250 THE PILGRIM?S PROGRESS.

to quake; the women also looked pale and wan; but their guide bid them be of good
comfort.

So they went on a little farther, and they thought that they felt the ground begin to
shake under them, as if some hollow place was there; they heard also a kind of hissing,
as of serpents; but nothing as yet appeared. Then said the boys, “ Are we not yet
at the end of this doleful place?” But the guide also bid them be of good courage,
and look well to their feet; “lest haply,” said he, “ you be taken in some snare.”

Now James began to be sick ; but I think the cause thereof was fear; so his mother -
gave him some of that glass of spirits that had been given her at the Interpreter’s
house, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill had prepared; and the boy began to revive.
Thus they went on till they came to about the middle of the valley; and then Chris-
tiana said, “Methinks I see something yonder upon the road before us, a thing of
such a shape as I have not seen.” Then said Joseph, “Mother, what is it?” “An
ugly thing, child, an ugly thing,” said she. “ But, mother, what is it like?” said he.
“°T is like I cannot tell what,” said she, “and now it is but a little way off.” Then
said she, “It is nigh!”

“Well, well,” said Mr. Great-heart, “let them that are most afraid keep close to
me.” So the fiend came on, and the conductor met it; but, when it was just come to
hin, it vanished to all their sights. Then remembered they what had been said some
time ago, “ Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ®

They went therefore on, as being a little refreshed. But they had not gone far
before Mercy, looking behind her, saw, as she thought, something most like a lion, and
it came a great padding pace after; and it had a hollow voice of roaring, and at every
roar that it gave it made all the valley echo, and all their hearts to ache, save the
heart of him that was their guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind,
and put the pilgrims all before him. The lion also came on apace, and Mr. Great-
heart addressed himself to give him battle.“ But, when he saw that it was determined
that resistance should be made, he also drew back, and came no farther.

They then went on again, and their conductor did go before them, till they came to
a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the way; and before they could
be prepared to go over that, a great mist and darkness fell upon them, so that they
could not see. Then said the pilgrims, “ Alas! what now shall we do?” But. their
guide made answer, “ Fear not, stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also.”
So they stayed there, because their path was marred. They then also thought that
they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the enemies; the fire also, and
the smoke of the pit, were much easier to be discerned. Then said Christiana to