He checked his spirited horses--I
had some good ones then--and I descended from the carriage, with the
foils under my arm, followed by Mortimer.
"The old coachman looked on in astonishment. The spot at which I had
stopped the carriage was wild and dreary beyond expression.
"'Shall I wait, sir?' he said, respectfully.
"'No; return home at once, and put away the carriage.'
"He looked at me with a sort of stupor.
"'Go home, sir?' he said.
"'Yes.'
"'And leave you?'
"'Obey me!'
"My voice must have shown that remonstrance would be useless. My old
servitor uttered a sigh like the groan which had escaped from the lips
of Nighthawk, and, mounting the box, turned the heads of his horses
toward home.
"I watched the carriage until it turned a bend in the road, and then,
making a sign to Mortimer to follow me, led the way into the woods.
Pursuing a path which the moonlight just enabled me to perceive, I
penetrated the forest; went on for about ten minutes; and finally
emerged upon a plateau, in the swampy undergrowth near which stood the
ruins of an old chimney.
"This chimney had served to indicate the spot to Nighthawk; and, before
us, in the moonlight, was the evidence that he had found it. In the
centre of the plateau was a newly dug grave--and in front of it I
paused.
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