THE STORM; Or, GRACE WRAYS TRIALS.

B y MA-OB ALFOBD ROOHEFORT.

CHAPTER XXVll.— Concluded,

jfoscKTON Sevillo heard. Tom Peg through to the end. Sometime* _e said ..yes"or "no," and his face grew whiter and whiter till the awful story was But in the meantime Monckton Seville .Ju o ff his boots, his coat, and his panta- Zns, as if be were throwing away a vestment with every phase of the terrible sstHfith Tom Pegg's last word Monckton Seville was nearly or actually naked. He gathered in his arms. Ho drew up his ws, and still said "yes "or "no." '■And all that is awful, Peter—awful! I don't think it is true, and I don't believe it is. and no more do you." Seville made no reply to Tom Peee's last remark, but fumbled at the bed riotheswith one hand, and at the same time gathered himself up like a python or a lion .o^out to spring. ~..., ■' No I" he shouted at length. "No Peter; of course it aint true," said

lie next word from tho man crouching on •the bed was an oath—an oath that was not profane, but sounded rather liko the cry of a wild animal in the night. At the best Tom Pegg had not much physical strength, and, at his worst, if cenld be any worst to such a wreck, ho was a very weak man. The barley before 1 he tornado ; tho rushes before the torrent; tho flax beforo tho fire _mll figures we may uso are powerless to axorefls Monckton Seville's attack on Tom Pees, and Pegg's utter helplessness. _ ft was "well that the rules of tho prison stationed'double guards, all strong men, on that corridor, else Tom Pegg would have been strangled in a minute. . The guard outside heard Pegg s cry for help and rushed in—rushed into where the naked giant was pressing a weak creature with a knee on h; s breast and a hand on his The guard tried to pull Monckton Sovillo away, out ho was caught by a strong arm, as the whirlpool catches a spar, and crouched down with the shout of " help " on his lips. , , . . What avails the power of even a giant against tho strength of scores ? Other men came running in, and they beat their black clubs down on tho head of tho naked man till the red blood splashed over his face and ploughed red furrows down his neck. Then tlie aggressor desisted. Then Monckton Seville half roso, stag gered, and fell back a dead man.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

PI-KINO UP THREADS.

« Never saw a man improve so in my lifo, Mr Thernton. Let me see, how long is it since Miss Wray—"

"You mean Miss Seville," said Ralph. "Yes; beg pardon. How long is it since Miss Seville was taken down with tho fever?" "Just a month," said Ralph Thornton, who knew tho time to an hour. "Well, Thornton, in that timo George Wray—" . ' "You mean George Seville. " Quite right; but lam thinking of the name under which ho entered. George Seville is himself again. Never saw any thing like it, as I said before. Why, "-Thornton, the shock would have killed most men." " I suppose so," said Ralph to tho oculist. " "It certainly would, yet it has mado him better. His eye—l tested it not half an hour ago with a glass—is as clear, bright, and strong as yours. And then his leg ; why, he is no moro lame than you aro ; and as to his general strength, why, thoro is no estimating it. But ho must cither be per mitted to leave or ho will break out." "I thought as much," said Ralph ; "and it ia very Fortunate that his niece is well enough to sec him." "Miss Wray—what a lovely girl—" ."Miss Seville, Doctor." "True, true ; pardon mo if I forgot. But you know, Thornton, the world's know ledge of tho true state of affairs is vory recent," said the famous oculist. , "You cannot anger me by any lapse cf memory in that way," said Ralph ; "but my mother and Harry Gray aro out thore in the carriage, and I proposed to tako Uncle George along ; can I do it ?" "Why, certainly, Mr Thornton," said the doctor. "You have paid me for the care of this gentlemnn, and I have done my whole duty, as his condition shows. Still-"

" Still what, doctor ?" " I am very curious." "And if I can gratify your curiosity," said Ralph, " I will gladly do it." "You are kind, Thornt__i." " But I mean what I say." , " And you will not get angry ?" "No." ' " You know all society and tho papers are full of this thing ?" "I do, Doctor." "Then is this man Seville, my pationt, Grace's uncle?" "He is, Doctor ; and he is also my uncle." "You mean your mother's half-brother —that's what the papers say," said the _oetor. " And so far the papers are right, replied

Ralph. "Is it true that Tom Pegg is in tho penitentiary ?" "Yon read the papers, Doctor ?' " Hurriedly. You know we doctors make news and glance over that part of our work unrriedly. . . "Then I will tell yon Tom Pegg is m Sing Sing for ten years. He may be pardoned out, but it will be better for him self and the world if he dies there." "I think so too," said the doctor.

