the attempt, being determined to spare no pains in the pursuit. Company breeds courage. Several of the guests finding how matters stood, and that the encounter was not likely to be made single-handed, volunteered their attendance; so that I found some five or six stout fellows in my train, ere I had proceeded a dozen paces. The vanguard consisted of myself and the two lovers, the rest crept close in the rear, and in as broad a rank as the nature of the ground would permit. Luckily, I soon found the jutting bank, round which I had turned on my first view of the blazing interior I had just left. We marched onwards in silence, if I except an occasional whisper from one of the rearmost individuals, talking to his more fortunate neighbour in front, when he found his courage on the wane. Following for some time what appeared to be the marks of recent footsteps, I hoped, yet almost feared every moment, that I might stumble on the cold corpse of which we were in search. Suddenly I was alarmed by a person in the rear crying out that he saw something ap proaching us from his right, at the same time making a desperate attempt to take up a more advantageous position in front. This produced a universal uproar, each fighting for precedence, and each as thoroughly determined not to be the last. Finding that remonstrance had not the least chance of producing the desired effect, I turned aside in the direction to which the alarmist pointed, and the next minute I was overjoyed to find my recreant steed, quietly searching amongst the tufted moss and rushes for his supper. My companions knew not what to make of this fresh discovery. Some of them I believe eyed him with deep suspicion, and more than one glance was directed to his hoofs to see if they were not cloven. Order, however, being re-established, we again set forward with what proved a very useful addition to our train. We travelled in this manner to a considerable distance, and I was hesitating whether or not to give up the search when I was again aware of the peculiar snort by which my horse had on a former occasion manifested his terror. With difficulty I got him forward a few paces, when he stood still, his head drawn back as if from some object that lay in his path. My blood grew cold. I knew the cause of his terror, and bidding one of the attendants to secure the bridle, I proceeded onwards a few paces, followed by the maiden and her lover, who, to give him his due, showed a tolerable share of courage, at least, in the presence of his mistress. I immediately recognised the spot, and there unmoved, lay the bloody carcase. The girl started back when she beheld the grim and ghastly features, horribly drawn together, and convulsed in their last agony. We raised the body from its cold bed, throwing it across the horse, though not without a determined opposition on the part of the animal, who seemed extremely loth to receive his burden. After covering it with a cloak, we made the best of our way back to the tavern, followed in silence by the affrighted helpmates of our journey. On arriving at the house, I found the only vacant apartment wherein I could deposit my charge, was a narrow loft over the outhouse, the entrance to which was both steep and dangerous. With the assistance of my two friends, it was, however, safely deposited on a miserable pallet, and covered with a tattered blanket. When returned I found the guest-room deserted; the old woman to whom the tavern belonged, the mother of my female companion, was hastily removing the drinking utensils, and preparing for an immediate decamp to the only apartment above stairs fitted up as a bed-chamber. She kindly offered me the use of it for the night, but this piece of self deprivation I could

not allow; and, throwing my coat over a narrow bench, I drew it near the fire, determining to snatch what little repose I could without robbing the good woman and her daughter of their night's comfort.

It was now past midnight, but sleep was out of the question, as I lay ruminating on the events of the few past hours. The inexplicable fate of the murdered wretch, so mysteriously committed to my care, was manifestly, as I thought, an imperative call to the discovery of some foul and horrible crime. Providence had, from wise, but inscrutable motives, made use of the supernatural in its revelation of the deed, and I, apparently, was chosen as the agent for the accomplishment of its designs. A higher tone of feeling seemed to pervade my faculties,-a strength of mind to which I had hitherto been a stranger. My spirit seemed strung to the pitch of some mighty enterprize, and I resolved, when day returned, that the necessary steps should be taken; determining to compass sea and land, ere I relaxed in the pursuit.

It was

So absorbed was I in my project, that I scarcely heard the storm which had so long threatened, now bursting forth, until one wild gust that seemed to rush by as if it would have swept the dwelling from its foundation, put an end to these air-built anticipations. I watched the rattling casements, expecting every moment they would give way, and the bending thatch be rent from its hold. Involuntarily I arose and approached the window. pitchy dark, but the roar of the sea, groaning under the terrific sweep of the tempest, was truly awful. Never had I heard so terrible a conflict,-nature seemed approaching to her doom,-the insatiable demons of anarchy and ruin, let loose uncontrolled upon the wide elements, urging a resistless war on the defenceless and impotent objects beneath their power. I knew not how soon I might be compelled to quit my unstable shelter. The very earth shook, and I expected every gust would rase the frail tenement to its foundations. The eddying and unequal pressing of the wind had heaped a huge sand drift against the walls, which probably contributed, in some measure, to their support. Vast accumulations of gravel and earthy matter were driven about, and tossed with frightful impetuosity against the casement, so that I almost anticipated a living inhumation; the cottage ere morning rendered invisible under a heap of rubbish, the debris of earth and ocean. The next blast, however, swept away the greater portion of the loose deposit, and made room for a fresh torrent that poured upon the quaking roof, like the rush of a heavy sea over a ship's bulwarks.

