"I would as soon have seen the d-1 himself as to have fallen in with that cursed Sooloo," said Fluker, with considerable excitement.

"D-d unlucky," said the other. "What's best to be done, mate? He's sure to hail us, and ask a score questions."

"I'm blessed if I know," said Fluker. "One thing is certain ; you must come to the helm, and I must make myself scarce; because I have no business aboard. You had better say, All hands turned in; been a-fishing, and bound home.'

On nearing the Sooloo she was observed to alter her course, and bear away directly across the bows of the Tigress.

"She's coming right on for us," said Truck to his anxious companion in the cabin, whose only reply was a volley of half-muttered curses. "Now she lays to," said Truck, "waiting to speak us. "Tigress, ahoy!" shouted a voice from the Sooloo.

"Sooloo ahoy!" shouted Truck.

"All serene ?" said the Sooloo's captain.

"All serene she is," replied Truck.

"What has become of your crew?" asked Charley Scupper, as the Tigress glided swiftly on.

Truck affected a smile in reply; and pointing to the cabin, and then putting his hand to his open mouth, pretended to convey the idea that they were feeding in the cabin.

"Is Sir Reginald aboard?" shouted Charley.

Truck shook his head in reply, and kept straight on his course. The Sooloo's foresail was then let draw, and she followed in the wake of the other; and being under pressure of sail, soon forged up alongside her old antagonist, about ten or fifteen yards' space lying between them. The whole crew of the Sooloo, including captain and Charley himself, were on deck. But no soul was to be seen aboard the Tigress but Captain Truck; and it being then about the hour of mid-day, Charley and his crew thought, and with good reason too, that it looked very mysterious.

"Where are you bound from?" enquired Charley.

"From Ostend, sir," replied Truck.

"I thought the Tigress was laid up; and her crew paid off," said the captain of the Sooloo.

"Not quite," replied Truck. "Where are you bound for?" "Harwich, I believe," replied the captain.

And so the yachts parted company; every man aboard the Sooloo having the gravest suspicions of Truck.

Whilst the conversation was going on, Fluker was in agonizing excitement below, and seriously looked around him for any guns or weapons whereby to rid him of his fears, by murdering the whole crew of the Sooloo-master, captain, and all-and sinking that vessel on the spot. And as soon as ever they were left to themselves, he suggested his coldblooded thoughts to his companion. Truck said they would be one too many for them; but it is firmly believed that had Charley Scupper, or any member of his crew, attempted to board the Tigress, the murderous threat would have been carried out; for no other sail was in sight, and the trace of land scarcely discernible. The Sooloo, however, was narrowly watched by Fluker with a powerful telescope, and as long as he could see her, she appeared to keep a correct course for Harwich. But,

feeling sure they would be suspected, they determined on getting the contraband ashore as soon as possible. Had the Sooloo returned to their track, or made for the Thames, they intended to have thrown the whole of the tobacco overboard; but when they saw she kept her course, they put more sail upon the Tigress, and reached Gravesend early in the afternoon: when Fluker immediately went ashore, disguising himself slightly in one of Sir Reginald's coats, and taking with him a portmanteau and carpet-bag filled with the contraband; with which he contrived to depart safely by railway to London; where, having emptied the contents of his luggage, he returned immediately to Blackwall, and found Truck had arrived in the meantime with the yacht; having taken up a lad at Gravesend to assist him. The portmanteau and carpet-bag were again brought aboard, and also another large carpet-bag. Fluker then made a second excursion, and took a further deposit of the contraband to town. Early next morning Fluker joined ship, and proceeded with Truck to move the vessel down river, apparently without incurring the smallest suspicion; and during the day, so cunningly did these fellows act, that before four o'clock in the afternoon the whole cargo of contraband (upwards of a ton) had been openly but safely conveyed ashore, and deposited in London by means of the carpet-bag and portmanteau.

INCIDENTS OF THE YEAR.

BY CECIL.

The year which has now come to a close has been replete with events upon which we can reflect with the greatest satisfaction, and there is great promise for the future. The bountiful hand of Providence has diffused over the land more than ordinary favours. Abundant and wellharvested crops have rewarded the industry of agriculturists; rural pastimes and pursuits have partaken of equivalent prosperity. In all ages it has been observed that the sports of the people and their national prosperity have been intimately associated: there is additional evidence of the force of this deduction.

