one of the neighbours; and immediately they all started they were twenty-one in number-and bounded as fast as their feet could carry them, to the particular spot at the river's bank, where I had been last seen by the aforesaid longtongued, antiquated virgin. It was now twilight, and no object could be distinctly discerned at any distance. The side, too, of the river on which I had been observed by the washerwoman -and to which, consequently, as already mentioned, my alarmed relatives and acquaintances directed their precipitate steps-was, at that particular spot, studded with a plantation of well-grown firs. It was impossible, therefore, from two causes, that the party could see any distance in the locality in question. It is of importance to mention this, because it will prepare the reader for the fact, that the aforesaid posse of officious friends were close by me before they perceived me; and then they only saw a fraction of my person, the whole man, with the exception of the head, being immersed in the river. In yet plainer language, if that be necessary, I was, at that moment, plunging about, up to the

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neck in the water, gasping for breath, and every instant likely to go down to rise no more. A better picture of a drowning man, I have been subsequently told, was never witnessed. I can add from my own knowledge, that a more narrow escape from a watery death-bed, if there be propriety in the expression, was never made by mortal.

"He's in life yet!" exclaimed one.

"He'll be gone, this moment!" shouted another of the party.

"In, in, to his aid!" vociferated the whole batch in discordant chorus, and with a strength of lungs which might have awoke the dead in their graves, were that possible. The last quoted words were no sooner howled out, than five or six of the party dashed into the river at the same instant, with the philanthropic view of saving my life, though at the imminent hazard of their own. Two of the tallest and most enterprizing of the number did reach me, and dragged me out; the one by the hair of the head, and the other by the left arm. I might have perished for the rest; their solicitude for my salvation

vanished the moment they put their feet in the water. They found they had enough to do to save themselves. Their bodies, like the carcase of Sir John Falstaff, when thrown into the Thames by the menials of Mesdames Page and Ford, showed a wonderful alacrity at sinking; and their escape from "death by drowning," was, if that were possible, a still greater miracle than mine. Three hats and sundry shoes were lost on the occasion.

After I had regained terra firma, I was much perplexed as to whether or not I should submit quietly to the imputation of having attempted suicide; or whether I should disclose the theory of my immersion in the liquid element in which the party found me. I came to the conclusion that it would be the better way to compromise the matter by telling part of the truth. I did tell part of the truth; but the "searchers " were dissatisfied; they insisted there was more in the business than "met the ear." The whole truth, however, did meet their ears before two hours elapsed. Two female servants belonging to the establishment in which Louisa temporarily re

sided, had witnessed the whole affair, to the serious pain and agitation of their clumsy sides; and, so great is the disposition of some people to mischief, that one of them made an errand to town for the express purpose of telling the whole truth, and a good deal more than the truth.

The facts of the awkward case were these: I had that day perambulated the banks of the river, without one moment's cessation, opposite the then half-consecrated domicile which contained the loveliest form that ever emanated from dame Nature's hand. All my anxiety, all my walking and watching to see her, were fruitless. Evening approached: what was to be done? To spend another night without an interview was perfectly horrific in the prospect; what then, I reasoned, must it be in the actual endurance. I resolved, in the extremity of my distress, to go to the other side of the river, and feign some errand into the house, by which means the chances of seeing Louisa would be increased ten-fold. There was a bridge across the water some quarter of a mile from the spot on which I then stood: I went to the other side.

With tremulous step I advanced towards the house; but when within about twenty yards of it, I saw a huge mastiff making towards me with the velocity of lightning. His aspect was terrific; it made an impression on me which will never be obliterated: it is as vividly before my mind at this moment as if the occurrence had taken place but yesterday. I am no coward; and sure I am no one will reproach me with any want of courage, though I hesitated to engage in conflict with the beast, when I state, that I was wholly unarmed and defenceless. Besides, I knew there were no laurels to be gained, even should I come off victorious, from a combat with a domesticated quadruped. I wheeled round in an instant. My first intention was to make for the bridge; but to escape that way, it immediately occurred to me, would be impossible; the brute would have had his tusks in me before I could have got the tenth part of the distance. In the horror and confusion of the moment, I took the nearest cut to the river. Never were my pedestals so exercised before; I literally bounded. Still, Tiger was incomparably the