five centuries before, he would have been one of advantageous impression. The main guard was orthose wicked giants, who took such a cruel pleasure dered immediately to turn out, and the arms and regiin pocketing distressed damsels, when gadding about mentals (of which the garrison possessed full half-athe world, and locking them up in enchanted cas-dozen suits) were equally distributed among the soltles, without a toilet, a change of linen, or any other diers. One tall lank fellow appeared in a coat convenience in consequence of which enormities, intended for a small man, the skirts of which reachthey fell under the high displeasure of chivalry, and ed a little below his waist, the buttons were between all true, loyal, and gallant knights were instructed to his shoulders, and the sleeves half-way to his wrists, attack and slay outright any miscreant they might so that his hands looked like a couple of huge spades happen to find, above six feet high; which is doubt--and the coat, not being large enough to meet in less one reason that the race of large men is nearly front, was linked together by loops, made of a pair extinct, and the generations of latter ages so exceeding small.

No sooner did Governor Risingh enter upon his office, than he immediately cast his eyes upon the important post of Fort Casimir, and formed the righteous resolution of taking it into his possession. The only thing that remained to consider, was the mode of carrying his resolution into effect; and here I must do him the justice to say, that he exhibited a humanity rarely to be met with among leaders, and which I have never seen equalled in modern times, excepting among the English, in their glorious affair at Copenhagen. Willing to spare the effusion of blood, and the miseries of open warfare, he benevolently shunned every thing like avowed hostility or regular siege, and resorted to the less glorious, but more merciful expedient of treachery.

of red worsted garters. Another had an old cocked hat stuck on the back of his head, and decorated with a bunch of cocks' tails-a third had a pair of rusty gaiters hanging about his heels-while a fourth, who was short and duck-legged, was equipped in a huge pair of the general's cast-off breeches, which he held up with one hand, while he grasped his firelock with the other. The rest were accoutred in similar style, excepting three graceless ragamuffins, who had no shirts, and but a pair and a half of breeches between them, wherefore they were sent to the black hole to keep them out of view. There is nothing in which the talents of a prudent commander are more completely testified, than in thus setting matters off to the greatest advantage; and it is for this reason that our frontier posts at the present day (that of Niagara for example) display their best suit of regimentals on the back of the sentinel who stands in sight of travellers.

Under pretence, therefore, of paying a neighbourly visit to General Van Poffenburgh, at his new post of Fort Casimir, he made requisite preparation, sailed His men being thus gallantly arrayed-those who in great state up the Delaware, displayed his flag lacked muskets shouldering spades and pickaxes, with the most ceremonious punctilio, and honoured and every man being ordered to tuck in his shirt-tail the fortress with a royal salute, previous to dropping and pull up his brogues-General Van Poffenburgh anchor. The unusual noise awakened a veteran first took a sturdy draught of foaming ale, which, like Dutch sentinel, who was napping faithfully at his the magnanimous More of Morehall,* was his invapost, and who, having suffered his match to go out, riable practice on all great occasions-which done, contrived to return the compliment, by discharging he put himself at their head, ordered the pine planks, his rusty musket with the spark of a pipe, which he which served as a draw-bridge, to be laid down, and borrowed from one of his comrades. The salute in-issued forth from his castle like a mighty giant just deed would have been answered by the guns of the refreshed with wine. But when the two heroes met, fort, had they not unfortunately been out of order, then began a scene of warlike parade and chivalric and the magazine deficient in ammunition-accidents courtesy that beggars all description-Risingh, who, to which forts have in all ages been liable, and which as I before hinted, was a shrewd, cunning politician, were the more excusable in the present instance, as and had grown gray much before his time, in conseFort Casimir had only been erected about two years, quence of his craftiness, saw at one glance the ruling and General Van Poffenburgh, its mighty commander, passion of the great Van Poffenburgh, and humoured had been fully occupied with matters of much greater him in all his valorous fantasies. importance.

