een Sir Thomas Wyat, I find," he said, in a stern tone.

Mabel made no answer, and did not even raise her eyes towards him.

"And he has told you he loves you, and has urged you to fly with
him--ha?" pursued Herne.

Mabel still did not dare to look up, but a deep blush overspread her
cheek.

"He was mad to venture hither," continued Herne; "but having done so, he
must take the consequences."

"You will not destroy him?" cried Mabel imploringly.

"He will perish by a hand as terrible as mine," laughed Herne--"by that
of famine. He will never quit the dungeon alive unless--"

"Unless what?" gasped Mabel.

"Unless he is leagued with me," replied Herne. "And now let him pass,
for I would speak of myself. I have already told you that I love you,
and am resolved to make you mine. You shudder, but wherefore? It is
a glorious destiny to be the' bride of the wild hunter--the fiend who
rules the forest, and who, in his broad domain, is more powerful than
the king. The old forester, Robin Hood, had his maid Marian; and what
was he compared to me? He had neither my skill nor my power. Be mine,
and you shall accompany me on my midnight rides; shall watch the fleet
stag dart over the moonlight glade, or down the lengthened vista. You
shall feel all the unutterable excitement of the chase. You shall thread
with me the tangled grove, swim the river and the lake, and enjoy a
thousand pleasures hitherto unknown to you. Be mine, and I will make you
mistress of all my secrets, and compel the band whom I will gather round
me to pay you homage. Be mine, and you shall have power of life and
death over them, as if you were absolute queen. And from me, whom all
fear, and all obey, you shall have love and worship."

"And he would have taken her hand; but she recoiled from horror.

"Though I now inspire you with terror and aversion," pursued "the time
will come when you will love me as passionately as I was beloved by one
of whom you are the image."

And she is dead? "asked Mabel, with curiosity.

"Dead!" exclaimed Herne. "Thrice fifty years have flown since she dwelt
upon earth. The acorn which was shed in the forest has grown into a
lusty oak, while trees at that time in their pride have fallen and
decayed away. Dead!--yes, she has passed from all memory save mine,
where she will ever dwell. Generations of men have gone down to the
grave since her time--a succession of kings have lodged within the
castle but I am still a denizen o