Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1877 — A RHINE LEGEND. [ARTICLE]

A RHINE LEGEND.

EMS. The ■watering-place, Ems, is prettily situated on the river Lahn, hemmed in between it and the cliffs of the Baederley, which recede from the water’s edge only far enough to allow room for a row of houses. It is neither town nor village, but a collection of Idfeging-houses,. with the Kurhaus in the midst. In the front of them runs the high road, and between it and the river a long, narrow .drip of garden, forming a sort of terrace by the water-side, and serving as a promenade for the guests. A bund of music plays here morning and evening, to the tune of whose instruments the guests digest their potations of spa water. Those who are ambitious to extend their walks beyond this, unless they confine themselves to the borders of the beautiful Lahn, must begin immediately to ascend, so near at hand are the hills. The place is very hot in summer, from being shut in with the hills; but the woods around afford shade, and in a quarter of an hour the summits of the mountains may be scaled, whence the rambler may enjoy the purest breezes and most expanded views of Rheinland. Many years ago, when traveling through the mountainous scenery of Rheinland, I chanced to remain for some time at that pleasant wateringplace, Ems. During my stay, I made the acquaintance of an aged German named Paul Haller. He was a man possessed of a kindly disposition, albeit of a thoughtful—or what some persons would designate a somber and melancholy—temperament. Very rarely indeed was he to be seen in any entertainment of a festive character. 1 can not describe him better than by saying that his was a nature both tender and thoughtful. It is easy enough to pick up companions or associates at Ems, or other German watering-places, where one sees such a diversity of charactersuch picturesque groupings of the great human family—that one is enabled to take a novel view of life. Soon after my first meeting with Haller, a party of excursionists arrived at Ems, and, like most sight-seers, were prodigal in their description of the wonders witnessed during their travels. We were made acquainted with the fact that they were but recently returned from Bohemia, and were favored with a glowing description of certain caverns they had visited. Paul Haller listened to the conversation;/but I could see by the expression of his countenance that the words uttered by the party had a marked effect upon him. Toward evening,when we were alone together, lie heaved a deep-drawn sigh, and said, “Those people have opened a wound afresh. I have good reason to remember the caves about which they were discoursing so pleasantly.” “ You !” I ejaculated. “How so?”

“If you care to listen to the narrative, I will tell you,” he observed, sententiously, “and then you will know why it is that I am the "moody, melancholy mau you see me. ” Of course I at once assented to his proposal, and, after a little hesitation, he proceeded to narrate the following story of A HUNTED BEAR. “ You will not be much cheered by the account of my trials and sufferings, which had so sad an ending,” said Haller; “but there is, to a certain extent, at all times a melancholy pleasure in making known one’s secret griefs or troubles to a sympathizing friend like yourself. Many, many years ago I was' staying with a fellow-student named Marcus, in a lovely valley in Bohemia. I was the accepted suitor of his sister, Karine, who was my first, my last, and, indeed, my only love. During my visit we had made many little pleasant excursions, for I was not then the gloomy misanthrope you know now. One day it was arranged for a party of us to go to the cave, of which you have already had a description. So one fine, glorious summer afternoon we found ourselves, after a journey of about three miles, standing before the wild and jagged rocks of its entrance. Our party consisted of myself, an English gentleman named Nettlefold, my college chum Marcus, Karine, and her sister Agat—the last-named being a fairhaired, bright-eyed little girl of 11, who was, of course, child-like, delighted at being permitted to accompany us upon such an expedition. While we were waiting for the party to assemble, a feeling of depression came over me. I was all at once subject to a strange presentiment of evil, which, alas ! I afterward found was but too well grounded. Marcus, who was much better acquainted with the nature of the subterrai can caverns than any of us, struck a light, with which he ignited three torches’ One of these he gave to me, another to Mr. Nettlefold, and the last he carried himself. We then entered the hateful, odious cavern, and proceeded to climb over the rough blocks of stone heaped one upon another at its base. On the left, the adjacent caves frowned on us and our lights failed to penetrate their gloomy recesses. I need not enter into any lengthened description of the appearance of the several caverns, as vou have already received an account of them from the party who have so recently arrived at Ems.

