On a mountain was a castle surrounded by high walls and often flames were seen rising from behind the walls. One day, an old woman collecting firewood on the mountainside, strayed near the castle. The castle appeared to be desolate and in ruins, but she was curious and went in to look around. She went through the ruins till she reached a courtyard in which a table was laid and many noblemen and ladies sat there. They were being served a meal by many servants. One of the servants came to her and dropped a gold coin in her apron pocket. Immediately, the spirits at the table and the meal, everything vanished! The frightened old woman ran out and met a guard outside. He was carrying his head under his arm and she was even more terrified! “Don’t tell anyone about this castle,” warned the headless ghost, “Or evil will fall upon you!” The woman ran home.
The Vanishing People
The old woman kept silent, but somehow it came to the ears of the elders. The magistrate asked her about the castle, but she said she would be in dire peril if she uttered a word! Threatening her, the magistrate got the whole story out of her. Immediately, the old woman vanished and was never seen! A few years later, a young knight came there and heard the story. Sure, that he could discover the castle’s secret, he rode up to it. On the way, he was warned six times not to go any further, but he kept going. At the castle gates, he met the same headless spirit, who asked, “Who are you?” “It’s I,” said the knight. But that was no introduction, so the guard asked him again, but he remained silent. Instead, he drew his sword, but a horseman came out, lifted him on his horse and vanished. No one saw the knight again!
