time were ſtrongly marked on every thing about it. The roof in various places was fallen in, the battlements were half demoliſhed, and the windows broken and diſmantled. A draw-bridge, with a ruinous gateway at each end, led to the court before the building. He entered; and inſtantly the light, which proceeded from a window in one of the turrets, glided along, and vaniſhed: at the ſame moment the moon ſunk beneath a black cloud, and the night was darker than ever. All was ſilent. Sir Bertrand faſtened his ſteed under a ſhed; and, approaching the houſe, traverſed its whole front with light and ſlow foot-ſteps.–All was ſtill as death!–He looked in at the lower windows, but could not diſtinguish a ſingle object through the impenetrable gloom. After a ſhort parley with himſelf, he entered the porch; and, ſeizing a maſſy iron knocker at the gate, lifted it up, and, heſitating, at length ſtruck a loud ſtroke. The noiſe reſounded through the whole manſion with hollow echoes. All was ſtill again! He repeated the ſtrokes more boldly, and louder. Another interval of ſilence enſued!–A third time he knocked; and a third time all was ſtill! He then fell back to ſome diſtance, that he might diſcern whether any light could be ſeen in the whole front. It again appeared in the ſame place, and quickly glided away as before!–at the ſame inſtant, a deep, ſullen toll ſounded from the turret. Sir Bertrand’s heart made a fearful ſtop!–He was a while motionleſs; then terror impelled him to make ſome haſty ſteps toward his ſteed–but ſhame ſtopped his flight; and, urged by honour, and a reſiſtleſs deſire of finiſhing the adventure, he returned to the porch; and working up his ſoul to a full ſteadineſs of reſolution, he drew forth his ſword with one hand, and with the other lifted up the latch of the gate. The heavy door, creaking upon its hinges, reluctantly yielded to his hand:–he applied his ſhoulder to it, and forced it open. He quitted it, and ſtept forward–the door inſtantly ſhut with a thundering clap. Sir Bertrand’s blood was chilled! He turned back to find the door, and it was long ere his trembling hands could ſeize
