26 Heil-fire Dick, [Jan- 
the tempest sunk into its former state of comparative calm, and the rain 
began to fall more heavily. 
« There is no such excellent stimulus to remorse as a strong dose of 
-apprehension. Mine host, who had been not a little cowed by the late 
war of elements, began to entertain some serious alarms for the fate of 
his guest, and to think he had gone a step too far in exposing him to the 
perils of the Prior’s Gallery. The act, it was true, was one of Frank’s 
own choice; but then his conscience whispered, and he could not deny 
her accusation, that, if he had not played the part of tempter to the 
enterprise, it had not been undertaken. The remarks, too, of those 
about him by no means tended to his comfort: all agreed there was - 
something supernatural in the sudden violence of the storm, so much 
beyond the recollection of the oldest man present ; and, if so, to whom 
could it refer, if not to the unlucky Frank, who was, in all human pro- 
bability, suffering the pains and penalties of his rashness—not to give it 
a harsher name—in venturing upon a room which the dead had thought 
fit to appropriate to their own especial service? It must not, however, 
be imagined that mine host was thinking of any ene but himself in his 
profound speculations on the subject ; it was not the fear of what might 
happen to Frank that troubled him, but the doubt of peril to himself 
for having led him into the temptation. 
« The morning came at last, and with it came sunshine, refreshin 
and gladdening the hearts of the watchers, who had probably seldom 
experienced keener pleasure than they did now, when, on the window- 
shutters being thrown open, the day burst in upon them in one broad 
blaze of light. It even inspired them with a certain degree of courage, 
not enough to carry them at once into the haunted chamber, but suffi- 
cient for them to form a sturdy resolution of going thither, if Frank did 
not shew himself in half an hour, and if—which was a principal condition of 
the compact—they continued, when the time came, in the same way of 
thinking. Their new-born zeal, however, was not destined to be put to 
a proof so trying ; for they had scarcely commenced offensive operations 
against the well-loaded breakfast-table, when the object of it made his 
appearance, in high glee, though somewhat pale, it seemed, with the 
fears or fatigues of the night. In his hand he bore a massive silver 
tankard, of antique fashion, the sight of which caused Mr. Barnaby’s 
eyes to sparkle, and put the good company into singular admiration. 
Question now was huddled upon question with such rapid conveyance, 
that it might have tasked the mouth of Gergantua to answer to 
them all.— 
« « How did he get the silver tankard ?—had he seen a ghost >—what 
was it like >—what did it say ?>—was he not horribly frightened >—was. 
there more than one ?’ 
“ « Softly, my masters!’ exclaimed Frank, raising his voice above this 
Babel-din of questions ;— if you wish to learn what I have heard and 
seen: 
« « We do—we do!’ interrupted the guests with one voice. 
«« « Why, then, spare this bibble-babble, and lend me your ears for a 
few moments.’ 
“Jn an instant every tongue was silent, though every mouth was wider 
open than ever, as if the tale was to be devoured by that organ rather 
than taken in at the ears. 
« « In the first place,’ said Frank, ‘ I heard : 
a 
