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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The True Story Book, Edited by Andrew Lang
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The True Story Book
+
+
+Editor: Andrew Lang
+
+Release Date: December 23, 2008  [eBook #27602]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 27602-h.htm or 27602-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/6/0/27602/27602-h/27602-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/6/0/27602/27602-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TRUE STORY BOOK
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+WORKS BY ANDREW LANG.
+
+
+          HOMER AND THE EPIC. Crown 8vo. 9_s._ _net._
+
+          CUSTOM AND MYTH: Studies of Early Usage and
+          Belief. With 15 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3_s._
+          6_d._
+
+          BALLADS OF BOOKS. Edited by ANDREW LANG. Fcp. 8vo.
+          6_s._
+
+          LETTERS TO DEAD AUTHORS. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._
+          _net._
+
+          BOOKS AND BOOKMEN. With 2 Coloured Plates and 17
+          Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          OLD FRIENDS. Fcp. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          LETTERS ON LITERATURE. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._
+          _net._.
+
+          GRASS OF PARNASSUS. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          ANGLING SKETCHES. With 20 Illustrations by W. G.
+          Burn-Murdoch. Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+          THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With 8
+          Plates and 130 Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford and G. P. Jacomb Hood. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE RED FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With 4
+          Plates and 96 Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          11 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by H.
+          J. Ford. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE BLUE POETRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          12 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by H.
+          J. Ford and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          SCHOOL EDITION, without Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo.
+          2_s._ 6_d._
+
+          SPECIAL EDITION, printed on Indian paper. With
+          Notes, but without Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 7_s._
+          6_d._
+
+          THE TRUE STORY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          Plates and Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford, Lucien Davis, Lancelot Speed, and L. Bogle.
+          Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO.
+          New York: 15 East 16th Street.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS]
+
+
+THE TRUE STORY BOOK
+
+Edited by
+
+ANDREW LANG
+
+With Numerous Illustrations by L. Bogle, Lucien Davis, H. J. Ford,
+C. H. M. Kerr, and Lancelot Speed
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+London
+Longmans, Green, and Co
+and New York: 15 East 16th Street
+1893
+
+All rights reserved
+
+
+
+
+_DEDICATION_
+
+_TO FRANCIS McCUNN_
+
+
+          _You like the things I used to like,
+             The things I'm fond of still,
+           The sound of fairy wands that strike
+             Men into beasts at will;_
+
+          _The cruel stepmother, the fair
+             Stepdaughter, kind and leal,
+           The bull and bear so debonair,
+             The trenchant fairy steel._
+
+          _You love the world where brute and fish
+             Converse with man and bird,
+           Where dungeons open at a wish,
+             And seas dry at a word._
+
+          _That merry world to-day we leave,
+             We list an ower-true tale,
+           Of hearts that sore for Charlie grieve,
+            When handsome princes fail,_
+
+          _Of gallant races overthrown,
+             Of dungeons ill to climb,
+           There's no such tale of trouble known,
+             In all the fairy time._
+
+          _There Montezuma still were king,
+             There Charles would wear the crown,
+           And there the Highlanders would ding
+             The Hanoverian down:_
+
+          _In Fairyland the Rightful Cause
+             Is never long a-winning,
+           In Fairyland the fairy laws
+             Are prompt to punish sinning:_
+
+          _For Fairyland's the land of joy,
+             And this the world of pain,
+           So back to Fairyland, my boy,
+             We'll journey once again!_
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+IT is not without diffidence that the editor offers _The True Story
+Book_ to children. We have now given them three fairy books, and their
+very kind and flattering letters to the editor prove, not only that they
+like the three fairy books, but that they clamour for more. What
+disappointment, then, to receive a volume full of adventures which
+actually happened to real people! There is not a dragon in the
+collection, nor even a giant; witches, here, play no part, and almost
+all the characters are grown up. On the other hand, if we have no
+fairies, we have princes in plenty, and a sweeter young prince than
+Tearlach (as far as this part of his story goes) the editor flatters
+himself that you shall nowhere find, not in Grimm, or Dasent, or
+Perrault. Still, it cannot be denied that true stories are not so good
+as fairy tales. They do not always end happily, and, what is worse, they
+do remind a young student of lessons and schoolrooms. A child may fear
+that he is being taught under a specious pretence of diversion, and that
+learning is being thrust on him under the disguise of entertainment.
+Prince Charlie and Cortés may be asked about in examinations, whereas no
+examiner has hitherto set questions on 'Blue Beard,' or 'Heart of Ice,'
+or 'The Red Etin of Ireland.' There is, to be honest, no way of getting
+over this difficulty. But the editor vows that he does not mean to teach
+anybody, and he has tried to mix the stories up so much that no clear
+and consecutive view of history can possibly be obtained from them;
+moreover, when history does come in, it is not the kind of history
+favoured most by examiners. They seldom set questions on the conquest of
+Mexico, for example.
+
+That is a very long story, but, to the editor's taste, it is simply the
+best true story in the world, the most unlikely, and the most romantic.
+For who could have supposed that the new-found world of the West held
+all that wealth of treasure, emeralds and gold, all those people, so
+beautiful and brave, so courteous and cruel, with their terrible gods,
+hideous human sacrifices, and almost Christian prayers? That a handful
+of Spaniards, themselves mistaken for children of a white god, should
+have crossed the sea, should have found a lovely lady, as in a fairy
+tale, ready to lead them to victory, should have planted the cross on
+the shambles of Huitzilopochtli, after that wild battle on the temple
+crest, should have been driven in rout from, and then recaptured, the
+Venice of the West, the lake city of Mexico--all this is as strange, as
+unlooked for, as any story of adventures in a new planet could be. No
+invention of fights and wanderings in Noman's land, no search for the
+mines of Solomon the king, can approach, for strangeness and romance,
+this tale, which is true, and vouched for by Spanish conquerors like
+Bernal Diaz, and by native historians like Ixtlilochitl, and by later
+missionaries like Sahagun. Cortés is the great original of all
+treasure-hunters and explorers in fiction, and here no feigned tale can
+be the equal of the real. As Mr. Prescott's admirable history is not a
+book much read by children (nor even by 'grown-ups' for that matter),
+the editor hopes children will be pleased to find the 'Adventures in
+Anahuac' in this collection. Miss Edgeworth tells us in _Orlandino_ how
+much the tale delighted the young before Mr. Prescott wrote that
+excellent narrative of the world's chief adventure. May it please still,
+as it did when the century was young!
+
+The adventures of Prince Charlie are already known, in part, to boys and
+girls who have read the _Tales of a Grandfather_, for pleasure and not
+as a school book. But here Mrs. McCunn has treated of them at greater
+length and more minutely. The source, here, is in these seven brown
+octavo volumes, all written in the closest hand, which are a treasure of
+the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh. The author is Mr. Forbes, a bishop
+of the persecuted Episcopalian Church in Scotland. Mr. Forbes collected
+his information very carefully, closely comparing the narratives of the
+various actors in the story. Into the boards of his volumes are fastened
+a scrap of the Prince's tartan waistcoat, a rag from his sprigged calico
+dress, a bit of his brogues--a twopenny treasure that has been wept and
+prayed over by the faithful. Nobody, in a book for children, would have
+the heart to tell the tale of the Prince's later years, of a moody,
+heart-broken, degraded exile. But, in the hills and the isles, bating a
+little wilfulness and foolhardiness, and the affair of the broken
+punch-bowl, Prince Charles is a model for princes and all men, brave,
+gay, much-enduring, good-humoured, kind, royally courteous, and
+considerate, even beyond what may be gathered from this part of the
+book, while the loyalty of the Highlanders (as in the case of Mackinnon,
+flogged nearly to death) was proof against torture as well as against
+gold. It is the Sobieski strain, not the Stuart, that we here admire in
+Prince Charles; it is a piety, a loyalty, a goodness like Gordon's that
+we revere in old Lord Pitsligo in another story.
+
+Many of the tales are concerned with fighting, for that is the most
+dramatic part of mortal business. These English captives who retake a
+ship from the Turks, these heroes of the _Shannon_ and the _Chesapeake_,
+were doubtless good men and true in all their lives, but the light of
+history only falls on them in war. The immortal Three Hundred of
+Thermopylæ would also have been unknown, had they not died, to a man,
+for the sake of the honour of Lacedæmon. The editor conceives that it
+would have been easy to give more 'local colour' to the sketch of
+Thermopylæ: to have dealt in description of the Immortals, drawn from
+the friezes in Susa, lately discovered by French enterprise. But the
+story is Greek, and the Greeks did not tell their stories in that way,
+but with a simplicity almost bald. Yet who dare alter and 'improve' the
+narrative of Herodotus? In another most romantic event, the finding of
+Vineland the Good, by Leif the Lucky, our materials are vague with the
+vagueness of a dream. Later fancy has meddled with the truth of the
+saga. English readers, no doubt, best catch the charm of the adventure
+in Mr. Rudyard Kipling's astonishingly imaginative tale called 'The Best
+Story in the World.' For the account of Isandhlwana, and Rorke's Drift,
+'an ower-true tale,' the editor has to thank his friend Mr. Rider
+Haggard, who was in South Africa at the time of the disaster, and who
+has generously given time and labour to the task of ascertaining, as far
+as it can be ascertained, the exact truth of the melancholy, but,
+finally, not inglorious, business. The legend of 'Two Great Cricket
+Matches' is taken, in part, from Lillywhite's scores, and Mr. Robert
+Lyttelton's spirited pages in the 'Badminton' book of Cricket. The
+second match the editor writes of 'as he who saw it,' to quote Caxton on
+Dares Phrygius. These legends prove that a match is never lost till it
+is won.
+
+Some of the True Stories contain, we may surmise, traces of the
+imaginative faculty. The escapes of Benvenuto Cellini, of Trenck, and of
+Casanova must be taken as the heroes chose to report them; Benvenuto and
+Casanova have no firm reputation for veracity. Again, the escape of
+Cæsar Borgia is from a version handed down by the great Alexandre
+Dumas, and we may surmise that Alexandre allowed it to lose nothing in
+the telling; he may have 'given it a sword and a cocked hat,' as was Sir
+Walter's wont. About Kaspar Hauser's mystery we can hardly speak of 'the
+truth,' for the exact truth will never be known. The depositions of the
+earliest witnesses were not taken at once; some witnesses altered their
+evidence in later years; parts of the records of Nuremberg are lost in
+suspicious circumstances. The Duchess of Cleveland's book, _Kaspar
+Hauser_, is written in defence of her father, Lord Stanhope. The charges
+against Lord Stanhope, that he aided in, or connived at, the slaying of
+Kaspar, because Kaspar was the true heir of the House of Baden--are as
+childish as they are wicked. But the Duchess hardly allows for the
+difficulties in which we find ourselves if we regard Kaspar as
+absolutely and throughout an impostor. This, however, is not the place
+to discuss an historical mystery; this 'true story' is told as a romance
+founded on fact; the hypothesis that Kaspar was a son and heir of the
+house of Baden seems, to the editor, to be absolutely devoid of
+evidence.
+
+To Madame Von Platt Stuart the author owes permission to quote the
+striking adventures of her father, or of her uncle, on the flooded
+Findhorn. The _Lays of the Deer Forest_, which contain this tale in the
+volume of notes, were written by John Sobieski Stuart, and by Charles
+Edward Stuart, and the editor is uncertain as to which of those
+gentlemen was the hero of these perilous crossings of the Highland
+river. Many other good tales, legends, and studies of natural history
+and of Highland manners may be found in the _Lays of the Deer Forest_,
+apart from the curious interest of the poems. On the whole, with certain
+exceptions, the editor has tried to find true stories rather out of the
+beaten paths of history; the narrative of John Tanner, for instance, is
+probably true, but the book in which his adventures were published is
+now rather difficult to procure. For 'A Boy among the Red Indians,' 'Two
+Cricket Matches,' 'The Spartan Three Hundred,' 'The Finding of Vineland
+the Good,' and 'The Escapes of Lord Pitsligo,' the editor is himself
+responsible, as far as they do not consist of extracts from the original
+sources. Miss May Kendall translated or adapted Casanova's escape and
+the piratical and Algerine tales. Mrs. Lang reduced the narrative of the
+Chevalier Johnstone, and did the escapes of Cæsar Borgia, of Trenck, and
+Cervantes, while Miss Blackley renders that of Benvenuto Cellini. Mrs.
+McCunn, as already said, compiled from the sources indicated the
+Adventures of Prince Charles, and she tells the story of Grace Darling;
+the contemporary account is, unluckily, rather meagre. Miss Alleyne did
+'The Kidnapping of the Princes,' Mrs. Plowden the 'Story of Kaspar
+Hauser.' Miss Wright reduced the Adventures of Cortés from Prescott, and
+Mr. Rider Haggard has already been mentioned in connection with
+Isandhlwana.
+
+Here the editor leaves _The True Story Book_ to the indulgence of
+children, explaining, once more, that his respect for their judgment is
+very great, and that he would not dream of imposing _lessons_ on _them_,
+in the shape of a Christmas book. No, lessons are one thing, and stories
+are another. But though fiction is undeniably stranger and more
+attractive than truth, yet true stories are also rather attractive and
+strange, now and then. And, after all, we may return once more to
+Fairyland, after this excursion into the actual workaday world.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                       PAGE
+
+  _A Boy among the Red Indians_                           1
+
+  _Casanova's Escape_                                    16
+
+  _Adventures on the Findhorn_                           29
+
+  _The Story of Grace Darling_                           41
+
+  _The 'Shannon' and the 'Chesapeake'_                   48
+
+  _Captain Snelgrave and the Pirates_                    52
+
+  _The Spartan Three Hundred_                            64
+
+  _Prince Charlie's Wanderings_                          68
+
+  _Two Great Matches_                                   105
+
+  _The Story of Kaspar Hauser_                          113
+
+  _An Artist's Adventure_                               122
+
+  _The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift_           132
+
+  _How Leif the Lucky found Vineland the Good_          153
+
+  _The Escapes of Cervantes_                            161
+
+  _The Worthy Enterprise of John Foxe_                  168
+
+  _Baron Trenck_                                        176
+
+  _The Adventure of John Rawlins_                       186
+
+  _The Chevalier Johnstone's Escape from Culloden_      193
+
+  _The Adventures of Lord Pitsligo_                     207
+
+  _The Escape of Cæsar Borgia from the Castle of
+       Medina del Campo_                                213
+
+  _The Kidnapping of the Princes_                       219
+
+  _The Conquest of Montezuma's Empire_                  224
+
+  _Adventures of Bartholomew Portugues, a Pirate_       326
+
+  _The Return of the French Freebooters_                330
+
+
+
+
+PLATES
+
+
+  _Montezuma greets the Spaniards_           _Frontispiece_
+
+  _The Findhorn_                               _To face_ 36
+
+  _Grace Darling_                                  "     44
+
+  _'Some of the Pirates . . . had thrown several
+       Buckets of Claret upon him'_                 "     60
+
+  _The Ball hit the Middle Stump_                  "    108
+
+  _He prepared to attack the Sentry_               "    126
+
+  _Montezuma greets the Spaniards_                 "    270
+
+  _Cortés in the Temple of Huitzilopochtli_        "    276
+
+  _Montezuma assailed by Missiles_                 "    296
+
+
+
+
+_A BOY AMONG THE RED INDIANS_
+
+
+THE earliest event of my life which I distinctly remember (says John
+Tanner) is the death of my mother. This happened when I was two years
+old, and many of the attending circumstances made so deep an impression
+that they are still fresh in my memory. I cannot recollect the name of
+the settlement at which we lived, but I have since learned it was on the
+Kentucky River, at a considerable distance from the Ohio.
+
+My father, whose name was John Tanner, was an emigrant from Virginia,
+and had been a clergyman.
+
+When about to start one morning to a village at some distance, he gave,
+as it appeared, a strict charge to my sisters, Agatha and Lucy, to send
+me to school; but this they neglected to do until afternoon, and then,
+as the weather was rainy and unpleasant, I insisted on remaining at
+home. When my father returned at night, and found that I had been at
+home all day, he sent me for a parcel of small canes, and flogged me
+much more severely than I could suppose the offence merited. I was
+displeased with my sisters for attributing all the blame to me, when
+they had neglected even to tell me to go to school in the forenoon. From
+that time, my father's house was less like home to me, and I often
+thought and said, 'I wish I could go and live among the Indians.'
+
+One day we went from Cincinnati to the mouth of the Big Miami, opposite
+which we were to settle. Here was some cleared land, and one or two log
+cabins, but they had been deserted on account of the Indians. My father
+rebuilt the cabins, and inclosed them with a strong picket. It was early
+in the spring when we arrived at the mouth of the Big Miami, and we were
+soon engaged in preparing a field to plant corn. I think it was not more
+than ten days after our arrival, when my father told us in the morning,
+that, from the actions of the horses, he perceived there were Indians
+lurking about in the woods, and he said to me, 'John, you must not go
+out of the house to-day.' After giving strict charge to my stepmother to
+let none of the little children go out, he went to the field, with the
+negroes, and my elder brother, to drop corn.
+
+Three little children, besides myself, were left in the house with my
+stepmother. To prevent me from going out, my stepmother required me to
+take care of the little child, then not more than a few months old; but
+as I soon became impatient of confinement, I began to pinch my little
+brother, to make him cry. My mother, perceiving his uneasiness, told me
+to take him in my arms and walk about the house; I did so, but continued
+to pinch him. My mother at length took him from me to nurse him. I
+watched my opportunity, and escaped into the yard; thence through a
+small door in the large gate of the wall into the open field. There was
+a walnut-tree at some distance from the house, and near the side of the
+field where I had been in the habit of finding some of the last year's
+nuts. To gain this tree without being seen by my father and those in the
+field, I had to use some precaution. I remember perfectly well having
+seen my father, as I skulked towards the tree; he stood in the middle of
+the field, with his gun in his hand, to watch for Indians, while the
+others were dropping corn. As I came near the tree, I thought to myself,
+'I wish I could see these Indians.' I had partly filled with nuts a
+straw hat which I wore, when I heard a crackling noise behind me; I
+looked round, and saw the Indians; almost at the same instant, I was
+seized by both hands, and dragged off betwixt two. One of them took my
+straw hat, emptied the nuts on the ground, and put it on my head. The
+Indians who seized me were an old man and a young one; these were, as I
+learned subsequently, Manito-o-geezhik, and his son Kish-kau-ko.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After I saw myself firmly seized by both wrists by the two Indians, I
+was not conscious of anything that passed for a considerable time. I
+must have fainted, as I did not cry out, and I can remember nothing that
+happened to me until they threw me over a large log, which must have
+been at a considerable distance from the house. The old man I did not
+now see; I was dragged along between Kish-kau-ko and a very short thick
+man. I had probably made some resistance, or done something to irritate
+this last, for he took me a little to one side, and drawing his
+tomahawk, motioned to me to look up. This I plainly understood, from the
+expression of his face, and his manner, to be a direction for me to look
+up for the last time, as he was about to kill me. I did as he directed,
+but Kish-kau-ko caught his hand as the tomahawk was descending, and
+prevented him from burying it in my brains. Loud talking ensued between
+the two. Kish-kau-ko presently raised a yell: the old man and four
+others answered it by a similar yell, and came running up. I have since
+understood that Kish-kau-ko complained to his father that the short man
+had made an attempt to kill his little brother, as he called me. The
+old chief, after reproving him, took me by one hand, and Kish-kau-ko by
+the other and dragged me betwixt them, the man who had threatened to
+kill me, and who was now an object of terror to me, being kept at some
+distance. I could perceive, as I retarded them somewhat in their
+retreat, that they were apprehensive of being overtaken; some of them
+were always at some distance from us.
+
+It was about one mile from my father's house to the place where they
+threw me into a hickory-bark canoe, which was concealed under the
+bushes, on the bank of the river. Into this they all seven jumped, and
+immediately crossed the Ohio, landing at the mouth of the Big Miami, and
+on the south side of that river. Here they abandoned their canoe, and
+stuck their paddles in the ground, so that they could be seen from the
+river. At a little distance in the woods they had some blankets and
+provisions concealed; they offered me some dry venison and bear's
+grease, but I could not eat. My father's house was plainly to be seen
+from the place where we stood; they pointed at it, looked at me, and
+laughed, but I have never known what they said.
+
+After they had eaten a little, they began to ascend the Miami, dragging
+me along as before.
+
+It must have been early in the spring when we arrived at Sau-ge-nong,
+for I can remember that at this time the leaves were small, and the
+Indians were about planting their corn. They managed to make me assist
+at their labours, partly by signs, and partly by the few words of
+English old Manito-o-geezhik could speak. After planting, they all left
+the village, and went out to hunt and dry meat. When they came to their
+hunting-grounds, they chose a place where many deer resorted, and here
+they began to build a long screen like a fence; this they made of green
+boughs and small trees. When they had built a part of it, they showed me
+how to remove the leaves and dry brush from that side of it to which the
+Indians were to come to shoot the deer. In this labour I was sometimes
+assisted by the squaws and children, but at other times I was left
+alone. It now began to be warm weather, and it happened one day that,
+having been left alone, as I was tired and thirsty, I fell asleep. I
+cannot tell how long I slept, but when I began to awake, I thought I
+heard someone crying a great way off. Then I tried to raise up my head,
+but could not. Being now more awake, I saw my Indian mother and sister
+standing by me, and perceived that my face and head were wet. The old
+woman and her daughter were crying bitterly, but it was some time
+before I perceived that my head was badly cut and bruised. It appears
+that, after I had fallen asleep, Manito-o-geezhik, passing that way, had
+perceived me, had tomahawked me, and thrown me in the bushes; and that
+when he came to his camp he had said to his wife, 'Old woman, the boy I
+brought you is good for nothing; I have killed him; you will find him in
+such a place.' The old woman and her daughter having found me,
+discovered still some signs of life, and had stood over me a long time,
+crying, and pouring cold water on my head, when I waked. In a few days I
+recovered in some measure from this hurt, and was again set to work at
+the screen, but I was more careful not to fall asleep; I endeavoured to
+assist them at their labours, and to comply in all instances with their
+directions, but I was notwithstanding treated with great harshness,
+particularly by the old man, and his two sons She-mung and Kwo-tash-e.
+While we remained at the hunting camp, one of them put a bridle in my
+hand, and pointing in a certain direction motioned me to go. I went
+accordingly, supposing he wished me to bring a horse: I went and caught
+the first I could find, and in this way I learned to discharge such
+services as they required of me.
+
+I had been about two years at Sau-ge-nong, when a great council was
+called by the British agents at Mackinac. This council was attended by
+the Sioux, the Winnebagoes, the Menomonees, and many remote tribes, as
+well as by the Ojibbeways, Ottawwaws, &c. When old Manito-o-geezhik
+returned from this council, I soon learned that he had met there his
+kinswoman, Net-no-kwa, who, notwithstanding her sex, was then regarded
+as principal chief of the Ottawwaws. This woman had lost her son, of
+about my age, by death; and, having heard of me, she wished to purchase
+me to supply his place. My old Indian mother, the Otter woman, when she
+heard of this, protested vehemently against it. I heard her say, 'My son
+has been dead once, and has been restored to me; I cannot lose him
+again.' But these remonstrances had little influence when Net-no-kwa
+arrived with plenty of whisky and other presents. She brought to the
+lodge first a ten-gallon keg of whisky, blankets, tobacco, and other
+articles of great value. She was perfectly acquainted with the
+dispositions of those with whom she had to negotiate. Objections were
+made to the exchange until the contents of the keg had circulated for
+some time; then an additional keg, and a few more presents, completed
+the bargain, and I was transferred to Net-no-kwa. This woman, who was
+then advanced in years, was of a more pleasing aspect than my former
+mother. She took me by the hand, after she had completed the negotiation
+with my former possessors, and led me to her own lodge, which stood
+near. Here I soon found I was to be treated more indulgently than I had
+been. She gave me plenty of food, put good clothes upon me, and told me
+to go and play with her own sons. We remained but a short time at
+Sau-ge-nong. She would not stop with me at Mackinac, which we passed in
+the night, but ran along to Point St. Ignace, where she hired some
+Indians to take care of me, while she returned to Mackinac by herself,
+or with one or two of her young men. After finishing her business at
+Mackinac, she returned, and, continuing on our journey, we arrived in a
+few days at Shab-a-wy-wy-a-gun.
+
+The husband of Net-no-kwa was an Ojibbeway of Red River, called
+Taw-ga-we-ninne, the hunter. He was seventeen years younger than
+Net-no-kwa, and had turned off a former wife on being married to her.
+Taw-ga-we-ninne was always indulgent and kind to me, treating me like an
+equal, rather than as a dependent. When speaking to me, he always called
+me his son. Indeed, he himself was but of secondary importance in the
+family, as everything belonged to Net-no-kwa, and she had the direction
+in all affairs of any moment. She imposed on me, for the first year,
+some tasks. She made me cut wood, bring home game, bring water, and
+perform other services not commonly required of the boys of my age; but
+she treated me invariably with so much kindness that I was far more
+happy and content than I had been in the family of Manito-o-geezhik. She
+sometimes whipped me, as she did her own children: but I was not so
+severely and frequently beaten as I had been before.
+
+Early in the spring, Net-no-kwa and her husband, with their family,
+started to go to Mackinac. They left me, as they had done before, at
+Point St. Ignace, as they would not run the risk of losing me by
+suffering me to be seen at Mackinac. On our return, after we had gone
+twenty-five or thirty miles from Point St. Ignace, we were detained by
+contrary winds at a place called Me-nau-ko-king, a point running out
+into the lake. Here we encamped with some other Indians, and a party of
+traders. Pigeons were very numerous in the woods, and the boys of my
+age, and the traders, were busy shooting them. I had never killed any
+game, and, indeed, had never in my life discharged a gun. My mother had
+purchased at Mackinac a keg of powder, which, as they thought it a
+little damp, was here spread out to dry. Taw-ga-we-ninne had a large
+horseman's pistol; and, finding myself somewhat emboldened by his
+indulgent manner toward me, I requested permission to go and try to kill
+some pigeons with the pistol. My request was seconded by Net-no-kwa, who
+said, 'It is time for our son to begin to learn to be a hunter.'
+Accordingly, my father, as I called Taw-ga-we-ninne, loaded the pistol
+and gave it to me, saying, 'Go, my son, and if you kill anything with
+this, you shall immediately have a gun and learn to hunt.' Since I have
+been a man, I have been placed in difficult situations; but my anxiety
+for success was never greater than in this, my first essay as a hunter.
+I had not gone far from the camp before I met with pigeons, and some of
+them alighted in the bushes very near me. I cocked my pistol, and raised
+it to my face, bringing the breech almost in contact with my nose.
+Having brought the sight to bear upon the pigeon, I pulled trigger, and
+was in the next instant sensible of a humming noise, like that of a
+stone sent swiftly through the air. I found the pistol at the distance
+of some paces behind me, and the pigeon under the tree on which he had
+been sitting. My face was much bruised, and covered with blood. I ran
+home, carrying my pigeon in triumph. My face was speedily bound up; my
+pistol exchanged for a fowling-piece; I was accoutred with a
+powder-horn, and furnished with shot, and allowed to go out after birds.
+One of the young Indians went with me, to observe my manner of shooting.
+I killed three more pigeons in the course of the afternoon, and did not
+discharge my gun once without killing. Henceforth I began to be treated
+with more consideration, and was allowed to hunt often, that I might
+become expert.
+
+Game began to be scarce, and we all suffered from hunger. The chief man
+of our band was called As-sin-ne-boi-nainse (the Little Assinneboin),
+and he now proposed to us all to move, as the country where we were was
+exhausted. The day on which we were to commence our removal was fixed
+upon, but before it arrived our necessities became extreme. The evening
+before the day on which we intended to move my mother talked much of all
+our misfortunes and losses, as well as of the urgent distress under
+which we were then labouring. At the usual hour I went to sleep, as did
+all the younger part of the family; but I was wakened again by the loud
+praying and singing of the old woman, who continued her devotions
+through great part of the night. Very early on the following morning she
+called us all to get up, and put on our moccasins, and be ready to
+move. She then called Wa-me-gon-a-biew to her, and said to him, in
+rather a low voice, 'My son, last night I sung and prayed to the Great
+Spirit, and when I slept, there came to me one like a man, and said to
+me, "Net-no-kwa, to-morrow you shall eat a bear. There is, at a distance
+from the path you are to travel to-morrow, and in such a direction"
+(which she described to him), "a small round meadow, with something like
+a path leading from it; in that path there is a bear." Now, my son, I
+wish you to go to that place, without mentioning to anyone what I have
+said, and you will certainly find the bear, as I have described to you.'
+But the young man, who was not particularly dutiful, or apt to regard
+what his mother said, going out of the lodge, spoke sneeringly to the
+other Indians of the dream. 'The old woman,' said he, 'tells me we are
+to eat a bear to-day; but I do not know who is to kill it.' The old
+woman, hearing him, called him in, and reproved him; but she could not
+prevail upon him to go to hunt.
+
+I had my gun with me, and I continued to think of the conversation I had
+heard between my mother and Wa-me-gon-a-biew respecting her dream. At
+length I resolved to go in search of the place she had spoken of, and
+without mentioning to anyone my design, I loaded my gun as for a bear,
+and set off on our back track. I soon met a woman belonging to one of
+the brothers of Taw-ga-we-ninne, and of course my aunt. This woman had
+shown little friendship for us, considering us as a burthen upon her
+husband, who sometimes gave something for our support; she had also
+often ridiculed me. She asked me immediately what I was doing on the
+path, and whether I expected to kill Indians, that I came there with my
+gun. I made her no answer; and thinking I must be not far from the place
+where my mother had told Wa-me-gon-a-biew to leave the path, I turned
+off, continuing carefully to regard all the directions she had given. At
+length I found what appeared at some former time to have been a pond. It
+was a small, round, open place in the woods, now grown up with grass and
+small bushes. This I thought must be the meadow my mother had spoken of;
+and examining around it, I came to an open space in the bushes, where,
+it is probable, a small brook ran from the meadow; but the snow was now
+so deep that I could see nothing of it. My mother had mentioned that,
+when she saw the bear in her dream, she had, at the same time, seen a
+smoke rising from the ground. I was confident this was the place she had
+indicated, and I watched long, expecting to see the smoke; but, wearied
+at length with waiting, I walked a few paces into the open place,
+resembling a path, when I unexpectedly fell up to my middle in the snow.
+I extricated myself without difficulty, and walked on; but, remembering
+that I had heard the Indians speak of killing bears in their holes, it
+occurred to me that it might be a bear's hole into which I had fallen,
+and, looking down into it, I saw the head of a bear lying close to the
+bottom of the hole. I placed the muzzle of my gun nearly between his
+eyes and discharged it. As soon as the smoke cleared away, I took a
+piece of stick and thrust it into the eyes and into the wound in the
+head of the bear, and, being satisfied that he was dead, I endeavoured
+to lift him out of the hole; but being unable to do this, I returned
+home, following the track I had made in coming out. As I came near the
+camp, where the squaws had by this time set up the lodges, I met the
+same woman I had seen in going out, and she immediately began again to
+ridicule me. 'Have you killed a bear, that you come back so soon, and
+walk so fast?' I thought to myself, 'How does she know that I have
+killed a bear?' But I passed by her without saying anything, and went
+into my mother's lodge. After a few minutes, the old woman said, 'My
+son, look in that kettle, and you will find a mouthful of beaver meat,
+which a man gave me since you left us in the morning. You must leave
+half of it for Wa-me-gon-a-biew, who has not yet returned from hunting,
+and has eaten nothing to-day.' I accordingly ate the beaver meat, and
+when I had finished it, observing an opportunity when she stood by
+herself, I stepped up to her, and whispered in her ear, 'My mother, I
+have killed a bear.' 'What do you say, my son?' said she. 'I have killed
+a bear.' 'Are you sure you have killed him?' 'Yes.' 'Is he quite dead?'
+'Yes.' She watched my face for a moment, and then caught me in her arms,
+hugging and kissing me with great earnestness, and for a long time. I
+then told her what my aunt had said to me, both going and returning, and
+this being told to her husband when he returned, he not only reproved
+her for it, but gave her a severe flogging. The bear was sent for, and,
+as being the first I had killed, was cooked all together, and the
+hunters of the whole band invited to feast with us, according to the
+custom of the Indians. The same day one of the Crees killed a bear and a
+moose, and gave a large share of the meat to my mother.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One winter I hunted for a trader called by the Indians Aneeb, which
+means an elm-tree. As the winter advanced, and the weather became more
+and more cold, I found it difficult to procure as much game as I had
+been in the habit of supplying, and as was wanted by the trader. Early
+one morning, about mid-winter, I started an elk. I pursued until night,
+and had almost overtaken him; but hope and strength failed me at the
+same time. What clothing I had on me, notwithstanding the extreme
+coldness of the weather, was drenched with sweat. It was not long after
+I turned towards home that I felt it stiffening about me. My leggings
+were of cloth, and were torn in pieces in running through the bush. I
+was conscious I was somewhat frozen before I arrived at the place where
+I had left our lodge standing in the morning, and it was now midnight.
+I knew it had been the old woman's intention to move, and I knew where
+she would go; but I had not been informed she would go on that day. As I
+followed on their path, I soon ceased to suffer from cold, and felt that
+sleepy sensation which I knew preceded the last stage of weakness in
+such as die of cold. I redoubled my efforts, but with an entire
+consciousness of the danger of my situation; it was with no small
+difficulty that I could prevent myself from lying down. At length I lost
+all consciousness for some time, how long I cannot tell, and, awaking as
+from a dream, I found I had been walking round and round in a small
+circle not more than twenty or twenty-five yards over. After the return
+of my senses, I looked about to try to discover my path, as I had missed
+it; but, while I was looking, I discovered a light at a distance, by
+which I directed my course. Once more, before I reached the lodge, I
+lost my senses; but I did not fall down; if I had, I should never have
+got up again; but I ran round and round in a circle as before. When I at
+last came into the lodge, I immediately fell down, but I did not lose
+myself as before. I can remember seeing the thick and sparkling coat of
+frost on the inside of the pukkwi lodge, and hearing my mother say that
+she had kept a large fire in expectation of my arrival; and that she had
+not thought I should have been so long gone in the morning, but that I
+should have known long before night of her having moved. It was a month
+before I was able to go out again, my face, hands, and legs having been
+much frozen.
+
+There is, on the bank of the Little Saskawjewun, a place which looks
+like one the Indians would always choose to encamp at. In a bend of the
+river is a beautiful landing-place, behind it a little plain, a thick
+wood, and a small hill rising abruptly in the rear. But with that spot
+is connected a story of fratricide, a crime so uncommon that the spot
+where it happened is held in detestation, and regarded with terror. No
+Indian will land his canoe, much less encamp, at '_the place of the two
+dead men_.' They relate that many years ago the Indians were encamped
+here, when a quarrel arose between two brothers, having she-she-gwi for
+totems.[1] One drew his knife and slew the other; but those of the band
+who were present, looked upon the crime as so horrid that, without
+hesitation or delay, they killed the murderer, and buried them together.
+
+As I approached this spot, I thought much of the story of the two
+brothers, who bore the same totem with myself, and were, as I supposed,
+related to my Indian mother. I had heard it said that, if any man
+encamped near their graves, as some had done soon after they were
+buried, they would be seen to come out of the ground, and either re-act
+the quarrel and the murder, or in some other manner so annoy and disturb
+their visitors that they could not sleep. Curiosity was in part my
+motive, and I wished to be able to tell the Indians that _I_ not only
+stopped, but slept quietly at a place which they shunned with so much
+fear and caution. The sun was going down as I arrived; and I pushed my
+little canoe in to the shore, kindled a fire, and, after eating my
+supper, lay down and slept. Very soon I saw the two dead men come and
+sit down by my fire, opposite me. Their eyes were intently fixed upon
+me, but they neither smiled nor said anything. I got up and sat opposite
+them by the fire, and in this situation I awoke. The night was dark and
+gusty, but I saw no men, or heard any other sound than that of the wind
+in the trees. It is likely I fell asleep again, for I soon saw the same
+two men standing below the bank of the river, their heads just rising to
+the level of the ground I had made my fire on, and looking at me as
+before. After a few minutes, they rose one after the other, and sat down
+opposite me; but now they were laughing, and pushing at me with sticks,
+and using various methods of annoyance. I endeavoured to speak to them,
+but my voice failed me; I tried to fly, but my feet refused to do their
+office. Throughout the whole night I was in a state of agitation and
+alarm. Among other things which they said to me, one of them told me to
+look at the top of the little hill which stood near. I did so, and saw a
+horse fettered, and standing looking at me. 'There, my brother,' said
+the ghost, 'is a horse which I give you to ride on your journey
+to-morrow; and as you pass here on your way home, you can call and leave
+the horse, and spend another night with us.'
+
+At last came the morning, and I was in no small degree pleased to find
+that with the darkness of the night these terrifying visions vanished.
+But my long residence among the Indians, and the frequent instances in
+which I had known the intimations of dreams verified, occasioned me to
+think seriously of the horse the ghost had given me. Accordingly I went
+to the top of the hill, where I discovered tracks and other signs, and,
+following a little distance, found a horse, which I knew belonged to the
+trader I was going to see. As several miles travel might be saved by
+crossing from this point on the Little Saskawjewun to the Assinneboin, I
+left the canoe, and, having caught the horse, and put my load upon him,
+led him towards the trading-house, where I arrived next day. In all
+subsequent journeys through this country, I carefully shunned 'the place
+of the two dead'; and the account I gave of what I had seen and suffered
+there confirmed the superstitious terrors of the Indians.
+
+I was standing by our lodge one evening, when I saw a good-looking young
+woman walking about and smoking. She noticed me from time to time, and
+at last came up and asked me to smoke with her. I answered that I never
+smoked. 'You do not wish to touch my pipe; for that reason you will not
+smoke with me.' I took her pipe and smoked a little, though I had not
+been in the habit of smoking before. She remained some time, and talked
+with me, and I began to be pleased with her. After this we saw each
+other often, and I became gradually attached to her.
+
+I mention this because it was to this woman that I was afterwards
+married, and because the commencement of our acquaintance was not after
+the usual manner of the Indians. Among them it most commonly happens,
+even when a young man marries a woman of his own band, he has previously
+had no personal acquaintance with her. They have seen each other in the
+village; he has perhaps looked at her in passing, but it is probable
+they have never spoken together. The match is agreed on by the old
+people, and when their intention is made known to the young couple, they
+commonly find, in themselves, no objection to the arrangement, as they
+know, should it prove disagreeable mutually, or to either party, it can
+at any time be broken off.
+
+I now redoubled my diligence in hunting, and commonly came home with
+meat in the early part of the day, at least before night. I then dressed
+myself as handsomely as I could, and walked about the village, sometimes
+blowing the Pe-be-gwun, or flute. For some time Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa
+pretended she was not willing to marry me, and it was not, perhaps,
+until she perceived some abatement of ardour on my part that she laid
+this affected coyness entirely aside. For my own part, I found that my
+anxiety to take a wife home to my lodge was rapidly becoming less and
+less. I made several efforts to break off the intercourse, and visit her
+no more; but a lingering inclination was too strong for me. When she
+perceived my growing indifference, she sometimes reproached me, and
+sometimes sought to move me by tears and entreaties; but I said nothing
+to the old woman about bringing her home, and became daily more and
+more unwilling to acknowledge her publicly as my wife.
+
+About this time I had occasion to go to the trading-house on Red River,
+and I started in company with a half-breed belonging to that
+establishment, who was mounted on a fleet horse. The distance we had to
+travel has since been called by the English settlers seventy miles. We
+rode and went on foot by turns, and the one who was on foot kept hold of
+the horse's tail, and ran. We passed over the whole distance in one day.
+In returning, I was by myself, and without a horse, and I made an
+effort, intending, if possible, to accomplish the same journey in one
+day; but darkness, and excessive fatigue, compelled me to stop when I
+was within about ten miles of home.
+
+When I arrived at our lodge, on the following day, I saw
+Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa sitting in my place. As I stopped at the door of the
+lodge, and hesitated to enter, she hung down her head; but Net-no-kwa
+greeted me in a tone somewhat harsher than was common for her to use to
+me. 'Will you turn back from the door of the lodge, and put this young
+woman to shame, who is in all respects better than you are? This affair
+has been of your seeking, and not of mine or hers. You have followed her
+about the village heretofore; now you would turn from her, and make her
+appear like one who has attempted to thrust herself in your way.' I was,
+in part, conscious of the justness of Net-no-kwa's reproaches, and in
+part prompted by inclination; I went in and sat down by the side of
+Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa, and thus we became man and wife. Old Net-no-kwa had,
+while I was absent at Red River, without my knowledge or consent, made
+her bargain with the parents of the young woman, and brought her home,
+rightly supposing that it would be no difficult matter to reconcile me
+to the measure. In most of the marriages which happen between young
+persons, the parties most interested have less to do than in this case.
+The amount of presents which the parents of a woman expect to receive in
+exchange for her diminishes in proportion to the number of husbands she
+may have had.
+
+I now began to attend to some of the ceremonies of what may be called
+the initiation of warriors, this being the first time I had been on a
+war-party. For the first three times that a man accompanies a war-party,
+the customs of the Indians require some peculiar and painful
+observances, from which old warriors may, if they choose, be exempted.
+The young warrior must constantly paint his face black; must wear a
+cap, or head-dress of some kind; must never precede the old warriors,
+but follow them, stepping in their tracks. He must never scratch his
+head, or any other part of his body, with his fingers, but if he is
+compelled to scratch he must use a small stick; the vessel he eats or
+drinks out of, or the knife he uses, must be touched by no other person.
+
+The young warrior, however long and fatiguing the march, must neither
+eat, nor drink, nor sit down by day; if he halts for a moment, he must
+turn his face towards his own country, that the Great Spirit may see
+that it is his wish to return home again.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was Tanner's wish to return home again, and after many dangerous and
+disagreeable adventures he did at last, when almost an old man, come
+back to the Whites and tell his history, which, as he could not write,
+was taken down at his dictation.[2]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] The totem is the crest of the Indians.
+
+[2] From _Tanner's Captivity_. New York, 1830.
+
+
+
+
+_CASANOVA'S ESCAPE_
+
+
+IN July 1755 Casanova di Seingalt, a Venetian gentleman, who, by reason
+of certain books of magic he possessed, fell under the displeasure of
+the Church, was imprisoned by order of the Inquisition in a cell in the
+ducal palace.
+
+The cell in which he was imprisoned was one of seven called 'The Leads,'
+because they were under the palace roof, which was covered neither by
+slates nor bricks, but great heavy sheets of lead. They were guarded by
+archers, and could only be reached by passing through the hall of
+council. The secretary of the Inquisition had charge of their key, which
+the gaoler, after going the round of the prisoners, restored to him
+every morning. Four of the cells faced eastward over the palace canal,
+the other three westward over the court. Casanova's was one of the
+three, and he calculated that it was exactly above the private room of
+the inquisitors.
+
+For many hours after the gaoler first turned the key upon Casanova he
+was left alone in the gloomy cell, not high enough for him to stand
+upright in, and destitute even of a couch. He laid aside his silk
+mantle, his hat adorned with Spanish lace and a white plume--for, when
+roused from sleep and arrested by the Inquisition, he had put on the
+suit lying ready, in which he intended to have gone to a gay
+entertainment. The heat of the cell was extreme: the prisoner leaned his
+elbows on the ledge of the grating which admitted to the cell what light
+there was, and fell into a deep and bitter reverie. Eight hours passed,
+and then the complete solitude in which he was left began to trouble
+him. Another hour, another, and another; but when night really fell, to
+take Casanova's own account,
+
+'I became like a raging madman, stamping, cursing, and uttering wild
+cries. After more than an hour of this furious exercise, seeing no one,
+not hearing the least sign which could have made me imagine that anyone
+was aware of my fury, I stretched myself on the ground. . . . But my
+bitter grief and anger, and the hard floor on which I lay, did not
+prevent me from sleeping.
+
+'The midnight bell woke me: I could not believe that I had really passed
+three hours without consciousness of pain. Without moving, lying as I
+was on my left side, I stretched out my right hand for my handkerchief,
+which I remembered was there. Groping with my hand--heavens! suddenly it
+rested upon _another_ hand, icy cold! Terror thrilled me from head to
+foot, and my hair rose: I had never in all my life known such an agony
+of fear, and would never have thought myself capable of it.
+
+'Three or four minutes I passed, not only motionless, but bereft of
+thought; then, recovering my senses, I began to think that the hand I
+touched was imaginary. In that conviction I stretched out my arm once
+more, only to encounter the same hand, which, with a cry of horror, I
+seized, and let go again, drawing back my own. I shuddered, but being
+able to reason by this time, I decided that while I slept a corpse had
+been laid near me--for I was sure there was nothing when I lay down on
+the floor. But whose was the dead body? Some innocent sufferer, perhaps
+one of my own friends, whom they had strangled, and laid there that I
+might find before my eyes when I woke the example of what my own fate
+was to be? That thought made me furious: for the third time I approached
+the hand with my own: I clasped it, and at the same instant I tried to
+rise, to draw this dead body towards me, and be certain of the hideous
+crime. But, as I strove to prop myself on my left elbow, the cold hand I
+was clasping became alive, and was withdrawn--and I knew that instant,
+to my utter astonishment, that I held none other than my own left hand,
+which, lying stiffened on the hard floor, had lost heat and sensation
+entirely.'
+
+That incident, though comic, did not cheer Casanova, but gave him matter
+for the darkest reflections--since he saw himself in a place where, if
+the unreal seemed so true, reality might one day become a dream. In
+other words, he feared approaching madness.
+
+But at last came daybreak, and by-and-by the gaoler returned, asking the
+prisoner if he had had time to find out what he would like to eat.
+Casanova was allowed to send for all he needed from his own apartments
+in Venice, but writing-implements, any metal instruments whatever, even
+knife and fork, and the books he mentioned, were struck from his list.
+The inquisitors sent him books which they themselves thought suitable,
+and which drove him, he said, to the verge of madness.
+
+He was not ill-treated--having a daily allowance given him to buy what
+food he liked, which was more than he could spend. But the loss of
+liberty soon became insupportable. For months he believed that his
+deliverance was close at hand; but when November came, and he saw no
+prospect of release, he began to form projects of escape. And soon the
+idea of freeing himself, however wild and impossible it seemed, took
+complete possession of him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+By-and-by he was allowed half an hour's daily promenade in the corridor
+(galetas) outside his cell--a dingy, rat-infested place, into which old
+rubbish was apt to drift. One day Casanova noticed a piece of black
+marble on the floor--polished, an inch thick and six inches long. He
+picked it up stealthily, and without any definite intention, managed to
+hide it away in his cell.
+
+Another morning his eyes fell upon a long iron bolt, lying on the floor
+with other old odds and ends, and that also, concealed in his dress, he
+bore into his cell. When left alone, he examined it carefully, and
+realised that if pointed, it would make an excellent spontoon. He took
+the black marble, and after grinding one end of the bolt against it for
+a long while, he saw that he had really succeeded in wearing the iron
+down. For fifteen days he worked, till he could hardly stir his right
+arm, and his shoulder felt almost dislocated. But he had made the bolt
+into a real tool; or, if necessary, a weapon, with an excellent point.
+He hid it in the straw of his armchair so carefully that, to find it,
+one must have known that it was there; and then he began to consider
+what use he should make of it.
+
+He was certain that the room underneath was the one in which on entering
+he had seen the secretary of the Inquisition, and which was probably
+opened every morning. A hole once made in the floor, he could easily
+lower himself by a rope made of the sheets of his bed, and fastened to
+one of the bed-posts. He might hide under the great table of the
+tribunal till the door was opened, and then make good his escape. It was
+probable, indeed, that one of the archers would mount guard in this room
+at night; but him Casanova resolved to kill with his pointed iron. The
+great difficulty really was that the hole in the floor was not to be
+made in a day, but might be a work of months. And therefore some pretext
+must be found to prevent the archers from sweeping out the cell, as they
+were accustomed to do every morning.
+
+Some days after, alleging no reason, he ordered the archers not to
+sweep. This omission was allowed to pass for several mornings, and then
+the gaoler demanded Casanova's reason. He answered, that the dust
+settled on his lungs, and made him cough, and might give him a mortal
+disease. Laurent, the gaoler, offered to throw water on the floor before
+sweeping it; but Casanova's arguments against the dampness of the
+atmosphere that would result were equally ingenious. Laurent's
+suspicions, however, were roused, and one day he ordered the room to be
+swept most carefully, and even lit a candle, and on the pretence of
+cleanliness, searched the cell thoroughly. Casanova seemed indifferent,
+but the next day, having pricked his finger, he showed his handkerchief
+stained with blood, and said that the gaoler's cruelty had brought on so
+severe a cough that he had actually broken a small blood-vessel. A
+doctor was sent for, who took the prisoner's part, and forbade sweeping
+out the cell in future. One great point was gained; but the work could
+not begin yet, owing to the fearful cold. The prisoner would have been
+forced to wear gloves, and the sight of a worn glove might have excited
+suspicion. So he occupied himself with another stratagem--the creation,
+little by little, of a lamp, for the solace of the endless winter
+nights. One by one, the gaoler himself, unsuspectingly, brought the
+different ingredients: oil was imported in salads, wick the prisoner
+himself made from threads pulled from the quilt, and in time the lamp
+was complete.
+
+The very unwelcome sojourn of a Jewish usurer, like himself captive of
+the Inquisition, in his cell, forced Casanova to delay his projects of
+escape till after Easter, when the Jew was imprisoned elsewhere.
+
+No sooner had he left than Casanova, by the light of the lamp
+constructed with so much difficulty, began his task. Drawing his bed
+away, he set to work to bore through the plank underneath, gathering the
+fragments of wood in a napkin--which the next morning he contrived to
+empty out behind a heap of old cahier books in the corridor--and after
+six hours' labour, pulling back his bed, which concealed all trace of it
+from the gaoler's eyes.
+
+The first plank was two inches thick; the next day he found another
+plank beneath it, and he pierced this only to find a third plank. It was
+three weeks before he dug out a cavity large enough for his purpose in
+this depth of wood, and his disappointment was great when, underneath
+the planks, he came to a marble pavement which resisted his one tool.
+But he remembered having read of a general who had broken with an axe
+hard stones, which he first made brittle by vinegar, and this Casanova
+possessed. He poured a bottle of strong vinegar into the hole, and the
+next day, whether it was the effect of the vinegar or of his stronger
+resolution, he managed to loosen the cement which bound the pieces of
+marble together, and in four hours had destroyed the pavement, and found
+another plank, which, however, he believed to be the last.
+
+At this point his work was once more interrupted by the arrival of a
+fellow prisoner, who only stayed, however, for eight days. A more
+serious delay was caused by the fact that unwittingly a part of his work
+had been just above one of the great beams that supported the ceiling,
+and he was forced to enlarge the hole by one-fourth. But at last all was
+done. Through a hole so thin as to be quite imperceptible from below he
+saw the room underneath. There was only a thin film of wood to be broken
+through on the night of his escape. For various reasons, he had fixed on
+the night of August 27. But hear his own words:
+
+'On the 25th,' writes Casanova, 'there happened what makes me shudder
+even as I write. Precisely at noon I heard the rattling of bolts, a
+fearful beating of my heart made me think that my last moment had come,
+and I flung myself on my armchair, stupefied. Laurent entered, and said
+gaily:
+
+'"Sir, I have come to bring you good news, on which I congratulate you!"
+
+'At first I thought my liberty was to be restored--I knew no other news
+which _could_ be good; and I saw that I was lost, for the discovery of
+the hole would have undone me. But Laurent told me to follow him. I
+asked him to wait till I got ready.
+
+'"No matter," he said, "you are only going to leave this dismal cell for
+a light one, quite new, where you can see half Venice through the two
+windows; where you can stand upright; where----"
+
+'But I cannot bear to write of it--I seemed to be dying. I implored
+Laurent to tell the secretary that I thanked the tribunal for its mercy,
+but begged it in Heaven's name to leave me where I was. Laurent told me,
+with a burst of laughter, that I was mad, that my present cell was
+execrable, and that I was to be transferred to a delightful one.
+
+'"Come, come, you must obey orders," he exclaimed.
+
+'He led me away. I felt a momentary solace in hearing him order one of
+his men to follow with the armchair, where my spontoon was still
+concealed. That was always something! If my beautiful hole in the floor,
+that I had made with such infinite pains, could have followed me
+too--but that was impossible! My body went; my soul stayed behind.
+
+'As soon as Laurent saw me in the fresh cell, he had the armchair set
+down. I flung myself upon it, and he went away, telling me that my bed
+and all my other belongings should be brought to me at once.'
+
+For two hours Casanova was left alone in his new cell, utterly hopeless,
+and expecting to be consigned for the rest of his life to one of the
+palace dungeons, from which no escape could be possible. Then the gaoler
+returned, almost mad with rage, and demanded the axe and all the
+instruments which the prisoner must have employed in penetrating the
+marble pavement. Calmly, without stirring, Casanova told him that he
+did not know what he was talking about, but that, if he _had_ procured
+tools, it could only have been from Laurent himself, who alone had
+entrance to the cell.
+
+Such a reply did not soften the gaoler's anger, and for some time
+Casanova was very badly treated. Everything was searched; but his tool
+had been so cleverly concealed that Laurent never found it. Fortunately
+it was the gaoler's interest not to let the tribunal know of the
+discovery he had made. He had the floor of the cell mended without the
+knowledge of the secretary of the Inquisition, and when this was done,
+and he found himself secure from blame, Casanova had little difficulty
+in making peace with him, and even told him the secret of the lamp's
+construction.
+
+Fortunately, out of the tribunal's allowance to the prisoner enough was
+always left, after he had provided for his own needs, for a gift--or
+bribe, to the gaoler. But Laurent did not relax his vigilance, and every
+morning one of the archers went round the cell with an iron bar, giving
+blows to walls and floor, to assure himself that there was nothing
+broken. But he never struck the ceiling, a fact which Casanova resolved
+to turn to account at the first opportunity.
+
+One day the prisoner ordered his gaoler to buy him a particular book,
+and Laurent, objecting to an expense which seemed to him quite needless,
+offered to borrow him a book of one of the other prisoners, in exchange
+for one of his own. Here at last was an opportunity. Casanova chose a
+volume out of his small library, and gave it to the gaoler, who returned
+in a few minutes with a Latin book belonging to one of the other
+prisoners.
+
+Pen and ink were forbidden, but in this book Casanova found a fragment
+of paper; and he contrived, with the nail of his little finger, dipped
+in mulberry juice, to write on it a list of his library--and returned
+the volume, asking for a second. The second came, and in it a short
+letter in Latin. The correspondence between the prisoners had really
+begun.
+
+The writer of the Latin letter was the monk Balbi, imprisoned in the
+Leads with a companion, Count André Asquin. He followed it by a much
+longer one, giving the history of his own life, and all that he knew of
+his fellow-prisoners. Casanova formed a very poor opinion of Father
+Balbi's character from his letters; but assistance of some kind he must
+have, since the gaoler must needs discover any attempt to break through
+the ceiling, unless that attempt was made from above. But Casanova soon
+thought of a plan by which Balbi could break through _his_ ceiling,
+undiscovered.
+
+'I wrote to him,' he relates, 'that I would find some means of sending
+him an instrument with which he could break through the roof of his
+cell, and having climbed upon it, go to the wall separating his roof
+from mine. Breaking through that, he would find himself on _my_ roof,
+which also must be broken through. That done, I would leave my cell, and
+he, the Count, and I together, would manage to raise one of the great
+leaden squares that formed the highest palace roof. Once outside _that_,
+I would be answerable for the rest.
+
+'But first he must tell the gaoler to buy him forty or fifty pictures of
+saints, and by way of proving his piety, he must cover his walls and
+ceiling with these, putting the largest on the ceiling. When he had done
+this, I would tell him more.
+
+'I next ordered Laurent to buy me the new folio Bible that was just
+printed; for I fancied its great size might enable me to conceal my tool
+there, and so send it to the monk. But when I saw it, I became
+gloomy--the bolt was two inches longer than the Bible. The monk wrote to
+me that the cell was already covered according to my direction, and
+hoped I would lend him the great Bible which Laurent told him I had
+bought. But I replied that for three or four days I needed it myself.
+
+'At last I hit upon a device. I told Laurent that on Michaelmas Day I
+wanted two dishes of macaroni, and one of these must be the largest dish
+he had, for I meant to season it, and send it, with my compliments, to
+the worthy gentleman who had lent me books. Laurent would bring me the
+butter and the Parmesan cheese, but I myself should add them to the
+boiling macaroni.
+
+'I wrote to the monk preparing him for what was to happen, and on St.
+Michael's Day all came about as I expected. I had hidden the bolt in the
+great Bible, wrapped in paper, one inch of it showing on each side. I
+prepared the cheese and butter; and in due time Laurent brought me in
+the boiling macaroni and the great dish. Mixing my ingredients, I filled
+the dish so full that the butter nearly ran over the edge, and then I
+placed it carefully on the Bible, and put that, with the dish resting on
+it, into Laurent's hand, warning him not to spill a drop. All his
+caution was necessary: he went away with his eyes fixed on his burden,
+lest the butter should run over; and the Bible, with the bolt projecting
+from it, were covered, and more than covered, by the huge dish. His one
+care was to hold that steady, and I saw that I had succeeded. Presently
+he came back to tell me that not a drop of butter had been spilt.'
+
+Father Balbi next began his work, detaching from the roof one large
+picture, which he regularly put back in the same place to conceal the
+hole. In eight days he had made his way through the roof, and attacked
+the wall. This was harder work, but at last he had removed six and
+twenty bricks, and could pass through to Casanova's roof. This he was
+obliged to work at very carefully, lest any fracture should appear
+visible below.
+
+One Monday, as Father Balbi was busy at the roof, Casanova suddenly
+heard the sound of opening doors. It was a terrible moment, but he had
+time to give the alarm signal, two quick blows on the ceiling. Then
+Laurent entered, bringing another prisoner, an ugly, ill-dressed little
+man of fifty, in a black wig, who looked like what he was, a spy of the
+Inquisition.
+
+Casanova soon learned the history of Soradici--for this was the spy's
+name--and when his new companion was asleep he wrote to Balbi the
+account of what had happened. For the present, evidently the work must
+be given up, no confidence whatever could be placed in Soradici. Yet
+soon Casanova thought of a plan of making use even of this traitor.
+
+First he ordered Laurent to buy him an image of the Virgin Mary, holy
+water, and a crucifix. Next he wrote two letters, addressed to friends
+in Venice--letters in which he made no complaint, but spoke of the
+benevolence of the Inquisition, and the blessing that his trials had
+been to him. These letters, which, even if they reached the hands of the
+secretary, could do him no possible harm, he entrusted to Soradici, in
+case he should soon be set free; exacting the spy's solemn oath, on the
+crucifix and the image of the Virgin, not to betray him, but to give the
+letters to his friends.
+
+Soradici took the oath required of him, and sewed the letters into his
+vest. None the less, Casanova felt confident that he would be betrayed,
+and this was exactly what happened. Two days after the spy was sent for
+to the secretary, and when he returned to the cell, his companion soon
+discovered that he had given up the letters.
+
+Casanova affected the utmost anguish and despair. He flung himself down
+before the image of the Virgin, and demanded vengeance on the monster
+who had ruined him by breaking so solemn a pledge. Then he lay down with
+his face to the wall, and for the whole day uttered no single word to
+the spy, who, terrified at his companion's prayer for vengeance,
+entreated his forgiveness. But when the spy slept he wrote to Father
+Balbi and told him to go on with his work the next day, beginning at
+exactly three o'clock, and working four hours.
+
+The next day, after the gaoler had left them, bearing with him the book
+of Father Balbi in which the prisoner's letter was concealed, Casanova
+called his companion. The spy, by this time, was really ill with terror;
+for he believed that he had provoked the wrath of the Virgin Mary by
+breaking his oath. He was ready to do anything his companion told him to
+do, and weak enough to credit any falsehood.
+
+Casanova put on a look of inspiration, and said:
+
+'Learn that at break of day the Holy Virgin appeared to me, and
+commanded me to forgive you. You shall not die. The grief that your
+treachery caused me made me pass all the night sleepless, since I knew
+that the letters you had given to the secretary would prove my ruin--and
+my one consolation was to believe that in three days I should see you
+die in this very cell. But though my mind was full of my
+revenge--unworthy of a Christian--at break of day the image of the
+Blessed Virgin that you see moved, opened her lips, and said: "Soradici
+is under my protection: I would have you pardon him. In reward of your
+generosity I will send one of my angels in figure of a man, who shall
+descend from heaven to break the roof of the cell, and in five or six
+days to release you. To-day this angel will begin his work at three
+o'clock, and will work till half an hour before the sun sets, for he
+must return to me by daylight. When you escape you will take Soradici
+with you, and you will take care of him all his life, on condition that
+he quits the profession of a spy for ever." With these words the Blessed
+Virgin disappeared.'
+
+At first even the spy's credulity would hardly be persuaded that
+Casanova had not dreamed; but when at the appointed hour the sound of
+the angel working in the roof was really to be heard, when it lasted
+four hours, and ceased again as foretold, all his doubt vanished, and he
+was ready to follow Casanova blindly. The thought of once more betraying
+him never entered his mind; he believed that the Blessed Virgin herself
+was on the side of his companion.
+
+The angel would appear, Casanova told him, on the evening of October 31.
+And at the hour appointed Father Balbi, not looking in the least like an
+angel, came feet foremost through the ceiling. Casanova embraced him,
+left him to guard the spy, and himself ascending through the roof,
+crossed over into the other cell and greeted the monk's fellow-prisoner,
+Count André, who had all this time kept their secret, but, being old and
+infirm, had no desire to fly with them.
+
+The next thing was to return into the garret above the two cells, and
+set to work to break through the palace roof itself. Most of this task
+fell to Casanova, till he reached the great sheet of lead surmounting
+the planks, and there the monk's help was necessary. Uniting their
+strength, they raised it till an opening was made wide enough to pass
+through. But outside the moonlight was too strong, and they would have
+been seen from below had they ventured on the roof. They returned into
+the cell and waited. Casanova had made strong ropes by tying together
+sheets, towels, and whatever else would serve. Now, since there was
+nothing to be done till the moon sank, he sat down and wrote a courteous
+letter to the Inquisition, explaining his reasons for attempting to
+escape.
+
+The spy, too cowardly to risk his life in so daring a venture, and
+beginning to see that he had been imposed upon, begged Casanova on his
+knees to leave him behind, praying for the fugitives--and this Casanova
+was thankful to do, for Soradici could only have encumbered him. Father
+Balbi, though for the last hour he had been heaping reproaches on his
+friend's rashness, was less of a coward than the spy, and as the time
+had come to start he followed Casanova. They crept out on the roof, and
+began cautiously to ascend it. Half-way up the monk begged his companion
+to stop, saying that he had lost one of the packages tied round his
+neck.
+
+'Was it the package of cord?' asked Casanova.
+
+'No,' replied the monk, 'but a black coat, and a very precious
+manuscript.'
+
+'Then,' said Casanova, resisting a sudden temptation to throw Balbi
+after his packet, 'you must be patient, and come along.'
+
+The monk sighed, and followed. Soon they had reached the highest point
+of the roof, and here Balbi contrived to lose his hat, which rolled down
+the roof, failed to lodge in the gutter, and fell into the canal below.
+The poor fellow grew desperate, and said it was a bad omen. Casanova
+soothed him, and left him seated where he was, while he himself went to
+investigate, his faithful tool in his hand.
+
+Now fresh difficulties began. For a long time Casanova could find no way
+of re-entering the palace, except into the cell they had quitted. He was
+growing hopeless, when he saw a skylight, that he was sure was too far
+away from their starting point to belong to any of the cells. He made
+his way to it; it was barred with a fine iron grating that needed a
+file. And Casanova only had one tool!
+
+Sitting on the roof of the skylight, he nearly abandoned himself to
+despair, till the bell striking midnight suddenly roused him. It was the
+first of November: All Saint's Day--the day on which he had long had a
+curious foreboding that he should recover his liberty. Fired with hope,
+he set his tool to work at the grating, and in a quarter of an hour he
+had wrenched it away entire. He set it down by the skylight, and went
+back for the monk. They regained the skylight together.
+
+Casanova let down his companion through the skylight by the cord, and
+found that the floor was so far away that he himself dared not risk the
+leap. And though the cord was still in his hands, he had nowhere to
+fasten it. The monk, inside, could give him no help--and, not knowing
+what to do, he set out on another voyage of discovery.
+
+It was successful, for in a part of the roof which he had not yet
+visited he found a ladder left by some workmen, and long enough for his
+purpose. Indeed, it seemed likely to be too long, for when he tried to
+introduce it into the skylight, it only entered as far as the sixth
+round, and then was stopped by the roof. However, with a superhuman
+effort Casanova, hanging to the roof, below the skylight, managed to
+lift the other end of the ladder, nearly, in the action, flinging
+himself down into the canal. But he had succeeded in forcing the ladder
+farther in, and the rest was comparatively easy. He climbed up again to
+the skylight, lowered the ladder, and in another moment was standing by
+his companion's side.
+
+They found themselves in a garret opening into another room, well barred
+and bolted. But just then Casanova was past all exertion. He flung
+himself on the ground, the packet of cord under his head, and fell into
+a sleep of utter exhaustion. It was dawn when he was roused at last by
+the monk's despairing efforts. For two hours the latter had been shaking
+him, and even shouting in his ears, without the slightest effect!
+
+Casanova rose, saying:
+
+'This place must have a way out. Let us break everything--there is no
+time to lose!'
+
+They found, at last, a door, of which Casanova's tool forced the lock,
+and which led them into the room containing the archives or records of
+the Venetian Republic. From this they descended a staircase, then
+another, and so made their way into the chancellor's office. Here
+Casanova found a tool which secretaries used to pierce parchment, and
+which was some little help to them--for he found it impossible to force
+the lock of the door through which they had next to part, and the only
+way was to break a hole in it. Casanova set to work at the part of the
+door that looked most likely to yield, while his companion did what he
+could with the secretary's instrument--they pushed, rent, tore the wood;
+the noise that they made was alarming, but they were compelled to risk
+it. In half an hour they had made a hole large enough to get through.
+The monk went first, being the thinner; he pulled Casanova after
+him--dusty, torn, and bleeding, for he had worked harder than Father
+Balbi, who still looked respectable.
+
+They were now in a part of the palace guarded by doors against which no
+possible effort of theirs could have availed. The only way was to wait
+till they were opened, and then take flight. Casanova tranquilly changed
+his tattered garments for a suit which he had brought with him, arranged
+his hair, and made himself look--except for the bandages he had tied
+round his wounds--much more like a strayed reveller than an escaped
+prisoner. All this time the monk was upbraiding him bitterly, and at
+last, tired of listening, Casanova opened a window, and put out his
+head, adorned with a gay plumed hat. The window looked out upon the
+palace court, and Casanova was seen at once by people walking there. He
+drew back his head, thinking that he had brought destruction upon
+himself; but after all the accident proved fortunate. Those who had seen
+him went immediately to tell the authority who kept the key of the hall
+at the top of the grand staircase, at whose window Casanova's head had
+appeared, that he must unwittingly have shut someone in the night
+before. Such a thing might easily have happened, and the keeper of the
+keys came immediately to see if the news were true.
+
+Presently the door opened, and quite at his ease, the keeper appeared,
+key in hand. He looked startled at Casanova's strange figure, but the
+latter, without stopping or uttering a word, passed him, and descended
+the stairs, followed by the frightened monk. They did not run, nor did
+they loiter; Casanova was already, in spirit, beyond the confines of the
+Venetian Republic. Still followed by the monk, he reached the
+water-side, stepped into a gondola, and flinging himself down
+carelessly, promised the rowers more than their fare if they would reach
+Fusina quickly. Soon they had left Venice behind them; and a few days
+after his wonderful escape Casanova was in perfect safety beyond Italy.
+
+
+
+
+_ADVENTURES ON THE FINDHORN_
+
+
+THE following adventures in crossing the Findhorn are extracted from
+'Lays of the Deer Forest,' by John Sobieski and Charles Edward Stuart
+(London, 1848).
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+I had lost my boat in the last speat; it was the third which had been
+taken away in that year, and, until I obtained another, I was obliged to
+ford the river. I went one day as usual; there was a dark bank of cloud
+lying in the west upon Beann-Drineachain, but all the sky above was blue
+and clear, and the water moderate, as I crossed into the forest. I
+merely wanted a buck, and, therefore, only made a short circuit to the
+edge of Dun-Fhearn, and rolled a stone down the steep into the deep,
+wooded den. As it plunged into the burn below, I heard the bound of feet
+coming up; but they were only two small does, and I did not 'speak' to
+them, but amused myself with watching their uneasiness and surprise as
+they perked into the bosky gorge, down which the stone had crashed like
+a nine-pounder; and, as their white targets jinked over the brae, I went
+on to try the western terraces.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There is a smooth dry brae opposite to Logie Cumming, called 'Braigh
+Choilich-Choille,'[3] great part of the slope of which is covered with a
+growth of brackens from five to six feet high, mixed with large masses
+of foxgloves, of such luxuriance that the stems sometimes rise five from
+a single root, and more than seven feet in height, of which there is
+often an extent of five feet of blossoms, loaded with a succession of
+magnificent bells. As we crossed below this beautiful covert, I observed
+Dreadnought suddenly turn up the wind towards it. I immediately made for
+the crest beyond where the bank rises smooth and open, and whence I had
+a free sweep of the summit and of both sides. I had just reached the top
+when the dog entered the thicket of the ferns, and I saw their tall
+heads stir about twenty yards before him, followed by a roar from his
+deep tongue, and a fine buck bolted up the brae. I gave a short whistle
+to stop him, and immediately he stood to listen, but behind a great
+spruce fir, which then, with many others, formed a noble group upon the
+summit of the terrace. The sound of the dog dislodged him in an instant,
+and he shot out through the open glade, when I followed him with the
+rifle, and sent him over on his horns like a wheel down the steep, and
+splash, like a round shot, into the little rill at its foot. We
+brittled him on the knog of an old pine, and rewarded the dog, and drank
+the Dochfalla; when, having occasion to send the piper to the other side
+of the wood, and being so near home, I shouldered the roe, and took the
+way for the ford of Craig-Darach, a strong wide broken stream with a
+very bad bottom, but the nearest then passable.
+
+As I descended the Bruach-gharbh, Dreadnought stopped and looked up into
+a pine, then approaching the tree, searched it all round with his nose.
+I scanned the branches, but could see nothing except an old hawk's nest,
+which had been disused long ago; and if it had not, I do not understand
+how it should be interesting to a hound. The dog, however, continued to
+investigate the stump and stem of the fir, gaze into the branches,
+turning his head from side to side, and setting up his ears like a
+cocked-hat. I laid down the buck, and unslung my double gun, and threw a
+stick at the nest, when out shot a large pine-martin, and, like a
+squirrel, sprung along the branches from tree to tree, till I brought
+him to the ground. Dreadnought examined him with a sort of wrinkle in
+his whiskers, and turned away, and sat down in dignified abstraction;
+while I remounted the buck, and braced the martin to his feet with the
+little 'ial-chas,' or foot-straps used for trussing the legs of the roe.
+We then resumed our path for the ford.
+
+As I descended through the Boat-Shaw, I heard a heavy sound from the
+water, but when I came out from the birches upon the green bank on its
+brink, I saw that the river had come down, and was just lipping with the
+top of the stone, the sight of whose head was the mark for the last
+possibility of crossing. As I looked upon its contracting ring, I
+perceived that the stream was still growing; there was no time to be
+lost, for the alternative now was to go round by the bridge of
+Daltulich, a circuit of four miles; and I knew that, before I reached
+the next good ford, the water would be a continuous rapid, probably six
+feet deep: I decided, therefore, upon trying the chance where I was.
+Dreadnought, who had gone about thirty yards up the stream to take the
+deep water in the pool of Craig-Darach, had observed my hesitation with
+one leg out and one in the water, and was standing on the point of the
+rock waiting the result. As soon as I made another step he plunged into
+the river, and in a few moments was rolling on the bank of silver sand
+thrown up by the back-water upon the opposite side of the river. As I
+advanced through the stream, he looked at me occasionally, and I at
+him, and the beautiful smooth sand and green bank upon his side--for by
+that time I began to wish I was there too. I was then in pretty deep
+water for a ford, but still some distance from the deepest part; my kilt
+was floating round me in the boiling water, and the strong eddy, formed
+by the stream running against my legs, gulped and gushed with increasing
+weight. I moved slowly and carefully, for the whole ford was filled with
+large round slippery stones from the size of a sixty-pound shot to a
+two-hundredweight shell. I stopped to rest, and looked back to the ford
+mark: it was wholly gone, and I saw only the broad smooth wave of water
+which slipped over its head. Ten paces more, and I should be through the
+deepest part. I stepped steadily and rigidly, but I wanted the use of my
+balancing limbs and the freedom of my breath; for the barrels of the
+double gun and rifle, which were slung at my back, were passed under my
+arms to keep them out of the water; and I was also obliged to hold the
+legs of the buck, which, loaded with the 'wood-cat,' were crossed upon
+my breast. At every step the round and slidering stones endangered my
+footing, rendered still more unsteady by the upward pressure of the
+water. In this struggle the current gave a great gulp, and a wave
+splashed up over my guns. I staggered downwards with the stream, and
+could not recover a sure footing for several yards. At last I secured my
+hold against a large fixed stone, and paused to rest. After a little I
+made another effort to proceed.
+
+The water was now running above my belt, and at the first step which I
+made from the stone I found that it deepened abruptly before me. I felt
+that in six inches more that strong stream would lift me off my legs;
+and with great difficulty I gained about two yards up the current to
+ascertain if the depth was continuous, but the bottom still shelved
+before me, and, as I persisted in attempting it, I was turned round by
+the stream, the waves were leaping through the deep channel before me,
+and having no arms to balance my steps, I began to think of the bonnie
+banks on _either_ side the river. In this jeopardy poor Dreadnought had
+not been unconcerned; at the first moment of my struggle he had gone
+down the great stony beach which lay before me, and, sitting down by the
+water, watched me with great anxiety, and at last began to whine, and
+whimper, and tremble with agitation. But when he saw me stagger down the
+stream, he rose, went in up to his knees, howled, pawed the water, and
+lapped the waves with impatience. Meanwhile I was obliged to come to a
+rest, with my left foot planted strongly against a stone, for the mere
+resistance to the pressure of water, which, rushing with a white foam
+from my side, was sufficient exertion without the weight of the buck and
+the two guns, which amounted to more than seventy pounds.
+
+After a few moments' pause I made a last effort to reach the east bank;
+but it was now impossible, and I turned to make an attempt to regain the
+Tarnaway side. I was at least thirty yards lower down than when I
+entered the stream, and the water was rushing and foaming all round me;
+another stagger nearly carried me off my feet, and, in the exertion to
+keep them, a thick transpiration rose upon my forehead, my ears began to
+sing, and my head to swim, while, disordered in their balance, the buck
+and the guns almost strangled me, I looked down the channel; the water
+was running in a white, broken rapid into the black pool below, and
+swept with a wide, foaming back-water under the steep rock which turned
+its force. The soft green bank before me was sleeping beneath the shade
+of the weeping birches, where bluebells and primroses grew thick in the
+short smooth turf, and, though they had long shed their blossoms, the
+bright patches of their clusters were yet visible among the tall
+foxgloves, which still retained the purple bells upon their tops. The
+bank looked softer, and greener, and more inviting than ever it had done
+before; but my eyes grew dim and my limbs faint with that last struggle.
+I felt for my dirk knife, for a desperate rolling swim for life seemed
+now inevitable, and, steadying myself in the stream, I cut loose the
+straps of the buck and the slings of the guns, and retaining them only
+with my hands, held them ready to let go as soon as I should be taken
+off my legs. When they were free, I dipped my hand in the water, and
+laved it over my brow and face. The singing of my ears ceased, and my
+sight came clear, and I discovered that I had lost my bonnet in the
+struggle, and distinguished the white cockade dancing like a little
+'cailleach' of foam in the vortex of the pool below.
+
+Being now _morally_ relieved from the weight of the roe and guns--though
+resolved to preserve them to the last--I resumed my attempt for the west
+bank; but when I reached a similar distance to that which I had gained
+for the other, I found an equally deep channel before me, and that the
+diminished water by which I had been encouraged was only the shoaling of
+a long bank which extended with the stream. I now saw that before I
+joined my bonnet, which still danced and circled in the pool below,
+there was only one effort left--to struggle up the stream, and reach the
+point from which I had taken the water. But this was a desperate
+attempt; for at every step I had to find a safe footing at the upper
+side of some stone, and then with all my strength to force myself
+against the current. But often the stones gave way, and, loosening from
+their bed, went rolling and rumbling down the rapid, and I was driven
+back several feet, to recommence the same struggle. The river also was
+still increasing, and the flat sand, which was dry when I left it, was
+now a sheet of water. While I was thus wrestling with the stream, I saw
+Dreadnought enter, not at his usual place in the pool, but at the tail,
+just above the run of the stream in which I was struggling. He came
+whimpering over, and crossed about a yard or two above me; but instead
+of making for the bank, he turned in the water, and swam towards me. The
+stream, however, was too strong for him, and carried him down. I called
+and waved to the forest, and he turned and steered for its bank, but did
+not reach the shelving sand till he was well tumbled in the top of the
+rapid, out of which he only emerged in time to catch a little
+back-water, which helped him on to the shore. The attempt of the dog to
+reach me had passed while I rested: and when he gained the bank, I
+resumed my effort to make the shallower water.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Dreadnought's eye was turned towards me as he came dripping up the bank,
+and seeing me move forward, he ran before me to the water's edge, at the
+right entrance of the ford, whining, and howling, and baying, as if he
+knew as well as I that it was the place to make for. In a few steps the
+stones became less slippery, and the bottom more even, and I began to
+think that I might gain it, when, at the rocky point above, I saw a
+white mass of foam, loaded with brushwood, sticks, and rubbish, borne
+along by a ridge of yellow curdling water, at least two feet higher than
+the stream. I gathered all my strength, and made a struggle for the bank
+opposite to where I was. The water was already above my belt, and
+rushing between my arms as I bore up the guns. I felt myself lifted off
+my legs; again I held the ground. The green bank was only a few yards
+distant, but the deep water was close below, and the yellow foaming
+flood above. As I staggered on, I heard it coming down, crumpling up and
+crackling the dead boughs which it bore along. I stumbled upon a round
+stone, and nearly fell backward, but it was against the stream which
+forced me forward. I felt the spray splash over my head: I was nearly
+blind and deaf. I made a desperate effort with the last strength which I
+had left, and threw myself gasping on the bank.
+
+Dreadnought sprang forward, jumped over and over me, whined, and kissed
+my face and hands, and tried to turn me over with his snout, and
+scratched and pawed me to make me speak; but I could not yet, and
+gasped, and choked, and felt as if my heart would burst. I lay, dripping
+and panting, with my arms stretched out on the grass, unable to move,
+except with the convulsive efforts of my breath. At last I sat up, but I
+could scarcely see: a thin gauzy cloud was over my eyes, a heavy
+pressure rung in my ears, my feet still hung in the water, which was now
+sweeping a wide white torrent from bank to bank, and running with a
+fierce current through both the pools below. The back-water, where my
+bonnet had danced, no longer remained; all was carried clear out in one
+long rush down to the Cluag. 'Benedictum sit nomen Domini!' I thought,
+as I crossed myself. I stretched out my hand, and plucked the nearest
+flowers, and smelled their sweet greenwood scent with inexpressible
+delight. I never thought that flowers looked so beautiful, or had half
+so much perfume, though they were only the pale wild blossoms of the
+fading year. I placed them in my breast, and have them still, and never
+look upon them without repeating--
+
+          'DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI AD TE, DOMINE!'
+
+[Illustration: THE FINDHORN.]
+
+Such were the hazards on the fords of the Findhorn; but even by boat the
+struggle was sometimes no less arduous, though it enabled us to cross
+the water at a height otherwise impassable, of which the following
+passage is an example:--
+
+One evening I was returning with the piper, and the old hound which had
+accompanied me at the ford. As we descended towards the pool of Cluag,
+where I had left the coble quietly moored in the morning, Dreadnought
+frequently turned and looked at me with hanging ears and a heavy
+cheerless eye; and when we came to the path which led down to the river
+he stopped, and dropped behind, and followed at my heel, though usually
+he trotted on before, and instead of waiting for the boat, took the
+water, which he preferred to the coble. When we came out from the trees
+upon the steep bank above the river, I understood his altered manner.
+From rock to rock the stream was running a white, furious, rushing
+torrent, and the little boat tugging and jibbing on her chain, and
+swinging and bobbing upon the top of the froth, like the leaves which
+danced upon the eddy. Dreadnought had heard the sound of the river, and
+knew what there was at work before us. The boat was moored near the
+throat of the pool, in the back-water of a little bay, now entirely
+filled with froth and foam up to the gunwale of the coble, which was
+defended by a sharp point of rock, from whose breakwater the stream was
+thrown off in a wild shooting torrent. Within the bay the reaction of
+the tide formed a quick back-water, which raised the stream without
+nearly two feet higher than the level within, and at times sucked the
+boat on to the point, where she was struck in the stem by the gushing
+stream and sent spinning round at the full swing of her 'tether.'
+
+Donald looked at me. There was no alternative but the bridge of
+Daltullich, more than four miles about, with two bucks to carry, and
+ourselves well run since four o'clock in the morning. I stood for some
+moments considering the chances, and the manifest probability of going
+down the stream. Immediately after emerging from the little mooring bay
+there was a terrific rush of water discharged through the narrow throat
+of the pool, and raised to the centre in a white fierce tumbling ridge,
+for which the shortness of the pool afforded no allowance for working,
+while the little back-water, which, in ordinary cases, caught us on the
+opposite side, and took us into the bank, was lost in a flood, which ran
+right through the basin like a mill-lead. 'Can you swim, Donald?' said I
+mechanically. '_Swim_, Sir!' said he, who knew how often I had seen
+him tumbled by the waves both in salt water and fresh. 'Oh yes, I know
+you can. But I was thinking of that stream.' 'Ougudearbh!' replied
+Donald: 'But it was myself that never tried it yon way!' 'And what do
+you think of her?' 'Faith, Thighearna, you know best--but if you try it,
+I shall not stay behind.'
+
+We had often ridden the water together by day and night, in flood and
+fair; and, narrow as the pool was, I thought we could get through it. We
+threw in a broken branch to prove the speed of the current, but it
+leaped through the plunging water like a greyhound, and was away in a
+moment down to the fierce white battling vortex of the Scuddach, where
+there was no salvation for thing alive; a few moments it disappeared in
+the wild turmoil, and then came up beyond--white and barked, and
+shivered like a splintered bone. Donald, however, saw that I was going
+to try the venture, and he was already up the bank unlocking the chain
+without a word. The bucks were deposited in the stern of the boat, the
+guns laid softly across them, covered with a plaid, and Dreadnought
+followed slowly and sternly, and laid himself down with an air as if,
+like Don Alphonso of Castile, 'the body trembled at the dangers into
+which the soul was going to carry it.' I took the oars--there were no
+directions to be given--Donald knew how to cross the pool, and every
+other where we were used to ferry.
+
+The boat's head was brought round to the stream, for it was necessary to
+run her into it with the impulse of the back-water to shoot her forward,
+or she would have been drawn back, stern foremost, into the eddy, where
+the jaw of the water, over the point of the rock, would have swamped us
+in an instant. Donald knelt at the bows, and held fast by a light
+painter till I cried 'Ready!' when the little shallop sprung from the
+rope, tilted away like a sea-bird, and glided towards the roaring
+torrent. I looked over my shoulder; Donald was gripping the bows, his
+teeth set fast, but a gleam of light was in his eye as we plunged
+headlong into the bursting stream. A blow like the stroke of a mighty
+wooden hammer lifted the boat into the surf; there was a crack as if her
+bows were stove in, and she shot shivering through the pool, filled with
+water to our knees, and sending the spray over us like a sheet. The
+rocks and trees seemed to fly away; the roaring water spouted and
+boiled, as it lifted up the boat, which spun round like a leaf, with her
+starboard gunwale lipping with the waves; but a few seconds swept us
+through the pool, and we were flying into the mad tumbling thunder of
+the rapid below. I kept the larboard bow to the stream, and pulled with
+all my might; but I thought she did not move, the eddy of the great
+mid-stream seemed to fix her in the ridge of the torrent, and take her
+along with it; the oars bent like willows to the strain, a boiling gush
+from below lifted her bows, and threw her gunwale under the froth. I
+thought we were gone, but I redoubled the last desperate strokes, and we
+shot out of the foaming ridge towards the opposite bank, rolling, and
+leaping, and plunging into the throat of the rapid. Donald sat like a
+tiger ready for the spring, and as we neared the shore, bounded on the
+grass with the chain. This checked the speed of the boat; I unshipped
+the oars, and sprung out just as the coble came crash alongside the
+bank, then swirling round, her head flew out to the stream, dragging
+Donald along the grass after her. I jumped into the water, and caught
+hold of the bow; for two minutes the struggle was doubtful and she
+continued to drag us along: at last Donald reached the stump of a tree,
+and, running round it, made a turn of the chain and brought her up.
+
+We sat down, and wiped our faces, and looked at each other in silence.
+The incredibly short space of time which had elapsed since we stood on
+the '_other side_,' with the mysterious future before us, and now to be
+sitting on '_this_,' and call it the _past_, was like a dream. The
+tumult, the flying shoot, the concussion at parting and arriving, seemed
+like an explosion, as if we had been blown up and thrown over. 'I don't
+think that boat will ever go back again, Thighearna,' said Donald. 'Why
+not?' 'Did you not feel her twist, and hear her split, when we came into
+the burst of the stream?' replied Donald. 'I don't know,' said I; 'I
+felt and heard a great many things, but there was no time to think what
+they were.' 'Oh, it was not _thinking_ that I was,' answered Donald;
+'but the water came squirting up in my face through her ribs, and I held
+on by both bows, expecting at every stroke to see them open and let me
+through.' We got up and examined the boat's bottom; there was a yawning
+rent from the stem to the centre, and part of the torn planks lapped one
+over the other by the twist, the bows being only held together by the
+iron band which bound the gunwale.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[3] The woodcocks' brae, from the frequency with which they breed there.
+
+
+
+
+_THE STORY OF GRACE DARLING_
+
+
+A CAREFUL reader of the 'Times' on the morning of Tuesday, September 11,
+1838, might have found, if he cared to look, a certain paragraph in an
+obscure corner headed 'The Wreck of the "Forfarshire."' It is printed in
+the small type of that period; the story is four days old, for in those
+days news was not flashed from one end of the country to the other; and,
+moreover, the story is very incomplete.
+
+On the evening of Wednesday, September 5, the steamship 'Forfarshire'
+left Hull for Dundee, carrying a cargo of iron, and having some forty
+passengers on board. The ship was only eight years old; the master, John
+Humble, was an experienced seaman; and the crew, including firemen and
+engineers, was complete. But even before the vessel left the dock one
+passenger at least had felt uneasily that something was wrong--that
+there was an unusual commotion among officials and sailors. Still, no
+alarm was given, and at dusk the vessel steamed prosperously down the
+Humber.
+
+The next day (Thursday, the 6th) the weather changed, the wind blowing
+N.N.W., and increasing towards midnight to a perfect gale. On the
+morning of Friday, the 7th, a sloop from Montrose, making for South
+Shields, saw a small boat labouring hard in the trough of the sea. The
+Montrose vessel bore down on it, and in spite of the state of the
+weather managed to get the boat's crew on board.
+
+They were nine men in all, the sole survivors, as they believed
+themselves to be, of the crew and passengers of the 'Forfarshire,' which
+was then lying a total wreck on Longstone, one of the outermost of the
+Farne Islands.
+
+It was a wretched story they had to tell of lives thrown away through
+carelessness and negligence, unredeemed, as far as their story went, by
+any heroism or unselfish courage.
+
+While still in the Humber, and not twenty miles from Hull, it was found
+that one of the boilers leaked, but the captain refused to put about.
+The pumps were set to work to fill the boiler, and the vessel kept on
+her way, though slowly, not passing between the Farne Islands and the
+mainland till Thursday evening. It was eight o'clock when they entered
+Berwick Bay; the wind freshened and was soon blowing hard from the
+N.N.W. The motion of the vessel increased the leakage, and it was now
+found that there were holes in all the three boilers. Two men were set
+to work the pumps, one or two of the passengers also assisting, but as
+fast as the water was pumped into the boilers it poured out again. The
+bilge was so full of steam and boiling water that the firemen could not
+get to the fires. Still the steamer struggled on, labouring heavily, for
+the sea was running very high. At midnight they were off St. Abbs Head,
+when the engineers reported that the case was hopeless; the engines had
+entirely ceased to work. The ship rolled helplessly in the waves, and
+the rocky coast was at no great distance. They ran up the sails fore and
+aft to try and keep her off the rocks, and put her round so that she
+might run before the wind, and as the tide was setting southward she
+drifted fast with wind and tide. Torrents of rain were falling, and in
+spite of the wind there was a thick fog. Some of the passengers were
+below, others were on deck with crew and captain, knowing well their
+danger.
+
+About three the noise of breakers was distinctly heard a little way
+ahead, and at the same time a light was seen away to the left,
+glimmering faintly through the darkness. It came home to the anxious
+crew with sickening certainty that they were being driven on the Farne
+Islands. [Now these islands form a group of desolate whinstone rocks
+lying off the Northumbrian coast. They are twenty in number, some only
+uncovered at low tide, and all offering a rugged iron wall to any
+ill-fated boat that may be driven upon them. Even in calm weather and by
+daylight seamen are glad to give them a wide berth.]
+
+The master of the 'Forfarshire' in this desperate strait attempted to
+make for the channel which runs between the Islands and the mainland. It
+was at best a forlorn chance; it was hopeless here; the vessel refused
+to answer her helm! On she drove in the darkness, nearer and nearer came
+the sound of the breakers; the fear and agitation on board the boat grew
+frantic. Women wailed and shrieked; the captain's wife clung to him,
+weeping; the crew lost all instinct of discipline, and thought of
+nothing but saving their skins.
+
+Between three and four the shock came--a hideous grinding noise, a
+strain and shiver of the whole ship, and she struck violently against a
+great rock. In the awful moment which followed five of the crew
+succeeded in lowering the larboard quarter-boat and pushed off in her.
+The mate swung himself over the side, and also reached her; and a
+passenger rushing at this moment up from the cabin and seeing the boat
+already three yards from the ship, cleared the space with a bound and
+landed safely in her, though nearly upsetting her by his weight. She
+righted, and the crew pulled off with the desperate energy of men rowing
+for their lives. The sight of agonised faces, the shrieks of the
+drowning were lost in the darkness and in the howling winds, and the
+boat with the seven men on board was swept along by the rapidly-flowing
+tide.
+
+Such was the story the exhausted boat's crew told next morning to their
+rescuers on board the Montrose sloop. And the rest of the ship's
+company--what of them? Had they all gone down by the island crag with
+never a hand stretched out to help them?
+
+Hardly had the boat escaped from the stranded vessel when a great wave
+struck her on the quarter, lifted her up bodily, and dashed her back on
+the rock. She struck midships on the sharp edge and broke at once into
+two pieces. The after part was washed clean away with about twenty
+passengers clinging to it, the captain and his wife being among them. A
+group of people, about nine in number, were huddled together near the
+bow; they, with the whole fore part of the ship, were lifted right on to
+the rock. In the fore cabin was a poor woman, Mrs. Dawson, with a child
+on each arm. When the vessel was stranded on the rock the waves rushed
+into the exposed cabin, but she managed to keep her position, cowering
+in a corner. First one and then the other child died from cold and
+exhaustion, and falling from the fainting mother were swept from her
+sight by the waves, but the poor soul herself survived all the horrors
+of the night.
+
+[Illustration: GRACE DARLING.]
+
+It was now four o'clock; the storm was raging with unabated violence,
+and it was still two hours to daybreak. About a mile from Longstone, the
+island on which the vessel struck, lies Brownsman, the outermost of the
+Farne Islands, on which stands the lighthouse. At this time the keeper
+of the lighthouse was a man of the name of William Darling. He was an
+elderly, almost an old man, and the only other inmates of the
+lighthouse were his wife and daughter Grace, a girl of twenty-two. On
+this Friday night she was awake, and through the raging of the storm
+heard shrieks more persistent and despairing than those of the wildest
+sea-birds. In great trouble she rose and awakened her father. The cries
+continued, but in the darkness they could do nothing. Even after day
+broke it was difficult to make out distant objects, for a mist was still
+hanging over the sea. At length, with a glass they could discern the
+wreck on Longstone, and figures moving about on it. Between the two
+islands lay a mile of yeasty sea, and the tide was running hard between
+them. The only boat on the lighthouse was a clumsily built jolly-boat,
+heavy enough to tax the strength of two strong men in ordinary weather,
+and here there was but an old man and a young girl to face a raging sea
+and a tide running dead against them. Darling hesitated to undertake
+anything so dangerous, but his daughter would hear of no delay. On the
+other side of that rough mile of sea men were perishing, and she _could_
+not stay where she was and see them die.
+
+So off they set in the heavy coble, the old man with one oar, the girl
+with the other, rowing with straining breath and beating hearts. Any
+moment they might be whelmed in the sea or dashed against the rocks.
+Even if they got the crew off it would be doubtful if they could row
+them to the lighthouse; the tide was about to turn, and would be against
+them on their homeward journey; death seemed to face them on every side.
+
+When close to the rock there was imminent danger of their being dashed
+to pieces against it. Steadying the boat an instant, Darling managed to
+jump on to the rock, while Grace rapidly rowed out a little and kept the
+boat from going on the rocks by rowing continually. It is difficult to
+imagine how the nine shipwrecked people, exhausted and wearied as they
+were, were got into the boat in such a sea, especially as the poor
+woman, Mrs. Dawson, was in an almost fainting condition; but finally got
+on board they all were. Fortunately, one or two of the rescued crew were
+able to assist in the heavy task of rowing the boat back to Brownsman.
+
+The storm continued to rage for several days after, and the whole party
+had to remain in the lighthouse. Moreover, a boatload which had come to
+their rescue from North Shields was also storm-stayed, twenty guests in
+all, so that the housewifely powers of Grace and her mother were taxed
+to the utmost.
+
+It is told of this admirable girl that she was the tenderest and
+gentlest of nurses and hostesses, as she was certainly one of the most
+singularly courageous of women.
+
+She could never be brought to look upon her exploit as in any way
+remarkable, and when by-and-by honours and distinctions were showered
+upon her, and people came from long distances to see her, she kept
+through it all the dignity of perfect simplicity and modesty.
+
+Close to Bamborough, on a windy hill, lie a little grey church and a
+quiet churchyard. At all seasons high winds from the North Sea blow over
+the graves and fret and eat away the soft grey sandstone of which the
+plain headstones are made. So great is the wear and tear of these winds
+that comparatively recent monuments look like those which have stood for
+centuries. On one of these stones lies a recumbent figure, with what
+looks not unlike a lance clasped in the hand and laid across the breast.
+Involuntarily one thinks of the stone Crusaders, who lie in their
+armour, clasping their half-drawn swords, awaiting the Resurrection
+morning. It is the monument of Grace Darling, who here lies at rest with
+her oar still clasped in her strong right hand.
+
+
+
+
+_THE 'SHANNON' AND THE 'CHESAPEAKE'_
+
+
+AMONG the captains of British 38-gun frigates who ardently longed for a
+meeting with one of the American 44-guns, in our war with the United
+States, was Captain Philip Bowesbere Broke, of the 'Shannon.' The desire
+sprang from no wish to display his own valour, only to show the world
+what wonderful deeds could be done when the ship and crew were in all
+respects fitted for battle. He had put his frigate in fighting order,
+taught his men the art of attack and defence, and out of a crew not very
+well disposed and got together in a rather haphazard manner, had made a
+company as pleasant to command as it was dangerous to meet.
+
+With this desire, in March 1813 Captain Broke sailed from Halifax on a
+cruise in Boston Bay. But to his disappointment two American frigates,
+the weather being foggy, left the harbour without his having a chance to
+encounter them. Two remained, however, and one of these, the
+'Chesapeake,' commanded by Captain James Lawrence, was nearly ready for
+sea. When her preparations were complete, Captain Broke addressed to her
+commanding officer a letter of challenge, having previously sent a
+verbal message, which had met with no reply.
+
+'As the "Chesapeake" appears now ready for sea,' began this letter, 'I
+request you will do me the favour to meet the "Shannon" with her, ship
+to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags.'
+
+He then gave an account of the 'Shannon's' forces, which were somewhat
+inferior to the 'Chesapeake's.' The 'Chesapeake' had 376 men, the
+'Shannon' 306 men and 24 boys, and the American vessel also had the
+advantage in guns.
+
+'I entreat you, sir,' Captain Broke concluded, 'not to imagine that I am
+urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the "Chesapeake,"
+or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to
+this invitation. We have both nobler motives. . . . Favour me with a
+speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long
+here.'
+
+This letter he entrusted to Captain Plocum, a discharged prisoner; but
+it so happened that before his boat reached the shore, the American
+frigate left it--Captain Lawrence having received permission from
+Commodore Bairbridge to sail and attack the 'Shannon' in response to
+Captain Broke's verbal challenge.
+
+Some manoeuvring between the two ships took place; but at last, in the
+evening of June 1, 1813, the 'Chesapeake,' with three ensigns flying,
+steered straight for the 'Shannon's' starboard quarter. Besides the
+ensigns, she had flying at the fore a large white flag, inscribed with
+the words: 'Sailors' Rights and Free Trade,' with the idea, perhaps,
+that this favourite American motto would damp the energy of the
+'Shannon's' men. The 'Shannon' had a Union Jack at the fore, an old
+rusty blue ensign at the mizzen peak, and two other flags rolled up,
+ready to be spread if either of these should be shot away. She stood
+much in need of paint, and her outward appearance hardly inspired much
+belief in the order and discipline that reigned within.
+
+At twenty minutes to six Captain Lawrence came within fifty yards of the
+'Shannon's' starboard quarter, and gave three cheers. Ten minutes after
+the 'Shannon' fired her first gun, then a second. Then the 'Chesapeake'
+returned fire, and the remaining guns on the broadside of each ship went
+off as fast as they could be discharged.
+
+Four minutes before six the 'Chesapeake's' helm, probably from the death
+of the men stationed at it, being for the moment unattended to, the ship
+lay with her stem and quarter exposed to her opponent's broadside, which
+did terrible execution. At six o'clock, the 'Chesapeake' and 'Shannon'
+being in close contact, the 'Chesapeake,' endeavouring to make a little
+ahead, was stopped by becoming entangled with the anchor of the
+'Shannon.' Captain Broke now ran forward, and, seeing the 'Chesapeake's'
+men deserting the quarter-deck guns, he ordered the two ships to be
+lashed together, the great guns to cease firing, and Lieutenant Watt to
+bring up the quarter-deck men, who were to act as boarders. This was
+done instantly, and at two minutes past six Captain Broke leaped aboard
+the 'Chesapeake,' followed by twenty men, and reached her quarter-deck.
+
+Here not an officer or man was to be seen. Upon the 'Chesapeake's'
+gangways, twenty-five or thirty Americans made a slight resistance, but
+were quickly driven towards the forecastle. Several fled over the bows,
+some, it is believed, plunged into the sea, the rest laid down their
+arms and submitted.
+
+Lieutenant Watt, with others, followed quickly. Hardly had he stepped
+upon the taffrail of the 'Chesapeake' when he was shot through the foot
+by a musket ball; but, rising in spite of it, he ordered one of the
+'Shannon's' 9-pounders to be directed at the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top,
+whence the shot had come. The second division of the Marines now rushed
+forward, and while one party kept down the Americans who were ascending
+the main hatchway, another party answered a destructive fire which still
+continued from the main and mizzen tops. The 'Chesapeake's' main top was
+presently stormed by midshipman William Smith. This gallant young man
+deliberately passed along the 'Shannon's' foreyard, which was braced up
+to the 'Chesapeake's' mainyard, and thence into her top. All further
+annoyance from the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top was put a stop to by
+another of the 'Shannon's' midshipmen, who fired at the Americans from
+the yardarm as fast as his men could load the muskets and hand them to
+him.
+
+After the Americans upon the forecastle had submitted, Captain Broke
+ordered one of his men to stand sentry over them, and sent most of the
+others aft, where the conflict was still going on. He was in the act of
+giving them orders when the sentry called out lustily to him. On
+turning, the captain found himself opposed by three of the Americans,
+who, seeing they were superior to the British then near them, had armed
+themselves afresh. Captain Broke parried the middle fellow's pike, and
+wounded him in the face, but instantly received from the man on the
+pikeman's right a blow with the butt-end of a musket, which bared his
+skull and nearly stunned him. Determined to finish the British
+commander, the third man cut him down with his broadsword, but at that
+very instant was himself cut down by Mindham, one of the 'Shannon's'
+seamen. Can it be wondered if all concerned in this breach of faith fell
+victims to the indignation of the 'Shannon's' men? It was as much as
+Captain Broke could do to save from their fury a young midshipman, who,
+having slid down a rope from the 'Chesapeake's' foretop, begged his
+protection.
+
+While in the act of tying a handkerchief round his commander's head,
+Mindham, pointing aft, called out:
+
+'There, sir--there goes up the old ensign over the Yankee colours!'
+
+Captain Broke saw it hoisting (with what feelings may be imagined), and
+was instantly led to the 'Chesapeake's' quarter-deck, where he sat down.
+
+That act of changing the 'Chesapeake's' colours proved fatal to a
+gallant British officer and four or five fine fellows of the 'Shannon's'
+crew. We left Lieutenant Watt just as, having raised himself on his feet
+after his wound, he was hailing the 'Shannon' to fire at the
+'Chesapeake's' mizzen top. He then called for an English ensign, and
+hauling down the American flag, bent, owing to the ropes being tangled,
+the English flag below instead of above it. Observing the American
+stripes going up first, the 'Shannon's' people reopened their fire, and,
+directing their guns with their accustomed precision at the lower part
+of the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen mast, killed Lieutenant Watt and four or
+five of their comrades. Before the flags had got halfway to the mizzen
+peak, they were pulled down and hoisted properly, and the men of the
+'Shannon' ceased their fire.
+
+An unexpected fire of musketry, opened by the Americans who had fled to
+the hold, killed a fine young marine, William Young. On this, Lieutenant
+Falkiner ordered three or four muskets that were ready to be fired down
+the hold, and Captain Broke, from the quarter-deck, told the lieutenant
+to summon. The Americans replied, 'We surrender'; and all hostilities
+ceased. Almost immediately after Captain Broke's senses failed him from
+loss of blood, and he was conveyed on board his own ship.
+
+Between the discharge of the first gun and the time of Captain Broke's
+boarding only eleven minutes had passed, and in four minutes more the
+'Chesapeake' was completely his. As a rule, however, this good fortune
+did not attend our arms in the conflict with the American marine.
+
+
+
+
+_CAPTAIN SNELGRAVE AND THE PIRATES_
+
+
+IN the year 1719, I, being appointed commander of the 'Bird' galley,
+arrived at the River Sierra Leone, on the north coast of Guinea. There
+were, at the time of our unfortunate arrival in that river, three pirate
+ships, who had then taken ten English ships in that place. The first of
+these was the 'Rising Sun,' one Cochlyn commander, who had not with him
+above twenty-five men; the second was a brigantine commanded by one Le
+Bouse, a Frenchman, whose crew had formerly served with Cochlyn's under
+the pirate Moody; the third was a large ship commanded by Captain Davis,
+with a crew of near one hundred and fifty men. This Davis was a generous
+man, nor had he agreed to join with the others when I was taken by
+Cochlyn; which proved a great misfortune to me, for I found Cochlyn and
+his crew to be a set of the basest and most cruel villains that ever
+were.
+
+I come now to give an account of how I was taken by them. It becoming
+calm about seven o'clock, and growing dark, we anchored in the river's
+mouth, soon after which I went to supper with the officers that usually
+ate with me. About eight o'clock the officer of the watch upon deck sent
+me word, 'He heard the rowing of a boat.' Whereupon we all immediately
+went on deck, and the night being very dark, I ordered lanterns and
+candles to be got ready, supposing the boat might come from the shore
+with some white gentlemen that lived there as free merchants. I ordered
+also, by way of precaution, the first mate, Mr. Jones, to go into the
+steerage to put things in order, and to send me twenty men on the
+quarter-deck with firearms and cutlasses, which I thought he went about,
+for I did not in the least suspect Mr. Jones would have proved such a
+villain as he did afterwards.
+
+As it was dark, I could not yet see the boat, but heard the noise of
+the rowing very plain. Whereupon I ordered the second mate to hail the
+boat, to which the people in it answered, 'They belonged to the "Two
+Friends," Captain Elliot, of Barbadoes.' At this, one of the officers
+who stood by me said he knew that captain very well. I replied, 'It
+might be so, but I would not trust any boat in such a place,' and
+ordered him to hasten the first mate, with the people and arms, on deck.
+By this time our lanterns and candles were brought up, and I ordered the
+boat to be hailed again; to which the people in it answered, 'They were
+from America,' and at the same time fired a volley of small shot at us,
+which showed the boldness of these villains. For there were in the boat
+only twelve of them, as I understood afterwards, who knew nothing of the
+strength of our ship, which was indeed considerable, we having sixteen
+guns and forty-five men on board. But, as they told me after we were
+taken, 'they depended on the same good-fortune as in the other ships
+they had taken, having met with no resistance, for the people were
+generally glad of an opportunity of entering with them.'
+
+Which last was but too true.
+
+When they first began to fire, I called aloud to the first mate to fire
+at the boat out of the steerage portholes, which not being done, and the
+people I had ordered upon deck with small arms not appearing, I was
+extremely surprised, and the more when an officer came and told me 'The
+people would not take arms.'
+
+I went down into the steerage, where I saw a great many of them looking
+at one another, little thinking that my first mate had prevented them
+from taking arms. I asked them with some roughness why they had not
+obeyed my orders, saying it would be the greatest reproach in the world
+to us all to be taken by a boat.
+
+Some of them answered that they would have taken arms, but the chest
+they were kept in could not be found.
+
+By this time the boat was along the ship's side, and there being nobody
+to oppose them, the pirates immediately boarded us, and coming on the
+quarter-deck, fired their pieces several times down into the steerage,
+giving one sailor a wound of which he died afterwards.
+
+At last some of our people bethought themselves to call out for quarter,
+which the pirates granting, their quartermaster came down into the
+steerage, asking where the captain was. I told him I had been so till
+now. On that he asked me how I durst order my people to fire at their
+boat out of the steerage.
+
+I answered, 'I thought it my duty to defend my ship if my people would
+have fought.'
+
+On that he presented a pistol to my breast, which I had but just time to
+parry before it went off, so that the bullet passed between my side and
+arm. The rogue, finding he had not shot me, turned the butt-end of the
+pistol, and gave me such a blow on the head as stunned me, so that I
+fell on my knees, but immediately recovering myself, I jumped out of the
+steerage upon the quarter-deck, where the pirate boatswain was.
+
+He was a bloodthirsty villain, having a few days before killed a poor
+sailor because he did not do something as soon as he ordered him. This
+cruel monster was asking some of my people where their captain was, so
+at my coming upon deck one of them pointed me out. Though the night was
+very dark, yet, there being four lanterns with candles, he had a full
+sight of me; whereupon, lifting up his broadsword, he swore that no
+quarter should be given to any captain that defended his ship, at the
+same time aiming a full stroke at my head. To avoid it I stooped so low
+that the quarter-deck rail received the blow, and was cut in at least an
+inch deep, which happily saved my head from being cleft asunder, and the
+sword breaking at the same time with the force of his blow on the rail,
+it prevented his cutting me to pieces.
+
+By good fortune his pistols, that hung at his girdle, were all
+discharged, otherwise he would doubtless have shot me. But he took one
+of them and endeavoured to beat out my brains, which some of my people
+observing, cried:
+
+'For God's sake don't kill our captain, for we never were with a better
+man.'
+
+This turned the rage of him and two other pirates on my people, and
+saved my life; but they cruelly used my poor men, cutting and beating
+them unmercifully. One of them had his chin almost cut off, and another
+received such a wound on the head that he fell on the deck as dead, but
+afterwards, by the care of our surgeon, he recovered.
+
+Then the quartermaster, coming on deck, took me by the hand, and told me
+my life was safe, provided none of my people complained of me. I
+answered that I was sure none of them could.
+
+By this time the pirate ship had drawn near, for they had sent their
+boat before to discover us; and on approaching, without asking any
+questions, gave us a great broadside, believing, as it proved
+afterwards, that we had taken their boat and people. So the
+quartermaster told them, through the speaking-trumpet, that they had
+taken a brave prize, with all manner of good victuals and fresh
+provisions on board.
+
+Just after this, Cochlyn, the pirate captain, ordered them to dress a
+quantity of these victuals; so they took many geese, turkeys, fowls, and
+ducks, making our people cut their heads off and pull the great feathers
+out of their wings, but they would not stay till the other feathers were
+pulled off. All these they put into our great furnace, which would boil
+victuals for five hundred negroes, together with several Westphalia hams
+and a large pig. This strange medley filled the furnace, and the cook
+was ordered to boil them out of hand.
+
+As soon as the pirate ship had done firing, I asked the quartermaster's
+leave for our surgeon to dress my poor people that had been wounded, and
+I likewise went to have my arm dressed, it being very much bruised by
+the blow given me by the pirate boatswain. Just after that a person came
+to me from the quartermaster, desiring to know what o'clock it was by my
+watch; which, judging to be a civil way of demanding it, I sent it him
+immediately, desiring the messenger to tell him it was a very good gold
+watch. When it was delivered to the quartermaster he held it up by the
+chain, and presently laid it down on the deck, giving it a kick with his
+foot, saying it was a pretty football. On which one of the pirates
+caught it up, saying he would put it in the common chest to be sold at
+the mast.
+
+By this time I was loudly called upon to go on board the pirate ship,
+and there was taken to the commander, who asked me several questions
+about my ship, saying she would make a fine pirate man-of-war.
+
+As soon as I had done answering the captain's questions, a tall man,
+with four pistols in his girdle and a broadsword in his hand, came to me
+on the quarter-deck, telling me his name was James Griffin, and we had
+been schoolfellows. Though I remembered him very well, yet having
+formerly heard it had proved fatal to some who had been taken by pirates
+to own any knowledge of them, I told him I could not remember any such
+person by name. On that he mentioned some boyish pranks that had
+formerly passed between us. But I, still denying any knowledge of him,
+he told me that he supposed I took him to be one of the pirate's crew
+because I saw him dressed in that manner, but that he was a forced man,
+and since he had been taken, though they spared his life, they had
+obliged him to act as master of the pirate ship. And the reason of his
+being so armed was to prevent their ill-using him, for there were hardly
+any among the crew but what were cruel villains. But he would himself
+take care of me that night, when I should be in the greatest danger,
+because many of their people would soon get drunk with the good liquors
+found in my ship.
+
+I then readily owned my former acquaintance with him, and he turned to
+Captain Cochlyn and desired that a bowl of punch might be made. So we
+went into the cabin, where there was not chair, nor anything else to sit
+upon, for they always kept a clear ship, ready for an engagement. So a
+carpet was spread on the deck, on which we sat down cross-legged, and
+Captain Cochlyn drank my health, desiring that I would not be cast down
+at my misfortune, for my ship's company in general spoke well of me, and
+they had goods enough left in the ships they had taken to make a man of
+me. Then he drank several other healths, among which was that of the
+Pretender, by the name of King James the Third.
+
+It being by this time midnight, my schoolfellow desired the captain to
+have a hammock hung up for me to sleep in, for it seemed everyone lay
+rough, as they call it, that is, on the deck, the captain himself not
+being allowed a bed. This being granted, and soon after done, I took
+leave of the captain, and got into my hammock, but I could not sleep in
+my melancholy circumstances. Moreover, the execrable curses I heard
+among the ship's company kept me awake, though Mr. Griffin, according to
+his promise, walked by me with his broadsword in his hand, to protect me
+from insults.
+
+Some time after, it being about two o'clock in the morning, the pirate
+boatswain (that attempted to kill me when taken) came on board very
+drunk, and being told I was in a hammock, he came near me with his
+cutlass. My generous schoolfellow asked him what he wanted; he answered,
+'To kill me, for I was a vile dog.' Then Griffin bade the boatswain keep
+his distance, or he would cleave his head asunder with his broadsword.
+Nevertheless, the bloodthirsty villain came on to kill me; but Mr.
+Griffin struck at him with his sword, from which he had a narrow escape;
+and then he ran away. So I lay unmolested till daylight.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I come now to relate how Mr. Simon Jones, my first mate, and ten of my
+men entered with the pirates. The morning after we were taken he came to
+me and told me that his circumstances were bad at home; moreover, he had
+a wife whom he could not love; and for these reasons he had entered
+with the pirates and signed their articles. I was greatly surprised at
+this declaration, and told him I believed he would repent when too late.
+And, indeed, I saw the poor man afterwards despised by his brethren in
+iniquity, and have been told he died a few months after they left Sierra
+Leone. However, I must do him the justice to own he never showed any
+disrespect to me, and the ten people he persuaded to enter with him
+remained very civil to me. But I learned afterwards from one of them
+that, before we came to Sierra Leone, Jones had said that he hoped we
+should meet with pirates, and that it was by his contrivance that the
+chest of arms was hid out of the way when we were taken. And when I
+called on the people in the steerage to fire on the pirate boat, Jones
+prevented them, declaring that this was an opportunity he had long
+wished for, and that if they fired a musket they would all be cut to
+pieces. Moreover, to induce them to enter with the pirates, he had
+assured them that I had promised to enter myself. So it was a wonder I
+escaped so well, having such a base wretch for my first officer.
+
+As soon as the fumes of the liquor were out of the pirates' heads they
+went on board the prize, as they called my ship, and all hands went to
+work to clear it, by throwing over bales of woollen goods, with many
+other things of great value, so that before night they had destroyed
+between three and four thousand pounds worth of the cargo--money and
+necessaries being what they wanted. The sight of this much grieved me,
+but I was obliged in prudence to be silent.
+
+That afternoon there came on board to see me Captain Henry Glynn, with
+whom I was acquainted, who resided at Sierra Leone, but though an
+honest, generous person, was on good terms with the pirates. He brought
+with him the captains of the two other pirate ships, and Captain Davis
+generously said he was ashamed to hear how I had been used, for their
+reasons for going a-pirating were to revenge themselves on base
+merchants and cruel commanders, but none of my people gave me the least
+ill character; and, indeed, it was plain that they loved me.
+
+This was by no means relished by Cochlyn; however, he put a good face on
+it.
+
+That night the boatswain came down into the steerage, where he had seen
+me sitting with the ship's carpenter, but since we happened to have
+changed places, and it had grown so dark he could not distinguish our
+faces, he, thinking I sat where he had seen me before, presented a
+pistol and drew the trigger, swearing he would blow my brains out. By
+good fortune the pistol did not go off, but only flashed in the pan; by
+the light of which the carpenter, observing that he should have been
+shot instead of me, it so provoked him that he ran in the dark to the
+boatswain, and having wrenched the pistol out of his hand, he beat him
+to such a degree that he almost killed him. The noise of the fray being
+heard on board the pirate ship that lay close to us, a boat was sent
+from her, and they being told the truth of the matter, the officer in
+her carried away this wicked villain, who had three times tried to
+murder me.
+
+I had one bundle of my own things left to me, in which was a black suit
+of clothes. But a pirate, who was tolerably sober, came in and said he
+would see what was in it. He then took out my black suit, a good hat and
+wig, and some other things. Whereon I told him I hoped he would not
+deprive me of them, for they would be of no service to him in so hot a
+country, but would be of great use to me, as I hoped soon to return to
+England.
+
+I had hardly done speaking, when he lifted up his broadsword and gave me
+a blow on the shoulder with the flat side of it, whispering in my ear at
+the same time:
+
+'I give you this caution, never to dispute the will of a pirate; for,
+supposing I had cleft your skull asunder for your impudence, what would
+you have got by it but destruction?'
+
+I gave him thanks for his warning, and soon after he put on the clothes,
+which in less than half an hour after I saw him take off and throw
+overboard, for some of the pirates, seeing him dressed in that manner,
+had thrown several buckets of claret upon him. This person's true name
+was Francis Kennedy.
+
+The next day, understanding that the three pirate captains were on shore
+at my friend Captain Glynn's, I asked leave to go to them, which was
+granted, and next day I went on board in company with them. Captain
+Davis desired Cochlyn to order all his people on the quarter-deck, and
+made a speech to them on my behalf, which they falling in with, it was
+resolved to give me the ship they designed to leave to go into mine,
+with the remains of my cargo, and further, the goods remaining in the
+other prizes, worth, with my own, several thousand pounds. Then one of
+the leading pirates proposed that I should go along with them down the
+coast of Guinea, where I might exchange the goods for gold, and that, no
+doubt, as they went they should take some French and Portuguese vessels,
+and then they might give me as many of their best slaves as would fill
+the ship; that then he would advise me to go to the island of St. Thomas
+and sell them there, and after rewarding my people in a handsome manner,
+I might return with a large sum of money to London and bid the merchants
+defiance.
+
+This proposal was approved of, but it struck me with a sudden damp. So I
+began to say it would not be proper for me to accept of such a quantity
+of other people's goods as they had so generously voted for me. On which
+I was interrupted by several, who began to be very angry.
+
+[Illustration: 'SOME OF THE PIRATES . . . HAD THROWN SEVERAL BUCKETS OF
+CLARET UPON HIM.']
+
+On this Captain Davis said: 'I know this man, and can easily guess his
+thoughts; for he thinks, if he should act in the manner you have
+proposed, he will ever after lose his reputation. Now I am for allowing
+everybody to go to the devil their own way, so desire you will give him
+the remains of his own cargo and let him do with it what he thinks
+fitting.'
+
+This was readily granted; and now, the tide being turned, they were as
+kind to me as they had at first been severe, and we employed ourselves
+in saving what goods we could.
+
+And through the influence of Captain Davis, one of the ships the pirates
+had taken, called the 'Bristol Snow,' was spared from burning--for they
+burned such prizes as they had no use for. And I was set entirely at
+liberty, and went to the house of Captain Glynn, who, when the pirates
+left the river of Sierra Leone, together with other English captains who
+had been hiding from the pirates in the woods, their ships having been
+taken, helped me to fit up the 'Bristol Snow' that we might return to
+England in it. And we left the river Sierra Leone the 10th day of May,
+and came safe to Bristol, where I found a letter from the owner of the
+ship I had gone out with, who had heard of my misfortune, and most
+generously comforted me, giving money for my poor sailors and promising
+me command of another ship--a promise which he soon after performed.
+
+I shall now inform the reader what became of my kind schoolfellow,
+Griffin, and my generous friend Davis. The first got out of the hands of
+the pirates by taking away a boat from the stern of the ship he was in
+when on the coast of Guinea, and was driven on shore there. But
+afterwards he went passenger to Barbadoes in an English ship, where he
+was taken with a violent fever, and so died.
+
+As for Davis, he sailed to the island Princess, belonging to the
+Portuguese, which is in the Bay of Guinea. Here the people soon
+discovered they were pirates by their lavishness; but the Governor
+winked at it, because of the great gain he made by them. But afterwards,
+someone putting it into his mind that if the King of Portugal heard of
+this it would be his ruin, he plotted to destroy Davis. And when, before
+sailing, Captain Davis came on shore with the surgeon and some others to
+bid farewell to the Governor, they found no Governor, but many people
+with weapons were gathered together in the street, who at a word from
+the Governor's steward fired at Davis and his men. The surgeon and two
+others were killed on the spot, but Davis, though struck by four shots,
+went on running towards the boat. But being closely pursued, a fifth
+shot made him fall; and the Portuguese, being amazed at his great
+strength and courage, cut his throat that they might be sure of him.
+Thus fell Captain Davis, who, allowing for the course of life he had
+been unhappily engaged in, was a most generous, humane person.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_THE SPARTAN THREE HUNDRED_
+
+
+THIS is the story of the greatest deed of arms that was ever done. The
+men who fought in it were not urged by ambition or greed, nor were they
+soldiers who knew not why they went to battle. They warred for the
+freedom of their country, they were few against many, they might have
+retreated with honour, after inflicting great loss on the enemy, but
+they preferred, with more honour, to die.
+
+It was four hundred and eighty years before the birth of Christ. The
+Great King, as the Greeks called Xerxes, the Persian monarch, was
+leading the innumerable armies of Asia against the small and divided
+country of Greece. It was then split into a number of little States, not
+on good terms with each other, and while some were for war, and freedom,
+and ruin, if ruin must come, with honour, others were for peace and
+slavery. The Greeks, who determined to resist Persia at any cost, met
+together at the Isthmus of Corinth, and laid their plans of defence. The
+Asiatic army, coming by land, would be obliged to march through a narrow
+pass called Thermopylæ, with the sea on one side of the road, and a
+steep and inaccessible precipice on the other. Here, then, the Greeks
+made up their minds to stand. They did not know, till they had marched
+to Thermopylæ, that behind the pass there was a mountain path, by which
+soldiers might climb round and over the mountain, and fall upon their
+rear. As the sea on the right hand of the Pass of Thermopylæ lies in a
+narrow strait, bounded by the island of Euboea, the Greeks thought
+that their ships would guard their rear and prevent the Persians from
+landing men to attack it. Their army encamped in the Pass, having wide
+enough ground to manoeuvre in, between the narrow northern gateway, so
+to speak, by which the invaders would try to enter, and a gateway to the
+south. Their position was also protected by an old military wall, which
+they repaired.
+
+The Greek general was Leonidas, the Spartan king. He chose three hundred
+men, all of whom had sons at home to maintain their families and to
+avenge them if they fell. Now the manner of the Spartans was this: to
+die rather than yield. However sorely defeated, or overwhelmed by
+numbers, they never left the ground alive and unvictorious, and as this
+was well known, their enemies were seldom eager to attack such resolute
+fighters.
+
+Besides the Spartans, Leonidas led some three or four thousand men from
+other cities, and he was joined at Thermopylæ by the Locrians and a
+thousand Phocians. Perhaps he may have had six or eight thousand
+soldiers under him, while the Persians may have outnumbered them by the
+odds of a hundred to one. Why, you may ask, did the Greeks not send a
+stronger force? The reason was very characteristic. They were holding
+their sports at the time, racing, running, boxing, jumping, and they
+were also about to be engaged in another festival. They would not omit
+or put off their games however many thousand barbarians might be
+knocking at their gates. There is something boyish, and something fine
+in this conduct, but we must remember, too, that the games were a sacred
+festival, and that the Gods might be displeased if they were omitted.
+
+Leonidas, then, thought that at least he could hold the Pass till the
+games were over, and his countrymen could join him. But when he found,
+on arriving at Thermopylæ, that he would have to hold two positions, the
+Pass itself, and the mountain path, of whose existence he had not been
+aware, then some of his army wished to return home. But Leonidas refused
+to let them retreat, and bade the Phocians guard the path across the
+hills, while he sent home for reinforcements. He could not desert the
+people whom he had come to protect. Meanwhile the Greek fleet was also
+alarmed, but was rescued by a storm which wrecked many of the Persian
+vessels.
+
+Xerxes was now within sight of Thermopylæ. He sent a horseman forward to
+spy out the Greek camp, and this man saw the Spartans amusing themselves
+with running and wrestling, and combing their long hair, outside the
+wall. They took no notice of him, and he returning, told Xerxes how few
+they were, and how unconcerned. Xerxes then sent for Demaratus, an
+exiled king of Sparta in his camp, and asked what these things meant. 'O
+king!' said Demaratus, 'this is what I told you of yore, when you
+laughed at my words. These men have come to fight you for the Pass, and
+for that battle they are making ready, for it is our country fashion to
+comb and tend our hair when we are about to put our heads in peril.'
+
+Xerxes would not believe Demaratus. He waited four days, and then, in a
+rage, bade his best warriors, the Medes and Cissians, bring the Greeks
+into his presence. The Medes, who were brave men, and had their defeat
+at Marathon, ten years before, to avenge, fell on, but their spears were
+short, their shields were thin, and they could not break a way into the
+stubborn forest of bronze and steel. In wave upon wave, all day long,
+they dashed against the Greeks, and left their best lying at the mouth
+of the Pass. 'Thereby was it made clear to all men, and not least to the
+king, that men are many, but heroes are few.'
+
+Next day Xerxes called on his bodyguard, the Ten Thousand Immortals, and
+they came to close quarters, but got no more glory than the Medes.
+Thrice the King leaped from his chair in dismay as thrice the Greeks
+drove the barbarians in rout. And on the third day they had no better
+fortune.
+
+But there was a man, a Malian, whose name is a scorn to this hour; he
+was called Epialtes. He betrayed to Xerxes the secret of the mountain
+path, probably for money. He later fled to Thessaly with a price on his
+head, but returned to Anticyra, and there he was slain by Athenades.
+Then Xerxes was glad beyond measure when he heard of the path, and sent
+his men along the path by night. They found the Phocians guarding it,
+but the Phocians disgracefully fled to the higher part of the mountain.
+The Persians, disdaining to pursue them, marched to the pass behind the
+Spartan camp, and the Greeks were now surrounded in van and rear. But
+news of this had come to Leonidas, and his army was not of one mind as
+to what they should do. Some were for retreating and abandoning a
+position which it was now impossible to hold. Leonidas bade them depart;
+but for him and his countrymen it was not honourable to turn their backs
+on any foe. He sent away the soothsayer, or prophet, Megistias, but he
+returned, and bade his son go home. The Thespians, to their immortal
+honour, chose to bide the brunt with Leonidas. There thus remained what
+was left of the Three Hundred, their personal attendants, seven hundred
+Thespians, and some Thebans, about whose conduct it is difficult to
+speak with certainty, as accounts differ. Leonidas, on this last day of
+his life, did not wait to be attacked in front and rear, but, sallying
+into the open, himself assailed the Persians. They drove the barbarians
+like cattle with their spears; the captains of the barbarians drove them
+back on the spears with whips. Many fell from the path into the sea, and
+there perished, and many more were trodden down and died beneath the
+feet of their own companions. But the spears of the Greeks broke at last
+in their hands, so they drew their swords, and rushed to yet closer
+quarters. In this charge fell Leonidas, 'the bravest man,' says the
+Greek historian, 'of men whose names I know,' and he knew the names of
+all the Three Hundred. Over the body of Leonidas fell the two brothers
+of Xerxes, for they fought for the corpse, and four times the Greeks
+drove back the Persians. Now came up the Persians with the traitor
+Epialtes, attacking the Greeks in the rear. Now was their last hour
+come, so they bore the body of the king within the wall. There they
+occupied a little mound in a sea of enemies, and there each man fought
+till he died, stabbing with his dagger when his sword was broken, and
+biting, and striking with the fist, when the dagger-point was blunted.
+Among them all, none made a better end than Eurytus. He was suffering
+from a disease of the eyes, but he bade them arm him, and lead him into
+the thick of the battle. Of another, Dieneces, it is told that hearing
+the arrows of the Persians would darken the sun, he answered, 'Good
+news! we shall fight in the shade.' One man only, Aristodemus, who also
+was suffering from a disease of the eyes, did not join his countrymen,
+but returned to Sparta. There he was scouted for a coward, but, in the
+following year, he fell at Platæa, excelling all the Spartans in deeds
+of valour.
+
+This is the story of the Three Hundred. The marble lion erected where
+Leonidas fell has perished, and perished has the column engraved with
+their names, but their glory is immortal.[4]
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[4] Herodotus.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+_PRINCE CHARLIE'S WANDERINGS_
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE FLIGHT
+
+APRIL 16, 1746. It was an April afternoon, grey and cold, with gleams of
+watery sunshine, for in the wilds of Badenoch the spring comes but
+slowly, and through April on to May the mountains are as black and the
+moors as sombre and lifeless as in the dead of winter. In a remote
+corner of this wild track stood, in 1746, a grey, stone house with
+marsh-lands in front, severe and meagre as the houses were at that time
+in the Highlands. Upstairs in a room by herself a little girl of ten was
+looking out of the window. She had been sent up there to be out of the
+way, for this was a very busy day in the household of Gortuleg. The
+Master, Mr. Fraser, was entertaining the chief of his clan, old Lord
+Lovat, who, in these anxious days, when the Prince was at Inverness and
+the Duke of Cumberland at Aberdeen, had thought fit to retire into the
+wilds of Badenoch, to the house of his faithful clansman.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Downstairs, the astute old man of eighty was sitting in his armchair by
+the fire, plotting how he could keep in with both parties and secure his
+own advantage whichever side might win. By some strange infatuation the
+household at Gortuleg were cheerful and elate. A battle was imminent,
+nay, might have been fought even now, and they were counting securely on
+another success to the Prince's army. So the ladies of the
+family--staunch Jacobites every one of them (as, indeed, most ladies
+were even in distinctly Whig households)--were busy preparing a feast
+in honour of the expected victory. The little girl sat alone upstairs,
+hearing the din and commotion and looking out on the vacant marsh-land
+outside. Suddenly and completely the noise ceased below, and the child
+seized her opportunity and crept downstairs. All was still in the big
+living-room, only in the dim recess of the fireplace the old lord was
+sitting, a silent, brooding figure, in his deep armchair. The rest of
+the household, men and women, gentle and simple, were all crowded in the
+doorway, breathlessly intent on something outside. Threading her way
+through them the child crept outside the circle and looked eagerly to
+see what this might be. Across the grey marshes horsemen were riding,
+riding fast, though the horses strained and stumbled, and the riders had
+a weary, dispirited air. 'It is the fairies' was the idea that flashed
+through her brain, and in a moment she was holding her eyelids open with
+her fingers, for she knew that the 'good people,' if they do show
+themselves, are only visible between one winking of the eyes and
+another. But this vision did not pass away, and surely never were fairy
+knights in such a sorry plight as was this travel-stained, dishevelled
+company that drew rein at the door of Gortuleg.
+
+The leader of the band was a young man in Highland dress, tall and fair,
+and with that 'air' of which his followers fondly complained afterwards
+that no disguise could conceal it. At the sight of him, arriving in this
+plight at their doors, a great cry of consternation broke from the
+assembled household. There was no need to tell the terrible news: the
+Prince was a fugitive, a battle had been lost, and the good cause was
+for ever undone! It was no time for idle grieving, immediate relief and
+refreshment must be provided, and the Prince sent forward without delay
+on his perilous flight. The ladies tore off their laces and
+handkerchiefs to bind up wounds, and wine was brought out for the
+fugitives. There is no certain account of Charles's interview with Lord
+Lovat; we do not know whether the cunning old man turned and upbraided
+the Prince in his misfortune, or whether the instincts of a Highland
+gentleman overcame for a moment the selfishness of the old chief.
+Anyway, this was no time to bandy either upbraidings or compliments.
+Forty minutes of desperate fighting on the field of Culloden that
+morning had broken for ever the strength of the Jacobite cause. Hundreds
+lay dead where they fell, hundreds were prisoners in the hands of the
+most relentless of enemies, hundreds were fleeing in disarray to their
+homes among the mountain fastnesses. For the Prince the only course
+seemed to be flight to the West coast. There, surely, some vessel might
+be found to convey him to France, there to await better times and to
+secure foreign allies. A price was on his head, his enemies would
+certainly be soon on his traces, he dared not delay longer than to
+snatch a hasty meal and drink some cups of wine.
+
+At Gortuleg the party broke up and went their several ways. The Prince
+was accompanied by the Irish officers of his household, Sir Thomas
+Sheridan, O'Neal, and O'Sullivan, gentlemen-adventurers who had
+accompanied him from France and whose advice in his day of triumph had
+often been injudicious. Let it be said for them that they were at least
+faithful and devoted when his fortunes were desperate. As guide went a
+certain Edward Burke, who, fortunately for the party, knew every yard of
+rugged ground between Inverness and the Western sea. During all the time
+that he shared the Prince's wanderings this Edward Burke acted as his
+valet, giving him that passionate devotion which Charles seems to have
+inspired in all who knew him personally at this time. Reduced now to a
+handful of weary, wounded men, the Prince's party continued their flight
+through the chilly April night. At two o'clock next morning they had
+passed the blackened ruins of Fort George. As dawn broke they drew rein
+at the house of Invergarry. But the gallant chief of the Macdonells was
+away, and the hospitable house was deserted and silent; the very rooms
+were without furniture or any accommodation, and the larder was bare of
+provisions. But wearied men are not fastidious, and without waiting to
+change their clothes, they rolled themselves up in their plaids on the
+bare boards, and slept the sleep of utter weariness. It was high noon
+before they woke up again--woke up to find breakfast unexpectedly
+provided, for the faithful Burke had risen betimes and drawn two fine
+salmon from the nets set in the river. Here for greater security the
+Prince and his valet changed clothes, and the journey was continued
+through Lochiel's country. The next stage was at the head of Loch
+Arkaig, where they were the guests of a certain Cameron of Glenpean, a
+stalwart, courageous farmer, whom the Prince was destined to see more of
+in his wanderings. Here the country became so wild and rugged that they
+had to abandon their horses and clamber over the high and rocky
+mountains on foot. In his boyhood in Italy the Prince had been a keen
+sportsman, and had purposely inured himself to fatigue and privations.
+These habits stood him now in good stead; he could rival even the
+light-footed Highlanders on long marches over rough ground; the
+coarsest and scantiest meals never came amiss to him; he could sleep on
+the hard ground or lie hid in bogs for hours with a stout heart and a
+cheerful spirit.
+
+Here on the night of Saturday, the 19th, among the mountains that
+surround Loch Morar, no better shelter could be found than a shieling
+used for shearing sheep.
+
+The next day, Sunday, the 20th, they came down to the coast and found
+refuge in the hospitable house of Borodale, belonging to Mr. Angus
+Macdonald, a clansman of Clanranald's. Nine months before, when the
+Prince had landed from France and had thrown himself without arms or
+following on the loyalty of his Highland friends, this Angus Macdonald
+had been proud to have him as his guest. One of his sons, John, had
+joined the Prince's army and had fought under his own chief, young
+Clanranald. This young man was at this time supposed to have been killed
+at Culloden, though in fact he had escaped unhurt. When the Prince,
+therefore, entered this house of mourning he went up to Mrs. Macdonald
+and asked her with tears in his eyes if she could endure the sight of
+one who had caused her such distress. 'Yes,' said the high-hearted old
+Highland-woman, 'I would be glad to have served my Prince though all my
+sons had perished in his service, for in so doing they would only have
+done their duty.'[5]
+
+While resting here at Borodale, Charles sent his final orders to the
+remnant of his gallant army, which under their chiefs had drawn to a
+head at Ruthven. They were to disperse, he wrote, and secure their own
+safety as best they could; they must wait for better times, when he
+hoped to return bringing foreign succours. Heartbreaking orders these
+were for the brave men who had lost all in the Prince's cause, and who
+were now proscribed and homeless fugitives.
+
+Charles and the handful of men who accompanied him had expected that,
+once safely arrived at the coast, their troubles would be over and the
+way to France clear. But at Borodale they learned that the Western seas
+swarmed with English ships of war and with sloops manned by the local
+militia. A thorough search was being made of every bay and inlet of the
+mainland, and of every island, even to the Outer Hebrides, and further,
+to remote St. Kilda! This disconcerting news was brought by young
+Clanranald and Mr. Æneas Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart, the Parisian
+banker who had accompanied Charles from France. The latter had just
+returned from an expedition to South Uist, where he had more than once
+narrowly escaped being taken by some vigilant English cruiser. It was
+impossible, he urged, for a ship of any size to escape through such a
+closely-drawn net; the idea of starting directly for France must be
+abandoned, but could the Prince escape to the outer islands and there
+secure a suitable vessel, he _might_ be out upon the wide seas before
+his departure was discovered. It was therefore decided that the little
+party should cross the Minch in an open boat and make for the Long
+Island. For this expedition the very man was forthcoming in the person
+of the Highland pilot who had accompanied Mr. Macdonald to South Uist.
+This was old Donald MacLeod of Guatergill, in Skye, a trader of
+substance and a man of shrewdness and experience. In spite of being a
+MacLeod he was a staunch Jacobite, and had joined the Prince's army at
+Inverness. He had a son, a mere lad, at school in that place; this boy,
+hearing that a battle was likely to take place, flung aside his book,
+borrowed a dirk and a pistol, and actually fought in the battle of
+Culloden. More lucky than most, he escaped from the fight, tracked the
+Prince to Borodale, and arrived in time to take his place as one of the
+eight rowers whom his father had collected for the expedition. The boat
+belonged to the missing John Macdonald, for the Borodale family gave
+life and property equally unhesitatingly in the Prince's service.
+
+On April 26, in the deepening twilight, the party started from
+Lochnanuagh. Hardly had they set out when they were overtaken by a
+terrible storm, the worst storm, Donald declared, that he had ever been
+out in, and he was an experienced sailor. The Prince demanded vehemently
+that the boat should be run on shore, but Donald, knowing the rock-bound
+coast, answered that to do so would be to run on certain death. Their
+one chance was to hold out straight to sea. It was pitch dark, the rain
+fell in torrents; they had neither lantern, compass, nor pump on board.
+Charles lay at the bottom of the boat, with his head between Donald's
+knees. No one spoke a word; every moment they expected to be overwhelmed
+in the waves or dashed against a rock, and for several hours the vessel
+rushed on in the darkness. 'But as God would have it,' to use Donald's
+words, 'by peep of day we discovered ourselves to be on the coast of the
+Long Isle. We made directly for the nearest land, which was Rossinish in
+Benbecula.'
+
+Here they found only a deserted hut, low, dark, and destitute of window
+or chimney; the floor was clay, and when they had lit a fire, the peat
+smoke was blinding and stifling. Still, they could dry their clothes and
+sleep, even though it were on a bed no better than a sail spread on the
+hard ground. Here they rested two days, and then found a more
+comfortable refuge in the Island of Scalpa, where the tacksman--although
+a Campbell--was a friend of Donald MacLeod's and received them
+hospitably.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+ON THE LONG ISLAND
+
+THE object of the expedition was, of course, to find some vessel big
+enough to carry the Prince and his friends over to France. Such ships
+were to be had in Stornoway, and Donald MacLeod, being a man well known
+in these parts, undertook to secure a vessel and pilot, under the
+pretence of going on a trading expedition to the Orkneys. The Prince and
+his party were to remain at Scalpa till Donald should send for them. On
+May 3 came the message that vessel and pilot were in readiness, and that
+they should come to Stornoway without a moment's delay.
+
+Owing to the wind being ahead it was impossible to go by sea, and the
+Prince and his two Irish followers were forced to go the thirty miles to
+Stornoway on foot. No footpath led through the wastes of heavy, boggy
+moorlands, the rain fell with an even downpour, and the guide stupidly
+mistook the way and added eight long Highland miles to the distance.
+They were thoroughly drenched, exhausted, and famished when Donald met
+them at a place a mile or two out of Stornoway. Having cheered their
+bodies with bread and cheese and brandy, and their souls with the
+hopeful prospect of starting the next day for France, he took them to a
+house in the neighbourhood, Kildun, where the mistress, though a
+MacLeod, was, like most of her sex, an ardent Jacobite. Leaving the
+Prince and his friends to the enjoyment of food, dry clothes, a good
+fire, and the prospect of comfortable beds for tired limbs, Donald went
+back to Stornoway in hopeful spirits to complete his arrangements for
+taking the Prince on board. Another twenty-four hours and the ship would
+have weighed anchor, and the worst difficulties would be left behind.
+But as soon as he entered Stornoway he saw that something was wrong.
+Three hundred men of the militia were in arms, and the whole place was
+in an uproar. The secret had leaked out; one of the boat's crew, getting
+tipsy, had boasted that the Prince was at hand with five hundred men,
+ready to take by force what he could not obtain by good-will.
+
+The inhabitants of Stornoway were all Mackenzies, pledged by their
+chief, Seaforth, to loyal support of the Government. It is eternally to
+their honour that all that they demanded was that the Prince should
+instantly remove himself from their neighbourhood. Not one amongst them
+seems to have suggested that a sum of 30,000_l._ was to be gained by
+taking the Prince prisoner. So complete was Donald's confidence in their
+honesty that he did not hesitate to say to a roomful of armed
+militiamen, 'He has only two companions with him, _and when I am there I
+make a third_, and yet let me tell you, gentlemen, that if Seaforth
+himself were here he durst not put a hand to the Prince's breast.'
+Donald doubtless looked pretty formidable as he said these words; at any
+rate, the 'honest Mackenzies' had no sinister intentions, only they
+vehemently insisted that the party should depart at once, and, what was
+worse, absolutely refused to give them a pilot. In vain Donald offered
+500_l._; fear made them obdurate; and so, depressed and crestfallen,
+Donald returned to Kildun and urged the Prince to instant flight. But
+not even the fear of immediate capture could induce the three wearied
+men to set out again in the wet and darkness to plod over rocks and
+morasses with no certain goal. So Donald had to control his fears and
+impatience till next day.
+
+At eight next morning they started in the boat, hospitable Mrs. MacLeod
+insisting on their taking with them beef, meal, and even the luxuries of
+brandy, butter, and sugar. The weather being stormy they landed on a
+little desert island called Eiurn, which the Stornoway fishermen used as
+a place for drying fish. Between some fish which they found drying on
+the rocks and Mrs. MacLeod's stores they lived in comparative luxury for
+the next few days. Ned Burke, the valet, was told off as cook; but he
+soon found that the Prince was far more skilful in the art of cookery
+than himself. It was his Royal Highness who suggested the luxury of
+butter with the fish, and who made a quite original cake by mixing the
+brains of a cow with some meal, giving orders to 'birsle the bannock
+weel, or it would not do at all.' Donald used to declare that in all his
+life 'he never knew anyone better at a shift than the Prince when he
+happened to be at a pinch.' Like many another unfortunate man, whether
+prince or peasant, Charles found unfailing comfort in tobacco. He seems
+to have smoked nothing more splendid than clay pipes, and 'as in his
+wanderings these behoved to break, he used to take quills, and putting
+one into the other and all into the end of the "cutty," this served to
+make it long enough, and the tobacco to smoke cool.'
+
+Donald records another characteristic little trait of the Prince at this
+time. On quitting the island he insisted on leaving money on the rocks
+to pay for the fish they had consumed.[6]
+
+In the meantime the situation was growing more and more dangerous.
+Rumours had got abroad that the Prince was in the Long Island, and the
+search was being actively pursued. Two English men-of-war were stationed
+near the island, and sloops and gunboats ran up every bay and sound,
+while bodies of militia carried on the search by land. These, from their
+intimate knowledge of the country, would have been the more formidable
+enemy of the two if many of their officers had not had a secret sympathy
+with the Jacobite cause and very lukewarm loyalty to the Government.
+
+For several days the Prince's boat had been so constantly pursued that
+it was impossible for the crew to land. They ran short of food, and were
+reduced to eating oatmeal mixed with salt water, a nauseous mixture
+called in Gaelic, Drammach. At last they ran into a lonely bay in
+Benbecula, where they were free from pursuit. It is characteristic of
+the Prince's irrepressible boyishness that he and the boatmen here went
+lobster-hunting with great enjoyment and success.
+
+Without help at this juncture the little party must either have starved
+or fallen into the hands of their enemies. Charles therefore sent a
+message to the old chief of Clanranald--the largest proprietor in South
+Uist--begging him to come and see him.
+
+Nine months before, when the Prince had landed on that island on his way
+from France, the old gentleman had refused to see him, pleading old age
+and infirmity. His brother, Macdonald of Boisdale, had seen the Prince
+and had vehemently urged him to give up so hopeless a design and to
+return to France; and, when he found that all persuasion was in vain,
+had roundly refused to promise him any assistance from his brother's
+clan. And though young Clanranald had, indeed, joined the Prince's
+standard, it was with many misgivings and against his better judgment.
+
+But now, in the hour of Charles's total abandonment and distress, this
+gallant family laid aside all selfish prudence. The old chief, in spite
+of age and ill-health, came immediately to the wretched hut where
+Charles had taken refuge, bringing with him Spanish wines, provisions,
+shoes, and stockings. He found the young man, whom he reverenced as his
+rightful king, in a hut as big as, and no cleaner than, a pig-stye,
+haggard and worn with hardship and hunger. 'His shirt,' as Dougal
+Graham, the servant, was quick to observe, 'was as dingy as a
+dish-clout.' That last little detail of misery appealed strongly to the
+womanly heart of Lady Clanranald, who immediately sent six good shirts
+to the Prince.
+
+For the next three weeks Charles enjoyed a respite under the vigilant
+protection of Clanranald and his brother Boisdale. They found a
+hiding-place for him in the Forest-house of Glencoridale, a hut rather
+bigger and better than most. By a system of careful spies and watchers
+they kept the Prince informed of every movement of the enemy. It was the
+month of June--June as it is in the North, when days are warm and sunny
+and the evening twilight is prolonged till the early dawn, and there is
+no night at all. South Uist, beyond all other islands of the Hebrides,
+abounds in game of all kinds, and the Prince was always a keen
+sportsman. He delighted his followers by shooting birds on the wing, he
+fished (though it was only sea-fishing from a boat), and he shot
+red-deer on the mountains.
+
+Once, when Ned Burke was preparing some collops from a deer the Prince
+had shot, a wild, starved-looking lad approached, and seeing the food,
+thrust his hand into the dish without either 'with your leave or by your
+leave,' and began devouring it like a savage. Ned in a rage very
+naturally began to beat the boy, but the gentle Prince interfered, and
+reminded his servant of the Christian duty of feeding the hungry,
+adding, 'I cannot see anyone perish for lack of food or raiment if I
+have it in my power to help them.' Having been fed and clothed the
+wretched boy went off straight to a body of militia in the neighbourhood
+and tried to betray the Prince to them. Fortunately, his appearance and
+manners were such that no one believed him, and he was laughed at for
+his pains. Out of at least a hundred souls, gentle and simple, who knew
+of the Prince's hiding-place, this 'young Judas' was the only one who
+dropped the slightest hint of his whereabouts.
+
+Nor was it only among the Jacobite clans that Charles found devoted and
+vigilant friends.
+
+The two most powerful chiefs in the North-west of Scotland were at this
+time MacLeod of MacLeod and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Mugstatt, or
+Mouggestot, in Skye. These two had, to the great disappointment of the
+Jacobites, declared for the Government, and had shown considerable zeal
+in trying to suppress the rising; but in the very household of Mugstatt
+Charles had a romantic and zealous adherent in the person of Lady
+Margaret, Sir Alexander Macdonald's wife. A daughter of the house of
+Eglintoun, she had been brought up in Jacobite principles, and now, in
+the absence of her husband, did all she could to help the Prince in his
+distress. Through the help of a certain Mr. Hugh Macdonald of Belshair
+she kept Charles informed of the enemy's movements and sent him
+newspapers. Towards the end of June the Government authorities were
+pretty certain that the Prince was hiding somewhere in the Long Island,
+and attention began to be concentrated on that spot. Two more English
+cruisers were sent there, under Captains Scott and Fergusson--men who
+had learnt lessons of cruelty from the greatest master of that art, the
+Duke of Cumberland--and militia bands patrolled the whole island. It was
+quite necessary to remove the Prince from Glencoridale, and the faithful
+Belshair was at once despatched by Lady Margaret to consult with Charles
+about his further movements. This Mr. Macdonald of Belshair arranged
+with Macdonald of Boisdale--one of the shrewdest as well as kindest of
+the Prince's friends--that they should meet at the Forest-house of
+Glencoridale. The meeting, in spite of hardships and danger and a worse
+than uncertain future, was a merry one. The two Highland gentlemen dined
+with the Prince (on 'sooty beef' and apparently a plate of butter!), and
+the talk was cheerful and free. Forgetful of the gloomy prospects of the
+Jacobite cause, and ignoring the victorious enemies encamped within a
+few miles of them, they talked hopefully of future meetings at St.
+James's, the Prince declaring that 'if he had never so much ado he would
+be at least one night merry with his Highland friends.' But St. James's
+was far enough off from Coridale, and in the meantime it became daily
+more certain that there was no longer safety for the Prince in Uist.
+
+The pleasant life in the Forest-house had to be broken up, and for the
+next ten weary days the little party lived in their boat, eluding as
+well as they could their enemies by sea and by land.
+
+Their difficulties were much increased and their spirits sadly disturbed
+by the fact that their generous friend Boisdale had been taken prisoner.
+
+It is one of the most singular facts of the Prince's wanderings that as
+soon as he lost one helpful friend another immediately rose up to take
+his place. This time an ally was found literally in the enemy's camp.
+One of the officers in command of the militia in Benbecula was a certain
+Hugh Macdonald of Armadale, in Skye, a clansman of Sir Alexander's, but,
+like many another Macdonald, a Jacobite at heart. It is very uncertain
+how far he was personally responsible for the plan that was at this time
+being formed for the Prince's escape. Donald MacLeod and others of the
+Prince's party were certain that Charles had met and talked with him at
+Rossinish and had presented him with his pistols. This gentleman had a
+step-daughter, a certain Flora Macdonald, a girl of remarkable
+character, courage, and discretion. She generally lived with her mother
+at Armadale, in Skye, but just now she was paying a visit to her brother
+in South Uist. It is difficult to make out how or when or by whom the
+idea was first started that this lady should convey the Prince to Skye
+disguised as her servant, but it appears that she had had more than one
+interview with O'Neal on the subject. On Saturday, June 21, being
+closely pursued by the implacable Captain Scott, Charles parted with his
+faithful little band of followers in Uist, paying the boatmen as
+generously as his slender purse would allow. With two clean shirts under
+his arm and with only O'Neal as his companion he started for Benbecula.
+Arriving at midnight in a small shieling belonging to Macdonald of
+Milton, 'by good fortune,' as O'Neal puts it, 'we met with Miss Flora
+Macdonald, whom I formerly knew.' It is a little difficult to believe
+that young ladies of Miss Flora's discretion were in the habit of
+frequenting lonely shielings far from their homes at midnight, at a time
+when the whole country was infested with soldiers. Nor does the
+beginning of her interview with O'Neal sound like the language of
+surprise. 'Then I told her I brought a friend to see her; and she, with
+some emotion, asked me if it was the Prince. I answered that it was, and
+instantly brought him in.' Among all the stout Highland hearts which
+were ready to risk everything for him, Charles never found one more
+brave and pitiful than that of the girl who was introduced to him in
+this strange and perilous situation.
+
+The plan was at once proposed to her that she should convey the Prince
+with her to Skye disguised in female attire as her maid. Flora was no
+mere romantic miss, eager for adventure and carried away by her
+feelings. She was quite aware of the danger she would bring on herself,
+and more especially on her friends, by this course. It was with some
+reluctance that she at last gave her consent, but once her word was
+pledged she was ready to go to the death if need were, and threw all her
+feminine ingenuity into carrying out the scheme. They arranged that she
+was to go next day to consult with Lady Clanranald and to procure
+feminine attire as a disguise for the Prince. As soon as all was
+prepared they were to meet at Rossinish in Benbecula; in the meantime
+O'Neal undertook to come and go between the Prince and Miss Macdonald to
+report progress and convey messages.
+
+The two men seem to have returned to a hiding-place in the neighbourhood
+of Glencoridale, and Miss Flora returned to Milton. She had to pass one
+of the narrow sea fords next day on her way to Ormaclade, the
+Clanranalds' house; this ford was guarded by a body of militia, and
+having no passport, she and her servant, Neil MacKechan, were taken
+prisoners. The situation was awkward in the extreme, and every hour's
+delay was an added danger. To her great relief she learned that the
+officer in command, who was expected that morning, was her stepfather,
+Mr. Hugh Macdonald. On his arrival he was (or affected to be) extremely
+surprised to find his stepdaughter a prisoner in the guard-room; but
+with a complaisance very remarkable in an officer of the Government, he
+drew her out passports for herself, for her servant Neil, and for a new
+Irish servant, Betty Burke, whom she desired to take with her to Skye.
+So great was Macdonald's interest in this unknown Betty that he actually
+wrote a letter to his wife in Skye recommending the girl.
+
+'I have sent your daughter from this country,' he wrote, 'lest she
+should be frightened by the troops lying here. She has got one Betty
+Burke, an Irish girl, who, she tells me, is a good spinster. If her
+spinning pleases you, you may keep her till she spins all your lint.' In
+spite of the gravity of the situation, one cannot help thinking that
+Flora and her stepfather must have had a good deal of amusement
+concocting this circumstantial and picturesque falsehood.
+
+As soon as she was set at liberty Flora went to Ormaclade, where Lady
+Clanranald entered heartily into the plan. Among her stores they chose a
+light coloured quilted petticoat, a flowered gown--lilac flowers on a
+white ground, to be particular--an apron and a long duffle cloak.
+Fortunately Highland women are tall and large, for the Prince's height,
+5 feet 10 inches, though moderate for a man, looked ungainly enough in
+petticoats.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It was Friday the 25th before the way was clear for Flora and Lady
+Clanranald to meet the Prince at the rendezvous at Rossinish in
+Benbecula. The four intervening days had been full of difficulties for
+Charles and O'Neal. The fords between the two islands were so well
+guarded that there was no chance of their being able to cross them on
+foot; they had no boat, and the hours were passing for them in an agony
+of suspense. At last they risked asking a chance boat which was passing
+to set them across, and accomplished the passage in safety. But when
+they did arrive at the hut at Rossinish, cold, wet, and wearied, they
+found that a party of militia were encamped within half a mile, and that
+the soldiers came every morning to that very hut for milk. Charles was
+by this time accustomed to the feeling that he was carrying his life in
+his hands. At daybreak he had to leave the hut to make room for his
+pursuers, all day he had to lie in an unsheltered fissure of a rock,
+where the rain--the heavy, relentless rain of the West Highlands--poured
+down on him; if it did clear at all, then that other plague of the
+Highlands, swarms of midges, nearly drove him distracted. On Friday the
+militiamen moved off, and the way being clear, Lady Clanranald, Miss
+Flora Macdonald, and a certain Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost came to visit
+him and O'Neal in their hut, bringing the female attire with them.
+These loyal ladies found their lawful sovereign roasting a sheep's liver
+on a spit; but neither discomfort, danger, nor dirt could do away with
+the courtly charm of his manner or the fine gaiety of his address. He
+placed Miss Macdonald on his right hand--he always gave his preserver
+the seat of honour--and Lady Clanranald at his left, and the strange
+little dinner-party proceeded merrily. But before it was finished a
+messenger broke in to tell Lady Clanranald that the infamous Captain
+Fergusson had arrived at Ormaclade, and was demanding the mistress of
+the house with angry suspicion.
+
+The Prince had now to part with O'Neal, in spite of the poor fellow's
+entreaties to be allowed to remain with him. Miss Macdonald had only
+passports for three and the danger was urgent. He was a faithful and
+affectionate friend, this O'Neal, if a little boastful and
+muddle-headed. He could shortly afterwards have escaped to France--as
+O'Sullivan did--in a French ship, if he had not insisted on going to
+Skye to try to fetch off the Prince. He missed the Prince, and fell into
+the hands of Captain Fergusson.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+IN SKYE
+
+ON Saturday (June 26) the Prince put on his female attire for the first
+time, and very strange he must have felt as he sat in flowered calico on
+wet, slippery rocks, trying to keep himself warm beside a fire kindled
+on the beach. It was eight in the evening when they started, and the
+storm broke on them as soon as they were out at sea. The whole party was
+distressed and anxious, apparently, except Charles himself, who sang
+songs and told stories to keep up the spirits of his companions. Long
+afterwards Flora Macdonald loved to tell how chivalrously and
+considerately he looked after her comfort on that dangerous journey.
+
+Going round the north end of the Isle of Skye, they came ashore close to
+Mugstatt, Sir Alexander Macdonald's place. That chief was himself away
+at Fort Augustus with the Duke of Cumberland, but his wife, Lady
+Margaret, who, as we have seen, was a staunch friend to the Prince, was
+at home. Still, in her position it was most undesirable that Charles
+should present himself at her house. Miss Macdonald and her servant Neil
+went up to the house--the garden sloped down to the part of the shore
+where they had landed--leaving Betty Burke sitting on the boxes in her
+flowered gown and duffle cloak.
+
+Miss Macdonald had good reason to congratulate herself on her prudence
+when she found Lady Margaret's drawing-room full of guests. Among these
+was Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost, but she was already in the secret; Mr.
+Macdonald of Kingsburgh was also there, but he was a man of such a
+chivalrous spirit and so kindly in his disposition, that the secret
+would have been safe with him even if he had not been--as he was--a
+staunch Jacobite at heart. Far more formidable was a third guest, young
+Lieutenant MacLeod, a militia officer who, with a small body of men, was
+stationed at Mugstatt for the express purpose of examining every boat
+that might arrive from the Long Island. He certainly neglected this duty
+as far as Miss Macdonald's boat was concerned, possibly out of
+complaisance to her hostess, Lady Margaret, possibly because the young
+lady's careless demeanour disarmed all suspicion.
+
+The situation was a most anxious one for Miss Macdonald; she had to
+carry on an easy flow of chat with a young officer while all the time
+she could think of nothing but Betty Burke sitting on her box on the
+shore. Every moment was precious and nothing was being done.
+
+At last, during dinner, she managed to confide the whole situation to
+Kingsburgh, and while she kept the lieutenant engaged, the latter left
+the room and sent for Lady Margaret to speak to him on business. (He was
+her husband's factor, and there was nothing to excite remark in his
+wanting a private talk with her.) On learning the news she for a moment
+lost her head, and screamed out that they were undone. But with much
+sense and kindness Kingsburgh reassured her, saying that if necessary he
+would take the Prince to his own house, adding, with a touch of his
+characteristic chivalry, that he was now an old man, and it made very
+little difference to him whether he should die with a halter round his
+neck or await a death which could not be far distant.
+
+As for the immediate future, the first idea that occurred both to Lady
+Margaret and Kingsburgh was, 'Let us send for Donald Roy.' This Donald
+was a brother of the Macdonald of Belshair who had visited the Prince at
+Coridale. He had been 'out' with the Prince's army, and was now living
+with a surgeon near Mugstatt, trying to recover from a serious wound in
+his foot received at Culloden. This Donald must have been a good fellow,
+popular, and liked by all; for even in those dangerous times he seems
+to have lived on an intimate footing with the very militia officers who
+were sent to search for hidden Jacobites.
+
+No man could have been more suited for Kingsburgh's purpose than Donald.
+Not only was he sensible, honourable, and brave, but as an acknowledged
+Jacobite he had less to lose if discovered, and as a young and amiable
+man his person could not fail to be acceptable to the Prince.
+
+On his arrival he found Kingsburgh and Lady Margaret walking up and down
+the garden. 'O Donald!' cried the lady, 'we are undone for ever!' After
+much rapid, anxious talk, the three agreed that the safest place for the
+Prince would be the Island of Rasay. Old Rasay had been 'out' and was in
+hiding, his second son was recovering from a wound received at Culloden,
+and the eldest, though he had kept quiet from motives of prudence, was
+quite as keen a Jacobite as the other two. Their eagerness to serve the
+Prince could be relied on, and as the island had been recently
+devastated by the Government soldiers, it was not likely to be visited
+again.
+
+Donald Roy undertook to see young MacLeod of Rasay and to make
+arrangements for meeting the Prince at Portree next day, while
+Kingsburgh promised to carry the Prince off with him to his own house
+and to send him next day under safe guidance to Portree. In this way,
+whatever happened, Lady Margaret would not be compromised.
+
+So the garden conclave broke up, and the three separated. Lady Margaret
+returned to her drawing-room, where, poor woman, she sadly disconcerted
+Miss Macdonald by nervously going in and out of the room. However, the
+lieutenant seems to have been too much taken up with his companion to
+notice his hostess's demeanour. Donald Roy, in spite of his lame foot,
+set off for Portree in search of young Rasay, and old Kingsburgh hurried
+off to look for Charles, carrying refreshments with him. Not finding him
+on the shore below the garden, the old man walked on rather anxiously
+till, seeing some sheep running, he concluded that someone must have
+disturbed them, and went to the spot. A tall, ungainly woman in a long
+cloak started forward to meet him brandishing a big knotted stick. As
+soon as Kingsburgh named himself the Prince knew that he had found a
+friend, and placed himself in his hands with the frank confidence he
+always showed in dealing with his Highland followers, a confidence which
+they so nobly justified.
+
+After the Prince had had something to eat and drink, the pair set out to
+walk to Kingsburgh, a considerable distance off. Unfortunately it was
+Sunday, and they met many country people returning from church, who were
+all eager to have a little business chat with Sir Alexander's factor. He
+got rid of most of them by slyly reminding them of the sacredness of the
+day, for the Prince's awkward movements and masculine stride made his
+disguise very apparent. 'They may call you the Pretender,' cried
+Kingsburgh, between annoyance and amusement, 'but I never knew anyone so
+bad at your trade.'
+
+At the first stream they had to cross the Prince lifted his skirts with
+a most masculine disregard of appearances, and to mend matters, when he
+came to the next, let his petticoats float in the water with a most
+unfeminine disregard of his clothes.
+
+Halfway on their road Miss Macdonald rode past them on horseback,
+accompanied by Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost and the latter's maid. 'Look,
+look,' cried that damsel, 'what strides the jade takes! I dare say she's
+an Irishwoman or else a man in woman's clothes.' Miss Macdonald thought
+it best to quicken her pace and make no reply.
+
+She was already at Kingsburgh when the Prince and his host arrived there
+at about eleven o'clock. All the household were in bed. A message was
+sent up to Mrs. Macdonald to tell her of the arrival of guests, but she
+very naturally refused to get up, and merely sent her compliments to
+Miss Macdonald and begged she would help herself to everything she
+wanted. When, however, her husband came up to her room and gravely
+requested her to come down and attend to his guest, she felt that
+something was wrong. Nor did it allay her fears when her little daughter
+ran up crying that 'the most odd, muckle, ill-shaken-up wife' she had
+seen in all her life was walking up and down in the hall. Mrs. Macdonald
+entered the main room with some misgiving, and in the uncertain
+firelight saw a tall, ungainly woman striding up and down. The figure
+approached her and, according to the manners of the time, saluted her.
+The rough touch of the unshaven lip left no doubt on the lady's mind;
+her husband's guest was certainly a man in disguise, probably a
+proscribed Jacobite. She hurried out of the room and met Kingsburgh in
+the hall. It did not occur to this good woman to upbraid her husband for
+bringing danger on his family; her first question was, 'Do you think the
+stranger will know anything about the Prince?'
+
+'My dear,' said Kingsburgh very gravely, taking her hands in his, '_this
+is the Prince himself_!'
+
+'The Prince!' cried Mrs. Macdonald, rather overwhelmed, 'then we shall
+all be hanged!'
+
+'We can die but once,' said her husband, 'could we ever die in a better
+cause?'
+
+Then, returning to the homely necessities of the hour, he begged her to
+bring bread and cheese and eggs.
+
+Bread and cheese and eggs to set before Royalty! This disgrace to her
+housewifery affected Mrs. Macdonald almost as feelingly as the danger
+they were in. The idea, too, of sitting down at supper with her lawful
+sovereign caused the simple lady the greatest embarrassment. However,
+she was prevailed upon to take the seat at the Prince's left hand, while
+Miss Macdonald had her usual place at his right. After the ladies had
+retired Charles lighted his 'cutty,' and he and Kingsburgh had a
+comfortable chat and a bowl of punch over the fire. Indeed, good food,
+good fires, and good company were such congenial luxuries after the life
+he had been leading, that Charles sat on and on in his chair, and the
+hospitable Kingsburgh had at last to insist upon his guest going to bed.
+
+Hour after hour the Prince slept on next morning, Kingsburgh being
+unwilling to disturb the one good rest he might have for weeks; Miss
+Macdonald was growing impatient and Mrs. Macdonald anxious, and at last
+Kingsburgh consented to rouse him at about one o'clock. Portree was
+seven miles off, and had to be reached before dark. It was decided that
+the Prince might resume male attire _en route_, but in case of exciting
+suspicion among the servants he had still to masquerade as Betty Burke
+till he left the house. Mrs. Macdonald, her daughter, and Miss Flora all
+came up to assist at his toilet, for 'deil a preen could he put in,' as
+his hostess expressed herself. He laughed so heartily over his own
+appearance that they could hardly get his dress fastened. Before he left
+the room he permitted Flora Macdonald to cut off a lock of his hair,
+which she divided with Mrs. MacLeod. What is a still more touching proof
+of the devotion of these two good women is that they carefully took off
+the sheets of the Prince's bed, vowing that these should be neither
+washed nor used again till they should serve each of them as
+winding-sheets. Kingsburgh accompanied his guests part of the way,
+assisted Charles to change his dress in a little wood, and then, with
+tears, bade him farewell.
+
+Flora Macdonald rode on to Portree by another road, leaving her
+servant, Neil MacKechan, and a little herd-boy to act as guides to the
+Prince.
+
+In the meantime, Donald Roy had been active in the Prince's service. At
+Portree he had met young Rona MacLeod of Rasay and his brother Murdoch,
+and, as he had expected, found them eager to face any danger or
+difficulty for their Prince. They had a cousin rather older than
+themselves, Malcolm MacLeod, who had been a captain in the Prince's
+army. He entered into the scheme as heartily as the other two, and only
+suggested prudently that Rona should leave the matter to himself and
+Murdoch, who were 'already as black as black can be.' But Rona was not
+to be baulked of his share of the danger and glory of serving the
+Prince, and vowed that he _would_ go even if it should cost him his
+estate and his head. So with two stout faithful boatmen they arrived
+within a mile of Portree, drew up their boat among the rocks where it
+could be hid, and remained waiting for the Prince, while the night fell
+and the rain came down in sheets.
+
+It had been arranged at Mugstatt that Donald Roy was to meet the Prince
+late on Monday afternoon in the one public-house that Portree could
+boast. This public-house consisted of one large, dirty, smoky room, and
+people of all kinds kept going in and out, and here Donald took up his
+post. Flora Macdonald was the first to arrive, and she, Donald Roy, and
+Malcolm MacLeod sat together over the fire waiting anxiously. It was
+already dark when a small, wet herd-boy slipped in and going up to
+Donald whispered that a gentleman wanted to see him. The poor Prince was
+standing in the darkness outside drenched to the skin. As soon as they
+were at the inn Donald insisted on his changing his clothes, and Malcolm
+at once gave him his own dry philibeg. Food they could get, and water
+was brought in an old, battered, rusty tin from which the Prince drank,
+being afraid of arousing suspicion by any fastidiousness. He also bought
+sixpennyworth of the coarsest tobacco, and nearly betrayed his quality
+to the already suspicious landlord by a princely indifference to his
+change, but Malcolm prudently secured the 'bawbees' and put them into
+the Prince's sporran.
+
+Miss Flora now rose very sadly to go, as she had to continue her journey
+that night. The Prince kissed her and said farewell with much suppressed
+emotion, but with his usual hopefulness added that he trusted that they
+might yet meet at St. James's. These constant partings from so many
+faithful, warm-hearted friends were among the hardest trials of
+Charles's wandering life. He seems to have clung with special affection
+to Donald Roy, and urged him again and again not to leave him, but to go
+with him to Rasay. Donald could only reply that the state of his wounded
+foot made it impossible.
+
+This conversation took place as they plunged through wet and darkness
+from Portree down to the shore where the boat was lying. Malcolm
+MacLeod, who made a third in the little party, had a spirit as firm and
+a heart as warm as Donald's own, and before the end of the week the
+Prince was clinging with the same affection to this new friend.
+
+The wild and desolate island of Rasay offered the Prince a comparatively
+secure hiding-place, and the three MacLeods had both the will and the
+power to protect him, and to provide a reasonable amount of comfort for
+him. But a kind of restlessness seems to have come over the Prince at
+this time. It was only by being constantly on the move that he could
+escape from anxious and painful thoughts. Possibly he may have felt a
+little insecure in the midst of the Clan MacLeod (though he had met
+nowhere with more devotion than that of the three cousins); he certainly
+seems to have bestowed far more affection and confidence on Malcolm than
+on the other two.
+
+On Thursday he insisted on starting for Skye, in spite of the entreaties
+of the young MacLeods, nor would he turn back when a storm broke and
+threatened to overwhelm them. It was night before they landed at
+Trotternish, a night such as had become familiar to the Prince, dark and
+chill and pouring with rain. They made for a byre on the property of Mr.
+Nicholson of Scorobeck. Young Rasay went on in front to see that no one
+was there. 'If there had been anyone in it, what would you have done?'
+he asked the Prince rather reproachfully; for Charles's self-will and
+foolhardiness must at times have been very trying to those who were
+risking life and estate for him. In the byre they lighted a fire, dried
+their clothes, and slept for some hours. The next day, Rona being away,
+the Prince asked Murdoch if he would accompany him into the country of
+the Mackinnons in the south of Skye (the old chief of that clan had been
+in the Prince's army, and Charles felt that he would be safe amongst
+them). Murdoch's wound prevented his undertaking such a journey--it was
+thirty miles over the wildest part of Skye--but Malcolm could go, and
+his cousin assured the Prince that he could nowhere find a more faithful
+and devoted servant. So the pair set out in the morning for their wild
+tramp. To prevent discovery the Prince affected to be Malcolm's
+servant, walked behind him, and, further to disguise himself, put his
+periwig in his pocket and bound a dirty cloth round his head--a disguise
+specially calculated, one would think, to excite attention. The two
+young men talked frankly and confidentially, making great strides in
+friendship as they went along. Once a covey of partridges rose, and,
+with a true British instinct for sport at all hazards,[7] the Prince
+raised his gun and would have fired if Malcolm had not caught his arm.
+They were careful to pass through the hostile MacLeod country at night,
+and at break of day arrived in Strath, the country of the Mackinnons.
+Malcolm MacLeod had a sister married to a Mackinnon, an honest,
+warm-hearted follow who had followed his chief and served as captain in
+the Prince's army. To his house they directed their steps; Mackinnon
+himself was away, but his wife received her brother and his friend with
+the utmost kindness. The Prince passed for a certain Lewis Caw, a
+surgeon's apprentice (who was actually 'skulking' in Skye at the time),
+and acted his part of humble retainer so well that poor Malcolm was
+quite embarrassed; and the rough servant-lass treated him with the
+contempt Highland servants seem to have for their own class, if 'Lowland
+bodies.' Both the tired travellers lay down to sleep, and when Malcolm
+awoke late in the afternoon he found the sweet-tempered Prince playing
+with Mrs. Mackinnon's little child. 'Ah, little man,' he cried, in a
+moment of forgetfulness, 'you may live to be a captain in my service
+yet.' 'Or you an old sergeant in his,' said the indignant nurse, jealous
+of her charge's position.
+
+Next day Malcolm went out to meet his brother-in-law. He had absolute
+confidence in Mackinnon's faithfulness and loyalty, but he feared that
+his warm-hearted feelings might lead him into indiscretions which would
+betray the Prince; and in spite of all warnings Mackinnon could not
+restrain his tears when he saw his Prince under his roof in such a
+wretched plight.
+
+It was important that Charles should be at once taken to the mainland,
+and John Mackinnon went off at noon to the house of the chief of the
+Mackinnons to borrow a boat. This old man was a fine type of a Highland
+gentleman. It was his daily--probably his only--prayer that he might die
+on the field of battle fighting for his king and country. He was
+simple-minded, brave, and faithful, and though now between sixty and
+seventy, as active and courageous as any young man. John had received
+injunctions not to betray the Prince's presence in the neighbourhood to
+the laird, but to keep such a piece of news from his chief was quite
+beyond honest John's powers. Nothing would restrain the old man from
+going off at once with his wife to pay their homage to the Prince. Nor
+would he hear of anyone conducting Charles to the mainland but himself.
+
+[Illustration: PRINCE CHARLIE'S WANDERINGS.
+
+The black lines indicating land and the dotted lines sea journeys.]
+
+At eight o'clock that night the little party embarked. The Prince took a
+most affecting farewell of Malcolm MacLeod. With courtly punctilio he
+sent a note to Donald Roy to tell of his safe departure, then pressed
+ten guineas--almost his last--on his friend's acceptance, smoked a last
+pipe with him, and finally presented him with the invaluable 'cutty.'
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+ON THE MAINLAND
+
+TO understand the Prince's proceedings for the next few weeks it is
+necessary to have a clear idea of the country which was the scene of his
+wanderings. From Loch Hourn (which opens opposite Sleat in Skye) on the
+north down to Loch Shiel on the south a little group of wild and rugged
+peninsulas run out into the Atlantic, called respectively Knoydart,
+Morar, Arisaig, and Moidart. Between these deep narrow lochs run far
+inland. Loch Nevis lies between Knoydart and Morar; Loch Morar, a
+freshwater loch, cuts off the peninsula of the same name from Arisaig,
+and this again is separated from Moidart by Lochs Nanuagh and Aylort,
+and Loch Shiel separates the whole group from Ardnamurchan in the south.
+The wild, inaccessible nature of the country, the deep valleys and many
+rocky hollows in the hills offered many hiding-places; but a glance at
+the map will show that a vigilant enemy by stationing men-of-war in all
+the lochs and drawing a cordon of soldiers from the head of Loch Hourn
+to the head of Loch Shiel, could draw the net so tightly that escape
+would be nearly impossible.
+
+In these first days of July, however, the search was still chiefly
+confined to the Long Island and Skye, and Charles got a clear start of
+his enemies. On July 5, in the early morning, he and his faithful
+Mackinnons landed at a place named Mallach on Loch Nevis, and spent the
+next three days in the open. They were in a good deal of perplexity as
+to their next movements, and when Charles learned that old Clanranald
+was staying in the neighbourhood, at the home of his kinsman Scothouse,
+he sent to ask his advice and help, expecting confidently to find the
+old faithful kindness that had helped him in Uist. But the old gentleman
+had had enough of danger and suffering in the Prince's cause; his son
+was a fugitive, his brother a prisoner, he himself was in hiding. The
+sudden appearance of Mackinnon startled him into a state of nervous
+terror, and he declared querulously that he could do no more nor knew
+anyone else who could give any help. Mackinnon returned indignant and
+mortified, but the Prince received the news philosophically, 'Well, Mr.
+Mackinnon, we must do the best we can for ourselves.'
+
+It was the first rebuff he had met with; but a day or two later he found
+the same lukewarm spirit in Mr. Macdonald of Morar, a former friend. The
+poor man had had his house burnt over his head and was living with his
+family in a wretched hut, and probably thought that he had suffered
+enough for the cause. This desertion cut the Prince to the quick. 'I
+hope, Mackinnon,' he cried, addressing John, 'that you will not desert
+me too.' The old chief thought that the words were addressed to him. 'I
+will never leave your Royal Highness in the hour of danger,' he
+declared, with tears, and John's reply was no less fervent.
+
+There was one house in the neighbourhood where the Prince could always
+count on a welcome whether he came at midnight, at cockcrow, or at noon,
+whether as a Prince on his way to win a crown or as a beggar with
+neither home nor hope. The hospitable house of Borodale was a mass of
+blackened ruins, but the laird--'my kind old landlord,' as the Prince
+fondly called him--and his two sons had still strong hands, shrewd
+heads, and warm hearts ready for the Prince's service.
+
+From Morar the Prince and the two Mackinnons walked through the summer
+night over the wildest mountain track and arrived at Borodale in the
+early morning. Old Angus was still in bed when they knocked at the door
+of the bothy where the family was living. He came to the door, wrapt in
+his blanket. When Mackinnon explained who it was that desired his
+hospitality, the old man's welcome came prompt and unhesitating. '_I_
+have brought him here,' said Mackinnon, 'and will commit him to _your_
+charge. I have done my duty, do you do yours.'
+
+'I am glad of it,' said Angus, 'and shall not fail to take care of him.
+I shall lodge him so securely that all the forces in Great Britain shall
+not find him.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So John Mackinnon, having done all he could, parted from the Prince with
+the same affectionate sorrow that had marked the farewells of all his
+faithful Highlanders. He was caught on his return to Skye, by the cruel
+Captain Scott, and five days later was brought back to Lochnanuagh, a
+prisoner on board an English man-of-war. Opposite the place where the
+ship cast anchor was a fissure in the rock, and halfway up was what
+looked like a mere grassy bank. In reality it was a small hut roofed
+with sods, so contrived that no one unless he were in the secret would
+have suspected it of being anything but a grassy slope. Here the Prince
+had spent the preceding night, but as soon as the ship entered the loch
+he betook himself to the hills. He was accompanied by old Borodale and
+his son John--the young man who had been supposed to have died at
+Culloden. A cousin of Borodale's, Macdonald of Glenaladale, had always
+been a special friend of the Prince's. He joined him now in the wilds,
+resolved to share all his worst dangers, though he had to leave his wife
+and 'five weak pretty children' unprotected and living in a bothy, the
+only home the English soldiers had left them. The first plan these brave
+men concerted together was to carry the Prince into Lochiel's country,
+where young Clanranald had promised to provide him a hiding-place. On
+their way, however, they heard that a body of soldiers were approaching
+from Loch Arkaig, which completely blocked their way on that side. That
+same night old Borodale learnt that General Campbell with several ships
+was in Loch Nevis, Captain Scott was still in Lochnanuagh, and parties
+from these ships were searching every foot of ground in their
+neighbourhoods. At the same time troops had been landed at the head of
+Loch Hourn, and others simultaneously at the head of Loch Shiel. Between
+these two points the distance as the crow flies must be some twenty or
+five-and-twenty miles, but the wild mountainous nature of the country
+makes the actual distance far greater. In spite of all difficulties the
+Government troops in a few days had drawn a complete cordon from one
+point to the other. This cordon consisted of single sentinels planted
+within sight of each other who permitted no one to pass unchallenged. At
+night large fires were lighted, and every quarter of an hour patrolling
+parties passed from one to the other to see that all the sentinels were
+on the alert.
+
+Charles's case was almost desperate. For several days he and his
+companions lived like hunted animals on the mountain-tops. They were
+frequently within sight of some camp of the enemy; more than once they
+had to go precipitately down one side of a hill because the soldiers
+were coming up the other. They changed their quarters at night,
+sometimes marching long miles merely to reach some mountain which having
+been searched the day before was less likely to be visited again. In the
+daytime the Prince could snatch a few hours of troubled sleep in some
+rocky hollow while the rest of the party kept guard. News of the enemy's
+movements was brought them occasionally by secret friends under cover of
+darkness, but even their approach was full of terror for the fugitives.
+Worst of all was their suffering from hunger. The soldiers devoured and
+destroyed what meagre stores the country could boast, and in spite of
+the generosity of the poorer clansmen no food could be had. For four
+days the whole party lived on a few handfuls of dry meal and some
+butter. On one occasion soldiers passed below their lair driving cattle.
+The Prince, who was starving, proposed to follow them, and 'lift' some
+of the cattle in the night. His companions remonstrated, but he led the
+party himself, and secured the beef.[8] The guide, and indeed the leader
+of the little band, was a farmer, Donald Cameron of Glenpean. But for
+this man's daring courage and his intimate knowledge of the country the
+Prince must sooner or later have fallen into the hands of his enemies.
+
+The circle was daily being drawn more closely round the prey, and daily
+the fear of starvation stared them in the face. Should they wait to die
+like driven deer or make one desperate effort to break through the toils
+that surrounded them, and either escape or die like men? For brave men
+there could only be one answer to such a question. On the night of July
+25 they determined to force their way through the cordon.
+
+All that day the Prince had lain in closest hiding on a hill on the
+confines of Knoydart, not a mile from the chain of sentinels. He had
+slept some hours while two of the party had kept watch and the other two
+had gone and foraged for food, bringing back two dry cheeses as the
+result. (Old Borodale had gone back at this time; the party consisted of
+his son John, Glenaladale and his brother, and Cameron of Glenpean.) All
+day parties of soldiers had been searching the neighbourhood, and now
+the sentinel fires were alight all along the line of defence. At
+nightfall the little band started, walking silently and rapidly up a
+mountain called Drumnachosi. The way was very steep, and the night very
+dark. Once crossing a little stream the Prince's foot slipped, he
+stumbled, and would have fallen down over a cliff had not Cameron caught
+one arm and Glenaladale the other and pulled him up. From the top of the
+hill they could see the sentinel fires close in front of them, and were
+near enough to hear the voices of the soldiers quite distinctly. Under
+cover of the friendly darkness they crept up another hill and came out
+opposite another fire. At a point midway between these two posts a
+mountain torrent had made a deep fissure on the side of a hill on the
+further side. Could they break through the line and reach this river-bed
+the overhanging banks, aided by the darkness of night, would conceal
+their figures, and following the stream they could cross over into wild
+broken country, where they could hide themselves. Donald Cameron, with
+a fine Highland gallantry, undertook to make trial of the way first. If
+he could reach the spot and return again to report 'all safe,' the rest
+of the party might make the attempt. It had all to be done in a quarter
+of an hour, for that was the interval at which the patrolling parties
+succeeded each other.
+
+In dead silence they waited till the sentinels had past; then as
+stealthily and rapidly as a cat Cameron slipped down the hillside and
+disappeared into the darkness. The rest stood breathless, straining
+every nerve for the faintest sound; no footfall or falling pebble broke
+the stillness, and in a few long, heavily-weighted minutes Cameron
+returned and whispered that all was well. It was two o'clock now and the
+darkness was growing thinner. They waited till the sentries had crossed
+again and had now their backs to the passage, then they all moved
+forward in perfect silence. Reaching the torrent, they sank on all fours
+and one after the other crept up the rocky bed without a sound. The
+dreaded cordon was passed, and in a short time they reached a place
+where they were completely hidden and could take a little much-needed
+rest.
+
+Once clear of this chain of their enemies they turned northward to the
+Glenelg country. Their plan was to go through the Mackenzie's country to
+Poole Ewe, where they hoped to find a French vessel. But the next day
+they learned from a wayfaring man that the only French ship which had
+been there had left the coast. Seeing that that plan was fruitless,
+their next idea was to move eastward into the wilds of Inverness and
+wait there till the way should be clear for the Prince's joining Lochiel
+in Badenoch.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In Glen Sheil they parted with Cameron of Glenpean, and here too they
+had a curious adventure which might have proved seriously inconvenient
+to them. They had spent a whole hot August day hiding behind some rocks
+on a bare hillside, the midges had tormented them, and they were
+oppressed with thirst, but had not ventured from their hiding-place even
+to look for water. At sunset a boy appeared bringing quarts of goat's
+milk; he was the son of a certain Macraw, a staunch though secret friend
+in the neighbourhood. Glenaladale at this time carried the fortune of
+the little party--some forty gold louis and a few shillings--in his
+sporran. He paid the lad for the milk, and in his hurry did not notice
+that he had dropped his purse. They had hardly gone an English mile
+before the loss was discovered, and Glenaladale insisted at all risks on
+going back to look for the purse. He and his cousin did indeed find it
+lying at the expected place, but though some shillings remained the
+louis were gone. It was midnight before the indignant pair reached
+Macraw's house, and the family were all asleep. They roused the master,
+however, and fairly told him what had happened. No shadow of doubt seems
+to have crossed the father's mind, no word of expostulation rose to his
+lips. 'Without a moment's delay he returned to the house, got hold of a
+rope hanging there, and gripped his son by the arm in great passion,
+saying, "You damned scoundrel, this instant get these poor gentlemen's
+money, or by the heavens I'll hang you to that very tree you see there."
+The boy, shivering with fear, went instantly for the money, which he had
+buried underground thirty yards from his father's house.' This accident
+turned out most luckily for the Prince. He and Glenaladale's brother
+while awaiting the other two had hidden behind some rocks; shortly after
+they were hidden they saw an officer and two soldiers _coming along the
+very path they had intended to take_. But for the delay caused by their
+companions going back they must have fallen into the hands of their
+enemies.
+
+They now turned eastward, and after a long night's march found
+themselves in the wild tract of country called the Braes of
+Glenmoriston.
+
+Here Charles was to find a new set of friends, different indeed from the
+chivalrous Kingsburgh and the high-bred Lady Margaret, but men who were
+as staunch and incorruptible as any of his former friends. These were
+the famous 'Seven Men of Glenmoriston,' men who had served in the
+Prince's army, and who now lived a wild, lawless life among the
+mountains, at feud with everything that represented the existing law and
+order. They have been described as a robber band, but that title is
+misleading. They were rather a small remnant of irreconcilable rebels
+who had vowed undying enmity and revenge against Cumberland and his
+soldiers. And indeed there was ample excuse for their hatred and
+violence in the cruelties they saw practised all round them. Sixty of
+their clansmen after surrendering themselves had been shipped off to the
+colonies, all their own possessions and those of their neighbours had
+been seized, and friends and kinsfolk had been brutally put to death.
+
+Swooping down like mountain eagles on detached bands of soldiers, these
+seven men wreaked instant vengeance on oppressors and informers, and
+carried off arms and baggage in the face of larger bodies of the enemy.
+To these men, ignorant, reckless, and lawless, Charles unhesitatingly
+confided his person, a person on whose head a sum of thirty thousand
+pounds was set.
+
+Four of these men were in a cave, Coraghoth, in the Braes of
+Glenmoriston, when Glenaladale brought Charles to see them. They had
+expected to see young Clanranald, and as soon as they saw the Prince one
+of their number recognised him, but had the presence of mind to address
+him as an old acquaintance by the name of 'MacCullony.' When the four
+knew who their guest really was, they bound themselves to be faithful to
+him by the dreadful Highland oath, praying 'that their backs might be to
+God, and their faces to the devil, and that all the curses the
+Scriptures do pronounce might come upon them and their posterity if they
+did not stand firm to the Prince in the greatest danger.'
+
+For about three weeks Charles shared the life of these outlaws, sleeping
+in caves and holes of the earth, living on the wild deer of their
+shooting and the secret gifts of the peasantry. They did not understand
+his English, but the Prince was beginning to pick up a little Gaelic. He
+was able at least to improve their cooking and reprove their swearing,
+two services they liked afterwards to recall. Here too, as elsewhere on
+his wanderings, the Prince gained the hearts of all his followers by his
+gracious gaiety and plucky endurance of hardships. In the beginning of
+August his hopes had again turned to Poole Ewe, but learning for a
+second time that no French ship could land on the closely guarded coast,
+he and his friends determined to remain in the northern straths of
+Inverness-shire till the Government troops should withdraw from the
+Great Glen--the chain of lakes which now forms the Caledonian Canal--and
+thus leave the way clear into Badenoch, where Lochiel and Macpherson of
+Cluny were hiding.
+
+A curious incident is supposed to have helped the Prince at this time.
+There had been among his Life Guards a handsome youth named Roderick
+Mackenzie, son of a jeweller in Edinburgh, who in face and figure was
+startlingly like the Prince. This lad was actually 'skulking' among the
+Braes of Glenmoriston at the time when the Prince was surrounded in
+Knoydart. A party of soldiers tracked him to a hut, which they
+surrounded. Flight was impossible, and the poor boy stood at bay. As he
+fell beneath their sword-thrusts he cried out, 'Villains, ye have slain
+your King.' Whether these words were a curious last flash of vanity, or
+whether he intended to serve the Prince by a generous act of imposture,
+can never be known. The soldiers at any rate believed that they had
+secured the prize. They carried off Mackenzie's head with them to Fort
+Augustus, and the authorities seem for some time to have been under the
+impression that it was indeed that of the Prince. Possibly it was owing
+to this that in the middle of August the Government rather relaxed their
+vigilance along the Great Glen. Charles was eager to press at once into
+Badenoch, but the wary outlaws would only consent to taking him to the
+Lochiel country, between Loch Arkaig, Loch Lochy, and Loch Garry. They
+travelled chiefly by night; the season was very wet, and the rivers were
+in flood, and they had to cross the River Garry Highland fashion in a
+line, with each man's arm on his neighbour's shoulder, for the water was
+running breast-high.
+
+At this time the Prince's condition was as bad as at any period of his
+wanderings. His clothes were of the coarsest, and _they_ were in rags.
+Lady Clanranald's six good shirts had long since disappeared; it was as
+much as he could do to have a clean shirt once a fortnight. The
+provisions they carried were reduced to one peck of meal. In this state
+did the Prince arrive in the familiar country round Loch Arkaig. It was
+a year almost to the day since he had passed through that very country
+elate and hopeful at the head of his brave Macdonalds and Camerons. He
+was now a fugitive, ill-fed, ill-clad, with a price on his head; the
+only thing that was unchanged was the faithful devotion of his
+Highlanders.
+
+Cameron of Clunes and Macdonald of Lochgarry, or Lochgarie, though they
+were themselves 'skulking,' received the Prince with the utmost kindness
+and found a hiding-place for him in a hut in a wood at the south side of
+Loch Arkaig. Here the outlaws left him; only one of their number,
+Patrick Grant, remained till the Prince should be supplied with money to
+reward their faithful service. From this place, also, John Macdonald and
+Glenaladale's brother returned to the coast, where they were to keep a
+careful look-out and to send the Prince news of any French ship which
+might appear.
+
+Glenaladale still remained, but the Prince's thoughts were turning more
+and more towards Badenoch, where his friend Lochiel was in comparatively
+secure hiding.
+
+Among all the gallant gentlemen who risked life and estate in this
+rising there is no figure more attractive than that of the 'Gentle
+Lochiel.' He had for years before the rebellion been the mainstay of the
+Jacobite party. No man in the Highlands carried so much weight as he,
+partly from his position, but more from his talents and the charm of his
+character. 'Wise' and 'gentle' are the words that were applied to him,
+and with all the qualities of a high-bred gentleman he combined the
+simpler virtues of the Highland clansman--faithfulness, courage, and a
+jealous sense of personal honour. From the very beginning he had seen
+the folly of the rising. But when he had failed to convince Charles of
+its hopelessness, he had thrown himself into the movement as if it had
+been of his own devising. Never did he afterwards reproach Charles by
+word or look for the ill-fated result.
+
+He and his cousin, Macpherson of Cluny, were at this time hiding among
+the recesses of Benalder. The road to Inverness ran by within a few
+miles, and at a little distance lay Lord Loudoun's camp, but so great
+was the devotion of the clansmen, so admirable their caution and
+secrecy, that the English commander had not the slightest suspicion that
+the two most important Jacobite fugitives had for three months been in
+hiding so near to him. Lochiel had been wounded in the feet at
+Culloden, and his lameness as well as his dangerous position prevented
+his going to look for the Prince. He had two brothers, one a doctor and
+the other a clergyman, both accomplished and bold men, who had also been
+involved in the Jacobite rebellion. Towards the end of August, news
+having come to Benalder that the Prince was living near Auchnacarry
+under the protection of Cameron of Clunes, the two Cameron brothers set
+off secretly for that country. The Prince with a son of Clunes and the
+faithful outlaw Patrick Grant were at this time living in a hut in a
+wood close to Loch Arkaig. It was early on the morning of August 25, the
+Prince and young Clunes were asleep in the hut, while Patrick Grant kept
+watch. He must have got drowsy, for waking with a start he saw a party
+of men approaching. He rushed into the hut and roused the Prince and his
+companion. Charles had long lived in expectation of such moments. He
+kept his presence of mind completely, decided that it was too late to
+fly, and prepared to defend himself. The fowling-pieces were loaded and
+got into position, and they very nearly received their friends with a
+volley. Dr. Cameron in his narrative describes the Prince's appearance
+thus: 'He was barefoot; had an old black kilt coat on and philibeg and
+waistcoat, a dirty shirt and a long red beard, a gun in his hand and a
+pistol and dirk at his side; still he was very cheerful and in good
+health.'
+
+Another week they all waited in the neighbourhood of Auchnacarry (the
+ruined home of the Lochiels). At last a message reached them from
+Benalder that the passes were free and that they might safely try to
+join Lochiel. Having parted with his devoted friend Glenaladale, who
+returned to the coast, the Prince, with Dr. Cameron and Lochgarry,
+arrived on August 30 at Mellaneuir, at the foot of Benalder. People in
+hiding have no means of discriminating their friends from their enemies
+at a little distance. Lochiel seeing a considerable party approaching
+believed that he was discovered and determined to make a good fight for
+it. He as narrowly missed shooting Charles as Charles had missed
+shooting Dr. Cameron the week before. When, however, he recognised the
+figure in the coarse brown coat, the shabby kilt, and the rough red
+beard, he hobbled to the door and wanted to receive the Prince on his
+knees. 'My dear Lochiel,' remonstrated Charles as he embraced him, 'you
+don't know who may be looking down from these hills.'
