embankment, and deserted cottage, over the plain, as to prevent our distinguishing anything so distant. Still, placing implicit faith in A-sing's declaration, we concluded that an Imperialist stockade or entrenchment was in front.

Very slowly, and very cautiously indeed, we now stole forward. And this stealing along, be it remembered, was a serious matter.

Busy nocturnal insects, loud-mouthed frogs, shrilly-chirping cicadas, kept up a noise all around, just sufficient to prevent one hearing any slight sound indicative of approaching danger. Startled from their roosting-places amongst the shrubs of the narrow strip of land along which we advanced,

gongs, came pealing through the still night air, not only in our rear, but far away in the paddy-fields on either flank.

Numerous lights appeared advancing rapidly towards us from the same directions, and, our fears lending us inspiration, we knew that our presence had been somehow discovered, that our retreat was cunningly cut off, and that the merciless Imperialists were close at hand.

Standing for a moment in a startled, hesitating group, we then saw that the only apparent way of escape was to continue straight on towards the city, past the left bank of the stockade. We knew that the noise behind was being made to terrify

feathered things of varied size flew out, every now and then, with a loud, sudden, and alarming violence. Night birds flew across our path like frightened spectres-a momentary sound, then the rushing whirr of wings. A lonely bittern, disturbed from its nest at some dank spot, startled us all by the abrupt, long, piercing, and peculiar note of its melancholy cry. At frequent intervals, with a rush and a bound, sending each hand to hilt or pistol-butt, out from its burrow in the restingplaces of the ancient dead, would plunge some wild animal.

About the first hour of the night had passed, and lying down, we had wriggled along like snakes in the tall, rank grass for nearly a hundred yards, to within considerably less than a quarter of a mile of what we now plainly saw, despite the clouds before the moon, was a very extensive stockaded entrenchment, when, with a frightfully startling and sudden crash, the loud, incessant klang-ng-ng klang-klang, the brazen reverberation of innumerable Chinese

and confuse us, so as to diminish our chances of flight, and drive us nearer to Soong-kong; but, nevertheless, off we dashed, keeping close together, at the top of our speed.

Just as the loud whoops and outcries of the yelling pursuers in our rear told that we were seen, a dense mass of soldiers started up across our path, and came towards us from the stockade.

"To the right! to the right!" cried A-sing, his quick eyes detecting the only direction clear of the

enemy.

But it was evident they would be able to intercept our flight, so that to sell our lives dearly seemed all we could do.

"Foreign brethren," said our other Taiping comrade, a veteran officer, grown grey in fighting the Imperialists, " don't surrender! They show no mercy. Fight! fight!" saying which he fired off his heavy double-barrelled pistols into the advancing crowd, bringing down an enemy at each shot, then threw them away, drew his long Chinese

"Good-bye, old boy," said Jack, squeezing my hand, just as he began to blaze away with his revolver. Returning the parting pressure, I bade my old friend adieu, deeming our lease of life but infinitesimal, took aim at the nearest brave-a huge fellow rushing upon me with a great trident spear -and the next moment found myself cutting and hacking away with my sabre amidst a swarm of assailants.

The rapid detonation of our revolvers had ceased,

Directly he had seen us, this renegade, Ching, now a general in the Imperial service, had made a very horrible and significant gesture-a chopping movement with his right hand-to our guards, uttering the single word "Sar!" (cut, or kill); but when he found that our companion recognised him, and heard his insulting exclamation, he cried— "Ling-chee the spies!"

This meant that we were to be tortured to death

there was a confused clash of steel for a moment or two (the enemy not using fire-arms), during which I saw the gallant A-sing succeed in cutting his way through the braves, and then, in the midst of that savage leaping, yelling, fiend-like mob, we were beaten bleeding to the earth, and dragged along to the stockade by dozens of eager, clutching hands.

Our only hope now consisted in the slender chance that we might not be instantly executed, and that A-sing might escape, when the Se-wong would, perhaps, try to rescue us.

The moment we saw the commanding mandarin, and were forced down on our knees before him, the brave old Lin Tzu-quai, one of the Se-wong's captains of the guard, our companion in misfortune, exclaimed aloud

as spies, by the horrible mode of punishment known as the "ling-chee," or "cutting into ten thousand pieces."

The surrounding braves set up a savage shout of joy, and eagerly began to drag us towards the centre of their extensive entrenchment.

Bleeding and faint from spear-stabs and the blows of muskets, we were dragged to a large open space, and tied up to some cross-shaped posts, near to half a dozen huddled-up figures on the ground. These we saw were other unfortunate Taipings, lately captured, and among them we regretted to see a young girl.

By the dull red light of numerous paper lanterns held by willing hands, we were all three firmly bound to the wooden pillars; then the savagelooking officer in command made a sign to the executioners-hideous-looking men, clad in red garments, and wearing tall hats of a peculiar shape, with two long feathers standing up from the sides and the six prostrate figures, having their hands

papers :

"APPEAL.

BRITISH WASHERWOMAN'S-ORPHANS' HOME. "The Washerwoman's-Orphans' Home has now been established seven years, and the good which it has effected is, it may be confidently stated, incalculable. Ninety-eight orphan children of Washerwomen have been lodged within its walls. One hundred and two British Washerwomen have been relieved when in the last stage of decay. ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHT THOUSAND articles of male and female dress have been washed, mended, buttoned, ironed, and mangled in the tablishment. And, by an arrangement with the

| we appeal. Is there one of you that will not respond to the cry in behalf of these deserving members of our sex?

"It has been determined by the Ladies-Patronesses to give a fête at Beulah Spa, on Thursday, July 25; which will be graced with the first foreign and native TALENT; by the first foreign and native RANK; and where they beg for the attendance of every WASHERWOMAN'S FRIEND."

Her Highness the Princess of Schloppenzollernschwigmaringen, the Duke of Sacks-Tubbingen, His Excellency Baron Strumpff, His Excellency Lootf-Allee-Koolee-Bismillah-Mohamed-RusheedAllah, the Persian Ambassador, Prince FutteeJaw, Envoy from the King of Oude, His Excellency Don Alonzo di Cachachero-y-Fandango-y-Casta