Their detachments were accordingly drawn up in Risingh, highly satisfied with this courteous reply front of each other; they carried arms and they preto his salute, treated the fort to a second, for he well sented arms; they gave the standing salute and the knew its commander was marvellously delighted with passing salute-they rolled their drums and flourthese little ceremonials, which he considered as so ished their fifes, and they waved their colours-they many acts of homage paid unto his greatness. He faced to the left, and they faced to the right, and then landed in great state, attended by a suite of they faced to the right about-they wheeled forthirty men-a prodigious and vain-glorious retinue, ward, and they wheeled backward, and they wheeled for a petty governor of a petty settlement, in those into echellon-they marched and they counterdays of primitive simplicity; and to the full as great marched, by grand divisions, by single divisions, and an army as generally swells the pomp and marches by sub-divisions-by platoons, by sections, and by in the rear of our frontier commanders, at the pres-files-in quick time, in slow time, and in no time at ent day.

The number, in fact, might have awakened suspicion, had not the mind of the great Van Poffenburgh been so completely engrossed with an all-pervading idea of himself, that he had not room to admit a thought besides. In fact, he considered the concourse of Risingh's followers as a compliment to himself-so apt are great men to stand between themselves and the sun, and completely eclipse the truth by their own shadow.

It may readily be imagined how much General Van Poffenburgh was flattered by a visit from so august a personage; his only embarrassment was, how he should receive him in such a manner as to appear to the greatest advantage, and make the most

all: for, having gone through all the evolutions of two great armies, including the eighteen manœuvres of Dundas, having exhausted all that they could recollect or imagine of military tactics, including sundry strange and irregular evolutions, the like of which was never seen before nor since, excepting among certain of our newly-raised militia, the two great commanders and their respective troops came at length to a dead halt, completely exhausted by the toils of war. Never did two valiant train-band captains, or two buskined theatric heroes, in the re

nowned tragedies of Pizarro, Tom Thumb, or any other heroical and fighting tragedy, marshal their gailows-looking, duck-legged, heavy-heeled myrmidons with more glory and self-admiration.

stout Risingh would strike his brawny fist upon the table till every glass rattled again, throwing himself back in the chair and uttering gigantic peals of laughter, swearing most horribly it was the best joke he ever heard in his life.—Thus all was rout and revelry and hideous carousal within Fort Casimir, and so lustily did Van Poffenburgh ply the bottle, that in less than four short hours he made himself and his whole garrison, who all sedulously emulated the deeds of their chieftain, dead drunk, and singing songs, quaffing bumpers, and drinking patriotic toasts, none of which but was as long as a Welsh pedigree or a plea in chancery.

These military compliments being finished, General Van Poffenburgh escorted his illustrious visitor, with great ceremony, into the fort; attended him throughout the fortifications; showed him the hornworks, crown-works, half-moons, and various other outworks; or rather the places where they ought to be erected, and where they might be erected if he pleased; plainly demonstrating that it was a place of great capability," and though at present but a little redoubt, yet that it evidently was a formidable No sooner did things come to this pass, than the fortress, in embryo. This survey over, he next had crafty Risingh and his Swedes, who had cunningly the whole garrison put under arms, exercised and kept themselves sober, rose on their entertainers, tied reviewed, and concluded by ordering the three Bride-them neck and heels, and took formal possession of well birds to be hauled out of the black hole, brought up to the halberts and soundly flogged for the amusement of his visitor, and to convince him that he was a great disciplinarian.

the fort, and all its dependencies, in the name of Queen Christina of Sweden: administering at the same time an oath of allegiance to all the Dutch soldiers who could be made sober enough to swallow it. Risingh then put the fortification in order, appointed his discreet and vigilant friend, Suen Scutz, a tall,

The cunning Risingh, while he pretended to be struck dumb outright, with the puissance of the great Van Poffenburgh, took silent note of the incom-wind-dried, water-drinking Swede, to the command, petency of his garrison, of which he gave a hint to his trusty followers, who tipped each other the wink, and laughed most obstreperously-in their sleeves.

The inspection, review, and flogging being concluded, the party adjourned to the table; for among his other great qualities, the general was remarkably addicted to huge entertainments, or rather carousals, and in one afternoon's campaign would leave more dead men on the field than he ever did in the whole course of his military career. Many bulletins of these bloodless victories do still remain on record; and the whole province was once thrown in a maze by the return of one of his campaigns; wherein it was stated that though, like Captain Bobadil, he had only twenty men to back him, yet in the short space of six months he had conquered and utterly annihilated sixty oxen, ninety hogs, one hundred sheep, ten thousand cabbages, one thousand bushels of potatoes,

and departed, bearing with him this truly amiable garrison, and their puissant commander; who, when brought to himself by a sound drubbing, bore no little resemblance to a "deboshed fish," or bloated sea-monster, caught upon dry land.

