quired the talent of a master to catch even a glimpse of-or spent it in the pursuit of furious fun, roystering and devilment. Equally alert have I seen one at Chemistry and cricket, Physiology or football, Surgery and singlestick, milling and Materia Medica, Doctoring and drinking; these various accomplishments being diversified by the occasional effusion of a sonnet to her at home, or the insertion of an article in one of the magazines, with the view of raising a sovereign or two when cash was at ebb. Among this class the spirit of adventure and romance still lingers, ere she take her final flight from earth to heaven, before the advancing deluge of decency and matter of fact. Among them, disguises and rope-ladders are not yet extinct, and assignations, encounters, and hairbreadth escapes are of nightly occurrence. But listen to this young fellow.

"I studied for a year at the University of Glasgow, in the north. A medical education is to be had there cheap enough, and of excellent quality. My friends, coming to be aware of these facts, packed me off thither, nor did I feel much inclination myself to revolt at the measure. It is a large town, very densely populated, and very wealthy withal, for manufacturing and trading, which have separately enriched separate cities, have here combined their resources, and in the factory districts of the city the female population is to the male as the proportion of five to one. When you take each and all of these points into due consideration, you will perceive that it is not at all a very repulsive place to a medical student. For my own part I dropped into the heart of a select circle of youths, a regular clique, equally prepared for whatever might turn up of an evening-hard study, oysters, larking, or love-making. We used to honor with our patronage a peculiar house of entertainment, where the senses were ravished with whiskey-punch, Scotch ale, and the notes of a horrible old spinet, dignified with the name of a piano. It was in that identical street where dwelt whilome Baillie Nicol Jarvie, of high historic fame.

From this classic haunt I emerged, one night, in company with a few others of the clique alluded to, and in a state of mental elevation which, I believe, it would puzzle a Transcendalist to analyze or classify. My companions left me with the avowed intention of seeking their several homes-whether they did or not I am unable to say. For myself, I expressed a purpose of a similar nature, and as soon as they were out of sight, diverged away through the dark streets of the sleeping city, without any precisely definable object in view, but determined to ramble along as chance should direct, and follow out the first thing in the way of adventure that might tumble up.

It was a fine mild night for the season, and as I staggered along, my thoughts got more and more dreamy and confused, and as I speedily lost all idea of my whereabouts, at one time threading the windings of a lane, at another lost in the yawning depths of a close, or haply floundering among the foundations of a house in the progress of being built; now exchanging greetings with some lorn wight, zigzagging his way homeward, anon saluted by a grim-visaged guardian of the night, and reminded that though music hath charms, they are not generally held to be of the

soporific kind. At length I emerged into a wide open street which I found myself utterly unable to recognise. It was dark and lonely, the houses of stone, very lofty, rising dim, gray, and cold-like, with here and there a taper glimmering from a window, and the gas-lamps stretching away in two approximating lines, which became, to my bewildered optics, confounded together in the distance. A few passengers were moving in different parts of it, their footsteps sounding hollow and distinct through the deserted thoroughfare, while here and there a watchman, with his will-o'wisp lantern, lounged at a corner, or disappeared up an alley.

I stood bolt upright, steadying myself in the middle of the causeway, mustering all my wits to my aid in order to come to a correct idea as to my precise position on the chart. Presently I heard a clock chime, then the half-hour called, and after a while a distant rumbling sound. It increased louder and louder, nearer and nearer, when at once, ere I was aware, a carriage rushed furiously round a corner, and flying rapidly on, was all but over me as I stood. The wheels grazed my elbow, and it was past me in an instant. I cast a look after it as it went. Thereupon my mind flew homeward, and away back to the days of my childhood, and I minded how my little brother and I, when going to school, long ago, to jump up behind coaches, carts, and vans, and get whirled along in beautiful style. A chaise may travel fast, but thought travels faster, and all this had passed through my mind ere the vehicle was gone twenty feet from me. Acting from the impulse of the moment, I made a sudden bolt after it, by a sharp run caught hold of the springs, and with a bound swung myself up, and got seated very snugly upon the hind axle,

used

And a trick of this sort was just the thing which at that time I took delight in. I was about seventeen years of age, a very slight, agile little fellow, much slighter than I am now, and as active and alert as a cat, very fond of fun, and very careless how I came by it. I wore a kind of tight-fitting surtout of pilot cloth, single-breasted, and buttoning up to the chin, with no collar for any one to hold on by, and having in front, below the waist, two immense pockets, possessed of nooks and ramifications innumerable, the correct topography of which was known only to myself. In these I carried books, instruments, and sometimes other things not so easily named. Along with these a pair of shoes lacing on the instep, and a blue cap without lining of any description, formed altogether an equipment very suitable to the character of the wearer.