“Of course, I am ready to admit the wondrous effect of the stalactites contained therein—these possess a charm lor the excursionist, but they have none for me. Ido not usually indulge in idle, groundless fears, but must, nevertheless 1 lankly confess that soon - after our first entrance I had serious thoughts of endeavoring to persuade our party to return; indeed, I should have done so had it not been that Mr. Nettlefold was at the time too far ahead. Marcus, who never for a moment anticipated the coming danger, urged us on toward the ponds. Both his sisters seconded the proposition, so there was no help for it “On we went. We were obliged to thread our way with the utmost caution, having to crawl through a miserably small opening. I shuddered, but said nothing, lest I should be accused of cowardice. At length we reached the desired spot without any serious mishap and found ourselves in the deepest recesses of the cavern, far removed from the external world. We became aware of a draught of wind by the flickering of °ur torches, and discovered to the right of the pond a narrow passage which evidently led further into the cave. Taken altogether, the cave presented ft most

cheerless aspect. The lurid glare of the torches on the dark surface of the deep, stagnant water, in which neither sun nor moon had ever been reflected; the damp, dripping lime walls; the rough, and, in many parts, slippery ground, so filled us with dismay that we determined upon retracing our steps, and in a very short time had the satisfaction of finding ourselves near the narrow passage through which we had passed. Mr. Nettlefold, who led the way, suddenly came to a halt, and made a sign for us to remain quiet. We stopped and listened; our feelings at this time—at least I can answer for myself—were not of an enviable nature. We at each other, and a cola shudder came over all upon our hearing a loud roar, as of some beast of prey. The frightful cries were repeated several times. “‘Speak, Marcus!’ I ejaculated, in an extremity of fear; ‘ from whence proceed these sounds ?’

“‘ A bear, without a doubt!’ he muttered, in deep dejection. “His two sisters turned pale, and trembled with fear. “‘ We must meet the danger as best we can,’ said Marcus, glancing at the girls. ‘Be of good cheer, and let us patiently await the result. ’ “‘lt is the growl of a bear, I suppose?’ said I, addressing myself to Mr. Nettlefold. “ ‘ There is no mistaking it,’ answered our English friend. ‘ Some days ago, the villagers hunted a shaggy monster who had committed great devastation among the farming stock. They did not succeed in hitting the bear, who made his escape; and ’ “ ‘ What ?’ I inquired, anxiously. “‘I much fear that the animal may have sought shelter in these caverns.’ “ Such, afterward, was but too clearly demonstrated,” said Haller, seating hinlself on a mossy bank, at the rear of which hung the luscious grapes of a large plantation of vines. I followed his example, and sat down by his side. “ Before I conclude the disasters of that fatal day,” said my companion, “it will be as well, perhaps, to give you some idea of the mode of hunting bears.

‘‘ In the more remote and less-culti-vated districts of Hungary and Bohemia, the brown and black bear is in winter the terror of the shepherds, and hunting him is almost as favorite a pastime with the people of those countries as bullfighting with the inhabitants of Spain or Portugal. It is only in the spring that the bears do most mischief, when the hard frost has straitened them for several weeks of their forest prey; they then make ‘raids’ by broad daylight into the hamlets and villages, and it is not at all uncommon for a peasant returnig from his labor in the field to find a furred and whiskered marauder in possession of his hut, and ransacking it, from the meal-chest to the corner cupboard, in quest of provision. If tracked with hounds, which is easy at this season, because his footsteps in the snow betray him, the bear retreats, but by no means in disorder, or with any special celerity. For the chase, the villagers go out in parties of three or four together, and armed with a small ax, made after the manner of an American tomahawk; and the first work is to beat the places where the bear is likely to be found, or to lay a bait for him, consisting of a dead sheep, near which they wait until he is attracted by the smell. When bruin appears, the hunter who is to make the attack—having grappling-hooks fitted to his knees in order to climb more easily —advances boldly to within fifty or sixty yards, and commences the quarrel by throwing a stone. This done, he makes for a tree which he has selected; and then, according to agreement with his companions, the affair becomes a tragedy, or is to terminate as a farce.

