With astonishment, too, I beheld, on a projecting point of rock which jutted over the chasm, what appeared to me the figure of a man. At first, I suspected some new delusion; but, recovering in some degree from my fear, I ventured nearer, and perceived a young man in uniform, on the very outermost point of the rocky cliff. His sabre, his hat, with a high plume of feathers, and a portefeuille, lay beside him;--with half his body hanging over the abyss, he seemed to be asleep, and always to sink down lower and lower! His fall was inevitable! I ventured nearer. Seizing him with one hand, and endeavouring to pull him back, I shouted aloud, "For God's sake, sir, awake! For Heaven's sake, beware!"--I said no more; for, at that moment, starting from his sleep, and at the same moment losing his equilibrium, he fell down into the cataract! His mangled form must have dashed from point to point of the rocks in his descent. I heard one piercing yell of agony, which echoed through the immeasurable abyss, from which at last only a hollow moaning arose, which soon also died away. Struck with unutterable horror, I stood silent and motionless. At last, by a momentary impulse, I seized the hat, the sword, the portefeuille, and wished to withdraw myself as quickly as possible from the fatal spot. Now, however, I observed a young man dressed as a _chasseur_ emerge from the wood, and coming forward to meet me. At first, he looked at me earnestly and scrutinizingly--then, all at once, broke out into immoderate laughter; whereat an ice-cold shuddering vibrated through all my frame. "_Sapperment!_ my Lord Count," said the youth, "your masquerade is indeed admirable and complete; and if the Lady Baroness were not apprized before hand, I question if even she would recognize you in this disguise.--But what have you done with the uniform, my lord?" "As for that," replied I, "I threw it down the rocks into the water."--Yet these words were _not mine_! I only gave utterance, involuntarily and almost unconsciously, to expressions, which, by means of some supernatural influence, rose up within me. I stood afterwards silent, and absorbed in thought, with my staring eyes always turned to the rocks, as if from thence the mangled frame of the unfortunate Count would ascend to bear witness against me. My conscience accused me as his murderer; but, though thus unnerved, I continued to hold the hat, the sword, and the portefeuille, convulsively firm in my grasp. "Now, my lord," resumed the chasseur, "I shall ride on by the carriage road to the village, where I shall keep myself _incognito_ in the small house to the left-hand side of the gate. Of course, you will now walk down to the castle, where you are probably expected by this time. Your hat and sword I shall take with me." I gave them to him accordingly.--"Now, farewell, my lord," added the youth; "much pleasure attend you in the castle!"