By this time, the shades of night had materially thickened, and, although
the hour was still early, a darkness had come over the valley that
rendered it difficult to distinguish objects at any distance from the
eye. The obscurity made it necessary that they, who now issued from the
door of the dwelling, should advance with caution, lest, ere properly
admonished of its presence, their persons should be exposed to some
lurking danger. When the three, however, were safely established behind
the thick curtain of plank and earth that covered and commanded the
entrance, and where their persons, from the shoulders downward, were
completely protected, alike from shot and arrow, Content demanded to
know, who applied at his gates for admission at an hour when they were
habitually closed for the night. Instead of receiving, as before, a ready
answer, the silence was so profound, that his own words were very
distinctly heard repeated, as was not uncommon at that quiet hour, among
the recesses of the neighboring woods.
"Come it from Devil, or come it from man, here is treachery!" whispered
the stranger after a fitting pause.
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