806 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. 
“Ts 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 
seemed 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, 
