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~—’- VOLUME I. | BY C. R. HANLEITER, [POETRY buonaventure, by star-light. BY HENRY R. JACKSON. Along a corridor I tread High over-arched by ancient trees, Where, like a tapestry o’er head, The gray moss floats upon the breeze ; A weary breeze which kissed to-day Tallulah’s fulls of flashing foam, And spotted in Toccoa’s spray— Brings music from its mountain home! The clouds are floating o’er the sky, And cast at times at fitful gloom, As o’er our hearts dark memories fly— Cast deeper shade on Tatnall'a tomb; While glimmering onward to the sea, With scarce a rippling wave at play, A line of silver through the lea— The river stretches far away! And ’tis the hour when stars above Reflect the spirit’s inner light, And the lost Pleiads of my love Are kindling in my heart to night. I hear a foot-fall on the sand, I feel an arm within my own; Full often in a distant land, I’ve listened to that trembling tone. Night darkens into deeper shade, As on with solemn pace we stroll, I hear tire teachings of the dead Like sacred music in my soul! “Solivc and act, while thou art here, “ That when thy course of life is done — “ Above the stars thou may’st not fear “ To meet thy father’s facd, my son © !L T L[E □ For the “Southern Miscellany.” THE BURGLARS. The night of the twenty-sixth of March, in the year 1523, was remarkably bright and clear. The moon did not add her beams to its brightness, but the stars were out in all their glory, shedding a soft and silvery light o’er field and forest. Upon that night our B tory begins. The day had been unusually warm for the season, and at an early hour after its close, Edward Arden, a young gen tleman, merchant, residing in the upper part of the county of Morgan, having closed his store, and fastened it well with “bolt and bar;” sallied out, to enjoy in a short stroll, the bland air of the evening. Passing the house some short distance up the road, at which he boarded, he proceeded but a short distance beyond, when he joined Miss Mary Osborne, ar.d her sister, who had both gone out a moment before, to take their accus tomed evenirlg’s walk. Daylight was quite gone when the parties returned tothe house, where supper awaited their arrival, and his was quickly dispatched, and Arden, after a ten minutes colloquy with Miss Mary, return ed to his store, to calculate the profit and loss of the day. Judge what was his con sternation, when having reached the door, he found it standing ajar. The burglar had done his work! On entering, and kindling a light, be found that the bar reaching across the door, had been ingeniously removed, by inserting a crooked iron through an old key hole in the door, and forcing it up, so that it fell from its place. On looking round lie discovered that the small trunk in which his money was usually deposited, was gone ; and upon examining further, he ascertained that a spelling book, in which was kept the mon ey arising from the daily sales of goods, and which contained about sixty dollars, was also gone. This book he bad carefully inserted between two pieces of flannel upon one of the shelves of the store, and when be foutid # that it was gone, bis suspicions were imme diately aroused, and as readily fixed upon a certain individual who had a few evenings before had some money changed, to pay for some small article, and who had seen him take it from its biding place. None of the goods were gone—the money seemed to be the only object with the thief. His suspi cion once aroused in reference to the man whom he suspected, he resolved at once to go to his dwelling, which was not more than a mile off, and demand the return of the money, and in the event of its refusal, to shoot the supposed thief upon the spot. — Having armed himself with a gun, he start ed, but did not reach the bouse before his prudence dictated another and a better course. The plan which he adopted will be seen in the progress of our story. Belonging to Squire Osborne, the gentle man with whom he boarded, was a negro man, named Phil,a shrewd sensible fellow, but withal rather tricky. Phil was in tli& habit of waiting or. Edward Arden at night, doing small menial offices, such as bringing water, blacking shoes, &c. He bad return ed to the store but a few minutes before Phil came to do his accustomed work. The bucket of water was brought and set upon the table, and the brushes and blacking de posited ready for the boots, when Arden turning suddenly round—for lie had been writing—and facing the boy, rather abrupt ly asked him how long it had been since he had seen Mr. Strain ? “Me!—me see Mr. Strain?—why bress your soul Mas Edard, I haint seed him since he bought datpinto’ rum hefe, last Saturday r.ight.” Well, Phil, he has been here to-night, and has broken open my store and robbed me of one hundred ar.d fifty dollars, besides some clothes.” “ Law hab mercy on poor nigger!