Front matter (continued 4)

The boys also gazed now at the shore; and there, sure enough, on a small rock that jutted out into the sea, they saw a weird-looking figure walking slowly up and down, and waving long thin arms as if to warn off the intruders. The man, who hardly looked human even from this distance, appeared to be intent only on this one action; and so strange did it seem, that the three looked at each other with the same question expressed on their faces, and this was, 'Shall we land?'

[Illustration: "SHALL WE LAND?" (missing from book)]

'If there is one man there may be more,' said Carlo, in despair; 'but I can row no more. We may as well be killed here as go on to another island and die by the way.'

'He is no Indian, but a white man,' remarked Andreas, again scanning the rock; 'his beard is long, and his hair too. He either wishes us ill, or wishes to warn us from some danger; and yet I never heard of any one living here. This is indeed a misfortune.'

'Well, we must risk it,' said Harry, seeing Carlo was looking terribly white and done up; 'and I think if we run the boat in here, at our right hand, that old fellow will not come up with us till we are well landed, for he will have nigh upon a mile to walk. If I'm not right, you may call me an ass for my pains, Carlo.'

Andreas approved, and presently they were obliged to keep all their wits sharp in order to enter the semicircular harbour, for there was some danger in getting the boat through the tumbling surf. But the Indian was too well accustomed to landing a boat to come to grief, and very soon the three stood on firm land; and after dragging up the boat out of reach of the waves, they looked anxiously around their new home. Near them, above the low cliff, was a clearing made by nature, where grew bananas, cacao, and bois-immortel, among which could also be seen a few orange-trees and Avocado pears; so that there was no fear of dying of thirst. But what interested them most was the strange weird figure, who, instead of following them, still kept on the same rock, and still waved his arms as if warding off some visible enemy. Andreas gazed a few minutes in silence; then all at once his eyes lighted up.

'It is no enemy: it must be a poor man whom the pirates have brought here. That is their fashion. I have heard them speak of it. They land some one who has offended them, and leave him to die alone; though often they will give him a musket and a little powder.'

'Then I should say that poor man is mad,' said Harry. 'If so, he may be more dangerous than a pirate. But look, Andreas; if the pirates have been once they may come again.'

'No, not for many a long day; they must have sighted this desert island by chance, and landed this poor man here, knowing it was uninhabited.'

'Well, I will go and see what I can make of him,' said Harry, 'whilst you get a rest, Carlo; for you must not be ill here, and Andreas will begin unloading the boat.'

'Take care, Harry,' cried Carlo; 'nay, wait: I will come with you--I can't bear you to run the risk alone.'

'I have been through so many perilous scrapes that one more or less makes but little difference. Still, come along, Señorito, we may perhaps make the poor man forget his troubles.'

So the two walked slowly along the shore till they came within a few yards of the weird figure; and Harry, wishing to attract his attention, called out to him and asked him what he did there. Then the figure paused, and gazed at the new-comers as if they were an unfamiliar sight, and began muttering through his long grey beard Spanish words of no meaning.

'Señor Carlo, this poor fellow is a Spaniard; but I see no sign of a musket. Speak to him, and ask him where he sleeps, and why he is here.'

Carlo began very courteously to inquire how the stranger had reached the island, as no boat was in sight; but suddenly he stopped short in his sentence, and clung wildly to Harry.

'Harry, Harry Fenn, look again, that man is--can you not see? It is my father; and yet I hardly knew him. See the ring on his finger?' Harry would certainly not have recognised the Marquis, whom he had seen but little of; but in his astonishment he called out his name.

'The Señor Estevan del Campo! Surely it cannot be! Gracious Heaven!'

'Yes, yes,' said the poor man, 'that is my name. Who called me? Yes, yes, Estevan del Campo!'

'Oh, sir, here is your son,' said Harry; and then Carlo, summoning up his courage, rushed toward his poor father and knelt by his side.

'Father, father, do you not know me? I am Carlo, your son. Forgive me if I ever spoke harshly, father.'

'Carlo my son? No, no, I have no son, no country. Don't let any one come here to find out my hiding-place; I warn them off. The pirates left me here; that was the kindest thing they did for me. I have no name, no titles. Don't tell any one where I am. What do they call it?--marooning--they marooned me, left me to die alone. It was their kindness; I bear them no grudge for doing that. No name, no country!'

'No, no,' cried Carlo; 'we will take care of you, father; you shall not die alone.' And turning his arm round the poor thin arm of his father, Carlo dragged him forward; and Harry, following behind, wiped away a few tears from his eyes; for it was indeed a sight to have touched the hardest heart. But evidently the poor Marquis was out of his mind and had not much longer to live.

The sound of human voices seemed to soothe him after a time; and when they reached the shade of the grove where Andreas had set out some food for the travellers, he was no longer muttering his few sentences. The surprise of the Indian can easily be imagined, and the poor fellow's pity for his old master was quite touching to witness, even though he had never received much kindness at his hands. Little by little the Marquis began to take in dimly that Carlo was with him, and to accept the services of Andreas as he waited on him; but though not actually starved, he had taken but little trouble to collect food, and the horror of loneliness and shame at his past treason seemed to have done the work of years. Carlo, who had all along been feeling a grudge against his father, could now forgive and forget everything.

'Oh, Andreas, how fortunate it was that you brought us here! Stay with us now, and do not go back to St. Catherine: I am so much afraid that your absence will be discovered, and then---- Do stay, and let us share our misfortunes and our luck.'

It was a great temptation to Andreas, and for a few moments he brooded in silence over the proposal; but he had learnt Christianity in a way not understood by many Christians. He considered that if he stayed he would certainly save himself, but if he returned he might help to save the poor ladies, who had now no protectors; and Andreas knew that the word of a pirate was but a poor thing to trust in. He believed that he could help them, and anyhow he could give them the knowledge that Carlo was safe and that the Marquis was found. What did his life matter? Had not the Padre told him these words: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,' and to the poor Indian the words were simple and powerful, and to be, if needs were, carried out literally. It took him but a few moments to make up his mind.

'Andreas must go back,' he said, smiling, now his decision was made; 'for the Señora and the Señorita will want to know the good news, and they may want also to come to the Queen of the Water. Andreas loves Señor Carlo dearly, but he will go away first and then come again.'

So towards evening, several hours before the sun set, Andreas was escorted to the boat, while the boys helped to push it off from the shore, and the Marquis stood by once more as if he were giving orders, though he merely said, 'Tell them, Andreas, that I did it for the best. The rascals deceived me. Tell them that, Andreas, and don't let my little Felipa think badly of me.'

