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diff --git a/24662.txt b/24662.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6245820 --- /dev/null +++ b/24662.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7475 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grateful Indian, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Grateful Indian + And other Stories + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Release Date: February 20, 2008 [EBook #24662] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRATEFUL INDIAN *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Grateful Indian, by W.H.G. Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This quite short book contains eight sections, of which the last three +are collections of verse written by Kingston, including one collection +of verse written when he was still at school. Not bad, either. + +Of the other five sections, three are nautical short stories by +Kingston, while the other two are excellent stories by lady-writers, not +all that usual at the date of publication. Of these we would +particularly commend "An Adventure on the Black Mountain", by Frances +Wilbraham. The Black Mountain is Montenegro, a Balkan country, and this +is the first time your reviewer has been offered any insight into that +country. Well worth reading--a must, in fact, in the light of recent +events (Chapter Four, in the book). + +The dates of the stories are roughly the end of the eighteenth century, +but, though dated, they are nevertheless interesting to read or listen +to. + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE GRATEFUL INDIAN, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE GRATEFUL INDIAN, A TALE OF RUPERT'S LAND. BY WILLIAM H.G. KINGSTON. + +We cannot boast of many fine evenings in old England--dear old England +for all that!--and when they do come they are truly lovely and worthy of +being prized the more. It was on one of the finest of a fine summer +that Mr Frampton, the owner of a beautiful estate in Devonshire, was +seated on a rustic bench in his garden, his son Harry, who stood at his +knee, looking up inquiringly into his face. + +"Father," said Harry, "I have often heard you speak about the North +American Indians--the Red men of the deserts. Do tell me how it is that +you know so much about them--have you ever been in their country?" + +"Yes, my boy; I passed several of the earlier years of my life in that +part of North America which may truly be said to belong as yet to the +Red men, though as there are but some fifty thousand scattered over the +whole central portion of it, it must be acknowledged that they do not +make the best possible use of the territory they inhabit. A glance at +the map of North America will show you where the Red River is, with its +settlement founded by Lord Selkirk. I was very young when I went there +with my father, my elder brother Malcolm, and John Dawes, a faithful +servant who had been brought up in the family from childhood. John was +a great sportsman, a most kind-hearted fellow, and could turn his hand +to anything. We went through Canada to Lake Superior, and from thence +it took us, by a chain of lakes and rivers, about twenty-five days to +reach the banks of the Red River. I need not describe how we selected +our ground, built a cottage, ploughed a field, and stocked our farm; we +will suppose all these preliminaries over and our party permanently +settled in our new home. I must tell you before I proceed a little +about the Indians of this region." + +II. + +There are different tribes. Some are called Crees, others Ojibways or +Salteaux, and these are constantly at war with the Sioux to the south, +chiefly found across the United States boundary. There are also found +on the prairies Assiniboines, Blackfeet, Bloodies, and others with +scarcely more attractive names. All these people were at that time sunk +in the most abject state of heathenism, and were constantly at war with +each other. They were clothed chiefly in skins made into leather, +ornamented with feathers and stained grass and beads. The tents of the +prairie Indians were of skins, and those of the Indians who inhabit the +woods of birch bark. Many had rifles, but others were armed only with +bows and spears, and the dreadful scalping-knife. Of these people the +Sioux bore the worst character, and were the great enemies of the +half-bred population of the settlements. These halfbreds, as they are +called, are descended from white fathers and Indian mothers. There are +some thousands of them in the settlements, and they live chiefly by +hunting and fishing, and retain many Indian customs and habits of life. +Such was the strangely mixed community among whom we found ourselves. + +The autumn was coming on, and the days were shortening, but the weather +was very fine--sharp frosts at night, though warm enough, yet bracing, +with a bright sky and pure atmosphere during the day. Sometimes a light +silvery mist or haze hung over the landscape. Such is the Indian +summer, the most delightful period of the year in North America. + +The day's work was over, and while my brother and I were preparing the +table, and Sam Dawes was cooking the supper, we were startled by a loud +and peculiar shout, or rather shriek. Our father, who had been sitting +reading, started up, and taking his rifle from the wall, turned to the +door. Sam, quitting his frying-pan, also took down his rifle and +followed with us. In the distance was an Indian decked with war paint +and feathers bounding over the ground towards us, while further off were +five or six more, as if in hot pursuit of the first. + +"That first fellow is an Ojibway by his adornments, and a young man by +the way he runs," observed Sam. "He's seeking protection here, that's +poz." + +"And he shall enjoy it, though we should have to fight for him," +observed my father warmly. "We must teach the Red men that we always +protect those in distress." + +The fugitive came on at great speed. He was flying for his life. His +pursuers, however, were gaining on him. They had fire-arms in their +hands, but did not use them. + +"They have exhausted their powder," observed my father. "That is +fortunate." + +The young Indian was within fifty yards of us. We could see the gleam +of the scalping knives which his foes had drawn, thirsting for his +blood. He bounded on up to the door of the hut and fell exhausted +within. Then for the first time his pursuers perceived that we stood +armed at the entrance. Guessing truly that we possessed plenty of +ammunition, and two or more of their number might fall if they attempted +to advance, they paused, casting glances of disappointed vengeance +towards their victim, who lay unconscious behind us. Our father told +Malcolm and me to take him in and to try and revive him. We did so, and +when we had moistened his lips with water he quickly revived. Springing +up he seized Malcolm's gun and hurried to the door. The other Indians +had not moved. On seeing him, however, they instantly darted behind +some trunks of trees for shelter, and then we saw them darting away till +they got beyond range of our fire-arms. The young Indian would have +followed, but my father restrained him, and gave him to understand that +though he had saved his life he had no intention of allowing him to take +the lives of others. Darkness was coming on, and we soon lost sight of +the band. Having closed our door with more than usual care, we placed +food before our guest, of which he eagerly partook, and then told us +that his name was Sigenok; that he with others of his tribe had been out +hunting, and had been surprised by a war party of Sioux, who had taken +the scalps of all the rest. He had wandered away unarmed from the camp +when he saw all his companions killed. To revenge them, which the +Indian thought was his first duty, was then impossible, so he took to +flight, hoping to retaliate on another occasion. His wary foes, +however, discovered his trail and followed. He had caught sight of them +when they were not aware of it, and redoubled his speed, making for the +settlements. He gave us to understand that he could not have continued +his flight many more hours, and that he was very grateful to us for +preserving his life. We had brought a dog from England, and we had +lately got another, both very sagacious animals, and so we stationed +them outside the hut at a little distance to give us due notice should +the Sioux return. + +Sigenok, as soon as he had satisfied his hunger, proving his confidence +in us, laid himself down in a corner of the room and was immediately +fast asleep. He spent two days with, us to recover his strength, which +had been greatly tried, and then set off to carry to his tribe the sad +tidings of the loss of their friends. For an Indian, he was a +good-looking young man, and decked with his war paint and feathers he +had a picturesquely savage appearance. + +III. + +The winter came--we did not feel the cold so much as we expected--it +passed on and spring approached. We were looking forward to the +pleasures of summer and to a buffalo hunt which we had promised +ourselves, when, after finding the heat unusually great at night, on +rising in the morning, loud cracks in the ice were heard, and we +discovered that a thaw had commenced. We were surprised at the rapidity +with which the snow melted, and the low shrubs and the green grass +appeared, and long dormant Nature seemed to be waking up to life. + +"How jolly," exclaimed Malcolm; "we shall soon be able to paddle about +in our canoe; we may as well have look at her to see that she is in +order." + +We had a supply of gum with which to cover up the seams as the Indians +do, and our canoe was soon fit for launching. + +"We must look to the plough and our spades," remarked our father; "we +shall speedily be able to get in our seeds." + +Perhaps Sam Dawes thought more of his fishing lines and nets and guns. + +The next day an Indian coming up from the lake told us that there was an +extraordinary accumulation of ice at the mouth of the river, which had +begun to swell, with an impetuous torrent, carrying vast masses along +with it. Speedily it rose higher and higher, the waters came up the +bank and then filled the narrow gully which usually discharged water +into it after rain, but now carried its waters backward into the plain. + +"It will soon subside," observed our father. "That current will soon +carry away the barriers at the month." So we all went as usual to bed. + +The next morning when we looked out we were on an island. The water +covered our field and the greater part of the garden round the house. +Between us and the house of the nearest settler to the south was one +sheet of water, while to the north not an habitation was visible. We +made out at the distance of a mile our neighbour and his family crossing +in a large boat to the hills on the east. "We may possibly have to +follow his example," observed our father; "but I hope that the waters +may decrease before that becomes necessary." + +The sheep and cows were now collecting of their own accord in the +garden, and we had to drive up the pigs, whose stye was threatened with +submersion. The scene was truly one of desolation as we looked beyond +our own homestead; trunks of trees and palings, and now and then a +haystack, and barns, and parts of houses, and occasionally whole +dwellings came floating by, showing what ravages the flood must have +committed above us. Malcolm and I agreed that it was fortunate we had +repaired our canoe. As the waters extended, the current in the river +was less strong. Our father observed this. "My sons," he said, +"freight your canoe with the tent and some provisions, and take this +case of books, and go off to the hills. Should the waters increase +return for Sam and me; we must remain to look after the cattle. Mounted +on our horses we shall be able to drive them to yonder rising ground on +the south-west." + +He pointed to a slight elevation, between which and us he considered +that the water was not more than one foot and a-half deep. Accustomed +to obey without question, Malcolm and I, having loaded our canoe with as +many valuables as she could possibly carry, prepared to cross to the +eastern hills, hoping that our father and Sam would start at once with +the cattle towards the more remote but seemingly more accessible ground +to the west. Just as we were shoving off he remarked-- + +"The water has not risen lately; we may still avoid a remove. Heaven +prosper you, my dear boys." + +We hoped that his words would prove true--the sky was bright, the water +smooth, and it was difficult to believe that there was any danger. +Malcolm and I were expert with the use of the paddle, but in crossing +the river we were swept down some way, and narrowly escaped staving in +the canoe against stumps of trees or palings and remnants of buildings. +We persevered, however, and at length reached the eastern hills, or the +mountains as they were called. Here we found our neighbour and several +other families encamped. He told us that he had driven his cattle off +on the first day, and wished that we had done the same. The waters did +not appear to be rising, though we looked with anxiety towards our home; +but it was too small a speck to be visible among the wide expanse of +waters at the distance we were from it. We had put up our tent and were +intending to occupy it, when we recollected that there were several of +the other settlers' wives and daughters without so good a covering, so +we went and begged them to occupy it, while we slept under our canoe. + +The night was bright and starlight, but we could not sleep much for +thinking of our father and Sam Dawes. We resolved as early as we could +see in the morning to go back to them. We were awoke early in the +morning by a peculiar murmuring and hollow sound. As soon as it was +daylight we looked out over the flooded country. We asked others if +they had heard the noise. They replied that they had, and that it was +caused by the water rushing over the land. "Then the flood must have +increased," exclaimed Malcolm and I with anxiety. + +"No doubt about it, boys," was the unsatisfactory reply. + +We were for starting off immediately, but one of the farmer's wives, to +whom we had given up our tent, insisted on preparing some breakfast for +us, and in putting a supply of food into our canoe. + +"It is a long voyage, my boys, and you do not know what you may require +before you return," she observed. + +We paddled on very anxiously. We had only the line of eastern hills we +were leaving and some high land to the south to guide us, but we thought +that we could not help hitting upon the spot where our abode stood. For +a long way we paddled on easily enough, only taking care not to run +against stumps of trees, and as we got nearer the settlement, stakes or +ruined buildings were our chief danger. Too many evidences met us on +either side that the water had increased considerably since the previous +day. In vain our eyes ranged around, in no direction was our cottage +visible. We must have mistaken the locality. The current was here very +strong, we thought that we might have drifted down further than we had +calculated on doing. We went further west, and then steered south, +where the current was less strong. After going some way, Malcolm +stopped paddling suddenly, and exclaimed-- + +"Look, Harry! look there! Do you know that tree?" + +"Its head is very like one that grows close to the house," I answered. + +We had both mechanically turned the head of the canoe in the direction +in which he pointed. We had been engaged in fastening a flag-staff to +the tree near our house. A minute would decide whether this was it. +Our hearts sank within us, our paddles almost dropped from our hands, +when we perceived among the bare branches the rope and the pole which we +had been about to erect. Where was our cottage? where our kind father +and the faithful Sam? Not a vestige of the cottage remained, it had too +evidently been carried away by the flood. + +"Had they been able to escape with the cattle?" was the question we +asked each other. We hoped they might; but still it was too possible +that our father would have persisted in remaining in the house, as a +sailor will by his ship, to the last, and Sam, we knew, would never have +deserted him. We could just distinguish the heads of some strong +palings above the water, marking the position of our cottage. We made +fast to the tree for a few minutes to rest and recover ourselves, and to +consider what course to pursue. We naturally turned our eyes towards +the rising ground in the south-west, to which our father intended to +drive the cattle. It seemed a long, long way off, still we determined +to attempt to reach it. We felt thankful that the farmer's wife had +supplied us with provisions, though we were too anxious just then to be +hungry. We left the tree and paddled on, but it was very hard work, for +there was a current against us setting towards Lake Winnipeg; but the +canoe was light, and as there was no wind we managed to stem it. +Hitherto the sky had been bright, and there had been a perfect calm, but +as we paddled on we saw clouds rising above the high ground for which we +were steering. They rose, and rose, and then rushed across the sky with +fearful rapidity, and the water ahead of us, hitherto bright and clear, +seemed turned into a mass of foam, which came sweeping up towards us. + +"We cannot face it," exclaimed Malcolm. "Quick, quick, about with the +canoe, we must run before it." + +We were hardly in time. The blast very nearly upset the canoe, and we +had to throw our whole weight over on the side the wind struck her, to +prevent this, as she spun round like a top, and away we flew before it. +All we could do was to keep the canoe before the wind, and to steer her +clear of logs of wood or stumps of trees, against which she might have +been cast and knocked to pieces. + +"But where are we going?" we asked ourselves. "If we continue thus, we +may be driven into Lake Winnipeg, and hurled among the masses of ice +which are dashing about on its waters." + +We thought still more about our father and Sam. How disappointed they +would be, should they have reached the dry land when the storm came on, +and they knew that we could not get to them. But our attention, I must +own, was soon concentrated on our own situation. The rain fell in +torrents, sufficient of itself almost to swamp our light canoe, while +the thunder roared and the lightning darted from the sky, filling my +heart, at all events, with terror. I felt both awe-struck and alarmed, +and could scarcely recover myself sufficiently to help Malcolm. He was +far less moved, and continued guiding the canoe with his former +calmness. At last I could not help crying out-- + +"Oh, Malcolm, how is it that you cannot see our danger?" + +"I do, Harry, clearly," he answered gravely; "but we are in the +performance of our duty, and God will take care of us." + +His words and tone made an impression on me which I have never +forgotten. When dangers have surrounded me, I have asked myself, "Am I +engaged in the performance of my duty? then why need I fear, God will +protect me. He always has protected me." The grandest receipt for +enabling a person to be truly brave, is that he must ever walk on in the +strict line of duty. + +We were driving northward at a fearful rate, for the rapidity of the +current was greatly increased by the wind. We wished that we could get +back to our oak tree, as we might make fast to its branches, but it was +nowhere visible. To have paddled against the gale would have only +exhausted our strength to no purpose. As Malcolm found that he could +guide the canoe without me, he told me to bail out the water. As I +turned round to do so, I shouted with joy, for I thought I saw a large +boat under full sail coming down towards us. On it came, much faster +than we were driving; but as it drew near, it looked less and less like +a boat, till to my bitter disappointment I discovered that it was a +large haystack which had been floated bodily away. At length just +before us appeared a clump of trees, and we, hoped that the ground on +which they stood might be out of water. Malcolm steered towards the +spot. We might remain there till the storm was over. The trees bent +with the wind, and it appeared as if they could not possibly stand. We +approached the spot perhaps with less caution than we had before +employed. Suddenly the canoe spun round, a large rent appeared in her +bows, over she went, and we were thrown struggling into the water. +Before we could regain the canoe she had floated far away, and not +without a severe struggle did we succeed in reaching the land. We +climbed up by some bushes, and found ourselves on the summit of a little +knoll rising out of the water, and not comprising more than fifty square +yards. Our first impulse was to look out to see what had become of our +canoe, and we stood watching it with a bewildered gaze as it floated +away half filled with water. It was not till it had disappeared in the +distance that we remembered it had contained all our provisions. That +was bad enough, but we had never experienced hunger, and did not know +how long we might exist without food. What appeared then worse was, +that the waters were rising round our island, and we might soon have no +dry spot on which to rest our feet. We might climb up into the trees, +but we had seen other trees washed away, and such might be the fate of +these our last refuge. The day wore on, the storm ceased, and the +weather again became calm and beautiful. I now grew excessively hungry, +and cried very much, and felt more wretched than I had ever done before. +Malcolm, who bore up wonderfully, tried to comfort me, and suggested +that we should hunt about foe roots or underground nuts such as we had +seen the Indians eat. We fortunately had our pocket knives, and with +these we dug in all directions, till we came upon some roots which +looked tempting, but then we remembered that we had no means of kindling +a fire to cook them, nor could we tell whether they were poisonous or +not. The hunt had given us occupation, and prevented us for a time from +dwelling on our misfortunes. + +We then tried every device we could think of to kindle a fire, for we +wished to dry our clothes, if we could not cook our roots. None of our +attempts succeeded, and Malcolm suggested that we should run round and +round our island to try and warm ourselves before night came on. At +last I felt very sleepy, and so did Malcolm, but he said that he would +let me sleep first while he watched, lest the waters should rise and +carry us away before we had time to climb up a tree. + +I lay down and was asleep in a minute, and when I awoke the stars were +shining out brightly through the branches of the trees, the young grass +blades reflecting them on their shining surfaces, while I saw my good +brother still walking up and down keeping guard over me. The noise of +the rushing waters sounded in my ears and made me desire to go to sleep +again, but I aroused myself, ashamed that I had slept so long, and urged +my brother to lie down. + +"No, Harry," he answered, "I wished you to get as much rest as possible; +but look there, we shall soon be obliged to climb a tree for refuge." + +Walking a few paces, I found that the water had greatly encroached on +our island; a southerly wind had begun to blow, which sent large waves +rolling in on us. + +"Should the wind increase, they will completely sweep over where we +stand," I exclaimed. "Oh, Malcolm, what shall we do?" + +"Trust in God," he replied calmly. "From how many dangers has He not +already preserved us. But remember, our father has often told us that +it is our business while praying to God for help, to exert ourselves, +and so let us at once try and find a tree we can climb quickly in case +of necessity, and whose boughs will afford us a resting-place." + +I loved Malcolm dearly. I admired him now more than ever, and was ready +to do whatever he wished. We soon found a tree up which we could help +each other. The wind howled and whistled through the trees, the waves +lashed the shore furiously, and Malcolm had just time to shove me up the +tree, when one larger than the rest swept completely over the ground on +which we had been standing, with a force sufficient to have carried us +off with it. We had seated ourselves among the branches, which waved to +and fro in the wind, and as we looked down, we saw the water foaming +round the trunk, and often it seemed as if it must be uprooted and sent +drifting down with the current. + +Malcolm said that he felt very sleepy, and told me that if I would +undertake to hold him on, he would rest for a few minutes. I gladly +promised that I would do as he wished, but asked him how he could think +of sleeping while the tempest was raging round us. + +"Why, Harry, we are as safe up here as on the ground," he answered, in +his usual sweet tone of voice, "God is still watching over us!" + +I need scarcely say how tightly I held on to his clothes, trembling lest +he should fall. I felt no inclination to go to sleep, indeed I soon +found that I must have slept the greater part of the night, for before +Malcolm again opened his eyes, I observed the bright streaks of dawn +appearing over the distant hills in the east. Daylight quickly came on. +It was again perfectly calm, and on looking down, we could see the +blades of grass rising above the water. Malcolm woke up, saying that he +felt much better. Looking down below us, he said that he thought the +water had decreased since he went to sleep. He might have been right, I +could not tell. At that moment there was only one thing I thought of, +the pain I was suffering from hunger. "I shall die! I shall die!" I +exclaimed. Malcolm cheered me up. + +"Help will come though we cannot now see how," he observed; "God will +protect us. Trust in Him." + +Still I felt that I should die. It is very difficult to sustain gnawing +hunger, such as I then felt for the first time. I have no doubt that +Malcolm felt the same, but he was too brave to show it. Hour after hour +passed by; the water did not appear to be rising; the blades of grass +were still seen below us round the tree. I however felt that I could +not endure many more hours of suffering. "I must fall, indeed I must," +I cried out over and over again. I should indeed have let go my hold, +had not my brave brother kept me up. Even he at last showed signs of +giving way, and spoke less encouragingly than before. He was silent for +some time. I saw him looking out eagerly, when he exclaimed-- + +"Cheer up, Harry, there is a canoe approaching; it will bring us help." + +I gazed in the direction towards which he pointed. At first I could +only see a speck on the water. It grew larger and more distinct, till I +could see that it was certainly a canoe. Then we discovered that there +were two Indians in it. We shouted, but our voices sounded shrill and +weak. The Indians heard us, for they waved their paddles and turned the +head of the canoe towards the clump of trees. The canoe could not get +under the tree, but one of the Indians jumped out, and Malcolm told me +to slide down. The Indian caught me and carried me in his arms to the +canoe, for I was too weak to walk. Malcolm followed, and the Indian +helped him along also. It was not till we had been placed in the canoe +that we recognised in our preserver the young Indian, Sigenok, whose +life we had saved. We pronounced his name. He gave a well-satisfied +smile. + +"Ah, you have not forgotten me, nor I you," he said in his own language. +"Favours conferred bind generous hearts together. Sigenok guessed that +you were in distress. Your elder brother has long been looking for +you." + +It appeared that Sigenok had been at a distance hunting when the flood +commenced; that he had hastened back, and soon perceiving from the +height the water had attained that our house was in danger, had embarked +in his canoe and hastened toward it, but on his nearing the spot found +that it had been swept away. Guessing that we had escaped to the +eastern hills, he paddled there, when our friends told him that we had +proceeded in search of our father and servant. Having ascertained the +exact time of our departure, with the wonderful powers of calculation +possessed by Red men, he had decided the events which had occurred and +the course we had pursued, and was thus able to look for us in the right +direction. Had he not found us there, he would have visited other +places which he mentioned, where we might have taken refuge. As he was +leaving the hills the farmer's wife had given him a supply of food for +us, and on his producing it our hunger was soon satisfied. We now told +him of our anxiety about our father and Sam Dawes. He listened +attentively, and then shook his head. + +"They and the cattle never reached the hills," he observed. "We will +search for them. There are still some hours of daylight. If the house +has held together, they will be found much further down than this." + +I fancied by the Indian's manner that his hopes were slight. We now +shoved off from the little island which had afforded us so valuable a +refuge, and Sigenok and his companion paddled off at a rapid rate to the +north. Anxious as I was, I soon fell asleep, and so I believe did +Malcolm for a short time. I was aroused by a shout from Sigenok. I +lifted up my head and saw a dark object in the distance rising above the +water. + +"It is our house!" exclaimed Malcolm, "Sigenok says so. Oh, that our +father may be there!" + +We kept our eyes anxiously fixed on the distant object. It was growing +dusk. Malcolm said that he saw something moving on it. + +"Man there, alive!" observed Sigenok. + +Our hopes were raised; but he spoke only of one man. How long the time +appeared occupied in reaching the spot! Even through the gloom we could +now distinguish the outline of our log hut, which had grounded on a bank +among some strong fences and brushwood, and was now fixed securely, +partly tilted over. + +"Who is there? who is there?" we shouted. "Father, father! we are +Malcolm and Harry!" + +"Woe's me, young masters, your father is not here," said a voice which, +hollow and husky as it was, we recognised as that of Sam Dawes. We were +soon up to our hut, to the roof of which Sam was clinging. The Indians +lifted him into the canoe, for he had scarcely strength to help himself. + +"But our father, Sam! our father!" we exclaimed. "Where is he? what has +happened?" + +"He no speak till he eat," observed Sigenok, after he had secured the +canoe to the hut. + +We took the hint, and gave him some food. In a short time he revived, +and told us that our father, after we went away, would not believe that +the water would rise higher, and that they had retired to rest as usual, +when they were awoken by the sound of the water rushing round the house; +that they both ran out and mounted their horses to drive off the cattle, +as had been arranged. Our father took the lead, urging on before him +the cows and horses, while he followed with the sheep, when his horse +fell and he was thrown into a deep hole. As he scrambled out, the +current took him off his legs. He was nearly drowned, but after +floundering about for some time, he found himself carried up against the +hut. He immediately climbed to the roof and shouted as loud as he could +in the hopes of recalling our father, but there was no answer. Again +and again he shouted. He tried to pierce the gloom which still hung +over the land, though it was nearly morning. He felt a wish to leap off +and try and follow his master, but what had become of his horse he could +not ascertain. The waters were increasing round the cottage. He felt +it shake violently, when, to his horror, it lifted and floated bodily +away. The logs had been put together in a peculiar manner, dove-tailed +into each other, which accounted for this. He told us how forlorn and +miserable he felt, without another human being in sight, believing that +his master was lost, uncertain as to our fate, and that he himself was +hurrying to destruction. More than once he felt inclined to drop off +the roof, but love of life, or rather a sense of the wickedness of so +doing, prevailed, and he clung on till the hut grounded where we found +it. + +We were now in as secure a place as any we could find in the +neighbourhood, and so Sigenok proposed seeking some necessary rest +before continuing our search. We proposed going into the house to +sleep, but we found that our bed-places had been carried away, and so, +of course, had every particle of furniture, as the bottom of the hut had +literally come out. We therefore returned to the canoe to sleep. At +early dawn we once more paddled south. There was little current and a +perfect calm. The waters, too, were subsiding, for several slight +elevations, before submerged, were now visible. After paddling for many +hours, we reached the south-western hills I have before described. +Several settlers were there, but no one had seen our father. We crossed +back to the eastern hills before nightfall. There were no tidings of +him there. The flood subsided, and we, like others, set off to return +to the now desolate site of our former abode. Sigenok conveyed us in +his canoe, and we pitched our tent on the very spot our hut had +occupied. In vain we searched for our father, in vain we made inquiries +of other settlers, no one had seen him. Day after day we waited, +thinking that he might have been swept downward with the flood clinging +to a piece of timber or some other floating body, and that he might as +yet be unable to return. Sam Dawes looked more and more sad when we +spoke of his return. Sigenok, who had remained by us, shook his head. +"He gone, no come back," he observed. Our hearts sank within us as the +sad truth forced itself on our minds that we were orphans. + +IV. + +Long we continued to hope against hope. Neither was our father's body, +nor were any of the cattle he was driving off ever discovered. The +current must have swept them down into Lake Winnipeg. + +"I ain't much of a person for it, young masters," said Sam Dawes, taking +a hand of each of us and looking at us affectionately, "but I loves ye +as sons, and I'll be in the place of a father, that I will." + +Faithfully did Sam Dawes keep his word. + +"Grief is right and does us good in the end, depend on't, or it wouldn't +be sent; but it mustn't make us forget duty. Now you see it is our duty +to live, and we can't live without food, and we can't get food without +we work, so let's turn to and plough and sow the ground." + +This proposal may seem like mockery, but among the valuables placed by +our father in the canoe was a good supply of seed corn and other seeds, +and we had discovered our plough driven deep into the ground. Sigenok +disappeared the moment he understood our intentions, and Sam looked very +blank, and said that he feared he did not like work and had gone off. + +"I think not," observed Malcolm; and he was right. In a few hours +Sigenok returned with two horses and several hides well tanned, and +needles, and fibre for thread. I thought Sam would have hugged him, he +was so delighted. Without loss of time they set to work and cut out a +set of harness, and, lighting a lamp, seated at the entrance to our +tent, laboured at it the greater part of the night, Malcolm and I +helping as far as we could. Sam made us go to sleep, but as I looked up +they were still at work, and when I awoke in the morning it was +finished. The horses were a little restive, evidently not being +accustomed to ploughing, but they obeyed Sigenok's voice in a wonderful +way, though it was necessary in the first place to teach him what ought +to be done. It is said by some that Indians will not labour. I have +reason to know that they will when they have a sufficient motive. +Sigenok showed this. His motive was gratitude to us, and affection +excited by compassion. No white man would have laboured harder. When +the wheat and Indian corn was in the ground, he with his horses helped +Sam and us to bring in stuff for fencing and to put it up. All this +time he slept outside our tent, under shelter of a simple lean-to of +birch bark. Another day he disappeared, and we saw him in the evening +coming up the river towing some timber. He brought a heavy log up on +his shoulders. "There is part of your house," he observed, "we can get +the rest in time." + +So we did; we borrowed a large boat, and taking advantage of a northerly +wind, we brought up, piece by piece, the whole of our hut, which had +grounded near the banks of the river. Our neighbours, in spite of the +value of their time to themselves, came and helped us, and we very soon +had our hut over our heads, though, excepting the articles we had saved +in the canoe, we had no furniture remaining. + +"Sigenok live here with you," observed our Indian friend. + +"Of course; very glad," we answered, thinking he intended to take up his +abode in our hut. + +We had arranged that morning to go to the Port [Fort Garry, belonging to +the Hudson's Bay Company.] to obtain flour and other articles. We were +not without money, for our father had put his desk in the canoe, and in +it we found a sum of money, considerable for our wants. On our return +from the Port, we found that Sigenok had erected close to our door an +Indian wigwam. It was very simple of construction. It consisted of +about a dozen long poles stuck in the ground in a circle, and fastened +together at the top so as to make the figure of a cone. Against these +poles were placed large slabs of birch bask. It comes off the tree in +layers, which, having a tendency to regain their circular form, cling +round the cone, and are further secured with bands of fibre. In the +centre is the fire, while the smoke escapes through an opening left in +the top; some mats on the ground, and some lines stretched across on +which clothes or other articles can be hung up, form the chief furniture +of these wigwams. To these may be added a bundle of hides or mats, and +an iron pot. + +We had purchased some bedding at the Fort, and Sam and Malcolm soon +knocked up some rough furniture, which served our purpose. We should +often have been on short commons had not Sam and Sigenok been expert +fishermen, so that we were never without an ample supply of white-fish, +or gold-eyes, or sturgeon. + +"This very well," observed Sigenok. "Fish very good, but in winter +buffalo better." + +"Will you help us to go and hunt the buffalo, then?" we both exclaimed. + +Sigenok nodded; it was what he had proposed to himself that we should +do. Although a wood Indian, he had connections among the prairie +Indians, and from living with them had become a good rider and expert +hunter. Sam did not like our going; he was afraid some accident might +happen to us, but he had not the heart to tell us so. He was to remain +at home to take care of the farm. Sigenok procured two other horses, +one for himself, and another to drag a light cart which we bought, made +entirely of wood. It was laden with our tent and provisions, and our +rifles and powder and shot. We felt in high spirits when we were ready +to start, and wishing Sam an affectionate farewell, set off to join a +large band of hunters proceeding to the plains. There were nearly three +hundred men, besides their wives and children. The greater number were +half-breeds, but there were also a large body of Indians, among whom we +found Sigenok's relatives, who received as in the most cordial manner, +and told us that we should be their brothers, that our friends should be +their friends, and our foes their foes. The half-breeds had nearly five +hundred carts, each with a distinguishing flag; and there must have been +even a larger number of hunters, all mounted. Their tents, or lodges, +are formed of dressed buffalo-skins. They are pitched in a large +circle, with the carts outside; and when in a hostile country, with the +animals in the centre, otherwise they feed outside the circle. They +have a captain, and regular officers under him; and a flag hoisted on a +pole in the centre serves as a signal. When hauled down, it is a sign +that the march is to be continued. When the whole body was on the move, +it reminded us of a caravan in the East, with the long line of carts +winding along over the plain, and the horsemen galloping about on either +side. For several days we travelled on without seeing any buffalo, till +one day, soon after we had camped, notice was brought by the scouts that +a large herd were in the neighbourhood. All was now excitement and +preparation in the camp. Sigenok called us early in the morning, and, +after a hasty breakfast, in high spirits we mounted our horses, and +accompanied the band of hunters. We made a wide circuit, so as to let +the wind blow from the buffaloes towards us. I should tell you that the +animal denominated the buffalo by the North Americans is what is +properly called the bison by naturalists. They roam in vast herds over +the interior of North America, from Mexico as far north as the large +river Saskatchewan and Lake Winnipeg. We rode on, drawing nearer and +nearer, till, as we ascended a slight elevation, we saw over it on the +plain on the other side a vast herd of big-headed, dark, hairy monsters, +more buffaloes than I supposed existed on the whole continent. They +were feeding quietly, as if not aware of the approach of foes. Our +captain, an experienced hunter, rode along the ranks commanding silence, +directing every man to look to his arms, and exhorting the novices not +to shoot each other, a danger which might justly be apprehended. Each +hunter now ascertained that his rifle was loaded, and then filled his +mouth with bullets--a ready-at-hand pouch, that he might the more +quickly drop them into his piece. I was afraid of following this +example, for fear of the bullets dropping down my throat or of my gun +bursting. Malcolm and I kept close to Sigenok. He told us to do what +he did, not to lose sight of him, assuring us that our horses understood +hunting perfectly. Our hearts beat with eagerness. We had now got near +enough, in the opinion of our leader, to charge. The signal was given, +and at headlong speed the band of huntsmen dashed in among the +astonished animals. The buffaloes fled in all directions, the horsemen +following, firing right and left, and loading again with extraordinary +rapidity, seldom missing; and as each animal fell, the hunter who had +killed it dropped some article of his dress, or other mark, by which he +might distinguish it. It was the most exciting scene in which I was +ever engaged--the hunters, so lately a dense and orderly body, were now +scattered far and wide over the plain, many miles apart, in pursuit of +the buffaloes; some terror-stricken, others infuriated to madness. +Sigenok had killed five or six, and Malcolm had also, much to our +gratification, killed one, though I had not been so successful, from +nervousness, I fancy; when the Indian being at some distance, as we were +in full chase of another buffalo, a huge bull started out from behind a +knoll, and rushed towards us. My brother's horse started at the +unexpected sight, and putting his foot into a badger hole, stumbled, and +threw him over his head. The faithful animal stood stock still, but on +came the bull. I shrieked out to Malcolm to leap on his horse and fly, +but he was stunned, and did not hear me. The bull was not twenty paces +from him; in another instant he would have been gored to death. I felt +thankful that I had not before fired. Raising my rifle to my shoulder, +I pulled the trigger, the huge animal was within ten paces of him; over +it went, then rose on its knees, and struggled forward. I galloped up +to Malcolm, who was beginning to recover his senses. With a strength I +did not fancy I possessed I dragged him up, and helped him on his horse +just before the monster fell over the spot where he had lain, and would +have crushed him with his weight. By the time Sigenok returned, the +buffalo was dead. He highly praised me when he heard what had occurred, +but said that we had had hunting enough that day, and that he would now +summon his people to take possession of the animals we had killed. The +skins are called robes, and are valued as articles of trade, being taken +by the far traders and sent to Canada, England, Russia, and other parts +of the world. Parts of the flesh of the slain animals was carried into +the camp for immediate consumption, but the larger portion was prepared +forthwith in a curious way for keeping. The meat is first cut into thin +slices and dried in the sun, and these slices are then pounded between +two stones till the fibres separate. This pounded meat is then mixed +with melted fat, about fifty pounds of the first to forty pounds of the +latter, and while hot is pressed into buffalo-skin bags, when it forms a +hard, compact mass. It is now called pemmikon, from _pemmi_, meat, and +_kon_, fat, in the Cree language. One pound of this mixture is +considered as nutritious as two of ordinary meat, and it has the +advantage of keeping for years through all temperatures. + +V. + +Soon after the grand hunting-day I have described, our scout brought +word that a party of Sioux were in the neighbourhood. Our fighting-men +attacked them and killed several. A scalp-dance took place, and other +orgies which I will not describe. I was so horrified with what I saw, +that I agreed with Malcolm that we would get back to the settlements as +soon as we could. We expressed our wish to Sigenok, and he promised to +return with us on the following day. Malcolm's great wish was to +withdraw Sigenok from his savage companions, and to induce him to settle +down as a civilised man and a Christian. We talked to him on the +subject, but he replied, that he had been all his life accustomed to +hunting, and fighting, and that he could not abandon them. The next day +we set out, leaving the larger body of Indians still encamped. + +We had travelled on for two days, when the belief being entertained that +we had no enemies to fear, there was less than the usual caution +observed by the natives in our march. We were passing through a +sparsely wooded country, I was in advance with Sigenok, while Malcolm +and several young Indians, whose interest he wished to excite by +descriptions of England and the wonders of the civilised world, brought +up the rear, at a considerable distance. Suddenly Sigenok stopped, the +crack of a rifle was heard, several others followed. "The Sioux!" he +exclaimed, turning round his horse. "Quick! quick! our friends are +attacked." No other order was required; keeping close to him we all +galloped back the way we had come, getting our rifles ready for action +as we proceeded. A terrible anticipation of misfortune seized me as I +thought of Malcolm, and the fate which might have overtaken him. Still +he and his companions might be defending themselves, and we should be in +time to rescue them. My heart sunk when the firing ceased. I knew that +the Sioux would not have attacked the party unless greatly superior in +numbers, and I dreaded that all was over, and that having slaughtered +their victims they had retired victorious. Sigenok might have thought +the same, for he sent out scouts on either side, and advanced with +greater caution than before, though still at a rapid pace. We pulled up +at an open glade. Sad was the sight which met our eyes. On every side +were strewed the bodies of our companions, all denuded of their scalps. +I almost fell fainting from my horse. I dreaded to find the body of my +dear brother among them; still I eagerly hurried on to ascertain his +fate. He was not to be found among the slain. My hopes slightly +revived. He might have escaped and be concealed somewhere near, or he +might have been carried off as a prisoner. My blood ran cold when I +thought of this latter possibility, for I had heard of the horrible mode +in which the Red men tortured their prisoners, and I dreaded lest such +should be the lot of my poor brother. The rage and fury of the Indians +at finding that their friends had thus been cut off was terrific, and +their threats of vengeance terrible. I had hitherto, till this +expedition, seen the Red men only under more favourable aspects. I now +perceived what they could become when excited by passion. Still the +loss of my brother made me anxious that they should immediately +undertake an expedition which might result in his recovery. I saw the +Indians examining the ground round on every side, and they soon +pronounced an opinion that the party who had attacked their friends did +not equal them in numbers, and would not have succeeded had they not +lain in ambush and taken them by surprise. We must have passed close to +the Sioux, but in consequence of the superiority of our numbers they +were afraid to attack us. A