+
+In the hut there was a sufficiency of mutton, beef sausages, bacon,
+butter, cheese, &c., and an anker of whisky, and the Prince was almost
+overwhelmed by such an excess of luxury. 'Now, gentlemen,' he said with
+a cheerful air, 'now I _live like a Prince_.' Charles's wardrobe was as
+usual most dilapidated, and Cluny's three sisters set at once to work to
+make him a set of six shirts with their own fair hands, doubtless sewing
+the most passionate loyalty and infinite regret into their 'seams.'
+
+The hiding-place where the Prince was now concealed was a very curious
+hut contrived by Cluny in one of the inmost recesses of the hills. It
+was called 'The Cage,' and was placed in a little thicket on the rocky
+slope of a hill. The walls were formed by actual growing trees with
+stakes planted between them, the whole woven together by ropes of
+heather and birch. Till you were close to the hut it looked merely like
+a thick clump of trees and bushes. The smoke escaped along the rocks,
+and the stone being of a bluish colour it could easily pass unnoticed.
+This hut could only hold six persons at a time, so the party generally
+divided in this way: one man cooked the food, four played cards, and the
+last man looked on at the others and possibly smoked!
+
+Probably they played cards and talked and jested over the daily needs
+and hardships, and spoke little of the disastrous times that lay behind
+them, or the doubtful hopes that lay before them. Fearing lest the
+Prince might have to remain in hiding all winter the ingenious Cluny
+began to fit up a subterranean dwelling, thickly boarded up, where the
+party would have been in safety and shelter. But in the meantime no
+efforts were lacking to find a means of escape. Lochiel's brother, the
+clergyman, a man of great prudence, went secretly to Edinburgh, and
+there procured a ship and sent it round to a port on the East coast to
+await the Prince. Succour, however, had come from another quarter; it
+was known to the Prince and his followers that a certain Colonel Warren
+was fitting out a couple of ships in France for the purpose of bringing
+off the Prince, and daily they expected news of their arrival. On
+September 6 two ships, _L'Heureux_ and _La Princesse_, appeared at
+Lochnanuagh. Old Borodale and his two sons immediately fled to the
+hills, leaving a faithful servant to find out and report to them who the
+strangers might be. After nightfall, twelve French officers came to the
+hut where they were hiding and told their errand. Information was at
+once sent to Glenaladale, who undertook to go to Auchnacarry and send on
+the news through Cameron of Clunes, he himself not knowing where the
+Prince was hiding. Any delay, even of a few hours, might be fatal, as
+the presence of the French ships must sooner or later become known to
+the authorities at Fort Augustus. To his dismay Glenaladale failed to
+find Clunes, and only by an accident met with an old woman, who directed
+him to the place where the latter was hiding. A messenger was at once
+despatched, and he, happening by a curious chance to meet with Cluny and
+Dr. Cameron on a dark night in Badenoch, gave them his message, and an
+express was at once sent to the Cage. On September 13, at one in the
+morning, the party--which now included Cluny, Lochiel, Macpherson of
+Breakachie, and some others of the Prince's more important
+followers--set off for the coast. They travelled by night, remaining in
+concealment by day, but so lonely was the country, so recklessly high
+were the Prince's spirits, that one whole day he amused himself by
+flinging up caps into the air and shooting at them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Again he passed through the well-known country round Loch Arkaig, past
+Auchnacarry, the home of the Lochiels, which was lying in ruins, over
+the rugged hills where he had been hunted like a wild creature a few
+weeks before, down to the familiar waters of Lochnanuagh, back to the
+warm-hearted household of Borodale.
+
+A considerable number of Jacobite gentlemen who had lain for months in
+hiding had been drawn to Lochnanuagh by the report of the landing of the
+French ships; amongst these were young Clanranald, Glenaladale, and
+Macdonald of Daleby. On the Prince's ship there sailed with him
+Lochgarry, John Roy Stuart, Dr. Cameron, and Lochiel. 'The gentlemen as
+well as commons were seen to weep, though they boasted of being soon
+back with an irresistible force,' says the newspaper of the day. For the
+greater part they never came back, never saw again the homes they loved
+so well. Most were to spend a life of hope deferred and of desperate
+longings for home, as dependents on a foreign Court. Dr. Cameron was ten
+years later taken prisoner in London and executed, the last man who
+suffered as a rebel; Lochiel died two years after he left Scotland, a
+heart-broken exile. 'Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him; but
+weep sore for him that goeth away, for he shall return no more nor see
+his native country.'[9]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[5]      'I had three sons, who now hae nane,
+            I bred them toiling sarely,
+          And I wad bare them a' again
+            And lose them a' for Charlie!'
+
+[6] In this he resembled his father, who, on leaving Scotland after the
+failure of 1715, sent money to Argyll to compensate the country folk
+whose cottages had been burned in the war; an act without precedent or
+imitation.
+
+[7] Charles, about 1743, introduced golf into Italy, according to Lord
+Elcho.
+
+[8] The authority for this is an unpublished anecdote in Bishop Forbes's
+MS., _The Lyon in Mourning_.
+
+[9] The authorities are Chambers's _Jacobite Memoirs_, selected from the
+MS. _Lyon in Mourning_; Chambers's _History of the Rising of 1745_;
+Macdonald of Glenaladale's manuscript, published in _Blackwood's
+Magazine_; Ewald's _History of Prince Charles Edward_, and the
+contemporary pamphlets anonymously published by Dr. Burton on
+information derived from Bishop Forbes, who collected it at first hand.
+Fastened on the interior of the cover of the _Lyon in Mourning_ is a
+shred of the flowered calico worn by the Prince in disguise.
+
+
+
+
+_TWO GREAT MATCHES_
+
+
+THE University matches, between the elevens of Oxford and Cambridge, are
+the most exciting that are played at Lord's. The elevens have been so
+equal that neither University is ever more than one or two victories
+ahead of its opponent. The players are at their best for activity and
+strength, and the fielding is usually the finest that can anywhere be
+seen. But, of all University matches, the most famous are those of 1870
+and of 1875, for these were the most closely contested.
+
+In 1870 Cambridge had won for three years running. They had on their
+side Mr. Yardley, one among the three best gentlemen bats who ever
+played, the others being Dr. Grace and Mr. Alan Steel. In 1869, when
+Cambridge won by 58 runs, Mr. Yardley had only made 19 and 0. Mr. Dale
+and Mr. Money were the other pillars of Cambridge batting: they had Mr.
+Thornton too, the hardest of hitters, who hit over the pavilion (with a
+bat which did not drive!) when he played for Eton against Harrow. On the
+Oxford side were Mr. Tylecote (E. F. S.), a splendid bat, Mr. Ottaway,
+one of the most finished bats of his day, and Mr. Pauncefote. The Oxford
+team was unlucky in its bowling, as Mr. Butler had strained his arm. In
+one University match, Mr. Butler took all ten wickets in one innings. He
+was fast, with a high delivery, and wickets were not so good then as
+they are now. Mr. Francis was also an excellent bowler, not so fast as
+Mr. Butler; and Mr. Belcher, who bowled with great energy, but did not
+excel as a bat, was a useful man. For Cambridge, Mr. Cobden bowled fast,
+Mr. Ward was an excellent medium pace bowler, Mr. Money's slows were
+sometimes fortunate, and Mr. Bourne bowled slow round. Cambridge went in
+first, and only got 147. Mr. Yardley fell for 2, being caught by Mr.
+Butler off Mr. Francis. Mr. Scott's 45 was the largest score, and Mr.
+Thornton contributed 17, while Mr. Francis and Mr. Belcher divided the
+wickets. Oxford was only 28 runs better than Cambridge, so that you
+might call it anybody's match. A good stand was made for the first
+wicket, Mr. Fortescue getting 35, and Mr. Hadow 17, but there was no
+high scoring. Mr. Butler got 18, which is not a bad score for a bowler,
+but Mr. Stewart and Mr. Belcher, who followed him, got ducks, and
+clearly the tail was not strong in batting. The beginning of the
+Cambridge second innings was most flattering to Oxford. When the fifth
+wicket fell, Cambridge had but 40 runs, or twelve 'on.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tobin and Money, Fryer and Scott had made but 8 among them, but Dale was
+in, and Yardley joined him. Mr. Dale was playing in perfect style, and
+he needed to do so, for Mr. Francis was bowling his best. Then came an
+hour and a half, or so, of sorrow for Oxford. Mr. Butler was tried, and
+bowled eight overs for 8 runs, but his arm was hurt, and he had to go
+off. He got Mr. Thornton's wicket, but Oxford were playing, as Tom
+Sayers fought, with a broken arm. Seven bowlers were put on, but the end
+of it was that, after making the first 100 recorded in these matches,
+Mr. Yardley sent a hard hit to Mr. Francis, who caught and bowled him.
+Mr. Dale was splendidly caught at leg by Mr. Ottaway, off Mr. Francis,
+with one hand over the ropes. He got 67; there was but one other double
+figure, Mr. Thornton's 11.
+
+Oxford had to make 178 to win, and 178 is never easy to get, especially
+in a University match, where _so much depends on it_, and men are often
+nervous, as you shall see. Mr. Hadow came to grief, but Mr. Ottaway and
+Mr. Fortescue were not nervous bats. Mr. Ward bowled beautifully, but
+they got 44 and 69; it was 72 for one wicket, and Oxford were buoyant.
+At 86, however, the second wicket fell, and E. F. S. joined Mr. Ottaway.
+He put on 29, and Ottaway's defence was like a stone wall. Finally Mr.
+Ward bowled Mr. Tylecote; 25 to get and seven wickets to get them. It
+seemed all over but shouting. Another wicket fell for 1; 24 to get, and
+six wickets to fall. Mr. Hill came in, and played like a printed book,
+while Mr. Ottaway was always there. He played a ball to short leg, and
+Mr. Fryer held it so low down that Mr. Ottaway appealed. I dare say
+Oxford men in the pavilion distinctly saw that ball touch the ground,
+but the umpire did not; 17 to get, and four wickets to fall; but the
+last two wickets had scored exactly nothing in the first innings. But
+Mr. Francis could bat, and he stayed while Mr. Hill made 12, when he was
+l. b. w. to Ward, for a single. Four runs to get, and three wickets to
+fall! 'Mr. Charles Marsham's face wore a look that his friends know
+well.' Mr. Butler came in; he scored well in the first innings, and he
+could hit. Then came a bye. Four to get and three wickets to fall. Mr.
+Hill hit the next square, good for a 4, but Mr. Bourne got at it, and
+only a single was run. Three to get and three wickets to fall. _We did
+not get them!_ Mr. Cobden, who had not done much, took the ball. Mr.
+Hill made a single to cover point. The next ball, to Mr. Butler, was
+well up on the off stump. Mr. Butler drove at it, Mr. Bourne caught it,
+and Mr. Belcher walked in, 'rather pale,' says Mr. Lyttelton, and if so,
+it was unusual. Mr. Belcher was of a ruddy countenance. He was yorked!
+he took a yorker for a half volley. Let us pity Mr. Stewart. If he could
+escape that one ball, the odds were that Mr. Hill would make the runs
+next over. Mr. Pauncefote had told Mr. Stewart to keep his bat immovable
+in the block-hole, but--he did not. Cobden scattered his bails to the
+breezes, 'and smash went Mr. Charles Marsham's umbrella against the
+pavilion brickwork.' Cambridge had won by two.
+
+This is called Cobden's year, and will be so called while cricket is
+played. But, in fact, Mr. Ward had taken six wickets for 29, and these
+were all the best bats.
+
+[Illustration: THE BALL HIT THE MIDDLE STUMP]
+
+Mr. Butler's revenge came next year. He took fifteen wickets, and made
+the winning hit. Oxford's revenge came in 1875. In 1874 Cambridge was
+terribly beaten. They went in on a good wicket. Mr. Tabor, first man in,
+got 52, when a shower came. The first ball after the shower, Mr. Tabor
+hit at a dropping ball of Mr. Lang's, and was bowled. The whole side
+were then demolished by Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley, for 109, and 64 second
+innings, while Oxford got 265 first innings. In 1876 Oxford had Mr.
+Webbe, an admirable bat, as he is still; Mr. Lang, who had been known to
+score; Mr. Ridley, a cricketer of the first class; Mr. Royle, the finest
+field, with Mr. Jardine, ever seen; Mr. Game, who had not quite come
+into his powers as a hitter; and Mr. Grey Tylecote, a good all-round
+man; also Mr. Pulman, a sterling cricketer, and Mr. Buckland, a very
+useful player all round. Cambridge had Mr. George Longman, who could
+play anything but Mr. Ridley's slows; Mr. Edward Lyttelton, one of the
+prettiest and most spirited bats in the world; Mr. A. P. Lucas, whom it
+were superfluous to praise; Mr. Sims, a hard hitter; Mr. W. J.
+Patterson, a renowned bat, and others. In bowling, Oxford had Mr.
+Ridley, whose slows were rather fast and near the ground. Being as tall
+as Mr. Spofforth, and following his ball far up the pitch, Mr. Ridley
+was alarming to the nervous batsman. He fielded his own bowling
+beautifully. Mr. Lang was a slow round-arm bowler with a very high
+delivery, and a valuable twist from either side. Mr. Buckland was
+afterwards better known as a bowler; Mr. Royle could also deliver a
+dangerous ball; the fast bowler was Mr. Foord Kelcey, but he, again, was
+lame, through an accident to his foot. For Cambridge Mr. Sharpe and Mr.
+Sims bowled. Lang and Webbe went to the wicket for Oxford, and made a
+masterly stand, the ball being cut and driven to the ropes in all
+directions. Mr. Webbe got 55, Mr. Lang 45, while Mr. Ridley contributed
+21, Mr. Pulman 25, and Mr. Buckland 22. The whole score was 200, 86 for
+the first wicket. Mr. Longman's 40 was the best score for Cambridge, and
+Mr. Edward Lyttelton got 23; total 163. Mr. Lang got five wickets for
+35, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Buckland, and Mr. Foord Kelcey divided the other
+four. In the second Oxford innings Mr. Sharpe got six wickets for 66,
+and the whole score was but 137, in which Mr. Pulman's 30 was very
+useful; Mr. Royle, Mr. Game, and Mr. Webbe got 21, 22, and 21, and Mr.
+Grey Tylecote, not out, contributed an invaluable 12. The tail of the
+Cambridge side made 14 among them in the first innings, not an
+assortment of duck's eggs. Cambridge went in, with 175 to get, much like
+Oxford in 1870. An over was bowled before seven o'clock, and resulted in
+a four to leg. Sharpe and Hamilton, who went in last, first innings,
+went in first in the second, to avoid losing a good bat in the five
+minutes before drawing stumps. One doubts if it was worth Mr. Ridley's
+while to insist on that one over, but such is the letter of the law. The
+two victims, in any case, played rarely, Mr. Sharpe making 29 and Mr.
+Hamilton 11. Mr. Lucas, however, was bowled by Mr. Buckland for 5. Two
+for 26. Mr. Longman came in and drove off Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley. Mr.
+Royle then took the ball, a fast change-bowler. He bowled three maidens,
+and then settled Mr. Sharpe (at 65), Mr. Blacker (at 67), and Mr.
+Longman at 76 (for 23), with a fine breaking shooter such as you seldom
+see now. Twenty years ago a large percentage of balls shot dead. Mr.
+Greenfield and Mr. Edward Lyttelton stuck together.
+
+At 97, an awful yell went up; mid-on had missed Mr. Lyttelton, a low
+hard catch, but one which he would have taken nine times in ten. At 101,
+Mr. Campbell caught Mr. Greenfield off Mr. Royle, six down and 70 to
+get. Then Mr. Sims came in, and another yell was heard. Mid-on had given
+Mr. Lyttelton another let-off, an easy thing he might have held in his
+mouth. Mid-on wished that the earth would open and swallow him.
+Presently Mr. Lyttelton hit Mr. Buckland a beautiful skimming smack to
+square leg. Mr. Webbe was standing deeper, but, running at full speed
+along the ropes, sideways to the catch, he held it low down--a
+repetition of what he did unto Mr. Lyttelton when they played for Harrow
+and Eton. Mr. Lyttelton had scored 20, but not in his best manner. There
+were now three wickets to fall for 60; Oxford seemed to have the
+advantage. Sims and Patterson had added 14 (40 to win), when a heavy
+shower came down, lasted for an hour and a half, and left Oxford with a
+wet ball and a slippery ground. The rain, which favoured Oxford in 1874,
+when Cambridge collapsed, was now on the Cambridge side. Mr. Sims was
+determined to knock the runs off by a forcing game, and these were the
+right tactics. Then Ridley went on, and his first slow bowled Mr.
+Patterson clean. Mr. Macan came in, and got a single (13 to win). Then
+Mr. Sims hit Mr. Ridley over his head to the ropes for 4 (9 to win). Mr.
+Lang went on for Mr. Royle, a leg bye followed, and then a no-ball (7 to
+win). Mr. Lang then, in a moment of despair, as unusual measures were
+needed, bowled a full pitch right at Mr. Sims's head. Mr. Sims,
+naturally concluding that two more hits would finish the match, hit at
+it as hard as he could. Mr. Pulman was standing by the ropes 'in the
+country' and the ball soared towards him; would it cross the ropes?
+would Pulman reach it; he had a long way to run? He reached it, he held
+it, and back went Mr. Sims. There remained Mr. Smith, in the same
+historical position as Mr. Belcher. There were six runs to get, and Mr.
+Macan, his companion, a good bat, was not yet settled. Some one in the
+pavilion said, 'His legs are trembling, Oxford wins.' Mr. Smith, unlike
+Mr. Belcher, stopped two of Mr. Ridley's slows, but not with enthusiasm.
+To the third he played slowly forward, the ball hit the middle stump,
+and Oxford won by six runs.
+
+There was also a very good match in 1891. Cambridge was far the better
+team, and went in, second innings, for a small score. But Mr. Berkeley
+(left-hand medium) bowled so admirably that there were only two wickets
+to fall for the last run. Mr. Woods, however, was not nervous, and hit
+the first ball he received for 4 to the ropes. Still, I am inclined to
+think that, in these three matches, the bowling of Mr. Berkeley was the
+best, for he had very little encouragement, whereas, with 178 or so to
+get, a bowler has a good chance, and is on his mettle.
+
+The moral is, don't poke about in your block-hole, but hit, and, when
+you bowl in an emergency, aim at getting wickets by any means, rather
+than at keeping down runs.
+
+
+
+
+_THE STORY OF KASPAR HAUSER_
+
+
+ON May 28, 1828, the town of Nuremberg, in Bavaria, presented a
+singularly deserted appearance, as it was Whit-Monday, and most of the
+inhabitants were spending their holiday in the country. A cobbler, who
+lived in Umschlitt Square, was an exception to the general rule, but
+towards four o'clock he, too, thought that he would take a stroll
+outside the city walls. When he came out of his door his curiosity was
+excited by a strange figure, which was leaning, as if unable to support
+itself, against a wall near, and uttering a moaning sound. The figure
+was that of a young man of about seventeen, dressed in a grey riding
+suit, and wearing a pair of dilapidated boots; he held a letter in one
+hand.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The cobbler's curiosity led him to approach the strange figure, which
+moaned some incoherent sounds, and held out the letter in its hand. This
+was addressed 'To the Captain of the 4th squadron of the 6th regiment
+of dragoons now stationed at Nuremberg'; and, as he lived quite near,
+the cobbler thought the surest way of gratifying his own curiosity was
+to take the stranger there. The poor creature stumbled and shuffled
+along behind his guide, and reached the captain's house quite worn out.
+The captain was not at home, but his servant, pitying the sufferings of
+the stranger, gave him a sack of straw to lie on in the stable, and
+brought him some bread and meat and beer. The meat and the beer he would
+not touch, but ate the bread greedily and drank some water; he then fell
+fast asleep. Towards eight o'clock the captain came home, and was told
+of his strange visitor, and of the letter he had brought with him. This
+letter was written in a feigned hand, and said that the writer, a poor
+labourer with ten children, had received the boy in 1812, and had kept
+him shut up in his house for sixteen years, not allowing him to see or
+know anything; that he could keep him no longer, and so sent him to the
+captain, who could make a soldier of him, hang him, or put him up the
+chimney, just as he chose. He added that the boy knew nothing and could
+tell nothing, but was quick at learning. Enclosed was a letter giving
+the date of the boy's birth (April 30, 1812), and purporting to be
+written by the mother; but the writing, paper, and ink all showed that
+the two letters were by the same person.
+
+The captain could make nothing of this mysterious letter, but went to
+the stable, where he found the stranger still asleep. After many pushes,
+kicks, and thumps he awoke. When asked his name and where he came from,
+he made some sounds, which were at last understood to be, 'Want to be a
+soldier, as father was;' 'Don't know;' and 'Horse home.' These sentences
+he repeated over and over again like a parrot, and at last the captain
+decided to send his new recruit to the police office. Here he was asked
+his name, where he came from, &c., &c., but the result of the police
+inspector's questioning was the same: the stranger repeated his three
+sentences, and at last, in despair of getting any sensible reply from
+him, he was put into a cell in the west tower of the prison where
+vagrants were kept. This cell he shared with another prisoner, a butcher
+boy, who was ordered to watch him carefully, as the police naturally
+suspected him of being an impostor. He slept soundly through the night
+and woke at sunrise. He spent the greater part of the day sitting on the
+floor taking no notice of anything, but at last the gaoler gave him a
+sheet of paper and a pencil to play with. These he seized with pleasure
+and carried them off to a seat; nor did he stop writing until he had
+covered the paper with letters and syllables, arranged just as they
+would be in a copy-book. Among the letters were three complete words,
+'Kaspar Hauser,' and 'reiter' (horse soldier). 'Kaspar Hauser' was
+evidently his name, though he did not recognise it when called by it.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The news of the strange arrival spread through the city. The
+guard-house, where he spent part of the day, was thronged by a curious
+crowd, anxious to see this strange creature, who looked at things
+without seeing them, who could not bear a strong light, who loathed any
+food but bread and water, and who, parrot-like, repeated a couple of
+phrases which he evidently did not understand, and one word, 'horse,' to
+which he seemed to attach some meaning. What they saw was a youth of
+about seventeen, with fair hair and blue eyes, the lower part of his
+face slightly projecting like a monkey's. He was four feet nine inches
+in height, broad-shouldered, with tiny hands and delicate little feet,
+which had never worn shoes nor been put to their natural use, for the
+soles were as soft as a baby's. He was dressed in grey riding-breeches,
+a round jacket, which had been made out of a frock-coat by cutting off
+the skirts, and wore a round felt hat bound with red leather. In his
+pockets were some rags, some tracts, a rosary, and a paper of gold sand.
+
+Everyone who saw him and watched him came to the same conclusion, that
+his mind was that of a child of two or three, while his body was nearly
+grown up; and yet he was not half-witted, because he immediately began
+to pick up words and phrases, had a wonderful memory, and never forgot a
+face he had once seen, or the name which belonged to it. During the next
+two or three weeks he spent part of every day in the guard-room; part
+with the family of the gaoler, whose children taught him to talk and to
+walk as they did their own baby sister. He was not afraid of anything;
+swords were whirled round his head without his paying any attention to
+them; he stretched out his hand to the flame of a lighted candle, and
+cried when it burnt him, and when he saw his face in a looking-glass,
+looked behind it for the other person. He was particularly pleased when
+anything bright or glittering was given to him. Whenever this happened
+he called out 'Horse, horse,' and made signs as if he wanted to hang it
+on to the neck of something. At last one of the policemen gave him a
+wooden horse, when his happiness was complete, and he spent hours
+sitting on the floor playing with this horse and the dozens of horses
+which were given to him by his visitors as soon as they heard of his
+liking for them.
+
+Six or seven weeks passed in this way, and all this time the town
+council were discussing what they would do with him. At last they
+decided to adopt him as the 'Child of Nuremberg,' and to have him
+properly cared for and taught, so that, if possible, something of his
+past might be learned. He was taken away from the prison and put under
+the charge of Professor Daumer, whose interest in the youth led him to
+undertake the difficult task of developing his mind so that it might fit
+his body. The burgomaster issued a notice to the inhabitants that in
+future they would not be allowed to see Kaspar Hauser at all hours of
+the day, and that the police had orders to interfere if the curiosity of
+visitors led them to annoy Dr. Daumer and his household. He entered Dr.
+Daumer's house on July 18, 1828, and during the next five months made
+such astonishing progress that the delight of his teacher knew no
+bounds. In order to satisfy public curiosity the burgomaster published,
+in July, a short account of Hauser's previous life, gleaned from him by
+careful questioning. It was to this effect:--
+
+'He neither knows who he is nor where he came from, for it was only at
+Nuremberg that he came into the world. He always lived in a hole, where
+he sat on straw on the ground; he never heard a sound, nor saw any vivid
+light. He awoke and he slept, and awoke again; when he awoke he found a
+loaf of bread and a pitcher of water beside him. Sometimes the water
+tasted nasty and then he fell asleep again, and when he woke up found he
+had a clean shirt on; he never saw the face of the man who came to him.
+He had two wooden horses and some ribbons to play with; was never ill,
+never unhappy in his hole; once only the man struck him with a stick for
+making too much noise with his horses. One day the man came into his
+room and put a table over his feet; something white lay on the table,
+and on this the man made black marks with a pencil which he put into his
+fingers. This the man did several times, and when he was gone Kaspar
+imitated what he had done. At last he taught him to stand and to walk,
+and finally carried him out of his hole. Of what happened next Kaspar
+had no very clear idea, until he found himself in Nuremberg with the
+letter in his hand.'
+
+At first sight this story seems quite impossible, but it is borne out by
+two or three things. Kaspar's legs were deformed in just such a way as
+would happen in the case of a person who had spent years sitting on the
+ground; he never walked properly to the end, and had great difficulty in
+getting upstairs. His feet showed no signs of use, except the blisters
+made by his boots and his walk to Nuremberg; he could see in the dark
+easily and disliked light; and finally, for several months after he came
+to Nuremberg, he refused to eat anything but bread and water, and was,
+in fact, made quite ill by the smell of meat, beer, wine, or milk.
+
+For the first four months of his stay with Daumer, his senses of sight,
+taste, hearing, and smell were very acute. He had got past the stage in
+which he disliked light, and could now see much further than most people
+by day, without, however, losing his power of seeing in the dark; at
+the same time he could not distinguish between a thing and a picture of
+that thing, and could not for a long time judge distances at all, for he
+saw everything flat. His favourite colours were red and yellow; black
+and green he particularly disliked; everything ugly was called green. He
+could not be persuaded that a ball did not roll because it wished to do
+so, or that his top did not spin of its own accord. For a long time he
+saw no reason why animals should not behave like human beings, and was
+much annoyed because the cat refused to sit up at table and to eat with
+its paws, blaming its disobedience in not doing as it was told. He
+further thought that a cow which had lain down in the road would do well
+to go home to bed if it were tired. His sense of smell was very keen,
+painfully so, in fact, for he was made quite ill by the smell of the dye
+in his clothes, the smell of paper, and of many other things which other
+people do not notice at all; while the smell of a sweep a hundred yards
+off on the other side of the road upset him for a week. On the other
+hand, he could distinguish the leaves of trees by their smell.
+
+By November he had made sufficient progress to make it possible for Dr.
+Daumer to teach him other things besides the use of his senses: he was
+encouraged to write letters and essays, to use his hands in every way,
+to draw, to make paper-models, to dig in the garden, where he had a
+little plot of ground with his name in mustard and cress; in fact, to
+use his lately acquired knowledge. The great difficulty was to persuade
+him to eat anything but bread and water, but by slow degrees he learned
+to eat different forms of farinaceous food, gruel, bread and milk, rice,
+&c., into which a little gravy and meat was gradually introduced. By the
+following May he could eat meat without being made ill by it, but never
+drank anything but water, except at breakfast, when he had chocolate.
+
+For the next eleven months he lived a happy, simple life with his friend
+and tutor, who mentions, however, that the intense acuteness of his
+senses was gradually passing away, but that he had still the charming,
+obedient, child-like nature which had won all hearts. In the summer,
+public interest was aroused by the news that Kaspar Hauser was writing
+his life, and the paper was eagerly looked forward to. All went well
+until October 17, when Kaspar was discovered senseless in a cellar under
+Dr. Daumer's house, with a wound in his forehead. He was carried
+upstairs and put to bed, when he kept on moaning, 'Man! man!--tell
+mother (Mrs. Daumer)--tell professor--man beat me--black sweep.' For
+some days he was too ill to give any account of his wound, but at last
+said, that he had gone downstairs and was suddenly attacked by a man
+with a black face,[10] who hit him on the head; that he fell down, and
+when he got up the man was gone; that he went to look for Mrs. Daumer,
+and, as he could not find her, finally hid in the cellar to be quite
+safe. After this murderous attack it was no longer safe to leave him in
+Dr. Daumer's house, so when well again he was removed to the house of
+one of the magistrates, and constantly guarded by two policemen, without
+whom he never went out. He was not very happy here, and after some
+months was put under the charge of Herr von Tucher (June 1830), with
+whom he remained for eighteen months. At first the arrangement answered
+admirably; he was happy in his new home, his only trouble being that he
+was sent to the grammar school and put into one of the upper forms,
+where he had to learn Latin, a task which proved too hard for his brain.
+By this time his face had quite lost the brutish character it had when
+he came to Nuremberg, and its expression was pleasant, though rather
+sad. Unfortunately for himself, he was one of the sights of Nuremberg,
+was always introduced to any stranger of distinction who came to the
+town, and attracted even more attention than the kangaroo; so that even
+his warmest friends were obliged to admit that he was rather spoiled.
+
+At the beginning of 1831, an Englishman, Lord Stanhope, came to
+Nuremberg, saw the foundling, was curiously interested in him, and
+wished to adopt him. Kaspar was very much flattered, and drew
+unfavourable comparisons between this Englishman who thought nothing too
+good for him, and his guardians, who were thinking of apprenticing him
+to a bookbinder. Lord Stanhope's kindness turned his head, and Herr von
+Tucher, after repeated remonstrances, resigned his guardianship in
+December 1831. With the full consent of the town council of Nuremberg,
+Lord Stanhope removed Kaspar to Ausbach, and placed him under the care
+of Dr. Mayer. It was generally supposed that this was only preparatory
+to taking him to England. Ample funds were provided for his maintenance,
+but the journey to England was again and again put off; and at last
+there were signs that Lord Stanhope was not quite satisfied with his new
+plaything. So much had been said about Kaspar's cleverness, that his new
+teachers were disappointed to find that his acquirements were about
+those of a boy of eight. They accused him of laziness and of deceit; and
+he, finding himself suspected and closely questioned as to everything
+he did, took refuge in falsehood. At last a government clerkship of the
+lowest class was procured for him, but great complaints were made of his
+inattention to his duties (mainly copying); he was unhappy, and, when on
+a visit to Nuremberg in the summer, made plans for the happy time when
+he should be able to come back and live with his friends there. For the
+people of Ausbach, though making him one of the shows of the place, do
+not seem to have had that perfect belief in him shown by his earlier
+friends; while his new guardians expected a great deal too much from
+him. His chief friend in Ausbach was the clergyman who had prepared him
+for confirmation, who noticed, in November 1833, that he was very much
+depressed; but this passed away. On the afternoon of December 14, Kaspar
+came to call on the clergyman's wife, and was particularly happy and
+bright. Three hours afterwards he staggered into his tutor's house,
+holding his hand to his side, gasping out 'Garden--man--stabbed--give
+purse--let it drop--come--' and dragged the astonished Dr. Mayer off to
+a public garden, where a little purse was found on the ground. In it was
+a piece of paper, on which was written backwards in pencil these lines:
+'I come from the Bavarian frontier. I will even tell you my name, "M. L.
+O."'
+
+Kaspar was taken home and put to bed, when it was discovered that there
+was a deep stab in his left side. For some hours he was too ill to be
+questioned, but on the 15th he was able to tell his story. On the 14th,
+as he was coming out of the government buildings to go home to dinner,
+he was accosted by a man who promised to tell him who his parents were,
+if he would come to a spot in the public gardens. He refused, as he was
+going home to dinner, but made an appointment for that afternoon. After
+dinner he called on the clergyman's wife, and then went to the gardens,
+where he found the man waiting for him. The man led him to the Uz
+monument, which was at a little distance from the main path, and shut in
+by trees. Here he made him take a solemn oath of secrecy and handed him
+the little purse, which Kaspar, in his hurry to seize it, let drop. As
+he stooped to pick it up he was stabbed, and when he lifted himself up
+the stranger was gone. Then he ran home.
+
+For two days he was not supposed to be in any danger, but fever set in;
+the doctors gave no hope of his recovery, and on the 17th he died.
+
+His death caused great excitement, not only in Ausbach and Nuremberg,
+but throughout all Germany. The question as to whether he was an
+impostor or not was hotly debated; those who favoured the former theory
+insisting that he had killed himself accidentally when he only meant to
+wound himself and so excite sympathy. Some of the doctors declared,
+however, that that was quite impossible, for the wound was meant to
+kill, and could only have been self-inflicted by a left-handed person of
+great strength, for it had pierced through a padded coat. A large reward
+(1,200_l._) was offered for the capture of the assassin, but in vain;
+and the spot of the murder was marked by an inscription in Latin:
+
+          HIC
+          OCCULTUS
+          OCCULTO
+          OCCISUS EST
+
+          (Here the Mystery was mysteriously murdered).
+
+The same idea is repeated on his tombstone. 'Here lies K. H., the riddle
+of the age. His birth was unknown, his death mysterious.'
+
+His death was the signal for a violent paper-war between his friends and
+his enemies. It raged hotly for years; but his friends have never
+succeeded in proving who he was; why, after having been shut up for so
+long, he was at last set free; or why his death was, after all,
+necessary; while his enemies have utterly failed to prove that he was an
+impostor.[11]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[10] Probably the man had tied a piece of black crape over his face as a
+mask.
+
+[11] This is rather a picturesque than a critical story of Kaspar
+Hauser. The evidence of the men who first met him shows that he could
+then speak quite rationally. The curious will find a brief but useful
+account of him in the Duchess of Cleveland's 'Kaspar Hauser'
+(Macmillans, 1893.)
+
+
+
+
+_AN ARTIST'S ADVENTURE_
+
+
+NEARLY four hundred years ago, a boy was born in Italy who grew up to be
+one of the most accomplished artists of his own or any other age.
+Besides excelling as a sculptor, modeller, and medallist, he was a
+musician, an author, and an admirable swordsman; and popes, kings, and
+other great princes eagerly employed him, and vied with each other to
+secure his services. His name was Benvenuto Cellini.
+
+Under Pope Clement VII. he took part in the defence of the Castle of St.
+Angelo, when it was besieged by the Constable de Bourbon, and the Pope
+reposed such confidence in Cellini that he was entrusted with the task
+of removing all the gems in the treasury from their settings, and
+concealing the stones in the thick folds of his clothing. However, I am
+not going to enlarge on Benvenuto's many talents, but to tell you of a
+wonderful adventure which befell him in the very Castle of St. Angelo he
+had helped to defend.
+
+Those were lawless days, and Cellini was a man of fiery temper, to whom
+blows came more naturally than patience and forbearance. So it came to
+pass that, being told that a certain goldsmith named Pompeo had been
+spreading false reports about him, Benvenuto fell upon him one fine day
+in the very midst of Rome, and promptly stabbed him to death.
+
+This might possibly have been overlooked, but a workman, jealous of
+Cellini's success and reputation, accused the artist to the reigning
+Pope, Paul III., of having purloined some of the jewels entrusted to his
+care during the siege, and Paul was not to be trifled with where the
+affairs of the treasury were concerned. Moreover, a near relation of the
+Pope's was Cellini's sworn enemy, and this sufficed to seal his fate.
+
+So, when taking a walk one morning, Benvenuto suddenly found himself
+face to face with Crespino, the sheriff, attended by his band of
+constables. Crespino advanced, saying, 'You are the Pope's prisoner.'
+
+'Crespino,' exclaimed Benvenuto, 'you must take me for some one else.'
+
+'No, no,' replied Crespino, 'I know you perfectly, Benvenuto, and I have
+orders to carry you to the Castle of St. Angelo, where great nobles and
+men of talent like yourself are sent.'
+
+Then he politely begged Benvenuto to give up his sword, and led him off
+to the Castle, where he was locked up in a room above the keep.
+
+It was easy enough for Benvenuto to refute the accusations brought
+against him; nevertheless he was kept prisoner, in spite of the
+intervention of the French ambassador, who demanded his liberty in the
+name of Francis I.
+
+The governor of the Castle was, like Cellini, a Florentine, and at first
+showed himself full of kind attentions towards his countryman, allowing
+him a certain amount of liberty on parole, within the Castle walls.
+Growing suspicious later, he kept his prisoner closer, but after a time
+he restored him to comparative liberty.
+
+When Benvenuto found how changeable the governor's humour was, he set
+himself to think over matters seriously. 'For,' he reflected, 'should a
+fresh fit of anger or suspicion cause him to confine me more strictly, I
+should feel myself released from my word, and it may be as well to be
+prepared.'
+
+Accordingly he ordered some new coarse linen sheets to be brought him,
+but when soiled he did not send them back. When his servants asked for
+the sheets so as to have them washed he bade them say no more, as he had
+given them to one of the poor soldiers on guard, who would be sure to
+get into trouble if the matter were known. By degrees he emptied the
+straw out of his mattress, burning a little of it at a time in his
+fireplace, and replacing it with the sheets, which he cut into strips
+some inches wide. As soon as he thought these strips were long enough
+for his purpose, he told his servants that he had given all the sheets
+away, and that in future they had better bring him finer linen, which he
+would be sure to return.
+
+Now it so happened that every year the governor was subject to a most
+distressing illness, which, for the time being, entirely deprived him of
+his reason. When it began to come on, he would talk and chatter
+incessantly. Each year he had some fresh hallucination, at one time
+fancying himself an oil-jar, at another a frog, and skipping about like
+one. Again, another time, he declared he was dead, and wished to be
+buried; and so, year by year, he was the victim of some new delusion.
+This year he imagined he was a bat, and as he walked about he uttered
+little half-smothered cries like a bat, and flapped his hands and moved
+his body as though about to fly. His faithful old servants and his
+doctors noticed this, and, thinking change of ideas and variety of
+conversation might do him good, they frequently fetched Benvenuto to
+entertain him.
+
+One day the governor asked Benvenuto whether it had ever occurred to him
+to desire to fly, and; on being answered in the affirmative, he inquired
+further how he should set about it.
+
+Benvenuto replied that the only flying creature it would be at all
+possible to imitate artificially was the bat, on which the poor man
+cried out, 'True, true, that's it, that's the thing.' Then turning round
+he said, 'Benvenuto, if you had everything you required for it, do you
+think you could fly?'
+
+'Oh, yes,' said the artist; 'if you will only leave me free to do it, I
+will engage to make a pair of wings of fine waxed cloth, and to fly from
+here to Prati with them.'
+
+'And I, too,' exclaimed the governor; 'I could do it too, but the Pope
+has ordered me to keep you like the apple of his eye, and as I strongly
+suspect you're a cunning fellow, I shall lock you well up and give you
+no chance of flying.'
+
+Thereupon, and in spite of all Benvenuto's entreaties and protestations,
+the governor ordered him to be taken back to prison and more carefully
+guarded than ever.
+
+Seeing he could not help himself, Cellini exclaimed before the officers
+and attendants: 'Very well! lock me up and keep me safe, for I give you
+due warning I mean to escape in spite of everything.'
+
+No sooner was he shut up in his cell than he fell to turning over in his
+mind how this escape could be made, and began minutely examining his
+prison, and, after discovering what he thought would be a sure way of
+getting out, he considered how best he might let himself down from the
+top of this enormous donjon tower, which went by the name of 'Il
+Mastio.' He began by measuring the length of the linen strips, which he
+had cut and joined firmly together so as to form a sort of rope, and he
+thought there would be enough for his purpose. Next, he armed himself
+with a pair of pincers which he had taken from one of his guards who was
+fond of carpentering, and who, amongst his tools, had a particularly
+large and strong pair of pincers, which appeared so useful to Benvenuto
+that he abstracted them, and hid them in his mattress.
+
+As soon as he thought himself safe from interruption, he began to feel
+about for the nails in the ironwork of the door, but owing to its
+immense thickness they were by no means easy to get at. However, he
+managed at length to extract the first nail. Then came the question, how
+to conceal the hole left behind. This he contrived by making a paste of
+rusty scrapings and wax, which he modelled into an exact representation
+of the head of a nail, and in this way he replaced each nail he drew by
+a facsimile of its head in wax.
+
+Great care was required to leave just a sufficient number of nails to
+keep the ironwork and hinges in their places. But Benvenuto managed this
+by first drawing the nails, cutting them as short as he dared, and then
+replacing them in such a way as to keep things together, and yet to
+allow of their being easily drawn out at the last moment.
+
+All this was by no means easy to contrive, for the governor was
+constantly sending some one to make sure that his prisoner was safe.
+
+The two men who were specially charged with this duty were rough and
+rude, and one of them in particular took pains to inspect the whole room
+carefully every evening, paying special attention to the locks and
+hinges.
+
+Cellini lived in constant terror lest it should occur to them to examine
+his bedding, where, besides the pincers, he had hidden a long sharp
+dagger and some other instruments, as well as his long strips of linen.
+Each morning he swept out and dusted his room and carefully made his
+bed, ornamenting it with flowers which he got the soldier from whom he
+had taken the pincers to bring him. When his two warders appeared he
+desired them on no account to go near or touch his bed, for fear of
+soiling or disturbing it. Sometimes, in order to tease him, they would
+touch it, and then he would shout: 'Ah! you dirty rascals! Just let me
+get at one of your swords and see how I'll punish you! How dare you
+touch the bed of such a man as I am? Little care I about risking my own
+life, for I should be certain to take yours. Leave me in peace with my
+grief and trouble, or I will show you what a man can do when driven to
+desperation!'
+
+These words were repeated to the governor, who forbade the gaolers
+touching Cellini's bed, or entering his room armed. The bed once safe,
+he felt as if all else must go right.
+
+[Illustration: HE PREPARED TO ATTACK THE SENTRY]
+
+One night the governor had a worse attack than ever, and in a fit of
+madness kept repeating that he certainly was a bat, and that, should
+they hear of Benvenuto's escape, they must let him fly off too, as he
+was sure he could fly better at night and would overtake the fugitive.
+'Benvenuto,' said he, 'is but a sham bat, but as I am a real bat, and he
+has been given into my keeping, I shall soon catch him again, depend on
+it.'
+
+This bad attack lasted several nights, and the Savoyard soldier, who
+took an interest in Benvenuto, reported to him that the servants were
+quite worn out watching their sick master. Hearing this, Cellini
+resolved to attempt his escape at once, and set hard to work to complete
+his preparations. He worked all night, and about two hours before dawn
+he, with much care and trouble, removed the hinges from the door. The
+casing and bolts prevented his opening it wide, so he chipped away the
+woodwork, till at length he was able to slip through, taking with him
+his linen ropes, which he had wound on two pieces of wood like two great
+reels of thread.
+
+Having passed the door he turned to the right of the tower, and having
+removed a couple of tiles, he easily got out on the roof. He wore a
+white doublet and breeches and white boots, into one of which he had
+slipped his dagger. Taking one end of his linen rope, he now proceeded
+to hook it carefully over an antique piece of tile which was firmly
+cemented into the wall. This tile projected barely four fingers'
+breadth, and the band hooked over it as on a stirrup. When he had made
+it firm he prayed thus: 'O Lord, my God, come now to my aid, for Thou
+knowest that my cause is righteous, and that I am aiding myself.' Then
+he gently let himself slide down the rope till he reached the ground.
+There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and once down he gazed up at
+the tower from which he had made so bold a descent, and went off in high
+spirits, thinking himself at liberty, which indeed was by no means the
+case.
+
+On this side of the Castle the governor had had two high walls built to
+inclose his stables and his poultry-yard, and these walls had gates
+securely bolted and barred on the outside.
+
+In despair at these obstacles Benvenuto roamed about at random, cursing
+his bad luck, when suddenly he hit his foot against a long pole which
+lay hidden in the straw. With a good deal of effort he managed to raise
+it against the wall and to scramble up to the top. Here he found a
+sharply sloping coping stone which made it impossible to draw the pole
+up after him, but he fastened a portion of the second linen band to
+it, and by this means let himself down as he had done outside the donjon
+tower.
+
+By this time Benvenuto was much exhausted, and his hands were all cut
+and bleeding; however, after a short rest he climbed the last inclosure,
+and was just in the act of fastening his rope to a battlement, when, to
+his horror, he saw a sentinel close to him. Desperate at this
+interruption, and at the thought of the risk he ran, he prepared to
+attack the sentry, who, however, seeing a man advance on him with a
+drawn dagger and determined air, promptly took to his heels, and
+Benvenuto returned to his rope. Another guard was near, but, hoping not
+to have been observed, the fugitive secured his band and hastily slid
+down it. Whether it was fatigue, or that he thought himself nearer the
+ground than he really was, it is impossible to say, but he loosened his
+hold, and fell, hitting his head, and lay stretched on the ground for
+more than an hour.
+
+The sharp freshness of the air just before sunrise revived him, but his
+memory did not return immediately, and he fancied his head had been cut
+off and that he was in purgatory. By degrees, as his senses returned, he
+realised that he was no longer in the Castle, and remembered what he had
+done. He put his hands to his head and withdrew them covered with blood,
+but on carefully examining himself he found he had no serious wound,
+though on attempting to move he discovered that his right leg was
+broken. Nothing daunted, he drew from his boot his poniard with its
+sheath, which had a large ball at the end; the pressure of this ball on
+the bone had caused the fracture. He threw away the sheath, and cutting
+off a piece of the remaining linen band with his dagger, he bound up his
+leg as best he could, and then, dagger in hand, proceeded to drag
+himself along on his knees towards the gate of the town. It was still
+closed, but seeing one stone near the bottom, which did not look very
+huge, he tried to displace it. After repeated efforts it shook, and at
+length yielded to his efforts, so, forcing it out, he squeezed himself
+through.
+
+He had barely entered Rome when he was attacked by a band of savage
+dogs, who bit and worried him cruelly. He fought desperately with his
+dagger, and gave one dog such a stab that it fled howling, followed by
+the rest of the pack, leaving Benvenuto free to drag himself as best he
+could towards St. Peter's.
+
+By this time it was broad daylight, and there was much risk of
+discovery; so, seeing a water-carrier passing with his train of asses
+laden with jars full of water, Benvenuto hailed him and begged he would
+carry him as far as the steps of St. Peter's.
+
+'I am a poor fellow,' said he, 'who have broken my leg trying to get out
+of the window of a house where I went to see my lady-love. As the house
+belongs to a great family, I much fear I shall be cut to pieces if I am
+found here; so pray help me off and you shall have a gold crown for your
+pains,' and Benvenuto put his hand to his purse, which was well filled.
+
+The water-carrier readily consented, and carried him to St. Peter's,
+where he left him on the steps, from whence Benvenuto began to crawl
+towards the palace of Duke Ottavio, whose wife, a daughter of the
+emperor's, had brought many of Cellini's friends from Florence to Rome
+in her train. She was well disposed towards the great artist, and he
+felt that beneath her roof he would be in safety. Unluckily, as he
+struggled along, he was seen and recognised by a servant of Cardinal
+Cornaro's, who had apartments in the Vatican. The man hurried to his
+master's room, woke him up, and cried: 'Most reverend lord, Benvenuto is
+below; he must have escaped from the Castle, and is all bleeding and
+wounded. He appears to have broken his leg, and we have no idea where he
+is going.'
+
+'Run at once,' exclaimed the Cardinal, 'and fetch him here, to my room.'
+
+When Benvenuto appeared the Cardinal assured him he need have no fears,
+and sent off for the first surgeons in Rome to attend to him. Then he
+shut him up in a secret room, and went off to try and obtain his pardon
+from the Pope.
+
+Meantime a great commotion arose in Rome, for the linen ropes dangling
+from the great tower had attracted notice, and all the town was running
+out to see the strange sight. At the Vatican Cardinal Cornaro met a
+friend, to whom he related all the details of Benvenuto's escape, and
+how he was at that very moment hidden in a secret chamber. Then they
+both went to the Pope, who, as they threw themselves at his feet, cried,
+'I know what you want with me.'
+
+'Holy Father,' said the Cardinal's friend, 'we entreat you to grant us
+the life of this poor man. His genius deserves some consideration; and
+he has just shown an almost superhuman amount of courage and dexterity.
+We do not know what may be the crimes for which your Holiness has seen
+fit to imprison him, but if they are pardonable we implore you to
+forgive him.'
+
+The Pope, looking somewhat abashed, replied that he had imprisoned
+Benvenuto for being too presumptuous; 'however,' he added, 'I am well
+aware of his talents and am anxious to keep him near me, and am resolved
+to treat him so well that he shall have no desire to return to France. I
+am sorry he is ill; bid him recover quickly, and we will make him forget
+his past sufferings.'
+
+I am sorry to say the Pope was not so good as his words, for Benvenuto's
+enemies plotted against him, and after a time he was once more shut up
+in his former prison, from which, however, he was eventually delivered
+at the urgent request of the King of France, who warmly welcomed the
+great artist to his Court, where he spent some years in high honour.
+
+
+
+
+_THE TALE OF ISANDHLWANA AND RORKE'S DRIFT_
+
+
+[Illustration: A]LTHOUGH but fourteen years have gone by since 1879,
+perhaps some people, if they chance to be young, have forgotten about
+the Zulus, and the story of our war with them; so, before beginning the
+tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift, it may be worth while to tell of
+these matters in a few words.
+
+The Zulus live in South-Eastern Africa. Originally they were not one
+tribe but many, though the same blood was in them all. Nobody knows
+whence they came or who were their forefathers; but they seem to have
+sprung from an Arab or Semitic stock, and many of their customs, such as
+the annual feast of the first fruits, resemble those of the Jews. At the
+beginning of this century there arose a warrior king, called Chaka, who
+gathered up the scattered tribes of the Zulus as a woodman gathers
+sticks, and as of the frail brushwood the woodman makes a stout faggot,
+that none can break, so of these tribes Chaka fashioned a nation so
+powerful that no other black people could conquer it.
+
+The deeds of Chaka are too many to write of here. Seldom has there been
+a monarch, black or white, so terrible or so absolute, and never perhaps
+has a man lived more wicked or more clever. Out of 'nothing,' as the
+Kafirs say, he made the Amazulu, or the 'people of heaven,' so
+powerful, that before he died he could send out an army of a hundred
+thousand men to destroy those whom he feared or hated or whose cattle he
+coveted. These soldiers were never beaten; if they dared to turn their
+back upon an enemy, however numerous, they were killed when the battle
+was done, so that soon they learned to choose death with honour before
+the foe in preference to death with shame at the hands of the
+executioner. Where Chaka's armies went they conquered, till the country
+was swept of people for hundreds of miles in every direction. At length,
+after he had killed or been the cause of the violent death of more than
+a million human beings, in the year 1828 Chaka's own hour came; for, as
+the Zulu proverb says, 'the swimmer is at last borne away by the
+stream.' He was murdered by the princes of his house and his body
+servant Umbopo or Mopo. But as he lay dying beneath their spear thrusts,
+it is said that the great king prophesied of the coming of white men who
+should conquer the land that he had won.
+
+'What,' he said, 'do you slay me, my brothers--dogs of mine own house
+whom I have fed, thinking to possess the land? I tell you that I hear
+the sound of running feet, the feet of a great white people, and they
+shall stamp you flat, children of my father.'
+
+After the death of Chaka his brother Dingaan reigned who had murdered
+him. In due course he was murdered also, and his brother Panda succeeded
+to the throne. Panda was a man of peace, and the only one of the four
+Zulu kings who died a natural death; for though it is not commonly
+known, the last of these kings, our enemy Cetywayo, is believed to have
+met his end by poison. In 1873, Cetywayo was crowned king of Zululand in
+succession to his father Panda on behalf of the English Government by
+Sir Theophilus Shepstone. He remained a firm friend to the British till
+Sir Bartle Frere declared war on him in 1879. Sir Bartle Frere made war
+upon the Zulus because he was afraid of their power, and the Zulus
+accepted the challenge because we annexed the Transvaal and would not
+allow them to fight the Boers or the Swazis. They made a brave
+resistance, and it was not until there were nearly as many English
+soldiers in their country armed with breech-loading rifles as they had
+effective warriors left alive in it, for the most part armed with spears
+only, that at length we conquered them. But their heart was never in the
+war; they defended their country against invasion indeed, but by
+Cetywayo's orders they never attacked ours. Had they wished to do so,
+there was nothing to prevent them from sweeping the outlying districts
+of Natal and the Transvaal after our first great defeat at Isandhlwana,
+but they spared us.
+
+And now I have done with dull explanations, and will go on to tell of
+the disaster at Isandhlwana or the 'place of the Little Hand,' and of
+the noble defence of Rorke's Drift.
+
+On the 20th of January, 1879, one of the British columns that were
+invading Zululand broke its camp on the left bank of the Buffalo river,
+and marched by the road that ran from Rorke's Drift to the Indeni
+forest, encamping that evening under the shadow of a steep-cliffed and
+lonely mountain, called Isandhlwana. This force was known as number 3
+column, and with it went Lord Chelmsford, the general in command of the
+troops. The buildings at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of sixty men
+of the 2nd battalion 24th regiment under the late Colonel Bromhead, then
+a lieutenant, and some volunteers and others, the whole garrison being
+commanded, on the occasion of the attack, by Lieutenant Chard, R.E.
+
+On January 21, Colonel, then Major, Dartnell, the officer in command of
+the Natal Mounted Police and volunteers, who had been sent out to effect
+a reconnaissance of the country beyond Isandhlwana, reported that the
+Zulus were in great strength in front of him. Thereupon Lord Chelmsford
+ordered six companies of the 2nd battalion 24th regiment, together with
+four guns and the Mounted Infantry, to advance to his support. This
+force, under the command of Colonel Glyn, and accompanied by Lord
+Chelmsford himself, left Isandhlwana at dawn on the 22nd, a despatch
+having first been sent to Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, R.E., who was in
+command of some five hundred friendly Natal Zulus, about half of whom
+were mounted and armed with breech-loaders, to move up from Rorke's
+Drift and strengthen the camp, which was now in charge of Lieut.-Colonel
+Pulleine of the 1st battalion 24th regiment. Orders were given to
+Colonel Pulleine by the general that he was to 'defend' the camp.
+
+About ten o'clock that morning Colonel Durnford arrived at Isandhlwana
+and took over the command of the camp, which was then garrisoned by
+seven hundred and seventy-two European and eight hundred and fifty-one
+native troops, in all one thousand six hundred and twenty-three men,
+with two guns. Little did Lord Chelmsford and those with him guess in
+what state they would find that camp when they returned to it some
+eighteen hours later, or that of those sixteen hundred men the great
+majority would then be dead!
+
+Meanwhile a Zulu 'impi' or army, numbering about twenty thousand men, or
+something more than one-third of King Cetywayo's entire strength, had
+moved from the Upindo Hill on the night of January 21, and taken up its
+position on a stony plain, a mile and a half to the east of Isandhlwana.
+The impi was made up of the Undi regiment, about three thousand strong,
+that formed its breast, or centre, the Nokenke and Umcityu regiments,
+seven thousand strong, that formed its right wing or horn, and the
+Imbonanbi and Nkobamikosi regiments, ten thousand strong, forming its
+left horn or wing. That night the impi slept upon its spears and watched
+in silence, lighting no fires. The king had reviewed it three days
+previously, and his orders to it were that it should attack number 3
+column, and drive it back over the Buffalo, but it had no intention of
+giving battle on the 22nd, for the state of the moon was not propitious,
+so said the 'doctors'; moreover, the soldiers had not been 'moutied,'
+that is, sprinkled with medicines to 'put a great heart' into them and
+ensure their victory. The intention of the generals was to attack the
+camp at dawn on the 23rd; and the actual engagement was brought about by
+an accident.
+
+Before I tell of this or of the fight, however, it may be as well to
+describe how these splendid savages were armed and disciplined. To begin
+with, every corps had a particular head-dress and fighting shields of
+one colour, just as in our army each regiment has its own facings on the
+tunics. These shields are cut from the hides of oxen, and it is easy to
+imagine what a splendid sight was presented by a Zulu impi twenty
+thousand strong, divided into several regiments, one with snow-white
+shields and tall cranes' feathers on their heads, one with coal-black
+shields and black plumes, and others with red and mottled shields, and
+bands of fur upon their foreheads. In their war with the English many of
+the Zulus were armed with muzzle-loading guns and rifles of the worst
+description, of which they could make little use, for few of them were
+trained to handle firearms. A much more terrible weapon in their hands,
+and one that did nearly all the execution at Isandhlwana, was the
+broad-bladed short-shafted stabbing assegai. This shape of spear was
+introduced by the great king Chaka, and if a warrior cast it at an
+enemy, or even chanced to lose it in a fight, he was killed when the
+fray was over. Before Chaka's day the Zulu tribes used light assegais,
+which they threw at the enemy from a distance, and thus their ammunition
+was sometimes spent before they came to close quarters with the foe.
+
+Among the Zulus every able-bodied man was enrolled in one or other of
+the regiments--even the girls and boys were made into regiments or
+attached to them, and though these did not fight, they carried the mats
+and cooking pots of the army, and drove the cattle for the soldiers to
+eat when on the march. Thus it will be seen that this people differed
+from any other in the world in modern days, for whereas even the most
+courageous and martial of mankind look upon war as an exceptional state
+of affairs and an evil only to be undertaken in self-defence, or perhaps
+for purposes of revenge and aggrandisement, the Zulus looked on peace as
+the exceptional state, and on warfare as the natural employment of man.
+Chaka taught them that lesson, and they had learnt it well, and so it
+came about that Cetywayo was forced to allow the army to fight with us
+when Sir Bartle Frere gave them an opportunity of doing so, since their
+hearts were sick with peace, and for years they had clamoured to be
+allowed to 'wash their spears,' saying that they were no longer men, but
+had become a people of women. Indeed, had the king not done so, they
+would have fought with each other. It is a terrible thing to be obliged,
+year after year, to keep quiet an army of some fifty or sixty thousand
+men who are too proud to work and clamour daily to be led to battle that
+they may die as their fathers died. We may be sure that the heart of
+many a Zulu warrior beat high as in dead silence he marched that night
+from the heights of Upindo towards the doomed camp of Isandhlwana, since
+at last he was to satisfy the longing of his blood, and fight to the
+death with a foe whom he knew to be worthy of him.
+
+Doubtless, also, the hearts of the white men beat high that night as
+they gathered round the fires of their camp, little knowing that
+thousands of Zulu eyes were watching them from afar, or that the black
+rock looming above them was destined to stand like some great tombstone
+over their bones for ever. Englishmen also are a warlike race, and there
+was honour and advancement to be won, and it would seem that but few of
+those who marched into the Zulu country guessed how formidable was the
+foe with whom they had to deal. A horde of half-naked savages armed with
+spears did not strike English commanders, imperfectly acquainted with
+the history and nature of those savages, as particularly dangerous
+enemies. Some there were, indeed, who, having spent their lives in the
+country, knew what was to be expected, but they were set down as
+'croakers,' and their earnest warnings of disaster to come were
+disregarded.
+
+Now let us return to the camp. It will be remembered that Colonel Glyn's
+force, accompanied by General Lord Chelmsford, had left at dawn. About
+eight o'clock a picket placed some 1,500 yards distant reported that
+Zulus were approaching from the north-east. This information was
+despatched by mounted messengers to Colonel Glyn's column.
+
+Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, with his mounted natives and a rocket battery
+arriving from Rorke's Drift about 10 A.M., took over the command of the
+camp from Colonel Pulleine. According to the evidence of Lieutenant
+Cochrane given at the court of inquiry, Colonel Pulleine thereupon
+stated to Colonel Durnford the orders that he had received, to 'defend
+the camp,' and it would appear that either then or subsequently some
+altercation took place between these two officers. In the issue,
+however, Colonel Durnford advanced his mounted force to ascertain the
+enemy's movements, and directed a company of the 1st battalion 24th
+regiment to occupy a hill about 1,200 yards to the north of the camp.
+
+Other companies of the 24th were stationed at various points at a
+distance from the camp. It may be well to explain here, that to these
+movements of troops, which, so far as can be ascertained, were made by
+the direct orders of Colonel Durnford, must be attributed the terrible
+disaster that followed. There are two ways of fighting a savage or
+undisciplined enemy; the scientific way, such as is taught in staff
+colleges, and the unscientific way that is to be learned in the sterner
+school of experience. We English were not the first white men who had to
+deal with the rush of the Zulu impis. The Boers had encountered them
+before, at the battle of the Blood River, and armed only with
+muzzle-loading 'roers,' or elephant guns, despite their desperate
+valour, had worsted them, with fearful slaughter. But they did not
+advance bodies of men to this point or to that, according to the
+scientific method; they drew their ox waggons into a square, lashing
+them together with 'reims' or hide-ropes, and from behind this rough
+defence, with but trifling loss to themselves, rolled back charge after
+charge of the warriors of Dingaan.
+
+Had this method been followed by our troops at the battle of
+Isandhlwana, who had ample waggons at hand to enable them to execute the
+manoeuvre, had the soldiers even been collected in a square beneath
+the cliff of the mountain, it cannot be doubted but that, armed as they
+were with breech-loaders, they would have been able to drive back not
+only the impi sent against them, but, if necessary, the entire Zulu
+army. Indeed, that this would have been so is demonstrated by what
+happened on the same day at Rorke's Drift, where a hundred and thirty
+men repelled the desperate assaults of three or four thousand. Why,
+then, it may be asked, did Colonel Durnford, a man of considerable
+colonial experience, adopt the more risky, if the more scientific, mode
+of dealing with the present danger, and this in spite of Colonel
+Pulleine's direct intimation to him that his orders were 'to defend the
+camp'? As it chances, the writer of this account, who knew Colonel
+Durnford well, and has the greatest respect for the memory of that good
+officer, and honourable gentleman, is able to suggest an answer to the
+problem which at the time was freely offered by the Natal colonists. A
+few years before, it happened that Colonel Durnford was engaged upon
+some military operations against a rebellious native chief in Natal.
+Coming into contact with the followers of this chief, in the hope that
+matters might be arranged without bloodshed, Durnford ordered the white
+volunteers under his command not to fire, with the result that the
+rebels fired, killing several of his force and wounding him in the arm.
+This incident gave rise to an irrational indignation in the colony, and
+for a while he himself was designated by the ungenerous nickname of
+'Don't fire Durnford.' It is alleged, none can know with what amount of
+truth, that it was the memory of this undeserved insult which caused
+Colonel Durnford to insist upon advancing the troops under his command
+to engage the Zulus in the open, instead of withdrawing them to await
+attack in the comparative safety of a 'laager.'
+
+The events following the advance of the various British companies at
+Isandhlwana are exceedingly difficult to describe in their proper order,
+since the evidence of the survivors is confused.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It would appear, however, that Durnford's mounted Basutos discovered and
+fired on a portion of the Umcityu regiment, which, forgetting its
+orders, sprang up and began to charge. Thereon, accepting the position,
+the other Zulu regiments joined the movement. Very rapidly, and with the
+most perfect order, the impi adopted the traditional Zulu ox-head
+formation, namely, that of a centre and two horns, the centre
+representing the skull of the ox. In this order they advanced towards
+the English camp, slowly and without sound. Up to this time there had
+been no particular alarm in the camp. The day was bright and lovely,
+with a hot sun tempered by a gentle breeze that just stirred the tops of
+the grasses, and many men seem to have been strolling about quite
+unaware of their imminent danger, although orders were given to collect
+the transport oxen, which were at graze outside the camp; not for the
+purpose of inspanning the waggons, but to prevent them from being
+captured by the enemy. One officer (Captain, now Colonel, Essex) reports
+that after the company had been sent out, he retired to his tent to
+write letters, till, about twelve o'clock, a sergeant came to tell him
+that firing was to be heard behind a hill in face of the camp. He
+mounted a horse and rode up the slope, to find the company firing on a
+line of Zulus eight hundred paces away to their front. This line was
+about a thousand yards long, and shaped like a horn, tapering towards
+the point. It advanced slowly, taking shelter with great skill behind
+rocks, and opened a quite ineffective fire on the soldiers. Meanwhile
+the two guns were shelling the Zulu centre with great effect, the shells
+cutting lanes through their dense ranks, which closed up over the dead
+in perfect discipline and silence. The attack was now general, all the
+impi taking part in it except a reserve regiment that sat down upon the
+ground taking snuff, and never came into action, and the Undi corps,
+which moved off to the right with the object of passing round the north
+side of the Isandhlwana hill.
+
+On came the Zulus in silence, and ever as they came the two horns crept
+further and further ahead of the black breast of their array. Hundreds
+of them fell beneath the fire of the breech-loaders, but they did not
+pause in their attack. Ammunition began to fail the soldiers, and orders
+having reached them--too late--to concentrate on the camp, they retired
+slowly to that position. Captain Essex also rode back, and assisted the
+quartermaster of the 24th to place boxes of ammunition in a mule cart,
+till presently the quartermaster was shot dead at his side. Now the
+horns or nippers of the foe were beginning to close on the doomed camp,
+and the friendly natives, who knew well what this meant, though as yet
+the white men had not understood their danger, began to steal away by
+twos and threes, and then, breaking into open rout, they rushed through
+the camp, seeking the waggon road to Rorke's Drift.
+
+Then at last the Zulu generals saw that the points of the horns had met
+behind the white men, and the moment was ripe. Abandoning its silence
+and slow advance, the breast of the impi raised the war-cry and charged,
+rolling down upon the red coats like a wave of steel. So swift and
+sudden was this last charge, that many of the soldiers had no time to
+fix bayonets. For a few moments the scattered companies held the impi
+back, and the black stream flowed round them, then it flowed _over_
+them, sweeping them along like human wreckage. In a minute the defence
+had become an utter rout. Some of the defenders formed themselves into
+groups and fought back to back till they fell where they stood, to be
+found weeks afterwards mere huddled heaps of bones. Hundreds of others
+fled for the waggon road, to find that the Undi regiment, passing round
+the Isandhlwana mountain, had occupied it already. Back they rolled from
+the hedge of Undi spears to fall upon the spears of the attacking
+regiments. One path of retreat alone remained, a dry and precipitous
+'donga' or watercourse, and into this plunged a rabble of men, white and
+black, mules, horses, guns, and waggons.
+
+Meanwhile the last act of the tragedy was being played on the field of
+death. With a humming sound such as might be made by millions of bees,
+the Zulu swarms fell upon those of the soldiers who remained alive, and,
+after a desperate resistance, stabbed them. Wherever the eye looked, men
+were falling and spears flashing in the sunshine, while the ear was
+filled with groans of the dying and the savage _S'gee S'gee_ of the Zulu
+warriors as they passed their assegais through and through the bodies of
+the fallen. Many a deed of valour was done there as white men and black
+grappled in the death-struggle, but their bones alone remained to tell
+the tale of them. Shortly after the disaster, one of the survivors told
+the present writer of a duel which he witnessed between a Zulu and an
+officer of the 24th regiment. The officer having emptied his revolver,
+set his back against the wheel of a waggon and drew his sword. Then the
+Zulu came at him with his shield up, turning and springing from side to
+side as he advanced. Presently he lowered the shield, exposing his head,
+and the white man falling into the trap aimed a fierce blow at it. As it
+fell the shield was raised again, and the sword sank deep into its edge,
+remaining fixed in the tough ox-hide. This was what the Zulu desired;
+with a twist of his strong arm he wrenched the sword from his opponent's
+hand, and in another instant the unfortunate officer was down with an
+assegai through his breast.
+
+In a few minutes it was done, all resistance had been overpowered, the
+wounded had been murdered--for the Zulu on the war-path has no
+mercy--and the dead mutilated and cut open to satisfy the horrible
+native superstition. Then those regiments that remained upon the field
+began the work of plunder. Most of the bodies they stripped naked,
+clothing themselves in the uniforms of the dead soldiers. They stabbed
+the poor oxen that remained fastened to the 'trek-tows' of the waggons,
+and they drank all the spirits that they could find, some of them, it is
+said, perishing through the accidental consumption of the medical
+stores. Then, when the sun grew low, they retreated, laden with
+plunder, taking with them the most of their dead, of whom there are
+believed to have been about fifteen hundred, for the Martinis did their
+work well, and our soldiers had not died unavenged.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+All this while Lord Chelmsford and the division which he accompanied
+were in ignorance of what had happened within a few miles of them,
+though rumours had reached them that a Zulu force was threatening the
+camp. The first to discover the dreadful truth was Commandant Lonsdale
+of the Natal Native Contingent. This officer had been ill, and was
+returning to camp alone, a fact that shows how little anything serious
+was expected. He reached it about the middle of the afternoon, and there
+was nothing to reveal to the casual observer that more than three
+thousand human beings had perished there that day. The sun shone, on the
+white tents and on the ox waggons, around and about which groups of
+red-coated men were walking, sitting, and lying. It did not chance to
+occur to him that those who were moving were Zulus wearing the coats of
+English soldiers, and those lying down, soldiers whom the Zulus had
+killed. As Commandant Lonsdale rode, a gun was fired, and he heard a
+bullet whizz past his head. Looking in the direction of the sound, he
+saw a native with a smoking rifle in his hand, and concluding that it
+was one of the men under his command who had discharged his piece
+accidentally, he took no more notice of the matter. Forward he rode,
+till he was within ten yards of what had been the headquarter tents,
+when suddenly out of one of them there stalked a great Zulu, bearing in
+his hand a broad assegai from which blood was dripping. Then his
+intelligence awoke, and he understood. The camp was in the possession of
+the enemy, and those who lay here and there upon the grass like holiday
+makers in a London park on a Sunday in summer, were English soldiers
+indeed, not living but dead.
+
+Turning his horse, Commandant Lonsdale fled as swiftly as it could carry
+him. More than a hundred rifle-shots were fired after him, but the Zulu
+marksmanship was poor, and he escaped untouched. A while afterwards, a
+solitary horseman met Lord Chelmsford and his staff returning: he
+saluted, and said, '_The camp is in the possession of the enemy, sir!_'
+None who heard those words will forget them, and few men can have
+experienced a more terrible shock than that which fell upon the English
+general in this hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Slowly, and with all military precaution, Lord Chelmsford and his force
+moved onward, till at length, when darkness had fallen, they encamped
+beneath the fatal hill of Isandhlwana. Here, momentarily expecting to be
+attacked, they remained all night amid the wreck, the ruin, and the
+dead, but not till the following dawn did they learn the magnitude of
+the disaster that had overtaken our arms. Then they saw, and in silence
+marched from that fatal field, heading for Rorke's Drift, and leaving
+its mutilated dead to the vulture and the jackal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now let us follow the fate of the mob of fugitives, who, driven back
+from the waggon road by the Undi, plunged desperately into the donga
+near it, the sole avenue of retreat which had not been besieged by the
+foe, in the hope that they might escape the slaughter by following the
+friendly natives who were mixed up with them. How many entered on that
+terrible race for life is not known, but it is certain that very few won
+through. Indeed, it is said that, with the exception of some natives, no
+single man who was not mounted lived to pass the Buffalo River. For five
+miles or more they rode and ran over paths that a goat would have found
+it difficult to keep his footing on, while by them, and mixed up with
+them, went the destroying Zulus. Very soon the guns became fixed among
+the boulders, and one by one the artillerymen were assegaied. On went
+the survivors, hopeless yet hoping. Now a savage sprang on this man, and
+now on that; the assegai flashed up, a cry of agony echoed among the
+rocks, and a corpse fell heavily to the red earth. Still, those whom it
+pleased Providence to protect struggled forward, clinging to their
+horses' manes as they leaped from boulder to boulder, till at length
+they came to a cliff, beneath which the Buffalo rolled in flood. Down
+this cliff they slid and stumbled, few of them can tell how; then,
+driven to it by the pitiless spears, they plunged into the raging river.
+Many were drowned in its waters, some were shot in the stream, some were
+stabbed upon the banks, yet a few, clinging to the manes and tails of
+their horses, gained the opposite shore in safety.
+
+Among these were two men whose memory their country will not willingly
+let die, who, indeed (it is the first time in our military history),
+have been decreed the Victoria Cross although they were already dead:
+Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill of the 24th regiment. One of these,
+Lieutenant Coghill, the writer of this sketch had the good fortune to
+know well. A kindlier-hearted and merrier young English gentleman never
+lived. Melvill and Coghill were swept away upon the tide of flight, down
+the dreadful path that led to Fugitives' Drift, but Melvill bore with
+him the colours of the 24th regiment that were in his charge as
+adjutant, not tied round his waist, as has been reported, but upon the
+pole to which they were attached. He arrived in safety at the river,
+but, owing to the loss of his horse, was unable to cross it, and took
+refuge upon a rock in mid-stream, still holding the colours in his hand.
+Coghill, whose knee was disabled by an accident and who had reached the
+Natal bank already, saw the terrible position of his friend and brother
+officer, and, though spears flashed about him and bullets beat the water
+like hail, with a courage that has rarely been equalled, he turned his
+horse and swam back to his assistance. The worst was over; safety lay
+before him, there behind him in the river was almost certain death; but
+this gallant gentleman heeded none of these things, for there also were
+the colours of his regiment and his drowning friend. Back he swam to the
+rock through the boiling current. Soon his horse was shot dead beneath
+him, yet, though none knows how, the two of them came safe to shore. The
+colours were lost indeed, for they could no longer carry them and live,
+but these never fell into the hands of their savage foes: days
+afterwards they were searched for and found in the bed of the river.
+Breathless, desperate, lamed, and utterly outworn, the two friends
+struggled up the bank and the hill beyond. But Zulus had crossed that
+stream as well as the fugitive Englishmen. They staggered forward for a
+few hundred yards, then, unable to go further, the friends stood back to
+back and the foe closed in upon them. There they stood, and there,
+fighting desperately, the heroes died. Peace be with them in that land
+to which they have journeyed, and among men, immortal honour to their
+names!
+
+They sold their lives dearly, for several Zulus were found lying about
+their bodies.
+
+About forty white men lived to cross the river at Fugitives' Drift, and
+these, almost the only English survivors of the force at Isandhlwana,
+rode on, still followed by Zulus, to the provision depôt at Helpmakaar
+some fifteen miles away, where they mustered and entrenched themselves
+as best they were able, expecting to be attacked at any moment. But no
+attack was delivered, the Zulus being busily employed elsewhere.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Some little distance from the banks of the Buffalo, and on the Natal
+side near to a mountain called Tyana, stood two buildings erected by the
+Rev. Mr. Witt; Rorke's Drift, from which No. 3 column had advanced,
+being immediately in front of them. One of these buildings had been
+utilised as a storehouse and hospital, and in it were thirty-five sick
+men. The other was occupied by a company of the 2nd 24th regiment, under
+the command of the late Lieut. Bromhead.[12]
+
+On January 22, the ponts at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of Lieut.
+Chard, R.E., with a few men. About a quarter-past three on that day an
+officer of Lonsdale's regiment, Lieut. Adendorff, and a carbineer, were
+seen galloping wildly towards the ponts. On coming to the bank of the
+river, they shouted to Lieut. Chard to take them across, and so soon as
+he reached them, they communicated to him the terrifying news that the
+general's camp had been captured and destroyed by a Zulu impi. A few
+minutes later a message arrived from Lieut. Bromhead, who also had
+learned the tidings of disaster, requesting Lieut. Chard to join him at
+the commissariat store. Mounting his horse he rode thither, to find
+Lieut. Bromhead, assisted by Mr. Dolton, of the commissariat, and the
+entire force at his command, amounting to about 130, inclusive of the
+sick and the chaplain, Mr. Smith, a Norfolk man, actively engaged in
+loopholing and barricading the house and hospital (both of which
+buildings were thatched), and in connecting them by means of a
+fortification of mealie bags and waggons. Having ridden round the
+position, Lieut. Chard returned to the Drift. Sergeant Milne and Mr.
+Daniells, who managed the ponts, offered to moor them in the middle of
+the stream, and with the assistance of a few men to defend them from
+their decks. This gallant suggestion being rejected as impracticable,
+Lieut. Chard withdrew to the buildings with the waggon and those under
+his command.
+
+They arrived there about 3.30, and shortly afterwards an officer of
+Durnford's native horse rode up, accompanied by about 100 mounted men,
+and asked for orders. He was requested to send out outposts in the
+direction of the enemy, and, having checked their advance as much as
+possible, to fall back, when forced so to do, upon the buildings and
+assist in their defence. Posts were then assigned to each man in the
+little garrison, and, this done, the defensive preparations went on, all
+doing their utmost, for they felt that the life of every one of them was
+at stake. Three-quarters of an hour went by, and the officer of
+Durnford's horse rode up, reporting that the Zulus were advancing in
+masses, and that his men were deserting in the direction of Helpmakaar.
+At this time some natives of the Natal contingent under the command of
+Capt. Stephenson also retired, an example which was followed by that
+officer himself.
+
+Lieuts. Chard and Bromhead now saw that their lines of defence were too
+large for the number of men left to them, and at once began the erection
+of an inner entrenchment formed of biscuit boxes taken from the stores.
+When this wall was but two boxes high, suddenly there appeared five or
+six hundred Zulus advancing at a run against the southern side of their
+position. These were soldiers of the Undi regiment, the same that had
+turned the Isandhlwana mountain, cutting off all possibility of retreat
+by the waggon road, who, when they knew that the camp was taken, had
+advanced to destroy the guard of Rorke's Drift. On they came, to be met
+presently by a terrible and concentrated fire from the Martinis. Many
+fell, but they did not stay till, when within 50 yards of the wall, the
+cross fire from the store took them in flank. Their loss was now so
+heavy that, checking their advance, some of them took cover among the
+ovens, cookhouse, and outbuildings, whence they in turn opened fire upon
+the garrison. Hundreds more rushing round the hospital came at full
+speed against the north-west fortification of sacks filled with corn. In
+vain did the Martinis pump a hail of lead into them: on they came
+straight to the frail defence, striving to take it at the point of the
+assegai. But here they were met by British bayonets and a fire so
+terrible that even the courage of the Zulus could not prevail against
+it, and they fell back, that is, those of them who were left alive.
+
+By this time the main force of the Undi had arrived, two thousand of
+them, perhaps, and having lined an overlooking ledge of rocks, took
+possession of the garden of the station and the bush surrounding it,
+from all of which the fire, though badly directed, was so continuous
+that at length the little garrison of white men were forced back into
+their inner entrenchment of biscuit boxes. Creeping up under cover of
+the bush, the Zulus now delivered assault after assault upon the wall.
+Each of these fierce rushes was repelled with the bayonets wielded by
+the brave white men on its further side. The assegais clashed against
+the rifle barrels, everywhere the musketry rang and rolled, the savage
+war-cries and the cheers of the Englishmen rose together through the
+din, while British soldier and Zulu warrior thrust and shot and tore at
+each other across the narrow wall, that wall which all the Undi could
+not climb.
+
+Now it grew dark, for the night was closing in; the spears flashed
+dimly, and in place of smoke long tongues of flame shot from the rifle
+barrels, illumining the stern faces of those who held them as lightning
+does. But soon there was to be light. If any had leisure to observe,
+they may have seen flakes of fire flying upwards from the dim bush, and
+wondered what they were. They were bunches of burning grass being thrown
+on spears to fall in the thatch of the hospital roof. Presently
+something could be seen on this roof that shone like a star. It grew
+dim, then suddenly began to brighten and to increase till the star-like
+spot was a flame, and a hoarse cry passed from man to man of: 'O God!
+the hospital is on fire!'
+
+The hospital was on fire, and in it were sick men, some of whom could
+not move. It was defended by a garrison, a handful of men, and at one
+and the same time these must bear away the sick to the store building,
+and hold the burning place against the Zulus, who now were upon them.
+They did it, but not all of it, for this was beyond the power of mortal
+bravery and devotion. When the thatch blazed above them, room after room
+did Privates Williams and Hook, R. and W. Jones, and some few others
+hold with the white arm--for their ammunition was spent--against the
+assegais of the Zulus, while their disabled comrades were borne away to
+the store building beneath the shelter of the connecting wall. One of
+them lost his life here, others were grievously wounded, but, dead or
+alive, their names should always be remembered among their countrymen,
+ay! and always will. Yet they could not save them every one; the fire
+scorched overhead and the assegais bit deep in front, and ever, as foes
+fell, fresh ones sprang into their places, and so, fighting furiously,
+those few gallant men were thrust back, alas! leaving some helpless
+comrades to die by fire and the spear.
+
+It would be of little use to follow step by step all the events of that
+night. All night long the firing went on, varied from time to time by
+desperate assaults. All night long the little band of defenders held
+back the foe. All were weary, some of them were dead and more wounded,
+but they fought on by the light of the burning hospital, wasting no
+single shot. To and fro went the bearded clergyman with prayers and
+consolations upon his lips, and a bag of cartridges in his hands, and to
+and fro also went Chard and Bromhead, directing all things. By degrees
+the Englishmen were driven back, the hospital and its approaches were in
+the hands of the foe, and now they must retire to the inner wall of the
+cattle kraal. But they collected sacks of mealies and built two
+redoubts, which gave them a second line of fire, and let the Zulus do
+what they would, storm the place they could not, nor could they serve it
+as they had served the hospital and destroy it by fire.
+
+At length the attacks slackened, the firing dwindled and died, and the
+dawn broke, that same dawn which showed to General Lord Chelmsford and
+those with him all the horror of Isandhlwana's field. Here also at
+Rorke's Drift it revealed death and to spare, but for the most part the
+corpses were those of the foe, some four hundred of whom lay lost in
+their last sleep around the burning hospital, in the bush, and beneath
+the walls of corn-sacks; four hundred killed by one hundred and
+thirty-nine white men all told, of whom thirty-five were sick when the
+defence began. The little band had suffered, indeed, for fifteen of
+them were dead, and twelve wounded, some mortally, but seeing what had
+been done the loss was small. Had the Zulus once won an entrance over
+the last entrenchment of biscuit boxes not a man would have remained
+alive. Surely biscuits were never put to a nobler or a stranger use.
+
+The daylight had come and the enemy vanished with the night, retreating
+over a hill to the south-west. But, as the defenders of Rorke's Drift
+guessed, he had no intention of abandoning his attack. Therefore they
+knew that this was no time to be idle. Sallying out of their defences
+they collected the arms of the dead Zulus, then returned, and began to
+strip the roof of the store of its thatch, which was a constant source
+of danger to them, seeing that fire is a deadlier foe even than the
+assegai. They were thus engaged when again the Zulus appeared to make an
+end of them. Once more the weary soldiers took up their positions, and a
+while passed. Now they perceived that the Undi, which had been
+advancing, slowly commenced to fall back, a movement that they were at a
+loss to understand, till a shout from those who were engaged in
+stripping the roof told the glad news that English troops were advancing
+to their relief.
+
+These were the remains of No. 3 column, moving down from Isandhlwana.
+Little did the general and those with him expect to find a soul living
+at Rorke's Drift, for they also had seen the sullen masses of the Undi
+retreating from the post, and the columns of smoke rising from the
+burning hospital confirmed their worst fears. What then was their joy
+when they perceived a Union Jack flying amidst the smoke, and heard the
+ring of a British cheer rising from the shattered walls and the defences
+of sacks of corn! Forward galloped Col. Russell and his mounted men, and
+in five minutes more those who remained of the garrison were safe, and
+the defence of Rorke's Drift was a thing of the past; another glorious
+page ready to be bound into that great book which is called 'The Deeds
+of Englishmen.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Nearly six months passed before all the dead at Isandhlwana were
+reverently buried. Strange were the scenes that those saw whose task it
+was to lay them to their rest. Here, hidden by the rank grass, in one
+heap behind the officers' tents, lay the bodies of some seventy men, who
+had made their last stand at this spot; lower down the hill lay sixty
+more. Another band of about the same strength evidently had taken refuge
+among the rocks of the mountains, and defended themselves there till
+their ammunition was exhausted, and their ring broken by the assegai.
+All about the plain lay Englishmen and Zulus, as they had died in the
+dread struggle:--here side by side, amidst rusted rifles and bent
+assegais, here their bony arms still locked in the last hug of death,
+and yonder the Zulu with the white man's bayonet through his skull, the
+soldier with the Zulu's assegai in what had been his heart. One man was
+found, who, when his cartridges were spent, and his rifle was broken,
+had defended himself to the end with a tent-hammer that lay among his
+bones, and another was stretched beneath the precipice, from the crest
+of which he had been hurled.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Well, they buried them where they were discovered, and there they sleep
+soundly beneath the shadow of Isandhlwana's cliff.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And now a few words more, and this true story will be finished. We
+conquered the Zulus at last, at a battle called Ulundi, where they
+hurled themselves in vain upon the bullets and bayonets of the British
+square. To the end they fought bravely for their king and country, and
+though they were savages, and, like all savages, cruel when at war, they
+were also gallant enemies, and deserve our respect. The king himself,
+Cetywayo, was hunted down, captured, and sent into captivity.
+Afterwards, there was what is called a 'popular movement' on his behalf
+in England, and he was sent back to Zululand, with permission to rule
+half the country. Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the war, our
+Government would not take the land, and a settlement was effected, under
+which thirteen chiefs were put in authority over the country. As might
+have been expected, these chiefs fought with each other, and many men
+were killed. When Cetywayo returned the fighting became fiercer than
+ever, since those who had tasted power refused to be dispossessed, until
+at last he was finally defeated, and, it is believed, poisoned by his
+own side, to whom he had ceased to be serviceable. Meanwhile also, the
+Dutch Boers, taking advantage of the confusion, occupied a great part of
+Zululand, which they still hold. Indeed, they would long ago have taken
+it all, had not the English government, seeing the great misery to which
+its ever-changing policy had reduced the unhappy Zulus, assumed
+authority over the remainder of the country. From that day forward,
+there has been no more killing or trouble in British Zululand, which is
+ruled by Sir Melmoth Osborn, K.C.M.G., and the Queen has no more
+contented subjects than the Zulus, nor any who pay their taxes with
+greater regularity!
+
+But the Zulus as a nation are dead, and never again will a great Impi,
+such as swept away our troops at Isandhlwana, be seen rushing down to
+war. Their story is but one scene in the vast drama which is being
+enacted in this generation, and which some of you who read these lines
+may live to see, not accomplished, indeed, but in the way of
+accomplishment--the drama of the building up of a great Anglo-Saxon
+empire in Africa--an empire that within the next few centuries may well
+become one of the mightiest in the world. We have made many and many a
+mistake, but still that empire grows; in spite of the errors of the Home
+Government, the obstinacy of the Boers, the power of native chiefs, and
+the hatred of Portuguese, still it grows. Already it is about as big as
+Europe, and it is only a baby yet, a baby begotten by the genius and
+courage of individual Englishmen.
+
+When the child has become a giant--yes, even in those far-off ages when
+it is a very old giant, a king among the nations--we may be sure that,
+from generation to generation, men will show their sons the mountain
+that was called Isandhlwana, or the place of the Little Hand, and a
+certain spot on the banks of the Buffalo River, and tell the tale of how
+beneath that hill the wild Zulus of the ancient times overwhelmed the
+forces of the early English settlers; of how, for a long night through,
+a few men of those forces held two grass-thatched sheds against their
+foe's savage might; and of how some miles away two heroes named Melville
+and Coghill died together whilst striving to save the colours of their
+regiment from the grasp of the victorious 'Children of Heaven.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now it may interest you to know that these last words are written with a
+pen that was found among the bones of the dead at Isandhlwana.
+
+                                                       H. RIDER HAGGARD.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[12] Col. Bromhead died recently.
+
+
+
+
+_HOW LEIF THE LUCKY FOUND VINELAND THE GOOD_
+
+
+THIS is the story of the first finding of America by the Icelanders,
+nearly five hundred years before Columbus. They landed on the coast, and
+stayed for a short time; where they landed is uncertain. Thinking that
+it was in New England, the people of Boston have erected a statue of
+Leif in their town. The story was not written till long after Leif's
+time, and it cannot _all_ be true. Dead men do not return and give
+directions about their burial as we read here. We have omitted a silly
+tale of a one-footed man. In the middle ages, people believed that
+one-footed men lived in Africa; they thought Vineland was near Africa,
+so they brought the fable into the Saga.
+
+Hundreds of years before Columbus discovered America, there lived in
+Iceland a man named Eric the Red. His father had slain a man in Norway,
+and fled with his family to Iceland. Eric, too, was a dangerous man. His
+servants did mischief on the farm of a neighbour, who slew them. Then
+Eric slew the farmer, and also Holmgang Hrafn, a famous duellist, of
+whom the country was well rid. Eric was banished from that place, and,
+in his new home, had a new quarrel. He lent some furniture to a man who
+refused to restore it. Eric, therefore, carried off his goods, and the
+other pursued him. They fought, and Eric killed him. For this he was
+made an outlaw, and went sailing to discover new countries. He found
+one, where he settled, calling it Greenland, because, he said, people
+would come there more readily if it had a good name.
+
+One Thorbiorn, among others, sailed to Greenland, but came in an unlucky
+time, for fish were scarce, and some settlers were drowned. At that day,
+some of the new comers were Christians, some still worshipped the old
+Gods, Thor and Woden, and practised magic. These sent for a prophetess
+to tell them what the end of their new colony would be. It is curious to
+know what a real witch was like, and how she behaved, so we shall copy
+the story from the old Icelandic book.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'When she came in the evening, with the man who had been sent to meet
+her, she was clad in a dark-blue cloak, fastened with a strap, and set
+with stones quite down to the hem. She wore glass beads around her neck,
+and upon her head a black lambskin hood, lined with white catskin. In
+her hands she carried a staff upon which there was a knob, which was
+ornamented with brass, and set with stones up about the knob. Circling
+her waist she wore a girdle of touchwood, and attached to it a great
+skin pouch, in which she kept the charms which she used when she was
+practising her sorcery. She wore upon her feet shaggy calfskin shoes,
+with long, tough latchets, upon the ends of which there were large brass
+buttons. She had catskin gloves upon her hands; the gloves were white
+inside and lined with fur. When she entered, all of the folk felt it to
+be their duty to offer her becoming greetings. She received the
+salutations of each individual according as he pleased her. Yeoman
+Thorkel took the sibyl by the hand, and led her to the seat which had
+been made ready for her. Thorkel bade her run her eyes over man and
+beast and home. She had little to say concerning all these. The tables
+were brought forth in the evening, and it remains to be told what manner
+of food was prepared for the prophetess. A porridge of goat's beestings
+was made for her, and for meat there were dressed the hearts of every
+kind of beast which could be obtained there. She had a brass spoon, and
+a knife with a handle of walrus tusk, with a double hasp of brass around
+the haft, and from this the point was broken. And when the tables were
+removed, Yeoman Thorkel approaches the prophetess Thorbiorg, and asks
+how she is pleased with the home, and the character of the folk, and how
+speedily she would be likely to become aware of that concerning which he
+had questioned her, and which the people were anxious to know. She
+replied that she could not give an opinion in this matter before the
+morrow, after that she had slept there through the night. And on the
+morrow, when the day was far spent, such preparations were made as were
+necessary to enable her to accomplish her soothsaying. She bade them
+bring her those women who knew the incantation which she required to
+work her spells, and which she called Warlocks; but such women were not
+to be found. Thereupon a search was made throughout the house, to see
+whether anyone knew this [incantation]. Then says Gudrid, Thorbiorn's
+daughter: "Although I am neither skilled in the black art nor a sibyl,
+yet my foster-mother, Halldis, taught me in Iceland that spell-song,
+which she called Warlocks." Thorbiorg answered: "Then art thou wise in
+season!" Gudrid replies; "This is an incantation and ceremony of such a
+kind that I do not mean to lend it any aid, for that I am a Christian
+woman." Thorbiorg answers: "It might so be that thou couldst give thy
+help to the company here, and still be no worse woman than before;
+however, I leave it with Thorkel to provide for my needs." Thorkel now
+so urged Gudrid that she said she must needs comply with his wishes. The
+women then made a ring round about, while Thorbiorg sat up on the
+spell-daïs. Gudrid then sang the song, so sweet and well, that no one
+remembered ever before to have heard the melody sung with so fair a
+voice as this. The sorceress thanked her for the song, and said: "She
+has indeed lured many spirits hither, who think it pleasant to hear
+this song, those who were wont to forsake us hitherto and refuse to
+submit themselves to us. Many things are now revealed to me, which
+hitherto have been hidden, both from me and from others. And I am able
+to announce that this period of famine will not endure longer, but the
+season will mend as spring approaches. The visitation of disease, which
+has been so long upon you, will disappear sooner than expected."'
+
+After this, Thorbiorn sailed to the part of Greenland where Eric the Red
+lived, and there was received with open arms. Eric had two sons, one
+called Thorstein, the other Leif the Lucky, and it was Leif who
+afterwards discovered Vineland the Good, that is, the coast of America,
+somewhere between Nova Scotia and New England. He found it by accident.
+He had been in Norway, at the court of king Olaf, who bade him proclaim
+Christianity in Greenland. As he was sailing thither, Leif was driven by
+tempests out of his course, and came upon coasts which he had never
+heard of, where wild vines grew, and hence he called that shore Vineland
+the Good. The vine did not grow, of course, in Iceland. But Leif had
+with him a German Tyrker, and one day, when they were on shore, Tyrker
+was late in joining the rest. He was very much excited, and spoke in the
+German tongue, saying 'I have found something new, vines and grapes.'
+Then they filled their boat full of grapes, and sailed away. He also
+brought away some men from a wreck, and with these, and the message of
+the Gospel, he sailed back to Greenland, to his father, Eric the Red,
+and from that day he was named Leif the Lucky. But Eric had no great
+mind to become a Christian, he had been born to believe in Thor and his
+own sword.
+
+Next year Leif's brother, Thorstein, set out to find Vineland, and Eric,
+first burying all his treasures, started with him, but he fell from his
+horse, and broke his ribs, and his company came within sight of Ireland,
+but Vineland they did not see, so they returned to Ericsfirth in
+Greenland, and there passed the winter.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There was much sickness, and one woman died. After her death she rose,
+and they could only lay her by holding an axe before her breast.
+Thorstein, Eric's son, died also, but in the night he arose again and
+said that Christian burial should be given to men in consecrated ground.
+For the manner had been to bury the dead in their farms with a long pole
+driven through the earth till it touched the breast of the corpse.
+Afterwards the priest came, and poured holy water through the hole, and
+not till then, perhaps long after the death, was the funeral service
+held. After Thorstein rose and spoke, Christian burial was always used
+in Greenland. Next year came Karlsefni from Iceland, with two ships, and
+Eric received him kindly, and gave all his crew winter quarters. In
+summer nothing would serve Karlsefni but to search again for Vineland
+the Good. They took three ships and one hundred and sixty men, and south
+they sailed. They passed Flat Stone Land, where there were white foxes,
+and Bear Island, where they saw a bear, and Forest Land, and a cape
+where they found the keel of a wrecked ship, this they named Keelness.
+Then they reached the Wonder Strands, long expanses of sandy shore. Now
+Karlsefni had with him two Scotch or Irish savages, the swiftest of all
+runners, whom King Olaf had given to Leif the Lucky, and they were
+fleeter-footed than deer. They wore only a plaid and kilt all in one
+piece, for the rest they were naked. Karlsefni landed them south of
+Wonder Strands, and bade them run south and return on the third day to
+report about the country. When they returned one carried a bunch of
+grapes, the other ears of native wheat (maize?). Then they sailed on,
+passed an isle covered with birds' eggs, and a firth, which they called
+Streamfirth, from the tide in it.
+
+Beyond Streamfirth they landed and established themselves there.
+
+'There were mountains thereabouts. They occupied themselves exclusively
+with the exploration of the country. They remained there during the
+winter, and they had taken no thought for this during the summer. The
+fishing began to fail, and they began to fall short of food. Then
+Thorhall the Huntsman disappeared. They had already prayed to God for
+food, but it did not come as promptly as their necessities seemed to
+demand. They searched for Thorhall for three half-days, and found him on
+a projecting crag. He was lying there, and looking up at the sky, with
+mouth and nostrils agape, and mumbling something. They asked him why he
+had gone thither; he replied, that this did not concern anyone. They
+asked him then to go home with them, and he did so. Soon after this a
+whale appeared there, and they captured it, and flensed it, and no one
+could tell what manner of whale it was; and when the cooks had prepared
+it, they ate of it, and were all made ill by it. Then Thorhall,
+approaching them, says: "Did not the Red-beard (that is, Thor) prove
+more helpful than your Christ? This is my reward for the verses which I
+composed to Thor the Trustworthy; seldom has he failed me." When the
+people heard this, they cast the whale down into the sea, and made their
+appeals to God. The weather then improved, and they could now row out to
+fish, and thenceforward they had no lack of provisions, for they could
+hunt game on the land, gather eggs on the island, and catch fish from
+the sea.'
+
+Next spring Thorhall the heathen left them, laughing at the wine which
+he had been promised, and sailed north. He and his crew were driven to
+Ireland, where they were captured and sold as slaves, and that was all
+Thorhall got by worshipping the Red Beard. Karlsefni sailed south and
+reached a rich country of wild maize, where also was plenty of fish and
+of game. Here they first met the natives, who came in a fleet of
+skin-canoes. 'They were swarthy men and ill-looking, and the hair of
+their heads was ugly. They had great eyes and were broad of cheek.'
+
+The Icelanders held up a white shield in sign of peace, and the natives
+withdrew. They may have been Eskimo or Red Indians.
+
+The winter was mild and open, but spring had scarce returned, when the
+bay was as full of native canoes 'as if ashes had been sprinkled over
+it.' They only came to trade and exchanged furs for red cloth, nor did
+they seem to care whether they got a broad piece of cloth or a narrow
+one. They also wanted weapons, but these Karlsefni refused to sell. The
+market was going on busily when a bull that Karlsefni had brought from
+Greenland came out of the wood and began to bellow, whereon the
+Skraelings (as they called the natives) ran! Three weeks passed when the
+Skraelings returned in very great force, waving their clubs _against_
+the course of the sun, whereas in peace they waved them with it.
+Karlsefni showed a red shield, the token of war, and fighting began. It
+is not easy to make out what happened, for there are two sagas, or
+stories of these events, both written down long after they occurred. In
+one we read that the Skraelings were good slingers, and also that they
+used a machine which reminds one rather of gunpowder than of anything
+else. They swung from a pole a great black ball, and it made a fearful
+noise when it fell among Karlsefni's men. So frightened were they that
+they saw Skraelings where there were none, and they were only rallied by
+the courage of a woman named Freydis, who seized a dead man's sword and
+faced the Skraelings, beating her bare breast with the flat of the
+blade. On this the Skraelings ran to their canoes and paddled away. In
+the other account Karlsefni had fortified his house with a palisade,
+behind which the women waited. To one of them, Gudrid, the appearance of
+a white woman came; her hair was of a light chestnut colour, she was
+pale and had very large eyes. 'What is thy name?' she said to Gudrid.
+'My name is Gudrid; but what is thine?' 'Gudrid!' says the strange
+woman. Then came the sound of a great crash and the woman vanished. A
+battle followed in which many Skraelings were slain.
+
+It all reads like a dream. In the end Karlsefni sailed back to
+Ericsfirth with a great treasure of furs. A great and prosperous family
+in Iceland was descended from him at the time when the stories were
+written down. But it is said that Freydis who frightened the Skraelings
+committed many murders in Vineland among her own people.
+
+The Icelanders never returned to Vineland the Good, though a bishop
+named Eric is said to have started for the country in 1121. Now, in the
+story of Cortés, you may read how the Mexicans believed in a God called
+Quetzalcoatl, a white man in appearance, who dwelt among them and
+departed mysteriously, saying that he would come again, and they at
+first took Cortés and his men for the children of Quetzalcoatl. So we
+may fancy if we please that Bishop Eric, or one of his descendants,
+wandered from Vineland south and west across the continent and arrived
+among the Aztecs, and by them was taken for a God.[13]
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[13] The story is taken from the Saga of Eric the Red, and from the
+Flatey Book in Mr. Reeves's _Finding of Wineland the Good_ (Clarendon
+Press, 1890). The discovery of Vineland was made about the year 1000.
+The saga of Eric the Red was written about 1300-1334, but two hundred
+years before, about 1134, Ari the learned mentions Vineland as quite
+familiar in his _Íslandingabók_. There are other traces of Vineland,
+earlier than the manuscript of the Saga of Eric the Red. Of course we do
+not know when that saga was first written down. The oldest extant
+manuscript of it belonged to one Hauk, who died in 1334.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ESCAPES OF CERVANTES_
+
+
+MOST people know of the terrible war, waged even down to the present
+century, between the Christian ships cruising about the Mediterranean
+and the dreaded Moors or Corsairs of the Barbary Coast. It was a war
+that began in the name of religion, the Crescent against the Cross; but,
+as far as we can learn from the records of both sides, there was little
+to choose in the way that either party treated the captives. A large
+number of these were chained to the oars of the galleys which were the
+ships of battle of the middle ages, and sometimes the oars were so long
+and heavy that they needed forty men to each. The rowers had food enough
+to give them the strength necessary for their work, and that was all,
+and the knowledge that they were exerting themselves for the downfall of
+their fellow-Christians, often of their fellow-countrymen, must have
+made their labour a toil indeed. Often it happened that a man's courage
+gave way and he denied his faith and his country, and rose to great
+honours in the service of the Sultan, the chief of the little kings who
+swarmed on the African coasts. The records of the Corsairs bristle with
+examples of these successful renegades, many of them captured as boys,
+who were careless under what flag they served, as long as their lives
+were lives of adventure.
+
+All the captives were not, however, turned into galley slaves. Some were
+taken to the towns and kept in prisons called _bagnios_, waiting till
+their friends sent money to redeem them. If this was delayed, they were
+set to public works, and treated with great severity, so that their
+letters imploring deliverance might become yet more urgent. The others,
+known as the king's captives, whose ransom might be promptly expected,
+did no work and were kept apart from the rest.
+
+It was on September 26, 1575, that Miguel Cervantes, the future author
+of 'Don Quixote,' fell into the hands of a Greek renegade Dali Mami by
+name, captain of a galley of twenty-two banks of oars. Cervantes, the
+son of a poor but well-descended gentleman of Castile, had served with
+great distinction under Don John of Austria at the battle of Lepanto
+four years earlier, and was now returning with his brother Rodrigo to
+Spain on leave, bearing with him letters from the commander-in-chief,
+Don John, the Duke of Sesa, Viceroy of Sicily, and other distinguished
+men, testifying to his qualities as a soldier, 'as valiant as he was
+unlucky,' and recommending Philip II. to give him the command of a
+Spanish company then being formed for Italian service. But all these
+honours proved his bane. The Spanish squadron had not sailed many days
+from Naples when it encountered a Corsair fleet, and after a sharp fight
+Cervantes and his friends were carried captive into Algiers.
+
+Of course the first thing done was to examine each man as to his
+position in life, and the amount of ransom he might be expected to
+bring, and the letters found upon Miguel Cervantes impressed them with
+the notion that he was a person of consequence, and capable of
+furnishing a large sum of money. They therefore took every means of
+ensuring his safety, loading him with chains, appointing him guards, and
+watching him day and night.
+
+          'Stone walls do not a prison make,
+          Nor iron bars a cage.'
+
+Cervantes never lost heart a moment, but at once began to plan an escape
+for himself and his fellow-captives. But the scheme broke down owing to
+the treachery of the man in whom he had confided, and the Spaniards,
+particularly Cervantes, were made to suffer a stricter confinement than
+before. The following year the old Cervantes sent over what money he had
+been able to raise on his own property and his daughters' marriage
+portions for the ransom of his sons, by the hands of the Redemptorist
+Fathers, an Order which had been founded for the sole purpose of
+carrying on this charitable work. But when the sum was offered to Dali
+Mami he declared it wholly insufficient for purchasing the freedom of
+such a captive, though it was considered adequate as the ransom of the
+younger brother Rodrigo. Accordingly, in August 1577, Rodrigo Cervantes
+set sail for Spain, bearing secret orders from his brother Miguel to fit
+out an armed frigate, and to send it by way of Valencia and Majorca to
+rescue himself and his friends.
+
+But even before the departure of Rodrigo, Cervantes had been laying
+other plans. He had, somehow or other, managed to make acquaintance
+with the Navarrese gardener of a Greek renegade named Azan, who had a
+garden stretching down to the sea-shore, about three miles east of
+Algiers, where Cervantes was then imprisoned. This gardener had
+contrived to use a cave in Azan's garden as a hiding place for some
+escaped Christians, and as far back as February 1577 about fifteen had
+taken refuge there, under the direction of Cervantes. How they remained
+for so many months undiscovered, and how they were all fed, no one can
+tell; but this part of the duty had been undertaken by a captive
+renegade called El Dorador, or the Gilder, to whom their secret had been
+confided.
+
+Meanwhile, Rodrigo had proved faithful to his trust. He had equipped a
+frigate for sea, under the command of a tried soldier, Viana by name,
+who was familiar with the Barbary coast. It set sail at the end of
+September, and by the 28th had sighted Algiers. From motives of prudence
+the boat kept to sea till nightfall, when it silently approached the
+shore. The captives hailed it with joy, and were in the act of
+embarking, when a fishing craft full of Moors passed by, and the rescue
+vessel was forced to put to sea. Meanwhile, Cervantes and the fugitives
+in the cave had to return disheartened into hiding, and await another
+opportunity.
+
+But once lost, the opportunity was gone for ever. Before any fresh
+scheme could be concerted, El Dorador had betrayed the hiding place of
+the Christians and their plan of escape to the cruel Dey or King Azan,
+who saw in the information a means to satisfy his greed. According to
+the law of the country, he was enabled to claim the escaped slaves as
+his own property (except Cervantes, for whom he paid 500 crowns), and
+with a company of armed men presented himself before the cave.
+
+In this dreadful strait Cervantes' courage never faltered. He told the
+trembling captives not to fear, as he would take upon himself the entire
+responsibility of the plan. Then, addressing Azan's force, he proclaimed
+himself the sole contriver of the scheme, and professed his willingness
+to bear the punishment. The Turks were struck dumb at valour such as
+this, in the presence of the most dreadful torments, and contented
+themselves with ordering the captives into close confinement at the
+bagnio, hanging the gardener, and bringing Cervantes bound to receive
+his sentence from the Dey Azan himself.
+
+The threats of impalement, torture, mutilation of every kind, which
+Cervantes well knew to be no mere threats, had no effect upon his
+faithful soul. He stuck to the story he had told, and the Dey, 'wearied
+by so much constancy,' as the Spanish historian says, ended by loading
+him with chains, and throwing him again into prison.
+
+For some time he remained here, strictly and closely guarded, but his
+mind always active as to plans of escape. At last, however, he managed
+to enter into relations with Don Martin de Cordoba, General of Oran, by
+means of a Moor, who undertook to convey letters asking for help for the
+Spanish prisoners. But his ill fortune had not yet deserted him. The
+messenger fell into the hands of other Moors, who handed him over to
+Azan, and the wretched man was at once put to a cruel death by the Dey's
+orders. Curiously enough, the sentence of 2,000 lashes passed upon
+Cervantes was never carried into effect.
+
+Disappointments and dangers only made Cervantes more determined to free
+himself or die in the attempt; but nearly two years dragged by before he
+saw another hope rise before him, though he did everything he could in
+the interval to soothe the wretched lot of his fellow-captives. This
+time his object was to induce two Valencia merchants of Algiers to buy
+an armed frigate, destined to carry Cervantes and a large number of
+Christians back to Spain, but at the last minute they were again
+betrayed, this time by a countryman, and again Cervantes took the blame
+on his own shoulders, and confessed nothing to the Dey.
+
+Now it seemed indeed as if his last moment had come. His hands were tied
+behind him, and a cord was put round his neck; but Cervantes never
+swerved from the tale he had resolved to tell, and at the close of the
+interview found himself within the walls of a Moorish prison, where he
+lay for five months loaded with fetters and chains, and treated with
+every kind of severity, though never with actual cruelty.
+
+All this time his mind was busy with a fresh scheme, nothing short of a
+concerted insurrection of all the captives in Algiers, numbering about
+25,000, who were to overpower the city, and to plant the Spanish flag on
+its towers. His measures seem to have been taken with sufficient
+prudence and foresight to give them a fair chance of success, bold as
+the idea was, but treachery as usual caused the downfall of everything.
+Why, under such repeated provocation, the cruel Azan Aga did not put him
+to a frightful death it is hard to understand, but in his 'Captive's
+Story,' Cervantes himself bears testimony to the comparative moderation
+of the Dey's behaviour towards him. 'Though suffering,' he says,
+'often, if not indeed always, from hunger and thirst, the worst of all
+our miseries was the sight and sound of the tortures daily inflicted by
+our master on our fellow-Christians. Every day he hanged one, impaled
+another, cut off the ears of a third; and all this for so little reason,
+or even for none at all, that the very Turks knew he did it for the mere
+pleasure of doing it; and because to him cruelty was the natural
+employment of mankind. Only one man did he use well, and that was a
+Spanish soldier, named Saavedra, and though this Saavedra had struck
+blows for liberty which will be remembered by Moors for many years to
+come, yet Azan never either gave him stripes himself, nor ordered his
+servants to do so, neither did he ever throw him an evil word; while we
+trembled lest for the smallest of his offences the tyrant would have him
+impaled, and more than once he himself expected it.' This
+straightforward account of matters inside the bagnio is the more
+valuable and interesting if we recollect that Cervantes'
+great-grandmother was a Saavedra, and that the soldier alluded to in the
+text was really himself. It is impossible to explain satisfactorily the
+sheathing of the tiger's claws on his account alone; did Cervantes
+exercise unconsciously a mesmeric influence over Azan? Did Azan ascribe
+his captive's defiance of death and worse than death to his bearing a
+charmed life? Or did he hold him to be a man of such consequence in his
+own country, that it was well to keep him in as good condition as Azan's
+greed would permit? We shall never know; only there remains Cervantes'
+emphatic declaration that during the five long years of his captivity no
+man's hand was ever lifted against him.
+
+Meanwhile, having no more money wherewith to ransom his son, Rodrigo de
+Cervantes made a declaration of his poverty before a court of law, and
+set forth Miguel's services and claims. In March 1578, the old man's
+prayer was enforced by the appearance of four witnesses who had known
+him both in the Levant and in Algiers and could testify to the truth of
+his father's statement, and a certificate of such facts as were within
+his knowledge being willingly offered by the Duke of Sesa, the King,
+Philip II., consented to furnish the necessary ransom.
+
+But the ill-fortune which had attended Cervantes in these past years
+seemed to stick to him now. Just when the negotiations were drawing to a
+conclusion, his father suddenly died, and it appeared as if the
+expedition of the Redemptorist Fathers would sail without him. However,
+his mother was happily a woman of energy, and after managing somehow to
+raise three hundred ducats on her own possessions, appealed to the King
+for help. This he appears to have granted her at once, and he gave her
+an order for 2,000 ducats on some Valencia merchandise; but with their
+usual bad luck they only ultimately succeeded in obtaining about sixty,
+which with her own three hundred were placed in the hands of the
+Redemptorist Fathers.
+
+It was time: the fact that the term of Azan's government of Algiers had
+drawn to an end rendered him more than ever greedy for money, and he
+demanded for Cervantes double the price that he himself had paid, and
+threatened, if this was not forthcoming, to carry his captive on board
+his own vessel, which was bound for Constantinople. Indeed, this threat
+was actually put into effect, and Cervantes, bound and loaded with
+chains, was placed in a ship of the little squadron that was destined
+for Turkish waters. The good father felt that once in Constantinople,
+Cervantes would probably remain a prisoner to the end of his life, and
+made unheard of efforts to accomplish his release, borrowing the money
+that was still lacking from some Algerian merchants, and even using the
+ransoms that had been entrusted to him for other captives. Then at last
+Cervantes was set free, and after five years was able to go where he
+would and return to his native country.
+
+His work however was not yet done. He somehow discovered that a Spaniard
+named Blanco de Paz, who had once before betrayed him, was determined,
+through jealousy, to have him arrested the moment he set foot in Spain,
+and to this end had procured a mass of false evidence respecting his
+conduct in Algiers. It is not easy to see what Cervantes could have done
+to incur the hatred of this man, but about this he did not trouble
+himself to inquire, and set instantly to consider the best way of
+bringing his schemes to naught. He entreated his friend, Father Gil, to
+be present at an interview held before the notary Pedro de Ribera, at
+which a number of respectable Christians appeared to answer a paper of
+twenty-five questions, propounded by Cervantes himself, as to the
+principal events of his five years of imprisonment, and his treatment of
+his fellow-captives. Armed with this evidence, he was able to defy the
+traitor, and to return in honour to his native land.
+
+With the rest of his life we have nothing to do. It was not, we may be
+sure, lacking in adventure, for he was the kind of man to whom
+adventures come, and as his inheritance was all gone, he went back to
+his old trade, and joined the army which Philip was assembling to
+enforce his claim to the crown of Portugal. In this country as in all
+others to which his wandering life had led him, he made many friends and
+took notice of what went on around him. He was in all respects a man
+practical and vigorous, in many ways the exact opposite of his own Don
+Quixote, who saw everything enlarged and glorified and nothing as it
+really was, but in other ways the true counterpart of his hero in his
+desire to give help and comfort wherever it was needed, and to leave the
+world better than he found it.
+
+
+
+
+_THE WORTHY ENTERPRISE OF JOHN FOXE, AN ENGLISHMAN, IN DELIVERING TWO
+HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX CHRISTIANS OUT OF THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TURKS AT
+ALEXANDRIA, JANUARY 3, 1577_
+
+
+AMONG our English merchants it is a common thing to traffic with Spain,
+for which purpose, in 1563, there set out from Portsmouth a ship called
+the 'Three Half Moons,' with thirty-eight men on board, and well armed,
+the better to encounter any foes they might meet. Now, drawing near the
+Straits, they found themselves beset by eight Turkish galleys, so that
+it was impossible for them to fly, but they must either yield or be
+sunk. This the owner perceiving, manfully encouraged his company,
+telling them not to faint in seeing such a heap of their foes ready to
+devour them; putting them in mind also that if it were God's pleasure to
+give them into their enemies' hands, there ought not to be one
+unpleasant look among them, but they must take it patiently; putting
+them in mind also of the ancient worthiness of their countrymen, who in
+the hardest extremities have always most prevailed. With other such
+encouragement they all fell on their knees, making their prayers briefly
+to God.
+
+Then stood up Grove, the master, being a comely man, with his sword and
+target, holding them up in defiance against his enemies. Likewise stood
+up the owner, boatswain, purser, and every man well armed. Now also
+sounded up the trumpets, drums, and flutes, which would have encouraged
+any man, however little heart he had in him.
+
+Then John Foxe, the gunner, took him to his charge, sending his bullets
+among the Turks, who likewise fired among the Christians, and thrice as
+fast. But shortly they drew near, so that the English bowmen fell to
+shooting so terribly among their galleys that there were twice as many
+of the Turks slain as the whole number of the Christians. But the Turks
+discharged twice as fast against the Christians, and so long that the
+ship was very sorely battered and bruised, which the foe perceiving,
+made the more haste to come aboard. For this coming aboard many a Turk
+paid dearly with his life, but it was all in vain, and board they did,
+where they found a hot skirmish. For the Englishmen showed themselves
+men indeed, and the boatswain was valiant above the rest, for he fought
+among the Turks like a mad lion, and there was none of them that could
+stand in his face; till at last there came a shot that struck him in the
+breast, so that he fell down, bidding them farewell, and to be of good
+comfort, and exhorting them rather to win praise by death than to live
+in captivity and shame. This, they hearing, indeed intended to have
+done, but the number and press of the Turks was so great that they could
+not wield their weapons, and so were taken, when they intended rather to
+have died, except only the master's mate, who shrank from the fight like
+a notable coward.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But so it was, and the Turks were victors, though they had little cause
+of triumph. Then it would have grieved any hard heart to see these
+infidels wantonly ill-treating the Christians, who were no sooner in
+the galleys than their garments were torn from their backs, and they set
+to the oars.
+
+I will make no mention of their miseries, being now under their enemies'
+raging stripes, their bodies distressed with too much heat, and also
+with too much cold; but I will rather show the deliverance of those who,
+being in great misery, continually trust in God, with a steadfast hope
+that He will deliver them.
+
+Near the city of Alexandria, being a harbour, there is a ship-road, very
+well defended by strong walls, into which the Turks are accustomed to
+bring their galleys every winter, and there repair them and lay them up
+against the spring. In this road there is a prison, in which the
+captives and all those prisoners who serve in the galleys are confined
+till the sea be calm again for voyaging, every prisoner being most
+grievously laden with irons on his legs, giving him great pain. Into
+this prison all these Christians were put, and fast guarded all the
+winter, and every winter. As time passed the master and the owner were
+redeemed by friends; but the rest were left in misery, and
+half-starved--except John Foxe, who being a somewhat skilful barber,
+made shift now and then, by means of his craft, to help out his fare
+with a good meal. Till at last God sent him favour in the sight of the
+keeper of the prison, so that he had leave to go in and out to the road,
+paying a stipend to the keeper, and wearing a lock about his leg. This
+liberty six more had, on the same conditions; for after their long
+imprisonment, it was not feared that they would work any mischief
+against the Turks.
+
+In the winter of the year 1577, all the galleys having reached port, and
+their masters and mariners being at their own homes, the ships
+themselves being stripped of their masts and sails, there were in the
+prison two hundred and sixty-eight Christian captives, belonging to
+sixteen different nations. Among these were three Englishmen, one of
+them John Foxe, the others William Wickney and Robert Moore. And John
+Foxe, now having been thirteen or fourteen years under the bondage of
+the Turks, and being weary thereof, pondered continually, day and night,
+how he might escape, never ceasing to pray God to further his
+enterprise, if it should be to His glory.
+
+Not far from the road, at one side of the city, there was a certain
+victualling-house, which one Peter Unticare had hired, paying a fee to
+the keeper of the prison. This Peter Unticare was a Spaniard, and also a
+Christian, and had been a prisoner about thirty years, never contriving
+any means to escape, but keeping himself quiet without being suspected
+of conspiracy. But on the coming of John Foxe they disclosed their minds
+to each other about their loss of liberty; and to this Unticare John
+Foxe confided a plan for regaining their freedom, which plan the three
+Englishmen continually brooded over, till they resolved to acquaint five
+more prisoners with their secret. This being done, they arranged in
+three more days to make their attempt at escape. Whereupon John Foxe,
+and Peter Unticare, and the other six arranged to meet in the prison on
+the last day of December, and there they told the rest of the prisoners
+what their intention was, and how they hoped to bring it to pass. And
+having, without much ado, persuaded all to agree, John Foxe gave them a
+kind of files, which he had hoarded together by means of Peter Unticare,
+charging them every man to be free of his fetters by eight o'clock on
+the following night.
+
+The next night John Foxe and his six companions, all having met at the
+house of Peter Unticare, spent the evening mirthfully for fear of
+rousing suspicion, till it was time for them to put their scheme into
+execution. Then they sent Peter Unticare to the master of the road, in
+the name of one of the masters of the city, with whom he was well
+acquainted, and at the mention of whose name he was likely to come at
+once, desiring him to meet him there, and promising to bring him back
+again.
+
+The keeper agreed to go with Unticare, telling the warders not to bar
+the gate, for he would come again with all speed. In the meantime the
+other seven had provided themselves with all the weapons they could find
+in the house, and John Foxe took a rusty old sword without a hilt, which
+he managed to make serve by bending the hand end of the sword instead of
+a hilt.
+
+Now the keeper being come to the house, and seeing no light nor hearing
+any noise, straightway suspected the plot, and was turning back. But
+John Foxe, standing behind the corner of the house, stepped forth to
+him. He perceiving it to be John Foxe, said: 'O Foxe! what have I
+deserved of thee that thou shouldest seek my death?'
+
+'Thou, villain,' quoth Foxe, 'hast been a blood-sucker of many a
+Christian's blood, and now thou shalt know what thou hast deserved at my
+hands!'
+
+Therewith he lifted up his bright shining sword, cleared of its ten
+years' rust, and struck him so strong a blow that his head was cleft
+asunder, and he fell stark dead to the ground. Thereupon Peter Unticare
+went in and told the rest how it was with the keeper, and at once they
+came forth, and with their weapons ran him through and cut off his head,
+so that no man should know who he was.
+
+Then they marched towards the road, and entered it softly. There were
+six warders guarding it, and one of them asked who was there. Then quoth
+Foxe and his company, 'All friends!'
+
+But when they were within it proved contrary, for, quoth Foxe to his
+companions:
+
+'My masters, here there is not a man to a man, so look you play your
+parts!' They so behaved themselves indeed that they had despatched those
+six quickly. Then John Foxe, intending not to be thwarted in his
+enterprise, barred the gate surely, and planted a cannon against it.
+
+They entered the gaoler's lodge, where they found the keys of the
+fortress and prison by his bedside, and then they all got better
+weapons. In this chamber was a chest holding a great treasure, all in
+ducats, which Peter Unticare and two more stuffed into their garments,
+as many as they could carry. But Foxe would not touch them, saying that
+it was his liberty and theirs he sought, and not to make a spoil of the
+wicked treasure of the infidels. Yet these words did not sink into their
+hearts, though they had no good of their gain.
+
+Now, having provided themselves with the weapons they needed, they came
+to the prison, and unlocked its gates and doors, and called forth all
+the prisoners, whom they employed, some in ramming up the gate, some in
+fitting up a galley which was the best in the road.
+
+In the prison were several warders, whom John Foxe and his company slew;
+but this was perceived by eight more Turks, who fled to the top of the
+prison, where Foxe and his company had to reach them by ladders. Then
+followed a hot skirmish, and John Foxe was shot thrice through his
+apparel, without being hurt; but Peter Unticare and the other two, who
+had weighed themselves down with the ducats so that they could not
+manage their weapons, were slain.
+
+Among the Turks there was one thrust through who fell from the top of
+the prison wall, and made such a crying out that the inhabitants of a
+house or two that stood near came and questioned him, and soon
+understood the case--how the prisoners were attempting to escape. Then
+they raised both Alexandria on the west side of the road, and a castle
+at the end of the city next to the road, and also another fortress on
+the north side of the road. And now the prisoners had no way to escape
+but one that might seem impossible for them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then every man set to work, some to their tackling, some carrying arms
+and provisions into the galley, some keeping the enemy from the wall of
+the road. To be short, there was no man idle, nor any labour spent in
+vain; so that presently the galley was ready, and into it they all
+leaped hastily, and hoisted sail.
+
+But when the galley had set sail, and was past the shelter of the road,
+the two castles had full power over it, and what could save it from
+sinking? The cannon let fly from both sides, and it was between them
+both.
+
+Yet there was not one on board that feared the shot that came thundering
+about their ears, nor yet was any man scarred or touched. For now God
+held forth His buckler and shielded this galley, having tried their
+faith to the uttermost. And they sailed away, being not once touched
+with the glance of a shot, and were presently out of the reach of the
+Turkish cannon. Then might you see the Turks coming down to the
+waterside, in companies like swarms of bees, trying to make ready their
+galleys--which would have been a quick piece of work, seeing that they
+had in them neither oars, nor sails, nor anything else. Yet they carried
+them in, but some into one galley, some into another, for there was much
+confusion among them; and the sea being rough, and they having no
+certain guide, it was a thing impossible that they should overtake the
+prisoners. For they had neither pilot, mariners, nor any skilful master
+that was ready at this pinch.
+
+When the Christians were safe out of the enemy's coast, John Foxe called
+to them all, telling them to fall down upon their knees, thanking God
+for their delivery, and beseeching Him to aid them to the land of their
+friends. Then they fell straightway to labouring at the oars, striving
+to come to some Christian country, as near as they could guess by the
+stars. But the winds were so contrary, now driving them this way, now
+that, that they were bewildered, thinking that God had forsaken them and
+left them to yet greater danger. And soon there were no victuals left in
+the galley; and the famine grew to be so great that in twenty-eight days
+there had died eight persons.
+
+But it fell out that upon the twenty-ninth day, they reached the Isle of
+Candy, and landed at Gallipoli, where they were made much of by the
+Abbot and monks, and cared for and refreshed. They kept there the sword
+with which John Foxe had killed the keeper, esteeming it a most precious
+jewel.
+
+Then they sailed along the cost to Tarento, where they sold the galley,
+and went on foot to Naples, having divided the price. But at Naples they
+parted asunder, going every man his own way, and John Foxe journeyed to
+Rome, where he was well entertained by an Englishman and presented to
+the Pope, who rewarded him liberally and gave him letters to the King of
+Spain. And by the King of Spain also he was well entertained, and
+granted twenty pence a day. Thence, desiring to return into his own
+country, he departed in 1579, and being come into England, he went into
+the Court, and told all his travel to the Council, who, considering that
+he had spent a great part of his youth in thraldom, extended to him
+their liberality, to help to maintain him in age--to their own honour
+and the encouragement of all true-hearted Christians.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_BARON TRENCK_
+
+
+MOST men who have escaped from prison owe their fame, not to their
+flight, but to the deeds which caused their imprisonment. It may,
+however, safely be asserted that few people out of his own country would
+have heard of Baron Trenck had it not been for the wonderful skill and
+cunning with which he managed to cut through the 'stone walls' and 'iron
+bars' of all his many 'cages.' He was born at Königsberg in Prussia in
+1726, and entered the body-guard of Frederic II. in 1742, when he was
+about sixteen. Trenck was a young man of good family, rich,
+well-educated, and, according to his own account, fond of amusement. He
+confesses to having shirked his duties more than once for the sake of
+some pleasure, even after the War of the Austrian Succession had broken
+out (September 1744), and Frederic, strict though he was, had forgiven
+him. It is plain from this, that the King must have considered that
+Trenck had been guilty of some deadly treachery towards him, when in
+after years he declined to pardon him for crimes which after all the
+young man had never committed.
+
+Trenck's first confinement was in 1746, when he was thrown into the
+Castle of Glatz, on a charge of corresponding with his cousin and
+namesake, who was in the service of the Empress Maria Theresa, and of
+being an Austrian spy. At first he was kindly treated and allowed to
+walk freely about the fortifications, and he took advantage of the
+liberty given him to arrange a plan of escape with one of his
+fellow-prisoners. The plot was, however, betrayed by the other man, and
+a heavy punishment fell on Trenck. By the King's orders, he was promptly
+deprived of all his privileges, and placed in a cell in one of the
+towers, which overlooked the ramparts lying ninety feet below, on the
+side nearest the town. This added a fresh difficulty to his chances of
+escape, as, in passing from the castle to the town, he was certain to be
+seen by many people. But no obstacles mattered to Trenck. He had money,
+and then, as now, money could do a great deal. So he began by bribing
+one of the officials about the prison, and the official in his turn
+bribed a soap-boiler, who lived not far from the castle gates, and
+promised to conceal Trenck somewhere in his house. Still, liberty must
+have seemed a long way off, for Trenck had only one little knife
+(_canif_) with which to cut through everything. By dint of incessant and
+hard work, he managed to saw through three thick steel bars, but even
+so, there were eight others left to do. His friend the official then
+procured him a file, but he was obliged to use it with great care, lest
+the scraping sound should be heard by his guards. Perhaps they wilfully
+closed their ears, for many of them were sorry for Trenck; but, at all
+events, the eleven bars were at last sawn through, and all that remained
+was to make a rope ladder. This he did by tearing his leather
+portmanteau into strips, and plaiting them into a rope, and as this was
+not long enough, he added his sheets. The night was dark and rainy,
+which favoured him, and he reached the bottom of the rampart in safety.
+Unluckily, he met here with an obstacle on which he had never counted.
+There was a large drain, opening into one of the trenches, which Trenck
+had neither seen nor heard of, and into this he fell. In spite of his
+struggles, he was held fast, and his strength being at last exhausted,
+he was forced to call the sentinel, and at midday, having been left in
+the drain for hours to make sport for the town, he was carried back to
+his cell.
+
+Henceforth he was still more strictly watched than before, though,
+curiously enough, his money never seems to have been taken from him, and
+at this time he had about eighty louis left, which he always kept hidden
+about him. Eight days after his last attempt, Fouquet, the commandant of
+Glatz, who hated Trenck and all his family, sent a deputation consisting
+of the adjutant, an officer, and a certain Major Doo, to speak to the
+unfortunate man, and exhort him to patience and submission. Trenck
+entered into conversation with them for the purpose of throwing them off
+their guard, when suddenly he snatched away Doo's sword, rushed from his
+cell, knocked down the sentinel and lieutenant who were standing
+outside, and striking right and left at the soldiers who came flying to
+bar his progress, he dashed down the stairs and leapt from the ramparts.
+Though the height was great, he fell into the fosse without injury, and
+still grasping his sword. He scrambled quickly to his feet and jumped
+easily over the second rampart, which was much lower than the first, and
+then began to breathe freely, as he thought he was safe from being
+overtaken by the soldiers, who would have to come a long way round. At
+this moment, however, he saw a sentinel making for him a short distance
+off, and he rushed for the palisades which divided the fortifications
+from the open country, from which the mountains and Bohemia were easily
+reached. In the act of scaling them, his foot was caught tight between
+the bars, and he was trapped till the sentinel came up, and after a
+sharp fight got him back to prison.
+
+For some time poor Trenck was in a sad condition. In his struggle with
+the sentinel he had been wounded, while his right foot had got crushed
+in the palisades. Beside this, he was watched far more strictly than
+before, for an officer and two men remained always in his cell, and two
+sentinels were stationed outside. The reason of these precautions of
+course was to prevent his gaining over his guards singly, either by pity
+or bribery. His courage sank to its lowest ebb, as he was told on all
+sides that his imprisonment was for life, whereas long after he
+discovered the real truth, that the King's intention had been to keep
+him under arrest for a year only, and if he had had a little more
+patience, three weeks would have found him free. His repeated attempts
+to escape naturally angered Frederic, while on the other hand the King
+knew nothing of the fact which excused Trenck's impatience--namely, the
+belief carefully instilled in him by all around him that he was doomed
+to perpetual confinement.
+
+It is impossible to describe in detail all the plans made by Trenck to
+regain his freedom, first because they were endless, and secondly
+because several were nipped in the bud. Still the unfortunate man felt
+that as long as his money was not taken from him his case was not
+hopeless, for the officers in command were generally poor and in debt,
+and were always sent to garrison work as a punishment. After one wild
+effort to liberate _all_ the prisoners in the fortress, which was
+naturally discovered and frustrated, Trenck made friends with an officer
+named Schell, lately arrived at Glatz, who promised not only his aid but
+his company in the new enterprise. As more money would be needed than
+Trenck had in his possession, he contrived to apply to his rich
+relations outside the prison, and by some means--what we are not
+told--they managed to convey a large sum to him. Suspicion, however, got
+about that Trenck was on too familiar a footing with the officers, and
+orders were given that his door should always be kept locked. This
+occasioned further delay, as false keys had secretly to be made, before
+anything else could be done.
+
+Their flight was unexpectedly hastened by Schell accidentally learning
+that he was in danger of arrest. One night they crept unobserved through
+the arsenal and over the inner palisade, but on reaching the rampart
+they came face to face with two of the officers, and again a leap into
+the fosse was the only way of escape. Luckily the wall at this point was
+not high, and Trenck arrived at the bottom without injury; but Schell
+was not so happy, and hurt his foot so badly that he called on his
+friend to kill him, and to make the best of his way alone. Trenck,
+however, declined to abandon him, and having dragged him over the outer
+palisade, took him on his back, and made for the frontier. Before they
+had gone five hundred yards they heard the boom of the alarm guns from
+the fortress, while clearer still were the sounds of pursuit. As they
+knew that they would naturally be sought on the side towards Bohemia,
+they changed their course and pushed on to the river Neiss, at this
+season partly covered with ice. Trenck swam over slowly with this friend
+on his back, and found a boat on the other side. By means of this boat
+they evaded their enemies, and reached the mountains after some hours,
+very hungry, and almost frozen to death.
+
+Here a new terror awaited them. Some peasants with whom they took refuge
+recognised Schell, and for a moment the fugitives gave themselves up for
+lost. But the peasants took pity on the two wretched objects, fed them
+and gave them shelter, till they could make up their minds what was best
+to be done. To their unspeakable dismay, they found that they were,
+after all, only seven miles from Glatz, and that in the neighbouring
+town of Wunschelburg a hundred soldiers were quartered, with orders to
+capture all deserters from the fortress. This time, however, fortune
+favoured the luckless Trenck, and though he and Schell were both in
+uniform, they rode unobserved through the village while the rest of the
+people were at church, and, skirting Wunschelburg, crossed the Bohemian
+frontier in the course of the day.
+
+Then follows a period of comparative calm in Trenck's history. He
+travelled freely about Poland, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and
+Holland, and even ventured occasionally across the border into Prussia.
+Twelve years seem to have passed by in this manner, till in 1758 his
+mother died, and Trenck asked leave of the council of war to go up to
+Dantzic to see his family and to arrange his affairs. Curiously enough,
+it appears never to have occurred to him that he was a deserter, and as
+such liable to be arrested at any moment. And this was what actually
+happened. By order of the King, Trenck was taken first to Berlin, where
+he was deprived of his money and some valuable rings, and then removed
+to Magdeburg, of which place Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick was the
+governor.
+
+Here his quarters were worse than he had ever known them. His cell was
+only six feet by ten, and the window was high, with bars without as well
+as within. The wall was seven feet thick, and beyond it was a palisade,
+which rendered it impossible for the sentinels to approach the window.
+On the other side the prisoner was shut in by three doors, and his food
+(which was not only bad, but very scanty) was passed to him through an
+opening.
+
+One thing only was in his favour. His cell was only entered once a week,
+so he could pursue any work to further his escape without much danger of
+being discovered. Notwithstanding the high window, the thick wall, and
+the palisade, notwithstanding too his want of money, he soon managed to
+open negotiations with the sentinels, and found, to his great joy, that
+the next cell was empty. If he could only contrive to burrow his way
+into that, he would be able to watch his opportunity to steal through
+the open door; once free he could either swim the Elbe and cross into
+Saxony, which lay about six miles distant, or else float down the river
+in a boat till he was out of danger.
+
+Small as the cell was, it contained a sort of cupboard fixed into the
+floor by irons, and on these Trenck began to work. After frightful
+labour he at last extracted the heavy nails which fastened the staples
+to the floor, and breaking off the heads (which he put back to avoid
+detection), he kept the rest to fashion for his own purposes. By this
+means he made instruments to raise the bricks.
+
+On this side also the wall was seven feet thick, and formed of bricks
+and stones. Trenck numbered them as he went on with the greatest care,
+so that the cell might present its usual appearance before the Wednesday
+visit of his guards. To hide the joins, he scraped off some of the
+mortar, which he smeared over the place.
+
+As may be supposed, all this took a very long time. He had nothing to
+work with but the tools he himself had made, which of course were very
+rough. But one day a friendly sentinel gave him a little iron rod, and a
+small knife with a wooden handle. These were treasures, indeed! And with
+their help he worked away for six months at his hole, as in some places
+the mortar had become so hard that it had to be pounded like a stone.
+
+During this time he enlisted the compassion of some of the other
+sentinels, who not only described to him the lie of the country which he
+would have to traverse if he ever succeeded in getting out of prison,
+but interested in his behalf a Jewess named Esther Heymann, whose own
+father had been for two years a prisoner in Magdeburg. In this manner
+Trenck became the possessor of a file, a knife, and some writing paper,
+as the friendly Jewess had agreed to convey letters to some influential
+people both at Vienna and Berlin, and also to his sister. But this step
+led to the ruin, not only of Trenck, but of several persons concerned,
+for they were betrayed by an Imperial Secretary of Embassy called
+Weingarten, who was tempted by a bill for 20,000 florins. Many of those
+guilty of abetting Trenck in this fresh effort to escape were put to
+death, while his sister was ordered to build a new prison for him in the
+Fort de l'Etoile, and he himself was destined to pass nine more years in
+chains.
+
+In spite of his fetters, Trenck was able in some miraculous way to get
+on with his hole, but his long labour was rendered useless by the
+circumstance that his new prison was finished sooner than he expected,
+and he was removed into it hastily, being only able to conceal his
+knife. He was now chained even more heavily than before, his two feet
+being attached to a heavy ring fixed in the wall, another ring being
+fastened round his body. From this ring was suspended a chain with a
+thick iron bar, two feet long at the bottom, and to this his hands were
+fastened. An iron collar was afterwards added to his instruments of
+torture.
+
+Besides torments of body, nothing was wanting which could work on his
+mind. His prison was built between the trenches of the principal
+rampart, and was of course very dark. It was likewise very damp, and, to
+crown all, the name of 'Trenck' had been printed in red bricks on the
+wall, above a tomb whose place was indicated by a death's head.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Here again, he tells us, he excited the pity of his guards, who gave him
+a bed and coverlet, and as much bread as he chose to eat; and, wonderful
+as it may seem, his health did not suffer from all these horrors. As
+soon as he got a little accustomed to his cramped position, he began to
+use the knife he had left, and to cut through his chains. He next burst
+the iron band, and after a long time severed his leg fetters, but in
+such a way that he could put them on again, and no one be any the wiser.
+Nothing is more common in the history of prisoners than this exploit,
+and nothing is more astonishing, yet we meet with the fact again and
+again in their memoirs and biographies. Trenck at any rate appears to
+have accomplished the feat without much difficulty, though he found it
+very hard to get his hand back into his handcuffs. After he had disposed
+of his bonds, he began to saw at the doors leading to the gallery. These
+were four in number, and all of wood, but when he arrived at the fourth,
+his knife broke in two, and the courage that had upheld him for so many
+years gave way. He opened his veins and lay down to die, when in his
+despair he heard the voice of Gefhardt, the friendly sentinel from the
+other prison. Hearing of Trenck's sad plight, he scaled the palisade,
+and, we are told expressly, bound up his wounds, though we are _not_
+told how he managed to enter the cell. Be that as it may, the next day,
+when the guards came to open the door, they found Trenck ready to meet
+them, armed with a brick in one hand, and a knife, doubtless obtained
+from Gefhardt, in the other. The first man that approached him, he
+stretched wounded at his feet, and thinking it dangerous to irritate
+further a desperate man, they made a compromise with him. The governor
+took off his chains for a time, and gave him strong soup and fresh
+linen. Then, after a while, new doors were put to his cell, the inner
+door being lined with plates of iron, and he himself was fastened with
+stronger chains than those he had burst through.
+
+For all this the watch must have been very lax, as Gefhardt soon
+contrived to open communications with him again, and letters were passed
+through the window (to which the prisoner had made a false and movable
+frame) and forwarded to Trenck's rich friends. His appeal was always
+answered promptly and amply. More valuable than money were two files,
+also procured from Gefhardt, and by their means the new chains were
+speedily cut through, though, as before, without any apparent break.
+Having freed his limbs, he began to saw through the floor of his cell,
+which was of wood. Underneath, instead of hard rock, there was sand,
+which Trenck scooped out with his hands. This earth was passed through
+the window to Gefhardt, who removed it when he was on guard, and gave
+his friend pistols, a bayonet and knives to assist him when he had
+finally made his escape.
+
+All seemed going smoothly. The foundations of the prison were only four
+feet deep, and Trenck's tunnel had reached a considerable distance when
+everything was again spoilt. A letter written by Trenck to Vienna fell
+into the hands of the governor, owing to some stupidity on the part of
+Gefhardt's wife, who had been entrusted to deliver it. The letter does
+not seem to have contained any special disclosure of his plan of escape,
+as the governor, who was still Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, could find
+nothing wrong in Trenck's cell except the false window frame. The cut
+chains, though examined, somehow escaped detection, from which we gather
+either that the officials were very careless, or the carpenter very
+stupid. Perhaps both may have been the case, for as the Seven Years' War
+(against Austria) was at this time raging, sentinels and officers were
+frequently changed, and prison discipline insensibly relaxed. Had this
+not been so, Trenck could never have been able to labour unseen, but as
+it was, he was merely deprived of his bed, as a punishment for tampering
+with the window.
+
+As soon as he had recovered from his fright and an illness which
+followed, he returned to his digging. It was necessary for him to bore
+under the subterranean gallery of the principal rampart, which was a
+distance of thirty-seven feet, and to get outside the foundation of the
+rampart. Beyond that was a door leading to the second rampart. Trenck
+was forced to work naked, for fear of raising the suspicions of the
+officials by his dirty clothes, but in spite of all his precautions and
+the wilful blindness of his guards, who as usual were on his side, all
+was at length discovered. His hole was filled up, and a year's work
+lost.
+
+The next torture invented for him was worse than any that had gone
+before. He was visited and awakened every quarter of an hour, in order
+that he might not set to work in the night. This lasted for four years,
+during part of which time Trenck employed himself in writing verses and
+making drawings on his tin cups, after the manner of all prisoners, and
+in writing books with his blood, as ink was forbidden. We are again left
+in ignorance as to how he got paper. He also began to scoop out another
+hole, but was discovered afresh, though nothing particular seems to have
+been done to him, partly owing to the kindness of the new governor, who
+soon afterwards died.
+
+It had been arranged by his friends that for the space of one year
+horses should be ready for him at a certain place, on the first and
+fifteenth of every month. Inspired by this thought, he turned to his
+burrowing with renewed vigour, and worked away at every moment when he
+thought he could do so unseen. One day, however, when he had reached
+some distance, he dislodged a large stone which blocked up the opening
+towards his cell. His terror was frightful. Not only was the air
+suffocating and the darkness dreadful, but he knew that if any of the
+guards were unexpectedly to come into his cell, the opening must be
+discovered, and all his toil again lost. For eight hours he stayed in
+the tunnel paralysed by fear. Then he roused himself, and by dint of
+superhuman struggles managed to open a passage on one side of the stone,
+and to reach his cell, which for once appeared to him as a haven of
+rest.
+
+Soon after this the war ended with the Peace of Paris (1763), and
+Trenck's hopes of release seemed likely to be realised. He procured
+money from his friends, and bribed the Austrian Ambassador in Berlin to
+open negotiations on his behalf, and while these were impending he
+rested from his labours for three whole months. Suddenly he was
+possessed by an idea which was little less than madness. He bribed a
+major to ask for a visit from Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, again
+governor of Magdeburg, offering to disclose his passage, and to reveal
+all his plans of escape, on condition that the Duke would promise to
+plead for him with the King. This message never reached the Duke
+himself, but some officers arrived ostensibly sent by him, but in
+reality tools of the major's. They listened to all he had to say, and
+saw all he had to show, then broke their word, filled up the passage,
+and redoubled the chains and the watch.
+
+Notwithstanding this terrible blow, Trenck's trials were drawing to an
+end. Whether Frederic's heart was softened by his brilliant victories,
+or whether Trenck's influential friends succeeded in making themselves
+heard, we do not know, but six months later he was set free, on
+condition that he never tried to revenge himself on any one, and that he
+never again should cross the frontiers of Saxony or Prussia.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ADVENTURE OF JOHN RAWLINS_
+
+
+IN the year 1621, one John Rawlins, native of Rochester, sailed from
+Plymouth in a ship called the 'Nicholas,' which had in its company
+another ship of Plymouth, and had a fair voyage till they came within
+sight of Gibraltar. Then the watch saw five sails that seemed to do all
+in their power to come up with the 'Nicholas,' which, on its part,
+suspecting them to be pirates, hoisted all the sail it could; but to no
+avail, for before the day was over, the Turkish ships of war--for so
+they proved to be--not only overtook the Plymouth ships, but made them
+both prisoners.
+
+Then they sailed for Argier, which, when they reached, the English
+prisoners were sold as slaves, being hurried like dogs into the market,
+as men sell horses in England, and marched up and down to see who would
+give most for them. And though they had heavy hearts and sad
+countenances, yet many came to behold them, sometimes taking them by the
+hand, sometimes turning them round about, sometimes feeling their arms
+and muscles, and bargaining for them accordingly, till at last they were
+sold.
+
+John Rawlins was the last who was sold, because his hand was lame, and
+he was bought by the very captain who took him, named Villa Rise, who,
+knowing Rawlins' skill as a pilot, bought him and his carpenter at a
+very low rate--paying for Rawlins seven pounds ten reckoned in English
+money. Then he sent them to work with other slaves: but the Turks,
+seeing that through Rawlins' lame hand he could not do so much as the
+rest, complained to their master, who told him that unless he could
+obtain a ransom of fifteen pounds, he should be banished inland, where
+he would never see Christendom again.
+
+But while John Rawlins was terrified with this stern threat of Villa
+Rise, there was lying in the harbour another English ship that had been
+surprised by the pirates--the 'Exchange,' of Bristol. This ship was
+bought by an English Turk, who made captain of it another English Turk,
+and because they were both renegades, they concluded to have English
+and Dutch slaves to go in her. So it came about that, inquiring if any
+English slave were to be sold who could serve them as pilot, they heard
+of John Rawlins, and forthwith bought him of his master, Villa Rise.
+
+By January 7 the ship left Argier, with, on board her, sixty-three Turks
+and Moors, nine English slaves, and a French slave, four Dutchmen, who
+were free, and four gunners, one English, and one Dutch renegade.
+
+Now, the English slaves were employed for the most part under hatches,
+and had to labour hard, all of which John Rawlins took to heart,
+thinking it a terrible lot to be subject to such pain and danger only to
+enrich other men, and themselves to return as slaves. Therefore he broke
+out at last with such words as these:
+
+'Oh, horrible slavery, to be thus subject to dogs! Oh, Heaven strengthen
+my heart and hand, and something shall be done to deliver us from these
+cruel Mahometan dogs!'
+
+The other slaves, pitying what they thought his madness, bade him speak
+softly, lest they should all fare the worse for his rashness.
+
+'Worse,' said Rawlins, 'what can be worse? I will either regain my
+liberty at one time or another, or perish in the attempt; but if you
+would agree to join with me in the undertaking, I doubt not but we
+should find some way of winning glory with our freedom.'
+
+'Prithee be quiet,' they returned, 'and do not think of impossibilities,
+though, if indeed you could open some way of escape, so that we should
+not be condemned as madmen for trying as it were to pull the sun out of
+the heavens, then we would risk our lives; and you may be sure of
+silence.'
+
+After this the slavery continued, and the Turks set their captives to
+work at all the meanest tasks, and even when they laboured hardest,
+flogged and reviled them, till more and more John Rawlins became
+resolved to recover his liberty and surprise the ship. So he provided
+ropes with broad spikes of iron, and all the iron crows, with which he
+could, with the help of the others, fasten up the scuttles, gratings,
+and cabins, and even shut up the captain himself with his companions;
+and so he intended to work the enterprise, that, at a certain watchword,
+the English being masters of the gunner-room and the powder, would
+either be ready to blow the Turks into the air, or kill them as they
+came out one by one, if by any chance they forced open the cabins.
+
+Then, very cautiously, he told the four free Dutchmen of his plot, and
+last of all the Dutch renegades, who were also in the gunner-room; and
+all these consented readily to so daring an enterprise. So he fixed the
+time for the venture in the captain's morning watch.
+
+But you must understand that where the English slaves were there always
+hung four or five iron crows, just under the gun carriages, and when the
+time came it was very dark, so that John Rawlins, in taking out his iron
+dropped it on the side of the gun, making such a noise that the
+soldiers, hearing it, waked the Turks and told them to come down. At
+this the boatswain of the Turks descended with a candle, and searched
+everywhere, making a great deal of stir, but finding neither hatchet nor
+hammer, nor anything else suspicious, only the iron which lay slipped
+down under the gun-carriages, he went quietly up again and told the
+captain what had happened, who thought that it was no remarkable thing
+to have an iron slip from its place. But through this John Rawlins was
+forced to wait for another opportunity.
+
+When they had sailed further northward there happened another suspicious
+accident, for Rawlins had told his scheme to the renegade gunner, who
+promised secrecy by everything that could induce one to believe in him.
+But immediately after he left Rawlins, and was absent about a quarter of
+an hour, when he returned and sat down again by him. Presently, as they
+were talking, in came a furious Turk, with his sword drawn, who
+threatened Rawlins as if he would certainly kill him. This made Rawlins
+suspect that the renegade gunner had betrayed him; and he stepped back
+and drew out his knife, also taking the gunner's out of its sheath; so
+that the Turk, seeing him with _two_ knives, threw down his sword,
+saying he was only jesting. But the gunner, seeing that Rawlins
+suspected him, whispered something in his ear, calling Heaven to witness
+that he had never breathed a word of the enterprise, and never would.
+Nevertheless, Rawlins kept the knives in his sleeve all night, and was
+somewhat troubled, though afterwards the gunner proved faithful and
+zealous in the undertaking.
+
+All this time Rawlins persuaded the captain, who himself had little
+knowledge of seamanship, to steer northward, meaning to draw him away
+from the neighbourhood of other Turkish vessels. On February 6 they
+descried a sail, and at once the Turks gave chase, and made her
+surrender. It proved to be a ship from near Dartmouth, laden with silk.
+As it was stormy weather, the Turks did not put down their boat, but
+made the master of the conquered ship put down his, and come on board
+with five of his men and a boy, while ten of the Turks' men, among whom
+were one English and two Dutch renegades belonging to the conspiracy,
+went to man the prize instead.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But when Rawlins saw this division of his friends, before they could set
+out for the other ship, he found means to tell them plainly that he
+would complete his enterprise either that night or the next, and that
+whatever came of it they must acquaint the four English left on the
+captured ship with his resolution, and steer for England while the Turks
+slept and suspected nothing. For, by God's grace, in his first watch he
+would show them a light, to let them know that the enterprise was begun,
+or about to be begun.
+
+So the boat reached the ship from Dartmouth; and next Rawlins told the
+captain and his men whom the Turks had sent down among the other
+prisoners of his design, and found them willing to throw in their lot
+with him.
+
+The next morning, being February 7, the prize from Dartmouth was not to
+be seen--the men indeed having followed Rawlins' counsel and steered for
+England. But the Turkish captain began to storm and swear, telling
+Rawlins to search the seas up and down for her--which he did all day
+without success. Then Rawlins, finding a good deal of water in the hold,
+persuaded the captain, by telling him that the ship was not rightly
+balanced, to have four of the guns brought aft, that the water might run
+to the pump. This being done, and the guns placed where the English
+could use them for their own purpose, the final arrangement was made.
+The ship having three decks, those that belonged to the gunner-room were
+all to be there, and break up the lower deck. The English slaves, who
+belonged to the middle deck, were to do the same with that, and watch
+the scuttles. Rawlins himself prevailed with the gunner to give him as
+much powder as would prime the guns, and told them all there was no
+better watchword than, when the signal gun was heard, to cry:
+
+'For God, and King James, and Saint George for England.'
+
+Then, all being prepared, and every man resolute, knowing what he had to
+do, Rawlins advised the gunner to speak to the captain, that he might
+send the soldiers to the poop, to bring the ship aft, and, weighing it
+down, send the water to the pumps. This the captain was very willing to
+do; and so, at two o'clock in the afternoon the signal was given, by the
+firing of the gun, whose report tore and broke down all the binnacle and
+compasses.
+
+But when the Turks heard this, and the shouts of the conspirators, and
+saw that part of ship was torn away, and felt it shake under them, and
+knew that all threatened their destruction--no bear robbed of her whelps
+was ever so mad as they, for they not only called us dogs, and cried in
+their tongue, 'The fortune of war! the fortune of war!' but they tried
+to tear up the planking, setting to work hammers, hatchets, knives, the
+oars of the boat, the boat hook, and whatever else came to hand, besides
+the stones and bricks of the cook-room, still trying to break the
+hatches, and never ceasing their horrible cries and curses.
+
+Then Rawlins, seeing them so violent, and understanding that the slaves
+had cleared the decks of all the Turks and Moors underneath, began to
+shoot at them through different scoutholes, with their own muskets, and
+so lessened their number. At this they cried for the pilot, and so
+Rawlins, with some to guard him, went to them, and understood by their
+kneeling that they cried for mercy and begged to come down. This they
+were bidden to do, but coming down one by one, they were taken and slain
+with their own curtleaxes. And the rest, perceiving this, some of them
+leapt into the water, still crying: 'The fortune of war!' and calling
+their foes English dogs, and some were slain with the curtleaxes, till
+the decks were well cleared, and the victory assured.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the first report of the gun, and the hurly-burly on deck, the captain
+was writing in his cabin, and he came out with his curtleaxe in hand,
+thinking by his authority to quell the mischief. But when he saw that
+the ship was surprised, he threw down his curtleaxe, and begged Rawlins
+to save his life, telling him how he had redeemed him from Villa Rise,
+and put him in command in the ship, besides treating him well through
+the voyage. This Rawlins confessed, and at last consented to be
+merciful, and brought the captain and five more renegades into England.
+
+When all was done, and the ship cleared of the dead bodies, John Rawlins
+assembled his men, and with one consent gave the praise to God, using
+the accustomed services on shipboard. And for want of books they lifted
+up their voices to God, as He put it into their hearts or renewed their
+memories. Then did they sing a psalm, and last of all, embraced one
+another for playing the men in such a deliverance, whereby their fear
+was turned into joy. That same night they steered for England, and
+arrived at Plymouth on February 13, and were welcomed with all gladness.
+
+As for the ship from Dartmouth, that had arrived in Penzance on February
+11, for the English had made the Turks believe that they were sailing to
+Argier, till they came in sight of England. Then one of the Turks said
+plainly _that the land was not like Cape Vincent_; but the Englishmen
+told them to go down into the hold, and trim more to windward, and they
+should see and know more to-morrow. Thereupon five of them went down
+very orderly, while the English feigned themselves asleep; but presently
+they started up, and nailed down the hatches, and so overpowered the
+Turks. And this is the story of this enterprise, and the end of John
+Rawlins' voyage.
+
+
+
+
+_THE CHEVALIER JOHNSTONE'S ESCAPE FROM CULLODEN_
+
+
+THE Chevalier Johnstone (or _de_ Johnstone, as he preferred to call
+himself) was closely connected with the Highland army, hastily collected
+in 1745 for the purpose of restoring Charles Edward to his grandfather's
+throne. He was aide-de-camp to Lord George Murray, Generalissimo to the
+little force, and seems to have known enough of warfare to be capable of
+appreciating his commander's skill. He was also a captain in the
+regiment of the Duke of Perth, and later, when the petals of the White
+Rose were trampled under foot, he became an officer in the French
+service.
+
+From his position, therefore, he was peculiarly fitted to tell the tale
+of those two eventful years, 1745 and 1746. Though only the son of a
+merchant, Johnstone was well connected, and, like many Scottish
+gentlemen of that day, had been bred in loyalty to the Jacobite cause.
+He was one of the first to join the Prince when he had reached Perth,
+and it was from the Prince himself that he received his company, after
+the fight at Prestonpans. His life was all romance, but the part on
+which it is our present purpose to dwell is the account he has left in
+his memoirs of his escape from the field of Culloden, and the terrible
+sufferings he went through for some months, till he finally made his way
+safely to Holland.
+
+'The battle of Culloden,' he says,[14] 'was lost rather by a series of
+mistakes on our part than by any skilful manoeuvre of the Duke of
+Cumberland,' and every Scot in arms knew too well the doom that awaited
+him at the 'Butcher's' hands. The half-starved Highlanders were no match
+for the well-fed English troops, and when the day was lost, and the rout
+became general, each man sought to conceal himself in the fastnesses of
+the nearest mountains, and, as long as he put himself well out of reach,
+was not particular as to the means he took to purchase safety.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Panics disclose strange and unexpected depths in men's minds, and
+Johnstone was in no respect superior to his fellows. 'Being no longer
+able to keep myself on my legs,' he relates,[15] 'and the enemy always
+advancing very slowly, but redoubling their fire, my mind was agitated
+and undecided whether I should throw away my life, or surrender a
+prisoner, which was a thousand times worse than death on the field of
+battle. All at once I perceived a horse, about thirty paces before me,
+without a rider. The idea of being yet able to escape gave me fresh
+strength and served as a spur to me. I ran and laid hold of the bridle,
+which was fast in the hand of a man lying on the ground, whom I supposed
+dead; but, what was my surprise when the cowardly poltroon, who was
+suffering from nothing but fear, dared to remain in the most horrible
+fire to dispute the horse with me, at twenty paces from the enemy. All
+my menaces could not induce him to quit the bridle. Whilst we were
+disputing, a discharge from a cannon loaded with grape-shot fell at our
+feet, without however producing any effect upon this singular
+individual, who obstinately persisted in retaining the horse.
+Fortunately for me, Finlay Cameron, an officer in Lochiel's regiment, a
+youth of twenty years of age, six feet high, and very strong and
+vigorous, happened to pass near us. I called on him to assist me. "Ah
+Finlay," said I, "this fellow will not give me up the horse." Finlay
+flew to me like lightning, immediately presented his pistol to the head
+of this man, and threatened to blow out his brains if he hesitated a
+moment to let go the bridle. The fellow, who had the appearance of a
+servant, at length yielded and took to his heels. Having obtained the
+horse, I attempted to mount him several times, but all my efforts were
+ineffectual, as I was without strength and completely exhausted. I
+called again on poor Finlay, though he was already some paces from me,
+to assist me to mount. He returned, took me in his arms, with as much
+ease as if I had been a child, and threw me on the horse like a loaded
+sack, giving the horse at the same time a heavy blow to make him set off
+with me. Then wishing that I might have the good fortune to make my
+escape, he bounded off like a roe, and was in a moment out of sight. We
+were hardly more than fifteen or twenty paces from the enemy when he
+quitted me. As soon as I found myself at the distance of thirty or forty
+paces, I endeavoured to set myself right on the horse, put my feet in
+the stirrups, and rode off as fast as the wretched animal could carry
+me.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There is something peculiarly funny in the simplicity of this account of
+horse-stealing with violence! Why a man should be more of a coward who
+clings to his own property and only means of safety, than the person who
+deliberately deprives him of both, is not easy to see. But Johnstone
+never doubts for one moment that what he does is always right, and what
+anyone else does is always wrong, and he goes on complacently to remark
+that he probably 'saved the life of the poltroon who held the horse, in
+rousing him out of his panic fear, for in less than two minutes the
+English army would have passed over him.'[16]
+
+The shelter which Johnstone made up his mind to seek was the castle of
+Rothiemurchus, the property of the Grant family, situated in the heart
+of the mountains, and on the banks of the 'rapid Spey.' But his troubles
+were not so easily over. The English army barred the way, and Johnstone
+was forced to take the road to Inverness. Again he was turned from his
+path by the dreaded sight of the British uniform, and, accompanied by a
+Highlander whom he had met by chance, he took refuge in a small cottage
+in Fort Augustus. In spite of his peculiar views about courage,
+Johnstone was a man who generally managed to do whatever he had set his
+heart on. He had resolved to go to Rothiemurchus, and to Rothiemurchus
+he would go. At last he arrived there, but found, to his great
+disappointment, that the laird, his old friend, was away from home. In
+his place was his eldest son, who was urgent that Johnstone should
+surrender himself a prisoner, as Lord Balmerino had just done, by his
+advice, and under his escort. Johnstone replied that he would keep his
+liberty as long as he could, and when it was no longer possible, he
+would meet his fate with resignation. We all know the end to which poor
+Balmerino came, but Johnstone was more fortunate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+His brother-in-law, the son of Lord Rollo, had been made inspector of
+merchant ships in the town of Banff, and Johnstone fondly hoped that by
+his help he might obtain a passage to some foreign country. So he set
+off with three gentlemen of the name of Gordon, who had also been
+staying at Rothiemurchus, and rested the first night at the house of a
+shepherd near the mountain of Cairngorm. Here he saw for the first time
+the stones which bear this name, and though he is flying for his life,
+he dwells with the delight of a collector on the beauty of the colours,
+and even persuades his friends to put off their departure for a day, in
+order that he may search for some specimens himself. He contrived, he
+tells us,[17] to find several beautiful topazes, two of which he had
+cut as seals, and presented to the Duke of York, brother of Prince
+Charles Edward.
+
+Four days after leaving Rothiemurchus Banff was reached, and the
+fugitives were sheltered by a Presbyterian minister, who was a secret
+adherent of the Stuarts. Johnstone at once took the precaution of
+exchanging his laced Highland dress for that of an old labourer, 'quite
+ragged, and exhaling a pestilential odour,' due apparently to its having
+been used for many years 'when he cleaned the stables of his master.' In
+this unpleasant disguise, he entered the town of Banff, then garrisoned
+with four hundred English soldiers, and went straight to the house of a
+former acquaintance, Mr. Duff. After gaining admittance from the servant
+with some difficulty, he found with dismay that his brother-in-law was
+away from home, and he could not therefore carry out his plan of
+embarking, with his permission, on board one of the merchant ships.
+There seemed nothing for it, therefore, but for Johnstone to return at
+daybreak to the house of Mr. Gordon, where he had spent the previous
+night. At daybreak, however, he was roused by a fearful disturbance in
+the courtyard below, occasioned by the quarrels of some stray soldiers.
+For a moment he thought death was certain, but the soldiers had no
+suspicion of his presence in the house, and as soon as they had settled
+their affairs took themselves off elsewhere.
+
+Mr. Rollo proved a broken reed, and the Chevalier found, after a few
+minutes' talk with his brother-in-law, that if he wished to reach the
+Continent he must not count on a passage in the merchant ships to help
+him. He therefore, after consultation with his friends, came to the
+conclusion that his best plan was to make for the Lowlands, and to this
+end he set out for Edinburgh as soon as possible. Of course this scheme
+was beset with difficulties and dangers of every kind. The counties
+through which he would be forced to pass were filled with Calvinists,
+inspired with deadly hatred of the Jacobite party. To escape their hands
+was almost certainly to fall into those of the soldiery, and over and
+above this, government passports were necessary for those who desired to
+cross the Firths of Forth and Tay.
+
+But, nothing daunted, Johnstone went his way. He was passed in disguise
+from one house to another, well-fed at the lowest possible prices (he
+tells us of the landlady of a small inn who charged him threepence for
+'an excellent young fowl' and his bed), till at last he found himself in
+the region of Cortachy, the country of the Ogilvies, who one and all
+were on the side of the Prince. At Cortachy he was quite secure, as long
+as no English soldiery came by, and even if they did, the mountains were
+full of hiding places, and there was no risk of treachery at home. Two
+officers who had served in the French army, Brown and Gordon by name,
+had sought refuge here before him, and lay concealed in the house of a
+peasant known as Samuel. They implored him not to run the risk of
+proceeding south till affairs had quieted down a little, and he agreed
+to remain at Samuel's cottage till it seemed less dangerous to travel
+south.
+
+It would be interesting to know what was 'the gratification beyond his
+hopes' which Johnstone gave Samuel when they parted company some time
+after. It ought to have been something very handsome considering the
+risks which the peasant had run in his behalf, and also the fact that
+for several weeks Johnstone and his two friends had shared the scanty
+fare of Samuel and his family. They had 'no other food than oatmeal, and
+no other drink than the water of the stream which ran through the glen.
+We breakfasted every morning on a piece of oatmeal bread which we were
+enabled to swallow by draughts of water; for dinner we boiled oatmeal
+with water, till it acquired a consistency, and we ate it with horn
+spoons; in the evening, we poured boiling water on this meal in a dish,
+for our supper.'[18] Even this frugal diet could not be swallowed long
+in peace, for shortly after their arrival, Samuel's daughter, who lived
+at the mouth of the glen, came to inform her father that some English
+troops had been seen in the neighbourhood, and whenever there was any
+chance of their appearing in the glen Johnstone and his friends had to
+take refuge in the mountains.
+
+One day this woman arrived with the news that the soldiery were hovering
+dangerously near, and had taken several notable prisoners. Upon this the
+fugitives decided to leave their shelter at daybreak the following
+morning and to make the best of their way to the Highlands, where they
+would be sure of finding some rocks and caverns to hide them from their
+foes.
+
+This resolution once taken, they all went early to bed, and there
+Johnstone had a dream which he relates with many apologies for his
+superstition. He fancied himself in Edinburgh safe from the snares of
+his enemies, and with no fears for the future, and describing his
+adventures and escapes since the battle of Culloden to his old friend
+Lady Jane Douglas. The impression of peace and happiness and relief from
+anxiety was so strong that it remained with him after he woke, and
+after lying turning the matter over in his mind for another hour,
+informed Samuel (who had come to rouse him with the intelligence that
+his companions had already set off for the mountains) that he had
+altered his plans and intended to go straight to Edinburgh. In vain the
+old man argued and entreated. Johnstone was determined, and that same
+evening he set forth on horseback with Samuel for his guide, and made
+straight for the nearest arm of the sea, which he describes, though
+quite wrongly, as being only eight miles from Cortachy.
+
+To reach this, they were obliged to pass through Forfar, a town which,
+being a Calvinistic stronghold, the Chevalier can never mention without
+an abusive epithet. But here poor Samuel, whose nerves had doubtless
+been strained by the perpetual watching and waiting of the last few
+weeks, was frightened out of his senses by the barking of a dog, and
+tried to throw himself from his horse. At this juncture, Johnstone, who
+knew that to be left without a guide in this strange place meant certain
+death, interfered promptly. 'He was continually struggling to get down,'
+he says,[19] 'but I prevented him by the firm hold I had of his coat. I
+exhorted him to be quiet; I reproached him; I alternately entreated and
+menaced him; but all in vain. He no longer knew what he was about, and
+it was to no purpose I assured him that it was only the barking of a
+dog. He perspired at every pore, and trembled like a person in an ague.
+Fortunately I had an excellent horse, and galloped through Forfar at
+full speed, retaining always fast hold of his coat. As soon as we were
+fairly out of the town, as no persons had come out of their houses, poor
+Samuel began to breathe again, and made a thousand apologies for his
+fears.'
+
+As the day broke and they drew near Broughty Ferry, where Johnstone
+intended to cross the Firth of Tay, the Chevalier dismounted, and being
+obliged to part from his horse, offered it as a present to Samuel, who
+declined the animal from motives of prudence. It was then turned loose
+in a field (the saddle and bridle being first thrown down a well), and
+the wayfarers proceeded on their way. Only a few minutes later, they
+were joined by an acquaintance of Samuel's, who seems to have been of a
+curious turn of mind, and cross-questioned him as to where he was going
+and why. Samuel, with more readiness than could have been expected from
+his recent behaviour, invented a story that sounded plausible enough,
+explaining Johnstone to be a young man whom he had picked up on the
+road, and had taken into his service at low wages, owing to his want of
+a character. The stranger was satisfied, and after a prolonged drink
+they separated, when Samuel informed Johnstone that the man was one of
+the 'greatest knaves and cheats in the country,' and that they would
+assuredly have been betrayed if he had discovered who they were.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+They arrived at the Ferry about nine in the morning, and by Samuel's
+advice, the Chevalier immediately sought the help of Mr. Graham, a
+gentleman of Jacobite family, then living at Duntroon. After a warm
+welcome from Mr. Graham, who gave him all the entertainment he could
+without the knowledge of his servants, a boat was engaged to convey him
+across the Firth about nine that night. Mr. Graham did not, however,
+dare to be his guide down to the sea-shore, but gave him careful
+directions as to his following an old woman who had been provided for
+this purpose. But all Mr. Graham's precautions would have been useless,
+had not chance once more favoured the Chevalier. His protectress decided
+that it would be dangerous to allow him to loiter about the shore while
+the boat was getting ready for sea, so she told her charge to wait for
+her on the road on top of the hill, and she would return and fetch him
+when all was ready. Half an hour passed very slowly: the sun was
+sinking, and the Chevalier grew impatient. He left the road by which he
+had been sitting, and lay down in a furrow a few yards off, nearer the
+brow of the hill, so that he might perceive his guide at the earliest
+moment. Scarcely had he changed his quarters, than he heard the sound of
+horses, and peeping cautiously out, 'saw eight or ten horsemen pass in
+the very place he had just quitted.' No sooner were they out of sight,
+than the old woman arrived, trembling with fright. 'Ah!' she exclaimed
+in a transport of joy, 'I did not expect to find you here.' She then
+explained that the horsemen were English dragoons, and that they had so
+threatened the boatmen engaged by Mr. Graham that they absolutely
+refused to fulfil their compact. This was a terrible blow to the
+Chevalier, but he declined to listen to the old woman's advice and
+return for shelter to Mr. Graham, and after much persuasion, induced his
+guide to show him the way to the public-house by the sea-shore. Here he
+was welcomed by the landlady, whose son had been likewise 'out' with the
+Prince, but neither her entreaties nor those of the Chevalier could move
+the boatmen from their resolution. They even resisted the prayers of the
+landlady's two beautiful daughters, till the girls, disgusted and
+indignant with such cowardice, offered to row him across themselves.
+
+'We left Broughty Ferry,' he writes in his memoirs, 'at ten o'clock in
+the evening, and reached the opposite shore about midnight.' He then
+took an affectionate leave of his preservers, and proceeded, footsore as
+he was, to walk to St. Andrews. At this time Johnstone seems to have
+felt more physically exhausted than at almost any other moment of his
+travels; and it was only by dint of perpetually washing his sore and
+bleeding feet in the streams he passed, that he managed to reach St.
+Andrews towards eight o'clock. He at once made his way to the house of
+his cousin, Mrs. Spence, who, herself a suspected person, was much taken
+aback by the sight of him, and hastily sent a letter to a tenant farmer
+living near the town, to provide the fugitive with a horse which would
+carry him to Wemyss, a seaport town on the way to Edinburgh. The old
+University city does not appear to have made a favourable impression on
+the Chevalier. He declares that no town 'ever deserved so much the fate
+of Sodom and Gomorrah,'[20] and this, not from any particular wickedness
+on the part of the inhabitants, but because they were supposed to be
+Calvinists. However, his sentiments must have been confirmed when the
+farmer declined to take his horses out on a Sunday, and, lame as he was,
+Johnstone had no choice but to set out on foot for Wemyss. Halfway, he
+suddenly remembered that close by lived an old servant of his family,
+married to the gardener of Mr. Beaton, of Balfour. Here he was housed
+and fed for twenty hours, and then conducted by his host, a rigid
+Presbyterian, to a tavern at Wemyss, kept by the mother-in-law of the
+gardener. By her advice they applied to a man named Salmon, who, though
+a rabid Hanoverian, could be trusted not to betray those who had faith
+in him. It was hard work to gain over Salmon, who was proof against
+bribery, but at last it was done. By his recommendation Johnstone was to
+lie till dawn in a cave near Wemyss (a place whose name means 'caves'),
+and with the first ray of light was to beg a passage to Leith from some
+men who were with Salmon part owners of a boat. In this cave, which,
+notwithstanding its narrow entrance, was deep and spacious, the
+Chevalier was glad to repose his weary bones. But, after dozing about an
+hour, he was 'awakened by the most horrible and alarming cries that ever
+were heard.'[21] His first thought was that Salmon had betrayed him, and
+he retreated to the interior of the cavern, cocked his pistol, and
+prepared to sell his life dearly. Soon, however, the swift movements
+accompanying the noise convinced him that it did not proceed from men,
+for 'sometimes the object was about my ears, and nearly stunned me, and,
+in an instant, at a considerable distance. At length I ceased to examine
+any more this horrible and incomprehensible phenomenon, which made a
+noise in confusion like that of a number of trumpets and drums, with a
+mixture of different sounds, altogether unknown to me.'
+
+Effectually aroused by the whining of the owls and bats (for these, of
+course, were the authors of all this disturbance), Johnstone fixed his
+eyes on the sea to note the first entrance of the fishing boats into the
+harbour. He then went down to the shore and began to make the bargain as
+directed by Salmon, and the fishermen agreed to land him at Leith for
+half-a-crown. But alas! once more his hopes were blighted. He was in the
+act of stepping into the boat, when Salmon's wife appeared on the scene,
+and forbade her husband to go to Leith that day, still less to take a
+stranger there. Neither Salmon nor Johnstone dared insist, for fear of
+rousing the woman's suspicions, and after a short retreat in the cave in
+order to collect his thoughts, he returned to the tavern at Wemyss, to
+consult with the friendly landlady. Thanks to her, and with the help of
+one or two people to whom she introduced him, Johnstone at last arrived
+at the house of one Mr. Seton, whose son had formerly served with
+Johnstone in the army of the Prince. Here he remained eight days, vainly
+seeking to find a second man who could aid the fisherman who had already
+promised to put him across, though it does not appear why Johnstone,
+who had already observed[22] that he was able to row, did not take an
+oar when his own head was at stake.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At last affairs were brought to a crisis, by rumours having got abroad
+of the presence of a fugitive on the coast. Things seemed in a desperate
+condition, when young Seton threw himself into the breach, and agreed to
+help Cousselain, the fisherman, to take the Chevalier to Leith. They
+were actually launching the boat when the inhabitants of the village,
+alarmed by the noise they made, raised a cry that a rebel was escaping,
+and the two oarsmen had barely time to conceal themselves without being
+discovered. However, in flat defiance of everyone's advice, and, as it
+turned out, in spite of the drunken state of Cousselain, Johnstone
+resolved to repeat the attempt in an hour's time, taking in the end, as
+he might have done at the beginning, his place at the oar. For a few
+moments they breathed freely; then the wind got up, and the waves, and,
+what was perhaps more dangerous, the drunken Cousselain, who had been
+placed in the bottom of the boat. 'We were obliged to kick him most
+unmercifully in order to keep him quiet,' observes Johnstone, 'and to
+threaten to throw him overboard if he made the least movement. Seton and
+myself rowed like galley slaves. We succeeded in landing, about six in
+the morning, on a part of the coast a league and a half to the east of
+Edinburgh,[23] near the battlefield of Gladsmuir.' Here he parted with
+his deliverers, tenderly embracing young Seton, and presenting to the
+'somewhat sober' Cousselain a gratification beyond his hopes.
+
+After taking a little of the food with which Mr. Seton had provided him,
+he determined to seek refuge for a few days with an old governess, Mrs.
+Blythe, wife of a small shipowner at Leith. Blythe himself was another
+of the many 'rigid Calvinists and sworn enemies of the house of Stuart'
+to whom Johnstone entrusted his safety during his wanderings, and never
+once had occasion to repent it. Mr. Blythe, indeed, combined the
+profession of Calvinist with that of smuggler, and had numerous hiding
+places in his house for the concealment of contraband goods, which would
+prove equally serviceable, as Johnstone told him, for 'the most
+contraband and dangerous commodity that he had ever had in his
+possession.'
+
+Though Johnstone had reached the goal of his desires, his perils were by
+no means at an end. English soldiers visited the house, and could with
+difficulty be persuaded to admit the exemption pleaded by Mr. Blythe. In
+consequence of this event, Johnstone accepted the offer of an asylum
+made him by Lady Jane Douglas, in her place at Drumsheugh, half a
+league away. So his dream came true, and after all his wanderings he was
+safe with Lady Jane, telling the story of his adventures. He remained
+with her for two months, unknown to anyone but his hostess and the
+gardener, reading all day, and only taking a walk at night, when the
+household was in bed. At the end of that time, when Lady Jane and his
+father were of opinion that he might safely go to London, and thence
+abroad, fresh rumours as to his whereabouts began to arise, and fearing
+the immediate visit of a detachment of English soldiers, he was
+concealed for a whole day under a huge haycock, so overcome by the heat
+that he could hardly breathe, in spite of a bottle of water and another
+of wine, with which he was provided.
+
+This measure, which after all was needless, for no soldiers came, was
+the last trial he had to undergo before leaving Scotland, and here we
+must part from him. In France, which he made his home, he became the
+friend of many eminent men, and was aide-de-camp in Canada to the
+Marquis de Montcalm. But the end of his life was sad, and he died in
+poverty.[24]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[14] P. 211.
+
+[15] P. 215.
+
+[16] P. 217.
+
+[17] P. 229.
+
+[18] P. 249.
+
+[19] P. 257.
+
+[20] P. 274.
+
+[21] P. 295.
+
+[22] P. 271.
+
+[23] P. 308.
+
+[24] From _Memoirs of the Chevalier de Johnstone_. Longmans. London,
+1822. The Memoirs were written in French, and deposited in the Scots
+College at Paris. They were communicated to Messrs. Longman by Robert
+Watson, the adventurer, who, under Napoleon, was Principal of the Scots
+College. The Chevalier left a granddaughter, who corresponded on the
+subject of the Memoirs with Sir Walter Scott.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ADVENTURES OF LORD PITSLIGO_
+
+
+WHEN Prince Charles came to Scotland in 1745, to seek his grandfather's
+crown, no braver and no better man rode with him than Lord Pitsligo. He
+was now sixty-seven years of age, for he was born in 1678, ten years
+before James II. was driven out of England. As a young man he had lived
+much in France, where he became the friend of the famous Fénelon, author
+of 'Télémaque.' Though much interested in the doctrines of Fénelon, Lord
+Pitsligo did not change his faith, but remained a member of the
+persecuted Episcopal Church of Scotland. In France he met the members of
+the exiled Royal family, whom he never ceased to regard as his lawful
+monarchs, though Queen Anne, and later the First and Second Georges,
+occupied the throne of England. When the clans rose for King James, the
+son of James II., in 1715, Lord Pitsligo, then a man of twenty-seven,
+joined the forces under his kinsman, Lord Marr. His party was defeated,
+and he went abroad. He did not stay long with James in Rome, but was
+allowed to return to his estates in Scotland. Here he lived very
+quietly, beloved by rich and poor. But, in 1745, Prince Charles landed,
+and the old Lord believed it to be his duty to join him. He had, as he
+says, no keen enthusiasm for the Stuarts, but to his mind they were his
+lawful rulers. So aged was he, and so infirm, that, when he left a
+neighbour's house before setting out, a little boy brought a stool to
+help him to mount his horse. 'My little fellow,' he said, 'this is the
+severest reproof I have yet met with, for presuming to go on such an
+expedition.' Lady Pitsligo in vain reminded him of the failure of 1715.
+'There never was a bridal,' he replied, 'but the second day was the
+best.' The gentlemen of his county thought that they could not do wrong
+in following so learned and excellent a man, so they all mounted the
+white cockade and rode with him. He arrived just too late for the
+victory of Preston Pans. 'It seemed,' said an eye-witness, 'as if
+religion, virtue, and justice were entering the camp under the
+appearance of this venerable old man.' When he wrote home, he said, 'I
+had occasion to discover the Prince's humanity, I ought to say
+tenderness: this is giving myself no great airs, for he showed the same
+dispositions to everybody.' In the fatigues of the campaign, the Prince,
+who was young and strong, insisted on Lord Pitsligo's using his
+carriage, while he himself marched on foot at the head of his army.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After the defeat of Culloden, Lord Pitsligo hid among the mountains,
+living on oatmeal, moistened with hot water. They had not even salt to
+their brose; for, as one of the Highlanders said, 'Salt is touchy,'
+meaning expensive. Yet these men, who could not even buy salt, never
+betrayed their Prince for the great reward of thirty thousand pounds,
+nor any of the other gentlemen in hiding. Possibly they did not believe
+that there was so much money in the world. Lord Pitsligo had made up his
+mind not to go abroad again, but to live or die among his own people. At
+one time he lay for days hidden in a damp hole under a little bridge,
+and at other times concealed himself in the mosses and moors. Here the
+lapwings, flitting and crying above him, were like to have drawn the
+English soldiers to his retreat. His wife gave him two great bags, like
+those which beggars carried; in these he would place the alms which were
+given to him, and in this disguise he had many narrow escapes. Once he
+saw some dragoons on the road behind him, but he was too old and too ill
+to run. He was obliged to sit down and cough, and one of the dragoons
+who were in search of him actually gave him some money as they passed
+by, and condoled with him on the severity of his cough.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Lord Pitsligo often hid in a cave on the coast of Buchan. Here was a
+spring of water welling through the rock, and he carved a little cistern
+for it, to pass the time. He was fed by a little girl, too young to be
+suspected, who carried his meals from a neighbouring farm. One day he
+was sitting in the kitchen of the farm, when some soldiers came in, and
+asked the goodwife to guide them to Lord Pitsligo's cave. She said,
+'That travelling body will go with you,' and Lord Pitsligo conducted the
+soldiers to his hiding place, left them there, and walked back to the
+farm. But the following adventure was perhaps his narrowest escape.
+
+In March 1756, and of course long after all apprehension of a search had
+ceased, information having been given to the then commanding officer at
+Fraserburgh, that Lord Pitsligo was at that moment in the house of
+Auchiries, it was acted upon with so much promptness and secrecy, that
+the search must have proved successful but for a very singular
+occurrence. Mrs. Sophia Donaldson, a lady who lived much with the
+family, repeatedly dreamt on that particular night that the house was
+surrounded by soldiers. Her mind became so haunted with the idea, that
+she got out of bed, and was walking through the room in hopes of giving
+a different current to her thoughts before she lay down again, when, day
+beginning to dawn, she accidentally looked out at the window as she
+passed it in traversing the room, and was astonished at actually
+observing the figures of soldiers among some trees near the house. So
+completely had all idea of a search been by that time laid asleep, that
+she supposed they had come to steal poultry; Jacobite poultry-yards
+affording a safe object of pillage for the English soldiers in those
+days. Under this impression Mrs. Sophia was proceeding to rouse the
+servants, when her sister having awaked, and inquiring what was the
+matter, and being told of soldiers near the house, exclaimed, in great
+alarm, that she feared they wanted something more than hens. She begged
+Mrs. Sophia to look out at a window on the other side of the house, when
+not only soldiers were seen in that direction, but also an officer
+giving instructions by signals, and frequently putting his fingers on
+his lips, as if enjoining silence. There was now no time to be lost in
+rousing the family, and all the haste that could be made was scarcely
+sufficient to hurry the venerable man from his bed, into a small recess
+behind the wainscot of an adjoining room, which was concealed by a bed,
+in which a lady, Miss Gordon of Towie, who was there on a visit, lay,
+before the soldiers obtained admission. A most minute search took place.
+The room in which Lord Pitsligo was concealed did not escape: Miss
+Gordon's bed was carefully examined, and she was obliged to suffer the
+rude scrutiny of one of the party, by feeling her chin, to ascertain
+that it was not a man in a lady's night-dress. Before the soldiers had
+finished their examination in this room, the confinement and anxiety
+increased Lord Pitsligo's asthma so much, and his breathing became so
+loud, that it obliged Miss Gordon, lying in bed, to counterfeit and
+continue a violent coughing, in order to prevent the high breathing
+behind the wainscot from being heard. It may easily be conceived what
+agony she would suffer, lest, by overdoing her part, she should increase
+suspicion, and in fact lead to a discovery. The _ruse_ was fortunately
+successful. On the search through the house being given over, Lord
+Pitsligo was hastily taken from his confined situation, and again
+replaced in bed; and as soon as he was able to speak, his accustomed
+kindness of heart made him say to his servant, 'James, go and see that
+these poor fellows get some breakfast, and a drink of warm ale, for this
+is a cold morning; they are only doing their duty, and cannot bear me
+any ill-will.' When the family were felicitating each other on his
+escape, he pleasantly observed, 'A poor prize had they obtained it--an
+old dying man!' That the friends who lived in the house,--the hourly
+witnesses of his virtues, and the objects of his regard, who saw him
+escape all the dangers that surrounded him, should reckon him the
+peculiar care of Providence, is not to be wondered at; and that the
+dream which was so opportune, as the means of preventing his
+apprehension, and probably of saving his life, was supposed by some of
+them at last to be a special interposition of Heaven's protecting shield
+against his enemies, need not excite surprise. This was accordingly the
+belief of more than one to their dying hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After some fifteen years, the English Government ceased to think Lord
+Pitsligo dangerous. He was allowed to live unmolested at the house of
+his son, where he died in 1762, in his eighty-fifth year. 'He was never
+heard to speak an ill word of any man living,' says one who knew him
+well, and who himself spoke many ill words of others.[25] Lord Pitsligo
+left a little book of 'Thoughts on Sacred Things,' which reminds those
+who read it of the meditations of General Gordon. His character, as far
+as its virtues went, is copied in the Baron Bradwardine, in Sir Walter
+Scott's novel of 'Waverley.'[26]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[25] Dr. King, of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford.
+
+[26] _From Thoughts Concerning Man's Condition and Duties in this Life_.
+By Alexander, Lord Pitsligo. Edinburgh: Blackwood. 1854.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ESCAPE OF CÆSAR BORGIA FROM THE CASTLE OF MEDINA DEL CAMPO_
+
+
+          [CÆSAR BORGIA forms, with his father Pope
+          Alexander VI., and his sister Lucrezia, one of a
+          trio who have become a proverb for infamy of every
+          kind. His father, Roderigo, was by birth a
+          Spaniard, and by education a lawyer, in which
+          profession he gained much distinction, till
+          suddenly, with an impetuosity strange in a man who
+          did everything by calculation, he threw up his
+          legal career for that of a soldier. But the rough
+          life was repugnant to one of his temperament,
+          which demanded ease and luxury, so after a little
+          active service, when his courage, during some
+          sharp engagements, was proved beyond a doubt, he
+          abandoned the army also, and retired to live in
+          comfort on the large fortune lately bequeathed to
+          him by his father.
+
+          It required some pressing on the part of his
+          uncle, Calixtus III., recently made Pope, to
+          induce him to leave his native land and his
+          secular existence, for Italy and a Cardinalate.
+          But no sooner did he occupy his new position, than
+          a set of base qualities, which had hitherto lain
+          dormant, suddenly developed themselves, and from
+          this moment he became one of the cleverest and
+          most successful hypocrites of his age.
+
+          It was in 1492, the year that saw the landing of
+          Columbus in America, and the death of Lorenzo the
+          Magnificent at Florence, that the Cardinal Borgia
+          obtained, by means of huge bribes, his election to
+          the Papal Throne, and took the name of Alexander
+          VI. His first care was to establish (for his own
+          credit's sake) order and security in Rome, and
+          this done, he turned his thoughts to the
+          aggrandisement of his family. For when Roderigo
+          sailed for Italy he was shortly followed by his
+          four children, Francis, Cæsar, Lucrezia and
+          Geoffrey, and their mother Rosa Vanozza. All four,
+          but more particularly Cæsar and Lucrezia,
+          inherited in the highest degree their father's
+          beauty, talents and wickedness. Honours of every
+          kind were showered upon them, marriages made and
+          unmade to suit the requirements of the moment,
+          murders committed to ensure them wealth and
+          possessions. For eleven years the roll of crime
+          grew heavier day by day, till at last the
+          chastisement came, and the Borgias, who had
+          invited several of the Cardinals to supper for the
+          purpose of poisoning them and seizing on their
+          revenues, were themselves served with the draught
+          they had intended for their guests. The Pope died
+          after eight days, in mortal agony, but, owing to
+          his having drunk less of the wine, Cæsar slowly
+          recovered, and resumed his old trade of arms. The
+          talents which had made him one of the first
+          captains in Italy caused him to be the dread of
+          all his enemies, and finally led to his capture
+          (by violation of a safe-conduct), at the hands of
+          Gonsalvo de Cordova, Captain of the Forces of
+          Ferdinand of Spain.]
+
+It was in June 1504 that Cæsar Borgia, General of the Church and Duke of
+Romagna and Valentinois, was conducted to the Castle of Medina del Campo
+in Spain. For two years Cæsar waited in prison, hoping that his old
+ally, Louis XII., whose cousin Mlle. d'Albret he had married, would come
+to his assistance. But he waited in vain and his courage began to give
+way, when one day something happened which proved to him that he had
+still one friend left, his faithful Michelotto, a soldier of fortune who
+had followed him to Spain, and was now hidden in the neighbourhood of
+the prison. It was breakfast time, and Cæsar was in the act of cutting
+his bread when he suddenly touched a hard substance, and found a file,
+and a small bottle containing a narcotic, and a note concealed in the
+loaf. The note was from Michelotto, and informed Cæsar that he and the
+Count of Benevento would hide themselves every night on the road between
+the castle and the village, in company with three good horses, and that
+he must make the best use he could of the file and the sleeping
+draught.[27]
+
+Two years' imprisonment had weighed too heavily on Cæsar for him to
+waste a single moment in trying to regain his freedom. He, therefore,
+lost no time in beginning to work on one of the bars of his window,
+which opened on an inside court, and soon contrived to cut through so
+far, that a violent shake would enable him to remove it altogether. But
+the window was nearly seventy feet above the ground, while the only way
+of leaving the court was by a door reserved for the governor alone, the
+key of which was always carried about his person. By day it was
+suspended from his belt, by night it was under his bolster. To gain
+possession of this key was the most difficult part of the matter.
+
+Now in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner, Cæsar had invariably
+been treated with all the respect due to his name and rank. Every day at
+the dinner hour, he was conducted from the room in which he was
+confined to the governor's apartments and was received by him as an
+honoured guest. Don Manuel himself was an old soldier who had served
+with distinction under Ferdinand, and, while carrying out punctually his
+orders for Cæsar's safe custody, he admired his military talents, and
+listened with pleasure to the story of his fights. He had often desired
+that Cæsar should breakfast as well as dine with him, but, luckily for
+himself, the prisoner, perhaps aided by some presentiment, had always
+refused this favour. It was owing to his solitude that he was able to
+conceal the instruments for his escape sent by Michelotto.
+
+Now it happened that the very same day that he had received them, Cæsar
+contrived to stumble, and twist his foot as he was returning to his
+room. When the hour of dinner came he tried to go down, but declared
+that walking hurt him so much, that he should be obliged to give it up,
+so the governor paid him a visit instead, and found him stretched on his
+bed.
+
+The next day Cæsar was no better; his dinner was ordered to be served
+upstairs, and the governor paid him a visit as before. He found his
+prisoner so dull and bored with his own company, that he offered to come
+and share his supper. Cæsar accepted the offer with gratitude and joy.
+
+This time it was the prisoner who did the honours of the table, and
+Cæsar was particularly charming and courteous in manner. The governor
+seized the opportunity of putting some questions as to his capture, and
+inquired, with the pride of a Castilian noble, who set honour above all,
+what was the exact truth as to the way in which Gonsalvo de Cordova and
+Ferdinand had broken their faith with him. Cæsar showed every
+disposition to give him satisfaction on this point, but indicated by a
+sign that he could not speak freely before the valets. This precaution
+was so natural, that the governor could not seem offended at it, and
+dismissed his attendants, so that he and his companion remained alone.
+When the door was shut, Cæsar filled his glass and that of the governor,
+and proposed the king's health. The governor emptied his glass at once,
+and Cæsar began his story, but he had hardly told a third of it, when in
+spite of its exciting adventures, the eyes of his guest closed as if by
+magic, and his head fell on the table in a deep sleep.
+
+At the end of half-an-hour, the servants, not hearing any noise, entered
+the room, and found the two boon companions, one on the table and the
+other under it. There was nothing very unusual about such an event to
+excite their suspicions, so they contented themselves with carrying Don
+Manuel to his chamber and laying Cæsar on his bed; they then locked the
+door with great care, leaving the prisoner alone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+For a minute or two longer Cæsar lay still, apparently plunged in a
+profound slumber, but when the sound of footsteps had completely died
+away, he softly raised his head, opened his eyes, and moved towards the
+door, rather slowly it is true, but without seeming to feel any
+ill-effects from his accident on the previous day. He stood still for a
+few seconds with his ear at the keyhole, then, raising himself, with a
+strange expression of triumph on his face, he passed his hand over his
+forehead, and, for the first time since the guards had left the room,
+breathed freely.
+
+But there was no time to be lost, and without a moment's delay he
+fastened the door from the inside as securely as it was fastened
+without. He next extinguished his lamp, threw open his window, and
+finished cutting through the bar. This done, he took off the bandages
+tied round his leg, tore down the curtains, both of his window and his
+bed, and made them into strips, adding to them sheets, table cloths,
+napkins, and whatever else he could lay hands on. At last he had a rope
+between fifty and sixty feet long, which he secured firmly at one end to
+the bar next to the one that he had sawn away, and mounting on the
+window-ledge, he began the most dangerous part of his expedition in
+trusting himself to this frail support. Happily, Cæsar was as strong as
+he was agile, and slid down the whole length of the cord without
+accident; but when he had reached the very end, in vain he tried to
+touch the earth with his feet. The rope was too short.
+
+Cæsar's position was terrible. The darkness of the night preventing his
+knowing how far he might be above the ground, and his exertions had so
+fatigued him that he could not have gone back even had he wished. There
+was no help for it, and, after muttering a short prayer, he let go the
+rope, and fell, a distance of twelve or fifteen feet.
