Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/205

 "That is nothing to thee," so saying I wanted to pursue my way."

"Fairly and softly, my dear boy, why in such a hurry? What weighty business is it which makes thee run so fast?"

"I mused a moment, and cannot conceive what prompted me to reply in a slow accent, "life is short and hell everlasting."

"He stared at me with a ghastly look, "I will be damned," he resumed at length, if thou hast not stumbled against a gallows on thy way."

"It may come to that one time, farewell, comrade."

"Stay a moment longer," he exclaimed, "taking a tin bottle from his hunting pouch and offering it to me after he had swallowed a large draught: The hurry of my fright