Soothed by the stillness of all around her, she almost forgot her danger; and surrendering herself to the dreamy enjoyment generally experienced in contemplating such a scene at such an hour, suffered her gaze to wander over the fair woody landscape before her, till it was lost in the distant moonlit wolds.
From the train of thought naturally awakened by this spectacle, she was roused by the shouts of the pursuers; and, glancing timorously behind her, beheld them hurrying swiftly along the valley they had just quitted.

From the rapidity with which they were advancing, it was evident they were gaining upon them, and she was about to urge her courser to greater speed, when Humphrey Chetham laid his hand upon the rein to check her.
"Reserve yourself till we gain the brow of this hill," he remarked; "and then put Zayda to her mettle.

We are not far from our destination." "Indeed!" exclaimed Viviana.

"Where is it ?" "I will show it to you presently," he answered.
Arrived at the summit of the high ground, which they had been for some time gradually ascending, the young merchant pointed out a vast boggy tract, about two miles off, in the vale beneath them.
"That is our destination," he said.
"Did I not hold it impossible you could trifle with me at such a time as this, I should say you were jesting," rejoined Viviana.

"The place you indicate, unless I mistake you, is Chat Moss, the largest and most dangerous marsh in Lancashire." "You do not mistake me, neither am I jesting, Viviana," replied the young merchant, gravely.