Once, after such a noise, that sounded like some
heavy article being dragged along, Coristine thought he heard the words:
"Keep quiet, Tilly," and, "Take it hoff," but he was not sure. The night
was cloudy and dark, and the mosquitoes' buzzing sometimes had a human
sound, while the snoring of the Pilgrims, and the restless moving of the
horses, brought confusion to the ear, which sought to verify suspected
articulations. Had he known that Matilda Nagle was about the house, he
would not have let Bangs rest until the mystery was solved. He did not
know; and, being very tired and sleepy, was inclined to distrust the
evidence of his senses and lay it to the charge of imagination.
Down by the water's edge Mr. Bigglethorpe sat on a stone in front of the
carved out block, thinking of the best fly for bass, and of a great
fishing party to the lakes that should include Mr. Bulky. Standing up to
stretch his legs and facing the block of limestone, he thought he saw a
narrow line of light along the left perpendicular incision. Moving over,
he saw the same perpendicular line on the right. Just then the clouds
drifted off the moon, and he convinced himself that the light lines were
reflections from the sheen that glimmered over the lake.
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