A Voyage round the World, A book for boys, by W. H. G. Kingston. 

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Here is a sort of compendium of all the excitements that befallKingston's young heroes. Swimming episodes of various kinds, serpents, unfriendly savages, and unexpected coincidences, have all been puttogether here, to make a well-written book, that you will find quiteamusing and interesting. Recommended. 

Makes a good audiobook, too. 

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A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, A BOOK FOR BOYS, BY W. H. G. KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

MY HOME, AND HOW I LEFT IT. 

The day arrived. A post-chaise stood in front of the old greymanor-house. I have it all before me. The pointed gables--thehigh-pitched, dark weather; stained roof--the numberless latticedwindows--the moat, now dry, which had once served to keep out a body ofCromwell's horse--the tall elms, which had nestled many a generation ofrooks--the clump of beech trees, and the venerable wide-spreading oak--the broad gravelled court on one side, and the velvety lawn on theother, sloping away down to the fine, large, deep fish-pond, whosewaters, on which I had obtained my first nautical experiences, as seenthrough the green foliage, were sparkling brighter than ever under thedeep blue of the summer sky. 

At the hall door were assembled all those I loved on earth--and dearly, too, I loved them. My mother, as good and kind a mother as ever nurseda somewhat numerous and noisy progeny; my sisters, dear, sweet, goodgirls; and half-a-dozen brothers, honest, generous, capital fellows; ourfather, too--such a father!--we always agreed that no one could come upto him. Other fellows might have very good fathers, but they were notequal to him! He could be just like one of us at cricket, or outfishing, or shooting, and yet he was always right, and there was not afiner-looking gentleman in the county, and that every one said. We wereall at home for the Midsummer holidays--that is to say, we boys; ourmother was not a person to let her girls go to school. Who could saythat we were not met for the last time in our lives?

I was the third of the boys. Two of our sisters were older than any ofus. I loved them, and they all loved me. Not that we ever talked aboutthat; I knew it and felt it, and yet I was going to leave them by my ownexpress wish. 

I was not what is called a studious boy. I was fond of reading, and Iread all the books of voyages and travels I could lay hands on, andbefore long began to wish to go and see with my own eyes what I had readabout. My brothers were fond of shooting and fishing and rowing, and sowas I; but I thought shooting tigers and lions and elephants, andfishing for whales, and sailing over the salt ocean, would be muchgrander work than killing partridges, catching perch, or rowing aboutour pond in a punt. I do not know that my imaginings and wishes, ardentas they grew, would ever have produced any definite form of action, hadnot an old schoolfellow of our father's, called Captain Frankland, abouta year before the day I speak of, come to our house. As soon as I knewhe was coming I was very eager to see him, for I heard our father tellour mother that there was scarcely a part of the world he had notvisited, and that he was looked upon as a first-rate navigator, and amost scientific seaman. He had been in the navy during the war-time, but peace came before he was made a lieutenant; and believing that heshould not there find sufficient employment for his energies, he hadquitted it and entered the merchant-service. While in command of awhaler, he had been far towards the north pole. He had traversed theAntarctic seas, and had often visited India and China, and the islandsof the Pacific. Still, as money-making or idleness had never been hisaim, and his strength was unabated, he kept at sea when many men wouldhave sought for rest on shore. Such was the account my father gave ofhim. 

How eagerly I waited for his coming! He had chosen the holidays onpurpose that he might see our father's young tribe, he wrote him word. He was the very sort of person I longed to talk to; still it was with nolittle awe that I thought of actually breakfasting, and dining, andspeaking day after day with one who had seen so much of the world, andmet with so many adventures. At last he arrived. I was notdisappointed in his appearance. He was a tall, thin, spare man, allbone and muscle. His hair was almost white, and his features, whichwere not a little weather-beaten, had, I thought, a most pleasantexpression. While, however, my brothers ran eagerly forward to meethim, I hung back, watching him at a distance, like a bashful child. Hadhe been one of England's greatest heroes, I could not have looked at himwith greater respect. "And that is the man, " I thought, "who has sailedover thousands and thousands of miles of water, and has seen Indiansdressed in feathers and shells, and negroes running wild in their nativewoods, and Hottentots, and Esquimaux, and Chinese, and I do not knowwhat other strange people!" I saw my father look round for me, so atlast I went forward in time to be presented in my turn with the rest ofmy brothers. Very soon the feeling of awe wore off, and I became themost constant of his attendants wherever he wished to go. With thegreatest eagerness I used to listen to the accounts he gave our fatherof his various adventures in the distant countries he had visited. Mybrothers listened also; but while they would at length betake themselvesto other occupations, I remained his ever-attentive auditor. Theinterest I exhibited in what he was saying attracted his attention, andmuch pleased him, so that when I ventured to ask him questions, he bothanswered them willingly and encouraged me to ask more. Thus we beforelong became very great friends. 

"Should you like to go to sea, Harry?" said he to me one day, when hehad begun to talk of taking his departure. 

"With you, sir, indeed I should; there's nothing in the world I shouldlike so much, " I answered. The tone of my voice and the expression ofmy countenance showed him how much I was in earnest. 

"Very well, my boy. You are rather young just yet to rough it at sea, and you will be the better for another year's schooling; but when I comeback from my next voyage, if you are in the same mind, and your fatheris willing to let you go, I will take you to sea with me. I'll talk tohim about it if I have an opportunity. "

"Thank you, sir--thank you!" I exclaimed, almost choking with thevehemence of my feelings; "it is what I have been longing for above allthings. Do, pray, tell my father, or he may suppose it is only apassing fancy of mine, and may wish me to go into some other profession. Still, he'll let me go with you--I know he will. "

Captain Frankland smiled at my eagerness, but he said not a word todissuade me from my wish. Perhaps he remembered his own feelings at myage. Grown-up people are apt to forget how they thought and felt whenthey were boys, which is the reason so few men win the confidence of theyoung and manage them properly. The captain, on the contrary, seemed tounderstand me thoroughly, and thus gained a complete influence over me. 

"I'll be ready to go when you come back, " I added. 

"Don't be too sure of yourself, Harry, " he answered. "I've seen manypeople completely change their opinions in a year's time, and I shallnot be absent less than that. If you remain constant to your wish, remember my promise; but if your fancy changes, you are free to followit as far as I am concerned. "

I thanked Captain Frankland over and over again for his kindness, andcertainly did not think that there was a possibility of my changing myinclinations. So he went away, much to my regret, and I fancied that hehad not mentioned our conversation to my father. We all returned toschool, except our eldest brother, who went to college. I no longerenjoyed school as I once did--I was looked upon as having become veryidle. My mind, however, was not idle, I know, for I was continuallythinking over the idea which had got possession of it. By allowing mythoughts to rest on that idea, and that alone, the desire increased tillI persuaded myself that the only life I could possibly lead withsatisfaction was that of a life at sea. All this time the curious thingwas, that of the sea itself I practically knew nothing. Born and bredin an inland county, my eyes had actually never rested on the wideocean. Still, I had formed a notion of what it was like; and I fanciedthat a sailor was always wandering about from one wild country toanother, and going through a rapid succession of wonderful adventures. I forgot all about those long voyages when ships are weeks and weekstogether out of sight of land, and the many weary and often anxioushours which a seaman has to pass away; nor did I consider that he hasfrequently the same voyage to make over and over again, the same landsto visit, and the same people to see. However, though I looked with nolittle pleasure on the idea of becoming a sailor, I had still greatersatisfaction in the anticipation of visiting strange and far-distantlands, in meeting with adventures, and in becoming acquainted with thevarious tribes of the human race. 

With the absorbing passion which now possessed me ruling every thought, I could no longer properly fix my attention on my Latin and Greek booksand usual school-lessons; and as for nonsense, and even sense verses, Iabandoned all attempts at making them. I am ashamed to say that Iallowed others to do the work which passed as mine; and even though Imanaged to present the required written exercises, I was constantly inrichly-deserved disgrace for the neglect of those tasks which no oneelse could perform for me. I was decidedly wrong; I ought to have hadthe right feeling and manliness to perform to the best of my power thoselessons which it was the master's duty to set me, and then I might witha clear conscience have indulged freely in my own peculiar tastes. Asit was, when the Christmas holidays arrived, I was sent home with aletter from the master containing severe complaints of my inattentionand negligence of my duties, while my brothers were complimented on theprogress they had made in their studies. The master told me he shouldwrite, but our father received us all in the same affectionate way; andas he said nothing on the matter, I hoped that he was not going to takenotice of it. 

The first joyous days of getting home had passed over, and New-Year'sDay come and gone, before he broached the subject. From his love andkind heart, he would not before mar my boyish happiness. He then, summoning me into his study, spoke seriously to me about my pastconduct. I frankly owned my fault, and confessed to him the true causeof my idleness. From his answer I found, to my very great satisfaction, that Captain Frankland had already talked to him about my wish to go tosea, and had expressed his readiness to take me. 

"I cannot, however, allow you, my dear Harry, to leave school under thepresent circumstances, " said my father. "You must learn to obey yoursuperiors, and to command yourself, before you will be fit to go intothe world. Whatever course of life you pursue, you will have manythings to do which you will dislike, or in which you may frominclination take no interest; but this will afford you but a poor excusefor not doing your duty. What do you think the captain of a ship wouldsay to an officer who had not obeyed his orders, should the latterremark to him, `Really, sir, I felt so little interest in the matter, orI disliked it so very much, that I could not bring myself to perform thework?' Yet this is what you have been doing, my boy. I will say nomore on the subject. You will go back to school at the end of theholidays; and if I find that, from a sense of duty, you are attending, to the best of your power, to the studies your master may select foryou, I will take your wishes into my very earnest consideration, and seehow I can best carry them out for your advantage. "

I felt how just, and kind, and considerate my father was, and I resolvedto the utmost to follow his advice. I shall never forget thoseChristmas holidays. They were very, very happy ones. Our eldestbrother Jack, who was at college, was a very clever fellow, and put usup to all sorts of fun. In doors and out of doors there was nothing hedid not think of. He never bullied, and wasn't a bit spoiled. He wasgoing to study at the bar, that he might better look after the familyproperty. James, the next, was the quiet one; he was preparing for theChurch. Then came our third sister, Mary. Julia and Isabella wereolder than any of us. Mary was my favourite. There was nothing shewouldn't do for me--or, for that matter, for any of us. She did notlike baiting our hooks when we were fishing, but still she did it whenwe asked her; and I do really believe that the worms didn't feel halfthe pain they otherwise would when handled by her fingers. She'd go outwith us rat-catching and badger-hunting, and yet, to see her in thedrawing-room, there wasn't a sweeter, softer, more feminine girl in thecounty. When we were at school, she wrote us twice as many letters asanybody else, and told us how the pony and the dogs were getting on; andhow old Martin had found a wasp's nest, which he was keeping for us toblow up--and all that sort of thing. Willie and Georgie were at schoolwith me, and Herbert was going the next half, and after him were twomore girls, so that Mary had no companions of her own age, and that madeher, I suppose, stick so much more to us than the older ones did, whowere now young ladies--old enough to go to balls, and to talk when anygentlemen called. 

I cannot stop to describe our amusements. I went to school with a morehopeful, manly spirit than I ever did before, and to the astonishment ofDr Summers, set to with a will at everything he gave me to do, andbefore long was nearly up at the head of my class. I wished to pleasemy father, and to follow his advice, that I am sure of; but I confessthat I was powerfully influenced by another motive. From what he hadsaid, I saw that this was the surest way of obtaining the accomplishmentof my wishes. 

Hoops and driving had gone out, and cricket and marbles were in, and thedays were getting long and warm, when I received a letter from Mary, saying that Captain Frankland had come home, and had written to ourfather, but she did not know what had passed between them. I alwaystold Mary all I thought and wished; and though she cried very much atthe thoughts of my going away, yet she promised to help me as best shecould. How she was to help, I did not exactly know. I tried to consoleher by promising to bring her back parrots without end from Africa, andshawls from India, and fans and carved ivory bones from China, andpoisoned arrows, and darts, and tomahawks, and all sorts of dreadfulweapons, from America and the islands of the Pacific. Indeed, had Ifulfilled my promises to the letter, I could pretty well have loaded aship with my intended gifts. My father said nothing, and we all wenthome together at the usual time. At the end of this half, a verycomplimentary letter had preceded me. 

"I am glad to hear that Dr Summers is pleased with you, my dear boy, "said my father, and I thought his countenance wore a graver expressionthan usual. "Tell me, are your wishes the same as when you last lefthome?"

I replied that I was as anxious as ever to go to sea. 

"I will not, then, thwart your inclination, Harry, " he answered. "Yourmother and I would rather you had selected a profession which would havekept you nearer to us. But you have chosen a fine line of life, and mayHeaven protect you in your career! I should have been glad, for somereasons, to have had the power of sending you into the Royal Navy; but Ihave no interest to get you in, and still less any to advance you in it. The merchant-service should not be looked on as less noble and lesscreditable a profession. It is one of the chief means by whichEngland's greatness and prosperity is maintained. In it your progressand success will depend almost entirely on your own exertions. You mustalso so conduct yourself that you may sustain to the utmost the creditof the service, and, I doubt not, you will have no cause to regretentering it. I might have wished to keep you longer at home, but I amunwilling to miss the opportunity of sending you to sea under charge ofa commander of the high character and attainments possessed by CaptainFrankland. He, in the kindest way, tells me that he is ready to takeyou; and he also informs me that a relative of mine is one of theofficers appointed to his ship, Silas Brand by name. You have heard asspeak of my good Cousin Martha, Mrs Brand; Silas is her only son. Hewas a steady, good lad when I last heard of him before he went to sea, and I daresay that you will find him a firm friend. At all events, I amsure, from Captain Frankland's remarks, that he will prove a profitableone. He tells me also that his proposed voyage will be one of verygreat interest; that the owners of the ship have a variety of objects inview; so that he expects to visit a number of interesting places duringthe voyage, which is, in fact, to be completely round the world. "

"Round the World!" I exclaimed. "How delightful! And am I actuallygoing to sail all round the world in my first voyage? Well, I did notexpect anything so good as that. Isn't it a first-rate chance, papa?"

"It may be very long before you return, my boy, " replied my father. "Itrust, however, that you will proportionately profit by the voyage. Captain Frankland says, that he hopes to make you something of a seamanbefore you return. You will, I trust, make the best use of hisinstructions. "

I promised that I would, and sincerely intended to keep my promise. Soit was finally settled that I was to go to sea, and few lads were eversent afloat under better auspices than I enjoyed. I cannot fullydescribe the agitating sensations which passed through my bosom when Ibegan to reflect on the approaching consummation of my wishes. While myheart beat with anticipated pleasure at the strange sights I was tobehold, I could not but contemplate with sorrow the thoughts of leavingso many dear ones behind. Not that I for a moment hesitated what Iwould do, but the sharp edge of the enjoyment I might have felt wasentirely blunted. Still, I went about talking with a keen relish of allI was to see, and what I was to do, while the preparations for my outfitwere in progress; and I not a little excited the envy of my youngerbrothers, and of some of the boys near us, when they heard that I wasstarting on a voyage round the world. 

At last the chest was packed, and lashed on behind the post-chaise. Afew minutes more, and the old home which knew me would know me no morefor many a long day. Can I describe that parting? Still, all bore upheroically. I did my best not to give way, but there was a hot, chokingsensation in my throat, as if a Thug from India had got his fatal noosetight round my jugular vein; and a pulling away at the heart, as if thefangs of a stout double tooth were firmly clenched in it, and astrong-fisted dentist was hauling it out. My father and Jack were goingwith me to see me on board. I believe Jack envied me, and wished thathe was going too, instead of having to pore over dusty parchments. Mymother folded me in her arms, and kept me there. That was the worst. Still, I could not bear to break away. 

"Come, Harry, " said my father, "we shall miss the train. " He took megently by the shoulder, and guided me into the carriage. I took a lastkiss from Mary's dear lips as I passed her. "I shall be back to-morrowevening, I hope, " said he, following me. 

"I say, Harry, don't forget the bows and arrows you are to bring me fromthe Tonga Islands!" sung out Willie. 

"Or the hunting-panther from South America!" cried Georgie. 

"Or the parrots from Africa!" exclaimed Mary through her tears. 

"Or the love-birds from India!" said Julia. 

"Or my ivory fan from China, young sailor boy!" said Isabella. 

"Don't forget the journal you are to keep, or the subjects I asked youto note for me!" exclaimed the studious James. 

Thus, amid various shouts and exclamations of a similar character, themoment Jack mounted on the box we drove off towards the nearest stationon the railway which was to convey us to Liverpool. My father saidnothing for some time, and I felt that I could not utter a word withoutallowing my feelings to get the better of me. However, by the time wereached the station, I had much recovered my spirits; and when once wewere in the railway, Jack had so much to talk about, and cut so manyjokes, that I became very happy, as he did not leave me a moment tothink about the dear home I had left. I have often since thought, whenI have seen people grumbling at home, or finding fault or quarrellingwith their brothers and sisters or parents, let them go away and getknocked and kicked about the world, and they will have good reason tovalue their own quiet home as they ought. 

I thought Liverpool a very fine city, with its large public buildings, and its broad streets, and its churches, and its Sailors' Home, which Ivisited, where sailors have a large smoking-hall, and dining-rooms, anda lecture-room, and a chapel, and where some hundreds may each have alittle separate cabin to himself. I wish every port in the world, muchfrequented by shipping, had a place of a similar character. Most ofall, I was struck with the docks, crowded with ships of great size, and, indeed, craft of every description and nation; as also with its widequays and wharfs, and floating landing-stages, and steamers dashing inand out, and running up and down the river in such a hurry, that theylooked as if they were conscious that they had to struggle for theirexistence among the struggling human multitude of the place. Weinquired for the _Triton_. 

"There she is, with the blue Peter flying at the fore! She sailsto-night, don't she, Tom?" said a waterman whom we addressed. "Do youwant a boat, gintlemen?"

My father said, "Yes;" and agreed with the man as to his fare. 

We stepped into his boat, and away we pulled towards my future home--thegood ship _Triton_. I had never seen a ship before, it must beremembered. I had looked at pictures of them, so I was acquainted withtheir shape; but I had formed no adequate idea of the size of a largeship; and as the boat lay alongside of the _Triton_, and I looked up andsaw one of the officers standing at the gangway to receive us, itappeared something like scaling the walls of a castle to climb up to thedeck. What should I have thought had the _Triton_ been a hundred andtwenty gun-ship, instead of a merchantman of 500 tons, for such was hersize! However, I then thought her a magnificent ship; she was indeed avery fine one for her size. Side ropes being rigged, we soon gained herdeck. The captain was still on shore, but my father at once made outSilas Brand. He was a shortish, rather thick-set, fair man, with aroundish face and a somewhat florid complexion. He had light hair, withlargish whiskers, and he shaved his chin in harbour. I had to look athim frequently, and to talk to him more than once, before I discoveredthat his countenance showed much firmness and decision, and that hissmile betokened more than a good-natured, easy disposition. My fatherhad a good deal of talk with him, while Jack and I went round to see theship. In the course of our peregrinations, we entered what I found wasthe captain's cabin. A lad of about my own age was sitting at a table, with a book and slate before him. He turned round when the door opened, and eyed me narrowly before he got up from his chair. Then, apparentlyrecollecting himself, he advanced towards us. 

"Are you the new youngster who is to sail with us?" said he, putting outhis hand. "My name is Gerard Frankland, though it is seldom people takethe trouble of calling me more than Jerry. My father told me to expectyou. I'm to look after you, and see you don't get into mischief, Isuppose. I'll be very strict with you, mind that!"

Amused with his free and easy way, I told him that he was not mistakenas to my identity. 

"That's all right then, " he answered. "This gentleman is your brother. Take a seat, sir, and make yourself at home. You'll have something?When my father is on shore, I reign here supreme, though on deck, to besure, I can't boast much of my authority. Steward, bring glasses, andbiscuits, and anything else! You're not going with us, sir? I wish youwere. We'll have rare fun before we come back, I'll warrant. "

"No, " answered Jack, laughing, and highly diverted with Master Jerry'svolubility and perfect self-possession. "I should much like to take thetrip though. However, my brother Harry will, I hope, on your return, give us a full account of all you see and do. "

"He'll have plenty to tell then of what we do, and not a little of whatwe see, " answered Jerry, with a sort of a half wink at me, which was asmuch as to say, "We'll be up to all sorts of things. " He added aloud, "My father is not the man to let the grass grow under the ship's bottom;but here come the glasses! What will you have--hot or cold?"

"Thank you, " said Jack; "our father is here, and we must not stop. Wecame to see Harry on board, and have soon to return on shore. " While hewas speaking, our father appeared at the door, accompanied by SilasBrand. 

Gerard's whole manner changed the moment he saw them. He got up toreceive my father with perfect politeness; and, instead of exhibitingthe forward, flippant manner with which he had treated us, he turned atonce into a steady-looking, somewhat demure boy. My father, afteraddressing a few kind words to him, and telling him that he was hisfather's oldest friend, signed to me that he wished to speak to mealone. He took me into Silas Brand's cabin, and kneeling down, offeredup a few prayers, full of deep, deep love, for my preservation from allearthly dangers, and for my acceptance as a forgiven sinner at the dayof judgment. 

"Look straight on beyond this transient world in all you think, or try, or do. Remember, delightful as this existence may appear, andundoubtedly is to those who know how to employ it properly, it is but apassage which leads to eternity. May Heaven guide you, my boy!" Hetook me in his arms, and then I knew how his fond, tender heart felt theparting. He burst into tears: he was not long in recovering himself. 

Captain Frankland came on board. Last farewells were said. My dearfather and Jack went down the ship's side. The pilot remarked that thetide would suit. The anchor was hove up. A steamer took us in tow;then, after pulling ahead of us for a couple of hours or more, she castoff. All sail was set, and free of the Mersey's mouth, away we glidedon our voyage Round the World. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

THE VOYAGE COMMENCED. 

The _Triton_ was a well-found, well-officered, and well-manned ship. Still, on first getting to sea, there appeared to be a considerableamount of disorder, and the crew were incessantly employed in stowingaway the last stores which had come on board, and in getting everythinginto its right place. This gave me a feeling that I was not in my rightplace, for no one had a moment to attend to me, and to tell me what todo; and had it not been for Gerard, I should have felt not a littlemiserable. He was as active as any one, and seemed to be thoroughly upto his duty. He did, however, find time to speak to me. 

"I'll tell you what to do, Harry, " said he; "just keep out of the way, and look on. You'll learn more in that manner just now than in anyother. You'll have plenty of time to get up your seamanship by-and-by. "

I followed his advice to great advantage. The first manoeuvre I sawperformed on board was when, having got clear of all the shoals anddangers at the mouth of the Mersey, we shortened sail to allow the pilotto enter his boat, and the last person we were to see for many a dayconnected with home took his departure. He shook hands with the captainand mates, and wished us a good voyage and speedy return. I watched theboat as it proceeded towards the pilot-cutter with a curious feeling ofinterest. I was aroused by Gerard, who asked me why I was sosentimental. He saw nothing in a pilot-boat leaving the ship. The lastI saw of our native land were the lofty cliffs of Wales. I came on deckearly in the morning; and, as I looked out aft, they appeared recedingfast on the larboard-quarter, across the bright blue sea. Turninground, my somewhat bewildered glance next wandered upwards, and there Ibeheld, with unrestrained admiration, the wide spread of white canvaswhich hung extended on the yards, high, high up in the blue sky, like avast mass of snowy cloud. It looked to me as if there was enough sailto fly away with the whole ship and her cargo; for, the breeze beinglight and fair, we had all our courses, and topsails, andtopgallant-sails, and royals set with studding-sails also on eitherside, almost sweeping the sparkling waters which danced off from the_Triton's_ sharp bows as she clove her stately yet rapid way through theocean. Captain Frankland was anxious to take every advantage of thefavourable wind, that we might get a good distance from the land, andthus not run the chance of being driven back again, and be compelled, asis often the case with outward-bound ships, to take shelter in thatmagnificent harbour--Milford Haven, or in the still more lovely one ofQueenstown, on the Irish coast. Away we flew, every day going fasterand faster as the breeze freshened. 

"Not a brace, nor a tack, nor a sheet did we slack" on board of thegallant _Triton_ for a whole week; and then it fell calm, and we laywashing our sides up to the scuppers in the pure waters of the Atlantic. During this time everything was got to rights, and I began to find myway about every part of the ship, and to learn the names of the spars, and ropes, and sails. Gerard very soon dared me to go aloft; of courseI was nothing loath. 

"Follow me, then, youngster!" said he; and with a wicked look, up hewent the main rigging. I ascended readily enough, intending to gothrough the lubbers' hole, as the opening in the top is called throughwhich the lower shrouds lead. This way is quite allowable for alandsman; but Jerry, having no fear of my breaking my neck before hiseyes, led the way by the futtock-shroud; and, as he quickly stood up inthe top, I saw his face grinning over me while I hung with my back overthe ocean, very doubtful whether I could climb round so as to get holdof the topmast-shrouds. 

"Don't let your feet go till you have got a firm grip of this ropehere, " said he, touching the shroud. I clutched hold of it: then up Islipped my other hand, and, drawing up my knees, soon had them on thecombing of the top, and found myself standing alongside my companion. Ishould have liked to have stopped to take breath and look about me; but, before I could utter a word, he was off again, up the topmast-rigging, with the agility of a monkey, and laughingly sung out to me to join himon the cross-trees. I thought he would surely rest there, but away hewas again, nor did he stop till he had got hold of the main-truck; and, as he clung on with his chin over it, he took off his cap and waved itround his head. My blood was warmed with the exercise and theexcitement, and I was close after him. The moment he was down I tookhis place, and did the same thing; but I had to be quick in followinghim, not to miss the way he was leading. Down he slid by themain-topmast-stay, and in an instant more he was climbing thefore-topmast rigging. He waited for me, however, and waved me on. Idid not remark that two seamen, the oldest hands on board, were at thesame time deliberately mounting the fore-shrouds. Just as I reached thefore-topmast cross-trees, they were up to me. 

"You han't paid your footing up here, young master, " said one, old BenYool by name. He spoke in a gruff voice, as if he had not a softparticle in his whole composition. 

"You know what that means, master?" added the other, Charlie Cockle, ashe was called, imitating him. 

"I don't know what you want, but I know that you are two to one, whichisn't fair, at all events; and, do you see, I am not accustomed to givein to threats, " said I, and endeavoured to climb away from them, notknowing exactly where I was going. 

The midge caught in a web might as well attempt to escape from a hungryspider. They caught me in a moment; and, without further ceremony, stretching out my arms and legs, lashed them to the topmast-rigging, making what is called a spread eagle of me. It was very humiliating, though my position was thus exalted, and very unromantic; and the rogueJerry aggravated my feelings by pretending to pity me, though I guessedeven then that he had arranged the plan beforehand with Yool and Cocklethus to entrap me. The seamen had descended towards the deck, leavingme bound in this ignominious manner. Jerry came and placed himself inthe rigging opposite to me. 

"It must be very unpleasant!" quoth he. "I wonder what they would sayif I was to let you loose?"

"I wish you would, " I answered. "It's a great shame, and I don't likeit. "

"But I dare not, " he replied, putting on a pretended serious face, though he could not hide the twinkle of his laughing eyes; "they aresuch precious fierce fellows. But don't you think that you might buyyourself off? I'll see if I can arrange the matter with them. "

I saw that there would be no use contending against my tormentor, and Iwas more hurt than I choose to acknowledge; so I wisely agreed to payany moderate sum to be released. The arrangement was soon made; andYool and Cockle, having unlashed my limbs, begged my pardon, andcomplimented me on the daring and agility I had displayed on this myfirst climb aloft. 

This adventure, as I took the treatment I received good humouredly, mademe capital friends with all the seamen, and I found that there were notkinder-hearted or better men on board than Yool and Cockle. I observedthat Jerry took the opportunity when his father was below to play offthe tricks imagined by his fertile brain, though he was sometimesdiscovered and reprimanded; but he put on so penitent an expression, andhad such comical excuses to offer, that Captain Frankland saw that itwould be worse than useless to punish him. Indeed, punishment wouldscarcely have corrected such faults as he had. Gerard, from beingsmall, and having delicate features, though they were full of richhumour, looked younger than I did; but he was in reality older, and hadmuch more experience of the world. His constitution was considereddelicate, which was the reason his father took him to sea at first; butnow he liked the life so much, he told me, that he had resolved tofollow it as a profession. We both of us slept in a cabin which we hadto ourselves, near the captain's. Gerard was learning navigation; andCaptain Frankland told me that I must study hard to catch him up, sothat we might work together. He superintended our studies; but SilasBrand was our chief master, and somehow or other, in his quiet way, hemanaged to impart a considerable amount of information in a pleasant andrapid manner. It appeared to me that he always said the right thing atthe right time, so as to impress it on the memory. Our first officer, John Renshaw, was a very worthy man, but totally unlike my Cousin Silas. He was tall and thin, and had a long weather-beaten, rathermelancholy-looking face. Not that he was melancholy; the form of hisfeatures made him look so. It is better, however, to look melancholythan to have facetious features, which always appear to be on a broadgrin. A strong contrast to both of them was found in our third officer, Samuel Melgrove. He was a man with strongly-marked, rather coarsefeatures, with red hair and complexion. One might have expected to hearonly the roughest tones come out of such a mouth as he possessed; but, instead, he spoke in a soft, somewhat mincing manner, and prided himselfon his gentlemanly style and volubility. He could, however, speak loudand rough enough in case of necessity. If called on suddenly to shortensail, no one could make himself better heard. The mates on board amerchantman have the same sort of duty as the lieutenants of aman-of-war, with the addition of having to attend to the stowing of thecargo and stores. We had also a surgeon, who was a good naturalist anda very scientific man--Mr David McRitchie. He evidently at firstlooked with very grave suspicion on Gerard and me, as if we were onlywaiting our opportunity to play him some trick; and when he left hiscabin he always locked the door, lest we should get in and do somemischief; but such an idea was, I must say, very far from my thoughts, and even Gerard respected him too much to wish to annoy him. How toconvince him of this seemed a difficulty. Gerard undertook to assurehim. 

"Mr McRitchie, " said he one day abruptly to him, "I daresay that youthink me a young jackanapes, whose only thought is how he can do mostharm in the world. Now, sir, you are mistaken; all I want is that youwill impart some of your knowledge to Harry and me; but, understand, whether you do that or not, Harry and I will make it a point of honournot to do you any injury by word, look, or deed. "

"Oh, I never--Well, well, you are good boys, and I perfectly trust you, "stuttered out the doctor, completely taken by surprise. "I shall beglad, too, to give you all the information in my power; and I hope, inthe course of the voyage, we may have many interesting subjects to seeand talk about. " I was sure that Mr McRitchie would faithfully keephis word. 

We had three other somewhat important personages on board who werecharacters in their way--Richard Fleming the boatswain, James Pincottthe carpenter, and Thomas Veal the captain's steward. They each hadtheir peculiarities; but I will not stop now to describe them. We hadtwenty men forward, all picked hands; for, with the long voyage wecontemplated, and the service we were on, it was necessary to bestrongly manned. I must not omit a description of the _Triton_ herself. She had a raised poop, beneath which were situated the chief cabins, and a forecastle, under which the crew lived in two compartments, one oneither side of it. There was also a caboose, or galley, with a greatcooking-range, and, indeed, every convenience the men could desire. Wecarried eight guns--9-pounders--for we were going into seas where itwould be necessary to be well-armed, and constantly on our guard againsttreachery; and we were also amply supplied with boats, which, I mayremark, were always kept in good order, and ready for instant use. Iwas surprised one day during a calm, before we had been long at sea, tohear the order given to lower boats when there was no ship in sight, andapparently no reason for it. So were those of the crew who had notbefore sailed with Captain Frankland. They, however, flew to obey theorder, and, in a short time, three boats were manned and in the water. They were then hoisted in again, and stowed. 

"Very well, " said the captain, holding his watch in his hand. "Smartlydone, my lads; but another time, I think, we may do it still quicker. "

Some of the men, of course, grumbled, as I have found out that somepeople will grumble when any new system is introduced, the object ofwhich they do not understand. The loudest grumbler at anything newintroduced on board was old Fleming the boatswain. He called himself aConservative, or, rather, a Tory, and strongly opposed all change. 

"None of your newfangled notions for me, " he used to observe; "I likethings as they were. Do you think our fathers would have all along beensatisfied with them if they hadn't been good? I look upon it asdisrespectful to their memory to wish to have them changed, as if wethought ourselves so much wiser and better than they were. "

Gerard and I were fond of going forward to the forecastle, where, infine weather, in an evening, he always took his seat with his pipe inhis mouth. 

"By the same rule it was wrong to introduce the compass or thesteam-engine; former generations had done very well without them; yethow should we, on a dark night, have managed to steer across the oceanas we do, or how could people manage to get about the world as rapidlyas they find necessary for their business or pleasure?"

Gerard thought that this remark would be a poser for the boatswain; butold Fleming was not so easily defeated. 

"As to the matter of the compass, do you see, that's what I call anexception to the general rule, " he answered, with a serious look. "Butas for the railways and steam-engines, and all those sort of thingsafloat or ashore, to my mind the world would be altogether much betterwithout them. It's necessary for sailors to go about, that's granted;but the rest of the world would be very much better staying at home andminding their own business. What I preach I practise; and when I leaveshome I says to my missus, says I, `Now mind, Molly, don't you be goinggadding about till I comes back to look after you;' and she'd no morethink of going outside the street-door, except when she goes to churchor a-marketing, than she'd try to fly, and that would be no easy matterfor her, seeing that she weighs thirteen stone at least. "

Such is a specimen of old Fleming's style of conversation. Gerard and Iused to be much amused while listening to him, though we did not fail tomake the most of his remarks while repeating them to the mates. JamesPincott the carpenter, on the contrary, was a great reformer. Noinvention was too new to suit his taste. Whenever he heard of anydiscovery, he could not be contented till he saw it introduced. Weoften tried to get the two together, and very soon managed to throw anapple of discord between them. Pincott occupied much of his thoughtsabout a flying-machine, which no failure had taught him to believe couldnot be made to work. 

"I'll tell you what, mate, there's just this difference between you andme in this matter, " I heard Fleming remark; "you says a flying-machinecan be made; so do I. You may make fifty flying-machines, or a hundred, or five hundred for that matter, all different, and with all sorts ofwheels, and cogs, and what not, which nobody can understand; but whenthey are made, what I have to ask you, mate, is, will they fly? It'sthere you and I differ. "

Having thus delivered himself, Fleming drew himself up with a triumphantlook at his adversary. Now, Pincott was a very quiet man with all hiseccentricities, so he merely answered--

"It will be enough for me if one can be made to fly. That's all I arguefor. "

"It never has been done yet, and, to my mind, never will, " answeredFleming, sturdily; "though I have heard of a man who made his son put ona pair of wings which he had fabricated, and shoved him off the top of ahigh wall, and when the lad, as was to be expected, reached the ground, he broke his leg. "

This was a story told of Pincott, who, however, on all occasions stoutlydenied that he was the culprit. Another story against Pincott was, thatwhen first iron vessels were introduced, he declared that it wasimpossible they could swim. "No, no, " it was said he said, "birds canfly, so I don't see why men shouldn't; but iron always has sunk, and, tomy mind, it always will sink. " Fleming, who told the story, used towind up with the remark, "But then you see, mate, there's no rulewithout an exception. " As these disputes never led to any disagreeableconsequences, they served to beguile away many a weary hour at sea. ButI have said enough to describe the character of our inferior officers. They were both thoroughly good seamen and steady men. 

We had hitherto had little else than sunshine and light winds, so thatmy introduction to a sea life was most favourable. Gloriously rose thesun over the blue sparkling waters, when, on coming on deck, I found theship steering south-west, and standing in for the Bay of Funchal in thelofty island of Madeira. On one side of us were the Desertas--rockswhich Gerard told me gravely were so-called because they had oncebelonged to the mainland, and were now making the best of their way offto Africa; but the doctor differed with him, and observed that theyobtained their name from being desert or barren rocks, especiallycompared with the fertile island near which they are placed. Lovely asis the interior of our dear old country, few parts of its shores areattractive; and as this was the first land we had made after leavinghome, it seemed doubly beautiful. It appeared, as it rose before us, like one vast mountain extending from east to west, with a bay in thecentre, and covered in the richest profusion with beautiful trees ofmany different sorts, among which, I afterwards found, are the cedar, chestnut, orange, lemon, fig, citron, the vine, the olive, the mulberry, banana, and pomegranate, while generous nature sprinkles with no lavishhand the myrtle, the geranium, the rose, and the violet in every openspace. The geranium especially grows in vast quantities; its scent ismost powerful, and the honey which we got in the island was stronglyflavoured with it. But I forgot; we are not on shore yet. How bright, and beautiful, and rich, and fertile, and romantic everything looked!What charming white-washed cottages! What lovely villas, surrounded bygardens filled with flowers of every hue! What a pretty town stretchingaway round the shores of the bay! How clean, and neat, and comfortableall the dwellings! and how grand the churches and public buildings. Gerard and I agreed that we should like to come back there some dayafter we had done our wanderings, and take up our abode for the rest ofour days. 

"Stay till you have been on shore and seen the inside as well as theoutside of things, " observed Cousin Silas, who had overheard us. Wethought he was in what we used to call one of his grumpy humours, anddid not heed him. We sailed on, and dropped our anchor opposite to thecity of Funchal. A health-boat came off, but as no one was sick onboard, the people in her did not trouble us much. When she went away, we were surrounded with other boats pulled by swarthy, muscular, littlemen with gay caps and sashes, and white shirt sleeves, who bawled, andhallooed, and jabbered, in the vain hope of making us comprehend whatthey said. We shouted and hallooed in return, as if each party weredeaf; and it was not till after a considerable expenditure of breath, that we discovered that we did not understand a word of each other'slanguage; so at last we took to making signs, by which means we got onmuch better. There was no great difficulty in this, as they had anabundance of fruit to sell, which we were equally anxious to buy. 

The captain had, I found, touched here chiefly to get a supply of fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, and water, as he knew that the health of a crewis maintained without difficulty when there is an abundance of thesenecessaries. He had also another reason for coming here. It was toobtain information, which the Portuguese authorities were able tosupply, regarding certain places he proposed visiting. As, however, thewhole plan of our proceedings was to be kept secret, I will not touch onthat subject. Gerard and I were all anxiety to go on shore, so thecaptain gave us leave to accompany Mr Brand, with strict charges to himto keep us out of mischief. "Not an easy job!" muttered Silas, preparing to accompany us into a boat. For the first time in my life Istood on foreign soil, and very soon I was undeceived as to thecleanliness, and comfort, and beauty of the habitations; and many ahouse which looked so very picturesque at a distance was found, on anearer inspection, to be a very dirty domicile. Still the views fromthem were beautiful. Nature has done everything; it is graceless manwho is in fault that all is not in accordance with it. At the corner ofone of the streets we saw a number of horses, and mules, and donkeys, standing together with their attendant drivers--_arrieros_. 

"Wouldn't you like a ride, Mr Brand?" exclaimed Gerard, looking towardsthem. He had not to look twice before the whole _posse commitatus_ ofmen and boys rushed forward, and seizing us _vi et armis_, carried usoff in triumph towards their sorry-looking beasts. Which party wouldhave us seemed a question. Who ever heard of sailors who didn't want toride? Ride we must; but as there were thirty or more beasts, and onlythree of us, it was difficult to say which of them should have thehonour of carrying us. The _arrieros_ got one of Cousin Silas's legsput on the back of a horse, and another on that of a mule, while alittle wicked donkey began kicking and plunging directly under him. Atlast he sprang on to the back of the horse, and Gerard and I foundourselves somehow or other on the saddles of two mules, when theirrespective owners, catching hold of their long tails, and giving them aprong with their iron-pointed sticks, away we started from out of thecrowd, who all hallooed and shouted after us, till we had shot some wayup one of the steep rocky heights over which the bridle-paths of theisland lead. "Arra burra--arra, arra, arra!" sung out the crowd. "Arra, arra, arra!" repeated our _arrieros_, goading the unfortunateanimals with their sticks--"Arra, sish, sish!" It is hopeless toimitate the sounds emitted by our drivers. Up we shot like pellets frompopguns, through the narrow rock-strewn gorges which are called roads. Up, up, up the animals scrambled. They seemed to enjoy the fun, or, perhaps, wiser than men, they felt a pleasure in performing their dailyduty. We, too, enjoyed the magnificent views we got over vineyards, andfields, and orange-groves, and olive-plantations, with often deepprecipices below us, and the blue sparkling sea in the distance. Wepassed several buildings, once convents and nunneries; but when theconstitutional government was established in Portugal, the monks wereturned out of their habitations to gain an honest livelihood as bestthey could, though the nuns were in some instances allowed to remain intheir abodes, on condition of their admitting no fresh novices. Thus, by this time the greater number of professed nuns are old women. Theyemploy themselves in fabricating artificial flowers of shells andfeathers, baskets and ornaments of various sorts, as well as in makingdried fruits and sweetmeats. As Cousin Silas observed, it might haveappeared hard to turn the poor monks adrift in the world; but as illweeds grow apace, it was necessary to eradicate them, lest a fresh cropshould spring up where they had for so long taken root. 

We dined with an English merchant, an old friend of Captain Frankland's, who treated us most sumptuously. He told us of a curious disease whichhad lately attacked the vines, and which he feared would ultimatelydestroy them. The grapes growing on the diseased vines, instead ofripening, wither up and rot. He said that he had urged the inhabitantsof the island not to depend solely on their vines, but to endeavour toproduce other articles for which their soil and climate was especiallysuited. Among other things he introduced the mulberry-tree, by thecultivation of which large numbers of the silk-worm might be bred, andsilk in great quantities exported. Under the present system, when thevines fail, as the people do not grow sufficient corn in the island fortheir support, they are at once reduced to a state of famine. But Imust not prolong my description of Madeira. It is a very lovely island, and has a very delicious climate, and produces all sorts of nice fruits;and though the inhabitants have rather a fancy for being dirty, theEnglish residents set them a better example, and have introducedcomforts and conveniences which make the country a very pleasant abode. The island is about thirty-seven miles in length by eleven in breadth, and contains perhaps 60, 000 inhabitants. 

Again sail was made on the ship, and away we glided over the smoothocean with a north-easterly breeze, passing within two miles of theisland of Palma, one of the Canaries, or Fortunate Islands, which belongto Spain. The appearance, as we eyed it from the ship, was mostattractive; but Silas, who had been on shore there, told us that throughthe misgovernment of the upper classes, and the slothfulness of thelower, the land does not produce nearly what it might be made to do, while the people remain in a poor and backward condition. Before sunsetthe same day we saw the island of Ferro, the most western of the group. Before the discovery of America, this was looked on as the extremewestern limits of the habitable world, and till very lately somenavigators calculated their first meridian from thence. There arethirteen islands in the group, which produce corn, silk, tobacco, sugar, and the wine which was so long known under their name. We caught abouthere the regular north-east trade-wind; away we went before it assteadily and majestically as a swan glides over his native lake. I hopeevery reader of my adventures will look at the map, and see whereaboutsthe places I mention are situated, or they will find some difficulty inclearly comprehending my descriptions. 

We had, I thought, been a long time at sea without meeting with anythingvery amusing. 

"I say, Jerry, when are we to fall in with all the wonderful adventuresyou told me of?" I asked one day, as we were walking the deck together. 

"You would meet with plenty of wonders if you would but keep your eyesopen to see them, " observed Cousin Silas, who overheard my observation. The reply, however, did not quite satisfy me; nothing like a gale or badweather had occurred, and I began to suspect that we had already had asample of the sort of life we were always to undergo at sea. 

"Hillo!" exclaimed Jerry soon after this, "what has come over the air, Iwonder? Why, we have got into a regular red fog. What has caused it, Mr Brand; can you tell me?"

"No, indeed, I cannot, " answered Silas. "I've met with it more thanonce. It is a very curious phenomenon. "

"They do say it comes off from the coast of Africa, " remarked Ben Yool, who was at the wheel, and from his age privileged to speak on such amatter. "It's full of red sand, and I've seen it covering the decks insome parts as if a man had been scraping a red holystone over them. "

We were still discussing the subject, when Captain Frankland came ondeck. He listened for some time to what we were saying. 

"I am glad to hear you discuss the subject, my lads, " he remarked in akind voice. "Though you are wrong in your conjectures, if you willattend, I will try and explain what I know about the matter. It is avery important one, for by means of this dust--for dust it is--whichfills the air, philosophers have been able to determine in part thedifficult problem of the track of the winds in their circuits. How isthis? you will say. Dust coming from one place surely cannot bedistinguishable from dust coming from another. To the ignorant man itis not, but to the man of science it is. There are certain minuteanimal productions called infusoria and organisms peculiar to eachportion of the globe. The expression is, the habitat of such infusoriais such or such a place. These infusoria can only be distinguished by amost powerful microscope. Professor Ehrenberg, who has devoted hisattention to the subject, has examined specimens of the dust which isnow falling on our decks. He found it composed of dry infusoria, theforms of which are found not on an African desert, but in the south-easttrade-wind regions of South America. "

"South America, father!" exclaimed Jerry, pointing with his hand to thesouth-west. "How can those clouds of red dust come all the way out herein the teeth of the north-east trade-wind?"

"What becomes of the north-east trade-wind when it reaches the end ofits journey, and where is that end think you, my boy?" asked CaptainFrankland. Jerry looked puzzled, and I had not a notion to give forthon the subject. "I will try and explain the matter; but when you canobtain a work, written by Lieutenant Maury, of the American navy, youwill comprehend the subject much better, " said Captain Frankland. "There are three calm regions or belts surrounding the globe--one underthe equator, and one in each hemisphere, under the tropics of Cancer andCapricorn, which you have heard spoken of as the horse latitudes. Between these two belts blow the north-east and south-east trade-winds, meeting at the equatorial belt. Now, when they get there, instead ofcausing a whirlwind, the excessive heat causes the particles of whichthey are composed to expand and rise, gradually producing a calm. Afterrising a certain height, they again commence moving round the globe. Which course they took it was difficult to say, till we find theseclouds of red dust carried along in an upper region of the atmospherefrom south-west to north-east; for not only are they found here, but upthe Mediterranean and across Switzerland. They are raised into theatmosphere probably by whirlwinds which occur during the vernal equinox, which is the dry season, from the valley of the lower Orinoco. Thus, had a label been attached to each particle of which the wind iscomposed, to show whence it came, the problem could not have been moreperfectly solved. "

While the captain was speaking, Mr McRitchie came on deck, andcollected in sheets of paper a quantity of the red dust. "It will beprized by some of my scientific friends at home, " he observed; "and eventhe unscientific may value a substance which has travelled half roundthe globe high up in the atmosphere. "

"There is another substance, doctor, which travels farther, and is ofmuch greater use to man; and yet how little he troubles his head toconsider where it comes from, " remarked the captain. 

"What do you mean, sir?" asked the doctor, a little puzzled I thought. 

"Water, " answered Captain Frankland. "Remember those dense fogs, likewet blankets, which so continually rise in those calm regions to thesouth of us; they are caused by vapours rising from the sea, and leavingits salt behind. This vapour must go somewhere, and it certainly doesnot fall in any place near the region where it is drawn up. See thebeautiful provision of Nature to supply with fertilising moisture themany districts of the earth! This damp vapour, of which we shallby-and-by have a specimen, rises into the upper regions of the air, andis there wafted steadily on till it reaches the northern portion of theglobe. It is raised by the powerful rays of the sun during the southernsummer, and with it a considerable amount of heat is carried off whichremains latent. When it reaches the far colder atmosphere of the north, it is formed into clouds, and condensed, and then precipitated in rain. In the southern hemisphere there is, as you know, a larger proportion ofsea than in that of the north; and thus it serves as a reservoir tosupply those spots which would otherwise be arid deserts, with anabundant supply of the chief necessary of life. The whole of nature isfull of similar beautiful arrangements for making the globe a convenienthabitation for man, clearly to be perceived if men would but open theireyes to behold them. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

THE WONDERS OF THE OCEAN. 

We were about a day's sail or so from the Cape de Verd Islands, when oneday, as I was looking out, I saw on the starboard-bow what I was certainwas a shoal of great extent covered with sea-weed. "Land on thestarboard-bow!" I sung out, thinking there could be no mistake aboutthe matter. I heard a loud laugh at my shoulder. Old Ben Yool stoodthere. 

"Well, if that is not land, I do not know what is!" I replied. Butstill Ben only laughed at me. I was arguing the point, when thecaptain, who was on deck, called me aft. I found him with a chart, which he was showing to Gerard. 

"You are not the first person, Harry, who has taken that collection ofsea-weed for land, " he observed. "That is the Sargasso Sea. When thecompanions of Columbus sighted it, they thought that it marked theextreme limits of the navigable ocean. We are at the southern edge ofit. Look at this chart; it extends in a triangular form between thegroups of the Azores, Canaries, and Cape de Verds. It is caused by theGulf Stream, which, circling round the Atlantic, sends off towards thecentre all the sea-weed and drift-wood collected in its course. Throwsome chips into that tub; now, set the water in motion with your hand. The current you have created sends off all the chips into the centre ofthe tub. You need never forget how this Sargasso Sea becomes coveredwith weed. But you will wish to know something about this wonderfulGulf Stream, which not only produces the effect I have described, butexerts a very powerful influence, on the climate of many countries, andon the navigation of the Atlantic, besides causing many other importantresults. It is, indeed, one of the most wonderful of all the phenomenaof the ocean. Consider it as a mighty river of warm water flowing forthree thousand miles with scarcely diminished volume, never dying, neveroverflowing, over a bottom and between banks of cold water. So littleaffinity have its waters with the common water of the ocean, and sodifferent is their colour, that a distinct line can often be tracedwhere they pass along. See where it takes its rise in the Gulf ofMexico, whence it is called the Gulf Stream. Now, mark its course, andnote its effects. Remember, that not only is it warm itself, but itwarms the air which passes over it. It likewise contains much more saltthan the common sea-water. The salt gives it its peculiar deepindigo-like colour. It runs at the rate of between three and five milesan hour. It is roof-shaped--that is, higher in the centre than oneither side. This is proved by placing a boat on either side of thecentre, when it drifts off towards the edge nearest to which it is castloose. Another peculiarity exists in connection with it. Waterradiates heat far more slowly than does the earth. If, therefore, theGulf Stream swept along the ground, it would speedily lose its heat. Toprevent this, it is made to pass over a cushion of cold water, intowhich its heat does not readily pass. When, however, its waters washany shores, they impart some of their heat to them, increasing thewarmth of the climate, adding fertility to the soil, and making it amore agreeable abode for man. Now, look at the chart, and observe wherethe mighty current leaves its reputed source in the Gulf of Mexico. Mark it sweeping round the coast of Florida, and glancing off to theeastward near Cape Hatteras, in the United States, allowing a belt ofcold water to wash the shores of that country during the winter monthsof the year. Watch it passing near the coast of Nova Scotia, and in thesummer, not far from that of Newfoundland, where it has undoubtedlycaused the formation of the well-known fishing-banks. This is the waythey have been produced. When the summer sun releases the innumerablemighty icebergs which have been formed on the shores of the polarregions, they float away to the south, carried by a current which setstowards Newfoundland. They bear away with them vast quantities of rock, and stones, and sand. Meeting the hot water of the Gulf Stream, theyquickly melt and deposit their burdens at the bottom, always about thesame spot which you see marked as the Grand Bank. Now the stream, taking an easterly course, reaches the 40th degree of north latitude, when it begins to spread itself over the colder water of the ocean, washing the shores of Ireland; some going up towards Spitzbergen, surrounding the Shetland Isles, and other isles in the north; morerushing up the British Channel; and another quantity flowing into theBay of Biscay, and away again towards the south--adding warmth to thewhole of the indented shores of Europe, and at the same time supplyingthe deficiency of salt to the waters flowing out of the Baltic and thePolar basin. "

"Thank you, father, " exclaimed Gerard; "I now understand why, when lastyear we made the voyage to New York, we kept away so far to thenorthward. It was to avoid the Gulf Stream, which would have beensetting against us. But I say, father, I want to know why the watertakes it into its head to flow in that way. I suppose there is somecause for it?"

"Our beneficent Maker undoubtedly formed it for the benefit of hiscreatures, " returned the captain; "but, as I have often told you, hebrings about his purposes by the laws or causes which he himself hasestablished. There may be several causes in operation to form thisocean-stream, though up to this moment learned men have been unable todecide what they are. Now one theory is advanced, now another. Theshape of the Gulf Stream may have something to do with it. It appearsthat it is higher than the rest of the surface, for it is more bulky. Water will always seek its level. It has thus a tendency to flowtowards the colder and lower water of the poles, feeling at the sametime the effect of the diurnal motion of the globe; while the water ofthe poles, to supply its place, flows towards the equator, subject tothe same disturbing cause. Thus the water of the globe is set inmotion. These being hot, tropical waters, remain on the surface, and aportion of them is forced into the Gulf of Mexico. Here, though theylose somewhat of their saltness from the fresh waters of the Mississippiand Orinoco, they gain more heat from these hot streams, and are stillmuch Salter than the rest of the ocean. Perhaps the impetus may begiven them by the pressure of the currents from the poles. The diurnalmotion of the globe will account for the drift-wood and sea-weed beingcast off on the east or left bank of the stream. There is another causefor this. From the stream being roof-shaped, any drift which its leftportion took up would have to go up hill to get to the northward. Therefore, though trees and other produce of the West Indies are foundon the shores of Europe, none are ever picked up on those of America. And this brings me to the point from which I set out--the cause of theSargasso Sea, the centre, it may be called, of this wondrous and almostinexplicable Gulf Stream. "

"But, father, still you have not told us why the Gulf Stream flows inthe direction it does, " said Gerard, who generally stuck to the point inan argument on which he wanted information. 

"Men possessed of far more scientific knowledge than I can boast of, have been puzzled to reply to that question, " returned the captain. "The trade-winds, the diurnal motion of the earth, the expansion ofwater by heat, may all combine to force it along and direct its course;and yet there may be some still more potent cause at work unperceived byus, perhaps undiscoverable. One thing we know, that it was the will ofthe Almighty that so it should flow, for a great and beneficent object;and that, to effect it, he has employed some potent and sufficientagent, which, when he thinks fit, he will allow to be revealed to us bythe light of that science which he has given as one of his best gifts toman. There are, as you perceive on the charts, other currents in thevast ocean, all set in movement for the sake of benefiting theinhabitants of the globe. While the warm Gulf Stream runs up toSpitzbergen, the Hudson's Bay and Arctic currents bring cold water andicebergs towards the south; and a current from the North Atlanticcarries its cooling waters round the arid shores of western Africa. There is the great equatorial current from east to west round the world, and numerous other currents in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, theinfluence of which we shall feel during our voyage; and by knowing whereto search for them, and where to avoid them, we can generally make themserviceable to our object. What I would especially point out to you, mylads, is the beautiful adaptation of all the works of the Creator to thegreat object of the whole. The air and water are kept in motion for thebenefit of man and all living beings. Order everywhere reigns supreme. Science shows us that storms are regulated by exact laws, and it is onlythrough our ignorance and blindness that we cannot tell whence theycome, and whither they go. What an admirable system of compensationexists throughout the universe! Heat, lost by radiation, is quicklyrestored; water, lifted up by evaporation, has its place supplied bycolder currents; mighty rivers discharge their waters in vast quantitiesinto the ocean, and from the far-off regions of the tropics the windscome loaded with dense vapours, which, precipitated at their sourceswith ample and regular measure, supply all their demands. I mightproduce numberless examples. As an instance, the whole volume of thewaters of the Mississippi, rushing out at its mouth, find their way backagain in an ever-constant circle to its sources among the far-off lakesof North America. The Gulf Stream fertilises the earth for the benefitof man, and it likewise carries food to regions frequented by the mightywhales. Frequently large shoals of sea-nettles, on which the blackwhale feeds, have been met with, borne onward towards its haunts in thenorth. The whale itself, it is believed, could not exist in the warmwaters of the stream. Fish, also, are not generally found in it; andthose which inhabit it are of a very inferior flavour. Instead, therefore, of wandering about the ocean, where they could not beprocured by man, they are driven to the shallow waters near the coast, where they can easily be caught. It is a curious fact, that the warmerthe water, the brighter are the colours of the fish which inhabit it;though, as food, they are generally of much less value. While the GulfStream largely benefits the globe, it is at the same time the proximatecause of shipwreck and disaster, from the storms which it creates, inconsequence of the irregularity of its temperature, and that of theneighbouring regions, both in air and water. Perhaps nowhere is a moreterrific sea found than when a heavy gale meets the Gulf Stream, whenrunning at its maximum rate. Many a ship has gone down beneath itswaters. However, I might go on all day telling you curious things aboutthis same Gulf Stream. One thing more I will mention: people oftencomplain of the dampness of England. The same cause which so favourablytempers the cold of our country, creates the dampness complained of. Itis not that our soil is more humid, that marshes exist, or that thecountry is not well drained; but it is that the westerly andnorth-westerly breezes which prevail, come loaded with the warm vapoursascending from the tropic heated waters of the Gulf Stream. "

"Thank you, father, for all you have told us, " said Gerard; "I think Ihave learned a great deal I did not know before. "

I was certain that I had, and directly afterwards put down, as well as Icould remember, all Captain Frankland had said. The next day we sightedSaint Vincent, one of the ten islands which form the Cape de Verd group, so-called from being off the Cape de Verds, on the coast of Africa. Theislands belong to the Portuguese. They produce all sorts of tropicalfruits and vegetables, so that ships often touch here to be suppliedwith them. A large number of the inhabitants are black, or of a verydark hue. Instead of standing directly for the Brazils, CaptainFrankland shaped a course almost across the Atlantic for the coast ofSouth America. He did this, he explained to Gerard and me, to get thewind, which generally blows off that coast when the north-east tradefailed us; and to avoid the equatorial calms, in which, away from theland, vessels are often baffled for days together. I found, after I hadbeen some time at sea, "That the longest way round is often the shortestway there, " as the saying is. In tropical latitudes, winds fromdifferent quarters blow with great regularity in different places atcertain seasons of the year. The great object of a master is, to findwhere the wind is blowing which will be fair for him. The two mostregular winds are the north-east and south-east trade-winds which blowfrom either side of the equator, and meet in a wide belt of calms foundunder it. There are currents in the air as well as in the ocean; andSilas told me that he has more than once passed ships at sea rightbefore the wind--steering north, for instance, while his ship, with anequally fair breeze, has been standing to the south. Formerly, shipsused to be steered as far south as they could get before thetrade-winds; and then often found themselves baffled for days, if notweeks together, in the calm latitudes off the coast of Africa, when, ifthey had stood boldly across the ocean, as we were now doing, they wouldnever have wanted a wind move or less fair. Thus it will be seen thatin navigation there are currents in the sea and currents in the air tobe considered, and that it requires a great deal of forethought, andknowledge, and experience, to take a ship in safety and with speed roundthe world. We were bowling along in grand style before the north-easttrade-wind, when Gerard stopped his father in his morning walk on deck. 

"I say, father, can you tell Harry and me all about this trade-wind, which we have got hold of it seems?" said he with a grave look, as if hewished to become very learned. 

"Which has got hold of us rather, I should say, by the way it iscarrying us along, " answered the captain, smiling. No one knew Jerry sowell as he did, though he often pretended not to understand at what hewas driving. "You ask a question to which it is rather difficult toreply in a brief way. Take a piece of paper; draw a circle on it; now, draw three parallel belts across it--one in the centre, and one on eachside of the centre. Write on the centre belt, `Equatorial Calms;' onthe upper, `Calms of Cancer;' on the lower, `Calms of Capricorn. ' Thecircle represents the globe; the ends of a line drawn at right angles tothe belts where it reaches the circle, mark the poles. The globe movesfrom west to east. Now, suppose a mass of air sent off from the northpole towards the equator in a straight line, it not partaking of thediurnal motion of the earth would appear as if it came from thenorth-east. Another mass starting from the equator towards the pole inconsequence of the impetus given it, would be going faster towards theeast than the earth, and would, consequently, appear as if it came fromthe south-west. This actually takes place, but in the upper regions ofthe air. The same exchange takes place between the south pole and theequator. Now, let us see what becomes of these masses. That whichstarted from the north pole meets in the air at about the parallel of 30degrees; the mass which started from the equator meeting with equalforce, they balance each other, and produce a calm and an accumulationof atmosphere pressing downward, and ejecting from below twosurface-currents--one towards the equator, which are the north-easttrade-winds; the other towards the pole, called the south-westpassage-winds. This moving mass of air, which constitutes thenorth-east trade-wind, meets near the equator with another mass whichhas been moving on as the south-east trade--meeting with equal force, they form a calm; and then, warmed by the heat of the sun, they ascend, one-half streaming off high up towards the south-east--that is, counterto the surface-current--till it reaches the southern calm belt; anothermass coming from the south-west, where it descends, and rushes as anorth-west surface-wind towards the south pole. We have traced the masswhich started from the north pole. Reaching the southern regions, it iswhirled round till, at the pole itself, a perfect calm is produced, whenit ascends and starts off as an upper current towards the equator; butmeeting another current near the tropic of Capricorn, then descends, one-half flowing out at the surface, as I have before described, as thesouth-east trade, the other towards the south pole. This is the mostbeautiful and regular system of atmospheric circulation kept up aroundour globe. It has not been ascertained exactly why the masses I havespoken of take certain directions, but we know the directions they dotake. The red dust we found off the Cape de Verds assists us in certaindegrees. We know some of the agents--the diurnal motion of the earth, and the sun's heating rays. There are certain counteracting ordisturbing causes from which the surface-winds deviate from the coursesI have described. Some lands are covered with forests, others withmarshes, others with sand. All these may be disturbing causes--so arelofty mountains. From these causes, and the more powerful effect of thesun's rays in one place than in another, hurricanes and typhoons occur, and the monsoons are made to blow--the harmattan on the west coast ofAfrica; the simoon, with its deadly breath, in Arabia; the oppressivesirocco in the Mediterranean. What I have said will explain thatbeautiful passage in Ecclesiastes, 1st chapter, 6th verse, which showsthe exactness of the sacred writers whenever they do introducescientific subjects: `The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth aboutunto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returnethagain according to his circuits. ' Who gave Solomon this information? Idoubt if any of his sages possessed that scientific knowledge which hasonly been attained by philosophers of late years. Perhaps I may stillmore clearly explain to you the cause of the circulation of theatmosphere. I told you that there were two agents at work--diurnalmotion, and the heat of the sun; but to these may be added the cold ofthe poles, which contracts the air. Suppose the globe at rest, andcovered with one uniform stagnant mass of atmosphere; suddenly heat, cold, and the diurnal motion commence their operations. The air aboutthe equator would expand, that about the poles contract. Thus twosystems of winds would commence to blow--one above, from the equatortowards the poles; and as thus a vacuum would be left below, a currentwould come from the poles to supply its place. The diurnal motionprevents these currents running in straight lines. That coming from thepoles will appear to have easting in them, and those going towards thepoles westing. Not only, however, is the level of the atmospherechanged by the heating rays of the sun, but its specific gravity. Thusthe heated current moves more easily and rapidly than the colder; andthe latter, consequently, turns back a portion of what was going towardsthe poles, and adjusts the equilibrium of the atmosphere. I havealready shown you the great importance of the circulation of the air inthe economy of nature; and how, among the many offices of theatmosphere, it distributes moisture over the surface of the earth, making the barren places fruitful, and tempering the climates ofdifferent latitudes, fitting them as the abode of civilised man. But Iwill not pursue the subject further just now. You must do that foryourselves. Try and remember what I have said, and think about itwhenever you have an opportunity. " Jerry and I thanked the captain forwhat he had told us, and I, as before, at once dotted it down as well asI could in my note-book. 

Crossing the Atlantic, we sighted a glittering white rock rising fiftyfeet out of the water. It was, I found, the Island of Saint Paul's. Ithad a curious appearance, standing thus alone in the ocean 500 milesfrom the coast of America, and 350 from the Island of Fernando Noronha--the snowy pinnacle of a submarine mountain. We hove-to close to it, anda boat being lowered, Mr McRitchie, Mr Brand, Jerry, and I, went onshore. The whole rock is not three-quarters of a mile in circumference. Its white colour, we found, was produced by a thin coating of asubstance formed by the washing off of the birds' dung, collected therein a succession of ages. The rock was covered with birds--my oldfriends, the booby and the noddy, I had so often read about. Theystared at us with a stupid look as we pulled up, not at all able to makeus out, and in no way disposed to make way for us. Gerard and I werefor knocking as many as we could on the head; but Cousin Silas would notallow us, observing that we did not want them for food, and that theyhad a far better right to the rock than we had. The booby, MrMcRitchie told us, is a species of gannet, and the noddy a species oftern. The first lays her eggs on the bare rock, but the latterconstructs a nest with sea-weed. While the doctor was eagerly huntingabout for specimens of natural history, we were amused by watching theproceedings of some of the few inhabitants of the rock. By the side ofseveral of the noddies' nests we saw a dead flying-fish, evidentlydeposited there by the male bird. Whenever we succeeded in driving awayany one of the females, instantly a big crab, which seemed to have beenwatching his opportunity from the crevices of the rocks, would rush out, and with greedy claws carry off the prey. One fellow, still morehungry, ran away with one of the young birds. Another was going to makea similar attempt. 

"I ought to stop that fellow, at all events!" said Jerry, giving MasterCrab a stunning blow. We tied his claws, and presented him as a trophyto the doctor. 

"A fine specimen of _Graspus_" cried our scientific friend, stowing himaway in his wallet. 

"A capital name!" said Jerry. "He seemed ready enough to grasp anythinghe could lay his claws on. "

The doctor said he could find neither a plant nor a lichen on theisland, and only a few insects and spiders, besides the boobies andnoddies. I ought to have mentioned that we did not fail to meet withthe moist and oppressive weather found under the belt of calms under theequator. Frequently I felt as if I could scarcely breathe, and nearlyeverybody was in low spirits and ready to grumble. Jerry and I vowedthat the air was abominable. Cousin Silas stopped us. 

"Remember, lads, " said he, "what the captain was telling you. If itwere not for them mists, how could the rivers of the north be suppliedwith their waters, and the fields of our own land be made fertile?Thank God rather that you are thus enabled to see more of the wonders ofcreation. "

I never forgot this remark of Cousin Silas. A delightful writer, nowwell-known, describing the subject, calls it "The Circle of Blessing. "[Mrs Alfred Gatty, in her "Parables from Nature. "]

Making sail, we soon lost sight of that white-topped rock. Soonafterward Gerard rushed down one morning at daybreak into our berth, and, rousing me up, told me I was wanted on deck. Half asleep, I jumpedup, and slipping my legs into my trousers--for no other garment wasrequired in that latitude--ran with him where he led me forward. I hadscarcely got my eyes open when I found myself seized by two shaggymonsters; and hearing the sound of a conch shell, I looked up, and sawbefore me, as if he had just come over the bows of the ship, astrange-looking personage, with a glittering crown on his head, a hugered nose, long streaming hair, and white whiskers as big as two mops. In his hand he held a trident, and over his shoulders was worn a mantlecovered with strange devices. 

"Trite!--where's Trite? Come along, Trite!" he exclaimed, in a gruffvoice--which sounded not altogether unlike that of old Ben Yool's--as helooked over the bows; and presently he handed up a lady of very ampledimensions, who certainly, except for a petticoat and a necklace ofshells, I should not have suspected to have belonged to the fair sex. 

"Oh, there you are, my lovie! We must be sharp about our work, for wehave so many ships to board that we haven't a moment to lose. Now, ifthere are any young shavers who hasn't crossed the middle of my kingdombefore, let them be brought up here in quarter less than no time, orI'll do--I'll do--I'll do what you shall see. "

This was said in a terrifically gruff voice. Before I had time to lookabout me, the two monsters had dragged me forward before his marinemajesty and his spouse; and one producing a huge cold tar brush, and theother a piece of rusty hoop, I found my face paid over with some mostodorous lather. I cried out to Jerry, who I thought, as a friend, oughtto help me; but he pretended to be in a dreadful fright, and when themonsters ran after him he managed to shove so violently against me thathe sent me head first into a large tub of water which stood at the feetof Neptune. I was, however, immediately hauled out by the shaggyTritons, and after a fresh application of lather, my face was scrapedover with the piece of hoop. 

"Douse him--douse the baby again!" shouted Neptune; and from the mode Iwas treated, I thought that I should have been nearly drowned, had notMrs Neptune, or rather Amphitrite, interfered in a voice which wasintended to be very affectionate, but which sounded as if the poor ladyhad a very sore throat, and begged that I might be allowed to return tomy cradle to sleep out the remainder of my watch. 

"Oh, good mother, your sex are always gentle and kind, " I answered, determining to jump with the humour of the thing, and to show that I hadnot lost my temper, although the ceremony I had gone through was farfrom pleasant. "Now, if you'll just leave one of your squires hereaboard, and he'll come aft by-and-by, I'll try if I can fish out afive-shilling piece from the bottom of my chest, to buy you and yourgood man some baccy and rum, to cheer you when you get back to your ownfireside. "

"Well spoken, like a true son of the Ocean!" exclaimed Neptune, pattingme on the back. "For that same notion you are free from henceforth andfor ever of my watery realms; seeing also as how you have been latheredand shaved and crossed the line. So here are three cheers for Mr HarryHopeton; and may he live to sail round the world, and to command as finea ship as this here craft--and finer, too!"

The crew, at Neptune's beck, on this gave three hearty cheers; and whilethe Tritons were chasing down some lads and two or three men, who hadnever before crossed the line, I made my escape towards a tub of cleanwater, and thence to my cabin, where I very soon removed all traces ofthe discipline I had gone through. By the time the captain appeared thewhole ceremony was at an end, and the men were employed in washing downdecks, as if nothing had occurred. It was the third mate's watch; and Ifound afterwards that Jerry, who was the chief instigator, had obtainedhis leave to have the ceremony take place. The captain, I daresay, alsoknew all about it, but said nothing on the subject. Once upon a timethe crew of every ship crossing the line considered it their right to beallowed full licence to indulge in all sorts of wild pranks; but thecustom got so much abused that many captains have put a stop to italtogether, while others only allow it among well-tried and trustycrews. I was not sorry to have had the tricks played on me, because itcontributed to gain me the good will of the people; and I now felt that, having crossed the line, I had a right to consider myself something of asailor. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

A TRIP UP THE AMAZON. 

Two days after crossing the line we sighted the island of FernandoNoronha, which, with several outlying islets, is a very picturesquespot. It belongs to the empire of the Brazils, and is used as a penalsettlement. As Captain Frankland wished to touch at every place not outof his way, we dropped anchor in Citadel Bay, opposite a fort on whichthe Brazilian colours were flying. A boat was lowered, and though someheavy rollers were setting into the bay, we managed to get on shore onthe top of one of them without getting wet--that is to say, the captain, Gerard, and I. It was really a pretty sight. We pulled on steadily, with the head of the boat directed on shore; then a high, heaving, glassy wave came gliding in, and the boat was on its summit; now the menpulled away with all their might, and on we flew till the boat's keeltouched the beach. Quickly the waters receded. The instant they did sowe all jumped out, and hauling the boat up before another roller camein, she was high and dry out of harm's way. A guard of blacks receivedus; and hearing that the town was only about a mile and a half distant, we set off to walk there. We passed through a pretty valley, and somewoods of tropical shrubs, with the blue sea visible beneath their broad, fan-like leaves, and by many huts and cottages, inhabited mostly byblacks, who seemed very much astonished at our appearance. At last wereached the town, which has an open space in the centre, and a churchand the governor's house at one end, and a strong fort above it. Herenearly all the soldiers and free men are blacks, while the whites aremostly slaves, made so by their crimes. It must be rather asatisfactory state of things to the feelings of the blacks. Thegovernor of this place--of a hundred houses or so--received us verycivilly, and gave the captain all the information he required; and, besides that, a good supply of vegetables, which the island produces inabundance. 

On leaving Fernando Noronha we steered for Pernambuco--perhaps, next toRio, the port of the greatest importance in the Brazils. On going intothe harbour with a strong breeze blowing, the pilot from grosscarelessness gave the _Triton_ so hard a blow against a rook that anugly hole was knocked in her bottom. It seemed for a moment that themasts would have gone by the board; but the ship, bounding off the rock, glided on as if nothing had happened. It was a great trial for thetemper of Captain Frankland; but he uttered scarcely a word of reproofto the pilot, and as to an oath, I never heard an expression evenapproaching one pass from his lips all the time I was with him. Thecrew were all at their stations, and none stirred from them till thecaptain ordered the carpenter to sound the well. He quickly reportedthat there were three feet of water in the well, and that it was rushingin at a great rate. All hands on board not absolutely required toshorten sail were ordered to man the pumps, and the _Triton_ was carriedin as close to the town as possible, so that she might immediately beput on shore should there be danger of her sinking. On a furtherexamination of the damage the ship had received, it was found that itwould be absolutely necessary to land part of her cargo and to put heron shore before it could be repaired. It was late in the day beforethis was determined on, so that nothing could be done that afternoon. All night long the sound of the pumps going continuously kept me awaketill towards morning, when I still heard them in my sleep. A gang ofnegroes had been brought off to work them in relays, so that the crewwere saved the fatigue which they would otherwise have undergone. I wasvery glad the next morning when I found the ship hauled close in-shoreto a place where, if she did sink, she could not go far, or drown thoseon board. Captain Frankland found that it would take a considerabletime to get the damage repaired, as it was even of a more serious naturethan at first supposed. He bore the annoyance with his usual calmtemper. I have often thought what a valuable possession is a calmtemper, and how worthy of being cultivated. 

The ship was consigned to an English firm--Messrs. Gleg and Robarts--whorendered us every assistance in their power. Mr Robarts was on thepoint of starting in a fast-sailing schooner on a trip along the coastto the northward and west, as far as the mouth of the mighty riverAmazon. He invited Gerard and me, with Mr McRitchie, to accompanyhim--not the last excursion of the sort we were destined to make. As heundertook to be back before the ship could be ready for sea, thecaptain, glad that we should see as much of the country as possible, allowed us to go. I was amused at hearing the doctor charge the crewnot to fall sick, or tumble down and break their arms or legs, till hisreturn, at the risk of his high displeasure. The schooner--the_Andorinha_--was built and manned by Portuguese, or rather Braziliansand blacks. She was a very pretty little vessel, and a first-ratesea-boat; indeed, the Portuguese models of vessels often used to put toshame the crafts of the same class built in England. However, of lateyears we have made a great stride in that respect. I speak of thePortuguese, because the Brazils, it must be remembered, was colonisedfrom Portugal, and the greater part of the white inhabitants--if theycan be called white by courtesy--are of that nation originally. I amsorry to say that I lost my notes made on this trip, so that I am unableto describe it with the minuteness of the rest of my narrative. 