CHAPTER XX

SAVED.

Captain Morgan had sent word from Jamaica, whither he had gone after the taking of Panama, that he might be expected in a few days at St. Catherine, as he was going to fortify it against any future attack of the Spaniards. The Captain had taken the lion's share of the booty, and, finding the loud murmurs of the men to be more than disagreeable, he set sail one evening and left the fleet to do as it thought best. Still, he was anxious to get back to St. Catherine to conclude his ransoms, and Sieur Simon had been instructed to watch closely that none of the prisoners escaped. What was, then, Simon's rage at finding that not only Carlo, but that young viper, as he called him, Harry Fenn, had escaped in the night, and that Andreas the Indian had carried out the whole plan. Unfortunately, the negro whom Andreas had trusted had turned informer, fearing when the Indian came back he might suffer punishment.

The negro only escaped instant hanging by promising to betray Andreas on his return, and the better to secure this he was to meet him and tell him nothing had been discovered. 'As to the hiding-place of the vipers,' said Simon,' a little of the rack will make the Indian disclose it; for if Captain Morgan comes and finds out the truth he may make me answerable.' To vent his wrath on some one, Simon marched up into the presence of the ladies and told them all he knew, and his future intentions. He forbade them ever to leave the two rooms set apart for them, placed guards in the corridor, and one below the window to which Carlo and Harry had obtained access. There seemed no hope now left them of escape, and they could only wait most anxiously for any scrap of news which might leak out through the very ill-tempered guards Simon had placed near them. Etta alone would not give in to low spirits: she felt sure that Andreas would return and would let them know; and as she could not go and watch by the window in the corridor as formerly, she kept a good lookout from the sitting-room verandah. She was indeed the sunshine of the party; for Felipa had drooped again now that Carlo was gone, and Doña Elena was hardly equal to more exertion and disappointment. Catalina would speak of the good old time when she had first come to the island, and when Felipa had been treated as became her rank. She even began to turn against Etta, as being of the same race as the hated Morgan. But Etta would not despair nor give up hope; and so it happened that one day at sundown she heard Andreas' soft whistle below.

'Felipa, dear Felipa, listen: that is Andreas! There! Did I not say he would come back? It is so dark that I cannot see him. What shall we do, Doña Elena? for the good man will not understand he must not come up here.'

They all crept on to the balcony now and listened intently, but the sound died away; and just as they were beginning again to despair there was a knock at the door and the negro Coca entered, bowing very humbly before them as he presented a letter to Doña Elena.

'Andreas is not able to come himself, lady, but he sends letter, and wants answer.'

Doña Elena opened the parchment quickly; but Etta, who was looking on, said hurriedly:

'How did the guards let you pass if they will not allow Andreas to have speech with us?'

'I was very cunning, Señorita: I said that I had great news to give the Señora.'

Etta, still puzzled, listened to the words of the note, which Doña Elena translated into French so that the negro should not understand.

'The Señor Carlo and the Señor Harry are safe. They have found the noble father. I cannot see you yet. God protect you!

'ANDREAS.'

'Andreas waits for answer,' said the negro.

'Do not send one, Doña Elena,' cried Etta quickly, in spite of herself suspecting some plot; for what answer should Andreas require? He could hear for himself that they were safe, but Felipa said pettishly:

'Nay but, dear aunt, send him word that he must get us delivered from this prison; I am weary of being shut up.'

Doña Elena, thinking of no harm, yielded; and soon the negro retired, grinning as he again bowed low.

'I never can like those black creatures,' said Catalina, turning up her nose in disgust. 'Indians are all very well; but negroes--no, no, Señora, you should never trust a negro.'

'Nonsense, Catalina! My dear husband said it was because we treated the negroes so badly that they were sometimes treacherous. Alas! we Spaniards have much to answer for in that respect.'

Catalina was not convinced, and kept on muttering that Andreas might be trusted because his colour was brown, but that black was the colour of the Evil One. Could she have seen what was going on below she might, perhaps, have made even the enlightened Señora agree with her. The negro had taken the note straight to the Sieur Simon, and in a few minutes more Andreas was seized and dragged into his presence, and confronted with it. The Indian saw that the negro had betrayed his trust, and, setting his teeth tight together, he stood before his enemy silent and brave.

'Tell me, dog of an Indian, where thou hast been, and where thou hast hidden those young whelps,' said Simon, angrily. But Andreas was not going to tell him.

'As well answer, for I know everything; the negro has told me; and if thou ownest thy fault I will forgive thee,' said Simon. But Andreas felt sure this was a trap: no one knew the retreat of Señor Carlo--no one at least at St. Catherine.

'Come, my men, here is a dumb dog: see if a little torture will worm out the secret.'

We must draw the veil over the horrible torments which noble Andreas endured. It was a cruel age, but the desperate men who had broken loose from their country, their religion, and their laws outdid all the cruelties of the age, and fancied because the poor defenceless Indians could not now revenge themselves they were fair game. When nature could bear no more, and the half-dead man was thrown into a dungeon, not a word having been extracted from him, Sieur Simon was rather sorry he had ordered the torturers to go on to such a length, for now it was doubtful if he could ever get any information from him, and he had been told that Andreas knew many valuable secrets which would now most likely die with him.

That night the pirates had a long carousal, because they knew that next day Captain Morgan was expected back, and when he came the good things generally disappeared; so Sieur Simon suddenly bethought himself that most likely there must be treasure hidden away somewhere or other in Santa Teresa. He dared not touch Doña Elena or Felipa--they were able to pay rich ransoms; but his mind turned at once to Etta, the English girl, who was, of course, merely a slave of the Marquis. Yes, she might know, and if--well, if--anything happened to her, no one would care much, and certainly no one would inquire, except Captain Morgan, who had said the English girl was to be cared for; but he would not grieve much about any one who could not bring him in any money.

'Go up, Nat Salt,' he said to an Englishman 'and fetch down that English wench. I would wager a goblet of wine that she knows where the old Marquis kept his treasures.'

'By'r laykin,' said Nat Salt, 'that little cinder witch was rather a favourite with the Captain. It'll not be safe to meddle with her over-much.'

'Nay, I will but make her feel the rope trick round her wrist, and I'll pledge you a flagon of red wine we shall then know all she does.'

'There'll be naught more, then, Sieur Simon, or I would rather not meddle in it; the Captain now and then loses his temper over a mighty small affair.'

'My word as a brother,' said Simon, using the term by which pirates called each other when they were in a good temper.

