Albert soon arrived at the commencing point of the reach he had assigned himself, and employed all his stratagems to entice and ensnare the tempting denizens of the deep dark Ghoulagh. In the blessedness of piscatorial patience and suspense, he remained untired and unrewarded, but at last became disappointed and irritated as the darkness crept denser on, and the night became more palpable and cold. Nervousness generates itself, and morbid feeling and sensitiveness are most mischievously ingenious in devising causes for alarm, and discovering their own corrupt aliment. M'Carthy allowed his flies to drop carelessly down the current and began to think. Thought, that should be ennobling, spiritual, elevating, is to many but poison

a curse.

In that wild scene and hour (for a river and old trees by night are wild,) the recollection of the tradition, and the person who told it, for the first time, returned to his mind-the fated date agreed-the hour would correspond soon, and the appointed rendezvous-the student's bed at midnight-why did he consent to that mysterious place. He thought of the being he most loved in that world they were both strangers in-the only one he knew-his brother, and an undefinable terror for his safety, stole stealthily upon him and made him weak and trembling.

I do believe there is a monitor-a bodiless intelligence, which conveys to our senses a warning, a foreknowledge of the death or peril that menace, sometimes ourselves, more frequently the objects of our love and fears.

It was now quite dark; he could not see the rod that quivered in his hand; the distant torrents, and tiny cataracts, and falls of the river, (the serenaders of slumbering nature,) grew louder in their roar and descent. He fancied at times he heard a low, smothered, but convulsive and struggling scream; a call upon his own name to come and save-he would not confess to himself whose voice it was like—an echo as if of a drowning splash;-the times were unsettled and disturbed-could there be murderers abroad? His brow and hand were clammy with affright and apprehensive suspicion; he would have rushed at once to the spot where he had left Edward, but the chance of losing him on the way, and his unwillingness to expose his own unmanly weakness, retarded and rivetted him where he stood.

"At the student's bed!—I hope in God I will meet him there." Slowly he moved lower down the river, and neared the winding of the mimic shore that rounded and jutted into the dark shadowed rock that had been the last couch, the cold and stirless pillow of the unfortunate student. It might have been mistaken for a druid's shrine and recess, so imperviously was it arched and encircled by the leafy branches of the water shrubs. It lay within half-rifle range beyond him, when the stars dashed aside the mourning clouds that hid them, and speckled the sky with splendour. Cotemporary with the gladdening effulgence, he saw his brother, his figure parallel with one of the tree stems that formed the bower, standing with folded arms and looking searchingly down deep into the river that gurgled beneath his feet. In the eagerness of Albert's joy to see him again where he expected, (though he wondered how he could have passed him,) he

actually shrieked to Edward to come closer and speak to him. At the same moment a hasty and jerking pull at his line intimated a capture. He raised the rod to strike, but the dead and heavy weight which kept it down convinced him he could not have hooked even the largest salmon that fed in the Liffey-he must have become entangled with some sunken branch. He looked up for Edward to aid him; but the interval between the tree he had perceived him leaning against and his own position was vacant and lonely-no figure was there. In despair and surprise he dragged more violently, and hauled up with difficulty a rod and flies. It was Edward's. In distraction he rushed into the "bed." His hoarse call and the river's murmurings blended in horror and passion. His watch was sprung open; he felt the dial hands; they were within the fifth minute of twelve. He looked out in terror upon the black waters-a dark object was floating rapidly before him, tossed unresistingly before the stream. Albert leaped into the flood; grasped and bore the burden high upon the bank, and at the first midnight of the predestined month he clasped the drowned and lifeless body of his brother-Edward McCarthy.

The next day, part of the bank that projects over the dangerous depth of the Ghoulagh, was found to have been broken down and fallen in; but whether M'Carthy met his death by accident, or the assassin's plunge, none know. The flames and raving of a fever consumed Albert for weeks after; and all through the tormenting hell of his delirium, one sad and broken-hearted lamentation alone broke from his lips, and day and night he murmured-" he kept his word he met me at the Student's Bed."

