deemed it a pleasure to explore their moonless recesses. Pooh! I've heard nothing but the dismal notes of the owl, or the pick-axes of the smugglers, who occasionally conceal their tubs of liquor there."

"Tubs of liquor! did you say?" inquired the stranger, emphatically; "I wonder that you were not tempted to be

come a snatcher in the absence of the owners.'

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"Oh!" rejoined Wolf," as the tubs are guarded by the devil, methinks it would be somewhat difficult to effect their dislodgment. Suppose you should share the fate of Tom Walker's wife? eh, Pat?"

"I!" returned Franklin, "I am none of the lubbers that constitute the coast blockade, d'ye see. I share the fate of Tom Walker's wife! by the saints of heaven, if I would not willingly go to the old ruins at this precious moment for the value of a groat!"

The desired remuneration was instantly handed to Franklin by the stranger, who expressed a willingness to accompany him.

No," said Pat, "I will have no partner in my under. taking, the honour of the design shall rest on me alone; and if I return not to this house, as safe and sound as a roach, I'll barter my head for a broomstick."

"Don't go," rejoined Wolf, affectionately; "don't go, Pat; if thou incurrest any mischance in thy way, thy wife and children will become a burthen on the parish, which is sufficiently burthened already, God knows."

The remonstrance of Wolf availed not. In the lapse of ten minutes, Pat Franklin was within an acre of the ruinous building. As he approached its spacious walls, he thought he heard a confused murmur of voices, and, on a nearer approach, he was startled by an inward light, which threw its broad yellow glare on the fractured windows of the minster. Pat Franklin rubbed his eyes, and stood for awhile in listless apathy; but the midnight wind, intermingled with the crackling of the dark ivy boughs, and the hollow tones that issued from the lonely pile, awoke him to a degree of consciousness which he would have gladly exchanged for the warm fireside, and the hospitable jokes of the Freshwater Tar: curiosity, however, impelled him to complete his adventure. With a faltering step he gained an old arch, through which the in

terior of the ruin might have been explored by the naked eye, when, to his utter astonishment, he perceived a gang of tubsnatchers rescuing their treasures from the bosom of the earth, and occasionally directing their batsmen to preserve a most diligent look-out. Reckless of his situation, did poor Pat gaze on the droll scene that was passing within the old building. Not a thought that would have been conducive to his escape, in that perilous moment flitted across his brain; but, like a man awaiting the attack of his enemies, with breathless anxiety he stood regarding the ferocious countenances of the smugglers, and seemed to anticipate an interest from the vengeful imprecations that issued from their lips. His reverie was, however, soon dissolved, and his courage totally exterminated. The stroke of a cudgel, used by one of the gang, felled him to the ground, and, to further his destruction, the sentinels raised a loud 66 cry of a spy! an informer! to the work! to the work! stifle him with earth !" A crowd of tubsnatchers instantly congregated round the unhappy criminal, and a young woman, who seemed to act as their leader, struck him in the face with a small staff. The moonlight descending on this daring female, revealed a countenance not less beautiful than the orbit itself. Her luxuriant curls were clustered o'er her dark blue eyes in thick profusion, and the pale lily, that increased the delicacy of her feminine cheek, seemed to usurp the rosy hue of her lips as she gave her companions the following injunction :- The brave die the death of the brave," said she, "but cowards shall endure the punishment of cowards! Prepare a pit for the caitiff's reception, and let him think of his ignominy in this spectral ruin, enclosed in dust as dark as his own mean spirit."

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With the utmost avidity did the desperadoes execute the sentence of their female chief on the unfortunate Pat Franklin, and as soon as they had concluded their office, they quitted the ruin, leaving the object of their revenge to the serenity of a moonlight night, and to the thoughts that accrue from a burthened spirit.

Pat Franklin had not remained an hour in his perilous situation, before a long succession of shouts broke wildly on his ear. The heart of the poor labourer bounded within him, when he heard the challenging voice of the cutter's drum, and saw the old windows of the minster lighted up with the

fire of the musquetoons. Proudly the shouts of the conquerors rose to the sky like the waves of a troubled sea, and the moonless yews that encompassed the ruin, returned an unbroken murmur back. The sunshine of anticipation was, however, soon forbidden to warm the heart of Pat Franklin. A gang of smugglers, headed by the noble-minded female whom we have already described, burst into the desolate recesses of the ruin, impelling a manacled captive along with them. Walsingham was soon recognised in the person of the stranger, and the spirit of Pat Franklin sank within him at the sight. But a second glance at the prisoner reminded him that it was not the pale superstitious Walsingham who had prolonged his revels at the Freshwater Tar;-nay, he appeared in the brightest moment of his youthful glory. His brow wore a scowl of defiance, and his upcurled lip evinced the disdain with which he regarded his ruffian conquerors. Though the skies were dark and unpromising, and though a sight of Walsingham was but partially assisted by the fleeting radiance of a few boat lanterns, yet Franklin could discern all those fine characteristics that distinguished him in that hour of trial. His attire consisted of a small blue jacket, to which was attached a broad leathern baldric; a white-hilted hanger decorated his thigh, and a pair of national trowsers formed a delightful appropriation to his scarlet neck-kerchief, and sailorlike beaver

"Trimm'd with the smart cockade."

