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and new wood added to it, the fresh air of early morning began to be scented. At this time we missed Padre Carera, and, in truth, we all fell fast asleep; but in about an hour or so afterwards, I was awoke by some one stepping across me. The same cause had stirred N. It was Aaron Bang, who had been to look out at the door.

"I say, Cringle, look here-the Padre and the servants are digging a grave close to the chapel-are they going to bury the poor girl so suddenly ?"

I stepped to the door, the wind had entirely fallen-but the rain fell fast-the small chapel door looked out on the still swollen, but subsiding river, and beyond that on the mountain, which rose abruptly from the opposite bank. On the side of the hill was situated a negro village, of about thirty huts, where lights were already twinkling, as if the inmates were preparing to go forth to their work. Far above them, on the ridge, there was a clear cold streak towards the east, against which the outline of the mountain, and the large trees which grew on it, were sharply cut out; but overhead, the firmament was as yet dark and threat ening. The morning star had just risen, and was sparkling bright and clear through the branches of a magnificent tree, that shot out from the highest part of the hill; it seemed to have attracted the Captain's attention as well as mine.

"Were I romantic now, Mr Cringle, I could expatiate on that view. How cold, and clear, and chaste, every thing looks!, The elements have subsided into a perfect calm, every thing is quiet and still, but there is no warmth, no comfort in the scene."

"Mr Cringle," said the skipper, "do you mark that tree on the ridge of the mountain, that large tree in such conspicuous relief against the eastern sky?"

"I do, Captain. But-heaven help us!-what necromancy is this! It seems to sink into the mountain top

"What a soaking rain !" said Aaron Bang; "why, the drops are as small as pin points, and so thick!-a Scotch mist is a joke to them. Unusual all this, Captain. You know our rain in Jamaica usually descends in bucketsful, unless it be regularly set in for a week, and then, but then only, it becomes what in England we are in the habit of calling a soaking rain. One good thing, however, -while it descends so quietly, the earth will absorb it all, and that furious river will not continue swollen." "Probably not," said I.

why, I only see the uppermost branches now. It has disappeared, and yet the outline of the hill is as distinct and well defined as ever; I can even see the cattle on the ridge, although they are running about in a very incomprehensible way certainly."

"Hush!" said Don Ricardo, "hush! the Padre is reading the funeral service in the chapel, preparatory to the body being brought out."

And so he was. But a low grumbling noise, gradually increasing, was now distinctly audible. The monk hurried on with the prescribed form-he finished it-and we were about lifting the body to carry it forth-Bang and I being in the very act of stooping down to lift the bier, when the Captain sung out sharp and quick,-" Here, Tom !"-the urgency of the appeal abolishing the Mister—“ Here!—zounds, the whole hill side is in motion!" And as he spoke I beheld the negro village, that hung on the opposite bank, gradually fetch way, houses, trees, and all, with a loud, harsh, grating sound.

"God defend us!" I involuntarily exclaimed.

"Stand clear," shouted the skipper; "the whole hillside opposite is under weigh, and we shall be bothered here presently."

He was right-the entire face of the hill over against us was by this time in motion, sliding over the substratum of rock like a first-rate gliding along the well-greased ways at launching an earthy avalanche. Presently the rough, rattling, and crashing sound, from the disrupture of the soil, and the breaking of the branches, and tearing up by the roots of the largest trees, gave warning of some tremendous incident. The lights in the huts still burned, but houses and all continued to slide down the declivity; and anon a loud startled exclamation was heard here and there, and then a pause, but the low mysterious hurtling sound never ceased.

At length a loud and continuous

yell echoed along the hill-side. The noise increased-the rushing sound came stronger and stronger-the river rose higher, and roared louder; it overleaped the lintel of the door -the fire on the floor hissed for a moment, and then expired in smouldering wreaths of white smoke-the discoloured torrent gurgled into the chapel, and reached the altar-piece; and while the cries from the hill-side were highest, and bitterest, and most despairing, it suddenly filled the chapel to the top of the low door-post; and although the large tapers which had been lit near the altar-piece were as yet unextinguished, like meteors sparkling on a troubled sea, all was misery and consternation. "Have patience, and be composed, now," shouted Don Ricardo. "If it in creases, we can escape through the apertures here, behind the altar-piece, and from thence to the high ground beyond. The heavy rain has loosed the soil on the opposite bank, and it has slid into the river-course, negro houses and all. But be composed, my dears-nothing supernatural in all this; and rest assured, although the river has unquestionably been forced from its channel, that there is no danger, if you will only maintain your self-possession." And there we were-an inhabitant of a cold climate cannot go along with me in the description. We were all alarmed, but we were not chilled-cold is a great daunter of bravery. At New Orleans, the black regiments, in the heat of the forenoon, were really the most efficient corps of the army; but in the morning, when the hoar frost was on the long wire grass, they were but as a broken reed. "Him too cold for brave to-day," said the sergeant of the Grenadier Company of the West India regiment, which was brigaded in the ill-omened advance, when we attacked New Orleans; but here, having heat, and seeing none of the women egregiously alarmed, we all took heart of grace, and really there was no quailing amongst us.

