As
none, however, had seen the blow struck that deprived
him of life, although each had heard the frantic
exclamations of a voice that had been recognised for
Ellen Halloway's, much of the marvellous was necessarily
mixed up with truth in their narrative,--some positively
affirming Mr. de Haldimar had not once quitted his party,
and declaring that nothing short of a supernatural agency
could have transported him unnoticed to the fatal spot,
where, in their advance, they had beheld him murdered.
The singular appearance of Ellen Halloway also, at that
moment, on the very bridge on which she had pronounced
her curse on the family of De Haldimar, and in company
with the terrible and mysterious being who had borne her
off in triumph on that occasion to the forest, and under
circumstances calculated to excite the most superstitious
impressions, was not without its weight in determining
their rude speculations; and all concurred in opinion,
that the death of the unfortunate young officer was a
judgment on their colonel for the little mercy he had
extended to the noble-hearted Halloway.
Then followed allusion to their captive, whose gigantic
stature and efforts at escape, tremendous even as the
latter were, were duly exaggerated by each, with the very
laudable view of claiming a proportionate share of credit
for his own individual exertions; and many and various
were the opinions expressed as to the manner of death he
should be made to suffer.
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