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Wilhelm Meidlingand he could have been spared； she and her uncle were
sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace； and the sunshine was gone
out of their lives。 Matters went worse and worse； all through the two
years。 Clothes were wearing out； bread was harder and harder to get。
And now； at last； the very end was come。 Solomon Isaacs had lent all the
money he was willing to put on the house； and gave notice that to…morrow
he would foreclose。
Chapter 2
Three of us boys were always together； and had been so from the cradle；
being fond of one another from the beginning； and this affection deepened
as the years went onNikolaus Bauman； son of the principal judge of the
local court； Seppi Wohlmeyer； son of the keeper of the principal inn； the
〃Golden Stag；〃 which had a nice garden； with shade trees reaching down to
the riverside； and pleasure boats for hire； and I was the thirdTheodor
Fischer； son of the church organist； who was also leader of the village
musicians； teacher of the violin； composer； tax…collector of the commune；
sexton； and in other ways a useful citizen； and respected by all。 We
knew the hills and the woods as well as the birds knew them； for we were
always roaming them when we had leisureat least； when we were not
swimming or boating or fishing； or playing on the ice or sliding down
hill。
And we had the run of the castle park； and very few had that。 It was
because we were pets of the oldest servingman in the castleFelix
Brandt； and often we went there； nights； to hear him talk about old times
and strange things； and to smoke with him （he taught us that） and to
drink coffee； for he had served in the wars； and was at the siege of
Vienna； and there； when the Turks were defeated and driven away； among
the captured things were bags of coffee； and the Turkish prisoners
explained the character of it and how to make a pleasant drink out of it；
and now he always kept coffee by him； to drink himself and also to
astonish the ignorant with。 When it stormed he kept us all night； and
while it thundered and lightened outside he told us about ghosts and
horrors of every kind； and of battles and murders and mutilations； and
such things； and made it pleasant and cozy inside； and he told these
things from his own experience largely。 He had seen many ghosts in his
time； and witches and enchanters； and once he was lost in a fierce storm
at midnight in the mountains； and by the glare of the lightning had seen
the Wild Huntsman rage on the blast with his specter dogs chasing after
him through the driving cloud…rack。 Also he had seen an incubus once；
and several times he had seen the great bat that sucks the blood from the
necks of people while they are asleep； fanning them softly with its wings
and so keeping them drowsy till they die。
He encouraged us not to fear supernatural things； such as ghosts； and
said they did no harm； but only wandered about because they were lonely
and distressed and wanted kindly notice and compassion； and in time we
learned not to be afraid； and even went down with him in the night to the
haunted chamber in the dungeons of the castle。 The ghost appeared only
once； and it went by very dim to the sight and floated noiseless through
the air； and then disappeared； and we scarcely trembled； he had taught us
so well。 He said it came up sometimes in the night and woke him by
passing its clammy hand over his face； but it did him no hurt； it only
wanted sympathy and notice。 But the strangest thing was that he had seen
angelsactual angels out of heavenand had talked with them。 They had
no wings； and wore clothes； and talked and looked and acted just like any
natural person； and you would never know them for angels except for the
wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do； and the way they
suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them； which was also a
thing which no mortal could do。 And he said they were pleasant and
cheerful； not gloomy and melancholy； like ghosts。
It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next
morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed
the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill…
top which was a favorite place of ours； and there we stretched out on the
grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things；
for they were in our minds yet； and impressing us。 But we couldn't
smoke； because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind。
Soon there came a youth strolling toward us through the trees； and he sat
down and began to talk in a friendly way； just as if he knew us。 But we
did not answer him； for he was a stranger and we were not used to
strangers and were shy of them。 He had new and good clothes on； and was
handsome and had a winning face and a pleasant voice； and was easy and
graceful and unembarrassed； not slouchy and awkward and diffident； like
other boys。 We wanted to be friendly with him； but didn't know how to
begin。 Then I thought of the pipe； and wondered if it would be taken as
kindly meant if I offered it to him。 But I remembered that we had no
fire； so I was sorry and disappointed。 But he looked up bright and
pleased； and said：
〃Fire？ Oh； that is easy； I will furnish it。〃
I was so astonished I couldn't speak； for I had not said anything。 He
took the pipe and blew his breath on it； and the tobacco glowed red； and
spirals of blue smoke rose up。 We jumped up and were going to run； for
that was natural； and we did run a few steps； although he was yearningly
pleading for us to stay； and giving us his word that he would not do us
any harm； but only wanted to be friends with us and have company。 So we
stopped and stood； and wanted to go back； being full of curiosity and
wonder； but afraid to venture。 He went on coaxing； in his soft；
persuasive way； and when we saw that the pipe did not blow up and nothing
happened； our confidence returned by little and little； and presently our
curiosity got to be stronger than our fear； and we ventured backbut
slowly； and ready to fly at any alarm。
He was bent on putting us at ease； and he had the right art； one could
not remain doubtful and timorous where a person was so earnest and simple
and gentle； and talked so alluringly as he did； no； he won us over； and
it was not long before we were content and comfortable and chatty； and
glad we had found this new friend。 When the feeling of constraint was
all gone we asked him how he had learned to do that strange thing； and he
said he hadn't learned it at all； it came natural to himlike other
thingsother curious things。
〃What ones？〃
〃Oh； a number； I don't know how many。〃
〃Will you let us see you do them？〃
〃Doplease！〃 the others said。
〃You won't run away again？〃
〃Noindeed we won't。 Please do。 Won't you？〃
〃Yes； with pleasure； but you mustn't forget your promise； you know。〃
We said we wouldn't； and he went to a puddle and came back with water in
a cup which he had made out of a leaf； and blew upon it and threw it out；
and it was a lump of ice the shape of the cup。 We were astonished and
charmed； but not afraid any more； w