such places, we approached, in the hope of finding an asylum. At break of day we descended into the ditch, and found the entrance into the subterraneous works of the covered way nearly all blocked up with ruins and bushes; an opening, however, was made; we crept in, our quarters were established, and the rubbish and bushes replaced in the course of a few minutes." Unfavourable as the condition now was of these intrepid Englishmen, they contrived to procure friends willing to aid in their liberation. By good luck they became acquainted with a smuggler, who offered to convey them to England, although at a great risk to all parties. Lieutenant Boys thus concludes his interesting narrative :— “At length, on the 8th of May, positive information was brought that all would be in readiness at ten o'clock at night; accordingly, at that hour, the weather being fine, and the night dark, we marched down from our place of concealment to the beach, and as soon as the patrol had passed, the private signal was made and answered. The boat gliding silently in shore with muffled oars, we rushed in with the rapidity of thought, and, in an instant, were all safe afloat; each seized an oar, and, vigorously applying his utmost strength, we soon reached beyond the range of shot. “It were in vain to attempt a faithful description of our feelings at this momentous crisis; the lapse of a few minutes had wrought such a change of extremes, that I doubt if, amidst the confusion of our senses, we could immediately divest ourselves of the apprehensions which constant habit had engrafted on the mind; nor, indeed, could we relinquish the oar, but continued at this laborious, though now delightful occupation, almost without intermission the whole night. "When the day dawned, the breeze freshened from the eastward, and as the sun began to diffuse his cheering rays, the wide expanse of liberty opened around us, and in the distant rear the afflicted land of misery and bondage was beheld with feelings of gratitude and triumph. No other object intercepted the boundless prospect save a solitary gunbrig, which was soon approached. Naturally anxious to proceed with dispatch, we passed on, and, unobserved, reached a considerable distance, when a boat was discovered making towards us. Being in no fear of Frenchmen thus venturing out so far from land, we hove to; and having made the officer acquainted with the circumstances of our embarkation and destination, again spread the canvas, and made rapid progress to the north-west. About noon, the wind still increasing, and the sea rising, it was deemed prudent to close-reef the sail. While thus delightfully scudding before the foaming billows, which occasionally broke as if to overwhelm our little boat, only fifteen feet in length, each eye was steadily fixed a-head, anxious to be the first to announce land. It was not, however, till towards three in the afternoon that the white cliffs were seen. Although our situation was already replete with 'joy and gladness,' still the first sight of our native shore, after so long an absence, coupled with the recollection of conquered difficulties, excited increased happiness, and afforded ample compensation for past sufferings, though not without a pleasing hope that promotion would be their reward. "On falling in with a fishing smack at the back of the Goodwin Sands, the master welcomed us on board, and taking the boat in tow, ran for Ramsgate. On entering the harbour at five o'clock, I landed with such ineffable emotions of joy, that, with a heart throbbing almost to suffocation, regardless of the numerous spectators, I fell down and kissed with rapture the blessed land of liberty." The Shetland Islands are remarkable for the adventurous daring of the hardy islanders, who earn a living by means that would crush the courage of those who had not, like themselves, become inured to the severities of the weather, and by a simple and abstemious mode of life hardened their frames, so as to render them capable of bearing up against such severe trials and privations. The steadiness of nerve, necessary to assure them of a tolerable chance of safety in their dangerous employment, could only be acquired by constant practice and regular habits—so fearful is the method employed by them to procure the eggs and young of the seabirds that inhabit their rocky coasts. The same means are practised for this purpose in the Hebrides, the Faroe, and other northern islands. The cliffs which contain the objects of their search are often two hundred fathoms in height, and are attempted from above and below. In the first case the fowlers provide themselves with a rope, eighty or one hundred fathoms in length, to the end of which a strong stick, about three feet in length, is attached; one of them then fastens one end about his waist and between his legs, supporting himself partly by the stick, recommends himself to the protection of the Almighty, and is lowered down by several others, who place a piece of timber on the margin of the rock to preserve the rope from wearing on the sharp edge-a small line is also fastened to the body of the adventurer, by which he gives signals that they may lower or raise him, or shift him from place to place, The last operation is attended with great danger by the loosening of the stones, which often fall on his head, and would infallibly destroy him if he was not protected by a strong thick cap; but even this is found unequal to save him against the weight of the larger fragments of rock. The dexterity of these men is amazing. They will place their feet against the front of the precipice, and dart themselves some fathoms from it, with a cool eye survey the place where the birds nestle, and then shoot into their haunts. In some places the birds lodge in deep recesses. The fowler will alight here, disengage himself from the rope, and at his leisure collect the booty, fasten it to his girdle, and resume his pendulous seat. At times he will again spring from the rock, and in that attitude, with a fowling-net placed at the end of a staff, catch the old birds which are flying to and from their retreats. When he has finished his perilous work, he gives a signal to his friends above, who pull him up and share the hard-earned spoil. The feathers are preserved for exportation, and the flesh is partly eaten fresh, but the greater portion is dried for winter use. They sometimes, for the purpose of transporting themselves from one insulated rock to another, employ a kind of a boat attached to a running tackle. The The fowling from below has its share of dangers. fowlers go on the expedition in a boat, and when they have attained the base of the precipice, one of the most daring, having fastened a rope about his waist, and furnished himself with a long pole with an iron hook at one end, either climbs, or is thrust up by his companions, to the next footing-place he can reach, then by means of the rope he hauls up one of the boat's crew, and the rest are drawn up in succession, cach being furnished with his rope and staff. They continue their progress upwards in the same manner, till at last they reach that part of the rock which is frequented by the birds, and wander about the face of the cliff in search of them. They then act in pairs; one fastens himself to the end of his associate's rope, and in places where the birds have nestled beneath his footing, he permits himself to be lowered down, depending for his security on the strength of his companion, who has to haul him up again. But it sometimes happens that the person above is overpowered by the weight, and then they both inevitably perish. They fling the birds they obtain into the boat which attends their motions and receives the booty. Seven or eight days are often passed in this dangerous employment, and during this time they lodge in the crannies which they find in the base of the precipice. THE CUSTOM OF BRANKSOME HALL. SCOTT. Nine-and-twenty knights of fame Hung their shields in Branksome Hall; Brought them their steeds from bower to stall Waited, duteous, on them all: They were all knights of mettle true, Ten of them were sheathed in steel, |