road became worse and worse, and the night darker, so that although Dart
had hitherto avoided danger with the remarkable sagacity which horses
possess in such cases, his rider was obliged to descend, and lead the way
himself. The Lieutenant had not gone far before he was suddenly felled to
the ground by a blow aimed from behind. The violence of the shock fell
principally on his shoulders, though there was no doubt his assailant had
intended it for his head. He was a powerful and active young man, and a
desperate struggle commenced between them. They continued for several
minutes in this death-wrestle, during which time they had imperceptibly
drawn close to the edge of tremendous precipice which bounded the road.
Smyth already heard just below them the wild screaming of some ravens, who
had been disturbed by the encounter; when he made a desperate effort on
the very brink of the precipice--tore from his assailant's murderous
grasp--and in another instant there was a void before him; a wild shriek of
despair arose in the night blast, as the wretch bounded from crag to
crag--and then there was a death-like stillness.

Smyth paused not to reflect. Dart was no where visible. He, therefore,
descended as fast as possible, and after one or two falls occasioned by
his impatience and the darkness of the night, at last entered on what
appeared to be a vast moor. In a short time the moon rose. Two immense
parallel masses of dense clouds stretched across the entire horizon; the
upper limb of the planet, of a deep crimson, was alone visible betwixt
them, and shed a sombre light over the waste. He thought he had seldom
seen any thing so impressive; combined with the low moaning of the
night-breeze, which rose and sank at intervals, with a wild and wailing
murmur. The light was so indistinct that he could discover nothing of his
horse, and in the lawless state of the country no time was to be lost in
getting to a place of safety. But, the direction?