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THE THREE WARNINGS.

33

ascertain beyond a doubt the truth or fallacy of this, my treble dream, I threw over me such clothes as came across my path, snatched up a loaded pistol, and hurried from the house. It was nearly dawn, and a grey uncertain light-far worse than impenetrable darkness, threw a hazy tint on every object round. Noiselessly —and I will admit it, Henry, to you, not without fear, I proceeded towards the ruined Abbey; the ancient doors were open; I entered them, and paused to listen, but all seemed silent as the graves on which I trod. Stealthily I proceeded towards the northern transept, the spot the voice had indicated. I had but one more angle to turn and I was there! a cold sweat burst upon my forehead, as the sounds of retiring footsteps attracted my attention; I leant against a pillar for support, something dark appeared to move beneath my feet! I stooped to touch it-it was blood. Oh! Henry! Henry! think not disparagingly of your friend if he confess that at that moment a sickening and cowardly dizziness filmed across his eyesight. It was, however, of but transitory duration; the force of reason soon gained ascendancy over the weakness of fear, and

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34

THE THREE WARNINGS,

I rushed into the northern transept. Judge-judge

the agony I felt at what then met my sight!" He seized Dufours' hand with an energy that made him shrink, "suspended from a horizontal beam, bleeding, lifeless, mangled,-hung, in all its fearful and revolting horror-a slaughtered pig!"

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