Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/192

 shall have been an occular witness of an experiment of that kind."

The Austrian replied not a word to that speech, but rose and took up his hat in dumb silence.

"But, pray Sir," resumed another, "have you had no farther account of Volkert? Did he never return from his recruiting business."

"He is dead," replied the Austrian.

"Dead!" we repeated with one voice.

"He is," repeated the old veteran, coolly, "he met with a sad misfortune in the second year of his employment, ten of his best recruits gave him the slip, and, being called to an account for his negligence, he fell a victim of wild despair, blowing his brains out."