Away we rattled along the rough pavement, the sparks glancing from the stones as the wheels flew over them. The motion was most exhilarating, and I began to feel perfectly happy in the excitement and novelty of the adventure. I watched the street lamps as they streamed away in a line, one after another, to the rear; now and then a watchman or passenger caught my eye, standing to look at us while we were whirled away, and on the instant had left them far behind. Now I had no idea where we were going nor did I much care-all I wished was that it might be some distance. Presently I got hold of a lucifer, and lighting a Cuba, was speedily in the seventh heaven of enjoyment. Still more and more swiftly flew the carriage; twelve miles an hour I am sure was under the

speed we we travelling at, and the more rapidly it flew the more rapidly I puffed, till the fag end of the cigar dropped from my mouth, and I looked about me. My head was anything but clear, I must confess; but still I could make out that the town, with its gas, its stony pavement, and tall houses, had been left behind; and while we were flying along a smooth Macadamized road I could see the great trees by its sides, like dim shadows, gliding away to the rear, as the moon looked through a big fleecy cloud, like a fair lady through a jalousied window.

I began now to feel a little anxiety. I had not the slightest notion what road it was we were coursing along, or where it led to, or how I was to get back to my snug lodging, to be ready for lecture next morning. I began to ruminate, but still as I ruminated the vehicle was whirling me along, farther and farther into the dilemma. At last I came to the highly commendable and student-like resolution of leaving it all to luck, and yielding myself up altogether to the spirit of the adventure. When I had done so I felt marvellously comforted and once more at ease, while the delicious uncertainty of what was to befall me again took possession of my mind. I bent back as I sat, and holding on by the straps looked up to the sky, watching the clouds as they darkened over the face of the moon, and listening to the wind that was shaking the trees by the wayside, and rushing away with a winnowing sound up the heavens.

In a little I was sensible of a slackening in the pace, and immediately the vehicle stopped and a voice hallooed. I bent aside, and looked past its body. There was a turnpike-gate shut. The postboy hallooed again, and I could see a light moving about in the little gate-lodge. The window of the carriage was let down, and a voice spoke. "How many miles to go now, Thomas ?”

"Eleven of road, sir, and about a mile and a half of avenue.” The other voice said something in an impatient tone, and the vehicle moved slightly upon its springs, as if the speaker was accompanying his grumbling with a corresponding shrug. Shortly the turnpike-man appeared with a lantern, and we dashed away along the road once more.

We might have gone a couple of miles when I felt the speed slacken again. I looked out and saw some horses standing before what I judged to be a little road-side inn, from the square sign-board that was swinging half across the way. Several men were lounging about with lanterns, while a bright stream of light issued from the open door of the house. I immediately dropped to the road, and walked along close by the hedge. The coach stopped before the inn, and while four fresh horses were being harnessed to it a girl emerged with some refreshments, which she presented to an elderly gentleman who sat in it. The postboys addressed him by the title of Doctor, but I could not say I had ever seen him before-at all events he was not one of the lecturing doctors at the schools. Presently the word was given, "all right," and away they went. I had walked on a little way, and as soon as the carriage came past I chased it again, and jumping up, resumed my seat.

For more than an hour we rattled along with unabated velocity, when on a sudden we turned abruptly into another road, with a sharpness that all but unseated me, making the vehicle oscillate violently upon its straps.

It was narrow, full of ruts, and overhung with immense dark trees; we jostled along this for a mile or two, up hill and down again, round angles, and over bridges, till we stopped before a very magnificent gateway, with a porter's lodge beside it—of Gothic architecture-a most princely entrance altogether. The large carved iron gates were thrown wide, the horses sprang forward, and through we went, the motion being so rapid, and the darkness so great, that the porter, busied with his keys, did not observe me shrinking in behind.

We were now on a smooth avenue, skirting an immense park, dotted with trees, with their branches sweeping down to the very grass, while I could see animals like deer, starting out from under them as we rat led past. On the other side of the avenue was a close plantation of large trees, their stems surrounded by dense bushes.

I began now to entertain some serious misgivings about the issue of the affair.

"what ac

"Here's a nice predicament to be caught in!" thought I; count could I give of myself now, or who would believe me? What will they do if they catch me? A precious scrape I have got myself into for no end nor purpose! This will never do, by Jove!"

And disengaging myself from my perch, I dropped to the ground, and fell aside among the bushes of the plantation, while the vehicle was speedily whirled away out of sight and hearing.

I sat me down upon a stone, and in solitude and darkness began with a heavy heart to bewail the absurdity of my situation.

"Here am I," quoth I to myself, “ more than twenty miles from home, in the middle of the night, God knows where-and with how much? ah! let me see."

"I began searching my pockets, and after a rigid scrutiny made out the following inventory of their contents. A handkerchief-a little silver lancet-case, containing four of these lethal weapons-a small printed note, from a kind uncle of mine, acknowledging my committal to his care of a Mackintosh-the bones of the hand of a skeleton, wrapped up in a piece of brown paper-a thin little book, entitled "Sparks from the wheel of a man wot grinds"-a fourpenny-piece, with a hole in it-a cheroot (right Manilla,) broken in two by being sat upon-and a letter from her, and I kissed the paper, sweet Eliza Baster!

With a deep sigh, I restored these valuables to their former quarters, and giving scope to my imagination, began again to ponder upon the strangeness and folly of the adventure.

"All my comrades," thought I," are now snug in their beds, and here am I, cold and alone, where I have no business to be-never was before, and with help from Heaven never will be again!-What's to be done?Shall I lay me down among the bushes till daylight, and then pad home, a score of long Scots miles, or what the d---1 shall I do ?-And then there's that fellow to get a new nose at the hospital to-morrow, and I meandering cold and hungry about the country, all the while it's being so nicely shaped out and stuck on. Oh, murder! isn't it provoking ?-Ha, hush! —what was that?" and I sprang to my feet in a panic of alarm, the hair rising on my head, my clothes feeling cold and rough upon my skin.

2

It was a sound as of some one moving stealthily among the bushes, close beside me, followed by a kind of tiny groan.

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"I listened attentively; but all I could hear was the wind, and its sweeping rush, high over the treetops, and presently the bark of a dog, faint, and far, far away. It was most lonely, and the fumes of the liquor I had had overnight, being now completely dissipated, I began to feel wofully desolate and at a loss.

I had once more fallen away into cogitation, when directly I heard again the sound that had formerly disturbed me. It was now plainer, and appeared to be a kind of sputtering among the brushwood, and again there was the small cheeping infantile cry. My curiosity was now fairly roused, and summoning up all the fortitude I could command, I moved towards the spot it came from-step by step-after looking round to make sure of a clear retreat, while, at the same time, my heart was going, thump, thump, against my ribs, every beat vibrating up to my throat.

Presently the moon shone out brightly for a moment, between two passing clouds, and by the aid of a few beams penetrating under the foliage, I was enabled to perceive a hare, caught by the leg in a snare of brasswire, planted very nicely in the interstice between two thick bramblebushes.

My eye-here was a discovery! I paused a little, looking at the struggling animal.

"What shall I do with it?" thought I.

I took the creature up, kicking and spurring, into my arms. As I did so, I felt its little heart beating, and its breath panting away, as my own had been a few minutes before. My first resolution was magnani

mous.

“I shall set it free,” said I. "Go, poor wanderer of the wood and wild-liberty's a glorious feast!"

"So is haresoup!" said a still, small voice within me; not from my heart, I fear, but rather from the region of the stomach. "And Nancy at the Hen and Hatchet can cook it like an angel-and then with this tail to it," said I, in continuation, “the adventure will bear telling; they can hardly laugh with their mouths full of soup. "Puss," now I turned to the trembler in my arms, "it's all up with you-prepare for death-had you as many lives as your namesake, you should die and be turned to soup" and here I began to ponder how I should commit the murder.

Shifting the noose from its leg to its neck, I hauled tight, and waited to see it give up the ghost. But here certain rather unaccountable escapes I had had from drowning rose up in my mind, and a strange fellow-feeling possessed me.

"No, puss," said I, "you shall not be hung," and I groped in my pockets for a knife.

But as the reader is in possession of the inventory of their contents, he will at once be aware that such an instrument was not come-at-able. The lancets, however, obtruded themselves upon my hand, and I drew forth one of them from the case, and began digging about with it, sounding for poor puss's carotid artery. But as this mode of procedure