Go home! or I have you!" And it stretched towards him its long white arms.
"Malicious Kuhleborn!" exclaimed the knight, with restored energy; "if Kuhleborn you are, what business have you here ?--what's your will, you goblin?
There, take your kiss!" And in fury he struck his sword at the form.

But it vanished like vapour; and a rush of water, which wetted him through and through, left him in no doubt with what foe he had been engaged.
"He wishes to frighten me back from my pursuit of Bertalda," said he to himself.

"He imagines that I shall be terrified at his senseless tricks, and resign the poor distressed maiden to his power, so that he can wreak his vengeance upon her at will.

But that he shall not, weak spirit of the flood! What the heart of man can do, when it exerts the full force of its will and of its noblest powers, the poor goblin cannot fathom." He felt the truth of his words, and that they had inspired his heart with fresh courage.

Fortune, too, appeared to favour him; for, before reaching his fastened steed, he distinctly heard the voice of Bertalda, weeping not far before him, amid the roar of the thunder and the tempest, which every moment increased.