The silent wonder, with which the group of borderers gazed upward at
so extraordinary a spectacle, was only interrupted as the person of
Ellen was seen emerging with timidity from the tent, as if equally
urged, by apprehensions in behalf of herself and the fears which she
felt on account of her companion, to remain concealed and to advance.
She spoke, but her words were unheard by those below, and unheeded by
her to whom they were addressed. The latter, however, as if content
with the offer she had made of herself as a victim to the resentment
of Ishmael, now calmly retired, and the spot she had so lately
occupied became vacant, leaving a sort of stupid impression on the
spectators beneath, not unlike that which it might be supposed would
have been created had they just been gazing at some supernatural
vision.
More than a minute of profound silence succeeded, during which the
sons of Ishmael still continued gazing at the naked rock in stupid
wonder. Then, as eye met eye, an expression of novel intelligence
passed from one to the other, indicating that to them, at least, the
appearance of this extraordinary tenant of the pavilion was as
unexpected as it was incomprehensible.
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