told you, wherever the sun's rays fall straight down, that is, in perpendicular lines, there it falls hottest.

Africa contains vast deserts. The Sahara is the largest desert in the world, and is said to be like a vast ocean of sand, often raised up by the winds, like the waves of the sea; and the green spots, called oases, which are shaded by a few palm trees, and kept fresh by some spring of water, appear to the weary traveller like islands in this vast ocean. But Africa is not without some fertile countries. Wherever there are rivers it is fertile, and wherever there are mountains there are rivers, because there is always rain in mountain regions; and these rivers descending from the mountains, carry fertility with them as they wind through the plains.

All the nations of Africa, north of the great desert, and one country, besides Abyssinia, resemble the people of the south of Europe in their skin, or, if exposed to the sun, are rather darker.

South of the great desert, the nations are black, and though differing from each other, all belong to the negro race. Some negroes have black skins, short, black, curly, and woolly hair, with black eyes, flat noses, and thick lips. They are certainly an ugly race, but when educated and well treated, they are found to be kind and good-natured, faithful to their protectors, and as well skilled in whatever art or trade they have learnt, as Europeans are. All the negro nations of Africa are idolaters, and in a state of great ignorance and barbarism.

The country of Africa which is most interesting to us is Egypt, because many things related in the Bible, and other histories, happened in Egypt. It would be a very barren country if it were not for the river Nile, which overflows its banks once a-year, and waters the fields through which it passes; and it is from this fertile spot we get a great deal of rice. The source of the Nile has for years been the subject of exploration by Dr. Livingstone and others.

The southern point of Africa is the Cape of Good Hope, belonging to England, and useful to our vessels going to India.

THE CRICKET MATCH.

BEFORE the commencement of the match, Cooper, as captain of the school, read aloud the conditions which had been agreed upon respecting it. The trial games having terminated, he said, in favour of Brook and Hope, the decisive contest was now to be played between those two. At its conclusion the conqueror was to receive from Mr. Blenkinsopp-who, in compliance with the general wish, had consented to stand umpire a purse containing five sovereigns; unless some other boy in the school, who had not played in the trial matches, should challenge the victor to a new contest, in which case the latter was bound to play with him.

This proclamation having been made, the other boys withdrew from the turf, and Blenkinsopp giving the signal, the game began. The first dozen balls were delivered without result; Hope bowling steadily, and Brook batting with equal care. A close contest might evidently be reckoned on.

"How Hope has improved!" said Cooper, as he sat with half a dozen of the elder boys in the pavilion, looking on. "He will be captain of the eleven next half, if he goes on like this; that is, of course, if Jack leaves at Christmas."

"There goes Brook's wicket, I declare! How many runs has he got?"

"Three, I believe," said Thorpe, as the combatants changed places. "Now we shall see what Hope will make of Brook's bowling; all will turn upon that."

"Well, I expect he will make a goodish score off it," said Cooper. "I wasn't thinking so much of the match with Norton, as that with Hooper. Hope beat him quite fairly, and Hooper is a very good player; one of our first-rates, to say the least."

"Hooper can bowl very well, but his batting is not so good," said Thursfield; and, besides, his hitting is almost all behind the wicket. It is taking him on his weakest point, and Hope on his strongest, to set them to play a single-wicket match. Hope's best hits are straight forward ones."

"Yes, and there goes one of them!" exclaimed Story, as the ball was seen flying almost to the verge of the Lime Walk. "He'll make two for that. Ha! and there is another," he added, a few minutes afterwards, "just in the same place. A few in that style will soon settle this matter."

"But what do you say to that style?" cried Dodson, as the next ball, shooting past Hope's bat, twisted itself into the off stump. "There is an end to your pet's innings any way. Brook isn't done yet; he is only two or three behind, if I don't mistake. Halloa! how does the game stand, Hayward?" he shouted across to the boy who was seated in the scorer's place.

"Brook, four; Hope, seven," shouted Hayward in return.

"Sit down, Jack. Brook is just going to begin his second innings, and we'll back him up with a round or two of applause. That's the kind of thing to raise a fellow's pluck."

"With all my heart," said Norton, seating himself. "Well hit," he added presently, as a run was scored. "That is five, at all events."

"Well hit, Brook!

There is another! he must be one

or two ahead of Hope now."

"Yes, that's seven runs he has scored this innings," said Dodson.

"Halloa! there go Brook's stumps-which is by no

means the right thing, though!"

"No, I am afraid not," said Norton.

has Hope to get, Hayward?"

"Five," returned the boy addressed.

"How many

"Brook got,

first innings, four; second innings, eight. Hope, first innings, seven. Total, five to tie, six to win."

"Well, it is quite even betting now, said Norton. "A single twister of Brook's may determine the day in his favour."

Both the players were evidently impressed with the same notion. When Hope's second innings commenced, the caution hitherto observed by both parties seemed to be doubled; and a long time elapsed with very little advantage to either party. But, in spite of all Brook's exertions, he could not prevent his opponent's score slowly increasing, until he was but two runs-until he was but one run, behind him,—until the scores were equal. Even then the scales of victory appeared to be evenly poised. Hope struck a ball, not with his usual skill; it flew up into the air, and Brook rushed to catch it, if possible, before it reached the ground. He was just a moment too late, and the speed with which he had run threw him off his balance, and he fell on his knee. Before he could recover his legs, Hope had regained his wicket, and the victory was determined in his favour.

More applause followed than might have been expected; and the senior boys, though they had been anxious for Brook's success, did not wish to show any want of cordiality towards Hope. On his appearance, therefore, at the pavilion to receive the purse from Blenkinsopp, he was greeted with very general congratulation.

"I wish you joy, Hope," said Cooper. "You did that well, and I have no doubt Hammond will be pleased, when he hears what capital play there was for his prize.

Well now, Blenkinsopp, I suppose there remains nothing but to hand over, as they say—is there?"

"Nothing that I know of," said Blenkinsopp, taking the purse from his pocket, "unless some one is prepared to challenge Hope to a fresh encounter-which I suppose is not very likely. Oyez, oyez, oyez!" he continued, turning to the throng of boys who had gathered densely round to witness the presentation, " does anybody call in question Hope's right to receive this purse? Well, Hope, here it is, and I hope you will make a proper use of it, as the good-boy books say."

Stay a minute!" exclaimed a voice from the extreme edge of the throng. "I mean to claim the right to play with the winner." There was some confusion in the crowd, and then Alfred Brett pushed his way through to the place where the umpire was standing. "I think I understood," he resumed, amid the dead silence of surprise which prevailed, "that any one had a right to challenge the successful player to another game? Is that the case?"

66 Are you one of the fellows belonging to the school?" said Mr. Blenkinsopp, eyeing the new-comer with evident surprise and doubt. "No one else has any right to compete for this prize."

"I am one of the boys," returned Brett, though I have only been here a short time."

"A very short time, I should think, returned Mr. Blenkinsopp. "Since yesterday only, I believe is it not?"

"I do not understand you," said Brett. "I have been here rather more than a fortnight."

"Indeed!" said the other; "then I suppose I must be mistaken. But if I understood your proclamation aright, Cooper, and this gentleman's statement is correct, he is entitled to what he claims-is it not so?" he added turning to the boys.

A Babel of replies burst forth.

"He can't play