Little villages nestled in the woods, or stood by the river bank, and a fairer scene could not be witnessed in Europe.
"That is Rotherheim," the knight said, pointing to a fortress standing on a crag, which rose high above the woods around it; "and that," he said, pointing to another some four miles away, similarly placed, "is my own." Cuthbert examined closely the fortress of Rotherheim.

It was a large building, with towers at the angles, and seemed to rise almost abruptly from the edge of the rock.

Inside rose the gables and round turrets of the dwelling-place of the baron; and the only access was by a steep winding path on the river side.
"It is indeed a strong place," Cuthbert said, "and difficult to take by surprise.

A watch no doubt is always kept over the entrance, and there we can hope for no success.

The only plan will be to scale the wall by means of a ladder; but how the ladder is to be got to so great a height, I own at present passes my comprehension." After much thought, Cuthbert went on, "It might, methinks, be practicable for an archer to approach the walls, and to shoot an arrow over the angle of the castle so that it would pass inside the turret there, and fall in the forest beyond.