The sorrow and mourning of Albert's life, already too rankled and cankering, by the lonely friendlessness of his condition, were probed still deeper, and more stingingly, by the sharp arrow of a limited and decreasing income-his property was fast diminishing, and the star of hope fading dimly into the lustreless night of despair, whose black clouds were gathering, to darken and destroy his energies and reason. The long, dull winter had been worn out, and spring, with the blue sky, again saluted the earth: the strange tradition, and wild rumours of the river's secrets, had often awoke in his mind, to disturb it with nervous, and aspiring wishes-a passionate desire to explore and examine the watery depths, and prove the falsehood of the peasants' tales. A young lad, the only servant in his household, whose gratitude and attachment he had won, by employing many idle hours in communicating to him a share of the refining knowledge he himself possessed-and who quickly understood, and adopted the fire and romance which poetry and history breathe from their inspired records, when unrolled by feeling and talent, entered spiritedly into his plan and purpose-sought out every story that might forward their progress, and promised, upon the ensuing August night, to descend, and search every recess of the mysterious and terrific Ghoulagh. The summer months passed away heavily and tardy. Daily, along the verge of the stream, did Albert walk, and, in the sunshine brightness of the water, look for the yellow gleaming of the golden metal, that enriched alone the resplendent palaces of the spirit Naiads.

The night appointed by the prophetic tradition, had again, starless and dark, curtained the forest river-Albert and his attendant, carrying long, lighted torches, which glimmered over the black, silent pool, like gold emblazonry upon sable velvet-a cord, of many fathoms sounding, and loaded arms, were standing beneath the treethe canopying sentinel of the Ghoulagh-one hour sooner than the foreboded midnight, speechless, and watchful as Indians round the fire of a solitary bivouac: they listened for the sound of any wandering, or betraying footstep; but the loneliness of the night and wood was not profaned. "Come," said Albert," the moment of glorious reward and success is hurrying towards us-seize it, ere it fleets away! girth the cord round you tighter-fear not." "Fear!" said the boy, look at that horrid, that appalling gulf-that unexplored world, from whence no being ever returned as he descended; and look at the black heavens above us-haply for the last time I ever shall behold them-even we ourselves, by this unholy hour and light, resemble two despairing fiends, who having, in life, destroyed each other's souls, must take, together, their final and eternal plunge, down into the endless, and unfathomable pit of their punishment-therefore, Albert, talk of pardon-not of fear:" in three minutes you draw up the ropemark well the period-I go. There was a brightness, as if of silver, as the water splashed into foam over the sinking form of the adventurous and daring boy, which quickly darkened into the wonted iron hue of the abyss, as the waves settled and subsided. The rounded coils of the cord ran out rapidly, deeper than ever anchor dragged them, and the time for remaining below had expired while they were in full descent.

With the joy we hail a victim rescued from premature destruction, did Albert embrace his gallant partner, who, for an interval, lay, faint, dripping, and exhausted, on the cold, wet grass, where he was, after much labour, dragged up, and stretched, to recover. "What saw you, Mark?" "That which I shall win-or remain there for ever; a piled-up store-house of plate and pearls large iron-chained chests--and a figure, the guardian of all, so maddeningly beautiful— Albert, delay me not longer-she smiled a welcome to me-her's I must be now. Farewell."

The waters again sparkled over the votary of frenzied enthusiasm. Albert felt a chill for his safety, repented of his delusive and irrational purpose, and resolved on returning and abandoning the scheme, when he recovered his friend, who, he dreaded might perish, in following too far the labyrinth of forest lore and fable.

The bold, undaunted Columbus of the Ghoulagh was again on the dry land, grasping a small iron box, which he placed in Albert's hand; and then staggered, and fell. Long in the stupor he remained, without word or stir; and when, at last, he breathed, and rose, the change that had passed over his features, which were tinged with the pale hue of the grave, was wondrous and dreadful-years of horror seemed to have rolled over him, with torment and suffering in every hour of their duration-his voice was thin and feeble-his hope and courage utterly quelled. Once he looked upon the iron prize he had redeemed, and trembled-once only he spoke to Albert, and clasping his hand, shuddered.

"Let me hold it-for this hand is human-hold it, until the hour is counted out for me when I shall be held everlastingly by another's! There-the Ghoulagh eddies up-the time, the crisis is too well known; above, or beneath the earth, the watery, or the drymidnight, like its darkness, is despotic and universal."

Albert had fainted. The next morning's pale, early twilight found him lying on the wet, cold grass, slumbering beneath the tree, whose branches dropt their tearful dew upon his senseless form; a box, of uncouth, ancient workmanship, whose iron lid had the impression of a shielded coat of arms, and crested stag, with the motto, " Scrutare," supported his right hand, that rested on it, until the advancing sunbeams scorched him; and he arose. His companion he never met afterwards. To his cottage he walked, lonely and sad; and months elapsed before he could dare unsolder the prize that had demanded so costly a ransom.

