“At the very beginning of it all,” and, as he spoke, Fritz drew nearer to Katrina. They were filled with a curiosity to hear what the strange voice might have to tell them.
“Then you would have me to relate how the Wartburg came into existence? To do that, I must go back very far,—yes, even far beyond the time of my own presence here. Well, if you will have it so, then follow the directions that I give you. Go, both of you, and study carefully that great stone pillar near the entrance yonder. Come back, and tell me what you find carved upon its double capital.”
Hand in hand the children went. Then, after gazing long at the figure carved on the crumbling pillar, they returned and said:
“It was the queerest-looking man with a long beard, and he seemed to be springing from a rock.”
“Just so,” the voice replied. “The image you saw was that of the founder of this castle, and his name was Ludwig the Leaper.”
“Ludwig the Leaper!” Fritz exclaimed. “How did anybody ever come to have such a funny name as that?”
“It is exactly what I am about to tell you,” said the voice with some impatience; “do not interrupt me. You shall hear it all in time. It was in the year 1067,” the voice went on to say, “that Ludwig, while riding through the country, came upon this beautiful hill. He saw that it was a splendid site on which to build a castle, and with joy exclaimed:
“‘Wart Berg, du sollst mir eine Berg werden.’[1]
[1] “Wait Hill, thou shalt become my hold.”
“And very soon this stronghold was begun. A severe famine fell upon the land during the time the castle was being built, and every stone meant bread for the hungry poor who helped in its construction. Some brought the rough stone from the quarry, while others cut it into blocks and got it ready for the builders.