+
+The danger he had escaped was too great for the fugitive to mind some
+slight bruises caused by his fall, so he jumped up, and taking his
+bearings, made straight for the little door which stood between him and
+freedom. When he reached it he felt in his pocket for the key, and a
+cold sweat broke out on his face as he found it was not there. Had he
+forgotten it in his room, or had he lost it in his descent?
+
+Collecting his thoughts as well as he could, he soon came to the
+conclusion that it must have fallen out of his pocket as he climbed down
+the rope. So he made his way a second time cautiously across the court,
+trying to discover the exact spot where it might be, by the aid of the
+wall of a cistern, which he had caught hold of to raise himself from the
+ground. But the lost key was so small and so insignificant, that there
+was little chance that he would ever see it. However, it was his last
+resource, and Cæsar was searching for it with all his might, when
+suddenly a door opened and the night patrol came out, preceded by two
+torches. At first Cæsar gave himself up for lost, then, remembering the
+water-butt that was behind him, he at once plunged into it up to his
+neck, watching with intense anxiety the movements of the soldiers who
+were advancing towards his hiding place. They passed him within a few
+feet, crossed the court, and vanished through the door opposite; but,
+though all this had taken such a very short time, the light of the
+torches had enabled Cæsar to distinguish the key lying on the ground,
+and hardly had the gate closed on the soldiers when he was once more
+master of his liberty.
+
+Half-way between the castle and the village the Count of Benevento and
+Michelotto awaited him with a led horse. Cæsar flung himself on its back
+and all three set out for Navarre, where, after three days' hard riding,
+they found an asylum with the king, Jean d'Albret, brother of Cæsar's
+wife.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[27] What follows is translated from Dumas.
+
+
+
+
+_THE KIDNAPPING OF THE PRINCES_
+
+(_The following story is adapted from Carlyle's Essay, 'The
+Prinzenraub'_)
+
+
+ABOUT the year 1455, one of the Electors of Saxony, Friedrich der
+Sanftmütige (Frederick the Mild), quarrelled with a certain knight named
+Konrad von Kaufungen. Friedrich had hired Konrad, or Kunz as he was
+called, to fight for him in a war against another Elector. In one of the
+battles, Kunz was taken prisoner. To ransom himself he was obliged to
+pay 4,000 gold gulden, for which he thought Friedrich ought to repay
+him. Friedrich refused to do so, as Kunz was not his vassal whom he was
+bound to protect, but only a hired soldier who had to take all risks on
+himself. Kunz was very angry, and threatened to revenge himself on the
+Elector, who took all his threats very calmly, saying to him, 'Keep
+cool, Kunz; don't burn the fish in the ponds.' But Kunz was in bitter
+earnest. He went away to an old castle called Isenburg in Bohemia, on
+the Saxon frontier, where he lived for some time with his two squires,
+Mosen and Schönberg, plotting against the Elector and his family. He
+had, moreover, bribed one of the Elector's servants, Hans Schwalbe, to
+tell him all that was being done in his castle of Altenburg. In July,
+Schwalbe sent word to him that, on the seventh day of the month, the
+Elector and most of his followers were going away to Leipzig, and would
+leave the Electress and his two boys, Ernst and Albrecht, guarded only
+by a few servants, and these, he added, would probably spend the evening
+drinking in the town. Now the castle of Altenburg was built on a steep
+hill, and one side of it overhung a precipice. As this side was little
+guarded, Hans agreed to let down a rope-ladder from one of the windows,
+and thus enable Kunz to get an entrance into the castle. His plan then
+was to make his way to the sleeping room of the two little princes,
+carry them off to his castle at Isenburg, and keep them till their
+father should grant his demands. Isenburg Castle was about a day's
+journey from the little town of Altenburg; so Kunz and his two squires,
+Mosen and Schönberg, and a few other men, started early on the 7th to
+ride to Altenburg, and when they reached it they hid themselves till
+nightfall. About midnight Kunz and his men went as quietly as possible
+to the foot of the cliff. Everyone seemed asleep in the castle, and
+outside no sound was to be heard but the stealthy tramp of the armed
+men. When they reached the rendezvous under the castle, Kunz gave his
+men their orders. Mosen, Schönberg, and three or four more were to come
+with him into the castle, and, when inside, to lock the doors of the
+Electress's and the servants' room, while the rest were to guard the
+gates in order that no one should escape to give the alarm. Each was to
+be ready when once the princes were secured to ride away for Isenburg as
+hard as possible.
+
+Then Kunz whistled softly. He listened for a moment; another whistle
+answered his own, and a rope-ladder was slowly lowered from one of the
+windows. Kunz mounted it, and made his way to the room where the two
+little princes were sleeping under the charge of an old governess. He
+seized the eldest, a boy of fourteen, and carried him down the ladder,
+and Mosen followed with a second child in his arms. This boy kept
+calling out, 'I am not one of the princes; I am their playfellow, Count
+von Bardi. Let me go! Let me go!' Thereupon, telling the others to ride
+on with Prince Ernst in order to secure him, Kunz dashed up the ladder
+again, and ran to the princes' room, where he found little Prince
+Albrecht hiding under the bed. He caught him up and descended again with
+him. As he went, the Electress, roused by the boys' cries and finding
+her door bolted, rushed to the window and begged and implored him not to
+take her children.
+
+'My husband shall grant all your demands, I swear to you,' she cried,
+'only leave me my children!'
+
+'Tell the Elector, Madam,' laughed Kunz, looking up, 'that I _can_ burn
+the fish in the ponds!'
+
+Then he mounted his horse, which his servant was holding, and away they
+rode as fast as the horses would carry them. They had not ridden many
+miles before the clang of bells broke on their ears. The alarm peal of
+the castle had awakened that of the town, and in a few hours every bell
+in every belfry in Saxony was ringing an alarm. The sun rose, and Kunz
+and his followers plunged deeper into the forest, riding through
+morasses and swamps, over rough and stony ground--anywhere to escape
+from the din of those alarm bells. At last the ride for dear life was
+nearly over; the band was within an hour's journey of the castle of
+Isenburg, when Prince Albrecht declared that he was dying of thirst.
+
+'For the love of Heaven, give me something to drink, Sir Knight,' he
+implored.
+
+Kunz bade the others ride on, and giving his squire his horse to hold he
+dismounted, lifted Albrecht down, and began looking for bilberries for
+him.
+
+Whilst he was doing so, a charcoal-burner with his dog came up. He was
+much surprised to see such grand people in the forest, and asked,
+
+'What are you doing with the young lord?'
+
+'He has run away from his parents,' answered Kunz, impatiently. 'Can you
+tell me where bilberries are to be found here?'
+
+'I do not know,' replied the charcoal-burner, still staring at the
+strangers.
+
+Anxious to make him leave them, Kunz turned angrily round on him, and in
+doing so caught his spurs in the bushes, and fell flat on his face.
+
+Albrecht caught hold of the charcoal-burner's arm.
+
+'Save me!' he whispered eagerly. 'I am the Elector's son; this man has
+stolen me!'
+
+The squire struck at the Prince with his sword, but the charcoal-burner
+warded aside the blow with his long pole, and felled the man to the
+ground. Kunz fought fiercely with him, but in answer to his summons for
+help, and attracted by the barking of the dog, a number of other
+charcoal-burners appeared on the scene to help their comrade, and Kunz
+was disarmed and taken prisoner. They marched him in triumph to the
+monastery of Grünheim, where he was secured in one of the cells, and in
+a few days was sent to Freiburg. On the 14th he was tried and condemned
+to death. It is said that a pardon was sent by the Elector, but if it
+were so it arrived too late, and Kunz was beheaded.
+
+The rest of the robber-band with Prince Ernst did not fare much better.
+The alarm bells had aroused the whole country; six of the men were
+captured, and Mosen and the others with Prince Ernst took refuge in a
+cave near Zwickau. Not daring to venture out, and half starving for want
+of food, they lay there for three days in wretched plight. Then they
+learned accidentally from some woodmen, whose conversation they
+overheard, that Kunz had been taken prisoner, had been tried, and by
+this time was in all probability beheaded. As soon as they received this
+piece of intelligence, they held a consultation and finally decided to
+send a message to the Amtmann of Zwickau, offering to restore Prince
+Ernst if a free pardon were granted to them, but threatening, if this
+was refused, they would at once kill him. Had they known that Kunz was
+still alive, they might have stipulated for his pardon as well, but
+believing him dead, they made no terms as regards his fate. The Amtmann
+had no choice but to accede to their demands when their proposal reached
+him. Prince Ernst was given up. Mosen and the rest fled away, nor were
+they ever heard of any more.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the brave charcoal-burner, Georg Schmidt, was brought before the
+Elector and his court, the Electress asked him how he had dared to fight
+the robber-knight with no weapon but his pole.
+
+'Madam,' he replied, 'I gave him a sound "drilling" with my pole.'
+
+All the court laughed, and thenceforward he was always called Georg der
+Triller (the Driller), and his descendants took this name as their
+surname. The only reward he would accept for his brave deed was leave
+for himself and his family to cut what wood they needed in the forest in
+which he lived.
+
+The Electress and the two princes made a pilgrimage to the shrine at the
+monastery of Ebersdorf, and there in the church they hung up the coats
+which they and Kunz and the 'Triller' had worn on the memorable night
+when they were kidnapped, and there it is said they may be seen at this
+day.
+
+
+
+
+_THE CONQUEST OF MONTEZUMA'S EMPIRE_
+
+
+THE YOUTH OF CORTÉS
+
+LONG ago, when Henry VIII. was King of England and Charles V. was King
+of Spain, there lived a young Spanish cavalier whose name was Hernando
+Cortés. His father, Don Martin Cortés, sent him to Salamanca when he was
+about fourteen years old, intending to have him educated as a lawyer.
+But Hernando cared nothing for books, and after wasting two years at
+college returned home, to the great annoyance of his parents, who were
+glad enough when, after another year of idleness, he proposed to go and
+seek his fortune in the New World so lately discovered by Columbus. An
+exploring expedition was just being fitted out, and Hernando Cortés had
+quite made up his mind to join it, when he unluckily fell from a high
+wall which he was climbing, and before he had recovered from his
+injuries the ships had sailed without him. Two more years did he remain
+at home after this misadventure, but at length, when he was nineteen
+years old, he joined a small fleet bound for the Indian Islands. The
+vessel in which he sailed was commanded by one Alonso Quintero, who,
+when they reached the Canary Islands, and all the other vessels were
+detained by taking in supplies, stole out of the harbour under cover of
+the night, meaning to reach Hispaniola before his companions, and so
+secure a better chance of trading. However, he met with a furious storm,
+and was driven back to the port with his ship dismasted and battered.
+The rest of the fleet generously consented to wait while his ship was
+being refitted, and after a short delay they set out again, but so soon
+as they neared the islands, the faithless Quintero again gave his
+companions the slip, but with no better success, for he met with such
+heavy gales that he entirely lost his reckoning, and for many days they
+tossed about helplessly, until one morning they were cheered by the
+sight of a white dove, which settled upon the rigging. Taking the
+direction of the bird's flight, they soon reached Hispaniola, where the
+captain had the satisfaction of finding all the other ships had arrived
+before him, and had sold all their cargoes. Cortés, as soon as he
+landed, went to see Ovando, the governor of the island, whom he had
+known in Spain, and presently was persuaded by him to accept a grant of
+land and settle down to cultivate it, though at first he said, 'I came
+to get gold, not to till the ground like a peasant.' So six years
+passed, during which the monotony of Cortés's life was only broken by
+occasional expeditions against the natives, in which he learned to
+endure toil and danger, and became familiar with the tactics of Indian
+warfare. At length, in 1511, when Diego Velasquez, the governor's
+lieutenant, undertook the conquest of Cuba, Cortés gladly accompanied
+him, and throughout the expedition made himself a favourite both with
+the commander and the soldiers. But when later on there arose discontent
+over the distribution of lands and offices, the malcontents fixed upon
+Cortés as the most suitable person to go back to Hispaniola, and lay
+their grievances before the higher authorities. This came to the ears of
+Velasquez, however, and he at once seized Cortés, whom he loaded with
+fetters and threw into prison. Luckily he soon succeeded in freeing
+himself from the irons, and letting himself down from the window took
+refuge in the nearest church, where he claimed the right of sanctuary.
+Velasquez, who was very angry at his escape, stationed a guard with
+orders to seize Cortés if he should leave the sanctuary, and this he was
+soon careless enough to do. As he stood outside the church an officer
+suddenly sprang upon him from behind, and made him prisoner once more.
+This time he was carried on board a ship which was to sail the next
+morning for Hispaniola, where he was to be tried, but again he managed
+to escape by dragging his feet through the rings which fettered them,
+and dropping silently over the ship's side into a little boat under
+cover of the darkness. As he neared the shore the water became so rough
+that the boat was useless, and he was forced to swim the rest of the
+way; but at last he got safely to land, and again took refuge in the
+church. After this he married a lady named Catalina Xuarez, and by the
+aid of her family managed to make his peace with Velasquez. Cortés now
+received a large estate near St. Jago, where he lived prosperously for
+some years, and even amassed a considerable sum of money. But at last
+news came of an exploring expedition which had set out in 1518 under
+Grijalva, the nephew of Velasquez. He had touched at various places on
+the Mexican coast, and had held a friendly conference with one cacique,
+or chief, who seemed desirous of collecting all the information he could
+about the Spaniards, and their motives in visiting Mexico, that he might
+transmit it to his master, the Aztec emperor. Presents were exchanged at
+this interview, and in return for a few glass beads, pins, and such
+paltry trifles, the Spaniards had received such a rich treasure of
+jewels and gold ornaments that the general at once sent back one of his
+ships under the command of Don Pedro de Alvarado to convey the spoil,
+and acquaint the governor of Cuba with the progress of the expedition,
+and also with all the information he had been able to glean respecting
+the Aztec emperor and his dominions. Now in those days nothing whatever
+was known about the interior of the country or of its inhabitants--it
+was as strange to the explorers as another planet.
+
+
+THE WONDERS OF MEXICO
+
+This was what they had to tell the governor. Far away towards the
+Pacific Ocean there stood, in a beautiful and most fertile valley, the
+capital of a great and powerful empire, called by its inhabitants
+'Tenochtitlan,' but known to the Europeans only by its other name of
+'Mexico,' derived from 'Mexitli,' the war-god of the Aztecs. These
+Aztecs seem to have come originally from the north, and after many
+wanderings to have halted at length on the south-western borders of a
+great lake, of which there were several in the Mexican valley. This
+celebrated valley was situated at a height of about 7,500 feet above the
+sea, and was oval in form, about 67 leagues in circumference, and
+surrounded by towering rocks, which seemed to be meant to protect it
+from invasion. It was in the year 1325 that the Aztecs paused upon the
+shore of the lake, and saw, as the sun rose, a splendid eagle perched
+upon a prickly pear which shot out of a crevice in the rock. It held a
+large serpent in its claws, and its broad wings were opened towards the
+rising sun. The Aztecs saw in this a most favourable omen, and there and
+then set about building themselves a city, laying its foundations upon
+piles in the marshy ground beside the lake, and to this day the eagle
+and the cactus form the arms of the Mexican republic.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The little body of settlers increased rapidly in number and power, and
+made their name terrible throughout the valley, in which various other
+tribes had long been settled, until at last they united themselves with
+the king of the Tezcucans, to aid him against a tribe called the
+Tepanecs, who had invaded his territory. The allies were completely
+successful, and this led to an agreement between the states of Mexico,
+Tezcuco, and Tlacopan, that they should support each other in all their
+wars, and divide all the spoils between them. This alliance remained
+unbroken for over a hundred years and under a succession of able
+princes the Aztec dominion grew, till at the coming of the Spaniards it
+reached across the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
+The Aztecs had many wise laws and institutions, and were indeed in some
+respects a highly civilised community. When their emperor died a new one
+was chosen from among his sons or nephews, by four nobles. The one
+preferred was obliged to have distinguished himself in war, and his
+coronation did not take place until a successful campaign had provided
+enough captives to grace his triumphal entry into the capital, and
+enough victims for the ghastly sacrifices which formed an important part
+of all their religious ceremonies. Communication was held with the
+remotest parts of the country by means of couriers, who, trained to it
+from childhood, travelled with amazing swiftness. Post-houses were
+established on the great roads, and the messenger bearing his despatches
+in the form of hieroglyphical paintings, ran to the first station, where
+they were taken by the next messenger and carried forward, being sent in
+one day a hundred or two hundred miles. Thus fish was served at the
+banquets of the emperor Montezuma which twenty-four hours before had
+been caught in the Gulf of Mexico, two hundred miles away. Thus too the
+news was carried when any war was going on, and as the messengers ran to
+acquaint the court with the movements of the royal armies, the people by
+the way knew whether the tidings were good or bad by the dress of the
+courier. But the training of warriors was the chief end and aim of all
+Aztec institutions. Their principal god was the god of war, and one
+great object of all their expeditions was the capture of victims to be
+sacrificed upon his altars. They believed that the soldier who fell in
+battle was transported at once to the blissful regions of the sun, and
+they consequently fought with an utter disregard of danger. The dress of
+the warriors was magnificent. Their bodies were protected by a vest of
+quilted cotton, impervious to light missiles, and over this the chiefs
+wore mantles of gorgeous feather-work, and the richer of them a kind of
+cuirass of gold or silver plates. Their helmets were of wood, fashioned
+like the head of some wild animal, or of silver surmounted by plumes of
+variously coloured feathers, sprinkled with precious stones, beside
+which they wore many ornaments of gold, and their banners were
+embroidered with gold and feather-work.
+
+The Aztecs worshipped thirteen principal gods, and more than two hundred
+of less importance, each of whom, however, had his day of festival,
+which was duly observed. At the head of all stood the war-god, the
+terrible Huitzilopochtli, whose fantastic image was loaded with costly
+ornaments, and whose temples, in every city of the empire, were the most
+splendid and stately. The Aztecs also had a legend that there had once
+dwelt upon the earth the great Quetzalcoatl, god of the air, under whose
+sway all things had flourished and all people had lived in peace and
+prosperity; but he had in some way incurred the wrath of the principal
+gods, and was compelled to leave the country. On his way he stopped at
+the city of Cholula, where a temple was dedicated to him, of which the
+great ruins remain to this day. When he reached the shores of the
+Mexican Gulf he embarked in his magic boat, made of serpents' skins, for
+the fabulous land of Tlapallan, but before he bade his followers
+farewell he promised that he and his descendants would one day come
+again. The Aztecs confidently looked forward to the return of their
+benevolent god, who was said to have been tall in stature, with a white
+skin, long dark hair, and a flowing beard, and this belief of theirs
+prepared the way, as you will presently see, for the success of
+Cortés.[28] The Mexican temples, or teocallis as they were called--which
+means 'Houses of God'--were very numerous, there being several hundreds
+of them in each of the principal cities. They looked rather like the
+Egyptian pyramids, and were divided into four or five stories, each one
+being smaller than the one below it, and the ascent was by a flight of
+steps at an angle of the pyramid. This led to a sort of terrace at the
+base of the second story, which passed quite round the building to
+another flight of steps immediately over the first, so that it was
+necessary to go all round the temple several times before reaching the
+summit. The top was a broad space on which stood two towers, forty or
+fifty feet high, which contained the images of the gods. Before these
+towers stood the dreadful stone of sacrifice, and two lofty altars on
+which the sacred fires burned continually. Human sacrifices were adopted
+by the Aztecs about two hundred years before the coming of the
+Spaniards. Rare at first, they became more and more frequent till at
+length nearly every festival closed with this cruel abomination. The
+unhappy victim was held by five priests upon the stone of sacrifice,
+while the sixth, who was clothed in a scarlet mantle, emblematic of his
+horrible office, cut open his breast with a sharp razor of 'itztli,' a
+volcanic substance as hard as flint, and tearing out his heart, held it
+first up to the sun, which they worshipped, and then cast it at the feet
+of the god to whom the temple was devoted; and to crown the horror, the
+body of the captive thus sacrificed was afterwards given to the warrior
+who had taken him in battle, who thereupon gave a great banquet and
+served him up amid choice dishes and delicious beverages for the
+entertainment of his friends. When the great teocalli of Huitzilopochtli
+was dedicated in the year 1486, no less than 70,000 prisoners were thus
+sacrificed, and in the whole kingdom every year the victims were never
+fewer than 20,000, or, as some old writers say, 50,000. The Aztec
+writing was not with letters and words, but consisted of little coloured
+pictures, each of which had some special meaning. Thus a 'tongue'
+denoted speaking, a 'footprint' travelling, a 'man sitting on the
+ground' an earthquake. As a very slight difference in position or colour
+intimated a different meaning, this writing was very difficult to read,
+and in the Aztec colleges the priests specially taught it to their
+pupils. At the time of the coming of the Spaniards there were numbers of
+people employed in this picture-writing, but unfortunately hardly any of
+the manuscripts were preserved; for the Spaniards, looking upon them as
+magic scrolls, caused them to be burned by thousands. In many mechanical
+arts the Aztecs had made considerable progress. Their ground was well
+cultivated, they had discovered and used silver, lead, tin, and copper.
+Gold, which was found in the river-beds, they cast into bars, or used as
+money by filling transparent quills with gold dust. They also made many
+fantastic ornaments of gold and silver, and cast gold and silver
+vessels, which they carved delicately with chisels. Some of the silver
+vases were so large that a man could not encircle them with his arms.
+But the art in which they most delighted was the wonderful feather-work.
+With the gorgeous plumage of the tropical birds they could produce all
+the effect of a beautiful mosaic. The feathers, pasted upon a fine
+cotton web, were wrought into dresses for the wealthy, hangings for
+their palaces, and ornaments for their temples.
+
+These then were the people of whom Grijalva sent back to Cuba a few
+vague reports, and these, and the accounts of the splendour of the
+treasure, spread like wildfire through the island. The governor having
+resolved to send out more ships to follow up these discoveries, looked
+about him for a suitable person to command the expedition and share the
+expenses of it, and being recommended by several of his friends to
+choose Hernando Cortés, he presently did so. Cortés had now attained
+his heart's desire, and at once began with the utmost energy to purchase
+and fit out the ships. He used all the money he had saved, and as much
+more as he could persuade his friends to lend him, and very soon he was
+in possession of six vessels, and three hundred recruits had enrolled
+themselves under his banner. His orders were, first, to find Grijalva
+and to proceed in company with him; then to seek out and rescue six
+Christians, the survivors of a previous expedition, who were supposed to
+be lingering in captivity in the interior; and to bear in mind, before
+all things, that it was the great desire of the Spanish monarch that the
+Indians should be converted to Christianity. They were to be invited to
+give their allegiance to him, and to send him presents of gold and
+jewels to secure his favour and protection. The explorers were also to
+survey the coast, acquaint themselves with the general features of the
+country, and to barter with the natives.
+
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPEDITION
+
+But before Cortés was ready to start, a jealousy and distrust of him
+took possession of the mind of Velasquez, so that he determined to
+entrust the command of the fleet to someone else. This came to the ears
+of Cortés, and he with great promptitude assembled his officers
+secretly, and that very night set sail with what supplies he was able to
+lay hands upon, his ships being neither ready for sea nor properly
+provisioned. When morning broke news was carried to Velasquez that the
+fleet was under weigh, and he rose hastily and galloped down to the
+quay. Cortés rowed back to within speaking distance.
+
+'This is a courteous way of taking leave of me, truly,' cried the
+governor.
+
+'Pardon me,' answered Cortés, 'time presses, and there are some things
+that should be done before they are even thought of.' And with that he
+returned to his vessel, and the little fleet sailed away to Macaca,
+where Cortés laid in more stores. This was on November 18, 1518. Shortly
+afterwards he proceeded to Trinidad, a town on the south coast of Cuba,
+where he landed, and setting up his standard, invited all who would to
+join the expedition, holding out to them great hopes of wealth to be
+gained. Volunteers flocked in daily, including many young men of noble
+family, who were attracted by the fame of Cortés. Among them were Pedro
+de Alvarado, Cristóval de Olid, Alonso de Avila, Juan Velasquez de Leon,
+Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, and Gonzalo de Sandoval, of all of
+whom you will hear again before the story is finished. Finally, in
+February 1519, when all the reinforcements were assembled, Cortés found
+he had eleven vessels, one hundred and ten mariners, five hundred and
+fifty-three soldiers, and two hundred Indians. He also had sixteen
+horses, ten large guns, and four lighter, which were called falconets.
+Cortés, before embarking, addressed his little army, saying that he held
+out to them a glorious prize, and that if any among them coveted riches,
+he would make them masters of such as their countrymen had never dreamed
+of; and so they sailed away for the coast of Yucatan.
+
+The first thing that happened was that they were overtaken by a furious
+tempest, and Cortés was delayed by looking after a disabled vessel, and
+so was the last to reach the island of Cozumel. Here he found that
+Alvarado, one of his captains, had landed, plundered a temple, and by
+his violence caused the natives to fly and hide themselves inland.
+
+Cortés, much displeased, severely reprimanded his officer, and, by the
+aid of an interpreter, explained his peaceful intentions to two Indians
+who had been captured. Then he loaded them with presents, and sent them
+to persuade their countrymen to return, which they presently did, and
+the Spaniards had the satisfaction of bartering the trifles they had
+brought for the gold ornaments of the natives. Next Cortés sent two
+ships to the opposite coast of Yucatan, where they were to despatch some
+Indians inland, to seek for and ransom the Christian captives, of whom
+he had gained some tidings from a trader, and while they were gone he
+explored the island, and induced the natives to declare themselves
+Christians by the very summary method of rolling their venerated idols
+out of their temple, and setting up in their stead an image of the
+Virgin and Child. When the Indians saw that no terrible consequences
+followed, they listened to the teaching of the good priest, Father
+Olmedo, who accompanied the expedition, though it is probable that they
+did not, after all, understand much of his instruction. After eight days
+the two ships came back, but with no news of the captives, and Cortés
+sorrowfully decided that he could wait no longer. He accordingly took in
+provisions and water, and set sail again, but before they had gone far
+one of the ships sprang a leak, which obliged them to put back into the
+same port. It was lucky that they did, for soon after they landed a
+canoe was seen coming from the shore of Yucatan, which proved to contain
+one of the long-lost Spaniards, who was called Aguilas. He had been for
+eight years a slave among the natives in the interior, but his master,
+tempted by the ransom of glass-beads, hawk-bells, and such treasures,
+had consented to release him. When he reached the coast the ships were
+gone, but owing to the fortunate accident of their return, he found
+himself once more among his countrymen. Cortés at once saw the
+importance of having him as an interpreter, but in the end he proved to
+be of more use to the explorers than could have been at first imagined.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Again the fleet set out, and coasted along the Gulf of Mexico till they
+reached the mouth of the Rio de Tabasco. Here Cortés landed, but found
+that the Indians were hostile, and were drawn up in great force against
+him. However, after some hard fighting the Spaniards were victorious,
+and having taken possession of the town of Tabasco, Cortés sent
+messengers to the chiefs saying that if they did not at once submit
+themselves he would ravage the country with fire and sword. As they had
+no mind for any more fighting they came humbly, bringing presents, and
+among them thirty slaves, one of whom, a beautiful Mexican girl named
+Malinche, was afterwards of the utmost importance to the expedition. She
+had come into the possession of the cacique of Tabasco through some
+traders from the interior of the country, to whom she had been secretly
+sold by her mother, who coveted her inheritance. Cortés now reembarked
+his soldiers and sailed away to the island of San Juan de Uloa, under
+the lee of which they anchored, and soon saw the light pirogues of the
+Indians coming off to them from the mainland. They brought presents of
+fruit and flowers, and little ornaments of gold which they gladly
+exchanged for the usual trifles. Cortés was most anxious to converse
+with them, but found to his disappointment that Aguilar could not
+understand their dialect. In this dilemma he was informed that one of
+the slaves was a Mexican, and could of course speak the language. This
+was Malinche, or as the Spaniards always called her, 'Marina.' Cortés
+was so charmed with her beauty and cleverness that he made her his
+secretary, and kept her always with him; and she very soon learned
+enough Spanish to interpret for him without the help of Aguilar. But at
+first they were both necessary, and by their aid Cortés learned that his
+visitors were subjects of Montezuma, the great Aztec emperor, and were
+governed by Tenhtlile, one of his nobles. Cortés having ascertained that
+there was abundance of gold in the interior, dismissed them, loaded with
+presents, to acquaint their governor with his desire for an interview.
+The next morning he landed on the mainland with all his force. It was a
+level sandy plain, and the troops employed themselves in cutting down
+trees and bushes to provide a shelter from the weather; in this they
+were aided by the natives, who built them huts with stakes and earth,
+mats and cotton carpets, and flocked from all the country round to see
+the wonderful strangers. They brought with them fruits, vegetables,
+flowers in abundance, game, and many dishes cooked after the fashion of
+the country; and these they gave to, or bartered with, the Spaniards.
+The next day came Tenhtlile, the governor, with a numerous train, and
+was met by Cortés, and conducted to his tent with great ceremony. All
+the principal officers were assembled, and after a ceremonious banquet
+at which the governor was regaled with Spanish wines and confections,
+the interpreters were sent for and a conversation began. Tenhtlile first
+asked about the country of the strangers, and the object of their visit.
+Cortés replied that he was the subject of a powerful monarch beyond the
+seas, who had heard of the greatness of the Mexican emperor, and had
+sent him with a present in token of his goodwill, and with a message
+which he must deliver in person. He concluded by asking when he could
+be admitted into Montezuma's presence. To this the Aztec noble replied
+haughtily,
+
+'How is it that you have been here only two days, and demand to see the
+emperor?'
+
+Then he added that he was surprised to hear that there could be another
+monarch as powerful as Montezuma, but if it were so his master would be
+happy to communicate with him, and that he would forward the royal gift
+brought by the Spanish commander, and so soon as he had learned
+Montezuma's will would inform him of it. Tenhtlile then ordered his
+slaves to bring forward the present for the Spanish general. It
+consisted of ten loads of fine cotton, several mantles of gorgeous
+feather-work, and a wicker basket of golden ornaments. Cortés received
+it with due acknowledgments, and in his turn ordered the presents for
+Montezuma to be brought forward. These were an armchair richly carved
+and painted, a crimson cloth cap with a gold medal, and a quantity of
+collars, bracelets, and other ornaments of cut-glass, which in a country
+where glass was unknown were as valuable as real gems. The Aztec
+governor observed a soldier in the camp in a shining gilt helmet, and
+expressed a wish that Montezuma should see it, as it reminded him of one
+worn by the god Quetzalcoatl. Cortés declared his willingness that the
+helmet should be sent, and begged that the emperor would return it
+filled with the gold dust of the country, that he might compare its
+quality with that of his own. He also said that the Spaniards were
+troubled with a disease of the heart, for which gold was a sure remedy.
+In fact, he made his want of gold very clear to the governor. While
+these things were passing Cortés observed one of Tenhtlile's attendants
+busy with a pencil, and on looking at his work he found it was a sketch
+of the Spaniards, their costumes, weapons, and all objects of interest
+being correctly represented both in form and colour. This was the
+celebrated picture-writing, and the governor said that this man was
+drawing all these things for Montezuma, as he would get a much better
+idea of their appearance thus. Cortés thereupon ordered out the cavalry,
+and caused them to go through their military exercises upon the firm wet
+sands of the beach; and the appearance of the horses--which were
+absolutely unknown in Mexico--filled the natives with astonishment,
+which turned to alarm when the general ordered the cannon to be fired,
+and they saw for the first time the smoke and flame, and beheld the
+balls crashing among the trees of the neighbouring forest and reducing
+them to splinters. Nothing of this sort was lost upon the painters, who
+faithfully recorded every particular, not omitting the ships--the
+'water-houses,' as they called them--which swung at anchor in the bay.
+Finally, the governor departed as ceremoniously as he had come, leaving
+orders with his people to supply the Spanish general with all he might
+require till further instructions should come from the emperor.
+
+In the meantime the arrival of the strangers was causing no small stir
+in the Mexican capital. A general feeling seems to have prevailed that
+the Return of the White God, Quetzalcoatl, was at hand, and many
+wonderful signs and occurrences seemed to confirm the belief.
+
+In 1510 the great lake of Tezcuco, without tempest, earthquake, or any
+visible cause, became violently agitated, overflowed its banks, and,
+pouring into the streets of Mexico, swept away many buildings by the
+fury of its waters. In 1511 one of the towers of the great temple took
+fire, equally without any apparent cause, and continued to burn in
+defiance of all attempts to extinguish it. In the following years three
+comets were seen, and not long before the coming of the Spaniards a
+strange light broke forth in the east, resembling a great pyramid or
+flood of fire thickly powdered with stars: at the same time low voices
+were heard in the air, and doleful wailings, as if to announce some
+strange, mysterious calamity. A lady of the Royal house died, was
+buried, and rose again, prophesying ruin to come. After the conquest she
+became a Christian.
+
+Montezuma, terrified at these apparitions, took counsel of
+Nezahualpilli, King of Tezcuco, who was a great proficient in astrology;
+but far from obtaining any comfort from him, he was still further
+depressed by being told that all these things predicted the speedy
+downfall of his empire. When, therefore, the picture-writings showing
+the Spanish invaders reached Montezuma, they caused him great
+apprehension, and he summoned the kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan to
+consult with them as to how the strangers should be received. There was
+much division of opinion, but finally Montezuma resolved to send a rich
+present which should impress them with a high idea of his wealth and
+grandeur, while at the same time he would forbid them to approach the
+capital. After eight days at the most, which however seemed a long time
+to the Spaniards, who were suffering from the intense heat of the
+climate, the embassy, accompanied by the governor Tenhtlile, reached the
+camp, and presented to Cortés the magnificent treasure sent by
+Montezuma. One of the two nobles had been sent on account of his great
+likeness to the picture of Cortés which the Aztec painter had executed
+for Montezuma. This resemblance was so striking that the Spanish
+soldiers always called this chief 'the Mexican Cortés.' After the usual
+ceremonious salutes, the slaves unrolled the delicately wrought mats and
+displayed the gifts they had brought. There were shields, helmets, and
+cuirasses embossed with plates and ornaments of pure gold, with collars
+and bracelets of the same precious metal, sandals, fans, plumes, and
+crests of variegated feathers wrought with gold and silver thread and
+sprinkled with pearls and precious stones. Also imitations of birds and
+animals in wrought or cast gold and silver of exquisite workmanship; and
+curtain coverlets and robes of cotton, fine as silk--of rich and varied
+hues--interwoven with feather-work that rivalled the most delicate
+painting. There were more than thirty loads of cotton cloth, and the
+Spanish helmet was returned filled to the brim with grains of gold. But
+the things which excited the most admiration were two circular plates of
+gold and silver as large as carriage-wheels. One, representing the sun,
+was richly carved with plants and animals, and was worth fifty-two
+thousand five hundred pounds. The Spaniards could not conceal their
+rapture at this exhibition of treasure which exceeded their utmost
+dreams; and when they had sufficiently admired it the ambassadors
+courteously delivered their message, which was to the effect that
+Montezuma had great pleasure in holding communication with so powerful a
+monarch as the King of Spain, but he could not grant a personal
+interview to the Spaniards; the way to his capital was too long and too
+dangerous. Therefore the strangers must return to their own land with
+the gifts he had sent them. Cortés, though much vexed, concealed his
+annoyance and expressed his sense of the emperor's munificence. It made
+him, he said, only the more desirous of a personal interview, so that he
+felt it was impossible that he should present himself again before his
+sovereign without having accomplished this great object of his journey.
+He once more requested them to bear this message to their master, with
+another trifling gift. This they seemed unwilling to do, and took their
+leave repeating that the general's wish could not be gratified. The
+soldiers were by this time suffering greatly from the heat, surrounded
+as they were by burning sands and evil-smelling marshes, and swarms of
+venomous insects which tormented them night and day. Thirty of their
+number died, and the discomfort of the rest was greatly increased by
+the indifference of the natives, who no longer brought them such
+abundant supplies, and demanded an immense price for what they did
+provide. After ten days the Mexican envoys returned, bearing another
+rich present of stuffs and gold ornaments, which, though not so valuable
+as the first, was yet worth three thousand ounces of gold. Beside this
+there were four precious stones, somewhat resembling emeralds, each of
+which they assured the Spaniards was worth more than a load of gold, and
+was destined as a special mark of respect for the Spanish monarch, since
+only the nobles of Mexico were allowed to wear them. Unfortunately,
+however, they were of no value at all in Europe. Montezuma's answer was
+the same as before. He positively forbade the strangers to approach
+nearer to his capital, and requested them to take the treasure he had
+bestowed upon them, and return without delay to their own country.
+Cortés received this unwelcome message courteously, but coldly, and
+turning to his officers exclaimed, 'This is a rich and powerful prince
+indeed, yet it shall go hard but we will one day pay him a visit in his
+capital.' Father Olmedo then tried to persuade the Aztec chiefs to give
+up their idol-worship, and endeavoured by the aid of Marina and Aguilar
+to explain to them the mysteries of his own faith, but it is probable
+that he was not very successful. The chiefs presently withdrew coldly,
+and that same night every hut was deserted by the natives, and the
+Spaniards were left without supplies in a desolate wilderness. Cortés
+thought this so suspicious that he prepared for an attack, but
+everything remained quiet.
+
+The general now decided to remove his camp to a more healthy place a
+little farther along the coast, where the ships could anchor and be
+sheltered from the north wind. But the soldiers began to grumble and be
+discontented, and to say that it was time to return with their spoil,
+and not linger upon those barren shores until they had brought the whole
+Mexican nation about their ears. Fortunately at this juncture five
+Indians made their appearance in the camp, and were taken to the
+general's tent. They were quite different from the Mexicans in dress and
+appearance, and wore rings of gold and bright blue gems in their ears
+and nostrils, while a gold leaf, delicately wrought, was attached to the
+under lip. Marina could not understand their language, but luckily she
+found that two of them could speak in the Aztec tongue. They explained
+that they came from Cempoalla, the chief town of a tribe called the
+Totonacs, and that their country had been lately conquered by the
+Aztecs, whose oppressions they greatly resented. They also said that the
+fame of the Spaniards had reached their master, who had sent to request
+them to visit him in his capital. It is easy to imagine how eagerly
+Cortés listened to this communication, and how important it was to him.
+Hitherto, as he knew absolutely nothing of the state of affairs in the
+interior of the country, he had supposed the empire to be strong and
+united. Now he saw that the discontent of the provinces conquered by
+Montezuma might be turned to his own advantage, and that by their aid he
+might hope to succeed in his cherished scheme of subduing the emperor
+himself. He therefore dismissed the Totonacs with many presents,
+promising soon to visit their city. Then with his usual energy and
+diplomacy he turned upon the immediate difficulties which beset him--the
+discontent of the soldiers, the jealousy of some of his officers, and
+the fact that he had no warrant for his ambitious plans in the
+commission that he had received from Velasquez. By tact and cunning he
+managed to settle everything as he wished, and set to work to establish
+a colony in the name of the Spanish sovereign, and appointed his chief
+friend Puertocarrero to be one of its magistrates, and Montejo, who was
+a friend of Velasquez, to be the other. The new town was called Villa
+Rica de Vera Cruz, 'The rich town of the True Cross,' and, as you see,
+its governors and officials were appointed before a single house was
+built. To them Cortés then resigned the commission which he had received
+from Velasquez, and the council, which consisted chiefly of his own
+friends, immediately reappointed him to be captain-general and chief
+justice of the colony, with power to do practically just as he liked. Of
+course this caused a great commotion in the opposing party, but Cortés
+put the leaders into irons and sent them on board one of the ships,
+while he sent the soldiers on a foraging expedition into the surrounding
+country. By the time these returned with supplies they had altered their
+minds, and joined their companions in arms, pledging themselves to a
+common cause, while even the cavaliers on board the ship came to the
+same conclusion, and were reconciled to the new government, and were
+from that time staunch adherents to Cortés.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Peace being thus restored, the army set out to march northwards to the
+place where it had been decided to build the town. They crossed a river
+in rafts and broken canoes which they found upon its bank, and presently
+came to a very different scene from the burning sandy waste, which they
+had left. The wide plains were covered with green grass, and there were
+groves of palms, among which the Spaniards saw deer and various wild
+animals, and flocks of pheasants and turkeys. On their way they passed
+through a deserted village, in the temples of which they found records
+in the picture-writing, and also, to their horror, the remains of
+sacrificed victims. As they proceeded up the river they were met by
+twelve Indians, sent by the cacique of Cempoalla to show them the way to
+his town. The farther they went the more beautiful did the country
+become. The trees were loaded with gorgeous fruits and flowers, and
+birds and butterflies of every hue abounded. As they approached the
+Indian city they saw gardens and orchards on each side of the road, and
+were met by crowds of natives, who mingled fearlessly with the soldiers,
+bringing garlands of flowers, in which they specially delighted, to deck
+the general's helmet and to hang about the neck of his horse. The
+cacique, who was tall and very fat, received Cortés with much courtesy,
+and assigned to the army quarters in a neighbouring temple, where they
+were well supplied with provisions, and the general received a present
+of gold and fine cotton. But in spite of all this friendliness he
+neglected no precautions, stationing sentinels, and posting his
+artillery so as to command the entrance. The following morning Cortés
+paid the cacique a visit at his own residence, and, by the aid of
+Marina, a long conference was held in which the Spanish general gained
+much important information, and promised to aid the Totonacs against
+Montezuma, and prevent him from carrying off their young men and maidens
+to be sacrificed to his gods. The following day the army marched off
+again to the town of Chiahuitztla, which stood like a fortress on a crag
+overlooking the gulf. Though the inhabitants were alarmed at first, they
+soon became friendly, and the chiefs came to confer with Cortés and the
+cacique of Cempoallo, who had accompanied him, carried in a litter. Just
+then there was a stir among the people, and five men entered the
+market-place where they were standing. By their rich and peculiar dress
+they seemed to belong to a different race: their dark glossy hair was
+tied in a knot at the top of the head, and they carried bunches of
+flowers in their hands. Their attendants carried wands, or fans, to
+brush away the flies and insects from their lordly masters. These
+persons passed the Spaniards haughtily, scarcely deigning to return
+their salutations, and they were immediately joined by the Totonac
+chiefs, who seemed anxious to conciliate them by every sort of
+attention. The general, much astonished, inquired of Marina what this
+meant, and she replied that these were Aztec nobles empowered to receive
+tribute for Montezuma.
+
+Soon after the chiefs returned in dismay, saying that the Aztecs were
+very angry with them for entertaining the Spaniards without the
+emperor's permission, and had demanded twenty young men and maidens to
+be sacrificed to the gods as a punishment. Cortés was most indignant at
+this insolence, and insisted that the Totonacs should not only refuse
+the demand, but should also seize the Aztec nobles, and throw them into
+prison. This they did, but the Spanish general managed to get two of
+them freed in the night, and brought before him. He then very cunningly
+made them believe that he regretted the indignity that had been offered
+them, and would help them to get away safely, and the next day would do
+his best to release their companions. He also told them to report this
+to Montezuma, assuring him of the great respect and regard in which he
+was held by the Spaniards. Them he sent them away secretly to the port,
+and they were taken in one of the vessels, and landed safely at a little
+distance along the coast. The Totonacs were furious at the escape of
+some of their prisoners, and would at once have sacrificed the
+remainder, had not Cortés expressed the utmost horror at the idea, and
+sent them on board one of the ships for safe keeping, whence he very
+soon allowed them to join their companions. This artful proceeding had,
+as we shall presently see, just the effect it was meant to have upon
+Montezuma. By order of Cortés, messengers were now sent to all the other
+Totonac towns, telling them of the defiance that had been shown to the
+emperor, and bidding them also refuse to pay the tribute. The Indians
+soon came flocking into Chiahuitztla to see and confer with the powerful
+strangers, in the hope of regaining liberty by their aid, and so
+cleverly had Cortés managed to embroil them with Montezuma, that even
+the most timid felt that they had no choice but to accept the protection
+of the Spaniards, and make a bold effort for the recovery of freedom.
+
+Cortés accordingly made them swear allegiance to the Spanish sovereign,
+and then set out once more for the port where his colony was to be
+planted. This was only half a league distant, in a wide and fruitful
+plain, and he was not long in determining the circuit of the walls, and
+the site of the fort, granary, and other public buildings. The friendly
+Indians brought stone, lime, wood, and bricks, and in a few weeks a town
+rose up, which served as a good starting-point for future operations, a
+retreat for the disabled, a place for the reception of stores, or
+whatever might be sent to or from the mother-country, and was, moreover,
+strong enough to overawe the surrounding country. This was the first
+colony in New Spain, and was hailed with satisfaction by the simple
+natives, who could not foresee that their doom was sealed when a white
+man set his foot upon their soil.
+
+While the Spaniards were still occupied with their new settlement they
+were surprised by another embassy from Mexico. When the account of the
+imprisonment of the royal collectors first reached Montezuma, his
+feelings of fear and superstition were swallowed up in indignation, and
+he began with great energy to make preparations for punishing his
+rebellious vassals, and avenging the insult offered to himself. But when
+the Aztec officers liberated by Cortés reached the capital and reported
+the courteous treatment they had received from the Spanish commander, he
+was induced to resume his former timid and conciliatory policy, and sent
+an embassy consisting of two young nephews of his own and four of his
+chief nobles to the Spanish quarters. As usual they bore a princely gift
+of gold, rich cotton stuffs, and wonderful mantles of feather
+embroidery. The envoys on coming before Cortés presented this offering,
+with the emperor's thanks to him for the courtesy he had shown to the
+captive nobles. At the same time Montezuma expressed his surprise and
+regret that the Spaniards should have countenanced the rebellion. He had
+no doubt, he said, that Cortés and his followers were the
+long-looked-for strangers, and therefore of the same lineage as himself.
+From deference to them he would spare the Totonacs while they were
+present, but the day of vengeance would come. Cortés entertained the
+Indians with frank hospitality, taking care, however, to make such a
+display of his resources as should impress them with a sense of his
+power. Then he dismissed them with a few trifling gifts and a
+conciliatory message to the emperor, to the effect that he would soon
+pay his respects to him in his capital, when all misunderstanding
+between them would certainly be adjusted. The Totonacs were amazed when
+they understood the nature of this interview; for, in spite of the
+presence of the Spaniards, they had felt great apprehension as to the
+consequence of their rash act, and now they felt absolutely in awe of
+the strangers who even at a distance could exercise such a mysterious
+influence over the terrible Montezuma.
+
+Not long after the cacique of Cempoalla appealed to Cortés to aid him
+against a neighbour with whom he had a quarrel. The general at once
+marched to support him with a part of his force, but when they reached
+the hostile city they were received in a most friendly manner, and
+Cortés had no difficulty in reconciling the two chiefs to one another.
+In token of gratitude the Indian cacique sent eight noble maidens,
+richly decked with collars and ornaments of gold, whom he begged the
+general to give as wives to his captains. Cortés seized the opportunity
+of declaring that they must first become Christians, and be baptized,
+since the sons of the Church could not be allowed to marry idolaters.
+The chief replied that his gods were good enough for him, and that he
+should at once resent any insults offered to them, even if they did not
+avenge themselves by instantly destroying the Spaniards. However, the
+general and his followers had seen too much already of the barbarous
+rites of the Indian religion and its horrible sacrifices. Without
+hesitation they attacked the principal teocalli, whereupon the cacique
+called his men to arms, the priests in their blood-stained robes rushed
+frantically about among the people, calling upon them to defend their
+gods, and all was tumult and confusion. Cortés acted with his usual
+promptitude at this crisis. He caused the cacique and the principal
+inhabitants and the priests to be taken prisoners, and then commanded
+them to quiet the people, threatening that a single arrow shot at the
+Spaniards should cost them their lives. Marina also represented the
+madness of resistance, reminding the cacique that if he lost the
+friendship of the strangers, he would be left alone to face the
+vengeance of Montezuma. This consideration decided him: covering his
+face with his hands, he exclaimed that the gods would avenge their own
+wrongs. Taking advantage of this tacit consent, fifty soldiers rushed up
+the stairway of the temple, and dragging the great wooden idols from
+their places in the topmost tower, they rolled them down the steps of
+the pyramid amid the groans of the natives and the triumphant shouts of
+their comrades, and then burnt them to ashes. The Totonacs, finding that
+their gods were unable to prevent or even punish this profanation of
+their temple, now believed that they were indeed less to be feared than
+the Spaniards, and offered no further resistance. By Cortés's orders the
+teocalli was then thoroughly purified, and an altar was erected,
+surmounted by a great cross hung with garlands of roses, and Father
+Olmedo said Mass before the Indians and Spaniards, who seem to have been
+alike impressed by the ceremony. An old disabled soldier, named Juan de
+Torres, was left to watch over the sanctuary and instruct the natives in
+its services, while the general, taking a friendly leave of his Totonac
+allies, set out once more for Villa Rica, to finish his arrangements
+before departing for the capital. Here he was surprised to find that a
+Spanish vessel had arrived in his absence, having on board twelve
+soldiers and two horses, a very welcome addition to the tiny army.
+Cortés now resolved to execute a plan of which he had been thinking for
+some time. He knew very well that none of his arrangements about the
+colony would hold good without the Spanish monarch's sanction, and also
+that Velasquez had great interest at court, and would certainly use it
+against him. Therefore he resolved to send despatches to the emperor
+himself, and such an amount of treasure as should give a great idea of
+the extent and importance of his discoveries. He gave up his own share
+of the spoil, and persuaded his officers to do the same, and a paper was
+circulated among the soldiers, calling upon all who chose to resign the
+small portion which was due to them, that a present worthy of the
+emperor's acceptance might be sent home. It is only another proof of the
+extraordinary power which Cortés had over these rough soldiers, who
+cared for nothing but plunder, that not a single one refused to give up
+the very treasure which he had risked so much to gain.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+These are some of the wonderful things that were sent. Two collars made
+of gold and precious stones. Two birds made of green feathers, with
+feet, beaks, and eyes of gold, and in the same piece with them animals
+of gold resembling snails. A large alligator's head of gold. Two birds
+made of thread and feather-work, having the quills of their wings and
+tails, their feet, eyes and the ends of their beaks of gold, standing
+upon two reeds covered with gold, which are raised on balls of
+feather-work and gold embroidery, one white and the other yellow, with
+seven tassels of feather-work hanging from each of them. A large silver
+wheel, also bracelets, leaves, and five shields of the same metal. A
+box of feather-work embroidered on leather, with a large plate of gold
+weighing seventy ounces in the midst. A large wheel of gold with figures
+of strange animals on it, and worked with tufts of leaves, weighing
+three thousand eight hundred ounces. A fan of variegated feather-work
+with thirty-seven rods plated with gold. Sixteen shields of precious
+stones, with feathers of various colours hanging from their rims, and
+six shields each covered with a plate of gold, with something resembling
+a mitre in the centre. Besides all this there was a quantity of gold
+ore, and many pieces of richly embroidered cotton cloth and
+feather-work. He accompanied this present with a letter to the emperor
+in which he gave an account of all his adventures and discoveries, and
+ended by beseeching him to confirm his authority, as he was entirely
+confident that he should be able to place the Castilian crown in
+possession of this great Indian empire. He also sent four slaves, who
+had been rescued from the cage in which were kept the victims about to
+be sacrificed, and some Mexican manuscripts.
+
+Very soon after the departure of the treasure-ship Cortés discovered
+that there was a conspiracy among some of his followers, who either did
+not like the way the general arranged matters, or else were terrified at
+the prospect of the dangerous campaign that was before them. They had
+seized one of the ships, and got provisions and water stored, and were
+on the eve of setting sail for Cuba, when one of their number repented
+of the part he had taken in the plot, and betrayed it to Cortés, who at
+once took measures for the arrest of the ringleaders, two of whom were
+afterwards hanged. This affair showed the general that there were some
+among his followers who were not heart and soul in the expedition, and
+who might therefore fail him when he most needed them, and might also
+cause their comrades to desert if there was any chance for them to
+escape. He therefore determined to take the bold step of destroying the
+ships without the knowledge of his army. Accordingly, he marched the
+whole army to Cempoalla, and when he arrived there he told his plan to a
+few of his devoted adherents, who entirely approved of it. Through them
+he persuaded the pilots to declare the ships unseaworthy, and then
+ordered nine of them to be sunk, having first brought on shore their
+sails, masts, iron, and all movable fittings. When the news of this
+proceeding reached Cempoalla, it caused the deepest consternation among
+the Spaniards, who felt themselves betrayed and abandoned, a mere
+handful of men arrayed against a great and formidable empire, and cut
+off from all chance of escape. They murmured loudly, and a serious
+mutiny was threatened. But Cortés, whose presence of mind never deserted
+him, managed to reassure them, and to persuade them that he had only
+done what was really best for everyone; and he so cunningly dwelt upon
+the fame and the treasure which they were on the eve of gaining, that
+not one of them accepted the offer which he made to them of returning to
+Cuba in the only remaining ship. Their enthusiasm for their leader
+revived, and as he concluded his speech they made the air ring with
+their shouts of 'To Mexico! To Mexico!'
+
+
+THE MARCH TO MEXICO
+
+While he was still at Cempoalla, news came to Cortés from Villa Rica
+that four strange ships were hovering off the coast, and that they
+refused to respond to repeated signals made to them by Don Juan de
+Escalante, who was in command of the garrison left in the town. This
+greatly alarmed Cortés, who was continually dreading the interference of
+his enemy, the governor of Cuba. He rode hastily back to Villa Rica,
+and, almost without stopping to rest, pushed on a few leagues northwards
+along the coast, where he understood the ships were at anchor. On his
+way he met with three Spaniards just landed from them, and learned that
+they belonged to a squadron fitted out by Francisco de Garay, who had
+landed on the Florida coast a year before, and had obtained from Spain
+authority over the countries he might discover in its neighbourhood.
+Cortés saw he had nothing to fear from them, but he did wish he could
+have induced the crews of the ships to join his expedition. The three
+men he easily persuaded, but those who remained on board feared
+treachery, and refused to send a boat ashore. Finally, by a stratagem,
+Cortés succeeded in capturing three or four more, out of a boat's crew
+who came to fetch their comrades, and with this small party of recruits
+he returned to Cempoalla. On August 16, 1519, Cortés bade farewell to
+his hospitable Indian friends, and set out for Mexico. His force
+consisted of about four hundred foot and fifteen horse, with seven
+pieces of artillery, and in addition to these he had obtained from the
+cacique of Cempoalla thirteen hundred warriors, and a thousand porters
+to carry the baggage and drag the guns. During the first day the army
+marched through the 'tierra caliente,' or hot region. All around them
+fruit and flowers grew in the wildest profusion, as indeed they did all
+the year round in that wonderful climate; the air was heavy with
+perfume, and bright birds and insects abounded. But after some leagues'
+travel, over roads made nearly impassable by the summer rains, they
+began to ascend gradually, and at the close of the second day they
+reached Xalapa, from which they looked out over one of the grandest
+prospects that could be seen anywhere. Down below them lay the hot
+region with its gay confusion of meadows, streams, and flowering
+forests, sprinkled over with shining Indian villages, while a faint line
+of light upon the horizon told them that there was the ocean they had so
+lately crossed, beyond which lay their country, which many of them would
+never see again. To the south rose the mighty mountain called 'Orizaba,'
+in his mantle of snow, and in another direction the Sierra Madre, with
+its dark belt of pine-trees, stretched its long lines of shadowy hills
+away into the distance. Onward and upward they went, and on the fourth
+day they arrived at the strong town of Naulinco. Here the inhabitants
+entertained them hospitably, for they were friendly with the Totonacs,
+and Cortés endeavoured, through Father Olmedo, to teach them something
+about Christianity. They seem to have listened willingly, and allowed
+the Spaniards to erect a cross for their adoration, which indeed they
+did in most of the places where they halted. The troops now entered upon
+a rugged, narrow valley, called 'the Bishop's Pass,' and now it began to
+be terribly cold, the snow and hail beat upon them, and the freezing
+wind seemed to penetrate to their very bones. The Spaniards were partly
+protected by their armour, and their thick coats of quilted cotton, but
+the poor Indians, natives of the hot region and with very little
+clothing, suffered greatly, and indeed several of them died by the way.
+The path lay round a bare and dreadful-looking volcanic mountain, and
+often upon the edge of precipices three thousand feet in depth. After
+three days of this dreary travelling the army emerged into a more genial
+climate; they had reached the great tableland which spreads out for
+hundreds of miles along the crests of the Cordilleras, more than seven
+thousand feet above the sea-level. The vegetation of the torrid and
+temperate regions had of course disappeared, but the fields were
+carefully cultivated. Many of the crops were unknown to the Spaniards,
+but they recognised maize and aloes, and various kinds of cactus.
+Suddenly the troops came upon what seemed to be a populous city, even
+larger than Cempoalla, and with loftier and more substantial buildings,
+of stone and lime. There were thirteen teocallis in the town, and in one
+place in the suburbs one of the Spaniards counted the stored-up skulls
+of a hundred thousand sacrificed victims. The lord of the town ruled
+over twenty thousand vassals; he was a tributary to Montezuma, and there
+was a strong Mexican garrison in the place. This was probably the reason
+of his receiving Cortés and his army very coldly, and vaunting the
+grandeur of the Mexican emperor, who could, he declared, muster thirty
+great vassals, each of whom commanded a hundred thousand men. In answer
+to the inquiries of Cortés, he told him about Montezuma and his capital.
+How more than twenty thousand prisoners of war were sacrificed every
+year upon the altars of his gods, and how the city stood in the midst of
+a great lake, and was approached by long causeways connected in places
+by wooden bridges, which when raised cut off all communication with the
+country--and many other strange things which were not of a kind to
+reassure the minds of the Spaniards. They hardly knew whether to believe
+the old cacique or not, but at any rate the wonders they heard made
+them, as one of their cavaliers said, 'only the more earnest to prove
+the adventure, desperate as it might appear.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The natives were also very curious to know about the Spaniards, their
+horses and dogs, and strange weapons, and Marina in answering their
+questions took care to expatiate upon the exploits and victories of her
+adopted countrymen, and to state the extraordinary marks of respect they
+had received from Montezuma. This had its effect upon the cacique, who
+presently sent the general some slaves to make bread for the soldiers,
+and supplied them with the means of refreshment and rest, which they
+needed so much after their toilful march.
+
+The army rested in this city four or five days, and even at the end of
+the last century the Indians would still point out the cypress tree
+under the shelter of which the conqueror's horse had been tied. When the
+journey was resumed, the way was through a broad green valley, watered
+by a splendid river and shaded by lofty trees. On either side of the
+river an unbroken line of Indian dwellings extended for several leagues,
+and on some rising ground stood a town which might contain five or six
+thousand inhabitants, commanded by a fortress with walls and trenches.
+Here the troops halted again, and met with friendly treatment.
+
+In their last halting-place Cortés had been advised by the natives to
+take the route to the ancient city of Cholula, the inhabitants of which
+were a mild race, subjects of Montezuma, and given to peaceful arts, who
+were likely to receive him kindly. But his Cempoallan allies declared
+that the Cholulans were false and perfidious, and counselled him to go
+to Tlascala, a valiant little republic which had managed to maintain its
+independence against the arms of Mexico. The tribe had always been
+friendly with the Totonacs, and had the reputation of being frank,
+fearless, and trustworthy. The Spanish general decided to try and secure
+their goodwill, and accordingly despatched four of the principal
+Cempoallans with a gift, consisting of a cap of crimson cloth, a sword
+and a cross-bow, to ask permission to pass through their country,
+expressing at the same time his admiration of their valour, and of their
+long resistance of the Aztecs, whose pride he, too, was determined to
+humble. Three days after the departure of the envoys the army resumed
+its march, lingering somewhat by the way in hopes of receiving an answer
+from the Indian Republic. But the messengers did not return, which
+occasioned the general no little uneasiness. As they advanced the
+country became rougher and the scenery bolder, and at last their
+progress was arrested by a most remarkable fortification. It was a stone
+wall nine feet high and twenty feet thick, with a parapet a foot and a
+half broad at the top, for the protection of those who defended it. It
+had only one opening in the centre, made by two semicircular lines of
+wall overlapping each other for the space of forty paces, and having a
+passage-way between, ten paces wide, so contrived as to be perfectly
+commanded by the inner wall. This fortification, which extended for more
+than two leagues, rested at either end on the bold, natural buttresses
+of the chain of mountains. It was built of immense blocks of stone
+nicely laid together without cement, and from the remains that still
+exist it is easy to imagine what its size and solidity must have been.
+This singular structure marked the limits of Tlascala, and was intended,
+the natives said, as a barrier against Mexican invasions. The soldiers
+paused amazed, and not a little apprehensive as to their reception in
+Tlascala, since a people who were capable of such a work as that would
+indeed prove formidable should they not be friendly. But Cortés, putting
+himself at the head of his cavalry, shouted, 'Forward, soldiers; the
+Holy Cross is our banner, and under that we shall conquer.' And so they
+marched through the undefended passage, and found themselves in
+Tlascala.
+
+The Tlascalan people belonged to the same great family as the Aztecs,
+and had planted themselves upon the western shore of Lake Tezcuco at
+about the same period--at the close of the twelfth century. There they
+remained many years, until they had, for some reason, incurred the
+displeasure of all the surrounding tribes, who combined to attack them,
+and a terrible battle took place. Though the Tlascalans were entirely
+victorious, they were so disgusted by this state of things that they
+resolved to migrate, and the greater number of them finally settled in
+the warm and fruitful valley overshadowed by the mountains of Tlascala.
+After some years the monarchy was divided, first into two, then four
+separate states, each with its own chief, who was independent in his
+own territory, and possessed equal authority with the other three in all
+matters concerning the whole republic, the affairs of which were settled
+by a council consisting of the four chiefs and the inferior nobles. They
+were an agricultural people, and the fertility of their new country was
+signified by its name--'Tlascala' meaning the land of bread. Presently
+their neighbours began to be envious of their prosperity, and they were
+frequently obliged to defend themselves against the Cholulans, and were
+always successful. But when Axayacatl, king of the Aztecs, sent
+demanding the same tribute and obedience from them which the other
+people of the country paid him, threatening, if they refused, to destroy
+their cities, and give their land to their enemies, they answered
+proudly, 'Neither they nor their forefathers had ever paid tribute or
+homage to a foreign power, nor ever would pay it. If their country was
+invaded, they knew how to defend it.'
+
+This answer brought upon them the forces of the Mexican monarch, and a
+pitched battle was fought in which the republic was again victorious,
+but from that time hostilities never ceased between the two nations,
+every captive was mercilessly sacrificed, and the Tlascalan children
+were trained from the cradle to hate the Mexicans with a deadly hatred.
+In this struggle the Tlascalans received valuable support from a wild
+and warlike race from the north, called the Otomies. Some of them
+settled in the republic, and having proved themselves courageous and
+faithful, were entrusted with the defence of the frontier. After
+Montezuma became emperor of Mexico greater efforts than before were made
+to subdue Tlascala. He sent a great army against it, commanded by his
+favourite son, but his troops were defeated and his son killed. Enraged
+and mortified, Montezuma made still greater preparations and invaded the
+valley with a terrific force. But the Tlascalans withdrew to the
+recesses of the hills, and watching their opportunity, swept down upon
+the enemy and drove them from their territory with dreadful slaughter.
+Nevertheless they were greatly harassed by these constant struggles with
+a foe so superior to themselves in numbers and resources. The Aztec
+armies lay between them and the coast, cutting off all possibility of
+obtaining any supplies. There were some things, as cotton, cacas, and
+salt, which they were unable to grow or manufacture, of which they had
+been deprived for more than fifty years, and their taste was so much
+affected by this enforced abstinence that they did not get used to
+eating salt with their food for several generations after the conquest.
+This was the state of affairs in Tlascala when the Spaniards reached
+it, and it is easy to see how important it was to Cortés to form an
+alliance with it, but that was not an easy thing to do.
+
+The Tlascalans had heard about the Christians and their victorious
+advance, but they had not expected that they would come their way. So
+they were much embarrassed by the embassy demanding a passage through
+their territories. The council was assembled, and a great difference of
+opinion was found among its members. Some believed that these were the
+white-skinned, bearded men whose coming was foretold, and at all events
+they were enemies to Mexico, and might help them in their struggle
+against it. Others argued that this could not be: the march of the
+strangers through the land might be tracked by the broken images of the
+Indian gods, and desecrated temples. How could they be sure that they
+were not friends of Montezuma? They had received his embassies, accepted
+his gifts, and were even now on their way to his capital in company with
+his vassals. This last was the opinion of an aged chief, one of the four
+rulers of the republic. His name was Xicotencatl, and he was nearly
+blind, for he was over a hundred years old. He had a son of the same
+name as himself, an impetuous young man, who commanded a powerful force
+of Tlascalans and Otomies on the eastern frontier where the great
+fortification stood. The old chief advised that this force should at
+once fall upon the Spaniards. If they were conquered they would be at
+the mercy of the Tlascalans, but if by any mischance his son should
+fail, the council could declare that they had nothing to do with the
+attack, laying the whole blame of it upon the young Xicotencatl.
+Meantime the Cempoallan envoys were to be detained under pretence of
+assisting at a religious sacrifice. By this time, as we know, Cortés and
+his gallant band had passed the rocky rampart, from which, for some
+reason or other, the Otomie guard was absent. After advancing a few
+leagues he saw a small party of Indians, armed with sword and buckler,
+who fled at his approach. He made signs for them to halt, but they only
+fled the faster.
+
+The Spaniards spurred their horses, and soon succeeded in overtaking
+them, when they at once turned, and, without showing the usual alarm at
+the horses and strange weapons of the cavaliers, attacked them
+furiously. The latter, however, were far too strong for them, and they
+would soon have been cut to pieces had not a body of several thousand
+Indians appeared, coming quickly to their rescue. Cortés seeing them,
+hastily despatched a messenger to hurry up his infantry. The Indians,
+having discharged their missiles, fell upon the little band of
+Spaniards, striving to drag the riders from their horses and to tear
+their lances from their grasp. They brought one cavalier to the ground,
+who afterwards died of his wounds, and they killed two horses, cutting
+their necks through with one blow of their formidable broadswords. This
+was a most serious loss to Cortés, whose horses were so important, and
+so few in number.
+
+The struggle was a hard one, and it was with no small satisfaction that
+the Spaniards saw their comrades advancing to their aid. No sooner had
+the main body reached the field of battle, than, hastily falling into
+position, they poured such a volley from their muskets and cross-bows as
+fairly astounded the enemy, who made no further attempt to continue the
+fight, but drew off in good order, leaving the road open to the
+Spaniards, who were only too glad to get rid of their foes and pursue
+their way. Presently they met two Tlascalan envoys, accompanied by two
+of the Cempoallans. The former, on being brought to the general, assured
+him of a friendly reception in the capital, and declared the late
+assault upon the troops to have been quite unauthorised. Cortés received
+his message courteously, pretending to believe that all was as he said.
+As it was now growing late the Spaniards quickened their pace, anxious
+to reach a suitable camping-ground before nightfall, and they chose a
+place upon the bank of a stream, where a few deserted huts were
+standing. These the weary and famishing soldiers ransacked in search of
+food, but could find nothing but some animals resembling dogs, which,
+however, they cooked and ate without ceremony, seasoning their unsavoury
+repast with the fruit of the Indian fig, which grew wild in the
+neighbourhood. After several desperate battles with the Tlascalans,
+Cortés finally won a great victory.
+
+The next day--as he usually did after gaining a battle--the Spanish
+commander sent a new embassy to the Tlascalan capital, making as before
+professions of friendship, but this time threatening that if his offers
+were rejected he would visit their city as a conqueror, razing their
+house to the ground and putting every inhabitant to the sword. Of course
+this message was given to the envoys by the aid of the Lady Marina, who
+became day by day more necessary to Cortés, and who was, indeed,
+generally admired for her courage and the cheerfulness with which she
+endured all the hardships of the camp and raised the drooping spirits of
+the soldiers, while by every means in her power she alleviated the
+miseries of her own countrymen. This time, the ambassadors of Cortés
+received a respectful hearing from the deeply dejected council of
+Tlascala, for whom nothing remained but to submit. Four principal
+caciques were chosen to offer to the Spaniards a free passage through
+the country, and a friendly reception in the capital. Their friendship
+was accepted, with many excuses for the past, and the chiefs were
+further ordered to touch at the camp of Xicotencatl, the Tlascalan
+general, and require him to cease hostilities and furnish the white men
+with a plentiful supply of provisions.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+While the Tlascalan envoys were still in the camp came a fresh embassy
+from Montezuma. Tidings had been sent to him of each step in the
+progress of the Spaniards, and it was with great satisfaction that he
+had heard of their taking the road to Tlascala, trusting that if they
+were mortal men they would find their graves there. Great was his
+dismay, therefore, when courier after courier brought him news of their
+successes, and how the most redoubtable warriors had been scattered by
+this handful of strangers. His superstitious fears returned with greater
+force than ever, and in his alarm and uncertainty he despatched five
+great nobles of his court, attended by two hundred slaves, to bear to
+Cortés a gift consisting of three thousand ounces of gold and several
+hundred robes of cotton and feather-work. As they laid it at his feet
+they said that they had come to offer Montezuma's congratulations upon
+his victories, and to express his regret that he could not receive them
+in his capital, where the numerous population was so unruly that he
+could not be answerable for their safety. The merest hint of the
+emperor's wishes would have been enough to influence any of the natives,
+but they made very little impression upon Cortés; and, seeing this, the
+envoys proceeded, in their master's name, to offer tribute to the
+Spanish sovereign, provided the general would give up the idea of
+visiting the capital. This was a fatal mistake, and a most strange one
+for such a brave and powerful monarch to make, for it amounted to an
+admission that he was unable to protect his treasures. Cortés in
+replying expressed the greatest respect for Montezuma, but urged his own
+sovereign's commands as a reason for disregarding his wishes. He added
+that though he had not at present the power of requiting his generosity
+as he could wish, he trusted 'to repay him at some future day with good
+works.' You will hear before long how he kept his word.
+
+The Mexican ambassadors were anything but pleased at finding the war at
+an end and a firm friendship established between their mortal enemies
+and the Spaniards, and the general saw with some satisfaction the
+evidences of a jealousy between them, which was his surest hope of
+success in undermining the Mexican empire. Two of the Aztecs presently
+returned to acquaint Montezuma with the state of affairs; the others
+remained with the Spaniards, Cortés being willing that they should see
+the deference paid to him by the Tlascalans, who were most anxious for
+his presence in their city.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The city of Tlascala lay about six leagues away from the Spanish camp,
+and the road led through a hilly region, and across a deep ravine over
+which a bridge had just been built for the passage of the army; they
+passed some towns by the way, where they were received with the greatest
+hospitality. The people flocked out to meet them, bringing garlands of
+roses, with which they decorated the Spanish soldiers, and wreathed
+about the necks of their horses. Priests in their white robes mingled
+with the crowd, scattering clouds of incense from their censers, and
+thus escorted the army slowly made its way through the gates of the city
+of Tlascala. Here the press became so great that it was with difficulty
+that a passage was cleared for it. The flat housetops were crowded with
+eager spectators, while garlands of green boughs, roses, and
+honeysuckle were thrown across the streets, and the air was rent with
+songs and shouts and the wild music of the national instruments.
+Presently the procession halted before the palace of the aged
+Xicotencatl, the father of the general, and Cortés dismounted from his
+horse, that the blind old man might satisfy his natural curiosity
+respecting him, by passing his hand over his face. He then led the way
+to a spacious hall, where a banquet was served to the whole army, after
+which, quarters were assigned to them in a neighbouring teocalli, the
+Mexican ambassadors being, at the desire of Cortés, lodged next to
+himself that he might the better protect them in the city of their foes.
+
+For some days the Spaniards were feasted and entertained in four
+quarters of the city, which was really like separate towns divided from
+one another by high walls, in each of which lived one of the rulers of
+the republic, surrounded by his own vassals. But amid all these friendly
+demonstrations the general never for a moment relaxed the strict
+discipline of the camp, and no soldier was allowed to leave his quarters
+without special permission. At first this offended the Tlascalan chiefs,
+as they thought it showed distrust of them. But when Cortés explained
+that this was only in accordance with the established military system of
+his country, they began to think it admirable, and the young Xicotencatl
+proposed, if possible, to imitate it. The Spanish commander now turned
+his thoughts to the converting of the Tlascalans; but as they refused to
+part with their own gods, though they were willing enough to add the God
+of the Christians to their number, he took the advice of the wise Father
+Olmedo, and abandoned the idea for the time. However, a cross was
+erected in one of the great squares, and there the Spaniards held their
+religious services unmolested, and it happened, strangely enough, that
+they had scarcely left the city when a thin, transparent cloud settled
+like a column upon the cross, wrapping it round, and continuing through
+the night to shed a soft light about it. This occurrence did more for
+the conversion of the natives than all the preaching of Father Olmedo.
+Several of the Indian princesses were now baptized, and given in
+marriage to the officers of Cortés. One, who was the daughter of
+Xicotencatl, became the wife of Alvarado, who was always a great
+favourite with the Tlascalans. From his gay manners, joyous countenance,
+and bright golden hair, he gained the nickname of 'Tonatiuh,' or the
+'Sun,' while Cortés, who hardly ever appeared anywhere without the
+beautiful Marina, was called by the natives 'Malinche,' which you will
+remember was her Indian name. While all this was happening, came yet
+another embassy from Montezuma, loaded as usual with costly gifts. This
+time he invited the Spaniards to visit him in his capital, assuring them
+that they would be welcome. Further, he besought them to enter into no
+alliance with the base and barbarous Tlascalans, but he invited them to
+take the route of the friendly city of Cholula, where arrangements were
+being made, by his orders, for their reception. The Tlascalans were much
+concerned that Cortés should propose to go to Mexico, and what they told
+him fully confirmed all the reports he had heard of the power and
+ambition of Montezuma, of the strength of his capital, and the number of
+his soldiers. They warned him not to trust to his gifts and his fair
+words, and when the general said that he hoped to bring about a better
+understanding between the emperor and themselves, they replied that it
+was impossible; however smooth his words, he would hate them at heart.
+They also heartily protested against the general's going to Cholula. The
+people, they said, though not brave in the open field, were crafty; they
+were Montezuma's tools, and would do his bidding. That city, too, was
+specially under the protection of the god Quetzalcoatl, and the priests
+were confidently believed to have the power of opening an inundation
+from the foundations of his shrine, which should overwhelm their enemies
+in the deluge, and lastly, though many distant places had sent to
+testify their goodwill, and offer their allegiance, Cholula, only six
+leagues distant, had done neither. This consideration weighed more with
+the general than either of the preceding ones, and he promptly
+despatched a summons to the city demanding a formal tender of its
+submission. It was not long before deputies arrived from Cholula profuse
+in expressions of goodwill and invitations to visit their city; but the
+Tlascalans pointed out that these messengers were below the usual rank
+of ambassadors, which Cortés regarded as a fresh indignity. He therefore
+sent a new summons, declaring that if they did not at once send a
+deputation of their principal men he would treat them as rebels to his
+own sovereign, the rightful lord of these realms. This soon brought some
+of the highest nobles to the camp, who excused their tardy appearance,
+by saying that they had feared for their personal safety in the capital
+of their enemies. The Tlascalans were now more than ever averse to the
+projected visit. A strong Aztec force was known to be near Cholula, and
+the city was being actively prepared for defence. Cortés, too, was
+disturbed by these circumstances, but he had gone too far to recede
+without showing fear, which could not fail to have a bad effect on his
+own men, as well as on the natives. Therefore, after a short
+consultation with his officers, he decided finally to take the road to
+Cholula. This ancient city lay six leagues to the south of Tlascala, and
+was most populous and flourishing. The inhabitants excelled in the art
+of working in metals and manufacturing cotton cloth and delicate
+pottery, but were indisposed to war, and less distinguished for courage
+than for cunning. You will remember that it was in this place that the
+god Quetzalcoatl had paused on his way to the coast, and in his honour a
+tremendous pyramid had been erected, probably by building over a natural
+hill, and on the top of this rose a gorgeous temple, in which stood an
+image of the god bedecked with gold and jewels. To this temple pilgrims
+flocked from every corner of the empire, and many were the terrible
+sacrifices offered there, as, indeed, in all the other teocallis, of
+which there were about four hundred in the city. On the day appointed,
+the Spanish army set out for Cholula, followed by crowds of citizens,
+who admired the courage displayed by this little handful of men in
+proposing to brave the mighty Montezuma in his own territory. An immense
+body of warriors had offered to join the expedition, but Cortés thought
+it wise to accept only six thousand, and even these he left encamped at
+some distance from Cholula, because the caciques of that city, who came
+out to meet the Spaniards, objected to having their mortal enemies
+brought within its walls. As the troops drew near the town they were met
+by swarms of men, women, and children, all eager to catch a glimpse of
+the strangers, whose persons, horses, and weapons were equally objects
+of intense curiosity to them. They in their turn were struck by the
+noble aspect of the Cholulans, who were much superior in dress and
+general appearance to the other tribes they had encountered. An immense
+number of priests swinging censers mingled with the crowd, and, as
+before, they were decorated with garlands and bunches of flowers, and
+accompanied by gay music from various instruments. The Spaniards were
+also struck by the width and cleanliness of the streets and the solidity
+of the houses. They were lodged in the court of one of the many
+teocallis, and visited by the great nobles of the city, who supplied
+them plentifully with all they needed, and at first paid them such
+attentions as caused them to believe that the evil apprehensions of the
+Tlascalans had been merely suspicion and prejudice. But very soon the
+scene changed. Messengers came from Montezuma, who shortly and
+pleasantly told Cortés that his approach occasioned much disquietude to
+their master, and then conferred apart with the Mexicans who were still
+in the Spanish camp, presently departing, and taking one of them away
+with them. From this time the Cholulans visited the Spanish quarters no
+more, and when invited to do so excused themselves, saying they were
+ill. Also, the supply of provisions ran short, and they said it was
+because maize was scarce. Naturally, Cortés became very uneasy at this
+change, and his alarm was increased by the reports of the Cempoallans,
+who told him that in wandering about the city they had seen several
+streets barricaded, and in some places holes had been dug, and a sharp
+stake planted upright in each, and branches strewn to conceal them,
+while the flat roofs of the houses were being stored with stones and
+other missiles. Some Tlascalans also came in from their camp to inform
+him that a great sacrifice, mostly of children, had been held in a
+distant quarter of the town, to secure the aid of the gods in some
+intended enterprise, and numbers of the people had taken their wives and
+children out of the city.
+
+These tidings confirmed the worst suspicions of Cortés, but just then
+the Lady Marina made a discovery which changed his doubts into
+certainty. The wife of one of the Cholulan caciques had taken a great
+fancy to the Mexican girl, and continually urged her to visit her house,
+hinting mysteriously that she would in this way escape a great danger
+which threatened the Spaniards. Marina pretended to be delighted with
+this proposal, and glad of the chance of escaping from the white men,
+and by degrees she thus won the confidence of the Cholulan, who
+presently revealed the whole plot to her. It originated, she said, with
+the Aztec emperor, who had bribed the caciques of Cholula, her husband
+among the number, to assault the Spaniards as they marched out of the
+city, and to throw them into confusion all sorts of obstacles had been
+placed in their way. A force of twenty thousand Mexicans was already
+quartered near the city to support the Cholulans, and the Spaniards
+would, it was confidently expected, fall an easy prey to their united
+enemies. A sufficient number of them were to be reserved to be
+sacrificed in Cholula, and the rest led in fetters to the capital of
+Montezuma. While this conversation was taking place, Marina was making a
+show of collecting and packing up such dresses and jewels as she was to
+take with her to the house of her new friend. But after a while she
+managed to slip away without exciting her suspicion, and, rushing to the
+general, told him all. Cortés at once caused the cacique's wife to be
+seized, and she repeated to him the same story that she had told to
+Marina. He was most anxious to gain further particulars of the
+conspiracy, and accordingly induced two priests, one of them a person of
+much influence, to visit his quarters, where by courteous treatment and
+rich presents he got from them a complete confirmation of the report.
+The emperor had been in a state of pitiable vacillation since the
+arrival of the Spaniards. His first orders had been that they should be
+kindly received, but on consulting his oracles anew he had obtained for
+answer that Cholula would be the grave of his enemies, and so positive
+of success were the Aztecs, that they had already sent into the city
+numbers of the poles with thongs attached to them with which to bind the
+prisoners. Cortés now dismissed the priests, bidding them observe the
+strictest secrecy, which, indeed they were likely to do for their own
+sakes. He also requested that they would induce some of the principal
+caciques to grant him an interview in his quarters. When they came he
+gently rebuked them for their want of hospitality, and said that the
+Spaniards would burden them no longer, but would leave the city early
+the next morning. He also asked that they would supply him with two
+thousand men to carry his artillery and baggage. The chiefs, after some
+consultation, agreed to this as being likely to favour their own plans.
+Then he sent for the Mexican ambassadors, and acquainted them with his
+discovery of the plot, saying that it grieved him much to find Montezuma
+mixed up in so treacherous an affair, and that the Spaniards must now
+march as enemies against a monarch they had hoped to visit as a friend.
+The ambassadors, however, asserted their entire ignorance of the
+conspiracy, and their belief that Montezuma also knew nothing of it. The
+night that followed was one of intense anxiety; every soldier lay down
+fully armed, and the number of sentinels was doubled; but all remained
+quiet in the populous city, and the only sounds which reached their ears
+were the hoarse cries of the priests who, from the turrets of the
+teocallis, proclaimed through their trumpets the watches of the night.
+
+With the first streak of morning light Cortés was on horseback,
+directing the movements of his little band, part of which he posted in
+the great square court. A strong guard was placed at each of the three
+gates, and the rest had charge of the great guns which were outside the
+enclosure, and so placed as to command the roads which led to the
+teocalli. The arrangements were hardly completed before the Cholulan
+caciques appeared, bringing a larger body of porters than had been
+demanded. They were marched at once into the square, which was, as we
+have seen, completely lined by the Spanish troops. Cortés then took the
+caciques aside, and sternly and abruptly charged them with the
+conspiracy, taking care to show that he knew every detail. The Cholulans
+were thunderstruck, and gazed with awe upon the strangers who seemed to
+have the power of reading their most secret thoughts. They made no
+attempt to deny the accusation, but tried to excuse themselves by
+throwing the blame on Montezuma. Cortés, however, declared with still
+more indignation that such a pretence would not serve them, and that he
+would now make such an example of them as should be a warning to the
+cities far and near, and then the fatal signal--the firing of a gun--was
+given, and in an instant every musket and crossbow was levelled at the
+unhappy Cholulans as they stood crowded together in the centre. They
+were completely taken by surprise, having heard nothing of what was
+going forward, and offered hardly any resistance to the Spanish
+soldiers, who followed up the discharge of their pieces by rushing upon
+them with their swords and mowing them down in ranks as they stood.
+
+While this dreadful massacre was going on the Cholulans from outside,
+attracted by the noise, began a furious assault upon the Spaniards, but
+the heavy guns opened fire upon them and swept them off in files as they
+rushed on, and in the intervals of reloading the cavalry charged into
+their midst. By this time the Tlascalans had come up, having by order of
+Cortés bound wreaths of sedge about their heads that they might be the
+more easily distinguished from the Cholulans, and they fell upon the
+rear of the wretched townsmen, who, thus harassed on all sides, could no
+longer maintain their ground. They fled, some to the near buildings,
+which were speedily set on fire, others to the temples. One strong body
+headed by the priests got possession of the great teocalli. There was,
+as you remember, a tradition that if part of the wall was removed the
+god would send a flood to overwhelm his enemies. Now the Cholulans
+strove with might and main, and at last succeeded in wrenching away a
+few stones, but dust, not water, followed. In despair they crowded into
+the wooden turrets which surmounted the temple, and poured down stones,
+javelins, and burning arrows upon the Spaniards as they came swarming up
+the steps. But the fiery shower fell harmlessly upon the steel
+head-pieces of the soldiers, and they used the blazing shafts to set
+fire to the wooden towers, so that the wretched natives either perished
+in the flames or threw themselves headlong from the parapet. In the fair
+city, lately so peaceful and prosperous, all was confusion and
+slaughter, burning and plundering. The division of spoil was greatly
+simplified by the fact that the Tlascalans desired wearing-apparel and
+provisions far more than gold or jewels; they also took hundreds of
+prisoners, but these Cortés afterwards induced them to release. The work
+of destruction had gone on for some hours before the general yielded to
+the entreaties of the Cholulan chiefs who had been saved from the
+massacre, and of the Mexican envoys, and called off his men, putting a
+stop as well as he could to further violence. Two of the caciques were
+also permitted to go to their countrymen with offers of pardon and
+protection to all who would return to their obedience, and so by degrees
+the tumult was appeased. Presently Cortés helped the Cholulans to choose
+a successor to their principal cacique, who was among the slain, and
+confidence being thus restored the people from the country round began
+to flock in, the markets were again opened, and the ordinary life of the
+city resumed, though the black and smouldering ruins remained to tell
+the sad tale of the massacre of Cholula. This terrible vengeance made a
+great impression upon the natives, and none trembled more than the
+Mexican monarch upon his throne among the mountains. He felt his empire
+melting away from him like a morning mist, for some of the most
+important cities, overawed by the fate of Cholula, now sent envoys to
+the Spanish camp tendering their allegiance, and trying to secure the
+favour of the conqueror by rich gifts of gold and slaves. Again did
+Montezuma seek counsel from his gods, but the answers he obtained were
+far from reassuring, and he determined to send another embassy to Cortés
+to declare that he had nothing to do with the conspiracy at Cholula. As
+usual the envoys were charged with a splendid present of golden vessels
+and ornaments, and among other things were artificial birds, made in
+imitation of turkeys with plumage of worked gold; there were also
+fifteen hundred robes of delicate cotton cloth. The emperor's message
+expressed regret for the late catastrophe, and denied all knowledge of
+the plot which had, he said, brought a retribution upon its authors
+which they richly deserved; and he explained the presence of the Aztec
+force in the neighbourhood by saying that there was a disturbance that
+had to be quelled. More than a fortnight had passed since the Spaniards
+entered Cholula, and the general had, after the city was once more
+restored to order, tried to induce the people to give up their false
+gods, but this they would not do willingly. However, he seized upon the
+great teocalli of which all the woodwork had been burned, and built a
+church of the stone that remained, and he opened the cages in which the
+wretched victims about to be sacrificed were imprisoned, and restored
+them to liberty, and then he thought it time to begin the march to
+Mexico once more. So the allied army of Spaniards and Tlascalans set
+out upon their journey through luxuriant plains and flourishing
+plantations, met occasionally by embassies from different towns, anxious
+to claim the protection of the white men, and bringing rich gifts of
+gold to propitiate them. They passed between the two enormous mountain
+peaks, Popocatapetl, 'the hill that smokes,' and Iztaccihuatl, 'the
+white woman,' and presently encountered a blinding snow-storm, from
+which they found shelter in one of the large stone buildings, put up by
+the Mexicans for the use of travellers and couriers, and here they
+encamped for the night. The next morning they reached the top of a range
+of hills where progress was comparatively easy, and they had not gone
+far when, turning sharply round the shoulder of a hill, they saw spread
+out before them the lovely Mexican valley. The clearness of the air
+enabled them to see distinctly the shining cities, the lakes, woods,
+fields and gardens, and in the midst of all the fair city of Mexico rose
+as it were from the waters of the great lake, with its towers and
+temples white and gleaming, and behind it the royal hill of Chapoltepec,
+the residence of the Mexican kings, crowned with the very same gigantic
+cypress trees which to this day fling their broad shadows across the
+land. The Spaniards gazed in rapture over the gay scene, exclaiming, 'It
+is the promised land!' but presently the evidences of a power and
+civilisation so far superior to anything they had yet encountered
+disheartened the more timid among them, they shrank from the unequal
+contest, and begged to be led back again to Vera Cruz. But this was not
+the effect produced upon Cortés by the glorious prospect. His desire for
+treasure and love of adventure were sharpened by the sight of the
+dazzling spoil at his very feet, and with threats, arguments, and
+entreaties he revived the drooping spirits of his soldiers, and by the
+aid of his brave captains succeeded in once more rousing them to
+enthusiasm, and the march down the slope of the hill was gaily resumed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+With every step of their progress the woods became thinner, and villages
+were seen in green and sheltered nooks, the inhabitants of which came
+out to meet and welcome the Spaniards. Everywhere Cortés heard with
+satisfaction complaints of the cruelty and injustice of Montezuma, and
+he encouraged the natives to rely on his protection, as he had come to
+redress their wrongs. The army advanced but slowly, and was soon met by
+another embassy from the emperor, consisting of several Aztec lords
+bringing a rich gift of gold, and robes of delicate furs and feathers,
+and offering four loads of gold to the general, and one to each of his
+captains, with a yearly tribute to the Spanish sovereign, if they would
+even then turn back from Mexico. But Cortés replied that he could not
+answer it to his sovereign if he were to return without visiting the
+emperor in his capital. The Spaniards came in the spirit of peace as
+Montezuma would see for himself; but should their presence prove
+burdensome to him, it would be very easy for them to relieve him of it.
+
+This embassy had been intended to reach the Spaniards before they
+crossed the mountains, and the dismay of the Aztec emperor was great
+when he learned that it had failed, and that the dreaded strangers were
+actually on their march across the valley. They were so utterly unlike
+anything he had ever known before, these strange beings, who seemed to
+have dropped from another planet, and by their superior knowledge and
+more deadly weapons overcome the hitherto unconquerable nations, though
+a mere handful of men in comparison to the swarms of his own countrymen.
+He felt himself to be the victim of a destiny from which nothing could
+save him. All peace, power, and security seemed to be gone from him, and
+in despair he shut himself up in his palace, refusing food, and trying
+by prayers and sacrifices to wring some favour from his gods. But the
+oracles were dumb. Then he called a council of his chief nobles, but a
+great difference of opinion arose amongst them. Cacama, the emperor's
+nephew, king of Tezcuco, counselled him to receive the Spaniards
+courteously as ambassadors of a foreign prince, while Cuitlahua, his
+brother, urged him to muster his forces and then and there drive back
+the invaders, or die in the defence of his capital. But Montezuma could
+not rouse himself for this struggle. He exclaimed in deep dejection, "Of
+what avail is resistance when the gods have declared themselves against
+us? Yet I mourn for the old and infirm, the women and children, too
+feeble to fight or fly. For myself and the brave men around me, we must
+face the storm as best we may!" and he straightway sent off a last
+embassy, with his nephew at its head, to meet the Spaniards and welcome
+them to Mexico. By this time the army had reached the first of the towns
+built on piles driven into the lake, and were delighted with its fine
+stone houses, with canals between them instead of streets, up and down
+which boats passed continually, laden with all kinds of merchandise.
+Though received with great hospitality, Cortés still was strictly on his
+guard, and neglected no precaution for the security of his men. Before
+he left this place a messenger came, requesting him to wait for the
+arrival of the king of Tezcuco, who very soon afterwards appeared, borne
+in a palanquin richly decorated with plates of gold and precious stones,
+having pillars curiously wrought which supported a canopy of green
+plumes. He was accompanied by a numerous retinue of nobles and inferior
+attendants, and when he came into the presence of Cortés he descended
+from his palanquin and advanced towards him, his officers sweeping the
+ground before him as he did so.
+
+The prince was a handsome young man, erect and dignified; he made the
+usual Mexican salutation to people of high rank, touching the earth with
+his right hand and raising it to his head, and said that he came as the
+representative of Montezuma to bid the Spaniards welcome to Mexico, and
+presented the general with three pearls of uncommon size and lustre.
+Cortés embraced him, and in return threw over his neck a chain of cut
+glass. After this exchange of courtesies, and the most friendly and
+respectful assurances on the part of Cortés, the Indian prince withdrew,
+leaving the Spaniards much impressed by his superiority in state and
+bearing to anything they had before seen in the country.
+
+Resuming their march along the southern shore of Lake Chalco, through
+splendid woods, and orchards glowing with unknown fruits, the army came
+at length to a great dyke or causeway four or five miles long, which
+divided the Lake Chalco from Xochicalco on the west. It was a lance in
+breadth at the narrowest part, and in some places wide enough for eight
+horsemen to ride abreast, and was solidly built of stone and lime. As
+they passed along it they saw multitudes of Indians darting up and down
+the lake in their light pirogues, eager to catch a glimpse of the
+strangers, and they were amazed at the sight of the floating islands,
+covered with flowers and vegetables and moving like rafts over the
+waters. All round the margin, and occasionally far out in the lake, they
+saw little towns and villages half buried in foliage; and the whole
+scene seemed to them so new and wonderful that they could only compare
+it to the magical pictures of the old romances. Midway across the lake
+the army halted at the town of Cuitlahuae, which was not large, but was
+remarkable for the beauty of its buildings. The curiosity of the Indians
+increased as the Spaniards proceeded, and they clambered up the causeway
+and lined the sides of the road, so that the troops were quite
+embarrassed by them, and Cortés was obliged to resort to commands, and
+even menaces, to clear a passage. He found, as he neared the capital, a
+considerable change in the feeling shown towards the government, and
+heard only of the pomp and magnificence of Montezuma, and nothing of his
+oppressions. From the causeway the army descended on a narrow point of
+land which lay between the two lakes, and crossing it reached the royal
+residence of Iztapalapan.
+
+This place was governed by the emperor's brother, who, to do greater
+honour to Cortés, had invited the neighbouring lords to be present at
+his reception, and at the banquet which followed. The Spaniards were
+struck with admiration, when, after the usual ceremonies had been gone
+through, and a gift of gold and costly stuffs had been presented, they
+were led into one of the gorgeous halls of the palace, the roof of which
+was of odorous cedar-wood, and the stone walls tapestried with brilliant
+hangings. But, indeed, this was only one of the many beautiful things
+which they saw in this fairy city. There were gardens cunningly planted,
+and watered in every part by means of canals and aqueducts, in which
+grew gorgeous flowers and luscious fruits. There was an aviary filled
+with all kinds of birds, remarkable for the brilliancy of their plumage
+and the sweetness of their songs. But the most elaborate piece of work
+was a huge reservoir of stone full of water and stocked with all kinds
+of fish, and by this all the fountains and aqueducts were supplied. In
+this city of enchantment the army rested for the night, within sight of
+the capital into which Cortés intended to lead them on the morrow.
+
+
+THE OCCUPATION OF MEXICO.
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS]
+
+With the first faint streak of dawn, on the morning of November 8, 1519,
+the Spanish general was astir and mustering his followers, and as the
+sun rose above the eastern mountains he set forth with his little troop
+of horsemen as a sort of advanced guard, the Spanish infantry followed,
+then the baggage, and finally the dark files of the Tlascalan warriors.
+The whole number cannot have amounted to seven thousand, of which less
+than four hundred were Spaniards. For a short distance the army kept
+along the narrow tongue of land between the lakes, and then entered upon
+the great dyke which crosses the salt waters of Lake Tezcuco to the very
+gates of the capital. It was wide enough all the way for ten horsemen to
+ride abreast, and from it the Spaniards could see many towns and
+villages--some upon the shores of the lake, some built upon piles
+running far out into its waters. These cities were evidently crowded
+with a thriving population, and contained many temples and other
+important buildings which were covered with a hard white stucco
+glistening like enamel in the sunshine. The lake was darkened with a
+swarm of canoes filled with Indians who were eager to gaze upon the
+strangers, and here and there floated those fairy islands of flowers
+which rose and fell with every undulation of the water, and yet were
+substantial enough to support trees of a considerable size. At the
+distance of half a league from the capital they encountered a solid
+fortification, like a curtain of stone, which was built across the dyke.
+It was twelve feet high, and had a tower at each end, and in the centre
+a battlemented gateway through which the troops passed. This place was
+called the Fort of Xoloc, and was afterwards occupied by Cortés in the
+famous siege of Mexico. Here they were met by several hundred Aztec
+chiefs in their gay and fanciful costume. Some of them wore broad
+mantles of delicate feather embroidery, and collars and bracelets of
+turquoise mosaic with which fine plumage was curiously mingled, while
+their ears, underlips, and sometimes even their noses, were adorned with
+pendants of precious stones, or crescents of fine gold. After the usual
+formal salutations, which caused some delay, the march was resumed, and
+the army presently reached a wooden drawbridge which crossed an opening
+in the dyke, meant to serve as an outlet for the water, should it for
+any reason rise beyond its usual height. As they left this bridge
+behind them the Spaniards felt that they were indeed committing
+themselves to the mercy of Montezuma, who might, by means of it, cut
+them off from communication with the country, and hold them prisoners in
+his capital. They now beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor
+emerging from the great street which led through the heart of the city.
+Amidst a crowd of Indian nobles, preceded by three officers of state
+bearing golden wands, they saw the royal palanquin, blazing with
+burnished gold. It was borne on the shoulders of nobles, and over it a
+canopy of gorgeous feather-work, powdered with jewels and fringed with
+silver, was supported by four attendants, also of high rank, who were
+barefooted and walked with a slow, measured pace, with their eyes bent
+upon the ground. As soon as the procession had come within a short
+distance of the Spaniards the emperor descended from his palanquin, and
+advanced under the canopy, leaning upon the arms of his nephew and his
+brother. The ground before him was strewn with cotton tapestry by his
+attendants, and the natives who lined the sides of the causeway bent
+forward with their eyes fixed upon the ground as he passed, whilst some
+of the humbler class prostrated themselves before him. Montezuma wore
+the usual broad girdle and square cloak of the finest cotton, on his
+feet were sandals with soles of gold, and leathern thongs ornamented
+with the same metal. Both cloak and sandals were sprinkled with pearls
+and precious stones, principally emeralds, and the green 'chalchivitl,'
+which was more highly esteemed by the Aztecs than any jewel. On his head
+he wore only a plume of royal green feathers, a badge of his military
+rank. He was at this time about forty years of age, and was tall and
+thin, and of a lighter complexion than is usual among his countrymen; he
+moved with dignity, and there was a benignity in his whole demeanour
+which was not to have been anticipated from the reports of his character
+which had reached the Spaniards. The army halted as Montezuma drew near,
+and Cortés dismounted and advanced to meet him with a few of the
+principal cavaliers. The emperor received him with princely courtesy,
+and expressed his satisfaction at seeing him in his capital. Cortés
+responded by the most profound expressions of respect and gratitude for
+all Montezuma's munificence to the Spaniards; he then hung round the
+emperor's neck a chain of coloured crystal, making at the same time a
+movement as if to embrace him, but was restrained by the two Aztec
+lords, who were shocked at the idea of such presumption. Montezuma then
+appointed his brother to conduct the Spaniards to their quarters in
+the city, and again entering his litter was borne off amid prostrate
+crowds in the same state in which he had come. The Spaniards quickly
+followed, and with colours flying and music playing entered the southern
+portion of the city of Mexico. The great wide street facing the causeway
+stretched for some miles in nearly a straight line through the centre of
+the city. In the clear atmosphere of the tableland it was easy to see
+the blue mountains in the distance beyond the temples, houses, and
+gardens which stood on either side of it. But what most impressed the
+Spaniards was the swarm of people who thronged every street, canal, and
+roof, and filled every window and doorway. To the Aztecs it must indeed
+have been a strange sensation when they beheld the fair-faced strangers,
+and for the first time heard their well-paved streets ringing under the
+iron tramp of the horses--those unknown animals which they regarded with
+superstitious terror. But their wonder changed to anger when they saw
+their detested enemies, the Tlascalans, stalking through their city with
+looks of ferocity and defiance.
+
+As they passed along the troops frequently crossed bridges which spanned
+some of the numerous canals, and at length they halted in a wide open
+space, near the centre of the city, close to the huge temple of the
+war-god. Facing the western gate of the temple enclosure stood a range
+of low stone buildings, spreading over a large extent of ground, once a
+palace belonging to the emperor's father. This was to be the lodging of
+the Spaniards. Montezuma himself was waiting in the courtyard to receive
+them. Approaching Cortés he took from one of his slaves a massive
+collar, made of the shells of a kind of crawfish much prized by the
+Indians, set in gold, and connected by heavy golden links; from this
+hung eight finely-worked ornaments, each a span long, made to resemble
+the crawfish, but of fine gold. This gorgeous collar he hung round the
+neck of the general, saying: 'This palace belongs to you, Malinche'
+(this was the name by which he always addressed him), 'and your
+brethren. Rest after your fatigues, for you have much need to do so; in
+a little while I will visit you again.' So saying, he withdrew with his
+attendants. The general's first care was to inspect his new quarters.
+The rooms were of great size, and afforded accommodation for the whole
+army--the Tlascalans probably encamping in the outer courts. The best
+apartments were hung with draperies of gaily coloured cotton, and the
+floors were covered with mats or rushes. There were also low stools
+carved from single pieces of wood, and most of the rooms had beds made
+of the palm-leaf, woven into a thick mat, with coverlets, and sometimes
+canopies of cotton. The general, after a rapid survey, assigned his
+troops their respective quarters, and took as vigilant precautions for
+security as if he expected a siege; he planted his cannon so as to
+command the approaches to the palace, stationed sentinels along the
+walls, and ordered that no soldier should leave his quarters under pain
+of death. After all these precautions he allowed his men to enjoy the
+banquet prepared for them. This over, the emperor came again, attended
+by a few nobles; he was received with great deference by Cortés, and
+with Marina's aid they conversed, while the Aztecs and the cavaliers
+stood around in respectful silence. Montezuma made many inquiries
+concerning the country of the Spaniards, its sovereign, and its
+government, and especially asked their reasons for visiting Mexico.
+Cortés replied that they had desired to see its great monarch, and to
+declare to him the true faith professed by the Christians. The emperor
+showed himself to be fully acquainted with all the doings of the
+Spaniards since their landing, and was curious as to their rank in their
+own country; he also learned the names of the principal cavaliers, and
+their position in the army. At the conclusion of the interview the
+Aztecs brought forward a gift of cotton robes, enough to supply every
+man, even including the Tlascalans, and gold chains and ornaments, which
+were distributed in profusion among the Spaniards. That evening Cortés
+ordered a general discharge of artillery, and the noise of the guns and
+the volumes of smoke filled the superstitious Aztecs with dismay,
+reminding them of the explosions of the great volcano.
+
+On the following morning he asked permission to return the emperor's
+visit, and Montezuma sent officers to conduct the Spaniards to his
+presence.
+
+[Illustration: CORTÉS IN THE TEMPLE OF HUITZILOPOCHTLI]
+
+On reaching the hall of audience the Mexican officers took off their
+sandals, and covered their gay attire with mantles of 'nequen,' a coarse
+stuff made from the fibres of the aloe, and worn only by the poorest
+classes; for it was thus humbly that all, excepting the members of his
+own family, approached the sovereign. Then with downcast eyes and formal
+obeisance they ushered the Spaniards into the royal presence. They found
+Montezuma surrounded by a few of his favourite chiefs, and were kindly
+received by him; and Cortés soon began upon the subject uppermost in his
+thoughts, setting forth as clearly as he could the mysteries of his
+faith, and assuring Montezuma his idols would sink him in perdition.
+But the emperor only listened calmly, and showed no sign of being
+convinced. He had no doubt, he said, that the god of the Spaniards was
+good, but his own gods were good also; what Cortés told him of the
+creation of the world was like what he had been taught to believe. It
+was not worth while to discuss the matter farther. He added that his
+ancestors were not the original possessors of his land, but had been led
+there by the great Being, who, after giving them laws, and ruling over
+them for a time, had withdrawn to the region where the sun rises,
+declaring on his departure that he or his descendants would some day
+come again and reign. The wonderful deeds of the Spaniards, their fair
+faces, and the quarter whence they came all showed that they were his
+descendants. If Montezuma had resisted their visit to his capital, it
+was because he had heard that they were cruel, that they sent the
+lightning to consume his people, or crushed them to pieces under the
+hard feet of the ferocious animals on which they rode. He was now
+convinced that these were idle tales, that the Spaniards were kind and
+generous,--mortals indeed, but of a different race from the Aztecs,
+wiser, and more valiant. You, too, he added with a smile, have perhaps
+been told that I am a god and dwell in palaces of gold and silver. But
+you see it is false: my houses, though large, are of wood and stone; and
+as to my body, he said, baring his tawny arm, you see it is flesh and
+bone like yours. It is true that I have a great empire inherited from my
+ancestors, lands, and gold and silver, but your sovereign beyond the
+waters is, I know, the rightful lord of all. I rule in his name. You,
+Malinche, are his ambassador; you and your brethren shall share these
+things with me. Rest now from your labours. You are here in your own
+dwellings, and everything shall be provided for your subsistence. I will
+see that your wishes shall be obeyed in the same way as my own. Cortés,
+while he encouraged the idea that his own sovereign was the great Being,
+as Montezuma believed, assured him that his master had no desire to
+interfere with his authority otherwise than, out of concern for his
+welfare, to effect his conversion, and that of his people, to
+Christianity. Before the emperor dismissed his visitors, rich stuffs and
+ornaments of gold were distributed among them, so that the poorest
+soldier received at least two heavy collars of gold, and on their
+homeward way they could talk of nothing but the generosity and courtesy
+of the Indian monarch. But the general was harassed by many anxious
+thoughts. He had not been prepared to find so much luxury, civilisation,
+and power. He was in the heart of a great capital which seemed like an
+extensive fortification, with its dykes and drawbridges, where every
+house might be converted into a castle. At a nod from the sovereign all
+communication with the rest of the country might be cut off, and the
+whole warlike population be at once hurled upon himself and his handful
+of followers, and against such odds of what avail would be his superior
+science? As to the conquest of the empire, now he had seen the capital,
+it must have seemed to him a more doubtful enterprise than ever; but at
+any rate his best policy was to foster the superstitious reverence in
+which he was held by both prince and people, and to find out all he
+could about the city and its inhabitants. To this end he asked the
+emperor's permission to visit the principal public buildings, which was
+readily granted, Montezuma even arranging to meet him at the great
+temple. Cortés put himself at the head of his cavalry, and, followed by
+nearly all the Spanish foot, set out under the guidance of several
+caciques sent by Montezuma. They led him to the great teocalli near
+their own quarters. It stood in the midst of a vast space which was
+surrounded by a wall of stone and lime about eight feet high, ornamented
+on the outer side by raised figures of serpents, which gave it the name
+of the 'Coatepantli,' or 'wall of serpents.' This wall was pierced by
+huge battlemented gateways, opening upon the four principal streets of
+the city, and over each gate was a kind of arsenal filled with arms and
+warlike gear. The teocalli itself was of the usual pyramidal shape, and
+five stories high, coated on the outside with hewn stones. The ascent
+was by flights of steps on the outside, and Cortés found two priests and
+several caciques waiting to carry him up them as they had just carried
+the emperor; but the general declined this compliment, preferring to
+march up at the head of his men. On reaching the great paved space at
+the summit, the first thing they saw was the stone on which the unhappy
+victims were stretched for sacrifice; at the other end of the platform
+stood two-towers, each three stories high, the lower story being of
+stone, the two upper of carved wood. In these stood the images of the
+gods, and before each stood an altar upon which blazed the undying
+fires, the putting out of which was supposed to portend so much woe to
+the nation. Here also was the huge drum, made of serpents' skins, struck
+only on extraordinary occasions, when it sent forth a melancholy sound
+that could be heard for miles--a sound of woe to the Spaniards in after
+times. Montezuma, attended by a high priest, came forward to receive
+Cortés. After conferring with the priests the emperor conducted the
+Spaniards into the building, which was adorned with sculptured figures;
+at one end was a recess, with a roof of timber richly carved and gilt,
+and here stood a colossal image of Huitzilopochtli, the war-god. His
+countenance was hideous; in his right hand he held a bow, and in his
+left a bunch of golden arrows, which a mystic legend connected with the
+victories of his people. A huge serpent of pearls and precious stones
+was coiled about his waist, and costly jewels were profusely sprinkled
+over his person. On his left foot were the delicate feathers of the
+humming-bird, from which, singularly enough, he took his name, while
+round his neck hung a chain of gold and silver hearts, as an emblem of
+the sacrifice in which he most delighted. Indeed, even at that moment
+three bleeding human hearts lay upon the altar before him. The next
+sanctuary was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, who, they believed, had created
+the earth and watched over it. He was represented as a young man, and
+his image of polished black stone was garnished with gold plates and
+ornaments, among which was a shield burnished like a mirror, in which he
+was supposed to see reflected all the doings of the world; and before
+this shrine also lay five hearts in a golden platter. From the horrors
+of this place the Spaniards gladly escaped into the open air, and Cortés
+said, turning to Montezuma, 'I do not understand how a great and wise
+prince like you can put faith in such evil spirits as these idols. If
+you will but permit us to erect here the true cross, and place the
+images of the Blessed Virgin and her Son in your sanctuaries, you will
+soon see how your false gods will shrink before them.' Montezuma was
+greatly shocked at this speech. 'These,' said he, 'are the gods who have
+led the Aztecs on to victory since they were a nation, and who send us
+the seed time and harvest. Had I thought you would have offered them
+this outrage I would not have admitted you into their presence.' Cortés
+then took his leave, expressing concern for having wounded the feelings
+of the emperor, who remained to expiate, if possible, the crime of
+having exposed the shrines of his gods to such profanation by the
+strangers. On descending into the court the Spaniards took a leisurely
+survey of the other buildings in the enclosure; there were several other
+teocallis, but much smaller ones, in which the Spaniards saw implements
+of sacrifice and many other horrors. And there was also a great mound
+with a timber framework upon its summit, upon which were strung hundreds
+of thousands of skulls--those of the victims who had been sacrificed.
+Schools, granaries, gardens, and fountains filled up the remainder of
+the enclosed space, which seemed a complete city in itself, containing a
+mixture of barbarism and civilisation altogether characteristic of the
+Aztec nation. The next day the Spaniards asked permission to convert one
+of the halls in their palace into a chapel where they might hold the
+services of their church. The request was granted, and while the work
+was in progress some of them discovered what seemed to be a door
+recently plastered over. As there was a rumour that Montezuma kept the
+treasures of his father in this palace, they did not scruple to gratify
+their curiosity by removing the plaster and forcing open the door which
+it concealed, when they beheld a great hall filled with rich and
+beautiful stuffs, articles of curious workmanship of various kinds, gold
+and silver in bars or just as it had been dug from the earth, and many
+jewels of great value. 'I was a young man,' says one of the Spaniards
+who was allowed a sight of the treasure, 'and it seemed to me that all
+the riches of the world were in that room.'
+
+By Cortés' order the wall was built up again, and strict injunctions
+were given that the discovery should be kept a profound secret. The
+Spaniards had now been a week in Mexico, and the general's anxieties
+increased daily. Cortés resolved upon a bold stroke. Calling a council
+of his officers, he laid his difficulties before them, and, ignoring the
+opinion of some who advised an immediate retreat, he proposed to march
+to the royal palace and by persuasion or force to induce Montezuma to
+take up his abode in the Spanish quarters. Once having obtained
+possession of his person, it would be easy to rule in his name by
+allowing him a show of sovereignty, until they had taken measures to
+secure their own safety and the success of their enterprise. A pretext
+for the seizure of the emperor was afforded by a circumstance which had
+come to the ears of Cortés while he was still in Cholula. Don Juan de
+Escalante, who had been left in charge of the Spanish settlement at Vera
+Cruz, had received a message from an Aztec chief called Quanhpopoca
+declaring his desire to come in person and tender his allegiance to the
+Spaniards, and requesting that four soldiers might be sent to protect
+him through the country of an unfriendly tribe. This was not an uncommon
+request, and the soldiers were sent, but on their arrival two of them
+were treacherously murdered by the Aztec; the others escaped, and made
+their way back to the garrison. The commander at once marched with fifty
+of his men and some thousands of Indians to take vengeance upon the
+cacique, and though his allies fled before the Mexicans, the few
+Spaniards stood firm, and by the aid of their firearms made good the
+field against the enemy. Unfortunately, seven or eight of them were
+killed, including Escalante himself, and the Indians who were taken
+prisoners declared that the whole proceeding had been by Montezuma's
+orders. One of the Spaniards fell into the hands of the enemy, but soon
+died from his wounds. He happened to be a very big man of ferocious
+appearance, and when his head was sent to Montezuma, the Aztec emperor
+gazed upon it with a shudder, and commanded that it should be taken out
+of the city, and not offered at the shrine of any of his gods. He seemed
+to see in those terrible features a prophecy of his sure destruction.
+The bolder spirits among the cavaliers approved of the general's plan,
+and the next day, having asked an audience of Montezuma, Cortés made the
+necessary arrangements for his enterprise. The principal part of his
+force was drawn up in the courtyard; one detachment was stationed in the
+avenue leading to the palace, to prevent any attempt at rescue by the
+citizens. Twenty-five or thirty soldiers were ordered to drop in at the
+palace by twos and threes, as if accidentally, and he took with him five
+cavaliers on whose coolness and courage he could rely.
+
+That they should all be in full armour excited no suspicion; it was too
+common an occurrence. The Spaniards were graciously received by the
+emperor, who by the aid of interpreters held a gay conversation with
+them, and as usual presented them with gold and jewels. He paid Cortés
+the compliment of offering him one of his daughters in marriage--an
+honour which was respectfully declined, on the ground that he already
+had one wife. But as soon as the general saw that his soldiers had all
+come upon the scene he abruptly changed his tone, and accused the
+emperor of being the author of the treacherous proceedings on the coast.
+Montezuma listened in surprise, and declared that such an act could only
+have been imputed to him by his enemies. Cortés pretended to believe
+him, but said that Quanhpopoca and his accomplices must be sent for that
+they might be dealt with after their deserts. Montezuma agreed, and,
+taking his royal signet from his wrist, gave it to one of his nobles,
+with orders to show it to the Aztec governor and require his immediate
+presence in the capital, and in case of his resistance to call in the
+aid of the neighbouring towns. When the messenger had gone, Cortés
+assured the emperor that he was now convinced of his innocence in the
+matter, but that it was necessary that his own sovereign should be
+equally convinced of it. Nothing would promote this so much as for
+Montezuma to transfer his residence to the palace occupied by the
+Spaniards, as this would show a condescension and personal regard for
+them which would absolve him from all suspicion. The emperor listened to
+this proposal with profound amazement, exclaiming with resentment and
+offended dignity:
+
+'When was it ever heard that a great prince like myself willingly left
+his own palace to become a prisoner in the hands of strangers?'
+
+Cortés declared that he would not go as a prisoner, but would be simply
+changing his residence. 'If I should consent to such degradation,' he
+cried, 'my subjects never would.'
+
+When further pressed, he offered one of his sons and two of his
+daughters as hostages, so that he might be spared this disgrace. Two
+hours passed in this fruitless discussion, till Velasquez de Leon,
+impatient of the long delay, and seeing that to fail in the attempt must
+ruin them, cried out, 'Why do we waste words on this barbarian? Let us
+seize him, and if he resists plunge our swords into his body!' The
+fierce tone and menacing gesture alarmed the emperor, who asked Marina
+what the angry Spaniard said. She explained as gently as she could,
+beseeching him to accompany the white men, who would treat him with all
+respect and kindness, while if he refused he would but expose himself to
+violence, perhaps to death.
+
+This last appeal shook the resolution of Montezuma; looking round for
+support and sympathy, he saw only the stern faces and mail-clad forms of
+the Spaniards, and felt that his hour had indeed come. In a scarcely
+audible voice he consented to accompany them, and orders were given for
+the royal litter to be brought. The nobles who bore and attended it
+could hardly credit their senses, but now Montezuma had consented to go
+pride made him wish to appear to go willingly. As the royal retinue
+marched dejectedly down the avenue, escorted by the Spaniards, the
+people ran together in crowds, declaring that the emperor had been
+carried off by force, and a tumult would have arisen had not he himself
+called out to them to disperse, since he was of his own accord visiting
+his friends, and on reaching the Spanish quarters he sent out his nobles
+to the mob with similar assurances, bidding them all return to their
+homes.
+
+He was received with ostentatious respect by the Spaniards, and chose
+the apartments which pleased him best, which were speedily furnished
+with tapestry, featherwork, and all other Indian luxuries. He was
+attended by his own household, and his meals were served with the usual
+pomp and ceremony, while not even the general himself approached him
+without due obeisance, or sat down in his presence uninvited.
+Nevertheless it was but too clear to his people that he was a prisoner,
+for day and night the palace was guarded by sixty sentinels in front and
+sixty in the rear, while another body was stationed in the royal
+antechamber. This was the state of affairs when Quanhpopoca arrived from
+the coast. Montezuma received him coldly, and referred the matter to
+Cortés, who speedily made an end of it by condemning the unhappy chief
+and his followers to be burnt to death. The funeral piles were erected
+in the courtyard before the palace, and were made of arrows, javelins,
+and other weapons drawn by the emperor's permission from those stored
+round the great teocalli. To crown these extraordinary proceedings,
+Cortés, just before the executions took place, entered the emperor's
+apartments, followed by a soldier bearing fetters in his hands. Sternly
+he again accused Montezuma of having been the original contriver of the
+treacherous deed, and said that a crime which merited death in a subject
+must in some way be atoned for even by a king, whereupon he ordered the
+soldier to fasten the fetters upon Montezuma's ankles, and after coolly
+waiting until it was done turned his back and quitted the room.
+
+The emperor was speechless under this last insult, like one struck down
+by a heavy blow. But though he offered no resistance low moans broke
+from him, which showed the anguish of his spirit. His faithful
+attendants did their utmost to console him, holding his feet in their
+arms, and trying to keep the irons from touching him by inserting their
+own robes; but it was not the bodily discomfort that so afflicted him,
+but the feeling that he was no more a king, and so utterly broken in
+spirit was he that when Cortés came after the execution had taken place,
+and with his own hands unclasped the irons, Montezuma actually thanked
+him as if for some great and unmerited favour. Not long after the
+Spanish general expressed his willingness that the emperor should if he
+wished return to his own palace, but Montezuma declined the offer,
+doubtless fearing to trust himself again to the haughty and ferocious
+chieftains, who could not but despise the cowardly proceedings of their
+master, so unlike the usual conduct of an Aztec monarch. Montezuma often
+amused himself with seeing the Spanish troops go through their
+exercises, or with playing at some of the national games with Cortés and
+his officers. A favourite one was called 'totoloque,' played with
+golden balls, which were thrown at a golden target, and the emperor
+always staked precious stones or ingots of gold, and won or lost with
+equal good-humour, and indeed it did not much matter to him, since if he
+did win he gave away his gains to his attendants. But while Montezuma
+thus resigned himself without a struggle to a life of captivity, some of
+his kinsmen were feeling very differently about the matter, and
+especially his nephew Cacama, lord of the Tezcuco, and second in power
+to Montezuma himself.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This prince saw with alarm and indignation his uncle's abject submission
+to the Spaniards, and endeavoured to form a league with the other chiefs
+to rescue him out of their hands. But they, from jealousy, declined to
+join him, declaring themselves unwilling to do anything without the
+emperor's sanction. These plots came to the ears of Cortés, who wished
+at once to march upon Tezcuco and stamp out this spark of rebellion, but
+Montezuma dissuaded him. He therefore sent a friendly message of
+expostulation, which met with a haughty response, and to a second
+message asserting the supremacy of the King of Spain Cacama replied that
+'he acknowledged no such authority. He knew nothing of the Spanish
+sovereign or his people, nor did he wish to know anything of them.' When
+Montezuma sent to him to come to Mexico that this difference might be
+adjusted, he answered that he understood the position of his uncle, and
+that when he did visit the capital it would be to rescue it, as well as
+the emperor himself and their common gods, from bondage, to drive out
+the detested strangers who had brought such dishonour on their country.
+This reply made Cortés very angry; but Montezuma, anxious to prevent
+bloodshed, begged him still to refrain from declaring war against
+Cacama, saying that it would be better to obtain possession of him
+personally, which he could easily do by means of several Tezcucan nobles
+who were in his own pay. So Cacama was enticed by these faithless chiefs
+into a villa overhanging the lake, where he was easily overpowered and
+forced into a boat, which speedily brought him to Mexico. Cortés
+promptly fettered and imprisoned him, while Montezuma declared that he
+had by his rebellion forfeited his kingdom and appointed his brother--a
+mere boy--to reign in his stead. Now Cortés felt himself powerful enough
+to demand that Montezuma and all his nobles should formally swear
+allegiance to the Spanish sovereigns, and accordingly the emperor
+assembled his principal caciques and briefly stated to them the object
+for which he had summoned them.
+
+'You all know,' said he, 'our ancient tradition--how the great Being,
+who once ruled over the land, declared that he would one day return and
+reign again. That time has now arrived. The white men have come from the
+land beyond the ocean, where the sun rises, sent by their master to
+reclaim the obedience of his ancient subjects. I am ready, for my part,
+to acknowledge his authority. You have been faithful vassals of mine all
+the years that I have sat upon the throne of my fathers; I now expect
+that you will show me a last act of obedience, by acknowledging the
+great king beyond the waters to be your lord also, and that you will pay
+him tribute as you have hitherto done to me.' As he spoke the tears fell
+fast down his cheeks, and his nobles were deeply affected by the sight
+of his distress. Many of them, coming from a distance, and not having
+realised what was taking place in the capital, were filled with
+astonishment on beholding the voluntary abasement of their master, whom
+they had reverenced as the all-powerful lord of the whole country. His
+will, they told him, was their law now as ever, and if he thought the
+sovereign of the strangers was the ancient lord of their country, they
+were willing to swear allegiance to him as such. Accordingly the oaths
+were administered with all due solemnity, and a full record of the
+proceedings was drawn up by the royal notary to be sent to Spain. Cortés
+now seemed to have accomplished most of the great objects of his
+expedition, but towards the conversion of the natives he had made no
+progress, and still the horrible sacrifices took place day by day. The
+general could bear it no longer, but told the emperor that the
+Christians could not consent to hold the services of their religion shut
+in within the narrow walls of the garrison. They wished to spread its
+light abroad and share its blessings with the people. To this end they
+requested that the great teocalli should be given up to them as a fit
+place where their worship might be conducted in the presence of the
+whole city. Montezuma listened in consternation.
+
+'Malinche,' said he, 'why will you push matters to an extremity that
+must surely bring down the vengeance of our gods and stir up an
+insurrection among my people, who will never endure this profanation of
+their temple?'
+
+Cortés, seeing that he was much agitated, pretended that the demand had
+come from his followers, and that he would endeavour to persuade them to
+be contented with one of the sanctuaries of the teocalli. If that were
+not granted, they should be obliged to take it by force and to throw
+down the idols in the face of the city. Montezuma, still greatly
+disturbed, promised to confer with the priests, and in the end the
+Spaniards were allowed to take possession of one of the sanctuaries, in
+which, when it had been purified, an altar was raised, surmounted by a
+crucifix and the imago of the Virgin; its walls were decorated with
+garlands of fresh flowers, and an old soldier was stationed to watch
+over it. Then the whole army moved in solemn procession up the winding
+ascent of the pyramid, and mass was celebrated by Father Olmedo and
+another priest, while the Aztecs looked on with mingled curiosity and
+repugnance. For a nation will endure any outrage sooner than that which
+attacks its religion, and this profanation touched a feeling in the
+natives which the priests were not slow to take advantage of.
+
+Soon the Spaniards noticed a change in Montezuma. He was grave instead
+of cheerful, and avoided their society. Many conferences went on between
+him and the priests and nobles, at which even Orteguilla, his favourite
+page, was not allowed to be present. Presently Cortés received a summons
+to appear before the emperor, who told him that his predictions had come
+to pass, his gods were offended, and threatened to forsake the city if
+the sacrilegious strangers were not driven from it, or sacrificed on
+their altars as an expiation. 'If you have any regard for your safety,'
+he continued, 'you will leave the country without delay. I have only to
+raise my finger, and every Aztec in the land will rise against you.'
+
+Cortés knew well enough that this was true, but, concealing his dismay,
+he replied that he should much regret to leave the capital so
+precipitately, especially when he had no ships to take him back to his
+own country. He should also regret that if he quitted it under these
+circumstances he should be driven to taking the emperor with him.
+Montezuma was evidently troubled by this last suggestion, and finally
+offered to send workmen to the coast to build ships under the direction
+of the Spaniards, while he restrained the impatience of his people with
+the assurance that the white men would leave their land as soon as they
+were ready. This was accordingly done, and the work went forward at Vera
+Cruz with great apparent alacrity, but those who directed it took care
+to interpose as many delays as possible, while Cortés hoped in the
+meantime to receive such reinforcements from Spain as should enable him
+to hold his ground. Nevertheless the whole aspect of affairs in the
+Spanish quarters was utterly changed; apprehension had taken the place
+of security, and as many precautions were observed as if the garrison
+was actually in a state of siege. Such was the unpleasant state of
+affairs when, in May 1520, six months after his arrival in the capital,
+Cortés received tidings from the coast which caused him greater alarm
+than even the threatened insurrection of the Aztecs. The jealous
+governor of Cuba was sending an expedition to attack Cortés.
+
+It was the news of the arrival of this fleet at the place where he had
+himself landed at first that had caused Cortés so much consternation,
+for he at once suspected that it was sent by his bitter enemy the
+governor. The commander of this second expedition, who was called
+Narvaez, having landed, soon met with a Spaniard from one of the
+exploring parties sent out by Cortés. This man related all that had
+occurred since the Spanish envoys left Vera Cruz, the march into the
+interior, the furious battles with the Tlascalans, the occupation of
+Mexico, the rich treasures found in it, and the seizure of Montezuma,
+'whereby,' said the soldier, 'Cortés rules over the land like its own
+sovereign, so that a Spaniard may travel unarmed from one end of the
+country to the other without insult or injury.'
+
+Narvaez and his followers listened in speechless amazement to this
+marvellous report, and the leader waxed more and more indignant at the
+thought of all that had been snatched from Velasquez, whose adherent he
+was. He now openly proclaimed his intention of marching against Cortés
+and punishing him, so that even the natives who had flocked to this new
+camp comprehended that these white men were enemies of those who had
+come before. Narvaez proposed to establish a colony in the barren, sandy
+spot which Cortés had abandoned, and when informed of the existence of
+Villa Rica, he sent to demand the submission of the garrison. Sandoval
+had kept a sharp eye upon the movements of Narvaez from the time that
+his ships had first appeared upon the horizon, and when he heard of his
+having landed he prepared to defend his post to the last extremity. But
+the only invaders of Villa Rica were a priest named Guevara and four
+other Spaniards, who formally addressed Sandoval, pompously enumerating
+the services and claims of Velasquez, taxing Cortés with rebellion, and
+finally demanding that Sandoval should tender his submission to Narvaez.
+That officer, greatly exasperated, promptly seized the unlucky priest
+and his companions, and, remarking that they might read the obnoxious
+proclamation to the general himself in Mexico, ordered them to be bound
+like bales of goods upon the backs of sturdy porters and placed under a
+guard of twenty Spaniards, and in this way, travelling day and night,
+only stopping to obtain relays of carriers, they came within sight of
+the capital at the end of the fourth day.
+
+Its inhabitants were already aware of the fresh arrival of white men
+upon the coast. Indeed Montezuma had sent for Cortés and told him there
+was no longer any obstacle to his leaving the country, as a fleet was
+ready for him, and in answer to his astonished inquiries, had shown him
+a picture map sent him from the coast, whereon the Spaniards, with their
+ships and equipments, were minutely depicted. Cortés pretended to be
+vastly pleased by this intelligence, and the tidings were received in
+the camp with firing of cannon and other demonstrations of joy, for the
+soldiers took the newcomers for a reinforcement from Spain. Not so
+Cortés, who guessed from the first that they came from the governor of
+Cuba. He told his suspicions to his officers, who in turn informed the
+men; but, though alarm succeeded their joy, they resolved to stand by
+their leader come what might. When Sandoval's letter acquainting him
+with all particulars was brought to Cortés, he instantly sent and
+released the bewildered prisoners from their ignominious position, and
+furnished them with horses to make their entry into the capital, where,
+by treating them with the utmost courtesy and loading them with gifts,
+he speedily converted them from enemies into friends, and obtained from
+them much important information respecting the designs of Narvaez and
+the feelings of his army. He gathered that gold was the great object of
+the soldiers, who were evidently willing to co-operate with Cortés if by
+so doing they could obtain it. Indeed, they had no particular regard for
+their own leader, who was arrogant, and by no means liberal. Profiting
+by these important hints, the general sent a conciliatory letter to
+Narvaez, beseeching him not to unsettle the natives by a show of
+animosity, when it was only by union they could hope for success, and
+declaring that for his part he was ready to greet Narvaez as a brother
+in arms, to share with him the fruits of conquest, and, if he could
+produce a royal commission, to submit to his authority. Of course Cortés
+knew well enough that he had no such commission to show. Soon after the
+departure of Guevara he resolved to send a special envoy of his own, and
+chose Father Olmedo for the task, with instructions to converse
+privately with as many of the officers and soldiers as he could with a
+view to securing their goodwill; and to this end he was also provided
+with a liberal supply of gold. During this time Narvaez had abandoned
+his idea of planting a colony on the sea-coast, and had marched inland
+and taken up his quarters at Cempoalla. He received the letter of Cortés
+with scorn, which changed to stern displeasure when Guevara enlarged
+upon the power of his rival and urged him to accept his friendly offers.
+But the troops, on the other hand, listened with greedy ears to the
+accounts of Cortés, his frank and liberal manners, and the wealth of his
+camp, where the meanest soldier could stake his ingot and his chain of
+gold at play, and where all revelled in plenty. And when Father Olmedo
+arrived, his eloquence and his gifts soon created a party in the
+interest of Cortés. This could not go on so secretly as not to excite
+the suspicions of Narvaez, and the worthy priest was sent back to his
+master, but the seed which he had sown was left to grow.
+
+Narvaez continued to speak of Cortés as a traitor whom he intended to
+punish, and he also declared he would release Montezuma from captivity
+and restore him to his throne. It was rumoured that the Aztec monarch
+had sent him a rich gift, and entered into correspondence with him. All
+this was observed by the watchful eye of Sandoval, whose spies
+frequented his enemy's camp, and he presently sent to Cortés saying that
+something must speedily be done to prevent Villa Rica from falling into
+the hands of the enemy, and pointing out that many of the Indians, from
+sheer perplexity, were no longer to be relied upon.
+
+The general felt that it was indeed time to act, but the situation was
+one of great difficulty. However, he marched against Narvaez, defeated
+and captured him, embodied his forces, and set out on his return to
+Mexico, where he had left Alvarado in command.
+
+On his march he received a letter from Alvarado, which conveyed the
+startling news that the Mexicans were up in arms and had assaulted the
+Spanish quarters, that they had overwhelmed the garrison with a torrent
+of missiles, which had killed some and wounded many, and had burned some
+brigantines which Cortés had built to secure a means of retreat, and it
+ended by imploring him to hasten to the relief of his men if he would
+save them or keep his hold on the capital. This was a heavy blow to
+Cortés, but there was no time for hesitation. He laid the matter fully
+before his soldiers, and all declared their readiness to follow him.
+
+On June 24, 1520, the army reached the same causeway by which they had
+before entered the capital; but now no crowds lined the roads, and no
+pirogues swarmed upon the lake; a death-like stillness brooded over the
+scene. As they marched across Cortés ordered the trumpets to sound, and
+their shrill notes were answered by a joyful peal of artillery from the
+beleaguered fortress. The soldiers quickened their pace, and all were
+soon in the city once more. But here the appearance of things was far
+from reassuring. In many places they saw the smaller bridges had been
+taken away; the town seemed deserted, and the tramp of the horses
+awakened melancholy echoes in the deserted streets. When they reached
+the palace the great gates were speedily thrown open, and Cortés and his
+party were eagerly welcomed by the garrison, who had much to tell and to
+hear. Of course the general's first inquiry was as to the origin of the
+tumult, and this was the story he heard.
+
+The Aztec festival called 'The incensing of Huitzilopochtli' was about
+to be celebrated, in which, as it was an important one, nearly all the
+nobles took part. The caciques asked the permission of Alvarado to
+perform their rites in the teocalli which contained the chapel of the
+Spaniards, and to be allowed the presence of Montezuma. This latter
+request was refused, but he consented to their using the teocalli
+provided they came unarmed and held no human sacrifice. Accordingly, on
+the day appointed the Aztecs assembled to the number of at least six
+hundred. They wore their magnificent gala costumes, with mantles of
+featherwork sprinkled with precious stones, and collars, bracelets, and
+ornaments of gold. Alvarado and his men, fully armed, attended as
+spectators, and when the hapless natives were engaged in one of their
+ceremonial dances, they fell upon them suddenly, sword in hand. Then
+followed a great and dreadful slaughter. Unarmed, and taken unawares,
+the Aztecs were hewn down without resistance. Those who attempted to
+escape by climbing the wall of serpents were speared ruthlessly, till
+presently not one of that gay company remained alive; then the Spaniards
+added the crowning horror to their dreadful deed by plundering the
+bodies of their murdered victims. The tidings of the massacre flew like
+wildfire through the capital, and every long-smothered feeling of
+hostility burst forth in the cry that arose for vengeance. The city rose
+in arms to a man and almost before the Spaniards could secure themselves
+in their defences, they were assaulted with desperate fury: some of the
+assailants attempted to scale the walls, others succeeded in partially
+undermining and setting fire to the works. It is impossible to say how
+the attack would have ended, but the Spaniards entreated Montezuma to
+interfere, and he, mounting the battlements, conjured the furious people
+to desist from storming the fortress out of regard for his safety. They
+so far respected him that they changed their operations into a regular
+blockade, throwing up works round the palace to prevent the egress of
+the Spaniards, and suspending the market so that they might not obtain
+any supplies, and then they sat down to wait sullenly till famine should
+throw their enemies into their hands.
+
+The condition of the besieged was gloomy enough. True their provisions
+still held out, but they suffered greatly from want of water, that
+within the enclosure being quite brackish, until a fresh spring was
+suddenly discovered in the courtyard. Even then the fact that scarcely a
+man had escaped unwounded, and that they had no prospect before them but
+a lingering death by famine, or one more dreadful still upon the altar
+of sacrifice, made their situation a very trying one. The coming of
+their comrades was therefore doubly welcome. As an explanation of his
+atrocious act, Alvarado declared that he had but struck the blow to
+intimidate the natives and crush an intended rising of the people, of
+which he had received information through his spies.
+
+Cortés listened calmly till the story was finished, then exclaimed with
+undisguised displeasure, 'You have done badly. You have been false to
+your trust. Your conduct has been that of a madman!' And so saying, he
+turned and left him abruptly, no doubt bitterly regretting that he had
+entrusted so important a command to one whose frank and captivating
+exterior was but the mask for a rash and cruel nature. Vexed with his
+faithless lieutenant, and embarrassed by the disastrous consequences of
+his actions, Cortés for the first time lost his self-control, and
+allowed his disgust and irritation to be plainly seen. He treated
+Montezuma with haughty coldness, even speaking of him as 'this dog of a
+king' in the presence of his chiefs, and bidding them fiercely go tell
+their master and his people to open the markets, or he would do it for
+them to their cost. The chiefs retired in deep resentment at the insult,
+which they comprehended well enough from his look and gesture, and the
+message lost nothing of its effect in transmission. By the suggestion of
+Montezuma, Cortés now released his brother Cuitlahua, thinking he might
+allay the tumult and bring about a better state of things. But this
+failed utterly, for the prince, who was bold and ambitious, was bitterly
+incensed by the injuries he had received from the Spaniards. Moreover,
+he was the heir presumptive to the crown, and was welcomed by the people
+as a substitute for the captive Montezuma. So being an experienced
+warrior, he set himself to arrange a more efficient plan of operations
+against the Spaniards, and the effect was soon visible. Cortés,
+meanwhile, had so little doubt of his ability to quench the insurrection
+that he said as much in the letter that he wrote to the garrison of
+Villa Rica informing them of his safe arrival in the capital. But his
+messenger had not been gone half-an-hour before he returned breathless
+with terror, and covered with wounds, saying that the city was in arms,
+the drawbridges were raised, and the enemy would soon be upon them.
+
+Surely enough before long a hoarse, sullen roar arose, becoming louder
+and louder, till from the parapet surrounding the enclosure the great
+avenues that led to it could be seen dark with masses of warriors
+rolling on in a confused tide towards the fortress, while at the same
+time the flat roofs of the neighbouring houses were suddenly covered, as
+if by magic, with swarms of menacing figures, brandishing their
+weapons--a sight to appal the stoutest heart.
+
+
+FIGHTING IN MEXICO.
+
+When notice was given of the approach of the Aztecs, each man was soon
+at his post, and prepared to give them a warm reception. On they came,
+rushing forward in dense columns, each with its gay banner, and as they
+neared the enclosure they set up the hideous yell or shrill whistle used
+in fight, which rose high above the sound of their rude musical
+instruments. They followed this by a tempest of stones, darts, and
+arrows, which fell thick as rain on the besieged, and at the same time
+those upon the roofs also discharged a blinding volley. The Spaniards
+waited until the foremost column was within fire, and then, with a
+general discharge of artillery, swept the ranks of their assailants,
+mowing them down by hundreds. The Mexicans for a moment stood aghast,
+but soon rallying swept boldly forward over the prostrate bodies of
+their comrades: a second and third volley checked them and threw their
+ranks into disorder, but still they pressed on, letting off clouds of
+arrows, while those on the house-tops took deliberate aim at the
+soldiers in the courtyard. Soon some of the Aztecs succeeded in getting
+close enough to the wall to be sheltered by it from the fire of the
+Spaniards, and they made gallant efforts to scale the parapet, but only
+to be shot down, one after another, as soon as their heads appeared
+above the rampart. Defeated here, they tried to effect a breach by
+battering the wall with heavy pieces of timber, but it proved too strong
+for them, and then they shot burning arrows among the temporary
+buildings in the courtyard. Several of these took fire, and soon a
+fierce conflagration was raging, which was only to be checked by
+throwing down part of the wall itself, and thus laying open a formidable
+breach. This was protected by a battery of heavy guns, and a file of
+arquebusiers, who kept up an incessant volley through the opening. All
+day the fight raged with fury, and even when night came, and the Aztecs
+suspended operations according to their usual custom, the Spaniards
+found but little repose, being in hourly expectation of an assault.
+Early the next morning the combatants returned to the charge. Cortés did
+not yet realise the ferocity and determination of the Mexicans, and
+thought by a vigorous sortie he would reduce them to order, and, indeed,
+when the gates were thrown open, and he sallied out, followed by his
+cavalry, supported by a large body of infantry and Tlascalans, they were
+taken by surprise and retreated in some confusion behind a barricade
+which they had thrown up across the street.
+
+But by the time Cortés had ordered up his heavy guns and demolished the
+barrier they had rallied again, and though, when the fight had raged all
+day, Cortés was, on the whole, victorious, still he had been so harassed
+on all sides by the battalions of natives who swarmed in from every side
+street and lane, by those in canoes upon the canal, and by the showers
+of huge stones from those upon the house-tops, that his losses had been
+severe. Earlier in the day he had caused a number of houses to be burned
+to rid himself of some of his tormentors, but the Aztecs could probably
+better afford to lose a hundred men than the Spaniards one, and the
+Mexican ranks showed no signs of thinning. At length, exhausted by toil
+and hunger, the Spanish commander drew off his men, and retreated into
+his quarters, pursued to the last by showers of darts and arrows; and
+when the Spaniards re-entered their fortress, the Indians once more
+encamped round it; and though through the night they were inactive,
+still they frequently broke the stillness with menacing cries and
+insults.
+
+'The gods have delivered you into our hands at last!' they said.
+'Huitzilopochtli has long cried for his victims. The stone of sacrifice
+is ready--the knives are sharpened. The wild beasts in the palace are
+roaring for their feast.' These taunts, which sounded dismally in the
+ears of the besieged, were mingled with piteous lamentations for
+Montezuma, whom they entreated the Spaniards to deliver up to them.
+Cortés was suffering much from a severe wound and from his many
+anxieties, and he determined to induce Montezuma to exert his authority
+to allay the tumult. In order to give greater effect to his appearance
+he put on his imperial robes. His mantle of blue and white was held by a
+rich clasp of the precious 'chalchivitl,' which with emeralds of
+uncommon size, set in gold, also ornamented other portions of his dress.
+His feet were shod with golden sandals, and upon his head he wore the
+Mexican diadem. Surrounded by a guard of Spaniards and preceded by a
+golden wand, the symbol of sovereignty, the Indian monarch ascended the
+central turret of the palace. His presence was instantly recognised by
+the people, and a magical change came over the scene: the clang of the
+instruments and the fierce cries of the assailants ceased, and many in
+the hushed throng knelt or prostrated themselves, while all eyes were
+turned with eager expectation upon the monarch whom they had been taught
+to regard with slavish awe. Montezuma saw his advantage, and in the
+presence of his awestruck people felt once more a king. With his former
+calm authority and confidence he addressed them:
+
+'Why do I see my people here in arms against the palace of my fathers?
+Is it that you think your sovereign a prisoner, and wish to release him?
+If so you have done well; but you are mistaken. I am no prisoner. The
+strangers are my guests. I remain with them only for choice, and can
+leave them when I will. Have you come to drive them from the city? That
+is unnecessary; they will depart of their own accord if you will open a
+way for them. Return to your homes then. Lay down your arms. Show your
+obedience to me, whose right it is. The white men shall go back to their
+land, and all shall be well again within the walls of Mexico.'
+
+As Montezuma declared himself the friend of the detested strangers a
+murmur of contempt ran through the multitude. Their rage and desire for
+vengeance made them forget their ancient reverence, and turned them
+against their unfortunate monarch.
+
+'Base Aztec,' they cried, 'woman, coward! The white men have made you a
+woman, fit only to weave and spin.'
+
+A chief of high rank brandished a javelin at Montezuma, as these taunts
+were uttered, and in an instant the place where he stood was assailed
+with a cloud of stones and arrows. The Spaniards, who had been thrown
+off their guard by the respect shown by the people on their lord's
+appearance, now hastily interposed their shields, but it was too late:
+Montezuma was wounded by three of the missiles, one of which, a stone,
+struck him on the head with such violence that he fell senseless to the
+ground. The Mexicans, shocked at their own sacrilegious act, set up a
+dismal cry, and dispersed panic-stricken until not one of all the host
+remained in the great square before the palace. Meanwhile, the unhappy
+king was borne to his own apartments, and as soon as he recovered from
+his insensibility the full misery of his situation broke upon him. He
+had tasted the last bitterness of degradation. He had been reviled and
+rejected by his people. Even the meanest of the rabble had raised their
+hands against him, and he had nothing left to live for. In vain did
+Cortés and his officers endeavour to soothe the anguish of his spirit
+and encourage him to hope for better things. Montezuma answered not a
+word. His wounds, though dangerous, need not have proved fatal had he
+not refused all remedies, tearing off the bandages as often as they were
+applied, and maintaining all the while a determined silence. He sat
+motionless, with downcast eyes, brooding over his humiliation; but from
+this painful scene the Spanish general was soon called away by the new
+dangers which threatened the garrison.
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA ASSAILED BY MISSILES]
+
+Opposite to the Spanish quarters stood the great teocalli of
+Huitzilopochtli, rising to a height of nearly a hundred and fifty feet,
+and thus completely commanding the palace occupied by the Spaniards. A
+body of five or six hundred Mexicans, many of them nobles and warriors
+of the highest rank, now took possession of the teocalli, whence they
+discharged such a tempest of arrows upon the garrison that it was
+impossible for any soldier to show himself for an instant outside his
+defences without great danger, while the Mexicans themselves were
+completely sheltered. It was absolutely necessary that they should be
+dislodged, and Cortés entrusted the task to his chamberlain Escobar,
+giving him a hundred men for the purpose. But after making three
+desperate attempts, in which he was repulsed with considerable loss,
+this officer returned unsuccessful, and Cortés determined to lead the
+storming party himself, though he was suffering much from a wound which
+disabled his left hand. He made the arm serviceable, however, by
+strapping his shield to it, and thus prepared sallied forth at the head
+of three hundred chosen cavaliers and several thousand of the Indian
+allies. In the courtyard of the temple a body of Mexicans was drawn up
+to oppose him, and he charged them briskly, but the horses could not
+keep their footing on the slippery pavement, and many of them fell.
+Hastily dismounting the Spaniards sent the animals back to their
+quarters, and then, renewing the assault, had little difficulty in
+dispersing the Indians and securing a passage to the teocalli. And now
+began a great and terrible struggle. You will remember that the huge
+pyramid-shaped teocalli was built in five divisions, growing smaller and
+smaller, till at the top you came out upon a square platform, crowned
+only by the two sanctuaries in which stood the images of the Aztec gods.
+You will also remember that the only ascent was by flights of stone
+steps on the outside, one above another, and that it was necessary
+between each flight to pass by a kind of terrace, right round the
+building, so that a distance of nearly a mile had to be traversed before
+reaching the top. Cortés sprang up the lower stairway, followed by
+Alvarado, Sandoval, Ordaz, and the other gallant cavaliers, leaving a
+strong detachment to hold the enemy in check at the foot of the temple.
+On every terrace as well as on the topmost platform the Aztec warriors
+were drawn up to dispute his passage. From their elevated position they
+showered down heavy stones, beams, and burning rafters, which thundering
+along the stairway overturned the ascending Spaniards and carried
+desolation through their ranks. The more fortunate, eluding or springing
+over these obstacles, succeeded in gaining the first terrace, where they
+fell upon their enemies and compelled them to give way, and then, aided
+by a brisk fire from the musketeers below, they pressed on, forcing
+their opponents to retreat higher and higher, until at last they were
+glad to take shelter on the broad summit of the teocalli. Cortés and his
+companions were close behind them, and the two parties soon found
+themselves face to face upon this strange battle-field, engaged in
+mortal combat in the presence of the whole city, while even the troops
+in the courtyard ceased hostilities, as if by mutual consent, and
+watched with breathless interest the issue of the struggle.
+
+The Spaniards and Mexicans closed with the desperate fury of men who
+have no hope but in victory. Quarter was neither asked nor given, and to
+fly was impossible. The edge of the platform was unprotected by parapet
+or battlement, and many of the combatants, as they struggled together,
+were seen to roll over the edge of the precipice, locked in a
+death-grip. Cortés himself but narrowly escaped this frightful fate. Two
+powerful warriors had seized upon him, and were dragging him violently
+towards the side of the pyramid, when, by sheer strength, he tore
+himself from their grasp and hurled one of them over the brink with his
+own arm.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The battle raged unceasingly for three hours. The number of the Mexicans
+was double that of the Spaniards, but the armour of the latter and their
+skill as swordsmen outweighed the odds against them. Resistance grew
+fainter and fainter on the side of the Aztecs. The priests, who had run
+to and fro among them with streaming hair and wild gestures, encouraging
+and urging them on, were all slain or captured. One by one the warriors
+fell dead upon the blood-drenched pavement, or were hurled from the
+dizzy height, until at last the wild struggle ceased, and the Spaniards
+stood alone upon the field of battle. Their victory had cost them dear,
+for forty-five of their comrades lay dead, and nearly all the remainder
+were more or less seriously wounded; but there was no time for regrets.
+The victorious cavaliers rushed to the sanctuaries to find that the
+cross and the image of the Virgin had disappeared from the one they had
+appropriated, and that in the other, before the grim figure of
+Huitzilopochtli, lay the usual offering of human hearts, possibly those
+of their own countrymen! With shouts of triumph the Spaniards tore the
+hideous idol from its niche, and in the sight of the horror-stricken
+Aztecs hurled it down the steps of the teocalli, and, after having set
+fire to the sanctuaries, descended joyfully into the courtyard.
+
+Passing through the ranks of the Mexicans, who were too much dismayed by
+all they had witnessed to offer any resistance, they reached their own
+quarters in safety, and that very night they followed up the blow they
+had struck by sallying forth into the sleeping town and burning three
+hundred houses. Cortés now hoped that the natives were sufficiently
+subdued to be willing to come to terms with him. He therefore invited
+them to a parley, and addressed the principal chiefs, who had assembled
+in the great square, from the turret before occupied by Montezuma. As
+usual, Marina interpreted for him, and the Indians gazed curiously at
+their countrywoman, whose influence with the Spanish general was well
+known. Cortés told them that they must now know how little they had to
+hope from their opposition to the Spaniards. They had seen their gods
+trampled in the dust, their altars destroyed, their dwellings burned,
+and their warriors falling on all sides. 'All this,' he continued, 'you
+have brought upon yourselves by your rebellion. Yet, for the sake of the
+affection felt for you by the sovereign you have treated so unworthily,
+I would willingly stay my hand if you will lay down your arms and return
+once more to your obedience. But if you do not,' he concluded, 'I will
+make your city a heap of ruins, and leave not a soul alive to mourn over
+it.'
+
+But the Spanish commander did not yet understand the character of the
+Aztecs if he thought to intimidate them by menaces. It was true, they
+replied, that he had destroyed their temples, broken in pieces their
+gods, and massacred their countrymen. Many more doubtless were yet to
+fall under their terrible swords. But they were content so long as for
+every thousand Mexicans they could shed the blood of a single white man.
+'Look out,' they said, 'upon our streets and terraces. See them still
+thronged with warriors as far as your eyes can reach. Our numbers are
+scarcely diminished by our losses. Yours, on the contrary, are lessening
+hour by hour. Your provisions and water are failing. You are perishing
+from hunger and sickness; you must soon fall into our hands. _The
+bridges are broken down, and you cannot escape!_ There will be too few
+of you left to glut the vengeance of our gods.' With this they
+discharged a volley of arrows, which compelled the Spaniards to beat a
+speedy retreat from the turret. The fierce answer of the Aztecs filled
+the besieged with dismay.
+
+The general himself, pressed by enemies without and factions within,
+was, as usual, only roused to more energetic action by a situation which
+would have paralysed any ordinary mind. He calmly surveyed his position
+before deciding what course he would pursue. To retreat was hazardous,
+and it mortified him cruelly to abandon the city in which he had so long
+been master and the rich treasure which he had secured, with which he
+had hoped to propitiate the King of Spain. To fly now was to acknowledge
+himself further than ever from the conquest and to give great
+opportunity to his enemy, the Governor of Cuba, to triumph over him. On
+the other hand, with his men daily diminishing in strength and numbers,
+with the stock of provisions so nearly exhausted that one small daily
+ration of bread was all the soldiers had, with the breaches in his
+fortifications widening every day and his ammunition nearly gone, it was
+manifestly impossible to hold the place much longer against the enemy.
+Having reached this conclusion, the next difficulty was to decide how
+and when it would be well to evacuate the city. He tried to fight his
+way out, but he failed, and when night fell the Mexicans dispersed as
+usual, and the Spaniards, tired, famished, and weak from their wounds,
+slowly re-entered the citadel, only to receive tidings of a fresh
+misfortune. Montezuma was dead. 'The tidings of his death,' says the old
+Spanish chronicler, 'were received with real grief by every cavalier and
+soldier in the army who had had access to his person, for we all loved
+him as a father, and no wonder, seeing how good he was.'
+
+Montezuma's death was a real misfortune for the Spaniards. While he
+lived there was still a possibility of his influence with the natives
+being of use to them. Now that hope was gone. The Spanish commander
+showed all respect for his memory. His body, arrayed in its royal robes,
+was laid upon a bier, and borne on the shoulders of those nobles who had
+remained with him to the last to his subjects in the city, whose
+wailings over it were distinctly heard by the Spaniards; but where he
+was buried, and with what honours, they never knew.
+
+The Spanish general now called a council to decide as speedily as
+possible the all-important question of the retreat. It was his intention
+to fall back upon Tlascala, and once there to arrange according to
+circumstances his future operations. There was some difference of
+opinion as to the hour of departure; but owing to the predictions of a
+soldier named Botello, who pretended to be able to read the stars, and
+who announced that to leave the city at night would be for the good of
+his comrades, though he himself would meet his death through it, it was
+decided that the fortress should be abandoned that very night. After
+events proved that Botello's prophecy was unfortunately only true as far
+as he himself was concerned.
+
+The general's first care was to provide for the safe conveyance of the
+treasure. The soldiers had most of them converted their share into gold
+chains or collars which could be easily carried about their persons. But
+the royal fifth, with that of Cortés himself and his principal officers,
+was in bars and wedges of solid gold.
+
+That belonging to the crown was now given in charge to the royal
+officers, with the strongest horse to carry it, and a special guard for
+its protection. But much treasure belonging to the crown and to private
+individuals was necessarily abandoned, and the precious metal lay in
+shining heaps upon the floors of the palace. 'Take what you will of it,'
+said Cortés to the soldiers; 'better you should have it than those
+Mexican hounds. But be careful not to overload yourselves: he travels
+safest who travels lightest.' His own wary soldiers took heed to his
+counsel, taking few treasures, and those of the smallest size. But the
+troops of Narvaez thought that the very mines of Mexico lay open before
+them, and the riches for which they had risked so much were within their
+reach at last. Rushing upon the spoil, they loaded themselves with all
+they could possibly carry or stow away.
+
+Cortés next arranged the order of march. The van consisted of two
+hundred Spanish foot, commanded by Sandoval, with twenty other
+cavaliers. The rest of the infantry formed the rear-guard under Alvarado
+and De Leon, while the general himself took charge of the centre, some
+of the heavy guns, the baggage, the treasure, and the prisoners, among
+whom were a son and two daughters of Montezuma, Cacama, and several
+nobles. The Tlascalans were pretty equally divided among the three
+divisions. The general had previously superintended the construction of
+a portable bridge to be laid across the open canals. This was entrusted
+to the care of an officer named Magarino and forty men, all pledged to
+defend the passage to the last extremity. Well would it have been if
+three such bridges had been made, but the labour would have been great
+and the time was short. At midnight all was ready, and after a solemn
+mass had been celebrated by Father Olmedo, the Spaniards for the last
+time sallied forth from the ancient fortress, the scene of so much
+suffering and of such great courage.
+
+
+THE NIGHT OR HORROR.
+
+The night was dark, and a fine rain fell steadily. The vast square
+before the palace was deserted, as indeed it had been since the death of
+Montezuma, and the Spaniards made their way across it as noiselessly as
+possible, and entered the great street of Tlacopan. Though to their
+anxious eyes every dark lane and alley seemed to swarm with the shadowy
+forms of their enemies, it was not really so, and all went well until
+the van drew near the spot where the street opened upon the causeway.
+Before the bridge could be adjusted across the uncovered breach the
+Mexican sentinels stationed there fled, raising the alarm as they went.
+The priests from the summits of the teocallis heard them, and sounded
+their shells, while the huge drum upon the desolate temple of the
+war-god sent forth its solemn sound, which--heard only in seasons of
+calamity--vibrated through every corner of the capital. The Spaniards
+saw that there was no time to be lost; the bridge was fitted with all
+speed, and Sandoval rode across first to try its strength, followed by
+the first division, then came Cortés with the baggage and artillery, but
+before he was well over, a sound was heard as of a stormy wind rising in
+a forest. Nearer and nearer it came, and from the dark waters of the
+lake rose the plashing noise of many oars. Then a few stones and arrows
+fell at random among the hurrying troops, to be followed by more and
+more, ever thicker and faster, till they became a terrible blinding
+storm, while the air was rent with the yells and war-cries of the enemy,
+who seemed to be swarming in myriads over land and lake.
+
+The Spaniards pushed on steadily, though the Mexicans, dashing their
+canoes against the sides of the causeway, clambered up and broke in upon
+their ranks. The soldiers, anxious only to make their escape, simply
+shook them off, or rode over them, or with their guns and swords drove
+them headlong down the sides of the dyke again. But the advance of such
+a body of men necessarily took time, and the leading files had already
+reached the second gap in the causeway before those in the rear had
+cleared the first. They were forced to halt, though severely harassed by
+the fire from the canoes, which clustered thickly round this opening,
+and many were the urgent messages which were sent to the rear, to hurry
+up the bridge. But when it was at length clear, and Magarino and his
+sturdy followers endeavoured to raise it, they found to their horror
+that the weight of the artillery and the horses passing over it had
+jammed it firmly into the sides of the dyke, and it was absolutely
+immovable. Not till many of his men were slain and all wounded did
+Magarino abandon the attempt, and then the dreadful tidings spread
+rapidly from man to man, and a cry of despair arose. All means of
+retreat were cut off; they were held as in a trap. Order and discipline
+were at an end, for no one could hope to escape except by his own
+desperate exertions. Those behind pressed forward, trampling the weak
+and wounded under foot, heeding not friend or foe. Those in front were
+forced over the edge of the gulf, across which some of the cavaliers
+succeeded in swimming their horses, but many failed, or rolled back into
+the lake in attempting to ascend the opposite bank. The infantry
+followed pell-mell, heaped one upon the other, frequently pierced by the
+Aztec arrows, or struck down by their clubs, and dragged into the canoes
+to be reserved for a more dreadful death. All along the causeway the
+battle raged fiercely.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Mexicans clambered continually up the sides of the dyke, and
+grappled with the Spaniards, till they rolled together down into the
+canoes. But while the Aztec fell among friends, his unhappy antagonist
+was secured, and borne away in triumph to the sacrifice. The struggle
+was long and deadly, but by degrees the opening in the causeway was
+filled up by the wreck of the waggons, guns, rich bales of stuffs,
+chests of solid ingots, and bodies of men and horses which had fallen
+into it; and over this dismal ruin those in the rear were able to reach
+the other side. Cortés had found a place that was fordable, and, halting
+halfway across, had vainly endeavoured to check the confusion, and lead
+his followers safely to the opposite bank. But his voice was lost in the
+wild uproar; and at length, attended by a few trusty cavaliers, he
+pushed forward to the front. Here he found Sandoval and his companions,
+halting before the last breach, trying to cheer on the soldiers to
+attempt the crossing; but, though not so beset with enemies as the last,
+it was wide and deep, and the men's resolution failed them. Again the
+cavaliers set the example, by plunging into the lake. Horse and foot
+followed, swimming or clinging to the manes and tails of the horses.
+Those fared best, as the general had predicted, who travelled lightest,
+and many were the unfortunate wretches, who, weighed down by the fatal
+treasure, were buried with it at the bottom of the lake. Cortés, with a
+few others, still kept in advance, leading the miserable remnant off the
+causeway. The din of battle was growing faint in the distance, when the
+rumour reached them that, without speedy succour, the rearguard must be
+utterly overwhelmed. It seemed a desperate venture, but the cavaliers,
+without thinking of the danger, turned their horses, and galloped back
+to the relief of their comrades. Swimming the canal again, they threw
+themselves into the thick of the fray. The first gleam of morning light
+showed the hideous confusion of the scene; the masses of combatants upon
+the dyke were struggling till the very causeway seemed to rock, while as
+far as the eye could see, the lake was covered with a dense crowd of
+canoes full of warriors. The cavaliers found Alvarado unhorsed, and,
+with a mere handful of followers, defending himself against an
+overwhelming tide of the enemy, who by this time possessed the whole
+rear of the causeway, and received constant reinforcements from the
+city. The Spanish artillery, which had done good service at first, had
+been overthrown, and utterly confounded by the rush from the back. In
+the general ruin, Cortés strove by a resolute charge to give his
+countrymen time to rally, but it was only for a moment: they were
+speedily borne down by the returning rush. The general and his
+companions were forced to plunge into the lake once more, though with
+their numbers reduced this time, and Alvarado stood for an instant upon
+the brink, uncertain what to do. There was no time to be lost. He was a
+tall and powerful man. Setting his long lance firmly on the wreck which
+strewed the lake, he gave a mighty leap which landed him in safety upon
+the opposite bank. Aztecs and Tlascalans looked on in amazement at this
+almost incredible feat, and a general shout arose. 'This is truly the
+Tonatiuh--the Child of the Sun.' To this day, the place is called
+'Alvarado's Leap.' Cortés now rode to the front, where the troops were
+straggling miserably off the fatal causeway. Most fortunately, the
+attention of the Aztecs was diverted by the rich spoil that strewed the
+ground, and their pursuit ceased, so that the Spaniards passed
+unmolested through the village of Popotla. There the Spanish commander
+dismounted from his weary steed, and sitting down on the steps of an
+Indian temple, looked mournfully on while the broken files dragged
+slowly past. It was a piteous spectacle. The cavalry, many of them
+dismounted, were mingled with the infantry, their shattered mail
+dripping with the salt ooze, and showing through its rents many a
+ghastly wound; their firearms, banners, baggage, artillery, everything
+was gone. Cortés, as he looked sadly on their thin, disordered ranks,
+sought in vain many a familiar face, and missed more than one trusty
+comrade who had stood by his side through all the perils of the
+conquest; and accustomed as he was to conceal his emotions, he could
+bear it no longer, but covered his face with his hands, while he wept
+tears of anguish. It was, however, some consolation to him that Marina
+had been carried safely through the awful night by her faithful guards.
+Aguilar was also alive, and Martin Lopez, who had built two boats for
+him in Mexico, as well as Alvarado, Avila, Sandoval, Olid, and Ordaz.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But this was no time to give way to vain regrets. Cortés hastily mounted
+again and led his men as speedily as possible through Tlacopan, and, as
+soon as he reached the open country, endeavoured to bring his
+disorganised battalions into something like order. The broken army,
+half-starved, moved slowly towards the coast. On the seventh morning the
+army reached the mountain range which overlooks the plains of Otumba.
+All the day before, parties of the enemy had hovered round, crying
+vindictively, 'Hasten on. You will soon find yourselves where you cannot
+escape!' Now, as they climbed the steep hillside, Cortés realised what
+this meant, for his scouts came back reporting that a powerful body of
+Aztecs was encamped upon the other side waiting for them, and truly
+enough, when they looked down into the valley, they saw it filled with a
+mighty host of warriors who had been gathered together by Cuitlahua, and
+stationed at this point to dispute the passage of the Spaniards. Every
+chief of importance had taken the field with his whole array. As far as
+the eye could reach extended a moving mass of glittering shields and
+spears, mingled with the banners and bright feather-mail of the
+caciques, and the white cotton robes of their followers. It was a sight
+to dismay the stoutest heart among the Spaniards, and even Cortés felt
+that his last hour was come. But since to escape was impossible, he
+disposed his little army to the best advantage, and prepared to cut his
+way through the enemy or perish in the attempt. He gave his force as
+broad a front as possible, protecting it on each flank with his cavalry,
+now reduced to twenty horsemen, who were instructed to direct their long
+lances at the faces of the enemy, and on no account to lose their hold
+of them. The infantry were to thrust, not strike, with their swords, and
+above all to make for the leaders of the enemy, and then, after a few
+brave words of encouragement, he and his little band began to descend
+the hill, rushing, as it seemed, to certain destruction. The enemy met
+them with the usual storm of stones and arrows, but when the Spaniards
+closed with them, their superiority became apparent, and the natives
+were thrown into confusion by their own numbers as they fell back from
+the charge. The infantry followed up their advantage, and a wide lane
+was opened in the ranks of the enemy, who receded on all sides as if to
+allow them a free passage. But it was only to return with fresh fury,
+and soon the little army was entirely surrounded, standing firmly,
+protected on all sides by its bristling swords and lances, like an
+island in the midst of a raging sea. In spite of many gallant deeds and
+desperate struggles, the Spaniards found themselves, at the end of
+several hours, only more deeply wedged in by the dense masses of the
+enemy. Cortés had received another wound, in the head, his horse had
+fallen under him, and he had been obliged to mount one taken from the
+baggage train. The fiery rays of the sun poured down upon the nearly
+exhausted soldiers, who were beginning to despair and give way, while
+the enemy, constantly reinforced from the rear, pressed on with
+redoubled fury. At this critical moment the eagle eye of Cortés, ever on
+the watch for any chance of arresting the coming ruin, descried in the
+distance a chief, who, from his dress and surroundings, he knew must be
+the commander of the Aztec forces. He wore a rich surcoat of
+feather-work, and a gorgeous plume of jewelled feathers floated from his
+helmet, while above this, and attached to his back between the
+shoulders, showed a golden net fastened to a short staff--the customary
+symbol of authority for an Aztec commander. Turning quickly round to
+Sandoval, Olid, Alvarado, and Avila who surrounded him, he cried,
+pointing to the chief, 'There is our mark! Follow and support me!' And
+shouting his war-cry he plunged into the thickest of the press. Taken by
+surprise the enemy fell back; those who could not escape were trampled
+under his horse's feet, or pierced by his long lance; the cavaliers
+followed him closely; in a few minutes they were close to the Aztec
+chief, and Cortés hurled him to the ground with one stroke from his
+lance; a young cavalier named Juan de Salamanca hastily dismounted and
+slew him where he lay, and tearing away his banner presented it to the
+Spanish general. The cacique's guard, overpowered by this sudden onset,
+fled precipitately, and their panic spread to the other Indians, who,
+on hearing of the death of their chief, fought no more, but thought only
+of escape. In their blind terror they impeded and trampled down their
+own comrades, and the Spaniards, availing themselves fully of the
+marvellous turn affairs had taken, pursued them off the field, and then
+returned to secure the rich booty they had left behind them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Cortés reached Tlascala in safety, and at once began to prepare his
+revenge on the Mexicans, aided by reinforcements of a few Spaniards from
+Vera Cruz. Gunpowder had also to be manufactured, and a cavalier named
+Francio Montaño undertook the perilous task of obtaining sulphur for the
+purpose from the terrible volcano of Popocatepetl. He set out with four
+comrades, and after some days journeying, they reached the dense forest
+which covered the base of the mountain, and forcing their way upward,
+came by degrees to a more open region. As they neared the top the track
+ended, and they had to climb as best they could over the black glazed
+surface of the lava, which, having issued from the crater in a boiling
+flood, had risen into a thousand odd forms wherever it met with any
+obstacle, and continually impeded their progress. After this they
+arrived at the region of perpetual snow, which increased their
+difficulties, the treacherous ice giving way at every step, so that many
+times they narrowly escaped falling into the frozen chasms that yawned
+all round them. At last, however, they reached the mouth of the crater,
+and, crawling cautiously to the very edge, peered down into its gloomy
+depths. At the bottom of the abyss, which seemed to them to go down into
+the very heart of the earth, a lurid flame burned sullenly, sending up a
+sulphureous steam, which cooling as it rose, fell again in showers upon
+the sides of the cavity. Into this one of the brave explorers had to
+descend, and when they had cast lots the choice fell upon Montaño
+himself. His preparations were soon made, and his companions lowered him
+in a basket into the horrible chasm to a depth of four hundred feet, and
+there as he hung, he scraped the sulphur from the sides of the crater,
+descending again and again until he had procured enough for the wants of
+the army, with which they returned triumphantly to Tlascala. Meanwhile
+the construction of the ships went forward prosperously, and by
+Christmas, in the year 1520, there was no longer any reason to delay the
+march to Mexico.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+While all these preparations were being made, some changes had taken
+place among the Aztecs. Cuitlahua had suddenly died after reigning four
+months, and Guatemozin his nephew had been chosen in his stead. This
+young prince had married one of Montezuma's daughters. He was handsome
+and valiant, and so terrible that his followers trembled in his
+presence. He had a sort of religious hatred of the Spaniards, and
+prepared manfully to meet the perils which he saw threatening his
+country, for by means of spies he had kept a watch upon the movements of
+the Spaniards, and had discovered their intention of besieging the
+capital. Cortés, upon reviewing his army, found that his whole force
+fell little short of six hundred men, of whom forty were cavalry, and
+eighty arquebusiers and cross-bowmen. The rest were armed with sword,
+target, and the long copper-headed pikes, which had been made specially
+by the general's directions. There were also nine cannons of moderate
+size, but the supply of powder was but indifferent. Cortés published a
+code of strict regulations for the guidance of his men before they set
+out, and addressed them as usual with stirring words, touching all the
+springs of devotion, honour, and ambition in their hearts, and rousing
+their enthusiasm as only he could have done. His plan of action was to
+establish his headquarters at some place upon the Tezcucan lake, whence
+he could cut off the supplies from the surrounding country, and place
+Mexico in a state of blockade until the completion of his ships should
+enable him to begin a direct assault. The most difficult of the three
+ways into the valley was the one Cortés chose; it led right across the
+mountain chain, and he judged wisely that he would be less likely to be
+annoyed by the enemy in that direction. Before long the army halted
+within three leagues of Tezcuco, which you will remember was upon the
+opposite shore of the lake to Mexico, and somewhat further north. Up to
+this time they only had had a few slight skirmishes with the Aztecs,
+though beacon fires had blazed upon every hill-top, showing that the
+country was roused. Cortés thought it very unlikely that he would be
+allowed to enter Tezcuco, which was now reigned over by Coanaco, the
+friend and ally of Guatemozin. But the next morning, before the troops
+were well under arms, came an embassy bearing a golden flag, and a gift
+for Cortés, and imploring him to spare Coanaco's territories, and to
+take up his quarters in his capital. Cortés first sternly demanded an
+account of the Spaniards who, while convoying treasure to the coast, had
+been slain by Coanaco just when Cortés himself was retreating to
+Tlascala. The envoys declared at once that the Mexican emperor alone was
+to blame; he had ordered it to be done, and had received the gold and
+the prisoners. They then urged that to give them time to prepare
+suitable accommodation for him, Cortés should not enter Tezcuco until
+the next day; but disregarding this he marched in at once, only to find
+the place deserted, and Coanaco well on his way across the lake to
+Mexico. The general, however, turned this to his own advantage by
+assembling the few persons left in the city, and then and there electing
+a brother of the late sovereign to be ruler in his place, and when a few
+months later he died, he was succeeded by Ixtlilxochitl, son of
+Negahualpilli, who, always a friend of the Spaniards, now became their
+most valuable ally, and by the support of his personal authority and all
+his military resources, did more than any other Aztec chieftain to rivet
+the chains of the strangers round the necks of his own countrymen.
+
+
+THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MEXICO.
+
+The city of Tezcuco, which lay about half a league from the shore of the
+lake, was probably the best position Cortés could have chosen for the
+headquarters of the army. His first care was to strengthen the defences
+of the palace in which they were lodged, and next to employ eight
+thousand Indian labourers in widening a stream, which ran towards the
+lake, so that when the ships arrived they might be put together in
+Tezcuco, and floated safely down to be launched upon it. Meanwhile many
+of the places in the neighbourhood sent in their submission to Cortés,
+and several noble Aztecs fell into his hands. These men he employed to
+bear a message to Guatemozin, in which he deprecated the necessity of
+the present hostilities, and declared himself willing to forget the
+past, inviting the Mexicans by a timely submission to save their capital
+from the horrors of a siege. But every man in Mexico was determined to
+defend it to the uttermost, and this appeal produced no effect. The
+general now turned his attention to securing all the strong places upon
+the lake. Iztapalapan was the first; the attacking party, after a sharp
+struggle, succeeded in entering the town; many of the inhabitants fled
+in their canoes, but those who remained were massacred by the Tlascalans
+in spite of all Cortés could do to restrain them. Darkness set in while
+the soldiers were eagerly loading themselves with plunder; some of the
+houses had been set on fire, and the flames lighted up the scene of ruin
+and desolation. Suddenly a sound was heard as of the rush of the
+incoming tide--and Cortés with great alarm realised that the Indians had
+broken down the dykes, and that before long the low-lying ground upon
+which the town stood would be under water. He hastily called off his men
+and retreated, the soldiers, heavily laden, wading with difficulty
+through the flood which gained fast upon them. As they left the burning
+city behind them they could no longer find their way, and sometimes
+plunged into deep water where many of the allies, unable to swim, were
+carried away and drowned. When morning dawned they were harassed by the
+enemy, who hovered round and discharged volleys of arrows and stones, so
+that it was with no small satisfaction that they presently found
+themselves once more within the walls of Tezcuco. Cortés was greatly
+disappointed at this disastrous end of an expedition which had begun so
+well, but after all the fate of Iztapalapan produced a good effect, and
+many more towns sent to tender their allegiance, amongst others Otumba
+and Chalco, which was a place of great importance. Cortés also managed
+to induce the tribes, who though friendly to him were hostile to one
+another, to forget their feuds and combine against Mexico, and to this
+wise policy he owed much of his future success.
+
+News now came from Tlascala that the ships were ready, and Sandoval was
+despatched with a considerable guard to bring them to Tezcuco. On his
+way he was to stop at Zoltepec, where the massacre of the Spaniards had
+taken place, to find out and punish all who had had a hand in the
+matter; but when they got there the inhabitants had fled. In the
+deserted temples they had the horror of finding many traces of the fate
+of their comrades; for beside their arms and clothing, and the hides of
+their horses, the heads of several soldiers were found suspended as
+trophies of victory; while traced in charcoal upon the wall in one
+building were the words, in the Spanish language, 'In this place the
+unfortunate Juan Juste, with many others of his company, was
+imprisoned.' It was fortunate that the inhabitants had fled, for they
+would have met with but scant mercy from the Spaniards, who were full of
+indignation at the thought of the horrible doom which had overtaken
+their companions. Sandoval now resumed his march to Tlascala, but before
+he could reach it, the convoy appeared transporting the ships through
+the mountain passes. Retaining twenty thousand of the warriors as a
+guard, the Spanish captain dismissed the rest, and after four laborious
+days Cortés and his garrison had the joy of welcoming them safe within
+the walls of Tezcuco. It was not long before the general once more
+sallied forth to reconnoitre the capital, and by the way to chastise
+certain places which had sent him hostile messages. After an exciting
+struggle Xaltocan and three other towns were taken, and a considerable
+quantity of gold and food fell into the hands of the victors. Marching
+on, the general found himself before Tlacopan, through whose streets he
+had hurried in consternation at the end of the night of horror. It was
+his intention to occupy the town, which he did after a sharp fight, just
+before nightfall, and the next morning, seeing the enemy in battle array
+on the open ground before the city, he marched out against them and
+routed them utterly. The Aztecs fled into the town, but were driven
+through its streets at the point of the lance, and compelled once more
+to abandon it, after which the Tlascalans pillaged and set fire to the
+houses, much against the will of Cortés, but they were a fierce race,
+and sometimes dangerous to friends as well as foes. After six days the
+general went back to Tezcuco, and for some time things went on as
+before, with many skirmishes and expeditions against the towns
+garrisoned by the Mexicans. Sandoval took several strongholds which
+threatened the security of Chalco, and all the while the work upon the
+canal was going rapidly forward, and the ships were nearing completion
+in spite of three attempts made by the enemy to burn them. Just at this
+time came the welcome news that three vessels had arrived at Villa Rica,
+with two hundred men on board well provided with arms and ammunition,
+and with seventy or eighty horses, and the new comers soon made their
+way to Tezcuco, for the roads to the port were now safe and open.
+
+In April 1521, Cortés started once more to scour the country with a
+large force, passing quite round the great lakes, and exploring the
+mountain regions to the south of them. Here he came upon Aztec forces
+intrenched in strong towns, often built like eagles' nests upon some
+rocky height, so that to take them was a work of great difficulty and
+danger. Once he found himself before a city which it was absolutely
+necessary to subdue, but he was separated from it by a cleft in the
+solid rock of no great width, but going sheer down thousands of feet.
+The bridges which generally crossed it had been broken down at the
+approach of the Spaniards, and as they stood there, unable to advance,
+the enemy's archers as usual kept up a steady fire, to which they were
+unavoidably exposed. The general sent a party to seek a passage lower
+down, but they met with no success until they came to a spot where two
+large trees, growing one on either side of the ravine, interlaced their
+branches overhead, and by this unsteady and perilous bridge one of the
+Tlascalans ventured to cross. His example was soon followed, and one by
+one about thirty Spaniards and some more of the natives crawled across,
+swinging dizzily above the abyss. Three lost their hold and fell, but
+the rest alighted in safety on the other side and attacked the Aztecs,
+who were as much amazed at their sudden appearance as if they had
+dropped from the clouds. Presently a temporary bridge was contrived by
+which the remainder of the force managed to cross also, and before long
+the town was taken, and the trembling caciques appeared before Cortés,
+throwing the blame of their resistance upon the Mexicans, and promising
+submission for the future.
+
+The general then continued his march across the eastern shoulder of the
+mountain, descending finally upon Xochimilco, which was built partly
+upon the lake like Mexico itself, and was approached by causeways,
+which, however, were of no great length. It was in the first attack upon
+this town that Cortés was as nearly as possible taken prisoner by the
+Aztecs. He had thrown himself into the thick of the fight with his usual
+bravery, and was trying to resist an unexpected rush of the enemy, when
+his horse stumbled and fell, he himself received a severe blow upon the
+head before he could rise, and was seized and dragged off in triumph by
+several Indians. At this moment a Tlascalan saw his danger and sprang
+furiously upon his captors, trying to tear him from their grasp. Two
+Spaniards also rushed to the rescue, and between them the Aztecs were
+forced to quit their hold of the general, who lost no time in regaining
+his saddle, and laying about him with his good sword as vigorously as
+before. After a terrible struggle the enemy was driven out, and Cortés
+took possession of the city. As it was not yet dusk he ascended the
+principal teocalli to reconnoitre the surrounding country, and there
+beheld a sight which could but cause him grave anxiety. The lake was
+covered with rapidly approaching canoes full of warriors, while inland
+Indian squadrons were marching up in dense columns. Xochimilco was but
+four leagues from the capital, and at the first tidings of the arrival
+of the Spaniards, Guatemozin had mustered a strong force and marched to
+its relief. Cortés made all possible preparations for the defence of his
+quarters, but not until the next day did the Mexicans attack him, and
+then the battle raged long and with varying success; but in the end
+Spanish discipline prevailed, and the natives were routed with such
+dreadful slaughter that they made no further attempt to renew the
+conflict. The city yielded a rich hoard of plunder, being well stored
+with gold and feather-work, and many other articles of use or luxury, so
+that when the general mustered his men upon the neighbouring plain
+before resuming his march, many of them came staggering under the weight
+of their spoil. This caused him much uneasiness, since their way would
+be through a hostile country; but seeing that the soldiers were
+determined to keep what they had so hardly won, he contented himself
+with ordering the baggage to be placed in the centre guarded by part of
+the cavalry, and having disposed the rest to the best advantage, they
+once more set forth, at the last moment setting fire to the wooden
+buildings of Xochimilco, which blazed furiously, the glare upon the
+water telling far and wide the fate that had befallen it. Resting here
+and there, and engaging in many skirmishes with the Aztecs who followed
+them up, furious at the sight of the plunder which was being carried
+away by the invaders, the army presently completed the circuit of the
+lakes, and reached Tezcuco, to be greeted with the news that the ships
+were fully rigged and the canal completed, so that there was no longer
+any reason to delay their operations against Mexico.
+
+It was a triumphant moment when the vessels were launched, and reached
+the lake in good order. Cortés saw to their being properly armed and
+manned, and then reviewed the rest of his forces, and summoned his
+native allies to furnish their promised levies at once.
+
+The general's plan of action against Mexico was to send Sandoval with
+one division to take possession of Iztapalapan at the southern end of
+the lake, while Alvarado and Olid were to secure Tlacopan and
+Chapoltepec upon its western shore, and at the latter place destroy the
+aqueduct, and so cut off the supply of fresh water from Mexico. This
+they did successfully, and in several days of fierce fighting breach
+after breach was carried, and the Spaniards penetrated the city as far
+as the great teocalli, driving the natives before them, while the
+Tlascalans in the rear filled up the gaps in the dyke as well as they
+could, and brought up the heavy guns. Cortés and his men now pushed
+their way into the inclosure of the temple, and some of them rushed to
+the top, so lately the scene of their terrible battle, and there found a
+fresh image of the war-god. Tearing away the gold and jewels with which
+it was bedecked, they hurled it and its attendant priests over the side
+of the pyramid, and hastened down to the assistance of their comrades,
+who were by this time in a most perilous position, the Aztecs having
+rallied and attacked them furiously. Indeed it seemed likely to go hard
+with them, for they were driven helplessly back down the great street in
+utter confusion and panic; but the timely arrival of a small body of
+cavalry created a diversion in their favour, and Cortés managed to turn
+them once more and drive the enemy back into the enclosure with much
+loss. As it was by this time evening, he retreated in good order to
+Xoloc. Though this affair caused some consternation among the Mexicans,
+they speedily opened the canals and built up the ramparts again, so that
+when Cortés renewed the attack the whole scene had to be gone through as
+before. When they had once gained the street, however, they found it
+much easier to advance, the Tlascalans having on the last occasion
+pulled down many of the houses on either side. This time Cortés had
+determined to destroy some of the cherished buildings of the Mexicans,
+and began by setting fire to his old quarters, the palace of Axayacatl,
+and then the palace of Montezuma on the other side of the great square.
+The sight so maddened the natives that the Spaniards had some ado to
+make good their retreat, and few reached their camp that night
+unwounded. The Aztec emperor for his part made frequent sallies against
+the Spaniards both by land and upon the lake, sometimes with
+considerable success. At first he managed to obtain supplies of food in
+canoes, under cover of the darkness, but by degrees the large towns on
+the mainland, seeing the Mexicans unable to defend themselves, gave in
+their allegiance to the Spaniards, and then starvation began to be felt
+in the unhappy city. In spite of everything, however, all offers of
+terms from Cortés were steadily refused.
+
+At this juncture, the general was persuaded by some of his officers that
+it would be well for two of the divisions to unite, and occupy the great
+market-place in the heart of the town, and so at a given time they
+marched along their respective causeways and entered the city. Strict
+orders were given by Cortés that as they advanced every opening in the
+causeways should be filled up and made secure. The attack began, and the
+enemy, taken apparently by surprise, gave way and fell back; on rushed
+the Spaniards by every street, eager to reach the appointed meeting
+place. Only the general suspected that the enemy might be purposely
+luring them on to turn upon them when they were hopelessly involved.
+Taking a few men with him, he hastily proceeded to see for himself if
+the way was clear should a retreat become necessary, and found, as he
+had feared, that all had been too eager to be in the front to attend to
+this most important duty. In the first street he traversed was a huge
+gap, twelve feet wide, and at least as many deep, full of water, for it
+connected two canals. A feeble attempt had been made to fill this up
+with beams and rubbish, but it had been left before any good had been
+done. Worse than all Cortés saw that this breach was freshly made, and
+that his officers had probably rushed headlong into a snare laid by the
+enemy. Before his men could do anything towards filling up the trench,
+the distant sounds of the battle changed into an ever-increasing tumult,
+the mingled yells and war cries, and the trampling of many feet grew
+nearer, and at last, to his horror, Cortés beheld his men driven to the
+edge of the fatal gulf, confused, helpless, surrounded by their foes.
+The foremost files were soon hurried over the edge, some trying to swim
+across, some beaten down by the struggles of their comrades, or pierced
+by the darts of the Indians. In vain with outstretched hands did Cortés
+try to rescue his soldiers from death, or worse still from capture; he
+was soon recognised, and six of the enemy tried to seize and drag him
+into a canoe. It was only after a severe struggle, in which he was
+wounded in the leg, that he was rescued by his brave followers. Two were
+killed in the attempt, while another was taken alive as he held the
+general's horse for him to mount. In all, sixty Spaniards were captured
+on this fatal day, and it was only when the rest reached their guns in
+the open space before the causeway that they were able to rally and beat
+back the Aztecs. The other division had fared equally ill, and were
+moreover in great anxiety as to the fate of Cortés, who was reported to
+have been killed. When they once more reached their quarters, Sandoval,
+though badly wounded, rode into the camp of Cortés to learn the truth,
+and had a long and earnest consultation with him over the disaster, and
+what was next to be done. As he returned to his camp he was startled by
+the sound of the great drum on the temple of the war-god, heard only
+once before during the night of horror, and looking up he saw a long
+file of priests and warriors, winding round the terraces of the
+teocalli. As they came out upon the platform at the top he perceived,
+with rage and despair, that his own countrymen were about to be
+sacrificed with the usual ghastly ceremonies. The camp was near enough
+to the city for the white skins of the victims and their unavailing
+struggles to be distinctly seen by their comrades, who were nevertheless
+powerless to help them, and their distress and fury may be imagined.
+
+For five days the horrible scenes went on, the Mexicans feasting,
+singing, and dancing, while their priests predicted that in eight days
+the war-god, appeased by these sacrifices, would overwhelm their enemies
+and deliver them into their hands. These prophecies had a great effect
+upon the native allies of Cortés, who withdrew from him in immense
+numbers. But the general treated their superstition with cheerful
+contempt, and only bargained with the deserters to remain close by and
+see what would happen. When the ninth day came, and the city was still
+seen to be beset on every side, they ceased to believe in the oracle,
+and returned, with their anger against the Mexicans rekindled, and their
+confidence in the Spaniards greatly strengthened. At this time another
+vessel loaded with stores and ammunition touched at Vera Cruz, and her
+cargo was seized and sent on to Cortés by the governor. With his
+strength thus renewed the Spanish general resumed active operations.
+This time not a step was taken in advance without securing the entire
+safety of the army, once and for all, by solidly building up the dykes,
+filling every canal, and pulling down every house, so that slowly and by
+degrees a bare open space was made, which took in more and more of the
+town, till at last the unhappy Aztecs, after many desperate sallies,
+were shut into the portion of the city which lay between the northern
+and western causeways. Here famine and pestilence did their awful work
+unchecked. The ordinary articles of food were long exhausted, and the
+wretched people ate moss, insects, grass, weeds, or the bark of trees.
+They had no fresh water. The dead were unburied, the wounded lay in
+misery, yet all the endeavours of Cortés to induce Guatemozin and his
+chiefs to submit were useless. Though the two divisions of the army had
+proceeded with their work of destruction until they could join their
+forces, and seven-eighths of the city lay in ruins, though the banner of
+Castile floated undisturbed from the smouldering remains of the
+sanctuary on the teocalli of the war-god, still the Aztecs defied the
+conquerors, and fiercely rejected their overtures of peace.
+
+Hundreds of famishing wretches died every day, and lay where they fell,
+for there was no one to bury them. Familiarity with the spectacle made
+men indifferent to it. They looked on in dumb despair waiting for their
+own turn to come. There was no complaint or lamentation, but deep,
+unutterable woe. In the midst of this appalling misery Guatemozin
+remained calm and courageous, and as firmly resolved not to capitulate
+as at the beginning of the siege. It is even said that when Cortés
+persuaded a noble Aztec prisoner to bear his proposals for a treaty to
+the emperor, Guatemozin instantly ordered him to be sacrificed. The
+general, who had suspended hostilities for several days hoping for a
+favourable answer to his message, now resolved to drive him to
+submission by a general assault, and for that purpose led his men across
+the dreary waste of ruins to the narrow quarter of the city into which
+the wretched Mexicans had retreated. But he was met by several chiefs,
+who, holding out their emaciated arms, exclaimed, 'Why do you delay so
+long to put an end to our miseries? Rather kill us at once that we may
+go to our god Huitzilopochtli, who waits to give us rest from our
+sufferings!'
+
+Cortés, moved by the piteous sight, replied that he desired not their
+death but their submission. 'Why does your master refuse to treat with
+me,' he said, 'when in a single hour I can crush him and all his
+people?' Then once more he sent to demand an interview with Guatemozin.
+This time the emperor hesitated, and agreed that next day he would meet
+the Spanish general. Cortés, well satisfied, withdrew his force, and
+next morning presented himself at the appointed place in the great
+square, where a stone platform had been spread with mats and carpets and
+a banquet made ready. But after all Guatemozin, instead of coming
+himself, sent his nobles. Cortés, though greatly disappointed, received
+them courteously, persuading them to partake of the feast he had
+prepared, and dismissing them with a supply of provisions for their
+master and a renewed entreaty that he would next day come in person. But
+though he waited for three hours beyond the time appointed, neither the
+emperor nor his chiefs appeared, and the general heard that the Mexicans
+were preparing to resist an assault. He delayed no longer, but ordering
+Sandoval to support him by bringing up the ships and directing his big
+guns against the houses near the water, he marched at once into the
+enemy's quarters. The Mexicans set up a fierce war-cry, and with their
+usual spirit sent off clouds of arrows and darts; but the struggle soon
+became a hand-to-hand one; and weakened by starvation and hemmed in as
+they were the unhappy Aztecs had no chance against their foes. After a
+scene of indescribable horror, which appalled even the soldiers of
+Cortés, used as they were to war and violence, the Spanish commander
+sounded a retreat and withdrew to his quarters, leaving behind him forty
+thousand corpses and a smouldering ruin. Through the long night that
+followed all was silent in the Mexican quarter. There was neither light
+nor movement. This last blow seemed to have utterly stunned them. They
+had nothing left to hope for. In the Spanish camp, however, all was
+rejoicing at the prospect of a speedy termination to the wearisome
+campaign. The great object of Cortés was now to secure the person of
+Guatemozin, and the next day, which was August 18, 1521, he led his
+forces for the last time across the black and blasted ruin which was all
+that remained of the once beautiful city. In order to give the
+distressed garrison one more chance, he obtained an interview with the
+principal chiefs and reasoned with them about the conduct of their
+emperor.
+
+'Surely,' he said, 'Guatemozin will not see you all perish when he can
+so easily save you.' But when he had with difficulty prevailed upon them
+to urge the king to confer with him, the only answer they could bring
+was that Guatemozin was ready to die where he was, but would hold no
+communication with the Spanish commander. 'Go then,' replied the stern
+conqueror, 'and prepare your countrymen for death. Their last moment is
+come.' Still, however, he postponed the attack for several hours; but
+the troops were impatient at the delay, and a rumour spread that
+Guatemozin was preparing to escape by the lake. It was useless to
+hesitate: the word was given, and the terrible scene that ensued
+repeated the horrors of the day before. While this was going forward on
+shore numbers of canoes pushed off across the lake, most of them only
+to be intercepted and sunk by the Spanish ships, which beat down upon
+them, firing to right and left. Some few, however, under cover of the
+smoke, succeeded in getting into open water. Sandoval had given
+particular orders that his captains should watch any boat that might
+contain Guatemozin, and now two or three large canoes together attracted
+the attention of one named Garci Holguin, who instantly gave chase, and
+with a favourable wind soon overtook the fugitives, though they rowed
+with the energy of despair. As his men levelled their guns at the
+occupants of the boat one rose saying, 'I am Guatemozin; lead me to
+Malinche; I am his prisoner. But let no harm come to my wife and
+followers.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Holguin took them on board, and then requested that the emperor would
+order the people in the other canoes to surrender. 'There is no need,'
+he answered sadly, 'they will fight no longer when they see their prince
+is taken.' And so it was, for when the news of his capture reached the
+shore the Mexicans at once ceased to defend themselves. It seemed as if
+they had only gone on so long to give their sovereign a better chance
+of escape. Cortés, who had taken up his station on the flat roof of one
+of the houses, now sent to command that Guatemozin should be brought
+before him, and he came, escorted by Sandoval and Holguin, who each
+claimed the honour of having captured him. The conqueror, who was, as
+usual, accompanied by the Lady Marina, came forward with dignified
+courtesy to receive his noble prisoner. The Aztec monarch broke the
+silence saying, 'I have done all I could to defend myself and my people.
+I am now reduced to this state. Deal with me, Malinche, as you will.'
+Then laying his hand on a dagger which hung from the belt of Cortés, he
+added, 'Better despatch me at once with this and rid me of life.'
+
+'Fear not,' answered the conqueror. 'You shall be treated with honour.
+You have defended your capital like a brave warrior, and a Spaniard
+knows how to respect valour even in an enemy.' He then sent for the
+queen, who had remained on board the Spanish ship, and after ordering
+that the royal captives should be well cared for and supplied with all
+they needed, he proceeded to dispose of his troops. Olid and Alvarado
+drew off their divisions to their quarters, leaving only a small guard
+in the wasted suburbs of the pestilence stricken city, whilst the
+general himself, with Sandoval and the prisoners, retired to a town at
+the end of the southern causeway. That night a tremendous tempest arose,
+such as the Spaniards had never before witnessed, shaking to its
+foundations all that remained of the city of Mexico. The next day, at
+the request of Guatemozin, the Mexicans were allowed to leave the
+capital, and for three days a mournful train of men, women, and children
+straggled feebly across the causeways, sick and wounded, wasted with
+famine and misery, turning often to take one more look at the spot which
+was once their pleasant home. When they were gone the conquerors took
+possession of the place and purified it as speedily as possible, burying
+the dead and lighting huge bonfires in the deserted streets. The
+treasure of gold and jewels found in it fell far short of the
+expectation of the Spaniards, the Aztecs having probably buried their
+hoards or sunk them in the lake on purpose to disappoint the avarice of
+their enemies. Cortés, therefore, to his eternal disgrace, caused
+Guatemozin to be tortured; but fire and cord could not wring the secret
+of the treasure from this illustrious prince. In later days Cortés
+hanged Guatemozin, on pretence of a conspiracy. Cortés, having no
+further need for his native allies, now dismissed them with presents
+and flattering speeches, and they departed well pleased, loaded with the
+plunder of the Mexican houses, which was despised by the Spanish
+soldiers. Great was the satisfaction of the conquerors at having thus
+brought the long campaign successfully to an end. Cortés celebrated the
+event by a banquet as sumptuous as circumstances would permit, and the
+next day, at the request of Father Olmedo, the whole army took part in a
+solemn service and procession in token of their thankfulness for
+victory.