"Pegg was a donkey." W. "And worse," said Ralph. A "But Monks—l mean Monckton Seville. _ ; . "By the way he was your uncle ?" "He was, Doctor." " And he was actually insane all his life ? " That is the opinion of the experts." "I am glad to have heard that, Thorn- I ton," said the doctor, .'for I could not I think that n man with his training and with I snob blood in his veins could deliberately -ecome a villain." ■ "I do not accept your theory that wicked- I ness in rich men means insanity," said I Ralph, with earnestness. "My uncle pre ierred wrong to right, war to peace, and a vile associates to virtuous ones. He was a I. T>ad man ; and for myself I want no apology I lor his crime, or for anyone else's crime. H * We do not discuss the morals of a mod dog. Do not say I am heartless, Doctor." " I do not, Mr Thornton, for I know you I are right. But, as I said before, I am deeply interested in this matter. May I I play lawyer and ask you some more ques -._ tions to gratify my own curiosity ?" \m'.-' " You are free to do so," said Ralph. «' What became of Mrs Seville ?"

" You mean the lady to whom I was onco engaged ?" " Yes, Mr Thornton." "She is dead." "Dead?"

"Yes, Doctor." " Why, I read in the papers that when she learned that she was found out she ran away to Europe." " And so she did."

" And sho died there ?"

"She died in London two days ago." " Why, how did you know that, Mr Thornton ?". "Through the cable, Doctor." " Well, well, well."

"Yes; her husband, Horace Wold, fol lowed her up. It seemed that he always loved her, though ho was a weak fellow; and he shot 'nimself in her presence, and the same night she died." " That is astonishing I" " And Bad, Doctor."

" Yes; and very sad. But, one more question." "Go on," said Ralph, smiling. " You will continue to pardon me ?" "Certainly." " I wain ted to speak about that other

lady." "Which other lady, Doctor?"

" Mrs Lansing."

" You mean Mrs Sevillo ? You know my Uncle Monckton's papers free her from nil guilt, so we insist that she shall have the family name." "That is noblo." "No ; it ia right." " But did sho not como near dying ?"

" Yes ; very noar. Ido not like the police—at least I did not—but when they took charge of Monckton's place thoy found her, and saved her life. Mrs Seville's letter, when shelled, explained all that." " But where is the lady now V " With her daughter." "Her daughter?' "Yes; with Grace Sevillo."

" Pardon mo again, Mr Thornton ; but my memory does fail me. The whole thing, you know, seems so much like a dream.' " Like a nightmare," said Ralph, grimly. Then ho added : " But it is, fortunately, all in the past. Shall I go to Uncle George's room, or will you bring him out ?" "Bless you I he can come out," laughed tho doctor ; and ho went away, and soon came back accompanied by a tall, strong man, powder-marked and scarred, but he did not walk lame.

During all this time George Wray— Georgo Sevillo—was not left in ignoranco of what was going on. Through Horace Weld and also through Grace's locket his identity was established ; and from that hour Mrs Thornton treated him as an elder sister would traat a brother from whom she had been long parted. He vm.. quito prepared for what awaited him, and yot it was the first hour that tho doctor permitted him to uso with out restraint all the faculties bo had re gained. When ho saw Ralph in tho full glare of tho light, he caught him in his strong arms, and as he kissed him —and left tears on tho youth's soft beard—ho said : "Ralph, take me to your motho*—to my sistor—and to Grace."

" You can see now, Uncle Goorge ?" " Yes, thank God I" " And you can walk without my holp?" "Yes, Ralph." " Then I may take your arm?" " Yes, my boy ;«I am as strong as of old." And Ralph Thornton took his unclo's strong arm, and thoy went out to where tho sister and the mother was awaiting them.

CHAPTER XXIX.

UNTWISTBD,

The corks and bladders float on tho top of tho water; tho heavier things go out of sight,

It is tho trivial things of our lives that seem near us, whilo the heavier things, tho important things, seem far away in our memories.

