the plunge and advance, but deemed it only good manners to give some intimation of his approach. He was now within about twenty yards from them, and made an attempt at a comic song, which, however, quivered off into as dismal and cowardly a ditty as ever proceeded from human lips. Harry and the Spectre, both startled by the voice, turned round to observe his approach, when, to his utter consternation, the Shan-dhinne-dhuv sank, as it were, into the earth and disappeared. The hair rose upon Barney's head, and when Woodward called out: “Who comes there?” He could scarcely summon voice enough to reply: “It's me, sir,” said he; “Barney Casey.” “Come on, Barney,” said Woodward, “come on quickly;” and he had scarcely spoken when Barney joined him. “Barney,” said he, “I am in a state of great terror. I have felt ever since I passed that Haunted House as if there was an evil spirit in my company. The feeling was dreadful, and I am very weak in consequence of it. Give me you arm.” “But did you see nothing, sir?” said Barney; “didn't it become visible to you?” “No,” replied the other; “but I felt as if I was in the presence of a supernatural being, and an evil one, too.” “God protect us, Mr. Harry! then, if you didn't see it I did.” “You did!” replied the other, startled; “and pray what was it like?” “Why, a black ould man, sir; and, by all accounts that ever I could hear of it, it was nothing else than the Shan-dhinne-dhuv. For God's sake let us come home, sir, for this, if all they say be true, is unholy and cursed ground we're standin' on.” “And where did it disappear?” asked Woodward, leading him by a circuit from the spot where it had vanished. “Just over there, sir,” replied Barney, pointing to the place. “But, in God's name, let us make for home as fast as we can. I'll think every minute an hour till we get safe undher our own roof.” “Barney,” said Woodward, solemnly, “I have a request to make of you, and it is this--the common report is, that the spirit in question follows our family--I mean by my mother's side. Now I beg, as you expect my good will and countenance, that, for my sake, and out of respect for the family in general, you will never breathe a syllable of what you have seen this night. It could answer no earthly purpose, and would only send abroad idle and unpleasant rumors throughout the country. Will you promise this?” “Of course I promise it,” replied Barney; “what object could I gain by repeatin' it?” “None whatsoever. Well, then, be silent on the subject, and let us reach home as soon as we can.”