THE THOUSAND ISLES.

ploits of the calebrated (shall we call him
pirate or patriot ?) Bill Johnson and his daugh
ter are fresh in the recollection of every one,
and may yet furnish material to some future
Cooper or James to weave a narrative from.

On the occasion of our last visit to this

BEAUTIFUL are the scenes which present them-
selves to your gaze, aɛs, seated on the deck of
the steamer, you thread the mazes of this
lovely Archipelago. As you are hurried past,
what appear to be creeks seem to run far in-spot, we were busied in contrasting the scenes
land, and appear like chains of silver, at the before us with those of a more southern clime.
next moment the channel becomes almost a These islands, covered with the dark, cold foli-
sheet of water, studded with countless islets of
age of the evergreens, with the land, which
a romantic beauty, forming a picture of the almost looks sprinkled with gold from the
rarest delicacy of tone. The Thousand, or flowers of the aloe: the rugged rocks bearing
the sixteen hundred and forty-three Islands, for perhaps a single tree or massed into a bowery
such we believe is their number, are situated island, with the shores bordered with sand, on
on the St. Lawrence, between Brockville and which Amphitrite and her train might love to
Kingston, a distance of about sixty miles. They dance, and weave their flowery locks with the
are of almost every possible size and shape, dropping sea weed, while zephyrs come laden
from the small bare granite rock just jutting to you with the scent of tropical flowers. We
its pointed head above the water, to the large were lost in admiration that scenes so dissi-
fertile island, several miles in extent, covered milar could yet be both so wonderfully beau-
with fields of grain, the abode of some hardy tiful, when our attention was attracted by a
settler; on some of them there are several farms deep sigh breathed near us; turning round
of considerable extent, and well cultivated.
we discovered a tall and rather elderly person,
of a most particularly melancholy look and
with a good deal of the military cut about him.
Assuming our blandest expression, we made
some remark on the scenery around, and we
fell by degrees into a conversation which soon
became more and more interesting. On round-
ing an island and entering a reach of more
than usual extent, we inquired of our new ac-
quaintance, who had informed us previously
of the deep interest he felt in all around, if he
had not a store of legends connected with these
islands. "Alas!" was his reply, 'the only
legend I know is one painfully connected with
myself; but perhaps the recital of my griefs
may serve to while away the time, and be a
warning to you never to surrender yourself
to the sweet day-dream of peopling the scenes
around you with imaginary beings." He then
commenced the following narrative:-

The islands begin a short distance below Brockville, where three of them, called the Sisters, are ranged side by side, forming a sort of advance guard: above the town they are thickly strewn, for about five or six miles, where the river assumes the appearance of a small open lake, almost wholly free from islands. At the upper extremity of this lake, which is about seven miles long; they begin again,more thickly studded than before, and are found more or less densely crowded together till we reach Kingston. The islands are, for the most part, composed of a sort of soft granite, which in some places presents a very singular contrast to the regular stratified lime-stone found on either side of the river at the same place, offering to the geologist an interesting field of enquiry, while quantities of fish of various kinds found in the eddies and deep channels between them, and numerous flocks of wild fowl of almost every variety, frequenting the sequestered bays and nooks with which they abound, hold out the prospect of a rich treat to the sportsman and naturalist, in the prosecution of their favorite pursuits.

The Lake of the Thousand Isles! Ah! with what delight was it, that Harry Randell and I received leave of absence from our Regiment, then stationed at Kingston, in order that we might spend a fortnight in fishing and shooting among these islands. It was the latter end of October, the Indian summer had set in, Numerous and romantic are the tales con- the weather was delicious. At early dawn we nected with these Islands, and it would well embarked in our canoe with an Indian guide. repay the curious in these matters, to collect The country was then but thinly settled, for the various traditions still extant. The ex-it was many, ay, a great many, years ago. A

"Hail, Lake of Thousand Isles !
Which clustered lie within thy circling arms,
Their flower-strewn shores kissed by the silver tide,
As fair art thou as aught

That ever in the lap of nature lay."

