[Illustration]

TALES OF DARING AND DANGER. 

[Illustration]

[Illustration: SIGHTING THE WRECK OF THE STEAMER. ]

TALES OF

DARING AND DANGER. 

BY

G. A. HENTY, Author of "Yarns on the Beach;" "Sturdy and Strong;" "Facing Death;" "BySheer Pluck;" "With Clive in India;" &c. 

_ILLUSTRATED. _

[Illustration]

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, 49 & 50 OLD BAILEY, E. C. GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, ANDDUBLIN. 

1890. 

CONTENTS. 

 PageBEARS AND DACOITS, 7

THE PATERNOSTERS, 37

A PIPE OF MYSTERY, 71

WHITE-FACED DICK, 99

A BRUSH WITH THE CHINESE, 119

[Illustration]

BEARS AND DACOITS. 

A TALE OF THE GHAUTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

A merry party were sitting in the verandah of one of the largest andhandsomest bungalows of Poonah. It belonged to Colonel Hastings, colonelof a native regiment stationed there, and at present, in virtue ofseniority, commanding a brigade. Tiffin was on, and three or fourofficers and four ladies had taken their seats in the comfortable canelounging chairs which form the invariable furniture of the verandah of awell-ordered bungalow. Permission had been duly asked, and granted byMrs. Hastings, and the cheroots had just begun to draw, when MissHastings, a niece of the colonel, who had only arrived the previous weekfrom England, said, --

"Uncle, I am quite disappointed. Mrs. Lyons showed me the bear she hasgot tied up in their compound, and it is the most wretched little thing, not bigger than Rover, papa's retriever, and it's full-grown. I thoughtbears were great fierce creatures, and this poor little thing seemed sorestless and unhappy that I thought it quite a shame not to let it go. "

Colonel Hastings smiled rather grimly. 

"And yet, small and insignificant as that bear is, my dear, it is aquestion whether he is not as dangerous an animal to meddle with as aman-eating tiger. "

"What, that wretched little bear, Uncle?"

"Yes, that wretched little bear. Any experienced sportsman will tell youthat hunting those little bears is as dangerous a sport as tiger-huntingon foot, to say nothing of tiger-hunting from an elephant's back, inwhich there is scarcely any danger whatever. I can speak feelingly aboutit, for my career was pretty nearly brought to an end by a bear, justafter I entered the army, some thirty years ago, at a spot within a fewmiles from here. I have got the scars on my shoulder and arm still. "

"Oh, do tell me all about it, " Miss Hastings said; and the request beingseconded by the rest of the party, none of whom, with the exception ofMrs. Hastings, had ever heard the story before--for the colonel wassomewhat chary of relating this special experience--he waited till theyhad all drawn up their chairs as close as possible, and then giving twoor three vigorous puffs at his cheroot, began as follows:--

"Thirty years ago, in 1855, things were not so settled in the Deccan asthey are now. There was no idea of insurrection on a large scale, but wewere going through one of those outbreaks of Dacoity, which have severaltimes proved so troublesome. Bands of marauders kept the country inconfusion, pouring down on a village, now carrying off three or four ofthe Bombay money-lenders, who were then, as now, the curse of thecountry; sometimes making an onslaught upon a body of traders; andoccasionally venturing to attack small detachments of troops or isolatedparties of police. They were not very formidable, but they were verytroublesome, and most difficult to catch, for the peasantry regardedthem as patriots, and aided and shielded them in every way. Thehead-quarters of these gangs of Dacoits were the Ghauts. In the thickbush and deep valleys and gorges there they could always take refuge, while sometimes the more daring chiefs converted these detached peaksand masses of rock, numbers of which you can see as you come up theGhaut by railway, into almost impregnable fortresses. Many of thesemasses of rock rise as sheer up from the hillside as walls of masonry, and look at a short distance like ruined castles. Some are absolutelyinaccessible; others can only be scaled by experienced climbers; and, although possible for the natives with their bare feet, areimpracticable to European troops. Many of these rock fortresses were atvarious times the head-quarters of famous Dacoit leaders, and unless thesummits happened to be commanded from some higher ground within gunshotrange they were all but impregnable except by starvation. When driven tobay, these fellows would fight well. 

"Well, about the time I joined, the Dacoits were unusually troublesome;the police had a hard time of it, and almost lived in the saddle, andthe cavalry were constantly called up to help them, while detachments ofinfantry from the station were under canvas at several places along thetop of the Ghauts to cut the bands off from their strongholds, and toaid, if necessary, in turning them out of their rock fortresses. Thenatives in the valleys at the foot of the Ghauts, who have always been asemi-independent race, ready to rob whenever they saw a chance, weregreat friends with the Dacoits, and supplied them with provisionswhenever the hunt on the Deccan was too hot for them to make raids inthat direction. 

"This is a long introduction, you will say, and does not seem to havemuch to do with bears; but it is really necessary, as you will see. Ihad joined about six months when three companies of the regiment wereordered to relieve a wing of the 15th, who had been under canvas at avillage some four miles to the north of the point where the line crossesthe top of the Ghauts. There were three white officers, and littleenough to do, except when a party was sent off to assist the police. Wehad one or two brushes with the Dacoits, but I was not out on eitheroccasion. However, there was plenty of shooting, and a good many pigsabout, so we had very good fun. Of course, as a raw hand, I was very hotfor it, and as the others had both passed the enthusiastic age, exceptfor pig-sticking and big game, I could always get away. I was supposednot to go far from camp, because, in the first place, I might be wanted;and, in the second, because of the Dacoits; and Norworthy, who was incommand, used to impress upon me that I ought not to go beyond the soundof a bugle. Of course we both knew that if I intended to get any sportI must go further afoot than this; but I merely used to say 'All right, sir, I will keep an ear to the camp, ' and he on his part neverconsidered it necessary to ask where the game which appeared on thetable came from. But in point of fact, I never went very far, and myservant always had instructions which way to send for me if I waswanted; while as to the Dacoits I did not believe in their having theimpudence to come in broad daylight within a mile or two of our camp. Idid not often go down the face of the Ghauts. The shooting was good, andthere were plenty of bears in those days, but it needed a long day forsuch an expedition, and in view of the Dacoits who might be scatteredabout, was not the sort of thing to be undertaken except with a strongparty. Norworthy had not given any precise orders about it, but I mustadmit that he said one day:--

"'Of course you won't be fool enough to think of going down the Ghauts, Hastings?' But I did not look at that as equivalent to a directorder--whatever I should do now, " the colonel put in, on seeing afurtive smile on the faces of his male listeners. 

"However, I never meant to go down, though I used to stand on the edgeand look longingly down into the bush and fancy I saw bears movingabout in scores. But I don't think I should have gone into their countryif they had not come into mine. One day the fellow who always carried myspare gun or flask, and who was a sort of shekarry in a small way, toldme he had heard that a farmer, whose house stood near the edge of theGhauts, some two miles away, had been seriously annoyed by his fruit andcorn being stolen by bears. 

"'I'll go and have a look at the place to-morrow, ' I said, 'there is noparade, and I can start early. You may as well tell the mess cook to putup a basket with some tiffin and a bottle of claret, and get a boy tocarry it over. '

"'The bears not come in day, ' Rahman said. 

"'Of course not, ' I replied; 'still I may like to find out which waythey come. Just do as you are told. '

"The next morning, at seven o'clock, I was at the farmer's spoken of, and there was no mistake as to the bears. A patch of Indian corn hadbeen ruined by them, and two dogs had been killed. The native was in aterrible state of rage and alarm. He said that on moonlight nights hehad seen eight of them, and they came and sniffed around the door of thecottage. 

"'Why don't you fire through the window at them?' I asked scornfully, for I had seen a score of tame bears in captivity, and, like you, Mary, was inclined to despise them, though there was far less excuse for me;for I had heard stories which should have convinced me that, small as heis, the Indian bear is not a beast to be attacked with impunity. Uponwalking to the edge of the Ghauts there was no difficulty in discoveringthe route by which the bears came up to the farm. For a mile to theright and left the ground fell away as if cut with a knife, leaving aprecipice of over a hundred feet sheer down; but close by where I wasstanding was the head of a watercourse, which in time had gradually worna sort of cleft in the wall, up or down which it was not difficult tomake one's way. Further down this little gorge widened out and became adeep ravine, and further still a wide valley, where it opened upon theflats far below us. About half a mile down where the ravine was deepestand darkest was a thick clump of trees and jungle. 

"'That's where the bears are?' I asked Rahman. He nodded. It seemed nodistance. I could get down and back in time for tiffin, and perhaps baga couple of bears. For a young sportsman the temptation was great. 'Howlong would it take us to go down and have a shot or two at them?'

"'No good go down. Master come here at night, shoot bears when they comeup. '

"I had thought of that; but, in the first place, it did not seem muchsport to shoot the beasts from cover when they were quietly eating, and, in the next place, I knew that Norworthy could not, even if he werewilling, give me leave to go out of camp at night. I waited, hesitatingfor a few minutes, and then I said to myself, 'It is of no use waiting. I could go down and get a bear and be back again while I am thinking ofit;' then to Rahman, 'No, come along; we will have a look through thatwood anyhow. '

"Rahman evidently did not like it. 

"'Not easy find bear, sahib. He very cunning. '

"'Well, very likely we sha'n't find them, ' I said, 'but we can tryanyhow. Bring that bottle with you; the tiffin basket can wait here tillwe come back. ' In another five minutes I had begun to climb down thewatercourse--the shekarry following me. I took the double-barrelledrifle and handed him the shot-gun, having first dropped a bullet downeach barrel over the charge. The ravine was steep, but there were bushesto hold on by, and although it was hot work and took a good deal longerthan I expected, we at last got down to the place which I had fixed uponas likely to be the bears' home. 

"'Sahib, climb up top, ' Rahman said; 'come down through wood; no goodfire at bear when he above. '

"I had heard that before; but I was hot, the sun was pouring down, therewas not a breath of wind, and it looked a long way up to the top of thewood. 

"'Give me the claret. It would take too long to search the woodregularly. We will sit down here for a bit, and if we can see anythingmoving up in the wood, well and good; if not, we will come back againanother day with some beaters and dogs. ' So saying, I sat down with myback against a rock, at a spot where I could look up among the trees fora long way through a natural vista. I had a drink of claret, and then Isat and watched till gradually I dropped off to sleep. I don't know howlong I slept, but it was some time, and I woke up with a sudden start. Rahman, who had, I fancy, been asleep too, also started up. 

[Illustration: "MY GUN, RAHMAN, " I SHOUTED. ]

"The noise which had aroused us was made by a rolling stone striking arock; and looking up I saw some fifty yards away, not in the wood, buton the rocky hillside on our side of the ravine, a bear standing, asthough unconscious of our presence, snuffing the air. As was natural, Iseized my rifle, cocked it, and took aim, unheeding a cry of 'No, no, sahib, ' from Rahman. However, I was not going to miss such a chance asthis, and I let fly. The beast had been standing sideways to me, and asI saw him fall I felt sure I had hit him in the heart. I gave a shout oftriumph, and was about to climb up, when, from behind the rock on whichthe bear had stood, appeared another growling fiercely; on seeing me, itat once prepared to come down. Stupidly, being taken by surprise, andbeing new at it, I fired at once at its head. The bear gave a spring, and then--it seemed instantaneous--down it came at me. Whether it rolleddown, or slipped down, or ran down, I don't know, but it came almost asif it had jumped straight at me. 

"'My gun, Rahman, ' I shouted, holding out my hand. There was no answer. I glanced round, and found that the scoundrel had bolted. I had time, and only just time, to take a step backwards, and to club my rifle, whenthe brute was upon me. I got one fair blow at the side of its head, ablow that would have smashed the skull of any civilized beast intopieces, and which did fortunately break the brute's jaw; then in aninstant he was upon me, and I was fighting for life. My hunting-knifewas out, and with my left hand I had the beast by the throat; while withmy right I tried to drive my knife into its ribs. My bullet had gonethrough his chest. The impetus of his charge had knocked me over, and werolled on the ground, he tearing with his claws at my shoulder and arm, I stabbing and struggling, my great effort being to keep my knees up soas to protect my body with them from his hind claws. After the firstblow with his paw, which laid my shoulder open, I do not think I feltany special pain whatever. There was a strange faint sensation, and mywhole energy seemed centered in the two ideas--to strike and to keep myknees up. I knew that I was getting faint, but I was dimly consciousthat his efforts, too, were relaxing. His weight on me seemed toincrease enormously, and the last idea that flashed across me was thatit was a drawn fight. 

"The next idea of which I was conscious was that I was being carried. Iseemed to be swinging about, and I thought I was at sea. Then there wasa little jolt and a sense of pain. 'A collision, ' I muttered, and openedmy eyes. Beyond the fact that I seemed in a yellow world--a brightorange-yellow--my eyes did not help me, and I lay vaguely wonderingabout it all, till the rocking ceased. There was another bump, and thenthe yellow world seemed to come to an end; and as the daylight streamedin upon me I fainted again. This time when I awoke to consciousnessthings were clearer. I was stretched by a little stream. A native womanwas sprinkling my face and washing the blood from my wounds; whileanother, who had with my own knife cut off my coat and shirt, wastearing the latter into strips to bandage my wounds. The yellow worldwas explained. I was lying on the yellow robe of one of the women. Theyhad tied the ends together, placed a long stick through them, andcarried me in the bag-like hammock. They nodded to me when they saw Iwas conscious, and brought water in a large leaf, and poured it into mymouth. Then one went away for some time, and came back with some leavesand bark. These they chewed and put on my wounds, bound them up withstrips of my shirt, and then again knotted the ends of the cloth, andlifting me up, went on as before. 

"I was sure that we were much lower down the Ghaut than we had been whenI was watching for the bears, and we were now going still lower. However, I knew very little Hindustani, nothing of the language thewomen spoke. I was too weak to stand, too weak even to think much; and Idozed and woke, and dozed again, until, after what seemed to me manyhours of travel, we stopped again, this time before a tent. Two or threeold women and four or five men came out, and there was great talkingbetween them and the young women--for they were young--who had carriedme down. Some of the party appeared angry; but at last things quieteddown, and I was carried into the tent. I had fever, and was, I suppose, delirious for days. I afterwards found that for fully a fortnight I hadlost all consciousness; but a good constitution and the nursing of thewomen pulled me round. When once the fever had gone, I began to mendrapidly. I tried to explain to the women that if they would go up to thecamp and tell them where I was they would be well rewarded; but althoughI was sure they understood, they shook their heads, and by the fact thatas I became stronger two or three armed men always hung about the tent, I came to the conclusion that I was a sort of prisoner. This wasannoying, but did not seem serious. If these people were Dacoits, or, aswas more likely, allies of the Dacoits, I could be kept only for ransomor exchange. Moreover, I felt sure of my ability to escape when I gotstrong, especially as I believed that in the young women who had savedmy life, both by bringing me down and by their careful nursing, I shouldfind friends. "

"Were they pretty, uncle?" Mary Hastings broke in. 

"Never mind whether they were pretty, Mary; they were better thanpretty. "

"No; but we like to know, uncle. "

"Well, except for the soft, dark eyes, common to the race, and the goodtemper and lightheartedness, also so general among Hindu girls, and thetenderness which women feel towards a creature whose life they havesaved, whether it is a wounded bird or a drowning puppy, I suppose theywere nothing remarkable in the way of beauty, but at the time I knowthat I thought them charming. 

CHAPTER II. 

"Just as I was getting strong enough to walk, and was beginning to thinkof making my escape, a band of five or six fellows, armed to the teeth, came in, and made signs that I was to go with them. It was evidently anarranged thing, the girls only were surprised, but they were at onceturned out, and as we started I could see two crouching figures in theshade with their cloths over their heads. I had a native garment thrownover my shoulders, and in five minutes after the arrival of the fellowsfound myself on my way. It took us some six hours before we reached ourdestination, which was one of those natural rock citadels. Had I been inmy usual health I could have done the distance in an hour and a half, but I had to rest constantly, and was finally carried rather than helpedup. I had gone not unwillingly, for the men were clearly, by theirdress, Dacoits of the Deccan, and I had no doubt that it was intendedeither to ransom or exchange me. 

"At the foot of this natural castle were some twenty or thirty morerobbers, and I was led to a rough sort of arbour in which was lying, ona pile of maize straw, a man who was evidently their chief. He rose andwe exchanged salaams. 

"'What is your name, sahib?' he asked in Mahratta. 

"'Hastings--Lieutenant Hastings, ' I said. 'And yours?'

"'Sivajee Punt!' he said. 

"This was bad. I had fallen into the hands of the most troublesome, most ruthless, and most famous of the Dacoit leaders. Over and overagain he had been hotly chased, but had always managed to get away; andwhen I last heard anything of what was going on four or five troops ofnative police were scouring the country after him. He gave an orderwhich I did not understand, and a wretched Bombay writer, I suppose aclerk of some money-lender, was dragged forward. Sivajee Punt spoke tohim for some time, and the fellow then told me in English that I was towrite at once to the officer commanding the troops, telling him that Iwas in his hands, and should be put to death directly he was attacked. 

"'Ask him, ' I said, 'if he will take any sum of money to let me go?'

"Sivajee shook his head very decidedly. 

"A piece of paper was put before me, and a pen and ink, and I wrote as Ihad been ordered, adding, however, in French, that I had brought myselfinto my present position by my own folly, and would take my chance, forI well knew the importance which Government attached to Sivajee'scapture. I read out loud all that I had written in English, and theinterpreter translated it. Then the paper was folded and I addressed it, 'The Officer Commanding, ' and I was given some chupattis and a drink ofwater, and allowed to sleep. The Dacoits had apparently no fear of anyimmediate attack. 

"It was still dark, although morning was just breaking, when I wasawakened, and was got up to the citadel. I was hoisted rather thanclimbed, two men standing above with a rope, tied round my body, so thatI was half-hauled, half-pushed up the difficult places, which would havetaxed all my climbing powers had I been in health. 

"The height of this mass of rock was about a hundred feet; the top wasfairly flat, with some depressions and risings, and about eighty feetlong by fifty wide. It had evidently been used as a fortress in agespast. Along the side facing the hill were the remains of a rough wall. In the centre of a depression was a cistern, some four feet square, lined with stone-work, and in another depression a gallery had been cut, leading to a subterranean store-room or chamber. This natural fortressrose from the face of the hill at a distance of a thousand yards or sofrom the edge of the plateau, which was fully two hundred feet higherthan the top of the rock. In the old days it would have beenimpregnable, and even at that time it was an awkward place to take, forthe troops were armed only with Brown Bess, and rifled cannon were notthought of. Looking round, I could see that I was some four miles fromthe point where I had descended. The camp was gone; but running my eyealong the edge of the plateau I could see the tops of tents a mile to myright, and again two miles to my left; turning round, and looking downinto the wide valley, I saw a regimental camp. 

"It was evident that a vigorous effort was being made to surround andcapture the Dacoits, since troops had been brought up from Bombay. Inaddition to the troops above and below, there would probably be a strongpolice force, acting on the face of the hill. I did not see all thesethings at the time, for I was, as soon as I got to the top, ordered tosit down behind the parapet, a fellow armed to the teeth squatting downby me, and signifying that if I showed my head above the stones he wouldcut my throat without hesitation. There were, however, sufficient gapsbetween the stones to allow me to have a view of the crest of the Ghaut, while below my view extended down to the hills behind Bombay. It wasevident to me now why the Dacoits did not climb up into the fortress. There were dozens of similar crags on the face of the Ghauts, and thetroops did not as yet know their whereabouts. It was a sort of blockadeof the whole face of the hills which was being kept up, and there were, probably enough, several other bands of Dacoits lurking in the jungle. 

"There were only two guards and myself on the rock plateau. I discussedwith myself the chances of my overpowering them and holding the top ofthe rock till help came; but I was greatly weakened, and was not a matchfor a boy, much less for the two stalwart Mahrattas; besides, I was byno means sure that the way I had been brought up was the only possiblepath to the top. The day passed off quietly. The heat on the bare rockwas frightful, but one of the men, seeing how weak and ill I really was, fetched a thick rug from the storehouse, and with the aid of a stickmade a sort of lean-to against the wall, under which I lay shelteredfrom the sun. 

"Once or twice during the day I heard a few distant musket-shots, andonce a sharp heavy outburst of firing. It must have been three or fourmiles away, but it was on the side of the Ghaut, and showed that thetroops or police were at work. My guards looked anxiously in thatdirection, and uttered sundry curses. When it was dusk, Sivajee andeight of the Dacoits came up. From what they said, I gathered that therest of the band had dispersed, trusting either to get through the lineof their pursuers, or, if caught, to escape with slight punishment, themen who remained being too deeply concerned in murderous outrages tohope for mercy. Sivajee himself handed me a letter, which the man whohad taken my note had brought back in reply. Major Knapp, the writer, who was the second in command, said that he could not engage theGovernment, but that if Lieutenant Hastings was given up the act wouldcertainly dispose the Government to take the most merciful viewpossible; but that if, on the contrary, any harm was suffered byLieutenant Hastings, every man taken would be at once hung. Sivajee didnot appear put out about it. I do not think he expected any otheranswer, and imagine that his real object in writing was simply to letthem know that I was a prisoner, and so enable him the better toparalyse the attack upon a position which he no doubt considered all butimpregnable. 

"I was given food, and was then allowed to walk as I chose upon thelittle plateau, two of the Dacoits taking post as sentries at thesteepest part of the path, while the rest gathered, chatting andsmoking, in the depression in front of the storehouse. It was stilllight enough for me to see for some distance down the face of the rock, and I strained my eyes to see if I could discern any other spot at whichan ascent or descent was possible. The prospect was not encouraging. Atsome places the face fell sheer away from the edge, and so evident wasthe impracticability of escape that the only place which I glanced attwice was the western side, that is the one away from the hill. Here itsloped gradually for a few feet. I took off my shoes and went down tothe edge. Below, some ten feet, was a ledge, on to which with care Icould get down, but below that was a sheer fall of some fifty feet. As ameans of escape it was hopeless, but it struck me that if an attack wasmade I might slip away and get on to the ledge. Once there I could notbe seen except by a person standing where I now was, just on the edge ofthe slope, a spot to which it was very unlikely that anyone would come. 

"The thought gave me a shadow of hope, and, returning to the upper endof the platform, I lay down, and in spite of the hardness of the rock, was soon asleep. The pain of my aching bones woke me up several times, and once, just as the first tinge of dawn was coming, I thought I couldhear movements in the jungle. I raised myself somewhat, and I saw thatthe sounds had been heard by the Dacoits, for they were standinglistening, and some of them were bringing spare fire-arms from thestorehouse, in evident preparation for attack. 

"As I afterwards learned, the police had caught one of the Dacoitstrying to effect his escape, and by means of a little of the ingenioustorture to which the Indian police then frequently resorted, when theirwhite officers were absent, they obtained from him the exact position ofSivajee's band, and learned the side from which the ascent must be made. That the Dacoit and his band were still upon the slopes of the Ghautsthey knew, and were gradually narrowing their circle, but there were somany rocks and hiding-places that the process of searching was a slowone, and the intelligence was so important that the news was off at onceto the colonel, who gave orders for the police to surround the rock atdaylight and to storm it if possible. The garrison was so small that thepolice were alone ample for the work, supposing that the naturaldifficulties were not altogether insuperable. 

"Just at daybreak there was a distant noise of men moving in thejungle, and the Dacoit half-way down the path fired his gun. He wasanswered by a shout and a volley. The Dacoits hurried out from thechamber, and lay down on the edge, where, sheltered by a parapet, theycommanded the path. They paid no attention to me, and I kept as far awayas possible. The fire began--a quiet, steady fire, a shot at a time, andin strong contrast to the rattle kept up from the surrounding jungle;but every shot must have told, as man after man who strove to climb thatsteep path, fell. It lasted only ten minutes, and then all was quietagain. 

"The attack had failed, as I knew it must do, for two men could haveheld the place against an army; a quarter of an hour later a gun fromthe crest above spoke out, and a round shot whistled above our heads. Beyond annoyance, an artillery fire could do no harm, for the partycould be absolutely safe in the store cave. The instant the shot flewoverhead, however, Sivajee Punt beckoned to me, and motioned me to takemy seat on the wall facing the guns. Hesitation was useless, and I tookmy seat with my back to the Dacoits and my face to the hill. One of theDacoits, as I did so, pulled off the native cloth which covered myshoulders, in order that I might be clearly seen. 

"Just as I took my place another round shot hummed by; but then therewas a long interval of silence. With a field-glass every feature musthave been distinguishable to the gunners, and I had no doubt that theywere waiting for orders as to what to do next. 

"I glanced round and saw that with the exception of one fellow squattedbehind the parapet some half-dozen yards away, clearly as a sentry tokeep me in place, all the others had disappeared. Some, no doubt, wereon sentry down the path, the others were in the store beneath me. Afterhalf an hour's silence the guns spoke out again. Evidently the gunnerswere told to be as careful as they could, for some of the shots wentwide on the left, others on the right. A few struck the rock below me. The situation was not pleasant, but I thought that at a thousand yardsthey ought not to hit me, and I tried to distract my attention bythinking out what I should do under every possible contingency. 

"Presently I felt a crash and a shock, and fell backwards to the ground. I was not hurt, and on picking myself up saw that the ball had struckthe parapet to the left, just where my guard was sitting, and he laycovered with its fragments. His turban lay some yards behind him. Whether he was dead or not I neither knew nor cared. 

"I pushed down some of the parapet where I had been sitting, dropped mycap on the edge outside, so as to make it appear that I had fallen over, and then picking up the man's turban, ran to the other end of theplatform and scrambled down to the ledge. Then I began to wave my armsabout--I had nothing on above the waist--and in a moment I saw a facewith a uniform cap peer out through the jungle, and a hand was waved. Imade signs to him to make his way to the foot of the perpendicular wallof rock beneath me. I then unwound the turban, whose length was, I knew, amply sufficient to reach to the bottom, and then looked round forsomething to write on. I had my pencil still in my trousers pocket, butnot a scrap of paper. 

"I picked up a flattish piece of rock and wrote on it, 'Get arope-ladder quickly, I can haul it up. Ten men in garrison. They are allunder cover. Keep on firing to distract their attention. "

"I tied the stone to the end of the turban, and looked over. Anon-commissioned officer of the police was already standing below. Ilowered the stone; he took it, waved his hand to me, and was gone. 

"An hour passed: it seemed an age. The round shots still rang overhead, and the fire was now much more heavy and sustained than before. Presently I again saw a movement in the jungle, and Norworthy's faceappeared, and he waved his arm in greeting. 

