language, that the sweet dawn was breaking, when, from a distance, throgh the lovely woodlands, the mellow notes of a horn, clearly and scientifically winded, came floating on the gentle air; again it pealed forth its wild cadences, nearer and louder than before-and then the deep and ringing bay of a full-mouthed hound succeeded.

Scarcely had the first echo of the woods replied to the unwonted sounds, before a beautiful slight hind, forcing her way through a dense thicket of briars, dashed, with the speed of mortal terror, into the centre of a small savannah, through which stole, almost silently, a broad, bright rivulet of very limpid water. Pausing for a second's space upon the brink, the delicate creature stood, with its swan-like neck curved backward, its thin ear erect, its full black eye dilated. and its expanded nostrils snuffing the tainted breeze. It was but for a second that she stood; for, the next moment, a louder and more boisterous crash arose from the direction whence she had first appeared--the blended tongues, as it would seem, of several hounds running together, on a hot and recent trail. Tossing her head aloft, she gathered her slight limbs under her, sprung, at one vigorous and elastic bound, over the rivulet, and was lost instantly to view, among the thickets of the further side. A few minutes elapsed, during which the fierce baying of the hounds came quicker and more sharply on the ear; and then, from the same brake out of which the hind had started, rushed, with his eyes glowing like coals of fire, his head high in air, and his long, feathery tail lashing his tawny sides, a formidable bloodhound, of that savage breed which was, in after times, so brutally employed against the hapless Indians by their Christian conquerors. Another, and another, and a fourth succeeded, making the vaulted woods to bellow with the deep cadences of their continuous cry.

Hard on the bloodhounds, crashing through the tangled branches with reckless and impetuous ardour, a solitary huntsman followed-splendidly mounted on a fiery Andalusian charger of a deep chestnut colour, with white legs, and a white blaze down his face, whose long, thin mane, and the large, cordlike veins that might be seen meandering over his muscular, sleek limbs, attested, as surely as the longest pedigree, the purity of his blood. The rider was a young man, of some four or five-and-twenty years: well, and rather powerfully made than otherwise, though not above the middle stature; his long, dark hair, black eye, and swarthy skin, told of a slight admixture of the Moorish blood; while the expression of his features, though now excited somewhat by the exhilaration of the chase, grave, dignified, and noble, bespoke him, without a doubt, a polished cavalier of Spain. His dress, adapted

A

to the occupation which he so gallantly pursued, was a green doublet, belted close about his waist by a girdle of Cordova leather, from which swung, clinking, at every stride of his horse, against the stirrup, a long and basket-hilted bilboa blade, in a steel scabbard, which was the only weapon that he wore, except a short two-edged stiletto, thrust into the belt at the left side. broad sombrero hat, with a drooping feather, breeches and gloves of chamois leather, laced down the seams with silver, and russet buskins drawn up to the knee, completed his attire. He sat his horse gracefully and firmly, and the ease with which he supported him and wheeled him to and fro among the fallen trees and rocks, notwithstanding the fiery speed at which he rode, bespoke him no less skilful than intrepid as a horseman.

The chase continued for above an hour, during which every species of scenery that the level portions of the isle contained, was traversed by the hunter; the open forest, the dense swampy brake, the wide luxuriant savannah!- and each, at such hot speed, that though he turned aside neither for bush nor bank, though he plunged headlong down the steepest crags, and dashed his charger without hesitation over every fallen tree that barred his progress, and every brook or gulley that opposed him, still, it was with no little difficulty that he contrived to keep the hounds in hearing. And now the hapless hind, worn out by the sustained exertions, which had, at first, outstripped the utmost pace of her pursuers, but which availed her nothing to escape from foes, against whose most sagacious instinct and unerring scent she had but fleetness to oppose, was sinking fast, and must, as the rider judged, by the redoubled speed and shriller baying of his hounds, soon turn to bay or be run down without resistance. Hr graceful head was bowed low toward the earth, big tears streamed down her hairy cheeks, her arid tongue lolled from her frothing jaws, her coat, of late so sleek and glossy, was all embossed with sweat and foam, and wounded at more points than one, by the sharp thorns and prickly underwood through which she had toiled so fruitlessly. Still she strove onward, staggering and panting in a manner pitiful to witness; and the deep bay of the bloodhounds was changed suddenly into a series of sharp and savage yells as they caught a view of their destined prey.

