The Rider on the White Horse: Gothic Classic

Book excerpt: This eBook edition of "The Rider on the White Horse" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The novel tells the story of Hauke Haien, a young man from a small town in Northern Frisia. Hauke is the son of a farmer and licensed surveyor, and does his best to learn his father's trade. Over time, he becomes very familiar with the dykes along the local coast. When local Deichgraf Tede Volkerts fires one of his hands, Hauke applies for the job and is accepted. He soon becomes a great help for Volkerts, which makes Ole Peters, the senior hand, dislike him. Hauke shows interest in the Deichgraf's daughter, Elke, and proposes marriage. After the unexpected deaths of both Hauke's and Elke's fathers, the people of the village must choose a new Deichgraf. Hauke does not hold the necessary lands required for the position, but when Elke announces that they are engaged, the traditionalists are satisfied and Hauke becomes the new Deichgraf. However, the people soon start talking about his white horse, which they believe is a resurrected skeleton that used to be visible on a small island, but is now gone.