+
+Thus, after a siege of nearly three months, in which the beleaguered
+Mexicans showed a constancy and courage under their sufferings which is
+unmatched in history, fell the renowned capital of the Aztecs, and with
+its fall the story of the nation comes to an end.
+
+The Aztec empire fell by its own sin. The constant capture of men from
+neighbouring states as victims for sacrifice had caused the Aztecs to be
+hated; thus Cortés obtained the aid of the Tlascalans, but for which
+even his courage and energy would have been of no avail. He deserted
+Marina when she ceased to be useful, and gave her as a wife to one of
+his followers.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[28] In 1121 Bishop Eric left Iceland for Vinland, part of America
+discovered by Leif the Lucky (1000-1002). Bishop Eric was heard of no
+more. Can he have reached the Aztecs, and been regarded as a god?
+
+
+
+
+_ADVENTURES OF BARTHOLOMEW PORTUGUES, A PIRATE_
+
+
+A CERTAIN pirate, born in Portugal, and from the name of his country
+called Bartholomew Portugues, was cruising from Jamaica in his boat (in
+which he had only thirty men and four small guns) near the Cape de
+Corrientes, in the island of Cuba. In this place he met with a great
+ship bound for the Havana, well provided, with twenty great guns and
+threescore and ten men, passengers and mariners. This ship he assaulted,
+but found strongly defended by them that were on board. The pirate
+escaping the first encounter, resolved to attack her more vigorously
+than before, seeing he had sustained no great damage hitherto. This
+resolution he boldly performed, renewing his assaults so often that
+after a long and dangerous fight he became master of the great vessel,
+having lost only ten men, and had four wounded.
+
+Having possessed themselves of such a ship, and the wind being contrary
+for returning into Jamaica, the pirates resolved to steer towards the
+Cape of St. Anthony, on the western side of the isle of Cuba, there to
+repair themselves and take in fresh water, of which they had great
+necessity at the time.
+
+Being now very near the cape above mentioned, they unexpectedly met with
+three great ships that were coming from New Spain, and bound for the
+Havana. By these, not being able to escape, were easily retaken both
+ship and pirates. Thus they were all made prisoners through the sudden
+change of fortune, and found themselves poor, oppressed, and stripped of
+all the riches they had won.
+
+Two days after this misfortune there happened to arise a huge and
+dangerous tempest, which separated the ships one from another. The great
+vessel in which the pirates were arrived at Campeche, where many
+considerable merchants came to salute and welcome the captain. These
+knew the Portuguese pirate as one who had committed innumerable crimes
+upon these coasts, not only murders and robberies, but also lamentable
+burnings, which those of Campeche still preserved very fresh in their
+memory.
+
+The next day after their arrival the magistrates of the city sent
+several of their officers to demand and take into custody the prisoners
+from on board the ship, with intent to punish them according to their
+deserts. Yet fearing lest the captain of the pirates should escape out
+of their hands on shore (as he had formerly done, being once their
+prisoner in the city before), they judged it more convenient to leave
+him safely guarded on board the ship for the present. In the meanwhile
+they caused a gibbet to be erected, whereon to hang him the very next
+day, without any other form of trial than to lead him from the ship to
+the place of punishment.
+
+The rumour of this tragedy was presently brought to the ears of
+Bartholomew Portugues, and he sought all the means he could to escape
+that night. With this design he took two earthen jars, in which the
+Spaniards usually carry wine from Spain to the West Indies, and he
+stopped them very well, intending to use them for swimming, as those who
+are unskilled in that art do a sort of pumpkins in Spain, and in other
+places they use empty bladders. Having made this necessary preparation,
+he waited for the night when all should be asleep, even the sentry that
+guarded him. But seeing he could not escape his vigilance, he secretly
+purchased a knife, and with the same gave him a stab that suddenly
+deprived him of life and the possibility of making any noise. At that
+instant Bartholomew Portugues committed himself to the sea, with those
+two earthen jars before mentioned, and by their help and support, though
+never having learned to swim, he reached the shore. Having landed,
+without any delay he took refuge in the woods, where he hid himself for
+three days without daring to appear, not eating any food but wild herbs.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Those of the city failed not the next day to make diligent search for
+him in the woods, where they concluded him to be. This strict search
+Bartholomew Portugues watched from the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay
+concealed. Seeing them return without finding what they sought for, he
+adventured to sally forth towards the coast of Golfotriste, forty
+leagues distant from the city of Campeche. Here he arrived within a
+fortnight after his escape from the ship, in which time, as also
+afterwards, he endured extreme hunger, thirst, and fear of falling again
+into the hands of the Spaniards. For during all this journey he had no
+provision but a small calabash with a little water: neither did he eat
+anything but a few shellfish, which he found among the rocks nigh the
+seashore. Besides this, he was compelled to pass some rivers, not
+knowing well how to swim. Being in this distress, he found an old board
+which the waves had thrown upon the shore, in which there stuck a few
+great nails. These he took, and with no small labour whetted against a
+stone, until he made them sharp like knives. With these, and no other
+instruments, he cut down some branches of trees, which he joined
+together with twigs and osiers, and as well as he could made a boat, or
+rather a raft, with which he crossed over the rivers. Thus he reached
+the Cape of Golfotriste, as was said before, where he happened to find a
+certain vessel of pirates who wore great comrades of his own, and were
+lately come from Jamaica.
+
+To these pirates he instantly related all his misfortunes, and asked of
+them a boat and twenty men to return to Campeche and assault the ship
+that was in the river, from which he had escaped fourteen days before.
+They readily granted his request, and equipped him a boat with the said
+number of men. With this small company he set forth for the execution of
+his design, which he bravely performed eight days after he separated
+from his comrades; for being arrived at the river of Campeche, with
+undaunted courage he assaulted the ship before mentioned. Those that
+were on board were persuaded that Bartholomew's was a boat from the land
+that came to bring goods, and therefore were not on their defence. So
+the pirates assaulted them without any fear of ill success, and in a
+short space of time compelled the Spaniards to surrender.
+
+Being now masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchor and set
+sail, determining to fly from the port, lest they should be pursued by
+other vessels. This they did with extreme joy, seeing themselves
+possessors of such a brave ship--especially Bartholomew Portugues, their
+captain, who now, by a second turn of fortune's wheel, was become rich
+and powerful again, who had been so lately in that same vessel a poor
+miserable prisoner, and condemned to the gallows. With this plunder he
+designed to do great things, for he had found in the vessel a great
+quantity of rich merchandise. Thus he continued his voyage towards
+Jamaica for four days. But coming nigh to the isle of Pino, on the south
+side of the island of Cuba, fortune suddenly turned her back once more,
+never to show him her countenance again; for a horrible storm arising at
+sea caused the ship to split against the rocks, and it was totally lost,
+and Bartholomew, with his companions, escaped in a canoe.
+
+In this manner he arrived in Jamaica, where he remained but a short
+time, till he was ready to seek his fortune anew. But from that day of
+disaster it was always ill-luck with him.
+
+
+
+
+_THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH FREEBOOTERS_[29]
+
+
+IN January, 1688, the daring band of French pirates who, sometimes
+alone, sometimes in company with English captains, had been cruising in
+the South Seas, resolved to return to St. Domingo with all the treasure
+they had won from the Spaniards. But it was manifest that this return
+would be a matter of great difficulty. They had not one seaworthy vessel
+left in which to set out for a long voyage, and, with forces exhausted
+by the frightful hardships they had gone through in the past years, they
+had to pass through a country peopled by Spaniards--cowardly, indeed,
+but innumerable, and only longing for revenge on the reckless crew that
+had plundered so many of their rich ships and towns. Moreover,
+provisions were scarce among the Spaniards themselves, and it seemed
+likely that the freebooters, in their passage, would find scant
+entertainment. But they were determined to risk everything, and having
+prayed, and sunk their canoes that the Spaniards might make no use of
+them, they set out on their journey. What followed is thus recounted by
+one of their party, Raveneau de Lussan:--
+
+The Spaniards, having been warned of our approach, employed every means
+they could think of for our destruction, burning all the provisions
+before us, setting fire to the prairies we entered, so that we and our
+horses were almost stifled, and continually blocking our way with great
+barricades of trees. About three hundred of them formed themselves into
+a kind of escort, and morning and evening diverted us with the sound of
+trumpets, but never dared to show their faces.
+
+A detachment of our men were always set to fire into woods and thickets,
+to find out if a Spanish ambush were concealed there. On January 9 we
+reached an opening in the forest where we could see a good way before
+us, and therefore did not fire. But we had been looking in front for
+what was really on both sides of us, for in the bushes right and left
+the Spaniards were crouching, and presently they let fly on us so
+suddenly that only half the guard had time to fire back, and two of our
+men were killed on the spot.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+On the 10th we found another ambush, where we surprised our enemies, who
+took to flight, abandoning their horses, which became our property.
+
+On the 11th, as we drew near Segovia, we found yet another ambuscade,
+which we forced to retire, and passed into the town, ready to fight our
+best--for we thought that here the Spaniards might make a great effort
+to expel us. But they only discharged their muskets at us now and then
+from the shelter of the pine-wood above the town, into which they had
+fled. But we found nothing to eat, for they had burned all the
+provisions.
+
+On the 13th, having left Segovia, we climbed a hill which looked like a
+good place to camp, and we saw opposite us, on a mountain slope from
+which only a narrow valley divided us, twelve to fifteen hundred horses,
+which for some time we took for cattle pasturing there. Rejoicing in the
+prospect of good cheer, we sent forty men to make sure, and when they
+came back they told us that what we had taken for cattle were horses,
+ready saddled, and that in the same place they had found three
+intrenchments a pistol shot from each other, which, rising by degrees to
+about the middle of the mountain slope, entirely barred the way which we
+meant to travel the next day. These intrenchments commanded the river
+which ran the length of the valley, into which it was absolutely
+necessary for us to descend, there being no other way. They saw a man
+who, having discovered them, threatened them with a bare cutlass.
+
+This grievous news was a bitter disappointment to us, especially the
+loss of our supposed cows, for we were perishing with hunger. But we had
+to take courage and find out how to leave this place--and without delay,
+for the Spaniards, who were assembling from all the country round, would
+fall upon our little troop, which must be overwhelmed, if we waited for
+them. The means were not easy to find, and perhaps escape would have
+seemed impossible, except to our reckless band, who had hitherto
+succeeded in nearly all our exploits. But ten thousand men could not
+have crossed that guarded valley without being cut off entirely, both by
+reason of the number of the Spaniards and the position they occupied.
+
+Men alone could have gone round without crossing the valley, but we
+could find no way round for the horses and baggage. For the country on
+each side was nothing but a thick forest, without the trace of a path,
+all precipices and ravines, and choked with a multitude of fallen trees.
+And even had we found a way of escape through so many obstacles, it was
+indispensable to fight the Spaniards sooner or later, if they were ever
+to let us alone!
+
+There was only one thing to be done--to cross these woods, rocks, and
+mountains, however inaccessible they seemed, and surprise our enemies,
+taking advantage of the place by coming upon them from above, where they
+certainly would not expect us. As to our prisoners, horses, and baggage,
+since through all our march a troop of three hundred Spaniards had been
+dogging our steps without daring to approach, we would leave eighty men
+to guard them--enough to beat four times as many Spaniards.
+
+At nightfall we set out, leaving our eighty men, with orders to the
+sentinels to fire and beat the retreat and the diane at the usual times,
+to make the three hundred Spaniards who lurked near us think that we had
+not left the camp. If we were successful we would send back messengers
+with the good news, but if, an hour after the firing ended, none of us
+returned, they were to escape how they could.
+
+All being arranged, we prayed in a low voice, not to be heard by the
+Spaniards, and set out by the moonlight, two hundred men of us, through
+this country of rocks, woods, and frightful precipices, where we went
+leaping and climbing, our feet seeming to be much less use to us than
+our hands and knees.
+
+On the 14th, at the break of day, when we had already gained a great
+height, and were climbing on in profound silence, with the Spanish
+intrenchments to our left, we saw a sentry party, which, thanks to the
+fog--always thick in this country till ten o'clock in the morning--did
+not discover us. When it had passed we went straight to the place where
+we had seen it, and we found that there was really a road there. This,
+when we had halted half an hour to take breath, we followed, guided by
+the voices of the Spaniards, who were at matins. But we had only gone a
+few steps when we found two sentinels, very far advanced, on whom we
+were forced to fire, which warned the Spaniards, who dreamed of nothing
+less than our coming upon them from above, since they only expected us
+from below. So those who guarded the intrenchment--about five hundred
+men--being taken at a disadvantage when they thought they had all the
+advantage on their side, were so terribly frightened that, when we fell
+upon them all at once, they vanished from the place in an instant, and
+escaped into the thick fog.
+
+This unexpected assault so utterly upset their plans that the men in the
+second intrenchment all passed into the lowest one, where they prepared
+to defend themselves. We fought them a whole hour, under cover of the
+first intrenchment, which we had taken, and which commanded them, being
+higher up the mountain side. But as they would not yield we fancied our
+shots must have missed, since the fog hindered us from seeing our foes
+distinctly, so, resolved to waste no more powder, we went down, and fell
+right on the spot whence they had been firing. Then we assailed them
+furiously, and at sight of our weapons close upon them--which hitherto
+the fog had concealed--they left everything, and fled into the road
+below the intrenchments. Here they fell into their own trap; for,
+thinking it was the only road we could possibly come by, they had cut
+down trees and blocked it up, and their way being stopped, we could fire
+upon them from their intrenchment without once missing aim.
+
+At last, seeing the river in the ravine running down with blood, and
+tired of pursuing the fugitives, we spared the few remaining Spaniards.
+After we had chanted the 'Te Deum,' sixty of us went to tell those left
+in the camp of the victory which Heaven had vouchsafed to us. We found
+them on the point of giving battle to the three hundred Spaniards, who
+had already (on finding out their weakness) sent a message to them by an
+officer to tell them that it was hopeless for them to expect to cross
+the valley, and to offer terms of peace. To which our men replied that
+were there as many Spaniards as the blades of grass in the prairie they
+would not be afraid, but would pass through in spite of them, and go
+where they liked!
+
+The officer, being just dismissed with this message when we arrived,
+shrugged his shoulders with astonishment when he saw us safe back again,
+and mounted on the horses of his comrades of the intrenchments. He rode
+off with the news to his troop, whom we presently fired upon, to rid
+them altogether from their desire to follow in our wake. Unfortunately
+for them they had not time to mount their horses, so after a brief
+conflict, in which a great number of them fell, we let the rest go,
+though we kept their horses. Then, with our baggage, we joined those of
+our men who had stayed to guard the intrenchments. In both these combats
+we had only two men slain and four wounded.
+
+Continuing our journey, we passed one more Spanish intrenchment, where,
+since the news of our victory had gone before us, we found no
+resistance. At last, on the sixteenth day of our march, we reached the
+river which we had been seeking eagerly, by whose means we meant to gain
+the sea into which it flowed.
+
+At once we entered the woods which are on its banks, and everyone set to
+work in good earnest to cut down trees, in order to construct
+_piperies_, with which to descend the river. The reader may perhaps
+imagine that these piperies were some kind of comfortable boat to carry
+us pleasantly along the stream, but they were anything but this. We
+joined together four or five trunks of a kind of tree with light
+floating wood, merely stripping off their bark, and binding them,
+instead of cord, with a climbing plant growing in those forests, and
+embracing the trees like ivy, and when these structures, each large
+enough to hold two men (and in appearance something like huge wicker
+baskets) were completed, vessels and crew were ready.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The safest plan was to stand upright in them, armed with long poles to
+push them off from the rocks, against which the fierce current every
+moment threatened to dash them. As it was, they sank two or three feet
+deep in the water, so that we were nearly always immersed up to our
+waists.
+
+This river rises in the mountains of Segovia, and falls into the sea at
+Cape Gracia á Dios, after having flowed for a long distance, with
+frightful rapidity, among an infinite number of huge rocks, and between
+the most terrible precipices imaginable. We had to pass more than a
+hundred cataracts great and small, and there were three which the most
+daring of us could not look at without turning giddy with fear, when we
+saw and heard the water plunging from such a height into those horrible
+gulfs. Everything was so fearful that only those who have experienced
+it can imagine it; as for me, though I shall all my life have my memory
+full of pictures of the perils of that voyage, it would be impossible
+for me to give any idea of it which would not be far below the reality.
+
+We let ourselves go with the current, so rapid that often, in spite of
+our resistance, it bore us into foaming whirlpools, where we were
+engulfed with our pieces of wood. But happily before the greatest
+cataracts, and also just beyond them, there was a basin of calm water,
+which made it possible for us to gain the bank, drawing our piperies
+after us. Then, taking out of them whatever valuables we had there, we
+descended with these, leaping from rock to rock till we had reached the
+foot of the cataract. Then one of us would return and throw the
+piperies, which we had left behind, down into the flood--and we below
+caught them as they descended. Sometimes, indeed, we failed to catch
+them, and had to make new ones.
+
+When we first set out we voyaged all together, that in case of accident
+we might come to each other's aid. But in three days, being out of all
+danger of the Spaniards, we began to travel separately, since a piperie
+dashed against the rocks had often been prevented from freeing itself by
+other piperies which the current hurled against it. It was arranged for
+those who descended first, when they came to an especially dangerous
+rapid, to hoist a little flag at the end of a stick, not to warn those
+behind of the cataract, since they could hear it nearly a league away,
+but to mark the side on which they ought to land. This plan saved a
+number of lives, nevertheless many others were lost.
+
+The bananas which we found on the river bank were almost our only
+nourishment, and saved us from dying of hunger; for, though there was
+plenty of game, our powder and weapons were all wet and spoiled, so that
+we could not hunt.
+
+Some days after we had begun to descend the river, as we were travelling
+separate, several freebooters who had lost all their spoils in gambling
+were guilty of most cruel treachery. Having gone in advance, these
+villains concealed themselves behind some rocks commanding the river, in
+front of which we all had to pass, and as everyone was looking after
+himself, and we descended unsuspiciously, at some distance from each
+other--for the reasons already given--they had time to fix upon and to
+massacre five Englishmen, who possessed greater shares of booty than the
+rest of us. They were completely plundered by these assassins, and my
+companion and I found their dead bodies on the shore. At night, when we
+were encamped on the river bank, I reported what we had seen, and the
+story was confirmed both by the absence of the dead Englishmen and of
+their murderers, who dared not come back to us, and whom we never saw
+again.
+
+On the 20th of February we found the river much wider, and there were no
+more cataracts. When we had descended some leagues further it was very
+fine, and the current was gentle, and seeing that the worst of our
+perils were over, we dispersed into bands of forty each to make canoes,
+in which we might safely complete our voyage down the river.
+
+On the 1st of March, by dint of great diligence, having finished four
+canoes, a hundred and twenty of us embarked, leaving the others, whose
+canoes were still incomplete, to follow.
+
+On the 9th we reached the mouth of the river in safety, and lived there
+among the mulattos and negroes who inhabit the coast, till an English
+boat, touching there, took on board fifty of us, of whom I was one. On
+the 6th of April, without any other accident, we arrived at our
+destination, St. Domingo.
+
+
+          PRINTED BY
+          SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
+          LONDON
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[29] 'The return of the French Freebooters from the South Sea, by the
+mainland, in 1688.' Written by Sieur Raveneau de Lussan, one of the
+party, taken from his _Journal du voyage fait à la Mer du Sud avec les
+filibustiers de l'Amérique en 1684 et années suivantes_. Paris. 1689.
+
+
+
+
+Just published. Crown 8vo. price 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+With 546 Illustrations, including 18 Coloured Plates.
+
+THE OUTDOOR WORLD
+
+OR
+
+_THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S HANDBOOK._
+
+By W. FURNEAUX, F.R.G.S.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+PART I.--ANIMAL LIFE.
+
+          CHAP.
+
+             I. Ponds and Streams.
+
+            II. Insects and Insect Hunting.
+
+           III. The Sea-shore.
+
+            IV. Snails and Slugs.
+
+             V. Spiders, Centipedes, and Millepedes.
+
+            VI. Reptiles and Reptile Hunting.
+
+           VII. British Birds.
+
+          VIII. British Mammals.
+
+
+PART II.--THE VEGETABLE WORLD.
+
+            IX. Sea-weeds.
+
+             X. Fungi.
+
+            XI. Mosses.
+
+           XII. Ferns.
+
+          XIII. Wild Flowers.
+
+           XIV. Grasses.
+
+            XV. Our Forest Trees.
+
+
+PART III.--THE MINERAL WORLD.
+
+           XVI. Minerals and Fossils.
+
+
+
+          London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO.
+          New York: 15 East 16th Street.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Obvious punctuation errors corrected.
+
+The illustration that was originally on page 271 was moved to 269 so
+that it would not interrupt the flow of a paragraph. This was also done
+with the plate originally on page 277. It is now on page 274.
+
+Many and varied were the hyphenations in this text due to the different
+stories. Examples are: battlefield and battle-field, and bodyguard and
+body-guard. These variations were retained.
+
+Page 156, although the original does have "Ireland", possibly "Iceland"
+was meant (within sight of Ireland)
+
+Page 159, "Cortes" changed to "Cortés" (first took Cortés)
+
+Page 237, "slik" changed to "silk" (silk--of rich and)
+
+Page 248, "miles" changed to "feet" (seven thousand feet above)
+
+Page 261, "sacrified" changed to "sacrificed" (reserved to be
+sacrificed)
+
+Page 266, "Atzec" changed to "Aztec" (dismay of the Aztec)
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 27602-8.txt or 27602-8.zip *******
+
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The True Story Book, Edited by Andrew Lang</h1>
+<pre>
+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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: The True Story Book</p>
+<p>Editor: Andrew Lang</p>
+<p>Release Date: December 23, 2008  [eBook #27602]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 328px;">
+<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="328" height="500" alt="Cover" title="" />
+</div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1>THE TRUE STORY BOOK</h1>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p>
+<div class='bbox'>
+<h2>WORKS BY ANDREW LANG.</h2>
+
+
+<div class='hang1'>HOMER AND THE EPIC. Crown 8vo. 9<i>s.</i> <i>net.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>CUSTOM AND MYTH: Studies of Early Usage and
+Belief. With 15 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>BALLADS OF BOOKS. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew Lang</span>.
+Fcp. 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>LETTERS TO DEAD AUTHORS. Fcp. 8vo. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> <i>net.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>BOOKS AND BOOKMEN. With 2 Coloured Plates
+and 17 Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> <i>net.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>OLD FRIENDS. Fcp. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> <i>net.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>LETTERS ON LITERATURE. Fcp. 8vo. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> <i>net.</i>.</div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>GRASS OF PARNASSUS. Fcp. 8vo. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> <i>net.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>ANGLING SKETCHES. With 20 Illustrations by
+W. G. Burn-Murdoch. Crown 8vo. 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew
+Lang</span>. With 8 Plates and 130 Illustrations in the Text by
+H. J. Ford and G. P. Jacomb Hood. Crown 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE RED FAIRY BOOK. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew Lang</span>.
+With 4 Plates and 96 Illustrations in the Text by H. J. Ford
+and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew
+Lang</span>. With 11 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by
+H. J. Ford. Crown 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE BLUE POETRY BOOK. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew
+Lang</span>. With 12 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by
+H. J. Ford and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">School Edition</span>, without Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">Special Edition</span>, printed on Indian paper. With Notes, but
+without Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></div>
+
+<div class='hang1'>THE TRUE STORY BOOK. Edited by <span class="smcap">Andrew
+Lang</span>. With Plates and Illustrations in the Text by H. J. Ford,
+Lucien Davis, Lancelot Speed, and L. Bogle. Crown 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></div>
+
+<div class='center'>&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;<br />
+London: LONGMANS, GREEN, &amp; CO.<br />
+New York: 15 East 16th Street.<br /></div></div>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 320px;">
+<img src="images/i005.png" width="320" height="500" alt="MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS" title="" />
+<span class="caption">MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS</span>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p>
+<h2>THE</h2>
+
+<h1>TRUE STORY BOOK</h1>
+
+<h3>EDITED BY</h3>
+
+<h2>ANDREW LANG</h2>
+
+<div class='center'><i>With NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS by L. BOGLE,
+LUCIEN DAVIS, H. J. FORD, C. H. M. KERR, and LANCELOT SPEED</i><br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;">
+<img src="images/i006.png" width="300" height="298" alt="Sailing ship" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'><br /><br /><small>LONDON</small>
+LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO<br />
+<small>AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET</small><br />
+1893<br />
+<br />
+<small><i>All rights reserved</i></small><br /></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>DEDICATION</i></h2>
+
+<h3><i>TO FRANCIS McCUNN</i></h3>
+
+
+<div class='poem'>
+<i>You like the things I used to like,</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>The things I'm fond of still,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>The sound of fairy wands that strike</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Men into beasts at will;</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>The cruel stepmother, the fair</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Stepdaughter, kind and leal,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>The bull and bear so debonair,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>The trenchant fairy steel.</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>You love the world where brute and fish</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Converse with man and bird,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>Where dungeons open at a wish,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>And seas dry at a word.</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>That merry world to-day we leave,</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>We list an ower-true tale,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>Of hearts that sore for Charlie grieve,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>When handsome princes fail,</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>Of gallant races overthrown,</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Of dungeons ill to climb,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>There's no such tale of trouble known,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>In all the fairy time.</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>There Montezuma still were king,</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>There Charles would wear the crown,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>And there the Highlanders would ding</i></span><br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span><span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>The Hanoverian down:</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>In Fairyland the Rightful Cause</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Is never long a-winning,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>In Fairyland the fairy laws</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>Are prompt to punish sinning:</i></span><br />
+<br />
+<i>For Fairyland's the land of joy,</i><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>And this the world of pain,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;"><i>So back to Fairyland, my boy,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><i>We'll journey once again!</i></span><br />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p>
+<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+
+
+<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">It</span> is not without diffidence that the editor offers <i>The True
+Story Book</i> to children. We have now given them three
+fairy books, and their very kind and flattering letters to the
+editor prove, not only that they like the three fairy books, but
+that they clamour for more. What disappointment, then, to
+receive a volume full of adventures which actually happened
+to real people! There is not a dragon in the collection, nor
+even a giant; witches, here, play no part, and almost all the
+characters are grown up. On the other hand, if we have no
+fairies, we have princes in plenty, and a sweeter young prince
+than Tearlach (as far as this part of his story goes) the
+editor flatters himself that you shall nowhere find, not in
+Grimm, or Dasent, or Perrault. Still, it cannot be denied
+that true stories are not so good as fairy tales. They do not
+always end happily, and, what is worse, they do remind a
+young student of lessons and schoolrooms. A child may fear
+that he is being taught under a specious pretence of diversion,
+and that learning is being thrust on him under the disguise
+of entertainment. Prince Charlie and Cort&eacute;s may be asked
+about in examinations, whereas no examiner has hitherto set
+questions on 'Blue Beard,' or 'Heart of Ice,' or 'The Red
+Etin of Ireland.' There is, to be honest, no way of getting
+over this difficulty. But the editor vows that he does not
+mean to teach anybody, and he has tried to mix the stories<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span>
+up so much that no clear and consecutive view of history can
+possibly be obtained from them; moreover, when history
+does come in, it is not the kind of history favoured most by
+examiners. They seldom set questions on the conquest of
+Mexico, for example.</div>
+
+<p>That is a very long story, but, to the editor's taste, it is
+simply the best true story in the world, the most unlikely,
+and the most romantic. For who could have supposed that
+the new-found world of the West held all that wealth of
+treasure, emeralds and gold, all those people, so beautiful
+and brave, so courteous and cruel, with their terrible gods,
+hideous human sacrifices, and almost Christian prayers?
+That a handful of Spaniards, themselves mistaken for children
+of a white god, should have crossed the sea, should have
+found a lovely lady, as in a fairy tale, ready to lead them to
+victory, should have planted the cross on the shambles of
+Huitzilopochtli, after that wild battle on the temple crest,
+should have been driven in rout from, and then recaptured,
+the Venice of the West, the lake city of Mexico&mdash;all this is as
+strange, as unlooked for, as any story of adventures in a new
+planet could be. No invention of fights and wanderings in
+Noman's land, no search for the mines of Solomon the king,
+can approach, for strangeness and romance, this tale, which is
+true, and vouched for by Spanish conquerors like Bernal
+Diaz, and by native historians like Ixtlilochitl, and by later
+missionaries like Sahagun. Cort&eacute;s is the great original of
+all treasure-hunters and explorers in fiction, and here no
+feigned tale can be the equal of the real. As Mr. Prescott's
+admirable history is not a book much read by children (nor
+even by 'grown-ups' for that matter), the editor hopes
+children will be pleased to find the 'Adventures in Anahuac'
+in this collection. Miss Edgeworth tells us in <i>Orlandino</i> how
+much the tale delighted the young before Mr. Prescott wrote<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span>
+that excellent narrative of the world's chief adventure. May
+it please still, as it did when the century was young!</p>
+
+<p>The adventures of Prince Charlie are already known, in
+part, to boys and girls who have read the <i>Tales of a Grandfather</i>,
+for pleasure and not as a school book. But here Mrs.
+McCunn has treated of them at greater length and more
+minutely. The source, here, is in these seven brown octavo
+volumes, all written in the closest hand, which are a treasure
+of the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh. The author is Mr.
+Forbes, a bishop of the persecuted Episcopalian Church in
+Scotland. Mr. Forbes collected his information very carefully,
+closely comparing the narratives of the various actors in the
+story. Into the boards of his volumes are fastened a scrap of
+the Prince's tartan waistcoat, a rag from his sprigged calico
+dress, a bit of his brogues&mdash;a twopenny treasure that has been
+wept and prayed over by the faithful. Nobody, in a book for
+children, would have the heart to tell the tale of the Prince's
+later years, of a moody, heart-broken, degraded exile. But,
+in the hills and the isles, bating a little wilfulness and foolhardiness,
+and the affair of the broken punch-bowl, Prince
+Charles is a model for princes and all men, brave, gay, much-enduring,
+good-humoured, kind, royally courteous, and considerate,
+even beyond what may be gathered from this part of
+the book, while the loyalty of the Highlanders (as in the case
+of Mackinnon, flogged nearly to death) was proof against torture
+as well as against gold. It is the Sobieski strain, not the
+Stuart, that we here admire in Prince Charles; it is a piety, a
+loyalty, a goodness like Gordon's that we revere in old Lord
+Pitsligo in another story.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the tales are concerned with fighting, for that is
+the most dramatic part of mortal business. These English
+captives who retake a ship from the Turks, these heroes of
+the <i>Shannon</i> and the <i>Chesapeake</i>, were doubtless good men and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span>
+true in all their lives, but the light of history only falls on
+them in war. The immortal Three Hundred of Thermopyl&aelig;
+would also have been unknown, had they not died, to a man,
+for the sake of the honour of Laced&aelig;mon. The editor conceives
+that it would have been easy to give more 'local colour'
+to the sketch of Thermopyl&aelig;: to have dealt in description of the
+Immortals, drawn from the friezes in Susa, lately discovered
+by French enterprise. But the story is Greek, and the Greeks
+did not tell their stories in that way, but with a simplicity
+almost bald. Yet who dare alter and 'improve' the narrative
+of Herodotus? In another most romantic event, the finding
+of Vineland the Good, by Leif the Lucky, our materials are
+vague with the vagueness of a dream. Later fancy has
+meddled with the truth of the saga. English readers, no
+doubt, best catch the charm of the adventure in Mr. Rudyard
+Kipling's astonishingly imaginative tale called 'The Best Story
+in the World.' For the account of Isandhlwana, and Rorke's
+Drift, 'an ower-true tale,' the editor has to thank his friend
+Mr. Rider Haggard, who was in South Africa at the time of
+the disaster, and who has generously given time and labour to
+the task of ascertaining, as far as it can be ascertained, the
+exact truth of the melancholy, but, finally, not inglorious, business.
+The legend of 'Two Great Cricket Matches' is taken,
+in part, from Lillywhite's scores, and Mr. Robert Lyttelton's
+spirited pages in the 'Badminton' book of Cricket. The second
+match the editor writes of 'as he who saw it,' to quote Caxton
+on Dares Phrygius. These legends prove that a match is
+never lost till it is won.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the True Stories contain, we may surmise, traces
+of the imaginative faculty. The escapes of Benvenuto
+Cellini, of Trenck, and of Casanova must be taken as the
+heroes chose to report them; Benvenuto and Casanova have
+no firm reputation for veracity. Again, the escape of C&aelig;sar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xii]</a></span>
+Borgia is from a version handed down by the great Alexandre
+Dumas, and we may surmise that Alexandre allowed it to
+lose nothing in the telling; he may have 'given it a sword
+and a cocked hat,' as was Sir Walter's wont. About Kaspar
+Hauser's mystery we can hardly speak of 'the truth,' for
+the exact truth will never be known. The depositions of the
+earliest witnesses were not taken at once; some witnesses
+altered their evidence in later years; parts of the records of
+Nuremberg are lost in suspicious circumstances. The Duchess
+of Cleveland's book, <i>Kaspar Hauser</i>, is written in defence of
+her father, Lord Stanhope. The charges against Lord Stanhope,
+that he aided in, or connived at, the slaying of Kaspar,
+because Kaspar was the true heir of the House of Baden&mdash;are
+as childish as they are wicked. But the Duchess hardly allows
+for the difficulties in which we find ourselves if we regard
+Kaspar as absolutely and throughout an impostor. This, however,
+is not the place to discuss an historical mystery; this
+'true story' is told as a romance founded on fact; the hypothesis
+that Kaspar was a son and heir of the house of Baden
+seems, to the editor, to be absolutely devoid of evidence.</p>
+
+<p>To Madame Von Platt Stuart the author owes permission
+to quote the striking adventures of her father, or of her
+uncle, on the flooded Findhorn. The <i>Lays of the Deer
+Forest</i>, which contain this tale in the volume of notes, were
+written by John Sobieski Stuart, and by Charles Edward
+Stuart, and the editor is uncertain as to which of those
+gentlemen was the hero of these perilous crossings of the
+Highland river. Many other good tales, legends, and studies
+of natural history and of Highland manners may be found in
+the <i>Lays of the Deer Forest</i>, apart from the curious interest
+of the poems. On the whole, with certain exceptions, the
+editor has tried to find true stories rather out of the beaten
+paths of history; the narrative of John Tanner, for instance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</a></span>
+is probably true, but the book in which his adventures were
+published is now rather difficult to procure. For 'A Boy
+among the Red Indians,' 'Two Cricket Matches,' 'The
+Spartan Three Hundred,' 'The Finding of Vineland the
+Good,' and 'The Escapes of Lord Pitsligo,' the editor is
+himself responsible, as far as they do not consist of extracts
+from the original sources. Miss May Kendall translated or
+adapted Casanova's escape and the piratical and Algerine tales.
+Mrs. Lang reduced the narrative of the Chevalier Johnstone,
+and did the escapes of C&aelig;sar Borgia, of Trenck, and Cervantes,
+while Miss Blackley renders that of Benvenuto Cellini. Mrs.
+McCunn, as already said, compiled from the sources indicated
+the Adventures of Prince Charles, and she tells the story
+of Grace Darling; the contemporary account is, unluckily,
+rather meagre. Miss Alleyne did 'The Kidnapping of the
+Princes,' Mrs. Plowden the 'Story of Kaspar Hauser.' Miss
+Wright reduced the Adventures of Cort&eacute;s from Prescott,
+and Mr. Rider Haggard has already been mentioned in connection
+with Isandhlwana.</p>
+
+<p>Here the editor leaves <i>The True Story Book</i> to the indulgence
+of children, explaining, once more, that his respect for
+their judgment is very great, and that he would not dream of
+imposing <i>lessons</i> on <i>them</i>, in the shape of a Christmas book.
+No, lessons are one thing, and stories are another. But
+though fiction is undeniably stranger and more attractive
+than truth, yet true stories are also rather attractive and
+strange, now and then. And, after all, we may return once
+more to Fairyland, after this excursion into the actual workaday
+world.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[xv]</a></span></p>
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Book spine and Contents">
+<tr><td align='left'><div class="figcenter" style="width: 88px;">
+<img src="images/ispine.jpg" width="88" height="500" alt="Book spine" title="" />
+</div></td><td align='left'><div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents">
+<tr><td align='left'>&nbsp;</td><td align='left'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>A Boy among the Red Indians</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Casanova's Escape</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Adventures on the Findhorn</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Story of Grace Darling</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The 'Shannon' and the 'Chesapeake'</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Captain Snelgrave and the Pirates</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Spartan Three Hundred</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Prince Charlie's Wanderings</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Two Great Matches</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Story of Kaspar Hauser</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>An Artist's Adventure</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>How Leif the Lucky found Vineland the Good</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Escapes of Cervantes</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Worthy Enterprise of John Foxe</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Baron Trenck</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Adventure of John Rawlins</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Chevalier Johnstone's Escape from Culloden</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Adventures of Lord Pitsligo</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Escape of C&aelig;sar Borgia from the Castle of Medina del Campo</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Kidnapping of the Princes</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Conquest of Montezuma's Empire</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Adventures of Bartholomew Portugues, a Pirate</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Return of the French Freebooters</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_330">330</a></td></tr>
+</table></div></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>PLATES</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Plates">
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Montezuma greets the Spaniards</i></td><td align='right' colspan='2'><i>Frontispiece</i></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Findhorn</i></td><td align='right'><i>To face</i></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Grace Darling</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>'Some of the Pirates .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. had thrown several Buckets of Claret upon him'</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>The Ball hit the Middle Stump</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>He prepared to attack the Sentry</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Montezuma greets the Spaniards</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_269">270</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Cort&eacute;s in the Temple of Huitzilopochtli</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_275">276</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><i>Montezuma assailed by Missiles</i></td><td align='center'>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_296">296</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>A BOY AMONG THE RED INDIANS</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THE earliest event of my life which I distinctly remember (says
+John Tanner) is the death of my mother. This happened when
+I was two years old, and many of the attending circumstances
+made so deep an impression that they are still fresh in my memory.
+I cannot recollect the name of the settlement at which we lived,
+but I have since learned it was on the Kentucky River, at a considerable
+distance from the Ohio.</div>
+
+<p>My father, whose name was John Tanner, was an emigrant
+from Virginia, and had been a clergyman.</p>
+
+<p>When about to start one morning to a village at some distance,
+he gave, as it appeared, a strict charge to my sisters, Agatha
+and Lucy, to send me to school; but this they neglected to do until
+afternoon, and then, as the weather was rainy and unpleasant, I insisted
+on remaining at home. When my father returned at night, and
+found that I had been at home all day, he sent me for a parcel of
+small canes, and flogged me much more severely than I could
+suppose the offence merited. I was displeased with my sisters for
+attributing all the blame to me, when they had neglected even to
+tell me to go to school in the forenoon. From that time, my
+father's house was less like home to me, and I often thought and
+said, 'I wish I could go and live among the Indians.'</p>
+
+<p>One day we went from Cincinnati to the mouth of the Big
+Miami, opposite which we were to settle. Here was some cleared
+land, and one or two log cabins, but they had been deserted on
+account of the Indians. My father rebuilt the cabins, and inclosed
+them with a strong picket. It was early in the spring when we
+arrived at the mouth of the Big Miami, and we were soon engaged
+in preparing a field to plant corn. I think it was not more than
+ten days after our arrival, when my father told us in the morning,
+that, from the actions of the horses, he perceived there were
+Indians lurking about in the woods, and he said to me, 'John, you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>
+must not go out of the house to-day.' After giving strict charge to
+my stepmother to let none of the little children go out, he went to
+the field, with the negroes, and my elder brother, to drop corn.</p>
+
+<p>Three little children, besides myself, were left in the house with
+my stepmother. To prevent me from going out, my stepmother
+required me to take care of the little child, then not more than a
+few months old; but as I soon became impatient of confinement, I
+began to pinch my little brother, to make him cry. My mother,
+perceiving his uneasiness, told me to take him in my arms and
+walk about the house; I did so, but continued to pinch him. My
+mother at length took him from me to nurse him. I watched
+my opportunity, and escaped into the yard; thence through a small
+door in the large gate of the wall into the open field. There was a
+walnut-tree at some distance from the house, and near the
+side of the field where I had been in the habit of finding some of
+the last year's nuts. To gain this tree without being seen by my
+father and those in the field, I had to use some precaution. I
+remember perfectly well having seen my father, as I skulked
+towards the tree; he stood in the middle of the field, with his gun
+in his hand, to watch for Indians, while the others were dropping
+corn. As I came near the tree, I thought to myself, 'I wish I
+could see these Indians.' I had partly filled with nuts a straw hat
+which I wore, when I heard a crackling noise behind me; I looked
+round, and saw the Indians; almost at the same instant, I was
+seized by both hands, and dragged off betwixt two. One of them
+took my straw hat, emptied the nuts on the ground, and put it on
+my head. The Indians who seized me were an old man and a
+young one; these were, as I learned subsequently, Manito-o-geezhik,
+and his son Kish-kau-ko.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 389px;">
+<img src="images/i020.png" width="389" height="500" alt="Kish-kau-ko caught his hand" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>After I saw myself firmly seized by both wrists by the two
+Indians, I was not conscious of anything that passed for a considerable
+time. I must have fainted, as I did not cry out, and I
+can remember nothing that happened to me until they threw me
+over a large log, which must have been at a considerable distance
+from the house. The old man I did not now see; I was dragged
+along between Kish-kau-ko and a very short thick man. I had
+probably made some resistance, or done something to irritate this
+last, for he took me a little to one side, and drawing his tomahawk,
+motioned to me to look up. This I plainly understood, from the
+expression of his face, and his manner, to be a direction for me to
+look up for the last time, as he was about to kill me. I did as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>
+directed, but Kish-kau-ko caught his hand as the tomahawk was
+descending, and prevented him from burying it in my brains.
+Loud talking ensued between the two. Kish-kau-ko presently raised
+a yell: the old man and four others answered it by a similar yell,
+and came running up. I have since understood that Kish-kau-ko
+complained to his father that the short man had made an attempt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>
+to kill his little brother, as he called me. The old chief, after reproving
+him, took me by one hand, and Kish-kau-ko by the other
+and dragged me betwixt them, the man who had threatened to
+kill me, and who was now an object of terror to me, being kept at
+some distance. I could perceive, as I retarded them somewhat in
+their retreat, that they were apprehensive of being overtaken; some
+of them were always at some distance from us.</p>
+
+<p>It was about one mile from my father's house to the place
+where they threw me into a hickory-bark canoe, which was concealed
+under the bushes, on the bank of the river. Into this they
+all seven jumped, and immediately crossed the Ohio, landing at the
+mouth of the Big Miami, and on the south side of that river.
+Here they abandoned their canoe, and stuck their paddles in the
+ground, so that they could be seen from the river. At a little
+distance in the woods they had some blankets and provisions concealed;
+they offered me some dry venison and bear's grease, but
+I could not eat. My father's house was plainly to be seen from
+the place where we stood; they pointed at it, looked at me, and
+laughed, but I have never known what they said.</p>
+
+<p>After they had eaten a little, they began to ascend the Miami,
+dragging me along as before.</p>
+
+<p>It must have been early in the spring when we arrived at Sau-ge-nong,
+for I can remember that at this time the leaves were small,
+and the Indians were about planting their corn. They managed to
+make me assist at their labours, partly by signs, and partly by the
+few words of English old Manito-o-geezhik could speak. After
+planting, they all left the village, and went out to hunt and dry
+meat. When they came to their hunting-grounds, they chose a
+place where many deer resorted, and here they began to build a
+long screen like a fence; this they made of green boughs and small
+trees. When they had built a part of it, they showed me how to
+remove the leaves and dry brush from that side of it to which the
+Indians were to come to shoot the deer. In this labour I was
+sometimes assisted by the squaws and children, but at other times
+I was left alone. It now began to be warm weather, and it happened
+one day that, having been left alone, as I was tired and thirsty,
+I fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but when I began to
+awake, I thought I heard someone crying a great way off. Then
+I tried to raise up my head, but could not. Being now more awake,
+I saw my Indian mother and sister standing by me, and perceived
+that my face and head were wet.  The old woman and her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>
+daughter were crying bitterly, but it was some time before I perceived
+that my head was badly cut and bruised. It appears that,
+after I had fallen asleep, Manito-o-geezhik, passing that way, had
+perceived me, had tomahawked me, and thrown me in the bushes;
+and that when he came to his camp he had said to his wife, 'Old
+woman, the boy I brought you is good for nothing; I have killed
+him; you will find him in such a place.' The old woman and her
+daughter having found me, discovered still some signs of life, and
+had stood over me a long time, crying, and pouring cold water on
+my head, when I waked. In a few days I recovered in some
+measure from this hurt, and was again set to work at the screen,
+but I was more careful not to fall asleep; I endeavoured to assist
+them at their labours, and to comply in all instances with their
+directions, but I was notwithstanding treated with great harshness,
+particularly by the old man, and his two sons She-mung and Kwo-tash-e.
+While we remained at the hunting camp, one of them put
+a bridle in my hand, and pointing in a certain direction motioned
+me to go. I went accordingly, supposing he wished me to
+bring a horse: I went and caught the first I could find, and in this
+way I learned to discharge such services as they required of me.</p>
+
+<p>I had been about two years at Sau-ge-nong, when a great council
+was called by the British agents at Mackinac. This council was
+attended by the Sioux, the Winnebagoes, the Menomonees, and
+many remote tribes, as well as by the Ojibbeways, Ottawwaws, &amp;c.
+When old Manito-o-geezhik returned from this council, I soon
+learned that he had met there his kinswoman, Net-no-kwa, who, notwithstanding
+her sex, was then regarded as principal chief of the
+Ottawwaws. This woman had lost her son, of about my age, by death;
+and, having heard of me, she wished to purchase me to supply his place.
+My old Indian mother, the Otter woman, when she heard of this,
+protested vehemently against it. I heard her say, 'My son has
+been dead once, and has been restored to me; I cannot lose him
+again.' But these remonstrances had little influence when
+Net-no-kwa arrived with plenty of whisky and other presents.
+She brought to the lodge first a ten-gallon keg of whisky, blankets,
+tobacco, and other articles of great value. She was perfectly
+acquainted with the dispositions of those with whom she had to
+negotiate. Objections were made to the exchange until the contents
+of the keg had circulated for some time; then an additional
+keg, and a few more presents, completed the bargain, and I was
+transferred to Net-no-kwa. This woman, who was then advanced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>
+in years, was of a more pleasing aspect than my former mother.
+She took me by the hand, after she had completed the negotiation
+with my former possessors, and led me to her own lodge, which
+stood near. Here I soon found I was to be treated more indulgently
+than I had been. She gave me plenty of food, put good
+clothes upon me, and told me to go and play with her own sons.
+We remained but a short time at Sau-ge-nong. She would not
+stop with me at Mackinac, which we passed in the night, but ran
+along to Point St. Ignace, where she hired some Indians to take
+care of me, while she returned to Mackinac by herself, or with one
+or two of her young men. After finishing her business at
+Mackinac, she returned, and, continuing on our journey, we arrived
+in a few days at Shab-a-wy-wy-a-gun.</p>
+
+<p>The husband of Net-no-kwa was an Ojibbeway of Red River,
+called Taw-ga-we-ninne, the hunter. He was seventeen years
+younger than Net-no-kwa, and had turned off a former wife on
+being married to her. Taw-ga-we-ninne was always indulgent and
+kind to me, treating me like an equal, rather than as a dependent.
+When speaking to me, he always called me his son. Indeed, he
+himself was but of secondary importance in the family, as everything
+belonged to Net-no-kwa, and she had the direction in all
+affairs of any moment. She imposed on me, for the first year,
+some tasks. She made me cut wood, bring home game, bring
+water, and perform other services not commonly required of the
+boys of my age; but she treated me invariably with so much kindness
+that I was far more happy and content than I had been in the
+family of Manito-o-geezhik. She sometimes whipped me, as she
+did her own children: but I was not so severely and frequently
+beaten as I had been before.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the spring, Net-no-kwa and her husband, with their
+family, started to go to Mackinac. They left me, as they had
+done before, at Point St. Ignace, as they would not run the risk of
+losing me by suffering me to be seen at Mackinac. On our return,
+after we had gone twenty-five or thirty miles from Point St.
+Ignace, we were detained by contrary winds at a place called
+Me-nau-ko-king, a point running out into the lake. Here we encamped
+with some other Indians, and a party of traders. Pigeons
+were very numerous in the woods, and the boys of my age, and the
+traders, were busy shooting them. I had never killed any game,
+and, indeed, had never in my life discharged a gun. My mother
+had purchased at Mackinac a keg of powder, which, as they thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+it a little damp, was here spread out to dry. Taw-ga-we-ninne
+had a large horseman's pistol; and, finding myself somewhat emboldened
+by his indulgent manner toward me, I requested permission
+to go and try to kill some pigeons with the pistol. My
+request was seconded by Net-no-kwa, who said, 'It is time for our
+son to begin to learn to be a hunter.' Accordingly, my father, as
+I called Taw-ga-we-ninne, loaded the pistol and gave it to me, saying,
+'Go, my son, and if you kill anything with this, you shall
+immediately have a gun and learn to hunt.' Since I have been a
+man, I have been placed in difficult situations; but my anxiety for
+success was never greater than in this, my first essay as a hunter.
+I had not gone far from the camp before I met with pigeons,
+and some of them alighted in the bushes very near me. I cocked
+my pistol, and raised it to my face, bringing the breech almost in
+contact with my nose. Having brought the sight to bear upon the
+pigeon, I pulled trigger, and was in the next instant sensible of a
+humming noise, like that of a stone sent swiftly through the air.
+I found the pistol at the distance of some paces behind me, and
+the pigeon under the tree on which he had been sitting. My face
+was much bruised, and covered with blood. I ran home, carrying
+my pigeon in triumph. My face was speedily bound up; my pistol
+exchanged for a fowling-piece; I was accoutred with a powder-horn,
+and furnished with shot, and allowed to go out after birds.
+One of the young Indians went with me, to observe my manner
+of shooting. I killed three more pigeons in the course of the
+afternoon, and did not discharge my gun once without killing.
+Henceforth I began to be treated with more consideration, and was
+allowed to hunt often, that I might become expert.</p>
+
+<p>Game began to be scarce, and we all suffered from hunger.
+The chief man of our band was called As-sin-ne-boi-nainse (the
+Little Assinneboin), and he now proposed to us all to move, as the
+country where we were was exhausted. The day on which we
+were to commence our removal was fixed upon, but before it
+arrived our necessities became extreme. The evening before the
+day on which we intended to move my mother talked much of all
+our misfortunes and losses, as well as of the urgent distress under
+which we were then labouring. At the usual hour I went to sleep,
+as did all the younger part of the family; but I was wakened
+again by the loud praying and singing of the old woman, who continued
+her devotions through great part of the night. Very early
+on the following morning she called us all to get up, and put on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>
+our moccasins, and be ready to move. She then called Wa-me-gon-a-biew
+to her, and said to him, in rather a low voice, 'My son,
+last night I sung and prayed to the Great Spirit, and when I slept,
+there came to me one like a man, and said to me, "Net-no-kwa,
+to-morrow you shall eat a bear. There is, at a distance from the
+path you are to travel to-morrow, and in such a direction" (which
+she described to him), "a small round meadow, with something like
+a path leading from it; in that path there is a bear." Now, my
+son, I wish you to go to that place, without mentioning to anyone
+what I have said, and you will certainly find the bear, as I have
+described to you.' But the young man, who was not particularly
+dutiful, or apt to regard what his mother said, going out of the
+lodge, spoke sneeringly to the other Indians of the dream. 'The
+old woman,' said he, 'tells me we are to eat a bear to-day; but I
+do not know who is to kill it.' The old woman, hearing him, called
+him in, and reproved him; but she could not prevail upon him to
+go to hunt.</p>
+
+<p>I had my gun with me, and I continued to think of the conversation
+I had heard between my mother and Wa-me-gon-a-biew
+respecting her dream. At length I resolved to go in search of the
+place she had spoken of, and without mentioning to anyone my
+design, I loaded my gun as for a bear, and set off on our back track.
+I soon met a woman belonging to one of the brothers of Taw-ga-we-ninne,
+and of course my aunt. This woman had shown little
+friendship for us, considering us as a burthen upon her husband,
+who sometimes gave something for our support; she had also often
+ridiculed me. She asked me immediately what I was doing on the
+path, and whether I expected to kill Indians, that I came there
+with my gun. I made her no answer; and thinking I must be not
+far from the place where my mother had told Wa-me-gon-a-biew to
+leave the path, I turned off, continuing carefully to regard all the
+directions she had given. At length I found what appeared at
+some former time to have been a pond. It was a small, round,
+open place in the woods, now grown up with grass and small
+bushes. This I thought must be the meadow my mother had
+spoken of; and examining around it, I came to an open space in the
+bushes, where, it is probable, a small brook ran from the meadow;
+but the snow was now so deep that I could see nothing of it. My
+mother had mentioned that, when she saw the bear in her dream,
+she had, at the same time, seen a smoke rising from the ground.
+I was confident this was the place she had indicated, and I watched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+long, expecting to see the smoke; but, wearied at length with waiting,
+I walked a few paces into the open place, resembling a path, when
+I unexpectedly fell up to my middle in the snow. I extricated
+myself without difficulty, and walked on; but, remembering that I
+had heard the Indians speak of killing bears in their holes, it
+occurred to me that it might be a bear's hole into which I had
+fallen, and, looking down into it, I saw the head of a bear lying
+close to the bottom of the hole. I placed the muzzle of my gun
+nearly between his eyes and discharged it. As soon as the smoke
+cleared away, I took a piece of stick and thrust it into the eyes and
+into the wound in the head of the bear, and, being satisfied that he
+was dead, I endeavoured to lift him out of the hole; but being
+unable to do this, I returned home, following the track I had made
+in coming out. As I came near the camp, where the squaws had
+by this time set up the lodges, I met the same woman I had seen
+in going out, and she immediately began again to ridicule me.
+'Have you killed a bear, that you come back so soon, and walk so
+fast?' I thought to myself, 'How does she know that I have killed
+a bear?' But I passed by her without saying anything, and went
+into my mother's lodge. After a few minutes, the old woman said,
+'My son, look in that kettle, and you will find a mouthful of beaver
+meat, which a man gave me since you left us in the morning. You
+must leave half of it for Wa-me-gon-a-biew, who has not yet
+returned from hunting, and has eaten nothing to-day.' I accordingly
+ate the beaver meat, and when I had finished it, observing an
+opportunity when she stood by herself, I stepped up to her, and
+whispered in her ear, 'My mother, I have killed a bear.' 'What do
+you say, my son?' said she. 'I have killed a bear.' 'Are you
+sure you have killed him?' 'Yes.' 'Is he quite dead?' 'Yes.'
+She watched my face for a moment, and then caught me in
+her arms, hugging and kissing me with great earnestness, and
+for a long time. I then told her what my aunt had said
+to me, both going and returning, and this being told to her
+husband when he returned, he not only reproved her for it, but
+gave her a severe flogging. The bear was sent for, and, as being
+the first I had killed, was cooked all together, and the hunters of
+the whole band invited to feast with us, according to the custom
+of the Indians. The same day one of the Crees killed a bear and
+a moose, and gave a large share of the meat to my mother.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 354px;">
+<img src="images/i027.png" width="354" height="400" alt="I pursued until night" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>One winter I hunted for a trader called by the Indians Aneeb,
+which means an elm-tree. As the winter advanced, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+weather became more and more cold, I found it difficult to procure
+as much game as I had been in the habit of supplying, and as was
+wanted by the trader. Early one morning, about mid-winter, I
+started an elk. I pursued until night, and had almost overtaken
+him; but hope and strength failed me at the same time. What
+clothing I had on me, notwithstanding the extreme coldness of the
+weather, was drenched with sweat. It was not long after I turned
+towards home that I felt it stiffening about me. My leggings were
+of cloth, and were torn in pieces in running through the bush. I
+was conscious I was somewhat frozen before I arrived at the place
+where I had left our lodge standing in the morning, and it was now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+midnight. I knew it had been the old woman's intention to move,
+and I knew where she would go; but I had not been informed she
+would go on that day. As I followed on their path, I soon ceased
+to suffer from cold, and felt that sleepy sensation which I knew
+preceded the last stage of weakness in such as die of cold. I redoubled
+my efforts, but with an entire consciousness of the danger
+of my situation; it was with no small difficulty that I could prevent
+myself from lying down. At length I lost all consciousness for
+some time, how long I cannot tell, and, awaking as from a dream,
+I found I had been walking round and round in a small circle not
+more than twenty or twenty-five yards over. After the return of
+my senses, I looked about to try to discover my path, as I had
+missed it; but, while I was looking, I discovered a light at a distance,
+by which I directed my course. Once more, before I reached
+the lodge, I lost my senses; but I did not fall down; if I had, I
+should never have got up again; but I ran round and round in a
+circle as before. When I at last came into the lodge, I immediately
+fell down, but I did not lose myself as before. I can remember
+seeing the thick and sparkling coat of frost on the inside of the
+pukkwi lodge, and hearing my mother say that she had kept a
+large fire in expectation of my arrival; and that she had not thought
+I should have been so long gone in the morning, but that I should
+have known long before night of her having moved. It was a
+month before I was able to go out again, my face, hands, and
+legs having been much frozen.</p>
+
+<p>There is, on the bank of the Little Saskawjewun, a place which
+looks like one the Indians would always choose to encamp at. In
+a bend of the river is a beautiful landing-place, behind it a little plain,
+a thick wood, and a small hill rising abruptly in the rear. But
+with that spot is connected a story of fratricide, a crime so uncommon
+that the spot where it happened is held in detestation, and
+regarded with terror. No Indian will land his canoe, much less
+encamp, at '<i>the place of the two dead men</i>.' They relate that
+many years ago the Indians were encamped here, when a quarrel
+arose between two brothers, having she-she-gwi for totems.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> One
+drew his knife and slew the other; but those of the band who were
+present, looked upon the crime as so horrid that, without hesitation
+or delay, they killed the murderer, and buried them together.</p>
+
+<p>As I approached this spot, I thought much of the story of the
+two brothers, who bore the same totem with myself, and were, as I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+supposed, related to my Indian mother. I had heard it said that,
+if any man encamped near their graves, as some had done soon
+after they were buried, they would be seen to come out of the
+ground, and either re-act the quarrel and the murder, or in some
+other manner so annoy and disturb their visitors that they could
+not sleep. Curiosity was in part my motive, and I wished to be
+able to tell the Indians that <i>I</i> not only stopped, but slept quietly
+at a place which they shunned with so much fear and caution.
+The sun was going down as I arrived; and I pushed my little
+canoe in to the shore, kindled a fire, and, after eating my supper,
+lay down and slept. Very soon I saw the two dead men come and
+sit down by my fire, opposite me. Their eyes were intently fixed
+upon me, but they neither smiled nor said anything. I got up
+and sat opposite them by the fire, and in this situation I awoke.
+The night was dark and gusty, but I saw no men, or heard any
+other sound than that of the wind in the trees. It is likely I fell
+asleep again, for I soon saw the same two men standing below the bank
+of the river, their heads just rising to the level of the ground I had
+made my fire on, and looking at me as before. After a few minutes,
+they rose one after the other, and sat down opposite me; but now
+they were laughing, and pushing at me with sticks, and using
+various methods of annoyance. I endeavoured to speak to them,
+but my voice failed me; I tried to fly, but my feet refused to do
+their office. Throughout the whole night I was in a state of agitation
+and alarm. Among other things which they said to me, one
+of them told me to look at the top of the little hill which stood
+near. I did so, and saw a horse fettered, and standing looking at
+me. 'There, my brother,' said the ghost, 'is a horse which I give
+you to ride on your journey to-morrow; and as you pass here on
+your way home, you can call and leave the horse, and spend
+another night with us.'</p>
+
+<p>At last came the morning, and I was in no small degree pleased
+to find that with the darkness of the night these terrifying visions
+vanished. But my long residence among the Indians, and the
+frequent instances in which I had known the intimations of dreams
+verified, occasioned me to think seriously of the horse the ghost had
+given me. Accordingly I went to the top of the hill, where I discovered
+tracks and other signs, and, following a little distance,
+found a horse, which I knew belonged to the trader I was going to
+see. As several miles travel might be saved by crossing from this
+point on the Little Saskawjewun to the Assinneboin, I left the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+canoe, and, having caught the horse, and put my load upon him,
+led him towards the trading-house, where I arrived next day. In
+all subsequent journeys through this country, I carefully shunned
+'the place of the two dead'; and the account I gave of what I had
+seen and suffered there confirmed the superstitious terrors of the
+Indians.</p>
+
+<p>I was standing by our lodge one evening, when I saw a
+good-looking young woman walking about and smoking. She
+noticed me from time to time, and at last came up and asked me
+to smoke with her. I answered that I never smoked. 'You do
+not wish to touch my pipe; for that reason you will not smoke
+with me.' I took her pipe and smoked a little, though I had not
+been in the habit of smoking before. She remained some time, and
+talked with me, and I began to be pleased with her. After this we
+saw each other often, and I became gradually attached to her.</p>
+
+<p>I mention this because it was to this woman that I was afterwards
+married, and because the commencement of our acquaintance
+was not after the usual manner of the Indians. Among them it
+most commonly happens, even when a young man marries a
+woman of his own band, he has previously had no personal
+acquaintance with her. They have seen each other in the village;
+he has perhaps looked at her in passing, but it is probable they
+have never spoken together. The match is agreed on by the old
+people, and when their intention is made known to the young
+couple, they commonly find, in themselves, no objection to the
+arrangement, as they know, should it prove disagreeable mutually,
+or to either party, it can at any time be broken off.</p>
+
+<p>I now redoubled my diligence in hunting, and commonly came
+home with meat in the early part of the day, at least before night.
+I then dressed myself as handsomely as I could, and walked about
+the village, sometimes blowing the Pe-be-gwun, or flute. For
+some time Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa pretended she was not willing to
+marry me, and it was not, perhaps, until she perceived some abatement
+of ardour on my part that she laid this affected coyness
+entirely aside. For my own part, I found that my anxiety to take
+a wife home to my lodge was rapidly becoming less and less. I
+made several efforts to break off the intercourse, and visit her no
+more; but a lingering inclination was too strong for me. When
+she perceived my growing indifference, she sometimes reproached
+me, and sometimes sought to move me by tears and entreaties; but
+I said nothing to the old woman about bringing her home, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+became daily more and more unwilling to acknowledge her publicly
+as my wife.</p>
+
+<p>About this time I had occasion to go to the trading-house on
+Red River, and I started in company with a half-breed belonging
+to that establishment, who was mounted on a fleet horse. The distance
+we had to travel has since been called by the English settlers
+seventy miles. We rode and went on foot by turns, and the one
+who was on foot kept hold of the horse's tail, and ran. We passed
+over the whole distance in one day. In returning, I was by myself,
+and without a horse, and I made an effort, intending, if possible, to
+accomplish the same journey in one day; but darkness, and
+excessive fatigue, compelled me to stop when I was within about ten
+miles of home.</p>
+
+<p>When I arrived at our lodge, on the following day, I saw Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa
+sitting in my place. As I stopped at the door of
+the lodge, and hesitated to enter, she hung down her head; but
+Net-no-kwa greeted me in a tone somewhat harsher than was
+common for her to use to me. 'Will you turn back from the door
+of the lodge, and put this young woman to shame, who is in all
+respects better than you are? This affair has been of your seeking,
+and not of mine or hers. You have followed her about the village
+heretofore; now you would turn from her, and make her appear
+like one who has attempted to thrust herself in your way.' I was, in
+part, conscious of the justness of Net-no-kwa's reproaches, and in
+part prompted by inclination; I went in and sat down by the side
+of Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa, and thus we became man and wife. Old
+Net-no-kwa had, while I was absent at Red River, without my
+knowledge or consent, made her bargain with the parents of the
+young woman, and brought her home, rightly supposing that it
+would be no difficult matter to reconcile me to the measure. In
+most of the marriages which happen between young persons, the
+parties most interested have less to do than in this case. The
+amount of presents which the parents of a woman expect to receive
+in exchange for her diminishes in proportion to the number of
+husbands she may have had.</p>
+
+<p>I now began to attend to some of the ceremonies of what may
+be called the initiation of warriors, this being the first time I had
+been on a war-party. For the first three times that a man accompanies
+a war-party, the customs of the Indians require some peculiar
+and painful observances, from which old warriors may, if they
+choose, be exempted. The young warrior must constantly paint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+his face black; must wear a cap, or head-dress of some kind; must
+never precede the old warriors, but follow them, stepping in their
+tracks. He must never scratch his head, or any other part of his
+body, with his fingers, but if he is compelled to scratch he must
+use a small stick; the vessel he eats or drinks out of, or the knife
+he uses, must be touched by no other person.</p>
+
+<p>The young warrior, however long and fatiguing the march,
+must neither eat, nor drink, nor sit down by day; if he halts for a
+moment, he must turn his face towards his own country, that the
+Great Spirit may see that it is his wish to return home again.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>It was Tanner's wish to return home again, and after many
+dangerous and disagreeable adventures he did at last, when almost
+an old man, come back to the Whites and tell his history, which, as
+he could not write, was taken down at his dictation.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>CASANOVA'S ESCAPE</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>IN July 1755 Casanova di Seingalt, a Venetian gentleman, who,
+by reason of certain books of magic he possessed, fell under the
+displeasure of the Church, was imprisoned by order of the Inquisition
+in a cell in the ducal palace.</div>
+
+<p>The cell in which he was imprisoned was one of seven called
+'The Leads,' because they were under the palace roof, which was
+covered neither by slates nor bricks, but great heavy sheets of
+lead. They were guarded by archers, and could only be reached
+by passing through the hall of council. The secretary of the Inquisition
+had charge of their key, which the gaoler, after going the
+round of the prisoners, restored to him every morning. Four of the
+cells faced eastward over the palace canal, the other three westward
+over the court. Casanova's was one of the three, and he calculated
+that it was exactly above the private room of the inquisitors.</p>
+
+<p>For many hours after the gaoler first turned the key upon
+Casanova he was left alone in the gloomy cell, not high enough for
+him to stand upright in, and destitute even of a couch. He laid
+aside his silk mantle, his hat adorned with Spanish lace and a
+white plume&mdash;for, when roused from sleep and arrested by the Inquisition,
+he had put on the suit lying ready, in which he intended
+to have gone to a gay entertainment. The heat of the cell was
+extreme: the prisoner leaned his elbows on the ledge of the grating
+which admitted to the cell what light there was, and fell into a
+deep and bitter reverie. Eight hours passed, and then the complete
+solitude in which he was left began to trouble him. Another hour,
+another, and another; but when night really fell, to take Casanova's
+own account,</p>
+
+<p>'I became like a raging madman, stamping, cursing, and uttering
+wild cries. After more than an hour of this furious exercise,
+seeing no one, not hearing the least sign which could have made
+me imagine that anyone was aware of my fury, I stretched myself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+on the ground.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. But my bitter grief and anger, and the hard
+floor on which I lay, did not prevent me from sleeping.</p>
+
+<p>'The midnight bell woke me: I could not believe that I had
+really passed three hours without consciousness of pain. Without
+moving, lying as I was on my left side, I stretched out my right
+hand for my handkerchief, which I remembered was there. Groping
+with my hand&mdash;heavens! suddenly it rested upon <i>another</i> hand,
+icy cold! Terror thrilled me from head to foot, and my hair rose:
+I had never in all my life known such an agony of fear, and would
+never have thought myself capable of it.</p>
+
+<p>'Three or four minutes I passed, not only motionless, but bereft
+of thought; then, recovering my senses, I began to think that
+the hand I touched was imaginary. In that conviction I stretched
+out my arm once more, only to encounter the same hand, which,
+with a cry of horror, I seized, and let go again, drawing back my
+own. I shuddered, but being able to reason by this time, I
+decided that while I slept a corpse had been laid near me&mdash;for I
+was sure there was nothing when I lay down on the floor. But
+whose was the dead body? Some innocent sufferer, perhaps one
+of my own friends, whom they had strangled, and laid there that I
+might find before my eyes when I woke the example of what my
+own fate was to be? That thought made me furious: for the third
+time I approached the hand with my own: I clasped it, and at the
+same instant I tried to rise, to draw this dead body towards me,
+and be certain of the hideous crime. But, as I strove to prop myself
+on my left elbow, the cold hand I was clasping became alive,
+and was withdrawn&mdash;and I knew that instant, to my utter astonishment,
+that I held none other than my own left hand, which,
+lying stiffened on the hard floor, had lost heat and sensation entirely.'</p>
+
+<p>That incident, though comic, did not cheer Casanova, but gave
+him matter for the darkest reflections&mdash;since he saw himself in a
+place where, if the unreal seemed so true, reality might one day
+become a dream. In other words, he feared approaching madness.</p>
+
+<p>But at last came daybreak, and by-and-by the gaoler returned,
+asking the prisoner if he had had time to find out what he would
+like to eat. Casanova was allowed to send for all he needed from
+his own apartments in Venice, but writing-implements, any metal
+instruments whatever, even knife and fork, and the books he mentioned,
+were struck from his list. The inquisitors sent him books
+which they themselves thought suitable, and which drove him, he
+said, to the verge of madness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He was not ill-treated&mdash;having a daily allowance given him to
+buy what food he liked, which was more than he could spend.
+But the loss of liberty soon became insupportable. For months he
+believed that his deliverance was close at hand; but when November
+came, and he saw no prospect of release, he began to form projects of escape. And soon the idea of freeing himself, however wild
+and impossible it seemed, took complete possession of him.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i035.png" width="400" height="453" alt="He began to form projects of escape" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>By-and-by he was allowed half an hour's daily promenade in
+the corridor (galetas) outside his cell&mdash;a dingy, rat-infested place,
+into which old rubbish was apt to drift. One day Casanova noticed
+a piece of black marble on the floor&mdash;polished, an inch thick and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>
+six inches long. He picked it up stealthily, and without any
+definite intention, managed to hide it away in his cell.</p>
+
+<p>Another morning his eyes fell upon a long iron bolt, lying on
+the floor with other old odds and ends, and that also, concealed in
+his dress, he bore into his cell. When left alone, he examined it
+carefully, and realised that if pointed, it would make an excellent
+spontoon. He took the black marble, and after grinding one end
+of the bolt against it for a long while, he saw that he had really
+succeeded in wearing the iron down. For fifteen days he worked,
+till he could hardly stir his right arm, and his shoulder felt almost
+dislocated. But he had made the bolt into a real tool; or, if
+necessary, a weapon, with an excellent point. He hid it in the
+straw of his armchair so carefully that, to find it, one must have
+known that it was there; and then he began to consider what use
+he should make of it.</p>
+
+<p>He was certain that the room underneath was the one in which
+on entering he had seen the secretary of the Inquisition, and which
+was probably opened every morning. A hole once made in the
+floor, he could easily lower himself by a rope made of the sheets
+of his bed, and fastened to one of the bed-posts. He might hide
+under the great table of the tribunal till the door was opened, and
+then make good his escape. It was probable, indeed, that one of
+the archers would mount guard in this room at night; but him
+Casanova resolved to kill with his pointed iron. The great difficulty
+really was that the hole in the floor was not to be made in a
+day, but might be a work of months. And therefore some pretext
+must be found to prevent the archers from sweeping out the cell,
+as they were accustomed to do every morning.</p>
+
+<p>Some days after, alleging no reason, he ordered the archers not
+to sweep. This omission was allowed to pass for several mornings,
+and then the gaoler demanded Casanova's reason. He answered,
+that the dust settled on his lungs, and made him cough, and might
+give him a mortal disease. Laurent, the gaoler, offered to throw
+water on the floor before sweeping it; but Casanova's arguments
+against the dampness of the atmosphere that would result were
+equally ingenious. Laurent's suspicions, however, were roused,
+and one day he ordered the room to be swept most carefully, and
+even lit a candle, and on the pretence of cleanliness, searched the
+cell thoroughly. Casanova seemed indifferent, but the next day,
+having pricked his finger, he showed his handkerchief stained with
+blood, and said that the gaoler's cruelty had brought on so severe a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+cough that he had actually broken a small blood-vessel. A doctor
+was sent for, who took the prisoner's part, and forbade sweeping
+out the cell in future. One great point was gained; but the work
+could not begin yet, owing to the fearful cold. The prisoner would
+have been forced to wear gloves, and the sight of a worn glove
+might have excited suspicion. So he occupied himself with another
+stratagem&mdash;the creation, little by little, of a lamp, for the solace of
+the endless winter nights. One by one, the gaoler himself, unsuspectingly,
+brought the different ingredients: oil was imported in
+salads, wick the prisoner himself made from threads pulled from
+the quilt, and in time the lamp was complete.</p>
+
+<p>The very unwelcome sojourn of a Jewish usurer, like himself
+captive of the Inquisition, in his cell, forced Casanova to delay his
+projects of escape till after Easter, when the Jew was imprisoned
+elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had he left than Casanova, by the light of the lamp
+constructed with so much difficulty, began his task. Drawing his
+bed away, he set to work to bore through the plank underneath,
+gathering the fragments of wood in a napkin&mdash;which the next
+morning he contrived to empty out behind a heap of old cahier books
+in the corridor&mdash;and after six hours' labour, pulling back his bed,
+which concealed all trace of it from the gaoler's eyes.</p>
+
+<p>The first plank was two inches thick; the next day he found
+another plank beneath it, and he pierced this only to find a third
+plank. It was three weeks before he dug out a cavity large enough
+for his purpose in this depth of wood, and his disappointment was
+great when, underneath the planks, he came to a marble pavement
+which resisted his one tool. But he remembered having read of a
+general who had broken with an axe hard stones, which he first
+made brittle by vinegar, and this Casanova possessed. He poured
+a bottle of strong vinegar into the hole, and the next day, whether
+it was the effect of the vinegar or of his stronger resolution, he
+managed to loosen the cement which bound the pieces of marble
+together, and in four hours had destroyed the pavement, and found
+another plank, which, however, he believed to be the last.</p>
+
+<p>At this point his work was once more interrupted by the
+arrival of a fellow prisoner, who only stayed, however, for eight
+days. A more serious delay was caused by the fact that unwittingly
+a part of his work had been just above one of the great beams that
+supported the ceiling, and he was forced to enlarge the hole by one-fourth.
+But at last all was done. Through a hole so thin as to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+quite imperceptible from below he saw the room underneath.
+There was only a thin film of wood to be broken through on the
+night of his escape. For various reasons, he had fixed on the
+night of August 27. But hear his own words:</p>
+
+<p>'On the 25th,' writes Casanova, 'there happened what makes
+me shudder even as I write. Precisely at noon I heard the rattling
+of bolts, a fearful beating of my heart made me think that my last
+moment had come, and I flung myself on my armchair, stupefied.
+Laurent entered, and said gaily:</p>
+
+<p>'"Sir, I have come to bring you good news, on which I congratulate
+you!"</p>
+
+<p>'At first I thought my liberty was to be restored&mdash;I knew no
+other news which <i>could</i> be good; and I saw that I was lost, for
+the discovery of the hole would have undone me. But Laurent
+told me to follow him. I asked him to wait till I got ready.</p>
+
+<p>'"No matter," he said, "you are only going to leave this dismal
+cell for a light one, quite new, where you can see half Venice
+through the two windows; where you can stand upright; where&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>'But I cannot bear to write of it&mdash;I seemed to be dying. I
+implored Laurent to tell the secretary that I thanked the tribunal
+for its mercy, but begged it in Heaven's name to leave me where I
+was. Laurent told me, with a burst of laughter, that I was mad,
+that my present cell was execrable, and that I was to be transferred
+to a delightful one.</p>
+
+<p>'"Come, come, you must obey orders," he exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>'He led me away. I felt a momentary solace in hearing him
+order one of his men to follow with the armchair, where my
+spontoon was still concealed. That was always something! If my
+beautiful hole in the floor, that I had made with such infinite pains,
+could have followed me too&mdash;but that was impossible! My body
+went; my soul stayed behind.</p>
+
+<p>'As soon as Laurent saw me in the fresh cell, he had the armchair
+set down. I flung myself upon it, and he went away, telling
+me that my bed and all my other belongings should be brought to
+me at once.'</p>
+
+<p>For two hours Casanova was left alone in his new cell, utterly
+hopeless, and expecting to be consigned for the rest of his life to
+one of the palace dungeons, from which no escape could be possible.
+Then the gaoler returned, almost mad with rage, and demanded
+the axe and all the instruments which the prisoner must have employed
+in penetrating the marble pavement.  Calmly, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+stirring, Casanova told him that he did not know what he was
+talking about, but that, if he <i>had</i> procured tools, it could only
+have been from Laurent himself, who alone had entrance to the cell.</p>
+
+<p>Such a reply did not soften the gaoler's anger, and for some
+time Casanova was very badly treated. Everything was searched;
+but his tool had been so cleverly concealed that Laurent never
+found it. Fortunately it was the gaoler's interest not to let the
+tribunal know of the discovery he had made. He had the floor of
+the cell mended without the knowledge of the secretary of the
+Inquisition, and when this was done, and he found himself secure
+from blame, Casanova had little difficulty in making peace with
+him, and even told him the secret of the lamp's construction.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, out of the tribunal's allowance to the prisoner
+enough was always left, after he had provided for his own needs,
+for a gift&mdash;or bribe, to the gaoler. But Laurent did not relax his
+vigilance, and every morning one of the archers went round the
+cell with an iron bar, giving blows to walls and floor, to assure
+himself that there was nothing broken. But he never struck the
+ceiling, a fact which Casanova resolved to turn to account at the
+first opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>One day the prisoner ordered his gaoler to buy him a particular
+book, and Laurent, objecting to an expense which seemed to him
+quite needless, offered to borrow him a book of one of the other
+prisoners, in exchange for one of his own. Here at last was an
+opportunity. Casanova chose a volume out of his small library,
+and gave it to the gaoler, who returned in a few minutes with a
+Latin book belonging to one of the other prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Pen and ink were forbidden, but in this book Casanova found a
+fragment of paper; and he contrived, with the nail of his little
+finger, dipped in mulberry juice, to write on it a list of his library&mdash;and
+returned the volume, asking for a second. The second came,
+and in it a short letter in Latin. The correspondence between the
+prisoners had really begun.</p>
+
+<p>The writer of the Latin letter was the monk Balbi, imprisoned
+in the Leads with a companion, Count Andr&eacute; Asquin. He
+followed it by a much longer one, giving the history of his own life,
+and all that he knew of his fellow-prisoners. Casanova formed a
+very poor opinion of Father Balbi's character from his letters; but
+assistance of some kind he must have, since the gaoler must needs
+discover any attempt to break through the ceiling, unless that
+attempt was made from above. But Casanova soon thought of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+a plan by which Balbi could break through <i>his</i> ceiling, undiscovered.</p>
+
+<p>'I wrote to him,' he relates, 'that I would find some means of
+sending him an instrument with which he could break through the
+roof of his cell, and having climbed upon it, go to the wall
+separating his roof from mine. Breaking through that, he would
+find himself on <i>my</i> roof, which also must be broken through.
+That done, I would leave my cell, and he, the Count, and I
+together, would manage to raise one of the great leaden squares
+that formed the highest palace roof. Once outside <i>that</i>, I would
+be answerable for the rest.</p>
+
+<p>'But first he must tell the gaoler to buy him forty or fifty
+pictures of saints, and by way of proving his piety, he must cover
+his walls and ceiling with these, putting the largest on the ceiling.
+When he had done this, I would tell him more.</p>
+
+<p>'I next ordered Laurent to buy me the new folio Bible that was
+just printed; for I fancied its great size might enable me to conceal
+my tool there, and so send it to the monk. But when I saw it, I
+became gloomy&mdash;the bolt was two inches longer than the Bible.
+The monk wrote to me that the cell was already covered according
+to my direction, and hoped I would lend him the great Bible which
+Laurent told him I had bought. But I replied that for three or
+four days I needed it myself.</p>
+
+<p>'At last I hit upon a device. I told Laurent that on Michaelmas
+Day I wanted two dishes of macaroni, and one of these must be
+the largest dish he had, for I meant to season it, and send it, with
+my compliments, to the worthy gentleman who had lent me books.
+Laurent would bring me the butter and the Parmesan cheese, but I
+myself should add them to the boiling macaroni.</p>
+
+<p>'I wrote to the monk preparing him for what was to happen, and
+on St. Michael's Day all came about as I expected. I had hidden
+the bolt in the great Bible, wrapped in paper, one inch of it showing
+on each side. I prepared the cheese and butter; and in due time
+Laurent brought me in the boiling macaroni and the great dish.
+Mixing my ingredients, I filled the dish so full that the butter
+nearly ran over the edge, and then I placed it carefully on the
+Bible, and put that, with the dish resting on it, into Laurent's
+hand, warning him not to spill a drop. All his caution was
+necessary: he went away with his eyes fixed on his burden, lest
+the butter should run over; and the Bible, with the bolt projecting
+from it, were covered, and more than covered, by the huge dish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+His one care was to hold that steady, and I saw that I had
+succeeded. Presently he came back to tell me that not a drop of
+butter had been spilt.'</p>
+
+<p>Father Balbi next began his work, detaching from the roof one
+large picture, which he regularly put back in the same place to
+conceal the hole. In eight days he had made his way through the
+roof, and attacked the wall. This was harder work, but at last he
+had removed six and twenty bricks, and could pass through to
+Casanova's roof. This he was obliged to work at very carefully, lest
+any fracture should appear visible below.</p>
+
+<p>One Monday, as Father Balbi was busy at the roof, Casanova
+suddenly heard the sound of opening doors. It was a terrible
+moment, but he had time to give the alarm signal, two quick
+blows on the ceiling. Then Laurent entered, bringing another
+prisoner, an ugly, ill-dressed little man of fifty, in a black wig, who
+looked like what he was, a spy of the Inquisition.</p>
+
+<p>Casanova soon learned the history of Soradici&mdash;for this was the
+spy's name&mdash;and when his new companion was asleep he wrote to
+Balbi the account of what had happened. For the present, evidently
+the work must be given up, no confidence whatever could
+be placed in Soradici. Yet soon Casanova thought of a plan of
+making use even of this traitor.</p>
+
+<p>First he ordered Laurent to buy him an image of the Virgin
+Mary, holy water, and a crucifix. Next he wrote two letters,
+addressed to friends in Venice&mdash;letters in which he made no complaint,
+but spoke of the benevolence of the Inquisition, and the
+blessing that his trials had been to him. These letters, which, even
+if they reached the hands of the secretary, could do him no possible
+harm, he entrusted to Soradici, in case he should soon be set free;
+exacting the spy's solemn oath, on the crucifix and the image of the
+Virgin, not to betray him, but to give the letters to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>Soradici took the oath required of him, and sewed the letters
+into his vest. None the less, Casanova felt confident that he would be
+betrayed, and this was exactly what happened. Two days after the
+spy was sent for to the secretary, and when he returned to the cell,
+his companion soon discovered that he had given up the letters.</p>
+
+<p>Casanova affected the utmost anguish and despair. He flung
+himself down before the image of the Virgin, and demanded vengeance
+on the monster who had ruined him by breaking so solemn
+a pledge. Then he lay down with his face to the wall, and for the
+whole day uttered no single word to the spy, who, terrified at his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>
+companion's prayer for vengeance, entreated his forgiveness. But
+when the spy slept he wrote to Father Balbi and told him to go on
+with his work the next day, beginning at exactly three o'clock, and
+working four hours.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, after the gaoler had left them, bearing with him
+the book of Father Balbi in which the prisoner's letter was concealed,
+Casanova called his companion. The spy, by this time, was
+really ill with terror; for he believed that he had provoked the
+wrath of the Virgin Mary by breaking his oath. He was ready to
+do anything his companion told him to do, and weak enough to
+credit any falsehood.</p>
+
+<p>Casanova put on a look of inspiration, and said:</p>
+
+<p>'Learn that at break of day the Holy Virgin appeared to me, and
+commanded me to forgive you. You shall not die. The grief that
+your treachery caused me made me pass all the night sleepless,
+since I knew that the letters you had given to the secretary would
+prove my ruin&mdash;and my one consolation was to believe that in three
+days I should see you die in this very cell. But though my mind
+was full of my revenge&mdash;unworthy of a Christian&mdash;at break of day
+the image of the Blessed Virgin that you see moved, opened her
+lips, and said: "Soradici is under my protection: I would have
+you pardon him. In reward of your generosity I will send one of
+my angels in figure of a man, who shall descend from heaven to
+break the roof of the cell, and in five or six days to release you.
+To-day this angel will begin his work at three o'clock, and will
+work till half an hour before the sun sets, for he must return to me
+by daylight. When you escape you will take Soradici with you,
+and you will take care of him all his life, on condition that he quits
+the profession of a spy for ever." With these words the Blessed
+Virgin disappeared.'</p>
+
+<p>At first even the spy's credulity would hardly be persuaded that
+Casanova had not dreamed; but when at the appointed hour the
+sound of the angel working in the roof was really to be heard, when
+it lasted four hours, and ceased again as foretold, all his doubt vanished,
+and he was ready to follow Casanova blindly. The thought
+of once more betraying him never entered his mind; he believed
+that the Blessed Virgin herself was on the side of his companion.</p>
+
+<p>The angel would appear, Casanova told him, on the evening of
+October 31. And at the hour appointed Father Balbi, not looking
+in the least like an angel, came feet foremost through the ceiling.
+Casanova embraced him, left him to guard the spy, and himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+ascending through the roof, crossed over into the other cell and
+greeted the monk's fellow-prisoner, Count Andr&eacute;, who had all this
+time kept their secret, but, being old and infirm, had no desire to fly
+with them.</p>
+
+<p>The next thing was to return into the garret above the two cells,
+and set to work to break through the palace roof itself. Most of
+this task fell to Casanova, till he reached the great sheet of lead surmounting
+the planks, and there the monk's help was necessary.
+Uniting their strength, they raised it till an opening was made wide
+enough to pass through. But outside the moonlight was too strong,
+and they would have been seen from below had they ventured on
+the roof. They returned into the cell and waited. Casanova had
+made strong ropes by tying together sheets, towels, and whatever
+else would serve. Now, since there was nothing to be done till the
+moon sank, he sat down and wrote a courteous letter to the Inquisition,
+explaining his reasons for attempting to escape.</p>
+
+<p>The spy, too cowardly to risk his life in so daring a venture, and
+beginning to see that he had been imposed upon, begged Casanova
+on his knees to leave him behind, praying for the fugitives&mdash;and
+this Casanova was thankful to do, for Soradici could only have encumbered
+him. Father Balbi, though for the last hour he had been
+heaping reproaches on his friend's rashness, was less of a coward
+than the spy, and as the time had come to start he followed
+Casanova. They crept out on the roof, and began cautiously to
+ascend it. Half-way up the monk begged his companion to stop,
+saying that he had lost one of the packages tied round his neck.</p>
+
+<p>'Was it the package of cord?' asked Casanova.</p>
+
+<p>'No,' replied the monk, 'but a black coat, and a very precious
+manuscript.'</p>
+
+<p>'Then,' said Casanova, resisting a sudden temptation to throw
+Balbi after his packet, 'you must be patient, and come along.'</p>
+
+<p>The monk sighed, and followed. Soon they had reached the
+highest point of the roof, and here Balbi contrived to lose his hat,
+which rolled down the roof, failed to lodge in the gutter, and fell
+into the canal below. The poor fellow grew desperate, and said it was
+a bad omen. Casanova soothed him, and left him seated where he
+was, while he himself went to investigate, his faithful tool in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>Now fresh difficulties began. For a long time Casanova could
+find no way of re-entering the palace, except into the cell they had
+quitted. He was growing hopeless, when he saw a skylight, that
+he was sure was too far away from their starting point to belong to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+any of the cells. He made his way to it; it was barred with a fine
+iron grating that needed a file. And Casanova only had one tool!</p>
+
+<p>Sitting on the roof of the skylight, he nearly abandoned himself
+to despair, till the bell striking midnight suddenly roused him. It
+was the first of November: All Saint's Day&mdash;the day on which he
+had long had a curious foreboding that he should recover his liberty.
+Fired with hope, he set his tool to work at the grating, and in a
+quarter of an hour he had wrenched it away entire. He set it
+down by the skylight, and went back for the monk. They regained
+the skylight together.</p>
+
+<p>Casanova let down his companion through the skylight by the
+cord, and found that the floor was so far away that he himself
+dared not risk the leap. And though the cord was still in his
+hands, he had nowhere to fasten it. The monk, inside, could give
+him no help&mdash;and, not knowing what to do, he set out on another
+voyage of discovery.</p>
+
+<p>It was successful, for in a part of the roof which he had not yet
+visited he found a ladder left by some workmen, and long enough
+for his purpose. Indeed, it seemed likely to be too long, for when
+he tried to introduce it into the skylight, it only entered as far as
+the sixth round, and then was stopped by the roof. However, with
+a superhuman effort Casanova, hanging to the roof, below the skylight,
+managed to lift the other end of the ladder, nearly, in the
+action, flinging himself down into the canal. But he had succeeded
+in forcing the ladder farther in, and the rest was comparatively
+easy. He climbed up again to the skylight, lowered the ladder,
+and in another moment was standing by his companion's side.</p>
+
+<p>They found themselves in a garret opening into another room,
+well barred and bolted. But just then Casanova was past all
+exertion. He flung himself on the ground, the packet of cord under
+his head, and fell into a sleep of utter exhaustion. It was dawn
+when he was roused at last by the monk's despairing efforts. For
+two hours the latter had been shaking him, and even shouting in
+his ears, without the slightest effect!</p>
+
+<p>Casanova rose, saying:</p>
+
+<p>'This place must have a way out. Let us break everything&mdash;there
+is no time to lose!'</p>
+
+<p>They found, at last, a door, of which Casanova's tool forced the
+lock, and which led them into the room containing the archives
+or records of the Venetian Republic. From this they descended
+a staircase, then another, and so made their way into the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+chancellor's office. Here Casanova found a tool which secretaries
+used to pierce parchment, and which was some little help to them&mdash;for
+he found it impossible to force the lock of the door through
+which they had next to part, and the only way was to break a hole
+in it. Casanova set to work at the part of the door that looked
+most likely to yield, while his companion did what he could with
+the secretary's instrument&mdash;they pushed, rent, tore the wood; the
+noise that they made was alarming, but they were compelled to
+risk it. In half an hour they had made a hole large enough to get
+through. The monk went first, being the thinner; he pulled
+Casanova after him&mdash;dusty, torn, and bleeding, for he had worked
+harder than Father Balbi, who still looked respectable.</p>
+
+<p>They were now in a part of the palace guarded by doors against
+which no possible effort of theirs could have availed. The only way
+was to wait till they were opened, and then take flight. Casanova
+tranquilly changed his tattered garments for a suit which he had
+brought with him, arranged his hair, and made himself look&mdash;except
+for the bandages he had tied round his wounds&mdash;much more
+like a strayed reveller than an escaped prisoner. All this time the
+monk was upbraiding him bitterly, and at last, tired of listening,
+Casanova opened a window, and put out his head, adorned with a
+gay plumed hat. The window looked out upon the palace court,
+and Casanova was seen at once by people walking there. He drew
+back his head, thinking that he had brought destruction upon himself;
+but after all the accident proved fortunate. Those who had
+seen him went immediately to tell the authority who kept the key
+of the hall at the top of the grand staircase, at whose window
+Casanova's head had appeared, that he must unwittingly have shut
+someone in the night before. Such a thing might easily have
+happened, and the keeper of the keys came immediately to see if
+the news were true.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the door opened, and quite at his ease, the keeper
+appeared, key in hand. He looked startled at Casanova's strange
+figure, but the latter, without stopping or uttering a word, passed
+him, and descended the stairs, followed by the frightened monk.
+They did not run, nor did they loiter; Casanova was already, in
+spirit, beyond the confines of the Venetian Republic. Still followed
+by the monk, he reached the water-side, stepped into a gondola,
+and flinging himself down carelessly, promised the rowers more
+than their fare if they would reach Fusina quickly. Soon they
+had left Venice behind them; and a few days after his wonderful
+escape Casanova was in perfect safety beyond Italy.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>ADVENTURES ON THE FINDHORN</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THE following adventures in crossing the Findhorn are extracted
+from 'Lays of the Deer Forest,' by John Sobieski and Charles
+Edward Stuart (London, 1848).</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>I had lost my boat in the last speat; it was the third which
+had been taken away in that year, and, until I obtained another, I
+was obliged to ford the river. I went one day as usual; there was
+a dark bank of cloud lying in the west upon Beann-Drineachain,
+but all the sky above was blue and clear, and the water moderate,
+as I crossed into the forest. I merely wanted a buck, and, therefore,
+only made a short circuit to the edge of Dun-Fhearn, and
+rolled a stone down the steep into the deep, wooded den. As it
+plunged into the burn below, I heard the bound of feet coming up;
+but they were only two small does, and I did not 'speak' to them,
+but amused myself with watching their uneasiness and surprise as
+they perked into the bosky gorge, down which the stone had
+crashed like a nine-pounder; and, as their white targets jinked
+over the brae, I went on to try the western terraces.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 396px;">
+<img src="images/i047.png" width="396" height="500" alt="Throwing a stone" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>There is a smooth dry brae opposite to Logie Cumming, called
+'Braigh Choilich-Choille,'<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> great part of the slope of which is
+covered with a growth of brackens from five to six feet high, mixed
+with large masses of foxgloves, of such luxuriance that the stems
+sometimes rise five from a single root, and more than seven feet
+in height, of which there is often an extent of five feet of
+blossoms, loaded with a succession of magnificent bells. As we
+crossed below this beautiful covert, I observed Dreadnought suddenly
+turn up the wind towards it. I immediately made for the
+crest beyond where the bank rises smooth and open, and whence
+I had a free sweep of the summit and of both sides. I had
+just reached the top when the dog entered the thicket of the ferns,
+and I saw their tall heads stir about twenty yards before him,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+followed by a roar from his deep tongue, and a fine buck bolted up
+the brae. I gave a short whistle to stop him, and immediately he
+stood to listen, but behind a great spruce fir, which then, with
+many others, formed a noble group upon the summit of the terrace.
+The sound of the dog dislodged him in an instant, and he shot out
+through the open glade, when I followed him with the rifle, and
+sent him over on his horns like a wheel down the steep, and splash,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+like a round shot, into the little rill at its foot. We brittled him
+on the knog of an old pine, and rewarded the dog, and drank the
+Dochfalla; when, having occasion to send the piper to the other
+side of the wood, and being so near home, I shouldered the roe,
+and took the way for the ford of Craig-Darach, a strong wide
+broken stream with a very bad bottom, but the nearest then passable.</p>
+
+<p>As I descended the Bruach-gharbh, Dreadnought stopped and
+looked up into a pine, then approaching the tree, searched it all
+round with his nose. I scanned the branches, but could see nothing
+except an old hawk's nest, which had been disused long ago; and
+if it had not, I do not understand how it should be interesting to a
+hound. The dog, however, continued to investigate the stump and
+stem of the fir, gaze into the branches, turning his head from side
+to side, and setting up his ears like a cocked-hat. I laid down the
+buck, and unslung my double gun, and threw a stick at the nest,
+when out shot a large pine-martin, and, like a squirrel, sprung
+along the branches from tree to tree, till I brought him to the
+ground. Dreadnought examined him with a sort of wrinkle in his
+whiskers, and turned away, and sat down in dignified abstraction;
+while I remounted the buck, and braced the martin to his feet with
+the little 'ial-chas,' or foot-straps used for trussing the legs of the
+roe. We then resumed our path for the ford.</p>
+
+<p>As I descended through the Boat-Shaw, I heard a heavy sound
+from the water, but when I came out from the birches upon the green
+bank on its brink, I saw that the river had come down, and was just
+lipping with the top of the stone, the sight of whose head was the
+mark for the last possibility of crossing. As I looked upon its contracting
+ring, I perceived that the stream was still growing; there
+was no time to be lost, for the alternative now was to go round by
+the bridge of Daltulich, a circuit of four miles; and I knew that,
+before I reached the next good ford, the water would be a continuous
+rapid, probably six feet deep: I decided, therefore, upon trying
+the chance where I was. Dreadnought, who had gone about
+thirty yards up the stream to take the deep water in the pool of
+Craig-Darach, had observed my hesitation with one leg out and one
+in the water, and was standing on the point of the rock waiting the
+result. As soon as I made another step he plunged into the river,
+and in a few moments was rolling on the bank of silver sand
+thrown up by the back-water upon the opposite side of the river.
+As I advanced through the stream, he looked at me occasionally,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>
+and I at him, and the beautiful smooth sand and green bank upon
+his side&mdash;for by that time I began to wish I was there too. I was
+then in pretty deep water for a ford, but still some distance from
+the deepest part; my kilt was floating round me in the boiling
+water, and the strong eddy, formed by the stream running against
+my legs, gulped and gushed with increasing weight. I moved
+slowly and carefully, for the whole ford was filled with large round
+slippery stones from the size of a sixty-pound shot to a two-hundredweight
+shell. I stopped to rest, and looked back to the ford mark:
+it was wholly gone, and I saw only the broad smooth wave of water
+which slipped over its head. Ten paces more, and I should be
+through the deepest part. I stepped steadily and rigidly, but I
+wanted the use of my balancing limbs and the freedom of my
+breath; for the barrels of the double gun and rifle, which were
+slung at my back, were passed under my arms to keep them out of
+the water; and I was also obliged to hold the legs of the buck,
+which, loaded with the 'wood-cat,' were crossed upon my breast.
+At every step the round and slidering stones endangered my footing,
+rendered still more unsteady by the upward pressure of the water.
+In this struggle the current gave a great gulp, and a wave splashed
+up over my guns. I staggered downwards with the stream, and
+could not recover a sure footing for several yards. At last I secured
+my hold against a large fixed stone, and paused to rest. After a
+little I made another effort to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>The water was now running above my belt, and at the first step
+which I made from the stone I found that it deepened abruptly
+before me. I felt that in six inches more that strong stream would
+lift me off my legs; and with great difficulty I gained about two
+yards up the current to ascertain if the depth was continuous, but
+the bottom still shelved before me, and, as I persisted in attempting
+it, I was turned round by the stream, the waves were leaping
+through the deep channel before me, and having no arms to balance
+my steps, I began to think of the bonnie banks on <i>either</i> side the
+river. In this jeopardy poor Dreadnought had not been unconcerned;
+at the first moment of my struggle he had gone down the
+great stony beach which lay before me, and, sitting down by the
+water, watched me with great anxiety, and at last began to whine,
+and whimper, and tremble with agitation. But when he saw me
+stagger down the stream, he rose, went in up to his knees, howled,
+pawed the water, and lapped the waves with impatience. Meanwhile
+I was obliged to come to a rest, with my left foot planted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+strongly against a stone, for the mere resistance to the pressure of
+water, which, rushing with a white foam from my side, was sufficient
+exertion without the weight of the buck and the two guns,
+which amounted to more than seventy pounds.</p>
+
+<p>After a few moments' pause I made a last effort to reach the
+east bank; but it was now impossible, and I turned to make an
+attempt to regain the Tarnaway side. I was at least thirty yards
+lower down than when I entered the stream, and the water was
+rushing and foaming all round me; another stagger nearly carried
+me off my feet, and, in the exertion to keep them, a thick transpiration
+rose upon my forehead, my ears began to sing, and my head
+to swim, while, disordered in their balance, the buck and the guns
+almost strangled me, I looked down the channel; the water was
+running in a white, broken rapid into the black pool below, and
+swept with a wide, foaming back-water under the steep rock which
+turned its force. The soft green bank before me was sleeping beneath
+the shade of the weeping birches, where bluebells and primroses
+grew thick in the short smooth turf, and, though they had
+long shed their blossoms, the bright patches of their clusters were
+yet visible among the tall foxgloves, which still retained the purple
+bells upon their tops. The bank looked softer, and greener, and
+more inviting than ever it had done before; but my eyes grew dim
+and my limbs faint with that last struggle. I felt for my dirk
+knife, for a desperate rolling swim for life seemed now inevitable,
+and, steadying myself in the stream, I cut loose the straps of the
+buck and the slings of the guns, and retaining them only with my
+hands, held them ready to let go as soon as I should be taken off
+my legs. When they were free, I dipped my hand in the water,
+and laved it over my brow and face. The singing of my ears ceased,
+and my sight came clear, and I discovered that I had lost my
+bonnet in the struggle, and distinguished the white cockade dancing
+like a little 'cailleach' of foam in the vortex of the pool below.</p>
+
+<p>Being now <i>morally</i> relieved from the weight of the roe and
+guns&mdash;though resolved to preserve them to the last&mdash;I resumed my
+attempt for the west bank; but when I reached a similar distance
+to that which I had gained for the other, I found an equally deep
+channel before me, and that the diminished water by which I had
+been encouraged was only the shoaling of a long bank which
+extended with the stream. I now saw that before I joined my
+bonnet, which still danced and circled in the pool below, there was
+only one effort left&mdash;to struggle up the stream, and reach the point<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+from which I had taken the water. But this was a desperate
+attempt; for at every step I had to find a safe footing at the upper
+side of some stone, and then with all my strength to force myself
+against the current. But often the stones gave way, and, loosening
+from their bed, went rolling and rumbling down the rapid, and I
+was driven back several feet, to recommence the same struggle.
+The river also was still increasing, and the flat sand, which was
+dry when I left it, was now a sheet of water. While I was thus
+wrestling with the stream, I saw Dreadnought enter, not at his
+usual place in the pool, but at the tail, just above the run of the
+stream in which I was struggling. He came whimpering over, and
+crossed about a yard or two above me; but instead of making for
+the bank, he turned in the water, and swam towards me. The
+stream, however, was too strong for him, and carried him down.
+I called and waved to the forest, and he turned and steered for its
+bank, but did not reach the shelving sand till he was well tumbled
+in the top of the rapid, out of which he only emerged in time to
+catch a little back-water, which helped him on to the shore. The
+attempt of the dog to reach me had passed while I rested: and
+when he gained the bank, I resumed my effort to make the shallower
+water.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i051.png" width="400" height="240" alt="Tumbled in the top of the rapid" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Dreadnought's eye was turned towards me as he came dripping
+up the bank, and seeing me move forward, he ran before me to the
+water's edge, at the right entrance of the ford, whining, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+howling, and baying, as if he knew as well as I that it was the
+place to make for. In a few steps the stones became less slippery,
+and the bottom more even, and I began to think that I might
+gain it, when, at the rocky point above, I saw a white mass of
+foam, loaded with brushwood, sticks, and rubbish, borne along
+by a ridge of yellow curdling water, at least two feet higher than
+the stream. I gathered all my strength, and made a struggle
+for the bank opposite to where I was. The water was already
+above my belt, and rushing between my arms as I bore up the
+guns. I felt myself lifted off my legs; again I held the ground.
+The green bank was only a few yards distant, but the deep
+water was close below, and the yellow foaming flood above.
+As I staggered on, I heard it coming down, crumpling up and
+crackling the dead boughs which it bore along. I stumbled upon
+a round stone, and nearly fell backward, but it was against the
+stream which forced me forward. I felt the spray splash over
+my head: I was nearly blind and deaf. I made a desperate effort
+with the last strength which I had left, and threw myself gasping
+on the bank.</p>
+
+<p>Dreadnought sprang forward, jumped over and over me, whined,
+and kissed my face and hands, and tried to turn me over with his
+snout, and scratched and pawed me to make me speak; but I could
+not yet, and gasped, and choked, and felt as if my heart would
+burst. I lay, dripping and panting, with my arms stretched out on
+the grass, unable to move, except with the convulsive efforts of my
+breath. At last I sat up, but I could scarcely see: a thin gauzy
+cloud was over my eyes, a heavy pressure rung in my ears, my
+feet still hung in the water, which was now sweeping a wide white
+torrent from bank to bank, and running with a fierce current
+through both the pools below. The back-water, where my bonnet
+had danced, no longer remained; all was carried clear out in one
+long rush down to the Cluag. 'Benedictum sit nomen Domini!' I
+thought, as I crossed myself. I stretched out my hand, and plucked
+the nearest flowers, and smelled their sweet greenwood scent with
+inexpressible delight. I never thought that flowers looked so beautiful,
+or had half so much perfume, though they were only the
+pale wild blossoms of the fading year. I placed them in my
+breast, and have them still, and never look upon them without
+repeating&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+'DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI AD TE, DOMINE!'<br /></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img src="images/i054.png" width="500" height="324" alt="THE FINDHORN." title="" />
+<span class="caption">THE FINDHORN.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Such were the hazards on the fords of the Findhorn; but even by
+boat the struggle was sometimes no less arduous, though it enabled
+us to cross the water at a height otherwise impassable, of which
+the following passage is an example:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>One evening I was returning with the piper, and the old hound
+which had accompanied me at the ford. As we descended towards
+the pool of Cluag, where I had left the coble quietly moored
+in the morning, Dreadnought frequently turned and looked at me
+with hanging ears and a heavy cheerless eye; and when we
+came to the path which led down to the river he stopped, and
+dropped behind, and followed at my heel, though usually he trotted
+on before, and instead of waiting for the boat, took the water,
+which he preferred to the coble. When we came out from the
+trees upon the steep bank above the river, I understood his altered
+manner. From rock to rock the stream was running a white,
+furious, rushing torrent, and the little boat tugging and jibbing on
+her chain, and swinging and bobbing upon the top of the froth, like
+the leaves which danced upon the eddy. Dreadnought had heard
+the sound of the river, and knew what there was at work before us.
+The boat was moored near the throat of the pool, in the back-water
+of a little bay, now entirely filled with froth and foam up to the
+gunwale of the coble, which was defended by a sharp point of rock,
+from whose breakwater the stream was thrown off in a wild shooting
+torrent. Within the bay the reaction of the tide formed a
+quick back-water, which raised the stream without nearly two feet
+higher than the level within, and at times sucked the boat on to
+the point, where she was struck in the stem by the gushing stream
+and sent spinning round at the full swing of her 'tether.'</p>
+
+<p>Donald looked at me. There was no alternative but the bridge
+of Daltullich, more than four miles about, with two bucks to carry,
+and ourselves well run since four o'clock in the morning. I stood
+for some moments considering the chances, and the manifest probability
+of going down the stream. Immediately after emerging from
+the little mooring bay there was a terrific rush of water discharged
+through the narrow throat of the pool, and raised to the centre in a
+white fierce tumbling ridge, for which the shortness of the pool
+afforded no allowance for working, while the little back-water,
+which, in ordinary cases, caught us on the opposite side, and took
+us into the bank, was lost in a flood, which ran right through
+the basin like a mill-lead. 'Can you swim, Donald?' said I mechanically.
+'<i>Swim</i>, Sir!' said he, who knew how often I had seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+him tumbled by the waves both in salt water and fresh. 'Oh yes, I
+know you can. But I was thinking of that stream.' 'Ougudearbh!'
+replied Donald: 'But it was myself that never tried it
+yon way!' 'And what do you think of her?' 'Faith, Thighearna,
+you know best&mdash;but if you try it, I shall not stay behind.'</p>
+
+<p>We had often ridden the water together by day and night, in
+flood and fair; and, narrow as the pool was, I thought we could
+get through it. We threw in a broken branch to prove the
+speed of the current, but it leaped through the plunging water
+like a greyhound, and was away in a moment down to the
+fierce white battling vortex of the Scuddach, where there was no
+salvation for thing alive; a few moments it disappeared in the
+wild turmoil, and then came up beyond&mdash;white and barked, and
+shivered like a splintered bone. Donald, however, saw that I was
+going to try the venture, and he was already up the bank unlocking
+the chain without a word. The bucks were deposited in the stern
+of the boat, the guns laid softly across them, covered with a plaid,
+and Dreadnought followed slowly and sternly, and laid himself
+down with an air as if, like Don Alphonso of Castile, 'the body
+trembled at the dangers into which the soul was going to carry it.'
+I took the oars&mdash;there were no directions to be given&mdash;Donald knew
+how to cross the pool, and every other where we were used to
+ferry.</p>
+
+<p>The boat's head was brought round to the stream, for it was
+necessary to run her into it with the impulse of the back-water to
+shoot her forward, or she would have been drawn back, stern foremost,
+into the eddy, where the jaw of the water, over the point of
+the rock, would have swamped us in an instant. Donald knelt at
+the bows, and held fast by a light painter till I cried 'Ready!'
+when the little shallop sprung from the rope, tilted away like a sea-bird,
+and glided towards the roaring torrent. I looked over my
+shoulder; Donald was gripping the bows, his teeth set fast, but a
+gleam of light was in his eye as we plunged headlong into the bursting
+stream. A blow like the stroke of a mighty wooden hammer
+lifted the boat into the surf; there was a crack as if her bows were
+stove in, and she shot shivering through the pool, filled with water
+to our knees, and sending the spray over us like a sheet. The
+rocks and trees seemed to fly away; the roaring water spouted and
+boiled, as it lifted up the boat, which spun round like a leaf, with
+her starboard gunwale lipping with the waves; but a few seconds
+swept us through the pool, and we were flying into the mad tumbling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+thunder of the rapid below. I kept the larboard bow to the
+stream, and pulled with all my might; but I thought she did not
+move, the eddy of the great mid-stream seemed to fix her in the
+ridge of the torrent, and take her along with it; the oars bent like
+willows to the strain, a boiling gush from below lifted her bows,
+and threw her gunwale under the froth. I thought we were gone,
+but I redoubled the last desperate strokes, and we shot out of the
+foaming ridge towards the opposite bank, rolling, and leaping, and
+plunging into the throat of the rapid. Donald sat like a tiger ready
+for the spring, and as we neared the shore, bounded on the grass
+with the chain. This checked the speed of the boat; I unshipped
+the oars, and sprung out just as the coble came crash alongside the
+bank, then swirling round, her head flew out to the stream, dragging
+Donald along the grass after her. I jumped into the water, and
+caught hold of the bow; for two minutes the struggle was doubtful
+and she continued to drag us along: at last Donald reached the
+stump of a tree, and, running round it, made a turn of the chain
+and brought her up.</p>
+
+<p>We sat down, and wiped our faces, and looked at each other in
+silence. The incredibly short space of time which had elapsed
+since we stood on the '<i>other side</i>,' with the mysterious future
+before us, and now to be sitting on '<i>this</i>,' and call it the <i>past</i>, was
+like a dream. The tumult, the flying shoot, the concussion at
+parting and arriving, seemed like an explosion, as if we had been
+blown up and thrown over. 'I don't think that boat will ever go
+back again, Thighearna,' said Donald. 'Why not?' 'Did you
+not feel her twist, and hear her split, when we came into the burst
+of the stream?' replied Donald. 'I don't know,' said I; 'I felt
+and heard a great many things, but there was no time to think
+what they were.' 'Oh, it was not <i>thinking</i> that I was,' answered
+Donald; 'but the water came squirting up in my face through her
+ribs, and I held on by both bows, expecting at every stroke to see
+them open and let me through.' We got up and examined the
+boat's bottom; there was a yawning rent from the stem to the
+centre, and part of the torn planks lapped one over the other by the
+twist, the bows being only held together by the iron band which
+bound the gunwale.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE STORY OF GRACE DARLING</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>A CAREFUL reader of the 'Times' on the morning of Tuesday,
+September 11, 1838, might have found, if he cared to look, a
+certain paragraph in an obscure corner headed 'The Wreck of the
+"Forfarshire."' It is printed in the small type of that period; the
+story is four days old, for in those days news was not flashed from
+one end of the country to the other; and, moreover, the story is very
+incomplete.</div>
+
+<p>On the evening of Wednesday, September 5, the steamship
+'Forfarshire' left Hull for Dundee, carrying a cargo of iron, and
+having some forty passengers on board. The ship was only eight
+years old; the master, John Humble, was an experienced seaman;
+and the crew, including firemen and engineers, was complete. But
+even before the vessel left the dock one passenger at least had felt
+uneasily that something was wrong&mdash;that there was an unusual
+commotion among officials and sailors. Still, no alarm was given,
+and at dusk the vessel steamed prosperously down the Humber.</p>
+
+<p>The next day (Thursday, the 6th) the weather changed, the
+wind blowing N.N.W., and increasing towards midnight to a
+perfect gale. On the morning of Friday, the 7th, a sloop from
+Montrose, making for South Shields, saw a small boat labouring
+hard in the trough of the sea. The Montrose vessel bore down on
+it, and in spite of the state of the weather managed to get the boat's
+crew on board.</p>
+
+<p>They were nine men in all, the sole survivors, as they believed
+themselves to be, of the crew and passengers of the 'Forfarshire,'
+which was then lying a total wreck on Longstone, one of the
+outermost of the Farne Islands.</p>
+
+<p>It was a wretched story they had to tell of lives thrown away
+through carelessness and negligence, unredeemed, as far as their
+story went, by any heroism or unselfish courage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>While still in the Humber, and not twenty miles from Hull, it
+was found that one of the boilers leaked, but the captain refused to
+put about. The pumps were set to work to fill the boiler, and the
+vessel kept on her way, though slowly, not passing between the
+Farne Islands and the mainland till Thursday evening. It was
+eight o'clock when they entered Berwick Bay; the wind freshened
+and was soon blowing hard from the N.N.W. The motion of the
+vessel increased the leakage, and it was now found that there were
+holes in all the three boilers. Two men were set to work the
+pumps, one or two of the passengers also assisting, but as fast as the
+water was pumped into the boilers it poured out again. The bilge
+was so full of steam and boiling water that the firemen could not
+get to the fires. Still the steamer struggled on, labouring heavily,
+for the sea was running very high. At midnight they were off St.
+Abbs Head, when the engineers reported that the case was hopeless;
+the engines had entirely ceased to work. The ship rolled
+helplessly in the waves, and the rocky coast was at no great
+distance. They ran up the sails fore and aft to try and keep her off
+the rocks, and put her round so that she might run before the
+wind, and as the tide was setting southward she drifted fast with
+wind and tide. Torrents of rain were falling, and in spite of the
+wind there was a thick fog. Some of the passengers were below,
+others were on deck with crew and captain, knowing well their
+danger.</p>
+
+<p>About three the noise of breakers was distinctly heard a little
+way ahead, and at the same time a light was seen away to the left,
+glimmering faintly through the darkness. It came home to the
+anxious crew with sickening certainty that they were being driven
+on the Farne Islands. [Now these islands form a group of desolate
+whinstone rocks lying off the Northumbrian coast. They are
+twenty in number, some only uncovered at low tide, and all offering
+a rugged iron wall to any ill-fated boat that may be driven upon
+them. Even in calm weather and by daylight seamen are glad
+to give them a wide berth.]</p>
+
+<p>The master of the 'Forfarshire' in this desperate strait attempted
+to make for the channel which runs between the Islands and the
+mainland. It was at best a forlorn chance; it was hopeless here;
+the vessel refused to answer her helm! On she drove in the darkness,
+nearer and nearer came the sound of the breakers; the fear
+and agitation on board the boat grew frantic. Women wailed and
+shrieked; the captain's wife clung to him, weeping; the crew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+lost all instinct of discipline, and thought of nothing but saving
+their skins.</p>
+
+<p>Between three and four the shock came&mdash;a hideous grinding
+noise, a strain and shiver of the whole ship, and she struck violently
+against a great rock. In the awful moment which followed five of
+the crew succeeded in lowering the larboard quarter-boat and pushed
+off in her. The mate swung himself over the side, and also reached
+her; and a passenger rushing at this moment up from the cabin
+and seeing the boat already three yards from the ship, cleared the
+space with a bound and landed safely in her, though nearly
+upsetting her by his weight. She righted, and the crew pulled
+off with the desperate energy of men rowing for their lives. The
+sight of agonised faces, the shrieks of the drowning were lost
+in the darkness and in the howling winds, and the boat with
+the seven men on board was swept along by the rapidly-flowing
+tide.</p>
+
+<p>Such was the story the exhausted boat's crew told next morning
+to their rescuers on board the Montrose sloop. And the rest of the
+ship's company&mdash;what of them? Had they all gone down by the
+island crag with never a hand stretched out to help them?</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the boat escaped from the stranded vessel when a
+great wave struck her on the quarter, lifted her up bodily, and
+dashed her back on the rock. She struck midships on the sharp
+edge and broke at once into two pieces. The after part was washed
+clean away with about twenty passengers clinging to it, the captain
+and his wife being among them. A group of people, about nine in
+number, were huddled together near the bow; they, with the whole
+fore part of the ship, were lifted right on to the rock. In the fore
+cabin was a poor woman, Mrs. Dawson, with a child on each arm.
+When the vessel was stranded on the rock the waves rushed into
+the exposed cabin, but she managed to keep her position, cowering
+in a corner. First one and then the other child died from cold and
+exhaustion, and falling from the fainting mother were swept from
+her sight by the waves, but the poor soul herself survived all the
+horrors of the night.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img src="images/i062.png" width="500" height="324" alt="GRACE DARLING." title="" />
+<span class="caption">GRACE DARLING.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was now four o'clock; the storm was raging with unabated
+violence, and it was still two hours to daybreak. About a mile from
+Longstone, the island on which the vessel struck, lies Brownsman,
+the outermost of the Farne Islands, on which stands the lighthouse.
+At this time the keeper of the lighthouse was a man of the name of
+William Darling. He was an elderly, almost an old man, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+only other inmates of the lighthouse were his wife and daughter
+Grace, a girl of twenty-two. On this Friday night she was awake,
+and through the raging of the storm heard shrieks more persistent
+and despairing than those of the wildest sea-birds. In great trouble
+she rose and awakened her father. The cries continued, but in the
+darkness they could do nothing. Even after day broke it was
+difficult to make out distant objects, for a mist was still hanging
+over the sea. At length, with a glass they could discern the wreck
+on Longstone, and figures moving about on it. Between the two
+islands lay a mile of yeasty sea, and the tide was running hard
+between them. The only boat on the lighthouse was a clumsily
+built jolly-boat, heavy enough to tax the strength of two strong
+men in ordinary weather, and here there was but an old man and
+a young girl to face a raging sea and a tide running dead against
+them. Darling hesitated to undertake anything so dangerous, but
+his daughter would hear of no delay. On the other side of that
+rough mile of sea men were perishing, and she <i>could</i> not stay where
+she was and see them die.</p>
+
+<p>So off they set in the heavy coble, the old man with one oar, the
+girl with the other, rowing with straining breath and beating hearts.
+Any moment they might be whelmed in the sea or dashed against
+the rocks. Even if they got the crew off it would be doubtful if they
+could row them to the lighthouse; the tide was about to turn, and
+would be against them on their homeward journey; death seemed
+to face them on every side.</p>
+
+<p>When close to the rock there was imminent danger of their
+being dashed to pieces against it. Steadying the boat an instant,
+Darling managed to jump on to the rock, while Grace rapidly rowed
+out a little and kept the boat from going on the rocks by rowing
+continually. It is difficult to imagine how the nine shipwrecked
+people, exhausted and wearied as they were, were got into the boat
+in such a sea, especially as the poor woman, Mrs. Dawson, was in an
+almost fainting condition; but finally got on board they all were.
+Fortunately, one or two of the rescued crew were able to assist in
+the heavy task of rowing the boat back to Brownsman.</p>
+
+<p>The storm continued to rage for several days after, and the
+whole party had to remain in the lighthouse. Moreover, a boatload
+which had come to their rescue from North Shields was also
+storm-stayed, twenty guests in all, so that the housewifely powers
+of Grace and her mother were taxed to the utmost.</p>
+
+<p>It is told of this admirable girl that she was the tenderest and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+gentlest of nurses and hostesses, as she was certainly one of the
+most singularly courageous of women.</p>
+
+<p>She could never be brought to look upon her exploit as in any
+way remarkable, and when by-and-by honours and distinctions
+were showered upon her, and people came from long distances to
+see her, she kept through it all the dignity of perfect simplicity and
+modesty.</p>
+
+<p>Close to Bamborough, on a windy hill, lie a little grey church
+and a quiet churchyard. At all seasons high winds from the North
+Sea blow over the graves and fret and eat away the soft grey sandstone
+of which the plain headstones are made. So great is the wear
+and tear of these winds that comparatively recent monuments look
+like those which have stood for centuries. On one of these stones
+lies a recumbent figure, with what looks not unlike a lance clasped
+in the hand and laid across the breast. Involuntarily one thinks of
+the stone Crusaders, who lie in their armour, clasping their half-drawn
+swords, awaiting the Resurrection morning. It is the monument
+of Grace Darling, who here lies at rest with her oar still clasped
+in her strong right hand.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE 'SHANNON' AND THE 'CHESAPEAKE'</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>AMONG the captains of British 38-gun frigates who ardently
+longed for a meeting with one of the American 44-guns, in our
+war with the United States, was Captain Philip Bowesbere Broke,
+of the 'Shannon.' The desire sprang from no wish to display his
+own valour, only to show the world what wonderful deeds could be
+done when the ship and crew were in all respects fitted for battle.
+He had put his frigate in fighting order, taught his men the art of
+attack and defence, and out of a crew not very well disposed and
+got together in a rather haphazard manner, had made a company
+as pleasant to command as it was dangerous to meet.</div>
+
+<p>With this desire, in March 1813 Captain Broke sailed from
+Halifax on a cruise in Boston Bay. But to his disappointment
+two American frigates, the weather being foggy, left the harbour
+without his having a chance to encounter them. Two remained,
+however, and one of these, the 'Chesapeake,' commanded by Captain
+James Lawrence, was nearly ready for sea. When her preparations
+were complete, Captain Broke addressed to her commanding
+officer a letter of challenge, having previously sent a
+verbal message, which had met with no reply.</p>
+
+<p>'As the "Chesapeake" appears now ready for sea,' began this
+letter, 'I request you will do me the favour to meet the "Shannon"
+with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags.'</p>
+
+<p>He then gave an account of the 'Shannon's' forces, which were
+somewhat inferior to the 'Chesapeake's.' The 'Chesapeake' had
+376 men, the 'Shannon' 306 men and 24 boys, and the American
+vessel also had the advantage in guns.</p>
+
+<p>'I entreat you, sir,' Captain Broke concluded, 'not to imagine
+that I am urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting
+the "Chesapeake," or that I depend only upon your personal
+ambition for your acceding to this invitation. We have both nobler<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+motives.&nbsp;.&nbsp;.&nbsp;. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are short of
+provisions and water, and cannot stay long here.'</p>
+
+<p>This letter he entrusted to Captain Plocum, a discharged
+prisoner; but it so happened that before his boat reached the shore,
+the American frigate left it&mdash;Captain Lawrence having received
+permission from Commodore Bairbridge to sail and attack the
+'Shannon' in response to Captain Broke's verbal challenge.</p>
+
+<p>Some man&oelig;uvring between the two ships took place; but at
+last, in the evening of June 1, 1813, the 'Chesapeake,' with three
+ensigns flying, steered straight for the 'Shannon's' starboard
+quarter. Besides the ensigns, she had flying at the fore a large
+white flag, inscribed with the words: 'Sailors' Rights and Free
+Trade,' with the idea, perhaps, that this favourite American motto
+would damp the energy of the 'Shannon's' men. The 'Shannon'
+had a Union Jack at the fore, an old rusty blue ensign at the mizzen
+peak, and two other flags rolled up, ready to be spread if either of
+these should be shot away. She stood much in need of paint, and
+her outward appearance hardly inspired much belief in the order
+and discipline that reigned within.</p>
+
+<p>At twenty minutes to six Captain Lawrence came within fifty
+yards of the 'Shannon's' starboard quarter, and gave three cheers.
+Ten minutes after the 'Shannon' fired her first gun, then a second.
+Then the 'Chesapeake' returned fire, and the remaining guns on
+the broadside of each ship went off as fast as they could be discharged.</p>
+
+<p>Four minutes before six the 'Chesapeake's' helm, probably
+from the death of the men stationed at it, being for the moment
+unattended to, the ship lay with her stem and quarter exposed to her
+opponent's broadside, which did terrible execution. At six o'clock,
+the 'Chesapeake' and 'Shannon' being in close contact, the
+'Chesapeake,' endeavouring to make a little ahead, was stopped by
+becoming entangled with the anchor of the 'Shannon.' Captain
+Broke now ran forward, and, seeing the 'Chesapeake's' men deserting
+the quarter-deck guns, he ordered the two ships to be lashed
+together, the great guns to cease firing, and Lieutenant Watt to
+bring up the quarter-deck men, who were to act as boarders. This
+was done instantly, and at two minutes past six Captain Broke
+leaped aboard the 'Chesapeake,' followed by twenty men, and
+reached her quarter-deck.</p>
+
+<p>Here not an officer or man was to be seen. Upon the 'Chesapeake's'
+gangways, twenty-five or thirty Americans made a slight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+resistance, but were quickly driven towards the forecastle. Several
+fled over the bows, some, it is believed, plunged into the sea, the
+rest laid down their arms and submitted.</p>
+
+<p>Lieutenant Watt, with others, followed quickly. Hardly had he
+stepped upon the taffrail of the 'Chesapeake' when he was shot
+through the foot by a musket ball; but, rising in spite of it, he
+ordered one of the 'Shannon's' 9-pounders to be directed at the
+'Chesapeake's' mizzen top, whence the shot had come. The second
+division of the Marines now rushed forward, and while one party
+kept down the Americans who were ascending the main hatchway,
+another party answered a destructive fire which still continued from
+the main and mizzen tops. The 'Chesapeake's' main top was presently
+stormed by midshipman William Smith. This gallant young
+man deliberately passed along the 'Shannon's' foreyard, which
+was braced up to the 'Chesapeake's' mainyard, and thence into her
+top. All further annoyance from the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top
+was put a stop to by another of the 'Shannon's' midshipmen, who
+fired at the Americans from the yardarm as fast as his men could
+load the muskets and hand them to him.</p>
+
+<p>After the Americans upon the forecastle had submitted, Captain
+Broke ordered one of his men to stand sentry over them, and sent
+most of the others aft, where the conflict was still going on. He
+was in the act of giving them orders when the sentry called out
+lustily to him. On turning, the captain found himself opposed by
+three of the Americans, who, seeing they were superior to the
+British then near them, had armed themselves afresh. Captain
+Broke parried the middle fellow's pike, and wounded him in the
+face, but instantly received from the man on the pikeman's right a
+blow with the butt-end of a musket, which bared his skull and
+nearly stunned him. Determined to finish the British commander,
+the third man cut him down with his broadsword, but at that very
+instant was himself cut down by Mindham, one of the 'Shannon's'
+seamen. Can it be wondered if all concerned in this breach of
+faith fell victims to the indignation of the 'Shannon's' men? It
+was as much as Captain Broke could do to save from their fury a
+young midshipman, who, having slid down a rope from the 'Chesapeake's'
+foretop, begged his protection.</p>
+
+<p>While in the act of tying a handkerchief round his commander's
+head, Mindham, pointing aft, called out:</p>
+
+<p>'There, sir&mdash;there goes up the old ensign over the Yankee
+colours!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Captain Broke saw it hoisting (with what feelings may be
+imagined), and was instantly led to the 'Chesapeake's' quarter-deck,
+where he sat down.</p>
+
+<p>That act of changing the 'Chesapeake's' colours proved fatal
+to a gallant British officer and four or five fine fellows of the
+'Shannon's' crew. We left Lieutenant Watt just as, having raised
+himself on his feet after his wound, he was hailing the 'Shannon'
+to fire at the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top. He then called for an
+English ensign, and hauling down the American flag, bent, owing
+to the ropes being tangled, the English flag below instead of above
+it. Observing the American stripes going up first, the 'Shannon's'
+people reopened their fire, and, directing their guns with their accustomed
+precision at the lower part of the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen mast,
+killed Lieutenant Watt and four or five of their comrades. Before
+the flags had got halfway to the mizzen peak, they were pulled
+down and hoisted properly, and the men of the 'Shannon' ceased
+their fire.</p>
+
+<p>An unexpected fire of musketry, opened by the Americans who
+had fled to the hold, killed a fine young marine, William Young.
+On this, Lieutenant Falkiner ordered three or four muskets that
+were ready to be fired down the hold, and Captain Broke, from the
+quarter-deck, told the lieutenant to summon. The Americans replied,
+'We surrender'; and all hostilities ceased. Almost immediately
+after Captain Broke's senses failed him from loss of blood, and he
+was conveyed on board his own ship.</p>
+
+<p>Between the discharge of the first gun and the time of Captain
+Broke's boarding only eleven minutes had passed, and in four
+minutes more the 'Chesapeake' was completely his. As a rule,
+however, this good fortune did not attend our arms in the conflict
+with the American marine.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>CAPTAIN SNELGRAVE AND THE PIRATES</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>IN the year 1719, I, being appointed commander of the 'Bird'
+galley, arrived at the River Sierra Leone, on the north coast of
+Guinea. There were, at the time of our unfortunate arrival in that
+river, three pirate ships, who had then taken ten English ships in
+that place. The first of these was the 'Rising Sun,' one Cochlyn
+commander, who had not with him above twenty-five men; the
+second was a brigantine commanded by one Le Bouse, a Frenchman,
+whose crew had formerly served with Cochlyn's under the
+pirate Moody; the third was a large ship commanded by Captain
+Davis, with a crew of near one hundred and fifty men. This Davis
+was a generous man, nor had he agreed to join with the others
+when I was taken by Cochlyn; which proved a great misfortune to
+me, for I found Cochlyn and his crew to be a set of the basest and
+most cruel villains that ever were.</div>
+
+<p>I come now to give an account of how I was taken by them. It
+becoming calm about seven o'clock, and growing dark, we anchored
+in the river's mouth, soon after which I went to supper with the
+officers that usually ate with me. About eight o'clock the officer of
+the watch upon deck sent me word, 'He heard the rowing of a boat.'
+Whereupon we all immediately went on deck, and the night being
+very dark, I ordered lanterns and candles to be got ready, supposing
+the boat might come from the shore with some white gentlemen
+that lived there as free merchants. I ordered also, by way of precaution,
+the first mate, Mr. Jones, to go into the steerage to put
+things in order, and to send me twenty men on the quarter-deck
+with firearms and cutlasses, which I thought he went about, for
+I did not in the least suspect Mr. Jones would have proved such a
+villain as he did afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>As it was dark, I could not yet see the boat, but heard the noise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+of the rowing very plain. Whereupon I ordered the second mate
+to hail the boat, to which the people in it answered, 'They belonged
+to the "Two Friends," Captain Elliot, of Barbadoes.' At this, one
+of the officers who stood by me said he knew that captain very well.
+I replied, 'It might be so, but I would not trust any boat in such a
+place,' and ordered him to hasten the first mate, with the people
+and arms, on deck. By this time our lanterns and candles were
+brought up, and I ordered the boat to be hailed again; to which the
+people in it answered, 'They were from America,' and at the same
+time fired a volley of small shot at us, which showed the boldness
+of these villains. For there were in the boat only twelve of them,
+as I understood afterwards, who knew nothing of the strength of
+our ship, which was indeed considerable, we having sixteen guns
+and forty-five men on board. But, as they told me after we were
+taken, 'they depended on the same good-fortune as in the other
+ships they had taken, having met with no resistance, for the
+people were generally glad of an opportunity of entering with
+them.'</p>
+
+<p>Which last was but too true.</p>
+
+<p>When they first began to fire, I called aloud to the first mate
+to fire at the boat out of the steerage portholes, which not being
+done, and the people I had ordered upon deck with small arms not
+appearing, I was extremely surprised, and the more when an
+officer came and told me 'The people would not take arms.'</p>
+
+<p>I went down into the steerage, where I saw a great many of
+them looking at one another, little thinking that my first mate had
+prevented them from taking arms. I asked them with some roughness
+why they had not obeyed my orders, saying it would be the
+greatest reproach in the world to us all to be taken by a boat.</p>
+
+<p>Some of them answered that they would have taken arms, but
+the chest they were kept in could not be found.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the boat was along the ship's side, and there being
+nobody to oppose them, the pirates immediately boarded us, and
+coming on the quarter-deck, fired their pieces several times down
+into the steerage, giving one sailor a wound of which he died
+afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>At last some of our people bethought themselves to call out
+for quarter, which the pirates granting, their quartermaster came
+down into the steerage, asking where the captain was. I told him I
+had been so till now. On that he asked me how I durst order
+my people to fire at their boat out of the steerage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I answered, 'I thought it my duty to defend my ship if my
+people would have fought.'</p>
+
+<p>On that he presented a pistol to my breast, which I had but
+just time to parry before it went off, so that the bullet passed
+between my side and arm. The rogue, finding he had not shot me,
+turned the butt-end of the pistol, and gave me such a blow on the
+head as stunned me, so that I fell on my knees, but immediately
+recovering myself, I jumped out of the steerage upon the quarter-deck,
+where the pirate boatswain was.</p>
+
+<p>He was a bloodthirsty villain, having a few days before killed a
+poor sailor because he did not do something as soon as he ordered
+him. This cruel monster was asking some of my people where
+their captain was, so at my coming upon deck one of them pointed
+me out. Though the night was very dark, yet, there being four
+lanterns with candles, he had a full sight of me; whereupon,
+lifting up his broadsword, he swore that no quarter should be given
+to any captain that defended his ship, at the same time aiming a
+full stroke at my head. To avoid it I stooped so low that the
+quarter-deck rail received the blow, and was cut in at least an inch
+deep, which happily saved my head from being cleft asunder,
+and the sword breaking at the same time with the force of his
+blow on the rail, it prevented his cutting me to pieces.</p>
+
+<p>By good fortune his pistols, that hung at his girdle, were all
+discharged, otherwise he would doubtless have shot me. But he
+took one of them and endeavoured to beat out my brains, which
+some of my people observing, cried:</p>
+
+<p>'For God's sake don't kill our captain, for we never were with a
+better man.'</p>
+
+<p>This turned the rage of him and two other pirates on my
+people, and saved my life; but they cruelly used my poor men,
+cutting and beating them unmercifully. One of them had his chin
+almost cut off, and another received such a wound on the head
+that he fell on the deck as dead, but afterwards, by the care of our
+surgeon, he recovered.</p>
+
+<p>Then the quartermaster, coming on deck, took me by the hand,
+and told me my life was safe, provided none of my people complained
+of me. I answered that I was sure none of them could.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the pirate ship had drawn near, for they had sent
+their boat before to discover us; and on approaching, without
+asking any questions, gave us a great broadside, believing, as it
+proved afterwards, that we had taken their boat and people. So<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+the quartermaster told them, through the speaking-trumpet, that
+they had taken a brave prize, with all manner of good victuals and
+fresh provisions on board.</p>
+
+<p>Just after this, Cochlyn, the pirate captain, ordered them to
+dress a quantity of these victuals; so they took many geese, turkeys,
+fowls, and ducks, making our people cut their heads off and pull
+the great feathers out of their wings, but they would not stay till
+the other feathers were pulled off. All these they put into our
+great furnace, which would boil victuals for five hundred negroes,
+together with several Westphalia hams and a large pig. This
+strange medley filled the furnace, and the cook was ordered to boil
+them out of hand.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the pirate ship had done firing, I asked the quartermaster's
+leave for our surgeon to dress my poor people that had
+been wounded, and I likewise went to have my arm dressed, it
+being very much bruised by the blow given me by the pirate boatswain.
+Just after that a person came to me from the quartermaster,
+desiring to know what o'clock it was by my watch; which,
+judging to be a civil way of demanding it, I sent it him immediately,
+desiring the messenger to tell him it was a very good gold watch.
+When it was delivered to the quartermaster he held it up by the
+chain, and presently laid it down on the deck, giving it a kick with
+his foot, saying it was a pretty football. On which one of the
+pirates caught it up, saying he would put it in the common chest to
+be sold at the mast.</p>
+
+<p>By this time I was loudly called upon to go on board the pirate
+ship, and there was taken to the commander, who asked me several
+questions about my ship, saying she would make a fine pirate
+man-of-war.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had done answering the captain's questions, a tall
+man, with four pistols in his girdle and a broadsword in his hand,
+came to me on the quarter-deck, telling me his name was James
+Griffin, and we had been schoolfellows. Though I remembered
+him very well, yet having formerly heard it had proved fatal to
+some who had been taken by pirates to own any knowledge of
+them, I told him I could not remember any such person by name.
+On that he mentioned some boyish pranks that had formerly passed
+between us. But I, still denying any knowledge of him, he told me
+that he supposed I took him to be one of the pirate's crew because I
+saw him dressed in that manner, but that he was a forced man,
+and since he had been taken, though they spared his life, they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+obliged him to act as master of the pirate ship. And the reason of
+his being so armed was to prevent their ill-using him, for there were
+hardly any among the crew but what were cruel villains. But he
+would himself take care of me that night, when I should be in the
+greatest danger, because many of their people would soon get drunk
+with the good liquors found in my ship.</p>
+
+<p>I then readily owned my former acquaintance with him, and he
+turned to Captain Cochlyn and desired that a bowl of punch might
+be made. So we went into the cabin, where there was not chair,
+nor anything else to sit upon, for they always kept a clear ship,
+ready for an engagement. So a carpet was spread on the deck, on
+which we sat down cross-legged, and Captain Cochlyn drank my
+health, desiring that I would not be cast down at my misfortune,
+for my ship's company in general spoke well of me, and they had
+goods enough left in the ships they had taken to make a man of me.
+Then he drank several other healths, among which was that of the
+Pretender, by the name of King James the Third.</p>
+
+<p>It being by this time midnight, my schoolfellow desired the
+captain to have a hammock hung up for me to sleep in, for it
+seemed everyone lay rough, as they call it, that is, on the deck,
+the captain himself not being allowed a bed. This being granted,
+and soon after done, I took leave of the captain, and got into my
+hammock, but I could not sleep in my melancholy circumstances.
+Moreover, the execrable curses I heard among the ship's company
+kept me awake, though Mr. Griffin, according to his promise,
+walked by me with his broadsword in his hand, to protect me from
+insults.</p>
+
+<p>Some time after, it being about two o'clock in the morning, the
+pirate boatswain (that attempted to kill me when taken) came on
+board very drunk, and being told I was in a hammock, he came
+near me with his cutlass. My generous schoolfellow asked him
+what he wanted; he answered, 'To kill me, for I was a vile dog.'
+Then Griffin bade the boatswain keep his distance, or he would
+cleave his head asunder with his broadsword. Nevertheless, the
+bloodthirsty villain came on to kill me; but Mr. Griffin struck at
+him with his sword, from which he had a narrow escape; and then
+he ran away. So I lay unmolested till daylight.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 343px;">
+<img src="images/i074.png" width="343" height="450" alt="Struck at him with his sword" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>I come now to relate how Mr. Simon Jones, my first mate, and
+ten of my men entered with the pirates. The morning after we
+were taken he came to me and told me that his circumstances were
+bad at home; moreover, he had a wife whom he could not love;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>
+and for these reasons he had entered with the pirates and signed
+their articles. I was greatly surprised at this declaration, and told
+him I believed he would repent when too late. And, indeed, I saw
+the poor man afterwards despised by his brethren in iniquity, and
+have been told he died a few months after they left Sierra Leone.
+However, I must do him the justice to own he never showed any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+disrespect to me, and the ten people he persuaded to enter with him
+remained very civil to me. But I learned afterwards from one of
+them that, before we came to Sierra Leone, Jones had said that he
+hoped we should meet with pirates, and that it was by his contrivance
+that the chest of arms was hid out of the way when we were
+taken. And when I called on the people in the steerage to fire
+on the pirate boat, Jones prevented them, declaring that this was
+an opportunity he had long wished for, and that if they fired a
+musket they would all be cut to pieces. Moreover, to induce them
+to enter with the pirates, he had assured them that I had promised
+to enter myself. So it was a wonder I escaped so well, having such
+a base wretch for my first officer.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the fumes of the liquor were out of the pirates' heads
+they went on board the prize, as they called my ship, and all hands
+went to work to clear it, by throwing over bales of woollen goods,
+with many other things of great value, so that before night they
+had destroyed between three and four thousand pounds worth of the
+cargo&mdash;money and necessaries being what they wanted. The sight
+of this much grieved me, but I was obliged in prudence to be silent.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon there came on board to see me Captain Henry
+Glynn, with whom I was acquainted, who resided at Sierra Leone,
+but though an honest, generous person, was on good terms with
+the pirates. He brought with him the captains of the two other
+pirate ships, and Captain Davis generously said he was ashamed
+to hear how I had been used, for their reasons for going a-pirating
+were to revenge themselves on base merchants and cruel commanders,
+but none of my people gave me the least ill character;
+and, indeed, it was plain that they loved me.</p>
+
+<p>This was by no means relished by Cochlyn; however, he put a
+good face on it.</p>
+
+<p>That night the boatswain came down into the steerage, where
+he had seen me sitting with the ship's carpenter, but since we happened
+to have changed places, and it had grown so dark he could
+not distinguish our faces, he, thinking I sat where he had seen me
+before, presented a pistol and drew the trigger, swearing he would
+blow my brains out. By good fortune the pistol did not go off, but
+only flashed in the pan; by the light of which the carpenter,
+observing that he should have been shot instead of me, it so provoked
+him that he ran in the dark to the boatswain, and having
+wrenched the pistol out of his hand, he beat him to such a degree
+that he almost killed him. The noise of the fray being heard on
+board the pirate ship that lay close to us, a boat was sent from her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>
+and they being told the truth of the matter, the officer in her carried
+away this wicked villain, who had three times tried to murder me.</p>
+
+<p>I had one bundle of my own things left to me, in which was a
+black suit of clothes. But a pirate, who was tolerably sober, came
+in and said he would see what was in it. He then took out my
+black suit, a good hat and wig, and some other things. Whereon I
+told him I hoped he would not deprive me of them, for they would
+be of no service to him in so hot a country, but would be of great
+use to me, as I hoped soon to return to England.</p>
+
+<p>I had hardly done speaking, when he lifted up his broadsword
+and gave me a blow on the shoulder with the flat side of it,
+whispering in my ear at the same time:</p>
+
+<p>'I give you this caution, never to dispute the will of a pirate;
+for, supposing I had cleft your skull asunder for your impudence,
+what would you have got by it but destruction?'</p>
+
+<p>I gave him thanks for his warning, and soon after he put on the
+clothes, which in less than half an hour after I saw him take off
+and throw overboard, for some of the pirates, seeing him dressed
+in that manner, had thrown several buckets of claret upon him.
+This person's true name was Francis Kennedy.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, understanding that the three pirate captains were
+on shore at my friend Captain Glynn's, I asked leave to go to them,
+which was granted, and next day I went on board in company with
+them. Captain Davis desired Cochlyn to order all his people on
+the quarter-deck, and made a speech to them on my behalf, which they
+falling in with, it was resolved to give me the ship they designed to
+leave to go into mine, with the remains of my cargo, and further,
+the goods remaining in the other prizes, worth, with my own,
+several thousand pounds. Then one of the leading pirates proposed
+that I should go along with them down the coast of Guinea, where
+I might exchange the goods for gold, and that, no doubt, as they
+went they should take some French and Portuguese vessels, and
+then they might give me as many of their best slaves as would fill
+the ship; that then he would advise me to go to the island of
+St. Thomas and sell them there, and after rewarding my people in
+a handsome manner, I might return with a large sum of money to
+London and bid the merchants defiance.</p>
+
+<p>This proposal was approved of, but it struck me with a sudden
+damp. So I began to say it would not be proper for me to accept
+of such a quantity of other people's goods as they had so generously
+voted for me. On which I was interrupted by several, who
+began to be very angry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 336px;">
+<img src="images/i078.png" width="336" height="500" alt="&#39;SOME OF THE PIRATES .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. HAD THROWN SEVERAL BUCKETS OF CLARET UPON HIM.&#39;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&#39;SOME OF THE PIRATES .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. HAD THROWN SEVERAL BUCKETS OF CLARET UPON HIM.&#39;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>On this Captain Davis said: 'I know this man, and can easily
+guess his thoughts; for he thinks, if he should act in the manner
+you have proposed, he will ever after lose his reputation. Now I
+am for allowing everybody to go to the devil their own way, so
+desire you will give him the remains of his own cargo and let him
+do with it what he thinks fitting.'</p>
+
+<p>This was readily granted; and now, the tide being turned, they
+were as kind to me as they had at first been severe, and we
+employed ourselves in saving what goods we could.</p>
+
+<p>And through the influence of Captain Davis, one of the ships
+the pirates had taken, called the 'Bristol Snow,' was spared from
+burning&mdash;for they burned such prizes as they had no use for. And
+I was set entirely at liberty, and went to the house of Captain
+Glynn, who, when the pirates left the river of Sierra Leone,
+together with other English captains who had been hiding from the
+pirates in the woods, their ships having been taken, helped me to
+fit up the 'Bristol Snow' that we might return to England in it.
+And we left the river Sierra Leone the 10th day of May, and came
+safe to Bristol, where I found a letter from the owner of the ship
+I had gone out with, who had heard of my misfortune, and most
+generously comforted me, giving money for my poor sailors and
+promising me command of another ship&mdash;a promise which he soon
+after performed.</p>
+
+<p>I shall now inform the reader what became of my kind schoolfellow,
+Griffin, and my generous friend Davis. The first got out of
+the hands of the pirates by taking away a boat from the stern of
+the ship he was in when on the coast of Guinea, and was driven on
+shore there. But afterwards he went passenger to Barbadoes in an
+English ship, where he was taken with a violent fever, and so died.</p>
+
+<p>As for Davis, he sailed to the island Princess, belonging to the
+Portuguese, which is in the Bay of Guinea. Here the people soon
+discovered they were pirates by their lavishness; but the Governor
+winked at it, because of the great gain he made by them. But
+afterwards, someone putting it into his mind that if the King of
+Portugal heard of this it would be his ruin, he plotted to destroy
+Davis. And when, before sailing, Captain Davis came on shore with
+the surgeon and some others to bid farewell to the Governor, they
+found no Governor, but many people with weapons were gathered
+together in the street, who at a word from the Governor's steward
+fired at Davis and his men. The surgeon and two others were killed
+on the spot, but Davis, though struck by four shots, went on running<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>
+towards the boat. But being closely pursued, a fifth shot made him
+fall; and the Portuguese, being amazed at his great strength and
+courage, cut his throat that they might be sure of him. Thus fell
+Captain Davis, who, allowing for the course of life he had been
+unhappily engaged in, was a most generous, humane person.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 353px;">
+<img src="images/i080.png" width="353" height="475" alt="A fifth shot made him fall" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE SPARTAN THREE HUNDRED</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THIS is the story of the greatest deed of arms that was ever done.
+The men who fought in it were not urged by ambition or
+greed, nor were they soldiers who knew not why they went to battle.
+They warred for the freedom of their country, they were few against
+many, they might have retreated with honour, after inflicting great
+loss on the enemy, but they preferred, with more honour, to die.</div>
+
+<p>It was four hundred and eighty years before the birth of Christ.
+The Great King, as the Greeks called Xerxes, the Persian monarch,
+was leading the innumerable armies of Asia against the small and
+divided country of Greece. It was then split into a number of
+little States, not on good terms with each other, and while some
+were for war, and freedom, and ruin, if ruin must come, with
+honour, others were for peace and slavery. The Greeks, who determined
+to resist Persia at any cost, met together at the Isthmus of
+Corinth, and laid their plans of defence. The Asiatic army, coming
+by land, would be obliged to march through a narrow pass called
+Thermopyl&aelig;, with the sea on one side of the road, and a steep and
+inaccessible precipice on the other. Here, then, the Greeks made
+up their minds to stand. They did not know, till they had marched
+to Thermopyl&aelig;, that behind the pass there was a mountain path,
+by which soldiers might climb round and over the mountain, and
+fall upon their rear. As the sea on the right hand of the Pass of
+Thermopyl&aelig; lies in a narrow strait, bounded by the island of
+Eub&oelig;a, the Greeks thought that their ships would guard their rear
+and prevent the Persians from landing men to attack it. Their
+army encamped in the Pass, having wide enough ground to man&oelig;uvre
+in, between the narrow northern gateway, so to speak, by
+which the invaders would try to enter, and a gateway to the
+south. Their position was also protected by an old military wall,
+which they repaired.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Greek general was Leonidas, the Spartan king. He chose
+three hundred men, all of whom had sons at home to maintain
+their families and to avenge them if they fell. Now the manner
+of the Spartans was this: to die rather than yield. However
+sorely defeated, or overwhelmed by numbers, they never left the
+ground alive and unvictorious, and as this was well known, their
+enemies were seldom eager to attack such resolute fighters.</p>
+
+<p>Besides the Spartans, Leonidas led some three or four thousand
+men from other cities, and he was joined at Thermopyl&aelig; by the
+Locrians and a thousand Phocians. Perhaps he may have had six
+or eight thousand soldiers under him, while the Persians may have
+outnumbered them by the odds of a hundred to one. Why, you
+may ask, did the Greeks not send a stronger force? The reason
+was very characteristic. They were holding their sports at the
+time, racing, running, boxing, jumping, and they were also about
+to be engaged in another festival. They would not omit or put off
+their games however many thousand barbarians might be knocking
+at their gates. There is something boyish, and something fine in
+this conduct, but we must remember, too, that the games were a
+sacred festival, and that the Gods might be displeased if they were
+omitted.</p>
+
+<p>Leonidas, then, thought that at least he could hold the Pass
+till the games were over, and his countrymen could join him. But
+when he found, on arriving at Thermopyl&aelig;, that he would have to
+hold two positions, the Pass itself, and the mountain path, of whose
+existence he had not been aware, then some of his army wished to
+return home. But Leonidas refused to let them retreat, and bade
+the Phocians guard the path across the hills, while he sent home
+for reinforcements. He could not desert the people whom he had
+come to protect. Meanwhile the Greek fleet was also alarmed,
+but was rescued by a storm which wrecked many of the Persian
+vessels.</p>
+
+<p>Xerxes was now within sight of Thermopyl&aelig;. He sent a horseman
+forward to spy out the Greek camp, and this man saw the
+Spartans amusing themselves with running and wrestling, and
+combing their long hair, outside the wall. They took no notice of
+him, and he returning, told Xerxes how few they were, and how
+unconcerned. Xerxes then sent for Demaratus, an exiled king of
+Sparta in his camp, and asked what these things meant. 'O
+king!' said Demaratus, 'this is what I told you of yore, when you
+laughed at my words. These men have come to fight you for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+Pass, and for that battle they are making ready, for it is our
+country fashion to comb and tend our hair when we are about to
+put our heads in peril.'</p>
+
+<p>Xerxes would not believe Demaratus. He waited four days,
+and then, in a rage, bade his best warriors, the Medes and Cissians,
+bring the Greeks into his presence. The Medes, who were brave
+men, and had their defeat at Marathon, ten years before, to avenge,
+fell on, but their spears were short, their shields were thin, and
+they could not break a way into the stubborn forest of bronze and
+steel. In wave upon wave, all day long, they dashed against the
+Greeks, and left their best lying at the mouth of the Pass.
+'Thereby was it made clear to all men, and not least to the king,
+that men are many, but heroes are few.'</p>
+
+<p>Next day Xerxes called on his bodyguard, the Ten Thousand
+Immortals, and they came to close quarters, but got no more glory
+than the Medes. Thrice the King leaped from his chair in dismay
+as thrice the Greeks drove the barbarians in rout. And on the
+third day they had no better fortune.</p>
+
+<p>But there was a man, a Malian, whose name is a scorn to this
+hour; he was called Epialtes. He betrayed to Xerxes the secret of
+the mountain path, probably for money. He later fled to Thessaly
+with a price on his head, but returned to Anticyra, and there he
+was slain by Athenades. Then Xerxes was glad beyond measure
+when he heard of the path, and sent his men along the path by night.
+They found the Phocians guarding it, but the Phocians disgracefully
+fled to the higher part of the mountain. The Persians, disdaining
+to pursue them, marched to the pass behind the Spartan camp, and
+the Greeks were now surrounded in van and rear. But news of this
+had come to Leonidas, and his army was not of one mind as to
+what they should do. Some were for retreating and abandoning a
+position which it was now impossible to hold. Leonidas bade them
+depart; but for him and his countrymen it was not honourable to
+turn their backs on any foe. He sent away the soothsayer, or
+prophet, Megistias, but he returned, and bade his son go home.
+The Thespians, to their immortal honour, chose to bide the brunt
+with Leonidas. There thus remained what was left of the Three
+Hundred, their personal attendants, seven hundred Thespians, and
+some Thebans, about whose conduct it is difficult to speak with
+certainty, as accounts differ. Leonidas, on this last day of his life,
+did not wait to be attacked in front and rear, but, sallying into the
+open, himself assailed the Persians. They drove the barbarians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+like cattle with their spears; the captains of the barbarians drove
+them back on the spears with whips. Many fell from the path
+into the sea, and there perished, and many more were trodden
+down and died beneath the feet of their own companions. But
+the spears of the Greeks broke at last in their hands, so they drew
+their swords, and rushed to yet closer quarters. In this charge fell
+Leonidas, 'the bravest man,' says the Greek historian, 'of men
+whose names I know,' and he knew the names of all the Three
+Hundred. Over the body of Leonidas fell the two brothers of
+Xerxes, for they fought for the corpse, and four times the Greeks
+drove back the Persians. Now came up the Persians with the
+traitor Epialtes, attacking the Greeks in the rear. Now was their
+last hour come, so they bore the body of the king within the wall.
+There they occupied a little mound in a sea of enemies, and there
+each man fought till he died, stabbing with his dagger when his
+sword was broken, and biting, and striking with the fist, when
+the dagger-point was blunted. Among them all, none made a
+better end than Eurytus. He was suffering from a disease of the
+eyes, but he bade them arm him, and lead him into the
+thick of the battle. Of another, Dieneces, it is told that
+hearing the arrows of the Persians would darken the sun, he
+answered, 'Good news! we shall fight in the shade.' One man
+only, Aristodemus, who also was suffering from a disease of the
+eyes, did not join his countrymen, but returned to Sparta. There
+he was scouted for a coward, but, in the following year, he fell at
+Plat&aelig;a, excelling all the Spartans in deeds of valour.</p>
+
+<p>This is the story of the Three Hundred. The marble lion
+erected where Leonidas fell has perished, and perished has the
+column engraved with their names, but their glory is immortal.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 216px;">
+<img src="images/i085.png" width="216" height="300" alt="Prince Charlie&#39;s Wanderings" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+<h2><i>PRINCE CHARLIE'S WANDERINGS</i></h2>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER I</h3>
+
+<h4>THE FLIGHT</h4>
+
+<div class='cap'>APRIL 16, 1746. It was an April afternoon, grey and cold, with
+gleams of watery sunshine, for in the wilds of Badenoch the
+spring comes but slowly, and through April on to May the mountains
+are as black and the moors as sombre and lifeless as in the dead of
+winter. In a remote corner of this wild track stood, in 1746, a grey,
+stone house with marsh-lands in front, severe and meagre as the
+houses were at that time in the Highlands. Upstairs in a room by
+herself a little girl of ten was looking out of the window. She had
+been sent up there to be out of the way, for this was a very busy
+day in the household of Gortuleg. The Master, Mr. Fraser, was
+entertaining the chief of his clan, old Lord Lovat, who, in these
+anxious days, when the Prince was at Inverness and the Duke of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+Cumberland at Aberdeen, had thought fit to retire into the wilds
+of Badenoch, to the house of his faithful clansman.</div>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;">
+<img src="images/i086.png" width="300" height="400" alt="The astute old man of eighty was sitting in his armchair" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Downstairs, the astute old man of eighty was sitting in his armchair
+by the fire, plotting how he could keep in with both parties
+and secure his own advantage whichever side might win. By some
+strange infatuation the household at Gortuleg were cheerful and
+elate. A battle was imminent, nay, might have been fought even
+now, and they were counting securely on another success to the
+Prince's army. So the ladies of the family&mdash;staunch Jacobites
+every one of them (as, indeed, most ladies were even in distinctly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>
+Whig households)&mdash;were busy preparing a feast in honour of the
+expected victory. The little girl sat alone upstairs, hearing the din
+and commotion and looking out on the vacant marsh-land outside.
+Suddenly and completely the noise ceased below, and the child
+seized her opportunity and crept downstairs. All was still in the
+big living-room, only in the dim recess of the fireplace the old lord
+was sitting, a silent, brooding figure, in his deep armchair. The
+rest of the household, men and women, gentle and simple, were
+all crowded in the doorway, breathlessly intent on something outside.
+Threading her way through them the child crept outside the
+circle and looked eagerly to see what this might be. Across the
+grey marshes horsemen were riding, riding fast, though the horses
+strained and stumbled, and the riders had a weary, dispirited air.
+'It is the fairies' was the idea that flashed through her brain,
+and in a moment she was holding her eyelids open with her fingers,
+for she knew that the 'good people,' if they do show themselves, are
+only visible between one winking of the eyes and another. But
+this vision did not pass away, and surely never were fairy knights
+in such a sorry plight as was this travel-stained, dishevelled company
+that drew rein at the door of Gortuleg.</p>
+
+<p>The leader of the band was a young man in Highland dress,
+tall and fair, and with that 'air' of which his followers fondly
+complained afterwards that no disguise could conceal it. At the
+sight of him, arriving in this plight at their doors, a great cry of
+consternation broke from the assembled household. There was
+no need to tell the terrible news: the Prince was a fugitive, a
+battle had been lost, and the good cause was for ever undone!
+It was no time for idle grieving, immediate relief and refreshment
+must be provided, and the Prince sent forward without
+delay on his perilous flight. The ladies tore off their laces and
+handkerchiefs to bind up wounds, and wine was brought out for the
+fugitives. There is no certain account of Charles's interview with
+Lord Lovat; we do not know whether the cunning old man turned
+and upbraided the Prince in his misfortune, or whether the instincts
+of a Highland gentleman overcame for a moment the selfishness of
+the old chief. Anyway, this was no time to bandy either upbraidings
+or compliments. Forty minutes of desperate fighting on the field
+of Culloden that morning had broken for ever the strength of the
+Jacobite cause. Hundreds lay dead where they fell, hundreds were
+prisoners in the hands of the most relentless of enemies, hundreds
+were fleeing in disarray to their homes among the mountain fastnesses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+For the Prince the only course seemed to be flight to the West
+coast. There, surely, some vessel might be found to convey him to
+France, there to await better times and to secure foreign allies. A
+price was on his head, his enemies would certainly be soon on his
+traces, he dared not delay longer than to snatch a hasty meal and
+drink some cups of wine.</p>
+
+<p>At Gortuleg the party broke up and went their several ways.
+The Prince was accompanied by the Irish officers of his household,
+Sir Thomas Sheridan, O'Neal, and O'Sullivan, gentlemen-adventurers
+who had accompanied him from France and whose
+advice in his day of triumph had often been injudicious. Let it be
+said for them that they were at least faithful and devoted when his
+fortunes were desperate. As guide went a certain Edward Burke,
+who, fortunately for the party, knew every yard of rugged ground
+between Inverness and the Western sea. During all the time that
+he shared the Prince's wanderings this Edward Burke acted as his
+valet, giving him that passionate devotion which Charles seems to
+have inspired in all who knew him personally at this time.
+Reduced now to a handful of weary, wounded men, the Prince's
+party continued their flight through the chilly April night. At two
+o'clock next morning they had passed the blackened ruins of Fort
+George. As dawn broke they drew rein at the house of Invergarry.
+But the gallant chief of the Macdonells was away, and the hospitable
+house was deserted and silent; the very rooms were without furniture
+or any accommodation, and the larder was bare of provisions.
+But wearied men are not fastidious, and without waiting to change
+their clothes, they rolled themselves up in their plaids on the bare
+boards, and slept the sleep of utter weariness. It was high noon
+before they woke up again&mdash;woke up to find breakfast unexpectedly
+provided, for the faithful Burke had risen betimes and drawn
+two fine salmon from the nets set in the river. Here for greater
+security the Prince and his valet changed clothes, and the journey
+was continued through Lochiel's country. The next stage was at
+the head of Loch Arkaig, where they were the guests of a certain
+Cameron of Glenpean, a stalwart, courageous farmer, whom the
+Prince was destined to see more of in his wanderings. Here the
+country became so wild and rugged that they had to abandon their
+horses and clamber over the high and rocky mountains on foot. In
+his boyhood in Italy the Prince had been a keen sportsman, and had
+purposely inured himself to fatigue and privations. These habits
+stood him now in good stead; he could rival even the light-footed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+Highlanders on long marches over rough ground; the coarsest and
+scantiest meals never came amiss to him; he could sleep on the hard
+ground or lie hid in bogs for hours with a stout heart and a cheerful
+spirit.</p>
+
+<p>Here on the night of Saturday, the 19th, among the mountains
+that surround Loch Morar, no better shelter could be found than a
+shieling used for shearing sheep.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, Sunday, the 20th, they came down to the coast
+and found refuge in the hospitable house of Borodale, belonging to
+Mr. Angus Macdonald, a clansman of Clanranald's. Nine months
+before, when the Prince had landed from France and had thrown
+himself without arms or following on the loyalty of his Highland
+friends, this Angus Macdonald had been proud to have him as his
+guest. One of his sons, John, had joined the Prince's army and had
+fought under his own chief, young Clanranald. This young man
+was at this time supposed to have been killed at Culloden, though in
+fact he had escaped unhurt. When the Prince, therefore, entered this
+house of mourning he went up to Mrs. Macdonald and asked her
+with tears in his eyes if she could endure the sight of one who had
+caused her such distress. 'Yes,' said the high-hearted old Highland-woman,
+'I would be glad to have served my Prince though all my
+sons had perished in his service, for in so doing they would only
+have done their duty.'<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p>
+
+<p>While resting here at Borodale, Charles sent his final orders to the
+remnant of his gallant army, which under their chiefs had drawn
+to a head at Ruthven. They were to disperse, he wrote, and secure
+their own safety as best they could; they must wait for better
+times, when he hoped to return bringing foreign succours. Heartbreaking
+orders these were for the brave men who had lost all in the
+Prince's cause, and who were now proscribed and homeless fugitives.</p>
+
+<p>Charles and the handful of men who accompanied him had
+expected that, once safely arrived at the coast, their troubles would
+be over and the way to France clear. But at Borodale they learned
+that the Western seas swarmed with English ships of war and with
+sloops manned by the local militia. A thorough search was being
+made of every bay and inlet of the mainland, and of every island,
+even to the Outer Hebrides, and further, to remote St. Kilda!
+This disconcerting news was brought by young Clanranald and Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+&AElig;neas Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart, the Parisian banker who
+had accompanied Charles from France. The latter had just
+returned from an expedition to South Uist, where he had more
+than once narrowly escaped being taken by some vigilant English
+cruiser. It was impossible, he urged, for a ship of any size to
+escape through such a closely-drawn net; the idea of starting
+directly for France must be abandoned, but could the Prince
+escape to the outer islands and there secure a suitable vessel, he
+<i>might</i> be out upon the wide seas before his departure was discovered.
+It was therefore decided that the little party should cross
+the Minch in an open boat and make for the Long Island. For this
+expedition the very man was forthcoming in the person of the
+Highland pilot who had accompanied Mr. Macdonald to South
+Uist. This was old Donald MacLeod of Guatergill, in Skye, a
+trader of substance and a man of shrewdness and experience. In
+spite of being a MacLeod he was a staunch Jacobite, and had joined
+the Prince's army at Inverness. He had a son, a mere lad, at
+school in that place; this boy, hearing that a battle was likely
+to take place, flung aside his book, borrowed a dirk and a
+pistol, and actually fought in the battle of Culloden. More lucky than
+most, he escaped from the fight, tracked the Prince to Borodale, and
+arrived in time to take his place as one of the eight rowers whom
+his father had collected for the expedition. The boat belonged to
+the missing John Macdonald, for the Borodale family gave life
+and property equally unhesitatingly in the Prince's service.</p>
+
+<p>On April 26, in the deepening twilight, the party started from
+Lochnanuagh. Hardly had they set out when they were overtaken
+by a terrible storm, the worst storm, Donald declared, that
+he had ever been out in, and he was an experienced sailor. The
+Prince demanded vehemently that the boat should be run on shore,
+but Donald, knowing the rock-bound coast, answered that to do so
+would be to run on certain death. Their one chance was to hold
+out straight to sea. It was pitch dark, the rain fell in torrents;
+they had neither lantern, compass, nor pump on board. Charles
+lay at the bottom of the boat, with his head between Donald's
+knees. No one spoke a word; every moment they expected to be
+overwhelmed in the waves or dashed against a rock, and for several
+hours the vessel rushed on in the darkness. 'But as God would
+have it,' to use Donald's words, 'by peep of day we discovered ourselves
+to be on the coast of the Long Isle. We made directly for
+the nearest land, which was Rossinish in Benbecula.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Here they found only a deserted hut, low, dark, and destitute
+of window or chimney; the floor was clay, and when they had lit a
+fire, the peat smoke was blinding and stifling. Still, they could dry
+their clothes and sleep, even though it were on a bed no better than
+a sail spread on the hard ground. Here they rested two days, and
+then found a more comfortable refuge in the Island of Scalpa,
+where the tacksman&mdash;although a Campbell&mdash;was a friend of
+Donald MacLeod's and received them hospitably.</p>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER II</h3>
+
+<h4>ON THE LONG ISLAND</h4>
+
+<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">The</span> object of the expedition was, of course, to find some vessel big
+enough to carry the Prince and his friends over to France. Such
+ships were to be had in Stornoway, and Donald MacLeod, being a
+man well known in these parts, undertook to secure a vessel and
+pilot, under the pretence of going on a trading expedition to the
+Orkneys. The Prince and his party were to remain at Scalpa till
+Donald should send for them. On May 3 came the message
+that vessel and pilot were in readiness, and that they should come
+to Stornoway without a moment's delay.</div>
+
+<p>Owing to the wind being ahead it was impossible to go by sea,
+and the Prince and his two Irish followers were forced to go the
+thirty miles to Stornoway on foot. No footpath led through the
+wastes of heavy, boggy moorlands, the rain fell with an even downpour,
+and the guide stupidly mistook the way and added eight
+long Highland miles to the distance. They were thoroughly
+drenched, exhausted, and famished when Donald met them at a
+place a mile or two out of Stornoway. Having cheered their bodies
+with bread and cheese and brandy, and their souls with the hopeful
+prospect of starting the next day for France, he took them to a
+house in the neighbourhood, Kildun, where the mistress, though
+a MacLeod, was, like most of her sex, an ardent Jacobite. Leaving
+the Prince and his friends to the enjoyment of food, dry clothes, a
+good fire, and the prospect of comfortable beds for tired limbs,
+Donald went back to Stornoway in hopeful spirits to complete his
+arrangements for taking the Prince on board. Another twenty-four
+hours and the ship would have weighed anchor, and the worst
+difficulties would be left behind.  But as soon as he entered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+Stornoway he saw that something was wrong. Three hundred
+men of the militia were in arms, and the whole place was in an
+uproar. The secret had leaked out; one of the boat's crew, getting
+tipsy, had boasted that the Prince was at hand with five hundred
+men, ready to take by force what he could not obtain by
+good-will.</p>
+
+<p>The inhabitants of Stornoway were all Mackenzies, pledged by
+their chief, Seaforth, to loyal support of the Government. It is
+eternally to their honour that all that they demanded was that the
+Prince should instantly remove himself from their neighbourhood.
+Not one amongst them seems to have suggested that a sum of
+30,000<i>l.</i> was to be gained by taking the Prince prisoner. So
+complete was Donald's confidence in their honesty that he did not
+hesitate to say to a roomful of armed militiamen, 'He has only two
+companions with him, <i>and when I am there I make a third</i>, and
+yet let me tell you, gentlemen, that if Seaforth himself were here
+he durst not put a hand to the Prince's breast.' Donald doubtless
+looked pretty formidable as he said these words; at any rate, the
+'honest Mackenzies' had no sinister intentions, only they vehemently
+insisted that the party should depart at once, and, what was worse,
+absolutely refused to give them a pilot. In vain Donald offered
+500<i>l.</i>; fear made them obdurate; and so, depressed and crestfallen,
+Donald returned to Kildun and urged the Prince to instant flight.
+But not even the fear of immediate capture could induce the three
+wearied men to set out again in the wet and darkness to plod over
+rocks and morasses with no certain goal. So Donald had to control
+his fears and impatience till next day.</p>
+
+<p>At eight next morning they started in the boat, hospitable Mrs.
+MacLeod insisting on their taking with them beef, meal, and even
+the luxuries of brandy, butter, and sugar. The weather being
+stormy they landed on a little desert island called Eiurn, which the
+Stornoway fishermen used as a place for drying fish. Between
+some fish which they found drying on the rocks and Mrs. MacLeod's
+stores they lived in comparative luxury for the next few days. Ned
+Burke, the valet, was told off as cook; but he soon found that the
+Prince was far more skilful in the art of cookery than himself. It
+was his Royal Highness who suggested the luxury of butter with
+the fish, and who made a quite original cake by mixing the brains
+of a cow with some meal, giving orders to 'birsle the bannock weel,
+or it would not do at all.' Donald used to declare that in all his
+life 'he never knew anyone better at a shift than the Prince when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+he happened to be at a pinch.' Like many another unfortunate
+man, whether prince or peasant, Charles found unfailing comfort
+in tobacco. He seems to have smoked nothing more splendid than
+clay pipes, and 'as in his wanderings these behoved to break, he
+used to take quills, and putting one into the other and all into the
+end of the "cutty," this served to make it long enough, and the
+tobacco to smoke cool.'</p>
+
+<p>Donald records another characteristic little trait of the Prince at
+this time. On quitting the island he insisted on leaving money on
+the rocks to pay for the fish they had consumed.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the situation was growing more and more
+dangerous. Rumours had got abroad that the Prince was in the
+Long Island, and the search was being actively pursued. Two
+English men-of-war were stationed near the island, and sloops and
+gunboats ran up every bay and sound, while bodies of militia carried
+on the search by land. These, from their intimate knowledge of
+the country, would have been the more formidable enemy of the
+two if many of their officers had not had a secret sympathy with
+the Jacobite cause and very lukewarm loyalty to the Government.</p>
+
+<p>For several days the Prince's boat had been so constantly
+pursued that it was impossible for the crew to land. They ran
+short of food, and were reduced to eating oatmeal mixed with salt
+water, a nauseous mixture called in Gaelic, Drammach. At last
+they ran into a lonely bay in Benbecula, where they were free from
+pursuit. It is characteristic of the Prince's irrepressible boyishness
+that he and the boatmen here went lobster-hunting with great
+enjoyment and success.</p>
+
+<p>Without help at this juncture the little party must either have
+starved or fallen into the hands of their enemies. Charles therefore
+sent a message to the old chief of Clanranald&mdash;the largest proprietor
+in South Uist&mdash;begging him to come and see him.</p>
+
+<p>Nine months before, when the Prince had landed on that island
+on his way from France, the old gentleman had refused to see him,
+pleading old age and infirmity. His brother, Macdonald of Boisdale,
+had seen the Prince and had vehemently urged him to give up so
+hopeless a design and to return to France; and, when he found that
+all persuasion was in vain, had roundly refused to promise him any
+assistance from his brother's clan. And though young Clanranald<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+had, indeed, joined the Prince's standard, it was with many misgivings
+and against his better judgment.</p>
+
+<p>But now, in the hour of Charles's total abandonment and distress,
+this gallant family laid aside all selfish prudence. The old chief, in
+spite of age and ill-health, came immediately to the wretched hut
+where Charles had taken refuge, bringing with him Spanish wines,
+provisions, shoes, and stockings. He found the young man, whom
+he reverenced as his rightful king, in a hut as big as, and no cleaner
+than, a pig-stye, haggard and worn with hardship and hunger. 'His
+shirt,' as Dougal Graham, the servant, was quick to observe, 'was
+as dingy as a dish-clout.' That last little detail of misery appealed
+strongly to the womanly heart of Lady Clanranald, who immediately
+sent six good shirts to the Prince.</p>
+
+<p>For the next three weeks Charles enjoyed a respite under the
+vigilant protection of Clanranald and his brother Boisdale. They
+found a hiding-place for him in the Forest-house of Glencoridale, a
+hut rather bigger and better than most. By a system of careful
+spies and watchers they kept the Prince informed of every movement
+of the enemy. It was the month of June&mdash;June as it is in
+the North, when days are warm and sunny and the evening twilight
+is prolonged till the early dawn, and there is no night at all. South
+Uist, beyond all other islands of the Hebrides, abounds in game of
+all kinds, and the Prince was always a keen sportsman. He
+delighted his followers by shooting birds on the wing, he fished
+(though it was only sea-fishing from a boat), and he shot red-deer
+on the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>Once, when Ned Burke was preparing some collops from a deer
+the Prince had shot, a wild, starved-looking lad approached, and
+seeing the food, thrust his hand into the dish without either 'with
+your leave or by your leave,' and began devouring it like a savage.
+Ned in a rage very naturally began to beat the boy, but the gentle
+Prince interfered, and reminded his servant of the Christian duty
+of feeding the hungry, adding, 'I cannot see anyone perish for
+lack of food or raiment if I have it in my power to help them.'
+Having been fed and clothed the wretched boy went off straight to
+a body of militia in the neighbourhood and tried to betray the
+Prince to them. Fortunately, his appearance and manners were
+such that no one believed him, and he was laughed at for his pains.
+Out of at least a hundred souls, gentle and simple, who knew of the
+Prince's hiding-place, this 'young Judas' was the only one who
+dropped the slightest hint of his whereabouts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Nor was it only among the Jacobite clans that Charles found
+devoted and vigilant friends.</p>
+
+<p>The two most powerful chiefs in the North-west of Scotland were
+at this time MacLeod of MacLeod and Sir Alexander Macdonald of
+Mugstatt, or Mouggestot, in Skye. These two had, to the great disappointment
+of the Jacobites, declared for the Government, and had
+shown considerable zeal in trying to suppress the rising; but in
+the very household of Mugstatt Charles had a romantic and zealous
+adherent in the person of Lady Margaret, Sir Alexander Macdonald's
+wife. A daughter of the house of Eglintoun, she had been brought
+up in Jacobite principles, and now, in the absence of her husband,
+did all she could to help the Prince in his distress. Through the
+help of a certain Mr. Hugh Macdonald of Belshair she kept Charles
+informed of the enemy's movements and sent him newspapers.
+Towards the end of June the Government authorities were pretty
+certain that the Prince was hiding somewhere in the Long Island,
+and attention began to be concentrated on that spot. Two more
+English cruisers were sent there, under Captains Scott and Fergusson&mdash;men
+who had learnt lessons of cruelty from the greatest
+master of that art, the Duke of Cumberland&mdash;and militia bands
+patrolled the whole island. It was quite necessary to remove the
+Prince from Glencoridale, and the faithful Belshair was at once
+despatched by Lady Margaret to consult with Charles about his
+further movements. This Mr. Macdonald of Belshair arranged
+with Macdonald of Boisdale&mdash;one of the shrewdest as well as
+kindest of the Prince's friends&mdash;that they should meet at the Forest-house
+of Glencoridale. The meeting, in spite of hardships and
+danger and a worse than uncertain future, was a merry one. The
+two Highland gentlemen dined with the Prince (on 'sooty beef'
+and apparently a plate of butter!), and the talk was cheerful and
+free. Forgetful of the gloomy prospects of the Jacobite cause, and
+ignoring the victorious enemies encamped within a few miles of
+them, they talked hopefully of future meetings at St. James's, the
+Prince declaring that 'if he had never so much ado he would be at
+least one night merry with his Highland friends.' But St. James's
+was far enough off from Coridale, and in the meantime it became
+daily more certain that there was no longer safety for the Prince
+in Uist.</p>
+
+<p>The pleasant life in the Forest-house had to be broken up, and
+for the next ten weary days the little party lived in their boat,
+eluding as well as they could their enemies by sea and by land.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Their difficulties were much increased and their spirits sadly
+disturbed by the fact that their generous friend Boisdale had been
+taken prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>It is one of the most singular facts of the Prince's wanderings
+that as soon as he lost one helpful friend another immediately rose
+up to take his place. This time an ally was found literally in
+the enemy's camp. One of the officers in command of the militia
+in Benbecula was a certain Hugh Macdonald of Armadale, in
+Skye, a clansman of Sir Alexander's, but, like many another Macdonald,
+a Jacobite at heart. It is very uncertain how far he was
+personally responsible for the plan that was at this time being
+formed for the Prince's escape. Donald MacLeod and others of the
+Prince's party were certain that Charles had met and talked with
+him at Rossinish and had presented him with his pistols. This
+gentleman had a step-daughter, a certain Flora Macdonald, a girl
+of remarkable character, courage, and discretion. She generally
+lived with her mother at Armadale, in Skye, but just now she was
+paying a visit to her brother in South Uist. It is difficult to make
+out how or when or by whom the idea was first started that this
+lady should convey the Prince to Skye disguised as her servant,
+but it appears that she had had more than one interview with
+O'Neal on the subject. On Saturday, June 21, being closely
+pursued by the implacable Captain Scott, Charles parted with his
+faithful little band of followers in Uist, paying the boatmen as
+generously as his slender purse would allow. With two clean
+shirts under his arm and with only O'Neal as his companion he
+started for Benbecula. Arriving at midnight in a small shieling
+belonging to Macdonald of Milton, 'by good fortune,' as O'Neal
+puts it, 'we met with Miss Flora Macdonald, whom I formerly
+knew.' It is a little difficult to believe that young ladies of Miss
+Flora's discretion were in the habit of frequenting lonely shielings
+far from their homes at midnight, at a time when the whole country
+was infested with soldiers. Nor does the beginning of her
+interview with O'Neal sound like the language of surprise. 'Then
+I told her I brought a friend to see her; and she, with some emotion,
+asked me if it was the Prince. I answered that it was, and instantly
+brought him in.' Among all the stout Highland hearts which
+were ready to risk everything for him, Charles never found one
+more brave and pitiful than that of the girl who was introduced to
+him in this strange and perilous situation.</p>
+
+<p>The plan was at once proposed to her that she should convey<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+the Prince with her to Skye disguised in female attire as her maid.
+Flora was no mere romantic miss, eager for adventure and carried
+away by her feelings. She was quite aware of the danger she
+would bring on herself, and more especially on her friends, by this
+course. It was with some reluctance that she at last gave her consent,
+but once her word was pledged she was ready to go to the
+death if need were, and threw all her feminine ingenuity into
+carrying out the scheme. They arranged that she was to go next
+day to consult with Lady Clanranald and to procure feminine attire
+as a disguise for the Prince. As soon as all was prepared they were
+to meet at Rossinish in Benbecula; in the meantime O'Neal undertook
+to come and go between the Prince and Miss Macdonald to
+report progress and convey messages.</p>
+
+<p>The two men seem to have returned to a hiding-place in the
+neighbourhood of Glencoridale, and Miss Flora returned to Milton.
+She had to pass one of the narrow sea fords next day on her way to
+Ormaclade, the Clanranalds' house; this ford was guarded by a
+body of militia, and having no passport, she and her servant, Neil
+MacKechan, were taken prisoners. The situation was awkward in
+the extreme, and every hour's delay was an added danger. To her
+great relief she learned that the officer in command, who was
+expected that morning, was her stepfather, Mr. Hugh Macdonald.
+On his arrival he was (or affected to be) extremely surprised to find
+his stepdaughter a prisoner in the guard-room; but with a complaisance
+very remarkable in an officer of the Government, he drew
+her out passports for herself, for her servant Neil, and for a new
+Irish servant, Betty Burke, whom she desired to take with her to
+Skye. So great was Macdonald's interest in this unknown Betty
+that he actually wrote a letter to his wife in Skye recommending
+the girl.</p>
+
+<p>'I have sent your daughter from this country,' he wrote, 'lest
+she should be frightened by the troops lying here. She has got one
+Betty Burke, an Irish girl, who, she tells me, is a good spinster. If
+her spinning pleases you, you may keep her till she spins all your
+lint.' In spite of the gravity of the situation, one cannot help
+thinking that Flora and her stepfather must have had a good deal
+of amusement concocting this circumstantial and picturesque
+falsehood.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as she was set at liberty Flora went to Ormaclade, where
+Lady Clanranald entered heartily into the plan. Among her stores
+they chose a light coloured quilted petticoat, a flowered gown&mdash;lilac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>
+flowers on a white ground, to be particular&mdash;an apron and a
+long duffle cloak. Fortunately Highland women are tall and large,
+for the Prince's height, 5 feet 10 inches, though moderate for a man,
+looked ungainly enough in petticoats.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i098.png" width="400" height="219" alt="Sitting by the fire" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>It was Friday the 25th before the way was clear for Flora and
+Lady Clanranald to meet the Prince at the rendezvous at Rossinish
+in Benbecula. The four intervening days had been full of difficulties
+for Charles and O'Neal. The fords between the two islands were so
+well guarded that there was no chance of their being able to cross
+them on foot; they had no boat, and the hours were passing for them
+in an agony of suspense. At last they risked asking a chance boat
+which was passing to set them across, and accomplished the passage
+in safety.  But when they did arrive at the hut at Rossinish,
+cold, wet, and wearied, they found that a party of militia were encamped
+within half a mile, and that the soldiers came every
+morning to that very hut for milk. Charles was by this time
+accustomed to the feeling that he was carrying his life in his hands.
+At daybreak he had to leave the hut to make room for his pursuers,
+all day he had to lie in an unsheltered fissure of a rock, where the
+rain&mdash;the heavy, relentless rain of the West Highlands&mdash;poured
+down on him; if it did clear at all, then that other plague of the
+Highlands, swarms of midges, nearly drove him distracted. On
+Friday the militiamen moved off, and the way being clear, Lady
+Clanranald, Miss Flora Macdonald, and a certain Mrs. Macdonald of
+Kirkibost came to visit him and O'Neal in their hut, bringing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+female attire with them. These loyal ladies found their lawful
+sovereign roasting a sheep's liver on a spit; but neither discomfort,
+danger, nor dirt could do away with the courtly charm of his manner
+or the fine gaiety of his address. He placed Miss Macdonald on
+his right hand&mdash;he always gave his preserver the seat of honour&mdash;and
+Lady Clanranald at his left, and the strange little dinner-party
+proceeded merrily. But before it was finished a messenger broke
+in to tell Lady Clanranald that the infamous Captain Fergusson
+had arrived at Ormaclade, and was demanding the mistress of the
+house with angry suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>The Prince had now to part with O'Neal, in spite of the poor
+fellow's entreaties to be allowed to remain with him. Miss Macdonald
+had only passports for three and the danger was urgent.
+He was a faithful and affectionate friend, this O'Neal, if a little
+boastful and muddle-headed. He could shortly afterwards have
+escaped to France&mdash;as O'Sullivan did&mdash;in a French ship, if he had
+not insisted on going to Skye to try to fetch off the Prince. He
+missed the Prince, and fell into the hands of Captain Fergusson.</p>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER III</h3>
+
+<h4>IN SKYE</h4>
+
+<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">On</span> Saturday (June 26) the Prince put on his female attire for the
+first time, and very strange he must have felt as he sat in flowered
+calico on wet, slippery rocks, trying to keep himself warm beside
+a fire kindled on the beach. It was eight in the evening when
+they started, and the storm broke on them as soon as they were out
+at sea. The whole party was distressed and anxious, apparently,
+except Charles himself, who sang songs and told stories to keep up
+the spirits of his companions. Long afterwards Flora Macdonald
+loved to tell how chivalrously and considerately he looked after her
+comfort on that dangerous journey.</div>
+
+<p>Going round the north end of the Isle of Skye, they came ashore
+close to Mugstatt, Sir Alexander Macdonald's place. That chief
+was himself away at Fort Augustus with the Duke of Cumberland,
+but his wife, Lady Margaret, who, as we have seen, was a staunch
+friend to the Prince, was at home. Still, in her position it was
+most undesirable that Charles should present himself at her house.
+Miss Macdonald and her servant Neil went up to the house&mdash;the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>
+garden sloped down to the part of the shore where they had
+landed&mdash;leaving Betty Burke sitting on the boxes in her flowered
+gown and duffle cloak.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Macdonald had good reason to congratulate herself on her
+prudence when she found Lady Margaret's drawing-room full of
+guests. Among these was Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost, but she
+was already in the secret; Mr. Macdonald of Kingsburgh was also
+there, but he was a man of such a chivalrous spirit and so kindly
+in his disposition, that the secret would have been safe with him
+even if he had not been&mdash;as he was&mdash;a staunch Jacobite at heart.
+Far more formidable was a third guest, young Lieutenant MacLeod,
+a militia officer who, with a small body of men, was stationed at
+Mugstatt for the express purpose of examining every boat that
+might arrive from the Long Island. He certainly neglected this
+duty as far as Miss Macdonald's boat was concerned, possibly out
+of complaisance to her hostess, Lady Margaret, possibly because the
+young lady's careless demeanour disarmed all suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>The situation was a most anxious one for Miss Macdonald; she
+had to carry on an easy flow of chat with a young officer while
+all the time she could think of nothing but Betty Burke sitting on
+her box on the shore. Every moment was precious and nothing
+was being done.</p>
+
+<p>At last, during dinner, she managed to confide the whole situation
+to Kingsburgh, and while she kept the lieutenant engaged, the
+latter left the room and sent for Lady Margaret to speak to him on
+business. (He was her husband's factor, and there was nothing to
+excite remark in his wanting a private talk with her.) On learning
+the news she for a moment lost her head, and screamed out that
+they were undone. But with much sense and kindness Kingsburgh
+reassured her, saying that if necessary he would take the
+Prince to his own house, adding, with a touch of his characteristic
+chivalry, that he was now an old man, and it made very little difference
+to him whether he should die with a halter round his neck
+or await a death which could not be far distant.</p>
+
+<p>As for the immediate future, the first idea that occurred both to
+Lady Margaret and Kingsburgh was, 'Let us send for Donald Roy.'
+This Donald was a brother of the Macdonald of Belshair who had
+visited the Prince at Coridale. He had been 'out' with the Prince's
+army, and was now living with a surgeon near Mugstatt, trying to
+recover from a serious wound in his foot received at Culloden.
+This Donald must have been a good fellow, popular, and liked by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>
+all; for even in those dangerous times he seems to have lived on
+an intimate footing with the very militia officers who were sent to
+search for hidden Jacobites.</p>
+
+<p>No man could have been more suited for Kingsburgh's purpose
+than Donald. Not only was he sensible, honourable, and brave,
+but as an acknowledged Jacobite he had less to lose if discovered,
+and as a young and amiable man his person could not fail to be
+acceptable to the Prince.</p>
+
+<p>On his arrival he found Kingsburgh and Lady Margaret walking
+up and down the garden. 'O Donald!' cried the lady, 'we are
+undone for ever!' After much rapid, anxious talk, the three
+agreed that the safest place for the Prince would be the Island of
+Rasay. Old Rasay had been 'out' and was in hiding, his second
+son was recovering from a wound received at Culloden, and the
+eldest, though he had kept quiet from motives of prudence, was
+quite as keen a Jacobite as the other two. Their eagerness to
+serve the Prince could be relied on, and as the island had been recently
+devastated by the Government soldiers, it was not likely to
+be visited again.</p>
+
+<p>Donald Roy undertook to see young MacLeod of Rasay and
+to make arrangements for meeting the Prince at Portree next day,
+while Kingsburgh promised to carry the Prince off with him to
+his own house and to send him next day under safe guidance to
+Portree. In this way, whatever happened, Lady Margaret would
+not be compromised.</p>
+
+<p>So the garden conclave broke up, and the three separated.
+Lady Margaret returned to her drawing-room, where, poor woman,
+she sadly disconcerted Miss Macdonald by nervously going in and
+out of the room. However, the lieutenant seems to have been
+too much taken up with his companion to notice his hostess's
+demeanour. Donald Roy, in spite of his lame foot, set off for
+Portree in search of young Rasay, and old Kingsburgh hurried off
+to look for Charles, carrying refreshments with him. Not finding
+him on the shore below the garden, the old man walked on rather
+anxiously till, seeing some sheep running, he concluded that someone
+must have disturbed them, and went to the spot. A tall, ungainly
+woman in a long cloak started forward to meet him brandishing
+a big knotted stick. As soon as Kingsburgh named himself
+the Prince knew that he had found a friend, and placed himself
+in his hands with the frank confidence he always showed in dealing
+with his Highland followers, a confidence which they so nobly justified.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After the Prince had had something to eat and drink, the pair
+set out to walk to Kingsburgh, a considerable distance off. Unfortunately
+it was Sunday, and they met many country people
+returning from church, who were all eager to have a little business
+chat with Sir Alexander's factor. He got rid of most of them by
+slyly reminding them of the sacredness of the day, for the Prince's
+awkward movements and masculine stride made his disguise
+very apparent. 'They may call you the Pretender,' cried Kingsburgh,
+between annoyance and amusement, 'but I never knew
+anyone so bad at your trade.'</p>
+
+<p>At the first stream they had to cross the Prince lifted his skirts
+with a most masculine disregard of appearances, and to mend
+matters, when he came to the next, let his petticoats float in the
+water with a most unfeminine disregard of his clothes.</p>
+
+<p>Halfway on their road Miss Macdonald rode past them on
+horseback, accompanied by Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost and the
+latter's maid. 'Look, look,' cried that damsel, 'what strides the
+jade takes! I dare say she's an Irishwoman or else a man in
+woman's clothes.' Miss Macdonald thought it best to quicken her
+pace and make no reply.</p>
+
+<p>She was already at Kingsburgh when the Prince and his host
+arrived there at about eleven o'clock. All the household were in
+bed. A message was sent up to Mrs. Macdonald to tell her of the
+arrival of guests, but she very naturally refused to get up, and
+merely sent her compliments to Miss Macdonald and begged she
+would help herself to everything she wanted. When, however,
+her husband came up to her room and gravely requested her to
+come down and attend to his guest, she felt that something was
+wrong. Nor did it allay her fears when her little daughter ran up
+crying that 'the most odd, muckle, ill-shaken-up wife' she had seen
+in all her life was walking up and down in the hall. Mrs. Macdonald
+entered the main room with some misgiving, and in the
+uncertain firelight saw a tall, ungainly woman striding up and
+down. The figure approached her and, according to the manners
+of the time, saluted her. The rough touch of the unshaven lip left
+no doubt on the lady's mind; her husband's guest was certainly a
+man in disguise, probably a proscribed Jacobite. She hurried out
+of the room and met Kingsburgh in the hall. It did not occur to
+this good woman to upbraid her husband for bringing danger on
+his family; her first question was, 'Do you think the stranger will
+know anything about the Prince?'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>'My dear,' said Kingsburgh very gravely, taking her hands in
+his, '<i>this is the Prince himself</i>!'</p>
+
+<p>'The Prince!' cried Mrs. Macdonald, rather overwhelmed, 'then
+we shall all be hanged!'</p>
+
+<p>'We can die but once,' said her husband, 'could we ever die in
+a better cause?'</p>
+
+<p>Then, returning to the homely necessities of the hour, he begged
+her to bring bread and cheese and eggs.</p>
+
+<p>Bread and cheese and eggs to set before Royalty! This disgrace
+to her housewifery affected Mrs. Macdonald almost as feelingly as
+the danger they were in. The idea, too, of sitting down at supper
+with her lawful sovereign caused the simple lady the greatest
+embarrassment. However, she was prevailed upon to take the seat
+at the Prince's left hand, while Miss Macdonald had her usual place
+at his right. After the ladies had retired Charles lighted his 'cutty,'
+and he and Kingsburgh had a comfortable chat and a bowl of punch
+over the fire. Indeed, good food, good fires, and good company were
+such congenial luxuries after the life he had been leading, that Charles
+sat on and on in his chair, and the hospitable Kingsburgh had at
+last to insist upon his guest going to bed.</p>
+
+<p>Hour after hour the Prince slept on next morning, Kingsburgh
+being unwilling to disturb the one good rest he might have for
+weeks; Miss Macdonald was growing impatient and Mrs. Macdonald
+anxious, and at last Kingsburgh consented to rouse him at about
+one o'clock. Portree was seven miles off, and had to be reached
+before dark. It was decided that the Prince might resume male
+attire <i>en route</i>, but in case of exciting suspicion among the servants
+he had still to masquerade as Betty Burke till he left the house.
