The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-11-11
[cosrrsuEp FROM FOURTH pAcE.l

snarp wnen ye get aooon the btim % the hills
sboni u.s.,
The party gave ready assent. A black
cup was filed from a huge bottle. and the liquor
was both potent and well favored.
Art thou alone here 7 euquired DE Wilton,
looking ronnd upon the rushss and heather
strewed about in the shape Of bed furniture.
Sometimes. said their host, rather dog.
gedly
He went TO the door, through which still
cold stream Of moonlight now penetrated, in
beautiful contrast with the red and fckerine
glare within. Returning, he said, Our time
is near by-and now for work. You'd please
10 put off your weakeus before we Begin
He pointed to the rapiers as he spoke: their
clOaks being thrown open for the full influence
Of the blaze. They nnloosed their belts--but
DE Wilton looked uneasy and suspicious on
this demand. The scene, the circumstances
altogether wore an aspect that seemed to Justify
more than ordinary doubt and apprehension.--
lie, however, in some measure chided away
these misgivings, and dofied his defence es ia 81.
lenee, when he saw Hubert, nnhesatipgy lay
aside his own.
Ha' ye any charms. amulets, or other dc.
vices Rosaries an a. scline mann he left be.
hind
Miles pulled out sundry odd scraps-sainis'
reicts, and other gear Hubert drew forth a
lock Of hair from his lady love. and his friend
counter charm against sorcery aud witchcrait.
The torch was kinJled-ther new guide
gave 10 each staff TO assist them up the as
sen,-himself preceding with the light, and
Miles brought upthe rear. Their toll was ar
dons, owing to the unstable materials and the
slippery state Of their path. Loose alumni. rock
slid from under their feet, often rendering il
uncertain whether they had nj all expedited
their journey by these everions.
Their conductor had taken the prccauiion
"a bind wsps Of straw about his feet and his
progress was thereby sufficiently facilitated to
enable him to lend helping hand when requlr-
ed hv his followers.
The monn was now riding towards The mcri-
dian silvery mist lay quietly out stretched
like winding like, showing all The sinuosiries
Of the valley, above which the hills and The
moorlands rose out like snowny islands from
The deep. In about an hour with much ado.
hy dint Of iumbing and scr,mblins, they ar
rived at "A narrow ledge, about midway from the |
summit. Here their guide tarried. and each
in iuru was safely stationed on this slippery
platform.
Lay your offerings here said he, pointing |
10 hollow place scooped out Of the rock
This being done, he held torch so that they |
behrld low cavity, little bigger than were one |
person might crawl through on all fours. How
do YOU chose 10 consult 2 he continued, to-
ceiher alone =
After whisper with his friend Do Wilton
said. II there be space we had as lief essay
this adventure together
Enter, and will give You the torch said
their crusiy guide I've known as valiant
knights as ye be, nightly afeard o. the dark. -
III wait outside here with your serving man.
an help ye down again
And what is it we do when fairly within. J
should we conclude To enter that evil looking
riace =
Ye will see n cleft in the rock TO the righi
hand. Enquire there, after which lay your ear
close and listen
De Wilton did not feel qume assured by the
manner Of their conductor, which was certainly
not calculated to aay suspicion, but it was 100
LATE 10 retract, and there would probably be
more risk in display ofapprebension than in
boldly Drawing out the danger. STOPPING down
he took the light, and, creeping on his knees,
was followed by his friend. They soon found
themselves able to walk upright. He raised
the torch and saw small cavern, rugged, and
of an irregular shape, as though nature more
than art had a SHIRE in its construction. The
floor was wet. and the whole had chill and
sepulchral look, as though il were the very |
ihreshold OF the grave. lie shuddercd, rs. side |
by side, they surveyed this mysterious recess. |
Ii was not more than three or four yards wide |
no roof could be distinguished through the
az though vent or outlet existed in that drec-
tion. Shiny exudations irickled down the walls,
rank and discoored with lurd patches Of dis
cordant hue. Looking more closely. they
were soon aware Of the crevices alluded to,
where The questions were delivered. Though |
possessed ola more than ordinary share of animal
courage, De Wilton could have wished the
conversation had commenced by the unseen.
il assurcdly required some resolution to put
thc first question. lie carefully looked round. |
As far as the eye could penetrate there was no,
an individual beside themselves within. lie
drew back once--the words iroze on his lips
a chill and sckcning shuddrr almost paralyzcd
his faculties Gliding himself for this pusllan-
iiy, and with more desperation probably than
true courage, he sharply enquired, Are wo OBJ
served =
Yes
The answer came hack in a loud whisper, as
though other lips were close TO his cars. He
started back, looked ronpd, and met the cnquir.
ing glance of his companion. ..
'Didst hear ought ? said De Wilton has
iily.
Nothing. save a soft whisper-thc sound
was inartcuate, to me at least.
After short pause he again pursued the en-. :
curry. - Ii
BY whom =
Ask nOt-hey be idle in,crrosatories,' was
the answer.
Heardcst thou these = again he demanded {
OF fiurbert. I
heard whisper only. Words, if any,
were inaudiblc.'
Sir John Neville is amissng, knowe.t
thou ought touching his departure , was the I
next question.
And was il for this thou earnest hithcrl 4
rrow not. There is a fair form and bright
eye Iha, is even now uppermos, in thy thoughts.
II not foremost on thy tongue said the voice.
IN sharp quick Whisper rather louder than
before
knowes, thou this mysterious visiior,'
he witch Of Roseberry Topping hath eyes I