her life. But it was not so. Brooke's desperate act in flinging himself before Lopez seemed to Ashby merely an accident consequent upon his struggle with his captors. Besides, the attack of Dolores and her six Carlists had followed so closely upon this that all had become confused together.

While Ashby had been asking these few questions Dolores remained looking at him with that same mournful inquiry. Ashby noticed it, for he looked at her several times, though each time he looked away elsewhere. He was turning over all this

in his mind.

in a rapture of gladness, and Ashby pressed her hands more closely in his. Then they walked away to inspect the fortifications.

CHAPTER LIV.

IN WHICH THERE IS A TERRIBLE CALAMITY.

RUSSELL'S advent among the embarrassed lovers can easily be explained. Seated at the gate in the uniform of a general, with gorgeous array of blue and gold, with a sword in his manly hand, and

At length he looked at her once more, armed warriors around him, his martial and took her hands in his. soul had gradually lost its terrors, and

"Dolores," said he, "I have made up his mind was at leisure to think of other my mind."

"What?" said she, in a faint voice, looking up at him in awful suspense.

"I will not give you up! That's decided. You must dismiss the idea from your mind."

In an instant the shadow of anxiety fled from the face of Dolores, followed by a flash of joy like a sunbeam. She said not a word, but Ashby saw that rush of happiness, and all his own nature responded.

You must come with me," said he. "That fellow may look out for himself." "But-but-" said Dolores. She paused.

"What?"

"We-we-are-engaged."

things.

First among these other things was that precious package which he had concealed. Now was the time for him to look it up and regain possession. None but friends were now in the castle. Those bonds would now be safer in his own possession than anywhere else, and never could he hope for a better chance than this. As for Rita, she must have fled, he thought, with the other fugitives, and with her had fled his worst fear.

With such thoughts as these, the martial Russell sheathed his warlike sword and walked back again toward the castle. Here he entered the hall where the others were talking, and passing through, en

"Pooh!" said Ashby. "That's an old tered the well-remembered room where he story."

"But-but-"

"Well?" said Ashby, impatiently, as she paused.

"He-he saved my life once." "He be hanged!" said Ashby. "I'll save your life fifty times. You mustn't think of that man again. Do you hear, Dolores?"

"Yes," said Dolores, meekly; "but I only want to satisfy my conscience, and find out my duty."

had been confined. He looked all around. He was alone. He walked to the chimney. He looked up. Through the broad opening at the top he saw the sky. In the gloom of the shaft he saw also that opening in which he had placed the precious parcel.

All seemed as it had been, and he felt convinced that his papers were safe. Further examination, however, was just now not advisable. He would have to light a torch, and some of his friends might come in just as he was going up or coming down. So he concluded to defer his search until they had gone out of the way a little, until which time the package would be quite safe. In the mean time he thought he would go back and hear what they were all talking about.

"Conscience? Duty? Ah!" repeated Ashby. "Well, then, I'll tell you what to think of-think of me! Here was I, engaged to that English maiden. You have won my love. You have made me indifferent to her. You have made my love grow stronger and stronger every moment, until now I'm ready to give up Coming back again, he saw them all everything for you. Your duty, there- going in different directions, and, as a fore, is to be true to me, as I will be true matter of course, he followed those who to you." were nearest and dearest, namely, Katie Dolores looked up again with her face and Harry. He stood and listened with a

tower. Harry was delighted with this discovery, and felt fully capable of traversing the path himself even in the darkest night; while Russell, though a little out of breath, was quite willing to bear the fatigue in return for the additional knowledge he had gained.

On regaining the castle, Harry went to tell Katie the result, and to prepare her for their coming flight.

Russell now had leisure to attend to the great work of securing the hidden treasure. He decided that he ought to do this

friends should know where he was going, or even suspect it.

benignant smile to their loving words. He gazed complacently upon their outrageous and unbounded spooning. He had no objection now to any one whom Katie might choose. To Ashby he felt repugnance on account of former quarrels, but to Harry none whatever. Even to Ashby he would have yielded, for prejudices die out quickly in a castle of Spain. And so, as we have seen, the good Russell interrupted the happy lovers in a paternal way, and did the "heavy father" to perfectionwith outstretched hands, moistened eyes, and "Bless you, bless you, my children!" | in perfect secrecy, so that none of his The subject of flight was already before them, and this was for Russell the most acceptable possible. He felt that he could give valuable information, since he himself had been a fugitive. Every step of the way was well remembered by him. In a few minutes he had made them acquainted with the story of his former escape, and the adventurous Harry at once decided that this would be the very way by which he could carry off Katie and himself from their embarrassing surroundings. For various reasons he wished to go away in a quiet, unobtrusive manner, without ostentation or vain display, and in no other way could he do it so effectually as in this.

