pon
the dark cloud, I hurried on. My heart grew lighter with every step; and
when at length I reached the shelter of a pine-wood, and perceived no
sign of being pursued, my spirits rose to such a pitch of excitement
that I shouted for very joy.

For above an hour my path continued within the shelter of the wood; and
when at last I emerged, it was not without a sense of sudden fear that I
looked back upon the mountains which frowned above me, and seemed still
so near. I thought, too, I could mark figures on the road, md imagined
I could see them moving backwards and forwards, like persons seeking for
something; and then I shuddered to think that they too might be at that
very moment looking at me. The thought added fresh speed to my flight,
and for some miles I pressed forward without even turning once.

It was late in the evening as I drew near the city. Hungry and tired as
I was, the fear of being overtaken was uppermost in my thoughts; and
as I mingled in the crowds that strolled along the roads enjoying the
delicious calmness of a summer's eve, I shrank from every eye like
something guilty, and feared that every glance that fell on me was
detection itself.

It was not until I entered the city, and found myself traversing the
crowded and narrow streets that formed the outskirts, that I felt at
ease; and inquiring my way to George's Street Barracks, I hurried on,
regardless of the strange sights and sounds about. At that hour the
humbler portion of the population was all astir; their daily work ended,
they were either strolling along with their families for an evening
walk, or standing in groups around the numerous ballad-singers,
who delighted their audience with diatribes against the Union, and
ridiculous attacks on the Ministry of the day. These, however, were
not always unmolested, for as I passed on, I saw more than one errant
minstrel seized on by the soldiery, and hurried off to the guardhouse
to explain some uncivil or equivocal allusion to Lord Castlereagh or Mr.
Cook,--such evidences of arbitrary power being sure to elicit a hearty
groan or shout' of derision from the mob, which in turn was replied to
by the soldiers. These scolding matches gave an appearance of tumult
to the town, which on some occasions did not stop short at mere war of
words.

In the larger and better streets such scenes were unfrequent; but
here patrols of mounted dragoons or police passed from time to time,
exchanging as they went c