Taking in review the condition of the chase, we must come to the conclusion that it was never in a more flourishing condition. The termination of the last hunting-season was most satisfactory. Good sport was the universal acknowledgment; and the preservation of foxes sedulously encouraged, in many instances by persons who, for the sake of their game, had been indifferent, perchance opposed, to the proceeding. But the old-fashioned notion that it was impossible to preserve a head of game where foxes were encouraged, has given way to the powerful influence of experience. Nothing has transpired to disturb the harmony which ought and generally does exist concerning all that relates to fox-hunting, with the exception of what has been termed the Cheshire Difficulty, a term which might have been better expressed by the substi

INCIDENTS OF THE YEAR.

The Cheshire Misfortune would more clearly tution of another word. The event is the more to be regretted explain this unhappy dilemma. as it is the first case brought before the recently-constituted Masters of Fox Hounds Committee, and their decision has been set at nought, which The public are not in possession of the deis an unhappy precedent. tails of those circumstances which actuated members of the Cheshire hunt, and other gentlemen having property in the county, to take exception to the master of the hounds drawing their coverts; and the Masters This has of Fox Hounds Committee declined to make inquiry into the causes of difference, as being in no way connected with fox-hunting. rendered the difficulty more intricate. When a contract is entered into, whether it be to hunt a country or construct a railway, provided the operations are efficiently carried out, it is inconsistent with either law or usage to vitiate the agreement by the interposition of impediments, and then urge them against the interest of the contractor, who may, on some occasion quite unconnected with the undertaking, have raised the ire of his adversaries. If hunting engagements are in future to be conducted on such a principle, it is to be feared that very few gentlemen will aspire to the onerous duties.

The

The commencement of the hunting season has been so recently introduced, that very little more requires to be added on that subject. sport with most packs has been quite an average; with some, profuse. The Duke of Beaufort's hounds have been doing well, and I had the good fortune to meet them at Cross Hands, on the 1st of December, when they had a very good day's sport. They found in the shrubbery at Doddington, and went away at a good pace across the park to Cross Hands, a short distance beyond which the hounds came to a check; but a cast to the left recovered the scent, which they took to Little Sodbury coppice, from thence at a good hunting pace to Mapleridge, and straight to the Lower woods, where they changed foxes, and the hounds divided. They were, however, got together; and the fox they were then hunting left those extensive woods on the Witheymoor side, and was finally lost near Kingswood. But of this portion of the run I can give no description, the change of foxes having misled me.

Sir Maurice Berkeley's hounds had a very good month's sport in their Cheltenham country, especially after the first fortnight, during which portion of time the scent was far from good. They resumed operations in their home-country on the 7th, when they met at Tortworth, and had On the following Wednesday, with an indifferent a fair day's sport. scent, they had a good hunting run, after marking a fox to ground in the same covert in which he was found, the Oakley withey-bed. They found a second fox in Michaelwood, but the scent in covert was so bad A third, in Pope's gulley, stood before the pack that they lost him. fifty-five minutes, and was killed in Arles brake, which reflects great On the credit on men and hounds, for he was a very short, running fox, and the scent catching. The place of meeting was Woodford Green. 11th they had a very severe day for hounds and horses. They met at the Example Farm. A fox from Prestwood only stood before the pack seven minutes; and ere his obsequies were completed, another was viewed, and he very quickly went to ground. Longwood grove, on the Eastwood property, was drawn blank; but Grove Gulley, a small covert close by was more fortunate: a ring across the vale of Moreton, and

up the hill to Eastwood House; thence to Tortworth park, heading back by the mansion, to Middle Mills and Stone; back to Daniel's wood, and finally to Michaelwood, gave many of the horses quite enough to do. Several speculating gentlemen were at Michaelwood long before the hounds, and not finding them there, went home in despair before the hounds got there. The hounds went away with a brace of foxes to Wick, and, soon after dividing, were stopped when pointing for Stinchcombe Hill.

The month of December is a jovial time in the country, despite of monetary panics, and financial difficulties in the commercial world; albeit frost and snow commonly make an appearance to render the cheerful blaze on the hearth most acceptable after the morning's engagements are concluded. Hitherto this month has been wonderfully free from the chilling influences of the elements, and many days have been brilliant in the extreme. Even monkish customs are not totally dispensed with; the interior of the houses are decorated with emblems of Christmas; sprays of laurel, holly, and divers specimens of the evergreen family, are fantastically arranged; nor is the mistletoe forgotten, the magic shade of which affords apologies for many furtive salutations whenever a pretty girl ventures within its precincts. This is the season of license and conviviality; and so long as their privileges are held sacred from abuse, mirth and gladsomeness are deserving of encouragement. The good cheer of Christmas is looked for and enjoyed by all classes as surely as the season arrives. Sirloins of beef, plethoric turkeys, geese, game, mince-pies, plum puddings, and suchlike stores, are provided in such abundance as to inculcate the idea that the Commissary-General had made provision for a long siege. It would have been fortunate for our friends and relatives in India if they had been in possession of supplies equal to those of many little country towns and villages. The best bins of good old port are now in requisition; the mighty ale, brewed for the occasion, is broached, and freely dispensed, gladdening the hearts of all who partake of it.

