s came tumbling up
the steps as fast as their legs could carry them, with their hair almost
standing on end, and their eye-balls starting from their heads. One had
lost his cap, another his sword, and all their torches; they were also
wet and dirty from scraping against the sides of the cavern. They
declared that they had been set upon by a whole legion of demons, who
had blown out their torches and attacked them with teeth and claws, so
that they were glad to escape with their lives.

"For the love of heaven shut the door, or they will be up here after
us!" shouted the last of the men, as he rushed into the room.

I, as may be supposed, hurried down with joyful alacrity to obey the
order, and coming back without encountering any of the demons, closed
the upper door after me.

"I said you were going on a fool's errand," said Jose; "your pardon for
the remark, Senores. But let me fill up your glasses, the wine will
soon make you forget your mishaps." The men were easily induced to
apply the proposed remedy.

"But what has become of the dog?" asked the chief.

"Carried off by the demons," observed Jose.

"Let him go," growled one who was the most bruised and dirty. "He led
us into the scrape, and deserves his fate; if it had not been for him,
we should not have known of that horrid vault."

The chief, notwithstanding these remarks, ordered his men to go and look
for the dog; but as he showed no readiness to set the example, none of
the others would obey him, declaring that they would rather be shot at
once than venture again among such horrors. I felt very much relieved
at the turn events had taken. The Indian had escaped, the means of the
bloodhound's death was not suspected, and the officers would probably at
early dawn continue their search after the fugitive.

"Ask them if they wish to return to the vault; for if not, I will take
the keys up to my father," I whispered to Jose.

"No, no," answered the men. "We have had enough of the vault, and
demons, and monsters, and spirits it contains. Tell your master all we
want is plenty of this good wine to keep them away."

Telling Jose to give them as much as they required and to keep a careful
watch over them, I hurried back to my father to inform him that the
danger was over.

"I never fear the consequence of having performed a good action, my
boy," he replied; "yet we should be grateful to Providence for having
preserved us from much suffering, both o