Señora Campana and her two nieces, Señora Cangrejo and her angelic daughter, had all betaken themselves to a sort of seat, enclosing the altar in a semicircle, with the peasesoup-coloured water up to their knees. Not a word-not an exclamation of fear escaped from them,

although the gushing eddies from the open door shewed that the soil from the opposite hill was fast settling down, and usurping the former channel of the river." All very fine this to read of," at last exclaimed Aaron Bang. "Zounds, we shall be drowned. Look out, N——. Tom Cringle, look out; for my part, I shall dive through the door, and take my chance."

"No use in that," said Don Ricardo; "the two round openings there at the west end of the chapel, open on a dry shelf, from which the ground slopes easily upward to the house; let us put the ladies through those, and then we males can shift for ourselves as we best may."

At this moment the water rose so high, that the bier on which the corpse of poor Maria Olivera lay stark and stiff, was floated off the tressels, and turning on its edge, after glancing for a moment in the light cast by the wax tapers, it sank into the thick brown water, and was no more seen.

The old Priest murmured a prayer, but the effect on us was electric. "Saufe qui peut" was now the cry; and Sneezer, quite in his element, began to cruise all about, threatening the tapers with instant extinction. "Ladies, get through the holes," shouted Don Ricardo. "Captain, get you out first."

"Can't desert my ship," said the gallant fellow; "the last to quit where danger is, my dear sir. It is my charter; but, Mr Cringle, go you, and hand the ladies out."

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"I'll be damn'd if I do," said I. Beg pardon, sir; I simply mean to say, that I cannot usurp the pas from you."

"Then," quoth Don Ricardo-a more discreet personage than any one of us-"I will go myself;" and forthwith he screwed himself through one of the round holes in the wall behind the altar-piece. "Give me out one of the wax tapers-there is no wind now," said Don Ricardo ; " and hand out my wife, Captain N."

"Ave Maria!" said the matron, "I shall never get through that hole."

"Try, my dear madam," said Bang, for by this time we were all deucedly alarmed at our situation. "Try, madam;" and we lifted her towards

the hole-fairly entered her into it head foremost, and all was smooth, till a certain part of the excellent woman's earthly tabernacle stuck fast.

We could hear her invoking all the saints in the calendar on the outside to "make her thin;" but the flesh and muscle were obdurate through she would not go, until delicacy being now blown to the winds-Captain N- placed his shoulder to the old lady's extremity, and with a regular "Oh, heave, oh!" shot her through the aperture into her husband's arms. The young ladies we ejected much more easily. The Priest was next passed, and so we went on, until in rotation we had all made our exit, and were perched shivering on the high bank. God defend us! we had not been a minute there, when the rushing of the stream increased-the rain once more fell in torrents-several large trees came down with a fearful impetus in the roaring torrent, and struck the corner of the chapel. It shook-we could see the small cross on the eastern gable tremble. Another stump surged against it-it gave way-and in a minute afterwards, there was not a vestige remaining of the whole fabric.

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"What a funeral for thee, Maria!" said Don Ricardo.

Not a vestige of the body was ever found.

There was nothing now for it. We all stopped, and turned, and looked-there was not a stone of the building to be seen-all was red precipitous bank, or dark flowing river -so we turned our steps towards the house. The sun by this time had risen. We found the northern range of rooms were entire, and we now made the most of it; and, by dint of the Captain's and my nautical skill, we had, before dinner-time, rigged a canvass-jury-roof over the southern part of the fabric, and were once more sat down in comparative comfort at our meal. But it was all melancholy work enough. However, at last we retired to our beds; and next morning, when I awoke, there was the small stream once more trickling over the face of the rock, with the slight spray wafting into my bed-room, as quietly as if no storm had taken place.

