Message from the Port-Admiral.”

A twelve-oared barge dashed alongside, and the person who had hailed—an officer in full uniform-demanded,

"What vacht is this ?"

"The Minnie Jimps, of Cowes."

"I am directed by the Port-Admiral to ask if you are in distress."

"I think, sir,” said Philip, "you are the bearer of a very extraordinary question, especially as I have not the honour of the PortAdmiral's personal acquaintance; but if it would be any satisfaction to him to know that both my friend and I are in easy circumstances, I beg you will say so."

"You misunderstand me, sir," rejoined our questioner, rather sternly, and standing up in his barge. "If you are neither in difficulty, nor an intimate personal friend of Sir Thomas Turnpipes, what explanation have you to offer of the extraordinary communications you have been making to him, and which may probably at this moment be in course of transmission to the Admiralty? During this last half-hour, sir, you have been addressing remarks to the PortAdmiral which none but a lunatic"

"Port-Admiral! Sir, I give you my honour,

Philip assented, and handed him that work. "Is it possible, sir," was the next question, "that you are not aware of the serious offence you are committing, in availing yourself of the government's secret signals? How do you account for the possession of this book ?"

My friend at once replied that he had bought it of a Jew slopseller, of whom he had been making some trifling purchases, and who had produced it, with the corresponding flags, from a secret drawer, stating that it was a system he had himself invented.

Our visitor could scarcely forbear smiling, but gave full credence to Philip's ingenuous confession; and, taking with him the book and colours, pulled away.

"So much for that adventure!" said Philip, throwing himself listlessly on the deck, and swinging his legs over the side. "After all, Harry, there is a novelty in these little mishaps that cools and refreshes one. Hallo!" he continued, drawing up his legs, "confound it. She is low in the water. I'm wet up to the knees." be a deal deeper than when we "We had to climb up to get Hark! Do you hear anything

"She must left," said I. on board. funny?"

Toby, however, merely squinted down the hatchway, and came back; with his thumb, as usual, in his mouth.

Well, sir, what's the matter?" asked Captain Philip.

"She's going down."
Philip started up.
Going down?

cabin ?"

Is there any water in the

I"Allow me, sir, to conclude. No sooner do you arrive off Ryde, than you make signal- Toby did not answer till the question had (urgent')-to speak the admiral. That dis- been repeated; then, removing his thumb, tinguished officer attends. Clerks are sum-quietly observed: moned, the telegraph is put in requisition, and the authorities at the Admiralty are warned that important communications may be expected. Using the private government code of signals, you proceed with this inquiry, 'Darling, how is your naughty toothache? Sir Thomas, almost doubting the evidence of his senses, contents himself with simply replying, Unintelligible, and awaits a second signal. What follows? How is the old cat's temper? The Admiral ordered me to take his barge, and seek an instant explanation of your conduct."

"I have heard you to the end, sir," said Philip, who, though greatly astonished, had recovered his usual self-possession, "and all I have to say in reply is, that I never entertained the remotest intention of signalling the PortAdmiral. My communications were addressed to-to a totally different authority." And Philip glanced anxiously in the direction of Dabchick Villa, which had just thrown out a new signal.

"You will allow me, sir, to inspect your signal-book" said the officer, in a tone halfquestion, half-command.

"Better nor four foot!" was the alarming reply.

66

Harry, this is serious. Bustle, bustle!" It was easy to say "bustle," but neither of us had the most distant idea what step to take, excepting only that single one which should bring us to the boat.

"And there's wind a-coming," croaked Toby, pointing to the distance, where a smart brecze was already tossing up a sea. "That dingey ain't no use. In ten minutes there'll be a sea she can't live in, with us three."

"You imp!" cried Philip, "what do you mean by talking and doing nothing, with the squall almost upon us?"

What can I do? I'm a hurchin," said Toby, and squatted down in his corner.

I looked at Philip. He was pale, and gazing with a troubled expression at the augmenting sea, and the vessels which, in every direction, were hastily shortening sail. But he was too proud to speak. I spoke for him.

"All right. Bear a hand!" shouted Toby, springing up, throwing off his pea-jacket, and darting to the helm. He lashed it for a moment in a particular position, then, flying at the sails, with voice and gestures incited us to certain manœuvres, which had just time to result in a close-reefed mainsail and storm-jib, when the squall was upon us. Prepared as we were, I still thought for a moment that all was over. Skilfully nursed by Toby, the Minnie did, however, once more lift her labouring side, and the squall, for the moment, passed harmlessly away.

