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On a mountain height ,by a barricade of trees which separated the forests of Thuringia from those of the Catts, a young watchman stood and guarded the steep path which led from the lowlands of the Catts to the Thuringian heights. Over his head towered a gigantic beech tree, on both sides of him, along the crest of the hill, ran the boundary fence, and in the thicket bloomed the blackberry and wild rose. The youth held a short spear in his hand, and a long horn hung suspended by a leathern strap round his neck; leaning listlessly against the tree, he hearkened to the voices of the forest, the tapping of the woodpecker, or the soft rustling of the branches as some wild animal passed through the thicket. From time to time he looked impatiently toward the sun, and cast a glance behind him, where, in the distant opening of the valley, lay blockhouses and enclosures for herds of cattle.

Suddenly he bent forward and listened; on the path before him sounded a light footstep, and through the foliage of the trees the figure of a man became visible, who with quick steps was approaching him. The watchman pulled round his horn, and grasped his spear ready to throw; and when the man stepped out of the thicket on to the open boundary line, he called to him, directing the point of his spear toward him, "Stand, traveler, and give the password, which will save thee from my weapon."

The stranger sprang behind the last tree on his side of the fence, stretched out his open right hand, and replied, "I greet thee peacefully, as a stranger in the land, ignorant of the password."

The watcher answered him suspiciously, "Thou comest not like a chieftain, with horses and attendants, thou carriest not the buckler of a warrior, neither doest thou appear like a wandering trader, with pack and barrow."

The stranger replied, "I come from afar, over mountain and valley; my horse I lost in the whirlpool of the stream, and I seek hospitality among thy people."

"If thou art a foreigner, thou must tarry till my comrades open our country to thee. Meanwhile let peace be between us."

The men had observed each other with keen eyes; they now leaned their spears against the boundary trees, entered into the open space, and proffered hands. In shaking hands each examined the countenance and bearing of the other. The watchman looked with honest admiration at the powerful arm of the stranger, who was but few years older than himself, as well as at his firm deportment and proud mien.

"A sword-fight with thee on the greensward would be no trifling matter," he said, frankly; "I am almost the tallest man on our mead bench, yet I have to look up to thee. Accept a greeting, and rest under my tree; meanwhile I will announce thy arrival."

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