I was not doomed to be left companionless in the midst of my alarms. The old woman, accompanied by her daughter, too much terrified to remain alone, came down from their hiding-place, which being closer to the thatch, was more exposed to the fierce beat of the tempest. A light was struck, and the dying embers once more kindled into a blaze. The old woman, whom I could not but regard with emotions of awe and curiosity, sat crooning over the flame, her withered hands half covering her furrowed cheeks,―a starting gleam occasionally lighting upon her grey and wasted locks, that hung matted in wild elf-knots about her temples. Often she would turn her head, as the wind came hurrying on, and the loud rush of the tempest went past her dwelling; she seemed to gaze upon it as though it were peopled, and she beheld the ' sightless couriers of the blast' careering in the storm; then, with a mutter and a groan, she again partially covered her face, rocking to and fro to the chant of some wild but unintelligible ditty. Her daughter sat nearly motionless, hearkening to every

turn of the blast; and as it came bellowing on, she appeared to shrink, and huddled closer into the chimney-corner, into which she had crept for protection.

Such nights are not often known in these regions ?' said I, taking advantage as I spoke of a slight abatement in the din without.

The old woman made no answer; but the daughter bending forwards as she spoke, replied slowly, and with great solemnity, Mother has seen the death-lights dancing upon the black scud-Some that ha' seen the sun gang down upon the waters, winna see him rise fro' the hill-top i' the ruddy mornin!' Is your mother a seer, then, my pretty maiden ?' Ye're but a stranger, I guess, 'at does'nt ken Bridget o' the Sandyholm. Save us, she's hearkening again for the’

'There-over'—the old woman raised her hands whilst she spoke, and bent her head in the attitude of attention and eager expectation. I listened too, but could discover no other sound that the heavy swing of the blast and its receding growl.

Again!'-as she said this, Bridget rose from the low stool she had occupied, and hobbled towards the window. I fancied I then heard a signal given, as from some vessel in distress; but ere I could communicate this to my companions, another, and a nearer roll from the fatal gun, silenced all conjecture. It was indeed but too evident that a vessel was in the offing, and rapidly driving on the shore, from the increasing distinctness of the signals. Old Bridget stood by the window, her dim and anxious eyes peering through the casement, as if she could discern the fearful and appalling spectacle upon the dark billows.

You're lost-you're lost-poor wretehes,' she cried, as a heavy roll of the wind brought another report with amazing distinctness to the ear. 'And now the death-shriek,—another—another !-Ye drop into the deep waters, and the gulf is not yet gorged with its prey. Bridget Robson, girl and woman, has never seen the blue dancers, but she has heard the sea-gun follow, and the red sand covered with the spoil! 'Wench,' she cried, raising her voice almost to a scream,' wench, take not of the prey; 'tis accursed-what the wave spews, they that lick may be like to vomit.' The beldame drew back after uttering this coarse anathema, and again resumed her station by the hearth.

The storm now seemed to have spent its fury; and as if satisfied with the catastrophe just now consummating, it grew comparatively calm. The gusts came on fitfully, like the closing sobs of some fretful and peevish babe, not altogether ceasing with the indulgence of its wishes. As I stood ruminating on the probable havock this terrible night had witnessed, the maiden touched my arm. Sir, will ye gang down to the shore? Ise warrant the neighbours are helping, an' we may save a life though we canna gie't.' She had wrapped herself in a thick cloak, the hood thrown forward, and the lanthorn again put into requisition, and fitted up for immediate service. Thus accoutred, we opened the door with considerable difficulty, and waded slowly through the heavy sand-drifts towards the beach; clouds, huge, and mountain-piled were rolling across the sky; a dark scud sweeping over their huge tops here and there, faintly illuminated by the moon. She was yet obscured, but a wild and partial light, usually seen after the breaking up of a storm, just served to shew the outline of objects not too remote from the sphere of vision. My companion undertook the office of guide, and soon brought me to an opening in the

low hills that led directly down to the beach. Immediately I saw lights before us moving to and fro, the busy hum of voices came upon the wind, and forms were indistinctly seen hurrrying backwards and forwards upon the very verge of the white foam, boiling from the huge billows. Hastening to the spot, we found a number of fishermen, their wives assisting in the scrutiny, carefully examining the fragments of some vessel which the waves were from time to time casting up, and throwing with heavy lunges upon the shore. Either for purposes of plunder, or ostensibly for some more honest motive, several packages were conveyed away, after the parties had prudently examined their contents. My companion ran into the thickest of the group, anxiously inquiring the fate of the crew, and if any lives had been preserved. 'I guess,' cried an old hard-featured sinner, they be where they'll need no looking to. Last blast o' wind, six weeks agone come St. Barnaby, I gied my cabin to the lady and her babies, an' the pains I waur like to ha' got for my labour. I didn't touch a groat till the parson gied me a note out o' the 'scription. But I may gang home gaily to-night, there's no live lumber here to stow into my loft; the fishes ha' had the pick o' the whole company this bout.'