council was immediately held; the principal +men spoke, and various plans were suggested. The result of them was, +that it was determined to form a camp on the spot, while twenty +well-mounted warriors should go in pursuit of the Sioux. I entreated +Sigenok to allow me to accompany him. "You are young for warfare, but +your heart is strong--you shall go," he answered. No time was to be +lost. It was of great consequence to follow up the foe so rapidly that +they might not be prepared for our approach. A hurried meal was taken, +and each warrior furnishing himself with a supply of pemmikon for +several days, we immediately set off. Three men, on foot, always kept +ahead to act as scouts and to feel the way, while their horses were led +by the rest, and when the first were tired others took their places. +The Sioux must have retreated very rapidly, for two whole days passed, +and though my friends assured me we were on the right trail, we had not +overtaken them. I was almost in despair, and began to doubt that, even +if Malcolm was alive, he could be with them. I had just expressed my +fears to Sigenok when one of the scouts came hurrying back and exhibited +a tag--the end of a boot-lace, such as my brother had worn. This +Sigenok considered a sure sign that Malcolm was with them. My +eagerness, therefore, increased to overtake them, but the Indians +assured me that great caution was requisite, and that instead of going +faster, it might be necessary to go slower. This is often the case I +have since found in other affairs of life. More scouts were now sent +out and still greater caution used. It was the intention of my +companions, if possible, to make the onslaught on the camp of their foes +at night. All depended, however, on our approach not being suspected. +The Sioux, of course, would have scouts out, and the difficulty was to +avoid their meeting ours, or discovering any traces. At last, just +before dusk, one of our scouts brought in word that they had encamped, +and that we were about two miles from them. It was suspected, from the +way in which they had formed their camp, they must have thought that +they had distanced us. We had now no longer any doubt about overtaking +them, but the question was as to the best means of making the attack. +The Indians' chief thought was of revenging themselves for the loss of +their relatives, my only desire was to recover my brother should he +still be alive. We continued to advance till we got within about half a +mile of the Sioux camp--the hilly nature of the ground and the woods +concealing our approach. Beyond that we dared not proceed, as the +country was so open that we might easily have been seen had we made the +attempt. The band, accordingly, here left their horses under charge of +five of their number, and as soon as it was dusk they commenced their +stealthy approach to the camp. Sigenok and another young and active +Indian undertook to look after me. Not a word was spoken after we set +out--not a leaf was moved, scarcely a blade of grass was uselessly +pressed down. On they crept slowly, and so gently that I could scarcely +hear the footfalls even of my two companions. I imitated their way of +walking, and as I had on mocassins I also was able to avoid making the +slightest noise. We had got within a thousand yards of the camp when we +all stopped to listen. The camp was still astir, and there were sounds +of feasting and revelry. The Indians with me ground their teeth--their +enemies, fancying themselves secure, were about to indulge in a +scalp-dance over the scalps they had taken in the morning. As yet the +scouts had not got near enough to ascertain if my brother was with them. +I entreated Sigenok to let me go and ascertain. "Not without me," was +his answer. "Bah, we will go." I eagerly and fearlessly pressed on. +We had to crawl along the ground lest our figures might be perceived, by +the sharp eyes of the Sioux, against the sky. We reached a small +stream. The camp was formed a little way beyond it. We waded across +it, and creeping up, looked over the bank. In the centre was a fire +which, as it blazed up, threw a strange light on the groups of fierce +savages clustering round it. At a little distance was a figure which +attracted all my attention--it was that of my brother. He was seated on +a log of wood, close to which a stake was driven in, and to this his +wrists were tightly secured, though his feet were free. His head was +bent down; he sat perfectly quiet, as if resigned to his fate. By the +gestures of his captors I thought that they were talking about him, and +I feared that they were proposing forthwith to put him to death. I +dared not ask Sigenok what he thought; the slightest sound might have +betrayed us. Oh how I longed to rush forward and join his fate, +whatever that might be. I believe that I should have done so when I saw +him lift up his pale countenance, so expressive of grief and pain, had +not Sigenok held me back. He was, I was sure, thinking of me, and how +miserable I should be when he was taken from me, and I was left alone in +the world. Sigenok now made a sign to me to retreat; keeping close to +him as before, I unwillingly left the spot. We crawled on till we +rejoined our companions. It may seem surprising that the Sioux should +have been so completely off their guard; but this arose from their +despising their foes, the fact being that the Ojibways are generally +very unwarlike, and they, therefore, believed that they would not +venture to follow them. My companions' plans were soon formed. It was +arranged that the whole party should creep forward as we had done, and +that each man should single out one of the enemy according to his +position, and that at a signal from Sigenok, the low croak of a frog, +all should fire at the same moment. With the sound of the first shot +the men with the horses were to come galloping on, as if a fresh party +were approaching the scene of conflict. As, undoubtedly, all the Sioux +would not be killed, some might, otherwise, attempt to rush on their +concealed foes, but, with the fear of falling into the hands of their +enemies, they would now take to flight. My heart beat quick as we now +moved on towards the camp of our treacherous foes. The night was very +dark, and so noiseless were the movements of the Indians that, till I +actually touched Sigenok's heel, I fancied at one time that I must be +alone. The shouting and shrieking of the Sioux as they sang their songs +of triumph yet farther assisted us to approach. In another moment the +death volley would be given, and most of those fierce savages would be +laid low. My only wish all the time was to rush forward and to release +my beloved brother. How breathlessly I waited for the signal! The +warriors were moving about, and Sigenok was not yet satisfied, +apparently, with the positions which they had taken up. Little did they +dream of the danger which threatened them. Sigenok's object was to wait +till the Sioux were separated as much as possible, so that there should +be no mistake as to which of them should be aimed at by the warriors of +our party. After sitting down for some time, they all arose with eager +and violent gestures; some went in the direction of the temporary +wigwams they had formed, and others advanced towards Malcolm. By their +looks and gesticulations I had little doubt that it was with the +intention of torturing him. Poor Malcolm lifted up his countenance and +gazed with calm resignation at his approaching tormentors. My knees +trembled for very anxiety. Just then I heard a low "croak! croak!" +Though warned, I believed that it was really a frog close to me. It was +followed by a click as if caused by the cocking of the rifles. The +Sioux one and all started and looked round. Their quick ears had +detected the sound. There was another low croak, and at the same +instant a rattling volley, and fourteen savages lay stretched on the +grass. The rest rushed in all directions seeking for shelter, but in +their alarm, scarcely perceiving whence the volley had proceeded, some +darted towards the bank of the stream, where my friends still lay +concealed rapidly reloading their rifles. Scarcely had the smoke +cleared off than I saw through it a savage darting towards Malcolm with +uplifted knife, resolved apparently, before he died, to plunge it in his +bosom. I shrieked out, and sprang forward to throw myself between them. +The savage saw me, and was about to vent his rage on my head, but at +the moment his gleaming knife was uplifted to strike, a bullet struck +him, fired from Sigenok's rifle, and he fell within a foot of me, in +vain endeavouring to reach me with his weapon. I sprang to my brother's +side, he was unhurt, my knife was busily employed in cutting through the +thongs which bound him. More shots were heard as my Ojibway friends +caught sight of their Sioux foes endeavouring to escape. A few of the +latter had, however, got to some distance and were trying to catch their +horses, on which their only hope of safety now depended. The object of +the Ojibways was, of course, to prevent them, lest they should carry the +news of what had happened to their tribe, who would, in their turn, send +off another war party in pursuit of us. + +The approach of our horses was now heard. Sigenok with a dozen other +men threw themselves on their backs almost without stopping them, and +galloped off in hot pursuit of their flying enemies. I stood by the +side of my brother, who was too much bewildered to understand what had +happened. His first words were, "Harry, dear Harry, tell me is it a +dream or a reality. Am I really free?" + +"Free, Malcolm, I trust," I answered; "though I might almost ask you the +same question; I can scarcely believe my happiness." + +"Now I take your hand and hear your voice, I know that it is true," he +said eagerly. "And that poor savage who lies so helpless there, I +thought he was going to kill me; but I have been mercifully protected; I +will tell you all about it by and by. Oh what a dreadful state of +existence is this wild life; we will quit it, and return to our quiet +home and never leave that. I had often read about savages, and thought +them very fine fellows, but little knew what they really are--how +bloodthirsty, cruel, murderous. Let us fly, Harry, let us fly at once. +Do not stay here." + +I pacified him after a little time, and persuaded him to remain till +Sigenok returned. "He, though still a savage, is, at all events, +faithful," I observed; "he will not desert us till he has seen us home +and safe again with Sam Dawes. I wish that we could wean him altogether +from his mode of life, and induce him to become a civilised man." + +While Malcolm and I were talking, the rest of the Ojibways had +collected, with the exception of those who had gone in pursuit of the +Sioux. The fire had sunk low, and I was thankful that the darkness +prevented us from watching the horrid task in which they were engaged-- +that of scalping their fallen foes. The exclamations they uttered while +thus employed, showed the delight they took in the dreadful work. "Our +brothers are avenged! our brothers are avenged!" they kept shouting. +"Their mothers, and wives, and children will not mourn alone; there will +be grief and wailing also in the lodges of the Sioux. They will no +longer be able to boast that they are the great warriors of the plains. +We have conquered them; we have slain them; we have their scalps to +show." Nearly an hour thus passed; so greatly excited all the time were +the savages that they took little notice of us. + +At last we heard shouts in the distance, which became louder and louder, +till by the light of the fire, which had been renewed, we saw Sigenok +and his companions ride into the camp flourishing at the end of their +spears the dreadful trophies of their success. But I should not have +described those scenes at all, were it not to afford you a true picture +of savage life, not as it is painted by romance writers, but as it +really is, debased, and wretched, and hopeless. We soon reached the +camp and recommenced our return to the settlements as rapidly as we +could push on. + +Sigenok told us that the Sioux of whom they had gone in chase, had +nearly effected their escape, but that he had come up with them as they +were attempting to pass a broad river, and where, from being in the +water, not hearing the approach of their foes, he and his companions had +shot them all down, so that he believed not one had got off. Still, had +one escaped he might prove as dangerous as many, and therefore it might +be safer to proceed homeward at once. We urged him to do so, and +accordingly without even resting, we at once set out to return to the +camp. We reached it in safety; but I will not attempt to describe the +scenes which took place, and the savage triumph even of the women; how +they shrieked, and shouted, and danced, and clapped their hands till +they appeared like so many furies rather than human beings. As a war +party of the Sioux would be able to travel much faster than we could, +the household goods were at once packed, and we set out on our return +homeward. We travelled rapidly, and to guard against surprise we had +scouts in the rear constantly on the watch for the approach of a foe. +The conversation of the men all the way related to the events of the +expedition, and they evidently gloated over the way in which they had +put their enemies to death. + +As we proceeded I often turned my head when I heard any noise behind me, +expecting to see the enemy darting out of a wood, or scouring over the +prairie in chase of us, and at night, while we were encamped, I +frequently started up under the belief that the Sioux were upon us. + +"All our sufferings, and the dangers we have gone through, and the +horrors we have witnessed, have been owing to our folly," observed +Malcolm; "had we remained at home, steadily assisting Sam Dawes to +cultivate the farm, we should have escaped them all. We will be wiser +in future." + +VI. + +With great satisfaction, and gratitude for the dangers we had escaped, +our eyes once more rested on the silvery waters of the Red River, as it +wound its way through the rich plains of the settlement, towards the +lengthened expanse of Lake Winnipeg. Malcolm and I, putting our spurs +into our mustangs' flanks, galloped on eager to announce our arrival to +Sam Dawes. He was labouring by himself, putting up a fence to a new +field. He saw us coming, and, throwing down his axe, hurried forward to +meet us. Never was there a more happy meeting. He had a great deal to +tell us, as we had to tell him. Gathering up his tools, he walked by +our sides to the hut; a hut though it was no longer, for by his +persevering industry he had converted it into a very comfortable +residence; while he had replaced, though in a somewhat rough fashion, +nearly all the furniture we had lost. My brother and I felt ashamed at +having deserted him for so long, while he was labouring for our benefit. + +"Well, dear masters, I did ofttimes feel sad and lonely like while you +were away, but now I've got you back safe all that seems as light as a +feather," he exclaimed, pressing our hands and looking into our faces +with the affection of a parent. He told us that great changes had taken +place in the settlement during our absence, that a clergyman had settled +near us, that a church was built and a school established, and that many +new colonists had bought land along the banks of the river for many +miles towards the south as well as to the north of us. The good +clergyman had also induced several families of Indians to settle in the +neighbourhood, and that they seemed to have accepted with joy the glad +tidings of salvation which he had been the means of offering them. + +"I wish that Sigenok would come and join them then," exclaimed Malcolm +warmly; "so brave and energetic a man would bring many others over to +the truth." + +The next day Sigenok himself came in to see us. Malcolm opened the +subject of which he had been speaking. Sigenok listened attentively, +and said that he would go and hear what the missionary had to say. He +did so. + +The winter set in, and the river and lake were frozen over, and the +ground was covered with snow, and sleighs had taken the place of carts, +and thick buffalo-skin coats of light dress, and stoves were lighted and +windows closed, and the whole face of Nature seemed changed. Sigenok +came to us. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "when I knew you first my heart was +like the great prairie when the fire has passed over it, all black and +foul; now it is white like that field of glittering snow on which we +gaze. I am a Christian; I look with horror on my past life, and things +which I considered before praiseworthy and noble, I now see to be +abominable and vile." + +Day after day, in spite of cold and wind and snow, did Sigenok come up +to the missionary's house to receive instruction in the new faith which +had brought such joy to his heart. Many followed in his footsteps, and +there now exists a whole village of Christian Indians in the settlement +who have put away and for ever their medicine men and their charms, and +their false Manitou, and their cruelties and bloodthirstiness, and are +worshippers of the true God in sincerity and simplicity of faith. +Several of the Indian boys brought up at the school have obtained a +considerable amount of learning, and some are ordained ministers of the +gospel, and others catechists and schoolmasters at various missionary +stations scattered throughout the wide extent of Rupert's Land. + +You may like to hear something more about that wonderful land, that +_terra ignota_ of British Central America. At the time of which I have +been speaking it was supposed that the only fertile land was to be found +on the banks of the Red River, but it is now ascertained that an +extremely rich and fertile belt extends from the Red River right across +the continent, for eight hundred miles or more, to the base of the Rocky +Mountains, where it unites with the new province of Columbia. This +fertile belt is capable of supporting innumerable herds of cattle, +flocks of sheep, and droves of horses, and of giving employment and +happy homes to millions of the human race. It produces wheat and +barley, and oats, and Indian corn, or maize, in great perfection, and +potatoes and a variety of other roots and vegetables of all sorts, and +the finest grass for hay, and hemp and tobacco, and many other plants +with difficulty grown in England. The rivers are full of fish, and game +of all sorts abound. The climate is very uniform throughout, like that +of Upper Canada--warm in summer and very cold in winter, but dry and +healthy in the extreme. + +When, as I hope the case may be before long, those lakes and rivers +along which we travelled on our journey from Lake Superior to the Red +River are made navigable for steamers, this country will become the +great highway to British Columbia, to China, Japan, and the +wide-spreading shores and isles of the Pacific. With a line of +settlements established across it, the journey may easily be performed, +and some day, Harry, you and I will run over, and we will pay a visit to +the very scenes which I have been describing to you; but instead of +roving savages, murdering and scalping in every direction, living by +hunting and fishing, I hope that we may find the Indians settled down as +Christian men, and persevering cultivators of the soil which Providence +will compel to yield a rich return for their labour. You will wish to +know more of your uncle Malcolm's and my proceedings. We soon became +acquainted with the good clergyman I have mentioned, and after a time he +suggested to us that, as our education was far from perfect, it would be +wise if we recommenced our studies. This we did, and though we +continued to help Sam Dawes in his farm labours even more efficiently +than before, so steady was our application when engaged with our books +under our kind tutor, that we made considerable progress in our studies. +For three years or more we lived on very happily, with nothing to +change our course of life, when we received notice from England that a +relation of our father's especially wished us to return. On consulting +our friend the clergyman, he strongly recommended us to accept the +invitation offered us. As we expected speedily to return we left Sam +Dawes in charge of the farm, though he was almost heart-broken at +parting from us. He would, indeed, never have consented to remain had +he not believed that it was for our interest to do so. On reaching +England great was our surprise to find that our relative intended to +leave us his property. On ascertaining our attainments in knowledge, he +insisted on our both going to the university. Your uncle Malcolm took +high honours, and entered into holy orders. I became, as was our +relative, a merchant, and without allowing business to absorb me, I have +considerably increased the small portion he left me. Your uncle Malcolm +and I have constantly talked of going over to visit Sam Dawes, but +circumstances have prevented us. We long ago made over the farm to him, +and he has greatly increased and improved it. He is, we hear, a hale +old man. And now, Harry, I have told you a long story enough for +to-day. Some other time I will tell you more about the wonders of +Rupert's Land. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE SHEPHERD LORD, BY JULIA CORNER, AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORICAL LIBRARY," +ETCETERA. + +It is now about four hundred years since a great feast was held at +Skipton Castle, to celebrate the birth of a son and heir to the noble +house of De Clifford. The young lord of the domain had just succeeded +to the title and vast possessions of his father, Thomas Lord Clifford, +who was killed in the battle of Saint Albans, at the beginning of the +civil wars between the rival houses of York and Lancaster, and, by his +death, his only son John, then not much more than twenty years of age, +became lord of the great manor of Skipton in Yorkshire, and of Brougham +Castle, with its wide lands, in Westmoreland, besides other castles and +estates in different parts of the Northern Counties. A rich and +powerful family were the De Cliffords, descended from Richard of +Normandy, the uncle of William the Conqueror, and the first Lord +Clifford was the father of the lady called Fair Rosamond, who lived in +the reign of King Henry the Second, and was so beautiful that it is said +in some histories of England that the queen was jealous of her, and +obliged her to take poison; but this story is now supposed to be untrue, +as there is reason to believe that Fair Rosamond became a nun and died +in a convent. The De Cliffords held the Barony of Clifford in +Herefordshire, and the extensive manor of Skipton in Yorkshire, when the +grandson of Rosamond's father married a rich heiress, who brought him +the Barony of Westmoreland, to which Brougham Castle belonged, and after +that other lords of the race acquired estates by their marriages, so +that the wealth and grandeur of the family had been continually +increasing. The wife of the present Lord Clifford, the beautiful and +accomplished Lady Margaret, was the only child, consequently the heiress +of Henry Bromflete Lord de Vesci, who was also possessed of large +estates, one of which was Londesborough in Yorkshire, so that Henry, the +hero of this tale, was born heir to great riches and honours, and in his +childhood was surrounded with all the magnificence of a royal prince, +for his father lived in kingly state, and his mother had her maids of +honour, her squires and pages, just like a queen. It was not long after +young Henry's birth that Lord Clifford removed his family from Skipton +to Brougham Castle, where two more children were born, a boy who was +named Richard, and a girl named Elizabeth. These children had their +separate nurses and attendants, as was befitting their high station, and +Henry's chief nurse, whose name was Maud, was as fond of him as if he +had been her own child, for he was a very sweet-tempered, affectionate +boy, and he loved her better than any one else in the world, except his +parents and his little brother and sister. + +Lord Clifford was now very seldom at home, being deeply engaged in the +wars, but he came sometimes and stayed for a few days or weeks, as it +might be, and on these occasions Henry, as soon as he was old enough, +used to dine in the Castle hall, where not less than a hundred knights +and gentlemen, besides a great number of pages and domestics of all +kinds, sat down to dinner all together every day, for such was the +custom of those times in great families. The dinner hour was about +noon, or even earlier, when everybody belonging to the establishment +assembled in the hall, where they took their places at the board +according to their rank. At the upper end was a table raised above the +rest on a dais, for the lord of the castle and his family, with any +guests of distinction that might happen to be present, and below this +was a long oak table extending from it lengthways down the centre of the +hall, in the middle of which stood an enormous salt-cellar, as a sort of +boundary between such as were of gentle birth, and those of lower +degree; the former sitting above, the latter below the salt. The style +of living in those days would appear very uncivilised to us in this more +refined age, for the dishes were set on the board without any cloth, and +the people ate off wooden or pewter plates, and used their fingers +instead of forks, while many of the nobles would have their favourite +hounds beside them, and feed them from the table; for, as the floor was +always thickly strewed with rushes, they did not mind throwing down +pieces of meat to their dogs. However there was always great plenty, +and such a banquet was thought very grand then; and the young Henry de +Clifford, as being the eldest son, was treated with great homage by all +his father's dependents. Often, too, chiefly for his amusement, +mummers, jugglers, and tumblers were allowed to exhibit their +performances in the hall, for he took great delight in such +entertainments, and no indulgence, however costly, was thought too great +for De Clifford's heir, whose pleasure was studied by every member of +the numerous household. It was well for him that his wise and excellent +mother taught him not to be too proud of his exalted rank, or haughty in +his manners to those of humbler grade, but to be courteous and kind to +every one, even to the lowest menial, so as to gain the good-will of +all; and, as he was a very docile boy, and moreover believed that nobody +in the world was so good or so beautiful as his own dear mother, he did +not fail to profit by her gentle precepts, and become all that she could +wish. Poor boy! he little dreamed then how greatly he would stand in +need of a humble spirit, or what a sad reverse of fortune he was +destined soon to experience. + +His good nurse Maud had left to go to her own home at Skipton, where she +married a shepherd belonging to the estate, and after her departure +Henry was much more with his mother, who had begun to instruct him in +such branches of learning as were considered essential to the education +of the young nobility. She taught him to play on the harp and other +stringed instruments, to recite verses, sing many of the songs she had +herself learned from the minstrels in her father's halls, and, what was +of still more importance, she was about to teach him to read, which was +not a common accomplishment in those days, for there were no printed +books in England till some time afterwards. Printing was then a new +invention, and only practised in Germany at one or two of the principal +towns, so that the only means of learning to read was from manuscripts +written by the monks, generally on parchment or vellum, and beautifully +illuminated with a border round every page, in brilliant colours +intermixed with gold. In every monastery some of the monks were always +employed in making copies of the manuscripts their libraries contained, +and others in illuminating them; but these written books were so +expensive that none but very rich people could afford to buy them. Lady +Clifford, however, possessed a few of these valuable works, and was +intending that her son, who was now in his seventh year, should begin to +study them, when a heavy blow fell upon the house of De Clifford; and +the noble youth, who was born to be a great and wealthy lord, was +reduced to the humble condition of a shepherd's boy. + +Henry was very desirous to know something about the war that kept his +father so much from home, and Lady Margaret took great pains to explain +to him how it had been occasioned, and why the English people should all +be fighting against each other. She told him it was the opinion of many +persons that the king, Henry the Sixth, who was then reigning, had no +right to the crown, which belonged properly to the Duke of York, who had +come over from Ireland and raised an army for the purpose of dethroning +the sovereign, and getting himself made king in his stead. She also +told him that King Henry, though a very good man, was neither very brave +nor very clever, so that he did not take an active part in the war +himself, but trusted everything to his queen, Margaret of Anjou, a +Frenchwoman, whose bold and daring spirit enabled her to support her +husband's cause. + +"But which do you think is right, mother?" said Henry. + +"It is a difficult question to answer, my child; your father takes the +part of the king, or rather of the queen, for the king is now a prisoner +in the hands of his enemies. But the claim of the Duke of York is not +without foundation, and those who take his part of course believe him to +be in the right. But it is a sad thing, my Henry, that a dispute +between two princes should cause so much misery and bloodshed as has +already been occasioned by this unhappy quarrel, and it may be a long +time yet before peace is restored." + +"Why do they say my father is for Lancaster and the Red Rose?" + +"Because our king's grandfather, Henry the Fourth, was Duke of Lancaster +before he became king. He gained the crown by force from his cousin +Richard the Second, and although the people consented to have him for +their king, and his son Henry the Fifth after him, and now his grandson +Henry the Sixth, it does not prove that he had a right to take the crown +from Richard." + +"And who is this Duke of York, mother? Why do they think he ought to be +the king?" + +"To make you understand that, Henry, I must go back a little further to +the reign of Edward the Third. He, you know, was the father of that +good and brave prince Edward, whom we call the Black Prince, and who +would have been king if he had not died before his father. The Black +Prince had four younger brothers, but he had a son also, who succeeded +to the throne at the death of his grandfather. He was the Richard the +Second whose crown was taken from him by the Duke of Lancaster, his +cousin, who is, therefore, considered a usurper. This Duke of Lancaster +was also a grandson of Edward the Third, but his father was one of the +younger sons of that king; and the Duke of York, who has now come +forward to claim the crown, and stirred up all this terrible strife, is +a descendant of one of King Edward's elder sons. Do you understand all +this?" + +"Yes, I think I do; but I cannot tell which is in the right after all." + +"No, my dear boy, I dare say you cannot, neither can I inform you, for +there is much to be said on both sides. I do not pretend to judge +between them, I can only be grieved to see how much sorrow is caused by +the war, and wish that it was ended." + +"But you have not told me now, mother, why they say my father is for the +Red Rose." + +"The Red Rose, Henry, is a badge to distinguish the king's party. The +crimson rosette they all wear is meant to represent a red rose. The +friends of the Duke of York wear a white one, and from these party signs +the war has come to be called the `War of the Roses.'" + +One day, soon after this conversation, it was just before Christmas, the +Lady Margaret, who often entered into the diversions of her children, +was teaching her two boys to shoot at a target in the gallery above the +hall, with a miniature bow and arrows. Some of her maidens were present +looking on at the sport, and when either of the boys shot near the mark +they clapped their hands in applause, and exclaimed, "In good truth, +that was well aimed, my Lord Henry!" or "Bravely done, my Lord Richard! +It went within a hair's breadth." And so they went on laughing and +playing for a long while, one or other of the damsels, and sometimes the +lady herself, trying their skill, the two boys being highly delighted +with the sport, when they were suddenly interrupted by the sound of the +warder's horn, and in another moment the loud, heavy tramp of many +horses was heard. + +"It is my lord returned!" cried Lady Margaret. "Now, heaven be praised. +Come with me, Henry, to the gate to meet your father; and you, Cicely, +bring down Richard. He must not say we are slow to bid him welcome." + +The drawbridge had been let down, the castle-gates flung wide open, and +in a few minutes the hall was filled with a host of soldiers who had +returned with their lord from the wars. The noble chief responded +lovingly to the affectionate greetings of his lady and his boys, then +left the hall with them, whilst the seneschal collected all the chief +domestics and their servitors to make ready a banquet for the unexpected +guests. A sumptuous feast was speedily prepared, and Lord Clifford, +with the Lady Margaret and his son Henry, dined in state that day--it +was for the last time--in Brougham Castle. + +The joy occasioned by his return was but short-lived, for it was quickly +known that he was to depart again on the morrow, and much news was told +to the inmates of the castle by those who had newly arrived. It +appeared that the whole country was in a dreadful state. The king had +been made prisoner at the last battle, and the queen was now in the +northern counties with her son, the young prince Edward, endeavouring to +raise fresh forces. These were hard times for the poor country-people, +who suffered greatly from famine, as the soldiers were marching about in +all directions, pillaging and destroying wherever they came. Almost +every nobleman in England had joined either one side or the other, and +many men, who would much rather have stayed at home in peace with their +families, to work in the fields, or tend their flocks and herds, were +compelled to take up arms at the bidding of their lords; but the +peasantry in those days were so dependent on the nobles that every man +was obliged to obey the commands of the lord of the land whereon he +dwelt, for although the lower orders were not vassals and serfs as they +used to be in earlier times, still they were not so free as they are +now. Lord Clifford had come home chiefly for the purpose of leaving +some of his trusty followers to defend the castle in case it should be +attacked, which he thought probable, and as he had taken away all the +fighting-men, there had latterly been none left in the castle but such +as were too old or infirm to do much service. He therefore appointed a +sufficient number to remain as a guard, then prepared to bid adieu once +more to his wife and children. Lord Clifford was fierce and cruel in +the wars, but he was fondly attached to his own family, and it was +perhaps in some measure owing to his strong feelings with regard to +domestic ties, united with a natural ferocity of disposition, that made +him so unsparing towards his enemies as to obtain the name of "the +butcher," by which he is distinguished in history to this very day; for +when his father fell at the battle of Saint Albans, he made a vow that +he would revenge his death by never showing mercy to a partisan of the +house of York, and he kept that vow but too well, as you will presently +hear. + +The gentle Lady Margaret watched, with a saddened heart and tearful +eyes, the hurried preparations for her husband's departure, while Henry +and Richard stood near him, gazing with childish admiration on his +stately form arrayed in armour of polished steel, over which he wore a +tabard, or short coat of crimson velvet, richly embroidered with gold, +and under its wide open sleeves the shining armour looked very splendid. +His helmet was adorned with a plume of feathers, and as he was a tall, +handsome man, no doubt he looked very magnificent in the eyes of his +children. It was the last time they ever saw him. + +Brougham Castle stood on the bank of a narrow river, and its principal +entrance was an arched gateway opening to the riverside. The drawbridge +had been let down, and some of the horsemen had already passed over, and +were waiting on the opposite bank for their leader, who still lingered +to say a few more parting words to the beloved ones he was leaving +behind. The little baby girl was brought to him for a last kiss, then +he took Richard in his arms, and kissed him too, and stroking the glossy +curls of Henry's light brown hair, he said-- + +"I wish you were a few years older, my son, that you might go with me to +fight for your king and queen." + +"I thank God that he is not old enough," returned Lady Margaret; "it is +grief enough for me to part with my husband. Oh! that these cruel wars +were over, for they bring nothing but sorrow to the land!" + +"Thou hast but a faint heart, my Margaret. Our queen is a lioness +compared with thee!" + +"I would not wish to resemble her then," said the lady. + +"Nor would I desire that thou shouldst," replied her husband. "But keep +up a brave spirit, for thou mayest need it." + +Again he embraced her lovingly, and mounting his gallant charger he rode +from the castle-gate, with about fifty knights and esquires in his +train, all well armed and mounted. + +The first news that reached Brougham, was a cause of the deepest sorrow +to Lady Margaret, although it told of a great battle that had been won +by her husband's party at Wakefield, and also of the death of Richard, +Duke of York, who had fallen on the field. But it also told of a +barbarous deed done by Lord Clifford, which she was sure would turn all +hearts against him; and so it did, for it shocked both friends and foes, +and has left a blot on his name that will never be effaced. + +It was after the battle was over, as he was riding towards the town to +rejoin the queen, that he overtook the young Earl of Rutland, second son +of the unfortunate Duke of York, a youth about fourteen years of age, +who had just heard of his father's fate, and, overwhelmed with grief, +was being hurried away by his tutor, Sir Robert Aspall, who had been +left in charge of him near the field of battle, to seek refuge in a +neighbouring convent. Clifford seized the affrighted boy, who fell on +his knees and begged for mercy. + +"Who is he?" demanded the fierce nobleman in a thundering tone. + +"He is the son of a prince who is now beyond thy power," answered the +venerable tutor. "But I pray you to spare him, for he is too young to +do hurt to thee or thy cause." + +"He is a son of York, and he shall die!" exclaimed Lord Clifford, +plunging his dagger into the heart of the hapless boy, who fell dead at +his feet. + +It was in consequence of this wanton act of cruelty, and of the numbers +he slew at the battle of Wakefield with his own hand, that he was +thenceforth called "the butcher," a terrible distinction, which will +cling to his memory for ever. + +Lady Clifford lamented sadly over the fate of poor Rutland, for she +would have given all the wealth she had in the world, rather than her +lord should have been guilty of such a wicked deed; and when she looked +at her dear boy Henry, she wondered that the thought of his own son +should not have softened a father's heart, and prevented him from +destroying an innocent youth, even though he was the son of an enemy. + +One day, soon after this news was brought, there came to the castle one +of those wandering minstrels who were in the habit of going about the +country with their harps, and were sure to find a welcome at the +mansions of the great, where, in return for a night's lodging and +entertainment, they would amuse the company with their songs and music. +Lady Clifford never went down to the great hall when her lord was away, +but confined herself to her own private apartments with her female +attendants and her children, but she readily gave permission for the +domestics to admit the minstrel for their own amusement, and right glad +they were of this indulgence, as they had spent but a dull Christmas. + +"May we not go down, dear mother, to hear the minstrel play and sing?" +said Henry. + +"Yes, you and Richard may go for awhile if you wish it," replied Lady +Margaret; and, sending for the old seneschal or steward of the castle, +she bade him take charge of the boys while they listened to the harper's +songs. There were not many people in the castle now, but all that were +there assembled in the hall to make merry with the new comer, except +Lady Clifford herself, and the little Lady Elizabeth. The minstrel sang +a long ballad all about the warlike achievements of the De Cliffords in +former times, filling up the pauses with the animated strains of his +harp, and when the song was done, and the servants were preparing to +dance, the boys returned to their mother, highly delighted with what +they had heard. + +The next morning the seneschal came to his mistress and told her that +the minstrel begged for a private audience, as he had something of +importance to communicate, "And I think, my lady," said the old man, "it +is about our lord that he wishes to speak, for he has just come from +Wakefield." + +"Then bring him hither, Hubert," said the lady, "I will hear what he has +to say." + +Hubert bowed respectfully and withdrew, but soon returned with the +minstrel, who was instantly recognised by Lady Margaret as a faithful +retainer of Lord de Vesci, her father; and seeing by his looks that what +he had to communicate was for her ear only; she dismissed all who were +present, and remained alone with him. + +"What is it, Rolf," she asked in alarm. "Why do you come here in +disguise? what of my father? is he well?" + +"He is well, dear lady. It is not of him I came to speak. I am just +from Wakefield, and I come to warn you to watch well over your sons, for +the friends of York have sworn, one and all, to take revenge for the +death of young Rutland; and I fear me the threat points towards Lord +Clifford's children. You must not trust them out of the castle, where +for the present they are safe; but if Edward of York should be made +king, and he is more likely to succeed than his father was, I am afraid +there will be no safety for them even here. I assumed this disguise +because if it became known amongst your enemies that one of your +father's people had come from Wakefield here, they would suspect it was +to put you on your guard." + +"Now heaven help me!" said the lady, "how am I to ward off this +misfortune? I must depend on you, my good and faithful Rolf, to keep +watch, and let me know should any immediate danger threaten us; and, in +the meanwhile, I will concert some plan for removing my children in case +of need." + +"This I will do, lady, and as much more as may lie within my power. In +this minstrel's guise I can visit the camp of the Yorkists from time to +time, and bring you intelligence of what is passing there. They will +not know that I am one of your house, and I shall pass free." + +Lady Margaret was truly grateful to the trusty Rolf, who departed from +the castle that same day; but she confided to none, except the good old +seneschal, what had been the purport of their conference. Day after day +she waited with ill-concealed dread for further tidings, and at length a +messenger came from her lord, from whom she learned that more battles +had been fought, that the king was released from prison, but that the +young Duke of York had been proclaimed king in London, by the title of +Edward the Fourth. Soon afterwards another messenger arrived with news +that King Henry and the queen were again in Yorkshire collecting more +forces, and that King Edward (for there were now two kings) was +advancing northward with a large army to oppose them. The poor women +and children from the neighbouring villages now came flocking for refuge +to Brougham Castle, which was put into a state of defence, for it was +quite certain there would soon be a great battle, and, if King Edward +should gain the day, there was but little doubt that the castle would be +besieged. + +Lord Clifford was now with the king and queen in the city of York. +Their army amounted to sixty thousand men; and King Edward was coming +with about fifty thousand, so that the conflict was certain to be a very +great and terrible one. It took place at Towton, on Palm Sunday, just +four months after the battle of Wakefield, and amongst the many +thousands slain on that dreadful day was Lord Clifford, who was then +scarcely twenty-six years of age. It is needless to dwell on the grief +occasioned by these fatal tidings; it was sad to hear and sad to see. +The unhappy lady had now to think of providing for the safety of her +fatherless children, for although Rolf had promised to bring her word if +he saw they were in danger, there was no certainty of his being able to +do so, as it was possible he might have been killed himself, for she had +not heard of him. At last he came, but it was again in his adopted +character of a minstrel, and he would have had some difficulty in +gaining admittance, had it not been for the old seneschal, who guessed +his errand, and saw that he was allowed to enter, saying that, dismal as +the times were, it could be no harm to listen to a minstrel's lay. + +With much caution he conducted him secretly to Lady Clifford's private +apartments, for he thought there might be some hazard in letting it +become known who he was or why he came, as among the many who were now +within the castle walls, who could say that all were true. + +From Rolf's account it appeared that, after the defeat at Towton, the +queen had placed her husband, who was half imbecile, in a monastery at +Edinburgh, and fled with her son, Prince Edward, to France; while the +new king, Edward the Fourth, had taken full possession of the throne, +and was publicly acknowledged as sovereign of England. He had declared +his intention of seizing the estates of all those nobles who had fought +against him; and it was reported that he had said he would revenge the +murder of his brother, young Rutland, on Clifford's heir. Henry's life +was therefore now in danger, and Rolf had come to assist in saving him. + +"Have you devised any plan, lady," said the faithful servant, "in case +of this extremity?" + +"Yes, my good Rolf, I have thought of it day and night, ever since that +fatal battle. I must part from my boy. I must trust him to you. Do +you think you can convey him, without suspicion, to his nurse Maud, at +Skipton? I can depend on her to be careful of my child, and on her +husband also; but they must not remain there, they must remove to +Londesborough, and you must go yourself to my father, who is now there, +and tell him from me to provide them with a dwelling, but not to notice +the boy as his grandson, for Henry must pass for Maud's own child. +Think you, Rolf, that you can accomplish all this?" + +"I will try, my lady; but we must speak of it to Lord Henry, that he may +understand his life depends on its not being known that he is Lord +Clifford's son." + +"My Henry is wise beyond his years," replied the lady, "and I fear me +not that he will submit to this necessity without a murmur." + +"No doubt, no doubt, dear lady; and you had better prepare him at once, +for we know not how soon the blow may come." + +"My Henry," said Lady Margaret, "you are going to Skipton, to your good +nurse Maud, who will take you to Londesborough, where you must live with +her and her husband till there is peace again in the land, which we will +both earnestly pray for. And you must remember, my child, that you are +to pass for Maud's own son, and that you are to call her mother, and her +husband, Robin, the shepherd, father. I have already explained to you +what would be the terrible consequences should you ever forget this." + +"I will not forget, mother; but shall I never see you there? I love +Maud very much, but not as I love you, my own dear mother!" + +And the noble boy threw himself into his mother's arms, laid his head +upon her bosom, and burst into tears. She kissed him tenderly, and +endeavoured to speak cheerfully. + +"My darling boy, this separation is only for the present, and I hope I +shall be able to see you sometimes, for I intend, after awhile, to live +at Londesborough, which is mine, and may some day be yours; but not yet, +not till our enemies believe that you and your brother are far away +beyond the seas; and even then, when I come to visit you, Henry, no one +must know it except ourselves and nurse; for if it came to be known that +I felt any interest about the shepherd's boy, the people might suspect +who you are, and that is what we have to guard against." + +"And Richard, mother--is he to go away too?" + +"Yes, Henry, I must part with you both--but your little sister I may +keep with me; it is not her life they seek. And now, my beloved child, +you understand what it is you have to do--keep up a brave heart and +endeavour not to repine at your lot, but be thankful you have not fallen +into the hands of those who would show you no mercy. But above all, my +son, put your trust in God, and pray to him that happier days may come, +when we can be together again without fear or concealment." + +The next day after this conversation, Lady Clifford left Brougham +Castle, with her three children, her maid Cicely, old Hubert, and a few +trusty attendants on whose fidelity she could rely, but not even to them +did she reveal her son's destination, which was only known to her +faithful seneschal. The lady, with her maid and the children, travelled +in a litter, a sort of light van shut in with curtains, which, at that +period, when coaches were unknown, was often used by invalids and those +who did not want to travel on horseback. The litter for one person was +sometimes slung on poles and carried by men, but a large one, containing +more than one traveller, was usually mounted on wheels and drawn by +horses. It had been arranged that Rolf should meet Lady Clifford's +party in a forest, between Brougham Castle and York, and that he should +bring with him a peasant boy's coarse woollen dress, to disguise Henry +for his flight; and oh, how sad were the hearts of the mother and son +when they came in sight of the tall trees of that forest where they were +to part for they knew not how long! The path was wide enough to admit +of the vehicle, and they had not gone far when Rolf met them. He was +not in his minstrel's dress, so that the people did not know him. He +came to the side of the litter, and spoke in a low tone to the lady, who +called one of her attendants, and said to him-- + +"This good man brings me word that it will not be safe for us to go to +York, therefore I shall alter my course and proceed at once to the +sea-coast, and take ship for the Netherlands. He also thinks that it +would be better we should not all travel together, therefore I shall +send on my eldest son with him and Hubert. He has a conveyance waiting +close by in the forest, and when I have seen them off, I will return +here. You can, meanwhile, rest and refresh yourselves, for we have a +long day's journey yet before us." + +The men, who were glad of this respite, dismounted, and began to unpack +the provisions with which they were plentifully provided, whilst the +sorrowful lady, leading her son by the hand, accompanied by Hubert, +followed Rolf, who led them to a spot quite hidden from the view of the +rest of the party, where a small cart, such as was used by the villagers +in their rural occupations, was really in waiting. + +This was indeed a trying moment. The young lord was now to be +transformed into the peasant boy--his long bright curls were cut off, +his face and hands were stained with a brown liquid to make him look +sunburnt, as if he was used to work in the fields, and his rich velvet +apparel was changed for coarse homespun woollen cloth. But he cared not +what they put him on--his only thought was that he was going away from +his beloved mother, perhaps never to see her more. He clasped his arms +round her neck and clung to her sobbing, as if his heart would break, +and the tears were streaming down her cheeks too, as she fell on her +knees and murmured a prayer that heaven would watch over and protect her +fatherless boy. + +"My lady--my dear lady," said old Hubert; "you must not stay here +longer--the sooner this parting is over the better it will be for you +both. Come, my Lord Henry, it is time we were moving." + +So saying he gently disengaged the boy from his mother's encircling arms +and lifted him into the cart, making a private signal to Rolf to drive +away as fast as he could. He then respectfully entreated his unhappy +lady to return to her party, and she, scarcely conscious of what she was +doing, suffered him to lead her back, and as soon as he had seen her +safely placed in the litter with Cicely and the two children, he mounted +his horse and galloped off as if to join Rolf and his young charge, but +in reality to take quite another route, for Henry was to pass, during +this journey, for a poor boy whom Rolf was taking home to his native +village, and it would not have done for him to be attended by Lady +Clifford's seneschal. + +It was well he had been sent away, for just about this time King Edward +caused an act of attainder to be passed against all the noblemen who had +fought for the cause of Henry the Seventh, that is, they were deprived +of their titles, and their estates were declared forfeited to the crown; +he also issued a command that the children of the attainted nobles +should be sent to London to be disposed of, as he, the king, should +think fit; and this was probably done for the very purpose of getting +Clifford's children into his power; for no sooner had Lady Clifford +taken up her abode with her father, the aged Lord de Vesci, than she was +summoned to London, and closely questioned as to what had become of her +boys. She said she had sent them out of the country, but as she had +heard nothing of them since, she did not know whether they were alive or +dead, and so the retreat of the high-born shepherd boy remained unknown. +But all the castles and broad lands that were his by right of +inheritance were given to the enemies of his family. The Barony of +Westmoreland, with Brougham Castle, was bestowed by Edward on his +brother Richard Duke of York, afterwards Richard the Third; and the +great manor of Shipton was conferred on Sir William Stanley, who, at a +later period, went over to the Lancasterian party himself, and you may +read in Shakespeare's play of "Richard the Third," that it was he who, +after the battle of Bosworth, where Richard was killed, picked up the +crown and placed it on the victor's head, saying, "Long live Henry the +Seventh!" We shall presently see what this event had to do with our +hero, Henry de Clifford. + +II. + +Londesborough was a beautiful place in the county of York, about sixteen +miles from York city. Lord de Vesci had other and larger estates, but +as his dignity of baron was limited to male heirs, his daughter could +only inherit two of his possessions, and Londesborough was one of them, +consequently young Henry de Clifford was its next heir in right of his +mother. He knew this, yet so well had his mind been trained by that +excellent parent, that he was content to live in a shepherd's cot +outside its gates with Robin and Maud, whom he soon became accustomed to +call father and mother. As they had come from Skipton, and brought with +them two little children of their own, the people of the hamlet where +they were now settled, did not know but that Henry was their eldest son, +and the little ones were so young that they were easily taught to +believe he was their brother. He wore a shepherd's frock of grey serge, +fastened round the waist by a leather belt, with half-boots made of +untanned deer-skin; and every morning he went out with his foster-father +to mind the flocks, taking with him, in a little wallet slung over his +shoulder, his mid-day meal, which he would eat as he sat on some grassy +mound, or by the side of a rivulet, from which he could fill his horn +cup with water. How different was this from the costly banquet in his +father's hall, where he had servants to attend upon him, and drank out +of a goblet of gold or silver. Yet he did not repine, but performed his +duties with a willing spirit, and instead of thinking his lot was a hard +one, he often reflected how much worse it would have been if he had +fallen into the hands of his father's foes; still he could not help +feeling melancholy at times, for he longed to see his dear mother again, +and more than two months had passed, yet she came not. There was no +occasion now to stain his hands and face, for the sun had embrowned them +quite enough, and his long curls had been suffered to grow again, for +Maud said it was a great pity to cut them off, and she was proud of +hearing her neighbours say what nice hair her boy had got, and she would +answer-- + +"Ay, my goodman tells me I take over much pride in Henry's curly locks, +but he is my eldest, and sure it is natural for a mother to take +pleasure in the beauty of her child, and, though I say it, he is as +pretty a boy, and as good too, as any in the village." + +One evening Henry had brought home the sheep, and having seen them safe +in the fold, was sitting on the ground outside the cottage door eating +his supper. One arm rested on the neck of a large dog, that was idly +reposing by his side, as if tired with the toils of the day, for it was +the shepherd's dog, and its duty was to guard the flocks as they were +feeding in the fields, and warn his master if any danger seemed near +them. At length the boy arose and walked slowly towards the entrance of +a fair domain, where he stood gazing with tearful eyes through a long +vista of tall oaks, on a noble mansion standing on the summit of a +verdant slope, and his young heart was oppressed with unusual sadness as +he looked wistfully on this his rightful home. He had stood there for +some time when his foster-father came up and laid his hand kindly on his +shoulder. + +"Come, my boy, you are giving way to idle regrets. I do not like to see +you here, Henry, for I know your thoughts are not what they should be." + +"I know it is wrong, father, but I cannot help it sometimes." + +"Whenever this feeling comes over you, Henry, try to drive it from you, +and think of the past as if it had been but a dream. A dark prison, my +boy, would have been a worse dwelling-place than a thatched cottage. +Think of that, and be content." + +"Indeed I am content, father, for you are very kind to me. But when, oh +when, do you think my own dear mother will come?" + +"Nay, I cannot tell; but let us hope it will not be, long first. And +now, Henry, come home and go to your bed, for the sun is set, and you +must be up betimes. See, here is Lion coming to meet us. Poor Lion! he +does not like to lose sight of his master." + +Henry, who had dried his tears and was smiling again, sprang forward to +caress the faithful dog, who frolicked round him as if he thought he had +been long away, and was rejoiced at his return. Maud had put aside her +spinning-wheel, for it was nearly dark; the two younger children were +already asleep, and Henry was about to retire to rest, when the door was +opened softly, and there entered one whose form was muffled in a long +dark cloak, the hood of which was drawn over the head to conceal the +face from view. Robin and Maud trembled with fear as the idea struck +them both that the boy's retreat had been discovered; but Henry, with +the true instinct of affection, uttered the word "mother!" and rushed +into the arms of the mysterious visitant, who threw off her disguise, +and clasped her boy fondly to her bosom. + +"My honoured lady!" exclaimed Maud, as she recognised the beautiful, but +pale and careworn countenance of her mistress. + +"Hush! Maud, hush!" said the lady; "are you sure we are quite safe?" + +"Yes, madam, we are safe," answered Robin, "there is no one within +hearing, and I will fasten the door, so that none shall enter without +giving notice." + +And so saying he proceeded to make all secure, whilst Henry laughed and +wept by turns in the excess of his joy, and, amidst kisses and embraces, +asked many questions about his brother and sister. + +"I hope they are both well, my darling. Elizabeth I have seen lately, +but I have not heard of Richard since his arrival in the Low Countries. +Nevertheless, I trust he is safe and well. But how fares it with you, +my best and dearest? Can you make yourself happy in this new life?" + +"As happy as I can be away from you, dear mother. I do not mind the +sort of life I lead so much as I thought I should; for I am getting used +to it now." + +"In truth he takes to it bravely, my lady," said Robin. "I only hope my +own lad will be as good a shepherd as Henry, when he is as old." + +Lady Margaret sighed deeply, for although the worthy man did not mean to +give her pain, but rather pleasure, by this rough applause, she could +not help feeling how very low the fortunes of De Clifford's son had +fallen. But she did not make this thought apparent, she folded him +closer to her heart, and whispered words of encouragement and praise. + +"You have shown yourself a true hero, Henry, for nothing is more noble +than to bear misfortune nobly, and this you have done. I am proud of my +son, and should you ever be permitted by Providence to take your own +name again, you will be doubly worthy of it." + +"And that time will come, my lady," said Maud, fervently, "as sure as +there are stars in yonder heavens!" + +"We will hope so, Maud. And how shall I thank you for the care you have +taken of my treasure? he looks well; the bloom of health is on his +cheek. I would fain give you some token of my gratitude, if I durst do +so." + +"Better not, my lady," said Robin in his blunt way. "Besides it is for +us, not you, lady, to talk of gratitude, since we owe all that we +possess to your goodness. Even this cottage we live in, was it not your +gift? It would be hard, then, if your child should meet with aught but +kindness beneath its roof." + +Lady Clifford did not stay long, fearing that her absence from her own +abode might be discovered, and lead to suspicion; but she said she was +going to stay some time at Londesborough, and should pay a visit to the +cottage whenever she saw an opportunity of doing so without risk. For a +few weeks she often came at nightfall without attracting the notice of +the villagers; but at length she was obliged to leave Londesborough, and +Henry saw her no more for a very long while. By degrees, however, he +grew reconciled to her absence, and, as time wore on, the events of his +early life were less distinctly remembered, until he could almost +believe that his former grandeur had never been a reality. He often +thought of his brother, and wondered where he was, and whether he was +living like a peasant too, for he did not know till long afterwards that +poor little Richard died soon after he was sent out of England. + +When Henry was about fourteen, the death of his grandfather, Lord de +Vesci, brought new dangers upon him, for a rumour got spread abroad that +he was still live and in England, and, as he was the rightful heir to +all the estates as well as the honours of the Bromfletes, the king's +emissaries began to inquire into the matter, and make search in +different parts of the country, where it was supposed he might be +concealed. This alarming intelligence was first conveyed to his mother +by the faithful Rolf, who, you remember, was one of the old Lord de +Vesci's people, and devotedly attached to Lady Clifford. But she was +not Lady Clifford now, for she was married to a noble knight named Sir +Lancelot Threlkeld, whose domain was in the mountainous part of +Cumberland, and was called Threlkeld. He was a kind-hearted, noble +gentleman, and, as he had not taken an active part in the wars, he had +been left in possession of his lands and dignities, and was living +quietly on his own estate, when he offered his hand to the widowed Lady +Clifford, who consented to become his wife because she knew he would be +a friend to her dear boy, and they were married soon after the lady went +away from Londesborough. + +As soon as they heard that King Edward had instituted a search for the +young heir, Sir Lancelot proposed to his lady to remove Robin the +shepherd, with all his family, including Henry, from Londesborough to +the hills of Cumberland, and settle them as near as possible to +Threlkeld. + +Robin and Maud had now five children of their own, who all looked up to +Henry as their elder brother, and, as he was always kind and +good-natured amongst them, treating them exactly as if they had been his +brothers and sisters, they were very fond of him, nor did they ever +suppose he was not the child of their parents. It was the beautiful +summer-time when Sir Lancelot Threlkeld paid a visit to Londesborough, +and sent for Robin, to whom he told what had happened, and explained his +designs. + +"The boy is no longer safe here," he said; "his life may depend on his +immediate removal, but it must be very cautiously done. I shall tell +the people here that we have increased our flocks at Threlkeld so that +we want more shepherds there, and have fixed on Robin, whose three sons, +being active lads, will be very useful. What think you of this plan?" + +"It is good," replied the shepherd. "But you will see Henry yourself, +my noble lord?" (It was thus he styled his lady's husband, whose +servant he now deemed himself to be.) + +"No, I think not," returned the knight; "it would please me much, but it +will be better for him that I should not seem to think about him at all. +There may be spies on the watch to take note of my movements, and if +only the shadow of a suspicion should be awakened, all would be lost. +We should have no power to save him then. How soon can you be ready to +commence the journey?" + +"To-morrow if you will, my lord." + +"To-morrow let it be then, and may heaven send us a safe deliverance +from this peril!" + +"Amen!" responded the peasant, devoutly crossing himself. "It will be a +happy day for me, and my dame too, should we live to see our Henry +restored to his rights." + +The worthy knight shook his head as he replied, "I fear me there is but +small chance of that. The king is a young man; he is popular, and has +sons to succeed him, and so long as there is one of the line of York to +hold the sceptre of England, the house of De Clifford will be under a +ban." + +"Time, with the aid of Providence, works wonders, my lord." + +"True, good Robin, true; but there is not much at present to encourage +such hopes, and I would not have you speak thus to Henry." + +"There would be little wisdom, indeed, in that," replied Robin smiling. +"Shall I tell him I have seen you, my lord?" + +"Yes, surely--and you can tell him, also, why I thought it prudent to +depart without seeing him, for I would not have him think me careless or +unkind." + +He then gave Robin money for his journey, and when all was arranged the +good man took his leave, and Sir Lancelot Threlkeld departed from +Londesborough that same day. + +It was joyful news for Henry to hear that he was going to live so near +to his own dear mother again. In the gladness of his heart he was +almost inclined to regard his enemies in the light of friends, since +they had been the cause of this happy change. Maud was very glad too, +for anything that gave pleasure to Henry was always pleasing to her, +besides which she was devotedly attached to Lady Margaret, and rejoiced +in the thought of being settled in a place where she would see her more +frequently than she had done of late, and as for the children, they were +almost out of their wits with delight, for young folks were quite as +fond of novelty four hundred years ago as they are now. + +The journey was a long and a rough one, as travellers of a humble class +could not get on very fast in those days when there were no roads, and +it was often a difficult matter to make their way through forests, or +over wide tracts of waste land where the ground was rugged, uneven, and +covered with brushwood. The vast forests which then existed in the +north of England, have long since been cleared away, and wild trackless +heaths have been converted into parks, meadows, and corn-fields. Maud +and the two girls rode in a waggon wherein they had placed some wooden +stools, several baskets of provision, and all their clothing, with such +other things as they wished to take with them. Robin drove, while Henry +and the other boys took it in turns to ride one at a time, the rest +walking by the side of the clumsy vehicle, which could only proceed at a +foot pace, so that their progress was but slow. They had taken care to +put plenty of rushes in the waggon, so that some of them might sleep +comfortably in it at night, while Robin and the elder lads, as it was +summer-time, and warm, dry weather, could rest under the trees, wrapped +in their shepherd's cloaks. In this manner they proceeded, sometimes +halting at the villages to get a fresh supply of food and water, until +at length they reached their destination, a small farm in a beautiful +and romantic part of Cumberland, close to the borders of Scotland, but +still within the domain of Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, which extended far +and wide. You may be sure it was not long before our hero was again +clasped to the heart of his fond mother, who, however, as before, only +visited him in secret and under cover of the night. She was sometimes +accompanied by Sir Lancelot, who was a kind-hearted man, and had always +been well disposed towards the noble youth whom he delighted to call his +son when they were alone, but at all other times he only noticed him as +one of his shepherds. + +Much of Henry's time was spent in solitude, as he watched his flocks +feeding on the mountains, and being of a meditative disposition, he +thought much and deeply of the beautiful works of the Great Creator that +he beheld around him. Though wholly unlettered, though he could neither +read nor write, he possessed a native nobleness of mind that raised him +far above the class to which he seemingly belonged; yet his manners were +plain and simple, nor did the knowledge of his high birth ever lead him +to assume an air of superiority over the peasants with whom he was +associated. In his solitary musings he thought so much about the +wonders of the earth, the sea, and the skies, that he became quite a +natural philosopher; but his chief delight was in the contemplation of +the heavenly bodies, and he would watch the moon in her course, or gaze +for hours on the myriads of stars that shone in the blue vault above +him, until he acquired an ardent taste for the sublime study of +astronomy, in which he indulged to the full at a later period of his +existence. + +And so the time passed on, bringing no change to Henry de Clifford, save +the gradual increase of years, that transformed the slight delicate +youth into the well-grown, powerful man, whose fine form, handsome face, +and gentle manners won the hearts of the rustic maidens, and matrons +too, of Threlkeld. + +His foster-brothers and sisters, one by one, married amongst the +villagers belonging to Sir Lancelot's estate, so that, at last, Henry +was left alone with the worthy pair he called his father and mother. + +In the meanwhile many stirring events were passing in England, though +little was heard about them in the remote and quiet regions of +Threlkeld. The wars of the Roses had never wholly ceased. There had +been some peaceful intervals, but they had not lasted for long together, +as Queen Margaret, assisted by the great Earl of Warwick, the most +powerful baron in the kingdom, had resolved never to give up the cause +so long as the least chance remained of replacing her husband on the +throne, and securing the right of succession to her son. The Earl of +Warwick had at first fought for the Duke of York, and it was through his +power and influence that Edward the Fourth was made king, for he had +more men and more money at his command than any other nobleman in the +country. However, King Edward was unwise enough to quarrel with this +high and mighty earl, who thereupon went over to the queen's party, and +actually restored the poor, weak-minded King Henry the Sixth to the +throne; on which Edward went over to Holland to get assistance of the +Duke of Burgundy, his brother-in-law, who placed an army of foreigners +at his command, with which he came back to England, and being joined by +many of his partisans, a great battle was fought, in which the Earl of +Warwick was slain. This event took place exactly ten years after the +battle of Towton, where Lord Clifford fell. King Henry was then sent +back a prisoner to the Tower, where he soon died; but Queen Margaret, +who had just arrived from France, with Prince Edward, her son, who was +then seventeen years old, resolved for his sake to make one more effort; +but it would have been better for him and for her too, if they had given +up this hopeless cause, and gone back to the court of her father, who +was King of Anjou in France, for the battle was lost, the young prince +was made prisoner, and being taken into the royal tent, the king spoke +to him so rudely that he was provoked to answer with more spirit than he +had been expected, on which some of the nobles who were standing by +fiercely drew their daggers and killed him on the spot. + +The unhappy queen having no one to care for, gave up the contest, and +went to end her days in France, and for thirteen years afterwards there +was no more open warfare in England; but there were still two parties, +so that the White and the Red Rose were badges of enmity as before, for +it was natural enough that all who, like the De Cliffords, had suffered +from the success of the Yorkists, should wish to see the line of +Lancaster restored. The existing heir of that family was Henry, Earl of +Richmond, who was an exile in France, when Edward the Fourth died, +leaving two sons, the eldest only eleven years of age. These were the +two little princes that were sent to the Tower by their cruel, ambitious +uncle, Richard the Third, who contrived that they should both die there, +that he might wear the crown himself; but he had reigned very little +more than two years when some of the great nobles, disgusted by his +tyranny, sent word to the Earl of Richmond that, if he came to England, +with a view to dethrone the usurper, he would find plenty of friends +ready to assist him. The earl was soon here at the head of a large +army, and met King Richard at Bosworth in Leicestershire, where the +great battle was fought that put an end to the War of the Roses and to +the life of Richard the Third. + +You remember that when Edward the Fourth deprived the Cliffords of their +lands and honours, the great manor of Skipton, with its fine old castle, +was given to Sir William Stanley. This brave knight had remained +faithful to King Edward, but he was amongst those who turned against +Richard; and it was he who, when the fight was over and the victory won, +took up the crown, which it appears, Richard had worn on the field, and +placed it on Richmond's head, calling out aloud, "Long live King Henry +the Seventh!" And this cry passed from one to another till the air +resounded with the shouts of the victors, who thus proclaimed the new +sovereign on the battle plain. When this momentous event took place +Henry de Clifford was about thirty years of age. He had now dwelt for +sixteen years amongst the mountains of Cumberland, and one thing only +had occurred to disturb the even tenor of his peaceful life. + +A gentleman of noble family and good estate, Sir John Saint John, of +Bletso, in Bedfordshire, came on a visit to Threlkeld with his daughter +Anne, a fair girl in the bloom of youth and beauty. Henry, who had seen +her riding out over the hills with her father and Sir Lancelot, thought +he had never beheld so lovely a maiden; and he was right, for in all +England there were few to compare with Anne of Bletso. She had seen him +too, and had observed how far superior he was in appearance to other +rustic swains, for the shepherd's frock of homely grey could not conceal +the graces of his person, which also attracted the notice of the worthy +knight, her father, who, on one occasion, said to Sir Lancelot-- + +"That is a well-favoured youth of yours; I have seen a face like his +before, but I cannot bethink me where or when, yet it is no common face +either." + +"He is the son of my chief shepherd," replied Sir Lancelot; "he was +always a good-looking lad, and is an excellent servant." + +Then, anxious to divert Sir John's attention from Henry, whose handsome +features he feared might remind the knight of the late Lord Clifford, +whom his son strongly resembled, he began to talk of other things. But +Henry did not forget the sweet face of the young lady, or the beautiful +eyes he had seen fixed intently upon him, eyes as bright as the stars he +was so fond of gazing upon, and he could not help feeling sad to think +the fates had placed him in a sphere so much beneath her. + +It chanced one day as he watched his flocks feeding on the mountains, he +saw the damsel on her white palfrey, attended by a single page, riding +direct towards the spot where he was reclining in profound meditation, +beneath the spreading branches of a luxuriant oak, that shielded him +from the noonday sun. He rose at her approach, and took off his cap, +displaying a rich profusion of nut-brown hair as he gracefully made his +obeisance, supposing she would pass by with merely a slight notice, +therefore he blushed with surprise and pleasure when she stopped her +horse, and said in the sweetest tone imaginable-- + +"Good day, shepherd Henry; I come to ask a service of you." + +"If I can render you service, lady, you may command me, even to the +peril of my life." + +"Nay, I would not have you peril your life for my behoof," she replied, +with a smile. + +"In riding over the hills this morning, I have lost a golden clasp, with +three diamonds, that fastened my gorget, and I would ask you, should you +meet with such a bauble in your ramblings, to carry it to the Lady +Margaret of Threlkeld, who will see that it is restored to me." + +"Lady I will not fail to do your bidding. Few persons traverse those +hills, and I doubt not the jewel may be recovered." + +"Thanks, gentle shepherd. We leave Threlkeld this day; so farewell, and +be assured your courtesy will not be forgotten by Anne of Bletso." + +That night, by moonlight, Henry wandered over the hills in search of the +lost treasure, and for many hours he sought in vain; but at length, oh +joyful sight! he saw the diamonds glittering in the moonbeams, at the +bottom of a deep ravine, and without a moment's hesitation he commenced +the dangerous descent. A single false step and he would have been +dashed to pieces against the sharp points of the craggy rock, but with a +steady hand and firm foot he gained the depth in safety, seized the +prize; then, with great difficulty, and not without a few wounds and +bruises, he climbed up again, and stood triumphant on the brink of a +really frightful precipice. If the young lady had known where her clasp +was to be found, she certainly would not have asked him to look for it; +but he was himself well pleased to have encountered any danger for her +sake, and in thoughtful mood he returned to the cottage, and repaired to +his humble couch to dream of Anne Saint John. + +"Why, Henry, what hast thee been doing to face and hands, boy?" said +Robin the next morning. + +"I stumbled into a brake, father," replied Henry, laughing, "and got a +few scratches, that's all." + +"Dear heart, but they are grievous hurts!" exclaimed Maud, "you must let +me put a balsam to them, Henry." + +"As you will, mother, but it is hardly worth while for so light a +matter." + +The balsam, however, was applied, and the wounds were speedily healed, +but Henry did not recover his wonted peace of mind. As Lord Clifford he +might have won the hand of the high-born maiden on whom his thoughts now +constantly dwelt; but, as Henry the Shepherd, even to speak to her was +presumption. Never had he lamented over his fallen fortunes as he did +now; but he buried his regrets in his own bosom, nor did he let it +appear, either by word or look, that he was less contented than he was +before. + +Lady Margaret had taken care of the clasp, but she told him the country +was again threatened with warfare, so that it would not be safe to +entrust anything of value to the hands of a messenger; therefore she +would keep it till Sir Lancelot went to Bletso, which he intended to do +ere long. She did not tell him that Sir John Saint John had come to +Threlkeld to give secret information to herself and her husband of the +project contemplated by the chief nobles, to depose King Richard and +place the Earl of Richmond on the throne. She was afraid of exciting +hopes that might end in disappointment, yet she was herself sanguine as +to the possibility of De Clifford being restored to his rights if the +crown should be won by a prince of the House of Lancaster. Sir John +took great interest in the cause, being himself related in a distant +degree to Henry Earl of Richmond; therefore the Saint John's of Bletso +had royal blood in their veins. + +It was the close of the autumn, in the year 1485, when Lady Margaret +came one evening to Robin's cottage, not secretly as heretofore, not in +fear and trembling lest it should be known for whom her visit was +intended, but openly to greet her son as De Clifford's heir. Little did +he guess the purport of her coming as he returned her fond embrace, but +he saw that her countenance was radiant with happiness, and he asked if +Sir Lancelot had returned. + +"No, my son, he is in London; and, Henry, I have important news to tell. +Have you courage to hear it?" + +"Why should I need courage, dear mother? You do not look as if you had +evil tidings to communicate." + +"The tidings I bring are not evil; but it requires fortitude to bear a +great joy as well as a great sorrow, when it comes upon us +unexpectedly." + +Henry's heart began to beat more quickly, his face flushed, and his +voice trembled as he asked-- + +"Mother, what has happened? Tell me at once, I beseech you." + +"I told you, Henry, that we were looking for a renewal of the war." + +"Yes, you told me so. Has it begun again?" + +"It has begun and ended, I hope, for ever. There has been a battle; +King Richard is killed, and a prince of the House of Lancaster now sits +on the throne." + +Henry started up from his seat, his eyes fixed on Lady Margaret's face +in an agony of suspense. + +"And I, mother, what have I to do with this?" + +"Much, my beloved son. Henry the Seventh is a just and noble prince, +and your father, my husband, is at his court even now." + +"Then, am I--am I--" he could not give utterance to what he wished to +say, but Lady Margaret knew what he would ask, and replied-- + +"Yes, my Henry, it is even so. You are now Lord Clifford before all the +world, and I, your mother, may once more fearlessly acknowledge my son." + +Henry fell on his knees, and raised his clasped hands and streaming eyes +in gratitude to heaven. He could scarcely realise this great, this +overwhelming happiness. Again and again he embraced that tender mother, +who, for so many years had watched over him like a guardian angel, and +smoothed the rugged path he had been forced to tread. + +When the first emotions of joy had in some degree subsided, and he was +calm enough to listen to the account of how this happy change had been +brought about, Lady Margaret told him that the new sovereign, +immediately on his accession, had declared his intention of restoring to +their rights all those nobles who had been dispossessed of their lands +and titles by Edward the Fourth; and that Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, on +hearing this, had proceeded to the court, with Sir John Saint John of +Bletso, in order to make known to the king that the heir of the late +Lord Clifford was still in existence. She said she had that morning +received intelligence from Sir Lancelot that the royal decree was +already passed for the restoration of Clifford's son to all his father's +lands and dignities, and it was with the utmost surprise Henry now +learned, for the first time, how immense were the possessions to which +he was entitled; for, besides the great estates of Skipton and Brougham, +his inheritance comprised the castles, manors, and lordships of Appleby, +Pendragon, Brough, and Mallerstane Chase in Westmoreland; Barden Tower, +Copley Feld, and other manors in Yorkshire; with lands and castles in +Cumberland, Northumberland, Derbyshire, Worcestershire and Surrey. +Clifford's Inn, which is now used as law offices and chambers, in Fleet +Street, was then a nobleman's mansion with beautiful gardens; and this +was Lord Clifford's residence in London. + +No wonder the humble shepherd should be dazzled and astonished to find +himself all at once the lord of those vast domains; and not only these, +but all the Bromflete estates, that had belonged to Lord de Vesci, his +grandfather, were now his by right of inheritance. It would be +impossible to describe the joy of the worthy couple who had so long +performed the part of parents to the shepherd lord, at the wondrous turn +of fortune that had raised him once more to the elevated sphere that was +his birthright. + +"We have lost a son," said old Robin, "but we have found a noble master; +and may heaven grant him a long life to enjoy his own." + +"Think not, my father, that you have lost a son," said Henry, pressing +the old man's hand with affectionate warmth. "I shall be ever a son to +you." + +"And to me also, my Lord Henry," said Maud, "for it would break my heart +now if you should bear yourself towards me proudly in your own grand +castle." + +"I should ill deserve my good fortune, dear Maud, if it made me so +ungrateful as to bear myself proudly towards you. Though I may be the +lord of fifty castles, you will always be to me a second mother." + +The next day Henry took his place in the house of Sir Lancelot Threlkeld +as Lord Clifford. He laid aside the peasant's suit of homely grey for a +dress befitting his rank, which Lady Margaret furnished him with from +her husband's wardrobe; and very handsome he looked in a mulberry +coloured vest richly embroidered with gold, a short cloak of blue satin +falling over one shoulder, and a diamond hilted sword by his side, for +such was the fashion of the age. + +The faithful Rolf was despatched to Brougham Castle to see that all was +prepared for the reception of its lord; and right well did he execute +the commission. A sumptuous feast was provided, and a grand pageant +prepared to meet him at the castle-gate. All the ancient banners that +had been taken down and thrown aside, were now displayed again in the +hall, and, under the superintendence of Rolf, everything was made to +look just as it did before the banishment of the family. + +At length the bright day dawned that was to see Henry de Clifford +restored to the beloved home of his childhood, and the people had +flocked from far and near to hail the return of Brougham's rightful +lord. It was nearly noon when the cavalcade was seen approaching. Then +loud acclamations rent the air, and, as Henry lifted his plumed and +jewelled cap to acknowledge the greeting of the joyous multitude, his +heart was overflowing with gratitude to the Father of all mercies, and +he could scarcely restrain the tears that were ready to gush from his +eyes. He was mounted on a fine grey horse, and on one side of him rode +his lady mother, on the other Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, while behind him +came a fair lady, escorted by a gentleman of noble mien. This was his +sister Elizabeth, who had lived for many years in the Netherlands, and +was married to Sir Robert Aske, a wealthy knight, who was now with her. +They were followed; by a long train of knights and gentlemen and their +attendants, forming a retinue that might have graced a prince, and so +they came onward towards the castle-gate, where a triumphal arch was +erected, on the top of which were two figures clothed in white, with +outspread wings, and golden crowns, intended, perhaps, to represent +angels; and as Clifford passed under the arch, they chanted these +lines-- + + "Now the Red Rose blooms again, + Clifford o'er his own shall reign. + Fill the cup, and sheath the sword, + To welcome back our noble lord." + +And now the shepherd lord stood once more in his father's bannered hall. +Silently he gazed around him on the well-known scene, too powerfully +affected to give utterance to his feelings; and, as his mother clasped +his hand, she felt that it trembled even more than her own. + +"Let us pass on, my Henry," she whispered softly, "we must hold +communion alone." + +Henry could not speak, but he pressed her hand assentingly, and they +left the hall together, amid the congratulations and good wishes of all +therein assembled. + +The mother and son were absent for the space of an hour, engaged, no +doubt, in prayer and thanksgiving, for when they returned to the hall +Henry had recovered his composure, and took the highest seat at the +sumptuous banquet with all the dignity of his noble race. + +Gladsome was the feast that day at Brougham Castle; joyous were the +songs of the minstrel bards as they celebrated, in extempore verse, the +exile's restoration to his long lost home. + +You may be sure that amongst the joyful assemblage that crowded the +banquetting hall on that auspicious day, old Robin and his wife Maud +held a distinguished place; and proud indeed were they to hear +themselves addressed by the noble host as father and mother. + +It was not long after that another grand feast was held at Brougham +Castle in honour of the marriage of its lord, which had been celebrated +at Bletso, where the beautiful daughter of Sir John Saint John willingly +bestowed her hand on him who, as a simple shepherd, had won a place in +her heart. + +The only drawback to the happiness of our hero was the consciousness of +his neglected education. Unable to read or write, he cared not to mix +with the nobles of the court, but preferred living in retirement, and +with great simplicity. His grand object was to repair all his castles, +which had been much injured daring the wars, and he expended vast sums +of money in fitting up some of them with princely magnificence; but his +own favourite residence was a quiet retreat called Barden Tower, near +Bolton Priory, in Yorkshire. He chose this for his chief abode because +it afforded him the opportunity of spending much of his time at the +Priory with the monks, who assisted him in the delightful study of +astronomy, which he was passionately fond of; but he beautified the +place, and kept up a noble establishment there, worthy of his own +exulted station, and of the lady he had made his bride. + + "Glad were the vales, and every cottage hearth; + The shepherd lord was honoured more and more: + And ages after he was laid in earth, + `The good Lord Clifford' was the name he bore." + + Wordsworth. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE STORY OF NELSON, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. + +My great ambition as a boy was to be a sailor; the idea of becoming one +occupied my thoughts by day and influenced my dreams by night. I +delighted in reading naval histories and exploits and tales of the sea, +and I looked upon Rodney, Howe, Nelson, and Saint Vincent, as well as +Duncan, Collingwood, Exmouth, and Sir Sidney Smith, as far greater men, +and more worthy of admiration, than all the heroes of antiquity put +together--an opinion which I hold even to the present day, and which, I +hope, all my readers will maintain with me. + +Once it happened during my summer holidays that, most unwillingly, I was +taken up to London. During the time, a naval friend, having compassion +on me, suggested that I might find matter of interest by a trip to +Greenwich, and a visit to the Hospital. I jumped at the proposal. I +can never forget the feelings with which I entered the wide, smooth +space on which that beautiful collection of buildings stands, forming +the Royal Hospital for Seamen, with its broad terrace facing, the river, +and found myself surrounded by many hundreds of the gallant veterans who +had maintained not only so nobly the honour of Old England on the deep, +but had contributed to preserve her from the numberless foes who had +threatened her with destruction. + +The building is of itself interesting. On this spot once stood the +Royal Palace of Placentia, in which no less than four successive +sovereigns were born--Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, Mary, and +Elizabeth. Charles the Second had intended to rebuild it, but left it +unfinished; and it was put into the heart of good Queen Mary, the wife +of William of Orange, to establish that noble institution for the +reception of the disabled seamen of the Royal Navy, which, much +augmented in size, has ever since existed the noblest monument to a +sovereign's memory. + +I visited the beautiful chapel and the painted hall, where already were +hung a number of fine pictures, illustrative of England's naval +victories; and my friend then took me to see an old shipmate of his, who +was one of the officers of the Hospital. When he heard that I wished to +go to sea, and was so warm an admirer of Nelson, he exclaimed-- + +"He'll just suit me. Let him stay here for a few days. We'll fish out +some of our men who long served with Nelson, and if he keeps his ears +turning right and left he'll hear many a yarn to astonish him. He must +have patience though. The old fellows will not open out at once; their +memories are like wells, you must throw a little water down at first +before you can get them to draw." + +I was delighted with the proposal. My friend, however, began to make +excuses, saying that he ought to take me back, and that I had no clothes +with me. At this the Greenwich officer, Lieutenant R--, laughed +heartily. + +"A shirt-collar and a pocket-comb? What does a midshipman want more?" +he exclaimed. "But I will find him all the luxuries he may require. +Let him stay, and tell his friends that he is in safe keeping." + +So it was arranged, and I found myself an inmate of Greenwich Hospital. + +After I had been seen walking up and down the terrace a few times with +Lieutenant R--, the pensioners, when I spoke to them, answered me +readily, though at first rather shy of talking of themselves or their +adventures. At length I fell in with a fine old man, and sitting down +on one of the benches facing the river, I began to tell him how much I +honoured and loved all sailors, and how I longed myself to become one. + +"Ay, boy, there are good and bad at sea as well as on shore; but as to +the life, it's good enough; and if I had mine to begin again, I would +choose it before all others," he answered, and once more relapsed into +silence. + +Just then Lieutenant R-- passed; he nodded at me with a smile, saying, +as he passed on, "My old friend there will tell you more of Lord Nelson +than any man now in the Hospital." + +The old man looked at me with a beaming expression on his countenance. + +"Ay, that I can," he said, "boy and man I sailed with him all my life, +from the day he got his first command till he was struck down in the +hour of victory. So to speak, sir, I may say I knew him from the very +day he first stepped on board a ship. This is how it was: My father was +a seaman, and belonged to the `Raisonable,' just fitted out by Captain +Suckling, and lying in the Medway. One afternoon a little fellow was +brought on board by one of the officers, and it was said that he was the +captain's nephew; but the captain was on shore, and there was nobody to +look after him. He walked the deck up and down, looking very miserable, +but not crying, as some boys would have done--not he. That wasn't his +way at any time. When the captain did come on board, and he saw his +nephew, he shrugged his shoulders, as much as to say that he didn't +think he was fit for a sea-life. No more he did look fit for it, for he +was a sick, weakly-looking little fellow. However, it wasn't long +before he showed what a great spirit there was in him." + +"Ay," said I, "there is a story I have heard which proved that, when he +was merely a child. He and another little fellow had gone away +bird's-nesting from his grandmother's house, and he not coming back, the +servants were sent to look for him. He was found seated by the side of +a brook, which he could not get over. `I wonder, child,' said the old +lady, when she saw him, `that hunger and fear did not drive you home.' +`Fear, grandmamma!' answered the boy, `I never saw fear! What is it?'" + +"True, true!" exclaimed the old man. "Fear! I don't think he ever felt +it either. Well, as I was going to tell you, my father followed Captain +Suckling into the `Triumph,' and young Nelson went with him; but as she +was merely to do duty as guard-ship in the Thames, the captain sent his +nephew out in a merchant-vessel to the West Indies, to pick up some +knowledge of seamanship. When he came back he soon showed that he had +not lost his time, and that he was already a good practical seaman. +Soon after this an expedition was fitted out for a voyage of discovery +towards the North Pole, under Captain Phipps and Captain Lutwidge, in +the `Racehorse' and `Carcass.' My father volunteered, and so did Mr +Nelson, who got a berth as captain's coxswain with Captain Lutwidge. +The ships, after entering the polar seas, were quickly beset with ice. +Mr Nelson, who had command of a boat, soon showed what he was made of. +My father was in another boat, and as they were exploring a channel to +try and find a passage for the ships into the open sea, one of the +officers fired at a walrus. `Ah, I've hit him!' he exclaimed, `not a +bad shot!' and he thought no more about the matter. But the brute gave +a look up with a face like a human being, as much as to say, `We'll see +if more than one can play at that game,' and down he dived. Presently +up again he came, with some twenty or more companions, and with the +greatest fury they set on the boat with their tusks, and tried to +capsize her. My father and the rest of the crew fought desperately with +boat-hook and axes, but they were getting the worst of it, and well-nigh +gave themselves up as lost, when another boat was seen coming along the +channel towards them. On she dashed; a young officer, a very little +fellow, with an axe in his hand, sprang to the bows, and began dealing +his blows right and left at the heads of the walruses till several were +killed, when the rest dived down and took to flight. That young lad was +Nelson. Soon after this, one morning he and another boy were missed +from the ship. It was reported that they had gone away in pursuit of a +bear which had been seen prowling about. A thick fog had come on, and +they did not return. The captain began to think that they were lost, +and a party was sent out to look for them. After wandering about for +some time, the fog cleared off, and there was Mr Nelson, with a ship's +musket in his hand, close up to a big white polar bear, who could have +made mincemeat of him in a moment. The party shouted to him to return, +but he wouldn't listen to them; and they expected every moment to see +the bear turn and crush him. Still on he went, moving sideways with the +bear. When they got up, they found that there was a wide chasm which +had prevented him from getting closer to the animal. They led him back +to the ship, and when the captain asked him why he had gone, he +answered, with a pouting lip, that he had set his heart on getting a +bear's skin for his father, and that he didn't think he should have a +better opportunity. + +"The captain reprimanded, but forgave him. There were greater dangers +in store both for him and all in the expedition; and for a long time +they had little hope of getting the ships clear of the ice. Mr Nelson +exerted himself to cut a channel to let them escape; and at length a +favourable wind getting up, they stood clear of it just as it was +expected that they would be frozen in. They found themselves free, and +reached England in safety. Mr Nelson had nearly been killed by the +cold, and now he was to be tried by the scorching climate of the Indian +seas. Such are the rapid changes we seamen have to undergo. He was +appointed to the `Seahorse,' and out she went to the Indian station. +The climate soon did what no dangers or common hardships could do; it +took away the use of his limbs, and almost overcame his brave spirit. +He returned home, feeling that he should never succeed in the navy or in +anything else. But then suddenly he thought, `I was not born to die +unknown. I'll try what I can do. I'll trust in Providence. I'll serve +my king and country--I will be a hero.' I heard him say this long +after, and I have often since thought if all lads were to try to do +their best, and trust in Providence, we shouldn't hear of so many as we +do getting into poverty and disgrace. + +"No officer, I have heard, ever passed a better examination for +seamanship and navigation than did Mr Nelson. His uncle was present, +but did not say who the young man was till the examination was over. +Whatever he did he tried to do as well as he could; that was the reason +of his success. Just about this time, young as I was, my father took me +to sea with him, and we went out to the West Indies. We were shortly +turned over to the `Hichinbrook,' a prize captured from the enemy, and +mounting twenty-eight guns. I was walking the deck with my father when +a thin, sallow, small young man stepped up the side. I should have +taken him for a midshipman, but he had on a post-captain's uniform. He +nodded, as an old acquaintance, to my father, who stood hat in hand with +the other men to receive him. `That's Mr Nelson, our new captain,' +said my father; `he'll not let the grass grow under his feet.' That was +the first time I ever saw the great Lord Nelson. What my father said +was true. We soon sailed to convoy a fleet of transports destined to +attack Saint Juan de Nicaragua. Up a muddy river we pulled, led by our +captain, with a hot scorching sun striking down on us. We arrived +before a fort. Captain Nelson leaped on shore, sword in hand, leaving +his shoes in the mud, to attack it. The fort was taken, and so was San +Juan itself; and though the grass did not grow under our feet, it was +soon growing over the heads of numbers of the fine fellows who composed +the expedition--both redcoats and seamen; and though our captain, +receiving notice of his appointment to another ship, the `Janus,' sailed +away immediately, we lost the greater number of our people by sickness. +The captain was so knocked up that he had to go home invalided, as did +my father, who was never able again to go to sea. I went with him, and +we lived for some time at Deal. + +"I remember early in January, 1782, a tremendous gale sprang up. My +father and I were standing on the shore, he with his glass in his hand +watching the ships driving here and there, one running foul of another, +when we observed a heavy store-ship drive right down on a frigate. + +"`They'll grind each other down to the water's edge,' observed my +father. `Does no one on board know what to do? I'd like to be off to +lend a hand, but that's impossible; few boats could live in such a sea.' + +"While we were talking, a lad came running along the beach, saying that +an officer was in a great taking, wanting to get off to his ship, and no +one would go. + +"`Who is he?' asked my father. + +"`A Captain Nelson,' answered the lad. + +"`I'll go, if any man will trust his boat,' exclaimed my father. `Come +along, Ned.' + +"We ran along the beach, and there we found our late captain walking up +and down, fuming away, and trying to persuade the boatmen to take him +off. + +"`I'll go, sir, if I had a boat,' said my father. `I've long sailed +with you.' + +"`Ah! Ned Freeman. Thank you--thank you,' exclaimed the captain. `I'm +sure you'd go with me anywhere.' + +"`We'll take the captain off if he'll give us fifteen guineas,' observed +several of the men, owners of a fine boat. + +"`Done!' exclaimed the captain. `Off we go at once.' + +"My father and I, with the other men, launched the boat. Away we pulled +with the white-topped seas dancing up round us and the dangerous Goodwin +Sands to leeward, towards which the frigate was driving fast. Captain +Nelson, by word and look, urged us on, though more than once I thought +the boat would have been swamped, and all hands lost. We did succeed in +getting alongside. The captain sprang on board, and soon had got the +ships clear with only the loss of the frigate's bowsprit and pennant. + +"`Well, Freeman, if you can't sail with me, your boy must,' said the +captain, as the boat was about to shove off for the shore; `I'll look +after him.' + +"`Will you go, Ned?' said my father to me. + +"There was no time for consideration. I said, `Yes, father.' + +"My kind father wrung my hand, and we parted never to meet again. + +"The `Albemarle' soon after sailed for Canada and the West Indies. Our +captain had a kind heart. On our first cruise we captured a fishing +vessel belonging to Boston. The master wrung his hands, declaring that +he had no other property, and a large family at home to support, who +would all be brought to beggary. The captain told him not to be cast +down; that he would employ him as a pilot, and give him back his vessel +at the end of the time. He was as good as his word, and I never saw a +poor fellow so happy and grateful as the fisherman was when he was put +on shore. Some time after, when we were all suffering from scurvy, not +having had a fresh piece of meat or vegetables for many months, the same +man came off to us with a full supply for several days, which I believe +saved the lives of many poor fellows on board. + +"Soon after this, while cruising off Boston, a squadron of four French +line-of-battle ships and a frigate were seen from the masthead. They +made sail in chase, but the captain knew well all the shoals and +quicksands in those parts, and soon got into channels where the big +ships were afraid to follow. The frigate, however, kept on her course, +and when we saw this we hove to, to wait for her. We all looked forward +with joy to a brush, but she did not like our appearance, and much to +out disappointment, about she went and rejoined her consorts. + +"I can't tell you all the things we did in the West Indies. At last we +went home, and were paid off; and I remained on shore with my widowed +mother till I heard that Captain Nelson had commissioned the `Boreas.' +I went and joined him. He received me heartily, and away we sailed for +the West Indies. + +"Young as was our captain, he found himself senior officer on the +station--that is to say, second in command under the admiral; for in +those days we had old heads on young shoulders; so we should now, if +boys would try to imitate the example of wise and noble men, not to ape +the folly of foolish ones. We were chiefly among the Leeward Islands. + +"While visiting the island of Nevis, the captain fell in love with a +lady, a Mrs Nisbet, and they married: a very good, kind young lady she +was, that I remember; but after we returned home I saw no more of her. +The `Boreas' was paid off in 1787. Thus I have told you most of what I +remember about Nelson's early days. He was soon to be known to the +world as the greatest naval captain of his time." + +II. + +"You have heard speak of the `Agamemnon' of 64 guns. I was one of the +old Agamemnons, as we called ourselves. We, all her crew, were proud of +her, and good reason we had to be so. Captain Nelson commissioned her +on the 26th of January, 1793, and it wasn't many days after this that I +joined her. You see I kept my eye on him. When a man has found a good +captain, if he's wise he will follow him whenever he can. + +"I can't now remember all the places we went to. First, we were one of +the Channel fleet. Then we were sent out to the Mediterranean, where +our captain astonished the admirals, and made the soldier-generals +almost tear their eyes out by the way he did things. He took care that +the weeds should not grow to the bottom of the ship he commanded. First +we had to conquer the island of Corsica [Note 1]. We drove the French +out of every place but the strong fort of Bastia, so we landed, and +hauled our guns up the heights, and kept up such a hot fire on the place +that it gave up, and then the soldiers marched in and gained the glory. +Then we took a place called Calvi. Here it was that a shot, striking +the ground, threw up some sand in the captain's eye, and though we +thought but little of it at the time, he never saw again with that eye. +It was very hard work, and the country was unhealthy, and many of us +grew sick, so that we were heartily glad when it was over. There was +something better in store for us too. News was brought us that the +French fleet, nearly twice as strong as ours, was on the look-out for +us. Our fleet was under the command of Admiral Hotham. You may be sure +that we kept a bright look-out for the enemy. At last they hove in +sight, and one of our frigates, the `Inconstant,' got so close that she +brought to action the `Ca Ira,' a French eighty-four, which had carried +away her main and foretop masts. The `Inconstant,' however, was obliged +to bear away, and a French frigate came up and took the line-of-battle +ship in tow, while two other line-of-battle ships guarded her on her +weather bow. + +"Our captain had been watching all that took place, and, though we had +no line-of-battle ship to support us, we made all sail in chase. There +was not a man on board whose heart didn't beat high with pride at the +way we went into action against odds so great; but we Agamemnons knew +well enough what our captain could do and would do. As soon as the +enemy could bring their guns to bear, they kept firing away their +stern-chasers at us. We stood on, without answering a shot, till we +were within a hundred yards of them. `Starboard the helm!' cried the +captain. The after-sails were brailed up, and the ship falling off, our +broadside was brought to bear on the retreating enemy. Now we opened a +tremendous fire on them, every gun telling. Then the helm was put +a-port, the after-yards braced up, and again we were after them. + +"Again and again we practised the same manoeuvre, never allowing the `Ca +Ira' to get a shot at us with one of her broadside guns. The enemy, +however, were not idle with their after-guns, though it was not till we +had torn her sails almost to ribbons that the French frigates began to +open their fire upon us. Then down came more of the enemy's ships +towards us. The captain seemed only the better pleased at seeing this, +and it's my opinion he would have hove to to meet them, and still +managed to come off victorious by some means or other, even if the +admiral had not made the signal of recall. Though our sails and rigging +were much cut up, we had only seven men wounded, while the `Ca Ira' lost +one hundred and ten that day. + +"The next day we were again at it, for we managed to cut off the `Ca +Ira,' and the `Censeur,' which had her in tow. This time we got one on +each side of us, and both of them fought well; but we fought better, and +at length both struck, and our boats were sent on board to take +possession. I never before had witnessed such a scene as that I saw on +board the `Ca Ira.' On her decks lay three hundred brave fellows, dead +or dying, or badly wounded, besides those she had lost the day before, +while the `Censeur' had lost three hundred and fifty. Our captain +wanted to follow up the enemy, and it's my belief, if we had, we should +have taken every one of them; but the admiral would not let him, and +said we had done very well as it was. So we had; but, you see, our +captain was the man who always wanted to do something better than well. +_Do well_ sits on the main-top--_Do better_ climbs to the truck. + +"The `Agamemnon' had been so knocked about, that the captain now shifted +his flag into the `Minerva' frigate, and took me and many other men with +him. One of our first duties was to carry off the English garrison and +privateers and merchantmen from Corsica, which had declared for the +French. We soon afterwards fought several actions with the enemy, and +then war broke out between England and Spain, and we had a narrow escape +from an overwhelming force of Spanish ships. We had just sailed from +Gibraltar, when two Spanish line-of-battle ships followed us. We were +keeping pretty well ahead when a man fell overboard. To let a man drown +without trying to help him was against our captain's nature. A +jolly-boat, commanded by Lieutenant Hardy, was lowered, and away she +pulled to try and pick up the poor fellow. The boat was within range of +the enemy's guns: the man was not to be seen. The captain had been +anxiously watching all that took place. `I'll not lose Hardy,' he +exclaimed. `Back the main-topsail!' No order was ever obeyed more +readily, and soon we were dropping back towards our boat, and towards +the enemy. We fully expected to be brought to action, but we did not +care for that; we got back Mr Hardy and our boat, when what was our +astonishment to see the headmost Spaniard shorten sail to wait for his +consort. There can be no doubt he thought we had assistance not far +off. The Spaniards were very timid of us in those days--they had good +reason to be so. With flying colours we sailed out of the Straits, +laughing at our enemy. + +"Both officers and men were constantly being shifted from ship to ship +in those days; and, as soon as we reached Cadiz we found ourselves +transferred to the `Captain,' a fine seventy-four. Captain Nelson +hoisted his pennant, as commodore, on board of her, with Captain Miller +under him. You have heard speak of the battle of Saint Vincent. Sir +John Jervis, who was made Earl Saint Vincent, was our admiral, and +Commodore Nelson was second in command. He was now going to show all +the world what he really was. The Spaniards had twice as many ships as +we had. They were much bigger, and carried heavier guns; but what did +Nelson or we care for that. It is the men who fight the battles, and +Nelson knew the stuff British seamen are made of. + +"Early in the morning of the 14th of February, the Spanish fleet hove in +sight, and we bore down on them. They were in line, that is, one +following the other. We managed to break that line, and cut off one +part from the other, just as you cut a snake in two. We followed the +head, the biggest part. That part bore away before the wind to join the +tail. The `Captain' was instantly wore round, instead of tacking, +according to a signal just then made by the admiral, and away, after +them we went, followed by the `Culloden,' `Blenheim,' and `Diadem.' The +`Captain' was in the rear of the British line; but by the manoeuvre just +performed, we came up with the Spaniards, and in a short time we and the +`Blenheim' were tooth and nail with no less than seven Spanish +line-of-battle ships--one, the `Santissima Trinidade,' of 130 guns, and +the `San Josef' and `Salvador del Mundo' of 112, the others being of 80 +and 74 guns. For nearly an hour we pounded away at them, till Captain +Collingwood, in the `Excellent,' came up, and gave us a helping hand by +pouring a tremendous broadside into the `San Nicolas.' + +"Our captain now let us fall close alongside that ship, and then he +called for boarders, and away we dashed into her. Right through her we +went; her flag was hauled down, and then, more boarders coming up, on we +dashed aboard the big `San Joseph,' and in a little time we had her +also. We followed our captain to the quarterdeck, and then the Spanish +officers assembled, and their captain and all of them presented their +swords to Commodore Nelson. As he received them he gave them to one of +his bargemen, William Fearney, who, with no little pleasure, tucked them +under his arm, just as you see in the picture in the Painted Hall +yonder. All the seven ships were taken, and if the Spaniards had had +any pluck we should have taken the remainder; but they hadn't, and made +off while we were unable to follow. That is the worst of fighting with +cowards. If they had been brave men they would have stopped to fight, +and we should have captured every one of their ships. That was the +battle of Saint Vincent. + +"The commodore was made an admiral and a knight, and now everybody in +England, high and low, rich and poor, had heard of him, and sung his +praises. + +"You've seen a picture of Sir Horatio Nelson, as he was then, in a boat +attacked by Spaniards, and his coxswain, John Sykes, defending him, and +receiving on his own head the blow made at him by one of the enemy. +I'll tell you how it was:-- + +"His flag was flying on board the `Theseus,' and he had command of the +inner squadron blockading Cadiz. The Spanish gunboats had annoyed us, +and he resolved to attack them with the boats at night. In we pulled. +In the admiral's barge there were only his ten bargemen--I was one of +them--Captain Freemantle, and his coxswain, John Sykes, when suddenly we +found ourselves close up with a Spanish launch carrying twenty-six men +or more. To run was not in our nature, so we tackled to with the +launch. It was desperate work, and the Spaniards fought well. Sir +Horatio was foremost in the fight; but the enemy seemed to know who he +was, and aimed many a blow at his head. Sykes, not thinking of himself, +defended him as a bear does her whelps. Blow after blow he warded off, +till at last his own arm was disabled. Still, instead of getting over +to the other side of the boat, he stood by the admiral. Down came +another Spaniard's sword which Sir Horatio could not ward off, but Sykes +sprung forward and received the blow on his own head, which it laid +open. This did not make us less determined to beat the enemy. One +after the other we cut them down till we killed eighteen, wounded the +rest, and towed their launch off in triumph. It will just show you how +the men who served with him loved the admiral. That was a desperate +fight in a small way, let me tell you; but before long we had still +worse work to go through. + +"Many men are thought a great deal of if they gain one victory. Nelson +never but once suffered a defeat. It was at the island of Teneriffe. +He was sent there, by Sir John Jervis, with a squadron to cut out a rich +Manilla ship returning to Spain, which lay in the harbour of Santa Cruz. +Our squadron consisted of four ships of the line, three frigates, and +the `Fox' cutter. Our first attempt at landing failed, and then the +admiral, who never would be beaten, against the orders of Sir John +himself, determined to take command of the expedition on shore. +Midnight was the time chosen for the attack. The orders were, that all +the boats should land at a big mole which runs out from the town. Away +we pulled; the night was very dark, the boats got separated, and when we +reached the mole there were only four or five boats there. A heavy fire +was at once opened on us, but the admiral would not be turned back. +Drawing his sword, he was springing on shore, but the same moment he was +struck by a musket ball, and fell back into the arms of his step-son, +Lieutenant Nisbet. The lieutenant and one of our men bound up his arm, +while all those who could be collected jumped into the boat to shove her +off. It was difficult work, for she had grounded. We pulled close +under the battery to avoid the heavy fire from it. As we moved on, all +we could see was the bright flashes from the guns extending in a long +line in front of us. On again pulling out, a fearful cry was raised. +It came from the `Fox' cutter. A shot had struck her between wind and +water, and down she went, leaving her crew struggling in the waves. The +admiral had just before been lifted up in the stern-sheets by Mr Nisbet +to look about him. + +"`Give way, lads--give way,' he shouted, forgetting his own desperate +wound. `We must save them.' + +"Soon we were in among the struggling men, and hauling them into the +boats as fast as we could, the shot all the time rattling about us. The +admiral seemed to have recovered his strength, and worked away with his +left arm, assisting in saving a great many. Eighty men were saved, but +more than half the crew were lost. The first ship we came to was the +`Seahorse.' Her captain's wife, Mrs Freemantle, was on board, but he +was with the boats, and no one could tell whether he was alive or dead. + +"`No, no,' exclaimed the admiral; `I can give the poor lady no tidings +of her husband; she shall not see me in this state. Pull to another +ship.' + +"We managed to reach the `Theseus.' When a rope was lowered, he sprung +up the side, and would have no help. We could scarcely believe our +eyes, for we thought he was half dead. His was a wonderful spirit. +Then he sent us off to try and save a few more of the poor fellows from +the `Fox.' When we got back we found that he had made the surgeon at +once cut off his arm. We brought him the news that Captain Freemantle, +though badly wounded, had got off in safety to his ship. You may be +sure that both he and all of us were very anxious to know what was going +forward on shore. At length we heard that Captain Troubridge had +managed to collect two or three hundred men--all who were not drowned or +killed by shot--and having marched into the square, had taken the town. +Of course, he could do nothing against the citadel. Some eight thousand +Spanish troops were collecting about the place, but he was not a man to +be daunted; telling them that he would burn the town if they molested +him, he was able to draw off all his men in safety. During that +business we lost two hundred and fifty men and officers. It was a sad +affair, but though it was a failure every man engaged in it did his duty +bravely, and no one could blame the admiral for what had happened. We +heard that the Spaniards treated our wounded men who were left on shore +with the greatest kindness and care. No one among the wounded suffered +more than the admiral, and it was some months, I've heard say, before +the pain left his arm. + +"Once more we returned to old England, and the admiral went up to London +to try and get cured of his wound. Since he left home he had lost an +eye and an arm, and had been terribly knocked about besides; but people +thought of what he had done, not of how he looked, and he was received +with honour wherever he went. + +"I and a few others of his old hands lived on shore, keeping a look-out +for when he should get another command. We were afraid of being +pressed, and made to serve somewhere away from him. One and all of us +were ready enough to fight for our king and our country, provided we +could fight under him. We had not long to wait. We soon got news that +the `Vanguard' was to be commissioned to carry Sir Horatio Nelson's flag +to join the Mediterranean fleet under Earl Saint Vincent. That was in +the year 1798. + +"We sailed from Gibraltar on the 9th of May with three line-of-battle +ships, four frigates, and a sloop of war, to look after the French +fleet, which consisted of thirteen ships of the line, seven frigates, +twenty-four smaller ships of war, and a fleet of transports, bound, as +we afterwards learned, for Egypt. If the French had conquered that +country, they would have gone on, there is no doubt of it, to attack our +possessions in India. The admiral, I dare say, knew the importance of +stopping that French fleet. In spite of their numbers we did not fear +them. Proud we were of our ship, and prouder still was our admiral of +her and her crew and the fleet he commanded. While we were in the Gulf +of Lyons, after it had been blowing hard all day, it came on one dark +night to blow harder still, and, without warning, first our main and +then our mizen-topmast went over the side, and lastly the foremast went +altogether, so that we no longer could carry sail on it. What a +crippled wreck we looked in the morning! There was a thick fog: not one +of the squadron could be seen. We were boasting the day before that we +were ready to meet more than an equal number of the finest ships the +French could bring against us; and now we lay docked of our wings, and +scarcely able to contend with the smallest frigate. Providence was +watching over us, and we had good reason to believe this when some time +afterwards we learned that that very day the French fleet sailed from +Toulon, and passed within a few miles of us, while we were hid from them +by the fog. At last Captain Ball, in the `Alexander,' came up, and +towed us into the harbour of San Pietro in Sardinia, where in four days, +with the aid of his and other two ships' companies, we got completely +refitted and ready for sea. Away we went in search of the French fleet, +with General Bonaparte himself on board. We heard of the French at +Gozo, and our admiral would have attacked them there, but they had gone; +then on we railed for Egypt, hoping to find them off Alexandria, but not +a sign of them could we discover. If we had had our frigates, we should +have found them out fast enough. Leaving Alexandria, we steered for +Syracuse, where we provisioned and watered; we visited the Morea; we +hunted along the Greek coast. At last we entered the Gulf of Coron, +where Captain Troubridge brought us the news that the French fleet had +been seen steering from Candia for Egypt four weeks before. Instantly +all sail was made for Alexandria. Still we scarcely expected to find +the French fleet there. Great then was our joy when the signal was seen +flying from the masthead of the `Zealous,' Captain Hood, that the +enemy's fleet were moored in Aboukir Bay. Not a moment was lost in +clearing the ships for action. We all knew that we had hot work before +us. We found the French fleet moored in a sort of curve in the bay, but +far enough from the shore to let some of our ships get inside of them; +that is, between them and the land. This the French little expected, +and many hadn't even their guns loaded on that side. + +"Oh! it was a magnificent sight, as on we sailed, receiving a hot fire +from the shore batteries, but not answering a shot, while silently we +furled our sails, and got ready for anchoring. I believe that silence +made the hearts of the Frenchmen quake more than our loudest hurrahs +would have done. It was evening; the sun was just sinking into the +ocean as we entered the bay. The `Goliath' led the way, followed by the +`Zealous,' and then came the `Orion,' all anchoring inside the enemy's +line. The `Vanguard' (our ship) was the first which anchored outside, +within half pistol-shot of the `Spartiate.' We had six colours flying, +just us a sign to the Frenchmen that come what might we were not likely +to strike to them; and now there was very little to be seen but the +flashes and thick smoke from the guns. Other ships followed us outside +the French line, but the greater number were inside. No sooner were our +anchors dropped than we opened fire, our example being followed by the +other ships as they brought up. We blazed away in right earnest; there +was no flinching from our guns. What the Frenchmen were about I cannot +tell, but we seemed to fire two shots to their one; but then their guns +carried heavier metal than ours, and they had many more of them. It was +so dark that we had to get our fighting-lanterns hung up along the +decks. Just fancy us then stripped to the waist, with handkerchiefs +bound round our heads, and straining every nerve as we ran in and out, +and cleaned and loaded our heavy guns, and blazed away as fast as we +could. We were covered, too, with smoke and powder, and before long +most of us were sprinkled pretty thickly with our own or our shipmates' +blood. Such was the sight you would have seen between decks on board +every ship in the action. + +"I must tell you what happened in other parts. There was a shoal we had +to pass on our starboard hand. The `Culloden,' the ship of the brave +Captain Troubridge, struck on it when standing in, for by that time the +darkness of night had come on. He instantly made signals which +prevented the other ships, the `Alexander,' `Swiftsure,' and `Leander,' +following, and getting on shore. They did their best to help off the +`Culloden,' but could not get her off, so stood on into the battle. +Before even they opened their fire, five of the enemy's ships had +struck. On standing on, Captain Hollowell fell in with the old +`Billyruffian' (`Bellerophon'), with already two hundred dead and +wounded, and almost a wreck from the tremendous fire of `L'Orient' of +120 guns. The `Swiftsure' took her place, and soon made the Frenchman +pay dear for what she had done. I heard of this afterwards. A seaman +at his gun can know little more of an action than what he sees before +his nose, and that is chiefly smoke and fire, and part of the hull and +rigging of one ship, and men struck down, and timbers and splinters +flying about, and yards and blocks rattling down, while he hears alone +the roar of the guns, the shouts, and shrieks, and groans of those +around him. This sort of terrible work was going on for some time, when +the word got about that the admiral himself was desperately wounded in +the head. It made our hearts sink within us with sorrow, but it did not +cause us to fight less fiercely, or be less determined to gain the +victory. How anxiously we waited to hear what the surgeons would say +about the wound of our noble chief! and when we were told that it was +merely the skin of his head which was hurt, and which had almost blinded +him, how hearty the cheer we gave. It must have astonished the +Frenchmen, who could not tell the cause. Then at it again we went +blazing away like fury, the round-shot and chain-shot and bullets +whizzing and tearing along our decks, making the white splinters fly, +and sending many a poor fellow out of the world, when suddenly the +darkness, which had till now surrounded us, was lighted up by the bright +flames which darted out of every port and twisted round the masts of a +burning ship. We soon learned that she was a French ship, the big +`L'Orient,' with which the `Billyruffian' had been engaged. Never did I +see such a sight; in a few minutes she was just one mass of flame, from +her truck to the water's edge. Her miserable crew, from one end of her +to the other, were leaping into the water to avoid the scorching heat. +`Out boats!' was the order, and each of our ships near at hand sent as +many boats as could be manned to the rescue of our unfortunate enemies. +Had they been our own shipmates, we could not have exerted ourselves +more. Still the battle raged from one end of the line to the other. +Suddenly there was a sound as if the earth were rent asunder. In one +pointed mass of flame up went the tall masts, and spars, and the decks +of the huge `L'Orient.' They seemed, in one body of fire, to rise above +our mastheads, and then down they came, spreading far and wide, hissing +into the water among the boats and the hundreds of poor wretches +struggling for their lives. Among them was the French commodore. +Captain Casabianca, I heard, was his name. He was a brave man. He had +his son with him, a little fellow only ten years old, as gallant, those +we rescued told us, as his father. They were blown up together. We saw +the two, the father holding on his son clinging to a spar. We pulled +towards them, but just then a bit of the burning wreck must have struck +them and carried them down, for when we got up to the spot they were +nowhere to be seen. That's the worst of a battle; there are so many +young boys on board who often get as cruelly hurt as the men, and +haven't the strength to bear up against their sufferings. Well, as I +was saying, we pulled about, picking up the half-burnt struggling +wretches wherever we could find them among the bits of floating wreck. +Only seventy were saved out of many more than a thousand men on board. +That was about ten o'clock. For some time not a shot was fired. Every +man felt that something awful had happened, but still many of the +Frenchmen hadn't given in. So at it again we went, and blazed away at +each other till three in the morning. When daylight returned, only two +of the enemy's ships of the line had their colours flying, and they had +not been engaged. They, with two frigates, cut their cables in the +forenoon, and stood out to sea, we having no ships in a fit state to +follow them. There were thirteen French line-of-battle ships when the +action began; we took nine, two were burned, and two escaped; and of the +four frigates one was sunk and another burned; while the enemy lost +three thousand one hundred and five men in killed and wounded. Captain +Westcott was the only captain killed, but we lost in all nearly nine +hundred other officers and men. As soon as the battle was over, an +order was issued that all on board every ship should return thanks to +Almighty God, who had given us the victory. Many a hearty thanksgiving +was offered up that day. It was a solemn ceremony; not a word was +spoken fore and aft till the chaplain began the prayers. A dead silence +reigned throughout the fleet. The Egyptians and Arabs on shore could +not make it out, I've heard say; and even the French officers, prisoners +on board, infidels as they were, listened with respect, and could not +help believing that there must be a God who had given us the victory. +Hard work we had to get our ships and prizes fit for sea again after the +battering they had got; as it was, we had to burn four of our prizes, as +it would have taken too long to refit them; and then at last away we +sailed with the larger part of the fleet for Naples. + +"The battle I've been telling you about was called the battle of the +Nile. It was, I've heard say, one of the most glorious and important +ever fought on the sea." + +III. + +"After lying at Naples for a long time, Lord Keith came out and took the +chief command, and we sailed with a squadron for Malta. On our way we +fell in with a French fleet, the biggest ship of which was the +`Genereux,' one of the line-of-battle ships which had escaped from the +Nile. We captured her and a frigate, and not long afterwards the +`Guillaume Tell,' the other line-of-battle ship, after in vain +attempting to escape from Valetta harbour, surrendered to us; and thus +every ship of the fleet which had escorted Bonaparte to Egypt was +captured, except, I fancy, one frigate. + +"At last we went into Leghorn Roads, and after some time Lord Nelson and +Sir William and Lady Hamilton, and other people who had been on board, +landed, and travelled through Germany towards England. I have heard say +that he was more than once very nearly caught by the French during the +journey through Italy. What a prize he would have been to them. I +remained in the `Foudroyant' for some time. We all missed the admiral, +and hoped that he would come out again, and hoist his flag on board his +old ship. Whatever ship he went to it was the same, the men loved him, +and would have done anything for him. At last I was sent home in a +prize, and was paid off. As the admiral was taking a spell on shore, I +thought I would take one too, and enjoy myself. I spent some time with +my old mother; but one night, going down to see an old shipmate who was +ill at a public-house near Deal, I found myself in the hands of a +press-gang, and carried aboard the `Elephant,' Captain Foley. I had +made up my mind to belong to the flag-ship of Admiral Nelson, whatever +she might be. Still, it couldn't be helped, and, of course, I +determined to do my duty. I there learned that Captain Hardy had +commissioned the `Saint George,' of 98 guns, and that it was supposed +Lord Nelson would hoist his flag on board her. This he shortly +afterwards did, and it was some consolation, when we sailed for Yarmouth +Roads, off the Norfolk coast, to join him. It was soon whispered about +that there was work for us to do, and we guessed that there was truth in +the report when the fleet was ordered away up the Baltic. This was in +1801; a long time ago it seems. You see that Russia, and Sweden, and +Denmark were all going to join against us to help the French; and as the +Danes had a fine fleet, it was necessary to destroy or capture it, to +prevent it doing us mischief. We therefore sent to tell the Danes that +they must give it up and be friends, or that we would knock their city +about their ears, and sink their ships. They dared us do our worst. +They ought to have known what Lord Nelson was likely to do; but you must +understand that Sir Hyde Parker was commander-in-chief--he was only +second in command. A great deal of time was lost in diplomatising, and +all that time the Danes were preparing their ships and batteries to +receive us. If you take a look at a chart of the mouth of the Baltic, +you will see what numbers of shoals, and small islands, and narrow +channels there are about Copenhagen. Fortunately one of our captains, +Captain Dommet, knew the coast, and he persuaded Sir Hyde Parker only to +let the lighter ships go up to the attack. The `Saint George' drew too +much water, and, fortunately for us, Lord Nelson chose our ship to hoist +his flag on board. Didn't we cheer him as he came alongside. +Copenhagen stands on a dead flat facing the sea; it is defended by a +large fort and two heavy batteries, thrown up on rocks or sandbanks. +Besides these there was the Danish fleet drawn up in a long line before +the city, and eighteen floating batteries, mounting no less than 690 +guns. Some way off, in front of the city, is a shoal called the Middle +Ground, and then another channel, and then comes the long island of +Saltholm. On the last day of March we entered the channel between the +Swedish and Danish coasts, having the castle of Helsingburg on one side +and that of Elsinore on the other, and on we sailed in front of the city +till we came to an anchor off the island of Arnak. Sir Hyde Parker +remained near the mouth of the channel with the heavier ships, so that +Lord Nelson had the lighter ones all to himself, while the brave Captain +Riou commanded the frigates. All the night was spent in preparing for +battle, and Captain Hardy was employed in sounding the channel, through +which we were to pass to the attack. He even reached in the darkness +close up to one of the Danish ships, and sounded round her. There was +the whole squadron anchored so close in with the Danish shore, that had +our enemies known the range they might have done us much mischief. Lord +Nelson spent the chief part of the night dictating orders to his clerks, +to send round to his captains to tell them what to do. At last the +morning broke, and, with a fair wind, the `Edgar' leading under a press +of sail, the fleet stood down the Danish line, and took up their +positions as arranged, the brave Captain Riou and his frigates being +opposed to the Crown Battery, at the further end. With a groan, we who +once belonged to her saw the old `Agamemnon' take the ground on the +shoal I have spoken of; the `Bellona' and `Russel' touched also, but +sufficiently within range to take part in the battle. Soon after ten +the `Edgar' began the action, and one, by one, as the other ships +slipped from their anchors, and following at intervals, took up their +position, they also commenced firing. The commander-in-chief, Sir Hyde +Parker, was away on our right, you'll understand, with the bigger ships, +and from the way the wind was he could not have come up to help us. +Now, along the whole line the action became general. Opposed to us +there were the forts and the floating batteries, and the Danish ships of +war, all blazing away together; and many of them had furnaces for +heating red-hot shot, which several times nearly set our ships on fire. +No men ever fought better than the Danes, and several times when we had +killed or wounded all the defenders of a battery, their places were +supplied by fresh hands from the shore, who worked away at their guns as +bravely as the first, till they, poor fellows, were shot down. More +than once the ships of the enemy had hauled down their flags, and when +we were going to take possession again opened fire on us. This enraged +us, as you may suppose; but we cut them up terribly, and many of their +ships and floating batteries were sinking or on fire. For three hours +or more we were at it, pounding away without being able to silence them. +They were cutting us up too, let me tell you, riddling our hull, and +round-shot, and red-hot shot, and chain-shot, and bar shot flying +around, about, and through us. It seemed a wonder that a man was left +alive on our decks. Lord Nelson kept pacing the quarterdeck, watching +everything that was going on. A young Danish officer had got a big +raft, with a breastwork mounting some twenty guns, and in spite of our +marines, who kept up a sharp fire on him, he held his post till the +battle was over. The admiral praised him for his gallantry, and, I +believe, would have been very sorry if he had been killed, much as he +was annoying us. A shot now struck our mainmast, sending the splinters +flying on every side. I saw the admiral smile. `This is hot work,' he +observed to one of the officers; `in another moment not one of as may be +alive, but, mark you, I would not be anywhere else for thousands.' It's +my opinion that most men would have thought we were getting the worst of +it; and if we hadn't had Lord Nelson for our chief, we should have +thought so likewise. + +"Sir Hyde Parker's flag-ship was near enough for us to make out his +signals. It was reported that the signal for discontinuing the action +had been made. `Acknowledge it!' cried Lord Nelson. `Is our signal for +close action still hoisted?' `Yes, sir,' was the answer. `Then keep it +so,' he replied. Soon afterwards he put his glass up to his blind eye, +and turning to Captain Foley, he exclaimed, `I have a right to be blind +sometimes, and really I don't see the signal. Never mind it, I say, +nail mine to the mast.' Admiral Graves in like manner disobeyed the +order, and the rest of the squadron, looking only to Lord Nelson, +continued the action. + +"I was telling you about the brave Captain Riou and his frigates. The +`Amazon,' his ship, had suffered much, and was so surrounded by smoke +that he could see nothing of the batteries to which he was opposed. He +ordered, therefore, his men to cease firing to let the smoke clear off, +that they might see what they were about. This allowed the Danes to +take better aim at them, and so tremendous was the fire opened on them +that there seemed every chance of the frigates being sent to the bottom. +Just then, Sir Hyde Parker's signal was seen flying. Captain Riou +judged that he ought to obey it. He had already been badly wounded in +the head by a splinter. `What will Nelson think of us?' he exclaimed, +mournfully, as the frigate wore round. Just then his clerk was killed +by his side, and directly afterwards another shot struck down some +marines who were hauling in the main-brace. It seemed as if not a man +on board could escape, `Come, then, my boys,' exclaimed their brave +Captain Riou, `let us all die together!' They were the last words he +ever spoke. The next moment a shot cut him in two. There was not a +more gallant officer, or one the men loved better, in the service. + +"Well, as I was saying, on we went at it for four long hours. In spite +of the shot, and bullets, and splinters flying about on every side, I +had not had a scratch. Several poor fellows had been struck down close +to me. I cannot say that I thought that I should not be hit, because +the truth is I did not think about the matter. I went on working at my +gun like the rest, only just trying how fast we could fire, and how we +could do most damage to the enemy. That's the way to gain the victory; +it does not do to think of anything else. At last I felt a blow as if +some one had struck me on the side, and down I went. My trousers and +belt were singed and torn, and the blood started from my side; but I +bound my handkerchief over the wound, and in a little time got up and +went back to my gun, and there I stayed till the fighting was done, and +then I let them carry me below to the cockpit, for walk by myself I +could not. + +"Some of our ships suffered dreadfully. The `Monarch' lost two hundred +and ten men, the `Isis' a hundred and ten, and the `Bellona' +seventy-five, and all the other ships great numbers. At last, however, +the Danes could stand it no longer, and ship after ship struck; but +still the shore batteries kept firing on, and killed great numbers of +men on board the prizes. One of their ships, the `Danbrog,' after she +had struck and was in flames, fired on our boats. Notwithstanding this, +when she was seen drifting away before the wind, the fire gaining on +her, Captain Bertie, of the `Ardent,' sent his boats to the assistance +of the poor fellows as they leaped out of the ports to escape the +flames. At last Lord Nelson, wishing to put a stop to the carnage, +wrote to the Crown Prince, the Danish commander, saying if he did not +cease firing he must burn the prizes. A wafer was brought him. `That +will not do,' said he, `we must not appear in a hurry; bring a candle +and sealing-wax.' Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger, with a flag of truce, +took the letter, and after some time the Danes sent one in return to +arrange what was to be done, and the battle of Copenhagen, for so it was +called, was over. + +"While negotiations were going on, Lord Nelson ordered the ships to take +advantage of a fair wind, and to start out of the narrow channels. As +we in the `Elephant' were going out we grounded, as did the `Defiance,' +about a mile from the Trekroner battery, and there we remained for many +hours. At last, however, we got off. We had to burn all our prizes +except one ship, the `Holstein,' 64, which was sent home. The next day +Lord Nelson went on shore to visit the prince, and settle matters. He +was received with great respect, and he told the Danes that he had never +had a braver enemy, or known men fight better than they had done, and +that now he hoped that they would all be friends again for ever after. +Lord Nelson now returned to the `Saint George,' and the fleet sailed to +the eastward to look after the Swedes. We were off Bornholm, but the +`Saint George' could not get through a shallow channel which had to be +passed, and was some twelve leagues astern of us. Every minute we +expected to be engaged with the enemy. At midnight, who should step on +board the `Elephant' but Lord Nelson himself. The night was very cold, +but he had come all that distance in an open boat without even a cloak, +so eager was he to be present at the expected battle. None took place, +and after a little time I was sent home invalided." + +IV. + +"When I came home from the Baltic, I and others were landed at Yarmouth, +and sent to the hospital. I was some time in getting well. I'll tell +you what set me on my legs again. One day as I was lying on my bed in +the crowded ward, thinking if I should ever recover, and be fit for sea +again, the news came that a brig of war had entered the harbour with +Lord Nelson on board. Would you believe it, I was thanking Heaven that +our brave admiral had come back safe, and was in a half dreamy, dozing +state, when I heard a cheer, and opening my eyes there he was himself +going round from bed to bed, and talking to each of the men. He knew me +at once, and told me that I must make haste and get well and join his +ship, as it wouldn't be long probably before he again hoisted his flag. + +"`You shall have any rating you like, remember that,' said he, taking my +hand. `We must have medals and prize-money for you; you have gallantly +won them, all of you.' + +"He passed on, for he had a kind word to say to many hundred poor +fellows that day. When I got well I went home for a spell; but before +long I heard that Lord Nelson had hoisted his flag as commander-in-chief +of the channel squadron on hoard the `Medusa' frigate. I went on board, +and the admiral instantly rated me as quartermaster. We had plenty of +work before us, for General Bonaparte, who was now Emperor of France, +wanted to come and invade England. He had got a flotilla of gunboats +all ready to carry over his army, and he had a large fleet besides. +Many people thought he would succeed. We knew that the wooden walls of +old England were her best defence, and so we afloat never believed that +a French soldier would ever set foot on our shores. + +"They had, however, a large flotilla in Boulogne harbour, and it was +determined to destroy it with the boats of the squadron. I volunteered +for one of out boats. The boats were in three divisions. We left the +ships a little before midnight. It was very dark, and the divisions got +separated. We knew that it was desperate work we were on. Ours was the +only division which reached the harbour. There were batteries defending +the place, and troops on the shore, and soldiers on board the flotilla, +and the outer vessels were guarded with iron spikes, and had boarding +nets triced up, and were lashed together. In we darted. It was +desperate work, and the fire of the great guns and musketry soon showed +our enemies to us, and us to them. + +"`Just keep off, you brave Englishmen, you can do nothing here,' sung +out a French officer in very plain English. + +"`We'll try that!' was our reply, as we dashed on board, in spite of +iron spikes and boarding nettings. On we went; we cut out several of +the vessels, and were making off with them with loads of Frenchmen on +board, when, would you believe it, if the enemy didn't open their fire +on the boats, killing their own people as well as us. To my mind, those +French, in war, are as bad as cannibals--that's what Lord Nelson always +said of them. If it hadn't been for this we should have burned or +captured most of them. While I was just springing on board another +vessel, among the flashes from the guns, the flames and smoke, the +hissing and rattling shot, I got a knock on my head which sent me back +into the bottom of the boat. I knew nothing more till I found myself on +board my own ship, and heard that we had lost some hundred and seventy +poor fellows. I was sent to the hospital, where one of our gallant +leaders, Captain Parker, died of his wounds. + +"The next ship I found myself on board was the `Victory.' There wasn't +a finer ship in the navy, more weatherly or more handy--steered like a +duck, and worked like a top. Lord Nelson himself got me appointed to +her. Away we sailed for the Mediterranean. While Admiral Cornwallis +watched the French fleet at Brest, we kept a look-out over that at +Toulon under the command of Admiral La Touche Treville, who had +commanded at Boulogne, and boasted that he had beat off Lord Nelson from +that port. He could not boast, though, that he beat him off from +Toulon; for, for eighteen long months, from the 1st of July, 1803, to +the 11th of January, 1805, did we keep watch off that harbour's mouth. +If such a gale sprung up as would prevent the French getting out, we +went away, only leaving a frigate or so to watch what took place; but we +were soon to be back again. Thus the time passed on. We saw the shore, +but were not the better for it; for few of us, from the admiral +downwards, ever set foot on it. At last the French admiral, La Touche +Treville, died, and a new one, Admiral Villeneuve, was appointed. We +now began to hope that the French would come out and fight us; for you +see Lord Nelson did not want to keep them in--only to get at them when +they came out. If it hadn't been for the batteries on shore, we should +have gone in and brought them out. We had gone away to the coast of +Sardinia, when news was brought that the French fleet was at sea. +Instantly we got under weigh, passing at night through a passage so +narrow that only one ship could pass at a time, and fully expecting the +next morning to be engaged with the enemy. First we looked for them +about Sicily; then after them we ran towards Egypt, and then back to +Malta, where we heard that they had put into Toulon. Now, we kept +stricter watch than ever, without a bulkhead up, and all ready for +battle. + +"It was on the 4th of April, that the `Phoebe' brought us news that +Admiral Villeneuve, with his squadron, had again slipped out of Toulon, +and was steering for the coast of Africa. Frigates were sent out in +every direction, to make sure that he had not gone eastward; and then +after him we stood, towards the Straits of Gibraltar, but the wind was +dead against us, and we had hard work to get there. I had never seen +the admiral in such a taking before. We beat backwards and forwards +against the head-wind, but all to no purpose--out of the Gut we could +not get without a leading-wind, and so we had to anchor off the Barbary +coast; there we got supplies. + +"At last, on the 5th of May, an easterly breeze sprung up, and away we +went, with a flowing sheet, through the Straits. We called off Cadiz, +and the coast of Portugal, and then bore away for the West Indies, where +we heard the French had gone. We sighted Madeira, and made Barbadoes, +then sailed for Tobago; and next we were off for the Gulf of Paria, all +cleared for action, making sure that we should find the enemy there. We +thought it would have killed the admiral when he found that he had been +deceived. Back we sailed, and heard that the French had captured the +Diamond Rock. You've heard about it. It's a curious place, and was +commissioned like a man-of-war. If it hadn't been for false +information, and if Lord Nelson had stuck to his own intentions, we +should have caught the French up off Port Royal, and thrashed them just +at the spot Lord Rodney thrashed Admiral de Grasse--so I've heard say. +Well, at last, we found that the French had left the West Indies for +Europe, so back across the Atlantic we steered, but though we knew we +were close astern of them, they kept ahead of us, and at last we sighted +Cape Spartel, and anchored the next day at Gibraltar. + +"I know it for a fact, that it only wanted ten days of two years since +Lord Nelson himself had last set his foot on shore. It was much longer +than that since I and most on board had trod dry ground. That was +serving our country, you'll allow--most of the time, too, under weigh, +battling with tempests, and broiling under the sun of the tropics. + +"We victualled and watered at Tetuan, then once more stood to the +west'ard--then back to Cadiz, and once more crossed the Bay of Biscay, +thinking the enemy were bound for Ireland. Foul winds made the passage +long. Once more the enemy had baffled us, and at last, when off Ushant, +we received orders to return to Portsmouth to refit. + +"That very fleet Sir Robert Calder fell in with on the 22nd of July, +just thirty leagues westward of Cape Finisterre, and, although his force +was much smaller, he captured two of their line-of-battle ships. It was +a very gallant affair; but people asked, `What would Nelson have done?' +While the admiral was on shore we were busily employed in refitting the +`Victory,' while a number of other ships he had wished to have with him +were got ready for sea. On the 14th of September he once more came +aboard the `Victory,' and hoisted his flag. The next day, we sailed for +Cadiz. We arrived off that place on the 29th, where we found the +squadron of Admiral Collingwood blockading the French and Spanish fleets +under Admiral Villeneuve. + +"What Lord Nelson wanted, you see, was to get the enemy out to fight +him. He wanted also, not only to win a victory, but to knock the +enemy's ships to pieces, so that they could do no more harm. To get +them out we had to cut off their supplies; so we had to capture all the +neutral vessels which were carrying them in. You must understand we in +the `Victory' with the fleet did not go close into Cadiz, but kept some +fifty or sixty miles off, so that the enemy might not know our strength. +We had some time to wait, however. Lord Nelson had already given the +French and Spaniards such a taste of his way of going to work, that they +were in no hurry to try it again. You'll understand that there was a +line of frigates, extending, like signal-posts, all the way from the +fleet to the frigate cruising just off the mouth of the harbour--that is +to say, near enough to watch what was going on there. + +"Early in the morning on the 19th of October, the `Mars,' the ship +nearest the chain of frigates, repeated the signal that the enemy were +leaving port, and, at two p.m., that they were steering south-east. On +this Lord Nelson gave orders for the fleet to chase in that direction, +but to keep out of sight of the enemy, fearful of frightening them back +into port. Still, you'll understand, the frigates kept in sight of +them, and gave notice to the admiral of all their movements. The enemy +had thirty-three sail of the line, and seven frigates, with above 4000 +riflemen on board. Our fleet numbered only twenty-seven sail of the +line, and four frigates. We were formed in two lines. Admiral +Collingwood, in the `Royal Sovereign,' led fourteen ships, and Lord +Nelson, in the `Victory,' eleven. + +"On the morning of the 21st of October, 1805--you'll not forget that +day, it was a glorious one for England, let me tell you--we sighted the +French and Spanish fleet from the deck of the `Victory' off Cape +Trafalgar. They were formed in a double line in a curve, one ship in +the further line filling up the space left between the ships of the +nearest line. They also were trying to keep the port of Cadiz under +their lee, that they might escape to it. Lord Nelson determined to +break the line in two places. We led the northern line with a light +wind from the south-west. Admiral Collingwood led the southern, and got +into action first, just astern of the `Santa Anna.' We steered so as to +pass between the `Bucentaur' and the `Santissima Trinidade.' + +"`Well, there are a lot of the enemy,' exclaimed Tom Collins to me, as I +was standing near the gun he served. + +"`Yes, mate,' said I; `and a pretty spectacle they will make at Spithead +when we carry them there.' + +"`Ay, that they will,' cried all who heard me, and I believe every man +in the fleet felt as we did. + +"We were watching all this time the magnificent way in which the brave +and good Admiral Collingwood stood into action and opened his fire. +That was about noon. There was a general cheer on board our ship and +all the ships of the fleet. At our masthead flew a signal. We soon +knew what it meant. It was--`England expects that every man will do his +duty.' For nearly half an hour the noble Collingwood was alone among +the ships of the enemy before any of his followers could come up. We, +at the same time, had got within long range of the enemy. On we floated +slowly, for the wind was very light, till at last our mainyard-arm was +touching the gaff of the `Bucentaur,' which ship bore the flag of +Admiral Villeneuve; and though our guns were raking her and tearing her +stern to pieces, we had ahead of us in the second line the `Neptune,' +which poured a heavy fire into our bows. Our helm was then put up, and +we fell aboard the `Redoubtable,' while the `Temeraire,' Captain +Blackwood, ranged up on the other side of her, and another French ship +got alongside the `Temeraire.' There we were all four locked together, +pounding away at each other, while with our larboard guns we were +engaging the `Bucentaur,' and now and then getting a shot at the big +Spaniard, the `Santissima Trinidade'. Meantime our other ships had each +picked out one or more of the enemy, and were hotly engaged with them. +At the tops of all the enemy's ships marksmen were stationed. The +skylight of the admiral's cabin had been boarded over. Here Lord Nelson +and Captain Hardy were walking. More than one man had fallen near them. +Mr Scott, the admiral's secretary, had been struck down after we had +been in action little more than an hour. Suddenly as I turned my head I +saw a sight which I would rather have died than have seen. Lord Nelson +was just falling. He went on his knees, then rested on his arm for a +moment, and it, too, giving way, he rolled over on his left side, before +even Captain Hardy could run to save him. Captain Hardy had to remain +on deck. I, with a sergeant of marines and another seaman, carried him +below, covering his face with a handkerchief. We placed him in one of +the midshipmen's berths. Then the surgeons came to him. We feared the +worst, but it was not generally known what had happened. I can tell you +I was glad enough to get on deck again. It was bad enough there to see +poor fellows struck down alongside one, but the sights and sounds in the +cockpit were enough to overcome the stoutest heart--to see fine strong +fellows mangled and torn, struggling in their agony--to watch limb after +limb cut off--to hear their groans and shrieks, and often worse, the +oaths and imprecations of the poor fellows maddened by the terrible +pain; and there lay our beloved chief mortally wounded in the spine, +parched with thirst and heat, crying out for air and drink to cool the +fever raging within. For two hours and a half there he lay suffering +dreadful pain, yet eagerly inquiring how the battle was going. Twice +Captain Hardy went below to see him; the first time, to tell him that +twelve of the enemy had struck; the last time that still more had given +in, and that a few were in full flight, after whom our guns were still +sending their shot. Thus Lord Nelson died at the moment the +ever-to-be-remembered battle of Trafalgar was won. + +"It was a sad voyage we had home, and great was the sorrow felt by all, +from the highest to the lowest in the land, for the death of our beloved +leader. I will not describe his funeral. It was very grand, that I +know. Many of the old `Victory's' attended his coffin to his grave in +Saint Paul's Cathedral. When they were lowering his flag into the +tomb--that flag which had truly so long and so gloriously waved in the +battle and the breeze--we seized on it and tearing it in pieces, vowed +to keep it as long as we lived, in remembrance of our noble chief. Here +is my bit--see, I keep it safe in this case near my heart." + +England's greatest military chief now lies by the side of one who had no +equal on the ocean, in the heart of her metropolis. Within the walls of +her finest cathedral, what more appropriate mausoleum could be found for +Britain's two most valiant defenders, Heaven-sent surely in the time of +her greatest need to defend her from the hosts of her vaunting foes. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Note 1. Lord Hood was commander-in-chief. The object of the attack was +to co-operate with the patriot Corsicans, who, under their well-known +gallant general Paoli, desired to liberate themselves from the yoke of +France, then ruled by the tyrannical and cruel Convention. The story of +the struggles of Corsica to gain her independence is deeply interesting. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +AN ADVENTURE ON THE BLACK MOUNTAIN, BY FRANCES M. WILBRAHAM. + +"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have +entertained angels unawares." + +"A story! Why, children, you certainly are the most persevering little +beggars for a story I ever encountered! Well, a story you shall have, +as your lessons were, I must say, particularly well said, this morning, +and, moreover, the afternoon _does_ look hopelessly wet." + +A chorus of thanks responded to this promise; then Janie's demure voice +was heard asking, "Is it to be a true story, aunt, about some of the +foreign countries you have resided in? If so, I will bring the atlas." +Here Millie broke in eagerly, "Oh dear, I hope it is to be a romantic +story, full of murders, and caverns, and nice dark-eyed bandits isn't +it, Aunt Cattie?" + +Aunt Cattie smiled inwardly at the contrast between these twin sisters, +yet their resemblance to their former selves when, six years before, she +had visited England. It was the same Janie who, at seven years old, +devoured books of geography and history, but laid down Aesop's Fables in +disgust, unable to detect truth embedded in fiction. It was the same +Millie who used coaxingly to beg for stories "all about naughty +children--_very_ naughty children--and please, auntie, they mustn't +improve." The same Janie and Millie, only a head and shoulders taller. + +"It shall be a tale of the Black Mountain," said Aunt Cattie, after a +pause. "The Black Mountain, or Montenegro, is a real place, Janie, +marked in the map of Turkey in Europe, yet as wild and full of horrors +as Millie could desire. It is a tract of country, several miles long, +in the south-east part of Dalmatia. Its western side slopes down to, or +overhangs, the beautiful Adriatic Sea; the eastern, unhappily for its +peace, borders on Turkey, and between its gallant but lawless Christian +inhabitants and their Mahometan oppressors there has been, for +centuries, war, the most merciless you can imagine. We, who lived some +years in the neighbouring seaport-town of Cattaro, heard enough, and +sadly too much, of their atrocities." + +During this preface to the story the girls had settled themselves with +their knitting at Aunt Cattie's feet, and Archie, their brother, at her +elbow, his eyes fixed on Aunt Cattie's animated face, and his ears +"bristled up," as Millie expressed it, in expectation of her promised +narrative. It began thus:-- + +"Mr Englefield and I, when first we married, in 1843, lived in a small +but pretty dwelling outside the gate of Cattaro. The front of our house +looked across to a narrow arm of the sea, to a range of hills. A bleak, +rocky mountain stood at the back of our house and of the town; so you +see we were in a very cramped situation. The sun rose an hour later, +and set an hour earlier with us than elsewhere; the noonday sun baked us +in summer, the keen winds, pent between our mountains, eddied round us +in winter, and in autumn we were often wrapped in dense fog for days +together." + +Cattaro is a considerable port, in the hands of the Austrians, and some +of its traders were connected with the house of "Popham and Company," +for which your uncle was then an agent. He was often away for weeks +together, on business. I remained behind, and was much alone, but time +never hung heavy on my hands, for it was fully occupied with making +sketches from nature. These I carefully finished afterwards, and they +found a ready sale at Corfu, through the kindness of a friend. These +little gains eked out our slender income, and I remember no moment of +purer delight than that in which I welcomed your uncle home one soft +autumn morning, and placed my first hoard of fifteen guineas in his +hand. "My own industrious Cattie!" he exclaimed, "how very hard you +have worked in my absence! You have earned a holiday, my dear. Say, +how and where shall we spend the week I have to devote to you?" + +"O Laurie!" I cried, "on the Black Mountain--sketching on the Black +Mountain! You don't know how I long to explore it, and to paint its +scenery and its splendid-looking peasants! Do let us start at once!" + +"My dear, are you crazy?" he answered quietly, "Why, those mountaineers +are a set of lawless cut-throats, that regard neither life nor property. +They--" + +"I know, I know!" cried I. "They glory in cutting off as many Turkish +heads as they can, and carrying them home on the points of their lances. +Yes, it _is_ horrible, Laurie; still, we must make allowance for an +oppressed race, and remember how cruelly the Turks have treated them for +ages. I don't believe the Black Mountaineers would hurt a hair of our +heads, or of any unoffending traveller who threw himself on their +honour. Just let us try, Laurie." + +I was only nineteen then, and quite fearless. For many days my lonely +rambles had been in the direction of Montenegro, and my upward gaze had +turned hourly towards the path which leads thither, issuing forth from +the gate of the town in a zigzag form, and mounting till it seems lost +in the clouds. It was so tantalising to know that three hours' ascent +on one of the stout mules of the country, would bring one to the heart +of the Black Mountain, and to the palace of its chivalrous Vladika, or +Prince-Bishop, the feared and adored monarch of a hundred and twenty +thousand Montenegrins. His praises and his exploits had been +continually rung in my hears by some hill-people with whom I had made +great acquaintance in the market-place. Week by week they brought me +fuel, eggs, and fruit, and in my dealings with them I had picked up a +smattering of their beautiful Slavonic language, and was eager to +display this new accomplishment to your uncle. However, I soon saw that +was not the time for pressing the subject upon him; on scanning his +sunburnt features there was a look of care upon them that was not usual. +When the bright look my little surprise called forth had faded away, he +appeared grave and harassed, and his tone, for the first time, was a +little abrupt. I felt sure something had gone wrong in the affairs of +Popham and Company. + +So it proved; a younger brother of the firm, Mr John Popham, had come +out, some months before, to look after the affairs of the house, which, +for some unexplained reason, had gone less smoothly than usual of late. +Unfortunately he was not the right person to conduct such an inquiry, +for he was young, rash, and easily duped. Our agent at Ragusa, one +Orlando Jones, an artful, worthless person, half English, half Greek, +insinuated himself into his good graces, and managed to hoodwink him +completely. Now, you must know that Mr Englefield had long watched +Jones with suspicion, and in this last visit to Ragusa had obtained such +proofs of his dishonesty as appeared to him quite convincing. These he +thought it his duty to lay before Mr Popham. Unfortunately that young +gentleman took up the information hotly and unwisely, blurting out the +whole matter to Jones, instead of watching his conduct narrowly and then +judging for himself. Jones affected the most virtuous indignation when +charged with fraud by Mr Popham. He accused your dear uncle of base +jealousy, spoke movingly of his own services, and, in short, talked Mr +Popham so completely round that he turned the cold shoulder on his +faithful and tried servant. So your uncle returned to Cattaro deeply +hurt, and more anxious than ever about the safety of the house. + +I heard not a word of all this at the time, for Mr Englefield was +secret as the grave as to the affairs of his employers. To soothe and +amuse him was my province; so I pulled out a budget of cheerful home +letters, and read them aloud, with comments, while he partook of +breakfast under the shade of our carob tree. His brow relaxed by +degrees, and after breakfast he proposed we should take a stroll +together; and we set out, following the bend of the sea-shore, and +returning by the eastern gate of the town. I am afraid this was a +little stroke of crooked policy on my part; for at this gate is held, +every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, a market, to which the +hill-people flock, and I knew it would be in full activity at that +moment, and my dear Montenegrins would be there in their trimmest +apparel. How I wish you could have beheld the scene: there were the +citizens of Cattaro in their sober garb--black cloth or velvet jackets +with silver basket buttons, small black caps, wide trousers also black, +black stockings, and a dull red sash--the only relief of this heavy +costume. In strong contrast to it were the bright dresses of the +mountaineers, numbers of whom were buzzing about, the men all armed to +the teeth, as their custom is. They were engaged in gossiping, +sauntering about, or comparing their guns and other weapons. Their +women, heavily laden, and square in figure, were transacting the real +business of the market. Amid the throng I looked out for some special +friends of mine, and soon espied them driving their mule down the zigzag +road. "O Laurie," said I, "yonder is the group I want to introduce to +you; look at my pretty peasant-wife Spira, and Basil her husband; is he +not a grand specimen? six feet three, and so broad-shouldered, and such +a frank good-tempered expression of face; look at his rich silver-hilted +dagger, and his long gun, and that graceful bright scarf (_strucca_, +they call it) wound round him; doesn't he look like a doughty warrior?" + +"He does, indeed," your uncle answered; "permit me, however, to hint +that your friend appears scarcely as gal_lant_ as he is _gal_lant; he +stalks on unhampered, leaving his little wife to trudge after with that +huge bundle of firewood on her back." + +"And a child on the top of it," I rejoined, laughing; "all husbands are +not like you, Laurie, who feel injured if I insist on carrying my own +umbrella. Now look at Spira's face--there is something so lovely in +that deep-tinted golden hair and those large mournful eyes. Don't look +at her hands or ankles, please--hard work has spoilt them." + +Spira now came up to me and kissed my hand, with a low obeisance, as her +wont was; she did not speak when her husband was by--he greeted us +frankly; then leaning on his long gun, said to me: "I have brought the +fuel, the quinces, and the walnuts your Excellency desired; also the +mutton-hams you bespoke--they are of my wife's own curing (I ask your +pardon for naming her) and right well cured." + +The articles were submitted to my inspection, approved of, and paid for, +Basil asking very fair prices for them, and handing over the silver to +Spira as if he could not be "fashed" to carry it. "Now, Basil," I +rather maliciously said, "pray relieve your wife of that heavy load; she +must be quite tired." + +"Spira is used to heavy loads," replied the imperturbable Basil; "no +wife in our hamlet can carry so large a sheaf of corn as she." + +Apparently it gratified Spira to be thus compared to a beast of burden; +for she crept up to Basil's side and kissed his sleeve. The little boy +perched on her back, who had hitherto remained motionless, his face +hidden against her neck, and only his tangled auburn curls visible, now +threw back his head suddenly, and uttered a hoarse cough. A thrill +seemed to run through the mother's whole frame at that sound, and she +lifted her terrified eyes to her husband. Whatever he might feel, he +was too proud to betray anxiety in our presence; and taking the boy off +Spira's shoulders he addressed him thus: "Fear not, Nilo, little Nilo; +thou shalt live and grow up to be a man, and cut off more Turks' heads +in thy day than thy father and thy grandfather, put together." So +saying, he tapped a bright silver medal attached to his own breast--the +Prince-Bishop's reward for extraordinary valour against the infidels. +The child looked up, amused; such a lovely child, of perhaps two years +old, with almond-shaped deep-blue eyes, pearly complexion, and sweet +dimpled mouth. I noticed, however, that the eyes were heavy, and the +lip soft pink, not red, coral; his breathing came thick, and there was +something of the same appearance of distress about him that I once +witnessed in a dear little brother of my own, who died in an attack of +croup. The sight roused within me feelings and memories that had long, +long slept. + +The sky, meanwhile, had clouded over, and some heavy drops began to +fall--presaging one of those deluges of autumn rain which so often rush +down at Cattaro. Mr Englefield urged me to return home, adding, "Had +you not better offer shelter to your mountain friends? that pretty child +hardly looks stout enough to bear a drenching." + +I acted on the kind suggestion, and Spira was thankful to accept my +offer; as by the time she had driven her mule to our door it rained in +torrents. The Montenegrin standard of cleanliness being very low, I +gave them an unoccupied room on the ground floor, and carried some food +to them there. Spira scarcely tasted it, but crumbled some bread into a +cup of milk and water for little Nilo, and coaxed him to swallow a +mouthful or two. By degrees her shyness wore off, and I drew her out to +talk of Basil and his exploits; how Basil had won a prize at a shooting +match given by their Bishop, and how he was esteemed nearly as good a +shot as that prince--not quite: nobody could quite come up to his skill, +who could hit a lemon thrown up to a great height in the air! This +seems a singular accomplishment for a Bishop in the nineteenth century, +does it not? Then she related how Basil had last year defended a pass +all by himself against five armed Turks; and how, in token of his +approval, the Vladika had deigned to baptise their little child, and +permitted him to be called Danilo (or Daniel) after himself. So far all +was smooth; but when the little woman entered into particulars about the +Turkish war, I was astonished to see how ferocious she grew. Her eyes +flashed and dilated as she denounced those "unbelieving dogs;" and she +talked of cutting off their heads as coolly as our sportsmen do of +bringing home the fox's brush! I was shocked, and tried to bring to her +mind the heavenly precepts of mercy towards our enemies; but she only +looked bewildered, and said in reply, "Excellency, they are Turks." +Saddened, and rather repelled, I went back to your uncle; but scarcely +five minutes later a ringing cry from Spira's part of the house made us +both start. We hastened to the spot, and beheld little Nilo stiff and +blue in his father's arms--his frame convulsed, and his throat emitting +that kind of barking sound which accompanies violent croup. Basil, as +he held him, looked the image of despair. As for Spira she had flung +herself in a heap in a corner of the room, crying out, like Hagar, "Let +me not see the death of the child!" Neither of them had an idea of +trying any remedy, unless laying a leaden image of Saint Basil (the +patron of Montenegro) on the baby's breast might be called such. When I +stole to Basil's side to look at the poor child, and offer a suggestion +of hope, he said briefly, "He is called; he must go, as our three others +have gone before him; I know it by that hoarse raven-note." Then +breaking down altogether, he cried, "Nilo, Nilo, would I could die for +thee, little one! would I could die for thee!" and the strong man sobbed +as if his heart would break. Your uncle and I, deeply moved, took +counsel together, and determined to try what could be done. I flew to +my well-stocked medicine-chest, and weighed out some croup powders; your +uncle, kind soul! went off in search of a bath and hot water. When I +returned, I found the parents on the move, preparing to carry their +child to a neighbouring church, that the priest might anoint it, +according to the rites of the Greek communion, before its death. The +rain had ceased, but a dense mist had gathered in and sent a chilly +breath through the doorway where Basil stood with Nilo in his arms. +Spira was following--her hands clasped over her bright bodice, and her +face looking ten years older than when she came in. So aghast was I at +this sight, that I stopped Basil peremptorily, exclaiming in my wretched +Slavonic, "Turn back, this instant, if you do not wish to kill the +child!" The father glared on me angrily, and stalked across the +threshold, muttering some word that sounded like "heretic;" but Spira, +whose lovely eyes turned upon me with a ray of hope, happily interposed: +she plucked him by the sleeve, kissed it, and said humbly, "Basil, the +lady is good; I pray you hearken to her!" + +Most providentially, the proud mountaineer's resolution gave way before +this meek appeal. He turned back gloomily, let me take the child from +his arms, let me have my own way, in short; I beckoned to Spira to help, +and together we placed Nilo in the soothing warm water, and coaxed the +medicine between those pearly teeth, which at first closed stubbornly +against it. It was anxious work, with Basil's dark, distrustful eyes +lowering upon me, but, thank Heaven, a blessed and complete success +crowned our efforts. Half an hour later, the cold, stiff, little limbs +had relaxed, the breathing had become soft, and natural glow and +moisture had returned to the skin; the child knew his father, and lifted +his hands caressingly to stroke Spira's face. Oh, the pure exquisite +delight of those moments, and the deep thankfulness also! My heart +silently overflowed with both. Basil and Spira were beside themselves +with joy. + +To be brief. We insisted on keeping Spira and the child with us till +Nilo's strength was restored; as for Basil, he discovered that he must +return to Montenegro that night. He stalked off through the misty +moonlight, glad, I believe, of the fresh air and rapid climb as a +safety-valve for his overflowing rapture. One look was all the thanks +he offered me at that time, but what a world of feeling did that look +convey! + +The night passed without further alarm. + +Little Nilo quickly recovered his strength, all the more quickly, +probably, from the unwonted care I insisted on bestowing on his +ablutions and diet. He became a bonnie boy, and wound himself round our +hearts, and very sorry we were when the time came for parting. Perched +on his mother's back, he returned to the Black Mountain the day week of +his seizure. + +From that time, tokens of grateful, loving remembrance from our +Montenegrin friends ceased not to flow in. It rained quinces, figs, and +walnuts; poultry cackled at our door, the bringers running hastily off +to get out of the way of payment; and, finally, an elaborate epistle +from the parish priest of Cetigna (Basil's home) expressed the gratitude +of the village for this our simple act of kindness. + +II. + + "Oh, that I were where I would be." + +Aunt Cattie was called away to see visitors, and it was not till after +tea that the story could be resumed. Millie had chafed at the +interruption, and said it was horrid of people to come, and bring one +down from the Black Mountain to listen to talk about weather and +fashions. Janie bore the delay more philosophically, observing that she +could not have turned the heel of her stocking so correctly while +thinking of Nilo and his poor mother. Archie remained silent, only when +Aunt Cattie sat down and resumed her narrative, he was heard to mutter +to himself that it was "awful jolly!" + +The day that Spira left us, she said, was the last of your uncle's +holiday. That evening we sat together before the hearth on which a pine +log or two from Montenegro blazed. Your uncle cracked his walnuts in a +thoughtful mood, and I sat listening to the wind which rose and rose +till it blew a perfect gale; when it paused, as if to take breath, I +could count the waves that plashed on the shingle, and hear the shouts +of people on the quay welcoming the mail steamer from Ragusa. + +"Laurie," said I at last, "are you going by that vessel to-morrow +morning?" + +"Yes," he answered, "I have made up my mind to go to Ragusa, and come to +an explanation with John Popham; there has been a misunderstanding +between us, Cattie--I may tell you this much--and he has been led to +doubt not only the prudence of my conduct in the affairs of the house, +but the purity of my motives also." + +"Doubt your purity of motive!" I cried. "If he can do that, Laurie, it +is not fit you should remain in his service another moment; it is not, +indeed." + +There was a quiet smile on his face as he sat opposite to me in the +flickering firelight; he did not speak and I sat silent too, perusing +the lines of that dear face with a strange unaccountable foreboding of +evil. + +"The man," thought I, "who can meet the glance of those clear, honest, +grey eyes, hear the tones of that kindly voice, and harbour one +suspicion, must be blind indeed. Heaven grant my Laurie be not too +honest, too unsuspicious for his own safety! If he could only be +persuaded to take half the care of that he does of the interests of +those ungrateful Pophams, there would be no cause for fear." + +Your uncle spoke at last. + +"Wee wifie," he said, "one must not be in a hurry to break a connection +of thirty-three years' standing. I was but two years old when Mr +Popham, the father of Francis and John, first took me up. I was an +orphan with a bare pittance to maintain me, and no near relations; and +had Mr Popham been a less conscientious guardian, I might have been +exposed to many privations, ay, and temptations too. As it was, he +nursed my little inheritance carefully, put me to a good though strict +school, and arranged that I should spend my holidays at his house. Mrs +Popham (the mother of Francis, now head of our firm) was a mother to me +also, and her early death was my first keen and lasting grief. It made +Francis and me cling closely to one another, the more so because +bereavement added much to the natural sternness of Mr Popham's +character. Our holidays for the next three years were seasons rather of +restraint than of enjoyment, but bright days returned when he married +the second Mrs Popham, a young Greek of extraordinary beauty and +gentleness. He only lived five years after that, and his death was a +great misfortune to his younger boy John, who was left at four years old +to the boundless spoiling of a doting mother. Francis's character was +quite formed at that time, and his habits of business and order were +very remarkable for one so young. At twenty, he took the direction of +affairs, and with the help of experienced advisers, has managed them +admirably for fifteen years. He and I have met but rarely, as my knack +of mastering languages easily had caused me to be employed chiefly in +the service of the house abroad, but I think our friendship is such as +to stand the test of absence, ay, and of calumny too. I do not, cannot, +believe he will endorse his brother's hasty censure of my conduct." + +Laurie jumped up and paced the room awhile, then stood still, and said +abruptly-- + +"Shall I read you an article in the last `Quarterly,' Cattie? It's in +my portmanteau somewhere; come and help me to look for it." + +I linked my arm in his, well pleased, and we were crossing the hall and +listening to the pattering of the salt spray against the window, when, +lo! there came a sharp rap at the house door. Mr Englefield unbarred +it cautiously, and started as he encountered a very tall and slight +figure wrapped in a shepherd's plaid, and seeming to cower under the +stormy blast. + +"Mr Popham," he said, in a low, constrained voice; then observing the +wet and forlorn plight of the unexpected visitor, he added anxiously, +"Come in, sir, I beg; come in. Catherine, see that Mr Popham's room is +got ready at once, and the stove lighted." + +"Don't call me `Mr Popham,' Englefield," responded the musical, +pleading voice of the stranger. "Call me John or Johnnie, as in old +days, if you don't wish to overpower me with shame and self-reproach. I +have been an egregious fool, Englefield, and a most ungrateful one, and +really know not in what terms to implore your forgiveness." + +"It is granted as soon as asked," replied your uncle in his frank way, +and he drew our guest in towards the blazing hearth, "Johnnie's" arm +lovingly twining itself round his neck as they walked together. What a +revolution was this! I stood by, in silent wonder, watching Laurie's +brightening face, and glancing up curiously at the fair-haired stranger. +As I observed his youthful appearance, more that of nineteen than of +his real age, twenty-two; his delicate features, glowing with +excitement; and his deep, blue eyes, with tears gathering on their long +lashes, I no longer marvelled at the tenderness with which my husband +had always spoken of him; my recent dislike quickly melted away, and +kind feelings sprang up in its place. These feelings speedily took the +practical shape of providing dry clothes, supper and bed for our guest, +who seemed really distressed at giving me any trouble. He positively +declined supper, saying, "he had dined late on the steamer." As for +bed, why it was hardly worth while preparing that, for he must be up and +away by daybreak. "He should go with a lighter heart now Laurie had +forgiven him." + +"Go, and whither?" inquired your uncle who out or delicacy had +restrained his eager longing to learn how the affairs of the house +stood. + +"I hardly know," answered Mr Popham; "that's the point I want to +discuss with you, Englefield. I think I must go to Scutari, as that +rascal Orlando Jones appears to have crossed the Turkish frontier in +that direction. I must, at any rate, track and secure those diamonds. +I can never face Francis otherwise; you know they were entrusted to our +care so specially." + +My husband had listened in speechless astonishment to these disclosures, +and I saw him turn pale. Mr Popham saw it too. + +"Is it possible, my dear Laurence," he said, "that you had not heard of +Jones's having absconded? Why, I wrote you five days ago a penitential +letter, and a full, true, and particular account of the rascal's +moonlight flitting; if, as it seems, you had never received my apology, +I wonder you didn't shut your door in my face; but you _are_ the best +fellow in the world." + +"Nonsense," was the blunt reply; "drink that glass of mulled wine, John, +I insist upon it, and then come with me. I must know all, that we may +see what's to be done, and do it at once." + +I saw little more of Laurie that evening; their voices might be heard +through the thin wall in earnest talk. Then he went out into the town +with a brow full of care and thought. He would not let young Popham go +with him, but ordered him off to bed, observing. + +"We will start early if I can obtain to-night from the authorities a +pass into the Turkish dominions. My Cattarese servant, a sharp fellow, +will soon find us horses and a guide for the journey." + +"Then you are going with me? God bless you, Laurie," said John Popham, +earnestly. + +"Of course I am," growled your uncle. + +With an aching heart, I put the finishing touches to Laurie's travelling +gear, then went to bed, but not to quiet or refreshing sleep. There is +generally something depressing, I think, in a very early setting out; my +heart sinks now as I recall the breakfast by lamplight; faint, bluish +dawn just marking the square outline of the window; the horses' tread, +as our man servant walked them up and down before the doors--the last +words and directions hastily given by the travellers. Laurie found a +moment to take me aside and say: "Cattie, I think we shall be back very +shortly; Scutari, whither we can trace Jones, is but a few miles distant +and our journey attended with little or no risk, as we are well armed, +fairly mounted, and provided with a passport in due form. I have +letters too to the Pasha which _may_ induce him to assist us in our +search after that rascal." + +"Have you much hope of catching him?" I asked. + +Laurie shook his head. "I confess I have very little," he said; "yet it +seems worth the attempt at all events; Johnnie is bent on making it, and +I can't let him go alone, poor boy! Ah, had his letter reached me four +days ago, as it would have done had he trusted it to fitting hands, we +should have had a much better chance;" and he fairly stamped his foot +with vexation. + +Well, they started; it was a Tuesday, and several days dragged their +slow length along, without any tidings of the absentees. Saturday +morning came, and brought a throng of mountain women to market, +unaccompanied, for the first time, by their husbands. Spira was there, +and delighted to see me, but even to her I could not hint my troubles, +as the good understanding then existing between Austria and England and +the Turks, was a very sore subject to a Montenegrin. So I replied but +vaguely to her inquiries after my lord and master, and begged to know +why _hers_ had not made his appearance as usual. + +"Oh, your Excellency, he is much better employed," she replied, "than +coming down here to buy salt; have you not heard? has nobody told you +the new outrage committed by those Turkish dogs? our deadly foe, the +Pasha of Scutari, without notice or warning, has attacked our Bishop's +island fort of Lessandro, at the head of the Scutari lake, and taken it; +ten of our men have been killed, my father's brother's son amongst them, +and ten taken prisoners. The Bishop is mad about it, and Basil and all +the picked men are flocking to him. The Pasha himself is at Lessandro," +added Spira, "may a bullet from our Vladika's rifle whiz through his +brain shortly! But what ails your Excellency? you shiver like our +silver aspen leaves." + +I did indeed feel great disquiet at the thought of the wild work my +husband might be witnessing, and finding Spira's conversation too +warlike to suit my taste, walked homewards slowly, bidding her follow +with the marketings. In our sitting-room I found Mr Popham! + +He came up and took my two hands in his, as if he had been the friend of +a lifetime, instead of the acquaintance of an evening. + +"I think, I hope he is safe," he said, looking very white. + +"How safe?" I asked; "tell me _all_, Mr Popham, if you please." + +"I will," he answered; "it is a flesh-wound in the shoulder, nothing of +consequence, on my honour; he bade me tell you so, with his love." + +"Am I to understand that you have left Mr Englefield wounded?" I +asked; it never struck me, in my consternation, that I had worded the +question harshly, till I saw Mr Popham's look of deep distress. There +was not the least anger in the crimson glow that suffused his face, nor +in his voice as he huskily answered: "I deserve this for my cruel +ingratitude towards him at Ragusa, but, on my honour, Mrs Englefield, I +am not to blame for leaving him now, nor shall I know rest till I am +again at his side." + +"Thank you, thank you," I answered; "we will lose no time in going to +him; and now, let me hear some particulars." + +"We reached Scutari all right," said Mr Popham; "the Pasha had just +left it to attack a fort belonging to the Prince of the Black Mountain; +so we followed, and reached the camp just as the fort was being stormed. +That evening we had an audience of the Pasha, in which Englefield laid +the whole matter before him; he spoke us fair, and promised help, but it +was all a sham, a regular sham; you will not wonder this when I tell you +that Orlando Jones, unseen by us was at the Pasha's elbow, bribing, +cringing, and sticking at nothing to gain his ends! It seems the +wretched man has long been in communication with the Turks, and has now +adopted the Mussulman creed and dress. In requital, a lucrative post +has been conferred on him." + +"But to return to Laurie: on Thursday night, finding the Pasha still +impracticable, he