"I know not, my lord, whether you are brave or not, but what I have witnessed was certainly not an exercise of true courage," was the passionless reply. "And yet I'll wager a cool thousand that you daren't do it." "True, I dare not: for I am incapable of offering a deadly insult to my Maker." "Fine words!" Then, carried away by the excitement of the moment, he added, with an insolent look and gesture, "You are a lying coward." "Listen, my lord," answered the person thus addressed, and this time his tone was even calmer than before. "One year ago, you were walking at the midnight hour on the pier at the sea-port of Hull, and but one other person was upon it, and he was a stranger to you. You trod too near the edge of the pier, and fell into the sea. The tempest was howling, and the tide was high and running strongly; and, ere you could utter more than one smothered cry, it had swept you many yards away, and you were sinking rapidly. Except God, none but that stranger heard your cry of agony; and, soon as it reached his ear, he looked forth upon the waters, and, catching a glimpse of your struggling form, he instantly plunged in, and, after much diving, eventually grasped you at a great depth. Long did he support your helpless body, and stoutly did he buffet the stifling waves, and loudly did he call for aid. At length help came; and at the last moment, he and you were saved just in time for life to be preserved in both. Is not this true, my lord?" "It is," emphatically responded the young nobleman; "but what have you to do with it? I don't know you--though it is not at all wonderful," added he, with a sneer, "that you should happen to know about the matter, for the newspapers blazoned it quite sufficiently." "My lord, one question more. Did you ever learn who that stranger was who, under God, saved your life?" "No; when I recovered a little, he left me at the hotel, where he was unknown, and I have never seen him since." "Then, my lord," was the startling rejoinder, "look well at me, for I am that stranger." "You?" "Yes--I whom you have branded as a liar and a coward. Little thought I that the life I saved at the imminent risk of my own would be madly, wickedly jeopardized for no price whatever, as I have seen it this hour. Mine, my lord, was true courage; yours was false. Henceforth know the difference between them. Farewell." So saying, the stranger bowed, and before another word could be uttered, had left the astounded party. INTRODUCTION OF THE POTATO INTO FRANCE.