Mr Robarts was a very merry, kind person, and we spent a very pleasantlife on board the little _Andorinha_. We put into several of the largerivers, as the object of Mr Robarts was to collect some of the wildestproductions of the country from the natives inhabiting their banks. When, we entered the Amazon, I could scarcely believe that we were in ariver, so wide and grand is the stream. The colour of the water, however, showed us that it was really a river we were in. We had goneup for some considerable distance, a strong breeze enabling us to battlewith the current, when at length we came to an anchor near the shore. About a hundred and fifty miles up is the Brazilian town of Para--acomplete sea-port, though not equal in size to Pernambuco. We, however, having a favourable breeze, went much further up the main stream, andthen turned into one of the numerous rivers which fall into it. HereMr Robarts expected to remain some little time to trade with thenatives. I had been below, when, on returning on deck, I heard Gerardlaughing heartily, and pointing to a boat which was proceeding up thestream. In the fore-part was a thatched shed, on either side of whichsat four natives paddling. In the after-part was another shed of bambooand grass, under which sat the passengers. On the top of all was thehelmsman--a naked savage, lying his full length, and steering with hisfeet, under a sun which would quickly have cooked a beef-steak exposedto it. Mr Robarts told us that the boat or canoe was called anegaritea, and that it was the canoe usually employed for the conveyanceof travellers on the Amazon. Again we laughed at the helmsman, whoseemed perfectly unconcerned, as, holding on to the bamboo roof with onehand, he rested his black head on the other, just high enough to let himlook about in every direction. Mr Robarts could not leave theschooner; but as Mr McRitchie and we were very anxious to see as muchof the interior of this wonderful country as possible, we arranged to goup in an egaritea as far as time would allow. Mr Robarts allowed us totake a half-caste native, who had served on board a British ship andspoke a little English, as our interpreter. He was called Pedro, but hehad a much longer Indian name, which I do not remember. Away westarted, in high glee, with blankets, a supply of provisions, and a fewcooking utensils, with plates, cups, knives, and forks. We could nothelp laughing whenever we thought of our araies, or chief boatman, lyingat his length above us, steering with his feet. This mode of travellingwe found very comfortable--almost too luxurious for our tastes--andtolerably expeditious. I should say that we all had our guns, and thatMcRitchie had, besides, his sketch-book, and boxes and cases forcollecting subjects of natural history. The difficulty in this regionwas to know what to select. The water abounded with all sorts ofstrange fish, and turtles and alligators innumerable. I must say, whenI first saw one of these hideous monsters, I felt an awe creeping overme, though the natives did not seem to care a bit about them. We hadgot to the end of our voyage in the egaritea, and arranged to hire alight open canoe, with two men as rowers, in which we could proceed upsome of the smaller rivers. Nothing could surpass the luxuriance of thefoliage, which not only lined their banks, but extended a long wayinland, strange birds of all sizes, from the diminutive humming-bird toothers of immense bulk, of the most gorgeous plumage, flew about amongthe trees; while, as we paddled along, we heard the most curiouschatterings, and now and then, if we remained quiet for a few minutes, we could see hundreds of little black and brown and yellow faces, withbright eyes peering at us from among the boughs. The slightest movementor noise made by us would send them scampering off along the branches, or rather swinging themselves by hands and tails from bough to bough, orfrom creeper to creeper, that being their favourite mode of locomotion. They were clean, nice, respectable-looking little fellows, quite unlikemonkeys cooped up in menageries, or even in the Zoological Gardens, andseemed to lead very happy and joyous lives. Gerard declared that if hewas not a human being really, the next best state of existence he shoulddesire would be that of a monkey on the banks of the Amazon. We werenot aware at the time of certain facts, which afterwards came to ourknowledge, which might detract somewhat from the desirability of theexistence; among others, that the natives shoot and eat the poor littlefellows with as little compunction as we should young pigs or fowls. 

We were paddling along, admiring the wonderful foliage--one forestseeming, as it were, to rise up out of the top of another, the lowestbeing higher and thicker than any forest in northern regions--whensuddenly a huge black monster was seen swimming rapidly towards us. 

"An alligator!" exclaimed McRitchie. "He'll make mince-meat of us in amoment. My gun--quick, quick!"

I was handing him his gun when one of our native boatmen, laughing atour fright, made signs that there was no danger, and seizing a piece ofdrift-wood floating by, adroitly threw it across its mouth. The vastjaw of the monster came crashing down on it. There they stuck, and thenative assured us, through Pedro, that he was now quite harmless. McRitchie took a steady aim at the creature's eye, while a native stoodready with a coil of ropes to throw over it directly it was killed, orit would have sunk, I fancy, out of sight in an instant. McRitchie'sbullet took immediate effect, and we soon had the creature hauled up onthe nearest bank, where our medico had the opportunity of anatomicallyexamining him at his leisure. While he was thus employed, Gerard and Iagreed that it would be a good opportunity to prepare dinner, assistedby Pedro. The natives preferred sleeping in their canoe. While we wereengaged over our fish, I on a sudden looked up, and saw a huge animal ofthe tiger species stealing catlike towards the doctor, attractedprobably by the carcass of the alligator. The creature seemed at thatmoment about to make its fatal spring. I had my gun providentially bymy side. I shrieked out to the doctor to be on his guard, and at thesame moment raised my weapon to my shoulder to fire. He had the largeknife with which he had been cutting up the alligator in his hand. Resting on my knee, I fired, and though I did not flatter myself that Iwas a good shot, happily hit the animal on the head. He fell backwards, stunned but not dead; and the doctor, rushing forward with his knife, deprived the creature of existence, thanking me in the same breath forthe service I had rendered him. 

"Come, we are meeting with adventures now, I do think, indeed!"exclaimed Jerry, as we sat round our repast, after the enthusiasticdoctor had cut up the tiger. "Hurrah! it's great fun. "

Soon after embarking to proceed on our voyage, we looked into a curiouslittle nook under the trees, where, in the centre of the stream, lay acanoe with two people, a man and his wife, in it. They were notover-encumbered with garments, but the man had some curious featherornaments on his arms. At first they seemed inclined to paddle away, but a shout from one of our canoemen brought them alongside, and fromthe affectionate greeting which was exchanged between the parties wefound that they were relations, or at all events great friends. Pedroinformed us that they invited us to their dwelling. We were delightedto accept the invitation, as we particularly wished to see the way oflife of the aborigines. We paddled on some little distance, when ournew friends, leading the way pushed in among the tall reeds till wefound ourselves close to some long poles with a platform on the top anda ladder leading to it. We followed them up the ladder, when we foundourselves in a sort of hut, thickly thatched over with palm-leaves. Looking out, we saw several similar habitations. It seemed somethinglike living up in trees. We concluded that the object the natives hadin view in placing their habitations in such positions was to avoid thefloods, as also snakes and crawling creatures, and the noxious air whichfloats close to the surface. All the natives' houses are not built inthis way, for when we went further inland we met with several standingonly a short distance from the ground--on some more elevated spot. Thenatives are not very pleasant companions, as they anoint their bodiesall over with oil, which gives anything but a notion that they indulgein cleanliness. Jerry, however, observed that it was probably nothingwhen people got accustomed to it, and that as oil was a clean thing, they might be more cleanly than people who wear dirty clothes and neverwash. Even these people do wash their children; and we were highlyamused in the morning on seeing a mother giving her little black-headedpapoose a bath. The bath was a big tub made out of the hollowedseed-lobe of a species of palm. The fat little creature splashed aboutand seemed to enjoy the bath amazingly. After this we agreed that thenatives had a good reason for anointing their bodies with oil, and thatthey were not naturally a dirty people. With Pedro, who carried thedoctor's cases, and one of the natives as a guide, we made from thence along excursion inland. We were all together when Pedro stopped us. "There is something curious up in the trees, " he observed. We peeredthrough the branches, and a little way off saw two men--negroes theyseemed--seated at some distance from each other on the boughs ofdifferent trees, perfectly motionless. Each of them had a tube at hismouth about twelve feet long, and very slender. The mouthpiece wasthick--a short cylinder apparently--as the doctor told us, a receptaclefor wind. The weapon or instrument, he said, was a sarbacan. Numerousbeautiful birds were flying about in the neighbourhood, some of them themost diminutive humming-birds. Soon as we looked down fell one, thenanother and another. They were shot with little darts of hard woodpointed at one end, and twisted round with wadding at the other toprevent the wind escaping. Jerry said that at school he had often madesimilar weapons on a small scale, and had killed insects with them. After the sportsmen had shot off all their arrows they came down fromtheir perches to collect their game. We found that they were employedby some naturalists at Para, and that the birds were wanted either forstuffing or for the sake of their feathers. We saw several snakes as wecontinued our walk, and I must own that I felt very uncomfortable whenthey appeared hanging from the boughs of the trees or crawling alongamong the thick grass. Many of them were perfectly harmless, butothers, we were told, were fearfully venomous. Once we very narrowlyescaped a rattlesnake which appeared close to us, but Providence hasordered it that most of these creatures should be more afraid of manthan man need be of them, and they make off rapidly at his approach. If, however, they are trodden on, or are disturbed waiting for theirprey, they become savage, and revenge themselves on the intruders. Inmost instances, the only chance of saving the life of a person bitten isat once to suck the wound. 

At length it was time for us to go back to the egaritea, that we mightreturn to the schooner. We found, on rejoining the passenger canoe, that she would not be ready to start till the next morning. We weredoubting what to do with ourselves in the meantime, when Pedro informedus that he had heard of some amusing sport to take place that night, andthat he could obtain leave for us to join in it if we wished. A partyof natives were going a little way down the river to a sandbank on whichturtles wore accustomed, at this season of the year, to come on shore inorder to deposit their eggs. The natives hide themselves near the spot, and as soon as the unsuspecting turtles have performed the operation, they rush out and turn as many as they can catch on their backs. Therethey lie helpless till they are dispatched by the hungry aborigines. Westarted in our own canoe, in company with twenty or thirty others, latein the evening. On reaching the neighbourhood of the sandbank all thecanoes put to shore, and were drawn up on the beach. The natives, oneacting as a leader, whom we followed close after, proceeded along insingle file till a number of bushes and trees close to the bank wasreached. Behind these the party were soon concealed. It was a greattrial of patience waiting for the turtle. I thought at last that theywould not appear, and regretted having lost our night's rest fornothing. At last, however, a low whistle from our leader aroused theattention of the whole party, and a number of black objects were seenmoving over the white sands, till the bank seemed literally covered withthem. They remained for some time scraping holes in the sand, and, as Isupposed, depositing their eggs in them; then, at a sign from ourcopper-coloured leader, out rushed all the savages, and getting betweenthe water and the turtle began turning them over with wonderfulrapidity. Jerry and I tried our hands at the sport, but while we turnedone turtle a native would turn a dozen, and would rush into the waterafter those that had escaped, and frequently bring them back. At lengthall the turtle had escaped or been killed, or had rather been turned ontheir backs, where they lay utterly unable to move. The natives nowselected five or six, and carrying them to an open place inland wherethe squaws had already lighted a fire, hero they cut the flesh out ofthe shell and immediately began cooking it in a variety of ways, and assoon as it was cooked tossing it down their throats. They all ate tillthey were gorged, and then went fast asleep round their fires, forgetfulof tigers or rattlesnakes or other wild creatures. I should think atiger must occasionally carry some of them off when they are in thatstate, unless the wild beasts prefer the turtles, which I rather fancythey do. We selected four turtle, and filled a basket with a quantityof the round soft eggs, and then paddled back to our egaritea. 

Soon after it was daylight we started on our passage down the river, which, as we had a strong current in our favour, was very quicklyperformed. The _Andorinha_ was just ready to sail, and as we had a fairbreeze, we did not stop at Para, but proceeded at once to sea. 

I have narrated the chief incidents of our expedition. By-the-by, thedoctor took a capital sketch of one of the tree habitations, literallyperched among the branches. He had to climb a tree to take it, an easymatter in those parts, considering the immense number of tendrils toassist a person in the operation. A big monkey was sitting on aneighbouring bough, and did not observe us, as we were hid by the thickfoliage. I have introduced the sketch at the end of the chapter. 

We had a favourable voyage back to Pernambuco, where we found therepairs of the _Triton_ just completed. Captain Frankland was of coursevery anxious not to lose a day after this was done, so as soon as thecargo could be restowed we bade farewell to Mr Robarts and our otherkind friends, and with a light wind stood out of the harbour. Ourdestination was Rio de Janeiro, the capital of the Brazils. I shall notforget the magnificent sight which met my eyes, as one bright afternoonwe glided through a narrow entrance into its superb harbour. Weappeared to be sailing up a large lake, extending as far inland as theeye could reach, and surrounded with lofty mountains of many differentand picturesque shapes. On either side were walls of granite, risingsheer out of the water to a height of nearly 2000 feet, while behindthem rose the vast Sugar-loaf Mountain, and a number of other lofty andbarren peaks towering up clear and defined against the blue sky. Likemighty giants they surround the harbour, the ground at their basessloping towards the water, and sprinkled with pretty villages, andquintas, and orange-groves, and covered with the most luxuriantvegetation. A picturesque fort guards the entrance to the bay. Passingit, after sailing about four miles, we dropped our anchor among a crowdof vessels carrying the ensigns of nearly all the civilised nations ofthe world, before the city of Rio, which, built on a flat extending twomiles from the hills, appeared on our left hand. As our stay was to beshort, the captain allowed Gerard and me to accompany the doctor onshore at once. He himself went with us, and introduced us to amerchant, who kindly undertook to show us about the place. 

"There, go and see all you can, and give me an account of what you haveseen when you return on board, " were his parting words. 

Rio, with its superb harbour, as seen from the heights above it, is apicturesque city, as I think the drawing I brought home and now givewill prove. It is built upon piles--that is, the lower part--and as thedrainage is bad, it is at times very unhealthy. On landing, we foundourselves on a large open space with a palace before us, and a fountainin front of it. Before the palace stood two negro soldiers as a guard. The army, our friend told us, is composed chiefly of negroes, who makevery good soldiers; and the navy is manned by them. Acting withEnglishmen, many of whom are in the Brazilian navy, they are as bravoand trustworthy as any men to be found. Off the square branched anumber of narrow streets. As the climate is so hot, all the streets aremade narrow, that they may be kept as much as possible in shade. Thehouses are mostly of good size, and the walls are very thick; they thuskeep out the heat of the sun. The churches are also substantiallybuilt, and decorated in a very florid style--the interiors being tawdryin the extreme, calculated only to please the uncultivated taste of thenegroes and of the lower order of whites. Railways have been formed inthe Brazils, and one runs to Petropolis, a summer resort of theprincipal inhabitants. Omnibuses, too, have made their appearance. Thestreets are paved with fine blocks of stone, and the city is lightedwith gas; indeed, as our friend observed, "under the liberal governmentof the present constitutional emperor the country has made greatmaterial progress. When her literally unbounded resources aredeveloped, the Brazils cannot fail, unless her constitution isoverthrown, of becoming a wealthy and happy nation. At present, herwretched parody of the pure religion of Christians, and her lazy, profligate, and ignorant priests, tend more than anything else to retardher progress. Vile as they are, they have been unable to prevent thefree circulation of the Scriptures and the toleration of Protestantopinions. "

We were struck by the immense number of negroes who crowd the streets. Those born in Africa are known by the distinguishing marks of theirtribes on their foreheads. Many of them are free. A negro in Rio maydemand his valuation from a magistrate, and when he can make up thefixed sum he can purchase his freedom. Slaves are generally treatedkindly by their masters, and as their price is high, on account of theimpediments thrown in the way of the slave trade, their health iscarefully looked after. The porters are all slaves. They pay theirowners so much a day, and keep the rest of what they gain forthemselves. They carry everything on their heads. We sometimes met adozen grunting or singing in time, as they stooped under some hugemachine borne aloft above them. They lie about the streets with theirbaskets, ready for anybody's call. We thought the Brazilians a veryquiet and most polite people. They were continually bowing to eachother, and there was none of that bustling roughness so often seen inEngland. We met the emperor on horseback in plain clothes, though hisattendants were in handsome uniforms. He was a fine intelligent-lookingyoung man, and is much liked. The Brazilian government is liberal. Both Houses of Parliament are elected by the people; and if there is amajority of three-fourths in favour of a measure in the Lower House, themeasure is virtually carried, whatever the vote of the Upper. If theSenate, or Upper House, do not agree, the two meet in convention; and asthe number of the Senate is small compared to that of the Lower House, it can thus always be outvoted. The vote of the emperor can suspend alaw for a year; but if, at the end of that time, it be again passed bythe Legislature, it takes effect. In reality, the government is arepublic, the emperor being the executive, though deprived oflegislative power. 

We passed in our walk a house out of which a funeral procession wascoming. It was that of a young lad of our own age, we were told. Thatand the neighbouring houses were hung with blue cloth. The hearse andliveries of the servants, and the trappings of the horses, were of thesame colour. His hands were crossed before him with a cup in them. Thedecorations at the funerals of young children are red, those only ofgrown-up people are black. If boys are named after any of the saints, they are dressed in appropriate costumes. If after Saint John, a pen isplaced in one hand and a book in the other. If after Saint Francis orSaint Anthony, he has a monk's gown and cowl. Sometimes a boy is calledafter the archangel Michael, and then he wears a gilt pasteboard helmet, a tunic with a belt round the waist, tight red boots, and his handresting on a sword. Poor little girls, with rouge and false locks, aremade to represent Madonnas and female saints. Jerry and I agreed thatwe should not like to be rigged out in that guise after we were dead. 

Rio is supplied with water by an aqueduct which comes from far up amongthe mountains, its chief source being a romantic and forest-surroundedspot, called the "Mother of Waters. " The actual channel which conveyssufficient water to supply so large a city as Rio is only nine incheswide and nine and a half deep. The precious fluid, however, comesrushing down with great rapidity, and thus quickly fills all thereservoirs below. It is conveyed from its mountain-source sometimesacross valleys on high massive arches, sometimes in the interior of athick wall-like structure, and sometimes underground. The channel hasfor its whole length an arch above it of sufficient height and width toenable a man to walk upright along it. Altogether, we agreed that Rioif it were not for the slaves and the monks, and the want of drains, would be a very civilised city. Never did sight-seers get over theground faster than we did, or make better use of their eyes. I ought tohave mentioned that steamers ply in various directions in the harbour ofRio. Our friend proposed a trip up the country, which would last duringthe few days we had to spare. We started in one of the smallest of thesteamers, and went up the River Macacu. One thing struck us--a boatladen with slaves, which had been landed on the opposite shore, and werebeing smuggled into the city. We went on shore at the small town ofPorto Sampaio, and thence on mule back about fifteen miles, to thecountry-house of a Brazilian gentleman, our friend's friend. We fourhad a room to ourselves--a large, roughly built apartment. Scarcelywere we all in bed, and the light out, when, just as I had droppedasleep, down came something on my nose. I started up, and thereappeared to be a tremendous clattering and pattering about the room. 

"I say, Harry, what are you heaving at me?" sung out Jerry, springing upalso. 

"Rather, what are you throwing at me?" I retorted. 

"Hillo! what's the matter?" cried the doctor; "I felt something softslip through my fingers--animals of some sort--what can they be?"

"Only rats!" said our friend, awoke by our exclamations. "I know theyare somewhat numerous in this house. "

We all sat up, and began shouting and striking right and left; but therats did not mind us a bit. At last the doctor lighted a lucifer match, and away scampered at least a hundred rats into the holes from whencethey had come out. We thought that we were to have rest, but as soon asdarkness and silence were restored, out they all came again, and made asmuch hubbub as before. Jerry and I kept knocking about us to littlepurpose, till we both fell back asleep; and all night long I dreamedthat I was fighting with a host of black men on the coast of Africa. When the morning broke, they scampered away like so many evil spirits, leaving their marks, however, behind them. They had committed no littlemischief also. They had gnawed through our friend's shoes and thedoctor's leather cigar-case; they had carried off Jerry's leatherbraces--the remains of which were found near one of the holes--and thefront strap of my cap. We all had suffered, but, as Jerry remarked, asthey had left us our noses and toes it did not much signify. Theyinfest the country in all directions, we were told. 

The estate we were on produced chiefly sugar. The milk by which thecanes are crushed consisted of three vertical wooden rollers worked bymules. The most interesting subject connected with our trip was thecultivation and preparation of the mandioca. The chief produce iscalled farinha: the slaves are fed almost entirely on it. A field ofmandioca, when ripe, looks something like a nursery of young plants. Each plant grows by itself, with a few palmated leaves only at the top. The stem is about an inch in diameter at the base, and six or seven feetlong. A bud appears at nearly every inch of the otherwise smooth stem. These plants give forth tubers of irregular shape, in substance like aparsnip, about six inches long and four thick. The tubers, after beingscraped and rinsed, are ground, or rather grated against a wheel with abrass grater as a tire. One slave turns the wheel, and another pressesthe root against it. The pulp is then put into bags and pressed. Thematter, which resembles cheese-cake in consistence, is then rubbedthrough a wire sieve and thrown into shallow copper pans moderatelyheated. After being stirred up, it quickly dries, and the produce isnot unlike oatmeal. The juice pressed out is very poisonous by itself. It is, however, collected in pans, when a beautifully white substance isprecipitated to the bottom. This substance is tapioca, so largely usedin puddings at home. To plant a field of mandioca, the stems of the oldplants are cut into bits about four inches long, and stuck in theground. They quickly take root, and, sending forth shoots from thebuds, are in two years fit again to dig up. The mandioca is calledcassava in some countries. The press used by the Indians is a simpleand most ingenious contrivance. It is made by the Indians wherever theplant is grown. It is a basket made of fine split cane loosely plaited;in shape, a tube five feet long and five inches in diameter at themouth, and narrowing somewhat at the bottom. A strong loop is left ateach end. To use it, first it is wetted, and then a man holding themouth presses the other end against the ground till it is half itsformer height. A long smooth stick is now inserted down the middle, andthe pulp is packed tightly round it till the basket is full. It is thenhung to a beam or branch of a tree by a loop at the mouth, while a heavyweight is attached to one at the bottom, till the basket has assumed itsoriginal tube-like form and length, and the whole of the liquid has beenpressed out of the mass of mandioca. 

One of the most curious features in a Brazilian forest is the vegetablecordage, or _sipos_, which hang down from every branch, like slack ropesfrom the rigging of a ship. Jerry and I several times could not resisthaving a good swing on them, while the doctor was hunting about for hisspecimens. Their roots are in the ground. They climb up a tree, thenhang over a branch and descend, and often twist upward again by theirown stem, to descend more than once again to the ground. We were shownthe nests of some diminutive bees. The nests are not so large as aturkey's egg, while the bodies of the bees are but little thicker thanthe bodies of mosquitoes. The comb is of a dark brown colour, and theconstruction of the nest is somewhat like that of ants. The onlyentrance is a small hole, at the mouth of which they construct a tubeturning upwards. This is regularly closed up at night, so that no dampcan enter, and it is never opened till the sun has been some time up. The bees have no stings, but they are very brave, and will drive awaythe ordinary bee from their hives. A sketch which the doctor took, andfinished up afterwards on board, will afford a better idea of thevegetation of a Brazilian forest than any verbal account I can give. 

I might go on indeed for hours describing all the wonders we saw duringour short trip. Our last excursion was to the Corcovado Mountains, whence we looked down on the blue waters of the superb harbour of Rio, surrounded by sandy beaches and numerous snow-white buildings, peepingfrom amid the delicate green foliage which covers the bases of theneighbouring mountains, and creeps up almost to their summits; while themountains are on every side broken into craggy and castellated peaks ofevery varied shape; the whole forming a not easily forgotten panorama. Once more we were on board and under weigh. The bay, as we sailed out, was full of vessels; but the flag of Old England was not, as I shouldhave supposed, among the most numerous. With a fair wind we passed outof the harbour, and stood along the coast to the southward. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

ADVENTURES IN THE FALKLANDS. 

The reason, I believe, why sailors in a well-regulated ship aregenerally so happy, is, that they are never allowed to have an idlemoment. Mr Renshaw was always finding something for the people to do;and when that work was finished, there was something else of equalimportance to be done. The picture our deck presented on one day willserve for that seen on most days in fine weather: on one side thespun-yarn winches were going, manufacturing spun-yarn out of old junk--anever-ending source of employment; Mr Pincott and his mates were busilyat work building a boat on the other; the sail-maker and his gang wererepairing some of the sails, and making light ones for the gentlebreezes of the Pacific; while Fleming and his crew were laying up rope, and the rest of the watch were knotting yarns, making sinnet, wad-bags, wads, chafing gear of all descriptions, such as worming, parcelling, roundings, spun-yarn, rope-yarn, marline, seizing, stuffs, and serviceof all kinds; the names of which things alone are, I suspect, sufficientto puzzle a landsman, so I will say no more about them. Aft wereCaptain Frankland, with one of the mates and Gerard and I, takingobservations of the sun, --an employment in which, as I began tounderstand it, I felt great interest. It struck me that, as far as Isaw, Captain Frankland took very little concern about the ship. Heseldom spoke a word to any of the crew, and only occasionally on pointsof duty while on deck, to the mates. I soon found, however, that no mancould more effectually exert himself, when his exertions were required. Hitherto there had been nothing to call forth his energies. With lightwinds and calm seas, he had better employment in his cabin. That veryday a change came over the even tenor of our lives; scarcely were oursextants stowed away, when, as the captain was walking the deck, I sawhim frequently turn his glance to the westward. There, over the land, in a moment it seemed, arose a bank of clouds, which every instant grewdenser and denser, and came rushing toward us across the sky. 

"All hands shorten sail!" shouted Captain Frankland, stopping suddenlyin his walk. Quick as the word, the work in which everybody was engagedwas stowed away, and up jumped the crew, all life and activity. Awaythey flew aloft--royals were sent down, top-gallant-sails were furled, and the yards were braced so as to take the wind on the starboard-tack. We had had the wind from the north-east, but it now fell almost a deadcalm, and the lower sails began to flap idly against the masts; andunder our topsails we waited the coming of the squall. It did not longdelay; on it came in its majestic fury. On one side of us the whole skywas covered with a dense mass of threatening clouds, while the sea belowappeared torn up into sheets of hissing foam; on the other, the sky wasblue, and the water smooth as a polished mirror. There was not a breathof air where the ship lay. Then down on us came the fierce squall withits utmost fury--rain, hail, and wind united--over heeled the stout shipas if she had been a mere cockleshell, till her gunwale was buried inthe water. I thought she would never rise again, but I kept my eye onCaptain Frankland, who seemed as cool and collected as if nothingunusual was happening. With speaking-trumpet in hand, and holding on bythe weather-rail, he ordered the mizen-topsail to be furled. The leemaintopsail braces were then slackened, to shiver the maintopsail; andthe wind being taken out of it, the whole pressure was thrown on theheadsail; the helm was then put a-starboard, and her bow paying off, righting herself, away flew the ship rapidly before the gale on an evenkeel. The foaming seas, rising every moment higher and higher, coursedeach other up under our stern, as if angry at our escaping their power. Dark clouds were above us; dark hissing seas on every side; the thunderroared, the lightning flashed brightly: so terrific did the scene appearto me, that I thought at times that we must be hurrying to destruction. I concealed my feelings, for Gerard took the matter very coolly, and hewas not likely to spare me if I expressed any unwarrantable alarm. After we had run on before the gale for some time, it began to moderate. We had all the time been going out of our course; so, to avoid losingmore ground, the captain gave the order to heave the ship to. I hadnever before seen this operation performed. The fore-topsail was firstfurled, and the maintopsail, which was closely reefed, and thefore-topmast staysail were the only sails set. "Brace up the mainyard!" was the next order given. "Now, down with the helm!" cried thecaptain, watching a favourable opportunity when a heavy sea had passedus. The ship felt the influence of the wind, and came up with her headto the westward; and then she rode, rising easily to the tops of theseas, and gliding slowly down into the valleys--their wild, foaming, hissing crests rushing furiously by her, but not a drop of water comingon board. I had never pictured to myself a scene so awfully grand asthat which I now beheld in perfect security. On one side the watersrose in a wall high above the deck, and looked as if about to overwhelmus; while the next instant we were looking down into a vale of waters ofdepth so great, that it seemed, if we slipped into it, we should neveragain struggle upwards. When summoned to dinner, I went below with theexpectation that I should be unable to have a mouthful; instead ofwhich, there appeared to be very little more motion than usual, soeasily rode the ship; and I could scarcely persuade myself that I hadbut just left a scene of such wild confusion on deck. The gale did notlast more than twelve hours, and the ship was then once more put on herproper course for the Falkland Islands. 

"Land ho! land ho!" was shouted one forenoon from aloft, with the usualprolonged cry. The Falkland Islands were in sight, and the land seen aswe drew nearer, I found, was that about Cape Bougainville. We stood on, and next we made out the rugged hills above Berkley Sound, and then gotclose to the dark brown cliffs of Macbride's Head, with hundreds ofseals lying on the sands and rocks below them. We could hear the roarof the beasts as they looked up at us, indignant, I thought, at beingdisturbed by our approach; but Mr Brand told me that, fierce as theylooked, they are a very harmless race, and easily captured. On thedowns above were numerous cattle feeding, which gave us the idea that wewere approaching some civilised part of the world. Passing BerkleySound with a stiff breeze, which rushed out of it, we stood on for MountLow, and then beat up Port William, which has a line of sand hills onone side of it, and Stanley Harbour at the end. Although the day wasfine, the appearance of the country was not very attractive; for thereare no trees--rocks, and sand hills, and tussac grass, and barrenheights, being the chief features. We dropped anchor opposite Stanley, the capital of the settlement. Above a line of piers and quays appeareda double row of neat white cottages, inhabited by the pensioners whowere sent out to assist in founding the colony. Round and about themare other houses and cottages, extending along the shores of the bay, and sprinkled on the sides of a gentle slope. They are generally oflight tints, which contrast well with the dark background of the hillbeyond, and give the place a pretty appearance. Further up is thechurch, not a very ecclesiastical-looking building; and beyond again, the cemetery, which has a neat chapel attached to it. The GovernmentHouse is a long, low cottage edifice, which looks well from the harbour;and on the east of the town are some extensive stores, belonging to theFalkland Island Company, with their small fleet of vessels in front ofit. On the west of the town is the Government Dock-yard, withblock-house, workshops, guard-house, and stores, all neatly railed in. The surrounding country consisting of slight elevations, either rocky orcovered with tussac grass, is not attractive. I could not help lookingat the place with great interest, as the first infant British settlementI had seen; and I thought less of what it then was than of what it mightbecome, under good management. The last idea was suggested to me, Imust own, by Mr Brand. 

The chief promenade in Stanley is called Ross Road, running right andleft of the principal street for about two miles. On one side of it arebuilt a number of houses facing the water, and among them are two ormore hotels, of some pretensions. Behind this road are some smallerstreets, inhabited by labouring people, Spanish Gauchos, and others. There are, perhaps, rather more than a hundred houses in the town, andbetween 400 and 500 inhabitants, including boatmen, stray sailors, Gauchos, and other wanderers. Several of the houses have gardens whichproduce a fair supply of vegetables, and beef is to be had in abundance;but as the colony produces very little else in the way of food, theinhabitants are somewhat hard up in that respect. The islandsalternately belonged to England and Spain, till, in 1774, they werefinally evacuated by the latter power, though it is only of late yearsthat they have been systematically colonised by England. The firstgovernor, Lieutenant Moody, arrived there in 1842, when the site of theintended town was changed from Port Louis to Port Stanley. As a proofof the value of the islands, Mr Lafosse, a British merchant at MonteVideo, paid 60, 000 pounds to have the right over all cattle of everydescription to be found on the East Falklands, for six years and a half. From what I heard, the climate is very healthy. It is at times windy, but in summer it is as mild and dry as the south of England. In winterthe cold is never severe, and only at intervals of several years doessnow fall to any depth, so as to risk the destruction of cattle. Themost remarkable production is the tussac, a gigantic species of grass, which grows to the height of ten feet, and is capable of sheltering andconcealing herds of cattle and horses. The core of this grass is of sonutritious a nature, that people have been known to live for months onit, and to retain their health. From this cause the animals on theislands grow to a great size, and their flesh is of a particularly fineflavour. The great object for which the settlement was founded, was toafford a place where ships might repair, and to supply those going roundCape Horn, or returning home that way, with fresh provisions. It isalso under contemplation to make it a penal settlement, for which it isin many respects particularly adapted, if sufficient employment for theconvicts can be found. 

Gerard and I were very anxious to get on shore to enjoy some of thesport we had heard so much about. "Wouldn't it be fine to kill a fatbull, who would make nothing of tossing one twelve feet up in the air ifhe could but catch a fellow on the tip of his horns?" said he, rubbinghis hands. 

I agreed with him; but we had little hopes of having our wishesgratified, when a gentleman from the shore offered to give us a tripround in one of the Company's schooners to the West Falklands, where shewas going to procure cattle. As the ship was to remain here some daysto have one or two slight defects made good, and to take in a supply ofbeef, fresh and salt, Captain Frankland allowed us to accept the offer, Mr Brand going to look after us. Away dashed the little schooner, the_Sword-Fish_, having a fine fresh breeze, with as merry a party on boardas ever put to sea. There was our friend Mr Nathaniel Burkett, and hisfriend Mr Jonathan Kilby, both keen sportsmen, and up to all sorts offun; and Gerard and I, and the master of the vessel, Tom Cribb by name, who, though not a good shot, seeing that he had but one eye, and thathad a terrific squint, knew every inch of the coast, and exactly wherewe were likely to find sport; and then there was Cousin Silas, who was afirst-rate shot, though he did not throw away his words by talking aboutthe matter. Pleasant as our trip promised to be, many a gale has to beencountered off those wild islands, and dangers not a few. We, however, instead of standing out to sea and going round all, took a course, well-known to our skipper, among the numerous isles and islets groupedround the larger Falkland. Their names I cannot pretend to remember. At last we dropped anchor in a snug cove where we were to remain for thenight. We, the sportsmen, were to have a boat left us, and we were toland, while the schooner ran on to a station some way further. We hadone dog with us, Old Surley by name, belonging to Mr Kilby--as brave ananimal as ever flew at a bull's neck, for he feared neither bull norbeast of any sort. With our guns, plenty of ammunition, and a stock ofprovisions, we pulled up a creek where we could leave the boat insafety, and landed. We first climbed a rock on the shore, whence wecould look about us and take a survey of the island. It was ofconsiderable size. We saw that we should have no difficulty inpenetrating across it, through the high tussac grass which almostentirely covered the ground. We first advanced together. We soon cameto some curious green mounds, covered with a velvety moss, about twofeet high and nine in circumference. I happened to sit down on one totie my shoe, and it made a most comfortable seat. 

"Do you know what that is?" said Mr Burkett, giving it a blow with thebutt end of his gun, which broke the moss to pieces as if it had been ahuge toadstool. The mossy coat was an inch and a half in thickness, andthe whole interior appeared filled with wide-spreading miniaturefir-trees. Every stalk, of which there were a great number, was edgedwith diminutive leaves like those of the fir; and the tops weresprinkled with little pieces of resin, brown outside and white within, some not larger than a pin's-head, and others half the size of afilbert. We afterwards came to some mounds where the plants had pushedthrough the green moss, and their leaves having slightly expanded, theylooked like miniature myrtles. Instead of going directly inland, wemade our way along the shore among the penguin grass. This grows to theheight of ten feet, on the top of clumps of decayed vegetable matter, forming large hillocks, which made the shore look as if it had beencovered with a coppice of underwood. We took our way through it, oftenbeing hid from each other by the high grass, and had not gone far when aloud roar saluted our ears. Jerry and I were together, but we had lostsight of the rest of the party. I instinctively drew back, and helooked very much as if he would have run away, had he known where to runto. He says he felt very brave though. 

"What's that?" I exclaimed. 

"A lion!" replied Jerry, looking uncomfortable. 

"A wild boar, " said I; "there are no lions here. "

"A big bull, perhaps, " cried my companion. "I hope his horns are notsharp!"

Our guns were loaded only with small shot, so that we could hope to makebut little impression on the body of a wild animal. The roar wasrepeated, and there was a loud rustling among the penguin grass on amound near us. The grass moved rapidly. We looked towards it. Presently the huge head of a ferocious-looking animal appeared glaringat us from among the grass. We shouted lustily for help to our friends. 

"Let's run, it is a lion--I told you so, " cried Jerry; "no time to lose, if we don't wish to be eaten up!" Suiting the action to the word, Jerryturned round, and, in attempting to escape, tumbled over some of thetangled stalks, and lay sprawling on the ground, while I endeavoured tolift him up. The huge monster all the time came roaring towards us, Jerry and I shouting out, --"Help, help, help! a lion, a lion!" Inanother moment I expected to feel his claws on my shoulder. 

"A sea-lion, my lads!" cried Mr Jonathan Kilby, who at that momentappeared close to us from among the high grass. "Jump up and attackhim. "

The beast having no legs, and being able only to make progress with hisfins, had not advanced so far as we expected. Our friend, having in themeantime drawn the small shot from his gun, and put a ball instead, fired at the head of the beast. The ball entered and stopped hisfurther progress, and there he lay, helplessly floundering about, androaring more lustily than ever. This gave Jerry and me time to recoverourselves, and to put bullets into our guns, with which we soon put anend to the sufferings of the poor beast. He was, we found, a species ofseal, about eight feet long, of a yellowish-brown colour, and with alarge mane, covering his neck and shoulders. He looked as if he wouldprove an ugly customer in the water; but as he had only flappers forfront legs, with very small nails on them, and only a tail instead ofhind-legs, a person on shore could very easily keep out of his way, andJerry and I felt rather foolish at the fright he had put us into. Wehad achieved our victory before Mr Brand and Mr Burkett found theirway up to us. As he lay not far from the boat, we settled to take hisskin on our return. Going on, we reached a lake of some size, fromwhich vast numbers of teal got up. Jerry and I shot several, which madeus very proud; and the rest of the party tagged thirty or more betweenthem, so that they were pretty well loaded. Before long, we againmanaged to get separated from the rest, but we had grown so satisfiedwith our prowess that we were indifferent to consequences. We felt thatwe were not likely to starve even if we lost our way. I was just goingto fire at a teal, when Jerry pulled my arm, and pointing to an openingin the distance among the clumps of grass, I saw the head of a huge bullnot fifty yards from us, and, as it seemed, fast asleep. Now was thetime to show what we could do, so we withdrew our small shot and loadedwith ball. Like North American Indians on a war-trail, we crawledstealthily towards him. We halted, and resting our guns on a bank, fired together. 

"I am certain I hit him, " cried Jerry. 

"So am I, " I added--though I was surprised that the beast did not move. 

"We've killed him!" cried Jerry, as on we rushed, expecting to find arich prize. He was lying down when we hit him, we saw that. We kepthim in sight for some way, then we found our further progress somewhatimpeded by the bogginess of the ground. At last we were brought to astand-still about ten paces from our victim. Jerry gave a blank look atme, and I looked at him, and burst out laughing. The poor beast was notalive, certainly, but we were innocent of his death. He had evidentlygot into the bog in wet weather, and in vain struggling to free himself, had died of starvation. His head was stretched out, as if hopelesslylonging for the rich food he saw growing not thirty yards from him, which yet he could not reach. All around the morass were the hoof-marksof his comrades, as if they had been watching him in his dyingstruggles, scampering round and round, perhaps with terror, or perhapsthinking how they might help him. 

"At all events, " exclaimed Jerry, "we may say we hit a huge bull andleft him as dead as mutton; and there's no great harm if the rest goback to look for him. We can easily point them out the place by theside of the lake. "

A little further on we reached a smaller lake which was swarming withbirds--geese, ducks, divers, and other wild-fowl. Among them wereseveral swans, beautifully white, with black necks, which kept swimminggracefully about like the great lords of the feathered population amongwhom they moved. Jerry and I were very hungry, so we sat ourselves downto take a nibble at our biscuit and cheese, not wishing to disturb themtill our friends should come up to help us to slaughter them. We hadsat a little while, and opened our wallet, when, what was our surpriseto see the birds swimming together, and landing in numbers below ourfeet! Slowly some advanced, as if to reconnoitre us, and then otherscame on, till some hundreds were within thirty yards of us, evidentlywondering what strange animals we could be. Then they began to talk toeach other in a most strange discordant cackle, their voices growinglouder and louder, as if they were disputing on the subject, and couldnot settle it to their satisfaction. We lay back and watched them, highly diverted. Nearer and nearer they approached, talking awayfuriously all the time in tones of wonder and surprise, more than inthose of anger. 

"I know what they are saying, " whispered Jerry. "Well, these are twostrange beings! How could they have come here? They are not seals, that's certain, for they have legs; but they don't look as if they couldswim with those long, thin projections instead of flappers; andassuredly they can't fly, for they have no wings. How can they feedthemselves, for they have no bills? and see what great ugly round thingsthey've got for heads. Evidently they cannot dive or live under water. They are not fish, then, nor birds; for if those are feathers growing ontheir backs, they are very rugged and dirty. Well, we pity them; forthey are strange beasts, that's a fact. " This quaint notion of Jerry'stickled my fancy so much that I burst into a loud fit of laughter, whichsomewhat startled our flock of visitors; while Jerry, sitting up, hove astick he had carried all day made fast to his side in among them. Themissile did not, however, make them turn tail; but, instead, theyclustered thickly round it, and, as if it had been some impertinentintruder, began pecking at it furiously. As we could not carry thebirds away, with a praiseworthy self-denial we abstained from firing. When, however, we jumped suddenly up and clapped our hands, away theyscuttled at a great rate, chattering and quacking louder than ever. Wehoped, however, to reward ourselves for our present self-denial, byreturning with all the party to have a shot at them in the evening. After this we walked on for a mile, and had begun to wonder what hadbecome of our companions, and to be a little anxious at having missedthem, when we were startled at hearing a loud roar not three hundredyards from us. It was very different from that of the sea-lion, and wetoo soon recognised it as the voice of an angry bull. Again the bullbellowed, and this time several other bulls lent their voices to theterror-inspiring chorus. We ran to the top of the highest mound nearus, and thence we made out five or six bulls, with their tails up in theair, rushing towards us, following one whose voice we first heard. Thespot on which we stood afforded us no protection, for the beasts wouldhave rushed up it in a moment, but a couple of hundred yards on was arock with steep sides, just rising above the grass; and our only chanceof safety was to climb it before the horns of the first bull had reachedour backs. Had he come directly on, as fast as his legs could carryhim, this we should have had no chance of doing; but instead of that, heevery now and then stuck his sharp ugly-looking horns into the grass, and tossed it above his head, as if to show how he intended to treat uswhen he caught us. We rushed on with our eyes fixed on the rock, notventuring to look behind, and expecting every moment to feel his hornsat our backs. We kept a tight hold of our guns, but unfortunatelydropped our wallets and the game we had shot. On we ran and on came thebull; the rock was a dozen yards before us, and he was not much furtheroff in our rear. We sprang on; Jerry tripped over a lump of decayedgrass, but he picked himself up, and, crying to me not to stop, followedme. The face of the rock was too perpendicular directly in front toallow me to get up it, but a little to the right it was more broken. Isprang towards the place, and scrambled up. Jerry reached the foot ofthe rock; the bull was making for the right side, where he had seen meclimb up. In another moment he would have pinned Jerry to the rock, ortossed him up to me. 

"Help me! help me, Harry!" he sung out, with good reason dreadfullyalarmed. I had just time to throw myself down at full length, and, byloaning over the rock, to seize his hand, before the bull, seeing him, with a terrific bellow made a full butt at him. With a strength I didnot think myself capable of exerting, I hauled him up to me, the bull'shorns actually passing between his feet! In his hurry, however, hedropped his gun at the foot of the rock, and the bull vented his rageand disappointment by giving it several butts as it lay on the ground;and I was in great hopes that he would strike the lock and make it gooff--it would have astonished him not a little. Jerry almost faintedwith the fright the brute had given him, but he very speedily recovered, and then we looked round to see what sort of a place we were on. Wefound that it was, fortunately, inaccessible on all sides; so wereturned with much greater composure to watch the proceedings of ourbovine enemies. The other bulls had now come up, with their tails inthe air, bellowing at the top of their voices, and tearing the ground upon all sides, and throwing the grass over their heads. They appearedfor some reason to be fearfully enraged against us. There were sevenbulls altogether. Placed in the convenient position we were, we agreedthat we could easily shoot them, and thus raise the siege; but onexamining the contents of our pockets, we found that we had only gotfive bullets between us. Now, supposing every bullet to have had inthis case its billet, and to have mortally wounded an animal, that wouldhave left two unprovided for; and even with two we had no desire tocontend on the level ground. Still we determined to do what we could;so I loaded and took a steady aim at the beast which had led on theattack. The bullet struck him on the head; but his skull was thick, andthough it wounded him severely, it did not enter his brain. The painmade him tear up the ground more furiously, and bellow louder thanbefore. Jerry said he would try the next time; so I loaded, and he tookthe gun. I thought he was going to make a good shot, but he wasnervous, and the bullet only struck the beast's shoulder, nor did itincrease the sweetness of his temper. We had thus only three bullets, and all our enemies as vicious as ever. The most important thing weagreed to be done was to get rid of the leader; so I took the gun again, and carefully loading, waited till he made a tilt right up to the faceof the rock, really looking as if he had been going to try and leap upat us. I tried to be perfectly cool, and fired. The bullet struck him, I was certain of that, but it did not kill him, so I supposed that ithad glanced off over his head. 

"I won't miss again, " I cried, loading as rapidly as I could. "One ofour last two bullets must do the deed. "

Our enemy, on receiving his last wound, turned off and made a rapidcircuit round the rock, to discover, we concluded, if there was anyplace by which he could get up at us. Finding none, he returned. Assoon as he appeared, I took a steady aim, resting the barrel on a lumpof rock--I fired. Roaring with fury, he bounded along towards the rock. I thought he would almost have reached us. Suddenly he stopped--downwent his head, and over he rolled close under the rock, and there he laystone dead! We both of us simultaneously raised a loud shout ofvictory; but, as Jerry remarked, we began to crow rather too soon, forthe other six bulls, no way daunted at the fall of their leader, continued raging round about us as furiously as ever. We had only onebullet left, and with that we could scarcely hope even to settle one ofthem. We sat ourselves down watching our enemies, hoping that theywould grow tired of waiting for us and go away; but they seemed by nomeans disposed to move. Never did a beleaguering army watch morepertinaciously round a hard pressed garrison than did our formidableenemies watch to toss us in the air. In vain we stood up and lookedaround on every side for our friends, as far as our somewhat limitedrange of vision extended. There was not a sign of them. They, too, would have become not a little anxious about us, except Cousin Silasthought we were still with Mr Kilby, and the latter gentleman supposedwe had joined our other friends. If so, unless they met they wouldprobably not come to look for us. As we had taken but a light luncheon, we began to feel very hungry, and to cast longing glances at oursatchels and the teal, which lay at some distance from the rock, butwhich we dared not attempt to got. Not ten feet below where we sat wasthe bull. Jerry looked over the rock--

"I should so like to have a juicy beef-steak out of you, old fellow!"said he, addressing the dead animal. "I say, Harry, don't you think wecould manage to get it? The other brutes will certainly grow hungrybefore long; and, as they don't want to eat us, while they are pickingup their dinners I shall have plenty of time to get down and cut out afew slices. I have my knife, and I sharpened it only yesterday. "

I had mine also; and, as I highly approved of his suggestion, weresolved to wait a favourable opportunity for our exploit. Raw meat wasnot, however, to our taste; so we agreed to try and light a fire andcook our steaks. There was plenty of dry moss and grass on the rock, sowe set to work and collected all that we could find, so that we soon hada famous heap of it, sufficient almost to roast the whole animal. As weexpected, the bulls, after looking at us for some time, feeling thecalls of hunger, began to lower their tails, and putting their heads tothe ground, commenced to munch the tender grass. 

"Now, if these beasts had been lions and tigers, the more hungry theygrew the more anxious they would have been to get at us. It's lucky allanimals are not carnivorous. "

Having delivered himself of this sagacious remark, Jerry said he wasready to turn butcher. We waited, however, till the bulls had got alittle further off, and then he descended on the carcass of our victim, while I bent over the rock, as before, to help him up should they appearinclined to tilt at him. Enough steaks were cut to dine half-a-dozenmen; and then, as the bulls did not observe him, grown brave fromimpunity, he went on further and picked up his gun. This he handed upto me, and it was not much the worse for the butting it had got. Thebulls were still feeding quietly, apparently having forgot all about us. 

"I say, Harry, I think some biscuits, and rum and water, would not bebad things with our steaks, not to speak of the teal, " said he, lookingup at me. "What do you advise? May I venture to run for the satchelsand some of the game?"

I agreed with him that it would be very desirable to have them, andoffered to accompany him. 

"No, no, " he answered, with a knowledge of generalship for which I hadnot given him credit; "do you load the gun, and stand by to cover me ifI am pursued; you will be ready also to help me up the rock as before. If I were to take your place with the gun up there, the chances are thatI should shoot you instead of the bull, and that would not do. I'll go, never fear. " Jerry, as will be seen, was a creature of impulse. He wasas brave as any one when he had time for reflection, and saw thenecessity for coolness. As soon as I had loaded the gun and got ready, keeping his eyes on the bulls, he cautiously advanced towards oursatchels. If a bull lifted his head, he stopped, and crouched down tothe ground. Then he advanced again on all-fours; and so by slow degreeshe worked himself up to the spot at which he aimed. He seized thethings, and began to return as slowly as before. It would have beenwell if he had continued his caution, but when he had got about half wayon his return, he took it into his head to run, laughing loudly at thesuccess of his exploit. His figure moving alone, and his voice, rousedthe bulls. Up went their tails, and a terrific bellow made his laughtercease in a moment. I shouted to him to run faster. On he scampered, shouting loudly, "Fire, Harry, if you see one of them going to butt!" Iwas all ready, and he bravely held fast our property. The bull nearestto him, wildly whisking his tail and bellowing louder than ever, wasclose to him. I was in doubt whether or not to fire, lest I shouldstill more infuriate the animal should I wound without killing him. Inanother moment I saw that there was no alternative. His horns wereclose to Jerry's back, and in an instant he would have had him high upin the air. I shouted to Jerry to jump on one side. He followed myadvice with wonderful coolness. I fired. My bullet hit the bull in theright eye. Down went his head, tearing into the ground. He rushed onalmost close up to the rock, bellowing furiously, ploughing up the earthwith his horns; and then, as if he had been making a voluntarysummerset, he rolled right over, and was dead. It was indeed a triumph. I had no time to think about it then. On rushed Jerry, for the otherbulls were coming up fast. Throwing aside my gun, I helped Jerry up therock with the things he had so courageously recovered at the moment theother beasts were up to him. 

"Bravo, Harry!" he sung out; "you've saved my life and shot the bull;you are a capital fellow!"

I proposed that we would not compliment each other till we had lightedour fire and cooked our steaks. As we had now some teal, we added acouple to our repast. We had some lucifers, so we soon made a gloriousfire. Having plucked our teal, we poked them under the ashes, while, intrue sportsman fashion, we toasted the steaks at the end of our ramrod. Having also pepper and salt, we had every reason to be satisfied withour repast. 

"I say, I wish those other fellows were here, " said Jerry. "It would begreat fun if they would come, thinking we were stuck in a bog, or spikedon the horns of bulls, and find us so jollily eating away up here. Here's to your health, Harry. May you always make as good shots as youdid just now, when you saved me from the butt of that beast's head!Hillo! have a bit of your brother?" cried he, holding a piece of thesteak at the end of his ramrod down towards one of the bulls, which camesnuffing up towards us. 

Thus we went on laughing and joking, perfectly contented, and thinkingonly of the present moment. We forgot that our fuel would soon beexpended; that the position we occupied would be a very unpleasant oneon which to pass a cold and perhaps rainy night; and that our friendswould become really alarmed should we not make our appearance at theboat. These considerations did not begin to weigh with us till we hadfinished our dinner. When, however, we had time for reflection, we werenot quite so well contented with ourselves. 

"This is very good fun, " I remarked, "but I should like to know how weare to get away unless these beasts of bulls choose to raise the siege. "

"They'll not do that in a hurry, " answered Jerry. "We must wait tillnight-time, when they can't see us, and then make a run for it. "

"But how are we to find our way to the boat in the dark?" I asked. "Iscarcely know whereabouts she lies. "

"To the westward, then, I think, " said he. "If the sky is clear we maysteer by the stars, and we shall manage to find our way. "

I cannot say that I felt as hopeful as my friend professed to do, stillthere appeared to be no other means of escaping the bulls, and gettingback to the boat. Should we wait till the morning the brutes wouldprobably espy us, and run a tilt at us as before. We had provisions tolast us for many days, but we had no liquid, with the exception of alittle rum and water, which, although we had carefully husbanded it, wasvery low in the flask. A breeze had sprung up from the east, and it wasalready rather cold on the top of the rock; so, making up our fire, wesat down by it. We were amused at the way in which the bullsoccasionally came and had a look at us; as much as, Jerry said, to ask, "Well, when are you coming down to let us give you a toss? We don'tintend to go away till we've tried it on. We are at home here, youknow, so we are in no hurry. " Provoked, as he declared, at theirimpudence, he at last seized a bundle of burning grass which, he hadtwisted into a torch, and when a bull came near he hove it at his head. The flaming mass caught on his horns, and certainly had the effect ofmaking him turn tail, and rush bellowing off from the rock; but it hadanother effect, and a most disastrous one, on which we had notcalculated. Galloping on, the animal very soon freed himself from hisburning head-dress by sending it into the middle of a large clump oftussac grass. 

"Hurrah! the brute has made a famous bonfire!" exclaimed Jerry, clappinghis hands as he saw the bright flames burst out from the easily ignitedgrass. 

"Larger than we may bargain for, " I remarked, as in another instant, fanned by the wind, the fire began to run along the ground, and aneighbouring clump broke forth into a furious blaze. 

"Well, that is a bonfire!" cried Jerry, still not comprehending theextent of the mischief he had commenced; but it was not long before healso saw with me what was going to occur. On went the fire, runningalong the ground as if it had been strewed with gunpowder--then for aninstant playing round some tall clump, out of which directly afterwardsforked flames darted forth, and quickly reduced it to ashes, while thickvolumes of smoke curled upwards to the sky. No sooner did the bullsscent the smoke than up went their tails, and with loud bellows theydashed off through the grass, trampling it down in their fright. 

"Now is our time!" I exclaimed; "the siege is raised; let us make thebest of our way to the boat. "

Following the impulse of the moment, we seized our guns and the birds wehad shot, and leaping off the rock, began to run in an oppositedirection to that which the bulls had taken. 

"Hurrah! the bulls are off. There they go like mad things, with theirtails up in the air!" exclaimed Jerry, as we ran on. 

"I did it finely--didn't I? That bonfire was a capital idea. We'vekilled two, and the rest won't be in such a hurry to butt at people infuture. "

On we scampered, but we had not gone twenty paces before I seizedJerry's arm and came to a stand-still, looking with dismay at the scenebefore us. The flames, blown by the wind, had caught the neighbouringclumps of tall grass. Dry as tinder, they were blazing up furiously. Our further progress was completely barred by the fierce flames whichwere rapidly extending on every side, and even then running along theground towards us. We had already passed over a quantity of dry grasswhich, in another moment, might be on fire, and then all hope of escapewould be lost. 

"Back, back!" I exclaimed--"to the rock, to the rock! It is our onlyplace of safety. "

With frantic speed we rushed back, the fierce flames, like hissingserpents, close on our heels. Hotter and hotter became the air--moredense and suffocating the smoke. Blinded and confused by it, we couldscarcely find our way. A trip over the tangled grass-stalks we knewwould be fatal. The flames were already scorching our backs. On eitherside we saw them leaping upwards round the tall tufts of dry herbage. We shrieked with pain and terror. The rock was reached, but to scaleits steep sides seemed beyond our power. With a strength I did notbelieve myself to possess, I seized Jerry and hoisted him up. Graspingthe clumps of grass and rugged lumps of rock, he scrambled to the top, and then leaning over, lent me his hand, and dragged me after him. Horror of what might be my fate enabled me to do what I otherwise couldnot have accomplished. At the same moment that I reached the top of therock, the whole surrounding surface of the ground below became a sea ofraging fire--leaping, tossing, hissing, roaring, the flames blown hereand there by the wind; it was like the ocean in a storm. The devouringelement came circling round us, the bright flames darting up like thetongues of huge serpents, eager to make us their prey. Bewildered bythe scorching heat and black circles of smoke, we were nearly fallingback into the fiery sea. I felt that I could not much longer retain mysenses. I seized Jerry's arm, and dragging him back, we retreatedtowards the centre of the rock. Even there the heat was so intense, andthe smoke so suffocating, that it was with difficulty we could breathe. 

"This is dreadful!" he exclaimed faintly. "Harry, I cannot stand it--Iam going to die. " Saying this, he sunk gasping to the ground. At thesame time I felt an agonising sensation in my chest, and fully believingthat the same fate as his was about to overtake me also, I dropped downsenseless by his side. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

OUR BOAT ADVENTURE AMONG THE FALKLANDS. 

A current of cool air was passing over the face of the rock, I conclude, for, to my no small satisfaction, I discovered that I was alive, andcould very speedily sit up. The spectacle which met my sight, however, was terrific in the extreme. Far as the eye could reach, the wholecountry was in a blaze, the flames crackling and hissing as theyfiercely attacked clump after clump of the tall tussac grass, while theground over which they had passed was charred and blackened, theglobular masses of the bog balsam glowing with fervent heat. The flamesalso still burned brightly close round us, and I saw no means by whichwe could escape from our position. As soon as I had collected mythoughts, I remembered my companion. I found a few drops of spirits andwater in our flask. I poured them down his throat. He looked up. 

"What! am I still alive?" he muttered faintly. "Oh, the bulls and thefire! what's going to happen next?"

"That is more than I can tell you exactly, " I answered; "but I suppose, in time, the fire will burn itself out, and then we may get away fromthis. Let us watch it meantime. It is worth looking at. "

In a short time, after a few sighs, Jerry lifted up his head from theground, and sat up. The sight at which we gazed was especially grandwhen a fresh puff of wind sent the flames rolling along, and throwing upforked flashes, as they found new fuel to feed on. All the beasts ithad encountered had, of course, fled, terror inspired, before it; butnumberless young birds must have been destroyed, and we saw hundreds oftheir parents hovering over the spot where their nests had been, in thevain effort to save their offspring. Some we saw fall into the flames, either from having their wings singed from approaching too near, or bybeing suffocated with the smoke. When we saw the effects of the fire, we were doubly thankful that we had not attempted to make our way acrossthe island. Once surrounded by that fiery furnace, we must have been, to a certainty, burned to death. Suddenly a dreadful thought occurredto me. 

"Jerry, " I exclaimed, "where can our friends be all this time? Is itpossible that they can have been among the grass, and that the fire mayhave caught them up? Good Cousin Silas, and Mr Burkett, and jolly MrKilby. Poor fellows! we may be much better off than they are. "

"Oh, don't talk about it, " said Jerry, shuddering; "it is too dreadful. I hope--I hope they will have got into a place of safety. Poor fellows!and it was all my doing. Do you know, Harry, I think we ought to prayfor them. They may be requiring aid which no mortal man can give them. "

"Yes, indeed, " said I; "we ought--let us. " And together we knelt downon the hard rock, surrounded by the roaring flames, the thick blacksmoke curling around us, and sometimes almost suffocating us; and mostearnestly did we offer up our prayers for the safety of our friends andfor our own; and most thankful did we feel that we had been preservedfrom the dangers into which we had been thrown. I pity the person whois ashamed to acknowledge that he prays for protection both for himselfand those he cares for. How should we go through the world without theprotection of an all-merciful God? Often and often I have had proof ofhow utterly unable we are to take care of ourselves. Among the manyblessings and advantages I have enjoyed is that of having had parentswho taught me to pray, and not to be ashamed of praying. At school, when some poor, weak, foolish boys were afraid to kneel down by theirbedsides to say their prayers, my brothers and I always persevered inthe practice; and very soon we put to shame those who tried to interruptus--and not only we ourselves, but other boys who did the same, werefrom that time never interfered with. Sure I am that our prayers wereheard, and that the blessings we prayed for in earnestness andsimplicity were given us. When we rose from our knees we found ourcourage much increased. The occasion had made us serious, and remindedus of our duties. I wish that it had been always so, that it were stillalways so; but even now as I write, I feel how much day after day I haveleft undone of what I ought to have done. Is it not so with all of us?Then what necessity is there for prayer for strength from above toenable us to do our duty. I say again, don't be ashamed. Pray always;and if it is for your good, what you ask with faith God will mostassuredly give you. He has said it, and his promises never fail. 

Night was now approaching, but we could yet see no prospect of ourescaping from our present position. The darkness, as it came on, servedto brighten the effect of the fire; and as we gazed round on every side, as far as the eye could reach, we could see only the bright glare of theconflagration as it went on widening its circle round us. Now and then, as it reached spots more thickly covered with clumps of tussac grass, wecould see the flames rushing upwards in pyramids of fire; but in otherplaces a dense fierce glow could alone be perceived as the fiery wavereceded from us. The sight we beheld was certainly a very grand one, and not easily to be forgotten; but our position was far from pleasant, and we would thankfully have found ourselves on board the schooner, oreven in the boat under shelter of a sail. Our clothes were scorched, and so were our hands and feet; we were getting very hungry, and no fuelremained to enable us to cook our provisions, while now that the firewas removed from us the sharp wind made us feel very cold. When weconsidered the small area of the rock which had been at one time like anisland amid the fiery ocean, we had more reason than ever to be thankfulthat we had escaped destruction. On further examination of the localitywe discovered that the proximate cause of our escape was owing to theposition of the rock near a piece of water, the extent of which weperceived when the fire in our neighbourhood had burned itself out. Anarrow belt of grass only intervened between the rock and the water, therest of the ground being a marsh covered with moist rushes, which didnot burn. As the wind had for the greater part of the time blown overthe pond, we were thus saved from suffocation. Had the rock beenthickly surrounded by high grass, I think that we must have been burnedto death; for, blown by the wind, the flames would have reached the verycentre of the rock where we lay; and had we not been roasted, we shouldhave been suffocated by the smoke. We crouched down on the rock, andsat for some time without speaking, watching the progress of the flames. The ground around us was still glowing with the remains of the fire. How long we had sat silent I do not know, when Jerry exclaimed, withanimation--

"I say, Harry, why shouldn't we have a steak off our old friend thebull? He must be pretty well done through by this time. "

"We will try him at all events, " said I; and descending the rock, wevery soon had some fine slices of beef out of him. Finding that theground was sufficiently cooled to allow our walking on it withoutburning our shoes, we advanced with our steaks stuck at the end of ourramrods to a glowing heap of bog balsam. Kicking it up with our feet, it soon sent forth a heat amply sufficient to cook our alreadyhalf-roasted steaks. When they were done, collecting our guns, andbags, and game, we sat down on the lee side of the rock, and speedilysilenced the cravings of hunger. We should have been glad of somethingto drink, but we were not yet sufficiently thirsty to induce us to getwater from the pond. We felt very tired after all the exercise we hadtaken, and the excitement we had gone through during the day; but wewere afraid to go to sleep lest the bulls should wander back, orsomething else happen we knew not what; besides, the anxiety about ourfriends kept us awake. At last, however, as we sat shoulder to shoulderunder the rock, sleep stole imperceptibly on us, and I do not think thatI ever enjoyed a sounder slumber than I did that night. When we awokewe rubbed our eyes, not knowing where we were. It was broad daylight. We rose to our feet, and after stretching our cramped limbs, we climbedto the top of the rock to look about us. The fire still raged over partof the island, which was enveloped in thick wreaths of black smoke; butto the west we caught sight of the blue sea, sparkling brightly in thesunshine, the intervening space being free from flames, thoughpresenting a surface of black ashes, not a blade of grass apparentlyhaving escaped the conflagration. We thought, too, that we recognised apoint round which the schooner had come just before dropping us in theboat. This encouraged us to hope that we might not be very far-distantfrom the place where we had landed. Without waiting, therefore, forbreakfast, we determined at once to set off. 

"Let us take some beef, though, " exclaimed Jerry; "it will prove that byour own prowess we have killed a bull at all events. "

The slices of beef were speedily cut, therefore, and strung on over ourshoulders, and, like two young Robinson Crusoes, we set off in the hopesof soon relieving our anxiety about our friends. Nothing could be moremelancholy than the appearance of the country through which we passed--cinders and blackness on every side. Every now and then we nearlytumbled into a glowing heap of bog balsam. It was sad, too, to see thenumber of nests, some with eggs in them, and others with young birdscompletely roasted; indeed, we passed many old birds burned to cinders. At last we struck the shore; but the face of nature had been socompletely altered by the fire, that we were uncertain whether it was tothe north or south of the creek at which we had landed. At last weagreed that we were to the south of the spot we wished to reach, so westood along the beach to the north. We had not got far before we saw, alittle way inland, where the grass had been, two black masses. Wegrasped each other's arms. Were they the figures of men? Tremblingwith fear we hurried towards them. Though burned to cinders, still wehad no difficulty in recognising them as two seals. The poor things, stupified and astonished by the fire, had probably had no time to waddleinto the water before it had overtaken them. Perhaps seals, like fish, are attracted by fire, and the foolish animals had thought it a finesight to behold. We had taken no breakfast, and were beginning to feelthe want of food, but, at the same time, we were so thirsty that we didnot feel as if we could eat. There was plenty of salt water; but thatwas not tempting, and would only have increased our suffering. Jerrysat himself down on the beach and said he could go no further; but Iurged him to continue on, in the hopes that we might come soon upon astream of water. I remember even then being struck by the immensequantities of kelp which fringed the shore. The long leaves and roots, where left by the tide, looked like pieces of thick brown leather; andwe agreed that cups and bowls, and all sorts of things, might be madeout of it. Kelp is a species of sea-weed of gigantic size, and itssturdy stems have been known to reach the surface from a depth of nearlythree hundred feet; some of the wide-spreading weeds looking like tannedhides extended on the surface. Its roots cling with a powerful gripe tothe rocks, on which alone it grows. Some of the stems are sufficientlystrong to moor a boat with. I had a knife, the handle of which was madeby simply sticking the hilt of the blade into a piece of the root whileit was wet;--when the kelp dried the blade was firmly fixed in it. Wehad not gone far when a rippling sound saluted our ears; and running on, we found a bright, sparkling stream gurgling out of the bank. We putour mouths down to the spot where it gushed out, and oh, how we enjoyedthe cool pure draught! Nothing could then have been more gratifying toour taste. We found this gave a remarkably keen edge to our appetites;so we sat down by the stream and produced a piece of the steak we hadcooked the previous evening, and the remains of our biscuit. Whilediscussing them, Jerry exclaimed that he saw something galloping alongthe shore. 

"Is it a bull?" I asked, thinking that we might have to decamp, andlooking out for a place of safety. 

"It comes on very fast, " he answered. I jumped up, for I was sitting alittle below him, and looked in the direction he pointed. 

"It's old Surley! it's old Surley!" I shouted. "Our friends cannot befar-off. "

On came the old dog, and was very soon jumping up and licking our handsand faces, and wagging his tail, till it looked as if he would wag itoff. He seemed in no way displeased at receiving a piece of beef; andas soon as he had got it he began to trot off with it in his mouth inthe direction from which he had come. After going a few yards, however, he stopped and turned half round, and wagged his tail, as much as tosay, "Come along with me; I trotted all the way on purpose to fetchyou. "

We took up our guns to show that we were about to follow; and on this hebegan to jump, and frisk about, and bark, to exhibit his satisfaction, and then he stopped and went on a little, and then stopped again to seethat we were following. In great hopes that he was leading us to ourfriends, we went on as fast as we could walk. Our path led us undersome cliffs which were literally crowded with penguins and youngalbatrosses, or mollimauks. There was a regular encampment or rookeryof them, extending for five or six hundred yards in length, and from oneto two dozen in breadth. The nests of the albatrosses were nearly afoot high, and of a cup-like form. Feathers were just beginning tospread on the backs and wings of the young birds, and to take the placeof the down with which they had originally been covered. Old Surleypassed by without taking any notice of them. When we approached thespot they set up a loud gabbling, and spouted out an oily substance atus. The penguins were much more dignified, and looked at us with silentcontempt. The surface of the sea near at hand was covered with theparent birds, and the air was alive with them as they flew backward andforward to carry food to their young; but as, following old Surley'sexample, we did not attempt to molest their broods, they took no noticeof us. The penguins were the most numerous, and appeared to be theoriginal inhabitants of the spot. They were arranged with greatregularity, those having just broken the shell being together, as werethose with their feathers appearing, and also those expecting soon tofly. Never had I seen so many birds together. However, we were tooanxious about our friends to stop, so we hurried on after old Surley. From the steady way in which he proceeded, we felt sure that he wasleading us in the right direction. Nor were we deceived. Before longwe recognised the creek where we landed, and soon we reached the boatdrawn up on the shore. We rushed towards her to discover if our friendshad lately been there. We examined her thoroughly; but after all wecould not decide the point. Thus we remained as anxious as ever. While, however, we were engaged in this manner, we had not watched oldSurley, and when we looked up he was gone. Just before we got into theboat, Jerry's cap had tumbled off, and when he wanted to put it onagain, though we hunted about in every direction, it was nowhere to befound. At first we thought of continuing our search for our friends, but we soon agreed that it would be wiser to stay where we were; that ifthey had escaped they would certainly return to the boat, and that if wewent in search of them, the so doing would only delay our meeting. Being somewhat tired, therefore, we got into the boat, and drawing thesail over the after-part, we lay down in the stern-sheets and were soonfast asleep. We were both awoke by old Surley's bark, and jumping up, we saw Mr Brand with his other two companions running along the beach. We jumped out of the boat and hurried to meet them. Mr Brand hadJerry's cap in his hand, which old Surley had carried with him to showthat he had found us. We speedily narrated our adventures to eachother. They had been dreadfully alarmed on our account. It turned outas we had supposed--Mr Kilby had reached the sea-shore by himself, thinking that we were with the other party, while they supposed we werewith him. However, they had not been very anxious about us till theysaw the conflagration burst out, and guessed that we were by some meansthe cause of it. They were on their way to look for us, but the flames, like some mighty torrent, rushed towards them. They had with frantichaste to dart through the clumps of tussac and penguin grass to reachthe beach. They hurried to the boat, and had barely time to leap intoher, and shove off, before the flames, fanned by the wind, camecrackling and hissing up after them, and would very probably have sether on fire. Cousin Silas was almost in despair about us, and Mr Kilbytold me that he said he should never forgive himself if we came to harm. They were much interested with the account we gave them of ouradventures; and as it was time for dinner, we agreed to cook and eat thetrophies we had brought with us--the beef-steaks--before putting to sea. We were amused at finding that we had committed an illegal act inkilling the bulls; but, as it was in self-defence, it was agreed thatthe act was justifiable. 

It had been arranged that we were to rejoin the schooner on the eveningof this day, at a point of land running out from an island a little tothe west of where we now were, unless the weather should prove bad; inwhich case she was to come in for us. The weather, however, was veryfine, so making sail we stood across the channel. The station to whichshe had gone was three or four miles further to the south. The waterwas very clear, and as we passed through the kelp we looked down in someplaces where it grew less thickly, and could see its vast stems andbranches, with their huge leaves, springing up from the depth of manyfathoms, like a forest of submarine oaks or Spanish chestnuts. We wereamused with the flight of some of the ducks we put up. Mr Burkettcalled them loggerheads, racers, or steamers. Their wings will not liftthem from the water, but whirling them round and round, they wentscuttling and waddling away over the surface at a rapid rate, generallytwo and two--the loving husband and his wife--leaving a deep furrow inthe water behind them. We burst into fits of laughter at the ridiculousmanner in which they moved. They are fat and fishy, and not at all fitfor food. I never expected to have seen more birds together than we hadpassed at the rookery under the cliffs in the morning; but we sailed byan island, of which birds of all descriptions had taken entirepossession. There were various species of ducks, and geese, and snipe, and teal, and shags, and grebes, and penguins, and albatrosses, andsea-rooks, and oyster-catchers, and gulls with pink breasts, and manyothers, of whose names I have no note. As we believed that we hadplenty of time, we landed near some cliffs to have a nearer look atthem. So tame were they that we could knock down as many as we likedwith our sticks; but it was murderous work, and as we did not want themto eat--indeed many were not fit for eating--we soon desisted from it. 

Near where we landed the cliffs ran out into the sea, forming naturaldocks, and in one of these cliffs we discovered a large cavern, whichseemed to run a great way under the ground. By climbing along theledges of the rocks, somewhat slippery with sea-weed, at no little riskof a ducking, we got to the mouth of the cavern. The sides werecomposed of ledges rising one above another, and every available spot, as far as the eye could penetrate, was occupied by shags and divers, andother sea-fowls. There were thousands--there might have been millionsof them, if the cavern ran back as far as we supposed it did. They inno way seemed alarmed at our intrusion, but allowed us to kick themover, without attempting to escape. However, at last, old Surley foundhis ways after us, and his appearance created the wildest hurly-burlyand confusion. Such clapping of wings, and hurrying to and fro, andquacking, and shrieking, and whirling here and there, was never seenamong a feathered community. They must have been very glad when we tookour departure. 

We had got into high spirits with our walk, and had begun to forget allabout the bulls and the fire, when, as Jerry and I were in advancescrambling along the shore, we saw basking, a little way inland, amongsome tussac grass, a huge animal. "Why, there is an elephant!" Iexclaimed, starting back "or a live mammoth, or something of that sort. I don't like his look, I own. "

However, screwing up our courage, we advanced cautiously toward themonster, as he seemed no way disposed to move at our approach. Then wehalted and examined him more narrowly. He was alive, for we saw his eyecomplacently looking at us, as Diogenes might have looked out of his tubat the passing crowd. He was fully twenty feet long, with a hugeunwieldy body and a big head. The most curious thing about his head wasa huge nose, or trunk rather, which hung down nearly half a foot belowthe upper jaw. His skin was covered with short hair of a light duncolour, and he had a tail and fins like a seal. While we were still indoubt what he could be, Mr Kilby overtook us, and laughingly seizingour hands ran up behind the monster. 

"Are you for a ride?" he exclaimed; and before Jerry suspected what wasgoing to happen he found himself seated on the monster's tail! "Thereyou go, on the back of a sea-elephant, " exclaimed Mr Kilby, giving thebeast a poke with his stick. "Hold on tight, and he can't hurt you. "

Jerry did hold on, not knowing whether to laugh or shriek out with fear. Away crawled, or whalloped rather, the elephant towards the water, MrKilby and I keeping alongside, ready to catch Jerry should he fall off. I soon saw there was no real danger, except the monster should rollround, when his weight would kill any one under him. Jerry alsoinstantly entered into the joke of the thing, and was delighted with theidea of being able to boast that he had ridden on a sea-elephant. 

"I shall be carried off into the depths of the ocean, and you, MrKilby, will have to be answerable to my disconsolate father, " he sangout, half laughing and half crying. "Good-bye, Harry; a pleasant voyageto you round the world. May you not be spirited away by a sea-monsterlike this. Oh! oh! help me off, though!--he'll have me into the sea toa certainty, and then he'll turn round and gobble me up--he will. Iknow he will. "

As the beast approached the beach, lest the joke might be carried toofar, we lent him a hand to dismount, while his steed crawled on assedately as before into the water, and, as he swam off, turned round hishead, as much as to say, "Hillo, master, are you not coming too? Justtry it, and see how you like a swim with me. " Mr Kilby told us thatthis animal had probably been sick, and had remained behind while hiscompanions had taken to the sea, which they always do on the approach ofsummer. In autumn they come on shore, and live in large herds in marshyplaces by the sides of rivers, eating grass like cattle. The females, which are without the snout, suckle their young, of which they havegenerally two at a time. As they are very slow in their movements, toafford themselves time to escape they have sentinels posted while theyare feeding, whose duty is to give notice of approaching danger. Theyare very good tempered and inoffensive, though the mothers will attackthose who molest their young. Mr Kilby told us of a man who had hisleg bitten off by a female, while he was attempting to carry away hercub. We now once more took to the boat. We had not been long underweigh before I saw Mr Burkett looking up anxiously at the sky. 

