With eagerness she entreated Huldbrand to hasten after their friend, who had flown, and bring her back with him.
Alas! she had no occasion to urge him.

His passion for Bertalda again burst forth with vehemence.

He hurried round the castle, inquiring whether any one had seen which way the fair fugitive had gone.

He could gain no information; and was already in the court on his horse, determining to take at a venture the road by which he had conducted Bertalda to the castle, when there appeared a page, who assured him that he had met the lady on the path to the Black Valley.

Swift as an arrow, the knight sprang through the gate in the direction pointed out, without hearing Undine's voice of agony, as she cried after him from the window: "To the Black Valley?
Oh, not there! Huldbrand, not there! Or if you will go, for Heaven's sake take me with you!" But when she perceived that all her calling was of no avail, she ordered her white palfrey to be instantly saddled, and followed the knight, without permitting a single servant to accompany her.
The Black Valley lies secluded far among the mountains.