The transportation of the garrison was done to prevent the transmission of intelligence to New-Amsterdam; for, much as the cunning Risingh exulted in his stratagem, he dreaded the vengeance of the sturdy Peter Stuyvesant; whose name spread as much terror in the neighbourhood as did whilom that of the unconquerable Scanderberg among his scurvy enemies, the Turks.

CHAPTER II.

BROUGHT TO LIGHT; WITH THE PROCEEDINGS
OF PETER THE HEADSTRONG, WHEN HE HEARD
OF THE MISFORTUNES OF GENERAL VAN POF-
FENBURGH.

one hundred and fifty kilderkins of small-beer, two SHOWING HOW PROFOUND SECRETS ARE OFTEN thousand seven hundred and thirty-five pipes, seventy-eight pounds of sugar-plums, and forty bars of iron, besides sundry small meats, game, poultry, and garden stuff:-An achievement unparalleled since the days of Pantagruel and his all-devouring army, and which showed that it was only necessary to let bellipotent Van Poffenburgh and his garrison loose in an enemy's country, and in a little while they would breed a famine and starve all the inhabitants. No sooner, therefore, had the general received the first intimation of the visit of Governor Risingh, than he ordered a great dinner to be prepared; and privately sent out a detachment of his most experienced veterans to rob all the hen-roosts in the neighbourhood and lay the pig-sties under contribution; a service to which they had been long inured, and which they discharged with such incredible zeal and promptitude that the garrison table groaned under the weight of their spoils.

WHOEVER first described common fame, or rumour, as belonging to the sager sex, was a very owl for shrewdness. She has, in truth, certain feminine qualities to an astonishing degree; particularly that benevolent anxiety to take care of the affairs of others, which keeps her continually hunting after secrets, and gadding about proclaiming them. Whatever is done openly and in the face of the world, she takes but transient notice of; but whenever a transaction is done in a corner, and attempted to be shrouded in mystery, then her goddess-ship is at her wit's end to find it out, and takes a most mischievous and lady-like pleasure in publishing it to

the world.

I wish, with all my heart, my readers could see It is this truly feminine propensity that induces the valiant Van Poffenburgh, as he presided at the her continually to be prying into cabinets of princes, head of the banquet; it was a sight worth beholding: listening at the key-holes of senate chambers, and -there he sat, in his greatest glory, surrounded by peering through chinks and crannies, when our worhis soldiers, like that famous wine-bibber, Alexan-thy Congress are sitting with closed doors, deliber der, whese thirsty virtues he did most ably imitate-ating between a dozen excellent modes of ruining telling astounding stories of his hair-breadth advent- the nation. It is this which makes her so obnoxious ures and heroic exploits, at which, though all his to all wary statesmen and intriguing commanders— auditors knew them to be most incontinent and out- such a stumbling-block to private negotiations and rageous gasconadoes, yet did they cast up their eyes secret expeditions; which she often betrays, by in admiration and utter many interjections of aston-means and instruments which never would have been ishment. Nor could the general pronounce any thing thought of by any but a female head. that bore the remotest semblance to a joke, but the Thus it was in the case of the affair of Fort Casi

mir. No doubt the cunning Risingh imagined, that by securing the garrison he should for a long time prevent the history of its fate from reaching the ears of the gallant Stuyvesant; but his exploit was blown to the world when he least expected it, and by one of the last beings he would ever have suspected of enlisting as trumpeter to the widemouthed deity.

This was one Dirk Schuiler, (or Skulker.) a kind of hanger-on to the garrison; who seemed to belong to nobody, and in a manner to be self-outlawed. He was one of those vagabond cosmopolites, who shark about the world as if they had no right or business in it, and who infest the skirts of society like poachers and interlopers. Every garrison and country village has one or more scape-goats of this kind, whose life is a kind of enigma, whose existence is without motive, who comes from the Lord knows where, who lives the Lord knows how, and seems to be made for no other earthly purpose but to keep up the ancient and honourable order of idleness. This vagrant philosopher was supposed to have some Indian blood in his veins, which was manifested by a certain Indian complexion and cast of countenance; but more especially by his propensities and habits. He was a tall, lank fellow, swift of foot and longwinded. He was generally equipped in a half Indian dress, with belt, leggings, and moccasons. His hair hung in straight gallows locks about his ears, and added not a little to his sharking demeanour. It is an old remark, that persons of Indian mixture are half civilized, half savage, and half devil, a third half being expressly provided for their particular convenience. It is for similar reasons, and probably with equal truth, that the back-wood-men of Kentucky are styled half man, half horse, and half alligator, by the settlers on the Mississippi, and held accordingly in great respect and abhorrence.

would have been the publisher of the treachery of Risingh.