Just at this moment, the hind had reached the verge of a piece of dense and tangled woodland, through which she had toiled for several miles, when the low range of hillocks which it overspread, sank suddenly, by a steep and craggy declivity of twelve or fourteen feet, having at its base a rapid stream, brawling and fretting over many a rocky

meadow. Situated nearly in the centre of this flower-sprinkled lawn, half circled by a deep bight of the streamlet and perfectly embowered by the canopy which a close group of waving palms spread over it, there stood an Indian dwelling. It was of larger size than were most of the native cottages; thatched neatly with the broad leaves of the palm; and ornamented in front by a portico of wooden columns, quaintly and not ungracefully adorned by carvings, wrought by the flint-edged chisel of the yet unsophisticated savage. A mat, woven with tasteful skill from many-coloured and sweet-scented rushes, was spread upon the floor: while several stools of ebony, inlaid with shells and sculptured with grotesque devices, were ranged along the walls. On the projecting slab, which apparently supplied the want of a table, stood several gourds, ingeniously manufactured into cups and trenchers-some bowls of hard wood, even more highly finished than the other articles of furniture, and many ornaments of gold and strings of pearl scattered, in rich profusion, among the humbler vessels of the household. From three of the columns, were suspended large wicker cages beautifully interlaced with intricate and quaint devices, containing paroquets and other birds of rare and splendid plumage; while, from the other, hung carved war-clubs of the ponderous iron-wood, flintheaded javelins, and several bows; not the short, ill-strung, worthless weapons used by the Africans, but long, and tough, and admirably made, and scarcely, if at all, inferior to the tremendous long-bow which had gained so much renown, and wrought so much scathe to their foes in the hands of the English archery.

Under the shadow of the portico, sheltered by it from the warm beains of the sun, there sat an Indian youth, tall and slightly framed, and not above sixteen or seventeen years of age at the utmost, polishing, with a shellchisel, the shaft of a long javelin; on the 1.wn in front of the cottage, a bright fire was blazing, and several native females were collected round it, preparing their morning meal, with cakes of the cassava baking among the hot wood embers and fish broiling on small spits of aromatic wood. But at a little distance to the left of these, at the extreme end of the building, nearest to the steep bank which terminated the forest, outstretched in a light grass hammock, which was suspended at the height of two or three feet from the ground, between two stately palm-trees, and swaying gently to and fro in the light currents of the morning breeze, there lay the loveliest girl that eyes ever looked upon. Her rich black hair braided above her brow, and fastened with one string of pearls, was passed behind her ears, whence it feli in a profusion of glossy curls so won

ledge, down to the level of a wide and lovely drously luxuriant, that had she stood erect, it would have flowed quite downward to her ancles; her eyes large dark, and liquid, as those of a Syrian antelope, were curtained by the longest and most silky lashes that ever fringed a human eyelid. Her features classically regular and even, were redeemed from the charge of insipidity by the sly dimple at the angles of that exquisitely arched and rosy mouth, which Aphrodite, fresh from her ocean cradle, might have envied; and by the voluptuous curve of the soft chin. Her complexion was of a warm and sunny hue, half brown, half golden, through which the eloquent blood mantled at every motion, like the last flush of sunset upon the darkening sky. Beautiful, however, as was the countenance, and enchanting the expression of this Indian beauty, it yet was not until the second or third glance that the eye could stray from the matchless symmetry, the untaught graces, and the voluptuous and wavy motions of her form, to notice the less striking charms of face and feature. Her beautiful arms, bare to the shoulder, were adorned with massy rings of virgin gold, so flexible from the purity of the metal, that they were twisted and untwisted with as much ease as though they had been silken cords; the right hung over the edge of the hammock, its small and graceful hand resting upon a little stand or table at her side; while the left, folded beneath her head, was half veiled by her abun dant hair; her dress, a single robe of soft fine muslin, was clasped on the right shoulder by a golden stud, whence it passed under her left arm, leaving her bosom half exposed, and was girt round her slender waist by a cord of gaily-coloured cotton, covering the rest of her person down to the tiny feet, although its slight folds clung so closely to the rich contour of her limbs that not a single charm but wooed the eye of the observer.

