Sam paused for a
moment, and they listened. No footstep was near. The bat flitted
by them in silence; a bird, roused from its roost by the light
which glared up among the trees, flew circling about the flame. In
the profound stillness of the woodland they could distinguish the
current rippling along the rocky shore, and the distant murmuring
and roaring of Hell Gate.
The negro continued his labors, and had already digged a
considerable hole. The doctor stood on the edge, reading formulae
every now and then from his black-letter volume, or throwing more
drugs and herbs upon the fire, while Wolfert bent anxiously over
the pit, watching every stroke of the spade. Anyone witnessing the
scene thus lighted up by fire, lantern, and the reflection of
Wolfert's red mantle, might have mistaken the little doctor for
some foul magician, busied in his incantations, and the grizzly-
headed negro for some swart goblin obedient to his commands.
At length the spade of the fisherman struck upon something that
sounded hollow. The sound vibrated to Wolfert's heart. He struck
his spade again.
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