“ As soon as the bear finds himself struck, he starts at a smart trot in pursuit of his molester, seldom offering to meddle with any one else unless his vengeance is interfered with ; and, when he reaches the tree, he straightway begins to ascend with as much expedition as his habitual gravity or movement will permit. This is the moment, if the game is to die, at which the forester begins to bestir himself. Seated among the leaves and strongest branches of the tree, he rapidly cuts away with his ax any small twigs which might impede the full sweep and play of his arm, and awaits the approach of the enemy. The bear, by the help of his strong claws, climbs slowly up the trunk of the tree ; but these dig so deep sometimes into the bark that he finds it difficult to draw them out again. This gives the man full time, who waits steadily till the fore-paw comes within his reach, when, with one vigorous blow of the ax, he strikesit off, or else so mutilates it as to stop all chance of further progress. The position here for striking is so favorable, and habit makes the hunters so expert, that many of them in twenty blows would not miss once dividing the paw, bone and all; but whether this is done or not, the stroke is usually fatal to the animal, who falls to the ground, and is dispatched while still stunned with the force of his descent. Sometimes he remains clinging with his second paw to the tree ; but, in that case, the second paw is immediately cut off likewise, when, of necessity, he rolls backward, and remains at the mercy of the hunters. Such is the usual course of events in affairs of this sort; but, unhappily for myself and my companions, the bear, whose growlings caused so much alarm, pursued an exceptional course—so we afterward learned ; for some reason or other, he did not choose to ascend the tree, but beat a hasty retreat, with a host of villagers at his heels. He succeeded in getting clear off. His lurking-place was at length discovered, and a party of gentlemen, mounted on their chargers, and armed with spears, sallied forth to hunt and run him down. Let me now continue the thread of my narrative. Mr. Nettlefold’s speech caused us the greatest alarm; the sisters screamed simultaneously; Marcus clasped his knotted stick, and our English friend stood irresolute, evidently at a loss how to act in the sudden and unlooked-for emergency. It was a moment of peril. I succeeded, however, in recovering my presence of mind, and seized upon the only means in our unprotected and blockaded state to give us a few moments’ respite. I took Agat’s straw hat out of her hand, and immediately set fire to it, and threw it blazing into the hole. The shaggy brute was hardly a dozen paces from the opening, and bounded back, frightened, into the passage, with loud growling. You may imagine our fears and anxiety at this time. For a brief period we had succeeded in scaring the enemy. I knew well enough the dread all wild animals have of fire, and, therefore, upon the impulse of the moment, snatched whatever combustible material we possessed. Karine’s hat, my handkerchief, together with all my sketches, were soon ignited, and they blazed awifjr brightly. The growlings became more and more distant. Marcus and myself stood close to the opening in the rocks, and further back was Mr. Nettlefold, in charge of the two sisters. The fire had saved us for the time, but we had now to think of our future safety, and it was difficult to determine what was to be our next device. Marcus and our English friend broke off the blocks of stone, and placed them one upon the other to close the entrance. This done, we became a little more composed, and had time to think of a plan for our safety. The fire went out, and, to our horror, the growlings became nearer again. Agat screamed and clung to her sister. We snatched hold of another piece of rock, but, as Mr. Nettlefold looked into a neighboring dark abyss on the left, in order to see whether there was a possibility of the beast finding its way to us, we Typye nlmogt paralyzed with teyyor on

hearing the growling of the bear in that | direction.’* A thrill of horror escaped from me at this part of the narrative. “Ah!” he observed, in a low tone, “ it is impossible, my friend, for me to give you anything like an adequate description of the agony and despair of these moments. I hope you may never experience such a trial.” “And what was the result?” I exclaimed, in feverish impatience. “ You shall hear,” answered Haller. “We found it impossible to remain longer where we were. This we all agreed upon, and came, therefore, to the unanimous conclusion that something must be resolved upon speedily. In the mean time, I suggested that all the torches save one should be extinguished, for economy in this was of vital importance. When this had been done, we began to consult together. Mr. Nettlefold proposed rushing through the cavern with a fire-brand, and so drive the bear before us. If by this means we succeeded in gaining our liberty, and were afterward compelled to give battle to the shaggy brute, it would be better to do so in the open daylight. “ ‘ The idea is not a bad one,’ observed Marcus, ‘ but what if the bear should remain concealed in one of the side caves, and, while we were threading our way through the narrow pass, fall upon the last ? How then?’

