beauty, the moon shone forth radiantly and cheeringly from the unclouded blue. No sound interrupted the solemn silence, except the drowsy tinkling of a few bells about the horses' heads, the clattering of their hoofs, and the monotonous rumbling of the wagon wheels. For an hour and a half the wagoner had met nothing moving on the road, except the mail, which had thundered past him about twenty minutes before. He seemed to have forgotten the occurrence which had so alarmed him. Even the prolonged absence of his two companions seemed to have ceased disturbing him; for he had made up his mind to continue at his next putting-up place till they arrived. Recollecting suddenly that it was Christmas, he clambered up a holly hedge on the left-hand side of the road, to pluck a conspicuous piece of glistening mistletoe. While in the act of cropping it, he thought he saw, in a crossroad at some little distance, the figure of some one running very fast. But what was there alarming in that? he thought, as he leaped down, and overtook his wagon. He stuck his mistletoe in the brim of his great white hat, resumed his whip, and went on, cheerily singing the verses of a Christmas carrol

The holly's berry is not so red

As the blessed blood that Jesus shed.
Nor pretty mistletoe,

Though it be white as snow

So white as

The words were still on his lips, when, arrived at an abrupt turn of the road, he was suddenly seized by several men in sailor's dresses, and thrown down on the ground. In spite of all his strugglings his arms were fastened to his sides, his legs tied together, his eyes were bandaged, and a gag was forced into his mouth. He was pressed down by the knees of his ruffianly assailants, flat into the road; and a voice addressed him in hurried, but distinct tones," "Tis no use to struggle. If you are not immediately quiet your brains will be dashed out directly. Only be easy, and

you will not have a hair of your head hurt; but if you attempt to make a noise, there is a pistol, always loaded and cocked, within a few inches of your head— see!" and the bandage was slipped from his eyes for a moment, that they might look at a large horse pistol in close contiguity with his forehead. Short and fearful as was the glance which the wagoner gave at the formidable weapon, he did not fail to observe that the hand holding the pistol was the fair white hand of a gentleman, and that there was a sparkling ring on his finger. After what he had seen and heard, the wagoner perceived the folly of attempting to disturb or resist his captors. Perfectly passive, he was elevated on the back of one of the men, who carried him about twenty yards backward and forward, and then roundabout, evidently to mislead him as to the direction in which they were about to take him. He was then placed in a vehicle-whether a post chaise or a carriage he could not tell some one entered with him; the door was shut, and a voice called out to the driver, Ready-drive on!" and away they went rapidly. The agony occasioned by the gag in his mouth, the aching of the teeth, and straining of the jaws, became soon intolerable; and careless of consequences, he groaned and gasped piteously, and strove to articulate. The choking sounds he uttered seemed to alarm one of the persons sitting beside him; for the gag was presently removed, and he was asked, in a kind tone, whether the gag hurt him. The poor fellow's jaws fell together the instant the gag was removed, and for some time he could not separate them so as to utter a syllable. He seemed pitied by the persons beside him; for he was told that if he would but be silent, the gag should not be applied again; but that the moment he attempted to make any disturbance it would be replaced, even if it tortured him to death. He was told further, that wherever he might be taken, it would be useless to call for assistance; for he would

