Herrmann Lang - "The Air-Battle; a vision of the future" (1859)

INTRODUCTION

Virtually nothing is known about Hermann Lang, most likely a psuedonym of a British author. The British Library attributes authorship to a professor of chemistry at the Polytechnic School at Karlsruhe, but its dubious that this was even a real person to begin with. The narrative of "The Air Battle" largely centers around three British characters, and repeatedly makes reference to British poetry, literature, philosophy, history, etc., that it seems very unlikely to have been written by a German. 

In addition to being one of the earliest novels depicting powered flight, it is also one of the first novels to positively depict African culture, and particularly, intermarriage between white and black people. The Saharan civilization is portrayed as being the most advanced the world has ever seen, and this could possibly be considered as a pre-cursor to Afrofuturist fiction. Despite this, the character of Jonas is an extremely anti-semitic caraciature that is an ugly blemish on what would otherwise be a socially progressive novel for the late 1850s. The narrator states in text multiple times that he is black, but so far any speculation to his real-world identity remains just speculation.

"The Air Battle" was published by William Penny of 57, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, London, a publisher who existed sometime after 1853 and closed down around 1866. Penny published a number of fiction and non-fiction works, commonly sold at magazine stands and railway stations.

Two known copies of the original exist, one held by the British Library, and one that has circulated numerous times between private collectors, and as of this writing is currently on auction for $8,500. The novel was reprinted in 1972 by Cornmarket with a brief intro, and again in 2011 by the British Library, who reproduced a straight facsimile of the original text. This e-text was generated from the 2011 facsimile.

- Chrononauts, June 10th, 2021

THE AIR BATTLE

PREFACE

IT appears probable, that as dark-skinned men have founded great empires in olden times, their example may be followed at future periods. Nor is it unreasonable to presume, that as Asia was once the predominant quarter of the globe, as Europe is now, and as America apparently will be, so Africa may in turn possess many powerful nations, and the peoples of that continent have their turn in the government of the world.

In connection with these ideas and facts, the Author has written the present work, the purport of which is, in addition, to suggest under the guise of fiction the probability of a reacton in the present state of mundane affairs, and to show the fact of there being retributive justice for our short-comings in the paths of justice and honour.

It may be considered that the object in view would be better attained by dealing with the history of past times than with the shadowy future. This of course is a matter of individual opinion, and the Author will only remark in self-defence, that if this little book is neither sufficiently matter of fact and argumentative, nor metaphysical for learned readers, he must adopt the Horatian sentiment,

"Virginibus puerisque canto." [Chrononauts note: "I sing for maidens and boys."]

DAWLISH, S. D, 1858.

CHAPTER I.

There was a little lawny islet
With anemone and vi'let,
Like mosaic paven.
SHELLEY.

AT the further extremity (or rather towards it) of the boisterous Atlantic rises an islet of singular beauty, as regards its smiling valleys and gently undulating hills; the grass is ever green, the foliage extremely luxuriant, and various descriptions of fruits abound. The climate, although moist in atmosphere, rarely exhibits those sudden variations of extreme heat and cold often experienced in other countries.

This minute plot of insulated ground contains all that exists of Great Britain, which, five thousand years ago, was the most powerful country on the surface of the globe.

It appears strange, at this remote period of time, how so insignificant an island should ever become the theatre of those wondrous events of which we possess records; and although much fable is intermingled with truth in the ancient chronicles, the properly-authenticated facts sufficiently prove the existence of a great and powerful nation; and it may be remarked, that a similar retrogression has accompanied all peoples whose land has been raised among nations. Even the country where our blessed Lord worked his miracles was for thousands of years in a state bordering upon barbarism, and comparatively few visited it, the tide of civilization having travelled westward.

The identity of the seven hills upon which Rome stood is disputed, and not a vestige of that once proud city remains to assist our antiquarians. Even where stood cities of a much later period, as New York, once containing four millions of inhabitants, and Adelaide, in the southern hemisphere, the surrounding districts had become so out of the pale of civilization, as to induce an inference of these places never having existed, until our late discoveries proved such to have been the case.

It may not be inopportune here to state cursorily how Great Britain sank from her proud position. In the year 1848 she and the United States of America ran ahead of other nations in consequence of their laws and institutions allowing considerably more freedom to the people than those of other nations; and while a general revolution took place throughout the civilized world, excepting in these two countries, vast gold-fields were almost simultaneously discovered in colonies belonging to them.

From this period the sun of prosperity shone upon them; and after Britain had, conjointly with another European state, then of enormous power - we mean France-conquered Russia, America and England became firmly allied, and were as one people, and it appeared impossible to imagine any catastrophe happening to destroy the vigour of either; but, on the contrary, they threatened to overrun the world, and make the English language universal.

An all-wise Providence, however, reigns above, who in His infinite wisdom thinks proper to withhold effects long after the causes have become apparent to his creatures, and have been going along and warning them year after year. Nature carried through and asserted her Creator's power in a sadly wonderful manner.

Some few years after this, and after a short but sanguinary war between Russia and Europe, according to the most reliable chronicles about the year 1870, commenced a series of earthquakes, shocks hitherto almost unknown in that part of the world; and at last, about five hundred years subsequently, a fearful heaving and uprising of the ocean took place, and the waters washed away the greater portion of chalky hills which ancient poets loved to denominate the white walls of Albion. After a century or two, another such event took place, accompanied by earthquakes and fiery explosions, and there being but little high ground to stem the mighty torrent, an enormous portion of the island was submerged; the neighbouring island of Ireland entirely disappeared, and there only remained, as now, a patch of about forty miles in breadth, from north to south, and of sixty miles in length the other way, of this once beautiful region. And what became of London, the wealthiest, cleanest, best-conducted, largest, and finest city in the world? It shared the general fate; but so enormous was the mass of ruin, that the spot became a trap for accumulating sands, and ever since so dangerously deadly a vortex has existed for many miles around, that it rarely tempts the hardiest seaman to venture into those seas. Many of the remaining inhabitants deserted the country; and thus perished the English nation, involving in its ruin almost all the continental peoples of Europe, which gradually sank into decay and barbarism.

CHAPTER II.

Dark lightning flnsh'd from Roderick's eye.
* * * *
Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own,
No maiden's band is round thee thrown.
* * * *
Across his brow his hand he drew,
* * * *
Then gleam'd aloft his dagger bright.
W. SCOTT

About five thousand years subsequent to the happening of the events narrated in the former chapter, the principal surviving portion of the doomed island was called Marlo, or Bux. The river Tems, reduced in length and speed, and scarcely navigable, washed the country, and supplied the inhabitants with clear water, a thing for which it was always notorious.

Under a hanging chalk cliff, and close to the margin of the stream, stood a small cottage, constructed of stone hewn in the neighbourhood. Its windows were filled with sliced horn, or some other thin and partially transparent material, and the whole fabric was rudely run up in a manner evidencing the annihilation of art and science in the country, although exhibiting a greater degree of care and skill than was shown in the peasants' huts around.

Inside the cottage were two dwelling-rooms, in one of which, on a glorious summer morning, sat Harold Wynter, the possessor of a small property. Harold was a broad-shouldered, erect, and finely-built young man, apparently some twenty- five or twenty-six years of, age, his hair was dark auburn, his eyes deeply violet, and his complexion, although slightly weatherbeaten, rose and lily like. He sat upon a wooden bench, gazing thoughtfully upon some fishing implements and arrows lying upon the table, and his mind was evidently wandering in imagination far from the woody chalk hil1s of his birthplace, when the latch was somewhat sharply raised, and another young man entered with a hasty step and somewhat hurried manner, evidently habitual with him. He patted Harold on the back, exclaiming,-

"Thinking again, old friend,-always cogitating! Why don't you begin acting? Plough and till your grounds, cut away the woods, deepen the river, and make yourself useful, as your friends expect, and let not your talents moulder away for ever!"

The speaker paused. He was, perhaps, a little older than Harold, and his high cheek-bones, drawn mouth, and rubicund hair proclaimed his Celtic blood. But had his features not sufficiently proved this, the slovenly dress, off-hand rattling manner, and lively air, altogether at variance with any idea of his being a sedate individual, would have proclaimed his origin at once.

Harold raised his head, and, with a gentle smile, replied,-

"I was thinking and fancying this poor land had again taken its place among nations; that white slavery was abolished, and--"

"You had better think of yourself and sister Brunehilda, bless her!" interrupted the Celt. "All your thinking won't bring what's impossible, and as for your opinions on the subject, if you were as learned as the Brazilian doctors, or the of Madeiran sages, or the darkies of North Africa, you might talk; but what's the use of a poor ignorant landdigger, living in a little out-of-the-way place like England, thinking? What can you know about it?"

"I do know more," rejoined Harold, "than I did; but as yet my information is limited."

"Limited!" exclaimed the other. "Why, you don't know where my ancestor's country was! you call it Ireland, and it certainly was a land of ire, it raised your ire, at least your forefathers', why you know the Irish thrashed 'em well."

"No, no, O'Connor, I think not."

"Think not! why, don't your old books of speechifying persons say Ireland was always a thorn in England's side, and could not be kept down and managed just as they liked?"

"You should not say kept down, O'Connor," replied Harold ; "but kept in order; for doubtless they were always flighty, and, I was about to say, treacherous; friendly sometimes, but very uncertain.

"Harold Wynter," said O'Connor, slowly and deliberately, "if I had not respected your late father, and admired your sister, I would have felled you to the ground; you know me to be descended from the Irish kings."

"Well," replied the Saxon, "that may be; nevertheless, you scarcely inherit many of their supposed qualities. I have always understood that they spoke with a peculiar accent, while you speak like other English."

"Don't attempt, Harold," ejaculated O'Connor, "to disprove what I glory in; I tell you you know nothing about the subject. Plough your fields, I say; cultivate your fruit gardens; I am descended from the kings of Ireland-I know it."

"You cannot know such a thing; I have examined the few old chronicles remaining to us, and find little account of the Celts, and that little not overcreditable."

"You speak falsely," cried the would-be Irishman, angrily; "you always delight in tormenting me with falsehoods; you are like the English have been for thousands of years-proud, upstart, and obstinate-and you must retract your speech, or fight me."

"I can do neither," said Harold quietly. O'Connor drew a gleaming knife from his jerkin, and rushed upon Harold, who, however, quickly arose, and, as his antagonist raised a murderous arm, seized his wrist, and pushing against his chest, hurled him across the little room.

The scene required far less time for its accomplishment than for narration, and it is impossible to say what termination would have happened; but almost simultaneously with O'Connor's last loudly-spoken words, and the bustling struggle, an inner door was opened, and in stepped Brunehilda.

CHAPTER III.

His sister's tearful face he scann'd,
Then said, "I'll seek the northern strand,
And bring the youth who foolish stray'd,
Because of frown of lovely maid-
His ire is like the lightning's flash,
Or swallow's momentary dash,
As, flying thro' the air, it tries
To snap the glittering summer flies ;
It comes, it goes, and then regret
Doth shade the cheek of Jayanett."
WASHINGTON POLK.

IN the highly civilized, splendidly cultivated, and now powerfully inhabited island of Madeira, there are spots of such surpassing beauty, that the mind receives an unwonted sense of pleasure while gazing on them. Green-leaved vintahigos, lofty palms, and grand chestnuts with vines luxuriantly twining around them, and trailing in gorgeous festoons, intermingled with fig and peach trees, spring up in all directions, while a delicious atmosphere, and gentle winds kissing sunny vales and waving the yellow corn, remind the beholder of a youthful maiden in the glory of health and happiness.

In the enormous island denominated Brazilia, many, many ages ago supposed to have been connected by an isthmus called Panama with America, and to have consisted of various states called together South America, nature asserts her glory in producing most splendidly-coloured flowers, parasitically attached to enormous trees, and unsurpassed in beauty elsewhere, which turn their brilliant faces to the sun, and appear mildly and silently to worship that luminary, suggesting the idea of a lovely maiden, of amiability of temper and confiding habits, looking up to the more powerful creature, man, for protection and support.

It was easy to imagine such things; of health and happiness, loveliness, amiability, and confidence when gazing upon the exquisite form of dear Brunehilda.

Her light chestnut-coloured flowing tresses, brown eyes, arched brows, snowy forehead, cherry cheeks, coral lips, pearly teeth, properly-formed bust, and delightful little figtue were pleasant to gaze upon; but the idea of all these faded into insignificance before the mild and innocent appearance of this beautiful maiden; and if anything in nature could arrest the slanderous tongue or murderous arm, or turn evil thoughts into Christian feelings, Brunehilda's perfect mien would have done it.

The fair maiden stepped with confidence into the apartment, and looking from one youth to the other sorrowfully, yet withal rather sternly, said,-  

"O'Connor! why have you drawn your knife? I entreated often, you promised often, faithfully, never to carry it again; your promised word seems evidently worthless. Am I not right?" She paused, her last words being given falteringly.

The youth stared wildly about, then turning on his heel, rushed away, and was perceived hastily speeding across the daisied meadow that skirted the neighbouring wood, within which he disappeared. Brunehilda covered her face with her little hands and wept, nor could Harold comfort her, notwithstanding his earnest assurances that he would immediately find O'Connor, and set all matters right.

With this view he capped and coated himself, soon mounted a small pony, and made off towards the woods. Onwards he went, skirting the wood, and following the river's course as much as possible, occasionally diverging into the country to save the tortuous windings of the water.

Sometimes he struck upon an embankment surmounted with ruined arches, occasionally followed by a deeply-cut way, where the ground was hilly, evidently remains of ancient roads, and which have given rise to much discussion and to the fabulous stories of carriages a mile long, drawn by hot water, heated by black stone called coal. What fools antiquarians are!

The river became wider and more rapid, and Harold, leaving the rugged and badly-constructed roadway, turned to the water, where floated a ferry raft, or rather boat, for swinging passengers across the stream.

The ferryman, Jonas, was an old Jew, a rigid member of that astonishing people, who appear to have preserved their identity and nationality throughout the almost countless ages which have passed since they denied their Saviour.

Swarthy in complexion, with a large bent nose, and a sort of satirically cringing manner (far more apt to excite disgust and suspicion, than to be regarded as the result of civility and kind-heartedness), dirty in person and clothing, Jonas stood before Harold.

"Ah, Master Wynter!" exclaimed the ferryman, "you look hot-you look excited-you look in a hurry; want to go across, eh ? "

Harold inquired whether any individual had lately crossed.

"Of course!" said Jonas. "Ah! I wish a few more would; I earn nothing-nothing-nothing, three coppers this day, one yesterday, none the day before-poor-poor-poor, very!"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Harold. "Will you lend me one hundred libers of good old English coin-some of the Australian-none of your Borneo stuff?"

"Hark at him! eh, eh! as if I had it! I'd leave this cursed place if I had; why, my neck wouldn't be safe a minute!"

"The English are not thieves," said Harold.

"You're all thieves; you all want to rob me!" hastily shrieked the Jew. "You're going to spread about that I have one hundred libers Australian - it's a lie! - a lie! - a lie!"

"My cottage is my own," said Harold quietly, apparently not heeding the Jew's excitement; "the ground the most luxuriant in England, and some of the fruits unknown out of it; I brought them from an ancient wood to the north, where probably, a few thousand years ago, a nobleman's garden was, and by cultivation they have become valuable; you shall have possession of my title, but lend me the hundred for a month-good interest!"

"What'll you give me for it, eh?"

"Thirty pounds."

"Go along with you. Say forty."

"Forty, then."

"Well, well; I'll try and scrape it together for you, leastways half of it - can't do more; and if you must have it to-day, Wynter, I'll get it among my friends and make it up. I respect you, you ain't so hot as that O'Connor. Mind, forty pounds."

"Come, come, Jonas, hand it out at once, and I'll give you fifty pounds."

"It's yours," said the Jew, looking stealthily round, and sinking his voice to a whisper, come income in-nobody sees us; I must dig up the ground, and say nothing-say nothing-you shall have it, Harold."

"Ah, ah, ah!" roared Wynter; "no, no, old boy, I don't want your money; keep it, the interest is too high."

"Eh, eh, eh!" sardonically smiled the Jew, "I knew it was your fun, eh, eh! - of course I haven't got it; but I don't mind a joke myself." Then, turning to prepare the ferry, he muttered, "The Christian scoundrel! but my turn will come, and then I'll joke."

"Has O'Connor been here to-day?" inquired Harold.

"Went over," answered the Jew, "an hour ago, in great haste, swore at me dreadful, and ran off without paying; shan't come back though, he shall swim over, eh! eh! eh! Everybody cheats Jonas, everybody; but he's only a poor Jew."

"I'll go across," said Harold; and suiting the action to the sentiment, he leaped into the crazy boat leading his pony; and Jonas, following, pushed into the middle of the stream, which was not very rapid. As soon as the boat was in mid-stream, Jonas, with a polite smile, demanded two coppers.

"I wish you may get it," said Harold; and taking out one, he threw it to the ferryman, who merely remarked,-

"I thought, perhaps, you'd pay for your esteemed friend O'Connor. It isn't respectable for him to owe me a copper."

"O'Connor must pay his own fares," said Harold. "Now look sharp and touch the bank."

The boat's keel grated on the gravel, a slight shock followed, and Harold and his pony were in a minute proceeding on their journey.

The road pursued by Harold ran to the northwestern extremity of the island, through a country occasionally exhibiting considerable undulations, but more frequently consisting of flat country covered with luxuriant foliage of beech, oak, and elm woods, interrupted by marshy bogs, where reeds and rushes waved their melancholy heads, and where, except the booming of a bittern, or the melancholy cry of a plover, or the hum of marsh insects, no sound was heard, although the woods themselves resounded with the songs of feathered choristers, so fondly described by very ancient poets:

"The softly warbled song
Comes from the pleasant woods, and colour'd wings
Glance quick in the bright sun that moves along
The forest openings."

"The birds their choir apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and gl'ove, attune
The trembling leaves."

At length the sun commenced dissolving in a golden-purple flood of atmosphere, distant clouds became rose-coloured, the nightingale started her love-tones from the branching elms, large moths fluttered by, pursued by leathern-winged bats, and droning beetles rushed about the air. Every pool of water was headed by an insect cloud, and misty exhalations appeared in the low grounds.

Harold, who had hitherto proceeded steadily, now hurried on, only stopping occasionally to inquire for the fugitive's tracks, and getting refreshment for himself and pony at solitary granges inhabited by ignorant half-witted peasants. He wished to arrive at a village before night had fairly set in.

After ascending a long and somewhat lofty hill, and reaching the summit, he beheld the ocean glittering in the last sunrays, while directly below him was a small village similar to his native place, consisting of straggling cots thatched with straw, principally inhabited by agricultural persons subsisting on the produce of the soil. He descended the hill, and handing over his pony to a lad, entered the only visible place of refreshment, and after exchanging salutations with the host and some villagers whom he knew, was deeply engaged in refreshing his body with bread and mutton, and afterwards in sleeping away his fatigues and cares; for he knew it to be impossible for him to reach Yarmouth that night, whither, he ascertained, O'Connor had gone.

CHAPTER IV.

See, through the chinks
The water drinks:
Let the Torbanos fly.
The waters glow,
Against her prow;
The skribo we apply.

That fearful wave
Will be the grave
Of the poor sailors yet.
See how they die,
And silent lie
Like slaughtered Gonimet.

AUSTRALIAN BALLAD.

