Crawfordsville Review, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 21 March 1857 — Page 1

VOLUME VIII.

Tie Sleeptag (MM.

«r*n»Bf tt*i w©od'birdbrood«overit8.l»«itIiB,

Atod gtaUjr the aUra sink to mil" Boftf»U» the uioir-lMce om wing of the »v«L Calmly the 'Crimson cloud sails in the wast— Light Hoata tbo P*nd lUy-«T«r at he*van, Anchond, Ilka Hope, on tho lakaV gluey breast.

Tot,

lovad one, tbcre'a naught in all natura ropoaoa On

tb«

".^1

bosom of rat so divinely as thou—

gtreat angels have made theo a pillow of roses

was

But Lawrcncc, who was really a very good whip, brought him to his senses at length, and that before ho had knocked the little craty carriage all to pieccs. Thus wo were at length going along the high and proper road, at a speed dangerous to market men and women and to oar own nocks but „0mood

even that at length was quieted down, and

horses would make at anv diverging road »icct

that led away from the rfver, as if they had

We set out from St. Goar, then, with

The horses that day seemed to have lost all their fire. It seemed as if it was their faU to go on whatever lay before them and forward they dragged us at a slow, heavy trot, with drooping heads and heaving sides. Even the one whom the landlord of the Star had called a devil wes as tule as his companion, and minded the whip no more'than if he had been tickled pith tatoftw.

Alxmt three o'clock we saw a large heavy ekmd begin to riso before us, over-

topping the mountains, overshadowing the Rhine. It vu only in hoe that it bore

oweai »ug«ia o»»u m»uc ,,, •. jii And tha wnila of their whisper left on thy brow! fag above over the blue, and gradually hid "m ing the more distant hills, where we had A NIGHT IN AN OLD CASTLE.

one of the most awful nights I vail.

ever wmemW Wing »ccn. Wc had aet

„t from St. Go»r a carriage which we '•*'. hot unrefroshmg, lie the breath bd hired at Cologne, drawn by two black horses, whibh proved as stubborn and strange a pair of brutes as man could un-

dertakc to'drive. Not that I undertook it, for I wanted to sec tho Rhine from the land route, and not weary my arms and oc cupy my attention with an unprofitable pair of dirty reins but my friend, Mr. Lawrence, was rather fond of pulling at horses' mouths, and he preferred driving himself, •nd mo too, to being troubled—bored he called it—with "coachman. The landlord of tho "Adler" knew mc well, and bad no fear of trusting his horses with me, though, to say sooth, I had some fear of trusting myself with them.

They were assuredly a strange, unaccountable pair of brutes, and when the little baggage wc took witli us had been put in, and I went down to the carriage, I did not like the appcarance of them at all. At first sight they looked merely like a heavy pair of funeral horses, accustomed to nod their heads under heavy black plumes, and walk along at solemn pace with a mute before them but when I came to examine their eyes, there was a sort of dull, unpleasant fire in them, and the one nearest turned round his head and stared at me out of the corner of his eye with a sort of «upercilious, impertinent fun that I sliall not easily forget. It. seemed as if lie were saying, ''I'll give you a danec before I've done!" Then suddenly lie stamped his foot upon the pavement of the inn yard, as if losing patience at my delay, and opening liia fiery nostrils gave a great snort.

I got in, however, beside my friend, and away we went. As far as Bonn all was well enough but there the horses insisted upon stopping to eat. Lawrcncc tried to -persuade them it would be better to go on but it wis of no use they had been accustomed to stop at tho Star, and stop they would. Wc made the best of it, fed the horses, and got some dinner ourselves, and then wc set out again.

The landlord of the Star saw us politely to the carriage, and, addressing my friend us he took the reins in hand, observed, in "TO.very consolatory tone, "You had better take care of that horse, sir he is the devil himself:" and so, on my word, I believe he was. Where lie took us for the first five minutes I really do not know. but I have a rcnicinhrance of careering hither and thither about the great square, and having a running view of the University and the Palace of Popplcsdorff. lie would go any way on earth but up the llhinc.—

thunder-cloud. It had no

rustling, knobs, or pillars, or writhing prists about 1 it but it was inky black, and kept advanc-

ing like a wall of marble, dark as night at the lower part, and leaden-gray at the superior edge. The wind had lulled away to a perfect calm, but still that cloud kept marching on over the sky, absorbing into itself some light vapors that had been float-