We were kept at Don Picador's for three days, as, from the shooting of the soil from the opposite hill, the river had been dammed up, and its channel altered, so that there was no venturing across. Three negroes were unfortunately drowned, when the bank shot, as Bang called it. But the wonder passed away; and by nine o'clock on the third day, when we mounted our mules to proceed, there was little apparently on the fair face of nature to mark that such fearful scenes had been. However, when we did get under weigh, we found that the hurricane had not passed over us without leaving fearful evidences of its violence.

We had breakfasted-the women had wept-Don Ricardo had blown his nose-Aaron Bang had blundered and fidgeted about-and the bestias were at the door. We embraced the ladies. "My son," said Señora Cangrejo, "we shall most likely never meet again. You have your country to go to-you have a mother. Oh, may she never suffer the pangs which have wrung my heart! But I knowI know that she never will." I bowed. "We may never-indeed, in all likelihood we shall never meet again!" continued she, in a rich, deep-toned, mellow voice; "but if your way of life should ever lead you to Cordova, you will be sure of having many vi sitors, if you will but give out that you have shewn kindness to Maria Olivera, or to any one connected with her." She wept-and bent over me, pressing both her hands on the crown of my head. " May that great God, who careth not for rank or station, for nation or for country, bless you, my son-bless you!"

All this was sorry work. She kissed me on the forehead, and turned away. Her daughter was standing close to her, “like Niobe, all tears." "Farewell, Mr Cringle-may you be happy!" I kissed her hand-she turned to the Captain. He looked inexpressible things, and taking her hand, held it to his breast; and then, making a slight genuflexion, pressed it to his lips. He appeared to be amazingly energetic, and she seemed to struggle to be released. He recovered himself, however-made a solemn bow-the ladies vanished. We shook hands with old Don Picador, mounted our mules, and bid a

last adieu to the Valley of the Hurri

cane.

We ambled along for some time in silence. At length the skipper dropped astern, until he got alongside of me. "I say, Tom"-I was Iwell aware that he never called me Tom unless his heart was full, honest man-"Tom, what think you of Francesca Cangrejo ?"

Oh ho! sits the wind in that quarter? thought I. "Why, I don't know, Captain-I have seen her to disadvantage-so much misery-fine woman though—rather large to my taste -but"

"Confound your buts," quoth the Captain. But, never mind-push on, push on."—(I may tell the gentle reader in his ear, that the worthy fellow, at the moment when I send this chapter to the press, has his flag, and that Francesca Cangrejo is no less a personage than his wife.)

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However, let us get along. "Doctor Pavo Real," said Don Ricardo, now since you have been good enough to spare us a day, let us get the heart of your secret out of you. Why, you must have been pretty well frightened on the island there."

"Never so much frightened in my life, Don Ricardo; that English captain is a most tempestuous man-but all has ended well; and after having seen you to the crossing, I will bid you good-bye."

"Poo-nonsense. Come alonghere is the English medico, your brother Esculapius; so, come along, you can return in the morning."

"But the sick folks in Santiago!".

"Will be none the sicker of your absence, Doctor Pavo Real," responded Don Ricardo.

The little Doctor laughed, and away we all cantered-Don Ricardo leading, followed by his wife and daughters on three stout mules, sitting, not on side-saddles, but on a kind of chair, with a foot-board on the larboard side to support the feet-then followed the two Galens, and little Reefpoint, while the Captain and I brought up the rear. We had not proceeded five hundred yards, when we were brought to a stand-still by a mighty tree, which had been thrown down by the wind right across the road. On the right hand, there was a perpendicular rock rising up to a height

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of five hundred feet; and on the left, an equally precipitous descent, without either ledge or parapet to prevent one from falling over. What was to be done? We could not by any exertion of strength remove the tree; and if we sent back for assistance, it would have been a work of time. So we dismounted, got the ladies to alight,-and Aaron Bang, N—, and myself, like true knights errant, undertook to ride the mulos over the stump.

Aaron Bang led gallantly, and made a deuced good jump of itN― followed, and made not quite so clever an exhibition-I then rattled at it, and down came mule and rider. However, we were accounted for on the right side.

"But what shall become of us ?" shouted the English Doctor.

"And as for me, I shall return," said the Spanish medico.