Canna we get the boats? I can pull an oar, Darby, thee knows, wi' the best on 'em.' 'Boats!' exclaimed Darby, ne'er a boat could live, but wi' the keel upmost. I'se not the chap neither to go to old Davy pickled i' brine broth, my bonny Kate,'

'There's a greedy glid; I'se go ask Simon Stockfish, but I warrant thou'll be hankering after the reward, an' the biggest share to thy own clutches.' She turned away from the incensed fisherman, and on proceeding to a little distance, we found a knot of persons gathered round a halfdrowned wretch, who owed his arrival upon terra firma to having been lashed to a beam which the sea had just thrown ashore. Almost fainting from cold and fatigue, he was nevertheless undergoing a severe cross-questioning from the bye-standers, each anxious to know the name of the ship, whither bound, and the particulars of the disaster.' He replied to their interrogations with considerable difficulty, and entreated they would convey him to some place of rest and refreshment. I begged of them to restrain their impertinent curiosity, and assist in removing him to the hut I had just left. The call was obeyed with considerable alacrity, and I soon had the satisfaction of finding the poor fellow before a comfortable fire, his clothes drying, and his benumbed limbs chafed until the circulation was again restored. A tumbler of grog was now despatched, and he appeared rapidly recovering from his fatigues. I now found that he was the captain of the vessel just wrecked on the coast, and he shook his head when I inquired after the fate of her crew.

'A score of as good hands are gone to the bottom as ever unreefed a clean topsail, or hung out a ship's canvass to the wind. I saw them all go down before I lashed myself to the jib-boom.'

He groaned deeply, but speedily assuming a gayer tone, requested a quid and a quiet hammock. My lights are near stove in, my head hangs as loose as a skipper shrouds; but a night's sleep will make all taught again.' Old Bridget was gone to bed, and unless the sailor chose to occupy the straw pallet at present in the possession of a guest, whose mysterious arrival seemed to be the harbinger of confusion and disaster, there did not seem to be any chance of his obtaining a birth, save in his present uncomfortable settlement. I told him of the dilemma we were in from

having a corpse in the house, and the only spare bed engaged in the last services to the departed.

'We can move the body fro' the bed,' said Kate; it winna take harm upo' the hard chest i' the far nook there, beside the ladder; he'll may-be not sleep waur for quiet company.'

The sailor did not seem to relish the idea even of so tempting a companion, and it was eventually agreed that we should pilot him through the outhouse into the loft, where the dead body lay, and help the miserable pallet to a change of occupants. The corpse was to be stowed below upon some clean litter, the depot of bedding left for the cattle.

We set off without loss of time to conduct the stranger to his dormitory. It was an outhouse used as a temporary shelter for the cows, and the room above was formerly a portion of the hay-loft, until converted into an occasional sleeping-room for the humble applicants who sometimes solicited a night's lodging at the Sandy-holm. The ascent was by a crazy ladder, and so steep, that I was afraid we should find some difficulty in helping our enfeebled guest into his lodging.

It was my intention to have prevented him from getting a sight of the ghastly object that occupied his couch, but, pressing foremost, he ran up the ladder with surprising agility, gaining the top almost ere I had commenced my preparations for the ascent. I cautiously mounted, and giving him the light whilst I made good my landing, he went directly, though unconsciously, towards the bed. I had set my foot on the floor, and was offering assistance to Kate, who had to contend with the difficulties without the aid of her favourite lanthorn, when I heard a dismal and heart-sickening shriek. Starting round, I beheld the stranger gazing on the couch, his eye-balls almost bursting from their sockets, and the most intense expression of horror and amazement visible in his countenance. I ran to him--the light dropped from his grasp. Recovering it ere it fell, I saw his eyes fixed upon the corpse, as if they were rivetted on its livid and terrific features, My limbs stiffened as I gazed, --Imaginings of strange import were crowding on my mind, but I knew not how to shape the ideas into form, as I stood trembling and appalled, before the dark chaos from whence they sprang. Though scarce knowing what I said, I well remember the inquiry that burst from my lips. Know'st thou that murdered wretch ?' The words were scarcely uttered, when the conscience-stricken criminal exclaimed--' Know him!- Yesterday he sat at my helm--I had long owed him a grudge, and I vowed revenge--the devil prompted it--he stood at my elbow--it was dark--the fiend's eye flashed as I raised my arm for the blow --the weapon descended with a heavy crash, and the body rolled overboard! He never spoke again, save once, it was when his mangled carcase rose to the surface of the waters, that I heard a faint moan. It rang on my my brain like the knell of death--the voice rushed past--a low sepulchral shout--in my very ear it echoed the cry of Murder!

Little now remains to be told -he persisted to the last in this confession --he had no wish to live--and the avenging arm of retributive justice closed the world and its interests for ever on a wretch who had forfeited its protection, been cast out, and judged unworthy of a name and place amongst his fellow men.