THE LEGEND OF KNOCK- A-TH AMPLE. 1 95 



who, on various pretences, had loitered near the place, 

 soon afterwards departed in the same direction. 



That night the herdsman's family sought repose in 

 vain — wild, unearthly noises were heard around the 

 hovel ; and shriek and laughter, awfully mingled 

 together, were borne upon the breeze which came 

 moaning from the mountains. The peasant barred 

 his door, and grasped his wood-axe ; his wife, with 

 trembling fingers, told her rosary over again and again. 

 Morning broke, and, harassed by alarms, they sunk 

 to sleep at last. But their slumbers were rudely 

 broken — a gray-haired monk roused them hastily — 

 horror was in his looks, and, with difficulty, he staggered 

 to a seat. Gradually he collected strength to tell his 

 fearful errand — ^the young and lovely devotee lay in 

 the mountain glen, before St. Catharine's cross, a 

 murdered corpse. 



The tidings of this desperate deed flew through the 

 country rapidly. The body was carried to the herds- 

 man's cabin. For many hours life had been extinct, 

 and the distorted countenance of the hapless youth 

 bespoke the mortal agony which had accompanied 

 the spirit's flight. One deep wound was in his side, 

 inflicted, evidently, by a triangular weapon ; and the 

 brilliant cross and purse of gold were gone. 



The women from the adjacent villages assembled to 

 pay the last rites to the remains of the murdered 

 Pilgrim. Preparatory to being laid out, the clothes 

 were gently removed from the body, when a cry of 

 horror burst from all — the Pilgrim was a woman ! Bound 

 by a violet ribbon, a bridal ring rested beside her heart ; 

 and, from unequivocal appearances, it was too evident 

 that the fell assassin had committed a double murder. 



