every thing I ever knew; they will be formidable enemies in another half century, if they go on improving in this fashion."

"With all due submission, Sir," returned Wildgust, "I think they never can be brought to understand the advantages of steady discipline; and though admirable in imitation, they possess little invention of their own."

"Perhaps so-perhaps so,"-responded the Commander, directing his glass towards a body of troops. "Ayah, old boy-why there's a mandarin cutting as many capers as would serve for all the legs of mutton in Europe-and now there's another, and another-fine portly fellows they are, too-but really, in that dress, they look like so many women."

"And that, I suppose, is the reason that the sailors always want to get to close quarters with them," remarked an army officer. "We shall have some warm work there."

Pearson had borrowed the mate's spy-glass, and was occasionally surveying the part of the city where the dwelling of his charmer was situated. Fervid remembrances conjointly occupied his mind with the necessary attention to his several duties (for though still weak, he superintended the various operations of the seamen), and the apprehensions that the place, which now looked more formidable than ever, would have to be stormed, and the safety of the females endangered, gave him serious uneasiness.

"It will be sharp work for the eyes, Jack," said he to Moberly, as he alternately gave orders and then ranged his sight along the line of coast-defences. "There's hardly opening enough to stick a marlinspike atwixt them batteries. And," raising the glass, "where will she be, poor thing? perhaps already slipt her cables for t'other world." To a man in the fore-chains-"Slue that shroud more round, and bring the dead-eye to its proper place, Jem." To Moberly-"Oh! it's a misfortunate matter for me, Jack, as would have married her off-hand." To a top-man-" Make a long splice of it, Joe, and turn the ends well in."

"I'm thinking, Sir," returned Moberly, "that them there forts will be only as so many nuts in our teeth-easily cracked."

"Nuts! eh Jack ?" said the boatswain.

"They will be wall-nuts, then," remarked Wildgust, who had overheard the remark, and would not miss his joke. "You must get some sacks made up, Pearson, for there will be a few more Tartars to bag there;" he applied the glass to his eye-"I wish I had that old fellow of the red button, that's sporting his huge figure on yon fort—I should like to carry that embroidered gown home to my

old mother-how the gold glistens upon it—we should want a double sack for him, Pearson-he's of high pin,* too.

"Mayhap a belaying pin, your honour," remarked the boatswain's mate with a grin; "I wants to pin one on 'em myself. I've got as many tails in my bag as ud set up any barber in Plymouth in the way of business—and to my idea, when we once gets among them fellows ashore, we shan't want for sinnet during the rest of the cruise.”

"Sinnet, ah?" sighed the boatswain, as he thought of the damsel's plaited hair; and worked his fingers as if he was engaged in manufacturing the article named. Further conversation was, however, prevented, by the stentorian voice of the Lieutenant exclaiming, "Up anchor-topmen aloft, loose sails."

In an instant all was bustle, and it was at first conjectured that Mr. Bulfit purposed playing a rubber of bowls with the forts and war-junks, of which latter there were about twenty in Chusan harbour; but when the anchor was clear of the ground, the sails, were trimmed for sea, and it was then ascertained that the Mercury was going to look after the Admiral.

The soldier officers were greatly annoyed at this, for I never knew a soldier yet that was partial to a ship's decks. They longed to be marching and counter-marching on shore, where they could get good foothold, and stand steady. But unfortunately, that very night they encountered one of the heavy squalls which are common in the Chinese seas; and though the accommodations for the troops in the Mercury were much superior to those on board the transports, yet in the blackness of the raging typhoon, the poor fellows were not only filled with dread, as the vessel careened till her lee gangway was buried in the waves, but also nearly suffocated by the dense atmosphere below; the circulation of air being entirely stopped by the battening down of the tarpaulins over the hatches.

Happily, Mr. Bulfit had made every preparation to meet the emergency, and as far as human efforts could prevail, the hand of practical seamanship had left nothing undone. But the vessel was much strained; two of the main chain-plates parted, and considerable damage was done to other parts of both wood and iron-work. A continuance of strong winds and heavy gales for three days succeeded the squall; but though the Commander was indefatigable in making temporary repairs, yet when the severity of the weather

* There are nine grades of distinction in China, amongst men of rank; and these grades are named "Kew pin”—(the nine ranks)—the "pin," or rank, is known by the colour of the small globe on the summit of the cap, and a badge borne on the breast and on the back.

abated he deemed it expedient to make for a small inhabited island on the coast, where his artificers might be set to work, and all defects remedied.

