The Yellow Dog
Each night between eleven and twelve o’clock, a small, yellow dog could be seen on the road between Sergen and Gablenz. This dog barked at passers by, but otherwise did not harm anyone. Once, the local forester also walked along this road at night, accompanied by his own dog. The forester had never heard of this particular dog before, but then he spotted it nearby. The dog struck him as peculiar; he aimed his rifle and attempted to shoot it, but missed even though his target was very close. Now the yellow dog went after the huntsman. The latter realized that this was no ordinary dog, threw his rifle away, and ran away hurriedly. His own dog ran after him and huddled against him while whining fearfully. At full run he reached the pub in Gablenz. The innkeeper hurriedly barred the door after the forester when he saw the latter race into the chamber in such a state of distress. At this moment the clock struck twelve o’clock, and an enormous crack was audible outside as if a cannon had been shot. Since then, the dog has not appeared to anyone else.
Source: Veckenstedt - Wendische Sagen, Märchen und abergläubige Gebräuche, p. 410f
Geographic Coordinates: 51° 41' 36.18" N, 14° 30' 16.55" E
 Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles: Commentaries on German folklore. Get the book for further context and explanatory commentary! |