The passage describes a moment of eerie realization as the narrator gradually distinguishes a dark shape in the moonlight. Initially obscured, the figure becomes clearer as the brightness of the half-moon intensifies. The figure is on a striking white horse, which adds to the surreal nature of the encounter, enhancing the sense of something otherworldly.

As the figure approaches, the details emerge: a dark mantle billows around him, and his pale face features two burning eyes that engage with the narrator. This vivid imagery evokes a feeling of unease and intrigue, capturing the essence of a ghostly presence or a spectral rider, which enriches the narrative atmosphere in Theodor Storm's novella.