to see two sailors of the coast-guard, armed with sword and pistol, stealing quietly among the thick brushwood that covers the chine, and making their way to the cave which the lovers had so often visited in their childhood. Their path, if they chose to enter Mr. Wallop's domain by the little wicket, instead of following the main road, conducted them very near the cavern; and urged on by curiosity, which seemed mingled in Charles with a strange feeling of gratification, they resolved to take the shorter though steeper ascent. On passing the mouth of the cave they perceived a fat gentleman stripped to his waistcoat busily plying a pick-axe, and so deeply intent on his employment, that he never perceived the spectators of his proceedings. At last, with a groan, partly of fatigue and partly of delight at reaching the object of his search, he stooped down, and after some manful tugs, succeeded in lifting up two moderate-sized tubs, connected with each other like chain-shot by a leather thong. This he put over his neck, and with a tub dangling from each side was hurrying out of the cave our two friends having slipt aside to leave him free exit-when the sailors, each with a pistol at his head, commanded him to stand, or they would drive a bullet through his brains. "No use making any resistance; we got notice of this, this morning, and have the rest of our force stationed within call." This was said in rather a growling tone of voice by the boatswain, who had the pistol still pointed within half an inch of the prisoner's ear. "Hawl him along to Mr. Wallop's, and get him committed for trial. Twill be five years before the mast, and a month or two of Winchester tread-mill." This was said by the other assailant, whose pistol was within an equal distance of the left ear of the sorely puzzled Doctor Bubb. "But, gentlemen," said the prisoner, "in Heaven's name, what is the meaning of this? I will explain in a few words the provisions of the Magna Charta." "You may have your provisions in a cart or a wagon if you like; but in the mean-time, them two little tubs is good evidence against you." "For what?" inquired the Doctor. "For running a rig on the Queen ; I wonder you ain't ashamed on't," answered the boatswain. "March him along," added the other, giving the prisoner a push on the shoulder that nearly sent him over the cliff. "Let me understand this; you come here and forcibly seize my person, and object to my carrying off these tubs of geological specimens. Is there a rival philosopher in the case? Is there a collector here?" "To be sure there is, and a supervisor too; but come along, Mr. Wallop will soon set you to rightscome" "Mr. Wallop, did you say? You must mean his nephew, Mr. Martin; the old gentleman is non compos. "Oh, curse the compass," said the men, "it's all plain sailing here, so shut-to your clapper and come on.' "Will they indeed carry the poor gentleman to your uncle?" inquired Jane Lorimer in an anxious voice, as they hurried up the path, and cut into Mr. Wallop's grounds. "To be sure they will, and by Jupiter! the old fellow will take his revenge on this pedantic booby, and perhaps Jane it may be a lucky incident for ourselves." "How, Charles? Who is this old man with the tubs ?" "A Doctor Bubb; but I'll tell you more as we go on; you must positively come in for a few minutes-my uncle will be delighted to see you" "Oh, Charles! not now not till he knows-not till " But before her objections to paying the old gentleman a visit could be concluded, the door was opened, and she only finished her full reasons for not being able to enter the house when she had arrived in the drawing-room. A noise of loud talking in the library had almost alarmed her as she passed; and she was glad to have a few mi nutes to herself to prepare for her interview with her former friend. The passionate old man had quarrelled with her mother, and had been harsh and angry with the poor girl herself; but she knew that, along with all his bad temper, there was a great fund of goodness; and she, therefore, had great confidence in what Charles had told her about his uncle's change of sentiment in her favour. The noise in the next room increased in a few minutes so prodigiously, that Charles rushed off to ascertain what was the matter. On entering the library, he saw Doctor Bubb closely guarded by his two captors-Mr. Wallop sitting in his arm-chair with a grin of the most diabolical triumph on his rubicund visage, and Sophronia and Captain Slap in a recess of the window in earnest consultation. “This old man is not in the least insane," said Sophronia. "No more than a mad dog," groaned Captain Slap, sympathizingly. "He'll certainly send the Doctor as a common sailor on board the fleet, and flogging's not abolished yet." "Good Heavens! he has often told me that persons born on a chalky formation are hot and violent. It seems, indeed, too true-I must exert myself in his favour." Saying this, she walked forward and said, "Mr. Wallop, you must allow me to have some right to interfere here, as soon about to be an inmate in your house." 