248 MIDNIGHT ALARM. 



carried up from Newcastle to Maitland, and thence 

 to Patrick's Plains.* 



I cannot at this place resist the temptation of re- 

 lating an anecdote, which, though it is not exactly 

 connected with the subject of my work, may not be 

 thought uninteresting by the reader. I was one 

 night sleeping at a friend's house ; all the family had 

 retired to rest, and I have no doubt that a perfect 

 stillness prevailed around. Suddenly, a noise like 

 thunder startled me from my slumbers, and as soon 

 as I was able to collect my scattered thoughts, I dis- 

 tinctly heard a series of violent blows against a door 

 at the foot of the staircase leading up to my bed 

 room. Though the first impression might have been 

 that the disturbance was caused by thieves breaking 

 into the house, it appeared improbable that such 

 characters should make their approach with so 

 much clamour. I instantly leaped out of bed, and 

 arrived in time to see a sight which I shall never 

 forget. The owner of the house, who slept on the 

 ground floor, equally astonished with myself at the 

 noise, had also quitted his pillow, and, arming him- 

 self with a sword and taper, advanced, in the cos- 

 tumes of lago, when he re-appears upon the stage 

 after stabbing Cassio and Rodorigo, towards the 

 door against which the monotonous thumping still 



* It appears tliat a company having for its object the realiza- 

 tion of this idea has just been formed. 