When the carousal was going on, which proved so fatal to the brave Van Poffenburgh and his watchful garrison, Dirk skulked about from room to room, being a kind of privileged vagrant, or useless hound, whom nobody noticed. But though a fellow of few words, yet, like your taciturn people, his eyes and ears were always open, and in the course of his prowlings he overheard the whole plot of the Swedes. Dirk immediately settled in his own mind how he should turn the matter to his own advantage. He played the perfect jack-of-both-sides-that is to say, he made a prize of every thing that came in his reach, robbed both parties, stuck the copper-bound cocked-hat of the puissant Van Poffenburgh on his head, whipped a huge pair of Risingh's jack-boots under his arms, and took to his heels, just before the catastrophe and confusion at the garrison.

Finding himself completely dislodged from his haunt in this quarter, he directed his flight towards his native place, New-Amsterdam, from whence he had formerly been obliged to abscond precipitately, in consequence of misfortune in business--that is to say, having been detected in the act of sheep-stealing. After wandering many days in the woods, toiling through swamps, fording brooks, swimming various rivers, and encountering a world of hardships, that would have killed any other being but an Indian, a back-wood-man, or the devil, he at length arrived, half famished, and lank as a starved weasel, at Communipaw, where he stole a canoe, and paddled over to New-Amsterdam. Immediately on landing, he repaired to Governor Stuyvesant, and in more words than he had ever spoken before in the whole course of his life, gave an account of the disastrous affair.

On receiving these direful tidings, the valiant Peter started from his seat-dashed the pipe he was The above character may have presented itself to smoking against the back of the chimney-thrust the garrison as applicable to Dirk Schuiler, whom a prodigious quid of tobacco into his left cheekthey familiarly dubbed Gallows Dirk. Certain it is, pulled up his galligaskins, and strode up and down he acknowledged allegiance to no one-was an utter the room, humming, as was customary with him enemy to work, holding it in no manner of estima- when in a passion, a hideous north-west ditty. But tion-but lounged about the fort, depending upon as I have before shown, he was not a man to vent his chance for a subsistence, getting drunk whenever he spleen in idle vapouring. His first measure after the could get liquor, and stealing whatever he could lay paroxysm of wrath had subsided, was to stump uphis hands on. Every day or two he was sure to get stairs to a huge wooden chest, which served as his a sound rib-roasting for some of his misdemeanours, armory, from whence he drew forth that identical which, however, as it broke no bones, he made very suit of regimentals described in the preceding chap light of, and scrupled not to repeat the offence, when-ter. In these portentous habiliments he arrayed ever another opportunity presented. Sometimes, in himself, like Achilles, in the armour of Vulcan, mainconsequence of some flagrant villainy, he would ab-taining all the while a most appalling silence, knitting scond from the garrison, and be absent for a month his brows, and drawing his breath through his clenchat a time; skulking about the woods and swamps, with a long fowling-piece on his shoulder, laying in ambush for game-or squatting himself down on the edge of a pond catching fish for hours together, and bearing no little resemblance to that notable bird ycleped the mudpoke. When he thought his crimes had been forgotten or forgiven, he would sneak back to the fort with a bundle of skins, or a bunch of poultry, which perchance he had stolen, and would exchange them for liquor, with which, having well soaked his carcass, he would lay in the sun and Thus armed at all points, with grizzly war deenjoy all the luxurious indolence of that swinish pictured in each feature, his very cocked hat assum philosopher, Diogenes. He was the terror of all the ing an air of uncommon defiance, he instantly put farm-yards in the country, into which he made tear-himself upon the alert, and despatched Antony Van ful inroads; and sometimes he would make his sud- Corlear hither and thither, this way and that way, den appearance at the garrison at day-break, with the whole neighborhood at his heels, like a scoundrel thief of a fox, detected in his maraudings and hunted to his hole. Such was this Dirk Schuiler; and from the total indifference he showed to the world or its concerns, and from his truly Indian stoicism and taciturnity, no one would ever have dreamt that he

ed teeth. Being hastily equipped, he strode down into the parlour, jerked down his trusty sword from over the fire-place, where it was usually suspended; but before he girded it on his thigh, he drew it from its scabbard, and as his eye coursed along the rusty blade, a grim smile stole over his iron visage--it was the first smile that had visited his countenance for five long weeks; but every one who beheld it, prophesied that there would soon be warm work in the province !

