CHAPTER X.
An enemy in the night—The vampire bat—The hermit discourses on strange, and curious, and interesting things.
Next morning Martin Rattler awoke with a feeling of lightness in his head and a sensa- tion of extreme weakness pervading his entire frame. Turning his head round to the right he observed that a third hammock was slung across the farther end of the hut, which was, no doubt, that in which the hermit had passed the night. But it was empty now. Martin did not require to turn his head to the other side to see if Barney O'Flannagan was there, for that worthy individual made his presence known, for a distance of at least sixty yards all round the outside of the hut, by means of his nose, which he was in the habit of using as a trumpet when asleep. It was as well that Martin did not require to look round, for he found, to his surprise, that he had scarcely strength to do so. While he was wondering in a dreamy sort of manner what could be the matter with him, the
