I mended my pace, and one step more would have plunged me into this abyss, had not some one from behind caught suddenly my arm, and exclaimed, in a voice of eagerness and terror, "Hold! hold!" The sound broke my sleep, and I found myself, at the next moment, standing on my feet, and surrounded by the deepest darkness.

Images so terrific and forcible disabled me, for a time, from distinguishing between sleep and wakefulness, and withheld from me the knowledge of my actual condition.

My first panics were succeeded by the perturbations of surprize, to find myself alone in the open air, and immersed in so deep a gloom.

I slowly recollected the incidents of the afternoon, and how I came hither.

I could not estimate the time, but saw the propriety of returning with speed to the house.