There was no possibility of tracing the party, the snow had covered the footsteps; but evidence was soon found in the fragments of food--the remains of the carcase of the wild boar--to show that this had been the midday rest, and that here the very beginning of hostilities had taken place. They returned thence to the spot where Torquelle was slain. Fear and trembling seized many of the baron's warriors as they gazed upon those distorted features--fear, mingled with dread--so mysterious were the circumstances. They buried the body as decently as time permitted, and continued their course until they came upon another corpse slain in like manner. Horror increased: at every stage the baron feared to find the dead body of his son. They still pursued the same line: it led to the edge of the Dismal Swamp, and there it ended. They stood gazing upon that desolate wilderness. "No human being could penetrate there," said Sir Bernard. "Try." Hugo advanced, dismounting for the purpose, but sank almost directly in a quagmire covered with snow, and was drawn out with difficulty. "No, the place is enchanted." "Guarded by fiends." "Listen." Cries as of men and dogs came across the waste. "They are the demons of the pit, who would lead us into the quagmires." "They sound like human voices." "Come what will, if hard frost will but freeze the ground, we will search the place," said the baron. "Come, my men, we can do no more; let us return--it is near nightfall." This welcome order was obeyed by all the Normans with the greatest alacrity, for they dreaded the approach of night, and the terrors of the forest, which had already proved so fatal to their companions. No further mishap befell them; weary and footsore they reached the castle, but the heaviest heart amongst them was that of Hugo. CHAPTER XI. ALIVE--OR DEAD? The reader will remember that we left Etienne of Aescendune cum Malville and his band in a most critical moment--lost in a wilderness full of enemies of unknown number and uncertain position; but with a gleam of comfort in the shape of a light which had arisen out of the gloom before them. "It is one of the rascals carrying a torch. Let loose the dogs; if they but seize him, we can extort the whole truth; then we shall know what to do." Ralph immediately slipped the older and fiercer hound, and tried to set him on the destined prey; but to his astonishment the beast bounded forward but a few yards, then returned with its tail between its legs and whined piteously. "Are we all bewitched?" exclaimed Etienne. "Witches and warlocks are said to abound in these woods, and many other works of Satan also." "The light goes steadily onwards: it is a man carrying a torch; let us follow him up." They followed rapidly, the torch going smoothly on before them, when all at once the whole party fell into a miry slough up to their waists.