by Katharine ’s rather malicious determination not to help this young man , in whose upright and resolute bearing she detecteddetectsomething hostile to her surroundings , by any of the usual feminine amenities .
At length the sun setsetin a flood of glory , behind the distant western hills , and as darkness drewdrawits veil around the secluded spot the sounds of preparation diminisheddiminish; the last light finally disappeareddisappearfrom the log cabin of some officer ; the trees castcasttheir deeper shadows over the mounds and the rippling stream , and a silencesilencesoon pervaded the camp , as deep as that which reigned in the vast forest by which it was environed .
Silencesilenceensued then for a moment , at the end of which interval Dale heardheara rapid clip-clop on the rocky trail outside .