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in iron, with his sinewy form braced, his thin lips compressed, and his eyes flashing as none had ever seen them before. * ‘Wait!’ was at length his warning. ‘Come her* by me, and wait and watch.’ Both the trapper and Cnrtiss did as be de sired, and after a few moments of silence they saw the objeet of their search creeping cau tiously along the dangerous path that wound like a serpent up the mountain, and upon her back, with its little arms twined around her neck, was the child. , , ‘Now may the Lord forgive me, whispered the trapper, as he slowly raised his rifle and aimed with great care. ‘May the Lord forgive me ef I kill both on ’em; but— ‘Is my brother a fool ?' asked the Indian, with far more temper than he usually displayed. ‘He would be certain to kill the little one. but his bullets would fall upon the other as harmless as summer rain upon the oak.’ •Wal, I believe yer right, Buffaler. There would be greater danger shooting ther child, that arer fact; and he reluctantly lowered his weapon. •Can we not go up by different routes and surround her?’ asked the poor,distracted father. The Indian shook his head Badly, but offered no resistance to the plan which they soon found impossible to carry out, for there was but one path to be discovered. Still, they thought it might be possible to crawl softly along, and either surprise the mysterious woman, or drive her into some corner, from whence she could not escape. This appeared to be the only chance; and availing themselves of everything that would screen their movements, they crept onward and upward, silent as death. But it was only rarely now that they could obtain an uninterrupted view. Their progress was, of course, very slow; and when, after a long time,—an age, it seemed to their anxious hearts—they once more caught a glimpse of the weird woman, they saw that she was sitting amid the gnarled branches of a tree, rocking, and apparently singing to the child she now held to her breast. And that sight was as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts. The darling lit tle one was as yet safe. But how long would it remain so ? If the trapper and Buffalo Hoof were correct, she was only playing with it as a eat would with a mouse before its destruction— charming it as a serpent would a bird. ‘By heaven! lean endure the suspense no longer!' groaned the parent. * It is horrible- horrible! Let us rush forward.’ But still the Indian counselled moderation and craft. By patience and watching, he thought they would find an opportunity when the strange nurse was away, to steal the child ji.nd make good their escape, and so they toiled ilowly and cautiously onward. • I should judge from the lay of the land, whispered the trapper, ‘that she warer sittin’ on er broad rock.’ • My brother is right, replied the Indian. • Then, if we kin git on er level with it, thar may be a chance for us. And by dint of at least two hours of extreme exertion «bev did accomplish it—did reach the very base of the rock; and by raising themselves up with their hands they could distinctly see the faces of both woman and child. The latter had but little interest for them—they had seen it a thousand times before, but the former riv eted their attention. It was that of a young female m the very prime of girlhood, and wondrously beautiful, despite the dark olive of the skin. There was anything rather than a savage expression about the small mobile mouth, or wildness in the in tensely black eyes. If a witch, she had adopted or been gifted with a face that would have shine. ' I never saw so beautiful a face in all my born days!’ was the honest expression of the trapper. • But I’ve often heard it said that the devil kin look jest as he’s a mind ter. I wish the thing would turn eround so as that we could see whether it has claws fer hands in reality. It’s got er hide like er gray mounting wolf, anyhow, and —’ Incautiously bearing his entire weight npon a stone that hung upon the brink above him, it became loose, fell, and he was hurled back wards, and would have been dashed to pieces had not a tree intervened between him and the steep precipice. As it was, he could not repress an