awful times, Colonel!-Forty years have I been at sea, and always knew an enemy's ship as soon as any man: but now I am like a stranger even in the Bristow Channel. There is not a port or bay that one can lay to in, and be certain that all is well till morning."

The Colonel sighed; and in silence they reached the Fanny, which was a cutter-rigged vessel of about 40 tons.The Captain mounted first, and, welcoming the Colonel on board, conducted him to the cabin, which, he observed, was the only spot in the world where he could now call himself safe.

"What has alarmed you?" asked Colonel Powell; "it does not appear to me that we are in any immediate danger." "If your honour had been kidnapped, like me," replied the Captain, "and compelled to serve, like me, against your inclination, and been robbed, and threatened, and ter

rified like a badger when the dogs are worrying him, as I have, you would not wonder that, when all the hopes of bread for my family and myself lay in this little river, I was anxious to get away to sea when I heard them talk politics-the words they spoke I have heard before, and they bode me no good."

Morgan entered, to arrange his master's luggage; and the Captain, taking a bottle from the locker, drank, as the sailors term it, by word of mouth, that is, from the mouth of the bottle without a glass, to the health of his Majesty King Charles.

Morgan, who was kneeling on the cabin floor unpacking a trunk, looked up, and drily asked the Captain if he had been at Bridgewater lately? Jenkins made no reply; but, replacing the bottle, shuffled up the ladder, and his voice was soon audible on deck, giving directions to

the sailors. The tide was just on the turn of ebb; and, meeting the wind, the Fanny scarcely moved.

Morgan was somewhat disappointed that his master had not inquired why he addressed Jenkins in such a manner; and, after waiting a few minutes, informed him that they were on board a vessel whose commander had belonged to all parties, and would drink to the health of Fairfax, or the Earl of Essex, and wish success to their undertakings in any company where he fancied such conduct would be welcome.

"We should be charitable," replied Colonel Powell; " and much allowance should be made for a man of weak nerves, who may be frightened into the commission of inconsistencies at this time, when men are found base enough to insinuate themselves into company, that they may denounce their victims to the

opposing party. 'Tis a sad thought; but you, Morgan, must be on your guard in conversation. I was several times alarmed at the vehemence of your language, on our journey from Penleon."

Morgan smiled at the idea of his young master, as he always called him, cautioning him how to conduct himself; and briefly replied, that he should always look well to a man before he made a confidant.

Silently the little vessel floated down the narrow river to the sea, when the change of motion induced the Colonel to go on deck, which was strewed with merchandize of all descriptions. The crew consisted of Jenkins, three seamen, and a boy.

"What boat is that under Tay Back?" cried the Captain, as he stood at the helm, holding the rope with which he steered and supported himself, as the Fanny

reeled and loomed upon the waves. All eyes were upon the little speck, now seen, now hid, as either vessel rose or sunk; at length one of the sailors exclaimed, "It's the boat belonging to the French ship that came for coals; she makes directly down upon us."

The Captain's grey eyes glistened at the hope of an increasing freight; and bearing towards the Glamorgan coast, he soon brought the boat under the Fanny's bow.

"Here you Gatto! Ambrose ! come you abaft," he cried; "Stand you by to haul in the main sheet;" "How now; yo ho; there she comes; mind your head, Sir." "Hallo! there, stand by with the rope-here she comes alongside." The boat approached; and two individuals, wrapped in a sort of rough watch coats, appeared in the stern: one of them rose, as if in haste to come on board the