"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 there is any foundation for this, my dear sir?" said he,
after he had read it.

[Illustration: THE NEWSPAPER PARAGRAPH.]

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