the world more like King Charles the Virst, when I zeed un coming out o' Whitehall to ha' his head chopped off."

“Avaunt! thou traitorous old knave,” cried Monmouth, as he spurned him from his presence. But he could not forget his sinister words by driving the man from his sight; they appeared to be of most inauspicious omen; he tried in vain to expel them from his memory— he rejoined his staff, and in a state of the deepest dejection gave orders for the immediate retreat of the army to Bridgewater.

With

At this place he mounted to the top of a high tower, to take his last view of a country which he foresaw that he must soon abandon. the assistance of glasses he discovered the King's forces at Sedgemoor, so carelessly encamped as to promise an easy victory, and he resolved to attack them that night in the dark, reserving to himself the command of the foot, and entrusting to Lord Grey that of the horse. One of his captains reminded him of Grey's behaviour at Bridport, but from the easiness and over-delicacy of his nature he answered,

Poor fellow! poor fellow!" he continued, very leisurely dismounting, and patting his steed on the neck, "I should have been glad to back you in our next battle, for you are a good and trustworthy charger, but I fear me you have done your last day's duty. Apsley, my good fellow, we must look out for fresher cattle, and have a gallop for our lives."

There were many horses careering wildly about the field, one of which having approached them as they were talking, Reuben darted forward and seized it by the bridle, when, as he was leading it up to his companion, it was struck by a ball, and rolled over struggling at his feet. "It is no great loss," said Fludyer, "for the animal was already jaded; but if we could secure a couple of yonder drinking party we might still hold our enemies a lengthy chace." He pointed to a small pool at a little distance, where several riderless troop-horses, parched by the heat of the weather, and regardless of the hubbub and destruction that surrounded them, were eagerly slaking their thirst. So intent were they while thus occupied, that two of the

stoutest and freshest looking of the animals suffered their approachers to secure them, and in another minute Reuben and Fludyer were galloping from the fatal field, though their ears long rang with the roar of artillery, the whistling of bullets, the tramp of steeds, the braying of trumpets, and the clashing and the clamour of the still infuriated combatants.

CHAPTER VIII.

"Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content; The quiet mind is richer than a crown :

Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent ;

The poor estate scorns Fortune's angry frown. Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy when princes oft do miss."

ROBERT GREEN.

"THIS little bit of a scrape will be of great use to you," said Fludyer, who seemed to think that he had conferred an obligation on his young companion by having brought him into his present most perilous predicament. "You are quite right to begin betimes in learning how to play at hide and seek with the hangman, for it is a pastime in which we may all be frequently driven to participate, before we can succeed in the great object of emancipating our country. For myself, I have so often had a game at bo

peep with Jack Ketch that I am hardened to the diversion, though I dare say it may seem rather an unpleasant sport to beginners.”

"To me, at least," replied Reuben, "I must candidly confess that it possesses no attractions whatever. I like not my present state of jeopardy as an Englishman I am deeply, most painfully grieved for the failure of our enterprize, which will probably give stability and permanence to the existing tyranny, while my heart bleeds for the fate of our brave companions in arms who have fallen in battle, as well as for the survivors, who will doubtless feel the full vengeance of a merciless monarch."

"Psha! my young friend, you consider these trifles too seriously. Our cause is a good one, and it will but flourish the more certainly for this momentary check, as the river that is dammed up for a while does but spread the wider, and gather force for bursting over all mounds and impediments. Perhaps it is better for us all that we should have sustained this little rebuke, for those who have been killed are but so many insurgents sown in the earth, like seed,