caught a sight of them, in its own dim

wmd at lcngft flattered .. our

'Put up the hood!" said Lawrence, "we are going to have it!" Hardly had he spoken when a bright flash burst from the cloud, and I could see a serpent-like line of fire dart across the Rhine. It nearly blinded one, but it had no effect upon thc horses they did not even start. Then came a clap of thunder which I thought would bring the rocks and mountains on our heads. There were two or three more such flashes, and two or three other roars, and then the giant began to weep. Down came the rain like fury: it seemed as if wc had got into the middle of a water-spout and the sky, too, grew so dark that an unnatural shadow filled the whole valley of the Rhine, late so bright and smiling. I thought that we were going to have two of the plagues of Egypt at once—darkness that could be felt, and fire mingled with hail. Indeed they did come upon us at last. But no one can describe how that storm worked itself up. It was like one of those concerted pieces of music, beginning with a few instruments, and bringing in more and more, and louder and louder, till all seems one universal crash. Nor can one easily picture to imagination thc change which came over the scene while all this went on. Thc rocks, the mountains, thc castles, thc towers—except those that were close by—were either shut out from sight completely, or appeared like dim spectres through thc descending rain. Thc vineyards, with their gay population scattered, looked dank and dismal thc hills, in a thousand directions, were channeled by red turbid cascadcs and thc black rocks seemed slimy and foul, with the oozing waters that trickled over their dark faces amidst the lichens and the weeds.

Wc were wet to thc skin in five minutes but as the thunder and lightning diminished—which they did toward sunset—thc wind rose and blew with terrific violence, threatening to overset the carriage. The horses would hardly drag it on and I am sure wc did not go more than three miles an hour, while the rain, which continued harder than ever, was dashed furiously in our faces, nearly bliuding both man and beast, At length, to complete our discomforts, night fell and one so black and murky I have never seen. It was in vain whipping neither horse would go the least out of his determined pacc and, besides, thc whip had bccome so soaked and limp that it was of little servicc, moving as unwillingly as the brutes themselves, and curling itself up into a thousand knots.

I got as far back in the carriage as I could, and said nothing. As for my companion he seemed at his wits' end, and I could hear muttered curses which might

to vc.

our further journey only suffered inturrup- At length he said "Tins will never do tion from an occasional dart which both the

c«™

...

not see a

stcP

bcforc

nic"

with somc

thc first

a presentiment that their course up thc cottage, any roadside public-house or bcerstrcam would lead to something strange h°usc *s better than this. and horrible. The instinct of brutes is a "I do not think you will find any thing very curious subject of study. How far it of thc kind," I answered gloomily if you is inferior, how far superior, to human rca- do, I can be contented with any place to son—how much beyond man's keenest per- get out of this pelting—a cavc in the rock ccption it goes—how near it approaches to if nothing better." thc supernatural, are questions over which I have often pondered for hours

sba11

accident. Let us get into

Placc

of shcltcr we can

find- An?

He drove on nearly at a walk for about two miles further, and then suddenly pull-

that same pair of horses, and the little great black point of rock sticking out, as it riekety open carriage, on the 9th of Oeto- seemed to me, right across thc road. But bcr—a day ever-memorable to me. Wc Lawrence declared that he perceived a were somewhat late, for wc had been idling

up. I could hardly see any thing but a

shcd

away our time in speculations vain enough top of it, and asked me to get out and rebut it was a beautiful day. The Rhine was connoitre. I was as glad to catch at straws hurry with the vintage all hearts seemed as he could be, and I alighted as well as I open as thc wine gushed from the glorious could, stumbling upon a large stone over clusters, and one could hardly help think- which he had nearly driven us, and sinking leniently and sympathetically even of ing deep in mud and mire. I now found Noah and his first intemperance. Songs that the rock which had seemed to block were breaking out from thc hill-sides the the way was only one of those many little sun shone upon gay dresses and pleasant faces, and the merzy laugh was often in the •i*. Oh! the Rhine land is a bright and pleasant land, especially in thc gay season of the grape.