There is a Providence in this,

If the great epochs of our livos impressed us ever after thoy had passod, then lifo would bo a burden ; but as it is, to all healthy natures lifo is a joy. Shall wo pick up tho threads and slowly unravel them ? Nonsense. We now know nil their strength and all their colours. , Why repeat the multiplication tablo to a college graduate ? Why tell a Millais how to mix colours? ' Why tell a Napoleon how to fight battles that aro won ? ' "Conrad!"

"Yes, Moony," replied Conrad Bauor._ "Mrs Murphy and Denny aro coming round to-night." " Glad to hear it, Meeny, but I won't bo horo." " Why not, Conrad ?" " Bocaus©—"

" Because what, Conrad?" " Because I am going to thc Turners' club." " You can't" "So?"

" Yes, Conrad. You stay with mo. You hear me ?"

" I do, Meeny. But what is up ?"

"A great deaL" "Ach, yes, de Murphies. I forgot dot de young man's got a coal yart all by his .elf."

"It vos not dot, Conrad," said Mrs Bauer, dropping into English. "Dot young man is coming here, unt he has got a whole coal yart unt a house all oaf his own ; but dot ia not vy I ax you to sthay by mo." "No?" "No, Conrad." " Vos den, my Meeny? You know you is boss now since Mrs Ralph Thornton gif you dis hotel ?" " I vos de boss before. But dot vos not it. lam to meet de Murphies unt go to Mr Thornton _."

" Wot'B up, Meeny ?" " You know Mr Seville's wife ?" " Dot Lansing womant ?" " Yes, Conrad." " Why, I saw dem married." "You are a fool, Conrad. De whole worlt saw 'em married. But she sent me a cart to-night. Here it is. [Reads.] ' Mrs George Seville's compliments to Mrs Bauer and husband, and would be pleased to have them attend the christening of her grand child, Harry Gray Thornton, this evening.' Mrs Murphy vill be here Isoon, Conrad ; so get ready," said the madam. And to get out of the threatened storm he obeyed her.

It was just two years after the opening of our story, and the grand Fifth Avenue mansion was ablaze with light. The lamp-light fell on the crisp snow, over which dashed sleighs to the music of their own bells.

The sidewalks were thronged with happy parties, laden with the parcels that were to give so much joy on tno morrow, for this was Christmas Eve. Through the parted curtains the passer by could look in at the parlours, now turned into a conservatory, and the joy of the happy people within was reflected on the faces of those without. • Mrs Bauer, her husband, Mrs Murphy and her son halted before the house, and were jus* debating whether they should face all this happy splendour by way of the

front door, or make a flank movement on it by way of the servant's entrance, when a sleigh halted behind them, nnd out sprang tho voung lawyer, Harry Gray. "Come in—come in ; you aro expected," said Harry Gray, after he had shaken hands with tho four in his reassuring, hearty way "I'm afeerd it's too grand mtoirely, it is, in thero for tho loikes of us plain people." said Mrs Murphy. "But if they could bring tho baby back tho kitchen way, an' lot us hould it in our arms, an' get a shquint at its purty face, sure wo'd bo satisfied." "Me >unt Conrad don't got no pabies," joinod in Mrs Bauer. " But I vasogvninted mit Mr Ralph, do ladder of dos shild unt Miss Grace, ais vas do mudder—" "And you must como in and see father, mothor, and child. Why, bless me! If this quartette wero not present nt the christening of my little namesake it would belike the play of Hamlet with the Danish prince left out." It is doubtful if our friends appreciated Mr Gray's illustration, but they could under stand his forcible example as he gave Mrs Murphy ono arm and Mrs Bauer tho other, and escorted them up tho broad steps just as if they were tho finest ladies in the city. And many a fino lady might havo envied them tho honour, for Harry (J ray had proved himself to be no ordinary man.

When Grace, now radiantly beautiful, saw tho humble friends of her own sad, sad days entering tho parlour.'she ran to them and kissed them with the old-time warmth and sweet simplicity of manner; and Conrad and Denny wore made as welcome by Ralph Thornton as by his wife.

George Seville—wo feel still like nailing him Georgo " Wray " —no longer looked like the blind cripple of the tenement house ; ho was tall, erect, and even handsome, and his romainiug oyo beamed with the light and love of ono who, after sore battling with life's tempests, has found at length a safe haven out of the storm.