couple of days and we were in their midst. true my gun lay by my side, yet I would be Some of them were so close together murdered. My friend away, perhaps far away that the confined waters shot with increased-I felt happy at this thought, for then he velocity through the gorge down which our would be safe; but, again, I grieved to think on light bark was hurled with arrowy swiftness. the sorrow he would feel if, on returning, he For days and days we wandered through this should find me-dead. I know not why I did maze; the scene was an ever-changing one, not seek escape, I did not even make an effort; yet the scenery was still the same,-wild, but but, in a kind of stupor, I lay listening to the beautiful, most beautiful. Wooded to the very increasing noise. At last the shouts had nearly shores, the deep color of the various evergreens ceased, and I was in hopes that the Indian contrasted pleasantly with the brighter tints warriors would leave the island and that I should of the oak and maple whose leaves, as autumn remain undiscovered. But my ear, rendered fades into winter, assume a brilliant orange, doubly acute by the intensity of fear under red or yellow. which I labored, detected the crackling of branches as if trodden under foot by some one seeking safety in flight. I was not deceived, the sounds approached nearer and nearer. I still lay quiet, happily I might be unnoticed, I did not dare to look. But no! directly towards And ah! how pleasant the soft balmy even-me, on came the pursued and pursuers,—close, ings, stretched on the grass watching the dense closer, closer still. In an agony of fear I started aromatic smoke arising from a fire of the leaves up to fly. Tripping forwards fell into my arms and dry twigs of some balsamic tree, which had been hastily lighted to cook our evening meal, our tall, gaunt, Indian friend performing that service for us. It was then that Harry would break out into raptures on the unparalleled beauty of scenery and climate we were enjoying. Then, after supper, Harry would take the Indian with him and spend another hour or two in fishing: he was an indefatigable sportsman. I would generally prefer remaining, for I loved solitude and was happy by myself, peopling in my imagination the islands with numerous tribes of Indians, or fancying the changes that would take place in them as the country became more civilized.

an Indian girl! Astonished, I held her to prevent her falling, and, looking in the direction from whence she came, beheld two tall ill-favored wretches, who, perceiving me, turned and fled as quickly as they had appeared.

Turning my eyes towards the face of my companion, I saw her large dark eyes, swimming in tears, gazing on me and imploring, as it were, protection. She was very young, scarcely I should say seventeen, and dressed after the manner of her race in deer skins, trimmed and embroidered with porcupine quills, dyed in various colours. Her hair, a rich glossy black, hung in disorder o'er her shoulders; her breast heaved convulsively and her heart beat audiIt was thus one evening-our guide was bly as she lay in my arms gasping for breath. teaching Randall how to spear by torchlight-She was a lovely girl. Gently placing her on I lay dreaming. Already had I fancied the island on which we were encamped, to be the abode of a small party of Indians, who dwelling together, spent their days in fishing or snaring wild-fowl-nothing was more likely than that such should be the case-and then I thought that they were attacked by an hostile tribe. Was I still dreaming? No! 1 actu ally heard their shouts and horrid yells as they met together; and now high above the din, the war-whoop sounded loud and clear, and, I shuddered as that fearful sound rang echoing through my ear. A terror came over me, I feared to move.

the grass, I sat beside her, and when she had recovered, pressed her to relate how it happened she was thus pursued. Long was she silent; at every little noise she would start and cling to me. I assured her that she was safe and asked again her history. With my arm round her I drew her nearer to my side, and heard her tell that she was the daughter of a chief, who, flying from his enemies, sought refuge among the islands. All the past summer had a more powerful tribe been in pursuit of her father and his few followers-her friends. At last it was thought that they had succeeded Should I be discovered,-in escaping from their merciless foes and had

encamped on this island. Here they dwelt be richer in blood than in blunt, and had left 66 his own romantic land" to avoid a certain some days in safety. Alas! this evening, scarce two hours ago, they were discovered tain a Messenger-at-Arms, and in merrie Engtroublesome adversary, called in North Briand attacked. Her father and his tribe resis-land a Bum-Bailiff. This obtrusive personage ted, but after a short and ineffectual struggle, had, of late, displayed a most impertinent and now all lay dead. She alone had escaped and unseasonable importunity regarding some trifwas now she placed her hands in mineling money matters utterly beneath the atten

and nestled her head in my breast—“ safe," I murmured leaning over her.