advised our return to Cattaro next morning; we took +our leave of that dignitary and retired to the hut assigned us by the +Turkish quartermaster, in a wretched village near the head of the lake. +A force of some two hundred Turks guarded the place, but so negligently +that before daybreak they were surprised and overpowered by a daring +band of Black Mountaineers. Our share in this transaction was rather +passive than active; in fact I was dead asleep till the door of the hut +was burst in; I then saw Englefield, who had been vainly trying to shake +me into consciousness, deliberately place himself between me and the +intruders. That was a perilous moment; several swords were aimed at us, +and one came down on Laurie's shoulder, inflicting the wound I have +mentioned. I must confess that its effect would have been far more +serious, but for a most strange and providential circumstance. A +stalwart young mountaineer no sooner caught a glimpse of your husband's +face, than he rushed forward, grasped his comrade's arm, so as to weaken +the blow he could not quite avert, then threw himself on Laurie's neck +with wild yells of delight. A few words from this `Basil,' as they +called him, to his companions, changed their murderous fury into +enthusiasm. Laurie was hoisted on their shoulders, and carried at a +sort of shuffling trot a little way up the mountain, just within the +frontier of Montenegro; I followed close at their heels, and saw him +deposited in a hut, and his wound dressed by one of these gigantic +highlanders. I watched by him for several hours afterwards." + +"And how did he seem?" I asked anxiously, for I well remembered +Laurie's telling me before we left England that he was of a feverish +temperament, and that hurts which others would recover from quickly, +became from that cause serious matters with him. The answer rather +increased my fears. He had fallen into a doze, but wakened within an +hour a good deal excited. Perhaps the extreme roughness of the bed they +had laid him in, contributed to his unrest, also the heavy anxiety on +his mind. He had talked confusedly of Orlando Jones, then he almost +raved about me, first begging I might not be told of his state, then +changing his mind suddenly, and entreating them to bring me to him. You +will easily believe that I did not require such a summons to make me +hasten to his side. + +An old mountaineer, past fighting, who had guided Mr Popham to Cattaro, +offered me his escort, and Spira, who was at the door with her mule, +went into an ecstasy of delight at the prospect of showing her dear +native crags to "our lady," as she called me. I hastily put together +needful clothes for myself and Laurie, old linen, a change of sheets for +my dear patient, tea, arrow-root, and other provisions, and a selection +from the precious medicine-chest. These were packed on one side of the +stout mule, and a seat for me was devised on the other side. Happily +for the animal, I was as light as a feather in those days. Seeing Mr +Popham pale and fatigued, I urged him to remain at our house till his +strength was recruited, and rejoin us the next Tuesday, when he would +easily find a competent guide in the market-place; but he rejected this +advice with vehemence, and after swallowing some refreshment and writing +several letters to Ragusa and England, declared himself quite ready for +a start. My heart warmed to him for his love of Laurie. + +Up, up the zigzag path I had so long panted to explore; up, up, we +climbed, but under circumstances how different from those I had pictured +to myself! No Laurie at my side, enjoying every beautiful thing in +earth, air, or sky, showing me what to sketch and how to sketch it; but +vague, uneasy thoughts of him on his feverish couch and among half +savage people. The channel of Cattaro lay below us, its jagged shores, +studded with pretty villages; on all sides were craggy grey peaks, +rising one behind the other, a sky of hazy blue arching over all. My +guide Giuro was full of apologies for the roughness of the track we rode +upon, telling me the old Montenegrin legend "that at the Creation, the +bag which held the stones to be distributed over the earth, burst, and +let them all fall on the Black Mountain." + +The road certainly was as bad as possible; but my mule advanced +sturdily, by jumps and jerks, till we reached the top of the pass. +There we were, I am afraid to pay how many hundred feet above the sea, +but overhanging it so completely that a pebble dropped from one's hand +fell into the waves. The Ragusan steamer looked like a nutshell from +our eminence. + +The ascent had occupied two hours and a half; it took us three more to +reach our halting-place, Cetigna, Spira's home. A gentle descent led to +the village, and in the distance shimmered a white shroud-like mist, +which Spira told me covered the lake of Scutari. Somewhere in that +direction Laurie must be lying, I knew; and the certainty doubled my +impatience to get to him. Old Giuro now raised his voice to the +shrillest key imaginable, and, in a way peculiar to these mountaineers, +who talk to each other from hill tops half a mile asunder, announced +that "our lady" was approaching. Whereupon a great hubbub arose; dogs +barked, and feminine voices responded eagerly. Two or three muskets +were presently discharged, and the twang of the balls as they passed +near gave my nerves rather an unpleasant shock. I did not then know +that the Black Mountaineers always receive their friends thus; in this +instance female hands had loaded and fired, the men being almost all +away fighting. A band of brightly-clad women, not less than forty in +number, now came to meet me, their children frolicking round them, and +some boys playing, not very discordantly, the one-stringed fiddle of the +country. At their head walked a grey-haired matron, whom Spira pointed +out as her grandmother, and who carried on her shoulder Nilo, looking +lovely in a "strucca" striped olive-green and mulberry-red. The dear +little fellow knew me at once, and almost sprang to my arms, whereupon +the good housewives of Cetigna uttered a screech of delight, closed +round me and kissed my cloak, hands, and even lips with a fervour I +could have dispensed with. + +Mr Popham, much amused with these greetings, pushed forward to the +little inn of the place to order supper. I meanwhile yielded to Spira's +urgent wish, and turned into her cottage to be introduced to the +remaining members of her family. You will smile, children, when you +hear that I found squatting round the hearth a great-grandfather of a +hundred years old, and a grandfather of eighty-two; her mother, a +handsome woman with scarlet vest and girdle encrusted with cornelians +was there also, and these, with Spira and her boy, made up five +generations. Such patriarchal families, they say, are not uncommon on +the Black Mountain. The fire-place was merely a raised hearth in one +corner of the room, with a cauldron hanging over it. A lump of dough +was baking on the ashes; chimney there was none, so the smoke eddied +slowly round, a portion of it making its way into my throat and eyes; at +least one pig reposed on the floor of the hut, and I heard a faint +clucking of poultry roosting in some remote and dusky corner of the +chamber. It really was a relief to get away from the motley group, and +under Spira's guidance I soon reached the clean little inn of Cetigna. +Here, in the bright, low kitchen, I found Mr Popham on his knees, +toasting bread, and at the same time giving our Cattarese landlady +useful hints as to the grilling of some fine trout her boy had just +caught. A quaintly-carved chair had been dragged to the fireside, and +stuffed with cloaks to supply the want of cushions. Tea was set forth; +also a flask of the famous Ragusa Malmesey; a red-legged partridge, +intended by the hostess for her own supper, had been carried off for +mine, she smiling complacently at the theft, and confiding to Spira that +so pleasant a gentleman had never visited the mountain before! In fact, +Mr Popham was now quite in his glory, and as I lazily leaned back in my +chair and watched him (for he would not allow me to make myself of use), +his ingenuity and overflowing good-nature amused and cheered me. After +supper we held a little council as to next day's movements, and my +spirits were further raised by Mr Popham's proposing that we should +start at five in the morning, so as to get to Laurie by noon. The +indefatigable Spira begged to be our guide; all was settled, and I went +to bed in a small adjoining room, feeling almost happy. It was an +untold comfort when alone to pull out my little Bible and Prayer-book, +and in that wild region to be able to commend Laurie, myself, and all we +loved to _His_ fatherly care "in whose hand are all the corners of the +earth." + +III. + + "When pain and anguish wring the brow, + A ministering angel thou." + + Scott. + +If I went to sleep with a cheerful impression of the Black Mountain, my +first glance next morning dispelled it. I woke at four, dressed, and +then put my head out of the one small window, from which I could see the +village of Cetigna, bathed in white moonlight. This village, which, by +the way, is the capital of Montenegro, seemed to consist of scarcely +twenty hovels or houses, scattered about; a corner of a larger building +was visible, which I found afterwards was the Prince-bishop's palace. A +crag rose opposite my window, on the top of which stood a low round +tower, crowned with at least twenty Turkish skulls, fixed to tall +stakes. Strange trophies those Turkish heads were for the residence of +a Christian bishop! Spira's entrance diverted my eyes and thoughts from +these horrible proofs of Montenegrin ferocity; and after partaking of an +inviting little breakfast of Mr Popham'a arranging I mounted my mule, +and we set out. He rode also, and Spira and Giuro trudged alongside. +Leaving Cetigna and its grassy plain behind, we rode down a rough and +dangerous ascent. We saw not a human being till, on turning a sharp +corner, we suddenly came on a party of Black Mountaineers-- +active-looking fellows, coming up from the Turkish frontier, and singing +snatches of wild songs as they went. They were going to their homes to +celebrate some feast, and meant to be back again under their Bishop's +standard before night. As usual with these highland soldiers, they had +asked nobody's leave but their own for this freak. They looked hard at +me and then at Mr Popham, and pointed out to one another, well pleased, +the Fez cap which he wore and politely took off to them. Hats and +European caps of all sorts, you must know, they have a special dislike +to. Spira and some of them exchanged greetings, and in reply to her +questions one of them said:--"Basil Basilovich was well at sunset; I saw +him with a fresh head at his girdle, guarding the hut of the wounded +stranger from the west." There was nothing to be gleaned from them +respecting Mr Englefield's state, so we pushed on once more, my eyes +fixed on the brightening east, where presently the sun came up like a +torch. We now came down on a rapid, clear, green stream, which hurries +to the Lake of Scutari. + +The stream widened into a little river, and we suddenly turned to the +right, and went down to its bank through a patch of Indian corn seven +feet high. A number of wild ducks flew out of the reeds, startled +partly by our approach, partly by that of a boat, in which sat a +solitary figure rowing vigorously. "It is Basil!" cried Spira, +joyfully. He heard the voice, looked up, saw her, recognised me with a +start of glad surprise, and at once ran his boat ashore, and joined us. +Spira, after four days' separation, did not know how to make enough of +him. He seemed in his lordly manner truly glad to see her again, and +asked with much earnestness after his boy. To me his manner was one of +almost reverential courtesy; scarcely durst I ask him how he had left +Laurie, but while the question was faltering on my tongue, Spira came +out with it in round, unvarnished terms, saying, "Is our good Englishman +alive?--is he better?" + +"Alive, but not better," answered Basil bluffly; "a hurt which I should +have forgotten in three days has eaten into his very flesh and bone; +there must be devilry in it, and I am on my way to fetch priest Jovan +from Nariako to exorcise him." + +"Take me to him first, kind Basil," said I anxiously; "I too have +soothing spells here," pointing to the valise which held my remedies, +"nor shall prayers be wanting to aid them." I wept as I spoke; Basil, +with some odd contortions of feature, meant, I believe, to drive back +sympathetic tears, beckoned us to get into the boat. Spira and he +followed with my light baggage, and Giuro remained behind in charge of +the animals. Softly and swiftly we glided along, the green waters +rippling and gurgling round our boat. The river gradually widened till +it grew into a lake, the lovely Lake of Scutari. Of its beauties I can +say little, for, indeed, they fell on a heedless eye; but I remember +well the deeply indented shore to our left, under which we stole along, +the flocks of ducks and cormorants, and the noble milk-white herons that +rose up screaming at our approach. + +"Your husband lies yonder, near the crest of this next hill," said Basil +to me, indicating by a jerk of his chin a craggy height almost +overhanging the water; "your excellency would see the roof of the hut, +but a wild cherry tree hides it." Then he explained to me (Mr Popham +not understanding his dialect) that we had but to double one more +headland, and we should come to a creek, and a landing-place, and a path +leading straight to the hut. You may think how my heart bounded to be +there! + +But we were reckoning without our host. On rounding the headland there +was the path indeed, like a white thread on the green height, but it was +beset by foes. Several shots fired from that direction showed this too +plainly; and I saw Basil's eyes dilate with wonder and wrath as he +marked the quick flashes, the smoke, the sharp report of fire-arms in +the tall thicket. The fact was, the enemy had within the last quarter +of an hour stolen on a party of mountaineers set to guard that point, +and surprised them. Our friends were fighting with their usual +desperate bravery, but they seemed likely to be worsted. Basil now +signed to Mr Popham that we must turn back, and effect a landing on the +other side of the headland; and accordingly ten minutes' rowing brought +us back to that point. Meanwhile, Mr Popham drew closer to me, and +said, with a grave solicitude scarcely natural to him, "You see the plan +is that we should scale the hill on this side, which the enemy has not +reached--possibly may not attempt to reach. Once at the top--where +Laurie is, I mean--you are safe enough, for a strong body of the black +highlanders is posted there; and the Turks would have no object that I +could see in attacking them. But, dear Mrs Englefield, there _is_ a +certain amount of risk in the ascent. I ought not to disguise this from +you. If it--the ascent, I mean--should occupy much time (and it is so +steep and tangled that it might prove tedious); and if our friends +should be driven back speedily, the Turks might be upon us before we +reached the crest. Mind, I don't say it is probable, but it is +possible. For a man the risk is a trifle, not worth thinking twice +about; but for a woman!--Good heavens!--that's quite another thing." + +He paused, then added, "The sum of all this is, that I want you to turn +back with Spira, and stay at the next hamlet till this alarm is over. +Basil will guide me back to Laurie, and we will cheer him with the hope +of your coming. I am a poor nurse compared with you, but I'll do my +best." + +He was so kind, so in earnest, poor fellow! I wrung his hand, and said, +"Thank you again and again. You are a true friend, and Laurie knows it. +But if you won't think me obstinate, I would rather go on; Laurie may +be very ill, very wretched; and the wild people about him may not know +how to treat him. You would hardly know, perhaps, for you can't be used +to sick-room ways, and Laurie's ways in particular. From what you say, +the risk is small, almost nothing; and I was brought up at the foot of +Skiddaw, and can climb like a cat, so I should not delay you; and--" + +"Enough!" he said, resuming his offhand manner. "Such an array of +reasons cannot be gainsaid; and, indeed, I shouldn't feel comfortable in +leaving you down here with no champion but little Spira, so let us be +off at once. Head the van, you see, by crossing this Slough of Despond +on friend Basil's back!" + +Danger always sharpens my sense of the ridiculous, and the sight of +Basil steadying himself with a pole, and striding through the mire with +the long-legged Englishman on his back, fairly upset my gravity. He +soon landed him, and came back for me; lifting me on one arm, and +carrying me as easily and tenderly as if I had been little Nilo. + +Well! we scrambled up the pathless steep, through oaks and ashes of +mushroom growth to a height of perhaps two hundred feet. It was +troublesome climbing, for there was an undergrowth of brier and bramble +which tore my clothes, and the sharp crags which jutted in all +directions out of the ground cut my feet; nevertheless, I progressed +rapidly, outstripping Spira and Mr Popham, and keeping alongside of +Basil, who now and then stretched out a helping hand to me and nodded +grim approval. + +No one uttered a word, and a sign from Basil made us understand that we +were to keep in the shade, lest, perchance, some of the enemy might be +straggling in our direction. I was growing tired and breathless, when +our herculean guide signed to me to look upwards. My eye following the +lead of his finger, travelled across a curtain of foliage--the delicate +ash leaf, faded and ready to drop away; the sturdier oak, brown, yellow, +dull green, or blotted with crimson. At the top of all was a hut +perched on the edge of the cliff; that was Laurie's hut, Basil +whispered. I could see the wall, built of rough stones, and a miserable +little hole meant for a window, and a bright patch of red, probably a +"strucca," stuffed into it to keep out the cold. At that sight I forgot +my fatigue, and Mr Popham grew excited, and waved his cap over his +head, crying, "Hurrah! Now go ahead, Mrs Englefield!" for which piece +of boyish folly he received a frown from Basil, the darkest I ever saw +on human face. + +We were brought here to a standstill by a smooth wall of rock about ten +feet high. In order to get round it, we had to crawl some yards to our +right, that is nearer to the scene of conflict. There were voices, +trampling of feet, and the report of fire-arms, close by, as it seemed, +but really on the shoulder of the hill, a quarter of a mile off. "More +foes climbing the hill!" Basil muttered; "I know their tread. Why do +not our men come down, and give them the meeting? Ah, they _are_ +coming! praise to Saint Basil! I hear them--I see them;" and he lifted +his head cautiously, and fixed his lynx eyes on a point where the +hillside met the pale blue sky. "They are pouring down--twenty, thirty +of them! Not one would stay behind, I warrant! Ah, why must I?" + +"Why must you, husband?" responded Spira, but in a submissive tone. +"Go, and trust me to guide our lady to her husband. I will die sooner +than any harm should befall her." + +It was a tempting offer, but the noble fellow resisted it. "Go to," he +said, still in the same low voice. "What! leave our Nilo's preserver to +the care of a woman, and of a prating boy that knows not how to take +care of himself? Peace, woman! not another word!" + +We climbed the rock at the first practicable place, Basil mounting +first, and lowering one end of his "strucca" for me to hold by. Mr +Popham followed, saying, playfully, in my ear, "Ticklish work, ain't it; +this holding on by one's nails and eyebrows?" + +Poor, poor John! yet why should I say so? No doubt, Providence ordered +all that should befall him, and ordered it in mercy. He was of too +yielding a nature, perhaps, to fight the battle of life, yet too +tender-hearted and right-minded to err without anguish of spirit. Yes, +I see now, and Laurie sees, that all was ordered for the best! But to +proceed. + +We now crept towards the left, on a narrow ledge surmounted by a natural +wall, similar to that we had scaled. This wall and the shelf beneath +it, jutted out at one point so as to conceal all beyond it; when Basil +reached the spot, he looked stealthily round the angle of the rock, drew +back sharply, shouldered his gun, and signed to Mr Popham to do the +same. At that instant, two shots were fired by the unseen foes, but +fell harmless. Basil advanced, partially screened by the rock, took aim +and fired; then I heard branches crashing. Certainly the enemy had been +struck or fled; but there were more behind,--three, four, turbaned Turks +pressing round the corner! Basil, seeing them, flung down his gun and +threw himself upon the foremost. The Turk seemed not much behind him in +strength, and for several terrible minutes they wrestled together, John +Popham's threatening attitude as he stood ready to fire, keeping the +others at bay. The struggle ended by Basil's enemy slipping his foot, +and being flung down the steep. I know not whether he was badly hurt or +not, but he gave us no more trouble, vanishing amid the brushwood with +magic speed. His three comrades now showed some disposition to do the +same, but Basil would not let them; he snatched, with a fierce smile, +the gun I had reloaded (yes, I _could_ load a gun, your uncle had taught +me to do that early in our married life), and fired it at the foremost +man, but to my infinite relief, with no deadly effect. The poor fellow, +though slightly wounded, summoned strength to dash over the precipice +and make his escape. The third followed unhurt; only one remained, an +elderly wrinkled man, who, it seemed, knew something of Christian and +civilised usages; he threw down his gun, cast himself at John Popham's +feet, and in an abject, yet piteous tone, exclaimed, "Quarter, quarter, +noble sir; you are no Montenegrin to slay a helpless old man." + +Poor John could not make out a word of this appeal, but the cry for +mercy could not be mistaken, and it found an instant response in his +gentle heart. He gave the suppliant a re-assuring nod, and signed to +the astounded Basil that he would not permit him to be touched. Alas, +what availed his kind intentions? I have been told there is no instance +on record of a Black Mountaineer giving quarter to a Mussulman, to such +lengths have ages of oppression goaded a generous people! Seeing the +deadly fire in Basil's eye, I flew to him and plied him with prayers and +angry expostulations. All in vain; he beckoned Spira to lead me away as +one should give over a petted but troublesome child to its nurse, and +deliberately put a pistol to the old man's head. "Now, if this is not +butchery, I don't know what is!" I heard John exclaim; and without a +moment's hesitation, he snatched at the pistol and tried to wrest it +from Basil's grasp. I could not see exactly what passed, but there was +a moment's struggle, then a report, and the ball lodged in John's +breast. Oh, the agony of that moment! words cannot paint, nor thought +realise it! With a loud cry, Basil rushed forward to support Mr +Popham, but I bade him stand back, and he at once obeyed. I contrived +to catch poor John as he fell, and laying his head on my left arm tried +my utmost with the other hand to stanch the blood that flowed from the +wound. It was right to try, but I knew all the while it was perfectly +useless. He sighed once or twice, then opened his large blue eyes, and +looked fixedly on me; oh, with such a beautiful soft expression. I am +sure he felt no pain, he seemed perfectly easy in body and mind; it was +a comfort even then, to be sure of this. "It's no use, Mrs +Englefield," he murmured, bringing out each word very slowly; "No use, +thank you; I'm going--best I should go--I should have done no credit to +the house--tell Laurie, with my love--now farewell--God bless you--and +me too--and I think He will." His head dropped on my arm at that last +word, and he added no more; I believe the angels were coming for him +then. + +Don't cry, my dear children; perhaps had John lived to grow grey, there +might have been greater and truer cause to weep for him. + +I did not speak or move for some time, for life seemed still flickering +about the parted lips. At length the stillness could not be mistaken, +and I laid his head softly on a mossy stone, and closed his eyes; then I +looked round and saw Basil leaning against the rock, watching me with an +expression of sullen misery in his face. My heart smote me, for after +all he had never intended to hurt John, and it had been partly the poor +fellow's reckless way of snatching his weapon that had caused this +calamity; still, I felt too much revolted by the cold-blooded attempt on +the Turk's life, to speak to him with calmness, so we remained aloof and +silent. + +A great stir now arose on the hillside, and I saw a large party of the +mountaineers returning from their raid against the Turks with every mark +of triumph. Presently, a number of them turned in our direction. Many +glittering dark eyes rested on our mournful group with curiosity, +wonder, or pity. I felt abashed at first, and was considering how I +could enlist their help in carrying the body to a place of shelter near +Laurie's hut, when I saw the crowd open. To my great joy, an officer in +European dress came forward, exclaiming "Is it possible? you, Mrs +Englefield, here?" then, seeing my bloodstained hands and cloak, he +added, "and hurt, I fear?" and he was at my side in a moment. With +unspeakable comfort, I recognised Captain Blundel, an Englishman, in the +Austrian engineer service, who had dined with us several times at +Cattaro. My husband liked him particularly, and their acquaintance +seemed in the way to become a friendship, when Captain Blundel had been +ordered up the country in order to survey some part of it for a +government map. I soon relieved his mind of the fear that I was +wounded, and told my story in the fewest words possible. Oh, the relief +of having a strong mind to lean upon once more! Not till then did I +know how utterly exhausted I was. Captain Blundel seemed quite at home +with the mountaineers, selected some to carry the body up the hill, sent +a couple to guard the door of Mr Englefield's hut, lest the tidings +should be carried to him hastily, and, lastly, to my great delight, took +measures to procure surgical help for him as quickly as possible. + +"That is a blessing I dared not hope for," I exclaimed; "they told me +there was no surgeon to be found in Montenegro." + +"And they told you right;" he answered, "but happily at this moment, it +is otherwise. The Prince-bishop, who was brought up, you know, in +Russia, has a clever medical man from Saint Petersburgh on a visit to +him just now; his highness is about to pass this way, on his march from +the Lake of Scutari back to Cetigna; he knows me well, and is besides +too kind-hearted not readily to lend us Dr Goloff's services for a +short time." + +We walked slowly up the hill, Captain Blundel and myself keeping near +the party that bore poor John's body. The other mountaineers hurried +forward with such shouts of glee and exultation that I could not help +asking what it all meant. "It means," replied my companion, "that the +gallant fellows have made a successful raid over the Turkish border, and +surprised an underling of the Pasha of Scutari, laden with money and +jewels of his master's and his own. I was surveying near the spot where +he was captured. I never saw a fellow so terrified, and not without +reason, for they would have beheaded him there and then, had he not +declared himself a British subject and no Turk; they carried him to +their Prince, in whose custody he remains." + +It flashed at once across my mind that this description agreed, in many +points, with that of Orlando Jones. I determined, without delay, to +hint these suspicions to Captain Blundel, and gave him, in the strictest +confidence, an outline of that villain's history. He listened gravely, +asked several questions much to the point, and ended by begging me to +trust the matter in his hands. + +We were now at our journey's end, and I begged for some water, and +hastily washed my bloodstained hands and cloak, lest they should +frighten your uncle. Captain Blundel, meanwhile, saw the body laid in a +sheltered place, and appointed two mountaineers to watch by it. But +Basil, he afterwards told me, now came forward, and insisted on that +duty being left to him; he would take no refusal, and more than once, +when Captain Blundel looked in, he found him on his knees at the head of +the rude bier, praying devoutly. "No people," added Captain Blundel, +"make longer prayers than the Black Mountaineers, nor, I believe, more +devout ones." + +I entered alone the hovel where my husband lay; what a place it was! +The floor was unpaved, and positively alive with mice and fleas; the +walls were of stones loosely heaped together, and little bright flecks +of light peeped through the crevices. Wood smoke curled up from the +hearth and so dimmed the air that I could not at once distinguish the +dear object of my search. Two women were there, kind though rough +nurses; one was baking cakes on the hearth for him, the other was +holding to his lips a cup of sour milk. He was propped up against a +pile of blankets, and his features looked wan and sunk. He caught sight +of me at once, and snatched me to his breast with a vehemence so unlike +his calm self that it almost startled me. So did his rapid utterance +and feverish rather unconnected questions, ending with, "Where's John? +isn't he with you?" + +"No," I tremblingly answered, neither daring to tell the truth nor to +withhold it from him in his critical state. + +"Then, my dear, where is he?" he rejoined quickly. + +"He is--he has been called home," I said, not knowing what else to say. + +"Very extraordinary," I heard him mutter, as he sank back on his pallet, +"but they were right; John has no head for business; when did he go +home, my dear?" + +I could not help bursting into tears at this reiterated inquiry; your +uncle raised himself on his elbow and gazed in my face, and as he did +so, a sudden light seemed to break in upon him. I knew suspense would +be torture, and added, "Yes, dear Laurie, he was called home this +morning; his death was by a pistol-shot, purely accidental,--no pain, no +distress, conscious to the last, and quite satisfied to go; he desired +me to give you his love, Laurie; now you know the truth, and you shall +hear every particular as soon as you are strong enough to bear it." + +Your uncle heard these tidings in perfect silence; he was calm, but too +deeply heart-stricken to speak; next to me, I think he loved John better +than any one in the world; often, very often, when I go into his +dressing-room, I find him gazing on the sketch of him in crayons, that +hangs over his chimney-piece. I will show it you when, you come to stay +with us. + +It was a sense of thankfulness for my preservation from danger that made +your uncle bear up as he did. When I came to examine his wound I was +shocked at the state it was in. A sword-cut extended from the neck over +the shoulder to the arm, not only unhealed, but to the highest degree +inflamed. No wonder his whole frame was fevered, for the suffering must +have been severe indeed. The kind but rough treatment of his highland +nurses was not calculated to promote a speedy cure; the food they +brought him was not such as a sick man could eat; nor could they +understand his English prejudice in favour of cleanliness. With great +difficulty (he afterwards told me) he had the night of his arrival +obtained a poultice, the application of which had given him such relief +that he had dropped asleep. Presently, however, he was wakened by two +or more rats tugging at it with all their might. He had tried to drive +the intruders away, but was fairly obliged to give in, and fling the +poultice to the farthest corner of the room. + +I was bathing the shoulder with warm water when a stranger in the +uniform of a Russian colonel appeared, and introduced himself as Dr +Goloff. He went to business at once, inspected the wound, felt the +pulse, then said there was no chance of his patient's improving until he +was removed from that unwholesome place. The irritative fever which +accompanies such a wound had been much aggravated, he said, by bad air +and improper dressings. He was commissioned, he added, by his friend +Captain Blundel to see Mr Englefield removed at once to Captain +Blundel's tent, which was pitched for surveying purposes near the foot +of this hill. No sooner said than done. A kind of litter was +constructed, and your uncle placed upon it. We were about to set out +when I saw Basil eyeing us from afar, sadly and gloomily. The +remembrance of a shade of injustice towards him came across me +painfully, so I went to him and asked him to be one of Laurie's bearers; +poor Basil! he sprang to execute my bidding with a look of impassioned +gratitude that was most touching. With his powerful help the short +journey was soon accomplished, and the litter safely set down in the +large, watertight, and cheerful tent. + +A painful process was needed in order to bring the wound into a right +state for healing, and when it was over, Dr Goloff administered to your +uncle a composing draught, adding, cheerily, "You, monsieur, will do +well to sleep, while I give madame instructions for your future +treatment." He then drew me aside, and after relieving my mind by +giving a favourable opinion of the case added a strong caution against +suffering Laurie's mind to dwell on painful subjects. By so doing, he +said, not only would the patient's recovery be rendered tedious, but his +nerves might be shaken for life. He could see that some anxiety weighed +heavily on his mind; it should at all costs be removed. + +"It should indeed, but how?" thought I, with a despairing sigh. + +The sorrowful question was about to be answered through the mercy of +that good Providence which helps even the faithless and undeserving. I +was musing dolefully at the tent door when a large party appeared in the +distance, and one of them spurred forward, and came up to me at full +gallop. It was Captain Blundel. He dismounted, and with a beaming face +said--"Good news, Mrs Englefield; I think I have brought your patient a +tonic more effectual than even Dr Goloff could prescribe. When I left +you an hour and a half ago, I went to the Prince-Bishop, and imparted to +him our suspicions as to the true name and history of his prisoner, +begging his permission to sift the matter. With his usual gentlemanlike +feeling he at once granted it. I then hastened to the hut where the +prisoner lay guarded by unfriendly Montenegrins. Without preamble, I +said, `I have the honour of speaking to Mr Orlando Jones, I believe?' +`Who told you my name, sir?' he exclaimed, starting to his feet in great +alarm: then, perceiving the mistake he had made in thus proving his own +identity, he tried to retract, but stammered and broke down. I +proceeded quietly to demand the restoration of the papers and jewels, +fraudulently carried off by him from Mr Popham's office at Ragusa. He +tried to shuffle off the charge. `Very well,' said I, `do as you +please, but mark me, I am empowered by his highness to say that only by +full restitution can you hope for a continuance of his protection; if +that is withdrawn, your life is scarcely worth a pin's purchase.' The +poor wretch turned pale and shook in every joint. Feeling, doubtless, +the truth of this last remark he surrendered at discretion, entreating +me to stand his friend, and confessing the whole extent of his frauds. +His property, he said, was all in the hands of his captors, but it was +possible they might not have discovered the jewels as they were +cunningly secreted within his saddle. To be brief, I got the Vladika's +leave to examine the saddle, and found within it this packet, which I +have every reason to believe is the object of your husband's search." + +Tremblingly I carried the precious packet to your dear uncle. Never +shall I forget his look of relief on opening it, and finding the lost +jewels safe. Some important papers were also there--everything, in +fact, that was missing; for the most valuable documents of all, Laurie +had had the precaution to transfer to his office at Cattaro when his +suspicions of Jones had ripened into certainty. + +After warmly thanking Captain Blundel for his invaluable help, your +uncle said, "Let me ask of you, my dear friend, two more proofs of +kindness. In the first place, will you undertake the safe transport of +this precious packet to Cattaro, whither you say you are shortly to +return; in the next, will you convey the expressions of my sincere +gratitude to the Prince-Bishop in the fittest terms?" + +"Your first request is easily granted," replied Captain Blundel; "your +last it would be superfluous in me to undertake, as the Vladika has +expressed his intention of inquiring after you in person, and here he +comes." + +I turned and saw Basil, holding up the tent curtain while his highness +entered. The prince did indeed appear a Saul amongst his people. +Taller than the tallest Black Highlander from the shoulders upwards, his +figure was finely modelled, his movements were free and active, his eyes +dark and brilliant. Nothing about him except his long beard, which was +black and glossy, reminded one of his sacred office; he wore a scarlet +pelisse, fur cap, blue wide trousers, and in his belt a pair of plain +pistols. He advanced towards Laurie's bed, replying with peculiar grace +to my silent courtesy, then in a voice of almost languid gentleness +inquiring of me after my husband's wound. He spoke in French. I took +courage to reply in the same language, offering our heartfelt thanks for +his intervention in our favour, and for Dr Goloff's timely aid. Laurie +raised himself on one arm and joined in these acknowledgments, but the +Vladika kindly bade him lie down. He remained but a few minutes with +us, being in haste to resume his journey, and at his departure he +frankly and cordially invited us to return his visit at Cetigna. Basil +attended him back to his charger, then returned full of pride and +delight to congratulate us on this honour. + +We saw the kind and noble Prince-Prelate no more, as a Turkish invasion +of his northern frontier hurried him away from his little capital before +Laurie was well enough to be moved there. We remained ten days under +Captain Blundel's canvas roof, he most kindly undertaking to superintend +the removal of poor John's body to Cattaro, and its respectful interment +there. Meanwhile Basil was my unwearied helper in the task of nursing +Laurie--a happy task, as the beloved invalid gained strength each day. +The faithful fellow escorted us to cetigna, then flow back to his +prince's side for some weeks, but managed to return to Cetigna in time +to be our guide to Cattaro. How thankful I felt when I saw your dear +uncle once more installed in his home! and to complete my satisfaction, +his dear and early friend, Francis Popham, joined us there almost +immediately, having left England on receiving from Captain Blundel the +mournful tidings of his brother's death. Under his able management, +affairs were soon restored to perfect order. I scarcely need to tell +_you_ how it has pleased Heaven to prosper your uncle's and his joint +exertions since that time, and how a few months ago your uncle became a +partner in that house and we returned to live in dear old England. + +Basil and Spira are still alive. "Little Nilo" is grown a noble-looking +youth as gallant as his father, and far better taught, having received a +good education in one of the excellent schools founded by our friend +Bishop Danilo. + +Thus ends our adventure on the Black Mountain; so now to bed, all of +you, and I wish you a good night and happy dreams. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THE BOATSWAIN'S SON: A TALE OF THE SEA, BY WILLIAM H.G. KINGSTON. + +It was the memorable 1st of June. A sea fight ever to be renowned in +history was raging between the fleets of England and France. The great +guns were thundering and roaring, musketry was rattling, round-shot, and +chain-shot, and grape, and langridge, and missiles of every description, +invented for carrying on the bloody game of war, were hissing through +the air, crashing against the sides of the ships, rending them asunder, +shattering the tall masts and spars, sending their death-dealing +fragments flying around, and hurling to the deck, mangled and bleeding, +the gallant seamen as they stood at their quarters in all the pride of +manhood, fighting for the honour and glory of heir respective countries. +A dark canopy hung over the scene, every moment increasing in density +as the guns belched forth their flashes of flame and clouds of smoke, +filling the pure air of heaven with sulphureous vapours, and almost +concealing the fierce combatants from each other's gaze. + +"Who is that brave youngster?" asked the captain of the renowned +`Marlborough,' a seventy-four, which lay hotly engaged surrounded by +foes in the thick of the fight; "I never saw a cooler thing or better +timed." + +"The son of Mr Ripley the boatswain, sir," was the answer. + +"I must have my eye on him, there is stuff in that lad," observed the +captain. The deed which had called forth this eulogium was certainly +well worthy of praise. The "Marlborough" had for some time been +furiously engaged, almost broadside to broadside, with the "Impetueux," +a French seventy-four, which ship had just fallen aboard her, the +Frenchman's bowsprit becoming entangled in her mizen rigging. To keep +her antagonist in that position was of the greatest consequence to the +"Marlborough," as she might thus rake her fore and aft, receiving but +little damage in return. An officer and two or three men sprang into +the "Marlborough's" mizen rigging to secure the bowsprit to it. The +French small-arm men rushed forward to prevent this being done, by +keeping up a fire of musketry. The two seamen fell. The lieutenant +still hung in the rigging, but the rope with which he was lashing the +bowsprit to it was shot from his hand; no other was within reach. +Having just delivered the powder he had brought from below, young Ripley +was watching the proceeding. Seizing a rope he sprang into the ringing +unhurt amid a shower of bullets, and handed it to the brave officer. +Together they made the required turns for lashing it fast, and descended +to the deck in safety. The young powder-boy then resuming his tub was +speedily again seen at his station, composedly sitting on the top of it +as if he had performed no unusual deed. The "Marlborough" had soon +another antagonist, the "Mucius," seventy-four, which fell aboard her on +the bow, the three ships thus forming a triangle, of which the British +ship was the base. With these two opponents, each more powerful than +she was, the "Marlborough" continued the seemingly unequal fight, but +the stout arms and hearts of her crew made amends for their inferiority +in numbers. Her mizen-mast fell soon after the "Mucius" engaged her, +her fore and main masts followed, and the Frenchmen began to hope that +victory was to be theirs, but they had not discovered at that time the +stuff of which British tars are made. Though dismasted herself, she had +her foes fast so that they could not escape. So well did her crew work +their guns, that they quickly shot away the bowsprit and all the lower +masts of the "Impetueux," those of the "Mucius" soon sharing the same +fate. At this juncture another French ship, the "Montague," passing +under the "Marlborough's" stern, fired a broadside into her of +round-shot and langridge, killing many of her brave crew, and wounding +among others her captain, though receiving but a few shots in return. +The first battle in that long, protracted, and bloody war was over, and +won by England's veteran admiral, Lord Howe; six of the enemy's finest +line of battle ships forming the prize of victory, and among them the +"Impetueux." + +The "Marlborough's" captain had not forgot the promise he had made to +himself in favour of Young Ripley. As he lay wounded in his cabin he +sent for the boatswain. The proud father had heard of his son's +gallantry, and the captain's words had been repeated to him. It would +have been difficult to find a finer specimen of the superior class of +British seaman, the pith and sinew of the navy, than the boatswain of +the "Marlborough" presented, as, still in the prime of manhood, he +stood, hat in hand, before his captain. By his manner and appearance he +looked indeed well fitted for the higher ranks of his profession, but it +was his lot to be a boatswain, and he did not complain. With unfeigned +satisfaction he heard the account of his son's gallantry and coolness +rehearsed by the captain's lips. + +"You have always proved yourself to be a brave man and a good officer, +and although I have it not in my power to reward you as you deserve, I +can your son," said the captain. "Would it be satisfactory to you to +see him placed on the quarterdeck?" + +The father's heart beat quick; the blush of gratified pride rose to his +cheeks as he answered, "It is the thing of all others I should prize. I +trust that he will not be found unfitted for the rank to which he may +attain if you thus put his foot on the lower ratlins." + +"I am glad to have hit the thing to please you, Mr Ripley," said the +captain. "Your son shall at once be rated as a midshipman in the ship's +books;" and then he added, a shade of grief passing across his +countenance, "He will have no difficulty in getting an outfit from the +kits of the four youngsters who were killed on the 1st. By the by, what +is he called?" + +"Pearce, sir--Pearce Ripley is his name," answered the boatswain. + +"Very well; send my clerk to me, and tell your boy that he is a +midshipman. The first lieutenant will introduce him to his new +messmates, and secure him a favourable reception," said the captain as +the boatswain withdrew. + +Pearce Ripley was a fine-looking lad of about fourteen, with an +ingenuous countenance and frank manner, which spoke of an honest, brave +heart. With the ship's company he had been a general favourite; it was +to be proved how far he would recommend himself to the officers. + +In the afternoon the young gentlemen, as all the members of the +midshipmen's mess were called, were summoned on the quarterdeck, and +briefly addressed by Mr Monckton, the first lieutenant. Pearce Ripley +was then sent for, and the boatswain's son had no cause to complain of +his reception by those whose messmate he was about to become. They, +with one exception, came forward and cordially shook him by the hand, +and when he entered the berth they all seemed to vie who should pay him +the most unobtrusive attention as forthwith to place him at his ease. +So surely will true bravery and worth be rightly esteemed by the +generous-hearted officers of the British Navy. Pearce had gained the +respect of his messmates; he soon won their regard by his readiness to +oblige, his good temper, his evident determination not to give or take +offence, and his general kind bearing towards all. On duty he showed +that he was resolved to merit the good opinion which had been formed of +him. The only person who differed from the majority was Harry Verner, a +midshipman of about his own age. Though Verner had shaken hands with +him, it had been with reluctance and marked coldness. His manner was +now haughty and supercilious in the extreme, and he took every +opportunity of making sneering remarks about men who had risen from the +lower orders always being out of place and never doing any good. "If +such were to become customary in the service, it would drive all the +gentlemen out of it," he remarked one day in Pearce's hearing. "Not if +those who entered it knew how to behave as gentlemen," Pearce replied, +quietly. Verner said nothing in return, but he gave a look to show his +intense displeasure. Generally Pearce walked away when Verner spoke in +that style, or when at table, and he could not move, pretended not to +hear what was said. + +The fleet reached Portsmouth. Great was the satisfaction of the British +nation at the victory won. The good King George the Third and the kind +Queen Charlotte went on board all the ships and visited the wounded; +honours were awarded to the chiefs, and those officers who had +especially distinguished themselves were presented to their Sovereigns. +Among others was Pearce Ripley, as the midshipman who had helped to take +the "Impetueux." The "Marlborough's" crew