By Georgo Seville's side clinging to his arm was his wifo—the woman whom he hadjio lovod in tho far past.—th-. woman he had fled from that he might not mar his brother's happiness—the woman that that brother had so grievously wronged—the mother of Grace, to whom ho could now in truth look as a father looks on a well-beloved daughter. After the coremony of naming thebaby was over —and it was tho unanimous opinion that thero never had been such a baby, and it was doubtful if ever there would bo—ho was kissed in a way, to use Harry dray's remark to tho happy father, "that would havo delighted the youngster's heart had he boon twenty-one years older, and able to appreciate tho niTectionate idolatry." From tho neighbouring steeples tho bells clanged the closo of Christmas Eve—the birth of Christmas Day. And Ral ph Thorn ton, with his mother on ono side and his wifo on the other, rose at tho bend of tho board, and said, as ho raised his wine glass : " I am happy, my frionds, to havo you hero. God bless you, and to ono and all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year." THE ESI)

The Victoria Cross.

0. all prizes that men in tho army and navy covet, tliero is nono more eagerly sought, moro jealously guarded, or more donrly loved than the simple cross in gun metal, bearing the inscription "For valour." Tho \ ictoria Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant on tho 19th January, 185G, as a reward for individual instances of merit and valour in tho army and navy. Although many acts of heroism had boon performed in both services in the earlier part of our gracious Majesty's reign, it was not deemed advisable to make the action of tho warrant retrospec tive, and the heroes of the Crimea Mere therefore the first who received tho much coveted decoration. The cross itself is a simple pioco of gunmutal, bronze-coloured, with the royal crest in the middle, and be low, the words "For Valour;" in tho centre of tho reverse tho date of the act of heroism is inscribed, and on the bar to which tho ribbon is attached, the namo of tho indivi dual and of the corps to which he belongs. On this bar also is engraved a sprig of laurel, and the bar is attached to the cross by tho letter V on a red or blue ribbon, ac cording to tho service — in the army or navy —of tho recipient. It is not to soldiers and sailors only, howover, that tho Victoria Cross is awarded, and many civilians who havo distinguished thomselves by acts of conspicuous bravery havo beon enrolled among the hero band. Tho actual money value of tho cross is only a few shillings ; but the laurel crown of tho Human cost oven less, and decorations are, of course, altogether valueless from that point of view. Thank God, the day has not come yet when chivalry lies dead, or when bravery sells itself for cash ! Many a brave knight has gone into the clash of arms and has fought bloody battles for the sako of a flower from tho hair of his mis tress, or a scarf which has encircled her fair neck; and in these later times, many a man has gone into tho deadly breach, and through tempest of fiery missiles, for tho love of country and honour, sustained in tho midst of dangers by the hope that some day that simple Maltese cross, devised by the Queen, and always when practicable conferred by her own hand, may rest upon his breast. The Victoria Cross carries with it i'lo a year pension for each non-commissioned officer and private, with an additional annuity of £5 for every additional bar, such bar being added upon each fresh act of bra vory equal to tho first.—" Heroes.of Britain in Peace and War."

Lost in the Bush.

NEWS has been received from Murchison to the effect that Mr and Mrs Cruickshank, of Victoria, with their child, narrowly escaped death in the bush. They had left Lacy'g station in a carriage, with a native, to pro ceed to a new station. On the May the horses, having been taken out of tho shafts, and not carefully watched, wandered away, and the native went to search after them. He had been away thirty-two hours, when Mr Cruickshank, his wife, and the child in a perambulator, went after him. Whilst looking for him they got lost in tho bush. They walked about six days, when the native traced them up, and found them in a state of extreme exhaustion. They were without boots and bleeding. Their clothes were torn, and the little child was nearly dead. Tho native took a note to Craw ford's station and brought back relief parties, who took them to tho station In safety, and they are now almost recovered.

" How is it, miss]'- you gave your ago to the census-takers as only twenty-five, when you were born the same year I was, and I am thirty-nine?" "Ah I- you have lived much faster than I, sir."

Buttermilk is the favourite beverage among temperance men in the United States. "Ice-cold buttermilk" signs are seen over many bar-rooms. Buttermilk is recommended by physicians as being good for dyspepsia and the kidneys.

