94 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Mysterious appearances. 



aghast, and fell at his master's feet. Every de- 

 monstration of grief ensued; but the dog un- 

 mindful of his wounds, kept his eyes still intent 

 upon the closet door; and denoted that the whole 

 of the mystery was not yet developed. 



" Seizing the other pistol from the servant, who 

 had fallen into a swoon, his lordship now re- 

 entered the closet. The wounded dog crawled 

 after him; when, on examining every part, he 

 perceived, in one corner, an opening into the 

 inn yard, by a kind of trap-door, to which some 

 broken steps descended. The dog seated himself 

 t>n the steps ; but there was nothing to be seen 

 but a common sack. Nor was any thing visible 

 upon the floor, except some drops of blood, part 

 of which were evidently those which had issued 

 from the wound of the dog himself, and part 

 must have been of long standing, as they were 

 dried into the boards. His lordship went back 

 into the bed-chamber, but the dog remained in 

 the closet. On his return the dog met him, 

 breathing hard, as if from violent exercise, and 

 followed his master into the chamber. 



" The state of the man-se r vant, upon whom 

 fear had operated so as to continue him in a suc- 

 cession of swoons, now claimed his lordship's 

 attentions, and while those \ere administered, 

 the dog again left the chamber. A short time 

 after this, he was heard to bark aloud, then cry, 

 accompanied by a noise, as if something heavy 

 was drawn along the floor. On going once more 