under thc rock, and a building on thc

points round which the river turns in its course through the mountains, and on approaching near it I discovered the shed he had seen. It was an old dilapidated tim-ber-built hut, which might have belonged at some former period to a boatman, or perhaps a vine-dresser but it was open at two sides, and we might as well have been in the carriage as there. By ihe side, however, I found a path with a step or two cut in the rock, and I judged rightly that it must lead to the building Lawrence had seen above. On returning to the side of the carriage, I clearly perceived the building too, an& made it oat to be one of the old castles of which such multitudes stud tho banks of tho frontier river. Some of

these, as we all know, are in a very ruin ous, some in a more perfect state and I proposed to my companion to draw the horses and carriage under the shed, climb the path, and take our chance of what we should find above. Phaethon himself could not have been more sick of charioteering than Lawrence was: he jumped at the proposal. We secured our vehicle and its brutes as well as we could, and I began to climb. Lawrence staid a minute behind to get the portmanteau out from under the seat where we had stowed it to keep it dry and then came hallooing after me with it upon his shoulder. "Do you think there is a chance of finding any one up there he asked, as he overtook me. "A chance, certainly but a poor one," I answered. "Marxburg and one or two other old castles are inhabited but not many. However, we shall soon know for this one is low down, thank Heaven! and here we are at some gate or barbican."

I can not say that it was very promising to the feci—for sight aided us but little— and the multitude of stones we tumbled over gave no idea of the castle itself being in a high state of repair. Lawrence thought fit to give aloud halloo but the whistling wind drowned it—and would have drowned it. if he had shouted like Achilles from thc trenches. "Wc next had to pick our way across what had probably been a court of thc castle that was an easy matter, for the stones in the open spacc were few, and the inequalities not many. Thc moon, I suppose, had risen by this time, for there seemed more light, though the rain ceascd not but wc could now perceive several towers and walls quite plainly and at length I found myself under a deep archway, on one side of which the drifting deluge did not reach mc. Lawrence was by my side in a minute, and, thanks to what he was accustomed to jeer me for, as one of my old-bachelor habits, I was soon enabled to afford both him and myself some light. There arc three things I always carry with me in traveling: a box of waxwick matches—these are in my pocket well wrapped up in oil silk a ball of string, and a couple of wax candles: the wax candlcs, I believe, once saved my life.

As soon as I got under shelter, I extracted my large box of matclics and lighted one easily enough. It burned while one might count twenty, but that sufficed to show us that wc were under a great gateway between two high towers. A second which I lighted Lawrence carried out into an inner court, but it was extinguished in a moment. I had perceived, however, a doorway on cither side of this arch, and thc spikes of a portcullis protruding through thc arch above, which showed that thc castle had some woodwork left about it and as soon as he came back wc lighted another match, and set out to explore what was behind the two doorways, which wc managed easily by getting a new light as soon as the old one was burned out. On the right there was nothing but one small room, with no exit but the entrance, and with a roof broken in and rank weeds rising from thc encumbered floor. On the left was a room of the same size, equally dilapidated, but with a second door and two steps leading to a larger room or hall, the roof of which was perfect except at one end. There were two old lozenge-shaped windows likewise, minus a few panes but thc sills were raised nearly a man's height from the floor, and thus, when one was seated on the ground, one's head was out of the draught. Comparison is* a wonderful thing, and the place looked quite comfortable. Lawrence threw down the portmanteau, and while he held a lighted match, I undid it and got out a wax candle. Wc had now the means of light till morning, and it remained to get some dry clothing, if it could be found. We had each a dress-suit and a couple of shirts in the portmanteau and though the rain in one spot had contrived to penetrate the solid leather and wet the shoulder of my coat and the knee of his pantaloons, it was certainly better to have but one damp place of a few inches about one than to be wet all over. We therefore dressed ourselves in what the apprentice boys would call our best clothes, and a little brandy from the flask made us feel still more comfortable. The taste for luxuries increases with marvelous rapidity under indulgence. An hour before, we should have thought a dry coat and a place of shelter formed the height of human felicity, but now we began to long for afire on the broad stone hearth at the end of the room. Lawrence was fertile in resources and keen-sighted enough.

He had remarked a quantity of fallen rafters in the first little room we had entered, and he now made sundry pilgrimages thither in the dark—for we dared not take out the candle—till he had accumulated enough wood to keep us dry all night— Some of it was wet and would not burn, but other pieces were quite dry, and we soon had a roaring fire, by which we sat down on the ground, hoping to make ourselves comfortable.

