The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-01
f L O R [ N E
PRINCESS OF BURGUNDY
A TALE OF THE FIRST CRUSADERS.
By WILLIAM BERNARD MAC CABE.


Chapter IT.-The Story Of the Man-eater Of Mas- |
con, Concluded.
"There was the stiffness of midday in the
forest as " passed from the chapel on the way
to tho woodman's hut The fervent rays OF the
sun could not penetrate through the thick
foliage Of the trees, but still there vas glow
ing heat in the air which seemed to Cypress
into inaction every description of animal life.
of profound reposc around us. The birds were
silent, and even the hum of insects had ceased.
felt an indies cribable thrill of terror as OBJ
served the ghost-like form of my father moving
noiselessly but slowly forward and when
reached the spot where 1 had last seen the
woodman, had scarcely strength to clap my
hands as l had been directed.
"My father turned suddenly round he
heard the noise, fixed his eyes steadily on me,
then pointing upwa Yards towards the SIX as If
bidding me commend myself to the protection
of Heaven, he blessed himself ON the forehead,
smiled, and then suddenly disappeared.
GAS my father made the sign of the cross on
the moment ary tremor that 1 had experienced
seemed to have vanishedI not only from my
limbs but my heart; and knowing that was
alone and @ IL
was prepared to meet every peril and to en-
counter every danger.
81 stood thus, suppose, for about five min
utes, when to my surprise heard sounds as If
they came from some place under ground. The
sounds were like to those of person singing
some merry song. 1knelt down as l heard III the
put my ear close to the ground, but as did so
the noise was no longer to be heard. con-
cluded, therefore, that from whatever place
the singing came, 10 could not be directly nm
der the spot where was standing. proceed
ed then TO walk cautiously around the place,
and as did SO saw that was much nearer
supposed, that the pathway must have made q
circular bend, from the place where last saw
my father, tow ards the hut; and as this thought
Was passing through my mind, aud the words
nfx nA
that could recognize the voice of the singer
to be my lost companion Ralph, the earth on
ssa .tsnang SLIPPED e sSss e dSs hike
mont was standing in the open air in the
zaidst Of the forest, and the next was in q
dark hols under gsouIsd ssd Tor foot
gave utterance to NO cry as fell my
FIRST impulse in the midst Of the binding dark.
nees in which WAS immersed, wac to feel If
to try if my bow was uninSured and my arrows
unbroke and as was 90 engaged, the merry
song of Ralph was going ON, but now quite
close to my ear, but still the singer remained
All could at first discern was a light di.
rectly over the hole or trap down which had
fallen, and next that there was light on level
with my eyes at q considerable distance, and
like to that which appears to one whom stand
ing in the depth of long cavern land he looks
back towards its mouth by which he had en-
"At length my eyes became accustomed to
the obscurfty into which had been so sud-
denly and unexpectedly plunged, and one by
one the objects came out, as 1t were, OF the
mist in which they had, been enshrouded, and
were distinctly visible. The first things that
attracted my gaze were the dry bones that Lay
in heap beneath me, and Immediately per:
ceived they were the same as those at when !
had often looked in the graveyard at Mascon
There were the legs, and arms, and thigh bones
and skulls of human beingsF
"Ijumped up with horror from my restang
place. and as did SO, bounded close to table
on which there was lying skull, white rs pot'
ished ivory, and on that skull was resting "a @
hand of my companion Ralph; and there
was he, playing with IL and singing TO it q
merry song and utterly unco1scious, as 1T
seemed to me, either of tho place where he was
or what he was doing.
"'Ralph, Ralph said I, what is she matter
with youf Why are you heres Do you know
what You are doing t~>S--.J -.
Do know what / ana doing answered
Ralph. Do know what m-doipg, quotha
Do know what an doingf he he 1! the poor
boy said, eiggling like an idiot. Do know
what am doing7 He he he! Look here,
Guy, don't you sec what am doingf I am
playing vtSh q brd's nest, here IL is, the sweet
pretty birds nest Peters SON promised rs. Hot
hei he | do q know what am dvipRf Did you
ever see aSbird,s nest as white as thatf. oh !
Guy, thai. Jolly good Peter, the Toodman. has
head viii g noe itds peat a. thst' he s
Has givenOHhe 9usE @dehetcOs, rose H0et.ts 9