RISING early next morning from his peaceful slumbers, Harold reflected upon the errand which had induced him to leave his cottage. No doubt Brunehilda loved O'Connor to a certain extent, but she was exceedingly youthful, and incompetent to ascertain precisely what her feelings on the subject were; for commingled with sound common sense and a very conscientious mind, was a disposition to the romantic, and O'Connor's fiery, but gallant method, had almost won her unripe heart. Would he not return? pondered the Saxon; would not the idea of Brunehilda lamenting his absence cause the retracing of his footsteps? No. Harold knew his hot temper, and had often feared this description of proceeding; besides, O'Connor had frequently spoken of the intense cowardice of him who used a knife as an instrument of attack or defence, and now he had been seen to do so himself, not only against his best and stanchest friend, the village idol, the individual beloved and respected by all, but in the chamber sanctified by the presence of Brunehilda, the idol of his own heart, the sister of the man attacked. No; he would either hide among the hills and woods, or, what was more probable, take ship, and leave the country.

Often had O'Connor heard and spoken enthusiastically of wondrous nations inhabiting other portions of the globe, black in colour, and powerful almost to superhumanity; and when occasionally tidings came to the village that blacks had appeared, and taken off men and women for slaves, he, in his fiery manner, swore revenge; and when Harold spoke of the ancient glory of his own country, O'Connor retorted by telling the stories recited by the blacks when they did go to England-a very rare occurrence, by the way-showing far greater power and glory than England ever possessed; and he expressed his determination to see some of these places. Harold, consequently, determined to push on to Yarmouth, discover the fugitive, and bring him home again. He descended to the host's room, and after exchanging the usual matutinal civilities, inquired whether any strange vessels were off Yarmouth.

"I hear," said the landlord, "strange tales of furren ships's, and persons of a werry uncommon style; but what they be I can't say, nor I don't care; but if so be they be Christians, its uncommon strange to me. Please Master Wynter, be there magicians nowadays?"

"No," replied Harold.

"Sure?" returned the landlord.

"Quite sure," said Wynter, "at least I never saw any, and I have been among woods, and dells, and forests, and lonely places at all hours, and in all seasons."

"Ah! you jest go to Yarmouth, then," said the host, "and if you find half true what I've heerd, and many says they've seen, then there is magicians, that's all."

"I shall bear in mind what you say," said Harold, smiling; then paying his reckoning, he mounted his pony, and rode gaily on.

The onward road to the small fishing-town of Yarmouth was flat and uninteresting, and soon traversed. Harold came into the place, a mere assemblage of huts crowded together upon the sandy and bleak wind-blown shore. No lofty tower reared an aspiring head, exhibiting the inhabitants' desire to glorify their God. No fine mansion with handsome front was a landmark for toiling mariners to find good cheer; but dark and dreary, poor and forbidding, the rude and lowly habitations of these wretched paupers stood; a few badly-constructed, old-fashioned boats rode at anchor in the offing, and one or two loiterers hung about the sands. The sea dashed bravely into land, and evidently rendered the place difficult of entry for vessels of any description.

Harold left his pony at the entrance of a small habitation whose owner he knew, and striding to the shore, perceived three foreigners engaged in earnest conversation. Their complexions were excessively swarthy, their eyes dark and large, and long black hair hung from their heads. They were habited in gay red cloaks, blue and gilded frocks reaching to the knee, and lemon-coloured tight leggings; their caps were of a transparent substance somewhat similar to the pieces of old drinking-vessels sometimes washed up from London, formerly called glass, or grass, for the etymology is uncertain, and made by the Hemidabos or Laustrian Bohems of former days, some four or five thousand years agone.

Upon seeing Wynter they turned and bowed, and he therefore approached them, and in his usual frank straight-forward manner, asked if they spoke English.

"I do," replied the most richly clad and evidently the chief man among them.

"Can you then inform me;" said Harold, "whether any Englishman has gone aboard any vessel here since yestermorn ?"

"A man," replied the darky, "named O'Connor, departed to Madeira this morning."

"Alas!" sighed Harold.

"Ah, ah! friend," said the other, "why alas? He will be far better off than here; this wretched barbarous little island can possess few charms: we seldom stop here; in fact, it is so dangerous, and the reasons for coming so minute, that when we return it will be noted down as something extraordinary. Can you tell us of any young damsels with plenty of light hair and rosy complexions? they are very lucrative as slaves, &c."

Harold's indignation caused him to flush, but he was aware of the uselessness of showing anger, and therefore curtly said, "No, I don't."

"Well, well, friend, we did not come here for that purpose, we want a military station near Europe - that's all; but this won't do, come aboard and dine, we'll show you over our vessel, and you can return in the evening."

"I thank you much," said Harold, "I have heard of the wonderful sciences and histories of other countries, and should certainly like to see some of the strange things of your great kingdoms."

He felt that peculiar sinking sensation in the stomach, that quick breathing, caused by sudden revelation of an unexpected pleasure, added to a remote feeling of nervousness at entering upon scenes hitherto untried and unknown. This was but momentary, for the leading foreigner turning to an officer, spoke in a strange tongue. The person addressed immediately brought forth a small red globe, the size of an orange, and pressing it gently between his fingers, produced a deep-toned, but singularly melodious sound, so powerful as sensibly to affect the tympana of Wynter's ears; a similar sound answered the call, but in a different and higher tone. The Brazilians quietly strolled to the sea-margin, and there, to Harold's utter astonishment, he perceived a capacious and elegantly shaped boat swiftly approaching the spot where he stood: it was apparently impelled by magic, for neither rudder, sail, oar, nor individual was visible; and this poor demisavage was unacquainted with our torbanos, and other mechanical appliances.

The boat grated on the wave-patted shore, and stopped; the leader politely requested the English-man to step in, and followed with his companions; he laid his hand upon a gold bar projecting from the boat's stern; a clicking of machinery was heard, the boat turned suddenly round and commenced swiftly returning, gliding over the water rather than cutting through it. Harold spoke not; new and unawakened feelings came dream-like over him, and he began to fancy other lands more suitable to his ambitious ideas than his own could ever be; but while thus cogitating, and exciting his companions' smiles, he looked up, and perceived what he had not noticed before, owing, in a measure, to the morning's haziness, now clearing off-a prodigious ship. She had one enormously high mast, of very vast proportions, with numerous strings depending therefrom, and attached to different parts of the vessel; such strings being so thin and of such a transparent texture as to look like gossamer threads. The ship was constructed of polished steel, and no vestige of sails could be perceived.

There was no clambering up the vessel's side, for on reaching her, the ruby globe was again sounded, and it machine-worked platform descended, the boat glided thereon, and was speedily hoisted up.

Fresh wonders continually appeared, and Harold was perfectly bewildered, much to his entertainers' amusement.

Semiloff, the captain of the ship who had brought him aboard, now offered to show him over her. "Bear a hand," shouted he, in Brazilian language, and then swearing, walking hastily about, and stamping his foot; the mariners became in great commotion, setting things in order, for it was evident that the polished gentleman ashore was a lively tyrant aboard. Whether he considered, as too many seafarers have done for thousands of years, that a certain amount of brutality is necessary for the enforcing of order among sailors, we cannot say, but he decidedly succeeded in astonishing his visitor.

While Harold was busily engaged in examining the various nautical instruments, and endeavouring to ascertain the use of the machines scattered about the ship, some of the sailors were gathering into small groups, talking fast, and pointing to ominous clouds; at this moment a large flock of starlings came in sight, driven out by the wind, and Semiloff said, "What birds are those-are they eatable?"

"No," said Harold, "but they talk."

"I must have some," rejoined the captain; "we have none in the west."

He turned to some of the sailors and spoke; a man went below, and speedily returned with a long brazen tube, with small square boxes attached to it by wires. The captain pointed it towards the flock of birds, and turned a screw: a roaring, as of a loud wind, was heard, and the air was driven so quickly from the orifice of the tube, as to assume a roseate hue, and was evidently driven with a circular motion towards the birds; the circle enlarged, increased; the pink colour reached, surrounded the flock, and commenced returning towards the ship, bringing the birds in it; these were whirled with inconceivable rapidity to the vessel, and fell breathless on the deck, exhausted, but not dead.

Semiloff, as the circle of air approached his ship, re-turned the screw, and handed the tube to a sailor; the whole matter being treated as an ordinary
occurrence.

The birds were soon caged, and recovered their former active state, while the Saxon stood astounded at this signal of the dark men's power.

"Now," said Semiloff, "we will eat and drink, for you must be hungry, and I fancy the wind is blowing up for a storm, and these old-fashioned sailing-vessels are not so manageable as our air and fire ships. I wish I had our sea governors here; I'd cut their thumbs off; ah, ah! we shall go back to canvas and hemp next."

"If not in the way," said Harold, "I should like to see a little more of the doings on deck."

"As you wish," replied Semiloff, rather testily, and turning aside, he muttered, "I must get him below; once there, he can't land if the wind increases." He then kept pressing a ruby ball with different powerful notes, cursing and swearing and giving orders in so stormy a manner, that Harold felt very small, and leaned against the bulwark rather anxious to have his refreshment and go ashore.

Semiloff's preparations were not too early; for one of the sudden storms, frequent upon these dreadful and inhospitable shores, the terror of all seamen, now arose; one of those, the idea of the danger of which keeps all vessels from being tempted thither, except when greedy visionaries are occasionally drawn by legends of the treasures found on the London sands, or when the slave-dealers desire to steal the lovely women of the island for slavery.

The sky darkened, the wind blew in fearful gusts, but Harold scarcely heeded it, being wholly engrossed in watching the sailors.

Semiloff weighed anchor at once, to run before the wind off the shore; almost  every one knows how these anchors act - an iron cross, three feet in length, with air-chambers and an electric-spark chamber, which, acting in combination, keep the body of water round the ship stationary. The water, then, loosed from bondage, dashed the vessel on, and away she scudded. The sails were unfurled, they were of so delicate a web-texture as to be invisible to unpractised eyes while furled; and here were but two, these being of prodigious size, and quite transparent, so that the steersman's view was in no way impeded by them.

Semiloff swore and cursed, threatened and struck his men, who ran hither and thither, endeavouring to obey his orders; but nothing could be done except to run on in a north-easterly direction. On they went, speeding away at a tremendous space, and Harold was unheeded.

By-and-by Semiloff caught sight of him, stopped, and exclaimed, "By Jove, friend, I forgot you were here, but we are in excessive danger; nevertheless, I could not have sent you ashore had I desired ever so much."

"Can I not return presently when the storm abates?" exclaimed Harold.

"No; oh, no; we are running away from England, and this storm will continue until we are so far away, that were you an emperor I should be obliged to go to Brazil; danger lurks on these seas, for we expect war every day. You shall return as soon as practicable, however."

Harold was dismayed, but perceiving the uselessness of cavilling at the Brazilian's determination, he made up his mind to endure this sorrow with manly fortitude, and bitterly followed the captain below.

CHAPTER V.

Her eyes swollen with flowing streams afiote,
Where, with her lookes throwne up full piteously;
Her forcelesse hands together oft shee smote,
With dolefull shrikes, that echoed in the skye:
Whose plaint such sighes did strait accompany,
That, in my doome, was never man did see
A wight but halfe so woe-begone as shee.
LORD BUCKHURST.

BRUNEHILDA waited long and anxiously for her brother's return; and, at last, when the lengthening evening shadows warned her of approaching night, she began to experience that undefinable sensation of something sorrowful having happened, which has never been accounted for; whether by ancient philosophers with their only half-understood animal magnetism, or by ourselves, with our boasted superiority of knowledge.

Shall we never be capable of seeing beyond the grave into the spirit world? Are we never to know the causes of those wonderful effects which certainly exist, but which are as incomprehensible as they were four thousand years ago.

Like most women, Brunehilda, in the hour of need and danger, when a loved object was in the case, became determined, and prepared to look after the missing youths. She covered her head, and sallied forth, interrogating every person she met, but without success.

The old Jew, whose post she reached, smiled, and winked knowingly, as if to imply that he knew more than he considered proper to reveal. This wretched old sinner intuitively fancied that Harold would not return; he had either been killed in a quarrel with O'Connor, or had become entrapped by the Africans cruising about for white slaves. His cunning brain instantaneously devised a method of obtaining his neighbour's property, and of revenging himself on Harold for his having discovered that he possessed wealth.

He spoke kindly to Brunehilda, offered her refreshment, and assured her of Harold's safety, so that she returned somewhat pacified, and a kind neighbor, Mrs. Tolmarsh, agreeing to pass the night with her, she managed to keep up her spirits; occasionally, however, fancying that her brother was in clanger somewhere or somehow.

Mrs. Tolmarsh, a stout, florid, happy-looking widow, some forty-five years of age, had to bustle about, and exert herself, both conversationally and industriously, to keep our heroine in perfect trim.

The old Jew had watched Brunehilda's receding form, and muttered to himself, "Oh! I am glad, I am glad; he, he, he! to see those beastly Christians in a mess, the brutes! Ah! my fine girl, your brother had his turn this morning, and now it's mine; and if he doesn't return in twenty-four hours, my revenge shall be deep, and bitter, and glorious;" and wagging his head at her, he turned into his hut.

The sun rose in unclouded splendour next morning, and a real summer's day was obviously impending. The exquisite singing-birds of this island poured forth their mellifluous notes, the dewy grass slightly waved, and the quiet rustle of a gentle air sounded amid the smooth-barked beech-trees and the sturdy oaks, while well-fed lambs pranced on the meads and white-winged butterflies fluttered, and lace-like dragon-flies spirted to and fro, disappearing across the water-lilies, and suddenly re-appearing from among the leafy coverts around.

Tearful Brunehilda appeared at the cottage-door, looking as melancholy as a maiden pondering over a lover's unkind speech or letter. She peered into the distance with her glorious brown eyes, but no Harold was there.

"Come, come," said Mrs. Tolmarsh, pushing forward her lusty self, "this won't do, my dear; idleness is always bad and wrong; come, skim the milk, darn these rents; besides, you should dust your room, there's a power of rubbish there; turn the clock, do now. Bless me! when I was your age I didn't stand doing nothing. No, no, indeed; I worked my fingers almost to the bone; and look ye here, has it made me thin?"

"Oh! dear Mrs. Tolmarsh, Harold has never been away like this. I know something has happened; I dreamt it, too, last night."

"Pooh, pooh, child; Harold has gone a courting."

"No, no; that is not so. Oh dear!"

"La! don't sigh, child, in that dreadful manner, you'll have a fit; you'll never be able to manage nine children, like me, on nothing. Ah, Bruney, you want mettle; just look at that flitch of bacon, how can you let it hang in the sun like that? what a sin and a shame!"

Brunehilda burst into tears.

"There, there now, dear Bruney," exclaimed the widow, ready to cry herself. "Don't take on so, I didn't want to scold you; leave off crying, do, and I'll go and look after your brother; don't let any one in, on no account, until return. I must just get on my things." The widow then turned for that purpose into the cottage.

Mrs. Tolmarsh was a considerable time re-appearing, but Brunehilda heeded not the delay, for she perceived a cloud of dust ahead, and two horsemen quickly revealed themselves, speeding along the river's bank. How the young girl's heart beat, how tumultuously her pulses danced, how change fully she flushed and blushed, for she imagined that her vision could detect the figures of her brother and O'Connor. She was doomed to disappointment. Poor Brunehilda! her sorrows were but commencing.

The riders turned out to be two inhabitants of Yarmouth, who saw Harold put off with the Brazilians to the ship, and had noticed its disappearance after the fearful storm. Having to pass near Harold's village, they had, at old Jonas's instigation, having seen him first, come on to break the news of the supposed awful end of Harold to his relations and friends.

This was done as kindly and tenderly as the natural roughness of these untaught barbarians admitted of, and its management would not have suffered in comparison with the efforts of these civilized realms.

We can scarcely attempt to paint the utter dismay, the complete prostration, of the girl at this dismal intelligence. She neither fainted nor wept, but although deadly pale, and speaking as if a strong hand's grasp were upon her throat, she said to Mrs. Tolmarsh, who appeared cloaked and hooded, expecting to see Harold, "Take off your things, my dream is true; Harold is dead- dead;" and she walked into the cottage, and closed the door.

The men wished to follow, thinking she might do herself an injury; but Mrs. Tolmarsh begged them to withdraw.

"For" said she "I know it's no use a trying to comfort her when there's no tears; let her cry a bit, and then she'll be better."

This very proper advice was acted on, and the travellers desisted.

"By the bye," said one of them, "that rascally old Jew ferryman, Jonas, wanted to persuade us that he knew Harold was going to leave England, and that he should now come and take possession of the cottage, as Harold owed him a heap of money, and had left him a proper authority."

"I tell you what," exclaimed Mrs. Tolmarsh, "I fear there's something in it; for why did he leave here so suddenly?"

"I thought it strange," said the former speaker, "why he so speedily made up to the black men, and trusted himself aboard with them - the thieves. Perhaps he had turned a spy."

"Ah! well," said the widow, "I must take care of the gal; what's here is hers, and the nasty old Jew shan't have it; for she's a good gal, a very good gal."

The travellers, having to pursue their journey, mounted their steeds, the sound of whose clanging hoofs soon became fainter, and presently died away, while the good-natured, bustling Mrs. Tolmarsh entered Wynter's cottage.

The news of Harold's supposed death spread like wildfire, for he was universally beloved and respected for his superior talents and straightforward rectitude of conduct, and all the villagers were speedily gathered in the village meadow, discussing the subject.

What was Jonas about? This crafty sinner, feared, and yet outwardly respected, by his neighbours, who dared not offend him, so great was his vengeance, and so vile his methods of procuring it, employed the few hours subsequent to the arrival of the lamentable news in preparing a plan for accomplishing his revenge.

Harold Wynter had been the only person capable of resisting the Jew, for the latter was too sharp to go beyond the pale of the primitive laws enforced by common consent and usage, except in such a manner as to puzzle the villagers; but Harold, whose wits and learning were far superior, always out-argued him and shamed him. Hence the Jew's feeling, in addition to the insult, as he considered it, on the ferry-boat.

The villagers were still, as the day declined, in the meadow, talking over a plan for searching the coast, and signalling any black men's ships as to whether the body had been discovered, when Jonas's shrivelled form was perceived cringingly and crouchedly approaching.

"What mischief now?" said Mrs. Tolmarsh, who had joined the throng. "Jonas is a coming, what now? I hope you'll all help me to take care of Brunehilda; all of you. I'll stick to her to the last."

Some few who had been envious of Harold's superiority, felt a secret thrill of diabolical pleasure at the impending misfortunes of his family, but they only let fall mysterious words to the effect that Harold must have injured the Jew, else he would not have gone away stealthily; and these inuendoes rather swayed the fickle crowd, who did not respond to the widow as she expected. They feared the Jew, and were unwilling to thwart him, unless his proceedings were obviously wrong.

The female portion were a little angry with Brunehilda for liking the fiery Irishman, who was not a favourite, although she herself was much beloved.

These things militated against the crowd's strenuously opposing Jonas's designs.

"Good day, good day; he, he, he!" said that worthy, who had advanced into the very centre of the villagers. "Bad news, bad news, poor Harold is drowned;" and he affected to weep.

No one spoke.

"There's one comfort, my dear friends," continued Jonas, "one comfort, at all events; I am bound by our law to protect Brunehilda, and shall do so."

An exclamation of astonishment burst from all.

"Don't touch me," said the Jew, "or you shall repent it. Don't touch me." He thought the villagers might attack him.

