ht； which was moving about in the distance。 〃After that light； my men！〃 exclaimed Sir William。
〃It's a goblin light！〃 said Ryan。 〃So what's the use？ We shall never catch it。〃
The president and his men； little given to superstition； darted off in the direction of the moving light。 Jack Ryan； bravely following their example； quickly overtook the head…most of the party。
It was a long and fatiguing chase。 The lantern seemed to be carried by a being of small size； but singular agility。
Every now and then it disappeared behind some pillar； then was seen again at the end of a cross gallery。 A sharp turn would place it out of sight； and it seemed to have pletely disappeared； when all at once there would be the light as bright as ever。 However； they gained very little on it； and Ryan's belief that they could never catch it seemed far from groundless。
After an hour of this vain pursuit Sir William Elphiston and his panions had gone a long way in the southwest direction of the pit； and began to think they really had to do with an impalpable being。 Just then it seemed as if the distance between the goblin and those who were pursuing it was being less。 Could it be fatigued； or did this invisible being wish to entice Sir William and his panions to the place where the inhabitants of the cottage had perhaps themselves been enticed。 It was hard to say。
The men； seeing that the distance lessened； redoubled their efforts。 The light which had before burnt at a distance of more than two hundred feet before them was now seen at less than fifty。 The space continued to diminish。 The bearer of the lamp became partially visible。 Sometimes； when it turned its head； the indistinct profile of a human face could be made out； and unless a sprite could