ak with hunger, and his soul filled with despair, a
wild delirium took possession of his senses, and in his diseased mind
horror succeeded horror. First, the misshaped Dwarf seemed transformed
into a huge vulture, about to tear him to pieces with its strong talons;
then it became a gigantic reptile, about to discharge upon him a deluge
of poisonous slime; then it changed to the Evil One, come to bear him to
perdition. Finally, as the wildest paroxysms of his delirium subsided,
the creature stood before him as the Image and spirit of the Dead Man,
appointed to torture and to drive him mad.

'Die, thou fiend incarnate!' he exclaimed, in a phrenzy of rage and
despair; and starting from the ground, he rushed upon the creature and
attempted to strangle it. But with an appalling yell, it struggled from
his grasp, and leaping upon his shoulders bore him to the earth with a
force that stunned him; and then it fastened its teeth in his flesh and
began to drink his blood.

But the fates willed that Sydney was not thus to die; for at that moment
the iron door was suddenly thrown open, and the glare of a lantern shone
into the dungeon; then there entered a person whose features were
concealed by a hideous mask, and the dwarf quitted its hold of the
victim, and flew screaming into a corner.

'He must be revived ere he is brought to judgement,' said the Mask; and
he raised Sydney in his arms, carried him out of the dungeon, and
fastened the door.

Then the Mask stepped upon the platform with his burden, and descended
into the dark abyss. When Frank recovered his senses, he found himself
in a sort of cavern which was lighted by a lamp suspended from the
ceiling. He was lying upon a rude bed; and near him, silent and
motionless, sat a masked figure.

'Where am I--and who art thou?' demanded our hero, in a feeble tone, as
a vague terror stole over him.

The Mask replied not, but rising, brought him a cup of wine and some
food, of which he partook with eagerness. Much refreshed, he sank back
upon his pillow, and fell into a long, deep slumber. When he awoke, he
found himself in the same cavern, on the same bed, and guarded as before
by the mysterious Mask, who now spoke for the first time.

'Arise and follow me,' said he.--Sydney obeyed, and followed the Unknown
through a long passage, and into a vast hall or cavern, brilliantly
lighted. Glancing around him, he saw at once that he was in the Dark
Vaults, in that part called the '