CHAPTER XXXV. THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.

athewasapproachingtheplantation,hebecamesensibleofthatshudderingdreadwhichallofusmayremembertohavehad,inslightdegrees,inreturninghomeafteralongabsence,underavagueexpectationofmisfortune,towhichthemindcansetnodefinitelimits.Whenitwasyetscarcelylightenoughtosee,hepassedbythecottageofOldTiff.Astrangeimpulsepromptedhimtostopandmakesomeinquiriesthere,beforehepushedontotheplantation.But,asherodeup,hesawthegatestandingajar,thedoorofthehouseleftopenand,afterrepeatedcallings,receivingnoanswer,healighted,and,leadinghishorsebehindhim,lookedintothedoor.Thegloamingstarlightwasjustsufficienttoshowhimthatallwasdesolate.Somehowthisseemedtohimlikeanevilomen.Ashewasmountinghishorse,preparingtorideaway,agrandandpowerfulvoicerosefromtheobscurityofthewoodsbeforehim,singing,inamajestic,minor-keyedtune,thesewords:— "ThronedonacloudourGodshallcome, Brightflamespreparehisway Thunderanddarkness,fireandstorm, Leadonthedreadfulday!" Weariedwithhisnightride,hisnervoussystemstrainedtothelastpointoftensionbythefearfulimageswhichfilledhismind,itisnotsurprisingthatthesesoundsshouldhavethrilledthroughthehearerwithevenasuperstitiouspower.AndClaytonfeltasingularexcitement,as,underthedimarcadeofthepine-trees,hesawadarkfigureapproaching.Heseemedtobemarchingwitharegulartread,keepingtimetothemournfulmusicwhichhesung. "Whoareyou?"calle