was a strand-wolf, which probably believed that I must be badly wounded, and unable to escape; for these cowardly brutes will rarely if ever attack a man, although I have heard of their carrying off children.

The visitor who saluted me with his cries was soon joined by a companion, and the two continued their chorus for upwards of an hour. At last, however, they left me, but I did not long remain in quietness, for a troop of screaming jackals came sniffing to the mouth of the pit, but these were almost company after the grisly beasts that had preceded them.

Although I did not see that I could derive much benefit from the light of day, still I looked anxiously for its return. My limbs were stiff and crampy, and I found my whole body sore from the bruises that I had received in my fall. I began to suffer from hunger, but I drew my belt tightly round my waist, determined to keep off this evil as long as possible. At length the stars began to grow dim; I felt my spirits rise as daylight returned, and looked about me to discover, if possible, what reptile I had touched in the night.

A fat bloated toad was crouching under a stone a few feet from me. I knew it to be harmless, and felt I might have had a worse companion than a toad.

During the few minutes that intervened between the first gleams of light and the bright light of day, I speculated upon the manner in which the pit I had fallen into had been formed. I now remembered the stream of water at which I drank as I came up the slope, and had no doubt that this was one outlet for the water that flowed through the pit. The instant I remembered it, I fancied I had discovered a means of escape. The water must flow along some kind of channel, and it was possible this

D

channel might be large enough to allow of my crawling along it. If not, it might be made larger by the aid of my knife.

This was the idea that flashed across my mind, but when I thought over the details, my spirits again fell. The distance between the spring and the pit must be, I knew, fully a hundred yards, and to make my way underground as far as that, might have been possible had I been a mole, but being only a man, and provided merely with a knife, this means of escape seemed impracticable.

Again I was almost overcome by a feeling of despair, and I shouted and yelled till I was too hoarse to continue.

After a while, it occurred to me that the water flowed into the pit as well as out of it, and that although the distance to any outlet was very considerable on the downside, it might not be on the up. There was a chance for me, and I determined to go to work very systematically. I commenced by cutting two or three long and pointed sticks from the small tree that had fallen into the pit with me; with the aid of these I managed to loosen the soil near the place where the water came in, and found it consisted merely of sand and pebbles. I worked away very steadily for an hour, and had cleared a large open space. Seeing the heap of gravel and sand I had made, an idea occurred that I might collect a sufficient quantity of this to make a ledge, on which to stand, and thus to work my way up to the top of the pit. This seemed the thought of, for I

most practicable plan that I had yet could easily obtain earth enough, and must at last raise such a heap that I could at least reach the softer soil near the top, when, by digging with my sharp sticks, I might make my way out.

I had succeeded in raising a heap of about four feet in height, when darkness again came upon me; I worked on as long as I could see to dig, but at last I began to find that I was trying to make my way through the solid rock, and therefore determined to try and obtain some sleep. As soon as I began to cool, I felt all the gnawing pains of an empty stomach, for I had been upwards of thirty hours without food. I was very thankful that I possessed water in abundance, for I knew, from experience, that thirst was more painful to endure than hunger. I was so tired that I had not much difficulty in going to sleep, but I was again disturbed by the hyenas coming and shrieking at the mouth of the pit. There seemed to be a greater number of them, as though my first visitors had brought all their friends to see the rare sight of a white man in a pit. Every now and then, I could see a portion of a dark form appear against the sky, whilst some of them were smelling or scratching near the mouth of the pit. At length the whole of the yelling crew tore up the ground, as though determined to get at me. One, more eager than his companions, tore up the turf round the hole, which fell in large clods almost upon me. To avoid this shower, I moved to a more sheltered part of the pit. In the midst of their excitement, one of them ventured so near the edge of the pit that the ground gave way under him, and he fell headlong almost on the spot where I had been resting a few minutes before!

I fully expected, when the creature found itself shut up in an enclosed place like that in which we were prisoners, that, cowardly as it was, it would still, in self-defence, commence an attack upon me. I therefore drew back as far as I could, and dropping on my knees, grasped my hunting-knife with one hand and my coat with the other,

for I intended, if possible, to thrust the coat into his mouth with one hand, and cut his throat with the knife in the other.

It was too dark to allow me to see the animal, but I could hear it breathing loudly, and sniffing round the sides of the pit, but it would not come near the corner where I crouched.

The hyena, after remaining quiet for several minutes, suddenly began scratching in the corner where I had been digging. The brute worked on without tiring, and I began to believe that its instinct told it that in that direction there was a means of escape. It was evident, from the noise, that it did more work in halfan-hour than I had done in a whole day. I really felt as though the hyena were my friend, and resolved, unless in self-defence, or to save myself from starving, I would not harm the animal.

After a more fierce onslaught than usual, the hyena suddenly stopped scratching, and there was a noise as of struggling, after which all was quiet. I listened, but except a slight noise, as of an animal moving rapidly through the long grass at the pit's mouth, I could hear nothing. I fancied he must be tired, or resting himself, but after half-an-hour's quiet, I began really to hope and believe the creature had effected its escape. I feared to move before daylight appeared, and, oh! how slowly it came. At last a faint gleam was visible, and I strained my sight to catch a glimpse of my companion; but he was gone, and in the place where I had worked, a large gaping hole appeared. I scrambled over to it, and on looking in, saw daylight at the further end. Half-an-hour's work with my knife widened it enough to allow me to push myself through, and I

then found myself in another pit, the sides of which, however, were sloping, and easily ascended.

I waited for ten minutes to recover myself, and to thank God for my escape. I then sought for my gun, which I found, and with difficulty hobbled home, where I made a good meal, but took care not to eat too much, after which I turned into bed, and slept as I never remember having slept before.

THE SPANISH ARMADA.

1.

Attend all ye who list to hear our noble England's praise, I tell of the thrice-famous deeds she wrought in ancient days,

When the great fleet invincible against her bore in vain The richest stores of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of Spain.

2.

It was about the lovely close of a warm summer's day, There came a gallant merchant-ship full sail to Plymouth

Bay;

Her crew had seen Castile's black fleet beyond Aurigny's isle,

At earliest twilight, on the waves lie heaving many a mile ; At sunset she escaped their van, by God's especial grace ; And the tall Pinta, till the noon, had held her close in chase.

3.

Forthwith a guard at every gun was placed along the

wall;

The beacon blazed upon the roof of Edgcumbe's lofty

hall;