I fear to tap the cotter's gate,
And beg in pity's name for bread.

From my own doors ye thrust me out;
Yet will I knock while knock I can:
All is not lost, if heart be stout:
I bear a sword, I am a man.

I quail not: tho' my heart should break,
I will endure unto the end;
And thus my foes of me shall speak,
"This was a man, and ne'er would bend."

A deep sigh, which followed the conclusion of the song, gave the
hearers reason to suppose, that the burden of it had not afforded the
unfortunate exile much consolation. A large tear had rolled down the
tanned cheek of the man of Hardt as they stood listening; and Albert
perceived the inward struggle which this good peasant seemed to contend
with in order to compose his mind, and appear before the inhabitant of
the cavern with a cheerful countenance. He requested the young man to
hold his torch awhile; and clambered up the smooth, slippery rock which
led to the grotto whence the sounds they had just heard had issued.
Albert supposed he had gone to acquaint the stranger of his arrival,
but his guide returned with a strong rope in his hand. He descended
half way down the rock again, threw one end of the rope to him, and
desiring him to tie the torches on to it, he pulled them up, and placed
them in a secure corner in the rock. He then assisted his young master
to mount to the spot where he was standing, which he would not have
been well able to accomplish alone. Once up there, they were only a few
paces from the inhospitable abode of the exile.

* * * * *

We have attempted to describe this remarkable cavern according to its
natural formation. Some further observations may be interesting to the
reader. The entrance is about 150 feet in circumference; two paths,
which form two natural excavations, one of 100 feet long, the other 82,
lead from thence, and, taking different directions, meet again in the
interior at the distance of about 200 feet. The place where they join
forms a grotto, whence, on the right towards the north, higher up in
the rock, is another smaller one, the spot to which we have led the
reader, to the dwelling of the exile. The whole length of the cavern,
from the entrance to the innermost point, is about 577 feet.

FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER XVIII.:

[Footnote 1: Referring, probably, to the arms of