sleepless from anxiety respecting his mission, had been attracted to the spot by the suppressed sounds of the brawl, "would you murder a comrade for a jest. And you," he continued, tnrning to Grayson, "is your Yorkshire pate so thick that you must broach lava for a joke." The kindled eye and flushed countenance of Grayson sunk beneath his commander's glance, as falling out of the rigid posture into which he had involuntarily thrown himself, he replied, "Please you, my lord, it was only a jest merely to keep the watch alive-the creature meant no harm, I dare say;" and pushing with the staff of his spear Evans, who, cowed and overwhelmed with shame, was creeping hastily from before them, he exclaimed, "Spur about ye Welsh sheep you, or you'll get into Serjeant Smithers' rent roll;" and then proceeded to patrol the little glade with as much earnestness as if nothing had occurred.

Aylmer perceiving that the momentary anger which had been excited was appeased, was unwilling to notice the offence of which they had both been guilty in the neglect of their guard, but turning on his heel resumed his walk, and was intently occupied in watching the narrow window at the top of the keep, which was now clearly discernible in its outline, and bars in the bright moonlight. He had been thus engaged only a few minutes, and was looking with considerable surprise at the changing hue of the casement, which from the white reflection of natural light was now plainly illumined by a taper or torch within, when De Lorlme, his lieutenant, joined him, and laughingly, inquired whether he were studying the stars. No," replied Aylmer, "but I am anxious to ascertain what that casement in the turret contains."

66

66

By my troth I cannot say," returned his companion, "but if it be a lady fair, as a true knight might opine, I would be her devoted for ever, if she would admit us to a sight of the fire which that taper resembles," and turning round he kicked his iron-shod boot against a tree for warmth.

"Peace, De Lorlme, and tell me, I pray thee, if thou observest ought, or hearest ought of disturbance in the Castle," enquired Aylmer.

"There would be more reason for peace," said De Lorlme, " if I did but know why our wise-headed Henry has sent us to dance attendance to the bats here."

“I will tell thee," answered Aylmer, "if thou wilt but curb that prate-apace tongue of thine.”

"I am all attention, most sage counsellor," answered the lively Lieutenant.

"A lady in whom the king holds much interest," returned Aylmer," has unfortunately fallen into the hands of her relative and pretended guardian, Lord St. Clair, and is this night to be betrothed against her inclinations to holy mother church, the said authority, and her dependants, and the Lord St. Clair, being nearly equal sharers in the lady's possessions."

66 Who may the lady be, whose knight errants we are

become ?"

"Dost thou remember," said Aylmer, "a certain lady whose dark locks encircled by diamonds, and high pale brow, thou admired so much at the joust near Leeds."

"Oh!" significantly, replied De Lorlme, "the dame with scarlet scarf, who looked so pleasantly on a certain good cousin of mine."

"The same," replied Aylmer, blushing unconsciously; our sovereign, who thou knowest seldom looks lightly on any infringment on his prerogative, has taken a fancy that his lordship of Clair is not likely to prove so excellent a guardian of the broad lands in England, to which the Lady Marn is entitled, as your most unworthy relative."

So, my Lord Aylmer, sets the wind in that quarter ?" returned De Lorlme playfully. "Then how means your lordship to come at this dove at a distance ?"

"That is just the difficulty I am in," answered Aylmer, and what to do I cannot tell."

Perhaps this hog can give us a hint," said his lieutenant, jogging the form of their guide, who, bound so that

he could not escape, lay as if dead asleep at the foot of a tree. "He was remarkably ready to join the mountaineers to day, and I am much inclined to suppose that he knows his way into this castle better than either of us imagined. We will inquire." So saying, he gave the Scotsman a push with his foot, which effectually dispelled his real or feigned slumbers. He rose with difficulty, and stood for some moments staring with apparently vacant astonishment upon the querists. The mutual efforts to understand each other were equally unavailing, and it was not until they called Evans to their assistance that they succeeded in making him perceive that they desired to get into the castle. When he first appeared to comprehend their meaning, the wildest surprise was pictured in his countenance, but at length by significant signs he stated that he was both competent and willing to conduct them.

At first they hesitated as to the amount of confidence they should put in his good faith, but dismissing their apprehensions, and having put the troop under the cominand of a junior officer, they unbound his hands, and prepared to follow him. With surprising agility, he broke through the tangled brushwood immediately to their right and for a few moments they conceived that he had fairly left them, but he almost immediately appeared nearly above their heads, and pointing out, as well as could be seen through the obscurity, the path by which he had ascended, they followed his example, and soon were placed on a projecting knoll of rock, which overlooked the top of the forest, that ran round by the hill, and waved its sea of foliage at their feet. Assured by this little incident, they followed their guide with more confidence, though with considerable difficulty and some fatigue, as he wound with the utmost facility through the unevenness of the ground until he came to a high patch of ground, almost on a level with the top of the castle wall; where, waiting until they joined him, he sprang over the parapet into a sort of causeway, which gradually descended until it became a

dry moat, which appeared to surround the castle on every side. After proceeding for some time they came to the trunk of an alder tree, the branches of which were just darkly visible in the night air.

Having by signs enjoined silence, the mountaineer immediately began to climb the trunk, motioning them to follow him. With some difficulty they attained the highest branch which would bear their weight, and springing from thence were safely landed upon a ledge, which served for the watercourse of the wall, when stepping over the top they found themselves on a broad terrace in front of the chief apartments of the edifice.

A large window, with the casement open, was before them, and upon the invitation of their guide they immediately entered. Aylmer's spirit for the moment misgave him, and the imprudence of trusting himself within the very power of the lion in his den flashed strongly before him; but a remark from De Lorlme, who was highly amused at the adventure, induced him to proceed. Their guide appeared to be well acquainted with the place, for he led them with the utmost ease through a long suite of apartments, and then through passages, again through other apartments, apparently avoiding the busy parts of the castle, until having passed through a sort of drawing room, he touched a spring, and placed them at the open space of a door, which communicated with the gallery of the castle chapel, where they became the spectators of a scene which wound up the feelings of Aylmer to the utmost pitch.

THE carriage of which the engraving above is a representation is the common means of conveyance among most of the northern nations of Europe, and especially among the inhabitants of the northern provinces of Russia, where for the greater portion of the year the ground is covered with snow. They are frequently made of an elegant shape, and when harnessed to a good steed are both a speedy and pleasing means of transport. After the snow has fallen some little time it becomes hardened by the frost, and forming a level and smooth surface, the sledges traverse its with the utmost rapidity. Drs. Grenville, Lyall, and E. D. Clarke, give some very striking accounts of these carriages, stating that they present a very singular and interesting spectacle in the fashionable drives of St. Petersburgh, where numbers of them are seen darting along upon the icy top of the frozen snow, and with their drivers enveloped in their rich furs presenting a strong contrast to the whitened scene around, while all their movements are performed in perfect silence, seeming to the observer who stands at a little distance, like the pageant of a panorama, with mimic figures in motion, rather than the hurry of a real scene.

In the Siberian governments, as well as in the district of the White Sea and of the Uralian Mountains, rein