The small cutter was lowered down, six stout hands were put into her, and I was ordered to pull towards the place where the supposed objects of distress were to be found-a light hoisted at the peak of the Lady Graves acting as a beacon to direct my course.

During the above-narrated incident, however, a circumstance occurred which greatly heightened the interest already excited. The Lady Graves was riding to the first quarter-flood, and consequently her starboard-broadside was to the land, the wind blowing from the south-west. The cries were in-shore of us, and every soul on deck had been consequently drawn over to the starboard side, so that the larboard gangway was entirely neglected. In the hurry of the moment I had pulled off my watch-coat and dropt it just under the jacob's-ladder to the larboard main-shrouds. Desirous of taking it with me in the boat, I ran round to fetch it, but found that it had been removed nearer to the gangway, and, to my great surprise, a man was stretched upon it with his head reclining on the slide of the carronade. "Halloo! my man," exclaimed

I, "this is my coat and I want it directly."

"Do not disturb me, young gentleman," rejoined a hollow, broken voice, “this is my last trip; I fear I'm dying; yet the doctor, the doctor :"-a spasm shook him-" I would live for my children; quick, Sir, quick-the doctor!"

Mr. Allen had called upon my name, and, when answering, I had requested in respectful terms that he would cross the deck to me.

What's amiss now, Mr. Grummett?" said he, approaching; "who the devil have you got here?"

"It is one of the men apparently much hurt, Sir," replied I, stooping down and looking close at the face of the man; "but I have no recollection as to who it is."

The second mate also bent down, and raising the fallen seaman by the collar of his jacket it opened, and a large patch of blood was plainly visible, covering nearly the whole of his shirt over the breast.

"How-what is this?" exclaimed the officer, "how came you in this state?" then looking intently and earnestly at his features, he added. vehemently," by heaven, it is the smuggler!"

"Boat, ahoy!" exclaimed a man from the forecastle, and old Johnson, looking from the gangway, answered, "It's no use hailing that boat, she's pulling away from us."

"Give him a musket," shouted the second mate; "bear a hand, are there no sodgers on deck?" The musket was promptly fired, but the boat continued its course.

"They are inoffensive fishermen," said the smuggler languidly; "they have committed no offence, unless their humanity in bringing me here can be deemed such. But my time is short, Sir," addressing Mr. Allen," the revenue boat-send, Sir-send-we left them sinking." "Jump into the cutter and off with you, Mr. Grummet," exclaimed the second mate, "the poor fellows will perish; bear a hand, young man, remember life and death rest upon your exertions."

"Life or death!" groaned the smuggler, as he fell back exhausted with the loss of blood.

The whole of the occurrence occupied very little more time than I have taken in telling it, so that not many minutes elapsed before I was clear of the ship, and pulling away according to the best of my judg

ment. The sounds were occasionally reiterated and served to guide me, although they came more faintly upon the ear. At length, after a tight stretch-out, we discovered the object of our search, and I ran close to a swamped custom-house galley to which four men were desperately clinging, and a fifth was firmly grasped by two of them who retained his head above water.

"For the love of God, bear a hand, shipmates," said one of the party, "and take us out of this; our strength is almost exhausted, and the cold has cramped our hands, so that we cannot hold on much longer."

"Take in one at a time," said I, laying the cutter's bow towards the galley; " if they all grapple in on one side of the boat, we shall turn the turtle-get in the weakest first."

My orders were correctly obeyed, and we speedily had the five men out of the water, and my brave fellows bent their strong arms to the oars. From one of the crew of the galley I learned that the smuggler (after some smart firing on both sides) had run them down; two were either killed outright by the musketry or else were severely wounded and drowned, and the man whom we had rescued in a state of insensibility was the sitter who had received a musket-ball in his side.

On my return to the ship the galley's men were immediately attended to, the surgeon having been previously called out of his cot to visit the dying smuggler; means were used to counteract the effects of the cold, and the two wounded opponents were extended on hammocks laid upon the deck, at no great distance from each other in the steerage. The sitter of the galley, under the active superintendence of the doctor, at length revived to consciousness, and, staring wildly around, his eyes rested on the smuggler, who was gazing with equal intensity upon him, and instantly they mutually uttered, "Jem!"-" Harry!" They had been early companions and old friends, bound even by the ties of kindred, and now, as I thought, probably by each other's hands, their hours were numbered, the sand of existence was fast running through the glass never to be turned again, the tide of life was ebbing never more to flow.

