my brother and myself were absent at the time this little robbery occurred, and, as we did not return till the next morning, there was little use in making any stir about it, much less in using any means to attempt to discover the offenders, and recover the goods. Some of our men, however, eagerly offered to go into the bush after the rangers; and my brother, in his mad-cap way, was upon the point of making one of a party of four, and had absolutely called for his knapsack, when Mr. Tomlinson came in. So," said he, smiling, "You have had a visit from the bushrangers, I hear have they relieved you of much? I told him what they had taken, when he replied “Come, come, they have been indeed, moderate. But they knew you were 66 new chums," and will, doubtless, be more liberal in their exactions the next time." 66 "The next time!" I replied. Why, Sir, are we always to be subjected to these plundering visitations? Are there no means of preventing them ?" 66 66 Certainly," answered Mr. Tomlinson, in his dry, sarcastic manner, Very abundant means. You can arm your men, and make them keep regular watch; your brother, I warrant, will take an active part in such an arrangement. Or, you can borrow a couple of constables from my friend Mr. the active Magistrate of this district; or, if this fail ye, I dare say, the Governor will lend you a file of soldiers. But, notwithstanding all this, the bushrangers will rob you." 7 "You surprise me," I replied-" for, although I have heard many strange stories of the daring of bushrangers, I surely imagined that they would not attack a well-guarded house." "Umph!" said Mr. Tomlinson-" Perhaps, they would not ;but I would not trust them." "Well, then, what would you advise me to do?" "O! just keep a good look out,-and, above all, watch well your servants." "My servants!" I instinctively exclaimed-" Why, I would trust them with my life!" "Would you?" said Mr. Tomlinson, "that is more than I would.” "Indeed!" said I-" Why so?" "Because I know them," he answered ;-and, mounting his horse, was in the act of riding home, when he returned, and said :—“ I won't go home to-night-there is mischief in the wind, and I will stay and see it out." "I am much obliged to you," I said,-" and so, I am sure, will also, that he had once an idea of settling in the woods, for his journal contained a long list of seeds he wished to have, including vegetables, fruits, and, particularly flowers. The career of this desperado was at length terminated by a private of the 48th regiment, and another man, who killed him in the bush; and thus ended his career. How could it end otherwise? be have any "Oh!" do not fidget yourself," interrupted Mr. Tomlinson.— "You know I am a bachelor, without wife, or sister, or brother, or, even friend, to whom I can confide a single sentiment: and, to speak truly, but do not think I flatter you-I do feel a little interest in your welfare, and this induces me to put up my horse in your stable, and keep you company for the night :—will you give me a shake down?" 66 "By George!" said my brother, "you shall have the best bed in the place; and, if we had not another, my brother and I would sleep in the stable." "This is not necessary, my.good Sir," said Mr. Tomlinson."indeed, I think, we had better not go to bed at all-let us sit up, and keep careful watch." "Have you any reason, then, to expect an attack to-night ?” asked my brother. "To speak candidly," answered Mr. Tomlinson, " I have." Why?" asked my brother. 66 66 My good friend," replied Mr. Tomlinson, "do not ask unnecessary questions. I have already told you my suspicions, and have exposed myself to any mischief that may be attempted: rest satisfied with this; and, if you can, do curb that fire-brand temper of yours!" "O, certainly," said my brother-already considerably excited, "I will be as gentle as a dove: but why the devil do you keep so much mystery about nothing?" Mr. Tomlinson smiled, as he said "Your nothing, young man, may turn out something :-but, however, we will be well prepared." At this moment, one of my men made his appearance, accoutred for a journey through the bush. "I'm ready, now, Master," he said, "if you will give me a pass.' Mr. Tomlinson looked at the man with one of those piercing, searching glances, which betoken a strong and inquisitive curiosity. "What is your name ?" he asked— "John Davis, Sir," answered the man, touching his straw hat. "Is he going far ?" asked Mr. Tomlinson of me. "He is going to Camp," I replied, " and will get as far as Bagdad to-night with the moon." 66 "Umph!" muttered Mr. Tomlinson," could not you keep him at home till to-morrow?" "If I don't go to-night, Sir," said the man, " it will make a day's difference to my master.' "Very well," said Mr. Tomlinson, quickly, as if a sudden thought had struck him—“ set off, then; and, hark ye! be sure and report yourself to Mr. Humphreys, on your arrival, and bring your master his acknowledgment: do you understand me?" 66 "Yes, Sir," said the man, and, taking his pass, away he went. Now, I'll make a reasonable bet," said Mr. Tomlinson," that this fellow will apprize the bushrangers of our vigilance, and so prevent the meditated attack. So far so good; but I shall greatly begrudge coming here, for nothing. However, let us make ourselves comfortable, and keep watch, at any rate, overa can of grog." We accordingly did so, and the "rosy hours" of good fellowship, and social glee passed on happily enough. But not a sound was heard to break the stillness of the quiet night; or to startle our harmless festivity. Even the wind was hushed into silence, and the harsh croak of the frog and the night cricket, with the sharp scream of the prowling opossum, did not reach our watchful dwelling. And, oh! how solemn; the nocturnal silence of the lonely and secluded bush! Often and often, when I have wandered forth in the bright moonshine, have I been startled by the silence around me. And, then, would my pensive thoughts stray far and far away across the stormy seas, to that sweet and lovely spot in my far off father-land, where dwell, still dwell, in quiet happiness the companions of my youth-the inheritors of my blood and lineage. And do they now ever think of their absent-their long absent and truant exile. What if he did leave them in sorrow, in fretfulness, it may be, in anger? Are these evil feelings to exist for ever? Is there no hope of reconciliation or redress? Oh! yes! yes! Indeed there is. And in the silent