Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/256

 All eagerly engaged in the pursuit: the savage was fleet as a deer, and finally eluded his pursuers.

While their attention was thus engaged abroad, he that remained found means to extricate his wrists and ankles from his bonds; and betaking himself to the stairs, escaped, as I before described, through the window of the room which I had occupied. They pestered me with their curiosity and wonder, for I was known to all of them; but, waving the discussions of my own concerns, I entreated their assistance to carry Clithero to the chamber and the bed which I had just deserted.

I now, in spite of pain, fatigue, and watchfulness, set out to go to Walton's. Sarsefield was ready to receive me at the door, and the kindness and compassion of the family were active in my behalf. I was conducted to a chamber, and provided with suitable attendance and remedies.

I was not unmindful of the more deplorable condition of Clithero: I incessantly meditated on the means for his relief. His case stood in need of all the vigilance and skill of a physician, and Sarsefield was the only one of that profession whose aid could be seasonably administered: Sarsefield, therefore, must be persuaded to bestow this aid.

There were but two modes of conquering his abhorrence of this man:—to prepossess my friend with the belief of the innocence of Clithero, or to soothe him into pity by a picture of remorse and suffering. The latter could best be done, and in a manner most conformable to truth, by a simple recital of the incidents that had befallen, and by repeating the confession which had been extorted from Clithero.

I requested all but my friend to leave my chamber; and then, soliciting a patient hearing, began the narrative of Waldegrave's death—of the detection of Clithero beneath the shade of the elm—of the suspicions which were thence produced, and of the forest interview to which these suspicions gave birth: I then repeated, without variation or addition, the tale which was then told; I likewise mentioned my subsequent transactions in Norwalk, so far as they illustrated the destiny of Clithero.

During this recital, I fixed my eyes upon the