"Five minutes more and a party were gathered at the foot of the rock, and a strong rope was tied to the cloth. I pulled it up. A rope-ladderwas attached to it, and the top rung was in a minute or two in my hands. To it was tied a piece of paper with the words: 'Can you fasten theladder?" I wrote on the paper: 'No; but I can hold it for a lightweight. '

"I put the paper with a stone in the end of the cloth, and lowered itagain. Then I sat down, tied the rope round my waist, got my feetagainst two projections, and waited. There was a jerk, and then I feltsome one was coming up the rope-ladder. The strain was far less than Iexpected, but the native policeman who came up first did not weigh halfso much as an average Englishman. There were now two of us to hold. Theofficer in command of the police came up next, then Norworthy, then adozen more police. I explained the situation, and we mounted to theupper level. Not a soul was to be seen. Quickly we advanced and took upa position to command the door of the underground chamber; while one ofthe police waved a white cloth from his bayonet as a signal to thegunners to cease firing. Then the police officer hailed the party withinthe cave. 

"'Sivajee Punt! you may as well come out and give yourself up! We are inpossession, and resistance is useless!'

"A yell of rage and surprise was heard, and the Dacoits, all desperatemen, came bounding out, firing as they did so. Half of their number wereshot down at once, and the rest, after a short, sharp struggle, werebound hand and foot. 

"That is pretty well all of the story, I think. Sivajee Punt was one ofthe killed. The prisoners were all either hung or imprisoned for life. Iescaped my blowing-up for having gone down the Ghauts after the bear, because, after all, Sivajee Punt might have defied their force formonths had I not done so. 

"It seemed that that scoundrel Rahman had taken back word that I waskilled. Norworthy had sent down a strong party, who found the two deadbears, and who, having searched everywhere without finding any signs ofmy body, came to the conclusion that I had been found and carried away, especially as they ascertained that natives used that path. They hadoffered rewards, but nothing was heard of me till my note saying I wasin Sivajee's hands arrived. "

"And did you ever see the women who carried you off?"

"No, Mary, I never saw them again. I did, however, after immensetrouble, succeed in finding out where it was that I had been taken to. Iwent down at once, but found the village deserted. Then after muchinquiry I found where the people had moved to, and sent messages to thewomen to come up to the camp, but they never came; and I was reduced atlast to sending them down two sets of silver bracelets, necklaces, andbangles, which must have rendered them the envy of all the women on theGhauts. They sent back a message of grateful thanks, and I never heardof them afterwards. No doubt their relatives, who knew that theirconnection with the Dacoits was now known, would not let them come. However, I had done all I could, and I have no doubt the women wereperfectly satisfied. So you see, my dear, that the Indian bear, smallas he is, is an animal which it is as well to leave alone, at any ratewhen he happens to be up on the side of a hill while you are at thefoot. "

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE PATERNOSTERS. 

A YACHTING STORY. 

"And do you really mean that we are to cross by the steamer, Mr. Virtue, while you go over in the _Seabird_? I do not approve of that at all. Fanny, why do you not rebel, and say we won't be put ashore? I call ithorrid, after a fortnight on board this dear little yacht, to have toget on to a crowded steamer, with no accommodation and lots of sea-sickwomen, perhaps, and crying children. You surely cannot be in earnest?"

"I do not like it any more than you do, Minnie; but, as Tom says we hadbetter do it, and my husband agrees with him, I am afraid we mustsubmit. Do you really think it is quite necessary, Mr. Virtue? Minnieand I are both good sailors, you know; and we would much rather have alittle extra tossing about on board the _Seabird_ than the discomfortsof a steamer. "

"I certainly think that it will be best, Mrs. Grantham. You know verywell we would rather have you on board, and that we shall suffer fromyour loss more than you will by going the other way; but there's nodoubt the wind is getting up, and though we don't feel it much here, itmust be blowing pretty hard outside. The _Seabird_ is as good a sea-boatas anything of her size that floats; but you don't know what it is to beout in anything like a heavy sea in a thirty-tonner. It would beimpossible for you to stay on deck, and we should have our hands full, and should not be able to give you the benefit of our society. Personally, I should not mind being out in the _Seabird_ in any weather, but I would certainly rather not have ladies on board. "

"You don't think we should scream, or do anything foolish, Mr. Virtue?"Minnie Graham said indignantly. 

"Not at all, Miss Graham. Still, I repeat, the knowledge that there arewomen on board, delightful at other times, does not tend to comfort inbad weather. Of course, if you prefer it, we can put off our start tillthis puff of wind has blown itself out. It may have dropped beforemorning. It may last some little time. I don't think myself that itwill drop, for the glass has fallen, and I am afraid we may have a spellof broken weather. "

"Oh no; don't put it off, " Mrs. Grantham said; "we have only anotherfortnight before James must be back again in London, and it would be agreat pity to lose three or four days perhaps; and we have been lookingforward to cruising about among the Channel Islands, and to St. Malo, and all those places. Oh no; I think the other is much the betterplan--that is, if you won't take us with you. "

"It would be bad manners to say that I won't, Mrs. Grantham; but I mustsay I would rather not. It will be a very short separation. Granthamwill take you on shore at once, and as soon as the boat comes back Ishall be off. You will start in the steamer this evening, and get intoJersey at nine or ten o'clock to-morrow morning; and if I am not therebefore you, I shall not be many hours after you. "

"Well, if it must be it must, " Mrs. Grantham said, with an air ofresignation. "Come, Minnie, let us put a few things into a hand-bag forto-night. You see the skipper is not to be moved by our pleadings. "

"That is the worst of you married women, Fanny, " Miss Graham said, witha little pout. "You get into the way of doing as you are ordered. I callit too bad. Here have we been cruising about for the last fortnight, with scarcely a breath of wind, and longing for a good brisk breeze anda little change and excitement, and now it comes at last, we are to bepacked off in a steamer. I call it horrid of you, Mr. Virtue. You maylaugh, but I do. "

Tom Virtue laughed, but he showed no signs of giving way, and tenminutes later Mr. And Mrs. Grantham and Miss Graham took their places inthe gig, and were rowed into Southampton Harbour, off which the_Seabird_ was lying. 

The last fortnight had been a very pleasant one, and it had cost theowner of the _Seabird_ as much as his guests to come to the conclusionthat it was better to break up the party for a few hours. 

Tom Virtue had, up to the age of five-and-twenty, been possessed of asufficient income for his wants. He had entered at the bar, not that hefelt any particular vocation in that direction, but because he thoughtit incumbent upon him to do something. Then, at the death of an uncle, he had come into a considerable fortune, and was able to indulge histaste for yachting, which was the sole amusement for which he reallycared, to the fullest. 

He sold the little five-tonner he had formerly possessed, and purchasedthe _Seabird_. He could well have afforded a much larger craft, but heknew that there was far more real enjoyment in sailing to be obtainedfrom a small craft than a large one, for in the latter he would beobliged to have a regular skipper, and would be little more than apassenger, whereas on board the _Seabird_, although his first hand wasdignified by the name of skipper, he was himself the absolute master. The boat carried the aforesaid skipper, three hands, and a steward, andwith them he had twice been up the Mediterranean, across to Norway, andhad several times made the circuit of the British Isles. 

He had unlimited confidence in his boat, and cared not what weather hewas out in her. This was the first time since his ownership of her thatthe _Seabird_ had carried lady passengers. His friend Grantham, an oldschool and college chum, was a hard-working barrister, and Virtue hadproposed to him to take a month's holiday on board the _Seabird_. 

"Put aside your books, old man, " he said. "You look fagged andoverworked; a month's blow will do you all the good in the world. "

"Thank you, Tom; I have made up my mind for a month's holiday, but Ican't accept your invitation, though I should enjoy it of all things. But it would not be fair to my wife; she doesn't get very much of mysociety, and she has been looking forward to our having a run together. So I must decline. "

Virtue hesitated a moment. He was not very fond of ladies' society, andthought them especially in the way on board a yacht; but he had a greatliking for his friend's wife, and was almost as much at home in hishouse as in his own chambers. 

"Why not bring the wife with you?" he said, as soon as his mind was madeup. "It will be a nice change for her too; and I have heard her say thatshe is a good sailor. The accommodation is not extensive, but theafter-cabin is a pretty good size, and I would do all I could to makeher comfortable. Perhaps she would like another lady with her; if so byall means bring one. They could have the after-cabin, you could have thelittle state-room, and I could sleep in the saloon. "

"It is very good of you, Tom, especially as I know that it will put youout frightfully; but the offer is a very tempting one. I will speak toFanny, and let you have an answer in the morning. "

"That will be delightful, James, " Mrs. Grantham said, when theinvitation was repeated to her. "I should like it of all things; and Iam sure the rest and quiet and the sea air will be just the thing foryou. It is wonderful, Tom Virtue making the offer; and I take it as agreat personal compliment, for he certainly is not what is generallycalled a lady's man. It is very nice, too, of him to think of my havinganother lady on board. Whom shall we ask? Oh, I know, " she saidsuddenly; "that will be the thing of all others. We will ask my cousinMinnie; she is full of fun and life, and will make a charming wife forTom!"

James Grantham laughed. 

"What schemers you all are, Fanny! Now I should call it downrighttreachery to take anyone on board the _Seabird_ with the idea ofcapturing its master. "

"Nonsense, treachery!" Mrs. Grantham said indignantly; "Minnie is thenicest girl I know, and it would do Tom a world of good to have a wifeto look after him. Why, he is thirty now, and will be settling downinto a confirmed old bachelor before long. It's the greatest kindness wecould do him, to take Minnie on board; and I am sure he is the sort ofman any girl might fall in love with when she gets to know him. The factis, he's shy! He never had any sisters, and spends all his time inwinter at that horrid club; so that really he has never had any women'ssociety, and even with us he will never come unless he knows we arealone. I call it a great pity, for I don't know a pleasanter fellow thanhe is. I think it will be doing him a real service in asking Minnie; sothat's settled. I will sit down and write him a note. "

"In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose, " was Tom Virtue's commentwhen he received Mrs. Grantham's letter, thanking him warmly for theinvitation, and saying that she would bring her cousin, Miss Graham, with her, if that young lady was disengaged. 

As a matter of self-defence he at once invited Jack Harvey, who was amutual friend of himself and Grantham, to be of the party. 

"Jack can help Grantham to amuse the women, " he said to himself; "thatwill be more in his line than mine. I will run down to Cowes to-morrowand have a chat with Johnson; we shall want a different sort of storesaltogether to those we generally carry, and I suppose we must do her upa bit below. "

Having made up his mind to the infliction of female passengers, TomVirtue did it handsomely, and when the party came on board at Ryde theywere delighted with the aspect of the yacht below. She had beenrepainted, the saloon and ladies' cabin were decorated in delicateshades of gray, picked out with gold; and the upholsterer, into whosehands the owner of the _Seabird_ had placed her, had done his work withtaste and judgment, and the ladies' cabin resembled a little boudoir. 

"Why, Tom, I should have hardly known her!" Grantham, who had oftenspent a day on board the _Seabird_, said. 

"I hardly know her myself, " Tom said, rather ruefully; "but I hope she'sall right, Mrs. Grantham, and that you and Miss Graham will findeverything you want. "

"It is charming!" Mrs. Grantham said enthusiastically. "It's awfullygood of you, Tom, and we appreciate it; don't we, Minnie? It is such asurprise, too; for James said that while I should find everything verycomfortable, I must not expect that a small yacht would be got up like apalace. "

So a fortnight had passed; they had cruised along the coast as far asPlymouth, anchoring at night at the various ports on the way. Then theyhad returned to Southampton, and it had been settled that as none of theparty, with the exception of Virtue himself, had been to the ChannelIslands, the last fortnight of the trip should be spent there. Theweather had been delightful, save that there had been some deficiency inwind, and throughout the cruise the _Seabird_ had been under all thesail she could spread. But when the gentlemen came on deck early in themorning a considerable change had taken place; the sky was gray and theclouds flying fast overhead. 

"We are going to have dirty weather, " Tom Virtue said at once. "I don'tthink it's going to be a gale, but there will be more sea on than willbe pleasant for ladies. I tell you what, Grantham; the best thing willbe for you to go on shore with the two ladies, and cross by the boatto-night. If you don't mind going directly after breakfast I will startat once, and shall be at St. Helier's as soon as you are. "

And so it had been agreed, but not, as has been seen, without oppositionand protest on the part of the ladies. 

Mrs. Grantham's chief reason for objecting had not been given. Thelittle scheme on which she had set her mind seemed to be workingsatisfactorily. From the first day Tom Virtue had exerted himself toplay the part of host satisfactorily, and had ere long shaken off anyshyness he may have felt towards the one stranger of the party, and heand Miss Graham had speedily got on friendly terms. So things were goingon as well as Mrs. Grantham could have expected. 

No sooner had his guests left the side of the yacht than her owner beganto make his preparations for a start. 

"What do you think of the weather, Watkins?" he asked his skipper. 

"It's going to blow hard, sir; that's my view of it, and if I was you Ishouldn't up anchor to-day. Still, it's just as you likes; the _Seabird_won't mind it if we don't. She has had a rough time of it before now;still, it will be a case of wet jackets, and no mistake. "

"Yes, I expect we shall have a rough time of it, Watkins, but I want toget across. We don't often let ourselves be weather-bound, and I am notgoing to begin it to-day. We had better house the topmast at once, andget two reefs in the main-sail. We can get the other down when we getclear of the island. Get number three jib up, and the leg-of-muttonmizzen; put two reefs in the foresail. "

Tom and his friend Harvey, who was a good sailor, assisted the crew inreefing down the sails, and a few minutes after the gig had returned andbeen hoisted in, the yawl was running rapidly down Southampton waters. 

"We need hardly have reefed quite so closely, " Jack Harvey said, as hepuffed away at his pipe. 

"Not yet, Jack; but you will see she has as much as she can carry beforelong. It's all the better to make all snug before starting; it saves alot of trouble afterwards, and the extra canvas would not have made tenminutes' difference to us at the outside. We shall have pretty nearly adead beat down the Solent. Fortunately tide will be running strong withus, but there will be a nasty kick-up there. You will see we shall feelthe short choppy seas there more than we shall when we get outside. Sheis a grand boat in a really heavy sea, but in short waves she puts hernose into it with a will. Now, if you will take my advice, you will doas I am going to do; put on a pair of fisherman's boots and oilskin andsou'-wester. There are several sets for you to choose from below. "

As her owner had predicted, the _Seabird_ put her bowsprit under prettyfrequently in the Solent; the wind was blowing half a gale, and as itmet the tide it knocked up a short, angry sea, crested with white heads, and Jack Harvey agreed that she had quite as much sail on her as shewanted. The cabin doors were bolted, and all made snug to prevent thewater getting below before they got to the race off Hurst Castle; and itwas well that they did so, for she was as much under water as she wasabove. 

"I think if I had given way to the ladies and brought them with us theywould have changed their minds by this time, Jack, " Tom Virtue said, with a laugh. 

"I should think so, " his friend agreed; "this is not a day for afair-weather sailor. Look what a sea is breaking on the shingles!"

"Yes, five minutes there would knock her into matchwood. Another tenminutes and we shall be fairly out; and I sha'n't be sorry; one feels asif one was playing football, only just at present the _Seabird_ is theball and the waves the kickers. "

Another quarter of an hour and they had passed the Needles. 

"That is more pleasant, Jack, " as the short, chopping motion wasexchanged for a regular rise and fall; "this is what I enjoy--a steadywind and a regular sea. The _Seabird_ goes over it like one of hernamesakes; she is not taking a teacupful now over her bows. 

"Watkins, you may as well take the helm for a spell, while we go down tolunch. I am not sorry to give it up for a bit, for it has been jerkinglike the kick of a horse. 

"That's right, Jack, hang up your oilskin there. Johnson, give us acouple of towels; we have been pretty well smothered up there on deck. Now what have you got for us?"

"There is some soup ready, sir, and that cold pie you had for dinneryesterday. "

"That will do; open a couple of bottles of stout. "

Lunch, over, they went on deck again. 

"She likes a good blow as well as we do, " Virtue said, enthusiastically, as the yawl rose lightly over each wave. "What do you think of it, Watkins? Is the wind going to lull a bit as the sun goes down?"

"I think not, sir. It seems to me it's blowing harder than it was. "

"Then we will prepare for the worst, Watkins; get the try-sail up ondeck. When you are ready we will bring her up into the wind and set it. That's the comfort of a yawl, Jack; one can always lie to without anybother, and one hasn't got such a tremendous boom to handle. "

The try-sail was soon on deck, and then the _Seabird_ was brought upinto the wind, the weather fore-sheet hauled aft, the mizzen sheetedalmost fore and aft, and the _Seabird_ lay, head to wind, rising andfalling with a gentle motion, in strong contrast to her impetuous rusheswhen under sail. 

"She would ride out anything like that, " her owner said. "Last time wecame through the Bay on our way from Gib. , we were caught in a galestrong enough to blow the hair off one's head, and we lay to for nearlythree days, and didn't ship a bucket of water all the time. Now let uslend a hand to get the main-sail stowed. "

Ten minutes' work and it was securely fastened and its cover on; tworeefs were put in the try-sail. Two hands went to each of the halliards, while, as the sail rose, Tom Virtue fastened the toggles round the mast. 

"All ready, Watkins?"

"All ready, sir. "

"Slack off the weather fore-sheet, then, and haul aft the leeward. Slackout the mizzen-sheet a little, Jack. That's it; now she's off again, like a duck. "

The _Seabird_ felt the relief from the pressure of the heavy boom toleeward and rose easily and lightly over the waves. 

"She certainly is a splendid sea-boat, Tom; I don't wonder you are readyto go anywhere in her. I thought we were rather fools for starting thismorning, although I enjoy a good blow; but now I don't care how hard itcomes on. "

By night it was blowing a downright gale. 

"We will lie to till morning, Watkins. So that we get in by daylightto-morrow evening, that is all we want. See our side-lights are burningwell, and you had better get up a couple of blue lights, in caseanything comes running up Channel and don't see our lights. We hadbetter divide into two watches; I will keep one with Matthews andDawson, Mr. Harvey will go in your watch with Nicholls. We had betterget the try-sail down altogether, and lie to under the foresail andmizzen, but don't put many lashings on the try-sail, one will be enough, and have it ready to cast off in a moment, in case we want to hoist thesail in a hurry. I will go down and have a glass of hot grog first, andthen I will take my watch to begin with. Let the two hands with me godown; the steward will serve them out a tot each. Jack, you had betterturn in at once. "

Virtue was soon on deck again, muffled up in his oilskins. 

"Now, Watkins, you can go below and turn in. "

"I sha'n't go below to-night, sir--not to lie down. There's nothing muchto do here, but I couldn't sleep, if I did lie down. "

"Very well; you had better go below and get a glass of grog; tell thesteward to give you a big pipe with a cover like this, out of thelocker; and there's plenty of chewing tobacco, if the men are short. "

"I will take that instead of a pipe, " Watkins said; "there's nothinglike a quid in weather like this, it ain't never in your way, and itlasts. Even with a cover a pipe would soon be out. "

"Please yourself, Watkins; tell the two hands forward to keep a brightlook-out for lights. "

The night passed slowly. Occasionally a sea heavier than usual came onboard, curling over the bow and falling with a heavy thud on the deck, but for the most part the _Seabird_ breasted the waves easily; thebowsprit had been reefed in to its fullest, thereby adding to thelightness and buoyancy of the boat. Tom Virtue did not go below when hisfriend came up to relieve him at the change of watch, but sat smokingand doing much talking in the short intervals between the gusts. 

The morning broke gray and misty, driving sleet came along on the wind, and the horizon was closed in as by a dull curtain. 

"How far can we see, do you think, Watkins?"

"Perhaps a couple of miles, sir. "

"That will be enough. I think we both know the position of every reef towithin a hundred yards, so we will shape our course for Guernsey. If wehappen to hit it off, we can hold on to St. Helier; but if when we thinkwe ought to be within sight of Guernsey we see nothing of it, we mustlie to again, till the storm has blown itself out or the clouds lift. Itwould never do to go groping our way along with such currents as runamong the islands. Put the last reef in the try-sail before you hoistit. I think you had better get the foresail down altogether, and run upthe spit-fire jib. "

The _Seabird_ was soon under way again. 

"Now, Watkins, you take the helm; we will go down and have a cup of hotcoffee, and I will see that the steward has a good supply for you andthe hands; but first, do you take the helm, Jack, whilst Watkins and Ihave a look at the chart, and try and work out where we are, and thecourse we had better lie for Guernsey. "

Five minutes were spent over the chart, then Watkins went up and JackHarvey came down. 

"You have got the coffee ready, I hope, Johnson?"

"Yes, sir, coffee and chocolate. I didn't know which you would like. "

"Chocolate, by all means. Jack, I recommend the chocolate. Bring twofull-sized bowls, Johnson, and put that cold pie on the table, and acouple of knives and forks; never mind about a cloth; but first of allbring a couple of basins of hot water, we shall enjoy our food moreafter a wash. "

The early breakfast was eaten, dry coats and mufflers put on, pipeslighted, and they then went up upon deck. Tom took the helm. 

"What time do you calculate we ought to make Guernsey, Tom?"

"About twelve. The wind is freer than it was, and we are walking alongat a good pace. Matthews, cast the log, and let's see what we are doing. About seven knots, I should say. "

"Seven and a quarter, sir, " the man said, when he checked the line. 

"Not a bad guess, Tom; it's always difficult to judge pace in a heavysea. "

At eleven o'clock the mist ceased. 

"That's fortunate, " Tom Virtue said; "I shouldn't be surprised if we geta glimpse of the sun between the clouds, presently. Will you get mysextant and the chronometer up, Jack, and put them handy?"

Jack Harvey did as he was asked, but there was no occasion to use theinstruments, for ten minutes later, Watkins, who was standing near thebow gazing fixedly ahead, shouted:

"There's Guernsey, sir, on her lee bow, about six miles away, I shouldsay. "

"That's it, sure enough, " Tom agreed, as he gazed in the direction inwhich Watkins was pointing. "There's a gleam of sunshine on it, or weshouldn't have seen it yet. Yes, I think you are about right as to thedistance. Now let us take its bearings, we may lose it again directly. "

Having taken the bearings of the island they went below, and marked offtheir position on the chart, and they shaped their course for CapeGrosnez, the north-western point of Jersey. The gleam of sunshine wastransient--the clouds closed in again overhead, darker and grayer thanbefore. Soon the drops of rain came flying before the wind, the horizonclosed in, and they could not see half a mile away, but, though the seawas heavy, the _Seabird_ was making capital weather of it, and the twofriends agreed that, after all, the excitement of a sail like this wasworth a month of pottering about in calms. 

"We must keep a bright look-out presently, " the skipper said; "there aresome nasty rocks off the coast of Jersey. We must give them a wideberth. We had best make round to the south of the island, and lay tothere till we can pick up a pilot to take us into St. Helier. I don'tthink it will be worth while trying to get into St. Aubyn's Bay byourselves. "

"I think so, too, Watkins, but we will see what it is like before itgets dark; if we can pick up a pilot all the better; if not, we will lieto till morning, if the weather keeps thick; but if it clears so that wecan make out all the lights we ought to be able to get into the bayanyhow. "

An hour later the rain ceased and the sky appeared somewhat clearer. Suddenly Watkins exclaimed, "There is a wreck, sir! There, three milesaway to leeward. She is on the Paternosters. "

"Good heavens! she is a steamer, " Tom exclaimed, as he caught sight ofher the next time the _Seabird_ lifted on a wave. "Can she be theSouthampton boat, do you think?"

"Like enough, sir, she may have had it thicker than we had, and may nothave calculated enough for the current. "

"Up helm, Jack, and bear away towards her. Shall we shake out a reef, Watkins?"

"I wouldn't, sir; she has got as much as she can carry on her now. Wemust mind what we are doing, sir; the currents run like a millstream, and if we get that reef under our lee, and the wind and current bothsetting us on to it, it will be all up with us in no time. "

"Yes, I know that, Watkins. Jack, take the helm a minute while we rundown and look at the chart. 

"Our only chance, Watkins, is to work up behind the reef, and try andget so that they can either fasten a line to a buoy and let it floatdown to us, or get into a boat, if they have one left, and drift to us. "

"They are an awful group of rocks, " Watkins said, as they examined thechart; "you see some of them show merely at high tide, and a lot of themare above at low water. It will be an awful business to get among themrocks, sir, just about as near certain death as a thing can be. "

"Well, it's got to be done, Watkins, " Tom said, firmly. "I see thedanger as well as you do, but whatever the risk, it must be tried. Mr. Grantham and the two ladies went on board by my persuasion, and I shouldnever forgive myself if anything happened to them. But I will speak tothe men. "

He went on deck again and called the men to him. "Look here, lads; yousee that steamer ashore on the Paternosters. In such a sea as this shemay go to pieces in half an hour. I am determined to make an effort tosave the lives of those on board. As you can see for yourselves there isno lying to weather of her, with the current and wind driving us on tothe reef; we must beat up from behind. Now, lads, the sea there is fullof rocks, and the chances are ten to one we strike on to them and go topieces; but, anyhow I am going to try; but I won't take you unless youare willing. The boat is a good one, and the zinc chambers will keep herafloat if she fills; well managed, you ought to be able to make thecoast of Jersey in her. Mr. Harvey, Watkins, and I can handle the yacht, so you can take the boat if you like. "

The men replied that they would stick to the yacht wherever Mr. Virtuechose to take her, and muttered something about the ladies, for thepleasant faces of Mrs. Grantham and Miss Graham had, during thefortnight they had been on board, won the men's hearts. 

"Very well, lads, I am glad to find you will stick by me; if we pullsafely through it I will give each of you three months' wages. Now setto work with a will and get the gig out. We will tow her after us, andtake to her if we make a smash of it. "

They were now near enough to see the white breakers, in the middle ofwhich the ship was lying. She was fast breaking up. The jagged outlineshowed that the stern had been beaten in. The masts and funnel weregone, and the waves seemed to make a clean breach over her, almosthiding her from sight in a white cloud of spray. 

"Wood and iron can't stand that much longer, " Jack Harvey said; "anotherhour and I should say there won't be two planks left together. "

"It is awful, Jack; I would give all I have in the world if I had notpersuaded them to go on board. Keep her off a little more, Watkins. "

The _Seabird_ passed within a cable's-length of the breakers at thenorthern end of the reef. 

"Now, lads, take your places at the sheets, ready to haul or let go as Igive the word. " So saying, Tom Virtue took his place in the bow, holdingon by the forestay. 

