THE LEGEND OF KNOCK- A-TH AMPLE. 201 



it with his foot, and, pausing for a moment, looked at 

 the Monk— 



" Remember / " he said in a low voice, which made the 

 old man shudder, and, passing from the cabin, he 

 crossed the heath, and disappeared. 



But the terror of the herdsman's family did not abate 

 with his departure ; a dead man lay before them, and 

 the floor was deluged with his blood. No human help 

 was nigh ; before daylight assistance could not be 

 expected ; and no alternative remained but to wait 

 patiently for the morrow. Candles were lighted up, 

 the hearth was heaped with fuel, and a cloth thrown 

 over the corpse, which they lacked the courage to remove. 

 To sleep was impossible, and in devotional acts they 

 endeavoured to while the night away. Midnight came, 

 the Monk was slumbering over his breviary, and the 

 matron occupied with her beads, when a violent tramp- 

 ling was heard outside, and the peasant, fearing the 

 cattle he had in charge were disturbed, rose to ascertain 

 the cause. In a moment he returned. A herd of wild 

 deer surrounded the cabin, and actually stood in 

 threatening attitude within a few paces of the door ! 

 While he told this strange occurrence to the Monk 

 a clap of thunder shook the hovel to its centre — yells, 

 and shrieks, and groans succeeded — noises so demoniac 

 as to almost drive the listeners to madness, hurtled 

 through the air — and infernal lights flashed through the 

 crevices of the door and window. Till morning broke, 

 these unearthly terrors continued, without a moment's 

 intermission. 



Next day the villagers collected. They listened 

 to the fearful story with dismay, while the melancholy 

 fate of the gentle pilgrim was bitterly lamented. To 