"I don't quite like the look of the weather, " he remarked. He had beena sailor, and had long been cruising about the islands. He wastherefore our pilot on the present occasion. "Brand, can you make outthe schooner anywhere?" Cousin Silas replied that he could nowhere seeher. "Then something has delayed her at the station, " observed Burkett. "As the tide is making in that direction, and the wind is fair, we'llrun down there instead of crossing the channel to the point proposed. "

This plan was agreed to, though it might have been wiser had we kept toour original purpose. For some time we made fine weather of it, butgetting into another channel, we found the wind first scant, and thendirectly against us. We had consequently no choice but to attempt tobeat up to the station. This delayed us much beyond the time weexpected to get there. We of course kept a bright look-out for theschooner, lest she should pass us; but evening was closing in apace, andstill we had a long way to go. However, Mr Burkett said he knewexactly where we were, and that we should be able before long to makeout a light in one of the cottages, which would guide us to the station. So we kept a press of sail on the boat, and looked out for the light. The boat stood well up to her canvas, but after passing high cliffs, andopening a channel from the sea, a sudden squall took her, and before wehad time to cast off the sheet, she was over on her beam ends. CousinSilas whipped out his knife and tried to cut the main-sheet, while I letgo the head-sheets, and Burkett jammed down the helm; but it was toolate--over went the boat. Our ballast, happily, consisting ofwater-casks, she did not sink, though she turned bottom upwards. It wasa moment of intense horror and dismay. I felt myself under the boat, entangled in the rigging! I had no time for thought. I felt that deathhad come, far away from home and friends. The next moment I was draggedout and placed on the keel--Cousin Silas was my preserver. Where waspoor Jerry, though? Again Silas dived, and brought him to the surface, handing him up near me. Mr Kilby and Mr Burkett were clinging on tothe gunwale, and now they all climbed up; and there we sat, our livesfor the moment preserved, but with very grave apprehensions as to whatshould become of us. Old Surley, when the boat capsized, kept swimminground her; and when we climbed up on her bottom, be followed ourexample, sitting as grave as a judge, thinking it was all right. Had webeen near inhabited shores, or in a channel frequented by vessels, wemight have had some hope of being rescued; but the schooner was the onlyvessel we could expect to pass that way, and the chances of her seeingus appeared very remote. Happily the wind fell, and there was not muchsea, or we should have been washed off our insecure hold. The currentwas running very strong, and Burkett was of opinion that it would driftus down towards the station; but it was a question whether we couldreach the place before the tide turned, and whether we should get nearenough to it to make our cries heard. These discussions occupied us forsome time, and perhaps assisted to divert our minds from the very awfulposition in which we were placed. Jerry and I were sitting near eachother astride on the keel at the after-part of the boat. Cousin Silashad climbed up over the bows, while Burkett and Kilby hung on, lyingtheir full length amidships. 

"I say, Brand, don't you think we could manage to right the boat?" saidBurkett. "If we could do it we might paddle on shore somewhere, and weshould, at all events, have no fear of starving. "

"We'll try what can be done, " answered Cousin Silas, slipping off intothe water, and we following his example. "All ready now--heave away. "We hove in vain. The sail, and something else heavy, which had got foulof the rigging, prevented us righting her. 

"We must give it up, I fear, " cried Burkett at last. "The oars wentadrift, I fear; and as we have no hats among us, we should have nothingto bail her out with. "

As it happened, we all wore light sea-caps, which would have helped usvery little in getting rid of the water. With sad hearts we had toabandon the attempt, and again to climb up into our places, considerablyexhausted with the efforts we had made. Night was now coming onrapidly, and the darkness which grew round us much increased the horrorsof opposition. 

"One thing I have to tell you, " said Burkett, --"there is always a lightkept burning at the station. If we sight it, we shall know whereaboutswe are, and be able to calculate our chances of reaching the shore. "

This, however, I thought very poor consolation. The light could be ofno use to us unless the tide took us near enough to it to allow of ourvoices being heard on shore. Fortunately we could still distinguish thedim outline of the coast as we drifted by, or we should not have knownin what direction to look out for the expected light. Cousin Silas saidvery little--he was anxiously looking out for the beacon, to us of suchvital importance. How dreadful, indeed, was our situation! I dared notthink--I dared not hope to escape--still I dared not turn my eye to thefuture. I waited with a sort of apathetic indifference to the result. No light appeared; the current was evidently setting us through thecentre of the passage out to sea, in the direction of thatstorm-surrounded promontory, Cape Horn. We must abandon even the remoteprospect of being drifted on shore on one of the southern portions ofthe Falklands. For some time there was a complete silence among us. Itwas broken by Cousin Silas. 

"My friends, " said he, in a calm, grave tone, but without a sign ofagitation, "has it occurred to you that we may soon be called upon todie? Are you prepared for death? Are you ready to stand in thepresence of the Judge of all the earth?"

No one answered him. What were their thoughts I do not know. Mine werevery terrible. I thought how hard it was for those young as Jerry and Iwere, to be summoned to leave the beautiful world which we expected toenjoy so much. I forgot that numbers young as ourselves had been calledaway. 

"It is a fact we should all of us attempt to realise, " continued Silas. "We must be judged. Have we gone to the Fountain which washes away allsins, to be cleansed from our iniquities? Do you trust on Christ, andChrist alone, as our Saviour, who will acknowledge us as his disciples--who will present us purified from our sins for acceptance by the Father?My dear friends, I put before you these great truths, because ourhappiness or our misery for that eternity which we are now approachingdepends on them. On what do you trust? Oh, be able to give asatisfactory answer before it is too late. " I will not give theconversation which followed. It was very brief. The result was, thateach of us turned ourselves to prayer, and prayed as we had never prayedbefore. Had we even been more disposed to levity than we were, we couldnot but have felt the earnestness of the appeal made to us--theimportance of the subject--the awful truths uttered by our companion. Darker grew the night--the sea-birds screamed above us--the distantcliffs grew dimmer, their outline less distinct--the rushing tide earnedus rapidly onwards--the cold wind pierced through our wet clothes, andsent the spray dashing over us. Shivering, benumbed, hungry and faint, I felt as if I could no longer retain my hold. Death--death, I thought, was truly approaching. Still, notwithstanding all Cousin Silas hadsaid, I did not so much picture the future; I did not even dread it as Imourned for what I was leaving--the distant home I loved so well, andall those who so dearly loved me. I thought of the anxiety theuncertainty of my fate would occasion, the grief when they learned thetruth; and bitter tears burst from my eyes, not for myself, but for themI loved. I mention the state of my mind and feelings on this awfuloccasion for a very important object. It agrees with my own experience, and all I have heard from others placed in similar situations;--a personwho has been living unprepared for death, for eternity, cannot on asudden change the whole current of his thoughts, and fix them on theawful state into which he is hurrying. If he has not before found peacewith God, there is little hope that he will seek it then. Oh no! thetime to do that is while we have health and strength, and hope to have along life before us to be consecrated to him. He has an eternityprepared for us--are we to give him alone the dregs of our short span oflife? He gave us everything--are we to return him only a few hurriedprayers and ejaculations of sorrow? We cry out for mercy--on what do weground our expectations of receiving it? Remember that God is a justGod--what, in justice, do we deserve? Oh! remember also that "in suchan hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh;" and as you value yourhappiness for eternity, say not in your heart, "My Lord delayeth hiscoming. " I was thinking of home, and all I loved there. Suddenly ashout brought my thoughts back to the sad reality of our own position. 

"The light! the light!--there it is--I see it clearly, " exclaimed Jerry, whose bright eyes had been constantly on the watch for the looked-forbeacon. 

"Where? where?" we all simultaneously cried out. 

"At a right angle with the boat's keel, as she now lies, on theport-side. There--there, it is quite bright. "

All of us looked intently in the direction he indicated. There was thelight--there could be no doubt about it, beaming forth cheerfullythrough the darkness. It was still a mile or more to the south alongthe shore past which we were drifting, and we certainly were nearly amile, if not a full mile, from the coast. 

"How near do you judge that we shall drift to the station?" asked CousinSilas of Burkett. 

He considered a little--"Not much nearer than we now are, " he answered. 

"What chance, then, have we of making ourselves heard, and getting helpfrom them?" again asked Cousin Silas. "None, " said Burkett, in a sadtone. 

"Then it must be done!" exclaimed Cousin Silas, in a firm tone. "Friends, one of us must endeavour to reach the shore by swimming. Therisk is great. It is a long way, but it is the only means by which wemay be saved. The strongest and best swimmer must make the attempt. "

"I wish that I were a better swimmer than I am, " said Burkett, "but I donot think I could do it. "

"I am but a poor one--I know that I could not, " added Kilby with a sigh. 

"I'll try, Mr Brand, " cried Jerry; "I can float for ever so long, if Ican't swim all the way. "

"I'll go with you, " said I, preparing to throw off my clothing as Jerrywas doing. 

"No, no; neither of you lads must go, " exclaimed Cousin Silas, eagerly. "I was prepared for the risk when I made the offer. Harry, tell mymother, if you escape, how I thought of her to the last. Never forgetwhat I have just been talking to you about. Gerard, your father willunderstand that I died in the discharge of my duty. Friends, good-bye;I trust that God, in his good pleasure, will enable me to bring youHelp. "

Saying these words, he handed us his clothes, which we hung across thekeel of the boat, and then he slid off into the dark water, and struckout directly for the shore. As soon as he was gone, old Surley seemedresolved to follow his example; and though we tried to hold him, hedashed off into the water, and away he went, swimming quietly by theside of Mr Brand. 

"One good thing is, the old dog will perhaps help him if he gets tired, "remarked Jerry. "I've heard of them doing such things. "

Cousin Silas calculated that, being carried to the south by the set ofthe current he should thus land directly under the light. With calm, steady strokes, he clove his way through the yielding fluid. Not asound escaped from his manly breast, nor could we detect the noise madeby his slowly-moving hands, as they separated the water before him. Howearnestly did we pray for him!--how eagerly did we watch him, till hishead was shrouded in darkness. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

ROUNDING CAPE HORN. 

On drifted the boat! Darkness was above us--darkness was around us!--that small beacon-light the only source of hope. Without it we musthave given way to despair. How eagerly, how intently we listened forthe sound of Cousin Silas's shout, should he have succeeded in reachingthe shore! We came almost abreast of the light; not a sound reached ourears. 

"It is a long distance for the voice of a man exhausted with swimming tobe heard, " said Burkett. "He scarcely, too, could have reached thereyet. " We thought not either. We relapsed into silence and listened. 

"O Burkett! what of the kelp?" suddenly exclaimed Kilby. "Can he everswim through it?"

My heart sunk within me as I heard the question; what man, even thestrongest swimmer, freshly taken to the water, could force his waythrough those tangled masses of sea-weed? My noble-hearted cousin, washe then to be the first victim among us?

"The shore is sandy thereabouts, and unusually free from kelp. There isa natural dock where the schooner lies, and clear water all round. "

These words spoken by Burkett again revived my hopes. Still not a soundreached us. We could distinguish no signal from the shore to give ushope. Blacker and blacker grew the night. More keenly whistled thewind. The sea-birds' shriek, echoing it seemed from the caverned rocks, sounded like a funeral wail. We fancied that many a fierce albatrosswas hovering over our heads, to pounce down on us when nature gave waybefore our sufferings. 

"Harry, Harry!" said Gerard in a low voice, "I don't think I can standthis much longer. Oh, my poor father! my poor father! how sorry he willbe to think that I should often have done things which I knew would vexhim. "

"Silence, " said Burkett; "we must try at all events and make ourselvesheard, lest Brand should have failed to reach the shore. Now get readyfor a shout; never fear cracking our voices. "

We were just then, as far as we could judge, directly abreast of thelight. Every instant after this would be making our case more hopeless. How we shouted, again and again! but all we heard in return was thediscordant shriek of the sea-fowl as they flew away startled at thenoise. So we drifted on. In vain we shouted; our voices grew weary, and we gave it up in despair. Our eyes were still fixed on the light. We sunk lower and lower. We held on to the boat, but every momentincreased our difficulty in so doing, the wind getting up, or rather wehad drifted into a more exposed part of the channel, and the boat beganto toss about, while the spray beat wildly over us. How long the timeseemed! Every moment was counted as a minute; every minute as an hour. We had to gripe on to the keel with all our might, or we should havebeen washed off. With the greatest difficulty we could retain our hold. Yet we could still see the light dimly glimmering in the distance; butas that grew fainter and fainter, so did our hopes of being rescued. Scarcely could we see the light; dimmer and dimmer it grew; then welooked--it had disappeared! The rapid current hurried us on. The wide, storm-tossed Southern Ocean lay spread out before us. Darkness wasaround us. No land could be distinguished. Hope of life fled. We allprayed. We encouraged each other. We resolved not to give way todespair while life remained. We had to speak in a loud tone to beheard. 

"Silence!" exclaimed Burkett abruptly. "I heard a sound. Yes, yes!See, see! Heaven be praised; that noble fellow Brand is safe, and wemay yet be saved!" As he spoke, a thin stream of light shot upwardsfrom the dark ocean, and broke into a thousand beautiful coruscationsabove our heads. "A rocket! the schooner had some on board forsignals, " cried Burkett. "She is under weigh to look for us!"

About the light we had no doubt; but it was scarcely possible that hecould have heard any sound. None, at all events, had reached our ears. A few moments before, we had been prepared to die; now life, with itsmany fancied advantages, occupied all our thoughts. With intenseeagerness we looked towards the spot whence the rocket had ascended. All was darkness. Suddenly a light burst forth; of intense brightnessit seemed, as it shed its rays over the foam-sprinkled, dancing water, and showed us clearly the spars, and rigging, and white canvas of theschooner. We shouted long and lustily, but we were too far off to beheard. Our hearts sunk, for she was standing away from us. Once morewe shouted. Our shout was answered from a different direction from thatwhere we had seen the schooner. Earnestly we listened. We coulddistinguish, too, the loud barking of a dog. 

"Old Surley is safe, at all events. I am glad of that, poor fellow, "exclaimed Gerard. "I like that old dog. "

We watched eagerly. A light was observed dancing over the seas. Againwe cried out. How cheery struck those sounds on our ears, which we hadthought would never hear the human voice again. In less than fiveminutes a whale-boat dashed up to us, with old Surley in her bow, and ather stern sat Cousin Silas. We were saved! and before we could speak, we sank down on our knees, to return thanks to Him whose right arm hadpreserved us. A few words served to tell us how Cousin Silas hadreached the shore a little way above the station, with old Surley as hiscompanion; how kindly he had been received, and how promptly every onerushed to man the boats to hasten to our rescue. 

In less than an hour we were at the station, when the schooner and theother boats soon returned. We were put to bed and rubbed with blankets, and had hot rum and water poured down our throats, so that very soon werecovered; nor did we suffer any material injury from the cold and wetto which we had been so long exposed. The schooner had been delayed, being unable to complete her cargo of seal-skins by the time expected. The next day we sailed, and in three days arrived safely in Stanley. Wefound the _Triton_ ready for sea, and only waiting our return to sail. I was in the cabin when Captain Frankland first saw Gerard after hearingof our escape. Tears stood in the old man's eyes as he took his son inhis arms; and I saw by the expression of his countenance how he lovedhim. Mr Brand always stood high in his estimation; when he heard ofwhat Silas had done, he stood higher still. I must own it, Jerry and Ivery soon forgot the awe-inspiring thoughts which had passed through ourminds while we expected so soon to be called into eternity. Our chiefconcern was, having lost our guns and gamebags. We were, therefore, highly delighted when Burkett and Kilby made their appearance on board, each with a very good fowling-piece in his hand, with powder-flasks andshot-belts, and all other requisites, and begged our acceptance of them, in remembrance, as they said, of the adventures we had gone throughtogether. 

"Thank you, thank you, " we exclaimed; "we'll not forget you, at allevents, wherever we go. "

We called our guns after the good-natured donors, and had their namesengraved on them. Many a wild-fowl did Burkett and Kilby knock over invarious parts of the world. Old Surley accompanied our visitors. MrBrand and he had become great friends after their long swim together;and Kilby, to whom he belonged, in the warmth of his heart presented himto Cousin Silas, who, very much to our satisfaction, did not refuse thegift. Thus old Surley became our companion in many a subsequentadventure. Just before we sailed, some very sad news reached thecolony. It was the death of Captain Allen Gardiner and his sixcompanions on the bleak coast of Terra del Fuego, where they had gonefor the purpose of forming a missionary establishment, with the hope ofspreading a knowledge of the Christian faith among the benightedinhabitants of those wild regions. 

Captain Gardiner had left England in the autumn of 1850, with DrWilliams, a surgeon, who went forth as a catechist; Mr Maidment, whoheld the same office; Erwin, a carpenter; and three Cornish fishermen, named Badcock, Bryant, and Pearce. The _Ocean Queen_, the ship in whichthey took their passage, proceeded on her passage to the Pacific, afterlanding them at Banner Cove in Picton Island, which will be found nearthe entrance of Beagle Channel, about half way between the Straits of LeMaire and Cape Horn. They had with them two large boats, called the_Pioneer_ and _Speedwell_, and two small punts, with tents and stores;but their supply of provisions appears to have been very scanty. Scarcely had they pitched their tents when the natives collected inconsiderable numbers, and threatened to attack them. To avoidcollision, they ultimately took to their boats, intending to seekanother spot where they might form their station. They put to sea; butin going out of the harbour the _Speedwell_, under charge of DrWilliams, got entangled among the rocks, and was nearly lost. All handson board suffered much. Captain Gardiner had in the meantime foundBloomfield Harbour, which he thought would suit them, but during hiscruise had lost the punts he had in tow. He at last returned to BannerCove; but on sailing again his boat got on shore. Then it wasdiscovered that all their powder had been left on board the ship, and sothey had no means of killing the wild-fowl on which they dependedchiefly for their support. Some of their provisions they buried here asa reserve. Again they put to sea; but their boats, which they clearlyhad not strength to manage, were beached on their way to BloomfieldHarbour. After a fortnight's delay, they got afloat and sailed on to aspot about forty miles along that iron-bound coast, called Spaniards'Harbour, which, after much consultation, they agreed would be thefittest place for their location. Here they arrived at the end ofJanuary 1851; but the _Pioneer_ was driven on shore, and irretrievablywrecked. So they collected what stores they could save, and draggedthem into a cave near the spot--her remains being hauled up on thebeach. Dr Williams, meantime, carried the _Speedwell_ further up theharbour, and anchored her there. Disasters followed them. A tidehigher than usual washed into the cave, and swept away a large portionof their stores; then a hut they had built under the rook caught fire;and Captain Gardiner barely escaped with his life; lastly, scurvy brokeout. Their provisions were running very short, so they sailed back toBanner Cove, to procure those they had left there. The provisions werefound; but the scanty store could only last them a few months. Theyseemed to have a foreboding of the fate which awaited them. Onconspicuous places on the rocks they wrote in large letters, "Go toSpaniards' Harbour. Hasten! hasten! We are suffering from sickness--weare nearly starving!" Words of the same signification were written onpaper, and buried in bottles where they might most likely be found. 

They reached Spaniards' Harbour by the end of March. Captain Gardinertook up his habitation at the cave, in the place he called Earnest Cove, to watch for those who, it was hoped, would come to their relief; whileDr Williams went to a more sheltered spot, up the harbour, at the mouthof Cook's River, with the _Speedwell_. The months passed slowly by. Their food was all gone. They caught and ate mice, a fox, a fish halfdevoured, a penguin and shag--most unwholesome food--and then musselsand other shell-fish; and then the Antarctic winter set in; and lastly, through disease and starvation, one by one they died. They had kept adaily record of their proceedings--of their sufferings. While they hadstrength, they occasionally assisted each other. The last effort of thetwo survivors was to go on crutches to Cook's River, to learn the stateof Dr Williams, who had for long not come to them; but their weak statecompelled them to abandon the attempt, and they returned to die inEarnest Cove. Maidment had been sleeping in the cave--he died there;Captain Gardiner near the remains of the _Pioneer_, which had beenhauled up on the beach, and with which he had formed a slight shelterfor himself from the weather. They had kept their journals to the last;and wonderful as it may seem, though storms had raged and rains hadfallen, those journals had been preserved. Captain Gardiner's lastwritten words were addressed to Dr Williams, of whose death he was notaware:--

"Dear Dr Williams, --The Lord has seen fit to call home another of ourlittle company. Our dear departed brother left the boat on Tuesdayafternoon, and has not since returned. Doubtless he is in the presenceof his Redeemer, whom he served faithfully. Yet a little while, andthough . .. The Almighty, to sing praises . .. Throne. I neither hungernor thirst, though . .. Days . .. Without food . .. Maidment's kindness tome . .. Heaven. "

In October a schooner was despatched from Monte Video with provisions, under the charge of a Captain Smyley. Too late he reached Spaniards'Harbour, and having just time to visit the _Speedwell_ in Cook's River, a gale springing up, he was compelled to put to sea without ever landingat Earnest Cove. In the meantime, Captain Morshead, in the _Dido_frigate, having sailed from England, was ordered to call at PictonIsland with relief for the party. After continuing the search for sometime, they were about to abandon it, when the inscriptions on the rockswere discovered, calling on them to go to Spaniards' Harbour. There the_Dido_ proceeded. Maidment's body was found in the cave, CaptainGardiner's by the side of the boat, with their journals and booksscattered around. Their remains, with those found at Cook's River, werecarefully interred in a grave on the beach--the funeral service beingread by one of the lieutenants. The colours of the ship and boats werestruck half-mast, and three volleys of musketry fired over the graves. The journals--not a word of which was, as I have said, renderedillegible--were carefully forwarded to England, and, like voices fromthe grave, have undoubtedly instigated many to aid those who seek tospread the truth of the gospel among the savage inhabitants of thosewild regions. 

"Those noble Christian men have not suffered in vain; and yet they metthe just doom of those who neglect to take those precautions which arenecessary for the preservation of life. God has, in his infinitewisdom, given us reason and forethought; and that reason and forethoughtwe ought to employ as much when engaged in his service, as when occupiedabout the ordinary affairs of life. " This remark was made by CaptainFrankland, and I have often since reflected on it; and I trust that byrepeating it, it may tend to guide the plans of those labouring inobjects for the spread of God's great name and glory, and all theblessings of the gospel throughout the world. The particulars of thenarrative I have thus briefly given had just reached Stanley, and werethe subject of conversation among all those who had any idea above thatof the price of seal-skins and the profits of the last wreck on theirshores. 

With a fair wind and fine weather we sailed to double Cape Horn, intending to pass through the Straits of Le Maire. Often on the passagedid Gerard and I and Cousin Silas talk of the fate of Captain Gardiner, and long to visit the spot where he and his brave companions died, andto see the strange wild natives it had been his ardent desire to bringto a knowledge of the truth. The favourable breeze carried us throughthe straits, and as the well-defined outline of the rocky shores ofTerra del Fuego rose before us, we gazed with deep interest on a landwhich had been the scene of the sad catastrophe now occupying ourthoughts. 

To the west and north of us were numerous islands clustering together, of various sizes, with deep channels between them, most of themconsisting of rocky mountains, often rising in perpendicular precipicesfrom the ocean, and shooting upwards to a vast height in towering peaksand rugged crags, untrod by the feet of man or beast. Along the shoresof these numerous isles and islets are gulfs and bays, and coves andcreeks without number, often with level ground in their neighbourhoodproducing a somewhat rich vegetation, and forming a great contrast tothe terrifically wild and barren tracts which are the chiefcharacteristics of the region. Bold, precipitous headlands, with darkbarren elevations behind them, appeared on our right as we skirted thenorthern shores of the straits. We made Cape Good Success, and a littleway beyond it, crossed abreast of the mouth of Spaniards' Harbour, intowhich rolls the whole set of the South Atlantic. Then standing on tillnear the entrance of the Beagle Channel, up which a little way liesPicton Island, we stood away towards Cape Horn, so as to steer closeround it into the Pacific. Captain Frankland had often been here, andhad once brought up in a harbour for many days from bad weather, when hehad surveyed many of the passages in his boats. I was below; Gerardrushed into the cabin. 

"We are off the Cape! we are off the Cape!" he exclaimed; "it is a sightworth seeing. " I hurried on deck, and thence I beheld rising not a milefrom us, in all its solitary grandeur, that far-famed promontory CapeHorn, --a lofty pyramid frowning bold defiance towards the storm-tossedconfines of those two mighty oceans which circle the earth. Dark cloudsrested on its summit, foam-crested waves with ceaseless roar dashedfuriously at its base, the sea-fowl flew shrieking round it; and as Igazed at it, I could not help thinking how an old heathen would havebelieved it the very throne of the god of storms. Well has it earnedits fame. Scarcely were we round the Cape, when the wind, which hadhitherto been favourable, shifted suddenly to the westward andsouthward, and dark clouds came rushing up from that quarter in hothaste, like a stampede of wild animals on the prairies of America. Thelong swell which had been rolling up from the east was met by asuccession of heavy waves torn up by the fierce gale blowing along thewhole course of the Southern Pacific, creating the wildest confusion onthe world of waters. A few minutes before it seemed we were glidingsmoothly on before a favourable breeze, under topsails andtop-gallant-sails; now the ship was madly plunging into the foam-coveredtossing seas. 

"All hands shorten sail!" cried Mr Renshaw, the first officer. 

"All hands shorten sail!" was repeated along the decks. 

"I thought how it would be when I saw the nightcap on the top of theHorn, " muttered old Ben Yool. "We shall have a sneezer before we havedone with it, and it may be this day month won't see us round the Cape. "

Old Ben's prognostications were not very pleasant, for we were anxiousto be round the Cape among the wonders we expected to behold in thePacific. Scarcely was the order given, than the crew were in therigging. Top-gallant-sails were quickly stowed, three reefs were takenin the topsails, and the courses were brailed up and furled. This wasdone not a moment too soon: the mighty seas came rolling up mountainsbeyond mountains, with wide valleys between them, into whose depths theship plunged down from each watery height as it came under her, seemingas if she could never rise again. Still once more she was liftedupwards among showers of spray, which flew off from the white-crestedseas, deluging us fore and aft. Overhead the wild scud flew fast, thestern Cape looked more solitary and grand, and the sea-fowl withdiscordant shrieks flew round and round, closing in the circles theywere forming till they almost touched our masts. The ship struggledbravely onward on the starboard-tack, rapidly increasing her distancefrom the land, but making very little way to the westward. 

More than once I held my breath and clenched my teeth, as I felt theship sending forward, and saw the wide, deep valley into which she wasplunging, and the long, huge, watery height rolling on towards us, andlooking as if it must overwhelm us. And then, when having, by a miracleit seemed, escaped the threatened danger, to see another valley just asdeep and wide, and another mountain just as big--and to know that thoughwe might rush ever so fast onward, we should find valley after valleyjust as deep, and mountain after mountain just as big for days and days, or weeks to come, perhaps; when, too, I heard the howling and whistlingof the wind, and the creaking and complaining of the timbers andbulkheads, and the roar and dash of the seas, --I own that I could nothelp wishing that my feet were planted on some firm ground, and that Iwere enjoying the wild scene from a distance. 

"O Jerry, where are we going to?" I exclaimed, when we first met thefull swell of the Pacific. 

"Going? why, to the west coast of South America, and to RobinsonCrusoe's Island, and to all sorts of wild places, " he answered, laughing. "We have rather a rough road before us, as you say; but nevermind, Harry, you'll soon get accustomed to it, and a little bumping isgood for the digestion, they say. "

Jerry was right; in a very short time I was as much at home as any onein a gale. 

The puff we had got off the east coast of America showed me what a galewas; but that was mere child's play to the storm now blowing. When Ithought anything was at its worst, when matters wore a most gloomy andthreatening aspect, I could not but admire the coolness andself-possession of Captain Frankland and his officers. They seemed totake it all as a matter of course, and walked the deck as composedly asin a calm, only they had to hold on pretty tightly at times to theweather-railings, when the ship, with a sudden jerk, was sent over toport, and then back again almost as far on the other side. It was fine, however, to see the tall figure of Captain Frankland, as he balancedhimself, leaning backward when the ship shot downwards into the troughof the sea; and I soon gained confidence from the perfect composure heexhibited. Very soon the wind came round more to the northward of west, and the ship looked up rather nearer to her course round the Cape. Oursatisfaction, however, was soon destroyed by the redoubled fury withwhich the gale came down on us. The captain beckoned Mr Renshaw andMr Brand to come to him. They stood in earnest conversation on thequarter-deck. Darkness was coming on--I could just see their figuresgrouped together. With startling energy Mr Renshaw had just given theorder to furl the fore and mizzentop-sail, to heave the ship to, whenthere was a loud crash. 

"Down! down for your lives!" shouted the captain. The main-topmast hadbeen carried away. Masts, and yards, and blocks, and rigging, camehurtling down on deck in one mass of ruin, injuring two or three of ourmen, and knocking one poor fellow overboard. In vain an attempt wasmade to save him. To lower a boat would have been madness. Hisdeath-shriek sounded in our ears as he dropped astern, and soon sunkbeneath the dark, troubled waters. We had little time to think of hisfate--the fate of many a gallant seaman. Our own danger was great. Themates sprung forward to clear the wreck, and to secure as well as couldbe done the other masts. The fear was that the fore-topmast andmizzen-topmast, if not the lower masts, deprived of their support, mightgo likewise. The wreck was quickly cleared, and the masts got on board. To stand on or to heave to were equally out of the question. It wasnecessary to put the ship before the wind. The mizzentop-sail wasfurled, the helm put up, and the ship was to be wore round. Now camethe danger. In wearing, if a sea strikes a ship abeam, there is a greatrisk of her bulwarks being stove in, and of everything being washed fromher decks. Every one held on to whatever he thought most secure. Theship wore steadily round. A huge sea came rolling on, but already thefore-yard was squared; it struck her on the counter, and she flewunharmed before it. Instead, however, of running to the eastward, shewas headed up towards the land. No one turned in that night. Sharpeyes were on the look-out for land. Cape Horn, like some giganticspirit of the deep, was seen towering up amid the raging ocean. On wekept. Once more we were under shelter of the land, the mizzen-top-sailwas set, and we ran up just outside those islands which clusterthereabout so thickly, till at daylight we were off the mouth of achannel, up which we ran, and dropped our anchor in a fine land-lockedharbour. 

"We are far better off here than battering about outside, and knockingthe ship to pieces, " observed Mr Pincott, the carpenter. "Now, if wecould but get a fresh spar for a topmast, we should soon be allataunto. "

As, however, we were not likely to find spars large enough for thepurpose in this part of the world, it was necessary to make use of thebroken one. While this work was going on, it was resolved to hold somecommunication with the natives. A boat was lowered, under charge of MrBrand--Gerard and I and Mr McRitchie going in her, and two hands, as nomore could be spared from attending to the repairs of the ship. We wereall armed, but the captain directed us to be very careful in ourintercourse with the wild people we might meet. We had with us sometrinkets, glass necklaces, bracelets, rings, gilt lockets, knives, scissors, and other trifles, to barter with them, or to win theirgood-will. After pulling some way, we reached a sandy cove surroundedwith trees of good height, and a quantity of brushwood below them. Wesaw several wigwams among the trees, and two canoes hauled up on thebeach. Beyond the wood were ranges of high hills, the nearest ascendingalmost precipitously from the water, while those further off were worthyof the name of mountains. It was altogether a very beautiful andattractive scene--the more so, that it was totally unexpected in thatregion. No natives were visible, so we ran the boat on shore, andlanded. The wigwams were in shape like those of the North AmericanIndians composed of a number of long sticks stuck in the ground in acircle, and bending inwards till their other ends met, and were securedtogether with a band. Instead of being covered with birch bark, thesewere thatched very neatly with dry grass or reeds, and formed very warmabodes. In the centre a pile of ashes showed where their fires wereplaced. Their canoes were very like those of North America, being builtof bark, with ribs neatly formed, and kept in shape by several beamsathwartships secured to the gunwale. Near the wigwams were two otherpartly finished canoes. While we were examining these rude habitationsand means of locomotion, a shout from the two men left in the boat madeus look up, and in an opening in the wood we saw some dozen or moresavages advancing stealthily towards us. Mr Brand, the instant he sawthem, told us to fall back behind him; and he then advanced alone, patting his stomach, --the sign of amity among these people. It is asmuch as to say, I suppose, "I have had a good dinner, and I hope thatyou have had one also. " They, in return, all shouted and gesticulatedmost vehemently, pointing to their mouths in their eagerness to speak, not being aware, probably, that we did not understand a word they said;however, at last they began to pat their stomachs, and then we knew thatall was right. Accordingly we advanced to meet them, patting ourstomachs with one hand, and holding out the other to grasp theirs. Theywere of a brownish copper colour, well formed and athletic, with longshaggy hair--their only clothing being a piece of skin thrown over oneshoulder. In such a climate as that of Terra del Fuego, their beingable to go without clothes shows that they must be of a very hardynature. We were soon surrounded by some thirty or more of these veryunprepossessing gentlemen, all talking most furiously to us or at us, some patting us on the back, and others examining our handkerchiefs, andcaps, and buttons, or any article of our dress they could get hold of. We patted them on the back in return, but as they had no clothes, wetook hold of their hair and admired it; and Jerry must needs catch onefellow by the nose, and assured him that he had a very handsome nob! Inthis way we in a short time became excellent friends, though, as we hadno interpreter, we could only communicate with each other by signs. When they found that we did not understand what they said, they hallooedlouder and louder; and as they had voices of most stentorian power, theyat last spoke to us in a perfect roar, till they almost deafened us! Bytheir tones we fancied that they were saying, "Well, if you cannotunderstand that, you must be desperately stupid fellows. "

When they found that we had come as friends, they invited us toaccompany them to the village, or, as Jerry called it, their wigwamment, about a quarter of a mile off, in a sheltered nook among the trees. Fearing no treachery, we agreed, and we walked along in the mostamicable way, they slapping us on the back, and we slapping them, whilethey often indulged in the most uproarious shouts of laughter. Stoppingsuddenly, they asked us by signs if we were hungry, and immediatelygathered a number of fungi, which grew in clusters round the roots of atree which Mr McRitchie told us was an evergreen beech. They handedthem to Jerry and me, at the same time patting us on the stomach. 

"What are these toadstools for, old gentleman?" exclaimed Jerry, holdingthem up and laughing. "They don't want us to eat these, surely, for ourluncheon?"

"They do, though, " said Mr McRitchie. "They are the edible fungi. Just take a piece; the people hereabouts eat them largely. "

Jerry on this took a large mouthful, but spat it out, declaring that hewould just as soon eat shoe-leather. I ate a small piece, but thoughtit tasted very insipid, and not very digestible. The savages lookedastonished at our want of taste, and, to show that they appreciated theproduction more than we did, crammed quantities of it into their mouths. 

"Come, Mr McRitchie, for the advancement of science you must eat some!"exclaimed Jerry, handing him a big fungus. 

This was a favourite expression of the doctor's; nor, to do him justice, was he slack to put his principles into practice. I have since oftenremarked in England the roots of beech trees completely surrounded withmasses of fungi not unlike them in appearance. The doctor ate enough toredeem our character with the savages, and then we proceeded in the sameamicable way as before, till we reached their village. It consisted often wigwams, some of considerable size, capable of holding twelve ormore people. They were neatly thatched with straw, and their doorwayshad a piece of carved wood, so as to form an arch overhead. Severallittle, long-backed, sharp-eyed, hairy terriers came barking out andsnapping at our heels, and wore very annoying till they were called offby their masters. In and about the huts were a number of women andchildren, the former far from unpleasant in their looks, though as dirtyas the men. Indeed, from their appearance, we had reason to doubtwhether any of the tribe had ever washed in their lives. The women hada modest, retiring look; and the children seemed in no way frightenedwhen they saw us. Cousin Silas had a happy knack of making friends withsavages, and especially with their children. His secret, I found, wasgreat gentleness. While Mr McRitchie, Jerry, and I sat down on a logfacing the huts, he advanced slowly towards the nearest group ofchildren with some bracelets and lockets, which he now first produced, singing and dancing at the same time, so as to attract their attention. They stared at him with open eyes, but showed no inclination to run awaytill he got near enough to slip the string of a locket over the neck ofthe tallest child--a little girl--and a bracelet over the arm ofanother; and then, taking their hands, he began slowly to move round andround in a circle, beckoning to the rest of the children to join hands. This they readily did, and then two or three of the men--their fathersprobably--joined the circle, and we got up and united our hands to thoseof the savages, and then several of the women came; and there we were--Mr Brand, and the doctor, and Jerry, and I, and the savages--men, women, and children--all singing, and dancing, and jumping, and laughinglike mad, till we were fain to stop for want of strength to go on. Toshow their satisfaction, the savages gave us all round someover-affectionate hugs, which, besides nearly squeezing the breath outof our bodies, were unpleasant on account of the very dirty condition ofthe huggers. We would not tell them that we did not like it, so we hadto submit to the ceremony as often as they thought fit to perform it, and to put the best face we could on the matter. The dance over, theyinvited us into a wigwam. It was ten feet in diameter, with a fire onthe ground in the centre. Round it were heaps of dry grass, on whichapparently they slept; while bunches of grass were hung to the roof, probably to dry. The smoke found its way out of the doorway, andthrough a small aperture, where the poles at the apex joined. There weall sat round the fire, squatting on our heels, and talking away as fastas our tongues could move, as if we were keeping up a very interestingconversation. The smoke and heat, not to mention the want ofcleanliness in our hosts, made us very glad to get out again into thefresh air. Besides the fungi I have spoken of, the Fuegians livechiefly on fish and the shell-fish they gather on the rocks, though theyeat birds and grubs of all sorts--and, I fancy, nothing comes amiss tothem. We observed that a platform of clay was placed in each canoe, onwhich to place a fire. There was also a sort of well at the bottom ofthe canoe, and out of it a man was constantly employed in bailing thewater, which leaked in through the seams. The men we met were of goodsize, and robust; but their legs were thin and weak, owing to theirsitting so much in their canoes and walking so little. When by degreeswe produced our gifts, and distributed them among the party--men, women, and children--their pleasure knew no bounds. They danced, and laughed, and shouted into our ears louder than ever; so that we thought it wouldbe as well to be off while they remained in such excellent humour. Theywere much astonished at seeing the doctor pull out his note-book andwrite in it. The doctor, to indulge them, made a few clear strokes; anda young man, who had attached himself to Jerry and me, imitated them ina wonderful way, considering his rough and uncouth hand. We had heardthem making a number of strange sounds, and at last we discovered thatthey were imitating our words. 

"Good-bye, " said Jerry, as we got up to go away. 

"Good-bye, " replied our young friend as clearly as possible, seemingfully to comprehend the meaning of the words. 

"You speak capital English, " said Jerry, laughing. 

"Capital English, " repeated the savage, shouting with a laughter whichwas quite catching, as if he had said something very clever. 

Then, having gone through another process of hugging, we proceeded tothe boat, accompanied by our new friends. Having refitted the topmast, we waited till the gale had blown itself out; and once more putting tosea, we had a very quick passage round Cape Horn, now no longer clothedin storms, to Valparaiso, the sea-port of Santiago, the capital ofChili. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

ADVENTURES IN CHILI. 

One morning, when it was my watch on deck, soon after dawn the cheerysound was heard of "Land on the starboard-bow!" I looked out; and asdaylight increased, there appeared, as if rising out of the ocean intheir desolate grandeur, capped with snow and towering high above theclouds, the lofty summits of a range of mountains trending away northand south far as the eye could reach. They were the giant Cordilleras. On we sailed with a fresh breeze. The sun ascended with stately pacefrom behind them, and then a mist arose and shrouded their base. Hourafter hour we ran on, and yet we seemed not to have got nearer; tillonce more the mists lifted, and wild, rocky, and barren heights slopedupwards before us from the ocean. Full sixty miles were gone over fromthe time those snowy peaks were first seen till we reached Valparaiso, far away down at their base. We must have been a hundred and twentymiles off them at sunrise. 

Coming so suddenly from the wild regions of Tierra del Fuego and theunattractive Falklands, Valparaiso appeared to us a very beautifulplace. It is very irregularly built--at the bottoms of valleys, on thetops of hills, and on their steep and sometimes rugged sides, risingdirectly out of the blue ocean, with a succession of range after rangeof lofty mountains behind it the Cordilleras towering in the backgroundbeyond all. Gerard and I were very eager to get on shore; so was oldSurley. He wagged his tail, and ran to the ship's side and barked, andlooked up in our faces and looked at the land, as much as to say, "How Ishould like to have a scamper along the beach there!"

"Yes, you may all three go, if Mr McRitchie will take care of you, "said the captain, laughing. Fleming got leave to accompany us, as hehad been unwell for some weeks, and the captain thought a trip on shorewould do him good. We found that there would be time to get right upamong the mountains, where we hoped to find some good sport, our greatambition being to kill a guanaco--the name given to the llama in itswild state. A number of boatmen good-naturedly helped us to land on thebeach, with our guns and carpet-bags. It was market-day; the market wasfull of vegetables and other provisions, and the place bore a verycheerful aspect. We heard that, in spite of the want of level ground, the town has very rapidly improved in the last few years. The countrygenerally, since order has been established, has become prosperous. Everybody praises the climate, and perhaps there is not a finer in theworld; for, although hot in summer, the air is dry and pure, andtempered by the sea-breeze, which regularly sets in every forenoon. Inthe harbour were two or three old hulks, the remains of the fleetcommanded by Lord Dundonald, when he performed one of his most gallantexploits--the cutting out of the _Esmeralda_ frigate, belonging to theSpaniards, from the port of Callao. Fleming was with him, and told meall about it. 

"What a lucky adventure!" I remarked. 

"No, Mr Harry, it wasn't luck, it was prudence and forethought whichgained the day with him then at all times. There never was a moreprudent, and never a braver man. He feared nothing, and took everyprecaution to insure success. We were three days getting ready. Wewere all dressed in white, with a blue mark on the left arm--160blue-jackets and 80 marines--and armed with cutlass and pistols--allpicked men. Every man knew exactly what he had to do--some to attackone part of the ship, some another; others to go aloft and loose pails, some to the main, and others to the foretop. The admiral sent all theships of the squadron out of the bay, except his own flag-ship. Atmidnight we were told off into fourteen boats. A line of booms had beenplaced across the mouth of the inner harbour, with only a narrowentrance. Just then the admiral's boat, which led, ran foul of aSpanish guard-boat; but he whispered to the crew, that if they gave anyalarm he would kill every one of them; so they held their tongues, andwe were quickly alongside the _Esmeralda_. The Spaniards were asleep, and before they had time to seize their arms, we were upon them, thefrigate's cables were cut, and we were running out of the harbour. Hadthe admiral's directions been followed in all points, we should have cutout every craft in the harbour, and a rich treasure-ship to boot; but hehad traitors serving under him, and all was not done which ought to havebeen done. " Fleming told me also how Lord Dundonald took the strongforts of Valdivia, to the south of Chili, by storm, with his singleship's company; but I must not now repeat the story. 

We engaged two caleches, rattle-trap vehicles, like gigs with hoods, tocarry us to Santiago, the capital of Chili. One horse was in theshafts; another on the left side was ridden by a postilion on ahigh-peaked saddle, with a long knife at the saddle-bow; he beingdressed with a straw hat over a silk handkerchief tied round his headand the ends hanging down behind, a short jacket, coarse pantaloons, high boots, huge spurs, and a poncho hanging over one shoulder. Jerryand Mr McRitchie went together, Fleming accompanied me, and we had oldSurley, who sat up between our legs, looking sagaciously out before him. Away we rattled. The road was much better than we had expected to findit in a place so far away from England as this seemed. My idea was, that once round Cape Horn, we should not see anything but paintedsavages or long-tailed Chinese; and I was quite surprised to find goodroads and carriages in Chili. We slept two nights on the road; admiredSantiago, which is full of laughing gas, the air is so fine; it stands1700 feet above the level of the sea. Then we started off on horsebacktowards the Cordilleras, to a spot called the Snow Bank, whence Santiagois regularly supplied with snow all the year round. At the capital wefell in with an English sailor, Tom Carver by name, who had served withFleming under Lord Cochrane, and having married a Chilian wife, hadsettled in the country. He came as our interpreter, for without him aguide we procured would have been of very little service. Leaving ourhorses at a small rancho, or farm-house, we set off with our guns, Fleming and the guide carrying most of the provisions, though we each ofus had a share. The scenery was wild and grand in the extreme, consisting of the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, of rugged heights, andof dark glens and gorges, with precipices which went sheer down manyhundred feet below us. We had not gone far before we came to asuspension bridge made of hides, cut into strips and twisted together, thrown across a fearful gorge. Bundles of sticks placed on the ropesform the road. It was full of holes, and as I looked through, far downinto the torrent foaming below, I could not help feeling how verydisagreeable it would be to slip through. Surley followed at my heels, and even he did not like it. We now reached a wide valley, on the sidesof which, far up on the mountains, we descried a number of animals, which Jerry and I concluded, without doubt, were the much-desiredguanacoes. Mr McRitchie, with Simmons, the sailor, and the guide, wereahead; Fleming was with us; so we agreed, as we could not fail of beingseen by our companions, we would climb the mountain in chase of thegame. Up, up we climbed, old Surley after us. He seemed to think itvery good fun; but Fleming, not accustomed to such exercise, was soonblown. 

"Come along, Fleming, " cried Jerry; "we shall soon be up to the beasts;don't give in, man. "

"No, Mr Gerard, you go on, and leave me to follow you slowly, " answeredFleming. "If I stop, you'll easily find me again. "

We, of course, were ready enough to follow this advice; so Jerry, Surley, and I, pushed on up the mountain as fast as we could climbtowards the nearest herd of guanacoes. They were of a light-browncolour, of about the size of a stag. I should describe the animals wesaw as having small heads, with large and brilliant eyes, thick lips, and ears long and movable. The neck was very long, and kept perfectlyupright, while the haunches were slightly elevated; so that they lookedsomewhat like little camels--the purpose of which, indeed, they servewhen domesticated. We could see several herds in different parts on theside of the mountain. There was one low down near the path in thedirection the doctor and his companions had taken. They were feedingquietly, when one looked up, then another, and away the whole herdscampered at a tremendous rate up the mountain. We thought that thesight of the doctor's party had put them to flight; and it showed usthat we must be cautious in approaching the herd we had marked. OldSurley was very eager to be after them, and we had great difficulty inkeeping him back. 

The air was keen and at the same time hot. There was not a cloud in theintense blue sky, and the rays of the sun came down with great force, and blistered our skin and peeled our noses till we were afraid oftouching them; but we did not think much about that trifle while theguanacoes were in sight. Concealing ourselves as much as possiblebehind rocks and bushes, and here and there an evergreen quillay-tree, we got nearer and nearer to them. Sometimes we got behind clumps of thegreat chandelier-like cactus, whose sturdy green twisted stems affordedus capital shelter. 

"It is lucky we are not very big, or we should not be able to hideourselves so well, " observed Jerry as we crept on. The valley lay farbelow us, with steep precipices and a brawling torrent, with rocks andshrubs scattered about; and high above us wild jagged peaks andsnow-covered mountain-tops. The stillness of the air was mostextraordinary. Not a sound reached our ears. Never have I been in awilder or more magnificent scene. I do not know what our four-footedcompanion thought of it, but he certainly enjoyed the idea of catching aguanaco--so did we, indeed, more than anything else. We had got withinfive hundred yards of the nearest without being discovered. Hitherto wehad gone on very cautiously. Our eagerness overcame our discretion. Weleft cover and ran on exposing ourselves to view. 

"Stop, stop, Harry!" sang out Jerry. "We are near enough to fire; stopand let us recover our wind. " The advice was good, and I was about tofollow it, when one of the guanacoes turned his head and saw us. Beforewe could bring our rifles to our shoulders, they were off like the wind. Jerry was going to fire after them but I stopped him, pointing toanother herd a short distance further off, along the side of themountain. 

"You'll frighten them too if you do, " I observed. "Let us try to get upto them more cautiously. " One great difficulty was to keep Surley back, or he would have followed the herd till he had caught one of them, orbroken his neck over a precipice. Consoling ourselves for ourdisappointment with the hopes of getting near enough up to the next herdto fire before being seen, we scrambled on as before. Now and then weglanced behind us to mark the spot where we had left Fleming, while wekept an eye in the direction Mr McRitchie had taken; and on that broadexposed mountain-side, we did not think it possible that we could misseach other. We climbed on, therefore, without any misgivings as to howwe should find our way back again. I fastened my handkerchief throughSurley's collar to keep him back. He was thus able also sometimes tohelp me up a steep place or a rock quicker than I could have got bymyself. Jerry followed close behind me. The distance was, we found, greater than we expected to the next herd. We were, fortunately, toleeward of them, and not one of them noticed our approach. We haltedbehind a thick cactus. There was a rock some three hundred yardsfurther off, and within a good shot of the herd. 

"Now, Jerry, you mark the fellow to the left; I'll take the one to theright, " said I, almost trembling in my eagerness. "Don't let us firetill we get up to the rock; then rest a moment, and it will be hard ifwe don't hit one of them. If we miss, we'll see what Surley can do forus. " Jerry nodded his agreement to this proposal, and crouching down, we crept on till we reached the rock. For an instant we waited torecover breath, then we lifted up our rifles and rested them on a ledgeof the rock. It would be impossible to have got a better aim. Crack--crack--we both fired. Off scampered the herd up the mountain. 

"We've missed! we've missed!" we cried. "Oh, bothera--No, no! there'sone fellow staggering. The one I fired at, " I exclaimed. "Hurrah!"

"There's another! See, see!--he's over--no! he's up again, and awaywith the rest, " sung out Jerry. "Let Surley after him, Harry. He'llbring him down. Hurrah, hurrah, what luck!"

With such like exclamations we darted from behind our cover, and ran asfast as our legs could carry us up to the guanaco I had hit; whileSurley, hounded on by us, went off in hot chase after the animal Jerryhad wounded. We were soon up to the guanaco I had hit. Poor beast! hestaggered on, and then over he went on his side. He looked up at uswith his mild eyes, as much as to say, "Oh, you cruel white men, whocome from far-off across the seas, you have well-nigh destroyed theoriginal people of the country, and now you would wage war against us, its harmless four-footed inhabitants. " He tried to spit at us, but hisstrength failed him, and in an instant more he was dead. As soon as wesaw this, off we went after Surley. He had singled a guanaco out of theherd, and marks of blood on the grass showed that it had been wounded. Old Surley was among them. Then one beast was seen to drop astern. Slower and slower he went, kicking out all the time at the dog, who ranleaping up to try and catch hold of his neck. He got a kick, which senthim rolling over, but he was up again. 

"Hurrah!" cried Jerry. "He has him now, though. Remember, Harry, that's the beast I shot. "

On we ran and clambered to get up with Old Surley and the guanaco, whichwas still struggling to get away. He made several desperate springsforward, but he struck out with his heels and spat in vain, for thestanch dog was not to be shaken off. He was rapidly getting weaker--hestruggled less violently--at last over he came, and we saw there was nochance of his escaping. We stopped, and, like good sportsmen, loadedour rifles in case they might be required. By the time we got up theguanaco was dead, and Old Surley was standing over him, lookingwonderfully proud of his victory. What was to be done with the game nowthat we had got it? was the question. We could not carry it away, foreach animal was fully four feet high, and eight or nine long. We lookedabout for marks by which we should know the spot where the last killedlay. We thought that we had found some that we could not mistake, but, still more certainly to recognise it, we piled up all the stones andbushes we could collect on a rock, till we had made a considerable heap, which we thought would be conspicuous at a distance. We then began toconsider that it was time to look about for our companions. We couldnowhere make them out, but we had no doubt as to easily finding the spotwhere we had left Fleming. First, however, we had to go and mark theplace more distinctly where we had left my guanaco. It took us as longto descend the mountain as to climb it; for we often came to steepplaces which we had to make a circuit to avoid. We reached the edge ofa small precipice, where we had a tolerably clear view of the hill-sidebelow us, and of the valley beyond. In ascending, we had passed on oneside of the rock. We looked about to discover the spot where we hadleft the guanaco. There it lay; but not a hundred yards from it we sawanother animal approaching it by stealthy steps. We watched itnarrowly. 

"It must be a big cat!" cried Jerry. 

"No, no; it is a puma--the South American lion, " I sang out. "Oh, if wecan but get a shot at him it will be fine!"

He was so intent on the prospect of a feast off the dead guanaco that hedid not see us. He crawled up near it, and then sprang on the carcass. We did not like to have our game destroyed, so we could not helpshouting out, "Get off from that, you beast!" Our voices startled thepuma, and looking round and seeing us, and Surley approaching with anangry growl, he trotted off down the mountain. We agreed that he wasprobably an old fellow, and that, having lost his activity, he could notcatch the live animals. We both fired, but we were not near enough, andmissed him. Away he bounded down the mountain without once stopping tolook behind him. 

"I vote we take some slices out of our friend here, " said Jerry. Hissuggestions were generally very practical. "I don't see why we shouldrun the risk of losing our dinner altogether. The chances are thatanother of these pumas finds him out and leaves us but poor pickings. "I agreed to the wisdom of the suggestion, and so we supplied ourselveswith enough meat for all the party. We then raised a mark near ourguanaco as we had done before. 

"That will do famously, " said Jerry, finishing the heap with a longpiece of cactus. "Now, let us go and look for Fleming. The doctor andguides will be back soon. I'm getting very hungry, I know, and if theydon't come I vote we make an attack on the prog baskets without them. "

"Let us find Fleming and the baskets first, " I answered; for my mindbegan to misgive me about finding him as easily as we had expected. Thechase after the guanacoes had led us a long way, and I found it verydifficult to calculate distances or the size of objects in that brightatmosphere, where the proportions of all surrounding objects were sovast. Still I did not express my fears to Jerry. We kept our eyesabout us, on the chance of falling in with another puma; for we agreedthat it would be much better to be able to talk of having killed a lionthan even two harmless llamas. On we went for a long time, scramblingover the crags, and precipices, and rough ground. 

"Where can Fleming have got to?" exclaimed Jerry at last; "I am certainthat we are up to the spot where we left him. " I thought so likewise. We shouted at the top of our voices, but the puny sounds seemed lost inthe vast solitudes which encompassed us. "I think it must have beenfurther on, " said I, after I had taken another survey of the country. So on we rushed, keeping our eyes about us on every side. 

We had gone on some way further, when Jerry laid his hand on my arm. "What is that, Harry?" he exclaimed. "It is the puma! See the rascalhow stealthily he creeps along! He's after some mischief, depend on it. I hope he won't go back and eat up our guanacoes. "

"We must take care that he does not do that, " said I. "We'll stop hiscareer. Is your rifle ready. We'll creep after him as stealthily as heis going along. He is so busy that he does not see us, and the chancesare that we get near enough to knock him over. "

"Come along then, " exclaimed Jerry; and, imitating the puma's cautiousmode of proceeding, we rapidly gained on him. We had got up almostclose enough to fire when Jerry whispered, "O Harry, what is that? It'sFleming, dear! dear!"

Just below where the puma was crouching down ready to make his fatalspring, lay the form of the old seaman; but whether he was dead, orasleep, or fainting, we could not tell. There was not a moment to belost. In another instant the savage brute would have fixed his claws inhis throat. We rushed on--so did old Surley. The puma had actuallybegun his spring when we fired. Both our bullets took effect, but stillhe leaped forward. He fell close to Fleming. Our shipmate sprang up onhis knees, but it was only to receive the claws of the brute on hischest. The blow knocked him over. We were running on and shouting allthe time, to distract the attention of the puma. 

"He is killed! he is killed!" cried Jerry. "No. " In an instant, with aclasp-knife in his hand, Fleming was up again and plunging away at thethroat of the brute. He rose to his knees. He gave stab after stab, and prevented the puma from fixing its jaws on his own throat, whichseemed the aim of the enraged animal. The brave Surley was at hisflanks tearing and biting at them with all his might. 

"Hold on, Fleming, " we shouted; "we will be up to you directly. "

"Fire! fire!" cried Fleming; "I can't keep the brute back much longer. "

At length Surley's attack seemed to produce more effect on the puma. For a moment he turned round to try to repel him. Fleming seized theopportunity, and, taking better aim than he had hitherto been able todo, plunged his knife right up to the hilt in the animal's breast, andthen sprang back out of his way. We came up at the same moment, barelyin time to save Surley from some severe handling, for the puma hadturned all his fury on him. We stopped and loaded, and then running ongot close up to the beast, to run no risk of hitting the dog, and fired. Over he rolled, giving a few spasmodic clutches with his claws, andwith a snarl expired. 

"You've saved my life anyhow, young gentlemen, " said Fleming. "When Ifelt the brute's claws on my breast, before I saw you and honest Surleythere, I thought it was all over with me. "

Surley was standing over the dead body of the puma, and he seemed tothink that he had had the chief hand in killing him. We were very proudof the trophy; and when we found that Fleming was scarcely injured, though his clothes were somewhat torn, we were very glad that theadventure had occurred. Fleming told us that when we did not return hehad set off to look after us; but at last, overcome again with the heatof the sun, he had sat down and dropped asleep. It was now getting latein the day, so after we had marked the place where the dead puma lay, weagreed that we would return to the bottom of the valley and try and findour companions. That we might enjoy a whole day in the mountains, ithad been arranged that we should bivouac in the valley, and not commenceour return till the following morning. We looked about for the doctorand guides, but they were nowhere to be seen. We fired off our rifles, but no one answered in return. We began to be anxious. Could they havebeen stopped by robbers? or could any Indians have attacked them? Suchthings had occurred before now, we were told. Sometimes bands of thefierce Araucanian Indians had been known to make incursions into theprovince from the south, and to attack farm-houses and even villagesamong the mountains. Robbers, too, in large bands once frequented thecountry, and laid contributions on all the peaceable inhabitants. Still, since the government has been settled and order established, suchoccurrences were no longer heard of. We therefore resolved that itwould be unwise to make ourselves unhappy; so, after having partaken ofsome of the articles of Fleming's basket to stay our appetites, we setto work to prepare for our encampment for the night. We fixed on a spotunder a high rock, which would shelter us from the prevailing wind; andwe then looked about for fuel with which we could light a fire. Wefound a plant in great abundance, but we could not tell whether, itwould burn or not. "Try, at all events, " said Fleming. We made a heap, and put some paper and matches under it. It burned admirably, exuding aresinous smell; and we afterwards found that it was called the _Alpiniaumbellifera_. After we had collected enough fuel for the night, we satourselves down before the fire wrapped up in our cloaks, which Fleminghad been carrying for us. When enough ashes had been made, we producedour meat and toasted some slices at the end of our ramrods. 

"I say, Harry, does not this remind you of the night we spent at theFalkland Islands?" said Jerry. "I like this bivouacking lifeamazingly. " I agreed with him that it was very good fun in fineweather, but that with cold and snow, or rain, I thought we should verylikely change our tune. 

"That you would, young gentlemen, " observed Fleming. "Remember thatyou've only seen the bright side of life as yet. There's a dark side aswell, and you should be prepared for it when it comes, otherwise youwon't be fit to meet it like men. Don't go on fancying that the sun isalways to shine on you, and that you are always to be warm andcomfortable, and to have plenty of money in your pockets, and notroubles and sorrows, and pains and sicknesses. You'll have your share, and it is better that you should depend on it, not to make you valuethis world too much. "

"I say, Fleming, don't preach--there's a good fellow!" exclaimed Jerry. "I want just now to enjoy my slice of guanaco. I know what you say isvery true, and I'll remember and think about it by-and-by. "

Fleming might have made further remarks on the subject, had not a faintshout, as if from a distance, reached our ears. We listened. Could itbe from Indians or robbers? Jerry put his hand to the top of his head. "Oh, my scalp!" said he; "it feels very uncomfortable already. " Againthe shout reached us. We shouted in return. We had little doubt thatit was raised by the doctor and his companions. Soon they emerged outof the darkness laden with all sorts of specimens of natural history. We crowed over them, however, for they had not killed either a guanacoor a puma. They could not doubt our assertions, as they had proof inthe slices of the former which we cooked for them. Fleming and OldSurley, too, showed the marks of their encounter with the puma; and wegot great credit for having killed him. We were a very merry party aswe drew round the fire recounting our adventures; and Surley sat uplooking as wise as any of us, and if he could but have put his wordstogether, he would have told as good a story as any of us. At allevents, he dogfully played his part at the feast, and ate up withevident relish all the scraps of guanaco flesh which we gave him. MrMcRitchie was as satisfied as we were with the result of his day'sexcursion; and as we had an abundant supply of everything to make theinner man comfortable, and good cloaks to keep the outer warm, we wereall very happy. Our guide talked a good deal, though no one but TomCarver understood a word he said. Tom and Fleming, however, spun thelongest yarns, all about Lord Cochrane and all the wonders he had done, and how from his daring and bravery he made the people of the countrybelieve that he was in league with the Evil One, if he was not ratherthe Evil One himself. They gave him the name of the _Diabo_. 

"No one ever deserved it less, " exclaimed Fleming. "The devil, to mymind, is cunning and cowardly, and a fool into the bargain. Resist him, and he'll run away. Act a straightforward, honest part, and he cannever get round you. Lord Cochrane, you see, mates, was as true andhonest as steel, as brave as his sword, and so wise, that he neverundertook to do anything when he didn't see the way clear before himthat would lead to success. " Tom agreed also in heartily praising theirold chief, though they were not very complimentary to the Spaniards orto the people of Chili, whom he had come to assist. 

"I say, Tom, do you mind when we were going away from Valparaiso toattack Callao, and you and I were serving aboard the _O'Higgins_, howthat lieutenant brought the admiral's little son on board?" saidFleming, for the purpose, I suspect, of drawing his friend out. 

"Ay, that I do, " answered Tom Carver. "You see the flag-lieutenant hadgone on shore for some of the admiral's traps, when he fell in with thelittle chap, who wasn't more than five or six years old. `I want to gowith father, ' says he. `I must go with father aboard the big shipthere. I will go. ' At first the lieutenant said he couldn't take him;but the little fellow cried out so, that he couldn't find it in hisheart to refuse him; so he lifted him up on his shoulders and carriedhim away to the boat. The child shouted and crowed with pleasure, waving his little hat above his head, just like a sucking hero as hewas. When the people saw it, they seemed as if they would grow mad withdelight, and followed him in crowds, cheering and crying out, `_Viva laPatria_' at the top of their voices. I was one of the boat's crew, andcertainly there was something in it somehow which took our fancymightily. Off we pulled aboard the flag-ship, before Lady Cochranefound out what had become of the child, and I daresay she was in a greattaking. Well, we only got aboard just as the ship was under weigh, andhe couldn't be sent on shore again. There was nothing to be done but totake him with us. We weren't sorry to have him, for, you see, next to amonkey, there's nothing does a ship's company more good than having alittle child to look after. The small chap had nothing but the clotheshe was dressed in. `What's to be done with him?' says the admiral. `Why, bless ye, my lord, he'll have fifty nurses, every one as good asthe she-maids as has to look after him ashore, ' answered Ben Brown, theadmiral's coxswain; `and as for clothing, the ship's tailor will rig himout in no time. ' To my mind, the admiral rather liked having the littlefellow with him. Fearless himself, he couldn't even feel fear for oneof those he loved best on earth. Young master very soon made himself athome among us, and in a couple of days the ship's tailor had as completea midshipman's uniform made for him as you'd wish to see. 

"We were bound, do you see, to Callao, where the admiral discovered thata large Spanish ship was about to sail for Europe, with great treasureaboard. Besides her, there was a Spanish squadron of considerable forcelying in the harbour, under the protection of the guns of the forts. The admiral was up to all sorts of dodges, so he hoisted Americancolours, and, as two United States' ships of war were expected withanother ship, stood in. A fog, however came on, and the _Lantaro_, oneof our squadron, parting company, his plan was defeated. However, wefell in with a Spanish gunboat in the fog, and took her. Fogs and lightwinds baffled us for some time; but the admiral was not a man to beturned aside from what he had intended, so at last we got in before theforts, and with springs on our cables began blazing away at them and thefleet, of which there were altogether some fourteen vessels. Well, Iwas telling you of the admiral's little son. Of course his father wasvery anxious about him, for it was no child's work we were about, so helocked him up as he fancied safe in his after-cabin. As soon, however, as the firing began, the youngster thought he should like to see some ofthe fun; so what does he do, but work his way out through thequarter-gallery window, and find his way up on deck. `Go down below, sir, this moment, ' says the admiral when he sees him. `You'll be havingyour head shot off if you stay here. ' The shot was flying about uspretty thick by that time, let me tell you. `No, no, daddy, ' says he. `Let me stay here. You stay, and de oder midshipmens stay; whyshouldn't I?' He couldn't speak quite plain yet, do you see. `Take himbelow out of harm's way, one of you, ' says the admiral, turning to me. You see he had plenty to do watching the enemy and issuing orders, andhad not time to look after the boy. So as the admiral ordered, I seizedup the young gentleman, and was going to carry him off below, when hebegan to kick up such a hubbub, and to kick, and scratch, and bite, itwas as hard work to hold him as it would have been to gripe arattlesnake. `Put me down, I say--put me down, ' he sung out. `I'll notgo below. I want to stay on deck and fight the enemy. ' Well, I sawthat there was no use in taking him below, because, as no one could bespared to look after him, he would have been soon up again; besides, tomy mind, a shot finds its way into one part of a ship as well asanother. So I put him down again, and there was his little lordship asbusy as any powder-monkey, handing up the powder to the gunners. Well, as I was saying, the shot was falling pretty thick about our ears, whena round shot takes off the head of a marine standing close to the smallboy, scattering the brains and blood of the poor fellow right over thesmall chap, almost blinding him. The admiral was looking that way. Histall figure bent forwards. I thought he would have fallen from theagony of his mind. He believed his child was killed. In an instant, however, the little hero recovered himself, and dashing the blood fromhis face, ran up to his lordship. `Don't be afraid, papa, ' says he;`I'm not hurt--the shot did not strike me. Tom says the ball isn't castthat can kill mamma's boy. ' That was true enough, for he'd heard someof us say, what we believed, that he couldn't come to harm any more thanhis father could. The admiral's face brightened again, when he saw thatno harm had happened to the boy. I suppose after this he thought as wedid, for he let him stay on deck during the whole action; and a prettysharp one it was, when I tell you we had two hundred guns firing away atus for a couple of hours. If it hadn't been for the fog, we shouldn'thave had a stick standing at the end of it. After this we had severalbrushes with the enemy. 

"At last the admiral considered that it would be a great thing to takeValdivia, a strongly-fortified place on the south of Chili, still heldby the Spaniards. We had some Chilian troops on board, and very bravefellows they were, under a French officer. Our own officers were worthvery little, and the admiral had to look after everything himself. Onenight we were off the island of Quiriquina, and he had turned in to takea little rest, leaving the deck in charge of one of the lieutenants. The lieutenant thought he should like a snooze, so he turned in and lefta midshipman in charge of the ship. The midshipman went to sleep, andwhen he awoke he found the ship all aback. In trying to box her off heran her on shore, on the sharp edge of a rock, where, if there had beenany swell, she would have beaten her bottom in. Many of the peoplewanted to abandon the ship; but the admiral was not a man to allow sucha thing while there was a hope of getting her off; and telling them thatthey would be all murdered by the savages on the coast if they landed, he set all hands to work at the pumps. When they came to be examined, they were all out of repair; and as the carpenter could make no hand atmending them, what does the admiral do but whip off his coat and set towork with his own hands. Didn't we feel that he was a man we'd followthrough thick and thin, though we knew that pretty well before then. Atlast, what with pumping and bailing, we found that the water did notgain on us, so the stream anchor was got, and heaving on it with a will, we once more set the old ship afloat. `Never mind, my lads, ' says theadmiral; `if we can but make her swim as far as Valdivia, we shall dovery well without a ship for a time. ' By that we knew he intended totake and occupy the place. The admiral wanted to take the Spaniards bysurprise, so he shifted his flag aboard the _Intrepedo_ brig-of-war, taking with him the _Montezuma_, a man-of-war schooner, and, in spite ofa high sea, all the troops were put on board the two vessels. Youshould just see what sort of a place Valdivia is, with strong forts onboth sides of a channel not three-quarters of a mile wide. There isonly one small landing-place, called the Aquada del Ingles, with a fortprotecting it. Towards that we stood, for the surf sets so heavily onthe shore, that a boat attempting to land anywhere else would be knockedto pieces. We had a gallant English officer in command of the troops, Major Miller. I never saw such a fire-eater. His body was almostriddled with shot, but he never seemed to mind; nothing sickened him offighting; and as soon as he got well he was as ready for work as ever. So, as I was saying, the brig and schooner ran in and anchored close toFort Ingles, keeping the boats on the other side of the vessels, out ofsight. The admiral hailed the fort, and said we had lost our boatscoming round Cape Horn, and begged they would send one; but just thenone of ours drifted astern, and the Spaniards, smelling a rat, openedfire on us. Instantly the admiral ordered the troops to land, and alaunch, with the gallant Major Miller, and some forty-four marines, shoved off, and under a heavy shower of musket-balls, pushed for theshore. His coxswain was wounded, and he received a shot through hishat. On we shoved (for I was with him), and leaping on shore with loudcheers, we drove the enemy before us at the point of the bayonet. Iforgot to tell you that when the _O'Higgins_ got on shore, we had nearlyall our powder spoiled, so that he had to depend entirely on thebayonet. There's no better weapon to be used when Spaniards areconcerned. They can't stand it. Other boats followed, and in less thana hour we had 300 troops landed. We waited till it was dark to beginthe attack. There was a gallant young ensign, Mr Vidal. While themain body advanced in front, firing off their muskets, and shouting toshow the Spaniards that we were going to give them a taste of thebayonet, he got round to the rear of the forts, and opening his fire, the enemy got frightened, and took to their heels, while we took theforts--which was what we had come to take. At the same time 300 moreSpaniards, who were marching into Fort Ingles, were seized with a panic, and all fled together. The brave Chilians bayoneted them by dozens; andwhen the gates of the other forts were opened to receive the fugitives, they entered at the same time, and thus fort after fort was taken withvery little loss to us, but a good deal to the enemy. Two days after, we attacked the forts on the other side of the water with the samesuccess, and then took the town of Valdivia itself, which is some littleway up the river. We found a large supply of ammunition in the place, and I know that I got a fair share of prize-money. That Major Miller Iwas telling you of was soon after this again desperately wounded inattempting to take another fort. When he had fallen, his faithfulmarines made a desperate charge, and brought him off. They were allChilians, it must be remembered. One of them, named Roxas, was a verybrave fellow. He was the first to land with the major, and had helpedto carry him to the beach on their retreat. Two out of three werewounded, and when the major invited him to step into the boat, `No, sir, ' says he; `I was the first to land, and I intend to be the last toleave the shore. ' You see, young gentlemen, it is not only Englishmencan do gallant things, and I like when I have an opportunity to praisethose with other blood in their veins. 

"You'd like to know how we took the _Esmeralda_, I daresay?" said Tom. 

"I told Master Harry all about that the other day, " observed Fleming. "It was a gallant thing, wasn't it?"

"But, I say, I wonder if the gentlemen over heard talk of what my ladydid? She was, for a woman, and a young, beautiful woman too, just asbrave as my lord. Well, I'll tell you. The first part I heard from aman, a soldier, a brave, faithful fellow, who was with her; the rest Isaw myself. She, with her baby, was up the country, at a place calledQuilca, among the mountains, when, as she was at a ball at some greatman's house there, she heard that the Spaniards had made up their mindsto seize her and her infant, and to detain them as hostages. To thinkwith her was to act. Going quietly out of the ball-room and changingher dress, she popped the nurse and child into a sort of palanquin, andmounting one of her horses, and ordering out all the rest, she startedaway in the middle of the night, and pushed on without stoppinganywhere, or telling any one where she was going. All that night andall next day she travelled on, mounting another horse whenever the oneshe rode grew tired. At last she arrived at a dark ravine, just a splitin the mountain some hundred feet deep, with a foaming torrent roaringbelow. There was just the sort of rope bridge we had to crossyesterday. Some of the people had gone down below to haul the horsesover, and she had sent her own horse across, when what should they hearbut the sound of the enemy's bugles. Seizing her child, she ordered thepalanquin-bearers to go over, and then followed close behind themherself. Again the bugle sounded, --the enemy were close at hand. Shehurried on, but the movements of so many people crossing made the bridgeswing fearfully from side to side. She felt as if she must be thrownoff into the raging gulf below. More and more the bridge swung, and atlength, overcome with terror, she sank down on the narrow pathway, clasping the infant to her breast. I've heard people say they dream ofsuch things. Here was the reality. The bridge continued to swingbackwards and forwards with a fearful motion, and she clung to it forher life. It was a great risk for any one else to venture on thebridge, but, in spite of that, Pedro, the soldier I told you of, crawledalong, and, says he in his own language, `Give me the child, my lady, and I'll take care of it;' and crawling along with it in his arms, heplaced it in safety. Then he went back, and helped Lady Cochraneacross. Just then the advance guard of the enemy's troops appeared, winding down the sides of the mountains. Pedro and the other men hackedaway at the bridge; the ropes parted and fell into the torrent, and herladyship was safe, while the Spaniards ground their teeth in vain. Onshe pushed, till she reached the coast, and there she found theadmiral's ship, and came on board. We were all proud to have her; foryou see, with all her beauty, there wasn't a bit of vanity or nonsenseabout her, and she would speak kind-like to any one of us, just as if wewas her equal. Soon after she came on board, the admiral heard thatthere was a rich Spanish ship just about putting to sea, and a very goodsailer. He knew if she once got ahead of us we should never catch herup, so, without waiting to land Lady Cochrane, we slipped our cables andmade sail up to where the treasure-ship and several others of theenemy's vessels lay at anchor. We beat to quarters, and got up to themabout midnight all ready for action. We were not long in beginning thesport, nor they in returning the compliments we paid them; for, besidesthe treasure-ship, the Spaniards had some gun-boats moored under theirforts. While we were firing away, the mother, just like her little son, wouldn't leave the deck, but stood there like any hero, animating themen. 

"After some time one of the crew of a gun, a Chilian, seemed to beafraid of firing. What does her ladyship do, but, seizing his arm, andguiding the match to the touch-hole, fire the gun! She thought maybethat the man would be punished if he was observed. However, the effortwas too much for her, for you see she was but a young woman, and shesank down on deck in a fainting fit. We thought she was wounded, andseveral of us ran forward to lift her up and carry her below. It didour hearts good to find that there was nothing really the matter withher. When the action was over, and we had pretty well knocked thetreasure-ship and gun-boats to pieces, we returned in the morning to ourformer anchorage. As we were furling sails, her ladyship came on deckto show us she was all to rights. No sooner was the canvas stowed, thanwe manned yards of our own accord, and then didn't we cheer her and theadmiral with right good will; and the whole crew, one and all, Chiliansand Englishmen, five hundred of us, burst forth with the hymn of theRepublic, praying at the end that Heaven would bless and prosper them. She bowed more than once, but didn't say a word, and then burst intotears. 

"Ah! she was the lady who knew how to win a sailor's heart!"

CHAPTER NINE. 

