Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/81

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The Spectre Barber.
69

furnished, and served its present possessor, as a hunting seat. He often spent the day there in great splendour; but, whenever the stars appeared, he left it with all his followers, being terrified by the ghost, who roared and rattled through it all night, but was never seen or heard during the day. However unpleasant a guest this spectre might be to the lord of the castle, in other respects, he was, at least, a perfect protection against thieves or robbers, of whom none would venture near his abode.

It was quite dark when Frank, carrying a lanthern, and accompanied by his host, with a basket, arrived at the gates of the castle. The latter had provided a good supper and a bottle of wine, which he said he would not put in the bill, he had with him likewise two candlesticks and a pair of wax candles; for, in the whole castle, there was neither candlestick nor candles to be found, because nobody ever stopped there after twilight. As they were walking on, Frank, who had observed the heavy basket and the candles, which he thought