Early in the following March, the small village which was then the last, and nearest stage to the metropolis, was filled and crowded in all its humble hostelries, with the herds and drivers, who, travelling up from the southern provinces of the kingdom, to meet the market of the capital, lay by for the night, to rest their jaded droves of sheep and black cattle, which were, on the morrow, to be exposed in the Smithfield mart. The street was blocked up by numerous flocks, whose owners could not procure stalls, and standing in the confined yards and crofts that adjoined the town; and as the evening deepened into night, the lights, flaring in the windows of the thronged and noisy houses of low shelter and entertainment-the answering lowings of the oxen-the quarrellings, the welcome, and the impetuous tones of the traffickers, and their bargainings-the various accents and dialects of the townsmen and strangers, as dissimilar as the blue, scarlet, and grey colours of their frieze and cloaks, presented an enlivening and busy spectacle, that the dullness of was not often disturbed by. With the ultimate and faintest ray of daylight that objects could be discerned by, a man, driving slowly before him a flock of lean mountainy-sheep, entered the town, and passed through its long, uneven street, without succeeding in persuading one door to be opened for him, or purchasing bread for himself, or green soil and provender for his wearied, and hungry stock. His disappointment, and the rude scoffs of the other herdsmen, who, equally unsuccessful as himself, jeered the lean and worthless appearance of his sheep: he bore all unrepiningly; gathered them into the sheltering corner afforded by a buttress of the old market-place, tightened his large blue coat, and, on the chill, bare ground stretched himself to sleep. But, ere the repose of nature could embalm his senses, a shrill and piercing trumpet-call started him to his feet; and a troop of cavalry, galloping along the road that led from the city, crossed the bridge, on the opposite end, and moving into the village, halted before the principal inn. The officer dismounted, and sending in a few files, with drawn swords, ordered the house to be cleared, and accommodation to be prepared for his men. Sulkily and discontented did the ejected

throng, who were now nearly quite savage with intoxication, exchange the comfort of their hearth fire and carousal, for the unjoyous quarters of the cold, and open night-air. Many a low, black imprecation was muttered against the deriding soldiery, whose arrival instantaneously expelled all the inert indifference of the contemned stranger, who watched, with patient vigilance, every movement and manœuvre of the dragoons: he saw that their horses were stabled for the night in the inn-yard, beyond whose gate not a man was allowed to pass or leave, where also a centinel was posted. Every light in the house was extinguished, and there was the noiselessness which strict garrison discipline must preserve. The man appeared satisfied with the result of his reconnoitre-passed over the bridge that the Liffey flowed beneath walked with haste on the main road, about a mile, and then, turning off into an old burying-ground, whose trees shaded some fallen arches of a temple's columns, sat down among the weeds and stones, and looking once up among the stars, drew out a long, sharp dagger-blade, and waited for the interview he expected to be held, with such cautious and mysterious secrecy. The gleam of the stranger's eyes, as they sparkled, in their upward glance, through his long hair, which flowing over his forehead, overshadowed his temples and brows, revealed the expression of talented determination, saddened by a mournful composure, and a defiance of despair. The desolation of civil war, and his own bloody and untimely death, appeared to be already painfully and plainly visible to the gaze of his foreknowledge. A sound, gentle and distant as the "tappings" of the woodpecker, repeated twice, chimed with his meditations; he rose, and addressed the figure, who appeared before him—

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'M'Carthy!" "My Lord!" "Rash fool! do you mean my destruction ?"

McCarthy approached closer to the stranger, knelt down, and, kissing his hand, spoke in his lowest whisper-" forgive me, my noble and dear friend; my prudence was forgotten in my joy."

"Sit down beside me, Albert; I would all were as true; you received my message and my cypher ?"

Early this morning. The men are now ready, armed, and at hand."

"Well obeyed, Albert. In this disguise I have escaped so faronce in the city, and our plans shall be quickly proved, or perish with ourselves. The greatest peril is to pass the outposts of the capital. I must in another hour resume my march to gain the market at the suitable hour. I wish I could be with you on this night; it shall be the last and only struggle this life shall ever be spared; but at present this poor head is worth a hundred swords, and even your failure brings no fatal injury to the cause; but win the despatches, Albert, for me, and then be as merciful as you wish; give me one hour's time to be on my way, and then strike hard for your friend. You know my asylum in the Liberty; you sup with me there to-morrow night; and now, Albert, I delay you no longer, for I want your services-you see I make you earn your secretaryship. M'Carthy bowed, and, wringing the offered hand, disappeared among the trees, while the stranger returned to the village. Albert pursued