Having counted the gold, which amounted to nearly fifty thousand guilders, the whole was replaced and they left the room.

“I am a rich man," thought Philip, after Amine had left him; "but of what use are riches to me? I might purchase a ship and be my own captain, but would not the ship be lost? That does not follow for a certainty; but the chances are against the vessel; therefore will I have no ship. And is it right to sail in the vessels of others with the same feeling ?-I know not; but this I know, that I have a duty to perform, and that all our lives are in the hands of a kind Providence, who calls us away when it thinks fit. I will place most of my money in the shares of the Company, and if I sail in their vessels and they come to misfortune by meeting with my poor father, at least I shall be a common sufferer with the rest. And now to make my Amine more comfortable."

Philip immediately made a great alteration in their style of living. Two female servants were hired; the rooms were more comfortably furnished; and in feverything in which his wife's comfort and convenience were concerned, he spared no expense. He wrote to Amsterdam and purchased several shares in the Company's stock. The diamonds and his own money he still left in the hands of Amine. The two months passed rapidly away during these arrangements, and everything was complete when Philip again received his summons by letter, to desire that he would join his vessel. Amine would have wished Philip to go out as a passenger instead of doing duty, but Philip preferred the latter, as otherwise he could give no reason for his going out to India.

"I know not why," observed Philip, the evening before his departure, "but I do not feel as I did when I last went away-I have no foreboding of evil this time."

"Nor have I," replied Amine; "but I feel as if you would be long away from me, Philip; and is not that an evil to a fond and anxious wife ?"

"Yes, love, it is; but-"

"Oh, yes, I know it is your duty, and you must go," replied Amine, burying her face in his bosom.

The next day Philip parted from his wife, who behaved with more fortitude than on their first separation. "All were lost, but he was saved," thought Amine. "I feel that he will return to me-God of Heaven, thy will be done! "

Philip soon arrived at Amsterdam, and having purchased many things which he thought might be advantageous to him in case of accident, to which he now looked forward as almost certain, he embarked on board the Batavia, which was lying at single anchor, and ready for

sea.

(To be continued.)

A RIDE IN THE GREAT WESTERN JUNGLE.

BY AN OLD FOREST RANGER.

"OD, man, but yon was a narrow escape ye had frae the tiger," remarked the Doctor, as our three sporting friends cantered slowly down the romantic pass which leads from the Neilgherry Hills to the Great Western Jungle. "I canna' think hoo he gae'd o'er you without gie'n you a skilp wi' ane o' thae muckle paws o' his; od, they'r gae an' ready wi' them by ordinar!"

"Faith, Doctor, that's more than I can tell you myself," replied Mansfield; "all I recollect is hearing a roar, seeing some large object fly over my head, and finding myself sprawling at the bottom of the ravine with one barrel of my rifle discharged. I must confess it was a fool-hardy attempt on my part, and I have got out of the scrape much better than I deserved. I received a lesson in my early days, which ought to have taught me better, and made me cautious of attacking anything in the shape of a tiger for the rest of my life."

"May I ask what that was?" inquired Charles, who now began to take a deep interest in Mansfield's anecdotes of jungle warfare.

"It is a melancholy story, and one which, even now, I cannot think of without a feeling of remorse for my folly. But I shall tell it you, as it may prove a good lesson, and prevent your being guilty of any such rash act, in the commencement of your jungle campaign. It happened soon after my arrival in this country, when I was yet a boy, and, like all Griffins, addicted to the vice of hat-hunting, or, as your worthy uncle emphatically terms it, thistle-whipping-one fine morning I was following my usual avocation, attended only by a Moorish boy, who had charge of my dogs, a fine game little fellow, about twelve years of age, and a few cockers. The boy and his dogs beat the bushes vigorously; quail and partridge were plentiful; and in spite of my missing every second shot, my bag was beginning to fill rapidly. I fancied myself a very Nimrod, and continued to load and fire with unwearied industry and great delectation. In the midst of our sport, a large panther sprang from the bushes; and, strange to say, took to flight, followed by my pack of yelping curs, till they drove him into a cave, on the side of a rocky hill, at no great distance. I had never before seen anything in the shape of a tiger, and was struck dumb with astonishment. Not so my little Moor boy. He was the son of a famous Shikaree, and although I believe he had never seen a tiger any more than myself, he had often heard his father talk of his exploits amongst the wild beasts of the forest, he knew me to be a griffin, and his little heart swelled with the proud consciousness of superior knowledge in woodcraft. Suppose master please,' said he, drawing himself up, and assuming an air of immense importance, 'I show Sahib how to kill that tiger. I know very well burrah shikar business.' In my simplicity I looked upon the daring little imp, who talked thus confidently of killing a panther with a degree of respect almost amounting to awe; and, without hesitation, put myself under his guidance. According to his directions, I extracted the shot from my gun, and reloaded it with some bullets, which I happened to

