and said, 'Will you give me your daughter if I
drive the nail in?' The other thought this a good chance to get rid of
him should he fall into the valley, and answered 'Yes.'

"The youth took the nail and hammer, said a prayer, and prepared to get
outside the window and drive in the nail for the sake of his beloved. A
burst of joy broke from the bystanders, which awoke the giant out of
his sleep, when he asked what was the matter; and, when he heard that a
volunteer was found to drive the nail in, he looked at the young
locksmith for some time, and said: 'You are a fine fellow, and have
more courage than all your milk-hearted companions; come, and I'll
assist you.' He then took him by the nape of the neck, almost crushing
him to atoms, lifted him out of the window in the air, and said, 'drive
in, now--you shall not fall.'

"When the young lover was suspended in the air over the immense depth
below, though held by the iron grasp of the giant's hand, fear came
over him, his sight became dim, giddiness seized his brain, and,
thinking he was on the point of being hurled into the abyss beneath, he
would have cried out 'Ach Allmaechtig!' (Oh, Almighty!) but had only
time enough to pronounce, 'Ach Allm,' when the giant secured him from
his perilous situation, and landed him again in safety. From that
moment the mountain has retained the name of the Achalm.

"The lad drove the nail in firmly,--the giant kissed him for his
fortitude,--and a tender hug which he gave him almost cost him his
life,--he then led him to the master, and said: 'Give your daughter to
the brave lad.' He afterwards went to his cavern, took out his money
bag, and paid each his due. But when he came to the bold young
blacksmith, he said, 'Go home, my daring young fellow, fetch your
master's daughter, and take possession of the castle, for it belongs to
you now.'

"His companions all rejoiced at his good fortune; the young blacksmith
went home, and----"

"Hark! did not you hear the neighing of horses?" said Albert, not
feeling quite at his ease, as they were passing through a deep ravine.
The moon still shone bright, the shadows of the trees waved with the
breeze, there was a rustling among the bushes, and he often fancied he
saw dark figures passing in the wood.

The fifer of Hardt stopt, vexed that his companion had interrupted him
in his story, and answered, "I thought so, likewise, just now, but it
is nothing but the noise of the wind among the tre