PETER THE GOATHERD. 605

to his astonishment, that his beard had grown at least a foot
longer than it used to be. He began to think that both himself
aud the whole world around him must be bewitched ; yet he
knew that the mountain he just came from was the Kyffhauser,
and he likewise reeognised the houses, with their gardens, and
the village-green, and he heard several boys say, in answer
to the question of a way-farer, that the place was named
Sittendorf.

His mind half misgave him as he entered the village and
made his way to his cottage, which he found almost in ruins.
An old and i}l-conditioned dog lay in front of it, who growled
and showed his teeth when Peter called to him. He went
through the opening that was once closed by a door, and found
all within so desolate and empty, that he staggered like a
drunken man, as he went out by the back door, calling on his
wife and children by their names ; but no one heard him, still
less did any familiar voice answer him.

Presently, a crowd of women and children gathered round the
strange old man with a grey beard, and all inquired what he
was seeking. It seemed so monstrous to ask after his own
house, and what had become of his wife and children, that, in
order to rid himself of their importunity, he inqaired for Kurt
Steffen, which was the first name that happened to occur to
him. The bystanders looked at each other in silence, till at
length a woman, well stricken in years, said :

“It is now twelve years since he went to live in Sachsen-
burg, which you won't be able to reach to-day.”

“And where's Velten Meier?” inquired Peter.

“May the Lord help him!” answered an old crone, who
was leaning on her crutch, ‘he has been bedridden for the last
fifteen years.”

The bewildered Peter shuddered as he now recollected his