“Father!” murmured Catherine.
“Oh, Kate!” was the response, followed immediately by the sound of violent crying, and Catherine knew her father was there. “Oh, Kate! if I—I had but l-listened to you!” sobbed the poor fellow; for, now that the discovery was too late to avail him, he felt perfectly sure of his daughter’s superior intelligence. Then, with much sobbing, he recounted all the particulars of his interview with the baron. “Can’t you do something to get your poor old father out?” continued he.
Kate was thoughtful for a moment. “I’ll try, father,” said she, at length; and, bidding him a hasty adieu, she hurried off. She ran, without stopping, to where the little cottage stood in the forest; but, as you have already probably guessed, the old man was the Kaboutermanneken, his day’s visit was over, and he had descended once more into the obscurity of the earth; consequently Catherine, much to her perplexity, could not discover the little cottage. After vainly seeking for some time, she at length saw the hopelessness of her task, and wended her way sorrowfully homeward. She lay awake nearly all night, vainly cudgeling her brains for some plan by which to deliver her father from his confinement. At length an idea occurred to her, and, smiling to herself, she turned on her pillow and fell asleep until the sun shining in her eyes awakened her. Then, arising, she donned her best frock and neatest cap, and proceeded to the Castle Dunderhead. She was directly presented to the baron.
“My lord!” said she, falling upon her knees.
“Well, my pretty damsel,” said he; for Kate looked very sweet in her saucy cap.
“My lord,” continued she, and the tears rose to her eyes as she spoke; “you have my father in custody.”
“Ha!” exclaimed the baron, frowning,—“Peter Kurtz?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Bring forth Peter Kurtz!” cried the baron to the guard, and soon Peter made his appearance, crying like a good fellow. “Now that I have you confronted with each other,” continued the baron, “where did your father get that cup?”
“He did not get it, my lord; an old man in the forest gave it to me,” answered Catherine.