Accordingly that very night I set about it , and coming to the place , I understood he was placed at the further end of a long dark vault , which I slowly entered . I had not gone in far until I heard a foot coming towards me with a quick pace , and although naturally bold and daring , yet , thinking of the deceased bishop and the crime I was engaged in , I lost courage , and ran towards the entrance of the vault . I had retreated but a few paces when I observed , between me and the light , the figure of a tall black man standing in the entrance . Being in great fear and not knowing how to pass , I fired a pistol at him , and he immediately fell across the entrance . Perceiving he still retained the figure of a mortal man , I began to imagine that it could not be the bishop 's ghost ; recovering myself therefore from the fear I was in , I ventured to the upper end of the vault , where I found a large bundle , and upon further examination I found that the corpse was already rifled , and that which I had taken to be a ghost was no more than one of his own clergy . I was then very sorry that I had the misfortune to kill him , but it then could not be helped . I took up the bundle that contained everything belonging to the corpse that was valuable , intending to take my departure from this melancholy abode ; but just as I came to the mouth of the entrance I saw the guards of the place coming towards me , and distinctly heard them saying that they would look in the vault , for that the Black Thief would think little of robbing the corpse if he was anywhere in the place . I did not then know in what manner to act , for if I was seen I would surely lose my life , as everybody had a look-out at that time , and because there was no person bold enough to come in on me . I knew very well on the first sight of me that could be got , I would be shot like a dog . However , I had not time to lose . I took and raised up the man which I had killed , as if he was standing on his feet , and I , crouching behind him , bore him up as well as I could , so that the guards readily saw him as they came up to the vault . Seeing the man in black , one of the men cried that was the Black Thief , and , presenting his piece , fired at the man , at which I let him fall , and crept into a little dark corner myself , that was at the entrance of the place . When they saw the man fall , they ran all into the vault , and never stopped until they were at the end of it , for fear , as I thought , that there might be some others along with him that was killed . But while they were busy inspecting the corpse and the vault to see what they could miss , I slipped out , and , once away , and still away ; but they never had the Black Thief in their power since . ' ` Well , my brave fellow , ' says the Knight of the Glen , ' I see you have come through many dangers : you have freed these two princes by your stories ; but I am sorry myself that this young prince has to suffer for all . Now , if you could tell me something as wonderful as you have told already , I would pardon him likewise ; I pity this youth and do not want to put him to death if I could help it . ' ` That happens well , ' says the Thief of Sloan , ` for I like him best myself , and have reserved the most curious passage for the last on his account . ' ` Well , then , ' says the knight , ` let us hear it . ' ' I was one day on my travels , ' says the Black Thief , ` and I came into a large forest , where I wandered a long time , and could not get out of it . At length I came to a large castle , and fatigue obliged me to call in the same , where I found a young woman and a child sitting on her knee , and she crying .
I asked her what made her cry , and where the lord of the castle was , for I wondered greatly that I saw no stir of servants or any person XXXXX the place . '
At about as between from like through towards until while