now beginning to be excited by the brandy, he exclaimed intemperately" Well, I will go,—and, I hope my presence there may turn to a curse upon my proud-my insulting master!" He rang the bell for his horse, and prepared eagerly to depart.

Shall I tell the master you are gone to Pittwater ?" asked Martin, as Edgar mounted his horse.

You may tell him I'm gone to the d-l, if you like!" was the angry young man's answer, as, thrusting his spurs into the horse's sides, he galloped swiftly on towards the river.

A ferry-boat was just ready-late as it was-to start for Kangaroo Point; and Edgar and his horse were speedily on their way across the harbour. To a beautiful day had succeeded a cool and lovely evening,―rendered still more delightful by a bright, unclouded moon. I know nothing,—save the endearing sympathy and caresses of woman-better calculated to soothe the stormy and troubled spirit, than soft moonlight upon the still waters; and as the ferry-boat moved slowly to the measured strokes of the rowers,-and the cool breeze blew refreshingly over Edgar's heated brow, his excitement was calmed, his spirit soothed and softened, till tears of bitter anguish gushed from his eyes, and he wept, like a very girl. "Why," he thought-"why-am I to be always, thus, the mere sport and slave of fortune? I have striven-I have done, more than many could, or would have done-to please my proud-my high-minded master, and all-all-in vain! Oh! Isabel! Isabel! It was all for thee-my lovely-my beloved!"

Bitterly did Edgar weep, as, bending over the bows of the buoyant boat, he gazed abstractedly upon the transparent bosom of the clear and chrystal Derwent. Scenes of former happiness, of longpast peace-flitted rapidly across his memory; and days and months and years of happy days, gone by, pressed-almost to madness--on his throbbing brain. "And I am, here, an outcast" he continued, disgraced-discarded-and by one, whom I would have worshipped, nay, whom I have worshipped; and for his worth alone! What am I now? A wretch-a runaway!-God help me!"

"Let go the sheet!" discordantly exclaimed one of the boatmen, as a gust of wind swept swiftly over the boat; for the evening being fine, and the wind fair, a clumsy lug-sail had been set, to lighten the labours of the rowers.

The words were spoken but in time, for a gust of wind from the "Big Hill," rushed swiftly and furiously across the river, changing its pellucid and smooth surface into white and angry foam.

"By the hookey, Tom!" said the former speaker, who was at the helm-" I saved you just in time :-pull down the old sail, and let's trust to our oars, for there's a smart sou'-wester a-coming, I know."

And the steersman was right. The moon, hitherto bright and undimmed by speck or shadow, was now seen struggling, as it were, amidst the dark and gathering clouds; for one of those swift and

sudden tempests,-so common in the southern hemisphere-was quickly brewing-its approach being announced by fitful gusts of wind-each succeeding gust becoming more violent, and longer in duration.

"Will your horse stand quiet, Sir?" asked the steersman—an experienced, and, taking him altogether, a tolerably steady, man "because, if he gets riotous, like, he'll may-be capsize the boat." This was no idle question, for the horse,―a young and spirited animal-evinced sundry symptoms of disquiet and alarm, as the boat, ever and anon, reeled and lurched to the wind; and Edgar, seeing this, went to the animal, and held him tightly by the bridle, cheering him, all the time, with words of familiar encouragement. A long and vivid flash of lightening now rushed through the air, followed by a loud, but short clap of thunder,—to the evident discomfort, if not danger, of our party. Absorbed in his own reflections, young Walton had not observed the number or description of his compagnons du voyage; but, now, having his attention awakened, he saw, that some two or three individuals were closely huddled together in the stern-sheets of the boat. Amongst these was a female, who, closely covered up in a cloak, seemed extremely terrified, shrinking, and, sometimes, screaming, as the agitated waters dashed over the low and narrow gunwale of the frail bark. On these occasions, one of her companions, in terms more coarse and surly, than the occasion seemed to demand, bade the frightened damsel be quiet, and seemed to be considerably disturbed and irritated by her terror and alarm. Our hero, whose gallantry was at all times easily awakened, felt half inclined to quarrel with the morose bully, who seemed to entertain no adequate regard for his fair companion but he had been long enough in the Colony to know full well, that any interference on his part might only lead to a disturbance, without in any degree benefitting the object of his compassion.

In the mean time the storm raged with considerable violence, and the gale from the south-west, notwithstanding every exertion of the boatmen, was blowing the boat out towards the sea.

His

"This is a pretty consarn," said the old helmsman, as he endeavoured, in vain, to bring the boat's head to the wind;—" if the gale do'nt give us the go-by, we'll be in Ralph's Bay in ten minutes : pull away, my lads, pull away-we'll get ashore somewhere, I warrant." But the men, who had been rowing hard all the time, were tired, and almost exhausted; and Edgar, at once, proposed that he and the man in the stern sheets, should relieve the rowers. proposal was received with alacrity by all but his proposed colleague, who grumbled most audibly at the task imposed upon him. Nevertheless, to a whisper from the female, he responded, gruffly-" You be d-d for a stupid fool!" and, immediately took an oar, which, in conjunction with our young friend, he plied so stoutly, that the boat soon recovered her course, and, in despite, as it were, of the

furious elements, she neared one of the little bays in Clarence Plains, to the great joy and exultation of the steersman, and the satisfaction of her little crew. Once under the land, their labor was comparatively light, and now their object was to secure a favourable landing-place. The coast was well known to the old helmsman, who made for one of those snug and sheltered nooks, with which each shore of the Derwent abounds. "That's the go!" said the old man, as, by a dexterous turn of the tiller, he turned the prow of the boat right on to the centre of a little cove, where the water was as smooth as a quiet mountain-lake. 'We'll do now, lads!" he continued, as he ran the boat right into the bay; and, having done so, he rubbed his hands in actual ecstacy. 'A woman overboard!" was the cry, as the boat, striking against the shore, jirked out the terrified female already mentioned; and, looking round, Edgar Walton perceived the unfortunate fair one struggling in the water. He did not stop to reflect, but, jumped, at once, into the river, and, seizing the woman by her cloak, easily succeeded, in safely landing her.

