Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/104

 and darkness swayed all around; soon after we heard a gentle rustling just before us, and a faint glimmering was spreading through the gloomy vault. It grew lighter and lighter, and we soon perceived rays of dazzling light shooting from the marble coffin, the lid of which began to rise higher and higher—at once the whole vault was illuminated, and a grisly human figure rose slow and awful from the coffin. The phantom, which was wrapped up in a shroud, bore a dying aspect, it trembled violently as it rose, and emitted an hollow groan, looking around with chilly horror. Now the spectre descended from the pedestal, and moved with trembling steps and haggard looks towards the circle where we were standing."

"Who dares," groaned it, in a faltering hollow accent, "who dares to disturb the rest of the dead."

"And who art thou?" replied our leader, with a threatening frowning aspect, "who