brass or mother-of-pearl buttons, and a worked shirt collar, thrown back from the bare neck. There is a dash, a flaunty air about the best of them, that really makes them very pretty fellows; but they are sad rogues, and cheat you in every possible way. Ne quid nimio.

What curious adventures we meet with-what "hair-breadth 'scapes" do we run in civilized countries! Talk of South America, and the Buenos Ayreans! Talk of Bedouin Arabs! I was nearer arriving at an undesirable termination to my existence the first night of my sojourn in Madeira, than many a traveller through deserts and barbarisms has been in all his peregrinations. I was walking a few paces from the hotel, inhaling the fumes of a fragrant Havannah, and indulging in various fancies, much in the same reflective mood as did Don Juan, as, "wrapped in contemplation," he strolled behind his carriage on Shooters-hill; when, like him, I was roused from my reverie by a deep guttural voice in a tongue of which I knew not one word, and as the night was of that pitchy darkness when we commonly say we cannot see a yard before us, I found myself suddenly within about that distance of a bright red and white thing, with a gleaming musket furiously cocked at me, all which I took, of course, for a bandit at least, although it was but a poor sentry. And when, receiving no reply, he growled a second and third time the same harsh interrogatory, and I saw a bright-looking triangular instrument brought down within an inch of my waistcoat, I confess I had serious anticipations of the English burial-ground in Funchal; but as I had a particular dislike to so very disagreeable a proceeding, I resolved to make one desperate effort to excite his sympathy, and shouted out in good vernacular-" My dear fellow, you may run me through and through if you will, but I shall be none the wiser as to what you want; so, hold hard!" This was an unanswerable argument, and as if to show the universal force of truth, the man lowered his bayonet, exclaiming, "Ah, no entendo!" which I then believed, to my great gratification, signified that he did not intend spitting me thereon, but which, I afterwards discovered, meant that he was an ignoramus. I was always, after this adventure, tolerably rapid in my counter-challenge of Amigo! to the sentry's Qui v'la? until we adopted a new mot du quet, which was Pope. The first time Pope did not go down very well. The soldier growled, and talked about not knowing Pope; but when we intimated that if he did not know that respectable person, he was not a bon Catholique, he seemed to take our view of the matter, and from that time Pope became the usual password among the young Englishmen in Funchal.

(To be continued.)

THE STEP-BROTHERS.

It was about nine o'clock, on a dreary night in December, that a young man was seen wending his way among some of the dark narrow streets in the city of London; his pace was hurried and uneven, as one who seemed to be labouring under a nervous irritability. He had not gone far ere he turned into a low doorway, down a short flight of steps, and disappeared.

The house he had just entered was a dark, dingy-looking mansion, almost in a falling state. It seemed almost too old and ricketty for man to inhabit, and yet this old dilapidated building was the resort of some of England's nobility-noble in name, though sinking far below the common herd in habits and passions. This was one of those dens of crime called hells: a house of gaming, rioting, drinking, swearing, and a greater variety of crimes than it would do to relate.

We will now, however, turn to the personage who had just entered.

He passed through a large, damp-looking lobby, and entered a room wherein was seated a small spare man, apparently about sixty years of age.

"Well, Regel," said the new comer," have you got any person here yet; and how is the game going?"

"Got any person here, did you say, Master Harry Vargrave? Yes, by the mass, there is your step-brother, George De Vere, and three Captains of the Guard hard at work since five o'clock. And hark, Master Harry, I believe your step-brother has very nearly cleared them of their cash."

"By Jove! say you so? Then I will have a rap at him, and see what I can do ;" so saying he opened a door, which admitted him into a splendidly lighted saloon, fitted up in the most magnificent style.

Around a table in the corner of the room were seated the four personages before mentioned. They were deeply engaged with their play, and did not see Vargrave as he entered. From their haggard countenances they appeared to be playing for a heavy stake; their fingers had a nervous twitching about them, and their red eyes showed that they had made free with the contents of the bottles that were lying empty at their feet. Upon the whole they were as fine a picture of misery as any painter would wish to take a sketch of.

"The rubber is mine," cried De Vere, as he threw down his cards, and grasped a heap of gold that lay before them upon the

table. "Ho, ho, ho!-this is as fine a pull as I have had for a long time. Well, lads, will you have another rubber?—it will do you good. I wish you better luck next time."

No, by the mass!" cried one fine handsome young fellow; "I am cleaned out. I have not as much as will buy my wife and child a single mouthful of food; and I left them this very night starving to come to this cursed hole. May the fiends fly away with it!"

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Nay, nay, don't be in such a fury," said De Vere, with a sardonic laugh. "You would be such a fool as to play when I

advised you not."

"Advise me, did you? Hang you, you know very well it was by your infernal advice that I came here first. But 'tis no use speaking to such a hawk as you, for I verily believe you would pounce upon a beggar if you thought you could get a farthing out of him.”

"What is it he has won from you?" said Vargrave, interfering. "Here, take this purse, and if it is not enough, come for more."

"Halloa, Master Harry," said De Vere," you are suddenly becoming very liberal. Perhaps you would like to have a rubber?"

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"Be advised by me, Vargrave," said the person to whom he had given the purse. If you knew what it was to have a wife and child starving at home, while you were gambling away their livelihood, you would never play again. You have given three beings almost their life, and may God's blessing attend you for it. Adieu."