+Mrs. Macdonald, her daughter, and Miss Flora all came up to assist
+at his toilet, for 'deil a preen could he put in,' as his hostess expressed
+herself. He laughed so heartily over his own appearance
+that they could hardly get his dress fastened. Before he left the
+room he permitted Flora Macdonald to cut off a lock of his hair,
+which she divided with Mrs. MacLeod. What is a still more
+touching proof of the devotion of these two good women is that they
+carefully took off the sheets of the Prince's bed, vowing that these
+should be neither washed nor used again till they should serve each
+of them as winding-sheets. Kingsburgh accompanied his guests
+part of the way, assisted Charles to change his dress in a little wood,
+and then, with tears, bade him farewell.</p>
+
+<p>Flora Macdonald rode on to Portree by another road, leaving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+her servant, Neil MacKechan, and a little herd-boy to act as guides
+to the Prince.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Donald Roy had been active in the Prince's
+service. At Portree he had met young Rona MacLeod of Rasay
+and his brother Murdoch, and, as he had expected, found them
+eager to face any danger or difficulty for their Prince. They had
+a cousin rather older than themselves, Malcolm MacLeod, who had
+been a captain in the Prince's army. He entered into the scheme
+as heartily as the other two, and only suggested prudently that
+Rona should leave the matter to himself and Murdoch, who were
+'already as black as black can be.' But Rona was not to be baulked
+of his share of the danger and glory of serving the Prince, and
+vowed that he <i>would</i> go even if it should cost him his estate and
+his head. So with two stout faithful boatmen they arrived within
+a mile of Portree, drew up their boat among the rocks where it
+could be hid, and remained waiting for the Prince, while the night
+fell and the rain came down in sheets.</p>
+
+<p>It had been arranged at Mugstatt that Donald Roy was to meet
+the Prince late on Monday afternoon in the one public-house that
+Portree could boast. This public-house consisted of one large, dirty,
+smoky room, and people of all kinds kept going in and out, and here
+Donald took up his post. Flora Macdonald was the first to arrive,
+and she, Donald Roy, and Malcolm MacLeod sat together over the
+fire waiting anxiously. It was already dark when a small, wet herd-boy
+slipped in and going up to Donald whispered that a gentleman
+wanted to see him. The poor Prince was standing in the darkness
+outside drenched to the skin. As soon as they were at the inn Donald
+insisted on his changing his clothes, and Malcolm at once gave him
+his own dry philibeg. Food they could get, and water was brought
+in an old, battered, rusty tin from which the Prince drank, being
+afraid of arousing suspicion by any fastidiousness. He also bought
+sixpennyworth of the coarsest tobacco, and nearly betrayed his
+quality to the already suspicious landlord by a princely indifference
+to his change, but Malcolm prudently secured the 'bawbees' and
+put them into the Prince's sporran.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Flora now rose very sadly to go, as she had to continue
+her journey that night. The Prince kissed her and said farewell
+with much suppressed emotion, but with his usual hopefulness
+added that he trusted that they might yet meet at St. James's.
+These constant partings from so many faithful, warm-hearted
+friends were among the hardest trials of Charles's wandering life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+He seems to have clung with special affection to Donald Roy, and
+urged him again and again not to leave him, but to go with him to
+Rasay. Donald could only reply that the state of his wounded foot
+made it impossible.</p>
+
+<p>This conversation took place as they plunged through wet and
+darkness from Portree down to the shore where the boat was lying.
+Malcolm MacLeod, who made a third in the little party, had a spirit
+as firm and a heart as warm as Donald's own, and before the end
+of the week the Prince was clinging with the same affection to this
+new friend.</p>
+
+<p>The wild and desolate island of Rasay offered the Prince a
+comparatively secure hiding-place, and the three MacLeods had
+both the will and the power to protect him, and to provide a reasonable
+amount of comfort for him. But a kind of restlessness seems
+to have come over the Prince at this time. It was only by being
+constantly on the move that he could escape from anxious and painful
+thoughts. Possibly he may have felt a little insecure in the midst
+of the Clan MacLeod (though he had met nowhere with more
+devotion than that of the three cousins); he certainly seems to
+have bestowed far more affection and confidence on Malcolm than
+on the other two.</p>
+
+<p>On Thursday he insisted on starting for Skye, in spite of the
+entreaties of the young MacLeods, nor would he turn back when
+a storm broke and threatened to overwhelm them. It was night
+before they landed at Trotternish, a night such as had become
+familiar to the Prince, dark and chill and pouring with rain. They
+made for a byre on the property of Mr. Nicholson of Scorobeck.
+Young Rasay went on in front to see that no one was there. 'If
+there had been anyone in it, what would you have done?' he asked
+the Prince rather reproachfully; for Charles's self-will and foolhardiness
+must at times have been very trying to those who were
+risking life and estate for him. In the byre they lighted a fire,
+dried their clothes, and slept for some hours. The next day, Rona
+being away, the Prince asked Murdoch if he would accompany him
+into the country of the Mackinnons in the south of Skye (the old
+chief of that clan had been in the Prince's army, and Charles felt
+that he would be safe amongst them). Murdoch's wound prevented
+his undertaking such a journey&mdash;it was thirty miles over the wildest
+part of Skye&mdash;but Malcolm could go, and his cousin assured the
+Prince that he could nowhere find a more faithful and devoted
+servant. So the pair set out in the morning for their wild tramp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+To prevent discovery the Prince affected to be Malcolm's servant,
+walked behind him, and, further to disguise himself, put his periwig
+in his pocket and bound a dirty cloth round his head&mdash;a disguise
+specially calculated, one would think, to excite attention. The two
+young men talked frankly and confidentially, making great strides
+in friendship as they went along. Once a covey of partridges rose,
+and, with a true British instinct for sport at all hazards,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> the Prince
+raised his gun and would have fired if Malcolm had not caught
+his arm. They were careful to pass through the hostile MacLeod
+country at night, and at break of day arrived in Strath, the country
+of the Mackinnons. Malcolm MacLeod had a sister married to a
+Mackinnon, an honest, warm-hearted follow who had followed his
+chief and served as captain in the Prince's army. To his house
+they directed their steps; Mackinnon himself was away, but his
+wife received her brother and his friend with the utmost kindness.
+The Prince passed for a certain Lewis Caw, a surgeon's apprentice
+(who was actually 'skulking' in Skye at the time), and acted his
+part of humble retainer so well that poor Malcolm was quite
+embarrassed; and the rough servant-lass treated him with the
+contempt Highland servants seem to have for their own class, if
+'Lowland bodies.' Both the tired travellers lay down to sleep, and
+when Malcolm awoke late in the afternoon he found the sweet-tempered
+Prince playing with Mrs. Mackinnon's little child. 'Ah,
+little man,' he cried, in a moment of forgetfulness, 'you may live
+to be a captain in my service yet.' 'Or you an old sergeant in his,'
+said the indignant nurse, jealous of her charge's position.</p>
+
+<p>Next day Malcolm went out to meet his brother-in-law. He
+had absolute confidence in Mackinnon's faithfulness and loyalty,
+but he feared that his warm-hearted feelings might lead him into
+indiscretions which would betray the Prince; and in spite of all
+warnings Mackinnon could not restrain his tears when he saw his
+Prince under his roof in such a wretched plight.</p>
+
+<p>It was important that Charles should be at once taken to the
+mainland, and John Mackinnon went off at noon to the house of
+the chief of the Mackinnons to borrow a boat. This old man was
+a fine type of a Highland gentleman. It was his daily&mdash;probably
+his only&mdash;prayer that he might die on the field of battle fighting
+for his king and country. He was simple-minded, brave, and faithful,
+and though now between sixty and seventy, as active and
+courageous as any young man. John had received injunctions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+not to betray the Prince's presence in the neighbourhood to the
+laird, but to keep such a piece of news from his chief was quite
+beyond honest John's powers. Nothing would restrain the old man
+from going off at once with his wife to pay their homage to the
+Prince. Nor would he hear of anyone conducting Charles to the
+mainland but himself.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<a href="images/i108-big.png"><img src="images/i108.png" width="500" height="312" alt="PRINCE CHARLIE&#39;S WANDERINGS. The black lines indicating land and the dotted lines sea journeys." title="" /></a>
+<span class="caption">PRINCE CHARLIE&#39;S WANDERINGS.<br />
+
+The black lines indicating land and the dotted lines sea journeys.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock that night the little party embarked. The
+Prince took a most affecting farewell of Malcolm MacLeod. With
+courtly punctilio he sent a note to Donald Roy to tell of his safe
+departure, then pressed ten guineas&mdash;almost his last&mdash;on his friend's
+acceptance, smoked a last pipe with him, and finally presented him
+with the invaluable 'cutty.'</p>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3>
+
+<h4>ON THE MAINLAND</h4>
+
+<div class='unindent'><span class="smcap">To</span> understand the Prince's proceedings for the next few weeks
+it is necessary to have a clear idea of the country which was
+the scene of his wanderings. From Loch Hourn (which opens
+opposite Sleat in Skye) on the north down to Loch Shiel on the
+south a little group of wild and rugged peninsulas run out into the
+Atlantic, called respectively Knoydart, Morar, Arisaig, and Moidart.
+Between these deep narrow lochs run far inland. Loch Nevis lies
+between Knoydart and Morar; Loch Morar, a freshwater loch, cuts
+off the peninsula of the same name from Arisaig, and this again is
+separated from Moidart by Lochs Nanuagh and Aylort, and Loch
+Shiel separates the whole group from Ardnamurchan in the south.
+The wild, inaccessible nature of the country, the deep valleys and
+many rocky hollows in the hills offered many hiding-places; but a
+glance at the map will show that a vigilant enemy by stationing
+men-of-war in all the lochs and drawing a cordon of soldiers from
+the head of Loch Hourn to the head of Loch Shiel, could draw the
+net so tightly that escape would be nearly impossible.</div>
+
+<p>In these first days of July, however, the search was still chiefly
+confined to the Long Island and Skye, and Charles got a clear start
+of his enemies. On July 5, in the early morning, he and his faithful
+Mackinnons landed at a place named Mallach on Loch Nevis,
+and spent the next three days in the open. They were in a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+deal of perplexity as to their next movements, and when Charles
+learned that old Clanranald was staying in the neighbourhood, at
+the home of his kinsman Scothouse, he sent to ask his advice
+and help, expecting confidently to find the old faithful kindness
+that had helped him in Uist. But the old gentleman had had
+enough of danger and suffering in the Prince's cause; his son
+was a fugitive, his brother a prisoner, he himself was in hiding.
+The sudden appearance of Mackinnon startled him into a state of
+nervous terror, and he declared querulously that he could do no
+more nor knew anyone else who could give any help. Mackinnon
+returned indignant and mortified, but the Prince received the news
+philosophically, 'Well, Mr. Mackinnon, we must do the best we
+can for ourselves.'</p>
+
+<p>It was the first rebuff he had met with; but a day or two later he
+found the same lukewarm spirit in Mr. Macdonald of Morar, a former
+friend. The poor man had had his house burnt over his head and
+was living with his family in a wretched hut, and probably thought
+that he had suffered enough for the cause. This desertion cut the
+Prince to the quick. 'I hope, Mackinnon,' he cried, addressing John,
+'that you will not desert me too.' The old chief thought that the
+words were addressed to him. 'I will never leave your Royal
+Highness in the hour of danger,' he declared, with tears, and John's
+reply was no less fervent.</p>
+
+<p>There was one house in the neighbourhood where the Prince
+could always count on a welcome whether he came at midnight, at
+cockcrow, or at noon, whether as a Prince on his way to win a
+crown or as a beggar with neither home nor hope. The hospitable
+house of Borodale was a mass of blackened ruins, but the laird&mdash;'my
+kind old landlord,' as the Prince fondly called him&mdash;and his
+two sons had still strong hands, shrewd heads, and warm hearts
+ready for the Prince's service.</p>
+
+<p>From Morar the Prince and the two Mackinnons walked
+through the summer night over the wildest mountain track and
+arrived at Borodale in the early morning. Old Angus was still in
+bed when they knocked at the door of the bothy where the family
+was living. He came to the door, wrapt in his blanket. When
+Mackinnon explained who it was that desired his hospitality, the
+old man's welcome came prompt and unhesitating. '<i>I</i> have brought
+him here,' said Mackinnon, 'and will commit him to <i>your</i> charge.
+I have done my duty, do you do yours.'</p>
+
+<p>'I am glad of it,' said Angus, 'and shall not fail to take care of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+him. I shall lodge him so securely that all the forces in Great
+Britain shall not find him.'</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;">
+<img src="images/i110.png" width="350" height="373" alt="In reality it was a small hut" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>So John Mackinnon, having done all he could, parted from the
+Prince with the same affectionate sorrow that had marked the farewells
+of all his faithful Highlanders. He was caught on his return to
+Skye, by the cruel Captain Scott, and five days later was brought
+back to Lochnanuagh, a prisoner on board an English man-of-war.
+Opposite the place where the ship cast anchor was a fissure in the
+rock, and halfway up was what looked like a mere grassy bank. In
+reality it was a small hut roofed with sods, so contrived that no
+one unless he were in the secret would have suspected it of being
+anything but a grassy slope. Here the Prince had spent the
+preceding night, but as soon as the ship entered the loch he
+betook himself to the hills. He was accompanied by old Borodale
+and his son John&mdash;the young man who had been supposed to
+have died at Culloden.  A cousin of Borodale's, Macdonald of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>
+Glenaladale, had always been a special friend of the Prince's. He
+joined him now in the wilds, resolved to share all his worst dangers,
+though he had to leave his wife and 'five weak pretty children'
+unprotected and living in a bothy, the only home the English
+soldiers had left them. The first plan these brave men concerted
+together was to carry the Prince into Lochiel's country, where
+young Clanranald had promised to provide him a hiding-place.
+On their way, however, they heard that a body of soldiers
+were approaching from Loch Arkaig, which completely blocked
+their way on that side. That same night old Borodale learnt that
+General Campbell with several ships was in Loch Nevis, Captain
+Scott was still in Lochnanuagh, and parties from these ships were
+searching every foot of ground in their neighbourhoods. At the
+same time troops had been landed at the head of Loch Hourn, and
+others simultaneously at the head of Loch Shiel. Between these
+two points the distance as the crow flies must be some twenty or
+five-and-twenty miles, but the wild mountainous nature of the
+country makes the actual distance far greater. In spite of all
+difficulties the Government troops in a few days had drawn a
+complete cordon from one point to the other. This cordon consisted
+of single sentinels planted within sight of each other who
+permitted no one to pass unchallenged. At night large fires were
+lighted, and every quarter of an hour patrolling parties passed
+from one to the other to see that all the sentinels were on the
+alert.</p>
+
+<p>Charles's case was almost desperate. For several days he and
+his companions lived like hunted animals on the mountain-tops.
+They were frequently within sight of some camp of the enemy;
+more than once they had to go precipitately down one side of
+a hill because the soldiers were coming up the other. They
+changed their quarters at night, sometimes marching long miles
+merely to reach some mountain which having been searched the
+day before was less likely to be visited again. In the daytime the
+Prince could snatch a few hours of troubled sleep in some rocky
+hollow while the rest of the party kept guard. News of the enemy's
+movements was brought them occasionally by secret friends under
+cover of darkness, but even their approach was full of terror for
+the fugitives. Worst of all was their suffering from hunger.
+The soldiers devoured and destroyed what meagre stores the
+country could boast, and in spite of the generosity of the poorer
+clansmen no food could be had. For four days the whole party<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>
+lived on a few handfuls of dry meal and some butter. On one
+occasion soldiers passed below their lair driving cattle. The Prince,
+who was starving, proposed to follow them, and 'lift' some of the
+cattle in the night. His companions remonstrated, but he led the
+party himself, and secured the beef.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The guide, and indeed the
+leader of the little band, was a farmer, Donald Cameron of Glenpean.
+But for this man's daring courage and his intimate knowledge of
+the country the Prince must sooner or later have fallen into the
+hands of his enemies.</p>
+
+<p>The circle was daily being drawn more closely round the prey,
+and daily the fear of starvation stared them in the face. Should
+they wait to die like driven deer or make one desperate effort to
+break through the toils that surrounded them, and either escape
+or die like men? For brave men there could only be one answer
+to such a question. On the night of July 25 they determined to
+force their way through the cordon.</p>
+
+<p>All that day the Prince had lain in closest hiding on a hill on the
+confines of Knoydart, not a mile from the chain of sentinels. He
+had slept some hours while two of the party had kept watch and
+the other two had gone and foraged for food, bringing back two dry
+cheeses as the result. (Old Borodale had gone back at this time;
+the party consisted of his son John, Glenaladale and his brother, and
+Cameron of Glenpean.) All day parties of soldiers had been
+searching the neighbourhood, and now the sentinel fires were alight
+all along the line of defence. At nightfall the little band started,
+walking silently and rapidly up a mountain called Drumnachosi.
+The way was very steep, and the night very dark. Once crossing a
+little stream the Prince's foot slipped, he stumbled, and would have
+fallen down over a cliff had not Cameron caught one arm and
+Glenaladale the other and pulled him up. From the top of the
+hill they could see the sentinel fires close in front of them, and
+were near enough to hear the voices of the soldiers quite distinctly.
+Under cover of the friendly darkness they crept up another hill
+and came out opposite another fire. At a point midway between
+these two posts a mountain torrent had made a deep fissure
+on the side of a hill on the further side. Could they break
+through the line and reach this river-bed the overhanging banks,
+aided by the darkness of night, would conceal their figures, and
+following the stream they could cross over into wild broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+country, where they could hide themselves. Donald Cameron, with
+a fine Highland gallantry, undertook to make trial of the way first.
+If he could reach the spot and return again to report 'all safe,' the
+rest of the party might make the attempt. It had all to be done
+in a quarter of an hour, for that was the interval at which the
+patrolling parties succeeded each other.</p>
+
+<p>In dead silence they waited till the sentinels had past; then as
+stealthily and rapidly as a cat Cameron slipped down the hillside
+and disappeared into the darkness. The rest stood breathless,
+straining every nerve for the faintest sound; no footfall or falling
+pebble broke the stillness, and in a few long, heavily-weighted
+minutes Cameron returned and whispered that all was well. It
+was two o'clock now and the darkness was growing thinner. They
+waited till the sentries had crossed again and had now their backs
+to the passage, then they all moved forward in perfect silence.
+Reaching the torrent, they sank on all fours and one after the other
+crept up the rocky bed without a sound. The dreaded cordon was
+passed, and in a short time they reached a place where they were
+completely hidden and could take a little much-needed rest.</p>
+
+<p>Once clear of this chain of their enemies they turned northward
+to the Glenelg country. Their plan was to go through the
+Mackenzie's country to Poole Ewe, where they hoped to find a
+French vessel. But the next day they learned from a wayfaring
+man that the only French ship which had been there had left the
+coast. Seeing that that plan was fruitless, their next idea was to
+move eastward into the wilds of Inverness and wait there till the
+way should be clear for the Prince's joining Lochiel in Badenoch.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 265px;">
+<img src="images/i114.png" width="265" height="325" alt="They saw two soldiers" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>In Glen Sheil they parted with Cameron of Glenpean, and here
+too they had a curious adventure which might have proved seriously
+inconvenient to them. They had spent a whole hot August day
+hiding behind some rocks on a bare hillside, the midges had
+tormented them, and they were oppressed with thirst, but had
+not ventured from their hiding-place even to look for water. At
+sunset a boy appeared bringing quarts of goat's milk; he was the
+son of a certain Macraw, a staunch though secret friend in the
+neighbourhood. Glenaladale at this time carried the fortune of
+the little party&mdash;some forty gold louis and a few shillings&mdash;in his
+sporran. He paid the lad for the milk, and in his hurry did not
+notice that he had dropped his purse. They had hardly gone an
+English mile before the loss was discovered, and Glenaladale insisted
+at all risks on going back to look for the purse. He and his cousin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+did indeed find it lying at the expected place, but though some
+shillings remained the louis were gone. It was midnight before
+the indignant pair reached Macraw's house, and the family were
+all asleep. They roused the master, however, and fairly told him
+what had happened. No shadow of doubt seems to have crossed
+the father's mind, no word of expostulation rose to his lips. 'Without
+a moment's delay he returned to the house, got hold of a rope
+hanging there, and gripped his son by the arm in great passion,
+saying, "You damned scoundrel, this instant get these poor gentlemen's
+money, or by the heavens I'll hang you to that very tree you
+see there." The boy, shivering with fear, went instantly for the
+money, which he had buried underground thirty yards from his
+father's house.' This accident turned out most luckily for the
+Prince. He and Glenaladale's brother while awaiting the other
+two had hidden behind some rocks; shortly after they were hidden
+they saw an officer and two soldiers <i>coming along the very path
+they had intended to take</i>. But for the delay caused by their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+companions going back they must have fallen into the hands of their
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>They now turned eastward, and after a long night's march found
+themselves in the wild tract of country called the Braes of Glenmoriston.</p>
+
+<p>Here Charles was to find a new set of friends, different indeed
+from the chivalrous Kingsburgh and the high-bred Lady Margaret,
+but men who were as staunch and incorruptible as any of his former
+friends. These were the famous 'Seven Men of Glenmoriston,'
+men who had served in the Prince's army, and who now lived
+a wild, lawless life among the mountains, at feud with everything
+that represented the existing law and order. They have been described
+as a robber band, but that title is misleading. They were
+rather a small remnant of irreconcilable rebels who had vowed
+undying enmity and revenge against Cumberland and his soldiers.
+And indeed there was ample excuse for their hatred and violence
+in the cruelties they saw practised all round them. Sixty of their
+clansmen after surrendering themselves had been shipped off to the
+colonies, all their own possessions and those of their neighbours
+had been seized, and friends and kinsfolk had been brutally put to
+death.</p>
+
+<p>Swooping down like mountain eagles on detached bands of
+soldiers, these seven men wreaked instant vengeance on oppressors
+and informers, and carried off arms and baggage in the face of
+larger bodies of the enemy. To these men, ignorant, reckless, and
+lawless, Charles unhesitatingly confided his person, a person on
+whose head a sum of thirty thousand pounds was set.</p>
+
+<p>Four of these men were in a cave, Coraghoth, in the Braes of
+Glenmoriston, when Glenaladale brought Charles to see them.
+They had expected to see young Clanranald, and as soon as they
+saw the Prince one of their number recognised him, but had the
+presence of mind to address him as an old acquaintance by the
+name of 'MacCullony.' When the four knew who their guest
+really was, they bound themselves to be faithful to him by the
+dreadful Highland oath, praying 'that their backs might be to God,
+and their faces to the devil, and that all the curses the Scriptures
+do pronounce might come upon them and their posterity if they
+did not stand firm to the Prince in the greatest danger.'</p>
+
+<p>For about three weeks Charles shared the life of these outlaws,
+sleeping in caves and holes of the earth, living on the wild
+deer of their shooting and the secret gifts of the peasantry. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+did not understand his English, but the Prince was beginning to
+pick up a little Gaelic. He was able at least to improve their
+cooking and reprove their swearing, two services they liked afterwards
+to recall. Here too, as elsewhere on his wanderings, the
+Prince gained the hearts of all his followers by his gracious gaiety
+and plucky endurance of hardships. In the beginning of August
+his hopes had again turned to Poole Ewe, but learning for a
+second time that no French ship could land on the closely
+guarded coast, he and his friends determined to remain in the
+northern straths of Inverness-shire till the Government troops
+should withdraw from the Great Glen&mdash;the chain of lakes which
+now forms the Caledonian Canal&mdash;and thus leave the way clear
+into Badenoch, where Lochiel and Macpherson of Cluny were
+hiding.</p>
+
+<p>A curious incident is supposed to have helped the Prince at this
+time. There had been among his Life Guards a handsome youth
+named Roderick Mackenzie, son of a jeweller in Edinburgh, who
+in face and figure was startlingly like the Prince. This lad was
+actually 'skulking' among the Braes of Glenmoriston at the time
+when the Prince was surrounded in Knoydart. A party of soldiers
+tracked him to a hut, which they surrounded. Flight was impossible,
+and the poor boy stood at bay. As he fell beneath their
+sword-thrusts he cried out, 'Villains, ye have slain your King.'
+Whether these words were a curious last flash of vanity, or whether
+he intended to serve the Prince by a generous act of imposture, can
+never be known. The soldiers at any rate believed that they had
+secured the prize. They carried off Mackenzie's head with them
+to Fort Augustus, and the authorities seem for some time to have
+been under the impression that it was indeed that of the Prince.
+Possibly it was owing to this that in the middle of August the
+Government rather relaxed their vigilance along the Great Glen.
+Charles was eager to press at once into Badenoch, but the wary
+outlaws would only consent to taking him to the Lochiel country,
+between Loch Arkaig, Loch Lochy, and Loch Garry. They
+travelled chiefly by night; the season was very wet, and the rivers
+were in flood, and they had to cross the River Garry Highland
+fashion in a line, with each man's arm on his neighbour's shoulder,
+for the water was running breast-high.</p>
+
+<p>At this time the Prince's condition was as bad as at any period
+of his wanderings. His clothes were of the coarsest, and <i>they</i> were
+in rags. Lady Clanranald's six good shirts had long since disappeared;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+it was as much as he could do to have a clean shirt once a
+fortnight. The provisions they carried were reduced to one peck of
+meal. In this state did the Prince arrive in the familiar country
+round Loch Arkaig. It was a year almost to the day since he had
+passed through that very country elate and hopeful at the head of
+his brave Macdonalds and Camerons. He was now a fugitive, ill-fed,
+ill-clad, with a price on his head; the only thing that was unchanged
+was the faithful devotion of his Highlanders.</p>
+
+<p>Cameron of Clunes and Macdonald of Lochgarry, or Lochgarie,
+though they were themselves 'skulking,' received the Prince with the
+utmost kindness and found a hiding-place for him in a hut in a wood
+at the south side of Loch Arkaig. Here the outlaws left him; only
+one of their number, Patrick Grant, remained till the Prince should
+be supplied with money to reward their faithful service. From this
+place, also, John Macdonald and Glenaladale's brother returned to
+the coast, where they were to keep a careful look-out and to send
+the Prince news of any French ship which might appear.</p>
+
+<p>Glenaladale still remained, but the Prince's thoughts were turning
+more and more towards Badenoch, where his friend Lochiel was
+in comparatively secure hiding.</p>
+
+<p>Among all the gallant gentlemen who risked life and estate in
+this rising there is no figure more attractive than that of the
+'Gentle Lochiel.' He had for years before the rebellion been the
+mainstay of the Jacobite party. No man in the Highlands carried
+so much weight as he, partly from his position, but more from his
+talents and the charm of his character. 'Wise' and 'gentle' are
+the words that were applied to him, and with all the qualities of a
+high-bred gentleman he combined the simpler virtues of the Highland
+clansman&mdash;faithfulness, courage, and a jealous sense of personal
+honour. From the very beginning he had seen the folly of
+the rising. But when he had failed to convince Charles of its
+hopelessness, he had thrown himself into the movement as if it
+had been of his own devising. Never did he afterwards reproach
+Charles by word or look for the ill-fated result.</p>
+
+<p>He and his cousin, Macpherson of Cluny, were at this time
+hiding among the recesses of Benalder. The road to Inverness
+ran by within a few miles, and at a little distance lay Lord
+Loudoun's camp, but so great was the devotion of the clansmen, so
+admirable their caution and secrecy, that the English commander
+had not the slightest suspicion that the two most important Jacobite
+fugitives had for three months been in hiding so near to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>
+Lochiel had been wounded in the feet at Culloden, and his lameness
+as well as his dangerous position prevented his going to look
+for the Prince. He had two brothers, one a doctor and the other
+a clergyman, both accomplished and bold men, who had also
+been involved in the Jacobite rebellion. Towards the end of
+August, news having come to Benalder that the Prince was living
+near Auchnacarry under the protection of Cameron of Clunes, the
+two Cameron brothers set off secretly for that country. The Prince
+with a son of Clunes and the faithful outlaw Patrick Grant were
+at this time living in a hut in a wood close to Loch Arkaig. It
+was early on the morning of August 25, the Prince and young
+Clunes were asleep in the hut, while Patrick Grant kept watch.
+He must have got drowsy, for waking with a start he saw a party
+of men approaching. He rushed into the hut and roused the Prince
+and his companion. Charles had long lived in expectation of such
+moments. He kept his presence of mind completely, decided that
+it was too late to fly, and prepared to defend himself. The fowling-pieces
+were loaded and got into position, and they very nearly
+received their friends with a volley. Dr. Cameron in his narrative
+describes the Prince's appearance thus: 'He was barefoot; had an
+old black kilt coat on and philibeg and waistcoat, a dirty shirt and a
+long red beard, a gun in his hand and a pistol and dirk at his side;
+still he was very cheerful and in good health.'</p>
+
+<p>Another week they all waited in the neighbourhood of Auchnacarry
+(the ruined home of the Lochiels). At last a message
+reached them from Benalder that the passes were free and that
+they might safely try to join Lochiel. Having parted with his
+devoted friend Glenaladale, who returned to the coast, the Prince,
+with Dr. Cameron and Lochgarry, arrived on August 30 at Mellaneuir,
+at the foot of Benalder. People in hiding have no means
+of discriminating their friends from their enemies at a little distance.
+Lochiel seeing a considerable party approaching believed
+that he was discovered and determined to make a good fight for it.
+He as narrowly missed shooting Charles as Charles had missed
+shooting Dr. Cameron the week before. When, however, he recognised
+the figure in the coarse brown coat, the shabby kilt, and the
+rough red beard, he hobbled to the door and wanted to receive the
+Prince on his knees. 'My dear Lochiel,' remonstrated Charles as he
+embraced him, 'you don't know who may be looking down from
+these hills.'</p>
+
+<p>In the hut there was a sufficiency of mutton, beef sausages,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+bacon, butter, cheese, &amp;c., and an anker of whisky, and the Prince
+was almost overwhelmed by such an excess of luxury. 'Now,
+gentlemen,' he said with a cheerful air, 'now I <i>live like a Prince</i>.'
+Charles's wardrobe was as usual most dilapidated, and Cluny's three
+sisters set at once to work to make him a set of six shirts with
+their own fair hands, doubtless sewing the most passionate loyalty
+and infinite regret into their 'seams.'</p>
+
+<p>The hiding-place where the Prince was now concealed was a
+very curious hut contrived by Cluny in one of the inmost recesses
+of the hills. It was called 'The Cage,' and was placed in a little
+thicket on the rocky slope of a hill. The walls were formed by
+actual growing trees with stakes planted between them, the whole
+woven together by ropes of heather and birch. Till you were close
+to the hut it looked merely like a thick clump of trees and bushes.
+The smoke escaped along the rocks, and the stone being of a bluish
+colour it could easily pass unnoticed. This hut could only hold
+six persons at a time, so the party generally divided in this way:
+one man cooked the food, four played cards, and the last man looked
+on at the others and possibly smoked!</p>
+
+<p>Probably they played cards and talked and jested over the daily
+needs and hardships, and spoke little of the disastrous times that
+lay behind them, or the doubtful hopes that lay before them. Fearing
+lest the Prince might have to remain in hiding all winter the
+ingenious Cluny began to fit up a subterranean dwelling, thickly
+boarded up, where the party would have been in safety and shelter.
+But in the meantime no efforts were lacking to find a means of
+escape. Lochiel's brother, the clergyman, a man of great prudence,
+went secretly to Edinburgh, and there procured a ship and sent it
+round to a port on the East coast to await the Prince. Succour,
+however, had come from another quarter; it was known to the
+Prince and his followers that a certain Colonel Warren was fitting
+out a couple of ships in France for the purpose of bringing off the
+Prince, and daily they expected news of their arrival. On
+September 6 two ships, <i>L'Heureux</i> and <i>La Princesse</i>, appeared at
+Lochnanuagh. Old Borodale and his two sons immediately fled
+to the hills, leaving a faithful servant to find out and report to them
+who the strangers might be. After nightfall, twelve French officers
+came to the hut where they were hiding and told their errand.
+Information was at once sent to Glenaladale, who undertook to go
+to Auchnacarry and send on the news through Cameron of Clunes,
+he himself not knowing where the Prince was hiding. Any delay,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+even of a few hours, might be fatal, as the presence of the French
+ships must sooner or later become known to the authorities at Fort
+Augustus. To his dismay Glenaladale failed to find Clunes, and
+only by an accident met with an old woman, who directed him to
+the place where the latter was hiding. A messenger was at once
+despatched, and he, happening by a curious chance to meet with
+Cluny and Dr. Cameron on a dark night in Badenoch, gave them
+his message, and an express was at once sent to the Cage. On
+September 13, at one in the morning, the party&mdash;which now
+included Cluny, Lochiel, Macpherson of Breakachie, and some
+others of the Prince's more important followers&mdash;set off for the
+coast. They travelled by night, remaining in concealment by day,
+but so lonely was the country, so recklessly high were the Prince's
+spirits, that one whole day he amused himself by flinging up caps
+into the air and shooting at them.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 264px;">
+<img src="images/i120.png" width="264" height="300" alt="Bending a sword" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Again he passed through the well-known country round Loch
+Arkaig, past Auchnacarry, the home of the Lochiels, which was lying
+in ruins, over the rugged hills where he had been hunted like a
+wild creature a few weeks before, down to the familiar waters of
+Lochnanuagh, back to the warm-hearted household of Borodale.</p>
+
+<p>A considerable number of Jacobite gentlemen who had lain for
+months in hiding had been drawn to Lochnanuagh by the report
+of the landing of the French ships; amongst these were young
+Clanranald, Glenaladale, and Macdonald of Daleby. On the
+Prince's ship there sailed with him Lochgarry, John Roy Stuart, Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>
+Cameron, and Lochiel. 'The gentlemen as well as commons were
+seen to weep, though they boasted of being soon back with an
+irresistible force,' says the newspaper of the day. For the greater
+part they never came back, never saw again the homes they loved
+so well. Most were to spend a life of hope deferred and of desperate
+longings for home, as dependents on a foreign Court. Dr. Cameron
+was ten years later taken prisoner in London and executed, the
+last man who suffered as a rebel; Lochiel died two years after he
+left Scotland, a heart-broken exile. 'Weep ye not for the dead,
+neither bemoan him; but weep sore for him that goeth away,
+for he shall return no more nor see his native country.'<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>TWO GREAT MATCHES</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THE University matches, between the elevens of Oxford and Cambridge,
+are the most exciting that are played at Lord's. The
+elevens have been so equal that neither University is ever more
+than one or two victories ahead of its opponent. The players are
+at their best for activity and strength, and the fielding is usually
+the finest that can anywhere be seen. But, of all University
+matches, the most famous are those of 1870 and of 1875, for these
+were the most closely contested.</div>
+
+<p>In 1870 Cambridge had won for three years running. They
+had on their side Mr. Yardley, one among the three best gentlemen
+bats who ever played, the others being Dr. Grace and Mr.
+Alan Steel. In 1869, when Cambridge won by 58 runs, Mr. Yardley
+had only made 19 and 0. Mr. Dale and Mr. Money were the other
+pillars of Cambridge batting: they had Mr. Thornton too, the hardest
+of hitters, who hit over the pavilion (with a bat which did not
+drive!) when he played for Eton against Harrow. On the Oxford
+side were Mr. Tylecote (E. F. S.), a splendid bat, Mr. Ottaway, one
+of the most finished bats of his day, and Mr. Pauncefote. The
+Oxford team was unlucky in its bowling, as Mr. Butler had strained
+his arm. In one University match, Mr. Butler took all ten wickets
+in one innings. He was fast, with a high delivery, and wickets
+were not so good then as they are now. Mr. Francis was also an
+excellent bowler, not so fast as Mr. Butler; and Mr. Belcher, who
+bowled with great energy, but did not excel as a bat, was a useful
+man. For Cambridge, Mr. Cobden bowled fast, Mr. Ward was an
+excellent medium pace bowler, Mr. Money's slows were sometimes
+fortunate, and Mr. Bourne bowled slow round. Cambridge went in
+first, and only got 147. Mr. Yardley fell for 2, being caught by
+Mr. Butler off Mr. Francis. Mr. Scott's 45 was the largest score,
+and Mr. Thornton contributed 17, while Mr. Francis and Mr. Belcher
+divided the wickets. Oxford was only 28 runs better than Cambridge,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>
+so that you might call it anybody's match. A good stand
+was made for the first wicket, Mr. Fortescue getting 35, and Mr.
+Hadow 17, but there was no high scoring. Mr. Butler got 18, which
+is not a bad score for a bowler, but Mr. Stewart and Mr. Belcher,
+who followed him, got ducks, and clearly the tail was not strong in
+batting. The beginning of the Cambridge second innings was most
+flattering to Oxford. When the fifth wicket fell, Cambridge had
+but 40 runs, or twelve 'on.'</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 314px;">
+<img src="images/i123.png" width="314" height="350" alt="Watching from a carriage" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Tobin and Money, Fryer and Scott had made but 8 among them,
+but Dale was in, and Yardley joined him. Mr. Dale was playing in
+perfect style, and he needed to do so, for Mr. Francis was bowling
+his best. Then came an hour and a half, or so, of sorrow for
+Oxford. Mr. Butler was tried, and bowled eight overs for 8 runs,
+but his arm was hurt, and he had to go off. He got Mr. Thornton's
+wicket, but Oxford were playing, as Tom Sayers fought, with a
+broken arm. Seven bowlers were put on, but the end of it was
+that, after making the first 100 recorded in these matches, Mr.
+Yardley sent a hard hit to Mr. Francis, who caught and bowled
+him. Mr. Dale was splendidly caught at leg by Mr. Ottaway, off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+Mr. Francis, with one hand over the ropes. He got 67; there was
+but one other double figure, Mr. Thornton's 11.</p>
+
+<p>Oxford had to make 178 to win, and 178 is never easy to get,
+especially in a University match, where <i>so much depends on it</i>,
+and men are often nervous, as you shall see. Mr. Hadow came to
+grief, but Mr. Ottaway and Mr. Fortescue were not nervous bats.
+Mr. Ward bowled beautifully, but they got 44 and 69; it was 72
+for one wicket, and Oxford were buoyant. At 86, however, the
+second wicket fell, and E. F. S. joined Mr. Ottaway. He put
+on 29, and Ottaway's defence was like a stone wall. Finally
+Mr. Ward bowled Mr. Tylecote; 25 to get and seven wickets to
+get them. It seemed all over but shouting. Another wicket fell
+for 1; 24 to get, and six wickets to fall. Mr. Hill came in, and
+played like a printed book, while Mr. Ottaway was always
+there. He played a ball to short leg, and Mr. Fryer held it so low
+down that Mr. Ottaway appealed. I dare say Oxford men in the
+pavilion distinctly saw that ball touch the ground, but the umpire
+did not; 17 to get, and four wickets to fall; but the last two
+wickets had scored exactly nothing in the first innings. But Mr.
+Francis could bat, and he stayed while Mr. Hill made 12, when he
+was l. b. w. to Ward, for a single. Four runs to get, and three
+wickets to fall! 'Mr. Charles Marsham's face wore a look that his
+friends know well.' Mr. Butler came in; he scored well in the
+first innings, and he could hit. Then came a bye. Four to get and
+three wickets to fall. Mr. Hill hit the next square, good for a 4,
+but Mr. Bourne got at it, and only a single was run. Three to get
+and three wickets to fall. <i>We did not get them!</i> Mr. Cobden,
+who had not done much, took the ball. Mr. Hill made a single to
+cover point. The next ball, to Mr. Butler, was well up on the off
+stump. Mr. Butler drove at it, Mr. Bourne caught it, and Mr.
+Belcher walked in, 'rather pale,' says Mr. Lyttelton, and if so, it
+was unusual. Mr. Belcher was of a ruddy countenance. He was
+yorked! he took a yorker for a half volley. Let us pity Mr.
+Stewart. If he could escape that one ball, the odds were that Mr.
+Hill would make the runs next over. Mr. Pauncefote had told Mr.
+Stewart to keep his bat immovable in the block-hole, but&mdash;he did
+not. Cobden scattered his bails to the breezes, 'and smash went
+Mr. Charles Marsham's umbrella against the pavilion brickwork.'
+Cambridge had won by two.</p>
+
+<p>This is called Cobden's year, and will be so called while cricket<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+is played.  But, in fact, Mr. Ward had taken six wickets for 29,
+and these were all the best bats.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img src="images/i126.png" width="500" height="296" alt="THE BALL HIT THE MIDDLE STUMP" title="" />
+<span class="caption">THE BALL HIT THE MIDDLE STUMP</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Mr. Butler's revenge came next year. He took fifteen wickets,
+and made the winning hit. Oxford's revenge came in 1875. In
+1874 Cambridge was terribly beaten. They went in on a good
+wicket. Mr. Tabor, first man in, got 52, when a shower came. The
+first ball after the shower, Mr. Tabor hit at a dropping ball of Mr.
+Lang's, and was bowled. The whole side were then demolished by
+Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley, for 109, and 64 second innings, while
+Oxford got 265 first innings. In 1876 Oxford had Mr. Webbe, an
+admirable bat, as he is still; Mr. Lang, who had been known to
+score; Mr. Ridley, a cricketer of the first class; Mr. Royle, the finest
+field, with Mr. Jardine, ever seen; Mr. Game, who had not quite
+come into his powers as a hitter; and Mr. Grey Tylecote, a good all-round
+man; also Mr. Pulman, a sterling cricketer, and Mr. Buckland,
+a very useful player all round. Cambridge had Mr. George Longman,
+who could play anything but Mr. Ridley's slows; Mr. Edward
+Lyttelton, one of the prettiest and most spirited bats in the world;
+Mr. A. P. Lucas, whom it were superfluous to praise; Mr. Sims, a
+hard hitter; Mr. W. J. Patterson, a renowned bat, and others. In
+bowling, Oxford had Mr. Ridley, whose slows were rather fast and
+near the ground. Being as tall as Mr. Spofforth, and following his
+ball far up the pitch, Mr. Ridley was alarming to the nervous
+batsman. He fielded his own bowling beautifully. Mr. Lang was
+a slow round-arm bowler with a very high delivery, and a valuable
+twist from either side. Mr. Buckland was afterwards better known
+as a bowler; Mr. Royle could also deliver a dangerous ball; the fast
+bowler was Mr. Foord Kelcey, but he, again, was lame, through an
+accident to his foot. For Cambridge Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Sims
+bowled. Lang and Webbe went to the wicket for Oxford, and made
+a masterly stand, the ball being cut and driven to the ropes in all
+directions. Mr. Webbe got 55, Mr. Lang 45, while Mr. Ridley contributed
+21, Mr. Pulman 25, and Mr. Buckland 22. The whole
+score was 200, 86 for the first wicket. Mr. Longman's 40 was the
+best score for Cambridge, and Mr. Edward Lyttelton got 23; total
+163. Mr. Lang got five wickets for 35, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Buckland,
+and Mr. Foord Kelcey divided the other four. In the second
+Oxford innings Mr. Sharpe got six wickets for 66, and the whole
+score was but 137, in which Mr. Pulman's 30 was very useful; Mr.
+Royle, Mr. Game, and Mr. Webbe got 21, 22, and 21, and Mr. Grey
+Tylecote, not out, contributed an invaluable 12. The tail of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+Cambridge side made 14 among them in the first innings, not
+an assortment of duck's eggs. Cambridge went in, with 175 to get,
+much like Oxford in 1870. An over was bowled before seven
+o'clock, and resulted in a four to leg. Sharpe and Hamilton, who
+went in last, first innings, went in first in the second, to avoid losing
+a good bat in the five minutes before drawing stumps. One doubts
+if it was worth Mr. Ridley's while to insist on that one over, but
+such is the letter of the law. The two victims, in any case, played
+rarely, Mr. Sharpe making 29 and Mr. Hamilton 11. Mr. Lucas,
+however, was bowled by Mr. Buckland for 5. Two for 26. Mr.
+Longman came in and drove off Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley. Mr.
+Royle then took the ball, a fast change-bowler. He bowled three
+maidens, and then settled Mr. Sharpe (at 65), Mr. Blacker (at 67),
+and Mr. Longman at 76 (for 23), with a fine breaking shooter such
+as you seldom see now. Twenty years ago a large percentage of
+balls shot dead. Mr. Greenfield and Mr. Edward Lyttelton stuck
+together.</p>
+
+<p>At 97, an awful yell went up; mid-on had missed Mr. Lyttelton,
+a low hard catch, but one which he would have taken nine times
+in ten. At 101, Mr. Campbell caught Mr. Greenfield off Mr. Royle,
+six down and 70 to get. Then Mr. Sims came in, and another
+yell was heard. Mid-on had given Mr. Lyttelton another let-off, an
+easy thing he might have held in his mouth. Mid-on wished that the
+earth would open and swallow him. Presently Mr. Lyttelton hit
+Mr. Buckland a beautiful skimming smack to square leg. Mr.
+Webbe was standing deeper, but, running at full speed along the
+ropes, sideways to the catch, he held it low down&mdash;a repetition of
+what he did unto Mr. Lyttelton when they played for Harrow and
+Eton. Mr. Lyttelton had scored 20, but not in his best manner.
+There were now three wickets to fall for 60; Oxford seemed to
+have the advantage. Sims and Patterson had added 14 (40 to win),
+when a heavy shower came down, lasted for an hour and a half,
+and left Oxford with a wet ball and a slippery ground. The rain,
+which favoured Oxford in 1874, when Cambridge collapsed, was
+now on the Cambridge side. Mr. Sims was determined to knock the
+runs off by a forcing game, and these were the right tactics. Then
+Ridley went on, and his first slow bowled Mr. Patterson clean. Mr.
+Macan came in, and got a single (13 to win). Then Mr. Sims hit
+Mr. Ridley over his head to the ropes for 4 (9 to win). Mr. Lang
+went on for Mr. Royle, a leg bye followed, and then a no-ball (7 to
+win). Mr. Lang then, in a moment of despair, as unusual measures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+were needed, bowled a full pitch right at Mr. Sims's head. Mr. Sims,
+naturally concluding that two more hits would finish the match,
+hit at it as hard as he could. Mr. Pulman was standing by the ropes
+'in the country' and the ball soared towards him; would it cross
+the ropes? would Pulman reach it; he had a long way to run?
+He reached it, he held it, and back went Mr. Sims. There remained
+Mr. Smith, in the same historical position as Mr. Belcher. There
+were six runs to get, and Mr. Macan, his companion, a good bat, was
+not yet settled. Some one in the pavilion said, 'His legs are trembling,
+Oxford wins.' Mr. Smith, unlike Mr. Belcher, stopped two of Mr.
+Ridley's slows, but not with enthusiasm. To the third he played
+slowly forward, the ball hit the middle stump, and Oxford won by
+six runs.</p>
+
+<p>There was also a very good match in 1891. Cambridge was far
+the better team, and went in, second innings, for a small score. But
+Mr. Berkeley (left-hand medium) bowled so admirably that there
+were only two wickets to fall for the last run. Mr. Woods, however,
+was not nervous, and hit the first ball he received for 4 to
+the ropes. Still, I am inclined to think that, in these three matches,
+the bowling of Mr. Berkeley was the best, for he had very little
+encouragement, whereas, with 178 or so to get, a bowler has a
+good chance, and is on his mettle.</p>
+
+<p>The moral is, don't poke about in your block-hole, but hit, and,
+when you bowl in an emergency, aim at getting wickets by any
+means, rather than at keeping down runs.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE STORY OF KASPAR HAUSER</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>ON May 28, 1828, the town of Nuremberg, in Bavaria, presented
+a singularly deserted appearance, as it was Whit-Monday, and
+most of the inhabitants were spending their holiday in the country.
+A cobbler, who lived in Umschlitt Square, was an exception to the
+general rule, but towards four o'clock he, too, thought that he would
+take a stroll outside the city walls. When he came out of his door
+his curiosity was excited by a strange figure, which was leaning, as
+if unable to support itself, against a wall near, and uttering a
+moaning sound. The figure was that of a young man of about
+seventeen, dressed in a grey riding suit, and wearing a pair of
+dilapidated boots; he held a letter in one hand.</div>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;">
+<img src="images/i130.png" width="300" height="244" alt="The deserted square" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The cobbler's curiosity led him to approach the strange figure,
+which moaned some incoherent sounds, and held out the letter
+in its hand. This was addressed 'To the Captain of the 4th<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+squadron of the 6th regiment of dragoons now stationed at Nuremberg';
+and, as he lived quite near, the cobbler thought the surest
+way of gratifying his own curiosity was to take the stranger
+there. The poor creature stumbled and shuffled along behind his
+guide, and reached the captain's house quite worn out. The
+captain was not at home, but his servant, pitying the sufferings of
+the stranger, gave him a sack of straw to lie on in the stable, and
+brought him some bread and meat and beer. The meat and the beer
+he would not touch, but ate the bread greedily and drank some
+water; he then fell fast asleep. Towards eight o'clock the captain
+came home, and was told of his strange visitor, and of the letter he
+had brought with him. This letter was written in a feigned hand,
+and said that the writer, a poor labourer with ten children, had
+received the boy in 1812, and had kept him shut up in his house for
+sixteen years, not allowing him to see or know anything; that he
+could keep him no longer, and so sent him to the captain, who
+could make a soldier of him, hang him, or put him up the chimney,
+just as he chose. He added that the boy knew nothing and could
+tell nothing, but was quick at learning. Enclosed was a letter
+giving the date of the boy's birth (April 30, 1812), and purporting
+to be written by the mother; but the writing, paper, and ink all
+showed that the two letters were by the same person.</p>
+
+<p>The captain could make nothing of this mysterious letter, but
+went to the stable, where he found the stranger still asleep. After
+many pushes, kicks, and thumps he awoke. When asked his
+name and where he came from, he made some sounds, which were
+at last understood to be, 'Want to be a soldier, as father was;'
+'Don't know,' and 'Horse home.' These sentences he repeated
+over and over again like a parrot, and at last the captain decided
+to send his new recruit to the police office. Here he was asked his
+name, where he came from, &amp;c., &amp;c., but the result of the police
+inspector's questioning was the same: the stranger repeated his
+three sentences, and at last, in despair of getting any sensible reply
+from him, he was put into a cell in the west tower of the prison
+where vagrants were kept. This cell he shared with another
+prisoner, a butcher boy, who was ordered to watch him carefully, as
+the police naturally suspected him of being an impostor. He slept
+soundly through the night and woke at sunrise. He spent the
+greater part of the day sitting on the floor taking no notice of
+anything, but at last the gaoler gave him a sheet of paper and a
+pencil to play with. These he seized with pleasure and carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+them off to a seat; nor did he stop writing until he had covered
+the paper with letters and syllables, arranged just as they would be
+in a copy-book. Among the letters were three complete words,
+'Kaspar Hauser,' and 'reiter' (horse soldier). 'Kaspar Hauser'
+was evidently his name, though he did not recognise it when called
+by it.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 332px;">
+<img src="images/i132.png" width="332" height="400" alt="Boy delivering the letter" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The news of the strange arrival spread through the city. The
+guard-house, where he spent part of the day, was thronged by a
+curious crowd, anxious to see this strange creature, who looked at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+things without seeing them, who could not bear a strong light, who
+loathed any food but bread and water, and who, parrot-like, repeated
+a couple of phrases which he evidently did not understand, and one
+word, 'horse,' to which he seemed to attach some meaning. What
+they saw was a youth of about seventeen, with fair hair and blue
+eyes, the lower part of his face slightly projecting like a monkey's.
+He was four feet nine inches in height, broad-shouldered, with tiny
+hands and delicate little feet, which had never worn shoes nor been
+put to their natural use, for the soles were as soft as a baby's. He
+was dressed in grey riding-breeches, a round jacket, which had
+been made out of a frock-coat by cutting off the skirts, and wore a
+round felt hat bound with red leather. In his pockets were some
+rags, some tracts, a rosary, and a paper of gold sand.</p>
+
+<p>Everyone who saw him and watched him came to the same
+conclusion, that his mind was that of a child of two or three, while
+his body was nearly grown up; and yet he was not half-witted,
+because he immediately began to pick up words and phrases, had a
+wonderful memory, and never forgot a face he had once seen, or the
+name which belonged to it. During the next two or three weeks
+he spent part of every day in the guard-room; part with the family
+of the gaoler, whose children taught him to talk and to walk as
+they did their own baby sister. He was not afraid of anything;
+swords were whirled round his head without his paying any attention
+to them; he stretched out his hand to the flame of a lighted
+candle, and cried when it burnt him, and when he saw his face in a
+looking-glass, looked behind it for the other person. He was
+particularly pleased when anything bright or glittering was given to
+him. Whenever this happened he called out 'Horse, horse,' and
+made signs as if he wanted to hang it on to the neck of something.
+At last one of the policemen gave him a wooden horse, when his
+happiness was complete, and he spent hours sitting on the floor
+playing with this horse and the dozens of horses which were given
+to him by his visitors as soon as they heard of his liking for them.</p>
+
+<p>Six or seven weeks passed in this way, and all this time the town
+council were discussing what they would do with him. At last
+they decided to adopt him as the 'Child of Nuremberg,' and to
+have him properly cared for and taught, so that, if possible, something
+of his past might be learned. He was taken away from the
+prison and put under the charge of Professor Daumer, whose
+interest in the youth led him to undertake the difficult task of
+developing his mind so that it might fit his body. The burgomaster<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+issued a notice to the inhabitants that in future they would not be
+allowed to see Kaspar Hauser at all hours of the day, and that the
+police had orders to interfere if the curiosity of visitors led them to
+annoy Dr. Daumer and his household. He entered Dr. Daumer's
+house on July 18, 1828, and during the next five months made
+such astonishing progress that the delight of his teacher knew no
+bounds. In order to satisfy public curiosity the burgomaster published,
+in July, a short account of Hauser's previous life, gleaned
+from him by careful questioning. It was to this effect:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>'He neither knows who he is nor where he came from, for it was
+only at Nuremberg that he came into the world. He always lived
+in a hole, where he sat on straw on the ground; he never heard a
+sound, nor saw any vivid light. He awoke and he slept, and
+awoke again; when he awoke he found a loaf of bread and a pitcher
+of water beside him. Sometimes the water tasted nasty and then he
+fell asleep again, and when he woke up found he had a clean shirt on;
+he never saw the face of the man who came to him. He had two
+wooden horses and some ribbons to play with; was never ill, never
+unhappy in his hole; once only the man struck him with a stick for
+making too much noise with his horses. One day the man came
+into his room and put a table over his feet; something white lay on
+the table, and on this the man made black marks with a pencil
+which he put into his fingers. This the man did several times, and
+when he was gone Kaspar imitated what he had done. At last he
+taught him to stand and to walk, and finally carried him out of his
+hole. Of what happened next Kaspar had no very clear idea, until
+he found himself in Nuremberg with the letter in his hand.'</p>
+
+<p>At first sight this story seems quite impossible, but it is borne
+out by two or three things. Kaspar's legs were deformed in just
+such a way as would happen in the case of a person who had spent
+years sitting on the ground; he never walked properly to the end,
+and had great difficulty in getting upstairs. His feet showed no
+signs of use, except the blisters made by his boots and his walk to
+Nuremberg; he could see in the dark easily and disliked light; and
+finally, for several months after he came to Nuremberg, he refused
+to eat anything but bread and water, and was, in fact, made quite
+ill by the smell of meat, beer, wine, or milk.</p>
+
+<p>For the first four months of his stay with Daumer, his senses of
+sight, taste, hearing, and smell were very acute. He had got past
+the stage in which he disliked light, and could now see much further
+than most people by day, without, however, losing his power of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+seeing in the dark; at the same time he could not distinguish
+between a thing and a picture of that thing, and could not for a
+long time judge distances at all, for he saw everything flat. His
+favourite colours were red and yellow; black and green he particularly
+disliked; everything ugly was called green. He could not be
+persuaded that a ball did not roll because it wished to do so, or that
+his top did not spin of its own accord. For a long time he saw no
+reason why animals should not behave like human beings, and was
+much annoyed because the cat refused to sit up at table and to eat
+with its paws, blaming its disobedience in not doing as it was told.
+He further thought that a cow which had lain down in the road
+would do well to go home to bed if it were tired. His sense of
+smell was very keen, painfully so, in fact, for he was made quite ill
+by the smell of the dye in his clothes, the smell of paper, and of
+many other things which other people do not notice at all; while
+the smell of a sweep a hundred yards off on the other side of the
+road upset him for a week. On the other hand, he could distinguish
+the leaves of trees by their smell.</p>
+
+<p>By November he had made sufficient progress to make it possible
+for Dr. Daumer to teach him other things besides the use of
+his senses: he was encouraged to write letters and essays, to use
+his hands in every way, to draw, to make paper-models, to dig in
+the garden, where he had a little plot of ground with his name in
+mustard and cress; in fact, to use his lately acquired knowledge.
+The great difficulty was to persuade him to eat anything but bread
+and water, but by slow degrees he learned to eat different forms of
+farinaceous food, gruel, bread and milk, rice, &amp;c., into which a little
+gravy and meat was gradually introduced. By the following May
+he could eat meat without being made ill by it, but never drank
+anything but water, except at breakfast, when he had chocolate.</p>
+
+<p>For the next eleven months he lived a happy, simple life with
+his friend and tutor, who mentions, however, that the intense
+acuteness of his senses was gradually passing away, but that he
+had still the charming, obedient, child-like nature which had won
+all hearts. In the summer, public interest was aroused by the
+news that Kaspar Hauser was writing his life, and the paper was
+eagerly looked forward to. All went well until October 17, when
+Kaspar was discovered senseless in a cellar under Dr. Daumer's
+house, with a wound in his forehead. He was carried upstairs
+and put to bed, when he kept on moaning, 'Man! man!&mdash;tell
+mother (Mrs. Daumer)&mdash;tell professor&mdash;man beat me&mdash;black sweep.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+For some days he was too ill to give any account of his wound, but
+at last said, that he had gone downstairs and was suddenly attacked
+by a man with a black face,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> who hit him on the head; that he fell
+down, and when he got up the man was gone; that he went to look
+for Mrs. Daumer, and, as he could not find her, finally hid in the
+cellar to be quite safe. After this murderous attack it was no
+longer safe to leave him in Dr. Daumer's house, so when well
+again he was removed to the house of one of the magistrates, and
+constantly guarded by two policemen, without whom he never
+went out. He was not very happy here, and after some months
+was put under the charge of Herr von Tucher (June 1830), with
+whom he remained for eighteen months. At first the arrangement
+answered admirably; he was happy in his new home, his only
+trouble being that he was sent to the grammar school and put into
+one of the upper forms, where he had to learn Latin, a task which
+proved too hard for his brain. By this time his face had quite lost
+the brutish character it had when he came to Nuremberg, and its
+expression was pleasant, though rather sad. Unfortunately for
+himself, he was one of the sights of Nuremberg, was always introduced
+to any stranger of distinction who came to the town, and
+attracted even more attention than the kangaroo; so that even his
+warmest friends were obliged to admit that he was rather spoiled.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of 1831, an Englishman, Lord Stanhope, came
+to Nuremberg, saw the foundling, was curiously interested in him,
+and wished to adopt him. Kaspar was very much flattered, and
+drew unfavourable comparisons between this Englishman who
+thought nothing too good for him, and his guardians, who were
+thinking of apprenticing him to a bookbinder. Lord Stanhope's
+kindness turned his head, and Herr von Tucher, after repeated remonstrances,
+resigned his guardianship in December 1831. With
+the full consent of the town council of Nuremberg, Lord Stanhope
+removed Kaspar to Ausbach, and placed him under the care of Dr.
+Mayer. It was generally supposed that this was only preparatory
+to taking him to England. Ample funds were provided for his maintenance,
+but the journey to England was again and again put off;
+and at last there were signs that Lord Stanhope was not quite satisfied
+with his new plaything. So much had been said about Kaspar's
+cleverness, that his new teachers were disappointed to find that his
+acquirements were about those of a boy of eight. They accused
+him of laziness and of deceit; and he, finding himself suspected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+and closely questioned as to everything he did, took refuge in falsehood.
+At last a government clerkship of the lowest class was procured
+for him, but great complaints were made of his inattention to
+his duties (mainly copying); he was unhappy, and, when on a visit
+to Nuremberg in the summer, made plans for the happy time when
+he should be able to come back and live with his friends there.
+For the people of Ausbach, though making him one of the shows of
+the place, do not seem to have had that perfect belief in him shown
+by his earlier friends; while his new guardians expected a great deal
+too much from him. His chief friend in Ausbach was the clergyman
+who had prepared him for confirmation, who noticed, in November
+1833, that he was very much depressed; but this passed away.
+On the afternoon of December 14, Kaspar came to call on the
+clergyman's wife, and was particularly happy and bright. Three
+hours afterwards he staggered into his tutor's house, holding his
+hand to his side, gasping out 'Garden&mdash;man&mdash;stabbed&mdash;give purse&mdash;let
+it drop&mdash;come&mdash;' and dragged the astonished Dr. Mayer
+off to a public garden, where a little purse was found on the ground.
+In it was a piece of paper, on which was written backwards in
+pencil these lines: 'I come from the Bavarian frontier. I will
+even tell you my name, "M. L. O."'</p>
+
+<p>Kaspar was taken home and put to bed, when it was discovered
+that there was a deep stab in his left side. For some hours he was
+too ill to be questioned, but on the 15th he was able to tell
+his story. On the 14th, as he was coming out of the government
+buildings to go home to dinner, he was accosted by a man who
+promised to tell him who his parents were, if he would come to a
+spot in the public gardens. He refused, as he was going home to
+dinner, but made an appointment for that afternoon. After dinner
+he called on the clergyman's wife, and then went to the gardens,
+where he found the man waiting for him. The man led him to the
+Uz monument, which was at a little distance from the main path,
+and shut in by trees. Here he made him take a solemn oath of
+secrecy and handed him the little purse, which Kaspar, in his hurry
+to seize it, let drop. As he stooped to pick it up he was stabbed,
+and when he lifted himself up the stranger was gone. Then he ran
+home.</p>
+
+<p>For two days he was not supposed to be in any danger, but fever
+set in; the doctors gave no hope of his recovery, and on the 17th he
+died.</p>
+
+<p>His death caused great excitement, not only in Ausbach and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>
+Nuremberg, but throughout all Germany. The question as to
+whether he was an impostor or not was hotly debated; those who
+favoured the former theory insisting that he had killed himself accidentally
+when he only meant to wound himself and so excite sympathy.
+Some of the doctors declared, however, that that was quite
+impossible, for the wound was meant to kill, and could only have
+been self-inflicted by a left-handed person of great strength, for it had
+pierced through a padded coat. A large reward (1,200<i>l.</i>) was offered
+for the capture of the assassin, but in vain; and the spot of the
+murder was marked by an inscription in Latin:</p>
+
+<div class='center'>
+HIC<br />
+OCCULTUS<br />
+OCCULTO<br />
+OCCISUS EST<br />
+<br />
+(Here the Mystery was mysteriously murdered).<br />
+</div>
+
+<p>The same idea is repeated on his tombstone. 'Here lies K. H.,
+the riddle of the age. His birth was unknown, his death mysterious.'</p>
+
+<p>His death was the signal for a violent paper-war between his
+friends and his enemies. It raged hotly for years; but his friends
+have never succeeded in proving who he was; why, after having
+been shut up for so long, he was at last set free; or why his death
+was, after all, necessary; while his enemies have utterly failed to
+prove that he was an impostor.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>AN ARTIST'S ADVENTURE</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>NEARLY four hundred years ago, a boy was born in Italy who
+grew up to be one of the most accomplished artists of his own
+or any other age. Besides excelling as a sculptor, modeller, and
+medallist, he was a musician, an author, and an admirable swordsman;
+and popes, kings, and other great princes eagerly employed
+him, and vied with each other to secure his services. His name was
+Benvenuto Cellini.</div>
+
+<p>Under Pope Clement VII. he took part in the defence of the
+Castle of St. Angelo, when it was besieged by the Constable de
+Bourbon, and the Pope reposed such confidence in Cellini that he
+was entrusted with the task of removing all the gems in the treasury
+from their settings, and concealing the stones in the thick folds of
+his clothing. However, I am not going to enlarge on Benvenuto's
+many talents, but to tell you of a wonderful adventure which befell
+him in the very Castle of St. Angelo he had helped to defend.</p>
+
+<p>Those were lawless days, and Cellini was a man of fiery temper,
+to whom blows came more naturally than patience and forbearance.
+So it came to pass that, being told that a certain goldsmith named
+Pompeo had been spreading false reports about him, Benvenuto
+fell upon him one fine day in the very midst of Rome, and promptly
+stabbed him to death.</p>
+
+<p>This might possibly have been overlooked, but a workman,
+jealous of Cellini's success and reputation, accused the artist to the
+reigning Pope, Paul III., of having purloined some of the jewels
+entrusted to his care during the siege, and Paul was not to be trifled
+with where the affairs of the treasury were concerned. Moreover,
+a near relation of the Pope's was Cellini's sworn enemy, and this
+sufficed to seal his fate.</p>
+
+<p>So, when taking a walk one morning, Benvenuto suddenly found
+himself face to face with Crespino, the sheriff, attended by his band<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+of constables. Crespino advanced, saying, 'You are the Pope's
+prisoner.'</p>
+
+<p>'Crespino,' exclaimed Benvenuto, 'you must take me for some
+one else.'</p>
+
+<p>'No, no,' replied Crespino, 'I know you perfectly, Benvenuto, and
+I have orders to carry you to the Castle of St. Angelo, where great
+nobles and men of talent like yourself are sent.'</p>
+
+<p>Then he politely begged Benvenuto to give up his sword, and led
+him off to the Castle, where he was locked up in a room above the
+keep.</p>
+
+<p>It was easy enough for Benvenuto to refute the accusations
+brought against him; nevertheless he was kept prisoner, in spite
+of the intervention of the French ambassador, who demanded his
+liberty in the name of Francis I.</p>
+
+<p>The governor of the Castle was, like Cellini, a Florentine, and at
+first showed himself full of kind attentions towards his countryman,
+allowing him a certain amount of liberty on parole, within the
+Castle walls. Growing suspicious later, he kept his prisoner closer,
+but after a time he restored him to comparative liberty.</p>
+
+<p>When Benvenuto found how changeable the governor's humour
+was, he set himself to think over matters seriously. 'For,' he
+reflected, 'should a fresh fit of anger or suspicion cause him to
+confine me more strictly, I should feel myself released from my word,
+and it may be as well to be prepared.'</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly he ordered some new coarse linen sheets to be
+brought him, but when soiled he did not send them back. When
+his servants asked for the sheets so as to have them washed he bade
+them say no more, as he had given them to one of the poor soldiers
+on guard, who would be sure to get into trouble if the matter were
+known. By degrees he emptied the straw out of his mattress,
+burning a little of it at a time in his fireplace, and replacing it with
+the sheets, which he cut into strips some inches wide. As soon as
+he thought these strips were long enough for his purpose, he told
+his servants that he had given all the sheets away, and that in
+future they had better bring him finer linen, which he would be sure
+to return.</p>
+
+<p>Now it so happened that every year the governor was subject to
+a most distressing illness, which, for the time being, entirely deprived
+him of his reason. When it began to come on, he would talk and
+chatter incessantly. Each year he had some fresh hallucination, at
+one time fancying himself an oil-jar, at another a frog, and skipping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+about like one. Again, another time, he declared he was dead,
+and wished to be buried; and so, year by year, he was the victim
+of some new delusion. This year he imagined he was a bat, and as
+he walked about he uttered little half-smothered cries like a bat,
+and flapped his hands and moved his body as though about to fly.
+His faithful old servants and his doctors noticed this, and, thinking
+change of ideas and variety of conversation might do him good,
+they frequently fetched Benvenuto to entertain him.</p>
+
+<p>One day the governor asked Benvenuto whether it had ever
+occurred to him to desire to fly, and; on being answered in the affirmative,
+he inquired further how he should set about it.</p>
+
+<p>Benvenuto replied that the only flying creature it would be at
+all possible to imitate artificially was the bat, on which the poor
+man cried out, 'True, true, that's it, that's the thing.' Then turning
+round he said, 'Benvenuto, if you had everything you required
+for it, do you think you could fly?'</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, yes,' said the artist; 'if you will only leave me free to do it,
+I will engage to make a pair of wings of fine waxed cloth, and to fly
+from here to Prati with them.'</p>
+
+<p>'And I, too,' exclaimed the governor; 'I could do it too, but the
+Pope has ordered me to keep you like the apple of his eye, and as I
+strongly suspect you're a cunning fellow, I shall lock you well up
+and give you no chance of flying.'</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon, and in spite of all Benvenuto's entreaties and protestations,
+the governor ordered him to be taken back to prison and
+more carefully guarded than ever.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing he could not help himself, Cellini exclaimed before the
+officers and attendants: 'Very well! lock me up and keep me safe,
+for I give you due warning I mean to escape in spite of everything.'</p>
+
+<p>No sooner was he shut up in his cell than he fell to turning over
+in his mind how this escape could be made, and began minutely
+examining his prison, and, after discovering what he thought would
+be a sure way of getting out, he considered how best he might let
+himself down from the top of this enormous donjon tower, which
+went by the name of 'Il Mastio.' He began by measuring the
+length of the linen strips, which he had cut and joined firmly together
+so as to form a sort of rope, and he thought there would be
+enough for his purpose. Next, he armed himself with a pair of pincers
+which he had taken from one of his guards who was fond of carpentering,
+and who, amongst his tools, had a particularly large and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>
+strong pair of pincers, which appeared so useful to Benvenuto that
+he abstracted them, and hid them in his mattress.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he thought himself safe from interruption, he began
+to feel about for the nails in the ironwork of the door, but owing to
+its immense thickness they were by no means easy to get at. However,
+he managed at length to extract the first nail. Then came
+the question, how to conceal the hole left behind. This he contrived
+by making a paste of rusty scrapings and wax, which he
+modelled into an exact representation of the head of a nail, and in
+this way he replaced each nail he drew by a facsimile of its head
+in wax.</p>
+
+<p>Great care was required to leave just a sufficient number of
+nails to keep the ironwork and hinges in their places. But
+Benvenuto managed this by first drawing the nails, cutting them as
+short as he dared, and then replacing them in such a way as to
+keep things together, and yet to allow of their being easily drawn
+out at the last moment.</p>
+
+<p>All this was by no means easy to contrive, for the governor was
+constantly sending some one to make sure that his prisoner was safe.</p>
+
+<p>The two men who were specially charged with this duty were
+rough and rude, and one of them in particular took pains to inspect
+the whole room carefully every evening, paying special attention to
+the locks and hinges.</p>
+
+<p>Cellini lived in constant terror lest it should occur to them to
+examine his bedding, where, besides the pincers, he had hidden a
+long sharp dagger and some other instruments, as well as his long
+strips of linen. Each morning he swept out and dusted his room
+and carefully made his bed, ornamenting it with flowers which he
+got the soldier from whom he had taken the pincers to bring him.
+When his two warders appeared he desired them on no account to
+go near or touch his bed, for fear of soiling or disturbing it. Sometimes,
+in order to tease him, they would touch it, and then he
+would shout: 'Ah! you dirty rascals! Just let me get at one of
+your swords and see how I'll punish you! How dare you touch
+the bed of such a man as I am? Little care I about risking my
+own life, for I should be certain to take yours. Leave me in peace
+with my grief and trouble, or I will show you what a man can do
+when driven to desperation!'</p>
+
+<p>These words were repeated to the governor, who forbade the
+gaolers touching Cellini's bed, or entering his room armed. The
+bed once safe, he felt as if all else must go right.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 372px;">
+<img src="images/i144.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt="HE PREPARED TO ATTACK THE SENTRY" title="" />
+<span class="caption">HE PREPARED TO ATTACK THE SENTRY</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>One night the governor had a worse attack than ever, and in a
+fit of madness kept repeating that he certainly was a bat, and that,
+should they hear of Benvenuto's escape, they must let him fly off
+too, as he was sure he could fly better at night and would overtake
+the fugitive. 'Benvenuto,' said he, 'is but a sham bat, but as I
+am a real bat, and he has been given into my keeping, I shall soon
+catch him again, depend on it.'</p>
+
+<p>This bad attack lasted several nights, and the Savoyard soldier,
+who took an interest in Benvenuto, reported to him that the
+servants were quite worn out watching their sick master. Hearing
+this, Cellini resolved to attempt his escape at once, and set hard to
+work to complete his preparations. He worked all night, and about
+two hours before dawn he, with much care and trouble, removed the
+hinges from the door. The casing and bolts prevented his opening it
+wide, so he chipped away the woodwork, till at length he was able
+to slip through, taking with him his linen ropes, which he had
+wound on two pieces of wood like two great reels of thread.</p>
+
+<p>Having passed the door he turned to the right of the tower, and
+having removed a couple of tiles, he easily got out on the roof. He
+wore a white doublet and breeches and white boots, into one of
+which he had slipped his dagger. Taking one end of his linen rope,
+he now proceeded to hook it carefully over an antique piece of tile
+which was firmly cemented into the wall. This tile projected
+barely four fingers' breadth, and the band hooked over it as on a
+stirrup. When he had made it firm he prayed thus: 'O Lord, my
+God, come now to my aid, for Thou knowest that my cause is
+righteous, and that I am aiding myself.' Then he gently let himself
+slide down the rope till he reached the ground. There was no
+moon, but the sky was clear, and once down he gazed up at the
+tower from which he had made so bold a descent, and went off in
+high spirits, thinking himself at liberty, which indeed was by no
+means the case.</p>
+
+<p>On this side of the Castle the governor had had two high walls
+built to inclose his stables and his poultry-yard, and these walls had
+gates securely bolted and barred on the outside.</p>
+
+<p>In despair at these obstacles Benvenuto roamed about at random,
+cursing his bad luck, when suddenly he hit his foot against a long
+pole which lay hidden in the straw. With a good deal of effort he
+managed to raise it against the wall and to scramble up to the top.
+Here he found a sharply sloping coping stone which made it impossible
+to draw the pole up after him, but he fastened a portion of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>
+the second linen band to it, and by this means let himself down as
+he had done outside the donjon tower.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Benvenuto was much exhausted, and his hands
+were all cut and bleeding; however, after a short rest he climbed
+the last inclosure, and was just in the act of fastening his rope to a
+battlement, when, to his horror, he saw a sentinel close to him.
+Desperate at this interruption, and at the thought of the risk he
+ran, he prepared to attack the sentry, who, however, seeing a man
+advance on him with a drawn dagger and determined air, promptly
+took to his heels, and Benvenuto returned to his rope. Another
+guard was near, but, hoping not to have been observed, the fugitive
+secured his band and hastily slid down it. Whether it was
+fatigue, or that he thought himself nearer the ground than he really
+was, it is impossible to say, but he loosened his hold, and fell,
+hitting his head, and lay stretched on the ground for more than an
+hour.</p>
+
+<p>The sharp freshness of the air just before sunrise revived him,
+but his memory did not return immediately, and he fancied his head
+had been cut off and that he was in purgatory. By degrees, as his
+senses returned, he realised that he was no longer in the Castle, and
+remembered what he had done. He put his hands to his head and
+withdrew them covered with blood, but on carefully examining
+himself he found he had no serious wound, though on attempting
+to move he discovered that his right leg was broken. Nothing
+daunted, he drew from his boot his poniard with its sheath, which
+had a large ball at the end; the pressure of this ball on the bone
+had caused the fracture. He threw away the sheath, and cutting
+off a piece of the remaining linen band with his dagger, he bound up
+his leg as best he could, and then, dagger in hand, proceeded to
+drag himself along on his knees towards the gate of the town. It
+was still closed, but seeing one stone near the bottom, which did
+not look very huge, he tried to displace it. After repeated efforts it
+shook, and at length yielded to his efforts, so, forcing it out, he
+squeezed himself through.</p>
+
+<p>He had barely entered Rome when he was attacked by a band
+of savage dogs, who bit and worried him cruelly. He fought desperately
+with his dagger, and gave one dog such a stab that it fled
+howling, followed by the rest of the pack, leaving Benvenuto free to
+drag himself as best he could towards St. Peter's.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it was broad daylight, and there was much risk of
+discovery; so, seeing a water-carrier passing with his train of asses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>
+laden with jars full of water, Benvenuto hailed him and begged he
+would carry him as far as the steps of St. Peter's.</p>
+
+<p>'I am a poor fellow,' said he, 'who have broken my leg trying
+to get out of the window of a house where I went to see my lady-love.
+As the house belongs to a great family, I much fear I shall
+be cut to pieces if I am found here; so pray help me off and you
+shall have a gold crown for your pains,' and Benvenuto put his
+hand to his purse, which was well filled.</p>
+
+<p>The water-carrier readily consented, and carried him to St.
+Peter's, where he left him on the steps, from whence Benvenuto
+began to crawl towards the palace of Duke Ottavio, whose wife, a
+daughter of the emperor's, had brought many of Cellini's friends
+from Florence to Rome in her train. She was well disposed towards
+the great artist, and he felt that beneath her roof he would
+be in safety. Unluckily, as he struggled along, he was seen and
+recognised by a servant of Cardinal Cornaro's, who had apartments
+in the Vatican. The man hurried to his master's room, woke him
+up, and cried: 'Most reverend lord, Benvenuto is below; he must
+have escaped from the Castle, and is all bleeding and wounded. He
+appears to have broken his leg, and we have no idea where he is
+going.'</p>
+
+<p>'Run at once,' exclaimed the Cardinal, 'and fetch him here,
+to my room.'</p>
+
+<p>When Benvenuto appeared the Cardinal assured him he need
+have no fears, and sent off for the first surgeons in Rome to attend
+to him. Then he shut him up in a secret room, and went off to try
+and obtain his pardon from the Pope.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime a great commotion arose in Rome, for the linen ropes
+dangling from the great tower had attracted notice, and all the town
+was running out to see the strange sight. At the Vatican Cardinal
+Cornaro met a friend, to whom he related all the details of Benvenuto's
+escape, and how he was at that very moment hidden in a
+secret chamber. Then they both went to the Pope, who, as they
+threw themselves at his feet, cried, 'I know what you want with
+me.'</p>
+
+<p>'Holy Father,' said the Cardinal's friend, 'we entreat you to
+grant us the life of this poor man. His genius deserves some
+consideration; and he has just shown an almost superhuman
+amount of courage and dexterity. We do not know what may be
+the crimes for which your Holiness has seen fit to imprison him,
+but if they are pardonable we implore you to forgive him.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Pope, looking somewhat abashed, replied that he had imprisoned
+Benvenuto for being too presumptuous; 'however,' he
+added, 'I am well aware of his talents and am anxious to keep him
+near me, and am resolved to treat him so well that he shall have
+no desire to return to France. I am sorry he is ill; bid him recover
+quickly, and we will make him forget his past sufferings.'</p>
+
+<p>I am sorry to say the Pope was not so good as his words, for
+Benvenuto's enemies plotted against him, and after a time he was
+once more shut up in his former prison, from which, however, he
+was eventually delivered at the urgent request of the King of France,
+who warmly welcomed the great artist to his Court, where he spent
+some years in high honour.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE TALE OF ISANDHLWANA AND RORKE'S DRIFT</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 158px;">
+<img src="images/i149.png" width="158" height="250" alt="A" title="" />
+</div><div class='unident'><br />LTHOUGH but fourteen years have
+gone by since 1879, perhaps some
+people, if they chance to be young,
+have forgotten about the Zulus, and
+the story of our war with them; so,
+before beginning the tale of Isandhlwana
+and Rorke's Drift, it may be
+worth while to tell of these matters
+in a few words.</div>
+
+<p>The Zulus live in South-Eastern
+Africa. Originally they were not
+one tribe but many, though the same
+blood was in them all. Nobody
+knows whence they came or who
+were their forefathers; but they
+seem to have sprung from an Arab
+or Semitic stock, and many of their
+customs, such as the annual feast of
+the first fruits, resemble those of the
+Jews. At the beginning of this century there arose a warrior
+king, called Chaka, who gathered up the scattered tribes of the
+Zulus as a woodman gathers sticks, and as of the frail brushwood
+the woodman makes a stout faggot, that none can break, so of
+these tribes Chaka fashioned a nation so powerful that no other
+black people could conquer it.</p>
+
+<p>The deeds of Chaka are too many to write of here. Seldom has
+there been a monarch, black or white, so terrible or so absolute, and
+never perhaps has a man lived more wicked or more clever. Out of
+'nothing,' as the Kafirs say, he made the Amazulu, or the 'people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>
+of heaven,' so powerful, that before he died he could send out an
+army of a hundred thousand men to destroy those whom he feared
+or hated or whose cattle he coveted. These soldiers were never
+beaten; if they dared to turn their back upon an enemy, however
+numerous, they were killed when the battle was done, so that
+soon they learned to choose death with honour before the foe in
+preference to death with shame at the hands of the executioner.
+Where Chaka's armies went they conquered, till the country was
+swept of people for hundreds of miles in every direction. At
+length, after he had killed or been the cause of the violent death of
+more than a million human beings, in the year 1828 Chaka's own
+hour came; for, as the Zulu proverb says, 'the swimmer is at
+last borne away by the stream.' He was murdered by the princes
+of his house and his body servant Umbopo or Mopo. But as he
+lay dying beneath their spear thrusts, it is said that the great
+king prophesied of the coming of white men who should conquer
+the land that he had won.</p>
+
+<p>'What,' he said, 'do you slay me, my brothers&mdash;dogs of mine
+own house whom I have fed, thinking to possess the land? I
+tell you that I hear the sound of running feet, the feet of a great
+white people, and they shall stamp you flat, children of my
+father.'</p>
+
+<p>After the death of Chaka his brother Dingaan reigned who had
+murdered him. In due course he was murdered also, and his
+brother Panda succeeded to the throne. Panda was a man of peace,
+and the only one of the four Zulu kings who died a natural death;
+for though it is not commonly known, the last of these kings,
+our enemy Cetywayo, is believed to have met his end by poison.
+In 1873, Cetywayo was crowned king of Zululand in succession to
+his father Panda on behalf of the English Government by Sir Theophilus
+Shepstone. He remained a firm friend to the British till Sir
+Bartle Frere declared war on him in 1879. Sir Bartle Frere made
+war upon the Zulus because he was afraid of their power, and the
+Zulus accepted the challenge because we annexed the Transvaal
+and would not allow them to fight the Boers or the Swazis.
+They made a brave resistance, and it was not until there were
+nearly as many English soldiers in their country armed with
+breech-loading rifles as they had effective warriors left alive in it,
+for the most part armed with spears only, that at length we conquered
+them. But their heart was never in the war; they defended
+their country against invasion indeed, but by Cetywayo's orders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>
+they never attacked ours. Had they wished to do so, there was
+nothing to prevent them from sweeping the outlying districts of
+Natal and the Transvaal after our first great defeat at Isandhlwana,
+but they spared us.</p>
+
+<p>And now I have done with dull explanations, and will go on to
+tell of the disaster at Isandhlwana or the 'place of the Little
+Hand,' and of the noble defence of Rorke's Drift.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th of January, 1879, one of the British columns that
+were invading Zululand broke its camp on the left bank of the
+Buffalo river, and marched by the road that ran from Rorke's
+Drift to the Indeni forest, encamping that evening under the
+shadow of a steep-cliffed and lonely mountain, called Isandhlwana.
+This force was known as number 3 column, and with it went Lord
+Chelmsford, the general in command of the troops. The buildings
+at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of sixty men of the 2nd battalion
+24th regiment under the late Colonel Bromhead, then a
+lieutenant, and some volunteers and others, the whole garrison
+being commanded, on the occasion of the attack, by Lieutenant
+Chard, R.E.</p>
+
+<p>On January 21, Colonel, then Major, Dartnell, the officer in command
+of the Natal Mounted Police and volunteers, who had been
+sent out to effect a reconnaissance of the country beyond Isandhlwana,
+reported that the Zulus were in great strength in front of him.
+Thereupon Lord Chelmsford ordered six companies of the 2nd
+battalion 24th regiment, together with four guns and the Mounted
+Infantry, to advance to his support. This force, under the command
+of Colonel Glyn, and accompanied by Lord Chelmsford himself, left
+Isandhlwana at dawn on the 22nd, a despatch having first been
+sent to Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, R.E., who was in command of some
+five hundred friendly Natal Zulus, about half of whom were
+mounted and armed with breech-loaders, to move up from Rorke's
+Drift and strengthen the camp, which was now in charge of Lieut.-Colonel
+Pulleine of the 1st battalion 24th regiment. Orders were
+given to Colonel Pulleine by the general that he was to 'defend'
+the camp.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock that morning Colonel Durnford arrived at
+Isandhlwana and took over the command of the camp, which was
+then garrisoned by seven hundred and seventy-two European and
+eight hundred and fifty-one native troops, in all one thousand six
+hundred and twenty-three men, with two guns. Little did Lord
+Chelmsford and those with him guess in what state they would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>
+find that camp when they returned to it some eighteen hours later,
+or that of those sixteen hundred men the great majority would then
+be dead!</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile a Zulu 'impi' or army, numbering about twenty
+thousand men, or something more than one-third of King Cetywayo's
+entire strength, had moved from the Upindo Hill on the night of
+January 21, and taken up its position on a stony plain, a mile and
+a half to the east of Isandhlwana. The impi was made up of the
+Undi regiment, about three thousand strong, that formed its breast,
+or centre, the Nokenke and Umcityu regiments, seven thousand
+strong, that formed its right wing or horn, and the Imbonanbi and
+Nkobamikosi regiments, ten thousand strong, forming its left horn
+or wing. That night the impi slept upon its spears and watched
+in silence, lighting no fires. The king had reviewed it three days
+previously, and his orders to it were that it should attack number
+3 column, and drive it back over the Buffalo, but it had no
+intention of giving battle on the 22nd, for the state of the moon was
+not propitious, so said the 'doctors'; moreover, the soldiers had not
+been 'moutied,' that is, sprinkled with medicines to 'put a great
+heart' into them and ensure their victory. The intention of the
+generals was to attack the camp at dawn on the 23rd; and the
+actual engagement was brought about by an accident.</p>
+
+<p>Before I tell of this or of the fight, however, it may be as well to
+describe how these splendid savages were armed and disciplined.
+To begin with, every corps had a particular head-dress and fighting
+shields of one colour, just as in our army each regiment has its own
+facings on the tunics. These shields are cut from the hides of oxen,
+and it is easy to imagine what a splendid sight was presented by a
+Zulu impi twenty thousand strong, divided into several regiments,
+one with snow-white shields and tall cranes' feathers on their heads,
+one with coal-black shields and black plumes, and others with red
+and mottled shields, and bands of fur upon their foreheads. In their
+war with the English many of the Zulus were armed with muzzle-loading
+guns and rifles of the worst description, of which they
+could make little use, for few of them were trained to handle firearms.
+A much more terrible weapon in their hands, and one that
+did nearly all the execution at Isandhlwana, was the broad-bladed
+short-shafted stabbing assegai. This shape of spear was introduced
+by the great king Chaka, and if a warrior cast it at an
+enemy, or even chanced to lose it in a fight, he was killed when the
+fray was over. Before Chaka's day the Zulu tribes used light<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>
+assegais, which they threw at the enemy from a distance, and thus
+their ammunition was sometimes spent before they came to close
+quarters with the foe.</p>
+
+<p>Among the Zulus every able-bodied man was enrolled in one or
+other of the regiments&mdash;even the girls and boys were made into
+regiments or attached to them, and though these did not fight, they
+carried the mats and cooking pots of the army, and drove the cattle
+for the soldiers to eat when on the march. Thus it will be seen that
+this people differed from any other in the world in modern days,
+for whereas even the most courageous and martial of mankind look
+upon war as an exceptional state of affairs and an evil only to be
+undertaken in self-defence, or perhaps for purposes of revenge and
+aggrandisement, the Zulus looked on peace as the exceptional state,
+and on warfare as the natural employment of man. Chaka taught
+them that lesson, and they had learnt it well, and so it came about
+that Cetywayo was forced to allow the army to fight with us when
+Sir Bartle Frere gave them an opportunity of doing so, since their
+hearts were sick with peace, and for years they had clamoured to be
+allowed to 'wash their spears,' saying that they were no longer men,
+but had become a people of women. Indeed, had the king not done
+so, they would have fought with each other. It is a terrible thing
+to be obliged, year after year, to keep quiet an army of some fifty or
+sixty thousand men who are too proud to work and clamour daily
+to be led to battle that they may die as their fathers died. We may
+be sure that the heart of many a Zulu warrior beat high as in dead
+silence he marched that night from the heights of Upindo towards
+the doomed camp of Isandhlwana, since at last he was to satisfy the
+longing of his blood, and fight to the death with a foe whom he
+knew to be worthy of him.</p>
+
+<p>Doubtless, also, the hearts of the white men beat high that night
+as they gathered round the fires of their camp, little knowing that
+thousands of Zulu eyes were watching them from afar, or that the
+black rock looming above them was destined to stand like some
+great tombstone over their bones for ever. Englishmen also are a
+warlike race, and there was honour and advancement to be won,
+and it would seem that but few of those who marched into the Zulu
+country guessed how formidable was the foe with whom they had
+to deal. A horde of half-naked savages armed with spears did not
+strike English commanders, imperfectly acquainted with the history
+and nature of those savages, as particularly dangerous enemies.
+Some there were, indeed, who, having spent their lives in the country,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+knew what was to be expected, but they were set down as 'croakers,'
+and their earnest warnings of disaster to come were disregarded.</p>
+
+<p>Now let us return to the camp. It will be remembered that
+Colonel Glyn's force, accompanied by General Lord Chelmsford, had
+left at dawn. About eight o'clock a picket placed some 1,500 yards
+distant reported that Zulus were approaching from the north-east.
+This information was despatched by mounted messengers to Colonel
+Glyn's column.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, with his mounted natives and a rocket
+battery arriving from Rorke's Drift about 10 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, took over the
+command of the camp from Colonel Pulleine. According to the evidence
+of Lieutenant Cochrane given at the court of inquiry, Colonel
+Pulleine thereupon stated to Colonel Durnford the orders that he
+had received, to 'defend the camp,' and it would appear that either
+then or subsequently some altercation took place between these
+two officers. In the issue, however, Colonel Durnford advanced his
+mounted force to ascertain the enemy's movements, and directed a
+company of the 1st battalion 24th regiment to occupy a hill about
+1,200 yards to the north of the camp.</p>
+
+<p>Other companies of the 24th were stationed at various points
+at a distance from the camp. It may be well to explain here, that
+to these movements of troops, which, so far as can be ascertained,
+were made by the direct orders of Colonel Durnford, must be attributed
+the terrible disaster that followed. There are two ways of
+fighting a savage or undisciplined enemy; the scientific way, such
+as is taught in staff colleges, and the unscientific way that is to be
+learned in the sterner school of experience. We English were not the
+first white men who had to deal with the rush of the Zulu impis. The
+Boers had encountered them before, at the battle of the Blood River,
+and armed only with muzzle-loading 'roers,' or elephant guns, despite
+their desperate valour, had worsted them, with fearful slaughter.
+But they did not advance bodies of men to this point or to
+that, according to the scientific method; they drew their ox waggons
+into a square, lashing them together with 'reims' or hide-ropes, and
+from behind this rough defence, with but trifling loss to themselves,
+rolled back charge after charge of the warriors of Dingaan.</p>
+
+<p>Had this method been followed by our troops at the battle of
+Isandhlwana, who had ample waggons at hand to enable them to
+execute the man&oelig;uvre, had the soldiers even been collected in a
+square beneath the cliff of the mountain, it cannot be doubted but
+that, armed as they were with breech-loaders, they would have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+able to drive back not only the impi sent against them, but, if
+necessary, the entire Zulu army. Indeed, that this would have
+been so is demonstrated by what happened on the same day at
+Rorke's Drift, where a hundred and thirty men repelled the desperate
+assaults of three or four thousand. Why, then, it may be asked, did
+Colonel Durnford, a man of considerable colonial experience, adopt
+the more risky, if the more scientific, mode of dealing with the
+present danger, and this in spite of Colonel Pulleine's direct intimation
+to him that his orders were 'to defend the camp'? As it
+chances, the writer of this account, who knew Colonel Durnford
+well, and has the greatest respect for the memory of that good officer,
+and honourable gentleman, is able to suggest an answer to the
+problem which at the time was freely offered by the Natal colonists.
+A few years before, it happened that Colonel Durnford was engaged
+upon some military operations against a rebellious native chief in
+Natal. Coming into contact with the followers of this chief, in the
+hope that matters might be arranged without bloodshed, Durnford
+ordered the white volunteers under his command not to fire, with the
+result that the rebels fired, killing several of his force and wounding
+him in the arm. This incident gave rise to an irrational indignation
+in the colony, and for a while he himself was designated by the ungenerous
+nickname of 'Don't fire Durnford.' It is alleged, none
+can know with what amount of truth, that it was the memory of
+this undeserved insult which caused Colonel Durnford to insist
+upon advancing the troops under his command to engage the Zulus
+in the open, instead of withdrawing them to await attack in the
+comparative safety of a 'laager.'</p>
+
+<p>The events following the advance of the various British companies
+at Isandhlwana are exceedingly difficult to describe in their
+proper order, since the evidence of the survivors is confused.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 344px;">
+<img src="images/i156.png" width="344" height="500" alt="An attack" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>It would appear, however, that Durnford's mounted Basutos
+discovered and fired on a portion of the Umcityu regiment, which,
+forgetting its orders, sprang up and began to charge. Thereon,
+accepting the position, the other Zulu regiments joined the movement.
+Very rapidly, and with the most perfect order, the impi
+adopted the traditional Zulu ox-head formation, namely, that of a
+centre and two horns, the centre representing the skull of the ox.
+In this order they advanced towards the English camp, slowly
+and without sound. Up to this time there had been no particular
+alarm in the camp. The day was bright and lovely, with a hot sun
+tempered by a gentle breeze that just stirred the tops of the grasses,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>
+and many men seem to have been strolling about quite unaware of
+their imminent danger, although orders were given to collect the
+transport oxen, which were at graze outside the camp; not for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+purpose of inspanning the waggons, but to prevent them from being
+captured by the enemy. One officer (Captain, now Colonel, Essex)
+reports that after the company had been sent out, he retired to his
+tent to write letters, till, about twelve o'clock, a sergeant came to tell
+him that firing was to be heard behind a hill in face of the camp.
+He mounted a horse and rode up the slope, to find the company firing
+on a line of Zulus eight hundred paces away to their front. This line
+was about a thousand yards long, and shaped like a horn, tapering
+towards the point. It advanced slowly, taking shelter with great
+skill behind rocks, and opened a quite ineffective fire on the soldiers.
+Meanwhile the two guns were shelling the Zulu centre with great
+effect, the shells cutting lanes through their dense ranks, which closed
+up over the dead in perfect discipline and silence. The attack was
+now general, all the impi taking part in it except a reserve regiment
+that sat down upon the ground taking snuff, and never came into
+action, and the Undi corps, which moved off to the right with the
+object of passing round the north side of the Isandhlwana hill.</p>
+
+<p>On came the Zulus in silence, and ever as they came the two
+horns crept further and further ahead of the black breast of their array.
+Hundreds of them fell beneath the fire of the breech-loaders, but they
+did not pause in their attack. Ammunition began to fail the soldiers,
+and orders having reached them&mdash;too late&mdash;to concentrate on the
+camp, they retired slowly to that position. Captain Essex also rode
+back, and assisted the quartermaster of the 24th to place boxes
+of ammunition in a mule cart, till presently the quartermaster was
+shot dead at his side. Now the horns or nippers of the foe were
+beginning to close on the doomed camp, and the friendly natives, who
+knew well what this meant, though as yet the white men had not
+understood their danger, began to steal away by twos and threes,
+and then, breaking into open rout, they rushed through the camp,
+seeking the waggon road to Rorke's Drift.</p>
+
+<p>Then at last the Zulu generals saw that the points of the horns
+had met behind the white men, and the moment was ripe. Abandoning
+its silence and slow advance, the breast of the impi raised the
+war-cry and charged, rolling down upon the red coats like a wave
+of steel. So swift and sudden was this last charge, that many of
+the soldiers had no time to fix bayonets. For a few moments the
+scattered companies held the impi back, and the black stream flowed
+round them, then it flowed <i>over</i> them, sweeping them along like
+human wreckage. In a minute the defence had become an utter
+rout. Some of the defenders formed themselves into groups and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+fought back to back till they fell where they stood, to be found weeks
+afterwards mere huddled heaps of bones. Hundreds of others fled
+for the waggon road, to find that the Undi regiment, passing round
+the Isandhlwana mountain, had occupied it already. Back they
+rolled from the hedge of Undi spears to fall upon the spears of the
+attacking regiments. One path of retreat alone remained, a dry
+and precipitous 'donga' or watercourse, and into this plunged a
+rabble of men, white and black, mules, horses, guns, and waggons.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the last act of the tragedy was being played on the
+field of death. With a humming sound such as might be made by
+millions of bees, the Zulu swarms fell upon those of the soldiers
+who remained alive, and, after a desperate resistance, stabbed them.
+Wherever the eye looked, men were falling and spears flashing in
+the sunshine, while the ear was filled with groans of the dying and
+the savage <i>S'gee S'gee</i> of the Zulu warriors as they passed their
+assegais through and through the bodies of the fallen. Many a
+deed of valour was done there as white men and black grappled in
+the death-struggle, but their bones alone remained to tell the tale
+of them. Shortly after the disaster, one of the survivors told the
+present writer of a duel which he witnessed between a Zulu and
+an officer of the 24th regiment. The officer having emptied his
+revolver, set his back against the wheel of a waggon and drew his
+sword. Then the Zulu came at him with his shield up, turning
+and springing from side to side as he advanced. Presently he
+lowered the shield, exposing his head, and the white man falling
+into the trap aimed a fierce blow at it. As it fell the shield was
+raised again, and the sword sank deep into its edge, remaining
+fixed in the tough ox-hide. This was what the Zulu desired; with
+a twist of his strong arm he wrenched the sword from his opponent's
+hand, and in another instant the unfortunate officer was down with
+an assegai through his breast.</p>
+
+<p>In a few minutes it was done, all resistance had been overpowered,
+the wounded had been murdered&mdash;for the Zulu on the
+war-path has no mercy&mdash;and the dead mutilated and cut open to
+satisfy the horrible native superstition. Then those regiments that
+remained upon the field began the work of plunder. Most of the
+bodies they stripped naked, clothing themselves in the uniforms
+of the dead soldiers. They stabbed the poor oxen that remained
+fastened to the 'trek-tows' of the waggons, and they drank all the
+spirits that they could find, some of them, it is said, perishing
+through the accidental consumption of the medical stores. Then,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>
+when the sun grew low, they retreated, laden with plunder, taking
+with them the most of their dead, of whom there are believed to
+have been about fifteen hundred, for the Martinis did their work
+well, and our soldiers had not died unavenged.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>All this while Lord Chelmsford and the division which he
+accompanied were in ignorance of what had happened within a few
+miles of them, though rumours had reached them that a Zulu force
+was threatening the camp. The first to discover the dreadful truth
+was Commandant Lonsdale of the Natal Native Contingent. This
+officer had been ill, and was returning to camp alone, a fact that
+shows how little anything serious was expected. He reached it
+about the middle of the afternoon, and there was nothing to reveal
+to the casual observer that more than three thousand human
+beings had perished there that day. The sun shone, on the white
+tents and on the ox waggons, around and about which groups of red-coated
+men were walking, sitting, and lying. It did not chance to
+occur to him that those who were moving were Zulus wearing the
+coats of English soldiers, and those lying down, soldiers whom
+the Zulus had killed. As Commandant Lonsdale rode, a gun was
+fired, and he heard a bullet whizz past his head. Looking in the
+direction of the sound, he saw a native with a smoking rifle in his
+hand, and concluding that it was one of the men under his command
+who had discharged his piece accidentally, he took no more
+notice of the matter. Forward he rode, till he was within ten
+yards of what had been the headquarter tents, when suddenly out
+of one of them there stalked a great Zulu, bearing in his hand a
+broad assegai from which blood was dripping. Then his intelligence
+awoke, and he understood. The camp was in the possession
+of the enemy, and those who lay here and there upon the grass like
+holiday makers in a London park on a Sunday in summer, were
+English soldiers indeed, not living but dead.</p>
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 347px;">
+<img src="images/i160.png" width="347" height="450" alt="Firing on attackers" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Turning his horse, Commandant Lonsdale fled as swiftly as
+it could carry him. More than a hundred rifle-shots were fired
+after him, but the Zulu marksmanship was poor, and he escaped
+untouched. A while afterwards, a solitary horseman met Lord
+Chelmsford and his staff returning: he saluted, and said, '<i>The
+camp is in the possession of the enemy, sir!</i>' None who heard those
+words will forget them, and few men can have experienced a more
+terrible shock than that which fell upon the English general in
+this hour.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p>Slowly, and with all military precaution, Lord Chelmsford and
+his force moved onward, till at length, when darkness had fallen,
+they encamped beneath the fatal hill of Isandhlwana. Here, momentarily
+expecting to be attacked, they remained all night amid
+the wreck, the ruin, and the dead, but not till the following dawn
+did they learn the magnitude of the disaster that had overtaken
+our arms. Then they saw, and in silence marched from that fatal
+field, heading for Rorke's Drift, and leaving its mutilated dead to
+the vulture and the jackal.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>Now let us follow the fate of the mob of fugitives, who, driven
+back from the waggon road by the Undi, plunged desperately into
+the donga near it, the sole avenue of retreat which had not been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+besieged by the foe, in the hope that they might escape the
+slaughter by following the friendly natives who were mixed up
+with them. How many entered on that terrible race for life is not
+known, but it is certain that very few won through. Indeed, it is
+said that, with the exception of some natives, no single man who
+was not mounted lived to pass the Buffalo River. For five miles or
+more they rode and ran over paths that a goat would have found it
+difficult to keep his footing on, while by them, and mixed up with
+them, went the destroying Zulus. Very soon the guns became
+fixed among the boulders, and one by one the artillerymen were
+assegaied. On went the survivors, hopeless yet hoping. Now a
+savage sprang on this man, and now on that; the assegai flashed
+up, a cry of agony echoed among the rocks, and a corpse fell
+heavily to the red earth. Still, those whom it pleased Providence
+to protect struggled forward, clinging to their horses' manes as
+they leaped from boulder to boulder, till at length they came to
+a cliff, beneath which the Buffalo rolled in flood. Down this cliff
+they slid and stumbled, few of them can tell how; then, driven
+to it by the pitiless spears, they plunged into the raging river.
+Many were drowned in its waters, some were shot in the stream,
+some were stabbed upon the banks, yet a few, clinging to the manes
+and tails of their horses, gained the opposite shore in safety.</p>
+
+<p>Among these were two men whose memory their country will not
+willingly let die, who, indeed (it is the first time in our military history),
+have been decreed the Victoria Cross although they were already
+dead: Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill of the 24th regiment. One
+of these, Lieutenant Coghill, the writer of this sketch had the good
+fortune to know well. A kindlier-hearted and merrier young English
+gentleman never lived. Melvill and Coghill were swept away upon
+the tide of flight, down the dreadful path that led to Fugitives' Drift,
+but Melvill bore with him the colours of the 24th regiment that
+were in his charge as adjutant, not tied round his waist, as has been
+reported, but upon the pole to which they were attached. He
+arrived in safety at the river, but, owing to the loss of his horse,
+was unable to cross it, and took refuge upon a rock in mid-stream,
+still holding the colours in his hand. Coghill, whose knee was disabled
+by an accident and who had reached the Natal bank already,
+saw the terrible position of his friend and brother officer, and, though
+spears flashed about him and bullets beat the water like hail,
+with a courage that has rarely been equalled, he turned his horse
+and swam back to his assistance. The worst was over; safety lay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+before him, there behind him in the river was almost certain death;
+but this gallant gentleman heeded none of these things, for there
+also were the colours of his regiment and his drowning friend.
+Back he swam to the rock through the boiling current. Soon his
+horse was shot dead beneath him, yet, though none knows how, the
+two of them came safe to shore. The colours were lost indeed, for
+they could no longer carry them and live, but these never fell into
+the hands of their savage foes: days afterwards they were searched
+for and found in the bed of the river. Breathless, desperate, lamed,
+and utterly outworn, the two friends struggled up the bank and the
+hill beyond. But Zulus had crossed that stream as well as the
+fugitive Englishmen. They staggered forward for a few hundred
+yards, then, unable to go further, the friends stood back to back and
+the foe closed in upon them. There they stood, and there, fighting
+desperately, the heroes died. Peace be with them in that land to
+which they have journeyed, and among men, immortal honour to
+their names!</p>
+
+<p>They sold their lives dearly, for several Zulus were found lying
+about their bodies.</p>
+
+<p>About forty white men lived to cross the river at Fugitives'
+Drift, and these, almost the only English survivors of the force at
+Isandhlwana, rode on, still followed by Zulus, to the provision dep&ocirc;t
+at Helpmakaar some fifteen miles away, where they mustered and
+entrenched themselves as best they were able, expecting to be
+attacked at any moment. But no attack was delivered, the Zulus
+being busily employed elsewhere.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>Some little distance from the banks of the Buffalo, and on the
+Natal side near to a mountain called Tyana, stood two buildings
+erected by the Rev. Mr. Witt; Rorke's Drift, from which No. 3
+column had advanced, being immediately in front of them. One of
+these buildings had been utilised as a storehouse and hospital, and
+in it were thirty-five sick men. The other was occupied by a
+company of the 2nd 24th regiment, under the command of the late
+Lieut. Bromhead.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p>
+
+<p>On January 22, the ponts at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of
+Lieut. Chard, R.E., with a few men. About a quarter-past three
+on that day an officer of Lonsdale's regiment, Lieut. Adendorff,
+and a carbineer, were seen galloping wildly towards the ponts. On
+coming to the bank of the river, they shouted to Lieut. Chard to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+take them across, and so soon as he reached them, they communicated
+to him the terrifying news that the general's camp had been
+captured and destroyed by a Zulu impi. A few minutes later a
+message arrived from Lieut. Bromhead, who also had learned the
+tidings of disaster, requesting Lieut. Chard to join him at the
+commissariat store. Mounting his horse he rode thither, to find
+Lieut. Bromhead, assisted by Mr. Dolton, of the commissariat, and
+the entire force at his command, amounting to about 130, inclusive
+of the sick and the chaplain, Mr. Smith, a Norfolk man, actively
+engaged in loopholing and barricading the house and hospital (both
+of which buildings were thatched), and in connecting them by means
+of a fortification of mealie bags and waggons. Having ridden round
+the position, Lieut. Chard returned to the Drift. Sergeant Milne
+and Mr. Daniells, who managed the ponts, offered to moor them
+in the middle of the stream, and with the assistance of a few men
+to defend them from their decks. This gallant suggestion being
+rejected as impracticable, Lieut. Chard withdrew to the buildings
+with the waggon and those under his command.</p>
+
+<p>They arrived there about 3.30, and shortly afterwards an officer of
+Durnford's native horse rode up, accompanied by about 100 mounted
+men, and asked for orders. He was requested to send out outposts
+in the direction of the enemy, and, having checked their advance as
+much as possible, to fall back, when forced so to do, upon the buildings
+and assist in their defence. Posts were then assigned to each man
+in the little garrison, and, this done, the defensive preparations went
+on, all doing their utmost, for they felt that the life of every one
+of them was at stake. Three-quarters of an hour went by, and the
+officer of Durnford's horse rode up, reporting that the Zulus were
+advancing in masses, and that his men were deserting in the
+direction of Helpmakaar. At this time some natives of the Natal
+contingent under the command of Capt. Stephenson also retired,
+an example which was followed by that officer himself.</p>
+
+<p>Lieuts. Chard and Bromhead now saw that their lines of defence
+were too large for the number of men left to them, and at once began
+the erection of an inner entrenchment formed of biscuit boxes
+taken from the stores. When this wall was but two boxes high,
+suddenly there appeared five or six hundred Zulus advancing at a
+run against the southern side of their position. These were soldiers
+of the Undi regiment, the same that had turned the Isandhlwana
+mountain, cutting off all possibility of retreat by the waggon road,
+who, when they knew that the camp was taken, had advanced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+to destroy the guard of Rorke's Drift. On they came, to be met
+presently by a terrible and concentrated fire from the Martinis.
+Many fell, but they did not stay till, when within 50 yards of the
+wall, the cross fire from the store took them in flank. Their loss
+was now so heavy that, checking their advance, some of them took
+cover among the ovens, cookhouse, and outbuildings, whence they in
+turn opened fire upon the garrison. Hundreds more rushing round
+the hospital came at full speed against the north-west fortification of
+sacks filled with corn. In vain did the Martinis pump a hail of lead
+into them: on they came straight to the frail defence, striving to take
+it at the point of the assegai. But here they were met by British
+bayonets and a fire so terrible that even the courage of the Zulus
+could not prevail against it, and they fell back, that is, those of them
+who were left alive.</p>
+
+<p>By this time the main force of the Undi had arrived, two
+thousand of them, perhaps, and having lined an overlooking ledge
+of rocks, took possession of the garden of the station and the bush
+surrounding it, from all of which the fire, though badly directed,
+was so continuous that at length the little garrison of white men
+were forced back into their inner entrenchment of biscuit boxes.
+Creeping up under cover of the bush, the Zulus now delivered
+assault after assault upon the wall. Each of these fierce rushes
+was repelled with the bayonets wielded by the brave white men
+on its further side. The assegais clashed against the rifle barrels,
+everywhere the musketry rang and rolled, the savage war-cries and
+the cheers of the Englishmen rose together through the din, while
+British soldier and Zulu warrior thrust and shot and tore at each
+other across the narrow wall, that wall which all the Undi could
+not climb.</p>
+
+<p>Now it grew dark, for the night was closing in; the spears
+flashed dimly, and in place of smoke long tongues of flame shot from
+the rifle barrels, illumining the stern faces of those who held them as
+lightning does. But soon there was to be light. If any had leisure
+to observe, they may have seen flakes of fire flying upwards from
+the dim bush, and wondered what they were. They were bunches
+of burning grass being thrown on spears to fall in the thatch of the
+hospital roof. Presently something could be seen on this roof that
+shone like a star. It grew dim, then suddenly began to brighten
+and to increase till the star-like spot was a flame, and a hoarse cry
+passed from man to man of: 'O God! the hospital is on fire!'</p>
+
+<p>The hospital was on fire, and in it were sick men, some of whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>
+could not move. It was defended by a garrison, a handful of men,
+and at one and the same time these must bear away the sick to the
+store building, and hold the burning place against the Zulus, who
+now were upon them. They did it, but not all of it, for this was
+beyond the power of mortal bravery and devotion. When the
+thatch blazed above them, room after room did Privates Williams
+and Hook, R. and W. Jones, and some few others hold with the white
+arm&mdash;for their ammunition was spent&mdash;against the assegais of the
+Zulus, while their disabled comrades were borne away to the store
+building beneath the shelter of the connecting wall. One of them
+lost his life here, others were grievously wounded, but, dead or alive,
+their names should always be remembered among their countrymen,
+ay! and always will. Yet they could not save them every one;
+the fire scorched overhead and the assegais bit deep in front, and
+ever, as foes fell, fresh ones sprang into their places, and so, fighting
+furiously, those few gallant men were thrust back, alas! leaving
+some helpless comrades to die by fire and the spear.</p>
+
+<p>It would be of little use to follow step by step all the events of
+that night. All night long the firing went on, varied from time to
+time by desperate assaults. All night long the little band of defenders
+held back the foe. All were weary, some of them were dead and
+more wounded, but they fought on by the light of the burning
+hospital, wasting no single shot. To and fro went the bearded
+clergyman with prayers and consolations upon his lips, and a bag
+of cartridges in his hands, and to and fro also went Chard and
+Bromhead, directing all things. By degrees the Englishmen were
+driven back, the hospital and its approaches were in the hands of
+the foe, and now they must retire to the inner wall of the cattle
+kraal. But they collected sacks of mealies and built two redoubts,
+which gave them a second line of fire, and let the Zulus do what
+they would, storm the place they could not, nor could they serve
+it as they had served the hospital and destroy it by fire.</p>
+
+<p>At length the attacks slackened, the firing dwindled and died,
+and the dawn broke, that same dawn which showed to General
+Lord Chelmsford and those with him all the horror of Isandhlwana's
+field. Here also at Rorke's Drift it revealed death and to
+spare, but for the most part the corpses were those of the foe, some
+four hundred of whom lay lost in their last sleep around the burning
+hospital, in the bush, and beneath the walls of corn-sacks; four
+hundred killed by one hundred and thirty-nine white men all told,
+of whom thirty-five were sick when the defence began. The little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+band had suffered, indeed, for fifteen of them were dead, and twelve
+wounded, some mortally, but seeing what had been done the loss
+was small. Had the Zulus once won an entrance over the last
+entrenchment of biscuit boxes not a man would have remained
+alive. Surely biscuits were never put to a nobler or a stranger use.</p>
+
+<p>The daylight had come and the enemy vanished with the night,
+retreating over a hill to the south-west. But, as the defenders
+of Rorke's Drift guessed, he had no intention of abandoning his
+attack. Therefore they knew that this was no time to be idle.
+Sallying out of their defences they collected the arms of the dead
+Zulus, then returned, and began to strip the roof of the store of its
+thatch, which was a constant source of danger to them, seeing that
+fire is a deadlier foe even than the assegai. They were thus engaged
+when again the Zulus appeared to make an end of them.
+Once more the weary soldiers took up their positions, and a while
+passed. Now they perceived that the Undi, which had been
+advancing, slowly commenced to fall back, a movement that they
+were at a loss to understand, till a shout from those who were
+engaged in stripping the roof told the glad news that English troops
+were advancing to their relief.</p>
+
+<p>These were the remains of No. 3 column, moving down from
+Isandhlwana. Little did the general and those with him expect to
+find a soul living at Rorke's Drift, for they also had seen the sullen
+masses of the Undi retreating from the post, and the columns of
+smoke rising from the burning hospital confirmed their worst fears.
+What then was their joy when they perceived a Union Jack flying
+amidst the smoke, and heard the ring of a British cheer rising
+from the shattered walls and the defences of sacks of corn! Forward
+galloped Col. Russell and his mounted men, and in five
+minutes more those who remained of the garrison were safe, and
+the defence of Rorke's Drift was a thing of the past; another
+glorious page ready to be bound into that great book which is
+called 'The Deeds of Englishmen.'</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>Nearly six months passed before all the dead at Isandhlwana
+were reverently buried. Strange were the scenes that those saw
+whose task it was to lay them to their rest. Here, hidden by the
+rank grass, in one heap behind the officers' tents, lay the bodies of
+some seventy men, who had made their last stand at this spot;
+lower down the hill lay sixty more. Another band of about the
+same strength evidently had taken refuge among the rocks of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>
+mountains, and defended themselves there till their ammunition was
+exhausted, and their ring broken by the assegai. All about the
+plain lay Englishmen and Zulus, as they had died in the dread
+struggle:&mdash;here side by side, amidst rusted rifles and bent assegais,
+here their bony arms still locked in the last hug of death, and
+yonder the Zulu with the white man's bayonet through his skull,
+the soldier with the Zulu's assegai in what had been his heart. One
+man was found, who, when his cartridges were spent, and his rifle
+was broken, had defended himself to the end with a tent-hammer that
+lay among his bones, and another was stretched beneath the precipice,
+from the crest of which he had been hurled.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i167.png" width="400" height="343" alt="As they died" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Well, they buried them where they were discovered, and there
+they sleep soundly beneath the shadow of Isandhlwana's cliff.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>And now a few words more, and this true story will be finished.
+We conquered the Zulus at last, at a battle called Ulundi, where they
+hurled themselves in vain upon the bullets and bayonets of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>
+British square. To the end they fought bravely for their king and
+country, and though they were savages, and, like all savages, cruel
+when at war, they were also gallant enemies, and deserve our respect.
+The king himself, Cetywayo, was hunted down, captured, and sent into
+captivity. Afterwards, there was what is called a 'popular movement'
+on his behalf in England, and he was sent back to Zululand, with
+permission to rule half the country. Meanwhile, after the conclusion
+of the war, our Government would not take the land, and a settlement
+was effected, under which thirteen chiefs were put in authority over
+the country. As might have been expected, these chiefs fought with
+each other, and many men were killed. When Cetywayo returned
+the fighting became fiercer than ever, since those who had tasted
+power refused to be dispossessed, until at last he was finally defeated,
+and, it is believed, poisoned by his own side, to whom he had ceased
+to be serviceable. Meanwhile also, the Dutch Boers, taking advantage
+of the confusion, occupied a great part of Zululand, which they
+still hold. Indeed, they would long ago have taken it all, had not
+the English government, seeing the great misery to which its ever-changing
+policy had reduced the unhappy Zulus, assumed authority
+over the remainder of the country. From that day forward, there
+has been no more killing or trouble in British Zululand, which is
+ruled by Sir Melmoth Osborn, K.C.M.G., and the Queen has no
+more contented subjects than the Zulus, nor any who pay their
+taxes with greater regularity!</p>
+
+<p>But the Zulus as a nation are dead, and never again will a great
+Impi, such as swept away our troops at Isandhlwana, be seen
+rushing down to war. Their story is but one scene in the vast drama
+which is being enacted in this generation, and which some of you
+who read these lines may live to see, not accomplished, indeed, but
+in the way of accomplishment&mdash;the drama of the building up of a
+great Anglo-Saxon empire in Africa&mdash;an empire that within the next
+few centuries may well become one of the mightiest in the world. We
+have made many and many a mistake, but still that empire grows;
+in spite of the errors of the Home Government, the obstinacy of the
+Boers, the power of native chiefs, and the hatred of Portuguese, still
+it grows. Already it is about as big as Europe, and it is only a
+baby yet, a baby begotten by the genius and courage of individual
+Englishmen.</p>
+
+<p>When the child has become a giant&mdash;yes, even in those far-off
+ages when it is a very old giant, a king among the nations&mdash;we
+may be sure that, from generation to generation, men will show their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+sons the mountain that was called Isandhlwana, or the place of the
+Little Hand, and a certain spot on the banks of the Buffalo River,
+and tell the tale of how beneath that hill the wild Zulus of the
+ancient times overwhelmed the forces of the early English settlers;
+of how, for a long night through, a few men of those forces held two
+grass-thatched sheds against their foe's savage might; and of how
+some miles away two heroes named Melville and Coghill died
+together whilst striving to save the colours of their regiment from
+the grasp of the victorious 'Children of Heaven.'</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>Now it may interest you to know that these last words are
+written with a pen that was found among the bones of the dead at
+Isandhlwana.</p>
+
+<div class='sig'>
+<span class="smcap">H. Rider Haggard.</span><br />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>HOW LEIF THE LUCKY FOUND VINELAND THE GOOD</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THIS is the story of the first finding of America by the Icelanders,
+nearly five hundred years before Columbus. They landed on
+the coast, and stayed for a short time; where they landed is uncertain.
+Thinking that it was in New England, the people of Boston
+have erected a statue of Leif in their town. The story was not
+written till long after Leif's time, and it cannot <i>all</i> be true. Dead
+men do not return and give directions about their burial as we read
+here. We have omitted a silly tale of a one-footed man. In the
+middle ages, people believed that one-footed men lived in Africa;
+they thought Vineland was near Africa, so they brought the fable
+into the Saga.</div>
+
+<p>Hundreds of years before Columbus discovered America, there
+lived in Iceland a man named Eric the Red. His father had slain
+a man in Norway, and fled with his family to Iceland. Eric, too,
+was a dangerous man. His servants did mischief on the farm of a
+neighbour, who slew them. Then Eric slew the farmer, and also
+Holmgang Hrafn, a famous duellist, of whom the country was well rid.
+Eric was banished from that place, and, in his new home, had a new
+quarrel. He lent some furniture to a man who refused to restore
+it. Eric, therefore, carried off his goods, and the other pursued
+him. They fought, and Eric killed him. For this he was made
+an outlaw, and went sailing to discover new countries. He found
+one, where he settled, calling it Greenland, because, he said, people
+would come there more readily if it had a good name.</p>
+
+<p>One Thorbiorn, among others, sailed to Greenland, but came in
+an unlucky time, for fish were scarce, and some settlers were
+drowned. At that day, some of the new comers were Christians,
+some still worshipped the old Gods, Thor and Woden, and practised
+magic. These sent for a prophetess to tell them what the end
+of their new colony would be. It is curious to know what a real<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+witch was like, and how she behaved, so we shall copy the story from
+the old Icelandic book.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 261px;">
+<img src="images/i171.png" width="261" height="400" alt="She was clad in a dark blue cloak" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>'When she came in the evening, with the man who had been
+sent to meet her, she was clad in a dark-blue cloak, fastened with
+a strap, and set with stones quite down to the hem. She wore
+glass beads around her neck, and upon her head a black lambskin
+hood, lined with white catskin.  In her hands she carried a staff
+upon which there was a knob, which was ornamented with brass,
+and set with stones up about the knob. Circling her waist she
+wore a girdle of touchwood, and attached to it a great skin pouch,
+in which she kept the charms which she used when she was practising
+her sorcery. She wore upon her feet shaggy calfskin shoes,
+with long, tough latchets, upon the ends of which there were large
+brass buttons. She had catskin gloves upon her hands; the gloves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+were white inside and lined with fur. When she entered, all of the
+folk felt it to be their duty to offer her becoming greetings. She
+received the salutations of each individual according as he pleased
+her. Yeoman Thorkel took the sibyl by the hand, and led her to
+the seat which had been made ready for her. Thorkel bade her
+run her eyes over man and beast and home. She had little to
+say concerning all these. The tables were brought forth in the
+evening, and it remains to be told what manner of food was prepared
+for the prophetess. A porridge of goat's beestings was made
+for her, and for meat there were dressed the hearts of every kind of
+beast which could be obtained there. She had a brass spoon, and
+a knife with a handle of walrus tusk, with a double hasp of brass
+around the haft, and from this the point was broken. And when
+the tables were removed, Yeoman Thorkel approaches the prophetess
+Thorbiorg, and asks how she is pleased with the home, and the
+character of the folk, and how speedily she would be likely to become
+aware of that concerning which he had questioned her, and
+which the people were anxious to know. She replied that she
+could not give an opinion in this matter before the morrow, after
+that she had slept there through the night. And on the morrow,
+when the day was far spent, such preparations were made as were
+necessary to enable her to accomplish her soothsaying. She bade
+them bring her those women who knew the incantation which she
+required to work her spells, and which she called Warlocks; but
+such women were not to be found. Thereupon a search was made
+throughout the house, to see whether anyone knew this [incantation].
+Then says Gudrid, Thorbiorn's daughter: "Although I am
+neither skilled in the black art nor a sibyl, yet my foster-mother,
+Halldis, taught me in Iceland that spell-song, which she called
+Warlocks." Thorbiorg answered: "Then art thou wise in season!"
+Gudrid replies; "This is an incantation and ceremony of such a
+kind that I do not mean to lend it any aid, for that I am a Christian
+woman." Thorbiorg answers: "It might so be that thou couldst
+give thy help to the company here, and still be no worse woman
+than before; however, I leave it with Thorkel to provide for my
+needs." Thorkel now so urged Gudrid that she said she must needs
+comply with his wishes. The women then made a ring round about,
+while Thorbiorg sat up on the spell-da&iuml;s. Gudrid then sang the
+song, so sweet and well, that no one remembered ever before to have
+heard the melody sung with so fair a voice as this. The sorceress
+thanked her for the song, and said: "She has indeed lured many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+spirits hither, who think it pleasant to hear this song, those who
+were wont to forsake us hitherto and refuse to submit themselves
+to us. Many things are now revealed to me, which hitherto have
+been hidden, both from me and from others. And I am able to
+announce that this period of famine will not endure longer, but the
+season will mend as spring approaches. The visitation of disease,
+which has been so long upon you, will disappear sooner than expected."'</p>
+
+<p>After this, Thorbiorn sailed to the part of Greenland where Eric
+the Red lived, and there was received with open arms. Eric had
+two sons, one called Thorstein, the other Leif the Lucky, and it was
+Leif who afterwards discovered Vineland the Good, that is, the
+coast of America, somewhere between Nova Scotia and New England.
+He found it by accident. He had been in Norway, at the
+court of king Olaf, who bade him proclaim Christianity in Greenland.
+As he was sailing thither, Leif was driven by tempests out of
+his course, and came upon coasts which he had never heard of,
+where wild vines grew, and hence he called that shore Vineland
+the Good. The vine did not grow, of course, in Iceland. But Leif
+had with him a German Tyrker, and one day, when they were on
+shore, Tyrker was late in joining the rest. He was very much
+excited, and spoke in the German tongue, saying 'I have found
+something new, vines and grapes.' Then they filled their boat full
+of grapes, and sailed away. He also brought away some men from
+a wreck, and with these, and the message of the Gospel, he sailed
+back to Greenland, to his father, Eric the Red, and from that day he
+was named Leif the Lucky. But Eric had no great mind to become
+a Christian, he had been born to believe in Thor and his own
+sword.</p>
+
+<p>Next year Leif's brother, Thorstein, set out to find Vineland,
+and Eric, first burying all his treasures, started with him, but he
+fell from his horse, and broke his ribs, and his company came
+within sight of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: although the original does have 'Ireland', possibly 'Iceland' was meant">Ireland</ins>, but Vineland they did not see, so they returned
+to Ericsfirth in Greenland, and there passed the winter.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i174.png" width="400" height="341" alt="They word only a plaid and kilt" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>There was much sickness, and one woman died. After her death
+she rose, and they could only lay her by holding an axe before her
+breast. Thorstein, Eric's son, died also, but in the night he arose
+again and said that Christian burial should be given to men in consecrated
+ground. For the manner had been to bury the dead in
+their farms with a long pole driven through the earth till it touched
+the breast of the corpse. Afterwards the priest came, and poured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+holy water through the hole, and not till then, perhaps long after
+the death, was the funeral service held. After Thorstein rose and
+spoke, Christian burial was always used in Greenland. Next year
+came Karlsefni from Iceland, with two ships, and Eric received him
+kindly, and gave all his crew winter quarters. In summer nothing
+would serve Karlsefni but to search again for Vineland the Good.
+They took three ships and one hundred and sixty men, and south
+they sailed. They passed Flat Stone Land, where there were white
+foxes, and Bear Island, where they saw a bear, and Forest Land, and
+a cape where they found the keel of a wrecked ship, this they named
+Keelness. Then they reached the Wonder Strands, long expanses
+of sandy shore. Now Karlsefni had with him two Scotch or Irish
+savages, the swiftest of all runners, whom King Olaf had given to
+Leif the Lucky, and they were fleeter-footed than deer. They wore
+only a plaid and kilt all in one piece, for the rest they were naked.
+Karlsefni landed them south of Wonder Strands, and bade them run
+south and return on the third day to report about the country.
+When they returned one carried a bunch of grapes, the other ears<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+of native wheat (maize?). Then they sailed on, passed an isle
+covered with birds' eggs, and a firth, which they called Streamfirth,
+from the tide in it.</p>
+
+<p>Beyond Streamfirth they landed and established themselves
+there.</p>
+
+<p>'There were mountains thereabouts. They occupied themselves
+exclusively with the exploration of the country. They remained
+there during the winter, and they had taken no thought for this
+during the summer. The fishing began to fail, and they began to
+fall short of food. Then Thorhall the Huntsman disappeared.
+They had already prayed to God for food, but it did not come as
+promptly as their necessities seemed to demand. They searched
+for Thorhall for three half-days, and found him on a projecting
+crag. He was lying there, and looking up at the sky, with mouth
+and nostrils agape, and mumbling something. They asked him
+why he had gone thither; he replied, that this did not concern
+anyone. They asked him then to go home with them, and he did
+so. Soon after this a whale appeared there, and they captured it,
+and flensed it, and no one could tell what manner of whale it was;
+and when the cooks had prepared it, they ate of it, and were all
+made ill by it. Then Thorhall, approaching them, says: "Did not
+the Red-beard (that is, Thor) prove more helpful than your Christ?
+This is my reward for the verses which I composed to Thor the
+Trustworthy; seldom has he failed me." When the people heard
+this, they cast the whale down into the sea, and made their appeals
+to God. The weather then improved, and they could now row out
+to fish, and thenceforward they had no lack of provisions, for they
+could hunt game on the land, gather eggs on the island, and catch
+fish from the sea.'</p>
+
+<p>Next spring Thorhall the heathen left them, laughing at the wine
+which he had been promised, and sailed north. He and his crew
+were driven to Ireland, where they were captured and sold as slaves,
+and that was all Thorhall got by worshipping the Red Beard.
+Karlsefni sailed south and reached a rich country of wild maize,
+where also was plenty of fish and of game. Here they first met
+the natives, who came in a fleet of skin-canoes. 'They were
+swarthy men and ill-looking, and the hair of their heads was ugly.
+They had great eyes and were broad of cheek.'</p>
+
+<p>The Icelanders held up a white shield in sign of peace, and the
+natives withdrew. They may have been Eskimo or Red Indians.</p>
+
+<p>The winter was mild and open, but spring had scarce returned,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+when the bay was as full of native canoes 'as if ashes had been
+sprinkled over it.' They only came to trade and exchanged furs for
+red cloth, nor did they seem to care whether they got a broad piece
+of cloth or a narrow one. They also wanted weapons, but these
+Karlsefni refused to sell. The market was going on busily when
+a bull that Karlsefni had brought from Greenland came out of the
+wood and began to bellow, whereon the Skraelings (as they called
+the natives) ran! Three weeks passed when the Skraelings returned
+in very great force, waving their clubs <i>against</i> the course of the sun,
+whereas in peace they waved them with it. Karlsefni showed a
+red shield, the token of war, and fighting began. It is not easy to
+make out what happened, for there are two sagas, or stories of these
+events, both written down long after they occurred. In one we
+read that the Skraelings were good slingers, and also that they used
+a machine which reminds one rather of gunpowder than of anything
+else. They swung from a pole a great black ball, and it made a
+fearful noise when it fell among Karlsefni's men. So frightened
+were they that they saw Skraelings where there were none, and
+they were only rallied by the courage of a woman named Freydis,
+who seized a dead man's sword and faced the Skraelings, beating
+her bare breast with the flat of the blade. On this the Skraelings
+ran to their canoes and paddled away. In the other account
+Karlsefni had fortified his house with a palisade, behind which the
+women waited. To one of them, Gudrid, the appearance of a white
+woman came; her hair was of a light chestnut colour, she was pale
+and had very large eyes. 'What is thy name?' she said to Gudrid.
+'My name is Gudrid; but what is thine?' 'Gudrid!' says the
+strange woman. Then came the sound of a great crash and the
+woman vanished. A battle followed in which many Skraelings
+were slain.</p>
+
+<p>It all reads like a dream. In the end Karlsefni sailed back to
+Ericsfirth with a great treasure of furs. A great and prosperous
+family in Iceland was descended from him at the time when the
+stories were written down. But it is said that Freydis who
+frightened the Skraelings committed many murders in Vineland
+among her own people.</p>
+
+<p>The Icelanders never returned to Vineland the Good, though a
+bishop named Eric is said to have started for the country in 1121.
+Now, in the story of Cort&eacute;s, you may read how the Mexicans
+believed in a God called Quetzalcoatl, a white man in appearance,
+who dwelt among them and departed mysteriously, saying that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+would come again, and they at first took <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Cortes'">Cort&eacute;s</ins> and his men for the
+children of Quetzalcoatl. So we may fancy if we please that Bishop
+Eric, or one of his descendants, wandered from Vineland south and
+west across the continent and arrived among the Aztecs, and by
+them was taken for a God.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>THE ESCAPES OF CERVANTES</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>MOST people know of the terrible war, waged even down to the
+present century, between the Christian ships cruising about
+the Mediterranean and the dreaded Moors or Corsairs of the Barbary
+Coast. It was a war that began in the name of religion, the
+Crescent against the Cross; but, as far as we can learn from the
+records of both sides, there was little to choose in the way that
+either party treated the captives. A large number of these were
+chained to the oars of the galleys which were the ships of battle of
+the middle ages, and sometimes the oars were so long and heavy
+that they needed forty men to each. The rowers had food enough
+to give them the strength necessary for their work, and that was
+all, and the knowledge that they were exerting themselves for the
+downfall of their fellow-Christians, often of their fellow-countrymen,
+must have made their labour a toil indeed. Often it happened
+that a man's courage gave way and he denied his faith and
+his country, and rose to great honours in the service of the Sultan,
+the chief of the little kings who swarmed on the African coasts.
+The records of the Corsairs bristle with examples of these successful
+renegades, many of them captured as boys, who were careless
+under what flag they served, as long as their lives were lives of
+adventure.</div>
+
+<p>All the captives were not, however, turned into galley slaves.
+Some were taken to the towns and kept in prisons called <i>bagnios</i>,
+waiting till their friends sent money to redeem them. If this was
+delayed, they were set to public works, and treated with great
+severity, so that their letters imploring deliverance might become
+yet more urgent. The others, known as the king's captives, whose
+ransom might be promptly expected, did no work and were kept
+apart from the rest.</p>
+
+<p>It was on September 26, 1575, that Miguel Cervantes, the future
+author of 'Don Quixote,' fell into the hands of a Greek renegade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>
+Dali Mami by name, captain of a galley of twenty-two banks of
+oars. Cervantes, the son of a poor but well-descended gentleman of
+Castile, had served with great distinction under Don John of Austria
+at the battle of Lepanto four years earlier, and was now returning
+with his brother Rodrigo to Spain on leave, bearing with him letters
+from the commander-in-chief, Don John, the Duke of Sesa, Viceroy
+of Sicily, and other distinguished men, testifying to his qualities as
+a soldier, 'as valiant as he was unlucky,' and recommending
+Philip II. to give him the command of a Spanish company then
+being formed for Italian service. But all these honours proved his
+bane. The Spanish squadron had not sailed many days from Naples
+when it encountered a Corsair fleet, and after a sharp fight Cervantes
+and his friends were carried captive into Algiers.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the first thing done was to examine each man as to
+his position in life, and the amount of ransom he might be expected
+to bring, and the letters found upon Miguel Cervantes impressed
+them with the notion that he was a person of consequence, and
+capable of furnishing a large sum of money. They therefore took
+every means of ensuring his safety, loading him with chains,
+appointing him guards, and watching him day and night.</p>
+
+<div class='poem'>
+'Stone walls do not a prison make,<br />
+Nor iron bars a cage.'<br />
+</div>
+
+<p>Cervantes never lost heart a moment, but at once began to plan
+an escape for himself and his fellow-captives. But the scheme
+broke down owing to the treachery of the man in whom he had
+confided, and the Spaniards, particularly Cervantes, were made to
+suffer a stricter confinement than before. The following year the
+old Cervantes sent over what money he had been able to raise on
+his own property and his daughters' marriage portions for the
+ransom of his sons, by the hands of the Redemptorist Fathers, an
+Order which had been founded for the sole purpose of carrying on
+this charitable work. But when the sum was offered to Dali Mami
+he declared it wholly insufficient for purchasing the freedom of
+such a captive, though it was considered adequate as the ransom
+of the younger brother Rodrigo. Accordingly, in August 1577,
+Rodrigo Cervantes set sail for Spain, bearing secret orders from his
+brother Miguel to fit out an armed frigate, and to send it by way of
+Valencia and Majorca to rescue himself and his friends.</p>
+
+<p>But even before the departure of Rodrigo, Cervantes had been
+laying other plans. He had, somehow or other, managed to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+acquaintance with the Navarrese gardener of a Greek renegade
+named Azan, who had a garden stretching down to the sea-shore,
+about three miles east of Algiers, where Cervantes was then imprisoned.
+This gardener had contrived to use a cave in Azan's
+garden as a hiding place for some escaped Christians, and as far
+back as February 1577 about fifteen had taken refuge there, under
+the direction of Cervantes. How they remained for so many
+months undiscovered, and how they were all fed, no one can tell;
+but this part of the duty had been undertaken by a captive renegade
+called El Dorador, or the Gilder, to whom their secret had been
+confided.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, Rodrigo had proved faithful to his trust. He had
+equipped a frigate for sea, under the command of a tried soldier,
+Viana by name, who was familiar with the Barbary coast. It set
+sail at the end of September, and by the 28th had sighted Algiers.
+From motives of prudence the boat kept to sea till nightfall, when it
+silently approached the shore. The captives hailed it with joy, and
+were in the act of embarking, when a fishing craft full of Moors
+passed by, and the rescue vessel was forced to put to sea. Meanwhile,
+Cervantes and the fugitives in the cave had to return disheartened
+into hiding, and await another opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>But once lost, the opportunity was gone for ever. Before any
+fresh scheme could be concerted, El Dorador had betrayed the hiding
+place of the Christians and their plan of escape to the cruel Dey or
+King Azan, who saw in the information a means to satisfy his
+greed. According to the law of the country, he was enabled to
+claim the escaped slaves as his own property (except Cervantes, for
+whom he paid 500 crowns), and with a company of armed men
+presented himself before the cave.</p>
+
+<p>In this dreadful strait Cervantes' courage never faltered. He
+told the trembling captives not to fear, as he would take upon
+himself the entire responsibility of the plan. Then, addressing
+Azan's force, he proclaimed himself the sole contriver of the scheme,
+and professed his willingness to bear the punishment. The Turks
+were struck dumb at valour such as this, in the presence of the
+most dreadful torments, and contented themselves with ordering
+the captives into close confinement at the bagnio, hanging the
+gardener, and bringing Cervantes bound to receive his sentence from
+the Dey Azan himself.</p>
+
+<p>The threats of impalement, torture, mutilation of every kind,
+which Cervantes well knew to be no mere threats, had no effect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>
+upon his faithful soul. He stuck to the story he had told, and the
+Dey, 'wearied by so much constancy,' as the Spanish historian says,
+ended by loading him with chains, and throwing him again into
+prison.</p>
+
+<p>For some time he remained here, strictly and closely guarded,
+but his mind always active as to plans of escape. At last, however,
+he managed to enter into relations with Don Martin de Cordoba,
+General of Oran, by means of a Moor, who undertook to convey
+letters asking for help for the Spanish prisoners. But his ill fortune
+had not yet deserted him. The messenger fell into the hands
+of other Moors, who handed him over to Azan, and the wretched
+man was at once put to a cruel death by the Dey's orders.
+Curiously enough, the sentence of 2,000 lashes passed upon Cervantes
+was never carried into effect.</p>
+
+<p>Disappointments and dangers only made Cervantes more determined
+to free himself or die in the attempt; but nearly two
+years dragged by before he saw another hope rise before him,
+though he did everything he could in the interval to soothe the
+wretched lot of his fellow-captives. This time his object was to
+induce two Valencia merchants of Algiers to buy an armed frigate,
+destined to carry Cervantes and a large number of Christians back
+to Spain, but at the last minute they were again betrayed, this time
+by a countryman, and again Cervantes took the blame on his own
+shoulders, and confessed nothing to the Dey.</p>
+
+<p>Now it seemed indeed as if his last moment had come. His
+hands were tied behind him, and a cord was put round his neck;
+but Cervantes never swerved from the tale he had resolved to tell,
+and at the close of the interview found himself within the walls of
+a Moorish prison, where he lay for five months loaded with fetters
+and chains, and treated with every kind of severity, though never
+with actual cruelty.</p>
+
+<p>All this time his mind was busy with a fresh scheme, nothing
+short of a concerted insurrection of all the captives in Algiers, numbering
+about 25,000, who were to overpower the city, and to plant
+the Spanish flag on its towers. His measures seem to have been
+taken with sufficient prudence and foresight to give them a fair
+chance of success, bold as the idea was, but treachery as usual
+caused the downfall of everything. Why, under such repeated provocation,
+the cruel Azan Aga did not put him to a frightful death
+it is hard to understand, but in his 'Captive's Story,' Cervantes
+himself bears testimony to the comparative moderation of the Dey's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>
+behaviour towards him. 'Though suffering,' he says, 'often, if not
+indeed always, from hunger and thirst, the worst of all our miseries
+was the sight and sound of the tortures daily inflicted by our
+master on our fellow-Christians. Every day he hanged one, impaled
+another, cut off the ears of a third; and all this for so little
+reason, or even for none at all, that the very Turks knew he did it
+for the mere pleasure of doing it; and because to him cruelty was
+the natural employment of mankind. Only one man did he use
+well, and that was a Spanish soldier, named Saavedra, and though
+this Saavedra had struck blows for liberty which will be remembered
+by Moors for many years to come, yet Azan never either gave him
+stripes himself, nor ordered his servants to do so, neither did he
+ever throw him an evil word; while we trembled lest for the
+smallest of his offences the tyrant would have him impaled, and
+more than once he himself expected it.' This straightforward
+account of matters inside the bagnio is the more valuable and interesting
+if we recollect that Cervantes' great-grandmother was a
+Saavedra, and that the soldier alluded to in the text was really
+himself. It is impossible to explain satisfactorily the sheathing of
+the tiger's claws on his account alone; did Cervantes exercise
+unconsciously a mesmeric influence over Azan? Did Azan ascribe
+his captive's defiance of death and worse than death to his bearing
+a charmed life? Or did he hold him to be a man of such consequence
+in his own country, that it was well to keep him in as good condition
+as Azan's greed would permit? We shall never know; only
+there remains Cervantes' emphatic declaration that during the five
+long years of his captivity no man's hand was ever lifted against
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, having no more money wherewith to ransom his
+son, Rodrigo de Cervantes made a declaration of his poverty before
+a court of law, and set forth Miguel's services and claims. In
+March 1578, the old man's prayer was enforced by the appearance
+of four witnesses who had known him both in the Levant and in
+Algiers and could testify to the truth of his father's statement, and a
+certificate of such facts as were within his knowledge being willingly
+offered by the Duke of Sesa, the King, Philip II., consented to
+furnish the necessary ransom.</p>
+
+<p>But the ill-fortune which had attended Cervantes in these past
+years seemed to stick to him now. Just when the negotiations
+were drawing to a conclusion, his father suddenly died, and it
+appeared as if the expedition of the Redemptorist Fathers would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>
+sail without him. However, his mother was happily a woman of
+energy, and after managing somehow to raise three hundred ducats
+on her own possessions, appealed to the King for help. This he
+appears to have granted her at once, and he gave her an order for
+2,000 ducats on some Valencia merchandise; but with their usual
+bad luck they only ultimately succeeded in obtaining about sixty,
+which with her own three hundred were placed in the hands of the
+Redemptorist Fathers.</p>
+
+<p>It was time: the fact that the term of Azan's government of
+Algiers had drawn to an end rendered him more than ever greedy
+for money, and he demanded for Cervantes double the price that he
+himself had paid, and threatened, if this was not forthcoming, to
+carry his captive on board his own vessel, which was bound for
+Constantinople. Indeed, this threat was actually put into effect,
+and Cervantes, bound and loaded with chains, was placed in
+a ship of the little squadron that was destined for Turkish waters.
+The good father felt that once in Constantinople, Cervantes would
+probably remain a prisoner to the end of his life, and made unheard
+of efforts to accomplish his release, borrowing the money
+that was still lacking from some Algerian merchants, and even
+using the ransoms that had been entrusted to him for other captives.
+Then at last Cervantes was set free, and after five years was able
+to go where he would and return to his native country.</p>
+
+<p>His work however was not yet done. He somehow discovered
+that a Spaniard named Blanco de Paz, who had once before betrayed
+him, was determined, through jealousy, to have him arrested
+the moment he set foot in Spain, and to this end had procured a
+mass of false evidence respecting his conduct in Algiers. It is not
+easy to see what Cervantes could have done to incur the hatred
+of this man, but about this he did not trouble himself to inquire,
+and set instantly to consider the best way of bringing his schemes
+to naught. He entreated his friend, Father Gil, to be present at
+an interview held before the notary Pedro de Ribera, at which a
+number of respectable Christians appeared to answer a paper of
+twenty-five questions, propounded by Cervantes himself, as to the
+principal events of his five years of imprisonment, and his treatment
+of his fellow-captives. Armed with this evidence, he was
+able to defy the traitor, and to return in honour to his native land.</p>
+
+<p>With the rest of his life we have nothing to do. It was not, we
+may be sure, lacking in adventure, for he was the kind of man to
+whom adventures come, and as his inheritance was all gone, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+went back to his old trade, and joined the army which Philip was
+assembling to enforce his claim to the crown of Portugal. In this
+country as in all others to which his wandering life had led him,
+he made many friends and took notice of what went on around
+him. He was in all respects a man practical and vigorous, in
+many ways the exact opposite of his own Don Quixote, who saw
+everything enlarged and glorified and nothing as it really was, but
+in other ways the true counterpart of his hero in his desire to give
+help and comfort wherever it was needed, and to leave the world
+better than he found it.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE WORTHY ENTERPRISE OF JOHN FOXE, AN ENGLISHMAN, IN DELIVERING TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX CHRISTIANS OUT OF THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TURKS AT ALEXANDRIA, JANUARY 3, 1577</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>AMONG our English merchants it is a common thing to traffic
+with Spain, for which purpose, in 1563, there set out from
+Portsmouth a ship called the 'Three Half Moons,' with thirty-eight
+men on board, and well armed, the better to encounter any foes
+they might meet. Now, drawing near the Straits, they found themselves
+beset by eight Turkish galleys, so that it was impossible for
+them to fly, but they must either yield or be sunk. This the
+owner perceiving, manfully encouraged his company, telling them
+not to faint in seeing such a heap of their foes ready to devour
+them; putting them in mind also that if it were God's pleasure
+to give them into their enemies' hands, there ought not to be one
+unpleasant look among them, but they must take it patiently;
+putting them in mind also of the ancient worthiness of their
+countrymen, who in the hardest extremities have always most
+prevailed. With other such encouragement they all fell on their
+knees, making their prayers briefly to God.</div>
+
+<p>Then stood up Grove, the master, being a comely man, with his
+sword and target, holding them up in defiance against his enemies.
+Likewise stood up the owner, boatswain, purser, and every man well
+armed. Now also sounded up the trumpets, drums, and flutes, which
+would have encouraged any man, however little heart he had in him.</p>
+
+<p>Then John Foxe, the gunner, took him to his charge, sending his
+bullets among the Turks, who likewise fired among the Christians,
+and thrice as fast. But shortly they drew near, so that the English
+bowmen fell to shooting so terribly among their galleys that there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+were twice as many of the Turks slain as the whole number of the
+Christians. But the Turks discharged twice as fast against the
+Christians, and so long that the ship was very sorely battered and
+bruised, which the foe perceiving, made the more haste to come
+aboard. For this coming aboard many a Turk paid dearly with his
+life, but it was all in vain, and board they did, where they found a
+hot skirmish. For the Englishmen showed themselves men indeed,
+and the boatswain was valiant above the rest, for he fought among
+the Turks like a mad lion, and there was none of them that could
+stand in his face; till at last there came a shot that struck him
+in the breast, so that he fell down, bidding them farewell, and
+to be of good comfort, and exhorting them rather to win praise by
+death than to live in captivity and shame. This, they hearing,
+indeed intended to have done, but the number and press of the
+Turks was so great that they could not wield their weapons,
+and so were taken, when they intended rather to have died,
+except only the master's mate, who shrank from the fight like a
+notable coward.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i186.png" width="400" height="282" alt="Rowers" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>But so it was, and the Turks were victors, though they had little
+cause of triumph. Then it would have grieved any hard heart to
+see these infidels wantonly ill-treating the Christians, who were no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+sooner in the galleys than their garments were torn from their
+backs, and they set to the oars.</p>
+
+<p>I will make no mention of their miseries, being now under
+their enemies' raging stripes, their bodies distressed with too much
+heat, and also with too much cold; but I will rather show the
+deliverance of those who, being in great misery, continually trust in
+God, with a steadfast hope that He will deliver them.</p>
+
+<p>Near the city of Alexandria, being a harbour, there is a ship-road,
+very well defended by strong walls, into which the Turks are
+accustomed to bring their galleys every winter, and there repair
+them and lay them up against the spring. In this road there is a
+prison, in which the captives and all those prisoners who serve in
+the galleys are confined till the sea be calm again for voyaging,
+every prisoner being most grievously laden with irons on his legs,
+giving him great pain. Into this prison all these Christians were
+put, and fast guarded all the winter, and every winter. As time
+passed the master and the owner were redeemed by friends; but
+the rest were left in misery, and half-starved&mdash;except John Foxe,
+who being a somewhat skilful barber, made shift now and then, by
+means of his craft, to help out his fare with a good meal. Till at
+last God sent him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison,
+so that he had leave to go in and out to the road, paying a stipend
+to the keeper, and wearing a lock about his leg. This liberty six
+more had, on the same conditions; for after their long imprisonment,
+it was not feared that they would work any mischief against
+the Turks.</p>
+
+<p>In the winter of the year 1577, all the galleys having reached
+port, and their masters and mariners being at their own homes,
+the ships themselves being stripped of their masts and sails, there
+were in the prison two hundred and sixty-eight Christian captives,
+belonging to sixteen different nations. Among these were three
+Englishmen, one of them John Foxe, the others William Wickney
+and Robert Moore. And John Foxe, now having been thirteen or
+fourteen years under the bondage of the Turks, and being weary
+thereof, pondered continually, day and night, how he might escape,
+never ceasing to pray God to further his enterprise, if it should be
+to His glory.</p>
+
+<p>Not far from the road, at one side of the city, there was a
+certain victualling-house, which one Peter Unticare had hired,
+paying a fee to the keeper of the prison. This Peter Unticare was
+a Spaniard, and also a Christian, and had been a prisoner about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>
+thirty years, never contriving any means to escape, but keeping
+himself quiet without being suspected of conspiracy. But on the
+coming of John Foxe they disclosed their minds to each other
+about their loss of liberty; and to this Unticare John Foxe confided
+a plan for regaining their freedom, which plan the three
+Englishmen continually brooded over, till they resolved to acquaint
+five more prisoners with their secret. This being done, they
+arranged in three more days to make their attempt at escape.
+Whereupon John Foxe, and Peter Unticare, and the other six
+arranged to meet in the prison on the last day of December, and
+there they told the rest of the prisoners what their intention was,
+and how they hoped to bring it to pass. And having, without much
+ado, persuaded all to agree, John Foxe gave them a kind of
+files, which he had hoarded together by means of Peter Unticare,
+charging them every man to be free of his fetters by eight o'clock
+on the following night.</p>
+
+<p>The next night John Foxe and his six companions, all having
+met at the house of Peter Unticare, spent the evening mirthfully
+for fear of rousing suspicion, till it was time for them to put their
+scheme into execution. Then they sent Peter Unticare to the
+master of the road, in the name of one of the masters of the city,
+with whom he was well acquainted, and at the mention of whose
+name he was likely to come at once, desiring him to meet him
+there, and promising to bring him back again.</p>
+
+<p>The keeper agreed to go with Unticare, telling the warders not
+to bar the gate, for he would come again with all speed. In the
+meantime the other seven had provided themselves with all the
+weapons they could find in the house, and John Foxe took a rusty
+old sword without a hilt, which he managed to make serve by
+bending the hand end of the sword instead of a hilt.</p>
+
+<p>Now the keeper being come to the house, and seeing no light
+nor hearing any noise, straightway suspected the plot, and was
+turning back. But John Foxe, standing behind the corner of the
+house, stepped forth to him. He perceiving it to be John Foxe,
+said: 'O Foxe! what have I deserved of thee that thou shouldest
+seek my death?'</p>
+
+<p>'Thou, villain,' quoth Foxe, 'hast been a blood-sucker of many
+a Christian's blood, and now thou shalt know what thou hast deserved
+at my hands!'</p>
+
+<p>Therewith he lifted up his bright shining sword, cleared of its
+ten years' rust, and struck him so strong a blow that his head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>
+was cleft asunder, and he fell stark dead to the ground. Thereupon
+Peter Unticare went in and told the rest how it was with the keeper,
+and at once they came forth, and with their weapons ran him through
+and cut off his head, so that no man should know who he was.</p>
+
+<p>Then they marched towards the road, and entered it softly.
+There were six warders guarding it, and one of them asked who
+was there. Then quoth Foxe and his company, 'All friends!'</p>
+
+<p>But when they were within it proved contrary, for, quoth Foxe
+to his companions:</p>
+
+<p>'My masters, here there is not a man to a man, so look you play
+your parts!' They so behaved themselves indeed that they had
+despatched those six quickly. Then John Foxe, intending not to be
+thwarted in his enterprise, barred the gate surely, and planted a
+cannon against it.</p>
+
+<p>They entered the gaoler's lodge, where they found the keys of
+the fortress and prison by his bedside, and then they all got better
+weapons. In this chamber was a chest holding a great treasure,
+all in ducats, which Peter Unticare and two more stuffed into
+their garments, as many as they could carry. But Foxe would not
+touch them, saying that it was his liberty and theirs he sought, and
+not to make a spoil of the wicked treasure of the infidels. Yet these
+words did not sink into their hearts, though they had no good of
+their gain.</p>
+
+<p>Now, having provided themselves with the weapons they needed,
+they came to the prison, and unlocked its gates and doors, and
+called forth all the prisoners, whom they employed, some in ramming
+up the gate, some in fitting up a galley which was the best in
+the road.</p>
+
+<p>In the prison were several warders, whom John Foxe and his
+company slew; but this was perceived by eight more Turks, who
+fled to the top of the prison, where Foxe and his company had to
+reach them by ladders. Then followed a hot skirmish, and John
+Foxe was shot thrice through his apparel, without being hurt; but
+Peter Unticare and the other two, who had weighed themselves
+down with the ducats so that they could not manage their weapons,
+were slain.</p>
+
+<p>Among the Turks there was one thrust through who fell from
+the top of the prison wall, and made such a crying out that the
+inhabitants of a house or two that stood near came and questioned
+him, and soon understood the case&mdash;how the prisoners were attempting
+to escape. Then they raised both Alexandria on the west side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>
+of the road, and a castle at the end of the city next to the road, and
+also another fortress on the north side of the road. And now the
+prisoners had no way to escape but one that might seem impossible
+for them.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 360px;">
+<img src="images/i190.png" width="360" height="500" alt="They stuffed their garments" title="" />
+</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Then every man set to work, some to their tackling, some carrying
+arms and provisions into the galley, some keeping the enemy
+from the wall of the road. To be short, there was no man idle, nor
+any labour spent in vain; so that presently the galley was ready,
+and into it they all leaped hastily, and hoisted sail.</p>
+
+<p>But when the galley had set sail, and was past the shelter of
+the road, the two castles had full power over it, and what could
+save it from sinking? The cannon let fly from both sides, and it
+was between them both.</p>
+
+<p>Yet there was not one on board that feared the shot that came
+thundering about their ears, nor yet was any man scarred or touched.
+For now God held forth His buckler and shielded this galley, having
+tried their faith to the uttermost. And they sailed away, being
+not once touched with the glance of a shot, and were presently out
+of the reach of the Turkish cannon. Then might you see the Turks
+coming down to the waterside, in companies like swarms of bees,
+trying to make ready their galleys&mdash;which would have been a quick
+piece of work, seeing that they had in them neither oars, nor sails,
+nor anything else. Yet they carried them in, but some into one
+galley, some into another, for there was much confusion among
+them; and the sea being rough, and they having no certain guide,
+it was a thing impossible that they should overtake the prisoners.
+For they had neither pilot, mariners, nor any skilful master that
+was ready at this pinch.</p>
+
+<p>When the Christians were safe out of the enemy's coast, John
+Foxe called to them all, telling them to fall down upon their knees,
+thanking God for their delivery, and beseeching Him to aid them
+to the land of their friends. Then they fell straightway to labouring
+at the oars, striving to come to some Christian country, as near
+as they could guess by the stars. But the winds were so contrary,
+now driving them this way, now that, that they were bewildered,
+thinking that God had forsaken them and left them to yet greater
+danger. And soon there were no victuals left in the galley; and the
+famine grew to be so great that in twenty-eight days there had died
+eight persons.</p>
+
+<p>But it fell out that upon the twenty-ninth day, they reached the
+Isle of Candy, and landed at Gallipoli, where they were made much
+of by the Abbot and monks, and cared for and refreshed. They
+kept there the sword with which John Foxe had killed the keeper,
+esteeming it a most precious jewel.</p>
+
+<p>Then they sailed along the cost to Tarento, where they sold the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>
+galley, and went on foot to Naples, having divided the price. But
+at Naples they parted asunder, going every man his own way,
+and John Foxe journeyed to Rome, where he was well entertained
+by an Englishman and presented to the Pope, who rewarded him
+liberally and gave him letters to the King of Spain. And by the
+King of Spain also he was well entertained, and granted twenty
+pence a day. Thence, desiring to return into his own country, he
+departed in 1579, and being come into England, he went into the
+Court, and told all his travel to the Council, who, considering that
+he had spent a great part of his youth in thraldom, extended to
+him their liberality, to help to maintain him in age&mdash;to their own
+honour and the encouragement of all true-hearted Christians.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;">
+<img src="images/i192.png" width="350" height="187" alt="Ship at sea" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>BARON TRENCK</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>MOST men who have escaped from prison owe their fame, not to
+their flight, but to the deeds which caused their imprisonment.
+It may, however, safely be asserted that few people out of his own
+country would have heard of Baron Trenck had it not been for the
+wonderful skill and cunning with which he managed to cut through
+the 'stone walls' and 'iron bars' of all his many 'cages.' He was
+born at K&ouml;nigsberg in Prussia in 1726, and entered the body-guard of
+Frederic II. in 1742, when he was about sixteen. Trenck was a
+young man of good family, rich, well-educated, and, according to
+his own account, fond of amusement. He confesses to having
+shirked his duties more than once for the sake of some pleasure,
+even after the War of the Austrian Succession had broken out
+(September 1744), and Frederic, strict though he was, had forgiven
+him. It is plain from this, that the King must have considered
+that Trenck had been guilty of some deadly treachery towards
+him, when in after years he declined to pardon him for crimes
+which after all the young man had never committed.</div>
+
+<p>Trenck's first confinement was in 1746, when he was thrown
+into the Castle of Glatz, on a charge of corresponding with his cousin
+and namesake, who was in the service of the Empress Maria Theresa,
+and of being an Austrian spy. At first he was kindly treated and
+allowed to walk freely about the fortifications, and he took advantage
+of the liberty given him to arrange a plan of escape with one
+of his fellow-prisoners. The plot was, however, betrayed by the
+other man, and a heavy punishment fell on Trenck. By the
+King's orders, he was promptly deprived of all his privileges, and
+placed in a cell in one of the towers, which overlooked the ramparts
+lying ninety feet below, on the side nearest the town. This added
+a fresh difficulty to his chances of escape, as, in passing from the
+castle to the town, he was certain to be seen by many people. But
+no obstacles mattered to Trenck. He had money, and then, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>
+now, money could do a great deal. So he began by bribing one of
+the officials about the prison, and the official in his turn bribed a
+soap-boiler, who lived not far from the castle gates, and promised to
+conceal Trenck somewhere in his house. Still, liberty must have
+seemed a long way off, for Trenck had only one little knife (<i>canif</i>)
+with which to cut through everything. By dint of incessant and
+hard work, he managed to saw through three thick steel bars, but
+even so, there were eight others left to do. His friend the official
+then procured him a file, but he was obliged to use it with great
+care, lest the scraping sound should be heard by his guards. Perhaps
+they wilfully closed their ears, for many of them were sorry for
+Trenck; but, at all events, the eleven bars were at last sawn through,
+and all that remained was to make a rope ladder. This he did by
+tearing his leather portmanteau into strips, and plaiting them into
+a rope, and as this was not long enough, he added his sheets. The
+night was dark and rainy, which favoured him, and he reached the
+bottom of the rampart in safety. Unluckily, he met here with an
+obstacle on which he had never counted. There was a large drain,
+opening into one of the trenches, which Trenck had neither seen nor
+heard of, and into this he fell. In spite of his struggles, he was held
+fast, and his strength being at last exhausted, he was forced to call
+the sentinel, and at midday, having been left in the drain for hours
+to make sport for the town, he was carried back to his cell.</p>
+
+<p>Henceforth he was still more strictly watched than before,
+though, curiously enough, his money never seems to have been
+taken from him, and at this time he had about eighty louis left, which
+he always kept hidden about him. Eight days after his last attempt,
+Fouquet, the commandant of Glatz, who hated Trenck and
+all his family, sent a deputation consisting of the adjutant, an officer,
+and a certain Major Doo, to speak to the unfortunate man, and
+exhort him to patience and submission. Trenck entered into conversation
+with them for the purpose of throwing them off their
+guard, when suddenly he snatched away Doo's sword, rushed from
+his cell, knocked down the sentinel and lieutenant who were standing
+outside, and striking right and left at the soldiers who came
+flying to bar his progress, he dashed down the stairs and leapt from
+the ramparts. Though the height was great, he fell into the fosse
+without injury, and still grasping his sword. He scrambled quickly
+to his feet and jumped easily over the second rampart, which was
+much lower than the first, and then began to breathe freely, as he
+thought he was safe from being overtaken by the soldiers, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>
+would have to come a long way round. At this moment, however,
+he saw a sentinel making for him a short distance off, and he
+rushed for the palisades which divided the fortifications from the
+open country, from which the mountains and Bohemia were easily
+reached. In the act of scaling them, his foot was caught tight
+between the bars, and he was trapped till the sentinel came up,
+and after a sharp fight got him back to prison.</p>
+
+<p>For some time poor Trenck was in a sad condition. In his
+struggle with the sentinel he had been wounded, while his right
+foot had got crushed in the palisades. Beside this, he was watched
+far more strictly than before, for an officer and two men remained
+always in his cell, and two sentinels were stationed outside. The
+reason of these precautions of course was to prevent his gaining over
+his guards singly, either by pity or bribery. His courage sank to its
+lowest ebb, as he was told on all sides that his imprisonment was
+for life, whereas long after he discovered the real truth, that the
+King's intention had been to keep him under arrest for a year only,
+and if he had had a little more patience, three weeks would have
+found him free. His repeated attempts to escape naturally angered
+Frederic, while on the other hand the King knew nothing of the
+fact which excused Trenck's impatience&mdash;namely, the belief carefully
+instilled in him by all around him that he was doomed to perpetual
+confinement.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible to describe in detail all the plans made by
+Trenck to regain his freedom, first because they were endless, and
+secondly because several were nipped in the bud. Still the unfortunate
+man felt that as long as his money was not taken from him
+his case was not hopeless, for the officers in command were generally
+poor and in debt, and were always sent to garrison work as a
+punishment. After one wild effort to liberate <i>all</i> the prisoners in
+the fortress, which was naturally discovered and frustrated, Trenck
+made friends with an officer named Schell, lately arrived at Glatz,
+who promised not only his aid but his company in the new enterprise.
+As more money would be needed than Trenck had in his
+possession, he contrived to apply to his rich relations outside the
+prison, and by some means&mdash;what we are not told&mdash;they managed
+to convey a large sum to him. Suspicion, however, got about that
+Trenck was on too familiar a footing with the officers, and orders
+were given that his door should always be kept locked. This occasioned
+further delay, as false keys had secretly to be made, before
+anything else could be done.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Their flight was unexpectedly hastened by Schell accidentally
+learning that he was in danger of arrest. One night they crept
+unobserved through the arsenal and over the inner palisade, but on
+reaching the rampart they came face to face with two of the officers,
+and again a leap into the fosse was the only way of escape. Luckily
+the wall at this point was not high, and Trenck arrived at the
+bottom without injury; but Schell was not so happy, and hurt his
+foot so badly that he called on his friend to kill him, and to make
+the best of his way alone. Trenck, however, declined to abandon
+him, and having dragged him over the outer palisade, took him on
+his back, and made for the frontier. Before they had gone five
+hundred yards they heard the boom of the alarm guns from the
+fortress, while clearer still were the sounds of pursuit. As they
+knew that they would naturally be sought on the side towards
+Bohemia, they changed their course and pushed on to the river
+Neiss, at this season partly covered with ice. Trenck swam over
+slowly with this friend on his back, and found a boat on the other
+side. By means of this boat they evaded their enemies, and reached
+the mountains after some hours, very hungry, and almost frozen to
+death.</p>
+
+<p>Here a new terror awaited them. Some peasants with whom
+they took refuge recognised Schell, and for a moment the fugitives
+gave themselves up for lost. But the peasants took pity on the two
+wretched objects, fed them and gave them shelter, till they could
+make up their minds what was best to be done. To their unspeakable
+dismay, they found that they were, after all, only seven miles
+from Glatz, and that in the neighbouring town of Wunschelburg a
+hundred soldiers were quartered, with orders to capture all deserters
+from the fortress. This time, however, fortune favoured the luckless
+Trenck, and though he and Schell were both in uniform, they
+rode unobserved through the village while the rest of the people
+were at church, and, skirting Wunschelburg, crossed the Bohemian
+frontier in the course of the day.</p>
+
+<p>Then follows a period of comparative calm in Trenck's history.
+He travelled freely about Poland, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Denmark
+and Holland, and even ventured occasionally across the border into
+Prussia. Twelve years seem to have passed by in this manner, till
+in 1758 his mother died, and Trenck asked leave of the council of
+war to go up to Dantzic to see his family and to arrange his affairs.
+Curiously enough, it appears never to have occurred to him that he
+was a deserter, and as such liable to be arrested at any moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>
+And this was what actually happened. By order of the King, Trenck
+was taken first to Berlin, where he was deprived of his money and
+some valuable rings, and then removed to Magdeburg, of which
+place Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick was the governor.</p>
+
+<p>Here his quarters were worse than he had ever known them.
+His cell was only six feet by ten, and the window was high, with
+bars without as well as within. The wall was seven feet thick, and
+beyond it was a palisade, which rendered it impossible for the
+sentinels to approach the window. On the other side the prisoner
+was shut in by three doors, and his food (which was not only bad,
+but very scanty) was passed to him through an opening.</p>
+
+<p>One thing only was in his favour. His cell was only entered
+once a week, so he could pursue any work to further his escape
+without much danger of being discovered. Notwithstanding the
+high window, the thick wall, and the palisade, notwithstanding too
+his want of money, he soon managed to open negotiations with the
+sentinels, and found, to his great joy, that the next cell was empty.
+If he could only contrive to burrow his way into that, he would be
+able to watch his opportunity to steal through the open door; once
+free he could either swim the Elbe and cross into Saxony, which
+lay about six miles distant, or else float down the river in a boat
+till he was out of danger.</p>
+
+<p>Small as the cell was, it contained a sort of cupboard fixed into
+the floor by irons, and on these Trenck began to work. After
+frightful labour he at last extracted the heavy nails which fastened
+the staples to the floor, and breaking off the heads (which he put
+back to avoid detection), he kept the rest to fashion for his own
+purposes. By this means he made instruments to raise the bricks.</p>
+
+<p>On this side also the wall was seven feet thick, and formed of
+bricks and stones. Trenck numbered them as he went on with the
+greatest care, so that the cell might present its usual appearance
+before the Wednesday visit of his guards. To hide the joins, he
+scraped off some of the mortar, which he smeared over the place.</p>
+
+<p>As may be supposed, all this took a very long time. He had
+nothing to work with but the tools he himself had made, which of
+course were very rough. But one day a friendly sentinel gave him
+a little iron rod, and a small knife with a wooden handle. These were
+treasures, indeed! And with their help he worked away for six
+months at his hole, as in some places the mortar had become so
+hard that it had to be pounded like a stone.</p>
+
+<p>During this time he enlisted the compassion of some of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+other sentinels, who not only described to him the lie of the country
+which he would have to traverse if he ever succeeded in getting out
+of prison, but interested in his behalf a Jewess named Esther
+Heymann, whose own father had been for two years a prisoner in
+Magdeburg. In this manner Trenck became the possessor of a file,
+a knife, and some writing paper, as the friendly Jewess had agreed
+to convey letters to some influential people both at Vienna and
+Berlin, and also to his sister. But this step led to the ruin, not only
+of Trenck, but of several persons concerned, for they were betrayed
+by an Imperial Secretary of Embassy called Weingarten, who was
+tempted by a bill for 20,000 florins.  Many of those guilty of
+abetting Trenck in this fresh effort to escape were put to death,
+while his sister was ordered to build a new prison for him in the
+Fort de l'Etoile, and he himself was destined to pass nine more
+years in chains.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of his fetters, Trenck was able in some miraculous way
+to get on with his hole, but his long labour was rendered useless by
+the circumstance that his new prison was finished sooner than he
+expected, and he was removed into it hastily, being only able to
+conceal his knife. He was now chained even more heavily than
+before, his two feet being attached to a heavy ring fixed in the wall,
+another ring being fastened round his body. From this ring was
+suspended a chain with a thick iron bar, two feet long at the
+bottom, and to this his hands were fastened. An iron collar was
+afterwards added to his instruments of torture.</p>
+
+<p>Besides torments of body, nothing was wanting which could
+work on his mind. His prison was built between the trenches of
+the principal rampart, and was of course very dark. It was likewise
+very damp, and, to crown all, the name of 'Trenck' had been
+printed in red bricks on the wall, above a tomb whose place was
+indicated by a death's head.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 336px;">
+<img src="images/i199.png" width="336" height="400" alt="Imprisoned" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Here again, he tells us, he excited the pity of his guards, who
+gave him a bed and coverlet, and as much bread as he chose to
+eat; and, wonderful as it may seem, his health did not suffer from
+all these horrors. As soon as he got a little accustomed to his
+cramped position, he began to use the knife he had left, and to cut
+through his chains. He next burst the iron band, and after a long
+time severed his leg fetters, but in such a way that he could put
+them on again, and no one be any the wiser. Nothing is more
+common in the history of prisoners than this exploit, and nothing
+is more astonishing, yet we meet with the fact again and again in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>
+their memoirs and biographies. Trenck at any rate appears to
+have accomplished the feat without much difficulty, though he
+found it very hard to get his hand back into his handcuffs. After
+he had disposed of his bonds, he began to saw at the doors leading
+to the gallery. These were four in number, and all of wood, but
+when he arrived at the fourth, his knife broke in two, and the
+courage that had upheld him for so many years gave way. He
+opened his veins and lay down to die, when in his despair he
+heard the voice of Gefhardt, the friendly sentinel from the other
+prison.  Hearing of Trenck's sad plight, he scaled the palisade,
+and, we are told expressly, bound up his wounds, though we are
+<i>not</i> told how he managed to enter the cell. Be that as it may, the
+next day, when the guards came to open the door, they found
+Trenck ready to meet them, armed with a brick in one hand, and a
+knife, doubtless obtained from Gefhardt, in the other. The first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+man that approached him, he stretched wounded at his feet, and
+thinking it dangerous to irritate further a desperate man, they
+made a compromise with him. The governor took off his chains
+for a time, and gave him strong soup and fresh linen. Then, after
+a while, new doors were put to his cell, the inner door being lined
+with plates of iron, and he himself was fastened with stronger
+chains than those he had burst through.</p>
+
+<p>For all this the watch must have been very lax, as Gefhardt
+soon contrived to open communications with him again, and letters
+were passed through the window (to which the prisoner had made
+a false and movable frame) and forwarded to Trenck's rich
+friends. His appeal was always answered promptly and amply.
+More valuable than money were two files, also procured from
+Gefhardt, and by their means the new chains were speedily cut
+through, though, as before, without any apparent break. Having
+freed his limbs, he began to saw through the floor of his cell,
+which was of wood. Underneath, instead of hard rock, there was
+sand, which Trenck scooped out with his hands. This earth was
+passed through the window to Gefhardt, who removed it when he
+was on guard, and gave his friend pistols, a bayonet and knives to
+assist him when he had finally made his escape.</p>
+
+<p>All seemed going smoothly. The foundations of the prison
+were only four feet deep, and Trenck's tunnel had reached a
+considerable distance when everything was again spoilt. A letter
+written by Trenck to Vienna fell into the hands of the governor,
+owing to some stupidity on the part of Gefhardt's wife, who had
+been entrusted to deliver it. The letter does not seem to have
+contained any special disclosure of his plan of escape, as the
+governor, who was still Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, could find
+nothing wrong in Trenck's cell except the false window frame.
+The cut chains, though examined, somehow escaped detection,
+from which we gather either that the officials were very careless,
+or the carpenter very stupid. Perhaps both may have been the
+case, for as the Seven Years' War (against Austria) was at this time
+raging, sentinels and officers were frequently changed, and prison
+discipline insensibly relaxed. Had this not been so, Trenck could
+never have been able to labour unseen, but as it was, he was merely
+deprived of his bed, as a punishment for tampering with the
+window.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he had recovered from his fright and an illness which
+followed, he returned to his digging. It was necessary for him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>
+bore under the subterranean gallery of the principal rampart,
+which was a distance of thirty-seven feet, and to get outside the
+foundation of the rampart. Beyond that was a door leading to
+the second rampart. Trenck was forced to work naked, for fear of
+raising the suspicions of the officials by his dirty clothes, but in
+spite of all his precautions and the wilful blindness of his guards,
+who as usual were on his side, all was at length discovered. His
+hole was filled up, and a year's work lost.</p>
+
+<p>The next torture invented for him was worse than any that had
+gone before. He was visited and awakened every quarter of an
+hour, in order that he might not set to work in the night. This
+lasted for four years, during part of which time Trenck employed
+himself in writing verses and making drawings on his tin cups,
+after the manner of all prisoners, and in writing books with his
+blood, as ink was forbidden. We are again left in ignorance as to
+how he got paper. He also began to scoop out another hole, but
+was discovered afresh, though nothing particular seems to have
+been done to him, partly owing to the kindness of the new governor,
+who soon afterwards died.</p>
+
+<p>It had been arranged by his friends that for the space of one
+year horses should be ready for him at a certain place, on the first
+and fifteenth of every month. Inspired by this thought, he turned
+to his burrowing with renewed vigour, and worked away at every
+moment when he thought he could do so unseen. One day, however,
+when he had reached some distance, he dislodged a
+large stone which blocked up the opening towards his cell. His
+terror was frightful. Not only was the air suffocating and the
+darkness dreadful, but he knew that if any of the guards were unexpectedly
+to come into his cell, the opening must be discovered, and
+all his toil again lost. For eight hours he stayed in the tunnel
+paralysed by fear. Then he roused himself, and by dint of superhuman
+struggles managed to open a passage on one side of the
+stone, and to reach his cell, which for once appeared to him as a
+haven of rest.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this the war ended with the Peace of Paris (1763),
+and Trenck's hopes of release seemed likely to be realised. He
+procured money from his friends, and bribed the Austrian Ambassador
+in Berlin to open negotiations on his behalf, and while
+these were impending he rested from his labours for three whole
+months. Suddenly he was possessed by an idea which was little
+less than madness. He bribed a major to ask for a visit from Duke<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>
+Ferdinand of Brunswick, again governor of Magdeburg, offering to
+disclose his passage, and to reveal all his plans of escape, on condition
+that the Duke would promise to plead for him with the King.
+This message never reached the Duke himself, but some officers
+arrived ostensibly sent by him, but in reality tools of the major's.
+They listened to all he had to say, and saw all he had to show, then
+broke their word, filled up the passage, and redoubled the chains and
+the watch.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding this terrible blow, Trenck's trials were drawing
+to an end. Whether Frederic's heart was softened by his brilliant
+victories, or whether Trenck's influential friends succeeded in making
+themselves heard, we do not know, but six months later he was set
+free, on condition that he never tried to revenge himself on any
+one, and that he never again should cross the frontiers of Saxony
+or Prussia.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE ADVENTURE OF JOHN RAWLINS</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>IN the year 1621, one John Rawlins, native of Rochester, sailed
+from Plymouth in a ship called the 'Nicholas,' which had in its
+company another ship of Plymouth, and had a fair voyage till they
+came within sight of Gibraltar.  Then the watch saw five sails that
+seemed to do all in their power to come up with the 'Nicholas,'
+which, on its part, suspecting them to be pirates, hoisted all the sail
+it could; but to no avail, for before the day was over, the Turkish
+ships of war&mdash;for so they proved to be&mdash;not only overtook the Plymouth
+ships, but made them both prisoners.</div>
+
+<p>Then they sailed for Argier, which, when they reached, the
+English prisoners were sold as slaves, being hurried like dogs into
+the market, as men sell horses in England, and marched up and
+down to see who would give most for them. And though they had
+heavy hearts and sad countenances, yet many came to behold them,
+sometimes taking them by the hand, sometimes turning them round
+about, sometimes feeling their arms and muscles, and bargaining
+for them accordingly, till at last they were sold.</p>
+
+<p>John Rawlins was the last who was sold, because his hand was
+lame, and he was bought by the very captain who took him, named
+Villa Rise, who, knowing Rawlins' skill as a pilot, bought him and
+his carpenter at a very low rate&mdash;paying for Rawlins seven pounds
+ten reckoned in English money.  Then he sent them to work with
+other slaves: but the Turks, seeing that through Rawlins' lame
+hand he could not do so much as the rest, complained to their
+master, who told him that unless he could obtain a ransom of
+fifteen pounds, he should be banished inland, where he would never
+see Christendom again.</p>
+
+<p>But while John Rawlins was terrified with this stern threat of
+Villa Rise, there was lying in the harbour another English ship that
+had been surprised by the pirates&mdash;the 'Exchange,' of Bristol. This
+ship was bought by an English Turk, who made captain of it
+another English Turk, and because they were both renegades, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+concluded to have English and Dutch slaves to go in her. So it
+came about that, inquiring if any English slave were to be sold
+who could serve them as pilot, they heard of John Rawlins, and
+forthwith bought him of his master, Villa Rise.</p>
+
+<p>By January 7 the ship left Argier, with, on board her, sixty-three
+Turks and Moors, nine English slaves, and a French slave,
+four Dutchmen, who were free, and four gunners, one English,
+and one Dutch renegade.</p>
+
+<p>Now, the English slaves were employed for the most part under
+hatches, and had to labour hard, all of which John Rawlins took to
+heart, thinking it a terrible lot to be subject to such pain and
+danger only to enrich other men, and themselves to return as slaves.
+Therefore he broke out at last with such words as these:</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, horrible slavery, to be thus subject to dogs! Oh, Heaven
+strengthen my heart and hand, and something shall be done to
+deliver us from these cruel Mahometan dogs!'</p>
+
+<p>The other slaves, pitying what they thought his madness, bade
+him speak softly, lest they should all fare the worse for his rashness.</p>
+
+<p>'Worse,' said Rawlins, 'what can be worse? I will either
+regain my liberty at one time or another, or perish in the attempt;
+but if you would agree to join with me in the undertaking, I doubt
+not but we should find some way of winning glory with our freedom.'</p>
+
+<p>'Prithee be quiet,' they returned, 'and do not think of impossibilities,
+though, if indeed you could open some way of escape, so
+that we should not be condemned as madmen for trying as it were
+to pull the sun out of the heavens, then we would risk our lives; and
+you may be sure of silence.'</p>
+
+<p>After this the slavery continued, and the Turks set their captives
+to work at all the meanest tasks, and even when they laboured
+hardest, flogged and reviled them, till more and more John Rawlins
+became resolved to recover his liberty and surprise the ship. So
+he provided ropes with broad spikes of iron, and all the iron
+crows, with which he could, with the help of the others, fasten up
+the scuttles, gratings, and cabins, and even shut up the captain
+himself with his companions; and so he intended to work the
+enterprise, that, at a certain watchword, the English being masters
+of the gunner-room and the powder, would either be ready to blow
+the Turks into the air, or kill them as they came out one by one, if
+by any chance they forced open the cabins.</p>
+
+<p>Then, very cautiously, he told the four free Dutchmen of his
+plot, and last of all the Dutch renegades, who were also in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>
+gunner-room; and all these consented readily to so daring an
+enterprise. So he fixed the time for the venture in the captain's
+morning watch.</p>
+
+<p>But you must understand that where the English slaves were
+there always hung four or five iron crows, just under the gun
+carriages, and when the time came it was very dark, so that John
+Rawlins, in taking out his iron dropped it on the side of the gun,
+making such a noise that the soldiers, hearing it, waked the Turks
+and told them to come down. At this the boatswain of the Turks
+descended with a candle, and searched everywhere, making a great
+deal of stir, but finding neither hatchet nor hammer, nor anything
+else suspicious, only the iron which lay slipped down under the gun-carriages,
+he went quietly up again and told the captain what
+had happened, who thought that it was no remarkable thing to
+have an iron slip from its place. But through this John Rawlins
+was forced to wait for another opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>When they had sailed further northward there happened another
+suspicious accident, for Rawlins had told his scheme to the renegade
+gunner, who promised secrecy by everything that could induce one
+to believe in him. But immediately after he left Rawlins, and was
+absent about a quarter of an hour, when he returned and sat down
+again by him. Presently, as they were talking, in came a furious
+Turk, with his sword drawn, who threatened Rawlins as if he
+would certainly kill him. This made Rawlins suspect that the
+renegade gunner had betrayed him; and he stepped back and drew
+out his knife, also taking the gunner's out of its sheath; so that
+the Turk, seeing him with <i>two</i> knives, threw down his sword, saying
+he was only jesting. But the gunner, seeing that Rawlins suspected
+him, whispered something in his ear, calling Heaven to witness
+that he had never breathed a word of the enterprise, and never
+would. Nevertheless, Rawlins kept the knives in his sleeve all
+night, and was somewhat troubled, though afterwards the gunner
+proved faithful and zealous in the undertaking.</p>
+
+<p>All this time Rawlins persuaded the captain, who himself had
+little knowledge of seamanship, to steer northward, meaning to draw
+him away from the neighbourhood of other Turkish vessels. On
+February 6 they descried a sail, and at once the Turks gave
+chase, and made her surrender. It proved to be a ship from
+near Dartmouth, laden with silk. As it was stormy weather, the
+Turks did not put down their boat, but made the master of the
+conquered ship put down his, and come on board with five of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>
+men and a boy, while ten of the Turks' men, among whom were
+one English and two Dutch renegades belonging to the conspiracy,
+went to man the prize instead.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 349px;">
+<img src="images/i206.png" width="349" height="400" alt="Working on the ship" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>But when Rawlins saw this division of his friends, before they
+could set out for the other ship, he found means to tell them plainly
+that he would complete his enterprise either that night or the next,
+and that whatever came of it they must acquaint the four English
+left on the captured ship with his resolution, and steer for England
+while the Turks slept and suspected nothing. For, by God's grace,
+in his first watch he would show them a light, to let them know
+that the enterprise was begun, or about to be begun.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So the boat reached the ship from Dartmouth; and next
+Rawlins told the captain and his men whom the Turks had sent
+down among the other prisoners of his design, and found them
+willing to throw in their lot with him.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, being February 7, the prize from Dartmouth
+was not to be seen&mdash;the men indeed having followed Rawlins'
+counsel and steered for England. But the Turkish captain began
+to storm and swear, telling Rawlins to search the seas up and down
+for her&mdash;which he did all day without success. Then Rawlins,
+finding a good deal of water in the hold, persuaded the captain,
+by telling him that the ship was not rightly balanced, to have four
+of the guns brought aft, that the water might run to the pump.
+This being done, and the guns placed where the English could use
+them for their own purpose, the final arrangement was made. The
+ship having three decks, those that belonged to the gunner-room
+were all to be there, and break up the lower deck. The English
+slaves, who belonged to the middle deck, were to do the same with
+that, and watch the scuttles. Rawlins himself prevailed with the
+gunner to give him as much powder as would prime the guns, and
+told them all there was no better watchword than, when the signal
+gun was heard, to cry:</p>
+
+<p>'For God, and King James, and Saint George for England.'</p>
+
+<p>Then, all being prepared, and every man resolute, knowing
+what he had to do, Rawlins advised the gunner to speak to the
+captain, that he might send the soldiers to the poop, to bring the
+ship aft, and, weighing it down, send the water to the pumps. This
+the captain was very willing to do; and so, at two o'clock in the
+afternoon the signal was given, by the firing of the gun, whose
+report tore and broke down all the binnacle and compasses.</p>
+
+<p>But when the Turks heard this, and the shouts of the conspirators,
+and saw that part of ship was torn away, and felt it shake
+under them, and knew that all threatened their destruction&mdash;no
+bear robbed of her whelps was ever so mad as they, for they not only
+called us dogs, and cried in their tongue, 'The fortune of war! the
+fortune of war!' but they tried to tear up the planking, setting
+to work hammers, hatchets, knives, the oars of the boat, the boat
+hook, and whatever else came to hand, besides the stones and
+bricks of the cook-room, still trying to break the hatches, and never
+ceasing their horrible cries and curses.</p>
+
+<p>Then Rawlins, seeing them so violent, and understanding that
+the slaves had cleared the decks of all the Turks and Moors underneath,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>
+began to shoot at them through different scoutholes, with
+their own muskets, and so lessened their number. At this they
+cried for the pilot, and so Rawlins, with some to guard him, went
+to them, and understood by their kneeling that they cried for
+mercy and begged to come down. This they were bidden to do,
+but coming down one by one, they were taken and slain with their
+own curtleaxes. And the rest, perceiving this, some of them leapt
+into the water, still crying: 'The fortune of war!' and calling their
+foes English dogs, and some were slain with the curtleaxes, till the
+decks were well cleared, and the victory assured.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 385px;">
+<img src="images/i208.png" width="385" height="450" alt="The attack from the hold" title="" />
+</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At the first report of the gun, and the hurly-burly on deck, the
+captain was writing in his cabin, and he came out with his curtleaxe
+in hand, thinking by his authority to quell the mischief. But
+when he saw that the ship was surprised, he threw down his curtleaxe,
+and begged Rawlins to save his life, telling him how he had
+redeemed him from Villa Rise, and put him in command in the
+ship, besides treating him well through the voyage. This Rawlins
+confessed, and at last consented to be merciful, and brought the
+captain and five more renegades into England.</p>
+
+<p>When all was done, and the ship cleared of the dead bodies,
+John Rawlins assembled his men, and with one consent gave the
+praise to God, using the accustomed services on shipboard. And
+for want of books they lifted up their voices to God, as He put it
+into their hearts or renewed their memories. Then did they sing a
+psalm, and last of all, embraced one another for playing the men
+in such a deliverance, whereby their fear was turned into joy.
+That same night they steered for England, and arrived at Plymouth
+on February 13, and were welcomed with all gladness.</p>
+
+<p>As for the ship from Dartmouth, that had arrived in Penzance
+on February 11, for the English had made the Turks believe
+that they were sailing to Argier, till they came in sight of England.
+Then one of the Turks said plainly <i>that the land was not
+like Cape Vincent</i>; but the Englishmen told them to go down
+into the hold, and trim more to windward, and they should see and
+know more to-morrow. Thereupon five of them went down very
+orderly, while the English feigned themselves asleep; but presently
+they started up, and nailed down the hatches, and so overpowered
+the Turks. And this is the story of this enterprise, and the end of
+John Rawlins' voyage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE CHEVALIER JOHNSTONE'S ESCAPE FROM CULLODEN</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>THE Chevalier Johnstone (or <i>de</i> Johnstone, as he preferred to
+call himself) was closely connected with the Highland army,
+hastily collected in 1745 for the purpose of restoring Charles
+Edward to his grandfather's throne. He was aide-de-camp to Lord
+George Murray, Generalissimo to the little force, and seems to
+have known enough of warfare to be capable of appreciating his
+commander's skill. He was also a captain in the regiment of the
+Duke of Perth, and later, when the petals of the White Rose were
+trampled under foot, he became an officer in the French service.</div>
+
+<p>From his position, therefore, he was peculiarly fitted to tell the
+tale of those two eventful years, 1745 and 1746. Though only the
+son of a merchant, Johnstone was well connected, and, like many
+Scottish gentlemen of that day, had been bred in loyalty to the
+Jacobite cause. He was one of the first to join the Prince when he
+had reached Perth, and it was from the Prince himself that he
+received his company, after the fight at Prestonpans. His life was
+all romance, but the part on which it is our present purpose to dwell
+is the account he has left in his memoirs of his escape from the
+field of Culloden, and the terrible sufferings he went through for
+some months, till he finally made his way safely to Holland.</p>
+
+<p>'The battle of Culloden,' he says,<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> 'was lost rather by a series
+of mistakes on our part than by any skilful man&oelig;uvre of the Duke
+of Cumberland,' and every Scot in arms knew too well the doom
+that awaited him at the 'Butcher's' hands. The half-starved
+Highlanders were no match for the well-fed English troops, and
+when the day was lost, and the rout became general, each man
+sought to conceal himself in the fastnesses of the nearest mountains,
+and, as long as he put himself well out of reach, was not particular
+as to the means he took to purchase safety.</p>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figright" style="width: 350px;">
+<img src="images/i211.png" width="350" height="323" alt="Slain" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Panics disclose strange and unexpected depths in men's minds,
+and Johnstone was in no respect superior to his fellows. 'Being
+no longer able to keep myself on my legs,' he relates,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> 'and the
+enemy always advancing very slowly, but redoubling their fire, my
+mind was agitated and undecided whether I should throw away
+my life, or surrender a prisoner, which was a thousand times
+worse than death on the field of battle. All at once I perceived a
+horse, about thirty paces before me, without a rider. The idea of
+being yet able to escape gave me fresh strength and served as a
+spur to me. I ran and laid hold of the bridle, which was fast in
+the hand of a man lying on the ground, whom I supposed dead;
+but, what was my surprise when the cowardly poltroon, who was
+suffering from nothing but fear, dared to remain in the most
+horrible fire to dispute the horse with me, at twenty paces from the
+enemy. All my menaces could not induce him to quit the bridle.
+Whilst we were disputing, a discharge from a cannon loaded with
+grape-shot fell at our feet, without however producing any effect
+upon this singular individual, who obstinately persisted in retaining
+the horse. Fortunately for me, Finlay Cameron, an officer in
+Lochiel's regiment, a youth of twenty years of age, six feet high,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>
+and very strong and vigorous, happened to pass near us. I called
+on him to assist me. "Ah Finlay," said I, "this fellow will not give
+me up the horse."  Finlay flew to me like lightning, immediately
+presented his pistol to the head of this man, and threatened to
+blow out his brains if he hesitated a moment to let go the bridle.