—why, a jFamUij : DcUotcfc to &sriculture, jaeenauCcss, Education, jToreicw auR ©omesetie XuteUCfieuce, *cc. Mas Eel a rd, why you no catch him, if you see him break open de house?” “ But I did not see him, I was at the house, at supper, and when I returned 1 found it broken open, hut no body there.” “How you find out Mr. Strain break ’em open den, if you no see him do it.” “ I know lte did, or had some hand in it, because some money has been taken from a place which no one knew any thing about but him. I recollect that on the night he was here buying the rum, he saw me get it from that place, and put it hack again, and I remember now he watched me closely when I put it back. That money is gone.” “ Well, dat look mighty ’spicious, 1 declar —why you no go to he house, and tack hint wid it.” “Oh, he would ofcourse deny it,and then I would be at the end of my row. I must try some other plan. How would you like to make ten or twenty dollars, Phil?” “Ten or twenty dollars!” exclaimed the darkie, his eyes open to their utmost limit at the thought of making such a round sum. “Why you know nigger like it prime. But how I gwitie make all dat, Mas Ed ard.” “ Why, I’ll tell you, but before I begin, you must promise to keep it all a secret, for if you don’t, you can’t get the money. Doyou think you can keep a secret Phil ?” “ Law, Mas Edard ! you jist projickin-. wi tne, case I’se a nigger.” “ No, I am not, Phil, you are a negro it is true, but just now I think you can do me some service, if you think I can trust you with the secret, and if you do the ten dollars are yours. Can I trust you, do you think ?” “ Oh, yes sir, be sure you cat); and now I find you arnest, you tell me all you want —you find Phil close as wax.” “ Well, you know old Isaac that belongs to Major has been runaway some time ?’’ “ Yes, Massa.” “ You know he is a grand rascal, and has been suspected of breaking open several houses lately ?” “ I been hear dat bout old Isaac, but me no know for sarttn.” “ Very well, then. I believe this old fel low, Isaac, knows who has broken open my store. He has been seen lately in this neigh borhood, and the thing I want you to do, and which I will pay r you well for doing, is to put me on a plan to catch the old scoundrel; for I think if I can get hold of him, I shall get on the track of my money ?” “Oh, Mas Edard, dat never do. Brack manmust never tray his own color—spose he find me out, he play de dehhle wid Phil? — No, Massa I fraid to do dat.” “ Well, hut you forget that it can never he found out, unless you or I tell of it—and I promise you I will not.” “ Me no tink of dat, for true —hut I tell you Mas Edard, nigger what lib in de woods mighty cunnin.” “ I know that very well, and T know also that you can put me in the way to catch him before two weeks pass by. If you do. I’ll pay you well, and promise you never to let any body know any thing about it. Now tell me, will you do it, or not ?” The negto stood for several minutes in a deep study, his hands tlnust into his breech es pockets, arid his head declining so low, that his chin rested upon his brawny chest. At length slowly raising his head, he went to the door and looked out —not satisfied, he walked all round the house, and again came in and closed the door, and addressing Ar den, said “ You promise to gib me de ten dallar ?” “ Yes, I promise you.” “ And you gib Phil your solemtary word, you neber tell a libin soul dat lie do it ?” “ I’ll promise all that, my hoy, and now what do you say ?” “I say I’ll do it—l’ll tree him fore Satur day night, de old runaway—ho ought . Listen, you no hear notin.” “ Nothing at all—did you ?” “I speck it a hog or a cow.trampin round here—but I gvvine home now. I bring you de news of old Isaac fore long.” And with a chuckle at the idea of the re ward he was to get, Phil bowed himself out of the room, and departed homewards. It was the fourth night after the events detailed above occurred, that Arden, who had communicated the fact of the robbery to no one hut the negro Phil, was standing by the roadside not a great distance from his store house. He had been there hut a little while, when lie heard the sound of ap proaching footsteps. He withdrew farther into the shadow of the wood. Soon two men, engaged in a low conversation, passed by. ITe heard some words, but not enough to gather their full import—enough, how ever, to induce him at once, to hang upon their path and follow them. Ileknewtltcm well, and knew them as associates of Strain, whose name he distinctly heard one of them mention as he passed by. They were go ing.too,precisely in the direction of the cabin where Strain lived, and by the exercise of caution lie hoped to be nble to learn some thing that would throw some light upon the robbery. After they had passed on some distance, lie emerged from his retreat and followed them, being careful to keep far enough behind to prevent his font-fall being heard. In this way. keeping the two men in view, he pursued them nearly a mile, when they reached the cabin of Strain. The two men paused at the fence, and uttering a loiv whistle, the dooi of the cabin MADISON, MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA, SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 26, 1842. was soon opened, and a stout heavy built man came out and joined them. This was Strain. A short consultation ensued, after which the three started off in company, keep ing the