from every leafy grove and rippling stream, that I feel the soothing influence of the country. I could sit beside the trickling stream of water, clear but brown, that comes drop by drop from some fissure in the rocky cliff, and falls into the little well below, and dream away for hours. These slight and simple sounds, that break the silence of the calm air, are all fraught with pleasant thoughts. The unbroken stillness of a prairie is the most awful thing in all nature.

Unoppressed in heart I took my way along the river's bank, my mind revolving the quiet pleasant thoughts silence and lovely scenery are so sure to suggest. Towards noon I sat myself down on a large flat rock beside the stream, and proceeded to make my humble breakfast-some bread and a few cresses, washed down with a little water, scarce flavoured with brandy, followed by my pipe; and I lay watching the white bubbles that flowed by me, until I began to fancy I could read a moral lesson in their course. Here was a great swollen fellow, rotund and full, elbowing out of his way all his lesser brethren, jostling and pushing aside each he met with; but at last bursting from very plethora, and disappearing as though he had never been there were a myriad of little bead-like specks floating past noiselessly, and yet having their own goal and destination: some uniting with others, grew stronger and hardier, and braved the current with bolder fortune; while others vanished ere you could see them well. A low murmuring plash against the reeds beneath the rock drew my attention to the place, and I perceived that a little boat, like a canoe, was fastened by a hay-rope to the bank, and surged with each motion of the stream against the weeds. I looked about to see the owner, but no one could I detect-not a living thing seemed near, nor even a habitation of any kind. The sun at that moment shone strongly out, lighting up all the rich landscape on the opposite side of the river, and throwing long gleams into a dense beech wood, where a dark, grass-grown alley entered. Suddenly the desire seized me to enter the forest by that shady path. I strapped on my knapsack at once, and stepped into the little boat. There was neither oar nor paddle, but as the river was shallow, my long staff served as a pole to drive her across, and I reached the shore safely. Fastening the craft securely to a branch, I set forward towards the wood. As I approached, a little board, nailed to a tree, drew my eye towards it, and I read the nearly-effaced inscription, "Route des Ardennes." What a thrill did not the words send through my heart: and was this, indeed, the forest of which Shakspeare told us-was I really "under the greenwood tree," where fair Rosalind had rested, and where melancholy Jacques had mused and mourned; and as I walked along, how instinct with his spirit did each spot appear. There was the oak,

"whose antique root peeps out

Upon the brook that brawls along the wood."

A little farther on I came upon

"The bank of osiers by the murmuring stream."

What a bright prerogative has genius, that thus can people space with images that time and years erase not; making to the solitary traveller a world of bright thoughts even in the darkness of a lonely wood! And so to me appeared, as though before me, the scenes he pictured. Each rustling breeze that shook the leafy shade, seemed like the impetuous passion of the devoted lover-the chirping notes of the wood-pigeon, like the flippant raillery of beauteous Rosalind-and in the low ripple of the brook I heard the complaining sounds of Jacques himself.

Sunk in such pleasant fancies I lay, beneath a spreading sycamore; and with half-closed lids invoked the shades of that delightful vision before me, when the tramp of feet, moving across the low brushwood, suddenly aroused me. I started up on one knee, and listened. They were the sounds of men talking in a low, subdued tone, which, from the stillness, was perfectly audible. The next moment three men emerged from the wood into the path: the two foremost, dressed in blouses, were armed with carbines and a sabre; the last carried a huge sack on his shoulders, and seemed to move with considerable difficulty.

"Ventre du diable," cried he, passionately, as he placed his burden on the ground; "don't hasten on this way-they'll never follow us so far, and I am half dead with fatigue."

"Come, come, Gros Jean," said one of the others, in a voice of command; 66 we must not halt before we reach the three elms."

"Why not bury it here?" replied the first, speaker, "or else take your share of the labour ?"

"So I would," retorted the other, violently, "if you could take my place when we are attacked; but, parbleu, you are more given to running away than fighting."

During this brief colloquy my heart rose to my mouth. The ruffianly looks of the party, their arms, their savage demeanour, and their secret purpose, whatever it was, to which I was now to a certain extent privy, filled me with terror; and I made a half effort to draw myself back on my hands into the brushwood beneath the tree. The motion unfortunately discovered me; and with a spring, the two armed fellows bounded towards me, and levelled their pistols at my head.

"Who are you? What brings you here?" shouted they both in a breath.

"For heaven's sake, messieurs," said I, "down with your pistols. I am only a traveller-a poor, inoffensive wanderer-an Englishman, an Irishman, rather-a good Catholic"-heaven forgive me if I meant an equivocation here-"lower the pistols, I beseech you."

"Shoot him through the skull; he's a spy," roared the fellow with the sack.