Christmas, too, is the season when the young scions of the chase enjoy the exhilarating sport with enthusiasm that is apt to fade with riper years. Tyros they may be; but in their earnest zeal to become masters of the art, they participate in the greatest enjoyment. What a wholesome relief from the studies of Greek and Latin! The aristocratic Etonian returns to his paternal home, full of hope, and anxious only that a continuance of open weather will afford him ample scope for the enjoyment of fox-hunting. His cousin, a Rugbean, is not a wit the less impressed with the ardor venandi ; and as they greet each other at their first meeting, a mutual interchange of their anticipated pleasures ensues. The former is agreeably surprised at finding, on his return home, that a splendid little mare, barely fifteen hands high, has been provided expressly for his riding, upon which he intends to distinguish himself. This is rather mortifying to his companion, who is obliged to content himself with his pony, whose pace, he is well-aware, cannot be equal to the Etonians mare; but again he reconciles himself with the recollection that in fencing he has no superior of his inches. How joyfully they ride to covert together! the former sporting, for the first time in his life, a pair of leathers and tops-the several productions of Hammond and Bartley. It is somewhat singular that these celebrated artistes live in such close

propinquity with each other. But it saves a world of trouble to country gentlemen when they visit the metropolis: having given the former instructions for their doe-skins, they have only to walk into the adjoining shop to be supplied with the calf-skin continuations; and Oxford-street contains many other emporiums at which a sportsman can provide himself with necessaries, including the nicotian weed of Hudson fame.

The young heroes arrive at the place of meeting, and the Rugbean takes especial notice of the hounds. Rugby has been ever celebrated for the cultivation of sportsmen; it is surrounded by classical ground in the science of venery.

How happily is fox-hunting associated with exhaustless adventures! From the early dawn of day, to the last gleam of sunshine on the western hills; from the moment the gallant steed is mounted to ride to the gay cover-side, there is a succession of incidents: the greetings of friends at the place of meeting; the appearance of the pack; the style and condition of the horses; the costume of their riders; the first challenge of the unerring hound; the finding of the fox; the pressing him in cover; the breaking away, and the terrible burst over the vale; the magnitude of fences; the disasters at the brook, which a select few get well over, though the disciples of the cold-water system plunge headlong into the stream, while many less fortunate are doomed to the great mortification of not being able to gain the opposite bank under any circumstances. Then the check in the valley; the view halloo on the hill; the lifting the hounds, their melodious crash when they regain the scent; the fox in view before the pack as they race him across the park; the fearful purls at the palings, till some welter weight crashes them before him, making a breach in the barrier through which an army may pass; the racing that takes place over the greensward, in the expectation that every instant the who-hoop will proclaim the termination of the chase; with the glorious scene of the hounds running from scent to view, and pulling down their fox in the open. But that is not yet accomplished; the tired fox gains the shrubbery, where the scent fails, and he is enabled, by making a short turn, to obtain a slight advantage. He is viewed, however, by the keen eye of the park-keeper, when a rush to the gate ensues, which being blocked up by the horses of ambitious riders, again impedes the pack. Pray make way for the hounds!" vociferates the master, in a voice unmistakably denoting his displeasure. Recovering the scent, on the outside of the park is another source of excitement; and onwards press the leading men, with horses somewhat jaded by the severity of the pace. Soon after, the hounds having settled to the scent, the progress of the field is temporarily checked by a serious-looking personage in rusty attire, and an unenviable disposition depicted in his countenance, placing himself at the gate with uplifted arms, forbidding any one to pass. Unsophisticated mortal! he beholds his fences ridden over, and then is he awakened to a spirit of self-interest, and forthwith permits the rearguard of horsemen to pass through his gate, his worldlymindedness strongly impressing him with an idea of demanding toll. Then comes the second heat of the race across the turf, with bullfinch interludes. Water-jumpers are again in requisition, and desperate struggles through treacherous bogs succeed: but the fox turning short, proclaims that his fate is sealed. Yonder in the rushes he is viewed; and not