"Dead men tell no tales," said a voice every tone of which thrilled through my heart; "and who will know what has become of his carcass? All will think that he has perished in the storm; so I say, kill him." "I say so too," growled another. "Kill him!" said a voice which I had not heard before, "and for what? Because he is young and generous and open-hearted? Cannot you be content, you cut-throat villains, with robbing him, but ye must kill him too? I will never be one with you in such a plot; and so I wash my hands of it.”

A volley of sneers followed this declaration; and an uproar succeeded, of which I was determined to reap the advantage. I therefore took a pistol in each hand, ready cocked, and each loaded with a brace of bullets; and crept down stairs, followed silently and slowly by Blâinor. To escape, however, it was necessary that I should pass through the kitchen, where these villains were disputing; and, with my courage wound up by desperation, I determined to make one decisive effort for my life and liberty. Blâinor seemed to comprehend my intention, for he kept close by my side, in the utmost silence and submission. I reached the bottom of the stairs unperceived; and stood there a few moments to reconnoitre my opponents. There were four of them, all standing round the fire, with their backs towards the door; and still quarrelling about the expediency of murdering me. Mine host was active and vehement for my slaughter; and as he was considerably taller than any of the others, I calculated upon lodging at least one of my charges in his body. I did not wait long to consider how to act; but rushing through the kitchen, and crying to my dog, "Seize them, Blâinor!" I fired both my pistols. All that I can recollect of what immediately followed is, that Blâinor sprang like a lion into the midst of them— my landlord fell and I found myself in the open air, with Blâinor at my side. I did not stay to witness the consequences, but made the best of my way out of the wood, which I was now very well enabled to do, as the storm had

ceased, and a young moon afforded sufficient light to direct my steps; nor did I once stop till I had reached the farmhouse which I originally intended to seek for; where, having arrived, I related my story as coherently as my agitation would permit. The farmer gathered his men together, and a party of eight of us, well armed, returned to the house I had just quitted. We entered without opposition; and found only the wounded landlord, who was lying before the fire, bleeding profusely from wounds in bis neck and shoulder. Him we secured; and he subsequently confessed that the clothes which I saw in the closet were those of a pedlar whom they had robbed and murdered about a month previous. It was their intention to have performed the same friendly office towards me, having for a long time marked me out for their prey, as I returned some evening from the fair; for which purpose one of the gang had stolen Blâinor, whom they imagined they had sufficiently secured in the cellar. The robber recovered from his wounds, however, was tried at Shrewsbury, and there executed; but although all possible efforts were made for the apprehension of his accomplices, two of whom were dreadfully torn by Blâinor, they were never heard of afterwards.

A STORY OF THE ALPS.

HERE the delightful lake of Como lies at the foot of the Alps, there are mountains eight or nine thousand feet high, which descend towards the lake, and generally terminate in hills resembling terraces. In some places, again, the mountains extend their chain of high and precipitous rocks quite into the lake. The name of Sasso Rancio (Orange Rock) has been given to one of these