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sh to travel. One beautiful evening Huldbrand with his wife and Bertalda walked along the banks of the river Danube. The knight, who had ofttimes sailed down the river, told them tales of the wonderful countries through which it flowed, and of the beautiful town of Vienna, which rose so proudly on its banks. 'Ah!' said Bertalda, 'how I wish we might sail to this city of which you tell.' And Undine, ever anxious to give pleasure to her friend, said, 'Yes, let us visit Vienna while the spring is still fair.' Huldbrand also was pleased at the thought of the journey, only once he bent toward Undine and whispered, 'Kuehleborn, will we not be in his power if we sail down the river?' His beautiful wife only laughed. She was too happy now to fear her uncle's power. They therefore got ready for the journey with much merriment and many hopes. When at length the three travellers, with their attendants, set out on their voyage, it seemed as though all would be as joyful as they had wished. As they sailed on, the river grew more broad, more green the grasses too in the rich meadow-lands. But erelong a shadow crept across their joy. The river, indeed, flowed smooth as before, the country smiled only more graciously upon the travellers, but Kuehleborn had already begun to show that on this part of the river he could use his power. Undine, it is true, reproved her uncle before he had done more than play a few tricks upon them. Yet though he would cease his pranks when she spoke, it was but a few moments before he was as troublesome as ever. Soon the crew began to crowd together, whispering fearfully and glancing timidly at the knight and his fair ladies. Kuehleborn was making them afraid. Huldbrand saw their strange glances and he began to grow angry. He even muttered crossly, 'This is Undine's mad uncle come to disturb us. I would her strange kindred would leave us alone.' Thinking thus, the knight looked with displeasure at his poor wife. She knew but too well what his glance meant, and worn out with sorrow and with her constant watch over Kuehleborn, she at length fell fast asleep. But no sooner were her eyes closed than her uncle again began his tiresome tricks. It seemed to the sailors, and indeed to all on board, that they were bewitched, for look which way each one would, there before him, peering out of the water, was the head of a very ugly man. Each man turned, in his terror, to point out to
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