Mrs. Tolmarsh folded her arms, and with three strides placed herself vis-a-vis the Jew, and said, half hysterically, "You protect the child! Ah, ah! You! ah, ah! I ain't a man, and if I was a man, and like you, I'd drown myself, afore it was done for me. If you want to protect Brunehilda you must pass my body, and p'r'aps your neck may get wrung; I'll try it."

"Don't be violent, now don't," said Jonas. "Now look ye here: here are Harold's bonds and notes to me, he's gone and hasn't paid, his goods and lands are mine, and by the custom of our land, if any member of the debtor's family is despoiled, the creditor has the option of sustaining that member, and having the services, or of paying a sum for the present support. I choose to feed and keep the damsel Wynter, who isn't fit to look after herself, and whoever thwarts me shall be punished. I'll call all the folks of the large villages to sustain the law. The bonds are all right, witnessed by O'Connor."

The Jew looked stealthily round, yet withal fiercely, as though he intended to carry out his plans.

There was certainly some murmuring among the crowd, and several glanced over the Jew's documents, but apparently they were perfectly correct, and not to be cavilled at.

The murmuring decreased, and so did the crowd, for the point was considered settled, and as Brunehilda would soon be of an age to defy Jonas, it was thought better only to watch, and not interfere at present. Mrs. Tolmarsh, however, with a readiness and humanity most creditable to her, offered the Jew her services every day to assist the girl, and instruct her in household duties, such as he might require. Jonas accepted them, knowing the widow to be stupid, industrious, and honest; and she went in to prepare the wretched Brunehilda for this new sorrow.

Jonas had to return for a short period to his ferry, and he pondered over and matured his plans for the future. He intended to make Brunehilda learn to work the ferry, so as to assist him in that arduous labour, and when the summer was over she could go around the villages and sell the valuable fruits of the orchard. Her beauty would obtain a far higher price than if he travelled himself. "Thus," thought the old rascal, "I'll make her a profitable investment."

As he returned to the cottage; the twilight was well set, and night would soon be present. When close at home he broke a twig from a hazel-bush, and stripping the leaves, entered the cottage.

Brunehilda was alone, weeping bitterly. "Ah, my dear!" exclaimed Jonas, "don't cry; I want to talk of your prospects; you must be doing something now ; I can't keep any one in idleness; I'm poor, very, -your brother has lost me all I had."

"Take all here, even my clothes in the box there, and pay yourself; but let me go to Mrs. Tolmarsh."

"Stop, stop, stop, gal; now look here; it's best to be short and explicit; go you don't, you're worth something; in order to work for your food, and for the debt of your rascally brother, you shall steer the ferry for five hours every day, then do the orchard for two and twice a week go round to sell the fruits, and if you don't get the price I fix for it, why you and I shall fall out."

Brunehilda, during this address, first stared interrogatively then her brows just contracted a little, then her face flushed, then her nostrils dilated the least bit in the world, her fingers closed, she rose from her seat, pushed her hair from her brow, and in shaking accents, low but determined, said-

"Jew, I will never, never do what you wish; and you, no, not fifty of you, can make me."

"Stay, stay, child, he, he, he! I'll take you this very night, gagged and bound, to Yarmouth, and sell you to the Africans for a slave,-you'd make a nice little slave for a great man."

"Monster!" said the girl, "I defy you."

"Do you?" retorted Jonas, "then take that to begin with; I'll make you obedient," and he gave her a fearful lash across the shoulders with his hazel switch.

Brunehilda shrieked with pain, and passing Jonas, rushed out into the meadow, closely followed by him.

The unwonted noise brought all the villagers swarming out, and a loud and angry altercation took place.

"Duck him," cried some.

"Hang him up," said others, and all were prepared to suggest some punishment.

"I've done nothing more than I'm entitled to do," said the Jew; "don't touch me, don't! I'll have you punished if you do."

Brunehilda had fainted, and Mrs. Tolmarsh had laid her upon the greensward, and was chafing her temples.

Suddenly the children who were outside the crowd uttered cries of fear and astonishment, and commenced fleeing in all directions.

Mrs. Tolmarsh's children dragged her off Brunehilda, and said, "Come in, come in, save yourself!" and before she could reply, she was taken into her cottage.

Jonas exclaimed, "O dear, O dear! I must go and look after my property; go away, go away; you'll all be eaten up, take care of the gal;" and he slunk into Harold's cottage.

The women rushed away, and the men, looking about to discover the cause of consternation, perceived high up in the air, but now gradually descending, a huge monster, with long wings, and a bright fiery eye in its head, and tall thick spines on its back; they all went off, first a few, then more, and at last Brunehilda lay alone upon the grass.

She recovered from her fainting fit, and rising, was surprised to find herself alone, when, hearing a loud rustling, she looked up and saw the creature hovering over her head, as if ready to pounce upon her; before she had time for reflection, a smaller mass descended from it, and alighted on the grass by her side.

She speedily ascertained this to be a boat-like machine with four men, who jumped out, and although their skins were perfectly black, they were dressed with a splendour unknown to Brunehilda, who in her excitement rushed to them, saying, "Protect me, I shall be murdered! Oh, if you are kind, save me!"

"We will," said one of the blacks, in English; "but you must mount into our aërial, you will be quite safe; we are Saharans, and do not make slaves; you shall be kindly treated."

Brunehilda stepped in, only too glad to escape the Jew and the machine floated up to the aërial; the four Saharans put her aboard, hastily spoke a few words, and away the enormous machine darted, in a southerly direction.

CHAPTER VI.

I will narrate particulars
Of what transpired in those vanish'd times;
How unexpected are the scenes ! it makes
One melancholy at the thought how soon
Each shifting pageant, when its little day
Is past, departs, because the next one cannot wait.
LEMBROOKE.

THE numerous untoward events so lately crowded together in the Saxon girl's career, and the utter hopelessness of improvement in her life, had somewhat unsettled the brave girl's nerves, and she had grasped, woman-like, at the first apparent opportunity of change, without hesitating to consider the ultimate issue.

It was sufficient that she had been earnestly informed of the Africans being non-slavers, and having now no tie to her native island, she could not regret the present state of affairs. She had obtained an abode away from the scene of her former happiness and present misery.

The individual who had addressed her was Sangaree Colo, the chief conductor of aërials to the king of Sahara. He was of a high and noble family, and the greatest aërial navigator and air warrior of the day.

War was expected daily between the three great nations of the world. The greatest of these, Sahara, comprised the northern half of Africa, and was, as it still is, the most enlightened and powerful people ever known, even since the black races so curiously conquered and enslaved the whites, placing them at their proper level. Ah! truly have they, and bitterly, suffered for their enormous wickedness to us blacks in former times; and although the devil may not be so white as he is painted, he cannot be much worse than some of the older white nations were. But enough of this. The Saharans were determined to put an end to white slavery, as well as to curb the ambition of Madeira, the next most powerful country, chiefly through its naval power, enabling its inhabitants to have commerce with all the world, and thus to command unbounded wealth. The other great nation, Brazilian by name, owning the island of Brazilia, once supposed to be joined to the great continent by a narrow isthmus called Darien, and called South America, was an uncertain power, crafty and selfish, but never to be depended on; and if war ensued, none could tell which side she would espouse.

Sangaree, then, was deputed to find a good station in the north, as Europe would be a bone of contention, the Saharans wishing to make Europe a free continent, and to civilize the white inhabitants. Madeira contrariwise, endeavouring to seize and hold it, taking slaves therefrom.

Brunehilda was ushered below, upon an inclined slope, soft as velvet, by two black airmen, into the conductor's state room, and that individual speedily followed.

The glare and glitter of the apartment confused her, and now her heart fluttered, and her stomach sank, while her lips compressed, and her limbs trembled; for the nervous faculties were called into action. She began to consider where she was, and remembering the stories of horrors committed in the old Russian and American wars, and even much later among the more polished Japanese, her fortitude began to fail.

Sangaree perceived this, and said, "Pray be seated; you are quite safe, I assure you; and whenever you desire to return, you shall."

"I thank you, replied Brunehilda. "I feel reassured by your manner, and by your understanding English."

"Oh," answered the conductor, "English is quite a fashionable tongue just now-everybody speaks it; and the few authors of your island-Shakespere, Milton, Williamson, Cufferty, and one or two more who are still remembered-are often quoted; while the still greater works of America, Australia, and of the places colonized by them, as Japan, Norway, &c., are much studied. Now what is your name?"

"Brunehilda Wynter."

"Well, Brunehilda, our prime minister, a wonderful man, has a crotchet in his head to unite white and black, and bring on the Millenmium, and perfect peace and happiness; at least, he thinks it can never come until that is effected, and he talks of carrying out the object by abolishing white slavery, by marrying a white girl, and by making such marriages fashionable and common. This is why he has forced white literature down the people's throats. You are, therefore, sure of a most cordial welcome. Now you must eat and drink. We have no ladies here; but you shall have the state bedroom for your use, safe from all intrusion."

"I shall be in your way," said Brunehilda.

"No, no, indeed not," said Colo. "You must try to be happy."

"Ah! that is impossible," answered the girl.

"Tell me wherefore," said the conductor; "unless the narration be too painful."

Brunehilda sighed, and then artlessly and simply told her woeful tale, which created great effect upon Colo; for a story unadorned and unexaggerated, bearing the impress of truth, will always create sympathy in an honest and brave spirit; and the confidence reposed in such a one by a person in distress, ever causes unasked-for assistance to be given.

Sangaree took her two little hands in his, and said, -"Poor Brunehilda, you shall always find a friend in me; and although I do not like to raise unfounded expectations, it does not follow, because a vessel disappeared during a storm, that she was lost; there may have been aërials on board, or many other instruments of safety,-perhaps a submarine boat; for we have so many of these things now, that loss of life by sea-storms is very rare; and I will use every effort to find out if your brother and his friend are living."

"Oh! sir," exclaimed Brunehilda, "you have almost made me happy. I shall now cherish the hope of seeing them again."

"You must not, however," returned Colo, "be in too great a hurry, for the Brazilians won't give information if they have the young men; and there are so many white men high in authority both there and in Madeira, that it will not be easy to recognize them; and all these whites, although they hold high places, are serfs, and can be reduced to abject slavery at any time: so I must be cautious. But live in hopes, fair maiden; and now we will eat."

He then pressed his melodious bell, and ordered the attendant who answered the summons to bring Even meal.

Some elegantly-shaped dishes of the most exquisite workmanship, and of material, porcelain, with gold, silver, and Henter metal, more rare and beautiful than any other, were brought; crystal goblets, and bottles of the finest Nardine also.

Brunehilda tasted the viands, which were of so dainty a character, that she, who fed only on beef and mutton, involuntarily ate them; while the sparkling Nardine exhilarated her, causing the nervous depression under which she laboured to disappear. The novelty and grandeur of everything, the gorgeous costumes and elegant furniture, the continual surprises caused by some novelty, kept her in perpetual excitement.

As soon as the meal was concluded, Colo wrapped Brunehilda in a cloak, and led her above. The moon had risen, and the sun appeared receding, as it were, into the ocean; a few stars shone out, and a silence, as of death, was around.

As Brunehilda gazed in astonishment, she found herself high in mid-air. No breath disturbed the scene's monotony; but here and there piles of curiously-shaped clouds, gold and purple-hued, floated, tinged with rose-colour, according to their position in regard to the disappearing sun; while occasionally, on an accumulation of vapoury cloud, the aërial's counterpart appeared of gigantic size; and as any one aboard moved, a ghostly image returned the motion,-a fact so beautifully described by our great poet Lembrook, who wrote his fine lyric on the first aërial voyage fifty years ago. Well does an ancient poet say, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy;" for we find new wonders eyery time we journey in the air.

Brunehilda informed her patron that for some time magic sights had appeared in England, though none like this, and that her friends would all consider her to have been devoured by some huge birdlike monster. She was now calm and collected, and felt that cool courage which has always been so characteristic of these islanders, and even of the nations descended from them to some degree; and she had no fear of what was passing, although so unwonted and strange to her.

"Why is it," said she, "that you great people never come near us, except to take slaves? Poor Harold used to say that England was once more civilized than any of you; and he has some very curious old books written on paper."

"Paper-ha! ha!" exclaimed Colo, "we don't use paper, and printing has been out of date these two thousand years; I don't know where we should have been had nothing been discovered to supersede that. But you'll see more magic-like things where we are going than you have yet. I'll tell you a little about the world."

So Colo seated himself and his auditor, and after a prefatory hem! and a look or two of importance, such as those used to command can never quite dissemble, said:-

"England was destroyed principally by natural causes. Wars afterwards caused Europe to decay; America became a great nation, then Russia, then Australia; then came another war; then America was cut up into portions, like Germany had formerly been; then India and Japan rose,-the former half English, the latter half American ;-then another great war, and the black nations began to show their power; and the poor worn-out whites succumbed, first in India, then America, then Europe, and lastly in Africa. I cannot tell you full particulars, for five thousand years is a long time; and, after all these wars, or, perhaps, rather during them, civilization frequently was lost for a time, and was only recovered by some fresh nation turning up the old records of the past.

"It would appear that some such epoch will now be finished; and our hope is, that instead of causing destruction, it may open up new sources of happiness for all the world. We are specially anxious about the whites and the Jews. The peoples speaking English are particular favourites; for both England and America did more for Christianity and science than any other nations; and the Australian and Japanese philosophers and poets who wrote in English, are still quoted by our learned men. We have a curious old prophecy by an ancient named Berkeley, who wrote before Chonfoning was discovered, by which your words can be traced on Gannen as you speak, without the trouble of writing or printing, and which caused the revolution putting the blacks above the whites. The words are-

'Westward the course of empire takes its way,
The first four acts already past ;
A fifth shall close the drama with the day:-
Time's noblest offspring is its last.' [Chrononauts note: George Berkeley, 12 March 1685 – 14 January 1753]

Poor fools! They thought the blacks were without souls; and that no act would arrive in which they were to play the leading part. But it is supposed, that as Shakespere wrote in five acts always, friend Berkeley merely made a guess from that circumstance. So much for prophecy, Brunehilda, except that in the Bible. And now, Brunehilda, you have an outline of the former state of things; and you will soon perceive that Africa and the blacks there, as also in Brazilia, Madeira, India, and elsewhere, are far, far greater than ever the whites were. But it is late and cold, and we shall soon arrive; we have passed several air-stations already."

So he handed the fair damsel to her chamber, and retired himself; we will therefore close the chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.
SHAKESPERE.

ON the second morning after the start, Brunehilda was informed by Sangaree that the aërial was approaching the capital city of Sahara, and that he should, as soon as possible, hand her over to the ladies of Carthagon's household, Carthagon being the minister of whom he had spoken.

A great degree of bustle became evident among the aërialites; and Brunehilda, leaning over the side, saw with astonishment a magnificent city, apparently gradually coming up to her. Outside the mass of palaces, churches, and houses, she perceived highly cultivated plains and detached mansions, animals grazing, of forms unknown to her, and enormous trees of strange growth in various parts. Rivers were winding, like silver threads, amid sloping hills with thick woods, and all the accompaniments of a richly fertile country. The whole scene was bathed in glowing sunshine, far more magnificent than that of England; and other aërials were passing, cutting the air in all directions, some with vast rapidity, others floating along like an after-dinner eagle taking his pleasure saunter.

Anon, lofty towers were more visible, gilded domes and minarets, fantastic pinnacles, and brilliant windows.

Voices and bell-tones were then audible; and various small aërials began shooting up towards Sangaree's vessel, enlivening the scene.

Immediately, the aërial passes the upper part of a fine palace; and, descending to earth, alights in the centre of a spacious court-yard. The globe-bells and other signals had been making a fearful noise, answered by a prodigious globe on the building; and servants and officers, and endless curiosity-mongers, swarmed out from all the doors; the machinery was in motion, the blacks were all talking, arms were rattling, dresses were being adjusted; and poor Brunehilda, momentarily unheeded, was quite bewildered.

Sangnree having given various orders, approached Brunehilda with a smiling countenance, and taking her hand, led her through the clustered pillars into the palace.

On arriving at the entrance-hall, Sangaree sounded a very small globe with a shrill note, and six female attendants appeared. He spoke in African to them, and one who understood English, followed by the other five, led Brunehilda away; Sangaree having first informed her that she was to be taken to a young lady, who was Carthagon's ward, and commanded the domesticity of his palace; and that in about an hour Carthagon himself would probably wish to see her, and have some conversation about her country.

The poor girl, sobbing with excitement, said, "My country! I have none; take me to the bottom of the sea where Harold is."

"No, no," said Colo; "We will make you forget your sorrows; you are intended for better things, Brunehilda. Your divine Creator will give you the means of becoming resigned, and of seeing at last the utility of his interpositions in your career."

The grateful girl raised her eyes heavenward, and pressing the offered hand passed on, unable to reply. Sangaree gazed for a moment on her retreating figure, and then went to consult with the minister. He passed out of the hall to another portion of the spacious edifice, and opening a door stepped into an open square, in the centre of which was a most elegant silver fountain, the water from which diffused a graceful coolness around. The basin which received the water was fringed with mangroves, shooting their stems and shining leaves far into the water; one or two enormous ebony-trees looked down like giants on other trees of lesser growth, but thick foliage, rendered denser by numerous parasitical plants winding about, and nodding their flowers in every breath of air. Here a red-flowered mimosa hung over the path, there grew one with bright yellow petal; and tender flowers of all hues and climates grew in luxuriant profusion. Excepting the chattering of gaudy-plumaged parrots, and the rustling caused by one or two solemn-looking tame pelicans, which stalked forth to observe the intruder, a pleasant silence reigned around.

Colo crossed the court, and touching a spring, entered the private study of "Carthagon Carthagon," the chief minister of Samborfa, king of Sahara.

Carthagon was in the forty-second year of his age. He had been, when youthful, put to considerable hardship; for although of good family, his brethren were numerous; and his parents, thoroughly selfish people, had spent all their substance, and left their children to fight their way without assistance. His health had always been somewhat delicate; and, although skilled in arduous exercises, and games requiring strength and courage, his constitution would not allow of excessive application or continuous labour. But genius surmounted all difficulties; and the romantic old Lady Amba having left him a million zocas, saying that he was the cleverest man in Africa, he became the wealthiest individual in the country.

Carthagon considered that the Almighty had given the fortune not without a purpose, and accepting it as for a purpose, he plunged into a career of politics, and with such talent and honesty, that his name shall endure until the end of time, and probably as that of the wisest uninspired statesman ever permitted to walk the earth.

He was not a party chief,-no truckler to older chiefs, no follower of fashion; simple in manners, but refined in taste; scattering his wealth lavishly, and not affecting self-poverty; abjuring nepotism, yet caring for his blood; cool in danger, careless in prosperity; he was in statesmanship what Homer, Shakespere, and Alderson, the Australian, were in literature,-unconscious of self. Just so much as in the works of those writers, it is impossible to glean any character formed upon the author's own similitude (so common a failing) ,-just so much is it beyond us to discover Carthagon's peculiarities from his speeches and public acts; for they savoured not of self: they were public, for the people, and not for a section or government. He was tall, thin, and his hair softer and silkier than that of Africans generally; and, with intelligent eyes, straight nose, and lips not too thick, his countenance might be termed intellectually handsome.

Sangaree found the minister seated at a table reading documents. He raised his eyes, and looked surprised. "My lord honoured," said Sangaree, bowing, "I have returned, having been partially successful. A Brazilian vessel has been off the coast of the island, and has taken a man away; another islander has gone, as I much suspect, to Madeira; and I have brought a beautiful damsel here. I mean to marry her. Her eyes are like a parrot's - no, I mean gazelle's."

"Never mind the poetry of the case," said the minister, smiling.

"Weil, then, you had better see her; she will tell you everything, and I will talk to you afterwards," said Colo.

"Good," said Carthagon, "let it be so." Sangaree bowed, and left the room; and the minister, returning to his papers, soon forgot the existence of all else.

CHAPTER VIII.

Here comes the lady ;-oh ! so light of foot,
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint.
SHAKESPERE.

THE female attendants in whose care Brunehilda Wynter had been left, led her into the palace, and Siama the superior, who spoke English, said,-

"I think you should see Coronata at once."

"Who is Coronata?" inquired Brunehilda.

"She is," said the attendant, "a young lady whose parents died and left her to the care of Carthagon, who is a distant relative, and she is mistress of his household. Ha, ha! Carthagon governs the king and all out-of-doors, and Coronata rules Carthagon and all in-doors. She's a rare beauty, and as vicious as a tiger."

One of the other attendants now addressed Siama, saying with a contemptuous look,-

"I suppose we need not all follow my leader; we have enough of Coronata's airs, without waiting on white devils; I suppose we shall have a party of Blutifuls next."

"O dear, no," cried Siama. "Pray leave us; I will take the girl to Coronata."

Siama was more far-sighted than the other serving-maids,- she suspected that the white girl was brought there for some purpose; and although it was considered a most degrading thing to be seen in familiar intercourse with a white, she thought it inexpedient for anything to go on in the palace without her having a hand therein. The consequence of which was, that she had been raised to the post of Coronata's confidential attendant.

The two having traversed a short passage, ascended a porphyry slope, with sides adorned with pillars of cut crystal, between which were most beautifully-feathered birds surrounded with flowers of every hue, apparently trained with perfect order; not a decayed leaf, not a shrunken petal, not a stray bough could be seen, although the plants were of different seasons and climates.

Having reached the summit, Siama touched the spring of a polished tiger-wood door, which opened gently, and giving the two time to enter, slowly and silently closed behind them.

"Wait here," said Siama, "until I fetch you; I must see if my mistress is ready to receive you;" and so speaking, she disappeared through a door opposite to that by which she had entered.

Brunehilda looked around the room with fear and astonishment, and her face flushed like an Egyptian ibis, whose scarlet feathers dazzle the eye; for around the walls were standing men and women in various attitudes, mostly apparelled in gorgeous costumes, of rare and exquisite texture; while against one panel stood a lovely white girl, completely nude, gazing nevertheless at Brunehilda, with a most innocent look. In the next panel stood a gigantic black warrior, partly turned away from her, but also almost undressed; a purple mantle lying by his side.

Brunehilda moved away, intending to walk to the window, when she started to find herself confronted by a most savage-looking man. He was standing against the wall like the others; his head was adorned with a chaplet of feathers, a cloak of beautifully-worked yellow feathers hung upon his shoulders, and round his waist was fastened a cream-coloured cloth, adorned with green and silver ornaments, which cloth almost reached his knees; on his feet were leather soles, fastened round the ankles with red cords; his chest and legs were bare.

What surprised Brunehilda in her hasty survey of the man was, that his skin and complexion were of a bright sky-blue colour, and his hair dark, with tints like the European raven when the sun shines upon its wings.

Brunehilda was now fairly brought to a stand, but being extremely sharp-witted and thoughtful, and having both seen and heard of things so wonderful and unexpected, as considerably to diminish the awe she would otherwise have experienced, she looked round again, and perceived that all the figures were motionless. She walked up to one old black lady, and touched her, and could not forbear smiling when she found her friends to be pictures.

She did not then understand light-glass painting, by which one stands opposite a mirror, and the artist fixes the representation, colours and all, on the crystal.

Brunehilda could now account for the beautiful birds and flowers on the staircase, which she considered must be works of art, similar to these figures. But while she was still viewing with admiration the rich furniture of the room, Siama returned and told her to go into the next chamber, where she would find Coronata, who was slightly indisposed, in bed.

On entering, Brunehilda found Coronata lying in bed. The room, bed, and furniture were all equally magnificent with the remainder of the palace; while the pictures seemed alive with motion, so like were they to living images.

Coronata was a brilliant beauty, black as jet, with long hair, whose wavy tresses were drawn back from her low but ample foreliead; her eyes were large and lustrous, yet not possessing the tenderly melancholy look so beautiful in young women, but flashing impatiently, and proudly, and constantly; her nose was too straight and thin for our African idea of beauty. Tall and commanding in stature, elegant in her motions and gestures, her teeth of dazzling whiteness, and her skin like Sprifult, Coronata was of queenlike beauty.

Coronata gazed a moment at the white girl, and then spoke in English with a broad accent, and in somewhat broken terms:-

"Are you come, chit, to take your home in here? What do you want? I will not have you; I am sick of white persons and their stories. Now, remember, if you do offer to stay here, I will send you to slavery. Do you hear?"

"Oh, dear madam!" cried Brunehilda, "I want to work; I am used to it, and to stay here idly would be beyond my wishes; but pray, pray, do not have me enslaved. The horrors of it will kill me."

"Yes," answered Coronata, rising slightly and resting upon her elbow, "slavery is horrid. I shall send you to Madeiran possessions in India. You will have to work quite without clothing, to have your hair cut off, to be beaten most dreadfully; and if you them do displease, they will cut off your nose and ears, and starve you,"

"Oh! dreadful! dreadful!" cried the poor girl, covering her face with her hands; and then suddenly removing them and speaking with energy, she said,

"But why, why is this? I have not come here of my own accord; I was carried hither by your conductor; let him take me back."

"Back! who is to carry you? Are you worth the expense and risk? Is there not war almost stirring, and danger in our aërials going to remote places, you artful thing? You know that cannot be; but do not fancy you shall live here and see Carthagon."

"O madam!" exclaimed Brunehilda, now much alarmed at the other's fierce gestures, "I have not seen him, and will refuse to do so, only let me find a place to rest my head."

"India, and India alone," replied the black. "You are a slave now; ah! you won't see Carthagon; no, no; I will see to that."

"Madam," said Brunehilda, her voice trembling with contending emotions, "I am sure the laws of this great nation will not permit such a cruelty; I have not seen the minister, and do not wish to; but there are no slaves here, and I demand immediate release and to be allowed to leave this house."

"Wretch!" shrieked Coronata, now fearfully excited; and springing from the bed, she threw a rich robe around her, and stalking to Brunehilda said through her almost closed teeth,-

"Dare you speak so to me? me! Think you I do not know what for you have come here? Oh, innocent, I do know Colo's plot; but you will fail,-you shall die."

"Come in" she exclaimed, as some one sounded a bell at the door, and Siama entered, saying that Carthagon wished to see the white girl immediately.

Brunehilda hastily stepped out, before Coronata could fetch her breath, and Siama followed, pretending not to hear Coronata, who called her, as she perceived the traces of storm, and wisely intended not to aid it.

Coronata stood with one hand upon her brow, the other clenched at her side, her majestic form drawn up to its utmost height, one foot slightly advanced. Her eyes flashed fire, and her lips were almost bitten through by her teeth.

"I know," she said, "what must be done: this girl must go. Self-preservation first; -I must not kill no"-and she commenced pacing her room.

"How often do ministers know of acts which they could prevent, and which are wrong, but are useful to them. They have no compunction, why should I? Now, there is an old woman, I have heard;-I must see her in the park, yes,-no-yes-'tis easily done; she shall carry this hateful girl away to slavery, or where she likes; I will pay her well; she can get it done."

Coronata having summoned Siama to assist her in dressing, and having completed her costume, set forth on her unholy errand, burning with a desire to get rid of this dangerous rival, who would probably be the means of destroying her long-considered vision of becoming Carthagon's wife; not considering that the present course was more likely in the end to estrange Carthagon than to be beneficial.

The room had not been vacated above half an hour when Coronata swam in, with eyes like a burning fire, her swarthy visage ghastly black, her lips compressed, and her whole form, as it were, dilated.

"There!" she exclaimed, throwing off her mantle, "all is fixed, and if the old woman don't get rid of her to-night I am much mistaken. Let me see,-I said, 'Don't kill her;' and yet I fancy the old hag looked as if she understood that she was to do so. Oh no, no, I did not intend that,-that is too horrible; but, ah! I remember, she is to have the money she sells for; so she is certain not to kill her. Now, Carthagon, heaven and earth shall be moved to get you." So saying she threw herself into a chair and wept passionately.

In the meantime Brunehilda found herself fairly before the great minister.

Carthagon rose as she entered, and taking her lily hand conducted her to a seat. His mild and kindly tones soon enabled her to look up with confidence, and she instinctively found that she was in the presence of one in whom she could confide without fear: so without giving Carthagon time to speak, she exclaimed,-

"I fear, sir, I shall be in the way here ; I know white persons are not wanted; can I, may I, go home?"

"Certainly, if you desire it," answered the minister, "but not at present, the journey is fraught with dangers; besides, who is at home to take care of you?"

"No one," said Brunehilda, mournfully.

"I respect your feelings, Brunehilda," rejoined the statesman, "for I believe that is your name; but you shall be carefully tended while here, and when the proper time arrives you shall choose whether you prefer returning or staying here. My ward, Coronata, will take great care of you."

"Oh, no, no, I have seen her, and she was so angry at my coming that--"

"You have seen her?" inquired Carthagon.

"Yes, indeed, and she threatened to send me to India, as a slave."

Carthagon laughed, and said, "You see, Brunehilda, all you young women are jealous of each other. Coronata means no harm and will not hurt you; she is excitable, but very affectionate, and almost makes me uncomfortable by her excessive attentions; were I her father she could not be more attentive."

These words afforded Brunehilda a key to Coronata's mysterious behaviour. Her womanly instinct discovered how the case stood, and she determined to leave, and, therefore, obstinately desired to be allowed to leave the palace.

"Well," said Carthagon, "you shall go to Sangaree's mansion, and I will request his sister, who lives with him, to take care of you; there you will be quite safe; in the meantime, I wish to ask you some questions."

Carthagon then, by astute and ingenious queries, drew from the damsel all she knew about her country and its inhabitants, which was far more than he expected, and having exhausted her information, he called an attendant to fetch Sangaree, who, when arrived, was informed of Brunehilda's wish not to stay in the palace, and who agreed to place her under his sister's care, intending not to let Coronata or anyone else, at present, know where she was.

This arrangement being effected, and leave of each other taken, Brunehilda and the conductor departed to the residence of the latter.

CHAPTER IX.

Far in the lane a lonely hut he found,
No tenant ventured on th' unwholesome ground.
TRIVIA.

Give me that boy.
SHAKSPERE.

AT a short distance from the city of Nun, where the incidents narrated in our last chapter took place, stood a humble cottage. It was near the high road leading to Manik suburb, inhabited chiefly by the poorer classes, where fighting animals were brought up and trained to their brutal pursuits, and where robberies and knaveries of every description were carried on almost with impunity.

The cottage consisted of two wretched rooms, whose walls were bare and broken; the uneven stone flooring was damp and greasy, a few broken articles of furniture, and some culinary utensils were about; the whole forming a picture of abject poverty.

In walked an old woman, garmented in ragged red bazin, with a green girdle. She looked a fitting inhabitant for the den, being blear-eyed, blacktoothed, purply-black cheeked, grizzle-haired, lame-legged, crooked shouldered, and splay-footed.

She sat down upon a broken chair, and groaned, and mumbled to herself.

Scarcely was she seated, before the door-latch was lifted, and a young lad burst in, exclaiming,-

"Hillo! Granny, so youv'e bin, and got in fust, how you must 'a run."

The speaker was a neatly-built, dapper-looking lad, about fifteen years of age, slenderly, but strongly built ; his complexion and woolly hair were of jet black hue, his eyes intensely sparkling, his lips thick, and his whole countenance exhibiting signs of vivacity and intelligence. He was dressed in an aërial driver's costume, and the gold cross upon his cap denoted that he was servant to an admiral.

The old hag looked at him with a scowl, and mumbled,-

"Yes; I have run, and cuss them as made me; they'll run soon, Jakadox, I can tell ye."

"Vy granny," said Jakadox, "vot do you busy yourself about them at the pallis for, they von't pay, and yer'll only git into a gallus scrape."

"I shan't" muttered the old woman, "I knows what I'm about. She won't be the fust as I've put out of the way."

"Vot!" exclaimed the boy, "putt who out of the vay? Who, I say?"

"Shan't tell ye," answered the old woman, "you'll split; yon did afore, you young warmint."

"No, I didn't, never; but, granny, don't ast me to jine the game, 'cos I jest won't; I know you're agoing to harm that there vite gal, and I know that devil Marm Coronata putt you up to it. Now jest let me tell yer, that my governor Sangaree loves that gal, and is gone off to marry her, and you shan't touch her. I'll split: she's a nice gal as ever lived, pity she ain't black."

"Now, Jakadox," rejoined the old hag, "I never tells you my secrets, but jest hear this : altho' I ain't your real granny, as you knows, I mean to give you all I have; and that ain't a little neither, and now I'm promised a rare big sum jest to get this ere vite gal out of the way, not to hurt her neither. Now don't answer, but hear me. You've got to clean a young aërial this arternoon, and to try its new works for three hours; the vite gal is mortal fond of riding in them there things; gie her a ride, putt her down somewheres, vere she will be slaved by the natives, and say nothink to nobody, and no 'arm's done, but a deal o' bother saved to all parties."

Jakadox determined in his mind to save Brunehilda; and, knowing that the old woman would manage to effect her object somehow, agreed to manage the job.

It is due to Coronata to observe here that when she sought the old woman's services, she was not aware of her extreme wickedness, considering her merely as an unscrupulous tool, yet not believing that she would carry out or had committed numberless murders and other dreadful crimes. It was on the old woman's return from being engaged by Coronata that the above conversation took place.

"I say, Murdūra," exclaimed Jakadox, "I don't vant yer brads, give 'em to somebody else; but I'll putt the gal some miles on the Jornoh road, vere she's certain sure to be took for a slave; but, oh! von't Sangaree make a row. I shall come back fust, and you must arrange to git her out of the pallis, so vait here, and I'll go and see how the land lays." He then jumped up and ran off.

He never stopped until he was in Sangaree's aërial yard, where the first object to impede his further course was the new machine ready for starting. One of the superior drivers was standing impatiently awaiting Jakadox's return, and taking hold of him, began rating him severely for being behind time, adding that his dinner had been put in the machine in order that he should be enabled to start forthwith, and that he must mount and commence trying the machine without delay. Expostulation was useless, he was pushed in, and turning the skribo the aërial mounted aloft.

No sooner did Jakadox find the machine to be working properly, than he seated himself, and pondered over the conversation he had held with Murdūra, and attempted to devise a plan for saving Brunehilda from her impending ill-fortune.

But, hark! what causes that whirring sound? Jakadox leaps up from his seat, rushes to the engine, examines the wings, attempts to turn the skribo. It is fast; the whirring increases, the skribo deflects, and explodes with a fearful sound; and the whole machine is torn through the air with inconceivable rapidity.

Jakadox scarcely able to draw breath, and totally unable to manage the machine without a skribo, shrinks into a corner utterly amazed and incapacitated, and silently awaits his anticipated fate; which was, the going on until all power was exhausted, and then tumbling like a meteor to the earth.

"Vell," he gasped out," who'd 'a' thought o' this? Good bye, all on yer ; Jakadox is a gone goose, his gander's cooked, and no mistake; oh, granny, granny! if yer hadn't a wanted me to be a wicked sinner, I should ha' bin at my grub comfortable now."

For three hours the machine continued whirling away, and then the pace slackened to some two hundred miles an hour. Jakadox then began to think how he could escape. He found the provisions placed for his dinner, and these he despatched, first feeling considerably refreshed and inspirited in consequence.

He then carefully collected the skribo fragments, and was fastening them together, when suddenly springing up-for he always moved as if upon springs-he smacked his forehead, and said,-

"Lawk a' hi, vot an ass am I, vot a fool, vot a sing'lar jackass! hain't there a box. o' reg'lar tools for breekages allust put up in a noo machiner? In course there is ; I'll jest sec if I can't circumwent this 'ere skribo, and make him work the heerial."

He then opened the box, which, in his confusion, he had forgotten, and to his extreme joy, found a second skribo. He took it out, hugged it in his arms, and danced about, singing,-

"Vot is the price of a cocoa-nut?
My tidy little body,
I'll give you a geen, you dirty slut,
Sing riditi didide toddy,-
Go, and be blow'd, with your scrubby gheen,
Go, and be bother'd, say I,
You must give roe a golden yaller sheen,
Or the nut you shall never spy."

"Oh, crikey I vot a find; but hillo, I must stick him in, and say gee wo, or else I shall be in England directly."

With that he set most industriously to work, and in an hour and a half succeeded in fixing and working the skribo. He then moderated the speed, but found he was without steering instruments, and could not ascertain where he was or whither he was proceeding; and on lowering himself, a boundless expanse of ocean was alone visible. He had, therefore, no other method to pursue than to turn the machine contrariwise to the way he was then travelling, and to steer by the sun just disappearing below the horizon.

Jakadox turned on his skribo, and proceeded at his utmost speed. He had been journeying westward, and the atmosphere was sensibly changed several times. Now, although he had reversed his direction, he went too much towards the south, and passing slightly east of the once mighty Australia, and alternating between heat and cold, and light and darkness, he sighted land in the South Pacific. How he passed over America is a mystery, considering the numerous aërial stations, but we suppose that he was too high to be noticed.

The land he saw was the enormous island Bascabatha, then little known. In ancient maps, there appears a minute island named Nimrod in the neighbourhood, but probably the same convulsion which destroyed England, enlarged this island.

"Ah," said Jakadox anchoring, and turning off the roqua, "here I be vunst more, but vere am I? Vot a rummy shop; oh, my viggins, vat a tree!"

Of course, now this island is well known, we need not describe its peculiarities very fully. But when Jakadox was there, aërials were not so common as now, and the inhabitants and productions of the country, so unlike all others, were the source of wonder to all.

The tree Jakadox alluded to grew with twenty or thirty different stems, covered with leaves and flowers. These stems united into one, about twenty feet above the earth, and this one grew up about twenty feet higher, and then spread out into innumerable stems, like roots, of inordinate length and fantastic shape.

"Vell," said he, "if that ain't a rummy shrub, agrowing with his branches in the ground, and chucking his rootses into the air; and, oh, crikey, vat's this!" and Jakadox shrank back, as a large lobster-like animal on six long crane-like legs stalked up to him, and stared in his face with dull fishy eyes. Jakadox, who was courageous enough, hardly knew what to be about. He, however, put his arms akimbo, jumped his legs apart, and, staring full at the creature, made the ugliest grimace he could, showing his formidable white grinders.

The animal, taken aback at this manreuvre, suddenly emitted a harsh, sharp tone, similar to that caused by a vessel's keel grinding over loose granite, and which pierced Jakadox's ears, and made him jump away, exclaiming, "Oh, my golly!" It then coolly turned round, and stalking slowly away, disappeared in the grassy shrubs near.

"Vell," said Jakadox, "I can't do better nor proceed, as I must get some linin' to the hinteriority of my humanity, that I must; but vot a curious place! This must be the place Sangaree vants to wisit, vere he says hevry think is topsy-turvey, and goes by contraries. Never mind, here goes."