The wind was full on the _Seabird's_ beam as she entered the brokenwater. Here and there the dark heads of the rocks showed above thewater. These were easy enough to avoid, the danger lay in those hiddenbeneath its surface, and whose position was indicated only by theoccasional break of a sea as it passed over them. Every time the_Seabird_ sank on a wave those on board involuntarily held their breath, but the water here was comparatively smooth, the sea having spent itsfirst force upon the outer reef. With a wave of his hand Tom directedthe helmsman as to his course, and the little yacht was admirablyhandled through the dangers. 

"I begin to think we shall do it, " Tom said to Jack Harvey, who wasstanding close to him. "Another five minutes and we shall be withinreach of her. "

It could be seen now that there was a group of people clustered in thebow of the wreck. Two or three light lines were coiled in readiness forthrowing. 

"Now, Watkins, " Tom said, going aft, "make straight for the wreck. I seeno broken water between us and them, and possibly there may be deepwater under their bow. "

It was an anxious moment, as, with the sails flattened in, the yawlforged up nearly in the eye of the wind towards the wreck. Her progresswas slow, for she was now stemming the current. 

Tom stood with a coil of line in his hand in the bow. 

"You get ready to throw, Jack, if I miss. "

Nearer and nearer the yacht approached the wreck, until the bowsprit ofthe latter seemed to stand almost over her. Then Tom threw the line. Itfell over the bowsprit, and a cheer broke from those on board the wreckand from the sailors of the _Seabird_. A stronger line was at oncefastened to that thrown, and to this a strong hawser was attached. 

"Down with the helm, Watkins. Now, lads, lower away the try-sail as fastas you can. Now, one of you, clear that hawser as they haul on it. Nowout with the anchors. "

These had been got into readiness; it was not thought that they wouldget any hold on the rocky bottom, still they might catch on a projectingledge, and at any rate their weight and that of the chain cable wouldrelieve the strain upon the hawser. 

Two sailors had run out on the bowsprit of the wreck as soon as the linewas thrown, and the end of the hawser was now on board the steamer. 

"Thank God, there's Grantham!" Jack Harvey exclaimed; "do you see himwaving his hand?"

"I see him, " Tom said, "but I don't see the ladies. "

"They are there, no doubt, " Jack said, confidently; "crouching down, Iexpect. He would not be there if they weren't, you may be sure. Yes, there they are; those two muffled-up figures. There, one of them hasthrown back her cloak and is waving her arm. "

The two young men waved their caps. 

"Are the anchors holding, Watkins? There's a tremendous strain on thathawser. "

"I think so, sir; they are both tight. "

"Put them round the windlass, and give a turn or two, we must relievethe strain on that hawser. "

Since they had first seen the wreck the waves had made great progress inthe work of destruction, and the steamer had broken in two just aft ofthe engines. 

"Get over the spare spars, Watkins, and fasten them to float in front ofher bows like a triangle. Matthews, catch hold of that boat-hook and tryto fend off any piece of timber that comes along. You get hold of thesweeps, lads, and do the same. They would stave her in like a nut-shellif they struck her. 

"Thank God, here comes the first of them!"

Those on board the steamer had not been idle. As soon as the yawl wasseen approaching slings were prepared, and no sooner was the hawsersecurely fixed, than the slings were attached to it and a woman placedin them. The hawser was tight and the descent sharp, and without a checkthe figure ran down to the deck of the _Seabird_. She was lifted out ofthe slings by Tom and Jack Harvey, who found she was an old woman andhad entirely lost consciousness. 

"Two of you carry her down below; tell Johnson to pour a little brandydown her throat. Give her some hot soup as soon as she comes to. "

Another woman was lowered and helped below. The next to descend was Mrs. Grantham. 

"Thank God, you are rescued!" Tom said, as he helped her out of thesling. 

"Thank God, indeed, " Mrs. Grantham said, "and thank you all! Oh, Tom, wehave had a terrible time of it, and had lost all hope till we saw yoursail, and even then the captain said that he was afraid nothing could bedone. Minnie was the first to make out it was you, and then we began tohope. She has been so brave, dear girl. Ah! here she comes. "

But Minnie's firmness came to an end now that she felt the need for itwas over. She was unable to stand when she was lifted from the slings;and Tom carried her below. 

"Are there any more women, Mrs. Grantham?"

"No; there was only one other lady passenger and the stewardess. "

"Then you had better take possession of your own cabin. I orderedJohnson to spread a couple more mattresses and some bedding on thefloor, so you will all four be able to turn in. There's plenty of hotcoffee and soup. I should advise soup with two or three spoonfuls ofbrandy in it. Now, excuse me; I must go upon deck. "

Twelve men descended by the hawser, one of them with both legs broken bythe fall of the mizzen. The last to come was the captain. 

"Is that all?" Tom asked. 

"That is all, " the captain said. "Six men were swept overboard when shefirst struck, and two were killed by the fall of the funnel. Fortunatelywe had only three gentlemen passengers and three ladies on board. Theweather looked so wild when we started that no one else cared aboutmaking the passage. God bless you, sir, for what you have done! Anotherhalf-hour and it would have been all over with us. But it seems like amiracle your getting safe through the rocks to us. "

"It was fortunate indeed that we came along, " Tom said; "three of thepassengers are dear friends of mine; and as it was by my persuasion thatthey came across in the steamer instead of in the yacht, I should neverhave forgiven myself if they had been lost. Take all your men below, captain; you will find plenty of hot soup there. Now, Watkins, let us beoff; that steamer won't hold together many minutes longer, so there's notime to lose. We will go back as we came. Give me a hatchet. Now, lads, two of you stand at the chain-cables; knock out the shackles the momentI cut the hawser. Watkins, you take the helm and let her head pay offtill the jib fills. Jack, you lend a hand to the other two, and get upthe try-sail again as soon as we are free. "

In a moment all were at their stations. The helm was put on the yacht, and she payed off on the opposite tack to that on which she had beforebeen sailing. As soon as the jib filled, Tom gave two vigorous blowswith his hatchet on the hawser, and, as he lifted his hand for a third, it parted. Then came the sharp rattle of the chains as they ran roundthe hawser-holes. The try-sail was hoisted and sheeted home, and the_Seabird_ was under way again. Tom, as before, conned the ship from thebow. Several times she was in close proximity to the rocks, but eachtime she avoided them. A shout of gladness rose from all on deck as shepassed the last patch of white water. Then she tacked and bore away forJersey. 

Tom had now time to go down below and look after his passengers. Theyconsisted of the captain and two sailors--the sole survivors of thosewho had been on deck when the vessel struck--three male passengers, andsix engineers and stokers. 

"I have not had time to shake you by the hand before, Tom, " Granthamsaid, as Tom Virtue entered; "and I thought you would not want me ondeck at present. God bless you, old fellow! we all owe you our lives. "

"How did it happen, captain?" Tom asked, as the captain also came up tohim. 

"It was the currents, I suppose, " the captain said; "it was so thick wecould not see a quarter of a mile any way. The weather was so wild Iwould not put into Guernsey, and passed the island without seeing it. Isteered my usual course, but the gale must have altered the currents, for I thought I was three miles away from the reef, when we saw it onour beam, not a hundred yards away. It was too late to avoid it then, and in another minute we ran upon it, and the waves were sweeping overus. Every one behaved well. I got all, except those who had been sweptoverboard or crushed by the funnel, up into the bow of the ship, andthere we waited. There was nothing to be done. No boat would live for amoment in the sea on that reef, and all I could advise was, that whenshe went to pieces every one should try to get hold of a floatingfragment; but I doubt whether a man would have been alive a quarter ofan hour after she went to pieces. "

"Perhaps, captain, you will come on deck with me and give me the benefitof your advice. My skipper and I know the islands pretty well, but nodoubt you know them a good deal better, and I don't want anothermishap. "

But the _Seabird_ avoided all further dangers, and as it became dark, the lights of St. Helier's were in sight, and an hour later the yachtbrought up in the port and landed her involuntary passengers. 

A fortnight afterwards the _Seabird_ returned to England, and two monthslater Mrs. Grantham had the satisfaction of being present at theceremony which was the successful consummation of her little scheme ininviting Minnie Graham to be her companion on board the _Seabird_. 

"Well, my dear, " her husband said, when she indulged in a little naturaltriumph, "I do not say that it has not turned out well, and I amheartily glad for both Tom and Minnie's sake it has so; but you mustallow that it very nearly had a disastrous ending, and I think if I wereyou I should leave matters to take their natural course in future. Ihave accepted Tom's invitation for the same party to take a cruise inthe _Seabird_ next summer, but I have bargained that next time a stormis brewing up we shall stop quietly in port. "

"That's all very well, James, " Mrs. Grantham said saucily; "but you mustremember that Tom Virtue will only be first-mate of the _Seabird_ infuture. "

"That I shall be able to tell you better, my dear, after our nextcruise. All husbands are not as docile and easily led as I am. "

[Illustration]

A PIPE OF MYSTERY. 

A jovial party were gathered round a blazing fire in an old grange nearWarwick. The hour was getting late; the very little ones had, afterdancing round the Christmas-tree, enjoying the snapdragon, and playing avariety of games, gone off to bed; and the elder boys and girls nowgathered round their uncle, Colonel Harley, and asked him for astory--above all, a ghost story. 

"But I have never seen any ghosts, " the colonel said, laughing; "and, moreover, I don't believe in them one bit. I have travelled pretty wellall over the world, I have slept in houses said to be haunted, butnothing have I seen--no noises that could not be accounted for by ratsor the wind have I ever heard. I have never"--and here he paused--"neverbut once met with any circumstances or occurrence that could not beaccounted for by the light of reason, and I know you prefer hearingstories of my own adventures to mere invention. "

"Yes, uncle. But what was the 'once' when circumstances happened thatyou could not explain?"

"It's rather a long story, " the colonel said, "and it's getting late. "

"Oh! no, no, uncle; it does not matter a bit how late we sit up onChristmas Eve, and the longer the story is, the better; and if you don'tbelieve in ghosts, how can it be a story of something you could notaccount for by the light of nature?"

"You will see when I have done, " the colonel said. "It is rather a storyof what the Scotch call second sight, than one of ghosts. As toaccounting for it, you shall form your own opinion when you have heardme to the end. 

"I landed in India in '50, and after going through the regular drillwork, marched with a detachment up country to join my regiment, whichwas stationed at Jubbalpore, in the very heart of India. It has becomean important place since; the railroad across India passes through it, and no end of changes have taken place; but at that time it was one ofthe most out-of-the-way stations in India, and, I may say, one of themost pleasant. It lay high, there was capital boating on the Nerbudda, and, above all, it was a grand place for sport, for it lay at the footof the hill country, an immense district, then but little known, coveredwith forests and jungle, and abounding with big game of all kinds. 

"My great friend there was a man named Simmonds. He was just of my ownstanding; we had come out in the same ship, had marched up the countrytogether, and were almost like brothers. He was an old Etonian, I an oldWestminster, and we were both fond of boating, and, indeed, of sport ofall kinds. But I am not going to tell you of that now. The people inthese hills are called Gonds, a true hill tribe--that is to say, aborigines, somewhat of the negro type. The chiefs are of mixed blood, but the people are almost black. They are supposed to accept thereligion of the Hindus, but are in reality deplorably ignorant andsuperstitious. Their priests are a sort of compound of a Brahmin priestand a negro fetish man, and among their principal duties is that ofcharming away tigers from the villages by means of incantations. There, as in other parts of India, were a few wandering fakirs, who enjoyed animmense reputation for holiness and wisdom. The people would go to themfrom great distances for charms or predictions, and believed in theirpower with implicit faith. 

"At the time when we were at Jubbalpore, there was one of these fellows, whose reputation altogether eclipsed that of his rivals, and nothingcould be done until his permission had been asked and his blessingobtained. All sorts of marvellous stories were constantly coming to ourears of the unerring foresight with which he predicted the terminationof diseases, both in men and animals; and so generally was he believedin that the colonel ordered that no one connected with the regimentshould consult him, for these predictions very frequently brought abouttheir own fulfilment; for those who were told that an illness wouldterminate fatally, lost all hope, and literally lay down to die. 

"However, many of the stories that we heard could not be explained onthese grounds, and the fakir and his doings were often talked over atmess, some of the officers scoffing at the whole business, othersmaintaining that some of these fakirs had, in some way or another, thepower of foretelling the future, citing many well authenticatedanecdotes upon the subject. 

"The older officers were the believers, we young fellows were thescoffers. But for the well-known fact that it is very seldom indeedthat these fakirs will utter any of their predictions to Europeans, someof us would have gone to him, to test his powers. As it was, none of ushad ever seen him. 

"He lived in an old ruined temple, in the middle of a large patch ofjungle at the foot of the hills, some ten or twelve miles away. 

"I had been at Jubbalpore about a year, when I was woke up one night bya native, who came in to say that at about eight o'clock a tiger hadkilled a man in his village, and had dragged off the body. 

"Simmonds and I were constantly out after tigers, and the people in allthe villages within twenty miles knew that we were always ready to payfor early information. This tiger had been doing great damage, and hadcarried off about thirty men, women, and children. So great was the fearof him, indeed, that the people in the neighbourhood he frequentedscarcely dared stir out of doors, except in parties of five or six. Wehad had several hunts after him, but, like all man-eaters, he was oldand awfully crafty; and although we got several snap shots at him, hehad always managed to save his skin. 

"In a quarter of an hour after the receipt of the message, CharleySimmonds and I were on the back of an elephant, which was our jointproperty; our shekarry, a capital fellow, was on foot beside us, andwith the native trotting on ahead as guide we went off at the best paceof old Begaum, for that was the elephant's name. The village was fifteenmiles away, but we got there soon after daybreak, and were received withdelight by the population. In half an hour the hunt was organized; allthe male population turned out as beaters, with sticks, guns, tom-toms, and other instruments for making a noise. 

"The trail was not difficult to find. A broad path, with occasionalsmears of blood, showed where he had dragged his victim through the longgrass to a cluster of trees a couple of hundred yards from the village. 

"We scarcely expected to find him there, but the villagers held back, while we went forward with cocked rifles. We found, however, nothing buta few bones and a quantity of blood. The tiger had made off at theapproach of daylight into the jungle, which was about two miles distant. We traced him easily enough, and found that he had entered a largeravine, from which several smaller ones branched off. 

"It was an awkward place, as it was next to impossible to surround itwith the number of people at our command. We posted them at last allalong the upper ground, and told them to make up in noise what theywanted in numbers. At last all was ready, and we gave the signal. However, I am not telling you a hunting story, and need only say that wecould neither find nor disturb him. In vain we pushed Begaum through thethickest of the jungle which clothed the sides and bottom of the ravine, while the men shouted, beat their tom-toms, and showered imprecationsagainst the tiger himself and his ancestors up to the remotestgenerations. 

"The day was tremendously hot, and, after three hours' march, we gave itup for a time, and lay down in the shade, while the shekarries made along examination of the ground all round the hillside, to be sure thathe had not left the ravine. They came back with the news that no tracescould be discovered, and that, beyond a doubt, he was still there. Atiger will crouch up in an exceedingly small clump of grass or bush, andwill sometimes almost allow himself to be trodden on before moving. However, we determined to have one more search, and if that should proveunsuccessful, to send off to Jubbalpore for some more of the men to comeout with elephants, while we kept up a circle of fires, and of noisesof all descriptions, so as to keep him a prisoner until the arrival ofthe reinforcements. Our next search was no more successful than ourfirst had been; and having, as we imagined, examined every clump andcrevice in which he could have been concealed, we had just reached theupper end of the ravine, when we heard a tremendous roar, followed by aperfect babel of yells and screams from the natives. 

"The outburst came from the mouth of the ravine, and we felt at oncethat he had escaped. We hurried back to find, as we had expected, thatthe tiger was gone. He had burst out suddenly from his hiding-place, hadseized a native, torn him horribly, and had made across the open plain. 

"This was terribly provoking, but we had nothing to do but follow him. This was easy enough, and we traced him to a detached patch of wood andjungle, two miles distant. This wood was four or five hundred yardsacross, and the exclamations of the people at once told us that it wasthe one in which stood the ruined temple of the fakir of whom I havebeen telling you. I forgot to say, that as the tiger broke out one ofthe village shekarries had fired at, and, he declared, wounded him. 

"It was already getting late in the afternoon, and it was hopeless toattempt to beat the jungle that night. We therefore sent off a runnerwith a note to the colonel, asking him to send the work-elephants, andto allow a party of volunteers to march over at night, to help surroundthe jungle when we commenced beating it in the morning. 

"We based our request upon the fact that the tiger was a notoriousman-eater, and had been doing immense damage. We then had a talk withour shekarry, sent a man off to bring provisions for the people out withus, and then set them to work cutting sticks and grass to make a circleof fires. 

"We both felt much uneasiness respecting the fakir, who might be seizedat any moment by the enraged tiger. The natives would not allow thatthere was any cause for fear, as the tiger would not dare to touch soholy a man. Our belief in the respect of the tiger for sanctity was byno means strong, and we determined to go in and warn him of the presenceof the brute in the wood. It was a mission which we could not intrust toanyone else, for no native would have entered the jungle for untoldgold; so we mounted the Begaum again, and started. The path leadingtowards the temple was pretty wide, and as we went along almostnoiselessly, for the elephant was too well trained to tread upon fallensticks, it was just possible we might come upon the tiger suddenly, sowe kept our rifles in readiness in our hands. 

"Presently we came in sight of the ruins. No one was at first visible;but at that very moment the fakir came out from the temple. He did notsee or hear us, for we were rather behind him and still among the trees, but at once proceeded in a high voice to break into a sing-song prayer. He had not said two words before his voice was drowned in a terrificroar, and in an instant the tiger had sprung upon him, struck him to theground, seized him as a cat would a mouse, and started off with him at atrot. The brute evidently had not detected our presence, for he cameright towards us. We halted the Begaum, and with our fingers on thetriggers, awaited the favourable moment. He was a hundred yards from uswhen he struck down his victim; he was not more than fifty when hecaught sight of us. He stopped for an instant in surprise. Charleymuttered, 'Both barrels, Harley, ' and as the beast turned to plunge intothe jungle, and so showed us his side, we sent four bullets crashinginto him, and he rolled over lifeless. 

"We went up to the spot, made the Begaum give him a kick, to be surethat he was dead, and then got down to examine the unfortunate fakir. The tiger had seized him by the shoulder, which was terribly torn, andthe bone broken. He was still perfectly conscious. 

"We at once fired three shots, our usual signal that the tiger was dead, and in a few minutes were surrounded by the villagers, who hardly knewwhether to be delighted at the death of their enemy, or to grieve overthe injury to the fakir. We proposed taking the latter to our hospitalat Jubbalpore, but this he positively refused to listen to. However wefinally persuaded him to allow his arm to be set and the wounds dressedin the first place by our regimental surgeon, after which he could go toone of the native villages and have his arm dressed in accordance withhis own notions. A litter was soon improvised, and away we went toJubbalpore, which we reached about eight in the evening. 

"The fakir refused to enter the hospital, so we brought out a couple oftrestles, laid the litter upon them, and the surgeon set his arm anddressed his wounds by torch-light, when he was lifted into a dhoolie, and his bearers again prepared to start for the village. 

"Hitherto he had only spoken a few words; but he now briefly expressedhis deep gratitude to Simmonds and myself. We told him that we wouldride over to see him shortly, and hoped to find him getting on rapidly. Another minute and he was gone. 

"It happened that we had three or four fellows away on leave or on staffduty, and several others knocked up with fever just about this time, sothat the duty fell very heavily upon the rest of us, and it was over amonth before we had time to ride over to see the fakir. 

"We had heard he was going on well; but we were surprised, on reachingthe village, to find that he had already returned to his old abode inthe jungle. However, we had made up our minds to see him, especially aswe had agreed that we would endeavour to persuade him to do a predictionfor us; so we turned our horses' heads towards the jungle. We found thefakir sitting on a rock in front of the temple, just where he had beenseized by the tiger. He rose as we rode up. 

"'I knew that you would come to-day, sahibs, and was joyful in thethought of seeing those who have preserved my life. '

"'We are glad to see you looking pretty strong again, though your armis still in a sling, ' I said, for Simmonds was not strong in Hindustani. 

"'How did you know that we were coming?' I asked, when we had tied upour horses. 

"'Siva has given to his servant to know many things, ' he said quietly. 

"'Did you know beforehand that the tiger was going to seize you?' Iasked. 

"'I knew that a great danger threatened, and that Siva would not let medie before my time had come. '

"'Could you see into our future?' I asked. 

"The fakir hesitated, looked at me for a moment earnestly to see if Iwas speaking in mockery, and then said:

"'The sahibs do not believe in the power of Siva or of his servants. They call his messengers impostors, and scoff at them when they speak ofthe events of the future. '

"'No, indeed, ' I said. 'My friend and I have no idea of scoffing. Wehave heard of so many of your predictions coming true, that we arereally anxious that you should tell us something of the future. '

"The fakir nodded his head, went into the temple, and returned in aminute or two with two small pipes used by the natives foropium-smoking, and a brazier of burning charcoal. The pipes werealready charged. He made signs to us to sit down, and took his place infront of us. Then he began singing in a low voice, rocking himself toand fro, and waving a staff which he held in his hand. Gradually hisvoice rose, and his gesticulations and actions became more violent. Sofar as I could make out, it was a prayer to Siva that he would give someglimpse of the future which might benefit the sahibs who had saved thelife of his servant. Presently he darted forward, gave us each a pipe, took two pieces of red-hot charcoal from the brazier in his fingers, without seeming to know that they were warm, and placed them in thepipes; then he recommenced his singing and gesticulations. 

"A glance at Charley, to see if, like myself, he was ready to carry thething through, and then I put the pipe to my lips. I felt at once thatit was opium, of which I had before made experiment, but mixed with someother substance, which was, I imagine, haschish, a preparation of hemp. A few puffs, and I felt a drowsiness creeping over me. I saw, as througha mist, the fakir swaying himself backwards and forwards, his armswaving, and his face distorted. Another minute, and the pipe slippedfrom my fingers, and I fell back insensible. 

"How long I lay there I do not know. I woke with a strange and notunpleasant sensation, and presently became conscious that the fakir wasgently pressing, with a sort of shampooing action, my temples and head. When he saw that I opened my eyes he left me, and performed the sameprocess upon Charley. In a few minutes he rose from his stoopingposition, waved his hand in token of adieu, and walked slowly back intothe temple. 

"As he disappeared I sat up; Charley did the same. 

"We stared at each other for a minute without speaking, and then Charleysaid:

"'This is a rum go, and no mistake, old man. '

"'You're right, Charley. My opinion is, we've made fools of ourselves. Let's be off out of this. '

"We staggered to our feet, for we both felt like drunken men, made ourway to our horses, poured a mussuk of water over our heads, took a drinkof brandy from our flasks, and then feeling more like ourselves, mountedand rode out of the jungle. 

"'Well, Harley, if the glimpse of futurity which I had is true, all Ican say is that it was extremely unpleasant. '

"'That was just my case, Charley. '

"'My dream, or whatever you like to call it, was about a mutiny of themen. '

"'You don't say so, Charley; so was mine. This is monstrously strange, to say the least of it. However, you tell your story first, and then Iwill tell mine. '

"'It was very short, ' Charley said. 'We were at mess--not in our presentmess-room--we were dining with the fellows of some other regiment. Suddenly, without any warning, the windows were filled with a crowd ofSepoys, who opened fire right and left into us. Half the fellows wereshot down at once; the rest of us made a rush to our swords just as theniggers came swarming into the room. There was a desperate fight for amoment. I remember that Subadar Pirán--one of the best native officersin the regiment, by the way--made a rush at me, and I shot him throughthe head with a revolver. At the same moment a ball hit me, and down Iwent. At the moment a Sepoy fell dead across me, hiding me partly fromsight. The fight lasted a minute or two longer. I fancy a few fellowsescaped, for I heard shots outside. Then the place became quiet. Inanother minute I heard a crackling, and saw that the devils had set themess-room on fire. One of our men, who was lying close by me, got upand crawled to the window, but he was shot down the moment he showedhimself. I was hesitating whether to do the same or to lie still and besmothered, when suddenly I rolled the dead sepoy off, crawled into theante-room half-suffocated by smoke, raised the lid of a very heavytrap-door, and stumbled down some steps into a place, half storehousehalf cellar, under the mess-room. How I knew about it being there Idon't know. The trap closed over my head with a bang. That is all Iremember. '

"'Well, Charley, curiously enough my dream was also about anextraordinary escape from danger, lasting, like yours, only a minute ortwo. The first thing I remember--there seems to have been somethingbefore, but what, I don't know--I was on horseback, holding a verypretty but awfully pale girl in front of me. We were pursued by a wholetroop of Sepoy cavalry, who were firing pistol-shots at us. We were notmore than seventy or eighty yards in front, and they were gaining fast, just as I rode into a large deserted temple. In the centre was a hugestone figure. I jumped off my horse with the lady, and as I did so shesaid, 'Blow out my brains, Edward; don't let me fall alive into theirhands. '

"'Instead of answering, I hurried her round behind the idol, pushedagainst one of the leaves of a flower in the carving, and the stoneswung back, and showed a hole just large enough to get through, with astone staircase inside the body of the idol, made no doubt for thepriest to go up and give responses through the mouth. I hurried the girlthrough, crept in after her, and closed the stone, just as our pursuerscame clattering into the courtyard. That is all I remember. '

"'Well, it is monstrously rum, ' Charley said, after a pause. 'Did youunderstand what the old fellow was singing about before he gave us thepipes?'

"'Yes; I caught the general drift. It was an entreaty to Siva to give ussome glimpse of futurity which might benefit us. '

"We lit our cheroots and rode for some miles at a brisk canter withoutremark. When we were within a short distance of home we reined up. 

"'I feel ever so much better, ' Charley said. 'We have got that opium outof our heads now. How do you account for it all, Harley?'

"'I account for it in this way, Charley. The opium naturally had theeffect of making us both dream, and as we took similar doses of the samemixture, under similar circumstances, it is scarcely extraordinary thatit should have effected the same portion of the brain, and caused acertain similarity in our dreams. In all nightmares something terriblehappens, or is on the point of happening; and so it was here. Notunnaturally in both our cases, our thoughts turned to soldiers. If youremember there was a talk at mess some little time since, as to whatwould happen in the extremely unlikely event of the sepoys mutinying ina body. I have no doubt that was the foundation of both our dreams. Itis all natural enough when we come to think it over calmly. I think, bythe way, we had better agree to say nothing at all about it in theregiment. '

"'I should think not, ' Charley said. 'We should never hear the end ofit; they would chaff us out of our lives. '

"We kept our secret, and came at last to laugh over it heartily when wewere together. Then the subject dropped, and by the end of a year had asmuch escaped our minds as any other dream would have done. Three monthsafter the affair the regiment was ordered down to Allahabad, and thechange of place no doubt helped to erase all memory of the dream. Fouryears after we had left Jubbalpore we went to Beerapore. The time isvery marked in my memory, because the very week we arrived there, youraunt, then Miss Gardiner, came out from England, to her father, ourcolonel. The instant I saw her I was impressed with the idea that I knewher intimately. I recollected her face, her figure, and the very tone ofher voice, but wherever I had met her I could not conceive. Upon theoccasion of my first introduction to her, I could not help telling herthat I was convinced that we had met, and asking her if she did notremember it. No, she did not remember, but very likely she might havedone so, and she suggested the names of several people at whose houseswe might have met. I did not know any of them. Presently she asked howlong I had been out in India?

