he was the best rower and the best cricketer at
Oxford, very fond of horses and hunting, and an excellent shot; in
character and disposition he was generous and amiable, frank in his
manner, and obliging to his inferiors. Every one liked Alexander
Wilmot, and he certainly deserved to be liked, for he never injured or
spoke ill of anybody. 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 that there is any foundation for this, my dear sir?" said
he, after he had read it.

"It is impossible to say, my dear boy; it may be so, it has often been
asserted before. The French traveller Le Vaillant states that he
received the same information, but was prevented from ascertaining the
truth; other travellers have subsequently given similar accounts. You
may easily credit the painful anxiety which is raised in my mind when I
read such a sta