Nat knew that even Simon would not break his oath, but he said the morning would be more convenient for Etta's examination; so that the poor girl fell asleep without dreaming what was in store for her the next day.

Once again Etta was to go down into the great hall, where now only Sieur Simon was sitting, and she was to be tried in a far harder way even than by hunger. When the man called Nat Salt came to fetch her, Felipa seemed to guess that something was the matter, for she clung to her friend, crying out:

'Don't take Etta away. Catalina, Aunt Elena, don't let the wicked man take her. Why is she to go?'

'Prithee, young madam, don't take it to heart; this English girl is but wanted to answer a few questions.' But Etta, though pale, would not show any fear even while her heart sank within her.

'I will follow you an you touch me not,' she said, raising her fair head loftily.

'In truth I'll not touch thee, young one,' said Nat Salt, who had a curiously soft heart, considering what he had seen and done. 'Come then, it will not be ten minutes' work. But mind! don't go acting the dumb dog before that Frenchman; I'fecks, he's as hard as a millstone on man, woman, or child--Morgan's an angel to him.'

As they passed out the two soldiers guarding the door stared hard at the girl, who walked by Nat's side as if she were a princess.

'There's a bit of sunshine in the wench's hair,' said one of them, 'but it will go hard with her if she is to get into the hands of the dragon.'

Poor Etta! it was to go hard with her.

'Come, child, make haste and tell me what I ask, and then you can go back to your friends,' said Simon. 'Where did the Marquis hide his gold before Morgan landed? He must surely have been busy over that work.'

Etta lifted her pretty head, and gazed at the Frenchman with indignant blue eyes.

'As if I should tell the secrets of the Marquis to you!' she said quickly.

'Ah! so you are not going to tell--for of course you know?' and he laughed softly.

'English girls don't tell tales,' said Etta.

'Well, we'll see. Come, Nat, where's the rope? A little pressure on the wrists acts to the tongue like oil to rusty hinges.'

Etta saw the rope, and some of her courage forsook her. She tried to run past Nat, but with one stride he caught her, and, twisting the rope round both her wrists in a peculiar fashion, he began pulling the noose tight, then tighter. Etta shut her eyes and thought of Carlo and of Harry. She knew the Marquis had hidden some of the gold in an old well, under the flags of the inner courtyard, but she did not mean to tell. God helping her, she would not be a traitor.

'Now,' said Simon, 'draw it tight, Nat, and see if that won't make her speak. Where is the gold, girl? Quick, and you shall be released. One, two--where? Pull tighter, Nat.'

Etta, in spite of herself, uttered a scream, shrill and piercing, which made Simon laugh.

'I thought the bird would pipe to some tune. Come, Nat, a little tighter. Where is the gold?'

'It is not mine: how can I tell? I won't! no, I won't! It's Carlo's money if his father is dead. Oh!' She struggled to get away, but this only increased her agony.

'One, two, three; it will hurt more yet if you don't speak.'

'Come, tell Sieur Simon, wench. You'll not see the Marquis till Martinmas, if then, so you needn't be afraid of him.'

Another pull, another sharp agony, and Etta felt that she could bear no more, when suddenly there was a rush into the hall of some half-dozen men, all shouting and tumbling over each other, and looking scared out of their lives.

Nat immediately let go Etta in sheer astonishment, whilst Simon seized hold of the foremost man and asked him roughly what was the matter.

'I'faith, Captain, you may well ask; there's not a minute to spare. There's a great man-of-war flying the English colours bearing down on us and on the two ships in the bay, which have but some half-dozen men in them.'

'Where's the powder?' cried another; 'the look-out man must have deserted. Gramercy! let's get out of this gruesome hole, for the walls have never been rebuilt, and we handful of men can't hold it.'

'Then we'll put you idle fellows to stop the breach,' cried Simon, angrily. 'Here, Nat, haste and warn the rest of the garrison. We must get down to the beach and prevent their landing. The forts are useless, and that coxcomb Morgan dropped the guns into the sea before he left.'

In another moment all was confusion, and the men had scattered hither and thither. Etta had suddenly recovered her presence of mind as soon as her great pain had ceased; in a moment she understood the situation. She now ran as quickly as she could up another passage towards the sitting-room. On the way she met the two guards, who, having just heard the news, were running helter-skelter over each other to get down to the courtyard and join their companions.

'There's a man-o'-war bearing down on us! Marry! there'll not be a man Jack of us left alive!'

Etta found that the confusion had spread everywhere; for as she rushed into the dwelling-room no one prevented her.

'Catalina! Felipa! free me; prithee cut this dreadful rope. There's an English man-of-war in sight; and if only it will put in we are saved.'

'My poor child!' said Doña Elena, with tears in her eyes; for, the rope being cut, the deep red gashes round Etta's wrists told plainly what she had suffered. But Etta was now too much excited to feel any pain. She knew that immediate action was necessary; if only she could find Andreas perhaps he would put off to the ship in his canoe. But where was he? She went to the balcony, as no one was guarding it now, and whistled the Indian's tune; but there was no answer.

Catalina and Doña Elena, on their side, went to the window that commanded the bay; and there, sure enough, could be seen the big man-of-war slowly approaching, and so great was the panic among the pirates, who were only expecting Captain Morgan, that there was a furious rush for the boats; believing, as they did, that the Marquis was on board, and that on his landing not one of them would be spared.

In the meanwhile Santa Teresa was almost deserted, except by the slaves; and to one of these Etta addressed herself as to where she could find Andreas, and was led to the black-hole, where the poor fellow lay only just conscious.

'Andreas! dear Andreas!' sobbed Etta. 'Those cruel men--what have they done to you? But we are saved now. Catalina shall come and nurse you. Say you are not suffering! Lack-a-day!'

Old Pedro, who had managed successfully to trim his sails, now ran up, exclaiming:

'Thank God! thank God! Señora, the pirates are running off as if a thousand devils were at their heels. They say the Marquis is on board the man-of-war, but I know not; anyhow, let's secure our own gates. Ah! poor Andreas had better have told all he knew; I did, and managed to keep a whole skin.'

'Then, Pedro, take a boat and go and tell the Captain that he must come and take us away, and that I know where Señor Carlo and the English lad are hidden. Andreas, look up; tell me, are you in pain?'

But before Catalina or any one else could come, Andreas smiled happily, tried to speak; then, with a gentle sigh, he died. He had understood that those he had died for were saved, and that reward was enough for him.

