her votaries? There's no act of parliament to make man fall asleep at eleven precisely; Spitzbergen does not lie under the tropics, you know; and, perhaps, if I had my choice,-for flesh is grass, I should prefer that latitude where it is three months day and three months night."

"And why so, Cæsar ?"

66

'Why, I need not tell you there's some difference between a rhinoceros and a sugar-cane; and, accordingly, I, for one, seldom or ever want to go to sleep, except when under the influence of a more cheerful cup than I usually take; in fact, when I'm in a state of inebriation, which rarely occurs,-for many mole-hills go to a mountain. But, on the other hand, when I do sleep,-so lovely is nature!-that I never should wake, for three months at least, I suspect,-though, of course, I never tried the experiment,-if Mrs. Devallé did not deluge me with soap-suds. I am told that soap contains alkali; and alkali, to some constitutions, is wholesome ;-for fire, you know, will roast an ox ;-and the custom of bears retiring into winter quarters, meets with my warmest approbation.”

Before Perry and Cæsar returned to the table, Doncaster Dick had secretly procured a fresh supply of brandy; with which Charles plied the Little Black Porter so vigorously, that Cæsar was soon pronounced by Dick to be sufficiently intoxicated for their purpose. Young Perry and the groom then began to draw Cæsar's attention to the dog; and endeavoured, by dint of wheedling, threats, and promises, to elicit from him what had taken place, with regard to the trunk while it was in his possession: but, as the porter had nothing to confess, all their attempts, of course, proved ineffectual; and Cæsar, at last, dropped his head on his shoulder, and sank into a profound sleep.

"We have overdone it, Dick," said Perry ; much, you see."

66 we gave

him too

"Yes, sir,” replied Dick, "you opened too hotly upon him;— that's clear. If you had left him to me, I'd have drawn him as gently as a glove."

Dick and his master, notwithstanding their precaution, had drunk sufficient to intoxicate them: they were ripe for mischief, and heedless of consequences. When Charles Perry, therefore, asked Dick what was to be done with the trunk, it is scarcely a matter of surprise, that Dick proposed packing the porter in it, and forwarding it according to the address on its cover; or that Charles,

irritated as he felt, and still suspicious that Cæsar had been a party to the trick which had been played off upon him, gaily assented to the proposal. Cæsar was lifted into the box, and the cords securely fastened, in a very few minutes. Dick then sallied forth to ascertain where the ship lay. He soon returned with a couple of Pill boatmen, who informed Charles that the William and Mary was lying at Kingroad, and waiting only for the tide to put to sea they were just about to return to Pill, and they undertook, for a small sum, to carry the chest down the river in their boat, and place it safely on board the vessel before she sailed.

It will, doubtless, be recollected that we left Godfrey Fairfax in a state of delightful agitation, on the deck of the William and Mary, while several of the crew were preparing to hoist his trunk out of the hold. As soon as it was brought on deck, Godfrey, with tears of joy glistening in his eyes, fell on his knees in front of it, and eagerly unfastened the cords. He trembled to find the bolt of the lock already shot back, and with the most anxious solicitude, threw up the cover: instead of the lovely face of Isabel, his eyes fell on that of the Little Black Porter! Uttering a shriek of horror, he leaped upon his feet, and stood aghast and speechless for several moments, gazing on Devallé. The crew crowded round the chest, and Cæsar, who had been roused by Godfrey's exclamation, raised himself, and stared on the various objects by which he was surrounded,-expressing the utter astonishment he felt at his novel situation by such strange contortions of countenance and incoherent expressions, that the sailors, who at the first glimpse they had of Cæsar, in the box, were almost as much amazed as the Little Black Porter himself, began to laugh most heartily. Godfrey, at length, recovered sufficient possession of his faculties to grasp Devallé by the throat, and violently exclaim,— "Villain, explain! What have you done?"

"That is precisely what I wish to know," replied Cæsar, as soon as he could disengage himself from young Fairfax. “What have I done?-Why do I find myself here ?—And where in the world am I?"

"In de Bristol Channel," chuckled the black cook, who stood tuning a fiddle by the side of the chest. "Him shipped in good order and condition, aboard de good ship William and Mary.” Consigned, I see," added a sailor, "to Godfrey Fairfax, Esquire, of Demerara,—whither we're bound, direct,—' with care this side upwards.""

66

66

Godfrey Fairfax, of Demerara!—consigned to Demerara!" exclaimed Cæsar, leaping out of the trunk: "Don't play with my feelings, don't, don't! If you are men, don't trifle with Your words are poisoned arrows to my poor heart."

me.

"Massa Blackee no runaway slave, eh ?" inquired the cook. "Unfortunate wretch that I am!" replied Cæsar; “flesh is frail, and liberty's wand is a sugar-cane. I feel driven by present circumstances to confess, that I certainly did escape in the hold of the Saucy Jane, from Demerara, thirty years ago. Fellowcreatures, do not refund me to my old master :-I was the property of Mr. Fairfax."

"Of my father!" exclaimed Godfrey.

"Miserable me! His son here, too!" said Cæsar. "I have been kidnapped,-cheated! I'm a free man, though ;—a citizen of the world; a housekeeper, and the father of seven lovely children do not deprive them of their paternal support. Remember, I stand upon my rights: there are laws even for rabbits; English oak is the offspring of the land of liberty, and consequently I command somebody to put me ashore."

"How can we put you ashore, my good man?" asked a fellow in the garb of an hostler; "we're cantering along at the rate of twelve miles an hour before the wind; and I've lost sight of land this long time."

"I don't care for that:—a kangaroo isn't a cockroach, and I demand my privileges. Put back the ship, I say; I'm here by

mistake."

"Put back the ship!" repeated the man in the stableman's dress; "don't make yourself so disagreeable in company. Do you think every body is to be turned to the right-about for you? I've got fifteen mules aboard under my care, and every hour is an object."

"My good sir," said Devallé, with a smile which he deemed irresistible," think of my wife and family."

"Oh, nonsense! think of my mules."

"If there were but a being endowed with the sublime light of reason, among you," exclaimed Cæsar, "I would shew by analogy,—yea, I would convince even any muleteer but this gentleman-"

"Now don't fatigue yourself, nor put yourself out of the way," interrupted the man whom Cæsar designated as the muleteer; we all know, that once free, always free; at least, so I've been

66