"There!" she suddenly cried, springing to her feet, "there, there," quick as thought an arrow pierced her heart; falling to the earth she bent and tore the grass with her hands, her death-convulsed body bounding hither and thither in the agony of dying. Ah! horror, horror! Seizing my gun, I rushed wildly forwards; before me were two skulking figures: I fired-one shrill cry rent the air-it numbed my brain-it was a word, that word-my

name.

Long years have passed, and they tell me that I am an old man now. I can't believe them; it is as yesterday that Harry and I went on our fishing excursion to the Thousand Isles. But then my hair is scant and grey, and I am partially bald. They say, too, that I never saw the Indian girl, that it was some frightful dream, but it is false, I saw her die, and Harry, am I thy murderer? Merciful Father, have pity on me.

I must cease. I pray God that I may not

die a

Here we were interrupted by the summons of the steward to supper, and when next I looked at my melancholy friend he was in the act of despatching, with every appearance of gusto, his third pork chop; apple-pie and cheese were also on the plate, and his dismal aspect had nearly vanished. I therefore concluded that the long and melancholy tale I had just heard was the effect either of too long a fast or dyspepsia.

THE CHRONICLES OF DREEPDAILY.
No. X.

CONTAINING THE CONCLUSION OF ALDERMAN
DIP'S MISADVENTURE

THE most prominent lion of the "Exclusive
Club" was Sir Fungus McKailrunt, the undis-
puted head of the ancient and chivalrous clan
of that name.

Now the aforesaid Sir Fungus chanced to

tion of a Celtic Thane.

Every gentlemanly device did the illustrious chieftain resort to, in order to get rid of his tormentor, even going the length of offering him the trial by battle. The legal functionary, however, insisted on choosing his own arms, which consisted of a small roll of paper; and bargained, moreover, that in the event of his being victorious, his opponent should subbastile." To such ignominious conditions the mit to dree penance in Sir Hudibras' "wooden head of the Kailrunts would, on no account, agree; and rather than dispute with so captious an antagonist, he turned his face southwards, till better times should come round.

Our friend, the Alderman, attached himself in a most peculiar manner to the distinguished exile from "mountain and flood." He paid his devoirs to him early and late, and the flattery which he doled out in bucketsfull, joined to the wide-spread reputation of his wealth, soon produced a marked effect upon the titled Caledonian, whose acquisitiveness and selfesteem were both above the middle size.

Sir Fungus was a widower, and his whole family consisted of a daughter, who faithfully followed the fortunes of her sire.

The Honourable Bridget McKailrunt was, at this period of our narrative, a lady more distinguished for her experience than her beauty. She had outlived her five-and-fortieth year, and was possessed of certain reminislant of all suitors, the small-pox, which, in the cenary bequests, left her by that most ungalopinion of the fastidious, did not contribute much to her personal charms.

Now, though no lady, by any chance, comes to think herself plain, it is difficult resisting altogether the evidence of a truth-telling mirror; and the virtuous Bridget began at last to suspect that her charms, like fresh fish in the dog-days, were not improved by the keeping. She therefore the more readily listened to a hint delicately dropped by her paternal ances-tor, at a moment when his exchequer chanced to be at its lowest possible ebb. The sugges tion was, that she should pay a little extra attention to the setting of her cap on a particular evening, when he purposed introducing to her notice one of his friends from the "Exclusive." Dull as a razor which has been prostituted to the opening of oysters, must the reader be, if he requires to be told that the friend in question was the civic magnate of whom it is our privilege and supreme felic ity to be the historiographer.

Belonging, as we do, to the ancient frater

nity of bachelors, we honestly confess our- We have heard of a certain worthy com

selves incapable of narrating the passages which occurred during the six months of the Alderman's existence, following his first domestic symposium with the McKailrunts. Most happily, we know of the acts of female warfare only by name; and we should merely expose our ignorance did we attempt to describe the "witchcraft " which the fair daughter of the mist employed to secure the affections of the man of tallow.

