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him, and, just as he was about to pass, he seized his arm, when Sylvester, with a convulsive start, slipped instantly over the parapet.

Tom, however, still held him—firmly; and cried aloud, "Sylvester!—Sylvester!—God! give me strength!—'tis I!—Sylvester!—I! Now!—make one effort!—for God's sake be firm! Seize the coping—the coping!"

Sylvester did so, but the stone gave way, and fell with a crash beneath him.

"Again!—again!" cried Tom; "again!—now then!—fear not!—don't be alarmed!—raise yourself up!—there!—now then!—now then!—there!—there!—Well done—well done—well done—well done!"

The moment he had succeeded in dragging Sylvester into the room, he exclaimed, "My boy! Thank God!" and fainted.

For some time Sylvester stood over him aghast. The shock appeared to have deprived him of all his faculties. He had some slight notion—some glimmering of an idea—of his having been in peril, but that idea was so fitful and confused, that nothing ever existed between it and vacancy.

All that he understood was that Tom was at his feet: every thought of assistance being necessary was absent. There he stood, and there he continued to stand, until James, who had heard his master fall, came trembling up with a light. Nor did he move even then. Neither the presence of James, nor the light, made the slightest impression upon him.

"Sir!" exclaimed James, who was half dead with fear; "Sir! Mr. Sound! sir! what is the matter?"

Sylvester still stood motionless; and James approached his master and knelt by his side, and, as he conceived that he had ceased to exist, he seized Sylvester's hand and cried, "Tell me—tell me—is my master dead?"

Sylvester started, and looked wildly round, and consciousness slightly returned; when he knelt by the side of his faithful friend, and took his hand and pressed it.

"Is he dead, sir?" reiterated James. "Is he, sir? Tell me—tell me?"

"God forbid!" replied Sylvester, faintly. "No, he is not dead."

James in an instant rushed from the room, and soon re-appeared with some water, and anxiously bathed his master's temples, while Sylvester knelt by his side.

"Some vinegar," said Sylvester; "or salts, if you have them."

James again flew from the room, and having found some vinegar hastily returned, and very soon had the satisfaction of seeing his master begin to revive.

"Sylvester," exclaimed Tom, on opening his eyes, "you are safe. I was wrong—very wrong; but you are safe."

Sylvester did not exactly understand this. He could not conceive how Tom could have been wrong. He did not, however, seek an explanation then; but did all in his power to restore him.

Consciousness having returned, Tom soon felt able to walk down