exclamation of terror; and when his compan ions looked from him to the rock again, they saw that it was unoccupied, though they could hear wild, ringing laughter floating on the air above them; and springing npon the table-rock, they examined it long|and carefully. But there was little to satisfy their curiosity. There were evidences of various kinds—fuel and the embers of a fire —the relics of baskets and rude cups—a broken bow and arrow—a tattered moccasin and pieces of skin to show that it was a favorite resort; but that was all; and they eag erly sought and followed the trial that led still higher. Yet lor hours they toiled—toiled as only strong men could have done, without gaining another glimpse of the startled woman, and the trapper cursed in his inmost heart the accident that had betrayed their presence. Still, there was some thing widely fascinating injthe chase, and though the watering sun warned them that evening was drawing nigh, no one thought of turning back. They were determined to follow the trail to the end, lead where it might. ‘There is but one peak above us,’ said the In dian, as he paused for a moment to rest and wipe the large beads of perspiration from his swarthy forehead. -When we reach that we shall know all, or—’ ‘Nothin’!’ answered the trapper. ‘But as I live, I hear some one singing. Hark!’ •It is the tongue of the Dacotahs,’ replied Buf falo-Hoof, after some moments given to listen ing. ‘She is singing as the squaw sings to the little pappoose when she hangs its cradle npon the branches of the trees, and leaves it to be rocked by the wind.’ •Then it ar er devil, in reality.' 'It is one of the many forms of the evil spirit,’ was the answer, and again he led the way as silently as before. Another period of toil, and they reached the bald summit—a flat rook, or rather a series of rocks, large enough to have held the most exten sive building ever erected by the hands of man, but destitute of herbage save a few sickly lichens, and some stunted moss. Bat on the very verge of this—and overlooking a descent of thousands of feet—for the face of the mountain at that point was perpendicular—sat the wild woman, tossing up the child as calmly as its own mother would have done when seated by the hearthstone of home. •My God!’ BaidCnrtiss, as his eye drank in the terrible danger of his darling. And well might he call apon Him, whose bow of promise was bent in the heavens above him, for aid. Well might he pray for help to that high source from which help alone could come. A single false movement of the arm — a single qniver of the muscle—a single movement ofthe eye—and down, down headlong the child would be hurled, to be dashed into a thousand atoms, an unrecognizable mass, npon the ragged rooks below. Horrible indeed ! and the limbs of the father trembled under him like aspen leaves' •very drop of blood left his face and curdled around his heart—his pulse forgot to beat, and * breath to ebb and flow. Could a oorpsehave been placed there, it would not have looked more ghastly. But the little child clapped its tiny hands, and its laugh came to their ears—a laugh sweet as a silver bell at any other time — harsh and unnatural now. Wildly its little clustering carls, too, were tossed about—they conld see the red upper lip and cheek, and the merry sparkle in its eyes. It was a rare enjoyment for her—she knew noth ing of the danger -but torture the most intense to the lookers-on—torture in which all of a life time was condensed into a single instant. Even the hardy trapper and stoieal red man thrilled as they had never done before. Within a score of rifle-lengths, and yet impotent to save, they stood almost breathless. A single sound might be the knell of the dread doom they fear ed. If disturbed, would she not either let the child fall by accident, or dash it down in re venge ? And thus they stood—how long they conld never tell, for life at such a time is not to be measured by the movement of the hands npon the dial—stood until the woman, apparently tired of play, sat the ohild down beside her. Then the Indian, as the most subtle and noise less of all, undertook to creep forward and res cue her, the trapper, in the meantime, keeping her abductor covered