C30 Apparition-Adventures. QDec. 



doubt, staggered in some measure my disbelief, and generated sensa- 

 tions I was wholly unable to define. My scruples (the result of early 

 education) opposed but a feeble barrier to the general contagion, and 

 I determined to seek a confirmation which others so dreaded and avoided. 

 Accordingly one night, about the hour of twelve, I rose silently from 

 my hammock, into which I had thrown myself ready dressed, and taking 

 my sword in my hand (not as a precautionary measure, but merely as 

 a usual appendage), I sallied forth into the street. The garrison and 

 inhabitants were buried in profound repose. As I traversed the dif- 

 ferent streets, not a sound met my ear but the monotonous tread of my 

 own footsteps, except the occasional " qui viva" of the sentinels as I 

 approached their respective posts. At length I reached the Grand 

 Plaza. As I gazed tremulously round me, I felt an inward conscious- 

 ness that something unearthly was about to meet my view ; and though 

 my mind could not fully embody this creation of my fancy, the outline 

 presented such spectral horror that my blood curdled in my veins. The 

 night was unusually sultry : it was with the utmost difficulty that I 

 respired. At length my glances fell upon the low wall which divided 

 the square from the cemetery — it was exactly at that spot which had 

 been the scene of the late execution. At this instant, as if to form a 

 climax to my sufferings, the semblance of a human head projected itself 

 above the wall in my front. Its large full eyes glai*ed frightfully— 

 mine nearly started from their sockets — the involuntary strain superin- 

 duced by the vision that attracted them was excruciating. No part of 

 the body was visible, yet the fatal head, with all the withering influence 

 attributed to the Gorgon's, still contirmed stationary. It wore a sort of 

 cap, the lappets of which falling on each cheek, unconfined by a chin- 

 stay, gave to the contour of the face an appearance altogether cadaver- 

 ous. My spirit, after the first shock, did not shrink from the view ; 

 on the contrary, it recovered its pristine energies. I was about to solve 

 an enigma which had puzzled the crude theories of ancient and modern 

 philosophy, and incited by the vain glory which this idea inspired, I 

 rushed forward to the achievement of ray purpose ; but at that moment 

 the phantom-head disappeared. I paused for a moment, irresolute, and 

 then slowly advanced, until the stone barrier impeded my further pro- 

 gress. I looked over it, and there I beheld — nothing but the curate's 

 large white milch-goat browsing quietly on the green slirubs that grew 

 in the cemetery. I returned to my quarters resolved to keep my own 

 counsel, and not an individual in the garrison ever suspected my mid- 

 night excursion. 



Blosset, after five weeks' absence, returned to Achaquas ; he did not 

 appear, however, to have derived much benefit from the change of 

 scene : a visible mutation had certainly taken place in the outward man, 

 but it was far from being an advantageous one ; he had become sullen 

 and morose, he shunned the society of his officers, and scarcely recog- 

 nized their salutations when he casually met them. It was observed 

 that even Trayner was rarely admitted to his presence, and these visits, 

 unfrequent as they were, rather appeared to increase than diminish his 

 melancholy. 



Three nights after the colonel's arrival an occurrence took place 

 which paralysed conjecture, and produced a catastrophe as unexpected 

 as impressive. I must here make my reader acquainted with some cir- 

 cumstances which are necessary for the better elucidation of my talc. 



