502: The Maid of Covadonga. -[Nov. 
long dead passed in review before me ; they stood out vividly before the 
vision of my heated imagination ; they seemed to breathe with life, and 
I endowed them with new feelings and passions. The forms of Pelagius, 
Alfonso, Truela, and others, passed in awful sadness before my sight ; 
and I hailed with enthusiasm those warriors who had escaped the enery- 
ating influence of the corrupted court of the unfortunate Don Rodrigo. 
In this mysterious trance I had remained some time, when, suddenly, 
my musings were interrupted by a shrill scream, which reverberated 
mournfully along those solitudes: I turned quickly to learn whence the 
cry of sorrow proceeded, and my curiosity was soon satisfied. 
Not far from the place where I stood, I perceived a female form, in an 
attitude of terrific alarm, looking intently upon me, and apparently waver- 
ing what course to pursue. She seemed in the first bloom of womanhood, 
and her wretched attire accorded well with the strangeness of her look 
and her wild deportment. Her arms and legs were bare, and a tat- 
tered garment was the only dress she wore. Long tresses of raven hair 
flowed, unrestrained, along her back, and partly covered her bosom. 
Her countenance was pale and emaciated, and a flash of vivid eagerness 
shot at intervals from her dark eyes. Yet, amidst the disorder and misery 
of her appearance, there were still remains of uncommon beauty in her 
wasted form and features. 
This unexpected apparition startled me from my dream. How sucha 
being could be found in those wild solitudes, was to me a source of pain- 
ful conjecture. That she was deranged, was the idea that most strongly 
occurred to my mind ; but yet how she had contrived to escape from her 
friends, and wander so far from every human habitation, strangely per- 
plexed me. I gazed upon her for some time in silence, and an expres- 
sion of alarm became perceptible in her looks ; I waived my hand in 
friendly token for her to approach; but she retreated, with looks of 
timid apprehension. 
I then resolved to shew her that I came only as a friend, and advanced 
towards her. My intention, however, was baflled ; for, in a moment, 
this strange being vanished from my view, like a phantom ; and I con- | 
tinued some moments gazing at the spot, doubting if what I had seen 
were real. 
Struck at this unusual incident, I felt an intense curiosity to learn far- 
ther particulars, as such an incident could not fail to make a strong 
impression on my feelings. For some time, therefore, I endeavoured to 
trace the course of the fugitive ; but all my efforts proved in vain. Better 
acquainted than I with the secret passes of that complicated wilderness, 
she had baffled my pursuit. I was at length compelled to retrace my 
steps ; the shadows of evening were fast descending, and I felt apprehen- 
sive lest a cheerless night of anxiety and pain would be the probable f 
reward of my romantic adventure. . 
With some difficulty I regained the little eminence, and, mounting my 
mule, I endeavoured to make my way toward Canga de Onis; but the 
animal did not, in any way, seem to enter into my views, and flatly 
refused to advance with the expedition I wished. After an hour’s pere- 
grination, I descried the little hamlet of Riera, chiefly composed of 
several stray huts, sheltered by asmall wood. A thought now crossed my 
mind, that I might learn from the inmates of those miserable tenements 
some particulars concerning the strange female ; and, under this impres- . 
——— ee 
