320 A Chapter on Old Coals. \ MARCH, 



appanage ever bore a part, was one which took place at night-fall at a 

 lonely dwelling in the neighbourhood of the Black Mountains. I had 

 been sporting over those delectable wastes for the greater part of a day, and 

 having as usual shot nothing but an old furze bush, was making the best of 

 my way home towards the village inn where I had taken up my quarters, 

 when the shades of night somewhat suddenly and inconveniently dropped 

 around me. I say inconveniently, for I knew little or nothing of the 

 neighbourhood, and as is always the case on such occasions, took the 

 wrong by-path, which led me far down into a romantic hollow, in the 

 centre of which stood a lone, gloomy-looking hut. I think I never saw 

 so forlorn an object. Its every lineament spoke of solitude and murder. 



While hesitating whether or not to pass this cut-throat tenement, a 

 light glanced suddenly forth from one of the fissures that time and 

 neglect had made in its walls. This decided me ; I felt that I now stood a 

 fair chance of gleaning some information respecting my road ; so 

 brandishing my gun like a quarter-staff for I had consumed all 

 my powder I strode resolutely forward, though not without certain 

 awkward misgivings, which a satirist might have tortured into apprehen- 

 sions, in the direction whence the light proceeded, and was fortunate 

 enough to secure a position, which, without being seen or heard, enabled 

 me to see and hear, all that took place within the hut. 



And a most picturesque discovery I made ! Salvator Rosa would 

 have given his ears to have been beside me. At the further end of the 

 ruin, holding a lamp in his hand, whose wild fitful glare fell with strange 

 effect upon his dark swarthy lineaments, stood a brawny ruffian, with a 

 face eloquent of burglary. Near him was stationed another worthy, 

 younger, though equally ferocious in aspect ; with black grizzled hair ; 

 side-long look, like a fox on a poaching -tour ; snub nose, and mouth 

 from ear to ear. Both were speaking in under tones ; and as the 

 younger, in reply to some question put by his companion, stole a fearful 

 glance about him, I observed a spot of blood on his forehead, and that 

 his hands were stained with the same crimson hue. Horror-struck by 

 such a sight, I was just preparing to retreat, when the following sen- 

 tences, spoken at intervals in a whisper that sent a thrill through every 

 vein, rivetted me to the spot. 



" Whereabouts did you catch her, Owen ?" 



" Just in the lane by the pool side ; she was walking alone, so, as I 

 owed the old woman a grudge, I" and here the wretch chuckled like a 

 fiend " made no more ado, but grasped her by the neck, and cut her 

 throat !" 



" We must go and fetch her away then to-night ; and above all, cover 

 up the blood with earth, or else" 



What followed, I was unable to make out ; enough, however, had been 

 said, to convince me that I was standing within a yard of two deliberate 

 murderers. What a situation ! Alone, at night, in the wildest part of 

 the Black Mountains, with two such villains : I felt that one movement, 

 were it ever so slight, one sound, were it ever so fine, might reach their 

 practised ears, and prove my instant destruction. But I had little time 

 for reflection, for the ruffians making a sudden move towards the door, I 

 moved off also, nor ever once halted, till cut short in my career by a 

 projecting blackthorn, which had attached itself, after a very unconnu- 

 bial fashion, to my person. With the usual difficulty I procured a 

 divorce from this annoyance ; and after rambling about some hours, up 



