"It will be well to look to the fastenings," he muttered, "lest others,
less easy to dispose of, should follow. Now that invisible agencies are at
work in the Colony, one may not-sleep too soundly!"
"Then go thou to the look-out, and keep the watch, till the clock shall
strike the hour of midnight;" said the Puritan, who uttered the command in
a manner to show that he was in truth moved by considerations far deeper
than the vague apprehensions of his dependant. "Ere sleep overcome thee,
another shall be ready for the relief."
Mark Heathcote seldom spoke, but respectful silence permitted the lowest
of his syllables to be audible. On the present occasion, when his voice
was first heard, such a stillness came over all in presence, that he
finished the sentence amid the nearly imperceptible breathings of the
listeners. In this momentary but death-like quiet, there arose a blast
from the conch at the gate, that might have seemed an echo of that which
had so lately startled the already-excited inmates of the dwelling. At the
repetition of sounds so unwonted, all sprang to their feet, but no one
spoke.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233