The deceitful light danced about in a joyous manner, as if it were mocking them, and then went out and left them all in utter darkness, struggling vainly in the mud and slime. "Where are we?" said Pierre, piteously. "In the Dismal Swamp," said Ralph. "Amongst toads and snakes," cried another. At this moment half-a-dozen lights appeared in various directions. "Good heavens, the place is alive with marsh fires." "They are what the English call Jack-o'-lanterns." "They are ignes fatui," said Pierre. "They are the souls of unbaptized babies," said Ralph. "Let us try to return to the firm ground we have left." More easily said than done. Our unfortunate Normans struggled vainly in the darkness and in the mire, uttering piteous exclamations--cold and frozen, and mocked ever and anon by some blazing light. Many a vow did they make to our Lady of Sorrows, and to St. Erroutt, St. Gervaise, St. Denys, and every other Norman saint, till somebody suggested that the English saints might know more about the morass, and they condescended to appeal to St. Chad (mighty in those parts), beseeching his help in their distress. Suddenly a piercing cry told that one was being swallowed up in some quicksand; but they could give no aid, and only shudder in helplessness. At that moment Etienne caught hold of the loose leash by which one of the dogs was secured. "Let us follow the dogs," he said; "they always scent out firm ground." There was now, happily for them, more light; it had long since ceased to snow, and the stars came out brightly. "See," said Pierre, "the moon is rising; we shall have it quite light soon." "Would it had risen earlier," croaked Ralph. The dogs, their noses to the ground, went on bravely, winding in and out between quagmire and rotting herbage. Had the light been brighter, our Normans would have perceived the impressions of numerous footmarks of men on the path they were taking--the dogs were at last on the scent they had sought all day, whether for weal or for woe. At length the path suddenly ascended a bank, and the light through the tree tops showed that they were approaching a clearing. They ascended cautiously, and from the summit of the short ascent looked out upon an elevated tableland in the midst of the morass. Before them, encircled by a little brook, which shortly afterwards swelled the waters of the morass, stood a large rustic dwelling, overgrown with ivy; and not far distant rose many houses or huts--in fact, to their no small amazement, they beheld a village, and one, too, that no individual amongst them had ever seen or heard of before. "'Tis the very nest of vipers we have sought all day," said Etienne. "And have found to our undoing," lamented Ralph. "See, there is light behind that shutter, I will creep up and look in," said Etienne; "rest you all here."