Such was the scene, and such the occupants of it, into which, darting with a momentary energy that gained convulsive strength from the near presence of her dreaded foes, the hunted hind leaped suddenly. The craggy bank and stream were cleared by one tremendous bound, the level lawn was traversed with speed that seemed almost miraculous, yet scarce two spears' length from her haunches the furious bloodhounds followed. Whether it was that her eyes were cast backward toward her dreaded foes, and that her every sense was engrossed by agonizing terror, so that she marked not anything before her, or whether a strange instinct taught her that no danger was to be apprehended from that quarter, the shy and timid creature dashed straight across the meadow, passing within ten paces of the

fire, from the vicinity of which the women fled, fearful of the savage hounds, and sank down with a deep, broken-hearted sob, close to the hammock of the Indian beauty. Roused suddenly from the half-dozing, dreamy languor, in which she had been so luxuriously indulging, the maiden started from the couch; and without thinking of the peril, by an involuntary impulse stooped down, and lifting up the head of the dying hind, wiped away the foam from its sobbing lips, and gazed with wistful pity upon its glazing eyes. All this had passed, as it were, with the speed of light; for not ten seconds had intervened between the first appearance of the trembling fugitive, and the compassionate movement of the young girl.

It had happened, too, that, as will oftentimes occur when hounds are running at the utmost of their speed, the blood-hounds, since they had viewed, for the first time, the quarry, had given no tongue, chasing solely by the eye; so that, until his attention was called to what was passing by the flight of the terrified and trembling menials, the youth had remained quietly engaged at his occupa tion, unconscious of the peril to which his sister-for such was the relationship between them was exposed. Diverted, however, from his occupation by the tumultuous flight of the girls, he looked up quickly, and, at a glance, beheld the hind fall dying at his sister's feet, the fierce hounds dashing forward to glut their savage instinct in the lifeblood of the quarry; and the girl, by her own act, thrown as it were into the very jaws of the literally blood-thirsty brutes, which, with hair erect and bristling, as if instinct with sentient life and fury, the white foam flying from their tushes and their eyes glaring with the frantic light of their roused nature, were bounding toward her, scarce three paces distant. At the same point of time, the Spanish cavalier, who had, while they were running mute, lost the direction of the chase, made his appearance at the top of the abrupt ascent; and seeing, as if by intuition, all that was going on, lifted his blooded horse hard with the Moorish bit, on which he rode him, and pricking him at the same instant sharply with the spur, undismayed by the sheer fall of the ground, compelled him to take the fearful leap. The horse sprang nobly at it, and aided by the great fall of the surface, landed his hind feet well upon the level ground beyond the rivulet; but even then he would have fallen, such was the shock of so steep a drop-leap, had he not been met by the quick support of a master hand, so that, recovering himself with a heavy flounder, he dashed on, after scarce a moment's pause.

Still, had there been no readier aid than his, the maiden must have perished beneath the fangs of the infuriate blood-hounds; for,

though the hunter shouted in the loudest tones of his clear, powerful voice, rating the dogs and calling them by name, their fierceness was so thoroughly aroused, that they paid not the least regard to his commanding accents, and probably would not have been restrained, had he not interposed himself between them and the object of their staunch pursuit, from springing on their master who had fed them, and to whose slightest gesture under more favourable circumstances they were implicitly obedient. But as he saw them already well nigh darting at her throat, that stripling leaping upon his feet, and snatching from the nearest pillar a bow which fortunately happened to be strung, and two long arrows, in less time than is needed to describe it, notched a shaft on the sinew, drew the tough bow-string to his ear, and drove the whizzing missile, with almost the speed of light, toward the leading dog. It was not till the whistling shaft hurtled close past her ear, that the maid was aware of her own danger; for, engrossed by the faint struggles and waning breath of the poor deer, she had not raised her eyes, till she was startled by the sound of the passing weapon; and now, as she lifted them and met the red glare shot from the angry orbs of the foremost hound, and almost felt the warmth of his quick, panting breath against her brow, hope left her, and her senses yielding to the sudden terror, she sank down upon the body of the dead hind, as helpless and as innocent. But even as light left her eyes the well-aimed shast had reached its mark; directed at the throat of the animal, it flew correctly, and the keen flint-head cutting a little way below the ear, clove through and through the neck, piercing the jugular vein. The blood gushed in a torrent from the wound, nor from that only, but from the throat and nostrils likewise, and with one savage yell he leaped into the air, and fell quite dead within a yard of the Indian girl, whose snow-white dress was actually sprinkled with large gouts of the crimson gore.