+The fellow, who had the appearance of a servant, at length yielded
+and took to his heels. Having obtained the horse, I attempted to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>
+mount him several times, but all my efforts were ineffectual, as I was
+without strength and completely exhausted. I called again on poor
+Finlay, though he was already some paces from me, to assist me to
+mount. He returned, took me in his arms, with as much ease as
+if I had been a child, and threw me on the horse like a loaded sack,
+giving the horse at the same time a heavy blow to make him set
+off with me. Then wishing that I might have the good fortune to
+make my escape, he bounded off like a roe, and was in a moment
+out of sight. We were hardly more than fifteen or twenty paces
+from the enemy when he quitted me. As soon as I found myself
+at the distance of thirty or forty paces, I endeavoured to set
+myself right on the horse, put my feet in the stirrups, and rode off
+as fast as the wretched animal could carry me.'</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 249px;">
+<img src="images/i212.png" width="249" height="400" alt="Pulled from the horse" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>There is something peculiarly funny in the simplicity of this
+account of horse-stealing with violence! Why a man should be
+more of a coward who clings to his own property and only means
+of safety, than the person who deliberately deprives him of both, is
+not easy to see. But Johnstone never doubts for one moment that
+what he does is always right, and what anyone else does is
+always wrong, and he goes on complacently to remark that he probably
+'saved the life of the poltroon who held the horse, in rousing
+him out of his panic fear, for in less than two minutes the English
+army would have passed over him.'<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p>
+
+<p>The shelter which Johnstone made up his mind to seek was
+the castle of Rothiemurchus, the property of the Grant family, situated
+in the heart of the mountains, and on the banks of the 'rapid
+Spey.' But his troubles were not so easily over. The English
+army barred the way, and Johnstone was forced to take the road
+to Inverness. Again he was turned from his path by the
+dreaded sight of the British uniform, and, accompanied by a Highlander
+whom he had met by chance, he took refuge in a small
+cottage in Fort Augustus. In spite of his peculiar views about
+courage, Johnstone was a man who generally managed to do whatever
+he had set his heart on. He had resolved to go to Rothiemurchus,
+and to Rothiemurchus he would go. At last he arrived
+there, but found, to his great disappointment, that the laird, his old
+friend, was away from home. In his place was his eldest son, who
+was urgent that Johnstone should surrender himself a prisoner, as
+Lord Balmerino had just done, by his advice, and under his escort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>
+Johnstone replied that he would keep his liberty as long as he
+could, and when it was no longer possible, he would meet his fate
+with resignation. We all know the end to which poor Balmerino
+came, but Johnstone was more fortunate.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;">
+<img src="images/i214.png" width="300" height="250" alt="Home" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>His brother-in-law, the son of Lord Rollo, had been made
+inspector of merchant ships in the town of Banff, and Johnstone
+fondly hoped that by his help he might obtain a passage to some
+foreign country. So he set off with three gentlemen of the name
+of Gordon, who had also been staying at Rothiemurchus, and
+rested the first night at the house of a shepherd near the mountain
+of Cairngorm. Here he saw for the first time the stones which
+bear this name, and though he is flying for his life, he dwells with
+the delight of a collector on the beauty of the colours, and even
+persuades his friends to put off their departure for a day, in order
+that he may search for some specimens himself. He contrived, he
+tells us,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> to find several beautiful topazes, two of which he had cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>
+as seals, and presented to the Duke of York, brother of Prince
+Charles Edward.</p>
+
+<p>Four days after leaving Rothiemurchus Banff was reached, and
+the fugitives were sheltered by a Presbyterian minister, who was a
+secret adherent of the Stuarts. Johnstone at once took the precaution
+of exchanging his laced Highland dress for that of an old
+labourer, 'quite ragged, and exhaling a pestilential odour,' due
+apparently to its having been used for many years 'when he
+cleaned the stables of his master.' In this unpleasant disguise, he
+entered the town of Banff, then garrisoned with four hundred
+English soldiers, and went straight to the house of a former
+acquaintance, Mr. Duff. After gaining admittance from the servant
+with some difficulty, he found with dismay that his brother-in-law
+was away from home, and he could not therefore carry out
+his plan of embarking, with his permission, on board one of the
+merchant ships. There seemed nothing for it, therefore, but for
+Johnstone to return at daybreak to the house of Mr. Gordon, where
+he had spent the previous night. At daybreak, however, he was
+roused by a fearful disturbance in the courtyard below, occasioned
+by the quarrels of some stray soldiers. For a moment he thought
+death was certain, but the soldiers had no suspicion of his presence
+in the house, and as soon as they had settled their affairs took
+themselves off elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rollo proved a broken reed, and the Chevalier found, after a
+few minutes' talk with his brother-in-law, that if he wished to reach
+the Continent he must not count on a passage in the merchant
+ships to help him. He therefore, after consultation with his friends,
+came to the conclusion that his best plan was to make for the Lowlands,
+and to this end he set out for Edinburgh as soon as possible.
+Of course this scheme was beset with difficulties and dangers of
+every kind. The counties through which he would be forced to
+pass were filled with Calvinists, inspired with deadly hatred of the
+Jacobite party. To escape their hands was almost certainly to fall
+into those of the soldiery, and over and above this, government
+passports were necessary for those who desired to cross the Firths
+of Forth and Tay.</p>
+
+<p>But, nothing daunted, Johnstone went his way. He was passed in
+disguise from one house to another, well-fed at the lowest possible
+prices (he tells us of the landlady of a small inn who charged him
+threepence for 'an excellent young fowl' and his bed), till at last he
+found himself in the region of Cortachy, the country of the Ogilvies,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>
+who one and all were on the side of the Prince. At Cortachy he was
+quite secure, as long as no English soldiery came by, and even if they
+did, the mountains were full of hiding places, and there was no risk
+of treachery at home. Two officers who had served in the French
+army, Brown and Gordon by name, had sought refuge here before
+him, and lay concealed in the house of a peasant known as Samuel.
+They implored him not to run the risk of proceeding south till affairs
+had quieted down a little, and he agreed to remain at Samuel's
+cottage till it seemed less dangerous to travel south.</p>
+
+<p>It would be interesting to know what was 'the gratification
+beyond his hopes' which Johnstone gave Samuel when they parted
+company some time after. It ought to have been something very
+handsome considering the risks which the peasant had run in his
+behalf, and also the fact that for several weeks Johnstone and his
+two friends had shared the scanty fare of Samuel and his family.
+They had 'no other food than oatmeal, and no other drink than
+the water of the stream which ran through the glen. We breakfasted
+every morning on a piece of oatmeal bread which we were enabled
+to swallow by draughts of water; for dinner we boiled oatmeal with
+water, till it acquired a consistency, and we ate it with horn spoons;
+in the evening, we poured boiling water on this meal in a dish, for
+our supper.'<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> Even this frugal diet could not be swallowed long in
+peace, for shortly after their arrival, Samuel's daughter, who lived
+at the mouth of the glen, came to inform her father that some
+English troops had been seen in the neighbourhood, and whenever
+there was any chance of their appearing in the glen Johnstone and
+his friends had to take refuge in the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>One day this woman arrived with the news that the soldiery were
+hovering dangerously near, and had taken several notable prisoners.
+Upon this the fugitives decided to leave their shelter at daybreak the
+following morning and to make the best of their way to the Highlands,
+where they would be sure of finding some rocks and caverns
+to hide them from their foes.</p>
+
+<p>This resolution once taken, they all went early to bed, and there
+Johnstone had a dream which he relates with many apologies for
+his superstition. He fancied himself in Edinburgh safe from the
+snares of his enemies, and with no fears for the future, and describing
+his adventures and escapes since the battle of Culloden to his
+old friend Lady Jane Douglas. The impression of peace and
+happiness and relief from anxiety was so strong that it remained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>
+with him after he woke, and after lying turning the matter over in
+his mind for another hour, informed Samuel (who had come to
+rouse him with the intelligence that his companions had already
+set off for the mountains) that he had altered his plans and intended
+to go straight to Edinburgh. In vain the old man argued and
+entreated. Johnstone was determined, and that same evening he
+set forth on horseback with Samuel for his guide, and made straight
+for the nearest arm of the sea, which he describes, though quite
+wrongly, as being only eight miles from Cortachy.</p>
+
+<p>To reach this, they were obliged to pass through Forfar, a town
+which, being a Calvinistic stronghold, the Chevalier can never
+mention without an abusive epithet. But here poor Samuel, whose
+nerves had doubtless been strained by the perpetual watching and
+waiting of the last few weeks, was frightened out of his senses by
+the barking of a dog, and tried to throw himself from his horse. At
+this juncture, Johnstone, who knew that to be left without a guide
+in this strange place meant certain death, interfered promptly.
+'He was continually struggling to get down,' he says,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> 'but I prevented
+him by the firm hold I had of his coat. I exhorted him to
+be quiet; I reproached him; I alternately entreated and menaced
+him; but all in vain. He no longer knew what he was about, and
+it was to no purpose I assured him that it was only the barking of
+a dog. He perspired at every pore, and trembled like a person in
+an ague. Fortunately I had an excellent horse, and galloped
+through Forfar at full speed, retaining always fast hold of his coat.
+As soon as we were fairly out of the town, as no persons had come
+out of their houses, poor Samuel began to breathe again, and made
+a thousand apologies for his fears.'</p>
+
+<p>As the day broke and they drew near Broughty Ferry, where
+Johnstone intended to cross the Firth of Tay, the Chevalier dismounted,
+and being obliged to part from his horse, offered it as a
+present to Samuel, who declined the animal from motives of
+prudence. It was then turned loose in a field (the saddle and bridle
+being first thrown down a well), and the wayfarers proceeded on
+their way. Only a few minutes later, they were joined by an
+acquaintance of Samuel's, who seems to have been of a curious turn
+of mind, and cross-questioned him as to where he was going and
+why. Samuel, with more readiness than could have been expected
+from his recent behaviour, invented a story that sounded plausible
+enough, explaining Johnstone to be a young man whom he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>
+picked up on the road, and had taken into his service at low wages,
+owing to his want of a character. The stranger was satisfied, and
+after a prolonged drink they separated, when Samuel informed
+Johnstone that the man was one of the 'greatest knaves and cheats
+in the country,' and that they would assuredly have been betrayed
+if he had discovered who they were.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i218.png" width="400" height="210" alt="physically exhausted" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>They arrived at the Ferry about nine in the morning, and by
+Samuel's advice, the Chevalier immediately sought the help of Mr.
+Graham, a gentleman of Jacobite family, then living at Duntroon.
+After a warm welcome from Mr. Graham, who gave him all the
+entertainment he could without the knowledge of his servants, a
+boat was engaged to convey him across the Firth about nine that
+night. Mr. Graham did not, however, dare to be his guide down to
+the sea-shore, but gave him careful directions as to his following an
+old woman who had been provided for this purpose. But all Mr.
+Graham's precautions would have been useless, had not chance
+once more favoured the Chevalier. His protectress decided that
+it would be dangerous to allow him to loiter about the shore while
+the boat was getting ready for sea, so she told her charge to wait
+for her on the road on top of the hill, and she would return and
+fetch him when all was ready. Half an hour passed very slowly:
+the sun was sinking, and the Chevalier grew impatient. He left
+the road by which he had been sitting, and lay down in a furrow
+a few yards off, nearer the brow of the hill, so that he might perceive
+his guide at the earliest moment. Scarcely had he changed
+his quarters, than he heard the sound of horses, and peeping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>
+cautiously out, 'saw eight or ten horsemen pass in the very place
+he had just quitted.' No sooner were they out of sight, than the
+old woman arrived, trembling with fright. 'Ah!' she exclaimed in
+a transport of joy, 'I did not expect to find you here.' She then
+explained that the horsemen were English dragoons, and that they
+had so threatened the boatmen engaged by Mr. Graham that they
+absolutely refused to fulfil their compact. This was a terrible blow
+to the Chevalier, but he declined to listen to the old woman's advice
+and return for shelter to Mr. Graham, and after much persuasion,
+induced his guide to show him the way to the public-house by the
+sea-shore. Here he was welcomed by the landlady, whose son had
+been likewise 'out' with the Prince, but neither her entreaties nor
+those of the Chevalier could move the boatmen from their resolution.
+They even resisted the prayers of the landlady's two beautiful
+daughters, till the girls, disgusted and indignant with such cowardice,
+offered to row him across themselves.</p>
+
+<p>'We left Broughty Ferry,' he writes in his memoirs, 'at ten
+o'clock in the evening, and reached the opposite shore about midnight.'
+He then took an affectionate leave of his preservers, and
+proceeded, footsore as he was, to walk to St. Andrews. At this
+time Johnstone seems to have felt more physically exhausted than
+at almost any other moment of his travels; and it was only by
+dint of perpetually washing his sore and bleeding feet in the streams
+he passed, that he managed to reach St. Andrews towards eight
+o'clock. He at once made his way to the house of his cousin, Mrs.
+Spence, who, herself a suspected person, was much taken aback by
+the sight of him, and hastily sent a letter to a tenant farmer living
+near the town, to provide the fugitive with a horse which would
+carry him to Wemyss, a seaport town on the way to Edinburgh.
+The old University city does not appear to have made a favourable
+impression on the Chevalier. He declares that no town 'ever
+deserved so much the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah,'<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and this, not
+from any particular wickedness on the part of the inhabitants, but
+because they were supposed to be Calvinists. However, his sentiments
+must have been confirmed when the farmer declined to take
+his horses out on a Sunday, and, lame as he was, Johnstone had no
+choice but to set out on foot for Wemyss. Halfway, he suddenly
+remembered that close by lived an old servant of his family, married
+to the gardener of Mr. Beaton, of Balfour. Here he was housed and
+fed for twenty hours, and then conducted by his host, a rigid Presbyterian,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>
+to a tavern at Wemyss, kept by the mother-in-law of the
+gardener. By her advice they applied to a man named Salmon,
+who, though a rabid Hanoverian, could be trusted not to betray
+those who had faith in him. It was hard work to gain over Salmon,
+who was proof against bribery, but at last it was done. By his
+recommendation Johnstone was to lie till dawn in a cave near
+Wemyss (a place whose name means 'caves'), and with the first
+ray of light was to beg a passage to Leith from some men who were
+with Salmon part owners of a boat. In this cave, which, notwithstanding
+its narrow entrance, was deep and spacious, the Chevalier
+was glad to repose his weary bones. But, after dozing about an
+hour, he was 'awakened by the most horrible and alarming cries
+that ever were heard.'<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> His first thought was that Salmon had
+betrayed him, and he retreated to the interior of the cavern, cocked
+his pistol, and prepared to sell his life dearly. Soon, however, the
+swift movements accompanying the noise convinced him that it
+did not proceed from men, for 'sometimes the object was about
+my ears, and nearly stunned me, and, in an instant, at a considerable
+distance. At length I ceased to examine any more this horrible
+and incomprehensible phenomenon, which made a noise in confusion
+like that of a number of trumpets and drums, with a mixture
+of different sounds, altogether unknown to me.'</p>
+
+<p>Effectually aroused by the whining of the owls and bats (for
+these, of course, were the authors of all this disturbance), Johnstone
+fixed his eyes on the sea to note the first entrance of the fishing
+boats into the harbour. He then went down to the shore and
+began to make the bargain as directed by Salmon, and the fishermen
+agreed to land him at Leith for half-a-crown. But alas!
+once more his hopes were blighted. He was in the act of stepping
+into the boat, when Salmon's wife appeared on the scene, and
+forbade her husband to go to Leith that day, still less to take a
+stranger there. Neither Salmon nor Johnstone dared insist, for
+fear of rousing the woman's suspicions, and after a short retreat
+in the cave in order to collect his thoughts, he returned to the
+tavern at Wemyss, to consult with the friendly landlady. Thanks
+to her, and with the help of one or two people to whom she introduced
+him, Johnstone at last arrived at the house of one Mr. Seton,
+whose son had formerly served with Johnstone in the army of the
+Prince. Here he remained eight days, vainly seeking to find a
+second man who could aid the fisherman who had already promised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>
+to put him across, though it does not appear why Johnstone, who
+had already observed<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> that he was able to row, did not take
+an oar when his own head was at stake.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 356px;">
+<img src="images/i221.png" width="356" height="500" alt="In the roawboat" title="" />
+</div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p>
+<p>At last affairs were brought to a crisis, by rumours having got
+abroad of the presence of a fugitive on the coast. Things seemed
+in a desperate condition, when young Seton threw himself into the
+breach, and agreed to help Cousselain, the fisherman, to take the
+Chevalier to Leith. They were actually launching the boat when
+the inhabitants of the village, alarmed by the noise they made,
+raised a cry that a rebel was escaping, and the two oarsmen had
+barely time to conceal themselves without being discovered. However,
+in flat defiance of everyone's advice, and, as it turned out, in
+spite of the drunken state of Cousselain, Johnstone resolved to
+repeat the attempt in an hour's time, taking in the end, as he might
+have done at the beginning, his place at the oar. For a few
+moments they breathed freely; then the wind got up, and the
+waves, and, what was perhaps more dangerous, the drunken
+Cousselain, who had been placed in the bottom of the boat. 'We
+were obliged to kick him most unmercifully in order to keep him
+quiet,' observes Johnstone, 'and to threaten to throw him overboard
+if he made the least movement. Seton and myself rowed
+like galley slaves. We succeeded in landing, about six in the
+morning, on a part of the coast a league and a half to the east of
+Edinburgh,<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> near the battlefield of Gladsmuir.' Here he parted
+with his deliverers, tenderly embracing young Seton, and presenting
+to the 'somewhat sober' Cousselain a gratification beyond his
+hopes.</p>
+
+<p>After taking a little of the food with which Mr. Seton had provided
+him, he determined to seek refuge for a few days with an old
+governess, Mrs. Blythe, wife of a small shipowner at Leith. Blythe
+himself was another of the many 'rigid Calvinists and sworn
+enemies of the house of Stuart' to whom Johnstone entrusted his
+safety during his wanderings, and never once had occasion to repent
+it. Mr. Blythe, indeed, combined the profession of Calvinist with
+that of smuggler, and had numerous hiding places in his house for
+the concealment of contraband goods, which would prove equally
+serviceable, as Johnstone told him, for 'the most contraband and
+dangerous commodity that he had ever had in his possession.'</p>
+
+<p>Though Johnstone had reached the goal of his desires, his perils
+were by no means at an end. English soldiers visited the house,
+and could with difficulty be persuaded to admit the exemption
+pleaded by Mr. Blythe. In consequence of this event, Johnstone
+accepted the offer of an asylum made him by Lady Jane Douglas,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>
+in her place at Drumsheugh, half a league away. So his dream
+came true, and after all his wanderings he was safe with Lady Jane,
+telling the story of his adventures. He remained with her for two
+months, unknown to anyone but his hostess and the gardener,
+reading all day, and only taking a walk at night, when the household
+was in bed. At the end of that time, when Lady Jane and his
+father were of opinion that he might safely go to London, and
+thence abroad, fresh rumours as to his whereabouts began to arise,
+and fearing the immediate visit of a detachment of English soldiers,
+he was concealed for a whole day under a huge haycock, so overcome
+by the heat that he could hardly breathe, in spite of a bottle
+of water and another of wine, with which he was provided.</p>
+
+<p>This measure, which after all was needless, for no soldiers
+came, was the last trial he had to undergo before leaving Scotland,
+and here we must part from him. In France, which he
+made his home, he became the friend of many eminent men, and
+was aide-de-camp in Canada to the Marquis de Montcalm. But
+the end of his life was sad, and he died in poverty.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><i>THE ADVENTURES OF LORD PITSLIGO</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>WHEN Prince Charles came to Scotland in 1745, to seek his
+grandfather's crown, no braver and no better man rode with
+him than Lord Pitsligo. He was now sixty-seven years of age, for
+he was born in 1678, ten years before James II. was driven out of
+England. As a young man he had lived much in France, where
+he became the friend of the famous F&eacute;nelon, author of 'T&eacute;l&eacute;maque.'
+Though much interested in the doctrines of F&eacute;nelon, Lord Pitsligo
+did not change his faith, but remained a member of the persecuted
+Episcopal Church of Scotland. In France he met the members of
+the exiled Royal family, whom he never ceased to regard as his lawful
+monarchs, though Queen Anne, and later the First and Second
+Georges, occupied the throne of England. When the clans rose for
+King James, the son of James II., in 1715, Lord Pitsligo, then a man of
+twenty-seven, joined the forces under his kinsman, Lord Marr. His
+party was defeated, and he went abroad. He did not stay long with
+James in Rome, but was allowed to return to his estates in Scotland.
+Here he lived very quietly, beloved by rich and poor. But, in
+1745, Prince Charles landed, and the old Lord believed it to be his
+duty to join him. He had, as he says, no keen enthusiasm for the
+Stuarts, but to his mind they were his lawful rulers. So aged was
+he, and so infirm, that, when he left a neighbour's house before setting
+out, a little boy brought a stool to help him to mount his horse.
+'My little fellow,' he said, 'this is the severest reproof I have yet
+met with, for presuming to go on such an expedition.' Lady
+Pitsligo in vain reminded him of the failure of 1715. 'There never
+was a bridal,' he replied, 'but the second day was the best.' The
+gentlemen of his county thought that they could not do wrong in
+following so learned and excellent a man, so they all mounted the
+white cockade and rode with him. He arrived just too late for the
+victory of Preston Pans. 'It seemed,' said an eye-witness, 'as if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>
+religion, virtue, and justice were entering the camp under the appearance
+of this venerable old man.' When he wrote home, he said,
+'I had occasion to discover the Prince's humanity, I ought to say
+tenderness: this is giving myself no great airs, for he showed the
+same dispositions to everybody.' In the fatigues of the campaign,
+the Prince, who was young and strong, insisted on Lord Pitsligo's
+using his carriage, while he himself marched on foot at the head of
+his army.</div>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 333px;">
+<img src="images/i225.png" width="333" height="400" alt="A little boy brought a stool" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>After the defeat of Culloden, Lord Pitsligo hid among the mountains,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>
+living on oatmeal, moistened with hot water. They had not
+even salt to their brose; for, as one of the Highlanders said, 'Salt is
+touchy,' meaning expensive. Yet these men, who could not even
+buy salt, never betrayed their Prince for the great reward of thirty
+thousand pounds, nor any of the other gentlemen in hiding. Possibly
+they did not believe that there was so much money in the
+world. Lord Pitsligo had made up his mind not to go abroad again,
+but to live or die among his own people. At one time he lay for
+days hidden in a damp hole under a little bridge, and at other times
+concealed himself in the mosses and moors. Here the lapwings,
+flitting and crying above him, were like to have drawn the English
+soldiers to his retreat. His wife gave him two great bags, like those
+which beggars carried; in these he would place the alms which were
+given to him, and in this disguise he had many narrow escapes. Once
+he saw some dragoons on the road behind him, but he was too old
+and too ill to run. He was obliged to sit down and cough, and one
+of the dragoons who were in search of him actually gave him some
+money as they passed by, and condoled with him on the severity
+of his cough.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 350px;">
+<img src="images/i226.png" width="350" height="239" alt="Under a bridge" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Lord Pitsligo often hid in a cave on the coast of Buchan. Here
+was a spring of water welling through the rock, and he carved a
+little cistern for it, to pass the time. He was fed by a little girl,
+too young to be suspected, who carried his meals from a neighbouring
+farm. One day he was sitting in the kitchen of the farm,
+when some soldiers came in, and asked the goodwife to guide them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>
+to Lord Pitsligo's cave. She said, 'That travelling body will go
+with you,' and Lord Pitsligo conducted the soldiers to his hiding
+place, left them there, and walked back to the farm. But the following
+adventure was perhaps his narrowest escape.</p>
+
+<p>In March 1756, and of course long after all apprehension of a
+search had ceased, information having been given to the then commanding
+officer at Fraserburgh, that Lord Pitsligo was at that
+moment in the house of Auchiries, it was acted upon with so much
+promptness and secrecy, that the search must have proved successful
+but for a very singular occurrence. Mrs. Sophia Donaldson,
+a lady who lived much with the family, repeatedly dreamt on
+that particular night that the house was surrounded by soldiers.
+Her mind became so haunted with the idea, that she got out of bed,
+and was walking through the room in hopes of giving a different current
+to her thoughts before she lay down again, when, day beginning to
+dawn, she accidentally looked out at the window as she passed it in
+traversing the room, and was astonished at actually observing the
+figures of soldiers among some trees near the house. So completely
+had all idea of a search been by that time laid asleep, that she supposed
+they had come to steal poultry; Jacobite poultry-yards affording
+a safe object of pillage for the English soldiers in those days.
+Under this impression Mrs. Sophia was proceeding to rouse the
+servants, when her sister having awaked, and inquiring what was
+the matter, and being told of soldiers near the house, exclaimed, in
+great alarm, that she feared they wanted something more than hens.
+She begged Mrs. Sophia to look out at a window on the other side
+of the house, when not only soldiers were seen in that direction,
+but also an officer giving instructions by signals, and frequently
+putting his fingers on his lips, as if enjoining silence. There was
+now no time to be lost in rousing the family, and all the haste that
+could be made was scarcely sufficient to hurry the venerable man
+from his bed, into a small recess behind the wainscot of an adjoining
+room, which was concealed by a bed, in which a lady, Miss
+Gordon of Towie, who was there on a visit, lay, before the soldiers
+obtained admission. A most minute search took place. The room
+in which Lord Pitsligo was concealed did not escape: Miss Gordon's
+bed was carefully examined, and she was obliged to suffer the rude
+scrutiny of one of the party, by feeling her chin, to ascertain that it
+was not a man in a lady's night-dress. Before the soldiers had
+finished their examination in this room, the confinement and
+anxiety increased Lord Pitsligo's asthma so much, and his breathing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>
+became so loud, that it obliged Miss Gordon, lying in bed, to
+counterfeit and continue a violent coughing, in order to prevent the
+high breathing behind the wainscot from being heard. It may
+easily be conceived what agony she would suffer, lest, by overdoing
+her part, she should increase suspicion, and in fact lead to a discovery.
+The <i>ruse</i> was fortunately successful. On the search
+through the house being given over, Lord Pitsligo was hastily taken
+from his confined situation, and again replaced in bed; and as soon
+as he was able to speak, his accustomed kindness of heart made him
+say to his servant, 'James, go and see that these poor fellows get
+some breakfast, and a drink of warm ale, for this is a cold morning;
+they are only doing their duty, and cannot bear me any ill-will.'
+When the family were felicitating each other on his escape, he
+pleasantly observed, 'A poor prize had they obtained it&mdash;an old
+dying man!' That the friends who lived in the house,&mdash;the hourly
+witnesses of his virtues, and the objects of his regard, who saw him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>
+escape all the dangers that surrounded him, should reckon him the
+peculiar care of Providence, is not to be wondered at; and that the
+dream which was so opportune, as the means of preventing his
+apprehension, and probably of saving his life, was supposed by some
+of them at last to be a special interposition of Heaven's protecting
+shield against his enemies, need not excite surprise. This was accordingly
+the belief of more than one to their dying hour.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i228.png" width="400" height="375" alt="After the search" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>After some fifteen years, the English Government ceased to
+think Lord Pitsligo dangerous. He was allowed to live unmolested
+at the house of his son, where he died in 1762, in his eighty-fifth
+year. 'He was never heard to speak an ill word of any man living,'
+says one who knew him well, and who himself spoke many ill
+words of others.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Lord Pitsligo left a little book of 'Thoughts on
+Sacred Things,' which reminds those who read it of the meditations
+of General Gordon. His character, as far as its virtues went, is
+copied in the Baron Bradwardine, in Sir Walter Scott's novel of
+'Waverley.'<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><i>THE ESCAPE OF C&AElig;SAR BORGIA FROM THE CASTLE OF MEDINA DEL CAMPO</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><big>[C</big>&AElig;SAR BORGIA forms, with his father Pope Alexander VI., and his
+sister Lucrezia, one of a trio who have become a proverb for infamy
+of every kind. His father, Roderigo, was by birth a Spaniard, and by
+education a lawyer, in which profession he gained much distinction, till
+suddenly, with an impetuosity strange in a man who did everything by
+calculation, he threw up his legal career for that of a soldier. But the
+rough life was repugnant to one of his temperament, which demanded
+ease and luxury, so after a little active service, when his courage, during
+some sharp engagements, was proved beyond a doubt, he abandoned the
+army also, and retired to live in comfort on the large fortune lately bequeathed
+to him by his father.<br />
+
+<p>It required some pressing on the part of his uncle, Calixtus III.,
+recently made Pope, to induce him to leave his native land and his
+secular existence, for Italy and a Cardinalate. But no sooner did he
+occupy his new position, than a set of base qualities, which had hitherto
+lain dormant, suddenly developed themselves, and from this moment
+he became one of the cleverest and most successful hypocrites of his
+age.</p>
+
+<p>It was in 1492, the year that saw the landing of Columbus in
+America, and the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent at Florence, that the
+Cardinal Borgia obtained, by means of huge bribes, his election to the
+Papal Throne, and took the name of Alexander VI. His first care was
+to establish (for his own credit's sake) order and security in Rome, and
+this done, he turned his thoughts to the aggrandisement of his family.
+For when Roderigo sailed for Italy he was shortly followed by his four
+children, Francis, C&aelig;sar, Lucrezia and Geoffrey, and their mother Rosa
+Vanozza. All four, but more particularly C&aelig;sar and Lucrezia, inherited
+in the highest degree their father's beauty, talents and wickedness.
+Honours of every kind were showered upon them, marriages made and
+unmade to suit the requirements of the moment, murders committed to
+ensure them wealth and possessions. For eleven years the roll of crime
+grew heavier day by day, till at last the chastisement came, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>
+Borgias, who had invited several of the Cardinals to supper for the purpose
+of poisoning them and seizing on their revenues, were themselves
+served with the draught they had intended for their guests. The Pope
+died after eight days, in mortal agony, but, owing to his having drunk
+less of the wine, C&aelig;sar slowly recovered, and resumed his old trade of
+arms. The talents which had made him one of the first captains in
+Italy caused him to be the dread of all his enemies, and finally led to
+his capture (by violation of a safe-conduct), at the hands of Gonsalvo de
+Cordova, Captain of the Forces of Ferdinand of Spain.]</p></div>
+
+<p>It was in June 1504 that C&aelig;sar Borgia, General of the Church
+and Duke of Romagna and Valentinois, was conducted to the
+Castle of Medina del Campo in Spain. For two years C&aelig;sar waited
+in prison, hoping that his old ally, Louis XII., whose cousin Mlle.
+d'Albret he had married, would come to his assistance. But he
+waited in vain and his courage began to give way, when one day
+something happened which proved to him that he had still one
+friend left, his faithful Michelotto, a soldier of fortune who had followed
+him to Spain, and was now hidden in the neighbourhood of
+the prison. It was breakfast time, and C&aelig;sar was in the act of
+cutting his bread when he suddenly touched a hard substance, and
+found a file, and a small bottle containing a narcotic, and a note
+concealed in the loaf. The note was from Michelotto, and informed
+C&aelig;sar that he and the Count of Benevento would hide
+themselves every night on the road between the castle and the
+village, in company with three good horses, and that he must make
+the best use he could of the file and the sleeping draught.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p>
+
+<p>Two years' imprisonment had weighed too heavily on C&aelig;sar
+for him to waste a single moment in trying to regain his freedom.
+He, therefore, lost no time in beginning to work on one of the bars
+of his window, which opened on an inside court, and soon contrived
+to cut through so far, that a violent shake would enable
+him to remove it altogether. But the window was nearly seventy
+feet above the ground, while the only way of leaving the court
+was by a door reserved for the governor alone, the key of which was
+always carried about his person. By day it was suspended from
+his belt, by night it was under his bolster. To gain possession of
+this key was the most difficult part of the matter.</p>
+
+<p>Now in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner, C&aelig;sar had
+invariably been treated with all the respect due to his name and
+rank. Every day at the dinner hour, he was conducted from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>
+room in which he was confined to the governor's apartments and
+was received by him as an honoured guest. Don Manuel himself
+was an old soldier who had served with distinction under Ferdinand,
+and, while carrying out punctually his orders for C&aelig;sar's safe custody,
+he admired his military talents, and listened with pleasure to
+the story of his fights. He had often desired that C&aelig;sar should
+breakfast as well as dine with him, but, luckily for himself, the
+prisoner, perhaps aided by some presentiment, had always refused
+this favour. It was owing to his solitude that he was able to
+conceal the instruments for his escape sent by Michelotto.</p>
+
+<p>Now it happened that the very same day that he had received
+them, C&aelig;sar contrived to stumble, and twist his foot as he was returning
+to his room. When the hour of dinner came he tried to
+go down, but declared that walking hurt him so much, that he
+should be obliged to give it up, so the governor paid him a visit
+instead, and found him stretched on his bed.</p>
+
+<p>The next day C&aelig;sar was no better; his dinner was ordered to
+be served upstairs, and the governor paid him a visit as before. He
+found his prisoner so dull and bored with his own company, that
+he offered to come and share his supper. C&aelig;sar accepted the offer
+with gratitude and joy.</p>
+
+<p>This time it was the prisoner who did the honours of the table,
+and C&aelig;sar was particularly charming and courteous in manner.
+The governor seized the opportunity of putting some questions as
+to his capture, and inquired, with the pride of a Castilian noble,
+who set honour above all, what was the exact truth as to the way in
+which Gonsalvo de Cordova and Ferdinand had broken their faith
+with him. C&aelig;sar showed every disposition to give him satisfaction
+on this point, but indicated by a sign that he could not speak freely
+before the valets. This precaution was so natural, that the governor
+could not seem offended at it, and dismissed his attendants, so that
+he and his companion remained alone. When the door was shut,
+C&aelig;sar filled his glass and that of the governor, and proposed the
+king's health. The governor emptied his glass at once, and C&aelig;sar
+began his story, but he had hardly told a third of it, when in spite
+of its exciting adventures, the eyes of his guest closed as if by magic,
+and his head fell on the table in a deep sleep.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of half-an-hour, the servants, not hearing any noise,
+entered the room, and found the two boon companions, one on the
+table and the other under it. There was nothing very unusual
+about such an event to excite their suspicions, so they contented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>
+themselves with carrying Don Manuel to his chamber and laying
+C&aelig;sar on his bed; they then locked the door with great care, leaving
+the prisoner alone.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 404px;">
+<img src="images/i233.png" width="404" height="500" alt="Meeting" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>For a minute or two longer C&aelig;sar lay still, apparently plunged
+in a profound slumber, but when the sound of footsteps had completely
+died away, he softly raised his head, opened his eyes, and
+moved towards the door, rather slowly it is true, but without seeming
+to feel any ill-effects from his accident on the previous day. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>
+stood still for a few seconds with his ear at the keyhole, then, raising
+himself, with a strange expression of triumph on his face, he
+passed his hand over his forehead, and, for the first time since the
+guards had left the room, breathed freely.</p>
+
+<p>But there was no time to be lost, and without a moment's delay
+he fastened the door from the inside as securely as it was fastened
+without. He next extinguished his lamp, threw open his window,
+and finished cutting through the bar. This done, he took off the
+bandages tied round his leg, tore down the curtains, both of his
+window and his bed, and made them into strips, adding to them
+sheets, table cloths, napkins, and whatever else he could lay hands
+on. At last he had a rope between fifty and sixty feet long, which
+he secured firmly at one end to the bar next to the one that he had
+sawn away, and mounting on the window-ledge, he began the most
+dangerous part of his expedition in trusting himself to this frail
+support. Happily, C&aelig;sar was as strong as he was agile, and slid
+down the whole length of the cord without accident; but when he
+had reached the very end, in vain he tried to touch the earth with
+his feet. The rope was too short.</p>
+
+<p>C&aelig;sar's position was terrible. The darkness of the night preventing
+his knowing how far he might be above the ground, and
+his exertions had so fatigued him that he could not have gone back
+even had he wished. There was no help for it, and, after muttering
+a short prayer, he let go the rope, and fell, a distance of twelve or
+fifteen feet.</p>
+
+<p>The danger he had escaped was too great for the fugitive to
+mind some slight bruises caused by his fall, so he jumped up, and
+taking his bearings, made straight for the little door which stood
+between him and freedom. When he reached it he felt in his pocket
+for the key, and a cold sweat broke out on his face as he found it
+was not there. Had he forgotten it in his room, or had he lost it
+in his descent?</p>
+
+<p>Collecting his thoughts as well as he could, he soon came to the
+conclusion that it must have fallen out of his pocket as he climbed
+down the rope. So he made his way a second time cautiously
+across the court, trying to discover the exact spot where it might
+be, by the aid of the wall of a cistern, which he had caught hold of
+to raise himself from the ground. But the lost key was so small
+and so insignificant, that there was little chance that he would ever
+see it. However, it was his last resource, and C&aelig;sar was searching
+for it with all his might, when suddenly a door opened and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>
+night patrol came out, preceded by two torches. At first C&aelig;sar
+gave himself up for lost, then, remembering the water-butt that was
+behind him, he at once plunged into it up to his neck, watching
+with intense anxiety the movements of the soldiers who were advancing
+towards his hiding place. They passed him within a few
+feet, crossed the court, and vanished through the door opposite; but,
+though all this had taken such a very short time, the light of the
+torches had enabled C&aelig;sar to distinguish the key lying on the
+ground, and hardly had the gate closed on the soldiers when he was
+once more master of his liberty.</p>
+
+<p>Half-way between the castle and the village the Count of Benevento
+and Michelotto awaited him with a led horse. C&aelig;sar flung
+himself on its back and all three set out for Navarre, where, after
+three days' hard riding, they found an asylum with the king, Jean
+d'Albret, brother of C&aelig;sar's wife.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE KIDNAPPING OF THE PRINCES</i></h2>
+
+<div class='center'>(<i>The following story is adapted from Carlyle's Essay, 'The Prinzenraub'</i>)</div>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>ABOUT the year 1455, one of the Electors of Saxony, Friedrich
+der Sanftm&uuml;tige (Frederick the Mild), quarrelled with a
+certain knight named Konrad von Kaufungen. Friedrich had
+hired Konrad, or Kunz as he was called, to fight for him in a war
+against another Elector. In one of the battles, Kunz was taken
+prisoner. To ransom himself he was obliged to pay 4,000 gold
+gulden, for which he thought Friedrich ought to repay him. Friedrich
+refused to do so, as Kunz was not his vassal whom he was
+bound to protect, but only a hired soldier who had to take all risks
+on himself. Kunz was very angry, and threatened to revenge himself
+on the Elector, who took all his threats very calmly, saying to
+him, 'Keep cool, Kunz; don't burn the fish in the ponds.' But
+Kunz was in bitter earnest. He went away to an old castle called
+Isenburg in Bohemia, on the Saxon frontier, where he lived for some
+time with his two squires, Mosen and Sch&ouml;nberg, plotting against
+the Elector and his family. He had, moreover, bribed one of the
+Elector's servants, Hans Schwalbe, to tell him all that was being
+done in his castle of Altenburg. In July, Schwalbe sent word to
+him that, on the seventh day of the month, the Elector and most of
+his followers were going away to Leipzig, and would leave the
+Electress and his two boys, Ernst and Albrecht, guarded only by a
+few servants, and these, he added, would probably spend the evening
+drinking in the town. Now the castle of Altenburg was built
+on a steep hill, and one side of it overhung a precipice. As this
+side was little guarded, Hans agreed to let down a rope-ladder from
+one of the windows, and thus enable Kunz to get an entrance into
+the castle. His plan then was to make his way to the sleeping
+room of the two little princes, carry them off to his castle at Isenburg,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>
+and keep them till their father should grant his demands.
+Isenburg Castle was about a day's journey from the little town of
+Altenburg; so Kunz and his two squires, Mosen and Sch&ouml;nberg, and
+a few other men, started early on the 7th to ride to Altenburg,
+and when they reached it they hid themselves till nightfall.
+About midnight Kunz and his men went as quietly as possible to
+the foot of the cliff. Everyone seemed asleep in the castle, and
+outside no sound was to be heard but the stealthy tramp of the
+armed men. When they reached the rendezvous under the castle,
+Kunz gave his men their orders. Mosen, Sch&ouml;nberg, and three or
+four more were to come with him into the castle, and, when inside,
+to lock the doors of the Electress's and the servants' room, while
+the rest were to guard the gates in order that no one should escape
+to give the alarm. Each was to be ready when once the princes
+were secured to ride away for Isenburg as hard as possible.</div>
+
+<p>Then Kunz whistled softly. He listened for a moment; another
+whistle answered his own, and a rope-ladder was slowly
+lowered from one of the windows. Kunz mounted it, and made his
+way to the room where the two little princes were sleeping under
+the charge of an old governess. He seized the eldest, a boy of
+fourteen, and carried him down the ladder, and Mosen followed
+with a second child in his arms. This boy kept calling out, 'I am
+not one of the princes; I am their playfellow, Count von Bardi.
+Let me go! Let me go!' Thereupon, telling the others to ride on
+with Prince Ernst in order to secure him, Kunz dashed up the
+ladder again, and ran to the princes' room, where he found little
+Prince Albrecht hiding under the bed. He caught him up and
+descended again with him. As he went, the Electress, roused by
+the boys' cries and finding her door bolted, rushed to the window
+and begged and implored him not to take her children.</p>
+
+<p>'My husband shall grant all your demands, I swear to you,' she
+cried, 'only leave me my children!'</p>
+
+<p>'Tell the Elector, Madam,' laughed Kunz, looking up, 'that I
+<i>can</i> burn the fish in the ponds!'</p>
+
+<p>Then he mounted his horse, which his servant was holding, and
+away they rode as fast as the horses would carry them. They had
+not ridden many miles before the clang of bells broke on their ears.
+The alarm peal of the castle had awakened that of the town, and
+in a few hours every bell in every belfry in Saxony was ringing an
+alarm. The sun rose, and Kunz and his followers plunged deeper
+into the forest, riding through morasses and swamps, over rough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>
+and stony ground&mdash;anywhere to escape from the din of those alarm
+bells. At last the ride for dear life was nearly over; the band was
+within an hour's journey of the castle of Isenburg, when Prince
+Albrecht declared that he was dying of thirst.</p>
+
+<p>'For the love of Heaven, give me something to drink, Sir
+Knight,' he implored.</p>
+
+<p>Kunz bade the others ride on, and giving his squire his horse to
+hold he dismounted, lifted Albrecht down, and began looking for
+bilberries for him.</p>
+
+<p>Whilst he was doing so, a charcoal-burner with his dog came
+up. He was much surprised to see such grand people in the forest,
+and asked,</p>
+
+<p>'What are you doing with the young lord?'</p>
+
+<p>'He has run away from his parents,' answered Kunz, impatiently.
+'Can you tell me where bilberries are to be found here?'</p>
+
+<p>'I do not know,' replied the charcoal-burner, still staring at the
+strangers.</p>
+
+<p>Anxious to make him leave them, Kunz turned angrily round
+on him, and in doing so caught his spurs in the bushes, and fell flat
+on his face.</p>
+
+<p>Albrecht caught hold of the charcoal-burner's arm.</p>
+
+<p>'Save me!' he whispered eagerly. 'I am the Elector's son;
+this man has stolen me!'</p>
+
+<p>The squire struck at the Prince with his sword, but the charcoal-burner
+warded aside the blow with his long pole, and felled the
+man to the ground. Kunz fought fiercely with him, but in answer
+to his summons for help, and attracted by the barking of the dog, a
+number of other charcoal-burners appeared on the scene to help
+their comrade, and Kunz was disarmed and taken prisoner. They
+marched him in triumph to the monastery of Gr&uuml;nheim, where he
+was secured in one of the cells, and in a few days was sent to
+Freiburg. On the 14th he was tried and condemned to death.
+It is said that a pardon was sent by the Elector, but if it were so
+it arrived too late, and Kunz was beheaded.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the robber-band with Prince Ernst did not fare
+much better. The alarm bells had aroused the whole country; six
+of the men were captured, and Mosen and the others with Prince
+Ernst took refuge in a cave near Zwickau. Not daring to venture
+out, and half starving for want of food, they lay there for three days
+in wretched plight. Then they learned accidentally from some
+woodmen, whose conversation they overheard, that Kunz had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>
+taken prisoner, had been tried, and by this time was in all probability
+beheaded. As soon as they received this piece of intelligence,
+they held a consultation and finally decided to send a message to
+the Amtmann of Zwickau, offering to restore Prince Ernst if a free
+pardon were granted to them, but threatening, if this was refused,
+they would at once kill him. Had they known that Kunz was
+still alive, they might have stipulated for his pardon as well, but
+believing him dead, they made no terms as regards his fate. The
+Amtmann had no choice but to accede to their demands when
+their proposal reached him. Prince Ernst was given up. Mosen
+and the rest fled away, nor were they ever heard of any more.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i239.png" width="400" height="345" alt="the charcoal-burner warded aside the blow with his long pole" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>When the brave charcoal-burner, Georg Schmidt, was brought
+before the Elector and his court, the Electress asked him how he
+had dared to fight the robber-knight with no weapon but his pole.</p>
+
+<p>'Madam,' he replied, 'I gave him a sound "drilling" with my
+pole.'</p>
+
+<p>All the court laughed, and thenceforward he was always called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>
+Georg der Triller (the Driller), and his descendants took this name
+as their surname. The only reward he would accept for his brave
+deed was leave for himself and his family to cut what wood they
+needed in the forest in which he lived.</p>
+
+<p>The Electress and the two princes made a pilgrimage to the
+shrine at the monastery of Ebersdorf, and there in the church they
+hung up the coats which they and Kunz and the 'Triller' had
+worn on the memorable night when they were kidnapped, and
+there it is said they may be seen at this day.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE CONQUEST OF MONTEZUMA'S EMPIRE</i></h2>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Youth of Cort&eacute;s</span></h3>
+
+<div class='cap'>LONG ago, when Henry VIII. was King of England and Charles V.
+was King of Spain, there lived a young Spanish cavalier
+whose name was Hernando Cort&eacute;s. His father, Don Martin Cort&eacute;s,
+sent him to Salamanca when he was about fourteen years old, intending
+to have him educated as a lawyer. But Hernando cared
+nothing for books, and after wasting two years at college returned
+home, to the great annoyance of his parents, who were glad enough
+when, after another year of idleness, he proposed to go and seek his
+fortune in the New World so lately discovered by Columbus. An
+exploring expedition was just being fitted out, and Hernando Cort&eacute;s
+had quite made up his mind to join it, when he unluckily fell from
+a high wall which he was climbing, and before he had recovered
+from his injuries the ships had sailed without him. Two more
+years did he remain at home after this misadventure, but at length,
+when he was nineteen years old, he joined a small fleet bound for the
+Indian Islands. The vessel in which he sailed was commanded
+by one Alonso Quintero, who, when they reached the Canary Islands,
+and all the other vessels were detained by taking in supplies, stole out
+of the harbour under cover of the night, meaning to reach Hispaniola
+before his companions, and so secure a better chance of trading.
+However, he met with a furious storm, and was driven back to the
+port with his ship dismasted and battered. The rest of the fleet
+generously consented to wait while his ship was being refitted, and
+after a short delay they set out again, but so soon as they neared
+the islands, the faithless Quintero again gave his companions the
+slip, but with no better success, for he met with such heavy gales
+that he entirely lost his reckoning, and for many days they tossed
+about helplessly, until one morning they were cheered by the sight
+of a white dove, which settled upon the rigging. Taking the direction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>
+of the bird's flight, they soon reached Hispaniola, where the
+captain had the satisfaction of finding all the other ships had
+arrived before him, and had sold all their cargoes. Cort&eacute;s, as
+soon as he landed, went to see Ovando, the governor of the island,
+whom he had known in Spain, and presently was persuaded by him
+to accept a grant of land and settle down to cultivate it, though at
+first he said, 'I came to get gold, not to till the ground like a
+peasant.' So six years passed, during which the monotony of Cort&eacute;s's
+life was only broken by occasional expeditions against the natives,
+in which he learned to endure toil and danger, and became familiar
+with the tactics of Indian warfare. At length, in 1511, when
+Diego Velasquez, the governor's lieutenant, undertook the conquest
+of Cuba, Cort&eacute;s gladly accompanied him, and throughout the expedition
+made himself a favourite both with the commander and the
+soldiers. But when later on there arose discontent over the distribution
+of lands and offices, the malcontents fixed upon Cort&eacute;s as
+the most suitable person to go back to Hispaniola, and lay their
+grievances before the higher authorities. This came to the ears
+of Velasquez, however, and he at once seized Cort&eacute;s, whom he
+loaded with fetters and threw into prison. Luckily he soon succeeded
+in freeing himself from the irons, and letting himself down
+from the window took refuge in the nearest church, where he claimed
+the right of sanctuary. Velasquez, who was very angry at his
+escape, stationed a guard with orders to seize Cort&eacute;s if he should
+leave the sanctuary, and this he was soon careless enough to do.
+As he stood outside the church an officer suddenly sprang upon
+him from behind, and made him prisoner once more. This time
+he was carried on board a ship which was to sail the next morning
+for Hispaniola, where he was to be tried, but again he managed
+to escape by dragging his feet through the rings which fettered
+them, and dropping silently over the ship's side into a little boat
+under cover of the darkness. As he neared the shore the water
+became so rough that the boat was useless, and he was forced to
+swim the rest of the way; but at last he got safely to land, and
+again took refuge in the church. After this he married a lady
+named Catalina Xuarez, and by the aid of her family managed to
+make his peace with Velasquez. Cort&eacute;s now received a large
+estate near St. Jago, where he lived prosperously for some years,
+and even amassed a considerable sum of money. But at last news
+came of an exploring expedition which had set out in 1518 under
+Grijalva, the nephew of Velasquez. He had touched at various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>
+places on the Mexican coast, and had held a friendly conference
+with one cacique, or chief, who seemed desirous of collecting all
+the information he could about the Spaniards, and their motives in
+visiting Mexico, that he might transmit it to his master, the Aztec
+emperor. Presents were exchanged at this interview, and in
+return for a few glass beads, pins, and such paltry trifles, the
+Spaniards had received such a rich treasure of jewels and gold
+ornaments that the general at once sent back one of his ships under
+the command of Don Pedro de Alvarado to convey the spoil, and
+acquaint the governor of Cuba with the progress of the expedition,
+and also with all the information he had been able to glean respecting
+the Aztec emperor and his dominions. Now in those
+days nothing whatever was known about the interior of the country
+or of its inhabitants&mdash;it was as strange to the explorers as another
+planet.</div>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Wonders of Mexico</span></h3>
+
+<p>This was what they had to tell the governor. Far away towards
+the Pacific Ocean there stood, in a beautiful and most fertile
+valley, the capital of a great and powerful empire, called by its inhabitants
+'Tenochtitlan,' but known to the Europeans only by its
+other name of 'Mexico,' derived from 'Mexitli,' the war-god of the
+Aztecs. These Aztecs seem to have come originally from the
+north, and after many wanderings to have halted at length on the
+south-western borders of a great lake, of which there were several
+in the Mexican valley. This celebrated valley was situated at a
+height of about 7,500 feet above the sea, and was oval in form,
+about 67 leagues in circumference, and surrounded by towering
+rocks, which seemed to be meant to protect it from invasion. It
+was in the year 1325 that the Aztecs paused upon the shore of the
+lake, and saw, as the sun rose, a splendid eagle perched upon a
+prickly pear which shot out of a crevice in the rock. It held a
+large serpent in its claws, and its broad wings were opened towards
+the rising sun. The Aztecs saw in this a most favourable omen,
+and there and then set about building themselves a city, laying its
+foundations upon piles in the marshy ground beside the lake, and
+to this day the eagle and the cactus form the arms of the Mexican
+republic.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 383px;">
+<img src="images/i244.png" width="383" height="500" alt="Eagle and serpent" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The little body of settlers increased rapidly in number and power,
+and made their name terrible throughout the valley, in which various
+other tribes had long been settled, until at last they united themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>
+with the king of the Tezcucans, to aid him against a tribe
+called the Tepanecs, who had invaded his territory. The allies were
+completely successful, and this led to an agreement between the
+states of Mexico, Tezcuco, and Tlacopan, that they should support
+each other in all their wars, and divide all the spoils between them.
+This alliance remained unbroken for over a hundred years and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>
+under a succession of able princes the Aztec dominion grew, till at
+the coming of the Spaniards it reached across the continent, from the
+Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The Aztecs had many wise laws and
+institutions, and were indeed in some respects a highly civilised
+community. When their emperor died a new one was chosen from
+among his sons or nephews, by four nobles. The one preferred was
+obliged to have distinguished himself in war, and his coronation did
+not take place until a successful campaign had provided enough
+captives to grace his triumphal entry into the capital, and enough
+victims for the ghastly sacrifices which formed an important part of
+all their religious ceremonies. Communication was held with the
+remotest parts of the country by means of couriers, who, trained to
+it from childhood, travelled with amazing swiftness. Post-houses
+were established on the great roads, and the messenger bearing his
+despatches in the form of hieroglyphical paintings, ran to the first
+station, where they were taken by the next messenger and carried
+forward, being sent in one day a hundred or two hundred miles.
+Thus fish was served at the banquets of the emperor Montezuma
+which twenty-four hours before had been caught in the Gulf of
+Mexico, two hundred miles away. Thus too the news was carried
+when any war was going on, and as the messengers ran to acquaint
+the court with the movements of the royal armies, the people by the
+way knew whether the tidings were good or bad by the dress of
+the courier. But the training of warriors was the chief end and
+aim of all Aztec institutions. Their principal god was the god of
+war, and one great object of all their expeditions was the capture
+of victims to be sacrificed upon his altars. They believed that the
+soldier who fell in battle was transported at once to the blissful
+regions of the sun, and they consequently fought with an utter disregard
+of danger. The dress of the warriors was magnificent.
+Their bodies were protected by a vest of quilted cotton, impervious
+to light missiles, and over this the chiefs wore mantles of gorgeous
+feather-work, and the richer of them a kind of cuirass of gold
+or silver plates. Their helmets were of wood, fashioned like the
+head of some wild animal, or of silver surmounted by plumes of
+variously coloured feathers, sprinkled with precious stones, beside
+which they wore many ornaments of gold, and their banners were
+embroidered with gold and feather-work.</p>
+
+<p>The Aztecs worshipped thirteen principal gods, and more than two
+hundred of less importance, each of whom, however, had his day of
+festival, which was duly observed. At the head of all stood the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>
+war-god, the terrible Huitzilopochtli, whose fantastic image was
+loaded with costly ornaments, and whose temples, in every city of
+the empire, were the most splendid and stately. The Aztecs also
+had a legend that there had once dwelt upon the earth the great
+Quetzalcoatl, god of the air, under whose sway all things had
+flourished and all people had lived in peace and prosperity; but he
+had in some way incurred the wrath of the principal gods, and was
+compelled to leave the country. On his way he stopped at the city
+of Cholula, where a temple was dedicated to him, of which the
+great ruins remain to this day. When he reached the shores of the
+Mexican Gulf he embarked in his magic boat, made of serpents'
+skins, for the fabulous land of Tlapallan, but before he bade his
+followers farewell he promised that he and his descendants would
+one day come again. The Aztecs confidently looked forward to the
+return of their benevolent god, who was said to have been tall in
+stature, with a white skin, long dark hair, and a flowing beard, and
+this belief of theirs prepared the way, as you will presently see, for
+the success of Cort&eacute;s.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> The Mexican temples, or teocallis as they
+were called&mdash;which means 'Houses of God'&mdash;were very numerous,
+there being several hundreds of them in each of the principal cities.
+They looked rather like the Egyptian pyramids, and were divided
+into four or five stories, each one being smaller than the one below
+it, and the ascent was by a flight of steps at an angle of the pyramid.
+This led to a sort of terrace at the base of the second story, which
+passed quite round the building to another flight of steps immediately
+over the first, so that it was necessary to go all round the
+temple several times before reaching the summit. The top was a
+broad space on which stood two towers, forty or fifty feet high,
+which contained the images of the gods. Before these towers stood
+the dreadful stone of sacrifice, and two lofty altars on which the
+sacred fires burned continually. Human sacrifices were adopted
+by the Aztecs about two hundred years before the coming of the
+Spaniards. Rare at first, they became more and more frequent
+till at length nearly every festival closed with this cruel abomination.
+The unhappy victim was held by five priests upon the stone
+of sacrifice, while the sixth, who was clothed in a scarlet mantle,
+emblematic of his horrible office, cut open his breast with a sharp
+razor of 'itztli,' a volcanic substance as hard as flint, and tearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>
+out his heart, held it first up to the sun, which they worshipped,
+and then cast it at the feet of the god to whom the temple was
+devoted; and to crown the horror, the body of the captive thus
+sacrificed was afterwards given to the warrior who had taken him
+in battle, who thereupon gave a great banquet and served him up
+amid choice dishes and delicious beverages for the entertainment of
+his friends. When the great teocalli of Huitzilopochtli was dedicated
+in the year 1486, no less than 70,000 prisoners were thus
+sacrificed, and in the whole kingdom every year the victims were
+never fewer than 20,000, or, as some old writers say, 50,000.
+The Aztec writing was not with letters and words, but consisted of
+little coloured pictures, each of which had some special meaning.
+Thus a 'tongue' denoted speaking, a 'footprint' travelling, a 'man
+sitting on the ground' an earthquake. As a very slight difference
+in position or colour intimated a different meaning, this writing
+was very difficult to read, and in the Aztec colleges the priests
+specially taught it to their pupils. At the time of the coming of the
+Spaniards there were numbers of people employed in this picture-writing,
+but unfortunately hardly any of the manuscripts were preserved;
+for the Spaniards, looking upon them as magic scrolls, caused
+them to be burned by thousands. In many mechanical arts the
+Aztecs had made considerable progress. Their ground was well cultivated,
+they had discovered and used silver, lead, tin, and copper.
+Gold, which was found in the river-beds, they cast into bars, or used
+as money by filling transparent quills with gold dust. They also
+made many fantastic ornaments of gold and silver, and cast gold
+and silver vessels, which they carved delicately with chisels. Some
+of the silver vases were so large that a man could not encircle them
+with his arms. But the art in which they most delighted was the
+wonderful feather-work. With the gorgeous plumage of the tropical
+birds they could produce all the effect of a beautiful mosaic. The
+feathers, pasted upon a fine cotton web, were wrought into dresses
+for the wealthy, hangings for their palaces, and ornaments for their
+temples.</p>
+
+<p>These then were the people of whom Grijalva sent back to Cuba
+a few vague reports, and these, and the accounts of the splendour
+of the treasure, spread like wildfire through the island. The
+governor having resolved to send out more ships to follow up
+these discoveries, looked about him for a suitable person to command
+the expedition and share the expenses of it, and being recommended
+by several of his friends to choose Hernando Cort&eacute;s, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>
+presently did so. Cort&eacute;s had now attained his heart's desire, and
+at once began with the utmost energy to purchase and fit out the
+ships. He used all the money he had saved, and as much more as
+he could persuade his friends to lend him, and very soon he was in
+possession of six vessels, and three hundred recruits had enrolled
+themselves under his banner. His orders were, first, to find Grijalva
+and to proceed in company with him; then to seek out and rescue
+six Christians, the survivors of a previous expedition, who were
+supposed to be lingering in captivity in the interior; and to bear in
+mind, before all things, that it was the great desire of the Spanish
+monarch that the Indians should be converted to Christianity. They
+were to be invited to give their allegiance to him, and to send him presents
+of gold and jewels to secure his favour and protection. The
+explorers were also to survey the coast, acquaint themselves with
+the general features of the country, and to barter with the natives.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Beginning of the Expedition</span></h3>
+
+<p>But before Cort&eacute;s was ready to start, a jealousy and distrust of
+him took possession of the mind of Velasquez, so that he determined
+to entrust the command of the fleet to someone else. This came to
+the ears of Cort&eacute;s, and he with great promptitude assembled his officers
+secretly, and that very night set sail with what supplies he was
+able to lay hands upon, his ships being neither ready for sea nor properly
+provisioned. When morning broke news was carried to Velasquez
+that the fleet was under weigh, and he rose hastily and galloped
+down to the quay. Cort&eacute;s rowed back to within speaking distance.</p>
+
+<p>'This is a courteous way of taking leave of me, truly,' cried the
+governor.</p>
+
+<p>'Pardon me,' answered Cort&eacute;s, 'time presses, and there are some
+things that should be done before they are even thought of.' And
+with that he returned to his vessel, and the little fleet sailed away to
+Macaca, where Cort&eacute;s laid in more stores. This was on November 18,
+1518. Shortly afterwards he proceeded to Trinidad, a town on the
+south coast of Cuba, where he landed, and setting up his standard,
+invited all who would to join the expedition, holding out to them
+great hopes of wealth to be gained. Volunteers flocked in daily,
+including many young men of noble family, who were attracted by
+the fame of Cort&eacute;s. Among them were Pedro de Alvarado, Crist&oacute;val
+de Olid, Alonso de Avila, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Alonso Hernandez
+de Puertocarrero, and Gonzalo de Sandoval, of all of whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>
+you will hear again before the story is finished. Finally, in February
+1519, when all the reinforcements were assembled, Cort&eacute;s found he had
+eleven vessels, one hundred and ten mariners, five hundred and fifty-three
+soldiers, and two hundred Indians. He also had sixteen horses,
+ten large guns, and four lighter, which were called falconets. Cort&eacute;s,
+before embarking, addressed his little army, saying that he held out
+to them a glorious prize, and that if any among them coveted riches,
+he would make them masters of such as their countrymen had never
+dreamed of; and so they sailed away for the coast of Yucatan.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing that happened was that they were overtaken by a
+furious tempest, and Cort&eacute;s was delayed by looking after a disabled
+vessel, and so was the last to reach the island of Cozumel. Here he
+found that Alvarado, one of his captains, had landed, plundered a
+temple, and by his violence caused the natives to fly and hide themselves
+inland.</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s, much displeased, severely reprimanded his officer, and,
+by the aid of an interpreter, explained his peaceful intentions to two
+Indians who had been captured. Then he loaded them with presents,
+and sent them to persuade their countrymen to return, which they presently
+did, and the Spaniards had the satisfaction of bartering the
+trifles they had brought for the gold ornaments of the natives. Next
+Cort&eacute;s sent two ships to the opposite coast of Yucatan, where they
+were to despatch some Indians inland, to seek for and ransom the
+Christian captives, of whom he had gained some tidings from a
+trader, and while they were gone he explored the island, and induced
+the natives to declare themselves Christians by the very summary
+method of rolling their venerated idols out of their temple, and setting
+up in their stead an image of the Virgin and Child. When the
+Indians saw that no terrible consequences followed, they listened to
+the teaching of the good priest, Father Olmedo, who accompanied
+the expedition, though it is probable that they did not, after all,
+understand much of his instruction. After eight days the two ships
+came back, but with no news of the captives, and Cort&eacute;s sorrowfully
+decided that he could wait no longer. He accordingly took in
+provisions and water, and set sail again, but before they had gone far
+one of the ships sprang a leak, which obliged them to put back into
+the same port. It was lucky that they did, for soon after they
+landed a canoe was seen coming from the shore of Yucatan, which
+proved to contain one of the long-lost Spaniards, who was called
+Aguilas. He had been for eight years a slave among the natives in
+the interior, but his master, tempted by the ransom of glass-beads,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>
+hawk-bells, and such treasures, had consented to release him. When
+he reached the coast the ships were gone, but owing to the fortunate
+accident of their return, he found himself once more among his
+countrymen. Cort&eacute;s at once saw the importance of having him as
+an interpreter, but in the end he proved to be of more use to the
+explorers than could have been at first imagined.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i251.png" width="400" height="333" alt="Montezuma and Cort&eacute;s" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Again the fleet set out, and coasted along the Gulf of Mexico
+till they reached the mouth of the Rio de Tabasco. Here Cort&eacute;s
+landed, but found that the Indians were hostile, and were drawn
+up in great force against him. However, after some hard fighting
+the Spaniards were victorious, and having taken possession of the
+town of Tabasco, Cort&eacute;s sent messengers to the chiefs saying that if
+they did not at once submit themselves he would ravage the country
+with fire and sword. As they had no mind for any more fighting
+they came humbly, bringing presents, and among them thirty slaves,
+one of whom, a beautiful Mexican girl named Malinche, was afterwards
+of the utmost importance to the expedition. She had come
+into the possession of the cacique of Tabasco through some traders
+from the interior of the country, to whom she had been secretly
+sold by her mother, who coveted her inheritance. Cort&eacute;s now reembarked
+his soldiers and sailed away to the island of San Juan de
+Uloa, under the lee of which they anchored, and soon saw the light
+pirogues of the Indians coming off to them from the mainland.
+They brought presents of fruit and flowers, and little ornaments of
+gold which they gladly exchanged for the usual trifles. Cort&eacute;s
+was most anxious to converse with them, but found to his disappointment
+that Aguilar could not understand their dialect. In this
+dilemma he was informed that one of the slaves was a Mexican,
+and could of course speak the language. This was Malinche, or as
+the Spaniards always called her, 'Marina.' Cort&eacute;s was so charmed
+with her beauty and cleverness that he made her his secretary,
+and kept her always with him; and she very soon learned enough
+Spanish to interpret for him without the help of Aguilar. But at
+first they were both necessary, and by their aid Cort&eacute;s learned that
+his visitors were subjects of Montezuma, the great Aztec emperor,
+and were governed by Tenhtlile, one of his nobles. Cort&eacute;s having
+ascertained that there was abundance of gold in the interior,
+dismissed them, loaded with presents, to acquaint their governor
+with his desire for an interview. The next morning he landed on
+the mainland with all his force. It was a level sandy plain, and
+the troops employed themselves in cutting down trees and bushes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>
+to provide a shelter from the weather; in this they were aided by
+the natives, who built them huts with stakes and earth, mats and
+cotton carpets, and flocked from all the country round to see the
+wonderful strangers. They brought with them fruits, vegetables,
+flowers in abundance, game, and many dishes cooked after the
+fashion of the country; and these they gave to, or bartered with,
+the Spaniards. The next day came Tenhtlile, the governor, with a
+numerous train, and was met by Cort&eacute;s, and conducted to his tent
+with great ceremony. All the principal officers were assembled,
+and after a ceremonious banquet at which the governor was regaled
+with Spanish wines and confections, the interpreters were sent for
+and a conversation began. Tenhtlile first asked about the country
+of the strangers, and the object of their visit. Cort&eacute;s replied that
+he was the subject of a powerful monarch beyond the seas, who had
+heard of the greatness of the Mexican emperor, and had sent him
+with a present in token of his goodwill, and with a message which
+he must deliver in person. He concluded by asking when he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>
+be admitted into Montezuma's presence. To this the Aztec noble
+replied haughtily,</p>
+
+<p>'How is it that you have been here only two days, and demand
+to see the emperor?'</p>
+
+<p>Then he added that he was surprised to hear that there could
+be another monarch as powerful as Montezuma, but if it were so
+his master would be happy to communicate with him, and that he
+would forward the royal gift brought by the Spanish commander,
+and so soon as he had learned Montezuma's will would inform him
+of it. Tenhtlile then ordered his slaves to bring forward the
+present for the Spanish general. It consisted of ten loads of fine
+cotton, several mantles of gorgeous feather-work, and a wicker
+basket of golden ornaments. Cort&eacute;s received it with due acknowledgments,
+and in his turn ordered the presents for Montezuma to
+be brought forward. These were an armchair richly carved and
+painted, a crimson cloth cap with a gold medal, and a quantity of
+collars, bracelets, and other ornaments of cut-glass, which in a
+country where glass was unknown were as valuable as real gems.
+The Aztec governor observed a soldier in the camp in a shining
+gilt helmet, and expressed a wish that Montezuma should see it, as
+it reminded him of one worn by the god Quetzalcoatl. Cort&eacute;s
+declared his willingness that the helmet should be sent, and begged
+that the emperor would return it filled with the gold dust of the
+country, that he might compare its quality with that of his own.
+He also said that the Spaniards were troubled with a disease of
+the heart, for which gold was a sure remedy. In fact, he made his
+want of gold very clear to the governor. While these things were
+passing Cort&eacute;s observed one of Tenhtlile's attendants busy with a
+pencil, and on looking at his work he found it was a sketch of the
+Spaniards, their costumes, weapons, and all objects of interest being
+correctly represented both in form and colour. This was the celebrated
+picture-writing, and the governor said that this man was
+drawing all these things for Montezuma, as he would get a much
+better idea of their appearance thus. Cort&eacute;s thereupon ordered
+out the cavalry, and caused them to go through their military
+exercises upon the firm wet sands of the beach; and the appearance
+of the horses&mdash;which were absolutely unknown in Mexico&mdash;filled
+the natives with astonishment, which turned to alarm when the
+general ordered the cannon to be fired, and they saw for the first
+time the smoke and flame, and beheld the balls crashing among
+the trees of the neighbouring forest and reducing them to splinters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>
+Nothing of this sort was lost upon the painters, who faithfully
+recorded every particular, not omitting the ships&mdash;the 'water-houses,'
+as they called them&mdash;which swung at anchor in the bay.
+Finally, the governor departed as ceremoniously as he had come,
+leaving orders with his people to supply the Spanish general with
+all he might require till further instructions should come from the
+emperor.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the arrival of the strangers was causing no
+small stir in the Mexican capital. A general feeling seems to have
+prevailed that the Return of the White God, Quetzalcoatl, was at
+hand, and many wonderful signs and occurrences seemed to confirm
+the belief.</p>
+
+<p>In 1510 the great lake of Tezcuco, without tempest, earthquake,
+or any visible cause, became violently agitated, overflowed its
+banks, and, pouring into the streets of Mexico, swept away many
+buildings by the fury of its waters. In 1511 one of the towers of
+the great temple took fire, equally without any apparent cause, and
+continued to burn in defiance of all attempts to extinguish it. In
+the following years three comets were seen, and not long before
+the coming of the Spaniards a strange light broke forth in the
+east, resembling a great pyramid or flood of fire thickly powdered
+with stars: at the same time low voices were heard in the air, and
+doleful wailings, as if to announce some strange, mysterious calamity.
+A lady of the Royal house died, was buried, and rose
+again, prophesying ruin to come. After the conquest she became a
+Christian.</p>
+
+<p>Montezuma, terrified at these apparitions, took counsel of Nezahualpilli,
+King of Tezcuco, who was a great proficient in astrology;
+but far from obtaining any comfort from him, he was still further depressed
+by being told that all these things predicted the speedy downfall
+of his empire. When, therefore, the picture-writings showing
+the Spanish invaders reached Montezuma, they caused him great
+apprehension, and he summoned the kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan
+to consult with them as to how the strangers should be received.
+There was much division of opinion, but finally Montezuma resolved
+to send a rich present which should impress them with a high idea
+of his wealth and grandeur, while at the same time he would forbid
+them to approach the capital. After eight days at the most, which
+however seemed a long time to the Spaniards, who were suffering
+from the intense heat of the climate, the embassy, accompanied by
+the governor Tenhtlile, reached the camp, and presented to Cort&eacute;s<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>
+the magnificent treasure sent by Montezuma. One of the two nobles
+had been sent on account of his great likeness to the picture of Cort&eacute;s
+which the Aztec painter had executed for Montezuma. This resemblance
+was so striking that the Spanish soldiers always called this
+chief 'the Mexican Cort&eacute;s.' After the usual ceremonious salutes,
+the slaves unrolled the delicately wrought mats and displayed the
+gifts they had brought. There were shields, helmets, and cuirasses
+embossed with plates and ornaments of pure gold, with collars and
+bracelets of the same precious metal, sandals, fans, plumes, and
+crests of variegated feathers wrought with gold and silver thread
+and sprinkled with pearls and precious stones. Also imitations of
+birds and animals in wrought or cast gold and silver of exquisite
+workmanship; and curtain coverlets and robes of cotton, fine as
+<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'slik'">silk</ins>&mdash;of rich and varied hues&mdash;interwoven with feather-work that
+rivalled the most delicate painting. There were more than thirty
+loads of cotton cloth, and the Spanish helmet was returned filled
+to the brim with grains of gold. But the things which excited the
+most admiration were two circular plates of gold and silver as
+large as carriage-wheels. One, representing the sun, was richly
+carved with plants and animals, and was worth fifty-two thousand
+five hundred pounds. The Spaniards could not conceal their rapture
+at this exhibition of treasure which exceeded their utmost dreams;
+and when they had sufficiently admired it the ambassadors courteously
+delivered their message, which was to the effect that
+Montezuma had great pleasure in holding communication with so
+powerful a monarch as the King of Spain, but he could not grant a
+personal interview to the Spaniards; the way to his capital was too
+long and too dangerous. Therefore the strangers must return to
+their own land with the gifts he had sent them. Cort&eacute;s, though
+much vexed, concealed his annoyance and expressed his sense of
+the emperor's munificence. It made him, he said, only the more
+desirous of a personal interview, so that he felt it was impossible
+that he should present himself again before his sovereign without
+having accomplished this great object of his journey. He once
+more requested them to bear this message to their master, with
+another trifling gift. This they seemed unwilling to do, and took
+their leave repeating that the general's wish could not be gratified.
+The soldiers were by this time suffering greatly from the heat,
+surrounded as they were by burning sands and evil-smelling
+marshes, and swarms of venomous insects which tormented them
+night and day. Thirty of their number died, and the discomfort of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>
+the rest was greatly increased by the indifference of the natives,
+who no longer brought them such abundant supplies, and demanded
+an immense price for what they did provide. After ten days the
+Mexican envoys returned, bearing another rich present of stuffs and
+gold ornaments, which, though not so valuable as the first, was yet
+worth three thousand ounces of gold. Beside this there were four
+precious stones, somewhat resembling emeralds, each of which they
+assured the Spaniards was worth more than a load of gold, and
+was destined as a special mark of respect for the Spanish monarch,
+since only the nobles of Mexico were allowed to wear them.
+Unfortunately, however, they were of no value at all in Europe.
+Montezuma's answer was the same as before. He positively
+forbade the strangers to approach nearer to his capital, and requested
+them to take the treasure he had bestowed upon them, and return
+without delay to their own country. Cort&eacute;s received this unwelcome
+message courteously, but coldly, and turning to his officers exclaimed,
+'This is a rich and powerful prince indeed, yet it shall go
+hard but we will one day pay him a visit in his capital.' Father
+Olmedo then tried to persuade the Aztec chiefs to give up their
+idol-worship, and endeavoured by the aid of Marina and Aguilar to
+explain to them the mysteries of his own faith, but it is probable
+that he was not very successful. The chiefs presently withdrew
+coldly, and that same night every hut was deserted by the natives,
+and the Spaniards were left without supplies in a desolate wilderness.
+Cort&eacute;s thought this so suspicious that he prepared for an
+attack, but everything remained quiet.</p>
+
+<p>The general now decided to remove his camp to a more healthy
+place a little farther along the coast, where the ships could anchor
+and be sheltered from the north wind. But the soldiers began to
+grumble and be discontented, and to say that it was time to return
+with their spoil, and not linger upon those barren shores until they
+had brought the whole Mexican nation about their ears. Fortunately
+at this juncture five Indians made their appearance in the
+camp, and were taken to the general's tent. They were quite
+different from the Mexicans in dress and appearance, and wore
+rings of gold and bright blue gems in their ears and nostrils, while
+a gold leaf, delicately wrought, was attached to the under lip.
+Marina could not understand their language, but luckily she found
+that two of them could speak in the Aztec tongue. They explained
+that they came from Cempoalla, the chief town of a tribe called the
+Totonacs, and that their country had been lately conquered by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>
+Aztecs, whose oppressions they greatly resented. They also said
+that the fame of the Spaniards had reached their master, who had
+sent to request them to visit him in his capital. It is easy to imagine
+how eagerly Cort&eacute;s listened to this communication, and how
+important it was to him. Hitherto, as he knew absolutely nothing
+of the state of affairs in the interior of the country, he had supposed
+the empire to be strong and united. Now he saw that the discontent
+of the provinces conquered by Montezuma might be turned to
+his own advantage, and that by their aid he might hope to succeed
+in his cherished scheme of subduing the emperor himself. He
+therefore dismissed the Totonacs with many presents, promising
+soon to visit their city. Then with his usual energy and diplomacy
+he turned upon the immediate difficulties which beset him&mdash;the
+discontent of the soldiers, the jealousy of some of his officers, and
+the fact that he had no warrant for his ambitious plans in the
+commission that he had received from Velasquez. By tact and
+cunning he managed to settle everything as he wished, and set to
+work to establish a colony in the name of the Spanish sovereign,
+and appointed his chief friend Puertocarrero to be one of its magistrates,
+and Montejo, who was a friend of Velasquez, to be the other.
+The new town was called Villa Rica de Vera Cruz, 'The rich town
+of the True Cross,' and, as you see, its governors and officials were
+appointed before a single house was built. To them Cort&eacute;s then
+resigned the commission which he had received from Velasquez,
+and the council, which consisted chiefly of his own friends, immediately
+reappointed him to be captain-general and chief justice of
+the colony, with power to do practically just as he liked. Of course
+this caused a great commotion in the opposing party, but Cort&eacute;s
+put the leaders into irons and sent them on board one of the ships,
+while he sent the soldiers on a foraging expedition into the surrounding
+country. By the time these returned with supplies they had altered
+their minds, and joined their companions in arms, pledging themselves
+to a common cause, while even the cavaliers on board the ship
+came to the same conclusion, and were reconciled to the new
+government, and were from that time staunch adherents to Cort&eacute;s.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i257.png" width="400" height="214" alt="Cort&eacute;s recieved" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Peace being thus restored, the army set out to march northwards
+to the place where it had been decided to build the town. They
+crossed a river in rafts and broken canoes which they found upon its
+bank, and presently came to a very different scene from the burning
+sandy waste, which they had left. The wide plains were covered
+with green grass, and there were groves of palms, among which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>
+Spaniards saw deer and various wild animals, and flocks of pheasants
+and turkeys. On their way they passed through a deserted
+village, in the temples of which they found records in the picture-writing,
+and also, to their horror, the remains of sacrificed victims.
+As they proceeded up the river they were met by twelve Indians,
+sent by the cacique of Cempoalla to show them the way to his town.
+The farther they went the more beautiful did the country become.
+The trees were loaded with gorgeous fruits and flowers, and birds
+and butterflies of every hue abounded. As they approached the
+Indian city they saw gardens and orchards on each side of the road,
+and were met by crowds of natives, who mingled fearlessly with the
+soldiers, bringing garlands of flowers, in which they specially delighted,
+to deck the general's helmet and to hang about the neck
+of his horse. The cacique, who was tall and very fat, received
+Cort&eacute;s with much courtesy, and assigned to the army quarters in
+a neighbouring temple, where they were well supplied with provisions,
+and the general received a present of gold and fine cotton.
+But in spite of all this friendliness he neglected no precautions,
+stationing sentinels, and posting his artillery so as to command the
+entrance. The following morning Cort&eacute;s paid the cacique a visit
+at his own residence, and, by the aid of Marina, a long conference
+was held in which the Spanish general gained much important information,
+and promised to aid the Totonacs against Montezuma,
+and prevent him from carrying off their young men and maidens
+to be sacrificed to his gods. The following day the army marched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>
+off again to the town of Chiahuitztla, which stood like a fortress on a
+crag overlooking the gulf. Though the inhabitants were alarmed at
+first, they soon became friendly, and the chiefs came to confer with
+Cort&eacute;s and the cacique of Cempoallo, who had accompanied him, carried
+in a litter. Just then there was a stir among the people, and
+five men entered the market-place where they were standing. By
+their rich and peculiar dress they seemed to belong to a different
+race: their dark glossy hair was tied in a knot at the top of the head,
+and they carried bunches of flowers in their hands. Their attendants
+carried wands, or fans, to brush away the flies and insects
+from their lordly masters. These persons passed the Spaniards
+haughtily, scarcely deigning to return their salutations, and they
+were immediately joined by the Totonac chiefs, who seemed anxious
+to conciliate them by every sort of attention. The general, much
+astonished, inquired of Marina what this meant, and she replied
+that these were Aztec nobles empowered to receive tribute for
+Montezuma.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after the chiefs returned in dismay, saying that the Aztecs
+were very angry with them for entertaining the Spaniards without
+the emperor's permission, and had demanded twenty young men
+and maidens to be sacrificed to the gods as a punishment. Cort&eacute;s
+was most indignant at this insolence, and insisted that the Totonacs
+should not only refuse the demand, but should also seize the Aztec
+nobles, and throw them into prison. This they did, but the Spanish
+general managed to get two of them freed in the night, and brought
+before him. He then very cunningly made them believe that he
+regretted the indignity that had been offered them, and would help
+them to get away safely, and the next day would do his best to
+release their companions. He also told them to report this to
+Montezuma, assuring him of the great respect and regard in which
+he was held by the Spaniards. Them he sent them away secretly
+to the port, and they were taken in one of the vessels, and landed
+safely at a little distance along the coast. The Totonacs were
+furious at the escape of some of their prisoners, and would at once
+have sacrificed the remainder, had not Cort&eacute;s expressed the utmost
+horror at the idea, and sent them on board one of the ships for safe
+keeping, whence he very soon allowed them to join their companions.
+This artful proceeding had, as we shall presently see, just the effect
+it was meant to have upon Montezuma. By order of Cort&eacute;s, messengers
+were now sent to all the other Totonac towns, telling them
+of the defiance that had been shown to the emperor, and bidding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>
+them also refuse to pay the tribute. The Indians soon came
+flocking into Chiahuitztla to see and confer with the powerful
+strangers, in the hope of regaining liberty by their aid, and so cleverly
+had Cort&eacute;s managed to embroil them with Montezuma, that even
+the most timid felt that they had no choice but to accept the protection
+of the Spaniards, and make a bold effort for the recovery of
+freedom.</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s accordingly made them swear allegiance to the Spanish
+sovereign, and then set out once more for the port where his colony
+was to be planted. This was only half a league distant, in a wide
+and fruitful plain, and he was not long in determining the circuit of
+the walls, and the site of the fort, granary, and other public buildings.
+The friendly Indians brought stone, lime, wood, and bricks,
+and in a few weeks a town rose up, which served as a good starting-point
+for future operations, a retreat for the disabled, a place for
+the reception of stores, or whatever might be sent to or from the
+mother-country, and was, moreover, strong enough to overawe the
+surrounding country. This was the first colony in New Spain, and
+was hailed with satisfaction by the simple natives, who could not
+foresee that their doom was sealed when a white man set his foot
+upon their soil.</p>
+
+<p>While the Spaniards were still occupied with their new settlement
+they were surprised by another embassy from Mexico. When
+the account of the imprisonment of the royal collectors first reached
+Montezuma, his feelings of fear and superstition were swallowed up
+in indignation, and he began with great energy to make preparations
+for punishing his rebellious vassals, and avenging the insult offered
+to himself. But when the Aztec officers liberated by Cort&eacute;s
+reached the capital and reported the courteous treatment they had
+received from the Spanish commander, he was induced to resume
+his former timid and conciliatory policy, and sent an embassy consisting
+of two young nephews of his own and four of his chief nobles
+to the Spanish quarters. As usual they bore a princely gift of gold,
+rich cotton stuffs, and wonderful mantles of feather embroidery.
+The envoys on coming before Cort&eacute;s presented this offering, with
+the emperor's thanks to him for the courtesy he had shown to the
+captive nobles. At the same time Montezuma expressed his surprise
+and regret that the Spaniards should have countenanced the
+rebellion. He had no doubt, he said, that Cort&eacute;s and his followers
+were the long-looked-for strangers, and therefore of the same
+lineage as himself. From deference to them he would spare the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>
+Totonacs while they were present, but the day of vengeance would
+come. Cort&eacute;s entertained the Indians with frank hospitality, taking
+care, however, to make such a display of his resources as should
+impress them with a sense of his power. Then he dismissed them
+with a few trifling gifts and a conciliatory message to the emperor,
+to the effect that he would soon pay his respects to him in his
+capital, when all misunderstanding between them would certainly
+be adjusted. The Totonacs were amazed when they understood
+the nature of this interview; for, in spite of the presence of the
+Spaniards, they had felt great apprehension as to the consequence
+of their rash act, and now they felt absolutely in awe of the
+strangers who even at a distance could exercise such a mysterious
+influence over the terrible Montezuma.</p>
+
+<p>Not long after the cacique of Cempoalla appealed to Cort&eacute;s to
+aid him against a neighbour with whom he had a quarrel. The
+general at once marched to support him with a part of his force,
+but when they reached the hostile city they were received in a
+most friendly manner, and Cort&eacute;s had no difficulty in reconciling
+the two chiefs to one another. In token of gratitude the Indian
+cacique sent eight noble maidens, richly decked with collars and
+ornaments of gold, whom he begged the general to give as wives
+to his captains. Cort&eacute;s seized the opportunity of declaring that
+they must first become Christians, and be baptized, since the
+sons of the Church could not be allowed to marry idolaters. The
+chief replied that his gods were good enough for him, and that he
+should at once resent any insults offered to them, even if they did
+not avenge themselves by instantly destroying the Spaniards.
+However, the general and his followers had seen too much already
+of the barbarous rites of the Indian religion and its horrible sacrifices.
+Without hesitation they attacked the principal teocalli, whereupon
+the cacique called his men to arms, the priests in their blood-stained
+robes rushed frantically about among the people, calling
+upon them to defend their gods, and all was tumult and confusion.
+Cort&eacute;s acted with his usual promptitude at this crisis. He caused
+the cacique and the principal inhabitants and the priests to be
+taken prisoners, and then commanded them to quiet the people,
+threatening that a single arrow shot at the Spaniards should cost
+them their lives. Marina also represented the madness of resistance,
+reminding the cacique that if he lost the friendship of the
+strangers, he would be left alone to face the vengeance of Montezuma.
+This consideration decided him: covering his face with his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>
+hands, he exclaimed that the gods would avenge their own wrongs.
+Taking advantage of this tacit consent, fifty soldiers rushed up the
+stairway of the temple, and dragging the great wooden idols from
+their places in the topmost tower, they rolled them down the steps
+of the pyramid amid the groans of the natives and the triumphant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+shouts of their comrades, and then burnt them to ashes. The
+Totonacs, finding that their gods were unable to prevent or even
+punish this profanation of their temple, now believed that they were
+indeed less to be feared than the Spaniards, and offered no further
+resistance. By Cort&eacute;s's orders the teocalli was then thoroughly
+purified, and an altar was erected, surmounted by a great cross
+hung with garlands of roses, and Father Olmedo said Mass before
+the Indians and Spaniards, who seem to have been alike impressed
+by the ceremony. An old disabled soldier, named Juan de Torres,
+was left to watch over the sanctuary and instruct the natives in its
+services, while the general, taking a friendly leave of his Totonac
+allies, set out once more for Villa Rica, to finish his arrangements
+before departing for the capital. Here he was surprised to find
+that a Spanish vessel had arrived in his absence, having on
+board twelve soldiers and two horses, a very welcome addition to
+the tiny army. Cort&eacute;s now resolved to execute a plan of which he
+had been thinking for some time. He knew very well that none of
+his arrangements about the colony would hold good without the
+Spanish monarch's sanction, and also that Velasquez had great
+interest at court, and would certainly use it against him. Therefore
+he resolved to send despatches to the emperor himself, and
+such an amount of treasure as should give a great idea of the extent
+and importance of his discoveries. He gave up his own share of the
+spoil, and persuaded his officers to do the same, and a paper was circulated
+among the soldiers, calling upon all who chose to resign the
+small portion which was due to them, that a present worthy of the
+emperor's acceptance might be sent home. It is only another
+proof of the extraordinary power which Cort&eacute;s had over these rough
+soldiers, who cared for nothing but plunder, that not a single one
+refused to give up the very treasure which he had risked so much
+to gain.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 363px;">
+<img src="images/i261.png" width="363" height="500" alt="Fifty soldiers rushed up the stairs" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>These are some of the wonderful things that were sent. Two
+collars made of gold and precious stones. Two birds made of
+green feathers, with feet, beaks, and eyes of gold, and in the same
+piece with them animals of gold resembling snails. A large
+alligator's head of gold. Two birds made of thread and feather-work,
+having the quills of their wings and tails, their feet, eyes and the
+ends of their beaks of gold, standing upon two reeds covered with
+gold, which are raised on balls of feather-work and gold embroidery,
+one white and the other yellow, with seven tassels of feather-work
+hanging from each of them. A large silver wheel, also bracelets,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>
+leaves, and five shields of the same metal. A box of feather-work
+embroidered on leather, with a large plate of gold weighing seventy
+ounces in the midst. A large wheel of gold with figures of strange
+animals on it, and worked with tufts of leaves, weighing three
+thousand eight hundred ounces. A fan of variegated feather-work
+with thirty-seven rods plated with gold. Sixteen shields of precious
+stones, with feathers of various colours hanging from their rims,
+and six shields each covered with a plate of gold, with something
+resembling a mitre in the centre. Besides all this there was a
+quantity of gold ore, and many pieces of richly embroidered cotton
+cloth and feather-work. He accompanied this present with a letter
+to the emperor in which he gave an account of all his adventures
+and discoveries, and ended by beseeching him to confirm his
+authority, as he was entirely confident that he should be able to place
+the Castilian crown in possession of this great Indian empire. He
+also sent four slaves, who had been rescued from the cage in which
+were kept the victims about to be sacrificed, and some Mexican
+manuscripts.</p>
+
+<p>Very soon after the departure of the treasure-ship Cort&eacute;s discovered
+that there was a conspiracy among some of his followers,
+who either did not like the way the general arranged matters,
+or else were terrified at the prospect of the dangerous campaign
+that was before them. They had seized one of the ships, and got
+provisions and water stored, and were on the eve of setting sail for
+Cuba, when one of their number repented of the part he had taken
+in the plot, and betrayed it to Cort&eacute;s, who at once took measures
+for the arrest of the ringleaders, two of whom were afterwards
+hanged. This affair showed the general that there were some
+among his followers who were not heart and soul in the expedition,
+and who might therefore fail him when he most needed them, and
+might also cause their comrades to desert if there was any chance
+for them to escape. He therefore determined to take the bold step
+of destroying the ships without the knowledge of his army. Accordingly,
+he marched the whole army to Cempoalla, and when he
+arrived there he told his plan to a few of his devoted adherents,
+who entirely approved of it. Through them he persuaded the pilots
+to declare the ships unseaworthy, and then ordered nine of them to
+be sunk, having first brought on shore their sails, masts, iron, and
+all movable fittings. When the news of this proceeding reached
+Cempoalla, it caused the deepest consternation among the Spaniards,
+who felt themselves betrayed and abandoned, a mere handful of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>
+men arrayed against a great and formidable empire, and cut off
+from all chance of escape. They murmured loudly, and a serious
+mutiny was threatened. But Cort&eacute;s, whose presence of mind never
+deserted him, managed to reassure them, and to persuade them
+that he had only done what was really best for everyone; and he
+so cunningly dwelt upon the fame and the treasure which they
+were on the eve of gaining, that not one of them accepted the offer
+which he made to them of returning to Cuba in the only remaining
+ship. Their enthusiasm for their leader revived, and as he concluded
+his speech they made the air ring with their shouts of
+'To Mexico! To Mexico!'</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The March to Mexico</span></h3>
+
+<p>While he was still at Cempoalla, news came to Cort&eacute;s from Villa
+Rica that four strange ships were hovering off the coast, and that
+they refused to respond to repeated signals made to them by Don
+Juan de Escalante, who was in command of the garrison left in the
+town. This greatly alarmed Cort&eacute;s, who was continually dreading
+the interference of his enemy, the governor of Cuba. He rode
+hastily back to Villa Rica, and, almost without stopping to rest,
+pushed on a few leagues northwards along the coast, where he understood
+the ships were at anchor. On his way he met with three
+Spaniards just landed from them, and learned that they belonged to
+a squadron fitted out by Francisco de Garay, who had landed on
+the Florida coast a year before, and had obtained from Spain
+authority over the countries he might discover in its neighbourhood.
+Cort&eacute;s saw he had nothing to fear from them, but he did wish he
+could have induced the crews of the ships to join his expedition.
+The three men he easily persuaded, but those who remained on
+board feared treachery, and refused to send a boat ashore. Finally,
+by a stratagem, Cort&eacute;s succeeded in capturing three or four more,
+out of a boat's crew who came to fetch their comrades, and with
+this small party of recruits he returned to Cempoalla. On August 16,
+1519, Cort&eacute;s bade farewell to his hospitable Indian friends, and set
+out for Mexico. His force consisted of about four hundred foot and
+fifteen horse, with seven pieces of artillery, and in addition to these
+he had obtained from the cacique of Cempoalla thirteen hundred
+warriors, and a thousand porters to carry the baggage and drag the
+guns. During the first day the army marched through the 'tierra
+caliente,' or hot region. All around them fruit and flowers grew in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>
+the wildest profusion, as indeed they did all the year round in that
+wonderful climate; the air was heavy with perfume, and bright birds
+and insects abounded. But after some leagues' travel, over roads
+made nearly impassable by the summer rains, they began to ascend
+gradually, and at the close of the second day they reached Xalapa,
+from which they looked out over one of the grandest prospects that
+could be seen anywhere. Down below them lay the hot region with
+its gay confusion of meadows, streams, and flowering forests, sprinkled
+over with shining Indian villages, while a faint line of light upon
+the horizon told them that there was the ocean they had so lately
+crossed, beyond which lay their country, which many of them would
+never see again. To the south rose the mighty mountain called
+'Orizaba,' in his mantle of snow, and in another direction the
+Sierra Madre, with its dark belt of pine-trees, stretched its long lines
+of shadowy hills away into the distance. Onward and upward they
+went, and on the fourth day they arrived at the strong town of
+Naulinco. Here the inhabitants entertained them hospitably, for they
+were friendly with the Totonacs, and Cort&eacute;s endeavoured, through
+Father Olmedo, to teach them something about Christianity. They
+seem to have listened willingly, and allowed the Spaniards to erect a
+cross for their adoration, which indeed they did in most of the places
+where they halted. The troops now entered upon a rugged, narrow
+valley, called 'the Bishop's Pass,' and now it began to be terribly
+cold, the snow and hail beat upon them, and the freezing wind
+seemed to penetrate to their very bones. The Spaniards were partly
+protected by their armour, and their thick coats of quilted cotton,
+but the poor Indians, natives of the hot region and with very little
+clothing, suffered greatly, and indeed several of them died by the
+way. The path lay round a bare and dreadful-looking volcanic
+mountain, and often upon the edge of precipices three thousand feet
+in depth. After three days of this dreary travelling the army
+emerged into a more genial climate; they had reached the great
+tableland which spreads out for hundreds of miles along the crests of
+the Cordilleras, more than seven thousand <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'miles'">feet</ins> above the sea-level.
+The vegetation of the torrid and temperate regions had of course
+disappeared, but the fields were carefully cultivated. Many of the
+crops were unknown to the Spaniards, but they recognised maize
+and aloes, and various kinds of cactus. Suddenly the troops came
+upon what seemed to be a populous city, even larger than Cempoalla,
+and with loftier and more substantial buildings, of stone and lime.
+There were thirteen teocallis in the town, and in one place in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>
+suburbs one of the Spaniards counted the stored-up skulls of a
+hundred thousand sacrificed victims. The lord of the town ruled
+over twenty thousand vassals; he was a tributary to Montezuma,
+and there was a strong Mexican garrison in the place. This was
+probably the reason of his receiving Cort&eacute;s and his army very coldly,
+and vaunting the grandeur of the Mexican emperor, who could, he
+declared, muster thirty great vassals, each of whom commanded a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>
+hundred thousand men. In answer to the inquiries of Cort&eacute;s, he told
+him about Montezuma and his capital. How more than twenty
+thousand prisoners of war were sacrificed every year upon the altars
+of his gods, and how the city stood in the midst of a great lake, and
+was approached by long causeways connected in places by wooden
+bridges, which when raised cut off all communication with the
+country&mdash;and many other strange things which were not of a kind to
+reassure the minds of the Spaniards. They hardly knew whether
+to believe the old cacique or not, but at any rate the wonders they
+heard made them, as one of their cavaliers said, 'only the more
+earnest to prove the adventure, desperate as it might appear.'</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 356px;">
+<img src="images/i266.png" width="356" height="475" alt="Room of skulls" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The natives were also very curious to know about the Spaniards,
+their horses and dogs, and strange weapons, and Marina in answering
+their questions took care to expatiate upon the exploits and
+victories of her adopted countrymen, and to state the extraordinary
+marks of respect they had received from Montezuma. This had
+its effect upon the cacique, who presently sent the general some
+slaves to make bread for the soldiers, and supplied them with the
+means of refreshment and rest, which they needed so much after their
+toilful march.</p>
+
+<p>The army rested in this city four or five days, and even at the end
+of the last century the Indians would still point out the cypress tree
+under the shelter of which the conqueror's horse had been tied. When
+the journey was resumed, the way was through a broad green valley,
+watered by a splendid river and shaded by lofty trees. On either
+side of the river an unbroken line of Indian dwellings extended for
+several leagues, and on some rising ground stood a town which
+might contain five or six thousand inhabitants, commanded by a
+fortress with walls and trenches. Here the troops halted again,
+and met with friendly treatment.</p>
+
+<p>In their last halting-place Cort&eacute;s had been advised by the
+natives to take the route to the ancient city of Cholula, the inhabitants
+of which were a mild race, subjects of Montezuma, and given
+to peaceful arts, who were likely to receive him kindly. But his
+Cempoallan allies declared that the Cholulans were false and perfidious,
+and counselled him to go to Tlascala, a valiant little republic
+which had managed to maintain its independence against the arms
+of Mexico. The tribe had always been friendly with the Totonacs,
+and had the reputation of being frank, fearless, and trustworthy.
+The Spanish general decided to try and secure their goodwill, and accordingly
+despatched four of the principal Cempoallans with a gift,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>
+consisting of a cap of crimson cloth, a sword and a cross-bow, to ask
+permission to pass through their country, expressing at the same
+time his admiration of their valour, and of their long resistance of
+the Aztecs, whose pride he, too, was determined to humble. Three
+days after the departure of the envoys the army resumed its march,
+lingering somewhat by the way in hopes of receiving an answer
+from the Indian Republic. But the messengers did not return,
+which occasioned the general no little uneasiness. As they advanced
+the country became rougher and the scenery bolder, and at
+last their progress was arrested by a most remarkable fortification.
+It was a stone wall nine feet high and twenty feet thick, with a
+parapet a foot and a half broad at the top, for the protection of those
+who defended it. It had only one opening in the centre, made by
+two semicircular lines of wall overlapping each other for the space
+of forty paces, and having a passage-way between, ten paces wide,
+so contrived as to be perfectly commanded by the inner wall. This
+fortification, which extended for more than two leagues, rested at
+either end on the bold, natural buttresses of the chain of mountains.
+It was built of immense blocks of stone nicely laid together without
+cement, and from the remains that still exist it is easy to imagine
+what its size and solidity must have been. This singular structure
+marked the limits of Tlascala, and was intended, the natives said, as
+a barrier against Mexican invasions. The soldiers paused amazed,
+and not a little apprehensive as to their reception in Tlascala, since
+a people who were capable of such a work as that would indeed
+prove formidable should they not be friendly. But Cort&eacute;s, putting
+himself at the head of his cavalry, shouted, 'Forward, soldiers; the
+Holy Cross is our banner, and under that we shall conquer.' And so
+they marched through the undefended passage, and found themselves
+in Tlascala.</p>
+
+<p>The Tlascalan people belonged to the same great family as the
+Aztecs, and had planted themselves upon the western shore of Lake
+Tezcuco at about the same period&mdash;at the close of the twelfth century.
+There they remained many years, until they had, for some
+reason, incurred the displeasure of all the surrounding tribes, who
+combined to attack them, and a terrible battle took place. Though
+the Tlascalans were entirely victorious, they were so disgusted by this
+state of things that they resolved to migrate, and the greater number
+of them finally settled in the warm and fruitful valley overshadowed
+by the mountains of Tlascala. After some years the monarchy
+was divided, first into two, then four separate states, each with its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>
+own chief, who was independent in his own territory, and possessed
+equal authority with the other three in all matters concerning the
+whole republic, the affairs of which were settled by a council consisting
+of the four chiefs and the inferior nobles. They were an
+agricultural people, and the fertility of their new country was signified
+by its name&mdash;'Tlascala' meaning the land of bread. Presently
+their neighbours began to be envious of their prosperity, and they
+were frequently obliged to defend themselves against the Cholulans,
+and were always successful. But when Axayacatl, king of the
+Aztecs, sent demanding the same tribute and obedience from them
+which the other people of the country paid him, threatening, if they
+refused, to destroy their cities, and give their land to their enemies,
+they answered proudly, 'Neither they nor their forefathers had ever
+paid tribute or homage to a foreign power, nor ever would pay it.
+If their country was invaded, they knew how to defend it.'</p>
+
+<p>This answer brought upon them the forces of the Mexican monarch,
+and a pitched battle was fought in which the republic was
+again victorious, but from that time hostilities never ceased between
+the two nations, every captive was mercilessly sacrificed, and the
+Tlascalan children were trained from the cradle to hate the Mexicans
+with a deadly hatred. In this struggle the Tlascalans received
+valuable support from a wild and warlike race from the north, called
+the Otomies. Some of them settled in the republic, and having
+proved themselves courageous and faithful, were entrusted with the
+defence of the frontier. After Montezuma became emperor of Mexico
+greater efforts than before were made to subdue Tlascala. He sent
+a great army against it, commanded by his favourite son, but his
+troops were defeated and his son killed. Enraged and mortified,
+Montezuma made still greater preparations and invaded the valley
+with a terrific force. But the Tlascalans withdrew to the recesses
+of the hills, and watching their opportunity, swept down upon the
+enemy and drove them from their territory with dreadful slaughter.
+Nevertheless they were greatly harassed by these constant struggles
+with a foe so superior to themselves in numbers and resources.
+The Aztec armies lay between them and the coast, cutting off all possibility
+of obtaining any supplies. There were some things, as cotton,
+cacas, and salt, which they were unable to grow or manufacture, of
+which they had been deprived for more than fifty years, and their
+taste was so much affected by this enforced abstinence that they did
+not get used to eating salt with their food for several generations after
+the conquest. This was the state of affairs in Tlascala when the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>
+Spaniards reached it, and it is easy to see how important it was to
+Cort&eacute;s to form an alliance with it, but that was not an easy thing
+to do.</p>
+
+<p>The Tlascalans had heard about the Christians and their victorious
+advance, but they had not expected that they would come their way.
+So they were much embarrassed by the embassy demanding a passage
+through their territories. The council was assembled, and a
+great difference of opinion was found among its members. Some
+believed that these were the white-skinned, bearded men whose
+coming was foretold, and at all events they were enemies to
+Mexico, and might help them in their struggle against it. Others
+argued that this could not be: the march of the strangers through
+the land might be tracked by the broken images of the Indian
+gods, and desecrated temples. How could they be sure that
+they were not friends of Montezuma? They had received his embassies,
+accepted his gifts, and were even now on their way to his
+capital in company with his vassals. This last was the opinion of
+an aged chief, one of the four rulers of the republic. His name was
+Xicotencatl, and he was nearly blind, for he was over a hundred years
+old. He had a son of the same name as himself, an impetuous young
+man, who commanded a powerful force of Tlascalans and Otomies on
+the eastern frontier where the great fortification stood. The old chief
+advised that this force should at once fall upon the Spaniards. If
+they were conquered they would be at the mercy of the Tlascalans,
+but if by any mischance his son should fail, the council could declare
+that they had nothing to do with the attack, laying the whole blame
+of it upon the young Xicotencatl. Meantime the Cempoallan envoys
+were to be detained under pretence of assisting at a religious sacrifice.
+By this time, as we know, Cort&eacute;s and his gallant band had
+passed the rocky rampart, from which, for some reason or other, the
+Otomie guard was absent. After advancing a few leagues he saw
+a small party of Indians, armed with sword and buckler, who fled
+at his approach. He made signs for them to halt, but they only fled
+the faster.</p>
+
+<p>The Spaniards spurred their horses, and soon succeeded in overtaking
+them, when they at once turned, and, without showing the
+usual alarm at the horses and strange weapons of the cavaliers,
+attacked them furiously. The latter, however, were far too strong
+for them, and they would soon have been cut to pieces had not a
+body of several thousand Indians appeared, coming quickly to their
+rescue.  Cort&eacute;s seeing them, hastily despatched a messenger to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>
+hurry up his infantry. The Indians, having discharged their missiles,
+fell upon the little band of Spaniards, striving to drag the riders
+from their horses and to tear their lances from their grasp. They
+brought one cavalier to the ground, who afterwards died of his
+wounds, and they killed two horses, cutting their necks through with
+one blow of their formidable broadswords. This was a most serious
+loss to Cort&eacute;s, whose horses were so important, and so few in number.</p>
+
+<p>The struggle was a hard one, and it was with no small satisfaction
+that the Spaniards saw their comrades advancing to their aid.
+No sooner had the main body reached the field of battle, than,
+hastily falling into position, they poured such a volley from their
+muskets and cross-bows as fairly astounded the enemy, who made no
+further attempt to continue the fight, but drew off in good order, leaving
+the road open to the Spaniards, who were only too glad to get rid of
+their foes and pursue their way. Presently they met two Tlascalan
+envoys, accompanied by two of the Cempoallans. The former, on
+being brought to the general, assured him of a friendly reception in
+the capital, and declared the late assault upon the troops to have
+been quite unauthorised. Cort&eacute;s received his message courteously,
+pretending to believe that all was as he said. As it was now growing
+late the Spaniards quickened their pace, anxious to reach a suitable
+camping-ground before nightfall, and they chose a place upon the
+bank of a stream, where a few deserted huts were standing. These
+the weary and famishing soldiers ransacked in search of food, but
+could find nothing but some animals resembling dogs, which, however,
+they cooked and ate without ceremony, seasoning their unsavoury
+repast with the fruit of the Indian fig, which grew wild in
+the neighbourhood. After several desperate battles with the Tlascalans,
+Cort&eacute;s finally won a great victory.</p>
+
+<p>The next day&mdash;as he usually did after gaining a battle&mdash;the
+Spanish commander sent a new embassy to the Tlascalan capital,
+making as before professions of friendship, but this time threatening
+that if his offers were rejected he would visit their city as a
+conqueror, razing their house to the ground and putting every
+inhabitant to the sword. Of course this message was given to the
+envoys by the aid of the Lady Marina, who became day by day
+more necessary to Cort&eacute;s, and who was, indeed, generally admired
+for her courage and the cheerfulness with which she endured all
+the hardships of the camp and raised the drooping spirits of the
+soldiers, while by every means in her power she alleviated the
+miseries of her own countrymen. This time, the ambassadors of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>
+Cort&eacute;s received a respectful hearing from the deeply dejected
+council of Tlascala, for whom nothing remained but to submit.
+Four principal caciques were chosen to offer to the Spaniards a
+free passage through the country, and a friendly reception in the
+capital. Their friendship was accepted, with many excuses for the
+past, and the chiefs were further ordered to touch at the camp of
+Xicotencatl, the Tlascalan general, and require him to cease hostilities
+and furnish the white men with a plentiful supply of provisions.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i272.png" width="400" height="306" alt="Cort&eacute;s continued successes" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>While the Tlascalan envoys were still in the camp came a fresh
+embassy from Montezuma. Tidings had been sent to him of each
+step in the progress of the Spaniards, and it was with great satisfaction
+that he had heard of their taking the road to Tlascala,
+trusting that if they were mortal men they would find their graves
+there. Great was his dismay, therefore, when courier after courier
+brought him news of their successes, and how the most redoubtable
+warriors had been scattered by this handful of strangers.
+His superstitious fears returned with greater force than ever, and
+in his alarm and uncertainty he despatched five great nobles of
+his court, attended by two hundred slaves, to bear to Cort&eacute;s a gift
+consisting of three thousand ounces of gold and several hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>
+robes of cotton and feather-work. As they laid it at his feet
+they said that they had come to offer Montezuma's congratulations
+upon his victories, and to express his regret that he could not
+receive them in his capital, where the numerous population was
+so unruly that he could not be answerable for their safety. The
+merest hint of the emperor's wishes would have been enough
+to influence any of the natives, but they made very little impression
+upon Cort&eacute;s; and, seeing this, the envoys proceeded, in their
+master's name, to offer tribute to the Spanish sovereign, provided
+the general would give up the idea of visiting the capital.
+This was a fatal mistake, and a most strange one for such a brave
+and powerful monarch to make, for it amounted to an admission
+that he was unable to protect his treasures. Cort&eacute;s in replying
+expressed the greatest respect for Montezuma, but urged his own
+sovereign's commands as a reason for disregarding his wishes.
+He added that though he had not at present the power of requiting
+his generosity as he could wish, he trusted 'to repay him at some
+future day with good works.' You will hear before long how he
+kept his word.</p>
+
+<p>The Mexican ambassadors were anything but pleased at finding
+the war at an end and a firm friendship established between their
+mortal enemies and the Spaniards, and the general saw with some
+satisfaction the evidences of a jealousy between them, which was his
+surest hope of success in undermining the Mexican empire. Two
+of the Aztecs presently returned to acquaint Montezuma with the
+state of affairs; the others remained with the Spaniards, Cort&eacute;s
+being willing that they should see the deference paid to him by the
+Tlascalans, who were most anxious for his presence in their city.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 347px;">
+<img src="images/i274.png" width="347" height="500" alt="The blind old man might satisfy his curiousity" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The city of Tlascala lay about six leagues away from the Spanish
+camp, and the road led through a hilly region, and across a deep
+ravine over which a bridge had just been built for the passage of
+the army; they passed some towns by the way, where they were
+received with the greatest hospitality. The people flocked out to meet
+them, bringing garlands of roses, with which they decorated the
+Spanish soldiers, and wreathed about the necks of their horses.
+Priests in their white robes mingled with the crowd, scattering
+clouds of incense from their censers, and thus escorted the army
+slowly made its way through the gates of the city of Tlascala.
+Here the press became so great that it was with difficulty that a
+passage was cleared for it. The flat housetops were crowded with
+eager spectators, while garlands of green boughs, roses, and honeysuckle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>
+were thrown across the streets, and the air was rent with
+songs and shouts and the wild music of the national instruments.
+Presently the procession halted before the palace of the aged
+Xicotencatl, the father of the general, and Cort&eacute;s dismounted
+from his horse, that the blind old man might satisfy his natural
+curiosity respecting him, by passing his hand over his face. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>
+then led the way to a spacious hall, where a banquet was served to
+the whole army, after which, quarters were assigned to them in a
+neighbouring teocalli, the Mexican ambassadors being, at the desire
+of Cort&eacute;s, lodged next to himself that he might the better
+protect them in the city of their foes.</p>
+
+<p>For some days the Spaniards were feasted and entertained in
+four quarters of the city, which was really like separate towns
+divided from one another by high walls, in each of which lived one
+of the rulers of the republic, surrounded by his own vassals. But
+amid all these friendly demonstrations the general never for a
+moment relaxed the strict discipline of the camp, and no soldier
+was allowed to leave his quarters without special permission.
+At first this offended the Tlascalan chiefs, as they thought it
+showed distrust of them. But when Cort&eacute;s explained that this
+was only in accordance with the established military system of
+his country, they began to think it admirable, and the young
+Xicotencatl proposed, if possible, to imitate it. The Spanish commander
+now turned his thoughts to the converting of the Tlascalans;
+but as they refused to part with their own gods, though they were
+willing enough to add the God of the Christians to their number,
+he took the advice of the wise Father Olmedo, and abandoned the
+idea for the time. However, a cross was erected in one of the
+great squares, and there the Spaniards held their religious services
+unmolested, and it happened, strangely enough, that they had
+scarcely left the city when a thin, transparent cloud settled like a
+column upon the cross, wrapping it round, and continuing through
+the night to shed a soft light about it. This occurrence did more
+for the conversion of the natives than all the preaching of Father
+Olmedo. Several of the Indian princesses were now baptized, and
+given in marriage to the officers of Cort&eacute;s. One, who was the
+daughter of Xicotencatl, became the wife of Alvarado, who was
+always a great favourite with the Tlascalans. From his gay
+manners, joyous countenance, and bright golden hair, he gained the
+nickname of 'Tonatiuh,' or the 'Sun,' while Cort&eacute;s, who hardly
+ever appeared anywhere without the beautiful Marina, was called
+by the natives 'Malinche,' which you will remember was her
+Indian name. While all this was happening, came yet another
+embassy from Montezuma, loaded as usual with costly gifts. This
+time he invited the Spaniards to visit him in his capital, assuring
+them that they would be welcome. Further, he besought them to
+enter into no alliance with the base and barbarous Tlascalans, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>
+he invited them to take the route of the friendly city of Cholula,
+where arrangements were being made, by his orders, for their reception.
+The Tlascalans were much concerned that Cort&eacute;s should propose
+to go to Mexico, and what they told him fully confirmed all
+the reports he had heard of the power and ambition of Montezuma,
+of the strength of his capital, and the number of his soldiers. They
+warned him not to trust to his gifts and his fair words, and when the
+general said that he hoped to bring about a better understanding
+between the emperor and themselves, they replied that it was impossible;
+however smooth his words, he would hate them at heart.
+They also heartily protested against the general's going to Cholula.
+The people, they said, though not brave in the open field, were
+crafty; they were Montezuma's tools, and would do his bidding.
+That city, too, was specially under the protection of the god Quetzalcoatl,
+and the priests were confidently believed to have the power of
+opening an inundation from the foundations of his shrine, which
+should overwhelm their enemies in the deluge, and lastly, though
+many distant places had sent to testify their goodwill, and offer
+their allegiance, Cholula, only six leagues distant, had done neither.
+This consideration weighed more with the general than either of
+the preceding ones, and he promptly despatched a summons to the
+city demanding a formal tender of its submission. It was not long
+before deputies arrived from Cholula profuse in expressions of goodwill
+and invitations to visit their city; but the Tlascalans pointed
+out that these messengers were below the usual rank of ambassadors,
+which Cort&eacute;s regarded as a fresh indignity. He therefore sent a
+new summons, declaring that if they did not at once send a deputation
+of their principal men he would treat them as rebels to his
+own sovereign, the rightful lord of these realms. This soon brought
+some of the highest nobles to the camp, who excused their tardy
+appearance, by saying that they had feared for their personal safety
+in the capital of their enemies. The Tlascalans were now more
+than ever averse to the projected visit. A strong Aztec force
+was known to be near Cholula, and the city was being actively
+prepared for defence. Cort&eacute;s, too, was disturbed by these
+circumstances, but he had gone too far to recede without showing
+fear, which could not fail to have a bad effect on his own men, as
+well as on the natives. Therefore, after a short consultation with
+his officers, he decided finally to take the road to Cholula. This
+ancient city lay six leagues to the south of Tlascala, and was most
+populous and flourishing. The inhabitants excelled in the art of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>
+working in metals and manufacturing cotton cloth and delicate
+pottery, but were indisposed to war, and less distinguished for
+courage than for cunning. You will remember that it was in this
+place that the god Quetzalcoatl had paused on his way to the coast,
+and in his honour a tremendous pyramid had been erected, probably
+by building over a natural hill, and on the top of this rose a
+gorgeous temple, in which stood an image of the god bedecked with
+gold and jewels. To this temple pilgrims flocked from every corner
+of the empire, and many were the terrible sacrifices offered there,
+as, indeed, in all the other teocallis, of which there were about four
+hundred in the city. On the day appointed, the Spanish army set
+out for Cholula, followed by crowds of citizens, who admired the
+courage displayed by this little handful of men in proposing to
+brave the mighty Montezuma in his own territory. An immense
+body of warriors had offered to join the expedition, but Cort&eacute;s
+thought it wise to accept only six thousand, and even these he left
+encamped at some distance from Cholula, because the caciques of
+that city, who came out to meet the Spaniards, objected to having
+their mortal enemies brought within its walls. As the troops drew
+near the town they were met by swarms of men, women, and
+children, all eager to catch a glimpse of the strangers, whose persons,
+horses, and weapons were equally objects of intense curiosity to
+them. They in their turn were struck by the noble aspect of the
+Cholulans, who were much superior in dress and general appearance
+to the other tribes they had encountered. An immense
+number of priests swinging censers mingled with the crowd, and,
+as before, they were decorated with garlands and bunches of
+flowers, and accompanied by gay music from various instruments.
+The Spaniards were also struck by the width and cleanliness of the
+streets and the solidity of the houses. They were lodged in the
+court of one of the many teocallis, and visited by the great nobles
+of the city, who supplied them plentifully with all they needed, and
+at first paid them such attentions as caused them to believe
+that the evil apprehensions of the Tlascalans had been merely
+suspicion and prejudice. But very soon the scene changed. Messengers
+came from Montezuma, who shortly and pleasantly told
+Cort&eacute;s that his approach occasioned much disquietude to their
+master, and then conferred apart with the Mexicans who were still
+in the Spanish camp, presently departing, and taking one of them
+away with them. From this time the Cholulans visited the
+Spanish quarters no more, and when invited to do so excused<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span>
+themselves, saying they were ill. Also, the supply of provisions
+ran short, and they said it was because maize was scarce. Naturally,
+Cort&eacute;s became very uneasy at this change, and his alarm was
+increased by the reports of the Cempoallans, who told him that in
+wandering about the city they had seen several streets barricaded,
+and in some places holes had been dug, and a sharp stake planted
+upright in each, and branches strewn to conceal them, while the
+flat roofs of the houses were being stored with stones and other
+missiles. Some Tlascalans also came in from their camp to inform
+him that a great sacrifice, mostly of children, had been held in a
+distant quarter of the town, to secure the aid of the gods in some
+intended enterprise, and numbers of the people had taken their
+wives and children out of the city.</p>
+
+<p>These tidings confirmed the worst suspicions of Cort&eacute;s, but just
+then the Lady Marina made a discovery which changed his doubts
+into certainty. The wife of one of the Cholulan caciques had taken
+a great fancy to the Mexican girl, and continually urged her to visit
+her house, hinting mysteriously that she would in this way escape
+a great danger which threatened the Spaniards. Marina pretended
+to be delighted with this proposal, and glad of the chance of escaping
+from the white men, and by degrees she thus won the confidence of
+the Cholulan, who presently revealed the whole plot to her. It
+originated, she said, with the Aztec emperor, who had bribed the
+caciques of Cholula, her husband among the number, to assault the
+Spaniards as they marched out of the city, and to throw them into
+confusion all sorts of obstacles had been placed in their way. A
+force of twenty thousand Mexicans was already quartered near the
+city to support the Cholulans, and the Spaniards would, it was confidently
+expected, fall an easy prey to their united enemies. A sufficient
+number of them were to be reserved to be <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sacrified'">sacrificed</ins> in Cholula,
+and the rest led in fetters to the capital of Montezuma. While this
+conversation was taking place, Marina was making a show of collecting
+and packing up such dresses and jewels as she was to take
+with her to the house of her new friend. But after a while she
+managed to slip away without exciting her suspicion, and, rushing
+to the general, told him all. Cort&eacute;s at once caused the cacique's
+wife to be seized, and she repeated to him the same story that she
+had told to Marina. He was most anxious to gain further particulars
+of the conspiracy, and accordingly induced two priests, one of them
+a person of much influence, to visit his quarters, where by courteous
+treatment and rich presents he got from them a complete confirmation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>
+of the report. The emperor had been in a state of pitiable
+vacillation since the arrival of the Spaniards. His first orders had
+been that they should be kindly received, but on consulting his oracles
+anew he had obtained for answer that Cholula would be the grave of
+his enemies, and so positive of success were the Aztecs, that they had
+already sent into the city numbers of the poles with thongs attached
+to them with which to bind the prisoners. Cort&eacute;s now dismissed the
+priests, bidding them observe the strictest secrecy, which, indeed
+they were likely to do for their own sakes. He also requested that
+they would induce some of the principal caciques to grant him an
+interview in his quarters. When they came he gently rebuked
+them for their want of hospitality, and said that the Spaniards would
+burden them no longer, but would leave the city early the next
+morning. He also asked that they would supply him with two
+thousand men to carry his artillery and baggage. The chiefs, after
+some consultation, agreed to this as being likely to favour their own
+plans. Then he sent for the Mexican ambassadors, and acquainted
+them with his discovery of the plot, saying that it grieved him
+much to find Montezuma mixed up in so treacherous an affair,
+and that the Spaniards must now march as enemies against a
+monarch they had hoped to visit as a friend. The ambassadors,
+however, asserted their entire ignorance of the conspiracy, and
+their belief that Montezuma also knew nothing of it. The night
+that followed was one of intense anxiety; every soldier lay down
+fully armed, and the number of sentinels was doubled; but all
+remained quiet in the populous city, and the only sounds which
+reached their ears were the hoarse cries of the priests who, from
+the turrets of the teocallis, proclaimed through their trumpets the
+watches of the night.</p>
+
+<p>With the first streak of morning light Cort&eacute;s was on horseback,
+directing the movements of his little band, part of which he posted
+in the great square court. A strong guard was placed at each of the
+three gates, and the rest had charge of the great guns which were
+outside the enclosure, and so placed as to command the roads which
+led to the teocalli. The arrangements were hardly completed before
+the Cholulan caciques appeared, bringing a larger body of porters
+than had been demanded. They were marched at once into the
+square, which was, as we have seen, completely lined by the Spanish
+troops. Cort&eacute;s then took the caciques aside, and sternly and
+abruptly charged them with the conspiracy, taking care to show that
+he knew every detail. The Cholulans were thunderstruck, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>
+gazed with awe upon the strangers who seemed to have the power
+of reading their most secret thoughts. They made no attempt to
+deny the accusation, but tried to excuse themselves by throwing the
+blame on Montezuma. Cort&eacute;s, however, declared with still more
+indignation that such a pretence would not serve them, and that he
+would now make such an example of them as should be a warning
+to the cities far and near, and then the fatal signal&mdash;the firing of a
+gun&mdash;was given, and in an instant every musket and crossbow was
+levelled at the unhappy Cholulans as they stood crowded together
+in the centre. They were completely taken by surprise, having
+heard nothing of what was going forward, and offered hardly
+any resistance to the Spanish soldiers, who followed up the discharge
+of their pieces by rushing upon them with their swords and mowing
+them down in ranks as they stood.</p>
+
+<p>While this dreadful massacre was going on the Cholulans from
+outside, attracted by the noise, began a furious assault upon the
+Spaniards, but the heavy guns opened fire upon them and swept
+them off in files as they rushed on, and in the intervals of reloading
+the cavalry charged into their midst. By this time the Tlascalans
+had come up, having by order of Cort&eacute;s bound wreaths of sedge
+about their heads that they might be the more easily distinguished
+from the Cholulans, and they fell upon the rear of the wretched
+townsmen, who, thus harassed on all sides, could no longer maintain
+their ground. They fled, some to the near buildings, which were
+speedily set on fire, others to the temples. One strong body headed
+by the priests got possession of the great teocalli. There was, as
+you remember, a tradition that if part of the wall was removed the
+god would send a flood to overwhelm his enemies. Now the Cholulans
+strove with might and main, and at last succeeded in
+wrenching away a few stones, but dust, not water, followed. In
+despair they crowded into the wooden turrets which surmounted
+the temple, and poured down stones, javelins, and burning arrows
+upon the Spaniards as they came swarming up the steps. But the
+fiery shower fell harmlessly upon the steel head-pieces of the soldiers,
+and they used the blazing shafts to set fire to the wooden
+towers, so that the wretched natives either perished in the flames
+or threw themselves headlong from the parapet. In the fair city,
+lately so peaceful and prosperous, all was confusion and slaughter,
+burning and plundering. The division of spoil was greatly simplified
+by the fact that the Tlascalans desired wearing-apparel and
+provisions far more than gold or jewels; they also took hundreds of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>
+prisoners, but these Cort&eacute;s afterwards induced them to release.
+The work of destruction had gone on for some hours before the
+general yielded to the entreaties of the Cholulan chiefs who had
+been saved from the massacre, and of the Mexican envoys, and
+called off his men, putting a stop as well as he could to further violence.
+Two of the caciques were also permitted to go to their
+countrymen with offers of pardon and protection to all who would
+return to their obedience, and so by degrees the tumult was appeased.
+Presently Cort&eacute;s helped the Cholulans to choose a successor
+to their principal cacique, who was among the slain, and confidence
+being thus restored the people from the country round began to
+flock in, the markets were again opened, and the ordinary life of
+the city resumed, though the black and smouldering ruins remained
+to tell the sad tale of the massacre of Cholula. This terrible vengeance
+made a great impression upon the natives, and none trembled
+more than the Mexican monarch upon his throne among the
+mountains. He felt his empire melting away from him like a
+morning mist, for some of the most important cities, overawed by
+the fate of Cholula, now sent envoys to the Spanish camp tendering
+their allegiance, and trying to secure the favour of the conqueror
+by rich gifts of gold and slaves. Again did Montezuma seek counsel
+from his gods, but the answers he obtained were far from reassuring,
+and he determined to send another embassy to Cort&eacute;s to
+declare that he had nothing to do with the conspiracy at Cholula.
+As usual the envoys were charged with a splendid present of golden
+vessels and ornaments, and among other things were artificial birds,
+made in imitation of turkeys with plumage of worked gold; there
+were also fifteen hundred robes of delicate cotton cloth. The emperor's
+message expressed regret for the late catastrophe, and denied
+all knowledge of the plot which had, he said, brought a retribution
+upon its authors which they richly deserved; and he explained the
+presence of the Aztec force in the neighbourhood by saying that
+there was a disturbance that had to be quelled. More than a fortnight
+had passed since the Spaniards entered Cholula, and the
+general had, after the city was once more restored to order, tried to
+induce the people to give up their false gods, but this they would
+not do willingly. However, he seized upon the great teocalli of
+which all the woodwork had been burned, and built a church of the
+stone that remained, and he opened the cages in which the wretched
+victims about to be sacrificed were imprisoned, and restored them
+to liberty, and then he thought it time to begin the march to Mexico<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>
+once more. So the allied army of Spaniards and Tlascalans set
+out upon their journey through luxuriant plains and flourishing
+plantations, met occasionally by embassies from different towns,
+anxious to claim the protection of the white men, and bringing rich
+gifts of gold to propitiate them. They passed between the two
+enormous mountain peaks, Popocatapetl, 'the hill that smokes,'
+and Iztaccihuatl, 'the white woman,' and presently encountered a
+blinding snow-storm, from which they found shelter in one of the
+large stone buildings, put up by the Mexicans for the use of
+travellers and couriers, and here they encamped for the night.
+The next morning they reached the top of a range of hills where
+progress was comparatively easy, and they had not gone far when,
+turning sharply round the shoulder of a hill, they saw spread out
+before them the lovely Mexican valley. The clearness of the air
+enabled them to see distinctly the shining cities, the lakes, woods,
+fields and gardens, and in the midst of all the fair city of Mexico
+rose as it were from the waters of the great lake, with its towers
+and temples white and gleaming, and behind it the royal hill of
+Chapoltepec, the residence of the Mexican kings, crowned with
+the very same gigantic cypress trees which to this day fling their
+broad shadows across the land. The Spaniards gazed in rapture
+over the gay scene, exclaiming, 'It is the promised land!' but presently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>
+the evidences of a power and civilisation so far superior to
+anything they had yet encountered disheartened the more timid
+among them, they shrank from the unequal contest, and begged to
+be led back again to Vera Cruz. But this was not the effect produced
+upon Cort&eacute;s by the glorious prospect. His desire for treasure
+and love of adventure were sharpened by the sight of the dazzling
+spoil at his very feet, and with threats, arguments, and entreaties
+he revived the drooping spirits of his soldiers, and by the aid of his
+brave captains succeeded in once more rousing them to enthusiasm,
+and the march down the slope of the hill was gaily resumed.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i282.png" width="400" height="266" alt="The reached the top of a range of hills" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>With every step of their progress the woods became thinner,
+and villages were seen in green and sheltered nooks, the inhabitants
+of which came out to meet and welcome the Spaniards. Everywhere
+Cort&eacute;s heard with satisfaction complaints of the cruelty and
+injustice of Montezuma, and he encouraged the natives to rely on
+his protection, as he had come to redress their wrongs. The army
+advanced but slowly, and was soon met by another embassy from
+the emperor, consisting of several Aztec lords bringing a rich gift
+of gold, and robes of delicate furs and feathers, and offering four
+loads of gold to the general, and one to each of his captains, with a
+yearly tribute to the Spanish sovereign, if they would even then
+turn back from Mexico. But Cort&eacute;s replied that he could not
+answer it to his sovereign if he were to return without visiting the
+emperor in his capital. The Spaniards came in the spirit of peace
+as Montezuma would see for himself; but should their presence
+prove burdensome to him, it would be very easy for them to relieve
+him of it.</p>
+
+<p>This embassy had been intended to reach the Spaniards before
+they crossed the mountains, and the dismay of the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Atzec'">Aztec</ins> emperor
+was great when he learned that it had failed, and that the dreaded
+strangers were actually on their march across the valley. They
+were so utterly unlike anything he had ever known before, these
+strange beings, who seemed to have dropped from another planet,
+and by their superior knowledge and more deadly weapons overcome
+the hitherto unconquerable nations, though a mere handful of
+men in comparison to the swarms of his own countrymen. He felt
+himself to be the victim of a destiny from which nothing could save
+him. All peace, power, and security seemed to be gone from him,
+and in despair he shut himself up in his palace, refusing food, and
+trying by prayers and sacrifices to wring some favour from his
+gods. But the oracles were dumb. Then he called a council of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>
+chief nobles, but a great difference of opinion arose amongst them.
+Cacama, the emperor's nephew, king of Tezcuco, counselled him to
+receive the Spaniards courteously as ambassadors of a foreign
+prince, while Cuitlahua, his brother, urged him to muster his forces
+and then and there drive back the invaders, or die in the defence of
+his capital. But Montezuma could not rouse himself for this
+struggle. He exclaimed in deep dejection, "Of what avail is resistance
+when the gods have declared themselves against us? Yet I
+mourn for the old and infirm, the women and children, too feeble to
+fight or fly. For myself and the brave men around me, we must
+face the storm as best we may!" and he straightway sent off a last
+embassy, with his nephew at its head, to meet the Spaniards and
+welcome them to Mexico. By this time the army had reached the
+first of the towns built on piles driven into the lake, and were
+delighted with its fine stone houses, with canals between them
+instead of streets, up and down which boats passed continually,
+laden with all kinds of merchandise. Though received with great
+hospitality, Cort&eacute;s still was strictly on his guard, and neglected no
+precaution for the security of his men. Before he left this place a
+messenger came, requesting him to wait for the arrival of the king
+of Tezcuco, who very soon afterwards appeared, borne in a palanquin
+richly decorated with plates of gold and precious stones, having
+pillars curiously wrought which supported a canopy of green plumes.
+He was accompanied by a numerous retinue of nobles and inferior
+attendants, and when he came into the presence of Cort&eacute;s he descended
+from his palanquin and advanced towards him, his officers
+sweeping the ground before him as he did so.</p>
+
+<p>The prince was a handsome young man, erect and dignified; he
+made the usual Mexican salutation to people of high rank, touching
+the earth with his right hand and raising it to his head, and said
+that he came as the representative of Montezuma to bid the
+Spaniards welcome to Mexico, and presented the general with three
+pearls of uncommon size and lustre. Cort&eacute;s embraced him, and in
+return threw over his neck a chain of cut glass. After this exchange
+of courtesies, and the most friendly and respectful assurances on
+the part of Cort&eacute;s, the Indian prince withdrew, leaving the
+Spaniards much impressed by his superiority in state and bearing
+to anything they had before seen in the country.</p>
+
+<p>Resuming their march along the southern shore of Lake Chalco,
+through splendid woods, and orchards glowing with unknown fruits,
+the army came at length to a great dyke or causeway four or five<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>
+miles long, which divided the Lake Chalco from Xochicalco on the
+west. It was a lance in breadth at the narrowest part, and in some
+places wide enough for eight horsemen to ride abreast, and was
+solidly built of stone and lime. As they passed along it they saw
+multitudes of Indians darting up and down the lake in their light
+pirogues, eager to catch a glimpse of the strangers, and they were
+amazed at the sight of the floating islands, covered with flowers and
+vegetables and moving like rafts over the waters. All round the
+margin, and occasionally far out in the lake, they saw little towns
+and villages half buried in foliage; and the whole scene seemed to
+them so new and wonderful that they could only compare it to the
+magical pictures of the old romances. Midway across the lake the
+army halted at the town of Cuitlahuae, which was not large, but
+was remarkable for the beauty of its buildings. The curiosity of
+the Indians increased as the Spaniards proceeded, and they clambered
+up the causeway and lined the sides of the road, so that the
+troops were quite embarrassed by them, and Cort&eacute;s was obliged to
+resort to commands, and even menaces, to clear a passage. He
+found, as he neared the capital, a considerable change in the feeling
+shown towards the government, and heard only of the pomp and
+magnificence of Montezuma, and nothing of his oppressions. From
+the causeway the army descended on a narrow point of land which
+lay between the two lakes, and crossing it reached the royal residence
+of Iztapalapan.</p>
+
+<p>This place was governed by the emperor's brother, who, to
+do greater honour to Cort&eacute;s, had invited the neighbouring lords to
+be present at his reception, and at the banquet which followed.
+The Spaniards were struck with admiration, when, after the usual
+ceremonies had been gone through, and a gift of gold and costly
+stuffs had been presented, they were led into one of the gorgeous
+halls of the palace, the roof of which was of odorous cedar-wood, and
+the stone walls tapestried with brilliant hangings. But, indeed, this
+was only one of the many beautiful things which they saw in this
+fairy city. There were gardens cunningly planted, and watered in
+every part by means of canals and aqueducts, in which grew gorgeous
+flowers and luscious fruits. There was an aviary filled with
+all kinds of birds, remarkable for the brilliancy of their plumage and
+the sweetness of their songs. But the most elaborate piece of work
+was a huge reservoir of stone full of water and stocked with all
+kinds of fish, and by this all the fountains and aqueducts were
+supplied. In this city of enchantment the army rested for the night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>
+within sight of the capital into which Cort&eacute;s intended to lead them
+on the morrow.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Occupation of Mexico.</span></h3>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 321px;">
+<img src="images/i288.png" width="321" height="500" alt="MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS" title="" />
+<span class="caption">MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>With the first faint streak of dawn, on the morning of November 8,
+1519, the Spanish general was astir and mustering his followers,
+and as the sun rose above the eastern mountains he set forth with
+his little troop of horsemen as a sort of advanced guard, the Spanish
+infantry followed, then the baggage, and finally the dark files of the
+Tlascalan warriors. The whole number cannot have amounted to
+seven thousand, of which less than four hundred were Spaniards.
+For a short distance the army kept along the narrow tongue of land
+between the lakes, and then entered upon the great dyke which
+crosses the salt waters of Lake Tezcuco to the very gates of the
+capital. It was wide enough all the way for ten horsemen to ride
+abreast, and from it the Spaniards could see many towns and
+villages&mdash;some upon the shores of the lake, some built upon piles
+running far out into its waters. These cities were evidently crowded
+with a thriving population, and contained many temples and
+other important buildings which were covered with a hard white
+stucco glistening like enamel in the sunshine. The lake was
+darkened with a swarm of canoes filled with Indians who were
+eager to gaze upon the strangers, and here and there floated those
+fairy islands of flowers which rose and fell with every undulation of
+the water, and yet were substantial enough to support trees of a
+considerable size. At the distance of half a league from the capital
+they encountered a solid fortification, like a curtain of stone, which
+was built across the dyke. It was twelve feet high, and had a
+tower at each end, and in the centre a battlemented gateway
+through which the troops passed. This place was called the Fort
+of Xoloc, and was afterwards occupied by Cort&eacute;s in the famous
+siege of Mexico. Here they were met by several hundred Aztec
+chiefs in their gay and fanciful costume. Some of them wore
+broad mantles of delicate feather embroidery, and collars and
+bracelets of turquoise mosaic with which fine plumage was curiously
+mingled, while their ears, underlips, and sometimes even their noses,
+were adorned with pendants of precious stones, or crescents of fine
+gold. After the usual formal salutations, which caused some delay,
+the march was resumed, and the army presently reached a wooden
+drawbridge which crossed an opening in the dyke, meant to serve
+as an outlet for the water, should it for any reason rise beyond its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>
+usual height. As they left this bridge behind them the Spaniards
+felt that they were indeed committing themselves to the mercy of
+Montezuma, who might, by means of it, cut them off from communication
+with the country, and hold them prisoners in his capital.
+They now beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor emerging
+from the great street which led through the heart of the city.
+Amidst a crowd of Indian nobles, preceded by three officers of state
+bearing golden wands, they saw the royal palanquin, blazing with
+burnished gold. It was borne on the shoulders of nobles, and over
+it a canopy of gorgeous feather-work, powdered with jewels and
+fringed with silver, was supported by four attendants, also of high
+rank, who were barefooted and walked with a slow, measured pace,
+with their eyes bent upon the ground. As soon as the procession
+had come within a short distance of the Spaniards the emperor
+descended from his palanquin, and advanced under the canopy,
+leaning upon the arms of his nephew and his brother. The ground
+before him was strewn with cotton tapestry by his attendants, and
+the natives who lined the sides of the causeway bent forward with
+their eyes fixed upon the ground as he passed, whilst some of the
+humbler class prostrated themselves before him. Montezuma wore
+the usual broad girdle and square cloak of the finest cotton, on his
+feet were sandals with soles of gold, and leathern thongs ornamented
+with the same metal. Both cloak and sandals were sprinkled
+with pearls and precious stones, principally emeralds, and the green
+'chalchivitl,' which was more highly esteemed by the Aztecs than
+any jewel. On his head he wore only a plume of royal green
+feathers, a badge of his military rank. He was at this time about
+forty years of age, and was tall and thin, and of a lighter complexion
+than is usual among his countrymen; he moved with dignity,
+and there was a benignity in his whole demeanour which was not
+to have been anticipated from the reports of his character which
+had reached the Spaniards. The army halted as Montezuma drew
+near, and Cort&eacute;s dismounted and advanced to meet him with a few
+of the principal cavaliers. The emperor received him with princely
+courtesy, and expressed his satisfaction at seeing him in his capital.
+Cort&eacute;s responded by the most profound expressions of respect and
+gratitude for all Montezuma's munificence to the Spaniards; he
+then hung round the emperor's neck a chain of coloured crystal,
+making at the same time a movement as if to embrace him, but
+was restrained by the two Aztec lords, who were shocked at the
+idea of such presumption. Montezuma then appointed his brother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>
+to conduct the Spaniards to their quarters in the city, and again
+entering his litter was borne off amid prostrate crowds in the same
+state in which he had come. The Spaniards quickly followed, and
+with colours flying and music playing entered the southern portion
+of the city of Mexico. The great wide street facing the causeway
+stretched for some miles in nearly a straight line through the centre
+of the city. In the clear atmosphere of the tableland it was easy to
+see the blue mountains in the distance beyond the temples, houses,
+and gardens which stood on either side of it. But what most impressed
+the Spaniards was the swarm of people who thronged
+every street, canal, and roof, and filled every window and doorway.
+To the Aztecs it must indeed have been a strange sensation when
+they beheld the fair-faced strangers, and for the first time heard
+their well-paved streets ringing under the iron tramp of the horses&mdash;those
+unknown animals which they regarded with superstitious
+terror. But their wonder changed to anger when they saw their
+detested enemies, the Tlascalans, stalking through their city with
+looks of ferocity and defiance.</p>
+
+<p>As they passed along the troops frequently crossed bridges which
+spanned some of the numerous canals, and at length they halted in
+a wide open space, near the centre of the city, close to the huge
+temple of the war-god. Facing the western gate of the temple
+enclosure stood a range of low stone buildings, spreading over a
+large extent of ground, once a palace belonging to the emperor's
+father. This was to be the lodging of the Spaniards. Montezuma
+himself was waiting in the courtyard to receive them. Approaching
+Cort&eacute;s he took from one of his slaves a massive collar, made of the
+shells of a kind of crawfish much prized by the Indians, set in gold,
+and connected by heavy golden links; from this hung eight finely-worked
+ornaments, each a span long, made to resemble the crawfish,
+but of fine gold. This gorgeous collar he hung round the neck
+of the general, saying: 'This palace belongs to you, Malinche' (this
+was the name by which he always addressed him), 'and your
+brethren. Rest after your fatigues, for you have much need to do
+so; in a little while I will visit you again.' So saying, he withdrew
+with his attendants. The general's first care was to inspect his new
+quarters. The rooms were of great size, and afforded accommodation
+for the whole army&mdash;the Tlascalans probably encamping in
+the outer courts. The best apartments were hung with draperies of
+gaily coloured cotton, and the floors were covered with mats or
+rushes. There were also low stools carved from single pieces of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>
+wood, and most of the rooms had beds made of the palm-leaf, woven
+into a thick mat, with coverlets, and sometimes canopies of cotton.
+The general, after a rapid survey, assigned his troops their respective
+quarters, and took as vigilant precautions for security as if he
+expected a siege; he planted his cannon so as to command the
+approaches to the palace, stationed sentinels along the walls, and
+ordered that no soldier should leave his quarters under pain of death.
+After all these precautions he allowed his men to enjoy the banquet
+prepared for them. This over, the emperor came again, attended
+by a few nobles; he was received with great deference by Cort&eacute;s,
+and with Marina's aid they conversed, while the Aztecs and the
+cavaliers stood around in respectful silence. Montezuma made
+many inquiries concerning the country of the Spaniards, its sovereign,
+and its government, and especially asked their reasons for
+visiting Mexico. Cort&eacute;s replied that they had desired to see its
+great monarch, and to declare to him the true faith professed by the
+Christians. The emperor showed himself to be fully acquainted
+with all the doings of the Spaniards since their landing, and was
+curious as to their rank in their own country; he also learned the
+names of the principal cavaliers, and their position in the army.
+At the conclusion of the interview the Aztecs brought forward a gift
+of cotton robes, enough to supply every man, even including the
+Tlascalans, and gold chains and ornaments, which were distributed
+in profusion among the Spaniards. That evening Cort&eacute;s ordered a
+general discharge of artillery, and the noise of the guns and the
+volumes of smoke filled the superstitious Aztecs with dismay,
+reminding them of the explosions of the great volcano.</p>
+
+<p>On the following morning he asked permission to return the
+emperor's visit, and Montezuma sent officers to conduct the
+Spaniards to his presence.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 321px;">
+<img src="images/i294.png" width="321" height="500" alt="CORT&Eacute;S IN THE TEMPLE OF HUITZILOPOCHTLI" title="" />
+<span class="caption">CORT&Eacute;S IN THE TEMPLE OF HUITZILOPOCHTLI</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>On reaching the hall of audience the Mexican officers took off
+their sandals, and covered their gay attire with mantles of 'nequen,'
+a coarse stuff made from the fibres of the aloe, and worn only by
+the poorest classes; for it was thus humbly that all, excepting the
+members of his own family, approached the sovereign. Then with
+downcast eyes and formal obeisance they ushered the Spaniards
+into the royal presence. They found Montezuma surrounded by a
+few of his favourite chiefs, and were kindly received by him; and
+Cort&eacute;s soon began upon the subject uppermost in his thoughts,
+setting forth as clearly as he could the mysteries of his faith, and
+assuring Montezuma his idols would sink him in perdition. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>
+the emperor only listened calmly, and showed no sign of being convinced.
+He had no doubt, he said, that the god of the Spaniards
+was good, but his own gods were good also; what Cort&eacute;s told him
+of the creation of the world was like what he had been taught to
+believe. It was not worth while to discuss the matter farther. He
+added that his ancestors were not the original possessors of his
+land, but had been led there by the great Being, who, after giving
+them laws, and ruling over them for a time, had withdrawn to the
+region where the sun rises, declaring on his departure that he or
+his descendants would some day come again and reign. The
+wonderful deeds of the Spaniards, their fair faces, and the quarter
+whence they came all showed that they were his descendants. If
+Montezuma had resisted their visit to his capital, it was because he
+had heard that they were cruel, that they sent the lightning to
+consume his people, or crushed them to pieces under the hard feet
+of the ferocious animals on which they rode. He was now convinced
+that these were idle tales, that the Spaniards were kind and
+generous,&mdash;mortals indeed, but of a different race from the Aztecs,
+wiser, and more valiant. You, too, he added with a smile, have perhaps
+been told that I am a god and dwell in palaces of gold and silver.
+But you see it is false: my houses, though large, are of wood and
+stone; and as to my body, he said, baring his tawny arm, you see it
+is flesh and bone like yours. It is true that I have a great empire
+inherited from my ancestors, lands, and gold and silver, but your
+sovereign beyond the waters is, I know, the rightful lord of all. I
+rule in his name. You, Malinche, are his ambassador; you and
+your brethren shall share these things with me. Rest now from
+your labours. You are here in your own dwellings, and everything
+shall be provided for your subsistence. I will see that your wishes
+shall be obeyed in the same way as my own. Cort&eacute;s, while he
+encouraged the idea that his own sovereign was the great Being, as
+Montezuma believed, assured him that his master had no desire to
+interfere with his authority otherwise than, out of concern for his
+welfare, to effect his conversion, and that of his people, to Christianity.
+Before the emperor dismissed his visitors, rich stuffs and ornaments
+of gold were distributed among them, so that the poorest
+soldier received at least two heavy collars of gold, and on their
+homeward way they could talk of nothing but the generosity and
+courtesy of the Indian monarch. But the general was harassed by
+many anxious thoughts. He had not been prepared to find so
+much luxury, civilisation, and power. He was in the heart of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>
+great capital which seemed like an extensive fortification, with its
+dykes and drawbridges, where every house might be converted into
+a castle. At a nod from the sovereign all communication with the
+rest of the country might be cut off, and the whole warlike population
+be at once hurled upon himself and his handful of followers,
+and against such odds of what avail would be his superior science?
+As to the conquest of the empire, now he had seen the capital, it
+must have seemed to him a more doubtful enterprise than ever; but
+at any rate his best policy was to foster the superstitious reverence
+in which he was held by both prince and people, and to find out all
+he could about the city and its inhabitants. To this end he asked
+the emperor's permission to visit the principal public buildings,
+which was readily granted, Montezuma even arranging to meet him
+at the great temple. Cort&eacute;s put himself at the head of his cavalry,
+and, followed by nearly all the Spanish foot, set out under the guidance
+of several caciques sent by Montezuma. They led him to the
+great teocalli near their own quarters. It stood in the midst of a
+vast space which was surrounded by a wall of stone and lime
+about eight feet high, ornamented on the outer side by raised
+figures of serpents, which gave it the name of the 'Coatepantli,' or
+'wall of serpents.' This wall was pierced by huge battlemented
+gateways, opening upon the four principal streets of the city, and
+over each gate was a kind of arsenal filled with arms and warlike
+gear. The teocalli itself was of the usual pyramidal shape, and
+five stories high, coated on the outside with hewn stones. The
+ascent was by flights of steps on the outside, and Cort&eacute;s found
+two priests and several caciques waiting to carry him up them
+as they had just carried the emperor; but the general declined this
+compliment, preferring to march up at the head of his men.
+On reaching the great paved space at the summit, the first
+thing they saw was the stone on which the unhappy victims
+were stretched for sacrifice; at the other end of the platform
+stood two-towers, each three stories high, the lower story being
+of stone, the two upper of carved wood. In these stood the
+images of the gods, and before each stood an altar upon which
+blazed the undying fires, the putting out of which was supposed to
+portend so much woe to the nation. Here also was the huge drum,
+made of serpents' skins, struck only on extraordinary occasions,
+when it sent forth a melancholy sound that could be heard for
+miles&mdash;a sound of woe to the Spaniards in after times. Montezuma,
+attended by a high priest, came forward to receive Cort&eacute;s.
+After conferring with the priests the emperor conducted the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>
+Spaniards into the building, which was adorned with sculptured
+figures; at one end was a recess, with a roof of timber richly
+carved and gilt, and here stood a colossal image of Huitzilopochtli,
+the war-god. His countenance was hideous; in his right hand he
+held a bow, and in his left a bunch of golden arrows, which a mystic
+legend connected with the victories of his people. A huge serpent
+of pearls and precious stones was coiled about his waist, and costly
+jewels were profusely sprinkled over his person. On his left foot
+were the delicate feathers of the humming-bird, from which, singularly
+enough, he took his name, while round his neck hung a
+chain of gold and silver hearts, as an emblem of the sacrifice in
+which he most delighted. Indeed, even at that moment three
+bleeding human hearts lay upon the altar before him. The next
+sanctuary was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, who, they believed, had
+created the earth and watched over it. He was represented as
+a young man, and his image of polished black stone was garnished
+with gold plates and ornaments, among which was a shield
+burnished like a mirror, in which he was supposed to see reflected
+all the doings of the world; and before this shrine also
+lay five hearts in a golden platter. From the horrors of this place
+the Spaniards gladly escaped into the open air, and Cort&eacute;s said,
+turning to Montezuma, 'I do not understand how a great and
+wise prince like you can put faith in such evil spirits as these
+idols. If you will but permit us to erect here the true cross, and
+place the images of the Blessed Virgin and her Son in your
+sanctuaries, you will soon see how your false gods will shrink
+before them.' Montezuma was greatly shocked at this speech.
+'These,' said he, 'are the gods who have led the Aztecs on to victory
+since they were a nation, and who send us the seed time and
+harvest. Had I thought you would have offered them this outrage
+I would not have admitted you into their presence.' Cort&eacute;s then
+took his leave, expressing concern for having wounded the feelings
+of the emperor, who remained to expiate, if possible, the crime of
+having exposed the shrines of his gods to such profanation by the
+strangers. On descending into the court the Spaniards took a
+leisurely survey of the other buildings in the enclosure; there were
+several other teocallis, but much smaller ones, in which the
+Spaniards saw implements of sacrifice and many other horrors.
+And there was also a great mound with a timber framework upon
+its summit, upon which were strung hundreds of thousands of
+skulls&mdash;those of the victims who had been sacrificed. Schools,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>
+granaries, gardens, and fountains filled up the remainder of the
+enclosed space, which seemed a complete city in itself, containing a
+mixture of barbarism and civilisation altogether characteristic of the
+Aztec nation. The next day the Spaniards asked permission to
+convert one of the halls in their palace into a chapel where they
+might hold the services of their church. The request was granted,
+and while the work was in progress some of them discovered what
+seemed to be a door recently plastered over. As there was a rumour
+that Montezuma kept the treasures of his father in this palace, they
+did not scruple to gratify their curiosity by removing the plaster
+and forcing open the door which it concealed, when they beheld
+a great hall filled with rich and beautiful stuffs, articles of curious
+workmanship of various kinds, gold and silver in bars or just as it
+had been dug from the earth, and many jewels of great value. 'I
+was a young man,' says one of the Spaniards who was allowed a
+sight of the treasure, 'and it seemed to me that all the riches of the
+world were in that room.'</p>
+
+<p>By Cort&eacute;s' order the wall was built up again, and strict injunctions
+were given that the discovery should be kept a profound
+secret. The Spaniards had now been a week in Mexico, and the
+general's anxieties increased daily. Cort&eacute;s resolved upon a bold
+stroke. Calling a council of his officers, he laid his difficulties
+before them, and, ignoring the opinion of some who advised an
+immediate retreat, he proposed to march to the royal palace and
+by persuasion or force to induce Montezuma to take up his abode
+in the Spanish quarters. Once having obtained possession of his
+person, it would be easy to rule in his name by allowing him a
+show of sovereignty, until they had taken measures to secure their
+own safety and the success of their enterprise. A pretext for
+the seizure of the emperor was afforded by a circumstance which
+had come to the ears of Cort&eacute;s while he was still in Cholula.
+Don Juan de Escalante, who had been left in charge of the
+Spanish settlement at Vera Cruz, had received a message
+from an Aztec chief called Quanhpopoca declaring his desire
+to come in person and tender his allegiance to the Spaniards,
+and requesting that four soldiers might be sent to protect him
+through the country of an unfriendly tribe. This was not an uncommon
+request, and the soldiers were sent, but on their arrival
+two of them were treacherously murdered by the Aztec; the others
+escaped, and made their way back to the garrison. The commander
+at once marched with fifty of his men and some thousands of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>
+Indians to take vengeance upon the cacique, and though his allies
+fled before the Mexicans, the few Spaniards stood firm, and by the
+aid of their firearms made good the field against the enemy. Unfortunately,
+seven or eight of them were killed, including Escalante
+himself, and the Indians who were taken prisoners declared that
+the whole proceeding had been by Montezuma's orders. One of
+the Spaniards fell into the hands of the enemy, but soon died from
+his wounds. He happened to be a very big man of ferocious
+appearance, and when his head was sent to Montezuma, the Aztec
+emperor gazed upon it with a shudder, and commanded that it
+should be taken out of the city, and not offered at the shrine of any
+of his gods. He seemed to see in those terrible features a prophecy
+of his sure destruction. The bolder spirits among the cavaliers
+approved of the general's plan, and the next day, having asked an
+audience of Montezuma, Cort&eacute;s made the necessary arrangements
+for his enterprise. The principal part of his force was drawn up in
+the courtyard; one detachment was stationed in the avenue leading
+to the palace, to prevent any attempt at rescue by the citizens.
+Twenty-five or thirty soldiers were ordered to drop in at the palace
+by twos and threes, as if accidentally, and he took with him five
+cavaliers on whose coolness and courage he could rely.</p>
+
+<p>That they should all be in full armour excited no suspicion; it
+was too common an occurrence. The Spaniards were graciously
+received by the emperor, who by the aid of interpreters held a gay
+conversation with them, and as usual presented them with gold and
+jewels. He paid Cort&eacute;s the compliment of offering him one of his
+daughters in marriage&mdash;an honour which was respectfully declined,
+on the ground that he already had one wife. But as soon as the
+general saw that his soldiers had all come upon the scene he abruptly
+changed his tone, and accused the emperor of being the author of
+the treacherous proceedings on the coast. Montezuma listened in
+surprise, and declared that such an act could only have been
+imputed to him by his enemies. Cort&eacute;s pretended to believe him,
+but said that Quanhpopoca and his accomplices must be sent for
+that they might be dealt with after their deserts. Montezuma
+agreed, and, taking his royal signet from his wrist, gave it to one of
+his nobles, with orders to show it to the Aztec governor and require
+his immediate presence in the capital, and in case of his resistance
+to call in the aid of the neighbouring towns. When the messenger
+had gone, Cort&eacute;s assured the emperor that he was now convinced
+of his innocence in the matter, but that it was necessary that his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>
+own sovereign should be equally convinced of it. Nothing would
+promote this so much as for Montezuma to transfer his residence to
+the palace occupied by the Spaniards, as this would show a condescension
+and personal regard for them which would absolve him
+from all suspicion. The emperor listened to this proposal with
+profound amazement, exclaiming with resentment and offended
+dignity:</p>
+
+<p>'When was it ever heard that a great prince like myself willingly
+left his own palace to become a prisoner in the hands of strangers?'</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s declared that he would not go as a prisoner, but would
+be simply changing his residence. 'If I should consent to such
+degradation,' he cried, 'my subjects never would.'</p>
+
+<p>When further pressed, he offered one of his sons and two of his
+daughters as hostages, so that he might be spared this disgrace.
+Two hours passed in this fruitless discussion, till Velasquez de Leon,
+impatient of the long delay, and seeing that to fail in the attempt
+must ruin them, cried out, 'Why do we waste words on this barbarian?
+Let us seize him, and if he resists plunge our swords into
+his body!' The fierce tone and menacing gesture alarmed the
+emperor, who asked Marina what the angry Spaniard said. She
+explained as gently as she could, beseeching him to accompany the
+white men, who would treat him with all respect and kindness,
+while if he refused he would but expose himself to violence, perhaps
+to death.</p>
+
+<p>This last appeal shook the resolution of Montezuma; looking
+round for support and sympathy, he saw only the stern faces and mail-clad
+forms of the Spaniards, and felt that his hour had indeed come.
+In a scarcely audible voice he consented to accompany them, and
+orders were given for the royal litter to be brought. The nobles
+who bore and attended it could hardly credit their senses, but now
+Montezuma had consented to go pride made him wish to appear
+to go willingly. As the royal retinue marched dejectedly down the
+avenue, escorted by the Spaniards, the people ran together in crowds,
+declaring that the emperor had been carried off by force, and a
+tumult would have arisen had not he himself called out to them to
+disperse, since he was of his own accord visiting his friends, and on
+reaching the Spanish quarters he sent out his nobles to the mob
+with similar assurances, bidding them all return to their homes.</p>
+
+<p>He was received with ostentatious respect by the Spaniards, and
+chose the apartments which pleased him best, which were speedily
+furnished with tapestry, featherwork, and all other Indian luxuries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>
+He was attended by his own household, and his meals were served
+with the usual pomp and ceremony, while not even the general
+himself approached him without due obeisance, or sat down in his
+presence uninvited. Nevertheless it was but too clear to his people
+that he was a prisoner, for day and night the palace was guarded
+by sixty sentinels in front and sixty in the rear, while another body
+was stationed in the royal antechamber. This was the state of
+affairs when Quanhpopoca arrived from the coast. Montezuma
+received him coldly, and referred the matter to Cort&eacute;s, who speedily
+made an end of it by condemning the unhappy chief and his
+followers to be burnt to death. The funeral piles were erected in
+the courtyard before the palace, and were made of arrows, javelins,
+and other weapons drawn by the emperor's permission from those
+stored round the great teocalli. To crown these extraordinary proceedings,
+Cort&eacute;s, just before the executions took place, entered the emperor's
+apartments, followed by a soldier bearing fetters in his hands.
+Sternly he again accused Montezuma of having been the original
+contriver of the treacherous deed, and said that a crime which
+merited death in a subject must in some way be atoned for even by
+a king, whereupon he ordered the soldier to fasten the fetters upon
+Montezuma's ankles, and after coolly waiting until it was done
+turned his back and quitted the room.</p>
+
+<p>The emperor was speechless under this last insult, like one
+struck down by a heavy blow. But though he offered no resistance
+low moans broke from him, which showed the anguish of his spirit.
+His faithful attendants did their utmost to console him, holding his
+feet in their arms, and trying to keep the irons from touching him
+by inserting their own robes; but it was not the bodily discomfort
+that so afflicted him, but the feeling that he was no more a king,
+and so utterly broken in spirit was he that when Cort&eacute;s came after
+the execution had taken place, and with his own hands unclasped
+the irons, Montezuma actually thanked him as if for some great
+and unmerited favour. Not long after the Spanish general expressed
+his willingness that the emperor should if he wished return to his
+own palace, but Montezuma declined the offer, doubtless fearing to
+trust himself again to the haughty and ferocious chieftains, who
+could not but despise the cowardly proceedings of their master, so
+unlike the usual conduct of an Aztec monarch. Montezuma often
+amused himself with seeing the Spanish troops go through their
+exercises, or with playing at some of the national games with
+Cort&eacute;s and his officers. A favourite one was called 'totoloque,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span>
+played with golden balls, which were thrown at a golden target,
+and the emperor always staked precious stones or ingots of gold,
+and won or lost with equal good-humour, and indeed it did not
+much matter to him, since if he did win he gave away his gains
+to his attendants. But while Montezuma thus resigned himself
+without a struggle to a life of captivity, some of his kinsmen were
+feeling very differently about the matter, and especially his nephew
+Cacama, lord of the Tezcuco, and second in power to Montezuma
+himself.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 362px;">
+<img src="images/i301.png" width="362" height="400" alt="In a life of captivity" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>This prince saw with alarm and indignation his uncle's abject
+submission to the Spaniards, and endeavoured to form a league with
+the other chiefs to rescue him out of their hands. But they, from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>
+jealousy, declined to join him, declaring themselves unwilling to do
+anything without the emperor's sanction. These plots came to the
+ears of Cort&eacute;s, who wished at once to march upon Tezcuco and
+stamp out this spark of rebellion, but Montezuma dissuaded him.
+He therefore sent a friendly message of expostulation, which met
+with a haughty response, and to a second message asserting the
+supremacy of the King of Spain Cacama replied that 'he acknowledged
+no such authority. He knew nothing of the Spanish
+sovereign or his people, nor did he wish to know anything of them.'
+When Montezuma sent to him to come to Mexico that this difference
+might be adjusted, he answered that he understood the position
+of his uncle, and that when he did visit the capital it would be to
+rescue it, as well as the emperor himself and their common gods,
+from bondage, to drive out the detested strangers who had brought
+such dishonour on their country. This reply made Cort&eacute;s very
+angry; but Montezuma, anxious to prevent bloodshed, begged him
+still to refrain from declaring war against Cacama, saying that it
+would be better to obtain possession of him personally, which he
+could easily do by means of several Tezcucan nobles who were in
+his own pay. So Cacama was enticed by these faithless chiefs into
+a villa overhanging the lake, where he was easily overpowered and
+forced into a boat, which speedily brought him to Mexico. Cort&eacute;s
+promptly fettered and imprisoned him, while Montezuma declared
+that he had by his rebellion forfeited his kingdom and appointed his
+brother&mdash;a mere boy&mdash;to reign in his stead. Now Cort&eacute;s felt himself
+powerful enough to demand that Montezuma and all his nobles
+should formally swear allegiance to the Spanish sovereigns, and
+accordingly the emperor assembled his principal caciques and briefly
+stated to them the object for which he had summoned them.</p>
+
+<p>'You all know,' said he, 'our ancient tradition&mdash;how the great
+Being, who once ruled over the land, declared that he would
+one day return and reign again. That time has now arrived.
+The white men have come from the land beyond the ocean, where
+the sun rises, sent by their master to reclaim the obedience of his
+ancient subjects. I am ready, for my part, to acknowledge his
+authority. You have been faithful vassals of mine all the years
+that I have sat upon the throne of my fathers; I now expect that
+you will show me a last act of obedience, by acknowledging the
+great king beyond the waters to be your lord also, and that you
+will pay him tribute as you have hitherto done to me.' As he
+spoke the tears fell fast down his cheeks, and his nobles were deeply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>
+affected by the sight of his distress. Many of them, coming from a
+distance, and not having realised what was taking place in the
+capital, were filled with astonishment on beholding the voluntary
+abasement of their master, whom they had reverenced as the all-powerful
+lord of the whole country. His will, they told him, was
+their law now as ever, and if he thought the sovereign of the
+strangers was the ancient lord of their country, they were willing
+to swear allegiance to him as such. Accordingly the oaths were
+administered with all due solemnity, and a full record of the proceedings
+was drawn up by the royal notary to be sent to Spain.
+Cort&eacute;s now seemed to have accomplished most of the great
+objects of his expedition, but towards the conversion of the
+natives he had made no progress, and still the horrible sacrifices
+took place day by day. The general could bear it no longer, but
+told the emperor that the Christians could not consent to hold the
+services of their religion shut in within the narrow walls of the garrison.
+They wished to spread its light abroad and share its blessings
+with the people. To this end they requested that the great
+teocalli should be given up to them as a fit place where their
+worship might be conducted in the presence of the whole city.
+Montezuma listened in consternation.</p>
+
+<p>'Malinche,' said he, 'why will you push matters to an extremity
+that must surely bring down the vengeance of our gods and stir up
+an insurrection among my people, who will never endure this profanation
+of their temple?'</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s, seeing that he was much agitated, pretended that the
+demand had come from his followers, and that he would endeavour
+to persuade them to be contented with one of the sanctuaries of the
+teocalli. If that were not granted, they should be obliged to take it
+by force and to throw down the idols in the face of the city.
+Montezuma, still greatly disturbed, promised to confer with the
+priests, and in the end the Spaniards were allowed to take possession
+of one of the sanctuaries, in which, when it had been purified,
+an altar was raised, surmounted by a crucifix and the imago of the
+Virgin; its walls were decorated with garlands of fresh flowers, and
+an old soldier was stationed to watch over it. Then the whole
+army moved in solemn procession up the winding ascent of the
+pyramid, and mass was celebrated by Father Olmedo and another
+priest, while the Aztecs looked on with mingled curiosity and repugnance.
+For a nation will endure any outrage sooner than that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span>
+which attacks its religion, and this profanation touched a feeling in
+the natives which the priests were not slow to take advantage of.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the Spaniards noticed a change in Montezuma. He was
+grave instead of cheerful, and avoided their society. Many conferences
+went on between him and the priests and nobles, at which
+even Orteguilla, his favourite page, was not allowed to be present.
+Presently Cort&eacute;s received a summons to appear before the emperor,
+who told him that his predictions had come to pass, his gods were
+offended, and threatened to forsake the city if the sacrilegious
+strangers were not driven from it, or sacrificed on their altars as an
+expiation. 'If you have any regard for your safety,' he continued,
+'you will leave the country without delay. I have only to raise my
+finger, and every Aztec in the land will rise against you.'</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s knew well enough that this was true, but, concealing his
+dismay, he replied that he should much regret to leave the capital
+so precipitately, especially when he had no ships to take him back
+to his own country. He should also regret that if he quitted it
+under these circumstances he should be driven to taking the
+emperor with him. Montezuma was evidently troubled by this
+last suggestion, and finally offered to send workmen to the coast to
+build ships under the direction of the Spaniards, while he restrained
+the impatience of his people with the assurance that the white men
+would leave their land as soon as they were ready. This was
+accordingly done, and the work went forward at Vera Cruz with
+great apparent alacrity, but those who directed it took care to
+interpose as many delays as possible, while Cort&eacute;s hoped in the
+meantime to receive such reinforcements from Spain as should
+enable him to hold his ground. Nevertheless the whole aspect of
+affairs in the Spanish quarters was utterly changed; apprehension
+had taken the place of security, and as many precautions were
+observed as if the garrison was actually in a state of siege. Such
+was the unpleasant state of affairs when, in May 1520, six months
+after his arrival in the capital, Cort&eacute;s received tidings from the
+coast which caused him greater alarm than even the threatened
+insurrection of the Aztecs. The jealous governor of Cuba was
+sending an expedition to attack Cort&eacute;s.</p>
+
+<p>It was the news of the arrival of this fleet at the place where he
+had himself landed at first that had caused Cort&eacute;s so much consternation,
+for he at once suspected that it was sent by his bitter
+enemy the governor. The commander of this second expedition,
+who was called Narvaez, having landed, soon met with a Spaniard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>
+from one of the exploring parties sent out by Cort&eacute;s. This man
+related all that had occurred since the Spanish envoys left Vera
+Cruz, the march into the interior, the furious battles with the
+Tlascalans, the occupation of Mexico, the rich treasures found in it,
+and the seizure of Montezuma, 'whereby,' said the soldier, 'Cort&eacute;s
+rules over the land like its own sovereign, so that a Spaniard may
+travel unarmed from one end of the country to the other without
+insult or injury.'</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez and his followers listened in speechless amazement to
+this marvellous report, and the leader waxed more and more
+indignant at the thought of all that had been snatched from Velasquez,
+whose adherent he was. He now openly proclaimed his
+intention of marching against Cort&eacute;s and punishing him, so that
+even the natives who had flocked to this new camp comprehended
+that these white men were enemies of those who had come before.
+Narvaez proposed to establish a colony in the barren, sandy spot
+which Cort&eacute;s had abandoned, and when informed of the existence
+of Villa Rica, he sent to demand the submission of the garrison.
+Sandoval had kept a sharp eye upon the movements of Narvaez
+from the time that his ships had first appeared upon the horizon,
+and when he heard of his having landed he prepared to defend his
+post to the last extremity. But the only invaders of Villa Rica
+were a priest named Guevara and four other Spaniards, who
+formally addressed Sandoval, pompously enumerating the services
+and claims of Velasquez, taxing Cort&eacute;s with rebellion, and finally
+demanding that Sandoval should tender his submission to Narvaez.
+That officer, greatly exasperated, promptly seized the unlucky
+priest and his companions, and, remarking that they might read the
+obnoxious proclamation to the general himself in Mexico, ordered
+them to be bound like bales of goods upon the backs of sturdy
+porters and placed under a guard of twenty Spaniards, and in this
+way, travelling day and night, only stopping to obtain relays of
+carriers, they came within sight of the capital at the end of the
+fourth day.</p>
+
+<p>Its inhabitants were already aware of the fresh arrival of white
+men upon the coast. Indeed Montezuma had sent for Cort&eacute;s and told
+him there was no longer any obstacle to his leaving the country, as
+a fleet was ready for him, and in answer to his astonished inquiries,
+had shown him a picture map sent him from the coast, whereon the
+Spaniards, with their ships and equipments, were minutely depicted.
+Cort&eacute;s pretended to be vastly pleased by this intelligence, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span>
+tidings were received in the camp with firing of cannon and other
+demonstrations of joy, for the soldiers took the newcomers for a
+reinforcement from Spain. Not so Cort&eacute;s, who guessed from the
+first that they came from the governor of Cuba. He told his suspicions
+to his officers, who in turn informed the men; but, though
+alarm succeeded their joy, they resolved to stand by their leader
+come what might. When Sandoval's letter acquainting him with
+all particulars was brought to Cort&eacute;s, he instantly sent and released
+the bewildered prisoners from their ignominious position, and
+furnished them with horses to make their entry into the
+capital, where, by treating them with the utmost courtesy and
+loading them with gifts, he speedily converted them from enemies
+into friends, and obtained from them much important information
+respecting the designs of Narvaez and the feelings of his army.
+He gathered that gold was the great object of the soldiers, who
+were evidently willing to co-operate with Cort&eacute;s if by so doing they
+could obtain it. Indeed, they had no particular regard for their own
+leader, who was arrogant, and by no means liberal. Profiting by
+these important hints, the general sent a conciliatory letter to
+Narvaez, beseeching him not to unsettle the natives by a show of
+animosity, when it was only by union they could hope for success,
+and declaring that for his part he was ready to greet Narvaez as a
+brother in arms, to share with him the fruits of conquest, and, if he
+could produce a royal commission, to submit to his authority. Of
+course Cort&eacute;s knew well enough that he had no such commission to
+show. Soon after the departure of Guevara he resolved to send a
+special envoy of his own, and chose Father Olmedo for the task, with
+instructions to converse privately with as many of the officers and
+soldiers as he could with a view to securing their goodwill; and to
+this end he was also provided with a liberal supply of gold. During
+this time Narvaez had abandoned his idea of planting a colony on
+the sea-coast, and had marched inland and taken up his quarters
+at Cempoalla. He received the letter of Cort&eacute;s with scorn, which
+changed to stern displeasure when Guevara enlarged upon the power
+of his rival and urged him to accept his friendly offers. But the
+troops, on the other hand, listened with greedy ears to the accounts of
+Cort&eacute;s, his frank and liberal manners, and the wealth of his camp,
+where the meanest soldier could stake his ingot and his chain of gold
+at play, and where all revelled in plenty. And when Father Olmedo
+arrived, his eloquence and his gifts soon created a party in the
+interest of Cort&eacute;s. This could not go on so secretly as not to excite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>
+the suspicions of Narvaez, and the worthy priest was sent back to
+his master, but the seed which he had sown was left to grow.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez continued to speak of Cort&eacute;s as a traitor whom he
+intended to punish, and he also declared he would release Montezuma
+from captivity and restore him to his throne. It was
+rumoured that the Aztec monarch had sent him a rich gift, and
+entered into correspondence with him. All this was observed by the
+watchful eye of Sandoval, whose spies frequented his enemy's camp,
+and he presently sent to Cort&eacute;s saying that something must
+speedily be done to prevent Villa Rica from falling into the hands
+of the enemy, and pointing out that many of the Indians, from sheer
+perplexity, were no longer to be relied upon.</p>
+
+<p>The general felt that it was indeed time to act, but the situation
+was one of great difficulty. However, he marched against Narvaez,
+defeated and captured him, embodied his forces, and set out on his
+return to Mexico, where he had left Alvarado in command.</p>
+
+<p>On his march he received a letter from Alvarado, which conveyed
+the startling news that the Mexicans were up in arms and
+had assaulted the Spanish quarters, that they had overwhelmed the
+garrison with a torrent of missiles, which had killed some and
+wounded many, and had burned some brigantines which Cort&eacute;s had
+built to secure a means of retreat, and it ended by imploring him
+to hasten to the relief of his men if he would save them or keep his
+hold on the capital. This was a heavy blow to Cort&eacute;s, but there
+was no time for hesitation. He laid the matter fully before his
+soldiers, and all declared their readiness to follow him.</p>
+
+<p>On June 24, 1520, the army reached the same causeway
+by which they had before entered the capital; but now no crowds
+lined the roads, and no pirogues swarmed upon the lake; a
+death-like stillness brooded over the scene. As they marched
+across Cort&eacute;s ordered the trumpets to sound, and their shrill notes
+were answered by a joyful peal of artillery from the beleaguered
+fortress. The soldiers quickened their pace, and all were soon in
+the city once more. But here the appearance of things was far
+from reassuring. In many places they saw the smaller bridges had
+been taken away; the town seemed deserted, and the tramp of the
+horses awakened melancholy echoes in the deserted streets. When
+they reached the palace the great gates were speedily thrown open,
+and Cort&eacute;s and his party were eagerly welcomed by the garrison,
+who had much to tell and to hear. Of course the general's first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>
+inquiry was as to the origin of the tumult, and this was the story
+he heard.</p>
+
+<p>The Aztec festival called 'The incensing of Huitzilopochtli' was
+about to be celebrated, in which, as it was an important one, nearly
+all the nobles took part. The caciques asked the permission of
+Alvarado to perform their rites in the teocalli which contained the
+chapel of the Spaniards, and to be allowed the presence of Montezuma.
+This latter request was refused, but he consented to their
+using the teocalli provided they came unarmed and held no human
+sacrifice. Accordingly, on the day appointed the Aztecs assembled
+to the number of at least six hundred. They wore their magnificent
+gala costumes, with mantles of featherwork sprinkled with precious
+stones, and collars, bracelets, and ornaments of gold. Alvarado and
+his men, fully armed, attended as spectators, and when the hapless
+natives were engaged in one of their ceremonial dances, they fell
+upon them suddenly, sword in hand. Then followed a great and
+dreadful slaughter. Unarmed, and taken unawares, the Aztecs
+were hewn down without resistance. Those who attempted to
+escape by climbing the wall of serpents were speared ruthlessly,
+till presently not one of that gay company remained alive; then
+the Spaniards added the crowning horror to their dreadful deed by
+plundering the bodies of their murdered victims. The tidings of
+the massacre flew like wildfire through the capital, and every long-smothered
+feeling of hostility burst forth in the cry that arose for
+vengeance. The city rose in arms to a man and almost before the
+Spaniards could secure themselves in their defences, they were
+assaulted with desperate fury: some of the assailants attempted to
+scale the walls, others succeeded in partially undermining and
+setting fire to the works. It is impossible to say how the attack
+would have ended, but the Spaniards entreated Montezuma to
+interfere, and he, mounting the battlements, conjured the furious
+people to desist from storming the fortress out of regard for his
+safety. They so far respected him that they changed their operations
+into a regular blockade, throwing up works round the palace
+to prevent the egress of the Spaniards, and suspending the market
+so that they might not obtain any supplies, and then they sat down
+to wait sullenly till famine should throw their enemies into their
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>The condition of the besieged was gloomy enough. True their
+provisions still held out, but they suffered greatly from want of
+water, that within the enclosure being quite brackish, until a fresh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>
+spring was suddenly discovered in the courtyard. Even then the
+fact that scarcely a man had escaped unwounded, and that they had
+no prospect before them but a lingering death by famine, or one
+more dreadful still upon the altar of sacrifice, made their situation
+a very trying one. The coming of their comrades was therefore
+doubly welcome. As an explanation of his atrocious act, Alvarado
+declared that he had but struck the blow to intimidate the natives
+and crush an intended rising of the people, of which he had received
+information through his spies.</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s listened calmly till the story was finished, then exclaimed
+with undisguised displeasure, 'You have done badly. You have
+been false to your trust. Your conduct has been that of a madman!'
+And so saying, he turned and left him abruptly, no doubt
+bitterly regretting that he had entrusted so important a command
+to one whose frank and captivating exterior was but the mask for a
+rash and cruel nature. Vexed with his faithless lieutenant, and
+embarrassed by the disastrous consequences of his actions, Cort&eacute;s
+for the first time lost his self-control, and allowed his disgust and
+irritation to be plainly seen. He treated Montezuma with haughty
+coldness, even speaking of him as 'this dog of a king' in the
+presence of his chiefs, and bidding them fiercely go tell their master
+and his people to open the markets, or he would do it for them to
+their cost. The chiefs retired in deep resentment at the insult,
+which they comprehended well enough from his look and gesture,
+and the message lost nothing of its effect in transmission. By the
+suggestion of Montezuma, Cort&eacute;s now released his brother Cuitlahua,
+thinking he might allay the tumult and bring about a better state
+of things. But this failed utterly, for the prince, who was bold and
+ambitious, was bitterly incensed by the injuries he had received
+from the Spaniards. Moreover, he was the heir presumptive to the
+crown, and was welcomed by the people as a substitute for the
+captive Montezuma. So being an experienced warrior, he set himself
+to arrange a more efficient plan of operations against the
+Spaniards, and the effect was soon visible. Cort&eacute;s, meanwhile, had
+so little doubt of his ability to quench the insurrection that he said
+as much in the letter that he wrote to the garrison of Villa Rica
+informing them of his safe arrival in the capital. But his messenger
+had not been gone half-an-hour before he returned breathless with
+terror, and covered with wounds, saying that the city was in arms,
+the drawbridges were raised, and the enemy would soon be upon
+them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Surely enough before long a hoarse, sullen roar arose, becoming
+louder and louder, till from the parapet surrounding the enclosure
+the great avenues that led to it could be seen dark with masses of
+warriors rolling on in a confused tide towards the fortress, while at
+the same time the flat roofs of the neighbouring houses were
+suddenly covered, as if by magic, with swarms of menacing figures,
+brandishing their weapons&mdash;a sight to appal the stoutest heart.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">Fighting in Mexico.</span></h3>
+
+<p>When notice was given of the approach of the Aztecs, each
+man was soon at his post, and prepared to give them a warm
+reception. On they came, rushing forward in dense columns,
+each with its gay banner, and as they neared the enclosure
+they set up the hideous yell or shrill whistle used in fight,
+which rose high above the sound of their rude musical instruments.
+They followed this by a tempest of stones, darts, and
+arrows, which fell thick as rain on the besieged, and at the same
+time those upon the roofs also discharged a blinding volley. The
+Spaniards waited until the foremost column was within fire, and
+then, with a general discharge of artillery, swept the ranks of
+their assailants, mowing them down by hundreds. The Mexicans
+for a moment stood aghast, but soon rallying swept boldly forward
+over the prostrate bodies of their comrades: a second and third
+volley checked them and threw their ranks into disorder, but still
+they pressed on, letting off clouds of arrows, while those on the
+house-tops took deliberate aim at the soldiers in the courtyard.
+Soon some of the Aztecs succeeded in getting close enough to the
+wall to be sheltered by it from the fire of the Spaniards, and they
+made gallant efforts to scale the parapet, but only to be shot down,
+one after another, as soon as their heads appeared above the rampart.
+Defeated here, they tried to effect a breach by battering the
+wall with heavy pieces of timber, but it proved too strong for them,
+and then they shot burning arrows among the temporary buildings
+in the courtyard. Several of these took fire, and soon a fierce conflagration
+was raging, which was only to be checked by throwing
+down part of the wall itself, and thus laying open a formidable
+breach. This was protected by a battery of heavy guns, and a file
+of arquebusiers, who kept up an incessant volley through the opening.
+All day the fight raged with fury, and even when night came,
+and the Aztecs suspended operations according to their usual custom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span>
+the Spaniards found but little repose, being in hourly expectation of
+an assault. Early the next morning the combatants returned to the
+charge. Cort&eacute;s did not yet realise the ferocity and determination
+of the Mexicans, and thought by a vigorous sortie he would reduce
+them to order, and, indeed, when the gates were thrown open, and
+he sallied out, followed by his cavalry, supported by a large body of
+infantry and Tlascalans, they were taken by surprise and retreated
+in some confusion behind a barricade which they had thrown up
+across the street.</p>
+
+<p>But by the time Cort&eacute;s had ordered up his heavy guns and
+demolished the barrier they had rallied again, and though, when
+the fight had raged all day, Cort&eacute;s was, on the whole, victorious,
+still he had been so harassed on all sides by the battalions of
+natives who swarmed in from every side street and lane, by those
+in canoes upon the canal, and by the showers of huge stones from
+those upon the house-tops, that his losses had been severe. Earlier
+in the day he had caused a number of houses to be burned to rid
+himself of some of his tormentors, but the Aztecs could probably
+better afford to lose a hundred men than the Spaniards one, and the
+Mexican ranks showed no signs of thinning. At length, exhausted
+by toil and hunger, the Spanish commander drew off his men, and
+retreated into his quarters, pursued to the last by showers of darts
+and arrows; and when the Spaniards re-entered their fortress, the
+Indians once more encamped round it; and though through the
+night they were inactive, still they frequently broke the stillness
+with menacing cries and insults.</p>
+
+<p>'The gods have delivered you into our hands at last!' they said.
+'Huitzilopochtli has long cried for his victims. The stone of sacrifice
+is ready&mdash;the knives are sharpened. The wild beasts in the palace
+are roaring for their feast.' These taunts, which sounded dismally
+in the ears of the besieged, were mingled with piteous lamentations
+for Montezuma, whom they entreated the Spaniards to deliver up
+to them. Cort&eacute;s was suffering much from a severe wound and
+from his many anxieties, and he determined to induce Montezuma
+to exert his authority to allay the tumult. In order to give greater
+effect to his appearance he put on his imperial robes. His mantle
+of blue and white was held by a rich clasp of the precious 'chalchivitl,'
+which with emeralds of uncommon size, set in gold, also
+ornamented other portions of his dress. His feet were shod with
+golden sandals, and upon his head he wore the Mexican diadem.
+Surrounded by a guard of Spaniards and preceded by a golden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span>
+wand, the symbol of sovereignty, the Indian monarch ascended the
+central turret of the palace. His presence was instantly recognised
+by the people, and a magical change came over the scene: the
+clang of the instruments and the fierce cries of the assailants
+ceased, and many in the hushed throng knelt or prostrated themselves,
+while all eyes were turned with eager expectation upon the
+monarch whom they had been taught to regard with slavish awe.
+Montezuma saw his advantage, and in the presence of his awestruck
+people felt once more a king. With his former calm
+authority and confidence he addressed them:</p>
+
+<p>'Why do I see my people here in arms against the palace of my
+fathers? Is it that you think your sovereign a prisoner, and wish
+to release him? If so you have done well; but you are mistaken.
+I am no prisoner. The strangers are my guests. I remain with
+them only for choice, and can leave them when I will. Have you
+come to drive them from the city? That is unnecessary; they will
+depart of their own accord if you will open a way for them. Return
+to your homes then. Lay down your arms. Show your obedience
+to me, whose right it is. The white men shall go back to their
+land, and all shall be well again within the walls of Mexico.'</p>
+
+<p>As Montezuma declared himself the friend of the detested
+strangers a murmur of contempt ran through the multitude. Their
+rage and desire for vengeance made them forget their ancient
+reverence, and turned them against their unfortunate monarch.</p>
+
+<p>'Base Aztec,' they cried, 'woman, coward! The white men
+have made you a woman, fit only to weave and spin.'</p>
+
+<p>A chief of high rank brandished a javelin at Montezuma, as
+these taunts were uttered, and in an instant the place where he
+stood was assailed with a cloud of stones and arrows. The
+Spaniards, who had been thrown off their guard by the respect
+shown by the people on their lord's appearance, now hastily interposed
+their shields, but it was too late: Montezuma was wounded
+by three of the missiles, one of which, a stone, struck him on the
+head with such violence that he fell senseless to the ground. The
+Mexicans, shocked at their own sacrilegious act, set up a dismal cry,
+and dispersed panic-stricken until not one of all the host remained
+in the great square before the palace. Meanwhile, the unhappy
+king was borne to his own apartments, and as soon as he recovered
+from his insensibility the full misery of his situation broke upon
+him. He had tasted the last bitterness of degradation. He had
+been reviled and rejected by his people. Even the meanest of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>
+rabble had raised their hands against him, and he had nothing left
+to live for. In vain did Cort&eacute;s and his officers endeavour to soothe
+the anguish of his spirit and encourage him to hope for better
+things. Montezuma answered not a word. His wounds, though
+dangerous, need not have proved fatal had he not refused all
+remedies, tearing off the bandages as often as they were applied,
+and maintaining all the while a determined silence. He sat
+motionless, with downcast eyes, brooding over his humiliation; but
+from this painful scene the Spanish general was soon called away
+by the new dangers which threatened the garrison.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 316px;">
+<img src="images/i314.png" width="316" height="500" alt="MONTEZUMA ASSAILED BY MISSILES" title="" />
+<span class="caption">MONTEZUMA ASSAILED BY MISSILES</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Opposite to the Spanish quarters stood the great teocalli of
+Huitzilopochtli, rising to a height of nearly a hundred and fifty feet,
+and thus completely commanding the palace occupied by the
+Spaniards. A body of five or six hundred Mexicans, many of them
+nobles and warriors of the highest rank, now took possession of
+the teocalli, whence they discharged such a tempest of arrows
+upon the garrison that it was impossible for any soldier to show
+himself for an instant outside his defences without great danger,
+while the Mexicans themselves were completely sheltered. It was
+absolutely necessary that they should be dislodged, and Cort&eacute;s entrusted
+the task to his chamberlain Escobar, giving him a hundred
+men for the purpose. But after making three desperate attempts,
+in which he was repulsed with considerable loss, this officer
+returned unsuccessful, and Cort&eacute;s determined to lead the storming
+party himself, though he was suffering much from a wound which
+disabled his left hand. He made the arm serviceable, however, by
+strapping his shield to it, and thus prepared sallied forth at the
+head of three hundred chosen cavaliers and several thousand of the
+Indian allies. In the courtyard of the temple a body of Mexicans
+was drawn up to oppose him, and he charged them briskly, but
+the horses could not keep their footing on the slippery pavement,
+and many of them fell. Hastily dismounting the Spaniards sent
+the animals back to their quarters, and then, renewing the assault,
+had little difficulty in dispersing the Indians and securing a
+passage to the teocalli. And now began a great and terrible
+struggle. You will remember that the huge pyramid-shaped
+teocalli was built in five divisions, growing smaller and smaller, till
+at the top you came out upon a square platform, crowned only by
+the two sanctuaries in which stood the images of the Aztec gods.
+You will also remember that the only ascent was by flights of
+stone steps on the outside, one above another, and that it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>
+necessary between each flight to pass by a kind of terrace, right
+round the building, so that a distance of nearly a mile had to be
+traversed before reaching the top. Cort&eacute;s sprang up the lower
+stairway, followed by Alvarado, Sandoval, Ordaz, and the other
+gallant cavaliers, leaving a strong detachment to hold the enemy in
+check at the foot of the temple. On every terrace as well as on the
+topmost platform the Aztec warriors were drawn up to dispute his
+passage. From their elevated position they showered down heavy
+stones, beams, and burning rafters, which thundering along the
+stairway overturned the ascending Spaniards and carried desolation
+through their ranks. The more fortunate, eluding or springing
+over these obstacles, succeeded in gaining the first terrace, where
+they fell upon their enemies and compelled them to give way, and
+then, aided by a brisk fire from the musketeers below, they pressed
+on, forcing their opponents to retreat higher and higher, until at
+last they were glad to take shelter on the broad summit of the
+teocalli. Cort&eacute;s and his companions were close behind them, and
+the two parties soon found themselves face to face upon this strange
+battle-field, engaged in mortal combat in the presence of the whole
+city, while even the troops in the courtyard ceased hostilities, as if
+by mutual consent, and watched with breathless interest the issue
+of the struggle.</p>
+
+<p>The Spaniards and Mexicans closed with the desperate fury of
+men who have no hope but in victory. Quarter was neither asked
+nor given, and to fly was impossible. The edge of the platform was
+unprotected by parapet or battlement, and many of the combatants,
+as they struggled together, were seen to roll over the edge of the
+precipice, locked in a death-grip. Cort&eacute;s himself but narrowly
+escaped this frightful fate. Two powerful warriors had seized upon
+him, and were dragging him violently towards the side of the pyramid,
+when, by sheer strength, he tore himself from their grasp and
+hurled one of them over the brink with his own arm.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 378px;">
+<img src="images/i317.png" width="378" height="425" alt="The battle raged" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The battle raged unceasingly for three hours. The number of
+the Mexicans was double that of the Spaniards, but the armour of
+the latter and their skill as swordsmen outweighed the odds against
+them. Resistance grew fainter and fainter on the side of the Aztecs.
+The priests, who had run to and fro among them with streaming
+hair and wild gestures, encouraging and urging them on, were all
+slain or captured. One by one the warriors fell dead upon the blood-drenched
+pavement, or were hurled from the dizzy height, until at
+last the wild struggle ceased, and the Spaniards stood alone upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span>
+the field of battle. Their victory had cost them dear, for forty-five
+of their comrades lay dead, and nearly all the remainder were more
+or less seriously wounded; but there was no time for regrets. The
+victorious cavaliers rushed to the sanctuaries to find that the cross
+and the image of the Virgin had disappeared from the one they had
+appropriated, and that in the other, before the grim figure of Huitzilopochtli,
+lay the usual offering of human hearts, possibly those of
+their own countrymen! With shouts of triumph the Spaniards
+tore the hideous idol from its niche, and in the sight of the horror-stricken
+Aztecs hurled it down the steps of the teocalli, and, after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span>
+having set fire to the sanctuaries, descended joyfully into the courtyard.</p>
+
+<p>Passing through the ranks of the Mexicans, who were too much
+dismayed by all they had witnessed to offer any resistance, they
+reached their own quarters in safety, and that very night they followed
+up the blow they had struck by sallying forth into the sleeping
+town and burning three hundred houses. Cort&eacute;s now hoped that
+the natives were sufficiently subdued to be willing to come to terms
+with him. He therefore invited them to a parley, and addressed
+the principal chiefs, who had assembled in the great square, from the
+turret before occupied by Montezuma. As usual, Marina interpreted
+for him, and the Indians gazed curiously at their countrywoman,
+whose influence with the Spanish general was well known. Cort&eacute;s
+told them that they must now know how little they had to hope from
+their opposition to the Spaniards. They had seen their gods trampled
+in the dust, their altars destroyed, their dwellings burned, and their
+warriors falling on all sides. 'All this,' he continued, 'you have
+brought upon yourselves by your rebellion. Yet, for the sake of the
+affection felt for you by the sovereign you have treated so unworthily,
+I would willingly stay my hand if you will lay down your arms and
+return once more to your obedience. But if you do not,' he concluded,
+'I will make your city a heap of ruins, and leave not a soul
+alive to mourn over it.'</p>
+
+<p>But the Spanish commander did not yet understand the character
+of the Aztecs if he thought to intimidate them by menaces. It was
+true, they replied, that he had destroyed their temples, broken in
+pieces their gods, and massacred their countrymen. Many more
+doubtless were yet to fall under their terrible swords. But they
+were content so long as for every thousand Mexicans they could
+shed the blood of a single white man. 'Look out,' they said, 'upon
+our streets and terraces. See them still thronged with warriors as
+far as your eyes can reach. Our numbers are scarcely diminished
+by our losses. Yours, on the contrary, are lessening hour by hour.
+Your provisions and water are failing. You are perishing from
+hunger and sickness; you must soon fall into our hands. <i>The
+bridges are broken down, and you cannot escape!</i> There will be
+too few of you left to glut the vengeance of our gods.' With this
+they discharged a volley of arrows, which compelled the Spaniards
+to beat a speedy retreat from the turret. The fierce answer of the
+Aztecs filled the besieged with dismay.</p>
+
+<p>The general himself, pressed by enemies without and factions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>
+within, was, as usual, only roused to more energetic action by a
+situation which would have paralysed any ordinary mind. He
+calmly surveyed his position before deciding what course he would
+pursue. To retreat was hazardous, and it mortified him cruelly to
+abandon the city in which he had so long been master and the rich
+treasure which he had secured, with which he had hoped to propitiate
+the King of Spain. To fly now was to acknowledge himself
+further than ever from the conquest and to give great opportunity
+to his enemy, the Governor of Cuba, to triumph over him. On the
+other hand, with his men daily diminishing in strength and numbers,
+with the stock of provisions so nearly exhausted that one small
+daily ration of bread was all the soldiers had, with the breaches in
+his fortifications widening every day and his ammunition nearly
+gone, it was manifestly impossible to hold the place much longer
+against the enemy. Having reached this conclusion, the next difficulty
+was to decide how and when it would be well to evacuate the
+city. He tried to fight his way out, but he failed, and when night fell
+the Mexicans dispersed as usual, and the Spaniards, tired, famished,
+and weak from their wounds, slowly re-entered the citadel, only to
+receive tidings of a fresh misfortune. Montezuma was dead. 'The
+tidings of his death,' says the old Spanish chronicler, 'were received
+with real grief by every cavalier and soldier in the army
+who had had access to his person, for we all loved him as a father,
+and no wonder, seeing how good he was.'</p>
+
+<p>Montezuma's death was a real misfortune for the Spaniards.
+While he lived there was still a possibility of his influence with the
+natives being of use to them. Now that hope was gone. The
+Spanish commander showed all respect for his memory. His body,
+arrayed in its royal robes, was laid upon a bier, and borne on the
+shoulders of those nobles who had remained with him to the last to
+his subjects in the city, whose wailings over it were distinctly heard
+by the Spaniards; but where he was buried, and with what honours,
+they never knew.</p>
+
+<p>The Spanish general now called a council to decide as speedily
+as possible the all-important question of the retreat. It was his
+intention to fall back upon Tlascala, and once there to arrange
+according to circumstances his future operations. There was
+some difference of opinion as to the hour of departure; but owing
+to the predictions of a soldier named Botello, who pretended to be
+able to read the stars, and who announced that to leave the city
+at night would be for the good of his comrades, though he himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span>
+would meet his death through it, it was decided that the fortress
+should be abandoned that very night. After events proved that
+Botello's prophecy was unfortunately only true as far as he himself
+was concerned.</p>
+
+<p>The general's first care was to provide for the safe conveyance
+of the treasure. The soldiers had most of them converted their
+share into gold chains or collars which could be easily carried about
+their persons. But the royal fifth, with that of Cort&eacute;s himself and
+his principal officers, was in bars and wedges of solid gold.</p>
+
+<p>That belonging to the crown was now given in charge to the
+royal officers, with the strongest horse to carry it, and a special
+guard for its protection. But much treasure belonging to the
+crown and to private individuals was necessarily abandoned, and
+the precious metal lay in shining heaps upon the floors of the palace.
