nikolai\[1\] church with the found treasure.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] \_Nikolai\_--St. Nicholas.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") At the news of the wonderful discovery, half the town went out to the wood to see the spot where the treasure had been found.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") But no ruin was to be discovered; all was vanished without leaving a trace, and even the shepherds could not find the spot again.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") If the treasure in their possession had not proved to the contrary, they would have held the whole thing for a dream.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The Nikolai church still stands, shaded by old lindens, and at its west end the shepherds' two towers.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") The figures of the two shepherds and their dogs, hewn in the stone, still look down upon the ancient, imperial city from these towers, where they were placed so many centuries ago as memorials of a somewhat unusual unselfishness.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") The Treasure-hunters of the Sieberthal.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Many centuries ago there lay in the valley of the little river Sieber, where now is the Long Meadow, copper-works.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") A mass of scoria, the greater part of which has been employed on the \_chaussée\_, once marked the spot.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The owners of these works, who are said to have been very rich, together with the works, vanished in a single night.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") The following morning nothing remained to be seen but this huge heap of scoria.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") It was said the owners had buried their treasure in it before their disappearance.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon after that event, a blue flame was seen every night between eleven and twelve on this heap of scoria, which a black man endeavoured to keep burning until midnight.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The report of a Goldfeuer\[1\] in the Sieberthal soon spread, and many saw the flame, but no one was bold enough to attempt to gain the treasure.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] \_Goldfeuer\_--Goldfire.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") At last a man from Lonau, who had experience in treasure-seeking, determined to attempt it, and engaged several workmen to assist him in the undertaking.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way to the spot he commanded his men: "Let no one speak while digging, or all is lost."[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") \[2\][96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") \[2\] A search for all objects under enchantment must be conducted in silence.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") If one speaks, the charm is immediately broken.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") They all promised, and gave him the hand as pledge.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile they arrived at the spot, the work began, and soon they came to a huge cauldron filled with Holland ducats, which it was necessary to raise.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Just as they had raised the vessel to the surface they heard wheels.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") The workmen paused and listened, when lo! a carriage appeared drawn rapidly by four doves.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") The driver cried, "Guten Abend\![103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Geht's gut?"[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") But not a soul replied.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Directly after came a fellow in a trough along the same road, saying hurriedly: "Shall I not also come?" and made the most desperate efforts to reach the dove-drawn carriage.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the workmen laughing, cried mockingly: "The poor devil must also drive!"[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Hutsch\_\![108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") In an instant blue flame and cauldron had vanished\![109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") The men stood gazing at each other with long faces, when instantly their hair turned grey, and they all died soon of grief and vexation.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") The Enchanted Maiden of the Zorge.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Like Princess Lise, she sometimes appears as a serpent.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") On the Hohegeissberg, near the river Zorge, the White Maiden of the Staufenburg\[1\] is seen every seven years with a bunch of keys.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] The Staufenburg bei Zorge.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Once came a shepherd from Kloster Walkenried and pastured his flock in the vicinity of the mountain.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Early in the morning the White Maiden stood on the cliffs, making her footprints in the rock, and sang gaily.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/24/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/24/) - next →: [A Historical Tale., part 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/25/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)