He then plunged into a thicket and walked briskly along until he approached a narrow turfy path, on to which he stepped; he suddenly stopped now, and, stooping, took up a strong stick lying at his feet, for the overhanging boughs on either side were covered with hundreds of horrid-looking, bristly, winged insects, at least six inches long, with wide gaping mouths. They apparently hung from the boughs by slender claws, and with a continual tremulous motion of their wl1ole bodies and wings seemed to constantly open and shut their jaws. He stood a moment expecting to be covered, and stung to death, but there they remained, shivering and gaping at him.

"Come on, yer skrumptious brutes," he cried; "you von't, eh? then here goes," and flinging his stick into the nearest shrub he threw himself full length on his face, awaiting the result.

He soon stealthily looked up, and found that all the insects on the bush he struck, with the exception of a few fallen down, had closed their mouths and wings and drawn themselves close to the boughs on which they hung; while those upon the other bushes were as lively as ever.

"You're a queer lot as ever I see," said Jakadox, "'praps you're good to eat, and I'm unked hungry; if so, I'm your most obedient."

He then picked up those which had fallen; then he plucked those on the nearest bush; and lastly, went to pluck one among those still in full motion. Immediately he touched it all on that bush closed and shrank up.

Jakadox burst out laughing. "Vell," be cried, "here I've been afeard of a lot o' flowers; vell, my young tigers, I likes you, you're company, and you don't talk. I vish granny vos like you ; but her tongue goes as vell as her head, and that's vot I can't abear; it makes things onpleasant sometimes."

He then, proceeded along the path: which went up a sharpish ascent, and on reaching the summit of the rise, he found a rather precipitous descent upon the other side, thickly wooded, but a narrow path ran down among the trees, evidently used by man or some large animals. This elated our friend and he hastened forward.

After proceeding a short distance down it, he found his further course impeded by a beautifully worked net, spread across the path, and fastened on either side to the trees. The lines of it were as thick as a man's forefinger, and diverged in starlike rays from a common centre, while other lines ran in equidistant circles, six inches apart, the whole affair being about twelve feet in height.

"I don't know," cried the boy, " who yer may be as putt this net here, but it von't stop me, 'cos vy? 'cos I can climb over it, so here goes!"

He gave a short run and jumped up into the middle of the netting; but lo! it was covered with a thick glutinous substance, which held him fast, and, in a moment, a most hideous-looking creature ran out from a covert of branches in the tree, and clambering down the net with the utmost agility, showed an intention of attacking him. The monster was of the same species as those little European insects called spiders, but of gigantic dimensions. Its eight legs, covered with thorny bristles, were five feet long, and its bloated body as large as that of an ox, while its whole appearance was so horrible, its effluvium so disgusting, and its aspect so menacing, that Jakadox was really terrified.

His extreme terror, however, was of service, for on perceiving the animal approaching, he set up a tremendous shrieking yell, and struggled violently.

The speedrum stopped, rolled its odious eyes, opened its mouth, and gathering some folds of web in two of its legs, drawing the web from its body, it approached more cautiously. Jakadox kicked and screamed, perspiration poured down his face, his throat was parched, and his mouth clammy, for the more he struggled the greater became his entanglement.

Now, his legs were completely glued, his right arm fixed above his head, and the fingers of his left hand covered with the sticky substance.

The speedrum came so close that he could feel its warm breath upon his neck, although it was somewhat scared at the noisy insect entrapped.

Now it made a dash at the left arm; it missed the aim, but laid a line across Jakadox's body, which entangled him further.

The boy bethought himself, in his agony, of the facial stratagem successfully practised on the last animal he encountered, so he suddenly ceased his bellowing and made a hideous grimace. The speedrum was surprised, and, turning round, ran up to its den, where Jakadox could see it clinging, its head and two front legs out watching him, and ready to descend again in a moment.

This diversion gave Jakadox time to think; and often, plans formed in moments of intense peril, and hastily digested and worked upon, are better than those deliberated on and pondered over at leisure.

He remembered having a strong, large knife about him, but, alas! it was on the right side of his dress. He gave a lurch, and turning his left arm almost out of the socket, felt the knife with his finger-tips. It stuck to the gluey stuff, instantly was drawn out, opened with his teeth, and he commenced cutting away the web.

Friend Speedrum, finding his prisoner so destructive, darted out at him with a loud hissing noise. Another moment and he would have been free; but the speedrum jumped upon him, and with four of his legs commenced rapidly winding a net round him. Jakadox plunged the knife into it, close under the eye. The speedrum, rendered more fierce, fastened its fangs in his shoulder, and he could hear the slobbering lips smacking, and the throat gurgling as the villain drew in his life-blood, and he began to feel sick and faint.

The wound, however, which he had inflicted was already telling upon his enemy, who relaxed his hold; and Jakadox, making a last mighty effort, stabbed it in the belly; again it rushed on him, and, although disabled, succeeded in completely enfolding him in a web, turning him round and round like an infant.

His life's drama was almost finished, as, although the speedrum might die, he could not extricate himself, when something passed his ear with a sharp whistle, and an arrow pierced the speedrum, which fell from its web dead.

A dire sensation of stomach sinking and light receding came over the boy; flashing lights appeared dancing before his eyes, a cold sweat mounted his forehead, and exhausted Nature gave way in a fainting fit.

CHAPTER X.

Go to, go to,-
You are a saucy boy.
SHAKESPEARE.

Where the gaunt Blutifuls
Are stalking in the wood.
LEMBROOKE.

WHEN Jakadox awoke from his fainting fit, be found himself lying upon a leafy couch, under a gigantic tree, bound hand and foot. Around were scattered a number of huts, and he could perceive strange and unwonted animals grazing at a short distance.

The sun was shining brilliantly, birds were singing in the most enchanting manner, and a soft wind breathed upon his face. As soon as his thoughts grew collected he sat up, his arms and legs alone being fastened. All traces of the glutine were gone, and his shoulder wns carefully bound up in moist leaves. A hollow shell filled with water and some apple-like fruit were by his side, which he was just enabled to reach and devour.

"Vell, thank goodness!" he said, "my friends or my henemies hain't starved me; vot next, I wonder ; hilloa! hilloa!"

The moment he shouted, a human being stood at the door of every hut, as though by magic, about one hundred in number. "Oh! golly! golly!" exclaimed Jakadox. "I'm reg'larly done for now; these be the wicked, cruel Blutifuls, what grubs up everybody, and burns their carcases arterwards. Never mind, I'll die game, and cheek the brutes."

One, a stately, well-formed individual, approached, with dignified steps. He was six feet in height, and strongly built. He wore a short petticoat, fastened round the waist by a cincture adorned with shells and human teeth; a short cloak of feathers hung from his shoulders, and he had soles and sandals upon his feet, otherwise he was naked.

His skin, as well as that of all the others, was a bright sky-blue,-in fact, Jakadox had fallen in with the Blutifuls.

We find no mention of these people among ancient works, nor of their country; but we are sick of the unaccountable theories of our philosophers. However, if we have blue men, the ancients appear to have had red men. Fancy Jakadox plumping down among a tribe of red men!

The chief then addressed him in a strange guttural language, which Jakadox heard with respectful attention, although quite unintelligible to him. We take the liberty of translating it.

Throwing out his right arm with an easy motion, the Blutiful said, in slow and measured accents, and in a voice, soft and musical as the tones of a Lena maro,-

"Thou art brave as the Panthro, fiery-eyed, who smites the lion in his lair; for thou hast dared the forest monster in his own web; thou hast flown hither on the morning beams,-but wherefore? If we are sick, our medicine-men can call on the Great Spirit for healing powers; if we fight, we can protect the innocent and weak; if cold winds cut the blue man's skin, he can hunt the gonimet, and allure the starkopine from his cliff-built nest to furnish garments. Then thy dark and ugly tribe is useless here; keep, all of you, where the tempestuous sand waves over the land, and hot fevered winds parch up the green trees. If thou attackest the eight-legged forest monster, thou wilt attack us, and there will be much mischief. Thou must die; I have said it."

An expressive "ha!" escaped the lips of the caerulean crowd, who had congregated around the speaker, and one or two stepped forward to lay hands upon Jakadox.

That youth, however, thought a speech might assist him; so he majestically waved the blues off, and throwing forward his tied arms, said, "My friend, you've spoke werry fair, werry, I dussay; no doubt you've ast me to dinner; no doubt you've said, 'Sir, you're a good-looking chap, and I've a nice blue gal for a dorter; you shall 'ave her, and I'll give you the nooest 'ut in the willage.' Now, Mr. Blutiful, or Captain Stickinthemud, votever, you may be, I only vants to git 'ome, so jest ontie me." And Jakadox held forth his hands for the purpose.

"Fasten him to yonder tree," said the chief to his young men; "he shall burn like grass; and the savour of his carcase shall smell nice in our noses. His cries shall soothe our brains, and give us appetites."

"Thank ye, guv'nor," answered Jakadox; "I 'spose you told 'em to treat me civil like."

The young men loosed his bonds, and each holding a wrist, led him to the foot of a wide-spreading tree; they bound him to the tree, without giving any period for struggling, and piled bundles of dry faggots around him.

A sense of his awful condition made him summon resolution for a final effort. The savages could not obtain fire from water, as every old woman here can do; they had to rub wood and strike stones together, before they could fire the pile. While this operation was performing, the warriors busily engaged themselves in speechifying to little knots of blues, each narrating his own exploits; his listeners, however, only caring about their own.

The orations concluded, the women had a turn at shrieking and taunting the prisoner, and spitting upon him. The sticks were then ignited, and began to flare and smoke, the crowd gathered close around, and the chief said,-

"Black youth, had Eagleswing to burn, he would die without a sound; no, not so much as the tiny green beetle causes, when he cuts the summer air with his flapping wing, but silent he would be like yonder fleecy cloud. Canst thou do so? Speak."

Jakadox answered by giving a shrill whistle, and holding up his arms, as though to command silence pointing at the same time towards the forest. Every Blutiful looked thither, like a flock of sheep when a dog appears and Jakadox gave a softer whistle, which sounded like an answer to his signal.

The chief turned to the other warriors, and said, "His friends hear him ; let us unbind him, and lead him to the forest, and we shall entrap and kill them all."

"Ah," said the others, "it is good; we will obey Eagleswing, and burn all the blacks."

The Blutifuls knew that Eagleswing's devotion towards black-burning was unbounded; hence their ready acquiescence in his plans.

Jakadox was only unfastened in time; for the fire was making rapid progress. He made signs to be taken towards the forest, and thither he was conducted, followed by all the blue men.

They got into the wood, and across the path lay the speedrum's remains, while the strings of his web swung in the air. The carcase was half eaten by carrion animals. Jakadox followed the path up the hill; and, on gaining the summit, was surprised to find the aërial floating some forty feet above ground, fastened to a tree, and several persons within it.

The Blutifuls stopped and seizing Jakadox, made gestures threatening instant death if he attracted notice; but they were too late, the men in the aërial had perceived the party approaching by means of their reflectors, and were prepared to rescue Jakadox.

The Blutifuls saw the air turn of a rosy hue, a loud rushing noise appronched, and they were scattered and whirled about in all directions. Jakadox ran for his life, was under the aërial, a float was lowered, he was drawn up, and was-safe.

Jakadox, whose coolness, nay effrontery, was excessive, when danger had passed, glanced round, and perceived the six occupants of his machine to be Madeirans. But the governor was a white man, which rather surprised Jakadox.

The white approached Jakadox, and said in very broken African language,-

"Are you the only black here?"

"No; governor," answered the youth, impudently.

"There be your five flunkies here, too."

The governor turned to his airmen, and said, quietly,-

"Bring manacles, and a whip."

"O lor! O golly! " exclaimed Jakadox; " I beg parding, there's no one but myself. I vos putt in the herial, and it flied away with me; the speedrum nigh grubbed me up, the gallus Blutifuls a' most burned me, you've bin, and took me prisoner, and here I are."

"Tell all that to the Popinlobs, not to me," replied the white man; "I expect you have some friends here; but, as they cannot be numerous to have travelled in this affair, they may stop with the Blutifuls." He then ordered the skribo to be turned, and the aërial slowly moved away.

In a short time, the party arrived at the Madeiran war aërial, with 2,000 men aboard, and were speedily upon it.

"Oh mi!" exclaimed Jakadox, perceiving that he was a prisoner again; "vot will Governor Sangaree and Madame Brunehilda say at my not returning? "

"Who?" exclaimed the white man; "did you say Brunehilda? "

"Yes," said Jakadox ; "she is wife to the renowned conductor, Sangaree; she's his noo white wife."

"O God!" cried the white. "Did you ever hear her mention O'Connor?"

"Are vou the Hirishman? " said Jakadox.

"Tell me all about her," returned O'Connor.

"Quick! quick man!"

Jakadox then briefly told him of her journey from England, of her narration of his and Harold's supposed destruction, and of her marriage to Sangaree. A rumour of such marriage having got abroad just previous to Jakadox's leaving Nun; and he thinking O'Connor might claim her, considered it better for Sangaree's interest to state that the matrimonial alliance was already in existence.

With that energetic impetuosity which invariably distinguished his actions and bearing, O'Connor loudly swore revenge upon Sangaree, and committed Brunehilda to all the furies he could imagine. His companions applauded loudly, when he declared that he would never rest until Sangaree had been punished for Brunehilda's abstraction.

O'Connor then asked Jakadox many questions, and informed him that on leaving England, with a Madeiran vessel for Madeira, he was shipwrecked, and during the period of his detention at sea, he arduously studied the language, that he was introduced to the King Riarno, and soon acquired chief command of the aërial fleet; for the Madeirans, being more expert at sea, were unable to produce one of their own countrymen so competent as he became.

It must be remembered that O'Connor was a very sharp-witted individual, and that Riarno rather preferred a dashing airman to a scientific person; besides which, he imagined the appointment would make him popular with the whites.

O'Connor also explained that war was certain to be immediately commenced, and he had been desirous of laying hands on the Blutifuls' country, which, however, he had considered inexpedient when he came to inspect it.

Jakadox made an arrangement with O'Connor that he would convey messages to Brunehilda and return, on condition of having his liberty afterwards, and O'Connor steered forthwith for Madeira.

CHAPTER XI.

Whom will yo sonu to London town,
To Parlinment, and a' that?
Or whom in a' tho country roun',
The best deserves to fa' that?
For a' that and a' that,
Through Galloway and a' that;
Where is the laird or belted knight
That best deserves to fa' that?
BURNS.

THE mighty city of Nun, capital of Sahara, centre of refined civilization, abode of science, head of the world was in confusion, yet scarcely knowing wherefore.

Like the tossing waves of ocean at tidal change, on a stormy day, leaping up and down for a time, undecided which course to take, yet like those waves when once turned, running furiously in one direction until the sand disappears, the African people became furiously bent upon war.

The senate was deliberating. Riarno, king of Madeira, had positively refused to give up white slavery, and was also unwilling to take away his troops, ships, and aërials from North America and Europe, where his numerous encroachments had been so greatly magnified of late that Sahara felt endangered.

Riarno had taken advantage of an ancient prophecy of the great Russian lyrist, which foretold universal dominion to Madeira, and had so worked up to its spirit that the world generally looked upon its fulfilment as a matter of course, and this was the chief difficulty Sahara had to meet.

This prophecy was, however, rather vague, like those uttered by the renowned Chinese prophet, Pangatee Wangatee, who amassed a fortune by selling his weather forebodings. They were usually to this effect:-

"It may rain, or it may not; if it don't rain, there may be sunshine and wind; and if it do rain, there may be wind or not, without sunshine." And the prophet gave great satisfaction, and earned his statue fairly.

Carthagon determined to stem the course of Madeiran duplicity and wickedness in good time, and sent an ambassador to Riarno. Riarno made infamous proposals to the ambassador to share Europe and destroy Brazilia. Carthagon indignantly refused any such proposal, and urged Riarno to come to terms. This monarch relied upon the well-known duplicity, selfishness, and cowardice of Brazilia, and thinking if he could only secure her neutrality he could crush Sahara, he seized upon Europe.

The senate was deliberating. The sun pelted down flakes of intense heat upon the superb meeting-building, but within, the artfully cooled atmosphere, and the light rendered through the transparent blue walls, were refreshing. Around, the senators were seated.

Up rose Jann Meyer, proposer of debate, and said, -

"Mr. President; I rise to observe upon the subject of which I have given notice, viz., 'that this assembly considers his Majesty's ministers to be unjustified in the course pursued towards Madeira, such course tending to war.'"

He proceeded coolly and ingeniously to prove that Carthagon's measures were illegal and unjustifiable, and that he only desired to enrich himself and colleagues thereby.

Jann Meyer reseated himself, amid loud plaudits; he was a patriot, and immensely poor, and, therefore, always ready to abuse those in power, as change could not injure, and might benefit him.

Sangaree Colo rose and replied, defending Carthagon, and naming him the greatest statesman ever known. He said at last,-

"I conjure you not to thwart him; consider the penalties paid by the ancient Prussians and Austrians for their opposing the ministers who desired to act faithfully up to signed treaties." He gave several historical parables, and concluded his straightforward, manly, although somewhat bluff oration, in a rather excited condition.

Akift Morpp, oppositionist, came next, with folded arms and erect body, devoid of motion. He spoke sarcastically of everything.

"Let us look at the English," he said, in the course of his speech, "whom we are to imitate; what know we of them? They had a noted philosopher, Newton, or Nothing (laughter), who found mountains in the poor moon, by looking through a tube with bits of glass (laughter), little imagining what would really be ascertained concerning that luminary in these later days. They had another man, an awful rascal, whom, nevertheless, they almost worshipped; his name was Baking, or Bacum, and he was worshipped because he told 'em to gather facts and then draw conclusions, and not imitate some wretched old Grecian, who did the reasoning first and obtained the facts afterwards (roars of laughter). I shall want my statue soon, for telling you that the sun will rise to-morrow (laughter). Then they had Shakspeare; snuffed out, however, by Russian, and Australian, and Japanese poets.

"The English, in fact, had few great men, and those extending over a short period of five hundred years. They were drunkards, their tradesmen liars and cheats, their lawyers unprincipled; they are said to have burnt a stinking earth called coal, their eatables were notoriously poisoned, and their butchers a by-word for knavery. Fancy butchers amassing fortunes!

"Where are their buildings? They had the audacity to say their language would be universal. Poor worms!

"They were brave and industrious, but commingling intense luxury with the wildest savagery, and indulging in the most barbarous customs. (Name, name.) Very well, they used their rivers for sewers; they buried their dead in the middle of cities; their gentry were the unpaid magistrates over the poorer classes; and if a wretched pauper was to be fined a few shillings and could not pay, he was often incarcerated for many, many moon months for not finding a friend to bail him. I regret that their grating language is so much in vogue, it will quite spoil the delicious full lips of African girls. (Laughter.)

"The French were not better: irreligious, lascivious, dirty, but not so ignorant, nor purseproud.

"The Prussians-but they paid a heavy penalty for their false faith and wickedness."

The speaker then gave a powerful conclusion and sat down.

The debate waxed loud and furious, many spoke on either side; there was a temporary lull. Carthagon arose; the silence became palpable, like that of the silver moon rolling through the sky; the fall of a feather might have been audible.

