ld address them when
instructing any person to give a particular line of evidence. He then
stooped down, and placed his hand upon the grave said, as if he were
addressing the dead man:

"Ha! you sleep cool there, you guilty Villain! an' it wasn't my fault
that the unfaithful an' dishonest sthrap that you got that for, didn't
get as much herself. There you are, an' you'll tell no tales at all
events! You know, Rody," he proceeded, "it was Dalton that murdhered
him; mind that--but you're a coward at heart; as for myself there's
nothing troubles me but that Tobaccy-Box; but you know nothing about
that; may the divil confound me, at any rate, for not destroyin' it!
an' that ould sthrap, Nelly, suspects something; for she's always ringin
Providence into my ears; but if I had that box destroyed, I'd disregard
Providence; if there is a Providence."

The words had barely proceeded out of his lips, when a peal of thunder,
astonishingly loud, broke, as it were, over their very heads, having
been preceded by a flash of lightning, so bright, that the long,
well-defined grave was exposed, in all its lonely horrors, to Sarah's
eye.

"That's odd, now," said she, "that the thunder should come as he said
them very words; but thank God that it was Dalton that did the deed,
for if it was himself he'd not keep it back now, when the truth would be
sure to come out."

"It was he, my lord, and gentlemen of the jury," proceeded her father,
"an' my conscience, my lord, during all this long time--"

He here muttered something which she could not understand, and after
stooping down, and putting his hand on the grave a second time, he
turned about and retraced his steps home. It appeared, however, that
late as the hour was, there were other persons abroad as well as
themselves, for Sarah could distinctly hear the footsteps of several
persons passing along the adjoining road, past the Grey Stone, and she
also thought that among the rest might be distinguished the voice of Red
Rody Duncan. The Prophet quietly opened the door, entered as usual, and
went to bed; Sarah having also retired to her own little sleeping place,
lay for some time, musing deeply over the incidents of the night.

CHAPTER XX. -- Tumults--Confessions of Murder.

The next morning opened with all the dark sultry rain and black cloudy
drapery, which had, as we have already stated, characterized the whole
season. Indeed, during the year we are describing, it was known