measuring the time, but it seemed to him hours since he began his search; and now, quite exhausted, he was ready to throw himself down and die, when, putting his foot forward, he heard the plash of water, he had stepped into a pool. He threw himself beside it, and, sobbing with delight, caught up handful after handful, until his thirst was quenched; brackish, sulphur-flavoured though the water was, 11 nectar could not have been more delicious to those parched and famished lips. 1 10 1 resigned, submissive; not disposed to murmur. 2 regretted, grieved over; was sorry for ; repented. 3requited, repaid; returned as an equivalent either good for good, or evil for evil. 4 neglected opportunities, times when he could have done good actions. 5 vividly, in a vivid manner; life-like; in a strikingly clear manner. “involuntarily, independent of will or choice; unconsciously; not thinking of what he did. Tintolerable, not tolerable; not capable of being borne or endured. physical, bodily. 'indication, sign; symptom; mark; token. 10 brackish, having a taste of salt. nectar, the drink of the gods, hence a delicious beverage. 11 FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS. WHEN the hours of Day are numbered, Wake the better soul that 'slumbered, Ere the evening lamps are lighted, Shadows from the fitful firelight Come to visit me once more; He, the young and strong, who cherished 'By the road-side fell and perished, They, the holy ones and weakly, And with them the Being Beauteous, With a slow and noiseless footstep, And she sits and gazes at me With those deep and tender eyes, Uttered not, yet 'comprehended, Oh, though oft depressed and lonely, If I but remember only Such as these have lived and died! Longfellow. voices of the night, thoughts arising in the mind in the quiet of the night. 2slumbered: to slumber is to sleep, to doze. The slumbering of the better soul means that holy and good thoughts had been absent from the mind in the bustle of the day. 3phantom, a ghost; an apparition; a spectre. The shadows cast by the *strife, a metaphor 5 firelight made ghost-like figures on the wall. signifying the struggle to do well in the world. By the roadside, etc. the poet thus expresses that many noble and true-hearted people die before they become old, from the effects of overwork. The cross of suffering, etc.: pain, poverty, and other trials are often represented under the figure of a cross. 'comprehended, understood. rebuke, reproof; chiding. The Spirit is represented as mingling blessings with gentle reproofs. Longfellow, an American poet. (See App.) 9 BUT now we must return to Rita. As Leonard had predicted, she had not gone many yards before she missed her brother, and, turning, called his name; she received, or fancied she received, a reply, and again walked some distance, chatting with those around her. "Leonard! Leonard! where are you?" she called, after an 'interval; but this time there was no answer. "I will go back and find him," said Preston ; "just wait here." And he started back, questioning every one he met. "Leonard Barclay?" said Ben Grey; "why, he and Tom Hunt have gone with the other party; he said he was tired of being tied to an apronstring." This was true. Leonard had so declared when they were leaving the dining-hall, but he had returned to his sister's company, not caring to defy his mother's wishes quite so far. "Oh, how careless I have been!" exclaimed Rita. “What will mamma think! I promised to keep him with me." 2 It was in vain they assured her Leonard was quite safe with Colonel Hunt, and they should probably overtake them at the river. All efforts to comfort her were unavailing; a dim foreboding filled her mind, which she found impossible to shake off. When they reached the river, the other party had passed over; nor could they, when they had crossed, catch a glimpse of their lights beyond. Rita became each moment more agitated. "I really think you are needlessly alarming yourself," said Mrs. Talbot, kindly. "Leonard is quite old enough to take care of himself.” "Oh, you don't know Leonard, Mrs. Talbot! I feel certain something has happened." And Rita pushed on more anxiously than ever, her fatigue forgotten in her alarm for her brother's safety. A depression had fallen on them all, and they hastened forward, unheeding the objects they had found so interesting in the morning. When near the mouth of the cave, they caught sight of the tapers of Colonel Hunt's party. "Now," said Preston, "I shall go and bring that madcap brother of yours to get the scolding he deserves;" and he rushed ahead, leaving Rita with her hand pressed to her heart to still its beatings. She read the confirmation of her worst fears 5 6 in the tardy return of the young officer, who soon found that Leonard was not with those in advance. And now a horrible fear suggested itself,-he must have fallen into some pit, on his way back, or they would surely have met him. "Oh, Leonard! Leonard!" moaned Rita; "we must go back at once for him. Don't wait a moment!" Every heart was moved with pity for the suffering girl. To return was, of course, out of the question, as their tired limbs already refused to do more than drag along. Mrs. Barclay must be told of the sad disaster, and fresh guides should be despatched in search of the missing boy, as soon as possible. 4 1 interval, space of time. assured, asserted; declared; protested. 3 river. (See App., Mammoth Cave.) agitated, disturbed; excited; alarmed. confirmation, that which makes certain or establishes, or makes firm. tardy, slow; dilatory ; reluctant. disaster, calamity; misfortune; unfortunate event. LOST IN A CAVE. PART V. o-ver-whelm'-ing res-tor'-a-tives sym'-pa-thised in-ev-it-a-ble mon'-o-gram con-tin'-u-al-ly vol-un-teered' ech'-oed WHO can picture the agony of the long night that followed? Every one sympathised with Mrs. Barclay and her daughter; many volunteered to accompany the guides into the cave, and few thought of retiring. Slowly the long hours dragged by to the watchers; persons were going |