Before long St. Catherine was rid of the pirates, for the man-of-war had brought with it, not Don Estevan del Campo, but the new Governor of Jamaica, who came to dispossess the former Governor who had abetted the pirates; for King Charles of England was now sending strict orders that no buccaneer was to be allowed to set forth from Jamaica to commit any hostility upon the Spanish nation or any of the people of these islands, and on his way to Jamaica the new Governor wished to sweep clean of its pirates the little island of St. Catherine.

CHAPTER XXI.

A BAG OF GOLD.

The Pitsea Manor Farm was a dull place enough now, even though the beautiful sunshine made Nature look at her best on this September afternoon; but Mr. Fenn and his wife seemed to have no longer any heart left for joy, and they had settled that there was to be no harvest-home on the farm, for ever since the disappearance of their son the worthy couple could do nothing but mourn. They had indeed gone through terrible sorrow, and their only comfort had been the long talks Mr. Aylett had had with them, and his firm belief that Harry had not run away, as the lad said he had once thought of doing, but that he had in truth been kidnapped.

Mr. Aylett, being the brother of a rich squire, had powerful friends, and he had done all in his power to find out news of Harry; but in those days news travelled but slowly; and though much was guessed, the truth had never been exactly ascertained.

At this moment Mr. Aylett was seen by the worthy Fenns to be walking towards the farm, and very soon he was sitting by the sad-looking yeoman in the great farm-hall, beginning as usual to talk of Harry.

'I've told the men I'll have naught to do with a harvest-home,' said Mr. Fenn, decidedly. 'I'll give them money for the feast, and they may go and dance their round reels on the green; but, now my poor boy is dead, I care not for sounds of music, and joy does but make me dizzy.'

'And yet the Bible tells us to "rejoice always," good neighbour,' said Mr. Aylett. 'Is it right to deprive others of joy when God has taken ours from us? Is not this somewhat selfish grief, and displeasing to God?'

'It is my whim, Mr. Aylett. I cannot feel like Job, for when I see the lads a-merrymaking I think of my poor Harry's goodly countenance, and my heart seems like to break.'

'The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away,' said Mrs. Fenn gently--'so I tell Mr. Fenn; but such an ado I have to be a-comforting him that sometimes I forget my own sore grief. It's a wonder I ever lived through that time; and now when I sit in a quiet coigne I fancy I'm another woman and in truth not Harry's mother. At this harvest-time I think of the new doublet I had always ready for him, and how handsome he looked. Lack-a-day!'

'Tut, tut, woman!' said her husband, who liked to think his grief was the greatest, 'the lad was more to me than to thee. You know how he would follow me about when he could but just toddle. Ay, ay, Mr. Aylett, you too know what he was like. It was a sight to see him riding about the farm; and now there's no one of my name as will inherit this place. And as for my cousin who has an eye to the place, i' faith he's but a poor creature--ay, a paltry ass.'

'The Lord can bring back your boy,' said the clergyman, with a quiet assurance that appeared to be galling to the yeoman.

'I said naught to the contrary, Mr. Aylett; but there's a sight of things that the Lord could do as never happen in this world; and my boy's dead--I know it; and meseems, in truth, it's folly thinking on it longer.'

''Tis much lacking in faith, good Mr. Fenn, that you are. For my part, I believe Harry will come home, and----' But here the keener-witted mother started up and called out:

'Mr. Aylett's heard news of Harry! Speak out, sir, or this old heart will break; for my head feels dizzy. Speak out, sir, for God's sake!' And Mr. Aylett now saw that he had sufficiently prepared the old people for the joy that he had to tell them, and, standing up reverently, he said:

'Ay, ay, good friends, God's name be praised! Harry is safe and sound, and has a long and wonderful story to tell you.'

'But where is he--oh, my boy! my boy! You're not deceiving me, Mr. Aylett, else God have mercy on you!'

'God forbid! Harry is in my house--brought here by a Captain Carew himself; and with him is come an English maid who was a fellow-prisoner in the West Indies. But I must tell no tales, and I bade him follow me anon--and, ay, look you, there he is, so I'll leave you to hear his own story, and go back to the maid, to whom my wife has taken a huge fancy already, for there is as much sunlight in her eyes as there is gold in our autumn corn; and, indeed, hers is as strange a history as you could find even in tales of our Chaucer.'

We must leave Harry to tell his own wonderful adventures, but Etta had already recounted to Mr. and Mrs. Aylett how Captain Carew had been kindness itself to the prisoners of Santa Teresa when he landed at St. Catherine, and how he had taken all the party on board, and, after landing the new Governor at Jamaica, had gone to the island where Carlo and Harry Fenn had been left, helped to find it by the rude chart which Andreas had drawn. It can be easily understood how happy was the meeting, and how Doña Elena landed to see her brother's grave, and heard how he had died in Carlo's arms. Then, last, Captain Carew had taken them all on board again, and had landed the Spaniards in Spain, and Etta had been comforted at the loss of Felipa by Carlo's saying that she must come some day as an honoured guest to his home; that when he was a man he would travel to England, as he meant to be a Spanish Ambassador at the Court of King Charles. Then how excited she had been when she first beheld the shores of England, and knew that she was indeed no longer a prisoner, but a free English girl. Captain Carew, having relations of his own near South Benfleet, had himself taken the young people to Mr. Aylett, as Harry, now thoughtful beyond his years, knew that his sudden reappearance at home might cause too great a shock to his parents; besides, he thought Mr. Aylett could best judge what was to be done about finding Etta Allison's relations.

You can all imagine the joy of the homecoming; but I must add that there was a grand harvest-home that year at Pitsea Manor Farm, and such joy as never had been. What made it seem so wonderful to Harry was that Etta was there, dressed in a pretty gown of white sémé; and that he led off the country dance with her; and that her sweet, brave face made the whole hall appear merry; for, as Mrs. Fenn said, 'all could see Etta was dancing a very Barley Bree o' mirth.'

Her uncle had been found, and had come over to see her; but, being an old bachelor, he was glad enough to pay a yearly sum to Mrs. Aylett, and to let her stay with that excellent lady; saying he should leave her all his money, and stipulating that she was to pay him yearly visits. No wonder Etta was happy as she danced with Harry, or told stories of the past.

