ight, and that, too, without orders from those manding in this quarter. The gossips of

sps of the story.

d. At S. Tea was setli In a white

THE SOMNAMBULIST.

THE story is briefly this: Diego, an old soldier and Castilian, was intrusted with the care of a post on the coast of Spain, called the Beacon Cliff. He occupied a cottage, from the rear of which was an access to the cliff, across a draw-bridge. The path which led to the Beacon was over rocky angles, and along the face of a lofty precipice, at the foot of which the waves of the ocean broke in deafening thunders: and it was by this path alone that the Beacon could be reached. This consisted of a strong pole, fastened to a platform of the rock, from which a bucket, filled with resinous wood, was swung. This was occasionally lighted, to give signals to the Queen's troops, or the British ships in the bay.

Now, it happened that rumors got abroad, that, for two successive nights, the Beacon was lighted, and that, too, without orders from those commanding in this quarter. The gossips of the neighborhood had two versions of the story. One was, that St. Teresa was seen in a white

shroud, flying over the cliff with a lighted torch in her hand, and igniting the Beacon: another was, that Diego was in league with certain smugglers on the coast, and that it was as a signal to them that he caused the light to be kindled. There were those, indeed,―envious of the beauty of Catalina, Diego's maiden daughter, which had smitten the heart of Gil Gomez, the handsomest muleteer of the village, who insinuated that the light was but the girl's signal to her lover.

The British officers on the coast treated the matter more seriously. Believing, or at least fearing, that Diego was in league with the Carlists, they appointed two of their number to conceal themselves near the cliff, at night, and watch the proceedings of Diego and his family. Agreeably to their instructions, they stationed themselves on the sands beneath the cliff, but still near the cottage; being thus effectually screened from observation. They had not remained long in this position, when the muleteer Gomez came and stood at a little distance, but without perceiving them. He had evidently come to watch, as well as themselves.

It was now midnight; and, though the sky was clear, there being no moon, every object was