direction and the Aiad the two first were traveling. Arden still followed. Ten minutes more brought them to a cross-road, md turning down to the light they were soon at the door of a small house, with a pi azza in front—kept as a grocery, or more properly speaking, a whiskey-shop. The door was shut, thousrh the light from within shone through the cracks, and more than one voice was heard in high glee. A word and a knock from one of them had the ef fect of opening the door, and all having en tered.it was again closed. Edward Arden, waiting a moment to see that all was clear, made a short circuit to the left of the road, and approached the house again from the rear; stealing cautiously up, he gained a position, from which, through an aperture in the wall, he could perceive all that pass ed within. When iie first looked in, the three men, whom he had followed, were each engaged in quaffing a glass of liquor, which seemed to he but the prelude to other matters. — There were two other men in the room be sides. One, tiie owner of the premises, an old man, well advanced in years, and judg ing from the complexion of his face, and the rubicund appearance of his nasal organ, one would suppose him a “ tip top” customer at his own bat, and well qualified to be the agent of his sutanfc majesty in the grog and liquor department. The other a young man from Tennessee, a drover, fond of drink and lather green, who having sold out his stock partly on a credit, was in the neigh borhood, collecting, preparatory to leaving for home. lie was at the grocery by acci dent. We need not tarry long in the des cription of the other three, whom we have seen in the datk. The light revealed three countenances, however, such as are rarely to be met with in a day’s journey. Strain himself, who, perhaps, was the liest looking, had a real hang dog exnression of counten ance, which always caused a close observer to form the most unfavorable opinion of him. One of the others by the name of Watkins, was a low heavy built man, about forty years of age, with an eye too timid to hear the gaze of another; whenever he spoke, he did so with a down look, as if fearful that his eye would reveal the deep villainy of his soul, The last, by the name of Walsh, was a tall rawboned man with a treacherous blue eye, and a gash across his upper lip, which gave a hard expression to his features. The interior arrangements of the room were about such as are to he found in all cross-road dram-shops. A few shelves on one side, on which are deposited various specimen of goods, wares and merchandise, to wit; a few bolts of homespun, a few of calico, a dozen or two of cotton handker chiefs, a small lot of barlow knives, a half keg of tobacco, a few kegs of liquor alrea dy “on tap,” a lot of jugs, and a stock of pipes and playing cards. Those items made up the usual stock in trade, and mainlycom prised the stock of the present owner, Use liquor, however, being by far the most abun dant. One after another of the company treated, and drink after drink was guzzled down, until the crowd began to grow quite lively, —especially the Tennesseean, who being younger than the rest and not so whiskey proof as they, coon began to manifest symp toms of drunkenness. About this time Strain and Watkins withdrew into one cor ner cf the room and held a slant consulta tion, in a low voice. Happening to be near the point at which Arden was watching, he overheard all they said. They proposed and agreed to engage the Tennesseean in a game of cards, and “ ease” him of what loose change he had about him. Their plan being arranged, they again joined the other at Hie counter, and Watkins called for an other drink. While it was being prepared, lie turned to the Tennesseean and asked him, “ Yv T hnt’s the reason the Georgians can always beat the Tennesseeans so badly playing cards ?” “ Who says they can do it ?” quickly asked Tennessee. “ Oh, 1 have heard several persons say so, I thought every body knew that.” “ Well, here’s one that don’t know it,” said Tennessee, steadying himself in an upright position, holding on at tha same time to the counter, “ I’ll be dast if I ever seed a mail that could beat me at old sledge.” “ Would you like to bet any thing at that game,” said Watkins, “ with a man that learnt it in Georgia.” “ Devil the hit do I care where he learnt it; I’ll hack my judgment on that game with any named nag in these diggitts, and stake the priziririctum right tip. What do you say to that, stranger —do you go the stripe ?” “ Why, I was only joking,” said Wat kins, “ I am a poor hand at the game—any body can beat me that can play at all.” “ Backed out, by jux,” said Tennessee, with a Kwaggor, “who’s afraid—l dare you to take a game with me. I’ll learn you the Tennessee cut and shuffle, to the tune of high, low, Jack, beg, gift and the game, by gum —do you come it ?” “ Well, I don’t care if l do take a game or two with you, if you’ll promise to learu me that trick in the game.” “ Look here, stranger,” said Tennessee, “ that learning will bo somewhat expensive to you, but if you are willing, here goes— lend us a deck, will you (addressing the pro prietor) till I give this