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near him but those who had him in their custody. All this was said in a mild expostulating tone and manner, though with evident attempts to disguise the voice. Putting all things together, hasty as was his attempt to reason on his situation, the wagoner's terror began to give place to sheer amazement. He could not conjecture what could be the motive of those who had seized him. He could scarcely think plunder their object, till he suddenly adverted to his wagon, fully laden-ah! the thing was fearfully probable! How did he know but it contained, unknown to himself, yet known to those who had seized him, articles of very great value-money or plate? Horrid thought! was he being conveyed by highwaymen to their secret place of rendezvous, there to be despatched, that he might tell no tales? He was trembling with the terror occasioned by these surmises when the vehicle stopped; the cords which bound his legs were untied; and he was told to step out. With the shivering reluctance of a sheep being urged into the bloody slaughter house, the wagoner obeyed, screaming, "Mercy! mercy! mercy, gentlemen!" and he dropped upon his knees. He was suddenly plucked up, however. "Silence, sir!" whispered the voice of one who firmly grasped his right arm-" remember!" and the wagoner felt the muzzle of a pistol touching his ear. His limbs could scarcely support him; so he was rather dragged and pushed than anything else, along a paved place. He heard the sound of a wooden gate being unbarred; and presently the scent of cattle and stables that met his nostrils, led him to conclude that he was in a farmyard. He was stopped a moment by his conductors, and one of them whispered, in low earnest tones, "Now, step very lightly, hold your tongue, and make haste; or I, who shall follow close behind, with a loaded pistol almost touching the back of your head, will, without hesitation, fire at you. All this mystery and fright will be over in half an hour. Now,

"Oh, I will obey, sirs! I will !" quivered the captive, and went whither he was urged. He ascended some narrow steps, creaking and shaking under him. Then he was led through a passage and a door into a room, warm, with a fire heard crackling in the grate. Then he was conducted out again into another passage by a different door, and down a long flight of stone steps: these brought him to another passage, at the end of which another door was unlocked, unbarred, opened and he felt himself once more in the open air. He had scarcely walked a few steps, however, before he was conducted through another door, which, unlike any of those through which lie had previously passed, was carefully closed and locked after them. He was then turned round till he was quite giddy; in which state he was snatched up in some one's powerful arms, carried a few steps, and set down in a very close warm room. He heard another door closed on them, and several voices speaking in low whispers. A chair was placed behind him, and he was told to sit down in it. "You are now in the presence,” said à voice, in a low determined tone, "of those who can murder you, and bury you, so that none shall ever find you or hear of you again. We can despatch you this instant our hands are filled with weapons, and our hearts have no fear. We shall do no harm to you, however, unless you are foolish and obstinate enough to refuse what we shall require of you, which will be easy and reasonable. Quick, decide!" continued the voice, with sudden and startling sternness; " will you seize a chance for life ?" For some seconds the wagoner was too overpowered with agitation to speak: he moved his hands, as far as he was able-his arms being tied-imploringly.

"Tell un, masters, tell un what I am to do!" he groaned. There was a pause, and then a hurried whispering. "First, swear by the great God that made and can destroy you, that if you should leave this

place alive vou will never in any way make known

what has been, and shall yet be, done to you, or attempt to find us out, or try to come again to the place to which you may hereafter fancy yourself to have been taken. Swear, I say!" The wagoner paused. "Come, you hold life cheap," whispered a voice; and he heard the sound of a pistol cocking. swear I swear I swear!" he faltered.

"I

"On your knees, kissing the Bible!" The wagoner dropped on his knees, and kissed a book which was held to his lips.

wish

"And now, What do you

Again," resumed the terrible speaker," say you your soul may perish for ever if you break your oath!" "I do!" gasped the wagoner. dear gentlemen, what am I to do? want? I will do all I can!" There was a pause. The wagoner sobbed, and the tears were perceived trickling down from under the bandage which was over his eyes.

"I

"What ails you?" inquired some one, sternly. am thinking of my poor old mother-and that my employers will call me a thief and a villain!" he replied, crying bitterly.

"You may soon be free, perhaps, if you will do your duty.” “And what is that?" he inquired, faintly. He received no answer.

"Remove the bandage from his eyes," said an authoritative voice; and the bandage was instantly taken off. He found himself in a small room, lighted by one candle, and the walls covered with what appeared sheets and blankets hung on them, as if to prevent the chamber's being recognised. The first fearful object, however, that met his eyes, was a pistol held close before him, and by the very same white hand, with the ring on, that he had noticed when he was first seized. The person who thus menaced him was sitting close in front of him on a table, wore a white coat, buttoned up to the chin, and a white nightcap was drawn over his face down to his mouth, (as when a man is hanged,) evidently to conceal his features. There were three