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evening； when； after a hot day's toil； she taunted him in the usual
manner； he lost all patience。 He did not venture to retort upon her；
but his eye rested upon the box of sandalwood； which lay on a shelf
with lid half open； as if laughing in mockery at his vexation。 Seizing
it up； he dashed it with indignation to the floor： 〃Unlucky was the
day that I ever set eyes on thee；〃 he cried； 〃or sheltered thy
master beneath my roof！〃
As the box struck the floor； the lid flew wide open； and the
parchment scroll rolled forth。
Peregil sat regarding the scroll for some time in moody silence。
At length rallying his ideas： 〃Who knows；〃 thought he； 〃but this
writing may be of some importance； as the Moor seems to have guarded
it with such care？〃 Picking it up therefore； he put it in his bosom；
and the next morning； as he was crying water through the streets； he
stopped at the shop of a Moor； a native of Tangiers； who sold trinkets
and perfumery in the Zacatin； and asked him to explain the contents。
The Moor read the scroll attentively； then stroked his beard and
smiled。 〃This manuscript；〃 said he； 〃is a form of incantation for
the recovery of hidden treasure； that is under the power of
enchantment。 It is said to have such virtue； that the strongest
bolts and bars； nay the adamantine rock itself； will yield before it！〃
〃Bah！〃 cried the little Gallego； 〃what is all that to me？ I am no
enchanter； and know nothing of buried treasure。〃 So saying； he
shouldered his water…jar； left the scroll in the hands of the Moor；
and trudged forward on his daily rounds。
That evening； however； as he rested himself about twilight at the
well of the Alhambra； he found a number of gossips assembled at the
place； and their conversation； as is not unusual at that shadowy hour；
turned upon old tales and traditions of a supernatural nature。 Being
all poor as rats； they dwelt with peculiar fondness upon the popular
theme of enchanted riches left by the Moors in various parts of the
Alhambra。 Above all； they concurred in the belief that there were
great treasures buried deep in the earth under the Tower of the
Seven Floors。
These stories made an unusual impression on the mind of the honest
Peregil； and they sank deeper and deeper into his thoughts as he
returned alone down the darkling avenues。 〃If； after all； there should
be treasure hid beneath that tower： and if the scroll I left with
the Moor should enable me to get at it！〃 In the sudden ecstasy of
the thought he had well nigh let fall his water…jar。
That night he tumbled and tossed； and could scarcely get a wink of
sleep for the thoughts that were bewildering his brain。 Bright and
early； he repaired to the shop of the Moor； and told him all that
was passing in his mind。 〃You can read Arabic；〃 said he； 〃suppose we
go together to the tower； and try the effect of the charm； if it fails
we are no worse off than before； but if it succeeds； we will share
equally all the treasure we may discover。〃
〃Hold；〃 replied the Moslem； 〃this writing is not sufficient of
itself； it must be read at midnight； by the light of a taper
singularly compounded and prepared； the ingredients of which are not
within my reach。 Without such a taper the scroll is of no avail。〃
〃Say no more！〃 cried the little Gallego； 〃I have such a taper at
hand； and will bring it here in a moment。〃 So saying he hastened home；
and soon returned with the end of yellow wax taper that he had found
in the box of sandalwood。
The Moor felt it and smelt of it。 〃Here are rare and costly
perfumes；〃 said he； 〃Combined with this yellow wax。 This is the kind
of taper specified in the scroll。 While this burns； the strongest
walls and most secret caverns will remain open。 Woe to him； however；
who lingers within until it be extinguished。 He will remain
enchanted with the treasure。〃
It was now agreed between them to try the charm that very night。
At a late hour； therefore； when nothing was stirring but bats and
owls； they ascended the woody hill of the Alhambra； and approached
that awful tower； shrouded by trees and rendered formidable by so many
traditionary tales。 By the light of a lantern； they groped their way
through bushes； and over fallen stones； to the door of a vault beneath
the tower。 With fear and trembling they descended a flight of steps
cut into the rock。 It led to an empty chamber damp and drear； from
which another flight of steps led to a deeper vault。 In this way
