hout much difficulty. The path
meandered away along the margin of the little brook, diverging from it
at times, but soon winding back upon it. And as long as the road
continued to lie over the little common which lay between the sea and
the hills, the light being here less intercepted and reflected more
freely from the pellucid brook, he had no difficulty in proceeding.
But, when he had reached the foot of the hills, and found that the
brook suddenly immerged into a mountain ravine, he halted in utter
despondency. Looking back upon the shore, which lay due West, he
perceived that the last faint blush of color had died away in the sky:
a solemn veil of darkness had descended over the sea; even _that_ was
disappearing; and, within the narrow windings of the hills upon which
he was now entering, the darkness of "chaos and old night" seemed to
brood. That his road would be likely to lead him over precipices
elevated enough for all purposes of danger, he already knew: for now
and then the path began to ascend pretty steeply from the edge of the
brook, though it soon again subsided to the same level. All around him
was the sound of waters and of torrents: no ray of candlelight or
cheerful fire issued from any cottage amongst the hills: he shouted,
but received no answer: and he sate down to deliberate upon his
situation.

Just at this moment it seemed to him that he heard somewhere in his
neighbourhood a low muttering. He looked round: but it was impossible
to distinguish any object at more than a few paces distance; and, as he
had repeatedly turned to look back in his road from the sea, and had
besides walked fast, he felt convinced that no person could have
dogged him; and was disposed to think that he had been mistaken.
The next minute however the noise recurred: he rose and moved a
few paces onwards. Again he heard the low muttering as of some
person talking to himself: in a moment after steps rang upon the
hard frosty ground as of a heavy foot behind him; and, before he
could collect his thoughts, a hand touched him on the shoulder, and a
deep-toned voice exclaimed--Halt!

He had now no choice left but to face the danger: he stopped therefore;
and, turning round, he perceived close to his elbow a man in no very
respectable attire, so far as the obscurity would allow him to judge,
but half muffled up in a cloak, and armed with a stout bludgeon. Much
as he had just now been wishing for some guide, he yet could not
congr