great simplicity of character and modest manners. He found him to be intimately acquainted with natural history, and he had a wonderful story for every seaweed and zoophyte they came across.

Towards nightfall they anchored off Troutbeck. In the morning Brooke went early on shore, and sauntered up to the 'Jolly Sea Gull.' He was met at the door by Dingrose, who accosted him at once, and showed that he knew through his scouts all about the movements of the cutter the day before.

'Well, maaster Captain, what do you think of our coast? 'Taint a nice one to be on with easterly gale driving ye on to the rocks, is it? Not the sort of place that smugglers like. It is a quiet place, ain't it? We don't see vessels like yourn from one year's end to the other. There was a tidy craft here a few days ago, maybe a consort of your honour's; a schooner she was, maybe you command them both, Captain, and your mate sails t'other 'un?'

Brooke replied that he had seen nothing of the schooner, and suggested that she was perhaps a Dutch smuggler, or a vessel that got out of her course accidentally from the last storm.

'Ah, to be sure,' replied Dingrose, 'ye be right. No doubt she came here accidental like. There ain't a doubt of it. Does your honour think she has gone away accidental too?'

On Brooke's inquiry as to the way to Holly Bank, he answered,

"Tis a nice walk; ye clim yon cliff, and keep to the left of the wooded hill right afore ye, and ye come into village, and t' big house stands at end of it. Squire Maxwell is one of the right sort,—a friendly neighbour, and his son is as fine a young fellow as ever walked.'

Brooke bid him good morning, and Dingrose, looking after him, muttered to himself, 'Surveying vessel, is she? Ah, I dare say. Surveying, to be sure! No, my fine chap, you are not a-coming it over Jock Dingrose quite so easy.' He called a strange-looking lad who was hanging about the house, and said, 'You must gang with a message up to yon big tree, and tell 'em to look out, there's a shark after 'em.'

Brooke walked leisurely on. When he came in sight of the village, he turned up on to the hill, and walked through the woods until he found himself right above Mr Maxwell's house. It then occurred to him that he was too early to call, so he determined to walk on further. After crossing the top of the park, he turned round, while he began unconsciously to talk out loud to himself. 'A beautiful country! What nice woods, what a capital family house; near the sea, too, just the place I should like. I quite envy Mr Maxwell. What a pity Providence has not given me just such

an estate.'

At this point of this interesting wish, he was

startled by a low but pleasant laugh, and he saw a young girl smiling, while she blushed as she passed down a pathway that crossed his road. Brooke took off his cap, and advanced to overtake her, saying,

'You heard my rhapsody. The fact is, I am going to call on Mr Maxwell, and I am too early. I am Captain Brooke, of the Daphne, engaged on surveying service. I have a letter of introduction from my father.'

She replied,—

'I am sure my father will be glad to see you at once. We are early risers. I always take an early walk with this companion,' and she patted an enormous dog that walked by her side in stately dignity between them.

'Then I am indeed fortunate,' said Brooke, and in five minutes they were talking together as old acquaintances, as she guided him through the woods. Brooke felt almost sorry that the walk had ended as they drew near to the house. It was a comfortable square mansion, built of stone. Miss Maxwell led the way through a small hall into the breakfastroom. A young lad of seventeen was sitting by the fire, with two or three white terriers by him. Without looking round, he said,—

'I am so glad you are come in. ately hungry, Gerty.'

I am so desper

Without replying to him, she said,—

'My brother Philip; Captain Brooke, a friend of papa's.'

The boy awkwardly rather than shyly made a kind of bow, saying, 'Glad to see you, sir,' and then calling a terrier to him he nursed it on his knees without further speech. A hearty voice and very loud was heard in the hall, and a fine-looking man, with a frank expression, laughing blue eyes, and shaggy eyebrows, entered the room. His daughter had already sent him word of the presence of their visitor, whom he accosted as if every word were meant and felt, with the true friendship and sympathy of the English gentleman.

'Bravo, Captain Brooke, you have stolen a march upon us. Didn't know you were in the country. Remember your father well. Haven't seen him for I don't know how long. We will show you some sport. You shall go out with the hounds, or if you prefer to shoot, Philip here knows how to find the game, and bring it down too, young as he is. I have just given him a Manton. But where do you come from? We have not much communication with the world. We live in Everton for a couple of months in the year, and then I sometimes take Gerty up to London; but down in the country here we seldom see new faces.'

Brooke explained that he was engaged on surveying service. On hearing this Mr Maxwell exclaimed,

'By George! then we have a chance of getting a harbour of refuge at last. I will show you the place. It can be done at no great expense. We will ride down after breakfast, and I will explain to you all my plan. I know the whole coast as well as any man from the Murth to the Foyle.'

He rattled on upon this subject for some time, and it appeared much to interest him. At last he said there was only one reason for not having a harbour of refuge, and that was that it would help the smugglers. The son, who all this time had not spoken, although frequently appealed to by his father, now abruptly said,—

'They ran a big cargo after the last storm.'

'How do you know that?' said his father earnestly, and added, 'Ah, my boy, some of those friends of yours, with whom I object to see you, will persuade you to smuggle too.'

The son, with more warmth and animation than he had shown, replied,

'I will never disgrace my father nor my name.'

Brooke was easily persuaded to make these pleasant quarters his own for some days. To keep up appearances he frequently went down to the coast and cruised about in the Daphne. When the weather permitted the Maxwell party accompanied him. At all times Philip was ready, and delighted to learn all he could about the system of sailing the vessel under various winds. He became a favourite