ascent. On every side were the graves of those who had long ago fallen in the fierce battles between the invading Hovas and the Sakalavas. The tombs are the same as those I have already described,squares, filled in with smaller stones. Two large monuments I also saw, of large perpendicular rock, capped with a square wooden point, handsomely carved, but now much decayed by age. These mark the resting-places of two of the most important and heroic of the defenders of Midongy.

Small towns of a few houses only we now passed through, all guarded by heavy gates of stone and long causeways. Presently we came to a large wooden gate, and were met here by the governor of Midongy. A short, swarthy, bright Hova, who wore a funny suit of clothes made of a very highly-colored and figured pattern of calico. He escorted us about the mountain. We first ascended the highest peak. Here an immense tomb said to hold the bodies of five thousand Hovas, all walled in, and overgrown with grass. Climbing over this, we reached the verge of a terrific precipice,—an absolute sheer fall of eighteen hundred feet to the plain below. Looking over this, I experienced a sense of a vastness so vast, of the mighty and stupendous in nature so prominent, as to be utterly beyond description. The houses, trees, rocks, and even tall hills and deep valleys beneath seemed puny from this height. For miles and miles the great island of Madagascar stretched out like a map before me. Over this terrible precipice the Hovas used to hurl their Sakalava prisoners, and the plain below is still white with their bones.

Descending, we visited all the four important corners of this stupendous peak. Finally we returned to a queer, tumble-down little house provided for us by the governor. In front of this house is the tomb of five hundred priests (fetich-men,-it was before the advent of the missionary), now overgrown with tall grass. What a history this silent pile of human bones might tell! What stories, when the last trump sounds and the dead hosts of all eternity marshal before their Maker! The clash of spear and of shield rang out on the history of Madagascar with as loud a report to them as the thunder of the cannon of modern civilization did to our ears. For a short history of Midongy I refer to the "summary" attached to the end of this paper. Altogether my impressions to-day are memorable. It is said that this rock is where the young queen is to be taken if the French succeed.

June 16.-Morning fresh and clear. Met the governor at the door. Proceed to make the descent of Midongy. Passed the same scenery. In two hours reached the plain below and re-entered the village of Beronono, and reorganized the party and started at their head across a country that possessed but little interest, being rolling, brown, and verdureless hills. There were, however, several peaks with very rocky summits in sight, but no towns of any description.

At 11.50 sighted the town of Ambohinatou on the top of a rocky hill, five hundred feet above the plain. Descended into the valley, and there scared up an enormous cloud of locusts that fairly darkened the sky. For a while we made our way through the swarms, but finally gave it up, and climbing a little hill rested in the shadow of a big rock and cooked some breakfast.

Passed to-day two feeders, one going south and the other north. A distinct water-shed exists here, that of the Mongoko and the Zizibongy north, and south. At 12.40 got started, and made off to the southwest, over the same monotonous country towards the western range. The elevation has been steadily declining as we approach the sea, and though we still frequently pass isolated hills, still the general tend of the country is a steady slope, in steps, towards the ocean. am astonished at the entire lack of vegetation.

I

At 3.10 came to a steep incline and crossed a brook. At 4.20 entered the town of Abohinomé, passing through the usual number of gates and cattle-yards, and finally came to the square in the middle of the town. Found a house deserted, into which Stanwood and myself crawled, both very sick with fever and with exhaustion. Sent a courier to the coast with a letter to the commanding officer of the "Nipsic," detailing my position and success, in case I should succumb before reaching the sea. Many more down with sores and fever. Quinine all gone, as well as the brandy. Passed a restless night. House overrun with rats and with vermin.

ONE OF THE DUANES.

(Continued from page 714, vol. xii.)

CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.)

SHE gazed at him fearfully, the full force of his meaning slowly dawning in her mind. "What do you intend to do?" she whispered, pressing both hands over her heart. "Are they searching for you

now?"

"Listen," he said, coming close to her and speaking near her ear, so that his hot, quick breath swept her cheek. "I hardly think they are on my track yet, but if they are, they're not likely to find me here. That is what brought me here. Your room isn't a place to search for a soldier who has deserted." She shivered, and moved a little away from him. "This is the way I did it. I'm proud of my success, too. Last week, when I was on guard, I happened to notice that the iron bars of the window in the guard-house corridor, just outside the cells, were loosely set in the plaster. I didn't say anything about it, naturally, as I didn't know how soon I might have occasion to make use of them myself. To-night, after retreat, when the sergeant of the guard inspected, he didn't lock my door securely. He thought he had; but there was a catch in the lock, and I knew in a second how it was. I waited, and remembered those loose bars. I'd been half mad with thinking of them, and how after all they would do me no good, all the time since I'd been penned up in that cell like a dog. At midnight the sergeant inspected the guard, but let the prisoners alone, as he often does, and then went off to doze till the officer of the day should make his round. That was my time, and I crept from the cell, made just one minute's work with those bars, and was out; but as the devil's own luck would have it, one of the sentinels saw me, challenged, and, when I didn't speak, fired. I dodged and ran; he couldn't see in the dark which way I went. Then I got up here as quick as I could, saw this bright light, and thinking it was just possible it might be your room, or if not, that there was a good chance of its being vacant on account of the show down-stairs, I climbed the tree and peeped in. You know the rest. And now you've got to hide me here until to-morrow

night. The post will have been pretty thoroughly ransacked before then, and the search will have gone elsewhere. There's not much chance of their coming here, I should say." And he laughed a short, disagreeable laugh that chilled Bonny even more than the purport of his words.