+'Take what you will of it,' said Cort&eacute;s to the soldiers; 'better you
+should have it than those Mexican hounds. But be careful not to
+overload yourselves: he travels safest who travels lightest.' His
+own wary soldiers took heed to his counsel, taking few treasures,
+and those of the smallest size. But the troops of Narvaez thought
+that the very mines of Mexico lay open before them, and the riches
+for which they had risked so much were within their reach at last.
+Rushing upon the spoil, they loaded themselves with all they could
+possibly carry or stow away.</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s next arranged the order of march. The van consisted of
+two hundred Spanish foot, commanded by Sandoval, with twenty
+other cavaliers. The rest of the infantry formed the rear-guard
+under Alvarado and De Leon, while the general himself took charge
+of the centre, some of the heavy guns, the baggage, the treasure,
+and the prisoners, among whom were a son and two daughters of
+Montezuma, Cacama, and several nobles. The Tlascalans were
+pretty equally divided among the three divisions. The general had
+previously superintended the construction of a portable bridge to be
+laid across the open canals. This was entrusted to the care of an
+officer named Magarino and forty men, all pledged to defend the
+passage to the last extremity. Well would it have been if three
+such bridges had been made, but the labour would have been great
+and the time was short. At midnight all was ready, and after a
+solemn mass had been celebrated by Father Olmedo, the Spaniards
+for the last time sallied forth from the ancient fortress, the scene of
+so much suffering and of such great courage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Night or Horror.</span></h3>
+
+<p>The night was dark, and a fine rain fell steadily. The vast square
+before the palace was deserted, as indeed it had been since the death
+of Montezuma, and the Spaniards made their way across it as noiselessly
+as possible, and entered the great street of Tlacopan. Though
+to their anxious eyes every dark lane and alley seemed to swarm
+with the shadowy forms of their enemies, it was not really so, and
+all went well until the van drew near the spot where the street
+opened upon the causeway. Before the bridge could be adjusted
+across the uncovered breach the Mexican sentinels stationed there
+fled, raising the alarm as they went. The priests from the summits
+of the teocallis heard them, and sounded their shells, while the huge
+drum upon the desolate temple of the war-god sent forth its solemn
+sound, which&mdash;heard only in seasons of calamity&mdash;vibrated through
+every corner of the capital. The Spaniards saw that there was no
+time to be lost; the bridge was fitted with all speed, and Sandoval
+rode across first to try its strength, followed by the first division, then
+came Cort&eacute;s with the baggage and artillery, but before he was well
+over, a sound was heard as of a stormy wind rising in a forest.
+Nearer and nearer it came, and from the dark waters of the lake
+rose the plashing noise of many oars. Then a few stones and arrows
+fell at random among the hurrying troops, to be followed by more
+and more, ever thicker and faster, till they became a terrible
+blinding storm, while the air was rent with the yells and war-cries
+of the enemy, who seemed to be swarming in myriads over land and
+lake.</p>
+
+<p>The Spaniards pushed on steadily, though the Mexicans, dashing
+their canoes against the sides of the causeway, clambered up and
+broke in upon their ranks. The soldiers, anxious only to make their
+escape, simply shook them off, or rode over them, or with their
+guns and swords drove them headlong down the sides of the dyke
+again. But the advance of such a body of men necessarily took
+time, and the leading files had already reached the second gap in
+the causeway before those in the rear had cleared the first. They
+were forced to halt, though severely harassed by the fire from the
+canoes, which clustered thickly round this opening, and many were
+the urgent messages which were sent to the rear, to hurry up the
+bridge. But when it was at length clear, and Magarino and his
+sturdy followers endeavoured to raise it, they found to their horror
+that the weight of the artillery and the horses passing over it had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span>
+jammed it firmly into the sides of the dyke, and it was absolutely
+immovable. Not till many of his men were slain and all wounded
+did Magarino abandon the attempt, and then the dreadful tidings
+spread rapidly from man to man, and a cry of despair arose. All
+means of retreat were cut off; they were held as in a trap. Order
+and discipline were at an end, for no one could hope to escape
+except by his own desperate exertions. Those behind pressed forward,
+trampling the weak and wounded under foot, heeding not
+friend or foe. Those in front were forced over the edge of the gulf,
+across which some of the cavaliers succeeded in swimming their
+horses, but many failed, or rolled back into the lake in attempting
+to ascend the opposite bank. The infantry followed pell-mell, heaped
+one upon the other, frequently pierced by the Aztec arrows, or struck
+down by their clubs, and dragged into the canoes to be reserved for
+a more dreadful death. All along the causeway the battle raged
+fiercely.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i322.png" width="400" height="296" alt="Some of the cavaliers succeeded in swimming their horses" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The Mexicans clambered continually up the sides of the dyke,
+and grappled with the Spaniards, till they rolled together down into
+the canoes. But while the Aztec fell among friends, his unhappy
+antagonist was secured, and borne away in triumph to the sacrifice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>
+The struggle was long and deadly, but by degrees the opening in the
+causeway was filled up by the wreck of the waggons, guns, rich
+bales of stuffs, chests of solid ingots, and bodies of men and horses
+which had fallen into it; and over this dismal ruin those in the rear
+were able to reach the other side. Cort&eacute;s had found a place that
+was fordable, and, halting halfway across, had vainly endeavoured to
+check the confusion, and lead his followers safely to the opposite bank.
+But his voice was lost in the wild uproar; and at length, attended by
+a few trusty cavaliers, he pushed forward to the front. Here he
+found Sandoval and his companions, halting before the last breach,
+trying to cheer on the soldiers to attempt the crossing; but, though
+not so beset with enemies as the last, it was wide and deep, and the
+men's resolution failed them. Again the cavaliers set the example,
+by plunging into the lake. Horse and foot followed, swimming or
+clinging to the manes and tails of the horses. Those fared best, as
+the general had predicted, who travelled lightest, and many were
+the unfortunate wretches, who, weighed down by the fatal treasure,
+were buried with it at the bottom of the lake. Cort&eacute;s, with a few
+others, still kept in advance, leading the miserable remnant off the
+causeway. The din of battle was growing faint in the distance, when
+the rumour reached them that, without speedy succour, the rearguard
+must be utterly overwhelmed. It seemed a desperate venture, but
+the cavaliers, without thinking of the danger, turned their horses,
+and galloped back to the relief of their comrades. Swimming the
+canal again, they threw themselves into the thick of the fray. The
+first gleam of morning light showed the hideous confusion of the
+scene; the masses of combatants upon the dyke were struggling till the
+very causeway seemed to rock, while as far as the eye could see, the
+lake was covered with a dense crowd of canoes full of warriors.
+The cavaliers found Alvarado unhorsed, and, with a mere handful of
+followers, defending himself against an overwhelming tide of the
+enemy, who by this time possessed the whole rear of the causeway,
+and received constant reinforcements from the city. The Spanish
+artillery, which had done good service at first, had been overthrown,
+and utterly confounded by the rush from the back. In the general
+ruin, Cort&eacute;s strove by a resolute charge to give his countrymen time
+to rally, but it was only for a moment: they were speedily borne
+down by the returning rush. The general and his companions were
+forced to plunge into the lake once more, though with their numbers
+reduced this time, and Alvarado stood for an instant upon the brink,
+uncertain what to do. There was no time to be lost. He was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span>
+tall and powerful man. Setting his long lance firmly on the wreck
+which strewed the lake, he gave a mighty leap which landed him in
+safety upon the opposite bank. Aztecs and Tlascalans looked on in
+amazement at this almost incredible feat, and a general shout arose.
+'This is truly the Tonatiuh&mdash;the Child of the Sun.' To this day,
+the place is called 'Alvarado's Leap.' Cort&eacute;s now rode to the front,
+where the troops were straggling miserably off the fatal causeway.
+Most fortunately, the attention of the Aztecs was diverted by the
+rich spoil that strewed the ground, and their pursuit ceased, so that
+the Spaniards passed unmolested through the village of Popotla.
+There the Spanish commander dismounted from his weary steed,
+and sitting down on the steps of an Indian temple, looked mournfully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>
+on while the broken files dragged slowly past. It was a piteous
+spectacle. The cavalry, many of them dismounted, were mingled
+with the infantry, their shattered mail dripping with the salt ooze,
+and showing through its rents many a ghastly wound; their firearms,
+banners, baggage, artillery, everything was gone. Cort&eacute;s, as he
+looked sadly on their thin, disordered ranks, sought in vain many a
+familiar face, and missed more than one trusty comrade who had
+stood by his side through all the perils of the conquest; and accustomed
+as he was to conceal his emotions, he could bear it no longer,
+but covered his face with his hands, while he wept tears of anguish.
+It was, however, some consolation to him that Marina had been
+carried safely through the awful night by her faithful guards.
+Aguilar was also alive, and Martin Lopez, who had built two boats
+for him in Mexico, as well as Alvarado, Avila, Sandoval, Olid, and
+Ordaz.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i324.png" width="400" height="442" alt="Sat on the steps of in Indian temple" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>But this was no time to give way to vain regrets. Cort&eacute;s hastily
+mounted again and led his men as speedily as possible through
+Tlacopan, and, as soon as he reached the open country, endeavoured
+to bring his disorganised battalions into something like order. The
+broken army, half-starved, moved slowly towards the coast. On the
+seventh morning the army reached the mountain range which overlooks
+the plains of Otumba. All the day before, parties of the enemy
+had hovered round, crying vindictively, 'Hasten on. You will soon
+find yourselves where you cannot escape!' Now, as they climbed
+the steep hillside, Cort&eacute;s realised what this meant, for his scouts came
+back reporting that a powerful body of Aztecs was encamped upon
+the other side waiting for them, and truly enough, when they
+looked down into the valley, they saw it filled with a mighty host of
+warriors who had been gathered together by Cuitlahua, and stationed
+at this point to dispute the passage of the Spaniards. Every chief
+of importance had taken the field with his whole array. As far as
+the eye could reach extended a moving mass of glittering shields
+and spears, mingled with the banners and bright feather-mail of
+the caciques, and the white cotton robes of their followers. It was
+a sight to dismay the stoutest heart among the Spaniards, and even
+Cort&eacute;s felt that his last hour was come. But since to escape was
+impossible, he disposed his little army to the best advantage, and
+prepared to cut his way through the enemy or perish in the
+attempt. He gave his force as broad a front as possible, protecting
+it on each flank with his cavalry, now reduced to twenty horsemen,
+who were instructed to direct their long lances at the faces of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span>
+enemy, and on no account to lose their hold of them. The infantry
+were to thrust, not strike, with their swords, and above all to make
+for the leaders of the enemy, and then, after a few brave words of
+encouragement, he and his little band began to descend the hill,
+rushing, as it seemed, to certain destruction. The enemy met them
+with the usual storm of stones and arrows, but when the Spaniards
+closed with them, their superiority became apparent, and the natives
+were thrown into confusion by their own numbers as they fell back
+from the charge. The infantry followed up their advantage, and a
+wide lane was opened in the ranks of the enemy, who receded on all
+sides as if to allow them a free passage. But it was only to return
+with fresh fury, and soon the little army was entirely surrounded,
+standing firmly, protected on all sides by its bristling swords and
+lances, like an island in the midst of a raging sea. In spite of many
+gallant deeds and desperate struggles, the Spaniards found themselves,
+at the end of several hours, only more deeply wedged in by the dense
+masses of the enemy. Cort&eacute;s had received another wound, in the
+head, his horse had fallen under him, and he had been obliged to
+mount one taken from the baggage train. The fiery rays of the sun
+poured down upon the nearly exhausted soldiers, who were beginning
+to despair and give way, while the enemy, constantly reinforced from
+the rear, pressed on with redoubled fury. At this critical moment
+the eagle eye of Cort&eacute;s, ever on the watch for any chance of arresting
+the coming ruin, descried in the distance a chief, who, from his
+dress and surroundings, he knew must be the commander of the
+Aztec forces. He wore a rich surcoat of feather-work, and a
+gorgeous plume of jewelled feathers floated from his helmet, while
+above this, and attached to his back between the shoulders, showed
+a golden net fastened to a short staff&mdash;the customary symbol of
+authority for an Aztec commander. Turning quickly round to
+Sandoval, Olid, Alvarado, and Avila who surrounded him, he cried,
+pointing to the chief, 'There is our mark! Follow and support me!'
+And shouting his war-cry he plunged into the thickest of the press.
+Taken by surprise the enemy fell back; those who could not escape
+were trampled under his horse's feet, or pierced by his long lance;
+the cavaliers followed him closely; in a few minutes they were
+close to the Aztec chief, and Cort&eacute;s hurled him to the ground with
+one stroke from his lance; a young cavalier named Juan de Salamanca
+hastily dismounted and slew him where he lay, and tearing
+away his banner presented it to the Spanish general. The cacique's
+guard, overpowered by this sudden onset, fled precipitately, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span>
+their panic spread to the other Indians, who, on hearing of the death
+of their chief, fought no more, but thought only of escape. In their
+blind terror they impeded and trampled down their own comrades,
+and the Spaniards, availing themselves fully of the marvellous turn
+affairs had taken, pursued them off the field, and then returned to
+secure the rich booty they had left behind them.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i327.png" width="400" height="318" alt="The Spaniards pursed them off the field" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s reached Tlascala in safety, and at once began to prepare
+his revenge on the Mexicans, aided by reinforcements of a few
+Spaniards from Vera Cruz. Gunpowder had also to be manufactured,
+and a cavalier named Francio Monta&ntilde;o undertook the perilous
+task of obtaining sulphur for the purpose from the terrible volcano of
+Popocatepetl. He set out with four comrades, and after some days
+journeying, they reached the dense forest which covered the base
+of the mountain, and forcing their way upward, came by degrees to
+a more open region. As they neared the top the track ended, and
+they had to climb as best they could over the black glazed surface
+of the lava, which, having issued from the crater in a boiling flood,
+had risen into a thousand odd forms wherever it met with any
+obstacle, and continually impeded their progress. After this they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span>
+arrived at the region of perpetual snow, which increased their
+difficulties, the treacherous ice giving way at every step, so that
+many times they narrowly escaped falling into the frozen chasms
+that yawned all round them. At last, however, they reached the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>
+mouth of the crater, and, crawling cautiously to the very edge,
+peered down into its gloomy depths. At the bottom of the abyss,
+which seemed to them to go down into the very heart of the earth,
+a lurid flame burned sullenly, sending up a sulphureous steam,
+which cooling as it rose, fell again in showers upon the sides of the
+cavity. Into this one of the brave explorers had to descend, and
+when they had cast lots the choice fell upon Monta&ntilde;o himself. His
+preparations were soon made, and his companions lowered him in
+a basket into the horrible chasm to a depth of four hundred feet,
+and there as he hung, he scraped the sulphur from the sides of the
+crater, descending again and again until he had procured enough
+for the wants of the army, with which they returned triumphantly
+to Tlascala. Meanwhile the construction of the ships went forward
+prosperously, and by Christmas, in the year 1520, there was no
+longer any reason to delay the march to Mexico.</p>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 278px;">
+<img src="images/i328.png" width="278" height="500" alt="The frozen chasm" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>While all these preparations were being made, some changes
+had taken place among the Aztecs. Cuitlahua had suddenly died
+after reigning four months, and Guatemozin his nephew had
+been chosen in his stead. This young prince had married one of
+Montezuma's daughters. He was handsome and valiant, and so
+terrible that his followers trembled in his presence. He had a sort
+of religious hatred of the Spaniards, and prepared manfully to meet
+the perils which he saw threatening his country, for by means of
+spies he had kept a watch upon the movements of the Spaniards,
+and had discovered their intention of besieging the capital. Cort&eacute;s,
+upon reviewing his army, found that his whole force fell little short
+of six hundred men, of whom forty were cavalry, and eighty arquebusiers
+and cross-bowmen. The rest were armed with sword,
+target, and the long copper-headed pikes, which had been made
+specially by the general's directions. There were also nine cannons
+of moderate size, but the supply of powder was but indifferent.
+Cort&eacute;s published a code of strict regulations for the guidance of his
+men before they set out, and addressed them as usual with stirring
+words, touching all the springs of devotion, honour, and ambition in
+their hearts, and rousing their enthusiasm as only he could have
+done. His plan of action was to establish his headquarters at some
+place upon the Tezcucan lake, whence he could cut off the supplies
+from the surrounding country, and place Mexico in a state of
+blockade until the completion of his ships should enable him to
+begin a direct assault. The most difficult of the three ways into
+the valley was the one Cort&eacute;s chose; it led right across the mountain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span>
+chain, and he judged wisely that he would be less likely to be
+annoyed by the enemy in that direction. Before long the army
+halted within three leagues of Tezcuco, which you will remember
+was upon the opposite shore of the lake to Mexico, and somewhat
+further north. Up to this time they only had had a few slight
+skirmishes with the Aztecs, though beacon fires had blazed upon
+every hill-top, showing that the country was roused. Cort&eacute;s thought
+it very unlikely that he would be allowed to enter Tezcuco, which
+was now reigned over by Coanaco, the friend and ally of Guatemozin.
+But the next morning, before the troops were well under arms,
+came an embassy bearing a golden flag, and a gift for Cort&eacute;s, and
+imploring him to spare Coanaco's territories, and to take up his
+quarters in his capital. Cort&eacute;s first sternly demanded an account
+of the Spaniards who, while convoying treasure to the coast, had
+been slain by Coanaco just when Cort&eacute;s himself was retreating to
+Tlascala. The envoys declared at once that the Mexican emperor
+alone was to blame; he had ordered it to be done, and had received
+the gold and the prisoners. They then urged that to give them
+time to prepare suitable accommodation for him, Cort&eacute;s should not
+enter Tezcuco until the next day; but disregarding this he marched
+in at once, only to find the place deserted, and Coanaco well on his
+way across the lake to Mexico. The general, however, turned this
+to his own advantage by assembling the few persons left in the city,
+and then and there electing a brother of the late sovereign to be
+ruler in his place, and when a few months later he died, he was
+succeeded by Ixtlilxochitl, son of Negahualpilli, who, always a friend
+of the Spaniards, now became their most valuable ally, and by the
+support of his personal authority and all his military resources, did
+more than any other Aztec chieftain to rivet the chains of the
+strangers round the necks of his own countrymen.</p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="smcap">The Siege and Surrender of Mexico.</span></h3>
+
+<p>The city of Tezcuco, which lay about half a league from the
+shore of the lake, was probably the best position Cort&eacute;s could have
+chosen for the headquarters of the army. His first care was to
+strengthen the defences of the palace in which they were lodged,
+and next to employ eight thousand Indian labourers in widening a
+stream, which ran towards the lake, so that when the ships arrived
+they might be put together in Tezcuco, and floated safely down to
+be launched upon it. Meanwhile many of the places in the neighbourhood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>
+sent in their submission to Cort&eacute;s, and several noble
+Aztecs fell into his hands. These men he employed to bear a
+message to Guatemozin, in which he deprecated the necessity of
+the present hostilities, and declared himself willing to forget the
+past, inviting the Mexicans by a timely submission to save their
+capital from the horrors of a siege. But every man in Mexico was
+determined to defend it to the uttermost, and this appeal produced
+no effect. The general now turned his attention to securing all the
+strong places upon the lake. Iztapalapan was the first; the attacking
+party, after a sharp struggle, succeeded in entering the town;
+many of the inhabitants fled in their canoes, but those who remained
+were massacred by the Tlascalans in spite of all Cort&eacute;s could do to
+restrain them. Darkness set in while the soldiers were eagerly
+loading themselves with plunder; some of the houses had been set
+on fire, and the flames lighted up the scene of ruin and desolation.
+Suddenly a sound was heard as of the rush of the incoming tide&mdash;and
+Cort&eacute;s with great alarm realised that the Indians had broken
+down the dykes, and that before long the low-lying ground upon
+which the town stood would be under water. He hastily called off
+his men and retreated, the soldiers, heavily laden, wading with
+difficulty through the flood which gained fast upon them. As they
+left the burning city behind them they could no longer find their
+way, and sometimes plunged into deep water where many of the
+allies, unable to swim, were carried away and drowned. When
+morning dawned they were harassed by the enemy, who hovered
+round and discharged volleys of arrows and stones, so that it was
+with no small satisfaction that they presently found themselves
+once more within the walls of Tezcuco. Cort&eacute;s was greatly disappointed
+at this disastrous end of an expedition which had begun so
+well, but after all the fate of Iztapalapan produced a good effect,
+and many more towns sent to tender their allegiance, amongst
+others Otumba and Chalco, which was a place of great importance.
+Cort&eacute;s also managed to induce the tribes, who though friendly to
+him were hostile to one another, to forget their feuds and combine
+against Mexico, and to this wise policy he owed much of his future
+success.</p>
+
+<p>News now came from Tlascala that the ships were ready,
+and Sandoval was despatched with a considerable guard to bring
+them to Tezcuco. On his way he was to stop at Zoltepec, where
+the massacre of the Spaniards had taken place, to find out and
+punish all who had had a hand in the matter; but when they got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span>
+there the inhabitants had fled. In the deserted temples they had
+the horror of finding many traces of the fate of their comrades; for
+beside their arms and clothing, and the hides of their horses, the
+heads of several soldiers were found suspended as trophies of victory;
+while traced in charcoal upon the wall in one building were the
+words, in the Spanish language, 'In this place the unfortunate
+Juan Juste, with many others of his company, was imprisoned.'
+It was fortunate that the inhabitants had fled, for they would have
+met with but scant mercy from the Spaniards, who were full of indignation
+at the thought of the horrible doom which had overtaken
+their companions. Sandoval now resumed his march to Tlascala,
+but before he could reach it, the convoy appeared transporting the
+ships through the mountain passes. Retaining twenty thousand of
+the warriors as a guard, the Spanish captain dismissed the rest, and
+after four laborious days Cort&eacute;s and his garrison had the joy of
+welcoming them safe within the walls of Tezcuco. It was not long
+before the general once more sallied forth to reconnoitre the capital,
+and by the way to chastise certain places which had sent him hostile
+messages. After an exciting struggle Xaltocan and three other
+towns were taken, and a considerable quantity of gold and food fell
+into the hands of the victors. Marching on, the general found himself
+before Tlacopan, through whose streets he had hurried in consternation
+at the end of the night of horror. It was his intention
+to occupy the town, which he did after a sharp fight, just before
+nightfall, and the next morning, seeing the enemy in battle array on
+the open ground before the city, he marched out against them and
+routed them utterly. The Aztecs fled into the town, but were driven
+through its streets at the point of the lance, and compelled once
+more to abandon it, after which the Tlascalans pillaged and set fire
+to the houses, much against the will of Cort&eacute;s, but they were a fierce
+race, and sometimes dangerous to friends as well as foes. After six
+days the general went back to Tezcuco, and for some time things
+went on as before, with many skirmishes and expeditions against
+the towns garrisoned by the Mexicans. Sandoval took several
+strongholds which threatened the security of Chalco, and all the
+while the work upon the canal was going rapidly forward, and the
+ships were nearing completion in spite of three attempts made by
+the enemy to burn them. Just at this time came the welcome
+news that three vessels had arrived at Villa Rica, with two hundred
+men on board well provided with arms and ammunition, and
+with seventy or eighty horses, and the new comers soon made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span>
+their way to Tezcuco, for the roads to the port were now safe and
+open.</p>
+
+<p>In April 1521, Cort&eacute;s started once more to scour the country
+with a large force, passing quite round the great lakes, and exploring
+the mountain regions to the south of them. Here he came upon
+Aztec forces intrenched in strong towns, often built like eagles'
+nests upon some rocky height, so that to take them was a work of
+great difficulty and danger. Once he found himself before a city
+which it was absolutely necessary to subdue, but he was separated
+from it by a cleft in the solid rock of no great width, but going sheer
+down thousands of feet. The bridges which generally crossed it
+had been broken down at the approach of the Spaniards, and as
+they stood there, unable to advance, the enemy's archers as usual
+kept up a steady fire, to which they were unavoidably exposed.
+The general sent a party to seek a passage lower down, but they
+met with no success until they came to a spot where two large trees,
+growing one on either side of the ravine, interlaced their branches
+overhead, and by this unsteady and perilous bridge one of the
+Tlascalans ventured to cross. His example was soon followed, and
+one by one about thirty Spaniards and some more of the natives
+crawled across, swinging dizzily above the abyss. Three lost their
+hold and fell, but the rest alighted in safety on the other side and
+attacked the Aztecs, who were as much amazed at their sudden
+appearance as if they had dropped from the clouds. Presently a
+temporary bridge was contrived by which the remainder of the
+force managed to cross also, and before long the town was taken,
+and the trembling caciques appeared before Cort&eacute;s, throwing the
+blame of their resistance upon the Mexicans, and promising submission
+for the future.</p>
+
+<p>The general then continued his march across the eastern
+shoulder of the mountain, descending finally upon Xochimilco,
+which was built partly upon the lake like Mexico itself, and was
+approached by causeways, which, however, were of no great length.
+It was in the first attack upon this town that Cort&eacute;s was as
+nearly as possible taken prisoner by the Aztecs. He had thrown
+himself into the thick of the fight with his usual bravery, and was
+trying to resist an unexpected rush of the enemy, when his horse
+stumbled and fell, he himself received a severe blow upon the head
+before he could rise, and was seized and dragged off in triumph
+by several Indians. At this moment a Tlascalan saw his danger
+and sprang furiously upon his captors, trying to tear him from their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span>
+grasp. Two Spaniards also rushed to the rescue, and between
+them the Aztecs were forced to quit their hold of the general, who
+lost no time in regaining his saddle, and laying about him with his
+good sword as vigorously as before. After a terrible struggle the
+enemy was driven out, and Cort&eacute;s took possession of the city. As
+it was not yet dusk he ascended the principal teocalli to reconnoitre
+the surrounding country, and there beheld a sight which could but
+cause him grave anxiety. The lake was covered with rapidly
+approaching canoes full of warriors, while inland Indian squadrons
+were marching up in dense columns. Xochimilco was but four
+leagues from the capital, and at the first tidings of the arrival of the
+Spaniards, Guatemozin had mustered a strong force and marched
+to its relief. Cort&eacute;s made all possible preparations for the defence
+of his quarters, but not until the next day did the Mexicans attack
+him, and then the battle raged long and with varying success; but
+in the end Spanish discipline prevailed, and the natives were
+routed with such dreadful slaughter that they made no further
+attempt to renew the conflict. The city yielded a rich hoard of
+plunder, being well stored with gold and feather-work, and many
+other articles of use or luxury, so that when the general mustered
+his men upon the neighbouring plain before resuming his march,
+many of them came staggering under the weight of their spoil.
+This caused him much uneasiness, since their way would be through
+a hostile country; but seeing that the soldiers were determined to
+keep what they had so hardly won, he contented himself with
+ordering the baggage to be placed in the centre guarded by part of
+the cavalry, and having disposed the rest to the best advantage,
+they once more set forth, at the last moment setting fire to the
+wooden buildings of Xochimilco, which blazed furiously, the glare
+upon the water telling far and wide the fate that had befallen it.
+Resting here and there, and engaging in many skirmishes with the
+Aztecs who followed them up, furious at the sight of the plunder
+which was being carried away by the invaders, the army presently
+completed the circuit of the lakes, and reached Tezcuco, to be
+greeted with the news that the ships were fully rigged and the
+canal completed, so that there was no longer any reason to delay
+their operations against Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>It was a triumphant moment when the vessels were launched,
+and reached the lake in good order. Cort&eacute;s saw to their being
+properly armed and manned, and then reviewed the rest of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>
+forces, and summoned his native allies to furnish their promised
+levies at once.</p>
+
+<p>The general's plan of action against Mexico was to send Sandoval
+with one division to take possession of Iztapalapan at the southern
+end of the lake, while Alvarado and Olid were to secure Tlacopan
+and Chapoltepec upon its western shore, and at the latter place
+destroy the aqueduct, and so cut off the supply of fresh water from
+Mexico. This they did successfully, and in several days of fierce
+fighting breach after breach was carried, and the Spaniards penetrated
+the city as far as the great teocalli, driving the natives
+before them, while the Tlascalans in the rear filled up the gaps
+in the dyke as well as they could, and brought up the heavy
+guns. Cort&eacute;s and his men now pushed their way into the inclosure
+of the temple, and some of them rushed to the top, so
+lately the scene of their terrible battle, and there found a fresh
+image of the war-god. Tearing away the gold and jewels with
+which it was bedecked, they hurled it and its attendant priests over
+the side of the pyramid, and hastened down to the assistance of
+their comrades, who were by this time in a most perilous position,
+the Aztecs having rallied and attacked them furiously. Indeed it
+seemed likely to go hard with them, for they were driven helplessly
+back down the great street in utter confusion and panic; but the
+timely arrival of a small body of cavalry created a diversion
+in their favour, and Cort&eacute;s managed to turn them once more and
+drive the enemy back into the enclosure with much loss. As it was
+by this time evening, he retreated in good order to Xoloc. Though
+this affair caused some consternation among the Mexicans, they
+speedily opened the canals and built up the ramparts again, so that
+when Cort&eacute;s renewed the attack the whole scene had to be gone
+through as before. When they had once gained the street, however,
+they found it much easier to advance, the Tlascalans having on the
+last occasion pulled down many of the houses on either side. This
+time Cort&eacute;s had determined to destroy some of the cherished buildings
+of the Mexicans, and began by setting fire to his old quarters,
+the palace of Axayacatl, and then the palace of Montezuma on
+the other side of the great square. The sight so maddened the
+natives that the Spaniards had some ado to make good their retreat,
+and few reached their camp that night unwounded. The Aztec
+emperor for his part made frequent sallies against the Spaniards
+both by land and upon the lake, sometimes with considerable success.
+At first he managed to obtain supplies of food in canoes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>
+under cover of the darkness, but by degrees the large towns on the
+mainland, seeing the Mexicans unable to defend themselves, gave
+in their allegiance to the Spaniards, and then starvation began to
+be felt in the unhappy city. In spite of everything, however, all
+offers of terms from Cort&eacute;s were steadily refused.</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture, the general was persuaded by some of his
+officers that it would be well for two of the divisions to unite, and
+occupy the great market-place in the heart of the town, and so at
+a given time they marched along their respective causeways and
+entered the city. Strict orders were given by Cort&eacute;s that as
+they advanced every opening in the causeways should be filled
+up and made secure. The attack began, and the enemy, taken
+apparently by surprise, gave way and fell back; on rushed the
+Spaniards by every street, eager to reach the appointed meeting
+place. Only the general suspected that the enemy might be
+purposely luring them on to turn upon them when they were
+hopelessly involved. Taking a few men with him, he hastily proceeded
+to see for himself if the way was clear should a retreat
+become necessary, and found, as he had feared, that all had
+been too eager to be in the front to attend to this most important
+duty. In the first street he traversed was a huge gap, twelve feet
+wide, and at least as many deep, full of water, for it connected two
+canals. A feeble attempt had been made to fill this up with beams
+and rubbish, but it had been left before any good had been done.
+Worse than all Cort&eacute;s saw that this breach was freshly made, and
+that his officers had probably rushed headlong into a snare laid by
+the enemy. Before his men could do anything towards filling up
+the trench, the distant sounds of the battle changed into an ever-increasing
+tumult, the mingled yells and war cries, and the trampling
+of many feet grew nearer, and at last, to his horror, Cort&eacute;s
+beheld his men driven to the edge of the fatal gulf, confused, helpless,
+surrounded by their foes. The foremost files were soon
+hurried over the edge, some trying to swim across, some beaten
+down by the struggles of their comrades, or pierced by the darts of
+the Indians. In vain with outstretched hands did Cort&eacute;s try to
+rescue his soldiers from death, or worse still from capture; he was
+soon recognised, and six of the enemy tried to seize and drag him
+into a canoe. It was only after a severe struggle, in which he was
+wounded in the leg, that he was rescued by his brave followers.
+Two were killed in the attempt, while another was taken alive
+as he held the general's horse for him to mount. In all, sixty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span>
+Spaniards were captured on this fatal day, and it was only when
+the rest reached their guns in the open space before the causeway
+that they were able to rally and beat back the Aztecs. The other
+division had fared equally ill, and were moreover in great anxiety
+as to the fate of Cort&eacute;s, who was reported to have been killed.
+When they once more reached their quarters, Sandoval, though
+badly wounded, rode into the camp of Cort&eacute;s to learn the truth, and
+had a long and earnest consultation with him over the disaster,
+and what was next to be done. As he returned to his camp he was
+startled by the sound of the great drum on the temple of the war-god,
+heard only once before during the night of horror, and looking
+up he saw a long file of priests and warriors, winding round the
+terraces of the teocalli. As they came out upon the platform at the
+top he perceived, with rage and despair, that his own countrymen
+were about to be sacrificed with the usual ghastly ceremonies.
+The camp was near enough to the city for the white skins of the
+victims and their unavailing struggles to be distinctly seen by
+their comrades, who were nevertheless powerless to help them, and
+their distress and fury may be imagined.</p>
+
+<p>For five days the horrible scenes went on, the Mexicans feasting,
+singing, and dancing, while their priests predicted that in eight
+days the war-god, appeased by these sacrifices, would overwhelm
+their enemies and deliver them into their hands. These prophecies
+had a great effect upon the native allies of Cort&eacute;s, who withdrew
+from him in immense numbers. But the general treated their
+superstition with cheerful contempt, and only bargained with the
+deserters to remain close by and see what would happen. When
+the ninth day came, and the city was still seen to be beset on
+every side, they ceased to believe in the oracle, and returned, with
+their anger against the Mexicans rekindled, and their confidence
+in the Spaniards greatly strengthened. At this time another vessel
+loaded with stores and ammunition touched at Vera Cruz, and her
+cargo was seized and sent on to Cort&eacute;s by the governor. With his
+strength thus renewed the Spanish general resumed active operations.
+This time not a step was taken in advance without securing
+the entire safety of the army, once and for all, by solidly building
+up the dykes, filling every canal, and pulling down every house,
+so that slowly and by degrees a bare open space was made, which
+took in more and more of the town, till at last the unhappy Aztecs,
+after many desperate sallies, were shut into the portion of the city
+which lay between the northern and western causeways. Here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span>
+famine and pestilence did their awful work unchecked. The
+ordinary articles of food were long exhausted, and the wretched
+people ate moss, insects, grass, weeds, or the bark of trees. They
+had no fresh water. The dead were unburied, the wounded lay in
+misery, yet all the endeavours of Cort&eacute;s to induce Guatemozin and
+his chiefs to submit were useless. Though the two divisions of the
+army had proceeded with their work of destruction until they could
+join their forces, and seven-eighths of the city lay in ruins, though
+the banner of Castile floated undisturbed from the smouldering
+remains of the sanctuary on the teocalli of the war-god, still the
+Aztecs defied the conquerors, and fiercely rejected their overtures
+of peace.</p>
+
+<p>Hundreds of famishing wretches died every day, and lay where
+they fell, for there was no one to bury them. Familiarity with the
+spectacle made men indifferent to it. They looked on in dumb
+despair waiting for their own turn to come. There was no complaint
+or lamentation, but deep, unutterable woe. In the midst of
+this appalling misery Guatemozin remained calm and courageous,
+and as firmly resolved not to capitulate as at the beginning of
+the siege. It is even said that when Cort&eacute;s persuaded a noble
+Aztec prisoner to bear his proposals for a treaty to the emperor,
+Guatemozin instantly ordered him to be sacrificed. The general,
+who had suspended hostilities for several days hoping for a favourable
+answer to his message, now resolved to drive him to submission
+by a general assault, and for that purpose led his men across the
+dreary waste of ruins to the narrow quarter of the city into which
+the wretched Mexicans had retreated. But he was met by several
+chiefs, who, holding out their emaciated arms, exclaimed, 'Why
+do you delay so long to put an end to our miseries? Rather kill
+us at once that we may go to our god Huitzilopochtli, who waits to
+give us rest from our sufferings!'</p>
+
+<p>Cort&eacute;s, moved by the piteous sight, replied that he desired not
+their death but their submission. 'Why does your master refuse to
+treat with me,' he said, 'when in a single hour I can crush him and
+all his people?' Then once more he sent to demand an interview
+with Guatemozin. This time the emperor hesitated, and agreed
+that next day he would meet the Spanish general. Cort&eacute;s, well
+satisfied, withdrew his force, and next morning presented himself
+at the appointed place in the great square, where a stone platform
+had been spread with mats and carpets and a banquet made ready.
+But after all Guatemozin, instead of coming himself, sent his nobles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span>
+Cort&eacute;s, though greatly disappointed, received them courteously, persuading
+them to partake of the feast he had prepared, and dismissing
+them with a supply of provisions for their master and a renewed
+entreaty that he would next day come in person. But though he
+waited for three hours beyond the time appointed, neither the
+emperor nor his chiefs appeared, and the general heard that the
+Mexicans were preparing to resist an assault. He delayed no
+longer, but ordering Sandoval to support him by bringing up the
+ships and directing his big guns against the houses near the water,
+he marched at once into the enemy's quarters. The Mexicans set
+up a fierce war-cry, and with their usual spirit sent off clouds of
+arrows and darts; but the struggle soon became a hand-to-hand
+one; and weakened by starvation and hemmed in as they were the
+unhappy Aztecs had no chance against their foes. After a scene of
+indescribable horror, which appalled even the soldiers of Cort&eacute;s, used
+as they were to war and violence, the Spanish commander sounded
+a retreat and withdrew to his quarters, leaving behind him forty
+thousand corpses and a smouldering ruin. Through the long night
+that followed all was silent in the Mexican quarter. There was
+neither light nor movement. This last blow seemed to have utterly
+stunned them. They had nothing left to hope for. In the Spanish
+camp, however, all was rejoicing at the prospect of a speedy termination
+to the wearisome campaign. The great object of Cort&eacute;s was
+now to secure the person of Guatemozin, and the next day, which
+was August 18, 1521, he led his forces for the last time across the
+black and blasted ruin which was all that remained of the once
+beautiful city. In order to give the distressed garrison one more
+chance, he obtained an interview with the principal chiefs and
+reasoned with them about the conduct of their emperor.</p>
+
+<p>'Surely,' he said, 'Guatemozin will not see you all perish when
+he can so easily save you.' But when he had with difficulty prevailed
+upon them to urge the king to confer with him, the only
+answer they could bring was that Guatemozin was ready to die
+where he was, but would hold no communication with the Spanish
+commander. 'Go then,' replied the stern conqueror, 'and prepare
+your countrymen for death. Their last moment is come.' Still,
+however, he postponed the attack for several hours; but the troops
+were impatient at the delay, and a rumour spread that Guatemozin
+was preparing to escape by the lake. It was useless to hesitate:
+the word was given, and the terrible scene that ensued repeated the
+horrors of the day before. While this was going forward on shore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>
+numbers of canoes pushed off across the lake, most of them only to
+be intercepted and sunk by the Spanish ships, which beat down
+upon them, firing to right and left. Some few, however, under
+cover of the smoke, succeeded in getting into open water. Sandoval
+had given particular orders that his captains should watch any boat
+that might contain Guatemozin, and now two or three large canoes
+together attracted the attention of one named Garci Holguin, who
+instantly gave chase, and with a favourable wind soon overtook the
+fugitives, though they rowed with the energy of despair. As his
+men levelled their guns at the occupants of the boat one rose
+saying, 'I am Guatemozin; lead me to Malinche; I am his prisoner.
+But let no harm come to my wife and followers.'</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i340.png" width="400" height="328" alt="The ships" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Holguin took them on board, and then requested that the
+emperor would order the people in the other canoes to surrender.
+'There is no need,' he answered sadly, 'they will fight no longer
+when they see their prince is taken.' And so it was, for when the
+news of his capture reached the shore the Mexicans at once ceased
+to defend themselves. It seemed as if they had only gone on so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span>
+long to give their sovereign a better chance of escape. Cort&eacute;s, who
+had taken up his station on the flat roof of one of the houses, now
+sent to command that Guatemozin should be brought before him,
+and he came, escorted by Sandoval and Holguin, who each claimed
+the honour of having captured him. The conqueror, who was, as
+usual, accompanied by the Lady Marina, came forward with dignified
+courtesy to receive his noble prisoner. The Aztec monarch
+broke the silence saying, 'I have done all I could to defend myself
+and my people. I am now reduced to this state. Deal with me,
+Malinche, as you will.' Then laying his hand on a dagger which
+hung from the belt of Cort&eacute;s, he added, 'Better despatch me at
+once with this and rid me of life.'</p>
+
+<p>'Fear not,' answered the conqueror. 'You shall be treated with
+honour. You have defended your capital like a brave warrior, and
+a Spaniard knows how to respect valour even in an enemy.' He
+then sent for the queen, who had remained on board the Spanish
+ship, and after ordering that the royal captives should be well
+cared for and supplied with all they needed, he proceeded to dispose
+of his troops. Olid and Alvarado drew off their divisions to
+their quarters, leaving only a small guard in the wasted suburbs of
+the pestilence stricken city, whilst the general himself, with
+Sandoval and the prisoners, retired to a town at the end of the
+southern causeway. That night a tremendous tempest arose, such
+as the Spaniards had never before witnessed, shaking to its foundations
+all that remained of the city of Mexico. The next day, at
+the request of Guatemozin, the Mexicans were allowed to leave
+the capital, and for three days a mournful train of men, women,
+and children straggled feebly across the causeways, sick and
+wounded, wasted with famine and misery, turning often to take
+one more look at the spot which was once their pleasant home.
+When they were gone the conquerors took possession of the
+place and purified it as speedily as possible, burying the dead and
+lighting huge bonfires in the deserted streets. The treasure of gold
+and jewels found in it fell far short of the expectation of the
+Spaniards, the Aztecs having probably buried their hoards or
+sunk them in the lake on purpose to disappoint the avarice of their
+enemies. Cort&eacute;s, therefore, to his eternal disgrace, caused Guatemozin
+to be tortured; but fire and cord could not wring the secret
+of the treasure from this illustrious prince. In later days Cort&eacute;s
+hanged Guatemozin, on pretence of a conspiracy. Cort&eacute;s, having
+no further need for his native allies, now dismissed them with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>
+presents and flattering speeches, and they departed well pleased,
+loaded with the plunder of the Mexican houses, which was despised
+by the Spanish soldiers. Great was the satisfaction of the conquerors
+at having thus brought the long campaign successfully to
+an end. Cort&eacute;s celebrated the event by a banquet as sumptuous
+as circumstances would permit, and the next day, at the request
+of Father Olmedo, the whole army took part in a solemn service
+and procession in token of their thankfulness for victory.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, after a siege of nearly three months, in which the beleaguered
+Mexicans showed a constancy and courage under their
+sufferings which is unmatched in history, fell the renowned capital
+of the Aztecs, and with its fall the story of the nation comes to an
+end.</p>
+
+<p>The Aztec empire fell by its own sin. The constant capture of
+men from neighbouring states as victims for sacrifice had caused
+the Aztecs to be hated; thus Cort&eacute;s obtained the aid of the Tlascalans,
+but for which even his courage and energy would have been
+of no avail. He deserted Marina when she ceased to be useful,
+and gave her as a wife to one of his followers.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>ADVENTURES OF BARTHOLOMEW PORTUGUES, A PIRATE</i></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>A CERTAIN pirate, born in Portugal, and from the name of his
+country called Bartholomew Portugues, was cruising from
+Jamaica in his boat (in which he had only thirty men and four
+small guns) near the Cape de Corrientes, in the island of Cuba. In
+this place he met with a great ship bound for the Havana, well
+provided, with twenty great guns and threescore and ten men,
+passengers and mariners. This ship he assaulted, but found
+strongly defended by them that were on board. The pirate escaping
+the first encounter, resolved to attack her more vigorously than
+before, seeing he had sustained no great damage hitherto. This
+resolution he boldly performed, renewing his assaults so often that
+after a long and dangerous fight he became master of the great
+vessel, having lost only ten men, and had four wounded.</div>
+
+<p>Having possessed themselves of such a ship, and the wind being
+contrary for returning into Jamaica, the pirates resolved to steer
+towards the Cape of St. Anthony, on the western side of the isle of
+Cuba, there to repair themselves and take in fresh water, of which
+they had great necessity at the time.</p>
+
+<p>Being now very near the cape above mentioned, they unexpectedly
+met with three great ships that were coming from New
+Spain, and bound for the Havana. By these, not being able to
+escape, were easily retaken both ship and pirates. Thus they were
+all made prisoners through the sudden change of fortune, and found
+themselves poor, oppressed, and stripped of all the riches they had
+won.</p>
+
+<p>Two days after this misfortune there happened to arise a huge
+and dangerous tempest, which separated the ships one from another.
+The great vessel in which the pirates were arrived at Campeche,
+where many considerable merchants came to salute and welcome
+the captain. These knew the Portuguese pirate as one who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>
+committed innumerable crimes upon these coasts, not only murders
+and robberies, but also lamentable burnings, which those of Campeche
+still preserved very fresh in their memory.</p>
+
+<p>The next day after their arrival the magistrates of the city sent
+several of their officers to demand and take into custody the
+prisoners from on board the ship, with intent to punish them
+according to their deserts. Yet fearing lest the captain of the
+pirates should escape out of their hands on shore (as he had
+formerly done, being once their prisoner in the city before), they
+judged it more convenient to leave him safely guarded on board the
+ship for the present. In the meanwhile they caused a gibbet to be
+erected, whereon to hang him the very next day, without any other
+form of trial than to lead him from the ship to the place of punishment.</p>
+
+<p>The rumour of this tragedy was presently brought to the ears of
+Bartholomew Portugues, and he sought all the means he could to
+escape that night. With this design he took two earthen jars, in
+which the Spaniards usually carry wine from Spain to the West
+Indies, and he stopped them very well, intending to use them for
+swimming, as those who are unskilled in that art do a sort of
+pumpkins in Spain, and in other places they use empty bladders.
+Having made this necessary preparation, he waited for the night
+when all should be asleep, even the sentry that guarded him. But
+seeing he could not escape his vigilance, he secretly purchased a
+knife, and with the same gave him a stab that suddenly deprived
+him of life and the possibility of making any noise. At that instant
+Bartholomew Portugues committed himself to the sea, with those
+two earthen jars before mentioned, and by their help and support,
+though never having learned to swim, he reached the shore.
+Having landed, without any delay he took refuge in the woods, where
+he hid himself for three days without daring to appear, not eating
+any food but wild herbs.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 239px;">
+<img src="images/i345.jpg" width="239" height="450" alt="Committed himself to the sea" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>Those of the city failed not the next day to make diligent search
+for him in the woods, where they concluded him to be. This strict
+search Bartholomew Portugues watched from the hollow of a tree,
+wherein he lay concealed. Seeing them return without finding
+what they sought for, he adventured to sally forth towards the
+coast of Golfotriste, forty leagues distant from the city of Campeche.
+Here he arrived within a fortnight after his escape from the ship,
+in which time, as also afterwards, he endured extreme hunger,
+thirst, and fear of falling again into the hands of the Spaniards.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span>
+For during all this journey he had no provision but a small
+calabash with a little water: neither did he eat anything but a few
+shellfish, which he found among the rocks nigh the seashore.
+Besides this, he was compelled to pass some rivers, not knowing
+well how to swim. Being in this distress, he found an old board
+which the waves had thrown upon the shore, in which there stuck
+a few great nails. These he took, and with no small labour whetted
+against a stone, until he made them sharp like knives. With these,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>
+and no other instruments, he cut down some branches of trees,
+which he joined together with twigs and osiers, and as well as he
+could made a boat, or rather a raft, with which he crossed over the
+rivers. Thus he reached the Cape of Golfotriste, as was said before,
+where he happened to find a certain vessel of pirates who wore great
+comrades of his own, and were lately come from Jamaica.</p>
+
+<p>To these pirates he instantly related all his misfortunes, and
+asked of them a boat and twenty men to return to Campeche and
+assault the ship that was in the river, from which he had escaped
+fourteen days before. They readily granted his request, and
+equipped him a boat with the said number of men. With this
+small company he set forth for the execution of his design, which
+he bravely performed eight days after he separated from his comrades;
+for being arrived at the river of Campeche, with undaunted
+courage he assaulted the ship before mentioned. Those
+that were on board were persuaded that Bartholomew's was a boat
+from the land that came to bring goods, and therefore were not on
+their defence. So the pirates assaulted them without any fear of
+ill success, and in a short space of time compelled the Spaniards to
+surrender.</p>
+
+<p>Being now masters of the ship, they immediately weighed
+anchor and set sail, determining to fly from the port, lest they
+should be pursued by other vessels. This they did with extreme
+joy, seeing themselves possessors of such a brave ship&mdash;especially
+Bartholomew Portugues, their captain, who now, by a second turn
+of fortune's wheel, was become rich and powerful again, who had
+been so lately in that same vessel a poor miserable prisoner, and
+condemned to the gallows. With this plunder he designed to do
+great things, for he had found in the vessel a great quantity of rich
+merchandise. Thus he continued his voyage towards Jamaica for
+four days. But coming nigh to the isle of Pino, on the south side
+of the island of Cuba, fortune suddenly turned her back once more,
+never to show him her countenance again; for a horrible storm
+arising at sea caused the ship to split against the rocks, and it was
+totally lost, and Bartholomew, with his companions, escaped in a
+canoe.</p>
+
+<p>In this manner he arrived in Jamaica, where he remained but
+a short time, till he was ready to seek his fortune anew. But from
+that day of disaster it was always ill-luck with him.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span></p>
+<h2><i>THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH FREEBOOTERS</i><a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></h2>
+
+
+<div class='cap'>IN January, 1688, the daring band of French pirates who, sometimes
+alone, sometimes in company with English captains, had
+been cruising in the South Seas, resolved to return to St. Domingo
+with all the treasure they had won from the Spaniards. But it
+was manifest that this return would be a matter of great difficulty.
+They had not one seaworthy vessel left in which to set out for a
+long voyage, and, with forces exhausted by the frightful hardships
+they had gone through in the past years, they had to pass through
+a country peopled by Spaniards&mdash;cowardly, indeed, but innumerable,
+and only longing for revenge on the reckless crew that had plundered
+so many of their rich ships and towns. Moreover, provisions
+were scarce among the Spaniards themselves, and it seemed likely
+that the freebooters, in their passage, would find scant entertainment.
+But they were determined to risk everything, and having
+prayed, and sunk their canoes that the Spaniards might make no
+use of them, they set out on their journey. What followed is thus
+recounted by one of their party, Raveneau de Lussan:&mdash;</div>
+
+<p>The Spaniards, having been warned of our approach, employed
+every means they could think of for our destruction, burning all
+the provisions before us, setting fire to the prairies we entered, so
+that we and our horses were almost stifled, and continually blocking
+our way with great barricades of trees. About three hundred of
+them formed themselves into a kind of escort, and morning and
+evening diverted us with the sound of trumpets, but never dared
+to show their faces.</p>
+
+<p>A detachment of our men were always set to fire into woods
+and thickets, to find out if a Spanish ambush were concealed there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span>
+On January 9 we reached an opening in the forest where we could
+see a good way before us, and therefore did not fire. But we had
+been looking in front for what was really on both sides of us, for
+in the bushes right and left the Spaniards were crouching, and
+presently they let fly on us so suddenly that only half the guard
+had time to fire back, and two of our men were killed on the spot.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i348.jpg" width="400" height="345" alt="They let fly on us" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>On the 10th we found another ambush, where we surprised our
+enemies, who took to flight, abandoning their horses, which became
+our property.</p>
+
+<p>On the 11th, as we drew near Segovia, we found yet
+another ambuscade, which we forced to retire, and passed into the
+town, ready to fight our best&mdash;for we thought that here the
+Spaniards might make a great effort to expel us. But they only
+discharged their muskets at us now and then from the shelter of
+the pine-wood above the town, into which they had fled. But we
+found nothing to eat, for they had burned all the provisions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the 13th, having left Segovia, we climbed a hill which
+looked like a good place to camp, and we saw opposite us, on a
+mountain slope from which only a narrow valley divided us, twelve
+to fifteen hundred horses, which for some time we took for cattle
+pasturing there. Rejoicing in the prospect of good cheer, we sent
+forty men to make sure, and when they came back they told
+us that what we had taken for cattle were horses, ready saddled,
+and that in the same place they had found three intrenchments a
+pistol shot from each other, which, rising by degrees to about the
+middle of the mountain slope, entirely barred the way which we
+meant to travel the next day. These intrenchments commanded
+the river which ran the length of the valley, into which it was
+absolutely necessary for us to descend, there being no other way.
+They saw a man who, having discovered them, threatened them
+with a bare cutlass.</p>
+
+<p>This grievous news was a bitter disappointment to us, especially
+the loss of our supposed cows, for we were perishing with
+hunger. But we had to take courage and find out how to leave
+this place&mdash;and without delay, for the Spaniards, who were assembling
+from all the country round, would fall upon our little
+troop, which must be overwhelmed, if we waited for them. The
+means were not easy to find, and perhaps escape would have
+seemed impossible, except to our reckless band, who had hitherto
+succeeded in nearly all our exploits. But ten thousand men could
+not have crossed that guarded valley without being cut off entirely,
+both by reason of the number of the Spaniards and the position
+they occupied.</p>
+
+<p>Men alone could have gone round without crossing the valley,
+but we could find no way round for the horses and baggage. For
+the country on each side was nothing but a thick forest, without
+the trace of a path, all precipices and ravines, and choked with a
+multitude of fallen trees. And even had we found a way of escape
+through so many obstacles, it was indispensable to fight the
+Spaniards sooner or later, if they were ever to let us alone!</p>
+
+<p>There was only one thing to be done&mdash;to cross these woods,
+rocks, and mountains, however inaccessible they seemed, and
+surprise our enemies, taking advantage of the place by coming
+upon them from above, where they certainly would not expect us.
+As to our prisoners, horses, and baggage, since through all our
+march a troop of three hundred Spaniards had been dogging our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span>
+steps without daring to approach, we would leave eighty men to
+guard them&mdash;enough to beat four times as many Spaniards.</p>
+
+<p>At nightfall we set out, leaving our eighty men, with orders to the
+sentinels to fire and beat the retreat and the diane at the usual times,
+to make the three hundred Spaniards who lurked near us think that
+we had not left the camp. If we were successful we would send back
+messengers with the good news, but if, an hour after the firing
+ended, none of us returned, they were to escape how they could.</p>
+
+<p>All being arranged, we prayed in a low voice, not to be heard
+by the Spaniards, and set out by the moonlight, two hundred men
+of us, through this country of rocks, woods, and frightful precipices,
+where we went leaping and climbing, our feet seeming to be much
+less use to us than our hands and knees.</p>
+
+<p>On the 14th, at the break of day, when we had already
+gained a great height, and were climbing on in profound silence,
+with the Spanish intrenchments to our left, we saw a sentry party,
+which, thanks to the fog&mdash;always thick in this country till ten
+o'clock in the morning&mdash;did not discover us. When it had passed
+we went straight to the place where we had seen it, and we found
+that there was really a road there. This, when we had halted
+half an hour to take breath, we followed, guided by the voices of
+the Spaniards, who were at matins. But we had only gone a few
+steps when we found two sentinels, very far advanced, on whom we
+were forced to fire, which warned the Spaniards, who dreamed of
+nothing less than our coming upon them from above, since they
+only expected us from below. So those who guarded the intrenchment&mdash;about
+five hundred men&mdash;being taken at a disadvantage
+when they thought they had all the advantage on their side, were
+so terribly frightened that, when we fell upon them all at once,
+they vanished from the place in an instant, and escaped into the
+thick fog.</p>
+
+<p>This unexpected assault so utterly upset their plans that the
+men in the second intrenchment all passed into the lowest one,
+where they prepared to defend themselves. We fought them a
+whole hour, under cover of the first intrenchment, which we had
+taken, and which commanded them, being higher up the mountain
+side. But as they would not yield we fancied our shots must have
+missed, since the fog hindered us from seeing our foes distinctly, so,
+resolved to waste no more powder, we went down, and fell right on
+the spot whence they had been firing. Then we assailed them
+furiously, and at sight of our weapons close upon them&mdash;which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span>
+hitherto the fog had concealed&mdash;they left everything, and fled into
+the road below the intrenchments. Here they fell into their own
+trap; for, thinking it was the only road we could possibly come by,
+they had cut down trees and blocked it up, and their way being
+stopped, we could fire upon them from their intrenchment without
+once missing aim.</p>
+
+<p>At last, seeing the river in the ravine running down with blood,
+and tired of pursuing the fugitives, we spared the few remaining
+Spaniards. After we had chanted the 'Te Deum,' sixty of us went
+to tell those left in the camp of the victory which Heaven had
+vouchsafed to us. We found them on the point of giving battle to
+the three hundred Spaniards, who had already (on finding out their
+weakness) sent a message to them by an officer to tell them that
+it was hopeless for them to expect to cross the valley, and to offer
+terms of peace. To which our men replied that were there as many
+Spaniards as the blades of grass in the prairie they would not be
+afraid, but would pass through in spite of them, and go where they
+liked!</p>
+
+<p>The officer, being just dismissed with this message when we
+arrived, shrugged his shoulders with astonishment when he saw us
+safe back again, and mounted on the horses of his comrades of the
+intrenchments. He rode off with the news to his troop, whom we
+presently fired upon, to rid them altogether from their desire to
+follow in our wake. Unfortunately for them they had not time to
+mount their horses, so after a brief conflict, in which a great number
+of them fell, we let the rest go, though we kept their horses. Then,
+with our baggage, we joined those of our men who had stayed to
+guard the intrenchments. In both these combats we had only two
+men slain and four wounded.</p>
+
+<p>Continuing our journey, we passed one more Spanish intrenchment,
+where, since the news of our victory had gone before us, we
+found no resistance. At last, on the sixteenth day of our march,
+we reached the river which we had been seeking eagerly, by whose
+means we meant to gain the sea into which it flowed.</p>
+
+<p>At once we entered the woods which are on its banks, and
+everyone set to work in good earnest to cut down trees, in order
+to construct <i>piperies</i>, with which to descend the river. The reader
+may perhaps imagine that these piperies were some kind of comfortable
+boat to carry us pleasantly along the stream, but they were
+anything but this. We joined together four or five trunks of a kind
+of tree with light floating wood, merely stripping off their bark,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span>
+and binding them, instead of cord, with a climbing plant growing
+in those forests, and embracing the trees like ivy, and when these
+structures, each large enough to hold two men (and in appearance
+something like huge wicker baskets) were completed, vessels and
+crew were ready.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i352.jpg" width="400" height="337" alt="On the raft" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<p>The safest plan was to stand upright in them, armed with long
+poles to push them off from the rocks, against which the fierce
+current every moment threatened to dash them. As it was, they
+sank two or three feet deep in the water, so that we were nearly
+always immersed up to our waists.</p>
+
+<p>This river rises in the mountains of Segovia, and falls into the
+sea at Cape Gracia &aacute; Dios, after having flowed for a long distance,
+with frightful rapidity, among an infinite number of huge rocks,
+and between the most terrible precipices imaginable. We had
+to pass more than a hundred cataracts great and small, and
+there were three which the most daring of us could not look
+at without turning giddy with fear, when we saw and heard
+the water plunging from such a height into those horrible gulfs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span>
+Everything was so fearful that only those who have experienced it
+can imagine it; as for me, though I shall all my life have my
+memory full of pictures of the perils of that voyage, it would be
+impossible for me to give any idea of it which would not be far
+below the reality.</p>
+
+<p>We let ourselves go with the current, so rapid that often, in
+spite of our resistance, it bore us into foaming whirlpools, where we
+were engulfed with our pieces of wood. But happily before the
+greatest cataracts, and also just beyond them, there was a basin of
+calm water, which made it possible for us to gain the bank, drawing
+our piperies after us. Then, taking out of them whatever valuables
+we had there, we descended with these, leaping from rock to rock
+till we had reached the foot of the cataract. Then one of us would
+return and throw the piperies, which we had left behind, down
+into the flood&mdash;and we below caught them as they descended.
+Sometimes, indeed, we failed to catch them, and had to make new
+ones.</p>
+
+<p>When we first set out we voyaged all together, that in case of
+accident we might come to each other's aid. But in three days,
+being out of all danger of the Spaniards, we began to travel separately,
+since a piperie dashed against the rocks had often been
+prevented from freeing itself by other piperies which the current
+hurled against it. It was arranged for those who descended first,
+when they came to an especially dangerous rapid, to hoist a little
+flag at the end of a stick, not to warn those behind of the cataract,
+since they could hear it nearly a league away, but to mark the side
+on which they ought to land. This plan saved a number of lives,
+nevertheless many others were lost.</p>
+
+<p>The bananas which we found on the river bank were almost our
+only nourishment, and saved us from dying of hunger; for, though
+there was plenty of game, our powder and weapons were all wet
+and spoiled, so that we could not hunt.</p>
+
+<p>Some days after we had begun to descend the river, as we were
+travelling separate, several freebooters who had lost all their spoils
+in gambling were guilty of most cruel treachery. Having gone in
+advance, these villains concealed themselves behind some rocks
+commanding the river, in front of which we all had to pass, and as
+everyone was looking after himself, and we descended unsuspiciously,
+at some distance from each other&mdash;for the reasons already given&mdash;they
+had time to fix upon and to massacre five Englishmen, who
+possessed greater shares of booty than the rest of us. They were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>
+completely plundered by these assassins, and my companion and I
+found their dead bodies on the shore. At night, when we were
+encamped on the river bank, I reported what we had seen, and the
+story was confirmed both by the absence of the dead Englishmen
+and of their murderers, who dared not come back to us, and whom
+we never saw again.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th of February we found the river much wider,
+and there were no more cataracts. When we had descended some
+leagues further it was very fine, and the current was gentle, and
+seeing that the worst of our perils were over, we dispersed into
+bands of forty each to make canoes, in which we might safely
+complete our voyage down the river.</p>
+
+<p>On the 1st of March, by dint of great diligence, having finished
+four canoes, a hundred and twenty of us embarked, leaving the
+others, whose canoes were still incomplete, to follow.</p>
+
+<p>On the 9th we reached the mouth of the river in safety, and
+lived there among the mulattos and negroes who inhabit the coast,
+till an English boat, touching there, took on board fifty of us, of
+whom I was one. On the 6th of April, without any other accident,
+we arrived at our destination, St. Domingo.</p>
+
+
+<div class='copyright'>
+PRINTED BY<br />
+SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br />
+LONDON<br /></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class='center'>Just published. Crown 8vo. price 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i><br />
+<br />
+With 546 Illustrations, including 18 Coloured Plates.</div>
+
+<h2>THE OUTDOOR WORLD</h2>
+
+<div class='center'>OR<br />
+<br />
+<i>THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S HANDBOOK.</i><br />
+<br />
+By W. FURNEAUX, F.R.G.S.<br />
+<br />
+&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;<br />
+<br />
+<b>CONTENTS.</b><br />
+<br /></div>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents of book">
+<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">Part I.</span>&mdash;ANIMAL LIFE.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Chap.</span></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Ponds and Streams.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Insects and Insect Hunting.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;The Sea-shore.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Snails and Slugs.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Spiders, Centipedes, and Millepedes.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Reptiles and Reptile Hunting.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;British Birds.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;British Mammals.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='center' colspan='2'><br /><span class="smcap">Part II.</span>&mdash;THE VEGETABLE WORLD.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Chap.</span></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Sea-weeds.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Fungi.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Mosses.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Ferns.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Wild Flowers.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Grasses.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'>&nbsp;Our Forest Trees.</td></tr>
+</table></div><div class='center'><br /><span class="smcap">Part III.</span>&mdash;THE MINERAL WORLD.<br />
+
+<span class="smcap">Chap. XVI.</span> Minerals and Fossils.<br />
+&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;<br />
+
+London: LONGMANS, GREEN, &amp; CO.<br />
+<small>New York: 15 East 16th Street.</small><br /></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The totem is the crest of the Indians.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> From <i>Tanner's Captivity</i>. New York, 1830.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The woodcocks' brae, from the frequency with which they breed there.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Herodotus.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a></p><div class='poem'>
+'I had three sons, who now hae nane,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I bred them toiling sarely,</span><br />
+And I wad bare them a' again<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And lose them a' for Charlie!'</span><br />
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> In this he resembled his father, who, on leaving Scotland after the failure of 1715,
+sent money to Argyll to compensate the country folk whose cottages had been burned in
+the war; an act without precedent or imitation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Charles, about 1743, introduced golf into Italy, according to Lord Elcho.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The authority for this is an unpublished anecdote in Bishop Forbes's MS., <i>The
+Lyon in Mourning</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The authorities are Chambers's <i>Jacobite Memoirs</i>, selected from the MS. <i>Lyon in
+Mourning</i>; Chambers's <i>History of the Rising of 1745</i>; Macdonald of Glenaladale's manuscript,
+published in <i>Blackwood's Magazine</i>; Ewald's <i>History of Prince Charles Edward</i>,
+and the contemporary pamphlets anonymously published by Dr. Burton on information
+derived from Bishop Forbes, who collected it at first hand. Fastened on the interior of
+the cover of the <i>Lyon in Mourning</i> is a shred of the flowered calico worn by the Prince
+in disguise.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Probably the man had tied a piece of black crape over his face as a mask.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> This is rather a picturesque than a critical story of Kaspar Hauser. The evidence
+of the men who first met him shows that he could then speak quite rationally. The
+curious will find a brief but useful account of him in the Duchess of Cleveland's 'Kaspar
+Hauser' (Macmillans. 1893.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Col. Bromhead died recently.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The story is taken from the Saga of Eric the Red, and from the Flatey Book in Mr.
+Reeves's <i>Finding of Wineland the Good</i> (Clarendon Press, 1890). The discovery of
+Vineland was made about the year 1000. The saga of Eric the Red was written about
+1300-1334, but two hundred years before, about 1134, Ari the learned mentions Vineland
+as quite familiar in his <i>&Iacute;slandingab&oacute;k</i>. There are other traces of Vineland,
+earlier than the manuscript of the Saga of Eric the Red. Of course we do not know
+when that saga was first written down. The oldest extant manuscript of it belonged
+to one Hauk, who died in 1334.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> P. 211.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> P. 215.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> P. 217.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> P. 229.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> P. 249.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> P. 257.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> P. 274.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> P. 295.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> P. 271.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> P. 308.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> From <i>Memoirs of the Chevalier de Johnstone</i>. Longmans. London, 1822. The
+Memoirs were written in French, and deposited in the Scots College at Paris. They
+were communicated to Messrs. Longman by Robert Watson, the adventurer, who, under
+Napoleon, was Principal of the Scots College. The Chevalier left a granddaughter, who
+corresponded on the subject of the Memoirs with Sir Walter Scott.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Dr. King, of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>From Thoughts Concerning Man's Condition and Duties in this Life</i>. By Alexander,
+Lord Pitsligo. Edinburgh: Blackwood. 1854.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> What follows is translated from Dumas.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> In 1121 Bishop Eric left Iceland for Vinland, part of America discovered by Leif
+the Lucky (1000-1002). Bishop Eric was heard of no more. Can he have reached the
+Aztecs, and been regarded as a god?</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> 'The return of the French Freebooters from the South Sea, by the mainland, in
+1688.' Written by Sieur Raveneau de Lussan, one of the party, taken from his <i>Journal
+du voyage fait &agrave; la Mer du Sud avec les filibustiers de l'Am&eacute;rique en 1684 et ann&eacute;es suivantes</i>.
+Paris. 1689.</p></div></div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3>
+<p>Obvious punctuation errors corrected.</p>
+<p>Many and varied were the hyphenations in this text due to the different stories. Examples are:
+battlefield and battle-field, and bodyguard and body-guard. These variations were
+retained.</p>
+<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The True Story Book, Edited by Andrew Lang
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The True Story Book
+
+
+Editor: Andrew Lang
+
+Release Date: December 23, 2008  [eBook #27602]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Emmy, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 27602-h.htm or 27602-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/6/0/27602/27602-h/27602-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/6/0/27602/27602-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+THE TRUE STORY BOOK
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+WORKS BY ANDREW LANG.
+
+
+          HOMER AND THE EPIC. Crown 8vo. 9_s._ _net._
+
+          CUSTOM AND MYTH: Studies of Early Usage and
+          Belief. With 15 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3_s._
+          6_d._
+
+          BALLADS OF BOOKS. Edited by ANDREW LANG. Fcp. 8vo.
+          6_s._
+
+          LETTERS TO DEAD AUTHORS. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._
+          _net._
+
+          BOOKS AND BOOKMEN. With 2 Coloured Plates and 17
+          Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          OLD FRIENDS. Fcp. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          LETTERS ON LITERATURE. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._
+          _net._.
+
+          GRASS OF PARNASSUS. Fcp. 8vo. 2_s._ 6_d._ _net._
+
+          ANGLING SKETCHES. With 20 Illustrations by W. G.
+          Burn-Murdoch. Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+          THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With 8
+          Plates and 130 Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford and G. P. Jacomb Hood. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE RED FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With 4
+          Plates and 96 Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE GREEN FAIRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          11 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by H.
+          J. Ford. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          THE BLUE POETRY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          12 Plates and 88 Illustrations in the Text by H.
+          J. Ford and Lancelot Speed. Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          SCHOOL EDITION, without Illustrations. Fcp. 8vo.
+          2_s._ 6_d._
+
+          SPECIAL EDITION, printed on Indian paper. With
+          Notes, but without Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 7_s._
+          6_d._
+
+          THE TRUE STORY BOOK. Edited by ANDREW LANG. With
+          Plates and Illustrations in the Text by H. J.
+          Ford, Lucien Davis, Lancelot Speed, and L. Bogle.
+          Crown 8vo. 6_s._
+
+          London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO.
+          New York: 15 East 16th Street.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS]
+
+
+THE TRUE STORY BOOK
+
+Edited by
+
+ANDREW LANG
+
+With Numerous Illustrations by L. Bogle, Lucien Davis, H. J. Ford,
+C. H. M. Kerr, and Lancelot Speed
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+London
+Longmans, Green, and Co
+and New York: 15 East 16th Street
+1893
+
+All rights reserved
+
+
+
+
+_DEDICATION_
+
+_TO FRANCIS McCUNN_
+
+
+          _You like the things I used to like,
+             The things I'm fond of still,
+           The sound of fairy wands that strike
+             Men into beasts at will;_
+
+          _The cruel stepmother, the fair
+             Stepdaughter, kind and leal,
+           The bull and bear so debonair,
+             The trenchant fairy steel._
+
+          _You love the world where brute and fish
+             Converse with man and bird,
+           Where dungeons open at a wish,
+             And seas dry at a word._
+
+          _That merry world to-day we leave,
+             We list an ower-true tale,
+           Of hearts that sore for Charlie grieve,
+            When handsome princes fail,_
+
+          _Of gallant races overthrown,
+             Of dungeons ill to climb,
+           There's no such tale of trouble known,
+             In all the fairy time._
+
+          _There Montezuma still were king,
+             There Charles would wear the crown,
+           And there the Highlanders would ding
+             The Hanoverian down:_
+
+          _In Fairyland the Rightful Cause
+             Is never long a-winning,
+           In Fairyland the fairy laws
+             Are prompt to punish sinning:_
+
+          _For Fairyland's the land of joy,
+             And this the world of pain,
+           So back to Fairyland, my boy,
+             We'll journey once again!_
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+IT is not without diffidence that the editor offers _The True Story
+Book_ to children. We have now given them three fairy books, and their
+very kind and flattering letters to the editor prove, not only that they
+like the three fairy books, but that they clamour for more. What
+disappointment, then, to receive a volume full of adventures which
+actually happened to real people! There is not a dragon in the
+collection, nor even a giant; witches, here, play no part, and almost
+all the characters are grown up. On the other hand, if we have no
+fairies, we have princes in plenty, and a sweeter young prince than
+Tearlach (as far as this part of his story goes) the editor flatters
+himself that you shall nowhere find, not in Grimm, or Dasent, or
+Perrault. Still, it cannot be denied that true stories are not so good
+as fairy tales. They do not always end happily, and, what is worse, they
+do remind a young student of lessons and schoolrooms. A child may fear
+that he is being taught under a specious pretence of diversion, and that
+learning is being thrust on him under the disguise of entertainment.
+Prince Charlie and Cortes may be asked about in examinations, whereas no
+examiner has hitherto set questions on 'Blue Beard,' or 'Heart of Ice,'
+or 'The Red Etin of Ireland.' There is, to be honest, no way of getting
+over this difficulty. But the editor vows that he does not mean to teach
+anybody, and he has tried to mix the stories up so much that no clear
+and consecutive view of history can possibly be obtained from them;
+moreover, when history does come in, it is not the kind of history
+favoured most by examiners. They seldom set questions on the conquest of
+Mexico, for example.
+
+That is a very long story, but, to the editor's taste, it is simply the
+best true story in the world, the most unlikely, and the most romantic.
+For who could have supposed that the new-found world of the West held
+all that wealth of treasure, emeralds and gold, all those people, so
+beautiful and brave, so courteous and cruel, with their terrible gods,
+hideous human sacrifices, and almost Christian prayers? That a handful
+of Spaniards, themselves mistaken for children of a white god, should
+have crossed the sea, should have found a lovely lady, as in a fairy
+tale, ready to lead them to victory, should have planted the cross on
+the shambles of Huitzilopochtli, after that wild battle on the temple
+crest, should have been driven in rout from, and then recaptured, the
+Venice of the West, the lake city of Mexico--all this is as strange, as
+unlooked for, as any story of adventures in a new planet could be. No
+invention of fights and wanderings in Noman's land, no search for the
+mines of Solomon the king, can approach, for strangeness and romance,
+this tale, which is true, and vouched for by Spanish conquerors like
+Bernal Diaz, and by native historians like Ixtlilochitl, and by later
+missionaries like Sahagun. Cortes is the great original of all
+treasure-hunters and explorers in fiction, and here no feigned tale can
+be the equal of the real. As Mr. Prescott's admirable history is not a
+book much read by children (nor even by 'grown-ups' for that matter),
+the editor hopes children will be pleased to find the 'Adventures in
+Anahuac' in this collection. Miss Edgeworth tells us in _Orlandino_ how
+much the tale delighted the young before Mr. Prescott wrote that
+excellent narrative of the world's chief adventure. May it please still,
+as it did when the century was young!
+
+The adventures of Prince Charlie are already known, in part, to boys and
+girls who have read the _Tales of a Grandfather_, for pleasure and not
+as a school book. But here Mrs. McCunn has treated of them at greater
+length and more minutely. The source, here, is in these seven brown
+octavo volumes, all written in the closest hand, which are a treasure of
+the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh. The author is Mr. Forbes, a bishop
+of the persecuted Episcopalian Church in Scotland. Mr. Forbes collected
+his information very carefully, closely comparing the narratives of the
+various actors in the story. Into the boards of his volumes are fastened
+a scrap of the Prince's tartan waistcoat, a rag from his sprigged calico
+dress, a bit of his brogues--a twopenny treasure that has been wept and
+prayed over by the faithful. Nobody, in a book for children, would have
+the heart to tell the tale of the Prince's later years, of a moody,
+heart-broken, degraded exile. But, in the hills and the isles, bating a
+little wilfulness and foolhardiness, and the affair of the broken
+punch-bowl, Prince Charles is a model for princes and all men, brave,
+gay, much-enduring, good-humoured, kind, royally courteous, and
+considerate, even beyond what may be gathered from this part of the
+book, while the loyalty of the Highlanders (as in the case of Mackinnon,
+flogged nearly to death) was proof against torture as well as against
+gold. It is the Sobieski strain, not the Stuart, that we here admire in
+Prince Charles; it is a piety, a loyalty, a goodness like Gordon's that
+we revere in old Lord Pitsligo in another story.
+
+Many of the tales are concerned with fighting, for that is the most
+dramatic part of mortal business. These English captives who retake a
+ship from the Turks, these heroes of the _Shannon_ and the _Chesapeake_,
+were doubtless good men and true in all their lives, but the light of
+history only falls on them in war. The immortal Three Hundred of
+Thermopylae would also have been unknown, had they not died, to a man,
+for the sake of the honour of Lacedaemon. The editor conceives that it
+would have been easy to give more 'local colour' to the sketch of
+Thermopylae: to have dealt in description of the Immortals, drawn from
+the friezes in Susa, lately discovered by French enterprise. But the
+story is Greek, and the Greeks did not tell their stories in that way,
+but with a simplicity almost bald. Yet who dare alter and 'improve' the
+narrative of Herodotus? In another most romantic event, the finding of
+Vineland the Good, by Leif the Lucky, our materials are vague with the
+vagueness of a dream. Later fancy has meddled with the truth of the
+saga. English readers, no doubt, best catch the charm of the adventure
+in Mr. Rudyard Kipling's astonishingly imaginative tale called 'The Best
+Story in the World.' For the account of Isandhlwana, and Rorke's Drift,
+'an ower-true tale,' the editor has to thank his friend Mr. Rider
+Haggard, who was in South Africa at the time of the disaster, and who
+has generously given time and labour to the task of ascertaining, as far
+as it can be ascertained, the exact truth of the melancholy, but,
+finally, not inglorious, business. The legend of 'Two Great Cricket
+Matches' is taken, in part, from Lillywhite's scores, and Mr. Robert
+Lyttelton's spirited pages in the 'Badminton' book of Cricket. The
+second match the editor writes of 'as he who saw it,' to quote Caxton on
+Dares Phrygius. These legends prove that a match is never lost till it
+is won.
+
+Some of the True Stories contain, we may surmise, traces of the
+imaginative faculty. The escapes of Benvenuto Cellini, of Trenck, and of
+Casanova must be taken as the heroes chose to report them; Benvenuto and
+Casanova have no firm reputation for veracity. Again, the escape of
+Caesar Borgia is from a version handed down by the great Alexandre
+Dumas, and we may surmise that Alexandre allowed it to lose nothing in
+the telling; he may have 'given it a sword and a cocked hat,' as was Sir
+Walter's wont. About Kaspar Hauser's mystery we can hardly speak of 'the
+truth,' for the exact truth will never be known. The depositions of the
+earliest witnesses were not taken at once; some witnesses altered their
+evidence in later years; parts of the records of Nuremberg are lost in
+suspicious circumstances. The Duchess of Cleveland's book, _Kaspar
+Hauser_, is written in defence of her father, Lord Stanhope. The charges
+against Lord Stanhope, that he aided in, or connived at, the slaying of
+Kaspar, because Kaspar was the true heir of the House of Baden--are as
+childish as they are wicked. But the Duchess hardly allows for the
+difficulties in which we find ourselves if we regard Kaspar as
+absolutely and throughout an impostor. This, however, is not the place
+to discuss an historical mystery; this 'true story' is told as a romance
+founded on fact; the hypothesis that Kaspar was a son and heir of the
+house of Baden seems, to the editor, to be absolutely devoid of
+evidence.
+
+To Madame Von Platt Stuart the author owes permission to quote the
+striking adventures of her father, or of her uncle, on the flooded
+Findhorn. The _Lays of the Deer Forest_, which contain this tale in the
+volume of notes, were written by John Sobieski Stuart, and by Charles
+Edward Stuart, and the editor is uncertain as to which of those
+gentlemen was the hero of these perilous crossings of the Highland
+river. Many other good tales, legends, and studies of natural history
+and of Highland manners may be found in the _Lays of the Deer Forest_,
+apart from the curious interest of the poems. On the whole, with certain
+exceptions, the editor has tried to find true stories rather out of the
+beaten paths of history; the narrative of John Tanner, for instance, is
+probably true, but the book in which his adventures were published is
+now rather difficult to procure. For 'A Boy among the Red Indians,' 'Two
+Cricket Matches,' 'The Spartan Three Hundred,' 'The Finding of Vineland
+the Good,' and 'The Escapes of Lord Pitsligo,' the editor is himself
+responsible, as far as they do not consist of extracts from the original
+sources. Miss May Kendall translated or adapted Casanova's escape and
+the piratical and Algerine tales. Mrs. Lang reduced the narrative of the
+Chevalier Johnstone, and did the escapes of Caesar Borgia, of Trenck, and
+Cervantes, while Miss Blackley renders that of Benvenuto Cellini. Mrs.
+McCunn, as already said, compiled from the sources indicated the
+Adventures of Prince Charles, and she tells the story of Grace Darling;
+the contemporary account is, unluckily, rather meagre. Miss Alleyne did
+'The Kidnapping of the Princes,' Mrs. Plowden the 'Story of Kaspar
+Hauser.' Miss Wright reduced the Adventures of Cortes from Prescott, and
+Mr. Rider Haggard has already been mentioned in connection with
+Isandhlwana.
+
+Here the editor leaves _The True Story Book_ to the indulgence of
+children, explaining, once more, that his respect for their judgment is
+very great, and that he would not dream of imposing _lessons_ on _them_,
+in the shape of a Christmas book. No, lessons are one thing, and stories
+are another. But though fiction is undeniably stranger and more
+attractive than truth, yet true stories are also rather attractive and
+strange, now and then. And, after all, we may return once more to
+Fairyland, after this excursion into the actual workaday world.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                       PAGE
+
+  _A Boy among the Red Indians_                           1
+
+  _Casanova's Escape_                                    16
+
+  _Adventures on the Findhorn_                           29
+
+  _The Story of Grace Darling_                           41
+
+  _The 'Shannon' and the 'Chesapeake'_                   48
+
+  _Captain Snelgrave and the Pirates_                    52
+
+  _The Spartan Three Hundred_                            64
+
+  _Prince Charlie's Wanderings_                          68
+
+  _Two Great Matches_                                   105
+
+  _The Story of Kaspar Hauser_                          113
+
+  _An Artist's Adventure_                               122
+
+  _The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift_           132
+
+  _How Leif the Lucky found Vineland the Good_          153
+
+  _The Escapes of Cervantes_                            161
+
+  _The Worthy Enterprise of John Foxe_                  168
+
+  _Baron Trenck_                                        176
+
+  _The Adventure of John Rawlins_                       186
+
+  _The Chevalier Johnstone's Escape from Culloden_      193
+
+  _The Adventures of Lord Pitsligo_                     207
+
+  _The Escape of Caesar Borgia from the Castle of
+       Medina del Campo_                                213
+
+  _The Kidnapping of the Princes_                       219
+
+  _The Conquest of Montezuma's Empire_                  224
+
+  _Adventures of Bartholomew Portugues, a Pirate_       326
+
+  _The Return of the French Freebooters_                330
+
+
+
+
+PLATES
+
+
+  _Montezuma greets the Spaniards_           _Frontispiece_
+
+  _The Findhorn_                               _To face_ 36
+
+  _Grace Darling_                                  "     44
+
+  _'Some of the Pirates . . . had thrown several
+       Buckets of Claret upon him'_                 "     60
+
+  _The Ball hit the Middle Stump_                  "    108
+
+  _He prepared to attack the Sentry_               "    126
+
+  _Montezuma greets the Spaniards_                 "    270
+
+  _Cortes in the Temple of Huitzilopochtli_        "    276
+
+  _Montezuma assailed by Missiles_                 "    296
+
+
+
+
+_A BOY AMONG THE RED INDIANS_
+
+
+THE earliest event of my life which I distinctly remember (says John
+Tanner) is the death of my mother. This happened when I was two years
+old, and many of the attending circumstances made so deep an impression
+that they are still fresh in my memory. I cannot recollect the name of
+the settlement at which we lived, but I have since learned it was on the
+Kentucky River, at a considerable distance from the Ohio.
+
+My father, whose name was John Tanner, was an emigrant from Virginia,
+and had been a clergyman.
+
+When about to start one morning to a village at some distance, he gave,
+as it appeared, a strict charge to my sisters, Agatha and Lucy, to send
+me to school; but this they neglected to do until afternoon, and then,
+as the weather was rainy and unpleasant, I insisted on remaining at
+home. When my father returned at night, and found that I had been at
+home all day, he sent me for a parcel of small canes, and flogged me
+much more severely than I could suppose the offence merited. I was
+displeased with my sisters for attributing all the blame to me, when
+they had neglected even to tell me to go to school in the forenoon. From
+that time, my father's house was less like home to me, and I often
+thought and said, 'I wish I could go and live among the Indians.'
+
+One day we went from Cincinnati to the mouth of the Big Miami, opposite
+which we were to settle. Here was some cleared land, and one or two log
+cabins, but they had been deserted on account of the Indians. My father
+rebuilt the cabins, and inclosed them with a strong picket. It was early
+in the spring when we arrived at the mouth of the Big Miami, and we were
+soon engaged in preparing a field to plant corn. I think it was not more
+than ten days after our arrival, when my father told us in the morning,
+that, from the actions of the horses, he perceived there were Indians
+lurking about in the woods, and he said to me, 'John, you must not go
+out of the house to-day.' After giving strict charge to my stepmother to
+let none of the little children go out, he went to the field, with the
+negroes, and my elder brother, to drop corn.
+
+Three little children, besides myself, were left in the house with my
+stepmother. To prevent me from going out, my stepmother required me to
+take care of the little child, then not more than a few months old; but
+as I soon became impatient of confinement, I began to pinch my little
+brother, to make him cry. My mother, perceiving his uneasiness, told me
+to take him in my arms and walk about the house; I did so, but continued
+to pinch him. My mother at length took him from me to nurse him. I
+watched my opportunity, and escaped into the yard; thence through a
+small door in the large gate of the wall into the open field. There was
+a walnut-tree at some distance from the house, and near the side of the
+field where I had been in the habit of finding some of the last year's
+nuts. To gain this tree without being seen by my father and those in the
+field, I had to use some precaution. I remember perfectly well having
+seen my father, as I skulked towards the tree; he stood in the middle of
+the field, with his gun in his hand, to watch for Indians, while the
+others were dropping corn. As I came near the tree, I thought to myself,
+'I wish I could see these Indians.' I had partly filled with nuts a
+straw hat which I wore, when I heard a crackling noise behind me; I
+looked round, and saw the Indians; almost at the same instant, I was
+seized by both hands, and dragged off betwixt two. One of them took my
+straw hat, emptied the nuts on the ground, and put it on my head. The
+Indians who seized me were an old man and a young one; these were, as I
+learned subsequently, Manito-o-geezhik, and his son Kish-kau-ko.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After I saw myself firmly seized by both wrists by the two Indians, I
+was not conscious of anything that passed for a considerable time. I
+must have fainted, as I did not cry out, and I can remember nothing that
+happened to me until they threw me over a large log, which must have
+been at a considerable distance from the house. The old man I did not
+now see; I was dragged along between Kish-kau-ko and a very short thick
+man. I had probably made some resistance, or done something to irritate
+this last, for he took me a little to one side, and drawing his
+tomahawk, motioned to me to look up. This I plainly understood, from the
+expression of his face, and his manner, to be a direction for me to look
+up for the last time, as he was about to kill me. I did as he directed,
+but Kish-kau-ko caught his hand as the tomahawk was descending, and
+prevented him from burying it in my brains. Loud talking ensued between
+the two. Kish-kau-ko presently raised a yell: the old man and four
+others answered it by a similar yell, and came running up. I have since
+understood that Kish-kau-ko complained to his father that the short man
+had made an attempt to kill his little brother, as he called me. The
+old chief, after reproving him, took me by one hand, and Kish-kau-ko by
+the other and dragged me betwixt them, the man who had threatened to
+kill me, and who was now an object of terror to me, being kept at some
+distance. I could perceive, as I retarded them somewhat in their
+retreat, that they were apprehensive of being overtaken; some of them
+were always at some distance from us.
+
+It was about one mile from my father's house to the place where they
+threw me into a hickory-bark canoe, which was concealed under the
+bushes, on the bank of the river. Into this they all seven jumped, and
+immediately crossed the Ohio, landing at the mouth of the Big Miami, and
+on the south side of that river. Here they abandoned their canoe, and
+stuck their paddles in the ground, so that they could be seen from the
+river. At a little distance in the woods they had some blankets and
+provisions concealed; they offered me some dry venison and bear's
+grease, but I could not eat. My father's house was plainly to be seen
+from the place where we stood; they pointed at it, looked at me, and
+laughed, but I have never known what they said.
+
+After they had eaten a little, they began to ascend the Miami, dragging
+me along as before.
+
+It must have been early in the spring when we arrived at Sau-ge-nong,
+for I can remember that at this time the leaves were small, and the
+Indians were about planting their corn. They managed to make me assist
+at their labours, partly by signs, and partly by the few words of
+English old Manito-o-geezhik could speak. After planting, they all left
+the village, and went out to hunt and dry meat. When they came to their
+hunting-grounds, they chose a place where many deer resorted, and here
+they began to build a long screen like a fence; this they made of green
+boughs and small trees. When they had built a part of it, they showed me
+how to remove the leaves and dry brush from that side of it to which the
+Indians were to come to shoot the deer. In this labour I was sometimes
+assisted by the squaws and children, but at other times I was left
+alone. It now began to be warm weather, and it happened one day that,
+having been left alone, as I was tired and thirsty, I fell asleep. I
+cannot tell how long I slept, but when I began to awake, I thought I
+heard someone crying a great way off. Then I tried to raise up my head,
+but could not. Being now more awake, I saw my Indian mother and sister
+standing by me, and perceived that my face and head were wet. The old
+woman and her daughter were crying bitterly, but it was some time
+before I perceived that my head was badly cut and bruised. It appears
+that, after I had fallen asleep, Manito-o-geezhik, passing that way, had
+perceived me, had tomahawked me, and thrown me in the bushes; and that
+when he came to his camp he had said to his wife, 'Old woman, the boy I
+brought you is good for nothing; I have killed him; you will find him in
+such a place.' The old woman and her daughter having found me,
+discovered still some signs of life, and had stood over me a long time,
+crying, and pouring cold water on my head, when I waked. In a few days I
+recovered in some measure from this hurt, and was again set to work at
+the screen, but I was more careful not to fall asleep; I endeavoured to
+assist them at their labours, and to comply in all instances with their
+directions, but I was notwithstanding treated with great harshness,
+particularly by the old man, and his two sons She-mung and Kwo-tash-e.
+While we remained at the hunting camp, one of them put a bridle in my
+hand, and pointing in a certain direction motioned me to go. I went
+accordingly, supposing he wished me to bring a horse: I went and caught
+the first I could find, and in this way I learned to discharge such
+services as they required of me.
+
+I had been about two years at Sau-ge-nong, when a great council was
+called by the British agents at Mackinac. This council was attended by
+the Sioux, the Winnebagoes, the Menomonees, and many remote tribes, as
+well as by the Ojibbeways, Ottawwaws, &c. When old Manito-o-geezhik
+returned from this council, I soon learned that he had met there his
+kinswoman, Net-no-kwa, who, notwithstanding her sex, was then regarded
+as principal chief of the Ottawwaws. This woman had lost her son, of
+about my age, by death; and, having heard of me, she wished to purchase
+me to supply his place. My old Indian mother, the Otter woman, when she
+heard of this, protested vehemently against it. I heard her say, 'My son
+has been dead once, and has been restored to me; I cannot lose him
+again.' But these remonstrances had little influence when Net-no-kwa
+arrived with plenty of whisky and other presents. She brought to the
+lodge first a ten-gallon keg of whisky, blankets, tobacco, and other
+articles of great value. She was perfectly acquainted with the
+dispositions of those with whom she had to negotiate. Objections were
+made to the exchange until the contents of the keg had circulated for
+some time; then an additional keg, and a few more presents, completed
+the bargain, and I was transferred to Net-no-kwa. This woman, who was
+then advanced in years, was of a more pleasing aspect than my former
+mother. She took me by the hand, after she had completed the negotiation
+with my former possessors, and led me to her own lodge, which stood
+near. Here I soon found I was to be treated more indulgently than I had
+been. She gave me plenty of food, put good clothes upon me, and told me
+to go and play with her own sons. We remained but a short time at
+Sau-ge-nong. She would not stop with me at Mackinac, which we passed in
+the night, but ran along to Point St. Ignace, where she hired some
+Indians to take care of me, while she returned to Mackinac by herself,
+or with one or two of her young men. After finishing her business at
+Mackinac, she returned, and, continuing on our journey, we arrived in a
+few days at Shab-a-wy-wy-a-gun.
+
+The husband of Net-no-kwa was an Ojibbeway of Red River, called
+Taw-ga-we-ninne, the hunter. He was seventeen years younger than
+Net-no-kwa, and had turned off a former wife on being married to her.
+Taw-ga-we-ninne was always indulgent and kind to me, treating me like an
+equal, rather than as a dependent. When speaking to me, he always called
+me his son. Indeed, he himself was but of secondary importance in the
+family, as everything belonged to Net-no-kwa, and she had the direction
+in all affairs of any moment. She imposed on me, for the first year,
+some tasks. She made me cut wood, bring home game, bring water, and
+perform other services not commonly required of the boys of my age; but
+she treated me invariably with so much kindness that I was far more
+happy and content than I had been in the family of Manito-o-geezhik. She
+sometimes whipped me, as she did her own children: but I was not so
+severely and frequently beaten as I had been before.
+
+Early in the spring, Net-no-kwa and her husband, with their family,
+started to go to Mackinac. They left me, as they had done before, at
+Point St. Ignace, as they would not run the risk of losing me by
+suffering me to be seen at Mackinac. On our return, after we had gone
+twenty-five or thirty miles from Point St. Ignace, we were detained by
+contrary winds at a place called Me-nau-ko-king, a point running out
+into the lake. Here we encamped with some other Indians, and a party of
+traders. Pigeons were very numerous in the woods, and the boys of my
+age, and the traders, were busy shooting them. I had never killed any
+game, and, indeed, had never in my life discharged a gun. My mother had
+purchased at Mackinac a keg of powder, which, as they thought it a
+little damp, was here spread out to dry. Taw-ga-we-ninne had a large
+horseman's pistol; and, finding myself somewhat emboldened by his
+indulgent manner toward me, I requested permission to go and try to kill
+some pigeons with the pistol. My request was seconded by Net-no-kwa, who
+said, 'It is time for our son to begin to learn to be a hunter.'
+Accordingly, my father, as I called Taw-ga-we-ninne, loaded the pistol
+and gave it to me, saying, 'Go, my son, and if you kill anything with
+this, you shall immediately have a gun and learn to hunt.' Since I have
+been a man, I have been placed in difficult situations; but my anxiety
+for success was never greater than in this, my first essay as a hunter.
+I had not gone far from the camp before I met with pigeons, and some of
+them alighted in the bushes very near me. I cocked my pistol, and raised
+it to my face, bringing the breech almost in contact with my nose.
+Having brought the sight to bear upon the pigeon, I pulled trigger, and
+was in the next instant sensible of a humming noise, like that of a
+stone sent swiftly through the air. I found the pistol at the distance
+of some paces behind me, and the pigeon under the tree on which he had
+been sitting. My face was much bruised, and covered with blood. I ran
+home, carrying my pigeon in triumph. My face was speedily bound up; my
+pistol exchanged for a fowling-piece; I was accoutred with a
+powder-horn, and furnished with shot, and allowed to go out after birds.
+One of the young Indians went with me, to observe my manner of shooting.
+I killed three more pigeons in the course of the afternoon, and did not
+discharge my gun once without killing. Henceforth I began to be treated
+with more consideration, and was allowed to hunt often, that I might
+become expert.
+
+Game began to be scarce, and we all suffered from hunger. The chief man
+of our band was called As-sin-ne-boi-nainse (the Little Assinneboin),
+and he now proposed to us all to move, as the country where we were was
+exhausted. The day on which we were to commence our removal was fixed
+upon, but before it arrived our necessities became extreme. The evening
+before the day on which we intended to move my mother talked much of all
+our misfortunes and losses, as well as of the urgent distress under
+which we were then labouring. At the usual hour I went to sleep, as did
+all the younger part of the family; but I was wakened again by the loud
+praying and singing of the old woman, who continued her devotions
+through great part of the night. Very early on the following morning she
+called us all to get up, and put on our moccasins, and be ready to
+move. She then called Wa-me-gon-a-biew to her, and said to him, in
+rather a low voice, 'My son, last night I sung and prayed to the Great
+Spirit, and when I slept, there came to me one like a man, and said to
+me, "Net-no-kwa, to-morrow you shall eat a bear. There is, at a distance
+from the path you are to travel to-morrow, and in such a direction"
+(which she described to him), "a small round meadow, with something like
+a path leading from it; in that path there is a bear." Now, my son, I
+wish you to go to that place, without mentioning to anyone what I have
+said, and you will certainly find the bear, as I have described to you.'
+But the young man, who was not particularly dutiful, or apt to regard
+what his mother said, going out of the lodge, spoke sneeringly to the
+other Indians of the dream. 'The old woman,' said he, 'tells me we are
+to eat a bear to-day; but I do not know who is to kill it.' The old
+woman, hearing him, called him in, and reproved him; but she could not
+prevail upon him to go to hunt.
+
+I had my gun with me, and I continued to think of the conversation I had
+heard between my mother and Wa-me-gon-a-biew respecting her dream. At
+length I resolved to go in search of the place she had spoken of, and
+without mentioning to anyone my design, I loaded my gun as for a bear,
+and set off on our back track. I soon met a woman belonging to one of
+the brothers of Taw-ga-we-ninne, and of course my aunt. This woman had
+shown little friendship for us, considering us as a burthen upon her
+husband, who sometimes gave something for our support; she had also
+often ridiculed me. She asked me immediately what I was doing on the
+path, and whether I expected to kill Indians, that I came there with my
+gun. I made her no answer; and thinking I must be not far from the place
+where my mother had told Wa-me-gon-a-biew to leave the path, I turned
+off, continuing carefully to regard all the directions she had given. At
+length I found what appeared at some former time to have been a pond. It
+was a small, round, open place in the woods, now grown up with grass and
+small bushes. This I thought must be the meadow my mother had spoken of;
+and examining around it, I came to an open space in the bushes, where,
+it is probable, a small brook ran from the meadow; but the snow was now
+so deep that I could see nothing of it. My mother had mentioned that,
+when she saw the bear in her dream, she had, at the same time, seen a
+smoke rising from the ground. I was confident this was the place she had
+indicated, and I watched long, expecting to see the smoke; but, wearied
+at length with waiting, I walked a few paces into the open place,
+resembling a path, when I unexpectedly fell up to my middle in the snow.
+I extricated myself without difficulty, and walked on; but, remembering
+that I had heard the Indians speak of killing bears in their holes, it
+occurred to me that it might be a bear's hole into which I had fallen,
+and, looking down into it, I saw the head of a bear lying close to the
+bottom of the hole. I placed the muzzle of my gun nearly between his
+eyes and discharged it. As soon as the smoke cleared away, I took a
+piece of stick and thrust it into the eyes and into the wound in the
+head of the bear, and, being satisfied that he was dead, I endeavoured
+to lift him out of the hole; but being unable to do this, I returned
+home, following the track I had made in coming out. As I came near the
+camp, where the squaws had by this time set up the lodges, I met the
+same woman I had seen in going out, and she immediately began again to
+ridicule me. 'Have you killed a bear, that you come back so soon, and
+walk so fast?' I thought to myself, 'How does she know that I have
+killed a bear?' But I passed by her without saying anything, and went
+into my mother's lodge. After a few minutes, the old woman said, 'My
+son, look in that kettle, and you will find a mouthful of beaver meat,
+which a man gave me since you left us in the morning. You must leave
+half of it for Wa-me-gon-a-biew, who has not yet returned from hunting,
+and has eaten nothing to-day.' I accordingly ate the beaver meat, and
+when I had finished it, observing an opportunity when she stood by
+herself, I stepped up to her, and whispered in her ear, 'My mother, I
+have killed a bear.' 'What do you say, my son?' said she. 'I have killed
+a bear.' 'Are you sure you have killed him?' 'Yes.' 'Is he quite dead?'
+'Yes.' She watched my face for a moment, and then caught me in her arms,
+hugging and kissing me with great earnestness, and for a long time. I
+then told her what my aunt had said to me, both going and returning, and
+this being told to her husband when he returned, he not only reproved
+her for it, but gave her a severe flogging. The bear was sent for, and,
+as being the first I had killed, was cooked all together, and the
+hunters of the whole band invited to feast with us, according to the
+custom of the Indians. The same day one of the Crees killed a bear and a
+moose, and gave a large share of the meat to my mother.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One winter I hunted for a trader called by the Indians Aneeb, which
+means an elm-tree. As the winter advanced, and the weather became more
+and more cold, I found it difficult to procure as much game as I had
+been in the habit of supplying, and as was wanted by the trader. Early
+one morning, about mid-winter, I started an elk. I pursued until night,
+and had almost overtaken him; but hope and strength failed me at the
+same time. What clothing I had on me, notwithstanding the extreme
+coldness of the weather, was drenched with sweat. It was not long after
+I turned towards home that I felt it stiffening about me. My leggings
+were of cloth, and were torn in pieces in running through the bush. I
+was conscious I was somewhat frozen before I arrived at the place where
+I had left our lodge standing in the morning, and it was now midnight.
+I knew it had been the old woman's intention to move, and I knew where
+she would go; but I had not been informed she would go on that day. As I
+followed on their path, I soon ceased to suffer from cold, and felt that
+sleepy sensation which I knew preceded the last stage of weakness in
+such as die of cold. I redoubled my efforts, but with an entire
+consciousness of the danger of my situation; it was with no small
+difficulty that I could prevent myself from lying down. At length I lost
+all consciousness for some time, how long I cannot tell, and, awaking as
+from a dream, I found I had been walking round and round in a small
+circle not more than twenty or twenty-five yards over. After the return
+of my senses, I looked about to try to discover my path, as I had missed
+it; but, while I was looking, I discovered a light at a distance, by
+which I directed my course. Once more, before I reached the lodge, I
+lost my senses; but I did not fall down; if I had, I should never have
+got up again; but I ran round and round in a circle as before. When I at
+last came into the lodge, I immediately fell down, but I did not lose
+myself as before. I can remember seeing the thick and sparkling coat of
+frost on the inside of the pukkwi lodge, and hearing my mother say that
+she had kept a large fire in expectation of my arrival; and that she had
+not thought I should have been so long gone in the morning, but that I
+should have known long before night of her having moved. It was a month
+before I was able to go out again, my face, hands, and legs having been
+much frozen.
+
+There is, on the bank of the Little Saskawjewun, a place which looks
+like one the Indians would always choose to encamp at. In a bend of the
+river is a beautiful landing-place, behind it a little plain, a thick
+wood, and a small hill rising abruptly in the rear. But with that spot
+is connected a story of fratricide, a crime so uncommon that the spot
+where it happened is held in detestation, and regarded with terror. No
+Indian will land his canoe, much less encamp, at '_the place of the two
+dead men_.' They relate that many years ago the Indians were encamped
+here, when a quarrel arose between two brothers, having she-she-gwi for
+totems.[1] One drew his knife and slew the other; but those of the band
+who were present, looked upon the crime as so horrid that, without
+hesitation or delay, they killed the murderer, and buried them together.
+
+As I approached this spot, I thought much of the story of the two
+brothers, who bore the same totem with myself, and were, as I supposed,
+related to my Indian mother. I had heard it said that, if any man
+encamped near their graves, as some had done soon after they were
+buried, they would be seen to come out of the ground, and either re-act
+the quarrel and the murder, or in some other manner so annoy and disturb
+their visitors that they could not sleep. Curiosity was in part my
+motive, and I wished to be able to tell the Indians that _I_ not only
+stopped, but slept quietly at a place which they shunned with so much
+fear and caution. The sun was going down as I arrived; and I pushed my
+little canoe in to the shore, kindled a fire, and, after eating my
+supper, lay down and slept. Very soon I saw the two dead men come and
+sit down by my fire, opposite me. Their eyes were intently fixed upon
+me, but they neither smiled nor said anything. I got up and sat opposite
+them by the fire, and in this situation I awoke. The night was dark and
+gusty, but I saw no men, or heard any other sound than that of the wind
+in the trees. It is likely I fell asleep again, for I soon saw the same
+two men standing below the bank of the river, their heads just rising to
+the level of the ground I had made my fire on, and looking at me as
+before. After a few minutes, they rose one after the other, and sat down
+opposite me; but now they were laughing, and pushing at me with sticks,
+and using various methods of annoyance. I endeavoured to speak to them,
+but my voice failed me; I tried to fly, but my feet refused to do their
+office. Throughout the whole night I was in a state of agitation and
+alarm. Among other things which they said to me, one of them told me to
+look at the top of the little hill which stood near. I did so, and saw a
+horse fettered, and standing looking at me. 'There, my brother,' said
+the ghost, 'is a horse which I give you to ride on your journey
+to-morrow; and as you pass here on your way home, you can call and leave
+the horse, and spend another night with us.'
+
+At last came the morning, and I was in no small degree pleased to find
+that with the darkness of the night these terrifying visions vanished.
+But my long residence among the Indians, and the frequent instances in
+which I had known the intimations of dreams verified, occasioned me to
+think seriously of the horse the ghost had given me. Accordingly I went
+to the top of the hill, where I discovered tracks and other signs, and,
+following a little distance, found a horse, which I knew belonged to the
+trader I was going to see. As several miles travel might be saved by
+crossing from this point on the Little Saskawjewun to the Assinneboin, I
+left the canoe, and, having caught the horse, and put my load upon him,
+led him towards the trading-house, where I arrived next day. In all
+subsequent journeys through this country, I carefully shunned 'the place
+of the two dead'; and the account I gave of what I had seen and suffered
+there confirmed the superstitious terrors of the Indians.
+
+I was standing by our lodge one evening, when I saw a good-looking young
+woman walking about and smoking. She noticed me from time to time, and
+at last came up and asked me to smoke with her. I answered that I never
+smoked. 'You do not wish to touch my pipe; for that reason you will not
+smoke with me.' I took her pipe and smoked a little, though I had not
+been in the habit of smoking before. She remained some time, and talked
+with me, and I began to be pleased with her. After this we saw each
+other often, and I became gradually attached to her.
+
+I mention this because it was to this woman that I was afterwards
+married, and because the commencement of our acquaintance was not after
+the usual manner of the Indians. Among them it most commonly happens,
+even when a young man marries a woman of his own band, he has previously
+had no personal acquaintance with her. They have seen each other in the
+village; he has perhaps looked at her in passing, but it is probable
+they have never spoken together. The match is agreed on by the old
+people, and when their intention is made known to the young couple, they
+commonly find, in themselves, no objection to the arrangement, as they
+know, should it prove disagreeable mutually, or to either party, it can
+at any time be broken off.
+
+I now redoubled my diligence in hunting, and commonly came home with
+meat in the early part of the day, at least before night. I then dressed
+myself as handsomely as I could, and walked about the village, sometimes
+blowing the Pe-be-gwun, or flute. For some time Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa
+pretended she was not willing to marry me, and it was not, perhaps,
+until she perceived some abatement of ardour on my part that she laid
+this affected coyness entirely aside. For my own part, I found that my
+anxiety to take a wife home to my lodge was rapidly becoming less and
+less. I made several efforts to break off the intercourse, and visit her
+no more; but a lingering inclination was too strong for me. When she
+perceived my growing indifference, she sometimes reproached me, and
+sometimes sought to move me by tears and entreaties; but I said nothing
+to the old woman about bringing her home, and became daily more and
+more unwilling to acknowledge her publicly as my wife.
+
+About this time I had occasion to go to the trading-house on Red River,
+and I started in company with a half-breed belonging to that
+establishment, who was mounted on a fleet horse. The distance we had to
+travel has since been called by the English settlers seventy miles. We
+rode and went on foot by turns, and the one who was on foot kept hold of
+the horse's tail, and ran. We passed over the whole distance in one day.
+In returning, I was by myself, and without a horse, and I made an
+effort, intending, if possible, to accomplish the same journey in one
+day; but darkness, and excessive fatigue, compelled me to stop when I
+was within about ten miles of home.
+
+When I arrived at our lodge, on the following day, I saw
+Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa sitting in my place. As I stopped at the door of the
+lodge, and hesitated to enter, she hung down her head; but Net-no-kwa
+greeted me in a tone somewhat harsher than was common for her to use to
+me. 'Will you turn back from the door of the lodge, and put this young
+woman to shame, who is in all respects better than you are? This affair
+has been of your seeking, and not of mine or hers. You have followed her
+about the village heretofore; now you would turn from her, and make her
+appear like one who has attempted to thrust herself in your way.' I was,
+in part, conscious of the justness of Net-no-kwa's reproaches, and in
+part prompted by inclination; I went in and sat down by the side of
+Mis-kwa-bun-o-kwa, and thus we became man and wife. Old Net-no-kwa had,
+while I was absent at Red River, without my knowledge or consent, made
+her bargain with the parents of the young woman, and brought her home,
+rightly supposing that it would be no difficult matter to reconcile me
+to the measure. In most of the marriages which happen between young
+persons, the parties most interested have less to do than in this case.
+The amount of presents which the parents of a woman expect to receive in
+exchange for her diminishes in proportion to the number of husbands she
+may have had.
+
+I now began to attend to some of the ceremonies of what may be called
+the initiation of warriors, this being the first time I had been on a
+war-party. For the first three times that a man accompanies a war-party,
+the customs of the Indians require some peculiar and painful
+observances, from which old warriors may, if they choose, be exempted.
+The young warrior must constantly paint his face black; must wear a
+cap, or head-dress of some kind; must never precede the old warriors,
+but follow them, stepping in their tracks. He must never scratch his
+head, or any other part of his body, with his fingers, but if he is
+compelled to scratch he must use a small stick; the vessel he eats or
+drinks out of, or the knife he uses, must be touched by no other person.
+
+The young warrior, however long and fatiguing the march, must neither
+eat, nor drink, nor sit down by day; if he halts for a moment, he must
+turn his face towards his own country, that the Great Spirit may see
+that it is his wish to return home again.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+It was Tanner's wish to return home again, and after many dangerous and
+disagreeable adventures he did at last, when almost an old man, come
+back to the Whites and tell his history, which, as he could not write,
+was taken down at his dictation.[2]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] The totem is the crest of the Indians.
+
+[2] From _Tanner's Captivity_. New York, 1830.
+
+
+
+
+_CASANOVA'S ESCAPE_
+
+
+IN July 1755 Casanova di Seingalt, a Venetian gentleman, who, by reason
+of certain books of magic he possessed, fell under the displeasure of
+the Church, was imprisoned by order of the Inquisition in a cell in the
+ducal palace.
+
+The cell in which he was imprisoned was one of seven called 'The Leads,'
+because they were under the palace roof, which was covered neither by
+slates nor bricks, but great heavy sheets of lead. They were guarded by
+archers, and could only be reached by passing through the hall of
+council. The secretary of the Inquisition had charge of their key, which
+the gaoler, after going the round of the prisoners, restored to him
+every morning. Four of the cells faced eastward over the palace canal,
+the other three westward over the court. Casanova's was one of the
+three, and he calculated that it was exactly above the private room of
+the inquisitors.
+
+For many hours after the gaoler first turned the key upon Casanova he
+was left alone in the gloomy cell, not high enough for him to stand
+upright in, and destitute even of a couch. He laid aside his silk
+mantle, his hat adorned with Spanish lace and a white plume--for, when
+roused from sleep and arrested by the Inquisition, he had put on the
+suit lying ready, in which he intended to have gone to a gay
+entertainment. The heat of the cell was extreme: the prisoner leaned his
+elbows on the ledge of the grating which admitted to the cell what light
+there was, and fell into a deep and bitter reverie. Eight hours passed,
+and then the complete solitude in which he was left began to trouble
+him. Another hour, another, and another; but when night really fell, to
+take Casanova's own account,
+
+'I became like a raging madman, stamping, cursing, and uttering wild
+cries. After more than an hour of this furious exercise, seeing no one,
+not hearing the least sign which could have made me imagine that anyone
+was aware of my fury, I stretched myself on the ground. . . . But my
+bitter grief and anger, and the hard floor on which I lay, did not
+prevent me from sleeping.
+
+'The midnight bell woke me: I could not believe that I had really passed
+three hours without consciousness of pain. Without moving, lying as I
+was on my left side, I stretched out my right hand for my handkerchief,
+which I remembered was there. Groping with my hand--heavens! suddenly it
+rested upon _another_ hand, icy cold! Terror thrilled me from head to
+foot, and my hair rose: I had never in all my life known such an agony
+of fear, and would never have thought myself capable of it.
+
+'Three or four minutes I passed, not only motionless, but bereft of
+thought; then, recovering my senses, I began to think that the hand I
+touched was imaginary. In that conviction I stretched out my arm once
+more, only to encounter the same hand, which, with a cry of horror, I
+seized, and let go again, drawing back my own. I shuddered, but being
+able to reason by this time, I decided that while I slept a corpse had
+been laid near me--for I was sure there was nothing when I lay down on
+the floor. But whose was the dead body? Some innocent sufferer, perhaps
+one of my own friends, whom they had strangled, and laid there that I
+might find before my eyes when I woke the example of what my own fate
+was to be? That thought made me furious: for the third time I approached
+the hand with my own: I clasped it, and at the same instant I tried to
+rise, to draw this dead body towards me, and be certain of the hideous
+crime. But, as I strove to prop myself on my left elbow, the cold hand I
+was clasping became alive, and was withdrawn--and I knew that instant,
+to my utter astonishment, that I held none other than my own left hand,
+which, lying stiffened on the hard floor, had lost heat and sensation
+entirely.'
+
+That incident, though comic, did not cheer Casanova, but gave him matter
+for the darkest reflections--since he saw himself in a place where, if
+the unreal seemed so true, reality might one day become a dream. In
+other words, he feared approaching madness.
+
+But at last came daybreak, and by-and-by the gaoler returned, asking the
+prisoner if he had had time to find out what he would like to eat.
+Casanova was allowed to send for all he needed from his own apartments
+in Venice, but writing-implements, any metal instruments whatever, even
+knife and fork, and the books he mentioned, were struck from his list.
+The inquisitors sent him books which they themselves thought suitable,
+and which drove him, he said, to the verge of madness.
+
+He was not ill-treated--having a daily allowance given him to buy what
+food he liked, which was more than he could spend. But the loss of
+liberty soon became insupportable. For months he believed that his
+deliverance was close at hand; but when November came, and he saw no
+prospect of release, he began to form projects of escape. And soon the
+idea of freeing himself, however wild and impossible it seemed, took
+complete possession of him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+By-and-by he was allowed half an hour's daily promenade in the corridor
+(galetas) outside his cell--a dingy, rat-infested place, into which old
+rubbish was apt to drift. One day Casanova noticed a piece of black
+marble on the floor--polished, an inch thick and six inches long. He
+picked it up stealthily, and without any definite intention, managed to
+hide it away in his cell.
+
+Another morning his eyes fell upon a long iron bolt, lying on the floor
+with other old odds and ends, and that also, concealed in his dress, he
+bore into his cell. When left alone, he examined it carefully, and
+realised that if pointed, it would make an excellent spontoon. He took
+the black marble, and after grinding one end of the bolt against it for
+a long while, he saw that he had really succeeded in wearing the iron
+down. For fifteen days he worked, till he could hardly stir his right
+arm, and his shoulder felt almost dislocated. But he had made the bolt
+into a real tool; or, if necessary, a weapon, with an excellent point.
+He hid it in the straw of his armchair so carefully that, to find it,
+one must have known that it was there; and then he began to consider
+what use he should make of it.
+
+He was certain that the room underneath was the one in which on entering
+he had seen the secretary of the Inquisition, and which was probably
+opened every morning. A hole once made in the floor, he could easily
+lower himself by a rope made of the sheets of his bed, and fastened to
+one of the bed-posts. He might hide under the great table of the
+tribunal till the door was opened, and then make good his escape. It was
+probable, indeed, that one of the archers would mount guard in this room
+at night; but him Casanova resolved to kill with his pointed iron. The
+great difficulty really was that the hole in the floor was not to be
+made in a day, but might be a work of months. And therefore some pretext
+must be found to prevent the archers from sweeping out the cell, as they
+were accustomed to do every morning.
+
+Some days after, alleging no reason, he ordered the archers not to
+sweep. This omission was allowed to pass for several mornings, and then
+the gaoler demanded Casanova's reason. He answered, that the dust
+settled on his lungs, and made him cough, and might give him a mortal
+disease. Laurent, the gaoler, offered to throw water on the floor before
+sweeping it; but Casanova's arguments against the dampness of the
+atmosphere that would result were equally ingenious. Laurent's
+suspicions, however, were roused, and one day he ordered the room to be
+swept most carefully, and even lit a candle, and on the pretence of
+cleanliness, searched the cell thoroughly. Casanova seemed indifferent,
+but the next day, having pricked his finger, he showed his handkerchief
+stained with blood, and said that the gaoler's cruelty had brought on so
+severe a cough that he had actually broken a small blood-vessel. A
+doctor was sent for, who took the prisoner's part, and forbade sweeping
+out the cell in future. One great point was gained; but the work could
+not begin yet, owing to the fearful cold. The prisoner would have been
+forced to wear gloves, and the sight of a worn glove might have excited
+suspicion. So he occupied himself with another stratagem--the creation,
+little by little, of a lamp, for the solace of the endless winter
+nights. One by one, the gaoler himself, unsuspectingly, brought the
+different ingredients: oil was imported in salads, wick the prisoner
+himself made from threads pulled from the quilt, and in time the lamp
+was complete.
+
+The very unwelcome sojourn of a Jewish usurer, like himself captive of
+the Inquisition, in his cell, forced Casanova to delay his projects of
+escape till after Easter, when the Jew was imprisoned elsewhere.
+
+No sooner had he left than Casanova, by the light of the lamp
+constructed with so much difficulty, began his task. Drawing his bed
+away, he set to work to bore through the plank underneath, gathering the
+fragments of wood in a napkin--which the next morning he contrived to
+empty out behind a heap of old cahier books in the corridor--and after
+six hours' labour, pulling back his bed, which concealed all trace of it
+from the gaoler's eyes.
+
+The first plank was two inches thick; the next day he found another
+plank beneath it, and he pierced this only to find a third plank. It was
+three weeks before he dug out a cavity large enough for his purpose in
+this depth of wood, and his disappointment was great when, underneath
+the planks, he came to a marble pavement which resisted his one tool.
+But he remembered having read of a general who had broken with an axe
+hard stones, which he first made brittle by vinegar, and this Casanova
+possessed. He poured a bottle of strong vinegar into the hole, and the
+next day, whether it was the effect of the vinegar or of his stronger
+resolution, he managed to loosen the cement which bound the pieces of
+marble together, and in four hours had destroyed the pavement, and found
+another plank, which, however, he believed to be the last.
+
+At this point his work was once more interrupted by the arrival of a
+fellow prisoner, who only stayed, however, for eight days. A more
+serious delay was caused by the fact that unwittingly a part of his work
+had been just above one of the great beams that supported the ceiling,
+and he was forced to enlarge the hole by one-fourth. But at last all was
+done. Through a hole so thin as to be quite imperceptible from below he
+saw the room underneath. There was only a thin film of wood to be broken
+through on the night of his escape. For various reasons, he had fixed on
+the night of August 27. But hear his own words:
+
+'On the 25th,' writes Casanova, 'there happened what makes me shudder
+even as I write. Precisely at noon I heard the rattling of bolts, a
+fearful beating of my heart made me think that my last moment had come,
+and I flung myself on my armchair, stupefied. Laurent entered, and said
+gaily:
+
+'"Sir, I have come to bring you good news, on which I congratulate you!"
+
+'At first I thought my liberty was to be restored--I knew no other news
+which _could_ be good; and I saw that I was lost, for the discovery of
+the hole would have undone me. But Laurent told me to follow him. I
+asked him to wait till I got ready.
+
+'"No matter," he said, "you are only going to leave this dismal cell for
+a light one, quite new, where you can see half Venice through the two
+windows; where you can stand upright; where----"
+
+'But I cannot bear to write of it--I seemed to be dying. I implored
+Laurent to tell the secretary that I thanked the tribunal for its mercy,
+but begged it in Heaven's name to leave me where I was. Laurent told me,
+with a burst of laughter, that I was mad, that my present cell was
+execrable, and that I was to be transferred to a delightful one.
+
+'"Come, come, you must obey orders," he exclaimed.
+
+'He led me away. I felt a momentary solace in hearing him order one of
+his men to follow with the armchair, where my spontoon was still
+concealed. That was always something! If my beautiful hole in the floor,
+that I had made with such infinite pains, could have followed me
+too--but that was impossible! My body went; my soul stayed behind.
+
+'As soon as Laurent saw me in the fresh cell, he had the armchair set
+down. I flung myself upon it, and he went away, telling me that my bed
+and all my other belongings should be brought to me at once.'
+
+For two hours Casanova was left alone in his new cell, utterly hopeless,
+and expecting to be consigned for the rest of his life to one of the
+palace dungeons, from which no escape could be possible. Then the gaoler
+returned, almost mad with rage, and demanded the axe and all the
+instruments which the prisoner must have employed in penetrating the
+marble pavement. Calmly, without stirring, Casanova told him that he
+did not know what he was talking about, but that, if he _had_ procured
+tools, it could only have been from Laurent himself, who alone had
+entrance to the cell.
+
+Such a reply did not soften the gaoler's anger, and for some time
+Casanova was very badly treated. Everything was searched; but his tool
+had been so cleverly concealed that Laurent never found it. Fortunately
+it was the gaoler's interest not to let the tribunal know of the
+discovery he had made. He had the floor of the cell mended without the
+knowledge of the secretary of the Inquisition, and when this was done,
+and he found himself secure from blame, Casanova had little difficulty
+in making peace with him, and even told him the secret of the lamp's
+construction.
+
+Fortunately, out of the tribunal's allowance to the prisoner enough was
+always left, after he had provided for his own needs, for a gift--or
+bribe, to the gaoler. But Laurent did not relax his vigilance, and every
+morning one of the archers went round the cell with an iron bar, giving
+blows to walls and floor, to assure himself that there was nothing
+broken. But he never struck the ceiling, a fact which Casanova resolved
+to turn to account at the first opportunity.
+
+One day the prisoner ordered his gaoler to buy him a particular book,
+and Laurent, objecting to an expense which seemed to him quite needless,
+offered to borrow him a book of one of the other prisoners, in exchange
+for one of his own. Here at last was an opportunity. Casanova chose a
+volume out of his small library, and gave it to the gaoler, who returned
+in a few minutes with a Latin book belonging to one of the other
+prisoners.
+
+Pen and ink were forbidden, but in this book Casanova found a fragment
+of paper; and he contrived, with the nail of his little finger, dipped
+in mulberry juice, to write on it a list of his library--and returned
+the volume, asking for a second. The second came, and in it a short
+letter in Latin. The correspondence between the prisoners had really
+begun.
+
+The writer of the Latin letter was the monk Balbi, imprisoned in the
+Leads with a companion, Count Andre Asquin. He followed it by a much
+longer one, giving the history of his own life, and all that he knew of
+his fellow-prisoners. Casanova formed a very poor opinion of Father
+Balbi's character from his letters; but assistance of some kind he must
+have, since the gaoler must needs discover any attempt to break through
+the ceiling, unless that attempt was made from above. But Casanova soon
+thought of a plan by which Balbi could break through _his_ ceiling,
+undiscovered.
+
+'I wrote to him,' he relates, 'that I would find some means of sending
+him an instrument with which he could break through the roof of his
+cell, and having climbed upon it, go to the wall separating his roof
+from mine. Breaking through that, he would find himself on _my_ roof,
+which also must be broken through. That done, I would leave my cell, and
+he, the Count, and I together, would manage to raise one of the great
+leaden squares that formed the highest palace roof. Once outside _that_,
+I would be answerable for the rest.
+
+'But first he must tell the gaoler to buy him forty or fifty pictures of
+saints, and by way of proving his piety, he must cover his walls and
+ceiling with these, putting the largest on the ceiling. When he had done
+this, I would tell him more.
+
+'I next ordered Laurent to buy me the new folio Bible that was just
+printed; for I fancied its great size might enable me to conceal my tool
+there, and so send it to the monk. But when I saw it, I became
+gloomy--the bolt was two inches longer than the Bible. The monk wrote to
+me that the cell was already covered according to my direction, and
+hoped I would lend him the great Bible which Laurent told him I had
+bought. But I replied that for three or four days I needed it myself.
+
+'At last I hit upon a device. I told Laurent that on Michaelmas Day I
+wanted two dishes of macaroni, and one of these must be the largest dish
+he had, for I meant to season it, and send it, with my compliments, to
+the worthy gentleman who had lent me books. Laurent would bring me the
+butter and the Parmesan cheese, but I myself should add them to the
+boiling macaroni.
+
+'I wrote to the monk preparing him for what was to happen, and on St.
+Michael's Day all came about as I expected. I had hidden the bolt in the
+great Bible, wrapped in paper, one inch of it showing on each side. I
+prepared the cheese and butter; and in due time Laurent brought me in
+the boiling macaroni and the great dish. Mixing my ingredients, I filled
+the dish so full that the butter nearly ran over the edge, and then I
+placed it carefully on the Bible, and put that, with the dish resting on
+it, into Laurent's hand, warning him not to spill a drop. All his
+caution was necessary: he went away with his eyes fixed on his burden,
+lest the butter should run over; and the Bible, with the bolt projecting
+from it, were covered, and more than covered, by the huge dish. His one
+care was to hold that steady, and I saw that I had succeeded. Presently
+he came back to tell me that not a drop of butter had been spilt.'
+
+Father Balbi next began his work, detaching from the roof one large
+picture, which he regularly put back in the same place to conceal the
+hole. In eight days he had made his way through the roof, and attacked
+the wall. This was harder work, but at last he had removed six and
+twenty bricks, and could pass through to Casanova's roof. This he was
+obliged to work at very carefully, lest any fracture should appear
+visible below.
+
+One Monday, as Father Balbi was busy at the roof, Casanova suddenly
+heard the sound of opening doors. It was a terrible moment, but he had
+time to give the alarm signal, two quick blows on the ceiling. Then
+Laurent entered, bringing another prisoner, an ugly, ill-dressed little
+man of fifty, in a black wig, who looked like what he was, a spy of the
+Inquisition.
+
+Casanova soon learned the history of Soradici--for this was the spy's
+name--and when his new companion was asleep he wrote to Balbi the
+account of what had happened. For the present, evidently the work must
+be given up, no confidence whatever could be placed in Soradici. Yet
+soon Casanova thought of a plan of making use even of this traitor.
+
+First he ordered Laurent to buy him an image of the Virgin Mary, holy
+water, and a crucifix. Next he wrote two letters, addressed to friends
+in Venice--letters in which he made no complaint, but spoke of the
+benevolence of the Inquisition, and the blessing that his trials had
+been to him. These letters, which, even if they reached the hands of the
+secretary, could do him no possible harm, he entrusted to Soradici, in
+case he should soon be set free; exacting the spy's solemn oath, on the
+crucifix and the image of the Virgin, not to betray him, but to give the
+letters to his friends.
+
+Soradici took the oath required of him, and sewed the letters into his
+vest. None the less, Casanova felt confident that he would be betrayed,
+and this was exactly what happened. Two days after the spy was sent for
+to the secretary, and when he returned to the cell, his companion soon
+discovered that he had given up the letters.
+
+Casanova affected the utmost anguish and despair. He flung himself down
+before the image of the Virgin, and demanded vengeance on the monster
+who had ruined him by breaking so solemn a pledge. Then he lay down with
+his face to the wall, and for the whole day uttered no single word to
+the spy, who, terrified at his companion's prayer for vengeance,
+entreated his forgiveness. But when the spy slept he wrote to Father
+Balbi and told him to go on with his work the next day, beginning at
+exactly three o'clock, and working four hours.
+
+The next day, after the gaoler had left them, bearing with him the book
+of Father Balbi in which the prisoner's letter was concealed, Casanova
+called his companion. The spy, by this time, was really ill with terror;
+for he believed that he had provoked the wrath of the Virgin Mary by
+breaking his oath. He was ready to do anything his companion told him to
+do, and weak enough to credit any falsehood.
+
+Casanova put on a look of inspiration, and said:
+
+'Learn that at break of day the Holy Virgin appeared to me, and
+commanded me to forgive you. You shall not die. The grief that your
+treachery caused me made me pass all the night sleepless, since I knew
+that the letters you had given to the secretary would prove my ruin--and
+my one consolation was to believe that in three days I should see you
+die in this very cell. But though my mind was full of my
+revenge--unworthy of a Christian--at break of day the image of the
+Blessed Virgin that you see moved, opened her lips, and said: "Soradici
+is under my protection: I would have you pardon him. In reward of your
+generosity I will send one of my angels in figure of a man, who shall
+descend from heaven to break the roof of the cell, and in five or six
+days to release you. To-day this angel will begin his work at three
+o'clock, and will work till half an hour before the sun sets, for he
+must return to me by daylight. When you escape you will take Soradici
+with you, and you will take care of him all his life, on condition that
+he quits the profession of a spy for ever." With these words the Blessed
+Virgin disappeared.'
+
+At first even the spy's credulity would hardly be persuaded that
+Casanova had not dreamed; but when at the appointed hour the sound of
+the angel working in the roof was really to be heard, when it lasted
+four hours, and ceased again as foretold, all his doubt vanished, and he
+was ready to follow Casanova blindly. The thought of once more betraying
+him never entered his mind; he believed that the Blessed Virgin herself
+was on the side of his companion.
+
+The angel would appear, Casanova told him, on the evening of October 31.
+And at the hour appointed Father Balbi, not looking in the least like an
+angel, came feet foremost through the ceiling. Casanova embraced him,
+left him to guard the spy, and himself ascending through the roof,
+crossed over into the other cell and greeted the monk's fellow-prisoner,
+Count Andre, who had all this time kept their secret, but, being old and
+infirm, had no desire to fly with them.
+
+The next thing was to return into the garret above the two cells, and
+set to work to break through the palace roof itself. Most of this task
+fell to Casanova, till he reached the great sheet of lead surmounting
+the planks, and there the monk's help was necessary. Uniting their
+strength, they raised it till an opening was made wide enough to pass
+through. But outside the moonlight was too strong, and they would have
+been seen from below had they ventured on the roof. They returned into
+the cell and waited. Casanova had made strong ropes by tying together
+sheets, towels, and whatever else would serve. Now, since there was
+nothing to be done till the moon sank, he sat down and wrote a courteous
+letter to the Inquisition, explaining his reasons for attempting to
+escape.
+
+The spy, too cowardly to risk his life in so daring a venture, and
+beginning to see that he had been imposed upon, begged Casanova on his
+knees to leave him behind, praying for the fugitives--and this Casanova
+was thankful to do, for Soradici could only have encumbered him. Father
+Balbi, though for the last hour he had been heaping reproaches on his
+friend's rashness, was less of a coward than the spy, and as the time
+had come to start he followed Casanova. They crept out on the roof, and
+began cautiously to ascend it. Half-way up the monk begged his companion
+to stop, saying that he had lost one of the packages tied round his
+neck.
+
+'Was it the package of cord?' asked Casanova.
+
+'No,' replied the monk, 'but a black coat, and a very precious
+manuscript.'
+
+'Then,' said Casanova, resisting a sudden temptation to throw Balbi
+after his packet, 'you must be patient, and come along.'
+
+The monk sighed, and followed. Soon they had reached the highest point
+of the roof, and here Balbi contrived to lose his hat, which rolled down
+the roof, failed to lodge in the gutter, and fell into the canal below.
+The poor fellow grew desperate, and said it was a bad omen. Casanova
+soothed him, and left him seated where he was, while he himself went to
+investigate, his faithful tool in his hand.
+
+Now fresh difficulties began. For a long time Casanova could find no way
+of re-entering the palace, except into the cell they had quitted. He was
+growing hopeless, when he saw a skylight, that he was sure was too far
+away from their starting point to belong to any of the cells. He made
+his way to it; it was barred with a fine iron grating that needed a
+file. And Casanova only had one tool!
+
+Sitting on the roof of the skylight, he nearly abandoned himself to
+despair, till the bell striking midnight suddenly roused him. It was the
+first of November: All Saint's Day--the day on which he had long had a
+curious foreboding that he should recover his liberty. Fired with hope,
+he set his tool to work at the grating, and in a quarter of an hour he
+had wrenched it away entire. He set it down by the skylight, and went
+back for the monk. They regained the skylight together.
+
+Casanova let down his companion through the skylight by the cord, and
+found that the floor was so far away that he himself dared not risk the
+leap. And though the cord was still in his hands, he had nowhere to
+fasten it. The monk, inside, could give him no help--and, not knowing
+what to do, he set out on another voyage of discovery.
+
+It was successful, for in a part of the roof which he had not yet
+visited he found a ladder left by some workmen, and long enough for his
+purpose. Indeed, it seemed likely to be too long, for when he tried to
+introduce it into the skylight, it only entered as far as the sixth
+round, and then was stopped by the roof. However, with a superhuman
+effort Casanova, hanging to the roof, below the skylight, managed to
+lift the other end of the ladder, nearly, in the action, flinging
+himself down into the canal. But he had succeeded in forcing the ladder
+farther in, and the rest was comparatively easy. He climbed up again to
+the skylight, lowered the ladder, and in another moment was standing by
+his companion's side.
+
+They found themselves in a garret opening into another room, well barred
+and bolted. But just then Casanova was past all exertion. He flung
+himself on the ground, the packet of cord under his head, and fell into
+a sleep of utter exhaustion. It was dawn when he was roused at last by
+the monk's despairing efforts. For two hours the latter had been shaking
+him, and even shouting in his ears, without the slightest effect!
+
+Casanova rose, saying:
+
+'This place must have a way out. Let us break everything--there is no
+time to lose!'
+
+They found, at last, a door, of which Casanova's tool forced the lock,
+and which led them into the room containing the archives or records of
+the Venetian Republic. From this they descended a staircase, then
+another, and so made their way into the chancellor's office. Here
+Casanova found a tool which secretaries used to pierce parchment, and
+which was some little help to them--for he found it impossible to force
+the lock of the door through which they had next to part, and the only
+way was to break a hole in it. Casanova set to work at the part of the
+door that looked most likely to yield, while his companion did what he
+could with the secretary's instrument--they pushed, rent, tore the wood;
+the noise that they made was alarming, but they were compelled to risk
+it. In half an hour they had made a hole large enough to get through.
+The monk went first, being the thinner; he pulled Casanova after
+him--dusty, torn, and bleeding, for he had worked harder than Father
+Balbi, who still looked respectable.
+
+They were now in a part of the palace guarded by doors against which no
+possible effort of theirs could have availed. The only way was to wait
+till they were opened, and then take flight. Casanova tranquilly changed
+his tattered garments for a suit which he had brought with him, arranged
+his hair, and made himself look--except for the bandages he had tied
+round his wounds--much more like a strayed reveller than an escaped
+prisoner. All this time the monk was upbraiding him bitterly, and at
+last, tired of listening, Casanova opened a window, and put out his
+head, adorned with a gay plumed hat. The window looked out upon the
+palace court, and Casanova was seen at once by people walking there. He
+drew back his head, thinking that he had brought destruction upon
+himself; but after all the accident proved fortunate. Those who had seen
+him went immediately to tell the authority who kept the key of the hall
+at the top of the grand staircase, at whose window Casanova's head had
+appeared, that he must unwittingly have shut someone in the night
+before. Such a thing might easily have happened, and the keeper of the
+keys came immediately to see if the news were true.
+
+Presently the door opened, and quite at his ease, the keeper appeared,
+key in hand. He looked startled at Casanova's strange figure, but the
+latter, without stopping or uttering a word, passed him, and descended
+the stairs, followed by the frightened monk. They did not run, nor did
+they loiter; Casanova was already, in spirit, beyond the confines of the
+Venetian Republic. Still followed by the monk, he reached the
+water-side, stepped into a gondola, and flinging himself down
+carelessly, promised the rowers more than their fare if they would reach
+Fusina quickly. Soon they had left Venice behind them; and a few days
+after his wonderful escape Casanova was in perfect safety beyond Italy.
+
+
+
+
+_ADVENTURES ON THE FINDHORN_
+
+
+THE following adventures in crossing the Findhorn are extracted from
+'Lays of the Deer Forest,' by John Sobieski and Charles Edward Stuart
+(London, 1848).
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+I had lost my boat in the last speat; it was the third which had been
+taken away in that year, and, until I obtained another, I was obliged to
+ford the river. I went one day as usual; there was a dark bank of cloud
+lying in the west upon Beann-Drineachain, but all the sky above was blue
+and clear, and the water moderate, as I crossed into the forest. I
+merely wanted a buck, and, therefore, only made a short circuit to the
+edge of Dun-Fhearn, and rolled a stone down the steep into the deep,
+wooded den. As it plunged into the burn below, I heard the bound of feet
+coming up; but they were only two small does, and I did not 'speak' to
+them, but amused myself with watching their uneasiness and surprise as
+they perked into the bosky gorge, down which the stone had crashed like
+a nine-pounder; and, as their white targets jinked over the brae, I went
+on to try the western terraces.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There is a smooth dry brae opposite to Logie Cumming, called 'Braigh
+Choilich-Choille,'[3] great part of the slope of which is covered with a
+growth of brackens from five to six feet high, mixed with large masses
+of foxgloves, of such luxuriance that the stems sometimes rise five from
+a single root, and more than seven feet in height, of which there is
+often an extent of five feet of blossoms, loaded with a succession of
+magnificent bells. As we crossed below this beautiful covert, I observed
+Dreadnought suddenly turn up the wind towards it. I immediately made for
+the crest beyond where the bank rises smooth and open, and whence I had
+a free sweep of the summit and of both sides. I had just reached the top
+when the dog entered the thicket of the ferns, and I saw their tall
+heads stir about twenty yards before him, followed by a roar from his
+deep tongue, and a fine buck bolted up the brae. I gave a short whistle
+to stop him, and immediately he stood to listen, but behind a great
+spruce fir, which then, with many others, formed a noble group upon the
+summit of the terrace. The sound of the dog dislodged him in an instant,
+and he shot out through the open glade, when I followed him with the
+rifle, and sent him over on his horns like a wheel down the steep, and
+splash, like a round shot, into the little rill at its foot. We
+brittled him on the knog of an old pine, and rewarded the dog, and drank
+the Dochfalla; when, having occasion to send the piper to the other side
+of the wood, and being so near home, I shouldered the roe, and took the
+way for the ford of Craig-Darach, a strong wide broken stream with a
+very bad bottom, but the nearest then passable.
+
+As I descended the Bruach-gharbh, Dreadnought stopped and looked up into
+a pine, then approaching the tree, searched it all round with his nose.
+I scanned the branches, but could see nothing except an old hawk's nest,
+which had been disused long ago; and if it had not, I do not understand
+how it should be interesting to a hound. The dog, however, continued to
+investigate the stump and stem of the fir, gaze into the branches,
+turning his head from side to side, and setting up his ears like a
+cocked-hat. I laid down the buck, and unslung my double gun, and threw a
+stick at the nest, when out shot a large pine-martin, and, like a
+squirrel, sprung along the branches from tree to tree, till I brought
+him to the ground. Dreadnought examined him with a sort of wrinkle in
+his whiskers, and turned away, and sat down in dignified abstraction;
+while I remounted the buck, and braced the martin to his feet with the
+little 'ial-chas,' or foot-straps used for trussing the legs of the roe.
+We then resumed our path for the ford.
+
+As I descended through the Boat-Shaw, I heard a heavy sound from the
+water, but when I came out from the birches upon the green bank on its
+brink, I saw that the river had come down, and was just lipping with the
+top of the stone, the sight of whose head was the mark for the last
+possibility of crossing. As I looked upon its contracting ring, I
+perceived that the stream was still growing; there was no time to be
+lost, for the alternative now was to go round by the bridge of
+Daltulich, a circuit of four miles; and I knew that, before I reached
+the next good ford, the water would be a continuous rapid, probably six
+feet deep: I decided, therefore, upon trying the chance where I was.
+Dreadnought, who had gone about thirty yards up the stream to take the
+deep water in the pool of Craig-Darach, had observed my hesitation with
+one leg out and one in the water, and was standing on the point of the
+rock waiting the result. As soon as I made another step he plunged into
+the river, and in a few moments was rolling on the bank of silver sand
+thrown up by the back-water upon the opposite side of the river. As I
+advanced through the stream, he looked at me occasionally, and I at
+him, and the beautiful smooth sand and green bank upon his side--for by
+that time I began to wish I was there too. I was then in pretty deep
+water for a ford, but still some distance from the deepest part; my kilt
+was floating round me in the boiling water, and the strong eddy, formed
+by the stream running against my legs, gulped and gushed with increasing
+weight. I moved slowly and carefully, for the whole ford was filled with
+large round slippery stones from the size of a sixty-pound shot to a
+two-hundredweight shell. I stopped to rest, and looked back to the ford
+mark: it was wholly gone, and I saw only the broad smooth wave of water
+which slipped over its head. Ten paces more, and I should be through the
+deepest part. I stepped steadily and rigidly, but I wanted the use of my
+balancing limbs and the freedom of my breath; for the barrels of the
+double gun and rifle, which were slung at my back, were passed under my
+arms to keep them out of the water; and I was also obliged to hold the
+legs of the buck, which, loaded with the 'wood-cat,' were crossed upon
+my breast. At every step the round and slidering stones endangered my
+footing, rendered still more unsteady by the upward pressure of the
+water. In this struggle the current gave a great gulp, and a wave
+splashed up over my guns. I staggered downwards with the stream, and
+could not recover a sure footing for several yards. At last I secured my
+hold against a large fixed stone, and paused to rest. After a little I
+made another effort to proceed.
+
+The water was now running above my belt, and at the first step which I
+made from the stone I found that it deepened abruptly before me. I felt
+that in six inches more that strong stream would lift me off my legs;
+and with great difficulty I gained about two yards up the current to
+ascertain if the depth was continuous, but the bottom still shelved
+before me, and, as I persisted in attempting it, I was turned round by
+the stream, the waves were leaping through the deep channel before me,
+and having no arms to balance my steps, I began to think of the bonnie
+banks on _either_ side the river. In this jeopardy poor Dreadnought had
+not been unconcerned; at the first moment of my struggle he had gone
+down the great stony beach which lay before me, and, sitting down by the
+water, watched me with great anxiety, and at last began to whine, and
+whimper, and tremble with agitation. But when he saw me stagger down the
+stream, he rose, went in up to his knees, howled, pawed the water, and
+lapped the waves with impatience. Meanwhile I was obliged to come to a
+rest, with my left foot planted strongly against a stone, for the mere
+resistance to the pressure of water, which, rushing with a white foam
+from my side, was sufficient exertion without the weight of the buck and
+the two guns, which amounted to more than seventy pounds.
+
+After a few moments' pause I made a last effort to reach the east bank;
+but it was now impossible, and I turned to make an attempt to regain the
+Tarnaway side. I was at least thirty yards lower down than when I
+entered the stream, and the water was rushing and foaming all round me;
+another stagger nearly carried me off my feet, and, in the exertion to
+keep them, a thick transpiration rose upon my forehead, my ears began to
+sing, and my head to swim, while, disordered in their balance, the buck
+and the guns almost strangled me, I looked down the channel; the water
+was running in a white, broken rapid into the black pool below, and
+swept with a wide, foaming back-water under the steep rock which turned
+its force. The soft green bank before me was sleeping beneath the shade
+of the weeping birches, where bluebells and primroses grew thick in the
+short smooth turf, and, though they had long shed their blossoms, the
+bright patches of their clusters were yet visible among the tall
+foxgloves, which still retained the purple bells upon their tops. The
+bank looked softer, and greener, and more inviting than ever it had done
+before; but my eyes grew dim and my limbs faint with that last struggle.
+I felt for my dirk knife, for a desperate rolling swim for life seemed
+now inevitable, and, steadying myself in the stream, I cut loose the
+straps of the buck and the slings of the guns, and retaining them only
+with my hands, held them ready to let go as soon as I should be taken
+off my legs. When they were free, I dipped my hand in the water, and
+laved it over my brow and face. The singing of my ears ceased, and my
+sight came clear, and I discovered that I had lost my bonnet in the
+struggle, and distinguished the white cockade dancing like a little
+'cailleach' of foam in the vortex of the pool below.
+
+Being now _morally_ relieved from the weight of the roe and guns--though
+resolved to preserve them to the last--I resumed my attempt for the west
+bank; but when I reached a similar distance to that which I had gained
+for the other, I found an equally deep channel before me, and that the
+diminished water by which I had been encouraged was only the shoaling of
+a long bank which extended with the stream. I now saw that before I
+joined my bonnet, which still danced and circled in the pool below,
+there was only one effort left--to struggle up the stream, and reach the
+point from which I had taken the water. But this was a desperate
+attempt; for at every step I had to find a safe footing at the upper
+side of some stone, and then with all my strength to force myself
+against the current. But often the stones gave way, and, loosening from
+their bed, went rolling and rumbling down the rapid, and I was driven
+back several feet, to recommence the same struggle. The river also was
+still increasing, and the flat sand, which was dry when I left it, was
+now a sheet of water. While I was thus wrestling with the stream, I saw
+Dreadnought enter, not at his usual place in the pool, but at the tail,
+just above the run of the stream in which I was struggling. He came
+whimpering over, and crossed about a yard or two above me; but instead
+of making for the bank, he turned in the water, and swam towards me. The
+stream, however, was too strong for him, and carried him down. I called
+and waved to the forest, and he turned and steered for its bank, but did
+not reach the shelving sand till he was well tumbled in the top of the
+rapid, out of which he only emerged in time to catch a little
+back-water, which helped him on to the shore. The attempt of the dog to
+reach me had passed while I rested: and when he gained the bank, I
+resumed my effort to make the shallower water.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Dreadnought's eye was turned towards me as he came dripping up the bank,
+and seeing me move forward, he ran before me to the water's edge, at the
+right entrance of the ford, whining, and howling, and baying, as if he
+knew as well as I that it was the place to make for. In a few steps the
+stones became less slippery, and the bottom more even, and I began to
+think that I might gain it, when, at the rocky point above, I saw a
+white mass of foam, loaded with brushwood, sticks, and rubbish, borne
+along by a ridge of yellow curdling water, at least two feet higher than
+the stream. I gathered all my strength, and made a struggle for the bank
+opposite to where I was. The water was already above my belt, and
+rushing between my arms as I bore up the guns. I felt myself lifted off
+my legs; again I held the ground. The green bank was only a few yards
+distant, but the deep water was close below, and the yellow foaming
+flood above. As I staggered on, I heard it coming down, crumpling up and
+crackling the dead boughs which it bore along. I stumbled upon a round
+stone, and nearly fell backward, but it was against the stream which
+forced me forward. I felt the spray splash over my head: I was nearly
+blind and deaf. I made a desperate effort with the last strength which I
+had left, and threw myself gasping on the bank.
+
+Dreadnought sprang forward, jumped over and over me, whined, and kissed
+my face and hands, and tried to turn me over with his snout, and
+scratched and pawed me to make me speak; but I could not yet, and
+gasped, and choked, and felt as if my heart would burst. I lay, dripping
+and panting, with my arms stretched out on the grass, unable to move,
+except with the convulsive efforts of my breath. At last I sat up, but I
+could scarcely see: a thin gauzy cloud was over my eyes, a heavy
+pressure rung in my ears, my feet still hung in the water, which was now
+sweeping a wide white torrent from bank to bank, and running with a
+fierce current through both the pools below. The back-water, where my
+bonnet had danced, no longer remained; all was carried clear out in one
+long rush down to the Cluag. 'Benedictum sit nomen Domini!' I thought,
+as I crossed myself. I stretched out my hand, and plucked the nearest
+flowers, and smelled their sweet greenwood scent with inexpressible
+delight. I never thought that flowers looked so beautiful, or had half
+so much perfume, though they were only the pale wild blossoms of the
+fading year. I placed them in my breast, and have them still, and never
+look upon them without repeating--
+
+          'DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI AD TE, DOMINE!'
+
+[Illustration: THE FINDHORN.]
+
+Such were the hazards on the fords of the Findhorn; but even by boat the
+struggle was sometimes no less arduous, though it enabled us to cross
+the water at a height otherwise impassable, of which the following
+passage is an example:--
+
+One evening I was returning with the piper, and the old hound which had
+accompanied me at the ford. As we descended towards the pool of Cluag,
+where I had left the coble quietly moored in the morning, Dreadnought
+frequently turned and looked at me with hanging ears and a heavy
+cheerless eye; and when we came to the path which led down to the river
+he stopped, and dropped behind, and followed at my heel, though usually
+he trotted on before, and instead of waiting for the boat, took the
+water, which he preferred to the coble. When we came out from the trees
+upon the steep bank above the river, I understood his altered manner.
+From rock to rock the stream was running a white, furious, rushing
+torrent, and the little boat tugging and jibbing on her chain, and
+swinging and bobbing upon the top of the froth, like the leaves which
+danced upon the eddy. Dreadnought had heard the sound of the river, and
+knew what there was at work before us. The boat was moored near the
+throat of the pool, in the back-water of a little bay, now entirely
+filled with froth and foam up to the gunwale of the coble, which was
+defended by a sharp point of rock, from whose breakwater the stream was
+thrown off in a wild shooting torrent. Within the bay the reaction of
+the tide formed a quick back-water, which raised the stream without
+nearly two feet higher than the level within, and at times sucked the
+boat on to the point, where she was struck in the stem by the gushing
+stream and sent spinning round at the full swing of her 'tether.'
+
+Donald looked at me. There was no alternative but the bridge of
+Daltullich, more than four miles about, with two bucks to carry, and
+ourselves well run since four o'clock in the morning. I stood for some
+moments considering the chances, and the manifest probability of going
+down the stream. Immediately after emerging from the little mooring bay
+there was a terrific rush of water discharged through the narrow throat
+of the pool, and raised to the centre in a white fierce tumbling ridge,
+for which the shortness of the pool afforded no allowance for working,
+while the little back-water, which, in ordinary cases, caught us on the
+opposite side, and took us into the bank, was lost in a flood, which ran
+right through the basin like a mill-lead. 'Can you swim, Donald?' said I
+mechanically. '_Swim_, Sir!' said he, who knew how often I had seen
+him tumbled by the waves both in salt water and fresh. 'Oh yes, I know
+you can. But I was thinking of that stream.' 'Ougudearbh!' replied
+Donald: 'But it was myself that never tried it yon way!' 'And what do
+you think of her?' 'Faith, Thighearna, you know best--but if you try it,
+I shall not stay behind.'
+
+We had often ridden the water together by day and night, in flood and
+fair; and, narrow as the pool was, I thought we could get through it. We
+threw in a broken branch to prove the speed of the current, but it
+leaped through the plunging water like a greyhound, and was away in a
+moment down to the fierce white battling vortex of the Scuddach, where
+there was no salvation for thing alive; a few moments it disappeared in
+the wild turmoil, and then came up beyond--white and barked, and
+shivered like a splintered bone. Donald, however, saw that I was going
+to try the venture, and he was already up the bank unlocking the chain
+without a word. The bucks were deposited in the stern of the boat, the
+guns laid softly across them, covered with a plaid, and Dreadnought
+followed slowly and sternly, and laid himself down with an air as if,
+like Don Alphonso of Castile, 'the body trembled at the dangers into
+which the soul was going to carry it.' I took the oars--there were no
+directions to be given--Donald knew how to cross the pool, and every
+other where we were used to ferry.
+
+The boat's head was brought round to the stream, for it was necessary to
+run her into it with the impulse of the back-water to shoot her forward,
+or she would have been drawn back, stern foremost, into the eddy, where
+the jaw of the water, over the point of the rock, would have swamped us
+in an instant. Donald knelt at the bows, and held fast by a light
+painter till I cried 'Ready!' when the little shallop sprung from the
+rope, tilted away like a sea-bird, and glided towards the roaring
+torrent. I looked over my shoulder; Donald was gripping the bows, his
+teeth set fast, but a gleam of light was in his eye as we plunged
+headlong into the bursting stream. A blow like the stroke of a mighty
+wooden hammer lifted the boat into the surf; there was a crack as if her
+bows were stove in, and she shot shivering through the pool, filled with
+water to our knees, and sending the spray over us like a sheet. The
+rocks and trees seemed to fly away; the roaring water spouted and
+boiled, as it lifted up the boat, which spun round like a leaf, with her
+starboard gunwale lipping with the waves; but a few seconds swept us
+through the pool, and we were flying into the mad tumbling thunder of
+the rapid below. I kept the larboard bow to the stream, and pulled with
+all my might; but I thought she did not move, the eddy of the great
+mid-stream seemed to fix her in the ridge of the torrent, and take her
+along with it; the oars bent like willows to the strain, a boiling gush
+from below lifted her bows, and threw her gunwale under the froth. I
+thought we were gone, but I redoubled the last desperate strokes, and we
+shot out of the foaming ridge towards the opposite bank, rolling, and
+leaping, and plunging into the throat of the rapid. Donald sat like a
+tiger ready for the spring, and as we neared the shore, bounded on the
+grass with the chain. This checked the speed of the boat; I unshipped
+the oars, and sprung out just as the coble came crash alongside the
+bank, then swirling round, her head flew out to the stream, dragging
+Donald along the grass after her. I jumped into the water, and caught
+hold of the bow; for two minutes the struggle was doubtful and she
+continued to drag us along: at last Donald reached the stump of a tree,
+and, running round it, made a turn of the chain and brought her up.
+
+We sat down, and wiped our faces, and looked at each other in silence.
+The incredibly short space of time which had elapsed since we stood on
+the '_other side_,' with the mysterious future before us, and now to be
+sitting on '_this_,' and call it the _past_, was like a dream. The
+tumult, the flying shoot, the concussion at parting and arriving, seemed
+like an explosion, as if we had been blown up and thrown over. 'I don't
+think that boat will ever go back again, Thighearna,' said Donald. 'Why
+not?' 'Did you not feel her twist, and hear her split, when we came into
+the burst of the stream?' replied Donald. 'I don't know,' said I; 'I
+felt and heard a great many things, but there was no time to think what
+they were.' 'Oh, it was not _thinking_ that I was,' answered Donald;
+'but the water came squirting up in my face through her ribs, and I held
+on by both bows, expecting at every stroke to see them open and let me
+through.' We got up and examined the boat's bottom; there was a yawning
+rent from the stem to the centre, and part of the torn planks lapped one
+over the other by the twist, the bows being only held together by the
+iron band which bound the gunwale.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[3] The woodcocks' brae, from the frequency with which they breed there.
+
+
+
+
+_THE STORY OF GRACE DARLING_
+
+
+A CAREFUL reader of the 'Times' on the morning of Tuesday, September 11,
+1838, might have found, if he cared to look, a certain paragraph in an
+obscure corner headed 'The Wreck of the "Forfarshire."' It is printed in
+the small type of that period; the story is four days old, for in those
+days news was not flashed from one end of the country to the other; and,
+moreover, the story is very incomplete.
+
+On the evening of Wednesday, September 5, the steamship 'Forfarshire'
+left Hull for Dundee, carrying a cargo of iron, and having some forty
+passengers on board. The ship was only eight years old; the master, John
+Humble, was an experienced seaman; and the crew, including firemen and
+engineers, was complete. But even before the vessel left the dock one
+passenger at least had felt uneasily that something was wrong--that
+there was an unusual commotion among officials and sailors. Still, no
+alarm was given, and at dusk the vessel steamed prosperously down the
+Humber.
+
+The next day (Thursday, the 6th) the weather changed, the wind blowing
+N.N.W., and increasing towards midnight to a perfect gale. On the
+morning of Friday, the 7th, a sloop from Montrose, making for South
+Shields, saw a small boat labouring hard in the trough of the sea. The
+Montrose vessel bore down on it, and in spite of the state of the
+weather managed to get the boat's crew on board.
+
+They were nine men in all, the sole survivors, as they believed
+themselves to be, of the crew and passengers of the 'Forfarshire,' which
+was then lying a total wreck on Longstone, one of the outermost of the
+Farne Islands.
+
+It was a wretched story they had to tell of lives thrown away through
+carelessness and negligence, unredeemed, as far as their story went, by
+any heroism or unselfish courage.
+
+While still in the Humber, and not twenty miles from Hull, it was found
+that one of the boilers leaked, but the captain refused to put about.
+The pumps were set to work to fill the boiler, and the vessel kept on
+her way, though slowly, not passing between the Farne Islands and the
+mainland till Thursday evening. It was eight o'clock when they entered
+Berwick Bay; the wind freshened and was soon blowing hard from the
+N.N.W. The motion of the vessel increased the leakage, and it was now
+found that there were holes in all the three boilers. Two men were set
+to work the pumps, one or two of the passengers also assisting, but as
+fast as the water was pumped into the boilers it poured out again. The
+bilge was so full of steam and boiling water that the firemen could not
+get to the fires. Still the steamer struggled on, labouring heavily, for
+the sea was running very high. At midnight they were off St. Abbs Head,
+when the engineers reported that the case was hopeless; the engines had
+entirely ceased to work. The ship rolled helplessly in the waves, and
+the rocky coast was at no great distance. They ran up the sails fore and
+aft to try and keep her off the rocks, and put her round so that she
+might run before the wind, and as the tide was setting southward she
+drifted fast with wind and tide. Torrents of rain were falling, and in
+spite of the wind there was a thick fog. Some of the passengers were
+below, others were on deck with crew and captain, knowing well their
+danger.
+
+About three the noise of breakers was distinctly heard a little way
+ahead, and at the same time a light was seen away to the left,
+glimmering faintly through the darkness. It came home to the anxious
+crew with sickening certainty that they were being driven on the Farne
+Islands. [Now these islands form a group of desolate whinstone rocks
+lying off the Northumbrian coast. They are twenty in number, some only
+uncovered at low tide, and all offering a rugged iron wall to any
+ill-fated boat that may be driven upon them. Even in calm weather and by
+daylight seamen are glad to give them a wide berth.]
+
+The master of the 'Forfarshire' in this desperate strait attempted to
+make for the channel which runs between the Islands and the mainland. It
+was at best a forlorn chance; it was hopeless here; the vessel refused
+to answer her helm! On she drove in the darkness, nearer and nearer came
+the sound of the breakers; the fear and agitation on board the boat grew
+frantic. Women wailed and shrieked; the captain's wife clung to him,
+weeping; the crew lost all instinct of discipline, and thought of
+nothing but saving their skins.
+
+Between three and four the shock came--a hideous grinding noise, a
+strain and shiver of the whole ship, and she struck violently against a
+great rock. In the awful moment which followed five of the crew
+succeeded in lowering the larboard quarter-boat and pushed off in her.
+The mate swung himself over the side, and also reached her; and a
+passenger rushing at this moment up from the cabin and seeing the boat
+already three yards from the ship, cleared the space with a bound and
+landed safely in her, though nearly upsetting her by his weight. She
+righted, and the crew pulled off with the desperate energy of men rowing
+for their lives. The sight of agonised faces, the shrieks of the
+drowning were lost in the darkness and in the howling winds, and the
+boat with the seven men on board was swept along by the rapidly-flowing
+tide.
+
+Such was the story the exhausted boat's crew told next morning to their
+rescuers on board the Montrose sloop. And the rest of the ship's
+company--what of them? Had they all gone down by the island crag with
+never a hand stretched out to help them?
+
+Hardly had the boat escaped from the stranded vessel when a great wave
+struck her on the quarter, lifted her up bodily, and dashed her back on
+the rock. She struck midships on the sharp edge and broke at once into
+two pieces. The after part was washed clean away with about twenty
+passengers clinging to it, the captain and his wife being among them. A
+group of people, about nine in number, were huddled together near the
+bow; they, with the whole fore part of the ship, were lifted right on to
+the rock. In the fore cabin was a poor woman, Mrs. Dawson, with a child
+on each arm. When the vessel was stranded on the rock the waves rushed
+into the exposed cabin, but she managed to keep her position, cowering
+in a corner. First one and then the other child died from cold and
+exhaustion, and falling from the fainting mother were swept from her
+sight by the waves, but the poor soul herself survived all the horrors
+of the night.
+
+[Illustration: GRACE DARLING.]
+
+It was now four o'clock; the storm was raging with unabated violence,
+and it was still two hours to daybreak. About a mile from Longstone, the
+island on which the vessel struck, lies Brownsman, the outermost of the
+Farne Islands, on which stands the lighthouse. At this time the keeper
+of the lighthouse was a man of the name of William Darling. He was an
+elderly, almost an old man, and the only other inmates of the
+lighthouse were his wife and daughter Grace, a girl of twenty-two. On
+this Friday night she was awake, and through the raging of the storm
+heard shrieks more persistent and despairing than those of the wildest
+sea-birds. In great trouble she rose and awakened her father. The cries
+continued, but in the darkness they could do nothing. Even after day
+broke it was difficult to make out distant objects, for a mist was still
+hanging over the sea. At length, with a glass they could discern the
+wreck on Longstone, and figures moving about on it. Between the two
+islands lay a mile of yeasty sea, and the tide was running hard between
+them. The only boat on the lighthouse was a clumsily built jolly-boat,
+heavy enough to tax the strength of two strong men in ordinary weather,
+and here there was but an old man and a young girl to face a raging sea
+and a tide running dead against them. Darling hesitated to undertake
+anything so dangerous, but his daughter would hear of no delay. On the
+other side of that rough mile of sea men were perishing, and she _could_
+not stay where she was and see them die.
+
+So off they set in the heavy coble, the old man with one oar, the girl
+with the other, rowing with straining breath and beating hearts. Any
+moment they might be whelmed in the sea or dashed against the rocks.
+Even if they got the crew off it would be doubtful if they could row
+them to the lighthouse; the tide was about to turn, and would be against
+them on their homeward journey; death seemed to face them on every side.
+
+When close to the rock there was imminent danger of their being dashed
+to pieces against it. Steadying the boat an instant, Darling managed to
+jump on to the rock, while Grace rapidly rowed out a little and kept the
+boat from going on the rocks by rowing continually. It is difficult to
+imagine how the nine shipwrecked people, exhausted and wearied as they
+were, were got into the boat in such a sea, especially as the poor
+woman, Mrs. Dawson, was in an almost fainting condition; but finally got
+on board they all were. Fortunately, one or two of the rescued crew were
+able to assist in the heavy task of rowing the boat back to Brownsman.
+
+The storm continued to rage for several days after, and the whole party
+had to remain in the lighthouse. Moreover, a boatload which had come to
+their rescue from North Shields was also storm-stayed, twenty guests in
+all, so that the housewifely powers of Grace and her mother were taxed
+to the utmost.
+
+It is told of this admirable girl that she was the tenderest and
+gentlest of nurses and hostesses, as she was certainly one of the most
+singularly courageous of women.
+
+She could never be brought to look upon her exploit as in any way
+remarkable, and when by-and-by honours and distinctions were showered
+upon her, and people came from long distances to see her, she kept
+through it all the dignity of perfect simplicity and modesty.
+
+Close to Bamborough, on a windy hill, lie a little grey church and a
+quiet churchyard. At all seasons high winds from the North Sea blow over
+the graves and fret and eat away the soft grey sandstone of which the
+plain headstones are made. So great is the wear and tear of these winds
+that comparatively recent monuments look like those which have stood for
+centuries. On one of these stones lies a recumbent figure, with what
+looks not unlike a lance clasped in the hand and laid across the breast.
+Involuntarily one thinks of the stone Crusaders, who lie in their
+armour, clasping their half-drawn swords, awaiting the Resurrection
+morning. It is the monument of Grace Darling, who here lies at rest with
+her oar still clasped in her strong right hand.
+
+
+
+
+_THE 'SHANNON' AND THE 'CHESAPEAKE'_
+
+
+AMONG the captains of British 38-gun frigates who ardently longed for a
+meeting with one of the American 44-guns, in our war with the United
+States, was Captain Philip Bowesbere Broke, of the 'Shannon.' The desire
+sprang from no wish to display his own valour, only to show the world
+what wonderful deeds could be done when the ship and crew were in all
+respects fitted for battle. He had put his frigate in fighting order,
+taught his men the art of attack and defence, and out of a crew not very
+well disposed and got together in a rather haphazard manner, had made a
+company as pleasant to command as it was dangerous to meet.
+
+With this desire, in March 1813 Captain Broke sailed from Halifax on a
+cruise in Boston Bay. But to his disappointment two American frigates,
+the weather being foggy, left the harbour without his having a chance to
+encounter them. Two remained, however, and one of these, the
+'Chesapeake,' commanded by Captain James Lawrence, was nearly ready for
+sea. When her preparations were complete, Captain Broke addressed to her
+commanding officer a letter of challenge, having previously sent a
+verbal message, which had met with no reply.
+
+'As the "Chesapeake" appears now ready for sea,' began this letter, 'I
+request you will do me the favour to meet the "Shannon" with her, ship
+to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags.'
+
+He then gave an account of the 'Shannon's' forces, which were somewhat
+inferior to the 'Chesapeake's.' The 'Chesapeake' had 376 men, the
+'Shannon' 306 men and 24 boys, and the American vessel also had the
+advantage in guns.
+
+'I entreat you, sir,' Captain Broke concluded, 'not to imagine that I am
+urged by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the "Chesapeake,"
+or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your acceding to
+this invitation. We have both nobler motives. . . . Favour me with a
+speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long
+here.'
+
+This letter he entrusted to Captain Plocum, a discharged prisoner; but
+it so happened that before his boat reached the shore, the American
+frigate left it--Captain Lawrence having received permission from
+Commodore Bairbridge to sail and attack the 'Shannon' in response to
+Captain Broke's verbal challenge.
+
+Some manoeuvring between the two ships took place; but at last, in the
+evening of June 1, 1813, the 'Chesapeake,' with three ensigns flying,
+steered straight for the 'Shannon's' starboard quarter. Besides the
+ensigns, she had flying at the fore a large white flag, inscribed with
+the words: 'Sailors' Rights and Free Trade,' with the idea, perhaps,
+that this favourite American motto would damp the energy of the
+'Shannon's' men. The 'Shannon' had a Union Jack at the fore, an old
+rusty blue ensign at the mizzen peak, and two other flags rolled up,
+ready to be spread if either of these should be shot away. She stood
+much in need of paint, and her outward appearance hardly inspired much
+belief in the order and discipline that reigned within.
+
+At twenty minutes to six Captain Lawrence came within fifty yards of the
+'Shannon's' starboard quarter, and gave three cheers. Ten minutes after
+the 'Shannon' fired her first gun, then a second. Then the 'Chesapeake'
+returned fire, and the remaining guns on the broadside of each ship went
+off as fast as they could be discharged.
+
+Four minutes before six the 'Chesapeake's' helm, probably from the death
+of the men stationed at it, being for the moment unattended to, the ship
+lay with her stem and quarter exposed to her opponent's broadside, which
+did terrible execution. At six o'clock, the 'Chesapeake' and 'Shannon'
+being in close contact, the 'Chesapeake,' endeavouring to make a little
+ahead, was stopped by becoming entangled with the anchor of the
+'Shannon.' Captain Broke now ran forward, and, seeing the 'Chesapeake's'
+men deserting the quarter-deck guns, he ordered the two ships to be
+lashed together, the great guns to cease firing, and Lieutenant Watt to
+bring up the quarter-deck men, who were to act as boarders. This was
+done instantly, and at two minutes past six Captain Broke leaped aboard
+the 'Chesapeake,' followed by twenty men, and reached her quarter-deck.
+
+Here not an officer or man was to be seen. Upon the 'Chesapeake's'
+gangways, twenty-five or thirty Americans made a slight resistance, but
+were quickly driven towards the forecastle. Several fled over the bows,
+some, it is believed, plunged into the sea, the rest laid down their
+arms and submitted.
+
+Lieutenant Watt, with others, followed quickly. Hardly had he stepped
+upon the taffrail of the 'Chesapeake' when he was shot through the foot
+by a musket ball; but, rising in spite of it, he ordered one of the
+'Shannon's' 9-pounders to be directed at the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top,
+whence the shot had come. The second division of the Marines now rushed
+forward, and while one party kept down the Americans who were ascending
+the main hatchway, another party answered a destructive fire which still
+continued from the main and mizzen tops. The 'Chesapeake's' main top was
+presently stormed by midshipman William Smith. This gallant young man
+deliberately passed along the 'Shannon's' foreyard, which was braced up
+to the 'Chesapeake's' mainyard, and thence into her top. All further
+annoyance from the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen top was put a stop to by
+another of the 'Shannon's' midshipmen, who fired at the Americans from
+the yardarm as fast as his men could load the muskets and hand them to
+him.
+
+After the Americans upon the forecastle had submitted, Captain Broke
+ordered one of his men to stand sentry over them, and sent most of the
+others aft, where the conflict was still going on. He was in the act of
+giving them orders when the sentry called out lustily to him. On
+turning, the captain found himself opposed by three of the Americans,
+who, seeing they were superior to the British then near them, had armed
+themselves afresh. Captain Broke parried the middle fellow's pike, and
+wounded him in the face, but instantly received from the man on the
+pikeman's right a blow with the butt-end of a musket, which bared his
+skull and nearly stunned him. Determined to finish the British
+commander, the third man cut him down with his broadsword, but at that
+very instant was himself cut down by Mindham, one of the 'Shannon's'
+seamen. Can it be wondered if all concerned in this breach of faith fell
+victims to the indignation of the 'Shannon's' men? It was as much as
+Captain Broke could do to save from their fury a young midshipman, who,
+having slid down a rope from the 'Chesapeake's' foretop, begged his
+protection.
+
+While in the act of tying a handkerchief round his commander's head,
+Mindham, pointing aft, called out:
+
+'There, sir--there goes up the old ensign over the Yankee colours!'
+
+Captain Broke saw it hoisting (with what feelings may be imagined), and
+was instantly led to the 'Chesapeake's' quarter-deck, where he sat down.
+
+That act of changing the 'Chesapeake's' colours proved fatal to a
+gallant British officer and four or five fine fellows of the 'Shannon's'
+crew. We left Lieutenant Watt just as, having raised himself on his feet
+after his wound, he was hailing the 'Shannon' to fire at the
+'Chesapeake's' mizzen top. He then called for an English ensign, and
+hauling down the American flag, bent, owing to the ropes being tangled,
+the English flag below instead of above it. Observing the American
+stripes going up first, the 'Shannon's' people reopened their fire, and,
+directing their guns with their accustomed precision at the lower part
+of the 'Chesapeake's' mizzen mast, killed Lieutenant Watt and four or
+five of their comrades. Before the flags had got halfway to the mizzen
+peak, they were pulled down and hoisted properly, and the men of the
+'Shannon' ceased their fire.
+
+An unexpected fire of musketry, opened by the Americans who had fled to
+the hold, killed a fine young marine, William Young. On this, Lieutenant
+Falkiner ordered three or four muskets that were ready to be fired down
+the hold, and Captain Broke, from the quarter-deck, told the lieutenant
+to summon. The Americans replied, 'We surrender'; and all hostilities
+ceased. Almost immediately after Captain Broke's senses failed him from
+loss of blood, and he was conveyed on board his own ship.
+
+Between the discharge of the first gun and the time of Captain Broke's
+boarding only eleven minutes had passed, and in four minutes more the
+'Chesapeake' was completely his. As a rule, however, this good fortune
+did not attend our arms in the conflict with the American marine.
+
+
+
+
+_CAPTAIN SNELGRAVE AND THE PIRATES_
+
+
+IN the year 1719, I, being appointed commander of the 'Bird' galley,
+arrived at the River Sierra Leone, on the north coast of Guinea. There
+were, at the time of our unfortunate arrival in that river, three pirate
+ships, who had then taken ten English ships in that place. The first of
+these was the 'Rising Sun,' one Cochlyn commander, who had not with him
+above twenty-five men; the second was a brigantine commanded by one Le
+Bouse, a Frenchman, whose crew had formerly served with Cochlyn's under
+the pirate Moody; the third was a large ship commanded by Captain Davis,
+with a crew of near one hundred and fifty men. This Davis was a generous
+man, nor had he agreed to join with the others when I was taken by
+Cochlyn; which proved a great misfortune to me, for I found Cochlyn and
+his crew to be a set of the basest and most cruel villains that ever
+were.
+
+I come now to give an account of how I was taken by them. It becoming
+calm about seven o'clock, and growing dark, we anchored in the river's
+mouth, soon after which I went to supper with the officers that usually
+ate with me. About eight o'clock the officer of the watch upon deck sent
+me word, 'He heard the rowing of a boat.' Whereupon we all immediately
+went on deck, and the night being very dark, I ordered lanterns and
+candles to be got ready, supposing the boat might come from the shore
+with some white gentlemen that lived there as free merchants. I ordered
+also, by way of precaution, the first mate, Mr. Jones, to go into the
+steerage to put things in order, and to send me twenty men on the
+quarter-deck with firearms and cutlasses, which I thought he went about,
+for I did not in the least suspect Mr. Jones would have proved such a
+villain as he did afterwards.
+
+As it was dark, I could not yet see the boat, but heard the noise of
+the rowing very plain. Whereupon I ordered the second mate to hail the
+boat, to which the people in it answered, 'They belonged to the "Two
+Friends," Captain Elliot, of Barbadoes.' At this, one of the officers
+who stood by me said he knew that captain very well. I replied, 'It
+might be so, but I would not trust any boat in such a place,' and
+ordered him to hasten the first mate, with the people and arms, on deck.
+By this time our lanterns and candles were brought up, and I ordered the
+boat to be hailed again; to which the people in it answered, 'They were
+from America,' and at the same time fired a volley of small shot at us,
+which showed the boldness of these villains. For there were in the boat
+only twelve of them, as I understood afterwards, who knew nothing of the
+strength of our ship, which was indeed considerable, we having sixteen
+guns and forty-five men on board. But, as they told me after we were
+taken, 'they depended on the same good-fortune as in the other ships
+they had taken, having met with no resistance, for the people were
+generally glad of an opportunity of entering with them.'
+
+Which last was but too true.
+
+When they first began to fire, I called aloud to the first mate to fire
+at the boat out of the steerage portholes, which not being done, and the
+people I had ordered upon deck with small arms not appearing, I was
+extremely surprised, and the more when an officer came and told me 'The
+people would not take arms.'
+
+I went down into the steerage, where I saw a great many of them looking
+at one another, little thinking that my first mate had prevented them
+from taking arms. I asked them with some roughness why they had not
+obeyed my orders, saying it would be the greatest reproach in the world
+to us all to be taken by a boat.
+
+Some of them answered that they would have taken arms, but the chest
+they were kept in could not be found.
+
+By this time the boat was along the ship's side, and there being nobody
+to oppose them, the pirates immediately boarded us, and coming on the
+quarter-deck, fired their pieces several times down into the steerage,
+giving one sailor a wound of which he died afterwards.
+
+At last some of our people bethought themselves to call out for quarter,
+which the pirates granting, their quartermaster came down into the
+steerage, asking where the captain was. I told him I had been so till
+now. On that he asked me how I durst order my people to fire at their
+boat out of the steerage.
+
+I answered, 'I thought it my duty to defend my ship if my people would
+have fought.'
+
+On that he presented a pistol to my breast, which I had but just time to
+parry before it went off, so that the bullet passed between my side and
+arm. The rogue, finding he had not shot me, turned the butt-end of the
+pistol, and gave me such a blow on the head as stunned me, so that I
+fell on my knees, but immediately recovering myself, I jumped out of the
+steerage upon the quarter-deck, where the pirate boatswain was.
+
+He was a bloodthirsty villain, having a few days before killed a poor
+sailor because he did not do something as soon as he ordered him. This
+cruel monster was asking some of my people where their captain was, so
+at my coming upon deck one of them pointed me out. Though the night was
+very dark, yet, there being four lanterns with candles, he had a full
+sight of me; whereupon, lifting up his broadsword, he swore that no
+quarter should be given to any captain that defended his ship, at the
+same time aiming a full stroke at my head. To avoid it I stooped so low
+that the quarter-deck rail received the blow, and was cut in at least an
+inch deep, which happily saved my head from being cleft asunder, and the
+sword breaking at the same time with the force of his blow on the rail,
+it prevented his cutting me to pieces.
+
+By good fortune his pistols, that hung at his girdle, were all
+discharged, otherwise he would doubtless have shot me. But he took one
+of them and endeavoured to beat out my brains, which some of my people
+observing, cried:
+
+'For God's sake don't kill our captain, for we never were with a better
+man.'
+
+This turned the rage of him and two other pirates on my people, and
+saved my life; but they cruelly used my poor men, cutting and beating
+them unmercifully. One of them had his chin almost cut off, and another
+received such a wound on the head that he fell on the deck as dead, but
+afterwards, by the care of our surgeon, he recovered.
+
+Then the quartermaster, coming on deck, took me by the hand, and told me
+my life was safe, provided none of my people complained of me. I
+answered that I was sure none of them could.
+
+By this time the pirate ship had drawn near, for they had sent their
+boat before to discover us; and on approaching, without asking any
+questions, gave us a great broadside, believing, as it proved
+afterwards, that we had taken their boat and people. So the
+quartermaster told them, through the speaking-trumpet, that they had
+taken a brave prize, with all manner of good victuals and fresh
+provisions on board.
+
+Just after this, Cochlyn, the pirate captain, ordered them to dress a
+quantity of these victuals; so they took many geese, turkeys, fowls, and
+ducks, making our people cut their heads off and pull the great feathers
+out of their wings, but they would not stay till the other feathers were
+pulled off. All these they put into our great furnace, which would boil
+victuals for five hundred negroes, together with several Westphalia hams
+and a large pig. This strange medley filled the furnace, and the cook
+was ordered to boil them out of hand.
+
+As soon as the pirate ship had done firing, I asked the quartermaster's
+leave for our surgeon to dress my poor people that had been wounded, and
+I likewise went to have my arm dressed, it being very much bruised by
+the blow given me by the pirate boatswain. Just after that a person came
+to me from the quartermaster, desiring to know what o'clock it was by my
+watch; which, judging to be a civil way of demanding it, I sent it him
+immediately, desiring the messenger to tell him it was a very good gold
+watch. When it was delivered to the quartermaster he held it up by the
+chain, and presently laid it down on the deck, giving it a kick with his
+foot, saying it was a pretty football. On which one of the pirates
+caught it up, saying he would put it in the common chest to be sold at
+the mast.
+
+By this time I was loudly called upon to go on board the pirate ship,
+and there was taken to the commander, who asked me several questions
+about my ship, saying she would make a fine pirate man-of-war.
+
+As soon as I had done answering the captain's questions, a tall man,
+with four pistols in his girdle and a broadsword in his hand, came to me
+on the quarter-deck, telling me his name was James Griffin, and we had
+been schoolfellows. Though I remembered him very well, yet having
+formerly heard it had proved fatal to some who had been taken by pirates
+to own any knowledge of them, I told him I could not remember any such
+person by name. On that he mentioned some boyish pranks that had
+formerly passed between us. But I, still denying any knowledge of him,
+he told me that he supposed I took him to be one of the pirate's crew
+because I saw him dressed in that manner, but that he was a forced man,
+and since he had been taken, though they spared his life, they had
+obliged him to act as master of the pirate ship. And the reason of his
+being so armed was to prevent their ill-using him, for there were hardly
+any among the crew but what were cruel villains. But he would himself
+take care of me that night, when I should be in the greatest danger,
+because many of their people would soon get drunk with the good liquors
+found in my ship.
+
+I then readily owned my former acquaintance with him, and he turned to
+Captain Cochlyn and desired that a bowl of punch might be made. So we
+went into the cabin, where there was not chair, nor anything else to sit
+upon, for they always kept a clear ship, ready for an engagement. So a
+carpet was spread on the deck, on which we sat down cross-legged, and
+Captain Cochlyn drank my health, desiring that I would not be cast down
+at my misfortune, for my ship's company in general spoke well of me, and
+they had goods enough left in the ships they had taken to make a man of
+me. Then he drank several other healths, among which was that of the
+Pretender, by the name of King James the Third.
+
+It being by this time midnight, my schoolfellow desired the captain to
+have a hammock hung up for me to sleep in, for it seemed everyone lay
+rough, as they call it, that is, on the deck, the captain himself not
+being allowed a bed. This being granted, and soon after done, I took
+leave of the captain, and got into my hammock, but I could not sleep in
+my melancholy circumstances. Moreover, the execrable curses I heard
+among the ship's company kept me awake, though Mr. Griffin, according to
+his promise, walked by me with his broadsword in his hand, to protect me
+from insults.
+
+Some time after, it being about two o'clock in the morning, the pirate
+boatswain (that attempted to kill me when taken) came on board very
+drunk, and being told I was in a hammock, he came near me with his
+cutlass. My generous schoolfellow asked him what he wanted; he answered,
+'To kill me, for I was a vile dog.' Then Griffin bade the boatswain keep
+his distance, or he would cleave his head asunder with his broadsword.
+Nevertheless, the bloodthirsty villain came on to kill me; but Mr.
+Griffin struck at him with his sword, from which he had a narrow escape;
+and then he ran away. So I lay unmolested till daylight.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I come now to relate how Mr. Simon Jones, my first mate, and ten of my
+men entered with the pirates. The morning after we were taken he came to
+me and told me that his circumstances were bad at home; moreover, he had
+a wife whom he could not love; and for these reasons he had entered
+with the pirates and signed their articles. I was greatly surprised at
+this declaration, and told him I believed he would repent when too late.
+And, indeed, I saw the poor man afterwards despised by his brethren in
+iniquity, and have been told he died a few months after they left Sierra
+Leone. However, I must do him the justice to own he never showed any
+disrespect to me, and the ten people he persuaded to enter with him
+remained very civil to me. But I learned afterwards from one of them
+that, before we came to Sierra Leone, Jones had said that he hoped we
+should meet with pirates, and that it was by his contrivance that the
+chest of arms was hid out of the way when we were taken. And when I
+called on the people in the steerage to fire on the pirate boat, Jones
+prevented them, declaring that this was an opportunity he had long
+wished for, and that if they fired a musket they would all be cut to
+pieces. Moreover, to induce them to enter with the pirates, he had
+assured them that I had promised to enter myself. So it was a wonder I
+escaped so well, having such a base wretch for my first officer.
+
+As soon as the fumes of the liquor were out of the pirates' heads they
+went on board the prize, as they called my ship, and all hands went to
+work to clear it, by throwing over bales of woollen goods, with many
+other things of great value, so that before night they had destroyed
+between three and four thousand pounds worth of the cargo--money and
+necessaries being what they wanted. The sight of this much grieved me,
+but I was obliged in prudence to be silent.
+
+That afternoon there came on board to see me Captain Henry Glynn, with
+whom I was acquainted, who resided at Sierra Leone, but though an
+honest, generous person, was on good terms with the pirates. He brought
+with him the captains of the two other pirate ships, and Captain Davis
+generously said he was ashamed to hear how I had been used, for their
+reasons for going a-pirating were to revenge themselves on base
+merchants and cruel commanders, but none of my people gave me the least
+ill character; and, indeed, it was plain that they loved me.
+
+This was by no means relished by Cochlyn; however, he put a good face on
+it.
+
+That night the boatswain came down into the steerage, where he had seen
+me sitting with the ship's carpenter, but since we happened to have
+changed places, and it had grown so dark he could not distinguish our
+faces, he, thinking I sat where he had seen me before, presented a
+pistol and drew the trigger, swearing he would blow my brains out. By
+good fortune the pistol did not go off, but only flashed in the pan; by
+the light of which the carpenter, observing that he should have been
+shot instead of me, it so provoked him that he ran in the dark to the
+boatswain, and having wrenched the pistol out of his hand, he beat him
+to such a degree that he almost killed him. The noise of the fray being
+heard on board the pirate ship that lay close to us, a boat was sent
+from her, and they being told the truth of the matter, the officer in
+her carried away this wicked villain, who had three times tried to
+murder me.
+
+I had one bundle of my own things left to me, in which was a black suit
+of clothes. But a pirate, who was tolerably sober, came in and said he
+would see what was in it. He then took out my black suit, a good hat and
+wig, and some other things. Whereon I told him I hoped he would not
+deprive me of them, for they would be of no service to him in so hot a
+country, but would be of great use to me, as I hoped soon to return to
+England.
+
+I had hardly done speaking, when he lifted up his broadsword and gave me
+a blow on the shoulder with the flat side of it, whispering in my ear at
+the same time:
+
+'I give you this caution, never to dispute the will of a pirate; for,
+supposing I had cleft your skull asunder for your impudence, what would
+you have got by it but destruction?'
+
+I gave him thanks for his warning, and soon after he put on the clothes,
+which in less than half an hour after I saw him take off and throw
+overboard, for some of the pirates, seeing him dressed in that manner,
+had thrown several buckets of claret upon him. This person's true name
+was Francis Kennedy.
+
+The next day, understanding that the three pirate captains were on shore
+at my friend Captain Glynn's, I asked leave to go to them, which was
+granted, and next day I went on board in company with them. Captain
+Davis desired Cochlyn to order all his people on the quarter-deck, and
+made a speech to them on my behalf, which they falling in with, it was
+resolved to give me the ship they designed to leave to go into mine,
+with the remains of my cargo, and further, the goods remaining in the
+other prizes, worth, with my own, several thousand pounds. Then one of
+the leading pirates proposed that I should go along with them down the
+coast of Guinea, where I might exchange the goods for gold, and that, no
+doubt, as they went they should take some French and Portuguese vessels,
+and then they might give me as many of their best slaves as would fill
+the ship; that then he would advise me to go to the island of St. Thomas
+and sell them there, and after rewarding my people in a handsome manner,
+I might return with a large sum of money to London and bid the merchants
+defiance.
+
+This proposal was approved of, but it struck me with a sudden damp. So I
+began to say it would not be proper for me to accept of such a quantity
+of other people's goods as they had so generously voted for me. On which
+I was interrupted by several, who began to be very angry.
+
+[Illustration: 'SOME OF THE PIRATES . . . HAD THROWN SEVERAL BUCKETS OF
+CLARET UPON HIM.']
+
+On this Captain Davis said: 'I know this man, and can easily guess his
+thoughts; for he thinks, if he should act in the manner you have
+proposed, he will ever after lose his reputation. Now I am for allowing
+everybody to go to the devil their own way, so desire you will give him
+the remains of his own cargo and let him do with it what he thinks
+fitting.'
+
+This was readily granted; and now, the tide being turned, they were as
+kind to me as they had at first been severe, and we employed ourselves
+in saving what goods we could.
+
+And through the influence of Captain Davis, one of the ships the pirates
+had taken, called the 'Bristol Snow,' was spared from burning--for they
+burned such prizes as they had no use for. And I was set entirely at
+liberty, and went to the house of Captain Glynn, who, when the pirates
+left the river of Sierra Leone, together with other English captains who
+had been hiding from the pirates in the woods, their ships having been
+taken, helped me to fit up the 'Bristol Snow' that we might return to
+England in it. And we left the river Sierra Leone the 10th day of May,
+and came safe to Bristol, where I found a letter from the owner of the
+ship I had gone out with, who had heard of my misfortune, and most
+generously comforted me, giving money for my poor sailors and promising
+me command of another ship--a promise which he soon after performed.
+
+I shall now inform the reader what became of my kind schoolfellow,
+Griffin, and my generous friend Davis. The first got out of the hands of
+the pirates by taking away a boat from the stern of the ship he was in
+when on the coast of Guinea, and was driven on shore there. But
+afterwards he went passenger to Barbadoes in an English ship, where he
+was taken with a violent fever, and so died.
+
+As for Davis, he sailed to the island Princess, belonging to the
+Portuguese, which is in the Bay of Guinea. Here the people soon
+discovered they were pirates by their lavishness; but the Governor
+winked at it, because of the great gain he made by them. But afterwards,
+someone putting it into his mind that if the King of Portugal heard of
+this it would be his ruin, he plotted to destroy Davis. And when, before
+sailing, Captain Davis came on shore with the surgeon and some others to
+bid farewell to the Governor, they found no Governor, but many people
+with weapons were gathered together in the street, who at a word from
+the Governor's steward fired at Davis and his men. The surgeon and two
+others were killed on the spot, but Davis, though struck by four shots,
+went on running towards the boat. But being closely pursued, a fifth
+shot made him fall; and the Portuguese, being amazed at his great
+strength and courage, cut his throat that they might be sure of him.
+Thus fell Captain Davis, who, allowing for the course of life he had
+been unhappily engaged in, was a most generous, humane person.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_THE SPARTAN THREE HUNDRED_
+
+
+THIS is the story of the greatest deed of arms that was ever done. The
+men who fought in it were not urged by ambition or greed, nor were they
+soldiers who knew not why they went to battle. They warred for the
+freedom of their country, they were few against many, they might have
+retreated with honour, after inflicting great loss on the enemy, but
+they preferred, with more honour, to die.
+
+It was four hundred and eighty years before the birth of Christ. The
+Great King, as the Greeks called Xerxes, the Persian monarch, was
+leading the innumerable armies of Asia against the small and divided
+country of Greece. It was then split into a number of little States, not
+on good terms with each other, and while some were for war, and freedom,
+and ruin, if ruin must come, with honour, others were for peace and
+slavery. The Greeks, who determined to resist Persia at any cost, met
+together at the Isthmus of Corinth, and laid their plans of defence. The
+Asiatic army, coming by land, would be obliged to march through a narrow
+pass called Thermopylae, with the sea on one side of the road, and a
+steep and inaccessible precipice on the other. Here, then, the Greeks
+made up their minds to stand. They did not know, till they had marched
+to Thermopylae, that behind the pass there was a mountain path, by which
+soldiers might climb round and over the mountain, and fall upon their
+rear. As the sea on the right hand of the Pass of Thermopylae lies in a
+narrow strait, bounded by the island of Euboea, the Greeks thought
+that their ships would guard their rear and prevent the Persians from
+landing men to attack it. Their army encamped in the Pass, having wide
+enough ground to manoeuvre in, between the narrow northern gateway, so
+to speak, by which the invaders would try to enter, and a gateway to the
+south. Their position was also protected by an old military wall, which
+they repaired.
+
+The Greek general was Leonidas, the Spartan king. He chose three hundred
+men, all of whom had sons at home to maintain their families and to
+avenge them if they fell. Now the manner of the Spartans was this: to
+die rather than yield. However sorely defeated, or overwhelmed by
+numbers, they never left the ground alive and unvictorious, and as this
+was well known, their enemies were seldom eager to attack such resolute
+fighters.
+
+Besides the Spartans, Leonidas led some three or four thousand men from
+other cities, and he was joined at Thermopylae by the Locrians and a
+thousand Phocians. Perhaps he may have had six or eight thousand
+soldiers under him, while the Persians may have outnumbered them by the
+odds of a hundred to one. Why, you may ask, did the Greeks not send a
+stronger force? The reason was very characteristic. They were holding
+their sports at the time, racing, running, boxing, jumping, and they
+were also about to be engaged in another festival. They would not omit
+or put off their games however many thousand barbarians might be
+knocking at their gates. There is something boyish, and something fine
+in this conduct, but we must remember, too, that the games were a sacred
+festival, and that the Gods might be displeased if they were omitted.
+
+Leonidas, then, thought that at least he could hold the Pass till the
+games were over, and his countrymen could join him. But when he found,
+on arriving at Thermopylae, that he would have to hold two positions, the
+Pass itself, and the mountain path, of whose existence he had not been
+aware, then some of his army wished to return home. But Leonidas refused
+to let them retreat, and bade the Phocians guard the path across the
+hills, while he sent home for reinforcements. He could not desert the
+people whom he had come to protect. Meanwhile the Greek fleet was also
+alarmed, but was rescued by a storm which wrecked many of the Persian
+vessels.
+
+Xerxes was now within sight of Thermopylae. He sent a horseman forward to
+spy out the Greek camp, and this man saw the Spartans amusing themselves
+with running and wrestling, and combing their long hair, outside the
+wall. They took no notice of him, and he returning, told Xerxes how few
+they were, and how unconcerned. Xerxes then sent for Demaratus, an
+exiled king of Sparta in his camp, and asked what these things meant. 'O
+king!' said Demaratus, 'this is what I told you of yore, when you
+laughed at my words. These men have come to fight you for the Pass, and
+for that battle they are making ready, for it is our country fashion to
+comb and tend our hair when we are about to put our heads in peril.'
+
+Xerxes would not believe Demaratus. He waited four days, and then, in a
+rage, bade his best warriors, the Medes and Cissians, bring the Greeks
+into his presence. The Medes, who were brave men, and had their defeat
+at Marathon, ten years before, to avenge, fell on, but their spears were
+short, their shields were thin, and they could not break a way into the
+stubborn forest of bronze and steel. In wave upon wave, all day long,
+they dashed against the Greeks, and left their best lying at the mouth
+of the Pass. 'Thereby was it made clear to all men, and not least to the
+king, that men are many, but heroes are few.'
