Her father, who truly loved her, placed the poor girl in a boat, and rowed up the river to where a good view of the castle was gained. She gazed with tears on the spot, and prayed for the welfare of Kuno.
While gazing, a sound of horns and of dogs swept down the valley, and as the shouting grew nearer Count Kuno was seen, with his young haughty bride riding near him. Kuno, at seeing the girl in the boat, started, and uttered her name. The young bride grew jealous, and questioned the Count as to what he knew of the girl. He replied, she was nothing to him; and, to pacify her, launched an arrow at his former love.
The shot took effect, and the father, rushing to save her, overbalanced the boat, and both father and daughter sank down for ever.
Beilstein is not over-clean, although a stream runs through it; but then it is the essence of picturesqueness, which more than makes up. It seems to have been in former days a place of some importance, but with the decay of the castle the town itself has decayed, and the walls crumble down, and the houses are empty.
Many Jews live here, and it is said the dark-eyed Jewesses are very beautiful, and extremely inquisitive about strangers, asking them many questions.
A series of valleys—all wooded, and watered, and pleasant—lie at the back of Beilstein. Unfortunately the inns are very poor, so it is not a good place to stop at; but if not very fastidious, the accommodation will suffice for two or three nights; and the white wine is good.
There still remain considerable portions of wall and fragments of towers of the castle of Beilstein. Its situation is very happily chosen for both beauty and strength. On the side over the town an ascent is impossible. A narrow ridge connects the castle with the neighbouring mountains; along this ridge is a path, which conducts us through fruit-trees and vineyards to an old burial-ground, filled with tombstones with Hebrew inscriptions. Here the Jews are buried apart.
On the opposite side of our river is Poltersdorf, or the village of blustering fellows; so called, because its inhabitants were always quarrelling with those of the neighbouring hamlets.
The scenery from Beilstein to Cochem is not to be surpassed on our river. There are mountains, beautiful churches and villages, trees, rocks, and water, with happy faces smiling from under their picturesque head-dresses.