have been cleft from the surrounding hills by some
violent convulsion of nature, either by an earthquake, or by a deluge
in ancient times, which had washed away the softer materials of the
earth, leaving the solid mass of rock untouched. Even on the south-west
side, where he now stood, the deep ravine which separated the rock from
the nearest part of the adjoining country, was too broad for the
boldest shamoy to venture a spring across, though not so distant as to
baffle the art of man to throw a bridge over. The castle stood on its
summit, like the nest of a bird, perched upon the highest branch of an
oak, or the pinnacle of a lofty tower. Except the tower, which peered
above all, the only apparent habitation was a small fortified apartment
surrounded by many round windows. The numerous loop-holes in the lower
part of the buildings, and several larger embrasures, out of which
peeped the muzzles of guns of the heavy calibre of the time, proved
that it was well guarded, and that, spite of its insignificant size, it
was no contemptible fortress. The enormous foundation walls and
buttresses, which appeared to form part of the rock, and had assumed by
age and weather the same yellowish-brown colour of the mass of stone
upon which they stood, might well convince the beholder of the solidity
of the structure, and its capability to bid defiance to the power of
man and the storms of the elements. A beautiful view presented itself
before Albert, and he thought how much more extended it must be from
the top of the watch-tower.

These observations obtruded themselves upon Albert, as he stood waiting
at the outer gate, which was strongly palisadoed towards the ravine,
and covered the approach to the bridge. He now heard steps approaching;
the gate was thrown open, and the master of the castle appeared himself
to receive his guest. It was the same stern elderly man whom he had
seen several times in Ulm, whose countenance he could not easily
forget; for his dark fiery eye, his pale but noble features, his
likeness to his daughter, had made a lasting impression upon his mind.

"Welcome to Lichtenstein," said the old man, offering his hand, the
grave features of his face giving place to a more kindly expression.
"What are you standing gaping about there, you idle vagabonds?" he said
to his servants, after the first salutation to his visitor; "do you
suppose the gentleman is to lead his horse up into the room? Take him
away to the stab