"First," said the old man, "do you recollect last summer I showed you the remains of an old chapel all overgrown with ivy and other creeping plants, that is called the chapel of Wolfsbuhl?"
"O yes, quite well; on the top of a high hill, is it not?"
"It is; well, there is connected with that old chapel, the story of a Wolf-slayer. And it is that which I am about to tell you now. What sort of an animal is a wolf?"
"A cowardly, ferocious beast," said one.
"He is something like a dog, but larger and stronger," said another.
"He is generally of a pale gray color," said a third.
"And do you recollect," said the grandfather, "whether there is any Bible text concerning the wolf?"
Annie slowly repeated the words, "'Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.'"
"Quite right; now for the story."
The whole of the party drew nearer to the fire, another log was cast upon the blazing pile, the children were all attention, and just as there was a temporary lull in the storm without, the old man began:—