lately, for that's the second a trying on me this morning." eye, riddle you've been "Don't you see there's a young 'un asleep there?" asked the former speaker, with a savage leer in his "and not a soul in sight." His companion looked warily round, and then glanced at the sleeping boy, when he exchanged a significant look with the other, and they both drew with great caution nearer to the unconscious Guy. As he did not change the position in which the man had first beheld him, they approached until they stood within a few feet of his sleeping-place, when they stopped still to exchange a few whispered words. "That umbrella he's got there is a silk 'un, and nearly new. It'll fetch enough to lodge us for the night, when once we reach the town. And that bundle will supply bread and cheese, I should say, and something to drink." The other nodded, and then said, "I shouldn't wonder, if his pockets was turned out, it would be worth the trouble, and I'm so mean to try. thirsty that I You look after the umbrella and the bundle, and I'll do the rest.” "And if he should wake?" The elder villain made no reply in words, but he showed his large teeth in a grin whose ferocity would not have disgraced a hyæna, and gently shook a strong and formidable stick which he carried in his right hand. Thus resolved to commit any atrocity in their designs upon poor Guy's little property, the two fellows cautiously drew towards him, one moving a little round to the right on the side where the umbrella -his sister Sophy's last gift—and his modest bundle were lying, while the other advanced towards his head for the purpose of ransacking his pockets. Not a single human figure was at that moment in view to prevent, as it would seem, the perpetration of an act of robbery, if not of murder, on the son of the sleeping boy. per With the exception of the hedge, in the direction of which all was perfectly still, the country could be seen, as has been observed, for miles on miles; and through the whole expanse no living thing was visible, saving the dumb animals grazing at a distance, and who had not the sense, even if they had the power, to prevent the meditated crime. A few seconds more, and it would have been committed, and the slumbering lad perhaps disfigured for ever, or brained by a blow of the villain's stick upon the face; for Guy had slept so long that the least thing now would suffice to wake him. A few seconds more, and a frightful tragedy might have made Kit's Coty-house a spot of still more doubtful renown than it at present boasts, when the two villains abruptly desisted from their purpose, and looked at each other in alarm. A sound had broken suddenly upon their ears, which transfixed them for an instant, as if by some magic spell. And yet it was not of a nature which is thought capable generally of producing such effect and trepidation. It was the clear, ringing laugh of a happy girl, which pealed through the quiet atmosphere like the note of a trumpet, and was followed quickly after by the deeper tone of a man's voice. The fellows shrunk from beside their intended victim like prowling wolves would do on the approach of the huntsman, and sought the cover of the hedge just as the flutter of a white dress appeared on the style, and a beautiful creature of some fourteen years, flushed with health and exercise, clambered hastily into the field, and ran with the utmost speed towards Guy's sleeping-place. "Come, come, Alice, that's not fair," exclaimed a gentleman, who leaped the style a moment after. "You started off before I said the word, and you don't deserve the gloves, you little puss, although you've won them.” The young lady thus addressed by the name of Alice did not answer, for she had just become aware that she had woke up a boy from his slumbers at the very spot which was the goal of her race with her companion; and when the gentleman came up he found Alice standing still trying to look unconscious, while Guy, blushing to his temples, was gathering up his cap and umbrella and bundle to pursue his journey, which had been thus interrupted by his long and unintentional slumber. Ere he had collected his little worldly goods and scattered senses, the two first comers were increased by a party of some five or six others, who made noisy and laughing inquiries as to "who had won the race?" as they came across the style into the field. Guy slowly moved towards the road in the direction they were coming, being the same by which he had himself reached the ancient Coty-house. As he did so he cast a second timid and admiring glance at the fairy-figure in white, whose sudden appearance upon the scene had so completely roused him. Could he have known that the delicate little creature who returned his glance with a kind of patronising smile had probably saved his life, his look of admiration would have been intenser than it was. The intervening hedge soon shut out the view of the pleasure-party, and as Guy again arrived upon the highroad, he observed a carriage with a pair of white horses, which had evidently conveyed the visitors thither. The sight of the broad highway, however, soon brought back his thoughts into their former channel, and he resumed his journey with a steady pace, quite unaware of the danger he had incurred, and only congratulating himself on the refreshing nature of the sleep which had beguiled him at his haltingplace. And thus we all of us often take our way, unconscious of the perils by which we may be threatened, |