Page:Account of some imaginary apparitions (NLS104186561).pdf/4

( 4 ) ſtaring eyes which, as he ſaid, looked him full in the face.

Then he was heartily frighted; but by this time he heard his man Gervais coming up. When Gervais came near, the firſt thing he heard his maſter ſay, wasBleſs me, it is the Devil! at which Gervais, awow ſpirited fellow, was as much frighted as his maſter, however his maſter a little encouraged to hear his man ſo near him, preſs'd his horſe once more, and called aloud to Gervais to come; but he, as I ſaid, being frighted too, made no haſte; at length with much ado his maſter: ſpurring his horſe again, got over the bridge, and paſſed by the creature with broad eyes, which (the light a little increaſing he affirmed poſitively, when he was paſſed, was a great black Bear, and conſequently muſt be the Devil.

Tho' Gervais was near-enough, yet fearing his maſter would let him to go before, he kept us for off as he could: When his maſter called he anſwered indeed, but did not come on, at leaſt did not make much haſte; but feeing his maſter was gone paſt, and that he himſelf was then obliged to foltow, he went on ſoftly, and when he came to the bridge, he ſaw what his maſters horſe ſnorted at, and refuſed to go on; of which you ſhall hear more preſently.

His maſter's horſe being got paſt the difficulty, needed no ſpurs, but (as frighted horſes will ſlew away like the wind; and the rain continuing, his maſter, who on many accounts was willing to be at home, let him