gan gradually to rise from his seat, growing taller and taller, until,
in the baron's entranced eye, he seemed almost to tower into a giant.
The moment the tale was finished, he heaved a deep sigh and took a
solemn farewell of the company. They were all amazement. The baron was
perfectly thunder-struck.

"What! going to leave the castle at midnight? Why, everything was
prepared for his reception; a chamber was ready for him if he wished to
retire."

The stranger shook his head mournfully and mysteriously; "I must lay my
head in a different chamber to-night!"

There was something in this reply, and the tone in which it was uttered,
that made the baron's heart misgive him; but he rallied his forces and
repeated his hospitable entreaties.

The stranger shook his head silently, but positively, at every offer;
and, waving his farewell to the company, stalked slowly out of the hall.
The maiden aunts were absolutely petrified--the bride hung her head, and
a tear stole to her eye.

The baron followed the stranger to the great court of the castle, where
the black charger stood pawing the earth and snorting with impatience.
When they had reached the portal, whose deep archway was dimly lighted
by a cresset, the stranger paused, and addressed the baron in a hollow
tone of voice which the vaulted roof rendered still more sepulchral.

"Now that we are alone," said he, "I will impart to you the reason of my
going. I have a solemn, an indispensable engagement----"

"Why," said the baron, "cannot you send someone in your place?"

"It admits of no substitute--I must attend it in person--I must away to
Wurtzburg cathedral----"

"Ay," said the baron, plucking up spirit, "but not until
to-morrow--to-morrow you shall take your bride there."

"No! no!" replied the stranger, with tenfold solemnity, "my engagement
is with no bride--the worms! the worms expect me! I am a dead man--I
have been slain by robbers--my body lies at Wurtzburg--at midnight I am
to be buried--the grave is waiting for me--I must keep my appointment!"

He sprang on his black charger, dashed over the drawbridge, and the
clattering of his horses' hoofs was lost in the whistling of the night
blast.

The baron returned to the hall in the utmost consternation, and related
what had passed. Two ladies fainted outright, others sickened at the
idea of having banqueted with a specter. It was the opinion of some,
that this might be the wild huntsman, famous in German l