gentleman a few les sons. What will you bet ?” “ Bet!” said Watkins, his eye fixed upon the Tennesseean like that of the snake when watching the effect of his charm up on the unwary bird who is unconsciously drawing nearer and nearer to his devouring jaws—“ Bet! why you don’t want to bet any thing, do you ?” “ Don’t I, though ? Do you think 1 would set down and shuffle over these here spot ted papers, just for the fun of the thing ? you’ve barked up the wrong tree this time I can inform you, stranger, if them’s your sentiments. If I play, I bet—if I don’t bet, 1 don’t play—that’s Hat—” “ Well, if that is the condition of the game, why, just to learn a little, I don’t care if 1 do go you a quarter .” “ Whew ! a quarter —no, no, stranger, this here child don’t waste his time for such small matters. If you’ll say a five, then, we’ll talk about it—five dollars a game, noth ing less.” Watkins appeared to hesitate some time; however he at last agreed to try one game, just, to learn a little. A small table was drawn out into the floor, and a candle, stuck into the mouth of a black bottle, placed in the centre, flanked by a decanter of whiskey. An old greasy pack of cards, that seemed to have undergone hard usage, was produc ed by the dram-seller, and having seated themselves on opposite sides of the table, they staked the money, and at it they went. They cut for the deal, which was won by the Tennesseean. lie took up the cards, and catching them between his thumb and fingers, drew them together with a rattling sound, and proceeded to shuffle them after the most approved Tennessee fashion. “ Now,” said he, slapping them down on the table, “give ns a cut, a real Georgia cut —and then I’ll show vou how to turn up Jack.” The cards were cut by’ Watkins, and the usual number for a game of “Old Sledge,” were dealt out by the Tennessean, and, as luck would have it, a Jack uas turned up, sure enough. “ There, now,” said Tennessee, “didn’t I tell you so ? You see 1 know a thing or two. How do you like your hand ?” “ Not very well,” observed Watkins, “but I shall get a better next time, when I deal myself.” The game went on—card after card was played until each trick was won or lost, and on counting up, Watkins had one, and Ten nessee two, which, with the Jack, counted him three. Watkins proceeded to shuffle the pack, which was cut and dealt out as before, and the game played, and won by Tennessee, who held high, low, Jack and the game.— He gathered up tle money with a flourish, swearing he could beat any Georgian that ever trod shoe leather. He declared lie was born with a pack of cards in his hand, and that it come as natural to him as sucking did to young ducks. “ And now, stranger,” said he, “have you another one of those Y’s that you haven’t any particular use for ?” Watkins staked another five, and again the game began. And the money was won by Watkins. Another five is staked—anti lost by Tennessee. He curses his luck, and takes a drink. Strain all the while stood looking over the shoulder of the Tennesse an, and giving item to \V atkins. As they played on the young man became excited at liis repeated losses, forthey already amount ed to more than fifty dollars, and pulling out his pocket hook, swore he would lose all, or win back that already lost. He pro posed to hot fifty dollars on the next game, ami pulled out the money. It was covered by Watkins, who now saw that lie had him in his gtasp. He deliberated a moment, to determine whether he had better win the stake, or let the Tennesseean win—hut as the latter was already sufficiently excited and sufficiently drunk, not to discover that the cards were regularly stocked upon him, he resolved to win the game. The fifty dol lars followed the fives into Sam Watkins’ side pocket. At this point the Tennessean again swore roundly—cursed his luck, and cursed the cards. ‘Taking up one of them, and examining it closely, he declared that it was marked, and called for another deck. The old dram-seller produced anew pack, and at it they went again, but with the same success—until at length the young man be coming desperate at his repeated losses, opened his pocket hook, gathered up its contents, and threw them on the table with an oath—•‘now,”aid he, “cover that.” The stake was his last, and amounted to three hundred and twenty dollars. Wat kins covered it with a like sum, and the game proceeded. During the progress of tne game, the Tennesseean observing Wat kins hesitate a moment in his play, lilted his eyes quickly upon him, and perceived that he was watching someone behind him, and suddenly turning round, lie caught Strain in the act of giving item to Watkins by signs. Enraged at the discovery, he gathered up all the money on the table, and swore that he had been cheated and swindled. A reg ular row ensued, in the course of which, Tennessee was knocked down, the money taken forcibly from him, And himself uncer emoniously thrown out of the house. He cursed, and raved, and swore ; Vint the door was closed, and after exhausting his vocab ulary of expletives, he was forced to pocket his losses and leave the premises. It will be well to say, however, that he