diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-0.txt | 3976 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 86496 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 941046 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/25882-h.htm | 6218 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/illus-emb.png | bin | 0 -> 5056 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-040.jpg | bin | 0 -> 71754 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-047.jpg | bin | 0 -> 84415 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-066.jpg | bin | 0 -> 80300 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-083.jpg | bin | 0 -> 54769 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-092.jpg | bin | 0 -> 73314 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-099.jpg | bin | 0 -> 79737 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-112.jpg | bin | 0 -> 92770 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-115.jpg | bin | 0 -> 86363 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-178.jpg | bin | 0 -> 90132 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-194.jpg | bin | 0 -> 74992 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 25882-h/images/island-fpc.jpg | bin | 0 -> 53506 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/25882-8.txt | 3976 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/25882-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 86439 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/25882.txt | 3976 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/25882.zip | bin | 0 -> 86421 bytes |
23 files changed, 18162 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25882-0.txt b/25882-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..722c016 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3976 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +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: Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #25882] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: The Castaways. (Front.)] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FAMOUS ISLANDS +and +MEMORABLE VOYAGES. + +Boston: +Published by D. Lothrop & Co. +Dover, N.H.: G. T. Day & Co. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I.-- A VENETIAN CRUISER. 9 + + II.-- A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; + OR, CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. 30 + + III.-- THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. 52 + + IV.-- ST. HELENA. 68 + + V.-- THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. 87 + + VI.-- NORFOLK ISLAND. 118 + + VII.-- THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. 165 + +VIII.-- CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. 188 + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +A VENETIAN CRUISER. + + +It was late in the year 1431. The port of Venice was filled with ships +from all parts of the world, bringing to her their choicest stores, and +their most costly merchandise, and receiving from her and from her +Grecian possessions rich shiploads of wine and spices, and bales of +finest cotton. + +It would have been a sight never to have been forgotten could we have +gazed then on that city of the sea, have watched the cumbrous barks, so +unlike our light-winged merchant ships, or our swift steamers, which +sailed heavily up and down the blue Adriatic, till they came in sight of +the famous city, the resort of all nations, in whose canals, and among +whose marts and palaces, might be seen the strange dress, and heard the +mingled speech of men from all parts of the civilized world. + +One ship was just leaving the port. The vessel, rather a large one for +those days, seems but poorly manned, and rocks so greatly among the +short white waves, that it is plainly to be seen that she is short of +ballast and lading. She is a Venetian trading vessel, bound first to the +Isle of Candia, where she will complete her cargo and add to the number +of her crew. This Candia or Crete (the very Crete by which St. Paul +passed on his voyage to Italy) was at that time under the hard rule of +Venice, and its poor inhabitants did her service upon land and sea. The +ship stayed at Candia only so long as enabled her to complete her stores +of cotton and spice and wine, which were destined for some northern or +western market, some French or British port. She was deep enough in the +water now, and on her deck lay many an unstowed bale, many a cask of +wine, for which the sad-looking Cretan sailors, in their tunics and +short cloaks, had not yet been able to find room. Sixty-eight men were +now on board, including the patron or owner, Master Piero Quirini, and +Christoforo Fioravanti, the sailing-master. Quirini, in his quaint +Italian dress, looking strangely unlike a modern sailor, stood amid the +piles of merchandise, giving quick orders for its stowage, while the +sailing master made all ready for the long voyage which was just +beginning. + +For in those days a voyage into the western sea was counted, specially +while boisterous autumn gales made sailing difficult, as a long and +hazardous undertaking. They all knew it must be many months ere they +could hope to see home again; but little did any of them guess the +strange sad fortunes which should befall them. The Cretan sailors looked +back wistfully at the groups of their friends, their wives and mothers +and children, whom they had left weeping on the shore, but they did not +think how many there were among them who would never return to tell the +story of their long voyage. But some at least among them knew and felt +that they were in the hands of God for life or for death, and that +nothing could really hurt them if they were "followers of that which is +good." + +The ship at first sailed on prosperously enough. The sea was calm, and +the sky clear above them. The sailors sang their sweet Italian or +Grecian songs, as they hurried to and fro, or leant over the bulwarks, +watching the blue water. + +Their course lay northward now, and wind and wave were sweeping them +toward the perilous northern seas. The days had been already growing +short when the ship left Candia, and now December, with its cold and +darkness, was upon them, and these southern sailors shivered as they met +the keen northern blasts. + +The cold grew sharper than ever on one night toward the end of the year, +but on that very night Master Piero Quirini chose to remain on deck, +braving the winter wind, instead of taking shelter in his warm and +comfortable cabin below. He stood looking eastward with his keen eyes, +his hand shading his face. + +"Come hither, Fioravanti," he called, and the sailing-master approached. +"There is a strange appearance in the sky which affrights me; I fear a +sudden, and violent storm, and then what will befall our ship, thus +heavily laden?" said Quirini. + +The old sailor turned towards the part of the horizon which Quirini had +pointed out; and as he looked, his face changed. "Quick," said he, +calling to the sailors who were nearest, "bid them draw in the sails. +Let the rudder be bound firmly, for the tempest is well nigh on +us--alas! for these terrible northern storms." + +Before he had well finished speaking, his Italian sailors had begun +their work, the slower and more apathetic Greeks needing, even in that +moment of danger, to be urged with many words before they would obey. +Thus it was but slowly that the heavy sails, creaking and swaying in the +wind, were drawn in and bound to the masts, and before half the work was +done, the storm in its full fury had struck the ship, and each man clung +for life to the nearest support, as the reeling vessel ploughed heavily +through the swollen seas. + +"Master, the rudder is gone, the rudder is lost," cried many voices, as +after a sudden lurch forward the ship righted again, and as they cried +out, a fresh blast struck her, and the half-furled sails were torn into +ribbons, and hung useless over the ship's side. + +The morning light found her still driving before the wind, and deep in +the sullen water which rose almost above her sides as she flew faster +than ever before the fierce wind. At length a sudden squall threw her on +her side, while the waters rushed in as if to fill and sink her in a +moment. + +"Ho, men! an axe, an axe!" cried the master; "down with the main-mast!" +and seizing a hatchet which lay at hand, Piero Quirini struck the first +blow at the tall mast, whose weight was dragging down the vessel. Others +with sword, or axe, or any tool which they could snatch at the moment, +followed, and they were but just in time, for before another wave could +wash over the vessel, the mast was floating free, and the ship had +righted once more. The water was baled out with every vessel on which +the men could lay their hands; and this weary work was continued all +through the cold dark night, yet when the morning broke hours behind its +time, as it seemed to the despairing sailors, the water in the hold was +scarcely three inches lower. + +The only hope for the crew lay in taking at once to their boats. There +were two boats belonging to the ship--the pinnace and the skiff; the +first was a long boat, but the skiff, which was considered the safer of +the two, would hold but a smaller number. + +The master called the men round him on the deck, and told them his +decision. "Now, men," said he, "you shall choose your boat; there stands +the notary, Nicolo di Michiel, with his ink-horn and parchment; he shall +write down the names of all who would fain sail in the skiff." + +"Master, there are forty-five for the skiff," said Nicolo, slowly +reckoning the long list of written names; "forty-five, and the skiff, +saith Christoforo Fioravanti, holds but twenty-one." + +"Draw lots, men, we are brothers now in trouble, and none shall have +advantage over the other." + +The lots were drawn, and then the master proceeded to divide between the +two crews the stores of the fast-sinking ship. Bread, cheese, bacon, +tallow and oil, and a little wine, as much as she could carry, were +given to the crew of the skiff, while the master, with forty-six men, +stored in the pinnace what remained on board, and one by one the men +passed over the ship's side, and the boats dropped off into the wide +sea. + +It was calm, the terrible wind had sunk down, and the keen wintry sky +was clear once more, but yet the prospect before them was enough to +trouble the bravest heart. + +They were adrift in the bitter cold in open boats, but ill-supplied for +a long voyage, and were, as they believed, five hundred miles from the +nearest shore. All night a heavy mist hung over them, and when it was +dispersed by the morning sun the crew of the pinnace looked round in +vain for their companions,--the skiff was nowhere to be seen. + +Six days had passed, and all hope of seeing their companion boat had +grown faint, when another storm arose, and the pinnace, heavily laden, +shipped so much water over the sides that all feared she would sink. + +"Mens' lives before wines and spices! precious and costly though they +be," said the master; "we must lighten the boat of all, save a little +needful food and water; linger not, my children, therein lies our only +hope." + +But the days went on, and though the storm passed, and the pinnace still +rode safely on the waters, the hearts of the crew were heavy within +them. The boat was indeed lighter now, for of the forty-seven who had +embarked in her, twenty-six died, and their bodies had been solemnly +committed to the deep, there to wait till, at the voice of God's angel, +the sea shall give up her dead. Solemn indeed must have been the +thoughts of the survivors as they saw one after another of their +comrades summoned from their side to stand before God; no one of them +knew but that he might be called next, and all were sure that if help +did not reach them speedily, none would return home to tell the tale of +their sufferings. Some there were of that crew who, faint, weary, in +want of covering, tortured with thirst, yet held fast their trust in +their Father in Heaven, and cried to Him with agonized prayer to have +mercy on them for Christ's sake. And the prayer for deliverance was +heard. + +It was on the third of January, and the first faint daylight was +stealing over the waters, when one of the crew, looking eagerly round as +he raised himself from uneasy sleep, saw far off a faint line which +seemed to be land. The sun rose higher and colored rose-red the +snow-hooded tops of lofty rocks around the unknown coast. All the hope +and desire of the shipwrecked crew was now to reach this shore, fearing +its unknown dangers but little, compared with the terrible suffering +they had long endured. + +But, alas! the wind had died away, and in vain did they unfurl their +sails, and set their rudder. They must try the oars then, but the arms +of the starving sailors were too weak to move the boat, and they could +do nothing but trust to the force of the waves and the currents which +were bearing her along. It was the sixth of January when they reached +the land, and with great difficulty drew their boat to the beach. They +soon found that they had landed on an uninhabited island, which lay, as +they afterwards found, off the coast of Norway--a strange and foreign +land to the Venetians of those days. + +No sooner did the wasted remnant of the crew set foot on shore than they +rushed to the rocks, climbing them with strength which they had not +thought they possessed, and eagerly gathering the pure white snow in +their hands, bathed their parched lips and dry tongues, drinking again +and again, as if they could never taste enough of this delicious +draught. + +"Now, men, draw the boat higher on shore, ere the tide go out and float +her away," said the master; but when the pinnace was drawn to the dry +sand she was found to be so battered and so full of holes, that they all +saw at once that it was useless to hope that they could ever put to sea +in her again. "We will make her serve for a shelter at least," said +Christoforo, and so, dividing her into two parts, they, with the help of +her sails, made two huts, in which the twenty-one sailors, who alone +were left, might find some slight shelter from the winter wind. + +"Our thirst have we slaked," said Nicolo, "and said grace, I trust, for +the draught; now, by your leave, good master, must we seek for food, +though what food this barren island should afford, I know not." + +All the party dispersed at once in search of provisions, some climbing +the rocks, some wandering along the beach, and some seeking to penetrate +farther inland. Returning towards evening slowly and sadly to the huts, +they examined the store that had been found--a few periwinkles and +barnacles and some other small shell-fish, but a poor feast for so many +famished men. Their search, continued far and wide over the island, +discovered no other food, save a kind of small herb which grew under the +snow. This they ate day after day, and so were able to keep a little +life in them though they were always faint and hungry. + +Five out of the little colony were already dead from cold and hunger and +exhaustion, when one day a sailor wandering farther than he had yet +been, came upon a little hut, empty and deserted, but giving a better +and more comfortable shelter than their sail-covered huts. + +Six of the company determined to live in this new home, thinking that +the chances of finding food for the whole would be increased when they +were more widely scattered on the island. And scarcely had they taken up +their abode in their new quarters, when they were overjoyed by finding +on the beach, close at hand, a large dead fish. They did not know +whether it was a whale or a porpoise, but they saw that it was quite +fresh and fit for food, and every one of them believed that God had sent +this great deliverance in answer to their prayers for help. All hands +turned out to drag the fish to their hut, and no sooner was it safely +housed than a terrible storm broke over the island, which lasted nine +days. So fierce was the wind, so pitiless the tempest, that during all +that time not one of the sailors dare set foot outside the cottage, and +had it not been for the merciful provision which God had bidden the +waves to bring to them, they must all have perished with hunger. + +The fish was at length eaten, not a fin, nor a morsel of flesh remained, +and once more the sailors were forced to seek along the shore for +shell-fish, which was now their only food. Christoforo was one day +seated in the cottage. He had grown white and thin, and his long lank +hair looked dry and rusty, as it hung over his sunken cheeks. He was +gazing listlessly on the dull sea, and on the distant, cloud-like lines +which told of other islands, or may be of the main land far off. + +"If we could only reach those shores," he thought, "may be men dwell +thereon, and we might find food. But we have neither boat nor wood +whereof to make one, neither have we strength to row, so seemeth there +no choice but we must all perish here; the will of God be done." + +Raising his eyes, which had sunk while he pursued these sad thoughts, he +suddenly sprang to his feet, and with a glad shout cried, "Rejoice, +behold two come to seek us," and as he spoke, his companions, looking +out, saw two shepherd lads climbing the hill-side. + +The strangers turned and fled in terror at the sight of man on this +lonely island, and the sailors following to the shore found there a +little boat in charge of an old man. They had learnt some prudence now, +and they approached quietly, making signs of good-will and of humility, +and asking by look and gesture his pity on their great distress. The two +lads soon came down and joined their father, and though none of the +three could understand a word of the Italian speech, it chanced that +there was one among the sailors, Girado da Lione by name, who had learnt +a few words of Norwegian, and by means of this interpreter they managed +to tell the visitors of their terrible needs. + +The little boat would hold but two besides its owners, and Girado da +Lione and Bernardo the pilot were chosen to accompany the shepherds to +their home, and to get help to bring off all who remained of the +shipwrecked crew. On their way they questioned the shepherd, as well as +they could, on the cause of his journey to the island. + +"A strange reason was it, truly, my friends," answered the old man, "but +my son can tell you better than I. Speak, my son." + +The younger of the two oarsmen, a lad of about sixteen, answered +bashfully: "It was a dream, strangers, that led our boat to that shore. +My father had lost two heifers, white were they, with black stars on +their forehead and there were none like them in the island where we +dwell. Long did we seek our missing kine, and great was our sorrow when +we found them not; but last night I dreamed that I saw them feeding upon +this island, the cliffs of which we can sometimes see from our home. +When I awakened I persuaded my father to take the boat and let us row to +the island." + +"We found not our heifers," said the old fisherman, smiling, "but, thank +the good God, we found men. Doubtless it was God who sent my son this +dream, that so we might be in time to save you." + +They were soon received by a crowd of eager peasants, who crowded down +to the beach, when the story of the rescue spread. They were in another +island now, far larger, and moreover cultivated and inhabited, and food +was given them, and shelter offered, and clean clothes brought to +replace their own ragged and dirty garments. But of course the first +anxiety of the two rescued sailors was to send relief to their +companions at the hut, and to those who might yet remain alive on the +other side of the island. The kind islanders prepared quite a fleet of +little boats in which to hasten to the rescue of these poor deserted +men, but at the huts which they had first built, only five were found +alive, and their new friends prepared with sad hearts to bury the dead +as well as to save the living. + +The eleven survivors grasped each other's hands with feeling too deep +for words; they the only ones left of the sixty-eight who, in full +health and strength, had left the shores of Candia. "Truly," said one, +"we had been swallowed up of the sea, if our Lord Jesus Christ had not +been merciful to us, who forsaketh not them that religiously call upon +Him." + +"Now we must part," said they among themselves, "and seek our way to +Venice on foot or by sea, as we may find means. Sad news bring we +thither, and many heavy hearts must we make. But God has spared us to +our dear ones, and let us few that remain remember that we live only to +commend to memory, and highly to exalt, the great power of God." + + + + +A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; +OR, +CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. + + +The following passages are taken from the journal kept by Captain James, +the commander of a vessel bound for the northern seas. His ship, having +on board a crew of twenty-two men, left England in May, 1631, to attempt +the discovery of the long-desired North-West Passage. After terrible +storms and disasters, the ship being fast-locked in ice the adventurers +were compelled to winter in the Arctic regions; and, as the journal +relates, proceeded to make preparations for passing the long months on +an uninhabited island near to the ship. The extracts from the diary tell +the story of those months, speaking in words which need no comment, of +high hope, of constant courage, and of a sincere and true-hearted +dependence on God. Throughout all the disappointments and perils of his +expedition, Captain James seems ever to have kept alive trust in God, +and a sure belief that all that could befall him and his, would be +directed by an All-wise hand; thus his heart did not fail even in the +midst of overwhelming perils and disasters. + +These brave men were not ashamed to own their entire dependence on God's +help, and we find here, as elsewhere, that it is ever the strongest who +best know their own weakness--that the noblest are ever the most humble, +the most ready to acknowledge the Divine Source of all their courage. + +And the heroes whom English boys love to remember, and desire to +imitate, have, in proportion as they were true heroes, unselfish, +generous, brave, been also the most true and faithful servants of that +God who is the source of all strength, all love, all tenderness and +truth. + +"Oct. 7.--It snowed all day, so that we had to clear it off the decks +with shovels, and it blew a very storm withal. The sun did shine very +clear, and we tore the topsails out of the tops, which were hard frozen +in them into a lump, the sun not having power to thaw one drop of them. +Seeing therefore that we could no longer make use of our sails, it +raised many doubts in our minds that here we must stay and winter. The +sick men desired that some little house or hovel might be built ashore, +whereby they might be the better sheltered. I took the carpenter, and +choosing out a place, they went immediately to work upon it, while I +myself wandered up and down in the woods to see if we could discover any +signs of savages, but we found no appearance of any on this island. + +Oct. 12.--We took our mainsail, which was hard frozen, and carried it +ashore to cover our house, first thawing it by a great fire; by night +they had covered it, and had almost hedged it about, and our six +builders desired they might travel up into the country to see what they +could discover. + +Oct. 15.--This evening our hunters returned very weary, and brought with +them a small, lean deer, which rejoiced us all, hoping we should have +more of them to refresh our sick. + +Nov. 10.--I urged the men to make traps to catch foxes, for we did daily +see many, and I promised that whosoever could take one of them should +have the skin for his reward. + +Nov. 17.--I have lain ashore each night until now, all which time have +our miseries increased; and, looking from the shore towards the ship, +she doth look like a piece of ice in the fashion of a ship; the snow is +frozen all about her, and all her forepart is firm ice. + +Nov. 25.--The wind shifted easterly, and we encouraged one another, and +to work we go, our endeavor being to put the ship to the shore. This +evening we broke through the ice, and put an anchor to keep her to shore +if possible. Here Sir Hugh Willoughby came into my mind, who without +doubt was driven out of his harbor in this manner, and so starved at +sea. But God was more merciful to us. + +Nov. 20.--I resolved, for the greater safety of the ship, to sink her +right down, but she would not sink so fast as we would have her. At +noon-day the water rose and beat the bulk-heads of the bread-room, +powder-room, and forepiece, all to pieces; thus she continued till +three, and then the sea came up on the upper deck, and soon after she +began to settle. We were seventeen poor souls now in the boat, and we +now imagined that we had leaped out of the frying-pan into the fire, for +we thought assuredly the ebb would carry us away into the sea. We +therefore doubled-manned four oars, and so, with the help of God, we got +to the shore. Being there arrived, we greeted our fellows the best we +could; at which time they could not know us, nor we them by our habits +nor voices, so frozen all over we were, faces, hair, and apparel. I +comforted them the best I could, saying, "My masters and faithful +companions, be not dismayed for any of these disasters, but let us put +our whole trust in God; it is He that giveth and He that taketh away. +His will be done. If it be our fortunes to end our days here, we are as +near heaven as in England, and we are much bound to God Almighty for +giving us so large a time of repentance. I make no doubt but He will be +merciful to us both here on earth, and in His blessed kingdom." + +Dec. 1.--To-day it is so cold that firm ice has formed over the +boat-track, and we can reach the ship on foot; we have brought over on +our backs five hundred fish, and much of our bedding and clothes, which +we had to dig out of the ice. + +Dec. 10.--We have been busied this past week, save on Sunday, when we +rested and performed the Sabbath duties of a Christian, in bringing +hither stores from the ship--now bearing them over firm ice, and now +wading knee-deep in half-frozen water. I will here describe the house +which we have built to shelter us withal. It is among a tuft of thick +trees, under a south bank, about a bow-shot from the seaside; it is +square, and about twenty feet every way. First we drove strong stakes +into the earth round about, which we wattled with boughs as thick as +might be, beating them down very close. At the ends we left two holes +for the light to come in at, and the same way the smoke did pass out +also. Then we cut down trees into lengths of six feet, with which we +made a pile on both sides. We left a little low door to creep into, and +a porch was before that, made with piles of wood. We next fastened a +rough tree aloft over all, upon which we laid our rafters and our roof. +On the inside, we made fast our sails round about. Now have we driven in +stakes and made us bedstead frames, about three sides of the house. We +have made our hearth in the middle of the house, and on it our fire. +This house we propose to call our mansion, as we have built two smaller +near by for our kitchen and our store-house. + +Dec. 31.--Our mansion is now covered thick with snow, almost to the very +roof of it; we do not go out save we first shovel away the snow, and +then by treading, make it somewhat hard under foot. We have got our boat +ashore, and fetched up some of our provisions from the beach, with +extremity of cold and labor; and thus we concluded the old year 1631. + +Jan. 2, 1632.--I observed the sun to rise like an oval along the +horizon; I called three or four to see it, the better to confirm my +judgment; and we all agreed that it was twice as long as it was broad. +We plainly perceived withal, that by degrees as it rose higher it also +recovered its soundness. + +Jan. 30.--But little worthy the writing has happened to us this month. +The men grow daily weaker, and our stores less. We have three sorts of +sick men--those that cannot move nor turn themselves in their beds, who +must be tended like infants; those that are as it were crippled; and +those that are something better, but afflicted with sore mouths. These +last make shift to work; they go to work through the snow to the ship, +and about their other business. Our cook doth order our food in this +manner. The beef which is to serve on Sunday night to supper, he doth +boil on Saturday night in a kettle full of water, with a quart of +oatmeal, about an hour. Then taking the beef out, he doth boil the rest +till it is thick, which we call porridge, which, with bread, we do eat +as hot as we may; and after this we have fish, and thus we have some +warm thing every supper. + +But many of our sick eat nought save a little oatmeal or pease. Hitherto +we have taken but a dozen foxes in all our traps. + +Feb. 10.--The cold is as extreme just now as at any time this year, and +many of our men complain heavily of sickness; two-thirds of our company +are under the surgeon's hand. And yet, nevertheless, they must work +daily, and go abroad to fetch wood and timber notwithstanding the most +of them have no shoes to put on. Their shoes, upon their coming to the +fire out of the snow, were burnt and scorched upon their feet, and they +were forced to bind old clothes about their feet. Our clock and watch, +though we have kept them ever by the fireside, yet they are so frozen +that they cannot go. The inside of our house is hanged with icicles, and +many a time when I put my hand into the brass kettle by the fire, I find +one side very warm, and the other side an inch frozen. + +Mar. 15.--One of our men thinks that he has seen a deer, whereupon he +with two or three more desire that they may go and see if they can take +it, and I have given them leave. + +Mar. 16.--Last evening did our hunters return, not having seen the deer, +but so disabled with cold, that they will not be well in a fortnight. + +[Illustration: Return of the Hunters. (Page 40.)] + +Mar. 31.--Our carpenter is now among our sick, his cutting tools are but +few, and these mostly broken and bound about with rope-yarn as fast as +may be. Thus our pinnace, on which lyeth so much of our hope of escape, +is but in an indifferent forwardness. + +April 4.--To-day we have been sitting all about the fire, reasoning and +considering together about our estate. The time and season of the year +comes forward apace, and we have determined on this course. With the +first warm weather we will begin to clear the ship from the ice and +water, so that should the pinnace never be finished, as seemeth in doubt +through the sickness of our carpenter, we might yet have some hope in +our old ship to complete our enterprise, and to return home. + +April 6.--This day is the deepest snow we have had all this year; it +hath filled up all our paths and ways. + +April 16.--This is the most comfortable sunshine that hath come this +year, and I have put some to clear off the snow from the upper decks of +the ship, and to clear and dry the great cabin by making fire in it. +Others have I put to dig down through the ice to come by our anchor. + +April 25.--Now have we labored so hard that we are mightily encouraged, +for the water doth rise without the ship, and yet doth not make its way +into the hold. I have bid the cook that he pour hot water into the +pumps, and so thaw them. + +April 27.--One of the pumps is cleared, and by means of this we have +drawn two feet of water from the hold, and we find to our satisfaction +that it doth not rise again. + +May 2.--It doth snow and blow so that we must keep house all day; our +sick men are so grieved at this unexpected cold that they grow worse and +worse. + +May 3.--To-day some of the snow melted on the land, and some cranes and +geese have come to it. I and the surgeon have been with a couple of +fowling-pieces to see if we could kill any for our sick men, but never +did I see such wild-fowl; they would not endure to see anything move, +therefore we have been obliged to return empty-handed and wearied. + +May 9.--We have at last come to and got up our five barrels of beef and +pork which were sunk in the hold, and we have also found four butts of +beer, which will be as a cordial to our sick men. God make us ever +thankful for the comforts that He gives us! + +May 13.--This is the Sabbath day, which we have solemnized, giving God +thanks for those hopes and comforts which we daily have. + +May 21.--This is the warmest day we have yet had. Two of my men have I +sent a fowling, and myself, the master, the surgeon, and one more with +our guns and our dogs, have been into the woods to see what comfort we +could find. We have wandered full eight miles from the house, and have +searched with all diligence, but returned comfortless; not an herb, no +leaf eatable, that we could find. Our fowlers have had as bad success. +The snow is by this time pretty well wasted in the woods. We have a high +tree on the highest part of the island which we call our watch-tree, and +from the top thereof we can see far over the seas, but we find no +appearance of breaking up yet. + +May 24.--Very warm sunshine. The ice doth consume by the shore side, and +cracks all over the bay with a fearful noise. This morning I sent two to +search for the ship's rudder, which was buried among the ice, and a +fortunate fellow, one David Hammon, pecking between the broken blocks, +struck upon it, who crying out that he had found it, the rest came and +got it up on the ice, and so into the ship. O, this was a joyful day to +us all; and we gave God thanks for the hopes we had of it. + +May 31.--We have found some vetches on the beach, which I have made the +men pick up, and boil for their sick comrades. + +June 4.--These four days hath it snowed, hailed, and blown hard; and it +hath been so cold that the water in our cans did freeze in the very +house, our clothes also, that had been washed and hung out to dry, did +not thaw all day. + +June 15.--This day I went to our watch-tree, but the sea was still firm +and frozen, and the bay we were in was full of ice. + +June 16.--Here have there lately appeared divers sorts of flies, and +such an abundance of mosquitoes, that we are more tormented with them +than ever we were with the cold weather. Here be likewise ants, and +frogs in the ponds upon the land, but we durst not eat of them, they +looked so speckled like toads. By this time there are neither bears, +foxes, nor fowl, to be seen; they are all gone. + +June 17.--At high water we did heave our ship with such good-will that +we heaved her through the sand into a foot and a half deeper water. +After we had moored her we went all to prayers, and gave God thanks that +had given us our ship again. + +June 19.--There hath been the highest tide that we have known since we +have been here, and in a happy hour have we got our ship off. This +evening I went up to our watch-tree; and this was the first time I could +see any open water, anyway, except that little by the shore-side. This +sight gave us some comfort. + +June 22.--We have sounded all about the ship, where she was sunken, and +find it very bad ground, with stones three feet high, and two of them +within a ship's breadth of the ship, wherein did more manifestly appear +God's mercies to us; for if when we forced her ashore she had stricken +one blow against these stones, it had broken her. + +June 24.--The wind hath put all the ice upon us, so that for a while we +were in such apparent danger that I verily thought we should have lost +our ship. With poles and oars did we heave away and part the ice from +her. But it was God that did protect and preserve us; for it was past +any man's understanding how the ship could endure it, or we by our labor +save her. + +June 26.--These have been indeed days of fear and of confusion, but +also, in the end, of comfort. Yesterday evening I went up to our +watch-tree, taking a man with me, who should make a fire on the highest +place of the island, to see if it would be answered. When I was come to +the tree I laid down my lance, and while I climbed up to the top of the +tree, I ordered him to set fire to some decayed wood thereabouts. He +unadvisedly set light to some trees that were to windward, so that they +and all the rest too, by reason it had been very hot weather, took fire +like flax or hemp; and the wind blowing the fire towards me, I made +haste down the tree. But before I was half way down, the fire reached +its stem, and blazed so fiercely upwards, that I had to leap off the +tree and down a steep hill, and in brief, with much ado escaped burning. +My companion at last came to me, and was joyful to see me, for he +thought verily I had been burned. And thus we went homewards together, +leaving the fire increasing, and still burning most furiously. I slept +but little all night; and at break of day I made all our powder and beef +to be carried aboard. This morning I went to the hills to look to the +fire, where I saw it did still burn most furiously, both to the westward +and northward. Leaving a man upon the hills to watch it, I came home +immediately and made the men take down our new set of sails immediately +and carry them to the seaside, ready to be cast in, if occasion were, +and to make ready to take down our houses. About noon the wind changed, +and our sentinel came running home, bringing us word that the fire did +follow him hard at his heels, like a train of powder. It was no need to +bid us take down and carry all away to the seaside. The fire came +towards us with a most terrible rattling noise, a full mile in breadth, +and by the time we had unroofed our houses, and laid hands on our last +things, the fire was come to our town, and seized on it, and burnt it +down to the ground. Our dogs howled, and then ran into the sea. To-night +shall we lie all aboard the ship, and give God thanks that he has +shipped us in her again. + +[Illustration: Climbing the watch-tree. (Page 47)] + +June 29.--These three days have we wrought hard in fetching our things +aboard, as likewise our water, and have been all about the eastern +point, searching for driftwood. Our pinnace, on which hath been spent so +much time and labor, we need not, having our ship afloat again, +wherefore I have commended her to be sawn in pieces and brought into the +ship. + +June 30.--To-day have we most earnestly continued our labor, and by +eleven this night was our ship in readiness, for we have sought to +finish our business with the week and the month, that so we might the +better solemnize the Sabbath ashore to-morrow, and so take leave of our +wintering island. + +July 1.--To-day, the first of the month, being Sunday, we were up +betimes. We went ashore, and first we marched up to the high cross we +had put up to mark the graves of our dead companions. There we had +morning prayer, and walked up and down till dinner-time. After dinner we +walked to the highest hills to see which way the fire had wafted. We saw +that it had consumed to the westward sixteen miles at least, and the +whole breadth of the island; near about our cross and our dead it could +not come, because it was a bare sandy hill. After evening prayer we went +up to take the last view of our dead, and then we presently took boat +and departed, and never put foot more on that island; but in our ship we +went to prayer, beseeching God to continue His mercies to us, and +rendering Him thanks for having thus restored us. Now go we on our +discovery, which achieved, I purpose surely to return to England, unless +it should please God to take us first into His heavenly kingdom. And so +desiring the happiness of all mankind in our general Saviour Jesus +Christ, I end this, my journal, written on the island." + + + + +THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. + + +It was during the merry days of the reign of King Edward III. of +England, that a little ship left the port of Bristol, sailing suddenly +and secretly, so that none knew to what port she was bound. + +She was no trading vessel laden with English goods for Calais, for her +crew was not composed of sailors; there were on board only a few men, +and these wore the dress of English gentlemen. The strange crew, the +secret departure, all told the tale of some danger from which they were +seeking to escape, and had we been on board we should have seen by the +anxious faces of the crew, by the quick, eager glances with which they +watched the shores as they sailed out of the Bristol Channel, that they +feared pursuit, either for themselves or for some one whom they had in +charge. Though not really sailors, they were doing their best to guide +the little vessel, and they had chosen for captain a young Englishman +called Lionel Machin, whose directions they obeyed, and in whom they +appeared to have full confidence. + +It was for Lionel's sake that the party of friends were now making their +escape from England. He had married a girl whom he had long loved, but +he had not gained the consent of her father and mother. They were +powerful and rich, and he had reason to fear that his young wife would +be taken from him through their influence with the king, and therefore +he had determined to seek a French port, and to hide himself and wife in +some French city which did not own Edward as its king. + +But, ignorant as they were of navigation, it was no easy matter for them +to direct their course aright, and, high winds springing up, they were +beaten about for five days without catching sight of the coast of +France. They did not know in what direction they were being carried, and +all on board, especially the new-made wife, were full of uneasiness and +dismay. Lionel encouraged Arabella with loving and hopeful words, even +when his own heart was sinking low, but his friends, who had come only +for his sake, and without well considering the dangers and risks which +they might encounter, were fast losing spirit and hope. Their merry +adventure seemed to be turning into sad earnest, and these light-hearted +lads, having nothing to sustain their courage when pleasure was gone, +now vented their disappointment in continual murmurs and regrets. + +Arabella herself tried to seem indifferent to their danger, and secure +in Lionel's care; she hid her tears, lest they might grieve her husband; +but when she thought that no one saw her, she gave herself up to sorrow +and despair. She thought of her father and mother whom she had left +secretly, lest they should forbid her marriage with Lionel, and she +longed with an aching heart for one word of love and forgiveness. For +hours she would sit, her eyes turned toward that part of the horizon +where she had last seen the coast of England, her thoughts busied about +her old home: her father, taking his pleasures with a sad heart; her +little sister, weeping for her lost playmate; and, most of all, her +mother, upright and dry-eyed, after the stern fashion of the day, but +yet, as Arabella well knew, ever thinking of her absent and disobedient +child, ever missing the light step, the loving smile, the tender touch +of the daughter she had loved so well. + +But Lionel still kept up heart and hope, still spoke gaily of the new +home they would soon make in sunny France--yes, even when day after day +passed by, and the watchers saw no land, and knew that they must be +drifting far out of their course, away into the wide unknown ocean. They +had been at sea more than a month when one morning early, Lionel, who +was pacing the deck, heard behind him a sudden shout of joy. + +He did not turn, for there were tears in his eyes which he must hide +from his companions, for he had now, for the first time, learned from +his wife of her repentance and her grief, and he too was sad at heart +and well-nigh hopeless. But the shout was repeated and taken up by other +voices. + +"Land, land at last!" they cried, and Lionel turned to see, far in the +distance, the tall sharp outline either of a rock or of the cliffs which +guarded some unknown shore. Wind and wave were steadily sweeping the +vessel onward towards this haven of refuge, and there was nothing to do +but to watch the sharpening outlines, and to see, as fog and mist +cleared before the sun, the sheer dark rocks and deep valleys of their +new home. + +Nearer still and nearer, till the land was full in sight, and the +famished and wearied crew could see the green valleys and tree-covered +heights of this lovely island, could almost hear the fall of the clear +waters which they saw glancing down the face of the rocks. + +What land it was they knew not. No houses were to be seen, no ships or +canoes flew out from under the shelter of the shore, no natives gathered +in fear or wonder on the silent silver beach, only a number of +bright-winged birds came as if to greet the new-comers, and settled +fearless on the sails and ropes. + +Quickly the ship's one boat was lowered, and some of Lionel's +companions, well armed, put off for the unknown shore. Lionel would fain +have been of the number, but neither Arabella nor his friends would +permit him to run this risk. Ere long the boat returned, and the +adventurers climbed on board as eager to speak as were their companions +to hear. + +"A dainty and delicious country, truly, Captain Lionel, but men we saw +none," said the first speaker. + +"The beasts thereon are tame, and have no fear of man," continued +another. + +"Yea, and the land is a garden of flowers, and the air soft, that it +would give back health to the dying; there will your fair wife recover +her bloom, and we all shall rest after our grievous toil." + +"Fruits are there in plenty, they dropped on us from the trees as we +walked," added the first. + +"Here at last we have found a haven," answered Lionel; "here, my kinsmen +and faithful friends, may you regain the strength you have lost in my +cause, yea, and win your pardon in England by this fair news. Arabella, +you will soon be strong again," and Lionel, though he spoke confidently, +looked with evident anxiety toward the pale face which bore the traces +of sorrow as well as of sickness. + +Soon the whole party, save some few who remained in charge of the ship, +were on land, wandering with the glee of schoolboys over the green +plains and wooded hills on which they seemed to be the first to set +foot. Choosing a sheltered spot among the laurels and near to the bend +of the river, the new lords of the island soon built a shelter for +themselves, and brought thither stores from the ship. + +In this happy retreat the fugitives spent nearly a fortnight, seeming to +forget, in the peace and rest of the present, their past wrong-doing and +their past disasters. + +But on the thirteenth day a sudden and violent storm broke over the +island. The ship was driven from her anchorage by the force of the wind +and waves, and was carried, with those of the company then on board, +toward the north coast of Africa, where she was at last completely +wrecked. The crew escaped with their lives, but only to fall into the +hands of the Moors, who, regarding all Christian nations as their +enemies, immediately seized those poor English gentlemen as slaves. + +Lionel and the few companions who were left with him on the island, +grieved deeply for the loss of their companions, though they knew not +the terrible fate which had befallen them. And mingled with their sorrow +was penitence too, for the wrong act which had, as they felt, brought on +them this deserved punishment. But Arabella's grief was deeper; from the +time when this new disaster befell them she never spoke, but sat gazing +ever over the now calm sea which parted her from her home; and thus she +pined and died, deeply oppressed with grief, and not comforted with the +assurance of the pardon which Christ the Saviour gives to all who repent +and turn from sin. + +Lionel could not endure without her the life which he had sought for her +sake, and ere long he, too, died in the arms of his weeping friends, and +husband and wife were buried at the foot of the laurels which had been +their shelter. + +The remaining adventurers determined at any risk to leave the island in +the little boat which still remained to them, for the place now became +distasteful; but before they sailed they set up over the grave of the +husband and wife a wooden cross, on which were carved their names. Then, +following the wish of Lionel, they added below a request that if any +Christians should hereafter come to dwell in this island, they would +build over the grave a church, in which our Saviour Jesus might be +worshipped and adored. + +The little boat being now ready and stored with birds and other food as +provisions for their voyage, they set sail, but were, like their +companions, cast on the coast of Africa, and made slaves with those who +had gone before them. But the poor Englishmen were not the only +captives, for in those times shipwrecked sailors from all parts of +Europe were held in cruel slavery by the Moors. + +Side by side with the companions of Lionel worked a young Spanish sailor +named Jean de Morales, and, glad of any relief from the toil and tedium +of their sad life, he listened eagerly to the often-repeated story of +the lovely and beautiful island. Of this unknown land he dreamed and +thought continually, longing for freedom that he might discover and +tread its silent shores, for he was of a nation eager for discovery, and +the highest rewards and honors were not thought too great for him who +should add a new country to the dominions of the crown of Castile. + +At length it happened that a sum of money was sent to Barbary, to ransom +some of the Spanish captives, and Jean de Morales was amongst those set +at liberty: but the ship in which, with glad heart and high hopes, he +sailed for Spain, was captured on its way by a Portuguese man-of-war, +under Jean Gonsalie Lascoe. All the captives from Barbary, who had +already suffered so much, were permitted to continue their journey home, +save only Jean de Morales. + +This one exception was made because the Portuguese captain was not +willing to give to Spain the glory of the discovery which the Castilian +sailor was longing to attempt. Jean de Morales was, however, kindly +treated, and at last took service with the Portuguese, his attachment to +his native land being doubtless weakened by his long captivity. + +Very soon, ships were sent out by Portugal commanded by Gonsalie, with +Jean de Morales on board, to seek this new and unclaimed island. The +vessels first held their course for the Island of Porto Sanco, near +which the new island was supposed to lie, for seen from Porto Sanco +toward the north-east was a heavy cloud, sometimes brighter, sometimes +darker, but never wholly dispersed. + +The ignorant and superstitious inhabitants had many wonderful stories to +relate of this cloud; they all believed that no ship could safely +approach it. Some held it to be an island hanging between heaven and +earth, in which some Christians had been hidden by God from the power of +their Moorish foes, some that it led into the land of spirits. Towards +this cloud Gonsalie steered his ships, in spite of the murmurs and +almost the open mutiny of his terrified crew. "The shadow is but a +mist," said he, "a cloud caused by the heat of the sun's rays drawing +the moisture from the land beneath; have no fear, my children, for those +who do their duty will God protect." + +Through the mists and heavy clouds they sailed on, and at last emerged +into clear, pure air, to see fair before them the island of their hopes. +The sailors who had before resisted the captain's will, now fell on +their knees begging his forgiveness, and praying to be allowed to land +at once and wander through the valleys of this lovely land. Soon +Gonsalie, Jean de Morales, and some of the sailors pulled through the +surf and set foot on the island, which they called Madeira, because it +was so well wooded. They landed almost on the very spot where Lionel and +Arabella had first come on shore, and before long the new-comers stood +in reverence and in pity by the graves of the first discoverers. + +The island was formally taken possession of in the name of the King of +Portugal, and before long a colony was sent thither, Gonsalie being +appointed governor. + +Then the dying wish of Lionel was granted, and over his grave was built +a church, in which the new inhabitants might worship God. + +This is the story which we have received as the history of the discovery +of the island of Madeira, now so well and so familiarly known to us, +where many of our own countrymen go year by year, seeking to recover +health and strength amongst the sheltered and wooded vales where the +English husband and wife found their last refuge. + +[Illustration: Visiting the Graves. (Page 66.)] + +The history was written in Portuguese by Don Francesco Alcafarado, a +noble at the court of King John I. of Portugal. He was himself one of +the discoverers. It is considered possible that some of the details +which he has given may have been altered in his memory, or confused by +those from whom he heard the story of Lionel and Arabella, but there +seems no reason to doubt the chief facts which he relates. The cross +erected over the graves of the husband and wife was preserved in Madeira +till at least the early part of this century, and possibly is still to +be seen. + + + + +ST. HELENA. + + +In the days when voyages were more tedious and dangerous than they are +now, when steam was unknown, and the art of navigation little studied, +it was especially important to secure safe resting-places for vessels +bound on distant voyages. Halfway ports where the health of the sailors +might be recruited, where the ship often battered and leaking, might be +repaired, and stored once more with water and fresh vegetables, were +absolutely essential to safe and profitable commerce. + +But until about the year 1500 the Venetian traders to India had found no +such harbor of refuge in the South Atlantic. Their ships came and went +nevertheless, and if many were lost, yet the profits of the trade were +such as to repay the merchants for many a bale of rich goods which lay +beneath the waters, and to lead Venice to guard as one of her most +valuable rights the trade with India. + +The Portuguese also were merchants and explorers, and had a large and +important navy, and they were not content to leave the Indian traffic +wholly in the hands of the Venetians. Therefore about the year 1501 +three vessels were sent out to India by the Portuguese Government. On +their return voyage during May of the following year a sudden and +violent storm overtook them. + +They were in the midst of the wide Atlantic, driven backwards and +forwards by the furious wind and waves. + +One of the ships was separated from the other two, and was in greater +danger. All hope of guiding her was at an end, and the captain and crew +stood waiting in despair for the death which could not be far distant. + +It seems probable from that which afterwards happened, that some at +least among the sailors thought, in their danger, on God, and cried to +Him to save them. And we may well believe this to have been so. There +are but few who when trouble is near forget God. It is in smooth and +fair water, in calm and sunshine, that we are so ready to think that we +can guide and help ourselves. When the clouds gather, and the +storm-winds blow, then we cry unto God in our trouble. And God is so +good that He does not turn away from those who call on Him in their +need, even when in their joy they had turned away from Him. + +Help came to these sailors tossed on the wide, wild sea, but it did not +come in the way that they had hoped. At first it seemed only like +greater peril, for through the haze which darkened the sea, the dim +outline of land was seen, standing high, sharp, and dark against the +sky. + +What land it could be they did not know. In such rough charts as they +possessed, no rock even was marked, no speck of land for many hundred +miles on either side the place where they were now fighting for their +lives. + +The ship was driven nearer and nearer, and, so far as the mariners could +tell, they were being driven to certain destruction, for what ship could +hope to avoid the terrible wall of rocks before them, or live in the +white seething waters which boiled at its foot. A shout, an eager +wondering cry, from one of the sailors, roused his comrades; he was +pointing to a narrow inlet between the rocks, on either side of which +the sand lay smooth and low--if they could only gain that opening there +might yet be hope. But the ship was past all guidance, and the only +chance of life seemed to lie in the boats, which might be directed up +the narrow inlet, so that the men might land in safety on its shores. At +last the anxious, terrified sailors stood safely on the beach, watching +the still raging sea as it washed to their feet plank and mast and +rudder of their now broken ship. + +Their first thought was to offer thanks to God who had delivered them, +and then they began to look around at this strange unknown land on which +they had been thrown. + +"Let us build ourselves a shelter with the planks of the broken ship, +she will never sail blue water again," said one sailor. + +"Nay," replied another, "rather let us build a house for God, let us +leave a church on this island. We need no shelter in the warm May +weather, no rain will fall for months yet, I warrant, and some of those +rare trees yonder will be our fittest roof." + +"But of what use can a church be when none dwell here to worship?" asked +a third. + +"Doubtless many will come to dwell here when we return home and tell the +story of the new land, and many ships will stay here to rest the sailors +and to gather stores. Were it not well done that they should find +prepared a place which should remind them of their duty to their God, +and of His care of them?" + +"And," said the captain, speaking now for the first time, "were it not +well done that we, whom He has so wonderfully preserved, should try even +in this imperfect fashion to show our gratitude? He will accept even +such poor service, therefore, in my judgment, let it be done." + +"Let it be done," cried all, and, as if impatient to begin, the sailors +rushed knee-deep into the sea, seizing and drawing high on the beach the +floating spars and planks ready for their new service. + +But before such work could be begun it was needful to explore the new +land, to search for any traces of inhabitants, and above all to +discover, if possible, food and water to refresh themselves. + +There was one high peak, towering above the many hills which crowned the +island, and towards this a party of sailors made their way, keeping +closely together for fear that the natives of the land might suddenly +attack them from rock or thicket. + +The steep, rugged, broken hill was scaled at last, and from its summit +the adventurers looked down on their place of refuge. They were on an +island, which seemed to be some miles in length; it was thickly covered +with trees, and in one part a broad, open plain, fresh and fertile, +stretched before them. There were many streams, dancing merrily down the +broken cliffs, or shaded by tall tree-ferns and waving grasses. But +nowhere was there any sign of human habitation; no palm-roofed huts, no +canoes, no figures crossing the open spaces between the trees. And not +only man, but even animals seemed wanting here. + +The place was a complete solitude; the sea-birds had not strayed farther +than the cliffs where their nests were made, and save one little brown +bird, not unlike a sparrow, which chirped among the boughs, the sailors +neither heard nor saw any signs of life. + +Fruit there was in abundance on the trees, and with this spoil they +hastened back to their comrades, who had meanwhile been exploring the +sides of the inlet. + +A shout from the party of these explorers told the descending sailors +that some discovery had been made, and as they came nearer they saw that +a fire had been kindled on the beach, though with what object it was +hard to guess. + +They were not long left in doubt, for shouts of "Turtle, turtle! come +and see the turtle we have cooked for dinner!" caused them to hasten to +the fire, on which was now seething an immense turtle, great numbers of +which were to be seen crawling along the beach. + +The fruit was a welcome addition to the feast, and the sailors were soon +forgetting peril and disaster over a hearty and refreshing repast. + +Then the whole party stretched themselves at ease under the trees; they +recounted to each other their adventures and discoveries. It was clear +that they were on an island, and that this island was far distant from +any known land. There appeared no doubt that it was uninhabited and +unknown, and great was the satisfaction of the captain in the thought of +carrying home to Portugal the tidings of a discovery so important. For +all saw what great service would be done to Portuguese commerce by the +establishment of a half-way station on their return from India, and the +feeling of regret for their lost ship was swallowed up and forgotten in +delight at the honor which they should receive at having first planted +the flag of Portugal on the Island of St. Helena, for thus did the +captain name the newly-found island. + +The sailors made no doubt that now the violence of the storm was over, +that they would soon be rescued from their imprisonment by the other +ships, and meanwhile they set heartily to work to build their church. + +The ship's carpenter undertook the principal directions, while the +captain determined on the best site for the new building, and marked its +outline on the turf. + +Willing hands made the work light, and ere many days had passed the +church began to rise, plank by plank, amid the palm-trees and leafy +shade around. + +The two remaining ships soon arrived, and their crews stayed long enough +to complete the church, and to lay in a store of fruit, turtles, and +fresh water, and then all set sail for Portugal, and St. Helena for long +years was henceforth reckoned among the possessions of that crown. + +But though highly prized as a resting-place for ships, it did not at +first become a colony. Two small dwellings were built on either side the +church, but none inhabited them for about twelve years, when a +Portuguese nobleman, named Lopez, came to live there in banishment, with +no companions but three or four negro slaves, who under his direction, +cultivated the soil, planted and reared many new kinds of trees and +fruits, and tended the fowls and animals which were abundantly supplied +for his needs. + +He did not, however, continue many years in St. Helena, and long the +island remained without inhabitants. + +Sometimes a passing ship would leave one or more of her crew, who were +ill, that they might be restored by the vegetables and fruits, the pure +air and clear water of the island. + +It happened once, nearly ninety years after the first discovery, that an +English crew landed for refreshment, and wandering about the island +approached the little church. They believed themselves the only human +beings on the island, and were therefore greatly surprised to hear a +voice singing within the church. + +"It is a Portuguese," they said one to another, "let us enter and make +him prisoner." + +Without another word the doors were thrown open, and there kneeling +alone in the church, they discovered a strange figure, wild and +terrified, dressed in a rough suit of goat-skin. + +"Who are you?" cried the foremost of the sailors, forgetting that the +supposed Portuguese was not likely to answer an English question; but +the man started to his feet at the words, gazed round him, looking one +by one into the eager and wondering faces before him, and then, as if he +could no longer contain his joy, he rushed towards them, and threw +himself into the arms of the foremost. + +He, in his turn, had feared that the new-comers were Portuguese, and the +poor English sailor, for such he was, had endured an agony of terror +till the sound of English speech assured him that he was among friends +and fellow-countrymen. + +His story was soon told. He had been left at St. Helena by a passing +ship, because he was so reduced by the voyage that the captain feared +that he could never reach his home. Here he had lived for fourteen long +months, and had never during that time heard a human voice, or seen the +face of a friend. He had lived chiefly on the flesh of goats, which had +now multiplied on the island, and had in his wild, free life quite +recovered his health. But the joy of meeting with friends after so long +a solitude was too great; he was quite unable to sleep, and only lived +till the ship in which he had taken passage reached the West Indies. + +St. Helena passed at length into the hands of the English, was colonized +and brought into cultivation, and it was here that Napoleon ended the +career which had laid waste and despoiled Europe. Here in this little +island was bounded his wide ambition; the sea set limits to his steps on +every side and stretched its strong impassible barrier all around him. +Here, though not alone, he endured a solitude which was doubtless +heavier to bear and more hopeless than that felt by any of the wanderers +who in early days were left upon that shore. For there is no solitude +like that of a heart which dwells alone, whose memories of the past can +bring no gladness, and whose future lies cheerless and blank before it. + +He spent his time chiefly in reading, riding on horseback, and digging +in his garden. He was fond of amusing himself with children, and would +join in all their little sports. He employed himself, also, in writing +the memoirs of his own campaigns. "Let us live on the past," he said. +But ah! what satisfaction could a view of his past life have afforded +him? Those who have lived only for this world must never expect anything +but self-reproach in reviewing the opportunities of usefulness which +they have lost, and the precious talents they have misemployed. What a +favorable opportunity, however, was afforded to Napoleon in his solitude +at St. Helena, of examining his past life. Happy would it have been for +him if he had diligently used the time thus given him in mourning for +his sins, and humbling himself for the misapplication of the vast +talents entrusted to his charge. + +[Illustration: Napoleon at St. Helena. (Page 83.)] + +That he sometimes thought of the subject of religion, indeed, is +evident, if we believe a conversation which Count Monthoton, one of his +attendants, has recorded. "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself," +Napoleon is represented to have said, "founded empires upon force! Jesus +Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of +men would die for Him. I die before my time, and my body will be given +back to the earth to become food for worms. Such is the fate which so +soon awaits him who has been called the Great Napoleon! what a +difference between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, +which is proclaimed, loved, and adored, and which is extending over the +whole earth. Call you this dying? Is it not living rather? The death of +Christ is the death of a God!" Napoleon became every day more and more +unhappy. He used to feed some fish in a pond, but they sickened and +died. "Everything that I love," said he, "leaves me: everything that +belongs to me is stricken!" + +At last the event came which released him from all his earthly sorrows. +A painful disease, called cancer in the stomach, attacked him; and, +after considerable suffering, he expired on the 5th of May, 1821. The +night of his dissolution was a terrible one; a fearful storm was raging +all around. Napoleon had, for some hours, been insensible; towards six +o'clock in the evening, however, he pronounced the words, "Head of the +Army," as if his thoughts were running on the field of battle, and +immediately afterwards his immortal spirit quitted the tabernacle of +clay in which it dwelt. Such was Napoleon's death-bed. Alas! we look in +vain upon it for that language of triumph which has so often broken from +the lips of the followers of Jesus, when passing through the dark +"valley of the shadow of death." With Napoleon's dying moments, contrast +those of an eminent saint of God, Dr. Payson. "I seem to swim in a flood +of glory," said he to some young persons, "which God pours down upon me. +And I know--I know that my happiness is but begun--I cannot doubt that +it will last for ever. My young friends, were I master of the whole +world, what could it do for me like this! Nothing, nothing. Now all this +happiness I trace back to the religion which I have preached, and to the +time when that great change took place in my heart, which, I have often +told you, is necessary to salvation;--and I now tell you again, that +without this change you cannot, no, you cannot see the kingdom of God!" + +Napoleon was buried at Longwood, in the Island of St. Helena, under a +large willow tree; but in 1840 his remains, with the consent of the +British Government, were removed to Paris, and buried with grand honors +in that city. + + + + +THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. + + +Many islands have at different times risen above the sea, which had for +long years washed over and hidden them. There are two ways in which new +islands are thus born like a fresh creation from God. + +The great volcanic force which sends out flames and ashes from the tops +of high mountains, or makes the solid earth tremble and crack, is at +work also below the bed of the sea, and from time to time islands are +raised there either slowly or by some sudden convulsion, just as we have +also reason to believe that other islands are even now sinking lower +under the influence of the same force, until, most likely, in years to +come, the waves will once more flow over them again. You must not forget +that when we talk of the forces of nature we mean really the hand of +God. He it is who sends these great convulsions, or who directs the slow +upheaving of new land. All is quite as truly the work of God as when, at +His word, the dry land first appeared. "Fire and hail, snow and vapors, +stormy wind," are all "fulfilling His word." + +Many of these islands, when first raised above the sea, must have been +active volcanoes, sending out hot from their craters the flood of lava +and the heated rocks which now lie cold and hard, and overgrown with +moss, to tell us of their past history. + +Of course, while this was going on there could be no life either of +plants or animals on the mountain, which, indeed, as yet could scarcely +be called an island, only a bare rock, around which the waves would +beat, as if in hopeless endeavor to extinguish the fire which glowed +deep in its caverned centre. But though neither waves nor storms could +make this fire die out, yet there comes a time to most of these volcanic +islands when the life and energy of the mountain seems gone, taken away, +we know not how, by the same Great Hand that lighted it, and the lonely +rock is now ready to be turned into a home for man, for this silent +crater, this hard, broken crag, will, after a time, become a fair island +home. God does not leave His works incomplete, and He has servants who +will change this desolate rock into a fertile garden. + +He sends the waves; they dash on the sides of the island, which rise +generally abrupt and strong from the deep waters, and wherever they can +find entrance they wear and powder the rock until it becomes fine soil, +and a little beach is formed. Then rains fall and fill the clefts and +hollows of the rock, and soften it at length as they wash down its face, +till here and there patches of scanty soil are formed. + +But something more than soil is needed; the most fertile land cannot of +itself produce grass or herbs; there must be a seed before even the +smallest weed can spring up, and those which float about in the air with +us, are not found on a volcanic rock far away in the sea. + +But messengers are prepared to bring them. Birds flying over the water +sometimes stoop their wings to rest awhile on the rock, and often leave +behind them seeds which they have gathered in far distant lands. At +first, perhaps, only a few small weeds are seen. These, dying in their +turn, improve the soil for their successors, until at length it can +support shrubs and undergrowth, the seeds of which are sometimes washed +on the shore by the waves, or found hidden in the clefts of some tree +which has floated to the island from a distant shore. + +Last of all arises, like a crown of beauty, the graceful cocoa-nut palm, +spreading broad leaves around its tall, slender stem, and making the +once barren rock a shady and lovely retreat. + +The island on which Alexander Selkirk lived is considered volcanic; it +is probably formed in some such manner as that which we have described. +Madeira, too, and probably St. Helena, are volcanic islands. + +Pitcairn, the history of which you are now going to read, is also +possibly of volcanic origin, and its high crags and sharp peaks seem as +if they must have been thrown up by some sudden force; but as it is in +the midst of a sea covered with coral islands, and has been supposed by +some to be itself partially formed by coral insects, it may be well that +you should hear a little of the wonderful growth of coral islands, +which, though formed so differently from those of which you have been +reading, are yet, when once their tops have risen above the waves, +clothed in the same manner with fair growth, to prepare them for the +presence of man. Tahiti, which you will hear mentioned in the story of +Pitcairn, is a coral island, and they abound in groups, in pairs, or in +single islands, through the wide Pacific Ocean. + +They are formed by myriads of tiny insects, which are connected +together, and seem to share a common life. One of these insects fastens +itself on some hidden rock; sometimes it may be on an extinct volcano +which is not lofty enough to appear above the waves, and on this +foundation they begin to build, the insect, as it shapes its cells of +coral, filling them with beings like itself, so that every tiny chamber +has its inmate. Soon the whole rock is covered below the water with a +fine network of delicate coral, and from the tops of the open cells the +insects put out their delicate _tentaculae_, or arms, which look like +the petals of a flower. By means of the food gathered from the water by +these _tentaculae_, all the coral insects are fed. + +[Illustration: Coral Island. (Page 92.)] + +Thus each one does its appointed work, laying unseen the foundations of +a new land, for the coral growth is still spreading and rising higher +and higher, till at length the waves begin to feel its resistance, and +to break in white foam around its crests. + +Its history, when it has once risen above the reach of the tides, is +like that of the volcanic islands. The insects die, and the bare grey +rock is left, that God's servants, the waves and winds, may fulfil His +will, until in His own good time the coral island becomes lovely and +fertile, fit for the dwelling-place of those who should be God's best +servants--the men whom He has made for His glory, and for whose +redemption His Son came down to die. It is sad to think how often man, +to whom God has given the most, is the least ready to use these gifts +for his Maker's glory, so that instead of these lovely islands being +always full of His praise, they are often homes of sin and of +unhappiness, as indeed it was at first with Pitcairn, the history of +which we now give. + + * * * * * + +Far away from any other land, in the midst of the South Pacific Ocean, +there is a little island, a mere speck in the sea, for it is not six +miles across at its widest point. A passing ship might leave this tiny +island unnoticed, save for the lofty cliffs and precipices which guard +its shores, running down to the white waves, ever curling and breaking +at their feet. Yet it was not a mere rock, inaccessible and barren; for +when once a boat has safely won its way through the breakers, and the +sailor has climbed the rocks which, steep above steep, stand like a wall +before him, he is rewarded by the sight of lovely valleys, of forests of +fruit-bearing palms, and of green, fresh-springing plants: a little +fairy land, a new paradise seems hidden here from the eye and the foot +of man. + +It is called Pitcairn's Island, and was discovered more than a hundred +years ago by a passing ship. It was uninhabited, and no one set foot on +it again, till in 1789 a small ship might have been seen approaching its +shores, as if she would seek an anchorage in that dangerous, rocky bay. + +The ship is called the _Bounty_, and carries for her crew nine English +seamen, and some colored men and women, natives of Tahiti, an island at +which the _Bounty_ had been recently anchored. + +There is no captain on board, though the first mate, Fletcher Christian, +seems to take his place and to direct the course of the ship; but his +words are few, and his face is sad, as if some past trouble or sin +weighed on his heart, and, when he is not obliged to be active, he sits +gazing listlessly over the water, looking for he knows not what. + +It would be a long and sad story to tell how that ship came to be thus +cruising in the wide Pacific. Months before, Fletcher Christian and some +of the sailors of the _Bounty_ had mutinied; had put their captain, who +by his harsh and unjust treatment had provoked their anger, into the +ship's launch with eighteen of the crew, leaving them thus to reach home +or to die on the ocean. + +The mutineers well knew that if they returned to England, their own +lives would pay the penalty of their crime, and therefore they +determined to spend the rest of their days on some one of the numerous +islands scattered in groups throughout the South Seas. + +But as they had begun their course by an act which they knew to be +wrong, it was not likely that their future would be happy and +prosperous; the sweet flowers of peace and content do not spring from +the bitter root of sin, "neither do men gather grapes of thorns nor figs +of thistles." + +Thus we need not wonder that trouble and dissension seemed to follow +everywhere the ill-fated crew of the _Bounty_. They quarrelled and +fought with the natives of the first island which they chose for an +asylum; they disputed among themselves, suspecting and hating each +other, as partners in sin most often do. The hearts of the leaders were +full of fear also as they thought of the laws which they had broken, and +of the fate which would be theirs should their captain reach England, +and a ship be sent out to capture them. + +At last the mutineers sailed for the Island of Tahiti, where they knew +that the inhabitants were well-disposed and gentle, and would be pleased +to welcome the white man to live among them. Fletcher Christian, +however, could not rest; he had been the leader in the mutiny, he knew +that he would be sought for, and that if found he must die, and die +covered with disgrace. + +Therefore he determined to seek out Pitcairn's Island, of the discovery +of which he had heard, and there pass the remainder of his miserable +life. Eight of his comrades decided to go with him, the rest remaining +at Tahiti, and, as we have seen, some of the Tahitian men and women +agreed to make the voyage with them, and join in the new settlement. + +[Illustration: Landing of the Mutineers on Pitcairn's Island. (Page 99.)] + +After long seeking, after cruising backwards and forwards for many days +in the sailless and shoreless ocean, the island that they sought was +seen standing high above a line of white waves, and after much +difficulty the _Bounty_ was anchored, and her boat sent on shore with +some of her crew. + +Everything of value on board was taken to the island, even the iron-work +of the ship itself being removed, and when the _Bounty_ was reduced to +an empty and useless hulk, she was set on fire and burnt to the +water-edge, that no passing ship might see any trace of inhabitants on +the lonely island where these unhappy men sought to hide themselves. + +Fletcher Christian, who had taken the command hitherto by the consent of +his companions, now proceeded to divide the whole island into nine equal +parts, one of which he gave to each of the English sailors who +accompanied him, choosing for his own portion a piece of land at the +farther end of the island, where he made for himself a retreat among the +steep rocks which overlooked the sea. + +But though the new colony was so small, it had in it all the seeds of +dissension and of unhappiness. Even these nine men, though bound +together by a common fate and by a common fear, could not agree, could +not bear with nor yield to each other in any of the little differences +or misunderstandings which arose between them from time to time. Still +less could they live in peace with the natives who had accompanied them. +They looked on these poor men and women as their slaves, and treated +them so unjustly that the Tahitians, who had at first been attached and +faithful, now determined on revenge. They were as much less guilty than +the English as they were more ignorant; they had never been taught to be +merciful, to forgive injuries, to be patient under wrongs; the blessed +name of Jesus was not familiar to their ears, nor the lessons of His +life and death to their hearts. They knew no law but that of violence +and might, and finding themselves unjustly treated by those who had +promised to be their friends, they formed a plot to put them all to +death, and so to make themselves masters of the island. + +Five out of the nine Englishmen were shot, and amongst them was their +leader, Fletcher Christian. Ever since he had come to Pitcairn's Island, +he had appeared sunk in sorrow and remorse. All day long he had remained +hidden among the rocks, away from his comrades, his eyes fastened on the +wide ocean, the barrier which he knew must now divide him for ever from +his home and from all he loved. In this solitude his companion was the +Bible, brought on shore by him from the ship. In this he was observed to +be often reading, and though we know nothing of his thoughts nor of his +prayers, it may be that God spake through His word to the heart of His +erring child, and bade him, not in vain, to seek His face once more. + +Let us hope that this Bible charged with such a blessed mission in years +to come, was sent also with a message to this desolate heart, and that +ere he died, Christian had sought and found the forgiveness which is +given through the cross of Christ our Saviour. Some sign of his +repentance may be found in a tradition handed down by the islanders, +that he had given orders that everyone on the island should repeat each +noontide the prayer of the returning and repentant prodigal: "Father, I +have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be +called thy son." + +Four white men had been saved by the interference of the Tahitian women +from the fate of their comrades, but they did not feel safe; they +believed that the men were still seeking their lives, and, as they +imagined, in self-defence, they determined to put these their enemies to +death. Thus the evil begun by the mutiny still went on from crime to +crime, seeming to grow ever deeper and wider. For the dark and terrible +story is not yet ended. Two of the four remaining Englishmen soon after +came to a violent end, while intoxicated by a drink which they had +contrived to make from some of the plants which they found on the +island, thus bringing into this lovely refuge the vice and drunkenness +which beset crowded cities. + +The sorrowful tale has hitherto been all dark, ever growing more gloomy +and hopeless; but now for the first time a faint pencil of light, like +the first streak of dawn, marks the sky, a ray which, like all true +sunshine, comes from heaven and from God. The great and loving Father +had not forgotten the children who had so long forgotten Him; this +little island, so far from the eyes of human watchers was not unseen nor +unregarded by Him. His messengers, the books which tell of Him, were +still there, though forgotten and unread; but the time was now come when +they were to speak again, and were to be heard and obeyed. + +The two remaining mutineers were a sailor named Alexander Smith, or, as +he now called himself, John Adams, and a midshipman named Edward Young. +The midshipman had been well educated, and had learnt above all, in his +childhood, the blessed lessons of God's love, and of the grace of +Christ. These lessons, too long unremembered, now came back to him. +Perhaps he thought of the days when, a young child, he had knelt at his +mother's knee, or standing by her chair, had read one by one, as her +finger slowly pointed them out, the words of the Holy Bible. + +The good seed had lain long in a barren soil, now God in His mercy sent +the rain and sunshine of His grace to cause it to spring up at last. No +sooner had Edward Young begun to desire to return to the Saviour whom he +had left, than he also wished that those around him should be taught of +His love. The helpless women and children were, he felt, a sacred charge +for him and his companion, to teach and guide. + +Accordingly morning and evening prayers were established in the island, +and a sort of school was begun for the children, John Adams being partly +a teacher, partly a scholar, and so preparing to take his comrade's work +when, a little time after this change of heart and life, Edward Young +died, and left his comrade alone on the island with his untaught charge. +He, the only one who had the key to God's book, the only one in whose +memory were stored any lessons of His truth, in whose life lay, as it +seemed, the only hope that this little colony might be saved from all +the cruelty and ignorance of savage life, and added to the number of the +servants of Christ. + + * * * * * + +Nearly twenty-five years had passed since John Adams was left on +Pitcairn's Island, the sole protector and teacher of the women, and of +the young children who were growing up around him. He was himself but a +common sailor, who had enjoyed only a few advantages of education, his +only acquirements the simple lessons which had been taught him in his +boyhood, and a new but straightforward and earnest desire to serve God +in the way which God should teach him, and in penitence and faith to +walk himself and to lead others to walk in the way that leads to +everlasting life. + +But God does not choose only the wise and the great and the strong for +His workmen: often the weak things of the world are chosen to confound +the mighty, and the poor and lowly to do the work of the High and Mighty +One who inhabiteth eternity. + +We have seen how evil passions indulged were like a seed of sin, growing +and spreading into a mighty and poisonous tree. Then there was planted +by its side, through the mercy of God, a germ of good and of life--has +that too lived and spread, or has it withered and died beneath the shade +of evil? + +Two English vessels are approaching the island. At first the crews do +not see it, but as evening draws on, the look-out man in the larger ship +gives the signal that he has caught sight of land. "Land ho, land!" +passes from mouth to mouth among the sailors. What land can it be? No +island, no rock even, is marked on the chart, and the officers gather on +deck to look over the darkening sea toward that darker point where the +new land lies. + +"We may have discovered a new island for King George," says the captain. +"We must lie to till the morning, and then we will sail nearer, and see +this unknown shore." + +The morning comes, and almost before it is day some of the officers are +on deck with their glasses, eagerly looking toward the island, which +they can now see far more plainly. Even without a glass its lofty rocks +and steep precipices can be distinguished. The ships are approaching +nearer and nearer, till now their anchors are dropped, and one of the +captains orders a boat to be prepared. + +"Though I doubt how we shall get her through the surf," he says, +ponderingly; "it is a dangerous coast, and no pilot within hail. People +there too, I see--savages. The men must go well armed. Peters, look to +the loading of the pistols." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Peters, looking, like the rest, towards the +rocks, where groups of people coming and going were to be seen. + +There was evidently great excitement on the island. A ship was a strange +and unusual sight, no doubt. + +Before the ship's boat could be launched, two men were seen to climb the +top of the steep cliff which almost overhung the narrow beach. They, +however, seemed to find no difficulty in their dangerous path, though +each carried on his shoulders a light canoe. The strangers wore some +kind of clothing, but even through the captain's glass it was impossible +to tell of what race they were. + +Dark against the clear sky, the two figures were seen for awhile to +stand gazing steadfastly toward the ship, and then bounded like goats +down the rugged face of the rock, and soon launched their canoes +fearlessly in the angry surf. + +"Haul the boat up, we'll wait and receive these natives on board," says +the captain; and in a few minutes one of the canoes was under the bows +of the ship. + +"Come alongside," shouted a sailor, trusting that his signs and gestures +would explain the meaning of his English words. + +"We have no boat-hook to hold on by," cried in answer the foremost of +their visitors. + +No words can explain the surprise with which the captain and the whole +crew listened to these words spoken in pure English by the supposed +savage. They looked at him and at each other, but no one spoke till the +eager voice was again heard from the boat. + +"Won't you heave us a rope now?" + +A sailor seized and flung one end of a coil of rope, and in a moment +their strange visitor had seized it and climbed fearlessly on deck. + +He was a tall man, young, and almost English-looking, save that his +complexion was tinged by the hot sun of his country; and his whole face +and bearing were those of an educated and civilized man. His dress was a +light vest and short trousers, while his palm-leaf hat was adorned with +a bunch of brilliant feathers. + +"Who are you?" asked the astonished captain, gazing at this strange and +unexpected apparition. + +"I am Thursday October Christian, the son of the mutineer, and there," +pointing to the other canoe, now close to the ship, "is Edward Young." + +The mystery was now explained: the ships had anchored at the island +where the mutineers, long sought in vain, had taken refuge. + +The officers crowded round their visitors, asking question after +question, of their age, the number of people on the island, their habits +and mode of life. + +"Who is your king?" they asked. + +"Why, King George, to be sure," replied Christian, quickly. + +"Have you been taught any religion?" + +"Yes," they replied, "a very good religion; that which the Bible +teaches." + +The young men were led into every part of the ship; they looked with +great interest at the many things they saw around them, the uses and +even the names of which were unknown to them, and their questions showed +much thought and intelligence. + +In the course of the morning they were led to the stalls where the +ship's cows were kept. + +"What immense goats!" cried Christian; "I did not know there were any of +such a size." + +Just then a little dog, belonging to some one on board, attracted the +attention of one of the new-comers. "I know what that is," he said, +"that is a dog, I have read of such things;" and turning to his +companion, "it is a pretty thing to look at, is it not?" + +[Illustration: The Captain's Cabin.] + +When noon came, the two guests were taken into the captain's cabin to +lunch, but before touching the food which was spread before them, they +both folded their hands, and without troubling themselves at all about +the presence of the officers, in the most simple and natural manner +asked God's blessing on all that they should eat and drink. + +Many of those who were present turned away to hide, not a smile, but a +blush of shame that they, the sons of a Christian land, should need to +be reminded of their duty to their God by these half-taught islanders. + +Lunch over, the two captains went on shore, rowed by their guests, to +whose strong and skilful hands they trusted to pilot them safely through +the dangerous surf. + +On the beach they were welcomed by more of the inhabitants, among the +rest by a young girl, the daughter of Adams, who had evidently come to +meet the English strangers in order that she might learn if her father +was in any danger from them, for John Adams was the last remaining +mutineer. Her confidence was restored by the looks and words of the two +captains, as she led them, with light step, up the steep pathway by +which alone the interior of the island could be reached. + +The captains were almost exhausted long before the top was reached, but +their guides seemed to climb as easily as the goats of their own island, +and even the girls were so sure-footed that they were able to help the +strangers up the difficult path. Arriving at the top, a new and +beautiful sight delighted their eyes--a lovely valley, rich in +fruit-bearing trees, and in cultivated fields, in the midst of which was +built an almost English-looking village, with its church and school +house, its cottages and gardens, and all that could speak of a simple, +religious home life. Here they were welcomed by the remaining +inhabitants, with Adams at their head, to whom all looked up as to their +father. Beside him stood his blind Tahitian wife, and around him were +groups of young men and girls with bright, intelligent faces, and smiles +which told of the happiness and innocence of their hearts. + +[Illustration: John Adams and his family. (Page 115.)] + +Whatever the daughter of Adams may have feared in her love for her +father, he himself did not appear afraid to receive these English +visitors to his island refuge. For he felt that as, in the sight of God, +his sin had for Christ's sake been pardoned, so in the eyes of men these +long years of penitence, and of honest endeavor after a better life, +would surely have won pardon for the sins of his youth. It was with +feelings too deep for words that he looked once more on the faces of his +countrymen and heard the English speech from other lips than those to +whom he had taught it. All the memories of early days awoke in him, and +he longed to return once more and see his native land before he died. +But as soon as those round him understood his wish, they seized his +hands, they clung around him, praying him with tears not to desert them, +not to leave his children; and Adams, much moved, promised to remain. +And indeed he would have been sorely missed had he gone, for he was the +chief authority on the island. He it was who each Sunday led the prayers +of the islanders, all assembled around him in the church which they had +built, thinking, as they joined in the words of the service, of their +unknown brethren in the great country beyond the seas. He it was who +explained week by week the words of the Bible to his listening +companions, taught the children, and married the young people. + +It was to Adams that every dispute was referred; all those slight +disagreements which spring up from time to time, but which with the +islanders were never, as they said, more than word-of-mouth quarrels, +and always ended before set of sun. + +The captains, though anxious to linger awhile in this island home, were +obliged to leave next day, and they departed amid the regrets and +farewells of these simple-hearted, affectionate people, a people +Christian in heart as well as in name,--sincere, modest, pure, and +unselfish, whose life seemed to be fashioned on the words of God's Book, +"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things +of others." + +And all this peace and happiness has sprung, under the blessing of God, +from the seeds of His truth sown long, long years before in the hearts +of two English sailors, and from the power of His truth in His written +word, and in the teaching of His Spirit. + + + + +NORFOLK ISLAND. + + +Far distant from the many other islands with which the Southern Pacific +Ocean is studded, one stands alone, rich in natural beauty, and with a +climate almost unrivalled. + +This lovely island was visited by Captain Cook in 1774, and named by him +Norfolk Island; it was then uninhabited, and neither the vegetable nor +the animal world had been disturbed. For about two hundred yards from +the shore, the ground was covered so thickly with shrubs and plants as +scarcely to be penetrable further inland. The account given by Cook led +to an attempt at settlement on Norfolk Island; but this was attended +with difficulty. The island is small, being only about six miles in +length by four in breadth; and was therefore unavailable for a large or +increasing population. Lying nine hundred miles from Port Jackson, in +Australia, it was inconveniently remote from that country; and, worst of +all, its cliffy and rocky shores presented serious dangers to mariners +attempting a landing. Its general unsuitableness, however, for ordinary +colonization, was considered to adapt it as a penal settlement, +subordinate to New South Wales, and to which convicts could be sent who +merited fresh punishment while in course of servitude. Thus, one of the +loveliest of earthly paradises was doomed to be a receptacle for the very +worst of malefactors. It was imagined that the beauty of Norfolk Island, +and the fineness of its climate, would greatly tend to soothe the +depraved minds of its unhappy tenants, and reconcile them to compulsory +expatriation; but such was not the case: the feeling uppermost in the +minds of the convicts was to make their escape; and this, along with +other circumstances, caused the island, after a time, to be abandoned as +a penal settlement. The narrative that follows may be relied upon as a +true relation of facts, and will, it is hoped, afford warning to such as +may be tempted to go astray, and deeply impress those who may be on the +verge of crime, with the danger of their situation, by showing them that +a course of error is a course of misery, ending in consequences the most +afflicting. + +"On the northern side of Norfolk Island, the cliffs rise high, and are +crowned by woods, in which the elegant whitewood and gigantic pine +predominate. A slight indentation of the land affords a somewhat +sheltered anchorage-ground, and an opening in the cliffs has supplied a +way to the beach by a winding road at the foot of the dividing hills. A +stream of water, collected from many ravines, finds its way by a similar +opening to a ledge of rock in the neighborhood, and, falling over in +feathery spray, has given the name of Cascade to this part of the +island. Off this bay, on the morning of the 21st of June, 1842, the brig +_Governor Philip_ was sailing, having brought stores for the use of the +penal establishment. It was one of those bright mornings which this +hemisphere alone knows, when the air is so elastic that its buoyancy is +irresistibly communicated to the spirits. At the foot of the cliff, near +a group of huge fragments of rock fallen from the overhanging cliffs, a +prisoner was sitting close to the sea preparing food for his companions, +who had gone off to the brig the previous evening with ballast, and who +were expected to return at daylight with a load of stores. The surface +of the sea was smooth, and the brig slowly moved on upon its soft blue +waters. Everything was calm and still, when suddenly a sharp but distant +sound as of a gun was heard. The man, who was stooping over the fire +started on his feet, and looked above and around him, unable to +distinguish the quarter from whence the report came. Almost immediately, +he heard the sound repeated, and then distinctly perceived smoke curling +from the vessel's side. His fears were at once excited. Again he +listened; but all was hushed, and the brig still stood steadily in +towards the shore. Nearer and nearer, she approached; until, alarmed for +her safety, the man ran to summon the nearest officer. By the time they +returned, the vessel had wore, and was standing off from the land; but +while they remained in anxious speculation as to the cause of all this, +the firing was renewed on board, and it was evident that some deadly +fray was going on. At length a boat was seen to put off from the brig, +and upon its reaching the shore, the worst fears of the party were +realized. The misguided prisoners on board had attempted to seize the +vessel. They were but twelve in number, unarmed, and guarded by twelve +soldiers, and a crew of eighteen men; yet they had succeeded in gaining +possession of the vessel, and held it for a time, but had been finally +overpowered, and immediate help was required for the wounded and dying. + +"June 21, 1842.--My duty as a clergyman called me to the scene of blood. +When I arrived on the deck of the brig, it exhibited a frightful +spectacle. My heart sickened at the extent of the carnage; and I was +almost sinking with the faintness it produced, when I was roused by a +groan so full of anguish and pain, that for a long time afterwards its +echo seemed to reach me. I found that it came from a man lying further +forward, on whose face the death-dew was standing, yet I could perceive +no wound. Upon questioning him, he moved his hand from his breast, and I +then perceived that a ball had pierced his chest, and could distinctly +hear the air rushing from his lungs through the orifice it had left. I +tore away the shirt, and endeavored to hold together the edges of the +wound until it was bandaged. I spoke to him of prayer, but he soon grew +insensible, and within a short time died in frightful agony. In every +part of the vessel, evidences of the attempt which had ended so fatally +presented themselves, and the passions of the combatants were still +warm. After attending to those who required immediate assistance, I +received the following account of the affair: + +"The prisoners had slept the previous night in a part of the vessel +appropriated for this purpose; but it was without fastening or other +means of securing them below. Two sentries were, however, placed over +the hatchway. The prisoners occasionally came on deck during the night, +for their launch was towing astern, and the brig was standing off and on +until the morning. