Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A DEMONIAC SCREBCH. 71 are the men to be insulted by clap-trap and. astrology. It shall not be.. Up with you, Search every room through and through. Leave nota nook or corner unexplored, no Matter where. Kill any thing that comes in your way.” The two.seldiers sprung, up, the stairs with fixed bayoneta, and burst into the. rooms above. They found no one but Annette, who stood on the landing, trying to find out the oruse of the tumult below. . “ For heaven’s sake, gentlemen, remember that. I am ‘alone here, and rely upon your generosity. You shall have all you require, only do not be too loud.” “ Qut.of the way, old lady,” replied one ofthe guard. “No barm is intended you, but we must find who it is that. dares to shout in derision at the soldiers of the guard.” “Have you heard .the shouts? Ab, woe is me, the sud times have-come. again to the house of my master! Sorrow we have had, and now it is here again,” said Annette. “ What: do you mean?” cried the leading soldier. Hike answered bya look of terror. “You do not,can not know the secrets of the houge. Did it secm a gibing, bitter epirit; a mactlng, cruel ghost?” . ® “ We heard some vile wretch jeering at ns,” replied thes soldier, “and we will not endure it. Stand aside, for we will search for it,”. , , | “ Go on, if ye will,” suid Annette. “If ye come to-harm, lay not,the blame on my guiltless head.” — , They pushed open the door of the room directly. over the place where they: had been sitting when the first: alarm sounded, and entered. . It was a square, plastered, apartment, without, furniture of any kind. The bare white walls: had a dreary and uninviting look. . As they gazed about them the same elfish laugh which had astonished thera before sounded: in their ears, and they saw, in the gloom at the back of the room,.a face ‘hideous: in every lineament, looking out of the solid wall... Even.as.-they. saw. it, a acreech -like..a. panther’s seemed to shake the room. The man bearing the torch: dropped..it, while, his..companion stood there powerless: to raise his rifle, . Annette darted in and picked up the flaming comichoookSs.c©