were Romanists.

He could hear very little more about the ghost in the old oak, but he
promised next morning to examine the tree, and ascertain in which part
of it the spirit resided.

"You had better let he alone," observed the old man; "these sort of
gentry don't like anybody to come and pry after them. That's what I
think; and so I have let them alone, and he has never come to do me any
harm."

The guide and the two old people talked on for a considerable time; but
gradually to Jack's ears their voices grew less and less distinct, till
his head dropped on the table, and he fell fast asleep. How long he had
been asleep he could not tell, but when he awoke he found himself
stretched on a pile of straw in a corner of the great hall, so it
appeared to him, but no light was burning, and it was with difficulty he
could distinguish objects by means of the streaks of moonlight which
came through the chinks of the shutters. He had not been many minutes
awake before he heard voices. They were certainly not those of the old
people or of Burdale, and they appeared to come from below him. He
listened attentively. He had no doubt that they were human voices he
heard; in earnest conversation, too. Now high, now low; now the voice
was that of a strong, hale man; now that of one shaking with age; now of
a bold, eager youth; now several seemed to be speaking together. The
tales he had heard that night recurred to his mind. Could it be
possible that these were the spirits of the departed owners of the Hagg?
Again he listened, to assure himself that he had not been misled by
fancy. He sat up and rubbed his eyes--still the voices reached his
ears. He was constitutionally brave.

"I will not be mocked by real ghosts or pretended spirits," he said to
himself, springing to his feet.

He felt for his weapons. His pistols were in his belt and his knife was
by his side. He looked about him, and ascertained the position of the
doors in the room.

"I can find my way to the top of the stairs which I saw led down into
the vaults below," he said to himself, "and I can easily grope my way
down-stairs, and find out what these ghosts really are."

To think was to act with him. The moonlight enabled him to find his way
with greater ease even than he had expected, and on reaching the top of
the stairs he was more sure than ever that people were talking below.
Holding a pistol in one hand, he felt his way with the other, descending