before us, with a deep dry gripe topped with furze, on each side. Into the darkest of these we now jumped, aud stole cautiously along. When we had nearly reached the crest of the hill, on a whisper and impressive gesture from our leader, we all stopped. Telling me in a low voice to follow, Hackett now crept forward in a stooping attitude, and I imitated his example. When we had gone about fifty paces in this manner, and reached a bush that grew on the road side, Redmond reassumed his erect position beneath its shadow, and bade me raise my head and look through its branches. I did so, and at once perceived the necessity of our mode of advance. Within ten yards of me, on the most elevated part of the road, where it crossed the hill, stood the tall figure of a countryman, who doubtless was placed there as a sentinel by the smugglers to warn them of approaching danger. As I looked more steadfastly at this individual, his gestures appeared so restless and strange, that I could not account for them in any satisfactory manner. At last I found out that he was actually dancing to his shadow on the road, and whistling an accompaniment with uncommon vigour! With his arms crossed upon his breast, and his hands thrust under his arm-pits, this pattern of scouts was capering and kicking his heels about in a very animated manner, varying his steps alternately to suit either the warlike measure of "Ollistrum's March," or the livelier symphonies of "The Moneen Jig." It was also quite evident from the occasional fillip of his fingers, and the loud whoop he at times indulged in, that his fancy at the time was far more busy with his supposed partner than engaged in speculations as to the probability of anything hostile molesting him on his solitary watch. While I gazed in curious astonishment at this singular pas de seul, and at the very moment the artiste was executing, with great agility and considerable self-complacency, a complicated step called "The Pigeon's Wing," I perceived a dark figure, revealed clear against the frosty sky, in the back ground steal behind him, heard a stifled cry, and beheld the unfortunate exhibitor flung prostrate on the road. Turning hastily to tell Hackett of the circumstance, I found he was no longer at my side, and a low whistle from the top of the hill explained that he was the captor of the sentry whose salutations I had just witnessed.

I was right. On rushing forward, I found him presenting a pistol to the head of the prostrate scout, and threatening instant death if he uttered the slightest sound, or moved hand or foot. Securing our prisoner in the best manner we could, and keeping the weapon close to his ear, we returned with him to our companions. As we emerged into the broad moonlight, it struck me that the appearance of the individual we were guarding coincided with the personal marks and tokens of Mr. Dennis Nolan; and sure enough it was no other than Ellen's lover, and a strapping young fellow he was. Consigning him, therefore, for the present to the care of two soldiers with fixed bayonets, we all moved forward, and reached the spot where our captive had been placed on the look out.

On argiving there, a scene presented itself to my eyes I was quite unprepared for. We now stood

on a projecting eminence, which sank with a sheer descent to a glen beneath; at whose upper extremity a torrent rolled over the brow of a hill immediately opposite to us, and flung itself glistening with the moonbeams into the dark depths below: through which at times we could detect its waters, like threads of silver, winding their way towards the Shannon. The sides of this glen were rocky, and in some places but few yards asunder, and their whole length was jagged with sharp crags that rose high in air. While I was making these observations, Hackett discovered that the road on which we were led with a devious path to the bottom of the glen, and keeping cautiously in the shadow, we commenced the hazardous descent, and soon found ourselves in safety at the base of the cliff, on whose top we lately stood. As I looked around, I thought I never had beheld a more solitary place. The precipice we had just descended rose behind like a dark barrier, as if to shut us out from the world; while before us lay a gloomy ravine, with its salient crags glistening like whited sepulchres in the moonlight, and the dull sound of its ceaseless waterfall coming at times on the ear like the moanings of some unholy spirit imprisoned in the rocky chambers of the hills that girt the scene on every side.

