"'Tis kindled, kindled! Lucifer our prayer has heard! In his name Feed the flame! If dies the fire, the charm is broken!"
Then turning to Kyd, he cried,
"The book with name not to be spoken! The book, the book to feed the flame, The book, the book none dare to name!"
"Think he means the Holy Bible, Captain Kyd?" demanded Loff, with religious horror.
"Silence!" cried the pirate chief.
He took from the folds of his cloak as he spoke a thick book, and gave it to the wizard, who received it with three several prostrations. He then tore it in pieces and cast the leaves into the grave. Instantly blue flame rose from it to a great height, thunder rolled in startling peals, while the most vivid lightning hissed and glared around them; at the same instant the bell in the church tower tolled without human aid with a sound so deep and solemn, so wild and unearthly, that every man was filled with consternation and horror. The wizard alone stood unmoved; and standing with one foot upon the treasure, chanted,
"One half the sacrifice is o'er. In the grave your treasure pour! He who seeks must seek again, He who digs will dig in vain!"
"Thus much is over," said Kyd, advancing. "Pour the coin and jewels into the grave."
"Shiver my timbers! if I understand this!" exclaimed Loff. "There is more of Old Hoofs to do in the matter than I expected, or you wouldn't have caught me here. Umph! this black wizard smells of brimstone!"
After all the treasure was poured into the grave, the wizard, looking, as the moon shone upon his form and features, more like a demon than human, stood across it, and looked around malevolently upon the pirates as they leaned upon their spades prepared to refill it. After a moment's silence he began, in the same wild, monotonous chant: