dependant village, which fpread itself along the vale. Here, in a narrow lane, our travellers were encountered by a gentleman on horseback, who had a fowling-piece in his hand, and was followed by a brace of pointers. The pafs was fo ftrait that civility required the gentlemen in the carriage to flop their drivers. Whilft Cary was giving these orders, he difcovered the perfon of Captain Crowbery, and inftantly addreffed him by his name. Henry had recognized him at the fame inftant, and determined to let him know he was informed of his defigns, eagerly cried out,"When you are at leifure, Captain Crowbery, I fhall be glad to have a word with you."

The chaife had ftopt oppofite to a gate, which led to a field, and made a recefs in the lane, where Crowbery had taken poft for the convenience of paffing. He knew the perfon of our hero, and this abrupt falutation was anfwered by a demand upon Henry to explain himself; this explanation was immediately given in terms that required no further illuftration, and with a degree of heat that Cary vainly attempted to moderate. Want of spirit was not amongst Crowbery's defects; and in the hearing of the Captain, to whom all the particulars

were

were fo fully known, it wou'd have been in vain for him, had he been so disposed, to have difavowed the plot he had projected against the perfon of our hero. This he did not attempt, but on the contrary retorted upon Henry with expreffions not lefs hoftile than thofe he had made ufe of." Difmount," cried Henry; "I have piftols in the chaife:" immediately the door was flung open, and he was upon his feet with the weapons in his hand. Crowbery made no delay; the word was given to follow, and they rushed into the adjoining field together. Cary raised his voice to no purpose, exclaiming," Gentlemen, you are too hasty; this matter may be explain'd; fuffer me to interpofe." By this time they had taken their distance, and each with a pistol in his hand had levelled at his opponent, Crowbery calling out to fire: Henry gave fire at the instant, and the ball paffed through Crowbery's coat, which was unbuttoned.-" You have miss'd me," he cried, and immediately discharged his pistol in the air."-" Now I am ready," added he, "to exprefs my regret for what I have done, if that will fatisfy you; if not, we will repeat operation till the offence is cancelled: I wou'd have made atonement at first; but the honour

the

of

of a foldier will not permit him to apologize to any one, who with a weapon in his hand calls him out for fatisfaction, and precludes an explanation."

"Tis enough," cried Cary; "your behaviour, Captain Crowbery, does honour to yourfelf and your corps: I am fure my friend is perfectly fatisfied."-" With every thing but myfelf," replied Henry;"" but that I have aim'd at Captain Crowbery's life without expofing my own to the fame danger is a painful reflection, that I fhall not eafily get rid of.”— At this moment Mr. L came up, and his chaife being entangled in the fame defile, he got out upon the report of the piftol, and ran with all speed to the place of action. As foon as he had feen a reconciliation between the parties perfectly effected, he drew Henry afide, and communicated to him the intelligence he had in charge from Blachford, of which the reader is already informed.

Henry flood rapt in deep attention, pondering upon an event fo ftrange and unlooked for, till Mr. L, having clearly detailed the whole account, with all particulars leading to it, ceafed from fpeaking. Henry now perceived it was expected of him to reply, and

began

for

began by returning thanks to Mr. L the communication he had given him, which, he obferved, was of a fort fo extraordinary, that if he had received it from authority lefs refpectable, he should scarce have given credit to it, confidering it only as the vapour of a delirium, to which no rationality could be affixed, and of course he should have treated the deed as nugatory and illegal-" But to you, Sir," added he, and to the other gentlemen, who atteft his capacity, I must give perfect credit. Certain it is that Mr. Blachford, in his dealings with me, has fomething to repent of; but it is as certain I needed not to be ftimulated to forgiveness by any other bribe than the fatisfaction of giving eafe to the compunctious feelings of a dying man, as you defcribe him to be: I fhall inftantly attend upon him according to his defire, and to the conclufions I may draw from that interview I muft refer my final refolution."

This faid, they parted, Mr. L-proceeding on his way towards Manftock Houfe, Henry to the cottage of his friend Ezekiel, where Captain Cary fet him down, and purfued, his journey.

It was ftill early morning; Ezekiel however was up and alone, and had just faluted

the

the noftrils of Aurora with his morning pipe; the smoke that curled round his head did not prevent him from recognizing the face of his friend; he drew the tube from his mouth, and greeted him with his usual welcome: he began immediately upon the bufinefs of Blachford, in which Henry gave him no interruption, though the detail was fufficiently verbofe and circumftantial, in the course of which he did not forget to interweave many pious calls and admonitions to a worthy use of the great and unexpected good fortune that had befallen him..

When Henry had heard him to an end, he made a very proper acknowledgment of the obligations he was under to him for his zealous and kind fervices. In this part of his difcourse, he expreffed himself with warmth and animation; but when he came to speak of his own immediate intereft in Blachford's intended bequest, the reflections he had brought with him from Manstock Houfe weighed fo heavy on his fpirits, that his language funk below indifference. This was matter of furprife to honest Daw, who knew not that his friend had to lament a lofs, by the forfeiture of Ifabella's esteem, which no worldly wealth or prosperity

could