ROBINSON CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 

Fleming and his old shipmate, Tom Carver, kept spinning theirinteresting yarns about Lord Cochrane's gallant deeds till a late hour. At last it was time to go to sleep; so we wrapped ourselves up asclosely as we could in our cloaks, with our feet to the fire and ourbacks to the rock, to seek repose. Fleming, and Tom, and the doctor, however, kept watch one after the other, both to keep up the fire and toprevent our being taken by surprise by the visit of a puma, or any otherunwelcome visitor. By-the-by, the doctor told us that the puma veryseldom seeks his prey in the day-time, or attacks men, though he hasbeen known to do so at times. The fellow we killed measured fully fivefeet from the nose to the tail, which was itself, in addition, two feetand a half long. The back was of a brownish-red colour, and the breastof a reddish ash colour, and the lower jaw and throat white. Its facewas like that of a huge cat, and it is said to be able to climb trees, and to drop down from them on its prey. Its ordinary way of seizing itsprey is to spring on the back, and draw back the head of the animal tillits neck is broken. The guanaco, which is common throughout SouthAmerica, was used by the ancient Peruvians, in great numbers, as a beastof burden. It carried about a hundredweight. Its flesh also servedthem for food; of its skin leather articles were made, and its hair waswoven into cloth. When domesticated, it is known as the llama. Itfeeds on vegetables, and requires no attention. Its voice resembles theshrill neighing of a horse. Its use as a beast of burden has beensuperseded by the horse, the ass, and the mule. The fleece of the tameanimal is not so long as that of the wild one. Their appearance I havealready described. I shall never forget that night among the Andes, --how the stars of the southern hemisphere came out, and shone with abrilliancy I had never before seen in that purest of pure atmospheres, among those grand old mountains. For a long time I could not go tosleep: at last I did, and it seemed but a moment afterwards that Terryaroused me to go with Tom and the Indian guide to bring the guanaco andthe skin of the puma. With their aid we were not long in finding thepuma, and in having his skin off him. We found the first guanacountouched, so we took his skin and some of the flesh. As, however, wewere looking for the spot where we had left the other, a huge condorrose into the air, followed by two or three others. 

"Ah! you'll not find much beyond his bones, depend on that, " said Tom. "These birds don't leave pickings for anybody else. "

Such being the case, we agreed that it was not worth while to climb upso far, as we were in a hurry to get back to the rock to breakfast. Directly after it we set off on our return to the city. The natives ofChili, we were told, often catch the puma with the lasso. They alsohunt it with dogs, and shoot it when it climbs up trees. When we cameto the bridge of hide-rope it looked more rickety and impassable thanever. Just fancy a few rotten-looking strips of leather slung across achasm some thousand feet deep!

"Never mind, " said Fleming, laughing; "hold on to something. If it giveway don't you let go, at all events, and the chances are you are broughtup somewhere. My maxim is, Never let go of one rope till you have gothold of another. "

However, we crossed in safety, and spent a very pleasant day atSantiago, seeing all the sights of that city, though Jerry and I agreedthat we would rather have been in the mountains shooting guanacoes orhunting pumas, --so I daresay would old Surley. We got back in good timeto Valparaiso. When dining at the hotel, we met an Englishman who hadtravelled over all parts of South America, and had made an infinitenumber of sketches, which he did in the most rapid way. He made me apresent of several, which he drew at the hotel; among them was theFrontispiece to this volume. He gave us the following information atthe same time. He told us that apes' flesh was very nice for eating--afact some of our party were inclined to doubt. He laughed at ourscruples, and assured us that he had frequently dined off apes. TheIndians on the Amazon go out regularly to hunt them, and have a verysuccessful mode of so doing. Every hunter is provided with a hollowcane, called a sarbacan--I before described it in our trip up theAmazon. It is about twelve feet in length; and a quiver containing adozen little pieces of very hard wood, sharp at one end, and fitted witha bit of cotton-wadding at the other. Concealed by the luxuriantfoliage of the forest, the Indian, resting his sarbacan on the branch ofa tree, waits the near approach of his prey; then blowing out one of thelittle polished arrows from the tube with his mouth, he invariablystrikes the ape, and brings him to the ground. What ensures the successof this mode of hunting is, that it is carried on without the slightestnoise, and a whole troop of apes may be killed without their discoveringwhence the death-dealing darts proceed. When we were on the Amazon wedid not know that the poor monkeys were killed in this way. I forgot tomention before the beautiful regularity of the land and sea-breezeswhich we experienced at this place. It was the dry season of the year, and the air was wonderfully bright and clear. The atmosphere being in astate of equilibrium (so the doctor told us), was ready to obey even theslightest impulse, and to rush towards any spot where rarefaction wastaking place. Thus, at about ten in the morning, as the rays of the sungain power and shed their influence over the earth, the air from the seabegins to move towards it. As rarefaction increases, so does thestrength of the wind, till by three or four in the afternoon it rushesin with great force, creating a considerable sea, and if a vessel is notwell moored, driving her before it. Captain Frankland knew what toexpect, and was therefore prepared for the emergency. 

On the afternoon of our return to Valparaiso, we put to sea. From thecause I have mentioned respecting the strength of the sea-breeze, it isnecessary to make a good offing from the land. We therefore stood offshore till we had sunk the tops of the Andes below the horizon. Thename of the _Pacific_ was given to this ocean by the Spaniards, whofirst crossed the Isthmus of Panama, under the belief that the whole seawas always as calm as was then the portion they beheld. Storms, if lessfrequent, are certainly not less violent than in other portions of theworld. We certainly very frequently experienced the fickleness of theelements. As we were about to haul up to the northward, the windsuddenly shifted round to that very quarter, and then shifted somewhatto the eastward. We stood away on the starboard-tack, but wereevidently making a great deal of lee-way. At last Captain Frankland, finding that no progress could be made, hove the ship to. Jerry and Ihad by this time got pretty well accustomed to knocking about, so thatwe did not mind it. We suffered the greatest inconvenience at ourmeals, because very often the soup which we had intended to put into ourmouths without signal or warning rolled away into the waistcoat-pocketsof our opposite neighbour. The doctor more than once suffered frombeing the recipient of the contents of Jerry's plate as well as of mine;but he took it very good-naturedly, and as he very soon returned us thecompliment, we were all square. Not long after dinner, while we were ondeck, Ben Yool, who was aloft, hailed to say that he saw bearing rightdown for us a large brig, and, considering the gale, that she wascarrying a wonderful press of canvas. Her courses were brailed up, buther topsails were set, while the top-gallant-sails and royals wereflying away in ribbons, except the main-royal, which, with the mast, hadgone over the side. We accordingly all looked out for her. We soon, aswe rose to the summit of a long rolling sea, caught sight of her, plunging over the foaming waters and often half buried in them. Therewas something very strange in her appearance, and in the way she cametearing along through the waters. Captain Frankland looked at herattentively through his glass. 

"I cannot make it out, " he exclaimed; "the people on board are eitherall drunk or must have gone mad. "

We were not kept long in suspense. On came the brig. She was afine-looking vessel; but such a sight met our eyes as I never expectedto see. Her deck was crowded with men, but instead of attempting toshorten sail, they were all shrieking and fighting together. One partyseemed to have taken possession of the after-part of the vessel, therest were forward--while in the intermediate space several lay welteringin their blood. Now one party would rush forward and meet the other inthe waist, and then after a desperate struggle one would retreat beforethe other. Thus they continued as long as they remained in sight. Itappeared, from the glimpse we got of them as they drove by, that thecrew had risen against their officers, who were fighting to regain theupper hand. What they were it was difficult to say, but theirappearance bespoke them to be a great set of ruffians. I asked Ben Yoolwhat he thought of them. 

"To my mind, Master Harry, they are nothing better than a set ofpirates, and I had just as soon not have fallen in with them in smoothwater. "

Every spy-glass on board was directed towards them. Strange as itappeared, there could be no doubt about the matter. In spite of theterrific gale--in spite of the prospect of the masts going overboard, and of the ship being reduced to a complete wreck, an event which mightany moment occur, the wretched crew of the brig were destroying eachother with the maddest fury. From the state of things on board as wesaw them, the chances were that the survivors of the victorious partywould not have strength to take in sail or clear the deck at the end ofthe fight. 

"That was an extraordinary spectacle we have just witnessed, " observedCousin Silas, as Jerry and I were holding on to the rails near him asthe strange brig disappeared, hidden by the dark foam-topped waves whichleaped up between her and us. "Never heard anything like it before, perhaps you will say, lads. Now, in my opinion, you have heard of manythings exactly like it before. What is the world doing at the presentmoment? What has it been doing since the flood? Men have beenquarrelling, and fighting, and knocking each other on the head, whileruin has been encircling them around, from that time to the present. Wewere sent into this world to perform certain duties--to help each otherin doing them--to love God and to love each other. If we obey God, weare promised eternal happiness: if we disobey him, eternal punishment. We are told that this world must come to an end, and that all things init will be destroyed. What do men do? They shut their eyes to allthese truths. They live as if they and everything in the world were tolast for ever--as if there were no God to obey and love; and, like themadmen we have just seen, they separate into parties, hating each other, and fight, and quarrel, and deface God's image in which he made man, utterly regardless of the terrible doom awaiting them--just as thepeople aboard that ship were doing. "

"The simile would not have occurred to me, Mr Brand, " observed Jerry. "I see it now, though. Still, if people do as little harm as they can, it is all right. "

"No, no, lad. Don't for a moment indulge in such an erroneous, foolishnotion, put into people's heads by the spirit of evil himself, todeceive them. I tell you we were sent into the world not only toabstain from sin, but to do as much good as we can--to actively employourselves--to look about us to see how we can do good, --not to wait tillsome opportunity occurs that may never come. But we are certain to findsome good work if we look for it; and if your heart is right towardsGod, and you earnestly wish to serve him, and not the world, and notyourself, he will point out to you what to do. "

The conversation was interrupted by a heavy lurch the ship made, whichsent Jerry and me tumbling away into the lee scuppers; a huge sea at thesame moment came rolling up with a foaming crest towards us. It caughtthe brig broad on the bow--up it rose like a wall, and then with a loudangry roar fell right over us. I felt myself swimming in deep water, with my mouth full and almost blinded. I heard Jerry's cry close to me. The dreadful thought occurred to me that we were both overboard, andthe utter impossibility of lowering a boat to save us flashed across me. I shrieked out for help. A whirl--a confused sound of roaring, hissingwaters--a sensation of battling and struggling with them--an eagerdesire to clutch at something, --are all I remember. Down came the galeon the ship with greater fury than before--another sea from the oppositequarter struck her. I felt myself grasped by a strong arm, and when Iopened my eyes, I saw that I was being dragged up to windward by CousinSilas, who, at the imminent risk of losing his own life, had sprung outwith a rope in his hand and hauled me on board again. 

"Oh, where is Jerry--where is Jerry?" were the first words I uttered. No one answered. "Oh, he is lost! he is lost!" I cried, and burst intotears, forgetting altogether to thank Cousin Silas for having saved me. I felt that I could never survive the loss of my young shipmate. Justthen I saw several of the crew running to leeward. Two or three headswere in the water, with arms wildly striking out. Shrieks, too, rung inmy ears. Ben Yool was among them; I saw his face clearly; he did notseem alarmed, like the rest. A long rope was hove to him. He graspedit. He struck out towards another of the swimmers; it was Jerry. Benseized him in one of his arms, while he was striking out with the other. There seemed, however, but little chance for him of escaping with hislife; for when the ship again surged ahead, the rope would have beentorn from his grasp, but just then another cross sea providentiallyrolled up to leeward, and sent him and Jerry close up to the bulwarks. There they were grasped by the crew, and when the ship rolled over againto the other side, they were hauled on board safe and sound. Two othermen remained in the water. They turned their faces with strainingeyeballs imploringly towards the ship, which was drifting from them. Invain they shrieked out; no one could help them. A foaming, hissing searose between us and them. Far, far away the unhappy men were carried, and when the ship rose again to the summit of a wave, they were nowhereto be seen. I felt then how mercifully I had been preserved, andgrateful to Him who had thought fit to save me, while, for his owninscrutable ends, he had allowed others to be taken. Jerry, I know, hadthe same thoughts and feelings, though I fear their impression soonfaded, but not away altogether. Its traces, however faint, werepermanently left on our minds, and I believe that they have often sincehad a powerful influence on us. I hope, also, as we grow older, that wemay often recur to them instead of endeavouring to drive them away. Joyful as Captain Frankland was at recovering his son, he felt much theloss of his two men; for he truly was the father of his crew, and theyknew and gladly acknowledged it. This was the secret of the influencehe had over them. The ship still lay to, but the gale increased. Suddenly there was a loud report, like a clap of thunder. Thefore-top-sail, close-reefed as it was, had blown out of the bolt-ropes, and the shreds fluttered in streamers from the yards. Away it flew, lashing the yard with fury, and coiling itself into thick twists ofrope. The wind unfortunately caught the bow, and bringing her rightround, exposed her broadside to the sea. The instant the accidenthappened, the mates, with some of the crew, had rushed forward, andloosing the fore-stay-sail, were hoisting it just as a big sea cameroaring towards us. It was half way up at the moment the sea reachedus. "Hoist away, my lads!" was the general cry. The ship felt itseffects; springing forward, she seemed to dash through the sea, which, however, broke in a deluge over us. Her head came round, and away sheflew before the storm. Before, however, the fore-stay-sail was up itwas blown clean away, and the ship dashed on under bare poles to thewestward, leaving our two poor shipmates in their watery tomb farastern. All that night we ran plunging on. In the morning watch thewind began to fall. I asked Yool, who was in the same watch with me, what he thought was going to happen. 

"Why, Master Harry, that the gale is tired of blowing, and that we shallbefore long have a calm, or only just a light, pleasant breeze, " heanswered. So it proved; after this the wind rapidly decreased, and bysunrise all hands were aloft bending new sails, and busily employed inrepairing the damages received in the gale. Just as the captain came ondeck, one of the mates hailed from aloft that he saw a whale, or a rock, or some large black object, just rising out of the water--he could notmake out what. 

We had been on the point of hauling our wind to stand back for Callao, but the captain ordered the ship to be kept on, to ascertain what theobject could be. I with others had gone aloft to look out also, when, as the sun arose, I saw before me what I at first took to be a cloud, but gradually it grew more and more distinct, till I was certain that itwas a lofty mountain. The rest of the crew were so busily employedabout the rigging, and in looking out for the whale or whatever it was, that I was the first to see it;--of this I was very proud. 

"Land ahead!" I sung out. 

"Ay, ay; all right, Harry, " he answered, knowing of course what land itmust be. I soon after went down on deck, where I met Jerry, lookingrather pale and ill after his bath. 

"Do you know what that land is?" I asked, pointing to it; for with theincreasing light it was now seen clearly from the deck. 

"Why, it's no other than Robinson Crusoe's island--Juan Fernandes; andmy father says he intends to run in there, as it will be more convenientto repair damages at anchor; and he thinks that very likely the gale maycome back again on us. Won't it be jolly to go on shore and to see thevery cave he lived in, and the sand where he first saw Friday'sfoot-mark, and the descendants of the goats he had, and various otheranimals? I am certain I could find out every spot of ground he talksabout. There's no place I would rather see than this. "

"So would I, " I observed. "But you forget, Jerry, there was no suchperson as Robinson Crusoe. We may be disappointed when we get there. "

"I won't believe it!" he answered, indignantly. "There was, and theremust have been, and there shall have been a Robinson Crusoe! How couldhe have written his life if he had not lived, I should like to know?"

"There was a man called Alexander Selkirk, who was left there from oneof Lord Anson's ships, and a first-rate writer--Daniel Defoe by name--got hold of his account, on which he founded the story of RobinsonCrusoe, " I answered. 

"I tell you that is all bosh, " said Jerry. "I don't believe that anyman who had not gone through every scene he describes, could have givenas good an account of them as does Robinson Crusoe; so I intend to stickto my belief, and not care what anybody else says on the subject. " Imust own that I felt very much inclined to agree with Jerry, and to lookon Defoe very much in the light of a pirate, who had got hold of a shipwhich did not belong to him. The important discussion was cut short bythe report of the first mate, who had again gone aloft with his glass totake another look at the object seen ahead. 

"As far as I can see, I've no doubt that it is the hull of a shipfloating bottom uppermost, " he sung out; "but whether any one is stillclinging to her or not, is more than I can make out. "

"Get one of the boats ready, Mr Brand; we'll board the wreck, at allevents, " said the captain. While the boat was quickly prepared, we madegood progress towards the wreck. 

"There is a man on her; I can see him clearly, " sung out the third matefrom forward. "He is lying along the keel. He is alive; he sees us; heis waving to us. "

As soon as the ship got up to the wreck, she was hove-to, and I followedMr Brand, with Ben Yool, into the boat. There was still a great dealof sea running; and when we got up to the wreck, there was no littledanger, we discovered, in getting alongside her. There were masts andspars still hanging on by the rigging around her, which would at oncehave stove in our boat if we had got among them incautiously, and weshould very likely have lost our own lives. There was only one man onthe ship's bottom; we saw him just lifting his head and watching usanxiously as we pulled round. We could discover no spot free fromdanger; so we pulled off again to consult what was best to be done. Thepoor wretch thought we were going to desert him, and shouted out to usin English and Spanish, imploring us to have compassion on him, and savehis life. 

"Ay, ay, friend!" answered Ben Yool. "Don't suppose we'd leave youthere; we should be rum sort of Christians to do that. Wait a bit;we'll get you off directly. "

"He appears to be unable to help himself, or he might lower himself downby a rope, " observed Mr Brand. "Make a line fast round me; I thinkthat I could manage to got in just under the quarter, and so haul myselfup by some of the ropes I see hanging over it. "

To propose was with Cousin Silas to act, and in another moment he wasstriking out towards the wreck. Avoiding the main-mast--close to which, with some of its spars, he had to pass--he at length got hold of thequarter without injury. He was soon up alongside the stranger. The manwas apparently unable to walk; so Mr Brand supported him as he helpedhim along the keel, till he reached the after-part; and then, securing aline to him, he beckoned us to pull in, while he lowered both himselfand the man into the boat. We quickly pulled back again, before theshattered mast drove towards the hull. From the appearance of thewreck, she did not look as if she would have floated much longer. Thestranger was a mulatto--a fine, tall fellow, apparently, but now lookingvery wretched and weak from loss of blood and want of food. We soon hadhim on board, dried and put into a clean hammock, under the doctor'scare. His manner at first was rough, and somewhat sullen; but itimproved by degrees, and he seemed grateful for the kindness shown tohim. He was evidently suffering so much from pain that no one asked himfor particulars about the wreck, or how he had been brought into hispresent position. It was not till the doctor came in to dinner that webegan to suspect the truth. 

"Do you know that that man has received a couple of desperate woundswith a long, sharp knife?" said he. "When I discovered this, itoccurred to me that he must have been one of the crew of the vesselwhich passed us yesterday, and that she had met the fate which was to beexpected. "

"No doubt about it, " answered Captain Frankland. "I have thought sofrom the first; but I did not wish to prejudice anybody against theman. "

"He is not disinclined to be communicative; but whether he speaks thetruth or not is another question, " said the doctor. "He says that thevessel capsized was a Peruvian brig; that he and another man had aquarrel, in which he received two stabs; that soon after the brig wasstruck by a squall, and capsized; that one of the boats was uninjured, and that some dozen people escaped in her. "

"I think the latter part of his account is very likely in some respectsto be true, " observed Captain Frankland. "If so, they are a class ofgentry we must be on the watch for and keep clear of. They cannot befar-off, and they are not likely to stand on ceremony, if they want aship, which is probable, about helping themselves to the first they fallin with likely to suit them. "

Jerry and I agreed, however, that we should very much like to meet withthe pirates and have a brush with them. 

"They would find us better prepared than they expected, " said he. "Theydo not know, besides our big guns, what a supply of arms we have onboard. "

Notwithstanding our strong suspicions of the character of the stranger, he was treated from the first with every possible kindness. All thistime we were approaching Robinson Crusoe's island. We almost expectedto see a man dressed in goat-skins, with a high conical cap, a gun inhis hand, and a negro and goat moving behind him, waiting on the shoreto welcome us. In my opinion, he would have found his dress of skinsvery hot in that climate, while his savage could have been only of alightish-brown colour. As we drew in with the land, rocks, trees, andshrubs, clothing the sides of the lofty and picturesque mountains, grewmore and more distinct; and then a few cottages peeped out here andthere, and a fort guarding the only harbour, with the Chilian flagflying over it, showing us that it was no longer a deserted island; but, unfortunately, the inhabitants we found were not of a class to make itthe abode of peace and contentment. The Chilian Government have turnedit into a penal settlement, and the chief residents are the convicts andtheir guards. It is only to be hoped that the result of their laboursmay make it a fitter place for the habitation of more virtuous people. We ran into the harbour, which is nearly land-locked, and dropped ouranchor. It was a curious feeling, coming suddenly from the storm-tossedocean, to find ourselves surrounded by land, with lofty mountains risingup from the shore close to us. We all agreed that we were never in amore beautiful or picturesque spot. Even now the town is a very roughsort of a place. There might have been a hundred cottages, some neatlywhite-washed, but others made only of boughs and mud; and even thegovernor's house is only of one story. The fort was a mere stockade, and of little use as a defence. The governor was an Englishman, whobelonged to the Chilian navy. Poor fellow! his was a very unpleasantand dull life; for, except a priest and the officer in command of thesoldiers, he had no one with whom he could converse. While the crewwere employed in setting up the rigging, Jerry and I and the doctoraccompanied Captain Frankland on shore. We were received on landing bya very ragged set of soldiers, many of whom had not even shoes on theirfeet, and all, more or less, seem to have borrowed some of RobinsonCrusoe's garments. Besides the governor's house, there was a chapel--alittle, low building, with a cross on the top of it to show its object. The poor soldiers crowded round us, and asked if we had shoes to sell. Fortunately there were some cases on board, one of which the captainsent for; and the third mate, who acted as supercargo, disposed of thewhole of them, though there was some difficulty in finding articles forbarter when their cash ran short. Had not the governor helped them, they would have remained shoeless. We were delighted with the quantityof fruit which was brought to us. There were cherries, and very largestrawberries, and melons, and grapes--all of which, we had no doubt, were planted originally by Robinson Crusoe. We lunched with thegovernor; and then, while the captain returned on board, Jerry and I andthe doctor started with a guide to take a long walk into the country. Away we went, highly delighted, and soon found ourselves in a beautifuland fertile valley, with waterfalls coming down the sides of the hills, and bright streams and ponds. We came, too, upon a flock of goats; andone very old fellow had a nick in his ear, so we had no doubt that hewas one of those left by Robinson Crusoe himself. The doctor would notgive, an opinion on the subject, but Jerry asserted that there could notbe a shadow of doubt about it. Going on a little further, we came upona cave--a veritable cave--in the side of the mountain, with a sort ofrough porch in front of it, built of boughs and thatched with straw. Jerry uttered a loud shout of delight. 

"There!" he exclaimed. "I knew it was all true. Why, there is the veryhut Robinson Crusoe built for himself. "

His voice must have aroused some one who was within, for a door waspushed open, and a figure appeared, who, if he was not Robinson Crusoe, was very like pictures of him. He had a long beard, and was dressed ingoat-skins, and had sandals on his feet, and a thick stick in his hand--altogether a very wild-looking character. Jerry drew back, and lookedat him very much as if by some incantation he had conjured up the spiritof the long-departed hero. 

"It can't be Crusoe!" he gasped out. "Yet, if it isn't, who can he be?"At length he gained courage, and both of us slowly approaching the man, he said, with a desperate effort, "Pray, tell me who you are?"

A grim smile lighted up such of the features of the man as could be seenthrough his bushy beard, whiskers, and moustaches. He shook his head. Jerry repeated the question. 

"No intende, " he answered. 

"Then he can't be Robinson Crusoe if he doesn't understand English, "whispered Jerry, with a sigh. 

The doctor, who had been behind gathering plants, now came up. Helaughed heartily when we told him that we had had great hopes that therough-looking stranger might turn out to be Robinson Crusoe himself, gone back to live on his own island. He exchanged a few words with thestranger. 

"The man tells me that he is a goat-herd--a convict--unjustly banishedhere;--that of course. He begs that we will give him a few coppers tobuy a glass of rum. "

Jerry and I eagerly searched in our pockets, when we discovered someChilian coins, which we bestowed on the poor goat-herd; but even as Idropped them into his hand, I could not help feeling that I was offeringan insult to a great man in distress by giving him such a trifle. Theprovoking part of the affair was, that, as the doctor told us, the manhimself had never even heard of Robinson Crusoe in the whole course ofhis life. We had a delightful ramble through the valley, and over thehills. We found an abundance of the sandalwood-tree growing on themountains, and myrtles in great quantities, with a variety of otheraromatic shrubs. Vegetables of all sorts were growing in profusion, andthere were a number of cattle, and horses, and mules. There was alsoplenty of milk; and from what we saw at the governor's table, there wasno lack of provisions of any sort. 

Old Surley was with us, and he made acquaintance with a great number ofthe canine race of high and low degree, though those of low degree, Imust say, vastly predominated. We made a collection of all sorts ofthings, --bits of myrtle, and sandalwood, and leaves, and flowers, andshells; for we were sure our friends at home would highly prizeeverything coming from Robinson Crusoe's island. We got some deliciousmilk also, I remember--which sailors as well as Londoners know how tovalue. There is an abundance of wood on the island, and deliciousstreams of pure water, one of which runs through the centre of the town. I must not forget to mention the immense quantity of fish we caught. This abundance of fish, Captain Frankland considered, is owing to a coldcurrent which flows by the island from the Southern Pole, and at thesame time tempers the air and adds fertility to the soil. The island isabout 300 miles from Valparaiso, 33 degrees 30 minutes south latitude. It is about fifteen miles long, and five broad. After we had seen it inall directions, we agreed that it was indeed a pity that it was in thepossession of those who were so little able to make a good use of it. Inever saw a more idle set of people than the inhabitants who were notcompelled to work. All the time we were on shore, they did nothing butwalk about or lie down in the shade, wrapped up in their big cloaks. 

When we returned on board we accompanied the doctor to see his patient, the mulatto we had rescued from the wreck. The doctor asked him whetherhe would not go on shore, where he might have fresh fruit andvegetables, and be better taken care of than he could be on board. 

"No, no, " he answered. "Thank you, though, much. There are no goodpeople in this place. I do not want to be among them. "

"Then you know something about them?" said the doctor. 

"There are very few places where I do not know somebody, " he answered, evasively. 

The doctor did not press the point. Indeed the poor man was not in acondition to be carried. He told us that his name was Manuel Silva;that he had all his life been knocking about the world, and that he didnot look upon any one country as his home. We asked him no questions, and he did not choose to tell us how he had got on board the vesselwhere we found him. The next day, when we went on shore, the governortold us that he had often difficult work in keeping the convicts inorder, and that not long ago a dozen of them contrived to run off with aboat, headed by a desperate fellow who had been a seaman. They gotclear away, and soon after news was brought that a large brig had beenattacked and taken, and all the crew made to walk the plank. 

"It will be necessary for us, then, to be on our guard, " remarked thecaptain. "They would be ugly customers to fall in with. "

"Indeed it will, " observed the governor. "They were desperate andcunning fellows, too, and they will, I fear, do no small amount ofmischief before they come to an end. I have sent notice to the ChilianGovernment, who will despatch one of their ships of war in search of thefellows; but in this wide ocean, with thousands of islands among whichthey may lie hid, there is but little chance of them being found. "

We had another day's delightful ramble over the hills and across thevalleys of this lonely island; and except that Robinson Crusoe must havefound it somewhat dull, being alone for so long before Friday came tohim, Jerry and I agreed that he was in no way to be pitied, and that weshould like nothing better than having to spend some time there. We didnot quite settle how long. There are a number of caves high up in thesides of the mountain, overlooking Cumberland Bay harbour, as it iscalled; and those barbarous fellows, the Spaniards, compel the convicts, who labour at the stone quarries, to live in them. The challenges ofthe sentinels, reaching all the way down to the harbour, broke the stillsilence of the night, as we lay at our anchors, ready to sail with thefirst dawn on the following morning. A light wind wafted us away fromthat romantic spot, our visit to which is among the most pleasantrecollections of our voyage. We gazed astern as if we were looking ourlast on the land of our birth, and did not leave the deck till its faintblue mountains had sunk beneath the horizon. In consequence of what wehad heard from the governor, we got our guns and small arms in order, tobe ready for the supposed pirates, should we fall in with them, while asharp look-out was kept, that we might not be taken unawares. CaptainFrankland was too brave and experienced a man to be afraid of takingnecessary precautions on all occasions. It did not occur to thecaptain, till we had been some time at sea, to inquire of Manuel Silvawhether he knew anything of the pirates. Grave suspicions had begun tocross his mind that he was in some way connected with them. Of courseSilva denied all knowledge of them. When pressed to give some accountof himself, he replied, "I am grateful for all your kindness. If I havean opportunity I will show it. I do not wish to tell you falsehoods, therefore do not press me on that subject. " With a favourable breeze westeered a course for the coast of Peru. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

VISIT TO THE EMPIRE OF THE INCAS. 

To the south of Lima, in the Bay of Pisco, are found three smallislands, or rather barren rocks. Not a tree grows on them--not a bladeof grass. The feathered race for ages past, probably since the lastflood rolled over the face of the globe, have made them their abode. Strange as it may seem, they are of more intrinsic value than therichest mines of Potosi; yet their produce is all on the surface, and tobe obtained but with little labour. They are the three Chincha Islands, and their produce is guano. It is the result of the droppings of birds, which in that dry and rainless region has preserved all its fertilisingqualities, and has been stored up, by the decree of a beneficentProvidence, to restore strength and vigour to the far-off lands of theOld World. We sighted them one morning, and running in, brought up intheir neighbourhood. There were sixty ships, mostly English, anchorednear them, for the purpose of loading with guano; and sometimes thereare upwards of a hundred. A boat was lowered, and the captain, Jerry, the doctor, and I, went in her. We had to climb up to the top of one ofthe islands by a ladder; the cliffs are so steep, and being composed offelspar and quartz, so broken away by the action of the sea, that it isthe only method of reaching the summit. The island was covered withthick layers of guano, and one cutting, about a hundred yards from thecliff, was sixty feet deep, or rather high, for the cutting is made intoit from the side, just as a slice is cut out of a cheese. Asteam-engine is employed in digging it out, and filling a set of cars, which run on a tramway to the edge of the cliff under which the vesselslie to load. Two hundred convicts were engaged in shovelling down theguano, and a number of stout negroes are employed in the hold todistribute it as it comes down through a canvas shoot. They have towear iron masks, as the fresh guano is stronger than volatile salts, andmore penetrating than coal-dust. 

The bird which produces the guano is a sort of tern, with red bill andlegs. It has a long whisker-like feather curling out under the ear oneach side. The top of the head and the tips of the wings and tail areblack. The body, which is about ten inches long, is of a dark-slatecolour. Large flocks of gulls, divers, and pelicans, likewise visit theislands. It is calculated that, on one island alone, there were2, 000, 000 tons of guano; and although from 200, 000 to 300, 000 tons areannually imported into England, it will take some time to exhaust thesupply. Guano is a corruption of the Quichua word _huaim_. The Quichuais the language of the Incas. Under the enlightened government of theIncas the value of guano was well-known, and severe laws were enactedagainst any one disturbing the birds during the breeding season. Pulling away to another island, we found a number of Chinese employed indigging out the guano. We were not surprised at seeing them look verymiserable and unhappy, for the oppressive odour arising from thefresh-dug guano was intolerable, to us even for a short time. We weretold that many of them in their wretchedness commit suicide, flying, through their ignorance, from present evils to those they know not of, instead of endeavouring manfully to support their lot, if inevitable, orto seek proper means to escape from it if they have the power--not thatI thought this at the time, by-the-by. I only remarked to Jerry thatthey were very great fools for their pains. A little way up the bay, onthe mainland, is the sea-port of Pisco, a neat Spanish-built place. Inthe neighbourhood are numerous remains, which prove how populous musthave been the country under the sway of the Incas. 

Sailing north, we entered the Bay of Callao, the port of Lima. Beforeus lay Callao, with rich green plains on either side, covered with whitefarms and willow-trees, with the high cliffs of Morro Solar to thesouth, and below it the bathing-place of Cherillos. Six or eight milesinland appeared the white towers of Lima, surrounded by orange-groves;while above them, far into the blue sky, rose peak beyond peak of theever-glorious snow-capped Andes. Such is the scene which, for many agespast, has been looked on; but a change--a great and important one--istaking place in the land; and what was our surprise, when we went onshore, to see English omnibuses and broughams--and more than that, theterminus of a railway, the carriages of which ran rattling on to Lima. 

"Funny, " cried Jerry, when we found ourselves, with the captain and thedoctor, in one of the aforesaid carriages, "to think that we are allaway on the other side of that great big straggling continent ofAmerica, and yet to feel, as we look about this box, as if we were onlyskurrying off from London to Liverpool. "

I entered into his feelings, and the voyage round Cape Horn, and ourdifferent adventures, seemed like a dream, till we looked out and sawthe giant Cordilleras, and then we were soon reminded where we were. Wemet a Peruvian gentleman on the railway, who told us much about thecountry. Among other things, while the Marquis of Villa Garcia wasviceroy of Peru in 1746, on the 28th of October, during a warm butperfectly calm evening, while the inhabitants of Callao and Lima werenot dreaming of evil, on a sudden, without a moment's warning, the earthshook with tremendous violence. Every house in Callao fell level withthe ground, crushing their hapless inmates. Many of those in Lima werelikewise overthrown; and as the affrighted survivors looked seaward, avast wave like a gigantic wall came roaring on towards the devotedplace. In an instant every living soul in Callao, with the exception ofone man who clung to a piece of timber, was overwhelmed by the ragingwaters. Not a vestige of the town remained. On went the wave, carryingwith it a Spanish frigate, the _Saint Fernim_, and other vessels, leaving them high and dry far inland. Lima narrowly escaped completedestruction, and it was long before the inhabitants recovered from thepanic into which the catastrophe had thrown them. For years after thedestruction of the Inca rule, unhappy Peru groaned under themisgovernment and tyranny of the Spaniards, and rapidly and surely theaboriginal inhabitants decreased in numbers. Several revolts occurred, but were crushed with barbarous severity. At length the colonists ofSpain conceived the hope of throwing off the yoke of the mother country. Although frequently defeated, the people of Chili were, by the aid ofLord Cochrane, at last successful. General San Martin, who had becomethe president, entered Lima on the 19th of July 1821, the viceroy LaCerna being cut off from any support from Spain by the Chilian fleethaving retreated to Cuzco, where he took up his head-quarters. Ultimately he was completely defeated, and his whole army was destroyed. On the 20th the independence of Peru was proclaimed, and though therepublic was long subject to intestine commotions, from what we couldlearn and see it now appears to be making very satisfactory progress. 

We next wished to get up to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incas, situated high up among the Andes; but we had no time to accomplish thejourney. We heard, however, of a very interesting place twenty-fivemiles to the south of Lima, on the coast. It was the city and temple ofPachacamac, "the creator of the world, " supposed to have been built intimes long anterior to those of the Incas. We had two days to sparebefore the ship was to sail, and the captain said we might visit theplace. The doctor, Jerry, and I, with a guide, a half Indian, set out, accordingly, at an early hour on horseback. We were accompanied bySilva, who, from speaking Spanish perfectly, went as our interpreter. He was still ill, and weak from his wounds and his exposure on thewreck, but he begged so hard that he might go on shore, that the doctorcould not refuse him. He had won the regard of all by his respectfuland unobtrusive manners, and had managed completely to obliterate thesuspicions which the captain at first entertained of him. The doctortold us during the ride more than I knew before about the country. Theearly inhabitants were worshippers of Pachacamac, and when the Incasintroduced the religion of the Sun, instead of destroying the faith theyfound existing, with an enlightened policy they allowed the temples ofboth to exist side by side. Passing close to the lofty cliffs of theMorro Solar, we rode through a large sugar estate, and then across asandy desert, with several lakes in it stocked with water-fowl, and soonafterwards, from the top of a gentle ascent, we saw before us the hillon which stands the remains of the once celebrated temple. The mightyfane stood at the top of the hill, with terraces encircling it, andsurrounding the base was the town. Beyond were seen the blue waters ofthe Pacific rolling on the sandy shore. We could not help feeling sadand awe-struck as we rode into the deserted city. The walls were there, although many were battered down, but the roofs of all had disappeared. Passing through the town, we climbed up a height 400 feet above the sea, where the remains of the great temple were standing. The wallssurrounding the centre space are about twenty feet high, and wediscovered even some of the vermilion paint with which they were adornedstill adhering to them. Below this wall were a succession of threebroad terraces. The interior shrine was entirely destroyed by HernandoPizarro, when he was sent by his brother, at the suggestion of the IncaAtahuallpa, to collect the treasures which it was supposed to contain. The priests had got notice of his purpose, and flying, had concealed thegreater portion of their wealth. Disappointed in his expectations, Pizarro having stripped the shrine of all its gold and ornaments, levelled it with the ground. The interiors of the larger portion of thehouses were full of sand. 

Having wandered about through this melancholy relic of the past with oldSurley at our heels, who in no way seemed to enter into our enthusiasm, we turned to retrace our steps to where we had left our horses. We hadobserved some figures at a distance among the ruins, but they seemed totake no notice of us. Suddenly they disappeared. We found our guidestanding by our horses where we had left him. He seemed ratheragitated, but we could not make out what had happened, as we did notunderstand a word of his language. When we mounted, he inquired of usby signs whether we had got pistols. We showed him that we had not, orarms of any sort. He did not treat us as we afterwards thought he mighthave done had he not been an honest man, and say, "Oh, if that is thecase, I will rob you myself. " He shook his head and showed us his ownlong knife, and signified that very likely we should have to use it forour defence. Such was the interpretation, at all events, that we put onhis various signs. Silva, who had been a little behind, now came up. 

"The poor man has seen some blacks who bear a bad character, it appears, and he is afraid they will attack us, " he observed. "However, show abold front, and we shall easily drive them off if they do. " As therewas no avoiding the danger, whatever it was, we made up our minds tomeet it as well as we could. 

"It has something to do with those fellows we saw among the ruins, " saidJerry. "Only I think they would have robbed us then, had they intendedto do so. "

"Perhaps we are mistaken altogether, or, what is as probable, our guidehas unnecessarily frightened himself, and tried to frighten us, "observed the doctor. 

"We shall see, doctor, " said I. "I hope you are right. " Just then wereached a small hut, such as is inhabited by Indians. Jerry declaredthat he must have a draught of milk, as we saw some cows feeding near, and before the guide could stop him, he had knocked at the door. Instead of the kindly face of an Indian appearing at his summons, outrushed a big, savage-looking negro, and by his angry gestures seemed toinquire what we wanted. 

"A calabash of milk, friend Sambo, " answered Jerry, in no ways daunted. While, however, he was speaking, two other blacks appeared at the door, while three or four more, flourishing long knives, came running towardus from a neighbouring wood. 

"Put spurs to your horses, boys, and let us get away from this!" criedthe doctor. As we were attempting to follow his advice, one of theblacks seized Jerry's rein, and though I struck the fellow a heavy blowwith my stick, he would not let go his hold. The consequence of theblow was nearly fatal to me, for the fellow with his other hand struckat me with a long glittering knife, and had not I pulled back my horseby an involuntary movement, he would have plunged it into my side--as itwas, he cut my trousers and drew blood from my leg. Seeing things cometo this pass, the doctor and Silva, who proved himself a brave fellow, began to lay about them, one with his stick and the other with a heavySpanish riding whip; while old Surley, who, after growling fiercely, sawthat the time for action had now arrived, began to bite away at thenegroes' thin calves and long heels, greatly to their annoyance. Eachman, as he found himself bit, turned round and endeavoured to stab thedog, and very much afraid I was that they would succeed; but so activelydid he jump about from side to side, now bounding here, now there, thatnot one of the numberless blows which were struck reached him, while hisfurious barking and repeated bites served most materially to distractthe attention of our assailants. Still they were fully eight armedsavages to five people with sticks and a whip, and a dog; and as Jerryand I were only boys, and old Surley had only his teeth to fight with, it must be acknowledged that we were very unequally matched. Feelingthis, we should certainly have felt it no disgrace to run away if wecould; but the black held on so tightly to Jerry's rein that we couldnot escape. At last the negro I speak of, finding that he had missed meand could not hit the dog, lifted up his long knife and made a desperatelounge with it at Jerry. I saw what he was about to do, and crying outto Surley, my stick instinctively came down with all its force on theruffian's arm, while the dog sprung up and caught him by the throat. Helet go at that moment the rein. 

"Now on, boys, on!" sung out the doctor, who saw what had occurred; andbringing our sticks down on our horses' backs, we dashed past theinfuriated negroes, on whose heads Silva bestowed many a terrific whackwith his stout stick, as they attempted to catch his rein. We werefollowed closely by the guide and our valiant ally, old Surley, at whomseveral blows were aimed, but he escaped them all, and at full gallop wepushed over the sandy plain, pursued by our black assailants. Happilythey had no fire-arms, or we should have fared ill. When we had gotbeyond their reach we pulled up and congratulated ourselves on ourescape, while old Surley came in for his due share of praise and thanks. He wagged his tail and opened his mouth, as if he were about to speakand say, "I only did my duty, masters; you feed me well, and treat mekindly, and I love you, and am ready to fight for you, and do you anyother service in my power, as I hope to prove whenever I have theopportunity. "

It was very late when we got back to Lima, to the house of a merchantwho had asked us to stay with him. He told us that the blacks whoattacked us were, he had no doubt, emancipated slaves, who had alwaysborne a very bad character. Had they been properly educated, andprepared for freedom, they might have turned out well; but thosewretches are a melancholy example of what will be found to be the casein other countries where slavery still exists, should the slavessuddenly be made free, or should they rise and win their freedom forthemselves. Unless they are carefully trained--taught to depend ontheir own exertions, and instructed in the pure truths of Christianity--they will, when freed, sink into a state of sloth and wretchedness; orif they rise to obtain their own freedom, they will, very certainly, beguilty of the most dreadful murders and every kind of atrocity incarrying out their designs. I often have since thought of what ourfriend said, and have prayed that the people of the United States willmake due preparation for enlightening those held so long in bondage. Onthe nature of that preparation it defends (I have often heard CaptainFrankland say) whether their dear-bought liberty shall give joy andgladness, or poverty and misery. 

The next morning, before returning to Callao, we rode out to visit theruins of an Inca town, situated on a hill forming one side of a fertileand well-irrigated valley. The walls of the houses were built ofunburnt brick and mud, carefully constructed at right angles to eachother, and very thick--indeed, they put us in mind of some of thepictures we had seen of Egyptian architecture. We were surprised tohear of the great number of Indians who still exist in the country. Under the present government they live happy and contented lives amongthe lovely valleys of their ancestors. Their huts are generally builtof stone and covered with red tiles, creepers being trained to trailover the walls, over which often a huge pumpkin is seen to hang, while aprickly cactus stands as a sentinel at the doorway. The dress of themen is a serge coat of an emerald green colour, without a collar, andwith a short skirt; loose black breeches, open at the knee, after theSpanish fashion; and a long red waistcoat with large pockets. Pieces ofllamas' hide fastened round the feet serve them for shoes, while theirlegs are stockingless. On their heads they wear broad-brimmed hats orcaps, adorned with gold-lace or ribbons of gay colours. The women wearthe same hat as the men, with a mantle over the shoulder secured infront by a silver pin; a red bodice, and a blue petticoat reaching alittle below the knee. Altogether they present a very picturesqueappearance. We made another very interesting excursion in a canal up ariver--or a stream rather, for it was very narrow--but what we were moststruck with was the richness of the vegetation, the bark, reeds, andtrees, and shrubs of all sorts which grew close to the water. What wasremarkable were the palm-trees, which shot up above the other trees--themselves of no inconsiderable growth. We were sorry not to be able tospend a longer time on the river. It put us very much in mind of thescenery of the Amazon. We saw enough of the country to make us long tosee more of it, but were obliged to hurry back to the railway-station toget to Callao, once more to embark on board the _Triton_. 

It was night by the time we reached the harbour, the sea calm as glass;and it struck me that there was something peculiarly solemn as we lookedout on that dark, silent expanse of water, after gazing as we had donefor some days on the lofty snow-capped Cordilleras, and the laughinggreen valleys round Lima. Dark as was the water, no sooner were theoars dipped in it than it appeared as if they were ladling up somered-hot fluid metal; and as the boat which was sent to take us offpulled toward us from the ship, she left a long line of fire in herwake. Even when we scooped up the water in our hands and threw it intothe air, it appeared like sparkles of fire, so long did it retain itsbrilliancy. The slightest movement in the water caused a flash oflight. Jerry and I agreed that we had never seen anything morebeautiful. The doctor told us that this phosphorescence or luminosityof the ocean is caused by a minute animal, scarcely perceptible to thenaked eye, though sufficient to tinge the water of a brown or reddishcolour. Other marine substances are, however, luminous. While we werewaiting to step into the boat, the bay having returned to its originaldarkness, on a sudden it appeared as if it had become a vast caldron ofmolten lead. The waters tumbled and rolled about in sheets of flame. 

"It is indeed a beautiful sight, " exclaimed the doctor; "never saw sucha display of luminosity. "

"Grand, grand!" cried Jerry. "A thing to talk about--ah! what is that?"

We were all silent. There was a low, rumbling, awful noise, neitherlike distant thunder nor the report of cannon--nor, indeed, anythingelse I ever heard; the earth seemed to sink under our feet, and then asif it were being crushed together--rocks, and earth, and sand, all inone lump by some mighty force. It was very dreadful. Our kneespositively trembled under us, at least I felt mine doing so. The boatrose and fell several times. I remembered the way in which old Callaohad been destroyed, and I began to fear that a similar catastrophe wasabout to occur. For a time there was a perfect rest, no movement ofearth, or water, or air--not the less awful on that account though. 

"Is it all over?" at length exclaimed Jerry, who was the first to breakthe silence. 

"I hope so, " answered the doctor; "but let us get into the boat, andpull on board; we shall be safer there than on shore, at all events. "

We followed his advice. As the boat clove her way through the water sheseemed to be gliding over a surface of gold, overlaid by some dark sandwhich was parted as she went by. When we got on board, we found thatour shipmates had felt the shock, the vibration of which must have comeup as they supposed by the chain cable. For a long time we walked thedeck, expecting another shock, but the night passed off quietly, andwhen morning returned there was nothing to indicate that an earthquakehad taken place. I ought to have said that the present town of Callaowas built at a little distance from the site of the old town destroyedby the earthquake, and on a higher and more commanding position. 

Once more we were at sea. One of the most interesting places we calledat, on account of its position and associations, was Panama. For many ayear it slept on neglected and almost forgotten. Now it has beencompletely aroused from its lethargy, to find itself in the middle ofthe highway to California, and the chief resting-place of gold-diggers. It is bounded by the sea on three sides, and surrounded by a wall withditch and bastions on the land side. In the centre is the _plaza_, intowhich converge several streets of old-fashioned, sedate-looking Spanishhouses, with broad verandas and heavy folding-shutters. Now a changehas rudely come over them. Above the door of one appeared, in hugecharacters--"American Hotel"; while a board announced that "GoodLodging, Brandy Smashes, Sice, and Egg-nog, " were to be obtained within. There are several other hotels with conspicuous signs, all denotingthat they have been established by citizens of the United States, whilethere exist several restaurants, cafes, and newspaper and billiard-roomsbesides. A steamer had arrived only a few days before at Aspinwall, onthe east side, and the town was consequently full of passengers who hadcome across by the railway. Nowhere, perhaps, are the past and thepresent brought into greater contrast. We visited the ruins of severalchurches and other buildings with massive walls, which probably neverwere finished, --all attesting the departed importance of the place. Nowpalm-trees grow in their lonely courts; tropical climbing plants throwtheir festoons in rich luxuriance over their elaborate architecture, andbanana-trees have taken root in the clefts of the crumbling walls. Panama, however, is not the identical city whence Pizarro sailed for theconquest of the kingdom of the Incas. That city stood six miles downthe coast; and after it was sacked and utterly destroyed by Morgan, whomurdered every soul then within it, none returned to take up theirhabitation there, and it still remains as he left it, a heap of ruins, now overgrown by rank vegetation. 

We were fortunate in finding the directions Captain Frankland expectedto guide his future course, and I got letters from home. How greedily Idevoured them! Every word I read over and over again, and I kissed themmore than once, when I knew Jerry was not looking at me. I do not givea longer account of the place, because I was engaged most of the time Iwas there in writing home. I judged from the delight I felt in gettingletters, that mine would afford a somewhat similar pleasure; so I foundthey did, and I advise those of my readers who have to go away from hometo remember this, and never to lose an opportunity of writing. We werebound for San Francisco, the giant mushroom city of the wondrousgold-bearing regions of California. I had always fancied that thePacific was, as its name betokens, a wide expanse of island-sprinkledwater, seldom or never ruffled by a storm. At length I had practicalproof of my mistake. We had made a good offing from the coast, to givea wide berth to that narrow strip of land which runs from north tosouth, and is known as Lower California. I saw the captain lookingconstantly at the barometer; Jerry and I looked also, for we guessedthat something was the matter. The quicksilver sank lower and lower inthe tube, showing that the superincumbent atmosphere had become lighter, or more rarified, and that a current of air would soon come in from somedirection or other and fill it up. 

"What's going to happen?" I asked of Jerry, seeing that the glass, orrather the fluid in it, fell more and more. 

"Why, we are going to have such a gale as we don't often meet with, Isuspect, " he answered. Just as he spoke, his father's voice was heardon dock. We immediately hurried there as fast as we could fly. At thetime there was but little wind, then it became perfectly calm, with onlya long heavy swell from the southward. The calm was of short duration. 

"All hands shorten sail!" sung out the captain. The crew sprung aloft;so did Jerry and I. We never shirked our duty, and Captain Franklandknew that if he let us do so, whatever the excuse, we should neverbecome true seamen. It was hard work to hold on to the yard, much moreto get in the stiff canvas. I have heard of people having their teethblown down their throats by a gale; I thought mine would have gone, andthen I should have gone too, for I literally had to hold on by them tosteady myself on the yard. Jerry was not far from me. We tugged andhauled away, and at last got the canvas rolled up as we best could; butI must own that it was far from well done. The gale was stillincreasing in strength, and we were not sorry to find ourselves safe ondeck again--so, I think, was the captain to see us. Perhaps, however, he had got so accustomed to the risks his son was constantly running, that he did not think about it. Scarcely had we come down from aloft, and were looking about to see what was going to happen, than we saw awayto the south-east, far as the eye could reach, a tumbling mass offoaming waters rushing on at a furious rate towards us. 

Meantime the storm stay-sails had been set, and the helm being put down, the ship was hove-to with her head to the eastward. As the seas camewith the swell, they were regular, and though the ship plungedviolently, now rising to the summit of a wave, now sinking down into thetrough, there was no fear of any of them breaking on board provided ourmasts stood. Such was the state of things when night came on. The windhowled, and whistled, and shrieked; the sea roared and hissed; thetimbers and the masts groaned; the bulkheads creaked; and everything andeverybody which was not secured very tightly, tumbled and rolled aboutin a most uncontrollable manner. For my part, I confess that I morethan once wished I were safe on shore again. As to turning in, not oneof us thought of doing that. Still the glass was falling, and still thegale was increasing. With regard to eating, also, all we could do wasto nibble a biscuit; for, as Jerry observed, had we attempted to putanything into our mouths with a fork, the chances were that we shouldhave sent fork and all down our throats, or dug the prongs into our eyesor noses, or done some other mischief. Every now and then Jerry and Istarted up on deck to see how things were going on, not that we could beof any use there. Just as we had agreed to go below again, a blast, asif a fresh hand had beep added to the bellows, came down upon us; therewas a terrific report, the ship heeled over on her side as if she weregoing down, and away flew the stay-sails out of the bolt-ropes, followedby nearly all the canvas, which, ill furled in our hurry, broke loosefrom the gaskets, and, fluttering away with loud flaps, was soon reducedto ribbons, knotted and twisted in every conceivable way. As the shipfell off into the trough of the sea when her sails rent, a foamingbillow came roaring up, and striking her, made a clean breach over us. There were shouts and cries fore and aft. Jerry and I held on for ourlives. Happily the stanchions we held to did not give way. Halfterrified, and not knowing what was next to happen, we tried to piercethe gloom which surrounded us. Jerry's chief anxiety was for hisfather; so was mine, and for Cousin Silas likewise, and, indeed, for ourkind friend the doctor. I had time also, strange as it may seem, tothink about old Surley, and to hope that he had not been washedoverboard, for unwisely he had followed us on deck. Very soon we weresatisfied that the captain was safe, for we heard him issuing orders ina clear voice which sounded high above the gale. Directly afterwardsCousin Silas passed us on his way forward, to get the fore-stay-sail onthe ship, to bring her head round. 

"If that does not do, what will happen?" I asked of Jerry. 

"We shall have to cut away the mizzen-mast and the main-mast too, " heanswered. "Pleasant, won't it be?" I hoped that we should not bedriven to this alternative. As soon as the captain had given thenecessary orders for the safety of the ship, we heard him telling BenYool to go and look for us. 

"They be safe enough, sir, " was the answer. "I see'd them after thesquall. "

"Ay, ay, father, we are all right here, " sung out Jerry. How high andshrill his voice sounded amid the roar of the tempest! By this time thesail was hoisted, the helm was put up--the ship's head rose and fell, and rose again. At length the canvas felt the force of the wind. 

"Hurrah! hurrah!" was shouted fore and aft. Slowly round came herhead--the helm was righted. The fore-staysail was quickly hauled downagain, or the next squall would have taken it out of the bolt-ropes, andaway we flew under bare poles--now plunging headlong into the deepvalleys before us, our stern lifted high up above the seas--now climbingthe opposite side of the watery hill, the wave following us as it cameup, vast and indistinct in the gloom of night, looking as if it mustoverwhelm us. 

"But what has become of old Surley?" I asked of Jerry, when we had timeto draw our breath a little more freely. "Can the dear old fellow bewashed overboard?"

"I hope not; perhaps he didn't like the look of things on deck, andskulked down below again, " answered Jerry. "Let us go and look forhim. "

This was no easy work, in the way the ship was pitching and tumblingabout, and not without considerable risk; but on that point we did notvery much trouble our heads. Old Surley was always ready to fight forus; and had we thought about the matter, we should have been ready to gothrough any amount of danger for his sake. Letting go our hold, therefore, away we crawled, grasping at anything we could reach, toprevent ourselves from being rolled away to leeward. At last we reachedthe forecastle, where the men had all huddled together, but old Surleywas not there. This made us very anxious about him. No one had seenhim. We began to fear that, as he had not hands to hold on by, he musthave been washed overboard when the heavy sea struck the ship which hadlaid her on her beam ends. 

"You'd better not be scuttling about the decks, young gentlemen, " saidBen Yool. "Another of those big seas may come, and then if you arecaught by it you may be carried away further off than you'll like. "

"Thank you, Ben, " we answered. "We'll take care of ourselves; but wemust first find old Surley, whatever happen. " Saying this, we began towork our way aft again, peering and putting our hands into every placewhere we thought he could be stowed away. As we were passing alongclose to the booms on the starboard side, under the long boat, I thoughtamidst the howling of the tempest that I heard a low whine. I toldJerry. We together hunted about the spot till our hands touched a hairycoat. It was that of old Surley. Of that we were certain, by hearinghim again whine. He could not move. Poor fellow, he had been jammed inamong the booms. We judged that there would be great difficulty inreleasing him, but after feeling about in all directions round him, wedetermined to make the attempt. I took his head and Jerry took histail, and, watching our opportunity as the spars separated by themovement of the ship, we lifted him out of the trap in which he had beencaught. He licked my face and hands, and then turned round and did thesame to Jerry; indeed, he took every means to evince his gratitude. Wewere very happy to find that none of his bones had been broken, andtogether we all three scrambled back in the best way we could to thecabin. Old Surley seemed to be very hungry after his imprisonment, so Imade another excursion on deck to the cook's larder, and got him a pieceof meat, with which I returned to the cabin. We should have been gladof something of the sort ourselves, but as we could not attempt to cookanything, and the meat I had brought was raw, we gave the whole of it toour four-footed friend. We all sat down on the deck of the cabin, holding on by the legs of the table--that is to say, Jerry and I heldon, and Surley lay between us. The doctor was in his berth. After, ashe said, he had sufficiently enjoyed the scene on deck, he had wiselyturned in, feeling that he could be of no use anywhere else. Neverbefore had I spent so uncomfortable a night on board. We were very wet, and cold, and hungry, and not at all certain that the ship would not godown, and carry us and all hands with her. 

"It's not so bad, though, as the time we spent on the bottom of the boatamong the Falkland Islands, " observed Jerry. 

"But that only lasted a short time, " I remarked. "For what we know, itmay blow as hard as it does now for a week to come. What shall we dothen?"

"Grin and bear it. That's the only thing to be done that I know of, "answered Jerry. 

All that night we sat up as I have described, now and then dozing offfor a short time, but then waking up again as the ship gave a moretremendous plunge than before. At last the captain came and lay down onthe sofa, and seeing that we were all safe, went to sleep; but he wassoon on deck again, and remained there till daylight. All that day thegale blew as hard, if not harder than ever, and we went rolling andpitching away before it. All the people were sent below except thehands at the wheel, and they secured themselves there, lest they shouldbe washed away by the seas which threatened every moment to break aboardus. As to looking out, all we could see were the foaming mountains ofwater rising up in broken masses around us, and the sheets of spraywhich never-ceasingly flew over us. Night came on again, and mattershad not mended. The glass was still lower than ever. Jerry and I hadmanaged to shift our clothes, so that we were more comfortable than onthe former night, and old Surley had had a lesson not to venture on deckagain. His coat was thus dry, and we all lay down together to pass thenight. Having scarcely closed our eyes the night before, we soon wentto sleep. Never have I slept more soundly. Suddenly I woke up. Theship was plunging as heavily as before, and the wind was howling and thesea roaring as loudly as ever. Still only half awake, I found my way upthe companion-ladder. I looked out. No one was to be seen on deck--thedark mountain seas and the confused mass of rigging could alone beperceived. I cast my eyes aloft? What was that I saw? High up in theair, at the main-topmast-head, there was perched a ball of fire. I wasso astonished, and, I may say, alarmed, that I could not speak. Whatcould the phenomenon portend? It stayed there for some time, then allof a sudden it glided down, and went out to the main-top-sail yard-arm--a bright, glowing, flaming ball. It will be setting the ship on fire!I thought that I would go and rouse up some one to tell what I had seen, in case there was any danger to be apprehended. Still I could not tearmyself away from my post. I shouted out to Jerry, but he did not hearme. I was just returning below when I found Cousin Silas at myshoulder. 

"So, Harry, you want to find out when the gale will have done blowing, "said he. 

"Yes, I do indeed; but look there!" I exclaimed, pointing to the ballof fire. 

"Ah, there's old Jack o' lantern!" he answered composedly. "Not a badsign either. A gale seldom lasts long after he has come. Look at him, he is rather playful to-night. " He was indeed. Sometimes the lightwould ascend and then descend the masts, then run along the yards, andwaiting a little at each yard-arm, would be back again and slip down oneof the stays to the fore-mast, and mount up in a second to thefore-topmast head. Sometimes, when the ship rolled very much, themast-head would leave it floating in the air, but as she rolled backagain it would quickly re-attach itself. More than once it got dividedinto several parts, as it flew about the rigging, but was very speedilyre-united again. Cousin Silas laughed when I told him that I thought itmight do us some injury. 

"Oh no; Jack is a very harmless fellow, " he answered. "More than once, when it has not been blowing as hard as it does now, before I was out ofmy apprenticeship, I and others have chased Jack about the rigging, andcaught him too. When near, he seems to have a very dull, pale light. Iand another fellow determined to have him. At last I clutched him. Ifelt that I had got something clammy, as it were, which stung my skinlike a handful of thin jelly-fish. I brought him down on deck, andclapped him into a box. In the morning I could feel that there wassomething in the box, but all the light was gone, and the box hadn'tbeen opened long before the thing, whatever it was, was gone too. "

Had anybody but Cousin Silas given me this account, I should scarcelyhave believed him; and even in this case I had some little difficulty innot supposing that he must, in some way or other, have been deceived. 

Jack, however, did not bring us the fine weather we wished for. Daylight returned, and we were little better off than before. Wenibbled some biscuit, as Jerry said, to keep our spirits up, and thenhad a look at the glass. It had risen two degrees. Still the sea ranvery high. Jerry and I went at last on deck, followed by Surley. Thecaptain and officers were there, for they had resolved to try and bringthe ship to; as she was running a long way out of her course. This, after a time, was done, when the wind lulled, under a close-reefedfore-topsail. We rode after this much more pleasantly, and then the seabegan to go down, and once more we could move about the deck withoutdanger of being washed overboard. 

"All hands make sail!" was at length the cheering cry, just as the sunhad set, as the poets say, in his ocean bed. We sprang aloft--Jerry andI racing who should be first up on the yard-arm. Surley looked as if hewould like to follow. Jerry beat me. The ship was still rollingheavily in the swell after the gale. He was springing out towards theyard-arm, laughing gaily at his success, when the ship gave a roll, andaway he was sent clear of the bulwarks and into the sea. To glide downby a back-stay and to jump overboard after him was the work of a moment. I scarcely knew what I was doing. I fancied that I just heard the cryof "A man overboard;" but I was not certain. I knew that I was for mysize a good swimmer, and I wanted to save my friend. He could swim, butnot much. He threw up his arms; I saw him, and struck out towards him. I had a companion, I found, hastening also to his rescue. It was oldSurley. He swam faster than I did, seeming to know the importance ofhaste. We were not without means of support, for as Jerry fell thelife-buoy had been let go. It was such as are carried by men-of-war, and could support several people. I sung out to Jerry. He heard myvoice, but he only answered faintly. He had got his mouth full ofwater, and had been stunned and confused by his fall. He was beatingthe water wildly, forgetting apparently that he could swim. 

"Help! help!" he sung out; "I'm sinking! I'm sinking!" I did my utmostto reach him, but was still some way off. Surley dashed towards him, and seized him by the collar, holding his head above water. I saw thatthe best thing I could do was to tow the life-buoy up to him. It wasnot far off. Surley seemed to divine my intention, and swam towards it. At last I got it up to Jerry. He had just strength enough left tocatch hold of it. Old Surley put his paws in the beckets to supporthimself, and then we all three were hanging on to the life-buoy, whilethe ship, as it seemed to us, was running far away, already almostconcealed by the thick clouds of spray with which we were surrounded. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

ADVENTURES IN MEXICO. 

"I am so glad you are saved, Jerry, " said I. These were the first wordsI spoke after we had got hold of the life-buoy. 

"But are we saved?" he exclaimed. "Will the ship be able to come back?and if she does, will they see us, do you think?"

"They'll not desert us--of that we may be certain, " I replied; and Ithought how heart-broken Captain Frankland would be when he found thathis son had fallen overboard and was in all probability lost. Strangeto say, I did not think at all of my own perilous position. I had goneto save Jerry, and it seemed a matter of course that I must save him. It must be remembered that our heads were very little above the level ofthe water, and that although the sea had gone down considerably, we weresurrounded by masses of foam--now sinking into the trough, now rising tothe top of a wave. Our view, therefore, was very limited. We werelooking out eagerly for the ship through the thickening gloom. Happily, when the life-buoy was let go, the trigger was pulled. This set off asort of blue light, which burned at the top, and which water could notextinguish. We felt sure, therefore, that as long as that lightcontinued burning we should be seen by those on board. Our great dreadwas that the light would go out before the ship could get back to us. We strained our eyes in the direction of the ship. The thickening gloomand mist were rapidly encircling her, and shrouding her from our sight. 

"O Harry, Harry, she's going away, and they won't know where to look forus!" cried Jerry. "Poor father, what will he do? and my carelessnesshas brought you into this trouble, and poor Surley too. I wish youhadn't jumped overboard for me. "

"I'm very glad I did, for I don't think that you would have been alivenow if I had not, " I answered; "and don't have any regrets about me--Ionly did my duty, and I am sure that you would have done the same forme. But I say, do you remember what Mr Brand talked about when we wereholding on by the bottom of the boat among the Falklands?"

"Yes, I do; something about our being summoned before many moments tostand before the Judge of all the world, " answered Jerry. "I've beenthinking of that just now. "

"So have I, " said I. "Well, it strikes me that if we thought about itoftener we should be better prepared for the time when it does come. Come it will, I know, --`as a thief in the night, ' the Bible says. I'lltry and think more on the subject, so that when the moment does come Imay be ready. "

Many people make resolutions as we did: how few keep them! It isextraordinary that we should have been able to talk so much in theposition in which we were placed. As I was saying, we strained our eyesgazing after the ship. 

"Jerry, " I exclaimed suddenly, "she has hove about--I am certain of it!See, see! she is coming nearer!"

Breathlessly we watched. Even though the gloom was thickening, we coulddiscern that her bow was turned towards us. We shouted in oureagerness--not to show where we were: there was no use in that, norcould we have made ourselves heard; the light also from the life-buoywas still burning brightly. On came the ship towards us. There was nodoubt about the matter. 

"There's down with the helm!" cried Jerry. "They are going to heaveto--hurrah! hurrah!"

In another minute the ship lay hove-to a short distance to windward ofus. She looked like some huge dark spirit rising out of the ocean. Weknew that they must be lowering a boat, though we could not see it. Then we shouted, to show that we were all right and in good heart. Ashout from the boat's crew was given in return, and a light was held upto show us that help was coming. Over the waves it came dancing towardsus. In a few minutes more the boat was up to us, with Mr Brand at thehelm. Whenever any very important work was to be performed, I observedthe captain liked to intrust it to Cousin Silas. 

"Take old Surley off first!" exclaimed Jerry. Manuel Silva, who had, itappeared, insisted on coming, was about to help him in. "He has hadhard work to hold on, poor fellow. " So Surley was taken into the boat, and then I, for Jerry would not get in till the last; and then thelife-buoy was lifted in, and in a very short time we were all safe ondeck, and the ship once more steering towards the American coast. 

We were earned below--that is to say, Jerry and I. The men took care ofSurley. We were put into our berths, and the doctor came to us, and wewere rubbed, and had some hot brandy and water; and then I, at allevents, felt all to rights. Jerry had been hurt by his fall, and ittook him much longer to recover. The captain went and sat by him; andJerry told me that he heard him offering up his thanks to our mercifulGod for having restored his son to him. He then came and talked to me, and told me how sorry he should have been had I been lost, and howgrateful he felt to me for having been the means of saving his son'slife. I do not know exactly what I said. I remember I told him what Iwas sure of, --that Jerry would have done exactly the same for me. Therewas this difference, that I could swim very well, and that Jerry couldswim very little, so that I deserved less thanks than he should havedone had he jumped in for me, considering that he would have run fargreater risk for my sake than I had done for his. The captain smiledwhen I said this, but made no remark. He had always been kind to me, --he was now kinder than ever; but this did not prevent him from takingevery means to make me a sailor, and to keep me to my duty, while at thesame time he afforded me every opportunity of seeing as much as possibleof the world through which we were passing. 

Silva, as I before have said, by his quiet manners, readiness to lend ahand when any work was going forward, and anxiety to be on good termswith all, had completely won the good-will of everybody on board. Hewas evidently a man of some attainments, and was more likely to havebeen an officer than a man before the mast. With Jerry and me he wasapparently very frank. He told us how when a young lad he had beenturned adrift into the world to seek his fortune, without parents or anyone to care for him; and how he had battled on, picking up informationwhere he could, reading what books he could lay hands on, and laying ina store of knowledge for future use. 

"I have served on board vessels of every description. I've been onboard slavers, and merchant vessels, and men-of-war of several nations. I've served with Lord Cochrane both in the Pacific and Atlantic; and fora long time I was in an opium clipper in the China Seas; but, as youknow, lads, a rolling stone gathers no moss, and here I am, as poor as Iwas when I first began life. However, there are plenty of ways by whicha man may make his fortune if he chooses, and I must find one of themsome of these days. "

He spoke in a desperate, careless tone, as if he in reality cared verylittle what became of him, or what he did. We had begun to feel astrong liking for the man, and were now inclined to pity him sincerely. 

I will not describe another gale which came on, and drove us away to thesouthward and westward for several days, the wind shifting about so muchthat we scarcely knew where we had got to. At length, when it hadmoderated, so that an observation could be taken, we found that we wereon the coast of Mexico, not far from the harbour of Mazatlan, near theentrance of the Gulf of California. The ship had been so battered aboutduring the gale, that the captain was glad of an opportunity of runninginto harbour to repair damages, before proceeding to San Francisco, where he could not expect to find workmen, and where, if he remainedlong, his own crew might be tempted to desert. As we stood in for theshore, a few barren rocks or small islands appeared in sight, andrunning through, we found ourselves before a pretty little town, part ofit standing on the foot of a steep promontory, and partly on a sandybank which encircles a wide lagoon. This was Mazatlan. It is inhabitedby Mexican Spaniards. The first mate, Mr Renshaw, had not been onshore during the voyage, so the captain insisted on his going with thedoctor and Jerry and me. We first went to an inn--a _meson_, as it wascalled. It consisted of a quadrangular building, with a court-yard inthe centre, and a corridor running round it. All the rooms opened intothis corridor, and had no communication with each other. The corridorwas the general lounging-place; and at night many of the guests whopreferred air to privacy, slung their hammocks in it. Round the walls, or on the pillars, they also hung up their saddles and other ridinggear. As to furniture, there is something like a bedstead, a woodenelevation which keeps the sleeper from the floor; but chairs and tablesare luxuries seldom met with, while washhand-stands are things unheardof--washing being but little in vogue among the travelling population. We were fortunate in falling in with two Englishmen--that is to say, one, Captain Driscoll, was an Irishman, who had been in the Mexicanservice; and the other, Dr Dwyer, was a merchant. They knew thecountry well, and were travelling towards Durango, the largest town inthe neighbourhood. They had with them two young men, sons of_rancheroes_, as the Mexican cattle-farmers are called. They both livedsome way up the country, and as they also were bound to Durango, and hadspeedily to return, it was arranged that we should all travel together. With the addition of our new friends' two servants, we thus togethermustered ten persons. We were all of us well-armed, and not withoutnecessity: our friends told us that the country had lately been infestedby large bands of Comanche Indians, who had been driven away from theborders of the United States, and had discovered that they were able tocarry on their depredations among the Mexicans almost with impunity. "They are not likely to attack a well-armed party, and if they do, wecan give a good account of them. " This account only the more excitedour interest, and we quite hoped that the Indians would attack us. Whenwe first went to the inn, we saw a large party on horseback just settingout, we understood, in the same direction. They were all armed to theteeth, --with pistols in their belts, some with swords by their sides, and others with lances or rifles. They made a gay appearance on theirrichly caparisoned steeds, with their broad-brimmed hats and feathers, bright-coloured sashes, trousers open at the knees, with silver buttonsand loose jackets, with yellow boots and large silver spurs. They werelaughing loudly and talking; and as they flourished their spears andrifles, they boasted how they would treat any Indians who might dare toattack them. The doctor said he thought that it was a pity we had notbeen ready to accompany them. 

"Let them go alone, " answered our friend; "I know those boastinggentlemen too well to trust them. If attacked, they would leave all thefighting to us. We shall be better off by ourselves. " Our friendsprovided horses and all necessaries for the journey, and in high spiritswe started, mounted on high Spanish saddles, from which it seemedimpossible that we could ever tumble off. I will not attempt todescribe the scenery in detail. It was hilly, and woody, and rocky, with valleys and waterfalls; now and then we came to a plain with a wideextent of open country, and then had to cross rocky ridges, and climblofty heights among crags and pine-trees; but nothing came amiss to usor our horses. The young farmers had pressed us to stop a day at theirfather's house, which was only a little out of the way. It was built inthe fashion of the inn I have described, surrounded by thefarm-buildings and pens for cattle. The father was a fine, hearty oldman, dressed in the ancient Spanish costume; and their mother andsisters were kind, fresh-looking people, very unlike theparchment-skinned, withered crones we had seen in the town. They gaveus for supper _tortillas_, which are thin cakes made of corn, and eggs, and fried beans, and some other things, to which we did justice. Thenext morning our friends asked us if we would like to see a hunt. 

"Of what?" we asked. 

"Of a bear, " was the answer. "One has been seen in the neighbourhood, and his destruction is resolved on. "

"Oh, by all means!" we exclaimed, wondering in what way the bear was tobe hunted. "Let us go. "

After an early breakfast, we set out on horseback, accompanied byseveral men on foot carrying long poles. Each of the young rancheroeshad a long coil of rope round his saddle-bow, to which one end wasfastened--at the other was a running loop. This I found was a lasso--aweapon (for so it may be called) in their hands of very formidablecharacter. The appearance the young rancheroes presented on horsebackwas very picturesque. Their saddle-cloths and saddles were richlyworked, and the head-gear of their horses was adorned with gay tassels. Round their own heads, and necks, and waists, they wore bright-colouredhandkerchiefs. Their jackets and trousers were made very loose, andadorned with a profusion of silver buttons; while on their heels theywore huge silver spurs, with rowels as large as the palm of a man'shand. Two other rancheroes joined us. They had seen the hear, andfound out his haunts. We reached a wild, rugged country, with a fewtrees in the valleys, and numerous large rocks jutting out in the sidesof the hills. 

"The rancheroes say that the bear's cave is not far off from here, "observed one of our English friends. "We must be prepared for him. Keep by us and do as we do. " Scarcely had he spoken when a loud growlor snort was heard, and not a hundred yards from us a huge, grisly, brown monster rushed out from behind a rook, showing his teeth, andstanding upon his hind-legs as if ready to fight. I had never seen amore ferocious-looking monster. While we were looking at him he wentdown on his fore-paws, and with a loud growl made a rush at us. 

"Put spurs to your horses, and gallop down the valley, or he will beupon us!" exclaimed our friends. We were not slow to follow thisadvice. I looked round--the bear was following us. Fast as we went, unwieldy as the monster looked, he came as rapidly after us. I couldnot help thinking if one of our horses fell, what would become of therider. It was not unlikely either that one of us, especially the firstmate, who was not accustomed to ride, might tumble off. If so, the bearwould certainly kill him. On we went as fast as our horses' legs couldcarry us. The bear was, notwithstanding this, gaining on us. I keptalongside Jerry, so did the mate. Their horses could not go faster. Iwondered what had become of the rancheroes; I did not see them. Anotherterrific growl was heard, and looking over my shoulder, I saw that thebear had gained still more on us. He was not eighty paces from us. Just then I saw Jerry pulling at his horse's bridle. He hauled awaylustily, but it was too late. Down went the poor animal over a bigstone, and away flew Jerry over his head. I shrieked with terror. Howcould I help him? I turned round, hoping to divert the bear'sattention, but the monster took no notice of me, and made straight atJerry. At that moment, when I thought that it was all up with him, Iheard a loud _switch_, as if something were passing rapidly through theair, and two of the rancheroes darted out from behind a cliff, havingthrown their lassoes over the bear's head and shoulders. Away theygalloped in an opposite direction to which he was going, till theirropes were at their fullest tension, and then their horses drew up, planting their feet firmly on the ground and dragging against theastonished animal. Instead of seizing the prey he expected, he foundhimself drawn up with a halter round his neck, and heating the air in avain endeavour to escape. When he found that he could make no headagainst the two rancheroes, who were endeavouring to stop him, he turnedround in a fit of fury and endeavoured to overtake them. Keeping theirlassoes at full stretch, away they went before him; and if he stopped amoment to try to get rid of the nooses, they gave him a jerk which madehim move on again. Jerry was, happily, not hurt by his fall, and havingcaught his horse, the mate, and I helped him quickly to mount and toovertake the rest of the party who were following the hunters. Aftergalloping along the valley for a quarter of a mile or so, the two otherrancheroes darted out from behind a rock, and whirling their lassoesround their heads, cast them with unerring aim over the shoulders of thebear, and then galloped away from him. The monster had now four lassoesround him. Mighty as was his strength, and fierce as were hisstruggles, he was in an instant brought to the ground. He bit, andstruggled, and snarled, or rather growled in vain; tighter and tightergrew each noose till he was hauled over on his back. Some of the men onfoot, who had been hidden in the neighbourhood, rushed forward, andthrew their lassoes over his legs. He was now utterly helpless. Thenthe men came with their long poles, with which they formed a sort oflitter, and off they carried poor Bruin in triumph. It was certainlymuch pleasanter examining him now he was made fast than when he was atliberty. We were told that his strength is so great that he can, without difficulty, overcome the huge bison whom he meets with in theplains. The doctor called him the _Ursus ferox_. His claws were longand strong, his canine teeth of great size, and his eyes deeply sunk inhis head. We followed the huge prisoner in triumph till we came to aroad, when he was put on a cart and rumbled off to the farm. Thence hewas forwarded to Mazatlan, and very likely shipped off to some distantpart of the world. 