"'Six years, ' I said. 

"'And how old, Mr. Harley, ' she said, 'do you take me to be?'

"I saw in one instant my stupidity, and was stammering out an apology, when she went on, --

"'I am very little over eighteen, Mr. Harley, although I evidently lookever so many years older; but papa can certify to my age; so I was onlytwelve when you left England. '

"I tried in vain to clear matters up. Your aunt would insist that I tookher to be forty, and the fun that my blunder made rather drew ustogether, and gave me a start over the other fellows at the station, half of whom fell straightway in love with her. Some months went on, andwhen the mutiny broke out we were engaged to be married. It is a proofof how completely the opium-dreams had passed out of the minds of bothSimmonds and myself, that even when rumours of general disaffectionamong the Sepoys began to be current, they never once recurred to us;and even when the news of the actual mutiny reached us, we were just asconfident as were the others of the fidelity of our own regiment. It wasthe old story, foolish confidence and black treachery. As at very manyother stations, the mutiny broke out when we were at mess. Our regimentwas dining with the 34th Bengalees. Suddenly, just as dinner was over, the window was opened, and a tremendous fire poured in. Four or five menfell dead at once, and the poor colonel, who was next to me, was shotright through the head. Every one rushed to his sword and drew hispistol--for we had been ordered to carry pistols as part of our uniform. I was next to Charley Simmonds as the Sepoys of both regiments, headedby Subadar Pirán, poured in at the windows. 

"'I have it now, ' Charley said; 'it is the scene I dreamed. '

"As he spoke he fired his revolver at the subadar, who fell dead in histracks. 

"A Sepoy close by levelled his musket and fired. Charley fell, and thefellow rushed forward to bayonet him. As he did so I sent a bulletthrough his head, and he fell across Charley. It was a wild fight for aminute or two, and then a few of us made a sudden rush together, cut ourway through the mutineers, and darted through an open window on to theparade. There were shouts, shots, and screams from the officers'bungalows, and in several places flames were already rising. What becameof the other men I knew not; I made as hard as I could tear for thecolonel's bungalow. Suddenly I came upon a sowar sitting on his horsewatching the rising flames. Before he saw me I was on him, and ran himthrough. I leapt on his horse and galloped down to Gardiner's compound. I saw lots of Sepoys in and around the bungalow, all engaged in looting. I dashed into the compound. 

"'May! May!' I shouted. 'Where are you?'

"I had scarcely spoken before a dark figure rushed out of a clump ofbushes close by with a scream of delight. 

"In an instant she was on the horse before me, and shooting down acouple of fellows who made a rush at my reins, I dashed out again. Stray shots were fired after us. But fortunately the Sepoys were allbusy looting, most of them had laid down their muskets, and no onereally took up the pursuit. I turned off from the parade-ground, dasheddown between the hedges of two compounds, and in another minute we werein the open country. 

"Fortunately, the cavalry were all down looting their own lines, or wemust have been overtaken at once. May happily had fainted as I liftedher on to my horse--happily, because the fearful screams that we heardfrom the various bungalows almost drove me mad, and would probably havekilled her, for the poor ladies were all her intimate friends. 

"I rode on for some hours, till I felt quite safe from any immediatepursuit, and then we halted in the shelter of a clump of trees. 

"By this time I had heard May's story. She had felt uneasy at beingalone, but had laughed at herself for being so, until upon her speakingto one of the servants he had answered in a tone of gross insolence, which had astonished her. She at once guessed that there was danger, andthe moment that she was alone caught up a large, dark carriage rug, wrapped it round her so as to conceal her white dress, and stole outinto the verandah. The night was dark, and scarcely had she left thehouse than she heard a burst of firing across at the mess-house. She atonce ran in among the bushes and crouched there, as she heard the rushof men into the room she had just left. She heard them searching forher, but they were looking for a white dress, and her dark rug savedher. What she must have suffered in the five minutes between the firingof the first shots and my arrival, she only knows. May had spoken butvery little since we started. I believe that she was certain that herfather was dead, although I had given an evasive answer when she askedme; and her terrible sense of loss, added to the horror of that time ofsuspense in the garden, had completely stunned her. We waited in thetope until the afternoon, and then set out again. 

"We had gone but a short distance when we saw a body of the rebelcavalry in pursuit. They had no doubt been scouring the countrygenerally, and the discovery was accidental. For a short time we keptaway from them, but this could not be for long, as our horse wascarrying double. I made for a sort of ruin I saw at the foot of a hillhalf a mile away. I did so with no idea of the possibility ofconcealment. My intention was simply to get my back to a rock and tosell my life as dearly as I could, keeping the last two barrels of therevolver for ourselves. Certainly no remembrance of my dream influencedme in any way, and in the wild whirl of excitement I had not given asecond thought to Charley Simmonds' exclamation. As we rode up to theruins only a hundred yards ahead of us, May said, --

"'Blow out my brains, Edward; don't let me fall alive into their hands. '

"A shock of remembrance shot across me. The chase, her pale face, thewords, the temple--all my dream rushed into my mind. 

"'We are saved, ' I cried, to her amazement, as we rode into thecourtyard, in whose centre a great figure was sitting. 

"I leapt from the horse, snatched the mussuk of water from the saddle, and then hurried May round the idol, between which and the rock behind, there was but just room to get along. 

"Not a doubt entered my mind but that I should find the spring as I haddreamed. Sure enough there was the carving, fresh upon my memory as if Ihad seen it but the day before. I placed my hand on the leaflet withouthesitation, a solid stone moved back, I hurried my amazed companion in, and shut to the stone. I found, and shot to, a massive bolt, evidentlyplaced to prevent the door being opened by accident or design whenanyone was in the idol. 

"At first it seemed quite dark, but a faint light streamed in fromabove; we made our way up the stairs, and found that the light camethrough a number of small holes pierced in the upper part of the head, and through still smaller holes lower down, not much larger than agood-sized knitting-needle could pass through. These holes, weafterwards found, were in the ornaments round the idol's neck. The holesenlarged inside, and enabled us to have a view all round. 

"The mutineers were furious at our disappearance, and for hours searchedabout. Then, saying that we must be hidden somewhere, and that theywould wait till we came out, they proceeded to bivouac in the courtyardof the temple. 

"We passed four terrible days, but on the morning of the fifth a scoutcame in to tell the rebels that a column of British troops marching onDelhi would pass close by the temple. They therefore hastily mounted andgalloped off. 

"Three quarters of an hour later we were safe among our own people. Afortnight afterwards your aunt and I were married. It was no time forceremony then; there were no means of sending her away; no place whereshe could have waited until the time for her mourning for her father wasover. So we were married quietly by one of the chaplains of the troops, and, as your story-books say, have lived very happily ever after. "

"And how about Mr. Simmonds, uncle? Did he get safe off too?"

"Yes, his dream came as vividly to his mind as mine had done. He crawledto the place where he knew the trap-door would be, and got into thecellar. Fortunately for him there were plenty of eatables there, and helived there in concealment for a fortnight. After that he crawled out, and found the mutineers had marched for Delhi. He went through a lot, but at last joined us before that city. We often talked over our dreamstogether, and there was no question that we owed our lives to them. Eventhen we did not talk much to other people about them, for there wouldhave been a lot of talk, and inquiry, and questions, and you knowfellows hate that sort of thing. So we held our tongues. Poor Charley'ssilence was sealed a year later at Lucknow, for on the advance with LordClyde he was killed. 

"And now, boys and girls, you must run off to bed. Five minutes moreand it will be Christmas-day. So you see, Frank, that although I don'tbelieve in ghosts, I have yet met with a circumstance which I cannotaccount for. "

"It is very curious anyhow, uncle, and beats ghost stories into fits. "

"I like it better, certainly, " one of the girls said, "for we can go tobed without being afraid of dreaming about it. "

"Well, you must not talk any more now. Off to bed, off to bed, " ColonelHarley said, "or I shall get into terrible disgrace with your fathersand mothers, who have been looking very gravely at me for the last threequarters of an hour. "

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

WHITE-FACED DICK, A STORY OF PINE-TREE GULCH. 

How Pine-tree Gulch got its name no one knew, for in the early daysevery ravine and hillside was thickly covered with pines. It may be thata tree of exceptional size caught the eye of the first explorer, that hecamped under it, and named the place in its honour; or, may be, somefallen giant lay in the bottom and hindered the work of the firstprospectors. At any rate, Pine-tree Gulch it was, and the name was asgood as any other. The pine-trees were gone now. Cut up for firing, orfor the erection of huts, or the construction of sluices, but thehillside was ragged with their stumps. 

The principal camp was at the mouth of the Gulch, where the littlestream, which scarce afforded water sufficient for the cradles in thedry season, but which was a rushing torrent in winter, joined the Yuba. The best ground was at the junction of the streams, and lay, indeed, inthe Yuba valley rather than in the Gulch. At first most gold had beenfound higher up, but there was here comparatively little depth down tothe bed-rock, and as the ground became exhausted the miners moved downtowards the mouth of the Gulch. They were doing well as a whole, howwell no one knew, for miners are chary of giving information as to whatthey are making; still, it was certain they were doing well, for thebars were doing a roaring trade, and the store-keepers never refusedcredit--a proof in itself that the prospects were good. 

The flat at the mouth of the Gulch was a busy scene, every foot was goodpaying stuff, for in the eddy, where the torrents in winter rushed downinto the Yuba, the gold had settled down and lay thick among the gravel. But most of the parties were sinking, and it was a long way down to thebed-rock; for the hills on both sides sloped steeply, and the Yuba musthere at one time have rushed through a narrow gorge, until, in somewild freak, it brought down millions of tons of gravel, and resumed itscourse seventy feet above its former level. 

A quarter of a mile higher up a ledge of rock ran across the valley, andover it in the old time the Yuba had poured in a cascade seventy feetdeep into the ravine. But the rock now was level with the gravel, onlyshowing its jagged points here and there above it. This ledge had beeninvaluable to the diggers: without it they could only have sunk theirshafts with the greatest difficulty, for the gravel would have been fullof water, and even with the greatest pains in puddling and timber-workthe pumps would scarcely have sufficed to keep it down as it rose in thebottom of the shafts. But the miners had made common cause together, andgiving each so many ounces of gold or so many day's work had erected adam thirty feet high along the ledge of rock, and had cut a channel forthe Yuba along the lower slopes of the valley. Of course, when the rainset in, as everybody knew, the dam would go, and the river diggings mustbe abandoned till the water subsided and a fresh dam was made; but therewere two months before them yet, and every one hoped to be down to thebed-rock before the water interrupted their work. 

The hillside, both in the Yuba Valley and for some distance alongPine-tree Gulch, was dotted by shanties and tents; the formerconstructed for the most part of logs roughly squared, the walls beingsome three feet in height, on which the sharp sloping roof was placed, thatched in the first place with boughs, and made all snug, perhaps, with an old sail stretched over all. The camp was quiet enough duringthe day. The few women were away with their washing at the pools, aquarter of a mile up the Gulch, and the only persons to be seen aboutwere the men told off for cooking for their respective parties. 

But in the evening the camp was lively. Groups of men in red shirts andcorded trousers tied at the knee, in high boots, sat round blazingfires, and talked of their prospects or discussed the news of the luckat other camps. The sound of music came from two or three plankerections which rose conspicuously above the huts of the diggers, andwere bright externally with the glories of white and coloured paints. Toand from these men were always sauntering, and it needed not the clinkof glasses and the sound of music to tell that they were the bars of thecamp. 

Here, standing at the counter, or seated at numerous small tables, menwere drinking villainous liquor, smoking and talking, and paying butscant attention to the strains of the fiddle or the accordion, save whensome well-known air was played, when all would join in a boisterouschorus. Some were always passing in or out of a door which led into aroom behind. Here there was comparative quiet, for men were gambling, and gambling high. 

Going backwards and forwards with liquors into the gambling-room of theImperial Saloon, which stood just where Pine-tree Gulch opened into Yubavalley, was a lad, whose appearance had earned for him the name ofWhite-faced Dick. 

White-faced Dick was not one of those who had done well at Pine-treeGulch; he had come across the plains with his father, who had died whenhalf-way over, and Dick had been thrown on the world to shift forhimself. Nature had not intended him for the work, for he was adelicate, timid lad; what spirits he originally had having been yearsbefore beaten out of him by a brutal father. So far, indeed, Dick wasthe better rather than the worse for the event which had left him anorphan. 

They had been travelling with a large party for mutual security againstIndians and Mormons, and so long as the journey lasted Dick had got onfairly well. He was always ready to do odd jobs, and as the draughtcattle were growing weaker and weaker, and every pound of weight was ofimportance, no one grudged him his rations in return for his services;but when the company began to descend the slopes of the Sierra Nevadathey began to break up, going off by twos and threes to the diggings, ofwhich they heard such glowing accounts. Some, however, kept straight onto Sacramento, determining there to obtain news as to the doings at allthe different places, and then to choose that which seemed to offer thebest prospects of success. 

Dick proceeded with them to the town, and there found himself alone. Hiscompanions were absorbed in the busy rush of population, and each had somuch to provide and arrange for, that none gave a thought to thesolitary boy. However, at that time no one who had a pair of hands, however feeble, to work need starve in Sacramento; and for some weeksDick hung around the town doing odd jobs, and then, having saved a fewdollars, determined to try his luck at the diggings, and started on footwith a shovel on his shoulder and a few day's provisions slung acrossit. 

Arrived at his destination, the lad soon discovered that gold-diggingwas hard work for brawny and seasoned men, and after a few feebleattempts in spots abandoned as worthless he gave up the effort, andagain began to drift; and even in Pine-tree Gulch it was not difficultto get a living. At first he tried rocking cradles, but the work was farharder than it appeared. He was standing ankle deep in water frommorning till night, and his cheeks grew paler, and his strength, insteadof increasing, seemed to fade away. Still, there were jobs within hisstrength. He could keep a fire alight and watch a cooking-pot, he couldcarry up buckets of water or wash a flannel shirt, and so he struggledon, until at last some kind-hearted man suggested to him that he shouldtry to get a place at the new saloon which was about to be opened. 

"You are not fit for this work, young 'un, and you ought to be at homewith your mother; if you like I will go up with you this evening toJeffries. I knew him down on the flats, and I daresay he will take youon. I don't say as a saloon is a good place for a boy, still you willalways get your bellyful of victuals and a dry place to sleep in, ifit's only under a table. What do you say?"

Dick thankfully accepted the offer, and on Red George's recommendationwas that evening engaged. His work was not hard now, for till the minersknocked off there was little doing in the saloon; a few men would comein for a drink at dinner-time, but it was not until the lamps were litthat business began in earnest, and then for four or five hours Dick wasbusy. 

A rougher or healthier lad would not have minded the work, but to Dickit was torture; every nerve in his body thrilled whenever rough minerscursed him for not carrying out their orders more quickly, or forbringing them the wrong liquors, which, as his brain was in a whirl withthe noise, the shouting, and the multiplicity of orders, happenedfrequently. He might have fared worse had not Red George always stoodhis friend, and Red George was an authority in Pine-tree Gulch--powerfulin frame, reckless in bearing and temper, he had been in a score offights and had come off them, if not unscathed, at least victorious. Hewas notoriously a lucky digger, but his earnings went as fast as theywere made, and he was always ready to open his belt and give a bountifulpinch of dust to any mate down on his luck. 

One evening Dick was more helpless and confused than usual. The saloonwas full, and he had been shouted at and badgered and cursed until hescarcely knew what he was doing. High play was going on in the saloon, and a good many men were clustered round the table. Red George washaving a run of luck, and there was a big pile of gold dust on the tablebefore him. One of the gamblers who was losing had ordered old rye, andinstead of bringing it to him, Dick brought a tumbler of hot liquorwhich someone else had called for. With an oath the man took it up andthrew it in his face. 

"You cowardly hound!" Red George exclaimed. "Are you man enough to dothat to a man?"

"You bet, " the gambler, who was a new arrival at Pine-tree Gulch, replied; and picking up an empty glass, he hurled it at Red George. Theby-standers sprang aside, and in a moment the two men were facing eachother with outstretched pistols. The two reports rung outsimultaneously: Red George sat down unconcernedly with a streak of bloodflowing down his face, where the bullet had cut a furrow in his cheek;the stranger fell back with the bullet hole in the centre of hisforehead. 

The body was carried outside, and the play continued as if nointerruption had taken place. They were accustomed to such occurrencesin Pine-tree Gulch, and the piece of ground at the top of the hill, thathad been set aside as a burial place, was already dotted thickly withgraves, filled in almost every instance by men who had died, in thelocal phraseology, "with their boots on. "

Neither then nor afterwards did Red George allude to the subject toDick, whose life after this signal instance of his championship waseasier than it had hitherto been, for there were few in Pine-tree Gulchwho cared to excite Red George's anger; and strangers going to theplace were sure to receive a friendly warning that it was best for theirhealth to keep their tempers over any shortcomings on the part ofWhite-faced Dick. 

Grateful as he was for Red George's interference on his behalf, Dickfelt the circumstance which had ensued more than anyone else in thecamp. With others it was the subject of five minutes' talk, but Dickcould not get out of his head the thought of the dead man's face as hefell back. He had seen many such frays before, but he was too full ofhis own troubles for them to make much impression upon him. But in thepresent case he felt as if he himself was responsible for the death ofthe gambler; if he had not blundered this would not have happened. Hewondered whether the dead man had a wife and children, and, if so, werethey expecting his return? Would they ever hear where he had died, andhow?

But this feeling, which, tired out as he was when the time came forclosing the bar, often prevented him from sleeping for hours, in no waylessened his gratitude and devotion towards Red George, and he feltthat he could die willingly if his life would benefit his champion. Sometimes he thought, too, that his life would not be much to give, forin spite of shelter and food, the cough which he had caught whileworking in the water still clung to him, and, as his employer said tohim angrily one day--

"Your victuals don't do you no good, Dick; you get thinner and thinner, and folks will think as I starve you. Darned if you ain't a disgrace tothe establishment. "

The wind was whistling down the gorges, and the clouds hung among thepine-woods which still clothed the upper slopes of the hills, and thediggers, as they turned out one morning, looked up apprehensively. 

"But it could not be, " they assured each other. Every one knew that therains were not due for another month yet; it could only be a passingshower if it rained at all. 

But as the morning went on, men came in from camps higher up the river, and reports were current that it had been raining for the last two daysamong the upper hills; while those who took the trouble to walk acrossto the new channel could see for themselves at noon that it was filledvery nigh to the brim, the water rushing along with thick and turbidcurrent. But those who repeated the rumours, or who reported that thechannel was full, were summarily put down. Men would not believe thatsuch a calamity as a flood and the destruction of all their season'swork could be impending. There had been some showers, no doubt, as therehad often been before, but it was ridiculous to talk of anything likerain a month before its time. Still, in spite of these assertions, therewas uneasiness at Pine-tree Gulch, and men looked at the driving cloudsabove and shook their heads before they went down to the shafts to workafter dinner. 

When the last customer had left and the bar was closed, Dick had nothingto do till evening, and he wandered outside and sat down on a stump, atfirst looking at the work going on in the valley, then so absorbed inhis own thoughts that he noticed nothing, not even the driving mistwhich presently set in. He was calculating that he had, with his savingsfrom his wages and what had been given him by the miners, laid by eightydollars. When he got another hundred and twenty he would go; he wouldmake his way down to San Francisco, and then by ship to Panama and up toNew York, and then west again to the village where he was born. Therewould be people there who would know him, and who would give him work, for his mother's sake. He did not care what it was; anything would bebetter than this. 

Then his thoughts came back to Pine-tree Gulch, and he started to hisfeet. Could he be mistaken? Were his eyes deceiving him? No; among thestones and boulders of the old bed of the Yuba there was the gleam ofwater, and even as he watched it he could see it widening out. Hestarted to run down the hill to give the alarm, but before he washalf-way he paused, for there were loud shouts, and a scene of bustleand confusion instantly arose. 

The cradles were deserted, and the men working on the surface loadedthemselves with their tools and made for the high ground, while those atthe windlasses worked their hardest to draw up their comrades below. Aman coming down from above stopped close to Dick, with a low cry, andstood gazing with a white scared face. Dick had worked with him; he wasone of the company to which Red George belonged. 

"What is it, Saunders?"

"My God! they are lost, " the man replied. "I was at the windlass whenthey shouted up to me to go up and fetch them a bottle of rum. They hadjust struck it rich, and wanted a drink on the strength of it. "

Dick understood at once. Red George and his mates were still in thebottom of the shaft, ignorant of the danger which was threatening them. 

"Come on, " he cried; "we shall be in time yet, " and at the top of hisspeed dashed down the hill, followed by Saunders. 

"What is it, what is it?" asked parties of men mounting the hill. "RedGeorge's gang are still below. "

Dick's eyes were fixed on the water. There was a broad band now ofyellow with a white edge down the centre of the stony flat, and it waswidening with terrible rapidity. It was scarce ten yards from thewindlass at the top of Red George's shaft when Dick, followed closely bySaunders, reached it. 

"Come up, mates; quick, for your lives! The river is rising; you willbe flooded out directly. Every one else has gone!"

As he spoke he pulled at the rope by which the bucket was hanging, andthe handles of the windlass flew round rapidly as it descended. When ithad run out, Dick and he grasped the handles. 

"All right below?"

An answering call came up, and the two began their work, throwing theirwhole strength into it. Quickly as the windlass revolved, it seemed anendless time to Dick before the bucket came up, and the first manstepped out. It was not Red George. Dick had hardly expected it wouldbe. Red George would be sure to see his two mates up before him, and theman uttered a cry of alarm as he saw the water, now within a few feet ofthe mouth of the shaft. 

It was a torrent now, for not only was it coming through the dam, but itwas rushing down in cascades from the new channel. Without a word theminer placed himself facing Dick and the moment the bucket was againdown, the three grasped the handles. But quickly as they worked, theedge of the water was within a few inches of the shaft when the next manreached the surface; but again the bucket descended before the ropetightened. However, the water had began to run over the lip--at first ina mere trickle, and then, almost instantaneously, in a cascade, whichgrew larger and larger. 

The bucket was half-way up when a sound like thunder was heard, theground seemed to tremble under their feet, and then at the turn of thevalley above, a great wave of yellow water, crested with foam, was seentearing along at the speed of a race-horse. 

"The dam has burst!" Saunders shouted. "Run for your lives, or we areall lost!"

The three men dropped the handles and ran at full speed towards theshore, while loud shouts to Dick to follow came from the crowd of menstanding on the slope. But the boy still grasped the handles, and withlips tightly closed, still toiled on. Slowly the bucket ascended, forRed George was a heavy man; then suddenly the weight slackened, and thehandle went round faster. The shaft was filling, the water had reachedthe bucket, and had risen to Red George's neck, so that his weight wasno longer on the rope. So fast did the water pour in, that it was nothalf a minute before the bucket reached the surface, and Red Georgesprang out. There was but time for one exclamation, and then the greatwave struck them. Red George was whirled like a straw in the current;but he was a strong swimmer, and at a point where the valley widenedout, half a mile lower, he struggled to shore. 

Two days later the news reached Pine-tree Gulch that a boy's body hadbeen washed ashore twenty miles down, and ten men, headed by Red George, went and brought it solemnly back to Pine-tree Gulch. There, among thestumps of pine-trees, a grave was dug, and there, in the presence of thewhole camp, White-faced Dick was laid to rest. 

Pine-tree Gulch is a solitude now, the trees are growing again, and nonewould dream that it was once a busy scene of industry; but if thetraveller searches among the pine-trees, he will find a stone with thewords:

"Here lies White-faced Dick, who died to save Red George. 'What can aman do more than give his life for a friend?'"

The text was the suggestion of an ex-clergyman working as a miner inPine-tree Gulch. 

Red George worked no more at the diggings, but after seeing the stonelaid in its place, went east, and with what little money came to himwhen the common fund of the company was divided after the flood on theYuba, bought a small farm, and settled down there; but to the end of hislife he was never weary of telling those who would listen to it thestory of Pine-tree Gulch. 

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

A BRUSH WITH THE CHINESE, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 

It was early in December that H. M. S. _Perseus_ was cruising off themouth of the Canton River. War had been declared with China inconsequence of her continued evasions of the treaty she had made withus, and it was expected that a strong naval force would soon gather tobring her to reason. In the meantime the ships on the station had a busytime of it, chasing the enemy's junks when they ventured to showthemselves beyond the reach of the guns of their forts, and occasionallyhaving a brush with the piratical boats which took advantage of thegeneral confusion to plunder friend as well as foe. 

The _Perseus_ had that afternoon chased two Government junks up a creek. The sun had already set when they took refuge there, and the captaindid not care to send his boats after them in the dark, as many of thecreeks ran up for miles into the flat country; and as they notunfrequently had many arms or branches, the boats might, in the dark, miss the junks altogether. Orders were issued that four boats should beready for starting at daybreak the next morning. The _Perseus_ anchoredoff the mouth of the creek, and two boats were ordered to row backwardsand forwards off its mouth all night to insure that the enemy did notslip out in the darkness. 

Jack Fothergill, the senior midshipman, was commanding the gig, and twoof the other midshipmen were going in the pinnace and launch, commandedrespectively by the first lieutenant and the master. The three othermidshipmen of the _Perseus_ were loud in their lamentations that theywere not to take share in the fun. 