It was a pretty-looking spot, near the entrance of a large river, that he had thus chosen, and the population was in rather better condition than the generality of such places afforded; it had, in fact, been the accustomed resort of piratical vessels, who at first merely exchanged the produce of their rogueries for the necessaries of life, but subsequently established a regular commerce with agents sent from the cities to make purchases.

The island rose in a conical form, its summit crowned with a fivestory pagoda, having brass bells suspended from the corners of each eave-large on the basement story, but diminishing as they ascended, and when put in motion by the wind, sending forth sounds that were not unmusical. The temple itself was richly decorated, and glistened brightly in the sun. The white houses had a very picturesque appearance, as they laid scattered amongst beautiful foliage and well-cultivated soil. The anchorage was in a narrow bay, having at its entrance a fort of six guns on either side. Troops were also visible upon the ramparts and in a small encampment, and on nearing the batteries a few shot were fired at the Mercury, which whistled past her harmlessly, and were unnoticed till the ship got well abreast of them, when discharging both broadsides, the noise of the artillery-the rattling of the death-dealing missiles and the reverberating sounds amongst the clefts of the mountains, so alarmed John Chinaman-that dropping their matchlocks and bows, they caught up their fans and lanterns and started off, sauve qui peut," followed by vollies of musket balls from the English soldiers to quicken their way. Some of them, however, did face about and fire their matchlocks, but they made no long stay, leaving the dead and wounded behind them; the batteries were deserted, and boats were sent ashore to spike the guns.

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The Mercury brought up in a snug cove, where the carpenters were landed on a lovely green sward, and the armourer erected his forge beneath a tent, made of old sails. Friendly communications were established with the inhabitants; the Commander assuring them that they should suffer no molestation as long as they remained quiet, but if the Chinese troops became aggressors he would destroy every house and plantation on the island. A large warehouse was taken possession of as a temporary barracks for the English soldiers, and the ship was kept in a constant state of preparation should any assault be attempted. But every thing remained tranquil, and the

only source of complaint was the thievish nature of the natives, who stole every thing they could lay their hands on-not only secretly, but openly; and their passion for iron caused the armourer's tent to be frequently plundered. These marauders were equally as expert with their toes as they were with their fingers; for if they saw anything laying on the ground, they were sure to put their foot upon it, and the article immediately disappeared.

One fellow had been extremely active in the neighbourhood of the forge, and the armourer was perfectly aware of the dishonesty of his visitor, but never could detect him. One morning, however, observing him on the look-out, he drew an iron-bar from the fire, cut off a piece from the end, and unnoticed by the Chinaman, whose back was towards him, threw it down upon the ground. The red hue almost immediately disappeared, and the native, turning round, beheld the tempting prize, and advanced towards the spot.

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bait;

Ayah fohki," exclaimed he, hitching nearer and nearer to the "how you do? me sabby you well."

"And I sabby you too, you grinning lubber," replied the armourer. "Sheer off, and be blow'd to you, or I shall clip your thievinghooks."

"Ayah," responded the Chinaman, shrugging his shoulders with a look of the most perfect innocence. "Ayah-how can do ?—no can steal-good by e-me go."

Whilst saying this, he had contrived to get close to the piece of iron, and turning round, set one foot upon it, clutching the heated metal up with his toes--but finding it rather too warm to hold long, it was instantly relinquished again—and though he uttered no cry, it was fully evident, by the contortions of his face and body, that he was suffering great agony from the burning, and which our friend Robert Cruikshank has so well depictured. A burst of uproarious laughter issued from the tent to complete his discomfiture, numerous spectators were looking on, and the fellow limped away amidst the ridicule of all.

CONUNDRUM S.

WHY is a wind at sea like a tradesman writing a cheap invoice? When is a sailor like divine worship?

When is a ship like a wife discovering a lost love-gift?

When are the masts of a ship and a cup-bearer alike ?

What part of a tree is like a vessel ashore?

What edible root is like a paternal pinch ?

What architecture is like owning the devil your creditor?