ment, when the lapse of another half hour rendered it necessary for the sentinel to go once more into the bows of the frigate to strike three bells. The first one had not yet sounded, when the lieutenant, with all the agility of an expert seaman, slipped through one of the gunports beneath the main-chains, and, passing along the channel-plates, laid hold of the spare maintopsail-yard. Trusting the weight of his body to the strength of his sinewy arms, he might now have been seen thus suspended over the calm waters, in whose treacherous bosom innumerable sharks were lurking around for whatever prey they could secure.

As our hero for a moment glanced beneath him, and beheld the dark fin of one of these ferocious monsters protruding from the surface, where the hated creature slowly cruised round the frigate, his muscles seemed involuntarily to relax-the treble rows of serrated teeth to fasten on him, tearing limb from limb-the bubble of the waters, purpled with his own blood, to hiss in his ears—the large and increasing girth of the topsail-yard to grow too unwieldy for his

grasp, as he advanced suspended beneath itand all the difficulties of his rash undertaking to come upon him with exaggerated force. The third bell struck. It sounded like a knell through the ship, and was repeated over the water. The bitter mockery of the cry, "All's well," sank with an icy chill upon his heart. The mizen-chains were yet some feet distant from him, and if not gained by the time the sentry returned to his post, he would be seen; and then the choice was his own-the jaws of the rapacious creature that seemed to watch him from below, or the persecution of those who thirsted for his blood on board.

"It is for her I risk it!" muttered the officer to himself. Springing onward with the thought, his foot gained the muzzle of one of the protruding guns—the girth of the topsail-yard again lessened-another second, and his hand grasped the mizen-chains. He was once more in comparative safety. As he paused, in his present not very secure position, to take breath, he heard the marine come back to the bulkhead of the captain's quarters, shake his hour-glass

to see that the sand ran free, and resume his

you

weary beat." If but knew how near your master is his hated prisoner!" thought the lieutenant; "but pleasure is the bride of peril, and the marriage has its charms."

As Ramsay said this, he tapped gently on the glass of the half-port, which opened out from the captain's cabin under the mizen chains, where he was now sitting. Twice the signal was repeated, and then our hero, putting his ear to the glass, fancied he could detect the whispering of female voices from within; for, parted off from the larger apartment by a slight bulkhead, was a little berth, just sufficient to hold two cots. To gain a few moments' interview with the tenant of one of which, had the venturous prisoner dared the imminent risks that still impended over him.

"I must take care," said he to himself, "not to alarm them; for should their cries bring Angela's father to the port, all is lost."

Again he listened, and again heard, as he thought, their voices in consultation." Surely they will come to the port-window now?—

No!" A fourth signal was given; again the voices were heard, but no face appeared. "Perhaps they doubt who the applicant may bebut if awake they will know my voice-and so will her father. But it must be risked. Angela!" said he, putting his lips to a crevice in the port-sill, and speaking in so low a tone that, to one not listening for the sound, it might have passed for the melancholy murmur of some sudden flaw of wind.

Still no one came.

What should he do?

Every second that flew by, bore, as on the slenderest thread, the lives of himself and the poor devoted fellow who waited for him on board. "Angela !" repeated he, in a louder key.

The face of a young girl, closely muffled in a shawl, now presented itself inside the port, and, beckoning him to silence with the finger on the lip, quickly disappeared. In a few seconds she returned, and silently unfastened the half-port.

"Gracious Heaven! Mr. Ramsay, can this be you? Why do you dream of coming here? -what do you want?"

"Speak low, my dear girl-remember the captain sleeps only a few yards distant,” replied Ramsay. "Where's your mistress ?-give her my love, and tell her I come to bid her a last ' good-by' before the trial; for Heaven knows whither I may have to wander after it.”

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My mistress knows you're here, sir, and is dressing, as well as she is able for fright. Here, sir, hold this window, that it an't blown down, while I go and assist her."

In a few minutes the soubrette returned, and leaning on her arm was one who, though pallid with fear, and her beautiful figure disguised in the loose robes that her haste had flung around her, certainly appeared sufficiently lovely to form a very fair excuse for the ruin of any one.

As the officer beheld the approach of his mistress, for whom so costly a price was to be paid, he seemed to forget the host of surrounding dangers, and leaning over the port-sill on the gun beside it, pressed her to his bosom with a joy too great for utterance.

Anne, in the meanwhile, like a prudent and experienced abigail, had seated herself down by