for the purpose, as one of them afterwards confessed, of revenging themselves on him, for the loss of so many brave comrades, came to the horrid resolution of destroying all his friends and relations in Tessino....a resolution which they carried into effect, descending from their hiding-places in the mountains to the village, at the dead hour of midnight, when all the poor inhabitants were buried in repose after the fatigues of the day.... Blessed St. Benedict! what horrid sights didit present the next morning! But I'll not shock you, Signor, by dwelling on these. Suffice it to say the remains of the poor massacred inhabitants were all quietly laid in one grave, and ever since the village of Tessino has been truly a deserted one. They say the houses are soon to be pulled down, and a monastery erected on their scite, by way of an asylum for travellers benighted amongst the desolate mountains in this quarter, and where daily pray ers are to be offered up for the souls of those who so miserably perished. Considering the grandeur and loneliness of the situation, I don't think, Signor, a better could be fixed on for a religious edifice.'

To the justness of this observation Osmond assented by a slight inclination of his head and now the sun disappearing from the horizon, the wavering woods, and rocks, and mountain tops,'that long retained the ascending gloom, were beginning to be involved in the gloom of night....a gloom rendered more impressive by the terrific grandeur or rather wildness of the surrounding scenery; and a rising wind, that now howled dismally through the clefts of the mountains, now swept in hollow gusts over the tall forests that hung upon their sides,

The

I am much mistaken,' cried Mactalla, after a short interval of silence, if a storm be not coming on. clouds looked threatening as the sun disappeared; and see, Signor, how vainly the moon strives to make her appearance. I hope we may reach the place where we are to put up for the night before it begins; for it won't be the most agreeable thing in the world to be overtaken by one here. Ah, commend me to the roads of little Ireland, where, if a person be surprised by a storm, they have always a snug inn at hand to thrust their heads into.

Fine landscapes are fine things, but in my mind there's nothing so pleasant to a weary traveller as a cosy little parlour, with plenty of provisions.'

'Did you ever hear more of the innocent occasion of the dreadful catastrophe you have been relating to me?' asked Osmond, still too much occupied in reflecting on it, to attend to the observations he was making.

No, Signor, though I have frequently inquired for him. We were very intimate; indeed I may say a kind of friendship subsisted between us. Some people blame him for what he did: for my part I say nothing....only that I think he had better not have had made himself so busy; for as a shaking water that has a foul bottom only renders it muddy, so disturbing such folks only renders them more mischievous.'

Nay, my friend, 'tis a duty we owe to society to bring wickedness to punishment whenever we have the power. He that would neglect to avail himself of an opportunity to do so, would justly be considered in the light of an accessary to the crimes of those he thus suffered to escape.'

I stand corrected, Signor,' returned Mactalla, in accents of submission.

Osmond now inquired whether they were still far distant from the hamlet where they purposed resting for the night?

As it is now too dark for me to see about me,' replied Mactalla,' if I knew how many miles we had come, I could resolve that question. Pray, Signor, is it possible to calculate distance by time?'

'Certainly,' answered his master.

May it please you then, Signor, to make up the number of miles you think we have come, from three o'clock this morning down to the present hour, which I take to be about ten, from the time that has elapsed since we heard a vesper bell.'

• We had much better push on than waste time in trying to calculate how far we have come; for I now perfectly agree with you in thinking that a storm is at hand.'

They accordingly pushed forward, but, to their great vexation, were almost every five minutes obliged to slack

en their speed, owing to the little French boy, who in vain tried to make his mule keep up with their horses, perpetually exclaiming under the terrifying apprehension of being left behind, Au voleur! au voleur! au voleur ! an exclamation that, notwithstanding Mactalla's solicitations to the contrary, Osmond could not avoid attending to.

Long threatening comes at last,' cried Mactalla, on feeling some heavy drops of rain fall upon his face, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and tremendous bursts of thunder.

We must get on as fast as we can,' said Osmond; for I am pretty well convinced this storm will not soon be over.'

Ah, you were right, Signor, to say as fast as we can, which by the Powers won't be very fast, for this beast (alluding to the mule, which, for some time past, he had been stationed by, in order to try and get it forward) is to the full as stubborn, I'll be sworn, as any of her generation ever were. By the Lord, I might just as well beat one of the trees as beat her.'