On our way back to the rancho, we encountered a herd of wild cattle, oneof which the young rancheroes wished to capture. Off they set inpursuit of a fine bull they had singled out from the herd. One of themrode up on the right side of the animal about twenty feet off, the otherkept a little behind at about the same distance on the left side. Awayflew the noose of the right-hand man over the head of the beast; at thesame moment the ranchero behind cast his by a peculiar knack over theleft hind-foot, as the animal lifted it in running. The sudden jerkbrought him to the ground, and the other ends of the lassoes beingfastened to the saddles, the horses stood perfectly still, dragging awaywith all their might in opposite directions. Their masters quietlydismounted, and leaving their horses thus keeping the bull secure, theyleisurely approached him. They then secured his feet in such a way thathe could only just walk, and bent his head down to his legs, so that hecould not butt, and making him get up, led him away a prisoner. Severalwere treated in the same way. We wonderfully enjoyed our day'sexcursion. 

The next morning by daybreak we set off to continue our journey. It wasvery pleasant travelling. Sometimes Jerry and I rode together, sometimes with the doctor or Mr Renshaw, and at others with our twoEnglish friends, from whom we gained a good deal of information. Fromall I heard, I should not at all like to live in Mexico. Thedescendants of the fierce conquerors have become a most degenerate race, without religion, without morality--each man ready to destroy hisneighbour for the sake of getting into his place. That object seems tobe the only end and aim of all their politics. As to patriotism, itdoes not exist. The nearest approach to the sentiment is made by thosewho wish for a settled government, that they may enjoy their property inpeace and quiet. The consequences of the constant change of governmentare, that brigands abound, that the confines of the country are leftopen to the depredations of the Red Indians, and that the army of thestate is left in a dreadfully disorganised condition--ill paid, ill fed, ill clothed, and utterly unable to cope with the evils which beset them. We stopped for a few hours at a ruined house to take our mid-day meal, and then continued our journey. Soon after this we came to someblackened walls which showed where a village once stood. We learnedfrom the rancheroes that only a few weeks before there existed on thespot a pretty hamlet, with a contented and happy population of somefifty persons or so. One morning, just as they were setting forth totheir work, the dreaded war whoop of the Indians was heard. Two orthree hundred Red Indian warriors, armed with spears, rifles, and roundshields, were seen galloping towards the devoted village. Some of thepeople fled. All tried to flee, for so completely unprepared were theythat there was no time to make any defence. The women and children, asthey were overtaken, were indiscriminately slaughtered. The plunderthat was considered worth carrying off was collected, and then inwantonness the village was set on fire. A few of the fugitives had atlength reached Durango with the tale of their misfortunes. Some troopshad been sent out with orders to exterminate the savages, but they tookvery good care not to come near them, while the Indians indeed wereprobably making a foray some two or three hundred miles away. At nightwe reached a rancho, the owner of which was known to our friends. Hereceived us hospitably, slung hammocks for us in one of the corridors ofthe house, and gave us the usual tortillas, and eggs, and beans for afeast, in addition to some very fine beef. The evening of the next daywas approaching, when, as we were descending a hill, we saw in the plainbelow us a number of horsemen galloping about. We were too far off tomake out what they were. The rancheroes gazed earnestly at them. MrRenshaw had a good glass with him. 

"Why, there are red fellows on horseback, with spears and shields, butwithout a rag on them, " he exclaimed. "They seem to be fighting withanother set of fellows dressed as Spaniards, and, hang it, the latterare turning heels and flying. " The rancheroes seemed very much excitedall the time, and rode a little way down the hill, that they mightbetter see what was going on. They quickly turned round and beckoned tous to join them. We did so, and soon saw that if we would save thelives of the Mexicans, there was not a moment to be lost. Althoughthere were thirty of them, there were fully four times as many Indians. It was not difficult to divine what had occurred. The Mexicans had beentaken by surprise, and instead of pulling up and keeping close together, each man had galloped off in the hope of saving his own life, withoutthinking of his companions. The Indians had thus got in among them, andhad already pierced several through with their long spears. Each Indianwarrior, however, as soon as he had killed or disabled a man, stopped totake his scalp, and this gave time to some of the Mexicans once more tounite and to present a better front to the enemy. The resistance theywere making, however, was very feeble, and as we galloped on we saw thatthey had once more begun to break. The Indians had been so intent onthe attack that they had not perceived our approach, neither had theMexicans. 

"Now, my friends, " exclaimed our friend Captain Driscoll, who seemed asif by right to take the command, "keep together, shoulder to shoulder, and dash boldly in among those red villains. Cut them down, and pistolthem as best you can, shouting at the top of your voices. I know themof old; they won't stand that. When they hear English voices they'llrun; they know what they are to get. Wait till I give the word, though. "

It was very exciting. Down the steep hill we dashed at full speed, ourhorses seeming clearly to understand what we were about. Alreadyseveral more Mexicans had, through their cowardice, lost their lives. We were within two hundred yards of the scene of strife. "Now's thetime!" shouted our leader. "Hurrah, hurrah! my lads! Give way, you redscoundrels!" we all shouted at the top of our voices. The Indians, hearing our cries, turned their heads, and seeing a large body ofhorsemen coming down the road, and not knowing how many there might befollowing, thought that it was high time for them to be off. Ourappearance, also, gave the Mexicans courage, and they charged moremanfully than they had done before. 

"Wallop ahoo aboo, Erin gobragh!" sung out our leader, Captain Driscoll. "Fly, ye red scoundrels; fly, or we will cut you into mince-meat!"Whether the Indians understood what he said I do not know, but as hesuited the action to the word, wielding a pretty heavy Toledo, they tookhis advice, and, disengaging themselves from the melee, urged theirhorses to a rapid flight. We, however, were too close to them to allowthem to escape altogether with impunity, and three of them were knockedoff the backs of their steeds, two of whom were mortally wounded. Athird, I thought, was lead. He lay on the ground without moving, orapparently breathing, his tomahawk still held in his death-grasp. Thecowardly Mexicans very soon put the other two poor wretches out of theirpain, by running them through and through with their lances. Two orthree of the heroes were in the act of charging the dead man, with theintention of running him through, when up he sprung to his feet, andaway he went as quick almost, it seemed, as a flash of lightning afterhis comrades! Several of our party gave chase after him, but though hewas on foot it appeared as if he would distance us. His leg, however, had been wounded, and he had miscalculated his strength. His paceslackened. Once or twice he stumbled; he felt that he could run nomore. He was a brave fellow, and was determined to die like a man, withhis face to his enemies. Flourishing his tomahawk above his head, heuttered his war cry, and rushed desperately towards us. A Mexican'slance struck him on the shoulder, and brought him to the ground. Theother Mexicans were about to despatch him, but Captain Driscoll sung outin Spanish, "Spare his life; spare his life; we do not kill fallenenemies;" and Jerry and I, impelled by the same feelings, threwourselves before him, and by signs showed that we had resolved toprotect him. The Indian seemed to comprehend what we were about, thoughperhaps he thought we wanted to preserve his life only to torture him, for he did not show that he was in any way obliged to us. The momentthe lance was withdrawn, he sprung up with his weapon in his hand, readyto fight on; but one of the rancheroes threw his lasso over hisshoulders, and, with a jerk which, had it been round his neck, wouldhave dislocated it, brought him again to the ground. 

"We will bring him along with us, " said Captain Driscoll; "the poorwretch has shown great courage, and deserves to live. Perhaps we maylearn from him something about his tribe. "

The captive Indian was dragged along; and, finding that at present hehad no chance of escape, he came on quietly. No less than eight of theMexicans had lost their lives, so sudden had been the attack of the redmen, and most of the bodies had been deprived of their scalps. As itwas impossible to carry the corpses with us, and we had not time to burythem, they were left to afford a banquet to the birds of the air and thebeasts of the forest--a common occurrence in this country. Some ofthose who had run away now came back, and by degrees the whole party wasonce more collected together. It was already late in the afternoon, andwe were anxious to find some place where we could rest for the night. There was a village, we heard, at no great distance, and by ridingpretty hard we might reach it by nightfall. After what had occurred, this we were all well disposed to do, for we could not tell at whatmoment the Comanches, when they found that our numbers were smaller thanthey had supposed, might come back and attack us. It was amusing tohear the vapouring and boasting of the Mexicans, as our friends, withtheir own comments, translated it to us. The greatest boasters were thegreatest cowards. Not one but could offer an excellent reason forhaving run away. Several were going to procure help; others to getbehind the Indians, to attack them in the rear; others were heroicallymaking a diversion, to draw off their attention from their friends. Itwas nearly dark when we reached the village, but not a sign of livingbeings was there--no dog barked, no child's cheerful voice was heard, not a cock crew. Alas! there were blackened roofs and walls, andcharred door-posts. The Indians had been there; all the inhabitantsmust have been slain or had fled. We rode through the hamlet; not ahuman being was to be found. One house--the largest in the place--hadescaped entire destruction. It had two stories; a ladder led to theupper one. It would afford us shelter during the night, which gavesigns of being a tempestuous one. Behind the house were some sheds, where our horses might be tethered. The first thing to be done was toobtain food for them. It was more important that they should be fedthan that we should; so a party was sent out to cut grass, and soonreturned with a sufficiency. Most of the people had brought provisions, as we likewise had done, and thus in that respect we were very well off. Captain Driscoll, by tacit consent, was chosen to make the arrangementsfor our security during the night. In the lower room was a largehearth, on which a blazing fire was made, and by the light of it we ateour somewhat frugal supper. We then all climbed up into the loft, andthe Mexicans, with their _scrapes_, and saddles, and saddle-cloths, soonmade themselves comfortable beds, and we imitated their example. TheIndian prisoner had been made to come up, and then they bound his armsand legs, and he sat in one corner with a man to watch him. I had beenasleep some time, when I felt Jerry pulling at my arm. I looked up. The light of the moon was streaming in through a gap in the roof, forthe storm which had threatened had passed off. Jerry put his finger tohis lips to impose silence, and pointed to the Indian. He was sittingup; his hands were free, and he was busily employed in disengaging hislegs from the lashings which secured them. What to do I scarcely knew. If the prisoner would go away without hurting any one, I thought itwould be the best thing that could happen. Then it occurred to me thatif he escaped he might give information to his friends of ourwhereabouts, so I thought it would be best to stop him. I was on thepoint of singing out, when up sprung the Indian, the long knife of hissleeping guard in his hand. He was about to plunge it into the man, when Jerry's and my shouts arrested his arm, and leaping down thetrap-hole at which the ladder was placed, before those who had beenaroused could catch hold of him, away he flew through the village. Pursuit was instantly made, but before the foot of the ladder could bereached, he was out of sight. Those who had gone after the Indianreturned looking very foolish; and the man who had charge of him wassoundly rated, but that was all that could be done. I found that thesame reason for apprehension was entertained by the party which hadoccurred to me. However, after a time, the Mexicans got tired ofwatching, and all lay down again in their places. I could not go tosleep. I did not like the thought of that Indian escaping, and Iwondered that Captain Driscoll did not take more precautions to guardagainst a surprise. I found that Jerry was awake, and when I told himmy ideas he agreed with me. We lay still for a little time, and then wegot up and looked out. The night was perfectly still and fine. Wefancied that if anybody were stirring we should not fail to hear. Wewent back into the loft, and then found that Captain Driscoll was awake. He asked us what we had been about. We told him our apprehensions. Helaughed, and replied, that after the drubbing we had given the redrascals they would not venture to come near us. 

"The Duke of Wellington tells us that we should never despise ourenemies, whoever they may be, " I answered. 

Captain Driscoll laughed. "The duke was not thinking of Red Indians, "he observed. "Don't be alarmed, my boys, the thieves won't come. "Scarcely had he uttered the words, when there was a neighing, andkicking, and stamping of horses' feet in the court-yard below us. Welooked out. The place was full of Red Indians!

"To arms! to arms!" shouted the captain. Everybody was instantly ontheir feet. I found that he had more arrangements than I had fancied. The Indians had got over the walls of the court-yard, but the gate wasso blocked up that they could not open it to get our horses through. Their only outlet was through our house. The door leading to this wasinstantly occupied by some of the Mexicans, while others ran theirrifles through all the crevices and holes in the walls, and began firingaway at the Indians. They, disappointed in their attempt to carry offour horses, after ham-stringing several of them, leaped back over thewalls, exposing themselves as they did so to the rifles of the Mexicans. Several were shot down, but the greater number made their escape. Noone attempted to follow them, however, for there could be no doubt thata large party of them were in the neighbourhood, and that they wouldvery likely renew their attack on us. They did not disappoint us. Inless than a quarter of an hour the trampling of horses' hoofs was heard, and through the gloom of night a large body of horsemen was seengalloping up through the street of the ruined village. As they gotnear, they gave vent to the most unearthly shrieks and cries, intending, undoubtedly, to terrify us. Captain Driscoll was not, however, totallyunprepared for them. He had stationed the best marksmen of the partybehind the walls of the enclosure and at the windows of the house. There was little time, however, to make the arrangements, but each manseemed to know pretty well what he had to do. Not a shot was fired, nota word was uttered. The Indians, expecting an easy victory, gallopedalong the road, flourishing their lances, or holding their rifles readyto fire as soon as any one appeared to fire at. They got close up tothe walls of the house, and there halted, fancying apparently that wehad already decamped. Some got off their horses, to examine the groundfor our trail. 

"_Tira! tira_!--fire, my lads, fire!" shouted our leader in Spanish andEnglish. Every one of us obeyed the order, with such effect that fullya dozen savages were knocked over, and many more wounded. We lost not amoment in loading again. The savages, firing their rifles at us, rodedesperately up to the walls, as if intending to jump off their horsesand climb over them. Had they succeeded in so doing, they might haveoverwhelmed us with their numbers. They were, however, received withanother volley, delivered with such good effect that their couragefailed them, and, wheeling about, they galloped away down the road asfast as they could tear. Two Mexicans only were wounded, and not veryseriously. As may be supposed, no one went to sleep again that night;and as soon as day broke we were all in our saddles, that we might reachDurango before dark. We now proceeded with something like militaryorder, to avoid a surprise; for it was thought probable that the Indiansmight have formed an ambush on the road, with the intention of attackingus. In the afternoon, as we rode along, we caught sight of a body ofhorsemen winding their way down a hill on the opposite side of thevalley. They might be Indians. Each man examined the lock of hismusket or rifle, and felt his side for his sword. They approached, andwe then saw that they were a troop of cavalry. They were very ragged, and their horses were very miserable, and certainly they did not appearas if they could contend with the well-mounted Indians we hadencountered. These Comanche Indians, as the Mexicans call them, succeedin their forays by the rapidity of their movements. They willaccomplish a hundred miles in the day, driving several horses beforethem. When one is tired, they mount another. If any are killed byover-riding, their places can always be supplied from the nearest, cattle estate. They strike terror among the widely-scatteredinhabitants of the borders; but there is no doubt, if they were bravelyand systematically opposed, they would be very quickly driven away, orcompelled to have recourse to more peaceable occupations for theirsupport Durango is a pretty little town, with white-washed, flat-roofedhouses, standing on a plain surrounded by high rugged hills, aremarkable feature being the number and size of the American aloes whichgrow in the neighbourhood. We put up at a _meson_, not remarkable forits cleanliness or the luxury of its provisions, and were not sorry tofind ourselves once more in our saddles on our way back to Mazatlan. Wereached that place without any adventure; and the same evening, havingwished our kind friends, Captain Driscoll and Mr Dwyer, good-bye, sailed for San Francisco, the wonderful port of the gold regions ofCalifornia. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

CALIFORNIAN EXPERIENCES. 

One fine morning we found the _Triton_--one of a crowd of vessels of allrigs and sizes--standing in with a fair breeze towards the far-famedharbour of San Francisco. High black rocks ran out of the sea beforeus, like monsters guarding the entrance to that domain of boundlesswealth. Loud roars, too, saluted our ears, which, on a furtherexamination of the rocks, were found to proceed from a largecongregation of sea-lions assembled at their bases. As we glided by, not fifty fathoms from some of the rocks, they looked up at us withinquiring eyes, as if to know why we had come there; and, certainly, from their formidable heads, they appeared as if they were well able todefend their native territory. Jerry could not resist the temptation offiring his rifle among them. It had a wonderful effect on the wholebody; big and little sea-lions, and cows, and seals, all beganfloundering away in the greatest dismay into the water--theirawkward-looking movements being very amusing; at the same time, thousands of birds, which had been perched on the rocks, or floating inthe water, rose into the air, with loud screams, circling round ourheads; while porpoises, or some other huge monsters of the deep, keptgambolling around us, and now and then leaping out of the water insportive humour. 

All this exhibition of wild animal life was, it must be remembered, within a few miles of the rich and populous city of San Francisco. Thetransition was very great; yet but a short time back a rude fort and afew small huts were the only settled abodes of man. The actual harbourbegins at a spot called the Golden Gate, where a high rock with a flatsummit projects into the water. On it the American Government areconstructing a fort, which no hostile vessel will be able to pass withimpunity. Passing this point, we saw before us on the right a perfectforest of masts, with every flag under the sun flying aloft; and behindthem appeared, on a low hill rising like an amphitheatre from theharbour, the far-famed city itself. It was a busy, exciting scene. Some of the vessels brought bands of English adventurers; others crowdsof Chinese, with round felt hats and long tails; others Malays; and someeven seemed to have blacks on board. At a short distance from the citywere moored several large ships, their masts struck, their riggingunrove, deserted by their crews, and some by their officers likewise. The doctor, Jerry, and I, were the only persons who accompanied thecaptain on shore. The mates remained to guard against all risk of anyof the crew deserting. It was only just daylight when we landed, butall the world was astir. Time is considered too precious here to lose amoment. The town itself presented an extraordinary collection of strongcontrasts: there were wooden sheds, and tents, and mud hovels, mixed upwith vast stores and large dwelling-houses; while carts, and waggons, and coaches of every variety of build were moving about in alldirections, among people from every part of Europe--Germans, Italians, French, Greeks, and English--the latter, of course, predominating as tonumbers; Yankees, with their keen, intelligent looks; Californians, intheir serapes; Mexicans, with their laced breeches and cuffs; andChilians, in broad-brimmed hats; Sandwich Islanders, and Negroes fromevery part of Africa; Chinese, with their long tails and varied colouredrobes; and Malays and other people from the East. Indeed, Europe, Asia, Africa, and America were there fully represented, --all brought togetherfor the one object--a search for gold--all thinking of their ownbusiness, and caring little or nothing for anybody else, so that theiraims were not interfered with. Those who had been to the diggings werepretty clearly to be distinguished by the one dark brown earthy huewhich pervaded their dress, and such parts of their countenances astheir huge tangled beards and whiskers allowed to be visible. 

We first went to the market, to obtain provisions for the ship. It wasalready crowded with purchasers. There was a magnificent display offruit and vegetables, and fish of all sorts and strange shapes, and hugelobsters and turtle of a size to make an alderman's mouth water; andthen in the meat-market there were hung up before the butchers' stallshuge elks with their superb antlers, and great big brown bears--justsuch monsters as the one we saw captured, for they are considereddainties here--and beautiful antelopes, and squirrels, and hares, andrabbits in vast heaps--not to speak of pigs, and sheep, and oxen. Thebeef, we heard, was, and found to be, excellent. I mention these thingsto show how the inhabitants of a vast city like San Francisco, thoughjust sprung into existence, can, by proper arrangement, be fed. A largenumber of the shops are kept by Chinese, who sell all the fancy andornamental work, and act as washerwomen. They are said to be greatrogues, and are, under that pretext, often cruelly treated by greaterrogues than themselves. It is a sad thing to see heathen people comingamong nominal Christians, who, paying no regard to the religion they aresupposed to profess, prevent them from wishing to inquire into the truthof a faith they might, with a good example before them, be tempted toadopt. One Chinese appeared to us so much like another, with theirthick lips, little slits of eyes, ugly parchment faces, in which agemakes no perceptible difference, that it seemed as if we were meetingthe same person over and over again. The signs over their shops arewritten in Chinese, and translated into the oddest English and Spanish Iever saw. One of the features in the street population of this citywhich struck us were the shoe-blacks. Each is provided with acomfortable arm-chair and a newspaper. He slips his employer into thechair, hands him the paper to read, and then kneeling down, works awaytill he has polished the leather boots; for which his demand is aquarter of a dollar--the smallest coin in circulation, it seemed to us. The sum is paid without a word; off walks the man with the clean boots, and one with a dirty pair soon takes his place. 

There is no want of restaurants and cafes, or of places where food inabundance could be procured, though the price was rather astonishing. Captain Frankland had some business to transact with a merchant--he leftus at one of them to dine. When he rejoined us, he told us that hewould take us to a scene in which he hoped we should never be tempted tomix. We went out, and soon reached a magnificent building, full ofspacious halls, with an orchestra keeping up a succession of attractiveairs. Making our way, not without difficulty, through the crowd, we sawbefore us several long, green-covered tables, surrounded by people, whoappeared to be engaged in playing, on a grand scale, every conceivablegame of chance. Never did I see countenances so palpably expressive ofthe worst passions of our evil nature. The keepers of the banks wereevidently villains of the darkest dye. They sat with their revolvers onthe table, guarding the heaps of gold before them, as they skilfullymanaged the cards and dice over which they presided. The captainassured us that they and those in league with them--the professionalplayers--always contrived to collect the largest proportion of the goldin circulation--many of their foolish victims dissipating in one eveningall the hard-earned gains of a year. There were ladies, too, amongthem, gambling as eagerly as the men--dishonouring their sex. The sightof those countenances and the whole air of the place was sickening. "Fifty ounces"--"A hundred"--"Two hundred ounces"--were the words weheard repeated on every side. Presently a man started up--a fine, handsome young fellow--from before whom a heap of gold had been swept, clutching his hair. "And I was to have started for home to-morrow. OMary!" he exclaimed, unconsciously, as he passed us. There was thereport of a pistol--a cry. The young man was picked up dead at thedoor. The players went on as before, scarcely turning their heads tohear the account. Who the unhappy youth was, no one knew. We had seenenough to answer the captain's object in taking us to the place. Westrolled on through the city till we reached the Chinese quarter. There, also, we were attracted by a strange noise intended for music, produced by two stringed-fiddles, violoncellos, drums, and gongs, into abuilding--a very shabby place; yet in the centre was a table with heapsof gold upon it, and surrounded by a number of odd little men in widejackets, short trousers, long tails at their backs, huge embroideredslippers on their feet, all deeply engaged, as if some most seriousmatter were going forward--their queer eyes twinkling with mistrust asthey followed the course of a game which was being played. In themiddle of the table was a heap of counters covered by a bowl, underwhich the players put their hands, and drew out a number of them at atime, which they counted with a long stick, and then the heaps of moneychanged owners, but on what grounds we could in no way discover. 

"You laugh at those odd little Chinese, and think them fail objects tojoke about, " observed the captain; "but we must remember that they aremen with souls to be saved, responsible beings, like the unhappy peoplein that gorgeous saloon we were in just now. The vice in which we haveseen them indulging is the same, though, as their light is less, theymay be less to blame. My hope is, that what you have seen to-night willmake you wish never to see the same sights again. "

In the public room of the hotel, where we remained for the night, anumber of people were collected from all parts of the world. Some hadbeen at the diggings; some had made money; several had come back as pooras they went, and much the worse in health; others were about to go upto try their fortunes, with secret hopes of succeeding where others hadfailed. The conversation of many of them was very amusing. One manespecially interested us by the account he gave of his first journey upthe country. He was evidently, from the tone of his voice and manners, a gentleman by education, though in appearance as rough andweather-beaten as a navvy who has put on a black coat for Sunday. Headdressed himself to us, as he probably thought that we had come out toturn gold-diggers, and he wished to warn us of the dangers to beencountered. 

"I had a good appointment in England, but I wanted to become rich in ahurry, so I threw it up, and came out here, " he began. "You may doubtthe wisdom of the proceeding; so do I now. I had a companion, and withhim and the mate of the ship I arrived in, as also her carpenter and aChinese boy, I arranged to go up the country. With the implements wehad provided, and as much food as we could carry, we got on board asmall schooner, bound up the river to Stockton. We had on board astrange assemblage of people. Many of them looked quite capable ofcutting our throats. They were mostly armed, and bowie-knives andrevolvers were constantly exhibited. When after two days' voyage welanded, we were glad to get into a wretched hut, where we could obtainfood, and rest, and shelter, to prepare ourselves for our tramp to thediggings. We remained only one day, for the charges were so high at theinn that we should have been ruined had we stayed longer. Of the fortypeople who had come up in the schooner, very few accompanied us. Wefound a party of about thirty starting, with five or six mules carryingprovisions. We joined ourselves to them. Each of us had a rifle slungto his back, in addition to a week's provisions and our mining utensils, while our pistols and knives were stuck in our belts. We went on fortwo days pretty easily. I shall never forget the appearance of somepeople we met, who had come overland from the western states ofAmerica, --their haggard eyes, long matted hair, shrunk forms, andtattered clothes, which hung on them like loose rags fluttering in thewind. They were the remnants of a large party, the greater number ofwhom with their horses and cattle had died on the way, from thehardships they had to encounter. The latter part of the road, theysaid, was strewed with the whitening bones of men and animals, broken-down waggons, and abandoned furniture. The next day's journeygave us a specimen of what those poor fellows had endured. The sun cameout with intense fury, and struck scorching down on our heads. Not adrop of water could be got. There was a pool, we were told, some wayon. We reached the spot: it was dry. Our thirst grew intolerable. Those who had been accustomed to take spirits suffered more than therest. We lay down that night at a place where there was no wood. Wehad no fire, therefore, to cook our provisions. We could not eat themeat we had brought with us raw. All night long the wolves howledhorribly in our ears. At daybreak we arose and pushed on. There was awater-hole, we were told, a few miles ahead. We reached the spot: itwas dry. Many who had hitherto held out gave way to despair. Themuleteers had skins with water, but they guarded them, revolver in hand, to moisten their own and their mules' lips. Their lives depended onthose of their animals. A few of us had flasks, but we could onlyventure to take a drop of the precious fluid at a time. One man had abottle of brandy. He boasted at first of his cleverness in havingsecured it. Now, he went about offering the whole of it for a drop ofwater. Several of the brandy drinkers sank down. They had agreed tokeep together. They implored us to help them. A deaf ear was turned totheir entreaties. Our own lives depended on our hastening on. Three orfour others dropped by the way, one by one. No one waited for them. `On, on, on!' was the cry; `Water, water, water!' At length, towardsevening, the mules pricked up their ears: trees appeared in thedistance. We hurried on. A glittering stream gladdened our sight. Werushed into it, greedily lapping up the water. Our mules drank eagerly. We felt revived and strengthened. There was abundance of wood: welighted a fire and dressed our provisions. Several birds, and two orthree animals were shot to increase our feast. 

"Ha, ha, ha, how we laughed. To-morrow, we said, we shall be able topush on to the mines, and begin to dig for gold. In an instant everyone was talking of gold. `Gold, gold, gold, ' was heard on every side. Did any one think of the poor wretches we had left dying on the road--men--brethren by nature, by a common faith--men with souls? Not one ofus thought of going back. At all events, not one of us offered to goback. An all-powerful loadstone was dragging us on--the lust of gettinggold. Had we gone back to relieve our fellow-beings, we should havebeen unable to proceed the next day for the diggings. A whole day wouldhave been lost. Oh, most foul and wretched was the mania which inspiredus! Unnatural! no; it was that of fallen, debased human nature; it wastoo true to that nature. Those miserable men must have died horribly--devoured by wolves or scalped by Indians. The next day we pushedeagerly on; yet we had to sleep high up on the side of a snow-cappedmountain; thence we were to descend to the scene of our labours. Bitterly cold it was; yet we dared not move, for frightful precipicesyawned around. We reached the first diggings that evening. The minershad just knocked off work, and crowded round us to hear the news, and tosee what we had brought. Rough as they looked, by far the greaternumber, I judged by the tone of their voices, belong to the educatedclasses. And shall I become like one of these men? I thought. I soonbecame like one of them, and rougher still. `I expected a friend aboutthis time, ' said one, describing him. He was among those who had fallenand been deserted. He made but few other inquiries. He knew that suchevents were too common to complain. I saw him brush away a tear, as heturned from us. That man was too good for the company he was among. Weencamped by ourselves, we knew not whom we must trust. After this ourtravelling party broke up. My companions from the ship and I were towork together. We fixed on a spot, and erected our rude hut; then webought a rocker and shovel, pick-axe and spade, with two tin pans, andset to work. I dug out the earth, another carried it, and a thirdwashed it in the rocker. Our success was tolerable; but it was manydays before we got enough to pay for the articles we had purchased, andour provisions. In the meantime, what scenes of wretchedness, misery, dissipation, and violence, did I behold! In every direction men weredying of fever and dysentery. At night the gambling booths were filledwith those who rapidly got rid of the earnings of many days. I waswitness, too, of an encounter between two large parties of diggers. Oneparty had encroached on the ground prepared by the other, and refused toquit it. Bowie-knives, and pick-axes, and hatchets, rifles and pistols, were instantly brought into play. A sanguinary encounter ensued. Numbers fell on both sides; at last one party turned and fled. Ivisited the scene of the strife soon after. A dozen or more humanbeings lay on the ground dead, or dying--arms cut off--pierced throughand through with knives--skulls fractured with spades and pick-axes, andmany shot to death. The dying had been left to die alone without aid orpity, while their companions returned to their gold digging. Often andoften I sickened at the sights I beheld, but still I continued at thework. I was compelled to continue at it. I had given up everything forit. I was like a slave chained to it by the leg. Gladly would I havegone back to my steady occupation and quiet life, surrounded by those Irespected and loved. I have only partly described the hardships weendured. We had famine, and cold, and rain. Often we were withoutfuel, our clothing was ragged and insufficient, and sickness in everyform came among us. Besides desperate quarrels among the diggers, theIndians came down upon us--fierce, sanguinary warriors, eager for ourscalps. Their vengeance had been excited by aggressions made on them bythe whites. We could scarcely leave the camp without risking an attackfrom them. Many diggers became their victims. Such was our life formonths. At length my companions and I, by unexpected good fortune, saved a sufficient amount of gold dust to enable us to return to SanFrancisco. Steady work at home would have enabled me to lay by nearlyas much, while my health and spirits would not have been broken as theynow are. We kept together to defend each other. Many diggers on theirway to the city, after labouring for years, have been robbed andmurdered. My companions spent most of their hard won wealth, andreturned to the diggings, where, one after the other, they fell victimsto disease, or the knives of assassins. I had had enough of the life, and my knowledge of business enabled me to procure a situation in amerchant's office in this place, where, by employing the sum I hadscraped together, and by stript attention to business, I have realisedan amount four times as large, in a quarter of the time it took me tocollect it at the diggings. "

"What you have said, sir, is very true, " observed another gentlemanpresent. "Things, however, have somewhat mended of late. Still, agentleman has to lead little better than a dog's life in those regions. For my part, although I was what is considered very lucky, I soonsickened of it, and considered myself fortunate in being able to getaway with my gold in my pocket and a whole skin on my back. Still thisis a wonderful country, and will become a great country some day. Ihave travelled over a good deal of it. Not long ago I travelled up oneof the most beautiful valleys in the world. At the bottom was a greengrassy sward with a pure bright stream running rapidly through it, overa clear, pebbly bottom. The hills on either side were clothed withtrees of various descriptions, rocks here and there jutting out betweenthem of many fantastic forms, while my ears were assailed with thecheerful sound of falling water, and my eyes gladdened by the sight ofsparkling cascades flowing into basins, whence arose masses of whitefoam. Further on arose, appearing at the end of the valley, rangebeyond range of mountains, the higher capped with snow. Though the sunwas hot, the air was pure and cool as it came off the mountains, tempered by the numerous cascades. At length I reached a spot where thevalley widened, and there, spread out before me, lay a blue shining lakefringed by lofty trees, with the hills rising gradually behind them, while the water seemed alive with fish, which leaped from its calmdepths, and with the water-fowl which skimmed over its surface. You'llall say that was a lovely spot. "

We all agreed that it must be, and that we should like to take up ourabode there. 

"So I thought, " he answered. "But as a man cannot well live on fish andwater-fowl without corn, and potatoes, and vegetables, not to speak ofbeef and mutton, and none of these things were to be procured within ahundred miles of the place, I was glad to get out of it. There'sanother wonderful spot away to the south, near Sousa, where I have been. There is a stream called the Stanislas river. Up it I went, and thenjourneyed along one of its tributaries, the high banks of which arecovered with trees, till I reached a broad valley. I could scarcelybelieve my eyes. There arose before me a number of trees larger andtaller than any I supposed existed on the face of the globe. It iscalled the Mammoth-tree Valley, and is 1500 feet above the level of thesea. There were no less than ninety of them scattered over a space ofabout forty acres, and rising high above the surrounding pine forest. They are a species of pine or cone-bearing trees. [Coniferae(Wellingtonia gigantea. )] In the larger ones the branches do not beginto spread out till the stem has reached a height of 200 feet, and someare upwards of 300 feet high. One was 32 feet in diameter--that is, 96feet in circumference--while the smallest and weakest is not less than16 feet in diameter. The tops of nearly all have been broken off bystorms, or by the snow resting on them. The Indians have injured othersby lighting fires at their bases, while the white men have cut down oneand carried away the bark of another to exhibit in far-off lands. Ittook five men twenty-five days to cut down the `Big tree, ' for so it wascalled. They accomplished their work by boring holes in the stem, andthen cutting towards them with the axe. The stump which remains hasbeen smoothed on the top, and the owner of the property, who acted as myguide, assured me that sixteen couple could waltz on it. In one aspiral staircase has been cut, so that I was able to ascend to aconsiderable height by it. My acquaintance, the owner of the estate onwhich these monsters grow, has given names to all of them. One he callsUncle Tom's Cabin, because there is a hollow in the trunk capable ofholding from twenty to thirty people. One hollow trunk has been brokenoff and lies on the ground, and a man on horseback can ride from one endof it to the other. There are two trees called Husband and Wife, andanother he called the Family Group, consisting of father, mother, andrather a large progeny of twenty-five children, regular sons of Anak. The father fell some time ago, and striking another tree broke off theupper part. That portion measures 300 feet, and the part which stillstands 150--so that the whole tree was 450 feet in height. Threehundred feet is the ordinary height of the giants of the forest. Fromvarious calculations it would seem that these trees must have existedfor three thousand years at least--perhaps more; I can only say that Iconsidered the spectacle well worthy of the long journey I took tobehold it. "

We thanked the stranger for the account he had given us. We heard manyother wonderful stories, the truth of some of which we had reason todoubt, so I have not repeated them here. Captain Frankland was veryglad to get away from San Francisco without losing any of his own crew. Probably, had he allowed them to have any communication with the shore, this would not have been the case. 

On our return on board, the first mate told the captain that a strangebrig had come into the harbour and anchored near us--that soon afterwardManuel Silva was seen holding some communication with the people onboard. In a little time a boat came off from her, and after someconversation with a man in the boat, he said that he must bid usgood-bye. No persuasions the mate used could induce him to stop, and hestepped into the boat, and nothing more had been seen of him. We werevery sorry to lose him, and it struck us at the time, I remember, thatthere was something mysterious in his way of departure. 

We were at sea about twenty-two days without falling in with land. Itwas late one evening when we sighted Woahoo, the largest of the SandwichIslands, of which Honolulu is the chief port and capital of the kingdom. It was dark by the time we brought up in the roadstead outside theharbour. As I, of course, had read how Captain Cook was killed by theSandwich Islanders, and had often seen prints in which a number of nakedblack fellows are hurling their spears and darts at him, I had an ideathat I knew all about them, and had pictured to myself exactly what Ishould see when next morning we went on shore with our boat's crewwell-armed to trade with them. The next morning at daybreak the anchorwas hove up, and with a light breeze we stood in through a narrowpassage in a coral reef, which extends from one point of land toanother, and forms the harbour. What was my surprise to see before us, when we dropped our anchor, a neat, pretty-looking town, with a fort onthe right side bristling with cannon, a fertile valley extending farinto the country on the left, and lofty mountains rising in thedistance. Over the fort flew the Hawaian flag. It is formed of theBritish union-jack, with alternate blue, red, and white stripes. Thestreets are broad, and run at right angles to each other. There werenumerous hotels, some of them really very handsome buildings on anextensive scale, and managed after the American fashion, while in thestreets were a number of large and well-furnished shops. There areseveral churches and chapels of very respectable architecturalpretensions. The Custom House is a handsome stone building near thefort, and the regulations as to duties are strictly observed. The chiefplace of business is in the centre of the town; and the most fashionablelocality, where the residences of the leading people among the nativesare situated, is a green sward skirted by the beach and shaded by loftycocoa-nut and plantain trees. The European villas are generally furtherback--many of them very prettily built, and surrounded by gardens fullof the most delicious fruit and flowers. Many of the foreign consulsand merchants live in villas a few miles up the country. Good wharveshave been built, and ships of 700 tons can refit alongside them. Altogether Honolulu is a very wonderful place. 

Jerry and I and the doctor, as usual, went on shore to see what was tobe seen, and this time we were accompanied by Mr Brand. The ship wasto remain in the harbour for several days, and we were very anxious tomake a journey to some distance into the interior, that we might see thenatives as they were away from the centre of civilisation. We hadintroductions here to several gentlemen, who promised to forward ourviews. We were amused with the extraordinary appearance of the nativesin the streets--barbarism and civilisation met together. The formerdress of the men was the taro, a kilt joined between the legs, so as toform a wide and very short pair of breeches. Some to this now add ablue shirt, sometimes with the tails tucked in, sometimes flowinggracefully. Some wear cast-off coats, or jackets, or trousers, ofEuropeans; but few of the common people have more than one of thesegarments on at a time, and still fewer ever encumber themselves withshoes and stockings. The women had on generally long blue chemises, orgowns and bonnets of every variety of colour and shape, and put on inall sorts of ways--some placing them hind part before; indeed, they hadapparently exercised their ingenuity to make them as unbecoming aspossible. Formerly, we were told, their head-dress was a wreath offlowers, which suited their dark skins, and had a very pretty effect. The chiefs, however, and their wives, were dressed in European costume, and the king in public wears the Windsor uniform. It is supposed thatthe inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands derive their origin from theMalays, and that at a very remote period a Malay junk, or fleet ofjunks, was cast on those shores. Their skins have the same dark hue, and their features the same form, as the Malays of the present day. Itis said that this group is becoming rapidly depopulated. The peoplethemselves have taken up the idea that their race is to become extinct, and seem willing to yield to their fate without a struggle. Thediseases introduced by Europeans have tended to cause this, but theythemselves have many pernicious customs. Among others, no sooner does anative feel himself attacked with fever than he rushes into the sea, orinto the nearest cold stream, as he fancies, to cool himself. Theresult is that--the pores being closed instead of kept open andperspiration encouraged--death comes in a few hours. Among our friendshere was Mr Callard, a missionary, who had resided in the island forsome years. He has gone into a hamlet, and found not a person remainingalive. On one occasion he met an old man sitting at the door of a hut;he asked where the rest of the people were. 

"All dead, " was the answer. 

"Then do you come with me, and I will provide for your wants. "

"No, " said the native gloomily; "I will not move. I am preparing tofollow them. "

The islands produce the paper mulberry, from which their cloths andcordage are made; the acacia, used in the construction of their canoes;the banana, the sugar-cane, the yam, the bread-fruit; and, the mostimportant of all, the taro root. Of late years, coffee, cotton, rice, tobacco, indigo, melons, the vine, oranges, peaches, figs, tamarinds, guavas, and many other plants and fruits have been introduced. Thenatives pay the greatest attention to the cultivation of the taro root. It is planted in square patches, either in swamps or in ground easilyirrigated, with banks and sluices, so that the water can be let on atpleasure. It takes eleven months to come to perfection. When dried, itis pounded on a smooth stone by means of another held in the hand, whilea little water is poured on it, when it is reduced to a paste calledpoi, which is then fit to eat. Much labour and patience is required tobring it to perfection; and by the exercise of these qualities, therecan be no doubt that the natives have acquired those habits of industrywhich are scarcely known among other savages. The only animals found inthe island were dogs and pigs, undoubtedly brought there by theirancestors. The roots of the taro are from six inches to a foot inlength, and three or four inches in diameter. In substance it is rathermore fibrous than the potato. It is often eaten whole, like a potato. The skin is scraped off with a shell, and the taro, split into two orthree pieces, is then placed on leaves in an oven containing stones, heated as usual, the whole being then covered up with earth to steam forhalf an hour. 

Honolulu has become a great place of call for ships, from all parts ofthe world, since San Francisco sprang into existence. Vessels cominground the Horn, to make a good offing, steer for it. Others fromAustralia, China, and the Eastern Archipelago, touch here; while whalershave for long been in the habit of putting in here to refit and recruit. The extreme healthiness of the islands induces many people fromCalifornia to come here, and the hotels and lodging-houses are filledwith invalids, often possessors of considerable wealth; but, at the sametime, from their profligate and dissipated habits, they set but a badexample to the natives. The natives are called Kanakas. They aregenerally fine-looking men. The women are fairer, and with regularfeatures; many of them ride on horseback with men's saddles, dressed ingay riding habits, and with a wreath of flowers encircling their raventresses, which gives them somewhat of a theatrical appearance. Theislands are governed by a sovereign, King Kamehameha the Third, who hasa large family, and an income of about 1500 pounds a-year. He haslikewise an army, clothed in gay uniforms, but there are almost as manyofficers as men; indeed, as the kingdom is under the joint protection ofEngland, America, and France, there can be but little employment forsoldiers. The police are of far more use in apprehending drunkensailors, and keeping order in the town. They are dressed in a blueuniform, with a gold-lace cap, and armed with a staff with a brass knob. The monarchy is hereditary, and limited. The king's ministry consistsof a premier and other officers, similar to those of the EnglishGovernment, and many of them are English or Americans, and veryintelligent men. We found that in the town there were all sorts ofplaces of public amusement, and, among others, a theatre, where Englishplays are acted, and where the king constantly attends. We went, andwere not a little surprised to see the boxes filled with verygaily-dressed people, mostly whites. It was a very hot night. The playwas "Hamlet. " Hamlet had been using a pocket-handkerchief veryliberally all the evening, pressing it to his brow and cheeks, and atlast he said, "Oh, that this too, too solid flesh _wouldn't_ melt, andresolve itself into a dew!" Jerry and I applauded him very loudly. Hegave us a wink, as much as to say, "I see you understand me. " He wasevidently a wag, and Hamlet was not suited to him, nor he to Hamlet. There was no reason, however, because the royal Dane had been murdered, that his son should murder the Queen's English at the rate he did, orthe character of Hamlet as Shakspeare drew it. Who would have thoughtof Shakspeare in the Sandwich Islands? Shakspeare never acted in sopretty a theatre. 

Many of the natives, although able to afford habitations of a Europeanstyle, still live on in those used by their ancestors. They aregenerally of an oblong shape, with a very high-pitched roof, thatchedwith grass and plantain leaves; and as the eaves slant down to within ashort distance from the ground, they have a very picturesque appearance. They are cool in summer, and are impervious to rain. The ceilings, which are very elegant, are composed of polished bamboo, neatlyinterwoven, while the floors are carpeted with mats of coloured grass. The walls are decorated with a native cloth, called tapa, which servesthe purpose of tapestry. The house is divided into separate chambers atnight by mats hung up on lines. The beds are primitive; a mat servesfor every purpose, and a wooden roller as a pillow. Many of the Kanakasare well educated, and read and write not only their own, but severalEuropean languages likewise. There is one newspaper in the Hawaianlanguage, if not more, and several works have been published in it, while the translation of the Bible is to be seen in every native hut. Of course, all this information I picked up from different people duringour stay at Honolulu. 

"We have not had any fun for a long time; I wonder what will turn upnext, " said Jerry to me, after we had been there a couple of days. 

The next morning, Mr Callard, the missionary, who was an old friend ofCaptain Frankland's, came on board, and invited Jerry and me and MrMcRitchie, and Mr Brand, if he could be spared, to accompany him to thelarge island of Hawaii, round which he was going to make a visitationtour. Having to wait here for information on some important matters, hegave us the leave we asked. 

"You may take Ben Yool with you also, " said he. "The schooner is rathershort-handed, and you will find him useful at all events. "

Jerry and I were highly pleased with this, for Ben was a greatfavourite. We were soon ready with our rifles and knapsacks, notforgetting to take old Surley with us; it was a long time since the poorfellow had had a run on shore. 

"Take care that the natives don't cook and eat him, " said Mr Renshaw, as we shoved off. 

The little mission-schooner, the _Dove_, was in readiness to receive us, and in a few minutes, with a fair breeze, we were standing away to thesouthward, towards the large island of Hawaii, or Owhyhee, on the shoresof which the immortal Cook lost his life. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

EXCURSION IN HAWAII. 

We had a pleasant run for two days, with a light wind, and hoped thenext morning to land at Kailua, the capital of the island of Owhyhee;but at sunset a sudden squall struck the little vessel, and had not BenYool been at the helm, and instantly luffed up, while Jerry and I letfly the foresheet, we should in all probability have been over, andbecome food for the sharks. It came on very dark and blowy; and as itwas too late to make a harbour, we gave the shore a wide berth, and ranon. The next forenoon, when we made the land, we found that we were tothe southward of Kailua. As we stood in, Mr Callard told us that onthe shore of Karakakooa Bay, which was before us, Captain Cook met hisdeath, and that he would show us the very spot where that eventhappened. I felt as interested as if I were about to visit classicground. Often and often as I had been reading through Cook's Voyageswith delight, I little thought that I should see the very spots hedescribes, much less that one which has become sacred in our memory. Before us appeared a line of volcanic cliffs, of considerable height, the land rising again above them, covered with the richest verdure;which makes the summits of the rocky and lofty mountains beyond appearstill more sterile and uninviting. To the right, among groves of palmsand cocoa-nut trees, appeared the steep, sloping roofs of a nativevillage; while on the left, where the cliffs sink towards the water, andgroves of various tropical trees appear scattered about, our friendpointed out to us the very spot where Cook was killed. The cliffs nearare full of caves, which are used by the natives as places of sepulture;and in one of these, it is said, the bones of the great navigator weredeposited by the priests, and valued by them as relics. Our friend toldus that he had constantly made inquiries among the chiefs and natives asto the affair, and that he is certain the attack on the whites was notpremeditated. Some of the people had stolen a boat for the sake of thenails in her, with which they wished to make fish-hooks. He landed withsome boats to recover it. While speaking to some of the chiefs on thesubject, a number of natives collected; and without his orders themarines, believing that he was about to be attacked, fired. A chief waskilled. The natives advanced, and, while he was in the act of orderinghis people to desist, he was pierced through the body by a spear. Griefand dismay took possession of the hearts of both parties when he fell. By the then superstitious natives he had been looked upon as theirdeified and long-lost sovereign, Rono. This Rono (so their legendsasserted) had in a fit of anger killed his wife, when, repenting of theact, his senses deserted him, and he went about the islands wrestlingwith whomsoever he met. At last he took his departure in a vessel of astrange build, and no one knew where he had gone, but all expected himto return. When Captain Cook appeared, the priests believed that he wasRono, and, clothing him with the garments kept for their god, led him totheir temples, and offered sacrifices to propitiate his favour, whilethe people prostrated themselves before him--he all the time littlesuspecting the reason of the honours paid him. After his death some ofthe people naturally doubted that he could be Rono, but others stillaffirmed that he was; and it is believed that the priests took some ofhis bones and preserved them in a wicker basket covered over with redfeathers, which are highly prized by the natives. In this they wereevery year carried about from temple to temple, when the priests went tocollect tribute of the people. After the abolition of idolatry in 1819, it is not known what became of them; perhaps they were concealed by someold priest who still clung secretly to the ancient faith. 

Talking of nails, it is extraordinary what excellent fish-hooks thenatives will manufacture out of them. They prefer them to the best madein England. They still set a high value on them; but they are not quiteso simple-minded as some of the Friendly islanders we heard of, who, onobtaining some nails, planted them, in the hope of obtaining a largecrop from the produce! Scarcely had we dropped our anchor when we weresurrounded by the canoes of the natives, who wore but the primitivemaro. They brought off bread-fruits, cocoa-nuts, bananas, and otherproducts of the soil, in the hope of thus making themselves welcome. One of them, who spoke English tolerably, undertook to pilot our boat onshore. We were eager to land. As we pulled in, a number of men, women, and children, came down to welcome us. The men, like those in thecanoes, wore the taro, but the women were dressed with the loose bluegowns I have described, and with wreaths of flowers round their heads. We ran in among the masses of lava which lined the shore, and werekindly helped by the people to land. We observed that they were allespecially grave, for nowhere are more merry creatures found than thenative women. As we walked along they followed us in silence. Atlength our guide stopped and pointed to the ground on which we stood. 

"There, white men--there, friends--there it was your great sea-chieftainfell. " He repeated, we found, the same words in his own language. Thenatives listened to what he said, and then hung their heads ashamed, asif they had been guilty of the sad deed. We broke off several pieces ofthe lava from about the spot, to take to our friends at home, and sentthem on board the schooner. We were to accompany the missionaryoverland to Kailua, where the schooner was to meet us. After themissionary had spoken to the people, we were anxious to proceed on ourjourney, and one of the principal natives, who lived a few miles to thenorth, insisted that we should remain at his hut for the night; and we, accordingly, gladly accompanied him. We found the feast preparingoutside the door, in the usual oven. Knowing that Englishmen have anobjection to eat dogs, he had killed a fatted pig. The oven was asimple affair. A hole was dug in the earth, in which a large fire waslighted upon some stones, till all the earth around was hot; piggy wasthen put in, and the hole was covered up with loose earth; clouds ofsteam then issued from the earth, and when no more was perceptible themeat was declared to be cooked properly. We all sat round on mats inthe primitive fashion, the food being placed before us either incalabashes or on large leaves. Instead of bread we had the bread-fruit. It has somewhat the flavour of bread, and answers its purpose, but hasneither the appearance nor consistence of our staff of life. It isabout the size of the shaddock, and, when fresh gathered, the flavour ofthe citron; but it is always eaten baked, when it has the solidity of aroasted chestnut. Besides these luxuries, we had some fish nicelycooked, which we ate with the thick interior of the cocoa-nut, which maytruly be called the cream, while the juice served to quench our thirst. We had a number of visitors, who all, both men and women, chatted awaymost merrily, especially the women, who kept up a continued peal oflaughter. At night the hut was lighted up with chips of a resinouswood, called kukia, which were stuck all round on the posts whichsupported the roof; and when we expressed a wish to retire to rest, matswere hung up to partition off our sleeping chambers. 

It is, I find, impossible to describe all the interesting habits andcustoms we observed of this primitive people. The next day about noonwe found ourselves, on issuing from a grove of cocoa-nut trees, on theshore of a beautiful bay, with high black rocks running out on eitherside, and a yellow, sandy beach. From the way the sea broke, first withgreat violence, and then a second time with diminished force, there wereevidently two lines of coral reefs, one without the other. A number ofpeople were seated on the rocks watching with great interest what wasgoing forward. Some men, women, and children were in the water, whileothers with their boards, about a foot wide and four feet long, in theirhands, were preparing to follow them. Placing the boards on the water, they threw themselves on them, and then swam out, diving under thebreakers of the inner bar, and appearing on the in-shore side of theouter one. The great art appeared to be, to remain on the steep slopeof the outer sea-roller as it swept majestically on towards the land, and then, just before it broke, to dive under it, and to reappearmounting up the side of the following watery hill. Sometimes a ladwould keep above water too long, and the surf would roll him over, andcarry away his board; but he quickly recovered it, and soon regained hiscredit. Shouts of laughter bursting forth on all sides when any suchmishap occurred, showed that there was little fear of damage. The womenand children kept generally on the inner bar, but were quite as expertas the men. On mounting to the top of the rocks we saw two of the menswim out beyond the rest, on the further side of the breakers. Thenatives seemed to be watching them attentively. Soon one of them wasseen to dive, then the other. In a little time they both appeared, flourishing their knives above their heads, and at the same moment twohuge black bodies floated to the surface, and were borne in by therollers towards the shore. 

"What can they be?" I exclaimed to Jerry. 

"Sharks, " he answered, watching them. "Well, I should like to know howto tackle to with one of these monsters. I own that I shouldn't muchlike to have to fight one of them with a suit of armour on, and a spearor battle-axe in my hand. I suspect even Saint George who killed thedragon would have found it somewhat a tough job, and yet these nakedfellows make no difficulty about the matter. "

"It is just what a man has been used to, " I answered. "I daresay one ofthem would be very unhappy with a suit of armour on and a battle-axe. "

No surprise seemed to be created by the achievement, and the boldswimmers took their places among the rest on the rollers as if nothinghad happened. When swimming out in this way, every man has a knifesecured to his board. As soon as he sees a shark, he swims away a shortdistance. The shark approaches--he pretends to be very awkward. Keeping his eye on the monster, who begins to fancy he has got a feastprepared, he watches his time, and suddenly diving, sticks his sharpweapon with all his might in the under part of the monster. Sometimesthe shark attempted to fly, but generally the blow is fatal, and he istowed in triumph on shore. 

After spending a day at Kailua, the capital of the island, where thereis a fort and a governor, and where several merchants reside to supplywhalers with provisions, we embarked once more on board the schooner, and ran round the south of the island to a small harbour in theneighbourhood of Whyhohino, a chief missionary-station. We werereceived very kindly by the missionaries, and they procured us horses toenable us to accomplish one of the chief objects which had brought us tothe place--a visit to the summit of the great volcano of Kilauea. Theyalso found us two guides who were to accompany us to the crater, whiletwo other men were to remain with the horses below. Mr Callard himselfhad his duties to attend to, so that he could not accompany us. BenYool had been left with the schooner, so our party consisted of MrMcRitchie, Cousin Silas, Jerry, and I, not forgetting old Surley. Healways kept close to us, suspecting, perhaps, if the natives caught him, they might cook and eat him. We were well supplied with provisions, andwith bottles of water, which we could replenish on the way. Wetravelled at first along the coast, and then struck inland, directingour course towards the lofty summit of the mountain, whence, even atthat distance, we could see pillars of smoke ascending to the sky. Itwas getting dark when our guides told us that close at hand was a cavernin which we might pass the night sheltered from the weather. Torches ofresinous wood were soon procured, and they led the way down a steeppath, till we found ourselves at the entrance of an immense cavernformed in the lava. It was some hundred feet square, and from fifteento twenty high. When lighted up by the torches, it had a very wild andpicturesque appearance. The horses were tethered in one part, while weall went out and collected grass and fern leaves for our beds, and agood supply of fuel for our fire. Having cooked our supper, we satround the fire, while one of the natives, who spoke English very well, told us some of the wonderful tales about Pele, the goddess of theburning mountain, and her numerous diabolical followers. Though ourguides were now Christians, and professed to disbelieve all thesefables, it was evident that their minds were considerably affected bythem; so difficult is it to get rid of early associations. The cavernhad become rather smoky, and Mr Brand had gone out to enjoy the coolair, when he called us to him. We looked towards the mountain, whichrose in majestic grandeur before us, the summit crowned by wreaths offlame, which rose and fell as if impelled by some secret power within. After admiring it for some time, we returned to our bandit-looking abodefor the night. 

The next morning, leaving our horses, we set out on foot towards thecrater. A mass of smoke alone rested on the summit of the mountain. The road was very rough, vegetation in many places destroyed, and ingeneral we found ourselves passing over masses of lava, with deepcrevices in some places and huge masses in others, while here and therethe crust was so thin that it gave way beneath our feet. The heat wasvery great; but we found a red berry growing on a low bush, which wasvery refreshing. At length, after some hours of toil, we foundourselves standing on the summit of a cliff, while below us appeared avast plain full of conical hills, and in the centre of it a mass ofliquid lava like a wide lake of fire. It was what we had come to see--the crater of Kilauea. Below the cliff, inside the basin, was a ledgeof considerable width of solid lava. We looked about for a path bywhich we could reach the plain. At last we found a steep bank where thecliff had given way. By this we now descended with the help of sticks, with which we had been provided. The descent was difficult anddangerous in the extreme, as the lava gave way before us, and hugemasses went rolling and tumbling away, some in front and some behind us, as we slid down the steep bank. The appearance of the ground was suchthat we, with reason, hesitated on trusting ourselves to it. OldSurley, too, smelled at it, and examined it narrowly, as if verydoubtful about running over it. Still, our guides assured us that otherEnglishmen had been there; and where others had been we knew that wecould go. At last we reached the bottom, and walked on, with our staffsin hand feeling the way. More than once I felt the ground crackingunder my feet. It was not hot, but it struck me--suppose it is only acrust, and one of us were to slip through into the boiling caldronbeneath! I own that I more than once wished myself back again on cooland solid ground. To go through the ice is disagreeable enough, but toslip down under this black cake would be horrible indeed. Not fiveminutes after this idea had crossed my mind, I heard a cry. It wasJerry's voice. I looked round--his head and shoulders only wereappearing above the ground, and his arms stretched out wide on eitherside, while with his fingers he tried to dig into the lava, to preventhimself from slipping further. 

"Oh, help me! help me!" he shrieked out; "I cannot find any rest for myfeet, and shall sink into some horrible pit. "

"Stand back--stand back, " shouted Mr Brand, as the rest of us wererunning forward; "you will all be going in together. Stay, let me seefirst what I can do. Hold on, Jerry; don't move, my boy, " he added. Then taking another pole from one of the guides, he laid himself alongthe ground; he gradually advanced, till he had placed a pole under eachof Jerry's arms. "Now, swing your legs up, and I will draw you away, "he cried out. Jerry did as he was told, and was dragged on to firmground. The ground had given way just as if it had been a piece ofegg-shell. Probably it had been formed by a sheet of lava flowingrapidly over some fissure without filling it up. Jerry was mostthankful for his preservation, but he had too much spirit to wish to goback, and insisted on proceeding on to the borders of the liquid fierylake. Before us, amidst the burning expanse, rose two lofty cones, oneof them insulated, the other joined by a causeway to the ledge of lava. Besides these, a number of smaller cones were seen in variousdirections. The ground was also full of pools of burning sulphur, orother liquid matter, while huge black shapeless masses of lava layscattered about in every direction, thrown out, undoubtedly, from themouth of one of the large cones before us. On we pushed our way, notwithstanding, and at last we stood on the very brink of the lake offire! I could not altogether divest myself of the idea that it mightbubble over and destroy us. It was strange that no heat appeared toproceed from it, and yet the points of our sticks were instantly burnedto cinders when we put them into it. After we had got accustomed to thestrange scene, we agreed that we should like to mount to the top of thecone by the causeway. Off we set. We reached it, and began thehazardous ascent. There was an outer crust, which often gave way underour feet--still we pushed on. Our guides urged us to desist, sayingthat no one had ever ventured thus far and returned alive. Still theyfollowed us. Up the cone they climbed. It was a strangely wildscene:--the fiery lake below us, around us; the vast masses of lavapiled upon the plain; the high black cliffs on every side; the wild, hopeless desolation of the country beyond; and the numerous cones, eachthe mouth of a miniature volcano, sending forth smoke in everydirection. We had nearly reached the summit of the cone, when a thickpuff of sulphureous smoke almost drove us back headlong. A loud roar atthe same time, louder than a thousand claps of thunder, saluted ourears. 

"Fly! fly!" cried our guides; "the mountain is going to vomit forth itsfiery breath. " Not a moment did we delay. Down the side of the cone wesprung--none of us looked back. Thicker and thicker came forth thesmoke. Rivulets of lava began to flow, streaming down the cone into thelake below; some came towards the causeway, leaping down its sides. Onwe went, every instant dreading a fall through the thin crust. Ashescame forth and fell around us, and then huge masses of rock came downwith loud splashes into the fiery plain. Some went even before us, andwere buried deep in the ground over which we had to tread. The roar ofthe mountain continued. Down we sprung; a blow from a stone would havekilled us--a false step would have sent us into the fiery pool, to theinstant and utter annihilation of our mortal frames. I felt as if Icould not cry out. An unspeakable dread and horror had seized me. Atlength the plain of lava was regained. No one was hurt; yet the dangerwas not past. Still the lava streamed forth. It might overflow thebanks of the lake, for aught we could tell. Ashes and masses of rockfell in showers around us. We fled like Lot and his family, nor stoppedtill we reached the cliff. Then it was searched in vain for a way tomount to the summit. We did now look back to see if the lava wasfollowing us, but the glowing lake lay as calm as before. The outburstseemed to have subsided. Now and then a jet of lava and fire cameforth, and a puff of smoke, but both soon ceased. At last, walkinground under the cliff, we found a practicable way to the top. We weresaved, and grateful for our escape, while our curiosity was amplysatisfied. We were suffering much from thirst, when what was oursurprise to come upon a pool of clear water, with reeds growing roundit, though in the very neighbourhood of hot basins of sulphur, and ofcones spouting forth wreaths of smoke! We expected to find the waterhot, instead of which, it was deliciously cool and refreshing. Onascending the cliff, we found that it was too late to descend themountain that night, so our guides led us to a hut built to affordaccommodation for travellers. It stood overlooking the cones and thelake of fire, and never shall I forget the extraordinary appearance ofthat scene, as we watched it during the greater part of the night, orthe magnificent spectacle which gladdened our eyes when the glorious sunrose from out of his ocean bed, and lighted up the distant snow-cappedpeak of the lofty Mouna Roa, which is 14, 000 feet above the level of thesea. 

We collected several specimens of sulphur and lava, and also a quantityof what the natives call the hair of Pele. Every bush around wascovered with it. It is produced from the lava when first thrown up, andborne along by the air till it is spun into fine filaments severalinches in length. It was of a dark olive colour, brittle, andsemi-transparent. In our descent of the mountain we entered longgalleries, the walls and roof hung with stalactites of lava of variouscolours, the appearance being very beautiful. They are formed by thelava hardening above, while it continues to flow away underneath--thusleaving a hollow in the centre. We might have spent many days inwandering about that strange, wild region, but we had seen enough totalk about ever afterwards. We got back safe to the station; and whenthere, we found that Mr Callard had resolved to remain some time on theisland. He begged us, consequently, to take back the schooner toHonolulu, with directions for her to return for him in a fortnight. Itseemed quite strange to us to be at sea again after the wonderful sceneswe had witnessed, and Jerry declared that he was well content to findhimself afloat with a whole skin on his body. The wind came round tothe north-east, and we had to stretch away to the westward to lay acourse for Honolulu. We were about thirty miles off the land when thewind fell light, and gradually a thick fog arose, in which we foundourselves completely shrouded. We still stood on, keeping as good alook-out as we could through the mist, lest we should run foul of anyother vessel--not that such an event was likely to happen just then inthe Pacific. When night, however, came on, the fog grew still thicker, and the darkness became so great that we literally could not see ourhands held out at arm's-length before us. Mr Brand had kept the middlewatch, and then Jerry and I, with Ben Yool, went on deck, with some ofthe native crew, to take the morning watch. We glided slowly on overthe dark waters, the breeze falling gradually, till it was almost acalm. Jerry and I were walking the deck together, talking of thestrange sights we had lately seen, when, happening for a moment to besilent, a cry, or it might have been a shriek, struck my ears, as ifwafted from a distance across the water. 

"Did you hear it, Jerry?" I asked. 

"Yes; did you? What can it be?" he answered. "Ah! there's another--itcannot be fancy. "

"No; I heard it distinctly, " I remarked. "There is some mischief goingforward, I fear. What is to be done?" Again that faint, wailing cry ofdistress reached our ears. 

"You don't believe in ghosts, do you?" said Jerry. "If there were suchthings, I should fancy that those cries were uttered by them, andnothing else. "

"Nonsense, Jerry, " said I, half vexed with him, for I saw that he wasinclined to give way to superstition. "If those sounds are not theeffect of fancy, they must proceed from some human beings in distress;but what can be the matter is more than I can say. " We found, on goingforward, that Ben Yool had heard the cries, and was still listening, wondering what caused them. They had also reached the ears of thenative seamen. They declared that they must be caused by the spirits ofthe storm roaming over the water, and that we should have a heavy galebefore long. Again a shriek reached us, louder and more thrilling thanbefore. 

"Oh, this is dreadful!" I exclaimed. "There must be some foul mischiefgoing on somewhere not far off. We must call up Mr Brand, and see whatsteps he will think fit to take. " I went and roused him up, and toldhim of the strange sounds we had heard. Both he and the doctor weresoon on deck. At first he laughed at our description of the sounds wehad heard; but after he had listened a little time, another long, deep-drawn wail came wafted across the ocean. 

"That is the cry of some one in mortal fear or agony, " he remarked. "There is another!" It was a sharp, loud cry, or rather shriek. 

"The calmness of the sea and the peculiar state of the atmosphere wouldenable a sound to travel from a long distance, " observed McRitchie. "Itmay come from a spot a mile, or even two miles off. "

"We must try and find out the direction, and go to the help of the poorpeople, whoever they are, " exclaimed Mr Brand. 

"How is that to be done?" asked the doctor. "Our cockleshell of a boatwill only hold three or four people, and the chances are that someruffianly work is going on, and we shall only share the fate of thevictims. "

"It must be done, though, " answered Cousin Silas. "I cannot stayquietly here when perhaps our appearance may prevent further mischief. I will go in the boat, and I daresay I shall have volunteers toaccompany me. "

"In that case I will go with you, Brand, " said the doctor, who was asplucky as anybody. "I still say, however, that we should be wiserremaining where we are till daylight. "

"No, no, doctor, " returned Cousin Silas; "you are not a fighting-man. Your life is too valuable to be risked. You stay on board and lookafter the lads. "

"But we want to go with you, Mr Brand!" exclaimed Jerry and I together;"you won't leave us behind?"

"I daresay, boys!" answered Cousin Silas. "What account should I haveto give to the captain if either of you got knocked on the head and Iescaped? You remain on board the schooner. It will be daylight soon;and if I do not return before then, you'll be able to see where to pickme up. "

"If you resolves to go, why, d'ye see, sir, I goes with you, " said BenYool, stepping up. "One of these brown chaps says he'll go, and that'sall you want. To my mind, if we can frighten the villains from going onwith their murderous work, we may do some good; but as to forcing themto hold their hands, we couldn't do it if we were even to lay the little_Dove_ alongside them. "

Mr Brand thanked Ben for his promptness in offering to support him, andaccepted his services; and arming themselves, they both, without furtherdelay, accompanied by a tall, strong Sandwich islander, lowered theschooner's dinghy into the water. 

"What I'd advise, sir, is this, " said Ben: "Let us get as close up towhere the cries come from as we can without being seen, and then let ushail the vessel, or raft, or whatever it may be, in gruff voices, andsay that if they don't knock off their murdering work, and let thepeople they are harming go free, we will blow them all up into the sky. If they don't heed us, we'll shriek and cry, and make all sorts ofnoises, as if a thousand demons were about to board them; and, as peoplewho are about any bad work are certain to have bad consciences, they'llfancy that the noises are ten times louder and worse than they are. Ifthat does not succeed, we must try some other dodge; we shall hit offsomething or other, I daresay. "

While Ben was thus delivering himself, Mr Brand was loading hispistols. All things being ready, they stepped into the boat and shovedoff. They were immediately lost to sight in the thick darkness whichsurrounded us. Their oars had been muffled; but we could hear thegentle lap of the oars in the water for long afterwards, showing to whata distance sound could travel, and that the scene of the outrage we hadbeen listening to might be further off than we supposed. As Mr Brandhad taken the bearings of the _Dove_, and proposed pulling directly tothe south-west, whence the sounds came, and directly in the eye of thewind, such as there was, which had shifted to that quarter, we knew thathe would have no great difficulty in getting aboard us again. Still wecould not help feeling very anxious about him. The plan, however, proposed by Ben Yool struck us as likely to prove as effectual as anythat could be conceived;--much more so than had the little _Dove_herself appeared; for, as she did not measure more than twenty tons, shewas not calculated by her size to command respect, especially as she hadno guns on board, and we had only our rifles. Scarcely had the boatleft the side of the schooner when the shrieks were repeated. Theyseemed louder, or at all events more distinct. We could no longer haveany doubt that they were uttered by human beings in distress. OldSurley thought so too. He kept running about the deck in a state ofgreat agitation, and then stretched out his neck, and howled in reply tothe cry which reached his ears. We kept slowly gliding on under allsail, keeping as close to the wind as we could, so as to beat up in thedirection of the sound. It had been arranged that we were to go aboutevery quarter of an hour, so that Mr Brand would know our whereaboutsand on what tack he was likely to find us on his return. Our ears werekept open to catch any fresh sound, and our eyes were looking about usin all directions, in case a break in the mist should reveal any objectto us; but an hour passed away, and no other cry was heard. There was alittle more wind, and it had shifted a point or so to the westward, andperhaps that prevented sounds reaching us, we thought. Another hourcrept by, but still Mr Brand did not return. We began to be anxiousabout him. We constantly went to the binnacle lamp to look at ourwatches. It wanted but a short time to daylight. The doctor, I saw byhis manner, was seriously alarmed about the party, though he saidnothing to us. We fancied that we heard a hail, and then a shout and acry; but we could not quite agree about it. We kept pacing the deckanxiously, tacking as we had been directed by Mr Brand; and thus thenight wore on, and dawn once more broke over the world of waters. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

CAPTURED BY PIRATES. 

Daylight increased; and as the sun, like a vast ball of fire, roseslowly above the horizon, the mist lifted as if it had been a curtainfrom off the surface of the water, rolling away in huge wreaths ofvapour before the breeze. The wind had once more hauled round to thesouthward, and then away to the westward, when, beneath an arch ofclouds, we saw two vessels alongside each other. One was a schooner, afine, rakish-looking craft; the other a large brig. The latter had herroyals and top-gallant-sails flying loose, her topsails were on thecaps, her courses were hauled up, her yards were braced here and there;indeed, she presented a picture of most complete confusion. Herappearance would too plainly have told us that something wrong had takenplace, even had we not heard the cries in the night. In vain we lookedround on every side for the dinghy; she was nowhere to be seen. Weexamined the vessels through a spy-glass we had with us. She was notvisible alongside either of them. Again and again we swept the horizon, but not a speck could we discover that might be her. "What is to bedone?" exclaimed Jerry in a tone of deep grief. I too felt very sorryfor fear harm had happened to Cousin Silas; nor did I forget Ben and theSandwich islander. "Hallo! hallo! Look there! what is happening now?"Jerry added. We looked. The schooner had parted a little distance fromthe brig, and the latter vessel, after rolling once or twice tostarboard and port, seemed to dip her bows into the sea. We gazedearnestly with a sickening feeling. Her bowsprit did not rise again. Down, down she went, slowly and calmly, as if making a voluntary plungeto the depths of the ocean. The water closed over her decks, her lowermasts disappeared, her topmasts followed, and the loose sails for amoment floated above the spot where she had been, and then sank also, drawn down by the halliards beneath the waters. 

We felt almost stupified with horror. Combining the shrieks we hadheard and the occurrence we had just witnessed, we could have no doubtthat the schooner we saw before us was a pirate, and that her crew had, after murdering those on board the brig, sunk her, to destroy, as theymight hope, all traces of their guilt. They had had in us, however, witnesses of the atrocity they had committed, when they thought no humanbeing could be cognisant of the fact. What, however, had become of MrBrand, and Ben, and the native? Had they been on board, we shouldprobably have acted wisely in endeavouring to get away from the pirates, as they would undoubtedly, if they could catch us, and thought that wesuspected what had occurred, treat us much in the same way that they hadtreated the crew of the brig. Still, how could we think for a moment ofrunning away and deserting our friends--such a man, too, as CousinSilas, who, we felt sure, would never have deserted us while theslightest hope remained of our being alive?

For some time after the brig had sunk, the schooner appeared to take nonotice whatever of us, while we continued to draw nearer and nearer toher. We had an Englishman, Mr Stone, who acted as master of the_Dove_, and two other natives. Stone was a simple-minded, honest man. His principle was, if he received an order from a superior, to obey it. Therefore, as Mr Brand had directed him to continue beating up towindward till he returned on board, it never occurred to him to proposerunning away from our suspiciously dangerous neighbour. The nativesheld their tongues, but did not look happy. Mr McRitchie was the mostagitated. He kept walking our little deck with hurried steps. We weredrawing nearer and nearer to the big schooner. Suddenly he stopped andlooked at us, the tears starting into his eyes. "My dear lads, " saidhe, "it is very, very sad to think of, but there can be no doubt, Igreatly fear, that our friend and his followers have been murdered byyonder piratical villains. If they are still alive, (and what chance isthere of it?) they will certainly not be allowed to return to us. Weare, therefore, only sacrificing our own lives by allowing ourselves tofall into the power of the villains. While there is time, let usescape. Captain Stone, don't you agree with me?"

"Well, sir, I cannot but say I do, " answered the captain. "If you orderme, as I consider that the craft is under your charge, we'll keep awayat once, and make all sail to the northward. I feel that we ought tohave done it as soon as we made out what that craft there was. "

The doctor hesitated still--a violent struggle was going on in his mind. He passed his hand across his brow. "Yes, it must be done. Keep heraway, and make all sail, " he exclaimed. 

Scarcely was the helm put up, and a large square-sail of light canvasthe little schooner carried hoisted, when the stranger seemed to observeour presence. We had not run on for ten minutes when her head cameslowly round towards us, her square-topsails were hoisted up, herforesail was rigged out, a square-sail was set, and after us she camelike a greyhound in chase of a hare. 

"What chance have we, do you think, of getting away from her, MrStone?" said Jerry, pointing to the big schooner, which was coming uphand over hand after us. 

Stone, who was at the helm, looked over his shoulder at the stranger. "Why, none whatever, Mr Frankland, " he answered, after a minute'sdeliberation. 

"Then I do not see much use in running away, " observed Jerry. "If weare to be killed, let us be killed at once, and have it over. "

"No, sir; as Mr Callard says, it's our duty to strive as long as wecan. Our lives are in the hand of God. He may find means to enable usto escape, though we do not in our blindness see them. Perhaps it mayfall a dead calm, and we may make use of our sweeps; or a squall mayspring up and carry away the stranger's masts; or another vessel mayheave in sight, and she may think it wise to slip out of the way. "

"I see that you are right, Mr Stone, " answered Jerry. "But I wonder, if they do catch us, what they will do to us all?"