Still she was far from safe; for, unchecked and undaunted by their leader's death, the others of the little pack, baying tremendously, were close at hand. Again the bow was raised, and the string drawn to the utmost, but with a jerking and irregular tension, which snapped the tendon of which it was framed; with a sharp twang the bow recoiled, and the shaft fell harmless close to the archer's feet; but, unarmed as he was, he bounded forward, and grasping the staff of the unstrung, useless bow, he gallantly bestrode the body of the damsel, and with a calm and resolute expression in his clear eye and comely features, awaited fearlessly the onset of the approaching savages. And now the first was close upon him, and with his bristles all erect, like quills upon the porcu

pine, and with a deep, stifled growl, dashed at his face. Still he blanehed not, but made a desperate lounge with the tough, horn-tipped bow, full at the open mouth and yawning throat of his assailant; and well for him it was that his eye was true and his hand steady, for nothing else could have availed, even though now the cavalier was within three strides of the spot, to save his life. The thrust took effect; and though the weapon was but ineffective, and the beast not materially affected by the blow, it still had force enough to check in some degree the violence of his assault, and hindered him from using his fangs for the moment. Yet, notwithstanding, such was the weight of his sinewy lythe body, and such the terrible impetuosity of his attack, that checked and foiled as he was, he still plunged so violently against the breast of his young antagonist, that he dashed him to the ground: and himself falling, they rolled over and over with a stern grapple and fierce cries on the ensanguined greensward.

At this critical moment a new and more important aider came up in the young Spaniard, who, dashing his spurs into the flanks of his Andalusian, with his long two-edged sword unsheathed and brandished in the air, as he stood upright in his stirrups, purposely galloped over one of the hounds, sending it cowed and howling to a respectful distance; then pulling up his horse close to the confused group, well knowing the tremendous fury of the animal with which he had to deal, when it is thoroughly aroused, he smote the other, which was struggling with the boy, and which had just got free from his gripe, just at the junction of the neck and skull. So true and steady was the blow, and so keen was the temper of that thin, two-edged blade, that it shore right through muscle, bone, and sinew, severing entirely the head, except where a small portion of the skin remained uninjured at the farther side; this done, he hastily dismounted, and striking the fourth and last dog a heavy blow with the flat of his sword, rating him at the same moment by his name, succeeded in ap peasing his ascendancy over his crest-fallen vassal. The boy had, in the mean time, risen from the ground, still grasping in his hand the bow, which during all the progress of that tremendous struggle he never had let go, and gazed, half doubtful of the stranger's purpose, into his eyes; till re-assured by the grave smile which played upon the features of the Spaniard, and by perceiving how effectual had been his aid when earthly aid seemed hopeless, he suffered the tense muscles of his dark visage to relax, and stretching out his right hand to his preserver, uttered a few words in the Spanish language not strictly true in the pronunciation, but in à voice of most melodious richness, thanking him for his timely aid.

But little heed did the young gallant pay to his addresses, for he had thrown aside his blood-stained weapon, and raising the slight body of the maiden from the earth, for she had not as yet recovered from her faintingfit, bore her as easily as though she had been but a feather's weight, with her head leaning on his shoulder, and her long tresses flowing in dark lnxuriance over his arms, into the sheltered portico. Placing her on one of the low, cotton-cushioned stools, and supporting her against his breast, he called aloud in the Indian tongue, which he spoke fluently and well, for water, and having received it in a gaily-decorated calabash, sprinkled her lovely face, and set about restoring her with a degree of eagerness that savoured not a little of the gallantry of knightly courtship. Nor was it long before his efforts were crowned with complete success; for in a moment or two the fringed lashes partially arose, revealing the dark eyes still swimming in unconscious languor. Dazzled by the full light, she once again suffered the lids to fall, and remained for a few moments, perfectly passive in his arms; although he felt by the increased pulsation of her heart, which throbbed almost against his own. that life and sense were speedily returning. Again she raised her eyes, and gazed for an instant with an air of simple wonderment in his face; then, while the warm blood rushed back in a crimson flush to the pale features, she attempted to start from the half embrace in which he held her.

"Fear nothing, gentle one," he said, in her own liquid tongue, with a calm, placid smile, which did more to re assure her than the words which fell, half unheard, on her ear, yet confused and giddy; "fear nothing, gentle one, from me. Not for the wealth of the whole Indies-not to be monarch of Castine, would I work aught of harm to thee or thine !"

While he was speaking her eye wandered from his face, and falling on the bloodstained group which lay confusedly piled on each other; the lifeless limbs of the dead hind-the fierce hounds-one transfixed by the unerring arrow of the brother, the other slain by the sharp rapier, which yet lay beside them on the turf; the panting charger which stood, although unfastened, perfectly quiet in the cool shade of the palm trees, and the two dogs which had survived their fellows couched humbly on the grass before the portico, their tongues lolling from their jaws, their sides panting from their late exertion, and their eyes closed listlessly; she saw the truth intuitively, and with a quiet smile sank back again upon his breast, unable yet to rise, and lay there until her brother had brought forth the females of the household to attend her. Leaning on these, the fair girl left them with a gesture of farewell as

dignified, yet easy, as though she had been the lineal scion of an hundred European monarchs. She was not absent long, however, yet she had returned ere the Spaniard had learned from his host, while he was busily employed in wiping and returning to its scabbard his trusty rapier, in picketing his charger, and securing his two hounds, that the girl whom he had so bravely rescued from a terrible and painful death, was, in godo truth, of royal birth-a Caribean princess the niece of that peerless Queen Anagaona, who, though the sister of that most dauntless foeman of the white invaders, the valiant Caonabo, lord of the Golden House, had proved herself, from first to last, the friend and patroness of the pale strangers, who, in after days, returned her kindness with ingratitude so base and barbarous.