* Great shikar-the hunting of large animals.

have in my pocket. 'Now then,' exclaimed my young shikaree, as he placed me behind the shelter of a large stone, directly in front of the cave! now then, I show Sahib how to make tiger come. Sahib make tiger eat plenty balls; that proper shikar business.' So saying, he marched directly up to the entrance of the cave, and began to pelt the tiger with stones, abusing him, at the same time, in choice Hindoostanee slang. Sure enough this did make ‘tiger come' with a vengeance. The enraged brute, uttering a shrill roar, darted from the cave, seized the poor boy by the back of the neck, threw him over his shoulder, and dashed down the hill like a thunderbolt. My blood curdled at the sight; but I instinctively fired, and, I suppose, hit the beast, for he instantly dropped the boy, who rolled into a dark ravine at the foot of the hill. The panther having disappeared in the neighbouring jungle, I descended into the ravine, to look after poor little 'Kheder.' There he lay, weltering in blood, dreadfully mangled, and evidently in a dying state, but still quite sensible. The gallant little fellow never uttered a complaint, but fixing his large black eyes steadily on my countenance, as if he could there read his fate, asked in a faint tone of voice for some water. I was stooping down to collect some in my hat, when I was startled by a surly growl and the noise of some animal snuffing amongst the brushwood, which closed over my head and almost excluded the light of day. It was the panther, who had returned. My first impulse was to fly, and leave the boy to his fate. But poor ، Kheder,' seeing my intention, fixed his glassy eyes upon me with an imploring look which cut me to the heart, and made me blush for very shame. Kneeling by his side, I raised his head, wiped the bloody froth from his parched lips, and poured a few drops of water down his throat. This appeared to revive him. ، You have not killed the tiger, Sahib, said he, speaking in Hindoostanee: I am sorry for that. I should like to have sent his skin to my father. But you will tell him, Sahib, that I died like a shikaree. I was not afraid of the tiger: I never cried ont when I felt his teeth crunching through my bones. No; I stuck my knife in him twice. See! that is tiger's blood!' and his glazing eye flashed wildly for a moment, as he held up a bloody knife, which he clutched firmly in his right hand. My father will be proud to hear this. But my poor mother will cry much, and her heart will turn to water when she hears that I am dead.' And here, for the first time, the hot tears began to trickle down his cheeks. For a few minutes he remained motionless, with his eyes closed, and the big drops stealing, slowly and silently, through the long silken eyelashes. But, suddenly starting up, with his eyes bursting from their sockets, and gasping painfully for breath, he screamed, as if in a fit of delirium, The tiger has seized me again!-save me, Sahib, save me!' cried he, in a hoarse voice; I feel his teeth in my throat! my breath is stopped!-ah-ah!' he gasped like a person drowning, his eyes turned in his head till nothing but the white was visible—his jaws became firmly locked-a cold shudder ran through his limbs—and the gallant little Kheder' fell back in my arms, a stiffened corpse. I was young then, and unused to witness death; and that scene has made an impression on my mind which will never be obliterated. All

6

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* The story of the poor dog-boy is a fact.

this time the panther continued to pace up and down the edge of the ravine, nearly on a level with my head, growling fearfully, and, ever and anon, poking his suout into the bushes, and snuffing at me, as if debating with himself whether or not he should jump down. The bushes were so thick that he could not distinguish me through them, and it is to this circumstance that I attribute my escape. For a full hour I remained in this dreadful state of suspense; and, during that fearful hour, many were the good resolves I made against tiger-hunting. But, like many other good resolves, they were only made to be broken on the first tempting opportunity. The panther, at last, as if tired of keeping watch, walked quietly off; and I escaped to tell the tale, which I trust will prove a warning to you, Master Charles, and all other Griffins who may chance to hear it."

