net was re-adjusted, and we proceeded in a body to the sheep-fold, which, after we had divested the old ram of his bell, we laid open, driving the flock, as well as the darkness permitted, towards Mark's Gate. It was a service of some difficulty, and we were obliged to employ all our band upon it, excepting two, who chose to watch the nets rather than enter the wood. One was the Smasher, who had objections which he did not trouble himself to explain; and the other was the Skulker, who had a remarkable antipathy to steel-traps.

We brought our forces safely to the Bloody Gate, and, when we had scattered them well through the bushes, set the dogs on to drive them down the hanging. The poor animals were wofully alarmed at such unusual proceedings, and bounded in every direction like wild things, the dogs still pressing them nearer and nearer to the net. Many of them were hung by their wool in the brambles, making noise enough to rouse the country, and our apprehensions caused us to follow up the rest at a rate which tore our clothes from our backs, and almost skinned us alive.

At length our journey was performed, and our party, men and sheep, dashed at once into the clover field, amidst the crying of a world of hares, and the more tremendous exclamations of "Julius Cæsar!" My hair stood on end, and I gave the word to run for it; but it was too late, for the rattling of cudgels had commenced, and I received a salute on the crown, from some unknown hand, which laid me sprawling. This was just the thing for me a thump always made me courageous, and I was on my legs in an instant. I could not, however, follow up my enemy so well as I wished, for we were in the midst of the flock, which were bouncing between my legs, and tripping me up, every instant, with the net in which many had entangled themselves. The rest fared no better than I, but rolled about and swore and banged away till the watchword was totally forgotten, and not one of us knew friend from foe.

Amidst this Bedlamite confusion, and baaing, and squealing, and barking, (for Imp and Fiend enjoyed the fun too much to remember their instructions), I was flung a summerset,

which deprived me of my cudgel, and, in the next moment, I found myself locked in an embrace which had nearly finished my career. I was too good a pupil of the Smasher's to be at a loss how to act, and I commenced operations upon my opponent's countenance, which speedily suggested an alteration in his tactics. I was released from his grasp, but, at the same time, received a visitation on the eye, which, I felt, had marked me for a month at least. In a furious attempt to retaliate, I found my eyes were fated to be a match, and three or four more blows, placed ad libitum, nearly smothered me in my blood, and felled me to the earth, with the weight of my adversary full upon me. I felt that he was double my own size, but it would never do to be taken prisoner, and I struggled desperately. He was an unmanly fighter, and beat me on the ground long after I was incapable of resistance, and, indeed, I think, long after I had ceased to be sensible of what was going forward. How the war ended I know not.

My first sensations of life were awakened by an uneasy sort of motion, like that of being car

ried upon some one's back, sometimes with my head and sometimes with my heels downwards, just as it happened to suit the convenience of my companions, and occasionally by a variety of bumps and jolts, as if I were being thrown over hedges, and eventually rattled over a rough road in a cart without springs. My ideas upon the subject, however, were extremely dim; and all that I could collect and surmise was, that I had several bones broken, and was probably on my way to the cage.

After a time, I felt myself removed from the cart and flung down upon a bundle of straw, in which situation I was agonized by the glare of a strong light which was held to my face, and seemed to pierce my brain, without enabling me to distinguish a single feature of the figures which were swimming around me. The words which were buzzing in my ears were equally unintelligible; and the neck of a bottle, which was forced into my bleeding mouth, appeared to spout liquid fire down my throat. I be-. lieve I made an endeavour to cry out, and the restorative was abandoned just as I was at the last gasp; after which I sank into a kind of drunken torpor.

The light was taken away and the voices ceased, and I was left to puzzle out, as I best might, whether I was dead or alive. The next four or five hours were, in idea, the most eventful of my life. I know not whether I was asleep or light-headed, but my imagination pictured me in the cage, with "Live and Repent" painted in large letters over the door, and all the little dirty children in the village peeping at me through the iron bars. Presently the appalling coach and four of my uncle and cousins drove up, and I was again saluted by my christian name, and all the kind and killing inquiries which I had undergone in the morning, without the same energy of replying. I endeavoured to hide myself under the straw, like a rat, but it did not answer. My uncle surveyed me with a cool smile and a dignified hem!" So, Mr. Oliver Cromwell," he began, "you have brought yourself to much honour ! I wish you joy of your temple of fame! Your aunt cannot, of course, think of enjoying so much undue credit as the company of a gentleman who has been peeped at through the gratings of the cage, and who will probably be