The Alpine Horse-phantom

On the high Alp, called Els, in the Hinderdux, resides a mountain

spirit, which the inhabitants of the surrounding country are unable

to paint horribly enough. It is described as a terrible horse-phantom,

which nobody dare approach, and which snorts fever and death

wheresoever it goes. Many mountaineers and gazelle-hunters have met

with their death by this spirit, and only he is safe who has gun,

sword, and dogs with him.

One day a courageous Alpine hunter resolved to go and fight the

mountain ghost, so he loaded his rifle with a crossed bullet, and

climbed up the mountain. Not far from the hut, which stands on the Els

Alp, is a cross, at which he knelt and repeated a prayer, and he had

scarcely left the spot, when a little grey mountain dwarf drew near to

him, and begged for a little bread and brandy. The huntsman shared with

the dwarf his bread and smoked-gazelle meat; after which the little

grey man told him to go back, and bring his gun, sword, and dogs, or

else he would be powerless against the mountain ghost, who otherwise

would smash him into pieces. The gazelle-hunter followed this advice,

and soon returned to execute his courageous purpose.

But it happened far otherwise than he had expected. The mountain

ghost, in the form of a horrible horse, appeared, and galloped upon him

with tremendous fury, snorting fire and sulphurous smoke, stamping, and

roaring, and neighing so loud, that the very mountain shook with the

sound; then he shouted to the huntsman with a voice of thunder, “You

rascal, if you had not gun, sword, and dogs with you, I should smash

you to pieces.”

At this reception, the huntsman stood like one petrified; his teeth

chattered, and all desire to fight with a ghost passed away for ever

from his mind. The horse-phantom then turned his heels and galloped

back again to the Gletscherwand, from whence he had come.