cities or in desolate wildernesses my prayer shall go with you" darted across his mind with such painful distinctness that he at length gave way to his uncontrollable greif at the thought that he should never behold his beloved and mighty comander more and burst into a flood of tears. What is the matter Henry exclaimed Delancy O nothing nothing was the reply and they were resuming their tacit thinking when a voice was heard outside the cavern which broke strangely upon the desolate silence of that land which for thousands of years had heard no sound save the howling of the wind through the forest the echoing of the thunder among mountains or the solitary murmuring of the river if we except the preseence of O'Donell and Delancy. Listen! cried ALEXANDER listen! what is that. it is the sound of a mans voice replied Henry and then snatching up a burning torch he rushed to the mouth of the cave followed by Delancy when they had got there they saw the figure of a very old man sitting on the damp wet ground moaning and complaining bitterly they went up to him at their approach he rose and said are you human or supernatural beings? they assured him that they were human. he went on. then why have you taken up your abode in this land of the grave? O'Donell answered that he would relate to him all the particulars if he would he would take shelter for the night with them the old man consented and when they were all assembled round the cheerful fire O'Donell fulfilled his promise and then requested the old man to tell them how he came to be travelling there he complied and began as follows---- [6] CHAPTER the IV