Gerfaut -- Volume 1

ne originating in the Vosges mountains. A little river which, after a few leagues of its course, flows into the Moselle, watered this wild ba

here and there in the primitive forest; in other places, innumerable oaks and elms had been dethrone

e soil gained ascendancy. As the hills grew nearer together, enclosing the valley in a closer embrace, the clearings gave way to the natural obduracy of the soil. A little farther on they di

ented road, if one can judge from the scarcity of tracks, ran alongside the banks of the stream, climbing up and down hills; overcoming every obstacle, it stretched out in almost a straight line. One might compare it to those strong characters wh

Alsatian peasant returning to his village through the Vosges's rough pathways; but a more attentive glance quickly dispelled this conjecture. There is something in the way in which a person wears the plainest costume which betrays the real man, no matter how he

ion, which had ended by blending these warmer tints into a dead uniform pallor. Finally, if, as one may suppose after different diagnoses, this person had the slightest desire to play the role of Tyrcis or Amintas,

o had just entered the wildest part of the valley, seemed very little disposed to admire its fine vegetation and romantic sites. Impatient to reach the end of his journey, or fearing the approaching storm, he quickened his steps; but this pace was not kept long. A

ungs by a voice so shrill that it would have irritated the larynx of any of the sopranos at the Opera. Its vibrating but sharp tones resounded so clearly in the dead silence of the forest that a number of stanzas were finished before the pious musician came in sight. At last a drove of cattle appeared through the trees which bordered the road on the lef

im?" called out the traveller when they

on cap, which was striped like a rainbow, and adding

en?" asked the stranger

sed his head pro

atian, no

beautiful province by the Rhine; then he thought that pantomime might be ne

re, Bergenhei

he banks of the river, designating, at some distance on the other side

at I have gone astray; if the chateau is on the

gent blue eyes, he traced, with the tip of his toe in the middle of the road, a furrow across w

e material in you to make one of Cooper's redskins." As he said these words he threw a

when the one whom he considered as a model of extraordinary generosity had disappeared behind the trees, he gave vent to his joy by heavy blows from his whip upon the backs of t

via, at the expense of the other shore, which had been incessantly worn away by the stream. This sort of flat, level peninsula was crossed in a straight line by the road, which deviated from the river at the point where the two roads came together again, like the cross and string of a bow

by a fringe of perpendicular rocks as white as dried bones. Under this crown, which rendered it almost inaccessible, the

turesque edifice which met one's eye in the foreground,

truction, but which had evidently been almost entirely rebuilt at the beginning of the sixteenth century. The stones, of grayish granite which abounds in the Vosges, were streaked with blue and violet veins, and gave the facade a sombre aspect, increased by the scarcity of windows, some of which were 'a la Palladio', others almost as narrow as loop-holes.

ded to that of the building, effaced the lack of proportion of the roof and gave to the whole a most imposing appearance; it seemed as if the rocks were a part of the building to which it served as foundation, for the stones had ended by assuming the same color, and it would have been difficult to discover the junction of man's w

lley. A little wooden bridge connected this sort of avenue with the road the traveller had just passed over; but the latter did not seem disposed to profit by this silent invit

! It is hardly as good as our commo

t upon his shoulder, as workmen do in the South. He held in his hand a knotty stick which had been recently cut. The

ontinued he. "However, the

ou do not like its mast

ron de Bergenheim, as they say! He is rich and a nobleman, and I am only a poor carpenter. Well, then

ranger, in a surprised tone

ot with a searching, defiant air, "do you happen to be the carpenter who is coming from Strasbourg? In that case, I have a f

d very little moved

aid he, smiling, "and I h

often. It seems that in your business one does not spoil o

d feel in as bad a humor as an author does when

, then," said he, finally,

carved the new woodwork, and I will say it is well done. Well, this great wild boar

ess had hi

nts, a pack of idlers! Did he not forbid my putting my foot upon his land? I am upon his land now; let him come and chase me off; l

had any other object than the architecture and form of the building it was not gratified. No human figure came to enliven this sad, lonely dwelling. All the windows were closed, as if the house were uninhabited. The baying of dogs, pr

ith an emotion which gave the lie to his recent bravado; "if you wish to

d to feel an impression very like that of Lambernier's as he saw a man on horseback advancing on a gallop. Inst

osing, in spite of his negligent dress, which showed that indifference to matters of personal attire which becomes habitual with country lords. His tall figure was beginning to grow stout, and that increased his athletic appearance. He sat very erect in his saddle, and from the way in which he strai

Lambe

resence of a witness; finally this last feeling triumphed. He returned to the edge of the road without saying a word, and stationed himself in an insol

a severe tone, "your account was settled yesterd

you," replied the

ou wandering about my pl

, nobody can prevent m

d the Baron, emphasizing his words with the firmness of a ma

his stick upon the ground as if to take possession. This gesture attracted Bergenheim's atten

probably regard my trees also as you

orkman, accompanying his repl

man by the collar and gave him a shaking that it was as impossible to struggle against as if it had been caused by a steam-engine. Obeying this irresistible force, in spite of his kicking, Lambernier described a dozen circles around his adversary, while the latter set these off with some of the hardest blows from green wood that ever chastised an insolent fellow. This gym

p having a feeling of admiration for this energetic representative of the feudal ages who, with no fear of any court of jus

ist many things determined upon to-day might be called in question. If I ever have the slightest diff

s illusive shelter than the trees under which he had taken his position; but at this moment his attention was attracted to one side of the castle. A window, or rather a glass door, just then opened upon the balcony, and a young woman in a rose-colored negligee appeared upon the dark facade. It would be impossible to imagine anything more fresh or charming than this apparition at such a moment. Leaning

hted the whole valley and was immediately followed by a terrific crash. When he opened his eyes the chateau which he believed to b