[Illustration: Alfred Parsons F. D. Millet] THE DANUBE FROM THE BLACK FOREST TO THE BLACK SEA BY F. D. MILLET AUTHOR OF “A CAPILLARY CRIME” ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR AND ALFRED PARSONS [Illustration] NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE Copyright, 1892, by HARPER & BROTHERS. _All rights reserved._ “_Wenn ich dann zu Nacht alleine_ _Dichtend in die Wellen schau’,_ _Steigt beim blanken Mondenscheine_ _Auf die schmucke Wasserfrau_ _Aus der Donau_ _Aus der schönen, blauen Donau._” --BECK. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Black Forest--The Brigach and the Brege--The Highest Sources of the Danube--Journey thence from London--Villingen--Arrival at Donaueschingen--The Canoes and Outfit--Arbitrary Source of the Danube Page 1 CHAPTER II The Start--Swans and Spectators--The First Weir and First Luncheon--Society for the Preservation of the Banks of the Danube--Tuttlingen and Max Schneckenburger--First Public Performance at a Weir--First Night in Camp and a Spoiled Breakfast--Monastery of Beuron and its Monks--Crags and Castles 15 CHAPTER III Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern--Nuns at Riedlingen--Haymakers and Haymaking--The Last Weir--A Vigorous Current--The Confluence of the Iller and the Danube--Ulm and the Danube Rowing Club--Start from Ulm--Appointment of Camp-finder 32 CHAPTER IV Lauingen; Its Architecture and its People--Blenheim and Höchstädt--Donauwörth--Lumber-rafts and our Narrow Escape--Virtuous Vohburg--Roman Remains and one of the Scenes in the “Niebelungenlied”--Weltenburg Abbey--The Befreiungshalle and Kelheim--In Sight of Ratisbon 46 CHAPTER V Ratisbon; Its Architecture and its People--The Walhalla--The Plain of Straubing--A Summer Squall--A Typical Bavarian Farm-house--Visit to a Local Freight Flat-boat--Rowing Clubs at Deggendorf and at Winzer 59 CHAPTER VI Fourth of July at Passau--The Austrian Frontier--Through the Gorge in Rainy Weather--A Curious Ferry--A Brief Halt at Linz and a Camp at the Mouth of the Traun--Shooting the Rapids below Grein--Melk and the Pass below 74 CHAPTER VII