ge, the faint outlines of El Pilar rising beyond.
To-night all was shadowy and indistinct; a dream vision; and the only
sound to be heard was the swirling of the waters through the seven
arches of St. Peter's bridge.

The next morning we left Zaragoza by an early train for Tarragona: a
long roundabout journey. Again we had to pass through Lerida, where we
had twenty minutes to wait. As chance would have it, our landlord was on
the platform, speeding parting guests. We went up to him and drew him
apart.

"Tell us," we said; "what about the dragging of the well? Has it been
done?"

Our late host threw up his hands. "Oh, senor, I shiver and shake at the
very thought of it. I had it done the very day after you left. And what
do you think came up?"

"Two skeletons?"

"The keys, senor: the missing keys and a pair of slippers--very much
down at heel."

"And the skeletons?"

"Not a vestige, senor; not a single bone. I told you the well
communicated with the river, and the river with the sea. They must have
floated out, and probably are now reposing in the Panama Canal."

"But why the Panama Canal?"

"Everything bad must drift there, senor. I lost a large sum in the
wretched affair."

"And have you seen no ghost since we left?"

"No ghost, senor, and no mysterious sounds. All the same we have had a
domestic drama."

"The Dragon?"

"Exactly, senor. Your penetration is wonderful. As she was leaning over
her wash-tub, the waiter came behind and ducked her head in the
soapsuds. Her mouth--you know her mouth--was wide open, and she
swallowed a great gulp of soapy water; upon which, presto! quick as
lightning, she up with her washing-pin and hit him on the head. Such a
crash! Down went the waiter, and the Dragon was stooping over him with
wet locks like a dripping mermaid, gloating and mouthing upon the
ruin."

"And the waiter?"

"In the hospital, senor, with a broken head. That is why I am here. I
have to come to the station myself, and be my own porter, and see my
guests off. Servants are the bane of one's life. Like the flies, they
were invented for our torment. But, senor, these troubles are nothing
compared with the relief of finding that the skeletons had cleared out
to sea."

Our train came up and we went our way, leaving Lerida behind us with its
fine outlines, and the landlord to the difficult task of managing his
womenkind.

So far we had travelled on the line before, but now branched off towards
T