A loud
shriek announced the capture. The cruel hound held the deer by the
throat, and they were struggling together on the green earth. With
threats and curses he lashed away the ferocious beast, who growled
fiercely at being driven from her prey. With looks of sullenness and
menace, she scampered off, leaving Lord William to secure the victim. He
drew a silken noose from his saddle-bow, and threw it over the panting
deer, who followed quietly on to his dwelling at Hapton Tower.
At midnight there was heard a wild and unearthly shriek from the high
turret, so pitiful and shrill that the inmates awoke in great alarm. The
loud roar of the wind came on like a thunder-clap. The tempest flapped
its wings, and its giant arms rocked the turret like a cradle. At this
hour Lord William, with a wild and haggard eye, left his chamber. The
last stroke of the midnight bell trembled on his ear as he entered the
western tower. A maiden sat there, a silken noose was about her head,
and she sobbed loud and heavily. She wrung her white hands at his
approach.
"Thy spells have been o'ermastered. Henceforth I renounce these unholy
rites; I would not pass nights of horror and days of dread any longer.
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