count’s finances now soon relapsed into their former state, the tournaments discontinued, the knights and squires disappeared, the castle fell into its pristine appearance and solitude, and the noble family once more resumed their frugal potatoe meals. The count, again ill humoured, took to the fields, wishing for new adventures, but shunning the bewitched forest found none. Following once a covey of partridges, he advanced farther than usual, and arrived close to the dreaded forest; not daring to enter it, he went along its borders, and perceived an immense fish pond, which he had never seen before, and through whose crystal waters he saw innumerable trout disporting in the limpid wave. He was much pleased at the discovery, and as the pond had a very innocent exterior, he hurried home to make a net to ensnare its mute imhabitants. Next morning at an early hour he reached the pond and chanced to find a little boat lying on the rushes—he jumped into it, rowed merrily about, cast the net, caught at one draught more trout than he could carry, and then delighted with his prize, made for the shore. When about a stone’s throw from the bank, the boat suddenly stopped and became immoveable, as if fastened to the ground. The count believed that it