"Sir," he commenced, "I intend being brief. The personalities indulged in I forgive, forget ; the historical parallels, the presumed facts, the really incorrect statements, the idle rumours mentioned, I leave for time to prove or disprove; my course is clear. If peace and its concomitant blessings are to be bequeathed to posterity, the Madeiran proceedings must be resisted and prevented. If we are to have a hollow and unsatisfactory quiet, followed by that storm always consequent upon a hollow calm, among nations, as with nature, an apology must be sent to Riarno. You may send it (pointing to the Opposition), I shall not. I detest war; personally I shall suffer; individually I am no warrior; but I know my duty towards my God, my king, and my country. That duty is to exercise every effort for suppressing the dreadful white slave-trade, far worse than that indulged in by the ancient whites, when our ancestors served them. That duty likewise consists in preventing King Riarno from overshadowing the world, and perchance turning back the tide of civilization for a thousand years. Firm but moderate determination in council, and vigorous action, will alone accomplish these things; therefore, I propose to insist upon the suppression of the slave-trade, and to make the Madeirans restore the provinces lately occupied by them; obtaining, at the same time, a treaty to prevent in future any such occurrences as have caused this commotion."

Carthagon sat down, amid loud and long-continued plaudits on one side, and loud groans and whistlings on the other side.

The matter was put to vote, and decided against ministers. The same night Carthagon had an interview with his monarch and resigned office, with its honours, emoluments, carks and cares.

Sangaree resigned his aërial command, but, with his usual bluff freedom of manner, he assured the king that he would take command, to serve him, under any government, provided he was not interfered with in details, which no one understood except himself, and that whoever was minister, he should only consult Carthagon.

His majesty smiled, and observed that Carthagon would speedily be minister again.

When Sangaree arrived at his mansion after the debate he found Coronata awaiting his arrival. She had just discovered Murdura's ill-success and Jakadox's supposed loss of life.

He bowed her into his reception-room, and said, "What may bring Madam Coronata here? Is she afraid to hear the evil news from her guardian?" Sangaree disliked Coronata, on account of her manoeuvring spirit.

"Oh! no," replied she; "but I was tired of waiting for him, and being companionless, I have been thinking much about Brunehilda, Now, Sir Sangaree, I know something about her."

"Well!" rejoined Sangaree, too cautious to show any anxiety.

"Now, Sangaree, you're a plain man," said the lady.

"Thankye; thankye," returned Sangaree.

"No, no, no; I don't want to insult you," cried Coronata; "I mean a plain-spoken, open-hearted, blunt kind of a-a-you know what I mean."

"A-a-oh, yes!" whispered Sangaree carelessly; "kind of a monster."

"A man, in fact," continued Coronata, "who likes to have the fact at once, and detests humbug."

"Plums, did you say? Yes, yes; they are too sweet for me."

"Now, therefore," said Coronata (sharply suspecting banter, and knowing how to deal with him), "I come to say that you alone can make Brunehilda happy."

"Ah!" exclaimed Sangaree, growing more attentive, yet scarcely reconciled to his visitor.

"Yes, indeed. She has, in my hearing, although not conscious thereof, told my confidential waiting-maid all about it. Brunehilda is so open and candid."

"Oh! is she?" replied the conductor. "She didn't mention my name in her candour, did she?"

"Yes; and now you have the power, make up to her; for some one else will take her by force; believe me, you will certainly lose her."

"I'll go and question her at once," said Sangaree, forgetting his visitor's presence; and he rushed from the room, leaving Coronata laughing at the success of her stratagem, which informed her where Brunehilda was.

"So far, good," said the worthy damsel to herself; "now I must fetch Carthagon to see them billing and cooing." And she turned hastily and left the mansion.

On reaching the door of Carthagon's room, Coronata stood, for she heard him speaking, while slowly and deliberately pacing the chamber.

Her cheek grew alternately darker and less sombre as she caught his expressions, for he said,-

"I would die for thee-now-now thou art in tribulation."

Then suddenly stopping, he said in louder tones:"-

Does no one perceive thy danger, O most unhappy! Have I toiled for thee, to see thee perish as thy beauty has attained perfection?-thou, so superior to the whites, my only care has been for thee, for I am wifeless, childless. Farewell! my dreams of happiness; I have done my duty, and can only look on and lament."

And he leaned against the wall, and large sweat-drops stood upon his forehead.

Coronata stood beside the semi-ouvert door, clenching her hands and teeth. "Ah!" she considered, "he alludes to me; for although when I lately became of age he gave up authority over me, he averred that he felt the kindest consideration, foretelling my eventual falling into dire sorrow through my impetuosity. He has heard of my dealings with old Murdura, and fears I intend mischief towards Brunehilda. I will rush in, declare my deeply-devoted affection, and he must, he shall, return my love. He shall never, never marry a white woman.

Her hand was upon the door-spring, but Carthagon recommenced walking. He said, in louder tones than hitherto, "I will not despair yet; another effort must be made ; my fame, fortune, ay, my life - Oh! be true to me, to thyself; cast off thy enemies; listen to one who loves thee better than the mother her infant; thou wert my first, and shalt be my last source of love. I have thought of, for, with thee, and will die for, with thee; I will forget the lovely white woman, and devote myself to thy salvation, O my-"

Coronata flew across the chamber, but stopped, staggered, and sank, almost stunned, upon a friendly couch, as Carthagon pronounced his last word, "country." But she speedily experienced that indomitable sensation of proper pride, so often called to woman's aid, when in situations similar to that now described, which gives her courage to face, unwinkingly, any dangers or sorrows, although her heart be bursting; for when woman conceives herself to be committing an unwomanly action, and dreads exposure, she can put on an exhibition of nonchalance to which few men are equal.

She rose, Carthagon standing amazed at the sudden apparition and interruption.

"Dear Coronata," he said, "are you ill?

"No, Carthagon," she replied; "but-"

Carthagon remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"Now, Carthagon," continued the lady, after a short pause; "I can save you much sorrow, you think of other things besides your country."

"Yes," he replied, "I am frequently anxious for your welfare, you are too susceptible to influences which your badly-disposed relatives, of whom at present, you know little, will endeavour to exercise over you."

"Never mind me now," cried Coronata; "I have profited by your precepts and example, and fear neither greedy relations, nor any one besides."

"You are over-confident, my dear girl. I was also, and see, I have fallen."

"Fallen!" said the girl contemptuously; "you are at this moment the greatest man in the world, you could be king; but you have a canker undisclosed, but not hidden from me; you wish to carry out your magnificent scheme of expediting the millennium by procuring a fraternization of whites and blacks. You desire to set an example by uniting yourself to one of these degraded white wretches, you fancy the world so extraordinarily civilized, as to promise the beginning of the end. I know you consider our universal knowledge, our marvellous disease-remedies, our acquaintance with other worlds, and so on, intimations of an ending of the world. But, Carthagon, this is your weak point. We know nothing of other worlds, or of the whereabouts of gone souls. What says the great Canadian poet?-

'We may be wafted to another sphere,
And view the boundless territories
Of sun-kings, formed in other moulds than those
Of earthly ken, which may astonish us;
But that has never been accomplished yet.
We fondly dream thereof, and think to satisfy
Vain curiosity. We only find
That God has hidden, and will hide until
The earth decays, particulars of a state
Which Christ has told us is and is to be.'

And so on. What has been, is and will be, the same everlasting story; down one nation topples, up rises another, but human nature is the same still."

"You speak, Coronata, eloquently and learnedly, but to what does all this lead? Of course human nature is the same as in ancient days. I merely wish to improve the condition of the human race."

"Oh! you are so cautious," cried Coronata; "but I will bring you to the point."

"Do you love Brunehilda? Do you intend to attempt marrying her?"

"I cannot say at present," said the minister; "but why do you ask?"

"Come and see for yourself," whispered Coronata through her teeth, seizing Carthagon's arm so firmly as to cause an involuntary momentary shrinking back on his part. "Sangaree Colo even now is seeking her for a wife, I left them together."

Carthagon started. "True, true," he exclaimed. "Sangaree informed me of his intention when he brought her, but-"

"Oh! why that but," said the black ward; "you cannot interfere with him. Is there no woman of your own colour, to love? None who would work for you, tend you in sickness, smile with you in joy, appreciate your genius, starve for you, die for you. Oh! the blindness of wilful man, who, like the fool walking in the moonlight, and mistaking water for the grassy turf, steps on and perishes; never seeing his error until too late for benefit. Who would seek a white woman? Do we not paint the devil white and pink, do not our legends say, he comes disguised as a fair woman to deceive and destroy us ? Are you blind, Carthagon?"

Carthagon, who had been silently gazing in wonder at the speaker, now gave that unmistakable look of intelligence, which accompanies a sudden appreciation of an hitherto unsuspected or incomprehensible mystery.

He drew his head sharply back, opened his eyelids, raised his brows, parted his lips slightly, and gazed on his companion.

"Ah," said Coronata, "you understand me at last; you have driven me into the unwomanly task of bringing forth your latent affection; it is there I believe, although before this time you knew it not: But you are not angry with me; you forgive me, Carthagon-you-you-know I love, I dearly-"

"It cannot be, Coronata," interrupted the statesman; O Coronata ! well did the old playwright say,-

'When sorrows come, they come not single spies,
But in battalions;' [Chrononauts note: Hamlet, Act IV, Scene V]

"and, as you say, 'twill ever be so. Now, I can account for many phases in your conduct hitherto most mysterious, but dismiss this idle fancy. No, no; my dear child, it is a phantasy; 'tis impossible, impossible." Let us talk no more, think no more about it. I must now hasten to attend a meeting of the gravest importance." He stepped forward, and imprinting a benevolent kiss upon the maiden's forehead, left the room.

Coronata stood a moment, then with an hysterical laugh said, "He shall never wed Brunehilda - and after having exposed my weakness too! I will now punish him." She then retired.

Sangaree had, meanwhile gone to Brunehilda's apartments, and in his usual boldly open manner, earnestly pressed his suit. Brunehilda cordially thanked him for his preference, but told him that she would never marry, unless it were O'Connor, or until she knew for certain of his death. Besides, the only black man she could ever be induced to entertain any idea whatever of marrying was Carthagon.

Sangaree was not a youthful lover, he was a man of sound sense, of manly intent, and had great state cares upon his mind ; so after a long interview, finding the damsel inexorable, although affectionately grateful, and finding her tears commencing to flow (a thing which always staggered him), he said he would not at present trouble her any more, but wait and see how things went. He then left her.

Coronata entered.

"I appear," said that lady "to be an eavesdropper, a listener, but here it 1s unintentional. I have only come to say at once, before my troubles kill me, that your bones shall bleach in the city ditches, and your flesh be eaten by vultures before you shall wed Carthagon. I heard you say he was the only black man you could ever marry-but, I warn you, desist from your diabolical designs."

"Indeed, indeed, madam," exclaimed Brunehilda, "you wrong me, I say what I then said, that I will only marry a countryman."

"Oh, indeed! the blacks are not good enough," said Coronata.

"I do not mean that," replied the white maiden, "but I am betrothed, or, at least, nearly so, to a white man, who was lost at sea; until I know his fate I marry no one-never-never. And now, Lady Coronata, you have brought me to bay, like our English stags, and I will turn and face my danger like they do. I insist upon returning to England. I am detained against my will, and Sangaree Colo shall take me back, or I appeal to the judges of the land."

Coronata, in her turn, dreaded the result of this outbreak, for fear her threats should be discovered; besides, she was satisfied from Brunehilda's manner that no immediate danger was to be apprehended from her respecting Carthagon; so she said,-

"Now, Brunehilda, that you promise not to vex or trouble Carthagon, I will assist you in discovering your lost lover; I will speak with you further upon the matter to-morrow; meanwhile, fear nothing." She then quitted Brunehilda, who remained half stupified between conflicting emotions of joy and fear.

CHAPTER XII.

There will be found a great many (Statesmen) that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so farre from being able to make a Small state Great, as their gift lieth the other way; To bring a great and flourishing Estate to Ruine and Decay.
LORD BACON.

THE ministers succeeding Carthagon had been stupidly incompetent and dilatory. There was every appearance of that disgusting feature so prevalent among the ancient English Whigs as to have passed. into a proverb; we mean, a family compact. Uncles, aunts, cousins, even their pretty serving women's. bastards (no doubt their own), were thrust everywhere, regardless of the mischief ensuing through their ignorance.

War was forced upon them by public opinion, afterall descriptions of cowardly subterfuges had been resorted to.

Carthagon's splendid eloquence and his sarcastic innuendos hurled at these placemongers, assisted this consummation; but everything undertaken was too late. The enemy had time to equip magnificent fleets, and enormous aërial flocks, and had seized upon many important points.

The Brazilians, desiring to avoid being dragged into a war, played fast and loose, and, at length, proposed that there should be a cessation of fighting, and that special ambassadors should meet at Nun.

This was agreed to; the fighting season had passed, and both nations were making enormous preparations for the next year, and it was hoped that further destruction might be averted.

In the Saharan monarch's splendid palace was a council chamber. It was circular in form, the walls empanelled with malachite, bordered with golden transparent crystal, its ceiling of most gorgeous cream-coloured syngar, more valuable than gold or other metals; it was lighted from above; a circular table of leopard wood, with encrusted silver legs of exquisite form and elaborate designs, stood in the centre, surrounded by golden chairs, with apple-green gossamer coverings.

The Saharan minister, Molden, sat before a pile of documents. One white chief, from Madeira, with two black attendants, and one black minister, from Brazilia, with two white coadjutors, sat around the table-seven in all.

After considerable palavering, totally uninteresting except to the historian, the Brazilian minister, Janeirian, was appealed to as to his intentions. He hummed and ha'd, beat about the bush, and, at last, closely pressed, said he had no particular instructions as to peace, -but he thought the Madeirans were hardly treated fairly, and he could not, at present, make their conduct a pretext for war; perhaps next year his monarch would order something to be done, unless peace was meanwhile declared.

Molden said he thought the Madeiran coast cities should not be touched, but the Madeirans must promise not to reinforce their other stations from these parts. To this the Madeiran minister instantly assented; not intending, however, to act upon such promise.

"I think," said the Madeiran chief, "that the whites will not be benefited by freedom; you perceive that the king of Madeira behaves well to them, or I should not be a minister."

"What think you on the subject?" said Molden, addressing one of the whites with Janeirian.

"I consider," answered the man addressed, "that slavery should be at once abolished."

"Of course, of course, he does," cried the Madeiran chief, hastily. "Why do you," he continued, turning to Janeirian, "why do you bring such a follower here? His family was a pest in England, upstart, proud, overbearing, conceited, and now he has got over you; and lo ! this is the consequence,-he overthrows our grave intentions. I shall stay no longer;" and he rose hastily.

"His highness appears to recognize me," said the person alluded to.

"Yes," said the other, "you are Harold Wynter; and if you don't recognize me under my different name and costume, learn that I am O'Connor."

Harold started with astonishment; ignorant of O'Connor's cause of grief as regarded Brunehilda, this inimical burst was incomprehensible.

He had no further time for questioning. The meeting dissolved in hurried confusion, and O'Connor was too much enraged at being thwarted and interfered with by Harold; and glad of an excuse to break up the meeting, he went off to the mansion prepared for him in the same way as he had been obliged to come, in a closed aërial, to prevent his seeing too much of the Saharan's doings.

Harold, who had been brought, as being exceedingly intelligent and beloved in Brazilia, and whose presence was expected to prove that country's sympathy for the whites, stated his regret to his chief, Janeirian, at the untoward end caused through him. Janeirian, however, satisfied him that it was merely a trick of O'Connor to dissolve the meeting. Harold could not conceive O'Connor's not having seen England since his departure, and attributed his ill-feeling to some subsequent quarrel with Brunehilda; he therefore asked permission to seek Sangaree Colo whom he knew by repute, and borrow from him an aërial to go to England and seek his sister.

The minister consented, thinking that meantime the unpopularity certain to fall upon Harold would abate. Besides Harold was just now too honest for the time-serving policy pursued, and might hinder the Brazilians from fanning the flame between the belligerents, now that a desperate war was certain, and keeping the spoils and profits to themselves.

Harold went to Sangaree's mansion, and, the airchief being engaged, was shown into a large room to await his leisure.

He was scarcely seated before Coronata entered. Her countenance bore traces of tears, and she appeared unhappy. Harold immediately arose and tendered her a seat.

Coronata looked anxiously at him, as though endeavouring to recall to mind his features, which were much like Brunehilda's, and then, graciously accepting the proffered seat, said-

"I perceive you are from Brazil?"

"I am," replied Harold.

"Ah!" exclaimed Coronata, "I care nothing for politics now, and nothing else may be spoken of; in fact, I care not whether I see the fall of this nation or not."

"Oh, madam," rejoined Harold, "say not so. I perceive you are in grief; but with youth and charms sufficient to win the highest in the land, and with, I hope, a firm trust in Providence, you may despise all grief. Hope should never fail you ; for, without hope, what is life?"

"Youth and charms!" said the black lady; "yes, they suffice to attract the notice of fools and greedy villains, but are only a misery to the possessors."

"Nay," replied Harold, "there is always a balm for sorrow even to the possessors of beauty; but I, a poor Englishman, need hardly explain such things to the inhabitants of that country which restored Christianity to its original simplicity."

"I am not so certain of that," replied Coronata. "Our forms are simple, but the spirit is wanting ; we have not attempted to relapse into the contemptible forms and wickedly-cruel doctrines of the ancient papists, like, like-excuse me-you Brazilians appear inclined to do; but our Christianity is not quite perfect yet-it still wants simplicity-but what have I to do with this?"

Harold took a deep and unwonted interest in his conversationist. Quiet, and deeply imbued with the truths of Christianity, eminently kind in disposition, and perfectly charitable, he was struck with her mournful appearance, while he could not resist admiring her superb figure and haughty features; and that still unexplained fact, of persons of one sex becoming almost invariably enamoured of the charms of those of the other sex, totally different in character and in physical appearance, was not to be open to an exception here. He said,-

"I cannot but grieve to see you sorrowful. You may fancy yourself slighted and aggrieved; you may have formed plans and dreamed dreams, thinking they would ensure perfect happiness, and when you find them upset, you are sorrowful; but unless upset by your own egregious folly and wickedness, you may rest assured that God upsets them for your good."

"And suppose," asked Coronata, "your wickedness upsets them?"

"Then," replied Harold, "it is deservedly so, and is the just punishment, serving as an example and warning to others; but whatever sorrows you have, you will find millions of other persons with far worse."

"True, true," exclaimed Coronata; "how often has Carthagon spoken like this, and I heeded him not, and now the words of a stranger pierce me to the heart."

At this moment a messenger arrived, to say that Molden had ordered an aërial to be instantly prepared for Plava.

"I am glad," said Coronata, "I know your name, Sir Plava-but that is Brazilian."

"I am known by it at present," answered the Englishman; "but I have much business to transact before leaving-may I ask your name?"

"I am called Coronata, and am Carthagon's ward." She heaved a sigh.

"We may meet again," said Harold, "and I know, I feel, you will be happy, and I shall have the pleasure of seeing you contented. Farewell."

"Farewell, Sir Plava," she said; "may you have a prosperous journey. You must come to Carthagon's palace when you next are here, and I will ensure a welcome."

Harold then retired, and returned to the embassy to prepare for his journey.

CHAPTER XIII.

The wintry west extends his blast,
And hail and rain does blaw;
Or, the stormy North sends driving forth
The blinding sleet and snaw.
BURNS.

JAKADOX had made numerous attempts to escape from captivity. O'Connor had not kept faith with him, and he almost despaired of ever seeing Sahara again.