"Oh, Guy, don't say that!" she cried aloud, forgetting herself for the moment; but he laid his hand roughly and unhesitatingly over her mouth, with a look that commanded caution. "Spare me," she went on, whispering, when he had released her. "I cannot do it. It is quite impossible, and—I am going home to-morrow evening."

"Damn it!" fiercely. "You'll have to give up going, then. Make any excuse. Be sick,-you look as though it wouldn't be hard to sham that, or anything you like; but remember, you're not to leave this room until I'm safely out of it. This is an awful risk I've run" (he thought nothing of a risk as great, which he forced upon this fragile girl, trembling before his glance), " and I'll not. have you do anything which may ruin the plans I've made. Come, don't be a fool, now. You know you've got to do as I tell you, and you ought to be ready and willing, for your own sake, as well as mine."

"How will it help you in the end if I do obey you?" she pleaded. "Is there any way of escape after you have left this house?"

"Yes, a thousand. But that'll take care of itself now, as far as you are concerned. What you've got to do, besides keeping me here till I'm able to get away, is to give me some money, all you've got, as you can easily send for more, and then I'll be off out of the country. Francisca Suarez will follow me, for I think in spite of all you may have said or done to the contrary, in that quarter, at all events, I'm safe.”

Bonny drew herself still farther away from him, her eyes great with her fear of him,-fear of what he was, and of what he might do when she told him of the influence she had brought to bear upon Francisca,influences which evidently he did not dream that she had dared to use.

"Francisca will never go with you, or to you," she said, tremulously. "You did not think I would, but I have. I have told her all-the truth."

"Have you dared to do that, or are you trying to cheat me?" he almost hissed in her ear, with a voice rendered hideous by passion. She ran from him a step or two, but he followed, and catching her violently by the arm, shook and wrenched it till the delicate, bruised flesh quivered beneath his fingers. "I could kill you,” he whispered. "I think, if I did not need to use you just now, that I should kill you." Then he let her arm drop, releasing it as roughly as he had ill-used it. Bonny's eyes remained upon his face, fixed in a fascination of horror, but she neither moved nor spoke. After all, did it so much matter if she died now by this man's hand? She dreaded the physical pang of it, but perhaps―vaguely passed through her brain-such a death would

save her from many future miseries. While they stood so facing each other, a loud peal sounded from the door-bell below.

"Hark! it is some one from the sergeant of the guard!" he cried, his expression changing instantly from menace to one of vivid apprehension. "Is the officer of the day-Sidney-here?"

"Yes, I think so. He was here."

"He is still here, then. He will soon be going down to inspect the guard. One of the corporals has been sent up here to tell him about me. Very good. They're not going to get me."

"Yet, if they should come here to look, what then? Oh, Guy, I could not bear it! If you could but have spared me this!"

"Selfish, like the rest of your sex!" he returned, sullenly. "This would be the last place for them to look. I should think even you would have the sense to see that. But where are you going to put me? Under the bed?-in the closet? I can't stand here in the middle of the floor all night."

"Oh, in the closet, I suppose, if it must be," the unhappy girl replied, with a desperate resignation born of despair.

They had been standing very near the second window of the room, and now, glancing aside, Bonny saw their two shadows darkly defined upon the whiteness of the curtains. With a frightened cry she pulled her companion away. "Our shadows," she explained hurriedly," were there on the window, showing so distinctly. If any one were outside— oh, I dare not think of it! Come, let me hide you in this closet, and shut the door. It is large, and you can breathe well enough for some time. Then by and by I will open the door."

He obeyed willingly enough; and when he was out of her sight she sank against the wall shuddering convulsively, while heavy sobs of sheer nervous exhaustion tore their way up from her breast, unrestrained.

The piazzas had been deserted, while the assembled guests partook of Mrs. Revere's bouillon, salads, and ices, at the time the corporal of the guard had come running up the walk, and had delivered his alarmpeal upon the door-bell. Sidney was inquired for, and hastily went out. He had intended a few moments later to make his inspection of the guard; and, as he did not desire to return, was engaged, when the corporal arrived, in excusing himself to Mrs. Revere.

"The prisoner Dane has escaped, sir," were the soldier's first breathless words, after saluting.

Escaped!-how did he do that?"

Why, sir, all seemed right when the sergeant inspected at midnight; and then but a short while later, Number One heard or saw something move outside the corridor window. He challenged, but got no answer, and fired, but couldn't make out, in the dark, which way the person went. 'Twas then they learned that Dane's cell was empty,