"Lord love you, no," said little Reefpoint; "here, lash me to my beast, and no fear." Plaget made him fast, as desired, round the mule's neck, with a stout thong, and then drove him at the barricade, and over they came, man and beast, although, to tell the truth, little Reefy alighted well out on the neck, with a hand grasping each ear. However, he was a gallant little fellow, and in nowise discouraged, so he undertook to bring over the other quadrupeds; and in little more than a quarter of an hour, we were all under weigh on the opposite side, in full sail towards Don Ricardo's property. But as we proceeded up the valley, the destruction caused by the storm became more and more apparent. Trees were strewn about in all directions, having been torn up by the roots— road there was literally none; and by the time we reached the coffee estate, after a ride, or scramble, more properly speaking, of three hours, we were all pretty much tired. In some places the road at the best was but a rocky shelf of limestone not exceeding 12 inches in width, where, if you had slipped, down you would have gone a thousand feet. At this time it was white and clean as if it had been newly chiselled, all the soil and sand having been washed away by the recent heavy rains.

The situation was beautiful; the house stood on a platform scarped

out of the hillside, with a beautiful view of the whole country down to St Jago. The accommodation was good; more comforts, more English comforts, in the mansion, than I had yet seen in Cuba; and as it was built of solid slabs of limestone, and roofed with strong hardwood timbers and rafters, and tiled, it had sustained comparatively little injury, as it had the advantage of being at the same time sheltered by the overhanging cliff. It stood in the middle of a large platform of hard sun-dried clay, plastered over, and as white as chalk, which extended about forty feet from the eaves of the house, in every direction, on which the coffee was cured. This platform was surrounded on all sides by the greenest grass I had ever seen, and overshadowed, not the house alone, but the whole level space, by one vast wild fig-tree.

"I say, Tom, do you see that Scotchman hugging the Creole, eh ?" "Scotchman!" said I, looking towards Don Ricardo, who certainly did not appear to be particularly amorous; on the contrary, we had just alighted, and the worthy man was enacting groom.

"Yes," continued Bang, "the Scotchman hugging the Creole; look at that tree-do you see the trunk of it ?"

I did look at it. It was a magnificent cedar, with a tall straight stem covered over with a curious sort of fretwork, wove by the branches of some strong parasitical plant, which had warped itself round and round it, by numberless snakelike convolutions, as if it had been a vegetable Laocoon. The tree itself shot up branchless to the uncommon height of fifty feet; the average girth of the trunk being four and twenty feet, or eight feet in diameter. The leaf of the cedar is small, not unlike the ash; but when I looked up, I noticed that the feelers of this ligneous serpent had twisted round the larger boughs, and blended their broad leaves with those of the tree, so that it looked like two trees grafted into one; but, as Aaron Bang said, in a very few years the cedar would entirely disappear, its growth being impeded, its pith extracted, and its core rotted, by the baleful embraces of the wild fig, of "this Scotchman hug

ging the Creole." After we had fairly shaken into our places, there was every promise of a very pleasant visit. Our host had a tolerable cellar, and although there was not much of style in his establishment, still there was a fair allowance of comfort, every thing considered. The evening after we arrived was most beautiful. The house, situated on its white plateau of barbicues, as the coffee platforms are called, where large piles of the berries in their red cherrylike husks had been blackening in the sun the whole forenoon, and on which a gang of negroes was now employed covering them up with tarpawlings for the night, stood in the centre of an amphitheatre of mountains, the front box as it were, the stage part opening on a bird's eye view of the distant town and harbour, with the everlasting ocean beyond it, the currents and flaws of wind making its surface look like ice, as we were too distant to discern the heaving of the swell, or the motion of the billows. The fast falling shades of evening were aided by the sombrous shadow of the immense tree over head, and all down in the deep valley was now dark and undistinguishable; and the blue vapours were gradually floating up towards us. To the left hand, on the shoulder of the Horseshoe Hill the sunbeams still lingered, and the gigantic shadows of the trees on the right hand prong were strongly cast across the valley on a red precipitous bank near the top of it. The sun was descending beyond the wood, flashing through the branches, as if they had been on fire. He disappeared. It was a most lovely still evening-the air-but hear the skipper

"It is the hour when from the boughs

It is the hour when lovers' vows
The nightingale's high note is heard;

Seem sweet in every whisper'd word; And gentle winds and waters near,

Make music to the lonely ear.

Each flower the dews have lightly wet,
And in the sky the stars are met,
And on the wave is deeper blue,
And on the leaf is browner hue,
And in the heaven that clear obscure,
So softly dark, and darkly pure,
Which follows the decline of day,
When twilight melts beneath the moon
away."

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