One morning he looked through the window of his room in O'Connor's mansion, and perceived a small aërial ready to start, filled with provisions, and with pass signals flying. It belonged to a young nobleman, going to travel on pleasure, notwithstanding the war.

"Vell," said Jakadox, "they say a lion looks at vat he's going to eat, rocks his carkus to and fro, like a fool, and then jumps out to ketch 'em; the consequence of vich often is, that his grub departs afore he gets to it. Now, I'd better take the grub fust, and look at 'un arterwards."

So saying, he sprang out of the window into the aërial, turned the skribo sharply, and mounted high into the air, with amazing celerity. His signals allowed of his passing the air sentinels; and not knowing the direction of Africa, he went whithersoever the machine listed.

He travelled throughout the day; descended at eventide, found himself over the sea; rose again, proceeded through the night, and at sun rise, finding the air bitterly cold, he descended to earth. He was surprised to find the ground entirely white. "Vell," he exclaimed, "I never seed a place kivered with white pigeons' feathers afore: no, I do believe its sugar: I likes sweets." So he took a handful and put it to his mouth, but speedily spit it out again, rubbing his lips and tongue, and saying, "Vot a fool I am to eat this 'ere pison, putt here to catch flats. Vell, I'll bile some, and make sugar-cakes of it." He then filled a copper pot with some of the snow, lighted his electric bar, and found, in two minutes, steam issuing from the lid. He turned the contents into a dish, and finding a steaming liquid instead of a dark unctuous substance, he put his finger into it. He then jumped about the deck, and roared, and sucked his finger, saying, "Oh, golly ! I never open my mouth but I putt my foot in it; I never tumble down but I tread on my head: fust, the beastly stuff burns my mouth ven its dry, and then, my finger ven its vet. I vont stay here, I'll go back. But, hillo, vich is the vay ?"

He mounted into the air, but encountered a thick snow-cloud; the flakes enveloped him, and lay thickly upon the flooring.

"Vell" he said "I don't know who yer be, but I'll fight' yer." So he turned the nose of his machine towards the cloud and made a dash at it. The aërial quickly passed through, and emerged into a brilliant, sunshiny blue sky.

"There now" he cried, "there's nothink like pluck; you fool you thought you'd hide in a cloud, and shoot them there bits o' sugar at me; but I've busted you, so, good bye!"

He descended again, and found himself in the middle of a small but excited crowd of English whites. Their gestures were somewhat threatening; so the black boy prepared his air-blower, saying, in African, "Now then, you blags, I'll jest give yer a vindy shot if you comes any games, and blow you all into next month; so be cautious."

A plump, good natured looking dame came forward and said:-

"I don't know if you speak English, but we don't like the look of that 'ere monster; one has been afore, and nothing but mischief has happened ever since, and it's all along of the villanous old Jew. We don't want this monster to cat up another gal; the last eat up Brunehilda. So just go in peace, or you will get drownded in the Tems."

The young men pressed forward, shouting, "Get out of the way, Mother Tolmarsh," for she it was; but Jonas, the old Jew, appeared upon the meadow, waving his hand, and all awaited his coming up; for, since acquiring the "Wynter property, he was high in authority.

Jonas, having reached the crowd, approached closely to Jakadox, who stood, carelessly surveying the proceedings. For, knowing from the mention of Brunehilda's name where he was, and being well armed, he was without apprehension.

"There now, friend," said the Jew, rubbing his withered hands, "don't be afraid; only a dear girl was destroyed by one of your monsters, and we don't like them. I was just trying to comfort her, poor dear, and manage her little property for her, for I'm very poor,-he, he!-and couldn't bear to see her so, poor thing."

"Quite true, every word," said Mrs. Tolmarsh, sarcastically.

"Thank you; you're a good, kind woman," said the Jew, who chose to take her words for truth. "Now, good people," continued the Jew, "we will let the black boy go in peace;" for Jonas feared some revelation as to the Wynters or O'Connor.

"He's a sorcerer," shouted the crowd, "and must be drowned; all the laws say so, since great Queen Elizabeth's time."

Jonas found his authority weaker than he expected upon this point; and he was considering how to act, when Mrs. Tolmarsh, who alone bearded and braved the Jew, came forward again and addressed Jakadox.

"If you be a magician," she said, "you can speak English. Now tell me where Harold Wynter is; whether he died at sea, or was murdered here" - looking hard at Jonas,- "or whether he is alive."

"Stop!" shouted the Jew; "friends, pray don't allow this. Mrs. Tolmarsh temporising with a sorcerer! We shall all be killed. They must both die now; Millicent Tolmarsh, I shall pursue you with justice, and you and the black wretch must be killed together."

Jakadox perceived the looks of dismay upon all countenances; for Mrs. Tolmarsh had infringed a law which was made against black sorcerers, the poor whites still believing them to have existence; so he said loudly, and in such decent English as to astonish the crowd,-

"Hilloa! jest hear me. I'm not a sorcerer, but the slave of one who is invisible, and who has jest touched me to make me speak Hinglish ; so, my dears, if you touch me you'll get chawed up, and the gallus old Jew'll be exposed."

"Hurrah!" shouted Mrs. Tolmarsh.

"Lor! sir," said the Jew, "if you're an unwilling slave I'm sure you shan't be touched. Now will you mount your dragon and fly away, or not?"

"I'm sent," shouted Jakadox loudly-taking no notice of the Jew, whom the pressing crowd pushed back- "to say that 'Arold Wynter will return in three days, and you're to have his 'ouse in order for him; we've took care of him, and he's as hearty as a girafft; so mind your eyes, for he'll come on a bigger dragon nor mine."

The Jew was now terrified, so he said,-

"Well, Mr. Black, you come along with me."

"Sha'nt!" said the boy.

"Then I fear I must force you-he, he, he!"retorted the Jew.

"Go on then, old rusty snout," said Jakadox. The Jew turned to insist upon the young men seizing Jakadox; and the latter, meanwhile, offered his hand, with the grace of a fashionable lady, to Mrs. Tolmarsh, who just said to the Jew, "Ah! Mr. Jonas, you'll have to give up your justiceship; for you're very, very poor, you know, and you can't be a justice unless you have a good deal of property;" and she then walked off with Jakadox, amid roars of laughter from all present, who dispersed without further noticing Jonas-some to talk over Harold's supposed return, others to view at a respectful distance the supposed enchanted dragon.

Mrs. Tolmarsh, finding the Jew coming after them, told Jakadox of a retired nook where he might shelter himself for the night, and appointed an early hour next morning to meet him there.

She then retired into her cottage, and fastened the door. Jakadox stepped into his aërial, and quietly floated along for two miles, some few feet above earth, and descended into a dell, overarched with birch-trees and alders, lined with brown ferns, and where some thick firs hid him from view with their needly foliage. Shaking the snow from his head, he sought the aërial's inner chamber, and was soon in deep slumber.

Next morning, Jakadox awoke betimes, and having performed the usual ablutions and dressed himself, he took from a case of concentrated camel flesh a piece as large as a bean, threw it into a silver pan with Guava liqueur and Brazilian essence, sparkled his electric bar, and in half a minute turned out into a crystal plate his delicious breakfast; he next swallowed a measure of Niger juice, said his grace duly, and then stepped out of the aërial for the purpose of finding some more elevated position for his vessel.

On gaining the dell margin, Jakadox perceived Jonas stealthily creeping along, cautiously looking around every moment. After pausing some moments at the foot of a lofty tree, Jonas knelt and commenced moving some stones. A case appeared; he opened it and deposited some documents and money.

Jakadox returned to the aërial, and arming himself with a gladrum, walked up to the Jew, who was throwing in his gold pieces singly, and did not hear any footsteps upon the snow.

Jakadox, leaning over the Jew's shoulder, seized the documents, saying,-

"These here 'aint you'rn, 'cos vy, 'cos they 'ye got 'Arold's name on 'em; they're his'n, I'll take care on 'em for him"

"Oh, my! oh, me ! oh, my!" shrieked Jonas; "murder! thieves! fire! robbers! help, robbers! ravishers! leave hold, you black villain; oh, I'm in hell."

"No, you ain't yet," cried Jakadox. "Now, keep off, Jew ! I don't vant your money, but I shall keep these 'ere papers."

"Oh, there 's a dear, good young man," replied the Jew; "I could see from your benevolent countenance that you were honest, and here is all I have in the world, only copper. Now, my dear young man, I can tell you something worth knowing."

"Vot is it'?" cried Jakadox.

"You must let me look into those papers first," replied Jonas, "'cos I can't remember all the circumstances."

"Now, old Jew," retorted the other, "I tell you vot, there's no gitting over me; I may have two 'umps on my back, like a dromedairy, so as to carry a deal of gammon; but I don't think as I've one, and therefore, these 'ere papers waits for 'Arold Wynter."

"But stay, stay, friend," said Jonas, " don't go. Now, my dear, are you poor?"

"Yes."

"Very ? Very poor, are you ? Should you like a heap of money; a great deal, I say; as much as would buy you black bread for a year?"

"Vot?" said Jakadox; "vot's that, I never heerd on it."

"Well, my amiable young friend," said Jonas, "its something good. Now, if you will depart, and keep Harold Wynter away for ever, I will give you one hundred large great big copper pieces."

"Ha, ha, ha!" roared the boy, "excuse my aperient rudeness in smiling. Now I'll tell you vot I'll do: jest give me all the gold pieces in there, and I'll keep' Arold away, and Brunehilda too."

"Brunehilda ! " exclaimed Jonas; "why, why, where is she? No, no, young man-he, he, he!-you can't frighten me; she's dead, ages ago."

"Is she?" said the black boy; "very well then, I've no more to say. Good bye, Sir Jew."

"No, no, don't go," cried the Jew. "I'll give you all the gold, but you must get rid of these people; Im a Justice, and I give you authority."

"Vell," said Jakadox, "I agree."

Jonas, tremblingly, drew forth the gold pieces and handed them over, with a smile, intended to be pleasant, nevertheless containing a spice of the diabolical.

"Now, go," said the Jew, "to Mrs. Tolmarsh, and she will refresh you, and I will follow." The Jew all this while was hastily filling up the hole.

"Very well, I'll see about it," said Jakadox, and off he walked.

As soon as he perceived himself clear of the woody place where he and Jonas had been conversing, he retraced his steps to the aërial, jumped in, turned the skribo, and floated away. Along the ground he went, over minor undulations, creeping through, silently, deserted valleys, and moving just over uninhabited hills, until, after some lengthened period, he sighted the ocean. He then looked into his purpureum, which reflected objects at a distance of eighty measures, and he perceived a Saharan government machine, of large size, approaching, and he went to meet it.

We must return momentarily to the Jew. No sooner was Jakadox: out of sight, than he retraced his footsteps to the village.

The Jew found his position dangerous, and imagining that Jakadox, instead of discovering him by chance, had been set on to rob him by Mrs. Tolmarsh, and that he could punish them, thought an opportunity had arrived.

It is scarcely necessary to say that Jonas was completely foiled. Mrs. Tolmarsh proved satisfactorily that Jakadox had not slept, nor even been at her cottage, and when it was discovered that he and his monster had departed, poor Jonas was well laughed at for being again felled by his constant foe, Mrs. Tolmarsh.

When the strange aërial was alongside of Jakadox's, it proved to contain Harold journeying to England after his sister.

Jakadox explained his position, and soon ascertained Harold's relationship to Brunehilda, and the purport of his journey. As soon as Harold was made acquainted with his sister's whereabouts, he took Jakadox's machine in tow, and resumed his path.

The two, however, were not permitted to enter the city of Nun, not being provided with proper passes and whilst they were waiting at an outside station, a Brazillian machine arrived with commands for Harold's immediate return, and he was forced to go off to Brazilia without doing more than extorting a promomise from Jakadox to narrate to Brunehilda the cimcumstances within his knowledge.

The same day, another aërial came to the station to take Jakadox to a different part of Africa, the chief air commander having found that he was in Sangaree's service, and ought to be at work; besides, he wished information as to Blutifulland, and had heard of Jakadax's journey there. Now, the black youth had promised Harold not to mention anything about him, excepting to Brunehilda or to Sangaree so that on his being taken away without entering Nun, poor Brunehilda was left still in ignorance of the facts above detailed, which would have gladded her heart as a sunbeam does a little clover at spring dawn.

CHAPTER XIV.

He the gentle maiden's love declined,
And loudly raved, and swore, like winter's wind.
IFFOLD (OF JAPAN).

WHEN the ambassadors' meeting at Nun was concluded, a king's messenger requested the attendance of O'Connor and suite for refreshment at the palace, his majesty being desirous of showing his enemies that courtesy due to individuals in their position.

Of course, obedience was the sole returnable answer, and thitherward their steps were directed.

The viands substantiality, the liquor's quality, the plate and jewels' magnificence, were, of course, superexcellent; the politeness on both sides the more externally cordial, because of the inward hate and contempt pent up.

O'Connor, after refreshment, was conducted to a retiring-room, and being waited upon by a superior officer, he signified his desire to have a few moments' converse with some white female, particularly an English woman, if one were in the city, and not a slave.

The official suggested that there were no slaves in Nun; but that a young English lady was domiciled with Sangaree's sister, and probably she might be induced to come.

The king, being informed of O'Connor's desire, commanded Brunehilda's immediate attendance; and on her being brought into his majesty's presence in a state of excessire trepidation, she was told of the reason for her being wanted, and her trepidation speedily disappeared under King Riarno's affability; for she had imagined, like the vulgar herd, that a king was different to other persons, and was frightened. His majesty suggested that the Madeiran air-chief was probably desirous to ascertain from one of his own complexion how whites were treated.

Brunehilda respectfully said she would endeavour to extort a promise that the whites taken to Madeira should be kindly treated.

Riarno much approved of her conduct and conversation, and she retired with the official to be introduced to O'Connor, who, as the artful reader may already surmise, merely made the inquiry for the purpose of endeavouring to see Brunehilda, that he might enjoy her confusion, and taunt her with want of fidelity towards him.

Brunehilda, during her stay in Nun, had met several most aristocratic families. She had rapidly acquired the Saharan language, and learnt their customs, and the use of many things. Being possessed of a clear understanding, she had considered how unlikely it was for her to return entirely to her former mode of life; there was a melancholy feeling of change, whether for better or worse she could not say. Sometimes she indulged in dreams of unalloyed bliss, shared with Brian O'Connor, who must by this time be more civilized, she thought; but her dream invariably concluded with the feeling that O'Connor's mind was one which would change with circumstances, and that she had no further hold upon his affections, else why had he not managed to discover her hitherto? Had not, moreover, her feelings undergone a change? Did she not occasionally think upon Carthagon, the illustrious statesman and kind citizen? O'Connor had been as a brother from childhood, but had never, hitherto, hinted at any further feeling, and it might be, he did not intend. Girls, even at this late period of the earth's career, often fancy attentive swains to be ready to take them altogether, and work themselves at last into an idea of the certainty thereof, but Brunehilda was not one of these, and consequently felt doubts upon the subject. These doubts were about to be settled, and the last link which held her thoughts to England was to be snapt, and she was to be thrown more than ever upon the mercies or Sangaree and Carthagon.

Brunehilda was conducted from the king's presence to that of the Madeiran air-chief, commonly called "Impewdiant," little dreaming whom she should encounter.

The door closed upon her, and she faced O'Connor.

An exclamation of surprise escaped her lips, as she instantly recognized him, and flew to his side; but the stern brow, flashing eye, distended nostril, and curled lip of the chief, betokened no such greeting as she expected.

"Brian O'Connor ! and here!" she exclaimed - then stopped. "But, oh ! " continued she, after a pause, "you do not remember me in these altered garments. I knew you directly, I should know you anywhere, Brian; I am Brunehilda Wynter."

"I know it," he answered, stepping back, and folding his arms. "Brunehilda Sangaree ! the perjured woman, the woman who is setting on Carthagon and crew against the best people in the world, the forgetter of her friends, the detestable abettor of ambition!"

"Oh, Brian, dear Brian!" exclaimed the Saxon girl, looking earnestly at him with her mild blue eyes, "what can you mean? You are unaware of the troubles I have undergone, and of my position here; your being with such grand people, Brian, has made you cruel. Do not consider me, if you have made other friends; but do not try to get rid of me by unkindness, for I cannot hate you, if I try everso much."

"Brunehilda Wynter," replied the Irishman, "the woman who wishes to take my fancy must assuredly differ from you. She must have more spirit, more truth-she must obey me, have no ideas of her own, and must never have loved another. You! you are little better than those who hanker after many; you would change with every wind. Yes!" he continued, becoming terrifically excited, and pacing the apartment- "you are a had creature, and awful vengeance shall follow you; and when this doomed city falls under our superior prowess, you and your damnable Sangaree shall burn alive, and the world be rid of you. That's what I wanted to see you for, and-"

"If so," interrupted his astonished auditor, "the sooner we part, the better; I will not remain. Oh! had you been calm for one moment, and had you listened to the truth, you would have sympathised with my sorrows, and have appreciated my conduct; but, alas! you- are changed in everything; the scales have fallen from my eyes, and although I desire you every happiness, I must henceforward look upon you as a stranger. Brian, you will come to a violent death; take warning in time. I will pray for you every-"

"Pray not for me," shouted O'Connor; "but hold, don't go yet, I have more to speak about," and he roughly seized the girl's arm.

"Unhand me, sir, instantly," said Brunhilda with firm dignity, although she was trembling inwardly; and shaking off his hand, she left him.

Immediately upon her departure, O'Connor was waited upon by proper officials, escorted to his closed aërial, and conveyed beyond the city on his homeward route, as were also the different ambassadors and trains who had assembled at the palace, and Brunehilda was left to weep in silent solitude; for what can cause tears to flow more than the sudden breaking up of long-stored sentiments, the thoughts of which have amused in solitude and guided in society.

CHAPTER XV.

Thy longing country's darling and desire;
Their cloudy pillar, and their guardian fire.
DRYDEN.

THE war progressed slowly. Spring arrived, casting out flowers all over earth's surface from her bounteous lap, but she raised not the Saharans' drooping spirits. Their ministers have been unsuccessful- idleness, treachery, self-conceit, ignorance, vacillation, and self-interest have been rife among them; and the Madeirans, instead of becoming hindered in their manreuvres at once, have been allowed to creep on, amid expostulations, and very faint demonstrations of resistance.

At length the people's murmurs broke out into open revolt, the ministry was ignominiously dismissed, and Carthagon sent for by the king.

Everything was in a fearfully disorderly condition, and the question was, not how the Madeirans should be dealt with, but how Sahara's aërials, ships, and armies should be saved.

Carthagon informed his majesty that he could only perceive one method of pulling through the crisis and that was, by taking most decisive measures, upon his own responsibility, without waiting for the ceremonies incident upon a change of ministry.

He proposed not filling up any offices until he had put matters straight.

The king replied, "Do as you like. I can trust your honesty and ability; whatever you propose shall be done. Consider yourself dictator-general until the Madeirans are beaten."

Carthagon flashed a message recalling the three chief generals of the army. Sangaree was installed airchief in lieu of him then commanding the aërials. Two commissariat purveyors were committed to prison, charged with purloining stores, and with giving out inferior stuff. One of the ex-ministers was called to account, and forced to leave the city, for having acted contrary to good faith, in passing over competent individuals to secure good places for relations.

