from the crowd, and thus spake the bold Harold:-"That will I, Lord of Beorndallen! I gainsay thee. Lelah is mine! By the promise you made in this very hall, by the oath you have solemnly sworn, by the reverence you entertain for justice, faith, and honour-Lelah is mine! The wood of Brokner is cut down." "Brokner wood cut down!" exclaimed every voice in the assembly; "impossible! quite impossible!" "By my faith I will see," cried Wolfinger; and instantly hurried forth, followed by every soul in the room, except the lovers, who were left to their own meditations, and no doubt spent the time infinitely to their satisfaction.

The party returned, filled with amazement. "Harold!" exclaimed Wolfinger, as he advanced toward the young people, "you are befriended by the invisible. The dark man of the forest has been working for you. I contend not with the immortals. You are my son-you, and you only, are worthy of Lelah; take her, and God's blessing be on you both, my bonnie children!"

At the conclusion of this speech, every man and woman within hearing (except the disappointed rivals) shouted for joy. The news quickly spread up the valley; each peasant snatched up his gun, and fired a salute as he ran toward the house of his lord, where a joyful group was soon congregated.

"Harold !" said Wolfinger, "my oath forbids me to stretch forth my hand in friendship towards yours; but if yours be extended towards mine, there is no reason why I should not shake it." The hearty embrace which followed these words was the commencement of that cordial friendship which thenceforth bound together these two lofty spirits, until, many years after, death stepped in, and severed the link.

The wedding was celebrated the very next day. The sun shone in the most auspicious manner; the birds sang their liveliest strains; the mountains reverberated with the reports of the guns; and an universal joy pervaded the whole district of Beorndallen. Soon after ten

o'clock a long file of invited guests might be seen winding down the side of the valley on horseback, many bearing their ladies behind them on immense pillions, that rivalled the howdah of an eastern elephant. When these had dismounted, and partaken of refreshment in the house of gladness, the order of the march to the church was finally settled. First, proceeded the bride and bridegroom, she trembling and bashful, he also disturbed though elated; then came the self-satisfied Wolfinger, and his most important guest; the rest followed according to their rank, and the rear was brought up by all the men and women, and boys and girls of the district.

Never was there a more popular couple; both parties were universally beloved by all classes.

The little church, with its red roof and spire, was situated in the midst of the valley, with a few pretty cottages congregated about it. Here, at last, were the doubts and fears of the faithful couple for ever set at rest; and the brave Harold

and the beautiful Lelah, amid the silent blessings of the watchful throng, offered up to heaven their pure vows of fidelity and truth.

But who shall describe the wedding-feast? Such eating and drinking, such shouting and singing, and laughing and quaffing, as never before were known in the vale of Beorndallen. And then all those who could see or stand were called upon to dance; and in accordance with established custom, the bride, led out by the most distinguished of the company, gracefully opened the ball.

The revelry continued long after the principal personages had retired; but here I must close my narrative, as I am not acquainted with another circumstance relating to the fortunes of Harold and Lelah; except that every Saturday evening in winter, during his life, the former caused a large bowl of porridge to be taken to a certain spot in the neighbourhood of his dwelling, in grateful acknowledgment of the services of the Forest Demon.

CHAPTER XII.

THE SILVER MINE OF KONGSBERG.

IN reperusing my journal I find so little variety in my daily adventures, that I fear to exercise the patience of the reader much longer; I mean, therefore, to conduct him rapidly to Kongsberg, where he shall accompany me in my visit to the famous silver mine, which, however valuable in former times, is now of little importance, and but trifling interest.

I passed down to the south, in nearly a direct course, through a rugged country, which probably will be the last to afford travellers the