Page 615 - Child's own book

The silver door closed of itself* and the iron door slammed after
them with a terrific noise. On reaching the vault they had at
first entered, the ground within the magic circle was again
lowered to receive them* and brought them back to the light of
day* when the monk gave his companion two small ingots of an
unknown metal that he had brought from the crypt, and which
were ever after carefully preserved in Peter Klaus's family, so
that his gTand-ehildren and great grand-children could prove that
the founder of their house had -really seen the Empeior face
to face.
This adventure served to shorten many an evening through­
out the following winter, for Peter's neighbours and grand*
children were never tired of hearing him tell of the wonderful
things lie had seen in the chapel. But when spring came
round again, Peters love of the marvellous* which had now be­
come a habit with him, would not allow him to rest with merely
talking of past events; and he was frequently heard to observe,
that the Emperor Barbarossa had not treated him half so well
as the knights had doue> and that he had a mind to try Ms luck
another time. His daughter, who never liked to hear him
talk of going to the KyfFhauser, used to shake her head on these
occasions, and say* u Father* it is better to stay at home* and
drink water in the company of the living, than to drink wine in
the company of some people.’" Now this was very sensible, and
showed that Marie knew why her father regretted the bowling-
green and the silent knights; and as often as she spoke thus,
Peter would laugh, and take one of his grandchildren on his
knee, and pretend to think no more about seeking new adven­
tures, Jt came to pass, however* that there was a christening
in the family some time after* on the birth of his daughters
third child; Peter Klaus could keep quiet no Jcnger* but took
a pail, and resolved to fetch wine from the cellar of the old
castle on the Kyffhauser^