Part 36 (1/2)

CHAPTER VII

_Difficulties and dangers in succession: A place of horrors its inue worthy of the place_

As ere cautiously and slowly taking step by step, and, as new conjectures crossed us, stopping to consider, we again saw a dancing light; but ined, not very near We repeated our calls; but, whether they were or were not heard, they were not answered We ventured, however, to quicken our pace; for we continued, at intervals, to catch the light

Presently,the light no ain elapsed, which was spent in wandering as this or that supposition directed us; till at last, suddenly and very unexpectedly, we perceived lines and forms, that convinced us they appertained to soe one We approached it, examined, shouted, and endeavoured to discover which was the entrance But all was still, all dark, all closed

We continued our search on the outside; till, at length, we caate that was open; which we entered, and proceeded to soed to an out-house or detached building It was shut; and, feeling about, we found that the key was in the lock We had little hesitation in profiting by the accident We had been shelterless too long, and the circue any scruples; and accordingly we entered

We had no sooner put our heads within the door but we found ourselves assaulted with a smell, or rather stench, so intolerable as almost to drive us back: but the fury of the eleans of Clarke, who seemed determined to profit by the shelter we had obtained, induced us to brave an inconvenience which, though excessively offensive at first, beca about, we discovered some barrels, and lumber; behind which there was straw Here we deter bones Our cloaths had been drenched and dried ht; and they were at present neither wet nor dry

We had scarcely nestled together in our straw, before we again heard the yelping of the cur, and presently afterward the sareat distance, succeeded the shrill whistling signals Our iht up that they were apt at horrible conjectures; and, for my part,them up

In the veryround the building They again whistled, with a piercing shrillness; and, though we heard nothing distinctly, yet we caught tones that were coarse, rude, and savage; and words, that denoted anger and anxiety, for the perpetration of so to the fierce and threatening sounds we heard

They approached One of the it open, boisterously shut it; with a broad and bitter curse against the carelessness of so it open; and eternally da their business

We were now locked in; and we soon heard no more of the voices

In spite of all these alar it with the tempest and difficulties without, seemed to be much bettered; and we once ave place to fatigue

Our rest was of short duration We began indeed to slumber; but I was presently disturbed by Clarke, whoitation and horror that I ever witnessed in any hu

I asked 'What is the roan!

I akened froly partook of his sensations; but endeavoured however to rouze hiain I asked 'What have you heard? What ails you?'

It was long before he could utter an articulate sound At last, shaking more violently as he spoke, and with inexpressible horror in his voice, he gasping said--'A dead hand!'--

'Where?'--

'I felt it!--I had hold of it!--It is now atto stretch out my arth I ventured

Never shall I forget the sensation I experienced, when, to my full conviction, I actually felt a cold, dead, hand, between led to overcoain it seized me; and I sunk half entranced!

At this very instant, the shrill sound of the whistle rung, piercing, through the dismal place in which ere imprisoned It was answered

The same hoarse voices once more were heard: but in tones fifty fold more dire

One terror combated the other, and ere recalled to so We lay silent, not daring to breathe, e heard the door unlock Our feelings will not readily be conceived, while the following dialogue passed 'What a daht as this!'

'What ails the night? It is a special good night, for our trade'