――――

Will you like to hear something more, and can you guess that when Harry Fenn married, his bride was Etta Allison? And Carlo del Campo was, in truth, present, as he had really joined the Embassy--though he was not yet Ambassador--but he said at the wedding that he owed his success to Etta, who had taught him English. Poor Felipa died just before Carlo's journey. She had never recovered the effects of all the hardships and sorrows she had gone through; but before her death she sent some of her jewels to her dear Etta, and begged her not to forget her; which, as Etta's heart was big, she was not likely to do. You can imagine what talks they all had together; and perhaps the most wonderful piece of news that Harry told Don Carlo was that Captain Henry Morgan had now turned over a new leaf, and that the King had knighted him, and made him Governor of Jamaica; and that, wonderful to relate, he was now called Sir Henry Morgan, a brave and loyal gentleman. Truly it was a case of 'set a thief to catch a thief,' for the pirates were now no longer tolerated in Jamaica; and Sir Henry was said to be vastly clever at hunting them down.

Some years later, when there were happy children running about the old Pitsea farmhouse, there came a mysterious visitor to Benfleet. He gave no name, but wished to see Harry Fenn, who was now the owner of the farm; and when he was gone, Harry called his pretty wife Etta, who was all curiosity to know what the visitor wanted; and then he showed her a large bag, full of gold pieces--such a sum and such a glittering mass as Etta and Harry had never seen all at once before in their lives; and on a piece of parchment was written:

'For my godson Harry Fenn: a marriage portion for him and the little witch, albeit they were so ungrateful and unmindful of their well-wisher, Sir Henry Morgan.'

The gold pieces were of every nationality, and from every recognised mint; and some of them looked as if they had been kept many years in secret hiding-places known only to Sir Henry Morgan.

'This money,' said Harry, 'is, if I mistake not, gold that was stolen in Sir Henry Morgan's raids. What think you, sweetheart? I like not the colour of it; and these adventures brought me but one gold coin of true ring in it, and that was my own wee wife.'

'For shame, Harry,' laughed Etta, 'to liken me to gold, which the Bible calls the root of all evil! But why not give it to Mr. Aylett for the poor on Canvey Island? Thou knowest, dear Harry, that there are many in need there, round about the little Church of St. Catherine; and if it goes to the service of that church it will remind us of all our troubles on the other St. Catherine; and remind us, too, not to forget to be grateful to God for our past deliverance.'

'A right good thought, sweetheart! And what say you to putting up a stained glass window of St. Catherine herself? And beside the wheel we will place a cord in her hand, which will be in memory of the cruel knot of which you still bear the marks.'

'For shame, Harry! Nay, I was no saint. Why, if Captain Carew had not come in the nick of time, I should, perhaps, have told everything I knew. There, put up the gold pieces in their bag--I cannot abide the sight of them; but Mr. Aylett will say, I am sure, that God can, and He will, sanctify even stolen treasure.'

And so out of evil they brought forth good, as all can do who set their minds to it. But that evening, when Mr. Aylett, with much surprise, received the gold, he asked Harry, laughingly, if he were of the same mind as of old, and if he would still like to wander forth.

'If Etta would come too, I would not mind seeing those beautiful lands again,' he said. 'But, what with mother and the children, I know right well she will not travel again for many a long year.'

'Prithee, then, go alone, Harry, an it please you,' said his wife; and as Harry shook his head in a very determined fashion, Etta Fenn fell a-laughing softly, knowing well that her husband would never leave her for all the gold of the West Indies.

FINIS

PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON

――――

NATIONAL SOCIETY'S BOOKS FOR PRIZES & REWARDS

NEW STORY BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG

PUBLISHED BY THE

NATIONAL SOCIETY

BY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

THE CROSS ROADS

By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE, Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," &c. With Five Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A story of life in domestic service at Langhope Mead, with some amusing sketches of character both in the servants' hall and in the neighbouring village. The difficulties and troubles that beset Emmeline Osborne in keeping faithful to the promise she had made to her dead mother, and her final victory, will be found to form an excellent lesson for elder girls.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE ATELIER DU LYS"

NOT ONE OF US

By the Author of "Mademoiselle Mori," "The Atelier du Lys," &c. With Five Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

Descriptive of the career of a young schoolmistress in Northern Italy, and of the manners and customs of the folk dwelling in the valley of Fiorasca. The lonely life of the Dutchwoman, Fransje, who has married Benedetto Balli, and the good deeds she does, form a touching picture that is full of pathos.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "STARWOOD HALL"

THE GOLDEN BUCKLE

By the Author of "Starwood Hall," "Peckover's Mill," &c. With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A story of London in the year of the Great Plague, showing how one John Garside, a hosier in Holborn, and his family took refuge on board The Golden Buckle, which was then lying in the river with a cargo of sugar and spice, and of the various things that befell them and theirs during the long hot summer.

BY C. R. COLERIDGE

MAX, FRITZ, AND HOB

By C. R. COLERIDGE, Author of "The Green Girls of Greythorpe" &c. With Four Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A tale of adventure four hundred years ago. The scene is laid principally at the Castle of Lindenberg, in the Bavarian highlands, and the story is chiefly concerned with the doings of two cousins, named Max and Fritz, and of a tame bear, which they have christened Hob. The book inculcates some admirable lessons on the duty of kindness to animals.

BY M. & C. LEE

ST. DUNSTAN'S FAIR

By M. & C. LEE, Authors of "The Family Coach," &c. With Three Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

"St. Dunstan's Fair" tells of the folks living in a small country village in Kent, in the year of Waterloo, of what happened at the Fair itself, and of the consequences to Nancy Springett and poor George Colgate. The account of the visit paid by Molly and Chris to their grandfather, Mr. Openshaw, and of the part played by the two children, lend the story considerable variety of interest.

BY MARY H. DEBENHAM

MOOR AND MOSS

By MARY H. DEBENHAM, Author of "For King and Home," &c. With Three Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

A story of the Border in the first half of the sixteenth century, of the struggles that were for ever taking place, and the raids that were being made, and (in particular) of the Armstrongs of Birkhope and the Musgraves of Fairgill, and how peace and happiness were at last brought to all.

BY M. BRAMSTON

THE ADVENTURES OF DENIS

By M. BRAMSTON, Author of "Abby's Discoveries," &c. With Three Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

The adventures in question are those of Denis Lyndale while staying, first at Liberty Hall on the high road between Derby and Chester, and afterwards at Cathendean, in the hilly district of the Peak, and are closely connected with the rising of 1745 and the retreat of Prince Charles Edward from Derby to the north again.

BY ESMÉ STUART

A SMALL LEGACY

By ESME STUART, Author of "The Silver Mine," &c. With Two Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

A story for children, concerning the life led by the coastguardsmen and their families at St. Alban's Head, and showing how it is possible for boys and girls to be brave and honourable in all their actions, and, sometimes, even heroic. Little Peter is a pathetic figure, and one that is likely to prove interesting to young and old.

BY M. BRAMSTON

LOTTIE LEVISON

By M. BRAMSTON, Author of "A Village Genius," &c. With Two Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

A South London story for young women and elder girls, describing how Lottie Levison, from being brought up in a home of doubtful honesty, conceived a desire to become "respectable," and not only succeeded, but grew conscious of still better hopes, and was filled with a longing to shed sunshine around her and to teach others the means of getting the happiness which she had gained for herself.

BY ESMÉ STUART

A NEST OF ROYALISTS

By ESME STUART, Author of "Cast Ashore," &c. With Two Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Cloth boards, gilt, price 1s. 6d.

A story of Blois in the year 1832, of an English family--the Merediths--who went to live there, and of the circumstances under which they became connected with a Royalist plot against the rule of Louis Philippe. The description of the hiding-places of some of the conspirators is likely to prove attractive alike to boys and girls.

In addition to the preceding, the following Prize Books are also published by the Society:--

BY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

Author of "The Heir of Redclyffe," "Cameos from English History," &c..

THE CONSTABLE'S TOWER

Or, The Times of Magna Charta. With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. O. MURRAY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A tale of the days of Magna Charta, showing the nobility of the character of Hubert de Burgh, and his loyalty to his king under very trying circumstances, and concluding with a spirited description of the sea-tight off Dover.

"One of the best children's books published this season."--WESTERN ANTIQUARY.

THE SLAVES OF SABINUS

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A powerful story of the Christian Church in the days when Vespasian was the Roman Emperor, and his more genial son Titus was freshly returned from his conquest of the Jews.

"It is a story on a theme that draws all hearts--Christian faith and martyrdom in the first century."--GUARDIAN.

THE CUNNING WOMAN'S GRANDSON

A Story of Cheddar a Hundred Years Ago. With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

An attractive story of the social and religious improvements that wore made in the Cheddar district through the philanthropic zeal of Miss Hannah More and her sisters.

UNDER THE STORM

Or, Steadfast's Charge. With Six Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

In "Under the Storm" the author of "The Heir of Redclyffe" depicts the troublous experiences of the family of a small yeoman farmer during the great Civil War.

"'Under the Storm' is in all respects worthy of the reputation of the author of 'The Heir of Redclyffe.'"--SPECTATOR.

OUR NEW MISTRESS

Or, Changes at Brookfield Earl. With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

"Our New Mistress" depicts with much truth to life the difficulties met with by a young trained schoolmistress in taking charge of a village school where innovations were not welcomed. Jessie Martin, however, finally emerges successfully from all troubles and difficulties.

"The Schoolmistress's story has just the dash of primness which makes it quite perfect."--SPECTATOR.

BY FRANCES MARY PEARD

Author of "The Rose Garden," "The Country Cousin," "Paul's Sister," &c.

THE ABBOT'S BRIDGE

With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A story of life on the road in the time of Edward the Third, and of the great rising of the townspeople of Bury St. Edmunds against the authorities at the Abbey.

"Miss Peard should find her popularity increased by 'The Abbot's Bridge.' It is a capital story, vigorously told."--MANCHESTER GUARDIAN.

THE LOCKED DESK

With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

In this book Miss Peard has left the historical field in which most of her previous tales for young people have lain, giving us instead a story of the present day, in which certain documents in Mrs. Barton's locked desk play an important part.

THE BLUE DRAGON

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. J. TANILAND. 8vo, bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

"The Blue Dragon" is the sign of an inn at Chester, where the scene of the story is laid, in the discontented, turbulent times that followed immediately upon the battle of Bosworth Field.

"Every page is full of stirring interest."--CHURCH TIMES.

SCAPEGRACE DICK

With Four Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A spirited story of adventure in England and the Low Countries in the days of the Commonwealth.

"A book for boys, which will be read with equal pleasure by their sisters."--PALL MALL GAZETTE.

PRENTICE HUGH

With Six Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

"Prentice Hugh" gives a graphic account of life during the reign of Edward the First, mainly in the cathedral city of Exeter.

"Another excellent book.... Both boys and girls will enjoy reading 'Prentice Hugh'; it is in all respects one of the best books of the season."--ST. AMES'S GAZETTE.

TO HORSE AND AWAY

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

The fortunes of a Royalist family in the times of the Great Civil War form the leading theme of Miss Peard's story, which, together with many adventures, gives a few graphic scenes from the life of Charles II. in his flight from Worcester Field.

"'To Horse and Away' will certainly give pleasure to girls and boys-alike."--SATURDAY REVIEW.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "MADEMOISELLE MORI" &c.

KINSFOLK AND OTHERS

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. O. MURRAY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A study in the conflicting duties that claim the obedience of Olive Garth, who has been brought up from her earliest days by her grandmother, and whose mother returns from Australia after an absence of seventeen years.

BANNING AND BLESSING

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

Descriptive of country life on the confines of wild Dartmoor, at the beginning of the present century. The banning of Lois Smerdon, the black witch, at length comes to an end, and so plentiful are the blessings which follow that all ends happily and full of promise for the future.

"A capital specimen of a book for girls."--SATURDAY REVIEW.

A LITTLE STEP-DAUGHTER

With Six Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

"A Little Step-daughter" is descriptive of life in the South of France in the early part of the eighteenth century.

"The anonymous authoress of 'Mademoiselle Mori' is one of the most delightful of writers for girls. Her books are characterised by a delicacy of touch rarely met with."--STANDARD.

BY M. & C. LEE

Authors of "The Oak Staircase," "Joachim's Spectacles," &c.

THE FAMILY COACH

With Four Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A story of a family of children, their schemes and plans, and the misfortunes that consequently ensue, in the course of a journey from London to Mentone, where they are to meet their parents, who have just returned from India.

"'The Family Coach' is as attractive within as without."--TIMES.

GOLDHANGER WOODS

A Child's Romance. With Two Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

"Goldhanger Woods" is the story of the romantic adventure of a young girl a hundred years ago among a band of desperate smugglers.

"This 'child's romance' is ingeniously planned and well executed."--SPECTATOR.

MRS. DIMSDALE'S GRANDCHILDREN

With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A large number of old Mrs. Dimsdale's grand children are gathered together one Christmas time at the Downs House in Sussex. Milly, in emulation of Aunt Hetty, writes a play, and this receives a preliminary public reading by Aunt Hetty. Difficulties intervene, but everything comes right in the end, and the story concludes with the acting of Milly's play.

