speed to the alcalde. In a little while the hungry alguazil was again on the scent, and before the day was over the unfortunate Peregil was once more dragged into the presence of the judge.

"How is this, villain?" cried the alcalde, in a furious 5 voice. "You told me that the infidel who died in your house left nothing behind but an empty coffer, and now I hear of your wife flaunting in her rags decked out with pearls and diamonds. Wretch that thou art! prepare tɔ render up the spoils of thy miserable victim and to swing 10 on the gallows that is already tired of waiting for thee!"

The terrified water carrier fell on his knees and made a full relation of the marvelous manner in which he had gained his wealth. The alcalde, the alguazil, and the inquisitive barber listened with greedy ears to this Ara- 15 bian tale of enchanted treasure. The alguazil was dispatched to bring the Moor who had assisted in the incantation. The Moslem entered, half frightened out of his wits at finding himself in the hands of the harpies of the law. When he beheld the water carrier standing 20 with sheepish looks and downcast countenance, he comprehended the whole matter.

"Miserable animal," said he, as he passed near him, "did I not warn thee against babbling to thy wife?"

The story of the Moor coincided exactly with that of 25 his colleague; but the alcalde affected to be slow of belief, and threw out menaces of imprisonment and rigorous investigation.

"Softly, good Señor Alcalde," said the Mussulman, who by this time had recovered his usual shrewdness and 30 self-possession. "Let us not mar fortune's favors in the

scramble for them. Nobody knows anything of this matter but ourselves; let us keep the secret. There is wealth enough in the cave to enrich us all. Promise a fair divi

sion, and all shall be produced; refuse, and the cave shall 5 remain forever closed."

The alcalde consulted apart with the alguazil. The latter was an old fox in his profession.

"Promise anything," said he, "until you get possession of the treasure. You may seize upon the whole, and if 10 he and his accomplice dare to murmur, threaten them with the fagot and the stake as infidels and sorcerers."

The alcalde relished the advice. Smoothing his brow, and turning to the Moor, "This is a strange story," said he, "and may be true, but I must have ocular proof of it. 15 This very night you must repeat the incantation in my presence. If there be really such treasure, we will share it amicably between us, and say nothing further of the matter; if you have deceived me, expect no mercy at my hands. In the meantime you must remain in custody." 20 The Moor and the water carrier cheerfully agreed to these conditions, satisfied that the event would prove the truth of their words.

Toward midnight the alcalde sallied forth secretly, attended by the alguazil and the meddlesome barber, all 25 strongly armed. They conducted the Moor and the water carrier as prisoners, and were provided with the stout donkey of the latter, to bear off the expected treasure. They arrived at the tower without being observed, and tying the donkey to a fig tree descended into the 30 fourth vault of the tower.

The scroll was produced, the yellow waxen taper lighted,

and the Moor read the form of incantation. The earth trembled as before, and the pavement opened with a thundering sound, disclosing the narrow flight of steps. The alcalde, the alguazil, and the barber were struck aghast, and could not summon courage to descend. The Moor 5 and the water carrier entered the lower vault, and found the two Moors seated as before, silent and motionless. They removed two of the great jars filled with golden coin and precious stones. The water carrier bore them. up one by one upon his shoulders, but, though a strong-10 backed little man and accustomed to carry burdens, he staggered beneath their weight, and found, when slung on each side of his donkey, they were as much as the animal could bear.

"Let us be content for the present," said the Moor; 15 "here is as much treasure as we can carry off without being perceived, and enough to make us all wealthy to our heart's desire."

"Is there more treasure remaining behind?" demanded the alcalde.

"The greatest prize of all," said the Moor, "a huge coffer bound with bands of steel, and filled with pearls and precious stones."

"Let us have up the coffer, by all means," cried the grasping alcalde.

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"I will descend for no more," said the Moor, doggedly; "enough is enough for a reasonable man; more is superfluous."

"And I," said the water carrier, "will bring up no further burden to break the back of my poor donkey." Finding commands, threats, and entreaties equally vain,

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the alcalde turned to his two adherents. "Aid me," said he, "to bring up the coffer, and its contents shall be divided between us." So saying, he descended the steps, followed, with trembling reluctance, by the alguazil and 5 the barber.

No sooner did the Moor behold them fairly earthed than he extinguished the yellow taper; the pavement closed with its usual crash, and the three worthies remained buried in the tomb.

10 He then hastened up the different flights of steps, nor stopped until in the open air. The little water carrier followed him fast as his short legs would permit.

"What hast thou done?" cried Peregil, as soon as he could recover breath. "The alcalde and the other two 15 are shut up in the vault."

"It is the will of Allah!" said the Moor, devoutly. "And will you not release them?" demanded the Gallego.

"Allah forbid!" replied the Moor, smoothing his 20 beard. "It is written in the book of fate that they shall remain enchanted until some future adventurer arrive to break the charm. The will of God be done." So saying, he hurled the end of the waxen taper far among the gloomy thickets of the glen.

25 There was now no remedy; so the Moor and the water carrier proceeded with the richly laden donkey toward the city, nor could honest Peregil refrain from hugging and kissing his long-eared fellow-laborer, thus restored to . him from the clutches of the law; and in fact it is doubt30 ful which gave the simple-hearted little man most joy at the moment, the gaining of the treasure or the recovery of the donkey.

The two partners in good luck divided their spoil, and took care not to linger within reach of accidents, but made off to enjoy their wealth undisturbed in other countries. The Moor returned to Africa, to his native city of Tangiers, and the Gallego, with his wife, his children, and 5 his donkey, made the best of his way to Portugal. Here, under the admonition and tuition of his wife, he became a personage of some consequence; for she made the worthy little man array his long body and short legs in doublet and hose, with a feather in his hat and a sword by 10 his side, and laying aside his familiar appellation of Peregil, assume the more sonorous title of Don Pedro Gil. His progeny grew up a thriving and merry-hearted, though short and bandy-legged generation, while Senora Gil, befringed, belaced, and betasseled from her head to 15 her heels, with glittering rings on every finger, became a model of slattern fashion and finery.

As to the alcalde and his adjuncts, they remained shut up under the great tower of the seven floors and there they remain spellbound at the present day. Whenever 20 there shall be a lack in Spain of shrewd barbers, sharking alguazils, and corrupt alcaldes, they may be sought after; but if they have to wait until such time for their deliverance, there is danger of their enchantment until doomsday.

I. Al hǎm'bra: the palace of the Moorish kings at Granada. Ěs plȧ nāde': a clear, level space. Pĕr'ĕgil. Găl le'gō. Bō lê'rő: a Spanish dance. Căs'ta něts: a musical instrument consisting of two pieces of ivory or hard wood, which are beaten together. The Spaniards and Moors used them as an accompaniment to

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