‘“A truce to imaginary fears,’cried Mr. Nettlefold; ‘the real ones are bad enough, heaven knows. Listen. There is an old tradition that beyond the pond a passage in the cavern is to be found, which leads into the heart of a wood. I have heard this from I know not how many villagers, and doubtless you do not forget that a current of air came on our torches from the second opening. If this supposition turns out to be correct, which I do not for a moment doubt but what it will, escape is almost certain. Let us seek for this passage, and go boldly through it, whilst we still have light. ’ “I was unwilling to let our fate depend upon an uncertain road; the more so since, if our torches became extinguished, return would be impossible, and expressed myself to this effect. “ ‘ Let us draw lots, then,’ said Marcus, ‘ to determine which of us men shall remain behind. Whichever of us gets out will bring him help. ’ “We agreed to the proposal made by my fellow-student—the lot fell upon me. Poor Karine sank down with a cry of anguish. “Marcus gave some biscuits and a glass of wine to each of his sisters, and, with heavy hearts, they then all took leave of me. I vainly strove to inspire them with confidence. They had soon advanced some distance, and a miserable sense of loneliness and despair crept over me, as I listened to the sound of their footsteps dying away. I remained alone in the horrible solitude, but frankly confess that I was too stupefied by the parting scene to at first realize the horror of my situation. I was, however, soon reminded of it. The bear gave another growl, and returned to the blockaded opening ; he raved about in vain, for the pieces of rock effectually barred his passage. One hour passed. By my watch, it was 8 o’clock at night. For a long time no sound broke the monotony of my prisonhouse, save the dropping of water at irregular intervals. I became more composed, and took a deep draught from my wine-flask, stuck my torch on a rock, and, for the first time, moved the stone from the opening. Then I listened. All was as silent as the grave. I went to the second opening. Again I heard the enemy renew his furious growling. Despair gave me superhuman strength. I replaced the pieces of rock ; the hideous monster gave a furious growl, rubbed its nose against the chink, and glared at me with its furious eyes, and vainly strove to remove the stones. He then rushed back and snorted. It suddenly occurred to me that the bear was being pursued by a band of hunters. Presently I heard the clatter of falling pieces of rock in the distance, and the bear was growling so furiously from a side abyss that my knees knocked together with fright. I gave myself up for lost. My situation at this time was perfectly harrowing. The beast was evidently getting nearer. Should I run after my companions t Full of despair, I placed my torch near the precipice. The light fell upon the enraged shaggy monster, who was very dexterously climbing the steep side of the well. I was wild with fury, and seized hold of a large piece of rock which lay before me, and hurled it with such force upon the head of the wild beast that it fell backward, howling, into the yawning abyss. When a mau has to fight for his life—dear to us at any time, and under almost any circumstances—his actions are rapid enough ; at any rate, I know mine were. I placed my torch on a chink in the rock, took off my brown Holland coat, which I tore in half, and threw one piece blazing into the chasm below. By the light I saw that my enemy had fallen backward to a great depth, and the abyss was so precipitous that the chances were he would not attempt another ascent. But it would not do to be over-con-fident ; so I collected together a number of pieces of rock, and, for prudence sake, let three masses, at three successive times, well down. A cry of pain convinced me that one of my missiles must have struck the beast as he was attempting to climb up. Without knowing it, I had obtained a victory. The yelling of dogs and hallooing of huntsmen fell upon my delighted ear. The pack of hounds had scented the passage, and thrown themselves with fury upi n the savage beast. In the meantime the hunters entered with blazing torches, and gazed with looks of wonderment upon me. I must have presented a strange appearance, for I had no coat on, and, with my pale face and streaming hair, no doubt looked like a specter. ‘ Rescued ! rescued !’ I ejaculated, hastening at once to remove the blocks of stone and crawl through the narrow pass. The assembled multitude rushed forward, and shook my hands with mingled feelings of pity and joy. I related our unhappy adventures, and exclamations of astonishment and fear fell from all. Four of the hunters volunteered to accompany me in search of my companions; and so, without delay, we five, provided with ropes, poles and torches, crawled back through the narrow pass, waded through the first pond, and came to the second, where there was a tiny foot-mark, tending downward, on the left of a sharp, slippery stone. My companions halted.

