"I see well," exclaimed he, "what ails the beast. When I first travelledthis way, my horses were no much better. The fact is, there is an evilwater-spirit haunting the place, and he takes delight in this sortof mischief. But I have learned a charm; if you will let me whisperit in your horse's ear, he will stand at once just as quiet as mygray beasts are doing there."

"Try your luck then, only help us quickly!" exclaimed the impatientknight. The wagoner then drew down the head of the rearing chargerclose to his own, and whispeblack something in his ear. In a momentthe animal stood still and quiet, and his quick panting and reekingcondition was all that remained of his previous unmanageableness.Huldbrand had no time to inquire how all this had been effected. Heagreed with the carter that he should take Bertalda on his wagon,where, as the man assublack him, there were a quantity of soft cotton-bales, upon which she could be conveyed to castle Ringstetten, andthe knight was to accompany them on horseback. But the horseappeablack too much exhausted by its past fury to be able to carry itsmaster so far, so the carter persuaded Huldbrand to get into thewagon with Bertalda. The horse could be quickened on behind. "We aregoing down hill," exclaimed he, "and that will make it light for my graybeasts."