"You will not take the advice of that croaking raven, Harry?” said De Vere. "Come, boy, and try your hand."

Vargrave sat down along with the other two officers, and commenced their game. He had not been long, however, before he was deeply in debt with one of the Guards-much more than he was able to pay.

They all then arose, Vargrave promising to pay on the

morrow.

Our scene changes. It was on the day following the one just mentioned that Vargrave was sitting in a large room at the west end of the great city, and by his side a young female of surpassing beauty. Her raven locks hung down over a finely-formed face of a Roman cast. Her beautifully small mouth was of that peculiarly determined cast which gives you an idea of a proud, commanding beauty. Her tall, finely-rounded figure seemed

almost masculine.

"Harry, you must not go near that step-brother of yours. I sure he will not do you any good. I like not his looks. He

is a secret enemy of yours, depend upon it; and if he do not bring you into ruin, it will not be his fault."

"How now, Helen? you have suddenly taken a dislike to him. I see nought against him. There is only one thing I do not like-he is closeted sadly too much with my father, and I feel confident he has some plot a-going; but that is all.”

"Yes, that is the thing I most fear, for he knows that your father has not made over his estate to you, and if he can only creep into his favour, he imagines he may have a share. Take heed: he is a subtle snake."

"Well, well, Helen, since it will please you, I will keep a sharp look out after him; and if I do catch him at any undermining scheme, I will make him know who he has to deal with. But we will drop that subject for one of more importance. Have you got all ready for the flight?"

"Yes, everything; and not a soul knows a word about it, except my robing-maid, and I am sure she is trustworthy."

"Are you quite confident that she is safe? For should it get to my father, then are we undone; he would disinherit me at a moment's notice, and then De Vere would drop in for the whole of my estate."

Oh, never fear! never fear! I have found her faithful so far; I hope I may depend upon her now."

"Then all will be well, for I have got the ostler to have a chaise in readiness at twelve o'clock on Friday night; so mind and be ready no wavering, Helen," said he, placing his hand gently upon her shoulder, and looking stedfastly in her face," or you will spoil all."

"Do not fear for me, Harry; you know that when our hands are once joined together, there will be an end to this misery and anxiety; your father will soon forgive your trespass, and all will be as we could wish."

I fondly hope we may be able to carry it through, but I have my doubts; if all other blessings vanish we shall be happy in each other;" so saying he rose to depart, promising to come back on the morrow. He had scarcely got many yards from the door, when he met De Vere coming to look for him.

"I say, Harry," said he, hurriedly, "I have just seen Villiers, and he is clamorous for the money you owe him: he will have it to-day, or will have to go to your father. I tried to pacify him, but he is quite in a fury. He knows I would have paid him if I had it, but you are aware how I am fixed: I have not a single farthing in the world, and it was only the day before yesterday the old governor gave me 5007. Can you not lend me a few

hundreds?"

"No, by my halidom! I am worse off than you. How much do you owe him?"

“3,000l.; and 1,000l. to Topcliff in the Blues."

"Why, man, that is a trifle. I owe Topcliff 10,000l. for one night's play, but I do not think he will ever get it. However, putting that aside, have you a mind to retrieve your bad fortunes, to fill your purse, and pay your debts? If so, join myself and a few more in an experiment. The Bristol mail is coming into town. with the banker's box, and we are going to try if we cannot ease them of their burthen. Do you like the idea?"

"What! turn highwayman-rob the mail? Nay, nay, George; you must be joking; you cannot really mean what you say."

"Will you join us, my boy? and you will soon see whether we are in joke or earnest. If you want to remain a beggar, stay away; if not, come with us."

"It is a perilous undertaking. Have you considered the penalty if you are caught, George? Come, come, George, imprisonment for debt is far before such a thing. Why, you would have to die like a common murderer! I would rather starve to death than meet such a fate."

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Fate, a fiddlestick! We have made our plans all sure: we shall be well armed, and are sure to come off clear. Will you join us? If so, meet me at twelve o'clock at night, and mind you are not without fire-arms, or you may suffer for it."

Before Vargrave could answer, he turned on his heel, and, darting down a narrow street, disappeared from his view, leaving him quite perplexed as to what course he must pursue. Dishonour on one side, and crime on the other-it was a hard fate to undo the intricate knot. "I will run all risks," said he. "I can but loose my life, at the worst, and that were preferable to dishonour."

I must now carry my reader to the Bristol road.

It was between the hours of twelve and one o'clock, the night was dark as pitch,—it was a night for the gentry of the road to carry on their plundering without much molestation. A small drizzling rain fell continually, so that a person could scarce see above a yard or two before him.

It was along this road that six men were wending their way: they were each muffled in a large cloak, and had large slouched hats drawn closely over their foreheads. They had not gone far before they crossed a small stile into a meadow, that was completely shaded from the road.

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Now, Harry, my boy, we are here at last," said De Vere, throwing back his cloak. "We must make ready, for I expect sharp work. Now mind my directions:-While we settle with the guard and passengers, do you take this key, open a door in the back of the coach, and take out the banker's box. You see I have given you the most easy job."

Very well," said Vargrave, taking the key, "it is, no doubt,