and whispered, "He is a dog, sir-we are going to put him to death." "How?-ha! I see"-stuttered our friend Mr Riggs-" You are jocular -very good-ha, ha!"

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What are you laughing at ?— I tell you 'tis true-the cellars"

Mr Riggs impatiently interrupted the somewhat slow elocution of the young man "Yes, the cellars-hush, Mr Larkin what were you going to say of the cellars ?"

Mr Larkin had ceased his conversation, and attended, as the saying is, with all his ears; but Mr Knight looked suspiciously in the face of Mr Riggs, and merely repeated the words, "the cellars"—and with a shudder relapsed into silence.

"I say, the lion seems fatigued with roaring," whispered Mr Thomas Hughes, who had been also listening to the colloquy between Mr Riggs and his tenant. Confound me, if I would stand his airs as your uncle does."

"Oh, he looks so grand: but why do you call him a lion, Mr Hughes ?" "He looks a deuced sight more like a tiger, I confess, but

19

This observation was made in a more unguarded tone than the wit had hitherto assumed, presuming on the general buzz of voices that was going on at the time; but unluckily, at that very instant, happened one of those dead calms that occur unaccountably in the midst of the most animated conversations; and Mr Thomas Hughes, very much to his own discomfiture, found himself enunciating the sentence we have just recorded, amid the profoundest attention of the whole

company.

"Tiger! tiger!"-said, or rather howled Mr Knight; "they have found it-they have found it,”—and, covering his face with his hands, he threw himself back in his chair. It is impossible to describe the awful effects of this unexpected proceeding. Every one started up astonished from their seats, except Mr Day. That gentleman assumed a more dignified attitude than before, and ordered the party to resume their seats in a stentorian voice, and with a wave of his hand, which they found it impossible to resist. A deathlike calm succeeded, broken only by the sharp quick breathing of Mr Riggs, who was of a somewhat plethoric habit of body, and was not particularly good in the wind, especially in cases of great excitement. NO. CCLXXXIX, VOL. XLVI.

"Don't look on me with eyes so filled with fear," at last said the object of all this wonder, slowly withdrawing his hands, and revealing a face now deadly pale, and eyes flashing with more lustre than they had hitherto displayed. "You know me, then-you read it in this scowling brow-you see it in these fierce eyes. Start not-I am master of myself; but how came that dull-souled laggard to discover my secret?" Three weeks have past, and I have preserved it. I have lived, and thought, and felt like other men-other men, did I say?— but what other is like me? Listen, then, since concealment is no longer possible.”

The party, particularly Mr Riggs and his brother-in-law, obeyed the injunction with all their might.

"Now, then," whispered Mr Larkin, "the secret of the cellars is coming at last."

"Four years ago," continued Mr Knight, "we were sitting at tiffin, in a tent on the side of the Taptee, near Perkassa, when a Bheel brought us the unexpected intelligence that a majestic tigress was in a nullah about two miles to the west. There were three of us-and, with a shout of joy and triumph, we started to our feet. My two friends mounted the only elephant we had with us, and I leaped on Hurkaru, the fleetest and boldest of my horses. The Bheel who had made the discovery led the way, and his companions, spreading themselves on each side, kept an attentive look-out, in case she should have changed her position. When we reached the nullah, our search was vain; she had evidently removed, but so recently, that there could be no doubt of our speedily discovering her retreat. Long and carefully did we explore every bush and thicket, till, at last, feeling confident she had moved to some considerable distance, I dashed forward, telling my friends on the elephant to follow. At about a mile from the nullah, I came on the brick wall of an old well, and feeling thirsty from the heat of the day and the excitement, I flung myself from my horse and looked over the parapet to see if there was water yet remaining; when gazing at me, with eyes that illuminated the darkness of the cavern with sanguine light, I saw the object of my pursuit lying at full length on the dry chunam. short quick motion of her head and a

2 x

A

twinkle of her eye, showed me it was time to retire, and I accordingly leaped on my trusty steed, and galloped furiously back to hurry the advance of my companions. My story was at first disbelieved; the Bheels even maintained she had gone in another direction, but I at last persuaded them; we looked carefully to our riflesadmonished our attendants to prepare for an immediate encounter, and, with hearts throbbing with expectation, advanced towards the well. She was a magnificent creature, so stately and bright.' She met us with a face bold and haughty, as became the jungle queen. I fired, and the ball evidently took effect; for, with a roar and a leap high in air, she commenced her charge. I galloped to get the elephant placed between me and her revenge; and, while she followed the flight of Hurkaru, two more balls reached her in flank from the howdah-but with no effect upon her speed. In the mean time I had reloaded my rifle, and, as a last resource, turned round and faced her. She was not a hundred yards from me; I saw at every leap the distance between us become less and less; but I waited till she should colleet herself for the spring. Curses on the terror that took possession of my horse! he swerved as I touched the trigger; but too late for his own salvation; the tiger was upon his neck in a moment, and, 'mid the howlings of the noble animal's rage, and the shrieks (for he positively shrieked) of the mangled horse, we rolled over and over in inextricable confusion. The elephant came near; but the tenderness of my friends prevented their firing. I had not yet got released from the stirrup, and mechanically clung to my saddle. My rifle in the melée was wrenched from my grasp, and I knew that, when Hurkaru had expired beneath the monster's teeth and paws, she would satiate her vengeance upon me. I bethought me what weapon I could use; and while the work of destruction went on, and the last struggles agitated the tortured frame of my horse, and I felt the tigress's hot breath as it steamed out from her nostrils, while her jaws were buried in her poor victim's neck, I put my hand in my waistcoat, and opened the blade of my penknife. The victory was at last complete, and the tigress drew her blood-dripping mouth from the horrible hole she had made

