The sky was rather obscured, and that slight circumstance, joined to a little constitutional superstition, rather damped Eldrido's spirits. Presently Eldrido distinctly heard the tread of a horse's hoofs, and he naturally spurred on his own and told Rosa how to manage hers. But they were both jaded animals, who were bearing the fugitives along, and the sounds they so much dreaded grew momentarily more distinct.

"Let us halt," said Eldrido; "flight is impossible, and you will fall off your horse; I will defend you to the last, should I lose life in the conflict."

my

Rosa was too frightened to answer.

Presently the horseman was by Eldrido's side he recognized an old foe, the captain's first mate, who had long been jealous of Eldrido.

"By Santa Maria! you are a pretty fel

low," cried the new comer.

"The fever,

ha, ha, ha! give me back the child."

"Never!" said Eldrido.

By all the Saints! what makes

knight defender of black beauty ?"

you

turn

"The Christian bond of humanity, which you lack," answered the undaunted youth.

"And you have found rather suddenly.— Minion, resign both yourself and your protégée to me.'

"It shall be a hard struggle, first."

Sabe me, sabe me!" cried Rosa.

"No fear!" said Eldrido; "I will not listen to man of words and not of deeds; that boaster was never very courageous."

But, nevertheless, there was a violent struggle, until Eldrido suddenly hurled his antagonist from his horse; the latter escaped in a contrary direction, and Eldrido, taking advantage of this circumstance, spurred on his own course; whilst Rosa, impelled by

agonising fear, had already done the same. Poor child! she flew rather than galloped, and was utterly unable to manage her horse; her feet, convulsively kicking the animal, infuriated it; up highest mountains it bounded, down steep declivities, and up mountains again.

"Stop, stop, for God's sake, stop!" cried Eldrido; but his voice found an echo only in the breeze. It was a fearful sight.

At length the bridle fell from Rosa's hands; she clenched hold of the horse's mane; the agony of fear prevented her uttering a single cry; her face was lividly pale, her eyes distended, whilst large drops stood upon her brow.

The animal paused for one instant, stood for a moment at the base of a large mountain. "Oh!" faintly moaned Rosa-but it was only one plaintive exclamation, and that one was the last.

With one impetuous bound the animal stood upon the mountain's brow; another moment, and he dashed, with frightful velocity, down the valley below.

It was over: not a sound escaped from the child's lips, but her little innocent heart had ceased to beat-life's pulse was still!

And still shone the pale moon,—and the lambent stars were lighting the spot,—and the breeze was as quiet, all as serene-but poor Rosa was dead!

Presently Eldrido dismounted, and stood upon the mountain's brow, and cautiously descending the ravine, he stood a horrorstricken spectator of the dreadful sight. Horse and rider were dead; and her he had so bravely rescued was a mass of disfigurement, a shockingly livid corpse. The body was too repulsive to be touched, and, sick at heart, the poor youth remounted his horse, nor did he stop its speed till he reached the baron's mansion.

CHAPTER XII.

A change came o'er the spirit of my dream.
The lady of his love;-oh! she was changed;
As by the sickness of the soul; her mind
Had wander'd from its dwelling, and her eyes,
They had not their own lustre, but the look
Which is not of the earth; she was become
The queen of a fantastic realm.

BYRON'S Dream.

Return we now to the characters first introduced to my reader's notice. Many weeks have elapsed, and in this changing life fate places its imperious "veto" upon our paths of happiness, and by its predestined fiat chequers at pleasure our most darling projects. Yet, amidst a