Page:Storys (sic) of The wild huntsman.pdf/17

17 They soon reached the hovel from which the light proceeded, and the Count, striking violently with his riding: whip against the door, the window was opened, and a miserble-looking old woman put forth her head, demanding, in a tremulous voice, 'what was wanted?' The figure of this withered cron, strongly relieved as it was by the light of the pine logs, which burnt upon her hearth was certainly not calculated to repel supernatural fears, and Christian devoutly crossed himself, as he heard his master inquire of her for Francis

'Italian Francis!' shrieked the woman: 'why devils themselves would fear to seek him on such a night as this. It is the eve of All Souls, and on this night Satan has him under full controul.'

Nevertheless, I must see him if possible, and I shall be obliged to you, good mother, to show me the road to his dwelling.'

'You might as well expect the moon for a football,' said the old woman, 'as turn a wilful man from his way. However, it is no fault of mine.' And with evident reluctance, she gave the required direction.

Christian's terrors increased with every step, and even Otto felt uneasy; for the thickness of the trees now quite obscured their path, and the stillness of the night was broken only by the pattering of the horses'