Far other thoughts occupied the mind of my companion; and his practised senses soon detecting the taint of scorched grain on the air, he pointed to a high cliff that rose far above our heads, a little in advance of where we stood, and bade Twicknam follow the road till it brought him to its crest, and to station himself there with the military, carefully concealing their persons from observation. When they had reached the spot, our comrade was to blow a small whistle which Hackett gave him as a signal. Isaac and the party of the -th then left us; and in about ten minutes a sound like the call of the curlew rose on the air, and told us all was right. Throwing himself at once upon his hands and feet, Hackett crept cautiously forward, and I of course followed. Our progress was slow and difficult. I confess much of the romance of my situation was dispelled by the hard knocks I at times received on my shins, and not at all increased by the occasional crossing of some of the little streams we met. At last we reached the centre of the glen, immediately under the cliff on which our comrades were placed. We here rose to our feet; and, as I glanced round, but that I knew to the contrary, I could have sworn no human being was within miles of us-so silent and solitary looked the scene. While indulging in this idea, my foot slipped on some moist grass, and stumbling forwards, I fell upon my hands. To my surprise, I found the water to be warm. Whispering the circumstance to Hackett, he stooped, and instantly convinced himself of the fact. Success was now certain, and no Indian ever viewed, in the depths of his forest, the first marks of a trail with greater satisfaction than we did this simple but infallible indication of the neighbourhood of an illicit still. I was already aware that a constant supply of water for a cooling part of the process was absolutely necessary for the making of spirits, and that accordingly as the flue became heated, by the act of condensing

the alcoholic vapour, it was allowed to escape, and its place was replenished with a fresh flow of the cold element. All, therefore, we had now to do was to trace this "hot spring" to its original source, and to this task we set ourselves with renovated vigour. We soon discovered that the water trickled from the face of the rock at whose foot we stood, and at once prepared to scale it. After a severe struggle, and at imminent hazard to our necks, we reached a broad ledge of rock that hung about fifty feet from the bottom of the glen, and, grasping a small bush that grew out of a fissure at its edge, stood in safety on its surface. This we found to be of considerable depth and extent, and forming a kind of terrace. Here we paused, and rested awhile from our recent exertions. On looking upwards, I perceived a small spout projecting over the top of the cliff that rose above our heads, and from thence a stream of steaming water splashed within a few feet of where we lay. I fancied, too, at times the sound of voices reached my ears, and the taint of grains and spent wash was very perceptible, and everything denoted the neighbourhood of a still house. Still its precise locality we could not as yet ascertain; until, at length, having ascended a sloping bank of earth that rose at one end of the place to a rock above, and was indented with rude steps, we stood on the upper ledge, and the den of the smugglers was at last revealed.

Cunningly and artfully was it contrived. By some convulsion of nature, the face of the cliff, that rose like a wall to the top of the glen, was split with a wide and deep fissure, that extended, narrowing as it ascended, to within a few yards of the summit. Across the lower part of this chasm the smugglers had fixed several strong branches of trees, and covering them over with straw and heather, had thus formed a hut, whose base and sides were solid rock. As the cleft extended a considerable way into the bosom of the hill, it afforded sufficient space for their unlawful labours, and a small stream trickling down supplied them ample store of that most necessary ingredient, water. From its situation, it was impossible that it could be discovered from the top of the cliff, and the difficulty of ascent from below almost precluded the idea of its being attacked from that quarter. As with noiseless steps we entered the fissure and advanced towards the bothy, we perceived a loose heap of turf piled before its rude entrance, and behind this Hackett and I concealed ourselves, and glanced at the scene within. Before a large fire, on which a still was placed, sat several men drinking, and conversing in tones whose loudness spoke their sense of security. The recess appeared both lofty and roomy, and had in its farther end a passage, probably communicating with the hill above. Along its sides were spread pallets and heaps of heather arranged for sleeping; one of those, across which a blanket and a great coat were thrown, appeared to be occupied. In a nook lay many sacks of malt, and strewed on the floor was a litter of turf, faggots, and small kegs. Of the latter, placed on end, were composed the seats of the party in the hut. The distilling apparatus, and the vessels that held the pot-ale, were unusually large, and the entire look of the place proclaimed

it the abode of men who were no novices in their trade. There was little or no smoke, the vapour escaping by some secret crannies in the rock; and, as the light from the fire rose and fell on the interior, I perceived several stands of arms resting in a crevice, and ready for use or need. The aspect of the occupants of this den accorded well with the character of the scene; and, as the red light revealed their faces and persons, I thought I never beheld a more ferocious looking set. I counted six. One, who appeared to be the working distiller, stood erect; the others were seated. The man that was standing was apparently middle aged, and his long black hair was grizzled with grey: as he at times moved before the fire, drest only in his shirt and trowsers, holding in one hand a bayonet, fixed on a stout pole, with which he occasionally stirred the burning turf, whose lurid glare played on his exposed muscular chest and brawney arms, naked to the elbow, and revealed the forbidding outlines of his face, I needed not Hackett's deep whisper to tell me that the outlaw Brennan stood before me. From the position of our hiding place, the conversation of the party was distinctly audible, and apparently one of the group, at the moment we had arrived, had just concluded some narrative, descriptive of the manner in which he had baffled, and then maltreated, some unfortunate revenue officer; for, as we listened, loud peals of laughter burst from all round, mixed with exclamations of admiration and applause.

