He accordingly paused, in order to ascertain whether the footsteps he heard might not have been the echo of his own.

When his steps ceased, so also did the others; and when he advanced again so did they.

He coughed aloud, but there was no echo; he shouted out "Is there any one there ?" but still there was a dead stillness.

At length he said again, "Whoever you may be, and especially if your designs be evil and unlawful, you had better beware; I am well armed, and both able and determined to defend myself; if money is your object, pass on, for I have none about me." Again there was the silence, as there was the darkness of the grave.

He now resumed his former pace, and the noise of footsteps, evidently and distinctly different from his own, were once more heard near him.