with his rifle. Half way of the distance was passed without discovery, and the whole might have been so, had it not been for the child herself. Turning her head, she saw the creeping red man—knew him, call ed him by name. It was the death knell of all hope! Quick as lightning she was clasped in the arms of the skin-dressed woman, who, starting up, ran lightly along the dizzy brink tor a little distance, and then disappeared over its fearful brow. In an instant the Indian had reached the spot, and was looking down into the gulf below. He fancied that he could seethe waving of garments—fancied he could hear shrieks of fear, commingled with groans; bnt it was not all fancy. Of the reality he conld know nothing until he again reached the bottom. But of one thing he was certain—one sound not to be mis taken. It was the wild, terrible exclamation that rung from the father’s lips as he fell insen sible: • O God ! My child —my child!’ Without giving him a thought, the trapper rushed forward to the side of the Indian, and lying down so as to bring his face npon a level with the rock, he looked over, and at the same time began qnestioning. ‘Whar did she go ter, Bnflaler Huff?’ he asked. ‘ Down !’ and the Indian pointed tc the dim regions below. 4 What, jumped down ?’ ‘Unless she vanished into the air, or had wings to soar away like a bird.’ ‘ And yer saw nothin’ when yer fust looked over?’ ‘ Nothing but shadowy objects such as I see now.’ ‘ Wal, they look as much like the birds as any thing; but no one kin tell from this ar distance. But did you hear nothin’?’ ‘ No more than I hear now. May the good Manitou take the spirit of the little papoose into his keeping, and may it dwell forever among the bright flowers of the happy hunting-grounds. ‘ Amen !’ replied the trapper, reverently; ‘but I am determined ter take er good look when I git ter ther bottom ergin.’ ‘The catcher of beaver may find the child of the pale-face, but he will find no trace of the wolt-woman.' ‘ No, I s’pose she has got er new body by this time, and is racin’ and rendin’ through the woods. But come, Buff tier, we must go and takekeerof the suBjjg^ Such' a"ihl'ck much more quickly than those of sterner mould and it was a long time before they conld revive Curtiss sufficiently to be able to attempt the de scent Even then they were obliged to assist him—at times almost carry him—and their pro gress was almost as slow as the ascent had been. But the river reached, they crossed without dif ficulty, and soon were by the side of those who were anxiously waiting their return. ‘ Have you found my child ? Ob, tell me, have you found her?’ was the first question of the mother. ‘No,’ answered the trapper; ‘yer see, ther trail that leads up ther mountains is mighty dif ficult to travel, and the night came on before we’d looked as much as we wanted ter;’ and then he instantly turned the subject, and con tinued, while the poor husband and father look ed the thanks he had no voice to speak. ‘ How’s ther sick man er gittin’ along, Mrs. Curtiss ?’ ‘ Very well indeed. An Indian woman brought some game here, and I was able to make him some broth that he appeared to relish, and which strengthened him considerably.’ ‘An Ingun woman?’ ‘ Yes, a young squaw, and a remarkably hand some one, too, though she was dressed some what strangely.’ ‘Dressed how?’ ‘ Entirely in skins. I wish you had been here, Buffalo-Hoof. Perhaps you might have been able to talk to her. I could not understand a word she said.’ ‘Did yer see her hands?’ ‘I did not notice them. In fact, the sleeves of her singular garments were so long as to cover them. ’ ‘I thought so,’ whispered the trapper aside to the Indian, and then continued, aloud, ‘ How long ergo was she here ?’ ‘Oh, along time ago—shortly after snndown.’ ‘ And brought some game, yer say ?’ ‘Certainly. Here is ^omeof it still,’ and she pointed to where a couple of hares were lying. ‘I don’t hardly believe that she kin have be witched these ar things. Anyhow, I’ll run the risk, ’ thought the superstitious trapper, as he picked them up and began to examine them closely, to discover the marks of teeth and claws. ‘Ihey haint thar,’ he continued, disappointed, ‘and they’re just as nice rabbits as I ever saw trapped; and trapped they war, or rather snared, for here is the marks of the strings. ’ ‘ But you have not told me anything about my lost child.’ ‘ Wait er minit Did the sick man see the squaw, as you call her?’ * No, he was asleep. But my child — my ohild!’ ‘I told yer we didn’t find nothin’ of her,’ and he turned away, grumbling about being angry. He could not answer—the Indian had not the heart to do so; how, then, could it be expected of the father ? Far better, perchance, that the mother should forever remain in uncertainty as to the fate of her darling, than to learn that which wonld hereafter make life a horror. (TO BB CONTINUED.) (From the “Boys and Girts" of the Booth.) THE WANDERING BOYS; The Adventures of Bold Ben and Timid Tom. Note.—This installment of the “Wandering Boys’’ is so exceedingly interesting and complete within itself, that we give it to our Sunny South readers this week. CHAPTER IV. JOHN TBUSTY RECOGN1ZBS THE HUBDEBEBS OF HIS MASTER AND MISTBESS. Ralph Murdoch and his wife had barely recov ered from the shock caused by the sight of Ben, when the party we left on the road at the end of the last chapter, entered the gates of the magis trate’s dwelling. The guilty pair were standing moodily at the window as the cortege approached. The first objects on which their eyes rested were Ben and Tom in the custody of the consta bles. As though spellbound they continued to gaze. Conscience thundered in their ears terri ble accusations. It seemed as though, after fourteen years, their deed of blood had risen from the grave to con front them. „ w But they were n<?-“ u f%ig in crime, and reason came to their assisWme/ ‘ Why should we fear those boys,’ murmured Ralph, in a low tone, * even though they should be the children we thought dead? It is impos sible they could recognize us.’ ‘ But,’ suggested Rosanna, ‘ the children conld not have saved themselves. If they live, it is probable their preserver lives too. It is he whom we have cause to dread.’ ‘ I cannot bring myself to believe that they can be the children of Richard Carston. And yet the likeness is most extraordinary. At all events, since they are here, we shall be able to learn the truth without risk of discovery.’ At this juncture they were summoned to lunch. They found Mr. Grindell Bnmpus in a great state of indignation, eating and drinking as fast as possible. ‘It’sall I shall get tiN dinner,’ he said, apolo getically, ‘ and I have a case to try that will re quire all my physical energies. ’ The magistrate thrust Ike leg of a chicken into his mouth with one hand, and ponred out a glass of port wine with the other. ‘ Is it a case of robbery ?’ asked Mr. Murdoch, * No,” replied the host, with his mouth full. ‘It is one of the most aggravated and brutal cases of assault I ever encountered. You must hear the case. But sit down and have some lnnch first’ . Neither Ralph nor his wife felt disposed to eat, but in order to avoid remark they ate a few mouthfuls and drank several glasses of wir e, in order to brace their nerves. ‘ You are both interested in this case, ’ con tinued Mr. Bumpus, puffing and blowing with the exertions he was making over his meal, ‘since your nephew is one of the plaintiffs.’ ‘ My nephew!' exclaimed Mr. Murdoch. ‘Yes, indeed !’ returned Mr. Bumpns, ‘and my son 6us is the other. The ruffians have mal treated them both shamefully,’ the magistrate went on; ‘but my unfortunate boy is in a fear ful state. In fact, painful as the idea is to a parent and a—a—magistrate, I’m terribly afraid it will terminate fatally. A man requires sup port, Mr. Murdoch, when he is about to try a couple of murderers!' ‘Yes!’ they murmured, somewhat startled by »*- - niAoriatrate's last words: At this moment ‘jP*ioor opened, and Blinker appeared. 1 ‘Ev’rything’s ready, yer worship,, said the functionary, applying his forefinger to his fore head respectfully. The magistrate growled like a hungry dog over his bone, and then inquired, sharply : ‘Is Foozle here?’ Mr. Foozle is ’ere, sir,’ returned Blinker. ‘And has my injured son been brought home?’ ' As to what men are considered most marri ageable by the feminine sex, Jenny Jane says: “A poet, if he is presentable, stands perhaps firsi. on the list, women patting a much higher pecuniary estimate on poets than editors are apt to on their productions. Editors are also in demand, and literary men of any stripe fetch a pretty good price, some women having a sort of reverence, mixed with their curiosity, eon- oerning the fourth estate. When the Senate passed the silver bill, the noses of some of those Eastern fellows went up as if they smelt ninety-two scents. A young woman who has been arrested at “"“V 110 ’ Pennsylvania, for bigamy, declared tbat.she married her first husband “only in fan.’ ‘ Master Bnmpus 'as been brought ’ome, sir, and your good lady hev been a washing of him, ’ the constable replied. ‘\ery well, say I’m coming,’ exclaimed Mr. Bnmpus, as he rose hastily. ‘Now, my friends,’ said Mr. Bumpns, ‘if you are ready, come with me. All friendly, social and even paternal feelings for the present must be set aside, and giv^ place to the Brutus-like stoicism of the magistrate.’ Having delivered this with an oratorical flour ish and a wave of the hand, Mr. Grindell Bum- pus led the way to the justice-room, followed by his visitors. On entering he’found Mr. Foozle, the clerk, seated at the table, surrounded by a pile of books, and the two constables standing bolt up right, apparently guarding a small door at one end of the room. The magistrate seated himself with impressive dignity, and Mr. and Mrs. Mur doch withdrew to a xecess where there was a window, and shrouded themselves behind the curtains. For a brief space there was a profound silence. Then the magisterial voice exclaimed, in sonor ous tones: • Let the plaintiffs enter !' Blinker, whose duties seemed to be numerous, left the door he was guarding, and, approaching another of larger dimensions, opened it and held up his finger officially to some one without. Almost simultaneosly, doleful wailing sounds became audible, shuffling of feet was heard, and there entered in procession Master Philip Rank- ley, looking very unlike himself, Mrs. Bnmpus, and two domestics, carrying the lat but suffering heir of the Bumpuses in an arm-chair. The party having arranged themselves, the magisterial papa, having put on his spectacles, looked toward his owi flesh and blood, and, not being able to see anyt ring of his features from the patches of brown Gaper, steeped in vinegar, with which they were covered, turned his eyes npon the other plaintiff. But paternal anxiety conld not even then be entirely controlled, and Mr. Bnmpns, looking across at his better half, said, in a tone of awful significance; ‘ Is it life or death, Cordelia ?’ ‘I don’t know, I’m sure, Grindell,’ returned the matron, with a sob; ‘life, I hope, but—’ ‘It’s a cooker forme, I know,’groaned the wounded hero. *Oh! oh, my boil!’ These words recalled the magistrate to him self. In an instant he was marble, and evinced his adamantine conditioa by ejaculating, ‘ Order!’ ‘ Order!’ echoed Blinks. ‘ Bring in the defendants,’ exclaimed Mr. Bumpus. In an instant the small door was opened, and Ben and Tom were harried very anoeremonioas- ly into his presenoe. The magistrate looked sternly through his spectacles at the lads. Ben returned the gaze calmly. Tom was less self-possessed, and looked pale and nervous, and had two bright pink spots on bis cheeks from excitement ‘ Now,' exolaimed the magistrate,’ let me hear this case. And, first ate there any witnesses !’ Blinker, just for form’s sake, ran his eye round the walls and looked up at the oeiling, end, seeing nothing of the kind there, replied: ‘None, yer worship.’ Bess and Rose Glanville had followed, bat had been roughly scowled from the gate by the con stables. ‘. Ben was aware of this, and sa.u: ‘ If yon please, your worship, there are two—’ 'Silence, sir!’ snapped Mr. Bumpus, very fiercely. • Two voung girts, who can prove— ‘ Silence, I say!' roared the magistrate. In the midst of these ejaculations, the large door opened, and Gipsy Bess and Rose, who had been admitted by a good-natured cook, glided in so softly that no one perceived them. ‘If,’ continued Mr. Bumpns, ‘these young girls von speak of witnessed this assult, why are they not here!’ • We are here,’ said Bess, quietly, as she ad vanced with her companion. * The magistrate glared at the new arrivals, and then at the constables, who were utterly con founded at the audacity of the young witnesses who dared to come forward after bieng express ly told by them to go about their- business. ‘Eh! why! what the—’ Mr. Bumpns palled himself up short and instead of finishing what he was going to say, inquired gruffly. * And so you were present at this dreadful affair, eh —eh?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ returned the girls. ‘Umph !’ grunted the magistrate; then turn ing to Philip Rankley, he said. ‘Now, sir, let me hear your statement.' That fast young gentleman, whose lips were so swollen that he could hardly speak, com menced his deposition in a tone remarkly sug gestive of a mouth full of plums: ‘I was riding quietly along the road, when I met that young lady,' he said, pointing to Rose as he spoke. ‘Well, yon mother. What then?’ demanded Mr. Bumpns. ‘I a—spoke to her—a—civilly,’ continued Master Rankley, with some little hesitation. ‘ But he didn’t speak to me civilly,’ interposed Rose, ‘he behaved very rudely, indeed, and wanted to kiss me.’ The young girl’s face blushed crimson as she uttered the words, to whieh Master Rankley in stantly gave the lie. ‘It's nothing of the sort,’ he said; ‘how could I have kissed her when I was on my pony? Gas there knows it isn't true.’ • No, no, it s all false !’ moaned Augustus. ‘It's quite true,’ now joined in Bess, ‘for you got off your pony and held Miss Glanville’s hands, and so did Master Bumpus. He held her too.’ *Oh! oh ! oh I’cried Master Bumpus, in a tone of virtuous horror. ‘I'm sure I didn't. I never thought of such a thing.’ ‘But 1 saw you myself,’ persisted Bess, boldly, ‘I saw both of you. It was that made me come to her help. You were both holding her when I pulled you away.’ Rose strengthened the evidence by saying : ‘Here are the marks of Master Rankley's fiD- ; morrow.’ gers on my wrists still. ’ ) *1 say no! cried the magistrate, fiercely; ‘the As the young girl spoke she advanced and i law must not be outraged with impunity, there- held oat her arm to the magistrate, who peered | fore say no more. Come, Cornelia, come, down upon it through his specs like some an- j Mr. Murdoch, dinner is waiting.’ ' i As Mr. Bumpus spoke, he dashed aside the curtain that shrouded his visitors. Old John Trusty, at the sound of one of the names he heard, stood suddenly transfixed as though he had been stricken with paralysis. With haggard, trembling eyes, he glanced round until his gaze rested upon Ralph Mur doch and his wife. Then a fearful change came over him. His eyes glared wildly, and he gasped for breath. Then from his quivering lips burst forth an agonized cry of terror. ‘There ! there ! he shrieked, ‘I see ’em ! don't let 'em come near me! I’m an old man, an' feeble, but I'll die for my dear master's children, for all that! They shan’t ’art ’em ! I saved ’em c~~~ "-'’T'D gave ’em still! Ben, Tom, keep away ! Keep away, my dear boys : l*o ’ go! anywheers, but don’t come ’ere!’ And as the old man finished his wild ravings, he sunk down npon the floor, foaming at the mouth. Every one present, but two, thought John Trusty was insane. No one was told of what he was speaking, or to whom he allnded. The magistrate gave hasty directions that the imbecile old nuisance should be sent home, and proceeded at once to the dining room. Ralph Murdoch and his wife paused a moment, and looked at the unconscious sufferer. ‘Poor old fellow !’ murmured the former; then adding in a low tone to himself, he must he looked after.’' he followed his friends. * I must come in, I tell 'ee. My name be Trusty John Trusty, an' I be sure his wosbup will listen to me.' These words were distinctly beard by Mr. Bumpus, and by two otner persons in the room. The former lookeff flashed and indigna nt, the latter pale and apprehensive. Before any steps conld be taken to stop the intruder, John tottered in as hastily as he e mid. Yery much changed indeed from the John Trusty of fourteen years before. Then he was a strong, hearty man. Now he was a gray-haired, decrepit creature, with trembling limbs, and thin, nervous voice. John had never been himself since the night of the conflagration. But still, changed as he was, Ralph and Ro sanna Murdooh recognized him, and trembled inwardly with a great fear as they did so. ‘ Your wursbip! your warship!’ were his first exclamations as he staggered forwa. d. * W-w-w-what is the meaning of this irregular ity ?’ gasped Mr. Grindell Bumpns. ‘ I want my boys, my dear boys!’ cried old John, piteously. ‘I 'eered as they’d been brought afore yer warship, an’ I come t’ speak a word for ’em. They be good boys, your wor ship!’ ‘ Can’t attend to von now. The business of the court is over for to-day. ’ * But wheer be the boys?' asked the old man, looking around anxiously. ‘They’ve committed a breach of the peace, and being amenable to the law, they will be locked up till to-morrow,’ explained Mr. Bum- pus, very grandly. ‘No, no! Not locked np! Don’t say that!’ wailed John, clasping his hands, entreatingly; ‘two of the best boys in the ’ole world.’ ‘But I do say it!' returned the magistrate, sternly. ‘Who are you that dares dispute my decision ?’ ‘I be John Trnsty,’ exclaimed the old man, ‘and—’ •Very well, then, Mr. Trnsty, interrupted the potentate, ‘you should have brought up your sons in—’ ‘They bean’t my sons !’ cried John, excitedly; ‘they be no poor man’s offspring. They be young gentlemen as I brought up from infancy, and taught ’em to behave as sich, and they’ve no right to be locked up. What ha’ they done to desarve it ?’ 'You’ll know that to-morrow !' exclaimed Mr. Bumpus, who then shouted: ‘Blinker! Corks!' But the constables were on the road to the cage with their prisoners, and did not hear him. Old John continued, pleadingly : ‘Don’t lock the poor boys np, sir, don’t! It’ll break their sperrits, it will. Let ’em go home with me. and I promise I’ll bring ’em here to- cient owl. The evidence seemed decidedly against the plaintiff, and Mr. Bampns was beginning to feel bothered and irritable. ‘It seems to me,’ he said, in a growling tone, ‘that we’re going away from the point altogether. Foozle !’ he shouted, banging his hand violent ly on the table. •Your worship!’ ejaculated Foozle, who was in his first doze, and who awoke with a start. ‘I say we’re going away from the point !* ‘Yes, certainly your worship !' murmured the clerk, with a very indefinite idea of what he was talking about—‘miles away.’ ‘No, your worship,’ said Ben, respectfully and correctively, ‘we’re just coming to it.’ ‘Hold your tongue,'snarled Mr. Bumpus. speaking to Miss' t-rlanvThe,''Ynar’gi^s/ sprang npon me, and fastened her nails in—in my jacket.’ ‘ I didn t touch you until you made her scream by pinching her wrists, like a coward,’ exclaim ed Bess, boldly, ‘and then you threw vour arms around me. It was just at that time Master Ben came up.' ‘Yes, I did, corroborated Ben, in the most an imated manner possible. ‘It’s quite true, your worship. When I got to the spot Master Rank- ley was holding Bess, and your son was strug gling with Miss Glanville. So I knocked one into the ditch, and dropped the other in after on the top of his companion.’ The face of the magistrate grew crimson, and every pimple on his nose purple at the audacious confession. ‘Well, of all the brutal assaults I ever heard of!' gasped Mr. Bumpns at length, ‘this is a—a the—a—most brntal. ’ Suddenly an idea struck him. ‘Was there water in the ditch?' he enquired hastily. ‘ Yes, it was half full!’ cried the plaintiffs, in one voice. Of course!’ triumphantly exclaimed Mr. Bumpus, who felt he had got hold of a strong fact in his favor; ‘a clear case of malicious at tempt to—to inflict serious bodily injury.’ Augustus at this juncture seemed to revive slighly. ‘It was that light-haired ruffian,’ he wailed plaintively, pointing to Tom, ‘that pulled me off my pony and knocked my two front teeth down my throat. See here, pa!’ As he spoke he extended his month from ear to ear, and displayed the cavity where his teeth had been. The indignant magistrate shuddered at the vacancies and then scowled at the light-haired ruffian fiercely, until poor Tom felt inclined to sink into his shoes. ‘You’re a pair of juvenile brutes!’ he exclaim ed, at length. ‘ I'm sure they’re not,’ said Bess and Rose, to gether, warmly; ‘they saved ns from brutes.’ * Hol d y°ur tongue, you girls!’ shouted Mr. Bumpus, violently, ‘and don't attempt to speak here, unless you’re spoken to. ’ ‘ Order!’ cried Blinker and Corks. The magistrate then settled himself in his chair, looked amazingly wise, scratched his ear, and went on profoundly: ‘ Having listened to this atrooious case with the deepest attention, I—a—can only arrive at one conclusion—ahem! ‘ I find that the penalty for such willful out rage is—a am’—Foozle! what is the penalty ?’ ‘Decidedly, yonr worship,’ returned Foo zle. Both magistrate and clerk were evidently in a fog, but just at that momenta sober-minded looking individual entered, and whispered something in Mr. Bumpos’s ear that seemed to have some allusion to dinner. ‘Very good, Jobson,’ said the magistrate, in a tone of relief. Then turning to the plaintiffs, he added, with impresive solemnity: • ‘ ? r i 8 ' ollflr8 *1 the bar, you have already occu pied the attention of the ooort beyond the usual limits. Therefore I shall reserve—a—termina tion of yonr case for a second hearing, and in the meantime you will be locked up.’ Ben and Tom looked greatly soared at this un expected sentence. ‘ yonr worship, we didn’t give the first offence, or strike the first blow,' pleaded the former, his &oe flashing indignantly. ‘You will be locked nptillto-morrow,’repeat ed the magistrate, doggedly. ‘Blinker remove the prisoners:’ There being no farther appeal, the boys were named oat of the room through the samall door by the oonstablea. Just then a alight tamnlt was heard without end the voiee of an old man wae heard: CHAPTER V. IN THE CAGE. Ben and Tom were ignominiously and unjust ly hurried off to their lock-up, there to be con fined nntii the following morning. The building where they were confined was about three quarters of a mile from the big house, where the magistrate lived, and stood on the outskirts of the town. It was rather a solitary spot, where prisoners had plenty of opportunity for contemplation and reflection. At first the boys conld scarcely realize their position, the novelty of which caused it to look like a romantic adventure rather than any tliag more serious. * However, as the excitement of their recent affray cooled down, so in proportion did the ro mance fade away, and their situation began to assume a disagreeable aspect Nor was the place in which they were confin ed calculated to cheer their spirits. It was a brick building, plastered on the in side, and the walls were rendered unpleasantly suggestive by the numerous names that had been rudely scratched upon its„surface by pre vious tenants. The floor was of stone, and the light was ad mitted by a single window guarded by iron bars. The afternoon sun had passed away from the cage, which now stood in the shade, and there was a silence and coolness about everything, that was depressing and chilling. For some time, our heroes sat still on the nar row wooden bench that partly surrounded the interior, with their backs against the wall, oc cupied with their own thonghts. At length Tom spoke. ‘ Do you think we shall be hung, Benny ?’ he asked, innocently. ‘ Hung !' echoed Ben; ‘ what for ?’ , ‘ the Y do han 8 people for murder, don’t they? inquired Tom. 'Yes; but we haven't murdered anybody, have we ? said Ben, in a tone of inquiry. ‘Well, no; at least we didn’t mean it to be murder, Tom replied. ‘ But we’ve given those young gentlemen a regular licking, and if they were to die, it would be looked upon as the same thing, wouldn’t it ?' ‘ Oh, they wont die 1’ exclaimed Ben, with a little contempt in his tone; ‘why should they?’ 'I don’t know,’ answered Tom, seriouBly- ‘ only pe jple do die after fighting sometimes.’ Not that I think Master Rankley will, though both his eyes are puffed up, and his nose and lips swelled so. Bnt I don’t know what to think about Master Bumpus. I knocked out two of *® th \.“V* h « .“id he’d swallowed them, and fhe did, they might stick in his in dear V*** mortif y perhaps, and—oh, At this terrible prospect, poor Tom turned quite pale and shuddered vehemently, wholly unable to finish the sentence. * .* were both to die,” interposed Ben, • it would almost serve them right Not that I wish them any harm. Bat they’re only a couple of; (Continued on 5th page.) ** ^