lero, the name of the youthful and interesting chief, was deemed so important an object by the monarch, that immense rewards had been offered for his apprehension, and numerous parties had been sent in every direction in which rumor alleged that he had fled. The troop of mercenaries who had been despatched to Mahon were stimulated by the hope of reward, to much greater activity than usually characterizes Spanish soldiers, who are at once a by-word for indolence and rapacity. They had closely searched the house of every person suspected of the slightest disaffection, and had followed every imaginary clue with the keenest zeal of avarice. They had even visited the foreign national ships in the port, and had procured strict orders to be issued, forbidding the officers from harboring or rendering any assistance to those who were held as traitors by the government within whose waters we lay.

On the afternoon in question, in consequence of certain hints which had been communicated to this party, they had renewed their search, and at the time we came up were about entering an humble dwelling, which, as I learned from the crowd, was occupied by a poor old widow woman and her niece. We were yet at some distance when we noticed the house at which the soldiers paused, and we could perceive the withered old duenna standing on her threshold, throwing her arms about with great vehemence, and sputtering with amazing volubility every variety of guttural execration, of which the Spanish language has so large a store. The blood VOL. II. 3

mounted to Charles's forehead, and the fire to his eye, as this sight drew his attention; and springing forward with great eagerness, he rushed by the crowd of mendicants and idle spectators whom the circumstance had collected, broke through the ranks of the soldiers, and stood in the midst of the dwelling, before the foremost of their number had gained admittance. I did not pause to consider whether this impetuosity of my friend arose from a generous but imprudent feeling of indignation at the object of their search, or from some less selfish motive; but made all haste to follow him. My progress, however, met with more obstruction than his unlooked-for movement, and I was not able to rejoin him for more than a minute. When I at length forced my way into the building, I found him defending a door which led to an inner apartment, and surrounded by the mercenaries, all jabbering together their vehement and incoherent menaces. As yet, no blow had been struck; but it was evident, from the violence of their gestures, that hostilities would not much longer be delayed. As I entered, they huddled closer round my companion; and pushing against him with one sudden and united impulse, the door broke from its fastenings, and the whole party fell violently to the floor. I have before said that Charles was strong and agile, but I was not prepared for such a display of muscular energy and activity as he now exhibited in releasing himself from the superincumbent crowd of prostrate and grappling soldiers. In an instant he was on his

feet, and beside a bed, which I now observed in one corner of the room. The apartment was lighted by a curtained lattice; but though the illumination was not strong, particularly to vision that had just passed the broad glare of day, it was sufficient to show that the bed was occupied by a female, who had partly risen from the couch, whose cheek was flushed, and whose dark eyes glowed like fire, probably with indignation at this rude intrusion. Charles threw his arms round the neck of the female, replaced her head upon the pillow, kissed her burning brow, and with a tremulous, but soothing voice, bade her not be alarmed, for that he would defend her with his life. Then, turn

ing sternly to the leader of the Spanish soldiers, he commanded him to pursue his search with all despatch, and leave the apartment. The Spaniards, who by this time had risen to their feet, looked at each other, at Charles, and at the female, with blank astonishment; nor was their confusion lessened by the torrent of invective which the old woman, who had now also entered the room, poured out upon their heads. The officer who had charge of the party, after a moment spent in casting scrutinizing glances into every corner of the room, directed his men to withdraw; and then mumbling out an apology, in which he intimated, with an impudent leer, that he was now convinced that Charles's visits to this house had a different object from what had been suspected, he also left the apartment. There was no further excuse for me

to protract my stay, and I turned and followed his retreating steps.

"She is handsome," thought I, as I walked slowly up the street, pondering on the secret which had thus been accidentally revealed to me, and thinking how I might disentangle my friend from the net of this fair Spanish woman—" yes, she is handsome-just the cast of countenance which I should suppose would have fascination for one of his brave and romantic nature. Her black and piercing eye, her noble profile, the scornful expression of her lip, as she darted her keen glance upon the soldiers-these traits of beauty did not escape me, feebly lighted as her apartment was." And my mind reverted from this Spanish paramour to the contemplation of the delicate and tender beauties of the fair-cheeked and blue-eyed wife, who, far away, was anxiously counting the hours that should restore her husband to her arms, and who, herself incapable of change, had probably never entertained a doubt of his fidelity. I am not much given to the melting mood, but I confess that my meditations on this subject drew from me a heart-felt sigh.

I was still brooding on what had just passed, when Charles rejoined me. The few words that passed between us on our meeting satified me that that was not the time for expostulation or rebuke. He bade me remember that I owed to accident the discovery I had made, and enjoined upon me, by our ancient friendship, neither to question him nor utter a syllable to any other person. I gave the

required promise the more readily, as I reflected that in a very few days we should sail, and that distance, in all human probability, would put an end to this unworthy attachment, as it had made him forgetful of the ties of honorable love. We soon executed the duty we were sent upon, and returned to the ship.

The relief-vessel, of which we had been in daily expectation, arrived on the evening after this adventure, and sailing orders were thereupon immediately issued. All further going ashore was forbidden; and the signal, commanding on board all who were ashore, was run up at the fore. Charles was among this number, and by all but him this order was promptly and gladly obeyed. A fine breeze had sprung up at sunset, and for more than an hour we lay waiting for him with our anchor apeak, and our loose topsails flapping idly against the mast. The capstan-bars were shipped and manned, the crew all at their stations, the accommodation-ladder unrigged, and every thing ready to be off. The commodore walked the quarter-deck with quick, impatient steps, and murmurs were heard from various groups, chiding the delay of the dilatory officer. A midshipman, who had been despatched in one of the cutters for him, had returned some time before, after a fruitless search.

At length the patience of our commander was entirely exhausted, and he had given the order to weigh and make sail, when the quartermaster on the lookout hailed a boat, which had just pulled