and almost overshadowed by the trees, a crowded line of white through-stones gleamed ⟨like⟩ spectres through the darkness. There was a small house attached to the end of the church, in which the sessions were generally held, where the sexton’s tools were deposited, and into which the rope attached to the bell descended. It was here the sentinels took their station. The small gothic window in front looked directly towards Mary’s grave, and as the sexton had given them the key, they could, by locking the door on the inside, watch, secure from the weather, and unseen by any one.
Three nights passed in this manner, without any remarkable occurence. On the fourth ⟨old⟩ Saunders and his son insisted on taking their turn in watching; and they repaired to the church-yard accordingly; the father with the Scots Worthies, and the big ha’ ⟨Bible⟩ under his arm, and the son with two guns over his shoulder, an ox-horn full of powder, a small bladder of shot, and a pocketfull of his mother’s coarse tow, for ⟨colfins⟩. It was then the month of March, when the days and nights are equal; and as it happened to be clear moonlight at the time, Saunders would not allow his son to bring a candle with him, “for” said he, as they travelled along, “if ony o’ thae grave ⟨houkin’⟩ villians sud be sculkin about, and
