most constantly from the time the children were lost, now ceased to blow, and a mournful stillness rested upon the surrounding forest. No voice nor sound, disturbed the silence of the wilderness, save now and then the howl of the distant wolf, or the scream of the wild cat and panther, as they broke through the darkness, and brought to many a heart a fearful sadness for the lost ones, who, if still living, were exposed to attacks from these wild beasts. Many now were the views, the conjectures and speculations concerning them. Some said it could not be otherwise than that they had been devoured by the wild beasts that abounded in the mountain, as no trace or sign of them could be found. Others would have it, that they had been taken away by a gang of Gypsies, that had been strolling through the country. Some supposed that they had been stolen and placed within the walls of a secret religious institution to be educated in their peculiar faith. Others believed they had fallen into some of the mountain streams and were drowned. But the great majority of the people believed that they were still alive wandering about in the wilds of the mountain, and that people should double their exertions to find them.
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