WEIRD MUSIC. 287 



the haunts of man, have we listened, hour after 

 hour, endeavouring to account for each of the 

 various noises as they caught the ear. 



The faint, soothing tones and hum- 

 Weird Music. 



ming sounds with which the forest is 



resonant at certain times are doubtlessly occa- 

 sioned by the countless variety of insects that 

 inhabit it; but sometimes when alone, even in 

 broad daylight, the hunter will find strange 

 emotions arise, and feel startled for the moment 

 at the almost supernatural tone of the voices of 

 the wild woods for the unknown is always fear- 

 ful, until habit has familiarised us with its pre- 

 sence ; and when alone in those solitudes, man is 

 deprived of that false courage that is engendered 

 by the presence of his fellow-man. 



Sometimes the hunter will hear resounding 

 through these wilds, strange sounds like bursts of 

 fiendish laughter, or long, protracted moanings, 

 as if some human being was suffering in extreme 

 agony; and by instinct he will cock his rifle and 

 peer through the subdued light, and quickly 



