these subjects before going to rest. Little rest indeed fell to my lot that night, for the dark looks and dagger of the man whom Miguel had made his enemy for my sake, came ever between me and slumber.

'In the morning, Miguel departed with his wagon, under the promise to return soon, if it was in his power. I had never before felt so much anxiety at his departure, though, when I told him so, he smiled at my fears on his account, and shewed me his double-barrelled gun, calling it his sure protector. Nothing occurred for two days afterwards, though, during that interval, many fears came over me relative to the possible return of the traveller-the man who had so hurriedly disappeared. Our household at this time, it is to be understood, consisted of my father, a lad who assisted him out of doors, and myself. This lad went always first to rest, my father next, and I last. After they had both retired, on the second night from Miguel's departure, I closed the door, and went into my own little room to seek repose. But I had not yet undressed myself, when I heard a noise, seemingly outside of the house. I listened, and heard it repeated, nearer at hand as it appeared to me. Though much disturbed, I resolved to satisfy myself that there was a true cause for alarm before I called my father. With this view, I took up my light, and went into the kitchen, when I saw a sight that rooted me for an instant to the spot. The under part of the window had been raised, and a man, having got in with his feet foremost, was in the act of extricating his head and shoulders from the window. I, unguardedly, screamed, and fled in the direction of my father's sleeping-place; but before I had gone a few steps, I found myself in the grasp of the man who had entered, and who dragged me back into the kitchen. A faintness came over me, when, by means of the light which I had dropped on receiving the first alarm, I discovered that my captor was the traveller of the former day. He gave me a look of such triumphant malice, mingled with more hateful feelings, as made me shudder. Meanwhile, one man after another entered rapidly by the window, to the number of

six, as it seemed to my confused senses. "Oh! my poor father! what is to be our fate?" was my first thought on seeing this; and so oppressive was the prospect to my spirit, that I received a temporary relief from all care by sinking into insensibility.

'How long I lay in this condition, I cannot tell. It must, however, have been a considerable time, for, on recovering my consciousness, I found my father hanging over me, in the state in which he had been dragged by the ruffians from his bed. The poor youth who lived with us was there in the same condition. Besides, the wretches had had time to discover and seize the little money and valuables which had been gathered by my father, the fruits of his long toils. Matters were in this state when my father raised me. I clung to his breast almost unconsciously, to preserve myself from the grasp of another who stood by me-the traveller-or rather the chief of the robbers, for such he seemed to be. "Divide, divide, men!" said he; "for me, I will take nothing; this is my prize!" laying his hand at the same time upon my shoulder. "Oh! Miguel, Miguel!" was the thought that passed through my shrinking soul at that instant, "little knowest thou what Inez is now suffering!"

'Look at that open space, sir,' said my hostess at this part of her story, pointing at the same time to the endwall of the kitchen where we were sitting. A portion of the space above the level of the side-walls was open, being evidently an entrance into a hayloft that lay over the stable of the auberge, and which stable was continuous with the dwelling, the whole being of one story. As I thought upon Miguel at that awful moment,' continued Inez, my eyes-as my head lay upon my father's shoulder-were raised to that space, and there I beheld the head of Miguel! It struck me at first that my excited fancy had conjured up an illusion, and I closed my eyes for a moment. It was well that I did so, for the thought that the image was a deception, gave me time also to consider that a word or a scream would betray him, if what I saw was real. All this passed in an instant. Again I

opened my eyes, and I saw not only that Miguel was really there, but that he was about to attempt something for our delivery, for his gun was stretched out before him. He motioned to me with his hand, and I understood his motion and his purpose-his terrible yet necessary purpose!-I bowed my head low, and, in another second of time, a sound as of thunder filled the apartment, followed by groans and curses. Another reverberation almost instantly followed, and amid the smoke which filled the room, I saw nothing, though I heard my brave Miguel leap down into the chamber, shouting (to deceive the robbers, doubtless, respecting the number of their assailants), "Here! this way, my friends! Down with the plunderers!" I beheld some of the latter escaping from the room by the way they had entered, and all was erelong quiet!

