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Falmouth and beyond； and others from Connecticut and Rhode
Island； besides several of the Indian powwows； who； after their
fashion； know almost as much deviltry as the best of us。
Moreover； there is a goodly young woman to be taken into
communion。〃
〃Mighty well； Deacon Gookin！〃 replied the solemn old tones of the
minister。 〃Spur up； or we shall be late。 Nothing can be done； you
know； until I get on the ground。〃
The hoofs clattered again； and the voices； talking so strangely
in the empty air； passed on through the forest； where no church
had ever been gathered or solitary Christian prayed。 Whither；
then； could these holy men be journeying so deep into the heathen
wilderness？ Young Goodman Brown caught hold of a tree for
support； being ready to sink down on the ground； faint and
overburdened with the heavy sickness of his heart。 He looked up
to the sky； doubting whether there really was a heaven above him。
Yet there was the blue arch； and the stars brightening in it。
〃With heaven above and Faith below； I will yet stand firm against
the devil！〃 cried Goodman Brown。
While he still gazed upward into the deep arch of the firmament
and had lifted his hands to pray； a cloud； though no wind was
stirring； hurried across the zenith and hid the brightening
stars。 The blue sky was still visible； except directly overhead；
where this black mass of cloud was sweeping swiftly northward。
Aloft in the air； as if from the depths of the cloud； came a
confused and doubtful sound of voices。 Once the listener fancied
that he could distinguish the accents of towns…people of his own；
men and women； both pious and ungodly； many of whom he had met at
the communion table； and had seen others rioting at the tavern。
The next moment； so indistinct were the sounds； he doubted
whether he had heard aught but the murmur of the old forest；
whispering without a wind。 Then came a stronger swell of those
familiar tones； heard daily in the sunshine at Salem village； but
never until now from a cloud of night There was one voice of a
young woman； uttering lamentations； yet with an uncertain sorrow；
and entreating for some favor； which； perhaps； it would grieve
her to obtain； and all the unseen multitude； both saints and
sinners； seemed to encourage her onward。
〃Faith！〃 shouted Goodman Brown； in a voice of agony and
desperation； and the echoes of the forest mocked him； crying；
〃Faith！ Faith！〃 as if bewildered wretches were seeking her all
through the wilderness。
The cry of grief； rage； and terror was yet piercing the night；
when the unhappy husband held his breath for a response。 There
was a scream； drowned immediately in a louder murmur of voices；
fading into far…off laughter； as the dark cloud swept away；
leaving the clear and silent sky above Goodman Brown。 But
something fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on
the branch of a tree。 The young man seized it； and beheld a pink
ribbon。
〃My Faith is gone！〃 cried he； after one stupefied moment。 〃There
is no good on earth； and sin is but a name。 Come； devil； for to
thee is this world given。〃
And； maddened with despair； so that he laughed loud and long； did
Goodman Brown grasp his staff and set forth again； at such a rate
that he seemed to fly along the forest path rather than to walk
or run。 The road grew wilder and drearier and more faintly
traced； and vanished at length； leaving him in the heart of the
dark wilderness； still rushing onward with the instinct that
guides mortal man to evil。 The whole forest was peopled with
frightful soundsthe creaking of the trees； the howling of wild
beasts； and the yell of Indians； while sometimes the wind tolled
like a distant church bell； and sometimes gave a broad roar
around the traveller； as if all Nature were laughing him to
scorn。 But he was himself the chief horror of the scene； and
shrank not from its other horrors。
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 roared Goodman Brown when the wind laughed at him。
〃Let us hear which will laugh loudest。 Think not to frighten me
with your deviltry。 Come witch； come wizard； come Indian powwow；
come devil himself； and here comes Goodman Brown。 You may as well
fear him as he fear you。〃
In truth； all through the haunted forest there could be nothing
more frightful than the figure of Goodman Brown。 On he flew among
the black pines； brandishing his staff with frenzied gestures；
now giving vent to an inspiration of horrid blasphemy； and now
shouting forth such laughter as set all the echoes of the forest
laughing like demons around him。 The fiend in his own shape is
less hideous than when he rages in the breast of man。 Thus sped
the demoniac on his course； until； quivering among the trees； he
saw a red light before him； as when the felled trunks and
branches of a clearing have been set on fire； and throw up their
lurid blaze against the sky； at the hour of midnight。 He paused；
in a lull of the tempest that had driven him onward； and heard
the swell of what seemed a hymn； rolling solemnly from a distance
with the weight of many voices。 He knew the tune； it was a
familiar one in the choir of the village meeting…house。 The verse
died heavily away； and was lengthened by a chorus； not of human
voices； but of all the sounds of the benighted wilderness pealing
in awful harmony together。 Goodman Brown cried out； and his cry
was lost to his own ear by its unison with the cry of the desert。
In the interval of silence he stole forward until the light
glared full upon his eyes。 At one extremity of an open space；
hemmed in by the dark wall of the forest； arose a rock； bearing
some rude； natural resemblance either to an alter or a pulpit；
and surrounded by four blazing pines； their tops aflame； their
stems untouched； like candles at an evening meeting。 The mass of
foliage that had overgrown the summit of the rock was all on
fire； blazing high into the night and fitfully illuminating the
whole field。 Each pendent twig and leafy festoon was in a blaze。
As the red light arose and fell； a numerous congregation
alternately shone forth； then disappeared in shadow； and again
grew； as it were； out of the darkness； peopling the heart of the
solitary woods at once。
〃A grave and dark…clad company；〃 quoth Goodman Brown。
In truth they were such。 Among them； quivering to and fro between
gloom and splendor； appeared faces that would be seen next day at
the council board of the province； and others which； Sabbath
after Sabbath； looked devoutly heavenward； and benignantly over
the crowded pews； from the holiest pulpits in the land。 Some
affirm that the lady of the governor was there。 At least there
were high dames well known to her； and wives of honored husbands；
and widows； a great multitude； and ancient maidens； all of
excellent repute； and fair young girls； who trembled lest their
mothers should espy them。 Either the sudden gleams of light
flashing over the obscure field bedazzled Goodman Brown； or