succeeded some days afterwards in recovering back the greater portion of his money. After the Tennesseean hail left the house, and gone off, and the incidents connected with the game atid the row had been duly discussed, over a half pint of white faced whiskey, the party proceeded directly to the business which bad brought them together. And now Edward Arden was all eyes and ears, Imping that something might be said, that would shed some light on the robbery, and give him some legal hold upon the vil lain who had perpetrated it; for he verily believed Strain was the man. The parties sat grouped together around the table, engaged in a low whispering con versation for more than an hour. They were evidently digesting some scheme of rascali ty, hut what it was, he could not satisfacto rily discover; they were too habitually cau tious, even at that late hour to speak above a whisper. Detached words, end portions of sentences he did hear, stul putting “that and that together,” he came to the conclu sion that they were about to engage in some regular and concerted plan of thieving. The name of the old negro Isaac was mentioned more than once, but in what connection he could not readily perceive ; and the compa ny broke up without his being able to learn any thing satisfactory in reference to his money, or with regard to the intentions of the men. Before they left the house, Ar den had slipped from Lis place of conceal ment, and regained the road, resolved to be ahead of them, so that he might gain a se cure hiding place near Strain’s cabin, where the men would separate, hoping that ere they parted, someone less cautious than the rest, might still say something that would lead to a discovery. He succeeded in reach ing the place before them, and was scarce ly concealed when they approached. They were still engaged in conversation, when having reached the fence they paused ere they separated. Strain remarked— “ We must use the utmost caution now, else we shall he detected—it is a dangerous business. We have money enough now, and in a few days more l shall be ready to lie off’, and give me but two days the start and I won’t ask the devjl any odds. Be sure to meet me at the rendezvous , on Saturday night, for by that time I shall be ready to start.” His two Companions promised to meet him, and they separated each for his home. Arden soon followed, still unsatisfied, hut re solved to foil them yet. But where was the rendezvous at which they were to meet on Saturday night ? That was a question much more easily asked than answered, and he puzzled his brain a long while before he slept that night, trying to solve the mystery. About 8 o’clock the night after the occur - rence of the events above detailed, Edward .Arden was sitting in tlte back room store closely engaged in writing. A low lap at the door aroused his attention. “ Who is that 1” said he. No answer— but the knock was repeated a little louder. “ Who is that ?” lie asked again. No re ply being made, he snatched up a hammer which he had kept near his bedside ever since the night of the robbery,and approach ing the door cautiously removed the bar, and opening it just far enough to look out, he saw the boy Phil, who spoke as if in a great hurry saying— “ Mas Edard, I come to tell you old Isaac will he at Mr. It ’s.gin house sometime to-morrow night. You go dar you cotcli him sure null—l must he gwine, I hear horse foot cotnin up de road.” “Hold—stay a minute,” said Arden, hut Phil was off raid gone before the words were uttered. “ That’s a sly dog, that Phil—he is afraid of his own shadow, and dreatls lest anyone should see him with me, for fecr the part lie has taken should be suspected ; well he is t ight, for he would fare but midiing among the negroes if he sliould be found out; hut I’ll take careofthat. But bow shall 1 man age to catch old Isaac ? 1 have as yet told no one of the robbery, and this circumstance alone may induce the thief to believe that I have set some scheme on foot to detect him, and make him more watchful. Pit go to bed now, and devise some jilan before morning.” By the time it was liglit, the following day, Edward Arden, mounted upon a fleet horse, was on the road to town. A ride of ten miles brought him to it. Alighting at the Hotel—which at that time stood on the west ern corner of the ptibiic square, but which has since been Inirned down—be enquired of a smartly dressed young mau standing iu the door, if Mr. Campfield was in? That gentleman himself, from within the bar, responded, “ Yes, he is here, what there is left of him,” ai:<l at the same time came forward, proving by his appearance that whatever portion of him had come up missing, there was qpite enough of him left for all the or dinary. uses of flesh and blood ; for he was tall enough, and thick enough, and broad enough, certainly giving a personal demon stration that he fed well, ami grew fat up n wliat he ate. But why consttso; time iu the description? Every (tody-knew.ofl (“utter Cuinjbield, and those ovdo kuew him ocat, esteemed him most. It was to him Arden | NUMBER 30. W. T. THOMPSON, EDITOR. had come in his present difficulty; and he was the very man for him. They were soon engaged in a close and confidential conver sation; in the course of which the young man told him all the facts with which the reader has been made acquainted. The old gentleman remained several min utes in deep thought, chewing with energy a huge quid of tobacco, which received a constant addition from a large plug, which, for convenience he held in his hand. At length discharging a torrent of the express ed juice of the weed, thickly sprinkled with the fragmentary particles of the aforesaid quid, hesaid, “ Well, my son, this is a pretty serious business, and requires looking after—have you told any body else about it ?” “ Not a soul.” “ That is right, you have acted wisely; ‘too tr.nny cooks spoil the broth.’ Do you know where Mr. It ’s gin house isT” “ Oh, yes, very well.” “But do you think you know the place well enough to find it in the dark. We must catch that old negro, Isaac, for I have no’doubt if we can, we shall he able to find out from him where their rendezvous’ is, which, I think, when found, will prove to he some den which they have mode, for the purpose of hiding the negroes, whom some of the clan, I know, have long been suspect ed of harboring.” “ 1 think I shall l>e able to guide you with out difficulty—hut had we not better have one or t wo others along ?’’ “Yes, two more will he enough. Get some person in she neighborhood on whom you can rely,to meet meat youi store house at dark, and I will bring a yonugman along with me. If we succeed in catching Isaac, we shall then have the game all in our own hands.” “ I think so,” said Arden.” And now as we have arranged the matter, I will return, hoping that you will not fail to be with me to-night.” “ You may expect me certainly by dark, or a little after, with a good hand along with me.” Arden returned home, having called on the way to see a young friend who promis ed to be up that night, and aid in the cap lure of old Isaac. After dinner he became restless and anx ious upon the subject which had been en gaging his attention for the last several days. He feared they might fail in catching the negro, and if so, the plaee of the rendezvous would still be unknown. lie walked the piazza in front of his store uutil he was wea ry with the place. At length, having no customers about, he closed the doors, and shouldering his gun, plunged into the woods near by, resolved to enjoy a few hours of solitary rambling that he might better col lect his thoughts and arrange his plans be fore night. He soon arrived at the margin of a large creek which was at no great ins tance from the store, and paused a moment, deliberating whether to proceed upor clown the stream. At length he determined on his course, anil turniqg down he struek off at a rapid walk. He continued his course, following the meanderings of the creek for more than a mile, when, coming to a place at which a rocky hill jutted boldly up to the very brink of the stream, he was compelled to clamber up the sides of the precipitous ascent, or go tar out of his way to make the circuit of the liiJL He chose the former alternative, end when on the top of the ridge, he seated himself upon the ground to test awhile, as the toiling up had lieen somewhat difficult. If any of my readers have ever been upon that ridge, they will recollect the fine view which it commands of the sur rounding country. The creek itself, wind ing along through the lowlands* fringed with tangled vine, and changeless green, now hid beneath the overarching bower, and now gliding out into the open day, flash ing brightly in the sunlight, was an object well calculated to fix the eye, and enchain the attention of the lover of the beautiful in nature—and beyond, the undulating forest, just recovering f.omthe frosts of winter, and beginning Ur deck itself in its gay and green apparel, with here and there a broad open ing in its Irosom.tnade by the industry of the farmer, marked off into various fields by the rude worm fence, with now and then an orchard, budding and blossoming into beau ty —all conspired to give tone and character to the scene; and Arden gazed long and mutely upon the prospect spread out be fore him. He had been thus silently drink ing in the beauty of .the scene before'him for perhaps an hour, when shouldering his gun to renew bis wanderings, his eye rest ed upon a thin line of smoke, curling up from u deep hollow which lay at the base of tho hill upon which he was standing. His position gave him at a glance the entire command of the whole ravine, and of the hill side opposite, and yet he could not for the life of him perceive from whence it came. What could it mean 1 Could it ho that he had falleu upon the very place tire loca tion of which he was so anxious to discover) The sun was still high in the heavens, and he sat down again, resolved patiently to await the development of the mystery. Ho had been reseated not more than fifteen min utes, when he perceived a portion of th& earth near the place fiom whence the Smoke seemed to issue, slowly rising up, and pre eutl , t lie head and shoulders of a large, black negro man were forced, upwards and outwards, until ha drew himself clear out