declared on this that he was +a marked man and must get on in the service. The remark greatly excited +Harry Verner's indignation and wrath. "It is high time for me to quit +the service after this," he remarked, when the King patted Pearce on the +head, but did not even glance towards him. Of memorable days in English +history, the 1st of June, 1794, stands justly prominent. + +II. + +The "Marlborough," though victorious, had received so tremendous a +battering from her numerous opponents, that it was very clear the stout +craft could not again go to sea without a thorough repair. Her officers +and crew were therefore distributed among other ships then fitting out, +and thus Pearce, for the first time in his life, was separated from his +father, to whom he had always been accustomed to look up for guidance +and advice. In some respects this might have been an advantage to the +young midshipman, but the parting cost both more pains than either +confessed. "I am no great preacher, my boy, but remember there's One +ever watching over you, and He'll be true to you if you try honestly to +be true to Him," said the boatswain, as he wrung his son's hand, and +stepped down the side of the fine frigate to which Pearce through the +interest of his late captain had been appointed. The crew went tramping +round the capstan to the sound of the merry fife, the anchor was away, +and under a wide spread of snowy canvas the dashing "Blanche" of +thirty-two guns, commanded by the gallant Captain Faulkner, stood +through the Needle passage between the Isle of Wight and the main, on +her way down channel, bound out to the West Indies. It was a station +where hurricanes, yellow fever, and sicknesses, and dangers of all sorts +were to be encountered, but it was also one where enemies were to be met +with, battles to be fought, prizes to be captured, and prize-money to be +made, glory, honour, and promotion to be obtained, and who on board for +a moment balanced one against the other? + +Several of Pearce's old shipmates were on board the "Blanche," and two +of his messmates, from one of whom, Harry Verner, he would rather have +been separated; the other, David Bonham, he was very glad to see. +Between Bonham and Verner the contrast was very great; for the former, +though of excellent family, was the most unpretending fellow possible, +free from pride, vanity, and selfishness, and kind-hearted, generous, +good-tempered, and the merriest of the merry. The first A.B. who +volunteered for the "Blanche," when he knew Mr Pearce had been +appointed to her, was Dick Rogers, an old friend of his father's, with +whom he had served man and boy the best part of his life; and if there +was one thing more strongly impressed on Dick's mind than another, it +was that John Ripley, the boatswain, ought to have been a post-captain. +For his father's sake Dick had at first loved Pearce, and now loved him +for his own. "Though his father isn't what he should be, he shall be, +that he shall, or it won't be my fault," he said to himself. Dick was +no scholar, and had not many ideas beyond those connected with his +profession, except that particular one in favour of Pearce which might +or might not be of any service to him, and yet let us never despise a +friend, however humble. Pearce did not, though he possibly had not read +the fable of the lion and the mouse. + +Dick Rogers was short and broad in the shoulders, though not fat, with a +huge, sandy beard, a clear blue eye, and an honest smile on his lips, +and saying that he was a seaman every inch of him, he needs no further +description. Verner let it be known, among their new messmates, that +Pearce Ripley was only the boatswain's son; and hearing this, Bonham +took great care to recount to them his gallant act on the 1st of June, +and to speak otherwise in his praise. Dick forward did not fail to make +the young midshipman his theme, and there the fact of his parentage was +undoubtedly in his favour. "We shall be, no doubt, alongside an enemy +some day soon, and then will be seen what stuff the youngsters are made +of," was the remark of several on board. They were not wrong in their +prognostications. The Island of Desiderade, near Guadeloupe, was in +sight to windward. "A sail on the weather bow!" was shouted by the +look-out at the mast's head, always the keenest sighted of the seamen on +board in those days. + +The frigate made all sail in pursuit of the stranger, a large schooner +under French colours. The chase stood into a bay defended by a fort, +where she was seen to anchor with springs to her cables. Along the +shore a body of troops were also observed to be posted. The drum beat +to quarters as the "Blanche" worked up towards the fort, when, the water +shoaling, she anchored and opened her fire in return for that which the +fort, the schooner, and the soldiers were pouring in on her. Captain +Faulkner's first object was to silence the fort. This was soon done. +The schooner, which it was clear was heavily armed, must be brought out. +The boats were called away, under command of the second lieutenant. +Pearce leaped into the one to which he belonged. A master's mate, +Fitzgibbon, had charge of her, and Dick Rogers formed one of her crew. +Harry Verner was in another. Away the boats dashed, at a rate boats +always do move pulled by British seamen when a prize is to be taken. +The Frenchmen worked their guns bravely. A shot disabled the leading +boat. Pearce, sitting by Fitzgibbon's side, heard a deep groan, and +before he could even look up the master's mate fell forward, shot +through the head. His boat took the lead. "Now's your time," cried +Dick Rogers; "we'll be the first aboard, lads." The crew were not slack +to follow the suggestion. In another moment they were up to the +schooner, and, leaping on her deck, led by Pearce, laid on them so +fiercely with their cutlasses that the Frenchmen, deserting their guns, +sprang over the bulwarks into their boats on the other side nearest the +shore, and, before another boat reached the vessel, pulled away towards +where the troops were marching down to their support. The cables were +quickly cut, and amid a shower of ballets sail was made, and the prize +carried out. "I said as how he'd do it--I said he wouldn't be wanting," +exclaimed Dick Rogers, as he gave his account of the cutting out +expedition to his chums on board. "He'll do more too come another +occasion." That occasion did occur before many days were over. Two +days afterwards the "Blanche" was joined by the "Quebec" frigate, and +together, when sailing by Guadeloupe, they discovered the French +thirty-six-gun frigate "Pique" lying at anchor in the harbour of +Pointe-a-Pitre, ready for sea. Not to deprive his brother captain of +the honour he might obtain by engaging an antagonist so worthy of him, +Captain Carpenter parted company, and the "Quebec," steering westward, +was soon out of sight. The next thing to be done was to get the French +frigate to come out from under her protecting batteries to fight. This +seemed no easy matter, for prizes were captured and sent away under her +very nose, and still she did not venture forth. At length, however, on +the memorable evening of the 4th of January, the "Blanche," towing off +another prize in triumph, the "Pique" was seen to follow. The sun went +down. It was the last many a brave man was destined to see. Darkness +had come on, when the French frigate was observed through the gloom +astern. The "Blanche" tacked in chase. + +In the solemn hour of midnight, while darkness covered the face of the +deep, the two vessels approached each other, their relative positions +clearly distinguished by the light from the fighting-lanterns which +streamed from their ports. The British crew, mostly stripped to the +waist, stood at their quarters, grim and determined, with the +gun-tackles in hand, eager for the moment to open fire. Pearce was on +the quarterdeck. Young as he was, the whizzing of shots and the +whistling of bullets scarcely made his heart beat quicker than usual, +and yet, as in gloom and silence he waited for the signal when the +bloody strife must commence, he felt an awe creep over him he had never +before experienced. Nearer and nearer the combatants drew to each +other. The "Pique" commenced the fight. The "Blanche" returned her +distant fire; and, after various manoeuvres, the two frigates ranged up +alongside each other and hotly engaged, broadside to broadside, in the +fashion in which British tars have ever delighted. Fiercely the two +crews fought; the French, once having began, proved themselves no +unworthy antagonists. The main and mizen-masts of the "Blanche" fell, +and the French, seizing the moment, ran alongside and attempted to +board. The British crew sprang up to repel them. Among the foremost +was Pearce, with Dick Rogers by his side. With their sharp cutlasses +they drove the Frenchmen back. Again the guns roared as before. Once +more the French ship fell aboard the "Blanche," her bowsprit touching +the latter's capstan. Captain Faulkner hurried to secure it there, for +the "Pique," thus held, was exposed to the raking fire of his frigate. +Among those who flew to assist him were Pearce Ripley and Dick Rogers, +the Frenchman's musketry playing hotly on them. "This is something like +what you did in the old `Marlborough,' sir," said Dick to Pearce, so +loud that all might hear him--so many did, and noted the words. Death +was busy around them. While he was passing the lashing the young and +gallant Captain Faulkner fell to the deck--a musket ball had pierced his +heart. That was no time for grieving, even for one well-beloved as the +captain. A hawser was being got up from below to secure the enemy's +ship; but before it could be used she broke adrift, to the +disappointment of the British tars. A cheer, however, burst from their +throats as, directly afterwards, the "Blanche," paying off for want of +after-sail, the "Pique," while attempting to cross her stern, fell once +more aboard her. This time they took good care to secure the bowsprit +to the stump of their mainmast; and now, running before the wind, the +"Blanche" towing her opponent, the fight was continued with greater fury +than ever. In vain the Frenchmen strove to free themselves by cutting +the lashings--each time they made the attempt the marines drove them +back with their musketry. Still it seemed doubtful with whom victory +would side. The "Blanche" had no stern ports through which guns could +be fought; the carpenters were unable to aid them. A bold expedient was +proposed. The guns must make ports for themselves through the transom. +Firemen with buckets were stationed ready to extinguish the fire which +the discharge would create. With a thundering roar the guns sent their +shot through the stem, and, the fire being extinguished, they began to +play with terrific effect into the bows of the French frigate. Her +foremast was immediately shot away; her mizen-mast was seen to fall. +Still her crew, getting their quarter-dock guns trained aft, fought on; +but what were they to the "Blanche's" heavy guns, which mercilessly +raked her, the shot entering her bow and tearing up her deck fore and +aft, sweeping away numbers of her crew at each discharge. "If those +Mounseers are not made of iron, they'll not stand this battering much +longer," cried Dick Rogers, who was working one of the after-guns. +Pearce was standing near him. The space between the decks was filled +with smoke, through which the twinkling light of the lanterns could +scarcely penetrate, the flashes at each, discharge showing the men, +begrimed with powder, with sponge and rammers ready to load, or with +their tackles to run in their guns. A cheer from the deck told them +that the Frenchman's remaining mast had fallen, and now another and +another that the foe had struck. The "Pique" was totally dismasted; the +"Blanche" had but her foremast standing. Every boat was knocked to +pieces, and how to get on board the prize, still towed by the hawser, +was the question. "The hawser must form our bridge," cried Mr Milne, +the second lieutenant of the ship, springing on to it, followed by +Pearce, Rogers, and several men. Their weight brought the rope down +into the water. For some distance they had to swim till they could +climb up by it on board. What havoc and destruction a few short hours +had wrought. Of a crew not far short of three hundred men, one-third +lay dead or wounded, the deck covered with gore and the wrecks of the +masts and spars; guns lay dismounted, bulwarks knocked away, all telling +the tale of the bravery and hardihood of both the combatants. When the +sun arose there lay the victor and the conquered almost equally +helpless. Such was one of the scenes through which young Ripley fought +his way upwards, and gained a name and fame. + +III. + +The person who is constantly keeping his eye on the reward he aims at is +very likely to stumble and fall, and never to reach it. He, on the +contrary, who thinks only how he can best perform his duty will be +upheld and encouraged, and very probably obtain a higher reward than any +at which he might have aspired. Pearce Ripley found this to be true in +his case. Duty was his leading star. It never occurred to him to say, +"Will this please my captain?" "Will this advance me in the service?" +The "Blanche" was soon refitted and at sea again. Several prizes were +made, and, greatly to his satisfaction, he was appointed to the command +of one of them, with Bonham as his mate, and Dick Rogers as boatswain. +She was a richly-laden West Indiaman, recaptured from the enemy. He was +ordered to take her to England, where, on his arrival, he found his +commission waiting for him. + +Pearce received a right hearty welcome from his father, and intense was +the satisfaction of the brave seaman when his son showed him his +commission and appointment as second lieutenant to the "Vestal," an +eighteen gun sloop of war, commanded by Captain Gale, and destined for +the North American station. + +"You have got your first step up the ratlins, Pearce. Go on as you have +begun, and Heaven preserving your life, there is no reason why you +shouldn't reach the highest," said the proud father, as he once more +parted from his son. + +Those were days of pressgangs, and Dick Rogers took good care to hide +away till he ascertained the craft Pearce was to join, when he at once +volunteered for her. Bonham, who had still a year to serve, was +appointed to the same ship. The "Vestal" had a quick run across the +Atlantic till within about five days' sail of Halifax, Nova Scotia, when +a heavy gale sprang up, which tried to the utmost her seaworthy +qualities. The sloop behaved beautifully, hove to, and rode buoyantly +over the raging seas. Well indeed was it for her that she was properly +handled, for the gale went on increasing till the oldest seamen on board +declared that they had never met with such another. It continued for a +week, each day the wind blowing harder and harder, or if there was a +lull it seemed to come only that the gale might gain greater strength. +For days not a glimpse of sun, or moon, or stars had been obtained. It +was the morning watch; the grey cold dawn had just broke. Pearce was on +deck, when sweeping his eye round the horizon as the sloop rose to the +summit of a sea he perceived on the lee beam the hull of a ship, rising +and sinking amid the tumultuous waters. At first he thought she was +keel up, but as the light increased he saw that she was a large ship +with the stump of the foremast alone remaining. That she was in a bad +plight was very clear. She was remarkably low in the water he fancied, +and who could say how long even she might keep afloat. + +The captain, being summoned, soon came on deck. To bear sway for the +stranger would be a work of danger to the "Vestal." Still who could +tell how many human beings might be on board that sinking ship! With +hatches battened down and men lashed to the helm, the captain resolved +to go to the rescue. + +The seas came roaring up with furious rage, as the sloop flew before +them, some breaking aboard; and rounding to under the stern of the ship, +she again hove to. Many people appeared on the deck of the stranger +who, stretching out their arms, implored assistance. How was it to be +afforded? Would a boat live in such a sea? Such appeals to British +seamen are never made in vain. Pearce Ripley offered to make the +experiment if men were found ready to go with him. There was no want of +volunteers. A boat was lowered. It seemed as if she must be engulfed +before she left the sloop's side. Ripley's progress was watched by +eager eyes from both ships. Now he is in the trough of the sea, a +watery mountain about to overwhelm him; now he is on the summit +surrounded by driving foam. A shout is raised as he neared the sinking +ship, but to get alongside was even more dangerous than the passage from +one to the other. As the ship rolled and her deck was exposed to view, +he saw that there were women on board, and other people besides the +crew. Ropes were hove to him. He seized one, and sprang up the side. +A few hurried words told him what had occurred. The ship was conveying +troops and stores to Halifax, the master and first mate had been washed +overboard, the second lay wounded by the falling of a spar. Many of the +crew had been lost with the captain. There was no sea officer who could +enforce orders; the men were mutinous. Ripley instantly assumed the +command. There were several ladies. "They must first be placed in +safety before a man enters the boat," he cried out, presenting a pistol +at some seamen who showed an intention of leaping into her. + +Some entreated that their husbands might accompany them. "Oh, father, +father, come with me," exclaimed a fair girl, who was being conveyed to +the side to be lowered into the boat; "I cannot, I will not leave you." +She looked towards a fine, soldier-like man, who stood with several +officers around him. "Impossible! Heaven protect you, dearest. Even +for your sake I cannot desert my post. It is here with my men," was the +answer. The boat had already nearly as many persons in her as it would +be safe to carry. This was no time for delay. Pearce lifted the young +lady in his arms, and lowered himself with her into the boat. The boat +returned to the "Vestal," and all those who had been rescued were put on +board. The young lady again and again entreated him to save her father, +Pearce promised to make every effort to bring off the colonel. "But +unless his men are rescued, I doubt that he will leave the ship," he +added, as he returned to his boat. + +Two other boats were now lowered, but it was too evident that they could +only save a part of the people from the foundering ship. Those on her +deck were now seen forming a raft. It was their last hope of life +should the boats not take them off. Though several of the people made a +rush to the side, they were driven back by the officers and soldiers who +remained firm, and the men were told off in order to allow of them to +embark as arranged by Pearce. Twice the boat returned without an +accident to the "Vestal." The young lady cast a reproachful look at +Ripley, when she saw that her father was not among the saved. "He would +not come, lady, but I will make another effort," he exclaimed, as he +prepared once more to leave the corvette's side. Just then arose the +fearful cry, "She is sinking! she is sinking!" + +"Oh, save him! save him!" shrieked the poor girl in an agony of terror, +stretching out her hands towards the spot where she fancied that she saw +her beloved father struggling in the waves. Pearce and his brave +companions needed not such an appeal to make them use every effort to +reach their drowning fellow-creatures. Some had leaped on the +half-finished raft as the ship sunk beneath them, but many of these were +speedily washed off. Others were clinging to spars, and oars, and +gratings, Pearce was soon in the midst of the hapless beings, many with +despair on their countenances, unable to reach the boat, sinking as he +neared them. He looked round for the colonel. He could not distinguish +him among the rest. Three people had been hauled in, when as the boat +rose to the summit of a sea he saw below him a person clinging to a +grating. A hand was waved towards him. "Give way, lads," he shouted, +and in another minute he had the satisfaction of hauling on board the +brave officer for whom he was searching. + +The other boats took off the people from the raft. He picked up several +more, and returned in safety on board. The meeting of the father and +his daughter need not be described. They were, he found, a colonel and +Miss Verner. He was struck by the name as that of his former unamiable +messmate. When the weather moderated, and the colonel was sufficiently +recovered to appear on deck, he warmly expressed his gratitude to +Pearce, and his admiration of the gallantry he had displayed. His +daughter Alice was not less grateful. A calm succeeded the gale, and +Pearce had frequent opportunities of seeing her. He did not mention +Harry Verner to her, and indeed so great was the contrast he perceived +between the two in manners and behaviour, that he could not suppose they +were nearly related. Still there was at times an expression in Colonel +Verner's countenance when he was annoyed which reminded him strongly of +Harry. + +There was a frank heartiness and sincerity about the young lieutenant +which at once gained Miss Verner's regard. It was very different to +what she had been accustomed, still his manner towards her was gentle +and deferential, as if he in no way presumed on the service he had +rendered her. Indeed, it never entered his head that he had rendered +her any especial service, or that he had the slightest claim on her +regard. He felt, as he wrote to his father, "that he had had the good +fortune to command the boat which saved a colonel and Miss Verner; that +they were very nice people; that the colonel was to be stationed at +Halifax, and had invited him to his house whenever he could get leave on +shore." He added, "That will not be very often during these stirring +times, but I shall thoroughly enjoy it when I do go, for Miss Alice +Verner is the most beautiful and amiable girl I have ever seen or expect +to meet; without a bit of pride about her, and she talks to me as if I +were an old friend." + +At length the "Vestal" dropped her anchor in the fine harbour of +Halifax, and with a regret which surprised him, Pearce saw the +passengers depart for the shore. + +"Remember, my dear Mr Ripley, Miss Verner and I shall at all times be +glad to see you," said Colonel Verner as he was about to leave the ship. +Alice did not say as much as her father, but Pearce believed from the +expression of her countenance that she willingly seconded her father's +invitation. Still he knew that the familiar intercourse which had been +so delightful to him on board must come to an end. "What can she ever +be to me more than she is at present?" he exclaimed to himself. "She +says that I saved her life and her father's life; but then I saved the +lives of many other people. To be sure I have got one step up the +ratlins, but it may be very long before I get another. No, no, I'll not +think about it." + +The next day a special invitation to the governor's table, where he met +Colonel and Miss Verner, and where all the gentlemen from the governor +downwards drank wine with him, considerably altered his feelings. This +was the first of many attentions which he received from the military +officers and the principal inhabitants of Halifax. His time on shore +was indeed fully occupied in making morning calls and in attending the +parties to which he was invited. A portion of every morning he spent in +the society of Miss Verner. It was very delightful, and he felt sure +that he was welcome. + +At length the "Vestal" was suddenly ordered to sea. Pearce had the +greatest difficulty in getting on shore to wish his friends good-bye. +Alice turned pale when he told her that the ship was to sail that +evening. "You will come back here surely, Mr Ripley," she said, in a +trembling voice; "you have been every thing to us since that awful day +when you saved our lives from the sinking ship; we shall miss you, +indeed we shall, very much." + +Pearce could not frame a reply, at least, satisfactory to himself. He +scarcely knew what he said, as he hurried away. The words might have +made a vainer man than he was much happier than they did him. + +The "Vestal" was bound for the West Indies. She cruised for some time, +making several rich prizes, which she sent into Port Royal, Jamaica, and +which filled the purses of her officers and men in a very satisfactory +manner. Still, no honour or promotion was to be obtained by the capture +of honest merchantmen. At length, however, there appeared a chance of +falling in with an antagonist worthy of her. One morning at dawn a +stranger was discovered on the lee beam. The "Vestal" was kept away, +and all sail made in chase. As the "Vestal" gained on the chase, she +was discovered to be a large ship, and pronounced to be flush-decked. + +"Then we'll tackle her; never mind how many guns she carries," exclaimed +the captain--a sentiment to which his officers and men responded +heartily. + +The chase was accordingly continued, and as the vessel came up with her +on the weather quarter, it was seen that she was a large flush-decked +ship, carrying twenty-two guns. The ensign of France flew out from the +stranger's peak, and was saluted by a shot from one of the corvette's +bow guns. The battle thus begun, the "Vestal" keeping the weather +gauge, was continued for half-an-hour with great fury, till the +Frenchman's foremast went by the board. The enemy's guns were well +handled, and the corvette began to suffer accordingly. The first +lieutenant and five men were killed, and the captain, a midshipman, and +several men wounded. The captain was carried below, and the command +devolved on Pearce. The young lieutenant's heart beat high. "Bonham," +he said, addressing his friend who was standing near him, "we'll take +that ship, or go down with our colours flying." The breeze which had +fallen returned, and as the corvette was still under perfect command, he +was able at length to obtain a position by which he could pour several +raking broadsides into the bows of the enemy. Her main-top mast was +shot away; her mizen-mast followed. The ensign of France was again +hoisted, but did not long remain flying. Pearce poured in another +broadside, and down it came, the cheers of the British crew giving +notice of what had occurred to their wounded shipmates below. The +prize, which proved to be the "Desiree," had lost a considerable number +of her crew, most of them killed during the latter part of the action. +Bonham was sent on board to take command, and in two days the "Vestal" +and her prize entered in triumph the harbour of Port Royal. Here the +admiral with part of the fleet were at anchor. Pearce went on board the +flag-ship to make his report. He was warmly received, and highly +complimented on his conduct. The next day he found that he was to be +first lieutenant of the corvette, and Bonham received an acting order as +second lieutenant. The "Vestal" had received so much damage, that she +was obliged to refit at Port Royal. This took several weeks, and +Captain Gale considered himself sufficiently recovered, when she was +ready, to go to sea in her. Pearce had, however, virtually the command. +Several more prizes were taken. "That's young Ripley's doing," +exclaimed the admiral, "he deserves his promotion, and he shall have +it." + +IV. + +Once more the "Vestal" was at anchor in Port Royal harbour. In vain her +brave captain had striven against the effects of his wounds. He must +return home if he would save his life, he was told, so he applied to be +superseded. The admiral came on board the "Vestal" to inspect her. The +next day he sent for Ripley, and put a paper into his hand. Pearce's +heart beat quick with proud satisfaction. The document was an order to +take the acting command of the corvette. "I have written home by this +post to ask for your commission, and to recommend that you should be +confirmed in the command of the `Vestal,'" added the admiral. "I am +sure that you will take care she does as good service as she performed +under Captain Gale." Bonham, who had received his commission a few +months before, became first lieutenant, and a young _protege_ of the +admiral's received an acting order as second; so that the united ages of +the three principal officers of the ship amounted to little more than +fifty-five years. Old heads were worn then on young shoulders. Many +prizes had been taken, and the time approached for their return to Port +Royal. The corvette lay becalmed. A French store-ship was expected, +which had been separated from her convoy. The "Vestal" lay disguised, +as was usual in those days, looking very unlike the smart sloop she was. +A blue line was seen in the horizon, the sign of an approaching breeze, +and in the midst of it a sail. The breeze brought up the stranger, a +fine brig, to within about a mile, when it died away. She was an armed +vessel, and showed by her colours that she was French. Before long, two +boats were seen to put off from her. Three boats were instantly lowered +from the opposite side of the "Vestal," and manned. The Frenchmen +pulled rapidly on, expecting to make an easy prize of the "Vestal." +Their look of consternation was very great when they first perceived the +painted canvas which concealed the corvette's guns. Pearce had +carefully watched for the first sign of their wavering, and now ordered +the three boats to make chase. The Frenchmen, taken by surprise, made +but a slight show of resistance, and in ten minutes the whole party +found themselves prisoners on the deck of the corvette. The "Vestal" +was now towed up towards the brig, which opened her fire at the boats, +but this did not deter them from placing the corvette on her quarter, +when a few rapidly delivered and almost raking broadsides compelled her +to haul down her colours, having had the chief officers left on board +and ten of her crew killed or wounded. The privateer, which mounted +fourteen guns, was on her way to France, having a large amount of specie +and valuable goods on board, the result of a successful cruise. + +It was with no little pride that Captain Ripley returned to Port Royal +from his first cruise, with the fine brig in company, the British ensign +flying over that of France. The admiral congratulated him on his +success, and at the same time put his commission and appointment into +his hand. + +"You must be ready for sea again very soon though," said the admiral; "I +have dispatches to send to Halifax, and unless another cruiser comes in, +I must send you." + +Pearce, rather to the admiral's surprise, replied with animation, that +he should be ready to sail that evening if required, provided he could +get water, fuel, and fresh provisions on board. The admiral gave him +permission to make everybody exert themselves. + +By noon the next day the young commander had got his ship ready for sea, +and receiving his dispatches with a joyous heart, he shaped a course for +Halifax. A bright look-out was kept, but on this occasion it was to +avoid strange sails. He was only to fight for the purpose of escaping +capture. Halifax was reached, and Pearce having delivered his +dispatches, hurried up to Colonel Verner's house. + +Miss Verner was at home. She started, and the colour rose to her cheeks +when Captain Ripley was announced. She put out her hand, and did not +withdraw it, for Pearce forgot to let it go. + +"Are you really a captain already?" she asked. + +"Yes; that is, a commander. I am captain of the `Vestal,'" he answered, +and he told her how Captain Gale had been compelled to go home, and that +he had been appointed in his stead. He mentioned also the number of +prizes he had taken--a matter which interested Colonel Verner more than +it did her. + +"That young Ripley is a very fine fellow," observed the colonel to a +brother officer. "Why, in one cruise he must have made not far short of +ten thousand pounds as his own share of prize-money. A capital haul for +the admiral. Those naval men have better chances than we have of +filling their purses." + +If Pearce had received attentions when only a young lieutenant, he was +doubly courted now that he was a commander, with an established name for +gallantry and energy. Alice Verner no longer hesitated acknowledging to +herself that she had given him her entire heart. She felt honoured by +his preference, and proud of it among so many others who seemed anxious +to obtain it. Halifax was always a lively place. There were a great +number of resident families with young people, and dances were therefore +much in vogue. Consequently naval officers were always welcome, +lieutenants and passed midshipmen were acceptable, but young commanders +were treated with especial favour. A more experienced man than Pearce +might have had his head turned with the attentions he received. While, +however, he was grateful for them, he enjoyed to the full the society in +which he found himself, and became neither conceited nor vain. He had +also the opportunity of comparing Alice Verner with other girls, and he +became more than ever convinced of her superiority to them all. His +stay at Halifax was likely to be short. He naturally wished to spend as +much of his time as possible in her society. She invariably received +him so frankly and cordially that all restraint was thrown aside. He +felt almost sure that she loved him; so he took her hand and told her +how much he loved her, and that he believed he had made enough +prize-money already to enable her to live as she had been accustomed to; +that he hoped to make more, and that he had good reason to believe he +should before long be a post-captain, when he should be her father's +equal in rank. Alice was not very much surprised nor agitated, because +she was before sure that he loved her. Still it was very pleasant to +hear him say so. Pearce also felt supremely happy, and did not for a +moment contemplate the clouds and storms which might be ahead. Alice +herself might possibly have seen difficulties which he did not. She +loved her father, but she knew that he was a proud man and weak on +certain points, and that few men thought more of family and connections. +It had always surprised her that he had not inquired more particularly +about Pearce's parentage, but she concluded that he was acquainted with +the circumstances of the case, and was satisfied. It was, at all +events, her duty to tell her father that Captain Ripley had declared +himself. Pearce was to dine with them that day. In the meantime he had +to go on board. He returned some time before the dinner hour. Colonel +Verner had not come in, so that Alice had not had an opportunity of +speaking to her father. Pearce told her that a frigate had arrived that +morning direct from England. Everybody was eager to hear the news she +brought. Probably that kept the colonel from home. While seated +together, and interested more in themselves than in the world at large, +the door was suddenly opened, and Lieutenant Harry Verner was announced. + +"Why, Cousin Harry, where have you dropped from?" said Alice, rising to +welcome him, "I did not even know that you were a lieutenant. You have +grown up out of a little midshipman since I saw you last." + +"I've dropped from His Britannic Majesty's Frigate `Hecate,' of which I +have the honour of being third lieutenant," announced the young man. +"And as for changes, though you are lovely as ever, I shall not know +soon whether I am standing on my head or my feet;" he looked fixedly at +Pearce as he spoke. + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Ripley," said Alice, recovering herself from +the slight confusion into which she had been thrown; "I should have +introduced my cousin to you." + +"Harry Verner and I are old shipmates I suspect, unless there are two of +the name very much like each other," said Pearce, rising and putting out +his hand. + +"Yes, as midshipmen we were together, I believe," answered Harry, +superciliously; "but really it is difficult to remember all one's old +shipmates." + +Pearce under some circumstances would have been inclined to laugh at +Harry Verner's impudence, but it was very evident that the lieutenant +wished to pick a quarrel with him, which was by all means to be avoided. +Alice had thought her cousin a tiresome boy; he now appeared to have +grown more disagreeable than before. Colonel Verner came in and +welcomed his nephew, who was the only son of his elder brother; other +guests arrived, and the conversation became general. Hairy at once +assumed to be the person of most importance in the house, and though he +was laughing and talking with every one, Alice discovered that he was +constantly watching her and Captain Ripley whenever they spoke. Captain +Ripley had to return on board. He never slept out of his ship if he +could avoid it. + +"I suppose, colonel, that you can give me a shake down," said Harry; "I +have got leave to remain on shore." + +Her cousin's remaining prevented Alice from speaking to her father that +night. Harry showed no intention of going to bed till Pearce had taken +his leave, and Alice had retired. He then, jumping up from the sofa on +which he had thrown himself, exclaimed, "My dear uncle, where did you +pick up that man?" + +"Whom do you mean, Harry?" asked the colonel, rather astonished at his +nephew's somewhat impertinent manner. + +"Why, Captain Ripley, who has just left this," answered the lieutenant. +"He seems as much at home with Alice as if he were engaged to her. +Indeed, I am half expecting you to tell me that he is." + +"Really, Harry, you are speaking too fast," said the colonel; "Captain +Ripley is one of the finest officers in the navy, and having rendered +the greatest possible service to my daughter and me, I feel bound to +treat him with every consideration and kindness." + +"Which he repays by aspiring to my cousin's hand," answered Harry. +"Were he a man of family I should say nothing, of course; but he is, +sir, a mere adventurer. His father is a common boatswain--a warrant +officer--not a gentleman even by courtesy, and his mother, for what I +know to the contrary, might have been a bum-boat woman, and his +relations, if he had any, are probably all of the lowest order." + +The colonel walked up and down the room very much annoyed. "Though what +you say may be true, Harry, that cannot detract from Captain Ripley's +fine qualities nor relieve me of the obligations I owe him," he observed +after a time. "Of course, were he to dream of marrying Alice, that +would alter the case, and I should be compelled to put a stop to our +present friendly intercourse; but I do not believe that such an idea +enters his head. He is like you sailors generally, here to-day and gone +to-morrow. Probably when he leaves this we may not see him again for +years to come." + +"Not so sure of that," said Harry; "Ripley was always very determined +when he made up his mind to do a thing, and you will pardon me, uncle, +but the way in which he was speaking to her when I came into the room +was anything but that of an ordinary acquaintance." + +"I'll see about it, I'll see about it," exclaimed the colonel, now more +than ever annoyed. "It is impossible that a man of such low extraction +should aspire to the hand of my daughter. The idea is too absurd!" + +Harry Verner retired to rest that night under the comfortable belief +that he had revenged himself on the man whom he had always disliked, and +now envied, for his rapid promotion and success. + +V. + +The arrival of the "Hecate" relieved the "Vestal," which was ordered to +proceed at once to sea. Poor Alice received Captain Ripley with marks +of sorrow in her countenance which alarmed him. "My father will not +hear of it," she exclaimed, giving way to a burst of grief; "but I told +him, and I promise you, that I will marry no one else." + +"I know, I feel, and I am sure you will not, dearest," said Pearce, +tenderly gazing at her. "And be of good courage, I trust yet to do +deeds and to gain a name to which those who now scorn me for my humble +birth may be proud to ally themselves." + +Pearce had never before uttered anything like a boast, but his swelling +heart assured him of what he could do, and his indignation at the +contempt in which his father was held made him speak in a vaunting tone +so different to his nature. The moment of parting arrived; Alice, +unasked, renewed her promise, and Pearce hurried on board unwilling to +encounter any of his ordinary acquaintances in the town. It was well +for Harry Verner that he did not fall in with him. Before night the +corvette was far away from Halifax. Pearce was not exactly unhappy, but +he was in an excellent mood for undertaking any daring act which might +present itself. Once more he returned to Jamaica, picking up a few +prizes on the way. "Always welcome, Captain Ripley," said the admiral, +cordially greeting Pearce when he appeared at the Penn to report +himself. "You've done so well in the sloop that we must get you into a +smart frigate; you'll not have to wait long for a vacancy, I dare say." +This commendation was sufficient to restore Pearce's spirits. He hoped +to do something before the corvette had to return home. There are two +classes of people who hope to do something--one waits for the +opportunity to occur, the other goes in search of it and seldom fails in +the search. Pearce Ripley belonged to the latter class. Several more +prizes were taken, and a considerable amount of damage done to the +commerce of the enemy; but still the "Vestal" had not fallen in with an +enemy the conquest of whom would bring glory as well as profit. Week +after week passed away. It had been blowing hard. The wind dropped at +sunset; the night was very dark and thick, an object could scarcely have +been discerned beyond the bowsprit end. The island of Deserade, +belonging to France, bore south-east by south, six or seven leagues, +when, as day broke and the light increased, a ship was perceived close +on the weather-beam, which in a short time was made out to be an enemy's +frigate. The breeze had by this time sprung up again and was blowing +fresh. + +"We may fight her or try to escape," said the captain to Bonham, eyeing +the frigate as if he would rather try fighting first. + +"I should say that the odds being so greatly against us we ought to try +to escape," answered the first lieutenant; "but I speak my own +sentiments, and I am sure that of all on board, if fight we must, we +will all be ready to stand by you to the last. Victory does not always +side with the biggest." + +Sail was accordingly made to the north-west, but no sooner had she +shaped a course than the frigate under a cloud of canvas came tearing +after her at a rate which proved that the "Vestal" had not a chance of +escaping. The crew showed by unmistakeable signs that they expected to +be captured, by going below and putting on their best clothes. Pearce +called them aft, "Lads, we have served together for three years, and +done many a deed to be proud of. Do not let the Frenchmen boast that +they took us without our having done our best to prevent them. I +purpose to fight that frigate if you will stand by me, and that I am +sure you will." + +"Ay, ay, that we will, and would if she were twice as big, and sink at +our guns before we strike," shouted Dick Rogers, and their loud cheers +expressed the sentiments of the rest. The corvette at once prepared for +action, and as soon as all was ready she shortened sail to allow the +frigate to come up, greatly to the Frenchmen's surprise probably. The +latter began firing as soon as her guns could reach the corvette. "Let +not a shot be returned till I give the order, lads," cried Ripley; "we +must throw none away." He waited till his carronades would tell with +effect. "Now give it them, lads," he shouted. + +The heavy shot crashed against the side of the frigate in a way which +astonished the Frenchmen. With wonderful rapidity the guns were run in, +loaded, and again sent forth their death-dealing shower of iron, this +time tearing through the frigate's upper bulwarks, sweeping across her +quarterdeck and wounding her masts. "Hurrah! we have knocked away her +wheel," cried Bonham, who had sprung into the mizen rigging to ascertain +the effect of the last broadside; "she's ours, if we are smart with our +guns." + +The Frenchmen had just fired a broadside which had killed three of the +"Vestal's" crew, knocked one of her boats to pieces, and done other +damage, but had not materially injured her running rigging. Firing +another broadside in return, Pearce saw that by wearing sharp round he +could pass under the stem of the frigate, and at the same time bring a +fresh broadside to bear on her. The manoeuvre was rapidly executed, the +effect was very great on board the enemy. The crew were seen to be +hurrying to and fro as if in dread of some event about to occur. It was +next seen that all sail was being made on the frigate. The men had +deserted their guns. The British seamen plied the enemy with their +carronades with still greater energy. The great masses of iron were +hauled in and out as if they had been made of wood. Their only fear was +that their antagonist would escape them. More sail was made on the +corvette to keep up with him. To prevent the corvette from following, +the Frenchmen again returned to their guns, and the frigate suddenly +hauling up let fly her broadside. Pearce saw the manoeuvre about to be +executed, and was just in time to haul up also to save the "Vestal" from +being raked. The frigate's shot, accompanied by a shower of musketry, +came tearing on board. Hitherto one officer and four men had been +killed on board the "Vestal," and six wounded, including the master +slightly--a heavy loss out of a sloop's complement, but Pearce saw +victory within his grasp, and resolved to persevere. The last broadside +from the frigate told with fearful effect on the corvette. Her spars +and rigging were much cut about; three more men wore struck, and the +brave captain was seen to stagger back. Had not Rogers sprang forward +and caught him in his arms he would have fallen to the deck. He was +speechless, but he motioned to Bonham, who ran up to continue the fight. +When an attempt was made to carry him below, he signified that he would +remain on deck till the battle was won. The surgeon came up and +stanched the blood flowing from his shoulder. The nervous system had +received a violent shock, but he could not tell whether the mound would +prove mortal, the surgeon reported. Still the battle raged. The French +were again seen to quit their guns. The corvette followed up her +success. It was observed that buckets were being hauled up through the +ports, the frigate must be on fire; her foremast fell, the corvette +ranged up alongside, the French ensign was still flying. Bonham was +ordering another broadside to be poured in, when down came the enemy's +flag, and at that moment, Pearce recovering, joined in the cheer which +burst from the lips of the British crew. + +"Go and help the poor fellows," were the first words the young captain +spoke. The corvette's boats which could swim were lowered and armed +with buckets, the English seamen hurried up the sides of their late +opponent. Her deck presented everywhere signs of their prowess, covered +with the bodies of the slain, and the wreck of the foremast and rigging; +the wheel had been shot away and three men killed at it. As a security +Bonham, who had gone on board and received the commanding officer's +sword, the captain having been killed, sent him and three others on +board the corvette, while he and his men set to work to extinguish the +flames. The magazine was happily drowned, which was of itself a +sufficient reason for the frigate to have struck, though the state of +her masts and spars, and the number of her killed and wounded showed the +skill and courage of her comparatively tiny opponent. The fire was at +length got under, very much by the efforts of the Englishmen, who had to +hint to the French that if they did not exert themselves they would be +left to perish, as it would be impossible to get them all on board the +corvette before the frigate would become untenable. The corvette and +her prize having been put somewhat to rights, made sail for Jamaica. +They had a long passage up, and the greatest vigilance was necessary to +keep the prisoners in order. A plot was discovered for retaking the +frigate, and Bonham had to threaten the French officers with severe +punishment should anything of the sort be again attempted. + +Pearce Ripley lay in his cabin unable to move. The hearts of the +officers and men were deeply grieved, for the surgeon would not +pronounce