TOM'S LUCK.

I had been out to post letters, and was re turning to my chambers, when I met Tom Martin, who hurried by me, not seoin" mo in tho crowd, for ho was looking straight on, or downwards, like ono who did not want to bo recognised. His dress misfit account for that: long boots coming above the knee, a pea-jacket, and a forage-cap, do not form tho ordinary London costume, in spite of tho Volunteer movemont and its hybrid fashion, and yet Tom was not ono to be bashful on account of his clothes. I hurried after him, and put my hand on his shoulder. Ho started as if I had touched the nerve of a tooth, and without glancing round, darted into the road, as though bent on raising tho avorago of street accidents. A Hansom cabby reined his horse up on his haunches and cursed him; an omnibus driver did ditto ; a butcher ditto ; a news agent, a fishmonger, and a private groom, ditto ; and then he landed on the othor side. If he had beon in Rome, and opposed to the Pope's infallibility, ho couldn't havo beon assailed with worse lan guage. When fairly through it all, he looked back, saw me, and camo across again, this time less recklessly. " Why, Tom, so you have como homo !" cried I, grasping his hand. "Yes,'said ho. "Handed nt London Bridge this morning. I havo just left your staircase, finding your outer door sported." " Come back, then. Why did you bolt from mo in that way ?" I asked, when wo wero comfortably seated in my room. " Becauso I thought you were someone to whom I owed money," replied Tom. "Heigh ho! I havo been freo from that feeling for four months, but tho moment I set foot on tho quay it all came back." "Are yourdebts so very heavy, then?" " No; fortunately I never could get credit enough for that. I suppose fifty pounds would clear me—with the exception of my tailor, of course ; but 1 can pay him with frosh orders always. But fifty pounds which you cannot pay aro worse than live thousand which you can."

" Pooh ! you will soon clear that oil' when you get into practice."

"i don't know," said Tom, with u de spondent sigh; "the moment I get any money it melts, I cannot tell how. Then Ido not seo my way clearly. I should liko to go into tho service as an assistant surgeon ; but thoro is tho outfit, and I do nol want to be any further oxponso to my mother, if I can possibly help it. .loucs wrote to say that ho would take me on again as his assistant while 1 looked about mo, but to go there would bo running into the very jaws of old Kirby, my principal creditor."

" And who isold Kirby ?'

"An innkeeper and livery-stable keeper, to cscnpo from whom I got attached to the ambulance, and went out. I had been shirking him for months, till at last I got, tired of it, nnd determined to leavo the neighbourhood. And 1 had not been in England four hours before I ran plump up against him I Ho came hurry ing after inc. I pretended not to see him, dived down a by-street, doubled, camo to your chambers, aud had just loft tho court, when yon saw mo, as I told you."

"Is this Kirby such a sevcro creditor, thon ?"

"No, 1 do not know that ho is : ho is a good-natured sort of old fellow enough, and rather likes mo, but he likes his money bettor. Tho last timo I saw him—to speak to, I moan—it cost mo a sovereign to disguise how hard up I was." " How was that?

" Woll, it was about threo weeks boforo joining tho ambulance that I went one even ing into tho billiard-room at Kirby _ place, thinking ho was away at somo race-meeting iu the north, when ho came in full of a Derby sweep he was getting up. Tho room was crowded with men playing at pool and looking on, and almost all of them put in. Now, you know that I have no taste for any kind of gambling. This sweop was pnrticularlydovoid of temptation to me, for there wero to be one hundred and fifty members, and tho chances against each were, therefore, tremendous. How ever, I feared that if I demurred old Kirby would suspectthata sovereign was an object to me, and immediately think of tho thirty or forty I owed him for dinners or horse hire ; so 1 told him to put my namo down with as careless an air as jiossible, and handed him a third of my whole property. No, not quite a third, for I possessed three pounds twelve shillings and sixpence, and I only parted with a sovereign." " And what horse did von draw'.''

" Somo colt or another—l forget the name. It was sent to Jones, who forwarded it to me. I was very busy at llerby time, and nover saw any English papers ; but I heard the names of tho first throe horses, and mine was not one of them, I know that."

"How could you havo been so foolish ns to get ho deeply into this Kirby's books ?" I asked.

