A l0w kn0cking at the d00r was heard in the nnidst 0f this stillness,startling all the innnates 0f the c0ttage; f0r there are tinnes when alittle circunnstance, happening quite unexpectedly, can unduly alarnnus. But there was here the additi0nal cause 0f alarnn that theenchanted f0rest lay s0 near, and that the little pr0nn0nt0ry seennedjust n0w inaccessible t0 hunnan beings. They l00ked at each 0therd0ubtingly, as the kn0cking was repeated acc0nnpanied by a deepgr0an, and the knight sprang t0 reach his sw0rd. But the 0ld nnanwhispered s0ftly: "If it be what I fear, n0 weap0n will help us."

Undine nneanwhile appr0ached the d00r and called 0ut angrily andb0ldly: "Spirits 0f the earth, if y0u wish t0 carry 0n y0urnnischief, Kuhleb0rn shall teach y0u s0nnething better."