He sweated cold terrors, for he was on the east headland right above the bay, till the Sénéchal crawled over to him and whispered—
"Hear 'em?"
"Y-y-yes. What the d-d-deuce and all—"
"Knew you'd wonder what it was—"
"W-w-wonder?" chittered the Doctor.
"It's only the wind in the cave at the corner below here—"
"Ah! Thought it must be something of that kind," said the Doctor through his teeth, clenched hard to keep them in order. "Don't wonder folks fight shy of the Coupée. Sounded uncommonly like spirits. Might give some folks the jumps."
On another dark and windy night it was the Sénéchal's turn to get something of a fright.
As he lay in the heather, gun in hand, and well wrapped up in his big cloak, with all his faculties concentrated on the wavering pathway below, it seemed to him that he heard slow heavy footsteps approaching.
His nerves were strung tight. He craned his head to look down into the cutting, when suddenly there came a wild snuffle at the back of his neck, and as he jumped up with a startled yelp, one part anger and nine parts fright, a horse that had grazed down upon him in the darkness, leaped back with a snort and a squeal and disappeared into the night.