“How now! stand to thy ground, man,” said he; “I’ve had speech at him not long ago.  We came upon one another suddenly, to be sure, and I could not well escape, so I stood still.  He did the same, shook his pale and saintly face, and, with a wave o’ the hand, bade me pass on.”

“But look thee,” replied the other, “I’m bodily certain he walks without a shadow at his tail.  See at that big tree there; why, the boughs bend before he touches ’em, like as they were stricken wi’ the wind.  I declare if the very trees don’t step aside as if they’re afraid of him.  I’ll not tarry here, good man.”

Disengaging himself from the other’s gripe, Ralph ran through the wood in an opposite direction, and was soon out of sight.  A loud shout from Gregory followed him as he fled, which only served to quicken his speed; and the hunchback was left alone.  The figure which was the moving cause of this cowardly apprehension almost immediately disappeared behind a projecting crag, at the base of which grew a thick skirting of underwood; but Gregory pursued cautiously in the same direction.  He had heard strange stories of demons guarding heaps of treasure; and it was currently reported that in former times a mine had been secretly worked in these parts for fear of discovery; all mines yielding gold and silver, so as to leave a profit from the working, being considered as “mines royal,” and regarded as the property of the king.[57] Gregory’s prevailing sin was avarice; and oftentimes this vice put on the appearance of courage, by rendering him daring for its gratification, though at heart a coward.  He thought that if the treasure were once within his grasp neither man nor demon should regain it.

For a short time past this part of the forest had been commonly reported as the haunt of a spectre, in the likeness of a man clad in grey apparel, who by some was supposed to be an impalpable exhalation from a concealed mine existing in the neighbourhood.  It is well known that these places are generally guarded by some covetous demon, who, though unable to apply the treasures to their proper use, yet strives to hinder any one else from gaining possession.

Gregory had once encountered it unexpectedly, face to face, but he did not then follow—­surprise and timidity preventing him.  He, however, resolved that, should another opportunity occur, he would track the spectre to its haunt, and by that means find out the opening and situation of the mine.

He now crept slowly towards the crag, behind which the figure had retired.  Looking cautiously round the point, he again saw the dim spectral form only a few yards distant.  Suddenly he heard a low whistle, and the next moment the mysterious figure had disappeared—­not a vestige could be traced.  He thrust his huge head between the boughs for a more uninterrupted survey, but nothing was seen, save the bare escarpment of the rock, and the low bushes, behind which the phantom had, a moment before, been visible.  Though somewhat daunted, he crept closer to the spot, but darkness was fast closing around him, and the search was fruitless.