A serious quarrel might have ensued, had
not a sudden stop been put to the proceedings of the belligerents by an
interesting girl stepping before me, modestly inquiring where I had left
the corpse; and offering herself as a companion, if these mighty cowards
could not muster sufficient courage.
"Shame on thee, Will!" she cried, directing her speech to a young man
who sat concealed by the shadow of the projecting chimney;--"shame on
thee, I say, to be o'erfaced by two or three hard words. I'se
ganging,--follow 'at dare."
Saying this, she took down a huge horn lantern, somewhat dilapidated in
the outworks, and burnt in various devices, causing a most unprofitable
privation of light. A bonnet and cloak, hastily thrown on, completed her
costume; and, surrendering the creaking lantern to my care, she stood
for a moment contemplating the dingy atmosphere before she stepped forth
to depart. During these ominous preparations, a smart sailor-looking
man, whose fear of his mistress' displeasure had probably overcome his
dread of the supernatural, placed himself between me and the maiden, and
taking her by the arm, crustily told me that if I could point out the
way, he was prepared to follow;--rather a puzzling matter for a
stranger, who scarcely knew whether his way lay right or left from the
very threshold.
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