There was a pause of some minutes after Anna ceased speaking, during which the coiners exchanged with each other looks of mingled admiration and astonishment.  At length one of them, who appeared to take the lead, addressing his companions, said, ’The woman has spoken well, and there is reason in what she says.  It is true enough that murder will out; and though she is a stranger, she was known to come here.  Her disappearance might excite suspicion, suspicion would lead to inquiries, inquiries to search, and then all would be up with us; besides, a few weeks will see us clear of this place, if we have luck, and I think we may trust her so long.’  Then turning to Anna, he continued, ’You have a spirit of your own, and I like you the better, and would trust you the sooner for it; none but fools rely on the word of a coward, but one who dare speak the honest truth, without fear or favour, when in peril of life, is not likely to break faith, I think; so you shall go free, on condition that you take a solemn oath not to reveal to any one the events of this night until six months have passed; by that time we shall have quitted not only this neighbourhood, but the country, and,’ he added with a laugh, ’the ghost that has kept all the men in ——­ quaking after dark, like a pack of frightened children, will be laid for ever.  Have I said well, my comrades?’ There was a general murmur of assent, and the man continued:  ’Recollect, then, that if you break your oath, your life will be the forfeit:  we have means to ascertain and punish treachery; and should you attempt foul-play, you can no more escape our vengeance than here in this lonely place you can resist our power.  Will you swear, by all you hold most dear and sacred, to keep our secret inviolable for the time agreed?’ To this proposition Anna, as will be readily believed, joyfully assented, and being conducted by her strange acquaintances back to her sleeping apartment, she most gladly, when morning dawned, bade adieu to the scene of her singular and alarming adventure.  On arriving at the clergyman’s house, she was not sorry to find but few of the family stirring, as she naturally wished to avoid much questioning.  In answer to the inquiries which were made as to how she had passed the night, she said that she had been much annoyed and disturbed; and though she avoided entering into particulars, she strongly advised that no one should be permitted to try a similar experiment, assuring them that she believed few could pass through what she had done without sustaining severe, if not permanent injury from it.  Having thus, as far as lay in her power, acquitted her conscience, she pursued her journey.  In a few days she arrived at home; but it was not until several months over the time specified had elapsed, that she related the adventure to me, in order to show how little dependence is to be placed on the stories told of ghosts and haunted houses.  As Dutch Anna said:  ’Evil men have generally more to do with such stories than evil spirits, and, after all, it is possible to give a certain gentleman and his agents more than their due.’