nor opened his eyes more. Two physicians were instantly on the spot. Every means that medical skill could apply were used to produce some sign of revival, but in vain. For fourteen hours he continued to breathe, but lay pale and motionless as a statue, and at half past six o'clock, the ensuing morning, his mortal life became extinct. From that direful and afflicting moment, we have heard his sister say, who had never left his side, the scene of all human wishes, unconnected with his memory, closed upon her! She returned to England; but, the noble tree remained where it fell. "

B

THE BOAR-HUNT,

BY H. R. ADDISON.

I had heard so much of this exciting sport, I was so anxious to partake of the inspiring influence of this noble chase, that I was up and dressed a full hour too soon, awaiting Charles Fitzroy, who had agreed to come over and breakfast with me previous to starting, the powerful exercise we were about to undergo requiring the stamina-conferring preparation of a good meal. At the appointed time my friend arrived. Never had I seen him in such high spirits. After a few moments' pause he confided to me the cause of his joy. Maria Selby had consented to accept his hand. He had cut out at least a dozen envious rivals, and gained the love of one of the loveliest girls that ever visited India. I could not do

otherwise than congratulate him; at the same time I expressed my surprise that he could thus have left her even for a single day. With a look of triumph he assured me that so strong. was her attachment to him that she had even consented to be present at the sport; a fact of which he was not a little proud, since it gave him an opportunity of displaying his superior horsemanship (he was one of the finest equestrians in Bengal) in her loved presence.

Presently our horses came round, and we trotted off to the appointed place of meeting. On our way we argued about the distance it was possible to throw our spears. For a trifling bet Charles undertook to send his weapon completely across the river which ran beside us, and which was about a hundred yards wide. I accepted his challenge. He made the trial, and succeeded. The question now was, how to get back his spear. Fortunately we saw at a short distance a man about to cross the stream with his cows. The custom is to drive these animals into the water, which instantly swim across to their usual feeding-grounds, the owner holding on by the tail of one of them, which not only assists him in swimming, but scares away the alligators which here abound. A bargain was soon struck; for the sake of a few pyse (pence,) the native undertook to bring back the missile which Charley had so skilfully launched. In a few minutes more he

was

across the stream, and already held the javelin in his hand. The cows, however, who had willingly gone towards the rich pasture on the other side, sturdily refused to return; so the man was compelled to plunge in, and swim back as best he could. He was just about the middle, when we saw him make a sudden dart forward, almost out of the water, and utter a fearful scream. Again and again he called for help. I was about rushing in to his rescue, thinking he had been seized with sudden cramp, when I was suddenly laid hold of by my syse, who, with a face of terror, unable from agitation to speak, kept pointing to the river, Twice the cowherd disappeared, and as often rose, apparently struggling in great agony. A second object now became visible. Once it actually showed its wide jaws above the surface. The water

was instantly stained with blood. I turned away in sickening horror my pulses almost burst their bonds in terror and disgust. No help could be afforded; no aid could save the poor wretch. The scene was over; nothing but the encrimsoned current remained to tell us that we had been the unconscious cause of a fellow-being's death, who, for the sake of a few pence, perhaps to support a wife and children, now left destitute, had met with the most dreadful doom,had become the prey of the ferocious alligator.

Such an omen at starting was not likely to give us a great relish for our coming sport. When we joined our friends, we were melancholy, and unfit to partake of their noisy merriment; yet, as Miss Selby was present, and had come here purposely to meet Fitzroy, it was impossible to turn back or leave them; so, coute qui coute, we mingled with the group, and soon became engaged in the animating chase. Would that my pen could do justice to the inspiring boarhunt! Its dangers, its difficulties,-the scope it gives for showing dexterity both as a spearman and a rider,-the rate at which you traverse the unfrequented wilds of India, the excitement when the hog stands at bay, and only yields to the superior address of the bold sportsman, who risks his life in approaching him,-the very horse you bestride sharing in your triumph, though conscious of his peril; -all this, and more, gives zest to a chase, generally acknowledged to be the first in the world.

-

Charley, however, for some time hung back: the scene of the morning had cut him up terribly. I kept close to him. Having ridden out with him, I determined not to leave him, even though I lost the cream of the sport. Maria Selby, encouraged by her father, under his efficient protection, was at least a hundred yards in advance of us. The ground was uneven. We had to cross several nullahs (streams). This our fair protegée did with perfect safety, Charles Fitzroy, though unwilling to join her, on account of his low spirits, keeping her always in sight, A second hog had been sprung, and we were going at a rattling pace, when suddenly, as Miss Selby crossed a high ridge, so high as to shut her out

from sight, we heard her utter a loud cry. In a moment Fitzroy's spurs were in his horse's sides; like lightning he dashed after her, and with a sudden bound cleared the bank. A cry of terror-a shout of despair-and in the next instant I was beside him. How shall I paint the scene?-how shall I even touch upon it? She had fallen-Fitzroy's hunter had but too well cleared his leap-he had carried his rider across the ridge-his fore-feet had alighted on the chest of the poor girl, who now lay a corpse in the arms of him who would have sacrificed a thousand lives to have saved hers! while on the other side stood the maddened father, pouring out curses, calling down malediction on the head of his daughter's unintentional destroyer. For a while Fitzroy seemed to doubt the truth of what he beheld: he kept frantically calling to her who now lay dead in his arms. The father's revilings he

scarcely seemed to hear. Not a tear dimmed his eyes-his misery was beyond tears. His senses had temporarily yielded to the shock; for he continued calling on her in a frenzy of grief to look up and smile upon him. He suddenly seemed to recollect himself, and at a glance read the whole extent of his misery. He let the corpse gently down, and with a sudden spring wrenched my spear from my hand;-in the next instant he had driven it through his heart! He fell across the body of her whom he had destroyed,her whom he had loved so well. Their blood mingled in one stream. Their souls, it may be fairly hoped, arose together to a pitying' heaven!

(BENTLEY'S MYSCELLANY.)

*

SUDDEN FEAR.

BY H. R. ADDISON,

It is curious to remark the sudden effects of fear, the manner in which men of the most acknowledged courage are sometimes paralysed when taken by surprise, when hurried unawares, and threatened by a danger before they have time. to prepare for, and meet it.

Mr. C was once riding through Epping Forest, then frequently the scene of highway-robberies, caring for no one, fearing no harm, when he suddenly fell in with a couple of as pretty women as any in, the county of Essex. The ladies were in the greatest distress. They had just been robbed and plundered by a couple of footpads, armed with pistols and dirks, two men of enormous strength, who had gone off across the country, carrying with them the purses, watches, and trinkets of the fair damsels, whose postillion and manservant had not dared to interfere. Chad no weapon with him, except his riding-cane; he, however, clapped spurs to his horse, and started off in the direction pointed out. His pursuit was successful. He came up with the robbers, and single-handed seized them both, and lodged them in Chelmsford jail. They were tried, convicted, and transported.