not, and only plunged deeper and deeper in the all-engulphing vortex of excess, of folly, and of vice.

The maddening excitement of wine, the soothing powers of opium, the attractive blandishments of the "nautch," the meretricious charms of its voluptuous performers,

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Whose armlets and anklets, with cheerful sound
Symphonious tinkled as they wheel'd around;

these, and every other means of excitement, or stimulant I could devise, were each in turn essayed; but all in vain ; to divert my thoughts from that deep channel of despondency and despair, in which they continued sullenly to flow whilst I remained in this wretched state of mind.

At times mounting my horse, I would gallop for miles and miles over the most rocky and uneven ground, during the greatest heat of the day; at others, fowling-piece in hand, would I wander forth through the adjoining swamps and jungles, in search — not of game, -but of forgetfulness of thought, regardless of the vertical sun blazing so fiercely overhead.

And when, unable to procure, by such exhausting means, the soothing oblivion of sleep,

would I at night often start from a restless couch, and, seizing my rifle, amidst the neighbouring dry ravines, and chaotic masses of volcanic rock, piled in strange confusion on each other, there seek those wild animals of prey, which habitually made this stony wilderness their resort.

Reckless as I then felt of the consequences of such an irregular mode of life, I nevertheless continued to perform my military duties, with a sort of mechanical exactness and punctuality, for which I have subsequently found it difficult to account; but which proved the means of saving me, in all probability, from professional censure and disgrace.

CHAPTER V.

A LITTLE PHILOSOPHY.

"Rouse yourself; and the weak, wanton Cupid,
Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold,
And like the dewdrop from the lion's mane,
Be shook to air."

Troilus and Cressida.

In India, a man's private pursuits, occupations and amusements, are seldom much inquired into, or made the subject of gossiping comment or remark; and provided he enacts nothing outrageous against the common rules of decency, or established customs of society-as long as he commits no positively ungentlemanlike act, in the usual acceptation of the term; he may, if he please, unmolested indulge in any such vagaries as I have set forth, without eliciting many censorious observations from the charitable community at large.

These extravagancies of mine I had taken

little or no trouble to conceal; and they were probably generally known and perhaps talked of, throughout the station of Secunderabad; but I appeared nevertheless not thereby to have materially lost "caste."

The cause of my altered conduct was, I have reason to believe, rightly accounted for; and if it elicited censure from some; sympathy -rather than censure was probably the predominant feeling enlisted in my behalf.

This state of things could not, however, possibly continue; my health was beginning to be seriously impaired, when a sudden revulsion took place in my whole demeanour, sentiments and ideas.

Bradford and Staunton had in vain tendered the most friendly counsel and advice; in vain had the amiable Lady of Colonel Sandham, whose solicitude for all her " Boys" (as she termed the young officers of the corps), could not have been exceeded by a mother's care: vainly had this estimable and kind-hearted woman, for whom I entertained the most unbounded esteem and respect,—with almost parental feelings, but to no purpose, kindly pointed out the folly of my conduct. I heeded not, however, the remonstrances of these sin

cere and disinterested friends, but still continued in the same reckless course.

Although I had allowed to pass unheeded the manly counsels of my oldest friend; the temperate admonitions of my indulgent commanding officer; and the mild representations of his kind and considerate lady; to her and to another of her gentle sex, may I justly attribute being then rescued from impending ruin.

Mrs. Sandham, finding that all she could urge, was of no avail in making me listen to the dictates of reason and of common sense, had, -as I subsequently learnt,-written to Mr. Talbot, with whom she had previously been well acquainted at Madras.

This brought a letter from my relative, which would probably have had little effect, had it not been accompanied by one from Louisa: so kindly and forcibly, so affectionately expressed; appealing so strongly to my better sense and feelings; imploring me as I valued her esteem and friendship — the esteem and friendship of one whom I had deemed worthy of former confidence, of one who loved me as a sister-and was indebted to me for having saved her life; by all these tokens did she appeal, did she en