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the men +were called to work. Two of them were up some time before the rest. They +were struck by the air of negligence which was evident on deck, and +instantly communicated the fact to one or two others. The possibility of +capturing the brig had often been discussed by the prisoners, among +their many other wild plans for escaping from the island, and recently +had been often proposed by them. The thought was told by their looks, +and soon spread from man to man. A few moments were enough; one or two +were roused from sleep, and the intention was hurriedly communicated to +them. It was variously received. One of them distrusted the leader, and +entreated his companions to desist from so mad an attempt. It was +useless; the frenzied thirst for liberty had seized them, and they were +maddened by it. Within a few minutes, they were all on deck; and one of +the leaders rushing at the sentry nearest to him, endeavored to wrest +from him his pistols, one of which had flashed in the pan as he rapidly +presented it, and threw him overboard; but he was subsequently saved. +The arms of the other sentry were demanded, and obtained from him +without resistance. A scuffle now took place with two other soldiers who +were also on the deck, but not on duty, during which one of them jumped +over the vessel's side, and remained for some time in the main-chains; +but upon the launch being brought alongside, he went down into it. The +other endeavored to swim ashore (for by this time the vessel was within +a gun's shot of the rocks;) but, encumbered by his great coat, he was +seen, when within a few strokes of the rock, to raise his hands, and +uttering a faint cry to Heaven for mercy, he instantly sunk. In the +meanwhile, the sergeant in charge of the guard hearing a scuffling +overhead, ran upon deck, and seeing some of the mutineers struggling +with the sentry, shot the nearest of them dead on the spot. He had no +sooner done so than he received a blow on the head, which rendered him +for some time insensible. Little or no resistance was offered by the +sailors; they ran into the forecastle, and the vessel was in the hands +of the mutineers. All the hatches were instantly fastened down, and +every available thing at hand piled upon them. But now, having secured +their opponents, the mutineers were unable to work the brig; they +therefore summoned two of the sailors from below, and placed one of them +at the wheel, while the other was directed to assist in getting the +vessel off. The cockswain, a free man in charge of the prisoners, had at +the first onset taken to the rigging, and remained in the maintop with +one of the men who refused to join in the attack. At this moment, a +soldier who had gone overboard and endeavored to reach the shore, had +turned back, and was seen swimming near the vessel. Woolfe, one of the +convicts, immediately jumped into the boat alongside, and saved him. +Whilst this was the state of things above, the soldiers had forced their +way into the captain's cabin, and continued to fire through the gratings +overhead as often as any of the mutineers passed. In this manner several +of them received wounds. To prevent a continuance of this, a kettle of +hot water was poured from above; and shortly afterwards, a proposal was +made to the captain from the prisoners to leave the vessel in the +launch, provided he handed up to them the necessary supplies. This he +refused; and then all the sailors were ordered from below into the +launch, with the intention of sending them ashore. Continuing to watch +for the ring-leaders, the captain caught a glimpse of one of them +standing aft, and, as he supposed, out of reach. He mounted the cabin +table, and, almost at a venture, fired through the woodwork in the +direction he supposed the man to be standing. The shot was fatal; the +ball struck him in the mouth, and passed through his brain. Terrified at +the death of their comrades, the remainder were panic-struck, and +instantly ran below. One of the leaders sprung over the taffrail, and +eventually reached the launch. The sailor at the wheel, now seeing the +deck almost cleared, beckoned up the captain, and without an effort, the +vessel was again in their possession. In the confusion, a soldier, who +had been in the boat, and was at this moment with the sailors returning +on deck, was mistaken for one of the mutineers, and shot by the +sergeant. The prisoners were now summoned from their place of +concealment. They begged hard for mercy; and upon condition of their +quietly surrendering, it was promised to them. As the first of them, in +reliance upon this assurance, was gaining the deck, by some unhappy +error, he received a ball in his thigh, and fell back again. The rest +refused to stir; but after a few moments' hesitation, another of them +ventured up, was taken aft by the captain, and secured. A third +followed, and, as he came up, he extended his arms and cried: "I +surrender; spare me." Either this motion was mistaken by the soldiers, +or some of them were unable to restrain their passion, for at this +instant the man's head was literally blown off. The captain hastened to +the spot, and received the others, who were secured without further +injury. + +"When we reached the vessel, the dying, dead, and wounded, were lying in +every direction. In the launch astern, we saw the body of one wretched +man who had leaped over the taffrail, and reached the boat badly +wounded; he was seen lying in it when the deck was regained, and was +then pierced through with many balls. Nothing could be more horrible +than his appearance; the distortion of every feature, his clenched +hands, and the limbs which had stiffened in the forms of agony into +which pain had twisted them, were appalling. The countenance of every +man on board bore evidence of the nature of the deadly conflict in which +he had been engaged. In some, sullenness had succeeded to reckless +daring, and exultation to alarm in others. + +"Nothing could have been more desperate than such an attempt to seize +the vessel. The most culpable neglect could alone have encouraged it; +and it is difficult to conceive how it could have succeeded, if anything +like a proper stand had been made by those in charge of her when it +commenced. + +"The wounded were immediately landed, and conveyed to the hospital, and +the dead bodies were afterwards brought on shore. + +"The burial ground is close to the beach. A heavy surf rolls mournfully +over the reef. The moon had just risen, when, in deep and solemn +silence, the bodies of these misguided men were lowered into the graves +prepared for them. Away from home and country, they had found a fearful +termination of a miserable existence. Perhaps ties had still bound them +to the world; friends whom they loved were looking for their return, +and, prodigals though they had been, would have blessed them, and +forgiven their offences. Perhaps even at that sad moment, mothers were +praying for their lost ones, whom in all their infamy they had still +fondly loved. Such thoughts filled my mind; and when a few drops of rain +at that moment descended, I could not help thinking that they fell as +tears from heaven over the guilt and misery of its children. + +"On the morning following the fatal occurrence, I visited the jail in +which the mutineers were confined. The cells were small, but clean and +light. In the first of them, I found George Beavers, Nicholas Lewis, and +Henry Sears. Beavers was crouching in one corner of the cell, and +looking sullen, and in despair. Lewis, who was walking the scanty space +of the cell, seemed to glory in the rattle of his heavy chains; while +Sears was stretched, apparently asleep, upon a grass mat. They were all +heavily ironed, and every precaution had evidently been taken to prevent +escape. + +"In the other cell I found Woolfe and Barry, the latter in much agony +from an old wound in the leg, the pain of which had been aggravated by +the heavy irons which galled it. All the prisoners except Barry and +Woolfe, readily acknowledged their participation in the attempt to seize +the brig, but most solemnly denied any knowledge of a preconcerted plan +to take her; or that they at least had attempted to throw the soldiers +overboard. They were unwilling to be interrupted, and inveighed in the +bitterest manner against some of their companions who had, they seemed +to think, betrayed them, or at least had led them on, and at the moment +of danger had flinched. + +"The names of the surviving mutineers were John Jones, Nicholas Lewis, +Henry Sears, George Beavers, James Woolfe, Thomas Whelan, and Patrick +Barry. + +"The depositions against them having been taken, all the men I have +mentioned, with the exception of Jones and Whelan, who were wounded, +were brought out to hear them read. They listened with calm attention, +but none of them appeared to be much excited. Once only during the +reading, Beavers passionately denied the statements made by one of the +witnesses present, and was with difficulty silenced. His countenance at +that moment was terribly agitated; every bad feeling seemed to mingle in +its passionate expression. They were all young, powerful, and, with one +or two exceptions, not at all ill-looking men. + +"From the jail I proceeded to the hospital, where the wounded men were +lying. They had each received severe wounds in the thigh, and were in +great agony. The violence of Jones was excessive. Weakened in some +degree by the loss of blood, the bitterness of his spirit nevertheless +exhibited itself in passionate bursts of impatience. He was occasionally +convulsed with excessive pain; for the nerves of the thigh had been much +lacerated, and the bone terribly shattered. His features were distorted +with pain and anger, and occasionally bitter curses broke from his lips; +yet there was something about his appearance which powerfully arrested +my attention--an evident marking of intellect and character, repulsive +in its present development, yet in many respects remarkable. His history +had been a melancholy one, and, as illustrative of many thousand others, +I give it as I afterwards received it from his lips. + +"At eleven years of age, he was employed in a warehouse in Liverpool as +an errand-boy. While following this occupation, from which, by +good-conduct, he might have risen to something better, he was met in the +street one day by the lad whom he had succeeded in this employment, and +was told by him how he might obtain money by robbing the warehouse, and +then go with him to the theatre. He accordingly took an opportunity of +stealing some articles which had been pointed out, and gave them to his +companion, who, in disposing of them, was detected, and of course +criminated Jones. After remaining some weeks in jail, Jones was tried, +and acquitted; but his character being now gone, he became reckless, and +commenced a regular career of depredation. In attempting another +warehouse robbery, he was detected, and sentenced to twelve months' +imprisonment. By the time he was released from this, he was well tutored +in crime, and believed that he could now adroitly perform the same +robbery in which he had previously failed. He made the attempt the very +night of his release from jail, and with temporary success. Subsequently, +however, he was detected, and received sentence of transportation for +seven years. He underwent this sentence, and an additional one in Van +Diemen's Land, chiefly at Port Arthur, the most severe of the penal +stations there. From this place he, with Lewis, Moss (who was shot on +board the brig), and Woolfe, having seized a whale-boat, effected their +escape. During three months, they underwent the most extreme hardships +from hunger and exposure. Once they had been without food for several +days, and their last hook was over the boat's side; they were anxiously +watching for a fish. A small blue shark took the bait, and in despair one +of them dashed over the boat's side to seize the fish; his leg was caught +by one of the others, and they succeeded in saving both man and hook. +They eventually reached Twofold Bay, on the coast of New South Wales, and +were then apprehended, conveyed to Sydney, and thence sent back to Van +Diemen's Land; tried, and received sentence of death; but this was +subsequently commuted to transportation for life to Norfolk Island. + +"Jones often described to me the intense misery he had undergone during +his career. He had never known what freedom was, and yet incessantly +longed for it. All alike confessed the unhappiness of their career. Having +made the first false step into crime, they acknowledged that their minds +became polluted by the associations they formed during imprisonment. Then +they were further demoralized by thinking of the _glory_--such miserable +glory!--attending a trial; and the hulks and the voyage out gave them a +finished criminal training. The extent of punishment many of them have +undergone during the period of transportation is almost incredible. I have +known men whose original sentence of seven years has been extended over +three times that period, and who, in addition to other punishment, have +received five thousand or six thousand lashes! + +"After many solemn interviews with the mutineers, I found them gradually +softening. They became more communicative, and extremely anxious to +receive instruction. I think I shall never forget one of the earliest of +these visits to them. I first saw Sears, Beavers, and Jones. After a +long and interesting conversation with them, we knelt together, and I +offered prayer. When we arose, I perceived that each of them had been +shedding tears. It was the first time I had seen them betray any such +emotion, and I cannot tell how glad I felt; but when I proceeded +afterwards to read to them the first chapter of Isaiah, I had scarcely +uttered that most exquisite passage in the second verse--"I have +nourished and brougth up children, and they have rebelled against +me,"--when the claims of God, and _their_ violation and rejection of +them; His forbearance, and _their_ ingratitude, appeared to overwhelm +them; they sobbed aloud, and were thoroughly overpowered. + +"For a considerable time we talked together of the past, the wretched +years they had endured, the punishments, and the crimes which had led to +them, until they seemed to feel most keenly the folly of their sad +career. We passed on to contrast the manner in which their lives had +been spent, with what God and society required from them; their +miserable preversion of God's gifts, with the design for which He gave +them, until we were led on to speak of hope and of faith; of Him who +"willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from +his wickedness and live;" and then the Saviour's remonstrance seemed to +arrest them--"Ye will not come to me that ye might have life;" until at +length the influences of the Holy Spirit were supplicated with +earnestness and solemnity. These instructions and such conversations +were daily repeated; and henceforth each time I saw them, I perceived a +gradual but distinct unfolding of the affections and the understanding. + +"August.--The wounded men are much recovered, and the whole of the +mutineers are now confined together in a large ward of the jail. They +have long received extreme kindness from the commandant, and are +literally bewildered at finding that even this last act has not +diminished the exercise of his benevolence. That anybody should care for +them, or take such pains about them after their violent conduct excited +surprise at first almost amounting to suspicion; but this at length gave +place to the warmest gratitude. They were, in fact, subdued by it. They +read very much, are extremely submissive, and carefully avoid the +slightest infringement of the prison regulations. At first, all this was +confined to the three men I have mentioned; but their steady consistency +of conduct, and the strange transformation of character, so evident in +them, gradually arrested the attention of the others, and eventually led +to a similar result. + +"They will be detained here until the case has been decided by the +authorities in Sydney. They will probably be tried by a commission sent +from thence to the island for the purpose. Formerly, however, prisoners +charged with capital offences here were sent up for trial; but (it is a +horrible fact) this was found to lead to so much crime, that, at much +inconvenience and expense, it was found absolutely necessary to send +down a judicial commission on each important occasion, in order to +prevent it. The mere excitement of a voyage, with the chances connected +with it, nay, merely a wish to get off the island even for a time, led +many men to commit crimes of the deepest dye in order to be sent to +Sydney for trial. + +"Two months, therefore, at least must intervene between the perpetration +of the offence and their trial; and this interval is usually employed in +similar cases in arranging a defence but too commonly supported by +perjury. In the present instance, I found not the slightest attempt to +follow such a course. They declare that they expect death, and will +gladly welcome it. Of their life, which has been a course of almost +constant warfare with society, ending in remorseful feelings, they were +all thoroughly weary, although only one of them exceeds thirty years of +age. + +"In addition to the ordinary services, Captain Maconochie, each Sunday +afternoon has read prayers to them, and has given permission to a few of +their friends to be present. Singular good has resulted from it, both to +the men and those who join in their devotions. At the conclusion of one +of these services, Sears stood up, and with his heart so full as +scarcely to allow him utterance, to the surprise of every person there, +he addressed most impressively the men who were present. 'Perhaps,' said +he, 'the words of one of yourselves, unhappily circumstanced as I am, +may have some weight with you. You all know the life I have led; it has, +believe me, been a most unhappy one; and I have, I hope not too late, +discovered the cause of this. I solemnly tell you that it is because I +have broken God's laws. I am almost ashamed to speak, but I dare not be +silent. I am going to tell you a strange thing. I never before was +happy; I begin now, for the first time in my life, to _hope_. I am an +ignorant man, or at least I was so; but I thank God I begin to see +things in their right light now. I have been unhappily placed from my +childhood, and have endured many hardships. I do not mention this to +excuse my errors; yet if I had years since received the kindness I have +done here, it might have been otherwise. My poor fellows, do turn over a +new leaf; try to serve God, and you, too, will be happier for it.' The +effect was most thrilling; there was a deathlike silence; tears rolled +down many cheeks, which I verily believe never before felt them; and +without a word more, all slowly withdrew. + +"This man's story is also a common, but painful one. At fifteen years of +age, he was transported for life as an accomplice in an assault and +alleged robbery, of which, from circumstances which have since +transpired, I have little doubt he was entirely innocent. During a long +imprisonment on Horsham jail, he received an initiation in crime, which +was finished during the outward voyage. Upon his arrival in New South +Wales, he was assigned to a settler in the interior, a notoriously hard +and severe man, who gave him but a scanty supply of food and clothing, +and whose aim seemed to be to take the utmost out of him at the least +possible expense. Driven at length to desperation, he, with three +fellow-servants, absconded; and when taken, made a complaint to the +magistrate, before whom they were brought almost without clothes. Their +statements were found to be literally correct; but for absconding, they +were sent to New Castle, one of the penal stations of New South Wales, +where Sears remained nearly two years. At the expiration of that time, +he was again assigned, but unfortunately to a man, if possible, worse +than his former employer, and again absconded. For this offence, he was +sent to Moreton Bay, another penal settlement, and endured three years +of horrible severity, starvation, and misery of every kind. His temper +was by this time much soured; and, roused by the conduct of the +overseers, he became brutalized by constant punishment for resisting +them. After this, he was sent to Sydney, as one of the crew in the +police-boat, of which he was soon made assistant cockswain. For not +reporting a theft committed by one of the men under his charge, he was +sentenced to a road-party; and attempting to escape from it, he was +apprehended, and again ordered to Moreton Bay for four years more. There +he was again repeatedly flogged for disobedience and resistance of +overseers, as well as attempting to escape; but having most courageously +rendered assistance to a vessel wrecked off the harbor, he attracted the +attention of the commandant, who afterwards shewed him a little favor. +This was the first approach to kindness he had known since when, years +before, he had left his home, and had its usual influence. He was never +again in a scrape there. His good-conduct induced the commandant to +recommend him for a mitigation of sentence, which he received, and he +was again employed in the police-boat. The free cockswain of the boat +was, however, a drunkard, and intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes he +roused the men by his violence, but Sears contrived to subdue his +passion. At length, one night, returning to the hut, drunk, the man +struck at one of the crew with his cutlass, and the rest resisted and +disarmed him. But the morning came; the case was heard; their story was +disbelieved; and upon the charge and evidence of the aggressor, they +were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the public roads. When Sears +again became eligible for assignment, a person whom he had known in +Sydney applied for him. The man must be removed within a fixed period +after the authority is given. In this case, application was made a day +beyond the prescribed time, and churlishly refused. The disappointment +roused a spirit so untutored as his, and once again he absconded; was of +course apprehended, tried, and being found with a man who had committed +a robbery, and had a musket in his possession, was sent to Norfolk +Island for life. This sentence has, however, for meritorious conduct, +been reduced to fourteen years; and his ready assistance during a fire +which recently broke out in the military garrison here, might possibly +have helped to obtain a still further reduction. He never, during those +abscondings, was absent for any long period, and never committed any act +of violence. His constant attempt seems to have been to reach Sydney, in +order to effect his escape from the scene of so much misery. + +"For some time past, I have noticed his quiet and orderly conduct, and +was really sorry when I found him concerned in this unhappy affair. His +desire for freedom was, however, most ardent, and a chance of obtaining +it was almost irresistible. He has since told me that a few words kindly +spoken to himself and others by Captain Maconochie when they landed, +sounded so pleasantly to him--such are his own words--that he determined +from that moment he would endeavor to do well. He assures me that he was +perfectly unconscious of a design to take the brig, until awakened from +his sleep a few minutes before the attack commenced; that he then +remonstrated with the men; but finding it useless, he considered it a +point of honor not to fail them. His anxiety for instruction is intense; +he listens like a child; and his gratitude is most touching. He, +together with Jones, Woolfe, and Barry, were chosen by the commandant as +a police-boat's crew; and had, up to this period, acted with great +steadiness and fidelity in the discharge of the duties required from +them. Nor do I think they would even now, tempting as the occasion was, +have thought of seizing it, had it not been currently reported that they +were shortly to be placed under a system of severity such as they had +already suffered so much from. + +"Woolfe's story of himself is most affecting. He entered upon evil +courses when very young; was concerned in burglaries when only eleven +years of age. Yet this was from no natural love of crime. Enticed from +his home by boys older than himself, he soon wearied of the life he led, +and longed to return to his home and his kind mother. Oftentimes he +lingered near the street she lived in. Once he had been very unhappy, +for he had seen his brother and sister that day pass near him, and it +had rekindled all his love for them. They appeared happy in their +innocence; he was miserable in his crime. He now determined to go home +and pray to be forgiven. The evening was dark and wet, and as he entered +the court in which his friends lived, his heart failed him, and he +turned back; but, unable to resist the impulse, he again returned, and +stole under the window of the room. A rent in the narrow curtain enabled +him to see within. His mother sat by the fire, and her countenance was +so sad, that he was sure she thought of him; but the room looked so +comfortable, and the whole scene was so unlike the place in which he had +lately lived, that he could no longer hesitate. He approached the door; +the latch was almost in his hand, when shame and fear, and a thousand +other vile and foolish notions, held him back; and the boy who in +another moment might have been happy--_was lost_. He turned away, and I +believe he has never seen them since. Going on in crime, he in due +course of time was transported for robbery. His term of seven years +expired in Van Diemen's Land. Released from forced servitude, he went a +whaling-voyage, and was free nearly two years. Unhappily, he was then +charged with aiding in a robbery, and again received a sentence of +transportation. He was sent to Port Arthur, there employed as one of the +boat's crew, and crossing the bay one day with a commissariat-officer, +the boat was capsized by a sudden squall. In attempting to save the life +of the officer, he was seized by his dying grasp, and almost perished +with him; but extricating himself, he swam back to the boat. Seeing the +drowning man exhausted, and sinking, he dashed forward again, diving +after him, and happily succeeded in saving his life. For this honorable +act, he would have received a remission of sentence; but ere it could +arrive, he and five others made their escape. He had engaged with these +men in the plan to seize the boat, and although sure of the success of +the application in his favor, he could not now draw back. The result I +have already shewn. There were two more men concerned in the mutiny, +who, with those I have mentioned, and those killed on board the brig, +made up the number of the boat's crew. But neither of these men came +under my charge, being both Roman Catholics. + +"At length the brig, which had been despatched with an account of the +affair, returned, and brought the decision of the governor of New South +Wales. He had found it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to obtain +fitting members for the commission, who would be willing to accept the +terms proposed by the government, or trust themselves in this dreadful +place, and therefore he had determined that the prisoners should be sent +up for trial. The men were sadly disappointed at this arrangement. They +wished much to end their days here, and they dreaded both the voyage and +the distracting effect of new scenes. They cling, too, with grateful +attachment to the commandant's family, and the persons who, during their +long imprisonment, had taken so strong an interest in their welfare. I +determined to accompany them, and watch for their perseverance in +well-doing, that I might counsel and strengthen them under the fearful +ordeal I could not doubt they would have to pass. + +"The same steady consistency marked the conduct of these men to the +moment of their embarkation. There was a total absence of all +excitement; one deep, serious feeling seemed to possess them, and its +solemnity was communicated to all of us. They spoke and acted as men +standing on the confines of the unseen world, and who not only thought +of its wonders, but, better still, seemed to have caught something of +its spirit and purity. + +"November.--The voyage up was a weary, and, to the prisoners, a very +trying one. In a prison on the lower deck of a brig of one hundred and +eighty-two tons, fifty-two men were confined. The place itself was about +twenty feet square, of course, low, and badly ventilated. The men were +all ironed, and fastened to a heavy chain rove through iron rings let +into the deck, so that they were unable, for any purpose, to move from +the spot they occupied; scarcely, indeed, to lie down. The weather was +also unfavorable. The vessel tossed and pitched most fearfully during a +succession of violent squalls, accompanied by thunder and lightning. I +cannot describe the wretchedness of these unhappy convicts; sick, and +surrounded by filth, they were huddled together in the most disgusting +manner. The heat was at times unbearable. There were men of sixty--quiet +and inoffensive old men--placed with others who were as accomplished +villains as the world could produce. These were either proceeding to +Sydney, their sentences on the island having expired, or as witnesses in +another case (a bold and wicked murder) sent there also for trial. The +sailors on board the brig were for the most part the cowardly fellows +who had so disgracefully allowed the brig to be taken from them; and +they, as well as the soldiers on guard (some of them formed a part of +the former one), had no very kindly feeling towards the mutineers. It +may be imagined, therefore, that such feelings occasioned no alleviation +of their condition. In truth, although there was no actual cruelty +exhibited, they suffered many oppressive annoyances; yet I never saw +more patient endurance. It was hard to bear, but their better principles +prevailed. Upon the arrival of the vessel in Sydney, we learned that the +case had excited an unusual interest. Crowds assembled to catch a +glimpse of the men as they landed; and while some applauded their +daring, the great majority very loudly expressed their horror at the +crime of which they stood accused. + +"I do not think it necessary to describe the trial, which took place in +a few days after landing. All were arraigned except Barry. The +prisoners' counsel addressed the jurors with powerful eloquence; but it +was in vain: the crime was substantiated; and the jury returned a +verdict of guilty against all of the prisoners, recommending Woolfe to +mercy. + +"During the whole trial, the prisoners' conduct was admirable; so much +so, indeed, as to excite the astonishment of the immense crowd collected +by curiosity to see men who had made so mad an attempt for liberty. They +scarcely spoke, except once to request that the wounded man, who yet +suffered much pain, might be allowed to sit down. Judgment was deferred +until the following day. When they were then placed at the bar, the +judge, in the usual manner, asked whether they had any reason to urge +why sentence should not be pronounced upon them. It was a moment of deep +solemnity; every breath was held; and the eyes of the whole court were +directed towards the dock. Jones spoke in a deep, clear voice, and in a +deliberate harangue pointed out some defects in the evidence, though +without the slightest hope, he said, of mitigating the sentence now to +be pronounced on himself and fellows. Three of the others also spoke. +Whelan said, 'that he was not one of the men properly belonging to the +boat's crew, but had been called upon to fill the place of another man, +and had no knowledge of any intention to take the vessel, and the part +he took on board was forced upon him. He was compelled to act as he had +done; he had used no violence, nor was he in any way a participator in +any that had been committed.' At the conclusion of the address to them, +Jones, amidst the deep silence of the court, pronounced a most emphatic +prayer for mercy on his own soul, and those of his fellow-prisoners, for +the judge and jury, and finally for the witnesses. Sentence of death was +then solemnly pronounced upon them all; but the judge informed Woolfe +that he might hold out to him expectations that his life would be +spared. They were then removed from the bar, and sent back to the +condemned cells. + +"I cannot say how much I dreaded my interview with them that day; for +although I had all along endeavored to prepare their minds for the worst +result, and they had themselves never for a moment appeared to expect +any other than this, I feared that the realization of their sad +expectation would break them down. Hitherto, there might have been some +secret hope sustaining them. The convulsive clinging to life, so common +to all of us, would now, perhaps, be more palpably exhibited. + +"Entering their cells, I found them, as I feared, stunned by the blow +which had now fallen on them, and almost overpowered by mental and +bodily exhaustion. A few remarks about the trial were at length made by +them; and from that moment I never heard them refer to it again. There +was no bitterness of spirit against the witnesses, no expression of +hostility towards the soldiers, no equivocation in any explanation they +gave. They solemnly denied many of the statements made against them; +but, nevertheless, the broad fact remained, that they were guilty of an +attempt to violently seize the vessel, and it was useless debating on +minor considerations. + +"In the meantime, without their knowledge, petitions were prepared and +forwarded to the judges, the governor and executive council. In them +were stated various mitigatory facts in their favor; and the meliorated +character of the criminal code at home was also strongly urged. Every +attention was paid to these addresses, following each other to the last +moment. But all was in vain. The council sat, and determined that five +of the men should be hanged on the following Tuesday. Whelan, who could +have no previous knowledge of a plan to seize the vessel, together with +Woolfe, was spared. The remaining four were to suffer. The painful +office of communicating this final intelligence to these men was +intrusted to me, and they listened to the announcement not without deep +feeling, but still with composure. + +"It would be very painful for me to dwell on the closing scene. The +unhappy and guilty men were attended by the zealous chaplain of the +jail, whose earnest exhortations and instructions they most gratefully +received. The light of truth shone clearly on the past, and they felt +that their manifold lapses from the path of virtue had been the original +cause of the complicated misery they had endured. They entreated +forgiveness of all against whom they had offended, and in the last words +to their friends, were uttered grateful remembrances to Captain +Maconochie, his family, and others. At the place of execution, they +behaved with fortitude and a composure befitting the solemnity of the +occasion. Having retired from attendance upon them in their last +moments, I was startled from the painful stupor which succeeded in my +own mind, by the loud and heavy bound of the drop as it fell, and told +me that their spirits had gone to God who gave them." + +Since the foregoing narrative was written, the treatment of convicts has +undergone considerable change, government having found the experiment of +transporting the worse class of criminals from New South Wales to +Norfolk Island to be a failure. The penal settlement was therefore +broken up in 1855, and convicts are now confined in different +establishments in the United Kingdom, where, without subjecting them to +absolute silence or solitude, they are separated from the contaminating +society of each other. Under the present system, it is a fixed principle +never to allow, if at all possible, the punishment--while it may be made +to any extent disagreeable--to injure either the body or the mind. + + + + +THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. + + +It was at the time Queen Anne began to reign, and her ships were +carrying the English flag into all seas, for commerce, for discovery, or +for war, when one of these vessels, called the _Clinque Ports_, put in +to refit at the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, on the west coast +of South America. + +It was but a small island, though fertile and pleasant; it had not been +tilled or planted, neither had any place of shelter been built upon it, +but sometimes two or three sick sailors had been left there to recover +health, and sometimes a passing ship would put in for water, and +departing leave one or two of their live-stock on the island. It had +thus become stocked with goats, which ran wild about the hills and +craggy rocks, free from any danger of pursuit and capture. + +This was not the first time that the _Clinque Ports_ had touched at Juan +Fernandez, for not long before she had left there two seamen who were +unable to continue their voyage, and now she had anchored to reship +these men, to take in water, and to refit for the long and perilous +voyage to the English shore. + +The two seamen, coming on board, told strange stories to their comrades +of the pleasant life they had led on the island, of the hunt for goats, +of the abundance of shell-fish, of the delicious fruits and vegetables, +and of the cool waters of the place. + +Of all the eager listeners to these tales of plenty and delight, there +was one who never failed to fasten on each word that was said, and by +constant questioning, to learn every detail of the life on the green +island which lay before them. This sailor was a Scotsman, named +Alexander Selkirk or Selcraig. He was of an impatient, overbearing +temper, and no favorite with his captain, who was not wise enough to +discern the good sense and honesty which lay hidden under his rough and +uncourteous manner. Thus it chanced that the Scotch Sailor was often in +trouble and disgrace, and resenting bitterly a harshness he did not +think he had deserved, he began to long to leave the ship at any cost. + +But perhaps the beginning of his misery and discomfort must be sought +farther back in his life. His surly speech, his unsocial temper, spoke +of a mind ill at ease,--the remembrance of the past made the present +sad. + +He had been religiously and strictly brought up by his father, a Scotch +Puritan, but he had broken loose from the restraints which his parents +sought to throw around him, and had led, if not a vicious, at least an +irreligious life, without thought of God, or of the lessons of truth and +goodness which he had been taught. Yet his conscience was not so +hardened that he could be happy in this neglect of God, and he felt ill +at ease, dissatisfied with himself, and with all around him. + +He shrank, too, from the prospect of the voyage to England in a vessel +but half repaired, exaggerating to his own mind the perils before him, +and fearful of his own temper with his hard and prejudiced commander. + +Weighing all these things, he determined on asking the captain to set him +on shore, that he might wait at Juan Fernandez the passing of some other +ship in which he might return home. The captain agreed to this proposal +willingly enough, glad to dismiss from his crew so insubordinate a +sailor; and just before the _Clinque Ports_ was about to weigh anchor, +the adventurous seaman was sent on shore with the few things that +belonged to him. He sprang from the boat almost before her keel had +grazed the sand, wishing to appear gay and brave to his companions; but +no sooner did the splash of oars begin to grow faint and distant, and the +faces of the boatmen indistinct as they neared the ship, than all his +courage forsook him. With outstretched hands, and frantic words and +gestures, he implored them to return, promising to bear everything, to +risk everything, if only he might not be left alone on the lonely island. +But he cried in vain; the boat reached the ship, the men climbed on +board, the sails were hoisted, and there on his sea-chest, sat the lonely +sailor, gazing over the wide ocean, on which nothing but the lessening +speck of white on the far horizon reminded him of the existence of any +human being but himself. + +Days passed almost uncounted, for in his desolate misery Alexander +Selkirk had but one thought left--the longing desire of rescue and +return home. He valued the daylight only because by its aid he could +watch for a sail on the wide, silent sea; he dreaded the coming on of +the night, chiefly because it shut him off for a time from his one +employment. During these dreary days or weeks he never tasted food, save +when driven to look for it by pangs of sharpest hunger, and even then he +would not leave the beach, but fed on shell-fish picked up on the rocks, +or sometimes on the flesh of seals. + +It was September when the _Clinque Ports_ sailed, and now October had +come, the middle of spring in Juan Fernandez, and, all round him, nature +spoke of hope, and taught of God. But before hope could enter into +Alexander's desolate heart, sorrow must come: sorrow for sin, for his +disobedience to the parents whom he had made unhappy; for his reckless, +godless life; for all the teachings of his youth forgotten, and for its +lessons neglected. Sometimes, for a few minutes, Alexander would turn +his eyes from his eager watch over the sea, and looking down, would +picture instead his Scottish home. He would see clearly in his mind his +venerable father, with his furrowed brow, and stern, unsmiling mouth; +his mother, in her tall white cap, busied at her wheel, with a far-away, +mournful look in her eyes, which told that she was thinking of her +absent son. Ah! and he saw again even his poor idiot brother, to whom he +had only used harsh words, and even rough blows. "I would be so +different now if it should please God ever to let me see home and my +dear ones again," he thought. And so has many a poor prodigal thought as +he has been compelled to suffer the punishment for his sins, and found +no way to escape from it. + +Little by little, there grew up in his heart the purpose of beginning +even now this new life. He would not wait till his return to England. In +this lonely island, with half the world between him and all he loved, he +would strive to be one with them in heart, and to join with them in +prayer and praise. He would seek pardon for the sins of his youth for +the Saviour's sake, and in His strength, begin life anew. He had a Bible +with him in his chest, and he began to read it daily, and in earnest +prayer to seek forgiveness and blessing; then, even in his loneliness, +comfort came to him. He was no longer alone, for God was with him. He +knew that God was his Father, his Helper, and his Keeper, and he grew +calm, almost happy, and was even able sometimes to leave his look-out +over the sea, and make little journeys into the interior of his new +kingdom. + +As his mind became more peaceful, he turned his thoughts to the question +of a shelter from the storms of the approaching winter, which, even in +that mild climate, was often accompanied with frost and snow. There were +plenty of trees on the island, and with their stems and branches he soon +built for himself a rough hut, which he thatched with long grass cut and +dried in the sun. This attempt was so successful that he determined to +build another hut at a short distance, so that he might sleep in one, +and in the other, prepare his food. Now that he had once looked in the +face the thought of spending the winter in the island, he grew, slowly, +more reconciled to it, and began to take an interest in preparing, as +far as he could, for its approach. + +His huts must be furnished in some fashion; first, he brought up from +the shore his sea-chest, which contained his few clothes; then he cut +and fastened up a shelf on which to keep his Bible and the other books +which he had brought on shore. He had with him a large cooking-pot in +which to prepare his food, and a smaller drinking-can which he had +brought, most likely, from home, and which bore the old-fashioned +inscription, "Alexander Selkirk, this is my one." It was needful to make +for himself a bed, for hitherto he had slept on the beach, so that at +the first moment of opening his eyes he might begin his watch over the +sea: now he must sleep in his hut. + +This bed he determined to make of the skins of goats, for he had begun +to hunt the wild goats for food, having by this time wearied of his diet +of fish. At first he was able only to overtake and capture the young +kids, for he had no gun, no bow and arrow with which to kill them at a +distance; then as exercise and practice increased his strength, he found +himself able to pursue and take the largest and swiftest goats, and +having killed them, to carry them on his shoulders to his hut. But as +goat's flesh, his principal food, could only be obtained by him while he +remained in full strength and vigor, he determined to provide a store in +case of illness or accident, and so, catching several young kids, he +slightly lamed them, so that they could move but slowly, and then +trained them to feed around his hut, and these gentle creatures, who +soon learned to know him, brought some sense of companionship to the +lonely man. + +His life began now to have its regular duties and interests. In the +morning when he rose, he sang one of the old Scotch psalms, after the +practice which he had been taught from childhood, and then read aloud a +chapter of the Bible, and prayed long and fervently. + +Then he betook himself to light a fire by rubbing together two dry +sticks till a flame was produced, and this fire he fed from time to time +with branches and logs from the woods. He had also, his food to obtain +and to cook--goat's flesh or cray-fish, which he boiled in his large +sauce-pan; and to gather the tender tops of the cabbage-palm or other +vegetables, for bread. These necessary employments finished, he would +take his Bible, and, sitting in the door of his hut, or on the beach, +would study it for hours, finding new truths and deeper meaning in the +blessed words familiar to him from his childhood. Or he would choose one +of his books on navigation, and study with a care which he had never +before thought it worth while to give, hoping in this way to be a better +sailor, and be able to take higher rank in the service, if it should +please God to restore him once more to the duties and work of life. In +this regular, peaceful, and religious life his spirits gradually +recovered; nay, he became far happier than he had been since his +childhood, for something of the trust and the love of a little child +were restored to his heart. + +He would adorn his hut with fragrant boughs, and as he fed and caressed +his kids, would sing with a light heart the songs of old Scotland. Then +at set of sun he returned to the hut in which he slept, and there once +more sang, and read, and prayed, and so lay down to sleep in peace, +because he knew that it was the Lord only that made him dwell in safety. + +"I was a better Christian in my solitude than ever I was before, or than +I fear I shall ever be again," he said, years after he had left the +island. In this there was both truth and error. He had been led by the +merciful goodness of God to repentance and to an earnest desire to +escape from sin, but it was in the life among his fellows that this +repentance and these new resolves--must be tested. It was in the daily +little trials and crosses of a life among other men, that he must learn +to subdue his proud spirit, and curb his hot temper. + +Months and even years passed on, and but little happened to vary +Alexander's quiet life in his island home. He had now a large number of +kids around his hut, and had added to his list of favorites several +tamed cats, which he needed to protect him from the troop of rats which +gnawed his bed-clothes, and even nibbled at his feet as he lay asleep. +He had taught the kids and cats, too, to dance, and many a merry hour he +spent among these his daily companions and friends. The clothes which he +had brought on shore had been long since worn out, and he had supplied +their place by a cap, and trousers, and jacket, made of goat-skin. His +needle was a nail, and his thread thin strips of the skin; among his +stores was a piece of linen, and this too he had sewn into shirts, +unravelling one of his stockings for a supply of thread. He was +barefoot, and the soles of his feet had grown so hard that he could +climb sharp crags, and run over the stony beach, unhurt. + +[Illustration: A narrow escape.] + +Twice or thrice during these lonely years he had seen a sail +approaching, but on these he looked with as much terror as hope, for +should the crew prove to be Spaniards, he knew that he should be made a +prisoner by them, and either put to death, or sent into hopeless +slavery. + +Once, indeed, the crew of a Spanish vessel, putting in for water, had +caught sight of the strange figure in the goat-skin dress, and had +chased him, but so swift-footed was he that he soon left his pursuers +far behind, and then lay hid in terror for hours, till the vessel had +departed. His life had been besides in other danger, for once while +pursuing the hunt from crag to crag, in wild and delightful adventure, +he had set foot on the hidden edge of a precipice: the grass which +seemed to promise so fair a footing gave way beneath his feet, he fell +headlong, and lay hurt and senseless below. He judged by the size of the +moon, when at last he opened his eyes to consciousness, that he must +have been lying stunned and helpless for more than twenty-four hours, +and it was with the greatest pain and difficulty that he could drag +himself to his hut, and lie down on his bed of skins. His tame favorites +came about him but none of them could help him, and he was too weak to +care to procure for himself food or water. But even in his great +distress he did not lose his confidence in God, and he lay calm and +patient, satisfied that he was safe in the care of his Heavenly Father. +After many days of suffering he recovered and once more enjoyed full +health and vigor. + +He had been alone on Juan Fernandez for more than four years when one +evening, looking out seaward before lying down in his hut, he saw the +sails of an English-built vessel which was standing in very near to the +shore. Alexander could not resist the sudden and strong desire which he +felt, to be once more among his fellow-men, to hear once more the +English speech, and feel once more the grasp of a friendly hand. +Hurrying down to the beach, he piled and lighted a large bonfire, to +carry a message to his fellow-countrymen, but the ship, instead of +sailing shoreward, or of putting off a boat at once, tacked and went +farther from the island, taking the fire to be the lights of an enemy's +ship at anchor in the bay. + +Alexander spent the night in hope and in doubt: he killed some goats and +prepared them for food, hoping the next day to entertain some of his +countrymen in his island home, and at the first dawn of day he was again +on the beach, gazing at the now distant but motionless ship. + +Those on board were also keeping an anxious watch, but when morning +light showed them that there was no other ship near, the captain +determined to send a boat on shore to discover the cause of the strange +light which they had seen the night before. As they approached the +island they saw a strange figure running to meet them, and by gestures +and shouts pointing out the best place for landing. Alexander, with his +long beard, his tanned complexion, his goat-skin dress, had lost almost +all outward resemblance to a civilized man, and they wondered much who +this friendly and solitary savage might be. + +But who can describe his joy when he heard once more the speech of his +own country, and looked on the faces of his kind. He welcomed his +visitors in the best English he could remember, for even his speech was +half forgotten, and led them to his hut to partake of the banquet he had +prepared. + +Yet in the midst of all his joy he could hardly determine to leave his +beloved island, so accustomed had he grown to solitude, and to his wild, +uncontrolled life. At length the remembrance of his aged parents, and of +his friends at home, made him determine to ask a passage in the ship +which had touched on his island shore, and the captain, finding how much +he had learnt of seamanship and navigation, offered to rate him as mate. +And thus Juan Fernandez was left once more in utter solitude, and +Selkirk, gazing from the ship's deck, saw its green hills and pleasant +coasts disappear in the distance, as he left the island and all its sad, +its sacred, its happy memories forever. He soon grew tired of the +society of men, and when not busy about the ship, would always seek to +be alone, dreaming of the life which he had left. He found it hard, too, +to accustom himself to the salt meat and biscuits which were sailors' +fare, and to the dress and boots in which he must now appear. Soon every +other thought was lost in his longing desire to see once more his +parents and his home, for the shores of England were in sight. It was on +a Sunday morning that the wanderer entered once more his native village, +where all seemed quiet and unchanged. He did not turn his steps to his +father's cottage, for his parents, as he well knew, would be at the +kirk, and there would he look on their faces once more. Would they +recognize, he asked himself, in the strong and bearded man, the youth +who had left them years ago for the life of adventure which he loved +best? Would they know the fine gentleman in gold lace and embroidery to +be their son Alexander, their lost sailor lad. Pondering such thoughts +as these, he walked on almost unconsciously. How well he knew every step +of his way! In this farmhouse, his sister and her husband used to live; +there was the wood where he had so often gathered nuts, or climbed for +birds' nests with his boyish companions; there, its thatched roof more +lichen-covered than of old, stood his father's cottage, at the door of +which years ago he had kissed his mother for the last time--ah! was she +still alive to welcome the returning wanderer? + +Seated in the kirk among unfamiliar faces, his eyes sought at once the +well-known corner where, as a boy, he had been used to sit, and with an +almost overwhelming rush of thankfulness and joy he saw once more his +mother's face, the same, yet changed, its added wrinkles and silvered +hair telling, perhaps, of many tears and long sorrow for her lost sailor +son. + +There sat his father, too, the portly, respectable-looking elder, in +blue cap and coat of homespun tweed. In vain did Alexander seek to join +in the psalm or prayer, his looks and thoughts were ever wandering; and +he was not alone in this, for the dark eyes of his old mother turned +continually with an eager, inquiring gaze to the grand stranger +gentleman, strange yet so familiar. Then her eyes were cast down once +more on her book, as she tried to give heed to the service, till at last +a sudden smile which lit up Alexander's face, showed her that she saw +before her the son for whom she had longed and prayed, whom no doubt she +had before this counted as among the dead. In her sudden joy the old +woman forgot all else, and rising, rushed towards the place where the +returned wanderer was seated. + +The whole family, with Alexander in their midst, now made their way out +of the kirk, and returned home to talk of the great deliverance which +God had given to their lost kinsman. + +On this true story of Selkirk was founded the tale of the Adventures of +Robinson Crusoe. + + + + +CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. + + +The discovery of a supposed north-west passage from the North Atlantic +to the North Pacific Oceans, had for many years been ardently sought +for, both by the English and the Dutch. Frobisher, in 1576, made the +first attempt, and his example was in succeeding times followed by many +others. But though much geographical information had been gained in the +neighborhood of Hudson's Bay, Davis' Strait, Baffin's Bay, and the coast +of Greenland, yet no channel whatever was found. By act of parliament, +£20,000 was offered to the successful individual. But though Captain +Middleton, in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, in 1746, explored +those seas and regions, the object remained unattained. The Honorable +Captain Phipps (afterwards Earl Mulgrave) was sent out in the +_Racehorse_, accompanied by Captain Lutwidge, in the _Carcase_ (Lord +Nelson was a boy in this latter ship), to make observations, and to +penetrate as far as it was practicable to do so. They sailed June 2, +1773, and made Spitzbergen on the 28th; but after great exertions, they +found the ice to the northward utterly impenetrable. Once they became +closely jammed, and it was only with great difficulty they escaped +destruction. On August 22, finding it impossible to get further to the +northward, eastward, or westward, they made sail, according to their +instructions, for England, and arrived off Shetland on September 7. + +Notwithstanding these numerous failures, the idea of an existing passage +was still cherished; and Earl Sandwich continuing at the head of the +Admiralty, resolved that a further trial should be made, and Captain +Cook offered his services to undertake it. They were gladly accepted, +and on February 10, 1776, he was appointed to command the expedition in +his old, but hardy ship, the _Resolution_, and Captain Clerke, in the +_Discovery_, was ordered to attend him. In this instance, however, the +mode of experiment was to be reversed, and instead of attempting the +former routes by Davis' Strait or Baffin's Bay, etc., Cook, at his own +request, was instructed to proceed into the South Pacific, and thence to +try the passage by the way of Behring's Strait; and as it was necessary +that the islands in the Southern Ocean should be revisited, cattle and +sheep, with other animals, and all kinds of seeds, were shipped for the +advantage of the natives. + +Every preparation having been made, the _Resolution_ quitted Plymouth on +July 12, taking Omai, the native, from the Society Isles. Having touched +at Teneriffe, they crossed the equator September 1, and reached the Cape +on October 18, where the _Discovery_ joined them on November 10. + +The ships sailed again on November 30, and encountered heavy gales, in +which several sheep and goats died. On December 12 they saw two large +islands, which Cook named Prince Edward's Islands; and three days +afterwards several others were seen; but having made Kerguelen's Land, +they anchored in a convenient harbor on Christmas day. On the north side +of this harbor one of the men found a quart bottle fastened to a +projecting rock by stout wire, and on opening it, the bottle was found +to contain a piece of parchment, on which was an inscription purporting +that the land had been visited by a French vessel in 1772-3. To this +Cook added a notice of his own visit; the parchment was then returned to +the bottle, and the cork being secured with lead, was placed upon a pile +of stones near to the place from which it had been removed. The whole +country was extremely barren and desolate, and on the 30th they came to +the eastern extremity of Kerguelen's Land. + +On January 24, 1777, they came in sight of Van Diemen's Land (now +Tasmania), and on the 26th anchored in Adventure Bay, where intercourse +was opened with the natives, and Omai took every opportunity of lauding +the great superiority of his friends, the English. Here they obtained +plenty of grass for the remaining cattle, and a supply of fresh +provisions for themselves. On the 30th they quitted their port, +convinced that Van Diemen's Land was the southern point of New Holland. +Subsequent investigations, however, have proved this idea to be +erroneous, Van Diemen's Land being an island separated from the mainland +of Australia by Bass's Strait. + +On February 12, Captain Cook anchored at his old station in Queen +Charlotte's Sound, New Zealand; but the natives were very shy in +approaching the ships, and none could be persuaded to come on board. The +reason was, that on the former voyages, after parting with the +_Resolution_, the _Adventure_ had visited this place, and ten of her +crew had been killed in an unpremeditated skirmish with the natives. It +was the fear of retaliatory punishment that kept them aloof. Captain +Cook, however, soon made them easy upon the subject, and their +familiarity was renewed; but great caution was used, to be fully +prepared for a similar attack, by keeping the men well-armed on all +occasions. Of the animals left at this island in the former voyages, +many were thriving; and the gardens, though left in a state of nature, +were found to contain cabbages, onions, leeks, radishes, mustard, and a +few potatoes. The captain was enabled to add to both. At the +solicitation of Omai, he received two New Zealand lads on board the +_Resolution_, and by the 27th was clear of the coast. + +After landing at a number of islands, and not finding adequate supplies, +the ships sailed for Anamocka, and the _Resolution_ was brought up in +exactly the same anchorage that she had occupied three years before. The +natives behaved in a most friendly manner, and but for their habits of +stealing, quiet would have been uninterrupted. Nothing, however, could +check this propensity, till Captain Cook shaved the heads of all whom he +caught practicing it. This rendered them an object of ridicule to their +countrymen, and enabled the English to recognize and keep them at a +distance. Most of the Friendly Isles were visited by the ships, and +everywhere they met with a kind reception. On June 10 they reached +Tongataboo, where the King offered Captain Cook his house to reside in. +Here he made a distribution of animals amongst the chiefs, and the +importance of preserving them was explained by Omai. Two kids and two +turkey-cocks having been stolen, the captain seized three canoes, put a +guard over the chiefs, and insisted that not only the kids and turkeys +should be restored, but also everything that had been taken away since +their arrival. This produced a good effect, and much of the plunder was +returned. + +[Illustration: Deliverance. (Page 194.)] + +Captain Cook remained at the Friendly Islands nearly three months, and +lived almost entirely during that period upon fresh provisions, +occasionally eating the produce of the seeds he had sown there in his +former visits. On July 17, they took their final leave of these +hospitable people, and on August 12 reached Otaheite, and took up a +berth in Oaiti-piha Bay, which, it was discovered, had been visited by +two Spanish ships since the _Resolution_ had last been there. + +Animals of various kinds had been left in the country by the Spaniards, +and the islanders spoke of them with esteem and respect. On the 24th the +ships went round to Matavai Bay, and Captain Cook presented to the king, +Otoo, the remainder of his live stock. + +They here witnessed a human sacrifice, to propitiate the favor of their +gods in a battle they were about to undertake. The victim was generally +some strolling vagabond, who was not aware of his fate till the moment +arrived, and he received his death-blow from a club. For the purpose of +showing the inhabitants the use of the horses, Captains Cook and Clerke +rode into the country, to the great astonishment of the islanders; and +though this exercise was continued every day by some of the _Resolution's_ +people, yet the wonder of the natives never abated. + +On the return of Omai to the land of his birth, the reception he met +with was not very cordial; but the affection of his relatives was strong +and ardent. Captain Cook obtained the grant of a piece of land for him +on the west side of Owharre harbor, Huaheine. The carpenters of the +ships built him a small house, to which a garden was attached, planted +with shaddocks, vines, pineapples, melons, etc., and a variety of +vegetables, the whole of which were thriving before Captain Cook quitted +the island. When the house was finished, the presents Omai had received +in England were carried ashore, with every article necessary for +domestic purposes, as well as two muskets, a bayonet, a brace of +pistols, etc. + +The two lads brought from New Zealand were put on shore at this place, +to form part of Omai's family; but it was with great reluctance that +they quitted the voyagers, who had behaved so kindly to them. + +Whilst lying at Huaheine, a thief, who had caused them great trouble, +not only had his head and beard shaved, but, in order to deter others, +both his ears were cut off. On November 3, the ships went to Ulietea, +and here, decoyed by the natives, two or three desertions took place; +and as others seemed inclined to follow the example, Captain Clerke +pursued the fugitives with two-armed boats and a party of marines, but +without effect. Captain Cook experienced a similar failure; he therefore +seized upon the persons of the chief's son, daughter, and son-in-law, +whom he placed under confinement till the people should be restored, +which took place on the 28th, and the hostages were released. One of the +deserters was a midshipman of the _Discovery_, and the son of a brave +officer in the service. Schemes were projected by some of the natives to +assassinate Captain Cook and Captain Clerke; but though in imminent +danger, the murderous plans failed. + +At Bolabola, Captain Cook succeeded in obtaining an anchor which had +been left there by M. Bougainville, as he was very desirous of +converting the iron into articles of traffic. They left this place on +December 8, crossed the line, and on the 24th stopped at a small island, +which he named Christmas Island, and where he planted cocoa-nuts, yams, +and melon seeds, and left a bottle enclosing a suitable inscription. + +On January 2, 1778, the ships resumed their voyage northward, to pursue +the grand object in Behring's Strait. They passed several islands, the +inhabitants of which, though at a great distance from Otaheite, spoke +the same language. Those who came on board displayed the utmost +astonishment at everything they beheld, and it was evident they had +never seen a ship before. The disposition to steal was equally strong in +these as in the other South Sea islanders, and a man was killed who +tried to plunder the watering-party, but this was not known to Captain +Cook till after they had sailed. They also discovered that the practice +of eating human flesh was prevalent. To a group of these islands (and +they were generally found in clusters) Captain Cook gave the name of the +Sandwich Islands, in honor of the noble earl at the head of the +Admiralty. + +The voyage to the northward was continued on February 2, and the +long-looked-for coast of New Albion was made on March 7; the ships, +after sailing along it till the 29th, came to anchor in a small cove. A +brisk trade commenced with the natives, who appeared to be well +acquainted with the value of iron, for which they exchanged the skins of +various animals, such as bears, wolves, foxes, deer, etc., both in their +original state and made up into garments. But the most extraordinary +articles were human skulls, and hands not quite stripped of the flesh, +and which had the appearance of having been recently on the fire. +Thieving was practiced at this place in a more scientific manner than +they had before remarked; and the natives insisted upon being paid for +the wood and other things supplied to the ships, with which Captain Cook +scrupulously complied. This inlet was named King George's Sound, but it +was afterwards ascertained that the natives called it Nootka Sound. +After making every requisite nautical observation, the ships being again +ready for sea on the 26th, in the evening they departed, a severe gale +of wind blowing them away from the shore. From this period they examined +the coast, under a hope of finding some communication with the Polar +Sea; one river they traced a long distance, which was afterwards named +Cook's River. + +They left this place June 6, but notwithstanding all their watchfulness +and vigilance, no passage could be found. The ships ranged across the +mouth of the strait. The natives of the islands, by their manners, gave +evident tokens of their being acquainted with Europeans--most probably +Russian traders. They put in at Oonalaska and other places, which were +taken possession of in the name of the King of England. On August 3, Mr. +Anderson, surgeon of the _Resolution_, died from a lingering +consumption, under which he had been suffering more than twelve months. +He was a young man of considerable ability, and possessed an amiable +disposition. + +Proceeding to the northward, Captain Cook ascertained the relative +position of the two continents, Asia and America, whose extremities he +observed. On the 18th they were close to a dense wall of ice, beyond +which they could not penetrate. The ice here was from ten to twelve feet +high, and seemed to rise higher in the distance. A prodigious number of +sea-horses were crouching on the ice, some of which were procured for +food. Captain Cook continued to traverse these icy seas till the 29th. +He then explored the coasts in Behring's Strait both in Asia and +America; and on October 2 again anchored at Oonalaska to refit; and here +they had communication with some Russians, who undertook to convey +charts and maps, etc., to the English Admiralty, which they faithfully +fulfilled. On the 26th the ships quitted the harbor of Samganoodah, and +sailed for the Sandwich Islands, Captain Cook purposing to remain there +a few months, and then return to Kamtschatka. The island of Mowee was +discovered on November 26; and on the 30th they fell in with another, +called by the natives Owyhee (now Hawaii); and being of large extent, +the ships were occupied nearly seven weeks in sailing round it, and +examining the coast; and they found the islanders more frank and free +from suspicion than any they had yet had intercourse with; so that on +January 16, 1779, there were not fewer than a thousand canoes about the +two ships, most of them crowded with people, and well-laden with hogs +and other productions of the place. A robbery having been committed, +Captain Cook ordered a volley of musketry and four great guns to be +fired over the canoe that contained the thief; but this seemed only to +astonish the natives, without creating any great alarm. On the 17th the +ships anchored in a bay called by the islanders, Karakakooa. The natives +constantly thronged to the ships, whose decks, consequently, being at +all times crowded, allowed of pilfering without fear of detection; and +these practices, it is conjectured, were encouraged by the chiefs. A +great number of the hogs purchased were killed and salted down so +completely, that some of the pork was good at Christmas, 1780. On the +26th, Captain Cook had an interview with Terreeoboo, King of the +islands, in which great formality was observed, and an exchange of +presents took place, as well as an exchange of names. The natives were +extremely respectful to Cook; in fact, they paid him a sort of +adoration, prostrating themselves before him; and a society of priests +furnished the ships with a constant supply of hogs and vegetables, +without requiring any return. On February 3, the day previous to the +ships sailing, the King presented them with a quantity of cloth, many +boat-loads of vegetables, and a whole herd of hogs. The ships sailed on +the following day, but on the 6th encountered a very heavy gale, in +which, on the night of the 7th, the _Resolution_ sprung the head of her +foremast in such a dangerous manner, that they were forced to put back +to Karakakooa Bay, in order to get it repaired. Here they anchored on +the morning of the 11th, and everything for a time promised to go well +in their intercourse with the natives. The friendliness manifested by +the chiefs, however, was far from solid. They were savages at a low +point of cultivation, and theft and murder were not considered by them +in the light of crimes. Cook, aware of the nature of these barbarians, +was anxious to avoid any collision, and it was with no small regret that +he found that an affray had taken place between some seamen and the +natives. The cause of the disturbance was the seizure of the cutter of +the _Discovery_ as it lay at anchor. The boats of both ships were sent +in search of her, and Captain Cook went on shore to prosecute the +inquiry, and, if necessary, to seize the person of the King, who had +sanctioned the theft. + +The narrative of what ensued is affectingly tragical. Cook left the +_Resolution_ about seven o'clock, attended by the lieutenant of marines, +a sergeant, a corporal, and seven private men. The pinnace's crew were +likewise armed, and under the command of Mr. Roberts; the launch was +also ordered to assist his own boat. He landed with the marines at the +upper end of the town of Kavoroah, where the natives received him with +their accustomed tokens of respect, and not the smallest sign of +hostility was evinced by any of them; and as the crowds increased, the +chiefs employed themselves as before, in keeping order. Captain Cook +requested the King to go on board the _Resolution_ with him, to which he +offered few objections; but in a little time it was observed that the +natives were arming themselves with long spears, clubs, and daggers, and +putting on the thick mats which they used by way of armor. This hostile +appearance was increased by the arrival of a canoe from the opposite +side of the bay, announcing that one of the chiefs had been killed by a +shot from the _Discovery's_ boat. The women, who had been conversing +familiarly with the English, immediately retired, and loud murmurs arose +amongst the crowd. Captain Cook, perceiving the tumultuous proceedings +of the natives, ordered Lieutenant Middleton to march his marines down +to the boats, to which the islanders offered no obstruction. The captain +followed with the king, attended by his wife, two sons, and several +chiefs. One of the sons had already entered the pinnace, expecting his +father to follow, when the king's wife and others hung round his neck, +and forced him to be seated near a double canoe, assuring him that he +would be put to death if he went on board the ship. + +Whilst matters were in this position, one of the chiefs was seen with a +dagger partly concealed under his cloak, lurking about Captain Cook, and +the lieutenant of marines proposed to fire at him; but this the captain +would not permit; but the chief closing upon them, the officer of +marines struck him with his firelock. Another native, grasping the +sergeant's musket, was forced to let it go by a blow from the +lieutenant. Captain Cook, seeing the tumult was increasing, observed, +that "if he were to force the king off, it could only be done by +sacrificing the lives of many of his people;" and was about to give +orders to re-embark, when a man flung a stone at him, which he returned +by discharging small-shot from one of the barrels of his piece. The man +was but little hurt; and brandishing his spear, with threatenings to +hurl it at the captain, the latter, unwilling to fire with ball, knocked +the fellow down, and then warmly expostulated with the crowd for their +hostile conduct. At this moment a man was observed behind a double +canoe, in the act of darting a spear at Captain Cook, who promptly +fired, but killed another who was standing by his side. The sergeant of +marines, however, instantly presented, and brought down the native whom +the captain had missed. The impetuosity of the islanders was somewhat +repressed; but being pushed on by those in the rear, who were ignorant +of what was passing in front, a volley of stones was poured in amongst +the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned it with a general +discharge of musketry, which was directly succeeded by a brisk fire from +the boats. Captain Cook expressed much surprise and vexation; he waved +his hand for the boats to cease firing, and to come on shore to embark +the marines. The pinnace unhesitatingly obeyed; but the lieutenant in +the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance of his commander, +rowed further off at the very moment that the services of himself and +people were most required. Nor was this all the mischief that ensued; +for, as it devolved upon the pinnace to receive the marines, she became +so crowded, as to render the men incapable of using their fire-arms. The +marines on shore, however, fired; but the moment their pieces were +discharged, the islanders rushed _en masse_ upon them, forced the party +into the water, where four of them were killed, and the lieutenant +wounded. At this critical period Captain Cook was left entirely alone +upon a rock near the shore. He, however, hurried towards the pinnace, +holding his left arm round the back of his head, to shield it from the +stones, and carrying his musket under his right. An islander, armed with +a club, was seen in a crouching posture cautiously following him, as if +watching for an opportunity to spring forward upon his victim. This man +was a relation of the king's, and remarkably agile and quick. At length, +he jumped forward upon the captain, and struck him a heavy blow on the +back of his head, and then turned and fled. The captain appeared to be +somewhat stunned: he staggered a few paces, and, dropping his musket, +fell on his hands and one knee; but whilst striving to recover his +upright position, another islander rushed forward, and with an iron +dagger stabbed him in the neck. He again made an effort to proceed, but +fell into a small pool of water not more than knee-deep, and numbers +instantly ran to the spot, and endeavored to keep him down; but by his +struggles he was enabled to get his head above the surface, and casting +a look towards the pinnace (then not more than five or six yards +distant), seemed to be imploring assistance. It is asserted that, in +consequence of the crowded state of the pinnace, (through the withdrawal +of the launch), the crew of the boat were unable to render any aid; but +it is also probable that the emergency of this unexpected catastrophe +deprived the English of that cool judgment which was requisite on such +an occasion. The islanders, perceiving that no help was afforded, forced +him under water again, but in a deeper place; yet his great muscular +power once more enabled him to raise himself and cling to the rock. At +this moment a forcible blow was given with a club, and he fell down +lifeless. The savages then hauled his corpse upon the rock, and +ferociously stabbed the body all over, snatching the dagger from each +others' hands to wreak their sanguinary vengeance on the slain. The body +was left some time exposed upon the rock; and as the islanders gave way, +through terror at their own act and the fire from the boats, it might +have been recovered entire. But no attempt of the kind was made; and it +was afterwards, together with the marines, cut up, and the parts +distributed amongst the chiefs. The mutilated fragments were +subsequently restored, and committed to the deep with all the honors due +to the rank of the deceased. Thus, February 14, 1779, perished in an +inglorious brawl with a set of savages, one of England's greatest +navigators, whose services to science have never been surpassed by any +man belonging to his profession. It may almost be said that he fell a +victim to his humanity; for if, instead of retreating before his +barbarous pursuers, with a view to spare their lives, he had turned +revengefully upon them, his fate might have been very different. + +The death of their commander was felt to be a heavy blow by the officers +and seamen of the expedition. With deep sorrow the ships' companies left +Owyhee, where the catastrophe had occurred, the command of the +_Resolution_ devolving on Captain Clerke, and Mr. Gore acting as +commander of the _Discovery_. After making some further exploratory +searches among the Sandwich Islands, the vessels visited Kamtschatka and +Behring's Strait. Here it was found impossible to penetrate through the +ice either on the coast of America or that of Asia, so that they +returned to the southward; and on August 22, 1779, Captain Clerke died +of consumption, and was succeeded by Captain Gore, who, in his turn, +gave Lieutenant King an acting order in the _Discovery_. After a second +visit to Kamtschatka, the two ships returned by way of China, remained +some time at Canton, touched at the Cape, and arrived at the Nore, +October 4, 1780, after an absence of four years, two months, and +twenty-two days, during which the _Resolution_ lost only five men by +sickness, and the _Discovery_ did not lose a single man. + +By this, as well as the preceding voyages of Cook, a considerable +addition was made to a knowledge of the earth's surface. Besides +clearing up doubts respecting the Southern Ocean, and making known many +islands in the Pacific, the navigator did an inestimable service to his +country in visiting the coasts of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, +New Zealand, and Norfolk Island--all now colonial possessions of +Britain, and rapidly becoming the seat of a large and flourishing nation +of Anglo-Australians--the England of the southern hemisphere. + +The intelligence of Captain Cook's death was received with melancholy +regrets in England. The king granted a pension of £200 per annum to his +widow, and £25 per annum to each of the children; the Royal Society had +a gold medal struck in commemoration of him; and various other honors at +home and abroad were paid to his memory. + +"Thus, by his own persevering efforts," as has been well observed by the +author of the 'Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties,' "did this great +man raise himself from the lowest obscurity to a reputation wide as the +world itself, and certain to last as long as the age in which he +flourished shall be remembered by history. But better still than even +all this fame--than either the honors which he received while living, or +those which, when he was no more, his country and mankind bestowed upon +his memory--he had exalted himself in the scale of moral and +intellectual being; had won a new and nobler nature, and taken a high +place among the instructors and benefactors of mankind." + +Honor and fame are not to be achieved by seeking for them alone, nor are +their possession the end and aim of human existence. It is only by an +unwearied striving after a new and nobler nature; only by being useful +to our fellows, and making the most of those qualities of mind which God +has given us, that happiness is to be attained, or that we fulfill the +ends of our being. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +EXCELLENT BOOKS. + +SIX MONTHS AT MRS. PRIOR'S. By Emily Adams. Illustrated. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.25. + +"In this fresh little story, which is addressed especially to young +girls, the author tries to impress the lesson that the disagreeable and +annoying duties of life may be made pleasant by accepting them as +inevitable, and asking help from above. Mrs. Prior is the widow of a +clergyman, and has been left with five little ones to support. She +discharges her servant, and divides the lighter duties of the household +between herself and the two eldest of her children, Minnie and Helen. +Unaccustomed to any thing but study and play, the girls find it very +hard to have their old time appointments for enjoyment circumscribed, +and complain bitterly at first. The book gives a history of their +experience, and shows how the work that was so irksome at first became +in the end a source of pleasure and means of healthful discipline. + +"Six Months at Mrs. Prior's" is a sweet story of womanly tact combined +with Christian trust. A widow, with scanty means, makes a home happy for +a group of children, restless, wayward and aspiring, like many American +children of our day. The mother's love holds them, her thrift cares for +them, her firmness restrains, and her christian words and life win them +to noble aims and living. The influence of the christian household is +widely felt, and the quiet transforming leaven works in many homes. We +can't have too many books of this kind in the family or Sunday-school." + +MISS PRICILLA HUNTER, by Pansy, opens a new view for that charming +writer, but one eminently popular at the present time. It deals with the +payment of a church debt, and shows how an humble woman, with a +Christian character which gave power to her words, raised the money to +pay off a debt which had long been a hindrance to church growth and to +Christian benevolence. Why she did it, and how she did it, is told in +Pansy's best fashion: her encounters with crabbed folks, and stingy +folks, and folks determined not to give to the church debt, are highly +amusing, as well as her devices to get something from everybody. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +YENSIE WALTON. By Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. +$1.50. + +Of the many good books which the Messrs. Lothrop have prepared for the +shelves of Sunday-school libraries, "Yensie Walton" is one of the best. +It is a sweet, pure story of girl life, quiet as the flow of a brook, +and yet of sufficient interest to hold the attention of the most +careless reader. Yensie is an orphan, who has found a home with an +uncle, a farmer, some distance from the city. Her aunt, a coarse, vulgar +woman, and a tyrant in the household, does her best to humiliate her by +making her a domestic drudge, taking away her good clothing and +exchanging it for coarse, ill-filling garments, and scolding her from +morning till night. This treatment develops a spirit of resistance; the +mild and affectionate little girl becomes passionate and disobedient, +and the house is the scene of continual quarrels. Fortunately, her uncle +insists upon her attending school, and in the teacher, Miss Gray, she +finds her first real friend. In making her acquaintance a new life +begins for her. She is brought in contact with new and better +influences, and profiting by them becomes in time a sunbeam in her +uncle's house, and the means of softening the heart and quieting the +tongue of the aunt who was once her terror and dread. Mrs. Clark has a +very pleasing style, and is especially skilful in the construction of +her stories. + +"Yensie Walton" is a story of great power, by a new author. It aims to +show that God uses a stern discipline to form the noblest characters, +and that the greatest trials of life often prove the greatest blessings. +The story is subordinate to this moral aim, and the earnestness of the +author breaks out into occasional preaching. But the story is full of +striking incident and scenes of great pathos, with occasional gleams of +humor and fun by way of relief to the more tragic parts of the +narrative. The characters are strongly drawn, and, in general, are +thoroughly human, not gifted with impossible perfections, but having +those infirmities of the flesh which make us all akin. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +JOHNNY'S VACATIONS AND OTHER STORIES. By Mary E. N. Hathaway. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.00. + +Few more entertaining stories for small boys have lately made their +appearance than _Johnny's Vacations_. The author seems to have had +experience with boys and tells in a charmingly natural manner the story +of a vacation spent on a farm by one of them, Johnny Stephens by name. +In addition there are six shorter stories, in which the girls will be as +deeply interested as the boys. Among them are "The Doll's Party," "Biddy +and her Chickens," "The Wild Goose," and "Pansy's Visit." + +ROYAL LOWRIE. A Boy's Book. By Magnus Merriweather. D. Lothrop & Co., +Boston. With eleven illustrations by Hopkins. 16mo. Price, $1.25. + +Despite the efforts of publishers, a brilliant book for boys is a _rara +avis_; therefore "Royal Lowrie" is likely to be appreciated by all +lively boys between twelve and forty. While in literary finish the book +ranks with the best novels of the day, the characters are the boys and +girls of our modern High Schools. The plot is of breathless interest, +but of such a character that we will warrant when the general +mystification is dispersed no reader will feel like ever undertaking to +seem what he is not. The humiliation which at last overtakes Royal +Lowrie and Archer Bishop is so very thorough that the two gay, +thoughtless fellows, in the language of the _American Bookseller_, +"resolve in future to be wholly true, even in little things. Royal +Lowrie is an especially engaging rattlepate, and we do not wonder that +he wins forgiveness on all sides." + +Although it is an irresistibly humorous story of high-spirited boys and +girls, the book is calculated to exert as strong a restraining influence +as any volume which will be found in our Sunday-school Libraries. + +ENTERPRISE. + +We copy the following from _The American Bookseller_, New York: + +Few people can have failed to notice the great enterprise, if they have +not observed the scrupulous care with which Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. +have published a class of books adapted to the highest culture of the +people. + +It is only ten years since they commenced the work of publishing, and +their list now numbers more than six hundred volumes. + +We are glad to make record, that brave and persistent following of a +high ideal has been successful. + +Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. have given special attention to the publication +of books for children and youths, rightly considering that in no +department is _the best_, as regards literary excellence and purity of +moral and religious reading, of so great importance. Yet the names of +works by such authors as Austin Phelps, D.D., Francis Wayland, and Dr. +Nehemiah Adams on their catalogue, will show that maturer readers have +not been uncared for. + +Of their work projected for the coming season, we have not room to speak +in detail; it will suffice for the present to say that it is wide in +range, including substantial and elegantly illustrated books, all in the +line of the practical and useful, and fresh in character and treatment. + +Their two juvenile magazines, _Wide Awake_ and _Babyland_, are warmly +welcomed in every part of the English-speaking world. + +We advise any of our readers who desire to know more about these +publications, to send to D. Lothrop & Co., Boston, for an illustrated +catalogue. + +All who visit their establishment, corner of Franklin and Hawley +streets, will not only be courteously welcomed and entertained, but will +have the pleasure of seeing one of the most spacious and attractive +bookstores in the country. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BABY BUNTING. Short Stories with Bright Pictures. By the Best American +Authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.00. + +_Baby Bunting_ is a beautiful quarto with one of the most attractive +outsides we have seen for a long time. It is made up of choice stories +adapted to the reading of children from four to eight years of age. They +are all short, few of them being over a page in length, and each is +accompanied by a full page engraving. It is just the kind of book that +ought to be popular, and undoubtedly will be. + +YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY OF GERMANY. By Charlotte M. Yonge. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.50. + +This handsome volume is the first of a series, which will include the +principal countries of Europe, the succeeding numbers of which will +appear at brief intervals. Miss Yonge, whose talents have been exerted +in various directions for the benefit of young readers, has been +peculiarly successful in this series, which has had a very large sale in +Europe, and deserves a like popularity here. It covers not only the +entire period of German civilization down to the present time, but it +gives an account of ancient Germany and its inhabitants in times which +might almost be called pre-historic. The first chapters are explanatory +of the German mythology, and of the ancient methods of worship. The +Nibelungen Lied is described and its story told. The real history begins +about the year 496 A.D., at a time when the Franks were the victorious +race in Europe. From that time down to the beginning of the present year +the record is continuous. The volume is profusely illustrated. + +HAPPY MOODS OF HAPPY CHILDREN. Original Poems. By favorite American +authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. + +We venture to say that no publishing house in the country will issue +this season anything choicer in the way of a presentation book of poems +than this charming volume. The poems it contains were written expressly +for Mr. Lothrop, and have never before been brought together in +collected form. Among the authors represented are Elizabeth Stuart +Phelps, Clara Doty Bates, Margaret G. Preston, Ella Farman, Mrs. Platt, +Harriet McEwen Kimball, Mary A. Lathbury, Nora Perry, Mrs. L. C. Whiton, +Celia Thaxter, Edgar Fawcett, and many others. Although the volume is +ostensibly preferred for children, it is one which grown-up people will +equally enjoy. There are a score or more of illustrations, most of them +full-page, exquisitely drawn and engraved. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +PANSY'S PAGE. + +FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +The most fascinating "watering-place" story ever published. Four +friends, each a brilliant girl in her way, tired of Saratoga and +Newport, try a fortnight at the new summer resort on Chautauqua Lake, +choosing the time when the National Sunday-school Assembly is in camp. +Rev. Drs. Vincent, Deems, Cuyler, Edward, Eggleston, Mrs. Emily +Huntington Miller, move prominently through the story. + +HOUSEHOLD PUZZLES. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +How to make one dollar do the work of five. A family of beautiful girls +seek to solve this "puzzle." Piquant, humorous, but written with an +intense purpose. + +THE RANDOLPHS. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +A sequel to Household Puzzles, in which the Puzzles are agreeably +disposed of. + +GRANDPA'S DARLINGS, By _Pansy_. 16mo. Illustrated 1 25 + +A big book, full of "good times" for the little people of the family. + +ESTER RIED By Pansy. 1 50 +JULIA RIED " 1 50 +THREE PEOPLE " 1 50 +THE KING'S DAUGHTER " 1 50 +WISE AND OTHERWISE " 1 50 +CUNNING WORKMEN " 1 25 +JESSIE WELLS " 75 +DOCIA'S JOURNAL " 75 +BERNIE'S WHITE CHICKEN " 75 +HELEN LESTER " 75 +A CHRISTMAS TIME " 15 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +MISS JULIA A. EASTMAN is one of the most popular of our modern writers. + +YOUNG RICK. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. Twelve illustrations by +Sol Eytinge. $1.50 + +A bright, fascinating story of a little boy who was both a blessing and +a bother.--_Boston Journal._ + +The most delightful book on the list for the children of the family, +being full of adventures and gay home scenes and merry play-times. +"Paty" would have done credit to Dickens in his palmiest days. The +strange glows and shadows of her character are put in lovingly and +lingeringly, with the pencil of a master. Miss Margaret's character of +light is admirably drawn, while Aunt Lesbia, Deacon Harkaway, Tom +Dorrance, and the master and mistress of Graythorpe poor-house are +genuine "charcoal sketches." + +STRIKING FOR THE RIGHT. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. +Illustrated $1 75 + +While this story holds the reader breathless with expectancy and +excitement, its civilizing influence in the family is hardly to be +estimated. In all quarters it has met with the warmest praise. + +THE ROMNEYS OF RIDGEMONT. By Julia A. Eastman. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +BEULAH ROMNEY. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +Two stones wondrously alive, flashing with fun, sparkling with tears, +throbbing with emotion. The next best thing to attending Mrs. Hale's big +boarding-school is to read Beulah's experience there. + +SHORT-COMINGS AND LONG-GOINGS. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +A remarkable book, crowded with remarkable characters. It is a picture +gallery of human nature. + +KITTY KENT'S TROUBLES. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +"A delicious April-day style of book, sunshiny with smiles on one page +while the next is misty with tender tears. Almost every type of American +school-girl is here represented--the vain Helen Dart, the beauty, Amy +Searle, the ambitious, high bred, conservative Anna Matson; but next to +Kitty herself sunny little Pauline Sedgewick will prove the general +favorite. It is a story fully calculated to win both girls and boys +toward noble, royal ways of doing little as well as great things. All +teachers should feel an interest in placing it in the hands of their +pupils." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BOOKS FOR YOUNG HEROES AND BRAVE WORKERS. + +VIRGINIA. By _W. H. G. Kingston_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 + +A stirring story of adventure upon sea and land. + +AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND ADVENTURERS. By _Rev. G. T. Day, D. D._ 16 mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +The stories of Speke, Grant, Baker, Livingstone and Stanley are put into +simple shape for the entertainment of young readers. + +NOBLE WORKERS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +STORIES OF SUCCESS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +Inspiring biographies and records which leave a most wholesome and +enduring effect upon the reader. + +MYTHS AND HEROES. 16mo. Illustrated. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. +D._ $1 50 + +KNIGHTS AND SEA KINGS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 12mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +Two entertaining books, which will fasten forever the historical and +geographical lessons of the school-room firmly in the student's mind. + +CHAPLIN'S LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +LIFE OF AMOS LAWRENCE. 12mo. Ill. $1 50 + +Two biographies of perennial value. No worthier books were ever offered +as holiday presents for our American young men. + +WALTER NEAL'S EXAMPLE. By _Rev. Theron Brown_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +Walter Neal's Example is by Rev. Theron Brown, the editor of that very +successful paper, _The Youth's Companion_. The story is a touching one, +and is in parts so vivid as to seem drawn from the life.--_N. Y. +Independent._ + +TWO FORTUNE-SEEKERS. Stories by _Rossiter Johnson_, _Louise Chandler +Moulton_, _E. Stuart Phelps_, _Ella Farman_, _etc._ Fully +illustrated $1 50 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +"MISS FARMAN has the very desirable knack of imparting valuable ideas +under the guise of a pleasing story."--_The New Century_. + +MRS. HURD'S NIECE. By _Ella Farman_. Ill. $1 50 + +A thrilling story for the girls, especially for those who think they +have a "mission," to whom we commend sturdy English Hannah, with her +small means, and her grand success. Saidee Hurd is one of the sweetest +girls ever embalmed in story, and Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. + +THE COOKING CLUB OF TU-WHIT HOLLOW. By _Ella Farman_. 16mo. Eight +full-page illustrations $1 25 + +Worth reading by all who delight in domestic romance.--_Fall River Daily +News_. + +The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, are set +in the midst of a bright, wholesome story, and the little housewives who +figure in it are good specimens of very human, but at the same time very +lovable, little American girls. It ought to be the most successful +little girls' book of the season.--_The Advance._ + +A LITTLE WOMAN. By _Ella Farman_. 16m. $1 00 + +The daintiest of all juvenile books. From its merry pages, winsome +Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to help thousands +of young girls. + +A WHITE HAND. By _Ella Farman_. 12m. Ill. $1 50 + +A genuine painting of American society. Millicent and Jack are drawn by +a bold, firm hand. No one can lay this story down until the last leaf is +turned. + +_WIDE AWAKE._ AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE For the Young Folks. $2.00 PER +ANNUM. POSTAGE PREPAID. Edited by ELLA FARMAN. Published by D. LOTHROP & +CO., Boston, Mass. + +It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks +who are no longer little find there lost childhood in its pages. We are +not saying too much when we say that its versatile editor--Ella Farman, +is more fully at home in the child's wonder-land than any other living +American writer. She is thoroughly _en rapport_ with her readers, gives +them now a sugar plum of poesy, now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, +and cunningly intermixes all the solid bread of thought that the child's +mind can digest and assimilate.--_York True Democrat._ + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The $1000 Prize Series. + +_Pronounced by the Examining Committee, Rev. Drs. Lincoln, Rankin and +Day, superior to any similar series._ + +Striking for the Right, $1.75 +Silent Tom, 1.75 +Evening Rest, 1.50 +The Old Stone House, 1.50 +Into the Light, 1.50 +Walter McDonald, 1.50 +Story of the Blount Family, 1.50 +Margaret Worthington, 1.50 +The Wadsworth Boys, 1.50 +Grace Avery's Influence, 1.50 +Glimpses Through, 1.50 +Ralph's Possession, 1.50 +Luck of Alden Farm, 1.50 +Chronicles of Sunset Mountain, 1.50 +The Marble Preacher, 1.50 +Golden Lines, 1.50 + +_Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail, postpaid, on receipt +of price._ + +BOSTON: +D. LOTHROP & CO., PUBLISHERS. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 25882-0.txt or 25882-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/8/25882/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/25882-0.zip b/25882-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f6cfe2 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-0.zip diff --git a/25882-h.zip b/25882-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01cf7b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h.zip diff --git a/25882-h/25882-h.htm b/25882-h/25882-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..67a035e --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/25882-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6218 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + div.la p {text-align: left; margin: auto 0;} + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align:center;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.tb {width: 35%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; color: silver; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +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: Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #25882] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +The Castaways. <i>Front.</i> +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>FAMOUS ISLANDS</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-bottom:3em;'>AND</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:2em;'>MEMORABLE VOYAGES.</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:2em; font-style:italic;'>Boston:</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; font-style:italic;'>Published by D. Lothrop & Co.</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; font-style:italic;'>Dover, N.H.: G. T. Day & Co.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>I.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A VENETIAN CRUISER. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I__A_VENETIAN_CRUISER'>9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>II.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS;<br />OR, CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II__A_WINTER_IN_THE_NORTHERN_SEAS_OR_CAPTAIN_JAMESS_JOURNAL'>30</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>III.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III__THE_DISCOVERERS_OF_MADEIRA'>52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>IV.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>ST. HELENA. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV__ST_HELENA'>68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>V.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V__THE_PITCAIRN_ISLANDERS'>87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VI.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>NORFOLK ISLAND. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI__NORFOLK_ISLAND'>118</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VII.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII__THE_SOLITARY_ISLANDER'>165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII.— </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII__CAPTAIN_COOKS_LAST_VOYAGE'>188</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I__A_VENETIAN_CRUISER' id='I__A_VENETIAN_CRUISER'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +<h2>A VENETIAN CRUISER.