Well, my friend,' cried Osmond, we must only have the greater patience.'

In a short time the storm became so violent, that it was utterly impossible for them to proceed. They accordingly alighted, and leading their affrighted horses, sought shelter from its violence at the entrance of a wood that skirted the road.

เ

By St. Benedict,' cried Mactalla, as they slowly made their way into it, and the blue lightning quivered round their heads, one might almost be tempted to think the end of the world at hand; for such fire and brimstone as this was never, I believe, seen or smelt before: but courage,' he continued, on their arriving beneath the foliage of some tall and interwoven trees, matted together in wild luxuriance; let me tell you, Signor, both man and beast might be worse off than here."

The shelter they had obtained was, however, but partial. The rain fell in torrents, and was frequently blown in their faces by sudden squalis of wind, and which also bowed, with frightful violence, the trees around them

the tumultuous heavings of which, as agitated by the wind, now resembled the roaring and breaking of waves upon a rocky coast....now the doleful shrieking of unquiet spirits.

'I should not much like to be alone in this dismal place,' said Mactalla, getting closer to his master,' for I have heard that ghosts, like witches, ride upon the wind; though to be sure none but such as had very bad quarters at home would venture out such a night as this.'

And why not? seeing no blast that blew could injure them, being but airy nothing themselves.'

'Holy St. Benedict! you believe in them then?'

'No, I have not said I did. I have only spoken of them in the light in which they are regarded by those who do....but hark! methinks I hear the trampling of horses.'

Mactalla instantly became silent, and both listened attentively, but without hearing aught for a few minutes but the raging of the wind in the wood. They then clearly distinguished the clattering of horses' hoofs, accompanied by a confused murmur of mens' voices.

Signor, cried Mactalla, in a whispering tone, and suddenly pressing the arm of Osmond, let us be cautious; for I should not be in the least surprised if the men we hear were a troop of banditti. Holy St. Benedict take us into his keeping, and get us safely through the perils and dangers of this night!'

Osmond who did not by any means think his conjecture erroneous, now in his turn reminded him of the necessity of silence. The wind again rising, prevented their hearing for some minutes any other sounds than those that it occasioned. On its subsiding, they were startled by hearing the horses near the thicket which sheltered them, and a hoarse voice at the entrance exclaiming.... Ho, here appears to be a spot that will afford shelter to ourselves and beasts; let us alight, and get out of this d....mnd storm, which has given me a greater drenching than I ever got before.'

This speech induced Osmond and his companions to change their quarters. On advancing a little farther into the wood, they again paused, for the purpose of listening to the conversation of those who had obliged them to

move, and which in a few minutes convinced them they were not wrong in their surmises respecting them.

They complained of their ill luck, in not having met with the booty they expected that night.

'But the night is not yet over,' observed one of the party, and before it is we may be more fortunate; so instead of any longer railing or lamenting, let us endeavour to do something to make ourselves comfortable. Come, stir about, lads, and try to get something together to make a fire.'

This order being obeyed, a quantity of faggots was speedily collected, and a light being struck, a fire was kindled, round which the party ranged themselves. The strong glare which the flame, as it spread, cast around them, permitted Osmond, on his cautiously advancing a few paces for the purpose, to view their countenances, than which nothing could be conceived more illustrative $ of their profession; cunning and ferocity were imprest on every feature, and an additional fierceness given to their aspects by their savage style of dress. Notwithstanding the disappointment they spoke of, and the weather, they appeared in high spirits; but, like their appearance, their mirth was of the roughest nature.

'Tivoli,' cried one of them, who by his ordering, seemed to have some authority over the rest,' what provisions have you got?'

But little, if any,' grumbled out a rough sullen bass voice, as you might know, if you gave yourself time to reflect; for many hands make light work.'

True, true, assented the other; I might have known, as you say, that we can't eat our cake and have it; but produce us what you have, and like an honest lad as you are, try if you can't rummage us out a flask of wine....it will help to warm us. I am devilish hungry, however, let me tell you.'

Wine being produced, the ruffians became still more noisy and argumentative than they had before been.

Oh, holy St. Benedict!' at length softly exclaimed Mactalla, in his master's ear, what will become of us?" Trust in heaven,' returned Osmond, in the same low