red, this proved a correct assertion; for a more
discouraging thirty miles could scarcely have been found in the length
and breadth of the country. In consequence, instead of arriving at our
destination, as it was most important we should do, while it was still
dark, it was full morning before we came in sight of it. If the castle
of Elfrinstein had seemed a lonely spot, this, our second stopping
place, was infinitely more so. The inn itself stood within a deep gorge,
the rugged sides of which towered some hundreds of feet above its roof.
The building was a mere hovel of four rooms, and at one time was much
frequented by those engaged in smuggling spirits across the border.

When we drew up at the door, the landlord, an enormous man, possessing
the reddest hair I have ever seen on a human being, and a beard that
reached almost to his waist, emerged, rubbing his eyes and yawning
cavernously. He was followed by a woman, his wife. Together they
approached the carriage, and as soon as my father had alighted, knelt
before him with bowed heads. The picture seemed so incongruous, so out
of keeping with the other attributes of that grim place, that, miserable
as we all were--for the previous night's journey had been comfort itself
compared with that we had just completed. I don't think one of us was
able to suppress a smile.

"Get up, my friends," said my father in a kindly tone, "and lead us into
the house. We are worn out after our night's travelling. No one has been
this way in search of us, I hope?"

"Not a living soul, your Majesty," the man replied. "They'd best not
come about here now. 'Twould be a bad case for them if they found your
Majesties here."

Having uttered this somewhat ambiguous speech, he led the way into the
house, where, it was soon apparent, great preparations had been made for
our reception.

It was early in the afternoon when a terrible incident, which came so
near our undoing, occurred, and it happened in this way. Being
determined that no one should approach the inn during the time we
occupied it, our shock-headed friend had stationed one of his sons at
the entrance of the defile, with definite instructions to bring the news
to him with all speed should he detect the approach of any suspicious
persons. For the greater portion of the day the lad saw no one; just
when his brother arrived to relieve him, however, they espied
approaching them, as rapidly as the rough nature of the ground would
permi