"Not a bit of it," said I; "I'm a mere traveller, admiring the country, and an "

"And why have you tracked us out here?" said one of the first speakers. "I did not; I was here before you came. Do put down the pistols, for the love of Mary; there's no guarding against accidents, even with the most cautious."

"Blow his brains out," reiterated he of the bag, louder than before. "Don't, messieurs-don't mind him; he's a coward-you are brave men, and have nothing to fear from a poor devil like me."

The two armed fellows laughed heartily at this speech, while the other, throwing the sack from him, rushed at me with clenched hands.]

"Hold off, Gros Jean," said one of his companions; "if he never tells a heavier lie than that, he may make an easy confession on Sunday ;" and with that he pushed him rudely back, and stood between us. "Come, then," cried he, "take up that sack and follow us."

My blood curdled at the order; there was something fearful in the very look of the long bag as it lay on the ground. I thought I could actually trace the outline of a human figure. Heaven preserve me, I believed I saw it move.

"Take it up," cried he, sternly; "there's no fear of it biting you." "Ah," said I to myself, "the poor fellow is dead, then."

Without more ado they placed the bag on my shoulders, and ordered me to moved forward.

I grew pale and sick, and tottered at each step.

"Is it the smell affects you?" said one with a demoniac sneer. "Pardon, messieurs," said I, endeavouring to pluck up courage, and seem at ease; "I never carried a- —a thing like this before."

"Step out, briskly," cried he, "you've a long way before you ;" and with that he moved to the front, while the others brought up the rear.

As we proceeded on our way, they informed me that if by any accident they should be overtaken by any of my friends or associates, meaning thereby any of the human race that should chance to walk that way, the first thing they should do would be, to shoot me dead-a circumstance that considerably damped all my ardour for a rescue, and made me tremble, lest, at any turn of the way, some faggot-gatherer might appear in sight. Meanwhile never did a man labour more strenuously to win the favour of his company.

I began by protesting my extreme innocence-vowed that a man of more estimable and amiable qualities than myself never did, nor never would exist. To this declaration they listened with manifest impatience, if not with actual displeasure. I then tried another tack. I abused the rich and commended the poor I harangued, in round terms, on the grabbing monopoly of the great, who enjoyed all the good things of this life, and would share none with their neighbours. I even hinted a sly encomium on those publicspirited individuals, whose gallantry and sense of justice led them to risk their lives in endeavours to equalize somewhat more fairly this world's wealth; and who were so ungenerously styled robbers and highwaymen, though they were in reality benefactors and heroes. But they only laughed at this; nor did they show any real sympathy with my opinions, till, in my general attack on all constituted authorities, kings, priests, statesmen, judges, and gendarmes, by chance I included revenue officers. The phrase seemed like a spark on gunpowder.

"Curses be on the wretches--they are the plague-spots of the world," cried I, seeing how they caught at the bait; "and thrice honoured the brave fellows who would relieve suffering humanity from the burden of such odious oppression."

A low whispering now took place among my escort, and at length he who seemed the leader, stopped me short, and placing his hand on my shoulder, cried out

"Are you sincere in all this? Are these your notions ?" "Can vou doubt me?" said 1.

"What reason have I for speaking them? How do I know but you are revenue officers that listen to me?"

cigars."

We are going to pass this sack of

"Ho! these are cigars, then," said I, brightening up. a-eh ?"

"It is not a

They are Dutch cigars, and 'the best that can be made," said he, not minding my interruption. "We shall pass them over the frontier by Sedan to-morrow night, and then we come back to Dinant, where you shall come with us."

"Agreed," said I, while a faint chill ran through my limbs, and I could scarcely stand-images of galley life, irons with cannon shot, and a yellow uniform, all flitting before me. From this moment they became extremely communicative, detailing for my amusement many pleasing incidents of their blameless life-how they burned a custom-house here, and shot an inspector there; and, in fact, displaying the advantages of my

new profession with all its attractions before me. How I grinned with mock delight at atrocities that made my blood curdle, and chuckled over the roasting of a revenue officer as though he had been a chesnut. I affected to see drollery in cruelties that deserved the gallows, and laughed till the tears came, at horrors that nearly made me faint. My concurrence and sympathy absolutely delighted the devils, and we shook hands a dozen times over.

It was evening, when tired and weary I was ready to drop with fatigue, my companions called a halt.

"Come, my friend," said the chief, "we'll relieve you now of your burden. You would be of little service to us at the frontier, and must wait for us here till our return."

It was impossible to make any proposal more agreeable to my feelings. The very thought of being quit of my friends was ecstacy. I did not dare, however, to vent my raptures openly, but satisfied myself with a simple acquiescence.

"And when," said I, "am I to have the pleasure of seeing you again, gentlemen ?"

"By to-morrow forenoon, at farthest."