"Full of stir and spirit."--GUARDIAN.

BY M. BRAMSTON

Author of "A Woman of Business," "Rosamond Ferrars," &c.

ABBY'S DISCOVERIES

With Three Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

The story of the successive discoveries, in very ordinary matters, that little Abigail made in her earliest years, and the meaning and lessons which they have for all those concerned in bringing up the young.

"We have not seen a better book about the feelings and experiences of childhood than this since we read the 'My Childhood' of Madame Michelet."--SPECTATOR.

A VILLAGE GENIUS

A True Story of Oberammergau. With Two Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

A tale of Oberammergau and of the life of Rochus Dedler, the composer of the music that is still used at the Passion Play there. The true story of a man who almost worshipped music, but was too tender and shy ever to rise to the rank to which he was entitled.

"A sympathetic and charming sketch."--BOOKSELLER.

DANGEROUS JEWELS

With Four Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

The opening scenes of this story are laid in Brittany at the time of the great French Revolution, but the scene changes, and the later chapters give some vivid descriptions of rough life in a lonely hut on the moorlands of Devonshire.

"Plenty of stirring incident, and the scenes are novel and unhackneyed."--MANCHESTER GUARDIAN.

A PAIR OF COUSINS

With Three Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

The pair of cousins are Flower Callaway, who has a weakness for appearing interesting and attractive in the eyes of others, and Avis Goldenlea, a healthy-minded girl of real sterling worth. "A Pair of Cousins" contains much sensible teaching, particularly for girls of a sentimental turn of mind.

"The simplicity of Miss Bramston's new story is one of its greatest charms."--SCHOOLMISTRESS.

THE HEROINE OF A BASKET VAN

With Three Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

The heroine is little Phenie, whom her father, Jonathan Redmoor, takes with him to travel about the country in his basket van.

"There are plenty of incidents in the tale to interest the reader, and, as such a story should end, Phenie finds her right place after all."--SCHOOLMASTER.

UNCLE IVAN

With Three Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

"Uncle Ivan" gives a striking and eventful picture of life in England and Russia some forty years ago; together with some insight into the methods of the Russian Government for dealing with political crime.

"A charming book, and one that must give pleasure to boys and girls, not to mention any of their elders who may take it up to pass an idle hour."--SATURDAY REVIEW.

SILVER STAR VALLEY

With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

In this story Miss Bramston gives a striking and vivid picture of life among a mining community in the Rocky Mountains. The concluding chapters furnish a brief account of the great social and religious improvements that eventually took place in Silver Star Valley.

"Miss Bramston's story is spirited and interesting throughout."--SATURDAY REVIEW.

BY C. R. COLERIDGE

Author of "An English Squire," "The Girls of Flaxley," &c.

FIFTY POUNDS

A Sequel to "The Green Girls of Greythorpe," &c. With Four Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A sequel to "The Green Girls of Greythorpe," showing what became of the principal characters in that story after they had grown into young men and young women. The interest of the present story, however, to the reader is in no sense dependent on its predecessor, but rather of a kind likely to suit elder boys and girls.

"The book is very bright, the story never flags."--GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY ASSOCIATES' JOURNAL.

THE GREEN GIRLS OF GREYTHORPE

With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A story of an old endowed institution that has come under the notice of the Charity Commissioners, who decide that a reorganisation and extension of the school is necessary, and that the education it affords must be brought into harmony with modern requirements.

"The story is very prettily told, and, although quiet in tone, contains a full share of incident and interest."--STANDARD.

MAUD FLORENCE NELLIE

Or, Don't Care. With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo, bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A story, showing how a veritable scapegrace of a boy, Harry Whittaker, and his careless sister, Florrie, are gradually brought to see the costs that may be entailed by the spirit that says "Don't care" to every gentle correction of a fault.

REUBEN EVERETT

With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

Miss Coleridge's "Reuben Everett" is the story of "a truant bird, that thought his home a cage," and describes the early days of training colleges and railways in England.

"'Reuben Everett' is a story remarkably true to life."--RECORD.

BY MARY H. DEBENHAM

Author of "Our New Prentice," &c.

FOR KING AND HOME

With Three Full-page Illustrations, by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

Of the rising in La Vendee during the great French Revolution, and of the adventures that subsequently befell a well-to-do family there, together with an English cousin Dorothy, who was staying at the chateau at the time.

"The events are well combined and cleverly conceived."--MANCHESTER GUARDIAN.

MISTRESS PHIL

With Two Full-page Illustrations by C. O. MURRAY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

"Mistress Phil" is Phillis Juliana Cheviot, and the story describes her stay at Waltham Cross in the year 1760, and the results that followed from it, giving also some lively pictures of mail-coaches and highwaymen.

"A book good enough for anybody to read, of whatever age."--SCHOOL BOARD CHRONICLE.

A LITTLE CANDLE

With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

Miss Debenham's story is concerned with Scotland in the stormy days of Claverhouse. The "Little Candle" that throws its gentle warming beams on all around her is Bride Galbraith, who, by her tenderness and grace, comforts and softens the time of trial and affliction.

"The character (of Bride Galbraith) is a very beautiful one, and Miss Debenham has drawn it with exquisite touch."--PUBLISHERS' CIRCULAR.

FAIRMEADOWS FARM

With Two Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

The scene is laid in Hampshire about the time of Monmouth's rebellion. The story gives some vivid pictures of the opening at Winchester of Judge Jeffreys' harsh campaign against the rebels, and of the clouds that hung over the neighbourhood for a time in consequence.

"A simple yet capitally related story, and the pathetic features are very effectively realised."--LIVERPOOL COURIER.

ST. HELEN'S WELL

With Two Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

"St Helen's Well" is a story of events that followed the rising in 1745 in favour of the Young Pretender.

"The perils and hardships of the adventure are graphically described."--GUARDIAN.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "STARWOOD HALL"

KING'S FERRY

In the Days of the Press-gang. With Three Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STAGEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

Concerning a certain ship's doctor who came to Weymouth in press-gang days, and, staying at King's Ferry, tempted Simon Lydgate, the ferryman, to do wrong; of the punishment that fell on Lydgate, and of the joy and peace that followed the home-coming of his boy, Wat.

"Like its predecessors, this volume is full of picturesque pictures of old life and manners."--TIMES.

JOAN'S VICTORY

With Two Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 1s. 6d.

Descriptive of a young woman of quick, passionate temper and stubborn purpose, and of the means by which a young child unconsciously brought her back to her better self and helped to soften her heart.

"Admirably detailed. Joan is really a very powerful psychological study."--SPECTATOR.