moner who, when he married a Lady Janet, confidently calculated upon becoming Lord Janet, in virtue of his matrimonial rights. And Master Jeremiah, when he pronounced at the nuptial altar the awful words "for better, for worse," had a certain dreamy impression that the term "better" implied his doffing for ever the base hide of plebianism, and donning the lion's aristocratic skin! Too soon, however,did he make the discovery that though he had bestowed his name upon his lady love, she had not rendered to him in return the smallest perception of her nobility. He was still plain, unvarnished Master Dip; and, what was worse, his high-born connections took pious pains to cherish in him the cardinal virtue of humility, by reminding him of what he longed so sorely to forget-his former self, to wit! Whenever he attempted to speak or act in opposition to his "betters," he was certain to be favored with some pointed and caustic allusion to oil casks and tallow,-much on the same princi

One thing is certain, that she soon discovered his weak point, and cut her cloth accordingly. She talked of the romantic situation of her hereditary mansion. She expatiated on the hundreds of devoted vassals, who only lived and moved at the will of their liege lord. She shed tears at the recapitulation of the many noble youths whose hearts she had broken, by refusing their proffered alliance, for the simple reason, that the noblest of the lot was not worthy to be henchman to the Kailrunt. And she soared into the altitudinal regions of poetry as she spoke of the anti-ple that dictated the placing of a skull upon quity of her family tree, which was, she asserted, a flourishing sapling, when that which formed the gallows of Egypt's chief butler was, as yet, a puny acorn!

This was a gilding which rendered palatable to our hero a pill, even of half a century's standing. The antiquity of the lady's person vanished before the glorious antiquity of her house, and the upshot may be easily anticipated. One fine morning the Alderman rose from his couch a single man, and, ere the shades of night pervaded the earth, found himself lord and master of the high-born dame, at least as much so as the curate of St. George's and his clerk could make him.

Master Dip had now gained the summit of his ambition, but, some how or other, the prospect from the lofty vantage-ground was not quite so enchanting as he had been led to anticipate when at the bottom of the hill.

the eastern monarch's dining table! The unlucky fat had left an odour on his escutcheon which "all the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten ;"-and in his bitterness he would doubtless have joined Lady Macbeth in her exclamation of "Out! out! dd spot!" but for the simple reason that he had never perused the works of the inspired poacher!

Nor were these the least of the poor man's sorrows. Lady Bridget, conscious that she was not precisely the model which a painter or statuary would select in depicting the flirting spouse of Vulcan, gave early intimation that she contemplated her husband through an intensely verdant medium.

In his younger days the Alderman had earned the reputation of a man of gallantry,— and even now he opined that there was no peculiar harm in admiring the contour of a

nose, or the turn of ancle. It would have been Lady Bridget Dip soon gave her "beloved" well for his comfort, however, had he possesto understand that he must no longer consider sed as scanty a perception of the beautiful as himself the autocrat of either his house or his the scholastic theorists upon that commodity. habits. Sternly did she interdict him from a If his "espoused saint ever detected him multitude of little luxuries which long usage looking at a female anything short of sixty, had rendered indispensable to his comfort. she was certain to make it the text of a curShe banished cheese from the dinner-table,-tain homily more practical than pleasing. On prohibited the poor man, under pain of her more than one occasion, when on the threshSovereign displeasure, from stewed onions to hold of his domicile he ventured to chuck the his potations of "half-and-half;" and even this chin of a buxom milk-maiden, and unhappily cherished admixture he was, after a vain re-his Xantippe detected the playful gesture, so sistance, obliged to abandon, as being alto- great a commotion was excited that nothing gether infra dig. But the severest cut of all short of a necklace or pair of bracelets could was the bull which was savagely thundered allay it. against his darling narcotic. This was enough Thus curbed and cribbed at all points, the to make even a husband valorous; and he ac- unhappy Alderman began to feel miserable tually stood out in opposition to the mandate enough, and it seemed as if more unlikely which extinguished his pipe, for the better things had come to pass than that he should part of a week. Ile was only mortal, how-be induced to test the temper of one of the ever, and the tube perished! Peace to its renowned Mechi's magic razors, a few inches below the field of that ingenious instrument's

ashes!

legitimate operations. The resolution of "the family," however, (he, of course, not being comprehended in the category,) to migrate for a season to their native fastnesses, inspired new life into Dip's drooping spirits, and deprived the Coroner and his myrmidons of the fees of an inquest.

into the kitchen by the back-door, where he would aiblins get a cog o' brose to warm his hause, as his honour's servants were aye weel seen to!"

