Abcr-Merlyn. 299 



natural defence ; one side was so steep and rugged, that the be- 

 siegers looked on it as insurmountable, and therefore had placed no 

 guard to watch it. It was in this side that a passage, excavated in 

 the rock, led to the interior of the castle, and the entrance was so 

 artfully concealed that it seemed itself a piece of nature's handiwork. 

 This had always been resorted to in times of extreme peril, and 

 through this had the besieged been able to obtain provisions and 

 supplies, and doubtless they would have withstood all the enemy's 

 attempts had it not been disclosed by treachery. 



The sun was sinking slowly behind the distant hills when Eva was 

 walking (as was her custom) with Hymel on the terrace. Every 

 now and then they would stop and gaze for a time on the surround- 

 ing landscape. The river Towey meandered in its silent course, 

 rich with the varied tintings of the western sky; the mountains lay 

 hushed around, clad in an azure garment, and mellowed by the 

 distance ; the trees which were brightened to the view were sad- 

 dened also to the fancy by the yellow hue of autumn. At the foot 

 of the castle lay the camps of the enemy, from which uprose a con- 

 fused murmur, and at times there flashed a gleam of splendour, as 

 the helmet of the sentinel passing to and fro gave back the rays of 

 the setting sun. For the last two days the enemy had been utterly 

 inactive, and as night drew on the camps were hushed in silence and 

 repose, which was only broken upon by the tramping of the guard 

 as he walked his midnight round. 



While they were surveying the scene below, they suddenly heard 

 the clashing of weapons, and the loud and clamorous cries of soldiery : 

 " Fear not, dearest Eva," said Hymel, " 'tis but the rude brawling of 

 some inebriate fellow, some sottish drunkard. I will but be absent 

 from thee a few moments," and he pressed her to his bosom. That 

 embrace was his last. 



The enemy had gained admittance to the castle, and mastered the 

 guards, and though the inhabitants made a fierce and resolute resist- 

 ance, yet were they owerpowered by the unexpected attack of their 

 foes, who much exceeded them in numbers : still they fought like 

 men, with no alternative save life and death before their eyes. 



The castle was taken, but so desperate had been the conflict that 

 England's king lost her gallant warrior, Hugh de Percy, and Cam- 

 bria her chief stay and hope, Urien Reged. The bodies of Eva and 

 Hymel and the younger Percy were no where to be found, and they 

 were supposed to have perished with a portion of the castle that had 

 been destroyed, and buried beneath the ruins. A rumour had, how- 

 ever, been spread, that she was seen carried away by fairies, and a 

 tradition has since existed that she still watches over the place, and 

 her appearance is always a presage of some good fortune. 



It was in the year 1450 that two men were occupied in digging 

 among the ruins of the castle, in hopes of treasures. Much of the 

 castle had fallen to decay, and the sole existing turret was o'ergrown 

 and mantled with the wild ivy, that made it look still cheerful though 

 hallowed in its ruins. The owl and the bat were its only denizens, 