Oh the vanity of human expectations!— As long as we had been busy in repairing our previous disasters we had been well enough but as soon ID wc were still—no,

CRAWFORDSY1LLE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, INDIANA, MARCH 22, -1857.

not quite so soon as that, hut by the time we had stared into the fire for ten minutes, and made out half a doxen pictures on-the firebrands, miseries began to press upon

"I wish to heaven I had' something to sit upon!" said Lawrence, "if it were but a three-legged stool. My knees get quite cramped." "How the wind howls and mourns," said I, listening. "It would not surprise me if one half of this old crazy place were to come down upon our heads." 'The rain is pouring on as heavily as ever," said Lawrence. "I should not wonder if that puddle at the other end were to swell into a lake and wash us out at the door." "Those poor brutes of horses," said I, "must have a bad time of it, and the chaise will be like a full sponge." 'Come, come!" said Lawrencc, "this will never do. We shall croak ourselves into a fit of thc horrors. Let us forget the storm, and the horses, and the old tumbledown place, and fancy ourselves in a middling sort of inn, with a good fire, but little to eat. It is the best policy to laugh at petty evils. Come, can not you tell us a story beginning 'Once upon a time

I was in no fit mood for story-telling, but there was some philosophy in his plan, and I accordingly agreed, upon thc condition that when I had concludcd my narrative he would tell another story. "Oncc upon a time," I said, "when the late Duke of Hamilton was a young man, and traveling in Italy—making thc grand tour, as it was called in those days—-he came one night to a solitary inn in thc mountains, where he was forced to take refuge from a storm something like that which we have met with to-day—" "Oh, I know that story," cried Lawrencc, inturrupting me "I have heard it a hundred times and besides, you do not tell it right—My God, what is that

As he spoke, ho sprang up on his feet with a look of consternation and a face turning suddenly pale. "What? what?" I cried, "I heard nothing."

"Listen!" he said, "it was certainly a shriek." Wc were silent as death for thc next minute, and then again, rising above thc moaning wind and pattering rain, came one of the most piercing, agonizing shrieks I ever heard. It seemed quite closc to where wc sat—driven in, as it were, through thc broken panes of thc casement. "There must have been some accident," I said, anxiously. "Let us go down and sec."

Wc had contrived to fix our candlc between two pieccs of firewood, and, leaving it burning, wc hurried out through thc little antc-room to the old dark archway.— Thc night seemed blacker than ever, and thc storm no less severe. "Stay, stay!" said Lawrencc "let us listen. We hear nothing to direct us where to search."

I stopped, and wc bent our cars in'vain for another sound. Wc heard the wind sigh, and the rustling patter of the rain, and the roaring of the mighty river as, swollen tremendously, it went roaring along through its rocky channel, but nothing like a human voice made itself heard. At length, without giving mc any warning, and making mc start like a guilty spirit at the crow of cock, Lawrcncc shouted with thc full force of his powerful lungs, inquiring if there was any one there and in distress. No answer was returned, and again and again he called without obtaining a reply. It was evident that the lips which had uttered those sounds of pain or terror were

either far

away or still in death and hav

ing nothing to guide us further, we returned to our place of shelter. It was long, however, ere we could shake off the impression those two shrieks had made.— We had neither of us become hardened, like Macbeth, to sounds of woe, and for some time wc went on speculating on thc occurrence, and supposing many things, with very little to guide us to a right judgment. There was the rushing Rhine and the slippery road, on which many an accident might happen, and there were almost as many perils imminent as those which St. Paul recapitulates as having overtaken himself. But there was nothing certain.— After we had tired ourselves with such fancies Lawrence proposed a little more brandy. I did not object and then we told talcs of screams and shrieks which had been heard at different times and places by various credible witnesses—ourselves among the rest—for which no natural cause had ever been assigned.

