306 WILD SCENES AND "WILD HUNTERS. 



closed, and it looked silent as death. She held up her arms 

 to assist me to alight, and then taking down her venison, she 

 gave the lariate of my horse a turn around a limb of the 

 sheltering oak, and assisted me toward the door. She called 

 out in a low tone, " William ?" 



I heard a soft, unsteady tread respond to the call, and the 

 door was opened. A pale man, with large head, bright gray 

 eyes, broad shoulders, and small legs, made his appearance. 



"What is the matter, Molly?" said he, with such a quiet 

 look as his eye fell upon me, that one would have supposed I 

 was his oldest son. 



" Is the poor youth hurt that he leans upon you so ?" 



"Yes." 



" Then, bring him in, in God's name, and we will shelter 

 him until his strength returns!" and she assisted me to the 

 door, when he clutched me with a strength of gripe that as- 

 tonished me, and nearly lifting me towards a low couch of 

 dried moss, laid me upon it without asking a question. He 

 adjusted my position with a sort of awkward care, and when 

 assured that I was comfortable, he went quietly to a rude 

 ottoman composed of dressed bear-skins with forked stakes and 

 small saplings for supports, and seated himself, with the most 

 benign expression of serenity before a rude table covered with 

 all sorts of odd implements ; and taking, up, what appeared to 

 be a microscope, commenced an attentive survey of some small 

 object before him, which I could not distinguish. He had 

 asked me no explanation, did not seem to be at all disturbed 

 by my sudden appearance, and had fallen back into what 

 Bcemed a routine, just as if nothing had happened. This, 

 though not very complimentary to my vanity, only served to 

 rouse my curiosity, in spite of my sufferings. 



"Molly will take care of you directly!" he said, looking 

 up ; " She has gone to stake out your horse !" and he went on 

 with his work. I thought of magii, necromancers, astrologers, 

 alchemists, &c., all in a breath, as I stared at the strange, 



