Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/49

 This done, I considered whether I should go to bed, and thus deceive my host, which, on mature deliberation, I thought would be the best.

With that intention I took my lamp to see whether the bed was fastened, lest I might sink down with it into the cellar. Though this apprehension was groundless, I made another discovery which thrilled my soul with horror: Perceiving traces of blood on the pillow, I was seized with a sudden terror, my hands trembled violently, the lamp fell on the floor, and I was in the dark.

As soon as I had recovered a little from my fright, I searched for my pistols, groping about a good while before I could find them in the dark. My fear abated a little when I found them at last, after a long and fruitless search, and I sat myself down on a little stool by the bed-side, listening whether any body was coming. All was quiet at first, but after a quarter of an hour I heard somebody enter-