At length, quite tired out, I proposed that we should try to sleep. Lawrencc ensconced himself behind the door I took up a position in the other corner, sitting on the floor with my back supported by the two walls, and at a sufficient distance from thc window: I should have said we had piled more wood on the fire, in such away as we hoped would keep it in at least till we woke and it flickered and flared and cast strange lights upon the walls and old windows, and upon a door at the other end of the room whieh we had never particular ly examined, on account of thc wet and decayed state of the floor in that part. It

it as a part

was a very common door—*•- great mass of sound's, which had been growing louder and planks placed perpendicularly and bound louder, suddenly ceased, and a death together by two great horizontal bars—but stillness succeeded. as the fire-light played upon it, there was "Stay a bit," said my companion: "let us something unpleasant to fie in its aspect, reconnoitre. We may as well look before I kept my eyes fixed upon it, and wonder- we leap. Hold up the light. ed what was beyond and, in the sort of I did as he asked, but the faint rays of unpleasant fancifulness which besets one

I could not have been really in slumber more than an hour, and was dreaming that I had been carried off a road into a river, and just heard all thc roaring and rushing of a torrent in my cars, when Lawrence woke me by shaking me violently by thc shoulder, and exclaiming: "Listen, listen! What in thc fiend's name can all that be?"

I started up bewildered but in a moment I heard sounds such as I never heard before in my life frantic yells and crics, and groans even—all very different from the shrieks we had heard before. Then, suddenly, there was a wild peal of laughter ringing all through thc room, more terrible than the rest.

I can not bear to be woke suddenly out of my sleep but to be woke by such sounds as that quite overcame mo, and I shook like a leaf. Still, my eyes turned toward thc door at the other end of the room. Thc fire had sunk low the rays of our solitary candle did not reach it, but there was now another light upon it, fitful as the flickering of the flame, but paler and colder. It seemed blue almost to me.— But as soon as I could rccall my senses I pcrccived that thc moon was breaking the clouds, and from time to time shining through thc easement n3 thc scattered vapors were hurried over licr by the wind.

What in Heaven's name can it be I cxclaimed, quite aghast. "I don't know, but wc must see," answered my companion, who had been awake longer and recovered his presence of mind. "Light thc other candle, and bring the one

the candle

sometimes when dreary, I began to ijnag- irregular faces of the rock on cither side, a ine all sorts of things. It seemed to mc to small rill of water percolating through a move as if about to be opened but it was crevice, and flowing over, down upon the only the shaking of the wind. It looked steps, along which it poured in miniature like a prison door, I thought—thc entrance cascades, and beyond, a black chasm where to somc unhappy wretch's cell and when we could see nothing.I was half asleep, I asked myself if there "Come on," said Lawrence, advancing could be any one there still—could the "we must sec the end of it." shrieks we heard issue thence.—or could Forward we went—down, down, some the spirit of thc tortured captive still come two-and-thirty steps more, without hearing back to mourn over the sorrows endured another sound but just as we reached thc in life? I shut my eyes to get rid of thc bottom step something gave a wild sort of sight of it but when I opened them again there it was staring me full in the face.— Sometimes when the flame subsided in deed, I lost sight of it but that was as bad or worse than the full view, for then I could not tell whether it was open or shut. But at length, calling myself a fool, I turned away from it, and soon after dozed off to sleep.

Wc must find out what this

of my destiny to find somewhere mc resolve to cock thc pistol. I tried to or other in my path at almost every step doit with my thumb as I held it in my some of those events which make the heart right hand, but the lock went hard, and I sicken and the blood freeze. found it would he nccessary to lay down

Taking the candlc in my hand, then, I the candlc to cffcct it. Just as I was stoopadvanced at once toward thc door. Law-

rencc stopped a moment to examine by thc

light I had left behind a pair of pistols

which he had brought in his pockets, and

to put on fresh caps, although 1 believe

they had escaped thc rain. Thus I had rcachcd the door before he came up, and had opened it, for all the iron-work but a latch had been carried off. Thc moment it was thrown back, the crics and groans were heard more distinctly than before but I could see nothing before me but darkness, and it required a moment or two for the light to penetrate the darkness beyond. I had not taken two steps beyond the threshold ere Lawrence was by my side, and we found ourselves in a stone passage without windows, appearing to lead round the building. Ten paces on, however, we came to the top of a flight of steps, broken and mouldy, with grass and weeds growing up between the crevices. Part of the wall had fallen there, but it was on the side away from thc wind and although the fluttering air, diverted by some obstacles from it? course, caused the flame of the candle to waver, I carried it still lighted past the aperture. It was a work of some danger to descend those steps, for they rocked and tottered under the foot, and they seemed interminable but after the first twenty had been passed we had no more to fear from wind. The masonry ceased the walls became the solid rock, rudely hewn out for a passage for the stairs and the steps themselves w$re of the native stone, squared and flattened at one time probably, but worn by many feet, and in Sbme placcs broken, by what influences I do not know.

showed us nothing but thc black

yell, and I could hear a scrambling and tumbling at a good distance in advance. My heart beat terribly, and Lawrence stopped short. I was far mere agitated than he was, but he showed what he felt more, and any one who had seen us would have said that he was frightened, I perfectly cool. He had passed mc on the stairs I now passed him, and holding tho light high up gazed around.

