Werwolves

ected with the Harz Mountains, occurred some

a holiday with his young and beautiful wife, the Countess Hilda, happened t

we crossed a brook, and experienced the greatest difficulty in persuading our dogs to go into the water

brook?" the innkeeper asked; "and did you notice a peculiar

nt and Countess e

low," the innkeeper said. "No one ventures ther

nsense!" the

age folk believe it to be haunted; but, of course, if the subject app

"I love anything to do with the s

unt, whose face looked more than usually stern in the fading sunlight, obs

he Countess c

a grave m

emanded; but before the innkeepe

here, and your cock-and-bull stories will frighten her into fits. Con

ered, his knees shaking; "I confess it

; and the innkeeper, terrified out

ore the Count, who was alone and scowling horribly, in the best parlour.

r minions mention one word about that brook to the Countess, or to her servants-mark tha

fully un-understand, and if her ladyship asks me a

t trouble y

! It will be a burden on my con-conscience, bu

athed in perspiration and wishing his lot in life a

ing will," the Countess said, as she let down her long beautif

r said?-that the story was mere invention! If you believe all the idle t

ess cried, "so there!" and she flung h

s, journeyed homewards. The Count looked at his wife somewhat crit

d with an assumed gaiety, "you ar

lied; "I had su

as he reached home he would call in a doctor. The latter, examining the Countess, attributed the cause of her indisposition to dyspepsia, and ordered her a diet of mil

might at least let me occupy

a source of the greatest annoyance. I feel I shall never get well again unless I can have complete rest and quiet. Do let me!" and s

mself; "her behaviour is odd, to say the

ry precautions the disappearances continued, and the affair-already of the utmost gravity-promised to be one that would prove disastrous, not merely to the heads of families, but to the head of the police himself. So long as the missing ones had been of the lower orders only, the Count had not had much to fear-the murmurings of their parents could easily be held in check-but now that a few of the children of the rich had been spirited away, there was every likelihood of the matter reaching the ears of the Court. One evening, when the Count had h

rch; but though we have looked high and low not a trace of her have we been able to discover. I have not told her mother yet. God help me-I dare not! I dare not even show my face at home without her-my wife will never forgive me--"; and so great was his emotion that he buried his face in his hands, and his great body heaved and shook. Then he started to his feet, his eyes bulging and lurid. "Curse you!" he shrieked; "curse you, Count! it's all your fault! Day after day you've sat here, when you ought to have

al meant all he said, and he recognized only too well that his one and only hope of salvation lay in the recovery of Elizabeth. But, God in heaven, where could he look for her? Sick at heart, he marshalled every policeman in the force, and within an hour every

want?" the Count demand

ho was one of the first in the town to lose a child," the do

, only trees-big, black trees that rustle in the wind, and shake their heads mockingly. And then something hideous comes! What is it? Take it away! Take it awa

h an impatient gesture; "and take goo

t it was I wanted to tell you-but I remember now. I've seen it!-seen t

t, he said respectfully: "It is just possible, your honour, this woman might b

children?" the Count snapped, and he

and the fog so dense that the Count, though he knew the city, was soon at a total loss as to his whereabouts. But on and on the woman went, now deviating to the right, now t

with the agility of an acrobat. The Count, in attempting to imitate her, damaged his knee and tore his clothes, but he also landed safely on the other side. Then on they went, Martha with unabated energy, the Count horribly exhausted, and beginning to think of turning back, when they were abruptly brought to a standstill. The walls of some building loomed right ahead of them. The object of their pursuit, again visible, darted through a doorway; whilst Martha

y corner were mangled human remains; whilst stretched on the ground, opposite the doorway, lay the body of Martha, her face unrecognizable and her breast and stomach ripped right open. This was terrible enough, but more terrible by far was the author of it all, who, having cast aside wraps, now stood ful

ng Van Breber would permit. Whatever the thing was-beast or devil-it had caused him endless trouble, and if allowed to get away now, would go on with its escapades, an

shut his eyes. When he opened them he no longer saw the hairy visage of a wolf-he was gazing fondly into the dying eyes of his beautiful and much-loved wi

in her arms. "It was the water!-the water I drank in the Harz Mountains! I hav