in Hurkaru's neck, and looked at me. We were not three feet from each other. She looked long and steadily, and something came into my heart that made me feel I was her master. I cast her looks back on her again. She growled with pain and anger; and laid her paw upon my shoulder. I felt not the pain-I was as wild with wrath as she was-I answered her howls with curses and imprecations; stabbed at her with the knife. I had calmness enough to perceive, from the weakness of her stroke, that her wounds were beginning to take effect; and I felt convinced, if I could defend myself for but a short time longer, she would grow faint, and I might yet be rescued. I drew back from her as far as I was able. She followed slowly, painfully, as if one of the bullets had pierced her spine. Yet, feeble as I myself was from the pain and loss of blood from the lacerated shoulder, I only succeeded in removing a few paces. Slowly but steadily she drag ged herself in pursuit. Where were my friends? I looked for them, but objects were very dim before my bewildered eyes. I thought I heard shouts but nothing distinctly ; the loud breath of the tigress, and her low growls as she crept near me, obliterated every other sound. She came nearer-nearer! I felt again her hot breath upon my face—her paw was again lifted to be laid upon my shoulder; but my courage was now fairly roused. I summoned all my strength for the last struggle, and dashed forward, and succeeded in getting behind the forearm, and prevented her turning round, by holding the penknife in the junction between the neck and ear. I dug as deep as possible into her flesh, in hopes of hitting upon the vein; she struggled to turn round her head, and raised herself half up on her forelegs. Again she fell down; but this time she rested her weight upon the shoulder she had already wounded. She growled as if in triumph; and I saw the glimpse of her eye and the flash of her white teeth as the head came round at last-I aimed at her eye, and, in order to shelter my head from her jaws, I pressed my face close to the wounds I had inflicted with the knife, and, in the agony of my rage and pain, I gnawed her lacerated flesh with my teeth-I howled with the rapture of a demoniac as I drank her hot blood-I drank it;

Gods! it was sweeter than nectar to my taste. I tore her flesh with my teeth, and beat her uselessly with my unarmed left hand. My heart became filled with pride;-I knew my situation, and yet would not have changed it for any the world can offer. I saw sights, such as I had never been blessed with before;-I saw my mother and sisters, but they all seemed red to me as blood. I heard voices that spoke kindly to me, but I knew they were not human. My friends came near me; they strove to withdraw me from the tigress, but I resisted all their efforts. I sunk my face deeper in the tigress's flesh, and tore it with more resolute fury-'Twas glorious! Ha!—who are they that sit glaring on me with hot eyes? Are their eyeballs redhot iron? How's this? Know ye not that I am the forest king! lord of a thousand jungles !-that I fly like a tornado to my revenge-whoo!" Mr Riggs and the other gentlemen of the party, though in the most dreadful state of trepidation, endeavoured to calm the agitation of the ladies. Mr Knight continued uttering the dreadful yell, and glaring all round him as if he was preparing for a spring; but Mr Day sat quietly in his chair.

"For Heaven's sake, sir, do speak to your friend!" said Mr Riggs.

"Hold off there!" thundered Mr Day, "and let me discharge my thunderbolt at the King of the Jungles. What is Jupiter the son of Saturn to be insulted here? I am monarch of Olympus; and Pluto and Neptune are a couple of infernal thieves. I'm eldest son, and heaven goes by entail. Hold off, I say, and let me throw my bolt at that howling tiger!"

He stood up upon his chair, and raised his right hand; but at this moment the door opened, and the old gentleman made his appearance.

"Oho! this is the way, is it? Hilloo ! Duffy, bring in a couple of strait waistcoats and two pair of handcuffs. Down with Jupiter and the

tiger into the cellars!"

The arm of Jupiter was paralysed; the howling of the tiger ceased.

Hats and bonnets were hurried on -no leave was taken-not a word said. In less than half a minute, there was not a member of the party inside the gates of Holywell Lodge.

"That was what he wanted with the cellars, was it?" muttered Mr Riggs, in the ear of Mr Larkin.

"I'm blest if he hasn't made Holywell Lodge into a madhouse. I shall take the constable with me the first thing in the morning. You'll come, Larkin ?

“I shall bring my gun if I do; for curse me if I would trust myself within a mile of that tiger for fifty pounds."

