Slow and toilsome was their progress, yet a
patient continuance in any path will sooner or later lead to the end.
The brow of the hill seemed rapidly diminishing; the abrupt steep was at
length gained, when the whole glorious garniture of the heavens,
uninterrupted, from that majestic height, was suddenly revealed. True,
it was a November night, but unusually clear and vivid; the stars seemed
to burn rather than shine, so piercing was their effulgence. The vast
track of the milky way appeared to span the dark and level platform,
like the bow of some triumphal arch. They seemed to stand on a huge
circle, black, bare,--its verge unapproachable, contrasting deeply with
the encompassing splendour. Proceeding onwards, a dark speck was
visible, springing out abruptly from the verge of the horizon. Its bulk
rapidly increased, their path evidently tending in that direction. A
shrill whistle from the guide was now answered by a corresponding
signal. Presently they were challenged by a sentinel.
"_Vale_" growled out the rough voice of their conductor.
"Is it thou, Will?" said the guard. "And what neck art thou fitting for
the noose; breeding occupation for the hangsman, I trow.
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