bank opposite to that on which he had mused away some precious time.

The wind howled, the branches of the forest stirred, and sent forth sounds
like an incantation. Soon might be distinguished the various voices of the
mighty trees, as they expressed their terror or their agony. The oak
roared, the beech shrieked, the elm sent forth its deep and long-drawn
groan; while ever and anon, amid a momentary pause, the passion of the ash
was heard in moans of thrilling anguish.

Coningsby hurried on, the forest became less close. All that he aspired to
was to gain more open country. Now he was in a rough flat land, covered
only here and there with dwarf underwood; the horizon bounded at no great
distance by a barren hill of moderate elevation. He gained its height with
ease. He looked over a vast open country like a wild common; in the
extreme distance hills covered with woods; the plain intersected by two
good roads: the sky entirely clouded, but in the distance black as ebony.

A place of refuge was at hand: screened from his first glance by some elm-
trees, the ascending smoke now betrayed a roof, which Coningsby reached
before the tempest broke. The forest-inn was also a farmhouse. There was a
comfortable-enough looking kitchen; but the ingle nook was full of
smokers, and Coningsby was glad to avail himself of the only private room
for the simple meal which they offered him, only eggs and bacon; but very
welcome to a pedestrian, and a hungry one.

As he stood at the window of his little apartment, watching the large
drops that were the heralds of a coming hurricane, and waiting for his
repast, a flash of lightning illumined the whole country, and a horseman
at full speed, followed by his groom, galloped up to the door.