"You can't all go, you know, " Fothergill said, "and it's no use making arow about it; the captain has been very good to let three of us go. "

"It's all very well for you, Jack, " Percy Adcock, the youngest of thelads, replied, "because you are one of those chosen; and it is not sohard for Simmons and Linthorpe, because they went the other day in theboat that chased those junks under shelter of the guns of their battery, but I haven't had a chance for ever so long. "

"What fun was there in chasing the junks?" Simmons said. "We never gotnear the brutes till they were close to their battery, and then just asthe first shot came singing from their guns, and we thought that we weregoing to have some excitement, the first lieutenant sung out 'Easy all, 'and there was nothing for it but to turn round and to row for the ship, and a nice hot row it was--two hours and a half in a broiling sun. Ofcourse I am not blaming Oliphant, for the captain's orders were strictthat we were not to try to cut the junks out if they got under the gunsof any of their batteries. Still it was horribly annoying, and I dothink the captain might have remembered what beastly luck we had lasttime, and given us a chance to-morrow. "

"It is clear we could not all go, " Fothergill said, "and naturallyenough the captain chose the three seniors. Besides, if you did havebad luck last time, you had your chance, and I don't suppose we shallhave anything more exciting now; these fellows always set fire to theirjunks and row for the shore directly they see us, after firing a shot ortwo wildly in our direction. "

"Well, Jack, if you don't expect any fun, " Simmons replied, "perhaps youwouldn't mind telling the first lieutenant you do not care for going, and that I am very anxious to take your place. Perhaps he will be goodenough to allow me to relieve you. "

"A likely thing that!" Fothergill laughed. "No, Tom, I am sorry you arenot going, but you must make the best of it till another chance comes. "

"Don't you think, Jack, " Percy Adcock said to his senior in a coaxingtone later on, "you could manage to smuggle me into the boat with you?"

"Not I, Percy. Suppose you got hurt, what would the captain say then?And firing as wildly as the Chinese do, a shot is just as likely to hityour little carcase as to lodge in one of the sailors. No, you must justmake the best of it, Percy, and I promise you that next time there is aboat expedition, if you are not put in, I will say a good word to thefirst luff for you. "

"That promise is better than nothing, " the boy said; "but I would a dealrather go this time and take my chance next. "

"But you see you can't, Percy, and there's no use talking any more aboutit. I really do not expect there will be any fighting. Two junks wouldhardly make any opposition to the boats of the ship, and I expect weshall be back by nine o'clock with the news that they were well on firebefore we came up. "

Percy Adcock, however, was determined, if possible, to go. He was afavourite among the men, and when he spoke to the bow oar of the gig, the latter promised to do anything he could to aid him to carry out hiswishes. 

"We are to start at daybreak, Tom, so that it will be quite dark whenthe boats are lowered. I will creep into the gig before that and hidemyself as well as I can under your thwart, and all you have got to do isto take no notice of me. When the boat is lowered I think they willhardly make me out from the deck, especially as you will be standing upin the bow holding on with the boat-hook till the rest get on board. "

"Well, sir, I will do my best; but if you are caught you must not letout that I knew anything about it. "

"I won't do that, " Percy said. "I don't think there is much chance of mybeing noticed until we get on board the junks, and then they won't knowwhich boat I came off in, and the first lieutenant will be too busy toblow me up. Of course I shall get it when I am on board again, but Idon't mind that so that I see the fun. Besides, I want to send home somethings to my sister, and she will like them all the better if I can tellher I captured them on board some junks we seized and burnt. "

The next morning the crews mustered before daybreak. Percy had alreadytaken his place under the bow thwart of the gig. The davits were swungoverboard, and two men took their places in her as she was lowered downby the falls. As soon as she touched the water the rest of the crewclambered down by the ladder and took their places; then Fothergill tookhis seat in the stern, and the boat pushed off and lay a few lengthsaway from the ship until the heavier boats put off. As soon as they wereunder way Percy crawled out from his hiding-place and placed himself inthe bow, where he was sheltered by the body of the oarsmen fromFothergill's sight. 

Day was just breaking now, but it was still dark on the water, and theboat rowed very slowly until it became lighter. Percy could just makeout the shores of the creek on both sides; they were but two or threefeet above the level of the water, and were evidently submerged at hightide. The creek was about a hundred yards wide, and the lad could notsee far ahead, for it was full of sharp windings and turnings. Here andthere branches joined it, but the boats were evidently following themain channel. After another half-hour's rowing the first lieutenantsuddenly gave the order, "Easy all, " and the men, looking over theirshoulders, saw a village a quarter of a mile ahead, with the two junksthey had chased the night before lying in front of it. Almost at thesame moment a sudden uproar was heard--drums were beaten and gongssounded. 

"They are on the look-out for us, " the first lieutenant said. "Mr. Mason, do you keep with me and attack the junk highest up the river; Mr. Bellew and Mr. Fothergill, do you take the one lower down. Row on, men. "

The oars all touched the water together, and the four boats leaptforward. In a minute a scattering fire of gingals and matchlocks wasopened from the junks, and the bullets pattered on the water round theboats. Percy was kneeling up in the bow now. As they passed a branchchannel three or four hundred yards from the village, he started andleapt to his feet. 

"There are four or five junks in that passage, Fothergill; they arepoling out. "

The first lieutenant heard the words. 

"Row on, men; let us finish with these craft ahead before the others getout. This must be that piratical village we have heard about, Mr. Mason, as lying up one of these creeks; that accounts for those two junks notgoing higher up. I was surprised at seeing them here, for they mightguess that we should try to get them this morning. Evidently theycalculated on catching us in a trap. "

Percy was delighted at finding that, in the excitement caused by hisnews, the first lieutenant had forgotten to take any notice of his beingthere without orders, and he returned a defiant nod to the threatconveyed by Fothergill shaking his fist at him. As they neared the junksthe fire of those on board redoubled, and was aided by that of manyvillagers gathered on the bank of the creek. Suddenly from a bank ofrushes four cannons were fired. A ball struck the pinnace, smashing inher side. The other boats gathered hastily round and took her crew onboard, and then dashed at the junks, which were but a hundred yardsdistant. The valour of the Chinese evaporated as they saw the boatsapproaching, and scores of them leapt overboard and swam for shore. 

In another minute the boats were alongside and the crews scrambling upthe sides of the junks. A few Chinamen only attempted to oppose them. These were speedily overcome, and the British had now time to lookround, and saw that six junks crowded with men had issued from the sidecreek and were making towards them. 

"Let the boats tow astern, " the lieutenant ordered. "We should have torun the gauntlet of that battery on shore if we were to attack them, andmight lose another boat before we reached their side. We will fight themhere. "

The junks approached, those on board firing their guns, yelling andshouting, while the drums and gongs were furiously beaten. 

"They will find themselves mistaken, Percy, if they think they are goingto frighten us with all that row, " Fothergill said. "You young rascal, how did you get on board the boat without being seen? The captain willbe sure to suspect I had a hand in concealing you. "

The tars were now at work firing the gingals attached to the bulwarksand the matchlocks, with which the deck was strewn, at the approachingjunks. As they took steady aim, leaning their pieces on the bulwarks, they did considerable execution among the Chinamen crowded on board thejunks, while the shot of the Chinese, for the most part, whistled faroverhead; but the guns of the shore battery, which had now been slewedround to bear upon them, opened with a better aim, and several shotscame crashing into the sides of the two captured junks. 

"Get ready to board, lads!" Lieutenant Oliphant shouted. "Don't waitfor them to board you, but the moment they come alongside lash theirrigging to ours and spring on board them. "

The leading junk was now about twenty yards away, and presently gratedalongside. Half-a-dozen sailors at once sprang into her rigging withropes, and after lashing the junks together leaped down upon her deck, where Fothergill was leading the gig's crew and some of those rescuedfrom the pinnace, while Mr. Bellew, with another party, had boarded herat the stern. Several of the Chinese fought stoutly, but the greaterpart lost heart at seeing themselves attacked by the "white devils, "instead of, as they expected, overwhelming them by their superiornumbers. Many began at once to jump overboard, and after two or threeminutes' sharp fighting, the rest either followed their example or werebeaten below. 

Fothergill looked round. The other junk had been attacked by two of theenemy, one on each side, and the little body of sailors were gathered inher waist, and were defending themselves against an overwhelming numberof the enemy. 

The other three piratical junks had been carried somewhat up the creekby the tide that was sweeping inward, and could not for the moment takepart in the fight. 

"Mr. Oliphant is hard pressed, sir. " He asked the master: "Shall we taketo the boats?"

"That will be the best plan, " Mr. Bellew replied. "Quick, lads, get theboats alongside and tumble in; there is not a moment to be lost. "

The crew at once sprang to the boats and rowed to the other junk, whichwas but some thirty yards away. 

The Chinese, absorbed in their contest with the crew of the pinnace, didnot perceive the new-comers until they gained the deck, and with a shoutfell furiously upon them. In their surprise and consternation thepirates did not pause to note that they were still five to one superiorin number, but made a precipitate rush for their own vessels. TheEnglish at once took the offensive. The first lieutenant with his partyboarded one, while the new-comers leapt on to the deck of the other. Thepanic which had seized the Chinese was so complete that they attemptedno resistance whatever, but sprang overboard in great numbers and swamto the shore, which was but twenty yards away, and in three minutes theEnglish were in undisputed possession of both vessels. 

"Back again, Mr. Fothergill, or you will lose the craft you captured, "Lieutenant Oliphant said; "they have already cut her free. "

The Chinese, indeed, who had been beaten below by the boarding party, had soon perceived the sudden departure of their captors, and gainingthe deck again had cut the lashings which fastened them to the otherjunk, and were proceeding to hoist their sails. They were too late, however. Almost before the craft had way on her Fothergill and his crewwere alongside. The Chinese did not wait for the attack, but at oncesprang overboard and made for the shore. The other three junks, seeingthe capture of their comrades, had already hoisted their sails and weremaking up the creek. Fothergill dropped an anchor, left four of his menin charge, and rowed back to Mr. Oliphant. 

"What shall we do next, sir?"

"We will give those fellows on shore a lesson, and silence theirbattery. Two men have been killed since you left. We must let the otherjunks go for the present. Four of my men were killed and eleven woundedbefore Mr. Bellew and you came to our assistance. The Chinese werefighting pluckily up to that time, and it would have gone very hard withus if you had not been at hand; the beggars will fight when they thinkthey have got it all their own way. But before we land we will set fireto the five junks we have taken. Do you return and see that the twoastern are well lighted, Mr. Fothergill; Mr. Mason will see to thesethree. When you have done your work take to your boat and lay off till Ijoin you; keep the junks between you and the shore, to protect you fromthe fire of the rascals there. "

"I cannot come with you, I suppose, Fothergill?" Percy Adcock said, asthe midshipman was about to descend into his boat again. 

"Yes, come along, Percy. It doesn't matter what you do now. The captainwill be so pleased when he hears that we have captured and burnt fivejunks, that you will get off with a very light wigging, I imagine. "

"That's just what I was thinking, Jack. Has it not been fun?"

"You wouldn't have thought it fun if you had got one of those matchlockballs in your body. There are a good many of our poor fellows just atthe present moment who do not see anything funny in the affair at all. Here we are; clamber up. "

The crew soon set to work under Fothergill's orders. The sails were cutoff the masts and thrown down into the hold; bamboos, of which therewere an abundance down there, were heaped over them, a barrel of oil waspoured over the mass, and the fire then applied. 

"That will do, lads. Now take to your boats and let's make a bonfire ofthe other junk. "

In ten minutes both vessels were a sheet of flame, and the boat waslying a short distance from them waiting for further operations. Theinhabitants of the village, furious at the failure of the plan which hadbeen laid for the destruction of the "white devils, " kept up a constantfusilade, which, however, did no harm, for the gig was completelysheltered by the burning junks close to her from their missiles. 

"There go the others!" Percy exclaimed after a minute or two, as threecolumns of smoke arose simultaneously from the other junks, and thesailors were seen dropping into their boats alongside. 

The killed and wounded were placed in the other gig with four sailors incharge. They were directed to keep under shelter of the junks untilrejoined by the pinnace and Fothergill's gig, after these had done theirwork on shore. 

When all was ready the first lieutenant raised his hand as a signal, andthe two boats dashed between the burning junks and rowed for the shore. Such of the natives as had their weapons charged fired a hasty volley, and then, as the sailors leapt from their boats, took to their heels. 

"Mr. Fothergill, take your party into the village and set fire to thehouses; shoot down every man you see. This place is a nest of pirates. Iwill capture that battery and then join you. "

Fothergill and his sailors at once entered the village. The men hadalready fled; the women were turned out of the houses, and these wereimmediately set on fire. The tars regarded the whole affair as aglorious joke, and raced from house to house, making a hasty search ineach for concealed valuables before setting it on fire. In a short timethe whole village was in a blaze. 

"There is a house there, standing in that little grove a hundred yardsaway, " Percy said. 

"It looks like a temple, " Fothergill replied. "However, we will have alook at it. " And calling two sailors to accompany him, he started at arun towards it, Percy keeping by his side. 

"It is a temple, " Fothergill said when they approached it. "Still, wewill have a look at it, but we won't burn it; it will be as well torespect the religion, even of a set of piratical scoundrels like these. "

At the head of his men he rushed in at the entrance. There was a blazeof fire as half a dozen muskets were discharged in their faces. One ofthe sailors dropped dead, and before the others had time to realize whathad happened they were beaten to the ground by a storm of blows fromswords and other weapons. 

A heavy blow crashed down on Percy's head, and he fell insensible evenbefore he realized what had occurred. 

When he recovered, his first sensation was that of a vague wonder as towhat had happened to him. He seemed to be in darkness and unable to movehand or foot. He was compressed in some way that he could not at firstunderstand, and was being bumped and jolted in an extraordinary manner. It was some little time before he could understand the situation. Hefirst remembered the fight with the junks, then he recalled the landingand burning the village; then, as his brain cleared, came therecollection of his start with Fothergill for the temple among thetrees, his arrival there, and a loud report and flash of fire. 

"I must have been knocked down and stunned, " he said to himself, "and Isuppose I am a prisoner now to these brutes, and one of them must becarrying me on his back. "

Yes, he could understand it all now. His hands and his feet were tied, ropes were passed round his body in every direction, and he was fastenedback to back upon the shoulders of a Chinaman. Percy remembered thetales he had heard of the imprisonment and torture of those who fellinto the hands of the Chinese, and he bitterly regretted that he hadnot been killed instead of stunned in the surprise of the temple. 

"It would have been just the same feeling, " he said to himself, "andthere would have been an end of it. Now, there is no saying what isgoing to happen. I wonder whether Jack was killed, and the sailors. "

Presently there was a jabber of voices; the motion ceased. Percy couldfeel that the cords were being unwound, and he was dropped on to hisfeet; then the cloth was removed from his head, and he could look round. 

A dozen Chinese, armed with matchlocks and bristling with swords anddaggers, stood around, and among them, bound like himself and gagged bya piece of bamboo forced lengthways across his mouth and kept there witha string going round the back of the head, stood Fothergill. He wasbleeding from several cuts in the head. Percy's heart gave a bound ofjoy at finding that he was not alone; then he tried to feel sorry thatJack had not escaped, but failed to do so, although he told himself thathis comrade's presence would not in any way alleviate the fate which wascertain to befall him. Still the thought of companionship, even inwretchedness, and perhaps a vague hope that Jack, with his energy andspirit, might contrive some way for their escape, cheered him up. 

As Percy, too, was gagged, no word could be exchanged by the midshipmen, but they nodded to each other. They were now put side by side and madeto walk in the centre of their captors. On the way they passed throughseveral villages, whose inhabitants poured out to gaze at the captives, but the men in charge of them were evidently not disposed to delay, asthey passed through without a stop. At last they halted before twocottages standing by themselves, thrust the prisoners into a small room, removed their gags, and left them to themselves. 

"Well, Percy, my boy, so they caught you too? I am awfully sorry. It wasmy fault for going with only two men into that temple, but as thevillage had been deserted and scarcely a man was found there, it neverentered my mind that there might be a party in the temple. "

"Of course not, Jack; it was a surprise altogether. I don't knowanything about it, for I was knocked down, I suppose, just as we wentin, and the first thing I knew about it was that I was being carried onthe back of one of those fellows. I thought it was awful at first, but Idon't seem to mind so much now you are with me. "

"It is a comfort to have someone to speak to, " Jack said, "yet I wishyou were not here, Percy; I can't do you any good, and I shall nevercease blaming myself for having brought you into this scrape. I don'tknow much more about the affair than you do. The guns were fired soclose to us that my face was scorched with one of them, and almost atthe same instant I got a lick across my cheek with a sword. I had justtime to hit at one of them, and then almost at the same moment I got twoor three other blows, and down I went; they threw themselves on the topof me and tied and gagged me in no time. Then I was tied to a longbamboo, and two fellows put the ends on their shoulders and went offwith me through the fields. Of course I was face downwards, and did notknow you were with us till they stopped and loosed me from the bambooand set me on my feet. "

"But what are they going to do with us do you think, Jack?"

"I should say they are going to take us to Canton and claim a rewardfor our capture, and there I suppose they will cut off our heads or sawus in two, or put us to some other unpleasant kind of death. I expectthey are discussing it now; do you hear what a jabber they are kickingup?"

Voices were indeed heard raised in angry altercation in the next room. After a time the din subsided and the conversation appeared to take amore amiable turn. 

"I suppose they have settled it as far as they are concerned, " Jacksaid; "anyhow, you may be quite sure they mean to make something out ofus. If they hadn't they would have finished us at once, for they musthave been furious at the destruction of their junks and village. As tothe idea that mercy has anything to do with it, we may as well put itout of our minds. The Chinaman, at the best of times, has no feeling ofpity in his nature, and after their defeat it is certain they would havekilled us at once had they not hoped to do better by us. If they hadbeen Indians I should have said they had carried us off to enjoy thesatisfaction of torturing us, but I don't suppose it is that with them. "

"Do you think there is any chance of our getting away?" Percy asked, after a pause. 

"I should say not the least in the world, Percy. My hands are fastenedso tight now that the ropes seem cutting into my wrists, and after theyhad set me on my feet and cut the cords of my legs I could scarcelystand at first, my feet were so numbed by the pressure. However, we mustkeep up our pluck. Possibly they may keep us at Canton for a bit, and ifthey do the squadron may arrive and fight its way past the forts andtake the city before they have quite made up their minds as to what kindof death will be most appropriate to the occasion. I wonder what theyare doing now? They seem to be chopping sticks. "

"I wish they would give us some water, " Percy said. "I am frightfullythirsty. "

"And so am I, Percy; there is one comfort, they won't let us die ofthirst, they could get no satisfaction out of our deaths now. "

Two hours later some of the Chinese re-entered the room and led thecaptives outside, and the lads then saw what was the meaning of thenoise they had heard. A cage had been manufactured of strong bamboos. It was about four and a half feet long, four feet wide, and less thanthree feet high; above it was fastened two long bamboos. Two or three ofthe bars of the cage had been left open. 

"My goodness! they never intend to put us in there, " Percy exclaimed. 

"That they do, " Jack said. "They are going to carry us the rest of theway. "

The cords which bound the prisoners' hands were now cut, and they weremotioned to crawl into the cage. This they did; the bars were then putin their places and securely lashed. Four men went to the ends of thepoles and lifted the cage upon their shoulders; two others took theirplaces beside it, and one man, apparently the leader of the party, walked on ahead; the rest remained behind. 

"I never quite realized what a fowl felt in a coop before, " Jack said, "but if its sensations are at all like mine they must be decidedlyunpleasant. It isn't high enough to sit upright in, it is nothing likelong enough to lie down, and as to getting out one might as well thinkof flying. Do you know, Percy, I don't think they mean taking us toCanton at all. I did not think of it before, but from the direction ofthe sun I feel sure that we cannot have been going that way. What theyare up to I can't imagine. "

In an hour they came to a large village. Here the cage was set down andthe villagers closed round. They were, however, kept a short distancefrom the cage by the men in charge of it. Then a wooden platter wasplaced on the ground, and persons throwing a few copper coins into thiswere allowed to come near the cage. 

"They are making a show of us!" Fothergill exclaimed. "That's what theyare up to, you see if it isn't; they are going to travel up country toshow the 'white devils' whom their valour has captured. "

This was, indeed, the purpose of the pirates. At that time Europeansseldom ventured beyond the limits assigned to them in the two or threetowns where they were permitted to trade, and few, indeed, of thecountry people had ever obtained a sight of the white barbarians ofwhose doings they had so frequently heard. Consequently a small crowdsoon gathered round the cage, eyeing the captives with the same interestthey would have felt as to unknown and dangerous beasts; they laughedand joked, passed remarks upon them, and even poked them with sticks. Fothergill, furious at this treatment, caught one of the sticks, andwrenching it from the hands of the Chinaman, tried to strike at himthrough the bars, a proceeding which excited shouts of laughter from theby-standers. 

"I think, Jack, " Percy said, "it will be best to try and keep ourtempers and not to seem to mind what they do to us, then if they findthey can't get any fun out of us they will soon leave us alone. "

"Of course, that's the best plan, " Fothergill agreed, "but it's not soeasy to follow. That fellow very nearly poked out my eye with his stick, and no one's going to stand that if he can help it. "

It was some hours before the curiosity of the village was satisfied. When all had paid who were likely to do so, the guards broke up theircircle, and leaving two of their number at the cage to see that noactual harm was caused to their prisoners, the rest went off to arefreshment house. The place of the elders was now taken by the boysand children of the village, who crowded round the cage, prodded theprisoners with sticks, and, putting their hands through the bars, pulledtheir ears and hair. This amusement, however, was brought to an abruptconclusion by Fothergill suddenly seizing the wrist of a big boy andpulling his arm through the cage until his face was against the bars;then he proceeded to punch him until the guard, coming to his rescue, poked Fothergill with his stick until he released his hold. 

The punishment of their comrade excited neither anger nor resentmentamong the other boys, who yelled with delight at his discomfiture, butit made them more careful in approaching the cage, and though theycontinued to poke the prisoners with sticks they did not venture againto thrust a hand through the bars. At sunset the guards again cameround, lifted the cage and carried it into a shed. A platter of dirtyrice and a jug of water were put into the cage; two of the men lightedtheir long pipes and sat down on guard beside it, and, the doors beingclosed, the captives were left in peace. 

"If this sort of thing is to go on, as I suppose it is, " Fothergillsaid, "the sooner they cut off our heads the better. "

"It is very bad, Jack. I am sore all over with those probes from theirsharp sticks. "

"I don't care for the pain, Percy, so much as the humiliation of thething. To be stared at and poked at as if we were wild beasts by thesecurs, when with half a dozen of our men we could send a hundred of themscampering, I feel as if I could choke with rage. "

"You had better try and eat some of this rice, Jack. It is beastly, butI daresay we shall get no more until to-morrow night, and we must keepup our strength if we can. At any rate, the water is not bad, that's acomfort. "

"No thanks to them, " Jack growled. "If there had been any bad water inthe neighbourhood they would have given it to us. "

For six weeks the sufferings of the prisoners continued. Their captorsavoided towns where the authorities would probably at once have takenthe prisoners out of their hands. No one would have recognized the twocaptives as the midshipmen of the _Perseus_; their clothes were inrags--torn to pieces by the thrusts of the sharp-pointed bamboos, towhich they had daily been subjected--the bad food, the cramped position, and the misery which they suffered had worn both lads to skeletons;their hair was matted with filth, their faces begrimed with dirt. Percywas so weak that he felt he could not stand. Fothergill, being threeyears older, was less exhausted, but he knew that he, too, could notsupport his sufferings for many days longer. Their bodies were coveredwith sores, and try as they would they were able to catch only a fewminutes' sleep at a time, so much did the bamboo bars hurt their wastedlimbs. 

They seldom exchanged a word during the daytime, suffering in silencethe persecutions to which they were exposed, but at night they talkedover their homes and friends in England, and their comrades on boardship, seldom saying a word as to their present position. They were nowin a hilly country, but had not the least idea of the direction in whichit lay from Canton or its distance from the coast. 

One evening Jack said to his companion, "I think it's nearly all overnow, Percy. The last two days we have made longer journeys, and havenot stopped at any of the smaller villages we passed through. I fancyour guards must see that we can't last much longer, and are taking usdown to some town to hand us over to the authorities and get theirreward for us. "

"I hope it is so, Jack; the sooner the better. Not that it makes muchdifference now to me, for I do not think I can stand many more days ofit. "

"I am afraid I am tougher than you, Percy, and shall take longer tokill, so I hope with all my heart that I may be right, and that they maybe going to give us up to the authorities. "

The next evening they stopped at a large place, and were subjected tothe usual persecution; this, however, was now less prolonged than duringthe early days of their captivity, for they had now no longer strengthor spirits to resent their treatment, and as no fun was to be obtainedfrom passive victims, even the village boys soon ceased to find anyamusement in tormenting them. 

When most of their visitors had left them, an elderly Chinamanapproached the side of the cage. He spoke to their guards and looked atthem attentively for some minutes, then he said in pigeon English, "Youofficer men?"

"Yes!" Jack exclaimed, starting at the sound of the English words, thefirst they had heard spoken since their captivity. "Yes, we are officersof the _Perseus_. "

"Me speeke English velly well, " the Chinaman said; "me pilot-man manyyears on Canton river. How you get here?"

"We were attacking some piratical junks, and landed to destroy thevillage where the people were firing on us. We entered a place full ofpirates, and were knocked down and taken prisoners, and carried away upthe country; that is six weeks ago, and you see what we are now. "

"Pirate men velly bad, " the Chinaman said; "plunder many junk on riverand kill crew. Me muchee hate them. "

"Can you do anything for us?" Jack asked. "You will be well rewarded ifyou could manage to get us free. "

The man shook his head. 

"Me no see what can do, me stranger here; come to stay with wifey;people no do what me ask them. English ships attack Canton, much fightand take town, people all hate English. Bad country dis. People in onevillage fight against another. Velly bad men here. "

"How far is Canton away?" Jack asked. "Could you not send down to tellthe English we are here?"

"Fourteen days' journey off, " the man said; "no see how can doanything. "

"Well, " Jack said, "when you get back again to Canton let our peopleknow what has been the end of us; we shall not last much longer. "

"All light, " the man said, "will see what me can do. Muchee thinkto-night!" And after saying a few words to the guards, who had beenregarding this conversation with an air of surprise, the Chinamanretired. 

The guards had for some time abandoned the precaution of sitting up atnight by the cage, convinced that their captives had no longer strengthto attempt to break through its fastenings or to drag themselves manyyards away if they could do so. They therefore left it standing in theopen, and, wrapping themselves in their thickly-wadded coats, for thenights were cold, lay down by the side of the cage. 

The coolness of the nights had, indeed, assisted to keep the twoprisoners alive. During the day the sun was excessively hot, and thecrowd of visitors round the cage impeded the circulation of the air andadded to their sufferings. It was true that the cold at night frequentlyprevented them from sleeping, but it acted as a tonic and braced themup. 

"What did he mean about the villages attacking each other?" Percy asked. 