"Cut the throats of every mother's son of us, " he answered, quitecalmly. "I've often thought of death, and I am prepared to die, for Itrust in One who is mighty to save my soul alive. Have you the samehope, young gentleman? I trust you have. It's my duty as a fellow manto urge you to lay hold of it. There's nothing else will save us, depend on that. From what I heard your officer, Mr Brand, say, I knowon what he trusted, and I hope he has not failed to speak to you aboutthe same matter. "

"Ay, he spoke to us in a way we ought never to have forgotten, once whenwe were drifting out to sea on the bottom of a boat, and we had littlechance of being saved; and then he swam off, at the still greater riskof his own life, to save ours, " answered Jerry. 

"I knew that he was just the man to do that sort of thing. He was aChristian man, too, I am certain of it. Well, it's a great comfort tofeel that of a man who you believe has just been taken out of theworld, " observed the master. "I hope your man, Yool, was a trustingbeliever. I know our man was, poor fellow. "

Mr McRitchie had been listening, and seemed much affected at what hadbeen said. The master spoke so confidently of Mr Brand's death, and ofthe others, that we began ourselves to realise the melancholy fact. What, however, was likely to be our own fate? we had several times askedourselves. What could we expect but to be instantly murdered? Weanxiously scanned the horizon on every side. There was not a sign of asail of any description. The wind remained steady. There was noprospect of a storm or a calm. The stranger was coming up after us withfearful speed. We were within range of her guns, but she did not fire--so we concluded that she had none on board. It was useless for us toattempt to do anything by fighting. Jerry and I talked about it, but wegave it up as a hopeless case. The stranger could quickly have settledthe matter by running us down. 

Mr Stone showed us that he did not boast in vain. He was calm andunmoved in spite of the dreadful danger which threatened us. Stillholding the tiller in his hand, and keeping his eye on the sails, heknelt down and offered up an earnest prayer for our safety. We followedhis example, as did the natives; and when we arose from our knees, I, for my part, felt that I was much better prepared than before to meetwith resignation whatever might befall us; so, I have no doubt, did mycompanions. 

The stranger had now got within musket-range, but still she did notfire. Those on board, of course, expected that in a few minutes morethey would be up with us, and perhaps did not think us worth theirpowder. 

"What chance have we now, Mr Stone?" asked the doctor, eyeing our bigpursuer with a look of horror. 

"None, sir, that I see, " was the answer; "but then, as I said, there maybe means prepared which I don't see, so we'll hold on, if you please. "

After a minute or two the patience of the pirates appeared to have beenexhausted. There was a report, and a musket-ball came whistling throughour sails. Jerry and I bobbed our heads, for it felt so terribly nearour ears. Jerry looked up indignantly. "I have a great mind to have acrack at them in return, " he exclaimed; and before any one saw what hewas about, he had seized his rifle from the cabin, and sent a shot backat them in return. 

"Oh, sir, there was no use doing that; you will only the more angerthose wicked men, " said Captain Stone, quite calmly. 

"No, no; let's die game, " answered Jerry. "We may kill some of ourenemies before they kill us. "

"We may kill some of our friends as likely, " replied the captain. "Ifwe could prevent them injuring us, we might kill them; but as we cannot, we must patiently wait the result. "

The doctor seemed to agree with the captain, so Jerry refrained fromagain loading his rifle. The effect, however, of his single shot wasmost disastrous, for the pirates, supposing that we were about to showfight, brought several muskets forward, and opened a hot fire on us. Asthe bullets came rattling about our ears, I thought not one of us wouldescape. The two poor Sandwich islanders were brought to the deck, onedirectly after the other, desperately wounded. The matter was becomingvery serious. I thought that we ought to lower our sails; so did thedoctor, but Captain Stone begged us to keep all standing. "We can'ttell still, sir, but what we may escape. Hold on, hold on, " he criedout. "There is One who watches over us. If it is his will that we areto be destroyed, his will be done. " Scarcely had he uttered these wordsof true piety than he suddenly lifted up his arm, letting go the tiller, and fell to the deck. Jerry ran to the helm. I tried to lift him up, while the doctor knelt down by his side. "Hold on, hold on, I counselyou, " he whispered, raising his head. "They have done for me. Doctor, you cannot help me, I feel. It's all right; we were doing our duty. Weknow in whom we trust. He is mighty to save our souls alive. " Withthese words he fell back, giving one look at our pursuer, and urging usby a sign to hold on our course. The doctor took his hand. Afterholding it for a minute, he shook his head. "He's gone, " he remarked;"as brave a man as I ever met, and as true a Christian. "

Jerry meantime stood undauntedly at the helm. No sooner, however, hadthe captain fallen than the pirates, seeing what had occurred, ceasedfiring. They had now got so near, that, had they chosen, they mighthave picked every one of us off without difficulty. At last they cameup almost abreast of us. 

"Heave to, you young jackanapes, or we will sink you, " sung out a manfrom forward. The doctor was attending to one of the wounded natives, so they did not observe him, perhaps. Although the command was issuedin a very uncomplimentary style, Jerry and I agreed that it would beuseless to disobey it; so going about, while he stood at the helm, I ranforward and let fly the jib-sheet, while the foresail remained towindward. 

"Send your boat aboard us, " shouted the same voice. 

"We haven't got one, " answered Jerry. "You know that well enough, Ishould think, " he added in a lower voice. 

"Oh, we'll send one, then, " replied the speaker. 

During this time the big schooner was hove-to quite close to us. Presently some of the crew went aft, and a long gig was lowered from theschooner's quarter, and a set of as ugly-looking ruffians as I ever casteyes on got into her, and pulled towards us. From the specimen we hadwitnessed of their conduct, we could only expect to be cut down andthrown overboard as soon as they stepped on deck. The leastunattractive was a man, apparently an officer, who sat in thestern-sheets. As he got near I could not help examining hiscountenance. He was a mulatto, with handsome, regular features. I feltcertain that I had seen him before, and not long ago. He had on hishead a large broad-brimmed straw hat, a gaily-coloured handkerchief, anda waistcoat of red silk, while his jacket was of the finest material. He wore a sash round his waist, and a dagger and a brace ofsilver-mounted pistols stuck into it. When he came alongside, he spranglightly on to the deck of the schooner, and looked about him. 

"Now, my lads, be prepared; show no fear, " said the doctor. "Rememberthat the worst they can do is to kill us, and they'll gain nothing bythat; so perhaps they will let us live. "

As we made not the slightest attempt at resistance, which would havebeen madness, even the pirates had no excuse for injuring us. All wedid was to stand quietly at the after-part of the deck waiting what wasnext going to happen. 

One of the other pirates soon proceeded without ceremony into the cabin, and the rest went forward down the fore-hatch. 

The officer looked at me, and I looked at him. Old Surley, who at firsthad been very much inclined to fly at the strangers, growling fiercely, went up to him and quietly licked his hand. In spite of hisclean-shaven face, his gay clothes, and well filled-out cheeks, Iimmediately recognised him as Manuel Silva, as he called himself--theman whom we had with so much risk saved from the wreck of the Spanishbrig. "Yes, I remember you, " he whispered in his broken English; "butdon't let others know that. I'm not a man to forget kindness, that'sall. "

"Do you know anything of Mr Brand and the other men?" I asked eagerly. He made no reply; and immediately afterwards, assuming an air ofauthority, he ordered the doctor, Jerry, and me, to get into the boat. 

The doctor entreated that he might be left to attend the two woundedSandwich islanders. The men, when they came on deck, laughed at hisrequest. "We have got wounded too, and shall want you to attend onthem, " they answered; "if you are a doctor, you are welcome. " Still thedoctor pleaded so hard for the poor men that at last they consented totake one of them; the other, indeed, was already beyond all hopes ofrecovery. We turned a last look at the body of poor Captain Stone. 

"What is to be done with him?" asked Jerry. 

"Never mind him, youngster, " answered one of the men; "we'll soondispose of him. "

Silva, leaving three men on board, ordered us to get into his boat toreturn with him to the big schooner. As we were shoving off, oldSurley, who had been smelling about after the other men, gave a loudbark, as much as to say, "Don't leave me behind, " and leaped in afterus. Truly glad were we to have him, poor fellow. He might prove to usa friend in need. 

We stepped on deck; the crew, we thought, eyed us with very sinisterlooks, but no one spoke to us till a man we took to be the captainstepped up to the gangway. "Who are you, and where do you come from, who go about prying into other people's affairs?" he exclaimed in agruff voice. He stamped with his feet as lift spoke, as if lashinghimself up into a rage. He was a pale, long-faced man, with a largebeard, and a very evil expression in his eye. 

"We have no wish to pry into anybody's affairs, " answered the doctorquietly. "We missed a boat with some of the people belonging to thisschooner, and we thought they might be aboard your vessel. "

"I know nothing of the people you talk of; but as you have seen morethan you ought, I suspect you'll remain with us. We happen to want justsuch a schooner as yours, so say no more about it. You may thinkyourselves fortunate in not losing your lives. There's no disguiseabout us, you see. "

Had we before felt any doubts on the subject, these remarks would haverevealed to us too clearly the character of the people among whom we hadfallen. I was thankful, indeed, that we were not immediately murdered. Why the desperadoes allowed us to live was a mystery. The doctor, theythought, would be useful to them; and perhaps, as Jerry remarked, theydid not think us worth killing. The doctor, he, and I, stood togethernear the gangway, with Surley at our feet, waiting what was next tohappen. Meantime the poor wounded Sandwich islander had been handed up, and placed on the deck forward. 

The vessel on board which we found ourselves was a large, handsomecraft, of fully a hundred and eighty tons; and, from her great beam, hertaunt, raking masts, the broad white ribbon outside, and the peculiarpaint and fittings on her deck, she was evidently American. There werea good many white men among her crew; but there were also many blacksand mulattoes, of every shade of brown and hue of olive or copper. Never had I seen people of so many nations and tribes brought together, while every one of them to my eyes appeared most villainous cut-throats. 

We saw the boat go back to the _Dove_ and deposit a couple of more handsaboard her, and then both vessels hauled their wind and stood away tothe south-west. Just then some of the crew hailed the doctor:--"Here;your patient seems to be about to slip his cable. You'd better come andsee what's the matter. " We accompanied the doctor, and knelt down bythe side of the wounded man, who was evidently dying. He took thedoctor's hand. "You kind to us, but you no help me now, " he whispered, with his failing breath. "If you once more see Mr Callard--my love tohim--I die happy. I trust in Him he taught me to cling to. Once I waspoor savage. He made me rich. " These were the poor Kanaka's lastwords. A few years ago, and how differently would one of his countrymenhave died! The doctor closed the eyes and arranged the limbs of thedead man, and threw a handkerchief which he took from his neck over hisface. "There, " he said, "he'll not give you any more trouble. " The mensaid not a word, but walked about as composedly as if nothing hadhappened, while we went back to our place near the gangway. Shortlyafterwards, a man, who seemed to be an officer, went forward. "Heavethat corpse overboard, " he exclaimed; "why do you let it remain therecumbering the deck?" The men looked at each other, and then, lifting upthe body of the poor Kanaka, threw it, without form or ceremony, intothe water. We looked astern. There it floated, with the arms spreadout, and the face turned towards us, for the handkerchief had fallen offthe head. Its lips seemed to move. I thought it was uttering awell-merited curse on the hateful craft we were on board. It seemed tobe about to spring out of the water. I could not help crying out. Ishrieked, I believe. Many of the pirates looked with horror. "Is hefollowing us?" I cried. No. Down sunk the body from sight, as ifdragged by some force from below. "Ah, a shark has got him!" saidSilva, who had been looking on with the rest. Many of the ruffiansshuddered, for they knew full well that such might any day be their ownfate. 

While this scene was enacting, a similar one was taking place on boardthe _Dove_. Her captors, having time to look about them, had taken upthe bodies of poor Captain Stone and the other Kanaka, and, withoutshroud or a shot to their feet, had hove them overboard. They also wereimmediately attacked by the sharks. Jerry and I shuddered, as well wemight. The doctor looked on with more composure. "It matters littlewhether sharks or animalculae first devour a body, " he observed. "Oneor other will inevitably swallow it before long, only the sharks makegreater speed with the process. Happily there is an essence whichneither one nor the other can destroy, which survives triumphant overdeath; so, lads, when you mourn the loss of a friend, think of him asliving in that essence, not in the mortal frame you see torn to piecesor mouldering in decay. " A new light seemed to burst on me as thedoctor said this. The idea aided me to get over the horror I had feltat seeing the fate of the missionary captain, and enabled me better tobear the first remark which the pirate leader deigned to make us: "Well, youngsters, if you don't behave yourselves, you'll come to that veryquickly, let me tell you. "

"We have no wish to do otherwise than behave ourselves, sir, " answeredJerry in his politest way. "Perhaps you will tell us what you wish tohave done?"

"To hold your tongue and be hanged, " answered the ruffian, turningaside; for Jerry's coolness puzzled and enraged him. 

The doctor was now summoned down below to look after some sick men, themate, who called him, said; but, as Jerry whispered, he suspected theywere sick from having swallowed more bullets than they liked. We two, in the meantime, sat ourselves down on a gun, with Surley at our feet. He put his nose between us, and looked anxiously up into our faces, asif to learn what it all meant. We were there allowed to remainunmolested, while the pirates went past us attending to the duty of theship. On seeing the guns, we wondered that the schooner had not firedat us; but we concluded that they had coveted the _Dove_ for their ownobjects, and had not wished to injure her. It was evidently from nocompassion to us that they had not knocked her to pieces. No oneinterrupting us, Jerry and I began quietly to talk to each other. 

"What can have become of Mr Brand, and Ben Yool, and the Kanaka?" saidI. "Is it possible that they are aboard here all this time, do youthink?"

"I am afraid not, " answered Jerry, shaking his head sorrowfully. "Ithink it's much more likely that a shot was hove into the dinghy if theywent alongside, and that they were sent to the bottom. My only hope is, that they missed their way and never came near this craft. If so, theymay have been picked up by some vessel, or may find their way back toOwhyhee. "

"That last idea never occurred to me before. Oh, I hope it may be so!I wonder what the doctor thinks?" said I. 

The doctor was absent for a long time. When he came back to us, he saidthat he could not give an opinion on the subject. He was very silent, and we thought that he looked more sad and thoughtful even than atfirst. 

The day wore on. A black cook brought us some soup and a bowl offarinha, which, as we were very hungry, we were glad enough to eat; andat night, Silva told us that we three might occupy the small deck cabinwhich was vacant. We were glad enough to creep in there, and to forgetour sorrows in sleep. For some time we slept as soundly as people whohave undergone a great deal of mental excitement generally sleep, thoughthe realities of the past mixed strangely with the visions of the night. The most prominent was the picture of the sinking ship which we hadseen go down; but in addition I beheld the agonised countenances of themurdered crew--some imploring mercy, others battling for life, andothers yielding hopelessly to their fate. Among them, to my greaterhorror, I thought I saw Mr Brand and Ben Yool. They were bravelystruggling in the hands of the ruffians, as I am sure they would havedone. Now one was up, now the other. The pirates tried to force themoverboard, but they always again clambered up the side of the vessel. Their boat was sunk beneath them; still they fought on, clutching holdof ropes and the chain-plates--never for a moment losing heart. "Thatis the way to fight the battle of life against all enemies, spiritualand carnal, " said a voice. It was Cousin Silas who spoke. Then thepirates made another desperate attack on him and Ben, and they wereforced back into the deep ocean. 

I awoke with a loud cry. "What's the matter? where are we?" askedJerry, stretching out his arms. "O Harry, what dreadful dreams I havehad! What is going to happen? Now I know. Oh dear! Oh dear! My poorfather, how miserable he will be when he fancies I am lost!" When wetold each other our dreams, we found that they had been very much of thesame nature. 

Our talking awoke the doctor. He was, I daresay, not less unhappy thanwe were, but he told us not to give way to unmanly fears, and scolded usfor talking about our dreams. "It is a foolish and bad practice sillypeople are apt to indulge in. It makes them nervous, promotessuperstition, and, worse than all, frequently causes them to doubt God'ssuperintending care and watchfulness. Your dreams have just been madeup of what has occurred, and of what your imagination has conjured up. Just set to work and think and talk of how we may escape from ourpresent position, and perhaps you may think and talk to good effect. "As soon as we got up, we took our place as we had done the previous day, as much out of the way of the rest of the people as possible. 

We took the doctor's advice, and did little else for some time than talkof how we might escape. The most feasible plan which occurred to us wasto watch for an opportunity of deserting the ship whenever she mighttouch at any place for water. We agreed that it would be well to tryand lull the suspicions of our captors, by pretending to be perfectlycontented with our lot, and by making ourselves as much at home aspossible. 

"We'll not seem to care about going on shore ourselves, " observed Jerry;"but after a time we'll talk about old Surley not being accustomed toremain on board so long, and we'll ask leave to take him a run on thebeach; then he'll run on, and we will run after him, till we get out ofsight of the vessel, and then won't we put our best legs foremost--that's all. Surley will like the fun, and we will whistle him on; andif any of the pirates meet us, we can say we are running after him; andso we shall be, you know. We can hide away in some tree, or in acavern, or somewhere or other till the ship sails, and then we musttrust to what may turn up to get away from the place, wherever it maybe. "

"The chances are that it may be a desert island, and one rarely or nevervisited by ships. If so, perhaps we may have to live on it for yearswithout being able to escape from it, " I observed. 

"Well, no matter if that is the case, " he answered; "anything is betterthan living among these cut-throats. "

"I agree with you, " said I; "but what is to become of the doctor? Wemust not leave him behind. "

"Certainly not, " said Jerry; "we will tell him what we propose, and Idaresay he will find means to follow us. If he cannot, perhaps he willpropose some plan which will be better than ours. "

We talked till we talked ourselves very hungry, and were not sorry whenthe black cook brought us a bowl of farinha for our breakfast. Weshould not have objected to a slice of cold beef or a piece of fish, butwe agreed that it would be wiser to take what was offered to us, andappear thankful. The doctor was asked in to breakfast with the captain. He certainly would rather not have gone, but as nothing could be gainedby refusing, and something might by accepting the invitation, he went. Tom Congo, the cook, did not forget old Surley, but, when the officerswere below at breakfast, brought him a mess, which he gobbled up with nolittle satisfaction. 

Silva appeared to take no notice of us; yet we could not but believethat it was owing to his intercession our lives had been spared, andthat we were not ill-treated. It will be remembered that, after thestory we heard of the escape of the convicts from Juan Fernandez, serious suspicions had been entertained of his character. We had now, from finding him associated with pirates, every reason to believe thatour suspicions were correct. Still, pirate as he was, all the rightfeelings of our nature had not been blunted in him. While on board the_Triton_ he had always behaved well, and he now showed us that he wasgrateful for the kindness he had received. Such was the opinion Jerryand I formed of him. 

For three or four days things went on much in the same way as at first. We had our food brought us regularly by our friend the black cook, andwere allowed to walk the deck as long as we liked, and to creep into ourcabin at night. Nobody interfered with us. The people who acted asofficers passed us by without notice, and the seamen did not take thetrouble to exchange a word with us. At last Jerry and I agreed that itwas time to try and make ourselves more at home, or we should not beable to carry into execution the plan we had proposed. Surley, too, seemed to think it very dull work sitting all day long with his noseresting on our knees. How to set about ingratiating ourselves with thefellows, was the difficulty. We generally talked over our plans whenthe doctor was away, as he was for a considerable time every dayattending to the sick. We determined first to try and win over old TomCongo, the black cook, as he seemed disposed to be friendly with us. 

"I say, cook, " exclaimed Jerry, "you give us very good food to eat, butcouldn't you add a bit of meat now and then? Surley gets some, and we, who have been accustomed all our lives to it, would like to have itnow. "

"Oh, oh, you hab some of Surley's den, " answered Tom Congo, with a grin. 

"You are too kind to wish to make us eat scraps and bits, " said Jerry;"we should just like a piece of beef or pork. "

Congo looked pleased; and though he would not promise to bring us anymeat, we saw that he would. Now, we did not care so much about themeat, but we thought that, by asking him a favour which he could easilygrant, we might gain his interest. It was a compliment to him, and madehim feel as if he were our superior, for the time being at all events. The next day, at dinner time, he brought us a very nice piece of boiledbeef and some potatoes. We consulted what we could give him in return. Our knives were too valuable to part with, but Jerry had a silverpencil-case, which he offered to him. Old Tom asked what it was for, and when told to write with, he grinned from ear to ear, observing that, as he could not write even his own name, it would be of no manner of useto him; but that he thanked us all the same. 

The feeling that there were two people on board who were disposed to befriendly with us raised our spirits. We got up and began to chaseSurley about the deck, making him run after a ball of spun-yarn till wegot tired of the game. Then we walked up and down the deck till we gotright aft, where we could catch a glance at the compass. We weresteering about south-west and by south. 

"Where are we going to, my friend?" said Jerry, addressing the man atthe helm. 

"Ask the captain; he's likely to tell you, youngster. "

"Oh, no matter, " answered Jerry, carelessly, "I only asked forcuriosity. If it's to China, or round Cape Horn, or to California, it'sall the same to me. "

"You're an independent little chap, at all events, " answered the man;"if you were one of us, you'd do well, I doubt not. "

"Oh, I've no objection to do well, " said Jerry; "just show me the way, and I'm your man. "

"I like your spirit, and I'll say a word in your favour with the crew. I daresay you know something about navigation, which is more than mostof the officers do; so, if you join us, it won't be long before you aremade an officer. "

"Thank you for your good opinion of me, " said Jerry; "but I'm notambitious. I just want to do what I like, and if nobody interferes withme, I'm content. "

"You're a merry little chap, at all events, " observed the pirate. "Ilike to see a fellow with some spirit in him, and I'll keep you out ofharm if I can. "

"Thank you, " said Jerry, making a dash after Surley's tail; "I thoughtyou looked as if you were a kind chap, and that made me speak to you. "

Thus by degrees we made ourselves at home among the crew. Before theevening we were chasing each other about the rigging. The men forwardhad a monkey, and we got hold of him, and made him ride upon Surley'sback. Neither animal liked it at first, but by coaxing them we managedto reconcile them to each other. Jacko would every now and then take itinto his head to give old Surley a sly pinch on the ear or tail, andthen the dog would turn round and endeavour to bite the monkey's leg;but the latter was always too quick for him, and would either jump off, or leap up on his back as if he were going to dance there, or wouldcatch hold of a rope overhead and swing himself up out of his way. Itreally was great fun, and often we almost forgot where we were and oursad fate. It made the pirates also think us light-hearted, merryfellows, and they gave themselves no further concern about watching us. Now, of course, it sounds very romantic and interesting to be on board apirate vessel, among desperate cut-throats, to be going one does notknow where; but the reality is very painful and trying, and, in spite ofall we did in the day to keep up our spirits, Jerry and I often layawake half the night, almost crying, and wondering what would become ofus. It was not till we remembered what we had heard at home, and whatCaptain Frankland and Mr Brand had told us often--that in alldifficulties and troubles we should put our trust in God--that we foundany comfort. How much we now wished for a Bible, that we might read itto each other! We now saw more clearly than we had ever before done itsinestimable value. There were several on board the _Dove_, but we werenot likely to be able to get them. 

The poor doctor was more to be pitied than we were. He grew thinner andthinner every day. Evidently he felt his captivity very much. Hisprospect of escaping was much smaller than ours, because he was of fargreater use to the pirates than we were. We might have been of someservice to them as navigators, but without our books and instruments wecould do very little for them even in that respect. 

Several more days went by in this way. The pirates now began to growfidgety, and they were constantly going to the mast-head, and spent theday in looking out on every side round the horizon, in search of land ora vessel, we could not tell which. At last, one forenoon, one of thelook-outs shouted from aloft, "A sail! a sail!"

"Where away?" asked the captain, who till that moment seemed to havebeen half asleep on deck. He sprang to his feet, and he, with every oneon board, in an instant was full of life and animation. 

"On the lee bow, " answered the man. "She is a large ship, standing tothe southward. " The wind was from the westward. 

Several of the officers and men hurried aloft to have a look at thestranger. When they came down they seemed highly satisfied. 

"She's a merchantman from California, " observed one. "She'll haveplenty of gold dust on board. "

"She's the craft to suit us, then, " observed a second. 

"She's a heavy vessel, and the fellows aboard will fight for theirgold, " remarked a third. 

"Who cares? a little fighting will make the prize of more value, " criedanother. "We'll show them what they'll get by resistance. "

The word was now passed along to clear the decks for action, and, withthe men at their guns, we bore down on the stranger. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

VOYAGE IN THE PIRATE VESSEL. 

The stranger saw our approach, and from the eager way in which wecarried on sail, those on board must have had some suspicion of thecharacter of the schooner. She was a fine large ship, and was evidentlya fast craft, but still the schooner managed to overhaul her. As we hadhitherto stood on under easy sail, the _Dove_ was able to keep up withus, but now we left her far astern. Before we parted company, however, the captain signalised her where to meet him. I forgot to say that forsome time we did not know the name of the pirate chief, but at last weheard him called Captain Bruno. Though this name had a foreign sound, he was, as I have before said, either an Englishman or an American. Theschooner was called the _Hawk_, and she was not ill named. 

As we drew near the ship we ran up English colours, while in return, upwent at her peak the stars and stripes of the United States. On westood. The ship, so Jerry and I concluded, did not suspect thecharacter of the schooner, for she made no attempt to escape us, butappeared as if those on board expected a friendly greeting. I observedCaptain Bruno very frequently turn his telescope towards the stranger, and examine her narrowly. The officers, too, began to talk to eachother, and look suspiciously at her. I asked Mr McRitchie, who wasnear us, whether he thought the pirates would attack the ship and murderthe crew, as we believed they had done that of the brig. 

"I dread something terrible, but I have very little apprehension for thefate of the people on board the ship, " he answered, in a low tone. "Inmy opinion, the pirates will find that they have caught a tartar. Markme--yonder craft is no merchantman, but a ship of war, either Americanor English, or perhaps Chilian. I should not be surprised to find thatshe is on the watch for our friends here. Scarcely do I know what towish. If they fight at all, they will fight desperately, and we shallrun as great a chance of being killed as they will--though, if they arecaptured, we may regain our liberty. If, on the other hand, theyescape, our captivity will be prolonged. "

"But if yonder ship prove to be what you suppose, and the schooner iscaptured, perhaps we may be hung as pirates, " said Jerry. "How can weprove that we are honest people?"

"There will be but little difficulty about that, " answered MrMcRitchie. "The pirates themselves will acknowledge that we have beenbrought on board against our will, and the account we can give ofourselves is too circumstantial not to gain credit. At all events, wemust hope for the best. But see, Captain Bruno at last suspects thatsomething is wrong. "

We had by this time got almost within the ordinary range of a ship'sguns. Suddenly the captain sprang to the helm. "Haul aft the main andforesheets!" he sung out in a voice of thunder. "Brace up the yards!Down with the helm! Keep her as close as she'll go!" The crew flew toobey these orders. They knew full well that their lives depended ontheir promptness. Already the schooner had approached too near thestranger. That she was a man-of-war, she no longer left us in doubt. Before the orders issued by Captain Bruno were executed, a line of portswere thrown open, and eight long guns were run out, threatening to sendus to the bottom if we showed a disposition to quarrel, and aft at herpeak flew the stars and stripes of the United States. 

The pirates saw that they were caught through their own folly andgreediness, but the captain showed himself to be a man of undauntedcourage, and full of resources. "Hold on!" he sung out, before a sheetwas hauled in. "We may lose our sticks if we attempt to run. I'll tryif I cannot deceive these clever fellows, and put them on a wrongscent. " The pirates seemed mightily pleased at the thought of playingtheir enemy a trick, and highly applauded the proposal of their captain. The schooner, therefore, stood steadily on, till she ran close down tothe corvette. Then she hove-to, well to windward of the ship, however. A boat was lowered, and Captain Bruno, with four of the mostquiet-looking of the crew, got into her, and pulled away for the ship. When we hove-to, the corvette did the same, an eighth of a mile toleeward of us. We watched the proceedings of the pirate with no littleanxiety. 

"If that fellow succeed in deceiving the captain of that ship, I shallacknowledge that impudence will sometimes carry the day, " observed MrMcRitchie. 

"Couldn't we contrive to make a signal to let the people of theman-of-war know that we are kept here in durance vile?" observed Jerry. 

While he was speaking, I looked round, and saw two of the most ruffianlyof the crew standing close to us, with pistols cocked in their hands, held quietly down by their sides. I hoped that our captors had notoverheard what Jerry had said. I touched him as if by chance on theshoulder, and after his eye had glanced at the pistols he said nothingmore about making signals to the corvette. Our position was everyinstant growing more and more critical. If the pirate captain wasseized on board the man-of-war, it was impossible to say how hisfollowers might wreak their vengeance on our heads. We watched him withno little interest, till he ascended with perfect coolness the side ofthe ship. Our anxiety still further increased, after he reached thedeck and disappeared below. Minute after minute slowly passed by, stillhe did not return. The pirates with their pistols got up closer to us, and one, a most hideous black fellow, kept looking at us and then at hisweapon, and grinning from ear to ear, as if he was mightily eager to putit to our heads and pull the trigger. We tried to look as unconcernedas possible, but I must own that I could not help every now and thenturning round, to ascertain in what direction the muzzle of the pistolwas pointed. The black and his companion looked so malicious, that Ifeared, whatever occurred, we should be the sufferers. If Captain Brunoescaped, we should still remain in captivity; or should he be suspectedand detained, probably the pirates would revenge themselves on us. Iwas afraid of speaking, and almost of moving, lest, even should I liftan arm, it might be construed into the act of making a signal, and Imight get a bullet sent through my head. The American corvette, withher spread of white canvas, looked very elegant and graceful as she layhove-to, a short distance from us. I wished very much that I was out ofthe pirate, and safe on board her, even though the former might get freeaway without the punishment she deserved. But all such hopes, itappeared, were likely to prove vain. After the lapse of another tenminutes Captain Bruno himself appeared on deck. As he stood at thegangway, he shook hands cordially with some of the officers. He seemedto be exchanging some good joke with them, for he and they laughedheartily when he went down the side, and stepped into the boat. As hepulled back to the schooner, he waved his hand, and took off his hatwith the most becoming courtesy. "Well, " thought I to myself, "certainly impudence will sometimes carry the day. "

He was soon again on board. "Make sail, " he said with a calm smile;"the corvette and we are going in search of a rascally pirate, which hascommitted all sorts of atrocities. I wonder whether we shall find her. "The joke seemed to tickle the fancies of all on deck, for a quietchuckle was heard on every side. "Keep the rest of the people below, "he said to Silva; "it might surprise the crew of the man-of-war to seeso many ugly fellows on board a quiet trader. " The order was strictlyobeyed. A few only of the crew appeared on deck, and they were soonseen employed in the usual occupations of a merchantman. The wind waslight, so the schooner began leisurely to set sail after sail, tillevery stitch of canvas she could carry was spread. The corvette did thesame, and both vessels were soon going along under a cloud of canvas. The schooner, we saw, had the advantage. Gradually we were increasingour distance from the man-of-war. Captain Bruno chuckled audibly. Still, at times, he cast an anxious look astern. 

Jerry and I were allowed to walk about the deck, and to observe what wasgoing on. We remarked the captain watching the corvette. "Depend onit, " said Jerry, "he has been leaving some forged paper with theAmericans, or playing them some trick which he is afraid will be foundout. " I thought at first this must be Jerry's fancy. We had noopportunity of asking Mr McRitchie's opinion without being overheard. Away we glided over the smooth ocean. More and more we increased ourdistance from the corvette. The further ahead we got, the more CaptainBruno seemed pleased; and as I watched his countenance, I becameconvinced that Jerry's surmises were correct. As we walked the deck andwatched the captain, we agreed that if he dared he would like to wet thesails to make them hold more wind. An hour or so passed away, whensuddenly the corvette yawed a little, a puff of white smoke appeared, with a sharp report, and a shot came flying over the water close to us. "Ah! have you found me out, my friends?" exclaimed Captain Bruno, leaping down from the taffrail. "All hands on deck! Swing up the longguns! We must try to wing this fellow before he contrives to clip ourfeathers. " In an instant everybody was alert: tackles were rove, and, in a short time, two long and very heavy guns, with their carriages, were hoisted up from the hold. The guns were quickly mounted and runout, and a brisk fire kept up at the corvette. She also continued tofire, but as to do so with effect she had to yaw each time, theschooner, which could fire her stern guns as fast as she could loadthem, had a considerable advantage. It was a game at long bowls, forthe two vessels were already so far apart that it required very goodgunnery to send a shot with anything like a correct aim. Silva seemedto be one of the best marksmen on board. Several times, when he fired, the shot went through the sails of the ship of war. The great object ofthe pirates was to cripple her, as was that of the Americans to bringdown some of the schooner's spars. Had the latter found out the tricksooner which had been played them by the pirate, the probabilities arethat some of our rigging would have been cut through, and we should havebeen overtaken; now there appeared every chance that we should effectour escape. Still, several of the shot which came from the corvettestruck us, or went through our sails; but the damage was instantlyrepaired. The crew had got up from below a store of spare ropes, andsails, and spars, so that even should we receive any severe injury, itcould, we saw, be speedily put to rights. As I before said, ourprospects of getting our throats cut, or our brains blown or knockedout, were pretty well balanced against those of our being made free, should the corvette come up with us; so we scarcely knew what to wishfor. Every time a shot came near the vessel, the pirates cast suchangry glances at us, as if we had had something to do with the matter, that we half expected some of them would let fly their pistols and putan end to our lives. 

Hour after hour thus passed away. A stern chase is a long chase, aseverybody knows, and so the Americans must have thought it. The windcontinued much as at first for some time. This was all in favour of theschooner, which sailed in a light wind proportionably better than thecorvette. Towards evening, however, clouds began to gather in theeastern horizon. The bank rose higher and higher in the sky. Now onemass darted forward--now another--and light bodies flew rapidly acrossthe blue expanse overhead. First the surface of the ocean was crispedover with a sparkling ripple, and then wavelets appeared, and soon theyincreased to waves with frothy crests; and the schooner sprung forward, the canvas swelling, the braces tautening, and the masts and sparscracking with the additional strain put on them. For some time, thoughshe still continued to fire, scarcely a shot from the man-of-war hadcome up to us, as we had still further increased our distance from her. She, however, now felt the advantage of the stronger breeze, and ourpace became more equal. Still the breeze increased. The captain stoodaft, his eye apparently watching earnestly every spar and rope aloft, tosee how they stood the increasing strain. Away we now flew, the waterhissing under our bows, and the spray leaping up on either side, andstreaming over us in thick showers. The white canvas bulged, andtugged, and tugged, till I thought it would carry the masts away, andfly out of the bolt-ropes. Captain Bruno, however, gave no orders totake it in. He looked astern; the corvette was going along as fast aswe were--perhaps faster. This was not an occasion for shortening sail. The crew seemed to have the same opinion. They were fighting withhalters round their necks, every one full well knew; and though thisconsciousness may make men desperate when brought to bay, it willassuredly make them run away like arrant cowards if they have apossibility of escape. 

The sea by this time had got up considerably, and the schooner began topitch into it as she ran before the wind. The corvette at first came onrather more steadily, but she likewise soon began to feel the effects ofthe troubled water; and away we both went, plunging our bows into thesea as we dashed rapidly onward. I could not help feeling that themovements of both vessels showed that serious work was going on. Thecorvette, with her wide fields of canvas spread aloft, every sailbulging out to its utmost extent, looked as if intent on the pursuit;while the eager, hurried way in which the schooner struggled on amid thefoaming waves, made it appear as if she were indued with consciousness, and was aware that her existence depended on her escaping her pursuer. 

It was now blowing a perfect gale. Every instant, as I kept lookingaloft, I expected to hear some dreadful crash, and to see the topmastscome tumbling down over our heads; but though the top-gallant-masts bentand writhed like fishing-rods with a heavy fish at the end of the line, they were too well set up by the rigging to yield, even with theenormous pressure put on them. 

Captain Bruno called Silva to him again. They held a consultation forsome minutes. They looked at the corvette, and then at their own sails. The result was, that some of the people were summoned aft, and oncemore the long guns were run out, and, watching their opportunity, as thestern of the vessel lifted, they opened fire on their pursuer. "If wecould but knock away their fore-topmast with all that spread of canvason it, we should very soon run her out of sight, " observed Silva, stooping down to take aim. He fired. The canvas stood as before; but, as far as we could judge, the shot had reached the man-of-war, and handswere seen going aloft to repair some damage which it had caused. 

The pirates cheered when they saw that the shot had taken effect, "Hurrah! hurrah! Fire away again, Silva; fire away!" they shouted. Thus encouraged, he continued firing as fast as the guns could beloaded. Shot after shot was discharged. Still the pursuer came on asproudly and gallantly as before. Now and then a shot was fired from herbow chasers; but the difficulty of taking anything like an aim in such asea was very great, and they generally flew excessively wide of theirmark. Silva, indeed, after the first shot, had but little to boast ofas a marksman. His anger seemed to rise. He looked with a fierceglance at our pursuer. Both the guns were loaded. He stooped down toone and fired; then, scarcely looking up to watch the result, he went tothe other. The schooner was sinking into a sea; as she rose to thesummit of the next, a shot left the muzzle of the gun. Away it wingedits flight above the foaming ocean. Now the pirates cheered morelustily than ever. Good cause had they. As if by magic, the wide cloudof canvas which had lately towered above the deck of the corvette seemeddissolved in air. The race is not always to the swift, nor does Fortunealways favour the best cause. The pirate's shot had cut the corvette'sfore-topmast completely in two, and we could see it with its tangledmass of spars, and sails, and rigging hanging over the bows, and stillfurther stopping the ship's way. 

"Now we may shorten sail, " sang out Captain Bruno. "Aloft, my lads;quick about it. " The men needed not to be told of the importance ofhaste. They flew aloft, and soon handed the top-gallant-sails, and tooktwo reefs in the topsails. Relieved of the vast weight which had beenpressing on her, and almost driving her over, the schooner now flew muchmore easily over the seas, and with scarcely diminished speed. 

We kept watching the corvette. She, of course, could carry sail on hermain-mast, but it took some time to clear away the wreck of thefore-topmast, and to set up the fore-stay, which had been carried away. This it was necessary to do before sail could be set on themain-topmast. All this work occupied some time, and enabled theschooner to get far ahead. Night, too, was coming on. The weatherpromised to be very thick. The pirate's chance of escape was veryconsiderable. Our hearts sank within us as we saw the prospect of ourprolonged captivity. Proportionably the pirates were elated as theyfelt sure of escaping. On we flew; the sails of the corvette grewdarker and darker, till a thin small pyramid alone was seen risingagainst the sky in the far horizon. Mr McRitchie, who had joined us ondeck, heaved a deep sigh. To him captivity was even more galling thanto us. Darkness came on, and the corvette was lost to sight. 

It was a terrific night. The wind increased, and the sea got up morethan ever--the thunder roared, and the lightning flashed; and as theschooner went plunging away through the foaming ocean, often I thoughtthat she was about to sink down and never to rise again. The dark, stern features of the pirates were lighted up now and again, as theystood at their posts, by the lightning as it played around us; but, strange to say, they appear to have far more dreaded the anger of theirfellow-men than they did the fury of the elements. Now and then, perhaps, conscience whispered in the ears of some one not totally deafto its influence, that his last hour was approaching and that he mustsoon stand in the presence of an offended God, whose laws he had longsystematically outraged; but, generally speaking, the consciences ofthat reckless crew had long since been put to sleep, never to awake tillsummoned, when hope should have fled, at the sound of the last trump. On every side those countenances--bold, fierce, God-defying--broke forthon me out of the darkness as the bright lightning gleamed across them. Each individual face of the dreadful picture is indelibly impressed onmy memory. At length the doctor went to his berth, and Jerry and Ifollowed him to the cabin and crept into ours--wet, hungry, andsorrowful. We slept--we had been so excited all day that we could nothelp that from very weariness; but my dreams, I know, were strangelytroubled. 

At last I awoke, and found that it was daylight. I sprang up, callingJerry, and we went on deck to learn what had become of the corvette. She was nowhere to be seen. The wind had gone down very much, but itwas still blowing fresh, and a heavy sea was running. The sky, however, was blue and clear, and the waters sparkled brightly as the beams of therising sun glanced over them. The schooner had escaped all damage inthe gale. Our spirits rose somewhat with the pure fresh air of morning, and very well pleased were we to devour a good breakfast, when ourfriend the black cook placed it before us on deck, in a couple of largebasins, with heavy silver spoons to feed ourselves. 

All day we were looking out in expectation of seeing the corvette again. Hour after hour passed, but she did not appear. 

"She will not find us again, Jerry, " said I. "I wonder what the pirateswill do with us?"

"Turn us into pirates somehow or other, I am afraid, " answered Jerry. "If we don't pretend to be satisfied with our lot, perhaps they will gettired of us and will cut our throats, or throw us overboard, just to berid of us. "

"That cannot, perhaps, he helped, " I replied. "But Jerry, I say, do notfor a moment ever think of turning pirate, even if it were to save yourlife. Do right, whatever comes of it, is what Cousin Silas has oftensaid to us--remember. "

"I was not quite serious, " answered Jerry. "But still, it we did, weshould have a better chance of getting away. "

"That is the very thing that we should not do, " I replied. "Never dowhat is wrong that good may come of it. The pirates are not likely toask us to join them; but if they do, all we have to say is that we wouldrather not. We need not go into the heroics about it, and show a vastamount of virtuous indignation, but just quietly and civilly refuse, andstick to it. Don't fancy that we shall get away faster by doing what iswrong. As I said, let us do what is right, and trust all the rest toProvidence. "

"I see of course you are right, Harry. I'll try and heartily agree withyou; but just now I was considering how we might deceive the pirates bypretending to join them, and I thought that I had got a first-rate planin my head. But, Harry, from what you have been saying, I nowunderstand that I was wrong. "

We took two or three turns on deck. 

"I say, Harry, " exclaimed Jerry, suddenly, "I wonder what has become ofthe _Dove_?" So interested had we been with what concerned ourselvesespecially, that we had not till that moment thought about her. 

"If she did not go to the bottom during the gale yesterday, perhaps thecorvette got hold of her, " said I. "If the corvette did catch her, thepeople in charge of her are very likely to get their heads into a noose, for they will be puzzled to explain in a satisfactory way how she cameinto their possession. "

Captain Bruno seemed to care very little for the loss of the people inthe little schooner. He swore and grumbled somewhat under the idea thatshe might have fallen into the power of the corvette, and seemed ratherto wish that she might have gone to the bottom. However, as she was acapital sea-boat, it was possible she might have weathered the gale, inwhich case Jerry and I concluded that she would find her way to somerendezvous or other with the pirate. We hoped she might, for vagueideas ran through our minds that she might by some means or other enableus to make our escape from our captors. We could not tell how, but wethought that perhaps we might some night get on board her in someharbour, when the large schooner was refitting, and run off with her. Very slender hopes serve to buoy up people in circumstances like ours. 

Three or four days passed away, and the pirates became pretty confidentthat the man-of-war was not likely again to fall in with them. As Jerryand I passed the compass, we carelessly cast a glance at it, and foundthat we were still steering a course to the southward. The pirates werenow constantly on the alert. It was evident that they were on the watchfor some vessel or some island. We considered that they were lookingfor a vessel, from the various directions in which they were lookingout--north, south, east, and west; and sometimes we lay hove-to forhours together. 

"I say, Harry, would it not be a joke if they were to fall in with thecorvette again?" observed Jerry, when no one was near. "The Americanswould not let us escape quite so easily as before. "

"The pirates will be too wary for that, " I answered. "But look! thereis something in sight from the mast-head. There is `up helm. ' Away wego in chase of her, whatever she may be. "

There was a strong breeze from the north-west. Our course was aboutsouth-east. Mr McRitchie joined us in our walk on deck. He lookedmore grave and sad even than before. He had heard, we concluded, thatthe pirates were about to commit some fresh act of atrocity. Theyexpected some fighting, at all events, we soon discovered; for themagazine was opened, powder and shot were got up, and all hands werebusily employed in overhauling their arms, giving them an additionalcleaning, and loading their pistols. 

We did not venture aloft, but we looked out eagerly ahead to discoverthe vessel of which it was clear the pirates were in chase. Firstroyals, then top-gallant-sails, and topsails slowly rose above thehorizon. At last her courses appeared, and we could see the whole ofher hull. She was a large barque, and there could be little doubt thatthe pirates were right in supposing her to be a merchantman. We hadjust done breakfast when she was first seen; it was almost sunset by thetime her hull was completely seen. 

Our appearance did not seem to have created any alarm on board, for shestood on steadily in her course to the southward. We followed like ablood-hound chasing its prey. The pirates were in high glee; theyrecognised the vessel as one which had been unloading in San Franciscowhen they had been there, and they seemed to have no doubt, from thenumber of people who appeared to be on board, seen through theirglasses, that her passengers were gold-diggers, returning to theirdistant homes with their hard-earned gains--some obtained, undoubtedly, by honest, laborious industry--others, perhaps, by the many lawlessmeans to which people will resort when excited by the lust of gettingmoney. 

As darkness settled down on the ocean, we could just see the vesselahead. We kept on in her wake. As we much outsailed her, we quicklystole up after her, till we could make out the dark figures of her crew, as they stood on her deck, wondering, probably, what we could be. Not ashot was fired--no words were exchanged between the two vessels. "Perhaps the large vessel is prepared for the strife, " I thought tomyself. "If so, the pirates may again find that they have caught atartar; still, it is strange that no one on board takes notice of us. "We were still following in the wake of the stranger, but rapidlyoverhauling her. Jerry and I remained on deck to see what would happen. We had got close up on her quarter. Our helm was put to port, and thisplaced us on a line which enabled us to run up alongside. Not till ourbows were almost up to the stranger's quarter did any one hail us. 

"What are you? what do you want?" asked some one, in a tone of surprise. 

"We'll show you, " replied Captain Bruno. 

"Oh! is that your game?" exclaimed a person on board the stranger. "Wethought so;--fire!"

The order was obeyed, and several shot came crashing into the bows ofthe schooner. The pirates were not slow in returning the compliment. Their fury was speedily worked up to the highest pitch. They labouredaway at the guns, shouting and uttering terrific oaths, more like demonsthan men. We quickly ranged up alongside, keeping a little further offthan we probably should otherwise have done, in the hope of cripplingour opponent before attempting to board. The stranger had evidentlymany more people on board than the pirates had expected. They foughttheir guns well, and bravely too; but the further off we got the lesseffect had they, showing that they were handled by men without practice;while the pirates, on the other hand, seldom missed their aim. Thusfiercely engaged--the roar of the guns and the shrieks and cries of thecombatants breaking the silence of night, while the flashes lighted upthe darkness and revealed the hideous scene--we ran on in the samecourse as at first. The effect of the pirates' practice with their gunssoon began to tell on the stranger; spar after spar was shot away, andher lofty canvas came dropping down in torn shreds on deck. The piratesshouted with satisfaction and triumph as each fresh shot told on theiropponent. We consequently had to shorten sail to keep abreast of her. Still, her shot sometimes searched out a pirate as he laboured at hisgun, and several lay writhing in agony on the deck, while the voices ofothers were silenced for ever. At last down came the fore-mast of thebarque, followed by her main-topmast. She was completely in the powerof the pirates, for the schooner could sail round and round her, whileher crew were unable to fight their guns, overwhelmed as they were withthe wreck of the masts. The pirates cheered ferociously, and, keepingaway, crossed the bows of the barque and fired a broadside right intothem. Shrieks and cries arose from the deck of the stranger, but stillno signal was made that she had given in. On the contrary, as soon asshe could get the guns on the port-side to bear, she began firing awayagain on us. We tacked, and once more stood towards her, so as to rakeher as we passed under her stern. For a minute there was an entirecessation of firing; none of her guns could be brought to bear on us, and the pirates were reserving their fire to pour it into her with moredeadly effect. Dim and indistinct, we could just make out her hull andshattered rigging amid the gloom; and the pirates, believing that shewould quickly be in their power, were calculating on the rich bootywhich would soon be theirs, when bright flames darted up from the midstof her--a roar like the loudest thunder deafened our ears--up, up flewspars, and rigging, and human forms, and pieces of burning plank--illuminating the dark ocean far and wide around; while the fire, whichburned brightly, lighted up the countenances of the pirates as theystood watching the catastrophe they had caused. Some gleamed withanger, others with disappointed avarice; some few looked horrified, anda few were pale with terror, lest the same fate were about to be theirs. No attempt was made to save any of those who, escaping from the burningwreck, might be struggling in the waves. Jerry and I fancied that wecould hear some shrieks and cries for help, but they were soon silenced, as the waters closed over the heads of those who were struggling, butstruggling in vain. Uttering a fierce oath, Captain Bruno stamped onthe deck, to give vent to his disappointment, and then ordering the helmonce more to be put up, stood away on his course to the southward. Suchare pirates, such they have always been, in spite of the veil of romancewhich has been thrown over their misdeeds. 

For some days the schooner stood on, happily meeting with no othervessel to plunder and destroy. We all the time were kept in anxiousdoubt as to what was to be our fate. We had another cause of anxiety, in observing that the crew were inclined to quarrel with each other. The cause of this we could not understand, but the fact was veryevident. A party seemed to be formed against the captain, and itappeared to us that Silva was at the head of it. Of course this wasonly conjecture. He was certainly not on such good terms with thecaptain as he had been at first. He was not a man of a quarrelsome orambitious disposition, and probably some of the rest of the crew put himforward as their chief, knowing that he would be the principal suffererif their plans failed, and believing that they could easily get rid ofhim if at any time they found it convenient so to do. Now and thendisputes arose to a high pitch. Knives would be drawn and pistolsflashed. More than once matters were brought to extremities; woundswere given and received, and blood was spilt. It had the effect ofcooling their tempers for a moment, but at the slightest provocationthey again broke out. 

One day two men were talking together, apparently on very good terms. One of them we saw pull a dice-box out of his pocket, with several goldand silver coins; the other likewise produced his money. They began toplay--at first laughing in a friendly way at the various turns of theirfortunes. Then the laughter ceased, and they grew more earnest andintent on the game. One looked very triumphant, as the gold latelyowned by his antagonist began to swell his heap. At last the other hadno money left. He produced a watch, a clasp-knife and several jewels, agolden crucifix (which he kissed before parting with), and asilver-mounted pistol. His teeth were firm set; his eyes began to roll. He played on. Again he lost; but he had nothing wherewith to pay. Heturned his pockets inside out. The winner seemed still to be insistingon payment. A deadly pallor came over the countenance of the loser. Hesprang to his feet; a sailor was passing, with a long knife stuck in hisred sash; he snatched it from the man, and uttering an exclamationequivalent to "Have at you, then! take all I have to give!" plunged itup to the hilt in the body of the winner, who fell to the deck without agroan. The action brought all those on deck around him. "He insultedme, " he exclaimed; "he won all I had, and then asked for more. " Thebystanders seemed to acquiesce in the justness and rightfulness of theaction. They did not attempt to touch the murderer, but they lifted upthe body of the man he had wounded. He was already quite dead. None ofthe officers attempted to interfere. The murderer searched in thepockets of his victim for the money and jewels, and counting out thecoin, took possession of what had been his own. Again with blasphemousmockery he kissed the cross, evidently believing that he was doing arighteous action, and then sat down on a gun with folded arms, as if hehad been an unconcerned spectator of the scene which was enacting. Therest of the dead man's property the pirates distributed amongthemselves, and then lifting the body to the side of the vessel, withoutan expression of regret threw it into the sea. 

The tragedy was over, but the countenance of the murdered man hauntedus, while his murderer continued walking with an unconcerned look aboutthe deck, as if his hands were perfectly innocent of blood. 

"Jerry, " said I, "the sooner we are out of this, though even on a desertisland, the better. "

"Oh yes, Harry; it is not safe to live with such wretches, " was theanswer. 

It would be better if men remembered at all times that it is not good todwell with sinners. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

OUR PERILOUS VOYAGE. 

As we emerged from our cabin one morning, we found that the schooner wasstanding toward what appeared to be a fleet of vessels at anchor. 

"Why, we shall soon be among a whole squadron of buccaneers!" exclaimedJerry, in a tone of despair. "We shall be separated, Harry--turned intocabin boys, and never have a chance of escape. O dear! O dear! Mypoor father!--what will he do?"

"Why, Jerry, I am not quite so certain that those are vessels, " Iremarked; "just observe them attentively. Hillo! they have disappeared!Stay, we shall soon rise to the top of the swell again. There theyare! They are as steady as church steeples. Those are not the masts ofvessels. They are cocoa-nut and palm-trees, depend on that. They aregrowing on one of those coral islands which abound in these latitudes. Watch again. On we go. " (Here I caught sight of the glittering, white, sandy beach. ) "How the surf breaks on the reef outside it! How brightand clear it appears, rising out of the deep ocean! How green theground looks under those tall trees, and how intensely blue the lagoonin the centre! It is a lovely-looking spot--quite a fairy land. I hopethat we shall be put on shore there, though I would rather have a fewhills and valleys to diversify the scene, if we are to remain therelong. "

While we were talking we were rapidly approaching the coral island. Thedoctor joined us, and was watching it also. The schooner stood on, andwe thought she was going to pass it. The doctor, though not lessanxious to leave the vessel than we were, did not appear to agree withour wish to be set on shore there. "It is dreadfully hot there, withoutshelter from sun or wind. There is also but little variety of food; andgreen as the ground looks from hence, we should find nothing to becompared to a green lawn when once we set foot on it, " he remarked. Still Jerry and I were ready enough to run the risk, hoping that, at allevents, we might soon find the means of getting away. When, however, wehad abandoned all hopes of landing there, the schooner was once morehauled up close to the wind. We found that she had stood on to clear areef. She stood in under the lee of the land, and hove-to close towhere an opening appeared in the reef. 

Our hearts beat quick, for now we felt certain that something or otherwas going to happen, though nobody had said anything to us. It seemedstrange that we could have lived so long surrounded by ourfellow-creatures, and yet so entirely alone. A boat was lowered. Acask of bread, and another of salted meat, and some hatchets, and a fewold sails, and, indeed, more things than I can here enumerate, were putinto her. The doctor was summoned into the captain's cabin. Heremained a short time, and when he re-appeared he looked happier than hehad done for many days. Jerry and I were then ordered into the boat;the doctor, to our great satisfaction, followed. Old Surley, as may besupposed, would not consent willingly to be left behind, and, watchinghis opportunity, he sprang in after us, and, as if he thought he mightbe carried back again if perceived, immediately hid himself under theseats between our legs. We were delighted to have the old fellow, andtrembled lest the pirates, among some of whom he was a favourite, mightinsist on keeping him. It was with great satisfaction, therefore, thatwe found the boat shoved off from the schooner's side. 

Four of the pirates formed the crew of the boat, and taking the oars, they pulled towards the shore. We did not leave the pirate ship withany regret, though few people would desire to be landed on a desertisland in the middle of the Pacific. Tom Congo, the black cook, was theonly person who wished us good-bye. He was evidently sorry to lose us. We had no means of showing our gratitude to him, except by a few hurriedwords. We saw his good-natured black visage grinning at us over thebulwarks, as we left the vessel's side. Suddenly he started back. There was some violent disturbance on deck. Shouts, and cries, andpistol-shots were heard. The outbreak we had anticipated was takingplace. There was a mutiny. Some of the crew had risen against thecaptain; there could be no doubt about that. Some of the men in theboat wanted to go back to join in the fray, but an old man among themshook his head and said, "No! Let the fools fight it out. When we goback we shall know which side to join. " The rest saw the worldly wisdomof the advice, and calming down their eagerness, they pulled on to theshore. 

We quickly passed through the reef, and the boat grounded on the beach, which we found was composed of broken corals and shells, and rose someten feet out of the water. Had it not been for the disturbance onboard, the boat would probably have returned as soon as the storesintended for our use had been landed; but, as an excuse for remaining, the crew offered to carry them up to any place we might select under thetrees where to pitch a tent. We selected one to leeward of a heap ofcoral, where, several trees also growing close together, some sheltermight be obtained. Near it was a pure spring of water bubbling upthrough the hard rock, and flowing into a basin some five feet indiameter, but of its depth we could not judge. The water was so clearthat, as we looked into it, it appeared but a shallow pool. Jerry, being very thirsty, stooped down to drink from it, and, baring his arm, intended to rest his hand at the bottom to support himself while hestooped over. Down he went on his knees, but he got more water than hehad bargained for. Suddenly over head and heels he went, and wasfloundering about in the pool, which must have been nearly three feetdeep. Sad as was our condition, the doctor and I could not helplaughing heartily at his surprised countenance as he popped his head upagain after his summerset, and we assisted to haul him out. Even thesaturnine pirates joined in the laugh. As the sun was very hot, hisclothes quickly again dried, and he was in no way the worse for hisducking. 

Surley had not mended matters by jumping into the pool and swimmingabout in its cool waters. As soon as he was out, off he set scamperingabout the island, scaring the wild-fowl, whisking his tail, and barkingwith delight at finding himself free after his long imprisonment onboard ship. I felt very much inclined to follow his example, and to runabout after him shouting at the top of my voice. I restrained myself, however, as the state of affairs was too serious to allow me to indulgein any such exuberance of spirits. 

We thanked the pirates, with as good a grace as we could command, forhelping us to carry up the stores. "Oh, no need of thanks, mates, " wasthe answer. "You won't find it very pleasant here, perhaps; but there'smany an honest fellow worse off than you are, and there are not many whocome aboard us who get away as well as you have done. "

We had too much reason to believe this assertion true to hazard a reply. Perhaps Jerry's tumble into the water had put them in good-humour; butwhatever was the cause, they seemed inclined to help us, and volunteeredto assist in cutting down some trees to build our hut, which the canvaswould make tolerably comfortable. While so employed, however, they keptlooking up constantly towards the schooner. 

"I say, Tom, don't you think that there is a chance of her making sail, and leaving us here?" observed one of them to the old pirate TomRoguish. 

"No fear of that, mate, " answered old Tom, shaking his head. "They knowour value too well to do that. I've watched what has been going on forsome time, and it's my belief Silva's party will find that they havemade a mistake. The captain has been too wide awake to be taken bysurprise, depend on that. "

"Hillo! what are they about now?" exclaimed another of the men. Theschooner, which had stood still closer in towards the shore, had loweredanother boat, at the same time firing a gun as a signal to recall theone which had brought us. We all ran down as fast as we could to thespot nearest to her, and we could see that several persons were beinglowered into the boat. 

"Well, good-bye, mates; a pleasant residence to you, " exclaimed old Tom, insisting on shaking hands with us; and then he and his companionsstepped into the boat and shoved off from the shore. We were not sorry, however, to see their no very pleasant visages grow less and lessdistinct, till they were lost in the distance. They stopped rowing asthey passed the other boat, and exchanging a few words, again pulled on. We anxiously watched the approach of the other boat, to ascertain whatit contained. One of the chief mates was steering. Silva, also, to oursurprise, was in the boat. His head was bent down, and, from hisattitude, it appeared as if his hands were lashed behind him. But therewere two other people. We looked, and looked again. "Why, " exclaimedJerry, in a joyful tone, "it's Mr Brand, and no other than Ben Yool!How fortunate! Now we shall go all right. " I at the same time, with noless surprise and satisfaction, recognised my kind cousin and old Ben. Mr McRitchie did not appear to be as surprised as we were. He all thetime, we found, had known that they were on board, but had been directednot to mention it to us. He told us that, as far as he could make out, Silva had been the means of saving the lives of Cousin Silas and Ben, ashe had saved ours, but that the pirates had kept them below, that theymight not discover whereabout they were landed; and, for the samereason, had prevented them communicating with us. Silva had anotherreason also for consenting to this arrangement, for he was afraid thattheir appearance might excite the anger of the pirates, and that theymight perhaps throw us all overboard together. Indeed, it was owing toa happy combination of circumstances that our lives had been spared bythat gang of bloodthirsty and cruel desperadoes. Even now, we were notquite certain that they might not take it into their heads to shoot usall, and we longed to see them making sail and clear away. Theprovisions, however, they had left with us, showed that the intentionsof some of them had been kinder than the conduct of the crew in generalwould have led us to expect. 

The second boat now reached the beach. Silva was assisted out, apparently suffering much pain, and then Cousin Silas and Ben followedwith their limbs at liberty. We ran forward to welcome them, which wedid most warmly, while they seemed very well pleased to meet us. PoorSilva was left, wounded as he was, standing on the beach. Some morecasks and several other things were landed from the boat, and then thecrew, without addressing a word to any of us, shoved off as fast as theycould, and pulled back to the schooner. 

As soon as the pirates were gone, we went up to Silva and asked him whathad occurred. His rage and indignation, added to the pain he wassuffering, almost prevented him from speaking. "Partly because I didnot like to see so much blood shed, and partly because the captain wasjealous of me, he had, I discovered, resolved to get rid of me, " hereplied, stamping on the ground. "I, however, was always on my guard. Many of the people liked me and trusted me, and I got information of allhe intended to do. He, however, it seems, had his spies, who got intothe confidence of some of my people, and the captain saw that we werevery likely to become the strongest party. Some of his allies took theoccasion of your being put on shore to accuse me of having favoured youfor my own ends. Words quickly led to blows. My friends rallied roundme, but some of those I could best trust were sent away in the boat withyou. The captain's party made a rush forward, and, wounded andbleeding, I was seized. They would have killed me at once, but myfriends declared that if I was hurt they would blow up the vessel andall hands together. I doubt if they would have kept their word. However, the captain agreed to spare my life, and to put me on shorewith you, if they would not create any further disturbance. This theyvery quickly agreed to, the cowards, and so, here am I, lately as freeand independent as any of them, left to share the fate of those whoselives they considered it a great favour to have spared. "

"Well, Silva, we will try and make you as comfortable as we can, " saidCousin Silas, taking his arm. "We have a doctor to tend you, which youwould not have had on board; and as we feel fully that through yourinfluence our lives have been preserved, we will do our best to show ourgratitude. " Cousin Silas said this as we were showing the path up tothe spot where we had commenced our hut. 

In one corner we quickly made a bed of leaves and dry grass. Over thiswe spread a piece of canvas, and thus constructed a very good bed, onwhich we placed Silva. Dr McRitchie having examined his wounds, washedthem and bound them up; but he observed that he considered his casesomewhat serious. As soon as this was done, we set to work to cut downsome more trees, so as to increase the dimensions of our habitation. Wewere employed for two entire days in building our hut, for we agreedthat, as we might have to remain a considerable time on the island, andas probably heavy gales might at times prevail, it would be wise toconstruct a habitation which could not easily be blown down. To dothis, to every upright post we put another at a considerable angle, andthen secured our canvas tightly down to it. We also beat heavy lumps ofcoral tight down round the thick ends of the posts, so that it wasscarcely possible for the wind to drag them out of their holes. We hadbeen considerately supplied by Silva with a saw, and hammer, and nails, and other carpenter's tools; and he now most unexpectedly benefited byhis kindness to us, as we were able to put a comfortable shelter overhis head much more rapidly than we could otherwise have done. I needscarcely say that Cousin Silas took the lead in everything. Indeed, Isuspect, without him we should have managed but badly. Whenever ourspirits flagged, he restored them by his resignation and cheerfulness;and he reminded us that although we might think our fate a hard one, weshould be most thankful that we had escaped with our lives from thehands of such bloodthirsty miscreants as Bruno and his associates. 

So busy were we at first, that it was some time before we had anopportunity of inquiring how it was that the pirates had not murderedhim and Ben, when they pulled alongside the schooner. "I believe thatthey were so astonished at seeing two strangers on their deck, notknowing where we had come from, that it did not occur to them to heaveus overboard again. This gave time to Silva, who at once recognised us, to form a scheme for saving our lives. Going up to us, he welcomed usas old comrades, hinting that we had some mysterious powers whichenabled us to go about over the ocean wherever we liked, seated on ourcloaks, or in cocoa-nut shells for aught I know. The pirates on hearingthis, received us in a very friendly way, and all of them swore that noharm should happen to us. However, when we were required to take theoaths of the fraternity, and steadily refused, some of them began tosuspect that Silva had been deceiving them. Our punt alongside showedthat at all events we had not come on board on our cloaks. However, asthey had sworn no harm should come to us, they kept their word, with theintention of landing us, as they have done, on this or some otheruninhabited island. After Silva had lost his authority, I suspect thatour treatment would have been very different to what we found it atfirst. "

"Well, Mr Brand, we are so very glad that you and Ben have escaped. What should we have done without you?" exclaimed Jerry. 

I could do no more than take his hand and wring it warmly. 

"Now, tell us, what do you think we ought to do next?" added Jerry. 

"Make ourselves as happy as we can, and collect everything which willserve us as food, in case we have to make a long sojourn here, which itis, I think, very probable we shall have to do, " replied Mr Brand. "Aship may come off here in a few days or weeks, but we must remember thatperhaps months or years may pass before one is seen. I cannot saywhereabouts we are, but I suspect that the pirates would not have leftus in the usual track of vessels coming north round Cape Horn, or goingeast or west. The next thing we have to do is to strip the branches offthe tallest palm on the island, and make it serve as a flag-staff. We'll then make as large a flag as we can of our handkerchiefs andshirts, and any stuff which will be light enough to fly well. "

We very soon carried out this project, and all of us working away tojoin our handkerchiefs, we had by the next afternoon a big flag flyingfrom what we called our mast-head. 

"Why, we shall turn into regular Robinson Crusoes, if we stay here aslong as you were saying we might have to do, Mr Brand, " observed Jerry, as we were working away at our flag-staff. "I cannot say, however, thatI like the look of this island as much as I did that of Juan Fernandez. If we had our choice, we would rather be there, I should think. "

"Very likely; but as you see, Jerry, we have not our choice, we mustmake up our minds to be content where we are, " answered Mr Brandcheerfully. "Probably, if we were at Juan Fernandez, supposing it stilluninhabited, we should be wishing to be on the mainland. Let us strive, therefore, wherever we are, or whatever happens to us, to be content. Depend on it, we were not placed here by our merciful and all-lovingMaker without an object, though we may never discover it. I do not fora moment mean to say that we are to sit down idly and not to endeavourto improve our condition. We are sent into this world to struggle--thatwe may in a variety of ways be tried--that all our trials may tend toour improvement. What I wish to impress on you, my lads, is, that weshould be contented in every condition in which we are placed; we shouldbe thankful for every step we gain, while our chief aim in life is ourreligious and moral improvement. But remember, above all things, thatwe must always look beyond this world. This is not our abiding-place--this is not even our resting-place--there is no rest here. If we onlystrive for something in this world--however noble, however great theposition--we shall altogether fall short, very short of the aim, theobject of life. "

Mr Brand warmed with his subject, and much more he said of a similarnature, which I will not now repeat. Jerry and I listened veryattentively, and old Ben Yool tried also to take in what he was saying. I think he succeeded, and, certainly, on all occasions after that hebore without a grumble all the hardships to which we were exposed. PoorSilva lay on his bed all this time, suffering much from his wounds, while Mr McRitchie, when he could leave his side, went off with his gunto explore the island, and to search for specimens of its naturalhistory. There was, however, a good deal to be done before we couldaccompany him. First, we had to finish our house, and then to storewithin it all the provisions and articles which the pirates had leftwith us. The doctor had kept his gun, and we had ours, which had beenbrought from the _Dove_, given to us as we left the schooner. Thesefire-arms would have been of no use to us, had not Silva given us a kegof powder and a bag of shot. These treasures we resolved to husbandwith great care, as we knew that we might be placed in positions inwhich our very existence would depend on our having the means of killinggame, or of defending ourselves against enemies. 

"Before we do anything else, we should take an inventory of all wehave, " answered Mr Brand. "We must calculate how long our provisionswill hold out, in the first place, and not imitate the example of manysavages, who eat up all they have got, and then starve. "

This advice was followed. We found that we had provisions for four orfive months; but we hoped to make them last a much longer time, ifnecessary, by eating the birds which swarmed on the island. There werecocoa-nuts and some other fruits, and we hoped also to catch anabundance of fish, which are generally to be found about the reefssurrounding coral islands in the Pacific. Our labours being concluded, we all sat down together on the beach below our habitation, to talk overour prospects. Happy, indeed, was it for us all, that we had a man likeCousin Silas among us, to give us his advice, and to set an example ofpatience and hope, and faith in God's merciful providence, and acheerfulness which nothing could overcloud. Really, after talking withhim for some time, I often felt that our lot was rather to be enviedthan dreaded, and that we were only doomed to undergo a somewhatprolonged picnic. This example and conversation had ultimately a greatinfluence with the doctor, who had been inclined to repine and to becomemorose, looking with gloomy apprehension as to the future. 

A week passed by, and we found ourselves perfectly settled in our newhome. Silva was gaining strength and his wounds were healing, and wewere all in excellent health. The doctor also had almost recovered hisspirits. We began now to take a more extended survey of our island. Wecalculated that it was from ten to fifteen miles from one end to theother, or rather right across; and as it was nearly circular, with alarge lagoon in the centre, we had to walk from thirty to forty miles togo round it. It was about a mile across in most places. The beach wasformed of broken coral and shells, while the upper portion of the landconsisted of the _debris_ of coral, the dung of birds, and vegetableearth. Out of this composition grew tall cocoa-nut trees, and palms, and pandanus trees, besides a variety of shrubs. 

The birds had been partially driven away from the spot where we landedand had been working, but we found them in prodigious numbers a littleway on. Cousin Silas insisted on our tying up old Surley, to preventthe unnecessary destruction which he dealt among them. Beforecommitting any great slaughter among them, Cousin Silas advised us tokill only a few of each description, to ascertain which were the mostpalatable for present consumption, and which were likely to preservebest for future store. Sitting on nests roughly constructed of sticksamong the shrubs, were a number of frigate birds (the _TachypetesAquila_). He is a magnificent fellow, allied in some respect to thecormorant, but with shorter legs, and having a forked tail. His plumageis a rich empurpled black, and the beak, both mandibles of which arecurved at the tips, is red. His wings are of immense length, and hispower of flight is wonderful. He can fish perfectly well for himself, but he is a most irreclaimable pirate, and likes to watch till otherbirds have seized their prey, and then he drops down upon them andcarries it away. Sailors also call them men-of-war birds, but I thinkthey ought to be called pirates. We looked into their nests, and foundonly one egg in each. 

While sitting down taking our luncheon, we observed a snake crawlingalong out of the grass, and wriggling his way towards the sea. For whathe went there I do not know. He had better have kept away. Just as hegot below high-water mark, out darted from the crevice of a rock a hugecrab, and seized him by the nape of the neck. The snake wriggled, andtwisted, and tried to free himself in vain. Mr Crab held tight hold ofhim, and seemed resolved to eat him up. Poor Snakie tried to get histail round a bit of rock, to keep himself out of the water; but Crabiepulled and hauled, and, in spite of all resistance, got him down to thevery edge of the water, knowing that when once under it his struggleswould very soon cease. Crabs have, however, to learn the lesson thatthere is many a slip between the catch and the feast. A frigate birdhad from afar espied the combat, and, flying like a flash of lightning, downward he darted and seized the snake by the back. The voracious crabheld on, not liking to lose his prey, till he found himself borneupwards from the ground, and in unpleasant propinquity to the frigatebird's sharp beak. He must have felt that if he did not let go at once, he would be dashed to pieces; still, as a miser clutches his bags ofgold, did Mr Crab the snake. Fortunately for him, the frigate bird hadflown seaward, so that when he did let go, he fell into the water, and, probably, however his temper might have suffered, he was not much theworse for the ducking. Had he fallen on the rock, he would inevitablyhave had his shell broken, and would himself have become the prey of thepirate. 

There were also sooty terns and gannets. It was interesting to watchthe careful way in which the latter guarded their eggs, placed in holeson the ground. Wishing to make their offspring hardy, they do not buildnests for them, I suppose; or, perhaps, the warmth of the rock assiststhe process of incubation. 

There were probably a greater number of tropic birds than of any others. They would not got out of our way as we walked along, allowing us toshove them over rather than move. We literally also took their eggsfrom under them, without their attempting to make any defence. Thisapathy, as we called it, we thought arose from stupidity, but the doctorexamined one of them, and showed us how weak its legs were, while itsfeet were adapted only for swimming. Its wings, however, were very longand powerful. Therefore, had it been up in the air, or skimming alongover the summit of the waves, it would probably have acted in a verydifferent way. "Never judge of people till you know the sphere of lifein which they have been accustomed to move, " remarked the doctor. "Areally sensible, clever man, may appear very stupid and dull, just asthese poor birds do, simply because he is out of his element. "

The tropic bird is a species of gull, about the size of a partridge. Ithas a red bill and legs. The feathers are white, tipped with black, andthe back is variegated with curved lines of black. The tail consists oftwo long, straight, narrow feathers, almost of equal breadth duringtheir whole length. Their flight is most graceful--they glide alongwith scarcely any perceptible motion of the wing. They return everynight to roost on land. They live entirely on fish. The natives of theSouth Sea Islands ornament their persons with their feathers. We saw anumber of snakes, but none of them attempted to bite us; and the doctorsaid from their appearance that he did not believe them to be of avenomous character. Whenever we went near the water among the rocks, wesaw large fish darting about, of every colour and shape; huge, long eelsgliding in and out between the rocks, and fierce, voracious sharkspursuing their prey. 

There were a great variety of molluscs; indeed, the whole shore wascomposed of shells. We naturally thought that the shells were empty;but as we watched them, thousands of them began to move, each tenantedby a soldier-crab, and a whole army of them slowly advanced out of thesea and marched across the land, devouring all the insects theyencountered in their progress. Now and then two of them would stop andhave a fight over a beetle or a spider, when perhaps a third would stepup and carry off the cause of dispute. We found the spiders' websstretching in every direction between the bushes. The spidersthemselves were great, ugly, black fellows, very disagreeable to lookat, and still more unpleasant when we found them crawling over ourfaces. 

I wish that I could describe the variety of shrubs we found on theisland. Many were evergreens. One, which the doctor called thesuriana, emitted a peculiarly strong, though not unpleasant odour. Weused to be very glad, when the rays of the sun came down fiercely on ourheads, to take shelter under these trees, and to rest during our longjourneys from one end of our dominion to the other. 

We in a short time were acquainted with nearly every portion of theisland. Our habitation was about ten miles from the entrance to thelagoon, so that in one direction we were able to travel twenty miles, when we arrived at the termination of that part of the circle; and bygoing the other way, ten miles brought us to the end of the other. Thepassage into the lagoon was probably the eighth of a mile broad. 

One day Jerry and I set off, he taking the shorter distance and I thelong way, that we might have the pleasure of looking at each otheracross the passage. I do not know that we had any better reason. Accompanied by old Surley, I set off by daybreak, as over such roughground it was difficult to make good more than two miles an hour. Itwas therefore the evening when I got there. I looked eagerly across thechannel. There stood Jerry, shouting and beckoning to me. I shouted tohim, and made all sorts of signals expressive of my delight at seeinghim. 

After we had played these sorts of antics for some time, I began toconsider that it would be rather tiresome to have to walk all the wayback by myself, and that either I must go across to Jerry, or get him tocome over to me. I was the best swimmer, so I resolved to go over tohim. I made signs that I would do so, and he signified that he was veryglad to hear it. Old Surley seemed as pleased as I was at seeing Jerry, and leaped and bounded about, barking every now and then, after his ownfashion, to show his satisfaction. Two or three times he ran down tothe water, as if he intended to plunge in and to swim across; and eachtime he came back whining and looking up in my face, as if he hadthought it would be wiser not to venture in. I had good reasonafterwards to admire the instinct which prompted him to refrain fromdoing what he evidently wished to do. 