“ ‘Eh !’ murmured one, ‘ but the way must have proved a difficult one for a lady !’ “ ‘No doubt of that,’ ejaculated a second, ‘ for, see, here is a small foot-mark again. It is evident one of the ladies must have slipped down.’ “ My heart seemed to stand still, and I grew sick and faint. “ They took soundings and found the water to be less than three feet in depth. I breathed again. “ ‘ And see yonder !’ observed a third huntsman. ‘ A little further on, where the cliff ascends, the mark of water on the yellow stone shows where the lady got out again. ’ “ We again ascended another cliff, and came to a vault, where there were two exits. My companion, guided by the foot marks, followed the right. Hardly a hundred steps further, we came to a narrow passage in the rocks, through which we had to go on our hands and knees; this led us to a narrow path. “ ‘ There is a strong gust of wind,’ remarked one of the hunters; ‘ and, if I mistake not, we are approaching some other entrance to these inhospitable and gloomy caverns. ‘ ‘ Karine ! Agat!’ I exclaijped, in a loqd Y'ftc®, hastening on-

ward. ‘ Marcus, where are yoa ? Speak, for mercy’s sake, if you have any<jare for your friend and companion!’ ‘ Here —this way!’ cried out some one in a distance, which I recognized as the wellknown voice of my friend. “ Guided by the sound, we hurried forward, and soon had the satisfaction of discerning a small group, at no very great distance. On the projection of the rock, near the opening, sat my companions in misfortune, patiently awaiting the first faint streaks of dawn. The lights had been long extinguished; they were wet, cold, and supremely miserable. “ I comprehended at once that some terrible misadventure had befallen them. Karine appeared to be in a state of utter prostration; her countenance indicated great personal suffering and deprivation. Mr. Nettlefold stepped forward, and drew me on one side. In a few hurried sentences, he briefly explained the nature of the disastrous events which occurred after they parted with me. It appeared that, soon after they had passed the pond, the bear, with a savage howl, sprung upon Karine, whom he infolded in his deadly embrace. The poor girl fainted. My English friend, with presence of mind and determination for which I shall never cease to be grateful, struck the infuriated animal across the eyes with the lighted torch he carried. The hot pitch partially blinded the brute, who, upon the instant released Karine, and rolled on the ground with several sharp cries of pain, while, at the same time, he strove to remove the pitch with his fore paws. Mr. Nettlefold saw this was the time for action. He and Marcus bor6 the senseless Karine hastily from the spot, and got clear away with their charge before her assailant had time t® recover himself. I suppose it was after this that the enraged brute, thwarted in his vengeance, endeavored to make me his prey.” “And the young lady—how fared she?” I inquired. “ Alas, my friend,” exclaimed Haller, “ she was naturally delicate, and but illcalculated to bear up against the trials to which she had been subjected. The news of her miraculous escape had already spread, and, by the time we had conveyed her to the hut of a neighboring peasant, numbers of the villagers came out and proffered their assistance; but every one noted the marked change in the appearance of the ill-fated girl. So did I, but I hoped that by care and attention she might be restored. The hope, however, proved to be a vain and delusive one. She never recovered from the shock to the system, but lingered for some time, hovering between life and death—then she drooped, and died !” The speaker paused for a brief period, and I did not feel disposed to break the silence by any obtrusive questions.

Presently he resumed of his own accord, and said : “Let me be silent on my loss. My friend Marcus, with tender sympathy and brotherly love, accompanied me home after his sister’s funeral, and remained with me for many months. I have sought consolation in change.of scene—in the pursuit of avocation. I was a young man at the period when this fatal adventure took place ; now I am old—my locks are silvered; but I yet retain a distinct and vivid recollection of my loss, which time has failed to obliterate from my .memory.” Paul Haller leaned back on the mossy bank upon which he was seated, and heaved a deep sigh. I strove, by every means in my power, to dispel the melancholy to which he was subjected, and in some measure succeeded. I continued to be his companion while I remained at Ems. Upon my taking leave of the pretty watering-place, Haller accompanied me for some miles on my journey. He was, at this time, cheerful and composed. When I returned, some three years afterward, my attention was directed to a tombstone in the churchyard. On this was inscribed : “To the Memory of Paul Haller, Painter.” i