Also, the men persist that they found the print of a naked
human foot in the soft mud of the ditch, and near it--this." And
he held up what seemed a broken link of a rusted iron chain.
Many were the ejaculations of wonder and alarm, and many and shrewd
the conjectures, but none seemed exactly to suit the bearings of
the case. And when my father went on to say that two lambs of the
same valuable breed had perished in the same singular manner three
days previously, and that they also were found mangled and gore-
stained, the amazement reached a higher pitch. Old Lady Speldhurst
listened with calm, intelligent attention, but joined in none of
our exclamations. At length she said to my father, "Try and
recollect--have you no enemy among your neighbors?" My father
started, and knit his brows. "Not one that I know of," he replied;
and indeed he was a popular man and a kind landlord. "The more
lucky you," said the old dame, with one of her grim smiles. It was
now late, and we retired to rest before long. One by one the
guests dropped off. I was the member of the family selected to
escort old Lady Speldhurst to her room--the room I had vacated in
her favor.
Pages:
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606