66

A low, guttural laugh was the first acknowledgment he received for his kindness;-the next was a strong grasp of a rough right hand, with" Thank you for this, Master Walton: I'll not forget it, but perhaps remember it to your good: remember the pass word 'LUSHY,' and, when you want him, ask for Jack Neale. Farewell!" And the disguised runaway gathering his cloak about him, joined his companion, and bent his steps towards the nearest public-house at Kangaroo Point.

Mounting his horse, Edgar rode on, also, pondering thoughtfully on the strange discovery he had made, relating to the supposed female fellow-passenger, and, more than ever, bewildered as to his own conduct, and destination. To proceed to Pitt-water, however, was his decided resolution, and towards that thriving settlement he rode, accordingly. As he was slowly descending a narrow and abrupt gully in the road, he heard behind him-borne on the evening breeze" the jocund sounds of careless glee," mingled with the tramp of horses' hoofs. One voice seemed to rise above the others, and that voice Edgar thought was familiar to him: he, therefore, checked his horse, and patiently awaited the arrival of the travellers. They soon joined him, and presented to his scrutiny three very smartly dressed men, well-mounted, and apparently in high glee. They respectfully saluted him, and one of them entered into conversation on the weather, the state of the country, and, above all, the very particular state of that particular district, at that particular period.

"Perhaps, Sir," said the spokesman-" you are a stranger in these here parts, if so, I'd be glad to show you a little light upon the subject."

"I thank you :" replied Edgar-" I have been here before!"

"Oh! has you? Well-I did'nt know-but, I hope no offence, Sir ?"

"None, in the least, my good fellow!" answered Edgar, not very much pleased, however, with his companions; and, spurring on his horse, he evinced, by so doing, a wish to escape from them.

But they were not to be so readily evaded: they spurred on their horses, also, and kept ready pace with our hero.

"I do not half like this close quartering," thought Edgar, as he heard the pattering of the horses' hoofs behind him :-" nor do I much fancy my fellow-travellers; nevertheless, I will not let them know it," and checking his horse, he proceeded at a slower pace. To his great satisfaction, however, the three horsemen galloped swiftly by him, and, with a "Good night to you, Sir!" passed on their way, and were speedily out of sight and hearing.

Edgar, relieved from a companionship he by no means coveted, pursued his journey more at ease; and before ten o'clock, reached Mr. St. Clair's estate at Pittwater. Rousing the servants, he surprised them by his sudden and unexpected appearance, and, having refreshed himself after his journey, he retired to rest, to dream of his adored and adoring Isabel.

A BALLAD.

The night is closing round, Mother!
The shadows are thick and deep!
All round me they cling, like an iron ring,
And I cannot-cannot sleep!

Ah, Heaven!-thy hand, thy hand, Mother!
Let me lie on thy nursing breast!

They have smitten my brain with a piercing pain;

But 'tis gone!-and I now shall rest.

I could sleep a long long sleep, Mother I
So, seek me a calm cool bed:

You may lay me low, in the virgin snow,
With a moss bank for my head.

I would lie in the wild wild woods, Mother!
Where nought but the birds are known;
Where nothing is seen, but the branches green,
And flow'rs on the green sward strewn.

No lovers there witch the air, Mother!
Nor mock at the holy sky:

One may live and be gay, like a summer day,
And at last, like the Summer-die!

EPITAPH,

(From a Tomb-stone iu the Church-yard of Ballyporeen.}

And my spirit at aise is,

With the tips of my toes,

And the point of my nose

Turn'd up to the roots of the daisies!

SONG.

When friends look dark and cold,
And maids neither laugh nor sigh,
And your enemy proffers his gold,
Be sure there is danger nigh-

O, then 'tis time to look forward,
And back, like the hunted hare;
And to watch, as the little bird watches,
When the falcon is in the air.
When the trader is scant of words,
And your neighbour is rough or shy,
And your banker recalls his hoards,
Be sure there is danger nigh.

O, then 'tis time to look forward, &c.
Whenever a change is wrought,
And you know not the reason why,
In your own or an old friend's thought,
Be sure there is evil nigh.

O, then 'tis time to look forward, &c.

THE FRENCH EXECUTIONER.

An executioner can never be fairly appreciated, because he is covered with a veil of eternal prejudice. At his name people shudder and draw closer together, as if listening to a ghost story in the great hall of a gothic castle. The name is associated with blood and murder.

I had long anxiously desired to be acquainted with this terrible functionary. I was anxious to see him in his own house, and surrounded by his family-to hear him speak of his dreadful duties, and utter sounds of human language. Knowing no one who could introduce me to him, I determined to introduce myself, and one morning bent my steps, not indeed without emotion, towards the Rue des Marais du Temple.

Arrived at No. 31 bis, I saw that it was a small house, protected by iron railings, whose interstices closed by wood prevented the eye from penetrating into the interior. There is no opening to these railings; the entrance to the sanctuary is through a small door contiguous to them, on the right side of which there is a bell. In the middle of the door an iron slit, like those at the post-offices, receives the letters sent by the Procureur Général to the executioner. I gently rung the bell; the door was opened, and a tall athletic