I had my gun with me, as well as some provisions, which, of course, Idid not wish to wet; and so I had to consider how I could get them overdry. A raft was the only means, but I reflected that it might provesomewhat difficult to tow. Still, I did not like to be beat, so I madesigns to Jerry what I was going to do. With a hatchet which I carriedin my belt, and with which I had provided myself to make an arbour forthe night, I soon cut down wood enough to form a raft which would carryall my things, including my clothes; and I had a line in my pocketstrong enough to tow it along. 

All was ready; I launched my raft, and was loading it with my property, when my eye caught sight of a shoal of fish darting up through thepassage, followed by a black, triangular fin, which I quickly recognisedas that of a huge shark. I saw the horrid monster overtake and gobbleup some of the fugitives, and then quietly come back, as it appeared, toswim sentry at the entrance of the lagoon. Perhaps he knew that thefish would make an attempt to get out again the same way. Be that as itmay, I felt no inclination to encounter the gentleman. 

When Jerry at length discovered the cause of my hesitation, he madesigns entreating me to go back rather than to endeavour to cross, as Iproposed. Still, I did not like to be driven back, even by a shark. Imade signs that I would make a raft for myself. There were plenty ofmaterials, the work would not take long, and it would be a triumph tohave overcome a difficulty. I thought the idea a very bright one; so Iat once set to work to build a raft large enough to carry me across thechannel. Jerry tried to make me understand something or other; but Iwas so absorbed with my own idea and the work on which I was engaged, that I could not make out the meaning he wished to convey. While I wasworking, old Surley looked on very attentively, as if he wanted to helpme, and fully understood what I was about. 

I had built the raft close down to the water; but even so, I hadconsiderable difficulty in getting it afloat. I succeeded, however, inso doing at last, by means of a long piece of wood, which served me as ahandspike. Just as I was going to step on it, I fortunately saw thebranch of a tree floating by out to sea, at a rate which showed me thatI might very possibly be carried away by the current before I could getacross. I therefore converted my neckcloth and pocket-handkerchief intoa tow-rope, and towed the raft inside the lagoon. I had made myself twostrong paddles--one to serve in case the other should break. At last Ireached a point where I thought I might embark with safety. Surley, whohad before hesitated, now came and placed himself by me. I had put onmy shirt again, but the rest of my things were on the small raft. Igave my raft a desperate shove, and away I went, paddling as hard as Icould up the lagoon. 

I thought that I had gone far enough, and was in a hurry to get across, so I began to direct my course athwart the current. At first I madegreat progress, and laughed and shouted at the idea of thus easilyaccomplishing my undertaking. When, however, I turned my head over myshoulder, I found to my dismay that I had not got so far from the shorewhence I started as I had fancied, while I was still a long way fromthat on which Jerry stood, eager to welcome me. I plied my paddle withall my might; but I appeared to make very little progress, and thecurrent was evidently carrying me rapidly down the passage. I lookedseaward: I had ample cause for anxiety, if not for dismay. A long lineof huge breakers was rolling in on an outer reef, while the passagebetween them was so narrow that I scarcely hoped that the raft could becarried through it; and if it was, where was I to go? Out to sea, to bestarved to death! If, on the other hand, I was thrown among thebreakers, I felt certain that I should soon become the prey of thehungry shark I had just seen swimming after the shoal of fish. Thesereflections gave strength to my arm, and made me paddle away even fasterthan before. 

Jerry full well understood my clanger, and I saw him wringing his handsin his anxiety; yet he saw that he could do nothing to help me. I feltthat I had been very foolish; and the poignancy of my regret washeightened when I remembered that I had placed myself in my presentpredicament without any necessity or an adequate object. I had littletime, I own, to indulge in such reflections, for all my thoughts andfeelings were soon engrossed with the danger which immediatelythreatened me. Jerry ran along the shore as I was carried by, in vainstretching out his arms as if he would help me. Old Surley sat still, only now and then uttering a low whine, as if well aware of our peril, but feeling that he was unable to render me aid. Now and then he lookedinto the water, as if he would like to swim ashore, which he mightpossibly have done; but then, perhaps, he remembered the shark he hadseen, or he was unwilling to desert me. I truly believe that it was thelatter cause made him remain so quiet by my side. I am certain, fromthe expression of his countenance and the turn of his head, that he wasfully aware of our danger. 

I paddled and paddled away with all my might, all the time facing theshore, and getting nearer to it, but at the same time gliding downseaward. I was about a hundred yards from the shore. I looked towardsthe angry breakers, and was not more than twice that distance from themouth of the channel. In a small boat there would have been no danger, but I found my raft a very heavy thing to move. I put still greaterforce into my strokes. My paddle snapped in two. Jerry uttered a cryof despair, for he thought I must now inevitably be lost. I seized thespare paddle, and flourishing it above my head, began to ply it as I haddone the first. I made some progress, but not sufficient, I feared, toattain my object. I was approaching the last point. Jerry ran out tothe end of it, and rushed into the water up to his arm-pits, hoping tostop the raft. I shouted to him to go back; for at that moment I sawclose to me the fin of a monster shark. The savage fish darted ontowards him, and he was barely in time to escape his ravenous jaws byspringing into shallow water. Had he caught hold of the raft, I sawthat he would be lifted off his legs, and carried away with me. Still Ihoped to get within his reach where he stood. But vain was the wish: Idrifted past the point. What hope had I now of being preserved? I feltinclined to throw away my paddle, and to give myself up to despair. ButI aroused myself. I bethought me how Cousin Silas would have behavedunder similar circumstances. I prayed for strength and courage to Himwho is alone able to give them to those in deep distress. He heard me, or I should not be alive to tell my tale. Again I seized my paddle, andplied it with all my might. Still I drifted towards the roaringbreakers. I vividly pictured the horrid fate which awaited me. Iscarcely dared look seaward. I kept my eye on the shore, paddlingwithout intermission. Suddenly I felt the raft arrested in its progresstowards the breakers. It was partly whirled round, and I found itgliding parallel with the shore. This encouraged me; hope once morerevived. I directed the raft towards the shore. I saw Jerry waving hishands with joy; he was answered by a cheerful bark from Surley. I gotnearer and nearer. Oh, how thankful I felt when I found the blade of mypaddle grasped by Jerry, and was towed by him safely to the shore! OldSurley sprang off on to dry ground, and began leaping up and lickingJerry's cheeks and hands, to show his gratitude. Jerry and I hauled upthe raft, with its little tender, and landed my things; and then, overcome with fatigue and the revulsion of feeling which I experienced, I fainted. I very soon, however, recovered, and kneeling down, joinedby Jerry, I returned my heartfelt thanks to Him whose arm I knew mostcertainly had saved me. Afterwards I dressed; and sitting down, we madea supper from some of the provisions we had brought with us. 

We had lost so much time that it was impossible to get back to ourcompanions that night; so we set to work to prepare a hut and bed forourselves before we were overtaken by the darkness, which comes on sorapidly in those latitudes. We were not long in constructing a bowerand in raising a platform, under and on which we might sleep secure fromthe attacks of the snakes and other crawling things which abounded; butnight came down on us before our work was quite completed. However, free from all fear of savages or wild beasts, we lay down, and were soonasleep. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

OUR RESIDENCE ON THE ISLAND. 

Our journey back appeared very long, for I was weak and tired, and fromthe exertion I had undergone, every muscle in my body ached. We metCousin Silas coming to look for us; for he had become anxious at notseeing Jerry return at all events, and feared something might havehappened to us. Ben Yool had set off in the other direction to searchfor me. Therefore, instead of gaining a great deal of credit, as weexpected, by the feat we had accomplished, we found that we had causedour friends no little trouble and anxiety. It was a lesson to me everafterwards not to attempt to perform any useless undertaking simplybecause it might be difficult or dangerous. Many people have lost theirlives by such folly. 

Silva had by this time completely recovered his health, but his spiritswere very uncertain. Sometimes he would sit for hours brooding over hispast life, and the treatment he had received from his companions; thenhe would start up and walk about the beach, waving his arms, and callingdown imprecations on their heads. At other times he was very quiet andsociable, and would talk rationally on any subject under discussion. 

The lagoon swarmed with fish; but though very beautiful in appearance, our difficulty was to catch them. We could manage to make some coarselines out of some rope-yarns which had been thrown into the boat withthe canvas; we could cut rods from the younger trees which grew around;and there were plenty of projecting masses of rock on which we might sitand angle; but a very important portion of our gear was wanting--we hadno fishing-hooks. 

"Has any one a file?" asked Silva. We all examined our knives. I hadone in my knife-handle, but it was broken, and I had neglected to getthe blacksmith to put a new one in its place. We hunted eagerly in ourbox of tools. Nothing like a file could we discover. 

"What is this?" exclaimed Jerry, pulling out a bag of nails from thebottom of a cask. "Here is something larger than a nail inside. " Itproved to be part of a file. 

"There is enough here to file through an iron bar, if properly used, "said Silva, examining it. "Hand me the nails; I will see what I cando. " Seating himself under the shade of a cocoa-nut tree near the hut, he began working away most assiduously. With a pair of pincers hetwisted the nail into the shape of a hook, and very soon filed, out abarb, and some notches in the shank with which to secure the line. Inthe course of two or three hours he had produced a dozen capital hooks. "Now we may go fishing, " said he. "We may catch as many fish as we canwant, but we should be the better of a canoe. "

"Or a raft, eh, Harry? Should you like to try another cruise on one?"asked Jerry. 

I shuddered at the thought of the danger from which I had beenpreserved. However, as we all felt that our health would benefit bysome fish diet, we soon had our gear fitted, and all hands, includingthe doctor, might be seen perched, like so many cormorants, at the endof all the projecting points in the neighbourhood. Jerry and I werenear each other; the rest of the party were pulling in fish prettyquickly; and we had caught several very beautiful-looking fellows--aspecies of rock-fish--when Jerry sang out that he had got a bite of somebig fish, and called to me to help him. Leaving my own rod, I ran roundtowards him. 

"Quick, quick, Harry!" he sung out, holding on by his rod with all hismight. "I shall be in! I shall be in!"

Still he would not let go his stick. I sprang forward, and was just intime to seize him by the leg, when over he went splash into the sea. Atthe same instant I caught sight of the malign countenance of a hugeshark, which had undoubtedly caught the fish he had at first hooked. Iexerted all my strength to haul him in; for the monster, instead ofbeing intimidated by the splash, made a dash forward for the purpose ofgrabbing him. I almost shrieked with horror as I beheld the savagefish; but Jerry had just time, as I drew him up by the legs, to put hishand on a point of coral, and to throw back his head, though the shark'ssnout almost touched his nose as he did so. 

"Not a pleasant fellow to get a kiss from, " exclaimed Jerry, as hescrambled up the rock and shook off the water from his clothes. Then headded, in a more serious tone, "Oh, Harry, what an ungrateful wretch Iam to be joking at such a moment, before I have expressed my gratitudeto God who has preserved me, or thanked you for coming to myassistance. "

While on the island we had had more time than usual for reflection, andhad profited also by the example and exhortations of Cousin Silas, sothat we were both happily becoming much more serious and thoughtful thanheretofore. Indeed, I have learned that what we consider misfortunes, if seen in their proper light, may become the cause of the greatestblessings. 

Ben Yool had seen the accident from a distance, and now came hurrying upto us. He was inclined to scold Jerry for the fright he had given him. I believe truly that the old man loved us as much as if we had been hisown sons, and would have been miserable had any accident happened toeither of us. 

On examining the fish we had caught, we found that, although verybeautiful in appearance, few of them were likely to prove palatable tothe taste. Some, Silva thought, were altogether poisonous; and those wecooked had very little flavour. 

"If we had but a canoe we might go off into deeper water, and then wemight catch a greater variety, and many fish very fit for food, " heremarked, eyeing as he spoke several trees which, he said, would makegood canoes. One or more canoes we accordingly resolved to have; so atonce we set to work to cut down a couple of trees. That operation ouraxes quickly accomplished. It did not take us long to fashion theoutside. To scoop out the inside was more difficult. Our axes did therougher portion, and then we heated stones and bits of iron, and burnedout the remainder, scraping off the black part with our knives. Inabout a week we had a couple of small canoes completed, with seatsacross, and with three paddles in each. Silva took charge of one, Cousin Silas of the other. The doctor and I went with him, while Benand Jerry accompanied Silva. 

With no little satisfaction we launched our fleet into the lagoon. Bothcanoes swam very well, and off we paddled with great delight across thelagoon. How bright and clear were its waters! It was almost impossibleto estimate their depth, we could so completely see down to the bottom. After pulling some time, we rested on our oars. As we looked over theside, how beautiful was the sight which met our view! It was like afairy land. Coral rocks of the most fantastic shapes sprung up around. Caverns, and arches, and columns, and pinnacles appeared. Gorgeous andvaried were the hues. There were white, and blue, and yellowcorallines. Among them grew marine vegetables of every description. Here the delicate sea-green stem of the fucas twisted round a rock; andnear it the ocean fan expanded its broad leaves. Every point wasoccupied by some feathery tuft of lovely tints, while from each cleftprojected the feelers of some sea-anemone or zoophyte. Among theheights of the submarine landscape moved thousands of living beings, towhich the doctor gave some learned names which I do not pretend toremember. Some he called chetodons. They were flat and of an ovalform, of a rich silvery hue, and had blue stripes downwards. They swamin a perpendicular position, with one long, slender fin from the backcurving upwards, and another from the opposite side curving downwards. Several came and looked at us, as if to inquire why we had visited theirdomains. Others of still more curious forms and tints were darting inand out among the rocks; and there were huge lobsters, and crabs, andcrayfish, of various sorts, poking their long antenna? out of gloomycaverns; and sea-urchins, and star-fish, and the beche-de-mer, layscattered about; while huge clams opened wide their broad valves tocatch their unwary prey. 

While we were all looking over the side, what had hitherto appeared tobe a huge piece of rock began to move, and the piercing, savage eyes, and cruel jaws of a vast shark approached the canoe. I felt a shudderrun through my frame as I saw the monster darting out of his ambush. "Give way!" cried Cousin Silas; "he means mischief. " The doctor and Iplied our paddles. The brute made a dash at mine, and almost bit it intwo. Away we went as fast as we could towards the shore, pursued byhim. We shouted as loud as we could and splashed our oars about, tofrighten him away; but he seemed in no way disposed to be alarmed. Silva, hearing our shouts, now came paddling toward us. Jack Shark, however, seemed resolved to play us a trick if he could. Swimming offto a short distance, he darted back, clearly with the intention ofupsetting the canoe. Cousin Silas turned her away from him just intime, and giving the gentleman a smart blow over the snout, made himthink better of his intention. Silva coming up at the same moment, sodistracted his attention that we reached the shore without hissucceeding in doing us any material damage. 

Sharks are generally quickly frightened by splashing and a noise, and Ihad never seen any so bold and ferocious as those we met with about thisisland. In a little time we got accustomed to them, and often have Iseen them gliding in and out among our lines, far down in the depths ofthe lagoon, though they did not prevent us from catching as many fish aswe required. Sometimes, however, as we were hauling up a fish, a sharkwould catch hold of it and deprive us of our prize. We never went outwithout catching a large quantity, so we had always a good supply offresh fish--the rest we preserved. We had two ways of doing this. Somewe cut open and dried in the sun; others we salted. We made somesalt-pans by blocking up the outlets in the rocks when the water ran offat high tide, and by scraping others in the sand. We thus had a supplyof salt for all our wants. Mr McRitchie also found in his chest somepapers containing a variety of vegetable seed. We accordingly scraped aspot clear for a vegetable garden, and it was surprising how quicklymany of them sprang up and became fit for food. Thus I may say that wewere furnished with many of the necessaries of life. 

We were somewhat scantily supplied with kitchen utensils; our saucepan, or boiling-pot, especially, had seen much service. Silva showed us howwe might boil our fish without it. He collected a quantity of very finegrass, and set to work to plait a large basket. So neatly did he put ittogether, that, after he had soaked it in water, he filled it up to thebrim and not a drop ran out. Then he put the fish in; and lighting afire, heated a number of large stones. These, as soon as they were hot, he kept putting into the basket. As soon as he supposed that all theircaloric had left them, he hooked them out with a forked stick. In thisway, by keeping the water boiling by a constant supply of hot stones, hethoroughly cooked the fish. I should think anything which does notrequire much boiling might be cooked in the same way. 

Thanks to the example set us by Mr Brand, we were never idle. Ofcourse a good deal of our time was occupied in procuring provisions, asis generally the case with those living in a savage state. We had notmade any excursion to a distance for some time, when one day Jerry, Ben, and I, set out to take a long walk. After proceeding for about twohours, we saw before us a bay, with a wide sandy beach. Ben put hishand on our shoulders and pointed eagerly at the bay. The shore wascovered with a number of black spots. 

"What are those?" I asked. 

"Turtle, " he answered; "won't we have a fine feast of, them!"

We approached the bay carefully, following Ben's footsteps. There musthave been a hundred fine, large, green turtle, basking in the sun beforeus--enough to make the mouth of an alderman water. Ben crept up to thenearest, a fine fat fellow, and catching him by the flapper turned himover on his back, where he lay helplessly kicking, but unable to stir. Jerry and I, watching how he did it, turned over several more, thoughour united strength only enabled us to do it. We had got over a dozenor more when we came to a big fellow who was too heavy for us. We hadgot him almost over, when down he came again on his belly, and, verynaturally, not appreciating the honour of being turned into turtle-soup, began scuttling away as hard as he could towards the sea. As may havebeen discovered, neither Jerry nor I were fellows who ever liked to givein; so we held on to the turtle with all our might, every now and thenlifting up one side in the hope of getting him over, when, in spite ofhis strength, we should have made him ours. We shouted to Ben to comeand help us; but he was busily employed in turning the other turtles, which, disturbed by our noise, were moving away towards the sea. Ourfriend had got actually into the sea, and we still clung on though wewere up to our middles in water. We thought that by sticking to him wemight now more easily get him over. We did succeed in lifting him up alittle way, but he dealt us such severe blows with his flapper that overwe both went, getting our mouths full of sand and water, and, of course, wet to the skin. Ben now saw that it was time to come to our aid, lestthe turtle should actually swim away with us. He rushed into the water;but just then our friend struck out with both his paddles, and dartingaway, we fell back head over heels, nor were sorry when Ben helped us toregain _terra firma_, with our arms and legs not a little bruised withthe blows we had received. 

We had no time to think of our hurts. "Come along, " shouted Ben, "wemust turn a few more before they all go away. " We had succeeded, wefound, in capturing nearly thirty. Leaving the poor brutes on theirbacks--and very uncomfortable they must have found themselves--wehurried back to get the canoes, that we might convey some of themwithout delay to our home. We found that each canoe could only carrythree at a time, so that we had to make five or six trips to get them upto the house. We inclosed a place in the shade, where we put them, andkept them well supplied with wet sea-weed, so that we had hopes theywould be preserved in good condition for a long time. 

Each time we visited the bay, we found it crowded with turtle. Wediscovered that they assembled there to deposit their eggs. This theydo in holes which they dig out with their flappers in the sand. Theycover them up again with the same instruments, and leave them to behatched by the sun. We had not thought about this, when one day, as wewere pulling across the bay in our canoe, we remarked the great numberof sharks, and dog-fish, and sting-rays swimming about. Presently, aswe got close in with the shore, we saw a number of young turtle crawlingout of the sand and making their way to the sea, expecting, of course, to enjoy a pleasant swim; instead of which, a very large number of thepoor little innocents must have been gobbled up by the voraciousmonsters. It would seem as if none could escape, but I suppose thatsome manage to run the gauntlet and to get clear off into deep water. 

We had now a supply of turtle sufficient to last us till the return oftheir brethren the next year, should we be kept on the island so long. We thought that very probably we might have to remain even longer than ayear. Even four or five years might pass without a ship coming near us. 

We had made steps up to the top of our flag-staff, and one of us neverfailed to climb up there every morning, noon, and evening, to take alook round to see if any sail was in sight. Sometimes we talked ofbuilding a canoe in which we might cross to some other island, orperhaps even reach the mainland of South America. This was Silva'sproposal. He had seen, he asserted, birds flying in that direction. Some did not even stop on our island; and this circumstance convincedhim, he said, that land could not be far-off. Mr Brand did not approveof this proposal. He said that, without a compass, and without knowingthe direction in which land was to be found, the experiment was toohazardous, in so frail a bark as we had it in our power to construct. Still Silva constantly harped on this subject, and seemed quite angrywhen nobody seemed inclined to make the attempt. 

Weeks and months rolled on. Silva used to listen to what Mr Brand saidto him, and he always behaved very well. Indeed, we had ceased toremember that he had been a pirate, and had joined in the most atrociousmurders; still, I do not know that he was a changed man--I am afraidnot; that is to say, I am afraid had a piratical vessel come off theisland, he would not have refused to join her. One very hot day Jerryand I had accompanied him in an excursion along the shore, when suddenlyhe said that he should like to bathe. We walked on a little further, leaving him to undress, and then we agreed that the water looked verytempting, and that we would bathe also. We were by this time at somelittle distance from him. We were partly undressed when we saw that thetide was rising, so we carried our things higher up the beach. 

"If it were not for those horrid sharks, I should like to have a goodlong swim, " exclaimed Jerry. 

"But those sharks are quite sufficient reason why we should not attemptanything of the sort, " I remarked. "Here, I think, we are pretty safe;but we must keep our eyes about us, depend on that. " We were inside areef where sharks were unable to come. 

While we were speaking, we observed Silva walk slowly into the water, and we thought he was going to stoop down and swim off. First, he put afoot forward, then he placed the other near it, and seemed to be tryingto lift them up; and then he put an arm down, and then another. We, notthinking of danger, ran into the water and swam about for some time, enjoying ourselves excessively. When we came out we looked for Silva;he was nowhere to be seen. What had become of him? We dressed as fastas we could, and ran along the beach to the spot where he had been. There were his clothes, but there was no other trace of him. Weshouted, but we shouted in vain. Much alarmed, we ran back to thesettlement, as we called our hut, to get Cousin Silas or Ben toaccompany us in our search for him. Mr Brand had gone in an oppositedirection, but, after waiting some time, Ben Yool came in. After he hadheard our account he launched the canoe, and all three of us set offalong the coast to the spot where Silva had last been seen. As we gotnear it we saw the doctor, and hailing him, told him what had occurred. Silva's clothes showed us exactly where to look for him, though, believing that a shark had carried him off, we had little hopes offinding his body. As we were pulling in quite close to the shore, Benexclaimed, "Why, there he is, poor fellow, moored head and stern! Whatcan have got hold of him?" We called the doctor to come and see; andJerry jumping on shore, gave up his place to him in the canoe. When thedoctor, got over the spot, after a short examination he exclaimed, "Why, it is a monster cephalopod--a squid, a horrid polypus has got hold ofhim. Poor fellow, what a dreadful death to die! There can be no doubthow it happened. He must have stepped on the squid, which caught holdof him with its long and powerful tentaculas, and gradually infoldinghim in its dreadful embrace, dragged him under the water. What strengththe creature must have! for Silva was a very strong man, and would noteasily have given in. " Thus the doctor went on lecturing on the polypusover the dead body of our late companion--his love of natural historymaking him for the moment almost forget the horrors of the scene. Howto rescue the body from the grasp of the monster was our nextconsideration. Returning on shore, we cut some long sticks, intendingto attack him with them. Again we launched the canoe, but when wereached the spot the squid and the body of the pirate had disappeared. 

This dreadful catastrophe had a great effect on me. Mr Brand also wasvery much grieved when we got back and told him of what had occurred. When one out of a small number, cut off as we were from the rest of ourfellow-creatures, is taken away, the loss must always be much felt. Itwas many days before we recovered our spirits. When I thought of thesharks, and the dog-fish, and these still more horrid polypi, I couldnot help feeling as if we were on an enchanted island, surrounded byterrific monsters to prevent our escape. 

As time wore on, even Mr Brand began to talk of the possibility ofbuilding a canoe in which we might endeavour to get away. One greatdifficulty seemed to be that of carrying a sufficient quantity of waterand fuel with which to cook our food. Of provisions we had an amplesupply. Jerry proposed filling all the cocoa-nuts we could collect withwater. The idea did not seem a bad one; but the first thing to be donewas to get our canoe built. 

We all the time kept a constant look-out from our flag-staff head. Oneforenoon I was up there as usual, when I thought I saw a speck on thewater. It grew larger and larger. I watched it eagerly, till I sawthat it was a canoe with a large sail. It was approaching the island ata point a mile or so from the house. I hailed to say what I had seen, and advised my friends to get our arms ready, that we might be able todefend ourselves should the strangers come as enemies. Mr Brand toldme to come down. He then went up, and, after watching the craft forsome time, pronounced her to be a large double canoe, and probably fullof people. On his coming down, a council of war was held. As we couldnot tell what sort of savages those on board the canoe might be, weagreed that it would be wise to be prepared, if necessary, to meet themas enemies. Accordingly, we put ourselves under Mr Brand's orders. Hetook the musket, and Jerry and I were armed with our fowling-pieces--Benand the doctor providing themselves with hatchets and knives and longpointed sticks. Thus prepared, we hastily advanced towards the spot forwhich the canoe was making. That we might not be seen, we keptourselves under cover of the trees and shrubs, or ran along a path onthe lagoon side of the island. 

We reached a good place for concealment behind some rocks and thickbushes before the canoe came to land, so that we had plenty of time toexamine her. She was, as Mr Brand had before discovered, a largedouble canoe--that is to say, there were two canoes secured side toside, and sharp at both ends. I afterwards had an opportunity ofmeasuring her. Each canoe was upwards of thirty feet long, and of fullythree feet beam; and as they were about two feet apart, with a platformbetween them, the whole structure was about nine feet across. Each wasalso between three and four feet deep, so that she had considerable holdin the water, and was able to carry a large supply of provisions. Eachend was fitted for a rudder, so that she could sail either way withouttacking. The canoes were completely decked over, thus affording a cabinto their crews, and the means of preserving their cargo from damage. This also enabled the craft to go through very heavy seas withoutfoundering. This canoe, however, was only half the size of the largedouble canoes of the Fejee and Tonga islanders, which are often ahundred feet long, and proportionably deep and wide. 

Meantime we were watching with deep interest the approach of thestrangers, expecting any moment we might be called on to engage indeadly conflict with them, should they discover us and be inclined forwar. Cousin Silas had, however, charged us on no account to commencehostilities till it was evident that they would not allow us to retainpeaceable possession of our island. As they drew near they loweredtheir large mat sail, and took to their paddles. We held our breathwith anxiety, for we could count nearly forty people on board the canoe. Besides the men, there were both women and children. The men weretall, fine-looking fellows; some had on turbans and cloaks, and all hadwide kilts of native cloth, and the women were decently habited inpetticoats. We observed among them spears, and bows and arrows, and twoor three muskets, which they held up conspicuously above their heads. As they approached the shore they looked about, apparently to discoverany signs of inhabitants. Perhaps their quick sight had shown them ourhut and flag-staff. On they came. They passed the passage through thereef, and running the canoe on to the smooth sand, both men and womenleaped out, and began to haul her up on the beach. Now was the time toappear before them, and to attack them if they gave signs of hostility;but just as we were going to rush out to take them by surprise, they hadhauled up their canoe sufficiently high to prevent the possibility ofher drifting away, and then one and all, climbing up the beach, felldown on their knees, lifting up their hands and bursting forth into ahymn of praise. There could be no doubt about it; the words werestrange to our ears, but the tune was one well-known to us all. Thenone--the eldest of the party--uttered a prayer in a deep and solemnvoice, all the rest joining afterwards in a response. About that, also, there could be no doubt. 

Savages though they might seem, they were evidently Christians, andthough we might not be able to understand each other's language, theywould receive us in the bond of brotherhood. We all, I doubt not, feltashamed of our previous suspicions; though, to be sure, the precautionswe had taken were very right and just. At a sign from Cousin Silas, weadvanced slowly from our ambush, and, kneeling down at a little distancefrom them, joined them in the tune of the last hymn they sang. Theylooked surprised, but no one moved till the hymn was over; and then theygot up, and, advancing fearlessly towards us, we shook hands cordiallyall round. 

On a nearer inspection, we saw by their emaciated looks and the batteredcondition of their canoe that they must have undergone much hardship. Perhaps they thought us rather a rough set for Englishmen, for ourclothes were somewhat tattered, and Mr Brand's and the doctor's, andBen's beards, whiskers, and moustaches were of considerable length, andnot a little tangled. 

After some experiments, we found that one of the men could speak alittle English, but we failed to get out of him an account of theirhistory. We were, however, able to explain to them that, if they wouldaccompany us, we would supply them with food, water, and shelter, ofwhich they evidently stood much in need. We first assisted them inhauling their canoe still further up the beach, so that she could notdrift off again at the top of high-water; and then we all commenced ourjourney to our house. Many of the poor creatures were very weak andill; and it was interesting to see Ben carrying a baby in each arm, andhelping along the mothers at the same time. We all did the same, buthis way was more remarkable. He would talk to the poor women, andencourage him by his tone, if not by his words; and then he would kissthe children, and dance them, and sing, and whistle, and chirp to them, greatly to the delight of the little creatures, and, I have no doubt, tothat of their mothers also. 

When we reached our settlement, we made up beds for the mostsickly-looking, and the doctor, examining them, administered somerestoratives. While he was doing so, we got fires lighted, and puttingall our pots, and pans, and cooking-baskets into requisition, we soonhad fish frying and boiling, and turtle stewing, and bread-fruit andvarious roots baking; indeed, the eyes of the poor creatures glistened--as well they might--with the anticipated feast. The doctor, seeingtheir eagerness, warned us to take care that they did not eat too muchat a time; and, to prevent their doing so, assisted in serving out asmall share only to each. To the invalids and children he only gave atfirst a few spoonfuls of turtle-soup; but that had a great effect inreviving them. The people seemed to comprehend clearly the reason whywe gave them only a small quantity. Hungry as they were, before any onewould touch the food, one of the elders stood up and, spreading out hishands, uttered a grace over it, in which the rest joined, evidently withpious sincerity. I could not help thinking to myself, How differentlydo these poor Christian savages, as they may be called, act to whatwould be the case with many civilised Christians under similarcircumstances! The prayers of these poor people are undoubtedlyacceptable to the all-loving God, who bestows his bounteous gifts withso lavish a hand on us his unworthy creatures; but what can we say ofthe hurried, scarcely muttered ejaculations to which the master of manya house in civilised England gives vent, as if afraid, in the presenceof his polished guests--miserable worms like himself--of uttering a wordof thanksgiving to the great Dispenser of all the blessings bestowed onhim? Should a bishop, or some high dignitary of the church, be present, then perhaps, in an ostentatious tone, he is requested to ask a blessingon the banquet; and grace for once is uttered in an audible voice. Farbe it from me to say that this is always the case, but who can deny thatit is too often so? My young friends, I have learned many things in myvoyage round the world, and this matter among others from thosemissionary, taught savages. Grace being said, they quietly partook ofthe provisions set before them, and though the eyes of some of theyounger ones wandered towards the pots and the fire, no one even askedfor more than we gave them. 

When they had eaten, we made signs for them to lie down and rest. Thisthey did with the most perfect confidence, as if not the shade of anysuspicion of treachery crossed their minds. Some were suffering fromsores and ulcers, brought on by constant exposure and wet, and to thesethe doctor at once attended with evident solicitude; which, it wasclear, completely won their hearts. We watched over them carefullywhile they slept, driving away the flies and insects which seemeddisposed to settle on them; indeed, in every way, to the best of ourpower, we treated them as men should men, and not as so-calledChristians too often treat their fellow-creatures. What we might havedone had not Cousin Silas set us the example, I cannot say; I only knowthat we were, happily, much influenced by his conduct and exhortations. My long stay in that lone island had, I feel, a very beneficial effectwith me. I had time to meditate, to reflect, to look into myself, toexamine my own heart and feelings, which I might never have done had Ibeen mixing with the bustling, thoughtless world. Again and again Imust urge my young friends to examine themselves--to reflect constantly. Do not say that there is no time--make time. It is one of the mostimportant works of your life. Do not let trivialities put it off. Nothing you can possibly gain by the neglect can recompense you, howeverimportant you may for the time think the work in which you are engaged. 

The first thing the strangers did on waking was to sit up and sing ahymn, and then several of them pulled out of the pockets secured totheir waists books, which we had no doubt were Bibles; others hadhymn-books, or devotional books of some sort. 

The next day two or three of the strongest made signs that they wouldlike to go and look at their canoe; but the others seemed content toremain where they were--indeed, many of them could not have moved evenhad they wished it. Jerry and I accompanied our new friends to thecanoe. They seemed satisfied when they saw that she was safe; andhaving procured a few articles from her, and among them several cookingutensils, they returned with us to the settlement. They made signs, asthey examined the canoe, that she would require much repair before shewas again fit to put to sea. She was, to our eyes, a wonderfulstructure. There was not a nail in her; all her planks were sewedtogether, and secured in the same way to the ribs. This made her verystrong and elastic, and accounted for her being able to endure the roughseas to which she must have been exposed. 

Several days passed away, and our guests showed that they wererecovering from the effects of their voyage. All this time we could nottell from whence they had come, or where they were going. They tried toexplain, but we could not understand them. They were coming from someChristian island, and they were probably going to one; or, perhaps, theywere native missionaries anxious to carry the gospel of salvation totheir benighted fellow-beings among the inhabitants of Polynesia. Wesoon came to the conclusion that some were missionaries, who had theirwives and children with them. One was a chief, who was escorting them, and the rest were the seamen of the canoe. Mr Brand arrived at thisconclusion. 

"But, sir, " said Jerry, "I thought missionaries always wore black coatsand white ties!"

"John the Baptist was a missionary, but his raiment was of camel's hair, and his food locusts and wild honey, " was the answer. "A man may be afirst-rate missionary who dresses in a fustian jacket and leathergaiters, or whose costume is not more elaborate than that of these poorpeople. A friend of mine told me that he has often, sitting hammer inhand on the roof of a cottage nailing on shingles, preached the gospelto a congregation who were as attentive as if he were in a high pulpit, and were habited in lawn sleeves. "

There was something in the manner and the grave and thoughtfulcountenances of the missionaries which enabled us to distinguish themfrom the rest, and the one who already spoke a few words in Englishquickly acquired more by which to explain himself. 

When they grew strong enough to move about, they made signs that theywould not longer consume our store of provisions, but would, if we wouldlet them have our canoes go and fish for themselves. To this, ofcourse, we gladly consented; and they never came back without offeringus a portion of what they had caught. We saw that they were preparingto remain some time on the island. They built themselves huts neartheir big canoe, and also three small canoes for fishing. Whatever fishthey caught which they did not wish to consume, they carefully cut intwo and dried in the sun. They also discovered a plantation of gourds, some of which they dried to serve as jars for holding water. We alsowent on with our preparations for a voyage. When they discovered whatwe were about, they seemed much satisfied, and intimated that they hopedwe would accompany them. We, in reply, assured them that we would bevery glad to do so. They then took us to the big canoe, and showed ushow carefully they were at work repairing her. Whenever any of thelacing which kept her together was in any way worn or chafed, they putin fresh with the greatest neatness, covering all the seams up with asort of gum which they collected in the woods. In this we could nothelp them, but we assisted in curing a large supply of fish and birds, and in collecting roots, and filling the cocoa-nuts and gourds withwater. When they saw that we had still a number of turtle alive, theyseemed highly pleased, and signified that they would prove a veryvaluable and wholesome provision for the voyage. 

Everything was at last ready. The canoe was brought round into thelagoon to load. We all assembled. One of the native missionariesoffered up in his own tongue some earnest prayers for our safety, andthanksgiving for mercies bestowed. Mr Brand followed his example inEnglish. Then all went on board--the women and children first; themissionaries went next, followed by the chief and the sailors; and wefive Englishmen, with Surley, brought up the rear. Another hymn wassung, the canoe was cast loose, the seamen seized their paddles, andslowly, to the music of a hymn sung by all the natives, we paddled outof the lagoon. The sea was smooth, though there was a fresh breeze; thesail was hoisted, and away we glided at a rapid rate to the eastward. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

A VOYAGE IN A SOUTH SEA CANOE. 

Once more we were on the boundless ocean, out of sight of land, thestars only as our guides, and the sagacity of the Polynesian chief andhis followers to depend on. What made us feel most strange was ourutter ignorance where we were going. From the quantity of provisionsand water the natives had thought it necessary to provide, it wasevident that we had a long voyage before us--perhaps many weeks might beoccupied in performing it. We could scarcely hope not to experience agale of wind even in the Pacific during that time, and how could we hopeto weather it out in so frail a craft, especially deeply laden as wewere?

When Jerry and I expressed our apprehensions, after we had been somedays on board, and were beginning to get very tired of being cramped up, the answer of Cousin Silas rebuked us, --"Trust in Providence, my lads--on the arm of Him who has already preserved us from so many dangers. Hewould not have sent this canoe full of Christian men to us, unless forsome good object. " Jerry and I felt that Cousin Silas spoke the truth, and we made no further complaints. 

It was surprising how delicate and attentive the islanders were to us--Iwill not call them savages. They devoted the end of one of the canoesfor our accommodation, and raised over it an awning with mats, that wemight be shaded from the heat of the sun, which was at times excessive. They selected the most delicate and the best-dressed food for us, andalways served us first. Their habits were cleanly, and they were alwayskind and courteous towards each other, as they were especially to us. Now, as all this was so different to what I had fancied the naturalcharacter of the inhabitants of the islands in this part of the Pacific, I could not but suppose that their Christianity had produced the change. Had I known that the immediate ancestors of these very people, and, indeed, some of the men on board, had been cannibals and savages of theworst description, I might have been still more astonished. Oh, it is aglorious thing to know what a mighty change pure, simple Christianitywill work in the heart of man, vile and deformed as sin has made it!Cousin Silas often used to remark, that the world was a very usefulbook, if we could but read it aright; and, thanks to him, I learned manyimportant lessons from it. No lesson was more important than that whichtaught me the great change which the doctrines of Christianity, underthe influence of the Holy Spirit, produce on men of the most savagenatures. It confirmed and strengthened my faith in the power of thegospel; and I wish that all my young friends would read the accountswhich they may find of the labours of missionaries in those and otherhitherto benighted regions, and they will, if I mistake not, find thesame result produced on their hearts which I experienced in mine. However, I must continue my narrative. 

We had brought with us our fishing-hooks and lines, and whenever thebreeze was moderate, we used to throw them out, and seldom passed anhour without catching some fish. This afforded a pleasant and wholesomechange to our diet, and economised our provisions. Our progress wasslow, and we were unable to ascertain how long the voyage was likely tolast. Hitherto we had enjoyed only the finest weather; the wind hadalways been favourable, and even the strongest breeze which had waftedus along had only covered the ocean with a brisk ripple. 

I mentioned that one of the missionaries spoke a few words of English. So great was his desire to acquire a further knowledge of the language, that all day long he was engaged in learning it from one or other of us. He first obtained a large vocabulary of substantives. These he noteddown in a pocket-book which he cherished with great care, and then hebegan upon verbs. These are more difficult to obtain, when neithermaster nor pupil understands the other's language. However, by dint ofvarious signs, he obtained a good number, of which he began very soon tomake use. We got on talking by degrees, till we really did understandeach other very fairly. By degrees we gleaned from him the followingnarrative:--

He and his companions belonged to an island in the neighbourhood ofOtaheite, all the inhabitants of which, from the teaching of somemissionaries, had embraced with joy the Christian faith. From living ina state of constant warfare, no one for a moment knowing if his life wassafe from the assaults of his fellow-islanders, they had all becomepeaceable and contented, life and property being as secure as in anypart of the world. The missionaries had taught them many useful arts, and had introduced into the island many vegetables, and a variety offruits, with some few animals; so that they had now a constant and amplesupply of all the necessaries of life. 

Highly valuing all the blessings they enjoyed, they heard that therewere some islands lying far away to the west, the inhabitants of whichwere still ignorant savages. Some of their people had occasionallyvisited them in trading-vessels, and some of their canoes had, it wassaid, formerly gone there occasionally. At all events, they believedthat the inhabitants understood their language. If, then, some of theirpeople had ventured so far for the sake of gain, much more did it behovethem to go there for an object inestimably more important--the salvationof the souls of a number of their fellow-creatures. A daring chiefundertook to head an expedition, and six native preachers volunteered togo and settle with their wives and families among the heathen islanders, and to convey to them faithfully the gospel of salvation. 

Two large canoes were fitted out, strengthened for the voyage, andstored and provisioned. The whole population of the island assembled onthe beach to bid their countrymen farewell, and to offer up theirprayers for their safety. They knew somewhat of the dangers they mustencounter, perhaps not all of them, but they had counted the cost, andhad they been greater than those of which they did know, they would nothave been deterred from the attempt. With a fair breeze the two canoesset sail, and glided on over the smooth sea, towards the far-distantgroup of islands. Day after day they sailed on; no land greeted theirsight, but they believed that they were on the right course, andfearlessly committed themselves to the care of a merciful Providence. They knew that however they might be directed, it would be for the best. 

For many days the two canoes kept together, and the crews encouragedeach other; their voices raised in hymns of praise being wafted afaracross the waters, as they joined in chorus, and sang alternately witheach other. At length dark clouds were seen gathering in the horizon, light scud flew across the sky, the sea began to rise--the canoeslaboured much--soon they were pitching violently into the quick-comingseas: still they were skilfully managed, and the wind allowed them tokeep their course. Gradually, however, they drifted further and furtherapart. Night came on, but the tempest did not abate. Several of thepeople were kept continually bailing, for, in spite of all their care, the sea constantly broke over them, and from the straining of the canoemany a leak was formed. No one who endured them, could ever forget thehorrors of that night. "Had we been as we once were, " continued themissionary, "we should have resigned ourselves to our fate, andperished; but we knew that it is the duty of Christians to strive to thelast, trusting in the arm of Him who is all-powerful to save, and whileprepared for death, never abandoning hope. The morning at length came. The other canoe was nowhere to be seen. In vain we stood up andstrained our eyes on every side, as we rose to the top of a sea; not asign of her could we perceive. Still we trusted that our friends mighthave been preserved. That day the gale blew as furiously as before; butin the evening it moderated, though the sky was covered with clouds, andwe knew not whither we were drifting. For several days we drifted on, ignorant of our position. Every morning, when daylight returned, welooked out eagerly for our friends, but we never saw them again. Welive in hope that they may have been preserved. All is for the best. 

"We thought that when the gale abated, and the sea grew calm, and thesun came out, our sufferings would have an end; but they only thenbegan. Our stock of water was becoming less and less. Many of ourprovisions had been so damaged by the sea, that they quickly decayed. The sea became calm as the lagoon inside a coral isle; the sun burstforth with intense heat; our thirst grew excessive. Our island wasplentifully supplied with water, and we had always been accustomed to anabundance; yet now we dared not drink more than the shell of a small nutcould hold at a time. Carefully we husbanded the precious fluid; we hadlearned to know its value. At last the time came when not a dropremained. Every calabash was examined over and over again--the lastdrop was drained out. We sat down, and looked mournfully at each other. Our thirst increased. We dipped our heads in salt water--wecontinually sprinkled each other over with it; but that did not conveycoolness to our parched tongues. `We must die, ' exclaimed some one. `No, no, ' answered one of our missionary brethren; `we will pray withoutceasing--we will trust in God. He will send us relief when we leastexpect it. ' That very evening a flight of sea-fowl flew close to thecanoe. We were able to knock over several. Their blood assisted toquench our thirst; their flesh, too, revived our strength. The next dayseveral fish were caught; but it was not food we wanted. `Water! water!water!' was the cry from old and young alike. Still a day passed away--there was no sign of land--no sign of rain. The next day came;intolerable was the thirst we endured by noon. In vain we strained oureyes through the hot, quivering atmosphere; the sky was blue and pure asever; not a speck could we discern in the horizon. We had hoped that wemight reach the group of islands to which we had been bound; weaccordingly kept, as we believed, a direct course for it. Anothermorning broke. During the night, our sufferings had been intense. Could we survive through another day? We stood up to glance round thehorizon. Directly before us arose, as if sprouting out of the water, aline of palm and cocoa-nut trees! How eagerly we plied our oars toreach the island on which they grew! How thankfully our voices sang themorning hymn, and uttered our accustomed prayers! We rapidly neared thespot. We might have run close by it in the night without seeing it. Wepaddled round to find a spot on which to land. Tantalising indeed wasit to see the ground where we might hope to gain life and strength, andyet not be able to place our feet on it. At last an opening appeared inthe surrounding reef, we ran in, and, hauling up our canoe, hurried offin search of water. No water could we find, but the strongest climbedsome of the cocoa-nut trees, and quickly threw down a supply of theirrefreshing fruit. Oh, how delicious and cool was the milk which theyafforded us! Still, pure water was what we most wanted; but though wesearched in every direction, and dug down as deep as we could with ourrough wooden tools, not a drop could we find. 

"We remained here a week hoping for rain, but it came not. The juicefrom the cocoa-nuts restored our strength. We collected all we couldgather for our voyage. Once more we resolved to trust ourselves to thesea. We embarked, and hoisting sail, stood away on our former course. No land appeared in sight. Many days passed away. Our supply ofcocoa-nuts was almost exhausted. Again death by thirst stared us in theface. Oh, how carefully we husbanded the few precious nuts whichremained! They at last were exhausted. The hot sun again arose, and wehad no liquid with which to quench our thirst. The burning rays of thebright luminary struck down on our heads with intense force. `Water!water! water!' we repeated as before. Some almost gave way to despair. `We have before been preserved, why give up all hope now?' said others. In the evening a small cloud was seen to rise out of the sea. It spreadwider and wider. There was no wind. It advanced toward us. Fast fromit fell a thick shower of pure, sweet water. On it came, we opened wideour mouths, we spread out our hands. Oh, how gratefully it moistenedour parched lips! We stretched out our sail and all our garments, andlet the precious streams we thus gathered run into our gourds and pots. All that evening the rain came down in a continuous fall, and everymoment we were occupied in collecting it, till all our receptacles werefull to the brim, --not a shell did we allow to remain empty: and then wepoured it down our throats in a full, refreshing stream. Scarcely werewe satisfied when the rain ceased--the dark cloud blew onward--the starsshone forth brightly from the clear sky, and we pursued our course. 

"The next island we came to was barren--no water, and no nuts; we musthave perished had we been cast on it. Then we reached another with someinhabitants on it. We understood, in part, their language. Theirancestors had, they believed, been cast on it wandering as we wereacross the ocean. Their canoe had been destroyed, and they had remainedthere without wishing to depart. They had been driven forth from theirnative isles by cruel wars, in which the greater number of their kindredhad been destroyed. They received us in a friendly manner, and invitedus to remain with them. They had heard nothing of the Truth. Thegospel-message had never reached their ears. From consulting with themwe were convinced that we had been driven so far out of our course thatwe should never reach the islands of which we were in search. Here, however, was work for us to do, pointed out clearly by the finger ofGod. We told the islanders, to their joy, that we would remain withthem; and by degrees we opened to their wondering ears the glorioustidings we had brought. Astonished, they heard, but did not refuse tolisten. Some speedily believed. The news we brought was of a naturetheir hearts had long yearned for; it spoke of rest from toil--rest fromsuffering--rest from sin. Others, in time, accepted the truth withthankfulness. Every day we preached, and every day some oneacknowledged himself a sinner, and sought redemption through Him alonewho can give it. At length our glorious work was accomplished. We gavethem books; we taught them to read. We told them that we must depart totry and reach our own homes. They entreated that one of our numberwould remain with them. It was resolved that one should remain to guidethem aright. We drew lots. He on whom the lot fell, without a murmur, with his wife and family, joyfully remained--though he well knew that hecould never hope again to see the land of his birth, and many dear tohim there. But I am making my story longer than I intended. 

"Once more we set sail to return to our homes. Numerous were thehardships we endured, though no one murmured. Several islands werevisited. At some, food was procured; at others we were afraid to stay, on account of the fierce character and the cannibal propensities of theinhabitants. We had been ten days out of sight of land when we reachedyour island, and truly did we rejoice to find not only whites, butChristian men to receive us. "

With these words the native missionary finished his narrative. I wasparticularly struck with the artless simplicity of his account, and thefaith and perseverance he and his companions had exhibited, so worthy ofimitation. I felt ashamed as he spoke of white men, when I recollectedhow many act in a way so totally at variance with their character asChristian and civilised men, and how bad an example they set to thosewhom they despise as heathens and savages. I have very frequently metyoung men who fancy when they are abroad that they may throw off allrestraints of religion and morals, under the miserable excuse thatpeople should do at Rome as the Romans do, --in other words, act aswickedly as those among whom they have gone to live. What would havebecome of Lot had he followed the example of those among whom he took uphis abode? Now, my young friends, I daresay that you will think I amvery young to lecture you; but remember that I have been round theworld, and I should have been very dull and stupid had I not reaped someadvantage from the voyage. What I want to impress upon you is, when youleave your homes and go abroad, to be if anything more strict, morewatchful over yourselves even than you have before been. Society will, too probably, afford less moral restraint, the temptations to evil willbe greater; but pray against them faithfully--strive against themmanfully, and they will not overcome you. 

Our voyage, as I was saying, had hitherto been prosperous; but a galecame on, and we were exposed to the very dangers the missionary had sowell described to me. We could do nothing except help to bail out thecanoe, for the natives understood how to manage her much better than wedid; and, with all our civilisation and nautical knowledge, we had toconfess that in that respect they were our superiors. The canoelaboured fearfully, and often I thought that she must founder. Howanxiously we looked out for some sign that the gale was abating, but invain. Had we been in our own ship, we should certainly have thoughtvery little of the gale; but in this frail canoe we had ample reason todread its consequences. At length the wind shifted, and drove us on inwhat the islanders considered our proper course. We ran on for somedays without seeing land, and then the gale blew over and left usbecalmed under a burning sun. We had carefully from the first husbandedour water, having the advantage of the previous experience of ourcompanions. As it was, we had barely sufficient to quench the constantthirst produced by the heat. Every day, too, seemed to increase ourthirst and to diminish our stock of the precious fluid. Our hope hadbeen to fall in with some vessel which might either supply us or give usa course to the nearest island where we might obtain it. One forenoon, when we had been suffering even more than usual, the chief declared thathe saw a vessel on our weather bow, and that she would cross our course. With intense eagerness and hope we all looked out for her. As hersails rose out of the water, we saw that she was a schooner. If wecould but get on board her, we thought that we might again in timerejoin the _Triton_. We were very certain that Captain Frankland wouldnot cease to look for us while a chance remained of our beingdiscovered. Gradually we neared the schooner. I saw Cousin Silas andBen Yool looking at her with great earnestness. 

"What is she, Ben, do you think?" asked Cousin Silas. 

"Why, Mr Brand, as you know, sir, I've been boxing about the world forthe best part of the last forty years, and I think I ought to know onecraft from another, and to my mind that vessel is no other than thepiratical craft we were so long aboard. I say, if you ask me, sir, thatwe ought to stand clear of her. She'll bring us no good. "

"Exactly my idea, " answered Cousin Silas; "the wretches might verylikely send us to the bottom, or carry us off again as prisoners. "

We were, however, too near the schooner to hope to escape from her; butwe agreed that we might lie concealed while the canoe sailed quietly byher, and that, probably, no questions would be asked. We had somelittle difficulty in explaining the character of the vessel to ourfriends. When they did understand it, they seemed to be much horrified, and undertook carefully to conceal us. As we drew near the schooner, the rest of our party went below; but I wrapped myself up in a piece ofmatting, leaving a small aperture through which I could see what wasgoing forward. The schooner stood close up to us. I was very certainthat she was the pirate. Several faces I recognised. Among them wasCaptain Bruno. At first I thought that they were going to run us down;then I dreaded that they were going to make us come alongside. Haulingtheir foresail to windward, they hailed two or three times, but in alanguage was not understood. At last an answer was given from thecanoe. What it was I could not tell. It seemed to satisfy them. To mygreat joy they once more let draw their foresail, and stood away fromus. This was not the last time we were to see that ill-omened craft. 

As soon as she had got to some distance off, my friends came out oftheir hiding-place, and I disengaged myself from the folds of the mat. Truly thankful were we that we had escaped her. The missionary told usthat the pirates had stated that we were about three hundred miles tothe westward of Otaheite, and that we should pass several islands to getthere. Once at Otaheite the chief knew the direct course to his ownisland, and believed that he should have no difficulty in finding it. Our escape from the pirate made us, for a time, almost forget our ragingthirst; we could not, however, but admire the fidelity and resolution ofthe natives, who, rather than run the risk of betraying us, hadrefrained from asking for water from the pirate. 

All that day our sufferings were very great. As we were running onduring the night, our ears were assailed by the sound of breakers. Welistened; they were on our weather bow. If we ran on we might miss theisland; so we hauled down our sail, and paddled slowly on towards thespot whence the sound proceeded. All night we remained within sound ofthe surf. How anxiously we waited for daylight to ascertain that therewas an island, and not merely a coral reef over which the sea wasbreaking! That night was one of the most anxious we had yet passed. Slowly the hours dragged along. It was wonderful to observe the calmand resigned manner of the islanders. The missionaries and the chiefnever gave the slightest sign of distress; even the women did notcomplain. "It must be near daybreak, " said Mr Brand, waking up out ofa sleep into which he had at last fallen. "Look out. " We strained oureyes in the direction in which we believed the island to exist. A fewpale streaks appeared in the east; and then, oh! our hearts leaped withjoy as we saw tall, thin lines appear against the sky; and, as the lightincreased, the stems and tops of trees were revealed to view. But ourjoy was somewhat damped when we discovered that a long line of heavybreakers rolled between us and them. At sight of the island thenatives, with one accord, raised a hymn of praise and thanksgiving whichput our doubts to shame; and the chief, pointing to the surf, made signsthat we must go round on the other side, where we should find a place toland. The sail was forthwith hoisted, and we quickly ran round to thelee side, where a wide opening in the surf presented itself. We paddledthrough it into the inner bay or lagoon, and reaching the shore, thecanoe was secured. 

The natives did not forget their prayers and hymn of thanksgiving, inwhich we all heartily joined them. They then looked cautiously about, to ascertain that there were no people on the island who might treat usas enemies. This necessary precaution being taken, we hurried about inevery direction in search of water. Jerry and I kept together. Ourtongues were parched with thirst. Some of the natives were climbing thecocoa-nut trees, in case any might still retain milk; but the season forthe fruit was now passing. Indeed, we wanted water, pure simple water. We felt that we should value it far more than the richest wine from thevineyards of Burgundy or the Rhine. At last we observed a littlemoisture on the ground near a large tree. We followed up its trace, andsoon, shaded by shrubs, we came to a basin of bright, cool water. Weeagerly stooped down and lapped up some of the delicious fluid, and thenshouted loudly to our friends to come and enjoy the valued luxury withus. In a very short time the pool was surrounded with men, women, andchildren, ladling up the water with their calabashes and bowls, themothers pouring it into the mouths of their children before they wouldthemselves touch a drop, while the men knelt down and lapped it up as wehad done. As I watched the scene, I bethought me that it was a subjectfit for the exercise of the painter's highest art. 

We spent a week on the island, repairing the canoe, catching fish, andfilling our water jars with water. This may appear an unnecessarilylong time to have waited on our voyage, but, after being cramped up forso many weeks, it was necessary to recruit our strength and to stretchour limbs. Much refreshed, we continued our voyage. I forgot to statethat at every island where we touched we engraved our names on thetrunks of trees, in the most conspicuous situation, and stated thedirection in which we were going. We had done this also on our ownisland, as we called it, that should any vessel visit the spot she mightperhaps convey intelligence to Captain Frankland that we were alive, andgive him some clue as to where to look for us. Our friends understoodour object, and now added some sentences in their own language to thesame effect. The fine weather continued, and confident in the guidanceand protection of Him who had hitherto preserved us from so many andgreat dangers, we launched forth again into the deep. 

We passed several small islands; some had but a few stunted treesgrowing on them; others again had scarcely soil sufficient to nourish afew blades of long wiry grass; while others were barren rocks withoutverdure of any description, their heads but lately risen from beneaththe waves. I believe that it was at one time supposed that these coralformations rose from immense depths in the ocean, and that thosewonderful and persevering polypi worked upwards till they had formedsubmarine mountains with their honey-combed structures; but it is nowascertained that they cannot exist below at the utmost fifty feet of thesurface, and that they establish the foundation of their structures onsubmarine mountains and table-lands, while they do not work abovelow-water mark. How comes it then, it will be asked, that they formislands which rise several feet above the sea? Although the polypi arethe cause of the island being formed, they do not actually form it. They begin by building their nests on some foundation which instinctpoints out to them. First they work upwards, so as to form a wall, theperpendicular side of which is exposed to the point whence the strongestwinds blow and the heaviest sea comes rolling in. Then they continue towork along the ground and upwards on the lee side of the wall, shelteredby their original structure from the heavy seas. They also work at eachend of their wall in a curve with the convex side exposed to the sea. Thus, at length, beneath the ocean a huge circular wall of considerablebreadth is formed. Storms now arise, and the waves, dashing against theouter part of the walls, detach huge masses of the coral, six feetsquare or more, and cast them up on the top of it, where they remainfixed among the rough peaks of coral; and gradually other portions arethrown up, till a mass is formed above high-water mark. Other bits, ground by the waves into sand, now form a beach, united with shells andvarious marine productions. Birds come and settle, and leave seedswhich spring up; and trees grow, and attract moisture; and fresh springsare formed, and the spot becomes fit for the abode of man. Some islandshave had a rock, or, perhaps, the plateau of some marine mountain fortheir commencement, and the polypi have simply enlarged it, and formed areef around it. ["The Coral Island, " by R. M. Ballantyne, Esquire, Nelson and Sons. ] However, this interesting subject has been so oftenwell explained in other works that I will not further enlarge on it, though I could not pass it by in the description of my voyage withoutsome notice. 

Another week we had been out of sight of land. We were longing to findsome spot on which we might stretch our legs, if only for a few hours, and, what was more important, obtain a fresh supply of water, whentowards the evening the treetops of a large island appeared before usstretching away on either side to the north and south. We approachednear enough to be seen from the shore, if there were inhabitants on it, of which there could be little doubt; but we could discover no placewhere it would be safe to attempt a landing. Judging that the shortestway to get round to the other side would be to go to the south, wepaddled in that direction during the night. The roar of the surfprevented any sounds from the shore from reaching our ears; but weobserved several fires lighted on the beach, which assured us that theisland was populated. The question, of course, was--Would theinhabitants appear as friends or foes? We paddled but very slowlyduring the night, just sufficiently to keep the canoe away from thebreakers, and to get round to the place where it was believed a passagewould be found. At daylight we perceived the looked-for spot, and stoodtowards it. We observed a number of people on the beach. They hadscarcely any clothing; their skins were dark, their hair was long andstraggly, and the men had spears or clubs in their hands. Our chiefstood up and examined them narrowly. No green boughs were waved as asign of amity; on the contrary, their gestures appeared somewhat of athreatening character. We had just got to the mouth of the passage whenhis quick eye detected a number of canoes collected inside the reef, andfull of men, armed with darts and bows and arrows. He made a hasty signto his followers to back their paddles, and away we shot out of thetrap. 

As soon as our flight was discovered the canoes gave chase. They weresmall, each carrying not more than six or eight men; but from theirnumbers they were formidable. The men in them were also armed with avariety of weapons, and we thought it very likely that the arrows anddarts might be poisoned. In a long line they darted out of the passagethrough the breakers, like hornets out of their nest, to the attack. "There they come, the black scoundrels!" exclaimed Ben Yool. "Ten, fifteen, twenty, --there are thirty of them altogether. They'll give usno little trouble if they once get alongside. However, they think thatthey've only got their own countrymen, so to speak, to deal with. They'll find themselves out in their reckoning, I hope. "

As we got away from the land we felt the force of the wind, and thechief ordering the sail to be set, we shot rapidly ahead. Still thesmall canoes made very rapid way through the water. The chief looked atus, as much as to ask, "What will you do, friends?" Mr Brandunderstood him, and answered by producing our fire-arms. Fortunately wehad had very little necessity to expend our cask of powder and our shot, and we had a good supply. The missionaries, when they saw thefire-arms, put their hands to their heads as if in sorrow that it wouldbe necessary to shed blood, but some words spoken by their chiefreassured them. We could have told them that the sin lies with thosewho make the attack, provided the other party has employed all evidentmeans to avoid hostilities. 

By the orders of their chief our people got their own bows and spearsready, and then they set to work with their paddles again, and pliedthem most lustily, much increasing the speed of the canoe. This, however, had only the effect of making our enemies redouble theirefforts to overtake us. 

Mr Brand and Jerry and I were the best shots; the doctor was not a goodone, and Ben knew better how to manage a big gun than a musket. 

"You will fire over their heads, will you not?" said the doctor. 

"I think not, " answered Mr Brand. "It will be mercy to make them feelthe effects of our power. If each of us can knock over one of theirpeople they may be so terrified that they will turn back at once; but ifthey once come on and attack us, we know not where the slaughter mayend, even should we prove victorious. "

It was agreed, therefore, that as soon as the savages got near enough todistinguish us, we were to jump up, and taking steady aim, to pick offthose who appeared to be chiefs in the headmost boats. We explained ourplan to our chief, and he much approved of it. 

The wind freshening we made good way, but still the flotilla of canoeswas fast overtaking us. The voices of the savages, as they shouted andshrieked at us, were wafted across the water; but they had not theeffect of intimidating our friends. "Ah, my boys, you'll shout to adifferent tune, I suspect, before long, " exclaimed Ben, as he eyed themangrily. At length, in spite of all the efforts of our friends, thesavages got close up to us; and two men in the leading canoe, liftingtheir bows, were about to draw their arrows, when Cousin Silasexclaimed, "Now is the time, my lads; give it them. " We all fired. Thetwo savages dropped instantly, and one man in each of the next canoeswent head foremost overboard. The people in the following canoeshesitated for a minute what to do. The delay gave us time to reload. Again we fired, while our people jumping up sent a flight of arrowsamong our enemies. Shrieks, and cries, and groans, arose from thecanoes, which all crowded thickly together like a flock of sheep, theirpeople astonished and terrified at what had occurred. Then they turnedround, and all paddled back in evident confusion. We shouted, and gavethem a parting volley; but this time it was over their heads to hastentheir movements. We were preserved, --not one of us had received theslightest injury. Away we glided, as fast as the wind and our paddleswould carry us from the inhospitable island. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

VOYAGE IN A WHALER--FURTHER ADVENTURES. 

Wearily our voyage had continued for many weeks, yet we felt that havingbeen preserved from so many dangers, it would be sinful to complain. Noone was actually sick, not a life had been lost, and by great economyour provisions and water had hitherto been sufficient for ournecessities. A flight of birds had passed over our heads, directingtheir course to the north-east. We saw our chief watching them, and heat once ordered the canoe to be steered in the same direction. All daywe stood on. Just as the sun was setting, we thought we saw a faintblue peak rising out of the water, but even the most practised eye couldnot determine whether it was land or a light cloud. We continued thesame course during the night. For several hours I watched, then, overcome by fatigue, I fell asleep. "See! see!" I heard Jerry exclaim. I jumped up. There appeared before us the lofty and rugged peaks of aline of mountains. Of great height they seemed, after the low land towhich our eyes had been so long accustomed. Their sides were clothedwith verdure, pleasant and refreshing to the sight; and at their baseswere groves, and fields, and sparkling streams, with heat pretty-lookingcottages scattered about. There was a slight swell. When the canoerose to the top of it, we could see a yellow beach, with a circle ofbright, blue, calm water around it, and outside a line of white foamingbreakers, the guardians of the shore. "Otaheite! Otaheite!" exclaimedthe chief and his followers; and we thus knew that we were on the coastof the dominion of the ill-treated Queen Pomare; but we also knew thatthere were civilised men on shore, and that we should probably bereceived there with kindness and hospitality. 

Soon discovering a passage through the reef, we ran in, and were at oncesurrounded by canoes full of people, wondering who we were and whence wehad come. Our friends quickly gave an outline of our and theiradventures, to satisfy curiosity. They found there several people fromtheir own island, one a chief who had become a wealthy man. He tookthem to his own house, and had their canoe hauled up to be repaired. Ineed not say that she was visited by all the foreign residents, curiousto examine a craft of so frail a structure which had performed so long avoyage. Our consul was very civil to us, and we were received into thehouse of an English gentleman, who treated us with the greatestkindness. As we met with no very interesting adventures during our stayhere, I will content myself with giving a brief account of the island. 

Otaheite was discovered in 1767, by Captain Wallis, who called it KingGeorge's Island; but it is better known by the name of Tahiti. It is ofvolcanic formation, and consists of two peninsulas joined by a neck oflow land, about two miles across. The whole island is about thirtymiles in circumference. The smaller portion, called Tairaboo, is themost fertile; but as Tahiti proper has the best harbour, it is the mostfrequented, and is the seat of government. 

We know very little of the history of the island. Soon after itsdiscovery, a chief, who assumed the title of Pomare the First, madehimself king. His son, and then his grandson, succeeded him, and thepresent queen is his granddaughter; her name is Aimata, but she hastaken the title of Pomare the Fourth. She has established aconstitution, and seven chiefs act as her ministers. For many yearsboth the chiefs and people have professed Christianity, having beenconverted to a knowledge of the truth by Protestant missionaries. Thesemissionaries were undoubtedly earnest, pious men, but they have beenunable altogether to check the vices which the lawless rovers, outcastsof every civilised nation in the world, have introduced among them. Notwithstanding the counteracting influences I have mentioned, civilisation was making progress in the island, under the teaching ofthe Protestant missionaries, when the peace was disturbed by the arrivalof two French Roman Catholic priests. They travelled about the countryendeavouring to teach their doctrines, but in no place did they findwilling hearers. A few chiefs who were in opposition to the Governmentfor political motives, gave them some countenance, and they wereentertained at the house of the American consul. The people, however, resolved that they should not remain to attempt the corruption of thefaith in which they had been instructed, and rising in a body, compelledthem to go on board a small vessel, which carried them to Wallis Island, two thousand miles off. The French who had long desired the possessionof some island in the Pacific inhabited by partly civilised people, weretoo glad to found a pretext on this circumstance for interfering in theaffairs of Tahiti. A frigate, the _Venus_, commanded by Monsieur DuPetit Thouars, entered the harbour of Papieti. The French, captain, bringing his guns to bear on the town, demanded satisfaction for theoutrage committed on his countrymen. The queen was inclined to resist, but the foreign inhabitants, knowing that they should be the chiefsufferers, collected the amount demanded, which was at least four timesas much as any pecuniary loss the priests had incurred. He also forceda treaty on the queen, by which Frenchmen were allowed to visit theisland at pleasure, to erect churches, and to practise their religion. This was the commencement of the complete subjugation of the Tahitiansto the French. So much for the history of the island. 

The valleys, and a plain which extends from the sea-shore to the spursof the mountains, are very fertile, and produce in great abundance alltropical plants. The climate is warm, but not enervating; the sceneryis in many parts very beautiful. Thus the natives are tempted to leadan easy and idle life, exerting but little their physical and mentalpowers. It is, indeed, to their credit that they do not altogetherabandon themselves to indolence. They are by nature constituted toenjoy the beautiful scenes by which they are surrounded. Consequently, they delight in building their cottages in the most retired and lovelyspots they can find. Their habitations are surrounded with fences, inside which they cultivate the taro, and sweet potatoes, the banana, the bread-fruit, the vi-apple, groves of orange and cocoa-nut trees, andat times the sugar-cane. Their habitations are of an oval shape, oftenfifty or sixty feet long, and twenty wide. They are formed of bamboos, planted about an inch apart in the ground. At the top of each wall thusformed, a piece of the hibiscus, a strong and light wood, is lashed withplaited rope. From the top of the four walls the rafters rise and meetin a ridge, those from the ends sloping like those from the sides. Therafters, which touch each other, are covered with small mats of thepandanus leaf, which, closely fitted together and lapping over eachother, forms a durable roof, impervious to the rain. The earth, beatenhard, forms the floor. There are no regular partitions, but mats servethe purpose when required. Their bedsteads are made of a framework ofcane raised two feet from the ground, and covered with mats, the mostluxurious using pillows stuffed with aromatic herbs. They have neithertables nor chairs. Their style of cooking is very simple: they baketheir food in extemporised ovens filled with hot stones. Since myreturn I have often intended to propose having a picnic, and to cook allour food in Tahitian fashion. The dress of the people is undergoing arapid and considerable change. Formerly a native cloak and kilt was allthat was thought necessary; now every sort of European clothing is invogue. We had an example of this at a feast our English friend gave toa number of chiefs and their relations. Some of the gentlemen had onuniform coats, with nankeen trousers too short for them, and colouredslippers. Others had top-boots, red shirts, black breeches, sailors'round jackets, and cocked hats. Some had high shoes and buckles, andothers had no shoes at all; but all had shirts and trousers, orbreeches. Some, indeed, were in complete costume: shoes, stockings, trousers, waistcoat, coat, shirt, with a huge neck-tie--every garment ofa different colour, and often too large or too small--while a littlestraw hat was worn on the top of the head. Indeed, it was very evidentthat their clothes had been collected from all parts of the world, manygarments probably having passed a probation in pawnbrokers' shops, or inthose of old clothes-men in London or Liverpool. I was particularlystruck by the total want of perception of congruity as to dressexhibited both by men and women after they had abandoned their nativecostume, which, if somewhat scanty, was graceful and adapted to theclimate. The women we saw were dressed in straw bonnets of hugeproportions and ugly shape, and loose gowns of gay colours reaching fromthe throat to the ankles, with silk handkerchiefs tied round theirnecks. A few wore wreaths of flowers round their heads, which formed apicturesque part of their ancient costume. The people are said to bevery honest, and always seemed in good-humour, happy and cheerful, whilewe never saw them quarrelling or disputing with each other, far lesscoming to blows. Many of them are scrupulous in their attendance onreligious worship; the Sabbath is strictly kept by all, not even a boatbeing launched, while those who are seen abroad are decently clothed, going to or coming from church. What change French civilisation mayhave worked in this state of things it is painful to reflect. Wevisited several schools, and except that their skins were darker, theappearance of the children differed little from that of the same classin any part of Europe, while they appeared in no way wanting inintelligence. In fact, from all we saw and heard, we came to theconclusion that the inhabitants of the islands of Polynesia aregenerally as capable of a high state of education and civilisation asthe people of any other race, while their minds are peculiarlysusceptible of religious instruction. Our fellow-voyagers afforded us agood example of this. We much regretted that we could not conversefamiliarly with them. Our missionary friend had especially won ourregard and esteem. 

They were now anxious to return to their own island, the season of theyear being favourable for the voyage. It was with much regret that weheard of their intended departure. With a large concourse of nativesand several English missionaries, we accompanied them down to the beachto see them off. Prayers were offered up by all present for theirsafety during their voyage. It was an impressive and affecting scene. Many wept as the fine old chief and his friends stepped on board. Hecould scarcely refrain from tears, nor could we. The frail canoe waslaunched forth into the deep, the sail was hoisted, and away they wenton a voyage of three hundred miles, with full faith that the God who hadhitherto preserved them would watch over them still. 

We did not at the moment believe that our departure was so near. Thenext day the _Matchless_, a Liverpool whaler, arrived in the harbour ofPapieti. We met her master, Captain Brown, who told us that he wasbound for the coast of Japan, and that he should touch at the BoninIslands, and probably fish off there some time. At this latter place weknew that Captain Frankland fully intended to call. How much his plansmight be changed by our supposed loss we could not tell, but at allevents we could not hope for a better opportunity of falling in againwith the _Triton_. Captain Brown had lost several of his people, --someby sickness, others in a gale, and others by desertion. Hearing this, Mr Brand offered his own and our services as far as the Bonin Islands, or for a longer period, should we gain no account of our own ship. Theywere without hesitation accepted. The _Matchless_ remained but a fewdays, having called in merely to obtain water and a supply of freshprovisions. Our kind English friend, not content with having supportedus all the time we remained at Tahiti, insisted on supplying us with asgood an outfit as he could procure in the country. When we expressedour gratitude and unwillingness to be so great a burden on him, hesmiled. "What is the use of property, unless to do good with it?" heremarked. "Do not say a word about the matter. When you reach home, should the obligation weigh too heavily on your conscience, you can sendme back the value; but I then shall be the loser, as it will show methat you will not believe in the friendship which induces me to bestowthese trifles as a gift. " After this very kind speech we could do nomore than sincerely and cordially thank him. The day before weembarked, he told us that he had been making inquiries about CaptainBrown. "I would rather that you had another man to sail with, " heobserved. "He is a person with two countenances, I am afraid. On shorehe is mild, and obliging, and well-behaved; but afloat he is, I am told, tyrannical and passionate, and often addicted to intemperance. Youwill, accordingly, be on your guard. You will probably remain only afew weeks with him, or I should advise you to give up the voyage, andwait for another opportunity of going westward. " This was not pleasantnews, but we resolved on no account to delay our departure, and, thanking our friend for his warning, as well as for all the kindness wehad received at his hands, we the next day went on board the_Matchless_. 

She was a fine vessel, and well-found with boats and gear. How great acontrast did she offer to the frail canoe in which we had lately made solong a voyage! How strongly built and rigged! How well calculated tostand the buffeting of the winds and waves! How impossible did it seemthat any harm could come to her! I felt this, I own, as I walked herdeck. She had already taken twenty whales, or fish, as sailors wronglycall them. For some time Captain Brown was very civil and good-natured, and we began to hope that our friend had received a wrong account ofhim. 

Although we did not expect to meet with whales, men were always kept atthe mast-heads on the look-out. I shall not forget the excitement ofthe scene when, after we had been a week at sea, the cry was utteredfrom aloft, "There she spouts! there she spouts!" In an instanteverybody was alert. "Where away? where away?" was asked. The pointwhere the whale had appeared was indicated. The boats were lowered; thecrews leaped into them. The master went in one, two mates in others. Off they pulled in hot chase. The whale sounded; the men lay on theiroars. In half an hour she rose again, throwing up a jet of sparklingfoam into the air. Again the boats dashed on. The master's headed therest. His harpoon struck the monster. One of the other boats got fastdirectly after. Then off went the whale at a terrific speed, draggingthe boats after her directly away from the ship. Now she sounded, andall their lines were run out; but just as they would have to cut, up shecame again. We followed under all sail. 

The day was drawing to a close when another whale was seen floating idlyclose to us. The possibility of obtaining another rich prize was not tobe lost. Mr Brand had served for three years in a whaler, and was nowdoing duty as mate. He ordered a boat to be manned. Jerry and Ientreated that we might accompany him. "One only can go, " he answered;"I am very sorry. " The lot fell upon me. Jerry was never jealous. "Old Surley and I will take care of each other, " he answered. Away wewent. A long, low island was in sight from the mast-head. The otherboats could nowhere be seen. We got up to the whale before she sounded. I fancy she was asleep. The harpoon Mr Brand shot into her awakenedher up. Off she went in the direction of the land, at a great rate. Iwished Jerry had been with us. It was so pleasant to be dragged alongat so furious a rate, the foam flying over the bows of the boat. Formerly harpoons were always darted by the hand. Now fire-arms areused. The butt of the harpoon is placed in the barrel, and the rope isattached to it by a chain. Less skill and strength is required tostrike the whale, but just as much skill and experience is requisite toavoid being struck in return and smashed to atoms by the wounded animal. Whenever the whale slackened her speed, we hauled up in the hope ofgetting another harpoon into her, but she was soon off again; then shesounded, and we were nearly losing our line. Again she rose; a secondharpoon was run into her. Off she was again. At length blood mingledwith the foam from her spouts. With fury she lashed the water around. "Back! back for your lives!" shouted Mr Brand. Well it was that we gotout of her way in time. One blow from those tremendous flukes wouldhave destroyed us. 