through all the muddy streets and crooked lanes of the city, summoning by sound of trumpet his trusty peers to assemble in instant council. This done, by way of expediting matters, according to the custom of people in a hurry, he kept in continual bustle, shifting from chair to chair, popping his head out of every window, and stumping up and down stairs with

his wooden leg in such brisk and incessant motion, | ed, he attended public service at the great church of that, as we are informed by an authentic historian | St. Nicholas, like a true and pious governor, and then of the times, the continual clatter bore no small re- leaving peremptory orders with his council to have semblance to the music of a cooper hooping a flour- the chivalry of the Manhattoes marshalled out and barrel. appointed against his return, departed upon his recruiting voyage, up the waters of the Hudson.

A summons so peremptory, and from a man of the governor's mettle, was not to be trifled with; the sages forthwith repaired to the council chamber, seated themselves with the utmost tranquillity, and lighting their long pipes, gazed with unruffled composure on his excellency and his regimentals; being,

CHAPTER III.

THE HUDSON, AND THE WONDERS AND DE-
LIGHTS OF THAT RENOWNED RIVER.

Now did the soft breezes of the south steal sweetly over the beauteous face of nature, tempering the panting heats of summer into genial and prolific warmth-when that miracle of hardihood and chiv alric virtue, the dauntless Peter Stuyvesant, spread his canvas to the wind, and departed from the fair island of Manna-hata. The galley in which he embarked was sumptuously adorned with pendants and streamers of gorgeous dyes, which fluttered gayly in the wind, or drooped their ends in the bosom of the stream. The bow and poop of this majestic vessel were gallantly bedight, after the rarest Dutch fashion, with figures of little pursy Cupids with periwigs on their heads, and bearing in their hands garlands of flowers, the like of which are not to be found in any book of botany; being the matchless flowers which flourished in the golden age, and exist no longer, unless it be in the imaginations of ingenious carvers of wood and discolourers of canvas.

as all counsellors should be, not easily flustered, or CONTAINING PETER STUYVESANT'S VOYAGE UP taken by surprise. The governor, looking around for a moment with a lofty and soldier-like air, and resting one hand on the pummel of his sword, and flinging the other forth in a free and spirited manner, addressed them in a short, but soul-stirring harangue. I am extremely sorry that I have not the advantages of Livy, Thucydides, Plutarch, and others of my predecessors, who are furnished, as I am told, with the speeches of all their great emperors, generals, and orators, taken down in short-hand, by the most accurate stenographers of the time; whereby they were enabled wonderfully to enrich their histories, and delight their readers with sublime strains of eloquence. Not having such important auxiliaries, I cannot possibly pronounce what was the tenor of Governor Stuyvesant's speech. I am bold, however, to say, from the tenor of his character, that he did not wrap his rugged subject in silks and ermines, and other sickly trickeries of phrase; but spoke forth, like a man of nerve and vigour, who scorned to shrink, in words, from those dangers which he stood ready to encounter in very deed. This much is certain, that he concluded by announcing his determination of leading on his troops in person, and routing these costardmonger Swedes from their usurped quarters at Fort Casimir. To this hardy resolution such of his council as were awake gave their usual signal of concurrence, and as to the rest who had fallen asleep about the middle of the harangue, (their "usual custom in the afternoon")-they made not the least objection.

Thus rarely decorated, in style befitting the state of the puissant potentate of the Manhattoes, did the galley of Peter Stuyvesant launch forth upon the bosom of the lordly Hudson; which, as it rolled its broad waves to the ocean, seemed to pause for a while, and swell with pride, as if conscious of the illustrious burthen it sustained.