66 "That's no evidence," interposed the magistrate, with all the dignity of power, you saw this person, who calls himself Bubb, in possession of two tubs of contraband spirits?" "Yes, Sir," answered both the men. "You received intimations of a projected run on this coast and set watch accordlingly?" "Yes, Sir." "And this is the man?" "There can be no further doubt on the subject. I must commit him for trial; and in the mean-time, I can give orders for a prosecution for the wilful damage done to my land." "This I can explain in a few words," began the lecturer. "I advise you to say nothing, sir," said the justice; 66 your words will be taken down." "But I-I, sir," exclaimed Sophronia," am answerable for the opening of the soil; and as wife of this gentleman," seizing at the same time the hand of Charles Martin, who, at that moment, entered the room," I conclude I had a right to do as I pleased with the estate." "Is she your wife, Charles ?" roared Mr. Wallop. "You have so arranged it, sir," meekly replied the nephew; "but as 66 Marry her!-have my whole estate riddled with deep holes by iron bars and cart wheels-perpetual grubbings for shells and fossils-Doctor Bubbs lecturing all day about chalks and strata!" "And why not, sir?" triumphantly inquired Sophronia; "I shall teach your nephew the science of geology; we shall ransack the very centre of the universe for specimens conchology will be our study also you already know something of shells?" "A little," replied Charles; "my uncle will find a specimen of a very lovely one, if he will go into the next room. If he will bring it in, I'm sure it will reconcile him to every thing." The uncle, at Charles's request, accompanied him to the drawing-room; and in the mean-time Captain Slap made a proposal to Sophronia, as it was evident old Wallop would never agree to have his estate made into a mineralogical museum; and as without that the match was by no means desirable, he would undertake to free Doctor Bubb from his unfortunate predicament, if she would reward him for such a favour with her hand." "For Heaven's sake, Miss Sophronia," whined the Doctor, "consider the miseries of five years' banishmentaway from science and literature!" "With the cat-o'-nine-tails in full play," chimed in Captain Slap. "Twill be a Roman sacrifice to friendship and geology." "Enough!" said Sophronia, 66 I yield. Deliver Dr. Bubb from his disastrous condition, and I am yours!" "Have the goodness," said Captain Slap to the sailors, "to open one of the tubs." "No use of that, sir; we knows 'em by the look." "Open it, nevertheless; if I am not greatly mistaken there is no penalty for a man carrying a few gallons of gooseberry wine; and if all was done as Bammel promised, it is nothing but some British Champagne." The men looked rather crest-fallen, but on doing as they were requested, they found it was too true. "Hurrah! hurrah!" at this moment exclaimed old Bammel, coming into the room, "we've nick'd you ladsjigg'd if we han't tho'-we've had a nice run in Shepherd's Cove all the time you were watching this old gentleman in Fisher's Cavern. Too late, boys-all saved the whole crop ; jigg'd if it aint." Some communication of the same sort must have been made to Mr. Wallop, for a smile had replaced the former stern expression of his countenance, as he brought Jane Lorimer into the library, and presented her to the party. "I thought you had gone for a specimen of a shell!" exclaimed Sophronia, disappointed. "And so I have," replied the old man, "as perfect an example of the Venice Rustica as ever I saw ; but not a word more. There has been a great mistake here,-Charles show Miss Haggersbaggie and her crew out of the premises, lock all the gates,-send for Mrs Lorimer without loss of time, and marry Jane within this week. If you don't, hang me if I don't marry her myself!" "That's the trick," said Captain Slap, as he hurried the party off; “ I'll keep the rest of my liver and send Bubb to the right about-geology aint such a bad study after all-at all events, it has done me more good than my troop of brown heroes in John Company's Snapdragons." SOPHOCLES-TRACHINIE. VENUS Swayeth all below- Or him, the God whose force can make Mine to sing a fiercer strife Glorious Thebes his rival bore,-- Fired by love, in act to close, Sounded then the forceful blow And from off his forehead torn, From its gentle dam withdrawn, LINES, SUGGESTED BY A POEM CALLED THE "FLIGHT OF YOUTH,” IN THE AUGUST NUMBER OF BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE. MINSTREL! thou hast poured a strain I could list, and list again, Such the vows he swore at starting, Hath the Minstrel spoken truly? Once again to clasp, as burning, Time alas! hath iron sway: Dull old Time! he little knoweth On the night-breeze riding free, Minstrel, saidst thou, "Youth is gone, Hark! in silvery tones, and clear, Thou hast but to summon him For when youth his flight hath taken, K. H. |