Harry at once decided that his best course would be to spend the hours of closing day in making himself acquainted with this passage. He did not feel inclined to be altogether dependent upon Russell. Circumstances might arise which might make it desirable to fly without him. That good man might become suddenly unwell, or there might be an attack by the enemy, or other things might occur, under any of which circumstances Harry would have to rely upon himself alone.

Russell had no objections; in fact, he himself preferred going over the way once more. About this there was no difficulty There were very few in the castle, and these had no idea of watching each other; in fact, each party seemed only too anxious to keep out of the other's way.

Katie now retired to that room which she had last occupied, and Harry went off with Russell. The daylight befriended them so that they were able to find their way along the lower passages, until at length they came to the opening under the arch of the ruined bridge. Here they both went down one side of the chasm and up the other until they reached the| VOL. LXVII.-No. 402.-54

First of all he followed Harry to the upper story, where he took an affectionate leave of him. Then he prowled about until he discovered Ashby, who was with Dolores in a remote part of the court-yard. The six Carlists were still at the gate. The other two inmates of the castle, namely, Brooke and Talbot, were in the room in which the recent stormy events had taken place. They had been attending to the wounds of the prisoners, and were still so engaged that they did not look up as Russell entered. He said nothing, but hastily retreated, and went into the opposite room-the very one in which he was to conduct his operations. But he was too cautious to begin just yet; so he waited, and at length had the satisfaction. of seeing these two go down-stairs and out of the castle.

And now at last the time had come. There was no eye to behold him, and no one to suspect.

An old torch was in the fire-place. This he picked up, and then, going back to the door, looked all around stealthily and warily. All was still.

Thereupon he returned. His manly heart was throbbing fast-violently, even painfully. The sense of loneliness was oppressive.

Had his purpose been less important he would certainly have turned and fled. But too much was at stake. Before him there arose the vision of that vast treasure-thirty thousand pounds— and its attraction was irresistible. He must go forward; and now was the time to win, or never.

He stood for a moment gathering up his courage.

What if Rita should be concealed somewhere up there!

Such was the awful thought that sud

denly occurred to him and made him quail.

eager to explain, and the explanations had shown such fidelity on his part, he had seemed so true, and his vindication had been so complete, that she had not one word to say. For the fact remained plain before her mind that the cause of his failure to receive her at Barcelona was his very eagerness to meet her, which had sent him flying in all haste to England. If he

The idea suggested itself of going back to Harry and getting his aid. But no, that would never do. He would let it be supposed that these bonds had been taken from him. If he were to tell his secret to Harry, all would be lost. No, he must go, and alone. Once more he went to the door and list- had ever been in fault, the fault was one ened. All was still. which had arisen from excess of love. To a generous mind like Talbot's this was a very distressing thought.

He now nerved himself up for a supreme effort. If he were to delay any longer, some of them would be sure to return. Now or never.

It kindled.

In another moment the torch was blazing brightly; and, holding this in one hand, Russell used his other hand to clamber up the projecting stones.

Still, there was another thought which was worse, and that was this, namely,

He struck a match against the stone that Harry could no longer satisfy her. floor. Whether she had ever really loved him or not she did not now stop to inquire, nor was such an inquiry worth making. It was only too evident now that Harry had declined to nothingness, and less than nothingness, in her heart, and that in the course of the tragical events of the last few days Brooke had grown to be more than all the world to her.

Up he went, higher and higher. And now he reached the opening, and his knee was resting upon it, and he was just about to raise the torch, so as to peer in.

At that instant there was a sudden rush, and a spring that sent a thrill of sharp agony to his heart. A pair of strong arms were flung about him. The torch fell, and the smoke blinded his eyes. He felt himself dragged forward helplessly into the gloomy hole, while a fierce whisper hissed into his despairing ears words that made him almost die out of sheer fright:

"Hah! base traidor, I haffa you! I haffa you! You salla not escapar from Rita again!"