That night their contemplations were so momentous, that they separated without their usual potation. Miss Julia Riggs and Miss Marianne sat up half the night busily employed in writing; and the subject of their labours may perhaps be guessed at, when we inform the reader that two elegantly folded notes were seen next morning on their dressing-tables, addressed respectively to Mr Thomas Hughes and Mr Joseph Adams. With the grey dawn Mr Riggs left his couch, accompanied by Mr Larkin and the constable: he proceeded to Holywell Lodge, and knocked authoritatively at the door. No answer was returned; and after repeated attempts, with similar unsuccess, they resolved to make an entry by the upstairs window. This was with some difficulty effected; for it is not to be expected that an operation promising so much danger as perhaps falling into the very den of the tiger, or the clutches of Jupiter, could be performed without sundry misgivings. At last, however, an entrance was effected. All was silence.

"I say, Riggs, they have eloped. London thieves, after all! Where are the spoons?

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They were plated," answered the amazed proprietor. Room after room was searched, but no vestige discovered of the inhabitants. At last, as they stood in the most helpless perplexity in the lobby, they thought they heard groans proceeding from the lower story. They descended, guided by the sound; and paused at the door of the very cellars which had given rise to so much conversation.

"Hush! that is Jupiter howling," said one.

"No, no; 'tis the tiger," said another.

Mr Larkin cocked his gun-the constable grasped his baton-Mr Riggs retreated to the foot of the stair.

"For the sake of Heaven, open this door, we are nearly stifled!" uttered a voice.

"Are you quiet and peaceable now?" enquired Mr Larkin.

"Yes, yes-open, open !"

With some trepidation Mr Larkin turned the key, and, to the amazement of the three heroes, out walked, not Jupiter and the tiger, but the old gentleman and Tim Duffy the gardener.

"What's the meaning of all this?" enquired Mr Riggs, thunderstruck at the apparition. "Are you mad as well as the others?-and you, Tim Duffy, what are you doing down here?" "Shaking with cowld, yer honour, and wishing for my breakfast."

"He is a traitor, gentlemen-he deserted me last night, when I required his help to bind the two patients. He turned against me, and aided in my incarceration."

"Divil a bit; but them gentlemen made a fair fight of it, and rouled us into the cellar like a couple of empty barrels."

"The fact is, gentlemen," resumed the liberated tenant, "I am a professor of the sanitary art; you have seen my advertisements in all the newspapers. I am the person who has made the noblest, the grandest, and most magnificent of human or divine

discoveries. I can restore a madman in less than half a year to the full use of his reason; my recipe is infallible, my cure certain. Two young gentlemen came to me a few weeks ago, and told me they required my assistance. I undertook their cure. All was going on well, till the scene of last night destroyed my labours. But I'll catch the scoundrels yet; and if whips and chains can be found in England, I'll work them!" The old gentleman ground his teeth with rage.

"So you go on the old system— touch 'em up with a flogging, eh?” enquired Mr Larkin, not at all prepossessed in favour of the discoverer. "I think I've heard of you before, sir; and as to the thrashing you received, and your night's lodging in the cellar, I think it sarved you right."

Not much politeness was wasted on the professor; he was forced to disburse for Holywell Lodge, and turned out of the premises in a manner which would have appeared a little too rough in the polished eyes of a court chamberlain.

The tournament at Eglinton Castle collected from all quarters thousands of animated spectators, anxious to see the dead bones of chivalry endowed with new life by the touch of modern refinement.

Amidst the numberless vehicles of all descriptions that rolled gaily along the road from Ardrossan on the only fair day of the spectacle, was anondescript vehicle, which might have passed either for a post-chaise or a family carriage, as you were disposed to find fault or not with its appearance. It was large and roomy, and luckily so, for it contained four people-two gentlemen and two ladies and by the glossy white gowns of the ladies, and the ditto blue coats of the gentlemen, and an indescribable look at the same time of the whole party, it was very evident that they were two couples newly married, and that this was their marriage jaunt. Exclamations of rapture proceeded without any apparent interval from the two ladies, as knight after knight presented himself in the course. At last, when a tall and handsome tilter was led up to the throne of the Queen of Beauty, and bowed as she smiled

her approval of his doughty deeds, one of the ladies in the nondescript carriage turned still more alarmingly red in the face than before, and whispered in the ear of her companion—

"Oh, Marianne, don't you see him?" A warning look from Marianne conveyed a hint to her sister to restrain her surprise; but when the next knight came forward to receive the prize of his achievement, assurance now became doubly sure.

"'Tis Mr Day!" whispered Marianne, but Mrs Thomas Hughes took no notice; Mr Joseph Adams also was luckily of an unenquiring turn of mind, and detected no resemblance in the gallant cavaliers of the lists to the halfwitted inhabitants of Holywell Lodge.

"Don't you think, ducky, you would look well in a suit of armour ?" said Mrs Thomas Hughes, laying her hand on Mr Thomas Hughes's shoulder.

"I should make a deuced deal beter appearance in a suit of law," was the reply of the inexhaustible wit; "but come along, the rain is coming on again, and dinner is ordered at Hardrossing at half-past five."