sistance, and was keeping him afloat till the boat came to the aid of both. So soon as the immediate danger which called so loudly for assistance was thus ended, the honest Udallar's desire to render aid terminated also; and recol lecting the cause of offence which he had, or thought he had, against Mordaunt Mertoun, he shook off his butler's hold, and turning scornfully from the beach, called Eric an old fool for supposing that he cared whether the young fellow sank or swam.

Still, however, amid his assumed indifference, Magnus could not help peeping over the heads of the circle, which, surrounding Mordaunt so soon as he was brought on shore, were charitably employed in endeavouring to recall him to life; and he was not able to attain the appearance of absolute unconcern, until the young man sat up on the beach, and showed plainly that the accident had been attended with no material consequences. It was then first that, cursing the assistants for not giving the lad a glass of brandy, he walked sullenly away, as if totally unconcerned in his fate.

The women, always accurate in observing the tell-tale emotions of each other, failed not to remark, that when the sisters of Burgh-Westra saw Mordaunt immersed in the waves, Minna grew as pale as death, while Brenda uttered successive shrieks of terror. But though there were some nods, winks, and hints, that auld acquaintance were not easily forgot, it was, on the whole, candidly admitted, that less than such marks of interest could scarce have been expected, when they saw the companion of their early youth in the act of perishing before their eyes.

Whatever interest Mordaunt's condition excited while it seemed perilous, began to abate as he recovered himself; and when his senses were fully restored, only Claud Halcro, with two or three others, were standing by him. About ten paces off stood Cleveland-his hair and clothes dropping water, and his features wearing so peculiar an expression, as immediately to arrest the attention of Mordaunt. There was a suppressed smile on his cheek, and a look of pride in his eye, that implied liberation from a painful restraint, and something resembling gratified scorn. Claud Halcro hastened to intimate to Mordaunt, that he owed his life to Cleveland; and the youth, rising from the ground, and losing all other feelings in those of gratitude,

stepped forward with his hand stretched out, to offer his warmest thanks to his preserver. But he stopped short in surprise, as Cleveland, retreating a pace or two, folded his armis on his breast, and declined to accept his proffered hand. He drew back in turn, and gazed with astonishment at the ungracious manner, and almost insulting look, with which Cleveland, who had formerly rather expressed a frank cordiality, or at least, openness of bearing, now, after having thus rendered him a most important service, chose to receive his thanks.

"It is enough," said Cleveland, observing his surprise, "and it is unnecessary to say more about it. I have paid back my debt, and we are now equal.'

"You are more than equal with me, Mr. Cleveland," answered Mertoun, "because you endangered your life to do for me what I did for you without the slightest risk ;besides," he added, trying to give the discourse a more pleasant turn, "I have your rifle gun to boot."

"Cowards only count danger for any point of the game,' said Cleveland. 66 Danger has been my consort for life, and sailed with me on a thousand worse voyages ;-and for rifles, I have enough of my own, and you may see, when you will, which can use them best."

There was something in the tone with which this was said that struck Mordaunt strongly; it was miching malicho, as Hamlet says, and meant mischief. Cleveland saw his surprise, came close up to him, and spoke in a low tone of voice" Hark ye, my young brother. There is a custom amongst us gentlemen of fortune, that when we follow the same chase, and take the wind out of each other's sails, we think sixty yards of the sea-beach, and a brace of rifles, are no bad way of making our odds even."

"I do not understand you, Captain Cleveland," said Mordaunt.

"I do not suppose you do,--I did not suppose you would," said the Captain; and turning on his heel, with a smile that resembled a sneer, Mordaunt saw him mingle with the guests, and very soon beheld him at the side of Minna, who was talking to him with animated features that seemed to thank him for his gallant and generous conduct.

"If it were not for Brenda, thought Mordaunt, "I almost wish he had left me in the voe, for no one seems to care whether I am alive or dead.-Two rifles and sixty yards of sea-beach-is that what he points at ?-it may VOL. I.

R

come, but not on the day he has saved my life with risk of his own."

While he was thus musing, Eric Scambester was whispering to Halcro, "If these two lads do not do each other a mischief, there is no faith in freits. Master Mordaunt saves Cleveland,--well-Cleveland, in requital, has turned all the sunshine of Burgh-Westra to his own side of the house; and think what it is to lose favour in such a house as this, where the punch kettle is never allowed to cool! Well, now that Cleveland in his turn has been such a fool as to fish Mordaunt out of the voe, see if he does not give him sour sillocks for stock-fish."

"Pshaw, pshaw!" replied the poet, "that is all old women's fancies, my friend Eric; for what says glorious Dryden--sainted John,

The yellow gall, that in your bosom floats,
Engenders all these melancholy thoughts.'"