"To the pump, both on you!" roared Toby. "Work for your lives."

With some impatient directions from our extraordinary commander, we rigged the machine, and set hotly to work.

"If she'll float till I run her a mile nearer, we're all right; but, look there, you swabs! Don't you see that second jib towing overboard? Bear a hand to haul it in! Look at that peak-halyard. Here, you Philip, catch hold of this a moment. Steady-so-steady!"

"I shan't," said Toby. "You'd be wanting to steer, and you don't know nuffin about it. You and him must pull me, and you'd better look alive. Here's the sea coming bigger and bigger! Out oars, I tell yer, and give her headway!"

Philip tugged like a Trojan, but his want of condition told terribly. He flung off his jacket and the dandy cap; and these Master Toby, with the utmost coolness, picked up and put on. To describe the airs the boy gave himself would be impossible. Alternately chaffing and bullying us, he certainly made himself ample amends for his previous silence and submission.

We had not deserted the Minnie Jimps much too soon. Before we had struggled landwards more than five hundred yards, the winner of nineteen cups made a graceful gesture of farewell, and with her sails set, and all her fabulous stores comfortably stowed, went quietly to the bottom.

Once within the friendly shelter of the pier, the water smoothed rapidly, and we had time to take note that a large crowd had assembled to welcome us on shore. Their shouts might be already heard, and a waving of white handkerchiefs from a group in the centre brought the colour to my friend's face. As we approached, we distinguished a Bath-chair, in which sat an elderly lady, while, beside the latter, stood a fair creature in a bonnet, blushing (as we perceived on landing) like a Provence rose.

The last thing we saw of Toby was that youth being carried on people's shoulders, escorted by at least three hundred mistaken men and boys, who regarded him as a hero.

Philip obeyed with a touching docility. That supreme disdain of all legislative enactments which characterises necessity, had reduced us both to a state of servility on which it is painful to dwell. Philip's only hope was that Dabchick Villa might yet be unconscious of our humiliation. As for me, I watched the enlarging chimneys of Ryde with gradually increasing gratitude; but the Minnie, losing her speed We dined that evening-nay, on several subas she filled, pressed heavily through the water, sequent evenings at Dabchick Villa. and every time she dipped her sharp nose, danger of our position had excited the symseemed more disinclined to lift it again. Pump-pathy of Mrs. Penquickle, and prepared her ing seemed to make no difference; but the to receive us with amenity. A few weeks tyrannical Toby would not suffer a moment's thereafter I found myself in the position of cessation of the toil, and I was labouring away, mechanically, when I was aware of a smart altercation behind me.

Philip had the signal-halyards in his hand, and had been preparing to hoist his distinguishing flag, when the new commander fiercely interposed.

"Tell'e you won't. If the wind catches that 'ere, she'll turn turtle at once."

"Turtle!" said Philip, “I—”

The vessel gave a feeble lurch, and the water broke over her convex deck.

"She's settlin'," said Toby. "I wish we was half a mile nearer. But they'll pick us up. Haul up the boat. Steady, now, steady." We obeyed, and reluctantly quitted the sinking clipper; Philip, as his last assertion of authority, hoisting his beloved cauliflower. Toby skipped over our backs, and seated himself comfortably in the stern-sheets.

Take an oar, sir," said Philip.

The

"best man;" Philip Bulkeley being reduced to that of bridegroom, conducting to the bymeneal altar Seraphina Jane, only daughter of the late General Sir Kilpeck Pollinger, of Changaree Doll and Upper Brook-street, Baronet.

Next week will appear the First Part of a STORY BY CHARLES DICKENS.

IN TWO PARTS.

The Thirteenth Journey of the UNCOMMERCIAL
TRAVELLER will be published in No. 69.

A NEW SERIAL TALE,

BY CHARLES LEVER,

Will be commenced on the 18th August (in No. 69), and continued from week to week until completed.

The right of Translating Articles from ALL THE YEAR ROUND is reserved by the Authors.

Published at the Office, No. 26, Wellington Street, Strand. Printed by C. WHITING, Beaufort House, Strand.

ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

A WEEKLY JOURNAL.

CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS.

WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED HOUSEHOLD WORDS.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1860.

in that way still)—' dear lady, one word, I implore you, on a matter serious to us both.' If one can think at all, in serious difficulties, one thinks quick. I felt directly that it might be a fatal mistake to leave myself and to leave you in the dark, where such a man as the Count was concerned. I felt that the doubt of what he might do, in your absence, would be ten times more trying to me if I declined to see him than if I consented. 'Ask the gentleman to wait in the shop,' I said. 'I will be with him in a moment.' I ran upstairs for my bonnet, being determined not to let him speak to me in-doors. I knew his deep ringing voice; and I was afraid Laura might hear it, even in the shop. In less than a minute I was down again in the passage, and had opened the door into the street. He came round to meet me from the shop. There he was, in deep mourning, with his smooth bow and his deadly smile, and some idle boys and women near him, staring at his great size, his fine black clothes, and his large cane with the gold knob to it. All the horrible time at Blackwater came back to me the moment I set eyes on him. All the old loathing crept and crawled through me, when he took off his hat with a flourish, and spoke to me, as if we had parted on the friendliest terms hardly a day since.”

"You remember what he said ?"

the house. How he contrived to escape being seen by you, he did not tell me; but he found us out on that occasion, and in that way. Having made the discovery, he took no advantage of it till the news reached him of Sir Percival's death and then, as I told you, he acted for himself, because he believed you would next proceed against the dead man's partner in the conspiracy. He at once made his arrangements to meet the owner of the Asylum in London, and to take him to the place where his runaway patient was hidden; believing that the results, whichever way they ended, would be to involve you in interminable legal disputes and difficulties, and to tie your hands for all purposes of offence, so far as he was concerned. That was his purpose, on his own confession to me. The only consideration which made him hesitate, at the last moment

"Yes ?"

"It is hard to acknowledge it, Walter-and yet I must! I was the only consideration. No words can say how degraded I feel in my own estimation when I think of it--but the one weak point in that man's iron character is the horrible admiration he feels for me. I have tried, for the sake of my own self-respect, to disbelieve it as long as I could; but his looks, his actions, force on me the shameful conviction of the truth. The eyes of that monster of wickedness moistened while he was speaking to me-they did, Walter! He declared, that at the moment of pointing out the house to the doctor, he thought of my misery if I was separated from Laura, of my responsibility if I was called on to answer for effecting her escape-and he risked the worst that you could do to him, the second time, for my sake. All he asked was that I would re

"I can't repeat it, Walter. You shall know directly what he said about you-but I can't repeat what he said to me. It was worse than the polite insolence of his letter. My hands tingled to strike him, as if I had been a man! I only kept them quiet by tearing his card to pieces under my shawl. Without saying a word on my side, I walked away from the house (for fear of Laura seeing us); and he followed, protest-member the sacrifice, and restrain your rashness, ing softly all the way. In the first by-street, I turned, and asked him what he wanted with me. He wanted two things. First, if I had no objection, to express his sentiments. I declined to hear them. Secondly, to repeat the warning in his letter. I asked, what occasion there was for repeating it. He bowed and smiled, and said he would explain. The explanation exactly confirmed the fears I expressed before you left us. I told you, if you remember, that Sir Percival would be too headstrong to take his friend's advice where you were concerned; and that there was no danger to be dreaded from the Count till his own interests were threatened, and he was roused into acting for

himself?"

"I recollect, Marian."

in my own interests-interests which he might never be able to consult again. I made no such bargain with him; I would have died first. But believe him, or not-whether it is true or false that he sent the doctor away with an excuseone thing is certain, I saw the man leave him, without so much as a glance at our window, or even at our side of the way.'

"I believe it, Marian. The best men are not consistent in good-why should the worst men be consistent in evil? At the same time, I suspect him of merely attempting to frighten you, by threatening what he cannot really do. I doubt his power of annoying us, by means of the owner of the Asylum, now that Sir Percival is dead, and Mrs. Catherick is free from all control. But let me hear more. What did the Count say of me ?"

I

"Well; so it has really turned out. The Count offered his advice; but it was refused. Sir Per- "He spoke last of you. His eyes brightened cival would only take counsel of his own vio- and hardened, and his manner changed to what lence, his own obstinacy, and his own hatred of remember it, in past times-to that mixture you. The Count let him have his way; first of pitiless resolution and mountebank mockery privately ascertaining, in case of his own in- which makes it so impossible to fathom him. terests being threatened next, where we lived. Warn Mr. Hartright!' he said, in his loftiest You were followed, Walter, on returning here, manner. He has a man of brains to deal after your first journey to Hampshire-by the with, a man who snaps his big fingers at the lawyer's men for some distance from the rail-laws and conventions of society, when he meaway, and by the Count himself to the door of sures himself with ME. If my lamented friend