Phantastes, A Faerie Romance

His ghoul-eyes and his ghastly face fascinated me. He came stooping,

with the hideous hand outstretched, like a beast of prey. I had given

myself up to a death of unfathomable horror, when, suddenly, and just as

he was on the point of seizing me, the dull, heavy blow of an axe

echoed through the wood, followed by others in quick repetition. The

Ash shuddered and groaned, withdrew the outstretched hand, retreated

backwards to the mouth of the cave, then turned and disappeared amongst

the trees. The other walking Death looked at me once, with a careless

dislike on her beautifully moulded features; then, heedless any more

to conceal her hollow deformity, turned her frightful back and likewise

vanished amid the green obscurity without. I lay and wept. The Maid of

the Alder-tree had befooled me--nearly slain me--in spite of all the

warnings I had received from those who knew my danger.