were induced to pursue our sport, and did so the whole day. About half-past three, we sat down on the edge of the jungle, to eat some cold meat sent to us from the ship, and had just commenced our meal, when Mr Pyefinch and a black servant told us there was a fine deer within six yards of us. Captain Downey and I immediately jumped up to take our guns; mine was nearest, and I had but just laid hold of it when I heard a roar like thunder, and saw an immense, royal tiger spring on the unfortunate Munro, who was sitting down. In a moment his head was in the beast's mouth, and he rushed into the jungle with him, with as much ease as I could lift a kitten, tearing him through the thickest bushes and trees, everything yielding to his monstrous strength. The agonies of horror, regret, and I must say, fear, for there were two tigers, rushed on me at once; the only effort I could make was to fire at him, though the poor youth was still in his mouth, I relied partly on Providence, partly on my own aim, and fired a musket. The tiger staggered and seemed agitated, which I took notice of to my two companions. Captain Downey then fired two shots, and I one more. We retired from the jungle, and a few minutes after, Munro came up to us all over blood, and fell. We took him on our backs to the boat, and got every medical assistance for him from the Valentine Indiaman, which lay at anchor near the island, but in vain. He lived twenty-four hours in the utmost torture; his head and skull were all torn and broken to pieces, and he was also wounded by the animal's claws, all over his neck and shoulders; but it was better to take him away, though irrecoverable, than leave him to be mangled and devoured. We have just read the funeral-service over his body, and committed

it to the deep. Mr Munro was an amiable and promising youth. I must observe, there was a large fire blazing close to us, composed of ten or a dozen whole trees. I made it myself, on purpose to keep the tigers off, as I had always heard it would. There were eight or ten of the natives about us; many shots had been fired at the place; there was much noise and laughing at the time; but this ferocious animal disregarded all. The human mind cannot form an idea of the scene; it turned my very soul within me. The beast was about four feet and a half high, and nine long. His head appeared as large as that of an ox; his eyes darting fire, and his roar, when he first seized his prey, will never be out of my recollection. We had scarcely pushed our boat from that accursed shore, when the tigress made her appearance, raging almost mad, and remained on the sand as long as the distance would allow me to see her.

POPE LEO X.

Panurge. I have the honour of informing your holiness, that I have discovered the secret of making gold.

I

Leo X. I am delighted to learn that a secret so important has been discovered by one of my subjects. congratulate you with all my heart.

Panurge. I hope your holiness will grant me a reward worthy of the greatness of my discovery.

Leo X. You may depend on it, my friend, I shall grant favour you can ask with the greatest pleasure.

any

[Eight days later.]

Panurge. Your holiness, I now present myself before

you, to receive the promised reward for my great discovery.

Leo X. My friend, here is a purse, which I hope you will accept as a mark of my pleasure.

Panurge. But it is empty; what is the use of an empty purse?

Leo X. Did you not tell me that you could make gold?

Panurge. Undoubtedly, I can.

Leo X. Since you can make gold, then, you will be able to fill the purse for yourself.

THE OW L.

1.

In the hollow tree in the gray old tower,
The spectral owl doth dwell;

Dull, hated, despised in the sunshine-hour,

But at dusk-he's abroad and well :

Not a bird of the forest e'er mates with him;
All mock him outright by day;

But at night, when the woods grow still and dim,
The boldest will shrink away;

Oh, when the night falls, and roosts the fowl,
Then, then is the reign of the horned owl!

2.

And the owl hath a bride who is fond and bold,
And loveth the wood's deep gloom;

And with

eyes like the shine of the moonshine cold

She awaiteth her ghastly groom!

Not a feather she moves, not a carol she sings,

As she waits in her tree so still;

But when her heart heareth his flapping wings,
She hoots out her welcome shrill !

Oh, when the moon shines, and the dogs do howl,
Then, then is the cry of the horned owl!

3.

Mourn not for the owl nor his gloomy plight!
The owl hath his share of good:
If a prisoner he be in the broad daylight,
He is lord in the dark green wood!
Nor lonely the bird, nor his ghastly mate;
They are each unto each a pride—

Thrice fonder, perhaps, since a strange dark fate
Hath rent them from all beside!

So when the night falls, and dogs do howl,
Sing Ho! for the reign of the horned owl!
We know not alway who are kings by day,
But the king of the night is the bold brown owl
B. CORNWALL

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.

Shylock, the Jew, lived at Venice: he was an usurer, who had amassed an immense fortune by lending money at great interest to Christian merchants. Shylock, being a hard-hearted man, exacted the payment of the money he lent with such severity, that he was much disliked by all good men, and particularly by Antonio, a young merchant of Venice; and Shylock as much hated Antonio, because he used to lend money to people in distress, and would never take any interest for the money he lent; therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio. Whenever Antonio met Shylock on the Rialto (or Exchange), he used to reproach him with his usuries and hard dealings; which the Jew would bear with seeming patience, while he secretly meditated revenge.