</h2> +</div> + +<p>It was late in the year 1431. The port +of Venice was filled with ships from all +parts of the world, bringing to her their +choicest stores, and their most costly merchandise, +and receiving from her and from +her Grecian possessions rich shiploads of +wine and spices, and bales of finest cotton. +</p> +<p>It would have been a sight never to have +been forgotten could we have gazed then on +that city of the sea, have watched the cumbrous +barks, so unlike our light-winged +merchant ships, or our swift steamers, which +sailed heavily up and down the blue Adriatic, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +till they came in sight of the famous +city, the resort of all nations, in whose +canals, and among whose marts and palaces, +might be seen the strange dress, and heard +the mingled speech of men from all parts +of the civilized world. +</p> +<p>One ship was just leaving the port. The +vessel, rather a large one for those days, +seems but poorly manned, and rocks so +greatly among the short white waves, that +it is plainly to be seen that she is short of +ballast and lading. She is a Venetian trading +vessel, bound first to the Isle of Candia, +where she will complete her cargo and +add to the number of her crew. This Candia +or Crete (the very Crete by which St. +Paul passed on his voyage to Italy) was at +that time under the hard rule of Venice, +and its poor inhabitants did her service +upon land and sea. The ship stayed at +Candia only so long as enabled her to complete +her stores of cotton and spice and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +wine, which were destined for some northern +or western market, some French or British +port. She was deep enough in the +water now, and on her deck lay many an +unstowed bale, many a cask of wine, for +which the sad-looking Cretan sailors, in +their tunics and short cloaks, had not yet +been able to find room. Sixty-eight men +were now on board, including the patron or +owner, Master Piero Quirini, and Christoforo +Fioravanti, the sailing-master. Quirini, in +his quaint Italian dress, looking strangely unlike +a modern sailor, stood amid the piles of +merchandise, giving quick orders for its +stowage, while the sailing master made all +ready for the long voyage which was just +beginning. +</p> +<p>For in those days a voyage into the western +sea was counted, specially while boisterous +autumn gales made sailing difficult, +as a long and hazardous undertaking. They +all knew it must be many months ere they +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +could hope to see home again; but little did +any of them guess the strange sad fortunes +which should befall them. The Cretan sailors +looked back wistfully at the groups of +their friends, their wives and mothers and +children, whom they had left weeping on +the shore, but they did not think how many +there were among them who would never +return to tell the story of their long voyage. +But some at least among them knew and felt +that they were in the hands of God for life +or for death, and that nothing could really +hurt them if they were “followers of that +which is good.” +</p> +<p>The ship at first sailed on prosperously +enough. The sea was calm, and the sky +clear above them. The sailors sang their +sweet Italian or Grecian songs, as they +hurried to and fro, or leant over the bulwarks, +watching the blue water. +</p> +<p>Their course lay northward now, and wind +and wave were sweeping them toward the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +perilous northern seas. The days had been +already growing short when the ship left +Candia, and now December, with its cold +and darkness, was upon them, and these +southern sailors shivered as they met the +keen northern blasts. +</p> +<p>The cold grew sharper than ever on one +night toward the end of the year, but on +that very night Master Piero Quirini chose +to remain on deck, braving the winter wind, +instead of taking shelter in his warm and +comfortable cabin below. He stood looking +eastward with his keen eyes, his hand shading +his face. +</p> +<p>“Come hither, Fioravanti,” he called, and +the sailing-master approached. “There is +a strange appearance in the sky which +affrights me; I fear a sudden, and violent +storm, and then what will befall our ship, +thus heavily laden?” said Quirini. +</p> +<p>The old sailor turned towards the part of +the horizon which Quirini had pointed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +out; and as he looked, his face changed. +“Quick,” said he, calling to the sailors +who were nearest, “bid them draw in the +sails. Let the rudder be bound firmly, for +the tempest is well nigh on us—alas! for +these terrible northern storms.” +</p> +<p>Before he had well finished speaking, his +Italian sailors had begun their work, the +slower and more apathetic Greeks needing, +even in that moment of danger, to be urged +with many words before they would obey. +Thus it was but slowly that the heavy sails, +creaking and swaying in the wind, were +drawn in and bound to the masts, and +before half the work was done, the storm +in its full fury had struck the ship, and +each man clung for life to the nearest support, +as the reeling vessel ploughed heavily +through the swollen seas. +</p> +<p>“Master, the rudder is gone, the rudder +is lost,” cried many voices, as after a sudden +lurch forward the ship righted again, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +and as they cried out, a fresh blast struck +her, and the half-furled sails were torn into +ribbons, and hung useless over the ship’s +side. +</p> +<p>The morning light found her still driving +before the wind, and deep in the sullen +water which rose almost above her sides as +she flew faster than ever before the fierce +wind. At length a sudden squall threw her +on her side, while the waters rushed in as +if to fill and sink her in a moment. +</p> +<p>“Ho, men! an axe, an axe!” cried the +master; “down with the main-mast!” and +seizing a hatchet which lay at hand, Piero +Quirini struck the first blow at the tall +mast, whose weight was dragging down the +vessel. Others with sword, or axe, or any +tool which they could snatch at the moment, +followed, and they were but just in time, +for before another wave could wash over the +vessel, the mast was floating free, and the +ship had righted once more. The water was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +baled out with every vessel on which the +men could lay their hands; and this weary +work was continued all through the cold +dark night, yet when the morning broke +hours behind its time, as it seemed to the +despairing sailors, the water in the hold was +scarcely three inches lower. +</p> +<p>The only hope for the crew lay in taking +at once to their boats. There were two +boats belonging to the ship—the pinnace +and the skiff; the first was a long boat, but +the skiff, which was considered the safer of +the two, would hold but a smaller number. +</p> +<p>The master called the men round him on +the deck, and told them his decision. “Now, +men,” said he, “you shall choose your boat; +there stands the notary, Nicolo di Michiel, +with his ink-horn and parchment; he shall +write down the names of all who would fain +sail in the skiff.” +</p> +<p>“Master, there are forty-five for the +skiff,” said Nicolo, slowly reckoning the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +long list of written names; “forty-five, and +the skiff, saith Christoforo Fioravanti, holds +but twenty-one.” +</p> +<p>“Draw lots, men, we are brothers now in +trouble, and none shall have advantage over +the other.” +</p> +<p>The lots were drawn, and then the master +proceeded to divide between the two crews +the stores of the fast-sinking ship. Bread, +cheese, bacon, tallow and oil, and a little wine, +as much as she could carry, were given to the +crew of the skiff, while the master, with +forty-six men, stored in the pinnace what +remained on board, and one by one the +men passed over the ship’s side, and the +boats dropped off into the wide sea. +</p> +<p>It was calm, the terrible wind had sunk +down, and the keen wintry sky was clear +once more, but yet the prospect before them +was enough to trouble the bravest heart. +</p> +<p>They were adrift in the bitter cold in +open boats, but ill-supplied for a long +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +voyage, and were, as they believed, five hundred +miles from the nearest shore. All +night a heavy mist hung over them, and +when it was dispersed by the morning sun +the crew of the pinnace looked round in +vain for their companions,—the skiff was +nowhere to be seen. +</p> +<p>Six days had passed, and all hope of seeing +their companion boat had grown faint, +when another storm arose, and the pinnace, +heavily laden, shipped so much water over +the sides that all feared she would sink. +</p> +<p>“Mens’ lives before wines and spices! +precious and costly though they be,” said +the master; “we must lighten the boat of +all, save a little needful food and water; +linger not, my children, therein lies our +only hope.” +</p> +<p>But the days went on, and though the +storm passed, and the pinnace still rode +safely on the waters, the hearts of the crew +were heavy within them. The boat was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +indeed lighter now, for of the forty-seven who +had embarked in her, twenty-six died, and +their bodies had been solemnly committed +to the deep, there to wait till, at the voice +of God’s angel, the sea shall give up her +dead. Solemn indeed must have been the +thoughts of the survivors as they saw one +after another of their comrades summoned +from their side to stand before God; no one +of them knew but that he might be called +next, and all were sure that if help did not +reach them speedily, none would return +home to tell the tale of their sufferings. +Some there were of that crew who, faint, +weary, in want of covering, tortured with +thirst, yet held fast their trust in their +Father in Heaven, and cried to Him with +agonized prayer to have mercy on them for +Christ’s sake. And the prayer for deliverance +was heard. +</p> +<p>It was on the third of January, and the +first faint daylight was stealing over the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +waters, when one of the crew, looking +eagerly round as he raised himself from +uneasy sleep, saw far off a faint line which +seemed to be land. The sun rose higher +and colored rose-red the snow-hooded tops +of lofty rocks around the unknown coast. +All the hope and desire of the shipwrecked +crew was now to reach this shore, fearing +its unknown dangers but little, compared +with the terrible suffering they had long +endured. +</p> +<p>But, alas! the wind had died away, and +in vain did they unfurl their sails, and set +their rudder. They must try the oars then, +but the arms of the starving sailors were +too weak to move the boat, and they could +do nothing but trust to the force of the +waves and the currents which were bearing +her along. It was the sixth of January +when they reached the land, and with great +difficulty drew their boat to the beach. +They soon found that they had landed on an +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +uninhabited island, which lay, as they afterwards +found, off the coast of Norway—a +strange and foreign land to the Venetians +of those days. +</p> +<p>No sooner did the wasted remnant of the +crew set foot on shore than they rushed to +the rocks, climbing them with strength +which they had not thought they possessed, +and eagerly gathering the pure white snow +in their hands, bathed their parched lips +and dry tongues, drinking again and again, +as if they could never taste enough of this +delicious draught. +</p> +<p>“Now, men, draw the boat higher on +shore, ere the tide go out and float her +away,” said the master; but when the pinnace +was drawn to the dry sand she was +found to be so battered and so full of holes, +that they all saw at once that it was useless +to hope that they could ever put to sea in +her again. “We will make her serve for +a shelter at least,” said Christoforo, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +so, dividing her into two parts, they, with +the help of her sails, made two huts, in +which the twenty-one sailors, who alone +were left, might find some slight shelter +from the winter wind. +</p> +<p>“Our thirst have we slaked,” said Nicolo, +“and said grace, I trust, for the draught; +now, by your leave, good master, must we +seek for food, though what food this barren +island should afford, I know not.” +</p> +<p>All the party dispersed at once in search +of provisions, some climbing the rocks, +some wandering along the beach, and some +seeking to penetrate farther inland. Returning +towards evening slowly and sadly to +the huts, they examined the store that had +been found—a few periwinkles and barnacles +and some other small shell-fish, but a poor +feast for so many famished men. Their +search, continued far and wide over the +island, discovered no other food, save a +kind of small herb which grew under the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +snow. This they ate day after day, and so +were able to keep a little life in them +though they were always faint and hungry. +</p> +<p>Five out of the little colony were already +dead from cold and hunger and exhaustion, +when one day a sailor wandering farther than +he had yet been, came upon a little hut, +empty and deserted, but giving a better and +more comfortable shelter than their sail-covered +huts. +</p> +<p>Six of the company determined to live in +this new home, thinking that the chances of +finding food for the whole would be increased +when they were more widely scattered on +the island. And scarcely had they taken +up their abode in their new quarters, when +they were overjoyed by finding on the +beach, close at hand, a large dead fish. +They did not know whether it was a whale +or a porpoise, but they saw that it was quite +fresh and fit for food, and every one of +them believed that God had sent this great +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +deliverance in answer to their prayers for +help. All hands turned out to drag the +fish to their hut, and no sooner was it safely +housed than a terrible storm broke over the +island, which lasted nine days. So fierce +was the wind, so pitiless the tempest, that +during all that time not one of the sailors +dare set foot outside the cottage, and had it +not been for the merciful provision which +God had bidden the waves to bring to them, +they must all have perished with hunger. +</p> +<p>The fish was at length eaten, not a fin, +nor a morsel of flesh remained, and once +more the sailors were forced to seek along +the shore for shell-fish, which was now their +only food. Christoforo was one day seated +in the cottage. He had grown white and +thin, and his long lank hair looked dry and +rusty, as it hung over his sunken cheeks. +He was gazing listlessly on the dull sea, +and on the distant, cloud-like lines which +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +told of other islands, or may be of the main +land far off. +</p> +<p>“If we could only reach those shores,” +he thought, “may be men dwell thereon, +and we might find food. But we have +neither boat nor wood whereof to make one, +neither have we strength to row, so seemeth +there no choice but we must all perish here; +the will of God be done.” +</p> +<p>Raising his eyes, which had sunk while +he pursued these sad thoughts, he suddenly +sprang to his feet, and with a glad shout +cried, “Rejoice, behold two come to seek +us,” and as he spoke, his companions, looking +out, saw two shepherd lads climbing the +hill-side. +</p> +<p>The strangers turned and fled in terror at +the sight of man on this lonely island, and +the sailors following to the shore found +there a little boat in charge of an old man. +They had learnt some prudence now, and +they approached quietly, making signs of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +good-will and of humility, and asking by +look and gesture his pity on their great +distress. The two lads soon came down +and joined their father, and though none of +the three could understand a word of the +Italian speech, it chanced that there was +one among the sailors, Girado da Lione by +name, who had learnt a few words of Norwegian, +and by means of this interpreter +they managed to tell the visitors of their +terrible needs. +</p> +<p>The little boat would hold but two besides +its owners, and Girado da Lione and Bernardo +the pilot were chosen to accompany +the shepherds to their home, and to get help +to bring off all who remained of the shipwrecked +crew. On their way they questioned +the shepherd, as well as they could, +on the cause of his journey to the island. +</p> +<p>“A strange reason was it, truly, my +friends,” answered the old man, “but my +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +son can tell you better than I. Speak, my +son.” +</p> +<p>The younger of the two oarsmen, a lad of +about sixteen, answered bashfully: “It was +a dream, strangers, that led our boat to that +shore. My father had lost two heifers, +white were they, with black stars on their +forehead and there were none like them in +the island where we dwell. Long did we +seek our missing kine, and great was our +sorrow when we found them not; but last +night I dreamed that I saw them feeding +upon this island, the cliffs of which we can +sometimes see from our home. When I +awakened I persuaded my father to take the +boat and let us row to the island.” +</p> +<p>“We found not our heifers,” said the old +fisherman, smiling, “but, thank the good +God, we found men. Doubtless it was God +who sent my son this dream, that so we +might be in time to save you.” +</p> +<p>They were soon received by a crowd of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +eager peasants, who crowded down to the +beach, when the story of the rescue spread. +They were in another island now, far larger, +and moreover cultivated and inhabited, and +food was given them, and shelter offered, +and clean clothes brought to replace their +own ragged and dirty garments. But of +course the first anxiety of the two rescued +sailors was to send relief to their companions +at the hut, and to those who might yet +remain alive on the other side of the island. +The kind islanders prepared quite a fleet of +little boats in which to hasten to the rescue +of these poor deserted men, but at the huts +which they had first built, only five were +found alive, and their new friends prepared +with sad hearts to bury the dead as well as +to save the living. +</p> +<p>The eleven survivors grasped each other’s +hands with feeling too deep for words; they +the only ones left of the sixty-eight who, +in full health and strength, had left the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +shores of Candia. “Truly,” said one, “we +had been swallowed up of the sea, if our +Lord Jesus Christ had not been merciful to +us, who forsaketh not them that religiously +call upon Him.” +</p> +<p>“Now we must part,” said they among +themselves, “and seek our way to Venice +on foot or by sea, as we may find means. +Sad news bring we thither, and many heavy +hearts must we make. But God has spared +us to our dear ones, and let us few that +remain remember that we live only to commend +to memory, and highly to exalt, the +great power of God.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II__A_WINTER_IN_THE_NORTHERN_SEAS_OR_CAPTAIN_JAMESS_JOURNAL' id='II__A_WINTER_IN_THE_NORTHERN_SEAS_OR_CAPTAIN_JAMESS_JOURNAL'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +<h2>A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS;<br />OR,<br />CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL.</h2> +</div> + +<p>The following passages are taken from +the journal kept by Captain James, the commander +of a vessel bound for the northern +seas. His ship, having on board a crew of +twenty-two men, left England in May, 1631, +to attempt the discovery of the long-desired +North-West Passage. After terrible storms +and disasters, the ship being fast-locked in ice +the adventurers were compelled to winter +in the Arctic regions; and, as the journal +relates, proceeded to make preparations for +passing the long months on an uninhabited +island near to the ship. The extracts +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +from the diary tell the story of those +months, speaking in words which need no +comment, of high hope, of constant courage, +and of a sincere and true-hearted dependence +on God. Throughout all the disappointments +and perils of his expedition, +Captain James seems ever to have kept alive +trust in God, and a sure belief that all +that could befall him and his, would be +directed by an All-wise hand; thus his heart +did not fail even in the midst of overwhelming +perils and disasters. +</p> +<p>These brave men were not ashamed to own +their entire dependence on God’s help, and +we find here, as elsewhere, that it is ever +the strongest who best know their own +weakness—that the noblest are ever the +most humble, the most ready to acknowledge +the Divine Source of all their courage. +</p> +<p>And the heroes whom English boys love +to remember, and desire to imitate, have, in +proportion as they were true heroes, unselfish, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +generous, brave, been also the most true +and faithful servants of that God who is the +source of all strength, all love, all tenderness +and truth. +</p> +<p>“Oct. 7.—It snowed all day, so that we +had to clear it off the decks with shovels, +and it blew a very storm withal. The sun +did shine very clear, and we tore the topsails +out of the tops, which were hard frozen +in them into a lump, the sun not having power +to thaw one drop of them. Seeing therefore +that we could no longer make use of +our sails, it raised many doubts in our minds +that here we must stay and winter. The sick +men desired that some little house or hovel +might be built ashore, whereby they might +be the better sheltered. I took the carpenter, +and choosing out a place, they went immediately +to work upon it, while I myself wandered +up and down in the woods to see if +we could discover any signs of savages, but +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +we found no appearance of any on this +island. +</p> +<p>Oct. 12.—We took our mainsail, which +was hard frozen, and carried it ashore to +cover our house, first thawing it by a great +fire; by night they had covered it, and had +almost hedged it about, and our six builders +desired they might travel up into the country +to see what they could discover. +</p> +<p>Oct. 15.—This evening our hunters returned +very weary, and brought with them +a small, lean deer, which rejoiced us all, +hoping we should have more of them to +refresh our sick. +</p> +<p>Nov. 10.—I urged the men to make +traps to catch foxes, for we did daily see +many, and I promised that whosoever could +take one of them should have the skin for +his reward. +</p> +<p>Nov. 17.—I have lain ashore each night +until now, all which time have our miseries +increased; and, looking from the shore +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +towards the ship, she doth look like a piece +of ice in the fashion of a ship; the snow is +frozen all about her, and all her forepart is +firm ice. +</p> +<p>Nov. 25.—The wind shifted easterly, and +we encouraged one another, and to work we +go, our endeavor being to put the ship +to the shore. This evening we broke through +the ice, and put an anchor to keep her to +shore if possible. Here Sir Hugh Willoughby +came into my mind, who without +doubt was driven out of his harbor in this +manner, and so starved at sea. But God +was more merciful to us. +</p> +<p>Nov. 20.—I resolved, for the greater +safety of the ship, to sink her right down, +but she would not sink so fast as we would +have her. At noon-day the water rose and +beat the bulk-heads of the bread-room, powder-room, +and forepiece, all to pieces; thus +she continued till three, and then the sea +came up on the upper deck, and soon after +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +she began to settle. We were seventeen +poor souls now in the boat, and we now +imagined that we had leaped out of the +frying-pan into the fire, for we thought +assuredly the ebb would carry us away into +the sea. We therefore doubled-manned four +oars, and so, with the help of God, we got +to the shore. Being there arrived, we +greeted our fellows the best we could; at +which time they could not know us, nor we +them by our habits nor voices, so frozen all +over we were, faces, hair, and apparel. I +comforted them the best I could, saying, +“My masters and faithful companions, be +not dismayed for any of these disasters, but +let us put our whole trust in God; it is He +that giveth and He that taketh away. His +will be done. If it be our fortunes to end +our days here, we are as near heaven as in +England, and we are much bound to God +Almighty for giving us so large a time of +repentance. I make no doubt but He +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +will be merciful to us both here on earth, +and in His blessed kingdom.” +</p> +<p>Dec. 1.—To-day it is so cold that firm +ice has formed over the boat-track, and we +can reach the ship on foot; we have brought +over on our backs five hundred fish, and +much of our bedding and clothes, which we +had to dig out of the ice. +</p> +<p>Dec. 10.—We have been busied this past +week, save on Sunday, when we rested and +performed the Sabbath duties of a Christian, +in bringing hither stores from the ship—now +bearing them over firm ice, and now +wading knee-deep in half-frozen water. I +will here describe the house which we have +built to shelter us withal. It is among a +tuft of thick trees, under a south bank, about +a bow-shot from the seaside; it is square, +and about twenty feet every way. First we +drove strong stakes into the earth round +about, which we wattled with boughs as +thick as might be, beating them down very +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +close. At the ends we left two holes for +the light to come in at, and the same way +the smoke did pass out also. Then we cut +down trees into lengths of six feet, with +which we made a pile on both sides. We +left a little low door to creep into, and a +porch was before that, made with piles of +wood. We next fastened a rough tree aloft +over all, upon which we laid our rafters and +our roof. On the inside, we made fast our +sails round about. Now have we driven in +stakes and made us bedstead frames, about +three sides of the house. We have made +our hearth in the middle of the house, and +on it our fire. This house we propose to +call our mansion, as we have built two +smaller near by for our kitchen and our +store-house. +</p> +<p>Dec. 31.—Our mansion is now covered +thick with snow, almost to the very roof of +it; we do not go out save we first shovel +away the snow, and then by treading, make +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +it somewhat hard under foot. We have got +our boat ashore, and fetched up some of our +provisions from the beach, with extremity of +cold and labor; and thus we concluded the +old year 1631. +</p> +<p>Jan. 2, 1632.—I observed the sun to rise +like an oval along the horizon; I called +three or four to see it, the better to confirm +my judgment; and we all agreed that it was +twice as long as it was broad. We plainly +perceived withal, that by degrees as it rose +higher it also recovered its soundness. +</p> +<p>Jan. 30.—But little worthy the writing +has happened to us this month. The men +grow daily weaker, and our stores less. We +have three sorts of sick men—those that +cannot move nor turn themselves in their +beds, who must be tended like infants; +those that are as it were crippled; and +those that are something better, but afflicted +with sore mouths. These last make shift to +work; they go to work through the snow +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +to the ship, and about their other business. +Our cook doth order our food in this manner. +The beef which is to serve on Sunday +night to supper, he doth boil on Saturday +night in a kettle full of water, with a quart +of oatmeal, about an hour. Then taking the +beef out, he doth boil the rest till it is +thick, which we call porridge, which, with +bread, we do eat as hot as we may; and +after this we have fish, and thus we have +some warm thing every supper. +</p> +<p>But many of our sick eat nought save a +little oatmeal or pease. Hitherto we have +taken but a dozen foxes in all our traps. +</p> +<p>Feb. 10.—The cold is as extreme just +now as at any time this year, and many of +our men complain heavily of sickness; two-thirds +of our company are under the surgeon’s +hand. And yet, nevertheless, they +must work daily, and go abroad to fetch +wood and timber notwithstanding the most +of them have no shoes to put on. Their +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +shoes, upon their coming to the fire out of +the snow, were burnt and scorched upon +their feet, and they were forced to bind +old clothes about their feet. Our clock and +watch, though we have kept them ever by +the fireside, yet they are so frozen that they +cannot go. The inside of our house is +hanged with icicles, and many a time when +I put my hand into the brass kettle by the +fire, I find one side very warm, and the +other side an inch frozen. +</p> +<p>Mar. 15.—One of our men thinks that he +has seen a deer, whereupon he with two or +three more desire that they may go and see +if they can take it, and I have given them +leave. +</p> +<p>Mar. 16.—Last evening did our hunters +return, not having seen the deer, but so +disabled with cold, that they will not be +well in a fortnight. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-040.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Return of the Hunters. Page 40. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Mar. 31.—Our carpenter is now among +our sick, his cutting tools are but few, and +these mostly broken and bound about with +rope-yarn as fast as may be. Thus our pinnace, +on which lyeth so much of our hope +of escape, is but in an indifferent forwardness. +</p> +<p>April 4.—To-day we have been sitting +all about the fire, reasoning and considering +together about our estate. The time and +season of the year comes forward apace, and +we have determined on this course. With +the first warm weather we will begin to +clear the ship from the ice and water, so +that should the pinnace never be finished, +as seemeth in doubt through the sickness of +our carpenter, we might yet have some hope +in our old ship to complete our enterprise, +and to return home. +</p> +<p>April 6.—This day is the deepest snow +we have had all this year; it hath filled up +all our paths and ways. +</p> +<p>April 16.—This is the most comfortable +sunshine that hath come this year, and I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +have put some to clear off the snow from +the upper decks of the ship, and to clear +and dry the great cabin by making fire in +it. Others have I put to dig down through +the ice to come by our anchor. +</p> +<p>April 25.—Now have we labored so hard +that we are mightily encouraged, for the +water doth rise without the ship, and yet +doth not make its way into the hold. I +have bid the cook that he pour hot water +into the pumps, and so thaw them. +</p> +<p>April 27.—One of the pumps is cleared, +and by means of this we have drawn two +feet of water from the hold, and we find +to our satisfaction that it doth not rise again. +</p> +<p>May 2.—It doth snow and blow so that +we must keep house all day; our sick men +are so grieved at this unexpected cold that +they grow worse and worse. +</p> +<p>May 3.—To-day some of the snow melted +on the land, and some cranes and geese have +come to it. I and the surgeon have been +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +with a couple of fowling-pieces to see if we +could kill any for our sick men, but never +did I see such wild-fowl; they would not +endure to see anything move, therefore we +have been obliged to return empty-handed +and wearied. +</p> +<p>May 9.—We have at last come to and +got up our five barrels of beef and pork +which were sunk in the hold, and we have +also found four butts of beer, which will be +as a cordial to our sick men. God make +us ever thankful for the comforts that He +gives us! +</p> +<p>May 13.—This is the Sabbath day, which +we have solemnized, giving God thanks for +those hopes and comforts which we daily +have. +</p> +<p>May 21.—This is the warmest day we +have yet had. Two of my men have I sent +a fowling, and myself, the master, the surgeon, +and one more with our guns and our +dogs, have been into the woods to see what +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +comfort we could find. We have wandered +full eight miles from the house, and have +searched with all diligence, but returned +comfortless; not an herb, no leaf eatable, +that we could find. Our fowlers have had as +bad success. The snow is by this time +pretty well wasted in the woods. We have +a high tree on the highest part of the island +which we call our watch-tree, and from the +top thereof we can see far over the seas, +but we find no appearance of breaking up +yet. +</p> +<p>May 24.—Very warm sunshine. The +ice doth consume by the shore side, and +cracks all over the bay with a fearful noise. +This morning I sent two to search for the +ship’s rudder, which was buried among the +ice, and a fortunate fellow, one David +Hammon, pecking between the broken blocks, +struck upon it, who crying out that he had +found it, the rest came and got it up on +the ice, and so into the ship. O, this was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +a joyful day to us all; and we gave God +thanks for the hopes we had of it. +</p> +<p>May 31.—We have found some vetches +on the beach, which I have made the men +pick up, and boil for their sick comrades. +</p> +<p>June 4.—These four days hath it snowed, +hailed, and blown hard; and it hath been +so cold that the water in our cans did freeze +in the very house, our clothes also, that had +been washed and hung out to dry, did not +thaw all day. +</p> +<p>June 15.—This day I went to our watch-tree, +but the sea was still firm and frozen, +and the bay we were in was full of ice. +</p> +<p>June 16.—Here have there lately appeared +divers sorts of flies, and such an +abundance of mosquitoes, that we are more +tormented with them than ever we were +with the cold weather. Here be likewise +ants, and frogs in the ponds upon the land, +but we durst not eat of them, they looked +so speckled like toads. By this time there +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +are neither bears, foxes, nor fowl, to be +seen; they are all gone. +</p> +<p>June 17.—At high water we did heave +our ship with such good-will that we heaved +her through the sand into a foot and a half +deeper water. After we had moored her +we went all to prayers, and gave God +thanks that had given us our ship again. +</p> +<p>June 19.—There hath been the highest +tide that we have known since we have been +here, and in a happy hour have we got our +ship off. This evening I went up to our +watch-tree; and this was the first time I +could see any open water, anyway, except +that little by the shore-side. This sight +gave us some comfort. +</p> +<p>June 22.—We have sounded all about +the ship, where she was sunken, and find it +very bad ground, with stones three feet high, +and two of them within a ship’s breadth of +the ship, wherein did more manifestly appear +God’s mercies to us; for if when we forced +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +her ashore she had stricken one blow against +these stones, it had broken her. +</p> +<p>June 24.—The wind hath put all the ice +upon us, so that for a while we were in such +apparent danger that I verily thought we +should have lost our ship. With poles and +oars did we heave away and part the ice +from her. But it was God that did protect +and preserve us; for it was past any man’s +understanding how the ship could endure it, +or we by our labor save her. +</p> +<p>June 26.—These have been indeed days +of fear and of confusion, but also, in the +end, of comfort. Yesterday evening I went +up to our watch-tree, taking a man with me, +who should make a fire on the highest place +of the island, to see if it would be answered. +When I was come to the tree I laid down +my lance, and while I climbed up to the top +of the tree, I ordered him to set fire to +some decayed wood thereabouts. He unadvisedly +set light to some trees that were to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +windward, so that they and all the rest too, +by reason it had been very hot weather, took +fire like flax or hemp; and the wind blowing +the fire towards me, I made haste down +the tree. But before I was half way down, +the fire reached its stem, and blazed so +fiercely upwards, that I had to leap off the +tree and down a steep hill, and in brief, +with much ado escaped burning. My companion +at last came to me, and was joyful to +see me, for he thought verily I had been +burned. And thus we went homewards +together, leaving the fire increasing, and still +burning most furiously. I slept but little all +night; and at break of day I made all our +powder and beef to be carried aboard. This +morning I went to the hills to look to the +fire, where I saw it did still burn most +furiously, both to the westward and northward. +Leaving a man upon the hills to +watch it, I came home immediately and made +the men take down our new set of sails +immediately and carry them to the seaside, +ready to be cast in, if occasion were, and +to make ready to take down our houses. +About noon the wind changed, and our sentinel +came running home, bringing us word +that the fire did follow him hard at his heels, +like a train of powder. It was no need to +bid us take down and carry all away to the +seaside. The fire came towards us with a +most terrible rattling noise, a full mile in +breadth, and by the time we had unroofed +our houses, and laid hands on our last +things, the fire was come to our town, and +seized on it, and burnt it down to the +ground. Our dogs howled, and then ran +into the sea. To-night shall we lie all +aboard the ship, and give God thanks that +he has shipped us in her again. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-047.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Climbing the watch-tree. Page 47 +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>June 29.—These three days have we +wrought hard in fetching our things aboard, +as likewise our water, and have been all +about the eastern point, searching for driftwood. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +Our pinnace, on which hath been +spent so much time and labor, we need not, +having our ship afloat again, wherefore I +have commended her to be sawn in pieces +and brought into the ship. +</p> +<p>June 30.—To-day have we most earnestly +continued our labor, and by eleven this +night was our ship in readiness, for we have +sought to finish our business with the week +and the month, that so we might the better +solemnize the Sabbath ashore to-morrow, +and so take leave of our wintering island. +</p> +<p>July 1.—To-day, the first of the month, +being Sunday, we were up betimes. We +went ashore, and first we marched up to the +high cross we had put up to mark the graves +of our dead companions. There we had +morning prayer, and walked up and down +till dinner-time. After dinner we walked +to the highest hills to see which way the +fire had wafted. We saw that it had consumed +to the westward sixteen miles at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +least, and the whole breadth of the island; +near about our cross and our dead it could +not come, because it was a bare sandy hill. +After evening prayer we went up to take the +last view of our dead, and then we presently +took boat and departed, and never put foot +more on that island; but in our ship we went +to prayer, beseeching God to continue His +mercies to us, and rendering Him thanks +for having thus restored us. Now go we on +our discovery, which achieved, I purpose +surely to return to England, unless it should +please God to take us first into His heavenly +kingdom. And so desiring the happiness of +all mankind in our general Saviour Jesus +Christ, I end this, my journal, written on +the island.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III__THE_DISCOVERERS_OF_MADEIRA' id='III__THE_DISCOVERERS_OF_MADEIRA'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +<h2>THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA.</h2> +</div> + +<p>It was during the merry days of the reign +of King Edward III. of England, that a little +ship left the port of Bristol, sailing suddenly +and secretly, so that none knew to +what port she was bound. +</p> +<p>She was no trading vessel laden with +English goods for Calais, for her crew was +not composed of sailors; there were on +board only a few men, and these wore the +dress of English gentlemen. The strange +crew, the secret departure, all told the tale +of some danger from which they were seeking +to escape, and had we been on board we +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +should have seen by the anxious faces of the +crew, by the quick, eager glances with which +they watched the shores as they sailed out +of the Bristol Channel, that they feared pursuit, +either for themselves or for some one +whom they had in charge. Though not +really sailors, they were doing their best to +guide the little vessel, and they had chosen +for captain a young Englishman called Lionel +Machin, whose directions they obeyed, +and in whom they appeared to have full +confidence. +</p> +<p>It was for Lionel’s sake that the party of +friends were now making their escape from +England. He had married a girl whom he +had long loved, but he had not gained the +consent of her father and mother. They +were powerful and rich, and he had reason +to fear that his young wife would be taken +from him through their influence with the +king, and therefore he had determined to +seek a French port, and to hide himself and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +wife in some French city which did not own +Edward as its king. +</p> +<p>But, ignorant as they were of navigation, +it was no easy matter for them to direct +their course aright, and, high winds springing +up, they were beaten about for five days +without catching sight of the coast of France. +They did not know in what direction they +were being carried, and all on board, especially +the new-made wife, were full of uneasiness +and dismay. Lionel encouraged +Arabella with loving and hopeful words, +even when his own heart was sinking low, +but his friends, who had come only for his +sake, and without well considering the dangers +and risks which they might encounter, +were fast losing spirit and hope. Their +merry adventure seemed to be turning into +sad earnest, and these light-hearted lads, +having nothing to sustain their courage when +pleasure was gone, now vented their disappointment +in continual murmurs and regrets. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span></p> +<p>Arabella herself tried to seem indifferent +to their danger, and secure in Lionel’s care; +she hid her tears, lest they might grieve +her husband; but when she thought that no +one saw her, she gave herself up to sorrow +and despair. She thought of her father and +mother whom she had left secretly, lest they +should forbid her marriage with Lionel, and +she longed with an aching heart for one +word of love and forgiveness. For hours +she would sit, her eyes turned toward that +part of the horizon where she had last seen +the coast of England, her thoughts busied +about her old home: her father, taking his +pleasures with a sad heart; her little sister, +weeping for her lost playmate; and, most of +all, her mother, upright and dry-eyed, after +the stern fashion of the day, but yet, as +Arabella well knew, ever thinking of her +absent and disobedient child, ever missing +the light step, the loving smile, the tender +touch of the daughter she had loved so well. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span></p> +<p>But Lionel still kept up heart and hope, +still spoke gaily of the new home they would +soon make in sunny France—yes, even when +day after day passed by, and the watchers +saw no land, and knew that they must be +drifting far out of their course, away into +the wide unknown ocean. They had been +at sea more than a month when one morning +early, Lionel, who was pacing the deck, +heard behind him a sudden shout of joy. +</p> +<p>He did not turn, for there were tears in +his eyes which he must hide from his companions, +for he had now, for the first time, +learned from his wife of her repentance +and her grief, and he too was sad at heart +and well-nigh hopeless. But the shout was +repeated and taken up by other voices. +</p> +<p>“Land, land at last!” they cried, and +Lionel turned to see, far in the distance, +the tall sharp outline either of a rock or of +the cliffs which guarded some unknown shore. +Wind and wave were steadily sweeping the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +vessel onward towards this haven of refuge, +and there was nothing to do but to watch the +sharpening outlines, and to see, as fog and +mist cleared before the sun, the sheer dark +rocks and deep valleys of their new home. +</p> +<p>Nearer still and nearer, till the land was +full in sight, and the famished and wearied +crew could see the green valleys and tree-covered +heights of this lovely island, could +almost hear the fall of the clear waters +which they saw glancing down the face of +the rocks. +</p> +<p>What land it was they knew not. No +houses were to be seen, no ships or canoes +flew out from under the shelter of the shore, +no natives gathered in fear or wonder on +the silent silver beach, only a number of +bright-winged birds came as if to greet the +new-comers, and settled fearless on the sails +and ropes. +</p> +<p>Quickly the ship’s one boat was lowered, +and some of Lionel’s companions, well +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +armed, put off for the unknown shore. +Lionel would fain have been of the number, +but neither Arabella nor his friends would +permit him to run this risk. Ere long the +boat returned, and the adventurers climbed +on board as eager to speak as were their +companions to hear. +</p> +<p>“A dainty and delicious country, truly, +Captain Lionel, but men we saw none,” +said the first speaker. +</p> +<p>“The beasts thereon are tame, and have +no fear of man,” continued another. +</p> +<p>“Yea, and the land is a garden of flowers, +and the air soft, that it would give +back health to the dying; there will your +fair wife recover her bloom, and we all shall +rest after our grievous toil.” +</p> +<p>“Fruits are there in plenty, they dropped +on us from the trees as we walked,” added +the first. +</p> +<p>“Here at last we have found a haven,” +answered Lionel; “here, my kinsmen and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +faithful friends, may you regain the strength +you have lost in my cause, yea, and win +your pardon in England by this fair news. +Arabella, you will soon be strong again,” +and Lionel, though he spoke confidently, +looked with evident anxiety toward the pale +face which bore the traces of sorrow as well +as of sickness. +</p> +<p>Soon the whole party, save some few who +remained in charge of the ship, were on +land, wandering with the glee of schoolboys +over the green plains and wooded hills on +which they seemed to be the first to set +foot. Choosing a sheltered spot among the +laurels and near to the bend of the river, +the new lords of the island soon built a +shelter for themselves, and brought thither +stores from the ship. +</p> +<p>In this happy retreat the fugitives spent +nearly a fortnight, seeming to forget, in the +peace and rest of the present, their past +wrong-doing and their past disasters. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></p> +<p>But on the thirteenth day a sudden and +violent storm broke over the island. The +ship was driven from her anchorage by the +force of the wind and waves, and was carried, +with those of the company then on +board, toward the north coast of Africa, +where she was at last completely wrecked. +The crew escaped with their lives, but only +to fall into the hands of the Moors, who, +regarding all Christian nations as their enemies, +immediately seized those poor English +gentlemen as slaves. +</p> +<p>Lionel and the few companions who were +left with him on the island, grieved deeply +for the loss of their companions, though +they knew not the terrible fate which had +befallen them. And mingled with their sorrow +was penitence too, for the wrong act +which had, as they felt, brought on them +this deserved punishment. But Arabella’s +grief was deeper; from the time when this +new disaster befell them she never spoke, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +but sat gazing ever over the now calm +sea which parted her from her home; and +thus she pined and died, deeply oppressed +with grief, and not comforted with the assurance +of the pardon which Christ the +Saviour gives to all who repent and turn +from sin. +</p> +<p>Lionel could not endure without her the +life which he had sought for her sake, and +ere long he, too, died in the arms of his +weeping friends, and husband and wife were +buried at the foot of the laurels which had +been their shelter. +</p> +<p>The remaining adventurers determined at +any risk to leave the island in the little +boat which still remained to them, for the +place now became distasteful; but before +they sailed they set up over the grave of +the husband and wife a wooden cross, on +which were carved their names. Then, following +the wish of Lionel, they added below +a request that if any Christians should hereafter +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +come to dwell in this island, they would +build over the grave a church, in which +our Saviour Jesus might be worshipped +and adored. +</p> +<p>The little boat being now ready and +stored with birds and other food as provisions +for their voyage, they set sail, but +were, like their companions, cast on the +coast of Africa, and made slaves with those +who had gone before them. But the poor +Englishmen were not the only captives, for +in those times shipwrecked sailors from all +parts of Europe were held in cruel slavery +by the Moors. +</p> +<p>Side by side with the companions of +Lionel worked a young Spanish sailor +named Jean de Morales, and, glad of any +relief from the toil and tedium of their sad +life, he listened eagerly to the often-repeated +story of the lovely and beautiful island. +Of this unknown land he dreamed and +thought continually, longing for freedom +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +that he might discover and tread its silent +shores, for he was of a nation eager for +discovery, and the highest rewards and +honors were not thought too great for him +who should add a new country to the dominions +of the crown of Castile. +</p> +<p>At length it happened that a sum of +money was sent to Barbary, to ransom some +of the Spanish captives, and Jean de Morales +was amongst those set at liberty: but +the ship in which, with glad heart and high +hopes, he sailed for Spain, was captured on +its way by a Portuguese man-of-war, under +Jean Gonsalie Lascoe. All the captives +from Barbary, who had already suffered so +much, were permitted to continue their +journey home, save only Jean de Morales. +</p> +<p>This one exception was made because the +Portuguese captain was not willing to give +to Spain the glory of the discovery which +the Castilian sailor was longing to attempt. +Jean de Morales was, however, kindly +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +treated, and at last took service with the +Portuguese, his attachment to his native land +being doubtless weakened by his long captivity. +</p> +<p>Very soon, ships were sent out by Portugal +commanded by Gonsalie, with Jean de +Morales on board, to seek this new and +unclaimed island. The vessels first held +their course for the Island of Porto Sanco, +near which the new island was supposed to +lie, for seen from Porto Sanco toward the +north-east was a heavy cloud, sometimes +brighter, sometimes darker, but never wholly +dispersed. +</p> +<p>The ignorant and superstitious inhabitants +had many wonderful stories to relate of this +cloud; they all believed that no ship could +safely approach it. Some held it to be an +island hanging between heaven and earth, +in which some Christians had been hidden +by God from the power of their Moorish +foes, some that it led into the land of spirits. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +Towards this cloud Gonsalie steered +his ships, in spite of the murmurs and +almost the open mutiny of his terrified +crew. “The shadow is but a mist,” said +he, “a cloud caused by the heat of the sun’s +rays drawing the moisture from the land +beneath; have no fear, my children, for +those who do their duty will God protect.” +</p> +<p>Through the mists and heavy clouds they +sailed on, and at last emerged into clear, +pure air, to see fair before them the island +of their hopes. The sailors who had before +resisted the captain’s will, now fell on their +knees begging his forgiveness, and praying +to be allowed to land at once and wander +through the valleys of this lovely land. +Soon Gonsalie, Jean de Morales, and some +of the sailors pulled through the surf and +set foot on the island, which they called +Madeira, because it was so well wooded. +They landed almost on the very spot where +Lionel and Arabella had first come on +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +shore, and before long the new-comers stood +in reverence and in pity by the graves of +the first discoverers. +</p> +<p>The island was formally taken possession +of in the name of the King of Portugal, and +before long a colony was sent thither, Gonsalie +being appointed governor. +</p> +<p>Then the dying wish of Lionel was +granted, and over his grave was built a +church, in which the new inhabitants might +worship God. +</p> +<p>This is the story which we have received +as the history of the discovery of the island +of Madeira, now so well and so familiarly +known to us, where many of our own countrymen +go year by year, seeking to recover +health and strength amongst the sheltered +and wooded vales where the English husband +and wife found their last refuge. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-066.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Visiting the Graves. Page 66. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The history was written in Portuguese +by Don Francesco Alcafarado, a noble at the +court of King John I. of Portugal. He +was himself one of the discoverers. It is +considered possible that some of the details +which he has given may have been altered +in his memory, or confused by those from +whom he heard the story of Lionel and +Arabella, but there seems no reason to +doubt the chief facts which he relates. The +cross erected over the graves of the husband +and wife was preserved in Madeira till +at least the early part of this century, and +possibly is still to be seen. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV__ST_HELENA' id='IV__ST_HELENA'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +<h2>ST. HELENA.</h2> +</div> + +<p>In the days when voyages were more +tedious and dangerous than they are now, +when steam was unknown, and the art of +navigation little studied, it was especially +important to secure safe resting-places for +vessels bound on distant voyages. Halfway +ports where the health of the sailors +might be recruited, where the ship often +battered and leaking, might be repaired, +and stored once more with water and fresh +vegetables, were absolutely essential to safe +and profitable commerce. +</p> +<p>But until about the year 1500 the Venetian +traders to India had found no such +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +harbor of refuge in the South Atlantic. +Their ships came and went nevertheless, and +if many were lost, yet the profits of the +trade were such as to repay the merchants +for many a bale of rich goods which lay +beneath the waters, and to lead Venice to +guard as one of her most valuable rights the +trade with India. +</p> +<p>The Portuguese also were merchants and +explorers, and had a large and important +navy, and they were not content to leave +the Indian traffic wholly in the hands of the +Venetians. Therefore about the year 1501 +three vessels were sent out to India by the +Portuguese Government. On their return +voyage during May of the following year a +sudden and violent storm overtook them. +</p> +<p>They were in the midst of the wide Atlantic, +driven backwards and forwards by +the furious wind and waves. +</p> +<p>One of the ships was separated from the +other two, and was in greater danger. All +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +hope of guiding her was at an end, and the +captain and crew stood waiting in despair +for the death which could not be far distant. +</p> +<p>It seems probable from that which afterwards +happened, that some at least among +the sailors thought, in their danger, on +God, and cried to Him to save them. And +we may well believe this to have been so. +There are but few who when trouble is near +forget God. It is in smooth and fair water, +in calm and sunshine, that we are so ready +to think that we can guide and help ourselves. +When the clouds gather, and the +storm-winds blow, then we cry unto God in +our trouble. And God is so good that He +does not turn away from those who call on +Him in their need, even when in their joy +they had turned away from Him. +</p> +<p>Help came to these sailors tossed on the +wide, wild sea, but it did not come in the +way that they had hoped. At first it seemed +only like greater peril, for through the haze +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +which darkened the sea, the dim outline of +land was seen, standing high, sharp, and +dark against the sky. +</p> +<p>What land it could be they did not know. +In such rough charts as they possessed, no +rock even was marked, no speck of land +for many hundred miles on either side the +place where they were now fighting for their +lives. +</p> +<p>The ship was driven nearer and nearer, +and, so far as the mariners could tell, they +were being driven to certain destruction, +for what ship could hope to avoid the terrible +wall of rocks before them, or live in +the white seething waters which boiled at +its foot. A shout, an eager wondering cry, +from one of the sailors, roused his comrades; +he was pointing to a narrow inlet +between the rocks, on either side of which +the sand lay smooth and low—if they could +only gain that opening there might yet be +hope. But the ship was past all guidance, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +and the only chance of life seemed to lie in +the boats, which might be directed up the +narrow inlet, so that the men might land in +safety on its shores. At last the anxious, +terrified sailors stood safely on the beach, +watching the still raging sea as it washed to +their feet plank and mast and rudder of +their now broken ship. +</p> +<p>Their first thought was to offer thanks to +God who had delivered them, and then they +began to look around at this strange unknown +land on which they had been thrown. +</p> +<p>“Let us build ourselves a shelter with the +planks of the broken ship, she will never +sail blue water again,” said one sailor. +</p> +<p>“Nay,” replied another, “rather let us +build a house for God, let us leave a church +on this island. We need no shelter in the +warm May weather, no rain will fall for +months yet, I warrant, and some of those +rare trees yonder will be our fittest roof.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span></p> +<p>“But of what use can a church be when +none dwell here to worship?” asked a third. +</p> +<p>“Doubtless many will come to dwell here +when we return home and tell the story of +the new land, and many ships will stay +here to rest the sailors and to gather stores. +Were it not well done that they should +find prepared a place which should remind +them of their duty to their God, and of His +care of them?” +</p> +<p>“And,” said the captain, speaking now +for the first time, “were it not well done +that we, whom He has so wonderfully preserved, +should try even in this imperfect +fashion to show our gratitude? He will accept +even such poor service, therefore, in +my judgment, let it be done.” +</p> +<p>“Let it be done,” cried all, and, as if +impatient to begin, the sailors rushed knee-deep +into the sea, seizing and drawing high +on the beach the floating spars and planks +ready for their new service. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span></p> +<p>But before such work could be begun it +was needful to explore the new land, to +search for any traces of inhabitants, and +above all to discover, if possible, food and +water to refresh themselves. +</p> +<p>There was one high peak, towering above +the many hills which crowned the island, +and towards this a party of sailors made +their way, keeping closely together for fear +that the natives of the land might suddenly +attack them from rock or thicket. +</p> +<p>The steep, rugged, broken hill was scaled +at last, and from its summit the adventurers +looked down on their place of refuge. +They were on an island, which seemed to be +some miles in length; it was thickly covered +with trees, and in one part a broad, open +plain, fresh and fertile, stretched before +them. There were many streams, dancing +merrily down the broken cliffs, or shaded +by tall tree-ferns and waving grasses. But +nowhere was there any sign of human habitation; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +no palm-roofed huts, no canoes, no +figures crossing the open spaces between the +trees. And not only man, but even animals +seemed wanting here. +</p> +<p>The place was a complete solitude; the +sea-birds had not strayed farther than the +cliffs where their nests were made, and save +one little brown bird, not unlike a sparrow, +which chirped among the boughs, the sailors +neither heard nor saw any signs of life. +</p> +<p>Fruit there was in abundance on the trees, +and with this spoil they hastened back to +their comrades, who had meanwhile been +exploring the sides of the inlet. +</p> +<p>A shout from the party of these explorers +told the descending sailors that some discovery +had been made, and as they came +nearer they saw that a fire had been kindled +on the beach, though with what object it +was hard to guess. +</p> +<p>They were not long left in doubt, for +shouts of “Turtle, turtle! come and see the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +turtle we have cooked for dinner!” caused +them to hasten to the fire, on which was +now seething an immense turtle, great numbers +of which were to be seen crawling +along the beach. +</p> +<p>The fruit was a welcome addition to the +feast, and the sailors were soon forgetting +peril and disaster over a hearty and refreshing +repast. +</p> +<p>Then the whole party stretched themselves +at ease under the trees; they recounted to +each other their adventures and discoveries. +It was clear that they were on an island, +and that this island was far distant from +any known land. There appeared no doubt +that it was uninhabited and unknown, and +great was the satisfaction of the captain in the +thought of carrying home to Portugal the +tidings of a discovery so important. For +all saw what great service would be done to +Portuguese commerce by the establishment +of a half-way station on their return from +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +India, and the feeling of regret for their +lost ship was swallowed up and forgotten +in delight at the honor which they should +receive at having first planted the flag of +Portugal on the Island of St. Helena, for +thus did the captain name the newly-found +island. +</p> +<p>The sailors made no doubt that now the +violence of the storm was over, that they +would soon be rescued from their imprisonment +by the other ships, and meanwhile +they set heartily to work to build their +church. +</p> +<p>The ship’s carpenter undertook the principal +directions, while the captain determined +on the best site for the new building, +and marked its outline on the turf. +</p> +<p>Willing hands made the work light, and +ere many days had passed the church began +to rise, plank by plank, amid the palm-trees +and leafy shade around. +</p> +<p>The two remaining ships soon arrived, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +and their crews stayed long enough to complete +the church, and to lay in a store of +fruit, turtles, and fresh water, and then all +set sail for Portugal, and St. Helena for +long years was henceforth reckoned among +the possessions of that crown. +</p> +<p>But though highly prized as a resting-place +for ships, it did not at first become +a colony. Two small dwellings were built +on either side the church, but none inhabited +them for about twelve years, when a +Portuguese nobleman, named Lopez, came +to live there in banishment, with no companions +but three or four negro slaves, who +under his direction, cultivated the soil, +planted and reared many new kinds of trees +and fruits, and tended the fowls and animals +which were abundantly supplied for his +needs. +</p> +<p>He did not, however, continue many years +in St. Helena, and long the island remained +without inhabitants. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></p> +<p>Sometimes a passing ship would leave one +or more of her crew, who were ill, that they +might be restored by the vegetables and +fruits, the pure air and clear water of the +island. +</p> +<p>It happened once, nearly ninety years +after the first discovery, that an English +crew landed for refreshment, and wandering +about the island approached the little church. +They believed themselves the only human +beings on the island, and were therefore +greatly surprised to hear a voice singing +within the church. +</p> +<p>“It is a Portuguese,” they said one to +another, “let us enter and make him prisoner.” +</p> +<p>Without another word the doors were +thrown open, and there kneeling alone in +the church, they discovered a strange figure, +wild and terrified, dressed in a rough suit +of goat-skin. +</p> +<p>“Who are you?” cried the foremost of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +the sailors, forgetting that the supposed +Portuguese was not likely to answer an +English question; but the man started to +his feet at the words, gazed round him, +looking one by one into the eager and wondering +faces before him, and then, as if he +could no longer contain his joy, he rushed +towards them, and threw himself into the +arms of the foremost. +</p> +<p>He, in his turn, had feared that the new-comers +were Portuguese, and the poor English +sailor, for such he was, had endured an +agony of terror till the sound of English +speech assured him that he was among +friends and fellow-countrymen. +</p> +<p>His story was soon told. He had been +left at St. Helena by a passing ship, because +he was so reduced by the voyage that the +captain feared that he could never reach his +home. Here he had lived for fourteen long +months, and had never during that time +heard a human voice, or seen the face of a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +friend. He had lived chiefly on the flesh +of goats, which had now multiplied on the +island, and had in his wild, free life quite +recovered his health. But the joy of meeting +with friends after so long a solitude +was too great; he was quite unable to sleep, +and only lived till the ship in which he had +taken passage reached the West Indies. +</p> +<p>St. Helena passed at length into the hands +of the English, was colonized and brought +into cultivation, and it was here that Napoleon +ended the career which had laid waste +and despoiled Europe. Here in this little +island was bounded his wide ambition; the +sea set limits to his steps on every side and +stretched its strong impassible barrier all +around him. Here, though not alone, he +endured a solitude which was doubtless +heavier to bear and more hopeless than that +felt by any of the wanderers who in early +days were left upon that shore. For there +is no solitude like that of a heart which +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +dwells alone, whose memories of the past +can bring no gladness, and whose future +lies cheerless and blank before it. +</p> +<p>He spent his time chiefly in reading, +riding on horseback, and digging in his +garden. He was fond of amusing himself +with children, and would join in all their +little sports. He employed himself, also, +in writing the memoirs of his own campaigns. +“Let us live on the past,” he +said. But ah! what satisfaction could a view +of his past life have afforded him? Those +who have lived only for this world must +never expect anything but self-reproach in +reviewing the opportunities of usefulness +which they have lost, and the precious talents +they have misemployed. What a favorable +opportunity, however, was afforded +to Napoleon in his solitude at St. Helena, of +examining his past life. Happy would it +have been for him if he had diligently +used the time thus given him in mourning +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +for his sins, and humbling himself for the +misapplication of the vast talents entrusted +to his charge. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-083.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Napoleon at St. Helena. Page 83. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>That he sometimes thought of the subject +of religion, indeed, is evident, if we believe +a conversation which Count Monthoton, one +of his attendants, has recorded. “Alexander, +Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself,” +Napoleon is represented to have said, “founded +empires upon force! Jesus Christ alone +founded His empire upon love; and at this +hour millions of men would die for Him. I +die before my time, and my body will be +given back to the earth to become food for +worms. Such is the fate which so soon +awaits him who has been called the Great +Napoleon! what a difference between my +deep misery and the eternal kingdom of +Christ, which is proclaimed, loved, and +adored, and which is extending over the +whole earth. Call you this dying? Is it not +living rather? The death of Christ is the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +death of a God!” Napoleon became every +day more and more unhappy. He used to +feed some fish in a pond, but they sickened +and died. “Everything that I love,” said +he, “leaves me: everything that belongs to +me is stricken!” +</p> +<p>At last the event came which released him +from all his earthly sorrows. A painful disease, +called cancer in the stomach, attacked +him; and, after considerable suffering, he expired +on the 5th of May, 1821. The night of +his dissolution was a terrible one; a fearful +storm was raging all around. Napoleon +had, for some hours, been insensible; +towards six o’clock in the evening, however, +he pronounced the words, “Head of +the Army,” as if his thoughts were running +on the field of battle, and immediately +afterwards his immortal spirit quitted the +tabernacle of clay in which it dwelt. Such +was Napoleon’s death-bed. Alas! we look +in vain upon it for that language of triumph +which has so often broken from the lips of +the followers of Jesus, when passing through +the dark “valley of the shadow of death.” +With Napoleon’s dying moments, contrast +those of an eminent saint of God, Dr. Payson. +“I seem to swim in a flood of glory,” +said he to some young persons, “which God +pours down upon me. And I know—I know +that my happiness is but begun—I cannot +doubt that it will last for ever. My young +friends, were I master of the whole world, +what could it do for me like this! Nothing, +nothing. Now all this happiness I trace +back to the religion which I have preached, +and to the time when that great change +took place in my heart, which, I have often +told you, is necessary to salvation;—and +I now tell you again, that without this +change you cannot, no, you cannot see the +kingdom of God!” +</p> +<p>Napoleon was buried at Longwood, in the +Island of St. Helena, under a large willow +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +tree; but in 1840 his remains, with the +consent of the British Government, were +removed to Paris, and buried with grand +honors in that city. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V__THE_PITCAIRN_ISLANDERS' id='V__THE_PITCAIRN_ISLANDERS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +<h2>THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS.</h2> +</div> + +<p>Many islands have at different times risen +above the sea, which had for long years +washed over and hidden them. There are +two ways in which new islands are thus +born like a fresh creation from God. +</p> +<p>The great volcanic force which sends out +flames and ashes from the tops of high +mountains, or makes the solid earth tremble +and crack, is at work also below the bed of +the sea, and from time to time islands are +raised there either slowly or by some sudden +convulsion, just as we have also reason to +believe that other islands are even now sinking +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +lower under the influence of the same +force, until, most likely, in years to come, +the waves will once more flow over them +again. You must not forget that when we +talk of the forces of nature we mean really +the hand of God. He it is who sends these +great convulsions, or who directs the slow +upheaving of new land. All is quite as +truly the work of God as when, at His word, +the dry land first appeared. “Fire and +hail, snow and vapors, stormy wind,” are +all “fulfilling His word.” +</p> +<p>Many of these islands, when first raised +above the sea, must have been active volcanoes, +sending out hot from their craters the +flood of lava and the heated rocks which +now lie cold and hard, and overgrown with +moss, to tell us of their past history. +</p> +<p>Of course, while this was going on there +could be no life either of plants or animals +on the mountain, which, indeed, as yet could +scarcely be called an island, only a bare +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +rock, around which the waves would beat, +as if in hopeless endeavor to extinguish the +fire which glowed deep in its caverned +centre. But though neither waves nor +storms could make this fire die out, yet +there comes a time to most of these volcanic +islands when the life and energy of the +mountain seems gone, taken away, we know +not how, by the same Great Hand that +lighted it, and the lonely rock is now ready +to be turned into a home for man, for this +silent crater, this hard, broken crag, will, +after a time, become a fair island home. +God does not leave His works incomplete, +and He has servants who will change this +desolate rock into a fertile garden. +</p> +<p>He sends the waves; they dash on the +sides of the island, which rise generally +abrupt and strong from the deep waters, +and wherever they can find entrance they +wear and powder the rock until it becomes +fine soil, and a little beach is formed. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +Then rains fall and fill the clefts and hollows +of the rock, and soften it at length as +they wash down its face, till here and there +patches of scanty soil are formed. +</p> +<p>But something more than soil is needed; +the most fertile land cannot of itself produce +grass or herbs; there must be a seed +before even the smallest weed can spring up, +and those which float about in the air with +us, are not found on a volcanic rock far +away in the sea. +</p> +<p>But messengers are prepared to bring +them. Birds flying over the water sometimes +stoop their wings to rest awhile on +the rock, and often leave behind them seeds +which they have gathered in far distant +lands. At first, perhaps, only a few small +weeds are seen. These, dying in their turn, +improve the soil for their successors, until +at length it can support shrubs and undergrowth, +the seeds of which are sometimes +washed on the shore by the waves, or found +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +hidden in the clefts of some tree which has +floated to the island from a distant shore. +</p> +<p>Last of all arises, like a crown of beauty, +the graceful cocoa-nut palm, spreading broad +leaves around its tall, slender stem, and +making the once barren rock a shady and +lovely retreat. +</p> +<p>The island on which Alexander Selkirk +lived is considered volcanic; it is probably +formed in some such manner as that which +we have described. Madeira, too, and probably +St. Helena, are volcanic islands. +</p> +<p>Pitcairn, the history of which you are +now going to read, is also possibly of volcanic +origin, and its high crags and sharp +peaks seem as if they must have been +thrown up by some sudden force; but as it +is in the midst of a sea covered with coral +islands, and has been supposed by some to +be itself partially formed by coral insects, +it may be well that you should hear a little +of the wonderful growth of coral islands, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +which, though formed so differently from +those of which you have been reading, are +yet, when once their tops have risen above +the waves, clothed in the same manner with +fair growth, to prepare them for the presence +of man. Tahiti, which you will hear +mentioned in the story of Pitcairn, is a coral +island, and they abound in groups, in pairs, +or in single islands, through the wide Pacific +Ocean. +</p> +<p>They are formed by myriads of tiny insects, +which are connected together, and +seem to share a common life. One of these +insects fastens itself on some hidden rock; +sometimes it may be on an extinct volcano +which is not lofty enough to appear above +the waves, and on this foundation they begin +to build, the insect, as it shapes its cells of +coral, filling them with beings like itself, +so that every tiny chamber has its inmate. +Soon the whole rock is covered below the +water with a fine network of delicate coral, +and from the tops of the open cells the +insects put out their delicate <i>tentaculae</i>, or +arms, which look like the petals of a flower. +By means of the food gathered from the +water by these <i>tentaculae</i>, all the coral insects +are fed. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-092.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Coral Island. Page 92. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></div> +<p>Thus each one does its appointed work, +laying unseen the foundations of a new +land, for the coral growth is still spreading +and rising higher and higher, till at length +the waves begin to feel its resistance, and +to break in white foam around its crests. +</p> +<p>Its history, when it has once risen above +the reach of the tides, is like that of the +volcanic islands. The insects die, and the +bare grey rock is left, that God’s servants, +the waves and winds, may fulfil His will, +until in His own good time the coral island +becomes lovely and fertile, fit for the dwelling-place +of those who should be God’s best +servants—the men whom He has made for +His glory, and for whose redemption His +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +Son came down to die. It is sad to think +how often man, to whom God has given the +most, is the least ready to use these gifts +for his Maker’s glory, so that instead of +these lovely islands being always full of +His praise, they are often homes of sin and +of unhappiness, as indeed it was at first +with Pitcairn, the history of which we now +give. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>Far away from any other land, in the +midst of the South Pacific Ocean, there is +a little island, a mere speck in the sea, for +it is not six miles across at its widest point. +A passing ship might leave this tiny island +unnoticed, save for the lofty cliffs and precipices +which guard its shores, running down +to the white waves, ever curling and breaking +at their feet. Yet it was not a mere +rock, inaccessible and barren; for when once +a boat has safely won its way through the +breakers, and the sailor has climbed the rocks +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +which, steep above steep, stand like a wall +before him, he is rewarded by the sight of +lovely valleys, of forests of fruit-bearing +palms, and of green, fresh-springing plants: +a little fairy land, a new paradise seems +hidden here from the eye and the foot of +man. +</p> +<p>It is called Pitcairn’s Island, and was +discovered more than a hundred years ago +by a passing ship. It was uninhabited, and +no one set foot on it again, till in 1789 a +small ship might have been seen approaching +its shores, as if she would seek an anchorage +in that dangerous, rocky bay. +</p> +<p>The ship is called the <i>Bounty</i>, and carries +for her crew nine English seamen, and +some colored men and women, natives of +Tahiti, an island at which the <i>Bounty</i> had +been recently anchored. +</p> +<p>There is no captain on board, though the +first mate, Fletcher Christian, seems to take +his place and to direct the course of the ship; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +but his words are few, and his face is sad, +as if some past trouble or sin weighed on +his heart, and, when he is not obliged to +be active, he sits gazing listlessly over the +water, looking for he knows not what. +</p> +<p>It would be a long and sad story to tell +how that ship came to be thus cruising in +the wide Pacific. Months before, Fletcher +Christian and some of the sailors of the +<i>Bounty</i> had mutinied; had put their captain, +who by his harsh and unjust treatment +had provoked their anger, into the ship’s +launch with eighteen of the crew, leaving +them thus to reach home or to die on the +ocean. +</p> +<p>The mutineers well knew that if they +returned to England, their own lives would +pay the penalty of their crime, and therefore +they determined to spend the rest of +their days on some one of the numerous islands +scattered in groups throughout the +South Seas. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>But as they had begun their course by an +act which they knew to be wrong, it was +not likely that their future would be happy +and prosperous; the sweet flowers of peace +and content do not spring from the bitter +root of sin, “neither do men gather grapes +of thorns nor figs of thistles.” +</p> +<p>Thus we need not wonder that trouble and +dissension seemed to follow everywhere the +ill-fated crew of the <i>Bounty</i>. They quarrelled +and fought with the natives of the +first island which they chose for an asylum; +they disputed among themselves, suspecting +and hating each other, as partners in sin +most often do. The hearts of the leaders +were full of fear also as they thought of the +laws which they had broken, and of the fate +which would be theirs should their captain +reach England, and a ship be sent out to +capture them. +</p> +<p>At last the mutineers sailed for the Island +of Tahiti, where they knew that the inhabitants +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +were well-disposed and gentle, and +would be pleased to welcome the white man +to live among them. Fletcher Christian, +however, could not rest; he had been the +leader in the mutiny, he knew that he would +be sought for, and that if found he must die, +and die covered with disgrace. +</p> +<p>Therefore he determined to seek out Pitcairn’s +Island, of the discovery of which he +had heard, and there pass the remainder of +his miserable life. Eight of his comrades +decided to go with him, the rest remaining +at Tahiti, and, as we have seen, some of +the Tahitian men and women agreed to +make the voyage with them, and join in the +new settlement. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-099.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Landing of the Mutineers on Pitcairn’s Island. Page 99. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>After long seeking, after cruising backwards +and forwards for many days in the +sailless and shoreless ocean, the island that +they sought was seen standing high above a +line of white waves, and after much difficulty +the <i>Bounty</i> was anchored, and her boat sent +on shore with some of her crew. +</p> +<p>Everything of value on board was taken +to the island, even the iron-work of the ship +itself being removed, and when the <i>Bounty</i> +was reduced to an empty and useless hulk, +she was set on fire and burnt to the water-edge, +that no passing ship might see any +trace of inhabitants on the lonely island +where these unhappy men sought to hide +themselves. +</p> +<p>Fletcher Christian, who had taken the +command hitherto by the consent of his +companions, now proceeded to divide the +whole island into nine equal parts, one of +which he gave to each of the English sailors +who accompanied him, choosing for his own +portion a piece of land at the farther end of +the island, where he made for himself a +retreat among the steep rocks which overlooked +the sea. +</p> +<p>But though the new colony was so small, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +it had in it all the seeds of dissension and +of unhappiness. Even these nine men, +though bound together by a common fate +and by a common fear, could not agree, +could not bear with nor yield to each other +in any of the little differences or misunderstandings +which arose between them from +time to time. Still less could they live in +peace with the natives who had accompanied +them. They looked on these poor men and +women as their slaves, and treated them so +unjustly that the Tahitians, who had at first +been attached and faithful, now determined +on revenge. They were as much less guilty +than the English as they were more ignorant; +they had never been taught to be merciful, +to forgive injuries, to be patient under +wrongs; the blessed name of Jesus was not +familiar to their ears, nor the lessons of His +life and death to their hearts. They knew +no law but that of violence and might, and +finding themselves unjustly treated by those +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +who had promised to be their friends, they +formed a plot to put them all to death, and +so to make themselves masters of the island. +</p> +<p>Five out of the nine Englishmen were +shot, and amongst them was their leader, +Fletcher Christian. Ever since he had come +to Pitcairn’s Island, he had appeared sunk +in sorrow and remorse. All day long he +had remained hidden among the rocks, away +from his comrades, his eyes fastened on the +wide ocean, the barrier which he knew must +now divide him for ever from his home and +from all he loved. In this solitude his +companion was the Bible, brought on shore +by him from the ship. In this he was observed +to be often reading, and though we +know nothing of his thoughts nor of his +prayers, it may be that God spake through +His word to the heart of His erring child, +and bade him, not in vain, to seek His face +once more. +</p> +<p>Let us hope that this Bible charged with +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +such a blessed mission in years to come, +was sent also with a message to this desolate +heart, and that ere he died, Christian had +sought and found the forgiveness which is +given through the cross of Christ our Saviour. +Some sign of his repentance may be +found in a tradition handed down by the +islanders, that he had given orders that +everyone on the island should repeat each +noontide the prayer of the returning and +repentant prodigal: “Father, I have sinned +against heaven and before thee, and am no +more worthy to be called thy son.” +</p> +<p>Four white men had been saved by the +interference of the Tahitian women from the +fate of their comrades, but they did not feel +safe; they believed that the men were still +seeking their lives, and, as they imagined, +in self-defence, they determined to put these +their enemies to death. Thus the evil +begun by the mutiny still went on from +crime to crime, seeming to grow ever +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +deeper and wider. For the dark and terrible +story is not yet ended. Two of the four +remaining Englishmen soon after came to a +violent end, while intoxicated by a drink +which they had contrived to make from +some of the plants which they found on the +island, thus bringing into this lovely refuge +the vice and drunkenness which beset +crowded cities. +</p> +<p>The sorrowful tale has hitherto been all +dark, ever growing more gloomy and hopeless; +but now for the first time a faint pencil +of light, like the first streak of dawn, +marks the sky, a ray which, like all true +sunshine, comes from heaven and from God. +The great and loving Father had not forgotten +the children who had so long forgotten +Him; this little island, so far from the +eyes of human watchers was not unseen nor +unregarded by Him. His messengers, the +books which tell of Him, were still there, +though forgotten and unread; but the time +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +was now come when they were to speak +again, and were to be heard and obeyed. +</p> +<p>The two remaining mutineers were a +sailor named Alexander Smith, or, as he +now called himself, John Adams, and a +midshipman named Edward Young. The +midshipman had been well educated, and +had learnt above all, in his childhood, the +blessed lessons of God’s love, and of the +grace of Christ. These lessons, too long +unremembered, now came back to him. Perhaps +he thought of the days when, a young +child, he had knelt at his mother’s knee, or +standing by her chair, had read one by one, +as her finger slowly pointed them out, the +words of the Holy Bible. +</p> +<p>The good seed had lain long in a barren +soil, now God in His mercy sent the rain +and sunshine of His grace to cause it to +spring up at last. No sooner had Edward +Young begun to desire to return to the Saviour +whom he had left, than he also wished +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +that those around him should be taught of +His love. The helpless women and children +were, he felt, a sacred charge for him +and his companion, to teach and guide. +</p> +<p>Accordingly morning and evening prayers +were established in the island, and a sort of +school was begun for the children, John +Adams being partly a teacher, partly a +scholar, and so preparing to take his comrade’s +work when, a little time after this +change of heart and life, Edward Young +died, and left his comrade alone on the island +with his untaught charge. He, the +only one who had the key to God’s book, +the only one in whose memory were stored +any lessons of His truth, in whose life lay, +as it seemed, the only hope that this little +colony might be saved from all the cruelty +and ignorance of savage life, and added to +the number of the servants of Christ. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>Nearly twenty-five years had passed since +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +John Adams was left on Pitcairn’s Island, +the sole protector and teacher of the women, +and of the young children who were growing +up around him. He was himself but a +common sailor, who had enjoyed only a few +advantages of education, his only acquirements +the simple lessons which had been +taught him in his boyhood, and a new but +straightforward and earnest desire to serve +God in the way which God should teach +him, and in penitence and faith to walk +himself and to lead others to walk in the +way that leads to everlasting life. +</p> +<p>But God does not choose only the wise +and the great and the strong for His workmen: +often the weak things of the world +are chosen to confound the mighty, and the +poor and lowly to do the work of the High +and Mighty One who inhabiteth eternity. +</p> +<p>We have seen how evil passions indulged +were like a seed of sin, growing and spreading +into a mighty and poisonous tree. Then +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +there was planted by its side, through the +mercy of God, a germ of good and of life—has +that too lived and spread, or has it +withered and died beneath the shade of +evil? +</p> +<p>Two English vessels are approaching the +island. At first the crews do not see it, +but as evening draws on, the look-out man +in the larger ship gives the signal that he +has caught sight of land. “Land ho, land!” +passes from mouth to mouth among the +sailors. What land can it be? No island, +no rock even, is marked on the chart, and +the officers gather on deck to look over the +darkening sea toward that darker point +where the new land lies. +</p> +<p>“We may have discovered a new island +for King George,” says the captain. “We +must lie to till the morning, and then we will +sail nearer, and see this unknown shore.” +</p> +<p>The morning comes, and almost before it +is day some of the officers are on deck with +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +their glasses, eagerly looking toward the +island, which they can now see far more +plainly. Even without a glass its lofty +rocks and steep precipices can be distinguished. +The ships are approaching nearer +and nearer, till now their anchors are +dropped, and one of the captains orders a +boat to be prepared. +</p> +<p>“Though I doubt how we shall get her +through the surf,” he says, ponderingly; +“it is a dangerous coast, and no pilot within +hail. People there too, I see—savages. +The men must go well armed. Peters, look +to the loading of the pistols.” +</p> +<p>“Ay, ay, sir,” answered Peters, looking, +like the rest, towards the rocks, where +groups of people coming and going were +to be seen. +</p> +<p>There was evidently great excitement on +the island. A ship was a strange and unusual +sight, no doubt. +</p> +<p>Before the ship’s boat could be launched, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +two men were seen to climb the top of the +steep cliff which almost overhung the narrow +beach. They, however, seemed to find +no difficulty in their dangerous path, though +each carried on his shoulders a light canoe. +The strangers wore some kind of clothing, +but even through the captain’s glass it was +impossible to tell of what race they were. +</p> +<p>Dark against the clear sky, the two figures +were seen for awhile to stand gazing +steadfastly toward the ship, and then +bounded like goats down the rugged face of +the rock, and soon launched their canoes +fearlessly in the angry surf. +</p> +<p>“Haul the boat up, we’ll wait and receive +these natives on board,” says the captain; +and in a few minutes one of the canoes was +under the bows of the ship. +</p> +<p>“Come alongside,” shouted a sailor, trusting +that his signs and gestures would explain +the meaning of his English words. +</p> +<p>“We have no boat-hook to hold on by,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +cried in answer the foremost of their visitors. +</p> +<p>No words can explain the surprise with +which the captain and the whole crew listened +to these words spoken in pure English +by the supposed savage. They looked at +him and at each other, but no one spoke +till the eager voice was again heard from +the boat. +</p> +<p>“Won’t you heave us a rope now?” +</p> +<p>A sailor seized and flung one end of a +coil of rope, and in a moment their strange +visitor had seized it and climbed fearlessly +on deck. +</p> +<p>He was a tall man, young, and almost +English-looking, save that his complexion +was tinged by the hot sun of his country; +and his whole face and bearing were those +of an educated and civilized man. His dress +was a light vest and short trousers, while +his palm-leaf hat was adorned with a bunch +of brilliant feathers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span></p> +<p>“Who are you?” asked the astonished +captain, gazing at this strange and unexpected +apparition. +</p> +<p>“I am Thursday October Christian, the +son of the mutineer, and there,” pointing +to the other canoe, now close to the ship, +“is Edward Young.” +</p> +<p>The mystery was now explained: the +ships had anchored at the island where the +mutineers, long sought in vain, had taken +refuge. +</p> +<p>The officers crowded round their visitors, +asking question after question, of their age, +the number of people on the island, their +habits and mode of life. +</p> +<p>“Who is your king?” they asked. +</p> +<p>“Why, King George, to be sure,” replied +Christian, quickly. +</p> +<p>“Have you been taught any religion?” +</p> +<p>“Yes,” they replied, “a very good religion; +that which the Bible teaches.” +</p> +<p>The young men were led into every part +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +of the ship; they looked with great interest +at the many things they saw around them, +the uses and even the names of which were +unknown to them, and their questions +showed much thought and intelligence. +</p> +<p>In the course of the morning they were +led to the stalls where the ship’s cows were +kept. +</p> +<p>“What immense goats!” cried Christian; +“I did not know there were any of such a +size.” +</p> +<p>Just then a little dog, belonging to some +one on board, attracted the attention of one +of the new-comers. “I know what that is,” +he said, “that is a dog, I have read of such +things;” and turning to his companion, “it +is a pretty thing to look at, is it not?” +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +<img src='images/island-112.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +The Captain’s Cabin. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span></div> +<p>When noon came, the two guests were +taken into the captain’s cabin to lunch, but +before touching the food which was spread +before them, they both folded their hands, +and without troubling themselves at all +about the presence of the officers, in the +most simple and natural manner asked +God’s blessing on all that they should eat +and drink. +</p> +<p>Many of those who were present turned +away to hide, not a smile, but a blush of +shame that they, the sons of a Christian +land, should need to be reminded of their +duty to their God by these half-taught +islanders. +</p> +<p>Lunch over, the two captains went on +shore, rowed by their guests, to whose +strong and skilful hands they trusted to +pilot them safely through the dangerous +surf. +</p> +<p>On the beach they were welcomed by +more of the inhabitants, among the rest by +a young girl, the daughter of Adams, who +had evidently come to meet the English +strangers in order that she might learn if +her father was in any danger from them, for +John Adams was the last remaining mutineer. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +Her confidence was restored by the +looks and words of the two captains, as she +led them, with light step, up the steep +pathway by which alone the interior of the +island could be reached. +</p> +<p>The captains were almost exhausted long +before the top was reached, but their guides +seemed to climb as easily as the goats of +their own island, and even the girls were so +sure-footed that they were able to help the +strangers up the difficult path. Arriving at +the top, a new and beautiful sight delighted +their eyes—a lovely valley, rich in fruit-bearing +trees, and in cultivated fields, in +the midst of which was built an almost +English-looking village, with its church and +school house, its cottages and gardens, and +all that could speak of a simple, religious +home life. Here they were welcomed by +the remaining inhabitants, with Adams at +their head, to whom all looked up as to +their father. Beside him stood his blind +Tahitian wife, and around him were groups +of young men and girls with bright, intelligent +faces, and smiles which told of the +happiness and innocence of their hearts. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +<img src='images/island-115.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +John Adams and his family. Page 115. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Whatever the daughter of Adams may +have feared in her love for her father, he +himself did not appear afraid to receive +these English visitors to his island refuge. +For he felt that as, in the sight of God, his +sin had for Christ’s sake been pardoned, so +in the eyes of men these long years of penitence, +and of honest endeavor after a better +life, would surely have won pardon for the +sins of his youth. It was with feelings too +deep for words that he looked once more on +the faces of his countrymen and heard the +English speech from other lips than those to +whom he had taught it. All the memories +of early days awoke in him, and he longed +to return once more and see his native land +before he died. But as soon as those round +him understood his wish, they seized his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +hands, they clung around him, praying him +with tears not to desert them, not to leave +his children; and Adams, much moved, +promised to remain. And indeed he would +have been sorely missed had he gone, for +he was the chief authority on the island. +He it was who each Sunday led the prayers +of the islanders, all assembled around him +in the church which they had built, thinking, +as they joined in the words of the service, +of their unknown brethren in the great +country beyond the seas. He it was who +explained week by week the words of the +Bible to his listening companions, taught +the children, and married the young people. +</p> +<p>It was to Adams that every dispute +was referred; all those slight disagreements +which spring up from time to time, but +which with the islanders were never, as they +said, more than word-of-mouth quarrels, +and always ended before set of sun. +</p> +<p>The captains, though anxious to linger +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +awhile in this island home, were obliged to +leave next day, and they departed amid the +regrets and farewells of these simple-hearted, +affectionate people, a people Christian in +heart as well as in name,—sincere, modest, +pure, and unselfish, whose life seemed to +be fashioned on the words of God’s Book, +“Look not every man on his own things, +but every man also on the things of others.” +</p> +<p>And all this peace and happiness has +sprung, under the blessing of God, from +the seeds of His truth sown long, long +years before in the hearts of two English +sailors, and from the power of His truth in +His written word, and in the teaching of +His Spirit. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI__NORFOLK_ISLAND' id='VI__NORFOLK_ISLAND'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +<h2>NORFOLK ISLAND.</h2> +</div> + +<p>Far distant from the many other islands +with which the Southern Pacific Ocean is +studded, one stands alone, rich in natural +beauty, and with a climate almost unrivalled. +</p> +<p>This lovely island was visited by Captain +Cook in 1774, and named by him Norfolk +Island; it was then uninhabited, and neither +the vegetable nor the animal world had been +disturbed. For about two hundred yards +from the shore, the ground was covered so +thickly with shrubs and plants as scarcely +to be penetrable further inland. The account +given by Cook led to an attempt at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +settlement on Norfolk Island; but this was +attended with difficulty. The island is +small, being only about six miles in length +by four in breadth; and was therefore unavailable +for a large or increasing population. +Lying nine hundred miles from Port +Jackson, in Australia, it was inconveniently +remote from that country; and, worst of all, +its cliffy and rocky shores presented serious +dangers to mariners attempting a landing. +Its general unsuitableness, however, for ordinary +colonization, was considered to adapt +it as a penal settlement, subordinate to New +South Wales, and to which convicts could +be sent who merited fresh punishment while +in course of servitude. Thus, one of the +loveliest of earthly paradises was doomed to +be a receptacle for the very worst of malefactors. +It was imagined that the beauty of +Norfolk Island, and the fineness of its climate, +would greatly tend to soothe the depraved +minds of its unhappy tenants, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +reconcile them to compulsory expatriation; +but such was not the case: the feeling uppermost +in the minds of the convicts was +to make their escape; and this, along with +other circumstances, caused the island, after +a time, to be abandoned as a penal settlement. +The narrative that follows may be +relied upon as a true relation of facts, and +will, it is hoped, afford warning to such +as may be tempted to go astray, and deeply +impress those who may be on the verge of +crime, with the danger of their situation, +by showing them that a course of error is a +course of misery, ending in consequences +the most afflicting. +</p> +<p>“On the northern side of Norfolk Island, +the cliffs rise high, and are crowned by +woods, in which the elegant whitewood and +gigantic pine predominate. A slight indentation +of the land affords a somewhat sheltered +anchorage-ground, and an opening in +the cliffs has supplied a way to the beach +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +by a winding road at the foot of the dividing +hills. A stream of water, collected from +many ravines, finds its way by a similar +opening to a ledge of rock in the neighborhood, +and, falling over in feathery spray, +has given the name of Cascade to this part +of the island. Off this bay, on the morning +of the 21st of June, 1842, the brig <i>Governor +Philip</i> was sailing, having brought stores for +the use of the penal establishment. It was +one of those bright mornings which this +hemisphere alone knows, when the air is so +elastic that its buoyancy is irresistibly communicated +to the spirits. At the foot of the +cliff, near a group of huge fragments of rock +fallen from the overhanging cliffs, a prisoner +was sitting close to the sea preparing +food for his companions, who had gone off +to the brig the previous evening with ballast, +and who were expected to return at daylight +with a load of stores. The surface of +the sea was smooth, and the brig slowly +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +moved on upon its soft blue waters. +Everything was calm and still, when suddenly +a sharp but distant sound as of a gun +was heard. The man, who was stooping +over the fire started on his feet, and looked +above and around him, unable to distinguish +the quarter from whence the report came. +Almost immediately, he heard the sound +repeated, and then distinctly perceived +smoke curling from the vessel’s side. His +fears were at once excited. Again he listened; +but all was hushed, and the brig +still stood steadily in towards the shore. +Nearer and nearer, she approached; until, +alarmed for her safety, the man ran to summon +the nearest officer. By the time they +returned, the vessel had wore, and was +standing off from the land; but while they +remained in anxious speculation as to the +cause of all this, the firing was renewed on +board, and it was evident that some deadly +fray was going on. At length a boat was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +seen to put off from the brig, and upon its +reaching the shore, the worst fears of the +party were realized. The misguided prisoners +on board had attempted to seize the +vessel. They were but twelve in number, +unarmed, and guarded by twelve soldiers, +and a crew of eighteen men; yet they had +succeeded in gaining possession of the vessel, +and held it for a time, but had been +finally overpowered, and immediate help +was required for the wounded and dying. +</p> +<p>“June 21, 1842.