Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/812

806 "In the last year of last century, mein Herr."

"Ha!" cried Tolnay, raising his head. "Then the devils have not had their due this time?"

"No, Herr Baron," said the Bohemian, with a feeble attempt at a sneer, – "not if we give credit to the stories of this ignorant people." But the contempt in his voice was not convincing; his simple soul could not quite escape the gloomy magic of the spot.

"Perhaps, though, their sable majesties will be content with the kids," remarked Kurt: "that immolation took place this century, you know."

"But it is a human victim they want," explained the Bohemian, with a rather inconsistent eagerness; "it is human blood which they must taste once in every hundred years: the god of the valley has sworn it on his club."

"And Hercules keeps his oaths," muttered István.

His tone was so strange, that Gretchen hurriedly turned to leave the spot.

"We can do no more for to-day," she said; "experiments need not only daylight, but also ropes and tools. Now that the spot is found, all will be easy."

"I am not so sure of that," said Mr Howard: "even now, enlightened as we are, we might stumble round and round the place for half an hour, or into it perhaps, before we knew where we were. That one tree is not guide enough; if you will keep your patience for half-a-dozen minutes longer, I shall press a few more of these giants into the sign-post service;" and he began unclasping his big English penknife, and prepared to attack the nearest beech-tree.

But Gretchen had been seized with a sudden violent desire to be away from the spot. Just as a minute ago she had felt drawn to linger, so was she now consumed by a fever to be gone.

"Leave it alone," she answered, impatiently; "we have already lost more time than we can afford, – and besides, it is getting too dark to see what you are cutting in the bark. Mr Howard, please, come away."

"As you command," said Mr Howard, slicing away doggedly at the beech-tree. " I shall leave the others alone; but just let me mark this one fellow. I am a practical Englishman, and it revolts my common-sense to leave the spot without having done something towards facilitating our next search."

"You are an obstinate and unpersuadable Englishman. But we are not going to stand by and watch you dig your crosses. There! if you will have the tree marked, do it this way;" and Gretchen pulled her handkerchief from her pocket, and twisted it round the lowest branch, knotting it fast with a double knot. "There! that is better than your pedantic cutting; it can be seen almost in the dark. Now, come away quick; let us lose no more time."

"I submit," said Mr Howard, reluctantly closing his knife. "But let us sum up the matter first: From the white mark, turn to the right – mind you, to the right; the hole lies sharp to the left."

"Yes, yes," said Gretchen, "that will do; let us go now."

They made their way back without much difficulty. It was not so dark now, for the moon was rising early, and poured through every loophole which the branches above afforded. They had never before been on the hills at so late an hour. But even with the possibility of robbers and bears before her eyes, Gretchen felt no apprehension: she