appointed, for on emerging from the dark and narrow path, and coming to the top of the hill, nothing human was visible to break the deep tranquillity which reigned around, where the bright moonlight was sleeping in placid beauty on the tops of the rocks, or dancing in broken fragments on the rippling stream.

A few hundred yards before us appeared a sort of cabin, from whence a white smoke was rising, and from the smell of the turfsmoke, I judged it to be a human habitation. Hoping this was the end of our journey, I turned to Thady and said,

"Is that mother Hoolaghan's before us?"

"The same," replied Thady; " and his Riverence is there, for I hear him. Whisht!" he continued, "he is praying."

This was true, for on stopping to listen, where we now stood, I could hear the clear tones of the old man's voice, interrupted now and then by the loud groans of a man, or the deep wail of a woman. "Had we better wait here," I inquired of Thady, or shall we

go in ?"

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"His Riverence may need us," said Thady; "we had betther

go in."

When we came to the door, the Priest's voice had ceased, and only a suppressed moaning could be heard. Ceremony would have been out of place here; and as the door was partially open, we entered the hut, and found the Priest, with the old woman who had met us at the mouth of the glen, standing beside a straw pallet, on which was laid the body of a wounded man. The strong light from the turf-fire gleamed strangely on the pallid face of the dying man, and threw fitful rays on the ragged walls and naked rafters of this miserable dwelling, while the motionless figure of the poor woman, bowed in the deepest grief, contrasting with the placid dignity of the Priest, assisted to form a group of the most striking character.

"I am glad you are come," said the Priest, "for Tim has things to say that must be heard by more ears than mine."

A deep groan burst from the wounded man.

"Whisht," said Thady, whose quick ears detected the slightest sound; "there's more listeners than is bargin'd for."

As he said this he pointed to the door, and I caught a momentary glance of the figure of a man, as he started from a listening attitude and immediately disappeared.

(To be continued.)

ANECDOTES.

ONE-TWO-THREE AND AWAY.-IN the year 1805 I belonged to the Fox frigate, on the East India station, and some time in the month of June, whilst re-fitting at Kedgeree, a party of Officers from our ship and the San Fiorenzo went up to Calcutta, on leave. Whilst there, we became acquainted with a Grandee-(I forget whether he was a merchant or one of the Company's civil servants, but I rather think the former, with all the civility of the latter)who had one of the handsome houses on the banks of the river in Garden Reach, and an invitation was given to go out and dine there, for the purpose of meeting some jovial fellows of the Army, then lying encamped in the neighbourhood. Of course such hospitality was not to be rejected, and consequently we went, fully advised before-hand that our entertainer sported the best wines that could be found in the country, and every guest was expected to do ample justice to the feast. The place was richly and elegantly fitted up in the best style of Oriental luxury, and the grounds attached to it, down to the parapetted side of the stream, abounded with the choicest flowers of the East. It was a perfect Palace in miniature and would have been a lovely Paradise but for the abominable moschetoes, who, like wine-tasters at the London Docks, tapped every fresh importation.

The dinner was superb-the attendants, in their white body-dresses and turbans, innumerable-the company seemed to know well the design of their coming together the greatest glee and hilarity prevailed, which our host seemed to take a delight in promoting. The dessert was delicious-the decanters almost flew along the tables -wit, mirth, and song, gave a zest to the bumpers, and it was evident that none but impenetrable heads could long withstand the potency of such hard-drinking-in fact, some were soon carried off by their servants, and others were stretched on the sofas or put to bed. Amongst the latter was the veteran Major of the regiment, who was looked upon as a tough piece of goods, with skin like leather, and had generally seen everybody out before he quitted the table. This night, however, he was thoroughly vanquished, and a deputation, composed of a naval lieutenant and an army lieutenant, with wax lights to lead four others of similar ranks in both branches of the service, each to handle a leg or an arm, were appointed to deposit him in his place of rest; he was consequently borne off to an apartment. During the progress, the wax lights performed numerous erratic movements, and the bearers staggered terribly under their burthen-which was the more surprising as the Major was a thin, spare man, resembling a bundle of bones in a bull's hide-till they

reached the room, where appeared delicate rose-coloured silk curtains, drawn across a recess.

