Bedlam. The devil make us feel the weight of his horn, if we can devise no better escape than that."

"If we do, the credit must be yours then; for I have nothing further to devise in it. You, as a good sea lawyer, may be able to hit on something--I despair."

"Then, sir, you do what a Ramsay never stooped to do before."

"True, doctor; I did not exactly mean to use those words."

"I should think not, sir; truly I should think not. Despair is a word for fools, as suicide, I told you lately, was for madmen. Impressment is it they resolve on ?"

"It is."

"Has the admiral yet consented, do to the issuing of the warrant?"

ye know,

"Yes, he has, though with great reluctance, and that on the strict understanding that it is not to be put in force till I am fairly landed."

"A blot on his escutcheon for that same ! He who, with the power of prevention in his own hands, and an uninterested party, can suffer

wrong to be executed towards another, is only, in my opinion, removed from the guilt of the perpetrator by being a criminal of a deeper dye. Vacillating old fool! It is enough to stir our blood when creatures such as these command us. Now to our task: no doubt, you say, remains as to the correctness of your information ?"

"Not a shadow," replied Ramsay, smiling.

"Good; the first thing to be done then is to consider who are the exempted parties from the operation of this cruel outrage of the constitution, and see if we can put you in the position of one of these."

"And who and what are they?"

"Wait here but a minute, and I will bring you the last act of exemptions. I have the atrocity in my cabin, which I keep much for the same reason as we do vipers in a bottle-for their curiosity."

"Ay, but they are caged like me, though not for fear of their teeth; so methinks you

might have left out your injunction to wait for your return."

"I only did it, my boy, because, like my vipers, you are in such overflowing spirits."

"Too bad, doctor, too bad; I thought so old a Joe had been too tough for your table."

"Sir, you mistake the nature of that food, which, like other game, is always the better for keeping."

In a few minutes the doctor returned from his cabin, and taking the desired book from his pocket, said, "I think I have found out the mode of setting these fellows at defiance after all."

"My dear doctor," returned the prisoner, taking his hand, "where will be the end of the numerous obligations you have put me under ?"

"I care not where, my boy, so long as they leave you happy; but listen. This is my plan : 'Referring to the bond,' as Shylock hath it, I see I am not mistaken in supposing that both masters and mates of traders are privileged persons, as far as regards the infamous operation of the press-warrant. All that now remains

for us to do, is to get, therefore, some appointment for you in one of these capacities."

"If that be my only chance, I fear my fate is sealed. Consider the chances of obtaining such appointment betwixt this hour and four o'clock this afternoon, by which time, in all probability, I shall be turned adrift, to help myself as I best can."

"And what of that? Is there no balm in Gilead ?-and hath not my people a physician? My life on it, I manage the matter by that time."

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You, doctor?-you forget you are a prisoner, only in a little less degree than myselfyour evidence is material on the trial. Depend upon it you will get no leave to go ashore till your words have been made to condemn your friend, and your power rendered useless to aid him."

"If thou sayest sooth, then am I a Dutchman; and that, believe me, is against all ocular evidence, or my father had a marvellously great demand for bait in my young days, with a won

derfully little conscience as to where he got it. No, no-descendant of the immortal Allan? if we have no "gentle shepherd" to do us a good turn, the wolf shall want his sheep, I hope, for all that. I have a trusty friend on shore, who would venture something to serve me. By good luck he is not greatly in harm's way of either captain or admiral; so I'll write, and charge him on his fidelity to run, haste, fly, nor stop by the way; but to dun, harass, and persecute the shipowners each, all, and singly, till he has done my bidding. I can send my message by my trusty bottle-washer and associate, who shall act with the quickness of Mercury. Be thou only silent as night upon the subject."

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Ay, or the grave either."

"Good!-then you may safely rely on me; and now let us arrange a signal or two. As soon as you see me with my hair brushed up straight an end upon my forehead, like quills upon the fretful porcupine,' don't be alarmed, most noble Thane, for then you shall know I have your new commission safe in the unfathom