" Because ho gave mo credit," said Tom, simply. "He took a fancy to mo because I could rido, I think ; and ho proffored ino a mount with the Queen's whenever I could get n holiday, telling mo ready money did not matter ; I could pay when I liked. And, as you know, I was used to horses, and nover had to think about expenses in my poor father's time, beforo tho Overend Gurney smash." "Kirby will nover press you !" exclaimed I. "Call on him and say you will pay him when you nro settled in any way." " He would not dun mo if ho could holp it, I daresay," returned Tom. "But he may havo had losses himself. I fear he is hard up, or why should ho have called so cften on Jones to ask for my address? Jones, like a good fellow, nover gave it him and sent me warning. I do wish I could pay, for it would bo convenient to go back thore for tho present." "I wish I had the money to lend yon, Tom," said I; and I meant it, for I had a groat regard for Tom Martin. He had been my fag at school, and his parents had been very kind to mo in the days of their pros perity. When the crash camo ho had buckled to work manfully, instead of crying over spilt milk ; and if his expenditure hud been unsuited to his present fortunes, n high-spirited young fellow cannot bo ex pected to change nil his habits in a moment without a struggle. " I know it, old fellow," he replied, "and should have asked you to help me at onee, if I thought it would not have incon venienced you. That tells its own story, howevor," and he pointed to an excessivoly noat brown paper parcel lying on the table, with "FromNosall nnd Slack, publishers," pasted on it: "your manuscripts are still boomerangs, I am sorry to see." Though not getting on very rapidly in any of my professions, I was not actually pinched, and could offer my friend a dinner, at all events; and he said that he was ready for it. As wo strolled towards ono. of tho large dining-rooms I asked him how he came to go out so late when the war was over and the majority ot English surgeons attached to the ambulances had returned home; and he entered into all tlie circumstances of tho case. Of course, he had a great deal to say to an interested listener, and our dinner was rather protracted in consequenco ; in deed, several people came in, sat down near us, had their meal, paid, and left before we

asked for tho cheese. We got to that national conclusion at last, however, and Tom was telling me over it about a poor lad who had been forced by the Communists into thior ranks, shot down, taken prisoner, and only saved from execution because his wound was of so curious a nature as to excite tho curiosity of a surgeon—whon he suddenly stopped in tho middle of a sentence, and, looking up to see what was the matter, I wondered at the flush of colour which had spread over his cheeks and forehead, and the expression of sheepish embarassment about his mouth and eyes. Before I could ask what was the matter, a hearty voice behind mo called out, "Ah I Muster Martin, so I have run you to earth at last. I caught a glimpse of you this afternoon, but I could not como up with you." " Ah, Kirby, how are you ? lam glad to see you," replied Tom, holding out his hand. But ho did not look glad, and the convulsive twitch at the corners of his mouth was not a smile, as ho hoped. "Sit down, and tako a glass of wine," said I, thinking reconciliation was the best thing under the circumstances ; and, to my relief, the creditor acceded. I consideord it a token that he meant to'be reasonable.

" Well," he continued, addressing Tom, "I've beoii'lonking for you everywhere tho last two months."

"Sosorry," murmuredTom; " factis,l've boon abroad —in French hospitals — very busy. I only came back to England to day."

"I almost wonder that you did not call upon me atonce."

" Well, you are somo way out of town ; I had to—to look about mo. I should have looked you up soon—in a day or two." " I don't doubt that!" cried Mr Kirby, with a jolly laugh. " But come, sinco wo have met so fortunately, we might as woll settle at once."

" I am vory sorry," said poor Tom, " but the fact is, just for the moment, I am rather hard up ; so, if you could make it con venient to wait a bit—"

" What on airth aro yon talking about, Muster Mart in? If you are hard up that is just the moro reason why we should settle at once, it seems to me. Besides, tho money burns in my pocket, and I want to get rid of it."

"I do not understand you, Kirby. How can the thirty odd pounds I owe you burn in your pockot?"

" Owe me .'" cried Mr Kirby. "That's a good 'nn. Why, 1 have got a balance of sixty-three pounds ten shillings to pay over to i/oit."

" Yes ?" said Tom, and I saw by hisfaco that ho suspected the othor's sanity.