—My duty as a clergyman +called me to the scene of blood. When I +arrived on the deck of the brig, it exhibited +a frightful spectacle. My heart sickened +at the extent of the carnage; and I was +almost sinking with the faintness it produced, +when I was roused by a groan so full +of anguish and pain, that for a long time +afterwards its echo seemed to reach me. I +found that it came from a man lying further +forward, on whose face the death-dew was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +standing, yet I could perceive no wound. +Upon questioning him, he moved his hand +from his breast, and I then perceived that a +ball had pierced his chest, and could distinctly +hear the air rushing from his lungs +through the orifice it had left. I tore away +the shirt, and endeavored to hold together +the edges of the wound until it was bandaged. +I spoke to him of prayer, but he +soon grew insensible, and within a short +time died in frightful agony. In every part +of the vessel, evidences of the attempt which +had ended so fatally presented themselves, +and the passions of the combatants were still +warm. After attending to those who required +immediate assistance, I received the +following account of the affair: +</p> +<p>“The prisoners had slept the previous +night in a part of the vessel appropriated for +this purpose; but it was without fastening or +other means of securing them below. Two +sentries were, however, placed over the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +hatchway. The prisoners occasionally came +on deck during the night, for their launch +was towing astern, and the brig was standing +off and on until the morning. Between +six and seven o’clock in the morning, the +men were called to work. Two of them +were up some time before the rest. They +were struck by the air of negligence which +was evident on deck, and instantly communicated +the fact to one or two others. The +possibility of capturing the brig had often +been discussed by the prisoners, among +their many other wild plans for escaping +from the island, and recently had been often +proposed by them. The thought was told +by their looks, and soon spread from man +to man. A few moments were enough; one +or two were roused from sleep, and the +intention was hurriedly communicated to +them. It was variously received. One of +them distrusted the leader, and entreated +his companions to desist from so mad an +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +attempt. It was useless; the frenzied thirst +for liberty had seized them, and they were +maddened by it. Within a few minutes, +they were all on deck; and one of the +leaders rushing at the sentry nearest to him, +endeavored to wrest from him his pistols, +one of which had flashed in the pan as he +rapidly presented it, and threw him overboard; +but he was subsequently saved. The +arms of the other sentry were demanded, +and obtained from him without resistance. +A scuffle now took place with two other +soldiers who were also on the deck, but not on +duty, during which one of them jumped over +the vessel’s side, and remained for some +time in the main-chains; but upon the launch +being brought alongside, he went down into +it. The other endeavored to swim ashore +(for by this time the vessel was within a +gun’s shot of the rocks;) but, encumbered +by his great coat, he was seen, when within +a few strokes of the rock, to raise his hands, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +and uttering a faint cry to Heaven for +mercy, he instantly sunk. In the meanwhile, +the sergeant in charge of the guard +hearing a scuffling overhead, ran upon deck, +and seeing some of the mutineers struggling +with the sentry, shot the nearest of them +dead on the spot. He had no sooner done +so than he received a blow on the head, +which rendered him for some time insensible. +Little or no resistance was offered by +the sailors; they ran into the forecastle, and +the vessel was in the hands of the mutineers. +All the hatches were instantly fastened +down, and every available thing at +hand piled upon them. But now, having +secured their opponents, the mutineers were +unable to work the brig; they therefore +summoned two of the sailors from below, +and placed one of them at the wheel, while +the other was directed to assist in getting +the vessel off. The cockswain, a free man +in charge of the prisoners, had at the first +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +onset taken to the rigging, and remained in +the maintop with one of the men who refused +to join in the attack. At this moment, a +soldier who had gone overboard and endeavored +to reach the shore, had turned back, +and was seen swimming near the vessel. +Woolfe, one of the convicts, immediately +jumped into the boat alongside, and saved +him. Whilst this was the state of things +above, the soldiers had forced their way into +the captain’s cabin, and continued to fire +through the gratings overhead as often as +any of the mutineers passed. In this manner +several of them received wounds. To +prevent a continuance of this, a kettle of hot +water was poured from above; and shortly +afterwards, a proposal was made to the captain +from the prisoners to leave the vessel +in the launch, provided he handed up to +them the necessary supplies. This he refused; +and then all the sailors were ordered +from below into the launch, with the intention +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +of sending them ashore. Continuing +to watch for the ring-leaders, the captain +caught a glimpse of one of them standing +aft, and, as he supposed, out of reach. He +mounted the cabin table, and, almost at a +venture, fired through the woodwork in the +direction he supposed the man to be standing. +The shot was fatal; the ball struck +him in the mouth, and passed through his +brain. Terrified at the death of their comrades, +the remainder were panic-struck, and +instantly ran below. One of the leaders +sprung over the taffrail, and eventually +reached the launch. The sailor at the +wheel, now seeing the deck almost cleared, +beckoned up the captain, and without an +effort, the vessel was again in their possession. +In the confusion, a soldier, who had +been in the boat, and was at this moment +with the sailors returning on deck, was +mistaken for one of the mutineers, and shot +by the sergeant. The prisoners were now +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +summoned from their place of concealment. +They begged hard for mercy; and upon +condition of their quietly surrendering, it +was promised to them. As the first of +them, in reliance upon this assurance, was +gaining the deck, by some unhappy error, +he received a ball in his thigh, and fell back +again. The rest refused to stir; but after a +few moments’ hesitation, another of them +ventured up, was taken aft by the captain, +and secured. A third followed, and, as he +came up, he extended his arms and cried: +“I surrender; spare me.” Either this motion +was mistaken by the soldiers, or some +of them were unable to restrain their passion, +for at this instant the man’s head was +literally blown off. The captain hastened +to the spot, and received the others, who +were secured without further injury. +</p> +<p>“When we reached the vessel, the dying, +dead, and wounded, were lying in every +direction. In the launch astern, we saw the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +body of one wretched man who had leaped +over the taffrail, and reached the boat badly +wounded; he was seen lying in it when the +deck was regained, and was then pierced +through with many balls. Nothing could be +more horrible than his appearance; the distortion +of every feature, his clenched hands, +and the limbs which had stiffened in the +forms of agony into which pain had twisted +them, were appalling. The countenance of +every man on board bore evidence of the +nature of the deadly conflict in which he +had been engaged. In some, sullenness had +succeeded to reckless daring, and exultation +to alarm in others. +</p> +<p>“Nothing could have been more desperate +than such an attempt to seize the vessel. +The most culpable neglect could alone have +encouraged it; and it is difficult to conceive +how it could have succeeded, if anything +like a proper stand had been made by those +in charge of her when it commenced. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span></p> +<p>“The wounded were immediately landed, +and conveyed to the hospital, and the dead +bodies were afterwards brought on shore. +</p> +<p>“The burial ground is close to the beach. +A heavy surf rolls mournfully over the reef. +The moon had just risen, when, in deep and +solemn silence, the bodies of these misguided +men were lowered into the graves prepared +for them. Away from home and country, +they had found a fearful termination of a +miserable existence. Perhaps ties had still +bound them to the world; friends whom +they loved were looking for their return, +and, prodigals though they had been, would +have blessed them, and forgiven their offences. +Perhaps even at that sad moment, +mothers were praying for their lost ones, +whom in all their infamy they had still +fondly loved. Such thoughts filled my +mind; and when a few drops of rain at that +moment descended, I could not help thinking +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +that they fell as tears from heaven over +the guilt and misery of its children. +</p> +<p>“On the morning following the fatal occurrence, +I visited the jail in which the +mutineers were confined. The cells were +small, but clean and light. In the first of +them, I found George Beavers, Nicholas +Lewis, and Henry Sears. Beavers was +crouching in one corner of the cell, and +looking sullen, and in despair. Lewis, who +was walking the scanty space of the cell, +seemed to glory in the rattle of his heavy +chains; while Sears was stretched, apparently +asleep, upon a grass mat. They were +all heavily ironed, and every precaution had +evidently been taken to prevent escape. +</p> +<p>“In the other cell I found Woolfe and +Barry, the latter in much agony from an +old wound in the leg, the pain of which +had been aggravated by the heavy irons +which galled it. All the prisoners except +Barry and Woolfe, readily acknowledged +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +their participation in the attempt to seize +the brig, but most solemnly denied any +knowledge of a preconcerted plan to take +her; or that they at least had attempted to +throw the soldiers overboard. They were +unwilling to be interrupted, and inveighed +in the bitterest manner against some of their +companions who had, they seemed to think, +betrayed them, or at least had led them on, +and at the moment of danger had flinched. +</p> +<p>“The names of the surviving mutineers +were John Jones, Nicholas Lewis, Henry +Sears, George Beavers, James Woolfe, +Thomas Whelan, and Patrick Barry. +</p> +<p>“The depositions against them having +been taken, all the men I have mentioned, +with the exception of Jones and Whelan, +who were wounded, were brought out to +hear them read. They listened with calm +attention, but none of them appeared to be +much excited. Once only during the reading, +Beavers passionately denied the statements +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +made by one of the witnesses present, +and was with difficulty silenced. His countenance +at that moment was terribly agitated; +every bad feeling seemed to mingle in its +passionate expression. They were all young, +powerful, and, with one or two exceptions, +not at all ill-looking men. +</p> +<p>“From the jail I proceeded to the hospital, +where the wounded men were lying. +They had each received severe wounds in +the thigh, and were in great agony. The +violence of Jones was excessive. Weakened +in some degree by the loss of blood, the +bitterness of his spirit nevertheless exhibited +itself in passionate bursts of impatience. +He was occasionally convulsed with excessive +pain; for the nerves of the thigh had +been much lacerated, and the bone terribly +shattered. His features were distorted with +pain and anger, and occasionally bitter curses +broke from his lips; yet there was something +about his appearance which powerfully arrested +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +my attention—an evident marking of +intellect and character, repulsive in its present +development, yet in many respects remarkable. +His history had been a melancholy +one, and, as illustrative of many +thousand others, I give it as I afterwards +received it from his lips. +</p> +<p>“At eleven years of age, he was employed +in a warehouse in Liverpool as an errand-boy. +While following this occupation, from which, +by good-conduct, he might have risen to +something better, he was met in the street +one day by the lad whom he had succeeded +in this employment, and was told by him +how he might obtain money by robbing the +warehouse, and then go with him to the +theatre. He accordingly took an opportunity +of stealing some articles which had +been pointed out, and gave them to his +companion, who, in disposing of them, was +detected, and of course criminated Jones. +After remaining some weeks in jail, Jones +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +was tried, and acquitted; but his character +being now gone, he became reckless, and +commenced a regular career of depredation. +In attempting another warehouse robbery, +he was detected, and sentenced to twelve +months’ imprisonment. By the time he was +released from this, he was well tutored in +crime, and believed that he could now +adroitly perform the same robbery in which +he had previously failed. He made the +attempt the very night of his release from +jail, and with temporary success. Subsequently, +however, he was detected, and +received sentence of transportation for seven +years. He underwent this sentence, and an +additional one in Van Diemen’s Land, +chiefly at Port Arthur, the most severe of +the penal stations there. From this place +he, with Lewis, Moss (who was shot on +board the brig), and Woolfe, having seized +a whale-boat, effected their escape. During +three months, they underwent the most +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +extreme hardships from hunger and exposure. +Once they had been without food for +several days, and their last hook was over +the boat’s side; they were anxiously watching +for a fish. A small blue shark took the +bait, and in despair one of them dashed over +the boat’s side to seize the fish; his leg was +caught by one of the others, and they succeeded +in saving both man and hook. They +eventually reached Twofold Bay, on the +coast of New South Wales, and were then +apprehended, conveyed to Sydney, and +thence sent back to Van Diemen’s Land; +tried, and received sentence of death; but +this was subsequently commuted to transportation +for life to Norfolk Island. +</p> +<p>“Jones often described to me the intense +misery he had undergone during his career. +He had never known what freedom was, +and yet incessantly longed for it. All alike +confessed the unhappiness of their career. +Having made the first false step into crime, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +they acknowledged that their minds became +polluted by the associations they formed +during imprisonment. Then they were further +demoralized by thinking of the <i>glory</i>—such +miserable glory!—attending a trial; +and the hulks and the voyage out gave them +a finished criminal training. The extent of +punishment many of them have undergone +during the period of transportation is almost +incredible. I have known men whose original +sentence of seven years has been extended +over three times that period, and who, +in addition to other punishment, have received +five thousand or six thousand lashes! +</p> +<p>“After many solemn interviews with the +mutineers, I found them gradually softening. +They became more communicative, +and extremely anxious to receive instruction. +I think I shall never forget one of the +earliest of these visits to them. I first saw +Sears, Beavers, and Jones. After a long +and interesting conversation with them, we +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +knelt together, and I offered prayer. When +we arose, I perceived that each of them had +been shedding tears. It was the first time +I had seen them betray any such emotion, +and I cannot tell how glad I felt; but when +I proceeded afterwards to read to them the +first chapter of Isaiah, I had scarcely uttered +that most exquisite passage in the second +verse—”I have nourished and brougth up +children, and they have rebelled against +me,“—when the claims of God, and <i>their</i> +violation and rejection of them; His forbearance, +and <i>their</i> ingratitude, appeared to +overwhelm them; they sobbed aloud, and +were thoroughly overpowered. +</p> +<p>“For a considerable time we talked together +of the past, the wretched years they +had endured, the punishments, and the +crimes which had led to them, until they +seemed to feel most keenly the folly of their +sad career. We passed on to contrast the +manner in which their lives had been spent, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +with what God and society required from +them; their miserable preversion of God’s +gifts, with the design for which He gave +them, until we were led on to speak of hope +and of faith; of Him who “willeth not the +death of a sinner, but rather that he should +turn from his wickedness and live;” and +then the Saviour’s remonstrance seemed to +arrest them—“Ye will not come to me that +ye might have life;” until at length the +influences of the Holy Spirit were supplicated +with earnestness and solemnity. These +instructions and such conversations were +daily repeated; and henceforth each time I +saw them, I perceived a gradual but distinct +unfolding of the affections and the understanding. +</p> +<p>“August.—The wounded men are much +recovered, and the whole of the mutineers +are now confined together in a large ward +of the jail. They have long received extreme +kindness from the commandant, and are literally +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +bewildered at finding that even this +last act has not diminished the exercise of +his benevolence. That anybody should care +for them, or take such pains about them +after their violent conduct excited surprise +at first almost amounting to suspicion; but +this at length gave place to the warmest +gratitude. They were, in fact, subdued by +it. They read very much, are extremely +submissive, and carefully avoid the slightest +infringement of the prison regulations. At +first, all this was confined to the three men +I have mentioned; but their steady consistency +of conduct, and the strange transformation +of character, so evident in them, +gradually arrested the attention of the others, +and eventually led to a similar result. +</p> +<p>“They will be detained here until the case +has been decided by the authorities in Sydney. +They will probably be tried by a +commission sent from thence to the island +for the purpose. Formerly, however, prisoners +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +charged with capital offences here +were sent up for trial; but (it is a horrible +fact) this was found to lead to so much +crime, that, at much inconvenience and +expense, it was found absolutely necessary +to send down a judicial commission on each +important occasion, in order to prevent it. +The mere excitement of a voyage, with the +chances connected with it, nay, merely a +wish to get off the island even for a time, +led many men to commit crimes of the +deepest dye in order to be sent to Sydney +for trial. +</p> +<p>“Two months, therefore, at least must +intervene between the perpetration of the +offence and their trial; and this interval is +usually employed in similar cases in arranging +a defence but too commonly supported +by perjury. In the present instance, I +found not the slightest attempt to follow +such a course. They declare that they expect +death, and will gladly welcome it. Of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +their life, which has been a course of almost +constant warfare with society, ending in remorseful +feelings, they were all thoroughly +weary, although only one of them exceeds +thirty years of age. +</p> +<p>“In addition to the ordinary services, +Captain Maconochie, each Sunday afternoon +has read prayers to them, and has given +permission to a few of their friends to be +present. Singular good has resulted from +it, both to the men and those who join in +their devotions. At the conclusion of one +of these services, Sears stood up, and with +his heart so full as scarcely to allow him +utterance, to the surprise of every person +there, he addressed most impressively the +men who were present. ‘Perhaps,’ said he, +'the words of one of yourselves, unhappily +circumstanced as I am, may have some +weight with you. You all know the life I +have led; it has, believe me, been a most +unhappy one; and I have, I hope not too +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +late, discovered the cause of this. I solemnly +tell you that it is because I have +broken God’s laws. I am almost ashamed +to speak, but I dare not be silent. I am +going to tell you a strange thing. I never +before was happy; I begin now, for the first +time in my life, to <i>hope</i>. I am an ignorant +man, or at least I was so; but I thank God +I begin to see things in their right light +now. I have been unhappily placed from +my childhood, and have endured many hardships. +I do not mention this to excuse my +errors; yet if I had years since received the +kindness I have done here, it might have +been otherwise. My poor fellows, do turn +over a new leaf; try to serve God, and you, +too, will be happier for it.' The effect was +most thrilling; there was a deathlike silence; +tears rolled down many cheeks, which I verily +believe never before felt them; and without +a word more, all slowly withdrew. +</p> +<p>“This man’s story is also a common, but +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +painful one. At fifteen years of age, he +was transported for life as an accomplice in +an assault and alleged robbery, of which, +from circumstances which have since transpired, +I have little doubt he was entirely +innocent. During a long imprisonment on +Horsham jail, he received an initiation in +crime, which was finished during the outward +voyage. Upon his arrival in New +South Wales, he was assigned to a settler +in the interior, a notoriously hard and severe +man, who gave him but a scanty supply of +food and clothing, and whose aim seemed to +be to take the utmost out of him at the least +possible expense. Driven at length to desperation, +he, with three fellow-servants, +absconded; and when taken, made a complaint +to the magistrate, before whom they +were brought almost without clothes. Their +statements were found to be literally correct; +but for absconding, they were sent to New +Castle, one of the penal stations of New +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +South Wales, where Sears remained nearly +two years. At the expiration of that time, +he was again assigned, but unfortunately to +a man, if possible, worse than his former +employer, and again absconded. For this +offence, he was sent to Moreton Bay, another +penal settlement, and endured three years +of horrible severity, starvation, and misery +of every kind. His temper was by this time +much soured; and, roused by the conduct of +the overseers, he became brutalized by constant +punishment for resisting them. After +this, he was sent to Sydney, as one of the +crew in the police-boat, of which he was +soon made assistant cockswain. For not +reporting a theft committed by one of the +men under his charge, he was sentenced to +a road-party; and attempting to escape from +it, he was apprehended, and again ordered +to Moreton Bay for four years more. There +he was again repeatedly flogged for disobedience +and resistance of overseers, as well +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +as attempting to escape; but having most +courageously rendered assistance to a vessel +wrecked off the harbor, he attracted the +attention of the commandant, who afterwards +shewed him a little favor. This was +the first approach to kindness he had known +since when, years before, he had left his +home, and had its usual influence. He was +never again in a scrape there. His good-conduct +induced the commandant to recommend +him for a mitigation of sentence, +which he received, and he was again employed +in the police-boat. The free cockswain +of the boat was, however, a drunkard, +and intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes +he roused the men by his violence, but Sears +contrived to subdue his passion. At length, +one night, returning to the hut, drunk, the +man struck at one of the crew with his cutlass, +and the rest resisted and disarmed him. +But the morning came; the case was heard; +their story was disbelieved; and upon the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +charge and evidence of the aggressor, they +were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the +public roads. When Sears again became +eligible for assignment, a person whom he +had known in Sydney applied for him. The +man must be removed within a fixed period +after the authority is given. In this case, +application was made a day beyond the +prescribed time, and churlishly refused. +The disappointment roused a spirit so untutored +as his, and once again he absconded; +was of course apprehended, tried, and being +found with a man who had committed a +robbery, and had a musket in his possession, +was sent to Norfolk Island for life. +This sentence has, however, for meritorious +conduct, been reduced to fourteen years; +and his ready assistance during a fire which +recently broke out in the military garrison +here, might possibly have helped to obtain +a still further reduction. He never, during +those abscondings, was absent for any long +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +period, and never committed any act of +violence. His constant attempt seems to +have been to reach Sydney, in order to +effect his escape from the scene of so much +misery. +</p> +<p>“For some time past, I have noticed his +quiet and orderly conduct, and was really +sorry when I found him concerned in this +unhappy affair. His desire for freedom was, +however, most ardent, and a chance of obtaining +it was almost irresistible. He has +since told me that a few words kindly +spoken to himself and others by Captain +Maconochie when they landed, sounded so +pleasantly to him—such are his own words—that +he determined from that moment he +would endeavor to do well. He assures +me that he was perfectly unconscious of a +design to take the brig, until awakened from +his sleep a few minutes before the attack +commenced; that he then remonstrated with +the men; but finding it useless, he considered +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +it a point of honor not to fail them. +His anxiety for instruction is intense; he +listens like a child; and his gratitude is +most touching. He, together with Jones, +Woolfe, and Barry, were chosen by the +commandant as a police-boat’s crew; and had, +up to this period, acted with great steadiness +and fidelity in the discharge of the +duties required from them. Nor do I think +they would even now, tempting as the occasion +was, have thought of seizing it, had +it not been currently reported that they +were shortly to be placed under a system of +severity such as they had already suffered +so much from. +</p> +<p>“Woolfe’s story of himself is most affecting. +He entered upon evil courses when +very young; was concerned in burglaries +when only eleven years of age. Yet this +was from no natural love of crime. Enticed +from his home by boys older than himself, +he soon wearied of the life he led, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +longed to return to his home and his kind +mother. Oftentimes he lingered near the +street she lived in. Once he had been very +unhappy, for he had seen his brother and +sister that day pass near him, and it had +rekindled all his love for them. They appeared +happy in their innocence; he was +miserable in his crime. He now determined +to go home and pray to be forgiven. +The evening was dark and wet, and as he +entered the court in which his friends lived, +his heart failed him, and he turned back; +but, unable to resist the impulse, he again +returned, and stole under the window of the +room. A rent in the narrow curtain enabled +him to see within. His mother sat by the +fire, and her countenance was so sad, that +he was sure she thought of him; but the +room looked so comfortable, and the whole +scene was so unlike the place in which he +had lately lived, that he could no longer +hesitate. He approached the door; the latch +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +was almost in his hand, when shame and +fear, and a thousand other vile and foolish +notions, held him back; and the boy who +in another moment might have been happy—<i>was +lost</i>. He turned away, and I believe +he has never seen them since. Going on in +crime, he in due course of time was transported +for robbery. His term of seven +years expired in Van Diemen’s Land. +Released from forced servitude, he went a +whaling-voyage, and was free nearly two +years. Unhappily, he was then charged +with aiding in a robbery, and again received +a sentence of transportation. He was sent +to Port Arthur, there employed as one of +the boat’s crew, and crossing the bay one +day with a commissariat-officer, the boat +was capsized by a sudden squall. In attempting +to save the life of the officer, he +was seized by his dying grasp, and almost +perished with him; but extricating himself, +he swam back to the boat. Seeing the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +drowning man exhausted, and sinking, he +dashed forward again, diving after him, and +happily succeeded in saving his life. For +this honorable act, he would have received +a remission of sentence; but ere it could +arrive, he and five others made their escape. +He had engaged with these men in the plan +to seize the boat, and although sure of the +success of the application in his favor, he +could not now draw back. The result I +have already shewn. There were two more +men concerned in the mutiny, who, with +those I have mentioned, and those killed on +board the brig, made up the number of the +boat’s crew. But neither of these men +came under my charge, being both Roman +Catholics. +</p> +<p>“At length the brig, which had been +despatched with an account of the affair, +returned, and brought the decision of the +governor of New South Wales. He had +found it extremely difficult, almost impossible, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +to obtain fitting members for the +commission, who would be willing to accept +the terms proposed by the government, or +trust themselves in this dreadful place, and +therefore he had determined that the prisoners +should be sent up for trial. The men +were sadly disappointed at this arrangement. +They wished much to end their days here, +and they dreaded both the voyage and the +distracting effect of new scenes. They cling, +too, with grateful attachment to the commandant’s +family, and the persons who, +during their long imprisonment, had taken +so strong an interest in their welfare. I +determined to accompany them, and watch +for their perseverance in well-doing, that I +might counsel and strengthen them under +the fearful ordeal I could not doubt they +would have to pass. +</p> +<p>“The same steady consistency marked +the conduct of these men to the moment of +their embarkation. There was a total absence +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +of all excitement; one deep, serious +feeling seemed to possess them, and its solemnity +was communicated to all of us. +They spoke and acted as men standing on +the confines of the unseen world, and who +not only thought of its wonders, but, better +still, seemed to have caught something of +its spirit and purity. +</p> +<p>“November.—The voyage up was a weary, +and, to the prisoners, a very trying one. +In a prison on the lower deck of a brig of +one hundred and eighty-two tons, fifty-two +men were confined. The place itself was +about twenty feet square, of course, low, +and badly ventilated. The men were all +ironed, and fastened to a heavy chain rove +through iron rings let into the deck, so that +they were unable, for any purpose, to move +from the spot they occupied; scarcely, +indeed, to lie down. The weather was also +unfavorable. The vessel tossed and pitched +most fearfully during a succession of violent +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +squalls, accompanied by thunder and lightning. +I cannot describe the wretchedness +of these unhappy convicts; sick, and surrounded +by filth, they were huddled together +in the most disgusting manner. The heat +was at times unbearable. There were +men of sixty—quiet and inoffensive old +men—placed with others who were as accomplished +villains as the world could produce. +These were either proceeding to +Sydney, their sentences on the island having +expired, or as witnesses in another case +(a bold and wicked murder) sent there also +for trial. The sailors on board the brig +were for the most part the cowardly fellows +who had so disgracefully allowed the brig +to be taken from them; and they, as well +as the soldiers on guard (some of them +formed a part of the former one), had no +very kindly feeling towards the mutineers. +It may be imagined, therefore, that such +feelings occasioned no alleviation of their +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +condition. In truth, although there was no +actual cruelty exhibited, they suffered many +oppressive annoyances; yet I never saw +more patient endurance. It was hard to +bear, but their better principles prevailed. +Upon the arrival of the vessel in Sydney, +we learned that the case had excited an +unusual interest. Crowds assembled to +catch a glimpse of the men as they landed; +and while some applauded their daring, the +great majority very loudly expressed their +horror at the crime of which they stood +accused. +</p> +<p>“I do not think it necessary to describe +the trial, which took place in a few days +after landing. All were arraigned except +Barry. The prisoners’ counsel addressed +the jurors with powerful eloquence; but it +was in vain: the crime was substantiated; +and the jury returned a verdict of guilty +against all of the prisoners, recommending +Woolfe to mercy. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p> +<p>“During the whole trial, the prisoners' +conduct was admirable; so much so, indeed, +as to excite the astonishment of the immense +crowd collected by curiosity to see men +who had made so mad an attempt for liberty. +They scarcely spoke, except once to +request that the wounded man, who yet +suffered much pain, might be allowed to sit +down. Judgment was deferred until the +following day. When they were then placed +at the bar, the judge, in the usual manner, +asked whether they had any reason to urge +why sentence should not be pronounced +upon them. It was a moment of deep solemnity; +every breath was held; and the +eyes of the whole court were directed +towards the dock. Jones spoke in a deep, +clear voice, and in a deliberate harangue +pointed out some defects in the evidence, +though without the slightest hope, he said, +of mitigating the sentence now to be pronounced +on himself and fellows. Three of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +the others also spoke. Whelan said, 'that +he was not one of the men properly belonging +to the boat’s crew, but had been called +upon to fill the place of another man, and +had no knowledge of any intention to take +the vessel, and the part he took on board +was forced upon him. He was compelled +to act as he had done; he had used no violence, +nor was he in any way a participator +in any that had been committed.' At the +conclusion of the address to them, Jones, +amidst the deep silence of the court, pronounced +a most emphatic prayer for mercy +on his own soul, and those of his fellow-prisoners, +for the judge and jury, and finally +for the witnesses. Sentence of death was +then solemnly pronounced upon them all; +but the judge informed Woolfe that he might +hold out to him expectations that his life +would be spared. They were then removed +from the bar, and sent back to the condemned +cells. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p> +<p>“I cannot say how much I dreaded my +interview with them that day; for although +I had all along endeavored to prepare their +minds for the worst result, and they had +themselves never for a moment appeared to +expect any other than this, I feared that the +realization of their sad expectation would +break them down. Hitherto, there might +have been some secret hope sustaining them. +The convulsive clinging to life, so common +to all of us, would now, perhaps, be more +palpably exhibited. +</p> +<p>“Entering their cells, I found them, as I +feared, stunned by the blow which had now +fallen on them, and almost overpowered by +mental and bodily exhaustion. A few remarks +about the trial were at length made +by them; and from that moment I never +heard them refer to it again. There was no +bitterness of spirit against the witnesses, no +expression of hostility towards the soldiers, +no equivocation in any explanation they +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +gave. They solemnly denied many of the +statements made against them; but, nevertheless, +the broad fact remained, that they +were guilty of an attempt to violently seize +the vessel, and it was useless debating on +minor considerations. +</p> +<p>“In the meantime, without their knowledge, +petitions were prepared and forwarded +to the judges, the governor and executive +council. In them were stated various mitigatory +facts in their favor; and the meliorated +character of the criminal code at home was also +strongly urged. Every attention was paid to +these addresses, following each other to the +last moment. But all was in vain. The council +sat, and determined that five of the men +should be hanged on the following Tuesday. +Whelan, who could have no previous knowledge +of a plan to seize the vessel, together +with Woolfe, was spared. The remaining +four were to suffer. The painful office of +communicating this final intelligence to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +these men was intrusted to me, and they +listened to the announcement not without +deep feeling, but still with composure. +</p> +<p>“It would be very painful for me to +dwell on the closing scene. The unhappy +and guilty men were attended by the zealous +chaplain of the jail, whose earnest exhortations +and instructions they most gratefully +received. The light of truth shone clearly +on the past, and they felt that their manifold +lapses from the path of virtue had been +the original cause of the complicated misery +they had endured. They entreated forgiveness +of all against whom they had offended, +and in the last words to their friends, were +uttered grateful remembrances to Captain +Maconochie, his family, and others. At +the place of execution, they behaved with +fortitude and a composure befitting the solemnity +of the occasion. Having retired +from attendance upon them in their last +moments, I was startled from the painful +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +stupor which succeeded in my own mind, +by the loud and heavy bound of the drop +as it fell, and told me that their spirits had +gone to God who gave them.” +</p> +<p>Since the foregoing narrative was written, +the treatment of convicts has undergone +considerable change, government having +found the experiment of transporting the +worse class of criminals from New South +Wales to Norfolk Island to be a failure. +The penal settlement was therefore broken +up in 1855, and convicts are now confined +in different establishments in the United +Kingdom, where, without subjecting them +to absolute silence or solitude, they are separated +from the contaminating society of each +other. Under the present system, it is a +fixed principle never to allow, if at all possible, +the punishment—while it may be +made to any extent disagreeable—to injure +either the body or the mind. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII__THE_SOLITARY_ISLANDER' id='VII__THE_SOLITARY_ISLANDER'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +<h2>THE SOLITARY ISLANDER.</h2> +</div> + +<p>It was at the time Queen Anne began to +reign, and her ships were carrying the English +flag into all seas, for commerce, for +discovery, or for war, when one of these +vessels, called the <i>Clinque Ports</i>, put in to +refit at the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, +on the west coast of South America. +</p> +<p>It was but a small island, though fertile +and pleasant; it had not been tilled or +planted, neither had any place of shelter +been built upon it, but sometimes two or +three sick sailors had been left there to recover +health, and sometimes a passing ship +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +would put in for water, and departing leave +one or two of their live-stock on the island. +It had thus become stocked with goats, +which ran wild about the hills and craggy +rocks, free from any danger of pursuit and +capture. +</p> +<p>This was not the first time that the +<i>Clinque Ports</i> had touched at Juan Fernandez, +for not long before she had left there +two seamen who were unable to continue +their voyage, and now she had anchored to +reship these men, to take in water, and to +refit for the long and perilous voyage to +the English shore. +</p> +<p>The two seamen, coming on board, told +strange stories to their comrades of the +pleasant life they had led on the island, of +the hunt for goats, of the abundance of +shell-fish, of the delicious fruits and vegetables, +and of the cool waters of the place. +</p> +<p>Of all the eager listeners to these tales of +plenty and delight, there was one who never +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +failed to fasten on each word that was said, +and by constant questioning, to learn every +detail of the life on the green island which +lay before them. This sailor was a Scotsman, +named Alexander Selkirk or Selcraig. +He was of an impatient, overbearing temper, +and no favorite with his captain, who was +not wise enough to discern the good sense +and honesty which lay hidden under his +rough and uncourteous manner. Thus it +chanced that the Scotch Sailor was often in +trouble and disgrace, and resenting bitterly +a harshness he did not think he had deserved, +he began to long to leave the ship +at any cost. +</p> +<p>But perhaps the beginning of his misery +and discomfort must be sought farther back +in his life. His surly speech, his unsocial +temper, spoke of a mind ill at ease,—the +remembrance of the past made the present +sad. +</p> +<p>He had been religiously and strictly +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +brought up by his father, a Scotch Puritan, +but he had broken loose from the restraints +which his parents sought to throw around +him, and had led, if not a vicious, at least +an irreligious life, without thought of God, +or of the lessons of truth and goodness which +he had been taught. Yet his conscience was +not so hardened that he could be happy in +this neglect of God, and he felt ill at +ease, dissatisfied with himself, and with all +around him. +</p> +<p>He shrank, too, from the prospect of the +voyage to England in a vessel but half repaired, +exaggerating to his own mind the +perils before him, and fearful of his own +temper with his hard and prejudiced commander. +</p> +<p>Weighing all these things, he determined +on asking the captain to set him on shore, +that he might wait at Juan Fernandez the +passing of some other ship in which he might +return home. The captain agreed to this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +proposal willingly enough, glad to dismiss +from his crew so insubordinate a sailor; and +just before the <i>Clinque Ports</i> was about to +weigh anchor, the adventurous seaman was +sent on shore with the few things that belonged +to him. He sprang from the boat +almost before her keel had grazed the sand, +wishing to appear gay and brave to his +companions; but no sooner did the splash +of oars begin to grow faint and distant, and +the faces of the boatmen indistinct as they +neared the ship, than all his courage forsook +him. With outstretched hands, and frantic +words and gestures, he implored them to +return, promising to bear everything, to +risk everything, if only he might not be left +alone on the lonely island. But he cried in +vain; the boat reached the ship, the men +climbed on board, the sails were hoisted, and +there on his sea-chest, sat the lonely sailor, +gazing over the wide ocean, on which nothing +but the lessening speck of white on the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +far horizon reminded him of the existence +of any human being but himself. +</p> +<p>Days passed almost uncounted, for in his +desolate misery Alexander Selkirk had but +one thought left—the longing desire of rescue +and return home. He valued the daylight +only because by its aid he could watch +for a sail on the wide, silent sea; he dreaded +the coming on of the night, chiefly because +it shut him off for a time from his one employment. +During these dreary days or +weeks he never tasted food, save when +driven to look for it by pangs of sharpest +hunger, and even then he would not leave +the beach, but fed on shell-fish picked up +on the rocks, or sometimes on the flesh of +seals. +</p> +<p>It was September when the <i>Clinque Ports</i> +sailed, and now October had come, the +middle of spring in Juan Fernandez, and, +all round him, nature spoke of hope, and +taught of God. But before hope could enter +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +into Alexander’s desolate heart, sorrow must +come: sorrow for sin, for his disobedience +to the parents whom he had made unhappy; +for his reckless, godless life; for all the +teachings of his youth forgotten, and for its +lessons neglected. Sometimes, for a few +minutes, Alexander would turn his eyes +from his eager watch over the sea, and +looking down, would picture instead his +Scottish home. He would see clearly in his +mind his venerable father, with his furrowed +brow, and stern, unsmiling mouth; his +mother, in her tall white cap, busied at her +wheel, with a far-away, mournful look in +her eyes, which told that she was thinking +of her absent son. Ah! and he saw again +even his poor idiot brother, to whom he +had only used harsh words, and even rough +blows. “I would be so different now if it +should please God ever to let me see home +and my dear ones again,” he thought. And +so has many a poor prodigal thought as he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +has been compelled to suffer the punishment +for his sins, and found no way to escape +from it. +</p> +<p>Little by little, there grew up in his +heart the purpose of beginning even now +this new life. He would not wait till his +return to England. In this lonely island, +with half the world between him and all he +loved, he would strive to be one with them +in heart, and to join with them in prayer +and praise. He would seek pardon for the +sins of his youth for the Saviour’s sake, and +in His strength, begin life anew. He had +a Bible with him in his chest, and he began +to read it daily, and in earnest prayer to +seek forgiveness and blessing; then, even in +his loneliness, comfort came to him. He +was no longer alone, for God was with him. +He knew that God was his Father, his +Helper, and his Keeper, and he grew calm, +almost happy, and was even able sometimes +to leave his look-out over the sea, and make +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +little journeys into the interior of his new +kingdom. +</p> +<p>As his mind became more peaceful, he +turned his thoughts to the question of a +shelter from the storms of the approaching +winter, which, even in that mild climate, +was often accompanied with frost and snow. +There were plenty of trees on the island, +and with their stems and branches he soon +built for himself a rough hut, which he +thatched with long grass cut and dried in +the sun. This attempt was so successful +that he determined to build another hut at +a short distance, so that he might sleep in +one, and in the other, prepare his food. +Now that he had once looked in the face the +thought of spending the winter in the +island, he grew, slowly, more reconciled to +it, and began to take an interest in preparing, +as far as he could, for its approach. +</p> +<p>His huts must be furnished in some fashion; +first, he brought up from the shore his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +sea-chest, which contained his few clothes; +then he cut and fastened up a shelf on +which to keep his Bible and the other +books which he had brought on shore. He +had with him a large cooking-pot in which +to prepare his food, and a smaller drinking-can +which he had brought, most likely, from +home, and which bore the old-fashioned inscription, +“Alexander Selkirk, this is my +one.” It was needful to make for himself +a bed, for hitherto he had slept on the +beach, so that at the first moment of opening +his eyes he might begin his watch over the +sea: now he must sleep in his hut. +</p> +<p>This bed he determined to make of the +skins of goats, for he had begun to hunt the +wild goats for food, having by this time +wearied of his diet of fish. At first he was +able only to overtake and capture the young +kids, for he had no gun, no bow and arrow +with which to kill them at a distance; +then as exercise and practice increased his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +strength, he found himself able to pursue +and take the largest and swiftest goats, and +having killed them, to carry them on his +shoulders to his hut. But as goat’s flesh, +his principal food, could only be obtained +by him while he remained in full strength +and vigor, he determined to provide a store +in case of illness or accident, and so, catching +several young kids, he slightly lamed +them, so that they could move but slowly, and +then trained them to feed around his hut, +and these gentle creatures, who soon learned +to know him, brought some sense of companionship +to the lonely man. +</p> +<p>His life began now to have its regular +duties and interests. In the morning when +he rose, he sang one of the old Scotch +psalms, after the practice which he had been +taught from childhood, and then read aloud +a chapter of the Bible, and prayed long +and fervently. +</p> +<p>Then he betook himself to light a fire by +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +rubbing together two dry sticks till a flame +was produced, and this fire he fed from +time to time with branches and logs from +the woods. He had also, his food to obtain +and to cook—goat’s flesh or cray-fish, which +he boiled in his large sauce-pan; and to +gather the tender tops of the cabbage-palm +or other vegetables, for bread. These necessary +employments finished, he would take +his Bible, and, sitting in the door of his +hut, or on the beach, would study it for +hours, finding new truths and deeper meaning +in the blessed words familiar to him +from his childhood. Or he would choose +one of his books on navigation, and study +with a care which he had never before +thought it worth while to give, hoping in +this way to be a better sailor, and be able +to take higher rank in the service, if it +should please God to restore him once +more to the duties and work of life. In +this regular, peaceful, and religious life his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +spirits gradually recovered; nay, he became +far happier than he had been since his +childhood, for something of the trust and +the love of a little child were restored to his +heart. +</p> +<p>He would adorn his hut with fragrant +boughs, and as he fed and caressed his kids, +would sing with a light heart the songs of +old Scotland. Then at set of sun he returned +to the hut in which he slept, and +there once more sang, and read, and prayed, +and so lay down to sleep in peace, because +he knew that it was the Lord only that +made him dwell in safety. +</p> +<p>“I was a better Christian in my solitude +than ever I was before, or than I fear I +shall ever be again,” he said, years after he +had left the island. In this there was both +truth and error. He had been led by the +merciful goodness of God to repentance and +to an earnest desire to escape from sin, but +it was in the life among his fellows that this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +repentance and these new resolves—must be +tested. It was in the daily little trials and +crosses of a life among other men, that he +must learn to subdue his proud spirit, and +curb his hot temper. +</p> +<p>Months and even years passed on, and +but little happened to vary Alexander’s +quiet life in his island home. He had now +a large number of kids around his hut, and +had added to his list of favorites several +tamed cats, which he needed to protect him +from the troop of rats which gnawed his +bed-clothes, and even nibbled at his feet as +he lay asleep. He had taught the kids and +cats, too, to dance, and many a merry hour +he spent among these his daily companions +and friends. The clothes which he had +brought on shore had been long since worn +out, and he had supplied their place by a cap, +and trousers, and jacket, made of goat-skin. +His needle was a nail, and his thread thin +strips of the skin; among his stores was a +piece of linen, and this too he had sewn +into shirts, unravelling one of his stockings +for a supply of thread. He was barefoot, +and the soles of his feet had grown so hard +that he could climb sharp crags, and run +over the stony beach, unhurt. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-178.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +A narrow escape. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Twice or thrice during these lonely years +he had seen a sail approaching, but on these +he looked with as much terror as hope, for +should the crew prove to be Spaniards, he +knew that he should be made a prisoner by +them, and either put to death, or sent into +hopeless slavery. +</p> +<p>Once, indeed, the crew of a Spanish vessel, +putting in for water, had caught sight +of the strange figure in the goat-skin dress, +and had chased him, but so swift-footed was +he that he soon left his pursuers far behind, +and then lay hid in terror for hours, till the +vessel had departed. His life had been +besides in other danger, for once while +pursuing the hunt from crag to crag, in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +wild and delightful adventure, he had set +foot on the hidden edge of a precipice: the +grass which seemed to promise so fair a +footing gave way beneath his feet, he fell +headlong, and lay hurt and senseless below. +He judged by the size of the moon, when +at last he opened his eyes to consciousness, +that he must have been lying stunned and +helpless for more than twenty-four hours, +and it was with the greatest pain and difficulty +that he could drag himself to his hut, +and lie down on his bed of skins. His tame +favorites came about him but none of them +could help him, and he was too weak to +care to procure for himself food or water. +But even in his great distress he did not +lose his confidence in God, and he lay calm +and patient, satisfied that he was safe in the +care of his Heavenly Father. After many +days of suffering he recovered and once +more enjoyed full health and vigor. +</p> +<p>He had been alone on Juan Fernandez for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +more than four years when one evening, +looking out seaward before lying down in +his hut, he saw the sails of an English-built +vessel which was standing in very +near to the shore. Alexander could not +resist the sudden and strong desire which +he felt, to be once more among his fellow-men, +to hear once more the English speech, +and feel once more the grasp of a friendly +hand. Hurrying down to the beach, he +piled and lighted a large bonfire, to carry a +message to his fellow-countrymen, but the +ship, instead of sailing shoreward, or of +putting off a boat at once, tacked and went +farther from the island, taking the fire to +be the lights of an enemy’s ship at anchor +in the bay. +</p> +<p>Alexander spent the night in hope and in +doubt: he killed some goats and prepared +them for food, hoping the next day to entertain +some of his countrymen in his island +home, and at the first dawn of day he was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +again on the beach, gazing at the now distant +but motionless ship. +</p> +<p>Those on board were also keeping an +anxious watch, but when morning light +showed them that there was no other ship +near, the captain determined to send a boat +on shore to discover the cause of the strange +light which they had seen the night before. +As they approached the island they saw a +strange figure running to meet them, and +by gestures and shouts pointing out the best +place for landing. Alexander, with his +long beard, his tanned complexion, his goat-skin +dress, had lost almost all outward resemblance +to a civilized man, and they +wondered much who this friendly and solitary +savage might be. +</p> +<p>But who can describe his joy when he +heard once more the speech of his own +country, and looked on the faces of his +kind. He welcomed his visitors in the best +English he could remember, for even his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +speech was half forgotten, and led them to +his hut to partake of the banquet he had +prepared. +</p> +<p>Yet in the midst of all his joy he could +hardly determine to leave his beloved island, +so accustomed had he grown to solitude, and +to his wild, uncontrolled life. At length +the remembrance of his aged parents, and +of his friends at home, made him determine +to ask a passage in the ship which had +touched on his island shore, and the captain, +finding how much he had learnt of seamanship +and navigation, offered to rate him as +mate. And thus Juan Fernandez was left +once more in utter solitude, and Selkirk, +gazing from the ship’s deck, saw its green +hills and pleasant coasts disappear in the +distance, as he left the island and all its +sad, its sacred, its happy memories forever. +He soon grew tired of the society of men, +and when not busy about the ship, would +always seek to be alone, dreaming of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +life which he had left. He found it hard, +too, to accustom himself to the salt meat +and biscuits which were sailors’ fare, and +to the dress and boots in which he must now +appear. Soon every other thought was lost +in his longing desire to see once more his +parents and his home, for the shores of +England were in sight. It was on a Sunday +morning that the wanderer entered once +more his native village, where all seemed +quiet and unchanged. He did not turn his +steps to his father’s cottage, for his parents, +as he well knew, would be at the kirk, and +there would he look on their faces once +more. Would they recognize, he asked +himself, in the strong and bearded man, +the youth who had left them years ago for +the life of adventure which he loved best? +Would they know the fine gentleman in +gold lace and embroidery to be their son +Alexander, their lost sailor lad. Pondering +such thoughts as these, he walked on almost +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +unconsciously. How well he knew every +step of his way! In this farmhouse, his +sister and her husband used to live; there +was the wood where he had so often gathered +nuts, or climbed for birds’ nests with +his boyish companions; there, its thatched +roof more lichen-covered than of old, stood +his father’s cottage, at the door of which +years ago he had kissed his mother for the +last time—ah! was she still alive to welcome +the returning wanderer? +</p> +<p>Seated in the kirk among unfamiliar +faces, his eyes sought at once the well-known +corner where, as a boy, he had been +used to sit, and with an almost overwhelming +rush of thankfulness and joy he saw +once more his mother’s face, the same, yet +changed, its added wrinkles and silvered +hair telling, perhaps, of many tears and +long sorrow for her lost sailor son. +</p> +<p>There sat his father, too, the portly, +respectable-looking elder, in blue cap and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +coat of homespun tweed. In vain did Alexander +seek to join in the psalm or prayer, +his looks and thoughts were ever wandering; +and he was not alone in this, for the +dark eyes of his old mother turned continually +with an eager, inquiring gaze to the +grand stranger gentleman, strange yet so +familiar. Then her eyes were cast down +once more on her book, as she tried to give +heed to the service, till at last a sudden +smile which lit up Alexander’s face, showed +her that she saw before her the son for +whom she had longed and prayed, whom no +doubt she had before this counted as among +the dead. In her sudden joy the old woman +forgot all else, and rising, rushed towards +the place where the returned wanderer was +seated. +</p> +<p>The whole family, with Alexander in their +midst, now made their way out of the kirk, +and returned home to talk of the great deliverance +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +which God had given to their lost +kinsman. +</p> +<p>On this true story of Selkirk was founded +the tale of the Adventures of Robinson +Crusoe. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII__CAPTAIN_COOKS_LAST_VOYAGE' id='VIII__CAPTAIN_COOKS_LAST_VOYAGE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +<h2>CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE.</h2> +</div> + +<p>The discovery of a supposed north-west +passage from the North Atlantic to the +North Pacific Oceans, had for many years +been ardently sought for, both by the English +and the Dutch. Frobisher, in 1576, made +the first attempt, and his example was in +succeeding times followed by many others. +But though much geographical information +had been gained in the neighborhood of +Hudson’s Bay, Davis’ Strait, Baffin’s Bay, +and the coast of Greenland, yet no channel +whatever was found. By act of parliament, +£20,000 was offered to the successful individual. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +But though Captain Middleton, +in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, in +1746, explored those seas and regions, the +object remained unattained. The Honorable +Captain Phipps (afterwards Earl Mulgrave) +was sent out in the <i>Racehorse</i>, accompanied +by Captain Lutwidge, in the <i>Carcase</i> (Lord +Nelson was a boy in this latter ship), to +make observations, and to penetrate as far +as it was practicable to do so. They sailed +June 2, 1773, and made Spitzbergen on the +28th; but after great exertions, they found +the ice to the northward utterly impenetrable. +Once they became closely jammed, +and it was only with great difficulty they +escaped destruction. On August 22, finding +it impossible to get further to the northward, +eastward, or westward, they made +sail, according to their instructions, for England, +and arrived off Shetland on September +7. +</p> +<p>Notwithstanding these numerous failures, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +the idea of an existing passage was still cherished; +and Earl Sandwich continuing at the +head of the Admiralty, resolved that a +further trial should be made, and Captain +Cook offered his services to undertake it. +They were gladly accepted, and on February +10, 1776, he was appointed to command the +expedition in his old, but hardy ship, the +<i>Resolution</i>, and Captain Clerke, in the <i>Discovery</i>, +was ordered to attend him. In this +instance, however, the mode of experiment +was to be reversed, and instead of attempting +the former routes by Davis’ Strait or +Baffin’s Bay, etc., Cook, at his own request, +was instructed to proceed into the South +Pacific, and thence to try the passage by +the way of Behring’s Strait; and as it was +necessary that the islands in the Southern +Ocean should be revisited, cattle and sheep, +with other animals, and all kinds of seeds, +were shipped for the advantage of the +natives. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span></p> +<p>Every preparation having been made, the +<i>Resolution</i> quitted Plymouth on July 12, taking +Omai, the native, from the Society Isles. +Having touched at Teneriffe, they crossed +the equator September 1, and reached the +Cape on October 18, where the <i>Discovery</i> +joined them on November 10. +</p> +<p>The ships sailed again on November 30, +and encountered heavy gales, in which several +sheep and goats died. On December +12 they saw two large islands, which Cook +named Prince Edward’s Islands; and three +days afterwards several others were seen; +but having made Kerguelen’s Land, they +anchored in a convenient harbor on Christmas +day. On the north side of this harbor one +of the men found a quart bottle fastened to +a projecting rock by stout wire, and on +opening it, the bottle was found to contain +a piece of parchment, on which was an inscription +purporting that the land had been +visited by a French vessel in 1772-3. To +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +this Cook added a notice of his own visit; +the parchment was then returned to the bottle, +and the cork being secured with lead, +was placed upon a pile of stones near to the +place from which it had been removed. The +whole country was extremely barren and +desolate, and on the 30th they came to the +eastern extremity of Kerguelen’s Land. +</p> +<p>On January 24, 1777, they came in sight +of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), +and on the 26th anchored in Adventure Bay, +where intercourse was opened with the natives, +and Omai took every opportunity of +lauding the great superiority of his friends, +the English. Here they obtained plenty of +grass for the remaining cattle, and a supply +of fresh provisions for themselves. On the +30th they quitted their port, convinced that +Van Diemen’s Land was the southern point +of New Holland. Subsequent investigations, +however, have proved this idea to be erroneous, +Van Diemen’s Land being an island +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +separated from the mainland of Australia by +Bass’s Strait. +</p> +<p>On February 12, Captain Cook anchored +at his old station in Queen Charlotte’s Sound, +New Zealand; but the natives were very shy +in approaching the ships, and none could be +persuaded to come on board. The reason +was, that on the former voyages, after parting +with the <i>Resolution</i>, the <i>Adventure</i> had visited +this place, and ten of her crew had +been killed in an unpremeditated skirmish +with the natives. It was the fear of retaliatory +punishment that kept them aloof. +Captain Cook, however, soon made them +easy upon the subject, and their familiarity +was renewed; but great caution was used, +to be fully prepared for a similar attack, by +keeping the men well-armed on all occasions. +Of the animals left at this island in the +former voyages, many were thriving; and +the gardens, though left in a state of nature, +were found to contain cabbages, onions, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +leeks, radishes, mustard, and a few potatoes. +The captain was enabled to add to +both. At the solicitation of Omai, he received +two New Zealand lads on board the +<i>Resolution</i>, and by the 27th was clear of the +coast. +</p> +<p>After landing at a number of islands, +and not finding adequate supplies, the ships +sailed for Anamocka, and the <i>Resolution</i> was +brought up in exactly the same anchorage +that she had occupied three years before. +The natives behaved in a most friendly manner, +and but for their habits of stealing, +quiet would have been uninterrupted. Nothing, +however, could check this propensity, +till Captain Cook shaved the heads of all +whom he caught practicing it. This rendered +them an object of ridicule to their +countrymen, and enabled the English to recognize +and keep them at a distance. Most +of the Friendly Isles were visited by the +ships, and everywhere they met with a kind +reception. On June 10 they reached Tongataboo, +where the King offered Captain +Cook his house to reside in. Here he made +a distribution of animals amongst the chiefs, +and the importance of preserving them was +explained by Omai. Two kids and two +turkey-cocks having been stolen, the captain +seized three canoes, put a guard over the +chiefs, and insisted that not only the kids +and turkeys should be restored, but also +everything that had been taken away since +their arrival. This produced a good effect, +and much of the plunder was returned. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/island-194.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +Deliverance. Page 194. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<p>Captain Cook remained at the Friendly +Islands nearly three months, and lived +almost entirely during that period upon +fresh provisions, occasionally eating the produce +of the seeds he had sown there in his +former visits. On July 17, they took their +final leave of these hospitable people, and +on August 12 reached Otaheite, and took up a +berth in Oaiti-piha Bay, which, it was discovered, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +had been visited by two Spanish +ships since the <i>Resolution</i> had last been +there. +</p> +<p>Animals of various kinds had been left in +the country by the Spaniards, and the islanders +spoke of them with esteem and respect. +On the 24th the ships went round to Matavai +Bay, and Captain Cook presented to the +king, Otoo, the remainder of his live stock. +</p> +<p>They here witnessed a human sacrifice, to +propitiate the favor of their gods in a battle +they were about to undertake. The victim +was generally some strolling vagabond, who +was not aware of his fate till the moment +arrived, and he received his death-blow from +a club. For the purpose of showing the +inhabitants the use of the horses, Captains +Cook and Clerke rode into the country, to +the great astonishment of the islanders; and +though this exercise was continued every day +by some of the <i>Resolution’s</i> people, yet the +wonder of the natives never abated. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span></p> +<p>On the return of Omai to the land of his +birth, the reception he met with was not +very cordial; but the affection of his relatives +was strong and ardent. Captain Cook +obtained the grant of a piece of land for +him on the west side of Owharre harbor, +Huaheine. The carpenters of the ships built +him a small house, to which a garden was +attached, planted with shaddocks, vines, +pineapples, melons, etc., and a variety +of vegetables, the whole of which were +thriving before Captain Cook quitted the +island. When the house was finished, the +presents Omai had received in England were +carried ashore, with every article necessary +for domestic purposes, as well as two muskets, +a bayonet, a brace of pistols, etc. +</p> +<p>The two lads brought from New Zealand +were put on shore at this place, to form part +of Omai’s family; but it was with great reluctance +that they quitted the voyagers, who +had behaved so kindly to them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></p> +<p>Whilst lying at Huaheine, a thief, who +had caused them great trouble, not only +had his head and beard shaved, but, in +order to deter others, both his ears were cut +off. On November 3, the ships went to +Ulietea, and here, decoyed by the natives, +two or three desertions took place; and as +others seemed inclined to follow the example, +Captain Clerke pursued the fugitives +with two-armed boats and a party of marines, +but without effect. Captain Cook +experienced a similar failure; he therefore +seized upon the persons of the chief’s son, +daughter, and son-in-law, whom he placed +under confinement till the people should be +restored, which took place on the 28th, and +the hostages were released. One of the deserters +was a midshipman of the <i>Discovery</i>, +and the son of a brave officer in the service. +Schemes were projected by some of the +natives to assassinate Captain Cook and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +Captain Clerke; but though in imminent +danger, the murderous plans failed. +</p> +<p>At Bolabola, Captain Cook succeeded in +obtaining an anchor which had been left +there by M. Bougainville, as he was very +desirous of converting the iron into articles +of traffic. They left this place on December +8, crossed the line, and on the 24th stopped +at a small island, which he named Christmas +Island, and where he planted cocoa-nuts, +yams, and melon seeds, and left a bottle +enclosing a suitable inscription. +</p> +<p>On January 2, 1778, the ships resumed +their voyage northward, to pursue the grand +object in Behring’s Strait. They passed +several islands, the inhabitants of which, +though at a great distance from Otaheite, +spoke the same language. Those who came +on board displayed the utmost astonishment +at everything they beheld, and it was evident +they had never seen a ship before. +The disposition to steal was equally strong +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +in these as in the other South Sea islanders, +and a man was killed who tried to plunder +the watering-party, but this was not known to +Captain Cook till after they had sailed. They +also discovered that the practice of eating +human flesh was prevalent. To a group of +these islands (and they were generally found +in clusters) Captain Cook gave the name of +the Sandwich Islands, in honor of the noble +earl at the head of the Admiralty. +</p> +<p>The voyage to the northward was continued +on February 2, and the long-looked-for +coast of New Albion was made on March 7; +the ships, after sailing along it till the 29th, +came to anchor in a small cove. A brisk +trade commenced with the natives, who appeared +to be well acquainted with the value +of iron, for which they exchanged the skins +of various animals, such as bears, wolves, +foxes, deer, etc., both in their original state +and made up into garments. But the most +extraordinary articles were human skulls, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +and hands not quite stripped of the flesh, +and which had the appearance of having been +recently on the fire. Thieving was practiced +at this place in a more scientific manner +than they had before remarked; and the +natives insisted upon being paid for the +wood and other things supplied to the ships, +with which Captain Cook scrupulously complied. +This inlet was named King George’s +Sound, but it was afterwards ascertained +that the natives called it Nootka Sound. +After making every requisite nautical observation, +the ships being again ready for sea +on the 26th, in the evening they departed, a +severe gale of wind blowing them away from +the shore. From this period they examined +the coast, under a hope of finding some communication +with the Polar Sea; one river +they traced a long distance, which was afterwards +named Cook’s River. +</p> +<p>They left this place June 6, but notwithstanding +all their watchfulness and vigilance, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +no passage could be found. The +ships ranged across the mouth of the strait. +The natives of the islands, by their manners, +gave evident tokens of their being acquainted +with Europeans—most probably Russian +traders. They put in at Oonalaska and other +places, which were taken possession of in +the name of the King of England. On +August 3, Mr. Anderson, surgeon of the +<i>Resolution</i>, died from a lingering consumption, +under which he had been suffering +more than twelve months. He was a young +man of considerable ability, and possessed an +amiable disposition. +</p> +<p>Proceeding to the northward, Captain +Cook ascertained the relative position of the +two continents, Asia and America, whose +extremities he observed. On the 18th they +were close to a dense wall of ice, beyond +which they could not penetrate. The ice +here was from ten to twelve feet high, and +seemed to rise higher in the distance. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +A prodigious number of sea-horses were +crouching on the ice, some of which were +procured for food. Captain Cook continued +to traverse these icy seas till the 29th. +He then explored the coasts in Behring’s +Strait both in Asia and America; and on +October 2 again anchored at Oonalaska to +refit; and here they had communication +with some Russians, who undertook to convey +charts and maps, etc., to the English +Admiralty, which they faithfully fulfilled. +On the 26th the ships quitted the harbor of +Samganoodah, and sailed for the Sandwich +Islands, Captain Cook purposing to remain +there a few months, and then return to +Kamtschatka. The island of Mowee was +discovered on November 26; and on the 30th +they fell in with another, called by the natives +Owyhee (now Hawaii); and being of large +extent, the ships were occupied nearly seven +weeks in sailing round it, and examining the +coast; and they found the islanders more +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +frank and free from suspicion than any they +had yet had intercourse with; so that on January +16, 1779, there were not fewer than a +thousand canoes about the two ships, most of +them crowded with people, and well-laden +with hogs and other productions of the +place. A robbery having been committed, +Captain Cook ordered a volley of musketry +and four great guns to be fired over the canoe +that contained the thief; but this seemed +only to astonish the natives, without creating +any great alarm. On the 17th the ships +anchored in a bay called by the islanders, +Karakakooa. The natives constantly thronged +to the ships, whose decks, consequently, +being at all times crowded, allowed of +pilfering without fear of detection; and +these practices, it is conjectured, were +encouraged by the chiefs. A great number +of the hogs purchased were killed and salted +down so completely, that some of the pork +was good at Christmas, 1780. On the 26th, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +Captain Cook had an interview with Terreeoboo, +King of the islands, in which great +formality was observed, and an exchange of +presents took place, as well as an exchange of +names. The natives were extremely respectful +to Cook; in fact, they paid him a sort +of adoration, prostrating themselves before +him; and a society of priests furnished the +ships with a constant supply of hogs and +vegetables, without requiring any return. +On February 3, the day previous to the +ships sailing, the King presented them with +a quantity of cloth, many boat-loads of vegetables, +and a whole herd of hogs. The +ships sailed on the following day, but on the +6th encountered a very heavy gale, in which, +on the night of the 7th, the <i>Resolution</i> sprung +the head of her foremast in such a dangerous +manner, that they were forced to put back +to Karakakooa Bay, in order to get it repaired. +Here they anchored on the morning +of the 11th, and everything for a time promised +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +to go well in their intercourse with the +natives. The friendliness manifested by the +chiefs, however, was far from solid. They +were savages at a low point of cultivation, +and theft and murder were not considered +by them in the light of crimes. Cook, +aware of the nature of these barbarians, was +anxious to avoid any collision, and it was +with no small regret that he found that an +affray had taken place between some seamen +and the natives. The cause of the disturbance +was the seizure of the cutter of the +<i>Discovery</i> as it lay at anchor. The boats of +both ships were sent in search of her, and +Captain Cook went on shore to prosecute the +inquiry, and, if necessary, to seize the person +of the King, who had sanctioned the +theft. +</p> +<p>The narrative of what ensued is affectingly +tragical. Cook left the <i>Resolution</i> about +seven o’clock, attended by the lieutenant of +marines, a sergeant, a corporal, and seven +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +private men. The pinnace’s crew were likewise +armed, and under the command of Mr. +Roberts; the launch was also ordered to +assist his own boat. He landed with the +marines at the upper end of the town of +Kavoroah, where the natives received him +with their accustomed tokens of respect, and +not the smallest sign of hostility was evinced +by any of them; and as the crowds increased, +the chiefs employed themselves as before, in +keeping order. Captain Cook requested the +King to go on board the <i>Resolution</i> with +him, to which he offered few objections; +but in a little time it was observed that the +natives were arming themselves with long +spears, clubs, and daggers, and putting on +the thick mats which they used by way of +armor. This hostile appearance was increased +by the arrival of a canoe from the opposite +side of the bay, announcing that one of the +chiefs had been killed by a shot from the +<i>Discovery’s</i> boat. The women, who had +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +been conversing familiarly with the English, +immediately retired, and loud murmurs arose +amongst the crowd. Captain Cook, perceiving +the tumultuous proceedings of the natives, +ordered Lieutenant Middleton to march +his marines down to the boats, to which the +islanders offered no obstruction. The captain +followed with the king, attended by +his wife, two sons, and several chiefs. One +of the sons had already entered the pinnace, +expecting his father to follow, when the +king’s wife and others hung round his neck, +and forced him to be seated near a double +canoe, assuring him that he would be put to +death if he went on board the ship. +</p> +<p>Whilst matters were in this position, one +of the chiefs was seen with a dagger partly +concealed under his cloak, lurking about +Captain Cook, and the lieutenant of marines +proposed to fire at him; but this the captain +would not permit; but the chief closing upon +them, the officer of marines struck him with +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +his firelock. Another native, grasping the +sergeant’s musket, was forced to let it go by +a blow from the lieutenant. Captain Cook, +seeing the tumult was increasing, observed, +that “if he were to force the king off, it +could only be done by sacrificing the lives +of many of his people;” and was about +to give orders to re-embark, when a man +flung a stone at him, which he returned by +discharging small-shot from one of the barrels +of his piece. The man was but little +hurt; and brandishing his spear, with threatenings +to hurl it at the captain, the latter, +unwilling to fire with ball, knocked the fellow +down, and then warmly expostulated +with the crowd for their hostile conduct. +At this moment a man was observed behind +a double canoe, in the act of darting a spear +at Captain Cook, who promptly fired, but +killed another who was standing by his side. +The sergeant of marines, however, instantly +presented, and brought down the native +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +whom the captain had missed. The impetuosity +of the islanders was somewhat repressed; +but being pushed on by those in +the rear, who were ignorant of what was +passing in front, a volley of stones was +poured in amongst the marines, who, without +waiting for orders, returned it with a +general discharge of musketry, which was +directly succeeded by a brisk fire from the +boats. Captain Cook expressed much surprise +and vexation; he waved his hand for +the boats to cease firing, and to come on +shore to embark the marines. The pinnace +unhesitatingly obeyed; but the lieutenant in +the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance +of his commander, rowed further off +at the very moment that the services of himself +and people were most required. Nor +was this all the mischief that ensued; for, +as it devolved upon the pinnace to receive +the marines, she became so crowded, as to +render the men incapable of using their fire-arms. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +The marines on shore, however, +fired; but the moment their pieces were +discharged, the islanders rushed <i>en masse</i> +upon them, forced the party into the water, +where four of them were killed, and the +lieutenant wounded. At this critical period +Captain Cook was left entirely alone upon a +rock near the shore. He, however, hurried +towards the pinnace, holding his left arm +round the back of his head, to shield it from +the stones, and carrying his musket under +his right. An islander, armed with a club, +was seen in a crouching posture cautiously +following him, as if watching for an opportunity +to spring forward upon his victim. +This man was a relation of the king’s, and +remarkably agile and quick. At length, he +jumped forward upon the captain, and struck +him a heavy blow on the back of his head, +and then turned and fled. The captain appeared +to be somewhat stunned: he staggered +a few paces, and, dropping his musket, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +fell on his hands and one knee; but whilst +striving to recover his upright position, +another islander rushed forward, and with +an iron dagger stabbed him in the neck. +He again made an effort to proceed, but fell +into a small pool of water not more than +knee-deep, and numbers instantly ran to the +spot, and endeavored to keep him down; +but by his struggles he was enabled to get +his head above the surface, and casting a +look towards the pinnace (then not more +than five or six yards distant), seemed to be +imploring assistance. It is asserted that, in +consequence of the crowded state of the +pinnace, (through the withdrawal of the +launch), the crew of the boat were unable to +render any aid; but it is also probable that +the emergency of this unexpected catastrophe +deprived the English of that cool judgment +which was requisite on such an occasion. +The islanders, perceiving that no help was +afforded, forced him under water again, but +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +in a deeper place; yet his great muscular +power once more enabled him to raise himself +and cling to the rock. At this moment +a forcible blow was given with a club, and +he fell down lifeless. The savages then +hauled his corpse upon the rock, and ferociously +stabbed the body all over, snatching +the dagger from each others’ hands to wreak +their sanguinary vengeance on the slain. +The body was left some time exposed upon +the rock; and as the islanders gave way, +through terror at their own act and the fire +from the boats, it might have been recovered +entire. But no attempt of the kind was +made; and it was afterwards, together with +the marines, cut up, and the parts distributed +amongst the chiefs. The mutilated +fragments were subsequently restored, and +committed to the deep with all the honors +due to the rank of the deceased. Thus, +February 14, 1779, perished in an inglorious +brawl with a set of savages, one of England’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +greatest navigators, whose services +to science have never been surpassed by any +man belonging to his profession. It may +almost be said that he fell a victim to his +humanity; for if, instead of retreating before +his barbarous pursuers, with a view to spare +their lives, he had turned revengefully upon +them, his fate might have been very different. +</p> +<p>The death of their commander was felt to +be a heavy blow by the officers and seamen +of the expedition. With deep sorrow the +ships’ companies left Owyhee, where the +catastrophe had occurred, the command of +the <i>Resolution</i> devolving on Captain Clerke, +and Mr. Gore acting as commander of the +<i>Discovery</i>. After making some further exploratory +searches among the Sandwich +Islands, the vessels visited Kamtschatka and +Behring’s Strait. Here it was found impossible +to penetrate through the ice either +on the coast of America or that of Asia, so +that they returned to the southward; and on +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +August 22, 1779, Captain Clerke died of +consumption, and was succeeded by Captain +Gore, who, in his turn, gave Lieutenant King +an acting order in the <i>Discovery</i>. After a +second visit to Kamtschatka, the two ships +returned by way of China, remained some +time at Canton, touched at the Cape, and +arrived at the Nore, October 4, 1780, after +an absence of four years, two months, and +twenty-two days, during which the <i>Resolution</i> +lost only five men by sickness, and the +<i>Discovery</i> did not lose a single man. +</p> +<p>By this, as well as the preceding voyages +of Cook, a considerable addition was made +to a knowledge of the earth’s surface. Besides +clearing up doubts respecting the +Southern Ocean, and making known many +islands in the Pacific, the navigator did an +inestimable service to his country in visiting +the coasts of New South Wales, Van Diemen’s +Land, New Zealand, and Norfolk +Island—all now colonial possessions of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +Britain, and rapidly becoming the seat of a +large and flourishing nation of Anglo-Australians—the +England of the southern +hemisphere. +</p> +<p>The intelligence of Captain Cook’s death +was received with melancholy regrets in +England. The king granted a pension of +£200 per annum to his widow, and £25 per +annum to each of the children; the Royal +Society had a gold medal struck in commemoration +of him; and various other honors +at home and abroad were paid to his +memory. +</p> +<p>“Thus, by his own persevering efforts,” +as has been well observed by the author of +the ‘Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties,’ +“did this great man raise himself +from the lowest obscurity to a reputation +wide as the world itself, and certain to last +as long as the age in which he flourished +shall be remembered by history. But better +still than even all this fame—than either the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +honors which he received while living, or +those which, when he was no more, his +country and mankind bestowed upon his +memory—he had exalted himself in the scale +of moral and intellectual being; had won a +new and nobler nature, and taken a high +place among the instructors and benefactors +of mankind.” +</p> +<p>Honor and fame are not to be achieved +by seeking for them alone, nor are their +possession the end and aim of human existence. +It is only by an unwearied striving +after a new and nobler nature; only by being +useful to our fellows, and making the +most of those qualities of mind which God +has given us, that happiness is to be attained, +or that we fulfill the ends of our being. +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>EXCELLENT BOOKS.</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Six Months at Mrs. Prior’s</span>. By Emily Adams. Illustrated. +Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. $1.25. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>“In this fresh little story, which is addressed especially to +young girls, the author tries to impress the lesson that the +disagreeable and annoying duties of life may be made pleasant +by accepting them as inevitable, and asking help from +above. Mrs. Prior is the widow of a clergyman, and has +been left with five little ones to support. She discharges her +servant, and divides the lighter duties of the household +between herself and the two eldest of her children, Minnie +and Helen. Unaccustomed to any thing but study and play, +the girls find it very hard to have their old time appointments +for enjoyment circumscribed, and complain bitterly at first. +The book gives a history of their experience, and shows how +the work that was so irksome at first became in the end a +source of pleasure and means of healthful discipline. +</p> +<p>“Six Months at Mrs. Prior’s” is a sweet story of womanly +tact combined with Christian trust. A widow, with scanty +means, makes a home happy for a group of children, restless, +wayward and aspiring, like many American children of our +day. The mother’s love holds them, her thrift cares for +them, her firmness restrains, and her christian words and +life win them to noble aims and living. The influence of the +christian household is widely felt, and the quiet transforming +leaven works in many homes. We can’t have too many +books of this kind in the family or Sunday-school.” +</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Miss Pricilla Hunter</span>, by Pansy, opens a new view +for that charming writer, but one eminently popular at the +present time. It deals with the payment of a church debt, +and shows how an humble woman, with a Christian character +which gave power to her words, raised the money to pay +off a debt which had long been a hindrance to church growth +and to Christian benevolence. Why she did it, and how she +did it, is told in Pansy’s best fashion: her encounters with +crabbed folks, and stingy folks, and folks determined not to +give to the church debt, are highly amusing, as well as her +devices to get something from everybody. +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>RECENT BOOKS.</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Yensie Walton</span>. By Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. Boston: +D. Lothrop & Co. $1.50. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Of the many good books +which the Messrs. Lothrop have prepared for the shelves of +Sunday-school libraries, “Yensie Walton” is one of the +best. It is a sweet, pure story of girl life, quiet as the flow +of a brook, and yet of sufficient interest to hold the attention +of the most careless reader. Yensie is an orphan, who has +found a home with an uncle, a farmer, some distance from +the city. Her aunt, a coarse, vulgar woman, and a tyrant +in the household, does her best to humiliate her by making +her a domestic drudge, taking away her good clothing and +exchanging it for coarse, ill-filling garments, and scolding +her from morning till night. This treatment develops a +spirit of resistance; the mild and affectionate little girl becomes +passionate and disobedient, and the house is the +scene of continual quarrels. Fortunately, her uncle insists +upon her attending school, and in the teacher, Miss Gray, +she finds her first real friend. In making her acquaintance +a new life begins for her. She is brought in contact with +new and better influences, and profiting by them becomes in +time a sunbeam in her uncle’s house, and the means of +softening the heart and quieting the tongue of the aunt who +was once her terror and dread. Mrs. Clark has a very pleasing +style, and is especially skilful in the construction of her +stories. +</p> +<p>“Yensie Walton” is a story of great power, by a new +author. It aims to show that God uses a stern discipline to +form the noblest characters, and that the greatest trials of +life often prove the greatest blessings. The story is subordinate +to this moral aim, and the earnestness of the author +breaks out into occasional preaching. But the story is full +of striking incident and scenes of great pathos, with occasional +gleams of humor and fun by way of relief to the more +tragic parts of the narrative. The characters are strongly +drawn, and, in general, are thoroughly human, not gifted +with impossible perfections, but having those infirmities of +the flesh which make us all akin. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>RECENT BOOKS.</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Johnny’s Vacations and Other Stories</span>. By Mary +E. N. Hathaway. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. $1.00. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Few more entertaining stories for small boys have lately +made their appearance than <i>Johnny’s Vacations</i>. The +author seems to have had experience with boys and tells in +a charmingly natural manner the story of a vacation spent +on a farm by one of them, Johnny Stephens by name. In +addition there are six shorter stories, in which the girls will +be as deeply interested as the boys. Among them are “The +Doll’s Party,” “Biddy and her Chickens,” “The Wild +Goose,” and “Pansy’s Visit.” +</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Royal Lowrie</span>. A Boy’s Book. By Magnus Merriweather. +D. Lothrop & Co., Boston. With eleven illustrations +by Hopkins. 16mo. Price, $1.25. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Despite the efforts of publishers, a brilliant book for boys +is a <i>rara avis</i>; therefore “Royal Lowrie” is likely to be +appreciated by all lively boys between twelve and forty. +While in literary finish the book ranks with the best novels +of the day, the characters are the boys and girls of our modern +High Schools. The plot is of breathless interest, but of such +a character that we will warrant when the general mystification +is dispersed no reader will feel like ever undertaking to +seem what he is not. The humiliation which at last overtakes +Royal Lowrie and Archer Bishop is so very thorough +that the two gay, thoughtless fellows, in the language of the +<i>American Bookseller</i>, “resolve in future to be wholly true, +even in little things. Royal Lowrie is an especially engaging +rattlepate, and we do not wonder that he wins forgiveness on +all sides.” +</p> +<p>Although it is an irresistibly humorous story of high-spirited +boys and girls, the book is calculated to exert as strong +a restraining influence as any volume which will be found +in our Sunday-school Libraries. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>ENTERPRISE.</p> +</div> + +<p>We copy the following from <i>The American Bookseller</i>, +New York: +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Few people can have failed to notice the great enterprise, +if they have not observed the scrupulous care +with which Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. have published +a class of books adapted to the highest culture of the +people. +</p> +<p>It is only ten years since they commenced the work +of publishing, and their list now numbers more than +six hundred volumes. +</p> +<p>We are glad to make record, that brave and persistent +following of a high ideal has been successful. +</p> +<p>Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. have given special attention +to the publication of books for children and youths, +rightly considering that in no department is <i>the best</i>, +as regards literary excellence and purity of moral and +religious reading, of so great importance. Yet the +names of works by such authors as Austin Phelps, +D.D., Francis Wayland, and Dr. Nehemiah Adams +on their catalogue, will show that maturer readers have +not been uncared for. +</p> +<p>Of their work projected for the coming season, we +have not room to speak in detail; it will suffice for the +present to say that it is wide in range, including substantial +and elegantly illustrated books, all in the line +of the practical and useful, and fresh in character and +treatment. +</p> +<p>Their two juvenile magazines, <i>Wide Awake</i> and +<i>Babyland</i>, are warmly welcomed in every part of the +English-speaking world. +</p> +<p>We advise any of our readers who desire to know +more about these publications, to send to D. Lothrop +& Co., Boston, for an illustrated catalogue. +</p> +<p>All who visit their establishment, corner of Franklin +and Hawley streets, will not only be courteously welcomed +and entertained, but will have the pleasure of +seeing one of the most spacious and attractive bookstores +in the country. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Baby Bunting</span>. Short Stories with Bright Pictures. By +the Best American Authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. +Price, $1.00. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p><i>Baby Bunting</i> is a beautiful quarto with one of the most +attractive outsides we have seen for a long time. It is made +up of choice stories adapted to the reading of children from +four to eight years of age. They are all short, few of them +being over a page in length, and each is accompanied by a +full page engraving. It is just the kind of book that ought +to be popular, and undoubtedly will be. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Young Folks’ History of Germany</span>. By Charlotte M. +Yonge. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.50. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>This handsome volume is the first of a series, which will +include the principal countries of Europe, the succeeding +numbers of which will appear at brief intervals. Miss +Yonge, whose talents have been exerted in various directions +for the benefit of young readers, has been peculiarly successful +in this series, which has had a very large sale in Europe, +and deserves a like popularity here. It covers not only the +entire period of German civilization down to the present +time, but it gives an account of ancient Germany and its inhabitants +in times which might almost be called pre-historic. +The first chapters are explanatory of the German mythology, +and of the ancient methods of worship. The Nibelungen +Lied is described and its story told. The real history begins +about the year 496 A.D., at a time when the Franks were +the victorious race in Europe. From that time down to the +beginning of the present year the record is continuous. The +volume is profusely illustrated. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Happy Moods of Happy Children</span>. Original Poems. +By favorite American authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & +Co. Price $1.00. +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>We venture to say that no publishing house in the country +will issue this season anything choicer in the way of a presentation +book of poems than this charming volume. The +poems it contains were written expressly for Mr. Lothrop, +and have never before been brought together in collected +form. Among the authors represented are Elizabeth Stuart +Phelps, Clara Doty Bates, Margaret G. Preston, Ella Farman, +Mrs. Platt, Harriet McEwen Kimball, Mary A. Lathbury, +Nora Perry, Mrs. L. C. Whiton, Celia Thaxter, Edgar Fawcett, +and many others. Although the volume is ostensibly +preferred for children, it is one which grown-up people will +equally enjoy. There are a score or more of illustrations, +most of them full-page, exquisitely drawn and engraved. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>PANSY'S PAGE.</p> +</div> + +<p>FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA. By <i>Pansy</i>. 12mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>The most fascinating “watering-place” story ever published. +Four friends, each a brilliant girl in her way, tired of Saratoga +and Newport, try a fortnight at the new summer resort on Chautauqua +Lake, choosing the time when the National Sunday-school +Assembly is in camp. Rev. Drs. Vincent, Deems, Cuyler, Edward, +Eggleston, Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, move prominently +through the story. +</p> +</div> + +<p>HOUSEHOLD PUZZLES. By <i>Pansy</i>. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>How to make one dollar do the work of five. A family of +beautiful girls seek to solve this “puzzle.” Piquant, humorous, +but written with an intense purpose. +</p> +</div> + +<p>THE RANDOLPHS. By <i>Pansy</i>. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A sequel to Household Puzzles, in which the Puzzles are agreeably +disposed of. +</p> +</div> + +<p>GRANDPA'S DARLINGS, By <i>Pansy</i>. 16mo. Illustrated 1 25 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A big book, full of “good times” for the little people of the family. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='la'> +<p>ESTER RIED <i>By Pansy.</i> 1 50</p> +<p>JULIA RIED " 1 50</p> +<p>THREE PEOPLE " 1 50</p> +<p>THE KING'S DAUGHTER " 1 50</p> +<p>WISE AND OTHERWISE " 1 50</p> +<p>CUNNING WORKMEN " 1 25</p> +<p>JESSIE WELLS " 75</p> +<p>DOCIA'S JOURNAL " 75</p> +<p>BERNIE'S WHITE CHICKEN " 75</p> +<p>HELEN LESTER " 75</p> +<p>A CHRISTMAS TIME " 15</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>MISS JULIA A. EASTMAN is one of the most popular of our modern writers.</p> +</div> + +<p>YOUNG RICK. By <i>Julia A. Eastman</i>. Large 16mo. Twelve illustrations by Sol Eytinge. $1.50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A bright, fascinating story of a little boy who was both a blessing +and a bother.—<i>Boston Journal.</i> +</p> +<p>The most delightful book on the list for the children of the +family, being full of adventures and gay home scenes and merry +play-times. “Paty” would have done credit to Dickens in his +palmiest days. The strange glows and shadows of her character +are put in lovingly and lingeringly, with the pencil of a master. +Miss Margaret’s character of light is admirably drawn, while Aunt +Lesbia, Deacon Harkaway, Tom Dorrance, and the master and +mistress of Graythorpe poor-house are genuine “charcoal +sketches.” +</p> +</div> + +<p>STRIKING FOR THE RIGHT. By <i>Julia A. Eastman</i>. Large 16mo. Illustrated $1 75 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>While this story holds the reader breathless with expectancy +and excitement, its civilizing influence in the family is hardly to +be estimated. In all quarters it has met with the warmest praise. +</p> +</div> + +<p>THE ROMNEYS OF RIDGEMONT. By Julia A. Eastman. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<p>BEULAH ROMNEY. By <i>Julia A. Eastman</i>. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Two stones wondrously alive, flashing with fun, sparkling with +tears, throbbing with emotion. The next best thing to attending +Mrs. Hale’s big boarding-school is to read Beulah’s experience +there. +</p> +</div> + +<p>SHORT-COMINGS AND LONG-GOINGS. By <i>Julia A. Eastman</i>. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A remarkable book, crowded with remarkable characters. It +is a picture gallery of human nature. +</p> +</div> + +<p>KITTY KENT'S TROUBLES. By <i>Julia A. Eastman</i>. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>“A delicious April-day style of book, sunshiny with smiles on +one page while the next is misty with tender tears. Almost every +type of American school-girl is here represented—the vain Helen +Dart, the beauty, Amy Searle, the ambitious, high bred, conservative +Anna Matson; but next to Kitty herself sunny little Pauline +Sedgewick will prove the general favorite. It is a story fully +calculated to win both girls and boys toward noble, royal ways of +doing little as well as great things. All teachers should feel an +interest in placing it in the hands of their pupils.” +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>BOOKS FOR YOUNG HEROES AND BRAVE WORKERS.</p> +</div> + +<p>VIRGINIA. By <i>W. H. G. Kingston</i>. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A stirring story of adventure upon sea and land. +</p> +</div> + +<p>AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND ADVENTURERS. By <i>Rev. G. T. Day, D. D.</i> 16 mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>The stories of Speke, Grant, Baker, Livingstone and Stanley +are put into simple shape for the entertainment of young readers. +</p> +</div> + +<p>NOBLE WORKERS. Edited by <i>S. F. Smith, D. D.</i> 16mo. $1 50 +</p> +<p>STORIES OF SUCCESS. Edited by <i>S. F. Smith, D. D.</i> 16mo. $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Inspiring biographies and records which leave a most wholesome +and enduring effect upon the reader. +</p> +</div> + +<p>MYTHS AND HEROES. 16mo. Illustrated. +Edited by <i>S. F. Smith, D. D.</i> $1 50 +</p> +<p>KNIGHTS AND SEA KINGS. Edited by +<i>S. F. Smith, D. D.</i> 12mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Two entertaining books, which will fasten forever the historical +and geographical lessons of the school-room firmly in the student’s +mind. +</p> +</div> + +<p>CHAPLIN'S LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. +16mo. Illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<p>LIFE OF AMOS LAWRENCE. 12mo. Ill. $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Two biographies of perennial value. No worthier books were +ever offered as holiday presents for our American young men. +</p> +</div> + +<p>WALTER NEAL'S EXAMPLE. By <i>Rev. +Theron Brown</i>. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Walter Neal’s Example is by Rev. Theron Brown, the editor of +that very successful paper, <i>The Youth’s Companion</i>. The story +is a touching one, and is in parts so vivid as to seem drawn from +the life.—<i>N. Y. Independent.</i> +</p> +</div> + +<p>TWO FORTUNE-SEEKERS. Stories by <i>Rossiter Johnson</i>, +<i>Louise Chandler Moulton</i>, <i>E. Stuart Phelps</i>, +<i>Ella Farman</i>, <i>etc.</i> Fully illustrated $1 50 +</p> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p>“MISS FARMAN has the very desirable knack of imparting +valuable ideas under the guise of a pleasing story.”—<i>The New Century</i>. +</p> +<p>MRS. HURD'S NIECE. By <i>Ella Farman</i>. Ill. $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A thrilling story for the girls, especially for those who think +they have a “mission,” to whom we commend sturdy English +Hannah, with her small means, and her grand success. Saidee +Hurd is one of the sweetest girls ever embalmed in story, and +Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. +</p> +</div> + +<p>THE COOKING CLUB OF TU-WHIT HOLLOW. By <i>Ella Farman</i>. 16mo. Eight full-page illustrations $1 25 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>Worth reading by all who delight in domestic romance.—<i>Fall +River Daily News</i>. +</p> +<p>The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, +are set in the midst of a bright, wholesome story, and the little +housewives who figure in it are good specimens of very human, +but at the same time very lovable, little American girls. It +ought to be the most successful little girls’ book of the season.—<i>The +Advance.</i> +</p> +</div> + +<p>A LITTLE WOMAN. By <i>Ella Farman</i>. 16m. $1 00 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>The daintiest of all juvenile books. From its merry pages, winsome +Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to +help thousands of young girls. +</p> +</div> + +<p>A WHITE HAND. By <i>Ella Farman</i>. 12m. Ill. $1 50 +</p> +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>A genuine painting of American society. Millicent and Jack +are drawn by a bold, firm hand. No one can lay this story down +until the last leaf is turned. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.3em;'><i>WIDE AWAKE.</i></p> +<p style=' font-size:1em;'>AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>For the Young Folks.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>$2.00 PER ANNUM. POSTAGE PREPAID.</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.1em;'>Edited by ELLA FARMAN.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>Published by D. LOTHROP & CO., Boston, Mass.</p> +</div> + +<div style='font-size:smaller'> + +<p>It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks who are no +longer little find there lost childhood in its pages. We are not saying too much +when we say that its versatile editor—Ella Farman, is more fully at home +in the child’s wonder-land than any other living American writer. She is +thoroughly <i>en rapport</i> with her readers, gives them now a sugar plum of poesy, +now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, and cunningly intermixes all the solid +bread of thought that the child’s mind can digest and assimilate.—<i>York True +Democrat.</i> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>The $1000 Prize Series.</p> +</div> + +<p><i>Pronounced by the Examining Committee, Rev. Drs. +Lincoln, Rankin and Day, superior to +any similar series.</i> +</p> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Striking for the Right</td><td align='right'>$1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Silent Tom</td><td align='right'>1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Evening Rest</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>The Old Stone House</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Into the Light</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Walter McDonald</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Story of the Blount Family</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Margaret Worthington</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>The Wadsworth Boys</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Grace Avery’s Influence</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Glimpses Through</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Ralph’s Possession</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Luck of Alden Farm</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Chronicles of Sunset Mountain</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>The Marble Preacher</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td style='padding-right:4em;'>Golden Lines</td><td align='right'>1.50</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-size:0.8em;'> +<p><i>Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail, postpaid, on receipt of price.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class='ce' style=' font-size:1.2em; font-style:italic;'> +<p>BOSTON:</p> +<p>D. LOTHROP & CO., PUBLISHERS.</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.07 --> +<!-- timestamp: Sun Jun 22 17:43:19 -0600 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 25882-h.htm or 25882-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/8/25882/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/25882-h/images/illus-emb.png b/25882-h/images/illus-emb.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..56791c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/illus-emb.png diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-040.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-040.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0457f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-040.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-047.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-047.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7de7767 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-047.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-066.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-066.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8d1e335 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-066.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-083.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-083.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2acf78e --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-083.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-092.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-092.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6211ff5 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-092.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-099.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-099.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc42368 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-099.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-112.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-112.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9932617 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-112.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-115.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-115.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d401932 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-115.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-178.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-178.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a75324 --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-178.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-194.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-194.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5f434d --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-194.jpg diff --git a/25882-h/images/island-fpc.jpg b/25882-h/images/island-fpc.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a43dbca --- /dev/null +++ b/25882-h/images/island-fpc.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a8f6fe --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #25882 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25882) diff --git a/old/25882-8.txt b/old/25882-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8db40e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25882-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3976 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +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: Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #25882] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: The Castaways. (Front.)] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FAMOUS ISLANDS +and +MEMORABLE VOYAGES. + +Boston: +Published by D. Lothrop & Co. +Dover, N.H.: G. T. Day & Co. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I.-- A VENETIAN CRUISER. 9 + + II.-- A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; + OR, CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. 30 + + III.-- THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. 52 + + IV.-- ST. HELENA. 68 + + V.-- THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. 87 + + VI.-- NORFOLK ISLAND. 118 + + VII.-- THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. 165 + +VIII.-- CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. 188 + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +A VENETIAN CRUISER. + + +It was late in the year 1431. The port of Venice was filled with ships +from all parts of the world, bringing to her their choicest stores, and +their most costly merchandise, and receiving from her and from her +Grecian possessions rich shiploads of wine and spices, and bales of +finest cotton. + +It would have been a sight never to have been forgotten could we have +gazed then on that city of the sea, have watched the cumbrous barks, so +unlike our light-winged merchant ships, or our swift steamers, which +sailed heavily up and down the blue Adriatic, till they came in sight of +the famous city, the resort of all nations, in whose canals, and among +whose marts and palaces, might be seen the strange dress, and heard the +mingled speech of men from all parts of the civilized world. + +One ship was just leaving the port. The vessel, rather a large one for +those days, seems but poorly manned, and rocks so greatly among the +short white waves, that it is plainly to be seen that she is short of +ballast and lading. She is a Venetian trading vessel, bound first to the +Isle of Candia, where she will complete her cargo and add to the number +of her crew. This Candia or Crete (the very Crete by which St. Paul +passed on his voyage to Italy) was at that time under the hard rule of +Venice, and its poor inhabitants did her service upon land and sea. The +ship stayed at Candia only so long as enabled her to complete her stores +of cotton and spice and wine, which were destined for some northern or +western market, some French or British port. She was deep enough in the +water now, and on her deck lay many an unstowed bale, many a cask of +wine, for which the sad-looking Cretan sailors, in their tunics and +short cloaks, had not yet been able to find room. Sixty-eight men were +now on board, including the patron or owner, Master Piero Quirini, and +Christoforo Fioravanti, the sailing-master. Quirini, in his quaint +Italian dress, looking strangely unlike a modern sailor, stood amid the +piles of merchandise, giving quick orders for its stowage, while the +sailing master made all ready for the long voyage which was just +beginning. + +For in those days a voyage into the western sea was counted, specially +while boisterous autumn gales made sailing difficult, as a long and +hazardous undertaking. They all knew it must be many months ere they +could hope to see home again; but little did any of them guess the +strange sad fortunes which should befall them. The Cretan sailors looked +back wistfully at the groups of their friends, their wives and mothers +and children, whom they had left weeping on the shore, but they did not +think how many there were among them who would never return to tell the +story of their long voyage. But some at least among them knew and felt +that they were in the hands of God for life or for death, and that +nothing could really hurt them if they were "followers of that which is +good." + +The ship at first sailed on prosperously enough. The sea was calm, and +the sky clear above them. The sailors sang their sweet Italian or +Grecian songs, as they hurried to and fro, or leant over the bulwarks, +watching the blue water. + +Their course lay northward now, and wind and wave were sweeping them +toward the perilous northern seas. The days had been already growing +short when the ship left Candia, and now December, with its cold and +darkness, was upon them, and these southern sailors shivered as they met +the keen northern blasts. + +The cold grew sharper than ever on one night toward the end of the year, +but on that very night Master Piero Quirini chose to remain on deck, +braving the winter wind, instead of taking shelter in his warm and +comfortable cabin below. He stood looking eastward with his keen eyes, +his hand shading his face. + +"Come hither, Fioravanti," he called, and the sailing-master approached. +"There is a strange appearance in the sky which affrights me; I fear a +sudden, and violent storm, and then what will befall our ship, thus +heavily laden?" said Quirini. + +The old sailor turned towards the part of the horizon which Quirini had +pointed out; and as he looked, his face changed. "Quick," said he, +calling to the sailors who were nearest, "bid them draw in the sails. +Let the rudder be bound firmly, for the tempest is well nigh on +us--alas! for these terrible northern storms." + +Before he had well finished speaking, his Italian sailors had begun +their work, the slower and more apathetic Greeks needing, even in that +moment of danger, to be urged with many words before they would obey. +Thus it was but slowly that the heavy sails, creaking and swaying in the +wind, were drawn in and bound to the masts, and before half the work was +done, the storm in its full fury had struck the ship, and each man clung +for life to the nearest support, as the reeling vessel ploughed heavily +through the swollen seas. + +"Master, the rudder is gone, the rudder is lost," cried many voices, as +after a sudden lurch forward the ship righted again, and as they cried +out, a fresh blast struck her, and the half-furled sails were torn into +ribbons, and hung useless over the ship's side. + +The morning light found her still driving before the wind, and deep in +the sullen water which rose almost above her sides as she flew faster +than ever before the fierce wind. At length a sudden squall threw her on +her side, while the waters rushed in as if to fill and sink her in a +moment. + +"Ho, men! an axe, an axe!" cried the master; "down with the main-mast!" +and seizing a hatchet which lay at hand, Piero Quirini struck the first +blow at the tall mast, whose weight was dragging down the vessel. Others +with sword, or axe, or any tool which they could snatch at the moment, +followed, and they were but just in time, for before another wave could +wash over the vessel, the mast was floating free, and the ship had +righted once more. The water was baled out with every vessel on which +the men could lay their hands; and this weary work was continued all +through the cold dark night, yet when the morning broke hours behind its +time, as it seemed to the despairing sailors, the water in the hold was +scarcely three inches lower. + +The only hope for the crew lay in taking at once to their boats. There +were two boats belonging to the ship--the pinnace and the skiff; the +first was a long boat, but the skiff, which was considered the safer of +the two, would hold but a smaller number. + +The master called the men round him on the deck, and told them his +decision. "Now, men," said he, "you shall choose your boat; there stands +the notary, Nicolo di Michiel, with his ink-horn and parchment; he shall +write down the names of all who would fain sail in the skiff." + +"Master, there are forty-five for the skiff," said Nicolo, slowly +reckoning the long list of written names; "forty-five, and the skiff, +saith Christoforo Fioravanti, holds but twenty-one." + +"Draw lots, men, we are brothers now in trouble, and none shall have +advantage over the other." + +The lots were drawn, and then the master proceeded to divide between the +two crews the stores of the fast-sinking ship. Bread, cheese, bacon, +tallow and oil, and a little wine, as much as she could carry, were +given to the crew of the skiff, while the master, with forty-six men, +stored in the pinnace what remained on board, and one by one the men +passed over the ship's side, and the boats dropped off into the wide +sea. + +It was calm, the terrible wind had sunk down, and the keen wintry sky +was clear once more, but yet the prospect before them was enough to +trouble the bravest heart. + +They were adrift in the bitter cold in open boats, but ill-supplied for +a long voyage, and were, as they believed, five hundred miles from the +nearest shore. All night a heavy mist hung over them, and when it was +dispersed by the morning sun the crew of the pinnace looked round in +vain for their companions,--the skiff was nowhere to be seen. + +Six days had passed, and all hope of seeing their companion boat had +grown faint, when another storm arose, and the pinnace, heavily laden, +shipped so much water over the sides that all feared she would sink. + +"Mens' lives before wines and spices! precious and costly though they +be," said the master; "we must lighten the boat of all, save a little +needful food and water; linger not, my children, therein lies our only +hope." + +But the days went on, and though the storm passed, and the pinnace still +rode safely on the waters, the hearts of the crew were heavy within +them. The boat was indeed lighter now, for of the forty-seven who had +embarked in her, twenty-six died, and their bodies had been solemnly +committed to the deep, there to wait till, at the voice of God's angel, +the sea shall give up her dead. Solemn indeed must have been the +thoughts of the survivors as they saw one after another of their +comrades summoned from their side to stand before God; no one of them +knew but that he might be called next, and all were sure that if help +did not reach them speedily, none would return home to tell the tale of +their sufferings. Some there were of that crew who, faint, weary, in +want of covering, tortured with thirst, yet held fast their trust in +their Father in Heaven, and cried to Him with agonized prayer to have +mercy on them for Christ's sake. And the prayer for deliverance was +heard. + +It was on the third of January, and the first faint daylight was +stealing over the waters, when one of the crew, looking eagerly round as +he raised himself from uneasy sleep, saw far off a faint line which +seemed to be land. The sun rose higher and colored rose-red the +snow-hooded tops of lofty rocks around the unknown coast. All the hope +and desire of the shipwrecked crew was now to reach this shore, fearing +its unknown dangers but little, compared with the terrible suffering +they had long endured. + +But, alas! the wind had died away, and in vain did they unfurl their +sails, and set their rudder. They must try the oars then, but the arms +of the starving sailors were too weak to move the boat, and they could +do nothing but trust to the force of the waves and the currents which +were bearing her along. It was the sixth of January when they reached +the land, and with great difficulty drew their boat to the beach. They +soon found that they had landed on an uninhabited island, which lay, as +they afterwards found, off the coast of Norway--a strange and foreign +land to the Venetians of those days. + +No sooner did the wasted remnant of the crew set foot on shore than they +rushed to the rocks, climbing them with strength which they had not +thought they possessed, and eagerly gathering the pure white snow in +their hands, bathed their parched lips and dry tongues, drinking again +and again, as if they could never taste enough of this delicious +draught. + +"Now, men, draw the boat higher on shore, ere the tide go out and float +her away," said the master; but when the pinnace was drawn to the dry +sand she was found to be so battered and so full of holes, that they all +saw at once that it was useless to hope that they could ever put to sea +in her again. "We will make her serve for a shelter at least," said +Christoforo, and so, dividing her into two parts, they, with the help of +her sails, made two huts, in which the twenty-one sailors, who alone +were left, might find some slight shelter from the winter wind. + +"Our thirst have we slaked," said Nicolo, "and said grace, I trust, for +the draught; now, by your leave, good master, must we seek for food, +though what food this barren island should afford, I know not." + +All the party dispersed at once in search of provisions, some climbing +the rocks, some wandering along the beach, and some seeking to penetrate +farther inland. Returning towards evening slowly and sadly to the huts, +they examined the store that had been found--a few periwinkles and +barnacles and some other small shell-fish, but a poor feast for so many +famished men. Their search, continued far and wide over the island, +discovered no other food, save a kind of small herb which grew under the +snow. This they ate day after day, and so were able to keep a little +life in them though they were always faint and hungry. + +Five out of the little colony were already dead from cold and hunger and +exhaustion, when one day a sailor wandering farther than he had yet +been, came upon a little hut, empty and deserted, but giving a better +and more comfortable shelter than their sail-covered huts. + +Six of the company determined to live in this new home, thinking that +the chances of finding food for the whole would be increased when they +were more widely scattered on the island. And scarcely had they taken up +their abode in their new quarters, when they were overjoyed by finding +on the beach, close at hand, a large dead fish. They did not know +whether it was a whale or a porpoise, but they saw that it was quite +fresh and fit for food, and every one of them believed that God had sent +this great deliverance in answer to their prayers for help. All hands +turned out to drag the fish to their hut, and no sooner was it safely +housed than a terrible storm broke over the island, which lasted nine +days. So fierce was the wind, so pitiless the tempest, that during all +that time not one of the sailors dare set foot outside the cottage, and +had it not been for the merciful provision which God had bidden the +waves to bring to them, they must all have perished with hunger. + +The fish was at length eaten, not a fin, nor a morsel of flesh remained, +and once more the sailors were forced to seek along the shore for +shell-fish, which was now their only food. Christoforo was one day +seated in the cottage. He had grown white and thin, and his long lank +hair looked dry and rusty, as it hung over his sunken cheeks. He was +gazing listlessly on the dull sea, and on the distant, cloud-like lines +which told of other islands, or may be of the main land far off. + +"If we could only reach those shores," he thought, "may be men dwell +thereon, and we might find food. But we have neither boat nor wood +whereof to make one, neither have we strength to row, so seemeth there +no choice but we must all perish here; the will of God be done." + +Raising his eyes, which had sunk while he pursued these sad thoughts, he +suddenly sprang to his feet, and with a glad shout cried, "Rejoice, +behold two come to seek us," and as he spoke, his companions, looking +out, saw two shepherd lads climbing the hill-side. + +The strangers turned and fled in terror at the sight of man on this +lonely island, and the sailors following to the shore found there a +little boat in charge of an old man. They had learnt some prudence now, +and they approached quietly, making signs of good-will and of humility, +and asking by look and gesture his pity on their great distress. The two +lads soon came down and joined their father, and though none of the +three could understand a word of the Italian speech, it chanced that +there was one among the sailors, Girado da Lione by name, who had learnt +a few words of Norwegian, and by means of this interpreter they managed +to tell the visitors of their terrible needs. + +The little boat would hold but two besides its owners, and Girado da +Lione and Bernardo the pilot were chosen to accompany the shepherds to +their home, and to get help to bring off all who remained of the +shipwrecked crew. On their way they questioned the shepherd, as well as +they could, on the cause of his journey to the island. + +"A strange reason was it, truly, my friends," answered the old man, "but +my son can tell you better than I. Speak, my son." + +The younger of the two oarsmen, a lad of about sixteen, answered +bashfully: "It was a dream, strangers, that led our boat to that shore. +My father had lost two heifers, white were they, with black stars on +their forehead and there were none like them in the island where we +dwell. Long did we seek our missing kine, and great was our sorrow when +we found them not; but last night I dreamed that I saw them feeding upon +this island, the cliffs of which we can sometimes see from our home. +When I awakened I persuaded my father to take the boat and let us row to +the island." + +"We found not our heifers," said the old fisherman, smiling, "but, thank +the good God, we found men. Doubtless it was God who sent my son this +dream, that so we might be in time to save you." + +They were soon received by a crowd of eager peasants, who crowded down +to the beach, when the story of the rescue spread. They were in another +island now, far larger, and moreover cultivated and inhabited, and food +was given them, and shelter offered, and clean clothes brought to +replace their own ragged and dirty garments. But of course the first +anxiety of the two rescued sailors was to send relief to their +companions at the hut, and to those who might yet remain alive on the +other side of the island. The kind islanders prepared quite a fleet of +little boats in which to hasten to the rescue of these poor deserted +men, but at the huts which they had first built, only five were found +alive, and their new friends prepared with sad hearts to bury the dead +as well as to save the living. + +The eleven survivors grasped each other's hands with feeling too deep +for words; they the only ones left of the sixty-eight who, in full +health and strength, had left the shores of Candia. "Truly," said one, +"we had been swallowed up of the sea, if our Lord Jesus Christ had not +been merciful to us, who forsaketh not them that religiously call upon +Him." + +"Now we must part," said they among themselves, "and seek our way to +Venice on foot or by sea, as we may find means. Sad news bring we +thither, and many heavy hearts must we make. But God has spared us to +our dear ones, and let us few that remain remember that we live only to +commend to memory, and highly to exalt, the great power of God." + + + + +A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; +OR, +CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. + + +The following passages are taken from the journal kept by Captain James, +the commander of a vessel bound for the northern seas. His ship, having +on board a crew of twenty-two men, left England in May, 1631, to attempt +the discovery of the long-desired North-West Passage. After terrible +storms and disasters, the ship being fast-locked in ice the adventurers +were compelled to winter in the Arctic regions; and, as the journal +relates, proceeded to make preparations for passing the long months on +an uninhabited island near to the ship. The extracts from the diary tell +the story of those months, speaking in words which need no comment, of +high hope, of constant courage, and of a sincere and true-hearted +dependence on God. Throughout all the disappointments and perils of his +expedition, Captain James seems ever to have kept alive trust in God, +and a sure belief that all that could befall him and his, would be +directed by an All-wise hand; thus his heart did not fail even in the +midst of overwhelming perils and disasters. + +These brave men were not ashamed to own their entire dependence on God's +help, and we find here, as elsewhere, that it is ever the strongest who +best know their own weakness--that the noblest are ever the most humble, +the most ready to acknowledge the Divine Source of all their courage. + +And the heroes whom English boys love to remember, and desire to +imitate, have, in proportion as they were true heroes, unselfish, +generous, brave, been also the most true and faithful servants of that +God who is the source of all strength, all love, all tenderness and +truth. + +"Oct. 7.--It snowed all day, so that we had to clear it off the decks +with shovels, and it blew a very storm withal. The sun did shine very +clear, and we tore the topsails out of the tops, which were hard frozen +in them into a lump, the sun not having power to thaw one drop of them. +Seeing therefore that we could no longer make use of our sails, it +raised many doubts in our minds that here we must stay and winter. The +sick men desired that some little house or hovel might be built ashore, +whereby they might be the better sheltered. I took the carpenter, and +choosing out a place, they went immediately to work upon it, while I +myself wandered up and down in the woods to see if we could discover any +signs of savages, but we found no appearance of any on this island. + +Oct. 12.--We took our mainsail, which was hard frozen, and carried it +ashore to cover our house, first thawing it by a great fire; by night +they had covered it, and had almost hedged it about, and our six +builders desired they might travel up into the country to see what they +could discover. + +Oct. 15.--This evening our hunters returned very weary, and brought with +them a small, lean deer, which rejoiced us all, hoping we should have +more of them to refresh our sick. + +Nov. 10.--I urged the men to make traps to catch foxes, for we did daily +see many, and I promised that whosoever could take one of them should +have the skin for his reward. + +Nov. 17.--I have lain ashore each night until now, all which time have +our miseries increased; and, looking from the shore towards the ship, +she doth look like a piece of ice in the fashion of a ship; the snow is +frozen all about her, and all her forepart is firm ice. + +Nov. 25.--The wind shifted easterly, and we encouraged one another, and +to work we go, our endeavor being to put the ship to the shore. This +evening we broke through the ice, and put an anchor to keep her to shore +if possible. Here Sir Hugh Willoughby came into my mind, who without +doubt was driven out of his harbor in this manner, and so starved at +sea. But God was more merciful to us. + +Nov. 20.--I resolved, for the greater safety of the ship, to sink her +right down, but she would not sink so fast as we would have her. At +noon-day the water rose and beat the bulk-heads of the bread-room, +powder-room, and forepiece, all to pieces; thus she continued till +three, and then the sea came up on the upper deck, and soon after she +began to settle. We were seventeen poor souls now in the boat, and we +now imagined that we had leaped out of the frying-pan into the fire, for +we thought assuredly the ebb would carry us away into the sea. We +therefore doubled-manned four oars, and so, with the help of God, we got +to the shore. Being there arrived, we greeted our fellows the best we +could; at which time they could not know us, nor we them by our habits +nor voices, so frozen all over we were, faces, hair, and apparel. I +comforted them the best I could, saying, "My masters and faithful +companions, be not dismayed for any of these disasters, but let us put +our whole trust in God; it is He that giveth and He that taketh away. +His will be done. If it be our fortunes to end our days here, we are as +near heaven as in England, and we are much bound to God Almighty for +giving us so large a time of repentance. I make no doubt but He will be +merciful to us both here on earth, and in His blessed kingdom." + +Dec. 1.--To-day it is so cold that firm ice has formed over the +boat-track, and we can reach the ship on foot; we have brought over on +our backs five hundred fish, and much of our bedding and clothes, which +we had to dig out of the ice. + +Dec. 10.--We have been busied this past week, save on Sunday, when we +rested and performed the Sabbath duties of a Christian, in bringing +hither stores from the ship--now bearing them over firm ice, and now +wading knee-deep in half-frozen water. I will here describe the house +which we have built to shelter us withal. It is among a tuft of thick +trees, under a south bank, about a bow-shot from the seaside; it is +square, and about twenty feet every way. First we drove strong stakes +into the earth round about, which we wattled with boughs as thick as +might be, beating them down very close. At the ends we left two holes +for the light to come in at, and the same way the smoke did pass out +also. Then we cut down trees into lengths of six feet, with which we +made a pile on both sides. We left a little low door to creep into, and +a porch was before that, made with piles of wood. We next fastened a +rough tree aloft over all, upon which we laid our rafters and our roof. +On the inside, we made fast our sails round about. Now have we driven in +stakes and made us bedstead frames, about three sides of the house. We +have made our hearth in the middle of the house, and on it our fire. +This house we propose to call our mansion, as we have built two smaller +near by for our kitchen and our store-house. + +Dec. 31.--Our mansion is now covered thick with snow, almost to the very +roof of it; we do not go out save we first shovel away the snow, and +then by treading, make it somewhat hard under foot. We have got our boat +ashore, and fetched up some of our provisions from the beach, with +extremity of cold and labor; and thus we concluded the old year 1631. + +Jan. 2, 1632.--I observed the sun to rise like an oval along the +horizon; I called three or four to see it, the better to confirm my +judgment; and we all agreed that it was twice as long as it was broad. +We plainly perceived withal, that by degrees as it rose higher it also +recovered its soundness. + +Jan. 30.--But little worthy the writing has happened to us this month. +The men grow daily weaker, and our stores less. We have three sorts of +sick men--those that cannot move nor turn themselves in their beds, who +must be tended like infants; those that are as it were crippled; and +those that are something better, but afflicted with sore mouths. These +last make shift to work; they go to work through the snow to the ship, +and about their other business. Our cook doth order our food in this +manner. The beef which is to serve on Sunday night to supper, he doth +boil on Saturday night in a kettle full of water, with a quart of +oatmeal, about an hour. Then taking the beef out, he doth boil the rest +till it is thick, which we call porridge, which, with bread, we do eat +as hot as we may; and after this we have fish, and thus we have some +warm thing every supper. + +But many of our sick eat nought save a little oatmeal or pease. Hitherto +we have taken but a dozen foxes in all our traps. + +Feb. 10.--The cold is as extreme just now as at any time this year, and +many of our men complain heavily of sickness; two-thirds of our company +are under the surgeon's hand. And yet, nevertheless, they must work +daily, and go abroad to fetch wood and timber notwithstanding the most +of them have no shoes to put on. Their shoes, upon their coming to the +fire out of the snow, were burnt and scorched upon their feet, and they +were forced to bind old clothes about their feet. Our clock and watch, +though we have kept them ever by the fireside, yet they are so frozen +that they cannot go. The inside of our house is hanged with icicles, and +many a time when I put my hand into the brass kettle by the fire, I find +one side very warm, and the other side an inch frozen. + +Mar. 15.--One of our men thinks that he has seen a deer, whereupon he +with two or three more desire that they may go and see if they can take +it, and I have given them leave. + +Mar. 16.--Last evening did our hunters return, not having seen the deer, +but so disabled with cold, that they will not be well in a fortnight. + +[Illustration: Return of the Hunters. (Page 40.)] + +Mar. 31.--Our carpenter is now among our sick, his cutting tools are but +few, and these mostly broken and bound about with rope-yarn as fast as +may be. Thus our pinnace, on which lyeth so much of our hope of escape, +is but in an indifferent forwardness. + +April 4.--To-day we have been sitting all about the fire, reasoning and +considering together about our estate. The time and season of the year +comes forward apace, and we have determined on this course. With the +first warm weather we will begin to clear the ship from the ice and +water, so that should the pinnace never be finished, as seemeth in doubt +through the sickness of our carpenter, we might yet have some hope in +our old ship to complete our enterprise, and to return home. + +April 6.--This day is the deepest snow we have had all this year; it +hath filled up all our paths and ways. + +April 16.--This is the most comfortable sunshine that hath come this +year, and I have put some to clear off the snow from the upper decks of +the ship, and to clear and dry the great cabin by making fire in it. +Others have I put to dig down through the ice to come by our anchor. + +April 25.--Now have we labored so hard that we are mightily encouraged, +for the water doth rise without the ship, and yet doth not make its way +into the hold. I have bid the cook that he pour hot water into the +pumps, and so thaw them. + +April 27.--One of the pumps is cleared, and by means of this we have +drawn two feet of water from the hold, and we find to our satisfaction +that it doth not rise again. + +May 2.--It doth snow and blow so that we must keep house all day; our +sick men are so grieved at this unexpected cold that they grow worse and +worse. + +May 3.--To-day some of the snow melted on the land, and some cranes and +geese have come to it. I and the surgeon have been with a couple of +fowling-pieces to see if we could kill any for our sick men, but never +did I see such wild-fowl; they would not endure to see anything move, +therefore we have been obliged to return empty-handed and wearied. + +May 9.--We have at last come to and got up our five barrels of beef and +pork which were sunk in the hold, and we have also found four butts of +beer, which will be as a cordial to our sick men. God make us ever +thankful for the comforts that He gives us! + +May 13.--This is the Sabbath day, which we have solemnized, giving God +thanks for those hopes and comforts which we daily have. + +May 21.--This is the warmest day we have yet had. Two of my men have I +sent a fowling, and myself, the master, the surgeon, and one more with +our guns and our dogs, have been into the woods to see what comfort we +could find. We have wandered full eight miles from the house, and have +searched with all diligence, but returned comfortless; not an herb, no +leaf eatable, that we could find. Our fowlers have had as bad success. +The snow is by this time pretty well wasted in the woods. We have a high +tree on the highest part of the island which we call our watch-tree, and +from the top thereof we can see far over the seas, but we find no +appearance of breaking up yet. + +May 24.--Very warm sunshine. The ice doth consume by the shore side, and +cracks all over the bay with a fearful noise. This morning I sent two to +search for the ship's rudder, which was buried among the ice, and a +fortunate fellow, one David Hammon, pecking between the broken blocks, +struck upon it, who crying out that he had found it, the rest came and +got it up on the ice, and so into the ship. O, this was a joyful day to +us all; and we gave God thanks for the hopes we had of it. + +May 31.--We have found some vetches on the beach, which I have made the +men pick up, and boil for their sick comrades. + +June 4.--These four days hath it snowed, hailed, and blown hard; and it +hath been so cold that the water in our cans did freeze in the very +house, our clothes also, that had been washed and hung out to dry, did +not thaw all day. + +June 15.--This day I went to our watch-tree, but the sea was still firm +and frozen, and the bay we were in was full of ice. + +June 16.--Here have there lately appeared divers sorts of flies, and +such an abundance of mosquitoes, that we are more tormented with them +than ever we were with the cold weather. Here be likewise ants, and +frogs in the ponds upon the land, but we durst not eat of them, they +looked so speckled like toads. By this time there are neither bears, +foxes, nor fowl, to be seen; they are all gone. + +June 17.--At high water we did heave our ship with such good-will that +we heaved her through the sand into a foot and a half deeper water. +After we had moored her we went all to prayers, and gave God thanks that +had given us our ship again. + +June 19.--There hath been the highest tide that we have known since we +have been here, and in a happy hour have we got our ship off. This +evening I went up to our watch-tree; and this was the first time I could +see any open water, anyway, except that little by the shore-side. This +sight gave us some comfort. + +June 22.--We have sounded all about the ship, where she was sunken, and +find it very bad ground, with stones three feet high, and two of them +within a ship's breadth of the ship, wherein did more manifestly appear +God's mercies to us; for if when we forced her ashore she had stricken +one blow against these stones, it had broken her. + +June 24.--The wind hath put all the ice upon us, so that for a while we +were in such apparent danger that I verily thought we should have lost +our ship. With poles and oars did we heave away and part the ice from +her. But it was God that did protect and preserve us; for it was past +any man's understanding how the ship could endure it, or we by our labor +save her. + +June 26.--These have been indeed days of fear and of confusion, but +also, in the end, of comfort. Yesterday evening I went up to our +watch-tree, taking a man with me, who should make a fire on the highest +place of the island, to see if it would be answered. When I was come to +the tree I laid down my lance, and while I climbed up to the top of the +tree, I ordered him to set fire to some decayed wood thereabouts. He +unadvisedly set light to some trees that were to windward, so that they +and all the rest too, by reason it had been very hot weather, took fire +like flax or hemp; and the wind blowing the fire towards me, I made +haste down the tree. But before I was half way down, the fire reached +its stem, and blazed so fiercely upwards, that I had to leap off the +tree and down a steep hill, and in brief, with much ado escaped burning. +My companion at last came to me, and was joyful to see me, for he +thought verily I had been burned. And thus we went homewards together, +leaving the fire increasing, and still burning most furiously. I slept +but little all night; and at break of day I made all our powder and beef +to be carried aboard. This morning I went to the hills to look to the +fire, where I saw it did still burn most furiously, both to the westward +and northward. Leaving a man upon the hills to watch it, I came home +immediately and made the men take down our new set of sails immediately +and carry them to the seaside, ready to be cast in, if occasion were, +and to make ready to take down our houses. About noon the wind changed, +and our sentinel came running home, bringing us word that the fire did +follow him hard at his heels, like a train of powder. It was no need to +bid us take down and carry all away to the seaside. The fire came +towards us with a most terrible rattling noise, a full mile in breadth, +and by the time we had unroofed our houses, and laid hands on our last +things, the fire was come to our town, and seized on it, and burnt it +down to the ground. Our dogs howled, and then ran into the sea. To-night +shall we lie all aboard the ship, and give God thanks that he has +shipped us in her again. + +[Illustration: Climbing the watch-tree. (Page 47)] + +June 29.--These three days have we wrought hard in fetching our things +aboard, as likewise our water, and have been all about the eastern +point, searching for driftwood. Our pinnace, on which hath been spent so +much time and labor, we need not, having our ship afloat again, +wherefore I have commended her to be sawn in pieces and brought into the +ship. + +June 30.--To-day have we most earnestly continued our labor, and by +eleven this night was our ship in readiness, for we have sought to +finish our business with the week and the month, that so we might the +better solemnize the Sabbath ashore to-morrow, and so take leave of our +wintering island. + +July 1.--To-day, the first of the month, being Sunday, we were up +betimes. We went ashore, and first we marched up to the high cross we +had put up to mark the graves of our dead companions. There we had +morning prayer, and walked up and down till dinner-time. After dinner we +walked to the highest hills to see which way the fire had wafted. We saw +that it had consumed to the westward sixteen miles at least, and the +whole breadth of the island; near about our cross and our dead it could +not come, because it was a bare sandy hill. After evening prayer we went +up to take the last view of our dead, and then we presently took boat +and departed, and never put foot more on that island; but in our ship we +went to prayer, beseeching God to continue His mercies to us, and +rendering Him thanks for having thus restored us. Now go we on our +discovery, which achieved, I purpose surely to return to England, unless +it should please God to take us first into His heavenly kingdom. And so +desiring the happiness of all mankind in our general Saviour Jesus +Christ, I end this, my journal, written on the island." + + + + +THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. + + +It was during the merry days of the reign of King Edward III. of +England, that a little ship left the port of Bristol, sailing suddenly +and secretly, so that none knew to what port she was bound. + +She was no trading vessel laden with English goods for Calais, for her +crew was not composed of sailors; there were on board only a few men, +and these wore the dress of English gentlemen. The strange crew, the +secret departure, all told the tale of some danger from which they were +seeking to escape, and had we been on board we should have seen by the +anxious faces of the crew, by the quick, eager glances with which they +watched the shores as they sailed out of the Bristol Channel, that they +feared pursuit, either for themselves or for some one whom they had in +charge. Though not really sailors, they were doing their best to guide +the little vessel, and they had chosen for captain a young Englishman +called Lionel Machin, whose directions they obeyed, and in whom they +appeared to have full confidence. + +It was for Lionel's sake that the party of friends were now making their +escape from England. He had married a girl whom he had long loved, but +he had not gained the consent of her father and mother. They were +powerful and rich, and he had reason to fear that his young wife would +be taken from him through their influence with the king, and therefore +he had determined to seek a French port, and to hide himself and wife in +some French city which did not own Edward as its king. + +But, ignorant as they were of navigation, it was no easy matter for them +to direct their course aright, and, high winds springing up, they were +beaten about for five days without catching sight of the coast of +France. They did not know in what direction they were being carried, and +all on board, especially the new-made wife, were full of uneasiness and +dismay. Lionel encouraged Arabella with loving and hopeful words, even +when his own heart was sinking low, but his friends, who had come only +for his sake, and without well considering the dangers and risks which +they might encounter, were fast losing spirit and hope. Their merry +adventure seemed to be turning into sad earnest, and these light-hearted +lads, having nothing to sustain their courage when pleasure was gone, +now vented their disappointment in continual murmurs and regrets. + +Arabella herself tried to seem indifferent to their danger, and secure +in Lionel's care; she hid her tears, lest they might grieve her husband; +but when she thought that no one saw her, she gave herself up to sorrow +and despair. She thought of her father and mother whom she had left +secretly, lest they should forbid her marriage with Lionel, and she +longed with an aching heart for one word of love and forgiveness. For +hours she would sit, her eyes turned toward that part of the horizon +where she had last seen the coast of England, her thoughts busied about +her old home: her father, taking his pleasures with a sad heart; her +little sister, weeping for her lost playmate; and, most of all, her +mother, upright and dry-eyed, after the stern fashion of the day, but +yet, as Arabella well knew, ever thinking of her absent and disobedient +child, ever missing the light step, the loving smile, the tender touch +of the daughter she had loved so well. + +But Lionel still kept up heart and hope, still spoke gaily of the new +home they would soon make in sunny France--yes, even when day after day +passed by, and the watchers saw no land, and knew that they must be +drifting far out of their course, away into the wide unknown ocean. They +had been at sea more than a month when one morning early, Lionel, who +was pacing the deck, heard behind him a sudden shout of joy. + +He did not turn, for there were tears in his eyes which he must hide +from his companions, for he had now, for the first time, learned from +his wife of her repentance and her grief, and he too was sad at heart +and well-nigh hopeless. But the shout was repeated and taken up by other +voices. + +"Land, land at last!" they cried, and Lionel turned to see, far in the +distance, the tall sharp outline either of a rock or of the cliffs which +guarded some unknown shore. Wind and wave were steadily sweeping the +vessel onward towards this haven of refuge, and there was nothing to do +but to watch the sharpening outlines, and to see, as fog and mist +cleared before the sun, the sheer dark rocks and deep valleys of their +new home. + +Nearer still and nearer, till the land was full in sight, and the +famished and wearied crew could see the green valleys and tree-covered +heights of this lovely island, could almost hear the fall of the clear +waters which they saw glancing down the face of the rocks. + +What land it was they knew not. No houses were to be seen, no ships or +canoes flew out from under the shelter of the shore, no natives gathered +in fear or wonder on the silent silver beach, only a number of +bright-winged birds came as if to greet the new-comers, and settled +fearless on the sails and ropes. + +Quickly the ship's one boat was lowered, and some of Lionel's +companions, well armed, put off for the unknown shore. Lionel would fain +have been of the number, but neither Arabella nor his friends would +permit him to run this risk. Ere long the boat returned, and the +adventurers climbed on board as eager to speak as were their companions +to hear. + +"A dainty and delicious country, truly, Captain Lionel, but men we saw +none," said the first speaker. + +"The beasts thereon are tame, and have no fear of man," continued +another. + +"Yea, and the land is a garden of flowers, and the air soft, that it +would give back health to the dying; there will your fair wife recover +her bloom, and we all shall rest after our grievous toil." + +"Fruits are there in plenty, they dropped on us from the trees as we +walked," added the first. + +"Here at last we have found a haven," answered Lionel; "here, my kinsmen +and faithful friends, may you regain the strength you have lost in my +cause, yea, and win your pardon in England by this fair news. Arabella, +you will soon be strong again," and Lionel, though he spoke confidently, +looked with evident anxiety toward the pale face which bore the traces +of sorrow as well as of sickness. + +Soon the whole party, save some few who remained in charge of the ship, +were on land, wandering with the glee of schoolboys over the green +plains and wooded hills on which they seemed to be the first to set +foot. Choosing a sheltered spot among the laurels and near to the bend +of the river, the new lords of the island soon built a shelter for +themselves, and brought thither stores from the ship. + +In this happy retreat the fugitives spent nearly a fortnight, seeming to +forget, in the peace and rest of the present, their past wrong-doing and +their past disasters. + +But on the thirteenth day a sudden and violent storm broke over the +island. The ship was driven from her anchorage by the force of the wind +and waves, and was carried, with those of the company then on board, +toward the north coast of Africa, where she was at last completely +wrecked. The crew escaped with their lives, but only to fall into the +hands of the Moors, who, regarding all Christian nations as their +enemies, immediately seized those poor English gentlemen as slaves. + +Lionel and the few companions who were left with him on the island, +grieved deeply for the loss of their companions, though they knew not +the terrible fate which had befallen them. And mingled with their sorrow +was penitence too, for the wrong act which had, as they felt, brought on +them this deserved punishment. But Arabella's grief was deeper; from the +time when this new disaster befell them she never spoke, but sat gazing +ever over the now calm sea which parted her from her home; and thus she +pined and died, deeply oppressed with grief, and not comforted with the +assurance of the pardon which Christ the Saviour gives to all who repent +and turn from sin. + +Lionel could not endure without her the life which he had sought for her +sake, and ere long he, too, died in the arms of his weeping friends, and +husband and wife were buried at the foot of the laurels which had been +their shelter. + +The remaining adventurers determined at any risk to leave the island in +the little boat which still remained to them, for the place now became +distasteful; but before they sailed they set up over the grave of the +husband and wife a wooden cross, on which were carved their names. Then, +following the wish of Lionel, they added below a request that if any +Christians should hereafter come to dwell in this island, they would +build over the grave a church, in which our Saviour Jesus might be +worshipped and adored. + +The little boat being now ready and stored with birds and other food as +provisions for their voyage, they set sail, but were, like their +companions, cast on the coast of Africa, and made slaves with those who +had gone before them. But the poor Englishmen were not the only +captives, for in those times shipwrecked sailors from all parts of +Europe were held in cruel slavery by the Moors. + +Side by side with the companions of Lionel worked a young Spanish sailor +named Jean de Morales, and, glad of any relief from the toil and tedium +of their sad life, he listened eagerly to the often-repeated story of +the lovely and beautiful island. Of this unknown land he dreamed and +thought continually, longing for freedom that he might discover and +tread its silent shores, for he was of a nation eager for discovery, and +the highest rewards and honors were not thought too great for him who +should add a new country to the dominions of the crown of Castile. + +At length it happened that a sum of money was sent to Barbary, to ransom +some of the Spanish captives, and Jean de Morales was amongst those set +at liberty: but the ship in which, with glad heart and high hopes, he +sailed for Spain, was captured on its way by a Portuguese man-of-war, +under Jean Gonsalie Lascoe. All the captives from Barbary, who had +already suffered so much, were permitted to continue their journey home, +save only Jean de Morales. + +This one exception was made because the Portuguese captain was not +willing to give to Spain the glory of the discovery which the Castilian +sailor was longing to attempt. Jean de Morales was, however, kindly +treated, and at last took service with the Portuguese, his attachment to +his native land being doubtless weakened by his long captivity. + +Very soon, ships were sent out by Portugal commanded by Gonsalie, with +Jean de Morales on board, to seek this new and unclaimed island. The +vessels first held their course for the Island of Porto Sanco, near +which the new island was supposed to lie, for seen from Porto Sanco +toward the north-east was a heavy cloud, sometimes brighter, sometimes +darker, but never wholly dispersed. + +The ignorant and superstitious inhabitants had many wonderful stories to +relate of this cloud; they all believed that no ship could safely +approach it. Some held it to be an island hanging between heaven and +earth, in which some Christians had been hidden by God from the power of +their Moorish foes, some that it led into the land of spirits. Towards +this cloud Gonsalie steered his ships, in spite of the murmurs and +almost the open mutiny of his terrified crew. "The shadow is but a +mist," said he, "a cloud caused by the heat of the sun's rays drawing +the moisture from the land beneath; have no fear, my children, for those +who do their duty will God protect." + +Through the mists and heavy clouds they sailed on, and at last emerged +into clear, pure air, to see fair before them the island of their hopes. +The sailors who had before resisted the captain's will, now fell on +their knees begging his forgiveness, and praying to be allowed to land +at once and wander through the valleys of this lovely land. Soon +Gonsalie, Jean de Morales, and some of the sailors pulled through the +surf and set foot on the island, which they called Madeira, because it +was so well wooded. They landed almost on the very spot where Lionel and +Arabella had first come on shore, and before long the new-comers stood +in reverence and in pity by the graves of the first discoverers. + +The island was formally taken possession of in the name of the King of +Portugal, and before long a colony was sent thither, Gonsalie being +appointed governor. + +Then the dying wish of Lionel was granted, and over his grave was built +a church, in which the new inhabitants might worship God. + +This is the story which we have received as the history of the discovery +of the island of Madeira, now so well and so familiarly known to us, +where many of our own countrymen go year by year, seeking to recover +health and strength amongst the sheltered and wooded vales where the +English husband and wife found their last refuge. + +[Illustration: Visiting the Graves. (Page 66.)] + +The history was written in Portuguese by Don Francesco Alcafarado, a +noble at the court of King John I. of Portugal. He was himself one of +the discoverers. It is considered possible that some of the details +which he has given may have been altered in his memory, or confused by +those from whom he heard the story of Lionel and Arabella, but there +seems no reason to doubt the chief facts which he relates. The cross +erected over the graves of the husband and wife was preserved in Madeira +till at least the early part of this century, and possibly is still to +be seen. + + + + +ST. HELENA. + + +In the days when voyages were more tedious and dangerous than they are +now, when steam was unknown, and the art of navigation little studied, +it was especially important to secure safe resting-places for vessels +bound on distant voyages. Halfway ports where the health of the sailors +might be recruited, where the ship often battered and leaking, might be +repaired, and stored once more with water and fresh vegetables, were +absolutely essential to safe and profitable commerce. + +But until about the year 1500 the Venetian traders to India had found no +such harbor of refuge in the South Atlantic. Their ships came and went +nevertheless, and if many were lost, yet the profits of the trade were +such as to repay the merchants for many a bale of rich goods which lay +beneath the waters, and to lead Venice to guard as one of her most +valuable rights the trade with India. + +The Portuguese also were merchants and explorers, and had a large and +important navy, and they were not content to leave the Indian traffic +wholly in the hands of the Venetians. Therefore about the year 1501 +three vessels were sent out to India by the Portuguese Government. On +their return voyage during May of the following year a sudden and +violent storm overtook them. + +They were in the midst of the wide Atlantic, driven backwards and +forwards by the furious wind and waves. + +One of the ships was separated from the other two, and was in greater +danger. All hope of guiding her was at an end, and the captain and crew +stood waiting in despair for the death which could not be far distant. + +It seems probable from that which afterwards happened, that some at +least among the sailors thought, in their danger, on God, and cried to +Him to save them. And we may well believe this to have been so. There +are but few who when trouble is near forget God. It is in smooth and +fair water, in calm and sunshine, that we are so ready to think that we +can guide and help ourselves. When the clouds gather, and the +storm-winds blow, then we cry unto God in our trouble. And God is so +good that He does not turn away from those who call on Him in their +need, even when in their joy they had turned away from Him. + +Help came to these sailors tossed on the wide, wild sea, but it did not +come in the way that they had hoped. At first it seemed only like +greater peril, for through the haze which darkened the sea, the dim +outline of land was seen, standing high, sharp, and dark against the +sky. + +What land it could be they did not know. In such rough charts as they +possessed, no rock even was marked, no speck of land for many hundred +miles on either side the place where they were now fighting for their +lives. + +The ship was driven nearer and nearer, and, so far as the mariners could +tell, they were being driven to certain destruction, for what ship could +hope to avoid the terrible wall of rocks before them, or live in the +white seething waters which boiled at its foot. A shout, an eager +wondering cry, from one of the sailors, roused his comrades; he was +pointing to a narrow inlet between the rocks, on either side of which +the sand lay smooth and low--if they could only gain that opening there +might yet be hope. But the ship was past all guidance, and the only +chance of life seemed to lie in the boats, which might be directed up +the narrow inlet, so that the men might land in safety on its shores. At +last the anxious, terrified sailors stood safely on the beach, watching +the still raging sea as it washed to their feet plank and mast and +rudder of their now broken ship. + +Their first thought was to offer thanks to God who had delivered them, +and then they began to look around at this strange unknown land on which +they had been thrown. + +"Let us build ourselves a shelter with the planks of the broken ship, +she will never sail blue water again," said one sailor. + +"Nay," replied another, "rather let us build a house for God, let us +leave a church on this island. We need no shelter in the warm May +weather, no rain will fall for months yet, I warrant, and some of those +rare trees yonder will be our fittest roof." + +"But of what use can a church be when none dwell here to worship?" asked +a third. + +"Doubtless many will come to dwell here when we return home and tell the +story of the new land, and many ships will stay here to rest the sailors +and to gather stores. Were it not well done that they should find +prepared a place which should remind them of their duty to their God, +and of His care of them?" + +"And," said the captain, speaking now for the first time, "were it not +well done that we, whom He has so wonderfully preserved, should try even +in this imperfect fashion to show our gratitude? He will accept even +such poor service, therefore, in my judgment, let it be done." + +"Let it be done," cried all, and, as if impatient to begin, the sailors +rushed knee-deep into the sea, seizing and drawing high on the beach the +floating spars and planks ready for their new service. + +But before such work could be begun it was needful to explore the new +land, to search for any traces of inhabitants, and above all to +discover, if possible, food and water to refresh themselves. + +There was one high peak, towering above the many hills which crowned the +island, and towards this a party of sailors made their way, keeping +closely together for fear that the natives of the land might suddenly +attack them from rock or thicket. + +The steep, rugged, broken hill was scaled at last, and from its summit +the adventurers looked down on their place of refuge. They were on an +island, which seemed to be some miles in length; it was thickly covered +with trees, and in one part a broad, open plain, fresh and fertile, +stretched before them. There were many streams, dancing merrily down the +broken cliffs, or shaded by tall tree-ferns and waving grasses. But +nowhere was there any sign of human habitation; no palm-roofed huts, no +canoes, no figures crossing the open spaces between the trees. And not +only man, but even animals seemed wanting here. + +The place was a complete solitude; the sea-birds had not strayed farther +than the cliffs where their nests were made, and save one little brown +bird, not unlike a sparrow, which chirped among the boughs, the sailors +neither heard nor saw any signs of life. + +Fruit there was in abundance on the trees, and with this spoil they +hastened back to their comrades, who had meanwhile been exploring the +sides of the inlet. + +A shout from the party of these explorers told the descending sailors +that some discovery had been made, and as they came nearer they saw that +a fire had been kindled on the beach, though with what object it was +hard to guess. + +They were not long left in doubt, for shouts of "Turtle, turtle! come +and see the turtle we have cooked for dinner!" caused them to hasten to +the fire, on which was now seething an immense turtle, great numbers of +which were to be seen crawling along the beach. + +The fruit was a welcome addition to the feast, and the sailors were soon +forgetting peril and disaster over a hearty and refreshing repast. + +Then the whole party stretched themselves at ease under the trees; they +recounted to each other their adventures and discoveries. It was clear +that they were on an island, and that this island was far distant from +any known land. There appeared no doubt that it was uninhabited and +unknown, and great was the satisfaction of the captain in the thought of +carrying home to Portugal the tidings of a discovery so important. For +all saw what great service would be done to Portuguese commerce by the +establishment of a half-way station on their return from India, and the +feeling of regret for their lost ship was swallowed up and forgotten in +delight at the honor which they should receive at having first planted +the flag of Portugal on the Island of St. Helena, for thus did the +captain name the newly-found island. + +The sailors made no doubt that now the violence of the storm was over, +that they would soon be rescued from their imprisonment by the other +ships, and meanwhile they set heartily to work to build their church. + +The ship's carpenter undertook the principal directions, while the +captain determined on the best site for the new building, and marked its +outline on the turf. + +Willing hands made the work light, and ere many days had passed the +church began to rise, plank by plank, amid the palm-trees and leafy +shade around. + +The two remaining ships soon arrived, and their crews stayed long enough +to complete the church, and to lay in a store of fruit, turtles, and +fresh water, and then all set sail for Portugal, and St. Helena for long +years was henceforth reckoned among the possessions of that crown. + +But though highly prized as a resting-place for ships, it did not at +first become a colony. Two small dwellings were built on either side the +church, but none inhabited them for about twelve years, when a +Portuguese nobleman, named Lopez, came to live there in banishment, with +no companions but three or four negro slaves, who under his direction, +cultivated the soil, planted and reared many new kinds of trees and +fruits, and tended the fowls and animals which were abundantly supplied +for his needs. + +He did not, however, continue many years in St. Helena, and long the +island remained without inhabitants. + +Sometimes a passing ship would leave one or more of her crew, who were +ill, that they might be restored by the vegetables and fruits, the pure +air and clear water of the island. + +It happened once, nearly ninety years after the first discovery, that an +English crew landed for refreshment, and wandering about the island +approached the little church. They believed themselves the only human +beings on the island, and were therefore greatly surprised to hear a +voice singing within the church. + +"It is a Portuguese," they said one to another, "let us enter and make +him prisoner." + +Without another word the doors were thrown open, and there kneeling +alone in the church, they discovered a strange figure, wild and +terrified, dressed in a rough suit of goat-skin. + +"Who are you?" cried the foremost of the sailors, forgetting that the +supposed Portuguese was not likely to answer an English question; but +the man started to his feet at the words, gazed round him, looking one +by one into the eager and wondering faces before him, and then, as if he +could no longer contain his joy, he rushed towards them, and threw +himself into the arms of the foremost. + +He, in his turn, had feared that the new-comers were Portuguese, and the +poor English sailor, for such he was, had endured an agony of terror +till the sound of English speech assured him that he was among friends +and fellow-countrymen. + +His story was soon told. He had been left at St. Helena by a passing +ship, because he was so reduced by the voyage that the captain feared +that he could never reach his home. Here he had lived for fourteen long +months, and had never during that time heard a human voice, or seen the +face of a friend. He had lived chiefly on the flesh of goats, which had +now multiplied on the island, and had in his wild, free life quite +recovered his health. But the joy of meeting with friends after so long +a solitude was too great; he was quite unable to sleep, and only lived +till the ship in which he had taken passage reached the West Indies. + +St. Helena passed at length into the hands of the English, was colonized +and brought into cultivation, and it was here that Napoleon ended the +career which had laid waste and despoiled Europe. Here in this little +island was bounded his wide ambition; the sea set limits to his steps on +every side and stretched its strong impassible barrier all around him. +Here, though not alone, he endured a solitude which was doubtless +heavier to bear and more hopeless than that felt by any of the wanderers +who in early days were left upon that shore. For there is no solitude +like that of a heart which dwells alone, whose memories of the past can +bring no gladness, and whose future lies cheerless and blank before it. + +He spent his time chiefly in reading, riding on horseback, and digging +in his garden. He was fond of amusing himself with children, and would +join in all their little sports. He employed himself, also, in writing +the memoirs of his own campaigns. "Let us live on the past," he said. +But ah! what satisfaction could a view of his past life have afforded +him? Those who have lived only for this world must never expect anything +but self-reproach in reviewing the opportunities of usefulness which +they have lost, and the precious talents they have misemployed. What a +favorable opportunity, however, was afforded to Napoleon in his solitude +at St. Helena, of examining his past life. Happy would it have been for +him if he had diligently used the time thus given him in mourning for +his sins, and humbling himself for the misapplication of the vast +talents entrusted to his charge. + +[Illustration: Napoleon at St. Helena. (Page 83.)] + +That he sometimes thought of the subject of religion, indeed, is +evident, if we believe a conversation which Count Monthoton, one of his +attendants, has recorded. "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself," +Napoleon is represented to have said, "founded empires upon force! Jesus +Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of +men would die for Him. I die before my time, and my body will be given +back to the earth to become food for worms. Such is the fate which so +soon awaits him who has been called the Great Napoleon! what a +difference between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, +which is proclaimed, loved, and adored, and which is extending over the +whole earth. Call you this dying? Is it not living rather? The death of +Christ is the death of a God!" Napoleon became every day more and more +unhappy. He used to feed some fish in a pond, but they sickened and +died. "Everything that I love," said he, "leaves me: everything that +belongs to me is stricken!" + +At last the event came which released him from all his earthly sorrows. +A painful disease, called cancer in the stomach, attacked him; and, +after considerable suffering, he expired on the 5th of May, 1821. The +night of his dissolution was a terrible one; a fearful storm was raging +all around. Napoleon had, for some hours, been insensible; towards six +o'clock in the evening, however, he pronounced the words, "Head of the +Army," as if his thoughts were running on the field of battle, and +immediately afterwards his immortal spirit quitted the tabernacle of +clay in which it dwelt. Such was Napoleon's death-bed. Alas! we look in +vain upon it for that language of triumph which has so often broken from +the lips of the followers of Jesus, when passing through the dark +"valley of the shadow of death." With Napoleon's dying moments, contrast +those of an eminent saint of God, Dr. Payson. "I seem to swim in a flood +of glory," said he to some young persons, "which God pours down upon me. +And I know--I know that my happiness is but begun--I cannot doubt that +it will last for ever. My young friends, were I master of the whole +world, what could it do for me like this! Nothing, nothing. Now all this +happiness I trace back to the religion which I have preached, and to the +time when that great change took place in my heart, which, I have often +told you, is necessary to salvation;--and I now tell you again, that +without this change you cannot, no, you cannot see the kingdom of God!" + +Napoleon was buried at Longwood, in the Island of St. Helena, under a +large willow tree; but in 1840 his remains, with the consent of the +British Government, were removed to Paris, and buried with grand honors +in that city. + + + + +THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. + + +Many islands have at different times risen above the sea, which had for +long years washed over and hidden them. There are two ways in which new +islands are thus born like a fresh creation from God. + +The great volcanic force which sends out flames and ashes from the tops +of high mountains, or makes the solid earth tremble and crack, is at +work also below the bed of the sea, and from time to time islands are +raised there either slowly or by some sudden convulsion, just as we have +also reason to believe that other islands are even now sinking lower +under the influence of the same force, until, most likely, in years to +come, the waves will once more flow over them again. You must not forget +that when we talk of the forces of nature we mean really the hand of +God. He it is who sends these great convulsions, or who directs the slow +upheaving of new land. All is quite as truly the work of God as when, at +His word, the dry land first appeared. "Fire and hail, snow and vapors, +stormy wind," are all "fulfilling His word." + +Many of these islands, when first raised above the sea, must have been +active volcanoes, sending out hot from their craters the flood of lava +and the heated rocks which now lie cold and hard, and overgrown with +moss, to tell us of their past history. + +Of course, while this was going on there could be no life either of +plants or animals on the mountain, which, indeed, as yet could scarcely +be called an island, only a bare rock, around which the waves would +beat, as if in hopeless endeavor to extinguish the fire which glowed +deep in its caverned centre. But though neither waves nor storms could +make this fire die out, yet there comes a time to most of these volcanic +islands when the life and energy of the mountain seems gone, taken away, +we know not how, by the same Great Hand that lighted it, and the lonely +rock is now ready to be turned into a home for man, for this silent +crater, this hard, broken crag, will, after a time, become a fair island +home. God does not leave His works incomplete, and He has servants who +will change this desolate rock into a fertile garden. + +He sends the waves; they dash on the sides of the island, which rise +generally abrupt and strong from the deep waters, and wherever they can +find entrance they wear and powder the rock until it becomes fine soil, +and a little beach is formed. Then rains fall and fill the clefts and +hollows of the rock, and soften it at length as they wash down its face, +till here and there patches of scanty soil are formed. + +But something more than soil is needed; the most fertile land cannot of +itself produce grass or herbs; there must be a seed before even the +smallest weed can spring up, and those which float about in the air with +us, are not found on a volcanic rock far away in the sea. + +But messengers are prepared to bring them. Birds flying over the water +sometimes stoop their wings to rest awhile on the rock, and often leave +behind them seeds which they have gathered in far distant lands. At +first, perhaps, only a few small weeds are seen. These, dying in their +turn, improve the soil for their successors, until at length it can +support shrubs and undergrowth, the seeds of which are sometimes washed +on the shore by the waves, or found hidden in the clefts of some tree +which has floated to the island from a distant shore. + +Last of all arises, like a crown of beauty, the graceful cocoa-nut palm, +spreading broad leaves around its tall, slender stem, and making the +once barren rock a shady and lovely retreat. + +The island on which Alexander Selkirk lived is considered volcanic; it +is probably formed in some such manner as that which we have described. +Madeira, too, and probably St. Helena, are volcanic islands. + +Pitcairn, the history of which you are now going to read, is also +possibly of volcanic origin, and its high crags and sharp peaks seem as +if they must have been thrown up by some sudden force; but as it is in +the midst of a sea covered with coral islands, and has been supposed by +some to be itself partially formed by coral insects, it may be well that +you should hear a little of the wonderful growth of coral islands, +which, though formed so differently from those of which you have been +reading, are yet, when once their tops have risen above the waves, +clothed in the same manner with fair growth, to prepare them for the +presence of man. Tahiti, which you will hear mentioned in the story of +Pitcairn, is a coral island, and they abound in groups, in pairs, or in +single islands, through the wide Pacific Ocean. + +They are formed by myriads of tiny insects, which are connected +together, and seem to share a common life. One of these insects fastens +itself on some hidden rock; sometimes it may be on an extinct volcano +which is not lofty enough to appear above the waves, and on this +foundation they begin to build, the insect, as it shapes its cells of +coral, filling them with beings like itself, so that every tiny chamber +has its inmate. Soon the whole rock is covered below the water with a +fine network of delicate coral, and from the tops of the open cells the +insects put out their delicate _tentaculae_, or arms, which look like +the petals of a flower. By means of the food gathered from the water by +these _tentaculae_, all the coral insects are fed. + +[Illustration: Coral Island. (Page 92.)] + +Thus each one does its appointed work, laying unseen the foundations of +a new land, for the coral growth is still spreading and rising higher +and higher, till at length the waves begin to feel its resistance, and +to break in white foam around its crests. + +Its history, when it has once risen above the reach of the tides, is +like that of the volcanic islands. The insects die, and the bare grey +rock is left, that God's servants, the waves and winds, may fulfil His +will, until in His own good time the coral island becomes lovely and +fertile, fit for the dwelling-place of those who should be God's best +servants--the men whom He has made for His glory, and for whose +redemption His Son came down to die. It is sad to think how often man, +to whom God has given the most, is the least ready to use these gifts +for his Maker's glory, so that instead of these lovely islands being +always full of His praise, they are often homes of sin and of +unhappiness, as indeed it was at first with Pitcairn, the history of +which we now give. + + * * * * * + +Far away from any other land, in the midst of the South Pacific Ocean, +there is a little island, a mere speck in the sea, for it is not six +miles across at its widest point. A passing ship might leave this tiny +island unnoticed, save for the lofty cliffs and precipices which guard +its shores, running down to the white waves, ever curling and breaking +at their feet. Yet it was not a mere rock, inaccessible and barren; for +when once a boat has safely won its way through the breakers, and the +sailor has climbed the rocks which, steep above steep, stand like a wall +before him, he is rewarded by the sight of lovely valleys, of forests of +fruit-bearing palms, and of green, fresh-springing plants: a little +fairy land, a new paradise seems hidden here from the eye and the foot +of man. + +It is called Pitcairn's Island, and was discovered more than a hundred +years ago by a passing ship. It was uninhabited, and no one set foot on +it again, till in 1789 a small ship might have been seen approaching its +shores, as if she would seek an anchorage in that dangerous, rocky bay. + +The ship is called the _Bounty_, and carries for her crew nine English +seamen, and some colored men and women, natives of Tahiti, an island at +which the _Bounty_ had been recently anchored. + +There is no captain on board, though the first mate, Fletcher Christian, +seems to take his place and to direct the course of the ship; but his +words are few, and his face is sad, as if some past trouble or sin +weighed on his heart, and, when he is not obliged to be active, he sits +gazing listlessly over the water, looking for he knows not what. + +It would be a long and sad story to tell how that ship came to be thus +cruising in the wide Pacific. Months before, Fletcher Christian and some +of the sailors of the _Bounty_ had mutinied; had put their captain, who +by his harsh and unjust treatment had provoked their anger, into the +ship's launch with eighteen of the crew, leaving them thus to reach home +or to die on the ocean. + +The mutineers well knew that if they returned to England, their own +lives would pay the penalty of their crime, and therefore they +determined to spend the rest of their days on some one of the numerous +islands scattered in groups throughout the South Seas. + +But as they had begun their course by an act which they knew to be +wrong, it was not likely that their future would be happy and +prosperous; the sweet flowers of peace and content do not spring from +the bitter root of sin, "neither do men gather grapes of thorns nor figs +of thistles." + +Thus we need not wonder that trouble and dissension seemed to follow +everywhere the ill-fated crew of the _Bounty_. They quarrelled and +fought with the natives of the first island which they chose for an +asylum; they disputed among themselves, suspecting and hating each +other, as partners in sin most often do. The hearts of the leaders were +full of fear also as they thought of the laws which they had broken, and +of the fate which would be theirs should their captain reach England, +and a ship be sent out to capture them. + +At last the mutineers sailed for the Island of Tahiti, where they knew +that the inhabitants were well-disposed and gentle, and would be pleased +to welcome the white man to live among them. Fletcher Christian, +however, could not rest; he had been the leader in the mutiny, he knew +that he would be sought for, and that if found he must die, and die +covered with disgrace. + +Therefore he determined to seek out Pitcairn's Island, of the discovery +of which he had heard, and there pass the remainder of his miserable +life. Eight of his comrades decided to go with him, the rest remaining +at Tahiti, and, as we have seen, some of the Tahitian men and women +agreed to make the voyage with them, and join in the new settlement. + +[Illustration: Landing of the Mutineers on Pitcairn's Island. (Page 99.)] + +After long seeking, after cruising backwards and forwards for many days +in the sailless and shoreless ocean, the island that they sought was +seen standing high above a line of white waves, and after much +difficulty the _Bounty_ was anchored, and her boat sent on shore with +some of her crew. + +Everything of value on board was taken to the island, even the iron-work +of the ship itself being removed, and when the _Bounty_ was reduced to +an empty and useless hulk, she was set on fire and burnt to the +water-edge, that no passing ship might see any trace of inhabitants on +the lonely island where these unhappy men sought to hide themselves. + +Fletcher Christian, who had taken the command hitherto by the consent of +his companions, now proceeded to divide the whole island into nine equal +parts, one of which he gave to each of the English sailors who +accompanied him, choosing for his own portion a piece of land at the +farther end of the island, where he made for himself a retreat among the +steep rocks which overlooked the sea. + +But though the new colony was so small, it had in it all the seeds of +dissension and of unhappiness. Even these nine men, though bound +together by a common fate and by a common fear, could not agree, could +not bear with nor yield to each other in any of the little differences +or misunderstandings which arose between them from time to time. Still +less could they live in peace with the natives who had accompanied them. +They looked on these poor men and women as their slaves, and treated +them so unjustly that the Tahitians, who had at first been attached and +faithful, now determined on revenge. They were as much less guilty than +the English as they were more ignorant; they had never been taught to be +merciful, to forgive injuries, to be patient under wrongs; the blessed +name of Jesus was not familiar to their ears, nor the lessons of His +life and death to their hearts. They knew no law but that of violence +and might, and finding themselves unjustly treated by those who had +promised to be their friends, they formed a plot to put them all to +death, and so to make themselves masters of the island. + +Five out of the nine Englishmen were shot, and amongst them was their +leader, Fletcher Christian. Ever since he had come to Pitcairn's Island, +he had appeared sunk in sorrow and remorse. All day long he had remained +hidden among the rocks, away from his comrades, his eyes fastened on the +wide ocean, the barrier which he knew must now divide him for ever from +his home and from all he loved. In this solitude his companion was the +Bible, brought on shore by him from the ship. In this he was observed to +be often reading, and though we know nothing of his thoughts nor of his +prayers, it may be that God spake through His word to the heart of His +erring child, and bade him, not in vain, to seek His face once more. + +Let us hope that this Bible charged with such a blessed mission in years +to come, was sent also with a message to this desolate heart, and that +ere he died, Christian had sought and found the forgiveness which is +given through the cross of Christ our Saviour. Some sign of his +repentance may be found in a tradition handed down by the islanders, +that he had given orders that everyone on the island should repeat each +noontide the prayer of the returning and repentant prodigal: "Father, I +have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be +called thy son." + +Four white men had been saved by the interference of the Tahitian women +from the fate of their comrades, but they did not feel safe; they +believed that the men were still seeking their lives, and, as they +imagined, in self-defence, they determined to put these their enemies to +death. Thus the evil begun by the mutiny still went on from crime to +crime, seeming to grow ever deeper and wider. For the dark and terrible +story is not yet ended. Two of the four remaining Englishmen soon after +came to a violent end, while intoxicated by a drink which they had +contrived to make from some of the plants which they found on the +island, thus bringing into this lovely refuge the vice and drunkenness +which beset crowded cities. + +The sorrowful tale has hitherto been all dark, ever growing more gloomy +and hopeless; but now for the first time a faint pencil of light, like +the first streak of dawn, marks the sky, a ray which, like all true +sunshine, comes from heaven and from God. The great and loving Father +had not forgotten the children who had so long forgotten Him; this +little island, so far from the eyes of human watchers was not unseen nor +unregarded by Him. His messengers, the books which tell of Him, were +still there, though forgotten and unread; but the time was now come when +they were to speak again, and were to be heard and obeyed. + +The two remaining mutineers were a sailor named Alexander Smith, or, as +he now called himself, John Adams, and a midshipman named Edward Young. +The midshipman had been well educated, and had learnt above all, in his +childhood, the blessed lessons of God's love, and of the grace of +Christ. These lessons, too long unremembered, now came back to him. +Perhaps he thought of the days when, a young child, he had knelt at his +mother's knee, or standing by her chair, had read one by one, as her +finger slowly pointed them out, the words of the Holy Bible. + +The good seed had lain long in a barren soil, now God in His mercy sent +the rain and sunshine of His grace to cause it to spring up at last. No +sooner had Edward Young begun to desire to return to the Saviour whom he +had left, than he also wished that those around him should be taught of +His love. The helpless women and children were, he felt, a sacred charge +for him and his companion, to teach and guide. + +Accordingly morning and evening prayers were established in the island, +and a sort of school was begun for the children, John Adams being partly +a teacher, partly a scholar, and so preparing to take his comrade's work +when, a little time after this change of heart and life, Edward Young +died, and left his comrade alone on the island with his untaught charge. +He, the only one who had the key to God's book, the only one in whose +memory were stored any lessons of His truth, in whose life lay, as it +seemed, the only hope that this little colony might be saved from all +the cruelty and ignorance of savage life, and added to the number of the +servants of Christ. + + * * * * * + +Nearly twenty-five years had passed since John Adams was left on +Pitcairn's Island, the sole protector and teacher of the women, and of +the young children who were growing up around him. He was himself but a +common sailor, who had enjoyed only a few advantages of education, his +only acquirements the simple lessons which had been taught him in his +boyhood, and a new but straightforward and earnest desire to serve God +in the way which God should teach him, and in penitence and faith to +walk himself and to lead others to walk in the way that leads to +everlasting life. + +But God does not choose only the wise and the great and the strong for +His workmen: often the weak things of the world are chosen to confound +the mighty, and the poor and lowly to do the work of the High and Mighty +One who inhabiteth eternity. + +We have seen how evil passions indulged were like a seed of sin, growing +and spreading into a mighty and poisonous tree. Then there was planted +by its side, through the mercy of God, a germ of good and of life--has +that too lived and spread, or has it withered and died beneath the shade +of evil? + +Two English vessels are approaching the island. At first the crews do +not see it, but as evening draws on, the look-out man in the larger ship +gives the signal that he has caught sight of land. "Land ho, land!" +passes from mouth to mouth among the sailors. What land can it be? No +island, no rock even, is marked on the chart, and the officers gather on +deck to look over the darkening sea toward that darker point where the +new land lies. + +"We may have discovered a new island for King George," says the captain. +"We must lie to till the morning, and then we will sail nearer, and see +this unknown shore." + +The morning comes, and almost before it is day some of the officers are +on deck with their glasses, eagerly looking toward the island, which +they can now see far more plainly. Even without a glass its lofty rocks +and steep precipices can be distinguished. The ships are approaching +nearer and nearer, till now their anchors are dropped, and one of the +captains orders a boat to be prepared. + +"Though I doubt how we shall get her through the surf," he says, +ponderingly; "it is a dangerous coast, and no pilot within hail. People +there too, I see--savages. The men must go well armed. Peters, look to +the loading of the pistols." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Peters, looking, like the rest, towards the +rocks, where groups of people coming and going were to be seen. + +There was evidently great excitement on the island. A ship was a strange +and unusual sight, no doubt. + +Before the ship's boat could be launched, two men were seen to climb the +top of the steep cliff which almost overhung the narrow beach. They, +however, seemed to find no difficulty in their dangerous path, though +each carried on his shoulders a light canoe. The strangers wore some +kind of clothing, but even through the captain's glass it was impossible +to tell of what race they were. + +Dark against the clear sky, the two figures were seen for awhile to +stand gazing steadfastly toward the ship, and then bounded like goats +down the rugged face of the rock, and soon launched their canoes +fearlessly in the angry surf. + +"Haul the boat up, we'll wait and receive these natives on board," says +the captain; and in a few minutes one of the canoes was under the bows +of the ship. + +"Come alongside," shouted a sailor, trusting that his signs and gestures +would explain the meaning of his English words. + +"We have no boat-hook to hold on by," cried in answer the foremost of +their visitors. + +No words can explain the surprise with which the captain and the whole +crew listened to these words spoken in pure English by the supposed +savage. They looked at him and at each other, but no one spoke till the +eager voice was again heard from the boat. + +"Won't you heave us a rope now?" + +A sailor seized and flung one end of a coil of rope, and in a moment +their strange visitor had seized it and climbed fearlessly on deck. + +He was a tall man, young, and almost English-looking, save that his +complexion was tinged by the hot sun of his country; and his whole face +and bearing were those of an educated and civilized man. His dress was a +light vest and short trousers, while his palm-leaf hat was adorned with +a bunch of brilliant feathers. + +"Who are you?" asked the astonished captain, gazing at this strange and +unexpected apparition. + +"I am Thursday October Christian, the son of the mutineer, and there," +pointing to the other canoe, now close to the ship, "is Edward Young." + +The mystery was now explained: the ships had anchored at the island +where the mutineers, long sought in vain, had taken refuge. + +The officers crowded round their visitors, asking question after +question, of their age, the number of people on the island, their habits +and mode of life. + +"Who is your king?" they asked. + +"Why, King George, to be sure," replied Christian, quickly. + +"Have you been taught any religion?" + +"Yes," they replied, "a very good religion; that which the Bible +teaches." + +The young men were led into every part of the ship; they looked with +great interest at the many things they saw around them, the uses and +even the names of which were unknown to them, and their questions showed +much thought and intelligence. + +In the course of the morning they were led to the stalls where the +ship's cows were kept. + +"What immense goats!" cried Christian; "I did not know there were any of +such a size." + +Just then a little dog, belonging to some one on board, attracted the +attention of one of the new-comers. "I know what that is," he said, +"that is a dog, I have read of such things;" and turning to his +companion, "it is a pretty thing to look at, is it not?" + +[Illustration: The Captain's Cabin.] + +When noon came, the two guests were taken into the captain's cabin to +lunch, but before touching the food which was spread before them, they +both folded their hands, and without troubling themselves at all about +the presence of the officers, in the most simple and natural manner +asked God's blessing on all that they should eat and drink. + +Many of those who were present turned away to hide, not a smile, but a +blush of shame that they, the sons of a Christian land, should need to +be reminded of their duty to their God by these half-taught islanders. + +Lunch over, the two captains went on shore, rowed by their guests, to +whose strong and skilful hands they trusted to pilot them safely through +the dangerous surf. + +On the beach they were welcomed by more of the inhabitants, among the +rest by a young girl, the daughter of Adams, who had evidently come to +meet the English strangers in order that she might learn if her father +was in any danger from them, for John Adams was the last remaining +mutineer. Her confidence was restored by the looks and words of the two +captains, as she led them, with light step, up the steep pathway by +which alone the interior of the island could be reached. + +The captains were almost exhausted long before the top was reached, but +their guides seemed to climb as easily as the goats of their own island, +and even the girls were so sure-footed that they were able to help the +strangers up the difficult path. Arriving at the top, a new and +beautiful sight delighted their eyes--a lovely valley, rich in +fruit-bearing trees, and in cultivated fields, in the midst of which was +built an almost English-looking village, with its church and school +house, its cottages and gardens, and all that could speak of a simple, +religious home life. Here they were welcomed by the remaining +inhabitants, with Adams at their head, to whom all looked up as to their +father. Beside him stood his blind Tahitian wife, and around him were +groups of young men and girls with bright, intelligent faces, and smiles +which told of the happiness and innocence of their hearts. + +[Illustration: John Adams and his family. (Page 115.)] + +Whatever the daughter of Adams may have feared in her love for her +father, he himself did not appear afraid to receive these English +visitors to his island refuge. For he felt that as, in the sight of God, +his sin had for Christ's sake been pardoned, so in the eyes of men these +long years of penitence, and of honest endeavor after a better life, +would surely have won pardon for the sins of his youth. It was with +feelings too deep for words that he looked once more on the faces of his +countrymen and heard the English speech from other lips than those to +whom he had taught it. All the memories of early days awoke in him, and +he longed to return once more and see his native land before he died. +But as soon as those round him understood his wish, they seized his +hands, they clung around him, praying him with tears not to desert them, +not to leave his children; and Adams, much moved, promised to remain. +And indeed he would have been sorely missed had he gone, for he was the +chief authority on the island. He it was who each Sunday led the prayers +of the islanders, all assembled around him in the church which they had +built, thinking, as they joined in the words of the service, of their +unknown brethren in the great country beyond the seas. He it was who +explained week by week the words of the Bible to his listening +companions, taught the children, and married the young people. + +It was to Adams that every dispute was referred; all those slight +disagreements which spring up from time to time, but which with the +islanders were never, as they said, more than word-of-mouth quarrels, +and always ended before set of sun. + +The captains, though anxious to linger awhile in this island home, were +obliged to leave next day, and they departed amid the regrets and +farewells of these simple-hearted, affectionate people, a people +Christian in heart as well as in name,--sincere, modest, pure, and +unselfish, whose life seemed to be fashioned on the words of God's Book, +"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things +of others." + +And all this peace and happiness has sprung, under the blessing of God, +from the seeds of His truth sown long, long years before in the hearts +of two English sailors, and from the power of His truth in His written +word, and in the teaching of His Spirit. + + + + +NORFOLK ISLAND. + + +Far distant from the many other islands with which the Southern Pacific +Ocean is studded, one stands alone, rich in natural beauty, and with a +climate almost unrivalled. + +This lovely island was visited by Captain Cook in 1774, and named by him +Norfolk Island; it was then uninhabited, and neither the vegetable nor +the animal world had been disturbed. For about two hundred yards from +the shore, the ground was covered so thickly with shrubs and plants as +scarcely to be penetrable further inland. The account given by Cook led +to an attempt at settlement on Norfolk Island; but this was attended +with difficulty. The island is small, being only about six miles in +length by four in breadth; and was therefore unavailable for a large or +increasing population. Lying nine hundred miles from Port Jackson, in +Australia, it was inconveniently remote from that country; and, worst of +all, its cliffy and rocky shores presented serious dangers to mariners +attempting a landing. Its general unsuitableness, however, for ordinary +colonization, was considered to adapt it as a penal settlement, +subordinate to New South Wales, and to which convicts could be sent who +merited fresh punishment while in course of servitude. Thus, one of the +lovliest of earthly paradises was doomed to be a receptacle for the very +worst of malefactors. It was imagined that the beauty of Norfolk Island, +and the fineness of its climate, would greatly tend to soothe the +depraved minds of its unhappy tenants, and reconcile them to compulsory +expatriation; but such was not the case: the feeling uppermost in the +minds of the convicts was to make their escape; and this, along with +other circumstances, caused the island, after a time, to be abandoned as +a penal settlement. The narrative that follows may be relied upon as a +true relation of facts, and will, it is hoped, afford warning to such as +may be tempted to go astray, and deeply impress those who may be on the +verge of crime, with the danger of their situation, by showing them that +a course of error is a course of misery, ending in consequences the most +afflicting. + +"On the northern side of Norfolk Island, the cliffs rise high, and are +crowned by woods, in which the elegant whitewood and gigantic pine +predominate. A slight indentation of the land affords a somewhat +sheltered anchorage-ground, and an opening in the cliffs has supplied a +way to the beach by a winding road at the foot of the dividing hills. A +stream of water, collected from many ravines, finds its way by a similar +opening to a ledge of rock in the neighborhood, and, falling over in +feathery spray, has given the name of Cascade to this part of the +island. Off this bay, on the morning of the 21st of June, 1842, the brig +_Governor Philip_ was sailing, having brought stores for the use of the +penal establishment. It was one of those bright mornings which this +hemisphere alone knows, when the air is so elastic that its buoyancy is +irresistibly communicated to the spirits. At the foot of the cliff, near +a group of huge fragments of rock fallen from the overhanging cliffs, a +prisoner was sitting close to the sea preparing food for his companions, +who had gone off to the brig the previous evening with ballast, and who +were expected to return at daylight with a load of stores. The surface +of the sea was smooth, and the brig slowly moved on upon its soft blue +waters. Everything was calm and still, when suddenly a sharp but distant +sound as of a gun was heard. The man, who was stooping over the fire +started on his feet, and looked above and around him, unable to +distinguish the quarter from whence the report came. Almost immediately, +he heard the sound repeated, and then distinctly perceived smoke curling +from the vessel's side. His fears were at once excited. Again he +listened; but all was hushed, and the brig still stood steadily in +towards the shore. Nearer and nearer, she approached; until, alarmed for +her safety, the man ran to summon the nearest officer. By the time they +returned, the vessel had wore, and was standing off from the land; but +while they remained in anxious speculation as to the cause of all this, +the firing was renewed on board, and it was evident that some deadly +fray was going on. At length a boat was seen to put off from the brig, +and upon its reaching the shore, the worst fears of the party were +realized. The misguided prisoners on board had attempted to seize the +vessel. They were but twelve in number, unarmed, and guarded by twelve +soldiers, and a crew of eighteen men; yet they had succeeded in gaining +possession of the vessel, and held it for a time, but had been finally +overpowered, and immediate help was required for the wounded and dying. + +"June 21, 1842.--My duty as a clergyman called me to the scene of blood. +When I arrived on the deck of the brig, it exhibited a frightful +spectacle. My heart sickened at the extent of the carnage; and I was +almost sinking with the faintness it produced, when I was roused by a +groan so full of anguish and pain, that for a long time afterwards its +echo seemed to reach me. I found that it came from a man lying further +forward, on whose face the death-dew was standing, yet I could perceive +no wound. Upon questioning him, he moved his hand from his breast, and I +then perceived that a ball had pierced his chest, and could distinctly +hear the air rushing from his lungs through the orifice it had left. I +tore away the shirt, and endeavored to hold together the edges of the +wound until it was bandaged. I spoke to him of prayer, but he soon grew +insensible, and within a short time died in frightful agony. In every +part of the vessel, evidences of the attempt which had ended so fatally +presented themselves, and the passions of the combatants were still +warm. After attending to those who required immediate assistance, I +received the following account of the affair: + +"The prisoners had slept the previous night in a part of the vessel +appropriated for this purpose; but it was without fastening or other +means of securing them below. Two sentries were, however, placed over +the hatchway. The prisoners occasionally came on deck during the night, +for their launch was towing astern, and the brig was standing off and on +until the morning. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the men +were called to work. Two of them were up some time before the rest. They +were struck by the air of negligence which was evident on deck, and +instantly communicated the fact to one or two others. The possibility of +capturing the brig had often been discussed by the prisoners, among +their many other wild plans for escaping from the island, and recently +had been often proposed by them. The thought was told by their looks, +and soon spread from man to man. A few moments were enough; one or two +were roused from sleep, and the intention was hurriedly communicated to +them. It was variously received. One of them distrusted the leader, and +entreated his companions to desist from so mad an attempt. It was +useless; the frenzied thirst for liberty had seized them, and they were +maddened by it. Within a few minutes, they were all on deck; and one of +the leaders rushing at the sentry nearest to him, endeavored to wrest +from him his pistols, one of which had flashed in the pan as he rapidly +presented it, and threw him overboard; but he was subsequently saved. +The arms of the other sentry were demanded, and obtained from him +without resistance. A scuffle now took place with two other soldiers who +were also on the deck, but not on duty, during which one of them jumped +over the vessel's side, and remained for some time in the main-chains; +but upon the launch being brought alongside, he went down into it. The +other endeavored to swim ashore (for by this time the vessel was within +a gun's shot of the rocks;) but, encumbered by his great coat, he was +seen, when within a few strokes of the rock, to raise his hands, and +uttering a faint cry to Heaven for mercy, he instantly sunk. In the +meanwhile, the sergeant in charge of the guard hearing a scuffling +overhead, ran upon deck, and seeing some of the mutineers struggling +with the sentry, shot the nearest of them dead on the spot. He had no +sooner done so than he received a blow on the head, which rendered him +for some time insensible. Little or no resistance was offered by the +sailors; they ran into the forecastle, and the vessel was in the hands +of the mutineers. All the hatches were instantly fastened down, and +every available thing at hand piled upon them. But now, having secured +their opponents, the mutineers were unable to work the brig; they +therefore summoned two of the sailors from below, and placed one of them +at the wheel, while the other was directed to assist in getting the +vessel off. The cockswain, a free man in charge of the prisoners, had at +the first onset taken to the rigging, and remained in the maintop with +one of the men who refused to join in the attack. At this moment, a +soldier who had gone overboard and endeavored to reach the shore, had +turned back, and was seen swimming near the vessel. Woolfe, one of the +convicts, immediately jumped into the boat alongside, and saved him. +Whilst this was the state of things above, the soldiers had forced their +way into the captain's cabin, and continued to fire through the gratings +overhead as often as any of the mutineers passed. In this manner several +of them received wounds. To prevent a continuance of this, a kettle of +hot water was poured from above; and shortly afterwards, a proposal was +made to the captain from the prisoners to leave the vessel in the +launch, provided he handed up to them the necessary supplies. This he +refused; and then all the sailors were ordered from below into the +launch, with the intention of sending them ashore. Continuing to watch +for the ring-leaders, the captain caught a glimpse of one of them +standing aft, and, as he supposed, out of reach. He mounted the cabin +table, and, almost at a venture, fired through the woodwork in the +direction he supposed the man to be standing. The shot was fatal; the +ball struck him in the mouth, and passed through his brain. Terrified at +the death of their comrades, the remainder were panic-struck, and +instantly ran below. One of the leaders sprung over the taffrail, and +eventually reached the launch. The sailor at the wheel, now seeing the +deck almost cleared, beckoned up the captain, and without an effort, the +vessel was again in their possession. In the confusion, a soldier, who +had been in the boat, and was at this moment with the sailors returning +on deck, was mistaken for one of the mutineers, and shot by the +sergeant. The prisoners were now summoned from their place of +concealment. They begged hard for mercy; and upon condition of their +quietly surrendering, it was promised to them. As the first of them, in +reliance upon this assurance, was gaining the deck, by some unhappy +error, he received a ball in his thigh, and fell back again. The rest +refused to stir; but after a few moments' hesitation, another of them +ventured up, was taken aft by the captain, and secured. A third +followed, and, as he came up, he extended his arms and cried: "I +surrender; spare me." Either this motion was mistaken by the soldiers, +or some of them were unable to restrain their passion, for at this +instant the man's head was literally blown off. The captain hastened to +the spot, and received the others, who were secured without further +injury. + +"When we reached the vessel, the dying, dead, and wounded, were lying in +every direction. In the launch astern, we saw the body of one wretched +man who had leaped over the taffrail, and reached the boat badly +wounded; he was seen lying in it when the deck was regained, and was +then pierced through with many balls. Nothing could be more horrible +than his appearance; the distortion of every feature, his clenched +hands, and the limbs which had stiffened in the forms of agony into +which pain had twisted them, were appalling. The countenance of every +man on board bore evidence of the nature of the deadly conflict in which +he had been engaged. In some, sullenness had succeeded to reckless +daring, and exultation to alarm in others. + +"Nothing could have been more desperate than such an attempt to seize +the vessel. The most culpable neglect could alone have encouraged it; +and it is difficult to conceive how it could have succeeded, if anything +like a proper stand had been made by those in charge of her when it +commenced. + +"The wounded were immediately landed, and conveyed to the hospital, and +the dead bodies were afterwards brought on shore. + +"The burial ground is close to the beach. A heavy surf rolls mournfully +over the reef. The moon had just risen, when, in deep and solemn +silence, the bodies of these misguided men were lowered into the graves +prepared for them. Away from home and country, they had found a fearful +termination of a miserable existence. Perhaps ties had still bound them +to the world; friends whom they loved were looking for their return, +and, prodigals though they had been, would have blessed them, and +forgiven their offences. Perhaps even at that sad moment, mothers were +praying for their lost ones, whom in all their infamy they had still +fondly loved. Such thoughts filled my mind; and when a few drops of rain +at that moment descended, I could not help thinking that they fell as +tears from heaven over the guilt and misery of its children. + +"On the morning following the fatal occurrence, I visited the jail in +which the mutineers were confined. The cells were small, but clean and +light. In the first of them, I found George Beavers, Nicholas Lewis, and +Henry Sears. Beavers was crouching in one corner of the cell, and +looking sullen, and in despair. Lewis, who was walking the scanty space +of the cell, seemed to glory in the rattle of his heavy chains; while +Sears was stretched, apparently asleep, upon a grass mat. They were all +heavily ironed, and every precaution had evidently been taken to prevent +escape. + +"In the other cell I found Woolfe and Barry, the latter in much agony +from an old wound in the leg, the pain of which had been aggravated by +the heavy irons which galled it. All the prisoners except Barry and +Woolfe, readily acknowledged their participation in the attempt to seize +the brig, but most solemnly denied any knowledge of a preconcerted plan +to take her; or that they at least had attempted to throw the soldiers +overboard. They were unwilling to be interrupted, and inveighed in the +bitterest manner against some of their companions who had, they seemed +to think, betrayed them, or at least had led them on, and at the moment +of danger had flinched. + +"The names of the surviving mutineers were John Jones, Nicholas Lewis, +Henry Sears, George Beavers, James Woolfe, Thomas Whelan, and Patrick +Barry. + +"The depositions against them having been taken, all the men I have +mentioned, with the exception of Jones and Whelan, who were wounded, +were brought out to hear them read. They listened with calm attention, +but none of them appeared to be much excited. Once only during the +reading, Beavers passionately denied the statements made by one of the +witnesses present, and was with difficulty silenced. His countenance at +that moment was terribly agitated; every bad feeling seemed to mingle in +its passionate expression. They were all young, powerful, and, with one +or two exceptions, not at all ill-looking men. + +"From the jail I proceeded to the hospital, where the wounded men were +lying. They had each received severe wounds in the thigh, and were in +great agony. The violence of Jones was excessive. Weakened in some +degree by the loss of blood, the bitterness of his spirit nevertheless +exhibited itself in passionate bursts of impatience. He was occasionally +convulsed with excessive pain; for the nerves of the thigh had been much +lacerated, and the bone terribly shattered. His features were distorted +with pain and anger, and occasionally bitter curses broke from his lips; +yet there was something about his appearance which powerfully arrested +my attention--an evident marking of intellect and character, repulsive +in its present development, yet in many respects remarkable. His history +had been a melancholy one, and, as illustrative of many thousand others, +I give it as I afterwards received it from his lips. + +"At eleven years of age, he was employed in a warehouse in Liverpool as +an errand-boy. While following this occupation, from which, by +good-conduct, he might have risen to something better, he was met in the +street one day by the lad whom he had succeeded in this employment, and +was told by him how he might obtain money by robbing the warehouse, and +then go with him to the theatre. He accordingly took an opportunity of +stealing some articles which had been pointed out, and gave them to his +companion, who, in disposing of them, was detected, and of course +criminated Jones. After remaining some weeks in jail, Jones was tried, +and acquitted; but his character being now gone, he became reckless, and +commenced a regular career of depredation. In attempting another +warehouse robbery, he was detected, and sentenced to twelve months' +imprisonment. By the time he was released from this, he was well tutored +in crime, and believed that he could now adroitly perform the same +robbery in which he had previously failed. He made the attempt the very +night of his release from jail, and with temporary success. Subsequently, +however, he was detected, and received sentence of transportation for +seven years. He underwent this sentence, and an additional one in Van +Diemen's Land, chiefly at Port Arthur, the most severe of the penal +stations there. From this place he, with Lewis, Moss (who was shot on +board the brig), and Woolfe, having seized a whale-boat, effected their +escape. During three months, they underwent the most extreme hardships +from hunger and exposure. Once they had been without food for several +days, and their last hook was over the boat's side; they were anxiously +watching for a fish. A small blue shark took the bait, and in despair one +of them dashed over the boat's side to seize the fish; his leg was caught +by one of the others, and they succeeded in saving both man and hook. +They eventually reached Twofold Bay, on the coast of New South Wales, and +were then apprehended, conveyed to Sydney, and thence sent back to Van +Diemen's Land; tried, and received sentence of death; but this was +subsequently commuted to transportation for life to Norfolk Island. + +"Jones often described to me the intense misery he had undergone during +his career. He had never known what freedom was, and yet incessantly +longed for it. All alike confessed the unhappiness of their career. Having +made the first false step into crime, they acknowledged that their minds +became polluted by the associations they formed during imprisonment. Then +they were further demoralized by thinking of the _glory_--such miserable +glory!--attending a trial; and the hulks and the voyage out gave them a +finished criminal training. The extent of punishment many of them have +undergone during the period of transportation is almost incredible. I have +known men whose original sentence of seven years has been extended over +three times that period, and who, in addition to other punishment, have +received five thousand or six thousand lashes! + +"After many solemn interviews with the mutineers, I found them gradually +softening. They became more communicative, and extremely anxious to +receive instruction. I think I shall never forget one of the earliest of +these visits to them. I first saw Sears, Beavers, and Jones. After a +long and interesting conversation with them, we knelt together, and I +offered prayer. When we arose, I perceived that each of them had been +shedding tears. It was the first time I had seen them betray any such +emotion, and I cannot tell how glad I felt; but when I proceeded +afterwards to read to them the first chapter of Isaiah, I had scarcely +uttered that most exquisite passage in the second verse--"I have +nourished and brougth up children, and they have rebelled against +me,"--when the claims of God, and _their_ violation and rejection of +them; His forbearance, and _their_ ingratitude, appeared to overwhelm +them; they sobbed aloud, and were thoroughly overpowered. + +"For a considerable time we talked together of the past, the wretched +years they had endured, the punishments, and the crimes which had led to +them, until they seemed to feel most keenly the folly of their sad +career. We passed on to contrast the manner in which their lives had +been spent, with what God and society required from them; their +miserable preversion of God's gifts, with the design for which He gave +them, until we were led on to speak of hope and of faith; of Him who +"willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from +his wickedness and live;" and then the Saviour's remonstrance seemed to +arrest them--"Ye will not come to me that ye might have life;" until at +length the influences of the Holy Spirit were supplicated with +earnestness and solemnity. These instructions and such conversations +were daily repeated; and henceforth each time I saw them, I perceived a +gradual but distinct unfolding of the affections and the understanding. + +"August.--The wounded men are much recovered, and the whole of the +mutineers are now confined together in a large ward of the jail. They +have long received extreme kindness from the commandant, and are +literally bewildered at finding that even this last act has not +diminished the exercise of his benevolence. That anybody should care for +them, or take such pains about them after their violent conduct excited +surprise at first almost amounting to suspicion; but this at length gave +place to the warmest gratitude. They were, in fact, subdued by it. They +read very much, are extremely submissive, and carefully avoid the +slightest infringement of the prison regulations. At first, all this was +confined to the three men I have mentioned; but their steady consistency +of conduct, and the strange transformation of character, so evident in +them, gradually arrested the attention of the others, and eventually led +to a similar result. + +"They will be detained here until the case has been decided by the +authorities in Sydney. They will probably be tried by a commission sent +from thence to the island for the purpose. Formerly, however, prisoners +charged with capital offences here were sent up for trial; but (it is a +horrible fact) this was found to lead to so much crime, that, at much +inconvenience and expense, it was found absolutely necessary to send +down a judicial commission on each important occasion, in order to +prevent it. The mere excitement of a voyage, with the chances connected +with it, nay, merely a wish to get off the island even for a time, led +many men to commit crimes of the deepest dye in order to be sent to +Sydney for trial. + +"Two months, therefore, at least must intervene between the perpetration +of the offence and their trial; and this interval is usually employed in +similar cases in arranging a defence but too commonly supported by +perjury. In the present instance, I found not the slightest attempt to +follow such a course. They declare that they expect death, and will +gladly welcome it. Of their life, which has been a course of almost +constant warfare with society, ending in remorseful feelings, they were +all thoroughly weary, although only one of them exceeds thirty years of +age. + +"In addition to the ordinary services, Captain Maconochie, each Sunday +afternoon has read prayers to them, and has given permission to a few of +their friends to be present. Singular good has resulted from it, both to +the men and those who join in their devotions. At the conclusion of one +of these services, Sears stood up, and with his heart so full as +scarcely to allow him utterance, to the surprise of every person there, +he addressed most impressively the men who were present. 'Perhaps,' said +he, 'the words of one of yourselves, unhappily circumstanced as I am, +may have some weight with you. You all know the life I have led; it has, +believe me, been a most unhappy one; and I have, I hope not too late, +discovered the cause of this. I solemnly tell you that it is because I +have broken God's laws. I am almost ashamed to speak, but I dare not be +silent. I am going to tell you a strange thing. I never before was +happy; I begin now, for the first time in my life, to _hope_. I am an +ignorant man, or at least I was so; but I thank God I begin to see +things in their right light now. I have been unhappily placed from my +childhood, and have endured many hardships. I do not mention this to +excuse my errors; yet if I had years since received the kindness I have +done here, it might have been otherwise. My poor fellows, do turn over a +new leaf; try to serve God, and you, too, will be happier for it.' The +effect was most thrilling; there was a deathlike silence; tears rolled +down many cheeks, which I verily believe never before felt them; and +without a word more, all slowly withdrew. + +"This man's story is also a common, but painful one. At fifteen years of +age, he was transported for life as an accomplice in an assault and +alleged robbery, of which, from circumstances which have since +transpired, I have little doubt he was entirely innocent. During a long +imprisonment on Horsham jail, he received an initiation in crime, which +was finished during the outward voyage. Upon his arrival in New South +Wales, he was assigned to a settler in the interior, a notoriously hard +and severe man, who gave him but a scanty supply of food and clothing, +and whose aim seemed to be to take the utmost out of him at the least +possible expense. Driven at length to desperation, he, with three +fellow-servants, absconded; and when taken, made a complaint to the +magistrate, before whom they were brought almost without clothes. Their +statements were found to be literally correct; but for absconding, they +were sent to New Castle, one of the penal stations of New South Wales, +where Sears remained nearly two years. At the expiration of that time, +he was again assigned, but unfortunately to a man, if possible, worse +than his former employer, and again absconded. For this offence, he was +sent to Moreton Bay, another penal settlement, and endured three years +of horrible severity, starvation, and misery of every kind. His temper +was by this time much soured; and, roused by the conduct of the +overseers, he became brutalized by constant punishment for resisting +them. After this, he was sent to Sydney, as one of the crew in the +police-boat, of which he was soon made assistant cockswain. For not +reporting a theft committed by one of the men under his charge, he was +sentenced to a road-party; and attempting to escape from it, he was +apprehended, and again ordered to Moreton Bay for four years more. There +he was again repeatedly flogged for disobedience and resistance of +overseers, as well as attempting to escape; but having most courageously +rendered assistance to a vessel wrecked off the harbor, he attracted the +attention of the commandant, who afterwards shewed him a little favor. +This was the first approach to kindness he had known since when, years +before, he had left his home, and had its usual influence. He was never +again in a scrape there. His good-conduct induced the commandant to +recommend him for a mitigation of sentence, which he received, and he +was again employed in the police-boat. The free cockswain of the boat +was, however, a drunkard, and intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes he +roused the men by his violence, but Sears contrived to subdue his +passion. At length, one night, returning to the hut, drunk, the man +struck at one of the crew with his cutlass, and the rest resisted and +disarmed him. But the morning came; the case was heard; their story was +disbelieved; and upon the charge and evidence of the aggressor, they +were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the public roads. When Sears +again became eligible for assignment, a person whom he had known in +Sydney applied for him. The man must be removed within a fixed period +after the authority is given. In this case, application was made a day +beyond the prescribed time, and churlishly refused. The disappointment +roused a spirit so untutored as his, and once again he absconded; was of +course apprehended, tried, and being found with a man who had committed +a robbery, and had a musket in his possession, was sent to Norfolk +Island for life. This sentence has, however, for meritorious conduct, +been reduced to fourteen years; and his ready assistance during a fire +which recently broke out in the military garrison here, might possibly +have helped to obtain a still further reduction. He never, during those +abscondings, was absent for any long period, and never committed any act +of violence. His constant attempt seems to have been to reach Sydney, in +order to effect his escape from the scene of so much misery. + +"For some time past, I have noticed his quiet and orderly conduct, and +was really sorry when I found him concerned in this unhappy affair. His +desire for freedom was, however, most ardent, and a chance of obtaining +it was almost irresistible. He has since told me that a few words kindly +spoken to himself and others by Captain Maconochie when they landed, +sounded so pleasantly to him--such are his own words--that he determined +from that moment he would endeavor to do well. He assures me that he was +perfectly unconscious of a design to take the brig, until awakened from +his sleep a few minutes before the attack commenced; that he then +remonstrated with the men; but finding it useless, he considered it a +point of honor not to fail them. His anxiety for instruction is intense; +he listens like a child; and his gratitude is most touching. He, +together with Jones, Woolfe, and Barry, were chosen by the commandant as +a police-boat's crew; and had, up to this period, acted with great +steadiness and fidelity in the discharge of the duties required from +them. Nor do I think they would even now, tempting as the occasion was, +have thought of seizing it, had it not been currently reported that they +were shortly to be placed under a system of severity such as they had +already suffered so much from. + +"Woolfe's story of himself is most affecting. He entered upon evil +courses when very young; was concerned in burglaries when only eleven +years of age. Yet this was from no natural love of crime. Enticed from +his home by boys older than himself, he soon wearied of the life he led, +and longed to return to his home and his kind mother. Oftentimes he +lingered near the street she lived in. Once he had been very unhappy, +for he had seen his brother and sister that day pass near him, and it +had rekindled all his love for them. They appeared happy in their +innocence; he was miserable in his crime. He now determined to go home +and pray to be forgiven. The evening was dark and wet, and as he entered +the court in which his friends lived, his heart failed him, and he +turned back; but, unable to resist the impulse, he again returned, and +stole under the window of the room. A rent in the narrow curtain enabled +him to see within. His mother sat by the fire, and her countenance was +so sad, that he was sure she thought of him; but the room looked so +comfortable, and the whole scene was so unlike the place in which he had +lately lived, that he could no longer hesitate. He approached the door; +the latch was almost in his hand, when shame and fear, and a thousand +other vile and foolish notions, held him back; and the boy who in +another moment might have been happy--_was lost_. He turned away, and I +believe he has never seen them since. Going on in crime, he in due +course of time was transported for robbery. His term of seven years +expired in Van Diemen's Land. Released from forced servitude, he went a +whaling-voyage, and was free nearly two years. Unhappily, he was then +charged with aiding in a robbery, and again received a sentence of +transportation. He was sent to Port Arthur, there employed as one of the +boat's crew, and crossing the bay one day with a commissariat-officer, +the boat was capsized by a sudden squall. In attempting to save the life +of the officer, he was seized by his dying grasp, and almost perished +with him; but extricating himself, he swam back to the boat. Seeing the +drowning man exhausted, and sinking, he dashed forward again, diving +after him, and happily succeeded in saving his life. For this honorable +act, he would have received a remission of sentence; but ere it could +arrive, he and five others made their escape. He had engaged with these +men in the plan to seize the boat, and although sure of the success of +the application in his favor, he could not now draw back. The result I +have already shewn. There were two more men concerned in the mutiny, +who, with those I have mentioned, and those killed on board the brig, +made up the number of the boat's crew. But neither of these men came +under my charge, being both Roman Catholics. + +"At length the brig, which had been despatched with an account of the +affair, returned, and brought the decision of the governor of New South +Wales. He had found it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to obtain +fitting members for the commission, who would be willing to accept the +terms proposed by the government, or trust themselves in this dreadful +place, and therefore he had determined that the prisoners should be sent +up for trial. The men were sadly disappointed at this arrangement. They +wished much to end their days here, and they dreaded both the voyage and +the distracting effect of new scenes. They cling, too, with grateful +attachment to the commandant's family, and the persons who, during their +long imprisonment, had taken so strong an interest in their welfare. I +determined to accompany them, and watch for their perseverance in +well-doing, that I might counsel and strengthen them under the fearful +ordeal I could not doubt they would have to pass. + +"The same steady consistency marked the conduct of these men to the +moment of their embarkation. There was a total absence of all +excitement; one deep, serious feeling seemed to possess them, and its +solemnity was communicated to all of us. They spoke and acted as men +standing on the confines of the unseen world, and who not only thought +of its wonders, but, better still, seemed to have caught something of +its spirit and purity. + +"November.--The voyage up was a weary, and, to the prisoners, a very +trying one. In a prison on the lower deck of a brig of one hundred and +eighty-two tons, fifty-two men were confined. The place itself was about +twenty feet square, of course, low, and badly ventilated. The men were +all ironed, and fastened to a heavy chain rove through iron rings let +into the deck, so that they were unable, for any purpose, to move from +the spot they occupied; scarcely, indeed, to lie down. The weather was +also unfavorable. The vessel tossed and pitched most fearfully during a +succession of violent squalls, accompanied by thunder and lightning. I +cannot describe the wretchedness of these unhappy convicts; sick, and +surrounded by filth, they were huddled together in the most disgusting +manner. The heat was at times unbearable. There were men of sixty--quiet +and inoffensive old men--placed with others who were as accomplished +villains as the world could produce. These were either proceeding to +Sydney, their sentences on the island having expired, or as witnesses in +another case (a bold and wicked murder) sent there also for trial. The +sailors on board the brig were for the most part the cowardly fellows +who had so disgracefully allowed the brig to be taken from them; and +they, as well as the soldiers on guard (some of them formed a part of +the former one), had no very kindly feeling towards the mutineers. It +may be imagined, therefore, that such feelings occasioned no alleviation +of their condition. In truth, although there was no actual cruelty +exhibited, they suffered many oppressive annoyances; yet I never saw +more patient endurance. It was hard to bear, but their better principles +prevailed. Upon the arrival of the vessel in Sydney, we learned that the +case had excited an unusual interest. Crowds assembled to catch a +glimpse of the men as they landed; and while some applauded their +daring, the great majority very loudly expressed their horror at the +crime of which they stood accused. + +"I do not think it necessary to describe the trial, which took place in +a few days after landing. All were arraigned except Barry. The +prisoners' counsel addressed the jurors with powerful eloquence; but it +was in vain: the crime was substantiated; and the jury returned a +verdict of guilty against all of the prisoners, recommending Woolfe to +mercy. + +"During the whole trial, the prisoners' conduct was admirable; so much +so, indeed, as to excite the astonishment of the immense crowd collected +by curiosity to see men who had made so mad an attempt for liberty. They +scarcely spoke, except once to request that the wounded man, who yet +suffered much pain, might be allowed to sit down. Judgment was deferred +until the following day. When they were then placed at the bar, the +judge, in the usual manner, asked whether they had any reason to urge +why sentence should not be pronounced upon them. It was a moment of deep +solemnity; every breath was held; and the eyes of the whole court were +directed towards the dock. Jones spoke in a deep, clear voice, and in a +deliberate harangue pointed out some defects in the evidence, though +without the slightest hope, he said, of mitigating the sentence now to +be pronounced on himself and fellows. Three of the others also spoke. +Whelan said, 'that he was not one of the men properly belonging to the +boat's crew, but had been called upon to fill the place of another man, +and had no knowledge of any intention to take the vessel, and the part +he took on board was forced upon him. He was compelled to act as he had +done; he had used no violence, nor was he in any way a participator in +any that had been committed.' At the conclusion of the address to them, +Jones, amidst the deep silence of the court, pronounced a most emphatic +prayer for mercy on his own soul, and those of his fellow-prisoners, for +the judge and jury, and finally for the witnesses. Sentence of death was +then solemnly pronounced upon them all; but the judge informed Woolfe +that he might hold out to him expectations that his life would be +spared. They were then removed from the bar, and sent back to the +condemned cells. + +"I cannot say how much I dreaded my interview with them that day; for +although I had all along endeavored to prepare their minds for the worst +result, and they had themselves never for a moment appeared to expect +any other than this, I feared that the realization of their sad +expectation would break them down. Hitherto, there might have been some +secret hope sustaining them. The convulsive clinging to life, so common +to all of us, would now, perhaps, be more palpably exhibited. + +"Entering their cells, I found them, as I feared, stunned by the blow +which had now fallen on them, and almost overpowered by mental and +bodily exhaustion. A few remarks about the trial were at length made by +them; and from that moment I never heard them refer to it again. There +was no bitterness of spirit against the witnesses, no expression of +hostility towards the soldiers, no equivocation in any explanation they +gave. They solemnly denied many of the statements made against them; +but, nevertheless, the broad fact remained, that they were guilty of an +attempt to violently seize the vessel, and it was useless debating on +minor considerations. + +"In the meantime, without their knowledge, petitions were prepared and +forwarded to the judges, the governor and executive council. In them +were stated various mitigatory facts in their favor; and the meliorated +character of the criminal code at home was also strongly urged. Every +attention was paid to these addresses, following each other to the last +moment. But all was in vain. The council sat, and determined that five +of the men should be hanged on the following Tuesday. Whelan, who could +have no previous knowledge of a plan to seize the vessel, together with +Woolfe, was spared. The remaining four were to suffer. The painful +office of communicating this final intelligence to these men was +intrusted to me, and they listened to the announcement not without deep +feeling, but still with composure. + +"It would be very painful for me to dwell on the closing scene. The +unhappy and guilty men were attended by the zealous chaplain of the +jail, whose earnest exhortations and instructions they most gratefully +received. The light of truth shone clearly on the past, and they felt +that their manifold lapses from the path of virtue had been the original +cause of the complicated misery they had endured. They entreated +forgiveness of all against whom they had offended, and in the last words +to their friends, were uttered grateful remembrances to Captain +Maconochie, his family, and others. At the place of execution, they +behaved with fortitude and a composure befitting the solemnity of the +occasion. Having retired from attendance upon them in their last +moments, I was startled from the painful stupor which succeeded in my +own mind, by the loud and heavy bound of the drop as it fell, and told +me that their spirits had gone to God who gave them." + +Since the foregoing narrative was written, the treatment of convicts has +undergone considerable change, government having found the experiment of +transporting the worse class of criminals from New South Wales to +Norfolk Island to be a failure. The penal settlement was therefore +broken up in 1855, and convicts are now confined in different +establishments in the United Kingdom, where, without subjecting them to +absolute silence or solitude, they are separated from the contaminating +society of each other. Under the present system, it is a fixed principle +never to allow, if at all possible, the punishment--while it may be made +to any extent disagreeable--to injure either the body or the mind. + + + + +THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. + + +It was at the time Queen Anne began to reign, and her ships were +carrying the English flag into all seas, for commerce, for discovery, or +for war, when one of these vessels, called the _Clinque Ports_, put in +to refit at the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, on the west coast +of South America. + +It was but a small island, though fertile and pleasant; it had not been +tilled or planted, neither had any place of shelter been built upon it, +but sometimes two or three sick sailors had been left there to recover +health, and sometimes a passing ship would put in for water, and +departing leave one or two of their live-stock on the island. It had +thus become stocked with goats, which ran wild about the hills and +craggy rocks, free from any danger of pursuit and capture. + +This was not the first time that the _Clinque Ports_ had touched at Juan +Fernandez, for not long before she had left there two seamen who were +unable to continue their voyage, and now she had anchored to reship +these men, to take in water, and to refit for the long and perilous +voyage to the English shore. + +The two seamen, coming on board, told strange stories to their comrades +of the pleasant life they had led on the island, of the hunt for goats, +of the abundance of shell-fish, of the delicious fruits and vegetables, +and of the cool waters of the place. + +Of all the eager listeners to these tales of plenty and delight, there +was one who never failed to fasten on each word that was said, and by +constant questioning, to learn every detail of the life on the green +island which lay before them. This sailor was a Scotsman, named +Alexander Selkirk or Selcraig. He was of an impatient, overbearing +temper, and no favorite with his captain, who was not wise enough to +discern the good sense and honesty which lay hidden under his rough and +uncourteous manner. Thus it chanced that the Scotch Sailor was often in +trouble and disgrace, and resenting bitterly a harshness he did not +think he had deserved, he began to long to leave the ship at any cost. + +But perhaps the beginning of his misery and discomfort must be sought +farther back in his life. His surly speech, his unsocial temper, spoke +of a mind ill at ease,--the remembrance of the past made the present +sad. + +He had been religiously and strictly brought up by his father, a Scotch +Puritan, but he had broken loose from the restraints which his parents +sought to throw around him, and had led, if not a vicious, at least an +irreligious life, without thought of God, or of the lessons of truth and +goodness which he had been taught. Yet his conscience was not so +hardened that he could be happy in this neglect of God, and he felt ill +at ease, dissatisfied with himself, and with all around him. + +He shrank, too, from the prospect of the voyage to England in a vessel +but half repaired, exaggerating to his own mind the perils before him, +and fearful of his own temper with his hard and prejudiced commander. + +Weighing all these things, he determined on asking the captain to set him +on shore, that he might wait at Juan Fernandez the passing of some other +ship in which he might return home. The captain agreed to this proposal +willingly enough, glad to dismiss from his crew so insubordinate a +sailor; and just before the _Clinque Ports_ was about to weigh anchor, +the adventurous seaman was sent on shore with the few things that +belonged to him. He sprang from the boat almost before her keel had +grazed the sand, wishing to appear gay and brave to his companions; but +no sooner did the splash of oars begin to grow faint and distant, and the +faces of the boatmen indistinct as they neared the ship, than all his +courage forsook him. With outstretched hands, and frantic words and +gestures, he implored them to return, promising to bear everything, to +risk everything, if only he might not be left alone on the lonely island. +But he cried in vain; the boat reached the ship, the men climbed on +board, the sails were hoisted, and there on his sea-chest, sat the lonely +sailor, gazing over the wide ocean, on which nothing but the lessening +speck of white on the far horizon reminded him of the existence of any +human being but himself. + +Days passed almost uncounted, for in his desolate misery Alexander +Selkirk had but one thought left--the longing desire of rescue and +return home. He valued the daylight only because by its aid he could +watch for a sail on the wide, silent sea; he dreaded the coming on of +the night, chiefly because it shut him off for a time from his one +employment. During these dreary days or weeks he never tasted food, save +when driven to look for it by pangs of sharpest hunger, and even then he +would not leave the beach, but fed on shell-fish picked up on the rocks, +or sometimes on the flesh of seals. + +It was September when the _Clinque Ports_ sailed, and now October had +come, the middle of spring in Juan Fernandez, and, all round him, nature +spoke of hope, and taught of God. But before hope could enter into +Alexander's desolate heart, sorrow must come: sorrow for sin, for his +disobedience to the parents whom he had made unhappy; for his reckless, +godless life; for all the teachings of his youth forgotten, and for its +lessons neglected. Sometimes, for a few minutes, Alexander would turn +his eyes from his eager watch over the sea, and looking down, would +picture instead his Scottish home. He would see clearly in his mind his +venerable father, with his furrowed brow, and stern, unsmiling mouth; +his mother, in her tall white cap, busied at her wheel, with a far-away, +mournful look in her eyes, which told that she was thinking of her +absent son. Ah! and he saw again even his poor idiot brother, to whom he +had only used harsh words, and even rough blows. "I would be so +different now if it should please God ever to let me see home and my +dear ones again," he thought. And so has many a poor prodigal thought as +he has been compelled to suffer the punishment for his sins, and found +no way to escape from it. + +Little by little, there grew up in his heart the purpose of beginning +even now this new life. He would not wait till his return to England. In +this lonely island, with half the world between him and all he loved, he +would strive to be one with them in heart, and to join with them in +prayer and praise. He would seek pardon for the sins of his youth for +the Saviour's sake, and in His strength, begin life anew. He had a Bible +with him in his chest, and he began to read it daily, and in earnest +prayer to seek forgiveness and blessing; then, even in his loneliness, +comfort came to him. He was no longer alone, for God was with him. He +knew that God was his Father, his Helper, and his Keeper, and he grew +calm, almost happy, and was even able sometimes to leave his look-out +over the sea, and make little journeys into the interior of his new +kingdom. + +As his mind became more peaceful, he turned his thoughts to the question +of a shelter from the storms of the approaching winter, which, even in +that mild climate, was often accompanied with frost and snow. There were +plenty of trees on the island, and with their stems and branches he soon +built for himself a rough hut, which he thatched with long grass cut and +dried in the sun. This attempt was so successful that he determined to +build another hut at a short distance, so that he might sleep in one, +and in the other, prepare his food. Now that he had once looked in the +face the thought of spending the winter in the island, he grew, slowly, +more reconciled to it, and began to take an interest in preparing, as +far as he could, for its approach. + +His huts must be furnished in some fashion; first, he brought up from +the shore his sea-chest, which contained his few clothes; then he cut +and fastened up a shelf on which to keep his Bible and the other books +which he had brought on shore. He had with him a large cooking-pot in +which to prepare his food, and a smaller drinking-can which he had +brought, most likely, from home, and which bore the old-fashioned +inscription, "Alexander Selkirk, this is my one." It was needful to make +for himself a bed, for hitherto he had slept on the beach, so that at +the first moment of opening his eyes he might begin his watch over the +sea: now he must sleep in his hut. + +This bed he determined to make of the skins of goats, for he had begun +to hunt the wild goats for food, having by this time wearied of his diet +of fish. At first he was able only to overtake and capture the young +kids, for he had no gun, no bow and arrow with which to kill them at a +distance; then as exercise and practice increased his strength, he found +himself able to pursue and take the largest and swiftest goats, and +having killed them, to carry them on his shoulders to his hut. But as +goat's flesh, his principal food, could only be obtained by him while he +remained in full strength and vigor, he determined to provide a store in +case of illness or accident, and so, catching several young kids, he +slightly lamed them, so that they could move but slowly, and then +trained them to feed around his hut, and these gentle creatures, who +soon learned to know him, brought some sense of companionship to the +lonely man. + +His life began now to have its regular duties and interests. In the +morning when he rose, he sang one of the old Scotch psalms, after the +practice which he had been taught from childhood, and then read aloud a +chapter of the Bible, and prayed long and fervently. + +Then he betook himself to light a fire by rubbing together two dry +sticks till a flame was produced, and this fire he fed from time to time +with branches and logs from the woods. He had also, his food to obtain +and to cook--goat's flesh or cray-fish, which he boiled in his large +sauce-pan; and to gather the tender tops of the cabbage-palm or other +vegetables, for bread. These necessary employments finished, he would +take his Bible, and, sitting in the door of his hut, or on the beach, +would study it for hours, finding new truths and deeper meaning in the +blessed words familiar to him from his childhood. Or he would choose one +of his books on navigation, and study with a care which he had never +before thought it worth while to give, hoping in this way to be a better +sailor, and be able to take higher rank in the service, if it should +please God to restore him once more to the duties and work of life. In +this regular, peaceful, and religious life his spirits gradually +recovered; nay, he became far happier than he had been since his +childhood, for something of the trust and the love of a little child +were restored to his heart. + +He would adorn his hut with fragrant boughs, and as he fed and caressed +his kids, would sing with a light heart the songs of old Scotland. Then +at set of sun he returned to the hut in which he slept, and there once +more sang, and read, and prayed, and so lay down to sleep in peace, +because he knew that it was the Lord only that made him dwell in safety. + +"I was a better Christian in my solitude than ever I was before, or than +I fear I shall ever be again," he said, years after he had left the +island. In this there was both truth and error. He had been led by the +merciful goodness of God to repentance and to an earnest desire to +escape from sin, but it was in the life among his fellows that this +repentance and these new resolves--must be tested. It was in the daily +little trials and crosses of a life among other men, that he must learn +to subdue his proud spirit, and curb his hot temper. + +Months and even years passed on, and but little happened to vary +Alexander's quiet life in his island home. He had now a large number of +kids around his hut, and had added to his list of favorites several +tamed cats, which he needed to protect him from the troop of rats which +gnawed his bed-clothes, and even nibbled at his feet as he lay asleep. +He had taught the kids and cats, too, to dance, and many a merry hour he +spent among these his daily companions and friends. The clothes which he +had brought on shore had been long since worn out, and he had supplied +their place by a cap, and trousers, and jacket, made of goat-skin. His +needle was a nail, and his thread thin strips of the skin; among his +stores was a piece of linen, and this too he had sewn into shirts, +unravelling one of his stockings for a supply of thread. He was +barefoot, and the soles of his feet had grown so hard that he could +climb sharp crags, and run over the stony beach, unhurt. + +[Illustration: A narrow escape.] + +Twice or thrice during these lonely years he had seen a sail +approaching, but on these he looked with as much terror as hope, for +should the crew prove to be Spaniards, he knew that he should be made a +prisoner by them, and either put to death, or sent into hopeless +slavery. + +Once, indeed, the crew of a Spanish vessel, putting in for water, had +caught sight of the strange figure in the goat-skin dress, and had +chased him, but so swift-footed was he that he soon left his pursuers +far behind, and then lay hid in terror for hours, till the vessel had +departed. His life had been besides in other danger, for once while +pursuing the hunt from crag to crag, in wild and delightful adventure, +he had set foot on the hidden edge of a precipice: the grass which +seemed to promise so fair a footing gave way beneath his feet, he fell +headlong, and lay hurt and senseless below. He judged by the size of the +moon, when at last he opened his eyes to consciousness, that he must +have been lying stunned and helpless for more than twenty-four hours, +and it was with the greatest pain and difficulty that he could drag +himself to his hut, and lie down on his bed of skins. His tame favorites +came about him but none of them could help him, and he was too weak to +care to procure for himself food or water. But even in his great +distress he did not lose his confidence in God, and he lay calm and +patient, satisfied that he was safe in the care of his Heavenly Father. +After many days of suffering he recovered and once more enjoyed full +health and vigor. + +He had been alone on Juan Fernandez for more than four years when one +evening, looking out seaward before lying down in his hut, he saw the +sails of an English-built vessel which was standing in very near to the +shore. Alexander could not resist the sudden and strong desire which he +felt, to be once more among his fellow-men, to hear once more the +English speech, and feel once more the grasp of a friendly hand. +Hurrying down to the beach, he piled and lighted a large bonfire, to +carry a message to his fellow-countrymen, but the ship, instead of +sailing shoreward, or of putting off a boat at once, tacked and went +farther from the island, taking the fire to be the lights of an enemy's +ship at anchor in the bay. + +Alexander spent the night in hope and in doubt: he killed some goats and +prepared them for food, hoping the next day to entertain some of his +countrymen in his island home, and at the first dawn of day he was again +on the beach, gazing at the now distant but motionless ship. + +Those on board were also keeping an anxious watch, but when morning +light showed them that there was no other ship near, the captain +determined to send a boat on shore to discover the cause of the strange +light which they had seen the night before. As they approached the +island they saw a strange figure running to meet them, and by gestures +and shouts pointing out the best place for landing. Alexander, with his +long beard, his tanned complexion, his goat-skin dress, had lost almost +all outward resemblance to a civilized man, and they wondered much who +this friendly and solitary savage might be. + +But who can describe his joy when he heard once more the speech of his +own country, and looked on the faces of his kind. He welcomed his +visitors in the best English he could remember, for even his speech was +half forgotten, and led them to his hut to partake of the banquet he had +prepared. + +Yet in the midst of all his joy he could hardly determine to leave his +beloved island, so accustomed had he grown to solitude, and to his wild, +uncontrolled life. At length the remembrance of his aged parents, and of +his friends at home, made him determine to ask a passage in the ship +which had touched on his island shore, and the captain, finding how much +he had learnt of seamanship and navigation, offered to rate him as mate. +And thus Juan Fernandez was left once more in utter solitude, and +Selkirk, gazing from the ship's deck, saw its green hills and pleasant +coasts disappear in the distance, as he left the island and all its sad, +its sacred, its happy memories forever. He soon grew tired of the +society of men, and when not busy about the ship, would always seek to +be alone, dreaming of the life which he had left. He found it hard, too, +to accustom himself to the salt meat and biscuits which were sailors' +fare, and to the dress and boots in which he must now appear. Soon every +other thought was lost in his longing desire to see once more his +parents and his home, for the shores of England were in sight. It was on +a Sunday morning that the wanderer entered once more his native village, +where all seemed quiet and unchanged. He did not turn his steps to his +father's cottage, for his parents, as he well knew, would be at the +kirk, and there would he look on their faces once more. Would they +recognize, he asked himself, in the strong and bearded man, the youth +who had left them years ago for the life of adventure which he loved +best? Would they know the fine gentleman in gold lace and embroidery to +be their son Alexander, their lost sailor lad. Pondering such thoughts +as these, he walked on almost unconsciously. How well he knew every step +of his way! In this farmhouse, his sister and her husband used to live; +there was the wood where he had so often gathered nuts, or climbed for +birds' nests with his boyish companions; there, its thatched roof more +lichen-covered than of old, stood his father's cottage, at the door of +which years ago he had kissed his mother for the last time--ah! was she +still alive to welcome the returning wanderer? + +Seated in the kirk among unfamiliar faces, his eyes sought at once the +well-known corner where, as a boy, he had been used to sit, and with an +almost overwhelming rush of thankfulness and joy he saw once more his +mother's face, the same, yet changed, its added wrinkles and silvered +hair telling, perhaps, of many tears and long sorrow for her lost sailor +son. + +There sat his father, too, the portly, respectable-looking elder, in +blue cap and coat of homespun tweed. In vain did Alexander seek to join +in the psalm or prayer, his looks and thoughts were ever wandering; and +he was not alone in this, for the dark eyes of his old mother turned +continually with an eager, inquiring gaze to the grand stranger +gentleman, strange yet so familiar. Then her eyes were cast down once +more on her book, as she tried to give heed to the service, till at last +a sudden smile which lit up Alexander's face, showed her that she saw +before her the son for whom she had longed and prayed, whom no doubt she +had before this counted as among the dead. In her sudden joy the old +woman forgot all else, and rising, rushed towards the place where the +returned wanderer was seated. + +The whole family, with Alexander in their midst, now made their way out +of the kirk, and returned home to talk of the great deliverance which +God had given to their lost kinsman. + +On this true story of Selkirk was founded the tale of the Adventures of +Robinson Crusoe. + + + + +CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. + + +The discovery of a supposed north-west passage from the North Atlantic +to the North Pacific Oceans, had for many years been ardently sought +for, both by the English and the Dutch. Frobisher, in 1576, made the +first attempt, and his example was in succeeding times followed by many +others. But though much geographical information had been gained in the +neighborhood of Hudson's Bay, Davis' Strait, Baffin's Bay, and the coast +of Greenland, yet no channel whatever was found. By act of parliament, +£20,000 was offered to the successful individual. But though Captain +Middleton, in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, in 1746, explored +those seas and regions, the object remained unattained. The Honorable +Captain Phipps (afterwards Earl Mulgrave) was sent out in the +_Racehorse_, accompanied by Captain Lutwidge, in the _Carcase_ (Lord +Nelson was a boy in this latter ship), to make observations, and to +penetrate as far as it was practicable to do so. They sailed June 2, +1773, and made Spitzbergen on the 28th; but after great exertions, they +found the ice to the northward utterly impenetrable. Once they became +closely jammed, and it was only with great difficulty they escaped +destruction. On August 22, finding it impossible to get further to the +northward, eastward, or westward, they made sail, according to their +instructions, for England, and arrived off Shetland on September 7. + +Notwithstanding these numerous failures, the idea of an existing passage +was still cherished; and Earl Sandwich continuing at the head of the +Admiralty, resolved that a further trial should be made, and Captain +Cook offered his services to undertake it. They were gladly accepted, +and on February 10, 1776, he was appointed to command the expedition in +his old, but hardy ship, the _Resolution_, and Captain Clerke, in the +_Discovery_, was ordered to attend him. In this instance, however, the +mode of experiment was to be reversed, and instead of attempting the +former routes by Davis' Strait or Baffin's Bay, etc., Cook, at his own +request, was instructed to proceed into the South Pacific, and thence to +try the passage by the way of Behring's Strait; and as it was necessary +that the islands in the Southern Ocean should be revisited, cattle and +sheep, with other animals, and all kinds of seeds, were shipped for the +advantage of the natives. + +Every preparation having been made, the _Resolution_ quitted Plymouth on +July 12, taking Omai, the native, from the Society Isles. Having touched +at Teneriffe, they crossed the equator September 1, and reached the Cape +on October 18, where the _Discovery_ joined them on November 10. + +The ships sailed again on November 30, and encountered heavy gales, in +which several sheep and goats died. On December 12 they saw two large +islands, which Cook named Prince Edward's Islands; and three days +afterwards several others were seen; but having made Kerguelen's Land, +they anchored in a convenient harbor on Christmas day. On the north side +of this harbor one of the men found a quart bottle fastened to a +projecting rock by stout wire, and on opening it, the bottle was found +to contain a piece of parchment, on which was an inscription purporting +that the land had been visited by a French vessel in 1772-3. To this +Cook added a notice of his own visit; the parchment was then returned to +the bottle, and the cork being secured with lead, was placed upon a pile +of stones near to the place from which it had been removed. The whole +country was extremely barren and desolate, and on the 30th they came to +the eastern extremity of Kerguelen's Land. + +On January 24, 1777, they came in sight of Van Diemen's Land (now +Tasmania), and on the 26th anchored in Adventure Bay, where intercourse +was opened with the natives, and Omai took every opportunity of lauding +the great superiority of his friends, the English. Here they obtained +plenty of grass for the remaining cattle, and a supply of fresh +provisions for themselves. On the 30th they quitted their port, +convinced that Van Diemen's Land was the southern point of New Holland. +Subsequent investigations, however, have proved this idea to be +erroneous, Van Diemen's Land being an island separated from the mainland +of Australia by Bass's Strait. + +On February 12, Captain Cook anchored at his old station in Queen +Charlotte's Sound, New Zealand; but the natives were very shy in +approaching the ships, and none could be persuaded to come on board. The +reason was, that on the former voyages, after parting with the +_Resolution_, the _Adventure_ had visited this place, and ten of her +crew had been killed in an unpremeditated skirmish with the natives. It +was the fear of retaliatory punishment that kept them aloof. Captain +Cook, however, soon made them easy upon the subject, and their +familiarity was renewed; but great caution was used, to be fully +prepared for a similar attack, by keeping the men well-armed on all +occasions. Of the animals left at this island in the former voyages, +many were thriving; and the gardens, though left in a state of nature, +were found to contain cabbages, onions, leeks, radishes, mustard, and a +few potatoes. The captain was enabled to add to both. At the +solicitation of Omai, he received two New Zealand lads on board the +_Resolution_, and by the 27th was clear of the coast. + +After landing at a number of islands, and not finding adequate supplies, +the ships sailed for Anamocka, and the _Resolution_ was brought up in +exactly the same anchorage that she had occupied three years before. The +natives behaved in a most friendly manner, and but for their habits of +stealing, quiet would have been uninterrupted. Nothing, however, could +check this propensity, till Captain Cook shaved the heads of all whom he +caught practicing it. This rendered them an object of ridicule to their +countrymen, and enabled the English to recognize and keep them at a +distance. Most of the Friendly Isles were visited by the ships, and +everywhere they met with a kind reception. On June 10 they reached +Tongataboo, where the King offered Captain Cook his house to reside in. +Here he made a distribution of animals amongst the chiefs, and the +importance of preserving them was explained by Omai. Two kids and two +turkey-cocks having been stolen, the captain seized three canoes, put a +guard over the chiefs, and insisted that not only the kids and turkeys +should be restored, but also everything that had been taken away since +their arrival. This produced a good effect, and much of the plunder was +returned. + +[Illustration: Deliverance. (Page 194.)] + +Captain Cook remained at the Friendly Islands nearly three months, and +lived almost entirely during that period upon fresh provisions, +occasionally eating the produce of the seeds he had sown there in his +former visits. On July 17, they took their final leave of these +hospitable people, and on August 12 reached Otaheite, and took up a +berth in Oaiti-piha Bay, which, it was discovered, had been visited by +two Spanish ships since the _Resolution_ had last been there. + +Animals of various kinds had been left in the country by the Spaniards, +and the islanders spoke of them with esteem and respect. On the 24th the +ships went round to Matavai Bay, and Captain Cook presented to the king, +Otoo, the remainder of his live stock. + +They here witnessed a human sacrifice, to propitiate the favor of their +gods in a battle they were about to undertake. The victim was generally +some strolling vagabond, who was not aware of his fate till the moment +arrived, and he received his death-blow from a club. For the purpose of +showing the inhabitants the use of the horses, Captains Cook and Clerke +rode into the country, to the great astonishment of the islanders; and +though this exercise was continued every day by some of the _Resolution's_ +people, yet the wonder of the natives never abated. + +On the return of Omai to the land of his birth, the reception he met +with was not very cordial; but the affection of his relatives was strong +and ardent. Captain Cook obtained the grant of a piece of land for him +on the west side of Owharre harbor, Huaheine. The carpenters of the +ships built him a small house, to which a garden was attached, planted +with shaddocks, vines, pineapples, melons, etc., and a variety of +vegetables, the whole of which were thriving before Captain Cook quitted +the island. When the house was finished, the presents Omai had received +in England were carried ashore, with every article necessary for +domestic purposes, as well as two muskets, a bayonet, a brace of +pistols, etc. + +The two lads brought from New Zealand were put on shore at this place, +to form part of Omai's family; but it was with great reluctance that +they quitted the voyagers, who had behaved so kindly to them. + +Whilst lying at Huaheine, a thief, who had caused them great trouble, +not only had his head and beard shaved, but, in order to deter others, +both his ears were cut off. On November 3, the ships went to Ulietea, +and here, decoyed by the natives, two or three desertions took place; +and as others seemed inclined to follow the example, Captain Clerke +pursued the fugitives with two-armed boats and a party of marines, but +without effect. Captain Cook experienced a similar failure; he therefore +seized upon the persons of the chief's son, daughter, and son-in-law, +whom he placed under confinement till the people should be restored, +which took place on the 28th, and the hostages were released. One of the +deserters was a midshipman of the _Discovery_, and the son of a brave +officer in the service. Schemes were projected by some of the natives to +assassinate Captain Cook and Captain Clerke; but though in imminent +danger, the murderous plans failed. + +At Bolabola, Captain Cook succeeded in obtaining an anchor which had +been left there by M. Bougainville, as he was very desirous of +converting the iron into articles of traffic. They left this place on +December 8, crossed the line, and on the 24th stopped at a small island, +which he named Christmas Island, and where he planted cocoa-nuts, yams, +and melon seeds, and left a bottle enclosing a suitable inscription. + +On January 2, 1778, the ships resumed their voyage northward, to pursue +the grand object in Behring's Strait. They passed several islands, the +inhabitants of which, though at a great distance from Otaheite, spoke +the same language. Those who came on board displayed the utmost +astonishment at everything they beheld, and it was evident they had +never seen a ship before. The disposition to steal was equally strong in +these as in the other South Sea islanders, and a man was killed who +tried to plunder the watering-party, but this was not known to Captain +Cook till after they had sailed. They also discovered that the practice +of eating human flesh was prevalent. To a group of these islands (and +they were generally found in clusters) Captain Cook gave the name of the +Sandwich Islands, in honor of the noble earl at the head of the +Admiralty. + +The voyage to the northward was continued on February 2, and the +long-looked-for coast of New Albion was made on March 7; the ships, +after sailing along it till the 29th, came to anchor in a small cove. A +brisk trade commenced with the natives, who appeared to be well +acquainted with the value of iron, for which they exchanged the skins of +various animals, such as bears, wolves, foxes, deer, etc., both in their +original state and made up into garments. But the most extraordinary +articles were human skulls, and hands not quite stripped of the flesh, +and which had the appearance of having been recently on the fire. +Thieving was practiced at this place in a more scientific manner than +they had before remarked; and the natives insisted upon being paid for +the wood and other things supplied to the ships, with which Captain Cook +scrupulously complied. This inlet was named King George's Sound, but it +was afterwards ascertained that the natives called it Nootka Sound. +After making every requisite nautical observation, the ships being again +ready for sea on the 26th, in the evening they departed, a severe gale +of wind blowing them away from the shore. From this period they examined +the coast, under a hope of finding some communication with the Polar +Sea; one river they traced a long distance, which was afterwards named +Cook's River. + +They left this place June 6, but notwithstanding all their watchfulness +and vigilance, no passage could be found. The ships ranged across the +mouth of the strait. The natives of the islands, by their manners, gave +evident tokens of their being acquainted with Europeans--most probably +Russian traders. They put in at Oonalaska and other places, which were +taken possession of in the name of the King of England. On August 3, Mr. +Anderson, surgeon of the _Resolution_, died from a lingering +consumption, under which he had been suffering more than twelve months. +He was a young man of considerable ability, and possessed an amiable +disposition. + +Proceeding to the northward, Captain Cook ascertained the relative +position of the two continents, Asia and America, whose extremities he +observed. On the 18th they were close to a dense wall of ice, beyond +which they could not penetrate. The ice here was from ten to twelve feet +high, and seemed to rise higher in the distance. A prodigious number of +sea-horses were crouching on the ice, some of which were procured for +food. Captain Cook continued to traverse these icy seas till the 29th. +He then explored the coasts in Behring's Strait both in Asia and +America; and on October 2 again anchored at Oonalaska to refit; and here +they had communication with some Russians, who undertook to convey +charts and maps, etc., to the English Admiralty, which they faithfully +fulfilled. On the 26th the ships quitted the harbor of Samganoodah, and +sailed for the Sandwich Islands, Captain Cook purposing to remain there +a few months, and then return to Kamtschatka. The island of Mowee was +discovered on November 26; and on the 30th they fell in with another, +called by the natives Owyhee (now Hawaii); and being of large extent, +the ships were occupied nearly seven weeks in sailing round it, and +examining the coast; and they found the islanders more frank and free +from suspicion than any they had yet had intercourse with; so that on +January 16, 1779, there were not fewer than a thousand canoes about the +two ships, most of them crowded with people, and well-laden with hogs +and other productions of the place. A robbery having been committed, +Captain Cook ordered a volley of musketry and four great guns to be +fired over the canoe that contained the thief; but this seemed only to +astonish the natives, without creating any great alarm. On the 17th the +ships anchored in a bay called by the islanders, Karakakooa. The natives +constantly thronged to the ships, whose decks, consequently, being at +all times crowded, allowed of pilfering without fear of detection; and +these practices, it is conjectured, were encouraged by the chiefs. A +great number of the hogs purchased were killed and salted down so +completely, that some of the pork was good at Christmas, 1780. On the +26th, Captain Cook had an interview with Terreeoboo, King of the +islands, in which great formality was observed, and an exchange of +presents took place, as well as an exchange of names. The natives were +extremely respectful to Cook; in fact, they paid him a sort of +adoration, prostrating themselves before him; and a society of priests +furnished the ships with a constant supply of hogs and vegetables, +without requiring any return. On February 3, the day previous to the +ships sailing, the King presented them with a quantity of cloth, many +boat-loads of vegetables, and a whole herd of hogs. The ships sailed on +the following day, but on the 6th encountered a very heavy gale, in +which, on the night of the 7th, the _Resolution_ sprung the head of her +foremast in such a dangerous manner, that they were forced to put back +to Karakakooa Bay, in order to get it repaired. Here they anchored on +the morning of the 11th, and everything for a time promised to go well +in their intercourse with the natives. The friendliness manifested by +the chiefs, however, was far from solid. They were savages at a low +point of cultivation, and theft and murder were not considered by them +in the light of crimes. Cook, aware of the nature of these barbarians, +was anxious to avoid any collision, and it was with no small regret that +he found that an affray had taken place between some seamen and the +natives. The cause of the disturbance was the seizure of the cutter of +the _Discovery_ as it lay at anchor. The boats of both ships were sent +in search of her, and Captain Cook went on shore to prosecute the +inquiry, and, if necessary, to seize the person of the King, who had +sanctioned the theft. + +The narrative of what ensued is affectingly tragical. Cook left the +_Resolution_ about seven o'clock, attended by the lieutenant of marines, +a sergeant, a corporal, and seven private men. The pinnace's crew were +likewise armed, and under the command of Mr. Roberts; the launch was +also ordered to assist his own boat. He landed with the marines at the +upper end of the town of Kavoroah, where the natives received him with +their accustomed tokens of respect, and not the smallest sign of +hostility was evinced by any of them; and as the crowds increased, the +chiefs employed themselves as before, in keeping order. Captain Cook +requested the King to go on board the _Resolution_ with him, to which he +offered few objections; but in a little time it was observed that the +natives were arming themselves with long spears, clubs, and daggers, and +putting on the thick mats which they used by way of armor. This hostile +appearance was increased by the arrival of a canoe from the opposite +side of the bay, announcing that one of the chiefs had been killed by a +shot from the _Discovery's_ boat. The women, who had been conversing +familiarly with the English, immediately retired, and loud murmurs arose +amongst the crowd. Captain Cook, perceiving the tumultuous proceedings +of the natives, ordered Lieutenant Middleton to march his marines down +to the boats, to which the islanders offered no obstruction. The captain +followed with the king, attended by his wife, two sons, and several +chiefs. One of the sons had already entered the pinnace, expecting his +father to follow, when the king's wife and others hung round his neck, +and forced him to be seated near a double canoe, assuring him that he +would be put to death if he went on board the ship. + +Whilst matters were in this position, one of the chiefs was seen with a +dagger partly concealed under his cloak, lurking about Captain Cook, and +the lieutenant of marines proposed to fire at him; but this the captain +would not permit; but the chief closing upon them, the officer of +marines struck him with his firelock. Another native, grasping the +sergeant's musket, was forced to let it go by a blow from the +lieutenant. Captain Cook, seeing the tumult was increasing, observed, +that "if he were to force the king off, it could only be done by +sacrificing the lives of many of his people;" and was about to give +orders to re-embark, when a man flung a stone at him, which he returned +by discharging small-shot from one of the barrels of his piece. The man +was but little hurt; and brandishing his spear, with threatenings to +hurl it at the captain, the latter, unwilling to fire with ball, knocked +the fellow down, and then warmly expostulated with the crowd for their +hostile conduct. At this moment a man was observed behind a double +canoe, in the act of darting a spear at Captain Cook, who promptly +fired, but killed another who was standing by his side. The sergeant of +marines, however, instantly presented, and brought down the native whom +the captain had missed. The impetuosity of the islanders was somewhat +repressed; but being pushed on by those in the rear, who were ignorant +of what was passing in front, a volley of stones was poured in amongst +the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned it with a general +discharge of musketry, which was directly succeeded by a brisk fire from +the boats. Captain Cook expressed much surprise and vexation; he waved +his hand for the boats to cease firing, and to come on shore to embark +the marines. The pinnace unhesitatingly obeyed; but the lieutenant in +the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance of his commander, +rowed further off at the very moment that the services of himself and +people were most required. Nor was this all the mischief that ensued; +for, as it devolved upon the pinnace to receive the marines, she became +so crowded, as to render the men incapable of using their fire-arms. The +marines on shore, however, fired; but the moment their pieces were +discharged, the islanders rushed _en masse_ upon them, forced the party +into the water, where four of them were killed, and the lieutenant +wounded. At this critical period Captain Cook was left entirely alone +upon a rock near the shore. He, however, hurried towards the pinnace, +holding his left arm round the back of his head, to shield it from the +stones, and carrying his musket under his right. An islander, armed with +a club, was seen in a crouching posture cautiously following him, as if +watching for an opportunity to spring forward upon his victim. This man +was a relation of the king's, and remarkably agile and quick. At length, +he jumped forward upon the captain, and struck him a heavy blow on the +back of his head, and then turned and fled. The captain appeared to be +somewhat stunned: he staggered a few paces, and, dropping his musket, +fell on his hands and one knee; but whilst striving to recover his +upright position, another islander rushed forward, and with an iron +dagger stabbed him in the neck. He again made an effort to proceed, but +fell into a small pool of water not more than knee-deep, and numbers +instantly ran to the spot, and endeavored to keep him down; but by his +struggles he was enabled to get his head above the surface, and casting +a look towards the pinnace (then not more than five or six yards +distant), seemed to be imploring assistance. It is asserted that, in +consequence of the crowded state of the pinnace, (through the withdrawal +of the launch), the crew of the boat were unable to render any aid; but +it is also probable that the emergency of this unexpected catastrophe +deprived the English of that cool judgment which was requisite on such +an occasion. The islanders, perceiving that no help was afforded, forced +him under water again, but in a deeper place; yet his great muscular +power once more enabled him to raise himself and cling to the rock. At +this moment a forcible blow was given with a club, and he fell down +lifeless. The savages then hauled his corpse upon the rock, and +ferociously stabbed the body all over, snatching the dagger from each +others' hands to wreak their sanguinary vengeance on the slain. The body +was left some time exposed upon the rock; and as the islanders gave way, +through terror at their own act and the fire from the boats, it might +have been recovered entire. But no attempt of the kind was made; and it +was afterwards, together with the marines, cut up, and the parts +distributed amongst the chiefs. The mutilated fragments were +subsequently restored, and committed to the deep with all the honors due +to the rank of the deceased. Thus, February 14, 1779, perished in an +inglorious brawl with a set of savages, one of England's greatest +navigators, whose services to science have never been surpassed by any +man belonging to his profession. It may almost be said that he fell a +victim to his humanity; for if, instead of retreating before his +barbarous pursuers, with a view to spare their lives, he had turned +revengefully upon them, his fate might have been very different. + +The death of their commander was felt to be a heavy blow by the officers +and seamen of the expedition. With deep sorrow the ships' companies left +Owyhee, where the catastrophe had occurred, the command of the +_Resolution_ devolving on Captain Clerke, and Mr. Gore acting as +commander of the _Discovery_. After making some further exploratory +searches among the Sandwich Islands, the vessels visited Kamtschatka and +Behring's Strait. Here it was found impossible to penetrate through the +ice either on the coast of America or that of Asia, so that they +returned to the southward; and on August 22, 1779, Captain Clerke died +of consumption, and was succeeded by Captain Gore, who, in his turn, +gave Lieutenant King an acting order in the _Discovery_. After a second +visit to Kamtschatka, the two ships returned by way of China, remained +some time at Canton, touched at the Cape, and arrived at the Nore, +October 4, 1780, after an absence of four years, two months, and +twenty-two days, during which the _Resolution_ lost only five men by +sickness, and the _Discovery_ did not lose a single man. + +By this, as well as the preceding voyages of Cook, a considerable +addition was made to a knowledge of the earth's surface. Besides +clearing up doubts respecting the Southern Ocean, and making known many +islands in the Pacific, the navigator did an inestimable service to his +country in visiting the coasts of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, +New Zealand, and Norfolk Island--all now colonial possessions of +Britain, and rapidly becoming the seat of a large and flourishing nation +of Anglo-Australians--the England of the southern hemisphere. + +The intelligence of Captain Cook's death was received with melancholy +regrets in England. The king granted a pension of £200 per annum to his +widow, and £25 per annum to each of the children; the Royal Society had +a gold medal struck in commemoration of him; and various other honors at +home and abroad were paid to his memory. + +"Thus, by his own persevering efforts," as has been well observed by the +author of the 'Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties,' "did this great +man raise himself from the lowest obscurity to a reputation wide as the +world itself, and certain to last as long as the age in which he +flourished shall be remembered by history. But better still than even +all this fame--than either the honors which he received while living, or +those which, when he was no more, his country and mankind bestowed upon +his memory--he had exalted himself in the scale of moral and +intellectual being; had won a new and nobler nature, and taken a high +place among the instructors and benefactors of mankind." + +Honor and fame are not to be achieved by seeking for them alone, nor are +their possession the end and aim of human existence. It is only by an +unwearied striving after a new and nobler nature; only by being useful +to our fellows, and making the most of those qualities of mind which God +has given us, that happiness is to be attained, or that we fulfill the +ends of our being. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +EXCELLENT BOOKS. + +SIX MONTHS AT MRS. PRIOR'S. By Emily Adams. Illustrated. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.25. + +"In this fresh little story, which is addressed especially to young +girls, the author tries to impress the lesson that the disagreeable and +annoying duties of life may be made pleasant by accepting them as +inevitable, and asking help from above. Mrs. Prior is the widow of a +clergyman, and has been left with five little ones to support. She +discharges her servant, and divides the lighter duties of the household +between herself and the two eldest of her children, Minnie and Helen. +Unaccustomed to any thing but study and play, the girls find it very +hard to have their old time appointments for enjoyment circumscribed, +and complain bitterly at first. The book gives a history of their +experience, and shows how the work that was so irksome at first became +in the end a source of pleasure and means of healthful discipline. + +"Six Months at Mrs. Prior's" is a sweet story of womanly tact combined +with Christian trust. A widow, with scanty means, makes a home happy for +a group of children, restless, wayward and aspiring, like many American +children of our day. The mother's love holds them, her thrift cares for +them, her firmness restrains, and her christian words and life win them +to noble aims and living. The influence of the christian household is +widely felt, and the quiet transforming leaven works in many homes. We +can't have too many books of this kind in the family or Sunday-school." + +MISS PRICILLA HUNTER, by Pansy, opens a new view for that charming +writer, but one eminently popular at the present time. It deals with the +payment of a church debt, and shows how an humble woman, with a +Christian character which gave power to her words, raised the money to +pay off a debt which had long been a hindrance to church growth and to +Christian benevolence. Why she did it, and how she did it, is told in +Pansy's best fashion: her encounters with crabbed folks, and stingy +folks, and folks determined not to give to the church debt, are highly +amusing, as well as her devices to get something from everybody. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +YENSIE WALTON. By Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. +$1.50. + +Of the many good books which the Messrs. Lothrop have prepared for the +shelves of Sunday-school libraries, "Yensie Walton" is one of the best. +It is a sweet, pure story of girl life, quiet as the flow of a brook, +and yet of sufficient interest to hold the attention of the most +careless reader. Yensie is an orphan, who has found a home with an +uncle, a farmer, some distance from the city. Her aunt, a coarse, vulgar +woman, and a tyrant in the household, does her best to humiliate her by +making her a domestic drudge, taking away her good clothing and +exchanging it for coarse, ill-filling garments, and scolding her from +morning till night. This treatment develops a spirit of resistance; the +mild and affectionate little girl becomes passionate and disobedient, +and the house is the scene of continual quarrels. Fortunately, her uncle +insists upon her attending school, and in the teacher, Miss Gray, she +finds her first real friend. In making her acquaintance a new life +begins for her. She is brought in contact with new and better +influences, and profiting by them becomes in time a sunbeam in her +uncle's house, and the means of softening the heart and quieting the +tongue of the aunt who was once her terror and dread. Mrs. Clark has a +very pleasing style, and is especially skilful in the construction of +her stories. + +"Yensie Walton" is a story of great power, by a new author. It aims to +show that God uses a stern discipline to form the noblest characters, +and that the greatest trials of life often prove the greatest blessings. +The story is subordinate to this moral aim, and the earnestness of the +author breaks out into occasional preaching. But the story is full of +striking incident and scenes of great pathos, with occasional gleams of +humor and fun by way of relief to the more tragic parts of the +narrative. The characters are strongly drawn, and, in general, are +thoroughly human, not gifted with impossible perfections, but having +those infirmities of the flesh which make us all akin. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +JOHNNY'S VACATIONS AND OTHER STORIES. By Mary E. N. Hathaway. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.00. + +Few more entertaining stories for small boys have lately made their +appearance than _Johnny's Vacations_. The author seems to have had +experience with boys and tells in a charmingly natural manner the story +of a vacation spent on a farm by one of them, Johnny Stephens by name. +In addition there are six shorter stories, in which the girls will be as +deeply interested as the boys. Among them are "The Doll's Party," "Biddy +and her Chickens," "The Wild Goose," and "Pansy's Visit." + +ROYAL LOWRIE. A Boy's Book. By Magnus Merriweather. D. Lothrop & Co., +Boston. With eleven illustrations by Hopkins. 16mo. Price, $1.25. + +Despite the efforts of publishers, a brilliant book for boys is a _rara +avis_; therefore "Royal Lowrie" is likely to be appreciated by all +lively boys between twelve and forty. While in literary finish the book +ranks with the best novels of the day, the characters are the boys and +girls of our modern High Schools. The plot is of breathless interest, +but of such a character that we will warrant when the general +mystification is dispersed no reader will feel like ever undertaking to +seem what he is not. The humiliation which at last overtakes Royal +Lowrie and Archer Bishop is so very thorough that the two gay, +thoughtless fellows, in the language of the _American Bookseller_, +"resolve in future to be wholly true, even in little things. Royal +Lowrie is an especially engaging rattlepate, and we do not wonder that +he wins forgiveness on all sides." + +Although it is an irresistibly humorous story of high-spirited boys and +girls, the book is calculated to exert as strong a restraining influence +as any volume which will be found in our Sunday-school Libraries. + +ENTERPRISE. + +We copy the following from _The American Bookseller_, New York: + +Few people can have failed to notice the great enterprise, if they have +not observed the scrupulous care with which Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. +have published a class of books adapted to the highest culture of the +people. + +It is only ten years since they commenced the work of publishing, and +their list now numbers more than six hundred volumes. + +We are glad to make record, that brave and persistent following of a +high ideal has been successful. + +Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. have given special attention to the publication +of books for children and youths, rightly considering that in no +department is _the best_, as regards literary excellence and purity of +moral and religious reading, of so great importance. Yet the names of +works by such authors as Austin Phelps, D.D., Francis Wayland, and Dr. +Nehemiah Adams on their catalogue, will show that maturer readers have +not been uncared for. + +Of their work projected for the coming season, we have not room to speak +in detail; it will suffice for the present to say that it is wide in +range, including substantial and elegantly illustrated books, all in the +line of the practical and useful, and fresh in character and treatment. + +Their two juvenile magazines, _Wide Awake_ and _Babyland_, are warmly +welcomed in every part of the English-speaking world. + +We advise any of our readers who desire to know more about these +publications, to send to D. Lothrop & Co., Boston, for an illustrated +catalogue. + +All who visit their establishment, corner of Franklin and Hawley +streets, will not only be courteously welcomed and entertained, but will +have the pleasure of seeing one of the most spacious and attractive +bookstores in the country. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BABY BUNTING. Short Stories with Bright Pictures. By the Best American +Authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.00. + +_Baby Bunting_ is a beautiful quarto with one of the most attractive +outsides we have seen for a long time. It is made up of choice stories +adapted to the reading of children from four to eight years of age. They +are all short, few of them being over a page in length, and each is +accompanied by a full page engraving. It is just the kind of book that +ought to be popular, and undoubtedly will be. + +YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY OF GERMANY. By Charlotte M. Yonge. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.50. + +This handsome volume is the first of a series, which will include the +principal countries of Europe, the succeeding numbers of which will +appear at brief intervals. Miss Yonge, whose talents have been exerted +in various directions for the benefit of young readers, has been +peculiarly successful in this series, which has had a very large sale in +Europe, and deserves a like popularity here. It covers not only the +entire period of German civilization down to the present time, but it +gives an account of ancient Germany and its inhabitants in times which +might almost be called pre-historic. The first chapters are explanatory +of the German mythology, and of the ancient methods of worship. The +Nibelungen Lied is described and its story told. The real history begins +about the year 496 A.D., at a time when the Franks were the victorious +race in Europe. From that time down to the beginning of the present year +the record is continuous. The volume is profusely illustrated. + +HAPPY MOODS OF HAPPY CHILDREN. Original Poems. By favorite American +authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. + +We venture to say that no publishing house in the country will issue +this season anything choicer in the way of a presentation book of poems +than this charming volume. The poems it contains were written expressly +for Mr. Lothrop, and have never before been brought together in +collected form. Among the authors represented are Elizabeth Stuart +Phelps, Clara Doty Bates, Margaret G. Preston, Ella Farman, Mrs. Platt, +Harriet McEwen Kimball, Mary A. Lathbury, Nora Perry, Mrs. L. C. Whiton, +Celia Thaxter, Edgar Fawcett, and many others. Although the volume is +ostensibly preferred for children, it is one which grown-up people will +equally enjoy. There are a score or more of illustrations, most of them +full-page, exquisitely drawn and engraved. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +PANSY'S PAGE. + +FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +The most fascinating "watering-place" story ever published. Four +friends, each a brilliant girl in her way, tired of Saratoga and +Newport, try a fortnight at the new summer resort on Chautauqua Lake, +choosing the time when the National Sunday-school Assembly is in camp. +Rev. Drs. Vincent, Deems, Cuyler, Edward, Eggleston, Mrs. Emily +Huntington Miller, move prominently through the story. + +HOUSEHOLD PUZZLES. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +How to make one dollar do the work of five. A family of beautiful girls +seek to solve this "puzzle." Piquant, humorous, but written with an +intense purpose. + +THE RANDOLPHS. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +A sequel to Household Puzzles, in which the Puzzles are agreeably +disposed of. + +GRANDPA'S DARLINGS, By _Pansy_. 16mo. Illustrated 1 25 + +A big book, full of "good times" for the little people of the family. + +ESTER RIED By Pansy. 1 50 +JULIA RIED " 1 50 +THREE PEOPLE " 1 50 +THE KING'S DAUGHTER " 1 50 +WISE AND OTHERWISE " 1 50 +CUNNING WORKMEN " 1 25 +JESSIE WELLS " 75 +DOCIA'S JOURNAL " 75 +BERNIE'S WHITE CHICKEN " 75 +HELEN LESTER " 75 +A CHRISTMAS TIME " 15 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +MISS JULIA A. EASTMAN is one of the most popular of our modern writers. + +YOUNG RICK. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. Twelve illustrations by +Sol Eytinge. $1.50 + +A bright, fascinating story of a little boy who was both a blessing and +a bother.--_Boston Journal._ + +The most delightful book on the list for the children of the family, +being full of adventures and gay home scenes and merry play-times. +"Paty" would have done credit to Dickens in his palmiest days. The +strange glows and shadows of her character are put in lovingly and +lingeringly, with the pencil of a master. Miss Margaret's character of +light is admirably drawn, while Aunt Lesbia, Deacon Harkaway, Tom +Dorrance, and the master and mistress of Graythorpe poor-house are +genuine "charcoal sketches." + +STRIKING FOR THE RIGHT. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. +Illustrated $1 75 + +While this story holds the reader breathless with expectancy and +excitement, its civilizing influence in the family is hardly to be +estimated. In all quarters it has met with the warmest praise. + +THE ROMNEYS OF RIDGEMONT. By Julia A. Eastman. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +BEULAH ROMNEY. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +Two stones wondrously alive, flashing with fun, sparkling with tears, +throbbing with emotion. The next best thing to attending Mrs. Hale's big +boarding-school is to read Beulah's experience there. + +SHORT-COMINGS AND LONG-GOINGS. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +A remarkable book, crowded with remarkable characters. It is a picture +gallery of human nature. + +KITTY KENT'S TROUBLES. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +"A delicious April-day style of book, sunshiny with smiles on one page +while the next is misty with tender tears. Almost every type of American +school-girl is here represented--the vain Helen Dart, the beauty, Amy +Searle, the ambitious, high bred, conservative Anna Matson; but next to +Kitty herself sunny little Pauline Sedgewick will prove the general +favorite. It is a story fully calculated to win both girls and boys +toward noble, royal ways of doing little as well as great things. All +teachers should feel an interest in placing it in the hands of their +pupils." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BOOKS FOR YOUNG HEROES AND BRAVE WORKERS. + +VIRGINIA. By _W. H. G. Kingston_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 + +A stirring story of adventure upon sea and land. + +AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND ADVENTURERS. By _Rev. G. T. Day, D. D._ 16 mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +The stories of Speke, Grant, Baker, Livingstone and Stanley are put into +simple shape for the entertainment of young readers. + +NOBLE WORKERS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +STORIES OF SUCCESS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +Inspiring biographies and records which leave a most wholesome and +enduring effect upon the reader. + +MYTHS AND HEROES. 16mo. Illustrated. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. +D._ $1 50 + +KNIGHTS AND SEA KINGS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 12mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +Two entertaining books, which will fasten forever the historical and +geographical lessons of the school-room firmly in the student's mind. + +CHAPLIN'S LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +LIFE OF AMOS LAWRENCE. 12mo. Ill. $1 50 + +Two biographies of perennial value. No worthier books were ever offered +as holiday presents for our American young men. + +WALTER NEAL'S EXAMPLE. By _Rev. Theron Brown_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +Walter Neal's Example is by Rev. Theron Brown, the editor of that very +successful paper, _The Youth's Companion_. The story is a touching one, +and is in parts so vivid as to seem drawn from the life.--_N. Y. +Independent._ + +TWO FORTUNE-SEEKERS. Stories by _Rossiter Johnson_, _Louise Chandler +Moulton_, _E. Stuart Phelps_, _Ella Farman_, _etc._ Fully +illustrated $1 50 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +"MISS FARMAN has the very desirable knack of imparting valuable ideas +under the guise of a pleasing story."--_The New Century_. + +MRS. HURD'S NIECE. By _Ella Farman_. Ill. $1 50 + +A thrilling story for the girls, especially for those who think they +have a "mission," to whom we commend sturdy English Hannah, with her +small means, and her grand success. Saidee Hurd is one of the sweetest +girls ever embalmed in story, and Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. + +THE COOKING CLUB OF TU-WHIT HOLLOW. By _Ella Farman_. 16mo. Eight +full-page illustrations $1 25 + +Worth reading by all who delight in domestic romance.--_Fall River Daily +News_. + +The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, are set +in the midst of a bright, wholesome story, and the little housewives who +figure in it are good specimens of very human, but at the same time very +lovable, little American girls. It ought to be the most successful +little girls' book of the season.--_The Advance._ + +A LITTLE WOMAN. By _Ella Farman_. 16m. $1 00 + +The daintiest of all juvenile books. From its merry pages, winsome +Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to help thousands +of young girls. + +A WHITE HAND. By _Ella Farman_. 12m. Ill. $1 50 + +A genuine painting of American society. Millicent and Jack are drawn by +a bold, firm hand. No one can lay this story down until the last leaf is +turned. + +_WIDE AWAKE._ AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE For the Young Folks. $2.00 PER +ANNUM. POSTAGE PREPAID. Edited by ELLA FARMAN. Published by D. LOTHROP & +CO., Boston, Mass. + +It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks +who are no longer little find there lost childhood in its pages. We are +not saying too much when we say that its versatile editor--Ella Farman, +is more fully at home in the child's wonder-land than any other living +American writer. She is thoroughly _en rapport_ with her readers, gives +them now a sugar plum of poesy, now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, +and cunningly intermixes all the solid bread of thought that the child's +mind can digest and assimilate.--_York True Democrat._ + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The $1000 Prize Series. + +_Pronounced by the Examining Committee, Rev. Drs. Lincoln, Rankin and +Day, superior to any similar series._ + +Striking for the Right, $1.75 +Silent Tom, 1.75 +Evening Rest, 1.50 +The Old Stone House, 1.50 +Into the Light, 1.50 +Walter McDonald, 1.50 +Story of the Blount Family, 1.50 +Margaret Worthington, 1.50 +The Wadsworth Boys, 1.50 +Grace Avery's Influence, 1.50 +Glimpses Through, 1.50 +Ralph's Possession, 1.50 +Luck of Alden Farm, 1.50 +Chronicles of Sunset Mountain, 1.50 +The Marble Preacher, 1.50 +Golden Lines, 1.50 + +_Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail, postpaid, on receipt +of price._ + +BOSTON: +D. LOTHROP & CO., PUBLISHERS. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 25882-8.txt or 25882-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/8/25882/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/25882-8.zip b/old/25882-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..850671f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25882-8.zip diff --git a/old/25882.txt b/old/25882.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7f8f81 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25882.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3976 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +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: Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [EBook #25882] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: The Castaways. (Front.)] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +FAMOUS ISLANDS +and +MEMORABLE VOYAGES. + +Boston: +Published by D. Lothrop & Co. +Dover, N.H.: G. T. Day & Co. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I.-- A VENETIAN CRUISER. 9 + + II.-- A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; + OR, CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. 30 + + III.-- THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. 52 + + IV.-- ST. HELENA. 68 + + V.-- THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. 87 + + VI.-- NORFOLK ISLAND. 118 + + VII.-- THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. 165 + +VIII.-- CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. 188 + + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + + + + +A VENETIAN CRUISER. + + +It was late in the year 1431. The port of Venice was filled with ships +from all parts of the world, bringing to her their choicest stores, and +their most costly merchandise, and receiving from her and from her +Grecian possessions rich shiploads of wine and spices, and bales of +finest cotton. + +It would have been a sight never to have been forgotten could we have +gazed then on that city of the sea, have watched the cumbrous barks, so +unlike our light-winged merchant ships, or our swift steamers, which +sailed heavily up and down the blue Adriatic, till they came in sight of +the famous city, the resort of all nations, in whose canals, and among +whose marts and palaces, might be seen the strange dress, and heard the +mingled speech of men from all parts of the civilized world. + +One ship was just leaving the port. The vessel, rather a large one for +those days, seems but poorly manned, and rocks so greatly among the +short white waves, that it is plainly to be seen that she is short of +ballast and lading. She is a Venetian trading vessel, bound first to the +Isle of Candia, where she will complete her cargo and add to the number +of her crew. This Candia or Crete (the very Crete by which St. Paul +passed on his voyage to Italy) was at that time under the hard rule of +Venice, and its poor inhabitants did her service upon land and sea. The +ship stayed at Candia only so long as enabled her to complete her stores +of cotton and spice and wine, which were destined for some northern or +western market, some French or British port. She was deep enough in the +water now, and on her deck lay many an unstowed bale, many a cask of +wine, for which the sad-looking Cretan sailors, in their tunics and +short cloaks, had not yet been able to find room. Sixty-eight men were +now on board, including the patron or owner, Master Piero Quirini, and +Christoforo Fioravanti, the sailing-master. Quirini, in his quaint +Italian dress, looking strangely unlike a modern sailor, stood amid the +piles of merchandise, giving quick orders for its stowage, while the +sailing master made all ready for the long voyage which was just +beginning. + +For in those days a voyage into the western sea was counted, specially +while boisterous autumn gales made sailing difficult, as a long and +hazardous undertaking. They all knew it must be many months ere they +could hope to see home again; but little did any of them guess the +strange sad fortunes which should befall them. The Cretan sailors looked +back wistfully at the groups of their friends, their wives and mothers +and children, whom they had left weeping on the shore, but they did not +think how many there were among them who would never return to tell the +story of their long voyage. But some at least among them knew and felt +that they were in the hands of God for life or for death, and that +nothing could really hurt them if they were "followers of that which is +good." + +The ship at first sailed on prosperously enough. The sea was calm, and +the sky clear above them. The sailors sang their sweet Italian or +Grecian songs, as they hurried to and fro, or leant over the bulwarks, +watching the blue water. + +Their course lay northward now, and wind and wave were sweeping them +toward the perilous northern seas. The days had been already growing +short when the ship left Candia, and now December, with its cold and +darkness, was upon them, and these southern sailors shivered as they met +the keen northern blasts. + +The cold grew sharper than ever on one night toward the end of the year, +but on that very night Master Piero Quirini chose to remain on deck, +braving the winter wind, instead of taking shelter in his warm and +comfortable cabin below. He stood looking eastward with his keen eyes, +his hand shading his face. + +"Come hither, Fioravanti," he called, and the sailing-master approached. +"There is a strange appearance in the sky which affrights me; I fear a +sudden, and violent storm, and then what will befall our ship, thus +heavily laden?" said Quirini. + +The old sailor turned towards the part of the horizon which Quirini had +pointed out; and as he looked, his face changed. "Quick," said he, +calling to the sailors who were nearest, "bid them draw in the sails. +Let the rudder be bound firmly, for the tempest is well nigh on +us--alas! for these terrible northern storms." + +Before he had well finished speaking, his Italian sailors had begun +their work, the slower and more apathetic Greeks needing, even in that +moment of danger, to be urged with many words before they would obey. +Thus it was but slowly that the heavy sails, creaking and swaying in the +wind, were drawn in and bound to the masts, and before half the work was +done, the storm in its full fury had struck the ship, and each man clung +for life to the nearest support, as the reeling vessel ploughed heavily +through the swollen seas. + +"Master, the rudder is gone, the rudder is lost," cried many voices, as +after a sudden lurch forward the ship righted again, and as they cried +out, a fresh blast struck her, and the half-furled sails were torn into +ribbons, and hung useless over the ship's side. + +The morning light found her still driving before the wind, and deep in +the sullen water which rose almost above her sides as she flew faster +than ever before the fierce wind. At length a sudden squall threw her on +her side, while the waters rushed in as if to fill and sink her in a +moment. + +"Ho, men! an axe, an axe!" cried the master; "down with the main-mast!" +and seizing a hatchet which lay at hand, Piero Quirini struck the first +blow at the tall mast, whose weight was dragging down the vessel. Others +with sword, or axe, or any tool which they could snatch at the moment, +followed, and they were but just in time, for before another wave could +wash over the vessel, the mast was floating free, and the ship had +righted once more. The water was baled out with every vessel on which +the men could lay their hands; and this weary work was continued all +through the cold dark night, yet when the morning broke hours behind its +time, as it seemed to the despairing sailors, the water in the hold was +scarcely three inches lower. + +The only hope for the crew lay in taking at once to their boats. There +were two boats belonging to the ship--the pinnace and the skiff; the +first was a long boat, but the skiff, which was considered the safer of +the two, would hold but a smaller number. + +The master called the men round him on the deck, and told them his +decision. "Now, men," said he, "you shall choose your boat; there stands +the notary, Nicolo di Michiel, with his ink-horn and parchment; he shall +write down the names of all who would fain sail in the skiff." + +"Master, there are forty-five for the skiff," said Nicolo, slowly +reckoning the long list of written names; "forty-five, and the skiff, +saith Christoforo Fioravanti, holds but twenty-one." + +"Draw lots, men, we are brothers now in trouble, and none shall have +advantage over the other." + +The lots were drawn, and then the master proceeded to divide between the +two crews the stores of the fast-sinking ship. Bread, cheese, bacon, +tallow and oil, and a little wine, as much as she could carry, were +given to the crew of the skiff, while the master, with forty-six men, +stored in the pinnace what remained on board, and one by one the men +passed over the ship's side, and the boats dropped off into the wide +sea. + +It was calm, the terrible wind had sunk down, and the keen wintry sky +was clear once more, but yet the prospect before them was enough to +trouble the bravest heart. + +They were adrift in the bitter cold in open boats, but ill-supplied for +a long voyage, and were, as they believed, five hundred miles from the +nearest shore. All night a heavy mist hung over them, and when it was +dispersed by the morning sun the crew of the pinnace looked round in +vain for their companions,--the skiff was nowhere to be seen. + +Six days had passed, and all hope of seeing their companion boat had +grown faint, when another storm arose, and the pinnace, heavily laden, +shipped so much water over the sides that all feared she would sink. + +"Mens' lives before wines and spices! precious and costly though they +be," said the master; "we must lighten the boat of all, save a little +needful food and water; linger not, my children, therein lies our only +hope." + +But the days went on, and though the storm passed, and the pinnace still +rode safely on the waters, the hearts of the crew were heavy within +them. The boat was indeed lighter now, for of the forty-seven who had +embarked in her, twenty-six died, and their bodies had been solemnly +committed to the deep, there to wait till, at the voice of God's angel, +the sea shall give up her dead. Solemn indeed must have been the +thoughts of the survivors as they saw one after another of their +comrades summoned from their side to stand before God; no one of them +knew but that he might be called next, and all were sure that if help +did not reach them speedily, none would return home to tell the tale of +their sufferings. Some there were of that crew who, faint, weary, in +want of covering, tortured with thirst, yet held fast their trust in +their Father in Heaven, and cried to Him with agonized prayer to have +mercy on them for Christ's sake. And the prayer for deliverance was +heard. + +It was on the third of January, and the first faint daylight was +stealing over the waters, when one of the crew, looking eagerly round as +he raised himself from uneasy sleep, saw far off a faint line which +seemed to be land. The sun rose higher and colored rose-red the +snow-hooded tops of lofty rocks around the unknown coast. All the hope +and desire of the shipwrecked crew was now to reach this shore, fearing +its unknown dangers but little, compared with the terrible suffering +they had long endured. + +But, alas! the wind had died away, and in vain did they unfurl their +sails, and set their rudder. They must try the oars then, but the arms +of the starving sailors were too weak to move the boat, and they could +do nothing but trust to the force of the waves and the currents which +were bearing her along. It was the sixth of January when they reached +the land, and with great difficulty drew their boat to the beach. They +soon found that they had landed on an uninhabited island, which lay, as +they afterwards found, off the coast of Norway--a strange and foreign +land to the Venetians of those days. + +No sooner did the wasted remnant of the crew set foot on shore than they +rushed to the rocks, climbing them with strength which they had not +thought they possessed, and eagerly gathering the pure white snow in +their hands, bathed their parched lips and dry tongues, drinking again +and again, as if they could never taste enough of this delicious +draught. + +"Now, men, draw the boat higher on shore, ere the tide go out and float +her away," said the master; but when the pinnace was drawn to the dry +sand she was found to be so battered and so full of holes, that they all +saw at once that it was useless to hope that they could ever put to sea +in her again. "We will make her serve for a shelter at least," said +Christoforo, and so, dividing her into two parts, they, with the help of +her sails, made two huts, in which the twenty-one sailors, who alone +were left, might find some slight shelter from the winter wind. + +"Our thirst have we slaked," said Nicolo, "and said grace, I trust, for +the draught; now, by your leave, good master, must we seek for food, +though what food this barren island should afford, I know not." + +All the party dispersed at once in search of provisions, some climbing +the rocks, some wandering along the beach, and some seeking to penetrate +farther inland. Returning towards evening slowly and sadly to the huts, +they examined the store that had been found--a few periwinkles and +barnacles and some other small shell-fish, but a poor feast for so many +famished men. Their search, continued far and wide over the island, +discovered no other food, save a kind of small herb which grew under the +snow. This they ate day after day, and so were able to keep a little +life in them though they were always faint and hungry. + +Five out of the little colony were already dead from cold and hunger and +exhaustion, when one day a sailor wandering farther than he had yet +been, came upon a little hut, empty and deserted, but giving a better +and more comfortable shelter than their sail-covered huts. + +Six of the company determined to live in this new home, thinking that +the chances of finding food for the whole would be increased when they +were more widely scattered on the island. And scarcely had they taken up +their abode in their new quarters, when they were overjoyed by finding +on the beach, close at hand, a large dead fish. They did not know +whether it was a whale or a porpoise, but they saw that it was quite +fresh and fit for food, and every one of them believed that God had sent +this great deliverance in answer to their prayers for help. All hands +turned out to drag the fish to their hut, and no sooner was it safely +housed than a terrible storm broke over the island, which lasted nine +days. So fierce was the wind, so pitiless the tempest, that during all +that time not one of the sailors dare set foot outside the cottage, and +had it not been for the merciful provision which God had bidden the +waves to bring to them, they must all have perished with hunger. + +The fish was at length eaten, not a fin, nor a morsel of flesh remained, +and once more the sailors were forced to seek along the shore for +shell-fish, which was now their only food. Christoforo was one day +seated in the cottage. He had grown white and thin, and his long lank +hair looked dry and rusty, as it hung over his sunken cheeks. He was +gazing listlessly on the dull sea, and on the distant, cloud-like lines +which told of other islands, or may be of the main land far off. + +"If we could only reach those shores," he thought, "may be men dwell +thereon, and we might find food. But we have neither boat nor wood +whereof to make one, neither have we strength to row, so seemeth there +no choice but we must all perish here; the will of God be done." + +Raising his eyes, which had sunk while he pursued these sad thoughts, he +suddenly sprang to his feet, and with a glad shout cried, "Rejoice, +behold two come to seek us," and as he spoke, his companions, looking +out, saw two shepherd lads climbing the hill-side. + +The strangers turned and fled in terror at the sight of man on this +lonely island, and the sailors following to the shore found there a +little boat in charge of an old man. They had learnt some prudence now, +and they approached quietly, making signs of good-will and of humility, +and asking by look and gesture his pity on their great distress. The two +lads soon came down and joined their father, and though none of the +three could understand a word of the Italian speech, it chanced that +there was one among the sailors, Girado da Lione by name, who had learnt +a few words of Norwegian, and by means of this interpreter they managed +to tell the visitors of their terrible needs. + +The little boat would hold but two besides its owners, and Girado da +Lione and Bernardo the pilot were chosen to accompany the shepherds to +their home, and to get help to bring off all who remained of the +shipwrecked crew. On their way they questioned the shepherd, as well as +they could, on the cause of his journey to the island. + +"A strange reason was it, truly, my friends," answered the old man, "but +my son can tell you better than I. Speak, my son." + +The younger of the two oarsmen, a lad of about sixteen, answered +bashfully: "It was a dream, strangers, that led our boat to that shore. +My father had lost two heifers, white were they, with black stars on +their forehead and there were none like them in the island where we +dwell. Long did we seek our missing kine, and great was our sorrow when +we found them not; but last night I dreamed that I saw them feeding upon +this island, the cliffs of which we can sometimes see from our home. +When I awakened I persuaded my father to take the boat and let us row to +the island." + +"We found not our heifers," said the old fisherman, smiling, "but, thank +the good God, we found men. Doubtless it was God who sent my son this +dream, that so we might be in time to save you." + +They were soon received by a crowd of eager peasants, who crowded down +to the beach, when the story of the rescue spread. They were in another +island now, far larger, and moreover cultivated and inhabited, and food +was given them, and shelter offered, and clean clothes brought to +replace their own ragged and dirty garments. But of course the first +anxiety of the two rescued sailors was to send relief to their +companions at the hut, and to those who might yet remain alive on the +other side of the island. The kind islanders prepared quite a fleet of +little boats in which to hasten to the rescue of these poor deserted +men, but at the huts which they had first built, only five were found +alive, and their new friends prepared with sad hearts to bury the dead +as well as to save the living. + +The eleven survivors grasped each other's hands with feeling too deep +for words; they the only ones left of the sixty-eight who, in full +health and strength, had left the shores of Candia. "Truly," said one, +"we had been swallowed up of the sea, if our Lord Jesus Christ had not +been merciful to us, who forsaketh not them that religiously call upon +Him." + +"Now we must part," said they among themselves, "and seek our way to +Venice on foot or by sea, as we may find means. Sad news bring we +thither, and many heavy hearts must we make. But God has spared us to +our dear ones, and let us few that remain remember that we live only to +commend to memory, and highly to exalt, the great power of God." + + + + +A WINTER IN THE NORTHERN SEAS; +OR, +CAPTAIN JAMES'S JOURNAL. + + +The following passages are taken from the journal kept by Captain James, +the commander of a vessel bound for the northern seas. His ship, having +on board a crew of twenty-two men, left England in May, 1631, to attempt +the discovery of the long-desired North-West Passage. After terrible +storms and disasters, the ship being fast-locked in ice the adventurers +were compelled to winter in the Arctic regions; and, as the journal +relates, proceeded to make preparations for passing the long months on +an uninhabited island near to the ship. The extracts from the diary tell +the story of those months, speaking in words which need no comment, of +high hope, of constant courage, and of a sincere and true-hearted +dependence on God. Throughout all the disappointments and perils of his +expedition, Captain James seems ever to have kept alive trust in God, +and a sure belief that all that could befall him and his, would be +directed by an All-wise hand; thus his heart did not fail even in the +midst of overwhelming perils and disasters. + +These brave men were not ashamed to own their entire dependence on God's +help, and we find here, as elsewhere, that it is ever the strongest who +best know their own weakness--that the noblest are ever the most humble, +the most ready to acknowledge the Divine Source of all their courage. + +And the heroes whom English boys love to remember, and desire to +imitate, have, in proportion as they were true heroes, unselfish, +generous, brave, been also the most true and faithful servants of that +God who is the source of all strength, all love, all tenderness and +truth. + +"Oct. 7.--It snowed all day, so that we had to clear it off the decks +with shovels, and it blew a very storm withal. The sun did shine very +clear, and we tore the topsails out of the tops, which were hard frozen +in them into a lump, the sun not having power to thaw one drop of them. +Seeing therefore that we could no longer make use of our sails, it +raised many doubts in our minds that here we must stay and winter. The +sick men desired that some little house or hovel might be built ashore, +whereby they might be the better sheltered. I took the carpenter, and +choosing out a place, they went immediately to work upon it, while I +myself wandered up and down in the woods to see if we could discover any +signs of savages, but we found no appearance of any on this island. + +Oct. 12.--We took our mainsail, which was hard frozen, and carried it +ashore to cover our house, first thawing it by a great fire; by night +they had covered it, and had almost hedged it about, and our six +builders desired they might travel up into the country to see what they +could discover. + +Oct. 15.--This evening our hunters returned very weary, and brought with +them a small, lean deer, which rejoiced us all, hoping we should have +more of them to refresh our sick. + +Nov. 10.--I urged the men to make traps to catch foxes, for we did daily +see many, and I promised that whosoever could take one of them should +have the skin for his reward. + +Nov. 17.--I have lain ashore each night until now, all which time have +our miseries increased; and, looking from the shore towards the ship, +she doth look like a piece of ice in the fashion of a ship; the snow is +frozen all about her, and all her forepart is firm ice. + +Nov. 25.--The wind shifted easterly, and we encouraged one another, and +to work we go, our endeavor being to put the ship to the shore. This +evening we broke through the ice, and put an anchor to keep her to shore +if possible. Here Sir Hugh Willoughby came into my mind, who without +doubt was driven out of his harbor in this manner, and so starved at +sea. But God was more merciful to us. + +Nov. 20.--I resolved, for the greater safety of the ship, to sink her +right down, but she would not sink so fast as we would have her. At +noon-day the water rose and beat the bulk-heads of the bread-room, +powder-room, and forepiece, all to pieces; thus she continued till +three, and then the sea came up on the upper deck, and soon after she +began to settle. We were seventeen poor souls now in the boat, and we +now imagined that we had leaped out of the frying-pan into the fire, for +we thought assuredly the ebb would carry us away into the sea. We +therefore doubled-manned four oars, and so, with the help of God, we got +to the shore. Being there arrived, we greeted our fellows the best we +could; at which time they could not know us, nor we them by our habits +nor voices, so frozen all over we were, faces, hair, and apparel. I +comforted them the best I could, saying, "My masters and faithful +companions, be not dismayed for any of these disasters, but let us put +our whole trust in God; it is He that giveth and He that taketh away. +His will be done. If it be our fortunes to end our days here, we are as +near heaven as in England, and we are much bound to God Almighty for +giving us so large a time of repentance. I make no doubt but He will be +merciful to us both here on earth, and in His blessed kingdom." + +Dec. 1.--To-day it is so cold that firm ice has formed over the +boat-track, and we can reach the ship on foot; we have brought over on +our backs five hundred fish, and much of our bedding and clothes, which +we had to dig out of the ice. + +Dec. 10.--We have been busied this past week, save on Sunday, when we +rested and performed the Sabbath duties of a Christian, in bringing +hither stores from the ship--now bearing them over firm ice, and now +wading knee-deep in half-frozen water. I will here describe the house +which we have built to shelter us withal. It is among a tuft of thick +trees, under a south bank, about a bow-shot from the seaside; it is +square, and about twenty feet every way. First we drove strong stakes +into the earth round about, which we wattled with boughs as thick as +might be, beating them down very close. At the ends we left two holes +for the light to come in at, and the same way the smoke did pass out +also. Then we cut down trees into lengths of six feet, with which we +made a pile on both sides. We left a little low door to creep into, and +a porch was before that, made with piles of wood. We next fastened a +rough tree aloft over all, upon which we laid our rafters and our roof. +On the inside, we made fast our sails round about. Now have we driven in +stakes and made us bedstead frames, about three sides of the house. We +have made our hearth in the middle of the house, and on it our fire. +This house we propose to call our mansion, as we have built two smaller +near by for our kitchen and our store-house. + +Dec. 31.--Our mansion is now covered thick with snow, almost to the very +roof of it; we do not go out save we first shovel away the snow, and +then by treading, make it somewhat hard under foot. We have got our boat +ashore, and fetched up some of our provisions from the beach, with +extremity of cold and labor; and thus we concluded the old year 1631. + +Jan. 2, 1632.--I observed the sun to rise like an oval along the +horizon; I called three or four to see it, the better to confirm my +judgment; and we all agreed that it was twice as long as it was broad. +We plainly perceived withal, that by degrees as it rose higher it also +recovered its soundness. + +Jan. 30.--But little worthy the writing has happened to us this month. +The men grow daily weaker, and our stores less. We have three sorts of +sick men--those that cannot move nor turn themselves in their beds, who +must be tended like infants; those that are as it were crippled; and +those that are something better, but afflicted with sore mouths. These +last make shift to work; they go to work through the snow to the ship, +and about their other business. Our cook doth order our food in this +manner. The beef which is to serve on Sunday night to supper, he doth +boil on Saturday night in a kettle full of water, with a quart of +oatmeal, about an hour. Then taking the beef out, he doth boil the rest +till it is thick, which we call porridge, which, with bread, we do eat +as hot as we may; and after this we have fish, and thus we have some +warm thing every supper. + +But many of our sick eat nought save a little oatmeal or pease. Hitherto +we have taken but a dozen foxes in all our traps. + +Feb. 10.--The cold is as extreme just now as at any time this year, and +many of our men complain heavily of sickness; two-thirds of our company +are under the surgeon's hand. And yet, nevertheless, they must work +daily, and go abroad to fetch wood and timber notwithstanding the most +of them have no shoes to put on. Their shoes, upon their coming to the +fire out of the snow, were burnt and scorched upon their feet, and they +were forced to bind old clothes about their feet. Our clock and watch, +though we have kept them ever by the fireside, yet they are so frozen +that they cannot go. The inside of our house is hanged with icicles, and +many a time when I put my hand into the brass kettle by the fire, I find +one side very warm, and the other side an inch frozen. + +Mar. 15.--One of our men thinks that he has seen a deer, whereupon he +with two or three more desire that they may go and see if they can take +it, and I have given them leave. + +Mar. 16.--Last evening did our hunters return, not having seen the deer, +but so disabled with cold, that they will not be well in a fortnight. + +[Illustration: Return of the Hunters. (Page 40.)] + +Mar. 31.--Our carpenter is now among our sick, his cutting tools are but +few, and these mostly broken and bound about with rope-yarn as fast as +may be. Thus our pinnace, on which lyeth so much of our hope of escape, +is but in an indifferent forwardness. + +April 4.--To-day we have been sitting all about the fire, reasoning and +considering together about our estate. The time and season of the year +comes forward apace, and we have determined on this course. With the +first warm weather we will begin to clear the ship from the ice and +water, so that should the pinnace never be finished, as seemeth in doubt +through the sickness of our carpenter, we might yet have some hope in +our old ship to complete our enterprise, and to return home. + +April 6.--This day is the deepest snow we have had all this year; it +hath filled up all our paths and ways. + +April 16.--This is the most comfortable sunshine that hath come this +year, and I have put some to clear off the snow from the upper decks of +the ship, and to clear and dry the great cabin by making fire in it. +Others have I put to dig down through the ice to come by our anchor. + +April 25.--Now have we labored so hard that we are mightily encouraged, +for the water doth rise without the ship, and yet doth not make its way +into the hold. I have bid the cook that he pour hot water into the +pumps, and so thaw them. + +April 27.--One of the pumps is cleared, and by means of this we have +drawn two feet of water from the hold, and we find to our satisfaction +that it doth not rise again. + +May 2.--It doth snow and blow so that we must keep house all day; our +sick men are so grieved at this unexpected cold that they grow worse and +worse. + +May 3.--To-day some of the snow melted on the land, and some cranes and +geese have come to it. I and the surgeon have been with a couple of +fowling-pieces to see if we could kill any for our sick men, but never +did I see such wild-fowl; they would not endure to see anything move, +therefore we have been obliged to return empty-handed and wearied. + +May 9.--We have at last come to and got up our five barrels of beef and +pork which were sunk in the hold, and we have also found four butts of +beer, which will be as a cordial to our sick men. God make us ever +thankful for the comforts that He gives us! + +May 13.--This is the Sabbath day, which we have solemnized, giving God +thanks for those hopes and comforts which we daily have. + +May 21.--This is the warmest day we have yet had. Two of my men have I +sent a fowling, and myself, the master, the surgeon, and one more with +our guns and our dogs, have been into the woods to see what comfort we +could find. We have wandered full eight miles from the house, and have +searched with all diligence, but returned comfortless; not an herb, no +leaf eatable, that we could find. Our fowlers have had as bad success. +The snow is by this time pretty well wasted in the woods. We have a high +tree on the highest part of the island which we call our watch-tree, and +from the top thereof we can see far over the seas, but we find no +appearance of breaking up yet. + +May 24.--Very warm sunshine. The ice doth consume by the shore side, and +cracks all over the bay with a fearful noise. This morning I sent two to +search for the ship's rudder, which was buried among the ice, and a +fortunate fellow, one David Hammon, pecking between the broken blocks, +struck upon it, who crying out that he had found it, the rest came and +got it up on the ice, and so into the ship. O, this was a joyful day to +us all; and we gave God thanks for the hopes we had of it. + +May 31.--We have found some vetches on the beach, which I have made the +men pick up, and boil for their sick comrades. + +June 4.--These four days hath it snowed, hailed, and blown hard; and it +hath been so cold that the water in our cans did freeze in the very +house, our clothes also, that had been washed and hung out to dry, did +not thaw all day. + +June 15.--This day I went to our watch-tree, but the sea was still firm +and frozen, and the bay we were in was full of ice. + +June 16.--Here have there lately appeared divers sorts of flies, and +such an abundance of mosquitoes, that we are more tormented with them +than ever we were with the cold weather. Here be likewise ants, and +frogs in the ponds upon the land, but we durst not eat of them, they +looked so speckled like toads. By this time there are neither bears, +foxes, nor fowl, to be seen; they are all gone. + +June 17.--At high water we did heave our ship with such good-will that +we heaved her through the sand into a foot and a half deeper water. +After we had moored her we went all to prayers, and gave God thanks that +had given us our ship again. + +June 19.--There hath been the highest tide that we have known since we +have been here, and in a happy hour have we got our ship off. This +evening I went up to our watch-tree; and this was the first time I could +see any open water, anyway, except that little by the shore-side. This +sight gave us some comfort. + +June 22.--We have sounded all about the ship, where she was sunken, and +find it very bad ground, with stones three feet high, and two of them +within a ship's breadth of the ship, wherein did more manifestly appear +God's mercies to us; for if when we forced her ashore she had stricken +one blow against these stones, it had broken her. + +June 24.--The wind hath put all the ice upon us, so that for a while we +were in such apparent danger that I verily thought we should have lost +our ship. With poles and oars did we heave away and part the ice from +her. But it was God that did protect and preserve us; for it was past +any man's understanding how the ship could endure it, or we by our labor +save her. + +June 26.--These have been indeed days of fear and of confusion, but +also, in the end, of comfort. Yesterday evening I went up to our +watch-tree, taking a man with me, who should make a fire on the highest +place of the island, to see if it would be answered. When I was come to +the tree I laid down my lance, and while I climbed up to the top of the +tree, I ordered him to set fire to some decayed wood thereabouts. He +unadvisedly set light to some trees that were to windward, so that they +and all the rest too, by reason it had been very hot weather, took fire +like flax or hemp; and the wind blowing the fire towards me, I made +haste down the tree. But before I was half way down, the fire reached +its stem, and blazed so fiercely upwards, that I had to leap off the +tree and down a steep hill, and in brief, with much ado escaped burning. +My companion at last came to me, and was joyful to see me, for he +thought verily I had been burned. And thus we went homewards together, +leaving the fire increasing, and still burning most furiously. I slept +but little all night; and at break of day I made all our powder and beef +to be carried aboard. This morning I went to the hills to look to the +fire, where I saw it did still burn most furiously, both to the westward +and northward. Leaving a man upon the hills to watch it, I came home +immediately and made the men take down our new set of sails immediately +and carry them to the seaside, ready to be cast in, if occasion were, +and to make ready to take down our houses. About noon the wind changed, +and our sentinel came running home, bringing us word that the fire did +follow him hard at his heels, like a train of powder. It was no need to +bid us take down and carry all away to the seaside. The fire came +towards us with a most terrible rattling noise, a full mile in breadth, +and by the time we had unroofed our houses, and laid hands on our last +things, the fire was come to our town, and seized on it, and burnt it +down to the ground. Our dogs howled, and then ran into the sea. To-night +shall we lie all aboard the ship, and give God thanks that he has +shipped us in her again. + +[Illustration: Climbing the watch-tree. (Page 47)] + +June 29.--These three days have we wrought hard in fetching our things +aboard, as likewise our water, and have been all about the eastern +point, searching for driftwood. Our pinnace, on which hath been spent so +much time and labor, we need not, having our ship afloat again, +wherefore I have commended her to be sawn in pieces and brought into the +ship. + +June 30.--To-day have we most earnestly continued our labor, and by +eleven this night was our ship in readiness, for we have sought to +finish our business with the week and the month, that so we might the +better solemnize the Sabbath ashore to-morrow, and so take leave of our +wintering island. + +July 1.--To-day, the first of the month, being Sunday, we were up +betimes. We went ashore, and first we marched up to the high cross we +had put up to mark the graves of our dead companions. There we had +morning prayer, and walked up and down till dinner-time. After dinner we +walked to the highest hills to see which way the fire had wafted. We saw +that it had consumed to the westward sixteen miles at least, and the +whole breadth of the island; near about our cross and our dead it could +not come, because it was a bare sandy hill. After evening prayer we went +up to take the last view of our dead, and then we presently took boat +and departed, and never put foot more on that island; but in our ship we +went to prayer, beseeching God to continue His mercies to us, and +rendering Him thanks for having thus restored us. Now go we on our +discovery, which achieved, I purpose surely to return to England, unless +it should please God to take us first into His heavenly kingdom. And so +desiring the happiness of all mankind in our general Saviour Jesus +Christ, I end this, my journal, written on the island." + + + + +THE DISCOVERERS OF MADEIRA. + + +It was during the merry days of the reign of King Edward III. of +England, that a little ship left the port of Bristol, sailing suddenly +and secretly, so that none knew to what port she was bound. + +She was no trading vessel laden with English goods for Calais, for her +crew was not composed of sailors; there were on board only a few men, +and these wore the dress of English gentlemen. The strange crew, the +secret departure, all told the tale of some danger from which they were +seeking to escape, and had we been on board we should have seen by the +anxious faces of the crew, by the quick, eager glances with which they +watched the shores as they sailed out of the Bristol Channel, that they +feared pursuit, either for themselves or for some one whom they had in +charge. Though not really sailors, they were doing their best to guide +the little vessel, and they had chosen for captain a young Englishman +called Lionel Machin, whose directions they obeyed, and in whom they +appeared to have full confidence. + +It was for Lionel's sake that the party of friends were now making their +escape from England. He had married a girl whom he had long loved, but +he had not gained the consent of her father and mother. They were +powerful and rich, and he had reason to fear that his young wife would +be taken from him through their influence with the king, and therefore +he had determined to seek a French port, and to hide himself and wife in +some French city which did not own Edward as its king. + +But, ignorant as they were of navigation, it was no easy matter for them +to direct their course aright, and, high winds springing up, they were +beaten about for five days without catching sight of the coast of +France. They did not know in what direction they were being carried, and +all on board, especially the new-made wife, were full of uneasiness and +dismay. Lionel encouraged Arabella with loving and hopeful words, even +when his own heart was sinking low, but his friends, who had come only +for his sake, and without well considering the dangers and risks which +they might encounter, were fast losing spirit and hope. Their merry +adventure seemed to be turning into sad earnest, and these light-hearted +lads, having nothing to sustain their courage when pleasure was gone, +now vented their disappointment in continual murmurs and regrets. + +Arabella herself tried to seem indifferent to their danger, and secure +in Lionel's care; she hid her tears, lest they might grieve her husband; +but when she thought that no one saw her, she gave herself up to sorrow +and despair. She thought of her father and mother whom she had left +secretly, lest they should forbid her marriage with Lionel, and she +longed with an aching heart for one word of love and forgiveness. For +hours she would sit, her eyes turned toward that part of the horizon +where she had last seen the coast of England, her thoughts busied about +her old home: her father, taking his pleasures with a sad heart; her +little sister, weeping for her lost playmate; and, most of all, her +mother, upright and dry-eyed, after the stern fashion of the day, but +yet, as Arabella well knew, ever thinking of her absent and disobedient +child, ever missing the light step, the loving smile, the tender touch +of the daughter she had loved so well. + +But Lionel still kept up heart and hope, still spoke gaily of the new +home they would soon make in sunny France--yes, even when day after day +passed by, and the watchers saw no land, and knew that they must be +drifting far out of their course, away into the wide unknown ocean. They +had been at sea more than a month when one morning early, Lionel, who +was pacing the deck, heard behind him a sudden shout of joy. + +He did not turn, for there were tears in his eyes which he must hide +from his companions, for he had now, for the first time, learned from +his wife of her repentance and her grief, and he too was sad at heart +and well-nigh hopeless. But the shout was repeated and taken up by other +voices. + +"Land, land at last!" they cried, and Lionel turned to see, far in the +distance, the tall sharp outline either of a rock or of the cliffs which +guarded some unknown shore. Wind and wave were steadily sweeping the +vessel onward towards this haven of refuge, and there was nothing to do +but to watch the sharpening outlines, and to see, as fog and mist +cleared before the sun, the sheer dark rocks and deep valleys of their +new home. + +Nearer still and nearer, till the land was full in sight, and the +famished and wearied crew could see the green valleys and tree-covered +heights of this lovely island, could almost hear the fall of the clear +waters which they saw glancing down the face of the rocks. + +What land it was they knew not. No houses were to be seen, no ships or +canoes flew out from under the shelter of the shore, no natives gathered +in fear or wonder on the silent silver beach, only a number of +bright-winged birds came as if to greet the new-comers, and settled +fearless on the sails and ropes. + +Quickly the ship's one boat was lowered, and some of Lionel's +companions, well armed, put off for the unknown shore. Lionel would fain +have been of the number, but neither Arabella nor his friends would +permit him to run this risk. Ere long the boat returned, and the +adventurers climbed on board as eager to speak as were their companions +to hear. + +"A dainty and delicious country, truly, Captain Lionel, but men we saw +none," said the first speaker. + +"The beasts thereon are tame, and have no fear of man," continued +another. + +"Yea, and the land is a garden of flowers, and the air soft, that it +would give back health to the dying; there will your fair wife recover +her bloom, and we all shall rest after our grievous toil." + +"Fruits are there in plenty, they dropped on us from the trees as we +walked," added the first. + +"Here at last we have found a haven," answered Lionel; "here, my kinsmen +and faithful friends, may you regain the strength you have lost in my +cause, yea, and win your pardon in England by this fair news. Arabella, +you will soon be strong again," and Lionel, though he spoke confidently, +looked with evident anxiety toward the pale face which bore the traces +of sorrow as well as of sickness. + +Soon the whole party, save some few who remained in charge of the ship, +were on land, wandering with the glee of schoolboys over the green +plains and wooded hills on which they seemed to be the first to set +foot. Choosing a sheltered spot among the laurels and near to the bend +of the river, the new lords of the island soon built a shelter for +themselves, and brought thither stores from the ship. + +In this happy retreat the fugitives spent nearly a fortnight, seeming to +forget, in the peace and rest of the present, their past wrong-doing and +their past disasters. + +But on the thirteenth day a sudden and violent storm broke over the +island. The ship was driven from her anchorage by the force of the wind +and waves, and was carried, with those of the company then on board, +toward the north coast of Africa, where she was at last completely +wrecked. The crew escaped with their lives, but only to fall into the +hands of the Moors, who, regarding all Christian nations as their +enemies, immediately seized those poor English gentlemen as slaves. + +Lionel and the few companions who were left with him on the island, +grieved deeply for the loss of their companions, though they knew not +the terrible fate which had befallen them. And mingled with their sorrow +was penitence too, for the wrong act which had, as they felt, brought on +them this deserved punishment. But Arabella's grief was deeper; from the +time when this new disaster befell them she never spoke, but sat gazing +ever over the now calm sea which parted her from her home; and thus she +pined and died, deeply oppressed with grief, and not comforted with the +assurance of the pardon which Christ the Saviour gives to all who repent +and turn from sin. + +Lionel could not endure without her the life which he had sought for her +sake, and ere long he, too, died in the arms of his weeping friends, and +husband and wife were buried at the foot of the laurels which had been +their shelter. + +The remaining adventurers determined at any risk to leave the island in +the little boat which still remained to them, for the place now became +distasteful; but before they sailed they set up over the grave of the +husband and wife a wooden cross, on which were carved their names. Then, +following the wish of Lionel, they added below a request that if any +Christians should hereafter come to dwell in this island, they would +build over the grave a church, in which our Saviour Jesus might be +worshipped and adored. + +The little boat being now ready and stored with birds and other food as +provisions for their voyage, they set sail, but were, like their +companions, cast on the coast of Africa, and made slaves with those who +had gone before them. But the poor Englishmen were not the only +captives, for in those times shipwrecked sailors from all parts of +Europe were held in cruel slavery by the Moors. + +Side by side with the companions of Lionel worked a young Spanish sailor +named Jean de Morales, and, glad of any relief from the toil and tedium +of their sad life, he listened eagerly to the often-repeated story of +the lovely and beautiful island. Of this unknown land he dreamed and +thought continually, longing for freedom that he might discover and +tread its silent shores, for he was of a nation eager for discovery, and +the highest rewards and honors were not thought too great for him who +should add a new country to the dominions of the crown of Castile. + +At length it happened that a sum of money was sent to Barbary, to ransom +some of the Spanish captives, and Jean de Morales was amongst those set +at liberty: but the ship in which, with glad heart and high hopes, he +sailed for Spain, was captured on its way by a Portuguese man-of-war, +under Jean Gonsalie Lascoe. All the captives from Barbary, who had +already suffered so much, were permitted to continue their journey home, +save only Jean de Morales. + +This one exception was made because the Portuguese captain was not +willing to give to Spain the glory of the discovery which the Castilian +sailor was longing to attempt. Jean de Morales was, however, kindly +treated, and at last took service with the Portuguese, his attachment to +his native land being doubtless weakened by his long captivity. + +Very soon, ships were sent out by Portugal commanded by Gonsalie, with +Jean de Morales on board, to seek this new and unclaimed island. The +vessels first held their course for the Island of Porto Sanco, near +which the new island was supposed to lie, for seen from Porto Sanco +toward the north-east was a heavy cloud, sometimes brighter, sometimes +darker, but never wholly dispersed. + +The ignorant and superstitious inhabitants had many wonderful stories to +relate of this cloud; they all believed that no ship could safely +approach it. Some held it to be an island hanging between heaven and +earth, in which some Christians had been hidden by God from the power of +their Moorish foes, some that it led into the land of spirits. Towards +this cloud Gonsalie steered his ships, in spite of the murmurs and +almost the open mutiny of his terrified crew. "The shadow is but a +mist," said he, "a cloud caused by the heat of the sun's rays drawing +the moisture from the land beneath; have no fear, my children, for those +who do their duty will God protect." + +Through the mists and heavy clouds they sailed on, and at last emerged +into clear, pure air, to see fair before them the island of their hopes. +The sailors who had before resisted the captain's will, now fell on +their knees begging his forgiveness, and praying to be allowed to land +at once and wander through the valleys of this lovely land. Soon +Gonsalie, Jean de Morales, and some of the sailors pulled through the +surf and set foot on the island, which they called Madeira, because it +was so well wooded. They landed almost on the very spot where Lionel and +Arabella had first come on shore, and before long the new-comers stood +in reverence and in pity by the graves of the first discoverers. + +The island was formally taken possession of in the name of the King of +Portugal, and before long a colony was sent thither, Gonsalie being +appointed governor. + +Then the dying wish of Lionel was granted, and over his grave was built +a church, in which the new inhabitants might worship God. + +This is the story which we have received as the history of the discovery +of the island of Madeira, now so well and so familiarly known to us, +where many of our own countrymen go year by year, seeking to recover +health and strength amongst the sheltered and wooded vales where the +English husband and wife found their last refuge. + +[Illustration: Visiting the Graves. (Page 66.)] + +The history was written in Portuguese by Don Francesco Alcafarado, a +noble at the court of King John I. of Portugal. He was himself one of +the discoverers. It is considered possible that some of the details +which he has given may have been altered in his memory, or confused by +those from whom he heard the story of Lionel and Arabella, but there +seems no reason to doubt the chief facts which he relates. The cross +erected over the graves of the husband and wife was preserved in Madeira +till at least the early part of this century, and possibly is still to +be seen. + + + + +ST. HELENA. + + +In the days when voyages were more tedious and dangerous than they are +now, when steam was unknown, and the art of navigation little studied, +it was especially important to secure safe resting-places for vessels +bound on distant voyages. Halfway ports where the health of the sailors +might be recruited, where the ship often battered and leaking, might be +repaired, and stored once more with water and fresh vegetables, were +absolutely essential to safe and profitable commerce. + +But until about the year 1500 the Venetian traders to India had found no +such harbor of refuge in the South Atlantic. Their ships came and went +nevertheless, and if many were lost, yet the profits of the trade were +such as to repay the merchants for many a bale of rich goods which lay +beneath the waters, and to lead Venice to guard as one of her most +valuable rights the trade with India. + +The Portuguese also were merchants and explorers, and had a large and +important navy, and they were not content to leave the Indian traffic +wholly in the hands of the Venetians. Therefore about the year 1501 +three vessels were sent out to India by the Portuguese Government. On +their return voyage during May of the following year a sudden and +violent storm overtook them. + +They were in the midst of the wide Atlantic, driven backwards and +forwards by the furious wind and waves. + +One of the ships was separated from the other two, and was in greater +danger. All hope of guiding her was at an end, and the captain and crew +stood waiting in despair for the death which could not be far distant. + +It seems probable from that which afterwards happened, that some at +least among the sailors thought, in their danger, on God, and cried to +Him to save them. And we may well believe this to have been so. There +are but few who when trouble is near forget God. It is in smooth and +fair water, in calm and sunshine, that we are so ready to think that we +can guide and help ourselves. When the clouds gather, and the +storm-winds blow, then we cry unto God in our trouble. And God is so +good that He does not turn away from those who call on Him in their +need, even when in their joy they had turned away from Him. + +Help came to these sailors tossed on the wide, wild sea, but it did not +come in the way that they had hoped. At first it seemed only like +greater peril, for through the haze which darkened the sea, the dim +outline of land was seen, standing high, sharp, and dark against the +sky. + +What land it could be they did not know. In such rough charts as they +possessed, no rock even was marked, no speck of land for many hundred +miles on either side the place where they were now fighting for their +lives. + +The ship was driven nearer and nearer, and, so far as the mariners could +tell, they were being driven to certain destruction, for what ship could +hope to avoid the terrible wall of rocks before them, or live in the +white seething waters which boiled at its foot. A shout, an eager +wondering cry, from one of the sailors, roused his comrades; he was +pointing to a narrow inlet between the rocks, on either side of which +the sand lay smooth and low--if they could only gain that opening there +might yet be hope. But the ship was past all guidance, and the only +chance of life seemed to lie in the boats, which might be directed up +the narrow inlet, so that the men might land in safety on its shores. At +last the anxious, terrified sailors stood safely on the beach, watching +the still raging sea as it washed to their feet plank and mast and +rudder of their now broken ship. + +Their first thought was to offer thanks to God who had delivered them, +and then they began to look around at this strange unknown land on which +they had been thrown. + +"Let us build ourselves a shelter with the planks of the broken ship, +she will never sail blue water again," said one sailor. + +"Nay," replied another, "rather let us build a house for God, let us +leave a church on this island. We need no shelter in the warm May +weather, no rain will fall for months yet, I warrant, and some of those +rare trees yonder will be our fittest roof." + +"But of what use can a church be when none dwell here to worship?" asked +a third. + +"Doubtless many will come to dwell here when we return home and tell the +story of the new land, and many ships will stay here to rest the sailors +and to gather stores. Were it not well done that they should find +prepared a place which should remind them of their duty to their God, +and of His care of them?" + +"And," said the captain, speaking now for the first time, "were it not +well done that we, whom He has so wonderfully preserved, should try even +in this imperfect fashion to show our gratitude? He will accept even +such poor service, therefore, in my judgment, let it be done." + +"Let it be done," cried all, and, as if impatient to begin, the sailors +rushed knee-deep into the sea, seizing and drawing high on the beach the +floating spars and planks ready for their new service. + +But before such work could be begun it was needful to explore the new +land, to search for any traces of inhabitants, and above all to +discover, if possible, food and water to refresh themselves. + +There was one high peak, towering above the many hills which crowned the +island, and towards this a party of sailors made their way, keeping +closely together for fear that the natives of the land might suddenly +attack them from rock or thicket. + +The steep, rugged, broken hill was scaled at last, and from its summit +the adventurers looked down on their place of refuge. They were on an +island, which seemed to be some miles in length; it was thickly covered +with trees, and in one part a broad, open plain, fresh and fertile, +stretched before them. There were many streams, dancing merrily down the +broken cliffs, or shaded by tall tree-ferns and waving grasses. But +nowhere was there any sign of human habitation; no palm-roofed huts, no +canoes, no figures crossing the open spaces between the trees. And not +only man, but even animals seemed wanting here. + +The place was a complete solitude; the sea-birds had not strayed farther +than the cliffs where their nests were made, and save one little brown +bird, not unlike a sparrow, which chirped among the boughs, the sailors +neither heard nor saw any signs of life. + +Fruit there was in abundance on the trees, and with this spoil they +hastened back to their comrades, who had meanwhile been exploring the +sides of the inlet. + +A shout from the party of these explorers told the descending sailors +that some discovery had been made, and as they came nearer they saw that +a fire had been kindled on the beach, though with what object it was +hard to guess. + +They were not long left in doubt, for shouts of "Turtle, turtle! come +and see the turtle we have cooked for dinner!" caused them to hasten to +the fire, on which was now seething an immense turtle, great numbers of +which were to be seen crawling along the beach. + +The fruit was a welcome addition to the feast, and the sailors were soon +forgetting peril and disaster over a hearty and refreshing repast. + +Then the whole party stretched themselves at ease under the trees; they +recounted to each other their adventures and discoveries. It was clear +that they were on an island, and that this island was far distant from +any known land. There appeared no doubt that it was uninhabited and +unknown, and great was the satisfaction of the captain in the thought of +carrying home to Portugal the tidings of a discovery so important. For +all saw what great service would be done to Portuguese commerce by the +establishment of a half-way station on their return from India, and the +feeling of regret for their lost ship was swallowed up and forgotten in +delight at the honor which they should receive at having first planted +the flag of Portugal on the Island of St. Helena, for thus did the +captain name the newly-found island. + +The sailors made no doubt that now the violence of the storm was over, +that they would soon be rescued from their imprisonment by the other +ships, and meanwhile they set heartily to work to build their church. + +The ship's carpenter undertook the principal directions, while the +captain determined on the best site for the new building, and marked its +outline on the turf. + +Willing hands made the work light, and ere many days had passed the +church began to rise, plank by plank, amid the palm-trees and leafy +shade around. + +The two remaining ships soon arrived, and their crews stayed long enough +to complete the church, and to lay in a store of fruit, turtles, and +fresh water, and then all set sail for Portugal, and St. Helena for long +years was henceforth reckoned among the possessions of that crown. + +But though highly prized as a resting-place for ships, it did not at +first become a colony. Two small dwellings were built on either side the +church, but none inhabited them for about twelve years, when a +Portuguese nobleman, named Lopez, came to live there in banishment, with +no companions but three or four negro slaves, who under his direction, +cultivated the soil, planted and reared many new kinds of trees and +fruits, and tended the fowls and animals which were abundantly supplied +for his needs. + +He did not, however, continue many years in St. Helena, and long the +island remained without inhabitants. + +Sometimes a passing ship would leave one or more of her crew, who were +ill, that they might be restored by the vegetables and fruits, the pure +air and clear water of the island. + +It happened once, nearly ninety years after the first discovery, that an +English crew landed for refreshment, and wandering about the island +approached the little church. They believed themselves the only human +beings on the island, and were therefore greatly surprised to hear a +voice singing within the church. + +"It is a Portuguese," they said one to another, "let us enter and make +him prisoner." + +Without another word the doors were thrown open, and there kneeling +alone in the church, they discovered a strange figure, wild and +terrified, dressed in a rough suit of goat-skin. + +"Who are you?" cried the foremost of the sailors, forgetting that the +supposed Portuguese was not likely to answer an English question; but +the man started to his feet at the words, gazed round him, looking one +by one into the eager and wondering faces before him, and then, as if he +could no longer contain his joy, he rushed towards them, and threw +himself into the arms of the foremost. + +He, in his turn, had feared that the new-comers were Portuguese, and the +poor English sailor, for such he was, had endured an agony of terror +till the sound of English speech assured him that he was among friends +and fellow-countrymen. + +His story was soon told. He had been left at St. Helena by a passing +ship, because he was so reduced by the voyage that the captain feared +that he could never reach his home. Here he had lived for fourteen long +months, and had never during that time heard a human voice, or seen the +face of a friend. He had lived chiefly on the flesh of goats, which had +now multiplied on the island, and had in his wild, free life quite +recovered his health. But the joy of meeting with friends after so long +a solitude was too great; he was quite unable to sleep, and only lived +till the ship in which he had taken passage reached the West Indies. + +St. Helena passed at length into the hands of the English, was colonized +and brought into cultivation, and it was here that Napoleon ended the +career which had laid waste and despoiled Europe. Here in this little +island was bounded his wide ambition; the sea set limits to his steps on +every side and stretched its strong impassible barrier all around him. +Here, though not alone, he endured a solitude which was doubtless +heavier to bear and more hopeless than that felt by any of the wanderers +who in early days were left upon that shore. For there is no solitude +like that of a heart which dwells alone, whose memories of the past can +bring no gladness, and whose future lies cheerless and blank before it. + +He spent his time chiefly in reading, riding on horseback, and digging +in his garden. He was fond of amusing himself with children, and would +join in all their little sports. He employed himself, also, in writing +the memoirs of his own campaigns. "Let us live on the past," he said. +But ah! what satisfaction could a view of his past life have afforded +him? Those who have lived only for this world must never expect anything +but self-reproach in reviewing the opportunities of usefulness which +they have lost, and the precious talents they have misemployed. What a +favorable opportunity, however, was afforded to Napoleon in his solitude +at St. Helena, of examining his past life. Happy would it have been for +him if he had diligently used the time thus given him in mourning for +his sins, and humbling himself for the misapplication of the vast +talents entrusted to his charge. + +[Illustration: Napoleon at St. Helena. (Page 83.)] + +That he sometimes thought of the subject of religion, indeed, is +evident, if we believe a conversation which Count Monthoton, one of his +attendants, has recorded. "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself," +Napoleon is represented to have said, "founded empires upon force! Jesus +Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of +men would die for Him. I die before my time, and my body will be given +back to the earth to become food for worms. Such is the fate which so +soon awaits him who has been called the Great Napoleon! what a +difference between my deep misery and the eternal kingdom of Christ, +which is proclaimed, loved, and adored, and which is extending over the +whole earth. Call you this dying? Is it not living rather? The death of +Christ is the death of a God!" Napoleon became every day more and more +unhappy. He used to feed some fish in a pond, but they sickened and +died. "Everything that I love," said he, "leaves me: everything that +belongs to me is stricken!" + +At last the event came which released him from all his earthly sorrows. +A painful disease, called cancer in the stomach, attacked him; and, +after considerable suffering, he expired on the 5th of May, 1821. The +night of his dissolution was a terrible one; a fearful storm was raging +all around. Napoleon had, for some hours, been insensible; towards six +o'clock in the evening, however, he pronounced the words, "Head of the +Army," as if his thoughts were running on the field of battle, and +immediately afterwards his immortal spirit quitted the tabernacle of +clay in which it dwelt. Such was Napoleon's death-bed. Alas! we look in +vain upon it for that language of triumph which has so often broken from +the lips of the followers of Jesus, when passing through the dark +"valley of the shadow of death." With Napoleon's dying moments, contrast +those of an eminent saint of God, Dr. Payson. "I seem to swim in a flood +of glory," said he to some young persons, "which God pours down upon me. +And I know--I know that my happiness is but begun--I cannot doubt that +it will last for ever. My young friends, were I master of the whole +world, what could it do for me like this! Nothing, nothing. Now all this +happiness I trace back to the religion which I have preached, and to the +time when that great change took place in my heart, which, I have often +told you, is necessary to salvation;--and I now tell you again, that +without this change you cannot, no, you cannot see the kingdom of God!" + +Napoleon was buried at Longwood, in the Island of St. Helena, under a +large willow tree; but in 1840 his remains, with the consent of the +British Government, were removed to Paris, and buried with grand honors +in that city. + + + + +THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS. + + +Many islands have at different times risen above the sea, which had for +long years washed over and hidden them. There are two ways in which new +islands are thus born like a fresh creation from God. + +The great volcanic force which sends out flames and ashes from the tops +of high mountains, or makes the solid earth tremble and crack, is at +work also below the bed of the sea, and from time to time islands are +raised there either slowly or by some sudden convulsion, just as we have +also reason to believe that other islands are even now sinking lower +under the influence of the same force, until, most likely, in years to +come, the waves will once more flow over them again. You must not forget +that when we talk of the forces of nature we mean really the hand of +God. He it is who sends these great convulsions, or who directs the slow +upheaving of new land. All is quite as truly the work of God as when, at +His word, the dry land first appeared. "Fire and hail, snow and vapors, +stormy wind," are all "fulfilling His word." + +Many of these islands, when first raised above the sea, must have been +active volcanoes, sending out hot from their craters the flood of lava +and the heated rocks which now lie cold and hard, and overgrown with +moss, to tell us of their past history. + +Of course, while this was going on there could be no life either of +plants or animals on the mountain, which, indeed, as yet could scarcely +be called an island, only a bare rock, around which the waves would +beat, as if in hopeless endeavor to extinguish the fire which glowed +deep in its caverned centre. But though neither waves nor storms could +make this fire die out, yet there comes a time to most of these volcanic +islands when the life and energy of the mountain seems gone, taken away, +we know not how, by the same Great Hand that lighted it, and the lonely +rock is now ready to be turned into a home for man, for this silent +crater, this hard, broken crag, will, after a time, become a fair island +home. God does not leave His works incomplete, and He has servants who +will change this desolate rock into a fertile garden. + +He sends the waves; they dash on the sides of the island, which rise +generally abrupt and strong from the deep waters, and wherever they can +find entrance they wear and powder the rock until it becomes fine soil, +and a little beach is formed. Then rains fall and fill the clefts and +hollows of the rock, and soften it at length as they wash down its face, +till here and there patches of scanty soil are formed. + +But something more than soil is needed; the most fertile land cannot of +itself produce grass or herbs; there must be a seed before even the +smallest weed can spring up, and those which float about in the air with +us, are not found on a volcanic rock far away in the sea. + +But messengers are prepared to bring them. Birds flying over the water +sometimes stoop their wings to rest awhile on the rock, and often leave +behind them seeds which they have gathered in far distant lands. At +first, perhaps, only a few small weeds are seen. These, dying in their +turn, improve the soil for their successors, until at length it can +support shrubs and undergrowth, the seeds of which are sometimes washed +on the shore by the waves, or found hidden in the clefts of some tree +which has floated to the island from a distant shore. + +Last of all arises, like a crown of beauty, the graceful cocoa-nut palm, +spreading broad leaves around its tall, slender stem, and making the +once barren rock a shady and lovely retreat. + +The island on which Alexander Selkirk lived is considered volcanic; it +is probably formed in some such manner as that which we have described. +Madeira, too, and probably St. Helena, are volcanic islands. + +Pitcairn, the history of which you are now going to read, is also +possibly of volcanic origin, and its high crags and sharp peaks seem as +if they must have been thrown up by some sudden force; but as it is in +the midst of a sea covered with coral islands, and has been supposed by +some to be itself partially formed by coral insects, it may be well that +you should hear a little of the wonderful growth of coral islands, +which, though formed so differently from those of which you have been +reading, are yet, when once their tops have risen above the waves, +clothed in the same manner with fair growth, to prepare them for the +presence of man. Tahiti, which you will hear mentioned in the story of +Pitcairn, is a coral island, and they abound in groups, in pairs, or in +single islands, through the wide Pacific Ocean. + +They are formed by myriads of tiny insects, which are connected +together, and seem to share a common life. One of these insects fastens +itself on some hidden rock; sometimes it may be on an extinct volcano +which is not lofty enough to appear above the waves, and on this +foundation they begin to build, the insect, as it shapes its cells of +coral, filling them with beings like itself, so that every tiny chamber +has its inmate. Soon the whole rock is covered below the water with a +fine network of delicate coral, and from the tops of the open cells the +insects put out their delicate _tentaculae_, or arms, which look like +the petals of a flower. By means of the food gathered from the water by +these _tentaculae_, all the coral insects are fed. + +[Illustration: Coral Island. (Page 92.)] + +Thus each one does its appointed work, laying unseen the foundations of +a new land, for the coral growth is still spreading and rising higher +and higher, till at length the waves begin to feel its resistance, and +to break in white foam around its crests. + +Its history, when it has once risen above the reach of the tides, is +like that of the volcanic islands. The insects die, and the bare grey +rock is left, that God's servants, the waves and winds, may fulfil His +will, until in His own good time the coral island becomes lovely and +fertile, fit for the dwelling-place of those who should be God's best +servants--the men whom He has made for His glory, and for whose +redemption His Son came down to die. It is sad to think how often man, +to whom God has given the most, is the least ready to use these gifts +for his Maker's glory, so that instead of these lovely islands being +always full of His praise, they are often homes of sin and of +unhappiness, as indeed it was at first with Pitcairn, the history of +which we now give. + + * * * * * + +Far away from any other land, in the midst of the South Pacific Ocean, +there is a little island, a mere speck in the sea, for it is not six +miles across at its widest point. A passing ship might leave this tiny +island unnoticed, save for the lofty cliffs and precipices which guard +its shores, running down to the white waves, ever curling and breaking +at their feet. Yet it was not a mere rock, inaccessible and barren; for +when once a boat has safely won its way through the breakers, and the +sailor has climbed the rocks which, steep above steep, stand like a wall +before him, he is rewarded by the sight of lovely valleys, of forests of +fruit-bearing palms, and of green, fresh-springing plants: a little +fairy land, a new paradise seems hidden here from the eye and the foot +of man. + +It is called Pitcairn's Island, and was discovered more than a hundred +years ago by a passing ship. It was uninhabited, and no one set foot on +it again, till in 1789 a small ship might have been seen approaching its +shores, as if she would seek an anchorage in that dangerous, rocky bay. + +The ship is called the _Bounty_, and carries for her crew nine English +seamen, and some colored men and women, natives of Tahiti, an island at +which the _Bounty_ had been recently anchored. + +There is no captain on board, though the first mate, Fletcher Christian, +seems to take his place and to direct the course of the ship; but his +words are few, and his face is sad, as if some past trouble or sin +weighed on his heart, and, when he is not obliged to be active, he sits +gazing listlessly over the water, looking for he knows not what. + +It would be a long and sad story to tell how that ship came to be thus +cruising in the wide Pacific. Months before, Fletcher Christian and some +of the sailors of the _Bounty_ had mutinied; had put their captain, who +by his harsh and unjust treatment had provoked their anger, into the +ship's launch with eighteen of the crew, leaving them thus to reach home +or to die on the ocean. + +The mutineers well knew that if they returned to England, their own +lives would pay the penalty of their crime, and therefore they +determined to spend the rest of their days on some one of the numerous +islands scattered in groups throughout the South Seas. + +But as they had begun their course by an act which they knew to be +wrong, it was not likely that their future would be happy and +prosperous; the sweet flowers of peace and content do not spring from +the bitter root of sin, "neither do men gather grapes of thorns nor figs +of thistles." + +Thus we need not wonder that trouble and dissension seemed to follow +everywhere the ill-fated crew of the _Bounty_. They quarrelled and +fought with the natives of the first island which they chose for an +asylum; they disputed among themselves, suspecting and hating each +other, as partners in sin most often do. The hearts of the leaders were +full of fear also as they thought of the laws which they had broken, and +of the fate which would be theirs should their captain reach England, +and a ship be sent out to capture them. + +At last the mutineers sailed for the Island of Tahiti, where they knew +that the inhabitants were well-disposed and gentle, and would be pleased +to welcome the white man to live among them. Fletcher Christian, +however, could not rest; he had been the leader in the mutiny, he knew +that he would be sought for, and that if found he must die, and die +covered with disgrace. + +Therefore he determined to seek out Pitcairn's Island, of the discovery +of which he had heard, and there pass the remainder of his miserable +life. Eight of his comrades decided to go with him, the rest remaining +at Tahiti, and, as we have seen, some of the Tahitian men and women +agreed to make the voyage with them, and join in the new settlement. + +[Illustration: Landing of the Mutineers on Pitcairn's Island. (Page 99.)] + +After long seeking, after cruising backwards and forwards for many days +in the sailless and shoreless ocean, the island that they sought was +seen standing high above a line of white waves, and after much +difficulty the _Bounty_ was anchored, and her boat sent on shore with +some of her crew. + +Everything of value on board was taken to the island, even the iron-work +of the ship itself being removed, and when the _Bounty_ was reduced to +an empty and useless hulk, she was set on fire and burnt to the +water-edge, that no passing ship might see any trace of inhabitants on +the lonely island where these unhappy men sought to hide themselves. + +Fletcher Christian, who had taken the command hitherto by the consent of +his companions, now proceeded to divide the whole island into nine equal +parts, one of which he gave to each of the English sailors who +accompanied him, choosing for his own portion a piece of land at the +farther end of the island, where he made for himself a retreat among the +steep rocks which overlooked the sea. + +But though the new colony was so small, it had in it all the seeds of +dissension and of unhappiness. Even these nine men, though bound +together by a common fate and by a common fear, could not agree, could +not bear with nor yield to each other in any of the little differences +or misunderstandings which arose between them from time to time. Still +less could they live in peace with the natives who had accompanied them. +They looked on these poor men and women as their slaves, and treated +them so unjustly that the Tahitians, who had at first been attached and +faithful, now determined on revenge. They were as much less guilty than +the English as they were more ignorant; they had never been taught to be +merciful, to forgive injuries, to be patient under wrongs; the blessed +name of Jesus was not familiar to their ears, nor the lessons of His +life and death to their hearts. They knew no law but that of violence +and might, and finding themselves unjustly treated by those who had +promised to be their friends, they formed a plot to put them all to +death, and so to make themselves masters of the island. + +Five out of the nine Englishmen were shot, and amongst them was their +leader, Fletcher Christian. Ever since he had come to Pitcairn's Island, +he had appeared sunk in sorrow and remorse. All day long he had remained +hidden among the rocks, away from his comrades, his eyes fastened on the +wide ocean, the barrier which he knew must now divide him for ever from +his home and from all he loved. In this solitude his companion was the +Bible, brought on shore by him from the ship. In this he was observed to +be often reading, and though we know nothing of his thoughts nor of his +prayers, it may be that God spake through His word to the heart of His +erring child, and bade him, not in vain, to seek His face once more. + +Let us hope that this Bible charged with such a blessed mission in years +to come, was sent also with a message to this desolate heart, and that +ere he died, Christian had sought and found the forgiveness which is +given through the cross of Christ our Saviour. Some sign of his +repentance may be found in a tradition handed down by the islanders, +that he had given orders that everyone on the island should repeat each +noontide the prayer of the returning and repentant prodigal: "Father, I +have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be +called thy son." + +Four white men had been saved by the interference of the Tahitian women +from the fate of their comrades, but they did not feel safe; they +believed that the men were still seeking their lives, and, as they +imagined, in self-defence, they determined to put these their enemies to +death. Thus the evil begun by the mutiny still went on from crime to +crime, seeming to grow ever deeper and wider. For the dark and terrible +story is not yet ended. Two of the four remaining Englishmen soon after +came to a violent end, while intoxicated by a drink which they had +contrived to make from some of the plants which they found on the +island, thus bringing into this lovely refuge the vice and drunkenness +which beset crowded cities. + +The sorrowful tale has hitherto been all dark, ever growing more gloomy +and hopeless; but now for the first time a faint pencil of light, like +the first streak of dawn, marks the sky, a ray which, like all true +sunshine, comes from heaven and from God. The great and loving Father +had not forgotten the children who had so long forgotten Him; this +little island, so far from the eyes of human watchers was not unseen nor +unregarded by Him. His messengers, the books which tell of Him, were +still there, though forgotten and unread; but the time was now come when +they were to speak again, and were to be heard and obeyed. + +The two remaining mutineers were a sailor named Alexander Smith, or, as +he now called himself, John Adams, and a midshipman named Edward Young. +The midshipman had been well educated, and had learnt above all, in his +childhood, the blessed lessons of God's love, and of the grace of +Christ. These lessons, too long unremembered, now came back to him. +Perhaps he thought of the days when, a young child, he had knelt at his +mother's knee, or standing by her chair, had read one by one, as her +finger slowly pointed them out, the words of the Holy Bible. + +The good seed had lain long in a barren soil, now God in His mercy sent +the rain and sunshine of His grace to cause it to spring up at last. No +sooner had Edward Young begun to desire to return to the Saviour whom he +had left, than he also wished that those around him should be taught of +His love. The helpless women and children were, he felt, a sacred charge +for him and his companion, to teach and guide. + +Accordingly morning and evening prayers were established in the island, +and a sort of school was begun for the children, John Adams being partly +a teacher, partly a scholar, and so preparing to take his comrade's work +when, a little time after this change of heart and life, Edward Young +died, and left his comrade alone on the island with his untaught charge. +He, the only one who had the key to God's book, the only one in whose +memory were stored any lessons of His truth, in whose life lay, as it +seemed, the only hope that this little colony might be saved from all +the cruelty and ignorance of savage life, and added to the number of the +servants of Christ. + + * * * * * + +Nearly twenty-five years had passed since John Adams was left on +Pitcairn's Island, the sole protector and teacher of the women, and of +the young children who were growing up around him. He was himself but a +common sailor, who had enjoyed only a few advantages of education, his +only acquirements the simple lessons which had been taught him in his +boyhood, and a new but straightforward and earnest desire to serve God +in the way which God should teach him, and in penitence and faith to +walk himself and to lead others to walk in the way that leads to +everlasting life. + +But God does not choose only the wise and the great and the strong for +His workmen: often the weak things of the world are chosen to confound +the mighty, and the poor and lowly to do the work of the High and Mighty +One who inhabiteth eternity. + +We have seen how evil passions indulged were like a seed of sin, growing +and spreading into a mighty and poisonous tree. Then there was planted +by its side, through the mercy of God, a germ of good and of life--has +that too lived and spread, or has it withered and died beneath the shade +of evil? + +Two English vessels are approaching the island. At first the crews do +not see it, but as evening draws on, the look-out man in the larger ship +gives the signal that he has caught sight of land. "Land ho, land!" +passes from mouth to mouth among the sailors. What land can it be? No +island, no rock even, is marked on the chart, and the officers gather on +deck to look over the darkening sea toward that darker point where the +new land lies. + +"We may have discovered a new island for King George," says the captain. +"We must lie to till the morning, and then we will sail nearer, and see +this unknown shore." + +The morning comes, and almost before it is day some of the officers are +on deck with their glasses, eagerly looking toward the island, which +they can now see far more plainly. Even without a glass its lofty rocks +and steep precipices can be distinguished. The ships are approaching +nearer and nearer, till now their anchors are dropped, and one of the +captains orders a boat to be prepared. + +"Though I doubt how we shall get her through the surf," he says, +ponderingly; "it is a dangerous coast, and no pilot within hail. People +there too, I see--savages. The men must go well armed. Peters, look to +the loading of the pistols." + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Peters, looking, like the rest, towards the +rocks, where groups of people coming and going were to be seen. + +There was evidently great excitement on the island. A ship was a strange +and unusual sight, no doubt. + +Before the ship's boat could be launched, two men were seen to climb the +top of the steep cliff which almost overhung the narrow beach. They, +however, seemed to find no difficulty in their dangerous path, though +each carried on his shoulders a light canoe. The strangers wore some +kind of clothing, but even through the captain's glass it was impossible +to tell of what race they were. + +Dark against the clear sky, the two figures were seen for awhile to +stand gazing steadfastly toward the ship, and then bounded like goats +down the rugged face of the rock, and soon launched their canoes +fearlessly in the angry surf. + +"Haul the boat up, we'll wait and receive these natives on board," says +the captain; and in a few minutes one of the canoes was under the bows +of the ship. + +"Come alongside," shouted a sailor, trusting that his signs and gestures +would explain the meaning of his English words. + +"We have no boat-hook to hold on by," cried in answer the foremost of +their visitors. + +No words can explain the surprise with which the captain and the whole +crew listened to these words spoken in pure English by the supposed +savage. They looked at him and at each other, but no one spoke till the +eager voice was again heard from the boat. + +"Won't you heave us a rope now?" + +A sailor seized and flung one end of a coil of rope, and in a moment +their strange visitor had seized it and climbed fearlessly on deck. + +He was a tall man, young, and almost English-looking, save that his +complexion was tinged by the hot sun of his country; and his whole face +and bearing were those of an educated and civilized man. His dress was a +light vest and short trousers, while his palm-leaf hat was adorned with +a bunch of brilliant feathers. + +"Who are you?" asked the astonished captain, gazing at this strange and +unexpected apparition. + +"I am Thursday October Christian, the son of the mutineer, and there," +pointing to the other canoe, now close to the ship, "is Edward Young." + +The mystery was now explained: the ships had anchored at the island +where the mutineers, long sought in vain, had taken refuge. + +The officers crowded round their visitors, asking question after +question, of their age, the number of people on the island, their habits +and mode of life. + +"Who is your king?" they asked. + +"Why, King George, to be sure," replied Christian, quickly. + +"Have you been taught any religion?" + +"Yes," they replied, "a very good religion; that which the Bible +teaches." + +The young men were led into every part of the ship; they looked with +great interest at the many things they saw around them, the uses and +even the names of which were unknown to them, and their questions showed +much thought and intelligence. + +In the course of the morning they were led to the stalls where the +ship's cows were kept. + +"What immense goats!" cried Christian; "I did not know there were any of +such a size." + +Just then a little dog, belonging to some one on board, attracted the +attention of one of the new-comers. "I know what that is," he said, +"that is a dog, I have read of such things;" and turning to his +companion, "it is a pretty thing to look at, is it not?" + +[Illustration: The Captain's Cabin.] + +When noon came, the two guests were taken into the captain's cabin to +lunch, but before touching the food which was spread before them, they +both folded their hands, and without troubling themselves at all about +the presence of the officers, in the most simple and natural manner +asked God's blessing on all that they should eat and drink. + +Many of those who were present turned away to hide, not a smile, but a +blush of shame that they, the sons of a Christian land, should need to +be reminded of their duty to their God by these half-taught islanders. + +Lunch over, the two captains went on shore, rowed by their guests, to +whose strong and skilful hands they trusted to pilot them safely through +the dangerous surf. + +On the beach they were welcomed by more of the inhabitants, among the +rest by a young girl, the daughter of Adams, who had evidently come to +meet the English strangers in order that she might learn if her father +was in any danger from them, for John Adams was the last remaining +mutineer. Her confidence was restored by the looks and words of the two +captains, as she led them, with light step, up the steep pathway by +which alone the interior of the island could be reached. + +The captains were almost exhausted long before the top was reached, but +their guides seemed to climb as easily as the goats of their own island, +and even the girls were so sure-footed that they were able to help the +strangers up the difficult path. Arriving at the top, a new and +beautiful sight delighted their eyes--a lovely valley, rich in +fruit-bearing trees, and in cultivated fields, in the midst of which was +built an almost English-looking village, with its church and school +house, its cottages and gardens, and all that could speak of a simple, +religious home life. Here they were welcomed by the remaining +inhabitants, with Adams at their head, to whom all looked up as to their +father. Beside him stood his blind Tahitian wife, and around him were +groups of young men and girls with bright, intelligent faces, and smiles +which told of the happiness and innocence of their hearts. + +[Illustration: John Adams and his family. (Page 115.)] + +Whatever the daughter of Adams may have feared in her love for her +father, he himself did not appear afraid to receive these English +visitors to his island refuge. For he felt that as, in the sight of God, +his sin had for Christ's sake been pardoned, so in the eyes of men these +long years of penitence, and of honest endeavor after a better life, +would surely have won pardon for the sins of his youth. It was with +feelings too deep for words that he looked once more on the faces of his +countrymen and heard the English speech from other lips than those to +whom he had taught it. All the memories of early days awoke in him, and +he longed to return once more and see his native land before he died. +But as soon as those round him understood his wish, they seized his +hands, they clung around him, praying him with tears not to desert them, +not to leave his children; and Adams, much moved, promised to remain. +And indeed he would have been sorely missed had he gone, for he was the +chief authority on the island. He it was who each Sunday led the prayers +of the islanders, all assembled around him in the church which they had +built, thinking, as they joined in the words of the service, of their +unknown brethren in the great country beyond the seas. He it was who +explained week by week the words of the Bible to his listening +companions, taught the children, and married the young people. + +It was to Adams that every dispute was referred; all those slight +disagreements which spring up from time to time, but which with the +islanders were never, as they said, more than word-of-mouth quarrels, +and always ended before set of sun. + +The captains, though anxious to linger awhile in this island home, were +obliged to leave next day, and they departed amid the regrets and +farewells of these simple-hearted, affectionate people, a people +Christian in heart as well as in name,--sincere, modest, pure, and +unselfish, whose life seemed to be fashioned on the words of God's Book, +"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things +of others." + +And all this peace and happiness has sprung, under the blessing of God, +from the seeds of His truth sown long, long years before in the hearts +of two English sailors, and from the power of His truth in His written +word, and in the teaching of His Spirit. + + + + +NORFOLK ISLAND. + + +Far distant from the many other islands with which the Southern Pacific +Ocean is studded, one stands alone, rich in natural beauty, and with a +climate almost unrivalled. + +This lovely island was visited by Captain Cook in 1774, and named by him +Norfolk Island; it was then uninhabited, and neither the vegetable nor +the animal world had been disturbed. For about two hundred yards from +the shore, the ground was covered so thickly with shrubs and plants as +scarcely to be penetrable further inland. The account given by Cook led +to an attempt at settlement on Norfolk Island; but this was attended +with difficulty. The island is small, being only about six miles in +length by four in breadth; and was therefore unavailable for a large or +increasing population. Lying nine hundred miles from Port Jackson, in +Australia, it was inconveniently remote from that country; and, worst of +all, its cliffy and rocky shores presented serious dangers to mariners +attempting a landing. Its general unsuitableness, however, for ordinary +colonization, was considered to adapt it as a penal settlement, +subordinate to New South Wales, and to which convicts could be sent who +merited fresh punishment while in course of servitude. Thus, one of the +lovliest of earthly paradises was doomed to be a receptacle for the very +worst of malefactors. It was imagined that the beauty of Norfolk Island, +and the fineness of its climate, would greatly tend to soothe the +depraved minds of its unhappy tenants, and reconcile them to compulsory +expatriation; but such was not the case: the feeling uppermost in the +minds of the convicts was to make their escape; and this, along with +other circumstances, caused the island, after a time, to be abandoned as +a penal settlement. The narrative that follows may be relied upon as a +true relation of facts, and will, it is hoped, afford warning to such as +may be tempted to go astray, and deeply impress those who may be on the +verge of crime, with the danger of their situation, by showing them that +a course of error is a course of misery, ending in consequences the most +afflicting. + +"On the northern side of Norfolk Island, the cliffs rise high, and are +crowned by woods, in which the elegant whitewood and gigantic pine +predominate. A slight indentation of the land affords a somewhat +sheltered anchorage-ground, and an opening in the cliffs has supplied a +way to the beach by a winding road at the foot of the dividing hills. A +stream of water, collected from many ravines, finds its way by a similar +opening to a ledge of rock in the neighborhood, and, falling over in +feathery spray, has given the name of Cascade to this part of the +island. Off this bay, on the morning of the 21st of June, 1842, the brig +_Governor Philip_ was sailing, having brought stores for the use of the +penal establishment. It was one of those bright mornings which this +hemisphere alone knows, when the air is so elastic that its buoyancy is +irresistibly communicated to the spirits. At the foot of the cliff, near +a group of huge fragments of rock fallen from the overhanging cliffs, a +prisoner was sitting close to the sea preparing food for his companions, +who had gone off to the brig the previous evening with ballast, and who +were expected to return at daylight with a load of stores. The surface +of the sea was smooth, and the brig slowly moved on upon its soft blue +waters. Everything was calm and still, when suddenly a sharp but distant +sound as of a gun was heard. The man, who was stooping over the fire +started on his feet, and looked above and around him, unable to +distinguish the quarter from whence the report came. Almost immediately, +he heard the sound repeated, and then distinctly perceived smoke curling +from the vessel's side. His fears were at once excited. Again he +listened; but all was hushed, and the brig still stood steadily in +towards the shore. Nearer and nearer, she approached; until, alarmed for +her safety, the man ran to summon the nearest officer. By the time they +returned, the vessel had wore, and was standing off from the land; but +while they remained in anxious speculation as to the cause of all this, +the firing was renewed on board, and it was evident that some deadly +fray was going on. At length a boat was seen to put off from the brig, +and upon its reaching the shore, the worst fears of the party were +realized. The misguided prisoners on board had attempted to seize the +vessel. They were but twelve in number, unarmed, and guarded by twelve +soldiers, and a crew of eighteen men; yet they had succeeded in gaining +possession of the vessel, and held it for a time, but had been finally +overpowered, and immediate help was required for the wounded and dying. + +"June 21, 1842.