By that time, thought I, I shall have made good use of my legs, please heaven.

"Meanwhile," said Gros Jean, with a grin that showed he had neither forgotten nor forgiven my insults to his courage-" meanwhile we'll just beg leave to fasten you to this tree;" and with the words he pulled from a great canvas pocket he wore at his belt a hank of strong cord, and proceeded to make a slip noose on it.

"It's not your intention surely to tie me here for the whole night," said I, in horror.

"And why not?" interposed the chief. "Do you think there are bears or wolves in the Ardennes forest in September ?"

"But I shall die of cold or hunger. I never endured such usage before."

"You'll have plenty worse when you've joined us, I promise you," was the short reply, as, without further loss of time, they passed the cord round my waist, and began, with a dexterity that bespoke long practice, to fasten me to the tree. I protested in all form against the entire proceeding-I declaimed loudly about the liberty of the subject-vowed that England would take a frightful measure of retribution on the whole country, if a hair of my head were injured-and even went so far in the fervour of my indignation, as to threaten the party with future consequences from the police.

The word was enough. The leader drew his pistol from his belt, and slapping down the pan, shook the priming with his hand.

"So," cried he, in a harsh and savage voice, unlike his former tone, "you'd play the informer, would you? Well, it's honest at least to say as much. Now then, my man, a quick shrift and a short prayer, for I'll send you where you'll meet neither gendarmes nor revenue officers, or if you do, they'll have enough of business on their hands not to care for yours."

Spare my life, most amiable monsieur," said I, with uplifted hands. “Never shall I mutter one word about you, come what will. I'll keep all I've seen a secret. Don't kill the father of eight children. Let me live this time, and I'll never wander off a turnpike road three yards as long as I breathe."

They actually screamed with laughter at the terror of my looks; and

the chief, seemingly satisfied with my protestations, replaced his pistol in his belt, and kneeling down on the ground, began leisurely to examine my knapsack, which he coolly unstrapped and emptied on the grass.

"What are these papers ?" said he, as he drew forth a most voluminous. roll of manuscript from a pocket.

"They are notes of my travels," said I, obsequiously-"little pen sketches of men and manners in the countries I've travelled in. I call them The Loiterings of Arthur O'Leary.' That's my name, gentlemenat your service."

6

"Ah! indeed. Well, then, we've given you a very pretty little incident for your journal this evening," said he, laughing, "in return for which I'll ask leave to borrow these memoranda for wadding for my gun. Believe me, Monsieur O'Leary, they'll make a greater noise in the world under my auspices than under yours;" and with that he opened a rude clasp knife and proceeded to cut my valued manuscript into pieces about an inch square. This done, he presented two of my shirts to each of his followers, reserving three for himself; and having made a most impartial division of my other effects, he pocketed the purse I carried, with its few gold pieces, and then, rising to his feet, said—

66

Antoine, let us be stirring now-the moon will be up soon. Gros Jean, throw that sack on your shoulder and move forward: and now, monsieur, I must wish you a good night; and as in this changeful life we never can answer for the future, let me commend myself to your recollection hereafter, if, as may be, we should not meet again. Adieu, adieu !" said he, waving his hand.

"Adieu," said I, with a great effort to seem at ease- "a pleasant journey, and every success to your honest endeavours."

"You are a fine fellow," said he, stopping and turning about suddenly; "a superb fellow; and I can't part from you without a 'gage d'amitiể between us;" and with the word he took my handsome travelling cap from my head and placed it on his own, while he crowned me with a villainous straw thing that nothing save my bondage prevented me from hurling at his feet.

He now hurried forward after the others, and in a few minutes I was in perfect solitude. Well, thought I-it was my first thought-it might all have been worse; the wretches might have murdered me-and such reckless devils as practise their trade, care little for human life. Murder, too, would only meet the same punishment as smuggling, or nearly soa year more, or a year less at the galleys: and, after all, the night is fine, and if I mistake not, he said something about the moon. I wondered where was the pretty countess-travelling away, probably, as hard as extra post could bring her. Ah! she little thought of my miserable plight now! Then came a little interval of softness-and then a little turn of indignation at my treatment-that I, an Englishman, should be so barbarously molested—a native of the land where freedom was the great birthright of every one. I called to mind all the fine things Burke used to say about liberty-and if I had not began to feel so cold, I'd have tried to sing "Rule Britannia," just to keep up my spirits; and then I fell asleep -if sleep it could be called-that frightful nightmare of famished wolves howling about me, tearing and mangling revenue officers; and grizzly bears running backward and forward with smuggled tobacco on their backs. The forest seemed peopled by every species of horrible shapeshalf men, half beast-but all with straw hats on their heads and leather gaiters on their legs. However, the night passed over, and the day began to break the purple tint, pale and streaky, that announces the rising