a favourable opinion. He was young, and had a good +constitution. He might recover. The corvette succeeded in carrying her +prize to Jamaica. The admiral himself came on board to see Ripley and +to congratulate him on his achievement. "Your promotion is certain, +Captain Ripley," he said kindly; "and I should think his Majesty, when +he hears of your gallantry, won't forget to give a touch on your +shoulder with the flat of his sword, eh. You will find a handle to your +name convenient, and you deserve it, that you do, my lad." + +The admiral's kindness contributed much to restore Pearce to health. +While he remained on shore Bonham received an acting order to take +command of the "Vestal." Before Pearce had totally recovered he +received his post rank with a complimentary letter on his gallantry. +Bonham, at the same time, found that he was made a commander; the +"Vestal," having been upwards of four years in commission, was ordered +home. Captain Ripley taking a passage in her. She escaped all the +enemy's cruisers, and arrived safely in Portsmouth harbour. She was, +however, considered fit to go to sea again after an ordinary repair, and +was recommissioned by Captain Bonham. Pearce was sent for by the First +Lord of the Admiralty to attend the King's levee. He was presented to +his Majesty, that good old king who truly loved a sailor, and knew how +to appreciate honour and valour. On kneeling to kiss his sovereign's +hand he felt a touch on his shoulder, and with astonishment, gratitude, +and delight, heard the King say, "Rise, Sir Pearce Ripley; you are well +deserving of knighthood." + +Pearce felt very much inclined to shake the King cordially by the hand, +and to assure his Majesty that no reward could be more satisfactory. He +did not, however, nor did he say why he was so pleased with the rank +bestowed on him, but made the usual bow, and moved off to allow others +to present themselves. There was one, however, waiting for him outside +the palace, as fine and officer-like looking man as any of those present +in admirals' or post-captains' uniforms--his father, and the knowledge +of the intense delight his promotion gave him, greatly added to the +satisfaction Pearce felt on the occasion. Sir Pearce Ripley was +gazetted the next day to the command of a fine frigate, the name of +which he soon made well-known by the gallant exploits he performed in +her. + +VI. + +Two years had passed by. Colonel Verner, now a general, with his +daughter, had returned to England, and they were spending some weeks +during the summer at the house of a friend, Admiral Sir J. B--, in the +Isle of Wight, in the neighbourhood of the then pretty little village of +Ryde. Alice looked thinner and paler than formerly, but her beauty was +in no way impaired, and the sweet smile which lit up her countenance-- +one of its chief charms when she spoke, was still there. She had +accompanied her father and the admiral on a walk into Ryde. When some +little distance from the village, they met a fine dignified-looking man, +his silvery hair showing that his age was greater than would have been +supposed from his florid, clear complexion. An undress naval uniform +set off his fine figure to advantage. The admiral looked at him for a +Element, and then shaking him cordially by the hand, inquired what +brought him to Ryde. + +"I have taken a cottage in the neighbourhood for my son's sake when he +comes home, for as I have quitted the service I shall always be ready to +receive him," was the answer. + +"Oh, then we are near neighbours. Come over and dine with me to-day. I +like to talk over by-gone days with an old shipmate," said the admiral. + +The stranger accepted the invitation, and after a little more +conversation, he walked on. + +"A distinguished man," observed General Verner, when the admiral +rejoined him. + +"A right noble and brave man," said the admiral, but made no further +remark. + +The stranger was in the drawing-room when Miss Verner entered, and was +soon engaged in an animated conversation with her. She thought him +somewhat old-fashioned in his phraseology, perhaps, and mode of +pronunciation, but she had so frequently heard officers of high rank +speak in the same way, that she was not surprised, and as he had seen a +great deal of the world, and described well what he had seen, she was +much interested. As she listened, she felt her interest increase, and +became insensibly drawn towards the old gentleman. As there were many +married ladies present, she was led out among the first, and so she did +not see when he left the room, which might have given her an idea as to +his rank, but she found herself sitting next to him at dinner. Her +father was opposite, and appeared to be much interested in his +conversation. According to the good old custom, the admiral drank wine +round with all his guests. "Mr Ripley, will you take wine?" he said, +addressing her companion in his kind friendly tone. She started, and +she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She had not recovered from her +confusion before the ceremony of wine-taking was over, and the old +gentleman again addressed her. Could he be the father of Pearce? She +had always understood that his father was a boatswain, and this old +gentleman could not be that, or he would scarcely have been dining at +the admiral's table. Her father would make the inquiry probably of the +admiral; if not, she must try to muster courage to do so. In the mean +time she would ask her companion if he knew Sir Pearce Ripley. In a low +and somewhat trembling voice she put the question. + +"Indeed I do, young lady, and am proud to own him as my son," answered +the old seaman, fixing his clear grey eyes on her, as if he would read +her heart. "I have a hope that you know him too, and that no two people +love him better in the world," he added in a whisper. + +Alice felt her cheeks glow, and yet she was not annoyed. "Indeed you +are right," she said, in a low tone, which she hoped no one else would +hear, for several people were speaking loudly, and there was a clatter +of knives and forks. + +"He will be in England again soon to refit, for he has allowed his +frigate very little rest since he commanded her," observed the old +gentleman. "He, I hope too, will then get a spell at home, for since he +went to sea at ten years of age, he has never once been ten days on +shore at a time, ay, I may say, not a month altogether." + +Alice whispered her hope that he would remain on shore. After retiring +to the drawing-room she looked anxiously for the arrival of the +gentlemen. Her father and Mr Ripley entered together. The general +soon came and sat down by her. + +"A very agreeable old naval officer that is we've been talking to," he +remarked; "I did not catch his name, but the admiral tells me that he is +a master in the service." + +Alice was pleased to hear this, but much puzzled. She managed to speak +to the admiral when no one was near. He put on a quizzical look. "Now, +young lady, if you had been inquiring about Sir Pearce Ripley, his son, +I should not have been surprised," he answered. "The fact is, my friend +Ripley became a master late in life. He had served in the lower grades +of the profession, and if the rules of the service had allowed it, he +should have been made a post-captain. I cannot tell you all the brave +things he has done. When in charge of a prize, he fought a most gallant +action; he prevented his ship's company from joining the mutineers at +the Nore. On two several occasions, he saved the ship from being +wrecked, not to mention his conduct on the first of June, and on +numerous previous occasions. I placed his son on the quarterdeck, +predicting that he would be an honour to the service, and so he is, and +I am proud of him." + +While the admiral was speaking, Alice was considering whether she should +confide her case to him, and beg him to intercede with her father, or +rather to speak to him of Mr Ripley in a way which might overcome his +prejudices. She almost gasped for breath in her agitation, but her +resolution was taken, and without loss of time she hurriedly told him of +her engagement to Sir Pearce Ripley. + +"I am heartily glad to hear of it, my dear young lady," exclaimed the +admiral warmly; "he is worthy of you and you are of him, and that is +saying a great deal for you. Hoity toity! I wonder my friend General +Verner has not more sense; the idea of dismissing one of the finest +officers in the service because he hasn't a rent-roll and cannot show a +pedigree as many do a yard long, and without a word of truth from +beginning to end. If a man is noble in himself what does it matter who +his father was? The best pedigree, in my opinion, is that which a man's +grandson will have to show. Better to have one noble fellow like old +Ripley there for a father, than a line of twenty indifferent +progenitors, such as nine-tenths of those who set such store by their +ancestry can boast of." + +Alice very naturally agreed with the admiral, who was himself a man of +much older family than her father. He attacked the general the next +morning. He hated circumlocution and went directly to the point. "You +object to your daughter marrying Sir Pearce Ripley because his father +was a boatswain. I tell you I was for many years of inferior rank to a +boatswain. I entered the navy as captain's servant. What do you say to +that? It does not signify what a man has been, it is what he is should +be considered. Now, my dear general, just clap all such nonsense under +hatches, and the next time young Ripley asks your daughter to marry him, +let her, and be thankful that you have secured so fine a son-in-law and +so excellent a husband for the girl." + +General Verner had not a word of reply to his friend's remonstrance. +The admiral, when he met Alice, exclaimed, "I've been pouring my +broadsides into your father till I left him without a stick standing and +every gun dismounted; if you give him a shot depend on't he'll strike +his flag." + +VII. + +The admiral's house commanded an extensive view of the Solent, looking +across to Portsmouth, down the channel towards Cowes and up over +Spithead. One bright morning after breakfast, the admiral, as usual, +with his eye at the telescope, was watching the ever-varying scene on +the waters before him, when he exclaimed, "Two frigates standing in, and +one is French, a prize to the other. To my eye the Frenchman seems the +biggest of the two; I must send over and learn all about it." He rang +the bell, his old coxswain appeared. "Judson, take the wherry and board +that frigate, and give my compliments and learn the particulars of the +action, and if her captain can spare time I shall be very glad to see +him. Here, give this note if--" The admiral spoke a few words in an +under tone heard by no one else. + +Judson hurried off. There was a fair breeze to Spithead, and back--a +soldier's wind. Alice watched the progress of the boat with great +interest. She reached the English frigate, remained a short time, and +was speedily on her way back. Before she had long left the frigate she +was followed by another boat which overtook her as she reached the +shore. + +A short time afterwards, Judson appeared, and put a card into his +master's hand, "Say that I shall be delighted to see him when he can +come up." + +"What about the action, Judson?" asked the admiral. + +"Just the finest, sir, that has been fought during the war," answered +Judson. "He'll be up here presently, and tell you more about it than I +can." + +Scarcely ten minutes had passed by, when Judson announced "Captain Sir +Pearce Ripley!" The admiral received the young captain with every mark +of regard. "And now let me introduce you to my guests, General and Miss +Verner; but, by the by, you know them, I think." + +Alice, lost to all sense of decorum, sprang forward to receive him. The +general put out his hand in a cordial manner, and with many compliments +congratulated him on his success. The admiral having listened to an +account of the action, dragged off the general to see some improvements +on the farm; the Indies of the family left the room, and Pearce Ripley +heard from Alice's own lips that her father fully sanctioned their +union. He claimed a sailor's privilege, and before a month had passed +their marriage took place. + +Bonham obtained his post rank, and though he had not the talent of his +friend, he ever proved himself an active efficient officer. Harry +Verner quitted the service, finding that, notwithstanding his +connections, his merits were not appreciated, and that he was not likely +to obtain his promotion. He soon afterwards broke his neck out hunting. +Sir Pearce Ripley commanded several line of battle ships, and took an +active part in three of England's greatest naval victories. He in due +course became an admiral, and was created a baronet, and his sons +entering the navy rose to the highest rank in their noble profession. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +VOICES OF THE NIGHT. + +PRELUDE. + + Pleasant it was, when woods were green, + And winds were soft and low, + To lie amid some sylvan scene, + Where, the long drooping boughs between, + Shadows dark and sunlight sheen + Alternate come and go; + + Or where the denser grove receives + No sunlight from above, + But the dark foliage interweaves + In one unbroken roof of leaves, + Underneath whose sloping eaves + The shadows hardly move. + + Beneath some patriarchal tree + I lay upon the ground; + His hoary arms uplifted he, + And all the broad leaves over me + Clapped their little hands in glee, + With one continuous sound-- + + A slumberous sound,--a sound that brings + The feelings of a dream-- + As of innumerable wings, + As, when a bell no longer swings, + Paint the hollow murmur rings + O'er meadow, lake, and stream. + + And dreams of that which cannot die. + Bright visions, came to me, + As lapped in thought I used to lie, + And gaze into the summer sky, + Where the sailing clouds went by, + Like ships upon the sea; + + Dreams that the soul of youth engage + Ere Fancy has been quelled; + Old legends of the monkish page, + Traditions of the saint and sage, + Tales that have the rime of age, + And chronicles of Eld. + + And, loving still these quaint old themes, + Even in the city's throng + I feel the freshness of the streams, + That, crossed by shades and sunny gleams, + Water the green land of dreams, + The holy land of song. + + Therefore, at Pentecost, which brings + The Spring, clothed like a bride, + When nestling buds unfold their wings, + And bishop's-caps have golden rings, + Musing upon many things, + I sought the woodlands wide. + + The green trees whispered low and mild; + It was a sound of joy! + They were my playmates when a child, + And rocked me in their arms so wild; + Still they looked at me and smiled, + As if I were a boy; + + And ever whispered, mild and low, + "Come, be a child once more!" + And waved their long arms to and fro, + And beckoned solemnly and slow; + Oh, I could not choose but go + Into the woodlands hoar; + + Into the blithe and breathing air, + Into the solemn wood, + Solemn and silent everywhere! + Nature with folded hands seemed there, + Kneeling at her evening prayer! + Like one in prayer I stood. + + Before me rose an avenue + Of tall and sombrous pines; + Abroad their fan-like branches grew, + And, where the sunshine darted through, + Spread a vapour soft and blue, + In long and sloping lines. + + And, falling on my weary brain, + Like a fast-falling shower, + The dreams of youth came back again; + Low lispings of the summer rain, + Dropping on the ripened grain; + As once upon the flower. + + Visions of childhood! Stay, oh, stay! + Ye were so sweet and wild! + And distant voices seemed to say, + "It cannot be! They pass away! + Other themes demand thy lay; + Thou art no more a child! + + "The land of Song within thee lies, + Watered by living springs; + The lids of Fancy's sleepless eyes + Are gates unto that Paradise, + Holy thoughts, like stars, arise, + Its clouds are angels' wings. + + "Learn, that henceforth thy song shall be, + Not mountains capped with snow, + Nor forests sounding like the sea, + Nor rivers flowing ceaselessly, + Where the woodlands bend to see + The bending heavens below. + + "There is a forest where the din + Of iron branches sounds! + A mighty river roars between, + And whosoever looks therein, + Sees the heavens all black with sin-- + Sees not its depths, nor bounds. + + "Athwart the swinging branches cast, + Soft rays of sunshine pour; + Then comes the fearful wintry blast; + Our hopes, like withered leaves, fall fast; + Pallid lips say, `It is past! + We can return no more!' + + "Look, then, into thine heart, and write! + Yes, into Life's deep stream! + All forms of sorrow and delight, + All solemn Voices of the Night, + That can soothe thee, or affright-- + Be these henceforth thy theme." + +HYMN TO THE NIGHT. + + I heard the trailing garments of the Night + Sweep through her marble halls! + I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light + From the celestial walls! + + I felt her presence, by its spell of might, + Stoop o'er me from above; + The calm, majestic presence of the Night, + As of the one I love. + + I heard the sounds of sorrow and delight, + The manifold, soft chimes, + That fill the haunted chambers of the Night, + Like some old poet's rhymes. + + From the cool cisterns of the midnight air + My spirit drank repose; + The fountain of perpetual peace flows there-- + From those deep cisterns flows. + + O holy Night! from thee I learn to bear + What man has borne before! + Thou layest thy finger on the lips of Care, + And they complain no more. + + Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer! + Descend with broad-winged flight, + The welcome, the thrice-prayed for, the most fair, + The best-beloved Night! + +A PSALM OF LIFE. WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST. + + Tell me not, in mournful numbers, + "Life is but an empty dream!" + For the soul is dead that slumbers. + And things are not what they seem. + + Life is real! Life is earnest! + And the grave is not its goal; + "Dust thou art, to dust returnest," + Was not spoken of the soul. + + Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, + Is our destined end or way; + But to act, that each to-morrow + Find us farther than to-day. + + Art is long, and Time is fleeting, + And our hearts, though stout and brave, + Still, like muffled drums, are beating + Funeral marches to the grave. + + In the world's broad field of battle, + In the bivouac of Life, + Be not like dumb, driven cattle! + Be a hero in the strife! + + Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! + Let the dead Past bury its dead! + Act,--act in the living Present! + Heart within, and God o'erhead! + + Lives of great men all remind us + We can make our lives sublime, + And, departing, leave behind us + Footprints on the sands of time;-- + + Footprints, that perhaps another, + Sailing o'er life's solemn main, + A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, + Seeing, shall take heart again. + + Let us, then, be up and doing, + With a heart for any fate; + Still achieving, still pursuing, + Learn to labour and to wait. + +THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS. + + There is a Reaper, whose name is Death, + And, with his sickle keen, + He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, + And the flowers that grow between. + + "Shall I have nought that is fair?" saith he; + "Have nought but the bearded grain? + Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me, + I will give them all back again." + + He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes, + He kissed their drooping leaves; + It was for the Lord of Paradise + He bound them in his sheaves. + + "My Lord has need of these flowers gay," + The Reaper said, and smiled; + "Dear tokens of the earth are they, + Where He was once a child. + + "They shall all bloom in fields of light, + Transplanted by my care, + And saints, upon their garments white, + These sacred blossoms wear." + + And the mother gave, in tears and pain, + The flowers she most did love; + She knew she should find them all again + In the fields of light above. + + Oh, not in cruelty, not in wrath, + The Reaper came that day; + 'Twas an angel visited the green earth, + And took the flowers away. + +THE LIGHT OF STARS. + + The night is come, but not too soon; + And sinking silently, + All silently, the little moon + Drops down behind the sky. + + There is no light in earth or heaven, + But the cold light of stars; + And the first watch of night is given + To the red planet Mars. + + Is it the tender star of love? + The star of love and dreams? + Oh, no! from that blue tent above, + A hero's armour gleams. + + And earnest thoughts within me rise, + When I behold afar, + Suspended in the evening skies + The shield of that red star. + + O star of strength! I see thee stand + And smile upon my pain; + Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand, + And I am strong again. + + Within my breast there is no light, + But the cold light of stars; + I give the first watch of the night + To the red planet Mars. + + The star of the unconquered will, + He rises in my breast, + Serene, and resolute, and still, + And calm, and self-possessed. + + And thou, too, whosoe'er thou art, + That readest this brief psalm, + As one by one thy hopes depart, + Be resolute and calm. + + Oh, fear not in a world like this, + And thou shalt know ere long, + Know how sublime a thing it is + To suffer and be strong. + +FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS. + + When the hours of Day are numbered, + And the voices of the Night + Wake the better soul, that slumbered, + To a holy, calm delight; + + Ere the evening lamps are lighted, + And, like phantoms grim and tall, + Shadows from the fitful firelight + Dance upon the parlour wall; + + Then the forms of the departed + Enter at the open door; + The beloved, the true-hearted, + Come to visit me once more; + + He, the young and strong, who cherished + Noble longings for the strife, + By the road-side fell and perished, + Weary with the march of life! + + They, the holy ones and weakly, + Who the cross of suffering bore, + Folded their pale hands so meekly, + Spake with us on earth no more! + + And with them the Being Beauteous, + Who unto my youth was given. + More than all things else to love me, + And is now a saint in heaven. + + With a slow and noiseless footstep + Comes that messenger divine, + Takes the vacant chair beside me, + Lays her gentle hand in mine. + + And she sits and gazes at me + With those deep and tender eyes, + Like the stars, so still and saint-like, + Looking downward from the skies. + + Uttered not, yet comprehended, + Is the spirit's voiceless prayer. + Soft rebukes, in blessings ended, + Breathing from her lips of air. + + Oh, though oft depressed and lonely, + All my fears are laid aside, + If I but remember only + Such as these have lived and died! + +FLOWERS. + + Spake full well, in language quaint and olden, + One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine, + When he called the flowers, so blue and golden, + Stars, that in earth's firmament do shine;-- + + Stars they are, wherein we read our history, + As astrologers and seers of eld; + Yet not wrapped about with awful mystery, + Like the burning stars, which they beheld. + + Wondrous truths, and manifold as wondrous, + God hath written in those stars above; + But not less in the bright flowerets under us + Stands the revelation of his love. + + Bright and glorious is that revelation, + Written all over this great world of ours; + Making evident our own creation, + In these stars of earth,--these golden flowers. + + And the Poet, faithful and far-seeing, + Sees, alike in stars and flowers, a part + Of the self-same, universal being, + Which is throbbing in his brain and heart. + + Gorgeous flowerets in the sunlight shining, + Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day, + Tremulous leaves, with soft and silver lining, + Buds that open only to decay; + + Brilliant hopes, all woven in gorgeous tissues, + Flaunting gaily in the golden light; + Large desires, with most uncertain issues, + Tender wishes, blossoming at night! + + These in flowers and men are more than seeming, + Workings are they of the self-same powers, + Which the Poet, in no idle dreaming, + Seeth in himself and in the flowers. + + Everywhere about us are they glowing, + Some like stars, to tell us Spring is born; + Others, their blue eyes with tears o'erflowing, + Stand like Ruth amid the golden corn; + + Not alone in Spring's armorial bearing. + And in Summer's green-emblazoned field, + But in arms of brave old Autumn's wearing, + In the centre of his brazen shield; + + Not alone in meadows and green alleys, + On the mountain-top, and by the brink + Of sequestered pools in woodland valleys, + Where the slaves of Nature stoop to drink; + + Not alone in her vast dome of glory, + Not on graves of bird and beast alone, + But in old cathedrals, high and hoary, + On the tombs of heroes, carved in stone; + + In the cottage of the rudest peasant, + In ancestral homes, whose crumbling towers, + Speaking of the Past unto the Present, + Tell us of the ancient Games of Flowers; + + In all places, then, and in all seasons, + Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings, + Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons, + How akin they are to human things. + + And with child-like, credulous affection + We behold their tender buds expand; + Emblems of our own great resurrection, + Emblems of the bright and better land. + +THE BELEAGUERED CITY. + + I have read, in some old marvellous tale, + Some legend strange and vague, + That a midnight host of spectres pale + Beleaguered the walls of Prague. + + Beside the Moldau's rushing stream, + With the wan moon overhead, + There stood, as in an awful dream, + The army of the dead. + + White as a sea-fog, landward bound, + The spectral camp was seen, + And with a sorrowful, deep sound, + The river flowed between. + + No other voice nor sound was there, + No drum, nor sentry's pace; + The mist-like banners clasped the air, + As clouds with clouds embrace. + + But, when the old cathedral bell + Proclaimed the morning prayer, + The white pavilions rose and fell + On the alarmed air. + + Down the broad valley fast and far + The troubled army fled; + Up rose the glorious morning star, + The ghastly host was dead. + + I have read in the marvellous heart of man, + That strange and mystic scroll, + That an army of phantoms vast and wan + Beleaguer the human soul. + + Encamped beside Life's rushing stream, + In Fancy's misty light, + Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam + Portentous through the night. + + Upon its midnight battle-ground + The spectral camp is seen, + And, with a sorrowful, deep sound, + Flows the River of Life between. + + No other voice nor sound is there, + In the army of the grave; + No other challenge breaks the air, + But the rushing of Life's wave. + + And when the solemn and deep church bell + Entreats the soul to pray, + The midnight phantoms feel the spell, + The shadows sweep away. + + Down the broad Vale of Tears afar + The spectral camp is fled; + Faith shineth as a morning star, + Our ghastly fears are dead. + +MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR. + + Yes, the Year is growing old, + And his eye is pale and bleared! + Death, with frosty hand and cold, + Plucks the old man by the beard, + Sorely,--sorely! + + The leaves are falling, falling, + Solemnly and slow; + Caw! caw! the rooks are calling, + It is a sound of woe, + A sound of woe! + + Through woods and mountain passes + The winds, like anthems, roll; + They are chanting solemn masses, + Singing, "Pray for this poor soul, + Pray,--pray!" + + And the hooded clouds, like friars, + Tell their beads in drops of rain, + And patter their doleful prayers;-- + But their prayers are all in vain, + All in vain! + + There he stands in the foul weather, + The foolish, fond Old Year, + Crowned with wild flowers, and with heather, + Like weak, despised Lear, + A king,--a king! + + Then comes the summer-like day, + Bids the old man rejoice! + His joy! his last! Oh, the old man grey + Loveth that ever-soft voice, + Gentle and low. + + To the crimson woods he saith-- + To the voice gentle and low + Of the soft air, like a daughter's breath-- + "Pray do not mock me so! + Do not laugh at me!" + + And now the sweet day is dead; + Cold in his arms it lies; + No stain from its breath is spread + Over the glassy skies, + No mist or stain! + + Then, too, the Old Year dieth, + And the forests utter a moan, + Like the voice of one who crieth + In the wilderness alone, + "Vex not his ghost!" + + Then comes, with an awful roar, + Gathering and sounding on, + The storm-wind from Labrador, + The wind Euroclydon, + The storm-wind! + + Howl! howl! and from the forest + Sweep the red leaves away! + Would, the sins that thou abhorrest, + O Soul! could thus decay, + And be swept away! + + For there shall come a mightier blast, + There shall be a darker day; + And the stars, from heaven down-cast, + Like red leaves be swept away! + Kyrie, eleyson! + Christe, eleyson! + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +EARLIER POEMS. + +These poems were written for the most part during my college life, and +all of them before the age of nineteen. Some have found their way into +schools, and seem to be successful. Others lead a vagabond and +precarious existence in the corners of newspapers; or have changed their +names and run away to seek their fortunes beyond the sea. I say, with +the Bishop of Avranches, on a similar occasion, "I cannot be displeased +to see these children of mine, which I have neglected, and almost +exposed, brought from their wanderings in lanes and alleys, and safely +lodged, in order to go forth into the world together in a more decorous +garb." + +AN APRIL DAY. + + When the warm sun, that brings + Seed-time and harvest, has returned again, + 'Tis sweet to visit the still wood, where springs + The first flower of the plain. + + I love the season well, + When forest glades are teeming with bright forms, + Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell + The coming-on of storms. + + From the earth's loosened mould + The sapling draws its sustenance, and thrives; + Though stricken to the heart with winter's cold, + The drooping tree revives. + + The softly-warbled song + Comes from the pleasant woods and coloured wings + Glance quick in the bright sun, that moves along + The forest openings. + + When the bright sunset fills + The silver woods with light, the green slope throws + Its shadows in the hollows of the hills, + And wide the upland glows. + + And when the eve is born, + In the blue lake the sky, o'er-reaching far + Is hollowed out, and the moon dips her horn, + And twinkles many a star. + + Inverted in the tide, + Stand the grey rooks, and trembling shadows throw, + And the fair trees look over, side by side, + And see themselves below. + + Sweet April!--many a thought + Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed; + Nor shall they fail, till, to its autumn brought, + Life's golden fruit is shed. + +AUTUMN. + + With what a glory comes and goes the year! + The buds of spring, those beautiful harbingers + Of sunny skies and cloudless times, enjoy + Life's newness, and earth's garnitude spread out + And when the silver habit of the clouds + Comes down upon the autumn sun, and with + A sober gladness the old year takes up + His bright inheritance of golden fruits, + A pomp and pageant fill the splendid scene. + + There is a beautiful spirit breathing now + Its mellow richness on the clustered trees, + And, from a beaker full of richest dyes, + Pouring new glory on the autumn woods, + And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds. + Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird, + Lifts up her purple wing; and in the vales + The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer, + Kisses the blushing leap, and stirs up life + Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimsoned, + And silver beech, and maple yellow-leaved, + Where Autumn, like a faint old man, sits down + By the wayside a-weary. Through the trees + The golden robin moves. The purple finch, + That on wild cherry and red cedar feeds, + A winter bird, comes with its plaintive whistle, + And pecks by the witch-hazel, whilst aloud + From cottage roofs the warbling blue-bird sings; + And merrily, with oft-repeated stroke, + Sounds from the threshing-floor the busy flail. + + Oh, what a glory doth this world put on + For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth + Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks + On duties well performed, and days well spent! + For him the wind, ay, and the yellow leaves, + Shall have a voice, and give him eloquent teachings. + He shall so hear the solemn hymn, that Death + Has lifted up for all, that he shall go + To his long resting-place without a tear. + +WOODS IN WINTER. + + When winter winds are piercing chill + And through the hawthorn blows the gale, + With solemn feet I tread the hill, + That overbrows the lonely vale. + + O'er the bare upland, and away + Through the long reach of desert woods, + The embracing sunbeams chastely play, + And gladden these deep solitudes. + + Where, twisted round the barren oak, + The summer vine in beauty clung, + And summer winds the stillness broke, + The crystal icicle is hung. + + Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs + Pour out the river's gradual tide, + Shrilly the skater's iron rings, + And voices fill the woodland side. + + Alas! how changed from the fair scene, + When birds sang out their mellow lay, + And winds were soft, and woods were green, + And the song ceased not with the day. + + But still wild music is abroad, + Pale, desert woods! within your crowd; + And gathering winds, in hoarse accord, + Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud. + + Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear + Has grown familiar with your song; + I hear it in the opening year-- + I listen, and it cheers me long. + +HYMN OF THE MORAVIAN NUNS OF BETHLEHEM, AT THE CONSECRATION OF PULASKI'S +BANNER. + + When the dying flame of day + Through the chancel shot its ray, + Far the glimmering tapers shed + Faint light on the cowled head; + And the censer burning swung, + Where, before the altar, hung + The blood-red banner, that with prayer + Had been consecrated there. + And the nuns' sweet hymn was heard the while, + Sung low in the dim, mysterious aisle. + + "Take thy banner! May it wave + Proudly o'er the good and brave; + When the battle's distant wail + Breaks the sabbath of our vale, + When the clarion's music thrills + To the hearts of these lone hills, + When the spear in conflicts shakes, + And the strong lance shivering breaks. + + "Take thy banner! and, beneath + The battle-cloud's encircling wreath, + Guard it!--till our homes are free! + Guard it!--God will prosper thee! + In the dark and trying hour, + In the breaking forth of power, + In the rush of steeds and men, + His right hand will shield thee then. + + "Take thy banner! But, when night + Closes round the ghastly fight, + If the vanquished warrior bow, + Spare him!--By our holy vow, + By our prayers and many tears, + By the mercy that endears, + Spare him!--he our love hath shared! + Spare him!--as thou wouldst be spared! + + "Take thy banner! and if e'er + Thou shouldst press the soldier's bier, + And the muffled drum should beat + To the tread of mournful feet, + Then this crimson flag shall be + Martial cloak and shroud for thee." + + The warrior took that banner proud, + And it was his martial cloak and shroud! + +SUNRISE ON THE HILLS. + + I stood upon the hills, when heaven's wide arch + Was glorious with the sun's returning march, + And woods were brightened, and soft gales + Went forth to kiss the sun-clad vales. + The clouds were far beneath me;--bathed in light + They gathered mid-way round the wooded height, + And, in their fading glory, shone + Like hosts in battle overthrown, + As many a pinnacle, with shifting glance, + Through the grey mist thrust up its shattered lance, + And rocking on the cliff was left + The dark pine blasted, bare, and cleft, + The veil of cloud was lifted, and below + Glowed the rich valley, and the river's flow + Was darkened by the forest's shade, + Or glistened in the white cascade; + Where upward, in the mellow blush of day, + The noisy bittern wheeled his spiral way. + + I heard the distant waters dash, + I saw the current whirl and flash-- + And richly, by the blue lake's silver beach, + The woods were bending with a silent reach, + Than o'er the vale, with gentle swell, + The music of the village bell + Came sweetly to the echo-giving hills; + And the wild horn, whose voice the woodland fills, + Was ringing to the merry shout, + That faint and far the glen sent out, + Where, answering to the sudden shot, thin smoke, + Through thick-leaved branches, from the dingle broke. + + If thou art worn and hard beset + With sorrows, that thou wouldst forget, + If thou wouldst read a lesson, that will keep + Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep, + Go to the woods and hills!--No tears + Dim the sweet look that Nature wears. + +THE SPIRIT OF POETRY. + + There is a quiet spirit in these woods, + That dwells where'er the gentle south wind blows; + Where, underneath the whitethorn, in the glade, + The wild flowers bloom, or, kissing the soft air, + The leaves above their sunny palms outspread. + With what a tender and impassioned voice + It fills the nice and delicate ear of thought, + When the fast-ushering star of morning comes + O'er-riding the grey hills with golden scarf; + Or when the cowled and dusky-sandalled Eve, + In mourning weeds, from out the western gate, + Departs with silent pace! That spirit moves + In the green valley, where the silver brook, + From its full laver, pours the white cascade; + And, babbling low amid the tangled woods, + Slips down through moss-grown stones with endless laughter. + And frequent, on the everlasting hills, + Its feet go forth, when it doth wrap itself + In all the dark embroidery of the storm, + And shouts the stern, strong wind. And here, amid + The silent majesty of these deep woods, + Its presence shall uplift thy thoughts from earth, + As to the sunshine and the pure, bright air + Their tops the green trees lift. Hence gifted bards + Have ever loved the calm and quiet shades. + For them there was an eloquent voice in all + The sylvan pomp of woods, the golden sun, + The flowers, the leaves, the river on its way, + Blue skies, and silver clouds, and gentle winds-- + The swelling upland, where the sidelong sun + Aslant the wooded slope, at evening, goes-- + Groves, through whose broken roof the sky looks in, + Mountain, and shattered cliff, and sunny vale, + The distant lake, fountains,--and mighty trees, + In many a lazy syllable, repeating + Their old poetic legends to the wind. + + And this is the sweet spirit, that doth fill + The world; and, in these wayward days of youth, + My busy fancy oft embodies it, + As a bright image of the light and beauty + That dwell in nature,--of the heavenly forms + We worship in our dreams, and the soft hues + That stain the wild bird's wing, and flush the clouds + When the sun sets. Within her eye + The heaven of April, with its changing light, + And when it wears the blue of May, is hung, + And on her lip the rich, red rose. Her hair + Is like the summer tresses of the trees, + When twilight makes them brown, and on her cheek + Blushes the richness of an autumn sky, + With ever-shifting beauty. Then her breath, + It is so like the gentle air of spring, + As, from the morning's dewy flowers, it comes + Full of their fragrance, that it is a joy + To have it round us,--and her silver voice + Is the rich music of a summer bird, + Heard in the still night, with its passionate cadence. + +BURIAL OF THE MINNISINK. + + On sunny slope and beechen swell + The shadowed light of evening fell: + And, where the maple's leaf was brown, + With soft and silent lapse came down + The glory, that the wood receives, + At sunset, in its brazen leaves. + + Far upward in the mellow light + Rose the blue hills. One cloud of white, + Around a far uplifted cone, + In the warm blush of evening shone; + An image of the silver lakes, + By which the Indian's soul awakes. + + But soon a funeral hymn was heard + Where the soft breath of evening stirred + The tall, grey forest; and a band + Of stern in heart, and strong in hand, + Came winding down beside the wave, + To lay the red chief in his grave. + + They sang, that by his native bowers + He stood, in the last moon of flowers, + And thirty snows had not yet shed + Their glory on the warrior's head; + But, as the summer fruit decays, + So died he in those naked days. + + A dark cloak of the roebuck's skin + Covered the warrior, and within + Its heavy folds the weapons, made + For the hard toils of war, were laid; + The cuirass, woven of plaited reeds, + And the broad belt of shells and beads. + + Before, a dark-haired virgin train + Chanted the death-dirge of the slain; + Behind, the long procession came + Of hoary men and chiefs of fame, + With heavy hearts, and eyes of grief, + Leading the war-horse of their chief. + + Stripped of his proud and martial dress, + Uncurbed, unreined, and riderless, + With darting eye, and nostril spread, + And heavy and impatient tread, + He came; and oft that eye so proud + Asked for his rider in the crowd. + + They buried the dark chief, they freed + Beside the grave his battle steed; + And swift an arrow cleaved its way + To his stern heart! One piercing neigh + Arose,--and, on the dead man's plain, + The rider grasps his steed again. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +TRANSLATIONS. + +KING CHRISTIAN. A NATIONAL SONG OF DENMARK. FROM THE DANISH OF +JOHANNES EVALD. + + King Christian stood by the lofty mast + In mist and smoke; + His sword was hammering so fast, + Through Gothic helm and brain it passed; + Then sank each hostile hulk and mast, + In mist and smoke. + "Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can! + Who braves of Denmark's Christian + The stroke?" + + Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar, + Now is the hour! + He hoisted his blood-red flag once more, + And smote upon the foe full sore, + And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar, + "Now is the hour!" + "Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly! + Of Denmark's Juel who can defy + The power?" + + North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent + Thy murky sky! + Then champions to thine arms were sent; + Terror and Death glared where he went; + From the waves was heard a wail, that rent + Thy murky sky! + From Denmark, thunders Tordenskiold, + Let each to Heaven commend his soul, + And fly! + + Path to the Dane to fame and might! + Dark-rolling wave! + Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight, + Goes to meet danger with despite, + Proudly as thou the tempest's might, + Dark-rolling wave! + And amid pleasures and alarms, + And war and victory, he thine arms + My grave! + +Nils Juel was a celebrated Danish Admiral, and Peder Wessel, a +Vice-Admiral, who for his great prowess received the popular title of +Torden-skiold, or _Thunder-shield_, in childhood he was a tailor's +apprentice, and rose to his high rank before the age of twenty-eight, +when he was killed in a duel. + +THE CELESTIAL PILOT. FROM DANTE'S PURGATORIO, II. + + And now, behold! as at the approach of morning + Through the gross vapours, Mars grows fiery red + Down in the west upon the ocean floor. + + Appeared to me,--may I again behold it! + A light along the sea, so swiftly coming, + Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled. + + And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little + Mine eyes, that I might question my conductor, + Again I saw it brighter grown and larger. + + Thereafter, on all sides of it, appeared + I knew not what of white, and underneath, + Little by little, there came forth another. + + My master yet had uttered not a word, + While the first brightness into wings unfolded; + But, when he clearly recognised the pilot, + + He cried aloud; "Quick, quick, and bow the knee! + Behold the Angel of God! fold up thy hands! + Henceforward shalt thou see such officers! + + "See, how he scorns all human arguments, + So that no oar he wants, nor other sail + Than his own wings, between so distant shores! + + "See, how he holds them, pointed straight to heaven, + Fanning the air with the eternal pinions, + That do not moult themselves like mortal hair!" + + And then, as nearer and more near us came + The Bird of Heaven, more glorious he appeared, + So that the eye could not sustain his presence. + + But down I cast it; and he came to shore + With a small vessel, gliding swift and light, + So that the water swallowed nought thereof. + + Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot! + Beatitude seemed written in his face! + And more than a hundred spirits sat within. + + "_In exitu Israel_ out of Egypt!" + Thus sang they all together in one voice, + With whatso in that Psalm is after written. + + Then made he sign of holy rood upon them, + Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore, + And he departed swiftly as he came. + +THE TERRESTRIAL PARADISE. FROM DANTE, PURGATORIO, XXVIII. + + Longing already to search in and round + The heavenly forest, dense and living green, + Which to the eyes tempered the new-born day, + + Withouten more delay I left the bank, + Crossing the level country slowly, slowly, + Over the soil, that everywhere breathed fragrance. + + A gently-breathing air, that no mutation + Had in itself, smote me upon the forehead, + No heavier blow, than of a pleasant breeze, + + Whereat the tremulous branches readily + Did all of them bow downward towards that side + Where its first shadow casts the Holy Mountain; + + Yet not from their upright direction bent + So that the little birds upon their tops + Should cease the practice of their tuneful art; + + But, with full-throated joy, the hours of prime + Singing received they in the midst of foliage + That made monotonous burden to their rhymes, + + Even as from branch to branch it gathering swells, + Through the pine forests on the shore of Chiassi, + When Aeolus unlooses the Sirocco. + + Already my slow steps had led me on + Into the ancient wood so far, that I + Could see no more the place where I had entered. + + And lo! my farther course cut off a river, + Which, towards the left hand, with its little waves, + Bent down the grass, that on its margin sprang. + + All waters that on earth most limpid are, + Would seem to have within themselves some mixture, + Compared with that, which nothing doth conceal, + + Although it moves on with a brown, brown current, + Under the shade perpetual, that never + Ray of the sun lets in, nor of the moon. + +SPRING. + +From the French of Charles D'Orleans, Fifteenth Century. + + Gentle Spring!--in sunshine clad, + Well dost thou thy power display! + For Winter maketh the light heart sad, + And thou--thou makest the sad heart gay. + He sees thee, and calls to his gloomy train, + The sleet, and the snow, and the wind, and the rain; + And they shrink away, and they flee in fear, + When thy merry step draws near. + + Winter giveth the fields and the trees, so old, + Their beards of icicles and snow; + And the rain, it raineth so fast and cold, + We must cower over the embers low; + And, snugly housed from the wind and weather, + Mope like birds that are changing feather. + But the storm retires, and the sky grows clear, + When thy merry step draws near. + + Winter maketh the sun in the gloomy sky + Wrap him round with a mantle of cloud; + But, Heaven be praised, thy step is nigh; + Thou tearest away the mournful shroud, + And the earth looks bright, and Winter surly, + Who has toiled for nought both late and early, + Is banished afar by the new-born year, + When thy merry step draws near. + +SONG OF THE BELL. FROM THE GERMAN. + + Bell! thou soundest merrily, + When the bridal party + To the church doth hie! + Bell! thou soundest solemnly, + When, on Sabbath morning, + Fields deserted lie! + + Bell! thou soundest merrily; + Tellest thou at evening, + Bed-time draweth nigh! + Bell! thou soundest mournfully; + Tellest thou the bitter + Parting hath gone by! + + Say! how canst thou mourn? + How canst thou rejoice? + Thou art but metal dull! + And yet all our sorrowings, + And all our rejoicings, + Thou dost feed them all! + + God hath wonders many, + Which we cannot fathom, + Placed within thy form! + When the heart is sinking, + Thou alone canst raise it, + Trembling in the storm! + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grateful Indian, by W.H.G. 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