Loudly we shouted as the monster lay an inanimate mass on the surface ofthe deep. Then we looked about us. We had approached close to theisland, but darkness was settling down over the face of the waters. Theship was not to be seen. Clouds were gathering thickly in the sky. Agale, we feared, was brewing. Our safest plan was to lie by all nightunder the lee of the whale. The wind came from the very direction wherewe believed the ship to be. We should never be able to pull against it. We had got out our harpoons from the dead whale, and were putting ourgear in order, when, just as we were going to make fast to it, the hugemass sunk from our sight! We looked at each other with blankdisappointment. It was gone--there can be no doubt about it, and wasutterly irrecoverable. "Don't grumble, my lads. We should have beenworse off had we been fast to it with a gale blowing, and unable to cutourselves adrift, " exclaimed Mr Brand. "Let us thank the Almighty thatwe have escaped so great a danger. We'll run under the lee of thatisland for the night, and try and find the ship in the morning. "Accordingly we bore away, and were in a short time in comparativelysmooth water. Still the weather looked very threatening. We pulled inclose to the breakers. "Harry, " said Cousin Silas, "I think we shouldknow that island. I see an opening in the breakers, and a clump oftrees on it which seems familiar to my eyes. We shall be better off onshore than here. I will take the boat in. " The men were somewhatastonished when they received the order to pull in for the land. Weexactly hit the passage, and soon had the boat hauled up on the beach. "We will have a roof over our heads to-night, lads, " said Cousin Silas, leading the way, and in a quarter of an hour we were seated under theshelter of the hut where we had lived for so many months! It wasstrange that we had so unexpectedly fallen in with our own island again. 

We lit a blazing fire, and caught some wild-fowl, and knocked down somecocoa-nuts, which were now in season, and picked some bread-fruit, and, with the provisions we had in the boat, enjoyed a capital meal, whichsomewhat restored our spirits after the loss of our whale. As far as wecould discover, no one had been there since we left the spot, --even ourbeds were ready for us. All hands rested soundly, and by the nextmorning the short-lived summer gale had blown itself out. I mounted tothe top of our flag-staff, and to my no small satisfaction saw our shiplying-to five or six miles off to the westward. I was hurrying with therest down to the boat, for I had no wish to be left again on the spotthough I felt an affection for it, when Cousin Silas stopped me. "Wehave an important work to perform, " said he. "Before we go we willobliterate our former directions and write fresh ones, saying where weare now going. " I saw the wisdom of this precaution in case the_Triton_ might visit the place; and, accordingly, with our knives wecarved in a few brief words a notice that we were well and bound for theBonins. This done, we embarked and ran out towards the ship. 

On getting on board we found the captain in a desperately bad humour athaving been compelled by the gale to abandon the whales he had caught;and our account of our loss did not improve his temper. He swore andcursed most terribly at his ill luck, as he chose to call it; and, toconsole himself, opened his spirit case and drank tumbler after tumblerof rum and water. The result was soon apparent: he issued contradictoryorders--quarrelled with the mates--struck and abused the men, andfinally turned into his cot with his clothes on, where he remained forseveral days, calling loudly for the spirit bottle whenever he awoke. From this period he became an altered man from what he had at firstappeared, and lost all control over himself. 

I will not dwell on the scenes which ensued on board the whaler. Theywere disgraceful to civilised beings, and to men calling themselvesChristians. Cousin Silas, and the doctor, and Ben, did all they couldto counteract the evil, --the latter by exercising his influence forward, and the others in endeavouring to check the officers, who seemedinclined to imitate the example of the master. Cousin Silas had chargeof one watch, and he got Jerry and me placed in another, and he told usinstantly to call him should we see anything going wrong. Thus three orfour weeks passed away. We managed during the time to kill two whales, and to get them stowed safely on board; and this put the captain intorather better humour. However, the ship was often steered verycarelessly, and a bad look-out was kept. 

We were running under all sail one day when, as I was forward, I saw aline of white water ahead, which I suspected must be caused by a coralreef. I reported the circumstance. Fortunately there was but littlewind. I looked out anxiously on either hand to discover an opening. Tothe southward the line of foam terminated. The helm was put down, andthe yards braced sharp up; but in five minutes a grating noise was heardand the ship struck heavily. The seamen rushed from below, --they fullwell knew the meaning of that ominous sound, and they believed that theship was hopelessly lost. The captain at the time was unconscious ofeverything. Cousin Silas hurried on deck, and, taking a glance round, ordered the helm to be put up again, the yards to be squared, and thecourses which had been clewed up to be let fall. It was our onlychance. The ship's head swung round; once more she moved--grating on, and, the doctor said, tearing away the work of myriads of polypi. "Hurrah! hurrah!" a shout arose from all forward. We were free. Awaywe flew. 

This narrow escape ought to have been a warning to all on board. Unhappily it was not. The same system was pursued as before. The othermates grow jealous of Cousin Silas, and did their utmost to counteracthis efforts. One night Jerry and I were on deck, actively moving about, followed by Old Surley, looking out in every direction; for it was verydark, and the officers had been having a carouse. For some reason orother I was more than usually uneasy. So was Jerry. 

"I should not wonder, " said he, "that something will happen beforelong. "

"I hope not, if it is something bad, " said I; "but I'm not altogetherhappy. I think that I will go and call Mr Brand. "

"What shall we say to him, though? There will be no use rousing him uptill we have something to tell him. " I agreed with Jerry, so wecontinued talking as before. 

"What are you youngsters about there?" shouted the first mate, who, although it was his watch, was half tipsy. "Go below, and turn in; I'llnot have chattering monkeys like you disturbing the discipline of theship. " Jerry and I hesitated about obeying, and Jerry whispered to methat he would go and call Mr Brand. But the mate sung out, "Mutiny!mutiny! Go to your own kennels, you young hounds!" and ordered some ofthe watch on deck to carry out his commands. We could not helpourselves, so we went below, and turning into our berths very soon fellasleep. 

How long we had been asleep I do not know. I was awoke by a terrificcrash and loud cries and shrieks. Jerry and I sprung up, so indeed dideverybody below, and rushed on deck. It was very dark; but from the waythe ship heaved and lurched, and the sheets of foam which flew over her, we knew that she was among the breakers, and striking hard on a reef. The fore-mast and main-mast had gone by the board. The mizzen-mastalone stood. That fell soon after we got on deck, crushing severalpeople beneath it. Anxiously we hunted about shouting for Cousin Silas, followed by Old Surley, who, since we came on board, scarcely ever leftour heels. We naturally sought him for advice. It was, indeed, arelief to us to find him unhurt. In a short time we discovered thedoctor and Ben. We clustered together, holding on by the bulwarks; forevery now and then a sea came and washed over the decks, and we rangreat risk of being carried away. Nothing could we see on either sidebeyond the white roaring breakers. Cousin Silas said that he wascertain we must have been driven some way on the reef, or the sea wouldhave broken more completely over us, and no one could have hoped toescape. Several people had already been washed overboard, and had beenlost or killed by the falling masts; but who they were we could nottell. What, also, had become of the captain we did not know. He hadnot, that we could discover, come on deck. Perhaps, all the time he wasbelow, unconscious of what had occurred. All we could do was to clingon where we were, till with daylight we should be able to tell ourposition. Every now and then we felt the ship lifting, and it appearedas if she was driving gradually over the reef. Another danger, however, now presented itself--we might drive over the reef altogether, and sinkon the other side! We strained our eyes through the darkness; but, surrounded as we were with spray, it was impossible to distinguish theshore, even though it might be near at hand. If there was no land, ourlot would indeed be sad; for, wherever we were, it was clear that theship would be totally lost, and, as far as we could discover, all ourboats were destroyed. After two or three hours passed in dreadfulsuspense, though it appeared as if the whole night must have elapsed, the ship became more steady, and the sea broke over her less violently. "We must get a raft made, " exclaimed Cousin Silas. The men seemed tolook instinctively to him for orders, and willingly obeyed him. Allhands set to work, some to collect the spars which had not been washedoverboard, others to cut away the bulwarks and to get off the hatches--indeed, to bring together everything that would serve to form a raft. Dark as it was they worked away; for they knew that when the tide againrose the ship might be washed over the reef and sink, or go to pieceswhere she lay. How eagerly we watched for daylight to complete ourwork! The dawn at length came; and as the mists of night rolled off, wesaw before us a range of lofty mountains, of picturesque shapes, risingout of a plain, the shore of which was not more than a quarter of a mileoff. As the sun rose a rich landscape was revealed to us, of cocoa-nutgroves, and taro plantations, and sparkling streams, and huts sprinkledabout in the distance. 

"At all events we have got to a beautiful country, " observed Jerry, ashe looked towards it. 

"One from which we shall be thankful to escape, and where our lives willbe of little value unless we can defend ourselves from the inhabitants, who are, I suspect, among the most bloodthirsty of any of the natives ofPolynesia, " answered Cousin Silas. "However, the sooner we can get onshore, and establish ourselves in some good position for defence, thebetter. "

The raft, which had been constructed with the idea that we might requireit for a long voyage, was a very large one, and having launched it, wefound that it could not only carry all the ship's company, but a numberof other things. We found an ample supply of arms and ammunition--mostvaluable articles under our present circumstances. We got them all up, as well as our clothes and everything valuable in the ship which couldat once be laid hands on; we also took a supply of provisions, that wemight for a time be independent of the natives. One thing more wasbrought up--that was, the still senseless body of the captain. There helay, totally unconscious of the destruction his carelessness had broughton the ship intrusted to his care. In silence and sadness we shoved offfrom the ship which had borne us thus far across the ocean. Many of ournumber were missing; two of the mates and six seamen had been killed bythe falling of the masts, or washed overboard. 

We paddled across the smooth water inside the reef as fast as we could, hoping to land before any of the natives had collected to oppose us. All our people had muskets, and some had cutlasses, so that we were ableto show a bold front to any one daring to attack us. As we neared theshore we saw in the distance a number of people with bows, and arrows, and clubs, hurrying towards our party. We soon ran the raft aground, and, leaping on shore, were led by Cousin Silas to the summit of a rockyhill close to where we were. 

The savages advanced with threatening gestures. None of them hadfire-arms. We thus felt sure that, if they ventured to attack us, weshould make a good fight of it. Cousin Silas called four of the men tothe front, and ordered them to fire over the heads of the savages, toshow them the power we possessed. The savages halted at the sound, andlooked about to see what had become of the balls they heard whistlingabove them. While they hesitated, Cousin Silas, cutting down a greenbough, went to the brow of the hill and waved it over his head--a tokenof a friendly disposition, understood in all those regions. To ourgreat satisfaction, we saw the savages tearing down boughs, which theywaved in the same manner. Among the whaler's crew was a SandwichIslander who spoke the language of many of the people in those regions. He was told to try and see if he could make them understand him. Wavinga bough he went forward to meet them, while the rest of us stood readyto fire should any treachery be practised. They did not seem, however, to have meditated any, and met him in a perfectly friendly manner. After talking to them for some time, he came back and said he hadarranged everything. He told them that we were voyaging to our owncountry, and that we had landed here to await the arrival of anothership. If we were treated well, our friends would return the compliment;but that if otherwise, they would certainly avenge us. This, undoubtedly, was far from strictly true; but I have no doubt that it hadthe effect of making the savages disposed to treat us hospitably. Thesavages on this put down their arms and advanced towards us withfriendly gestures. Mr Brand, consequently, went to meet them, orderingus, at the same time, to keep our arms ready in case of treachery. Thesavages were very dark. Some of them, whom, we took to be chiefs, woreturbans over their frizzled-out hair, and mantles and kilts of nativecloth. They shook hands with Mr Brand in a very friendly way, andinvited us all to their houses; but he replied that he preferredbuilding a house where we had landed, though he would be obliged to themfor a supply of food. The natives replied very politely that the foodwe should have, and that they hoped we should change our minds regardingthe place where we proposed building a house. 

After some further conversation the chiefs and their followers retired, and Mr Brand advised all hands to set to work to fortify the hill wherewe were posted, and to bring up the greater part of the raft, andeverything on it, to our fort. When this was done, we made a small rafton which we could go off to the wreck, hoping to bring away everythingof value before she went to pieces. The natives watched our proceedingsfrom a distance, but our fire-arms evidently kept them in awe, andprevented them from coming nearer. As soon as they had completed theraft, three of the whaler's crew were eager to go off to the wreck; butMr Brand advised them to wait till just before daylight the followingmorning, when they might hope to perform the trip without beingperceived. He warned them that the savages were especially treacherous, and could in no way be depended on. Five or six of them, I think itwas, laughed at him, and asking why they should fear a set of blacksavages, expressed their intention of going on board at once. Accordingly, carrying only a couple of muskets with them, they shovedoff from the shore, and without much difficulty got up to the wreck. Itwas then low-water, but the tide was rising. We watched them on board, and then they disappeared below. We waited anxiously to see themcommence their return, but they did not appear. "They have broken intothe spirit-room, I fear, " remarked Cousin Silas. "If so, I fear thatthey will be little able to find their way back. " An hour passed away. We began to fear some disaster had befallen them. While watching thewreck, we saw from behind a wooded point to the right a large canoe makeits appearance, then another, and another, till a dozen were collected. It was too probable that some treachery was intended. We fired threemuskets in quick succession, in hopes of calling the attention of theseamen. No sooner did the savages hear the sound of the fire-arms thanthey paddled away towards the wreck. They had got nearly up to it, whenthe seamen came on deck, and stared wildly around them, making all sortsof frantic gestures. Seeing the canoes, they fired their muskets atthem, but hit no one; and then, throwing down their weapons on the deck, they doubled their fists, and with shouts of laughter struck out attheir approaching enemies. The savages hesitated a moment at thedischarge of the muskets, but finding that they were not again fired at, they paddled on at a rapid rate, and getting alongside the vessel, swarmed in numbers on board. We saw that the tipsy seamen who made ashow of fighting were speedily knocked down, but what afterwards becameof them we could not tell. The savages were evidently eagerly engagedin plundering the ship, and hurriedly loaded their canoes with thethings they collected. They, of course, knew that the tide was rising, and that their operations might be speedily stopped. Some of thecanoes, deeply laden, had already shoved off, when we saw the remainderof the savages make a rush to the side of the vessel; bright flamesburst forth from every hatchway; several loud reports were heard; thenone louder than the rest, and the ill-fated ship, and all who remainedon board, were blown into the air!

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

OUR ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND. 

After the catastrophe I have described, the ship continued to burnfuriously--the oil in her hold helping to feed the conflagration. Thesavages who were already in their canoes paddled rapidly away; many musthave lost their lives, as several canoes appear to have been destroyed. Numbers of the unfortunate wretches, wounded by the explosion, wereswimming about, trying to get hold of their canoes or of pieces of thewreck; while others, who had escaped injury, were making for the shore. But they had watchful enemies in the sea looking for them; the waterswarmed with sharks, and several, unable to defend themselves, werecaught by the voracious monsters. What became of our poor countrymen--whether they were blown up with the ship or carried off by the savages--we could not tell. 

By this accident our numbers were sadly diminished, as was our hope ofobtaining what we might require from the wreck. Cousin Silas tookoccasion to urge upon the remainder of the men the importance of keepingtogether for mutual support; but, from the way the whaler's crew tookhis advice, I saw that they were in no way inclined to follow it. Itwas with difficulty even that he could persuade them to keep watch atnight. That was a trying period with us. Cousin Silas and I, with twoof the crew kept our watch; and Ben, and the doctor, and Jerry, with twoothers, watched the rest of the night. We kept our ears and eyes wideopen, and fancied that we could see under the shadow of the trees thesavages prowling about us, and could hear their suppressed whispers; butif such was the case, when they found that we were on the alert, theyrefrained from attacking us. 

That first night the captain awoke from his stupor, and, sitting up, inquired what had occurred. When he was told, somewhat abruptly, by oneof his crew that the ship was cast away, that the mates and several ofthe men were lost, and that we were surrounded by savages ready todestroy us, the account had so great an effect on him that it seemed todrive him out of his mind. He shrieked out, "It is false! it is false--mutiny! mutiny!" and continued to rave in the most outrageous anddreadful manner. Thus he continued for many hours. The doctor said hewas attacked with delirium tremens, brought on by his intemperatehabits; and thus he continued, without being allowed a moment ofconsciousness to be aware of his awful state, till he was summoned henceto stand before the Almighty Judge, whose laws, to the last moment ofhis earthly probation, he had systematically outraged. We buried himjust outside our fort, at night, that the savages might not observe thatour number was still further reduced. 

Three or four days passed away. Both night and day we were equally onthe alert, but the stock of provisions we had brought with us from thewreck was growing very low, and it was necessary to devise some plan forobtaining more. The savages, on the other hand, finding that they couldnot easily surprise us, changed their tactics, and once more cametowards us in friendly guise, bringing fruits and vegetables, and pigsand poultry. Had they been aware of our starving condition, they couldnot have hit upon a better plan to win our confidence. Still, however, Cousin Silas did not trust to them. 

"They may really be friendly, " he remarked, "and let us behave towardsthem as if they were; but never let us for a moment be off our guard. "When, however, the natives began to spread out their banquet before thevery eyes of the famished sailors, and invited them to come down andpartake of it, very few could resist the temptation. One after anotherwent down, till only the doctor and Ben, Jerry and I, with Cousin Silas, remained on the hill. Even old Surley thought he might as well join theparty, but after he had gobbled up a good supply of pork, which some ofthe sailors gave him, he hurried back to us. We watched anxiously whatwould next happen. In a short time Jerry exclaimed that he thought itwas a pity we should not benefit by the feast, and before Cousin Silascould stop him he had run down the hill and was among the savages. Atthat moment, what was our horror to see the natives start up, eachdealing the white man nearest him a terrific blow on the head. Nosecond one was needed. Every one of our late companions lay killed uponthe ground. Jerry started back, and endeavoured to run to us, but asavage caught him by the shoulder, and (how my blood ran cold!) Ithought would brain him on the spot. Jerry looked up in his face withan imploring glance. Something he said or did, or the way he looked, seemed to arrest the savage's arm. Perhaps he may have reminded him ofa son he had lost. He lifted up his club, but this time it was todefend his young prisoner from the attack of another savage. He thentook him by the hand, and led him to a distance from the rest. Jerrylooked back earnestly at us, but he saw that if he attempted to escapefrom his protector he should probably be killed by one of the others, sohe accompanied him without resistance. The rest of the savages, collecting the dead bodies, fastened ropes to their legs, and draggedthem away, with loud shouts and songs of triumph. To our surprise, theydid not molest us. They saw that we retained the fire-arms, andprobably thought that they might take us at an advantage another timewithout risk to themselves. We had still a good supply of powder andballs, so, loading all the muskets, we prepared for an attack. Horrified as I had been at the slaughter of our late shipmates, my greatanxiety was about Jerry. I hoped that his life might be safe, but itwas a sad fate to be kept in captivity by such treacherous andbloodthirsty savages as these had showed themselves to be. I asked MrBrand where he thought we were. He replied that he had no doubt, fromthe appearance and conduct of the savages, that we had been wrecked onone of the outlying Fiji Islands. He told me that the inhabitants, afew years back, had all been the very worst cannibals in the Pacific, but that of late years Protestant missionaries had gone among them, andthat in some of the islands, of which there were eighty or ninetyinhabited, the whole population had, he understood, become Christians. Still, however, a large number, among whom the light of truth had notbeen introduced, retained their old habits and customs; and among someof these we had unfortunately fallen. Of course, also, we could not butbe excessively anxious about our own fate. How could we hope to holdout without food, should the savages attack us? The night passed away, however, in silence. Our enemies were evidently abiding their time. 

It was just daybreak when Ben Yool started up. "I can't stand it anylonger, " he exclaimed. "I'll just go and see if those savages left anyof their provisions behind them. " Without waking Mr Brand to know whathe would say, off he went down the hill. How anxiously I waited hisreturn! I was afraid that some of the savages might be lying in wait, and might catch him. My ear watched for the sound of his footsteps. Five--ten minutes--a quarter of an hour passed away. At last I thoughtI heard the breathing of a person toiling up a hill. It might be asavage, though. I kept my rifle ready, in case it should prove anenemy. To my great satisfaction it proved to be Ben. He came loadedwith bread-fruits and cocoa-nuts, and what was undoubtedly the hindquarters of a pig, while a calabash full of water hung round his neck. "I was afraid that I should have to come back without anything for mytrouble, " said he. "Just then, under a tree, I stumbled over theseprovisions. How they came there I don't know, but there they are andlet us be thankful. "

We roused up Mr Brand and the doctor. They carefully examined theprovisions, and agreed that they were very good of their sort, so we setto, and made a very hearty breakfast. From the place where Ben foundthe food, Mr Brand was of opinion that it had been left there expresslyfor us, but whether by a friend or by our enemies, for the purpose ofentrapping us, it was difficult to say. 

The day, as it advanced, threatened to be very stormy. The clouds camedriving across the sky, and a gale began to blow, such as is rarely seenin those latitudes. It gave us rest, however, for the natives are notfond of venturing out in such weather, and we had less fear of beingattacked. During the night we were aroused by hearing a gun fired. Wepeered out seaward through the darkness; another gun was heard, and aflash was seen. It was evidently from a vessel in distress. It wasjust before daybreak. The dawn came and revealed to us a schooner, withall her canvas gone, drifting towards the breakers, which rolled in withterrific power, a quarter of a mile from the shore. We gazed at thevessel; we all knew her at a glance, even through the gloom. She wasthe pirate schooner. On she drove. In another instant she was amongthe foaming breakers. Her time had come at last. We could hear theshrieks and despairing cries of the wretched men on board. She struckvery near the spot where the whaler had been lost. Over the reef shedrove. We could see the people one after the other washed overboard, and engulfed by the foaming waters. To help them would have beenimpossible, even had we not had to consider our own safety. At last oneman appeared in the clear water inside the breakers. He seemed to beswimming, though he advanced but slowly, and we saw that he was lashedto a piece of timber. At last he drifted on shore. 

"I cannot see the poor wretch die without help, pirate though he maybe, " exclaimed Cousin Silas, running down to the beach. I followed him. The log of timber and its freight reached the shore at the moment wegot down to it. There was no look of recognition. We ran into thewater, and cast loose the body; but our undertaking had been useless. Acorpse lay before us; and though the features were distorted, werecognised them as those of Captain Bruno. We had just time to hurryback to our fort, when we saw a body of savages coming round a point ata little distance off. 

The schooner had, in the meantime, beaten over the reef, and wasdrifting across the channel, when, as she got within a hundred yards ofthe beach, she went down, leaving a dozen or more of her crew floatingon the surface. Most of them struck out boldly for the shore; but nosooner did they reach it, believing themselves safe, than the clubs ofthe savages put an end to their existence. In a short time not oneremained alive of the whole pirate crew. It seemed strange that thesavages had allowed so long a time to elapse without attacking us, norcould we in any way account for their conduct, unless under thesupposition that they were afraid of our fire-arms. To show them thatour weapons were in good order, and that we were likely to use themeffectually, we every now and then, when we saw any of the natives near, fired a volley in the air. 

When we had gone down on the beach, on the occasion of the wreck of theschooner, we observed a canoe thrown upon the shore. She was evidentlyone of those deserted by the savages when the whaler blew up. We agreedthat, if we could get her repaired, she might prove the means of ourescape. The first thing was to cut some paddles. This we had no greatdifficulty in doing, from the trees growing around us. Watching theiropportunity, when no savages were near, Mr Brand and Ben went down toexamine her. On their return they reported that she was perfectlysound, and required little or nothing done to her. It was a questionwith us, however, whether we should commit ourselves to the deep atonce, and endeavour to reach some more hospitable island, or wait forthe possibility of a ship passing that way, and going off to her. 

We had scarcely consumed our provisions, when at daybreak one morning weobserved a basket under the very tree where Ben had before discoveredwhat he brought us. He again went down, and returned with a similarsupply. We considered this matter, and could not believe that anytreachery was intended, but, on the contrary, we began to hope that wehad some secret friend among the savages. Who he was, and how he cameto take an interest in us, was the question. Several days more passedaway. Each alternate night provisions were left for us. At length Iresolved to endeavour to discover our friend. My great object was thatI might be able by this means to gain tidings of Jerry, and perhaps torescue him from the hands of his captors, for I continued to hope thathe had not been put to death. I explained my plan to Mr Brand. Aftersome hesitation, he consented to allow me to adopt it. "I feel withyou, Harry, that I could never bring myself to leave the island withoutJerry, " he answered; "and probably the savages, should they catch you, would be less likely to injure you than any of us. "

That night, soon after it was dark, I crept down to the tree, andconcealing myself among some bushes which grew near, waited the result. I felt very sleepy, and could at times scarcely keep myself awake. Atlast I heard footsteps, as if a person were cautiously approaching thetree. A man dressed, as far as I could distinguish, like a chief, witha turban on his head, deposited a basket in the usual spot. I sprangout and seized his hand. At first he seemed much surprised, if notalarmed; but, recognising me, he patted me on the head, and uttered somewords in a low voice, which I could not understand, but their tone wasmild and kind. Then he put out his hand, and I distinctly felt him makethe sign of the cross on my brow, and then he made it on his own. I nolonger had any doubt that he was a Christian. I longed to ask him aboutJerry, but I found that he did not understand a word of English. It wasso dark, also, that he could scarcely see my gestures. I tried everyexpedient to make him comprehend my meaning. I ran on, and then seizedan imaginary person, and conducted him back to the fort. I raised myhands in a supplicating attitude. I shook his hands warmly, to show howgrateful I should be if he granted my request. At last I began to hopethat he understood me. He shook my hands and nodded, and then, assisting me to carry the basket close up to the fort, hurriedly leftme. 

This circumstance considerably raised the spirits of all the party, forwe felt that we had a friend where we least expected to find one. If, however, we could but get back Jerry, we resolved to embark. Perhapsthe Christian chief might help us. Had we been able to speak thelanguage, our difficulties would have been much lessened. Here, again, we had another example of the beneficial results of missionary labours. How the chief had been brought to a knowledge of the truth we could nottell, but that his savage nature had been changed was evident. Perhapsthere might be others like him on the island. How it was that we hadremained so long unmolested was another puzzle. Perhaps it was owing tosome superstitious custom of the natives, Mr Brand observed. Perhapswe were tabooed; or, as we had, as they might suppose, existed so longwithout food, they might look upon us as beings of a superior order, andbe afraid to injure us. Our patience, meantime, was sorely tried. Wewere afraid also that the natives might discover our canoe, and carry itoff. 

As may be supposed, our eyes took many an anxious glance seaward, inhopes of being greeted by the sight of a vessel. Nor were theydisappointed. A large ship was discovered one forenoon standing in forthe land. How the sight made our hearts beat! The time had arrived forus to endeavour to make our escape--but could we go and leave Jerry?

"Yes; we may induce the captain to come and look for him, " said CousinSilas. 

"But suppose he will not, " observed the doctor. 

"Then I, for one, will come back in the canoe, and not rest till I findhim, " exclaimed Ben Yool. "They can only kill and eat me at the worst, and they'll find I'm a precious tough morsel. "

"I'll keep you company, Ben, " said I, taking his hand. 

So it was agreed that we were to embark at once. Taking our rifles andmuskets, the paddles in our hands, and some provisions in our pockets, we hurried down to the beach. We had got the canoe in the water, when ashout attracted our attention. Old Surley gave a bark of delight, andran off. "That is Jerry's voice, " I exclaimed, hurrying to meet him. At a distance were several men and boys in hot pursuit. Jerry wassomewhat out of breath, so I took his hand and helped him along, withoutasking questions. He, Surley, and I, leaped into the canoe together;Mr Brand, Ben, and the doctor seized the paddles, and shoving her offinto deep water, away we steered towards the passage through the reef. Scarcely had we got a couple of hundred yards off before the savagesreached the shore. They instantly fitted their arrows to their bows;but I, seizing my rifle, made signs that if they let fly I would fire inreturn. They understood the hint, and ran off along the beach to a spotwhere a number of their canoes were hauled up. The leading one, withonly three men in her, came dashing close after us through the surf. One held his bow ready to shoot, the rest had placed their weapons atthe bottom. The other canoes contained more savages, and followed closeafter their leader. This made us redouble our efforts to escape. Wedarted through the passage just as a dozen canoes or more left theshore. We had a terribly short start of them, and they paddled nearlytwice as fast as we could. 

"Shall I fire and give notice to the ship?" I asked Mr Brand. I wassitting in the bow of the canoe facing forward. 

"Yes, yes, Harry, fire, " he answered. "They will hear us on board bythis time. " I took one of the muskets and fired in the air. Directlyafter, we saw the ship crowding more sail, and standing directly for us. 

"I thought so all along, and now I'm certain of it, " exclaimed Ben, almost jumping up in his seat. "I know that starboard topmaststudden-sail, and no mistake. She's the _Triton_! Hurrah! hurrah!"

"You're right, Ben, " said Mr Brand. "I felt sure also that she was the_Triton_, but still was afraid my hopes might have in some way havedeceived me. But give way, give way, or the savages will be up to usbefore we are alongside her. " The caution was not unnecessary, for thecanoes of the savages had already got within range of our rifles. 

"Couldn't you bring down a few of the niggers, sir?" asked Ben. "Itwill only serve them right, and mayhap will stop their way a little. "

"No, no; never shed blood as long as it can be avoided, " answered CousinSilas. "These very savages who are now seeking our lives may ere longbe shown the light of truth, and be converted and live. See, I believethey have already made us out on board the _Triton_. They are firing tofrighten off the savages. "

As he spoke, three guns were fired in quick succession from the_Triton_. The noise and smoke, to which the savages were evidentlyunaccustomed, made them desist paddling. We redoubled our efforts, andshot ahead. After a little hesitation, the savages once more pressed onafter us, but happily at that moment the ship again fired. Mr Brand atthe same time seized the muskets and discharged them one after the otherover the heads of our pursuers. Again they wavered, some even turnedtheir canoes about, two or three only advanced slowly, the rest ceasedpaddling altogether. This gave us a great advantage, and withoutwaiting to let Mr Brand reload the muskets, we paddled away with ourhopes of escape much increased. Some minutes elapsed, when the courageof the savages returned, and fearing that we might altogether escapethem, they all united in the pursuit. The breeze, however, freshened, the ship rapidly clove the waters, and before the canoes had regainedthe distance they had lost, we were alongside. Loud shouts of welcomebroke from every quarter of the _Triton_ as we clambered up her side. 

I will not attempt to describe the meeting of Jerry and his father. Captain Frankland, indeed, received us all most kindly and heartily. For a long time he had given us up as lost, but still he had continuedthe search for us. The _Dove_ had been captured by the Americancorvette, and soon afterwards he had fallen in with her. From thepirates on board the little schooner he discovered that we were on boardthe large one. He had pursued her for several months, till at length, passing our island, he had observed our flag-staff and our hut stillstanding. This was, fortunately, after our second visit, when we hadaltered the inscriptions on the trees. The gale which had wrecked thepirate had driven the _Triton_ somewhat to the southward of her coursefor the Bonins, whither she was bound to look for us; and thus, by awonderful coincidence, she appeared at the very moment her coming was ofmost importance to rescue us from slavery, if not, more probably, from ahorrible death. 

The savages, when they saw that we were safe on board the ship, finallyceased from the pursuit. Captain Frankland kept the ship steadily onher course, ordering five or six guns to be fired without shot overtheir heads, as a sign of the white man's displeasure. After the firstgun, the savages turned round their canoes, and, in terror and dismay, made the best of their way to the shore. The _Triton_ was then steeredfor the coast of Japan. 

It was not till some days afterwards that Jerry gave me an account ofwhat had befallen him among the savages. "I was in a horrible frightwhen the savage dragged me off, " he said. "I thought that he waskeeping me to kill at his leisure, just as a housewife does a pig or aturkey, when he wanted to eat me. I cannot even now describe thedreadful scenes I witnessed when the cannibal monsters cooked anddevoured the poor fellows they had so treacherously slaughtered. Whatwas my dismay, also, when a few days afterwards some more bodies ofwhite men were brought in! I thought that they had killed you all; andit was only when I found that there were ten instead of five bodies, that I hoped I might have been mistaken. 

"The man who had captured me treated me kindly, and fed me well. Atfirst I thought he might have had his reasons (and very unsatisfactorythey would have been to me) for doing the latter; but this idea Ibanished (as it was not a pleasant fine, and took away my appetite) whenI found that he did not partake of the horrible banquets with hiscountrymen. He was constantly visited also in the evening by a chief, who evidently looked on them with disgust, and always looked at me mostkindly, and spoke to me in the kindest tones, though I could notunderstand what he said. One evening, after he and my master had beentalking some time, he got up and made the sign of the cross on my brow, and then on his own, and then on that of my master. Then I guessed thatI must have fallen among Christians, and that this was the reason I wastreated so kindly. I understood also by the signs he made that you allwere well, and that he would do his best to protect you. 

"One day he came and told me to follow him into the woods. My master'shut was some way from the other habitations, so that we could go outwithout of necessity being observed. It was, however, necessary to becautious. What was my delight when he took me to a height, and showingme a vessel in the distance, pointed to the fort, and signed to me torun and join you as fast as I could! You know all the rest. "

Jerry at different times afterwards gave me very interesting accounts ofvarious things he had observed among the savages of the Fijis, but Ihave not now space to repeat them. 

How delightful it was to find ourselves once more on board the finesteady old ship, with a well-disciplined crew, and kind, considerateofficers! Our sufferings and trials had taught us to appreciate theseadvantages: and I believe both Jerry and I were grateful for ourpreservation, and for the blessings we now enjoyed. 

We had a very quick and fine run till we were in the latitude ofLoo-Choo. A gale then sprung up--rather unusual, I believe, at thatseason of the year. It lasted two days. When the weather cleared, wesaw a huge, lumbering thing tumbling about at the distance of three orfour miles from us. It looked, as Fleming the gunner remarked, "like aMartello tower adrift. "

"If you'd said she was one of those outlandish Chinese junk affairs, you'd have been nearer the truth, " observed Mr Pincott the carpenter, who, as of old, never lost an opportunity of taking up his friend. "Bythe way she rolls, I don't think she'll remain above water much longer. "

Captain Frankland thought the same, and making sail we stood towardsher. By that time she was evidently settling down. The ship washove-to, the boats were lowered, and, in spite of a good deal of seawhich then was on, we ran alongside. A number of strange-lookingfigures in coloured silks and cottons, dressed more like women than men, crowded the side. Some leaped into the water in their fright; others wereceived into the boats, and conveyed them to the ship. Two trips hadbeen made, when Mr Pincott, who was in the boat with me, said he didnot think she would float till we came back. At that moment a personappeared at the stern of the vessel handsomely dressed. He was afine-looking old gentleman. He must have seen his danger, and he seemedto be bidding his countrymen farewell. I could not bear the thought ofleaving him; so I begged Mr Pincott to pull back, and signing him todescend by one of the rope-ladders hanging over the stern, we receivedhim safely into the boat. Scarcely had we done so, when the junk gave aheavy lurch. "There she goes, poor thing!" exclaimed Pincott. "Well, she didn't look as if she was made to swim. But pull away, my lads--pull away. We may be back in time to pick up some of the poor fellows. "It was heartrending to see the poor wretches struggling in the water, and holding out their hands imploringly to us, and yet not be able tohelp them. Many very soon sunk; others got hold of gratings and bits ofwreck, and endeavoured to keep themselves afloat, but some of thosemonsters of the deep--the sharks--got in among them, and very sooncommitted horrible havoc among the survivors. The moment we were ableto get the people we had in the boat up the ship's side we returned tothe scene of the catastrophe. We pulled about as rapidly as we could, hauling in all we could get hold of still swimming about, but some weredrawn down even before our very eyes, and altogether a good many musthave been lost. 

The old gentleman I had been the means of saving proved to be the chiefperson on board. We made out that the junk was from Loo-Choo, but thathe himself belonged to some town in Japan. This we discovered byshowing him a map, and from the very significant signs he made. Whilewe were making all sorts of pantomimic gestures, Mr Renshaw suggestedthat a lad we had on board, supposed to be a Chinese, might perhaps beable to talk with him. Chin Chi had been picked up from a wreck at seaon a former voyage of the _Triton_, and had now made some progress inhis knowledge of English. Chin Chi was brought aft with somereluctance. What, however, was our astonishment to see the oldgentleman gaze at him earnestly for some minutes; they exchanged a fewwords; then they proved that Japanese nature was very like Englishnature, for, rushing forward, they threw themselves into each other'sarms--the father had found a long-lost son!

The son had been seized, like many of his countrymen, with a desire tosee the civilised world, of which, in spite of the exclusive system ofhis government, he had heard, and had stolen off, and got on board aship which was afterwards wrecked, he being the only survivor. Poorfellow, he had seen but a very rugged part of the world during his visitto England, in the Liverpool docks and similar localities. He told hisfather, however, how well he had been treated on board the _Triton_; andthe old gentleman, on hearing this, endeavoured to express his gratitudeby every means in his power. 

Two days after this we found ourselves anchored off the harbour ofNapha, in Great Loo-Choo. In a short time a boat came off from theshore bearing two venerable old gentlemen with long beards and flowingrobes of blue and yellow, gathered in at the waist with sashes, andalmost hiding their white sandalled feet. On their heads they woreyellow caps, something like the Turkish fez in shape, and fastened undertheir chins with strings, like a baby's nightcap. Bowing with theirnoses to the planks as they reached the deck, they presented redvisiting cards, three feet in length, and inquired what circumstance hadbrought the ship to their island. Great was their astonishment when ourold friend Hatchie Katsie presented himself, and said that we had cometo land him and his son, who had been shipwrecked. He had come to givenotice of the loss of the junk, but that he purposed proceeding on inthe ship to Japan. 

His first care was to send on shore for proper clothes for Chin Chi, wholooked a very different person when dressed in bright-coloured robes anda gay cap. He had got a similar dress for Jerry and me. He toldCaptain Frankland that he could not venture to invite him on shore, butthat, as we were mere boys, he might take us under his escort. 

Highly delighted, we accordingly pulled on shore. We found conveyanceswaiting for us, kagos they were called. They were the funniest littlemachines I ever saw--a sort of litter; suppose a box open in front andthe sides, with a low seat inside, and the lid shut down. Even Jerryand I, though not very big, had great difficulty in coiling ourselvesaway in ours; and how our portly old friend contrived it, was indeed apuzzle. We had to sit cross-legged, with our arms folded and our backsbent double, and were borne jogging along by two native porters, ourheads every now and then bumping up against the roof, till we couldn'thelp laughing and shouting out to each other to ascertain if our skullswere cracked. I suppose the natives have a mode of glueing themselvesdown to the seats. 

We passed over several well-made bridges, and along a paved causeway, having on either side a succession of beautiful gardens and fertilerice-fields, while before us rose a hill covered with trees, out ofwhich peeped a number of very pretty-looking villas. When we reachedthe top of the hill we had a fine view over a large portion of theisland--several towns and numerous villages were seen, withcountry-houses and farms scattered about. Altogether, we formed a veryfavourable opinion of the island and the advanced state of civilisationamong the people of Loo-Choo. 

The house to which our friend took us was built of wood, and coveredwith earthen tiles. It had bamboo verandas, and a court-yard in frontsurrounded by a wall of coral. The interior was plain and neat, --therafters appearing overhead were painted red, and the floor was coveredwith matting. The owner of the house, an old gentleman very likeHatchie Katsie, received us very courteously, and after we had sat sometime, ordered food to be brought in. Some long-robed attendantsprepared a table in the chief hall, on which they placed a number ofdishes, containing red slices of eggs and cucumber, boiled fish andmustard, fried beef, bits of hog's liver, and a variety of other similardainties, at which we picked away without much consideration, but whichmight have been bits of dogs, cats, or rats, for aught I knew to thecontrary. The people of Loo-Choo must be very abstemious if we judgefrom the size of their drinking cups--no larger than thimbles! Theliquor they drank, called sakee, is distilled from rice. 

We only spent two days on shore, so that I cannot pretend to know muchof the country. From its elevation, and being constantly exposed to thesea-breezes, it must be very healthy. It is also very fertile. All theagricultural instruments we saw were rude. The plough was of the oldRoman model, with an iron point. One of the chief productions of theisland is rice, and as for it a constant supply of water is required, there is a very extensive system of irrigation. To prepare it forcultivation, the land is first overflowed, and the labourer hoes, andploughs, and harrows, while he stands knee deep in mud and water. It isfirst grown in plots and then transplanted. The banyan-tree is veryabundant, and so is the bamboo, which supplies them with food, lodging, and clothing, besides, from its stately growth, forming a delightfulshade to their villages. The sugar-cane is grown, and much sugar ismade from it. The islands are of coral formation, but, from some mightyconvulsion of nature, the rock on which the coral was placed has beenupheaved, and now in many places appears above it. The sketch Iintroduce will afford a better notion of the country-scenery in Loo-Choothan any mere verbal account which I could give. 

The people of Loo-Choo are well formed, and the men have full blackbeards, and their hair being well oiled is gathered to the back of thehead, and fastened with a gold, silver, or brass pin, according to therank of the wearer. Their dress is a loose robe with wide sleeves, gathered round the waist with a girdle, in which they carry theirtobacco pouch and pipe. The upper classes wear a white stocking, andwhen they go out they put on a straw sandal secured to the foot by aband passing between the great toe and the next to it, as worn by theRomans. The peasants go bareheaded and barefooted, and wear only acoarse cotton shirt. Their cottages also are generally thatched withrice straw, and surrounded by a palisade of bamboos. The furniture isof the simplest description. It consists of a thick mat spread on theplank floor, on which the people sit cross-legged; a table, a fewstools, and a teapot, with some cups, and a few mugs and saucers. Theirfood is chiefly rice and sweet potatoes, animal food being only used bythe upper classes. The upper ranks use a variety of soups, sweetmeats, and cooked and raw vegetables. They are a hard-working people, thoughthey have their festivals and days of relaxation, when, in open spacesbetween the trees, they indulge in their favourite foot-ball and otherathletic sports. 

I think what I have given is about the full amount of the information Iobtained. One thing I must observe, that although they are now sunk ina senseless idolatry, from the mildness of their dispositions, and theirintelligent and inquiring minds, I believe that if Christianity werepresented to them in its rightfully attractive form, they would speedilyand gladly embrace the truth. 

As our friend Hatchie Katsie was anxious to return to Japan, CaptainFrankland very gladly undertook to convey him there. He and Chin Chi, accordingly, once more embarked with us on board the _Triton_. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

OUR VOYAGE TO JAPAN. 

Our friend Hatchie Katsie belonged to the commercial town of Hakodadi, situated in the Straits of Saugar, on the south end of the Japaneseisland of Yesso, and before it we found ourselves one bright morningbrought up. The harbour was full of junks of all sizes, coming andgoing, proving that a brisk trade must be carried on there. The townseemed of considerable extent, stretching along the sea-shore for a mileor more, while many of the streets ran up the sides of a loftypromontory, at the base of which it stands. The mountains rise directlybehind to an elevation of a thousand feet, their bare summits oftenbeing covered with snow. The slopes are clothed with underwood, whileon the plain below wide-spreading cypresses, maples, plum and peachtrees grow in rich profusion. Altogether the scene is a verypicturesque and beautiful one. From numerous stone quarries theJapanese have supplied themselves with an abundance of buildingmaterials. The appearance of the town, with its well-constructed seawalls, bridges, and dikes, showed us that the Japanese must be a veryindustrious people, and that they have made considerable advance incivilisation. 

One of the first things which struck us was a Japanese boat which camealongside, both from her model and the neat way in which she was puttogether. Her bows were very sharp, she had great beam, and she taperedslightly towards the stern. She was built of pine wood, and varnishedwithout any paint. Her crew, almost naked, stood aft, and sculled heralong instead of rowing, at a very great rate. The official personagesshe brought off sat in the fore-part; one of them, armed with twoswords, a mark of rank, stood in the bows, and made a very goodfigure-head. We should probably have had to take our departure withoutholding any communication with the shore, so anxious were the Japanesegovernment to prevent any communication of the people with foreigners, when Hatchie Katsie made his appearance on deck. The account he gavehis countrymen soon changed the aspect of affairs, and we were told thatthe governor of the place would no doubt make an exception in ourfavour. 

Our friend having procured Japanese clothes for us, as he had done atLoo-Choo, told us that he might venture to take us on shore and show ussomething of the mode of life among his countrymen. I have no doubtthat Chin Chi considered it far superior to that of the English, as faras he was able to judge of them. The Japanese gentlemen were, generally, finer men than those of Loo-Choo. Their dress also wasdifferent. One of the chief people in the place, if he was not thegovernor, wore a gaily-coloured robe of rich silk, with the back, sleeves, and breast, covered with armorial bearings. He wore a veryshort pair of trousers, with black socks and straw slippers. His hat, something like a reversed bowl, shone with lacquer and ornaments ofgold. I must say, however, that Europeans have no right to quiz thehead covering of any nation in the world, as ours far surpass all othersin ugliness, and in the want of adaptation of means to an end. 

Our friend could not take us publicly into the town, so he had usconveyed to his country-house in kagos, such as were used at Loo-Choo. On every side, as we passed along, the people were busily employed; somewere lading their packhorses with bags of meal, others with heavymallets were pounding grain into flour, while others were hoeing in therice grounds up to their knees in water. There was no sign of poverty, and even the lowest people were well and comfortably clad in coarsegarments, shorter than those of the more wealthy classes. All wear thehair drawn up and fastened at the top in a knot. In rainy weather theywear cloaks made of straw, so that a person looks like a thatched roof. The same sort of garments, I hear, are used by the Portuguese peasantry. The upper classes cover their robes with a waterproof cloak ofoiled-paper. All, like the Chinese, use the umbrella as a guard fromthe sun and rain. 

The streets are thoroughly drained, for not only are there surfacegutters, but deep drains which carry all the filth into the sea. Here, again, they are in advance of many civilised people. Some of the besthouses are built of stone, but they are usually constructed of aframework of bamboo and laths, which is covered with plaster paintedblack and white in diagonal lines. The roofs are composed of black andwhite tiles; the eaves extending low down to protect the interior fromthe sun, and the oiled-paper windows from the rain. They are, generally, of but one story. Some of the residences stand back from thestreet with a court-yard before them, and have gardens behind. Thefronts of the shops have movable shutters, and behind these are slidingpanels of oiled-paper or lattices of bamboo, to secure privacy whenrequired. In the interior of the houses is a framework raised two feetfrom the ground, divided by sliding panels into several compartments, and spread with stuffed mats; it is the guest, dining, and sleeping-roomof private houses, and the usual workshop of handicraftsmen--a housewithin a house. When a nobleman travelling stops at a lodging-house, his banner is conspicuously displayed outside, while the names ofinferior guests are fastened to the door-posts. The doctor made acapital sketch of a scene we saw when looking into the interior of aJapanese house--a servant apparently feeding two children. 

A Japanese has only one wife, consequently women stand far higher in thesocial scale than among other Eastern people. They have eveningparties, when tea is handed round; and the guests amuse themselves withmusic and cards. Japanese ladies have an ugly custom of dyeing theirteeth black, by a process which at the same time destroys the gums. Themore wealthy people have suburban villas, the gardens of which aresurrounded by a wall, and laid out in the Chinese style, withfish-ponds, containing gold and silver fish, bridges, pagoda-shapedsummer-houses and chapels, beds of gay-coloured flowers, and dwarffruit-trees. 

A large portion of the people profess the Buddhist religion. We visiteda large temple at Hakodadi, full sixty feet high. The tiled roof issupported on an arrangement of girders, posts, and tie-beams, restingupon large lacquered pillars. The ornaments in the interior, consistingof dragons, phoenixes, cranes, tortoises, all connected with the worshipof Buddha, are elaborately carved and richly gilt. There are threeshrines, each containing an image, and the raised floor is thicklycovered with mats. We were shown a curious praying machine covered withinscriptions. At about the height easily reached by a person was awheel with three spokes, and on each spoke a ring: turning the wheelonce round is considered equivalent to saying a prayer, and the jingleof the ring is supposed to call the attention of the divinity to thepresence of the person paying his devotions. The Sintoo worship ispractised also among the Japanese, but its temples are less resorted tothan those of Buddha. 

We saw a number of junks building. In shape they were like the Chinese, but none were more than a hundred tons burden. Canvas instead of bamboois used for sails. 

The Japanese are decidedly a literary people. All classes can read andwrite; and works of light reading appear from their presses almost withthe same rapidity that they do with us. They print from wooden blocks, and have wooden type. They have also long been accustomed to print incolours. The paper they employ is manufactured from the bark of themulberry, but is so thin that only one side can be used. They havesorts of games, some like our chess, and cards, and lotto, and we sawthe lads in the streets playing ball very much as boys do in an Englishcountry village. 

As we did not go to the capital, I cannot describe it. We understoodthat there are two emperors of Japan--one acts as the civil governor, and the other as the head of all ecclesiastical affairs, a sort of popeor patriarch. The laws are very strict, especially with regard to allcommunication with foreigners. If a person of rank transgresses themand he is discovered, notice is sent to him, and he instantly cutshimself open with his sword, and thus prevents the confiscation of hisproperty. The people exhibit an extraordinary mixture of civilisationand barbarism; the latter being the result of their gross superstitiousfaith, and their seclusion from the rest of the world; the former showshow acute and ingenious must be their minds to triumph over suchdifficulties. 

Our friend Hatchie Katsie accompanied us to the shore when we embarked. Chin Chi parted with us most unwillingly. He longed to see more of thewonders of the world; but even had his father been ready to let him go, we could not have ventured to carry him away publicly in opposition tothe laws of the country. 

Once more we were at sea. "Homeward! homeward!" was the cry; but we hadstill a long way to sail and many places to visit before we could getthere. Steering south, we came to an anchor before the city of Manilla, the capital of the Philippine Islands, the largest of which is Lujon. They belong to Spain, having been taken possession of in 1565. They areinhabited by a variety of savage tribes, most of whom have beenconverted by their conquerors to the Roman Catholic faith. The capitalstands on a low plain near a large lake, which has numerous branches, now converted into canals. Hills rise in the distance, and behind themranges of lofty mountains, clothed to their summits with luxuriantvegetation. The number of Europeans is very small compared to that ofthe half-castes and aborigines. There are said to be forty thousand ofthose industrious people, the Chinese, who appear now to be findingtheir way into every country on the shores of the Pacific whereemployment can be procured. The largest manufactory at Manilla is thatof cigars. The city appeared to be in a somewhat dilapidated condition, the churches and public buildings, especially, were fast falling intodecay. 

We, as usual, were fortunate, and got a trip, through the kindness of anEnglish merchant, up the lake and a good way into the interior, when wecould not help wondering at the magnificent display of tropicalvegetation which we beheld. We also saw three of the most ferociousanimals of the country. Scarcely had we landed when, as with our friendand several Indian attendants we were proceeding along the hanks of thestream, our friend wished to send a message to a cottage on the oppositeside to desire the attendance of the master as a guide. There was aford near, but the Indian who was told to go said he would swim hishorse across. 

"Take care of the cayman, " was the warning given by all. 

"Oh, I care not for caymans; I would fight with a dozen of them!" wasthe answer given, we were told. 

The lake and rivers running into it abound with these savage monsters, aspecies of alligator or crocodile. The man forced his horse into thestream and swam on some way. Suddenly we were startled with the cry of"A cayman! a cayman! Take care, man!" The Indian threw himself fromhis horse and swam boldly to the bank, leaving his poor steed to becomethe prey of the monster. The cayman made directly for the horse, andseized him with his huge jaws by the body. The poor steed's shriek ofagony sounded in our ears, but fortunately for him the saddle-girth gaveway, and he struggled free, leaving the tough leather alone in thebrute's mouth, and swam off to shore. The cayman, not liking themorsel, looked about for something more to his taste. 

The Indian had reached the bank, but instead of getting out of thewater, he stood in a shallow place behind a tree, and, drawing hissword, declared that he was ready to fight the cayman. The monsteropen-mouthed made at him; but the man in his folly struck at its head. He might as well have tried to cut through a suit of ancient armour. The next instant, to our horror, the cayman had him shrieking in hisjaws, and with his writhing body disappeared beneath the surface of thestream!

After this our journey was enlivened by all sorts of horrible accountsof adventures with caymans, till we neared the spot where we expected tofind some buffaloes. As we rode along we heard an extraordinary cry. "It is a wild boar, " exclaimed our friend; "but I suspect a boa has gothold of him--a great _bore_ for him, I suspect. " We rode to the spotwhence the sound came. There, sure enough, suspended from the lowbranch of a tree was a huge boa-constrictor, some twenty feet long, perhaps, which had just enclosed a wild pig in its monstrous folds. While we looked he descended, and lubricating the animal with the salivafrom his mouth, and placing himself before it, took the snout in hisjaws and began to suck it in. We had not time to wait, as our friendtold us it would take a couple of hours before he got the morsel intohis stomach. This process is performed by wonderful muscular action andpower of distension. 

In half an hour we reached a plain bordered by a forest. "Here we shallfind buffaloes in abundance, " exclaimed our friend; "but, my lads, becautious; keep behind me, and watch my movements, or you may beseriously injured, or lose your lives. Buffalo-hunting is no child'splay, remember. " We had with us a number of Indians on horseback armedwith rifles, and a pack of dogs of high and low degree. Our chiefhunter was a remarkably fine-looking man, a half-caste. He was dressedin something like a bull-fighter's costume. He dismounted andapproached the wood, rifle in hand. Two of the Indians threw off mostof their clothes, and kept only their swords by their sides. Thuslightly clad, they were able to climb the trees to get out of harm'sway. The Indians beat the woods, and the dogs barked and yelped, tillat length a huge buffalo came out to ascertain what all the noise wasabout. He stood pawing the ground and tossing up the grass with hishorns, as if working himself into a rage, looking round that he mightsingle out an object on which to vent his rage. Though we were at somedistance, we felt the scene excessively trying. His eye soon fell onthe bold huntsman, who stood rifle in hand ready to hit him on the headas he approached. If his hand trembled, if his rifle missed fire, hisfate was sealed. The excitement, as I watched the result, was so great, that I could scarcely breathe. The huntsman stood like a statue, socalm and unmoved, with his eye fixed on the monstrous brute. Thebuffalo got within a dozen paces of him. I almost shrieked out, for Iexpected every moment to see the man tossed in the air, or trampled andgored to death with those formidable horns. On came the buffalo--therewas a report--a cloud of smoke--and as it cleared away, he was seen withhis knees bent and his head as it were ploughing the ground; yet anothermoment, and his huge body rolled over a lifeless mass; and the hunteradvancing, placed his foot proudly between his horns, as a sign that hewas the victor. Loud shouts rent the air from all the Indians, for thefeat their leader had performed was no easy one, and which few arecapable of accomplishing. In some parts of the island, buffaloes aretaken with the lasso, as we had seen it employed in Mexico. The animalwas cut up and transferred to a cart, to be carried down to the lake, bywhich it was to be conveyed to Manilla. Tame buffaloes are used foragricultural purposes. 

The vegetable productions of the Philippines are very numerous. Rice isgrown in great quantities. What is known as Manilla hemp is an articleof much value. It is obtained from the fibre of a species of plantain. It, can only be exported from the port of Manilla. Indigo, coffee, sugar, cotton, and tobacco, are grown in abundance; indeed, were theresources of the islands fully developed, they would prove some of therichest in the world. But it may truly be said, that where Spaniardsrule there a blight is sure to fall. 

On leaving the Philippines, we sighted the coast of Borneo, and lookedin at Sarawak, a province which the talent, the energy, theperseverance, and the philanthropy of Sir James Brooke, have broughtfrom the depths of barbarism and disorder to a high state ofcivilisation. Those who are incapable of appreciating his noblequalities seem inclined to allow it to return to the same condition inwhich he found it. I heard Captain Frankland speak very strongly on thesubject, and he said it would be a disgrace to England, and the mostshortsighted policy, if she withdraws her support from the province, andrefuses to recompense Sir James for the fortune which he has expended onit. 

We next touched at Singapore, which was founded by a man of very similarcharacter and talents to Sir James Brooke. That man was Sir StamfordRaffles, whose life is well worthy of attentive study. When, in 1819, the English took possession of the island at the end of the Malaypeninsula, on which Singapore now stands, it contained but a few huts, the remnants of an old city, once the capital of the Malayan kingdom, and was then the resort of all the pirates who swarmed in theneighbouring seas. It is now a free port, resorted to by ships of allnations. It is the head-quarters of many wealthy mercantile houses, whose managers live in handsome houses facing the bay, while its workingpopulation is made up of Arabs, Malays, Chinese, and, indeed, by peoplefrom all parts of the East. Singapore is another example of what thetalent and energy of one man can effect. 

The next harbour in which we found ourselves was that of Port Louis inthe Mauritius. The town stands at the head of the bay, and is enclosedon the east, and north, and south, by mountains rising but a shortdistance from the shore. The most lofty is the Pouce, which towers up2800 feet immediately behind the town, and is a remarkable andpicturesque object. The Mauritius is one of the most flourishing ofEngland's dependencies, and the French inhabitants seem perfectlycontented with her rule, and appreciate the numerous advantages theypossess from being under it. Since the abolition of slavery, coolieshave been brought over to cultivate sugar, rice, tobacco, and to engagein other labours, formerly performed by the negro slaves. Port Louis isa well-built town, and has a bustling and gay appearance, from thenumber of traders from all parts of the East, who appear in theirvarious and picturesque costumes. Our stay here was short. 

We were next bound to the coast of Madagascar, Captain Frankland havinginstructions to endeavour to open up a trade with the people, and togain all the information he could collect regarding them. Madagascar islarger than Great Britain and Ireland combined, and contains threemillions of inhabitants. In 1817, a treaty was entered into between thegovernor of the Mauritius and Radama, who was king of part of thecountry. The king consented to the abolition of the slave trade; and inreturn, he was supplied with arms and ammunition, and militaryinstructors were sent to drill his army. The London Missionary Societyalso sent over a body of highly intelligent men, some to instruct thepeople in Christianity, and others more particularly in a variety ofuseful arts. A considerable number of Malagasy youths were sent onboard English ships of war to be instructed in seamanship, while otherswere carried to England to receive a more finished education. It is aremarkable fact, that, although when the missionaries arrived in 1818letters were totally unknown, in ten years from 10, 000 to 15, 000 nativeshad learned to read, many of them to write, and several had made someprogress in English. This speaks well for the zeal and excellence ofthe system employed by the missionaries, and for the talent of thenatives. 

King Radama, after considerably extending his dominions, died in 1828, when the policy of his successor towards the English considerablychanged. The Malagasy government having resolved to impose their ownlaws on foreign residents at the port of Tamatave, an English and twoFrench ships of war went there to try and settle the questions at issue. Failing to do so, they attacked the port, which, however, was so welldefended, that they were compelled to retire, leaving several of theirnumber behind, whose heads were stuck upon poles on the shore. Inconsequence of this untoward event, all intercourse with the Englishceased for eight years. Before that time the government had commenced acruel persecution of the Christian natives, and numbers were put todeath. The effect, however, was very different from what was expected. Attention was drawn to the subject of Christianity. Many of all ranksbegan to study the Bible and to acknowledge the truth, and among themwas the queen's son, then only seventeen years old. The queen wasgreatly averse to the new religion; and this, probably, was one of thecauses which made her break off all intercourse with strangers, whileshe carried on the persecution against her own subjects who had becomeconverts. The patient way in which the Christians bore their sufferingsinduced many others to inquire into the truth of their doctrines, andultimately to embrace them. At last a reaction took place; the queenbegan to discover the ill effects of the restrictive system she had beenendeavouring to establish, and once more showed an inclination to renewher intercourse with civilised nations. Friendly relations with theBritish had again been established when we anchored before Tamatave. 

The roadstead before Tamatave offers a good anchorage, except when thewind is from the north or east. Several species of pandanus and sometall cocoa-nut trees gave a tropical character to the scenery. Soonafter anchoring, a large but rather clumsy canoe came alongside, with anofficer who spoke a little English, and said he was the harbour-master, and a number of attendants. They wore neatly plaited straw hats, whiteshirts bound round the loins with cloths, and large white scarfs throwngracefully over the shoulders like the Scotch plaid. The harbour-masterentered in a book the name of the ship and other particulars, and wethen accompanied him to his house on shore--that is, the captain, thedoctor, and Jerry and I. It was built of wood, nearly fifty feet longand twenty-five high, a verandah running all round; a door in thecentre, and windows on either side; the floor of the veranda wellplanked, so as to form an outer apartment. The whole was thatched withthe leaves of the traveller's-tree. The walls were covered with tofia, or native cloth, and the floor with a large fine mat. A well-madebedstead stood in one corner with sleeping mats on it, and in the centrea table covered with a white cloth. In different parts of the room werechairs and ottomans covered with mats; cooking utensils, arms, machinesfor making mats, bags of rice, and other articles for consumption, werearranged against the sides of the room. It was a fair specimen of anative house, and in the essentials showed a considerable advancement incivilisation and notions of comfort, as it was admirably adapted to theclimate. 

Captain Frankland's object in coming to Madagascar was to open up acommercial intercourse with the people, and to advance this object hehad resolved to visit the capital. He had been supplied with severalletters of introduction to facilitate this object. This brought us incontact with a number of people. One of our first visitors was afine-looking man, an officer of government. He wore a gold-lace clothcap, a shirt with an elaborately worked collar and cuffs, and over it alamba, the native scarf or plaid, the centre of which consisted of broadstripes of yellow, pink, scarlet, and purple, with the border of openwork of yellow and scarlet lace. He had, however, neither shoes norstockings. He was accompanied by two men bearing swords, the badges ofhis office. One of our visitors took snuff (a usual custom), by jerkingit from a richly ornamented tube of cane which his servant handed tohim, on to his tongue, when he swallowed it!

Tamatave, where we landed, is a large village, but the houses, or ratherhuts, have generally a dilapidated appearance. There are a few goodhouses, belonging to foreigners and to the government officers. We wereamused by seeing slaves filling thick bamboos six or seven feet longwith water from a well. The water is pulled up in a cow horn instead ofa bucket, while the bamboo takes the place of a pitcher. We visited themarket. The vendors sat in the centre, or at the side of platforms madeof sand or mud, on which the articles were piled up. We found rice, maize, millet, mandioc, plantains, oranges, pine-apples, and many otherfruits. All sorts of poultry were to be seen, and the butchers hadtheir meat arranged before them cut up into pieces on broad plantainleaves. The women were dressed very much in articles of Europeanmanufacture; their hair, which is jet black, was arranged frequently inlight curls or knots, which has a far from picturesque effect. 

Nothing is more wonderful in Madagascar than the great strides educationhas made. Thirty years ago the language was unwritten. Only oneperson, who had been educated in the Mauritius, could write, and thatwas in a foreign language. Now, all the government officers can write, and all the business is transacted by writing, while all classes aregreedy for instruction; indeed, we had great reason to believe thatthere are few more intelligent people than the inhabitants of thatmagnificent island. 

Before starting on our journey we were invited to a dinner by one of thechiefs. Our surprise was great, when we approached the house, to findtwo lines of soldiers drawn up, dressed in white kilts with white beltsacross their naked shoulders, with a musket or spear. We were usheredinto a handsome hall full of officers in every variety of Europeanuniform, the chiefs having cocked hats, feathers, and gold epaulets. The lady of the house and several other ladies were present, dressed inEnglish fashion; and the feast, which was abundant, was served much inthe English style. Several of the officers spoke English, and toastswere drunk and speeches made, while a band played very well both when weentered and after dinner. Some female slaves stood behind the ladies, and two afterwards came in and made some very excellent coffee. We werevery much interested as well as surprised to find so much civilisationamong those whom we had supposed barbarians. 

I have spoken of slaves. Although the government has abolished theexportation of slaves, slavery is still allowed in the country. Theslaves are generally people taken in war from among the inhabitants ofthe northern provinces. People are also condemned to perpetual slaveryfor crimes by the government. The Hovas, the name of the dominanttribe, of whom Radama was chief, have made slaves of great numbers ofthe tribes whom they have conquered. We heard, however, that they aregenerally kindly treated. Many of the Christians were condemned toslavery during the late persecutions; but the conditions made with thosewho took charge of them was, that they were to be kept constantly athard labour. We heard much of the admirable conduct of the Christiansunder all their persecutions. Their heathen masters declared that theycould be intrusted with any matter of importance, and were scrupulouslyexact with regard to all property placed under their charge, while amongthemselves they kept up the pure and simple doctrines which they hadlearned from the Bible itself. 

We now got ready for our journey. We had a guide who had been inEngland, and some years at the Cape of Good Hope, and spoke Englishperfectly. Our palanquins were something like cots slung on a longpole, with a roof of native cloth, which could be rolled up or let downto keep off the rain or sun. The machine was borne by four bearers, twobefore and two behind, while four others walked by the side ready torelieve them. No wheeled carriages are used in Madagascar, so that theonly roads are the paths made by the unshod feet of the natives, or bythe bullocks' hoofs; and there is no water-carriage--all goods areconveyed on men's shoulders from one part of the country to the other;so that we had quite an army with us, what with our relays of bearers, and those who carried our baggage and presents. Up and down hills wetravelled, through the wildest scenery we could imagine. It isdifficult to describe it. Sometimes we had to wind up and down overrugged heights; then through forests, frequently turning aside to avoidthe huge trees which had fallen across our path; then across swamps andplots of slippery mud; and often we had to force our way through densejungle, or through miles of primeval forests. 

We saw many interesting trees and plants. One of the most beautiful isthe bamboo. Some of the canes, nearly a foot in circumference at thebase, rise to the height of forty or fifty feet, their slight, feathery-looking points, like huge plumes, waving with the slightestbreeze, and assisting to keep up a circulation of the air. They arefringed at their joints with short branches of long, lance-shapedleaves. We saw bamboos of all sizes, some with the cane as delicate asa small quill, yet fully ten feet long; and these were also exceedinglygraceful. So also were the tree-ferns, which grew in great profusionand beauty on the sides of the hills. But the most curious and valuabletree we saw was the traveller's-tree. It has a thick succulent stemlike the plantain. From ten to thirty feet from the ground it sends outfrom the stem, not all round, but on opposite sides, like a fan, ten ora dozen huge bright green leaves; so that facing it, it has theappearance of a vast fan. The stalk of the leaf is six or eight feetlong, and the leaf itself four or six more. In each head were four orfive branches of seed-pods, in appearance something like the fruit ofthe plantain. When they burst each pod was found to contain thirty ormore seeds, in shape like a small bean, covered up with a very finefibre of a brilliant purple or blue colour. The most singulararrangement, which gains this tree the name it bears, is the pure waterwhich it contains. This is found in the thick part of the stem of eachleaf, at the spot where it rises from the stem, where there is a cavityformed by nature. The water is evidently collected by the broad leaf, and carried down a groove in the stem to the bowl, which holds a quartor more, perhaps, at a time. The traveller's-tree is of great use forother purposes to the natives. With the leaves they thatch theirhouses; the stems serve to portion off the rooms; and the hard outsidebark is beaten flat, and is used for flooring. The green leaves areused to envelop packages, and sometimes a table is covered with theminstead of a tablecloth, while they are also folded into various shapes, to be employed as plates, bowls, and even spoons. 

We had to cross a river said to be infested by crocodiles. The nativeswalked close to us on either side, beating the water with long sticks tokeep them away. The natives look on them with great dread, and attemptto propitiate them by charms or sacrifices, instead of endeavouring todestroy them. They, however, take their eggs in great numbers, and drythem for food. 

Locusts in great numbers infest some of the provinces; but the people donot allow them to pass without paying a heavy tribute, and eat them asone of their chief luxuries, dressed in fat. They fly about two orthree feet from the ground. As soon as they appear, men, women, andchildren rush out--the men catch them in sheets, the women and childrenpick them from the ground, and then shake them in sacks till the wingsand legs are knocked off. The lighter parts are then winnowed away, andthe bodies are dried in the sun and sold in the markets. 

The natives seem to have the same dread of serpents that they have ofcrocodiles. The doctor found one, ten feet long, coiled away on the matwhere he had slept one morning, on going back to look for something hehad left there; but it escaped before it could be killed. 

We slept during our journey sometimes at the habitations of chiefs, sometimes at peasants' huts, and sometimes at houses in villagesprovided for our accommodation. The chiefs' houses were small, butcompactly built. We remarked that the water was kept in large earthenjars--like those used in the Holy Land, I conclude. The sleeping-placeswere neatly arranged round the rooms, and there was a general air ofcomfort and respectability perceptible in most of them. Very differentwas a peasant's hut when we entered. It was not more than twenty feetsquare, divided into two compartments. In the outer were calves, lambs, and fowls. In the inner, at one end was a bed, and at the foot of it afireplace, over which a man was cooking a pot of rice. His wife satbefore a loom, consisting of four upright sticks fixed in the ground, with rods across. At the distance of seven feet were two short sticksdriven into the ground, connected by a bar, over which was stretched thewoof of silk to be woven. On this simple apparatus the most beautifuland rich patterns are worked. Silk-worms abound in some of theprovinces, and a very large amount might be produced and form animportant article of trade. 

As we approached the capital we found the villages of the Hovas allstrongly fortified on the summits of hills or rocks. They have but onenarrow and difficult entrance, and are surrounded by one or more deepditches, every ridge at the side of the hill being cut through. Greatcare, indeed, has been shown in their construction, showing that theywere a warlike and marauding people, and found it necessary to guardagainst reprisals from the neighbours they have attacked. 

Antananarivo, the capital, at which we at length arrived, after ajourney of three hundred miles, is a very curious place. It is built onan oval hill, nearly two miles in length, rising four or five hundredfeet above the surrounding country, and is seven thousand feet higherthan the level of the sea. On the highest part of the hill, and forminga conspicuous object, is the palace of the queen. It is sixty feethigh, with a lofty and steep roof, with attic windows, and is surroundedby balconies, one above, the other. The top is surmounted by a hugegolden eagle, with outspread wings, which looks as if able to have atough fight with the one which overshadowed the articles from the UnitedStates at, the Great Exhibition. 

The palace of the prince, which is smaller, is on one side, and has alsoa golden eagle over it. The dwellings of other members of the royalfamily and chief nobility are on either side, while the rest of thehouses, which are only of one story, clothe the sides of the hill, standing generally on small terraces, wherever the ground has allowedtheir formation. The houses are of plain unpainted wood, which givesthem a somewhat sombre and dilapidated appearance. The interiors are, however, very comfortable, and admirably suited to the climate. 

Captain Frankland had the honour of an audience with the queen, whoreceived him very graciously, and seemed much pleased with the object ofhis visit to the country. Still more interested were we with the princeroyal and the princess Rabodo, his wife, who had for some time becomeconsistent Christians. We were much struck with the kind and courteousway in which the prince invariably treated his wife whenever theyappeared in public. We always saw him dressed in a handsome uniform, and she always appeared in the costume of an English lady. All theofficers of the court were well dressed, either in European uniforms, orin full native costume, which is very becoming. 

We had a very comfortable house appropriated to us. We found theclimate at this elevation far pleasanter than near the coast, thethermometer, in the morning, not being higher than 56 degrees to 58degrees. A number of the chiefs visited Captain Frankland, to talkabout the productions of the country and the best methods for improvingits resources. Jerry and I meantime made several excursions into thesurrounding country with the doctor, accompanied by a young chief, whospoke English very well. We one day passed a body of troops, and hetold us that there were forty thousand men forming an army round thecapital besides artillery. Among other places we visited was thecountry palace of Radama, called Isoaierana. The top of a hill had beenremoved to clear a space for the edifice. It is a wonderful building, considering the means at the disposal of the architect, but it wantsheight to give it grandeur. It is composed entirely of wood, the timberhaving been brought from a forest fifty miles off. Rows of balconiesrun round it. One hall we entered was a hundred feet long and fortywide; but that also wanted height to make it appear to advantage. 

From the very slight description I have given of the country, it will beseen that considerable advances have of late years been made incivilisation. The prince royal is a most excellently disposed youngman, but his education is defective. Should his life be spared, therecan be no doubt that he will exert himself to carry on the improvementscommenced under the auspices of Radama. Unhappily, his mother and mostof the chief nobility still are heathens, while the severe edictsagainst the Christians yet remain in force. However, all must believethat Christianity will ultimately triumph, and a happy future be instore for that interesting country. 

We were very sorry when, the captain having concluded his business, wehad once more to get into our palanquins, and to commence our returnjourney to the coast. We met with no adventure worthy of being noted, though we saw a number of curious and interesting plants and shrubs. Atlength once more we trod the deck of the _Triton_. The anchor was hoveup, the topsails hoisted, and with a fair breeze we stood to thesouthward. We touched at Cape Town, but I will not describe it or theTable Mountain, of which every one has heard over and over again. Oneday we were all on deck, when the Captain and mates and Jerry and I weretaking observations. "I thought so, " exclaimed Captain Frankland; "wehave just put a girdle round the world; and now, lads, you will havespare time enough to tie the knot. " In a few weeks after this wereached the shores of Old England in safety, and though we had heartilyenjoyed our voyage, right glad and thankful too were we to see once moreits snow-white cliffs. 

I spent three days with Captain Frankland's family, and then Jerry andold Surley, who must not be forgotten, accompanied me to my own home. All were there for the Christmas holidays, and what between my dearfather and mother's embraces, and my sisters pulling me here and thereto get another and another kiss at my well-browned cheeks, and mybrother's reiterated and hearty thumps on the back, I was almost in asmuch danger of being pulled to pieces as I had during any time of thevoyage, and had not Jerry been there to draw off the attention of someof the party, I do not know what would have been the result. CousinSilas soon afterwards joined us, and remained while the ship wasrefitting. We spent a very merry Christmas, and no one seemed tired ofhearing us recount our adventures. Old Surley used to sit at our feet, and he nodded his head and winked his eyes, as much as to say "It is alltrue, and if I could but speak I would tell you the same story. " I hopethat my readers will receive it in as favourable a way as did my family. We had learned many lessons during our trip. We had been taught torespect other people, their manners, and even their prejudices, and toreflect what we ourselves should have been had we laboured under similardisadvantages, while at the same time we had seen every reason to loveOld England more and more, and to be deeply grateful for the numberlessinestimable blessings she enjoys. We had been taught, too, to observethe finger of the Almighty in his wondrous works, and to remark how hehas scattered his precious gifts far and wide over the face of the globefor the benefit of his creatures. Our midnight watches have not beenunprofitable. Often and often in the calm night we have gazed upward atthe starlit sky and thought upon God. We have had time for reflection. We have felt our own unworthiness. We have asked ourselves the seriousquestion, Do we make a good and complete use of the advantages wepossess--of the instruction afforded us--of the great examples setbefore us--of the Word of God laid freely open for us? But I might goon for ever asking similar questions. Happy are those who can makesatisfactory answers. I must conclude by expressing a hope that thosewho have gone through these pages will have found some of the amusementand instruction which Jerry and I obtained in our--

Voyage round the World. 

THE END.