thoughts were on Ohio's banks, and he could not separate the recollections of Lucy from the untimely fate of her favourite vessel. He gazed until his sight and brain grew dizzy; he fancied that he saw Lucy's form on the deck of the brig, and that she stretched her arms to him for aid. Even while he thus looked, the waters poured fast into their victim. She settled,-sunk; and in a few minutes scarce a bubble on their surface told where the Pride of Ohio had gone down! A groan burst from Ethelston's bosom. Nature could no longer endure the accumulated weight of fatigue and intense pain occasioned by his wounds: he sunk down insensible in the boat, and when he recovered his senses, found himself a prisoner on board the Hirondelle.

Great had been the surprise of the lieutenant who commanded her at the disappearance of the brig which he had been sent to secure; and greater still at the condition of the persons found on board the launch. His inquiries were answered by young L'Estrange with obvious reluctance: so having paid the last melancholy duties to the dead, and afforded all the assistance in his power to the wounded, he put about the cutter, and made sail for the Epervier.

As soon as young L'Estrange found himself on

the frigate's deck, he asked for an immediate and private audience of his father, to whom he detailed without reserve all the circumstances of the late expedition. He concluded his narration with the warmest praises of Ethelston's courage, conduct, and humanity, while he repeated that bitter censure of his own behaviour which he had before expressed on board the Pride of Ohio. The gallant old Captain, though mortified at the failure of the enterprise and the loss of men that he had sustained, could not but appreciate the candour, and feel for the mortification of his favourite son; and he readily promised that Ethelston should be treated with the greatest care and kindness, and that the most favourable terms, consistent with his duty, should be offered to the prisoners.

Young L'Estrange gave up his own berth to Ethelston, whose severe sufferings had been succeeded by a weakness and lethargy yet more dangerous. The surgeon was ordered to attend him; and his care was extended to all the wounded, without distinction of country.

After a few days Captain l'Estrange determined to exchange Gregson, the mate, and the remainder of the brig's crew, for some French prisoners lately taken by an American privateer; they were accordingly placed for that purpose on board the cutter,

and sent to New Orleans. Young L'Estrange having learned from the mate the address of Colonel Brandon and his connection with Ethelston, wrote him a letter, in which he mentioned the latter in the highest and most affectionate terms, assuring the Colonel that he should be treated as if he were his own brother; and that, although the danger arising from his wounds rendered it absolutely necessary that he should return to Guadaloupe with the frigate, his friends might rely upon his being tended with the same care as if he had been at home. Cupid, at his own urgent entreaty, remained with his master, taking charge of all his private baggage and papers.

We need not follow the fate of the cutter any further than to say that she reached her destination in safety; that the proposed exchange was effected, and the prisoners restored to their respective homes.

The surgeon on board the Epervier succeeded at length in taking out the ball lodged in Ethelston's shoulder, and when they arrived at Guadaloupe, he pronounced his patient out of danger, but enjoined the strictest quiet and confinement, till his recovery should be further advanced. The ardent young L'Estrange no sooner reached home than he prevailed on his father to receive Ethel

ston into his own house. He painted to his sister Nina, a girl of seventeen, the sufferings and the heroism of their guest, in the most glowing colours; he made her prepare for him the most refreshing and restoring beverages; he watched for hours at the side of his couch; in short, he lavished upon him all those marks of affection with which a hasty and generous nature loves to make reparation for a wrong. In all these attentions and endeavours, he was warmly seconded by Nina, who made her brother repeat more than once, the narrative of the defence and subsequent loss of the brig. How Ethelston's recovery proceeded under the care of the brother and sister shall be told in another chapter.

CHAPTER XII.

VISIT OF WINGENUND TO MOOSHANNE.

HE REJOINS WAR-EAGLE,

AND THEY RETURN ΤΟ THEIR BAND IN THE FAR WEST. M. PERROT MAKES AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON THE HEART OF A YOUNG LADY.

WE must now return to Mooshanne, where Colonel Brandon received Wingenund very kindly; and within half an hour of the arrival of the party, they were all seated at his hospitable board, whereon smoked venison steaks, various kinds of fowls, a substantial ham, cakes of rice, and Indian maize. On the side-table were cream, wild honey, cheese and preserved fruits, all these delicacies being admirably served under the superintendence of Aunt Mary, who was delighted with Wingenund, praised the extreme beauty of his eyes and features, telling the colonel, in a whisper, that if she had been thirty-five years younger, she should have been afraid of losing her heart! The youth was indeed the hero of the day: all were grateful to him for his gallant preservation of Reginald's life, and all