H.

'Tis wise, in summer-warmth, to look before,
To the keen-nipping winter; it is good,
In lifeful hours, to lay aside some store
Of thought, to leaven the spirit's duller mood;
To mould the sodded dyke, in sunny hour,
Against the coming of the wasteful flood;
Still tempering Life's extremes, that Wo no more
May start abrupt in Joy's sweet neighborhood.
If Day burst sudden from the bars of Night,
Or with one plunge leaped down the sheer abyss,
Painful alike were darkness and the light,
Bearing fixed war through shifting victories;
But sweet their bond, where peaceful twilight lingers,
Weaving the rosy with the sable fingers.

THE CRUISE OF THE RAKER.

A TALE OF THE WAR OF 1812-15.

BY HENRY A. CLARK.

(_Continued from page 136._)

CHAPTER V.

_The Revenge._

The report of the pistol fired by Julia had also been heard upon the
pirate brig. To Florette it gave assurance of the safety of the fair
fugitive. The pirate sprang to his feet, forgetful of his wound, but
fell back helpless upon the companion-way, and soon relapsed into his
former thoughtful state, supposing the sound had come from the deck of
the Raker, though it had seemed much too near and distinct to appear
possible that such was the case.

The escape of Julia was not discovered until the following morning.
The wrath of the pirate was fearfully vindictive. Even Florette became
alarmed when he fiercely accused her of some share in the
disappearance of the captive girl. This she tremblingly denied,
suggesting the opinion that Julia must have jumped overboard, in her
despair, induced by the threats of the pirate. The loss of the boat
was also noticed, but not connected with the escape of Julia, it being
supposed that it had been carelessly fastened. As a very natural
consequence of his anger, the pirate sought some person on whom he
could vent its fury.

"Call aft the other woman," shouted he, "unless she, too, has jumped
overboard."

A grim smile was interchanged between the men who heard this order.
John's true sex had not been long kept concealed after he had reached
the pirate brig, and he had nearly fallen a victim to the rage the
unpleasant discovery excited in the men, but his ludicrous and abject
expressions of terror, though they awoke no emotions of pity, yet
excited the merriment of his captors, and turned their anger into
laughter. A man's garments were