Bainbridge had left the _Hornet_, Captain Lawrence, blockading the harbor of Bahia, in which was sheltered a British treasure ship. A British 74 came up from the Brazilian capital, and drove the _Hornet_ into the harbor. She escaped under cover of darkness, and on the 24th of February, 1813, fell in with, fought, and vanquished the British brig of war _Peacock_. The brig had borne down upon the _Hornet_, and as they passed each other each delivered a broadside. Then, by a quick movement, the _Hornet_ closed upon the _Peacock_, and poured round-shot into her for about fifteen minutes. The _Peacock_ struck her colors, and at the same time raised a signal of distress. Her mainmast soon fell overboard, and she was in a sinking condition. The removal of the wounded to the _Hornet_ was at once begun. At twilight she went down, carrying with her thirteen of her own crew and several of those of the _Hornet_. Nine of the former and three of the latter were drowned. The _Hornet_ had only one man killed in the engagement; she lost more in trying to save her enemies than in conquering them. [TO BE CONTINUED.] [Illustration] BY R. K. MUNKITTRICK. A quagga stood under a palm In evening's violet calm. When a lion passed by, With a hungerful eye, The quagga ran off in alarm. [Illustration] ADRIFT. BY MRS. M. E. SANGSTER. Adrift upon a silver tide, With banks of green on either side, And, far above, a smiling sky, A tiny craft goes floating by. Queer little boat, this woven nest, Where birdies three had tranquil rest Until a rough wind shook the tree, And sent them sailing off to sea. Oh, father-bird and mother-bird, In you what trouble will be stirred When, home returned from weary flight, You learn your babies' hapless plight! HYGROMETERS, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM Do not let any one who sees this somewhat out-of-the-way name imagine it is anything very dreadful. It is merely that of an instrument for measuring the moisture in the atmosphere. Nearly every boy and girl has seen the chalet-like "weather-house," where one might suppose the clerk of the unreliable elements to reside, and which is certainly tenanted by a gay old lady, who comes out when the sun shines, and a military gentleman, who, disregarding catarrh, parades in front of the cottage whenever there is a rain-cloud in the sky. In this case the figures are held on a kind of lever sustained by catgut: this, being very sensitive to moisture, twists and shortens on damp days, and untwists and lengthens as the air becomes dry and light. A simple hygrometer can be made by a piece of catgut and a straw. The catgut, twisted, is put through a hole in a dial, in which a straw is also placed. In dry weather the catgut curls up; in damp, it relaxes; and so the straw is turned either to the one side or the other. Straws do something more than "show which way the wind blows," you see.