Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/88

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
76
The Spectre Barber.

courage vanished, fear drove all the blood to Frank’s heart—till it beat, as if too full, and were trying to burst from its confinement.

As the noise approached, the matter appeared quite serious to Frank, and he could not even collect resolution enough, to rise and call from the window, on the people of the inn. He took refuge under his coverlet, which he drew quite over him, as the ostrich is said to hide his head in the grass, when he can no longer escape the enemy. Doors were opened and shut with a terrible noise; and at last, an attempt was made on the door of Frank’s retreat. Several keys were tried, and at length, the right one found, still the bars held the door, when at length, a loud crash, like a clap of thunder, burst them asunder and the door flew open. A tall thin man entered, he had a very black beard, was clothed in an old fashioned dress, and had a gloomy expression in his countenance, overhanging brows gave him the appearance of deep thought. A scarlet mantle was thrown over his left shoulder, and his hat was high and pointed. He walked silently through the