they descended four several flights； leading into as many vaults one
below the other； but the floor of the fourth was solid； and though；
according to tradition； there remained three vaults still below； it
was said to be impossible to penetrate further； the residue being shut
up by strong enchantment。 The air of this vault was damp and chilly；
and had an earthy smell； and the light scarce cast forth any rays。
They paused here for a time in breathless suspense until they
faintly heard the clock of the watchtower strike midnight； upon this
they lit the waxen taper； which diffused an odor of myrrh and
frankincense and storax。
The Moor began to read in a hurried voice。 He had scarce finished
when there was a noise as of subterraneous thunder。 The earth shook；
and the floor； yawning open； disclosed a flight of steps。 Trembling
with awe they descended； and by the light of the lantern found
themselves in another vault； covered with Arabic inscriptions。 In
the centre stood a great chest； secured with seven bands of steel；
at each end of which sat an enchanted Moor in armor； but motionless as
a statue； being controlled by the power of the incantation。 Before the
chest were several jars filled with gold and silver and precious
stones。 In the largest of these they thrust their arms up to the
elbow； and at every dip hauled forth handfuls of broad yellow pieces
of Moorish gold； or bracelets and ornaments of the same precious
metal； while occasionally a necklace of oriental pearl would stick
to their fingers。 Still they trembled and breathed short while
cramming their pockets with the spoils； and cast many a fearful glance
at the two enchanted Moors； who sat grim and motionless； glaring
upon them with unwinking eyes。 At length； struck with a sudden panic
at some fancied noise； they both rushed up the staircase； tumbled over
one another into the upper apartment； overturned and extinguished
the waxen taper； and the pavement again closed with a thundering
sound。
Filled with dismay； they did not pause until they had groped their
way out of the tower； and beheld the stars shining through the
trees。 Then seating themselves upon the grass； they divided the spoil；
determining to content themselves for the present with this mere
skimming of the jars； but to return on some future night and drain
them to the bottom。 To make sure of each other's good faith； also；
they divided the talismans between them； one retaining the scroll
and the other the taper； this done； they set off with light hearts and
well…lined pockets for Granada。
As they wended their way down the hill； the shrewd Moor whispered
a word of counsel in the ear of the simple little water…carrier。
〃Friend Peregil；〃 said he； 〃all this affair must be kept a
profound secret until we have secured the treasure； and conveyed it
out of harm's way。 If a whisper of it gets to the ear of the
alcalde； we are undone！〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied the Gallego； 〃nothing can be more true。〃
〃Friend Peregil；〃 said the Moor； 〃you are a discreet man； and I make
no doubt can keep a secret： but you have a wife。〃
〃She shall not know a word of it；〃 replied the little water…carrier；
sturdily。
〃Enough；〃 said the Moor； 〃I depend upon thy discretion and thy
promise。〃
Never was promise more positive and sincere； but； alas！ what man can
keep a secret from his wife？ Certainly not such a one as Peregil the
water…carrier； who was one of the most loving and tractable of
husbands。 On his return home； he found his wife moping in a corner。
〃Mighty well；〃 cried she as he entered； 〃you've come at last； after
rambling about until this hour of the night。 I wonder you have not
brought home another Moor as a housemate。〃 Then bursting into tears；
she began to wring her hands and smite her breast： 〃Unhappy woman that
I am！〃 exclaimed she； 〃what will become of me？ My house stripped and
plundered by lawyers and alguazils； my husband a do…no…good； that no
longer brings home bread to his family； but goes rambling about day
and night； with infidel Moors！ O my children！ my children！ what will
become of us？ we shall all have to beg in the streets！〃
Honest Peregil was so moved by the distress of his spouse； that he
could not help whimpering also。 His heart was as full as his pocket；
and not to be restrained。 Thrusting his hand into the latter he hauled
forth three or four broad gold pieces； and slipped them into her
bosom。 The poor woman stared with astonishment； and could not
unde