"I have heard, " Jack replied, "that in some parts of China things arevery much the same as they used to be in the highlands of Scotland. There is no law or order. The different villages are like clans, andwage war on each other. Sometimes the Government sends a number oftroops, who put the thing down for a time, chop off a good many heads, and then march away, and the whole work begins again as soon as theirbacks are turned. "

That night the uneasy slumber of the lads was disturbed by a suddenfiring; shouts and yells were heard, and the firing redoubled. 

"The village is attacked, " Jack said. "I noticed that, like some otherplaces we have come into lately, there is a strong earthen wall roundit, with gates. Well, there is one comfort--it does not make muchdifference to us which side wins. "

The guards at the first alarm leapt to their feet, caught up theirmatchlocks, and ran to aid in the defence of the wall. Two minutes latera man ran up to the cage. 

"All lightee, " he said; "just what me hopee. "

With his knife he cut the tough withes that held the bamboos in theirplaces, and pulled out three of the bars. 

"Come along, " he said; "no time to lose. "

Jack scrambled out, but in trying to stand upright gave a sharpexclamation of pain. Percy crawled out more slowly; he tried to standup, but could not. The Chinaman caught him up and threw him on hisshoulder. 

"Come along quickee, " he said to Jack; "if takee village, kill evelyone. " He set off at a run. Jack followed as fast as he could, groaningat every step from the pain the movement caused to his bruised body. 

They went to the side of the village opposite to that at which theattack was going on. They met no one on the way, the inhabitants havingall rushed to the other side to repel the attack. They stopped at asmall gate in the wall, the Chinaman drew back the bolts and opened it, and they passed out into the country. For an hour they kept on. By theend of that time Jack could scarcely drag his limbs along. The Chinamanhalted at length in a clump of trees surrounded by a thick undergrowth. 

"Allee safee here, " he said, "no searchee so far; here food;" and heproduced from a wallet a cold chicken and some boiled rice, and unslungfrom his shoulder a gourd filled with cold tea. 

"Me go back now, see what happen. To-mollow nightee come again--bringeemore food. " And without another word went off at a rapid pace. 

Jack moistened his lips with the tea, and then turned to his companion. Percy had not spoken a word since he had been released from the cage, and had been insensible during the greater part of his journey. Jackpoured some cold tea between his lips. 

"Cheer up, Percy, old boy, we are free now, and with luck and that goodfellow's help we will work our way down to Canton yet. "

"I shall never get down there; you may, " Percy said feebly. 

"Oh, nonsense, you will pick up strength like a steam-engine now. Here, let me prop you against this tree. That's better. Now drink a drop ofthis tea; it's like nectar after that filthy water we have beendrinking. Now you will feel better. Now you must try and eat a little ofthis chicken and rice. Oh, nonsense, you have got to do it. I am notgoing to let you give way when our trouble is just over. Think of yourpeople at home, Percy, and make an effort, for their sakes. Goodheavens! now I think of it, it must be Christmas morning. We were caughton the 2nd and we have been just twenty-two days on show. I am sure thatit must be past twelve o'clock, and it is Christmas-day. It is a goodomen, Percy. This food isn't like roast beef and plum-pudding, but it'snot to be despised, I can tell you. Come, fire away, that's a goodfellow. "

Percy made an effort and ate a few mouthfuls of rice and chicken, thenhe took another draught of tea, and lay down, and was almost immediatelyasleep. 

Jack ate his food slowly and contentedly till he finished half thesupply, then he, too, lay down, and, after a short but heartythanksgiving for his escape from a slow and lingering death, he, too, fell off to sleep. The sun was rising when he woke, being aroused by aslight movement on the part of Percy; he opened his eyes and sat up. 

"Well, Percy, how do you feel this morning?" he asked cheerily. 

"I feel too weak to move, " Percy replied languidly. 

"Oh, you will be all right when you have sat up and eaten breakfast, "Jack said. "Here you are; here is a wing for you, and this rice is aswhite as snow, and the tea is first rate. I thought last night after Ilay down that I heard a murmur of water, so after we have had breakfastI will look about and see if I can find it. We should feel like new menafter a wash. You look awful, and I am sure I am just as bad. "

The thought of a wash inspirited Percy far more than that of eating, andhe sat up and made a great effort to do justice to breakfast. Hesucceeded much better than he had done the night before, and Jack, although he pretended to grumble, was satisfied with his companion'sprogress, and finished off the rest of the food. Then he set out tosearch for water. He had not very far to go; a tiny stream, a fewinches wide and two or three inches deep, ran through the wood from thehigher ground. After throwing himself down and taking a drink, hehurried back to Percy. 

"It is all right, Percy, I have found it. We can wash to our hearts'content; think of that, lad. "

Percy could hardly stand, but he made an effort, and Jack half carriedhim to the streamlet. There the lads spent hours. First they bathedtheir heads and hands, and then, stripping, lay down in the stream andallowed it to flow over them, then they rubbed themselves with handfulsof leaves dipped in the water, and when they at last put on their ragsagain felt like new men. Percy was able to walk back to the spot theyhad quitted with the assistance only of Jack's arm. The latter, feelingthat his breakfast had by no means appeased his hunger, now started fora search through the wood, and presently returned to Percy laden withnuts and berries. 

"The nuts are sure to be all right; I expect the berries are too. I havecertainly seen some like them in native markets, and I think it will bequite safe to risk it. "

The rest of the day was spent in picking nuts and eating them. Thenthey sat down and waited for the arrival of their friend. He came twohours after nightfall with a wallet stored with provisions, and toldthem that he had regained the village unobserved. The attack had beenrepulsed, but with severe loss to the defenders as well as theassailants; two of their guards had been among the killed. The othershad made a great clamour over the escape of the prisoners, and had madea close search throughout the village and immediately round it, for theywere convinced that their captives had not had the strength to go anydistance. He thought, however, that although they had professed thegreatest indignation, and had offered many threats as to the vengeancethat Government would take upon the village, one of whose inhabitants, at least, must have aided in the evasion of the prisoners, they wouldnot trouble themselves any further in the matter. They had alreadyreaped a rich harvest from the exhibition, and would divide amongthemselves the share of their late comrades; nor was it at allimprobable that if they were to report the matter to the authoritiesthey would themselves get into serious trouble for not having handedover the prisoners immediately after their capture. 

For a fortnight the pilot nursed and fed the two midshipmen. He hadalready provided them with native clothes, so that if by chance anyvillagers should catch sight of them they would not recognize them asthe escaped white men. At the end of that time both the lads had almostrecovered from the effects of their sufferings. Jack, indeed, had pickedup from the first, but Percy for some days continued so weak and illthat Jack had feared that he was going to have an attack of fever ofsome kind. His companion's cheery and hopeful chat did as much good forPercy as the nourishing food with which their friend supplied them, andat the end of the fortnight he declared that he felt sufficiently strongto attempt to make his way down to the coast. 

The pilot acted as their guide. When they inquired about his wife, hetold them carelessly that she would remain with her kinsfolk, and wouldtravel on to Canton and join him there when she found an opportunity. The journey was accomplished at night, by very short stages at first, but by increasing distances as Percy gained strength. During the daytimethe lads lay hid in woods or jungles, while their companion went intothe village and purchased food. They struck the river many miles aboveCanton, and the pilot, going down first to a village on its banks, bargained for a boat to take him and two women down to the city. 

The lads went on board at night and took their places in the littlecabin formed of bamboos and covered with mats in the stern of the boat, and remained thus sheltered not only from the view of people in boatspassing up or down the stream, but from the eyes of their own boatmen. 

After two days' journey down the river without incident, they arrivedoff Canton, where the British fleet was still lying while negotiationsfor peace were being carried on with the authorities at Pekin. Peepingout between the mats, the lads caught sight of the English warships, and, knowing that there was now no danger, they dashed out of the cabin, to the surprise of the native boatmen, and shouted and waved their armsto the distant ships. 

In ten minutes they were alongside the _Perseus_, when they were hailedas if restored from the dead. The pilot was very handsomely rewarded bythe English authorities for his kindness to the prisoners, and washighly satisfied with the result of his proceedings, which more thandoubled the little capital with which he had retired from business. JackFothergill and Percy Adcock declare that they have never since eatenchicken without thinking of their Christmas fare on the morning of theirescape from the hands of the Chinese pirates. 

THE END. 

[Illustration: Blackie & Son's Books for Young People]

_By the Author of "John Herring, " "Mehalah, " &c. _

=Grettir the Outlaw:= A Story of Iceland. By S. Baring-Gould. With 10 full-page Illustrations by M. Zeno Diemer and aColoured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 A work of special interest, not only because of the high rank which Mr. Baring-Gould has of late years acquired by his brilliant series of novels, _Mehalah_, _John Herring_, _Court Royal_, &c. , but because of his earlier won reputation as a historian and explorer of folk-legends and popular beliefs. In the story of Grettir, both the art of the novelist and the lore of the archæologist have had full scope, with the result that we have a narrative of adventure of the most romantic kind, and at the same time an interesting and minutely accurate account of the old Icelandic families, their homes, their mode of life, their superstitions, their songs and stories, their bear-serk fury, and their heroism by land and sea. The story is told throughout with a simplicity which will make it attractive even to the very young, and no boy will be able to withstand the magic of such scenes as the fight of Grettir with the twelve bear-serks, the wrestle with Karr the Old in the chamber of the dead, the combat with the spirit of Glam the thrall, and the defence of the dying Grettir by his younger brother. 

 * * * * *

BY G. A. HENTY. 

 * * * * *

=With Lee in Virginia:= A Story of the American Civil War. By G. A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 The great war between the Northern and Southern States of America has the special interest for English boys of having been a struggle between two sections of a people akin to us in race and language--a struggle fought out by each side with unusual intensity of conviction in the rightness of its cause, and abounding in heroic incidents. Of these points Mr. Henty has made admirable use in this story of a young Virginian planter, who, after bravely proving his sympathy with the slaves, serves with no less courage and enthusiasm under Lee and Jackson through the most exciting events of the struggle. He has many hairbreadth escapes, is several times wounded and twice taken prisoner; but his courage and readiness bring him safely through all difficulties. 

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Mr. Henty is one of the best of story tellers for youngpeople. "--_Spectator. _

 * * * * *

=By Pike and Dyke:= A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. ByG. A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by MaynardBrown and 4 Maps. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 A story covering the period which forms the thrilling subject of Motley's _Rise of the Dutch Republic_, when the Netherlands, under the guidance of William of Orange, revolted against the attempts of Alva and the Spaniards to force upon them the Catholic religion. To a story already of the keenest interest, Mr. Henty has added a special attractiveness for boys in tracing through the historic conflict the adventures and brave deeds of an English boy in the household of the ablest man of his age--William the Silent. Edward Martin; the son of an English sea-captain, after sharing in the excitement of an escape from the Spaniards and a sea-fight, enters the service of the Prince as a volunteer, and is employed by him in many dangerous and responsible missions, in the discharge of which he passes through the great sieges and more than one naval engagement of the time. He is subsequently employed in Holland by Queen Elizabeth, to whom he is recommended by Orange; and ultimately settles down as Sir Edward Martin and the husband of the lady to whom he owes his life, and whom he in turn has saved from the Council of Blood. 

=The Lion Of St. Mark:= A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. ByG. A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "Every boy should read _The Lion of St. Mark_. Mr. Henty has never produced any story more delightful, more wholesome, or more vivacious. From first to last it will be read with keen enjoyment. "--_The Saturday Review. _

 "Mr. Henty has probably not published a more interesting story than _The Lion of St. Mark_. He has certainly not published one in which he has been at such pains to rise to the dignity of his subject. Mr. Henty's battle-pieces are admirable. "--_The Academy. _

 "The young hero has shrewdness, courage, enterprise, principle, all the qualities that help the young in the race and battle of life. "--_Literary Churchman. _

=Captain Bailey's Heir:= A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. ByG. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by H. M. Paget. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "A Westminster boy who, like all this author's heroes, makes his way in the world by hard work, good temper, and unfailing courage. The descriptions given of life are just what a healthy intelligent lad should delight in. "--_St. James's Gazette. _

 "The portraits of Captain Bayley, and the head-master of Westminster school, are admirably drawn; and the adventures in California are told with that vigour which is peculiar to Mr. Henty. "--_The Academy. _

 "Mr. Henty is careful to mingle solid instruction with entertainment; and the humorous touches, especially in the sketch of John Holl, the Westminster dustman, Dickens himself could hardly have excelled. "--_Christian Leader. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Surely Mr. Henty should understand boys' tastes better than any manliving. "--_The Times. _

 * * * * *

=Bonnie Prince Charlie:= A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "Ronald, the hero, is very like the hero of _Quentin Durward_. The lad's journey across France with his faithful attendant Malcolm, and his hairbreadth escapes from the machinations of his father's enemies, make up as good a narrative of the kind as we have ever read. For freshness of treatment and variety of incident, Mr. Henty has here surpassed himself. "--_Spectator. _

 "A historical romance of the best quality. Mr. Henty has written many more sensational stories, but never a more artistic one. "--_Academy. _

=For the Temple:= A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By G. A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Solomon J. Solomon: and a coloured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivineedges, _6s_. 

 "Mr. Henty is ever one of the foremost writers of historical tales, and his graphic prose pictures of the hopeless Jewish resistance to Roman sway adds another leaf to his record of the famous wars of the world. The book is one of Mr. Henty's cleverest efforts. "--_Graphic. _

 "The story is told with all the force of descriptive power which has made the author's war stories so famous, and many an 'old boy' as well as the younger ones will delight in this narrative of that awful page of history. "--_Church Times. _

=The Lion Of the North:= A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars ofReligion. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations byJohn Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "As we might expect from Mr. Henty the tale is a clever and instructive piece of history, and as boys may be trusted to read it conscientiously, they can hardly fail to be profited as well as pleased. "--_The Times. _

 "A praiseworthy attempt to interest British youth in the great deeds of the Scotch Brigade in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus. Mackay, Hepburn, and Munro live again in Mr. Henty's pages, as those deserve to live whose disciplined bands formed really the germ of the modern British army. "--_Athenæum. _

 "A stirring story of stirring times. This book should hold a place among the classics of youthful fiction. "--_United Service Gazette. _

=The Young Carthaginian:= A story of the Times of Hannibal. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by C. J. Staniland, R. I. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "The effect of an interesting story, well constructed and vividly told, is enhanced by the picturesque quality of the scenic background. From first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us along as on a stream, whose current varies in direction, but never loses its force. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "Ought to be popular with boys who are not too ill instructed or too dandified to be affected by a graphic picture of the days and deeds of Hannibal. "--_Athenæum. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in thevery first rank. "--_Academy. _

 * * * * *

=With Wolfe in Canada:= Or, The Winning of a Continent. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "A model of what a boys' story-book should be. Mr. Henty has a great power of infusing into the dead facts of history new life, and as no pains are spared by him to ensure accuracy in historic details, his books supply useful aids to study as well as amusement. "--_School Guardian. _

 "It is not only a lesson in history as instructively as it is graphically told, but also a deeply interesting and often thrilling tale of adventure and peril by flood and field. "--_Illustrated London News. _

 "This is a narrative which will bear retelling, and to which Mr. Henty, whose careful study of details is worthy of all praise, does full justice. .. . His adventures are told with much spirit; the escape when the birch canoes have been damaged by an enemy is especially well described. "--_Spectator. _

=With Clive in India:= Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "In this book Mr. Henty has contrived to exceed himself in stirring adventures and thrilling situations. The pictures add greatly to the interest of the book. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in the very first rank. Those who know something about India will be the most ready to thank Mr. Henty for giving them this instructive volume to place in the hands of their children. "--_Academy. _

=True to the Old Flag:= A Tale of the American War of Independence. ByG. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "Does justice to the pluck and determination of the British soldiers. The son of an American loyalist, who remains true to our flag, falls among the hostile redskins in that very Huron country which has been endeared to us by the exploits of Hawkeye and Chingachgook. "--_The Times. _

 "Mr. Henty's extensive personal experience of adventures and moving incidents by flood and field, combined with a gift of picturesque narrative, make his books always welcome visitors in the home circle. "--_Daily News. _

=In Freedom's Cause:= A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. 

 "Mr. Henty has broken new ground as an historical novelist. His tale of the days of Wallace and Bruce is full of stirring action, and will commend itself to boys. "--_Athenæum. _

 "Written in the author's best style. Full of the most remarkable achievements, it is a tale of great interest, which a boy, once he has begun it, will not willingly put on one side. "--_Schoolmaster. _

 "Scarcely anywhere have we seen in prose a more lucid and spirit-stirring description of Bannockburn than the one with which the author fittingly closes his volume. "--_Dumfries Standard. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Mr. Henty is one of our most successful writers of historicaltales. "--_Scotsman. _

 * * * * *

=Through the Fray:= A Story of the Luddite Riots. By G. A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by H. M. Paget. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "Mr. Henty inspires a love and admiration for straightforwardness, truth, and courage. This is one of the best of the many good books Mr. Henty has produced, and deserves to be classed with his _Facing Death_. "--_Standard. _

 "The interest of the story never flags. Were we to propose a competition for the best list of novel writers for boys we have little doubt that Mr. Henty's name would stand first. "--_Journal of Education. _

 "This story is told in Mr. Henty's own easy and often graphic style. There is no 'padding' in the book, and its teaching is, that we have enemies within as well as without, and therefore the power of self-control is a quality that should be striven after by every 'true' boy. "--_Educational Times. _

=Under Drake's Flag:= A Tale of the Spanish Main. By G. A. Henty. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "There is not a dull chapter, nor, indeed, a dull page in the hook; but the author has so carefully worked up his subject that the exciting deeds of his heroes are never incongruous or absurd. "--_Observer. _

 "Just such a book, indeed, as the youth of this maritime country are likely to prize highly. "--_Daily Telegraph. _

 "A book of adventure, where the hero meets with experience enough one would think to turn his hair gray. "--_Harper's Monthly Magazine. _

 * * * * *

BY PROFESSOR A. J. CHURCH. 

 * * * * *

=Two Thousand Years Ago:= Or, The Adventures of a Roman Boy. ByProfessor A. J. Church. With 12 full-page Illustrations byAdrien Marie. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "Adventures well worth the telling. The book is extremely entertaining as well as useful, and there is a wonderful freshness in the Roman scenes and characters. "--_The Times. _

 "Entertaining in the highest degree from beginning to end, and full of adventure which is all the livelier for its close connection with history. "--_Spectator. _

 "We know of no book which will do more to make the Romans of that day live again for the English reader. "--_Guardian. _

 * * * * *

=Robinson Crusoe. = By Daniel Defoe. Illustrated by above 100Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivineedges, _6s. _

 "One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's work which has ever appeared. "--_The Standard. _

 "The best edition I have come across for years. If you know a boy who has not a 'Robinson Crusoe, ' just glance at any one of these hundred illustrations, and you will go no further afield in search of a present for him. "--_Truth. _

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

"Mr. Fenn is in the front rank of writers of stories forboys. "--_Liverpool Mercury. _

 * * * * *

=Quicksilver:= Or a Boy with no Skid to his Wheel. By GeorgeManville Fenn. With 10 full-page Illustrations by FrankDadd. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "_Quicksilver_ is little short of an inspiration. In it that prince of story-writers for boys--George Manville Fenn--has surpassed himself. It is an ideal book for a boy's library. "--_Practical Teacher. _

 "The story is capitally told, it abounds in graphic and well-described scenes, and it has an excellent and manly tone throughout. "--_The Guardian. _

 "This is one of Mr. Fenn's happiest efforts, and deserves to be read and re-read by every school-boy in the land. We are not exaggerating when we say that _Quicksilver_ has nothing to equal it this season. "--_Teacher's Aid. _

=Dick o' the Fens:= A Romance of the Great East Swamp. By G. Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by FrankDadd. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital reading. It is full of incident and mystery, and the mystery is kept up to the last moment. It is rich in effective local colouring; and it has a historical interest. "--_Times. _

 "We have not of late come across a historical fiction, whether intended for boys or for men, which deserves to be so heartily and unreservedly praised as regards plot, incidents, and spirit as _Dick o' the Fens_. It is its author's masterpiece as yet. "--_Spectator. _

=Devon Boys:= A Tale of the North Shore. By G. Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "An admirable story, as remarkable for the individuality of its young heroes as for the excellent descriptions of coast scenery and life in North Devon. It is one of the best books we have seen this season. "--_Athenæum. _

 "We do not know that Mr. Fenn has ever reached a higher level than he has in _Devon Boys_. It must be put in the very front rank of Christmas books. "--_Spectator. _

=Brownsmith's Boy:= A Romance in a Garden. By G. Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "Mr. Fenn's books are among the best, if not altogether the best, of the stories for boys. Mr. Fenn is at his best in _Brownsmith's Boy_. "--_Pictorial World. _

 "_Brownsmith's Boy_ must rank among the few undeniably good boys' books. He will be a very dull boy indeed who lays it down without wishing that it had gone on for at least 100 pages more. "--_North British Mail. _

=In the King's Name:= Or the Cruise of the _Kestrel_. By G. ManvilleFenn. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "A capital boys' story, full of incident and adventure, and told in the lively style in which Mr. Fenn is such an adept. "--_Globe. _

 "The best of all Mr. Fenn's productions in this field. It has the great quality of always 'moving on, ' adventure following adventure in constant succession. "--_Daily News. _

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

"Our boys know Mr. Fenn well, his stories having won for him a foremostplace in their estimation. "--_Pall Mall Gazette. _

 * * * * *

=Bunyip Land:= The Story of a Wild Journey in New Guinea. By G. Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "Mr. Fenn deserves the thanks of everybody for _Bunyip Land_, and we may venture to promise that a quiet week may be reckoned on whilst the youngsters have such fascinating literature provided for their evenings' amusement. "--_Spectator. _

 "One of the best tales of adventure produced by any living writer, combining the inventiveness of Jules Verne, and the solidity of character and earnestness of spirit which have made the English victorious in so many fields. "--_Daily Chronicle. _

=The Golden Magnet:= A Tale of the Land of the Incas. By G. Manville Fenn. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "This is, we think, the best boys' book Mr. Fenn has produced. .. . The Illustrations are perfect in their way. "--_Globe. _

 "There could be no more welcome present for a boy. There is not a dull page in the book, and many will be read with breathless interest. 'The Golden Magnet' is, of course, the same one that attracted Raleigh and the heroes of _Westward Ho!_"--_Journal of Education. _

 * * * * *

BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD. 

=The Log Of the "Flying Fish:"= A Story of Aerial and Submarine Periland Adventure. By Harry Collingwood. With 12 full-pageIllustrations by Gordon Browne, Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "The _Flying Fish_ actually surpasses all Jules Verne's creations; with incredible speed she flies through the air, skims over the surface of the water, and darts along the ocean bed. We strongly recommend our school-boy friends to possess themselves of her log. "--_Athenæum. _

 * * * * *

BY SARAH DOUDNEY. 

=Under False Colours. = By Sarah Doudney. With 12 full-pageIllustrations by G. G. Kilburne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s. _

 "This is a charming story, abounding in delicate touches of sentiment and pathos. Its plot is skilfully contrived. It will be read with a warm interest by every girl who takes it up. "--_Scotsman. _

 "Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned stories--pure in style, original in conception, and with skilfully wrought-out plots; but we have seen nothing from this lady's pen equal in dramatic energy to her latest work--_Under False Colours_. "--_Christian Leader. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"The brightest of all the living writers whose office it is to enchantthe boys. "--_Christian Leader. _

 * * * * *

=One Of the 28th:= A Tale of Waterloo. By G. A. Henty. With 8full-page Illustrations by W. H. Overend, and 2 Maps. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 Herbert Penfold, being desirous of benefiting the daughter of an intimate friend, and Ralph Conway, the son of a lady to whom he had once been engaged, draws up a will dividing his property between them, and places it in a hiding-place only known to members of his own family. At his death his two sisters determine to keep silence, and the authorized search for the will, though apparently thorough, fails to bring it to light. The mother of Ralph, however, succeeds in entering the house as a servant, and after an arduous and exciting search secures the will. In the meantime, her son has himself passed through a series of adventures. The boat in which he is fishing is run down by a French privateer, and Ralph, scrambling on board, is forced to serve until the harbour of refuge is entered by a British frigate. On his return he enters the army, and after some rough service in Ireland, takes part in the Waterloo campaign, from which he returns with the loss of an arm, but with a substantial fortune, which is still further increased by his marriage with his co-heir. 

=The Cat Of Bubastes:= A Story of Ancient Egypt. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. R. Weguelin. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "The story is highly enjoyable. We have pictures of Egyptian domestic life, of sport, of religious ceremonial, and of other things which may still be seen vividly portrayed by the brush of Egyptian artists. "--_The Spectator. _

 "The story, from the critical moment of the killing of the sacred cat to the perilous exodus into Asia with which it closes, is very skilfully constructed and full of exciting adventures. It is admirably illustrated. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "Mr. Henty has fairly excelled himself in this admirable story of romance and adventure. We have never examined a story-book that we can recommend with more confidence as a boy's reward. "--_Teachers' Aid. _

=The Dragon and the Raven:= Or, The Days of King Alfred. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C. J. Staniland, R. I. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "Perhaps the best story of the early days of England which has yet been told. "--_Court Journal. _

 "We know of no popular book in which the stirring incidents of Alfred's reign are made accessible to young readers as they are here. "--_Scotsman. _

=St. George for England:= A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne, inblack and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "Mr. Henty has done his work well, producing a strong story at once instructive and entertaining. "--_Glasgow Herald. _

 "Mr. Henty's historical novels for boys bid fair to supplement, on their behalf, the historical labours of Sir Walter Scott in the land of fiction. "--_Standard. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Mr. Henty is the king of story-tellers for boys. "--_Sword and Trowel. _

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=The Bravest Of the Brave:= With Peterborough in Spain. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Pictures by H. M. Paget. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "Mr. Henty never loses sight of the moral purpose of his work--to enforce the doctrine of courage and truth, mercy and loving kindness, as indispensable to the making of an English gentleman. British lads will read _The Bravest of the Brave_ with pleasure and profit; of that we are quite sure. "--_Daily Telegraph. _

=For Name and Fame:= Or, Through Afghan Passes. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne, in black andtint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "The best feature of the book, apart from its scenes of adventure, is its honest effort to do justice to the patriotism of the Afghan people. "--_Daily News. _

 "Not only a rousing story, replete with all the varied forms of excitement of a campaign, but, what is still more useful, an account of a territory and its inhabitants which must for a long time possess a supreme interest for Englishmen, as being the key to our Indian Empire. "--_Glasgow Herald. _

=In the Reign Of Terror:= The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. ByG. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s_. 