solitude of overpowering night, the exile's thoughts are filled with warm contrition. But to return to my narrative. The night passed by without the slightest interruption; and as Mr. Tomlinson prepared to depart at early morning, he said "We have been disappointed this time-but there is a plot to rob my house-and, if necessary, to murder its inmates. Two days hence are appointed for the adventure, and if you afford me your friendly assistance, I shall feel particularly obliged." "Oh!" said my brother, "I would not wish better sport, than to shoot some half-dozen of these rascally bushrangers. D-them all, say I !" I!" "Indeed!" said a voice from without, "don't make too sure of your game my fine fellow !" Out at one bound, sprang my brother, towards the spot whence he imagined the voice proceeded: but he speedily returned. "The d- rascal!" he exclaimed, "I could not catch him. It was well for him I did not, else, one of us would have fallen !” "Did you see him?" I eagerly asked— "No! But I heard him rustling among the wattles." Mr. Tomlinson smiled, as he observed, "They are too deep for you, Frank, depend upon it :-however, I shall expect you the day after to-morrow." And away rode our neighbour. On the morning of the appointed day, Mr. Tomlinson rode to the door. He had received information, it seems, that in consequence of his arrangement with us, the meditated attack was abandoned for the present. The system of espionage, which these outlaws pursued, was so perfect, that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to deceive them. However, we arranged a plan by which we might entrap them, and Mr. Tomlinson promised to give us the earliest information of their expected visit. The information came, and in three days, or rather nights, the plot was to be perpetrated. It was the beginning of harvest time, and Mr. Tomlinson had sent all his men, but two, upon whom he could depend, to a farm on the other side of the Island; and these two he despatched on some errand on the afternoon of the day on which the bushrangers were expected. Mr. Tomlinson was thus alone,—as we were not to join him, till after dark, and then as secretly as possible. When we arrived, which we did with all due caution, we found our host in his sleeping-room, the windows of which were closely shuttered, and every crack and cranny, by which light could be emitted, carefully closed. In one corner was a file of half a dozen loaded muskets, with plenty of additional ammunition on the table. The room was well lighted, and, although it would appear from without, that there was no one in the house, we were very snug and comfortable within. We were chatting sotto voce, expecting every moment to hear the approach of the plunderers, when my brother started up, exclaiming entirely off his guard," By George! there they come!" And snatching up a musket, he pointed it up the chimney, and was just in the act of firing, when Mr. Tomlinson arrested his hand. "For God's sake-hold on!" he exclaimed-" or you will shoot our allies." And he had scarcely said the words, when Mr. Tomlinson's two men, accompanied by a third, descended the chimney, and joined us. We were now a party of six strong, well-armed, stout men, possessing the advantages of possession, and vigilance, with every determination to maintain our post vigorously. A little before midnight, the dog, which was chained in the yard, began to bark, bounding at each bark to the extent of his chain, and then growling defiance at some evident intrusion. “There's no mistake, now, at any rate," said Mr. Tomlinson, "Let us get ready, lads," and we each took a musket, and stood ready for action. We heard the men advancing, and soon distinguished their voices, although they spoke in a low, muttering tone." "There's no one at home, I think," said one-" Jack Davis wasn't quite sure about the old chap's going to that young wildfire's, at (meaning me, gentle reader !) but I know there's no one else in.' 66 Well, then, let us go to work, and try the door." This was purposely left on the latch, and it was, therefore, easily opened, and the men walked into the hall, which divided the house. They were now only separated from us by the thin wainscot of the room, and we waited with breathless anxiety their next movement. "Where's the store-room ?" asked the man who spoke first. 66 Right through the room on the left," was the answer: and this was the room we occupied. "Well, then, let's push through to it." "It is so infernally dark," said the other, "I can't find the door." "You be d- for a fumbler," said the first spokesman, me come," and his hand was upon the door handle. "It's fastened tight enough" said the other. "let. "Then clap your ugly foot on it," was the reply,-and, forthwith was the "ugly foot" applied with no trifling vehemence to the door. Colonial locks in those days were not the best in the world; and the second thrust of the "ugly foot" burst the door open, and disclosed to the astonished gaze of the ruffians our well-appointed and watchful party. We did not wait to parley with them, but treated them with a volley, by which one man was killed on the spot, and the other three (there were four of them) more or less wounded. They escaped, however, into the bush, and we traced them the next morning by the blood, nearly a mile from the house. Soon after this, the Local Government took the bushrangers in hand, and by offering large rewards for their apprehension, they were soon betrayed and captured. I saw one of my old acquaintances in jail, when under sentence of death, and he told me some very strange stories of the mode in which they gained intelligence of our movements. He himself had been twice so near me, he said, that he could almost have touched me with the muzzle of his firelock. I asked him, why he did not shoot me?" Because," he answered, "You was on the list of good uns." R. ON LOVE. "Is darkness on my path? There beams bright radiance from a star that hath But There is perhaps no name in the English language so much and so generally abused as that of the passion upon which I am about to lucubrate. It is often employed as a mask to conceal licentiousness, and no less as an apology for heartless avarice. its being so employed shows its attraction, as counterfeiting the King's coin establishes its value. Love!-only spell it, and you are spell-bound. Love!-only think of it for one moment, and mind becomes whirled like a tétotum. There is in its very your |