Lays and Legends of Various Nations (Volume 1); Illustrative of Their Traditions, Popular Literature, Manners, Customs, and Superstitions (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1834 Excerpt: ... out was admitted to be just, and every one suggested a different plan, such as storming, undermining, and blowing up the rock; every one of which was no sooner proposed, than it was pronounced impracticable. Thus did the besieging party pass the day before the cave, rjuarrelling and disagreeing until the sun went down. Daniel, who in his strong-hold overheard their contentions, laughed at them, and made preparations for sallying forth about midnight, when the soldiers would be weary, and perhaps asleep, intending, as circumstances would determine, either to slip quietly out, and let them in the morning find the bird flown and the nest empty; or, if his enemies should awake, to break through them like a roaring devil. He would next conceal himself in the neighbouring wood, called the Elm Wood, and from thence get deeper into the Hartz Mountains, and there carry on his old trade. But all his calculations were thrown out. One of the soldiers to whom the contest appeared likely to be of too long duration, had withdrawn himself unnoticed from the council of war, hastened back to the city, and there made public the circumstance, with all the additions and enlargements which fear, and a desire to exalt his own services, prompted him. And the news spread so rapidly, that before night-fall such multitudes of persons from the surrounding country joined the besiegers, that they remained on their posts in high spirits, and Daniel found he had no chance of escape. "Night bringeth good counsel," saith the Proverb: and at length they agreed amongst them that the robber should either be drowned in his retreat, or suffocated by the steam of boiling water. Soon after day-break hundreds, well provided with hatchets and axes, were busily employed in hewing down all the trees a...