Eh! Captain Mansfield, but that's an awfu' affectin' story," exclaimed the Doctor, inhaling an enormous pinch of snuff; "the death o' that puir bit laddy gar' the tears come into my een, and amaist set me greetin'. I wonder, Sir, it hasna' had some effect in makin' you a wee thing mair quiet and wiselike. But I'm thinkin' you're waur than ever. Od, man, it's just frightsome to see the way your een glance, when onything comes across you, to set your birse up. By your leave, Sir, you're just a perfect maniac for the time being. As true as death it gar' me grue to see the wild demented look ye had, this same day, when ye gaed into the glen after the tigre. What will you do, Sir, when ye gang hame, whare ye'll hae nae tigers nor wild soos to hunt? Think o' that, Sir! Od, ye'll no be chancy! I expect to hear o' your ridin' aboot the country wi' a pot-lid on your head, like Don Quixote, spearin' the puir folks' swine, wi' the cook's spit, or maybe creepin' up ahint a dike, and takin' a shot at a brindled stirk, amang the bushes, in mistake for a tigre. And, noo that I think o't, I'm no just sure that you'll be able to remain in the airmy. Na, Sir, you canna do't. You'll need to sell oot-and you'd better do't afore ye get amang your freens and expose yoursell'. Ye ken, Sir, when ye gang hame, the nadiers 'll get back the bearskin caps; and the smell o' the bear's fur, on a hot day, 'll raise your corruption, and set you demented. Ye'll begin first to snuff and snort, the way you did the day, when the tigre wadna come out. And then you'll cry out to the commandin' offisher, 'Look out, Sir! look out!—the bear's afoot-I smell him!' And then-and then-hoot, fie, Sir, it'll never do; you maunna gang hame, on nae account; you maun get an exchange, without loss of time. If ance ye gang to England, they'll hae you in a straight jacket, wi' your head shaved and spinnin' aboot in a big creel, hung frae the tap o' the room, for a' the world like a rattan in a wire cage, afore you're twenty-four hours on shore."

gre

"You be hanged!" cried Mansfield, unable longer to keep his gravity, and bursting into a loud laugh.

The Doctor grinned mightily at his own conceit, exhibiting a set of yellow teeth, which, barring the colour, might have been envied by a wolf; and, following the example of Mansfield and Charles, spurred his horse into a sharp canter.

Our friends have, by this time, accomplished more than half the descent; and a remarkable change is already perceptible, not only in the temperature of the air, but in the scenery and in the natural proJuly.-VOL. L. NO. CXCIX.

2 B

ductions. The cloth dress, which had been found necessary in the bracing climate of the hills, now begins to feel oppressive to the wearer. The Rhododendron trees, wild jessamine, and high-waving fern, which have hitherto clothed the sides of the hills, now give place to stunted bamboo and dwarf Palmyra bushes; whilst turtle doves, tookans, paroquets, and other tropical birds, unknown on the summit of the hills, begin to make their appearance.

As they continued to descend, the heat, and the tropical character of the scenery, gradually increased, till, at the foot of the pass, the road suddenly plunged into the great forest jungle which encircles the hills; that wilderness of trees, where the stupendous elephant and the prowling tiger have, for ages, held undisputed sway.

Here, the tall feathery bamboo, the stately teak, and other large trees peculiar to an eastern climate, flourish in all their glory. The glare of an Indian sun is suddenly quenched in the deep gloom of the forest. The deathlike silence of the wilderness reigns around; and the confined air of the woods becomes close and suffocating.

Under the shade of a large banian tree, at the entrance of the forest, our party found a relay of fresh horses, which had been sent on during the night.

The saddles were quickly transferred to their backs, and, leaving their smoking steeds in charge of the horse-keepers, the three sportsmen pushed along the rugged path, which led into the forest, at a round pace.

"Come, Esculapius," cried Mansfield, addressing the Doctor, who was beginning to lag behind, and exhibited strong symptoms of being somewhat saddle-sick, "that old jade of yours will fall asleep under you, unless you make better use of your heels.-Give him the spur, man."

"Oich! Hoich!" grunted the Doctor, as he drove the spurs into his long-legged, raw-boned kutch-horse, and came shambling up to the rest of the party, at a pace, which very much resembled the action of a dromedary, and must have been about equally pleasant to the unfortunate rider "Od, Captain, this is a deevle o' a pace ye'r gaun atman nor beast is no fit to stand this, at least, no' withouten leather breeks and tap-boots."

"O, ho!" cried Mansfield, laughing, "is that your complaint, Doctor? -sorry for you, my worthy Galen-very sorry, indeed-nothing so unpleasant as feeling the want of a pair of leathers in a long ride; but I much fear there is no help for it. help for it. We have still twenty long miles before us, and unless we make play now, we shall get benighted and lose our way, which in this forest would be no joke. Give him his head, man, and let him go."

Weel, weel," sighed the Doctor; "but just bide a wee till I dight my face, and get a pinch out o' my mull." Here the Doctor pulled off his hat, and began to mop his face with a snuffy pocket-handkerchief. "By your leave, gentlemen, I'm just sweetin like a bull, and my poor beast is no muckle better."

"Hark forward!" cried Mansfield, giving the reins to his horse, after he had allowed the Doctor sufficient time to enjoy a hearty pinch of snuff. "Good night to you, Doctor; I suppose we shall hear of you in the course of to-morrow, provided the tigers or wild elephants do not make free with you during the night."