light, and merry, their garb neat and pastoral, their hair falling in long plaits down their backs, their heads ornamented with a veil, or handkerchief, twisted round them in a very coquetish and becoming manner, assembled upon some pleasant spot among the rocks, to dance to the sound of the pipe and tabor, while the more aged amused themselves with looking on, and preparing refreshments.

Osmond more than once accompanied his host to be a spectator of their amusements, and more than once was invited by the intelligent dark eyes of the young female cottagers to join in the dance, but from which he was still withheld by painful remembrances; though he could return their smiles and their glances, worlds could not have induced him to dance within sight of the waves which had proved fatal to so many gallant spirits.

Not unfrequently the sight of the waves awakened reflections that obliged him to steal away from the crowd. On those occasions he generally wandered up the road amidst the mountains, or struck into some of the rich and variegated woods of oak, beech, and chesnut, which shaded their acclivities, and partially screened the cornfields, that extended in various directions o'er their summits.

But the gaiety which he was thus at times, owing to the sudden obtrusion of painful thoughts, compelled to fly from, was notwithstanding delightful to him, from the proof it afforded of the happiness of so many of his fellow-creatures; with an exquisi e sensation he listened to its softened sounds, and hoped such might ever be the prevailing ones in this happy quarter.

He had been about a week an inmate of the fisherman's cottage, and was returning to it one morning from a long ramble, when his attention was attracted by a number of both sexes assembled in the middle of the village, evidently in great consternation. From his ignorance of the language, however, not being able to make out the cause of this, he proceeded homeward, after pausing for a minute or two to observe them, and was followed by Ines, his hostess, who, from the midst of the crowd,

had espied him. Of her he enquired the cause of the tumult; and, in her broken French, received the following particulars:

You have taken notice, I presume, Signor, of the great mount in our chapel-yard?'

Yes, I have not only noticed, but more than once clambered up it, to have a better view of the adjacent country; 'tis a place of interment, I presume?'

It has been, Signior, but not for a considerable period it is, as you imagined, not only hollow within, but of immense depth. There came, as the story goes, a hundred or two years ago, two famous warriors to this village, for the purpose of sea-bathing. They had not been long here, when one of them sickened and died. On the day on which he was to be buried, a large body of soldiers made their appearance, and broke an opening into the cave, for the purpose of interring the body there.

'Amongst many other strange things they did on this occasion, the country people were not a little astonished at seeing them bury a quantity of provisions, both for man and beast, along with the body; and still more, as you may suppose, at seeing the other warrior, armed cap-a-pee, and mounted on his horse, descend into the vault, and immediately after the entrance was closed up.

For this strange and unnatural act, the soldiers accounted by saying, that, owing to some particular circumstance, the two warriors had many years before taken a solemn vow, whether living or dead, to be interred at the same moment; and that the provisions which had been deposited in the vault, were for the purpose of keeping the surviver alive for a certain time, and thus enabling him, like an honourable Knight as he was, to watch over, and prevent the body of his friend from being entered by any one of the evil spirits, or enchanters, against whom they had both been so long waging war, lest, if possession was taken of it by one of these, it might be made to undo all the great and glorious things it had achieved in life, while animated by its own good spirit.... The soldiers moreover commanded that the vault should not be opened again, threatening the inhabitants of this

hamlet with misery of every description, if they ever permitted it to be so.

เ

This threatening had the desired effect. Generation after generation has passed away, without any one thinking of acting in defiance of it. The villagers, therefore, can no otherwise account for the doleful cries which, in the course of this morning, have repeatedly been heard from the tomb of the warriors than by supposing some one or more of the evil spirits, or enchanters they so annoyed while living, have at length obtained access to it, for the purpose of being revenged for all they made them suffer.'

What, revenged on a parcel of bones!" demanded Osmond laughing at the simplicity and superstition of the good woman.

'Yes, Signor,' she replied, by taking possession of them; for the bones may still be sufficiently connected to afford them a habitation: at least such is the opinion of an old woman, who lives in yonder wood; and she advises, in order to have an end put to the wicked projects of these said evil spirits, or enchanters that some one should enter the cave, for the purpose of dismembering the skeletons, in such a manner that nothing could lodge within them; but as yet, no one has been found hardy enough to undertake the business.'

'Well,' said Osmond, not doubting but that some unfortunate creature had fallen into the cave, to whom, if immediate assistance was not rendered, death might be the consequence, 'I have not the least objection to volunteer my services on this occasion.

cent.

Is it possible, Signor?' cried Ines, in a joyful ac

'It is very true,' replied Osmond....Where is your husband?'

With the rest of the villagers, Signor.'

'And is he entirely of their way of thinking with regard to the present affair?'

"Why, I dont know, Signor. I rather believe he is at a loss what to think.'

Well, hasten said Osmond, and make known my offer.

Ines obeyed, and presently returned with Guipuscoa, and several of the other villagers, equally surprised and delighted at having found a voluntary champion, since, in the light of one they could not help viewing the person who consented to enter the cave, from the smart scuffle they were convinced, he would have within it.

Osmond having provided himself with a bottle of vinegar and another of brandy, proceeded to the cave, and descended into it by means of a ladder, passed through an aperture, discovered towards the summit, followed by Guipuscoa, who notwithstanding his disinclination to the adventure, could not think of letting a person, so immediately under his protection, as he conceived Osmond, enter into any danger he would not himself share.

Osmond, on reaching the bottom of the cavern, paused, in order to look around him; but the light emanating from a lanthron he carried, was too faint to permit him to see to any distance. He therefore began slowly to advance, closely followed by his host.

After proceeding some way, he was beginning to imagine himself mistaken with regard to the conjecture which had induced him to enter it, in consequence of neither hearing or seeing any one, when a faint moan reached his ear, to the infinite terror of Guipuscoa, as was evident from his crossing himself, and makingan immediate movement towards the ladder; whilst Osmond hastened to the spot, whence the distressing sound proceeded, and discovered a man stretched upon the ground, with his face upwards, and from the deadly paleness of which, united to his eyes being closed, Osinond, at the first glance would have been tempted to believe him dead, but for a quivering motion he saw about his lips.

Having by the coldness and dampness of his forehead, ascertained his being in a swoon, and at the same moment perceived one of his hands bleeding, he called to Guipuscoa for assistance, which, his superstitious terror being somewhat subdued by learning the object for whom it was required, he approached to give with great

readiness.

X

While he bound up the wound, Osmond rubbed the temples of the poor sufferer with the vinegar he had so luckily brought with him, and occasionally held it to his nostrils. In a little while he had the satisfaction of perceiving him move, and open his eyes, but which he almost instantly closed again, as if completely overcome by weakness. It now occured to Osmond that he had probably been a long time in the cavern; and that from the consequent exhaustion of his frame, owing to want of food, consequences might ensue, if removed thence, till he had, in some degree, been recruited by nourishment.

This surmise being communicated to Guipuscoa, he produced some biscuit, which being sopped in brandy, and gradually insinuated between the lips of the stranger, by degrees had the desired effect of restoring him to some degree of warmth and animation: in a little while he again opened his eyes, and after wildly staring about him for a minute, enquired in Italian, in which language Osmond was perfectly conversant, where he then was ?

'Till you obtain the repose you so much require, be satisfied, I entreat you, with knowing,' said Osmond, 'that you are in safe and honourable hands.'

The stranger slightly bowed his head, and being raised from the ground by Osmond and Guipuscoa, was, between them, assisted up the ladder; but great as was the difficulty they found in getting him out of the tomb, they found still greater in getting him through the crowd assembled round it, so anxious were the villagers to learn who he was, and what had brought him there.

That he was a person of no common note, Osmond was convinced from the richness of his habiliments. He appeared about his own age; and though not remarkably handsome, had something extremely interesting in his looks.

On reaching the habitation of Guipuscoa, Osmond put him into possession of his own bed; and after giving him a little warm and diluted brandy, left him to his repose. On descending to the lower apartment, he felt himself so oppresed with a head ache, owing to the foul and damp atmosphere he had breathed in the cavern, that he was under the necessity of going into the air, but informed