 "Harry Sandwith, the Westminster boy, may fairly be said to beat Mr. Henty's record. His adventures will delight boys by the audacity and peril they depict. The story is one of Mr. Henty's best. "--_Saturday Review. _

=Orange and Green:= A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "An extremely spirited story, based on the struggle in Ireland, rendered memorable by the defence of 'Derry and the siege of Limerick. "--_Sat. Review. _

 "The narrative is free from the vice of prejudice, and ripples with life as vivacious as if what is being described were really passing before the eye. .. . _Orange and Green_ should be in the hands of every young student of Irish history without delay. "--_Belfast Morning News. _

=By Sheer Pluck:= A Tale of the Ashanti War. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, _5s. _

 "_By Sheer Pluck_ will be eagerly read. The author's personal knowledge of the west coast has been turned to full advantage. "--_Athenæum. _

 "Morally, the book is everything that could be desired, setting before the boys a bright and bracing ideal of the English gentleman. "--_Christian Leader. _

BY G. A. HENTY. 

"Mr. G. A. Henty's fame as a writer of boys' stories is deserved andsecure. "--_Cork Herald. _

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=A Final Reckoning:= A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by W. B. Wollen. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "Exhibits Mr. Henty's talent as a story-teller at his best. .. . The drawings possess the uncommon merit of really illustrating the text. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "All boys will read this story with eager and unflagging interest. The episodes are in Mr. Henty's very best vein--graphic, exciting, realistic; and, as in all Mr. Henty's books, the tendency is to the formation of an honourable, manly, and even heroic character. "--_Birmingham Post. _

=Facing Death:= Or the Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the CoalMines. By G. A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations byGordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "If any father, godfather, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the look-out for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth his salt, this is the book we would recommend. "--_Standard. _

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BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE. 

=Highways and High Seas:= Cyril Harley's Adventures on both. By F. Frankfort Moore. With 8 full-page Illustrations by AlfredPearse. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 The story belongs to a period when highways meant post-chaises, coaches, and highwaymen, and when high seas meant post-captains, frigates, privateers, and smugglers; and the hero--a boy who has some remarkable experiences upon both--tells his story with no less humour than vividness. He shows incidentally how little real courage and romance there frequently was about the favourite law-breakers of fiction, but how they might give rise to the need of the highest courage in others and lead to romantic adventures of an exceedingly exciting kind. A certain piquancy is given to the story by a slight trace of nineteenth century malice in the picturing of eighteenth century life and manners. 

=Under Hatches:= Or Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. By F. FrankfortMoore. With 8 full-page Illustrations by A. Forestier. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "Mr. Moore has never shown himself so thoroughly qualified to write books for boys as he has done in _Under Hatches_. "--_The Academy. _

 "A first-rate sea story, full of stirring incidents, and, from a literary point of view, far better written than the majority of books for boys. "--_Pall Mall Gazette. _

 "The story as a story is one that will just suit boys all the world over. The characters are well drawn and consistent; Patsy, the Irish steward, will be found especially amusing. "--_Schoolmaster. _

BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

"No one can find his way to the hearts of lads more readily than Mr. Fenn. "--_Nottingham Guardian. _

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=Yussuf the Guide:= Being the Strange Story of the Travels in Asia Minorof Burne the Lawyer, Preston the Professor, and Lawrence the Sick. ByG. Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by JohnSchönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "The narrative will take its readers into scenes that will have great novelty and attraction for them, and the experiences with the brigands will be especially delightful to boys. "--_Scotsman. _

=Menhardoc:= A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. By G. ManvilleFenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C. J. Staniland. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "They are real living boys, with their virtues and faults. The Cornish fishermen are drawn from life, they are racy of the soil, salt with the sea-water, and they stand out from the pages in their jerseys and sea-boots all sprinkled with silvery pilchard scales. "--_Spectator. _

 "A description of Will Marion's descent into a flooded mine is excellent. Josh is a delightfully amusing character. We may cordially praise the illustrations. "--_Saturday Review. _

=Mother Carey's Chicken:= Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. By G. Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by A. Forestier. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "Jules Verne himself never constructed a more marvellous tale. It contains the strongly marked English features that are always conspicuous in Mr. Fenn's stories--a humour racy of the British soil, the manly vigour of his sentiment, and wholesome moral lessons. For anything to match his realistic touch we must go to Daniel Defoe. "--_Christian Leader. _

 "When we get to the 'Unknown Isle, ' the story becomes exciting. Mr. Fenn keeps his readers in a suspense that is not intermitted for a moment, and the _dénouement_ is a surprise which is as probable as it is startling. "--_Spectator. _

=Patience Wins:= Or, War in the Works. By G. Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to last. One of the best books of its kind which has come before us this year. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "Mr. Fenn is at his best in _Patience Wins_. It is sure to prove acceptable to youthful readers, and will give a good idea of that which was the real state of one of our largest manufacturing towns not many years ago. "--_Guardian. _

=Nat the Naturalist:= A Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. By G. Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "Among the best of the many good books for boys that have come out this season. "--_Times. _

 "This sort of book encourages independence of character, develops resource, and teaches a boy to keep his eyes open. "--_Saturday Review. _

BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD. 

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=The Missing Merchantman. = By Harry Collingwood. With 8full-page Illustrations by W. H. Overend. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "Mr. Collingwood is _facile princeps_ as a teller of sea stories for boys, and the present is one of the best productions of his pen. "--_Standard. _

 "This is one of the author's best sea stories. The hero is as heroic as any boy could desire, and the ending is extremely happy. "--_British Weekly. _

=The Rover's Secret:= A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba. ByHarry Collingwood. With 8 full-page Illustrations by W. C. Symons. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "_The Rover's Secret_ is by far the best sea story we have read for years, and is certain to give unalloyed pleasure to boys. The illustrations are fresh and vigorous. "--_Saturday Review. _

=The Pirate Island:= A Story of the South Pacific. By HarryCollingwood. Illustrated by 8 full-page Pictures by C. J. Staniland and J. R. Wells. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "A capital story of the sea; indeed in our opinion the author is superior in some respects as a marine novelist to the better known Mr. Clarke Russell. "--_The Times. _

 "Told in the most vivid and graphic language. It would be difficult to find a more thoroughly delightful gift-book. "--_Guardian. _

=The Congo Rovers:= A Story of the Slave Squadron. By HarryCollingwood. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "No better sea story has lately been written than the _Congo Rovers_. It is as original as any boy could desire. "--_Morning Post. _

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BY ASCOTT R. HOPE. 

=The Seven Wise Scholars. = By Ascott R. Hope. With nearly OneHundred Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Square 8vo, clothelegant, gilt edges, _5s. _

 "As full of fun as a volume of _Punch_; with illustrations, more laughter-provoking than most we have seen since Leech died. "--_Sheffield Independent. _

 "A capital story, full of fun and happy comic fancies. The tale would put the sourest-tempered _boy_ into a good humour, and to an imaginative child would be a source of keen delight. "--_Scotsman. _

=The Wigwam and the War-path:= stories of the Red Indians. By AscottR. Hope. With 8 full-page Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "All the stories are told well, in simple spirited language and with a fulness of detail that make them instructive as well as interesting. "--_Journal of Education. _

BY G. NORWAY. 

The Loss of John Humble: What Led to It, and what Came of It. By G. Norway. With 8 full-page Illustrations by John Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 John Humble, an orphan, is sent to sea with his Uncle Rolf, the captain of the _Erl King_, but in the course of certain adventures off the English coast, in which Rolf shows both skill and courage, the boy is left behind at Portsmouth. He escapes from an English gun-brig to a Norwegian vessel, the _Thor_, which is driven from her course in a voyage to Hammerfest, and wrecked on a desolate shore. The survivors experience the miseries of a long sojourn in the Arctic circle, with inadequate means of supporting life, but ultimately, with the aid of some friendly but thievish Lapps, they succeed in making their way to a reindeer station and so southward to Tornea and home again. The story throughout is singularly vivid and truthful in its details, the individual characters are fresh and well marked, and a pleasant vein of humour relieves the stress of the more tragic incidents in the story. 

BY ROSA MULHOLLAND. 

Giannetta: A Girl's Story of Herself. By Rosa Mulholland. With8 full-page Illustrations by Lockhart Bogle. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, _5s. _

 "Giannetta is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, as all good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm of humanity. The illustrations are unusually good, and combine with the binding and printing to make this one of the most attractive gift-books of the season. "--_The Academy. _

 "No better book could be selected for a young girl's reading, as its object is evidently to hold up a mirror, in which are seen some of the brightest and noblest traits in the female character. "--_Schoolmistress. _

Perseverance Island: Or the Robinson Crusoe of the 19th Century. ByDouglas Frazar. With 12 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s. _

 "This second Robinson Crusoe is certainly a marvellous man. His determination to overcome all difficulties, and his subsequent success, should alone make this a capital book for boys. It is altogether a worthy successor to the ancient Robinson Crusoe. "--_Glasgow Herald. _

Gulliver's Travels. Illustrated by more than 100 Pictures by GordonBrowne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "By help of the admirable illustrations, and a little judicious skipping, it has enchanted a family party of ages varying from six to sixty. Which of the other Christmas books could stand this test?"--Journal of Education. 

 "Mr. Gordon Browne is, to my thinking, incomparably the most artistic, spirited, and brilliant of our illustrators of books for boys, and one of the most humorous also, as his illustrations of 'Gulliver' amply testify. "--Truth. 

NEW EDITION OF THE UNIVERSE. 

=The Universe:= Or the Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little. ASketch of Contrasts in Creation, and Marvels revealed and explained byNatural Science. By F. A. Pouchet, M. D. With 272 Engravings onwood, of which 55 are full-page size, and a Coloured Frontispiece. TenthEdition, medium 8vo, cloth elegant, gilt edges, _7s. 6d. _; also moroccoantique, _16s. _

 "We can honestly commend Professor Pouchet's book, which _is_ admirably, as it is copiously illustrated. "--_The Times. _

 "This book is as interesting as the most exciting romance, and a great deal more likely to be remembered to good purpose. "--_Standard. _

 "Scarcely any book in French or in English is so likely to stimulate in the young an interest in the physical phenomena. "--_Fortnightly Review. _

 * * * * *

BY GEORGE MAC DONALD. 

=At the Back of the North Wind. = By George Mac Donald, LL. D. With 75 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "In _At the Back of the North Wind_ we stand with one foot in fairyland and one on common earth. The story is thoroughly original, full of fancy and pathos, and underlaid with earnest but not too obtrusive teaching. "--_The Times. _

=Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood. = By George Mac Donald, LL. D. With36 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes. New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "The sympathy with boy-nature in _Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood_ is perfect. It is a beautiful picture of childhood, teaching by its impressions and suggestions all noble things. "--_British Quarterly Review. _

=The Princess and the Goblin. = By George Mac Donald, LL. D. With30 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes, and 2 full-page Pictures byH. Petherick. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Little of what is written for children has the lightness of touch and play of fancy which are characteristic of George Mac Donald's fairy tales. Mr. Arthur Hughes's illustrations are all that illustrations should be. "--_Manchester Guardian. _

 "A model of what a child's book ought to be--interesting, instructive, and poetical. We cordially recommend it as one of the very best gift-books we have yet come across. "--_Elgin Courant. _

=The Princess and Curdie. = By George Mac Donald, LL. D. With 8full-page Illustrations by James Allen. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "There is the finest and rarest genius in this brilliant story. Upgrown people would do wisely occasionally to lay aside their newspapers and magazines to spend an hour with Curdie and the Princess. "--_Sheffield Independent. _

=Girl Neighbours:= Or, The Old Fashion and the New. By SarahTytler. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C. T. Garland. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s. _

 "One of the most effective and quietly humorous of Miss Sarah Tytler's stories. .. . Very healthy, very agreeable, and very well written. "--_Spectator. _

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BY MARY C. ROWSELL. 

=Thorndyke Manor:= A Tale of Jacobite Times. By Mary C. Rowsell. With 6 full-page Illustrations by L. LeslieBrooke. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 Thorndyke Manor is an old house, near the mouth of the Thames, which is convenient, on account of its secret vaults and situation, as the base of operations in a Jacobite conspiracy. In consequence its owner, a kindly, quiet, book-loving squire, who lives happily with his sister, bright Mistress Amoril, finds himself suddenly involved by a treacherous steward in the closest meshes of the plot. He is conveyed to the Tower, but all difficulties are ultimately overcome, and his innocence is triumphantly proved by his sister. 

=Traitor or Patriot?= A Tale of the Rye-House Plot. By Mary C. Rowsell. With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "A romantic love episode, whose true characters are lifelike beings, not dry sticks as in many historical tales. "--_Graphic. _

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BY ALICE CORKRAN. 

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=Meg's Friend. = By Alice Corkran. With 6 full-pageIllustrations by Robert Fowler. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Another of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in that simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one of the first amongst writers for young people. "--_The Spectator. _

=Margery Merton's Girlhood. = By Alice Corkran. With 6 full-pageIllustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Another book for girls we can warmly commend. There is a delightful piquancy in the experiences and trials of a young English girl who studies painting in Paris. "--_Saturday Review. _

=Down the Snow Stairs:= Or, From Good-night to Good-morning. ByAlice Corkran. With 60 character Illustrations by GordonBrowne. New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _3s. 6d. _

 "A fascinating wonder-book for children. "--_Athenæum. _

 "A gem of the first water, bearing upon every page the signet mark of genius. All is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness that the dream appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little Pilgrim's Progress. "--_Christian Leader. _

BY JOHN C. HUTCHESON. 

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=Afloat at Last:= A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea. By John C. Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Illustrations by W. H. Overend. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 Mr. Hutcheson's reputation for the realistic treatment of life at sea will be fully sustained by the present volume--the narrative of a boy's experiences on board ship during his first voyage. From the stowing of the vessel in the Thames to her recovery from the Pratas Reef on which she is stranded, everything is described with the accuracy of perfect practical knowledge of ships and sailors; and the incidents of the story range from the broad humours of the fo'c's'le to the perils of flight from and fight with the pirates of the China Seas. The captain, the mate, the Irish boatswain, the Portuguese steward, and the Chinese cook, are fresh and cleverly-drawn characters, and the reader throughout has the sense that he is on a real voyage with living men. 

=The White Squall:= A Story of the Sargasso Sea. By John C. Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Illustrations by JohnSchönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "Few writers have made such rapid improvement in the course of a few years as has the author of this capital story. .. . Boys will find it difficult to lay down the book till they have got to the end. "--_Standard. _

 "The sketches of tropical life are so good as sometimes to remind us of _Tom Cringle_ and the _Cruise of the Midge_. "--_Times. _

=The Wreck of the Nancy Bell:= Or Cast Away on Kerguelen Land. ByJohn C. Hutcheson. Illustrated by 6 full-page Pictures. Crown8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "A full circumstantial narrative such as boys delight in. The ship so sadly destined to wreck on Kerguelen Land is manned by a very lifelike party, passengers and crew. The life in the Antarctic Iceland is well treated. "--_Athenæum. _

=Picked Up at Sea:= Or the Gold Miners of Minturne Creek. By John C. Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "The author's success with this book is so marked that it may well encourage him to further efforts. The description of mining life in the Far-west is true and accurate. "--_Standard. _

=Sir Walter's Ward:= A Tale of the Crusades. By WilliamEverard. With 6 full-page Illustrations by Walter Paget. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "This book will prove a very acceptable present either to boys or girls. Both alike will take an interest in the career of Dodo, in spite of his unheroic name, and follow him through his numerous and exciting adventures. "--_Academy. _

=Stories Of Old Renown:= Tales of Knights and Heroes. By Ascott R. Hope. With 100 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. NewEdition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "A really fascinating book worthy of its telling title. There is, we venture to say, not a dull page in the book, not a story which will not bear a second reading. "--_Guardian. _

BY CAROLINE AUSTIN. 

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=Cousin Geoffrey and I. = By Caroline Austin. With 6 full-pageIllustrations by W. Parkinson. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 The only daughter of a country gentleman finds herself unprovided for at her father's death, and for some time lives as a dependant upon the kinsman who has inherited the property. Life is kept from being entirely unbearable to her by her young cousin Geoffrey, who at length meets with a serious accident for which she is held responsible. She is then passed on to other relatives, who prove even more objectionable, and at length, in despair, she runs away and makes a brave attempt to earn her own livelihood. Being a splendid rider, she succeeds in doing this, until the startling event which brings her cousin Geoffrey and herself together again, and solves the problem of the missing will. 

=Hugh Herbert's Inheritance. = By Caroline Austin. With 6full-page Illustrations by C. T. Garland. Crown 8vo, clothelegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "Will please by its simplicity, its tenderness, and its healthy interesting motive. It is admirably written. "--_Scotsman. _

 "Well and gracefully written, full of interest, and excellent in tone. "--_School Guardian. _

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BY E. S. BROOKS. 

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=Storied Holidays:= A Cycle of Red-letter Days. By E. S. Brooks. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Howard Pyle. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "It is a downright good book for a senior boy, and is eminently readable from first to last. "--_Schoolmaster. _

 "Replete with interest from Chapter I. To _finis_, and can be confidently recommended as one of the gems of Messrs. Blackie's collection. "--_Teachers' Aid. _

=Chivalric Days:= Stories of Courtesy and Courage in the Olden Times. ByE. S. Brooks. With 20 Illustrations by Gordon Browneand other Artists. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "We have seldom come across a prettier collection of tales. These charming stories of boys and girls of olden days are no mere fictitious or imaginary sketches, but are real and actual records of their sayings and doings. The illustrations are in Gordon Browne's happiest style. "--_Literary World. _

=Historic Boys:= Their Endeavours, their Achievements, and their Times. By E. S. Brooks. With 12 full-page Illustrations by R. B. Birch and John Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "A wholesome book, manly in tone, its character sketches enlivened by brisk dialogue. We advise schoolmasters to put it on their list of prizes. "--_Knowledge. _

BY MRS. E. R. PITMAN. 

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=Garnered Sheaves. = A Tale for Boys. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman. With4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "This is a story of the best sort . .. A noble-looking book, illustrating faith in God, and commending to young minds all that is pure and true. "--Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's _Sword and Trowel_. 

=Life's Daily Ministry:= A Story of Everyday Service for others. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman. With 4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, clothextra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Shows exquisite touches of a master hand. She has not only made a close study of human nature in all its phases, but she has acquired the artist's skill in depicting in graphic outline the characteristics of the beautiful and the good in life. "--_Christian Union. _

=My Governess Life:= Or Earning my Living. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman. With 4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Full of sound teaching and bright examples of character. "--_Sunday-school Chronicle. _

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BY MRS. R. H. READ. 

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=Silver Mill:= A Tale of the Don Valley. By Mrs. R. H. Read. With 6 full-page Illustrations by John Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "A good girl's story-book. The plot is interesting, and the heroine, Ruth, a lady by birth, though brought up in a humble station, well deserves the more elevated position in which the end of the book leaves her. The pictures are very spirited. "--_Saturday Review. _

=Dora:= Or a Girl without a Home. By Mrs. R. H. Read. With 6full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "It is no slight thing, in an age of rubbish, to get a story so pure and healthy as this. "--_The Academy. _

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BY ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT. 

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=Brother and Sister:= Or the Trials of the Moore Family. ByElizabeth J. Lysaght. With 6 full-page Illustrations. Crown8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "A pretty story, and well told. The plot is cleverly constructed, and the moral is excellent. "--_Athenæum. _

=Laugh and Learn:= A Home-book of Instruction and Amusement for theLittle Ones. By Jennett Humphreys. Charmingly Illustrated. Square crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 _Laugh and Learn_, a most comprehensive book for the nursery, supplies, what has long been wanted, a means whereby the mother or the governess may, in a series of pleasing lessons, commence and carry on systematic home instruction of the little ones. The various chapters of the _Learn_ section carry the child through the "three R's" to easy stories for reading, and stories which the mother may read aloud, or which more advanced children may read to themselves. The Laugh section comprises simple drawing lessons, home amusements of every kind, innumerable pleasant games and occupations, rhymes to be learnt, songs for the very little ones, action songs, and music drill. 

=The Search for the Talisman:= A Story of Labrador. By HenryFrith. With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "Mr. Frith's volume will be among those most read and highest valued. The adventures among seals, whales, and icebergs in Labrador will delight many a young reader, and at the same time give him an opportunity to widen his knowledge of the Esquimaux, the heroes of many tales. "--_Pall Mall Gazette. _

=Self-Exiled:= A Story of the High Seas and East Africa. By J. A. Steuart. With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "It is cram full of thrilling situations. The number of miraculous escapes from death in all its shapes which the hero experiences in the course of a few months must be sufficient to satisfy the most voracious appetite. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Reefer and Rifleman:= A Tale of the Two Services. By J. Percy-Groves, late 27th Inniskillings. With 6 full-pageIllustrations by John Schönberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d. _

 "A good, old-fashioned, amphibious story of our fighting with the Frenchmen in the beginning of our century, with a fair sprinkling of fun and frolic. "--_Times. _

=The Bubbling Teapot. = A Wonder Story. By Mrs. L. W. Champney. With 12 full-page Pictures by Walter Satterlee. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Very literally a 'wonder story, ' and a wild and fanciful one. Nevertheless it is made realistic enough, and there is a good deal of information to be gained from it. The steam from the magic teapot bubbles up into a girl, and the little girl, when the fancy takes her, can cry herself back into a teapot. Transformed and enchanted she makes the tour of the globe. "--_The Times. _

=Dr. Jolliffe's Boys:= A Tale of Weston School. By Lewis Hough. With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d. _

 "Young people who appreciate _Tom Brown's School-days_ will find this story a worthy companion to that fascinating book. There is the same manliness of tone, truthfulness of outline, avoidance of exaggeration and caricature, and healthy morality as characterized the masterpiece of Mr. Hughes. "--_Newcastle Journal. _

BLACKIE'S HALF-CROWN SERIES. 

Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. 

 * * * * *

New Volumes. 

=The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds. = By Gordon Stables, C. M. , M. D. , R. N. 

 A dreamy boy, who likes to picture himself as the Hermit Hunter of the Wilds, receives an original but excellent kind of training from a sailor-naturalist uncle, and at length goes to sea with the hope of one day finding the lost son of his uncle's close friend, Captain Herbert. He succeeds in tracing him through the forests of Ecuador, where the abducted boy has become an Indian chief. Afterwards he is discovered on an island which had been used as a treasure store by the buccaneers. The hero is accompanied through his many adventures by the very king of cats, who deserves a place amongst the most famous animals in fiction. 

=Miriam's Ambition:= A Story for Children. By EvelynEverett-Green. 

 Miriam's ambition is to make some one happy, and her endeavour to carry it out in the case of an invalid boy, carries with it a pleasant train of romantic incident, solving a mystery which had thrown a shadow over several lives. A charming foil to her grave and earnest elder sister is to be found in Miss Babs, a small coquette of five, whose humorous child-talk is one of the most attractive features of an excellent story. 

=White Lilac:= Or The Queen of the May. By Amy Walton. 

 When the vicar's wife proposed to call Mrs. White's daughter by the heathen name of Lilac, all the villagers shook their heads; and they continued to shake them sagely when Lilac's father was shot dead by poachers just before the christening, and when, years after, her mother died on the very day Lilac was crowned Queen of the May. And yet White Lilac proved a fortune to the relatives to whose charge she fell--a veritable good brownie, who brought luck wherever she went. The story of her life forms a most readable and admirable rustic idyl, and is told with a fine sense of rustic character. 

 * * * * *

=Little Lady Clare. = By Evelyn Everett-Green. 

 "Certainly one of the prettiest, reminding us in its quaintness and tender pathos of Mrs. Ewing's delightful tales. This is quite one of the best stories Miss Green's clever pen has yet given us. "--_Literary World. _

 "We would particularly bring it under the notice of those in charge of girls' schools. The story is admirably told. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=The Eversley Secrets. = By Evelyn Everett-Green. 

 "Is one of the best children's stories of the year. "--_Academy. _

 "A clever and well-told story. Roy Eversley is a very touching picture of high principle and unshrinking self-devotion in a good purpose. "--_Guardian. _

=The Brig "Audacious. "= By Alan Cole. 

 "This is a real boys' book. We have great pleasure in recommending it. "--_English Teacher. _

 "Bright and vivacious in style, and fresh and wholesome as a breath of sea air in tone. "--_Court Journal. _

=The Saucy May. = By H. Frith. 

 "The book is certainly both interesting and exciting. "--_Spectator. _

 "Mr. Frith gives a new picture of life on the ocean wave which will be acceptable to all young people. "--_Sheffield Independent. _

=Jasper's Conquest. = By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. 

 "One of the best boys' books of the season. It is full of stirring adventure and startling episodes, and yet conveys a splendid moral throughout. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Sturdy and Strong:= Or, How George Andrews made his Way. By G. A. Henty. 

 "The history of a hero of everyday life, whose love of truth, clothing of modesty, and innate pluck carry him, naturally, from poverty to affluence. He stands as a good instance of chivalry in domestic life. "--_The Empire. _

=Gutta-Percha Willie=, The Working Genius. By George MacDonald, LL. D. 

 "Had we space we would fain quote page after page. All we have room to say is, get it for your boys and girls to read for themselves, and if they can't do that read it to them. "--_Practical Teacher. _

=The War of the Axe:= Or Adventures in South Africa. By J. Percy-Groves. 

 "The story of their final escape from the Caffres is a marvellous bit of writing. .. . The story is well and brilliantly told, and the illustrations are especially good and effective. "--_Literary World. _

=The Lads of Little Clayton:= Stories of Village Boy Life. By R. Stead. 

 "A capital book for boys. They will learn from its pages what true boy courage is. They will learn further to avoid all that is petty and mean if they read the tales aright. They may be read to a class with great profit. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Ten Boys= who lived on the Road from Long Ago to Now. By JaneAndrews. With 20 Illustrations. 

 "The idea of this book is a very happy one, and is admirably carried out. We have followed the whole course of the work with exquisite pleasure. Teachers should find it particularly interesting and suggestive. "--_Practical Teacher. _

=Insect Ways on Summer Days= in Garden, Forest, Field, and Stream. ByJennett Humphreys. With 70 Illustrations. 

 "The book will prove not only instructive but delightful to every child whose mind is beginning to inquire and reflect upon the wonders of nature. It is capitally illustrated and very tastefully bound. "--_Academy. _

=A Waif of the Sea:= Or the Lost Found. By Kate Wood. 

 "A very touching and pretty tale of town and country, full of pathos and interest, told in a style which deserves the highest praise. "--_Edinburgh Courant. _

=Winnie's Secret:= A Story of Faith and Patience. By KateWood. 