PECKOVER'S MILL

A Story of the Great Frost of 1739. With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

A story of a Jacobite conspiracy that was on foot in the time of the great frost of 1739, showing how Silas Peckover came home from abroad and took possession of the home of his forefathers, and how the sweet womanliness and honesty of Mistress Ruth influenced him for good.

"Silas Peckover is a character quite worthy of Ainsworth."--ACADEMY.

CHRIS DERRICK

A Stormy Passage in a Boy's Life. With Two Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

This story supplies some lively sketches of what a mutiny often led to at the beginning of the present century, and of the narrow shifts that smugglers ran in escaping from the revenue officers.

"A spirited story of adventure."--SPECTATOR.

STARWOOD HALL

A Boy's Adventure. With Two Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s.

A stirring story of how an honest boy fell into the clutches of a band of highwaymen, or "gentlemen of fortune," in the middle of the last century.

"The pictures of rural manners ... strike us as being extremely life-like."--TIMES.

BY ESMÉ STUART

Author of "The Little Brown Girl," "The Belfry of St. Jude's," &c.

THE SILVER MINE

An Underground Story. With Four Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

An account of life on the rocky Devonshire coast, an unsuccessful attempt to reopen a disused silver mine, and a long-standing family feud between the Redwoods and the Pennants, with the incidents that served to bring it to an end.

"A very bright, attractive story. The children are natural, and the style is fresh and spirited."--JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

THE VICAR'S TRIO

With Five Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d.

The story of how young Lord Faulconbridge, a peevish and irritable boy, is brought to see that the rank and wealth with which he has been endowed bring with them equally great responsibilities.

CAST ASHORE

With Four Full-page Illustrations by C. J. STANILAND. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

It was little Mona, who was cast ashore on the North Lancashire coast, after the total wreck of the ship in which she was travelling under the care of her father's servant, Hanson. How the unprincipled Jephtha Toppin afterwards lures her away, with a view to earning a reward, and how she is eventually rescued--both are told with considerable power and vividness.

"A most exciting and yet perfectly wholesome tale of adventure."--BANNER.

FOR HALF-A-CROWN

With Four Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

Half-a-crown is the price that Mrs. Chemmo, a retired housekeeper living in the cathedral city of Hedderstone on an annuity from her former mistress, pays for a little waif, Natalia, to an Italian colony in a squalid Portsmouth alley.

"There is a freshness and brightness about the book which too many of the books for girls in which religious sentiments are at all introduced lack very wofully."--PALL MALL GAZETTE.

CARRIED OFF

A Story of Pirate Times. With Four Full-page Illustrations by J. F. WEEDON. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

It was fearless Harry Perm, the son of an Essex yeoman farmer, who was "carried off" by Captain Henry Morgan, the famous buccaneer, and his men, to the West Indies, where the Spanish settlements are attacked, and adventures in plenty follow.

"Miss Stuart has gone with the times, and has given us a vigorous and well-told story of the days of the buccaneers."--STANDARD.

BY M. E. PALGRAVE

Author of "Under the Blue Flag," "Miles Lambert's Three Chances," &c.

IN CHARGE

A Story of Rough Times. With Five Full-page Illustrations by W. S. STACEY. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 3s.

A stirring story of the days when smugglers were in plenty and free-trading (as it was called) was in full swing.

"Full of incident and interest, very pleasantly told, and breathes an excellent spirit throughout."--WESTERN MORNING NEWS.

A PROMISE KEPT

With Four Full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo. bevelled boards, cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d.

A story with a lofty purpose, showing the amount of self-denial that is necessary in those who leave their home and kindred to engage in missionary work in far-off lands.

"Its tone is elevated and serious. Its purpose is to show the need of aiming at a high standard of life, and the failure of those who only dream noble things."--NATIONAL CHURCH.

LOST ON THE MOOR

By "TAFFY." With Frontispiece. Cloth boards, gilt, price 1s.

The story of Little Jack, how he was lost on the moor in a thick fog through his brother's disobedience, and how he was found and finally restored to his home.

"An evening will be very pleasantly spent and attended with much good in reading this interesting story."--SCHOOLMASTER.

NATIONAL SOCIETY'S RECENT PUBLICATIONS

THE LIFE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

Illustrated from the Italian Painters of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Centuries.

A Preface has been furnished to this volume, on the Growth of Religious Art in Italy, by Mr. F. T. PALGRAVE, who has also added Critical and Explanatory Notes on the Pictures and their Painters.

Richly bound in cloth boards, bevelled, gilt edges, price 15s.

The Church Quarterly Review says: "This book is a perfect gem.... It is, indeed, a relief to turn to such matchless designs as these. It would be impossible to speak too highly of the knowledge of the history of art, the elevation of thought, and the elegance of style which Mr. Palgrave displays."

The Spectator says:--"The drawings are executed with much skill; and the chromo-lithographic process is here employed with delicacy and success. Mr. Palgrave's notes are pertinent and instructive. His Introduction is able and eloquent."

The Academy says:--"This is a very beautiful book, and the chromolithographs with which it is adorned, or rather, which are illustrated by the text, reflect great credit on the care and skill of all concerned in their production."

The Athenaeum says--"Byway of preface, a highly intelligent and critical essay on the growth, aims, and developments of religious art in Italy by Mr. F. T. Palgrave. Each well-weighed and thoughtful sentence is worth reading. The general purport of the book is well represented by the title. Mr. Palgrave vouches for the beauty of the drawings made by Mr. Goodall, from which the chromolithographs were taken.... A very ambitious effort has been extremely successful."

The Portfolio says:--"The eloquent and informing preface and the critical notes on the pictures by Mr. F. T. Palgrave, are addressed to an adult and cultured audience.... The literary part of the volume deserves more careful consideration than is usually accorded to letterpress penned to accompany even high-class illustrations."

The Art Journal says:--"A work which should be the most popular, as it must be the handsomest, of Christmas books bearing a religious character.... Twenty-four wonderful little chromo-lithographs from drawings made on the spot.... The volume is in every way a beautiful one."

THE STORY OF THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST. By R. E. H. 2s. 6d.

THE STORY OF THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST. By R. E. H. 2s. 6d.

THE STORY OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST. By R. E. H. 2s. 6d.

THE STORY OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. By R. E. H. 2s. 6d.

Each of the above four Volumes is illustrated by Six Pictures from the Italian Painters of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Centuries.

NATIONAL SOCIETY'S DEPOSITORY, SANCTUARY, WESTMINSTER.