The feelings and thoughts of Brooke were of the same description. It had seemed to him that Dolores had been faithful; and as he had all along felt firmly convinced of her passionate love for himself and unalterable fidelity, it never entered into his head now to suspect any change in her. At the same time he felt that, whether he had ever loved her formerly or not, he certainly had no feeling of love for her now; for Talbot had utterly effaced that former image, and all the world would now be

At this Russell gave a wild, long, pier- as nothing to him without Talbot. cing yell, and fainted.

CHAPTER LV.

IN WHICH BROOKE AND TALBOT PREPARE
TO BID EACH OTHER AN ETERNAL FARE-
WELL.

ON turning away from that eventful meeting with old friends both Brooke and Talbot felt very greatly depressed, and neither could say a word. This feeling was experienced by both to an equal degree, and neither of them could see any possible way out of this new difficulty that could commend itself to an honorable mind.

The conversation with Harry had quite overwhelmed Talbot. He had been so

For some time they devoted themselves to the wounded men, and then, having finished this task, they retreated to a rude bench, upon which they seated themselves, and remained thus for a long time in utter silence.

"You saw my meeting with--with that -young lady," said Brooke at last. "Did you understand who it was? It was-Dolores."

"The devil!" cried Brooke, with a holy sacrament. I could not utter that groan. vow before the holy altar. Never! Yet At this Talbot very properly said no- I can't stay here where he is. He will be thing. wishing to see me. He will be coming soon-he may be coming now. I will not see him; I will not speak with him again. I will write to him. I will leave this place, and at once."

"Well," said Brooke, after a long pause, "I didn't know that things could possibly be more infernally embarrassing or more confoundedly complicated than they were; but this is certainly a little beyond what I dreamed of. And-and-"

He turned with a despairing look, and took Talbot's hand.

"How can you? You don't know the way."

"I know one place where I can go-to that tower-that sweet tower; it is not far away; it must be easy to get there. I will

"Give it up," said Brooke, in a dismal go there-there, Brooke, where I first bevoice.

"This," continued Talbot, "is worse than when we were prisoners, and dying by turns for one another."

"I wish," said Brooke, "that I had died when I wanted to."

came acquainted with you; and then-" Here Talbot paused, and turned away her head.

"But you can't live there," said Brooke, in a harsh voice.

"I can find my way back to the road,"

"And must we now give one another said Talbot, in a tremulous tone-" to the up?" sighed Talbot.

"Don't see what else we can do," said Brooke. "We've got to keep our confounded promises."

"Which promises, Brooke ?" "I don't know."

"Brooke!"

"What?"

"What ought I to do?”

"I don't know."

"Ought I to keep my promise?" "Which promise?"

"Why, my promise to-to Mr. Rivers?" "Confound Mr. Rivers!" growled Brooke, turning away.

road where I first met you, Brooke; and then-why, then I shall be no worse off than when you found me and assisted me." "It's all nonsense," said Brooke; "you can't go alone.”

"Yes, I can."

"You'll be taken prisoner."

"I don't care."

"Or, if not, you'll die of starvation."

Very well," said Talbot, in a calm voice, and looking at Brooke out of serene eyes, with a face from which all traces of emotion had departed-"very well; I have already showed that I am not afraid of death; and death by starvation is not more

"That," said Talbot, mildly, "is not an terrible than death by bullets." answer to my question."

Brooke looked at her for a moment in

"But how do I know?" said Brooke, in silence, and then said, a voice like a wailing child.

"But how can I?-how can I?" cried Talbot. "And when you are here--you, Brooke, who know all my heart! Can I give you up? I can not. You may give me up if you like.”

"Why don't you say, if I can ?" said Brooke.

"Oh-any way," said Talbot, wearily. There was another silence.

"Marry him!" cried Talbot at last, breaking the silence with vehement abruptness. "I can not! I can not! It would be wicked. I should desecrate the

"You are not in earnest ?"

"I am in earnest," said Talbot, looking at him fixedly, and speaking in a resolute tone-"I am in earnest, and I mean to go this very night."

Brooke looked away, drew a long breath, and subsided into silence.

How can you find the way?" he asked at length, in a gruff voice, and without looking up.

"I don't know," said Talbot; "I can try again, as I tried before."

Brooke looked up hastily, then looked away, and finally said,