It was very difficult to see anything distinctly, but here and there the beams caught

that is alight is. Some poor creature may be wanting gaagc should be within ear-shot. jicjp Wc were so near thc foot of the steps "Thc sound comes from beyond that that Lawrence could make no mistake, and door," I said:"let us sec what is behind I soon heard his feet asccnding at a rapid •t»» S? rate, tripping and stumbling, it is true, but

I acknowledge I had some trepidation in still going on. As I listened, I thought I making the proposal, but my peculiar tem- heard alight sound also from the other perament urged mc forward in spite of my- side, but I concluded that it was but the self toward scenes which I could not doubt ccho of his steps through the hollow pns»awcrc fearful and I can boldly say that if ges, and I stood quite still, hardly breathLawrence had hesitated to go I would have ing. I could hear my heart beat, and thc gone alone. It would seem as if Fate, in arteries of thc throat were very unpleasant giving me this impulse toward sights pain- —throb, throb, throbbing. ful to other men and to myself also, had After a moment or two I heard Lawprearranged thc combinations which con- rencc's feet as it seemed to mc almost tinually brought them in my way and at above mc, and I know not what impression this time of life I had learned to look upon of having somc other being near me, made

to do so, I became suddenly conscious

having somc living creaturc close by mc

and

When we were about half way down, the

the next instant I felt cold fingers at

throat, and an arm thrown round me.

a word

NUMBER

Looking carefully around, Lawrence helped me to rise, and then we picked Bp the candle I had let fall and lighted it again, he gazing in my face from time to time', but seeming hardly to like to take his eyes off thc Vaults, or to enter into any conversation, for fear of some sudden attack.— Nothing wasto be seen, however my savage assailant was gone, leaving no traco behind him but a cat upon tho back of my head, received as he cast me backward. •What has happened?" said Lawrencc at length, in a very low voice. "Why, your face looks quite blue, and you are bleeding!" 'S 'No wonder," I answered "for I have been half strangled, and have nearly had my brains daBhcd out. Have you got powder and ball If so, load the pistol and giving it to him, I sat down on the last step* of thc stairs to recover myself a little, keeping a wary eye upon thc gloom beyond^him while he re-charged tho weapon.

From time to time he asked a question, and I answered, till he had heard all that had happened, and then, after a minutes thought, he said, "Do you know, I think wo had better give this up, and barricade ourselves into thc room up stairs. There may be more of these ruffians than one." 'No, no," I answered "I am resolved to see thc end of it. There is only ono, dc-

upon rough points of rock, and low arches pond upon it, or I should have had both rudely hewn in the dark stone, and I made upon mc. Wc are two, and can deal with out that we were in a series of vaults ex- him at all events. I have a great notion cavatcd below the castle, with massive par- that some crime has been committed hero titions between them, and here and there this night, and wc ought to ascertain tho a doorway or passage from one to thc oth- facts. Those first shrieks were from a wocr. It seemed a perfect labyrinth at first man's voice." sight, and now that all was silent again, we "Well, well," answered my companion, had nothing to guide us. I listened, but "J am with you, if you arc ready. Here, all was still as death and I was advancing take one light and one pistol, and you exagain, when my companion asked mc to amine the right-hand vault3 while I take stop, and .proposed thatwc

should

the ground on each side as wc went on,

examine the left. Wc arc now on our guard, and

Can

help each other."

marking thc spot from which wc started.— Wc walked on accordingly, very slowly It seemed a good plan, and I was stooping

and

down to pile up somc of thc loose stones gg at every step, for thc vaults were very with which thc ground or floor was plcnti- nigged and irregular, and there was many fully cncumbarcd, when a large black snake a point and angle which might have conglided away, and at thc same moment a bat coaled an assailant, but wc met with no or a small owl flitted by, and extinguished living creaturc. At length I thought I perceived a glimmer of light bcforc mc, but a little to the left, and calling up Lawrcncc, who was at some yards' distance, I pointed it out to him. 'To be sure I see it," he answered "it is the moon shining. Wc must be near tho int.ratici nf tlm vnnlts But. what IS that.

