He could
easily see his master riding in that direction, as fast as the horse
could carry him. The prophecy at once rushed on Balderstone's mind, that
the Lord of Ravenswood should perish on the Kelpie's flow, which
lay half-way betwixt the Tower and the links, or sand knolls, to the
northward of Wolf's Hope. He saw him according reach the fatal spot; but
he never saw him pass further.
Colonel Ashton, frantic for revenge, was already in the field, pacing
the turf with eagerness, and looking with impatience towards the Tower
for the arrival of his antagonist. The sun had now risen, and showed its
broad disk above the eastern sea, so that he could easily discern the
horseman who rode towards him with speed which argued impatience equal
to his own. At once the figure became invisible, as if it had melted
into the air. He rubbed his eyes, as if he had witnessed an apparition,
and then hastened to the spot, near which he was met by Balderstone,
who came from the opposite direction. No trace whatever o horse or rider
could be discerned; it only appeared that the late winds and high tides
had greatly extended the usual bounds of the quicksand, and that
the unfortunate horseman, as appeared from the hoof-tracks, in his
precipitate haste, had not attended to keep on the firm sands on the
foot of the rock, but had taken the shortest and most dangerous course.
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