Gluck looking out at the Golden River _H. D. Linton_ 32 The Golden Dwarf appearing to Gluck _G. and E. Dalziel_ 36 Gluck looking up the Chimney _H. Orrin Smith_ 39 The Black Brothers beating Gluck _C. S. Cheltnam_ 40 Hans and Schwartz fighting _H. Orrin Smith_ 41 Schwartz before the Magistrate _C. S. Cheltnam_ 42 Hans and the Dog _H. Orrin Smith_ 47 The Black Stone _G. and E. Dalziel_ 50 Initial Letter--Gluck releasing Schwartz _G. and E. Dalziel_ 51 Schwartz ascending the Mountain _H. Orrin Smith_ 53 Initial Letter--Gluck ascending the Mountain _H. Orrin Smith_ 56 Priest giving Gluck Holy Water _G. and E. Dalziel_ 57 Gluck and the Child _C. S. Cheltnam_ 59 THE KING OF THE GOLDEN RIVER; OR, THE BLACK BROTHERS. CHAPTER I. HOW THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM OF THE BLACK BROTHERS WAS INTERFERED WITH BY SOUTH-WEST WIND, ESQUIRE. [Illustration] In a secluded and mountainous part of Stiria there was, in old time, a valley of the most surprising and luxuriant fertility. It was surrounded, on all sides, by steep and rocky mountains, rising into peaks, which were always covered with snow, and from which a number of torrents descended in constant cataracts. One of these fell westward, over the face of a crag so high, that, when the sun had set to everything else, and all below was darkness, his beams still shone full upon this waterfall, so that it looked like a shower of gold. It was, therefore, called by the people of the neighbourhood, the Golden River. It was strange that none of these streams fell into the valley itself. They all descended on the other side of the mountains, and wound away through broad plains and by populous cities. But the clouds were drawn so constantly to the snowy hills, and rested so softly in the circular hollow, that in time of drought and heat, when all the country round was burnt up, there was still rain in the little valley; and its crops were so heavy, and its hay so high, and its apples so red, and its grapes so blue, and its wine so rich, and its honey so sweet, that it was a marvel to every one who beheld it, and was commonly called the Treasure Valley.