ssbeam, wherefrom swung a creaking shape
of rusty chains and iron bands that held together something shrivelled
and black and wet with rain, a grisly thing that leapt on the buffeting
wind, that strove and jerked as it would fain break free and hurl
itself down upon me.

Now hearkening to the dismal creak of this chained thing, I fell to
meditation. This awful shape (thought I) had been a man once, hale and
strong,--even as I, but this man had contravened the law (even as I
purposed to do) and he had died a rogue's death and so hung, rotting,
in his chains, even as this my own body might do some day. And,
hearkening to the shrill wail of his fetters, my flesh crept with
loathing and I shivered. But the fit passed, and in my vain pride I
smote my staff into the mud at my feet and vowed within myself that
nought should baulk me of my just vengeance, come what might; as my
father had suffered death untimely and hard, so should die the enemy of
my race; for the anguish he had made me endure so should he know
anguish. I bethought me how long and deadly had been this feud of
ours, handed down from one generation to another, a dark,
blood-smirched record of bitter wrongs bitterly avenged. "To hate like
a Brandon and revenge like a Conisby!" This had been a saying in our
south country upon a time; and now--he was the last of his race as I
was the last of mine, and I had come back out of hell that this saying
might be fulfilled. Soon--ha, yes, in a few short hours the feud
should be ended once and for all and the house of Conisby avenged to
the uttermost. Thinking thus, I heeded no more the raving tempest
around me until, roused by the plunge and rattle of the gibbet-chains,
I raised my head and shaking my staff up at that black and shrivelled
thing, I laughed loud and fierce, and, even as I did so, there leapt a
great blaze of crackling flame and thereafter a thunder-clap that
seemed to shake the very earth and smite the roaring wind to awed
silence; and in this silence, I heard a whisper:

"O mercy of God!"

Somewhere in the darkness hard by a woman had cried. Instinctively I
turned thitherward, searching the night vainly until the lightning
flared again and I beheld a cloaked and hooded figure huddled miserably
against the bank of the road, and, as darkness came, I spoke:

"Woman, doth the gibbet fright you, or is't I? If 'tis the gibbet go
hence, if 'tis I rest assured."

"Who are you?" said a breathless voice