Commodore Junk — page 248: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

UNDER ANOTHER RULE. 241 of five minutes he had lost all idea, through its abrupt turns, of the direction in which he was going ; while before he had pene- trated much farther the pathway forked, and, unable to decide which would lead him in the required direction, he took the path to the right. It was plain enough that these green tunnels through the forest had been cut by the buccaneers for purposes of defence in case of an enemy carrying their outer works, so that he was in no way surprised to find the path he had taken led right to a huge crumbling stone building, whose mossy walls rose up among the trees sombre and forbidding, and completely barring his way. It was a spot where a few resolute men might keep quite an army at bay, for the walls were of enormous extent, the windows mere stone lattices, and the doorway in front so low that a stooping attitude was necessary for him who woul] enter. This was consequent upon the falling of stones from above, and the blocking partially of the way. There was a strange, mysterious aspect in the place, over- grown as it was with the redundant growth, which fascinated the explorer, and feeling impelled to go on he gave one glance round, and was about to enter, when out of the utter stillness he heard a low sound as if someone had been watching him and given vent to a low expiration of the breath. Humphrey started and looked sharply round, unable to restrain a shudder ; but no one was visible, and he was about to go on, feeling ashamed of his nervousness, when the sound was repeated, this time from above his head ; and glancing up, he leaped back, for twenty feet above his head in the green gloom there was a curious, impish face gazing down at him; and as he made out more and more of the object, it seemed as if some strange goblin were suspended in mid-air and about to drop down upon his head. P Gomilcbooks ==)