But trust me, gentlefolk, far other was the scene presented to the contemplation of the crew, from And now was seen in the fair city of New-Am- that which may be witnessed at this degenerate day. sterdam, a prodigious bustle and preparation for iron Wildness and savage majesty reigned on the borders war. Recruiting parties marched hither and thither, of this mighty river-the hand of cultivation had not calling lustily upon all the scrubs, the runagates, and as yet laid down the dark forests, and tamed the tatterdemalions of the Manhattoes and its vicinity, features of the landscape-nor had the frequent sail who had any ambition of sixpence a day, and im- of commerce yet broken in upon the profound and mortal fame into the bargain, to enlist in the cause of awful solitude of ages. Here and there might be glory. For I would have you note that your war- seen a rude wigwam perched among the cliffs of the like heroes who trudge in the rear of conquerors, are mountains, with its curling column of smoke mountgenerally of that illustrious class of gentlemen, who ing in the transparent atmosphere—but so loftily sitare equal candidates for the army or the Bridewell-uated, that the whoopings of the savage children, the halberts or the whipping-post-for whom dame gambolling on the margin of the dizzy heights, fell Fortune has cast an even die, whether they shall almost as faintly on the ear, as do the notes of the make their exit by the sword or the halter—and lark, when lost in the az ire vault of heaven. Now whose deaths shall, at all events, be a lofty example and then, from the beetling brow of some rocky to their countrymen. precipice, the wild deer would look timidly down But notwithstanding all this martial rout and invi- upon the splendid pageant as it passed below; and tation, the ranks of honour were but scantily sup- then, tossing his branching antlers in the air, would plied; so averse were the peaceful burghers of New-bound away into the thickets of the forest. Amsterdam from enlisting in foreign broils, or stirring beyond that home which rounded all their earthly ideas. Upon beholding this, the great Peter, whose noble heart was all on fire with war and sweet revenge, determined to wait no longer for the tardy assistance of these oily citizens, but to muster up his merry men of the Hudson; who, brought up among woods and wilds and savage beasts, like our yeomen of Kentucky, delighted in nothing so much as desperate adventures and perilous expeditions through the wilderness. Thus resolving, he ordered his trusty squire, Antony Van Corlear, to have his state galley prepared and du'y victualled; which being perform

Through such scenes did the stately vesse! of Peter Stuyvesant pass. Now did they skirt the bases of the rocky heights of Jersey, which spring up like everlasting walls, reaching from the waves unto the heavens; and were fashioned, if traditions may be believed, in times long past, by the mighty spirit Manetho, to protect his favourite abodes from the unhallowed eyes of mortals. Now did they career it gayly across the vast expanse of Tappan Bay, whose wide extended shores present a vast variety of delectable scenery-here the bold promontory, crowned with embowering trees, advancing into the baythere the long woodland slope, sweeping up from the

shore in ich luxuriance, and terminating in the up-| THE HIGHLANDS, where it would seem that the gi land precipice-while at a distance a long waving gantic Titans had erst waged their impious war with line of rocky heights threw their gigantic shades heaven, piling up cliffs on cliffs, and hurling vast across the water. Now would they pass where some masses of rock in wild confusion. But in sooth, very modest little interval, opening among these stupen- different is the history of these cloud-capped mountdous scenes, yet retreating as it were for protection ains.-These in ancient days, before the Hudson into the embraces of the neighbouring mountains, poured his waters from the lakes, formed one vast displayed a rural paradise, fraught with sweet and prison, within whose rocky bosom the omnipotent pastoral beauties; the velvet-tufted lawn-the bushy Manetho confined the rebellious spirits who repined copse-the tinkling rivulet, stealing through the fresh at his control. Here, bound in adamantine chains, and vivid verdure-on whose banks was situated or jammed in rifted pines, or crushed by ponderous some little Indian village, or, peradventure, the rude rocks, they groaned for many an age. At length the cabin of some solitary hunter. conquering Hudson, in his irresistible career towards the ocean, burst open their prison-house, rolling his tide triumphantly through its stupendous ruins.

The different periods of the revolving day seemed each, with cunning magic, to diffuse a different charm over the scene. Now would the jovial sun break gloriously from the east, blazing from the summits of the hills, and sparkling the landscape with a thousand dewy gems; while along the borders of the river were seen heavy masses-of mist, which, like midnight caitiffs, disturbed at his approach, made a sluggish retreat, rolling in sullen reluctance up the mountains. At such times, all was brightness and life and gayety-the atmosphere seemed of an indescribable pureness and transparency-the birds broke forth in wanton madrigals, and the freshening breezes wafted the vessel merrily on her course. But when the sun sunk amid a flood of glory in the west, mantling the heavens and the earth with a thousand gorgeous dyes-then all was calm, and silent, and magnificent. The late swelling sail hung lifelessly against the mast-the seamen with folded arms leaned against the shrouds, lost in that involuntary musing which the sober grandeur of nature commands in the rudest of her children. The vast bosom of the Hudson was like an unruffled mirror, reflecting the golden splendour of the heavens, excepting that now and then a bark canoe would steal across its surface, filled with painted savages, whose gay feathers glared brightly, as perchance a lingering ray of the setting sun gleamed upon them from the western mountains.

scenery.