thc light with its wings "Good Heaven, how unlucky!" cried Lawrence "have you got the match-box?" "No," I answered "I left it on the floor near where I was sleeping. Feel your way up thc steps, my good friend, and bring it and the other candlc. 1 will remain here till you come. Be quick!" "jfou go let mc stay," said Lawrence. But I was ashamed to accept his offer and there was a something, I knew not what, that urged me to remain. "No, no," I said, 'go quickly but give mc one of your pistols," and I repeated the last words in German, lest any one who understood that lan-

carefully, taking carc to look around

There seems to be somc ouc lying down there." He laid his hand upon my arm as he spoke, and wc both stood still and gaicd forward. The objcct toward which'his eyes were directed certainly looked like a human figure, but it moved not in the least, and I slowly advanced toward it. Cradually I discerned what it was. There was thc dress of a woman, gay eolored and considcrably ornamented, and a neat little foot and shoe, with a small buckle in it, resting on a piccc of fallen rock. Thc head was away from us, and she lay pcrfcctly still.

My spirit felt chilled but I went on, .(uickcning my pacc, and Lawrcncc and I soon stood beside her, holding thc lights over her.

She was a young girl of nineteen or twenty, dressed in gala costumc, with some touch of the city garb, somc of thc peasant attire. Her hair, which was all loose, wet, and disheveled, was exceedingly rich and beautiful, and her face must have been very pretty in thc sweet happy coloring of health and lifc^jNow it was deathly pale, and thc windows of the soul were closed. It was a sad, sad sight to see! Her garments were all wet, and there was somc froth about thc mouth, but the fingers of thc hands .were limp and natural, as if there had been no struggle, and thc fea

tures

was spoken, but the grasp be-

came tight upon my neck, and I struggled violently for breath and life. But thc strength of the being that grasped me seemed gigantic, and his hand felt like a hand of iron.

Oh what a moment was that! Never, except in a terrible dream, have I felt any thing like it, I tried to cry, to shout, but I could not, his hold of my throat was so

of thc face were not distorted. Thcro was, however, a wound upon her temple, from which somc blood had flowed, and somc scratches upon her cheek, and upon the small fair cars.

She looked very sweet as she lay tlierc, and Lawrencc and I stood and gazed at her long. Her dress was somewhat discomposed, and I straightened it over her ankles, though thc sense of modesty and maiden shame had gone out with all thc other gen-

tight power of muscle seemed to fail mc tie harmonics in that young heart. my head turned giddy my heart felt as if How camc she by her death? How came stopping flashes of light shone from my she there? "W as she slain by accident, or had

she

My right hand, however, was free, and that pressed upon our thoughts. But wc by a violent effort I forced back thc cock said little then, and after a time left her of tW?"pistol, nearly to the click but then where wc found her. It mattered not to I lost all power. The hammer fell thc her that thc bed was hard or thc air cold, weapon went off with aloud cchoing report, Wc searched every corner of the vaults, and for an instant, by the flash, I saw a hid- however, for him I could not help believing eous facc with a gray beard closc gazing her murderer, but without success and on into mine. going to thc mouth of vault, where there

The sound of Lawrence's footsteps run- had oncc been a door,||ong gone to warm ning rapidly overhead were thc most joy» somc peasants winter hearth, wc found ful I had ever heard but thc next instant that it led out upon thc road closc by the I felt myself cast violently backward, and side of the Rhine, and hardly a dozen paI fell half stunned and bewildered to the ces from the river. ground. It was clear how he had cscapcd and wc

Before I could rise the light of the can- sadly took our way back to tho chamber die began to appear, as Lawrence came above, where we passed thc rest of thc night down the stairs, first faint, and then bright- in melancholy talk over the sad events that cr and I heard his voice exclaiming, "What must have happened. has happened? what has happened?" We slept no more, nor tried to sleep "Take care!" I cried faintly "there is

but

some i»an or some devil here, and he has to thc shed where we had left the horses, half killed me!" and resumed our journey, to give informa-

met with violcncc? were questions

as soon as thc east was gray went down