"Place us alongside of each other, and may God bless you!" said the galley's man addressing the few seamen who were bystanders. His request was complied with, though the removal seemed to give him great pain, and he took the hand of the wounded smuggler between his own. Harry," said he, “ we ought not to have met thus. You have often been my benefactor and have fed my children when I had no bread to give them, and now

"You have only done your duty, Jem," replied the other interrupting him, and then added mournfully-"not but for your own sake I would have rather had any hand than yours to make my children fatherless and my wife a widow. But 'tis done, Jem, and now I would wish to banish the world from my mind. Oh, that a clergyman were near; I feel I have a load of many sins, and I know I cannot run my crop into another world without a rigid overhauling."

66

Oh, Harry!" said the galley's man, "this is indeed a moment of awful trial! It is many years since we last met, but Susan told me of your generous kindness to those I love. Doctor, dear doctor, is there no hope?" "Cannot you whisper one cheering word? wept as would a child,

What will they do now? Mr. Dawes shook his head. must we both go?" and he

"Bear up like a man, Jem," said the smuggler, gently raising himself and drawing the hand of the other nearer to him,-" let us forgive each other here in the sight of God and in the sight of men."

"And may the righteous Dispenser of mercy grant his pardon to you both," uttered the Rev. Mr. C― (a passenger), as bending down he spread his hands above their heads.

"Thank you! thank you kindly, for that prayer," said the smuggler, much moved by the earnestness and solemnity with which it was uttered. "Oh, Sir, I fear I have much to answer for; but, thank God, I leave my family independent, whilst Jem here must leave his to poverty. Will any one procure me paper and pen and ink? Are you a clergyman, Sir?"

"I am," replied the reverend gentleman, "and as Mr. Dawes informs me that your summons to eternity has gone forth, let me entreat you to employ the fleeting minutes in preparing for the solemn change. Erring children you no doubt both of you have been, as which of us is perfect in the sight of heavenly wisdom. But you, my son," turning to the smuggler, "were breaking the laws of your country, and if this, your companion in the dying hour, fell by your means, I fear the crime of murder must hang heavy on your soul."

"I did not fire at all," exclaimed the smuggler warmly, "and, therefore, am innocent of his death!"

"Nor I, Harry, nor I," ejaculated the sitter, "I never had a musket in my hand."

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"Your cases are widely different," urged the clergyman. 66 You," addressing the galley's man, were in the execution of your duty, and, therefore, in the present instance, have no atonement to seek; but for this unhappy man," turning to the smuggler, "let him not cherish the delusive hope that, because he did not fire the shot, he is not, therefore, amenable to divine justice. Human laws decree differently, nor can any repentance, however heartfelt and sincere, avert the punishment; it is not, however, for me, the humble servant of the Most High, to limit his goodness or his grace; you are fast approaching to his awful presence, but, oh, do not enter it with a delusion in your right hand, do not quit this world with a plea of innocence upon your tongue, to hear not only the condemnation of your guilt at the bar of Omnipotence, but eternal banishment from his presence into everlasting torment."

The smuggler writhed with mental anguish whilst thus addressed, and many a convulsive spasm shook his weakening frame; at length he feebly uttered, "I think you bear too hard upon me, Sir. I never wilfully wronged a fellow-creature in my life; I owe no man one single farthing, and indeed, Sir, I feel it a little too hard that you, who alone can intercede for me, should give me so bad a character at the very moment that I most require a good one!" He turned himself away; "I must e'en make the best I can of it."

"Oh, listen to him, Harry," exclaimed the galley's man with much earnestness; "indeed he means you well; for my sake, for the sake of those you love, listen to him!"

"For you it may be well, Jem," returned the other, "the reverend gentleman has given you a clearance. True, you are a king's officer, and I am an outlawed smuggler. You or your men may kill and slay with impunity; I and my party must not stand in our own defence,

and that is justice! The first shot came from your boat, Jem, and that too most wantonly; it has given me my death, and it was not till my bold lads saw me fall bleeding in the stern-sheets that they returned the fire; there are others wounded, and some have already gone before us. I am no murderer!"

"Do not think, unhappy man," said the clergyman, who had been breathing a silent petition to heaven, "that because you refuse to hear my counsel, that therefore I shall forbear to speak! My duty is to win souls, even at the eleventh hour, through the mediation of Him who died for man's transgressions. I do not call you a murderer, and must leave the extent of your crime to the just judging of that Omniscience that knoweth the very secrets of the heart. Yet, oh, do not think that any thing I can say I who am but, like yourself, dust and ashes in his sight-will lessen your moral turpitude or deceive the watchful eye of the Almighty. He already knows the whole; seek, then, for pardon through his Son, and may mercy be extended towards you! Kneel down, my children," continued he, addressing the surrounding seamen, and many a hardened conscience, and many a stiff knee, were instantly bowed. "Kneel down, and let us pray that the obdurate heart of this, our departing brother, may be made sensible of its condition."