"What a scene, however,' continued my hostess, whose emotion was greatly excited by what she described; 'what a scene, sir, this place where we now sit presented after that awful struggle! Two men, killed by one ball, lay prostrate on the floor, and another beside them mortally wounded, so well had the weapon been aimed. Miguel's first thought, after pursuing for a short way the men who had fled in fear and confusion, was to close the house more carefully for the night, the remainder of which we spent in thanking Heaven for our deliverance. Miguel informed us that, having procured a faithful substitute at the town of Ai, he had rapidly retraced his steps on foot, being oppressed with fears for us, arising out of the late adventure with the traveller. When he reached our house, he had discovered the state of things through the window, which had been but partially closed by the robbers after their entrance. He then went to the stable, burst open the door, and was in time to save us, as has been described.

In the morning, the lad was sent to Ai, to bring the officers of justice. When they came, the poor wounded wretch (to whom we paid every attention) was still living to disclose the fact that the six men, of whom he had been one, composed the band who had for a time annoyed

and plundered the country, and that the traveller, one of those who had fallen by Miguel's rifle, had been their captain. When I stooped my head, the bullet had passed over me to his heart! The bodies were removed from our house, and an anxious search made in the neighbourhood for the other three. They were all ultimately taken, and punished.

"The fastenings of the window,' continued the hostess, 'by which the robbers had entered, must have been secretly loosened by their captain on the day when he was our guest, with a view to future plunder. For his courageous conduct in destroying this band, Miguel received the thanks of the whole country. But, alas! sir, my poor father never recovered from the shock which he got on this occasion. He lived, however, to see Miguel and myself united, and then he died happy. Although none of the band concerned in that attack are any longer to be feared, yet can you wonder, sir, after this relation, that I should sometimes tremble when the recollection of these things comes across me, and when Miguel is abroad at night on these lonely hills?"

I paid the comely Inez many compliments on the bravery of her husband, which the affectionate wife blushed with pleasure to hear. Such was the story, gentle reader, which I heard in my wanderings among the lofty Pyrenees.

THE BRAGGE FAMILY.

THE accession in 1820 of the Hon. Augustus Theophilus Bragge to the property of a maternal uncle in a central English county, caused a prodigious sensation. Mr Bragge was the younger brother of an Irish peer, and having been previously limited to a very small income for the support of a large family, had been one of the first persons to repair to the continent after the restoration of the

Bourbons, in order to educate his daughters with less expense than would have been incurred at home. This circumstance, however, did not transpire, and he entered upon his estate with all the éclat of his connection with an old baronial family, unalloyed by the stigma of previous poverty. The eldest of Mr Bragge's growingup daughters had reached her twenty-second year; the youngest was about fifteen; there was a baby besides, and three or four sons. All the girls were remarkably handsome; their beauty was of that striking and attractive kind which is recognised at once, and cannot be disputed. The three elder girls were out, the fourth coming out, and the two others ready to come out whenever a marriage in the family should afford a vacant seat in Mrs Bragge's carriage.

Thirty-two years ago, the quiet society of the English counties was comparatively little acquainted with foreign manners. The admiration, therefore, excited by the Misses Bragge, was not unmingled with surprise. Their natural vivacity, aided by a French education, rendered them very different from the pattern young ladies of their circle. Fortunately, they were very good-tempered and obliging; and though they waltzed, to excess, and wore shorter petticoats than ever had been seen before, it was only the very rigid and censorious who ventured any disparaging remark. Mr Bragge commenced his career in England by keeping open house. He made no invidious distinctions respecting his visitors, receiving all comers with a hearty hospitality worthy of old times. The family took possession of the estate in the month of August, and immediately a scene of festivity commenced, which lasted without intermission until the return of the season called them to London. Such riding, and driving, and picnicking to every place in the neighbourhood where there was anything to be seen! It was thought nothing to go fifteen or twenty miles to a ball; and the intention of the Bragges to be present was sure to congregate all the beauty, fashion, and bachelorhood of the vicinity.