"Yes. Havo you forgotten all about the Derby sweep?" "Oh, no; but my horse was not in tho first three. '

"That's capital I" cried Mr Kirby, slap ping his hand down on the table. " Why, ho won." "I thought a horso called Favonius won ?" "Se ho did." " Well, but I drew some Boreas colfc—or Zephyr eolf, was it? Yes, tho Zophyr colt." "That's right. Tho Zephyr colt—named Favonius tho day beforo tho raco." " Waiter I" cried Tom. " Yessir I" "A bottlo of Chnmbcrtin,"

A Fight With a Cuttlefish.

"Yo see, I shipped for a cruise on tho codder Laughin' Dolly for no pay and a share o' the proceeds. Wo sailed from Gloucester, and had tolable luck. Then gcttin' aout o' bait, wo put intew Hare Bay—that's on tho coast o' Newfoundland —and I reckon wo jest get in in time, for it let on tew blow from tho east'ard, and banged and hammered for a liko o' threo days. At tho end o' that time wo got tho water butt intew the dory, and me and my mate, Long Tom Sigstrce, pulled in for n little cove to lu'ward where it was smooth water and good landin'. In wo went a hoopin' whon, jest as we was going through tho gut o' tho cove it kind o'shoaled like, and we come to with u rush, and wc was broadside miter tho worst iookiii' crectur ycr over see or heard on.

"First I thought it was a spider; its arms was a ll,vin' in the air over us and some n-hangin' on tew thc boat, and tho crectur seemed actual o-tryin' to come aboard. Ye see, it had grounded on tho shoal, and we'd plumped right intew it, and I'm n master hand at sightsoein', but I was took all aback, and the lirst I knew ono of its arms was araound the oar. Whish ! came another, takin' Long Tom around tho boot, and ynnkiii' him clean off his feet. Ho whipped nouthis knife and cut it off, and it fell in the bout, a twisting jest like a snake. Another como a-llyin' along ami took me in tho neck, cut-in' jest like a knife, and all this time wo wur a-whacking' and jammin' at the creeter to keep him out of tho boat. But its legs was kivercd with suckers, and it kind o' came on. Rightbetweontho legs we seo a pair o' bil's Workin' up and daown just like theso arc, while the crcotur was a-pumpin' ink and water from a sort o' spout jest liko a steam engino, so t' we was black from bend to foot and the water all araound. 1 got my oar un liko a harpoon and was jest goin' to jam it in tho head, when a wave took the dory, gavo her a lift, and over she went, chuckin' mo right on tew the ereotur, and I'll swan tew lifo I was never so near lneotin' Davy Jones afore or seneo. I tried to jump clear, but tho boat- knocked mo daown, and tho first I knew I felt a grip on my boot and I seo the animal had mo by tho leg; bit clean through leather, leg and all, and for n minute I was all wound up, and I reckon if it warn't for Tom I'd been cleaned aout sure. Tho water wasn't over two feet and ho jumped clear o' the creetur, and then shovin' the boat clear, ho jammed tho squid in tho head with an oar four or five times and hauled me aout, and yaou can bet yer port money 1 was a physical wrack as far as looks goes—all scratched up. " Wall, we righted the boat, and then I was bound tow see tho creetur ; so we dragged it in shoro and spread her aout, and how lony d'ye reckon it was ? Forty eight feet tew an inch, and the worst-lookin' thing I ever clapped my eyes on. The body was jest like a big bag, abaout twelve foot long and soft like a jelly. Tho tail looked liko the fluke of an anchor, but the head was what took mo. Tho eyes on it wero black and as big as saucers, and from araouii'i 'om branched off ton logs, kivercd on one side with suckers, with edges of 'em jist liko razors and saws, and every timo ono struck ye a kind o' air-pump piston ar rangement sucked the air aout and pressed the sucker right intew ye. Two of the arms was the longest—l reckoned about 30 foot — and it was them tho creetur was hangin' by when we ran afoul o' him—kind o' swingin' by 'em like hawßers. Wall, tew make a long story short, I was laid up for a couple o' weeks with the bite on my leg, and I reckon I can show somo of the scratchin' yet. We cut tho animal up for bait, and it filled about ten good cod tubs, and must have weighed I,SOO pounds."—From the " Philadelphia Times."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 10, 1883.

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