"Saint John, or Saint James either, may be mistaken in the matter," said Eric; "for I think neither of them lived in Zetland. I only say, that if there is faith in old saws, these two lads will do each other a mischief; and, if they do, I trust it will light on Mordaunt Mertoun.'

"And why, Eric Scambester," said Halcro, hastily and angrily, should you wish ill to that poor young man, that is worth fifty of the other?"

"Let every one roose the ford as he finds it," replied Eric; Master Mordaunt is all for wan water, like his old dog-fish of a father; now Captain Cleveland takes his glass like an honest fellow and a gentleman.

"Rightly reasoned, and in thine own division," said Halcro; and breaking off their conversation, took his way back to Burgh-Westra, to which the guests of Magnus were now returning, discussing as they went, with much animation, the various incidents of their attack upon the whale, and not a little scandalized that it should have baffled all their exertions.

66

I hope Captain Donderdrecht of the Eintracht of Rotterdam will never hear of it," said Magnus; "he would swear, donner-and-blizstein, we were only fit to fish flounders."

CHAPTER XVIII.

And helter skelter have I rode to thee,
And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,
And golden times, and happy news of price.

Ancient Pistol. FORTUNE, who seems at times to bear a conscience, owed the hospitable Udaller some amends, and accordingly repaid to Burgh-Westra the disappointment occasioned by the unsuccessful whale-fishing, by sending thither, on the evening of the day in which that incident happened, no less a person than the jaggar, or travelling merchant, as he styled himself, Bryce Snaelsfoot, who arrived in great pomp, himself on one pony and his pack of goods, swelled to nearly double its usual size, forming the burthen of another, which was led by a bare-headed barelegged boy.

As Bryce announced himself the bearer of important news, he was introduced into the dining apartment, where, (for that primitive age was no respecter of persons,) he was permitted to sit down at a side-table, and amply supplied with provisions and good liquor; while the attentive hospitality of Magnus permitted no questions to be put to him, until his hunger and thirst appeased, he announced, with the sense of importance attached to distant travels, that he had just yesterday arrived at Lerwick from Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, and would have been here yesterday, but it blew hard off the Fitful-head.

"We had no wind here," said Magnus.

"There is somebody has not been sleeping then," said the pedler, "and her name begins with N; but heaven

is above all."

"But the news from Orkney, Bryce, instead of croaking about a capful of wind?"

"Such news," replied Bryce, as has not been heard this thirty years-not since Cromwell's time."

There is not another Revolution, is there?" said Halcro; "King James has not come back, as blithe King Charlie did, has he?"

"It's news," replied the pedler," that are worth twenty kings, and kingdoms to boot of them; for what good did

the evolutions ever do us? and I dare say we have seen a dozen, great and sma'.'

"Are any Indiamen come north about?" said Magnus Troil.

"Ye are nearer the mark, Fowde," said the jagger; "but it is nae Indiaman, but a gallant armed vessel, choakfull of merchandise, that they part with so easy that a decent man like mysel can afford to give the country the best pennyworths you ever saw; and that you will say, when I open that pack, for I count to carry it back anoher sort lighter than when I brought it here."

"Ay, ay, Bryce," said the Udaller, “you must have had good bargains if you sell cheap; but what ship was it ?"

"Cannot justly say-I spoke to nobody but the captain, who was a discreet man; but she had been down on the Spanish Main, for she has silks and satins, and tobacco, I warrant you, and wine, and no lack of sugar, and bonnie wallies baith of silver and gowd, and a bonnie dredging of gold dust into theb argain."

"What like was she?" said Cleveland, who seemed to give much attention.

"A stout ship," said the itinerant merchant, "schoonerrigged, sails like a dolphin they say, carries twelve guns, and is pierced for twenty."

"Did you hear the captain's name?" said Cleveland, speaking rather lower than his usual tone.

"I just ca'd him the Captain," replied Byrce Snaelsfoot; "for I make it a rule never to ask questions at them I deal with in the way of trade; for there is many an honest captain, begging your pardon, Captain Cleveland, that does not care to have his name tacked to his title; and as long as we ken what bargains we are making, what signifies it wha we are making them wi', ye ken."

"Bryce Snaelsfoot is a cautious man," said the Udall er, laughing; he knows a fool may ask more questions than a wise man cares to answer,'

دو

"I have dealt with the fair traders in my day," replied Snaelsfoot, "and I ken nae use in blurting braid out with a man's name at every moment; but I will uphold this gentleman to be a gallant commander-ay, and a kind one too; for every one of his crew is as brave in apparel as himself nearly-the very foremast-men have their silken scarfs, I have seen many a lady wear a warse, and think