Earnestly and fervently did the reverend clergyman pour forth his entreaties, and as his prayer proceeded the outlaw once more turned towards his late opponent and grasped his hand. Clearly did Mr. C-point out the situation of the smuggler, and directed his attention to the only hope set before him in holy writ. Appropriately applicable was his language to the condition of both, and when he ceased there were many eyes moistened with tears that had never shed one before since the days of childhood.

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"Quick, quick," said the smuggler; pen, ink, and paper; quick, let me do one act of justice." The writing materials were brought, and he directed the clergyman to follow his dictation. My will," he continued," is in the hands of Mr. P-, the Solicitor at Dover; my wife, Jem, has a copy, let this be added- I give and bequeath to the children of James Knight the sum of 2001., to be taken from 3000l. in the Funds, already devised to my wife as long as she remains a widow, and otherwise to revert to my children; the said 200l. to be appropriated to such purposes, for the benefit of the said children of James Knight, as Mr. P shall see fit; and him I nominate as trustee.''

"God bless you, Harry!" faintly uttered the expiring revenue-man, pressing the outlaw's hand to his breast, "it is generously done; my widow will get a small pension and--oh!" he groaned most heavilyhis limbs quivered. "Farewell, Harry! Oh, Lord, forgive-forgive my trespasses and-and my sins! be a parent-a father to my orphans and-good-bye, Harry, the grappling is coming home-back-back your starboard oars-pull short round or "-his head fell, his limbs stretched out, and he lay a corpse by the side of the dying.

Some of the seamen, at the suggestion of the surgeon, approached to remove the lifeless body the smuggler would not let it go, and it was therefore suffered t

"A few short minu "Do not lose them

hand within h

for mercy an

only a few short minutes."

an, taking the smuggler's ars to you now; entreat y can come."

The dying man looked earnestly at the reverend gentleman, as he said, "Sir, I know but little of book-learning beyond what was necessary to calculate the worth of my crop. I have been honest in my dealings, and though you and others may call me smuggler and outlaw, yet from whom have I had encouragement? Why from the very lawmakers themselves! And that reminds me I have yet a duty to perform. Is there a King's officer on board?" he was answered in the affirmative. "Let him come to me-bear a hand, for my-my breath is dying-away."

Leave the things of time to themselves," urged the minister in a forcible and energetic manner; "eternity is opening upon you, the sea without a shore! The body must perish, but the soul, the immortal soul, will live for ever! and how? in happiness or misery! Oh, turn your thoughts then to that pardoning grace which is all-sufficient to forgive:" he then added in the most earnest and impressive manner,"Sinner! at the gates of death,-dying sinner! fly from the wrath to come! and let your last words be devoted to supplications for forgiveness of sins. Father of mercies, stretch forth thine hand and snatch this sinful man as a brand from the burning!"

"May God bless you, Sir," faintly uttered the almost exhausted smuggler, you know best how to shape your course when speaking the great name, and therefore I will leave my case in your hands. I know I am a sinner, and so we are all; but I do not think the Almighty will be overhard upon me for dealing in a bit of contraband. I never wronged my neighbour, never! and no one can say-beyond a skrimmage with the revenue-no one can say I was ever any man's enemy."

Has not blood been shed-have not human lives been sacrificedand can you offer an atonement?" inquired the clergyman.

"You carry too taut a strain upon me, Sir," answered the expiring man: "I am ready to obey orders, if you will but give them, Sir; but it is out of nature to expect me to pray like them as has been brought up to it. I hope and trust my offended Maker will forgive me, and bring both Jem here and me safe into port together. For the matter o' the skrimmage, I'm heartily sorry for it; but 'twas self-defence; and if murder has been committed, I am the murdered man. But the Almighty knows it all-and so it's of no use overhauling upon that concern now. Pray for me, Sir, and say what you can in my favour." At this moment Major Campbell appeared, and the smuggler motioned him to come close. Bending down over the prostrate man, the Major listened to his communication; but as it was delivered in a very low tone, only a few unconnected words reached our ears. At first Major Campbell gave only an uninterested attention; but as the smuggler proceeded, it was evident that the Major became more and more excited, eagerly catching at every sentence that was uttered, and in several instances repeating them, so as to make sure of his being correct. This, however, was rendered necessary by the feeble and disjointed accents of the man raising a doubt as to his true meaning. At length he ceased, and the clergyman again took place of the Major by his side; but only a few minutes elapsed before the wounded man gave certain symptoms of the near approach of dissolution, and we all stood silently around as his spirit passed away. As soon as it was ascertained that he was actually dead, Major Campbell took from a belt round his

U.S. JOURN. No. 82, SEPT. 1835.

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