"Bedad, Mickey, ma bouchal," chimed in Brennan, "but you did that job well; and sent home the thieven villan with a flea in the ear, be way of a cure for his tooth ache. Here I stand, boys, and simple as I seem, for thirteen long year I have never seen the peeler, constable, or exeiseman, that I couldn't double round my finger, like a thraneen."

"Thrue for you, Mister Cassidy," responded one of the party, taking his pipe from his mouth, "and that same is well known, sir."

have they given me by land and water; many a "Aye," continued the other, "many a hunt chase have they led me by hill and level; sleepen and awake, have they tried to catch me ; but here I stand to the fore yet; and that may be," added the ruffian in a low voice, "is more than many of them that crost me are able to say now."

The silence that ensued formed a fearful comment on the meaning of the outlaw's words, and was broken by a peculiar humming noise from the still, which no sooner reached his ears than, cry"Hurroo! the darlen's comen ing out joyfully round," he struck the top of the utensil smartly, to make the steam ascend quicker; and, after stirring the fire briskly, then slipped to a rude cupboard in the rock, and bringing from thence a a small jug and a drinking glass, with its broken shank fixed in a round piece of wood, placed the former under a pipe leading from one of the vessels, and then paused for a few minutes until it was filled with ardent spirits from the still.

After first tasting it himself, apparently with great relish, and declaring "that it was the real stuff all out," he handed the jug and drinking vessel to his next neighbour, and asked him with a triumphant sneer—

"Where's the guager now, boys?"

HIGHLAND CLANS.

The Cummings were among the greatest and bravest of all the Highland clans; and King Robert Bruce, who wished to exterminate them, created Randolph, his own nephew, Earl of Moray, and being in a generous mood, granted him Dunphail estate. Old Cumming of Dunphail, not seeing the eligibility of that arrangement, resisted the transfer, and sustained a long siege within this castle. Meantime his son, Alister Bane, a young man of extraordinary enterprise and courage, preserved the famishing garrison alive, by seizing opportunities occasionally to throw in sacks of oatmeal across a deep fissure in the rocks which we were shown. The enemy vainly endeavoured to detect the place of his concealment, until they brought a bloodhound to the spot, which tracked him through the woods. Here we traced every step of the ravine ourselves, till we reached the fatal cave where he was overtaken, the enterance being no larger than that of a dog kennel, and there his enemies lighted a fire that he might be smoked to death. The young hero, seeing his fate inevitable, attempted to come forth, saying, "Let me out to die like a Cumming, sword in hand!" But Lord Randolph cruelly thrust him back, and replied, "No! die like a wolf as you are!" The head of Alister Bane was cut off, and carried to a rock opposite, where old Cumming stood, expecting the arrival of his son with provisions, and the enemy threw it at his feet, calling out, in an insulting tone, "Here's beef for your bannocks!" The wretched father recognised his son, and exclaimed, in an agony of rage and grief, "This is a bone to pick that you shall rue!" Dis. couraged, however, and subdued by so frightful a calamity, the old man struggled no longer, but yielded to his fate, and was put to death, with his forty faithful clansmen. Their heads were stuck up in terrorem at Elgin, and their mutilated bodies thrust into a cairn near the spot where they fell, which was shown ever afterwards as "the tomb of the headless Cummins." A few years since the parish clergyman caused the skeletons to be dug up, and carefully buried in a distant church-yard, at the risk of destroying the evidence of this melancholy tale. Not a single skul was found on that occasion. Miss Sinclair's Shetland

SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS.-In viewing the various implements which the art of man has brought into operation, to supply him with the necessities and comforts of life, it is interesting to trace the nationality of each. As regards the Dutch, the physical geography of Holland necessarily led the inhabitants to cultivate the art of raising water; thus it was a Dutchman who constructed the famous works at Marlé, and England is indebted to another for the old works at London-bridge; the simplest pump-box known is of German origin, as also the tub pump of Muschenbrock. Hose for fire-engines, both of leather and canvass, were invented by the Dutch, and they carried the chain-pump to China and India, and first introduced it into Europe. Windmills for draining water first occur (in moderen days) in Holland, and it is, indeed, the constant employment of this element (wind,) which preserves them from destruction by another (water.) The French have followed the German and Dutch in hydraulic machines, and we have the double pump of la Hire, the frictionless piston of Gosset; Papin was one of the inventors of the steam-engine; le Demour invented the centrifugal pump; and drawn leaden pipes were projected by Delesme. In England, connected with the steamengine, we have the names of Cartwright, Barton, Worcester, Savery, Newcomen, and Watt; and to the Italians we are indebted for the inventions and improvements of Galileo, Torricelli, Porta, and Venturis.-Mining Journal

STANZAS.

bear,

prove

Constant and true, and ever hold for thee unchanging love! AN IRISH MAIDEN.

VARIETIES OF SHAKES OF THE HAND.-Some people dangle their hands into yours like the unwilling paw of a peaceable poodle; others stiffen the hand and thrust four fingers into your palm, all smooth and Mr. D. appears to have wooden like a glover's last. like the handle of your tooth brush on a frosty mornbut one finger produceable; hard and bony it feels, ing. Mr. T. always holds out two fingers; I do the same; and it perplexes him not a little when the tips meet, and he fingers out the da capo of his own two to two too. A. evades the hand, and welcomes his friends or acquaintances by a slight pressure above the elbow, as he sniggles out "how d'ye do." Mr. L. who takes pleasure in a tight fit, can never comply with the usual mode of withdrawing the kid, so is A schoolhand and glove with every one he meets. master has a habit of offering the left hand; and who but remembers the reluctance with which it was accepted in those days of early delinquency, when caneology was practised to such an extent in all welldisciplined schools? Mr. C. a loquacious lounger, secures you, as it were, by interception; and, seizing both your hands, proceeds to suck your brains, and, as he approaches the crisis of that particular piece of information he is in search of, you may perceive by the motion of his digits, that he is busy at some performance on the organ of inquisitiveness.-Fraser.

TELESCOPES.-About the year 1672, Sir Isaac Newton invented that farm of a reflecting telescope which bears his name, but the invention lay dormant for half a century, till Mr. Hadley, in 1723, constructed a large Newtonian, 624 inches focal distance, which magnified from 190 to 230 times; and about sixty-six years afterwards, Herschel constructed his large forty feet reflector, the largest instrument of the kind that has yet been erected. In 1759, Dollond invented the achromatic telescope, since which period this construction has almost superseded every other kind of refracting telescope, and has come into general use both for viewing land objects and for celestial observations; and telescopes of this kind have been constructed nearly twenty feet long, with the object-glass fifteen and eighteen inches in diameter. The largest telescope that has ever been projected is that of the Earl of Rosse, the speculum for which was cast in April, 1842. It is six feet diameter, and is to be formed into a telescope fifty feet focal length. It will have a reflecting surface of 4071 square inches, or more than double that of Herschel's forty feet reflector, and it is hoped that some new discoveries will be made by it in the heavens.

THE LOST SON.

"The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud, Claims kindred there, and has his claims allow'd." "Home of my boyhood! endeared to me by a thousand inseparable associations, perhaps it is the last time I shall ever see thee! No more beneath the cooling shade of yon stately trees, will I beguile away the time which recals to my mind my former happiness: then, careless and unconscious of my future destiny, I was happy; for evil and misfortune were alike unknown to me. Bitter indeed are my recollections of the past-I that had so many friends; but where are they now? The moment the keen blast of adversity began to blow against me, they fled and left me to myself to bear up against my unhappy fate. But I deserve it all; were it not for my folly and dissipation I would not have come to this; Oh! my dear father, how I have deceived him; he who almost idolised me, and centered his fondest hopes in me, I think I hear him reproach me for my past follies. But no; I will not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Away then; it is useless to repine at my misfortunes. I will resign myself to the will of Him, the great dispenser and author of all true good, and seek that happiness which is only to be found in Him.”

