"The Queen, without look or reply to this speech, touched her horse and departed at a gallop.

"The hunt were fast assembling at the spot where they were satisfied that the fox lay in his hole. The dogs were uncoupled, and shown the thickets which they were to pierce. The neighbouring shepherds had complained much of the depredations made among their flocks by the pilfering foe, to which their defenceless lambs had often supplied a rich repast. Very soon after the dogs had begun, with curious nose, to examine his haunts, the shrill notes of the horn proclaimed that the fox was unearthed, and had left the covert and taken to flight.

"The full cry of the hounds was heard, each straggling dog strained after the pack, and the huntsmen came galloping in from every direction. "The King was in high spirits; the chase always exhilarated him; he forgot everything but the pleasure of the present moment, and the joy of following the hounds. He took no notice of the brow of care which the Cardinal wore; and the Cardinal, who did not think it wise to show his morose temper and dissatisfaction at such a moment, contented himself with closely observing the Duke of Buckingham, and throwing on him glances of thunder.

"Duke!" said Lord Holland to Buckingham, your devotion in a certain quarter has been reported to the Cardinal.' I advise you, take care of yourself,' he continued, laughing, who knows what may follow? -a visit to the Bastille, perhaps-ch?"

"My Lord,' replied Buckingham, in the same gay tone, if he should dare if such a thing could happen-I depend upon you to deliver me. But, joking apart, I acknowledge however I do admire the Queen, and-one word in your ear-I have a request to make.'

"The nobleman approached nearer, heard the whisper, and made a sign in the affirmative to Buckingham, who looked steadfastly at him for his assent.

"The hunt continued with great spirit until, all of a sudden, its progress was checked and the view lost. A mass of ruins-lofty, dismantled, broken walls, towers looking as if they were ready to full, deep fosses, and huge stones-formed an impenetrable barrier. They were the remains of the extensive and strongly-fortified château of Pierrefonds, pulled down, with axe and hammer, a few years back. During the civil wars it had become the refuge of a horde of bandits, who ravaged the country for several leagues round, and were safe from all molestation themselves in this strong castle. Their depredations were so formidable that the French Government ordered the stronghold to be besieged, and it was taken in six days' close siege.

"The halt here was soon over. The horns sounded; the dogs were again in pursuit of the fox; the King and his party hastened to renew the chase.

"Follow, messeigneurs, follow!' an officer of the hunt cried, as the King galloped on.

"In the movement that ensued, a motion made by the Duke of Buckingham on one side, and by Cardinal Richelieu on the other, showed the intention of each to get beside the Queen; but a number of some of the younger cavaliers, feigning not to be able to manage their horses, crossed the party; and intercepting the Cardinal, surrounded him in such a manner as to prevent his approach,

"This was done so adroitly, and with so many apologies, that the Cardinal saw nothing himself, but an untoward accident in the proceeding, vexed as he was at it.

"They ought to be sent to the riding school!' he inwardly mutterered. A set of young hounds!'

"During those few moments the Queen had turned her horse's head, and Buckingham was at her side.

"Madame,' he said, in that tone of entreaty which is so persuasive, 'you have not given me a sign, ever so slight, in approval of that devotion and homage which my heart offers you. Why this coldness to a guest whom you will lose in a few days?'

"Perhaps I ought to reprove the mode in which you offered it. Perhaps I onght to say that you presume too much. Yes, I ought to reproach you for it; but I have yet another reproach to make you,' the Queen replied with earnestness.

"Another reproach, Madame! I entreat you to tell me what it

is ?"

"This devotion belongs to another than me; thus I doubt your sincerity.'

"You cannot doubt me, madam! and to whom do I owe it?'

"Have you forgotten Spain? Have you forgotten the Countess Olivarez?' Much has been spoken here of your visit there, and of that fair dame.'

"The Countess Olivarez! Devotion for her! For heaven's sake, madame, do not take malicious pleasure in tormenting me! The countess cau never compete with Anne of Austria; never had, never can have a place in my heart! Her charms, if she has any, can no more equal those of my queen, than the light of the glow-worm can that of a radiant star in the heavens! Say, you do not believe the calumny,

"The Queen remained silent, and Buckingham sought to give an interpretation to her silence. He would have spoken again, but was interrupted.

"Madame!' exclaimed several voices at this moment (some of her suite having followed her)' the hunt is coming that way,' pointing to the edge of the forest.

"The hunt continued for many hours. The fox led them a long run. They crossed meadows, leaped fences, forded streams, and passed by hamlets and villages. The fox, almost wearied out, turned to seek his old haunts, and led the chase back towards the forest. Exhausted, with open jaws, and trailing his brush, he reached the outskirts of it. There he was soon surrounded by the greedy pack, and the notes of the horn proclaimed the death of the felon. While the last scene passed, the cavaliers and ladies were gathered together beneath the shade of some gigantic trees, which looked as if they had been for centuries the guardians of the tangled depths of this part of the forest. The rays of the declining sun streamed through their thick branches. In one spot, through an opening which the brigands had made, the gloomy ruin of the château of Pierrefonds was glimpsed, enhancing with its memories the romance of those mysterious solitudes. And now, as the party looked around, Buckingham was misssd: he had certainly not come up with them; could any accident have happened to him?

"Good!' exclaimed Marais, rubbing his hands with delight, when

his absence was discovered. Depend upon it my prediction has come true, and Monseigneur l'Ambassadeur has broken his neck!'

"The Queen heard what Marais said, and an exclamation of terror escaped her.

"It would be strange,' said the King, if poor Buckingham had indeed met with some fatal accident! Look to it at once, messeigneurs; let a search be made for him!'

