it was in vain: he was lifted from his feet and hurled with enormous
force against the ground: ---his enemy threw himself upon him, and
kneeling upon his breast, had placed his hands upon his throat ---
when the glare of many torches penetrating through the hole that gave
light in the day, disturbed him;---he instantly rose, and, leaving his
prey, rushed through the door, and in a moment the crashing of the
brandies, as he broke through the wood, was no longer heard. The storm
was now still; and Aubrey, incapable of moving, was soon heard by
those without. They entered; the light of their torches fell upon the
mud walls, and the thatch loaded on every individual straw with heavy
flakes of soot. At the desire of Aubrey they searched for her who had
attracted him by her cries; he was again left in darkness; but what
was his horror, when the light of the torches once more burs; upon
him, to perceive the airy form of his fair conductress brought in a
lifeless corse. He shut his eyes, hoping that it was but a vision
arising from his disturbed imagination; but he again saw the same
form, when he unclosed them, stretched by his side. There was no
colour upon her cheek, not even upon her lip; yet there was a
stillness about her face that seemed almost as attaching as the life
that once dwelt there:--- upon her neck and breast was blood, and upon
her throat were the marks of teeth having opened the vein:---to this
the men pointed, crying, simultaneously struck with horror, " A
Vampyre! a Vampyre!" A litter was quickly formed, and Aubrey was laid
by the side of her who had lately been to him the object of so many
bright and fairy visions, now fallen with the flower of life that had
died within her. He knew not what his thoughts were---his mind was
benumbed and seemed to shun reflection, and take refuge in
vacancy---he held almost unconsciously in his hand a naked dagger of a
particular construction, which had been found in the hut. They were
soon met by different parties who had been engaged in the search of