Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/114

 on the staircase, but all our waiting and listening was fruitless, no cheering sound of human footsteps would gladden our desponding hearts."

"I will not torment you by vain apprehensions," began the Lieutenant, at length, "however we seem to be doomed to destruction, yet let us try if we cannot escape some way or other, come down with me into the cellar, there we will have a better chance to espy an outlet than here."

"We descended, with trembling knees, without saying a word, and groped along in the dark a good while, knocking our heads against the damp wall, and the iron doors: Alas! our search seemed to be in vain, and the grim spectre of a lingering death stared us grisly in the face, my feet could support me no longer, and I dropped down wearied with anxiety."