Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/211

 "Don't ask questions but come and see;" so saying, he dragged me forcibly after him."

"As we proceeded the forest grew more and more intricated, impenetrable and gloomy: None of us spoke a word until I was suddenly roused from my apathy by the whistle of my leader: I looked around and beheld myself at the declivity of a steep rock, projecting over a deep cavern. A second whistle answered from the womb of the rock, and a ladder rose slowly from the abyss, a thundering voice hallooed from the deep, and the winding cavern echoed to the sound. My leader descended, first bidding me to wait 'till he should return. 'I first must secure the mastiff which guards the entrance to our abode,' he said, 'thou art a stranger, and the ferocious beast would tear thee to pieces.'—So saying, he disappeared."