Still, however, do many of them lurk about their old abodes; and these it is, according to venerable legends, that cause the echoes which resound throughout these awful solitudes; which are nothing but their angry clamours, when any noise disturbs the profoundness of their repose. For when the elements are agitated by tempest, when the winds are up and the thunder rolls, then horrible is the yelling and howling of these troubled spirits, making the mountains to rebellow with their hideous uproar; for at such times, it is said, they think the great Manetho is returning once more to plunge them in gloomy caverns, and renew their intolerable captivity.

But all these fair and glorious scenes were lost upon the gallant Stuyvesant; nought occupied his mind but thoughts of iron war, and proud anticipa tions of hardy deeds of arms. Neither did his honest crew trouble their vacant heads with any romantic speculations of the kind. The pilot at the helm quietly smoked his pipe, thinking of nothing either past, present, or to come-those of his comrades who were not industriously snoring under the hates were listening with open mouths to Antony Van Corlear; who, seated on the windlass, was relating to them the marvellous history of those myriads of fire-flies that sparkled like gems and spangles upon the dusky robe of night. These, according to tradition, were originally a race of pestilent sempiternous beldames, who peopled these parts long before the memory of man; being of that abominated race emphatically called brimstones; and who, for their innumerable sins against the children of men, and to furnish an awful warning to the beauteous sex, were doomed to infest the earth in the shape of these threatening and terrible little bugs; enduring the internal torments of that fire, which they formerly carried in their hearts, and breathed forth in their words; but now are sentenced to bear about for ever-in their

But when the hour of twilight spread its magic mists around, then did the face of nature assume a thousand fugitive charms, which, to the worthy heart that seeks enjoyment in the glorious works of its Maker, are inexpressibly captivating. The mellow dubious light that prevailed, just served to tinge with illusive colours the softened features of the The deceived but delighted eye sought vainly to discern, in the broad masses of shade, the separating line between the land and water; or to distinguish the fading objects that seemed sinking into chaos. Now did the busy fancy supply the fee-tails. bleness of vision, producing with industrious craft a fairy creation of her own. Under her plastic wand the barren rocks frowned upon the watery waste, in the semblance of lofty towers and high embattled castles-trees assumed the direful forms of mighty giants, and the inaccessible summits of the mountains seemed peopled with a thousand shadowy beings.

Now broke forth from the shores the notes of an innumerable variety of insects, which filled the air with a strange but not inharmonious concert-while ever and anon was heard the melancholy plaint of the whip-poor-will, who, perched on some lone tree, wearied the ear of night with his incessant moanings. The mind, soothed into a hallowed melancholy, listened with pensive stillness to catch and distinguish each sound that vaguely echoed from the shore-now and then startled perchance by the whoop of some straggling savage, or the dreary howl of a wolf, stealing forth upon his nightly prowlings.

Thus happily did they pursue their course, until they entered upon those awful defiles denominated

And now am I going to tell a fact, which I doubt much my readers will hesitate to believe; but if they do, they are welcome not to believe a word in this whole history, for nothing which it contains is more true. It must be known then that the nose of Antony the trumpeter was of a very lusty size, strutting boldly from his countenance like a mountain of Golconda; being sumptuously bedecked with rubies and other precious stones-the true regalia of a king of good fellows, which jolly Bacchus grants to all who bouse it heartily at the flagon. Now thus it happened, that bright and early in the morning, the good Antony having washed his burly visage, was leaning over the quarter-railing of the galley contemplating it in the glassy wave below-just at this moment, the illustrious sun, breaking in all his splendour from behind one of the high bluffs of the Highlands, did dart one of his most potent beams full upon the refulgent nose of the sounder of brass-the reflection of which shot straightway down, hissing hot, into the water, and killed a mighty sturgeon that was sporting beside the