"Oh! that I were once more in the Goat and Compasses!" groaned the forlorn victim of the chain matrimonial, as he shuffled out of the carriage and slunk into the house, more with the air of a beaten hound than the sonin-law of the lord of the soil!

"all plumed in their tartan array,"

Our hero looked forward to the expedition with much the same ideal delight which an urchin experiences when about to look into the glass of a penny panorama. He had fre- Next day the "castle" was literally besieged quently witnessed Highland melo-dramas at by a countless throng of kinsmen and cousins Astley's classic establishment, and being an of all degrees, even to the fiftieth remove, intensely matter-of-fact man, he believed that who came to pay their respects to the head of he was about to see a complete realization of the house. They brought along with them, the pomp and parade of these histrionic spec- however, none of the " pomp and circumtacles. Visions of "men of mould, and mai- stance" which the romantic imagination of the dens fair," enveloped in silken tartan-of Londoner had imaged to be indispensable to boundless forests, and castles of interminable the "gathering of the clan." Instead of galbattlements, floated gorgeously before his lant warriors mind's eye, and he cherished a kind of hopeful idea that the homage of the clan Kailrunt he beheld some gross of little smoke-dried, would be tendered to him as an adopted scion hook-nosed beings, redolent of peat-reek and of their race. * * * * * * * whisky,-whose sole talk was about crops and It was towards the fag-end of a cold, driz- cattle, and who seemed to regard our hero zling December day, that the dropsical Kail- with no more reverence than they did the runt chariot drew up in front of a damp, dull, tyke or house-dog. Indeed it is questionable desolate-looking mansion, the very appearance whether the quadruped did not stand higher of which sent a chill through the marrow of in their estimation, as its kin could be traced the half-frozen Southern. If Giant Despair for many generations, whilst the biped was had left a widow it might have formed an only a "bit packman body," whom necessity appropriate jointure-house for the bereaved alone had compelled their Chief to receive inte dame! The windows were small and gloomy; his family! -the gables pinched and puckered, as if they had been pressed together by two opposing battering-rams; and altogether it looked more like an asylum for

"hermit owls and pauper bats," than a habitation of Christian men. A few miserable looking caitiffs, whose noses, from their frigid sharpness, seemed as if they had received an extra squeeze from John Frost, stood shivering before the door;-and as the vehicle disgorged its contents, these living skeletons emitted what was intended for a jubilate of welcome. To the ear of the citizen, accustomed as he was to the hearty, porter-inspired huzza of an Anglican mob, it sounded more like the shriek of a wretch on the wheel begging for the coup-de-grace!

To add to the delectation of the hapless Alderman, a storm of snow set in which kept him in close ward for the better part of a week, and his sole recreation consisted in listening to certain tender remonstrances which his lady favored him with, touching the peccadilloes be had been guilty of during the journey to Scotland. She brought before his shrinking conscience every glance he had lavished on womankind, from the period of his losing sight of St. Paul's, all which she had carefully bottled up for future use. Nay, we have heard that she even went the length of enforcing her precepts by the application of her slipper to his tingling ears. We agree, however, with the Times, that this part of the story lacks confirmation!

Sunday at length came round, as Sundays generally do, and the storm having somewhat abated, it was announced that the Chief and his family meant to gladden the eyes of the much-expecting serfs, by appearing at the parish Kirk which was some seven miles distant.

The "quality" having disappeared into this tomb for the living, Master Dip, who showed no inclination to leave his quarters, enquired at one of the mouldy on-lookers how far it was called to Kailrunt Castle, and what might be the name of the dismal-looking inn before which he sat. The "questioned knave" eyeing the querist with a look in which contempt The London-built chariot-already the pride and wounded pride were equally blended, and wonder of the surrounding country, drew replied, not in the most choice English, that up in due form, and was packed with the fair this was the great palace of his honor's ma- Bridget, her respected sire, and half a dozen jesty the chief! He added in a softened tone, antideluvian-looking aunts, who had come for the miserable appearance of the frozen down like eagles from their mountain fastoilman (whom he evidently mistook for a nesses to fatten on the spoils of the Sassenach. Cockney domestic) that he "had better gang It then drove off amid the barking of some