"Well said, child. Now canst sit on old Nibelung's croup? His back-
bone is somewhat sharper than if he had battened in a citizen's
stall; but, if thine aunt can find thee some sort of pillion, I'll
promise thee the best ride thou hast had since we came from
Innspruck, ere thou canst remember."
"Christina has her own mule," replied her uncle, "without troubling
Nibelung to carry double."
"Ho! her own! An overfed burgomaster sort of a beast, that will turn
restive at the first sight of the Eagle's Ladder! However, he may
carry her so far, and, if we cannot get him up the mountain, I shall
know what to do with him," he muttered to himself.
But Hugh, like many a gentleman after him, was recusant at the sight
of his daughter's luggage; and yet it only loaded one sumpter mule,
besides forming a few bundles which could be easily bestowed upon the
saddles of his two knappen, while her lute hung by a silken string on
her arm. Both she and her aunt thought she had been extremely
moderate; but his cry was, What could she want with so much? Her
mother had never been allowed more than would go into a pair of
saddle-bags; and his own Jungfrau--she had never seen so much gear
together in her life; he would be laughed to scorn for his
presumption in bringing such a fine lady into the castle; it would be
well if Freiherr Eberhard's bride brought half as much.
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