s dark again; but in that
moment the affrighted girl saw a large tree before her, with a cavity at
its base, sufficiently large to admit her person; and, as soon as she could
collect her thoughts after the surprise of this unexpected and mysterious
phenomenon, she resolved to make the cavity an asylum for the night. She no
longer heard anything of the wolves; the unaccountable light and noise
seemed to have frightened them away, and with deliberation she rolled up
pieces of timber to block up the mouth of her retreat, then entered and
barred herself in as securely as she could, and patiently and sleeplessly
awaited the dawn of day. The night being already far advanced, she had not
long to wait, though to her it seemed like an age ere the welcome light
appeared; but it did at last, without the anxious moments being disturbed,
and she stepped forth from her hiding-place to renew her efforts to reach
home. But she was at a loss to know which course to take, or what method to
adopt in order to extricate herself from the mazes of the pathless
wilderness in whose impenetrable shadows she was enveloped. She stood for
some moments in a state of perplexing irresolution, and then resolved to
walk in the direction of the rising sun, thinking that if she did not reach
home in that way, it was probable she would arrive at some settlement; and
she was anxious to see the habitations of men, even if the occupants were
entire strangers, for she felt a deep dread of remaining another night in
the wilderness, and knew that once among honest men, it would be quite an
easy matter to get home, even if the distance was great.
Having settled upon a line of action, Eveline began to execute her purpose
with all the energy and promptness for which she was distinguished. She had
proceeded some distance, and the sun whose dim approach was only heralded
by a few faint streaks of light when she set out, was now pouring a flood
of light through the interstices of the forest, when her attention was
suddenly arrested by the appearance of two horsemen wending their way amid
the intricacies of the wild-wood. Her first thought was to call to them for
help, but on more mature deliberation she was fearful they might belong to
Duffel's band, and if so, would betray her into the hands of that
unprincipled and enraged villain, when she knew but too well that death or
a fate infinitely worse, was the the alternative left for choice; she
therefore kept silent, pre
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