ced my story.
Let the dust of oblivion cover them; I would not pain another by the
recital. There are sorrows--short ages of agony--into the dark origin of
which none would dare to pry: one heart alone feels, hides, and
nourishes them for ever!

Night now came on, heavy and dark; not a star twinkled above me; I
seemed to have left the habitations of men. In whatever direction I
turned not a light was visible; all fellowship with my kind had
vanished. No sound broke the unvarying stillness but the heavy plunge of
my horse's feet and the hollow moan of the sea. Gradually I began to
rouse from my stupor: awaking, as from a dream, my senses grew rapidly
conscious of the perils by which I was surrounded. I knew not but some
hideous gulf awaited me, or the yawning sea, towards which I fancied my
course tended, was destined to terminate this adventure. It was chiefly,
however, a feeling of loneliness, a dread, unaccountable in its nature,
that seemed to haunt me. There was nothing so very uncommon or
marvellous in my situation; yet the horror I endured is unutterable. The
demon of fear seemed to possess my frame, and benumbed every faculty. I
saw, or thought I saw, shapes hideous and indistinct rising before me,
but so rapidly that I could not trace their form ere they vanished. I
felt convinced it was the mind that was perturbed, acting outwardly upon
the senses, rendered more than usually irritable by the alarm and
excitation they had undergone--yet I could not shake off the spell. I
heard a sharp rustling past my ear; I involuntarily raised my hand; but
nothing met my touch save the damp and chilly hair about my temples. I
tried to rally myself out of these apprehensions, but in vain: reason
has little chance of succeeding when fear has gained the ascendency. I
durst not quicken my pace lest I should meet with some obstruction;
judging it most prudent to allow my steed to grope out his path in the
way best suited to his own sagacity. Suddenly he made a dead halt. No
effort or persuasion could induce him to stir. I was the more surprised
from knowing his generally docile and manageable temper. He seemed
immovable, and, moreover, as I thought, in the attitude of listening. I
too listened eagerly--intensely; my senses sharpened to the keenest
perception of sound.

The moan of the sea came on incessantly as before; no other sound could
be distinguished. Again I tried to urge him forward; but the attempt was
fruitless. I now f