Page 114 (1/1)

My gaze rested questioningly upon De Noyan's upturned face, and saw it ghost-like in lack of color, drawn and haggard Mine no doubt was the same, for never have I felt such uncontrollable horror as that which, for the moment, fairly paralyzed me in brain and limb It is the ht hope to struggle against the very fiends of the air?

"Mon Dieu!" whispered ue fit "Is it not Old Nick himself?"

"If not," I answered, my words scarce steadier, "then soaze on such a sight Has it been there long?"

"I know not whence it ca the crest After I bathed at the strea the commissary for a bite hich to refresh the innerstone,to keep lance up to mark the position of the moon, and there that hell's i ever since Sacre! it was the bravest deed ofdid charm me as a snake does a bird"

The mere sound of human speech put new heart into me, yet I found it difficult to avert ure

"If that is the Devil," I said more composedly, still enthralled by the baleful presence, "surely we have neither of us done so much evil as to make us especially his victi back, a sudden rustling alance around Out of the glooure uplifted itself on all fours, and the faint light of a star glimmered directly down upon an upraised, terror-stricken face Before either De Noyan or , the half-awakened preacher sent his great, gruff voice boo out into the air: "O Lord God of Israel deliver Thy servant from destruction and the clutch of the Evil One O Lord God of----"

I flunghis speech into a vain gurgle The fellowme for an assistant of the fiend, my fierce hold was jerked loose, and I was hurled heavily backward at full length upon the stones, striking with no pleasant force upon my shoulder