way on the edge of the cliff, to escape from the hideous
recollection. Just as they were emerging from their narrow and crooked
path into the street that terminated in the blind passage through the
wood, they were startled by the regular, heavy tread of soldiers,
apparently approaching them. It was a small patrol of a corporal and
three men from the barrack at the water side, but who were not connected
with the guard in the plaza. As they drew nigh, the party stood
perfectly still, except that one of the tars drew forth his jack-knife,
and another picked up a moderate-sized stone, observing in a whisper
that if they came too nigh, he would try which was the hardest, a
Spaniard's scull or that "ground nut," as he designated the stone which
he held in his hand. The soldiers, however, passed on without seeing
them, and in a few seconds their footsteps became inaudible.

CHAPTER XVIII.

"She is won: we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.

MARMION.

The liberated seamen once more pushed forward, no longer guided by
Isabella, who had got as far as her knowledge of the place extended, and
were again, in nautical language, "brought up all standing." A priest,
returning from the death-bed of one of his flock, saw them gliding along
silently and in "Indian file." His head being full of good wine, death,
the devil, &c., and the place enjoying moreover the reputation of being
haunted, his imagination magnified and multiplied the seven fugitives
into a legion of devils, with horns, tails, and fiery breath complete.
Under this impression he began to thunder forth a Latin form of
exorcism: "In nomine sanctae Trinitatis et purissimae Virginis, exorcizo
vos! Apage, Satana! Vade retro, diabole!" &c. &c. in such abominably bad
Latin, that a devil or a ghost of the least classical taste would have
incontinently fled to the Red Sea, without waiting to hear another
syllable of the formula that sent him thither. The bawling of the priest
awoke several of the neighbors, and sundry night-capped heads were
protruded from the windows of the nearest houses; but the proprietors,
catching a glimpse of the objects of the priest's alarm, and not caring
to play bo-peep with the devil, closed and barred their casements, and
betook them to their beads.

The party glided on in the same swift, silent pace; but the hindmost
sailor, i