along the harbour, as the same hour of the night is sounded, and everything becomes as sadly silent as before.

"He is a faithful fellow," said the prisoner to himself," and would, I doubt not, serve me; but should anything unfortunate occur, perhaps their malice would not stop short of taking his life for his kindness! It does seem

own.

selfish to risk it; but I would do the same for him, were our stations changed. A few months since, and I saved his life at the danger of my Poor fellow! 'tis a hard request to make of him. But the fortunes of war spare no one. If I take not this opportunity, when, alas! shall I ever gain another? Come what will, it must be ventured!"

The prisoner, as he came to this conclusion, arose from the cot on which he had been lying, and slipping on his jacket, the only part of his dress that he had laid aside, stepped from his cabin.

In an instant the sentinel placed over him arose from the chair on which he sat in the The marine was armed

frigate's gunroom.

with a bayonet. He did not seem to oppose the egress of his prisoner, nor even to doubt its propriety. The act was rather of respectful inquiry. The lieutenant saw this; and, with the air of one who replies to a demand, said, "I am going on the maindeck, Macpherson."

The sentry replied by saluting his cap, and then extended his hand to take the lantern from the table. At a sign from his officer, however, he abandoned his intention, and though his looks expressed some surprise, he did not hesitate at following him. In silence they passed into the steerage, creeping in the dark beneath the sleepers who crowded in its space, and arrived at the after hatchway.

66

Macpherson," said the officer, speaking in the lowest tones," you once expressed gratitude for some little service I was enabled to show you."

"I did, sir."

"Do you still feel it?"

The soldier bowed his head in the affirma

tive.

"To what extent do you dare go in proof of it?"

"Then remain here till I return to you. I am going to see a friend-should any mischance happen to me, and you be brought into a scrape, you had better”

"Bear it, sir; and well I can do so," said the fellow. "I understand what friend ye seek, sir-the only one on earth that the unhappy have. I'm thinking, may be, I would do the same myself. You had better put one or two of these in your pocket," pointing to the twenty-four pound shot-" God bless ye, sir -'tis a sair leap at the best-though I'll not be long perhaps or I'll take it too."

The old Scotchman, as he said this, grasped the hand of his countryman and superior, and folding his arms upon his breast, sat down on the hatchway ladder, with the air of one whom no further misfortune could afflict. For a few seconds the lieutenant regarded him, totally at a loss to comprehend his meaning.

"You mistake, my good fellow," whispered

Ramsay destroys his enemy before he lays hand on himself."

Ay! then you will despatch the old man!" coolly replied Macpherson, turning his head round.

"Nor do I think of that-my errand is a peaceful one enough-wait here--I will return as quickly as

"No, no, sir; take your time-you need not fash for me at the worst, it's only giving back the life you saved."

Hoping that such a misfortune was not in store for him as to entail death on one so faithful, the lieutenant turned away.

CHAPTER II.

Tell not to lovers what young love can dare,
Devotion brave, or soft affection bear.

WATCHING his opportunity, as the back of the cabin-door sentry was turned towards him, he stepped up the hatchway ladder, and, gliding noiselessly across the frigate's maindeck with his shoeless feet, crouched down in the shadow of the nearest gun-carriage. Fortune, it is said, favours the brave. It is at least a consolatory if not a stimulating creed, and I, for one, shall always be a devout believer in it. In the lieutenant's case the fact was evident. To him time was indeed as the most precious sands of life, and scarcely had he gained his conceal