On the high hill above the Rhine still stand the ruins of an old Castle. Here Kuno Von Sayne once lived. Kuno was a very proud young man for he was a member of a very noble family.

He had fallen in love with the beautiful daughter of the surly old Lord of Faulkenstein. At last he succeeded in winning the love of the maiden¹, but of her father he had great fear.

After many months of hoping and fearing, he decided² to go to the old Lord and ask for his daughter’s hand. One beautiful morning he set out on his mission, to the Castle of Faulkenstein. This Castle was perched far up on the heights that rose above a small river.

It was a long journey, and he had almost[22] lost his courage when he reached the place. However, he went at once into the presence of the Lord of Faulkenstein and boldly made known his wish.

The grim, old Lord looked at him long and closely, then in tones that were terrible to poor Kuno spoke³.

“I will,” he said, “consider the matter if you will promise to do one thing for me.”

Without waiting to find out what he was to do, Kuno eagerly consented.

“Then,” said the Lord of Faulkenstein, “you may wed⁴ my daughter on condition that you build a convenient road over the jagged rock to the village. You are to ride up that road on your war horse before sunrise to-morrow morning.”

Poor Kuno was speechless. Nothing was to be said, for he knew how impossible was the task. Many months of hard labor⁵ would scarcely accomplish the great work.

Sadly he made his way down the rocks[23] again. He had not been able to catch even a glimpse of the fair Irmangarde, his beloved, so he sat down upon a rock in the valley and began to reproach himself for his stupidity.

Suddenly he was aroused from his thoughts by a small voice calling to him.

“Kuno, Kuno Von Sayne,” it said.

He looked up and there before him stood the King of the Gnomes⁶.

“Despair not,” said the

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