"
"He will perish by a hand as terrible as mine," laughed Herne - " by that
of famine. He will never quit the dungeon alive unless--"
"Unless what?" gasped Mabel.
"Unless he is leagued with me," replied Herne. "And now let him pass,
for I would speak of myself. I have already told you that I love you, and
am resolved to make you mine. You shudder, but wherefore? It is a
glorious destiny to be the' bride of the wild hunter--the fiend who rules
the forest, and who, in his broad domain, is more powerful than the
king. The old forester, Robin Hood, had his maid Marian; and what was
he compared to me? He had neither my skill nor my power. Be mine,
and you shall accompany me on my midnight rides; shall watch the
fleet stag dart over the moonlight glade, or down the lengthened vista.
You shall feel all the unutterable excitement of the chase. You shall
thread with me the tangled grove, swim the river and the lake, and
enjoy a thousand pleasures hitherto unknown to you. Be mine, and I
will make you mistress of all my secrets, and compel the band whom I
will gather round me to pay you homage. Be mine, and you shall have
power of life and death over them, as if you were absolute queen.
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