 "One of the best story-books we have read. Girls will be charmed with the tale, and delighted that everything turns out so well. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Miss Willowburn's Offer. = By Sarah Doudney. 

 "Patience Willowburn is one of Miss Doudney's best creations, and is the one personality in the story which can be said to give it the character of a book not for young ladies but for girls. "--_Spectator. _

=A Garland for Girls. = By Louisa M. Alcott. 

 "The _Garland_ will delight our girls, and show them how to make their lives fragrant with good deeds. "--_British Weekly. _

 "These little tales are the beau ideal of girls' stories. "--_Christian World. _

=Hetty Gray:= Or Nobody's Bairn. By Rosa Mulholland. 

 "A charming story for young folks. Hetty is a delightful creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are perfectly realistic. "--_World. _'

=Brothers in Arms:= A Story of the Crusades. By F. BayfordHarrison. 

 "Full of striking incident, is very fairly illustrated, and may safely be chosen as sure to prove interesting to young people of both sexes. "--_Guardian. _

=The Ball Of Fortune:= Or Ned Somerset's Inheritance. By CharlesPearce. 

 "A capital story for boys. It is simply and brightly written. There is plenty of incident, and the interest is sustained throughout. "--_Journal of Education. _

=Miss Fenwick's Failures:= Or "Peggy Pepper-Pot. " By EsméStuart. 

 "Esmé Stuart may be commended for producing a girl true to real life, who will put no nonsense into young heads. "--_Graphic. _

=Gytha's Message:= A Tale of Saxon England. By Emma Leslie. 

 "This is a charmingly told story. It is the sort of book that all girls and some boys like, and can only get good from. "--_Journal of Education. _

=My Mistress the Queen:= A Tale of the 17th Century. By M. A. Paull. 

 "The style is pure and graceful, the presentation of manners and character has been well studied, and the story is full of interest. "--_Scotsman. _

 "This is a charming book. The old-time sentiment which pervades the volume renders it all the more alluring. "--_Western Mercury. _

=The Stories of Wasa and Menzikoff:= The Deliverer of Sweden, and theFavourite of Czar Peter. 

 "Both are stories worth telling more than once, and it is a happy thought to have put them side by side. Plutarch himself has no more suggestive comparison. "--_Spectator. _

=Stories of the Sea in Former Days:= Narratives of Wreck and Rescue. 

 "Next to an original sea-tale of sustained interest come well-sketched collections of maritime peril and suffering which awaken the sympathies by the realism of fact. 'Stories of the Sea' are a very good specimen of the kind. "--_The Times. _

=Tales of Captivity and Exile. =

 "It would be difficult to place in the hands of young people a book which combines interest and instruction in a higher degree. "--_Manchester Courier. _

=Famous Discoveries by Sea and Land. =

 "Such a volume may providentially stir up some youths by the divine fire kindled by these 'great of old' to lay open other lands, and show their vast resources. "--_Perthshire Advertiser. _

=Stirring Events of History. =

 "The volume will fairly hold its place among those which make the smaller ways of history pleasant and attractive. It is a gift-book in which the interest will not be exhausted with one reading. "--_Guardian. _

=Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest. = Stories of Danger and Daring. 

 "One of the series of books for young people which Messrs. Blackie' excel in producing. The editor has beyond all question succeeded admirably. The present book cannot fail to be read with interest and advantage. "--_Academy. _

=Jack o' Lanthorn:= A Tale of Adventure. By Henry Frith. 

 "The narrative is crushed full of stirring incident, and _is_ sure to be a prime favourite with our boys, who will be assisted by it in mastering a sufficiently exciting chapter in the history of England. "--_Christian Leader. _

=The Family Failing. = By Darley Dale. 

 "At once an amusing and an interesting story, and a capital lesson on the value of contentedness to young and old alike. "--_Aberdeen Journal. _

=The Joyous Story of Toto. = By Laura E. Richards. With 30humorous and fanciful Illustrations by E. H. Garrett. 

 "An excellent book for children who are old enough to appreciate a little delicate humour. It should take its place beside Lewis Carroll's unique works, and find a special place in the affections of boys and girls. "--_Birmingham Gazette. _

=BLACKIE'S TWO-SHILLING SERIES. =

With Illustrations in Colour and black and tint. In crown 8vo, clothelegant. 

 * * * * *

New Volumes. 

=Sam Silvan'S Sacrifice:= The Story of Two Fatherless Boys. By JesseColman. 

 The story of two brothers--the elder a lad of good and steady disposition; the younger nervous and finely-strung, but weaker and more selfish. The death of their grandparents, by whom they are being brought up, leads to their passing through a number of adventures in uncomfortable homes and among strange people. In the end the elder brother's generous care results in his sacrificing his own life to save that of his brother, who realizes when it is too late the full measure of his indebtedness. 

=A Warrior King:= The Story of a Boy's Adventures in Africa. By J. Evelyn. 

 A story full of adventure and romantic interest. Adrian Englefield, an English boy of sixteen, accompanies his father on a journey of exploration inland from the West Coast. He falls into the hands of the Berinaquas, and becomes the friend of their prince, Moryosi, but is on the point of being sacrificed when he is saved by the capture of the kraelah by a neighbouring hostile tribe. He is soon after retaken by the Berinaquas, and saves the life of Moryosi. The two tribes are ultimately united, and Adrian and his friends are set at liberty. 

 * * * * *

=Susan. = By Amy Walton. 

 "A clever little story, written with some humour. The authoress shows a great deal of insight into children's feelings and motives. "--_Pall Mall Gazette. _

="A Pair of Clogs:"= And other Stories. By Amy Walton. 

 "These stories are decidedly interesting, and unusually true to nature. For children between nine and fourteen this book can be thoroughly commended. "--_Academy. _

=The Hawthorns. = By Amy Walton. 

 "A remarkably vivid and clever study of child-life. At this species of work Amy Walton has no superior. "--_Christian Leader. _

=Dorothy's Dilemma:= A Tale of the Time of Charles I. By CarolineAustin. 

 "An exceptionally well-told story, and will be warmly welcomed by children. The little heroine, Dorothy, is a charming creation. "--_Court Journal. _

=Marie's Home:= Or, A Glimpse of the Past. By Caroline Austin. 

 "An exquisitely told story. The heroine is as fine a type of girlhood as one could wish to set before our little British damsels of to-day. "--_Christian Leader. _

=Warner's Chase:= Or the Gentle Heart. By Annie S. Swan. 

 "In Milly Warren, the heroine, who softens the hard heart of her rich uncle and thus unwittingly restores the family fortunes, we have a fine ideal of real womanly goodness. "--_Schoolmaster. _

 "A good book for boys and girls. There is no sickly goodyism in it, but a tone of quiet and true religion that keeps its own place. "--_Perthshire Advertiser. _

=Aboard the "Atalanta:"= The Story of a Truant. By Henry Frith. 

 "The story is very interesting and the descriptions most graphic. We doubt if any boy after reading it would be tempted to the great mistake of running away from school under almost any pretext whatever. "--_Practical Teacher. _

=The Penang Pirate= and The Lost Pinnace. By John C. Hutcheson. 

 "A book which boys will thoroughly enjoy: rattling, adventurous, and romantic, and the stories are thoroughly healthy in tone. "--_Aberdeen Journal. _

=Teddy:= The Story of a "Little Pickle. " By John C. Hutcheson. 

 "He is an amusing little fellow with a rich fund of animal spirits, and when at length he goes to sea with Uncle Jack he speedily sobers down under the discipline of life. "--_Saturday Review. _

=Linda and the Boys. = By Cecilia Selby Lowndes. 

 "The book is essentially a child's book, and will be heartily appreciated by the young folk. "--_The Academy. _

 "Is not only told in an artless, simple way, but is full of the kind of humour that children love. "--_Liverpool Mercury. _

=Swiss Stories for Children and those who Love Children. = From theGerman of Madam Johanna Spyri. By Lucy Wheelock. 

 "Charming stories. They are rich in local colouring, and, what is better, in genuine pathos. "--_The Times. _

 "These most delightful children's tales are essentially for children, but would fascinate older and less enthusiastic minds with their delicate romance and the admirable portraiture of the hard life of the Swiss peasantry. "--_Spectator. _

=The Squire's Grandson:= A Devonshire Story. By J. M. Callwell. 

 "A healthy tone pervades this story, and the lessons of courage, filial affection, and devotion to duty on the part of the young hero cannot fail to favourably impress all young readers. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Magna Charta Stories:= Or Struggles for Freedom in the Olden Time. Edited by Arthur Gilman, A. M. With 12 full-page Illustrations. 

 "A book of special excellence, which ought to be in the hands of all boys. "--_Educational News. _

=The Wings Of Courage:= And The Cloud-Spinner. Translated fromthe French of George Sand, by Mrs. Corkran. 

 "Mrs. Corkran has earned our gratitude by translating into readable English these two charming little stories. "--_Athenæum. _

=Chirp and Chatter:= Or, Lessons from Field and Tree. ByAlice Banks. With 54 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. 

 "We see the humbling influence of love on the haughty harvest-mouse, we are touched by the sensibility of the tender-hearted ant, and may profit by the moral of 'the disobedient maggot. ' The drawings are spirited and funny. "--_The Times. _

=Four Little Mischiefs. = By Rosa Mulholland. 

 "Graphically written, and abounds in touches of genuine humour and innocent fun. "--_Freeman. _ "A charming bright story about real children. "--_Watchman. _

=New Light through Old Windows. = A Series of Stories illustrating Fablesof Æsop. By Gregson Gow. 

 "The most delightfully-written little stories one can easily find in the literature of the season. Well constructed and brightly told. "--_Glasgow Herald. _

=Little Tottie=, and Two Other Stories. By Thomas Archer. 

 "We can warmly commend all three stories; the book is a most alluring prize for the younger ones. "--_Schoolmaster. _

=Naughty Miss Bunny:= Her Tricks and Troubles. By ClaraMulholland. 

 "This naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit _Naughty Miss Bunny_ from their list of juvenile presents. "--_Land and Water. _

=Adventures of Mrs. Wishing-to-be=, and other Stories. By AliceCorkran. 

 "Simply a charming book for little girls. "--_Saturday Review. _

 "Just in the style and spirit to win the hearts of children. "--_Daily News. _

=Our Dolly:= Her Words and Ways. By Mrs. R. H. Read. With manyWoodcuts, and a Frontispiece in colours. 

 "Prettily told and prettily illustrated. "--_Guardian. _

 "Sure to be a great favourite with young children. "--_School Guardian. _

=Fairy Fancy:= What she Heard and Saw. By Mrs. R. H. Read. Withmany Woodcuts and a Coloured Frontispiece. 

 "All is pleasant, nice reading, with a little knowledge of natural history and other matters gently introduced and divested of dryness. "--_Practical Teacher. _

=BLACKIE'S EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES. =

With Illustrations in Colour, and black and tint. In crown 8vo, clothelegant. 

 * * * * *

New Volumes. 

=Tales of Daring and Danger. = By G. A. Henty. 

 A selection of five of Mr. Henty's short stories of adventure by land and sea. The volume contains the narrative of an officer's bear-shooting expedition, and his subsequent captivity among the Dacoits; a strange tale of an Indian fakir and two British officers; a tale of the gold-diggings at Pine-tree Gulch, in which a boy saves, at the cost of his own life, a miner who had befriended him, and two others. 

=The Seven Golden Keys. = By James E. Arnold. 

 Hilda gains entrance into fairy-land, and is there shown a golden casket with seven locks. To obtain the treasure it contains, it is necessary that she should make seven journeys to find the keys, and in her travels she passes through a number of adventures and learns seven important lessons--to speak the truth, to be kind, not to trust to appearances, to hold fast to all that is good, &c. It is one of the most interesting of recent fairy-books, as well as one of the most instructive. 

=The Story of a Queen. = By Mary C. Rowsell. 

 A pleasant version for young people of the romantic story of Marie of Brabant, the young queen of Philip the Bold of France. Though the interest centres in a heroine rather than in a hero, the book has no lack of adventure, and will be read with no less eagerness by boys than by girls. To the latter it will give a fine example of patient, strong and noble woman-hood, to the former it will teach many lessons in truthfulness and chivalry. 

=Joan's Adventures=, At the North Pole and Elsewhere. By AliceCorkran. 

 "This is a most delightful fairy story. The charming style and easy prose narrative makes its resemblance striking to Hans Andersen's. "--_Spectator. _

=Edwy:= Or, Was he a Coward? By Annette Lyster. 

 "This is a charming story, and sufficiently varied to suit children of all ages. "--_The Academy. _

=Filled with Gold. = By Jennie Perrett. 

 "The tale is interesting, and gracefully told. Miss Perrett's description of life on the quiet Jersey farm will have a great charm. "--_Spectator. _

=The Battlefield Treasure. = By F. Bayford Harrison. 

 "Jack Warren is a lad of the Tom Brown type, and his search for treasure and the sequel are sure to prove interesting to boys. "--_English Teacher. _

=By Order of Queen Maude:= A Story of Home Life. By LouisaCrow. 

 "The tale is brightly and cleverly told, and forms one of the best children's books which the season has produced. "--_Academy. _

=Our General:= A Story for Girls. By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. 

 "A young girl of indomitable spirit, to whom all instinctively turn for guidance--a noble pattern for girls. "--_Guardian. _

=Aunt Hesba's Charge. = By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. 

 "This well-written book tells how a maiden aunt is softened by the influence of two Indian children who are unexpectedly left upon her hands. Mrs. Lysaght's style is bright and pleasant. "--_Academy. _

=Into the Haven. = By Annie S. Swan. 

 "No story more attractive, by reason of its breezy freshness, as well as for the practical lessons it conveys. "--_Christian Leader. _

=Our Frank:= And other Stories. By Amy Walton. 

 "These stories are of the sort that children of the clever kind are sure to like. "--_Academy. _

=The Late Miss Hollingford. = By Rosa Mulholland. 

 "No book for girls published this season approaches this in the charm of its telling, which will be equally appreciated by persons of all ages. "--_Standard. _

=The Pedlar and His Dog. = By Mary C. Rowsell. 

 "The opening chapter, with its description of Necton Fair, will forcibly remind many readers of George Eliot. Taken altogether it is a delightful story. "--_Western Morning News. _

=Yarns on the Beach. = By G. A. Henty. 

 "This little book should find special favour among boys. The yarns are full of romance and adventure, and are admirably calculated to foster a manly spirit. "--_The Echo. _

=A Terrible Coward. = By G. Manville Fenn. 

 "Just such a tale as boys will delight to read, and as they are certain to profit by. "--_Aberdeen Journal. _

=Tom Finch's Monkey:= And other Yarns. By J. C. Hutcheson. 

 "Stories of an altogether unexceptionable character, with adventures sufficient for a dozen books of its size. "--_U. Service Gazette. _

=Miss Grantley's Girls=, And the Stories She Told Them. By ThomasArcher. 

 "For fireside reading more wholesome and highly entertaining reading for young people could not be found. "--_Northern Chronicle. _

=Down and Up Again:= Being some Account of the Felton Family, and theOdd People they Met. By Gregson Gow. 

 "The story is very neatly told, with some fairly dramatic incidents, and calculated altogether to please young people. "--_Scotsman. _

=The Troubles and Triumphs of Little Tim. = A City Story. By GregsonGow. 

 "An undercurrent of sympathy with the struggles of the poor, and an ability to describe their feelings, eminently characteristic of Dickens, are marked features in Mr. Gow's story. "--_N. B. Mail. _

=The Happy Lad:= A Story of Peasant Life in Norway. From the Norwegianof Björnson. 

 "This pretty story has natural eloquence which seems to carry us back to some of the love stories of the Bible. "--_Aberdeen Free Press. _

=The Patriot Martyr:= And other Narratives of Female Heroism in Peaceand War. 

 "It should be read with interest by every girl who loves to learn what her sex can accomplish in times of danger. "--_Bristol Times. _

=Madge's Mistake:= A Recollection of Girlhood. By Annie E. Armstrong. 

 "We cannot speak too highly of this delightful little tale. It abounds in interesting and laughable incidents. "--_Bristol Times. _

=Box of Stories. = Packed for Young Folk by Horace Happyman. 

=When I was a Boy in China. = By Yan Phou Lee, a native ofChina, now resident in the United States. Illustrated. Crown 8vo, clothextra, _1s. 6d. _

 "This little book has the advantage of having been written not only by a Chinaman, but by a man of culture. His book is as interesting to adults as it is to children. "--_The Guardian. _

 "Not only exceedingly interesting, but of great informative value, for it gives to English readers a peep into the interior and private life of China such as has perhaps never before been afforded. "--_The Scottish Leader. _

 * * * * *

THE SHILLING SERIES OF BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 

Square 16mo, neatly bound in cloth extra. Each book contains 128 pagesand a Coloured Illustration. 

 * * * * *

New Volumes. 

=Mr. Lipscombe's Apples. = By Julia Goddard. =Gladys: or the Sister's Charge. = By E. O'Byrne. =A Gypsy against Her Will. = By Emma Leslie. =The Castle on the Shore. = By Isabel Hornibrook. =An Emigrant Boy's Story. = By Ascott R. Hope. =Jock and his Friend. = By Cora Langton. =John a' Dale. = By Mary C. Rowsell. =In the Summer Holidays. = By Jennett Humphreys. =How the Strike Began. = By Emma Leslie. =Tales from the Russian of Madame Kubalensky. = By G. Jenner. =Cinderella's Cousin, and Other Stories. = By Penelope. =Their New Home. = By Annie S. Fenn. =Janie's Holiday. = By C. Redford. =A Boy Musician:= Or, the Young Days of Mozart. =Hatto's Tower. = By Mary C. Rowsell. =Fairy Lovebairn's Favourites. = By J. Dickinson. =Alf Jetsam:= or Found Afloat. By Mrs. George Cupples. =The Redfords:= An Emigrant Story. By Mrs. George Cupples. =Missy. = By F. Bayford Harrison. =Hidden Seed:= or, A Year in a Girl's Life. By Emma Leslie. =Ursula's Aunt. = By Annie S. Fenn. =Jack's Two Sovereigns. = By Annie S. Fenn. =A Little Adventurer:= or How Tommy Trefit went to look for his Father. By Gregson Gow. =Olive Mount. = By Annie S. Fenn. =Three Little Ones. = Their Haps and Mishaps. By C. Langton. =Tom Watkins' Mistake. = By Emma Leslie. =Two Little Brothers. = By M. Harriet M. Capes. =The New Boy at Merriton. = By Julia Goddard. =The Children of Haycombe. = By Annie S. Fenn. =The Cruise of the "Petrel. "= By F. M. Holmes. =The Wise Princess. = By M. Harriet M. Capes. =The Blind Boy of Dresden and his Sister. ==Jon of Iceland:= A Story of the Far North. =Stories from Shakespeare. ==Every Man In his Place:= Or a City Boy and a Forest Boy. =Fireside Fairies and Flower Fancies. = Stories for Girls. =To the Sea in Ships:= Stories of Suffering and Saving at Sea. =Jack's Victory:= and other Stories about Dogs. =Story of a King=, told by one of his Soldiers. =Prince Alexis=, or "Beauty and the Beast. "=Little Daniel:= a Story of a Flood on the Rhine. =Sasha the Serf:= and other Stories of Russian Life. =True Stories of Foreign History. =

 * * * * *

_THE ILLUSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT PRINTED IN COLOURS. _

4TO, ONE SHILLING EACH. 

=GORDON BROWNE'S SERIES OF OLD FAIRY TALES. =

1. HOP O' MY THUMB. 2. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 

Each book contains 32 pages 4to, and is illustrated on every page byPictures printed in colours. 

=THE NINEPENNY SERIES OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN. =

Neatly bound in cloth extra. Each contains 96 pages and a ColouredIllustration. 

 * * * * *

New Volumes. 

=Things will Take a Turn. = By Beatrice Harraden. =The Lost Thimble:= and other Stories. By Mrs. Musgrave. =Max or Baby:= the Story of a very Little Boy. By Ismay Thorn. =Jack-a-Dandy:= or the Heir of Castle Fergus. By E. J. Lysaght. =A Day of Adventures:= A Story for little Girls. By Charlotte Wyatt. =The Golden Plums=, and other Stories. By Frances Clare. 

=The Queen of Squats. = By Isabel Hornibrook. =Shucks:= A Story for Boys. By Emma Leslie. =Sylvia Brooke. = By M. Harriet M. Capes. =The Little Cousin. = By A. S. Fenn. =In Cloudland. = By Mrs. Musgrave. =Jack and the Gypsies. = By Kate Wood. =Hans the Painter. = By Mary C. Rowsell. =Little Troublesome. = By Isabel Hornibrook. =My Lady May:= And one other Story. By Harriet Boultwood. =A Little Hero. = By Mrs. Musgrave. =Prince Jon's Pilgrimage. = By Jessie Fleming. =Harold's Ambition:= Or a Dream of Fame. By Jennie Perrett. =Sepperl the Drummer Boy. = By Mary C. Rowsell. =Aboard the Mersey. = By Mrs. George Cupples. =A Blind Pupil. = By Annie S. Fenn. =Lost and Found. = By Mrs. Carl Rother. =Fisherman Grim. = By Mary C. Rowsell. 

 "The same good character pervades all these books. They are admirably adapted for the young. The lessons deduced are such as to mould children's minds in a good groove. We cannot too highly commend them for their excellence. "--_Schoolmistress. _

 * * * * *

=SOMETHING FOR THE VERY LITTLE ONES. =

Fully Illustrated with Woodcuts and Coloured Plates. 64 pp. , 32mo, cloth. Sixpence each. 

=Tales Easy and Small= for the Youngest of All. In no word will you seemore letters than three. By Jennett Humphreys. 

=Old Dick Grey= and Aunt Kate's Way. Stories in little words of not morethan four letters. By Jennett Humphreys. 

=Maud's Doll and Her Walk. = In Picture and Talk. In little words of notmore than four letters. By Jennett Humphreys. 

=In Holiday Time. = And other Stories. In little words of not more thanfive letters. By Jennett Humphreys. 

=Whisk and Buzz. = By Mrs. A. H. Garlick. 

=THE SIXPENNY SERIES FOR CHILDREN. =

Neatly bound in cloth extra. Each contains 64 pages and a Coloured Cut. 

=A Little Man of War. = By L. E. Tiddeman. =Lady Daisy. = By Caroline Stewart. =Dew. = By H. Mary Wilson. =Chris's Old Violin. = By J. Lockhart. =Mischievous Jack. = By A. Corkran. =The Twins. = By L. E. Tiddeman. =Pet's Project. = By Cora Langton. =The Chosen Treat. = By Charlotte Wyatt. =Little Neighbours. = By Annie S. Fenn. =Jim:= A Story of Child Life. By Christian Burke. =Little Curiosity:= Or, A German Christmas. By J. M. Callwell. =Sara the Wool-gatherer. = By W. L. Rooper. =Fairy Stories:= told by Penelope. =A New Year's Tale:= and other Stories. From the German. By M. A. Currie. =Little Mop:= and other Stories. By Mrs. Charles Bray. =The Tree Cake:= and other Stories. By W. L. Rooper. =Nurse Peggy, and Little Dog Trip. ==Fanny's King. = By Darley Dale. =Wild Marsh Marigolds. = By D. Dale. =Kitty's Cousin. = By Hannah B. Mackenzie. =Cleared at Last. = By Julia Goddard. =Little Dolly Forbes. = By Annie S. Fenn. =A Year with Nellie. = By A. S. Fenn. =The Little Brown Bird. ==The Maid of Domremy:= and other Tales. =Little Eric:= a Story of Honesty. =Uncle Ben the Whaler. ==The Palace of Luxury. ==The Charcoal Burner. ==Willy Black:= a Story of Doing Right. =The Horse and His Ways. ==The Shoemaker's Present. ==Lights to Walk by. ==The Little Merchant. ==Nicholina:= a Story about an Iceberg. 

 "A very praiseworthy series of Prize Books. Most of the stories are designed to enforce some important moral lesson, such as honesty, industry, kindness, helpfulness. "--_School Guardian. _

 * * * * *

=A SERIES OF FOURPENNY REWARD BOOKS. =

Each 64 pages, 18mo, Illustrated, in Picture Boards. 

=A Start in Life. = By J. Lockhart. =Happy Childhood. = By Aimée de Venoix Dawson. =Dorothy's Clock. = By Do. =Toddy. = By L. E. Tiddeman. =Stories about my Dolls. = By Felicia Melancthon. =Stories about my Cat Timothy. ==Delia's Boots. = By W. L. Rooper. =Lost on the Rocks. = By R. Scotter. =A Kitten's Adventures. = By Caroline Stewart. =Holidays at Sunnycroft. = By Annie S. Swan. =Climbing the Hill. = By Do. =A Year at Coverley. = By Do. =Phil Foster. = By J. Lockhart. =Papa's Birthday. = By W. L. Rooper. =The Charm Fairy. = By Penelope. =Little Tales for Little Children. = By M. A. Currie. =Worthy of Trust. = By H. B. Mackenzie. =Brave and True. = By Gregson Gow. =Johnnie Tupper's Temptation. = Do. =Maudie and Bertie. = Do. =The Children and the Water-Lily. = By Julia Goddard. =Poor Tom Olliver. = By Do. =Fritz's Experiment. = By Letitia M'Lintock. =Lucy's Christmas-Box. =

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, 49 OLD BAILEY, E. C. GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN. 

[Transcriber's Note: The following section was at the beginning of the bookin the original copy. ]

MR. HENTY'S HISTORICAL TALES. 

_Crown 8vo, Cloth elegant, Olivine edges. Each Book is beautifullyIllustrated. _

The Cat of Bubastes: A Story of Ancient Egypt. _5s. _

The Young Carthaginian: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. _6s. _

For the Temple: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. _6s. _

The Lion of St. Mark: A Story of Venice in the 14th Century. 6s. 

The Lion of the North: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Warsof Religion. _6s. _

In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boyduring the French Revolution. _5s. _

The Dragon and the Raven: Or, The Days of King Alfred. _5s. _

In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. _6s. _

St. George for England: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. _5s. _

Under Drake's Flag: A Tale of the Spanish Main. _6s. _

Orange and Green: A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. _5s. _

Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. _6s. _

The Bravest of the Brave: Or, With Peterborough in Spain. _5s. _

With Wolfe in Canada: Or, The Winning of a Continent. _6s. _

With Clive in India: Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. _6s. _

True to the Old Flag: A Tale of the American War ofIndependence. _6s. _

Through the Fray: A Story of the Luddite Riots. _6s. _

By Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti War. _5s. _

For Name and Fame: Or, Through Afghan Passes. _5s. _

LONDON: BLACKIE & SON: GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH.