each other, they drew nearer to the cave, and as the evening was closing in, it was with strange sensations of fear and curiosity that Felipe and Inez heard them propose to pass the night on the spot; a proposal which was unanimously agreed to. Having arranged this matter, two of their number departed to seek for some provisions, and cooking materials, which had been left in their boat in a small creek not far distant. In a short time they returned, laden with different kinds of fish as well as fruits and vegetables, and bearing also a substantial flagon of the wine which the neighbourhood of Cadiz boasted even at that early period. A few small casks of this wine had been included amongst the various articles which were hastily thrown into the boat when she left the wreck, and had luckily been landed undamaged. With the prospect of good cheer before them, the men set about their preparations with alacrity, and a bright fire of dry cedar soon spread an exhilarating blaze. Felipe was afraid lest its gleam should betray their situation in the cavern, and whispered Inez to withdraw more closely beneath a low-browed arch where the rock formed a natural seat. His fears were needless: the light flashed from time to time upon the projecting masses of rock without the cave, but illumined nothing within; and the men were too busily employed to pay much attention to any thing that passed beyond their own small circle. Their situation was still irksome, at the least, if not dangerous. A slight accident might discover them, and to escape while the men remained in front of the cavern was impossible. They had, besides, no other place of retreat so secure as the one they now occupied. They were thus compelled to remain unwilling spectators of the ruffians' evening revel, for such seemed the probable tendency of their meal. Felipe wrapped his cloak round Inez, to protect her from the chill of the wet vault; and she leaned back in silence, endeavouring to seek repose in slumber, while Felipe attentively watched the proceedings of the crew. Their number we have already noticed: a slight description of their appearance may not be inappropriate. The principal figure amongst them was a tall, strong-built man, in the prime of life, with a visage, the natural dark hue of which was increased almost

to blackness from constant exposure to a burning sun, and the discolouring effects of wind and wave. His hair and long moustaches were coal black; the former fell in uncombed wildness on his shoulders, and the latter were twisted till they more resembled the bristles of the pard than any other human attribute. His doublet and the other parts of his dress were much frayed by constant wear, and a long sharp cuchilla glittered unsheathed beneath his broad leathern belt. The only thing which he wore in the least approaching to ornament, was a large embossed silver whistle, which was suspended from his neck by a chain of the same material. A heavy cutlass, a mantle, and a dark overshadowing hat, which increased the sinister expression of his countenance, completed the picture of Lopez Pacheco, heretofore master-at-arms of the good ship, the Estrella. The dress of his companions was, in most respects, the same as his own; all were similarly armed, and one also wore a whistle. They were men whose stature was somewhat below the common height, but all were thickset and muscular, and had evidently been long familiar with the hardships of life. A reckless expression characterized the countenances of all; and had they been met with on the Sierra Moresca, few would have doubted their profession as lawless brigands of the most relentless tribe. Two of these men were brothers, Pedro and Diego Beltrau, Arragonians, from the banks of the Ebro; the fourth was a native of Biscay. All of them were well known for the daring boldness of their dispositions, though report said it had not always been exercised in the pursuit of justifiable objects. Such were the beings who now sat within a few yards of those whom they had sought for six successive days, their naturally violent tempers considerably aggravated by the disappointment they had experienced, and under the additional stimulus of bumpers of the strong wine of Xares, which was quickly passed, in a large horn cup, from hand to hand. The light of day had now completely disappeared, and with it the faint breeze which had gently stirred the waters. The air was close and heavy, and flashes of summer lightning occasionally streaked the horizon. In order to clear the atmosphere, as well as to enliven the scene, large branches of cedar were hewn down

and cast on the fire, which threw out a vivid light, and illumined features whose dusky aspect was best seen under its influence. Felipe watched the group with considerable anxiety, more especially as they began by degrees to enter into conversation respecting the object of their search. He listened attentively, and soon found that he formed the principal theme of their discourse. "A pretty wild-goose chase we've had," exclaimed Pedro, the elder Beltrau, after draining the full cup, which he now passed on to his neighbour; "a pretty chase, and a successful one! By the bones of St. Jago! but that I saw and felt the wounds of our leader, Don Gaspar, I should have been tempted to think his imagination alone had conjured up the appearance of this same Felipe: here have we been six long days, hunting through bush and covert, on open ground and over blue water, and the devil a trace have we met with since we saw that cockle-shell of rushes, which for my part I doubt if any Christian man could ever sail in, let alone a woman!""Doubt as you will," said Pacheco, "your belief in the holiest matters has never been of the strongest; we must make a clean search through the island, whether we take back the skin of the wolf, or have our labour for our pains. I would we could fall on them, were it only to have some compensation for the loss of time we undergo on this cursed shore; I promise you the chica should be taught better manners than to escape a second time: and for the Senor Hidalgo, a home thrust, and a berth among the coral rocks to sleep off its effects, would be care enough to take of him." -"But," interrupted Diego Beltrau, "did not Don Gaspar say that we were to bring him back alive?"--"Ay, man," replied Pacheco, "he said so, but what then? do you think he wished it?-not he. He told me to take care of him, and he knows my tenderness. I learnt somewhat of that in the Holy Office at Seville. The servants of St. Dominic send heretics to heaven in pity of their sins, and I think we need not be scrupulous in doing the same for an old Christian. Pass on the cup, Diego; I never think of the auto da fe but I feel thirsty; and the blaze before us is no bad emblem either: pity we have no rogue with a san benito to make the

thing complete."-"I think," said the Biscayan, breaking silence for the first time," were this Felipe found he could furnish no better sport than feeding the flame, which burns out a thought too fast with this dry crackling wood.""Well argued, my mountain friend," cried Pacheco; "prithee raise thy_lazy limbs from the ground, and cut down some of these rustling branches. I have fancied half-a-dozen times I felt some one at my ear, when the breeze, which is just getting up, has shaken the withered leaves.' The Biscayan rose, and drawing out his long knife, advanced to a low-bending palmetto, which grew close to the mouth of the cave, and severed two or three of the long dead branches which hung idly down; as he stooped to pick them up, a flash of lightning gleamed stronger than before, and the Biscayan saw, or fancied he saw, something move within the chasm, which he now for the first time noticed. Superstitious as his countrymen always are, he instantly conceived that the yawning rift contained more than was meet for mortal to encounter; but the fear of being ridiculed kept him silent, and he hastily collected the bundle of dry leaves, and quickly returned to the circle round the fire. Though he uttered no remark, the bloodless hue of his cheeks and lips plainly expressed that something had agitated him. Pacheco observed it, and passed him the flask with a sneer, desiring him to borrow a little colour from the cup to dye his lips red again, for he looked as if he had seen a ghost. The man drank the wine, and sullenly replied, "Master Lopez might jeer him as much as he pleased, but there were many things less wonderful than such a sight, if they only chose to look amongst the rocks and thickets. Did they know," he continued, lowering his voice to a whisper," that they had supped, it might be, in the mouth of hell!" The two brothers shuddered as he uttered the last words; but Pacheco exclaimed, "Come, friend, this is no time for foolery; if you have seen any thing, speak out, and be it devil or Don, here's one at least will boldly face it! Speak, man, or are you like a sealed wine-skin, that must be pricked to let out its contents?" He showed his dagger as he spoke. The Biscayan, less moved at the threat implied than in

for my part I honestly confess I regard my cowl only as a lively-hood! and yet-" continued the friar, with mock-seriousness, placing his palms upon his capacious corporation" behold how my mirthfulness and good-humour runneth to-waist! O! it's a sad world we live in, sir knight." The knight laughed heartily at the jocose conceits of the jolly friar, and almost imperceptibly began to quibble in the same strain; albeit, he preferred rather to provoke the good-humoured garrulity of his companion than to hear himself dis

course.

"Only to see how wit engendereth wit,” cried the friar, “as naturally as bears bear bears, or wolves and churchmenprey! By St. Mary, sir knight, we are well met, and by thy good-will we'll part not ere we drink a chirping-cup together. A league hence stands an hostelrie, where I purpose to spend the night and a mark to boot, for beshrew me an' there be not as good a flagon of wine to be had there as ever made a dull eye or a light heel.”

"Have with thee, then," replied the knight, "for I lack reflection after a hard day's ride; and would fain reach our destination ere nightfall."

"And yet nightfall can have no terrors for thee,' said the friar, “for in thy time thou must have seen many a knight fall, even at noon-day!"

"Ay, truly, many a brave knight have I seen cast from his seat, who hath borne his discomfiture with a grace and equanimity worthy-"

Hymen, and licensed to tack together the

sexes.

"Go to, friar, I am no match for thee."

"No, by St. Mary! the church allows us no match. The priest tacks, but doth not tax himself with a wife. The progeny of mother church are all children by adoption! But, beseech thee, mount, sir knight, and let us jog on; and thanks to thy company that will make the wayfarer's way fairer."

Having, after a short progress, rendered shorter by the pleasantry of the friar, arrived at the aforenamed hostelrie, where the mendicant was instantly recognised and right heartily welcomed; the knight provided his steed with good quarters, and a liberal supply of corn, unarmed, and sat down with the friar to the discussion of the promised flagon, which was agreeably accompanied by the corner of a cony-pie and the remnant of a delicious pasty, to which a healthy appetite gave an unusual relish.

Filling a horn with the sparkling wine, the knight said, "I'll give thee, friar, the Church of England !”

“And I the—belles!” replied the friar significantly, quaffing his measure at a single draught; and it was evident enough by the thickness of his speech and the stupid glare of his small gray eyes, that his wit was tottering on the very brink of inebriation.

"I fear me, most delectable friar," said the knight, who was drooping as fast as his boon companion, "that thou art incorrigible. Thou wilt assuredly drop into the embraces of sleep with a jest in thy mouth."

"Nay, I charge thee"

"Charge me not, I pray thee, sir knight.” quickly retorted the friar,-" for lo! I am unarmed; I bear neither arms nor malice, albeit, in a sort, I may myself be termed a buckler-seeing that I am a priest of

and here's a parallel,-a parallel 'twixt my profession and my confession. My profession is-mendicant;-my confession is -mend I can't!"

And so saying down rolled the burly friar and the sturdy knight upon the floor of the hostelrie, in the rushes whereof they found a sweet and sound repose!