The night was coming on. It made him shudder to think of spending it in such

An uncanny place; so he tried to hurry faster, but he only made the less speed,

For he could not now see well enough to choose his steps judiciously;

Consequently he kept tripping over roots and tangling himself in vines and

Briers.

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And how glad he was when at last he caught the glimmer of a light! He

Approached it warily, stopping often to look about him and listen. It came

From an unglazed window-opening in a little hut. He heard a voice now, and

Felt a disposition to run and hide; but he changed his mind at once, for his

Voice was praying, evidently. He glided to the one window of the hut, raised

Himself on tiptoe, and stole a glance within. The room was small; its floor was

The natural earth, beaten hard by use; in a corner was a bed of rushes and a

Ragged blanket or two; near it was a pail, a cup, a basin, and two or three pots

And pans; there was a short bench and a three-legged stool; on the hearth the

Remains of a fagot fire were smoldering; before a shrine, which was lighted by

A single candle, knelt an aged man, and on an old wooden box at his side lay

An open book and a human skull. The man was of large, bony frame; his hair

And whiskers were very long and snowy white; he was clothed in a robe of