ASHORE AND AFLOAT. By CHARTLEY CASTLE, AUTHOR OF MAINSTAY SWIMMINGTON, MERCHANT SERVICE;' LONDON: 66, BROOK STREET, HANOVER SQUARE. 1862. 250.h. 6. HAROLD OVERDON. CHAPTER I. MANY years since, it matters not how far back we go-and in whatever parish-never mind. Suffice it to say that, situate in the far north of this glorious Old England of ours, there was a castle, ancient looking enough even then, although evident attempts had been made to modernize portions of it; yet was it so covered with old moss and ivy that you would be almost justified in thinking that the structure had sprung from the soil of itself. This castle was surrounded by a moat-probably in troublous times a very useful auxiliary to the defences, that is, when filled with water, for when we make mention of it, it was quite dry-and no doubt had passed through many vicissitudes; however, it was a residence, and like most other residences, if endowed with B |