Left in the dark , her courage deserted her , and she screamed desperately , like a lost child , and was fast getting into a state of frantic terror , when the sound of an approaching step reassured her . Holding her breath , she heard a quick tread drawing nearer , as if guided by her cries , and , straining her eyes , she caught the outline of a man 's figure in the gloom . A sensation of intense joy rushed over her , and she was about to spring forward , when she remembered that as she could speak no German how could she explain her plight to the stranger , if he understood neither French nor English ? Fear took possession of her at the thought of meeting some rough peasant , or some rollicking student , to whom she could make no intelligible appeal or explanation . Crouching close against the wall , she stood mute till the figure was very near . She was in the shadow of an angle , and the man paused , as if looking for the person who called for help . `` Who is lost here ? '' said a clear voice , in German . Amy shrunk closer to the wall , fearing to speak , for the voice was that of a young man , and a low laugh followed the words , as if the speaker found the situation amusing . `` Mortal , ghost or devil , I 'll find it , '' exclaimed the voice , and stepping forward , a hand groped for and found her . `` Lottchen , is it thou ? Little rogue , thou shalt pay dearly for leading me such a chase . '' As he spoke he drew the girl toward him , but with a faint cry , a vain effort to escape , Amy 's terror reached its climax , and spent with fatigue and excitement , she lost consciousness . `` Who the deuce is it , then ? Lottchen never faints on a frolic . Some poor little girl lost in earnest . I must get her out of this gloomy place at once , and find her party afterward . '' Lifting the slight figure in his arms , the young man hurried on , and soon came out through a shattered gateway into the shrubbery which surrounds the base of the castle . Laying her on the grass , he gently chafed her hands , eying the pale , pretty face meantime with the utmost solicitude . At his first glimpse of it he had started , smiled and made a gesture of pleasure and surprise , then gave himself entirely to the task of recovering the poor girl whom he had frightened out of her senses .
Very soon she looked up with dizzy XXXXX , and clasping her hands imploringly , cried , in English , like a bewildered child , -- `` I am lost !
castle chase climax devil eyes joy person situation sound step