"it is in one of the panniers of my mule, and heartily at the service of your worship."

He had hardly spoken the words when the keen alguazil darted off, and reappeared in an instant with the mysterious box of sandalwood. The alcalde opened it with 5 an eager and trembling hand; all pressed forward to gaze upon the treasure it was expected to contain ; when, to their disappointment, nothing appeared within but a parchment scroll covered with Arabic characters, and an end of a waxen taper.

10

When there is nothing to be gained by the conviction of a prisoner, justice, even in Spain, is apt to be impartial. The alcalde, having recovered from his disappointment, and found that there was really no booty in the case, now listened dispassionately to the explanation of the water 15 carrier, which was corroborated by the testimony of his wife. Being convinced, therefore, of his innocence, he discharged him from arrest; nay, more, he permitted him to carry off the Moor's legacy, the box of sandalwood and its contents, as the well-merited reward of his humanity; 20 but he retained his donkey in payment of costs and charges.

Behold the unfortunate little Gallego reduced once more to the necessity of being his own water carrier, and trudging up to the well of the Alhambra with a great 25 earthen jar upon his shoulder.

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As he toiled up the hill in the heat of the summer noon, his usual good humor forsook him. 'Dog of an alcalde ! " would he cry, "to rob a poor man of the means of his subsistence, of the best friend he had in the world!" 30 And then at the remembrance of the beloved companion

of his labors, all the kindness of his nature would break forth. "Ah, donkey of my heart!" would he exclaim, resting his burden on a stone, and wiping the sweat from his brow. "Ah, donkey of my heart! I warrant me 5 thou thinkest of thy old master! I warrant me thou missest the water jars - poor beast!"

To add to his afflictions, his wife received him, on his return home, with whimperings and repinings; she had clearly the vantage ground of him, having warned him. 10 not to commit the egregious act of hospitality which had brought on him all these misfortunes; and, like a knowing woman, she took every occasion to throw her superior sagacity in his teeth. If ever her children lacked food or needed a new garment, she would answer 15 with a sneer: "Go to your father; he is heir to King Chico of the Alhambra; ask him to help you out of the Moor's strong box."

Was ever poor mortal so soundly punished for having done a good action? The unlucky Peregil was grieved 20 in flesh and spirit, but still he bore meekly with the railings of his spouse. At length, one evening, when, after a holiday's toil, she taunted him, in the usual manner, he lost all patience. He did not venture to retort upon her, but his eye rested upon the box of sandalwood which lay 25 on a shelf, with lid half open, as if laughing in mockery at his vexation. Seizing it up, he dashed it with indignation to the floor.

"Unlucky was the day that I ever set eyes on thee," he cried, "or sheltered thy master beneath my roof!" 30 As the box struck the floor, the lid flew wide open, and the parchment scroll rolled forth.

Peregil sat regarding the scroll for some time in moody silence. At length rallying his ideas, "Who knows," thought he, "but this writing may be of some importance, as the Moor seems to have guarded it with such care?"

Picking it up, therefore, he put it in his bosom, and the next morning as he was crying water through the streets he stopped at the shop of a Moor, a native of Tangiers, who sold trinkets and perfumery in the Zacatin, and asked him to explain the contents.

5

10

The Moor read the scroll attentively, then stroked his beard and smiled. "This manuscript," said he, "is a form of incantation for the recovery of hidden treasure that is under the power of enchantment. It is said to have such virtue that the strongest bolts and bars, nay, 15 the adamantine rock itself, will yield before it!"

"Bah!" cried the little Gallego. "What is all that to me? I am no enchanter, and I know nothing of buried treasure." So saying he shouldered the water jar, left the scroll in the hands of the Moor, and trudged forward 20 on his daily rounds.

III

That evening, however, as he rested himself about twilight at the well of the Alhambra, he found a number of gossips assembled at the place, and their conversation, as is not unusual at that shadowy hour, turned upon old 25 tales and traditions of a supernatural nature. Being all poor as rats, they dwelt with peculiar fondness upon the popular theme of enchanted riches left by the Moors in various parts of the Alhambra. Above all, they con

curred in the belief that there were great treasures buried deep in the earth under the tower of the seven floors.

These stories made an unusual impression on the mind of the honest Peregil, and they sank deeper and deeper 5 into his thoughts, as he returned alone down the darkling

avenues.

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If, after all, there should be treasure hid beneath that tower, and if the scroll I left with the Moor should enable me to get at it!" In the sudden ecstasy of the thought 10 he had well-nigh let fall his water jar.

That night he tumbled and tossed, and could scarcely get a wink of sleep for the thoughts that were bewildering his brain. Bright and early he repaired to the shop of the Moor, and told him all that was passing in his 15 mind.

20

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"You can read Arabic," said he; "suppose we go together to the tower and try the effect of the charm; if it fails, we are no worse off than before; but if it succeeds, we will share equally all the treasure we may discover." "Hold,” replied the Moslem, "this writing is not sufficient of itself; it must be read at midnight by the light of a taper singularly compounded and prepared, the ingredients of which are not within my reach. Without such a taper the scroll is of no avail."

"Say no more!" cried the little Gallego; "I have such a taper at hand, and will bring it here in a moment.” So saying, he hastened home, and soon returned with the end of a yellow wax taper that he had found in the box of sandalwood.

"Here are rare and costly perfumes," said he, com

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This is the kind of taper

bined with this yellow wax.

Woe to

specified in the scroll. While this burns, the strongest walls and most secret caverns will remain open. him, however, who lingers within until it be extinguished. He will remain enchanted with the treasure."

5

It was now agreed between them to try the charm that very night. At a late hour, therefore, when nothing was stirring but bats and owls, they ascended the woody hill of the Alhambra and approached the awful tower, shrouded by trees and rendered formidable by so many traditionary 10 tales. By the light of a lantern they groped their way through bushes and over fallen stones to the door of the vault beneath the tower. With fear and trembling they descended a flight of steps cut into the rock. It led to an empty chamber, damp and drear, from which another 15 flight of steps led to a deeper vault. In this way they descended four several flights, leading into as many vaults, one below the other, but the floor of the fourth was solid; and though, according to tradition, there remained three vaults still below, it was said to be impossible to penetrate 20 farther, the residue being shut up by strong enchantment. The air of this vault was damp and chilly, and had an earthy smell, and the light scarce cast forth any rays. They paused here for a time in breathless suspense, until they faintly heard the clock of the watch tower strike mid- 25 night; upon this, they lit the waxen taper, which diffused an odor of myrrh and frankincense and storax.

The Moor began to read in a hurried voice. He had scarce finished when there was a noise as of subterraneous thunder. The earth shook, and the floor, yawning open, 30 disclosed a flight of steps. Trembling with awe, they