Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/229

 cident, if not, an accident was connected with it, which has happened last night."

"My recruiting business having called me abroad yesterday, I returned in the afternoon; in the dusk of evening I entered a thicket, in a gloomy pensive mood, all around was lonely, and buried in profound silence; no sound was heard except the dismal dirge of the screech-owl, and the shrill chirping of the amorous cricket. At length I heard a whispering within a small distance, and cocking one of my pistols, I rode on with the greatest circumspection. At once I saw a manly figure coming out of the thicket, but could not distinguish his dress; advancing a little farther, I beheld somebody in a peasant's garb, walking on briskly and talking to himself. As I came up with him I ob-