In short, Guarica returned, and, thanking her preserver with the most feminine and easy grace, pressed him to stay and share their morning meal; and he, half captivated at the first by her artless beauty, assented willingly, and lingered there, enchanting the simple mind of the Indian beauty by all the rich stores of his cultivated intellect, and listening in turn to the sweet native ballads which she sang to him in her rich, melodious tongue; not till the morning meal alone was ended, but through the heat of the high noon, and even till the dewy twilight; and when he said adieu, a tear swam in the dark eye of the maiden, and her small hand trembled in his grasp; and he rode pensively away, beneath the broad light of a moon a thousand times more pure and brilliant than that which silvers the skies of his own bright land, bearing along with him, deep in his heart of hearts, deep thoughts, and high, warm feelings, blended with doubts and cares, and the engrossing impulses of interest, conflicting with the wilder passions of a hot and impetuous nature. Nor did he leave behind him, in the breast of the young Guarica, sentiments less novel, or feelings less tumultuous; truly, to them, that day was the hinge whereon the doors revolved of future happiness or misery; for, from that day, each dated a new life, fraught with new wishes, and regulated by new destinies? and to each was it the harbinger of many strange adventures, of many joys, and many sorrows, and whether for evil or for good, of their doom here, and it may be, hereafter. (To be continued.)

THE LADIES' BALL.
CONTINUED.

The six ladies that officiated as managers (and were all distinguished by a loop of blue riband drawn through their belts) met the gentlemen at the door as they entered the ball-room, and taking their hands, conducted them to their seats with much mock civility.

The gentlemen, through greatly ashamed, tried in vain to look grave.

The room was illuminated with astral lamps, whose silver rays shone out from clusters of blue and purple flowers, and with chrystal chandeliers, whose pendant drops sparkled amid festoons of roses. The wa ls were painted of a pale and beautiful cream colour. Curtains of the richest crimson relieved by their masses of shadow the brilliant lightness of the other decorations: their deep silken fringes reflected in the mirrors, whose polished surfaces were partially hidden by folds of their graceful drapery. The orchestra represented a splendid oriental tent; and the musicians were habited in uniform Turkish dresses, their white turbans strikingly contrasting their black faces.

At the opposite end of the room was an excellent transparency, executed by an artist from a sketch by Miss Mandeville. It depicted a medley of scenery and figures, but so skilfully and tastefully arranged as to have a very fine effect when viewed as a whole. There was a Virginian lady assisting her cavalier to mount his horse-a Spanish damsel under the lattice of her lover, serenading him with a guitar-a Swiss paysanne supporting the steps of a chamois hunter as he timidly clambered up a rock-four Hindoo women carrying a Bramin in a palanquin-an English girl rowing a sailor in a boat-and many other anomalies of a similar description. Beneath the picture was a scroll fancifully ornamented, and containing the words "Le monde renversé."

That nothing might be wanting to the effect of the ball, the ladies had made a point of appearing this evening in dresses unusually splendid and recherché. The elegant form of Lucinda Mandeville was attired in a rich purple satin, bordered with gold embroidery, and trimmed round the neck with blond lace. Long full sleeves of the same material threw their transparent shade over her beautiful arms, and were confined at intervals with bands of pearls clasped with amethysts. A chain of pearls was arranged above the curls of her dark and glossy hair, crossing at the back of her head, and meeting in front, where it terminated in a splendid amethyst aigrette. Three short white feathers, tastefully disposed at intervals, completed the coiffure, which was peculiarly becoming to the noble and resplendent style of beauty that distinguished our heroine; though to a little slight woman with light hair and eyes, it would have been exactly the contrary.

"Did you ever see so princess-like a figure as Miss Mandeville?" said young Rainsford to Gordon Fitzsimmons, "or features more finely chiselled?"

"I have never seen a princess," replied Fi'zsimmons, "but from what I have heard, few of them look in reality as a princess