ed towards the provision which was lying hard by.

"Eh, sirrah! what have we hear?" said his master, curiously examining
the dainties. "Why, thou cormorant, thou greedy kite, is't not enough to
consume victuals and provender under my own roof, but thou must guttle
'em here too? I warrant there be other company to the work, other
grinders at the mill. Now, horrible villain, thou dost smell fearfully
o' the stocks!"

"O master, forgive me!--It was mistress that sent me with the stuff, as
I hope the Virgin and St Gregory may be my intercessors."

"Thy mistress!--and for whom?"

"Why, there's a hole close by, as I've good cause to remember."

"Well, sirrah, and what then?"

"As ugly a devilkin lives there as ever put paw and breech upon hidden
treasure. 'Tis the mine, master, that I mean."

"The mine! What knowest thou of the mine?"

"I've been there, and"--

Here he related his former adventure; at the hearing of which Oliver
Tempest fell into a marvellous study.

"Hark thee," said he, after a long silence; "I pardon thee on one
condition, which is, that thou take another message."

Here the terrified Gregory broke forth into unequivocal exclamations of
agony and alarm.

"Peace," said his master, "and listen; thou must carry it as from my
daughter. I suspect there's treason lurks i' that hole."

"Ay, doubtless," said Gregory: "for the neibours say 'tis treason to
hide a mine royal."

"A mine royal! Ay, knave, I do suspect it to be so. By my troth, I 'll
ferret out the foulmarts either by force or guile. And yet force would
avail little. If they have the clue we might attempt to follow them in
vain through its labyrinths, they would inevitably escape, and I should
lose the reward. Hark thee. Stay here and I'll fetch the writing for the
message. Stir not for thy life. Shouldst thou betray me I'll have thy
crooked bones ground in a mill to thicken pigs' gruel."

Fearful was the dilemma; but Gregory durst not budge.

The night grew dark and stormy, the wind rose, loud gusts shaking down
the dying leaves, and howling through the wide extent of the forest. The
moan of the river came on like the agony of some tortured spirit. The
sound seemed to creep closer to his ear; and Gregory thought some evil
thing was haunting him for intruding into these unhallowed mysteries.

He was horribly alarmed at the idea of another visit to the cave, but he
durst not disobey. He now heard a rustling in the bushes by the cavern