"There's the bed," shouted one of the leaders, advancing to one curtain as his coadjutor did to the other, drawing both aside. "Now boys, mind what you are about-do it delicately-three swings, and pitch him into it."

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The orders were followed to the very letter-there was a two-three and away, and off went the Major-the curtains were closed, and the deputation returned, chuckling at the thought of flooring the veteran. The next morning the army blades were expected to attend early parade, they were consequently aroused at day-break, but the servants declared they could no where find the Major, nor even where he had slept. Inquiries were unavailing, and the deputation were summoned to solve the enigma-they went at once to the room where they had left him—the beautiful light of an Eastern morn was streaming through the silk curtains, and on once more drawing them aside, they perceived that, instead of concealing a bed, they were the curtains of the window; and on looking out, there was the Major, comfortably snoozing amongst the shrubbery below. A hearty roar of laughter awoke him, and the matter was easily explained, for instead of laying him, as they imagined, with a one-two-three on a mattress in the recess, they had actually tossed him out of the open window-the boughs of the trees had broken his fall, and though such an exposure to the night air, upon the damp ground, would probably have been death to a novice, yet it had no bad effect on the old campaigner, who only advised that "they should take more care next time."

WHERE ARE THE FRENCH ?-Some time after the storming and capture of San Sebastian, the British Army was encamped upon the Pyrenees, and Soult, with the French forces, were down on the plain, near Bayonne, whilst the outposts of both armies were within hail of each other. Some Naval Officers, and Masters of Transports, not exactly acquainted with the customary disposal of hostile troops, when quiescent, rode out from Passages to visit a few friends of the -th regiment, who had come over from England with them. On arriving at the ground, they learned that most of the individuals whom they sought were stationed at one of the outposts, and having proceeded thither the canvas walls of the Officers' tents rang with joyful welcomes. A dinner was prepared-rough in its way-but the wines were excellent. After dinner the conversation turned upon the position they were then occupying; and one old north-country man observed,

"Deil smash 'em-I suppose the enemy will never let you get sight of 'em, that you lay here doing nothing."

'Oh, we have plenty to do,” replied a veteran sub, “and I dare say we shall soon advance; Soult and his forces seem to be fidgetty." "Hoo ken you that?" demanded the other in surprise.

"Because we can see them, and judge from our own observations," responded the veteran.

"Hoot!-what see 'em-see the French ?" exclaimed the old tar in mingled doubt and astonishment; "why where aboots are they, man?" The Officer directed his attention to the plains, where the newlyraised conscripts could be distinguished undergoing the severity of drill, preparatory to being placed in the ranks. "There, Jack," said he, good-humouredly slapping him on the back, "there are the French."

In an instant every seaman was on his legs, and straining his sight at the distant spectacle, whilst strange, but characteristic exclamations were used, as national feelings were more and more aroused.

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Eh, but they keep a lang way off," said the north-country man; 'they will not be nighbourly."

"Not so far as you may think," returned the Officer of the Army. "Do you see that soldier just by yon crag-not the one in the grey coat, but the other in the dark dress and large mustaches ?"

"I do well," replied the master of the transport, "and a fiercelooking fellow he seems to be."

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That is a French sentry," said the other, "and his Officer and the guard are only a short distance from him-see, there's the relief coming."

If the sailors had been surprised before, they were now. - quite amazed to behold a company of French soldiers advancing to the sentry.

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Eh, Sirs! What? Them the French ?" eagerly demanded the north-country man, licking his hard, horny hand, and firmly grasping a stout cudgel-" Weel, lads, you may do as you please, all of you, but I'll never see them so close to me without having a slap at 'em ;" and out he started, followed by the blue jackets, quite ready to join in the fray. They were prevented, however, from proceeding, but the honest fellows were much scandalized at being so near the enemy and not allowed to fight; nor was this diminished when they beheld the hostile Officers salute each other in the most polite and cordial manner imaginable. They grumbled most heartily, and it was some time before they could be made to understand that the advanced outposts never interfered with each other, except the line of demarcation was passed by either party, or an act of aggression was committed.