288 CWM BYCHAN. 



desirous of bearing a part in the work of vengeance, every hand 

 could inflict a wound. The young soldier, completely wearied by 

 the fatigue and anguish he had undergone, had forgotten his situ- 

 ation and danger in the oblivion of sleep. He was carried in ima- 

 gination back to his early days, and was busy amid the scenes of his 

 childhood and the hours of his infant pleasures, when a rude hand 

 made him start, and the voice of the chief who had before spoken 

 fell fearfully on his ear — " Up, up ! The time is come that thou 

 must die !" Mortimer quickly collected himself. He rose and fol- 

 lowed the speaker. When he came out on the level space bordering 

 the lake, the scene which presented itself was enough to appal the 

 stoutest heart. He found himself in the midst of several hundred 

 of the wildest and most ferocious-looking figures, some bearing 

 torches, and all armed with long knives, which they brandished in 

 a menacing manner when he approached. He looked up to the 

 heavens. One deep impenetrable pall of blackness overspread the 

 landscape. The tempest had gathered above them, and only seemed 

 to wait a signal to discharge its fury upon their devoted heads. 

 Not a sound was heard, save the crackling of the burning torches 

 and the quick-drawn breath of the relentless barbarians. Mortimer 

 was bound to the huge stone, and the first hand was raised to strike, 

 when a bright flash disparted the vaulted sky, flooded each rock and 

 crag with a blaze of lurid light, palsied every hand, and made every 

 heart quail. The next instant the thunder-clap burst in all its ter- 

 rific magnificence, shaking the solid ground, and rending the sultry 

 air. From hill to hill, from valley to valley, far and wide, the 

 shock was reverberated. The eagle fled shrieking from his shelter 

 in the cliffs, and the wild goat uttered his sharp cry, as he started 

 from his heathy lair. Another and another flash came in quick suc- 

 cession. Large drops of rain began to fall, and the storm burst 

 with resistless violence. Accustomed as the mountaineers were to 

 behold such convulsions of the elements, they were now dismayed 

 and terrified. After pausing a moment to gaze on each other, 

 they fled and sought refuge in their caves. Mortimer was exposed 

 to the whole fury of 'he tempest. The rain descended in torrents, 

 but he was incapable of moving. The crags around him were 

 shivered by the lightening's stroke, and an immense fragment, 

 riven from its rocky bed, rolled crashing at his feet. The fires 

 played over him ; the waters drenched him : yet he was unhurt. 

 He invoked death ; he called on the elements to crush him : yet 

 he was unscathed. 



By degrees the violence of the storm subsided. The lightening 



