Three of these leaned against the wall, and only the Earl von Klettenberg stood upright; to him, therefore, the victory was awarded.
He resolved to show himself to the people as the winner, and commanded his horse to be brought. Four of his attendants lifted the Earl into the saddle, and he rode through the village.
As he reached the St. Nicholas Church, he heard the chanting of vespers, rode through the open door into the church, and spurred on his horse till he had ridden through the congregation, whose vesper-chant changed to terror and dismay.
But as he reached the steps of the altar, all the four horse-shoes fell off, and the horse and his rider sank to the ground.
The four huge horse-shoes were nailed to the church door, where they remained for centuries, and the awful tale was oft related to trembling listeners.
At last a fire destroyed the church, and the four horse-shoes are unhappily lost.
The Needle's Eye
Near Kloster Ilfeld, close by the chaussée, stands on a mountain a huge boulder, which has a small hole through the centre.
All the servants from Nordhausen and the other surrounding places, when they drive into the forest the first time for wood, must creep three times through this hole—which is only done with difficulty; and as they creep in, and on the opposite side out, their comrades lash them with their whips.