--My duty as a clergyman called me to the scene of blood. +When I arrived on the deck of the brig, it exhibited a frightful +spectacle. My heart sickened at the extent of the carnage; and I was +almost sinking with the faintness it produced, when I was roused by a +groan so full of anguish and pain, that for a long time afterwards its +echo seemed to reach me. I found that it came from a man lying further +forward, on whose face the death-dew was standing, yet I could perceive +no wound. Upon questioning him, he moved his hand from his breast, and I +then perceived that a ball had pierced his chest, and could distinctly +hear the air rushing from his lungs through the orifice it had left. I +tore away the shirt, and endeavored to hold together the edges of the +wound until it was bandaged. I spoke to him of prayer, but he soon grew +insensible, and within a short time died in frightful agony. In every +part of the vessel, evidences of the attempt which had ended so fatally +presented themselves, and the passions of the combatants were still +warm. After attending to those who required immediate assistance, I +received the following account of the affair: + +"The prisoners had slept the previous night in a part of the vessel +appropriated for this purpose; but it was without fastening or other +means of securing them below. Two sentries were, however, placed over +the hatchway. The prisoners occasionally came on deck during the night, +for their launch was towing astern, and the brig was standing off and on +until the morning. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning, the men +were called to work. Two of them were up some time before the rest. They +were struck by the air of negligence which was evident on deck, and +instantly communicated the fact to one or two others. The possibility of +capturing the brig had often been discussed by the prisoners, among +their many other wild plans for escaping from the island, and recently +had been often proposed by them. The thought was told by their looks, +and soon spread from man to man. A few moments were enough; one or two +were roused from sleep, and the intention was hurriedly communicated to +them. It was variously received. One of them distrusted the leader, and +entreated his companions to desist from so mad an attempt. It was +useless; the frenzied thirst for liberty had seized them, and they were +maddened by it. Within a few minutes, they were all on deck; and one of +the leaders rushing at the sentry nearest to him, endeavored to wrest +from him his pistols, one of which had flashed in the pan as he rapidly +presented it, and threw him overboard; but he was subsequently saved. +The arms of the other sentry were demanded, and obtained from him +without resistance. A scuffle now took place with two other soldiers who +were also on the deck, but not on duty, during which one of them jumped +over the vessel's side, and remained for some time in the main-chains; +but upon the launch being brought alongside, he went down into it. The +other endeavored to swim ashore (for by this time the vessel was within +a gun's shot of the rocks;) but, encumbered by his great coat, he was +seen, when within a few strokes of the rock, to raise his hands, and +uttering a faint cry to Heaven for mercy, he instantly sunk. In the +meanwhile, the sergeant in charge of the guard hearing a scuffling +overhead, ran upon deck, and seeing some of the mutineers struggling +with the sentry, shot the nearest of them dead on the spot. He had no +sooner done so than he received a blow on the head, which rendered him +for some time insensible. Little or no resistance was offered by the +sailors; they ran into the forecastle, and the vessel was in the hands +of the mutineers. All the hatches were instantly fastened down, and +every available thing at hand piled upon them. But now, having secured +their opponents, the mutineers were unable to work the brig; they +therefore summoned two of the sailors from below, and placed one of them +at the wheel, while the other was directed to assist in getting the +vessel off. The cockswain, a free man in charge of the prisoners, had at +the first onset taken to the rigging, and remained in the maintop with +one of the men who refused to join in the attack. At this moment, a +soldier who had gone overboard and endeavored to reach the shore, had +turned back, and was seen swimming near the vessel. Woolfe, one of the +convicts, immediately jumped into the boat alongside, and saved him. +Whilst this was the state of things above, the soldiers had forced their +way into the captain's cabin, and continued to fire through the gratings +overhead as often as any of the mutineers passed. In this manner several +of them received wounds. To prevent a continuance of this, a kettle of +hot water was poured from above; and shortly afterwards, a proposal was +made to the captain from the prisoners to leave the vessel in the +launch, provided he handed up to them the necessary supplies. This he +refused; and then all the sailors were ordered from below into the +launch, with the intention of sending them ashore. Continuing to watch +for the ring-leaders, the captain caught a glimpse of one of them +standing aft, and, as he supposed, out of reach. He mounted the cabin +table, and, almost at a venture, fired through the woodwork in the +direction he supposed the man to be standing. The shot was fatal; the +ball struck him in the mouth, and passed through his brain. Terrified at +the death of their comrades, the remainder were panic-struck, and +instantly ran below. One of the leaders sprung over the taffrail, and +eventually reached the launch. The sailor at the wheel, now seeing the +deck almost cleared, beckoned up the captain, and without an effort, the +vessel was again in their possession. In the confusion, a soldier, who +had been in the boat, and was at this moment with the sailors returning +on deck, was mistaken for one of the mutineers, and shot by the +sergeant. The prisoners were now summoned from their place of +concealment. They begged hard for mercy; and upon condition of their +quietly surrendering, it was promised to them. As the first of them, in +reliance upon this assurance, was gaining the deck, by some unhappy +error, he received a ball in his thigh, and fell back again. The rest +refused to stir; but after a few moments' hesitation, another of them +ventured up, was taken aft by the captain, and secured. A third +followed, and, as he came up, he extended his arms and cried: "I +surrender; spare me." Either this motion was mistaken by the soldiers, +or some of them were unable to restrain their passion, for at this +instant the man's head was literally blown off. The captain hastened to +the spot, and received the others, who were secured without further +injury. + +"When we reached the vessel, the dying, dead, and wounded, were lying in +every direction. In the launch astern, we saw the body of one wretched +man who had leaped over the taffrail, and reached the boat badly +wounded; he was seen lying in it when the deck was regained, and was +then pierced through with many balls. Nothing could be more horrible +than his appearance; the distortion of every feature, his clenched +hands, and the limbs which had stiffened in the forms of agony into +which pain had twisted them, were appalling. The countenance of every +man on board bore evidence of the nature of the deadly conflict in which +he had been engaged. In some, sullenness had succeeded to reckless +daring, and exultation to alarm in others. + +"Nothing could have been more desperate than such an attempt to seize +the vessel. The most culpable neglect could alone have encouraged it; +and it is difficult to conceive how it could have succeeded, if anything +like a proper stand had been made by those in charge of her when it +commenced. + +"The wounded were immediately landed, and conveyed to the hospital, and +the dead bodies were afterwards brought on shore. + +"The burial ground is close to the beach. A heavy surf rolls mournfully +over the reef. The moon had just risen, when, in deep and solemn +silence, the bodies of these misguided men were lowered into the graves +prepared for them. Away from home and country, they had found a fearful +termination of a miserable existence. Perhaps ties had still bound them +to the world; friends whom they loved were looking for their return, +and, prodigals though they had been, would have blessed them, and +forgiven their offences. Perhaps even at that sad moment, mothers were +praying for their lost ones, whom in all their infamy they had still +fondly loved. Such thoughts filled my mind; and when a few drops of rain +at that moment descended, I could not help thinking that they fell as +tears from heaven over the guilt and misery of its children. + +"On the morning following the fatal occurrence, I visited the jail in +which the mutineers were confined. The cells were small, but clean and +light. In the first of them, I found George Beavers, Nicholas Lewis, and +Henry Sears. Beavers was crouching in one corner of the cell, and +looking sullen, and in despair. Lewis, who was walking the scanty space +of the cell, seemed to glory in the rattle of his heavy chains; while +Sears was stretched, apparently asleep, upon a grass mat. They were all +heavily ironed, and every precaution had evidently been taken to prevent +escape. + +"In the other cell I found Woolfe and Barry, the latter in much agony +from an old wound in the leg, the pain of which had been aggravated by +the heavy irons which galled it. All the prisoners except Barry and +Woolfe, readily acknowledged their participation in the attempt to seize +the brig, but most solemnly denied any knowledge of a preconcerted plan +to take her; or that they at least had attempted to throw the soldiers +overboard. They were unwilling to be interrupted, and inveighed in the +bitterest manner against some of their companions who had, they seemed +to think, betrayed them, or at least had led them on, and at the moment +of danger had flinched. + +"The names of the surviving mutineers were John Jones, Nicholas Lewis, +Henry Sears, George Beavers, James Woolfe, Thomas Whelan, and Patrick +Barry. + +"The depositions against them having been taken, all the men I have +mentioned, with the exception of Jones and Whelan, who were wounded, +were brought out to hear them read. They listened with calm attention, +but none of them appeared to be much excited. Once only during the +reading, Beavers passionately denied the statements made by one of the +witnesses present, and was with difficulty silenced. His countenance at +that moment was terribly agitated; every bad feeling seemed to mingle in +its passionate expression. They were all young, powerful, and, with one +or two exceptions, not at all ill-looking men. + +"From the jail I proceeded to the hospital, where the wounded men were +lying. They had each received severe wounds in the thigh, and were in +great agony. The violence of Jones was excessive. Weakened in some +degree by the loss of blood, the bitterness of his spirit nevertheless +exhibited itself in passionate bursts of impatience. He was occasionally +convulsed with excessive pain; for the nerves of the thigh had been much +lacerated, and the bone terribly shattered. His features were distorted +with pain and anger, and occasionally bitter curses broke from his lips; +yet there was something about his appearance which powerfully arrested +my attention--an evident marking of intellect and character, repulsive +in its present development, yet in many respects remarkable. His history +had been a melancholy one, and, as illustrative of many thousand others, +I give it as I afterwards received it from his lips. + +"At eleven years of age, he was employed in a warehouse in Liverpool as +an errand-boy. While following this occupation, from which, by +good-conduct, he might have risen to something better, he was met in the +street one day by the lad whom he had succeeded in this employment, and +was told by him how he might obtain money by robbing the warehouse, and +then go with him to the theatre. He accordingly took an opportunity of +stealing some articles which had been pointed out, and gave them to his +companion, who, in disposing of them, was detected, and of course +criminated Jones. After remaining some weeks in jail, Jones was tried, +and acquitted; but his character being now gone, he became reckless, and +commenced a regular career of depredation. In attempting another +warehouse robbery, he was detected, and sentenced to twelve months' +imprisonment. By the time he was released from this, he was well tutored +in crime, and believed that he could now adroitly perform the same +robbery in which he had previously failed. He made the attempt the very +night of his release from jail, and with temporary success. Subsequently, +however, he was detected, and received sentence of transportation for +seven years. He underwent this sentence, and an additional one in Van +Diemen's Land, chiefly at Port Arthur, the most severe of the penal +stations there. From this place he, with Lewis, Moss (who was shot on +board the brig), and Woolfe, having seized a whale-boat, effected their +escape. During three months, they underwent the most extreme hardships +from hunger and exposure. Once they had been without food for several +days, and their last hook was over the boat's side; they were anxiously +watching for a fish. A small blue shark took the bait, and in despair one +of them dashed over the boat's side to seize the fish; his leg was caught +by one of the others, and they succeeded in saving both man and hook. +They eventually reached Twofold Bay, on the coast of New South Wales, and +were then apprehended, conveyed to Sydney, and thence sent back to Van +Diemen's Land; tried, and received sentence of death; but this was +subsequently commuted to transportation for life to Norfolk Island. + +"Jones often described to me the intense misery he had undergone during +his career. He had never known what freedom was, and yet incessantly +longed for it. All alike confessed the unhappiness of their career. Having +made the first false step into crime, they acknowledged that their minds +became polluted by the associations they formed during imprisonment. Then +they were further demoralized by thinking of the _glory_--such miserable +glory!--attending a trial; and the hulks and the voyage out gave them a +finished criminal training. The extent of punishment many of them have +undergone during the period of transportation is almost incredible. I have +known men whose original sentence of seven years has been extended over +three times that period, and who, in addition to other punishment, have +received five thousand or six thousand lashes! + +"After many solemn interviews with the mutineers, I found them gradually +softening. They became more communicative, and extremely anxious to +receive instruction. I think I shall never forget one of the earliest of +these visits to them. I first saw Sears, Beavers, and Jones. After a +long and interesting conversation with them, we knelt together, and I +offered prayer. When we arose, I perceived that each of them had been +shedding tears. It was the first time I had seen them betray any such +emotion, and I cannot tell how glad I felt; but when I proceeded +afterwards to read to them the first chapter of Isaiah, I had scarcely +uttered that most exquisite passage in the second verse--"I have +nourished and brougth up children, and they have rebelled against +me,"--when the claims of God, and _their_ violation and rejection of +them; His forbearance, and _their_ ingratitude, appeared to overwhelm +them; they sobbed aloud, and were thoroughly overpowered. + +"For a considerable time we talked together of the past, the wretched +years they had endured, the punishments, and the crimes which had led to +them, until they seemed to feel most keenly the folly of their sad +career. We passed on to contrast the manner in which their lives had +been spent, with what God and society required from them; their +miserable preversion of God's gifts, with the design for which He gave +them, until we were led on to speak of hope and of faith; of Him who +"willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from +his wickedness and live;" and then the Saviour's remonstrance seemed to +arrest them--"Ye will not come to me that ye might have life;" until at +length the influences of the Holy Spirit were supplicated with +earnestness and solemnity. These instructions and such conversations +were daily repeated; and henceforth each time I saw them, I perceived a +gradual but distinct unfolding of the affections and the understanding. + +"August.--The wounded men are much recovered, and the whole of the +mutineers are now confined together in a large ward of the jail. They +have long received extreme kindness from the commandant, and are +literally bewildered at finding that even this last act has not +diminished the exercise of his benevolence. That anybody should care for +them, or take such pains about them after their violent conduct excited +surprise at first almost amounting to suspicion; but this at length gave +place to the warmest gratitude. They were, in fact, subdued by it. They +read very much, are extremely submissive, and carefully avoid the +slightest infringement of the prison regulations. At first, all this was +confined to the three men I have mentioned; but their steady consistency +of conduct, and the strange transformation of character, so evident in +them, gradually arrested the attention of the others, and eventually led +to a similar result. + +"They will be detained here until the case has been decided by the +authorities in Sydney. They will probably be tried by a commission sent +from thence to the island for the purpose. Formerly, however, prisoners +charged with capital offences here were sent up for trial; but (it is a +horrible fact) this was found to lead to so much crime, that, at much +inconvenience and expense, it was found absolutely necessary to send +down a judicial commission on each important occasion, in order to +prevent it. The mere excitement of a voyage, with the chances connected +with it, nay, merely a wish to get off the island even for a time, led +many men to commit crimes of the deepest dye in order to be sent to +Sydney for trial. + +"Two months, therefore, at least must intervene between the perpetration +of the offence and their trial; and this interval is usually employed in +similar cases in arranging a defence but too commonly supported by +perjury. In the present instance, I found not the slightest attempt to +follow such a course. They declare that they expect death, and will +gladly welcome it. Of their life, which has been a course of almost +constant warfare with society, ending in remorseful feelings, they were +all thoroughly weary, although only one of them exceeds thirty years of +age. + +"In addition to the ordinary services, Captain Maconochie, each Sunday +afternoon has read prayers to them, and has given permission to a few of +their friends to be present. Singular good has resulted from it, both to +the men and those who join in their devotions. At the conclusion of one +of these services, Sears stood up, and with his heart so full as +scarcely to allow him utterance, to the surprise of every person there, +he addressed most impressively the men who were present. 'Perhaps,' said +he, 'the words of one of yourselves, unhappily circumstanced as I am, +may have some weight with you. You all know the life I have led; it has, +believe me, been a most unhappy one; and I have, I hope not too late, +discovered the cause of this. I solemnly tell you that it is because I +have broken God's laws. I am almost ashamed to speak, but I dare not be +silent. I am going to tell you a strange thing. I never before was +happy; I begin now, for the first time in my life, to _hope_. I am an +ignorant man, or at least I was so; but I thank God I begin to see +things in their right light now. I have been unhappily placed from my +childhood, and have endured many hardships. I do not mention this to +excuse my errors; yet if I had years since received the kindness I have +done here, it might have been otherwise. My poor fellows, do turn over a +new leaf; try to serve God, and you, too, will be happier for it.' The +effect was most thrilling; there was a deathlike silence; tears rolled +down many cheeks, which I verily believe never before felt them; and +without a word more, all slowly withdrew. + +"This man's story is also a common, but painful one. At fifteen years of +age, he was transported for life as an accomplice in an assault and +alleged robbery, of which, from circumstances which have since +transpired, I have little doubt he was entirely innocent. During a long +imprisonment on Horsham jail, he received an initiation in crime, which +was finished during the outward voyage. Upon his arrival in New South +Wales, he was assigned to a settler in the interior, a notoriously hard +and severe man, who gave him but a scanty supply of food and clothing, +and whose aim seemed to be to take the utmost out of him at the least +possible expense. Driven at length to desperation, he, with three +fellow-servants, absconded; and when taken, made a complaint to the +magistrate, before whom they were brought almost without clothes. Their +statements were found to be literally correct; but for absconding, they +were sent to New Castle, one of the penal stations of New South Wales, +where Sears remained nearly two years. At the expiration of that time, +he was again assigned, but unfortunately to a man, if possible, worse +than his former employer, and again absconded. For this offence, he was +sent to Moreton Bay, another penal settlement, and endured three years +of horrible severity, starvation, and misery of every kind. His temper +was by this time much soured; and, roused by the conduct of the +overseers, he became brutalized by constant punishment for resisting +them. After this, he was sent to Sydney, as one of the crew in the +police-boat, of which he was soon made assistant cockswain. For not +reporting a theft committed by one of the men under his charge, he was +sentenced to a road-party; and attempting to escape from it, he was +apprehended, and again ordered to Moreton Bay for four years more. There +he was again repeatedly flogged for disobedience and resistance of +overseers, as well as attempting to escape; but having most courageously +rendered assistance to a vessel wrecked off the harbor, he attracted the +attention of the commandant, who afterwards shewed him a little favor. +This was the first approach to kindness he had known since when, years +before, he had left his home, and had its usual influence. He was never +again in a scrape there. His good-conduct induced the commandant to +recommend him for a mitigation of sentence, which he received, and he +was again employed in the police-boat. The free cockswain of the boat +was, however, a drunkard, and intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes he +roused the men by his violence, but Sears contrived to subdue his +passion. At length, one night, returning to the hut, drunk, the man +struck at one of the crew with his cutlass, and the rest resisted and +disarmed him. But the morning came; the case was heard; their story was +disbelieved; and upon the charge and evidence of the aggressor, they +were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the public roads. When Sears +again became eligible for assignment, a person whom he had known in +Sydney applied for him. The man must be removed within a fixed period +after the authority is given. In this case, application was made a day +beyond the prescribed time, and churlishly refused. The disappointment +roused a spirit so untutored as his, and once again he absconded; was of +course apprehended, tried, and being found with a man who had committed +a robbery, and had a musket in his possession, was sent to Norfolk +Island for life. This sentence has, however, for meritorious conduct, +been reduced to fourteen years; and his ready assistance during a fire +which recently broke out in the military garrison here, might possibly +have helped to obtain a still further reduction. He never, during those +abscondings, was absent for any long period, and never committed any act +of violence. His constant attempt seems to have been to reach Sydney, in +order to effect his escape from the scene of so much misery. + +"For some time past, I have noticed his quiet and orderly conduct, and +was really sorry when I found him concerned in this unhappy affair. His +desire for freedom was, however, most ardent, and a chance of obtaining +it was almost irresistible. He has since told me that a few words kindly +spoken to himself and others by Captain Maconochie when they landed, +sounded so pleasantly to him--such are his own words--that he determined +from that moment he would endeavor to do well. He assures me that he was +perfectly unconscious of a design to take the brig, until awakened from +his sleep a few minutes before the attack commenced; that he then +remonstrated with the men; but finding it useless, he considered it a +point of honor not to fail them. His anxiety for instruction is intense; +he listens like a child; and his gratitude is most touching. He, +together with Jones, Woolfe, and Barry, were chosen by the commandant as +a police-boat's crew; and had, up to this period, acted with great +steadiness and fidelity in the discharge of the duties required from +them. Nor do I think they would even now, tempting as the occasion was, +have thought of seizing it, had it not been currently reported that they +were shortly to be placed under a system of severity such as they had +already suffered so much from. + +"Woolfe's story of himself is most affecting. He entered upon evil +courses when very young; was concerned in burglaries when only eleven +years of age. Yet this was from no natural love of crime. Enticed from +his home by boys older than himself, he soon wearied of the life he led, +and longed to return to his home and his kind mother. Oftentimes he +lingered near the street she lived in. Once he had been very unhappy, +for he had seen his brother and sister that day pass near him, and it +had rekindled all his love for them. They appeared happy in their +innocence; he was miserable in his crime. He now determined to go home +and pray to be forgiven. The evening was dark and wet, and as he entered +the court in which his friends lived, his heart failed him, and he +turned back; but, unable to resist the impulse, he again returned, and +stole under the window of the room. A rent in the narrow curtain enabled +him to see within. His mother sat by the fire, and her countenance was +so sad, that he was sure she thought of him; but the room looked so +comfortable, and the whole scene was so unlike the place in which he had +lately lived, that he could no longer hesitate. He approached the door; +the latch was almost in his hand, when shame and fear, and a thousand +other vile and foolish notions, held him back; and the boy who in +another moment might have been happy--_was lost_. He turned away, and I +believe he has never seen them since. Going on in crime, he in due +course of time was transported for robbery. His term of seven years +expired in Van Diemen's Land. Released from forced servitude, he went a +whaling-voyage, and was free nearly two years. Unhappily, he was then +charged with aiding in a robbery, and again received a sentence of +transportation. He was sent to Port Arthur, there employed as one of the +boat's crew, and crossing the bay one day with a commissariat-officer, +the boat was capsized by a sudden squall. In attempting to save the life +of the officer, he was seized by his dying grasp, and almost perished +with him; but extricating himself, he swam back to the boat. Seeing the +drowning man exhausted, and sinking, he dashed forward again, diving +after him, and happily succeeded in saving his life. For this honorable +act, he would have received a remission of sentence; but ere it could +arrive, he and five others made their escape. He had engaged with these +men in the plan to seize the boat, and although sure of the success of +the application in his favor, he could not now draw back. The result I +have already shewn. There were two more men concerned in the mutiny, +who, with those I have mentioned, and those killed on board the brig, +made up the number of the boat's crew. But neither of these men came +under my charge, being both Roman Catholics. + +"At length the brig, which had been despatched with an account of the +affair, returned, and brought the decision of the governor of New South +Wales. He had found it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to obtain +fitting members for the commission, who would be willing to accept the +terms proposed by the government, or trust themselves in this dreadful +place, and therefore he had determined that the prisoners should be sent +up for trial. The men were sadly disappointed at this arrangement. They +wished much to end their days here, and they dreaded both the voyage and +the distracting effect of new scenes. They cling, too, with grateful +attachment to the commandant's family, and the persons who, during their +long imprisonment, had taken so strong an interest in their welfare. I +determined to accompany them, and watch for their perseverance in +well-doing, that I might counsel and strengthen them under the fearful +ordeal I could not doubt they would have to pass. + +"The same steady consistency marked the conduct of these men to the +moment of their embarkation. There was a total absence of all +excitement; one deep, serious feeling seemed to possess them, and its +solemnity was communicated to all of us. They spoke and acted as men +standing on the confines of the unseen world, and who not only thought +of its wonders, but, better still, seemed to have caught something of +its spirit and purity. + +"November.--The voyage up was a weary, and, to the prisoners, a very +trying one. In a prison on the lower deck of a brig of one hundred and +eighty-two tons, fifty-two men were confined. The place itself was about +twenty feet square, of course, low, and badly ventilated. The men were +all ironed, and fastened to a heavy chain rove through iron rings let +into the deck, so that they were unable, for any purpose, to move from +the spot they occupied; scarcely, indeed, to lie down. The weather was +also unfavorable. The vessel tossed and pitched most fearfully during a +succession of violent squalls, accompanied by thunder and lightning. I +cannot describe the wretchedness of these unhappy convicts; sick, and +surrounded by filth, they were huddled together in the most disgusting +manner. The heat was at times unbearable. There were men of sixty--quiet +and inoffensive old men--placed with others who were as accomplished +villains as the world could produce. These were either proceeding to +Sydney, their sentences on the island having expired, or as witnesses in +another case (a bold and wicked murder) sent there also for trial. The +sailors on board the brig were for the most part the cowardly fellows +who had so disgracefully allowed the brig to be taken from them; and +they, as well as the soldiers on guard (some of them formed a part of +the former one), had no very kindly feeling towards the mutineers. It +may be imagined, therefore, that such feelings occasioned no alleviation +of their condition. In truth, although there was no actual cruelty +exhibited, they suffered many oppressive annoyances; yet I never saw +more patient endurance. It was hard to bear, but their better principles +prevailed. Upon the arrival of the vessel in Sydney, we learned that the +case had excited an unusual interest. Crowds assembled to catch a +glimpse of the men as they landed; and while some applauded their +daring, the great majority very loudly expressed their horror at the +crime of which they stood accused. + +"I do not think it necessary to describe the trial, which took place in +a few days after landing. All were arraigned except Barry. The +prisoners' counsel addressed the jurors with powerful eloquence; but it +was in vain: the crime was substantiated; and the jury returned a +verdict of guilty against all of the prisoners, recommending Woolfe to +mercy. + +"During the whole trial, the prisoners' conduct was admirable; so much +so, indeed, as to excite the astonishment of the immense crowd collected +by curiosity to see men who had made so mad an attempt for liberty. They +scarcely spoke, except once to request that the wounded man, who yet +suffered much pain, might be allowed to sit down. Judgment was deferred +until the following day. When they were then placed at the bar, the +judge, in the usual manner, asked whether they had any reason to urge +why sentence should not be pronounced upon them. It was a moment of deep +solemnity; every breath was held; and the eyes of the whole court were +directed towards the dock. Jones spoke in a deep, clear voice, and in a +deliberate harangue pointed out some defects in the evidence, though +without the slightest hope, he said, of mitigating the sentence now to +be pronounced on himself and fellows. Three of the others also spoke. +Whelan said, 'that he was not one of the men properly belonging to the +boat's crew, but had been called upon to fill the place of another man, +and had no knowledge of any intention to take the vessel, and the part +he took on board was forced upon him. He was compelled to act as he had +done; he had used no violence, nor was he in any way a participator in +any that had been committed.' At the conclusion of the address to them, +Jones, amidst the deep silence of the court, pronounced a most emphatic +prayer for mercy on his own soul, and those of his fellow-prisoners, for +the judge and jury, and finally for the witnesses. Sentence of death was +then solemnly pronounced upon them all; but the judge informed Woolfe +that he might hold out to him expectations that his life would be +spared. They were then removed from the bar, and sent back to the +condemned cells. + +"I cannot say how much I dreaded my interview with them that day; for +although I had all along endeavored to prepare their minds for the worst +result, and they had themselves never for a moment appeared to expect +any other than this, I feared that the realization of their sad +expectation would break them down. Hitherto, there might have been some +secret hope sustaining them. The convulsive clinging to life, so common +to all of us, would now, perhaps, be more palpably exhibited. + +"Entering their cells, I found them, as I feared, stunned by the blow +which had now fallen on them, and almost overpowered by mental and +bodily exhaustion. A few remarks about the trial were at length made by +them; and from that moment I never heard them refer to it again. There +was no bitterness of spirit against the witnesses, no expression of +hostility towards the soldiers, no equivocation in any explanation they +gave. They solemnly denied many of the statements made against them; +but, nevertheless, the broad fact remained, that they were guilty of an +attempt to violently seize the vessel, and it was useless debating on +minor considerations. + +"In the meantime, without their knowledge, petitions were prepared and +forwarded to the judges, the governor and executive council. In them +were stated various mitigatory facts in their favor; and the meliorated +character of the criminal code at home was also strongly urged. Every +attention was paid to these addresses, following each other to the last +moment. But all was in vain. The council sat, and determined that five +of the men should be hanged on the following Tuesday. Whelan, who could +have no previous knowledge of a plan to seize the vessel, together with +Woolfe, was spared. The remaining four were to suffer. The painful +office of communicating this final intelligence to these men was +intrusted to me, and they listened to the announcement not without deep +feeling, but still with composure. + +"It would be very painful for me to dwell on the closing scene. The +unhappy and guilty men were attended by the zealous chaplain of the +jail, whose earnest exhortations and instructions they most gratefully +received. The light of truth shone clearly on the past, and they felt +that their manifold lapses from the path of virtue had been the original +cause of the complicated misery they had endured. They entreated +forgiveness of all against whom they had offended, and in the last words +to their friends, were uttered grateful remembrances to Captain +Maconochie, his family, and others. At the place of execution, they +behaved with fortitude and a composure befitting the solemnity of the +occasion. Having retired from attendance upon them in their last +moments, I was startled from the painful stupor which succeeded in my +own mind, by the loud and heavy bound of the drop as it fell, and told +me that their spirits had gone to God who gave them." + +Since the foregoing narrative was written, the treatment of convicts has +undergone considerable change, government having found the experiment of +transporting the worse class of criminals from New South Wales to +Norfolk Island to be a failure. The penal settlement was therefore +broken up in 1855, and convicts are now confined in different +establishments in the United Kingdom, where, without subjecting them to +absolute silence or solitude, they are separated from the contaminating +society of each other. Under the present system, it is a fixed principle +never to allow, if at all possible, the punishment--while it may be made +to any extent disagreeable--to injure either the body or the mind. + + + + +THE SOLITARY ISLANDER. + + +It was at the time Queen Anne began to reign, and her ships were +carrying the English flag into all seas, for commerce, for discovery, or +for war, when one of these vessels, called the _Clinque Ports_, put in +to refit at the uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez, on the west coast +of South America. + +It was but a small island, though fertile and pleasant; it had not been +tilled or planted, neither had any place of shelter been built upon it, +but sometimes two or three sick sailors had been left there to recover +health, and sometimes a passing ship would put in for water, and +departing leave one or two of their live-stock on the island. It had +thus become stocked with goats, which ran wild about the hills and +craggy rocks, free from any danger of pursuit and capture. + +This was not the first time that the _Clinque Ports_ had touched at Juan +Fernandez, for not long before she had left there two seamen who were +unable to continue their voyage, and now she had anchored to reship +these men, to take in water, and to refit for the long and perilous +voyage to the English shore. + +The two seamen, coming on board, told strange stories to their comrades +of the pleasant life they had led on the island, of the hunt for goats, +of the abundance of shell-fish, of the delicious fruits and vegetables, +and of the cool waters of the place. + +Of all the eager listeners to these tales of plenty and delight, there +was one who never failed to fasten on each word that was said, and by +constant questioning, to learn every detail of the life on the green +island which lay before them. This sailor was a Scotsman, named +Alexander Selkirk or Selcraig. He was of an impatient, overbearing +temper, and no favorite with his captain, who was not wise enough to +discern the good sense and honesty which lay hidden under his rough and +uncourteous manner. Thus it chanced that the Scotch Sailor was often in +trouble and disgrace, and resenting bitterly a harshness he did not +think he had deserved, he began to long to leave the ship at any cost. + +But perhaps the beginning of his misery and discomfort must be sought +farther back in his life. His surly speech, his unsocial temper, spoke +of a mind ill at ease,--the remembrance of the past made the present +sad. + +He had been religiously and strictly brought up by his father, a Scotch +Puritan, but he had broken loose from the restraints which his parents +sought to throw around him, and had led, if not a vicious, at least an +irreligious life, without thought of God, or of the lessons of truth and +goodness which he had been taught. Yet his conscience was not so +hardened that he could be happy in this neglect of God, and he felt ill +at ease, dissatisfied with himself, and with all around him. + +He shrank, too, from the prospect of the voyage to England in a vessel +but half repaired, exaggerating to his own mind the perils before him, +and fearful of his own temper with his hard and prejudiced commander. + +Weighing all these things, he determined on asking the captain to set him +on shore, that he might wait at Juan Fernandez the passing of some other +ship in which he might return home. The captain agreed to this proposal +willingly enough, glad to dismiss from his crew so insubordinate a +sailor; and just before the _Clinque Ports_ was about to weigh anchor, +the adventurous seaman was sent on shore with the few things that +belonged to him. He sprang from the boat almost before her keel had +grazed the sand, wishing to appear gay and brave to his companions; but +no sooner did the splash of oars begin to grow faint and distant, and the +faces of the boatmen indistinct as they neared the ship, than all his +courage forsook him. With outstretched hands, and frantic words and +gestures, he implored them to return, promising to bear everything, to +risk everything, if only he might not be left alone on the lonely island. +But he cried in vain; the boat reached the ship, the men climbed on +board, the sails were hoisted, and there on his sea-chest, sat the lonely +sailor, gazing over the wide ocean, on which nothing but the lessening +speck of white on the far horizon reminded him of the existence of any +human being but himself. + +Days passed almost uncounted, for in his desolate misery Alexander +Selkirk had but one thought left--the longing desire of rescue and +return home. He valued the daylight only because by its aid he could +watch for a sail on the wide, silent sea; he dreaded the coming on of +the night, chiefly because it shut him off for a time from his one +employment. During these dreary days or weeks he never tasted food, save +when driven to look for it by pangs of sharpest hunger, and even then he +would not leave the beach, but fed on shell-fish picked up on the rocks, +or sometimes on the flesh of seals. + +It was September when the _Clinque Ports_ sailed, and now October had +come, the middle of spring in Juan Fernandez, and, all round him, nature +spoke of hope, and taught of God. But before hope could enter into +Alexander's desolate heart, sorrow must come: sorrow for sin, for his +disobedience to the parents whom he had made unhappy; for his reckless, +godless life; for all the teachings of his youth forgotten, and for its +lessons neglected. Sometimes, for a few minutes, Alexander would turn +his eyes from his eager watch over the sea, and looking down, would +picture instead his Scottish home. He would see clearly in his mind his +venerable father, with his furrowed brow, and stern, unsmiling mouth; +his mother, in her tall white cap, busied at her wheel, with a far-away, +mournful look in her eyes, which told that she was thinking of her +absent son. Ah! and he saw again even his poor idiot brother, to whom he +had only used harsh words, and even rough blows. "I would be so +different now if it should please God ever to let me see home and my +dear ones again," he thought. And so has many a poor prodigal thought as +he has been compelled to suffer the punishment for his sins, and found +no way to escape from it. + +Little by little, there grew up in his heart the purpose of beginning +even now this new life. He would not wait till his return to England. In +this lonely island, with half the world between him and all he loved, he +would strive to be one with them in heart, and to join with them in +prayer and praise. He would seek pardon for the sins of his youth for +the Saviour's sake, and in His strength, begin life anew. He had a Bible +with him in his chest, and he began to read it daily, and in earnest +prayer to seek forgiveness and blessing; then, even in his loneliness, +comfort came to him. He was no longer alone, for God was with him. He +knew that God was his Father, his Helper, and his Keeper, and he grew +calm, almost happy, and was even able sometimes to leave his look-out +over the sea, and make little journeys into the interior of his new +kingdom. + +As his mind became more peaceful, he turned his thoughts to the question +of a shelter from the storms of the approaching winter, which, even in +that mild climate, was often accompanied with frost and snow. There were +plenty of trees on the island, and with their stems and branches he soon +built for himself a rough hut, which he thatched with long grass cut and +dried in the sun. This attempt was so successful that he determined to +build another hut at a short distance, so that he might sleep in one, +and in the other, prepare his food. Now that he had once looked in the +face the thought of spending the winter in the island, he grew, slowly, +more reconciled to it, and began to take an interest in preparing, as +far as he could, for its approach. + +His huts must be furnished in some fashion; first, he brought up from +the shore his sea-chest, which contained his few clothes; then he cut +and fastened up a shelf on which to keep his Bible and the other books +which he had brought on shore. He had with him a large cooking-pot in +which to prepare his food, and a smaller drinking-can which he had +brought, most likely, from home, and which bore the old-fashioned +inscription, "Alexander Selkirk, this is my one." It was needful to make +for himself a bed, for hitherto he had slept on the beach, so that at +the first moment of opening his eyes he might begin his watch over the +sea: now he must sleep in his hut. + +This bed he determined to make of the skins of goats, for he had begun +to hunt the wild goats for food, having by this time wearied of his diet +of fish. At first he was able only to overtake and capture the young +kids, for he had no gun, no bow and arrow with which to kill them at a +distance; then as exercise and practice increased his strength, he found +himself able to pursue and take the largest and swiftest goats, and +having killed them, to carry them on his shoulders to his hut. But as +goat's flesh, his principal food, could only be obtained by him while he +remained in full strength and vigor, he determined to provide a store in +case of illness or accident, and so, catching several young kids, he +slightly lamed them, so that they could move but slowly, and then +trained them to feed around his hut, and these gentle creatures, who +soon learned to know him, brought some sense of companionship to the +lonely man. + +His life began now to have its regular duties and interests. In the +morning when he rose, he sang one of the old Scotch psalms, after the +practice which he had been taught from childhood, and then read aloud a +chapter of the Bible, and prayed long and fervently. + +Then he betook himself to light a fire by rubbing together two dry +sticks till a flame was produced, and this fire he fed from time to time +with branches and logs from the woods. He had also, his food to obtain +and to cook--goat's flesh or cray-fish, which he boiled in his large +sauce-pan; and to gather the tender tops of the cabbage-palm or other +vegetables, for bread. These necessary employments finished, he would +take his Bible, and, sitting in the door of his hut, or on the beach, +would study it for hours, finding new truths and deeper meaning in the +blessed words familiar to him from his childhood. Or he would choose one +of his books on navigation, and study with a care which he had never +before thought it worth while to give, hoping in this way to be a better +sailor, and be able to take higher rank in the service, if it should +please God to restore him once more to the duties and work of life. In +this regular, peaceful, and religious life his spirits gradually +recovered; nay, he became far happier than he had been since his +childhood, for something of the trust and the love of a little child +were restored to his heart. + +He would adorn his hut with fragrant boughs, and as he fed and caressed +his kids, would sing with a light heart the songs of old Scotland. Then +at set of sun he returned to the hut in which he slept, and there once +more sang, and read, and prayed, and so lay down to sleep in peace, +because he knew that it was the Lord only that made him dwell in safety. + +"I was a better Christian in my solitude than ever I was before, or than +I fear I shall ever be again," he said, years after he had left the +island. In this there was both truth and error. He had been led by the +merciful goodness of God to repentance and to an earnest desire to +escape from sin, but it was in the life among his fellows that this +repentance and these new resolves--must be tested. It was in the daily +little trials and crosses of a life among other men, that he must learn +to subdue his proud spirit, and curb his hot temper. + +Months and even years passed on, and but little happened to vary +Alexander's quiet life in his island home. He had now a large number of +kids around his hut, and had added to his list of favorites several +tamed cats, which he needed to protect him from the troop of rats which +gnawed his bed-clothes, and even nibbled at his feet as he lay asleep. +He had taught the kids and cats, too, to dance, and many a merry hour he +spent among these his daily companions and friends. The clothes which he +had brought on shore had been long since worn out, and he had supplied +their place by a cap, and trousers, and jacket, made of goat-skin. His +needle was a nail, and his thread thin strips of the skin; among his +stores was a piece of linen, and this too he had sewn into shirts, +unravelling one of his stockings for a supply of thread. He was +barefoot, and the soles of his feet had grown so hard that he could +climb sharp crags, and run over the stony beach, unhurt. + +[Illustration: A narrow escape.] + +Twice or thrice during these lonely years he had seen a sail +approaching, but on these he looked with as much terror as hope, for +should the crew prove to be Spaniards, he knew that he should be made a +prisoner by them, and either put to death, or sent into hopeless +slavery. + +Once, indeed, the crew of a Spanish vessel, putting in for water, had +caught sight of the strange figure in the goat-skin dress, and had +chased him, but so swift-footed was he that he soon left his pursuers +far behind, and then lay hid in terror for hours, till the vessel had +departed. His life had been besides in other danger, for once while +pursuing the hunt from crag to crag, in wild and delightful adventure, +he had set foot on the hidden edge of a precipice: the grass which +seemed to promise so fair a footing gave way beneath his feet, he fell +headlong, and lay hurt and senseless below. He judged by the size of the +moon, when at last he opened his eyes to consciousness, that he must +have been lying stunned and helpless for more than twenty-four hours, +and it was with the greatest pain and difficulty that he could drag +himself to his hut, and lie down on his bed of skins. His tame favorites +came about him but none of them could help him, and he was too weak to +care to procure for himself food or water. But even in his great +distress he did not lose his confidence in God, and he lay calm and +patient, satisfied that he was safe in the care of his Heavenly Father. +After many days of suffering he recovered and once more enjoyed full +health and vigor. + +He had been alone on Juan Fernandez for more than four years when one +evening, looking out seaward before lying down in his hut, he saw the +sails of an English-built vessel which was standing in very near to the +shore. Alexander could not resist the sudden and strong desire which he +felt, to be once more among his fellow-men, to hear once more the +English speech, and feel once more the grasp of a friendly hand. +Hurrying down to the beach, he piled and lighted a large bonfire, to +carry a message to his fellow-countrymen, but the ship, instead of +sailing shoreward, or of putting off a boat at once, tacked and went +farther from the island, taking the fire to be the lights of an enemy's +ship at anchor in the bay. + +Alexander spent the night in hope and in doubt: he killed some goats and +prepared them for food, hoping the next day to entertain some of his +countrymen in his island home, and at the first dawn of day he was again +on the beach, gazing at the now distant but motionless ship. + +Those on board were also keeping an anxious watch, but when morning +light showed them that there was no other ship near, the captain +determined to send a boat on shore to discover the cause of the strange +light which they had seen the night before. As they approached the +island they saw a strange figure running to meet them, and by gestures +and shouts pointing out the best place for landing. Alexander, with his +long beard, his tanned complexion, his goat-skin dress, had lost almost +all outward resemblance to a civilized man, and they wondered much who +this friendly and solitary savage might be. + +But who can describe his joy when he heard once more the speech of his +own country, and looked on the faces of his kind. He welcomed his +visitors in the best English he could remember, for even his speech was +half forgotten, and led them to his hut to partake of the banquet he had +prepared. + +Yet in the midst of all his joy he could hardly determine to leave his +beloved island, so accustomed had he grown to solitude, and to his wild, +uncontrolled life. At length the remembrance of his aged parents, and of +his friends at home, made him determine to ask a passage in the ship +which had touched on his island shore, and the captain, finding how much +he had learnt of seamanship and navigation, offered to rate him as mate. +And thus Juan Fernandez was left once more in utter solitude, and +Selkirk, gazing from the ship's deck, saw its green hills and pleasant +coasts disappear in the distance, as he left the island and all its sad, +its sacred, its happy memories forever. He soon grew tired of the +society of men, and when not busy about the ship, would always seek to +be alone, dreaming of the life which he had left. He found it hard, too, +to accustom himself to the salt meat and biscuits which were sailors' +fare, and to the dress and boots in which he must now appear. Soon every +other thought was lost in his longing desire to see once more his +parents and his home, for the shores of England were in sight. It was on +a Sunday morning that the wanderer entered once more his native village, +where all seemed quiet and unchanged. He did not turn his steps to his +father's cottage, for his parents, as he well knew, would be at the +kirk, and there would he look on their faces once more. Would they +recognize, he asked himself, in the strong and bearded man, the youth +who had left them years ago for the life of adventure which he loved +best? Would they know the fine gentleman in gold lace and embroidery to +be their son Alexander, their lost sailor lad. Pondering such thoughts +as these, he walked on almost unconsciously. How well he knew every step +of his way! In this farmhouse, his sister and her husband used to live; +there was the wood where he had so often gathered nuts, or climbed for +birds' nests with his boyish companions; there, its thatched roof more +lichen-covered than of old, stood his father's cottage, at the door of +which years ago he had kissed his mother for the last time--ah! was she +still alive to welcome the returning wanderer? + +Seated in the kirk among unfamiliar faces, his eyes sought at once the +well-known corner where, as a boy, he had been used to sit, and with an +almost overwhelming rush of thankfulness and joy he saw once more his +mother's face, the same, yet changed, its added wrinkles and silvered +hair telling, perhaps, of many tears and long sorrow for her lost sailor +son. + +There sat his father, too, the portly, respectable-looking elder, in +blue cap and coat of homespun tweed. In vain did Alexander seek to join +in the psalm or prayer, his looks and thoughts were ever wandering; and +he was not alone in this, for the dark eyes of his old mother turned +continually with an eager, inquiring gaze to the grand stranger +gentleman, strange yet so familiar. Then her eyes were cast down once +more on her book, as she tried to give heed to the service, till at last +a sudden smile which lit up Alexander's face, showed her that she saw +before her the son for whom she had longed and prayed, whom no doubt she +had before this counted as among the dead. In her sudden joy the old +woman forgot all else, and rising, rushed towards the place where the +returned wanderer was seated. + +The whole family, with Alexander in their midst, now made their way out +of the kirk, and returned home to talk of the great deliverance which +God had given to their lost kinsman. + +On this true story of Selkirk was founded the tale of the Adventures of +Robinson Crusoe. + + + + +CAPTAIN COOK'S LAST VOYAGE. + + +The discovery of a supposed north-west passage from the North Atlantic +to the North Pacific Oceans, had for many years been ardently sought +for, both by the English and the Dutch. Frobisher, in 1576, made the +first attempt, and his example was in succeeding times followed by many +others. But though much geographical information had been gained in the +neighborhood of Hudson's Bay, Davis' Strait, Baffin's Bay, and the coast +of Greenland, yet no channel whatever was found. By act of parliament, +L20,000 was offered to the successful individual. But though Captain +Middleton, in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, in 1746, explored +those seas and regions, the object remained unattained. The Honorable +Captain Phipps (afterwards Earl Mulgrave) was sent out in the +_Racehorse_, accompanied by Captain Lutwidge, in the _Carcase_ (Lord +Nelson was a boy in this latter ship), to make observations, and to +penetrate as far as it was practicable to do so. They sailed June 2, +1773, and made Spitzbergen on the 28th; but after great exertions, they +found the ice to the northward utterly impenetrable. Once they became +closely jammed, and it was only with great difficulty they escaped +destruction. On August 22, finding it impossible to get further to the +northward, eastward, or westward, they made sail, according to their +instructions, for England, and arrived off Shetland on September 7. + +Notwithstanding these numerous failures, the idea of an existing passage +was still cherished; and Earl Sandwich continuing at the head of the +Admiralty, resolved that a further trial should be made, and Captain +Cook offered his services to undertake it. They were gladly accepted, +and on February 10, 1776, he was appointed to command the expedition in +his old, but hardy ship, the _Resolution_, and Captain Clerke, in the +_Discovery_, was ordered to attend him. In this instance, however, the +mode of experiment was to be reversed, and instead of attempting the +former routes by Davis' Strait or Baffin's Bay, etc., Cook, at his own +request, was instructed to proceed into the South Pacific, and thence to +try the passage by the way of Behring's Strait; and as it was necessary +that the islands in the Southern Ocean should be revisited, cattle and +sheep, with other animals, and all kinds of seeds, were shipped for the +advantage of the natives. + +Every preparation having been made, the _Resolution_ quitted Plymouth on +July 12, taking Omai, the native, from the Society Isles. Having touched +at Teneriffe, they crossed the equator September 1, and reached the Cape +on October 18, where the _Discovery_ joined them on November 10. + +The ships sailed again on November 30, and encountered heavy gales, in +which several sheep and goats died. On December 12 they saw two large +islands, which Cook named Prince Edward's Islands; and three days +afterwards several others were seen; but having made Kerguelen's Land, +they anchored in a convenient harbor on Christmas day. On the north side +of this harbor one of the men found a quart bottle fastened to a +projecting rock by stout wire, and on opening it, the bottle was found +to contain a piece of parchment, on which was an inscription purporting +that the land had been visited by a French vessel in 1772-3. To this +Cook added a notice of his own visit; the parchment was then returned to +the bottle, and the cork being secured with lead, was placed upon a pile +of stones near to the place from which it had been removed. The whole +country was extremely barren and desolate, and on the 30th they came to +the eastern extremity of Kerguelen's Land. + +On January 24, 1777, they came in sight of Van Diemen's Land (now +Tasmania), and on the 26th anchored in Adventure Bay, where intercourse +was opened with the natives, and Omai took every opportunity of lauding +the great superiority of his friends, the English. Here they obtained +plenty of grass for the remaining cattle, and a supply of fresh +provisions for themselves. On the 30th they quitted their port, +convinced that Van Diemen's Land was the southern point of New Holland. +Subsequent investigations, however, have proved this idea to be +erroneous, Van Diemen's Land being an island separated from the mainland +of Australia by Bass's Strait. + +On February 12, Captain Cook anchored at his old station in Queen +Charlotte's Sound, New Zealand; but the natives were very shy in +approaching the ships, and none could be persuaded to come on board. The +reason was, that on the former voyages, after parting with the +_Resolution_, the _Adventure_ had visited this place, and ten of her +crew had been killed in an unpremeditated skirmish with the natives. It +was the fear of retaliatory punishment that kept them aloof. Captain +Cook, however, soon made them easy upon the subject, and their +familiarity was renewed; but great caution was used, to be fully +prepared for a similar attack, by keeping the men well-armed on all +occasions. Of the animals left at this island in the former voyages, +many were thriving; and the gardens, though left in a state of nature, +were found to contain cabbages, onions, leeks, radishes, mustard, and a +few potatoes. The captain was enabled to add to both. At the +solicitation of Omai, he received two New Zealand lads on board the +_Resolution_, and by the 27th was clear of the coast. + +After landing at a number of islands, and not finding adequate supplies, +the ships sailed for Anamocka, and the _Resolution_ was brought up in +exactly the same anchorage that she had occupied three years before. The +natives behaved in a most friendly manner, and but for their habits of +stealing, quiet would have been uninterrupted. Nothing, however, could +check this propensity, till Captain Cook shaved the heads of all whom he +caught practicing it. This rendered them an object of ridicule to their +countrymen, and enabled the English to recognize and keep them at a +distance. Most of the Friendly Isles were visited by the ships, and +everywhere they met with a kind reception. On June 10 they reached +Tongataboo, where the King offered Captain Cook his house to reside in. +Here he made a distribution of animals amongst the chiefs, and the +importance of preserving them was explained by Omai. Two kids and two +turkey-cocks having been stolen, the captain seized three canoes, put a +guard over the chiefs, and insisted that not only the kids and turkeys +should be restored, but also everything that had been taken away since +their arrival. This produced a good effect, and much of the plunder was +returned. + +[Illustration: Deliverance. (Page 194.)] + +Captain Cook remained at the Friendly Islands nearly three months, and +lived almost entirely during that period upon fresh provisions, +occasionally eating the produce of the seeds he had sown there in his +former visits. On July 17, they took their final leave of these +hospitable people, and on August 12 reached Otaheite, and took up a +berth in Oaiti-piha Bay, which, it was discovered, had been visited by +two Spanish ships since the _Resolution_ had last been there. + +Animals of various kinds had been left in the country by the Spaniards, +and the islanders spoke of them with esteem and respect. On the 24th the +ships went round to Matavai Bay, and Captain Cook presented to the king, +Otoo, the remainder of his live stock. + +They here witnessed a human sacrifice, to propitiate the favor of their +gods in a battle they were about to undertake. The victim was generally +some strolling vagabond, who was not aware of his fate till the moment +arrived, and he received his death-blow from a club. For the purpose of +showing the inhabitants the use of the horses, Captains Cook and Clerke +rode into the country, to the great astonishment of the islanders; and +though this exercise was continued every day by some of the _Resolution's_ +people, yet the wonder of the natives never abated. + +On the return of Omai to the land of his birth, the reception he met +with was not very cordial; but the affection of his relatives was strong +and ardent. Captain Cook obtained the grant of a piece of land for him +on the west side of Owharre harbor, Huaheine. The carpenters of the +ships built him a small house, to which a garden was attached, planted +with shaddocks, vines, pineapples, melons, etc., and a variety of +vegetables, the whole of which were thriving before Captain Cook quitted +the island. When the house was finished, the presents Omai had received +in England were carried ashore, with every article necessary for +domestic purposes, as well as two muskets, a bayonet, a brace of +pistols, etc. + +The two lads brought from New Zealand were put on shore at this place, +to form part of Omai's family; but it was with great reluctance that +they quitted the voyagers, who had behaved so kindly to them. + +Whilst lying at Huaheine, a thief, who had caused them great trouble, +not only had his head and beard shaved, but, in order to deter others, +both his ears were cut off. On November 3, the ships went to Ulietea, +and here, decoyed by the natives, two or three desertions took place; +and as others seemed inclined to follow the example, Captain Clerke +pursued the fugitives with two-armed boats and a party of marines, but +without effect. Captain Cook experienced a similar failure; he therefore +seized upon the persons of the chief's son, daughter, and son-in-law, +whom he placed under confinement till the people should be restored, +which took place on the 28th, and the hostages were released. One of the +deserters was a midshipman of the _Discovery_, and the son of a brave +officer in the service. Schemes were projected by some of the natives to +assassinate Captain Cook and Captain Clerke; but though in imminent +danger, the murderous plans failed. + +At Bolabola, Captain Cook succeeded in obtaining an anchor which had +been left there by M. Bougainville, as he was very desirous of +converting the iron into articles of traffic. They left this place on +December 8, crossed the line, and on the 24th stopped at a small island, +which he named Christmas Island, and where he planted cocoa-nuts, yams, +and melon seeds, and left a bottle enclosing a suitable inscription. + +On January 2, 1778, the ships resumed their voyage northward, to pursue +the grand object in Behring's Strait. They passed several islands, the +inhabitants of which, though at a great distance from Otaheite, spoke +the same language. Those who came on board displayed the utmost +astonishment at everything they beheld, and it was evident they had +never seen a ship before. The disposition to steal was equally strong in +these as in the other South Sea islanders, and a man was killed who +tried to plunder the watering-party, but this was not known to Captain +Cook till after they had sailed. They also discovered that the practice +of eating human flesh was prevalent. To a group of these islands (and +they were generally found in clusters) Captain Cook gave the name of the +Sandwich Islands, in honor of the noble earl at the head of the +Admiralty. + +The voyage to the northward was continued on February 2, and the +long-looked-for coast of New Albion was made on March 7; the ships, +after sailing along it till the 29th, came to anchor in a small cove. A +brisk trade commenced with the natives, who appeared to be well +acquainted with the value of iron, for which they exchanged the skins of +various animals, such as bears, wolves, foxes, deer, etc., both in their +original state and made up into garments. But the most extraordinary +articles were human skulls, and hands not quite stripped of the flesh, +and which had the appearance of having been recently on the fire. +Thieving was practiced at this place in a more scientific manner than +they had before remarked; and the natives insisted upon being paid for +the wood and other things supplied to the ships, with which Captain Cook +scrupulously complied. This inlet was named King George's Sound, but it +was afterwards ascertained that the natives called it Nootka Sound. +After making every requisite nautical observation, the ships being again +ready for sea on the 26th, in the evening they departed, a severe gale +of wind blowing them away from the shore. From this period they examined +the coast, under a hope of finding some communication with the Polar +Sea; one river they traced a long distance, which was afterwards named +Cook's River. + +They left this place June 6, but notwithstanding all their watchfulness +and vigilance, no passage could be found. The ships ranged across the +mouth of the strait. The natives of the islands, by their manners, gave +evident tokens of their being acquainted with Europeans--most probably +Russian traders. They put in at Oonalaska and other places, which were +taken possession of in the name of the King of England. On August 3, Mr. +Anderson, surgeon of the _Resolution_, died from a lingering +consumption, under which he had been suffering more than twelve months. +He was a young man of considerable ability, and possessed an amiable +disposition. + +Proceeding to the northward, Captain Cook ascertained the relative +position of the two continents, Asia and America, whose extremities he +observed. On the 18th they were close to a dense wall of ice, beyond +which they could not penetrate. The ice here was from ten to twelve feet +high, and seemed to rise higher in the distance. A prodigious number of +sea-horses were crouching on the ice, some of which were procured for +food. Captain Cook continued to traverse these icy seas till the 29th. +He then explored the coasts in Behring's Strait both in Asia and +America; and on October 2 again anchored at Oonalaska to refit; and here +they had communication with some Russians, who undertook to convey +charts and maps, etc., to the English Admiralty, which they faithfully +fulfilled. On the 26th the ships quitted the harbor of Samganoodah, and +sailed for the Sandwich Islands, Captain Cook purposing to remain there +a few months, and then return to Kamtschatka. The island of Mowee was +discovered on November 26; and on the 30th they fell in with another, +called by the natives Owyhee (now Hawaii); and being of large extent, +the ships were occupied nearly seven weeks in sailing round it, and +examining the coast; and they found the islanders more frank and free +from suspicion than any they had yet had intercourse with; so that on +January 16, 1779, there were not fewer than a thousand canoes about the +two ships, most of them crowded with people, and well-laden with hogs +and other productions of the place. A robbery having been committed, +Captain Cook ordered a volley of musketry and four great guns to be +fired over the canoe that contained the thief; but this seemed only to +astonish the natives, without creating any great alarm. On the 17th the +ships anchored in a bay called by the islanders, Karakakooa. The natives +constantly thronged to the ships, whose decks, consequently, being at +all times crowded, allowed of pilfering without fear of detection; and +these practices, it is conjectured, were encouraged by the chiefs. A +great number of the hogs purchased were killed and salted down so +completely, that some of the pork was good at Christmas, 1780. On the +26th, Captain Cook had an interview with Terreeoboo, King of the +islands, in which great formality was observed, and an exchange of +presents took place, as well as an exchange of names. The natives were +extremely respectful to Cook; in fact, they paid him a sort of +adoration, prostrating themselves before him; and a society of priests +furnished the ships with a constant supply of hogs and vegetables, +without requiring any return. On February 3, the day previous to the +ships sailing, the King presented them with a quantity of cloth, many +boat-loads of vegetables, and a whole herd of hogs. The ships sailed on +the following day, but on the 6th encountered a very heavy gale, in +which, on the night of the 7th, the _Resolution_ sprung the head of her +foremast in such a dangerous manner, that they were forced to put back +to Karakakooa Bay, in order to get it repaired. Here they anchored on +the morning of the 11th, and everything for a time promised to go well +in their intercourse with the natives. The friendliness manifested by +the chiefs, however, was far from solid. They were savages at a low +point of cultivation, and theft and murder were not considered by them +in the light of crimes. Cook, aware of the nature of these barbarians, +was anxious to avoid any collision, and it was with no small regret that +he found that an affray had taken place between some seamen and the +natives. The cause of the disturbance was the seizure of the cutter of +the _Discovery_ as it lay at anchor. The boats of both ships were sent +in search of her, and Captain Cook went on shore to prosecute the +inquiry, and, if necessary, to seize the person of the King, who had +sanctioned the theft. + +The narrative of what ensued is affectingly tragical. Cook left the +_Resolution_ about seven o'clock, attended by the lieutenant of marines, +a sergeant, a corporal, and seven private men. The pinnace's crew were +likewise armed, and under the command of Mr. Roberts; the launch was +also ordered to assist his own boat. He landed with the marines at the +upper end of the town of Kavoroah, where the natives received him with +their accustomed tokens of respect, and not the smallest sign of +hostility was evinced by any of them; and as the crowds increased, the +chiefs employed themselves as before, in keeping order. Captain Cook +requested the King to go on board the _Resolution_ with him, to which he +offered few objections; but in a little time it was observed that the +natives were arming themselves with long spears, clubs, and daggers, and +putting on the thick mats which they used by way of armor. This hostile +appearance was increased by the arrival of a canoe from the opposite +side of the bay, announcing that one of the chiefs had been killed by a +shot from the _Discovery's_ boat. The women, who had been conversing +familiarly with the English, immediately retired, and loud murmurs arose +amongst the crowd. Captain Cook, perceiving the tumultuous proceedings +of the natives, ordered Lieutenant Middleton to march his marines down +to the boats, to which the islanders offered no obstruction. The captain +followed with the king, attended by his wife, two sons, and several +chiefs. One of the sons had already entered the pinnace, expecting his +father to follow, when the king's wife and others hung round his neck, +and forced him to be seated near a double canoe, assuring him that he +would be put to death if he went on board the ship. + +Whilst matters were in this position, one of the chiefs was seen with a +dagger partly concealed under his cloak, lurking about Captain Cook, and +the lieutenant of marines proposed to fire at him; but this the captain +would not permit; but the chief closing upon them, the officer of +marines struck him with his firelock. Another native, grasping the +sergeant's musket, was forced to let it go by a blow from the +lieutenant. Captain Cook, seeing the tumult was increasing, observed, +that "if he were to force the king off, it could only be done by +sacrificing the lives of many of his people;" and was about to give +orders to re-embark, when a man flung a stone at him, which he returned +by discharging small-shot from one of the barrels of his piece. The man +was but little hurt; and brandishing his spear, with threatenings to +hurl it at the captain, the latter, unwilling to fire with ball, knocked +the fellow down, and then warmly expostulated with the crowd for their +hostile conduct. At this moment a man was observed behind a double +canoe, in the act of darting a spear at Captain Cook, who promptly +fired, but killed another who was standing by his side. The sergeant of +marines, however, instantly presented, and brought down the native whom +the captain had missed. The impetuosity of the islanders was somewhat +repressed; but being pushed on by those in the rear, who were ignorant +of what was passing in front, a volley of stones was poured in amongst +the marines, who, without waiting for orders, returned it with a general +discharge of musketry, which was directly succeeded by a brisk fire from +the boats. Captain Cook expressed much surprise and vexation; he waved +his hand for the boats to cease firing, and to come on shore to embark +the marines. The pinnace unhesitatingly obeyed; but the lieutenant in +the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance of his commander, +rowed further off at the very moment that the services of himself and +people were most required. Nor was this all the mischief that ensued; +for, as it devolved upon the pinnace to receive the marines, she became +so crowded, as to render the men incapable of using their fire-arms. The +marines on shore, however, fired; but the moment their pieces were +discharged, the islanders rushed _en masse_ upon them, forced the party +into the water, where four of them were killed, and the lieutenant +wounded. At this critical period Captain Cook was left entirely alone +upon a rock near the shore. He, however, hurried towards the pinnace, +holding his left arm round the back of his head, to shield it from the +stones, and carrying his musket under his right. An islander, armed with +a club, was seen in a crouching posture cautiously following him, as if +watching for an opportunity to spring forward upon his victim. This man +was a relation of the king's, and remarkably agile and quick. At length, +he jumped forward upon the captain, and struck him a heavy blow on the +back of his head, and then turned and fled. The captain appeared to be +somewhat stunned: he staggered a few paces, and, dropping his musket, +fell on his hands and one knee; but whilst striving to recover his +upright position, another islander rushed forward, and with an iron +dagger stabbed him in the neck. He again made an effort to proceed, but +fell into a small pool of water not more than knee-deep, and numbers +instantly ran to the spot, and endeavored to keep him down; but by his +struggles he was enabled to get his head above the surface, and casting +a look towards the pinnace (then not more than five or six yards +distant), seemed to be imploring assistance. It is asserted that, in +consequence of the crowded state of the pinnace, (through the withdrawal +of the launch), the crew of the boat were unable to render any aid; but +it is also probable that the emergency of this unexpected catastrophe +deprived the English of that cool judgment which was requisite on such +an occasion. The islanders, perceiving that no help was afforded, forced +him under water again, but in a deeper place; yet his great muscular +power once more enabled him to raise himself and cling to the rock. At +this moment a forcible blow was given with a club, and he fell down +lifeless. The savages then hauled his corpse upon the rock, and +ferociously stabbed the body all over, snatching the dagger from each +others' hands to wreak their sanguinary vengeance on the slain. The body +was left some time exposed upon the rock; and as the islanders gave way, +through terror at their own act and the fire from the boats, it might +have been recovered entire. But no attempt of the kind was made; and it +was afterwards, together with the marines, cut up, and the parts +distributed amongst the chiefs. The mutilated fragments were +subsequently restored, and committed to the deep with all the honors due +to the rank of the deceased. Thus, February 14, 1779, perished in an +inglorious brawl with a set of savages, one of England's greatest +navigators, whose services to science have never been surpassed by any +man belonging to his profession. It may almost be said that he fell a +victim to his humanity; for if, instead of retreating before his +barbarous pursuers, with a view to spare their lives, he had turned +revengefully upon them, his fate might have been very different. + +The death of their commander was felt to be a heavy blow by the officers +and seamen of the expedition. With deep sorrow the ships' companies left +Owyhee, where the catastrophe had occurred, the command of the +_Resolution_ devolving on Captain Clerke, and Mr. Gore acting as +commander of the _Discovery_. After making some further exploratory +searches among the Sandwich Islands, the vessels visited Kamtschatka and +Behring's Strait. Here it was found impossible to penetrate through the +ice either on the coast of America or that of Asia, so that they +returned to the southward; and on August 22, 1779, Captain Clerke died +of consumption, and was succeeded by Captain Gore, who, in his turn, +gave Lieutenant King an acting order in the _Discovery_. After a second +visit to Kamtschatka, the two ships returned by way of China, remained +some time at Canton, touched at the Cape, and arrived at the Nore, +October 4, 1780, after an absence of four years, two months, and +twenty-two days, during which the _Resolution_ lost only five men by +sickness, and the _Discovery_ did not lose a single man. + +By this, as well as the preceding voyages of Cook, a considerable +addition was made to a knowledge of the earth's surface. Besides +clearing up doubts respecting the Southern Ocean, and making known many +islands in the Pacific, the navigator did an inestimable service to his +country in visiting the coasts of New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, +New Zealand, and Norfolk Island--all now colonial possessions of +Britain, and rapidly becoming the seat of a large and flourishing nation +of Anglo-Australians--the England of the southern hemisphere. + +The intelligence of Captain Cook's death was received with melancholy +regrets in England. The king granted a pension of L200 per annum to his +widow, and L25 per annum to each of the children; the Royal Society had +a gold medal struck in commemoration of him; and various other honors at +home and abroad were paid to his memory. + +"Thus, by his own persevering efforts," as has been well observed by the +author of the 'Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties,' "did this great +man raise himself from the lowest obscurity to a reputation wide as the +world itself, and certain to last as long as the age in which he +flourished shall be remembered by history. But better still than even +all this fame--than either the honors which he received while living, or +those which, when he was no more, his country and mankind bestowed upon +his memory--he had exalted himself in the scale of moral and +intellectual being; had won a new and nobler nature, and taken a high +place among the instructors and benefactors of mankind." + +Honor and fame are not to be achieved by seeking for them alone, nor are +their possession the end and aim of human existence. It is only by an +unwearied striving after a new and nobler nature; only by being useful +to our fellows, and making the most of those qualities of mind which God +has given us, that happiness is to be attained, or that we fulfill the +ends of our being. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +EXCELLENT BOOKS. + +SIX MONTHS AT MRS. PRIOR'S. By Emily Adams. Illustrated. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.25. + +"In this fresh little story, which is addressed especially to young +girls, the author tries to impress the lesson that the disagreeable and +annoying duties of life may be made pleasant by accepting them as +inevitable, and asking help from above. Mrs. Prior is the widow of a +clergyman, and has been left with five little ones to support. She +discharges her servant, and divides the lighter duties of the household +between herself and the two eldest of her children, Minnie and Helen. +Unaccustomed to any thing but study and play, the girls find it very +hard to have their old time appointments for enjoyment circumscribed, +and complain bitterly at first. The book gives a history of their +experience, and shows how the work that was so irksome at first became +in the end a source of pleasure and means of healthful discipline. + +"Six Months at Mrs. Prior's" is a sweet story of womanly tact combined +with Christian trust. A widow, with scanty means, makes a home happy for +a group of children, restless, wayward and aspiring, like many American +children of our day. The mother's love holds them, her thrift cares for +them, her firmness restrains, and her christian words and life win them +to noble aims and living. The influence of the christian household is +widely felt, and the quiet transforming leaven works in many homes. We +can't have too many books of this kind in the family or Sunday-school." + +MISS PRICILLA HUNTER, by Pansy, opens a new view for that charming +writer, but one eminently popular at the present time. It deals with the +payment of a church debt, and shows how an humble woman, with a +Christian character which gave power to her words, raised the money to +pay off a debt which had long been a hindrance to church growth and to +Christian benevolence. Why she did it, and how she did it, is told in +Pansy's best fashion: her encounters with crabbed folks, and stingy +folks, and folks determined not to give to the church debt, are highly +amusing, as well as her devices to get something from everybody. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +YENSIE WALTON. By Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. +$1.50. + +Of the many good books which the Messrs. Lothrop have prepared for the +shelves of Sunday-school libraries, "Yensie Walton" is one of the best. +It is a sweet, pure story of girl life, quiet as the flow of a brook, +and yet of sufficient interest to hold the attention of the most +careless reader. Yensie is an orphan, who has found a home with an +uncle, a farmer, some distance from the city. Her aunt, a coarse, vulgar +woman, and a tyrant in the household, does her best to humiliate her by +making her a domestic drudge, taking away her good clothing and +exchanging it for coarse, ill-filling garments, and scolding her from +morning till night. This treatment develops a spirit of resistance; the +mild and affectionate little girl becomes passionate and disobedient, +and the house is the scene of continual quarrels. Fortunately, her uncle +insists upon her attending school, and in the teacher, Miss Gray, she +finds her first real friend. In making her acquaintance a new life +begins for her. She is brought in contact with new and better +influences, and profiting by them becomes in time a sunbeam in her +uncle's house, and the means of softening the heart and quieting the +tongue of the aunt who was once her terror and dread. Mrs. Clark has a +very pleasing style, and is especially skilful in the construction of +her stories. + +"Yensie Walton" is a story of great power, by a new author. It aims to +show that God uses a stern discipline to form the noblest characters, +and that the greatest trials of life often prove the greatest blessings. +The story is subordinate to this moral aim, and the earnestness of the +author breaks out into occasional preaching. But the story is full of +striking incident and scenes of great pathos, with occasional gleams of +humor and fun by way of relief to the more tragic parts of the +narrative. The characters are strongly drawn, and, in general, are +thoroughly human, not gifted with impossible perfections, but having +those infirmities of the flesh which make us all akin. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +RECENT BOOKS. + +JOHNNY'S VACATIONS AND OTHER STORIES. By Mary E. N. Hathaway. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. $1.00. + +Few more entertaining stories for small boys have lately made their +appearance than _Johnny's Vacations_. The author seems to have had +experience with boys and tells in a charmingly natural manner the story +of a vacation spent on a farm by one of them, Johnny Stephens by name. +In addition there are six shorter stories, in which the girls will be as +deeply interested as the boys. Among them are "The Doll's Party," "Biddy +and her Chickens," "The Wild Goose," and "Pansy's Visit." + +ROYAL LOWRIE. A Boy's Book. By Magnus Merriweather. D. Lothrop & Co., +Boston. With eleven illustrations by Hopkins. 16mo. Price, $1.25. + +Despite the efforts of publishers, a brilliant book for boys is a _rara +avis_; therefore "Royal Lowrie" is likely to be appreciated by all +lively boys between twelve and forty. While in literary finish the book +ranks with the best novels of the day, the characters are the boys and +girls of our modern High Schools. The plot is of breathless interest, +but of such a character that we will warrant when the general +mystification is dispersed no reader will feel like ever undertaking to +seem what he is not. The humiliation which at last overtakes Royal +Lowrie and Archer Bishop is so very thorough that the two gay, +thoughtless fellows, in the language of the _American Bookseller_, +"resolve in future to be wholly true, even in little things. Royal +Lowrie is an especially engaging rattlepate, and we do not wonder that +he wins forgiveness on all sides." + +Although it is an irresistibly humorous story of high-spirited boys and +girls, the book is calculated to exert as strong a restraining influence +as any volume which will be found in our Sunday-school Libraries. + +ENTERPRISE. + +We copy the following from _The American Bookseller_, New York: + +Few people can have failed to notice the great enterprise, if they have +not observed the scrupulous care with which Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. +have published a class of books adapted to the highest culture of the +people. + +It is only ten years since they commenced the work of publishing, and +their list now numbers more than six hundred volumes. + +We are glad to make record, that brave and persistent following of a +high ideal has been successful. + +Messrs. D. Lothrop & Co. have given special attention to the publication +of books for children and youths, rightly considering that in no +department is _the best_, as regards literary excellence and purity of +moral and religious reading, of so great importance. Yet the names of +works by such authors as Austin Phelps, D.D., Francis Wayland, and Dr. +Nehemiah Adams on their catalogue, will show that maturer readers have +not been uncared for. + +Of their work projected for the coming season, we have not room to speak +in detail; it will suffice for the present to say that it is wide in +range, including substantial and elegantly illustrated books, all in the +line of the practical and useful, and fresh in character and treatment. + +Their two juvenile magazines, _Wide Awake_ and _Babyland_, are warmly +welcomed in every part of the English-speaking world. + +We advise any of our readers who desire to know more about these +publications, to send to D. Lothrop & Co., Boston, for an illustrated +catalogue. + +All who visit their establishment, corner of Franklin and Hawley +streets, will not only be courteously welcomed and entertained, but will +have the pleasure of seeing one of the most spacious and attractive +bookstores in the country. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BABY BUNTING. Short Stories with Bright Pictures. By the Best American +Authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.00. + +_Baby Bunting_ is a beautiful quarto with one of the most attractive +outsides we have seen for a long time. It is made up of choice stories +adapted to the reading of children from four to eight years of age. They +are all short, few of them being over a page in length, and each is +accompanied by a full page engraving. It is just the kind of book that +ought to be popular, and undoubtedly will be. + +YOUNG FOLKS' HISTORY OF GERMANY. By Charlotte M. Yonge. Boston: D. +Lothrop & Co. Price, $1.50. + +This handsome volume is the first of a series, which will include the +principal countries of Europe, the succeeding numbers of which will +appear at brief intervals. Miss Yonge, whose talents have been exerted +in various directions for the benefit of young readers, has been +peculiarly successful in this series, which has had a very large sale in +Europe, and deserves a like popularity here. It covers not only the +entire period of German civilization down to the present time, but it +gives an account of ancient Germany and its inhabitants in times which +might almost be called pre-historic. The first chapters are explanatory +of the German mythology, and of the ancient methods of worship. The +Nibelungen Lied is described and its story told. The real history begins +about the year 496 A.D., at a time when the Franks were the victorious +race in Europe. From that time down to the beginning of the present year +the record is continuous. The volume is profusely illustrated. + +HAPPY MOODS OF HAPPY CHILDREN. Original Poems. By favorite American +authors. Boston: D. Lothrop & Co. Price $1.00. + +We venture to say that no publishing house in the country will issue +this season anything choicer in the way of a presentation book of poems +than this charming volume. The poems it contains were written expressly +for Mr. Lothrop, and have never before been brought together in +collected form. Among the authors represented are Elizabeth Stuart +Phelps, Clara Doty Bates, Margaret G. Preston, Ella Farman, Mrs. Platt, +Harriet McEwen Kimball, Mary A. Lathbury, Nora Perry, Mrs. L. C. Whiton, +Celia Thaxter, Edgar Fawcett, and many others. Although the volume is +ostensibly preferred for children, it is one which grown-up people will +equally enjoy. There are a score or more of illustrations, most of them +full-page, exquisitely drawn and engraved. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +PANSY'S PAGE. + +FOUR GIRLS AT CHAUTAUQUA. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +The most fascinating "watering-place" story ever published. Four +friends, each a brilliant girl in her way, tired of Saratoga and +Newport, try a fortnight at the new summer resort on Chautauqua Lake, +choosing the time when the National Sunday-school Assembly is in camp. +Rev. Drs. Vincent, Deems, Cuyler, Edward, Eggleston, Mrs. Emily +Huntington Miller, move prominently through the story. + +HOUSEHOLD PUZZLES. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +How to make one dollar do the work of five. A family of beautiful girls +seek to solve this "puzzle." Piquant, humorous, but written with an +intense purpose. + +THE RANDOLPHS. By _Pansy_. 12mo. Illustrated 1 50 + +A sequel to Household Puzzles, in which the Puzzles are agreeably +disposed of. + +GRANDPA'S DARLINGS, By _Pansy_. 16mo. Illustrated 1 25 + +A big book, full of "good times" for the little people of the family. + +ESTER RIED By Pansy. 1 50 +JULIA RIED " 1 50 +THREE PEOPLE " 1 50 +THE KING'S DAUGHTER " 1 50 +WISE AND OTHERWISE " 1 50 +CUNNING WORKMEN " 1 25 +JESSIE WELLS " 75 +DOCIA'S JOURNAL " 75 +BERNIE'S WHITE CHICKEN " 75 +HELEN LESTER " 75 +A CHRISTMAS TIME " 15 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +MISS JULIA A. EASTMAN is one of the most popular of our modern writers. + +YOUNG RICK. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. Twelve illustrations by +Sol Eytinge. $1.50 + +A bright, fascinating story of a little boy who was both a blessing and +a bother.--_Boston Journal._ + +The most delightful book on the list for the children of the family, +being full of adventures and gay home scenes and merry play-times. +"Paty" would have done credit to Dickens in his palmiest days. The +strange glows and shadows of her character are put in lovingly and +lingeringly, with the pencil of a master. Miss Margaret's character of +light is admirably drawn, while Aunt Lesbia, Deacon Harkaway, Tom +Dorrance, and the master and mistress of Graythorpe poor-house are +genuine "charcoal sketches." + +STRIKING FOR THE RIGHT. By _Julia A. Eastman_. Large 16mo. +Illustrated $1 75 + +While this story holds the reader breathless with expectancy and +excitement, its civilizing influence in the family is hardly to be +estimated. In all quarters it has met with the warmest praise. + +THE ROMNEYS OF RIDGEMONT. By Julia A. Eastman. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +BEULAH ROMNEY. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +Two stones wondrously alive, flashing with fun, sparkling with tears, +throbbing with emotion. The next best thing to attending Mrs. Hale's big +boarding-school is to read Beulah's experience there. + +SHORT-COMINGS AND LONG-GOINGS. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +A remarkable book, crowded with remarkable characters. It is a picture +gallery of human nature. + +KITTY KENT'S TROUBLES. By _Julia A. Eastman_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +"A delicious April-day style of book, sunshiny with smiles on one page +while the next is misty with tender tears. Almost every type of American +school-girl is here represented--the vain Helen Dart, the beauty, Amy +Searle, the ambitious, high bred, conservative Anna Matson; but next to +Kitty herself sunny little Pauline Sedgewick will prove the general +favorite. It is a story fully calculated to win both girls and boys +toward noble, royal ways of doing little as well as great things. All +teachers should feel an interest in placing it in the hands of their +pupils." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +BOOKS FOR YOUNG HEROES AND BRAVE WORKERS. + +VIRGINIA. By _W. H. G. Kingston_. 16mo. Illustrated $1 25 + +A stirring story of adventure upon sea and land. + +AFRICAN ADVENTURE AND ADVENTURERS. By _Rev. G. T. Day, D. D._ 16 mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +The stories of Speke, Grant, Baker, Livingstone and Stanley are put into +simple shape for the entertainment of young readers. + +NOBLE WORKERS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +STORIES OF SUCCESS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 16mo. $1 50 + +Inspiring biographies and records which leave a most wholesome and +enduring effect upon the reader. + +MYTHS AND HEROES. 16mo. Illustrated. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. +D._ $1 50 + +KNIGHTS AND SEA KINGS. Edited by _S. F. Smith, D. D._ 12mo. +Illustrated $1 50 + +Two entertaining books, which will fasten forever the historical and +geographical lessons of the school-room firmly in the student's mind. + +CHAPLIN'S LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 16mo. Illustrated $1 50 + +LIFE OF AMOS LAWRENCE. 12mo. Ill. $1 50 + +Two biographies of perennial value. No worthier books were ever offered +as holiday presents for our American young men. + +WALTER NEAL'S EXAMPLE. By _Rev. Theron Brown_. 16mo. +Illustrated $1 25 + +Walter Neal's Example is by Rev. Theron Brown, the editor of that very +successful paper, _The Youth's Companion_. The story is a touching one, +and is in parts so vivid as to seem drawn from the life.--_N. Y. +Independent._ + +TWO FORTUNE-SEEKERS. Stories by _Rossiter Johnson_, _Louise Chandler +Moulton_, _E. Stuart Phelps_, _Ella Farman_, _etc._ Fully +illustrated $1 50 + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +"MISS FARMAN has the very desirable knack of imparting valuable ideas +under the guise of a pleasing story."--_The New Century_. + +MRS. HURD'S NIECE. By _Ella Farman_. Ill. $1 50 + +A thrilling story for the girls, especially for those who think they +have a "mission," to whom we commend sturdy English Hannah, with her +small means, and her grand success. Saidee Hurd is one of the sweetest +girls ever embalmed in story, and Lois Gladstone one of the noblest. + +THE COOKING CLUB OF TU-WHIT HOLLOW. By _Ella Farman_. 16mo. Eight +full-page illustrations $1 25 + +Worth reading by all who delight in domestic romance.--_Fall River Daily +News_. + +The practical instructions in housewifery, which are abundant, are set +in the midst of a bright, wholesome story, and the little housewives who +figure in it are good specimens of very human, but at the same time very +lovable, little American girls. It ought to be the most successful +little girls' book of the season.--_The Advance._ + +A LITTLE WOMAN. By _Ella Farman_. 16m. $1 00 + +The daintiest of all juvenile books. From its merry pages, winsome +Kinnie Crosby has stretched out her warm little hand to help thousands +of young girls. + +A WHITE HAND. By _Ella Farman_. 12m. Ill. $1 50 + +A genuine painting of American society. Millicent and Jack are drawn by +a bold, firm hand. No one can lay this story down until the last leaf is +turned. + +_WIDE AWAKE._ AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE For the Young Folks. $2.00 PER +ANNUM. POSTAGE PREPAID. Edited by ELLA FARMAN. Published by D. LOTHROP & +CO., Boston, Mass. + +It always contains a feast of fat things for the little folks, and folks +who are no longer little find there lost childhood in its pages. We are +not saying too much when we say that its versatile editor--Ella Farman, +is more fully at home in the child's wonder-land than any other living +American writer. She is thoroughly _en rapport_ with her readers, gives +them now a sugar plum of poesy, now a dainty jelly-cake of imagination, +and cunningly intermixes all the solid bread of thought that the child's +mind can digest and assimilate.--_York True Democrat._ + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The $1000 Prize Series. + +_Pronounced by the Examining Committee, Rev. Drs. Lincoln, Rankin and +Day, superior to any similar series._ + +Striking for the Right, $1.75 +Silent Tom, 1.75 +Evening Rest, 1.50 +The Old Stone House, 1.50 +Into the Light, 1.50 +Walter McDonald, 1.50 +Story of the Blount Family, 1.50 +Margaret Worthington, 1.50 +The Wadsworth Boys, 1.50 +Grace Avery's Influence, 1.50 +Glimpses Through, 1.50 +Ralph's Possession, 1.50 +Luck of Alden Farm, 1.50 +Chronicles of Sunset Mountain, 1.50 +The Marble Preacher, 1.50 +Golden Lines, 1.50 + +_Sold by Booksellers generally, and sent by Mail, postpaid, on receipt +of price._ + +BOSTON: +D. LOTHROP & CO., PUBLISHERS. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Famous Islands and Memorable Voyages, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMOUS ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 25882.txt or 25882.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/8/25882/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/25882.zip b/old/25882.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e636f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25882.zip |