As the most ferocious desperadoes of the gang dragged him to a shaggy eminence, on which their female leader had previously taken her position; the yellow moonshine glided along the walls of the ruin, and illumined its innermost recesses. Suddenly the courageous young woman, whom the smugglers designated by the name of "Fan Hawkeye," surveyed Walsingham with scrutinising observation, and clasping her fair hands together, uttered the mysterious sentence of Oh God! 'tis he!"

In an instant all tongues were silent. There was a mute tranquillity, a breathless anxiety among the conquerors, which seemed to forbode something terrible; not a lip moved-not an eye-lid quivered: the cutlass was suspended in its sheath, and the butt-end of each musket rested on the foot of him that

bore it. Had not the gentle breeze occasionally wafted its elfin music through the chasms of the fractured roof, the whole scene would have been without a sound to gladden it; but the mute terror which the heroine had sown in every man's heart, melted away as her troubled spirit burst from her lips in these words: Oh, my brother-my brother!--conceived with me in the same womb! Oh, Frederick! can I embrace thee, after thou art so dishonoured and disgraced?"

A torrent of tears drenched the manly cheeks of Walsingham, as his sister thus upbraided him. His round black orbs that had hitherto been radiant as "the plume of some dark beauteous bird," now sank within their sockets, pale and sorrowful. Silently he wept on the bosom of his sister, as she continued to pour her ejaculations into his ear. "Oh, Walsingham!" said she," ne'er did I deem that thou wouldst have engaged in so inglorious a cause! Had I known thy intention, I would have forsaken father and mother, and clung unto thee. I would have snatched thee from ignominy and destruction! my warriors would have rallied round the standard of their predecessors, and defended thee until death. In the wild inaccessible eyries of thy native cliffs thou wouldst have hurled thy defiance on all around thee. My heart is but the heart of a woman-thine was formed for adventure, and deeds of enterprize! Oh, Frederick! thou art like a bruised reed! the womb that bore thee is disgraced-the hands that reared thee are sullied-the shore that witnessed thy infant rambles is become a mocking-stock among men, and thou-thou art dishonoured! Oh, my brother! if I weep the tears of sorrow o'er thee, surely thy parents will shed tears of blood. Thou hast neglected their injunction. Oh that I had expired in the sunny hour of infancy, for then thy degradation would have been unknown to me.'

"Do not unhinge my soul, Fanny," exclaimed Walsingham; "though I have disobeyed the dictates of an outlawed father, I have stood by my country when none would stake their lives in its defence: mine has been the sword that has ever been red. Oh, Fanny, reprove me not! though I love thee, I will not abet thy rebellion. But who is this? surely I recognise one of my acquaintance."

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Ah, good Jesus!" returned Pat Franklin, "times are sadly altered since you laid a wager with me, Mr. Walsingham."

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"That man is faultless," said Walsingham to his sister; "let him be released, or his wife and little ones will cry revenge against thee and me."

"I accept thy intercession," replied Fanny; " unearth the dastard, ye men of the cliffs!" The heroine's injunction was obeyed, and Pat once more found himself safe and sound on his precious feet. But ere Walsingham could slide a word of consolation into the ear of Franklin, the echo of distant footsteps was heard. For awhile did the magnanimous Fanny stand as mute as the Niobe of old; then brandishing her sabre in the air, she uttered a few broken sentences. "To the field, outlaws!" cried she; the arm of your leader is unweakened yet! the wolves pant for blood, and, by the gods of our household, they shall have blood!"

At her command, the band of smugglers rushed through the entrance of the ruin, and Walsingham, who was intent upon the preservation of his sister, lost not a moment in following them. After gaining the spacious sea-shore, on which the cutters of the desperadoes were moored, a fierce conflict ensued between the hostile hosts. Carabines were loaded and discharged-pikes were broken-and many a gallant mariner was stretched on the bed of death. The seamen of the blockade were, however, victorious, and "no quarter" became the prevailing shout. Fanny Walsingham, who was fatally wounded, escaped in a small smuggling craft, and a few of the most resolute ruffians retreated to the old minster, where they found a transient refuge from the fury of their foes. As the boat of Fanny floated along the radiant blue wave, she sank on her brother's bosom, and, pointing to the shore, exclaimed, Oh, Frederick! on yonder glorious cliffs our fathers have preserved their independence through time unknown. It is sweet for my languid eyes to fade into death on the wave which embraces my native land. Long have I loved the dark blue ocean, and the triumphant voice of its billows; and, to die on its crystal plain, is rapture to my heart. Thou hast erred, Walsingham-thou hast fought for a tyrant's sceptre; may the gods of thy father's household forgive thee! revolt, and they will forgive thee; enlist thyself beneath the banners of liberty, and receive thy sister's blessing-farewell-farewell!"

A cutter manned with marines now approached. The oaths of the commanding officers recalled the expiring spirit of