riors. Every one liked Alexander Wilmot,
and he certainly deserved to be liked, for he never injured or spoke ill
of any body. Perhaps his most prominent fault was obstinacy; but this
was more shown in an obstinate courage and perseverance to conquer what
appeared almost impossible, and at the greatest risk to himself; he was
of that disposition that he would hardly get out of the way of a mad
bull if it crossed his path, but risk his life probably, and to no
purpose; but there is no perfection in this world, and it was still less
to be expected in a young man of only twenty-two years of age.

"Well, uncle, I've conquered him," said Alexander, as he came into the
room, very much heated with exercise.

"Conquered whom, my boy?" replied Sir Charles.

"The colt; I've backed him, and he is now as gentle as a lamb; but he
fought hard for two hours at least."

"Why should you run such risk, Alexander, when the horsebreaker would
have broke him just as well?"

"But not so soon, uncle."

"I did not know that you were in such want of a horse as to require such
hurry; I thought you had plenty in the stable."

"So I have, uncle, thanks to you, more than I can use; but I like the
pleasure--the excitement."

"There you state the truth, my dear Alexander; when you have lived as
long as I have, you will find more pleasure in quiet and repose,"
replied Sir Charles, with a heavy sigh.

"Something has disturbed you, my dear uncle," said Alexander, going up
to Sir Charles and taking his hand; "what is it, sir?"

"You are right, Alexander; something has unsettled me, has called up
painful feelings and reminiscences; it is that paragraph in the
newspaper."

Alexander was now as subdued almost as his uncle; he took a chair and
quietly read the paragraph.

"Do you think there is any foundation for this, my dear sir?" said he,
after he had read it.

[Illustration: THE NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH.]

"It is impossible to say, my dear boy; it may be so, it has often been
asserted before. The French traveler Le Vaillant states that he received
the same information, but was prevented from ascertaining the truth;
other travelers have subsequently given similar accounts. You may easily
credit the painful anxiety which is raised in my mind when I read such a
statement as this. I think I see my poor Elizabeth, the wife or slave to
some wild savage; her children, merciful Heaven! my grandchildren,
growing up as the brutes of the field, in igno