Meanwhile Mabel was revolving the possibility of flight, and had more than once determined to make an attempt, but fear restrained her.Her grandsire, as has been stated, sedulously avoided her gaze, and turned a deaf ear to her complaints and entreaties.But once, when Fenwolf's back was turned, she caught him gazing at her with peculiar significance, and then comprehended the meaning of his strange conduct.He evidently only awaited an opportunity to assist her.
Satisfied of this, she became more tranquil, and about an hour having elapsed, during which nothing was said by the party, the low winding of a horn was heard, and Fenwolf started to his feet, exclaiming--"It is Herne!"
The next moment the demon huntsman rode from one of the lateral passages into the cave.He was mounted on a wild-looking black horse, with flowing mane and tail, eyes glowing like carbuncles, and in all respects resembling the sable steed he had lost in the forest.
Springing to the ground, he exchanged a few words with Fenwolf in a low tone, and delivering his steed to him, with orders to take it to the stable, signed to Tristram to go with him, and approached Mabel.
"So you have seen Sir Thomas Wyat, I find," he said, in a stern tone.
Mabel made no answer, and did not even raise her eyes towards him.
"And he has told you he loves you, and has urged you to fly with him--ha? "pursued Herne.
Mabel still did not dare to look up, but a deep blush overspread her cheek.
"He was mad to venture hither," continued Herne; "but having done so, he must take the consequences.""You will not destroy him? "cried Mabel imploringly.""He will perish by a hand as terrible as mine," laughed Herne - " by that of famine.He will never quit the dungeon alive unless--""Unless what?" gasped Mabel.
"Unless he is leagued with me," replied Herne."And now let him pass, for I would speak of myself.I have already told you that I love you, and am resolved to make you mine.You shudder, but wherefore? It is a glorious destiny to be the' bride of the wild hunter--the fiend who rules the forest, and who, in his broad domain, is more powerful than the king.The old forester, Robin Hood, had his maid Marian; and what was he compared to me? He had neither my skill nor my power.Be mine, and you shall accompany me on my midnight rides; shall watch the fleet stag dart over the moonlight glade, or down the lengthened vista.
You shall feel all the unutterable excitement of the chase.You shall thread with me the tangled grove, swim the river and the lake, and enjoy a thousand pleasures hitherto unknown to you.Be mine, and Iwill make you mistress of all my secrets, and compel the band whom Iwill gather round me to pay you homage.Be mine, and you shall have power of life and death over them, as if you were absolute queen.And from me, whom all fear, and all obey, you shall have love and worship.""And he would have taken her hand; but she recoiled from horror.
"Though I now inspire you with terror and aversion," pursued "the time will come when you will love me as passionately as I was beloved by one of whom you are the image."And she is dead? "asked Mabel, with curiosity.
"Dead I" exclaimed Herne."Thrice fifty years have flown since she dwelt upon earth.The acorn which was shed in the forest has grown into a lusty oak, while trees at that time in their pride have fallen and decayed away.Dead!--yes, she has passed from all memory save mine, where she will ever dwell.Generations of men have gone down to the grave since her time--a succession of kings have lodged within the castle but I am still a denizen of the forest.For crimes I then committed I am doomed to wander within it,and I shall haunt it, unless released, till the crack of doom.""Liberate me!" cried Mabel; "liberate your other prisoner and we will pray for your release.""No more of this!" cried Herne fiercely."If you would not call down instant and terrible punishment on your head - punishment that I cannot avert, and must inflict--you will mention nothing sacred in my hearing, and never allude to prayer, I am beyond the reach of salvation.""Oh, say not so! "cried Mabel, in a tone of commiseration."I will tell you how my doom was accomplished," rejoined Herne wildly."To gain her of whom I have just spoken, and who was already vowed to Heaven, Iinvoked the powers of darkness.I proffered my soul to the Evil One if he would secure her to me, and the condition demanded by him was that I should become what I am--the fiend of the forest, with power to terrify and to tempt, and with other more fearful and fatal powers besides.""Oh! "exclaimed Mabel.
"I grasped at the offer," pursued Herne."She I loved became mine.But she was speedily snatched from me by death, and since then I have known no human passion except hatred and revenge.I have dwelt in this forest, sometimes alone, sometimes at the head of a numerous band, but always exerting a baneful influence over mankind.At last, Isaw the image of her I loved again appear before me, and the old passion was revived within my breast.Chance has thrown you in my way, and mine you shall be, Mabel.""I will die rather," she replied, with a shudder.
"You cannot escape me," rejoined He me, with a triumphant laugh; "you cannot avoid your fate.But I want not to deal harshly with you.I love you, and would win you rather by persuasion than by force.Consent to be mine, then, and I give Wyat his life and liberty.""I cannot--I cannot!" she replied.
"Not only do I offer you Wyat's life as the price of your compliance,"persevered Herne; "but you shall have what ever else you may seek--jewels, ornaments, costly attire, treasure--for of such I possess a goodly store.""And of what use would they be to me here?" said Mabel.
"I will not always confine you to this cave," replied Herne."You shall go where you please, and live as you please, but you must come to me whenever I summon you.""And what of my grandsire? "she demanded.