Such were Alfred Howard's reflections on passing Howard Hall, on his way to London, (from his native town of shire,) where he had a few days previously been engaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. As he gave "a last fond look" on the stately building, he could not suppress his emotions; the scenes of his boyhood, the happy hours he there spent, contrasted with the life he was about to enter into, together with the thoughts of his kind father that father, who was now no more-all con. spired to make him wretched. The mansion which he had just passed was beautifully situated in a wild and romantic part of shire; there was a long avenue leading up to it, with a row of stately elms at either side of a lawn of surpassing verdure. The house was built in rather a plain and antiquated style, but nevertheless well suited to the taste of its owner. Alfred Howard's father was but in middling circumstances when commencing "the thorny path of life," but by continued toil and industry had saved a considerable sum of money, by which he was enabled to embark as a partner in a banking company which was established in one of the then poor but rising towns of England. To our enterpriser it at first appeared a bad speculation; but the town of shire was rapidly rising out of obscurity; commerce was progressing considerably; and altogether the prospects, when viewed in a proper light, presented favourable opportunities to one about commencing his career in the commercial world. A few years rolled by, which served to convince him he was not mistaken in his hopes of future success; the tide of fortune flowed rapidly in his favour, and his expectations were realised to a degree his most sanguine wishes ever led him to hope. Fifteen years and Alfred's father had secured himself an independence, by his assiduity and attention to business. Ten years more and he was no longer a man of business; he left the busy scenes of a commercial life, gave up his share in the bank, and retired altogether to his seat in the country.

Alfred was an only son; therefore his father was extremely fond of him; he was possessed of brilliant intellect, highly fashioned by the hand of taste, and his good feelings were impulsive, which, if properly directed, might have become virtues instead of vices; but it was his misfortune to have a father who in the

blindness of his love let him have his own will in every respect, and act on all occasions as it pleased himself.

Alfred was now in his seventeenth year; he had formed an intimate acquaintance with one of his schoolfellows, a lad of the most dissolute and proffi, gate habits, who was always foremost in every irregularity; and every wild scheme that was concocted at school, Edmund Ingleby was sure to be at the head of it. Like Alfred, he was an only son; reared in indulgence, controul was unknown to him, and his wayward passions were self-willed and uncurbed; his fond parent (a widow lady who resided in London) looked forward to him, and indulged the false hope that he would be her future comfort and happiness; but in him she was destined to be sadly disappointed.

Such was Alfred's companion; no wonder then that, instead of improving in his moral habits, he was every day approaching nearer the brink of ruin. His father saw with displeasure the fatal consequences of bad example; he saw his son straying from the paths of virtue; he reprehended him for his folly, but it was too late; the seed of vice and indolence was too deeply engrafted within him to profit by such

admonitions.

ever.

Both our heroes had attained manhood; their intimacy and friendship for each other was as strong as his father had so often given him to avoid Ingleby's Frequently would Alfred think on the advice company; but he would say to himself, such advice was foolish, as being in his company would not influence his actions either one way or the other: besides he highly esteemed Edmund's friendship, and he imagined that, even if he were willing, he could not keep from sometimes being in his company.

One evening, as he was sitting by himself in his father's mansion, viewing the beautiful scenery around him, and contemplating the varied beauties of nature, he heard a knock at the door, and presently he recognised the voice of one he well knew— it was Edmund Ingleby.

66

Well," said Ingleby, after they had been sometime conversing with each other, "I am sure you cannot refuse me now the request I so often made, that you would accompany me to London."

Indeed," said Alfred, "I am extremely sorry I cannot have the pleasure of going with you now, but I hope I shall be able to accompany you on a

future occasion."

"You shall indeed come with me now," rejoined his companion; "perhaps you would never have another opportunity, and I am sure there is nothing to prevent you, unless your own unwillingness."

Alfred was unwilling to accede to his friend's proposal, as he knew he could not do so without incurring his father's displeasure, who had given him so many injunctions to avoid Ingleby's company; and as he knew he could not refuse without displeas ing him, whom he so highly esteemed, after considerable reluctance and many objections, he agreed to his friend's request.

In a few days Alfred Howard and his companion left shire for London, where Edmund was determined that they would spend a few pleasant weeks, and that neither he or his friend would want amusement to make them happy. Accordingly, having arrived in London, Edmund, who was no amateur in every kind of vice, led his companion into the greatest excesses. Each night they might be seen emerging from some of the well known gaming haunts with which that great Charybdis of vice abounds. Alfred was now become a constant visitor in the gaming house, where success for a while continued to attend him, but fortune is ever changeable; by degrees he began to suffer consider