"A party of gentlemen set off at once in search of the duke. After some time they found him seated on the trunk of a tree, and preparing to join the hunt on foot, his horse lying on the ground, with a deep wound in his shoulder, apparently without life.

"There, there!' cried out Marais. did I not say that horse would bring the duke to grief?'

"The horse has only brought himself to grief,' said Monsieur de Bagsompière, for I see; heaven be praised! no accident has happened to the duke.'

"By this time the King, who had followed with his suite, came up. "Ah, Duke! you had an adventure, I see,' said the King. It must have been an amusing one!'

Very amusing, sire!' replied Buckingham. My horse was frightened at the sight of a squirrel, which leaped from one of the path to the other, and started off at full speed. We came opposite the gigantic trunk of a tree, which, with its branches, barred the passage. I saw the obstacle, and prepared to make the horse leap it. Useless endeavour! The animal sprung forward without permitting me to manage him; and, his hind leg catching in the branches, he fell to the ground, bringing me with him; he, poor devil, receiving his death blow, for he has not stirred since; and I myself getting off with only a few scratches.'

"Ah, my dear Duke!' said the King. What a wry face you must have made at the fall! I should like to have seen it!' "Here an officer of the King's retinue alighted, in order to give his horse to the Duke.

"An English knight approached Buckingham, and murmured rapidly to him of the terror of the Queen when they spoke of an accident hav ing befallen' the Duke,' calling his attention to the excessive paleness which had stolen over her face, and the evident agitation she was in.

"Before arriving at Compiègne, Buckingham managed to be at her side. They were a few paces behind the rest, and the Queen spoke

first.

"Duke!' she said, I am the cause of this accident; I cannot forgive myself for it. If you had not deprived yourself of this beautiful animal and given it to me, you would have ridden it yourself to-day, instead of that horse, so unluckily marked! I am more distressed at your accident than you are.'

“And I, madame—I am rejoiced at having had what the King your husband calls an amusing adventure! Ah! if I had a leg or an arm broken by it, I would be overpaid by the interest which your Majesty has deigned to express for me.'

"The Queen was no longer pale; but she could not reply-they had come up with the court party.

"History informs us that the Duke presumed so far upon her good

graces, that, after his departure, he secretly returned upon some pretence, and paying a visit to the Queen, was dismissed with a reproof which savoured more of kindness than of anger. Information of this correspondence was soon carried to Richelieu.' The same historian goes on to say, 'When the Duke was making preparations for a new embassy to Paris, a message was sent him from Louis that he must not think of such a journey. In a romantic passion, Buckingham swore that he would see the Queen in spite of all the power of France.'

"But he never saw her again; and, strange fulfilment of Marais' prognostications, he died by the hand of an assassin."

THE TROUT OF THE POOL.
BY WANDERER.

Bright Phoebus now illumes the sky,
And lights the mountain peak;
The blithesome lark, now pois'd on high,
To mortals seems to speak:

No longer slumber on, and dream
Away your fleeting life;

But rise, and hail the solar beam
And Nature, ever rife;

With pleasures of each varied kind,
Imparting ruddy health

To every member of mankind-
His greatest, truest wealth.

The lowing herds now slowly roam
Along the river's brink,

Save where the rapid eddying foam
Extends, the shadows sink

Deep in the clear pellucid stream,
Unruff'd by a breeze,

Hid from the dazzling solar beam,
Beneath o'erhanging trees.

Now does a western wind arise,
And agitate the deep,

And num'rous trout of varied size

At floating insects leap.

Then bring my rod and osier creel,
My landing-net and flies,
And tapered line on brazen reel
The spotted trout to rise.

I'll warrant yonder giant stone
Conceals a lordly trout,

Who 'gainst intruders holds his own :
We'll try and draw him out,

Beneath yon awkward drooping tree
We make an undercast,

Crouching, and bending on our knee,
Our fly now holds him fast.

See how he darts and tugs amain,
And fights to save his life!
Yet are his struggles all in vain-
He's vanquish'd in the strife.

Fainter and fainter still he grows:
Behold his spotted side!

Behind the stoue near which he rose
He yet would seek to hide.

The tighten'd line now checks his course:
He gently leads ashore ;

No need for strength, no need for force,
He struggles now no more.

This lively fish with golden flank,
That rush'd across the stream,
Now gasping lies upon the bank,
Beneath Sol's radiant beam.

LITERATURE.

THE ART OF TRAVEL; OR SHIFTS AND CONTRIVANCES IN WILD COUNTRIES. By Francis Galton, F.R.S. London: John Murray, Albemarle-street.

The first edition of this book was published in 1854; the present has the original matter entirely re-cast and much enlarged.

The information which the volume contains is derived from personal experiences, and from the writings, hints, and suggestions of other travellers, the value of the publication being enhanced by the multiplication of data supplied through this union of sources.

So varied is the range of things which ought to be known, that paragraph after paragraph will be found as applicable to the possible requirements of sportsmen in the six home counties as to those traversing countries six or sixteen thousand miles away from home, the diversity of topics treated, telling a meditating wanderer to remote regions pretty plainly what he may have to encounter, and should be prepared

to meet.

The first page wisely commences with the qualifications requisite for a traveller-health, a craving for adventure, at least a moderate fortune, and a heart set on a definite object as the chief. But the author encouragingly adds: "If you have not independent means, you may still turn travelling to excellent account; for experience shows it often leads to promotion, nay, some men support themselves by travel. They explore pasture land in Australia, they hunt for ivory in Africa, they collect specimens of natural history for sale, or they wander as artists.'