Cruel As The Grave

"Well, at all events, what we have both, either separately or together,

seen and experienced, must be something perfectly natural and

commonplace, although we may not either of us be able to understand or

explain it. My private opinion and worse misgiving is, that there is

some woman concealed about the place. If ever I find myself in arm's

length of that little gipsy, I shall intercept her, even at the risk of

receiving such a spiritual-shock as that which struck Mrs. Alicia

Dubarry to the ground," said Lyon, facetiously; for he might well make a

jest of this lighter affair of the chapel mystery to veil the deep

anxiety he felt in the heavy matter of their affliction.

The husband and wife passed this second day of hiding tediously enough.

She made the little housekeeping corner of the chapel tidy, by folding

up and putting aside all their bedclothes and garments, and by washing

and arranging their few cooking utensils. He brought in wood and brush,

which he broke up and piled in another corner, to have it near at hand

to replenish the fire. Also, he brought water from the spring; and then

with no other instrument than his pocket-knife, he made a trap and set

it to catch rabbits.

Then they rambled together through the wilderness around the chapel, and

the better they grew acquainted with the wild neighborhood, the surer

they felt of their safety in its profound solitude.

Their only anxiety connected with their security in this place, was upon

the subject of the mysterious visitant. It was incomprehensible by any

known law of nature.

They talked of this mystery. They reverted to all the so-called

"authenticated ghost stories" that they had ever read or heard, and that

they had hitherto set down to be either impostures or delusions.

But now here was a fact in their own experience that utterly confounded

their judgment, and the end of their discussion on the subject left them

just where they had been at its commencement. They resolved, however, to

divulge the whole matter to Captain Pendleton, to whom they had not yet

even hinted it, and to ask his counsel; and they looked forward with

impatience to the evening visit of this devoted friend.

As it was growing cold towards the setting of the sun they turned their

steps again towards the chapel. It was quite dark when they reached it.

Their fire had nearly gone out, but he replenished it, and she began to

prepare the evening meal.

While she was still engaged in this work, the sound of approaching

footsteps warned them that Captain Pendleton was near. Lyon Berners went

out to meet him.