Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

154 DANGER IN 'fIlE DARK.
denly grasping the priest, like a furious tiger, she
thrust him forward headlong into the cell, and before
he had time to recover caught the door and brought
it to with a slam, making secure both the priest and
Abbess; then fleeing, she returned to Mr. Glenn's,
and, under the influence of a wild excitement, related
the story of her exploit to the no little amusement of
the family.
As not one of the nuns had been apprised of the
cruel intentions of Dupin and the Superior, none could
divine whither they had gone, what bad become of
them, nor why they were detained. Several days
passed by; a great wonderment existed; and a thou-
sand conjectures were made by the inmates concerning
the mysterious disappearance of Dupin and the lady
Abbess, but no satisfactory explanation could be given.
Strange noises were heard, dismal shrieks and howl-
ings, it was said, seemed to issue from the depths of the
earth underneath the convent. This filled every mind
with alarm and superstitious fears; nor could any be
found bold enough to venture down the winding stair-
way in search of the cause of these su bterranean voices.
At length one of the father-confessors, being informed
of the unaccountable absence of Dupin and
the Superior, and also of the hobgoblin howlings that
had been daily and nightly heard about the premises,
visited the convent, and heard with his own ears the
mysterious voices. Deciding that the strange sounds
were the wailings of damned ghosts, he made imme-