Scientific IntcUigencc . — Geology. 875 



France. Not many years ago, the property descended to a 

 branch of the female line (one of the heroes of Waterloo), who, 

 nothing daunted, was determined to make this castle his place 

 of residence. As the noises were a subject of real terror to his 

 tenantry, he formed the resolution of sleeping in the castle on 

 the night he took possession j in order to do away these super- 

 stitious fears. Not a habitable room could be found, except 

 the one occupied by the old gardener and his wife in the western 

 turret, and he ordered his camp-bed to be set up in that apart- 

 ment. It was in the autumn, at nightfall, that he repaired to 

 the gloomy abode, leaving his servant, to his no small comfort, 

 at the village inn ; and after having found every thing com- 

 fortably provided, turned the large old rusty key upon the an- 

 tiquated pair, who took leave of him to lodge at a farm hard 

 by. It was one of those nights whith are checkered with occa- 

 sional gleams of moonshine and darkness, when the clouds are 

 riding in a high wind. He slept well for the two first hours; 

 he was then wakened by a low mournful sound that ran through 

 the apartments. This warned him to be up and accoutred. 

 He descended the turret stairs with a brilliant light, which, on 

 coming to the ground floor, cast a gigantic shadow of himself 

 upon the high embattled walls. Here he stood and listened, 

 when presently a hollow moan ran through the long corridor, 

 and died away. This was followed by one of a higher key, a 

 sort of scream, which directed his footsteps with more certainty 

 to the spot. Pursuing the sounds, he found himself in the hall 

 of his ancestors, and vaulting upon the large oaken table, set 

 down his lamp, and folding his cloak about him, determined to 

 wait for the appearance of all that was terrible. Tlie night, 

 which had been stormy, became suddenly still ; the dark flitting 

 clouds had sunk below the horizon, and the moon insinuated 

 her silvery light through the chinks of the mouldering pile. 

 As our hero had spent the morning in the chase, Morpheus 

 came unbidden, and he fell asleep upon the table. His dream 

 was short ; for close upon him issued forth the horrid groan ; 

 amazed, he started up and sprang at the unseen voice, fixing, 

 with a powerful blow, his Toledo steel in the arras. The blade 

 was fast, and held him to the spot. At this moment the moon 

 shot a ray that illumined the hall, and showed that liehind the 

 waving folds there lay the cause concealed. His sword he left, 



