Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/89

 and joined the jovial songsters with all their might: Thus we chased away the sweet god of sleep, who seemed not in the least to relish the disharmonious notes of our jolly companions."

"Now the Lieutenant beckoned to the blithsome crew, and the clamorous noise was suddenly hushed in awful silence. It struck twelve o'clock, the sound of horns and the trampling of horses was heard at a distance. The peasants listened, their mouths wide open, and gazed at each other struck with chilly terror: No sound was heard, except the palpitating of their hearts, and here and there the chattering of teeth—all of them moved their lips as if praying ardently. The noise came nearer and nearer, and now it seemed to be in the castle. Again every thing was silent, but in an instant the former noise struck once more our listening ears, and the infernal hosts rushed by like lightning—the Lieutenant, the Baron and I darted through the passage leading to the gate, but the airy gen-