Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/107

 "This done, he went into the middle of the cellar, assigning us our places; then he strewed sand on the ground, drew a circle with his wand, and began again to read in his book, amid horrible convulsions. Now he brandished his wand, pronouncing three times with a most tremendous voice, the same word he had made use of in the burying vault, A flash of lightning hissed through the cellar, à clap of thunder shook the subterraneous fabric, all the doors, save that which had been sealed up, were suddenly forced open, with a thundering noise, the lamp was extinguished, and a blue light reflected in a grisly manner, from the staircase against the damp wall; woful groans, lamentations, and the dismal clashing of chains, resounded through the spacious caverns. The noise seemed to come from the staircase, gentle steps were heard, a numerous troop seemed to be descending into the cellar; the lamentations and the woful groans advanced nearer, and louder resounded the clashing of chains:"