ath in its dreadest characters was written on that ghastly
face; woe and terror, beyond all words to describe, spoke in the haggard
brow, the distorted lips, and the wild glazed stare of the open eyes. At
the startled cry of the intruders on that dreary silence, the living form
moved; and though still leaning its face on its hands, it raised its
head; and never countenance of Northern Vampire, cowering by the rifled
grave, was more fiendlike and appalling.

"Who and what art thou?" said the King; "and how, thus unhonored in the
air of heaven, lies the corpse of the noble Hilda? Is this the hand of
Nature? Haco, Haco, so look the eyes, so set the features, of those whom
the horror of ruthless murder slays even before the steel strikes.
Speak, hag, art thou dumb?"

"Search the body," answered the witch, "there is no wound! Look to the
throat,--no mark of the deadly gripe! I have seen such in my day.--There
are none on this corpse, I trow; yet thou sayest rightly, horror slew
her! Ha, ha! she would know, and she hath known; she would raise the
dead and the demon; she hath raised them; she would read the riddle,--she
hath read it. Pale King and dark youth, would ye learn what Hilda saw,
eh? eh? Ask her in the Shadow-World where she awaits ye! Ha! ye too
would be wise in the future; ye too would climb to heaven through the
mysteries of hell. Worms! worms! crawl back to the clay--to the earth!
One such night as the hag ye despise enjoys as her sport and her glee,
would freeze your veins, and sear the life in your eyeballs, and leave
your corpses to terror and wonder, like the carcase that lies at your
feet!"

"Ho!" cried the King, stamping his foot. "Hence, Haco; rouse the
household; summon hither the handmaids; call henchman and ceorl to guard
this foul raven."

Haco obeyed; but when he returned with the shuddering and amazed
attendants, the witch was gone, and the King was leaning against the
altar with downcast eyes, and a face troubled and dark with thought.

The body of the Vala was borne into the house; and the King, waking from
his reverie, bade them send for the priests and ordered masses for the
parted soul. Then kneeling, with pious hand he closed the eyes and
smoothed the features, and left his mournful kiss on the icy brow. These
offices fulfilled, he took Haco's arm, and leaning on it, returned to the
spot on which they had left their steeds. Not evincing surprise or
awe,--emotions that seemed