Among the Brigands

Step.-The overmastering. Horror.-The lone Boy confronted by his Ene

distressing character. His mind once more reverted to the idea that he was held for ransom, and that for the present, at least, he was in safety; and not only so, but well cared for. These people certainly h

ormal bed could have been, for in such a house as that, a mattress or a bed would certainly have been hideous thing, as dirty, as gre

e strain; but now, when that idea had been dismissed, he grew calmer, and thought over his circumstances with more deliberation. He remembered that one of the brigand

ws of his friends, or, perhaps, restore him to liberty. Under the pleasant influence of thoughts like these, his mind grew more calm and cheerful every moment, and passed into a state of tranquil contentment Besides, he was

ities around him with things at a distance. All was still, outside and inside. No sound whatever arose

ing with one eye open. The fact is, the extraordinary excitement of his donkey ride, and especially of his last adventure in thus falling into captivity, had so roused

igilant, the body gaining rest and refreshment, but the

n shock through all his nerves, he opened his eyes. He was lying, as he had flung himself on the straw, on his

. He listened breathlessly,

t be early night; he could not tell. All was still, outside a

arkness and that deathly stillness, h

ning by which the ladder led up from below. Looking there, he saw a ray of light, faint and flickering, yet visible enough in that deep darkness; and

ook it all in, one thought

s coming up

ent through h

coming up

h

t f

lowly and stealthily. It was the trea

rror that he found in the object that now presented itself was, that the shuffling sound that arose from the ladder was the step of Doom,-and the mysterious visitant was stealing towards him to make him its prey. There arose within him an awful anticipation. His eye

re began to emerge

ere fixed up

he opening-an old oil-lamp held in a bony,

th wild throbs. His whole frame seemed to vibrate un

e higher! H

as c

light shone down upon it as it was upheld in the bony

ep-seamed brow and corrugated cheeks. Over that hideous face the gray hair wandered. Bob's blood seemed to freeze within his veins. The old fable tells of

ot above the opening. Here it fixed its gaze upon Bob, bending itself forward, and holding forth the light as

rible fascination about it,-such as the serpent exerts over the bird. And as the bird, while under the spell of the serpent's eye, seems to lose all power of flight, and falls a victim to the destroyer, so here, at this time, Bob felt paralyze

be endured. He closed his eyes t

hut oat sound; and soon he became aware of somet

a steal

ancing tow

r, came the awful step! Bob opened his eyes, to assure himself

hag stood now fully revealed. Her bleary eyes were fixed on Bob. One

could not move. The blow was coming. The destroyer was here, yet he could not make o

ment of dumb, motionles

man knelt

e lamp on

ny, shrivelled hands, and took Bob by the hair of his