miry tracks, along which, in many places, the water was rushing in
torrents.

At length they were descending the long low hill, or rather
undulation, leading to the wooded vale of Lynwood, and the bright
lights of the Keep began to gleam like stars in the darkness--stars
indeed to the eager eyes of the young Knight, who gazed upon them
long and affectionately, as he felt himself once more at home. "I
wonder," said he, "to see the light strongest towards the east end
of the Castle! I knew not that the altar lights in the chapel could
be seen so far!" Then riding on more quickly, and approaching more
nearly, he soon lost sight of them behind the walls, and descending
the last little rising ground, the lofty mass of building rose huge
and black before him.

He wound his bugle and rode towards the gate, but at the moment he
expected to cross the drawbridge, Ferragus suddenly backed, and he
perceived that it was raised. "This is some strange chance!" said
he, renewing the summons, but in vain, for the echoes of the
surrounding woods were the only reply. "Ralph must indeed be deaf!"
said he.

"Let him be stone deaf," said Gaston; "he is not the sole inhabitant
of the Castle. Try them again, Sir Eustace."

"Hark!--methought I heard the opening of the hall door!" said Eustace.
"No! What can have befallen them?"

"My teeth are chattering with cold," said Gaston, "and the horses
will be ruined with standing still in the driving rain. Cannot we