Prodigious efforts, such as the world had never seen, were made in all departments. Two million men were speedily armed, and all modern improvements made use of for them. Gigantic aërials were commenced, capable of remaining in the air for many months, and of clearing that element at a rate hitherto unattainable. Ships were constructed, to be propelled in the same method as aërials, and which put to scorn the ancient electric vessels, or the Australian meteoric vessels. Submarine vessels, also, were turned out.

In fact, the war proceeded in earnest, successes began to be common, and trophies and prisoners to be brought in.

Carthagon took the present dictatorial opportunity of remedying abuses at home, which fact made him immensely popular among the people. A king's minute was published, declaring that all acts passed by Carthagon, during the time a ministry was unformed, should be as effectually binding as all other ratified acts.

We will only mention one act.

He ordered a new sewage for the city. He had four deep furrows dug from the centre of the city, radiating at right angles to each other, getting deeper as they neared the exterior of the city. There they poured their contents (which flowed into them from the houses by minor channels) into four square pits, of enormous dimensions; from these, the flood passed through deodorizing filters into other pits, from whence it was taken by land-tillers; the more massive portion being used for various chymical purposes.

This plan, now so productive of revenue to Government, has been imitated all over the world.

The laws passed by Carthagon during his short dictatorship, relative to religion, are now everywhere admitted to have brought Christianity back to its primitive simplicity, and to have tended most effectually to stop, in Brazilia and elsewhere, the infamous practices coming into fashion, similar, in many respects, to the ancient popish forms, which lingered after the last of the popes had died in exile, ages ago.

But we digress.

Several naval fights had taken place. Madeira's capital was closely blockaded, and feats of valour were innumerable.

The renowned Franco-Algerian epic upon Sebastopol's siege does not show half the deeds or encounters signalizing this affair. But this could scarcely be expected, the resources and numbers being so much less in those barbarous times.

Incredible efforts were made on both sides, for it became apparent that, before summer's end, Brazilia would espouse the stronger side, and, like cowardly Germany of old, would look out for herself, regardless of ties, treaties, and honour. It was also apparent that a great battle would soon be fought, and that, probably, in the air; the navies and armies being too much reduced by fighting to be available for other purposes than blockading and watching.

At length, the air for one hundred miles was filled with the magnificent aërials of King Riarno; and opposite, the Madeirans extended, a little further distance.

The sea was swarming with submarines in all directions; and all was prepared for the blow, which was either to perpetuate unchristianlike forms of religion, slavery of white men, and absolutism in its worst form; or to cause the promotion and practice of Christianity in its simple purity, to destroy white slavery for ever, and to be the means of procuring for mankind a proper equality of rights, and a perfect equality of justice, and the happiness of public noninterference for every one who acted as a good citizen and subject.

This, closing the last great world epoch (whatever the next may be), we must now describe.

CHAPTER XVI.

Many a tall and goodly man,
Scorched and shrivelled to a span,
When be fell to earth again
Like a cinder strewed the plain.
BYRON.

EARLY morning was truly magnificent; sky red and purple, golden-tinted, and fleeced with tiny white cloudlets. Trees, runny-coloured in foliage, looked towards the east, occasionally bowing with easiness, as if to welcome the sun. Tuneful birds piped from bushes and parasites, and all prepared for happiness except man; and he even thought his day would be glorious, and therefore happy, after a kind.

O'Connor had succeeded, during night, in forming his flock like a semicircle over the sea, opposite the mouth of the river upon which Nun was situated.

His centre consisted of forty aërials, each of five thousand camel-power, and each containing four thousand warriors; each of these was attended by one hundred smaller machines, holding one thousand skirmishers a-piece, with their appropriate weapons. These skirmishing vessels again had smaller attendant satellites, varying in size. In addition, were numberless down-draggers, or vessels of enormous weight, which attached themselves to aërials, and, by their weight, caused them to sink, and the greatest skill was necessary to prevent this. The two wings were larger, and, altogether, O'Connor, with his submarine fleet, had upwards of two million fighting men. These submarine vessels were stationed about twenty feet below the surface of the sea, ready to entrap either mortal or machine sinking into the water.

The Saharans were stronger in the submarine department ; consequently O'Connor desired to entice Sangaree seawards, not wishing to place his flock over the Saharan submarine.

Sangaree's flock of aërials was slightly smaller than O'Connor's, but both men and conductor were far more skilful, the machines better constructed, and the confidence between chief and men unbounded. Besides, O'Connor was not popular among his men, excepting as a daring chief, and his officers particularly although forced to admit his superiority to themselves, only half liked being conducted by a white.

Sangaree gathered his centre in form of a triangle, whose apex faced the enemy, and whose base consisted of a reserve of his most trusty and skilful warriors. His own aërial was in the middle of it. His wings were two compact squares, away from the centre, and placed directly opposite the two points of the enemy's crescent;. the space between the centre and wings being filled up with skirmishers, down-draggers, and other light machines.

The distance between the opposing hosts was about six miles.

As soon as daylight was fairly established, both flocks showed symptoms of activity, and actual hostility commenced by one of the Madeiran downdraggers approaching the Saharans too near. Forthwith, several skirmishers darted out from the Saharan airspot in pursuit. There followed a loud rusting, puffing of air, a gloomy red light wavered and flickered around, and then came a fearful explosion. Atoms of machines were blown about in all directions, whose occupants fell into the water. There they were assisted by their submarine friends. Breathers were clapped upon them, and they were otherwise resuscitated after their dips. Under the waves, several bloody conflicts had taken place: red-hot bolts, fiery showers of ever-burning chymicals, passed about, and many vessels were destroyed, and the warriors within them dashed to the rocky depths of ocean, to rest quietly among corals and unknown monsters, until the end of time.

These skirmishing affairs had lasted some time, while the main body of machines was silent. Sangaree knew how hotheaded O'Connor was, and he consequently prepared to act on the defensive, until some error or exhaustion on that captain's part should enable him to exert his superior skill. Nor had he very long to wait.

He had his airmuhlos charged, the men stationed ready for action at a moment's notice. Red-hot globes of iron, fifty feet in diameter, were towed to the front on ponderous aërials, electrically charged to hurl them through air; enormous tanks of liquid fire in pumpers were stationed at intervals for showering, and all the usual projectiles of the period were in readiness.

Presently, without notice, the whole semicircle of Madeirans commences an infernal attack, and the air and earth are shaken. The aërials darken the atmosphere, while lurid fires gleam over the scene, and give a doubtful shimmer to those engaged. Houses rock to and fro, and fall; trees tremble, and individual branches shiver, like the feathers of a peacock's tail. The Saharans reply in equal tone, and all is wrapped in hideousness and mystery.

The attack slackens, ceases, and it is apparent that the semicircle is considerably damaged, while the Madeiran triangle and squares are perfect; for as each aërial was damaged, another took its place; or if one was not ready, the others closed up. This had lasted several hours, and the day was getting on. O'Connor must do something more, or else darkness would come, and probably with it the Brazilians, who, finding him unable to take Nun, would order him off.

Every alternate machine in O'Connor's semicircle suddenly backs a mile; those remaining attempt to close up in straight line.

Sangaree immediately orders two flocks of skirmishers to attack either end of the line.

This order was given whilst O'Connor's manreuvre was progressing, for sagacious Sangaree perceived his intention.

The enemy's skirmishers defended in turn, whilst the huge monsters attacked were unable to injure their puny assailants.

O'Connor energetically rushed about to get the line speedily formed, and to direct the skirmishers' defence. He succeeded in his efforts, and then boldly pushed the line forward, and poured forth a most fearful fire, alternated by the airmuhlo's circular air motions, reddening the atmosphere for miles. The Saharans replied slowly and coolly, and with remarkable steadiness.

As men fell, others took their places, and they flinched not nor faltered.

The circular air-blasts from the contending hosts met in mid ether; and as the whistling, roaring columns conjoined, explosive thunders ensued, and everything within reach was whirled as in a maelstrom, and dashed to atoms.

The posterior Madeiran aërials now swung themselves round the first line and attacked the adversaries' square wings, but made small impression.

The slaughter on either side was prodigious, and tackle and machinery constantly fell into the sea.

The battle was far from faltering; the victory was for anyone; when Sangaree pushed ahead of his triangle and squares to direct some machines which were in danger.

O'Connor, meantime, had been preparing his reserves for a last grand charge, which, he felt sure, from his superior weight and size, would break up Sangaree's forms. This, however, he intended to delay for an hour, although the day was far advanced. This was his fatal error. With all his skill, the hotheaded, impetuous Irishman forgot the fact of the short twilight of the latitude and season; and perceiving Sangaree's aërial moving ahead, determined to entangle it and destroy it before he commenced his grand charge.

His monstrous aërial instantly darted forth, and dashed against Sangaree's with a thundering noise. O'Connor shouted,-

"Ten thousand brakars to the man who takes Sangaree prisoner."

Each vessel poured forth her dreadful missiles.

All the rest of the battle was stayed, and the different commanders anxiously awaited an opportunity of rendering succour to their respective chiefs; but approach would probably have ensured destruction to the entangled machines, as well as to themselves.

Sangaree managed to signal his flocks to prepare for a grand charge, immediately darkness came, which was attended to, while O'Connor signalled to his to hold off any charge until it was more dusk, and hugged himself with the idea that Sangaree could not stand such charge.

O'Connor's captains were amazed; they saw his error; but how controvert its fatal effects, how signal him, for now his machine was so entangled with his adversary's that no further signs could be made; and as the two monsters rushed up into high heaven, and then sank, desperately fighting, almost to the sea, the others scarce knew what to do.

Speedily darkness overspread the sky, as the sun dipped into the sea, after his weary ride, and before the period supposed by O'Connor.

Bright lights gleamed in mid-air; many aërials recommended fighting, particularly in the wings.

O'Conner's astonishment at his ridiculous error was excessive; but ah ! it was too late to retrace it. Whilst he was hastily debating upon the proper course to be pursued, Sangaree, after pouring a volley of countless missiles upon the Madeiran machine, disentangled his aërial, and, quick as lightning, backed two miles, clearing a broad track through his surrounding vessels. He also signalled to hosts to keep the track clear; then screwing up his scribo, and preparing all the deadly weapons aboard, he gave the signal to dart forward against his enemy.

O'Connor saw at once, for he had no opportunity of consideration, that he must either back His aërial to ease the blow, or else dash forward and meet it.

His aërial was so encumbered by his captains' machines, which had flocked round him for orders, that he instantly saw the utter impossibility of backing.

He shouted to his conductor to turn his skribo to the death, and placing his implements ready for explosion at the meeting, whirled through air to meet Sangaree.

The whole affair was momentary, the two machines were visible to each other by the phosphorescent sparks exhibited at their points and wings as they came together.

A whirl, a wheel, a whistle, a roll-smash they come together, and never was such a meeting before, nor since.

O'Connor's vessel was shattered into a million fragments. Thousands of human beings were hurled into eternity, and blood rained upon the earth for many minutes. Millions of explosive materials went off, destroying the neighbouring aërials. The air's concussion alone destroyed thousands, and the largest machines were rocked and driven to and fro like drunkards. Of O'Connor, his crew, and aërial, a fragment (a splinter even) was never found.

Sangaree's vessel was most awfully damaged, and he himself killed by a bolt, as were also the majority of his crew.

A dead silence throughout the whole flocks had followed the dreadful catastrophe, and it was not until roused by the groans and shrieks of the wounded and dying, that men began to recover their wits.

Sangaree's second in command took the lead, and followed up his late chief's success.

Sangaree's aërial was gently sunk to ground, and signal was then given for the whole Saharan flock to charge. The disordered and panic-stricken enemy was scattered on all sides. Already completely cowed, knowing their leader's death, not understanding his intended method of attack' in darkness, surrounded by well-led and victorious enemies the Madeirans were completely routed, and the intense darkness alone preserved those who survived to tell the dreary tale.

So complete, so bloody a battle has never been fought. Let us hope, as sincere Christians, that such another never may come off.

CHAPTER XVII.

All is best, though we oft doubt
What th' unsearchable dispose
Of highest Wisdom brings about,
And ever best found in the close.
MILTON.

IT is scarcely necessary to remind our perusers of the results following this decisive victory.

After a few ineffectual struggles, and a minute semblance of resistance by Madeira, Brazilia, ever ready to kick the fallen, declared her intention of assisting to stop white slavery, and to make Europe a free continent.

A week after the great air battle, therefore, Madeira gave in, without waiting for the settlement of precise terms, and peace was proclaimed.

Harold, who had been fuming and fretting with excitement at his inability to reach Brunehilda, and, it must be added, Coronata, whom he had never teased to think upon, now hurried to the city of Nun.

After some inquiry, he found that his sister was located in Sangaree's mansion, and thitherwards he went.

Poor Brunehilda lamented the loss of another friend. Every one with whom she held intercourse appeared to suffer injury either through her, or whilst she was near.

Coronata, however, was quite friendly to her; and the dark beauty's strong mind aided Brunehilda wonderfully in bearing up against her accumulated misfortunes.

Coronata had become deeply in love with Harold, and the affection of a woman of her disposition and character is, when once fired, deep as the sea; it is also refining. It induces thought of one's actions, and their consequences, and it leads the woman to reflect and consider whether she should not imitate the object of her thoughts; and whether she is, or not, suitable for the person upon whom this intense feeling is concentrated.

She had grown more gentle, more charitably inclined to others' shortcomings, and to find considerably greater pleasure in being beloved than in being feared.

Her respect and veneration for the mighty Carthagon had increased; but she had discovered that her hero worship was not love, and she had first really comprehended from Harold Wynter that to be happy she must be good.

Coronata was seated in a gorgeous apartment in the mansion of Sangaree's sister, who had acquired it by her brother's death. Brunehilda was seated by her, and had given up her little lily hand to the black girl, who was gently, very gently, holding it, and endeavouring to sooth her quondam rival.

She told her of the wonderful victory, of the dayspring coming for the whites, to flourish, to enjoy this world, as far as intended by the Supreme Power; and prophesied, with a smiling countenance and mysterious aspect, that she would soon be very happy.

Brunehilda returned the pressure of the elegant black hand, and trusted that it might be so; but she averred that hitherto all had been unhappy with her.

Strange to find Coronata the comforter, but it so happened that Brunehilda was completely cast down by her last misfortune; for although she did not love Sangaree, it was impossible not to feel the loss of this kind Christian protector.

But whilst the two maidens were thus engaged, the silent door opened; a white man looked in momentarily, and then, rushing across the room, exclaiming "Brunehilda!" flung himself into the arms of that damsel, who had raised her eyes on hearing his voice, and who eagerly sprang forward to meet the fond embrace.

Coronata started up, amazed. Her eyes sparkled with fury, her veins swelled, her lips compressed, and her whole countenance exhibited symptoms of most uncontrollable fury; she gasped out spasmodically, and with broken utterance,-

"Again! Brunehilda? and after what I have done and suffered-again to take precedence of me."

She felt for her dagger, forgetting that since her altered views she had ceased to carry it.

"Ah!" she cried, "thou viper ; had I my dagger, I would stab thee right through the heart. Oh, this is the effect of the great battle, and of all our glory; this, this-is-"

"Pray, hear me," interrupted Brunehilda. "This is my lost brother, Harold."

Coronata stood transfixed, aghast, and fancied, as she looked at Harold, that she read in his countenance a mixture of astonishment and sorrowful disgust at her conduct.

Impulsively, she fell upon her knees, and passionately kissed Brunehilda's hand.

"Forgive me," she exclaimed, "dear Brunehilda; I am always in the wrong, and now that my short-comings are exposed to one whom I have learnt to respect, and before you whom I have despised, my fate is finished; I will learn to die."

"Not yet, not yet," said Harold, raising her from her kneeling position.

"Your kindness to my sister would alone entitle you to more than respect; and, if you have learnt to respect me, I fear my feelings towards you have been taught to go further; but we cannot talk of this now, for some one comes."

"I have been wondering at the proceedings of you two," said Brunehilda; "but presuming that Harold is the Brazilian minister of whom you, Coronata, have spoken in such loving accents, it is unnecessary to say more."

"Ha, ha, ha!" they're busy, are they? Werry good, werry good, in course, they are, ha, ha, ha! "

As these words sounded in the ears of Harold and the two girls, Jakadox entered, dressed handsomely, in an aërial captain's uniform.

"Why, Jakadox," said Coronata, "what is this?"

"This, marm," said he, "is jest this, that Master Carthagon, in con-sideration of my sarvices and capability, has guv me this 'ere commission; for, tho' I vos runned avay with by a raskly herial, I paid for my experience. Oh, ah! ven you've bin, and bin cotched in a blessed spedrum's veb, you larns vot's vot. Yell, I'm to larn grammar, and all the rest on it, and then to be putt on the Hinglish station; so I've bin there, and seed no end of coves a going thro' the cloudses to see the place vere the celebrated O'Connor, 'Arold Vynter, and his sister vos born: Vell, I goes to wisit my old friend the Jew, and he wos so alarmed ven he heerd vot vos a stirring, that he vent to the middle of the vorter, and quietly popped hisself off his ferry boat, and vos drownded-sarved him right, the willin-and Mrs. Tolmarsh has took the property until you goes back."

"Ah!" said Brunehilda, "such is the fate of that wicked old man; he would have been forgiven, had he lived. But, Jakadox, I am not going to return yet; and, Harold, you must let Jakadox take word to Mrs. Tolmarsh that she may keep the property herself."

"Certainly," responded the brother; "and as to the Jew's property, Jakadox, you take half, and divide the other half among the poor inhabitants of the district."

"Good, sir, werry good," said the new captain; "and I begs your pardings-its quite a secret at present-but I'm a going to marry a young 'oman in the Hinglish village, for as hevery respectable body has bin, and took to the vites, in course I must, being a capting; and old granny Murdura having died with grief at being robbed of all her brads, vich she vos, I've got no call to bide here; so good bye, sir, and ladies, here comes the guv'nor, so I'll be hoff."

Jakadox then withdrew, and Carthagon entered at the same moment.

Carthagon said, as he walked up the room, smiling,

"I know all about all of you; my friend Jakadox has explained everything that he knows, and probably somewhat that he does not know but only suspects."

"Now, I'll inform you what he says,-that Coronata loves Harold Wynter, and he has an idea of the feeling being reciprocal; speak, Harold Wynter, and confess."

"I admit it," said the white man.

"And Coronata says nothing?" rejoined Carthagon, "and that, of course, implies an admission. Now, Jakadox is certain that-to use his own expression, - I'm a hankering arter the vite gal."

"Do you admit it?" interposed Coronata, imitating Carthagon's stately manner.

"Must I?" inquired the statesman,

"Oh dear, no; no occasion whatever," cried Coronata gaily "and Brunehilda says nothing, which, of course, means yes; so you two are settled."

"Harold," said Carthagon, "by mutual consent of the three great nations, you are appointed governor of Europe, and may your government equal our expectations; I doubt it not."

"There, Harold!" said Coronata, joyfully, "I shall have an occupation capable of allowing me to exhibit my changed ideas of womanly behaviour. Oh, what pleasure to aid you in carrying out Carthagon's leading idea-a free equality of all races. Let us try to do something towards this consummation of what must arrive some day."

Brunehilda, in her mild tones, and with an affectionate glance at Carthagon, whom she adored, and yet for whom she felt a leetle awe, added,-

"I suppose I may join in this experiment."

"Oh," said Carthagon," I have plenty of work for all of you; for although the war is concluded, the statesman's cares are not less particular, and this epoch of the world must not pass away without our taking advantage of it. Surely, we are near the end of time; for blacks and whites are united in one brotherhood, are free, and are Christians."

THE END.