There succeeded a period of utter stillness, both in the cabin and in the clearing, a somber hush that plunged Betty yet deeper in despair.

Wild thoughts assailed her, thoughts against which she struggled with all the strength of her will.
In that hour of stress Hannibal was sustained by his faith in the judge.
He saw his patron's powerful and picturesque intelligence applied to solving the mystery of their disappearance from Belle Plain; it was inconceivable that this could prove otherwise than disastrous to Mr.
Slosson and he endeavored to share the confidence he was feeling with Betty, but there was something so forced and unnatural in the girl's voice and manner when she discussed his conjectures that he quickly fell into an awed silence.

At last, and it must have been some time after midnight, troubled slumbers claimed him.

No moment of forgetfulness came to Betty.

She was waiting for what--she did not know! The candle burnt lower and lower and finally went out and she was left in darkness, but again she was conscious of sounds from the room below.