+
+Next day Xerxes called on his bodyguard, the Ten Thousand Immortals, and
+they came to close quarters, but got no more glory than the Medes.
+Thrice the King leaped from his chair in dismay as thrice the Greeks
+drove the barbarians in rout. And on the third day they had no better
+fortune.
+
+But there was a man, a Malian, whose name is a scorn to this hour; he
+was called Epialtes. He betrayed to Xerxes the secret of the mountain
+path, probably for money. He later fled to Thessaly with a price on his
+head, but returned to Anticyra, and there he was slain by Athenades.
+Then Xerxes was glad beyond measure when he heard of the path, and sent
+his men along the path by night. They found the Phocians guarding it,
+but the Phocians disgracefully fled to the higher part of the mountain.
+The Persians, disdaining to pursue them, marched to the pass behind the
+Spartan camp, and the Greeks were now surrounded in van and rear. But
+news of this had come to Leonidas, and his army was not of one mind as
+to what they should do. Some were for retreating and abandoning a
+position which it was now impossible to hold. Leonidas bade them depart;
+but for him and his countrymen it was not honourable to turn their backs
+on any foe. He sent away the soothsayer, or prophet, Megistias, but he
+returned, and bade his son go home. The Thespians, to their immortal
+honour, chose to bide the brunt with Leonidas. There thus remained what
+was left of the Three Hundred, their personal attendants, seven hundred
+Thespians, and some Thebans, about whose conduct it is difficult to
+speak with certainty, as accounts differ. Leonidas, on this last day of
+his life, did not wait to be attacked in front and rear, but, sallying
+into the open, himself assailed the Persians. They drove the barbarians
+like cattle with their spears; the captains of the barbarians drove them
+back on the spears with whips. Many fell from the path into the sea, and
+there perished, and many more were trodden down and died beneath the
+feet of their own companions. But the spears of the Greeks broke at last
+in their hands, so they drew their swords, and rushed to yet closer
+quarters. In this charge fell Leonidas, 'the bravest man,' says the
+Greek historian, 'of men whose names I know,' and he knew the names of
+all the Three Hundred. Over the body of Leonidas fell the two brothers
+of Xerxes, for they fought for the corpse, and four times the Greeks
+drove back the Persians. Now came up the Persians with the traitor
+Epialtes, attacking the Greeks in the rear. Now was their last hour
+come, so they bore the body of the king within the wall. There they
+occupied a little mound in a sea of enemies, and there each man fought
+till he died, stabbing with his dagger when his sword was broken, and
+biting, and striking with the fist, when the dagger-point was blunted.
+Among them all, none made a better end than Eurytus. He was suffering
+from a disease of the eyes, but he bade them arm him, and lead him into
+the thick of the battle. Of another, Dieneces, it is told that hearing
+the arrows of the Persians would darken the sun, he answered, 'Good
+news! we shall fight in the shade.' One man only, Aristodemus, who also
+was suffering from a disease of the eyes, did not join his countrymen,
+but returned to Sparta. There he was scouted for a coward, but, in the
+following year, he fell at Plataea, excelling all the Spartans in deeds
+of valour.
+
+This is the story of the Three Hundred. The marble lion erected where
+Leonidas fell has perished, and perished has the column engraved with
+their names, but their glory is immortal.[4]
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[4] Herodotus.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+_PRINCE CHARLIE'S WANDERINGS_
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE FLIGHT
+
+APRIL 16, 1746. It was an April afternoon, grey and cold, with gleams of
+watery sunshine, for in the wilds of Badenoch the spring comes but
+slowly, and through April on to May the mountains are as black and the
+moors as sombre and lifeless as in the dead of winter. In a remote
+corner of this wild track stood, in 1746, a grey, stone house with
+marsh-lands in front, severe and meagre as the houses were at that time
+in the Highlands. Upstairs in a room by herself a little girl of ten was
+looking out of the window. She had been sent up there to be out of the
+way, for this was a very busy day in the household of Gortuleg. The
+Master, Mr. Fraser, was entertaining the chief of his clan, old Lord
+Lovat, who, in these anxious days, when the Prince was at Inverness and
+the Duke of Cumberland at Aberdeen, had thought fit to retire into the
+wilds of Badenoch, to the house of his faithful clansman.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Downstairs, the astute old man of eighty was sitting in his armchair by
+the fire, plotting how he could keep in with both parties and secure his
+own advantage whichever side might win. By some strange infatuation the
+household at Gortuleg were cheerful and elate. A battle was imminent,
+nay, might have been fought even now, and they were counting securely on
+another success to the Prince's army. So the ladies of the
+family--staunch Jacobites every one of them (as, indeed, most ladies
+were even in distinctly Whig households)--were busy preparing a feast
+in honour of the expected victory. The little girl sat alone upstairs,
+hearing the din and commotion and looking out on the vacant marsh-land
+outside. Suddenly and completely the noise ceased below, and the child
+seized her opportunity and crept downstairs. All was still in the big
+living-room, only in the dim recess of the fireplace the old lord was
+sitting, a silent, brooding figure, in his deep armchair. The rest of
+the household, men and women, gentle and simple, were all crowded in the
+doorway, breathlessly intent on something outside. Threading her way
+through them the child crept outside the circle and looked eagerly to
+see what this might be. Across the grey marshes horsemen were riding,
+riding fast, though the horses strained and stumbled, and the riders had
+a weary, dispirited air. 'It is the fairies' was the idea that flashed
+through her brain, and in a moment she was holding her eyelids open with
+her fingers, for she knew that the 'good people,' if they do show
+themselves, are only visible between one winking of the eyes and
+another. But this vision did not pass away, and surely never were fairy
+knights in such a sorry plight as was this travel-stained, dishevelled
+company that drew rein at the door of Gortuleg.
+
+The leader of the band was a young man in Highland dress, tall and fair,
+and with that 'air' of which his followers fondly complained afterwards
+that no disguise could conceal it. At the sight of him, arriving in this
+plight at their doors, a great cry of consternation broke from the
+assembled household. There was no need to tell the terrible news: the
+Prince was a fugitive, a battle had been lost, and the good cause was
+for ever undone! It was no time for idle grieving, immediate relief and
+refreshment must be provided, and the Prince sent forward without delay
+on his perilous flight. The ladies tore off their laces and
+handkerchiefs to bind up wounds, and wine was brought out for the
+fugitives. There is no certain account of Charles's interview with Lord
+Lovat; we do not know whether the cunning old man turned and upbraided
+the Prince in his misfortune, or whether the instincts of a Highland
+gentleman overcame for a moment the selfishness of the old chief.
+Anyway, this was no time to bandy either upbraidings or compliments.
+Forty minutes of desperate fighting on the field of Culloden that
+morning had broken for ever the strength of the Jacobite cause. Hundreds
+lay dead where they fell, hundreds were prisoners in the hands of the
+most relentless of enemies, hundreds were fleeing in disarray to their
+homes among the mountain fastnesses. For the Prince the only course
+seemed to be flight to the West coast. There, surely, some vessel might
+be found to convey him to France, there to await better times and to
+secure foreign allies. A price was on his head, his enemies would
+certainly be soon on his traces, he dared not delay longer than to
+snatch a hasty meal and drink some cups of wine.
+
+At Gortuleg the party broke up and went their several ways. The Prince
+was accompanied by the Irish officers of his household, Sir Thomas
+Sheridan, O'Neal, and O'Sullivan, gentlemen-adventurers who had
+accompanied him from France and whose advice in his day of triumph had
+often been injudicious. Let it be said for them that they were at least
+faithful and devoted when his fortunes were desperate. As guide went a
+certain Edward Burke, who, fortunately for the party, knew every yard of
+rugged ground between Inverness and the Western sea. During all the time
+that he shared the Prince's wanderings this Edward Burke acted as his
+valet, giving him that passionate devotion which Charles seems to have
+inspired in all who knew him personally at this time. Reduced now to a
+handful of weary, wounded men, the Prince's party continued their flight
+through the chilly April night. At two o'clock next morning they had
+passed the blackened ruins of Fort George. As dawn broke they drew rein
+at the house of Invergarry. But the gallant chief of the Macdonells was
+away, and the hospitable house was deserted and silent; the very rooms
+were without furniture or any accommodation, and the larder was bare of
+provisions. But wearied men are not fastidious, and without waiting to
+change their clothes, they rolled themselves up in their plaids on the
+bare boards, and slept the sleep of utter weariness. It was high noon
+before they woke up again--woke up to find breakfast unexpectedly
+provided, for the faithful Burke had risen betimes and drawn two fine
+salmon from the nets set in the river. Here for greater security the
+Prince and his valet changed clothes, and the journey was continued
+through Lochiel's country. The next stage was at the head of Loch
+Arkaig, where they were the guests of a certain Cameron of Glenpean, a
+stalwart, courageous farmer, whom the Prince was destined to see more of
+in his wanderings. Here the country became so wild and rugged that they
+had to abandon their horses and clamber over the high and rocky
+mountains on foot. In his boyhood in Italy the Prince had been a keen
+sportsman, and had purposely inured himself to fatigue and privations.
+These habits stood him now in good stead; he could rival even the
+light-footed Highlanders on long marches over rough ground; the
+coarsest and scantiest meals never came amiss to him; he could sleep on
+the hard ground or lie hid in bogs for hours with a stout heart and a
+cheerful spirit.
+
+Here on the night of Saturday, the 19th, among the mountains that
+surround Loch Morar, no better shelter could be found than a shieling
+used for shearing sheep.
+
+The next day, Sunday, the 20th, they came down to the coast and found
+refuge in the hospitable house of Borodale, belonging to Mr. Angus
+Macdonald, a clansman of Clanranald's. Nine months before, when the
+Prince had landed from France and had thrown himself without arms or
+following on the loyalty of his Highland friends, this Angus Macdonald
+had been proud to have him as his guest. One of his sons, John, had
+joined the Prince's army and had fought under his own chief, young
+Clanranald. This young man was at this time supposed to have been killed
+at Culloden, though in fact he had escaped unhurt. When the Prince,
+therefore, entered this house of mourning he went up to Mrs. Macdonald
+and asked her with tears in his eyes if she could endure the sight of
+one who had caused her such distress. 'Yes,' said the high-hearted old
+Highland-woman, 'I would be glad to have served my Prince though all my
+sons had perished in his service, for in so doing they would only have
+done their duty.'[5]
+
+While resting here at Borodale, Charles sent his final orders to the
+remnant of his gallant army, which under their chiefs had drawn to a
+head at Ruthven. They were to disperse, he wrote, and secure their own
+safety as best they could; they must wait for better times, when he
+hoped to return bringing foreign succours. Heartbreaking orders these
+were for the brave men who had lost all in the Prince's cause, and who
+were now proscribed and homeless fugitives.
+
+Charles and the handful of men who accompanied him had expected that,
+once safely arrived at the coast, their troubles would be over and the
+way to France clear. But at Borodale they learned that the Western seas
+swarmed with English ships of war and with sloops manned by the local
+militia. A thorough search was being made of every bay and inlet of the
+mainland, and of every island, even to the Outer Hebrides, and further,
+to remote St. Kilda! This disconcerting news was brought by young
+Clanranald and Mr. Aeneas Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart, the Parisian
+banker who had accompanied Charles from France. The latter had just
+returned from an expedition to South Uist, where he had more than once
+narrowly escaped being taken by some vigilant English cruiser. It was
+impossible, he urged, for a ship of any size to escape through such a
+closely-drawn net; the idea of starting directly for France must be
+abandoned, but could the Prince escape to the outer islands and there
+secure a suitable vessel, he _might_ be out upon the wide seas before
+his departure was discovered. It was therefore decided that the little
+party should cross the Minch in an open boat and make for the Long
+Island. For this expedition the very man was forthcoming in the person
+of the Highland pilot who had accompanied Mr. Macdonald to South Uist.
+This was old Donald MacLeod of Guatergill, in Skye, a trader of
+substance and a man of shrewdness and experience. In spite of being a
+MacLeod he was a staunch Jacobite, and had joined the Prince's army at
+Inverness. He had a son, a mere lad, at school in that place; this boy,
+hearing that a battle was likely to take place, flung aside his book,
+borrowed a dirk and a pistol, and actually fought in the battle of
+Culloden. More lucky than most, he escaped from the fight, tracked the
+Prince to Borodale, and arrived in time to take his place as one of the
+eight rowers whom his father had collected for the expedition. The boat
+belonged to the missing John Macdonald, for the Borodale family gave
+life and property equally unhesitatingly in the Prince's service.
+
+On April 26, in the deepening twilight, the party started from
+Lochnanuagh. Hardly had they set out when they were overtaken by a
+terrible storm, the worst storm, Donald declared, that he had ever been
+out in, and he was an experienced sailor. The Prince demanded vehemently
+that the boat should be run on shore, but Donald, knowing the rock-bound
+coast, answered that to do so would be to run on certain death. Their
+one chance was to hold out straight to sea. It was pitch dark, the rain
+fell in torrents; they had neither lantern, compass, nor pump on board.
+Charles lay at the bottom of the boat, with his head between Donald's
+knees. No one spoke a word; every moment they expected to be overwhelmed
+in the waves or dashed against a rock, and for several hours the vessel
+rushed on in the darkness. 'But as God would have it,' to use Donald's
+words, 'by peep of day we discovered ourselves to be on the coast of the
+Long Isle. We made directly for the nearest land, which was Rossinish in
+Benbecula.'
+
+Here they found only a deserted hut, low, dark, and destitute of window
+or chimney; the floor was clay, and when they had lit a fire, the peat
+smoke was blinding and stifling. Still, they could dry their clothes and
+sleep, even though it were on a bed no better than a sail spread on the
+hard ground. Here they rested two days, and then found a more
+comfortable refuge in the Island of Scalpa, where the tacksman--although
+a Campbell--was a friend of Donald MacLeod's and received them
+hospitably.
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+ON THE LONG ISLAND
+
+THE object of the expedition was, of course, to find some vessel big
+enough to carry the Prince and his friends over to France. Such ships
+were to be had in Stornoway, and Donald MacLeod, being a man well known
+in these parts, undertook to secure a vessel and pilot, under the
+pretence of going on a trading expedition to the Orkneys. The Prince and
+his party were to remain at Scalpa till Donald should send for them. On
+May 3 came the message that vessel and pilot were in readiness, and that
+they should come to Stornoway without a moment's delay.
+
+Owing to the wind being ahead it was impossible to go by sea, and the
+Prince and his two Irish followers were forced to go the thirty miles to
+Stornoway on foot. No footpath led through the wastes of heavy, boggy
+moorlands, the rain fell with an even downpour, and the guide stupidly
+mistook the way and added eight long Highland miles to the distance.
+They were thoroughly drenched, exhausted, and famished when Donald met
+them at a place a mile or two out of Stornoway. Having cheered their
+bodies with bread and cheese and brandy, and their souls with the
+hopeful prospect of starting the next day for France, he took them to a
+house in the neighbourhood, Kildun, where the mistress, though a
+MacLeod, was, like most of her sex, an ardent Jacobite. Leaving the
+Prince and his friends to the enjoyment of food, dry clothes, a good
+fire, and the prospect of comfortable beds for tired limbs, Donald went
+back to Stornoway in hopeful spirits to complete his arrangements for
+taking the Prince on board. Another twenty-four hours and the ship would
+have weighed anchor, and the worst difficulties would be left behind.
+But as soon as he entered Stornoway he saw that something was wrong.
+Three hundred men of the militia were in arms, and the whole place was
+in an uproar. The secret had leaked out; one of the boat's crew, getting
+tipsy, had boasted that the Prince was at hand with five hundred men,
+ready to take by force what he could not obtain by good-will.
+
+The inhabitants of Stornoway were all Mackenzies, pledged by their
+chief, Seaforth, to loyal support of the Government. It is eternally to
+their honour that all that they demanded was that the Prince should
+instantly remove himself from their neighbourhood. Not one amongst them
+seems to have suggested that a sum of 30,000_l._ was to be gained by
+taking the Prince prisoner. So complete was Donald's confidence in their
+honesty that he did not hesitate to say to a roomful of armed
+militiamen, 'He has only two companions with him, _and when I am there I
+make a third_, and yet let me tell you, gentlemen, that if Seaforth
+himself were here he durst not put a hand to the Prince's breast.'
+Donald doubtless looked pretty formidable as he said these words; at any
+rate, the 'honest Mackenzies' had no sinister intentions, only they
+vehemently insisted that the party should depart at once, and, what was
+worse, absolutely refused to give them a pilot. In vain Donald offered
+500_l._; fear made them obdurate; and so, depressed and crestfallen,
+Donald returned to Kildun and urged the Prince to instant flight. But
+not even the fear of immediate capture could induce the three wearied
+men to set out again in the wet and darkness to plod over rocks and
+morasses with no certain goal. So Donald had to control his fears and
+impatience till next day.
+
+At eight next morning they started in the boat, hospitable Mrs. MacLeod
+insisting on their taking with them beef, meal, and even the luxuries of
+brandy, butter, and sugar. The weather being stormy they landed on a
+little desert island called Eiurn, which the Stornoway fishermen used as
+a place for drying fish. Between some fish which they found drying on
+the rocks and Mrs. MacLeod's stores they lived in comparative luxury for
+the next few days. Ned Burke, the valet, was told off as cook; but he
+soon found that the Prince was far more skilful in the art of cookery
+than himself. It was his Royal Highness who suggested the luxury of
+butter with the fish, and who made a quite original cake by mixing the
+brains of a cow with some meal, giving orders to 'birsle the bannock
+weel, or it would not do at all.' Donald used to declare that in all his
+life 'he never knew anyone better at a shift than the Prince when he
+happened to be at a pinch.' Like many another unfortunate man, whether
+prince or peasant, Charles found unfailing comfort in tobacco. He seems
+to have smoked nothing more splendid than clay pipes, and 'as in his
+wanderings these behoved to break, he used to take quills, and putting
+one into the other and all into the end of the "cutty," this served to
+make it long enough, and the tobacco to smoke cool.'
+
+Donald records another characteristic little trait of the Prince at this
+time. On quitting the island he insisted on leaving money on the rocks
+to pay for the fish they had consumed.[6]
+
+In the meantime the situation was growing more and more dangerous.
+Rumours had got abroad that the Prince was in the Long Island, and the
+search was being actively pursued. Two English men-of-war were stationed
+near the island, and sloops and gunboats ran up every bay and sound,
+while bodies of militia carried on the search by land. These, from their
+intimate knowledge of the country, would have been the more formidable
+enemy of the two if many of their officers had not had a secret sympathy
+with the Jacobite cause and very lukewarm loyalty to the Government.
+
+For several days the Prince's boat had been so constantly pursued that
+it was impossible for the crew to land. They ran short of food, and were
+reduced to eating oatmeal mixed with salt water, a nauseous mixture
+called in Gaelic, Drammach. At last they ran into a lonely bay in
+Benbecula, where they were free from pursuit. It is characteristic of
+the Prince's irrepressible boyishness that he and the boatmen here went
+lobster-hunting with great enjoyment and success.
+
+Without help at this juncture the little party must either have starved
+or fallen into the hands of their enemies. Charles therefore sent a
+message to the old chief of Clanranald--the largest proprietor in South
+Uist--begging him to come and see him.
+
+Nine months before, when the Prince had landed on that island on his way
+from France, the old gentleman had refused to see him, pleading old age
+and infirmity. His brother, Macdonald of Boisdale, had seen the Prince
+and had vehemently urged him to give up so hopeless a design and to
+return to France; and, when he found that all persuasion was in vain,
+had roundly refused to promise him any assistance from his brother's
+clan. And though young Clanranald had, indeed, joined the Prince's
+standard, it was with many misgivings and against his better judgment.
+
+But now, in the hour of Charles's total abandonment and distress, this
+gallant family laid aside all selfish prudence. The old chief, in spite
+of age and ill-health, came immediately to the wretched hut where
+Charles had taken refuge, bringing with him Spanish wines, provisions,
+shoes, and stockings. He found the young man, whom he reverenced as his
+rightful king, in a hut as big as, and no cleaner than, a pig-stye,
+haggard and worn with hardship and hunger. 'His shirt,' as Dougal
+Graham, the servant, was quick to observe, 'was as dingy as a
+dish-clout.' That last little detail of misery appealed strongly to the
+womanly heart of Lady Clanranald, who immediately sent six good shirts
+to the Prince.
+
+For the next three weeks Charles enjoyed a respite under the vigilant
+protection of Clanranald and his brother Boisdale. They found a
+hiding-place for him in the Forest-house of Glencoridale, a hut rather
+bigger and better than most. By a system of careful spies and watchers
+they kept the Prince informed of every movement of the enemy. It was the
+month of June--June as it is in the North, when days are warm and sunny
+and the evening twilight is prolonged till the early dawn, and there is
+no night at all. South Uist, beyond all other islands of the Hebrides,
+abounds in game of all kinds, and the Prince was always a keen
+sportsman. He delighted his followers by shooting birds on the wing, he
+fished (though it was only sea-fishing from a boat), and he shot
+red-deer on the mountains.
+
+Once, when Ned Burke was preparing some collops from a deer the Prince
+had shot, a wild, starved-looking lad approached, and seeing the food,
+thrust his hand into the dish without either 'with your leave or by your
+leave,' and began devouring it like a savage. Ned in a rage very
+naturally began to beat the boy, but the gentle Prince interfered, and
+reminded his servant of the Christian duty of feeding the hungry,
+adding, 'I cannot see anyone perish for lack of food or raiment if I
+have it in my power to help them.' Having been fed and clothed the
+wretched boy went off straight to a body of militia in the neighbourhood
+and tried to betray the Prince to them. Fortunately, his appearance and
+manners were such that no one believed him, and he was laughed at for
+his pains. Out of at least a hundred souls, gentle and simple, who knew
+of the Prince's hiding-place, this 'young Judas' was the only one who
+dropped the slightest hint of his whereabouts.
+
+Nor was it only among the Jacobite clans that Charles found devoted and
+vigilant friends.
+
+The two most powerful chiefs in the North-west of Scotland were at this
+time MacLeod of MacLeod and Sir Alexander Macdonald of Mugstatt, or
+Mouggestot, in Skye. These two had, to the great disappointment of the
+Jacobites, declared for the Government, and had shown considerable zeal
+in trying to suppress the rising; but in the very household of Mugstatt
+Charles had a romantic and zealous adherent in the person of Lady
+Margaret, Sir Alexander Macdonald's wife. A daughter of the house of
+Eglintoun, she had been brought up in Jacobite principles, and now, in
+the absence of her husband, did all she could to help the Prince in his
+distress. Through the help of a certain Mr. Hugh Macdonald of Belshair
+she kept Charles informed of the enemy's movements and sent him
+newspapers. Towards the end of June the Government authorities were
+pretty certain that the Prince was hiding somewhere in the Long Island,
+and attention began to be concentrated on that spot. Two more English
+cruisers were sent there, under Captains Scott and Fergusson--men who
+had learnt lessons of cruelty from the greatest master of that art, the
+Duke of Cumberland--and militia bands patrolled the whole island. It was
+quite necessary to remove the Prince from Glencoridale, and the faithful
+Belshair was at once despatched by Lady Margaret to consult with Charles
+about his further movements. This Mr. Macdonald of Belshair arranged
+with Macdonald of Boisdale--one of the shrewdest as well as kindest of
+the Prince's friends--that they should meet at the Forest-house of
+Glencoridale. The meeting, in spite of hardships and danger and a worse
+than uncertain future, was a merry one. The two Highland gentlemen dined
+with the Prince (on 'sooty beef' and apparently a plate of butter!), and
+the talk was cheerful and free. Forgetful of the gloomy prospects of the
+Jacobite cause, and ignoring the victorious enemies encamped within a
+few miles of them, they talked hopefully of future meetings at St.
+James's, the Prince declaring that 'if he had never so much ado he would
+be at least one night merry with his Highland friends.' But St. James's
+was far enough off from Coridale, and in the meantime it became daily
+more certain that there was no longer safety for the Prince in Uist.
+
+The pleasant life in the Forest-house had to be broken up, and for the
+next ten weary days the little party lived in their boat, eluding as
+well as they could their enemies by sea and by land.
+
+Their difficulties were much increased and their spirits sadly disturbed
+by the fact that their generous friend Boisdale had been taken prisoner.
+
+It is one of the most singular facts of the Prince's wanderings that as
+soon as he lost one helpful friend another immediately rose up to take
+his place. This time an ally was found literally in the enemy's camp.
+One of the officers in command of the militia in Benbecula was a certain
+Hugh Macdonald of Armadale, in Skye, a clansman of Sir Alexander's, but,
+like many another Macdonald, a Jacobite at heart. It is very uncertain
+how far he was personally responsible for the plan that was at this time
+being formed for the Prince's escape. Donald MacLeod and others of the
+Prince's party were certain that Charles had met and talked with him at
+Rossinish and had presented him with his pistols. This gentleman had a
+step-daughter, a certain Flora Macdonald, a girl of remarkable
+character, courage, and discretion. She generally lived with her mother
+at Armadale, in Skye, but just now she was paying a visit to her brother
+in South Uist. It is difficult to make out how or when or by whom the
+idea was first started that this lady should convey the Prince to Skye
+disguised as her servant, but it appears that she had had more than one
+interview with O'Neal on the subject. On Saturday, June 21, being
+closely pursued by the implacable Captain Scott, Charles parted with his
+faithful little band of followers in Uist, paying the boatmen as
+generously as his slender purse would allow. With two clean shirts under
+his arm and with only O'Neal as his companion he started for Benbecula.
+Arriving at midnight in a small shieling belonging to Macdonald of
+Milton, 'by good fortune,' as O'Neal puts it, 'we met with Miss Flora
+Macdonald, whom I formerly knew.' It is a little difficult to believe
+that young ladies of Miss Flora's discretion were in the habit of
+frequenting lonely shielings far from their homes at midnight, at a time
+when the whole country was infested with soldiers. Nor does the
+beginning of her interview with O'Neal sound like the language of
+surprise. 'Then I told her I brought a friend to see her; and she, with
+some emotion, asked me if it was the Prince. I answered that it was, and
+instantly brought him in.' Among all the stout Highland hearts which
+were ready to risk everything for him, Charles never found one more
+brave and pitiful than that of the girl who was introduced to him in
+this strange and perilous situation.
+
+The plan was at once proposed to her that she should convey the Prince
+with her to Skye disguised in female attire as her maid. Flora was no
+mere romantic miss, eager for adventure and carried away by her
+feelings. She was quite aware of the danger she would bring on herself,
+and more especially on her friends, by this course. It was with some
+reluctance that she at last gave her consent, but once her word was
+pledged she was ready to go to the death if need were, and threw all her
+feminine ingenuity into carrying out the scheme. They arranged that she
+was to go next day to consult with Lady Clanranald and to procure
+feminine attire as a disguise for the Prince. As soon as all was
+prepared they were to meet at Rossinish in Benbecula; in the meantime
+O'Neal undertook to come and go between the Prince and Miss Macdonald to
+report progress and convey messages.
+
+The two men seem to have returned to a hiding-place in the neighbourhood
+of Glencoridale, and Miss Flora returned to Milton. She had to pass one
+of the narrow sea fords next day on her way to Ormaclade, the
+Clanranalds' house; this ford was guarded by a body of militia, and
+having no passport, she and her servant, Neil MacKechan, were taken
+prisoners. The situation was awkward in the extreme, and every hour's
+delay was an added danger. To her great relief she learned that the
+officer in command, who was expected that morning, was her stepfather,
+Mr. Hugh Macdonald. On his arrival he was (or affected to be) extremely
+surprised to find his stepdaughter a prisoner in the guard-room; but
+with a complaisance very remarkable in an officer of the Government, he
+drew her out passports for herself, for her servant Neil, and for a new
+Irish servant, Betty Burke, whom she desired to take with her to Skye.
+So great was Macdonald's interest in this unknown Betty that he actually
+wrote a letter to his wife in Skye recommending the girl.
+
+'I have sent your daughter from this country,' he wrote, 'lest she
+should be frightened by the troops lying here. She has got one Betty
+Burke, an Irish girl, who, she tells me, is a good spinster. If her
+spinning pleases you, you may keep her till she spins all your lint.' In
+spite of the gravity of the situation, one cannot help thinking that
+Flora and her stepfather must have had a good deal of amusement
+concocting this circumstantial and picturesque falsehood.
+
+As soon as she was set at liberty Flora went to Ormaclade, where Lady
+Clanranald entered heartily into the plan. Among her stores they chose a
+light coloured quilted petticoat, a flowered gown--lilac flowers on a
+white ground, to be particular--an apron and a long duffle cloak.
+Fortunately Highland women are tall and large, for the Prince's height,
+5 feet 10 inches, though moderate for a man, looked ungainly enough in
+petticoats.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It was Friday the 25th before the way was clear for Flora and Lady
+Clanranald to meet the Prince at the rendezvous at Rossinish in
+Benbecula. The four intervening days had been full of difficulties for
+Charles and O'Neal. The fords between the two islands were so well
+guarded that there was no chance of their being able to cross them on
+foot; they had no boat, and the hours were passing for them in an agony
+of suspense. At last they risked asking a chance boat which was passing
+to set them across, and accomplished the passage in safety. But when
+they did arrive at the hut at Rossinish, cold, wet, and wearied, they
+found that a party of militia were encamped within half a mile, and that
+the soldiers came every morning to that very hut for milk. Charles was
+by this time accustomed to the feeling that he was carrying his life in
+his hands. At daybreak he had to leave the hut to make room for his
+pursuers, all day he had to lie in an unsheltered fissure of a rock,
+where the rain--the heavy, relentless rain of the West Highlands--poured
+down on him; if it did clear at all, then that other plague of the
+Highlands, swarms of midges, nearly drove him distracted. On Friday the
+militiamen moved off, and the way being clear, Lady Clanranald, Miss
+Flora Macdonald, and a certain Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost came to visit
+him and O'Neal in their hut, bringing the female attire with them.
+These loyal ladies found their lawful sovereign roasting a sheep's liver
+on a spit; but neither discomfort, danger, nor dirt could do away with
+the courtly charm of his manner or the fine gaiety of his address. He
+placed Miss Macdonald on his right hand--he always gave his preserver
+the seat of honour--and Lady Clanranald at his left, and the strange
+little dinner-party proceeded merrily. But before it was finished a
+messenger broke in to tell Lady Clanranald that the infamous Captain
+Fergusson had arrived at Ormaclade, and was demanding the mistress of
+the house with angry suspicion.
+
+The Prince had now to part with O'Neal, in spite of the poor fellow's
+entreaties to be allowed to remain with him. Miss Macdonald had only
+passports for three and the danger was urgent. He was a faithful and
+affectionate friend, this O'Neal, if a little boastful and
+muddle-headed. He could shortly afterwards have escaped to France--as
+O'Sullivan did--in a French ship, if he had not insisted on going to
+Skye to try to fetch off the Prince. He missed the Prince, and fell into
+the hands of Captain Fergusson.
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+IN SKYE
+
+ON Saturday (June 26) the Prince put on his female attire for the first
+time, and very strange he must have felt as he sat in flowered calico on
+wet, slippery rocks, trying to keep himself warm beside a fire kindled
+on the beach. It was eight in the evening when they started, and the
+storm broke on them as soon as they were out at sea. The whole party was
+distressed and anxious, apparently, except Charles himself, who sang
+songs and told stories to keep up the spirits of his companions. Long
+afterwards Flora Macdonald loved to tell how chivalrously and
+considerately he looked after her comfort on that dangerous journey.
+
+Going round the north end of the Isle of Skye, they came ashore close to
+Mugstatt, Sir Alexander Macdonald's place. That chief was himself away
+at Fort Augustus with the Duke of Cumberland, but his wife, Lady
+Margaret, who, as we have seen, was a staunch friend to the Prince, was
+at home. Still, in her position it was most undesirable that Charles
+should present himself at her house. Miss Macdonald and her servant Neil
+went up to the house--the garden sloped down to the part of the shore
+where they had landed--leaving Betty Burke sitting on the boxes in her
+flowered gown and duffle cloak.
+
+Miss Macdonald had good reason to congratulate herself on her prudence
+when she found Lady Margaret's drawing-room full of guests. Among these
+was Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost, but she was already in the secret; Mr.
+Macdonald of Kingsburgh was also there, but he was a man of such a
+chivalrous spirit and so kindly in his disposition, that the secret
+would have been safe with him even if he had not been--as he was--a
+staunch Jacobite at heart. Far more formidable was a third guest, young
+Lieutenant MacLeod, a militia officer who, with a small body of men, was
+stationed at Mugstatt for the express purpose of examining every boat
+that might arrive from the Long Island. He certainly neglected this duty
+as far as Miss Macdonald's boat was concerned, possibly out of
+complaisance to her hostess, Lady Margaret, possibly because the young
+lady's careless demeanour disarmed all suspicion.
+
+The situation was a most anxious one for Miss Macdonald; she had to
+carry on an easy flow of chat with a young officer while all the time
+she could think of nothing but Betty Burke sitting on her box on the
+shore. Every moment was precious and nothing was being done.
+
+At last, during dinner, she managed to confide the whole situation to
+Kingsburgh, and while she kept the lieutenant engaged, the latter left
+the room and sent for Lady Margaret to speak to him on business. (He was
+her husband's factor, and there was nothing to excite remark in his
+wanting a private talk with her.) On learning the news she for a moment
+lost her head, and screamed out that they were undone. But with much
+sense and kindness Kingsburgh reassured her, saying that if necessary he
+would take the Prince to his own house, adding, with a touch of his
+characteristic chivalry, that he was now an old man, and it made very
+little difference to him whether he should die with a halter round his
+neck or await a death which could not be far distant.
+
+As for the immediate future, the first idea that occurred both to Lady
+Margaret and Kingsburgh was, 'Let us send for Donald Roy.' This Donald
+was a brother of the Macdonald of Belshair who had visited the Prince at
+Coridale. He had been 'out' with the Prince's army, and was now living
+with a surgeon near Mugstatt, trying to recover from a serious wound in
+his foot received at Culloden. This Donald must have been a good fellow,
+popular, and liked by all; for even in those dangerous times he seems
+to have lived on an intimate footing with the very militia officers who
+were sent to search for hidden Jacobites.
+
+No man could have been more suited for Kingsburgh's purpose than Donald.
+Not only was he sensible, honourable, and brave, but as an acknowledged
+Jacobite he had less to lose if discovered, and as a young and amiable
+man his person could not fail to be acceptable to the Prince.
+
+On his arrival he found Kingsburgh and Lady Margaret walking up and down
+the garden. 'O Donald!' cried the lady, 'we are undone for ever!' After
+much rapid, anxious talk, the three agreed that the safest place for the
+Prince would be the Island of Rasay. Old Rasay had been 'out' and was in
+hiding, his second son was recovering from a wound received at Culloden,
+and the eldest, though he had kept quiet from motives of prudence, was
+quite as keen a Jacobite as the other two. Their eagerness to serve the
+Prince could be relied on, and as the island had been recently
+devastated by the Government soldiers, it was not likely to be visited
+again.
+
+Donald Roy undertook to see young MacLeod of Rasay and to make
+arrangements for meeting the Prince at Portree next day, while
+Kingsburgh promised to carry the Prince off with him to his own house
+and to send him next day under safe guidance to Portree. In this way,
+whatever happened, Lady Margaret would not be compromised.
+
+So the garden conclave broke up, and the three separated. Lady Margaret
+returned to her drawing-room, where, poor woman, she sadly disconcerted
+Miss Macdonald by nervously going in and out of the room. However, the
+lieutenant seems to have been too much taken up with his companion to
+notice his hostess's demeanour. Donald Roy, in spite of his lame foot,
+set off for Portree in search of young Rasay, and old Kingsburgh hurried
+off to look for Charles, carrying refreshments with him. Not finding him
+on the shore below the garden, the old man walked on rather anxiously
+till, seeing some sheep running, he concluded that someone must have
+disturbed them, and went to the spot. A tall, ungainly woman in a long
+cloak started forward to meet him brandishing a big knotted stick. As
+soon as Kingsburgh named himself the Prince knew that he had found a
+friend, and placed himself in his hands with the frank confidence he
+always showed in dealing with his Highland followers, a confidence which
+they so nobly justified.
+
+After the Prince had had something to eat and drink, the pair set out to
+walk to Kingsburgh, a considerable distance off. Unfortunately it was
+Sunday, and they met many country people returning from church, who were
+all eager to have a little business chat with Sir Alexander's factor. He
+got rid of most of them by slyly reminding them of the sacredness of the
+day, for the Prince's awkward movements and masculine stride made his
+disguise very apparent. 'They may call you the Pretender,' cried
+Kingsburgh, between annoyance and amusement, 'but I never knew anyone so
+bad at your trade.'
+
+At the first stream they had to cross the Prince lifted his skirts with
+a most masculine disregard of appearances, and to mend matters, when he
+came to the next, let his petticoats float in the water with a most
+unfeminine disregard of his clothes.
+
+Halfway on their road Miss Macdonald rode past them on horseback,
+accompanied by Mrs. Macdonald of Kirkibost and the latter's maid. 'Look,
+look,' cried that damsel, 'what strides the jade takes! I dare say she's
+an Irishwoman or else a man in woman's clothes.' Miss Macdonald thought
+it best to quicken her pace and make no reply.
+
+She was already at Kingsburgh when the Prince and his host arrived there
+at about eleven o'clock. All the household were in bed. A message was
+sent up to Mrs. Macdonald to tell her of the arrival of guests, but she
+very naturally refused to get up, and merely sent her compliments to
+Miss Macdonald and begged she would help herself to everything she
+wanted. When, however, her husband came up to her room and gravely
+requested her to come down and attend to his guest, she felt that
+something was wrong. Nor did it allay her fears when her little daughter
+ran up crying that 'the most odd, muckle, ill-shaken-up wife' she had
+seen in all her life was walking up and down in the hall. Mrs. Macdonald
+entered the main room with some misgiving, and in the uncertain
+firelight saw a tall, ungainly woman striding up and down. The figure
+approached her and, according to the manners of the time, saluted her.
+The rough touch of the unshaven lip left no doubt on the lady's mind;
+her husband's guest was certainly a man in disguise, probably a
+proscribed Jacobite. She hurried out of the room and met Kingsburgh in
+the hall. It did not occur to this good woman to upbraid her husband for
+bringing danger on his family; her first question was, 'Do you think the
+stranger will know anything about the Prince?'
+
+'My dear,' said Kingsburgh very gravely, taking her hands in his, '_this
+is the Prince himself_!'
+
+'The Prince!' cried Mrs. Macdonald, rather overwhelmed, 'then we shall
+all be hanged!'
+
+'We can die but once,' said her husband, 'could we ever die in a better
+cause?'
+
+Then, returning to the homely necessities of the hour, he begged her to
+bring bread and cheese and eggs.
+
+Bread and cheese and eggs to set before Royalty! This disgrace to her
+housewifery affected Mrs. Macdonald almost as feelingly as the danger
+they were in. The idea, too, of sitting down at supper with her lawful
+sovereign caused the simple lady the greatest embarrassment. However,
+she was prevailed upon to take the seat at the Prince's left hand, while
+Miss Macdonald had her usual place at his right. After the ladies had
+retired Charles lighted his 'cutty,' and he and Kingsburgh had a
+comfortable chat and a bowl of punch over the fire. Indeed, good food,
+good fires, and good company were such congenial luxuries after the life
+he had been leading, that Charles sat on and on in his chair, and the
+hospitable Kingsburgh had at last to insist upon his guest going to bed.
+
+Hour after hour the Prince slept on next morning, Kingsburgh being
+unwilling to disturb the one good rest he might have for weeks; Miss
+Macdonald was growing impatient and Mrs. Macdonald anxious, and at last
+Kingsburgh consented to rouse him at about one o'clock. Portree was
+seven miles off, and had to be reached before dark. It was decided that
+the Prince might resume male attire _en route_, but in case of exciting
+suspicion among the servants he had still to masquerade as Betty Burke
+till he left the house. Mrs. Macdonald, her daughter, and Miss Flora all
+came up to assist at his toilet, for 'deil a preen could he put in,' as
+his hostess expressed herself. He laughed so heartily over his own
+appearance that they could hardly get his dress fastened. Before he left
+the room he permitted Flora Macdonald to cut off a lock of his hair,
+which she divided with Mrs. MacLeod. What is a still more touching proof
+of the devotion of these two good women is that they carefully took off
+the sheets of the Prince's bed, vowing that these should be neither
+washed nor used again till they should serve each of them as
+winding-sheets. Kingsburgh accompanied his guests part of the way,
+assisted Charles to change his dress in a little wood, and then, with
+tears, bade him farewell.
+
+Flora Macdonald rode on to Portree by another road, leaving her
+servant, Neil MacKechan, and a little herd-boy to act as guides to the
+Prince.
+
+In the meantime, Donald Roy had been active in the Prince's service. At
+Portree he had met young Rona MacLeod of Rasay and his brother Murdoch,
+and, as he had expected, found them eager to face any danger or
+difficulty for their Prince. They had a cousin rather older than
+themselves, Malcolm MacLeod, who had been a captain in the Prince's
+army. He entered into the scheme as heartily as the other two, and only
+suggested prudently that Rona should leave the matter to himself and
+Murdoch, who were 'already as black as black can be.' But Rona was not
+to be baulked of his share of the danger and glory of serving the
+Prince, and vowed that he _would_ go even if it should cost him his
+estate and his head. So with two stout faithful boatmen they arrived
+within a mile of Portree, drew up their boat among the rocks where it
+could be hid, and remained waiting for the Prince, while the night fell
+and the rain came down in sheets.
+
+It had been arranged at Mugstatt that Donald Roy was to meet the Prince
+late on Monday afternoon in the one public-house that Portree could
+boast. This public-house consisted of one large, dirty, smoky room, and
+people of all kinds kept going in and out, and here Donald took up his
+post. Flora Macdonald was the first to arrive, and she, Donald Roy, and
+Malcolm MacLeod sat together over the fire waiting anxiously. It was
+already dark when a small, wet herd-boy slipped in and going up to
+Donald whispered that a gentleman wanted to see him. The poor Prince was
+standing in the darkness outside drenched to the skin. As soon as they
+were at the inn Donald insisted on his changing his clothes, and Malcolm
+at once gave him his own dry philibeg. Food they could get, and water
+was brought in an old, battered, rusty tin from which the Prince drank,
+being afraid of arousing suspicion by any fastidiousness. He also bought
+sixpennyworth of the coarsest tobacco, and nearly betrayed his quality
+to the already suspicious landlord by a princely indifference to his
+change, but Malcolm prudently secured the 'bawbees' and put them into
+the Prince's sporran.
+
+Miss Flora now rose very sadly to go, as she had to continue her journey
+that night. The Prince kissed her and said farewell with much suppressed
+emotion, but with his usual hopefulness added that he trusted that they
+might yet meet at St. James's. These constant partings from so many
+faithful, warm-hearted friends were among the hardest trials of
+Charles's wandering life. He seems to have clung with special affection
+to Donald Roy, and urged him again and again not to leave him, but to go
+with him to Rasay. Donald could only reply that the state of his wounded
+foot made it impossible.
+
+This conversation took place as they plunged through wet and darkness
+from Portree down to the shore where the boat was lying. Malcolm
+MacLeod, who made a third in the little party, had a spirit as firm and
+a heart as warm as Donald's own, and before the end of the week the
+Prince was clinging with the same affection to this new friend.
+
+The wild and desolate island of Rasay offered the Prince a comparatively
+secure hiding-place, and the three MacLeods had both the will and the
+power to protect him, and to provide a reasonable amount of comfort for
+him. But a kind of restlessness seems to have come over the Prince at
+this time. It was only by being constantly on the move that he could
+escape from anxious and painful thoughts. Possibly he may have felt a
+little insecure in the midst of the Clan MacLeod (though he had met
+nowhere with more devotion than that of the three cousins); he certainly
+seems to have bestowed far more affection and confidence on Malcolm than
+on the other two.
+
+On Thursday he insisted on starting for Skye, in spite of the entreaties
+of the young MacLeods, nor would he turn back when a storm broke and
+threatened to overwhelm them. It was night before they landed at
+Trotternish, a night such as had become familiar to the Prince, dark and
+chill and pouring with rain. They made for a byre on the property of Mr.
+Nicholson of Scorobeck. Young Rasay went on in front to see that no one
+was there. 'If there had been anyone in it, what would you have done?'
+he asked the Prince rather reproachfully; for Charles's self-will and
+foolhardiness must at times have been very trying to those who were
+risking life and estate for him. In the byre they lighted a fire, dried
+their clothes, and slept for some hours. The next day, Rona being away,
+the Prince asked Murdoch if he would accompany him into the country of
+the Mackinnons in the south of Skye (the old chief of that clan had been
+in the Prince's army, and Charles felt that he would be safe amongst
+them). Murdoch's wound prevented his undertaking such a journey--it was
+thirty miles over the wildest part of Skye--but Malcolm could go, and
+his cousin assured the Prince that he could nowhere find a more faithful
+and devoted servant. So the pair set out in the morning for their wild
+tramp. To prevent discovery the Prince affected to be Malcolm's
+servant, walked behind him, and, further to disguise himself, put his
+periwig in his pocket and bound a dirty cloth round his head--a disguise
+specially calculated, one would think, to excite attention. The two
+young men talked frankly and confidentially, making great strides in
+friendship as they went along. Once a covey of partridges rose, and,
+with a true British instinct for sport at all hazards,[7] the Prince
+raised his gun and would have fired if Malcolm had not caught his arm.
+They were careful to pass through the hostile MacLeod country at night,
+and at break of day arrived in Strath, the country of the Mackinnons.
+Malcolm MacLeod had a sister married to a Mackinnon, an honest,
+warm-hearted follow who had followed his chief and served as captain in
+the Prince's army. To his house they directed their steps; Mackinnon
+himself was away, but his wife received her brother and his friend with
+the utmost kindness. The Prince passed for a certain Lewis Caw, a
+surgeon's apprentice (who was actually 'skulking' in Skye at the time),
+and acted his part of humble retainer so well that poor Malcolm was
+quite embarrassed; and the rough servant-lass treated him with the
+contempt Highland servants seem to have for their own class, if 'Lowland
+bodies.' Both the tired travellers lay down to sleep, and when Malcolm
+awoke late in the afternoon he found the sweet-tempered Prince playing
+with Mrs. Mackinnon's little child. 'Ah, little man,' he cried, in a
+moment of forgetfulness, 'you may live to be a captain in my service
+yet.' 'Or you an old sergeant in his,' said the indignant nurse, jealous
+of her charge's position.
+
+Next day Malcolm went out to meet his brother-in-law. He had absolute
+confidence in Mackinnon's faithfulness and loyalty, but he feared that
+his warm-hearted feelings might lead him into indiscretions which would
+betray the Prince; and in spite of all warnings Mackinnon could not
+restrain his tears when he saw his Prince under his roof in such a
+wretched plight.
+
+It was important that Charles should be at once taken to the mainland,
+and John Mackinnon went off at noon to the house of the chief of the
+Mackinnons to borrow a boat. This old man was a fine type of a Highland
+gentleman. It was his daily--probably his only--prayer that he might die
+on the field of battle fighting for his king and country. He was
+simple-minded, brave, and faithful, and though now between sixty and
+seventy, as active and courageous as any young man. John had received
+injunctions not to betray the Prince's presence in the neighbourhood to
+the laird, but to keep such a piece of news from his chief was quite
+beyond honest John's powers. Nothing would restrain the old man from
+going off at once with his wife to pay their homage to the Prince. Nor
+would he hear of anyone conducting Charles to the mainland but himself.
+
+[Illustration: PRINCE CHARLIE'S WANDERINGS.
+
+The black lines indicating land and the dotted lines sea journeys.]
+
+At eight o'clock that night the little party embarked. The Prince took a
+most affecting farewell of Malcolm MacLeod. With courtly punctilio he
+sent a note to Donald Roy to tell of his safe departure, then pressed
+ten guineas--almost his last--on his friend's acceptance, smoked a last
+pipe with him, and finally presented him with the invaluable 'cutty.'
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+ON THE MAINLAND
+
+TO understand the Prince's proceedings for the next few weeks it is
+necessary to have a clear idea of the country which was the scene of his
+wanderings. From Loch Hourn (which opens opposite Sleat in Skye) on the
+north down to Loch Shiel on the south a little group of wild and rugged
+peninsulas run out into the Atlantic, called respectively Knoydart,
+Morar, Arisaig, and Moidart. Between these deep narrow lochs run far
+inland. Loch Nevis lies between Knoydart and Morar; Loch Morar, a
+freshwater loch, cuts off the peninsula of the same name from Arisaig,
+and this again is separated from Moidart by Lochs Nanuagh and Aylort,
+and Loch Shiel separates the whole group from Ardnamurchan in the south.
+The wild, inaccessible nature of the country, the deep valleys and many
+rocky hollows in the hills offered many hiding-places; but a glance at
+the map will show that a vigilant enemy by stationing men-of-war in all
+the lochs and drawing a cordon of soldiers from the head of Loch Hourn
+to the head of Loch Shiel, could draw the net so tightly that escape
+would be nearly impossible.
+
+In these first days of July, however, the search was still chiefly
+confined to the Long Island and Skye, and Charles got a clear start of
+his enemies. On July 5, in the early morning, he and his faithful
+Mackinnons landed at a place named Mallach on Loch Nevis, and spent the
+next three days in the open. They were in a good deal of perplexity as
+to their next movements, and when Charles learned that old Clanranald
+was staying in the neighbourhood, at the home of his kinsman Scothouse,
+he sent to ask his advice and help, expecting confidently to find the
+old faithful kindness that had helped him in Uist. But the old gentleman
+had had enough of danger and suffering in the Prince's cause; his son
+was a fugitive, his brother a prisoner, he himself was in hiding. The
+sudden appearance of Mackinnon startled him into a state of nervous
+terror, and he declared querulously that he could do no more nor knew
+anyone else who could give any help. Mackinnon returned indignant and
+mortified, but the Prince received the news philosophically, 'Well, Mr.
+Mackinnon, we must do the best we can for ourselves.'
+
+It was the first rebuff he had met with; but a day or two later he found
+the same lukewarm spirit in Mr. Macdonald of Morar, a former friend. The
+poor man had had his house burnt over his head and was living with his
+family in a wretched hut, and probably thought that he had suffered
+enough for the cause. This desertion cut the Prince to the quick. 'I
+hope, Mackinnon,' he cried, addressing John, 'that you will not desert
+me too.' The old chief thought that the words were addressed to him. 'I
+will never leave your Royal Highness in the hour of danger,' he
+declared, with tears, and John's reply was no less fervent.
+
+There was one house in the neighbourhood where the Prince could always
+count on a welcome whether he came at midnight, at cockcrow, or at noon,
+whether as a Prince on his way to win a crown or as a beggar with
+neither home nor hope. The hospitable house of Borodale was a mass of
+blackened ruins, but the laird--'my kind old landlord,' as the Prince
+fondly called him--and his two sons had still strong hands, shrewd
+heads, and warm hearts ready for the Prince's service.
+
+From Morar the Prince and the two Mackinnons walked through the summer
+night over the wildest mountain track and arrived at Borodale in the
+early morning. Old Angus was still in bed when they knocked at the door
+of the bothy where the family was living. He came to the door, wrapt in
+his blanket. When Mackinnon explained who it was that desired his
+hospitality, the old man's welcome came prompt and unhesitating. '_I_
+have brought him here,' said Mackinnon, 'and will commit him to _your_
+charge. I have done my duty, do you do yours.'
+
+'I am glad of it,' said Angus, 'and shall not fail to take care of him.
+I shall lodge him so securely that all the forces in Great Britain shall
+not find him.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So John Mackinnon, having done all he could, parted from the Prince with
+the same affectionate sorrow that had marked the farewells of all his
+faithful Highlanders. He was caught on his return to Skye, by the cruel
+Captain Scott, and five days later was brought back to Lochnanuagh, a
+prisoner on board an English man-of-war. Opposite the place where the
+ship cast anchor was a fissure in the rock, and halfway up was what
+looked like a mere grassy bank. In reality it was a small hut roofed
+with sods, so contrived that no one unless he were in the secret would
+have suspected it of being anything but a grassy slope. Here the Prince
+had spent the preceding night, but as soon as the ship entered the loch
+he betook himself to the hills. He was accompanied by old Borodale and
+his son John--the young man who had been supposed to have died at
+Culloden. A cousin of Borodale's, Macdonald of Glenaladale, had always
+been a special friend of the Prince's. He joined him now in the wilds,
+resolved to share all his worst dangers, though he had to leave his wife
+and 'five weak pretty children' unprotected and living in a bothy, the
+only home the English soldiers had left them. The first plan these brave
+men concerted together was to carry the Prince into Lochiel's country,
+where young Clanranald had promised to provide him a hiding-place. On
+their way, however, they heard that a body of soldiers were approaching
+from Loch Arkaig, which completely blocked their way on that side. That
+same night old Borodale learnt that General Campbell with several ships
+was in Loch Nevis, Captain Scott was still in Lochnanuagh, and parties
+from these ships were searching every foot of ground in their
+neighbourhoods. At the same time troops had been landed at the head of
+Loch Hourn, and others simultaneously at the head of Loch Shiel. Between
+these two points the distance as the crow flies must be some twenty or
+five-and-twenty miles, but the wild mountainous nature of the country
+makes the actual distance far greater. In spite of all difficulties the
+Government troops in a few days had drawn a complete cordon from one
+point to the other. This cordon consisted of single sentinels planted
+within sight of each other who permitted no one to pass unchallenged. At
+night large fires were lighted, and every quarter of an hour patrolling
+parties passed from one to the other to see that all the sentinels were
+on the alert.
+
+Charles's case was almost desperate. For several days he and his
+companions lived like hunted animals on the mountain-tops. They were
+frequently within sight of some camp of the enemy; more than once they
+had to go precipitately down one side of a hill because the soldiers
+were coming up the other. They changed their quarters at night,
+sometimes marching long miles merely to reach some mountain which having
+been searched the day before was less likely to be visited again. In the
+daytime the Prince could snatch a few hours of troubled sleep in some
+rocky hollow while the rest of the party kept guard. News of the enemy's
+movements was brought them occasionally by secret friends under cover of
+darkness, but even their approach was full of terror for the fugitives.
+Worst of all was their suffering from hunger. The soldiers devoured and
+destroyed what meagre stores the country could boast, and in spite of
+the generosity of the poorer clansmen no food could be had. For four
+days the whole party lived on a few handfuls of dry meal and some
+butter. On one occasion soldiers passed below their lair driving cattle.
+The Prince, who was starving, proposed to follow them, and 'lift' some
+of the cattle in the night. His companions remonstrated, but he led the
+party himself, and secured the beef.[8] The guide, and indeed the leader
+of the little band, was a farmer, Donald Cameron of Glenpean. But for
+this man's daring courage and his intimate knowledge of the country the
+Prince must sooner or later have fallen into the hands of his enemies.
+
+The circle was daily being drawn more closely round the prey, and daily
+the fear of starvation stared them in the face. Should they wait to die
+like driven deer or make one desperate effort to break through the toils
+that surrounded them, and either escape or die like men? For brave men
+there could only be one answer to such a question. On the night of July
+25 they determined to force their way through the cordon.
+
+All that day the Prince had lain in closest hiding on a hill on the
+confines of Knoydart, not a mile from the chain of sentinels. He had
+slept some hours while two of the party had kept watch and the other two
+had gone and foraged for food, bringing back two dry cheeses as the
+result. (Old Borodale had gone back at this time; the party consisted of
+his son John, Glenaladale and his brother, and Cameron of Glenpean.) All
+day parties of soldiers had been searching the neighbourhood, and now
+the sentinel fires were alight all along the line of defence. At
+nightfall the little band started, walking silently and rapidly up a
+mountain called Drumnachosi. The way was very steep, and the night very
+dark. Once crossing a little stream the Prince's foot slipped, he
+stumbled, and would have fallen down over a cliff had not Cameron caught
+one arm and Glenaladale the other and pulled him up. From the top of the
+hill they could see the sentinel fires close in front of them, and were
+near enough to hear the voices of the soldiers quite distinctly. Under
+cover of the friendly darkness they crept up another hill and came out
+opposite another fire. At a point midway between these two posts a
+mountain torrent had made a deep fissure on the side of a hill on the
+further side. Could they break through the line and reach this river-bed
+the overhanging banks, aided by the darkness of night, would conceal
+their figures, and following the stream they could cross over into wild
+broken country, where they could hide themselves. Donald Cameron, with
+a fine Highland gallantry, undertook to make trial of the way first. If
+he could reach the spot and return again to report 'all safe,' the rest
+of the party might make the attempt. It had all to be done in a quarter
+of an hour, for that was the interval at which the patrolling parties
+succeeded each other.
+
+In dead silence they waited till the sentinels had past; then as
+stealthily and rapidly as a cat Cameron slipped down the hillside and
+disappeared into the darkness. The rest stood breathless, straining
+every nerve for the faintest sound; no footfall or falling pebble broke
+the stillness, and in a few long, heavily-weighted minutes Cameron
+returned and whispered that all was well. It was two o'clock now and the
+darkness was growing thinner. They waited till the sentries had crossed
+again and had now their backs to the passage, then they all moved
+forward in perfect silence. Reaching the torrent, they sank on all fours
+and one after the other crept up the rocky bed without a sound. The
+dreaded cordon was passed, and in a short time they reached a place
+where they were completely hidden and could take a little much-needed
+rest.
+
+Once clear of this chain of their enemies they turned northward to the
+Glenelg country. Their plan was to go through the Mackenzie's country to
+Poole Ewe, where they hoped to find a French vessel. But the next day
+they learned from a wayfaring man that the only French ship which had
+been there had left the coast. Seeing that that plan was fruitless,
+their next idea was to move eastward into the wilds of Inverness and
+wait there till the way should be clear for the Prince's joining Lochiel
+in Badenoch.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In Glen Sheil they parted with Cameron of Glenpean, and here too they
+had a curious adventure which might have proved seriously inconvenient
+to them. They had spent a whole hot August day hiding behind some rocks
+on a bare hillside, the midges had tormented them, and they were
+oppressed with thirst, but had not ventured from their hiding-place even
+to look for water. At sunset a boy appeared bringing quarts of goat's
+milk; he was the son of a certain Macraw, a staunch though secret friend
+in the neighbourhood. Glenaladale at this time carried the fortune of
+the little party--some forty gold louis and a few shillings--in his
+sporran. He paid the lad for the milk, and in his hurry did not notice
+that he had dropped his purse. They had hardly gone an English mile
+before the loss was discovered, and Glenaladale insisted at all risks on
+going back to look for the purse. He and his cousin did indeed find it
+lying at the expected place, but though some shillings remained the
+louis were gone. It was midnight before the indignant pair reached
+Macraw's house, and the family were all asleep. They roused the master,
+however, and fairly told him what had happened. No shadow of doubt seems
+to have crossed the father's mind, no word of expostulation rose to his
+lips. 'Without a moment's delay he returned to the house, got hold of a
+rope hanging there, and gripped his son by the arm in great passion,
+saying, "You damned scoundrel, this instant get these poor gentlemen's
+money, or by the heavens I'll hang you to that very tree you see there."
+The boy, shivering with fear, went instantly for the money, which he had
+buried underground thirty yards from his father's house.' This accident
+turned out most luckily for the Prince. He and Glenaladale's brother
+while awaiting the other two had hidden behind some rocks; shortly after
+they were hidden they saw an officer and two soldiers _coming along the
+very path they had intended to take_. But for the delay caused by their
+companions going back they must have fallen into the hands of their
+enemies.
+
+They now turned eastward, and after a long night's march found
+themselves in the wild tract of country called the Braes of
+Glenmoriston.
+
+Here Charles was to find a new set of friends, different indeed from the
+chivalrous Kingsburgh and the high-bred Lady Margaret, but men who were
+as staunch and incorruptible as any of his former friends. These were
+the famous 'Seven Men of Glenmoriston,' men who had served in the
+Prince's army, and who now lived a wild, lawless life among the
+mountains, at feud with everything that represented the existing law and
+order. They have been described as a robber band, but that title is
+misleading. They were rather a small remnant of irreconcilable rebels
+who had vowed undying enmity and revenge against Cumberland and his
+soldiers. And indeed there was ample excuse for their hatred and
+violence in the cruelties they saw practised all round them. Sixty of
+their clansmen after surrendering themselves had been shipped off to the
+colonies, all their own possessions and those of their neighbours had
+been seized, and friends and kinsfolk had been brutally put to death.
+
+Swooping down like mountain eagles on detached bands of soldiers, these
+seven men wreaked instant vengeance on oppressors and informers, and
+carried off arms and baggage in the face of larger bodies of the enemy.
+To these men, ignorant, reckless, and lawless, Charles unhesitatingly
+confided his person, a person on whose head a sum of thirty thousand
+pounds was set.
+
+Four of these men were in a cave, Coraghoth, in the Braes of
+Glenmoriston, when Glenaladale brought Charles to see them. They had
+expected to see young Clanranald, and as soon as they saw the Prince one
+of their number recognised him, but had the presence of mind to address
+him as an old acquaintance by the name of 'MacCullony.' When the four
+knew who their guest really was, they bound themselves to be faithful to
+him by the dreadful Highland oath, praying 'that their backs might be to
+God, and their faces to the devil, and that all the curses the
+Scriptures do pronounce might come upon them and their posterity if they
+did not stand firm to the Prince in the greatest danger.'
+
+For about three weeks Charles shared the life of these outlaws, sleeping
+in caves and holes of the earth, living on the wild deer of their
+shooting and the secret gifts of the peasantry. They did not understand
+his English, but the Prince was beginning to pick up a little Gaelic. He
+was able at least to improve their cooking and reprove their swearing,
+two services they liked afterwards to recall. Here too, as elsewhere on
+his wanderings, the Prince gained the hearts of all his followers by his
+gracious gaiety and plucky endurance of hardships. In the beginning of
+August his hopes had again turned to Poole Ewe, but learning for a
+second time that no French ship could land on the closely guarded coast,
+he and his friends determined to remain in the northern straths of
+Inverness-shire till the Government troops should withdraw from the
+Great Glen--the chain of lakes which now forms the Caledonian Canal--and
+thus leave the way clear into Badenoch, where Lochiel and Macpherson of
+Cluny were hiding.
+
+A curious incident is supposed to have helped the Prince at this time.
+There had been among his Life Guards a handsome youth named Roderick
+Mackenzie, son of a jeweller in Edinburgh, who in face and figure was
+startlingly like the Prince. This lad was actually 'skulking' among the
+Braes of Glenmoriston at the time when the Prince was surrounded in
+Knoydart. A party of soldiers tracked him to a hut, which they
+surrounded. Flight was impossible, and the poor boy stood at bay. As he
+fell beneath their sword-thrusts he cried out, 'Villains, ye have slain
+your King.' Whether these words were a curious last flash of vanity, or
+whether he intended to serve the Prince by a generous act of imposture,
+can never be known. The soldiers at any rate believed that they had
+secured the prize. They carried off Mackenzie's head with them to Fort
+Augustus, and the authorities seem for some time to have been under the
+impression that it was indeed that of the Prince. Possibly it was owing
+to this that in the middle of August the Government rather relaxed their
+vigilance along the Great Glen. Charles was eager to press at once into
+Badenoch, but the wary outlaws would only consent to taking him to the
+Lochiel country, between Loch Arkaig, Loch Lochy, and Loch Garry. They
+travelled chiefly by night; the season was very wet, and the rivers were
+in flood, and they had to cross the River Garry Highland fashion in a
+line, with each man's arm on his neighbour's shoulder, for the water was
+running breast-high.
+
+At this time the Prince's condition was as bad as at any period of his
+wanderings. His clothes were of the coarsest, and _they_ were in rags.
+Lady Clanranald's six good shirts had long since disappeared; it was as
+much as he could do to have a clean shirt once a fortnight. The
+provisions they carried were reduced to one peck of meal. In this state
+did the Prince arrive in the familiar country round Loch Arkaig. It was
+a year almost to the day since he had passed through that very country
+elate and hopeful at the head of his brave Macdonalds and Camerons. He
+was now a fugitive, ill-fed, ill-clad, with a price on his head; the
+only thing that was unchanged was the faithful devotion of his
+Highlanders.
+
+Cameron of Clunes and Macdonald of Lochgarry, or Lochgarie, though they
+were themselves 'skulking,' received the Prince with the utmost kindness
+and found a hiding-place for him in a hut in a wood at the south side of
+Loch Arkaig. Here the outlaws left him; only one of their number,
+Patrick Grant, remained till the Prince should be supplied with money to
+reward their faithful service. From this place, also, John Macdonald and
+Glenaladale's brother returned to the coast, where they were to keep a
+careful look-out and to send the Prince news of any French ship which
+might appear.
+
+Glenaladale still remained, but the Prince's thoughts were turning more
+and more towards Badenoch, where his friend Lochiel was in comparatively
+secure hiding.
+
+Among all the gallant gentlemen who risked life and estate in this
+rising there is no figure more attractive than that of the 'Gentle
+Lochiel.' He had for years before the rebellion been the mainstay of the
+Jacobite party. No man in the Highlands carried so much weight as he,
+partly from his position, but more from his talents and the charm of his
+character. 'Wise' and 'gentle' are the words that were applied to him,
+and with all the qualities of a high-bred gentleman he combined the
+simpler virtues of the Highland clansman--faithfulness, courage, and a
+jealous sense of personal honour. From the very beginning he had seen
+the folly of the rising. But when he had failed to convince Charles of
+its hopelessness, he had thrown himself into the movement as if it had
+been of his own devising. Never did he afterwards reproach Charles by
+word or look for the ill-fated result.
+
+He and his cousin, Macpherson of Cluny, were at this time hiding among
+the recesses of Benalder. The road to Inverness ran by within a few
+miles, and at a little distance lay Lord Loudoun's camp, but so great
+was the devotion of the clansmen, so admirable their caution and
+secrecy, that the English commander had not the slightest suspicion that
+the two most important Jacobite fugitives had for three months been in
+hiding so near to him. Lochiel had been wounded in the feet at
+Culloden, and his lameness as well as his dangerous position prevented
+his going to look for the Prince. He had two brothers, one a doctor and
+the other a clergyman, both accomplished and bold men, who had also been
+involved in the Jacobite rebellion. Towards the end of August, news
+having come to Benalder that the Prince was living near Auchnacarry
+under the protection of Cameron of Clunes, the two Cameron brothers set
+off secretly for that country. The Prince with a son of Clunes and the
+faithful outlaw Patrick Grant were at this time living in a hut in a
+wood close to Loch Arkaig. It was early on the morning of August 25, the
+Prince and young Clunes were asleep in the hut, while Patrick Grant kept
+watch. He must have got drowsy, for waking with a start he saw a party
+of men approaching. He rushed into the hut and roused the Prince and his
+companion. Charles had long lived in expectation of such moments. He
+kept his presence of mind completely, decided that it was too late to
+fly, and prepared to defend himself. The fowling-pieces were loaded and
+got into position, and they very nearly received their friends with a
+volley. Dr. Cameron in his narrative describes the Prince's appearance
+thus: 'He was barefoot; had an old black kilt coat on and philibeg and
+waistcoat, a dirty shirt and a long red beard, a gun in his hand and a
+pistol and dirk at his side; still he was very cheerful and in good
+health.'
+
+Another week they all waited in the neighbourhood of Auchnacarry (the
+ruined home of the Lochiels). At last a message reached them from
+Benalder that the passes were free and that they might safely try to
+join Lochiel. Having parted with his devoted friend Glenaladale, who
+returned to the coast, the Prince, with Dr. Cameron and Lochgarry,
+arrived on August 30 at Mellaneuir, at the foot of Benalder. People in
+hiding have no means of discriminating their friends from their enemies
+at a little distance. Lochiel seeing a considerable party approaching
+believed that he was discovered and determined to make a good fight for
+it. He as narrowly missed shooting Charles as Charles had missed
+shooting Dr. Cameron the week before. When, however, he recognised the
+figure in the coarse brown coat, the shabby kilt, and the rough red
+beard, he hobbled to the door and wanted to receive the Prince on his
+knees. 'My dear Lochiel,' remonstrated Charles as he embraced him, 'you
+don't know who may be looking down from these hills.'
+
+In the hut there was a sufficiency of mutton, beef sausages, bacon,
+butter, cheese, &c., and an anker of whisky, and the Prince was almost
+overwhelmed by such an excess of luxury. 'Now, gentlemen,' he said with
+a cheerful air, 'now I _live like a Prince_.' Charles's wardrobe was as
+usual most dilapidated, and Cluny's three sisters set at once to work to
+make him a set of six shirts with their own fair hands, doubtless sewing
+the most passionate loyalty and infinite regret into their 'seams.'
+
+The hiding-place where the Prince was now concealed was a very curious
+hut contrived by Cluny in one of the inmost recesses of the hills. It
+was called 'The Cage,' and was placed in a little thicket on the rocky
+slope of a hill. The walls were formed by actual growing trees with
+stakes planted between them, the whole woven together by ropes of
+heather and birch. Till you were close to the hut it looked merely like
+a thick clump of trees and bushes. The smoke escaped along the rocks,
+and the stone being of a bluish colour it could easily pass unnoticed.
+This hut could only hold six persons at a time, so the party generally
+divided in this way: one man cooked the food, four played cards, and the
+last man looked on at the others and possibly smoked!
+
+Probably they played cards and talked and jested over the daily needs
+and hardships, and spoke little of the disastrous times that lay behind
+them, or the doubtful hopes that lay before them. Fearing lest the
+Prince might have to remain in hiding all winter the ingenious Cluny
+began to fit up a subterranean dwelling, thickly boarded up, where the
+party would have been in safety and shelter. But in the meantime no
+efforts were lacking to find a means of escape. Lochiel's brother, the
+clergyman, a man of great prudence, went secretly to Edinburgh, and
+there procured a ship and sent it round to a port on the East coast to
+await the Prince. Succour, however, had come from another quarter; it
+was known to the Prince and his followers that a certain Colonel Warren
+was fitting out a couple of ships in France for the purpose of bringing
+off the Prince, and daily they expected news of their arrival. On
+September 6 two ships, _L'Heureux_ and _La Princesse_, appeared at
+Lochnanuagh. Old Borodale and his two sons immediately fled to the
+hills, leaving a faithful servant to find out and report to them who the
+strangers might be. After nightfall, twelve French officers came to the
+hut where they were hiding and told their errand. Information was at
+once sent to Glenaladale, who undertook to go to Auchnacarry and send on
+the news through Cameron of Clunes, he himself not knowing where the
+Prince was hiding. Any delay, even of a few hours, might be fatal, as
+the presence of the French ships must sooner or later become known to
+the authorities at Fort Augustus. To his dismay Glenaladale failed to
+find Clunes, and only by an accident met with an old woman, who directed
+him to the place where the latter was hiding. A messenger was at once
+despatched, and he, happening by a curious chance to meet with Cluny and
+Dr. Cameron on a dark night in Badenoch, gave them his message, and an
+express was at once sent to the Cage. On September 13, at one in the
+morning, the party--which now included Cluny, Lochiel, Macpherson of
+Breakachie, and some others of the Prince's more important
+followers--set off for the coast. They travelled by night, remaining in
+concealment by day, but so lonely was the country, so recklessly high
+were the Prince's spirits, that one whole day he amused himself by
+flinging up caps into the air and shooting at them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Again he passed through the well-known country round Loch Arkaig, past
+Auchnacarry, the home of the Lochiels, which was lying in ruins, over
+the rugged hills where he had been hunted like a wild creature a few
+weeks before, down to the familiar waters of Lochnanuagh, back to the
+warm-hearted household of Borodale.
+
+A considerable number of Jacobite gentlemen who had lain for months in
+hiding had been drawn to Lochnanuagh by the report of the landing of the
+French ships; amongst these were young Clanranald, Glenaladale, and
+Macdonald of Daleby. On the Prince's ship there sailed with him
+Lochgarry, John Roy Stuart, Dr. Cameron, and Lochiel. 'The gentlemen as
+well as commons were seen to weep, though they boasted of being soon
+back with an irresistible force,' says the newspaper of the day. For the
+greater part they never came back, never saw again the homes they loved
+so well. Most were to spend a life of hope deferred and of desperate
+longings for home, as dependents on a foreign Court. Dr. Cameron was ten
+years later taken prisoner in London and executed, the last man who
+suffered as a rebel; Lochiel died two years after he left Scotland, a
+heart-broken exile. 'Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him; but
+weep sore for him that goeth away, for he shall return no more nor see
+his native country.'[9]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[5]      'I had three sons, who now hae nane,
+            I bred them toiling sarely,
+          And I wad bare them a' again
+            And lose them a' for Charlie!'
+
+[6] In this he resembled his father, who, on leaving Scotland after the
+failure of 1715, sent money to Argyll to compensate the country folk
+whose cottages had been burned in the war; an act without precedent or
+imitation.
+
+[7] Charles, about 1743, introduced golf into Italy, according to Lord
+Elcho.
+
+[8] The authority for this is an unpublished anecdote in Bishop Forbes's
+MS., _The Lyon in Mourning_.
+
+[9] The authorities are Chambers's _Jacobite Memoirs_, selected from the
+MS. _Lyon in Mourning_; Chambers's _History of the Rising of 1745_;
+Macdonald of Glenaladale's manuscript, published in _Blackwood's
+Magazine_; Ewald's _History of Prince Charles Edward_, and the
+contemporary pamphlets anonymously published by Dr. Burton on
+information derived from Bishop Forbes, who collected it at first hand.
+Fastened on the interior of the cover of the _Lyon in Mourning_ is a
+shred of the flowered calico worn by the Prince in disguise.
+
+
+
+
+_TWO GREAT MATCHES_
+
+
+THE University matches, between the elevens of Oxford and Cambridge, are
+the most exciting that are played at Lord's. The elevens have been so
+equal that neither University is ever more than one or two victories
+ahead of its opponent. The players are at their best for activity and
+strength, and the fielding is usually the finest that can anywhere be
+seen. But, of all University matches, the most famous are those of 1870
+and of 1875, for these were the most closely contested.
+
+In 1870 Cambridge had won for three years running. They had on their
+side Mr. Yardley, one among the three best gentlemen bats who ever
+played, the others being Dr. Grace and Mr. Alan Steel. In 1869, when
+Cambridge won by 58 runs, Mr. Yardley had only made 19 and 0. Mr. Dale
+and Mr. Money were the other pillars of Cambridge batting: they had Mr.
+Thornton too, the hardest of hitters, who hit over the pavilion (with a
+bat which did not drive!) when he played for Eton against Harrow. On the
+Oxford side were Mr. Tylecote (E. F. S.), a splendid bat, Mr. Ottaway,
+one of the most finished bats of his day, and Mr. Pauncefote. The Oxford
+team was unlucky in its bowling, as Mr. Butler had strained his arm. In
+one University match, Mr. Butler took all ten wickets in one innings. He
+was fast, with a high delivery, and wickets were not so good then as
+they are now. Mr. Francis was also an excellent bowler, not so fast as
+Mr. Butler; and Mr. Belcher, who bowled with great energy, but did not
+excel as a bat, was a useful man. For Cambridge, Mr. Cobden bowled fast,
+Mr. Ward was an excellent medium pace bowler, Mr. Money's slows were
+sometimes fortunate, and Mr. Bourne bowled slow round. Cambridge went in
+first, and only got 147. Mr. Yardley fell for 2, being caught by Mr.
+Butler off Mr. Francis. Mr. Scott's 45 was the largest score, and Mr.
+Thornton contributed 17, while Mr. Francis and Mr. Belcher divided the
+wickets. Oxford was only 28 runs better than Cambridge, so that you
+might call it anybody's match. A good stand was made for the first
+wicket, Mr. Fortescue getting 35, and Mr. Hadow 17, but there was no
+high scoring. Mr. Butler got 18, which is not a bad score for a bowler,
+but Mr. Stewart and Mr. Belcher, who followed him, got ducks, and
+clearly the tail was not strong in batting. The beginning of the
+Cambridge second innings was most flattering to Oxford. When the fifth
+wicket fell, Cambridge had but 40 runs, or twelve 'on.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tobin and Money, Fryer and Scott had made but 8 among them, but Dale was
+in, and Yardley joined him. Mr. Dale was playing in perfect style, and
+he needed to do so, for Mr. Francis was bowling his best. Then came an
+hour and a half, or so, of sorrow for Oxford. Mr. Butler was tried, and
+bowled eight overs for 8 runs, but his arm was hurt, and he had to go
+off. He got Mr. Thornton's wicket, but Oxford were playing, as Tom
+Sayers fought, with a broken arm. Seven bowlers were put on, but the end
+of it was that, after making the first 100 recorded in these matches,
+Mr. Yardley sent a hard hit to Mr. Francis, who caught and bowled him.
+Mr. Dale was splendidly caught at leg by Mr. Ottaway, off Mr. Francis,
+with one hand over the ropes. He got 67; there was but one other double
+figure, Mr. Thornton's 11.
+
+Oxford had to make 178 to win, and 178 is never easy to get, especially
+in a University match, where _so much depends on it_, and men are often
+nervous, as you shall see. Mr. Hadow came to grief, but Mr. Ottaway and
+Mr. Fortescue were not nervous bats. Mr. Ward bowled beautifully, but
+they got 44 and 69; it was 72 for one wicket, and Oxford were buoyant.
+At 86, however, the second wicket fell, and E. F. S. joined Mr. Ottaway.
+He put on 29, and Ottaway's defence was like a stone wall. Finally Mr.
+Ward bowled Mr. Tylecote; 25 to get and seven wickets to get them. It
+seemed all over but shouting. Another wicket fell for 1; 24 to get, and
+six wickets to fall. Mr. Hill came in, and played like a printed book,
+while Mr. Ottaway was always there. He played a ball to short leg, and
+Mr. Fryer held it so low down that Mr. Ottaway appealed. I dare say
+Oxford men in the pavilion distinctly saw that ball touch the ground,
+but the umpire did not; 17 to get, and four wickets to fall; but the
+last two wickets had scored exactly nothing in the first innings. But
+Mr. Francis could bat, and he stayed while Mr. Hill made 12, when he was
+l. b. w. to Ward, for a single. Four runs to get, and three wickets to
+fall! 'Mr. Charles Marsham's face wore a look that his friends know
+well.' Mr. Butler came in; he scored well in the first innings, and he
+could hit. Then came a bye. Four to get and three wickets to fall. Mr.
+Hill hit the next square, good for a 4, but Mr. Bourne got at it, and
+only a single was run. Three to get and three wickets to fall. _We did
+not get them!_ Mr. Cobden, who had not done much, took the ball. Mr.
+Hill made a single to cover point. The next ball, to Mr. Butler, was
+well up on the off stump. Mr. Butler drove at it, Mr. Bourne caught it,
+and Mr. Belcher walked in, 'rather pale,' says Mr. Lyttelton, and if so,
+it was unusual. Mr. Belcher was of a ruddy countenance. He was yorked!
+he took a yorker for a half volley. Let us pity Mr. Stewart. If he could
+escape that one ball, the odds were that Mr. Hill would make the runs
+next over. Mr. Pauncefote had told Mr. Stewart to keep his bat immovable
+in the block-hole, but--he did not. Cobden scattered his bails to the
+breezes, 'and smash went Mr. Charles Marsham's umbrella against the
+pavilion brickwork.' Cambridge had won by two.
+
+This is called Cobden's year, and will be so called while cricket is
+played. But, in fact, Mr. Ward had taken six wickets for 29, and these
+were all the best bats.
+
+[Illustration: THE BALL HIT THE MIDDLE STUMP]
+
+Mr. Butler's revenge came next year. He took fifteen wickets, and made
+the winning hit. Oxford's revenge came in 1875. In 1874 Cambridge was
+terribly beaten. They went in on a good wicket. Mr. Tabor, first man in,
+got 52, when a shower came. The first ball after the shower, Mr. Tabor
+hit at a dropping ball of Mr. Lang's, and was bowled. The whole side
+were then demolished by Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley, for 109, and 64 second
+innings, while Oxford got 265 first innings. In 1876 Oxford had Mr.
+Webbe, an admirable bat, as he is still; Mr. Lang, who had been known to
+score; Mr. Ridley, a cricketer of the first class; Mr. Royle, the finest
+field, with Mr. Jardine, ever seen; Mr. Game, who had not quite come
+into his powers as a hitter; and Mr. Grey Tylecote, a good all-round
+man; also Mr. Pulman, a sterling cricketer, and Mr. Buckland, a very
+useful player all round. Cambridge had Mr. George Longman, who could
+play anything but Mr. Ridley's slows; Mr. Edward Lyttelton, one of the
+prettiest and most spirited bats in the world; Mr. A. P. Lucas, whom it
+were superfluous to praise; Mr. Sims, a hard hitter; Mr. W. J.
+Patterson, a renowned bat, and others. In bowling, Oxford had Mr.
+Ridley, whose slows were rather fast and near the ground. Being as tall
+as Mr. Spofforth, and following his ball far up the pitch, Mr. Ridley
+was alarming to the nervous batsman. He fielded his own bowling
+beautifully. Mr. Lang was a slow round-arm bowler with a very high
+delivery, and a valuable twist from either side. Mr. Buckland was
+afterwards better known as a bowler; Mr. Royle could also deliver a
+dangerous ball; the fast bowler was Mr. Foord Kelcey, but he, again, was
+lame, through an accident to his foot. For Cambridge Mr. Sharpe and Mr.
+Sims bowled. Lang and Webbe went to the wicket for Oxford, and made a
+masterly stand, the ball being cut and driven to the ropes in all
+directions. Mr. Webbe got 55, Mr. Lang 45, while Mr. Ridley contributed
+21, Mr. Pulman 25, and Mr. Buckland 22. The whole score was 200, 86 for
+the first wicket. Mr. Longman's 40 was the best score for Cambridge, and
+Mr. Edward Lyttelton got 23; total 163. Mr. Lang got five wickets for
+35, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Buckland, and Mr. Foord Kelcey divided the other
+four. In the second Oxford innings Mr. Sharpe got six wickets for 66,
+and the whole score was but 137, in which Mr. Pulman's 30 was very
+useful; Mr. Royle, Mr. Game, and Mr. Webbe got 21, 22, and 21, and Mr.
+Grey Tylecote, not out, contributed an invaluable 12. The tail of the
+Cambridge side made 14 among them in the first innings, not an
+assortment of duck's eggs. Cambridge went in, with 175 to get, much like
+Oxford in 1870. An over was bowled before seven o'clock, and resulted in
+a four to leg. Sharpe and Hamilton, who went in last, first innings,
+went in first in the second, to avoid losing a good bat in the five
+minutes before drawing stumps. One doubts if it was worth Mr. Ridley's
+while to insist on that one over, but such is the letter of the law. The
+two victims, in any case, played rarely, Mr. Sharpe making 29 and Mr.
+Hamilton 11. Mr. Lucas, however, was bowled by Mr. Buckland for 5. Two
+for 26. Mr. Longman came in and drove off Mr. Lang and Mr. Ridley. Mr.
+Royle then took the ball, a fast change-bowler. He bowled three maidens,
+and then settled Mr. Sharpe (at 65), Mr. Blacker (at 67), and Mr.
+Longman at 76 (for 23), with a fine breaking shooter such as you seldom
+see now. Twenty years ago a large percentage of balls shot dead. Mr.
+Greenfield and Mr. Edward Lyttelton stuck together.
+
+At 97, an awful yell went up; mid-on had missed Mr. Lyttelton, a low
+hard catch, but one which he would have taken nine times in ten. At 101,
+Mr. Campbell caught Mr. Greenfield off Mr. Royle, six down and 70 to
+get. Then Mr. Sims came in, and another yell was heard. Mid-on had given
+Mr. Lyttelton another let-off, an easy thing he might have held in his
+mouth. Mid-on wished that the earth would open and swallow him.
+Presently Mr. Lyttelton hit Mr. Buckland a beautiful skimming smack to
+square leg. Mr. Webbe was standing deeper, but, running at full speed
+along the ropes, sideways to the catch, he held it low down--a
+repetition of what he did unto Mr. Lyttelton when they played for Harrow
+and Eton. Mr. Lyttelton had scored 20, but not in his best manner. There
+were now three wickets to fall for 60; Oxford seemed to have the
+advantage. Sims and Patterson had added 14 (40 to win), when a heavy
+shower came down, lasted for an hour and a half, and left Oxford with a
+wet ball and a slippery ground. The rain, which favoured Oxford in 1874,
+when Cambridge collapsed, was now on the Cambridge side. Mr. Sims was
+determined to knock the runs off by a forcing game, and these were the
+right tactics. Then Ridley went on, and his first slow bowled Mr.
+Patterson clean. Mr. Macan came in, and got a single (13 to win). Then
+Mr. Sims hit Mr. Ridley over his head to the ropes for 4 (9 to win). Mr.
+Lang went on for Mr. Royle, a leg bye followed, and then a no-ball (7 to
+win). Mr. Lang then, in a moment of despair, as unusual measures were
+needed, bowled a full pitch right at Mr. Sims's head. Mr. Sims,
+naturally concluding that two more hits would finish the match, hit at
+it as hard as he could. Mr. Pulman was standing by the ropes 'in the
+country' and the ball soared towards him; would it cross the ropes?
+would Pulman reach it; he had a long way to run? He reached it, he held
+it, and back went Mr. Sims. There remained Mr. Smith, in the same
+historical position as Mr. Belcher. There were six runs to get, and Mr.
+Macan, his companion, a good bat, was not yet settled. Some one in the
+pavilion said, 'His legs are trembling, Oxford wins.' Mr. Smith, unlike
+Mr. Belcher, stopped two of Mr. Ridley's slows, but not with enthusiasm.
+To the third he played slowly forward, the ball hit the middle stump,
+and Oxford won by six runs.
+
+There was also a very good match in 1891. Cambridge was far the better
+team, and went in, second innings, for a small score. But Mr. Berkeley
+(left-hand medium) bowled so admirably that there were only two wickets
+to fall for the last run. Mr. Woods, however, was not nervous, and hit
+the first ball he received for 4 to the ropes. Still, I am inclined to
+think that, in these three matches, the bowling of Mr. Berkeley was the
+best, for he had very little encouragement, whereas, with 178 or so to
+get, a bowler has a good chance, and is on his mettle.
+
+The moral is, don't poke about in your block-hole, but hit, and, when
+you bowl in an emergency, aim at getting wickets by any means, rather
+than at keeping down runs.
+
+
+
+
+_THE STORY OF KASPAR HAUSER_
+
+
+ON May 28, 1828, the town of Nuremberg, in Bavaria, presented a
+singularly deserted appearance, as it was Whit-Monday, and most of the
+inhabitants were spending their holiday in the country. A cobbler, who
+lived in Umschlitt Square, was an exception to the general rule, but
+towards four o'clock he, too, thought that he would take a stroll
+outside the city walls. When he came out of his door his curiosity was
+excited by a strange figure, which was leaning, as if unable to support
+itself, against a wall near, and uttering a moaning sound. The figure
+was that of a young man of about seventeen, dressed in a grey riding
+suit, and wearing a pair of dilapidated boots; he held a letter in one
+hand.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The cobbler's curiosity led him to approach the strange figure, which
+moaned some incoherent sounds, and held out the letter in its hand. This
+was addressed 'To the Captain of the 4th squadron of the 6th regiment
+of dragoons now stationed at Nuremberg'; and, as he lived quite near,
+the cobbler thought the surest way of gratifying his own curiosity was
+to take the stranger there. The poor creature stumbled and shuffled
+along behind his guide, and reached the captain's house quite worn out.
+The captain was not at home, but his servant, pitying the sufferings of
+the stranger, gave him a sack of straw to lie on in the stable, and
+brought him some bread and meat and beer. The meat and the beer he would
+not touch, but ate the bread greedily and drank some water; he then fell
+fast asleep. Towards eight o'clock the captain came home, and was told
+of his strange visitor, and of the letter he had brought with him. This
+letter was written in a feigned hand, and said that the writer, a poor
+labourer with ten children, had received the boy in 1812, and had kept
+him shut up in his house for sixteen years, not allowing him to see or
+know anything; that he could keep him no longer, and so sent him to the
+captain, who could make a soldier of him, hang him, or put him up the
+chimney, just as he chose. He added that the boy knew nothing and could
+tell nothing, but was quick at learning. Enclosed was a letter giving
+the date of the boy's birth (April 30, 1812), and purporting to be
+written by the mother; but the writing, paper, and ink all showed that
+the two letters were by the same person.
+
+The captain could make nothing of this mysterious letter, but went to
+the stable, where he found the stranger still asleep. After many pushes,
+kicks, and thumps he awoke. When asked his name and where he came from,
+he made some sounds, which were at last understood to be, 'Want to be a
+soldier, as father was;' 'Don't know;' and 'Horse home.' These sentences
+he repeated over and over again like a parrot, and at last the captain
+decided to send his new recruit to the police office. Here he was asked
+his name, where he came from, &c., &c., but the result of the police
+inspector's questioning was the same: the stranger repeated his three
+sentences, and at last, in despair of getting any sensible reply from
+him, he was put into a cell in the west tower of the prison where
+vagrants were kept. This cell he shared with another prisoner, a butcher
+boy, who was ordered to watch him carefully, as the police naturally
+suspected him of being an impostor. He slept soundly through the night
+and woke at sunrise. He spent the greater part of the day sitting on the
+floor taking no notice of anything, but at last the gaoler gave him a
+sheet of paper and a pencil to play with. These he seized with pleasure
+and carried them off to a seat; nor did he stop writing until he had
+covered the paper with letters and syllables, arranged just as they
+would be in a copy-book. Among the letters were three complete words,
+'Kaspar Hauser,' and 'reiter' (horse soldier). 'Kaspar Hauser' was
+evidently his name, though he did not recognise it when called by it.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The news of the strange arrival spread through the city. The
+guard-house, where he spent part of the day, was thronged by a curious
+crowd, anxious to see this strange creature, who looked at things
+without seeing them, who could not bear a strong light, who loathed any
+food but bread and water, and who, parrot-like, repeated a couple of
+phrases which he evidently did not understand, and one word, 'horse,' to
+which he seemed to attach some meaning. What they saw was a youth of
+about seventeen, with fair hair and blue eyes, the lower part of his
+face slightly projecting like a monkey's. He was four feet nine inches
+in height, broad-shouldered, with tiny hands and delicate little feet,
+which had never worn shoes nor been put to their natural use, for the
+soles were as soft as a baby's. He was dressed in grey riding-breeches,
+a round jacket, which had been made out of a frock-coat by cutting off
+the skirts, and wore a round felt hat bound with red leather. In his
+pockets were some rags, some tracts, a rosary, and a paper of gold sand.
+
+Everyone who saw him and watched him came to the same conclusion, that
+his mind was that of a child of two or three, while his body was nearly
+grown up; and yet he was not half-witted, because he immediately began
+to pick up words and phrases, had a wonderful memory, and never forgot a
+face he had once seen, or the name which belonged to it. During the next
+two or three weeks he spent part of every day in the guard-room; part
+with the family of the gaoler, whose children taught him to talk and to
+walk as they did their own baby sister. He was not afraid of anything;
+swords were whirled round his head without his paying any attention to
+them; he stretched out his hand to the flame of a lighted candle, and
+cried when it burnt him, and when he saw his face in a looking-glass,
+looked behind it for the other person. He was particularly pleased when
+anything bright or glittering was given to him. Whenever this happened
+he called out 'Horse, horse,' and made signs as if he wanted to hang it
+on to the neck of something. At last one of the policemen gave him a
+wooden horse, when his happiness was complete, and he spent hours
+sitting on the floor playing with this horse and the dozens of horses
+which were given to him by his visitors as soon as they heard of his
+liking for them.
+
+Six or seven weeks passed in this way, and all this time the town
+council were discussing what they would do with him. At last they
+decided to adopt him as the 'Child of Nuremberg,' and to have him
+properly cared for and taught, so that, if possible, something of his
+past might be learned. He was taken away from the prison and put under
+the charge of Professor Daumer, whose interest in the youth led him to
+undertake the difficult task of developing his mind so that it might fit
+his body. The burgomaster issued a notice to the inhabitants that in
+future they would not be allowed to see Kaspar Hauser at all hours of
+the day, and that the police had orders to interfere if the curiosity of
+visitors led them to annoy Dr. Daumer and his household. He entered Dr.
+Daumer's house on July 18, 1828, and during the next five months made
+such astonishing progress that the delight of his teacher knew no
+bounds. In order to satisfy public curiosity the burgomaster published,
+in July, a short account of Hauser's previous life, gleaned from him by
+careful questioning. It was to this effect:--
+
+'He neither knows who he is nor where he came from, for it was only at
+Nuremberg that he came into the world. He always lived in a hole, where
+he sat on straw on the ground; he never heard a sound, nor saw any vivid
+light. He awoke and he slept, and awoke again; when he awoke he found a
+loaf of bread and a pitcher of water beside him. Sometimes the water
+tasted nasty and then he fell asleep again, and when he woke up found he
+had a clean shirt on; he never saw the face of the man who came to him.
+He had two wooden horses and some ribbons to play with; was never ill,
+never unhappy in his hole; once only the man struck him with a stick for
+making too much noise with his horses. One day the man came into his
+room and put a table over his feet; something white lay on the table,
+and on this the man made black marks with a pencil which he put into his
+fingers. This the man did several times, and when he was gone Kaspar
+imitated what he had done. At last he taught him to stand and to walk,
+and finally carried him out of his hole. Of what happened next Kaspar
+had no very clear idea, until he found himself in Nuremberg with the
+letter in his hand.'
+
+At first sight this story seems quite impossible, but it is borne out by
+two or three things. Kaspar's legs were deformed in just such a way as
+would happen in the case of a person who had spent years sitting on the
+ground; he never walked properly to the end, and had great difficulty in
+getting upstairs. His feet showed no signs of use, except the blisters
+made by his boots and his walk to Nuremberg; he could see in the dark
+easily and disliked light; and finally, for several months after he came
+to Nuremberg, he refused to eat anything but bread and water, and was,
+in fact, made quite ill by the smell of meat, beer, wine, or milk.
+
+For the first four months of his stay with Daumer, his senses of sight,
+taste, hearing, and smell were very acute. He had got past the stage in
+which he disliked light, and could now see much further than most people
+by day, without, however, losing his power of seeing in the dark; at
+the same time he could not distinguish between a thing and a picture of
+that thing, and could not for a long time judge distances at all, for he
+saw everything flat. His favourite colours were red and yellow; black
+and green he particularly disliked; everything ugly was called green. He
+could not be persuaded that a ball did not roll because it wished to do
+so, or that his top did not spin of its own accord. For a long time he
+saw no reason why animals should not behave like human beings, and was
+much annoyed because the cat refused to sit up at table and to eat with
+its paws, blaming its disobedience in not doing as it was told. He
+further thought that a cow which had lain down in the road would do well
+to go home to bed if it were tired. His sense of smell was very keen,
+painfully so, in fact, for he was made quite ill by the smell of the dye
+in his clothes, the smell of paper, and of many other things which other
+people do not notice at all; while the smell of a sweep a hundred yards
+off on the other side of the road upset him for a week. On the other
+hand, he could distinguish the leaves of trees by their smell.
+
+By November he had made sufficient progress to make it possible for Dr.
+Daumer to teach him other things besides the use of his senses: he was
+encouraged to write letters and essays, to use his hands in every way,
+to draw, to make paper-models, to dig in the garden, where he had a
+little plot of ground with his name in mustard and cress; in fact, to
+use his lately acquired knowledge. The great difficulty was to persuade
+him to eat anything but bread and water, but by slow degrees he learned
+to eat different forms of farinaceous food, gruel, bread and milk, rice,
+&c., into which a little gravy and meat was gradually introduced. By the
+following May he could eat meat without being made ill by it, but never
+drank anything but water, except at breakfast, when he had chocolate.
+
+For the next eleven months he lived a happy, simple life with his friend
+and tutor, who mentions, however, that the intense acuteness of his
+senses was gradually passing away, but that he had still the charming,
+obedient, child-like nature which had won all hearts. In the summer,
+public interest was aroused by the news that Kaspar Hauser was writing
+his life, and the paper was eagerly looked forward to. All went well
+until October 17, when Kaspar was discovered senseless in a cellar under
+Dr. Daumer's house, with a wound in his forehead. He was carried
+upstairs and put to bed, when he kept on moaning, 'Man! man!--tell
+mother (Mrs. Daumer)--tell professor--man beat me--black sweep.' For
+some days he was too ill to give any account of his wound, but at last
+said, that he had gone downstairs and was suddenly attacked by a man
+with a black face,[10] who hit him on the head; that he fell down, and
+when he got up the man was gone; that he went to look for Mrs. Daumer,
+and, as he could not find her, finally hid in the cellar to be quite
+safe. After this murderous attack it was no longer safe to leave him in
+Dr. Daumer's house, so when well again he was removed to the house of
+one of the magistrates, and constantly guarded by two policemen, without
+whom he never went out. He was not very happy here, and after some
+months was put under the charge of Herr von Tucher (June 1830), with
+whom he remained for eighteen months. At first the arrangement answered
+admirably; he was happy in his new home, his only trouble being that he
+was sent to the grammar school and put into one of the upper forms,
+where he had to learn Latin, a task which proved too hard for his brain.
+By this time his face had quite lost the brutish character it had when
+he came to Nuremberg, and its expression was pleasant, though rather
+sad. Unfortunately for himself, he was one of the sights of Nuremberg,
+was always introduced to any stranger of distinction who came to the
+town, and attracted even more attention than the kangaroo; so that even
+his warmest friends were obliged to admit that he was rather spoiled.
+
+At the beginning of 1831, an Englishman, Lord Stanhope, came to
+Nuremberg, saw the foundling, was curiously interested in him, and
+wished to adopt him. Kaspar was very much flattered, and drew
+unfavourable comparisons between this Englishman who thought nothing too
+good for him, and his guardians, who were thinking of apprenticing him
+to a bookbinder. Lord Stanhope's kindness turned his head, and Herr von
+Tucher, after repeated remonstrances, resigned his guardianship in
+December 1831. With the full consent of the town council of Nuremberg,
+Lord Stanhope removed Kaspar to Ausbach, and placed him under the care
+of Dr. Mayer. It was generally supposed that this was only preparatory
+to taking him to England. Ample funds were provided for his maintenance,
+but the journey to England was again and again put off; and at last
+there were signs that Lord Stanhope was not quite satisfied with his new
+plaything. So much had been said about Kaspar's cleverness, that his new
+teachers were disappointed to find that his acquirements were about
+those of a boy of eight. They accused him of laziness and of deceit; and
+he, finding himself suspected and closely questioned as to everything
+he did, took refuge in falsehood. At last a government clerkship of the
+lowest class was procured for him, but great complaints were made of his
+inattention to his duties (mainly copying); he was unhappy, and, when on
+a visit to Nuremberg in the summer, made plans for the happy time when
+he should be able to come back and live with his friends there. For the
+people of Ausbach, though making him one of the shows of the place, do
+not seem to have had that perfect belief in him shown by his earlier
+friends; while his new guardians expected a great deal too much from
+him. His chief friend in Ausbach was the clergyman who had prepared him
+for confirmation, who noticed, in November 1833, that he was very much
+depressed; but this passed away. On the afternoon of December 14, Kaspar
+came to call on the clergyman's wife, and was particularly happy and
+bright. Three hours afterwards he staggered into his tutor's house,
+holding his hand to his side, gasping out 'Garden--man--stabbed--give
+purse--let it drop--come--' and dragged the astonished Dr. Mayer off to
+a public garden, where a little purse was found on the ground. In it was
+a piece of paper, on which was written backwards in pencil these lines:
+'I come from the Bavarian frontier. I will even tell you my name, "M. L.
+O."'
+
+Kaspar was taken home and put to bed, when it was discovered that there
+was a deep stab in his left side. For some hours he was too ill to be
+questioned, but on the 15th he was able to tell his story. On the 14th,
+as he was coming out of the government buildings to go home to dinner,
+he was accosted by a man who promised to tell him who his parents were,
+if he would come to a spot in the public gardens. He refused, as he was
+going home to dinner, but made an appointment for that afternoon. After
+dinner he called on the clergyman's wife, and then went to the gardens,
+where he found the man waiting for him. The man led him to the Uz
+monument, which was at a little distance from the main path, and shut in
+by trees. Here he made him take a solemn oath of secrecy and handed him
+the little purse, which Kaspar, in his hurry to seize it, let drop. As
+he stooped to pick it up he was stabbed, and when he lifted himself up
+the stranger was gone. Then he ran home.
+
+For two days he was not supposed to be in any danger, but fever set in;
+the doctors gave no hope of his recovery, and on the 17th he died.
+
+His death caused great excitement, not only in Ausbach and Nuremberg,
+but throughout all Germany. The question as to whether he was an
+impostor or not was hotly debated; those who favoured the former theory
+insisting that he had killed himself accidentally when he only meant to
+wound himself and so excite sympathy. Some of the doctors declared,
+however, that that was quite impossible, for the wound was meant to
+kill, and could only have been self-inflicted by a left-handed person of
+great strength, for it had pierced through a padded coat. A large reward
+(1,200_l._) was offered for the capture of the assassin, but in vain;
+and the spot of the murder was marked by an inscription in Latin:
+
+          HIC
+          OCCULTUS
+          OCCULTO
+          OCCISUS EST
+
+          (Here the Mystery was mysteriously murdered).
+
+The same idea is repeated on his tombstone. 'Here lies K. H., the riddle
+of the age. His birth was unknown, his death mysterious.'
+
+His death was the signal for a violent paper-war between his friends and
+his enemies. It raged hotly for years; but his friends have never
+succeeded in proving who he was; why, after having been shut up for so
+long, he was at last set free; or why his death was, after all,
+necessary; while his enemies have utterly failed to prove that he was an
+impostor.[11]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[10] Probably the man had tied a piece of black crape over his face as a
+mask.
+
+[11] This is rather a picturesque than a critical story of Kaspar
+Hauser. The evidence of the men who first met him shows that he could
+then speak quite rationally. The curious will find a brief but useful
+account of him in the Duchess of Cleveland's 'Kaspar Hauser'
+(Macmillans, 1893.)
+
+
+
+
+_AN ARTIST'S ADVENTURE_
+
+
+NEARLY four hundred years ago, a boy was born in Italy who grew up to be
+one of the most accomplished artists of his own or any other age.
+Besides excelling as a sculptor, modeller, and medallist, he was a
+musician, an author, and an admirable swordsman; and popes, kings, and
+other great princes eagerly employed him, and vied with each other to
+secure his services. His name was Benvenuto Cellini.
+
+Under Pope Clement VII. he took part in the defence of the Castle of St.
+Angelo, when it was besieged by the Constable de Bourbon, and the Pope
+reposed such confidence in Cellini that he was entrusted with the task
+of removing all the gems in the treasury from their settings, and
+concealing the stones in the thick folds of his clothing. However, I am
+not going to enlarge on Benvenuto's many talents, but to tell you of a
+wonderful adventure which befell him in the very Castle of St. Angelo he
+had helped to defend.
+
+Those were lawless days, and Cellini was a man of fiery temper, to whom
+blows came more naturally than patience and forbearance. So it came to
+pass that, being told that a certain goldsmith named Pompeo had been
+spreading false reports about him, Benvenuto fell upon him one fine day
+in the very midst of Rome, and promptly stabbed him to death.
+
+This might possibly have been overlooked, but a workman, jealous of
+Cellini's success and reputation, accused the artist to the reigning
+Pope, Paul III., of having purloined some of the jewels entrusted to his
+care during the siege, and Paul was not to be trifled with where the
+affairs of the treasury were concerned. Moreover, a near relation of the
+Pope's was Cellini's sworn enemy, and this sufficed to seal his fate.
+
+So, when taking a walk one morning, Benvenuto suddenly found himself
+face to face with Crespino, the sheriff, attended by his band of
+constables. Crespino advanced, saying, 'You are the Pope's prisoner.'
+
+'Crespino,' exclaimed Benvenuto, 'you must take me for some one else.'
+
+'No, no,' replied Crespino, 'I know you perfectly, Benvenuto, and I have
+orders to carry you to the Castle of St. Angelo, where great nobles and
+men of talent like yourself are sent.'
+
+Then he politely begged Benvenuto to give up his sword, and led him off
+to the Castle, where he was locked up in a room above the keep.
+
+It was easy enough for Benvenuto to refute the accusations brought
+against him; nevertheless he was kept prisoner, in spite of the
+intervention of the French ambassador, who demanded his liberty in the
+name of Francis I.
+
+The governor of the Castle was, like Cellini, a Florentine, and at first
+showed himself full of kind attentions towards his countryman, allowing
+him a certain amount of liberty on parole, within the Castle walls.
+Growing suspicious later, he kept his prisoner closer, but after a time
+he restored him to comparative liberty.
+
+When Benvenuto found how changeable the governor's humour was, he set
+himself to think over matters seriously. 'For,' he reflected, 'should a
+fresh fit of anger or suspicion cause him to confine me more strictly, I
+should feel myself released from my word, and it may be as well to be
+prepared.'
+
+Accordingly he ordered some new coarse linen sheets to be brought him,
+but when soiled he did not send them back. When his servants asked for
+the sheets so as to have them washed he bade them say no more, as he had
+given them to one of the poor soldiers on guard, who would be sure to
+get into trouble if the matter were known. By degrees he emptied the
+straw out of his mattress, burning a little of it at a time in his
+fireplace, and replacing it with the sheets, which he cut into strips
+some inches wide. As soon as he thought these strips were long enough
+for his purpose, he told his servants that he had given all the sheets
+away, and that in future they had better bring him finer linen, which he
+would be sure to return.
+
+Now it so happened that every year the governor was subject to a most
+distressing illness, which, for the time being, entirely deprived him of
+his reason. When it began to come on, he would talk and chatter
+incessantly. Each year he had some fresh hallucination, at one time
+fancying himself an oil-jar, at another a frog, and skipping about like
+one. Again, another time, he declared he was dead, and wished to be
+buried; and so, year by year, he was the victim of some new delusion.
+This year he imagined he was a bat, and as he walked about he uttered
+little half-smothered cries like a bat, and flapped his hands and moved
+his body as though about to fly. His faithful old servants and his
+doctors noticed this, and, thinking change of ideas and variety of
+conversation might do him good, they frequently fetched Benvenuto to
+entertain him.
+
+One day the governor asked Benvenuto whether it had ever occurred to him
+to desire to fly, and; on being answered in the affirmative, he inquired
+further how he should set about it.
+
+Benvenuto replied that the only flying creature it would be at all
+possible to imitate artificially was the bat, on which the poor man
+cried out, 'True, true, that's it, that's the thing.' Then turning round
+he said, 'Benvenuto, if you had everything you required for it, do you
+think you could fly?'
+
+'Oh, yes,' said the artist; 'if you will only leave me free to do it, I
+will engage to make a pair of wings of fine waxed cloth, and to fly from
+here to Prati with them.'
+
+'And I, too,' exclaimed the governor; 'I could do it too, but the Pope
+has ordered me to keep you like the apple of his eye, and as I strongly
+suspect you're a cunning fellow, I shall lock you well up and give you
+no chance of flying.'
+
+Thereupon, and in spite of all Benvenuto's entreaties and protestations,
+the governor ordered him to be taken back to prison and more carefully
+guarded than ever.
+
+Seeing he could not help himself, Cellini exclaimed before the officers
+and attendants: 'Very well! lock me up and keep me safe, for I give you
+due warning I mean to escape in spite of everything.'
+
+No sooner was he shut up in his cell than he fell to turning over in his
+mind how this escape could be made, and began minutely examining his
+prison, and, after discovering what he thought would be a sure way of
+getting out, he considered how best he might let himself down from the
+top of this enormous donjon tower, which went by the name of 'Il
+Mastio.' He began by measuring the length of the linen strips, which he
+had cut and joined firmly together so as to form a sort of rope, and he
+thought there would be enough for his purpose. Next, he armed himself
+with a pair of pincers which he had taken from one of his guards who was
+fond of carpentering, and who, amongst his tools, had a particularly
+large and strong pair of pincers, which appeared so useful to Benvenuto
+that he abstracted them, and hid them in his mattress.
+
+As soon as he thought himself safe from interruption, he began to feel
+about for the nails in the ironwork of the door, but owing to its
+immense thickness they were by no means easy to get at. However, he
+managed at length to extract the first nail. Then came the question, how
+to conceal the hole left behind. This he contrived by making a paste of
+rusty scrapings and wax, which he modelled into an exact representation
+of the head of a nail, and in this way he replaced each nail he drew by
+a facsimile of its head in wax.
+
+Great care was required to leave just a sufficient number of nails to
+keep the ironwork and hinges in their places. But Benvenuto managed this
+by first drawing the nails, cutting them as short as he dared, and then
+replacing them in such a way as to keep things together, and yet to
+allow of their being easily drawn out at the last moment.
+
+All this was by no means easy to contrive, for the governor was
+constantly sending some one to make sure that his prisoner was safe.
+
+The two men who were specially charged with this duty were rough and
+rude, and one of them in particular took pains to inspect the whole room
+carefully every evening, paying special attention to the locks and
+hinges.
+
+Cellini lived in constant terror lest it should occur to them to examine
+his bedding, where, besides the pincers, he had hidden a long sharp
+dagger and some other instruments, as well as his long strips of linen.
+Each morning he swept out and dusted his room and carefully made his
+bed, ornamenting it with flowers which he got the soldier from whom he
+had taken the pincers to bring him. When his two warders appeared he
+desired them on no account to go near or touch his bed, for fear of
+soiling or disturbing it. Sometimes, in order to tease him, they would
+touch it, and then he would shout: 'Ah! you dirty rascals! Just let me
+get at one of your swords and see how I'll punish you! How dare you
+touch the bed of such a man as I am? Little care I about risking my own
+life, for I should be certain to take yours. Leave me in peace with my
+grief and trouble, or I will show you what a man can do when driven to
+desperation!'
+
+These words were repeated to the governor, who forbade the gaolers
+touching Cellini's bed, or entering his room armed. The bed once safe,
+he felt as if all else must go right.
+
+[Illustration: HE PREPARED TO ATTACK THE SENTRY]
+
+One night the governor had a worse attack than ever, and in a fit of
+madness kept repeating that he certainly was a bat, and that, should
+they hear of Benvenuto's escape, they must let him fly off too, as he
+was sure he could fly better at night and would overtake the fugitive.
+'Benvenuto,' said he, 'is but a sham bat, but as I am a real bat, and he
+has been given into my keeping, I shall soon catch him again, depend on
+it.'
+
+This bad attack lasted several nights, and the Savoyard soldier, who
+took an interest in Benvenuto, reported to him that the servants were
+quite worn out watching their sick master. Hearing this, Cellini
+resolved to attempt his escape at once, and set hard to work to complete
+his preparations. He worked all night, and about two hours before dawn
+he, with much care and trouble, removed the hinges from the door. The
+casing and bolts prevented his opening it wide, so he chipped away the
+woodwork, till at length he was able to slip through, taking with him
+his linen ropes, which he had wound on two pieces of wood like two great
+reels of thread.
+
+Having passed the door he turned to the right of the tower, and having
+removed a couple of tiles, he easily got out on the roof. He wore a
+white doublet and breeches and white boots, into one of which he had
+slipped his dagger. Taking one end of his linen rope, he now proceeded
+to hook it carefully over an antique piece of tile which was firmly
+cemented into the wall. This tile projected barely four fingers'
+breadth, and the band hooked over it as on a stirrup. When he had made
+it firm he prayed thus: 'O Lord, my God, come now to my aid, for Thou
+knowest that my cause is righteous, and that I am aiding myself.' Then
+he gently let himself slide down the rope till he reached the ground.
+There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and once down he gazed up at
+the tower from which he had made so bold a descent, and went off in high
+spirits, thinking himself at liberty, which indeed was by no means the
+case.
+
+On this side of the Castle the governor had had two high walls built to
+inclose his stables and his poultry-yard, and these walls had gates
+securely bolted and barred on the outside.
+
+In despair at these obstacles Benvenuto roamed about at random, cursing
+his bad luck, when suddenly he hit his foot against a long pole which
+lay hidden in the straw. With a good deal of effort he managed to raise
+it against the wall and to scramble up to the top. Here he found a
+sharply sloping coping stone which made it impossible to draw the pole
+up after him, but he fastened a portion of the second linen band to
+it, and by this means let himself down as he had done outside the donjon
+tower.
+
+By this time Benvenuto was much exhausted, and his hands were all cut
+and bleeding; however, after a short rest he climbed the last inclosure,
+and was just in the act of fastening his rope to a battlement, when, to
+his horror, he saw a sentinel close to him. Desperate at this
+interruption, and at the thought of the risk he ran, he prepared to
+attack the sentry, who, however, seeing a man advance on him with a
+drawn dagger and determined air, promptly took to his heels, and
+Benvenuto returned to his rope. Another guard was near, but, hoping not
+to have been observed, the fugitive secured his band and hastily slid
+down it. Whether it was fatigue, or that he thought himself nearer the
+ground than he really was, it is impossible to say, but he loosened his
+hold, and fell, hitting his head, and lay stretched on the ground for
+more than an hour.
+
+The sharp freshness of the air just before sunrise revived him, but his
+memory did not return immediately, and he fancied his head had been cut
+off and that he was in purgatory. By degrees, as his senses returned, he
+realised that he was no longer in the Castle, and remembered what he had
+done. He put his hands to his head and withdrew them covered with blood,
+but on carefully examining himself he found he had no serious wound,
+though on attempting to move he discovered that his right leg was
+broken. Nothing daunted, he drew from his boot his poniard with its
+sheath, which had a large ball at the end; the pressure of this ball on
+the bone had caused the fracture. He threw away the sheath, and cutting
+off a piece of the remaining linen band with his dagger, he bound up his
+leg as best he could, and then, dagger in hand, proceeded to drag
+himself along on his knees towards the gate of the town. It was still
+closed, but seeing one stone near the bottom, which did not look very
+huge, he tried to displace it. After repeated efforts it shook, and at
+length yielded to his efforts, so, forcing it out, he squeezed himself
+through.
+
+He had barely entered Rome when he was attacked by a band of savage
+dogs, who bit and worried him cruelly. He fought desperately with his
+dagger, and gave one dog such a stab that it fled howling, followed by
+the rest of the pack, leaving Benvenuto free to drag himself as best he
+could towards St. Peter's.
+
+By this time it was broad daylight, and there was much risk of
+discovery; so, seeing a water-carrier passing with his train of asses
+laden with jars full of water, Benvenuto hailed him and begged he would
+carry him as far as the steps of St. Peter's.
+
+'I am a poor fellow,' said he, 'who have broken my leg trying to get out
+of the window of a house where I went to see my lady-love. As the house
+belongs to a great family, I much fear I shall be cut to pieces if I am
+found here; so pray help me off and you shall have a gold crown for your
+pains,' and Benvenuto put his hand to his purse, which was well filled.
+
+The water-carrier readily consented, and carried him to St. Peter's,
+where he left him on the steps, from whence Benvenuto began to crawl
+towards the palace of Duke Ottavio, whose wife, a daughter of the
+emperor's, had brought many of Cellini's friends from Florence to Rome
+in her train. She was well disposed towards the great artist, and he
+felt that beneath her roof he would be in safety. Unluckily, as he
+struggled along, he was seen and recognised by a servant of Cardinal
+Cornaro's, who had apartments in the Vatican. The man hurried to his
+master's room, woke him up, and cried: 'Most reverend lord, Benvenuto is
+below; he must have escaped from the Castle, and is all bleeding and
+wounded. He appears to have broken his leg, and we have no idea where he
+is going.'
+
+'Run at once,' exclaimed the Cardinal, 'and fetch him here, to my room.'
+
+When Benvenuto appeared the Cardinal assured him he need have no fears,
+and sent off for the first surgeons in Rome to attend to him. Then he
+shut him up in a secret room, and went off to try and obtain his pardon
+from the Pope.
+
+Meantime a great commotion arose in Rome, for the linen ropes dangling
+from the great tower had attracted notice, and all the town was running
+out to see the strange sight. At the Vatican Cardinal Cornaro met a
+friend, to whom he related all the details of Benvenuto's escape, and
+how he was at that very moment hidden in a secret chamber. Then they
+both went to the Pope, who, as they threw themselves at his feet, cried,
+'I know what you want with me.'
+
+'Holy Father,' said the Cardinal's friend, 'we entreat you to grant us
+the life of this poor man. His genius deserves some consideration; and
+he has just shown an almost superhuman amount of courage and dexterity.
+We do not know what may be the crimes for which your Holiness has seen
+fit to imprison him, but if they are pardonable we implore you to
+forgive him.'
+
+The Pope, looking somewhat abashed, replied that he had imprisoned
+Benvenuto for being too presumptuous; 'however,' he added, 'I am well
+aware of his talents and am anxious to keep him near me, and am resolved
+to treat him so well that he shall have no desire to return to France. I
+am sorry he is ill; bid him recover quickly, and we will make him forget
+his past sufferings.'
+
+I am sorry to say the Pope was not so good as his words, for Benvenuto's
+enemies plotted against him, and after a time he was once more shut up
+in his former prison, from which, however, he was eventually delivered
+at the urgent request of the King of France, who warmly welcomed the
+great artist to his Court, where he spent some years in high honour.
+
+
+
+
+_THE TALE OF ISANDHLWANA AND RORKE'S DRIFT_
+
+
+[Illustration: A]LTHOUGH but fourteen years have gone by since 1879,
+perhaps some people, if they chance to be young, have forgotten about
+the Zulus, and the story of our war with them; so, before beginning the
+tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift, it may be worth while to tell of
+these matters in a few words.
+
+The Zulus live in South-Eastern Africa. Originally they were not one
+tribe but many, though the same blood was in them all. Nobody knows
+whence they came or who were their forefathers; but they seem to have
+sprung from an Arab or Semitic stock, and many of their customs, such as
+the annual feast of the first fruits, resemble those of the Jews. At the
+beginning of this century there arose a warrior king, called Chaka, who
+gathered up the scattered tribes of the Zulus as a woodman gathers
+sticks, and as of the frail brushwood the woodman makes a stout faggot,
+that none can break, so of these tribes Chaka fashioned a nation so
+powerful that no other black people could conquer it.
+
+The deeds of Chaka are too many to write of here. Seldom has there been
+a monarch, black or white, so terrible or so absolute, and never perhaps
+has a man lived more wicked or more clever. Out of 'nothing,' as the
+Kafirs say, he made the Amazulu, or the 'people of heaven,' so
+powerful, that before he died he could send out an army of a hundred
+thousand men to destroy those whom he feared or hated or whose cattle he
+coveted. These soldiers were never beaten; if they dared to turn their
+back upon an enemy, however numerous, they were killed when the battle
+was done, so that soon they learned to choose death with honour before
+the foe in preference to death with shame at the hands of the
+executioner. Where Chaka's armies went they conquered, till the country
+was swept of people for hundreds of miles in every direction. At length,
+after he had killed or been the cause of the violent death of more than
+a million human beings, in the year 1828 Chaka's own hour came; for, as
+the Zulu proverb says, 'the swimmer is at last borne away by the
+stream.' He was murdered by the princes of his house and his body
+servant Umbopo or Mopo. But as he lay dying beneath their spear thrusts,
+it is said that the great king prophesied of the coming of white men who
+should conquer the land that he had won.
+
+'What,' he said, 'do you slay me, my brothers--dogs of mine own house
+whom I have fed, thinking to possess the land? I tell you that I hear
+the sound of running feet, the feet of a great white people, and they
+shall stamp you flat, children of my father.'
+
+After the death of Chaka his brother Dingaan reigned who had murdered
+him. In due course he was murdered also, and his brother Panda succeeded
+to the throne. Panda was a man of peace, and the only one of the four
+Zulu kings who died a natural death; for though it is not commonly
+known, the last of these kings, our enemy Cetywayo, is believed to have
+met his end by poison. In 1873, Cetywayo was crowned king of Zululand in
+succession to his father Panda on behalf of the English Government by
+Sir Theophilus Shepstone. He remained a firm friend to the British till
+Sir Bartle Frere declared war on him in 1879. Sir Bartle Frere made war
+upon the Zulus because he was afraid of their power, and the Zulus
+accepted the challenge because we annexed the Transvaal and would not
+allow them to fight the Boers or the Swazis. They made a brave
+resistance, and it was not until there were nearly as many English
+soldiers in their country armed with breech-loading rifles as they had
+effective warriors left alive in it, for the most part armed with spears
+only, that at length we conquered them. But their heart was never in the
+war; they defended their country against invasion indeed, but by
+Cetywayo's orders they never attacked ours. Had they wished to do so,
+there was nothing to prevent them from sweeping the outlying districts
+of Natal and the Transvaal after our first great defeat at Isandhlwana,
+but they spared us.
+
+And now I have done with dull explanations, and will go on to tell of
+the disaster at Isandhlwana or the 'place of the Little Hand,' and of
+the noble defence of Rorke's Drift.
+
+On the 20th of January, 1879, one of the British columns that were
+invading Zululand broke its camp on the left bank of the Buffalo river,
+and marched by the road that ran from Rorke's Drift to the Indeni
+forest, encamping that evening under the shadow of a steep-cliffed and
+lonely mountain, called Isandhlwana. This force was known as number 3
+column, and with it went Lord Chelmsford, the general in command of the
+troops. The buildings at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of sixty men
+of the 2nd battalion 24th regiment under the late Colonel Bromhead, then
+a lieutenant, and some volunteers and others, the whole garrison being
+commanded, on the occasion of the attack, by Lieutenant Chard, R.E.
+
+On January 21, Colonel, then Major, Dartnell, the officer in command of
+the Natal Mounted Police and volunteers, who had been sent out to effect
+a reconnaissance of the country beyond Isandhlwana, reported that the
+Zulus were in great strength in front of him. Thereupon Lord Chelmsford
+ordered six companies of the 2nd battalion 24th regiment, together with
+four guns and the Mounted Infantry, to advance to his support. This
+force, under the command of Colonel Glyn, and accompanied by Lord
+Chelmsford himself, left Isandhlwana at dawn on the 22nd, a despatch
+having first been sent to Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, R.E., who was in
+command of some five hundred friendly Natal Zulus, about half of whom
+were mounted and armed with breech-loaders, to move up from Rorke's
+Drift and strengthen the camp, which was now in charge of Lieut.-Colonel
+Pulleine of the 1st battalion 24th regiment. Orders were given to
+Colonel Pulleine by the general that he was to 'defend' the camp.
+
+About ten o'clock that morning Colonel Durnford arrived at Isandhlwana
+and took over the command of the camp, which was then garrisoned by
+seven hundred and seventy-two European and eight hundred and fifty-one
+native troops, in all one thousand six hundred and twenty-three men,
+with two guns. Little did Lord Chelmsford and those with him guess in
+what state they would find that camp when they returned to it some
+eighteen hours later, or that of those sixteen hundred men the great
+majority would then be dead!
+
+Meanwhile a Zulu 'impi' or army, numbering about twenty thousand men, or
+something more than one-third of King Cetywayo's entire strength, had
+moved from the Upindo Hill on the night of January 21, and taken up its
+position on a stony plain, a mile and a half to the east of Isandhlwana.
+The impi was made up of the Undi regiment, about three thousand strong,
+that formed its breast, or centre, the Nokenke and Umcityu regiments,
+seven thousand strong, that formed its right wing or horn, and the
+Imbonanbi and Nkobamikosi regiments, ten thousand strong, forming its
+left horn or wing. That night the impi slept upon its spears and watched
+in silence, lighting no fires. The king had reviewed it three days
+previously, and his orders to it were that it should attack number 3
+column, and drive it back over the Buffalo, but it had no intention of
+giving battle on the 22nd, for the state of the moon was not propitious,
+so said the 'doctors'; moreover, the soldiers had not been 'moutied,'
+that is, sprinkled with medicines to 'put a great heart' into them and
+ensure their victory. The intention of the generals was to attack the
+camp at dawn on the 23rd; and the actual engagement was brought about by
+an accident.
+
+Before I tell of this or of the fight, however, it may be as well to
+describe how these splendid savages were armed and disciplined. To begin
+with, every corps had a particular head-dress and fighting shields of
+one colour, just as in our army each regiment has its own facings on the
+tunics. These shields are cut from the hides of oxen, and it is easy to
+imagine what a splendid sight was presented by a Zulu impi twenty
+thousand strong, divided into several regiments, one with snow-white
+shields and tall cranes' feathers on their heads, one with coal-black
+shields and black plumes, and others with red and mottled shields, and
+bands of fur upon their foreheads. In their war with the English many of
+the Zulus were armed with muzzle-loading guns and rifles of the worst
+description, of which they could make little use, for few of them were
+trained to handle firearms. A much more terrible weapon in their hands,
+and one that did nearly all the execution at Isandhlwana, was the
+broad-bladed short-shafted stabbing assegai. This shape of spear was
+introduced by the great king Chaka, and if a warrior cast it at an
+enemy, or even chanced to lose it in a fight, he was killed when the
+fray was over. Before Chaka's day the Zulu tribes used light assegais,
+which they threw at the enemy from a distance, and thus their ammunition
+was sometimes spent before they came to close quarters with the foe.
+
+Among the Zulus every able-bodied man was enrolled in one or other of
+the regiments--even the girls and boys were made into regiments or
+attached to them, and though these did not fight, they carried the mats
+and cooking pots of the army, and drove the cattle for the soldiers to
+eat when on the march. Thus it will be seen that this people differed
+from any other in the world in modern days, for whereas even the most
+courageous and martial of mankind look upon war as an exceptional state
+of affairs and an evil only to be undertaken in self-defence, or perhaps
+for purposes of revenge and aggrandisement, the Zulus looked on peace as
+the exceptional state, and on warfare as the natural employment of man.
+Chaka taught them that lesson, and they had learnt it well, and so it
+came about that Cetywayo was forced to allow the army to fight with us
+when Sir Bartle Frere gave them an opportunity of doing so, since their
+hearts were sick with peace, and for years they had clamoured to be
+allowed to 'wash their spears,' saying that they were no longer men, but
+had become a people of women. Indeed, had the king not done so, they
+would have fought with each other. It is a terrible thing to be obliged,
+year after year, to keep quiet an army of some fifty or sixty thousand
+men who are too proud to work and clamour daily to be led to battle that
+they may die as their fathers died. We may be sure that the heart of
+many a Zulu warrior beat high as in dead silence he marched that night
+from the heights of Upindo towards the doomed camp of Isandhlwana, since
+at last he was to satisfy the longing of his blood, and fight to the
+death with a foe whom he knew to be worthy of him.
+
+Doubtless, also, the hearts of the white men beat high that night as
+they gathered round the fires of their camp, little knowing that
+thousands of Zulu eyes were watching them from afar, or that the black
+rock looming above them was destined to stand like some great tombstone
+over their bones for ever. Englishmen also are a warlike race, and there
+was honour and advancement to be won, and it would seem that but few of
+those who marched into the Zulu country guessed how formidable was the
+foe with whom they had to deal. A horde of half-naked savages armed with
+spears did not strike English commanders, imperfectly acquainted with
+the history and nature of those savages, as particularly dangerous
+enemies. Some there were, indeed, who, having spent their lives in the
+country, knew what was to be expected, but they were set down as
+'croakers,' and their earnest warnings of disaster to come were
+disregarded.
+
+Now let us return to the camp. It will be remembered that Colonel Glyn's
+force, accompanied by General Lord Chelmsford, had left at dawn. About
+eight o'clock a picket placed some 1,500 yards distant reported that
+Zulus were approaching from the north-east. This information was
+despatched by mounted messengers to Colonel Glyn's column.
+
+Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, with his mounted natives and a rocket battery
+arriving from Rorke's Drift about 10 A.M., took over the command of the
+camp from Colonel Pulleine. According to the evidence of Lieutenant
+Cochrane given at the court of inquiry, Colonel Pulleine thereupon
+stated to Colonel Durnford the orders that he had received, to 'defend
+the camp,' and it would appear that either then or subsequently some
+altercation took place between these two officers. In the issue,
+however, Colonel Durnford advanced his mounted force to ascertain the
+enemy's movements, and directed a company of the 1st battalion 24th
+regiment to occupy a hill about 1,200 yards to the north of the camp.
+
+Other companies of the 24th were stationed at various points at a
+distance from the camp. It may be well to explain here, that to these
+movements of troops, which, so far as can be ascertained, were made by
+the direct orders of Colonel Durnford, must be attributed the terrible
+disaster that followed. There are two ways of fighting a savage or
+undisciplined enemy; the scientific way, such as is taught in staff
+colleges, and the unscientific way that is to be learned in the sterner
+school of experience. We English were not the first white men who had to
+deal with the rush of the Zulu impis. The Boers had encountered them
+before, at the battle of the Blood River, and armed only with
+muzzle-loading 'roers,' or elephant guns, despite their desperate
+valour, had worsted them, with fearful slaughter. But they did not
+advance bodies of men to this point or to that, according to the
+scientific method; they drew their ox waggons into a square, lashing
+them together with 'reims' or hide-ropes, and from behind this rough
+defence, with but trifling loss to themselves, rolled back charge after
+charge of the warriors of Dingaan.
+
+Had this method been followed by our troops at the battle of
+Isandhlwana, who had ample waggons at hand to enable them to execute the
+manoeuvre, had the soldiers even been collected in a square beneath
+the cliff of the mountain, it cannot be doubted but that, armed as they
+were with breech-loaders, they would have been able to drive back not
+only the impi sent against them, but, if necessary, the entire Zulu
+army. Indeed, that this would have been so is demonstrated by what
+happened on the same day at Rorke's Drift, where a hundred and thirty
+men repelled the desperate assaults of three or four thousand. Why,
+then, it may be asked, did Colonel Durnford, a man of considerable
+colonial experience, adopt the more risky, if the more scientific, mode
+of dealing with the present danger, and this in spite of Colonel
+Pulleine's direct intimation to him that his orders were 'to defend the
+camp'? As it chances, the writer of this account, who knew Colonel
+Durnford well, and has the greatest respect for the memory of that good
+officer, and honourable gentleman, is able to suggest an answer to the
+problem which at the time was freely offered by the Natal colonists. A
+few years before, it happened that Colonel Durnford was engaged upon
+some military operations against a rebellious native chief in Natal.
+Coming into contact with the followers of this chief, in the hope that
+matters might be arranged without bloodshed, Durnford ordered the white
+volunteers under his command not to fire, with the result that the
+rebels fired, killing several of his force and wounding him in the arm.
+This incident gave rise to an irrational indignation in the colony, and
+for a while he himself was designated by the ungenerous nickname of
+'Don't fire Durnford.' It is alleged, none can know with what amount of
+truth, that it was the memory of this undeserved insult which caused
+Colonel Durnford to insist upon advancing the troops under his command
+to engage the Zulus in the open, instead of withdrawing them to await
+attack in the comparative safety of a 'laager.'
+
+The events following the advance of the various British companies at
+Isandhlwana are exceedingly difficult to describe in their proper order,
+since the evidence of the survivors is confused.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It would appear, however, that Durnford's mounted Basutos discovered and
+fired on a portion of the Umcityu regiment, which, forgetting its
+orders, sprang up and began to charge. Thereon, accepting the position,
+the other Zulu regiments joined the movement. Very rapidly, and with the
+most perfect order, the impi adopted the traditional Zulu ox-head
+formation, namely, that of a centre and two horns, the centre
+representing the skull of the ox. In this order they advanced towards
+the English camp, slowly and without sound. Up to this time there had
+been no particular alarm in the camp. The day was bright and lovely,
+with a hot sun tempered by a gentle breeze that just stirred the tops of
+the grasses, and many men seem to have been strolling about quite
+unaware of their imminent danger, although orders were given to collect
+the transport oxen, which were at graze outside the camp; not for the
+purpose of inspanning the waggons, but to prevent them from being
+captured by the enemy. One officer (Captain, now Colonel, Essex) reports
+that after the company had been sent out, he retired to his tent to
+write letters, till, about twelve o'clock, a sergeant came to tell him
+that firing was to be heard behind a hill in face of the camp. He
+mounted a horse and rode up the slope, to find the company firing on a
+line of Zulus eight hundred paces away to their front. This line was
+about a thousand yards long, and shaped like a horn, tapering towards
+the point. It advanced slowly, taking shelter with great skill behind
+rocks, and opened a quite ineffective fire on the soldiers. Meanwhile
+the two guns were shelling the Zulu centre with great effect, the shells
+cutting lanes through their dense ranks, which closed up over the dead
+in perfect discipline and silence. The attack was now general, all the
+impi taking part in it except a reserve regiment that sat down upon the
+ground taking snuff, and never came into action, and the Undi corps,
+which moved off to the right with the object of passing round the north
+side of the Isandhlwana hill.
+
+On came the Zulus in silence, and ever as they came the two horns crept
+further and further ahead of the black breast of their array. Hundreds
+of them fell beneath the fire of the breech-loaders, but they did not
+pause in their attack. Ammunition began to fail the soldiers, and orders
+having reached them--too late--to concentrate on the camp, they retired
+slowly to that position. Captain Essex also rode back, and assisted the
+quartermaster of the 24th to place boxes of ammunition in a mule cart,
+till presently the quartermaster was shot dead at his side. Now the
+horns or nippers of the foe were beginning to close on the doomed camp,
+and the friendly natives, who knew well what this meant, though as yet
+the white men had not understood their danger, began to steal away by
+twos and threes, and then, breaking into open rout, they rushed through
+the camp, seeking the waggon road to Rorke's Drift.
+
+Then at last the Zulu generals saw that the points of the horns had met
+behind the white men, and the moment was ripe. Abandoning its silence
+and slow advance, the breast of the impi raised the war-cry and charged,
+rolling down upon the red coats like a wave of steel. So swift and
+sudden was this last charge, that many of the soldiers had no time to
+fix bayonets. For a few moments the scattered companies held the impi
+back, and the black stream flowed round them, then it flowed _over_
+them, sweeping them along like human wreckage. In a minute the defence
+had become an utter rout. Some of the defenders formed themselves into
+groups and fought back to back till they fell where they stood, to be
+found weeks afterwards mere huddled heaps of bones. Hundreds of others
+fled for the waggon road, to find that the Undi regiment, passing round
+the Isandhlwana mountain, had occupied it already. Back they rolled from
+the hedge of Undi spears to fall upon the spears of the attacking
+regiments. One path of retreat alone remained, a dry and precipitous
+'donga' or watercourse, and into this plunged a rabble of men, white and
+black, mules, horses, guns, and waggons.
+
+Meanwhile the last act of the tragedy was being played on the field of
+death. With a humming sound such as might be made by millions of bees,
+the Zulu swarms fell upon those of the soldiers who remained alive, and,
+after a desperate resistance, stabbed them. Wherever the eye looked, men
+were falling and spears flashing in the sunshine, while the ear was
+filled with groans of the dying and the savage _S'gee S'gee_ of the Zulu
+warriors as they passed their assegais through and through the bodies of
+the fallen. Many a deed of valour was done there as white men and black
+grappled in the death-struggle, but their bones alone remained to tell
+the tale of them. Shortly after the disaster, one of the survivors told
+the present writer of a duel which he witnessed between a Zulu and an
+officer of the 24th regiment. The officer having emptied his revolver,
+set his back against the wheel of a waggon and drew his sword. Then the
+Zulu came at him with his shield up, turning and springing from side to
+side as he advanced. Presently he lowered the shield, exposing his head,
+and the white man falling into the trap aimed a fierce blow at it. As it
+fell the shield was raised again, and the sword sank deep into its edge,
+remaining fixed in the tough ox-hide. This was what the Zulu desired;
+with a twist of his strong arm he wrenched the sword from his opponent's
+hand, and in another instant the unfortunate officer was down with an
+assegai through his breast.
+
+In a few minutes it was done, all resistance had been overpowered, the
+wounded had been murdered--for the Zulu on the war-path has no
+mercy--and the dead mutilated and cut open to satisfy the horrible
+native superstition. Then those regiments that remained upon the field
+began the work of plunder. Most of the bodies they stripped naked,
+clothing themselves in the uniforms of the dead soldiers. They stabbed
+the poor oxen that remained fastened to the 'trek-tows' of the waggons,
+and they drank all the spirits that they could find, some of them, it is
+said, perishing through the accidental consumption of the medical
+stores. Then, when the sun grew low, they retreated, laden with
+plunder, taking with them the most of their dead, of whom there are
+believed to have been about fifteen hundred, for the Martinis did their
+work well, and our soldiers had not died unavenged.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+All this while Lord Chelmsford and the division which he accompanied
+were in ignorance of what had happened within a few miles of them,
+though rumours had reached them that a Zulu force was threatening the
+camp. The first to discover the dreadful truth was Commandant Lonsdale
+of the Natal Native Contingent. This officer had been ill, and was
+returning to camp alone, a fact that shows how little anything serious
+was expected. He reached it about the middle of the afternoon, and there
+was nothing to reveal to the casual observer that more than three
+thousand human beings had perished there that day. The sun shone, on the
+white tents and on the ox waggons, around and about which groups of
+red-coated men were walking, sitting, and lying. It did not chance to
+occur to him that those who were moving were Zulus wearing the coats of
+English soldiers, and those lying down, soldiers whom the Zulus had
+killed. As Commandant Lonsdale rode, a gun was fired, and he heard a
+bullet whizz past his head. Looking in the direction of the sound, he
+saw a native with a smoking rifle in his hand, and concluding that it
+was one of the men under his command who had discharged his piece
+accidentally, he took no more notice of the matter. Forward he rode,
+till he was within ten yards of what had been the headquarter tents,
+when suddenly out of one of them there stalked a great Zulu, bearing in
+his hand a broad assegai from which blood was dripping. Then his
+intelligence awoke, and he understood. The camp was in the possession of
+the enemy, and those who lay here and there upon the grass like holiday
+makers in a London park on a Sunday in summer, were English soldiers
+indeed, not living but dead.
+
+Turning his horse, Commandant Lonsdale fled as swiftly as it could carry
+him. More than a hundred rifle-shots were fired after him, but the Zulu
+marksmanship was poor, and he escaped untouched. A while afterwards, a
+solitary horseman met Lord Chelmsford and his staff returning: he
+saluted, and said, '_The camp is in the possession of the enemy, sir!_'
+None who heard those words will forget them, and few men can have
+experienced a more terrible shock than that which fell upon the English
+general in this hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Slowly, and with all military precaution, Lord Chelmsford and his force
+moved onward, till at length, when darkness had fallen, they encamped
+beneath the fatal hill of Isandhlwana. Here, momentarily expecting to be
+attacked, they remained all night amid the wreck, the ruin, and the
+dead, but not till the following dawn did they learn the magnitude of
+the disaster that had overtaken our arms. Then they saw, and in silence
+marched from that fatal field, heading for Rorke's Drift, and leaving
+its mutilated dead to the vulture and the jackal.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now let us follow the fate of the mob of fugitives, who, driven back
+from the waggon road by the Undi, plunged desperately into the donga
+near it, the sole avenue of retreat which had not been besieged by the
+foe, in the hope that they might escape the slaughter by following the
+friendly natives who were mixed up with them. How many entered on that
+terrible race for life is not known, but it is certain that very few won
+through. Indeed, it is said that, with the exception of some natives, no
+single man who was not mounted lived to pass the Buffalo River. For five
+miles or more they rode and ran over paths that a goat would have found
+it difficult to keep his footing on, while by them, and mixed up with
+them, went the destroying Zulus. Very soon the guns became fixed among
+the boulders, and one by one the artillerymen were assegaied. On went
+the survivors, hopeless yet hoping. Now a savage sprang on this man, and
+now on that; the assegai flashed up, a cry of agony echoed among the
+rocks, and a corpse fell heavily to the red earth. Still, those whom it
+pleased Providence to protect struggled forward, clinging to their
+horses' manes as they leaped from boulder to boulder, till at length
+they came to a cliff, beneath which the Buffalo rolled in flood. Down
+this cliff they slid and stumbled, few of them can tell how; then,
+driven to it by the pitiless spears, they plunged into the raging river.
+Many were drowned in its waters, some were shot in the stream, some were
+stabbed upon the banks, yet a few, clinging to the manes and tails of
+their horses, gained the opposite shore in safety.
+
+Among these were two men whose memory their country will not willingly
+let die, who, indeed (it is the first time in our military history),
+have been decreed the Victoria Cross although they were already dead:
+Lieutenants Coghill and Melvill of the 24th regiment. One of these,
+Lieutenant Coghill, the writer of this sketch had the good fortune to
+know well. A kindlier-hearted and merrier young English gentleman never
+lived. Melvill and Coghill were swept away upon the tide of flight, down
+the dreadful path that led to Fugitives' Drift, but Melvill bore with
+him the colours of the 24th regiment that were in his charge as
+adjutant, not tied round his waist, as has been reported, but upon the
+pole to which they were attached. He arrived in safety at the river,
+but, owing to the loss of his horse, was unable to cross it, and took
+refuge upon a rock in mid-stream, still holding the colours in his hand.
+Coghill, whose knee was disabled by an accident and who had reached the
+Natal bank already, saw the terrible position of his friend and brother
+officer, and, though spears flashed about him and bullets beat the water
+like hail, with a courage that has rarely been equalled, he turned his
+horse and swam back to his assistance. The worst was over; safety lay
+before him, there behind him in the river was almost certain death; but
+this gallant gentleman heeded none of these things, for there also were
+the colours of his regiment and his drowning friend. Back he swam to the
+rock through the boiling current. Soon his horse was shot dead beneath
+him, yet, though none knows how, the two of them came safe to shore. The
+colours were lost indeed, for they could no longer carry them and live,
+but these never fell into the hands of their savage foes: days
+afterwards they were searched for and found in the bed of the river.
+Breathless, desperate, lamed, and utterly outworn, the two friends
+struggled up the bank and the hill beyond. But Zulus had crossed that
+stream as well as the fugitive Englishmen. They staggered forward for a
+few hundred yards, then, unable to go further, the friends stood back to
+back and the foe closed in upon them. There they stood, and there,
+fighting desperately, the heroes died. Peace be with them in that land
+to which they have journeyed, and among men, immortal honour to their
+names!
+
+They sold their lives dearly, for several Zulus were found lying about
+their bodies.
+
+About forty white men lived to cross the river at Fugitives' Drift, and
+these, almost the only English survivors of the force at Isandhlwana,
+rode on, still followed by Zulus, to the provision depot at Helpmakaar
+some fifteen miles away, where they mustered and entrenched themselves
+as best they were able, expecting to be attacked at any moment. But no
+attack was delivered, the Zulus being busily employed elsewhere.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Some little distance from the banks of the Buffalo, and on the Natal
+side near to a mountain called Tyana, stood two buildings erected by the
+Rev. Mr. Witt; Rorke's Drift, from which No. 3 column had advanced,
+being immediately in front of them. One of these buildings had been
+utilised as a storehouse and hospital, and in it were thirty-five sick
+men. The other was occupied by a company of the 2nd 24th regiment, under
+the command of the late Lieut. Bromhead.[12]
+
+On January 22, the ponts at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of Lieut.
+Chard, R.E., with a few men. About a quarter-past three on that day an
+officer of Lonsdale's regiment, Lieut. Adendorff, and a carbineer, were
+seen galloping wildly towards the ponts. On coming to the bank of the
+river, they shouted to Lieut. Chard to take them across, and so soon as
+he reached them, they communicated to him the terrifying news that the
+general's camp had been captured and destroyed by a Zulu impi. A few
+minutes later a message arrived from Lieut. Bromhead, who also had
+learned the tidings of disaster, requesting Lieut. Chard to join him at
+the commissariat store. Mounting his horse he rode thither, to find
+Lieut. Bromhead, assisted by Mr. Dolton, of the commissariat, and the
+entire force at his command, amounting to about 130, inclusive of the
+sick and the chaplain, Mr. Smith, a Norfolk man, actively engaged in
+loopholing and barricading the house and hospital (both of which
+buildings were thatched), and in connecting them by means of a
+fortification of mealie bags and waggons. Having ridden round the
+position, Lieut. Chard returned to the Drift. Sergeant Milne and Mr.
+Daniells, who managed the ponts, offered to moor them in the middle of
+the stream, and with the assistance of a few men to defend them from
+their decks. This gallant suggestion being rejected as impracticable,
+Lieut. Chard withdrew to the buildings with the waggon and those under
+his command.
+
+They arrived there about 3.30, and shortly afterwards an officer of
+Durnford's native horse rode up, accompanied by about 100 mounted men,
+and asked for orders. He was requested to send out outposts in the
+direction of the enemy, and, having checked their advance as much as
+possible, to fall back, when forced so to do, upon the buildings and
+assist in their defence. Posts were then assigned to each man in the
+little garrison, and, this done, the defensive preparations went on, all
+doing their utmost, for they felt that the life of every one of them was
+at stake. Three-quarters of an hour went by, and the officer of
+Durnford's horse rode up, reporting that the Zulus were advancing in
+masses, and that his men were deserting in the direction of Helpmakaar.
+At this time some natives of the Natal contingent under the command of
+Capt. Stephenson also retired, an example which was followed by that
+officer himself.
+
+Lieuts. Chard and Bromhead now saw that their lines of defence were too
+large for the number of men left to them, and at once began the erection
+of an inner entrenchment formed of biscuit boxes taken from the stores.
+When this wall was but two boxes high, suddenly there appeared five or
+six hundred Zulus advancing at a run against the southern side of their
+position. These were soldiers of the Undi regiment, the same that had
+turned the Isandhlwana mountain, cutting off all possibility of retreat
+by the waggon road, who, when they knew that the camp was taken, had
+advanced to destroy the guard of Rorke's Drift. On they came, to be met
+presently by a terrible and concentrated fire from the Martinis. Many
+fell, but they did not stay till, when within 50 yards of the wall, the
+cross fire from the store took them in flank. Their loss was now so
+heavy that, checking their advance, some of them took cover among the
+ovens, cookhouse, and outbuildings, whence they in turn opened fire upon
+the garrison. Hundreds more rushing round the hospital came at full
+speed against the north-west fortification of sacks filled with corn. In
+vain did the Martinis pump a hail of lead into them: on they came
+straight to the frail defence, striving to take it at the point of the
+assegai. But here they were met by British bayonets and a fire so
+terrible that even the courage of the Zulus could not prevail against
+it, and they fell back, that is, those of them who were left alive.
+
+By this time the main force of the Undi had arrived, two thousand of
+them, perhaps, and having lined an overlooking ledge of rocks, took
+possession of the garden of the station and the bush surrounding it,
+from all of which the fire, though badly directed, was so continuous
+that at length the little garrison of white men were forced back into
+their inner entrenchment of biscuit boxes. Creeping up under cover of
+the bush, the Zulus now delivered assault after assault upon the wall.
+Each of these fierce rushes was repelled with the bayonets wielded by
+the brave white men on its further side. The assegais clashed against
+the rifle barrels, everywhere the musketry rang and rolled, the savage
+war-cries and the cheers of the Englishmen rose together through the
+din, while British soldier and Zulu warrior thrust and shot and tore at
+each other across the narrow wall, that wall which all the Undi could
+not climb.
+
+Now it grew dark, for the night was closing in; the spears flashed
+dimly, and in place of smoke long tongues of flame shot from the rifle
+barrels, illumining the stern faces of those who held them as lightning
+does. But soon there was to be light. If any had leisure to observe,
+they may have seen flakes of fire flying upwards from the dim bush, and
+wondered what they were. They were bunches of burning grass being thrown
+on spears to fall in the thatch of the hospital roof. Presently
+something could be seen on this roof that shone like a star. It grew
+dim, then suddenly began to brighten and to increase till the star-like
+spot was a flame, and a hoarse cry passed from man to man of: 'O God!
+the hospital is on fire!'
+
+The hospital was on fire, and in it were sick men, some of whom could
+not move. It was defended by a garrison, a handful of men, and at one
+and the same time these must bear away the sick to the store building,
+and hold the burning place against the Zulus, who now were upon them.
+They did it, but not all of it, for this was beyond the power of mortal
+bravery and devotion. When the thatch blazed above them, room after room
+did Privates Williams and Hook, R. and W. Jones, and some few others
+hold with the white arm--for their ammunition was spent--against the
+assegais of the Zulus, while their disabled comrades were borne away to
+the store building beneath the shelter of the connecting wall. One of
+them lost his life here, others were grievously wounded, but, dead or
+alive, their names should always be remembered among their countrymen,
+ay! and always will. Yet they could not save them every one; the fire
+scorched overhead and the assegais bit deep in front, and ever, as foes
+fell, fresh ones sprang into their places, and so, fighting furiously,
+those few gallant men were thrust back, alas! leaving some helpless
+comrades to die by fire and the spear.
+
+It would be of little use to follow step by step all the events of that
+night. All night long the firing went on, varied from time to time by
+desperate assaults. All night long the little band of defenders held
+back the foe. All were weary, some of them were dead and more wounded,
+but they fought on by the light of the burning hospital, wasting no
+single shot. To and fro went the bearded clergyman with prayers and
+consolations upon his lips, and a bag of cartridges in his hands, and to
+and fro also went Chard and Bromhead, directing all things. By degrees
+the Englishmen were driven back, the hospital and its approaches were in
+the hands of the foe, and now they must retire to the inner wall of the
+cattle kraal. But they collected sacks of mealies and built two
+redoubts, which gave them a second line of fire, and let the Zulus do
+what they would, storm the place they could not, nor could they serve it
+as they had served the hospital and destroy it by fire.
+
+At length the attacks slackened, the firing dwindled and died, and the
+dawn broke, that same dawn which showed to General Lord Chelmsford and
+those with him all the horror of Isandhlwana's field. Here also at
+Rorke's Drift it revealed death and to spare, but for the most part the
+corpses were those of the foe, some four hundred of whom lay lost in
+their last sleep around the burning hospital, in the bush, and beneath
+the walls of corn-sacks; four hundred killed by one hundred and
+thirty-nine white men all told, of whom thirty-five were sick when the
+defence began. The little band had suffered, indeed, for fifteen of
+them were dead, and twelve wounded, some mortally, but seeing what had
+been done the loss was small. Had the Zulus once won an entrance over
+the last entrenchment of biscuit boxes not a man would have remained
+alive. Surely biscuits were never put to a nobler or a stranger use.
+
+The daylight had come and the enemy vanished with the night, retreating
+over a hill to the south-west. But, as the defenders of Rorke's Drift
+guessed, he had no intention of abandoning his attack. Therefore they
+knew that this was no time to be idle. Sallying out of their defences
+they collected the arms of the dead Zulus, then returned, and began to
+strip the roof of the store of its thatch, which was a constant source
+of danger to them, seeing that fire is a deadlier foe even than the
+assegai. They were thus engaged when again the Zulus appeared to make an
+end of them. Once more the weary soldiers took up their positions, and a
+while passed. Now they perceived that the Undi, which had been
+advancing, slowly commenced to fall back, a movement that they were at a
+loss to understand, till a shout from those who were engaged in
+stripping the roof told the glad news that English troops were advancing
+to their relief.
+
+These were the remains of No. 3 column, moving down from Isandhlwana.
+Little did the general and those with him expect to find a soul living
+at Rorke's Drift, for they also had seen the sullen masses of the Undi
+retreating from the post, and the columns of smoke rising from the
+burning hospital confirmed their worst fears. What then was their joy
+when they perceived a Union Jack flying amidst the smoke, and heard the
+ring of a British cheer rising from the shattered walls and the defences
+of sacks of corn! Forward galloped Col. Russell and his mounted men, and
+in five minutes more those who remained of the garrison were safe, and
+the defence of Rorke's Drift was a thing of the past; another glorious
+page ready to be bound into that great book which is called 'The Deeds
+of Englishmen.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Nearly six months passed before all the dead at Isandhlwana were
+reverently buried. Strange were the scenes that those saw whose task it
+was to lay them to their rest. Here, hidden by the rank grass, in one
+heap behind the officers' tents, lay the bodies of some seventy men, who
+had made their last stand at this spot; lower down the hill lay sixty
+more. Another band of about the same strength evidently had taken refuge
+among the rocks of the mountains, and defended themselves there till
+their ammunition was exhausted, and their ring broken by the assegai.
+All about the plain lay Englishmen and Zulus, as they had died in the
+dread struggle:--here side by side, amidst rusted rifles and bent
+assegais, here their bony arms still locked in the last hug of death,
+and yonder the Zulu with the white man's bayonet through his skull, the
+soldier with the Zulu's assegai in what had been his heart. One man was
+found, who, when his cartridges were spent, and his rifle was broken,
+had defended himself to the end with a tent-hammer that lay among his
+bones, and another was stretched beneath the precipice, from the crest
+of which he had been hurled.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Well, they buried them where they were discovered, and there they sleep
+soundly beneath the shadow of Isandhlwana's cliff.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+And now a few words more, and this true story will be finished. We
+conquered the Zulus at last, at a battle called Ulundi, where they
+hurled themselves in vain upon the bullets and bayonets of the British
+square. To the end they fought bravely for their king and country, and
+though they were savages, and, like all savages, cruel when at war, they
+were also gallant enemies, and deserve our respect. The king himself,
+Cetywayo, was hunted down, captured, and sent into captivity.
+Afterwards, there was what is called a 'popular movement' on his behalf
+in England, and he was sent back to Zululand, with permission to rule
+half the country. Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the war, our
+Government would not take the land, and a settlement was effected, under
+which thirteen chiefs were put in authority over the country. As might
+have been expected, these chiefs fought with each other, and many men
+were killed. When Cetywayo returned the fighting became fiercer than
+ever, since those who had tasted power refused to be dispossessed, until
+at last he was finally defeated, and, it is believed, poisoned by his
+own side, to whom he had ceased to be serviceable. Meanwhile also, the
+Dutch Boers, taking advantage of the confusion, occupied a great part of
+Zululand, which they still hold. Indeed, they would long ago have taken
+it all, had not the English government, seeing the great misery to which
+its ever-changing policy had reduced the unhappy Zulus, assumed
+authority over the remainder of the country. From that day forward,
+there has been no more killing or trouble in British Zululand, which is
+ruled by Sir Melmoth Osborn, K.C.M.G., and the Queen has no more
+contented subjects than the Zulus, nor any who pay their taxes with
+greater regularity!
+
+But the Zulus as a nation are dead, and never again will a great Impi,
+such as swept away our troops at Isandhlwana, be seen rushing down to
+war. Their story is but one scene in the vast drama which is being
+enacted in this generation, and which some of you who read these lines
+may live to see, not accomplished, indeed, but in the way of
+accomplishment--the drama of the building up of a great Anglo-Saxon
+empire in Africa--an empire that within the next few centuries may well
+become one of the mightiest in the world. We have made many and many a
+mistake, but still that empire grows; in spite of the errors of the Home
+Government, the obstinacy of the Boers, the power of native chiefs, and
+the hatred of Portuguese, still it grows. Already it is about as big as
+Europe, and it is only a baby yet, a baby begotten by the genius and
+courage of individual Englishmen.
+
+When the child has become a giant--yes, even in those far-off ages when
+it is a very old giant, a king among the nations--we may be sure that,
+from generation to generation, men will show their sons the mountain
+that was called Isandhlwana, or the place of the Little Hand, and a
+certain spot on the banks of the Buffalo River, and tell the tale of how
+beneath that hill the wild Zulus of the ancient times overwhelmed the
+forces of the early English settlers; of how, for a long night through,
+a few men of those forces held two grass-thatched sheds against their
+foe's savage might; and of how some miles away two heroes named Melville
+and Coghill died together whilst striving to save the colours of their
+regiment from the grasp of the victorious 'Children of Heaven.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now it may interest you to know that these last words are written with a
+pen that was found among the bones of the dead at Isandhlwana.
+
+                                                       H. RIDER HAGGARD.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[12] Col. Bromhead died recently.
+
+
+
+
+_HOW LEIF THE LUCKY FOUND VINELAND THE GOOD_
+
+
+THIS is the story of the first finding of America by the Icelanders,
+nearly five hundred years before Columbus. They landed on the coast, and
+stayed for a short time; where they landed is uncertain. Thinking that
+it was in New England, the people of Boston have erected a statue of
+Leif in their town. The story was not written till long after Leif's
+time, and it cannot _all_ be true. Dead men do not return and give
+directions about their burial as we read here. We have omitted a silly
+tale of a one-footed man. In the middle ages, people believed that
+one-footed men lived in Africa; they thought Vineland was near Africa,
+so they brought the fable into the Saga.
+
+Hundreds of years before Columbus discovered America, there lived in
+Iceland a man named Eric the Red. His father had slain a man in Norway,
+and fled with his family to Iceland. Eric, too, was a dangerous man. His
+servants did mischief on the farm of a neighbour, who slew them. Then
+Eric slew the farmer, and also Holmgang Hrafn, a famous duellist, of
+whom the country was well rid. Eric was banished from that place, and,
+in his new home, had a new quarrel. He lent some furniture to a man who
+refused to restore it. Eric, therefore, carried off his goods, and the
+other pursued him. They fought, and Eric killed him. For this he was
+made an outlaw, and went sailing to discover new countries. He found
+one, where he settled, calling it Greenland, because, he said, people
+would come there more readily if it had a good name.
+
+One Thorbiorn, among others, sailed to Greenland, but came in an unlucky
+time, for fish were scarce, and some settlers were drowned. At that day,
+some of the new comers were Christians, some still worshipped the old
+Gods, Thor and Woden, and practised magic. These sent for a prophetess
+to tell them what the end of their new colony would be. It is curious to
+know what a real witch was like, and how she behaved, so we shall copy
+the story from the old Icelandic book.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'When she came in the evening, with the man who had been sent to meet
+her, she was clad in a dark-blue cloak, fastened with a strap, and set
+with stones quite down to the hem. She wore glass beads around her neck,
+and upon her head a black lambskin hood, lined with white catskin. In
+her hands she carried a staff upon which there was a knob, which was
+ornamented with brass, and set with stones up about the knob. Circling
+her waist she wore a girdle of touchwood, and attached to it a great
+skin pouch, in which she kept the charms which she used when she was
+practising her sorcery. She wore upon her feet shaggy calfskin shoes,
+with long, tough latchets, upon the ends of which there were large brass
+buttons. She had catskin gloves upon her hands; the gloves were white
+inside and lined with fur. When she entered, all of the folk felt it to
+be their duty to offer her becoming greetings. She received the
+salutations of each individual according as he pleased her. Yeoman
+Thorkel took the sibyl by the hand, and led her to the seat which had
+been made ready for her. Thorkel bade her run her eyes over man and
+beast and home. She had little to say concerning all these. The tables
+were brought forth in the evening, and it remains to be told what manner
+of food was prepared for the prophetess. A porridge of goat's beestings
+was made for her, and for meat there were dressed the hearts of every
+kind of beast which could be obtained there. She had a brass spoon, and
+a knife with a handle of walrus tusk, with a double hasp of brass around
+the haft, and from this the point was broken. And when the tables were
+removed, Yeoman Thorkel approaches the prophetess Thorbiorg, and asks
+how she is pleased with the home, and the character of the folk, and how
+speedily she would be likely to become aware of that concerning which he
+had questioned her, and which the people were anxious to know. She
+replied that she could not give an opinion in this matter before the
+morrow, after that she had slept there through the night. And on the
+morrow, when the day was far spent, such preparations were made as were
+necessary to enable her to accomplish her soothsaying. She bade them
+bring her those women who knew the incantation which she required to
+work her spells, and which she called Warlocks; but such women were not
+to be found. Thereupon a search was made throughout the house, to see
+whether anyone knew this [incantation]. Then says Gudrid, Thorbiorn's
+daughter: "Although I am neither skilled in the black art nor a sibyl,
+yet my foster-mother, Halldis, taught me in Iceland that spell-song,
+which she called Warlocks." Thorbiorg answered: "Then art thou wise in
+season!" Gudrid replies; "This is an incantation and ceremony of such a
+kind that I do not mean to lend it any aid, for that I am a Christian
+woman." Thorbiorg answers: "It might so be that thou couldst give thy
+help to the company here, and still be no worse woman than before;
+however, I leave it with Thorkel to provide for my needs." Thorkel now
+so urged Gudrid that she said she must needs comply with his wishes. The
+women then made a ring round about, while Thorbiorg sat up on the
+spell-dais. Gudrid then sang the song, so sweet and well, that no one
+remembered ever before to have heard the melody sung with so fair a
+voice as this. The sorceress thanked her for the song, and said: "She
+has indeed lured many spirits hither, who think it pleasant to hear
+this song, those who were wont to forsake us hitherto and refuse to
+submit themselves to us. Many things are now revealed to me, which
+hitherto have been hidden, both from me and from others. And I am able
+to announce that this period of famine will not endure longer, but the
+season will mend as spring approaches. The visitation of disease, which
+has been so long upon you, will disappear sooner than expected."'
+
+After this, Thorbiorn sailed to the part of Greenland where Eric the Red
+lived, and there was received with open arms. Eric had two sons, one
+called Thorstein, the other Leif the Lucky, and it was Leif who
+afterwards discovered Vineland the Good, that is, the coast of America,
+somewhere between Nova Scotia and New England. He found it by accident.
+He had been in Norway, at the court of king Olaf, who bade him proclaim
+Christianity in Greenland. As he was sailing thither, Leif was driven by
+tempests out of his course, and came upon coasts which he had never
+heard of, where wild vines grew, and hence he called that shore Vineland
+the Good. The vine did not grow, of course, in Iceland. But Leif had
+with him a German Tyrker, and one day, when they were on shore, Tyrker
+was late in joining the rest. He was very much excited, and spoke in the
+German tongue, saying 'I have found something new, vines and grapes.'
+Then they filled their boat full of grapes, and sailed away. He also
+brought away some men from a wreck, and with these, and the message of
+the Gospel, he sailed back to Greenland, to his father, Eric the Red,
+and from that day he was named Leif the Lucky. But Eric had no great
+mind to become a Christian, he had been born to believe in Thor and his
+own sword.
+
+Next year Leif's brother, Thorstein, set out to find Vineland, and Eric,
+first burying all his treasures, started with him, but he fell from his
+horse, and broke his ribs, and his company came within sight of Ireland,
+but Vineland they did not see, so they returned to Ericsfirth in
+Greenland, and there passed the winter.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There was much sickness, and one woman died. After her death she rose,
+and they could only lay her by holding an axe before her breast.
+Thorstein, Eric's son, died also, but in the night he arose again and
+said that Christian burial should be given to men in consecrated ground.
+For the manner had been to bury the dead in their farms with a long pole
+driven through the earth till it touched the breast of the corpse.
+Afterwards the priest came, and poured holy water through the hole, and
+not till then, perhaps long after the death, was the funeral service
+held. After Thorstein rose and spoke, Christian burial was always used
+in Greenland. Next year came Karlsefni from Iceland, with two ships, and
+Eric received him kindly, and gave all his crew winter quarters. In
+summer nothing would serve Karlsefni but to search again for Vineland
+the Good. They took three ships and one hundred and sixty men, and south
+they sailed. They passed Flat Stone Land, where there were white foxes,
+and Bear Island, where they saw a bear, and Forest Land, and a cape
+where they found the keel of a wrecked ship, this they named Keelness.
+Then they reached the Wonder Strands, long expanses of sandy shore. Now
+Karlsefni had with him two Scotch or Irish savages, the swiftest of all
+runners, whom King Olaf had given to Leif the Lucky, and they were
+fleeter-footed than deer. They wore only a plaid and kilt all in one
+piece, for the rest they were naked. Karlsefni landed them south of
+Wonder Strands, and bade them run south and return on the third day to
+report about the country. When they returned one carried a bunch of
+grapes, the other ears of native wheat (maize?). Then they sailed on,
+passed an isle covered with birds' eggs, and a firth, which they called
+Streamfirth, from the tide in it.
+
+Beyond Streamfirth they landed and established themselves there.
+
+'There were mountains thereabouts. They occupied themselves exclusively
+with the exploration of the country. They remained there during the
+winter, and they had taken no thought for this during the summer. The
+fishing began to fail, and they began to fall short of food. Then
+Thorhall the Huntsman disappeared. They had already prayed to God for
+food, but it did not come as promptly as their necessities seemed to
+demand. They searched for Thorhall for three half-days, and found him on
+a projecting crag. He was lying there, and looking up at the sky, with
+mouth and nostrils agape, and mumbling something. They asked him why he
+had gone thither; he replied, that this did not concern anyone. They
+asked him then to go home with them, and he did so. Soon after this a
+whale appeared there, and they captured it, and flensed it, and no one
+could tell what manner of whale it was; and when the cooks had prepared
+it, they ate of it, and were all made ill by it. Then Thorhall,
+approaching them, says: "Did not the Red-beard (that is, Thor) prove
+more helpful than your Christ? This is my reward for the verses which I
+composed to Thor the Trustworthy; seldom has he failed me." When the
+people heard this, they cast the whale down into the sea, and made their
+appeals to God. The weather then improved, and they could now row out to
+fish, and thenceforward they had no lack of provisions, for they could
+hunt game on the land, gather eggs on the island, and catch fish from
+the sea.'
+
+Next spring Thorhall the heathen left them, laughing at the wine which
+he had been promised, and sailed north. He and his crew were driven to
+Ireland, where they were captured and sold as slaves, and that was all
+Thorhall got by worshipping the Red Beard. Karlsefni sailed south and
+reached a rich country of wild maize, where also was plenty of fish and
+of game. Here they first met the natives, who came in a fleet of
+skin-canoes. 'They were swarthy men and ill-looking, and the hair of
+their heads was ugly. They had great eyes and were broad of cheek.'
+
+The Icelanders held up a white shield in sign of peace, and the natives
+withdrew. They may have been Eskimo or Red Indians.
+
+The winter was mild and open, but spring had scarce returned, when the
+bay was as full of native canoes 'as if ashes had been sprinkled over
+it.' They only came to trade and exchanged furs for red cloth, nor did
+they seem to care whether they got a broad piece of cloth or a narrow
+one. They also wanted weapons, but these Karlsefni refused to sell. The
+market was going on busily when a bull that Karlsefni had brought from
+Greenland came out of the wood and began to bellow, whereon the
+Skraelings (as they called the natives) ran! Three weeks passed when the
+Skraelings returned in very great force, waving their clubs _against_
+the course of the sun, whereas in peace they waved them with it.
+Karlsefni showed a red shield, the token of war, and fighting began. It
+is not easy to make out what happened, for there are two sagas, or
+stories of these events, both written down long after they occurred. In
+one we read that the Skraelings were good slingers, and also that they
+used a machine which reminds one rather of gunpowder than of anything
+else. They swung from a pole a great black ball, and it made a fearful
+noise when it fell among Karlsefni's men. So frightened were they that
+they saw Skraelings where there were none, and they were only rallied by
+the courage of a woman named Freydis, who seized a dead man's sword and
+faced the Skraelings, beating her bare breast with the flat of the
+blade. On this the Skraelings ran to their canoes and paddled away. In
+the other account Karlsefni had fortified his house with a palisade,
+behind which the women waited. To one of them, Gudrid, the appearance of
+a white woman came; her hair was of a light chestnut colour, she was
+pale and had very large eyes. 'What is thy name?' she said to Gudrid.
+'My name is Gudrid; but what is thine?' 'Gudrid!' says the strange
+woman. Then came the sound of a great crash and the woman vanished. A
+battle followed in which many Skraelings were slain.
+
+It all reads like a dream. In the end Karlsefni sailed back to
+Ericsfirth with a great treasure of furs. A great and prosperous family
+in Iceland was descended from him at the time when the stories were
+written down. But it is said that Freydis who frightened the Skraelings
+committed many murders in Vineland among her own people.
+
+The Icelanders never returned to Vineland the Good, though a bishop
+named Eric is said to have started for the country in 1121. Now, in the
+story of Cortes, you may read how the Mexicans believed in a God called
+Quetzalcoatl, a white man in appearance, who dwelt among them and
+departed mysteriously, saying that he would come again, and they at
+first took Cortes and his men for the children of Quetzalcoatl. So we
+may fancy if we please that Bishop Eric, or one of his descendants,
+wandered from Vineland south and west across the continent and arrived
+among the Aztecs, and by them was taken for a God.[13]
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[13] The story is taken from the Saga of Eric the Red, and from the
+Flatey Book in Mr. Reeves's _Finding of Wineland the Good_ (Clarendon
+Press, 1890). The discovery of Vineland was made about the year 1000.
+The saga of Eric the Red was written about 1300-1334, but two hundred
+years before, about 1134, Ari the learned mentions Vineland as quite
+familiar in his _Islandingabok_. There are other traces of Vineland,
+earlier than the manuscript of the Saga of Eric the Red. Of course we do
+not know when that saga was first written down. The oldest extant
+manuscript of it belonged to one Hauk, who died in 1334.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ESCAPES OF CERVANTES_
+
+
+MOST people know of the terrible war, waged even down to the present
+century, between the Christian ships cruising about the Mediterranean
+and the dreaded Moors or Corsairs of the Barbary Coast. It was a war
+that began in the name of religion, the Crescent against the Cross; but,
+as far as we can learn from the records of both sides, there was little
+to choose in the way that either party treated the captives. A large
+number of these were chained to the oars of the galleys which were the
+ships of battle of the middle ages, and sometimes the oars were so long
+and heavy that they needed forty men to each. The rowers had food enough
+to give them the strength necessary for their work, and that was all,
+and the knowledge that they were exerting themselves for the downfall of
+their fellow-Christians, often of their fellow-countrymen, must have
+made their labour a toil indeed. Often it happened that a man's courage
+gave way and he denied his faith and his country, and rose to great
+honours in the service of the Sultan, the chief of the little kings who
+swarmed on the African coasts. The records of the Corsairs bristle with
+examples of these successful renegades, many of them captured as boys,
+who were careless under what flag they served, as long as their lives
+were lives of adventure.
+
+All the captives were not, however, turned into galley slaves. Some were
+taken to the towns and kept in prisons called _bagnios_, waiting till
+their friends sent money to redeem them. If this was delayed, they were
+set to public works, and treated with great severity, so that their
+letters imploring deliverance might become yet more urgent. The others,
+known as the king's captives, whose ransom might be promptly expected,
+did no work and were kept apart from the rest.
+
+It was on September 26, 1575, that Miguel Cervantes, the future author
+of 'Don Quixote,' fell into the hands of a Greek renegade Dali Mami by
+name, captain of a galley of twenty-two banks of oars. Cervantes, the
+son of a poor but well-descended gentleman of Castile, had served with
+great distinction under Don John of Austria at the battle of Lepanto
+four years earlier, and was now returning with his brother Rodrigo to
+Spain on leave, bearing with him letters from the commander-in-chief,
+Don John, the Duke of Sesa, Viceroy of Sicily, and other distinguished
+men, testifying to his qualities as a soldier, 'as valiant as he was
+unlucky,' and recommending Philip II. to give him the command of a
+Spanish company then being formed for Italian service. But all these
+honours proved his bane. The Spanish squadron had not sailed many days
+from Naples when it encountered a Corsair fleet, and after a sharp fight
+Cervantes and his friends were carried captive into Algiers.
+
+Of course the first thing done was to examine each man as to his
+position in life, and the amount of ransom he might be expected to
+bring, and the letters found upon Miguel Cervantes impressed them with
+the notion that he was a person of consequence, and capable of
+furnishing a large sum of money. They therefore took every means of
+ensuring his safety, loading him with chains, appointing him guards, and
+watching him day and night.
+
+          'Stone walls do not a prison make,
+          Nor iron bars a cage.'
+
+Cervantes never lost heart a moment, but at once began to plan an escape
+for himself and his fellow-captives. But the scheme broke down owing to
+the treachery of the man in whom he had confided, and the Spaniards,
+particularly Cervantes, were made to suffer a stricter confinement than
+before. The following year the old Cervantes sent over what money he had
+been able to raise on his own property and his daughters' marriage
+portions for the ransom of his sons, by the hands of the Redemptorist
+Fathers, an Order which had been founded for the sole purpose of
+carrying on this charitable work. But when the sum was offered to Dali
+Mami he declared it wholly insufficient for purchasing the freedom of
+such a captive, though it was considered adequate as the ransom of the
+younger brother Rodrigo. Accordingly, in August 1577, Rodrigo Cervantes
+set sail for Spain, bearing secret orders from his brother Miguel to fit
+out an armed frigate, and to send it by way of Valencia and Majorca to
+rescue himself and his friends.
+
+But even before the departure of Rodrigo, Cervantes had been laying
+other plans. He had, somehow or other, managed to make acquaintance
+with the Navarrese gardener of a Greek renegade named Azan, who had a
+garden stretching down to the sea-shore, about three miles east of
+Algiers, where Cervantes was then imprisoned. This gardener had
+contrived to use a cave in Azan's garden as a hiding place for some
+escaped Christians, and as far back as February 1577 about fifteen had
+taken refuge there, under the direction of Cervantes. How they remained
+for so many months undiscovered, and how they were all fed, no one can
+tell; but this part of the duty had been undertaken by a captive
+renegade called El Dorador, or the Gilder, to whom their secret had been
+confided.
+
+Meanwhile, Rodrigo had proved faithful to his trust. He had equipped a
+frigate for sea, under the command of a tried soldier, Viana by name,
+who was familiar with the Barbary coast. It set sail at the end of
+September, and by the 28th had sighted Algiers. From motives of prudence
+the boat kept to sea till nightfall, when it silently approached the
+shore. The captives hailed it with joy, and were in the act of
+embarking, when a fishing craft full of Moors passed by, and the rescue
+vessel was forced to put to sea. Meanwhile, Cervantes and the fugitives
+in the cave had to return disheartened into hiding, and await another
+opportunity.
+
+But once lost, the opportunity was gone for ever. Before any fresh
+scheme could be concerted, El Dorador had betrayed the hiding place of
+the Christians and their plan of escape to the cruel Dey or King Azan,
+who saw in the information a means to satisfy his greed. According to
+the law of the country, he was enabled to claim the escaped slaves as
+his own property (except Cervantes, for whom he paid 500 crowns), and
+with a company of armed men presented himself before the cave.
+
+In this dreadful strait Cervantes' courage never faltered. He told the
+trembling captives not to fear, as he would take upon himself the entire
+responsibility of the plan. Then, addressing Azan's force, he proclaimed
+himself the sole contriver of the scheme, and professed his willingness
+to bear the punishment. The Turks were struck dumb at valour such as
+this, in the presence of the most dreadful torments, and contented
+themselves with ordering the captives into close confinement at the
+bagnio, hanging the gardener, and bringing Cervantes bound to receive
+his sentence from the Dey Azan himself.
+
+The threats of impalement, torture, mutilation of every kind, which
+Cervantes well knew to be no mere threats, had no effect upon his
+faithful soul. He stuck to the story he had told, and the Dey, 'wearied
+by so much constancy,' as the Spanish historian says, ended by loading
+him with chains, and throwing him again into prison.
+
+For some time he remained here, strictly and closely guarded, but his
+mind always active as to plans of escape. At last, however, he managed
+to enter into relations with Don Martin de Cordoba, General of Oran, by
+means of a Moor, who undertook to convey letters asking for help for the
+Spanish prisoners. But his ill fortune had not yet deserted him. The
+messenger fell into the hands of other Moors, who handed him over to
+Azan, and the wretched man was at once put to a cruel death by the Dey's
+orders. Curiously enough, the sentence of 2,000 lashes passed upon
+Cervantes was never carried into effect.
+
+Disappointments and dangers only made Cervantes more determined to free
+himself or die in the attempt; but nearly two years dragged by before he
+saw another hope rise before him, though he did everything he could in
+the interval to soothe the wretched lot of his fellow-captives. This
+time his object was to induce two Valencia merchants of Algiers to buy
+an armed frigate, destined to carry Cervantes and a large number of
+Christians back to Spain, but at the last minute they were again
+betrayed, this time by a countryman, and again Cervantes took the blame
+on his own shoulders, and confessed nothing to the Dey.
+
+Now it seemed indeed as if his last moment had come. His hands were tied
+behind him, and a cord was put round his neck; but Cervantes never
+swerved from the tale he had resolved to tell, and at the close of the
+interview found himself within the walls of a Moorish prison, where he
+lay for five months loaded with fetters and chains, and treated with
+every kind of severity, though never with actual cruelty.
+
+All this time his mind was busy with a fresh scheme, nothing short of a
+concerted insurrection of all the captives in Algiers, numbering about
+25,000, who were to overpower the city, and to plant the Spanish flag on
+its towers. His measures seem to have been taken with sufficient
+prudence and foresight to give them a fair chance of success, bold as
+the idea was, but treachery as usual caused the downfall of everything.
+Why, under such repeated provocation, the cruel Azan Aga did not put him
+to a frightful death it is hard to understand, but in his 'Captive's
+Story,' Cervantes himself bears testimony to the comparative moderation
+of the Dey's behaviour towards him. 'Though suffering,' he says,
+'often, if not indeed always, from hunger and thirst, the worst of all
+our miseries was the sight and sound of the tortures daily inflicted by
+our master on our fellow-Christians. Every day he hanged one, impaled
+another, cut off the ears of a third; and all this for so little reason,
+or even for none at all, that the very Turks knew he did it for the mere
+pleasure of doing it; and because to him cruelty was the natural
+employment of mankind. Only one man did he use well, and that was a
+Spanish soldier, named Saavedra, and though this Saavedra had struck
+blows for liberty which will be remembered by Moors for many years to
+come, yet Azan never either gave him stripes himself, nor ordered his
+servants to do so, neither did he ever throw him an evil word; while we
+trembled lest for the smallest of his offences the tyrant would have him
+impaled, and more than once he himself expected it.' This
+straightforward account of matters inside the bagnio is the more
+valuable and interesting if we recollect that Cervantes'
+great-grandmother was a Saavedra, and that the soldier alluded to in the
+text was really himself. It is impossible to explain satisfactorily the
+sheathing of the tiger's claws on his account alone; did Cervantes
+exercise unconsciously a mesmeric influence over Azan? Did Azan ascribe
+his captive's defiance of death and worse than death to his bearing a
+charmed life? Or did he hold him to be a man of such consequence in his
+own country, that it was well to keep him in as good condition as Azan's
+greed would permit? We shall never know; only there remains Cervantes'
+emphatic declaration that during the five long years of his captivity no
+man's hand was ever lifted against him.
+
+Meanwhile, having no more money wherewith to ransom his son, Rodrigo de
+Cervantes made a declaration of his poverty before a court of law, and
+set forth Miguel's services and claims. In March 1578, the old man's
+prayer was enforced by the appearance of four witnesses who had known
+him both in the Levant and in Algiers and could testify to the truth of
+his father's statement, and a certificate of such facts as were within
+his knowledge being willingly offered by the Duke of Sesa, the King,
+Philip II., consented to furnish the necessary ransom.
+
+But the ill-fortune which had attended Cervantes in these past years
+seemed to stick to him now. Just when the negotiations were drawing to a
+conclusion, his father suddenly died, and it appeared as if the
+expedition of the Redemptorist Fathers would sail without him. However,
+his mother was happily a woman of energy, and after managing somehow to
+raise three hundred ducats on her own possessions, appealed to the King
+for help. This he appears to have granted her at once, and he gave her
+an order for 2,000 ducats on some Valencia merchandise; but with their
+usual bad luck they only ultimately succeeded in obtaining about sixty,
+which with her own three hundred were placed in the hands of the
+Redemptorist Fathers.
+
+It was time: the fact that the term of Azan's government of Algiers had
+drawn to an end rendered him more than ever greedy for money, and he
+demanded for Cervantes double the price that he himself had paid, and
+threatened, if this was not forthcoming, to carry his captive on board
+his own vessel, which was bound for Constantinople. Indeed, this threat
+was actually put into effect, and Cervantes, bound and loaded with
+chains, was placed in a ship of the little squadron that was destined
+for Turkish waters. The good father felt that once in Constantinople,
+Cervantes would probably remain a prisoner to the end of his life, and
+made unheard of efforts to accomplish his release, borrowing the money
+that was still lacking from some Algerian merchants, and even using the
+ransoms that had been entrusted to him for other captives. Then at last
+Cervantes was set free, and after five years was able to go where he
+would and return to his native country.
+
+His work however was not yet done. He somehow discovered that a Spaniard
+named Blanco de Paz, who had once before betrayed him, was determined,
+through jealousy, to have him arrested the moment he set foot in Spain,
+and to this end had procured a mass of false evidence respecting his
+conduct in Algiers. It is not easy to see what Cervantes could have done
+to incur the hatred of this man, but about this he did not trouble
+himself to inquire, and set instantly to consider the best way of
+bringing his schemes to naught. He entreated his friend, Father Gil, to
+be present at an interview held before the notary Pedro de Ribera, at
+which a number of respectable Christians appeared to answer a paper of
+twenty-five questions, propounded by Cervantes himself, as to the
+principal events of his five years of imprisonment, and his treatment of
+his fellow-captives. Armed with this evidence, he was able to defy the
+traitor, and to return in honour to his native land.
+
+With the rest of his life we have nothing to do. It was not, we may be
+sure, lacking in adventure, for he was the kind of man to whom
+adventures come, and as his inheritance was all gone, he went back to
+his old trade, and joined the army which Philip was assembling to
+enforce his claim to the crown of Portugal. In this country as in all
+others to which his wandering life had led him, he made many friends and
+took notice of what went on around him. He was in all respects a man
+practical and vigorous, in many ways the exact opposite of his own Don
+Quixote, who saw everything enlarged and glorified and nothing as it
+really was, but in other ways the true counterpart of his hero in his
+desire to give help and comfort wherever it was needed, and to leave the
+world better than he found it.
+
+
+
+
+_THE WORTHY ENTERPRISE OF JOHN FOXE, AN ENGLISHMAN, IN DELIVERING TWO
+HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX CHRISTIANS OUT OF THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TURKS AT
+ALEXANDRIA, JANUARY 3, 1577_
+
+
+AMONG our English merchants it is a common thing to traffic with Spain,
+for which purpose, in 1563, there set out from Portsmouth a ship called
+the 'Three Half Moons,' with thirty-eight men on board, and well armed,
+the better to encounter any foes they might meet. Now, drawing near the
+Straits, they found themselves beset by eight Turkish galleys, so that
+it was impossible for them to fly, but they must either yield or be
+sunk. This the owner perceiving, manfully encouraged his company,
+telling them not to faint in seeing such a heap of their foes ready to
+devour them; putting them in mind also that if it were God's pleasure to
+give them into their enemies' hands, there ought not to be one
+unpleasant look among them, but they must take it patiently; putting
+them in mind also of the ancient worthiness of their countrymen, who in
+the hardest extremities have always most prevailed. With other such
+encouragement they all fell on their knees, making their prayers briefly
+to God.
+
+Then stood up Grove, the master, being a comely man, with his sword and
+target, holding them up in defiance against his enemies. Likewise stood
+up the owner, boatswain, purser, and every man well armed. Now also
+sounded up the trumpets, drums, and flutes, which would have encouraged
+any man, however little heart he had in him.
+
+Then John Foxe, the gunner, took him to his charge, sending his bullets
+among the Turks, who likewise fired among the Christians, and thrice as
+fast. But shortly they drew near, so that the English bowmen fell to
+shooting so terribly among their galleys that there were twice as many
+of the Turks slain as the whole number of the Christians. But the Turks
+discharged twice as fast against the Christians, and so long that the
+ship was very sorely battered and bruised, which the foe perceiving,
+made the more haste to come aboard. For this coming aboard many a Turk
+paid dearly with his life, but it was all in vain, and board they did,
+where they found a hot skirmish. For the Englishmen showed themselves
+men indeed, and the boatswain was valiant above the rest, for he fought
+among the Turks like a mad lion, and there was none of them that could
+stand in his face; till at last there came a shot that struck him in the
+breast, so that he fell down, bidding them farewell, and to be of good
+comfort, and exhorting them rather to win praise by death than to live
+in captivity and shame. This, they hearing, indeed intended to have
+done, but the number and press of the Turks was so great that they could
+not wield their weapons, and so were taken, when they intended rather to
+have died, except only the master's mate, who shrank from the fight like
+a notable coward.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But so it was, and the Turks were victors, though they had little cause
+of triumph. Then it would have grieved any hard heart to see these
+infidels wantonly ill-treating the Christians, who were no sooner in
+the galleys than their garments were torn from their backs, and they set
+to the oars.
+
+I will make no mention of their miseries, being now under their enemies'
+raging stripes, their bodies distressed with too much heat, and also
+with too much cold; but I will rather show the deliverance of those who,
+being in great misery, continually trust in God, with a steadfast hope
+that He will deliver them.
+
+Near the city of Alexandria, being a harbour, there is a ship-road, very
+well defended by strong walls, into which the Turks are accustomed to
+bring their galleys every winter, and there repair them and lay them up
+against the spring. In this road there is a prison, in which the
+captives and all those prisoners who serve in the galleys are confined
+till the sea be calm again for voyaging, every prisoner being most
+grievously laden with irons on his legs, giving him great pain. Into
+this prison all these Christians were put, and fast guarded all the
+winter, and every winter. As time passed the master and the owner were
+redeemed by friends; but the rest were left in misery, and
+half-starved--except John Foxe, who being a somewhat skilful barber,
+made shift now and then, by means of his craft, to help out his fare
+with a good meal. Till at last God sent him favour in the sight of the
+keeper of the prison, so that he had leave to go in and out to the road,
+paying a stipend to the keeper, and wearing a lock about his leg. This
+liberty six more had, on the same conditions; for after their long
+imprisonment, it was not feared that they would work any mischief
+against the Turks.
+
+In the winter of the year 1577, all the galleys having reached port, and
+their masters and mariners being at their own homes, the ships
+themselves being stripped of their masts and sails, there were in the
+prison two hundred and sixty-eight Christian captives, belonging to
+sixteen different nations. Among these were three Englishmen, one of
+them John Foxe, the others William Wickney and Robert Moore. And John
+Foxe, now having been thirteen or fourteen years under the bondage of
+the Turks, and being weary thereof, pondered continually, day and night,
+how he might escape, never ceasing to pray God to further his
+enterprise, if it should be to His glory.
+
+Not far from the road, at one side of the city, there was a certain
+victualling-house, which one Peter Unticare had hired, paying a fee to
+the keeper of the prison. This Peter Unticare was a Spaniard, and also a
+Christian, and had been a prisoner about thirty years, never contriving
+any means to escape, but keeping himself quiet without being suspected
+of conspiracy. But on the coming of John Foxe they disclosed their minds
+to each other about their loss of liberty; and to this Unticare John
+Foxe confided a plan for regaining their freedom, which plan the three
+Englishmen continually brooded over, till they resolved to acquaint five
+more prisoners with their secret. This being done, they arranged in
+three more days to make their attempt at escape. Whereupon John Foxe,
+and Peter Unticare, and the other six arranged to meet in the prison on
+the last day of December, and there they told the rest of the prisoners
+what their intention was, and how they hoped to bring it to pass. And
+having, without much ado, persuaded all to agree, John Foxe gave them a
+kind of files, which he had hoarded together by means of Peter Unticare,
+charging them every man to be free of his fetters by eight o'clock on
+the following night.
+
+The next night John Foxe and his six companions, all having met at the
+house of Peter Unticare, spent the evening mirthfully for fear of
+rousing suspicion, till it was time for them to put their scheme into
+execution. Then they sent Peter Unticare to the master of the road, in
+the name of one of the masters of the city, with whom he was well
+acquainted, and at the mention of whose name he was likely to come at
+once, desiring him to meet him there, and promising to bring him back
+again.
+
+The keeper agreed to go with Unticare, telling the warders not to bar
+the gate, for he would come again with all speed. In the meantime the
+other seven had provided themselves with all the weapons they could find
+in the house, and John Foxe took a rusty old sword without a hilt, which
+he managed to make serve by bending the hand end of the sword instead of
+a hilt.
+
+Now the keeper being come to the house, and seeing no light nor hearing
+any noise, straightway suspected the plot, and was turning back. But
+John Foxe, standing behind the corner of the house, stepped forth to
+him. He perceiving it to be John Foxe, said: 'O Foxe! what have I
+deserved of thee that thou shouldest seek my death?'
+
+'Thou, villain,' quoth Foxe, 'hast been a blood-sucker of many a
+Christian's blood, and now thou shalt know what thou hast deserved at my
+hands!'
+
+Therewith he lifted up his bright shining sword, cleared of its ten
+years' rust, and struck him so strong a blow that his head was cleft
+asunder, and he fell stark dead to the ground. Thereupon Peter Unticare
+went in and told the rest how it was with the keeper, and at once they
+came forth, and with their weapons ran him through and cut off his head,
+so that no man should know who he was.
+
+Then they marched towards the road, and entered it softly. There were
+six warders guarding it, and one of them asked who was there. Then quoth
+Foxe and his company, 'All friends!'
+
+But when they were within it proved contrary, for, quoth Foxe to his
+companions:
+
+'My masters, here there is not a man to a man, so look you play your
+parts!' They so behaved themselves indeed that they had despatched those
+six quickly. Then John Foxe, intending not to be thwarted in his
+enterprise, barred the gate surely, and planted a cannon against it.
+
+They entered the gaoler's lodge, where they found the keys of the
+fortress and prison by his bedside, and then they all got better
+weapons. In this chamber was a chest holding a great treasure, all in
+ducats, which Peter Unticare and two more stuffed into their garments,
+as many as they could carry. But Foxe would not touch them, saying that
+it was his liberty and theirs he sought, and not to make a spoil of the
+wicked treasure of the infidels. Yet these words did not sink into their
+hearts, though they had no good of their gain.
+
+Now, having provided themselves with the weapons they needed, they came
+to the prison, and unlocked its gates and doors, and called forth all
+the prisoners, whom they employed, some in ramming up the gate, some in
+fitting up a galley which was the best in the road.
+
+In the prison were several warders, whom John Foxe and his company slew;
+but this was perceived by eight more Turks, who fled to the top of the
+prison, where Foxe and his company had to reach them by ladders. Then
+followed a hot skirmish, and John Foxe was shot thrice through his
+apparel, without being hurt; but Peter Unticare and the other two, who
+had weighed themselves down with the ducats so that they could not
+manage their weapons, were slain.
+
+Among the Turks there was one thrust through who fell from the top of
+the prison wall, and made such a crying out that the inhabitants of a
+house or two that stood near came and questioned him, and soon
+understood the case--how the prisoners were attempting to escape. Then
+they raised both Alexandria on the west side of the road, and a castle
+at the end of the city next to the road, and also another fortress on
+the north side of the road. And now the prisoners had no way to escape
+but one that might seem impossible for them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then every man set to work, some to their tackling, some carrying arms
+and provisions into the galley, some keeping the enemy from the wall of
+the road. To be short, there was no man idle, nor any labour spent in
+vain; so that presently the galley was ready, and into it they all
+leaped hastily, and hoisted sail.
+
+But when the galley had set sail, and was past the shelter of the road,
+the two castles had full power over it, and what could save it from
+sinking? The cannon let fly from both sides, and it was between them
+both.
+
+Yet there was not one on board that feared the shot that came thundering
+about their ears, nor yet was any man scarred or touched. For now God
+held forth His buckler and shielded this galley, having tried their
+faith to the uttermost. And they sailed away, being not once touched
+with the glance of a shot, and were presently out of the reach of the
+Turkish cannon. Then might you see the Turks coming down to the
+waterside, in companies like swarms of bees, trying to make ready their
+galleys--which would have been a quick piece of work, seeing that they
+had in them neither oars, nor sails, nor anything else. Yet they carried
+them in, but some into one galley, some into another, for there was much
+confusion among them; and the sea being rough, and they having no
+certain guide, it was a thing impossible that they should overtake the
+prisoners. For they had neither pilot, mariners, nor any skilful master
+that was ready at this pinch.
+
+When the Christians were safe out of the enemy's coast, John Foxe called
+to them all, telling them to fall down upon their knees, thanking God
+for their delivery, and beseeching Him to aid them to the land of their
+friends. Then they fell straightway to labouring at the oars, striving
+to come to some Christian country, as near as they could guess by the
+stars. But the winds were so contrary, now driving them this way, now
+that, that they were bewildered, thinking that God had forsaken them and
+left them to yet greater danger. And soon there were no victuals left in
+the galley; and the famine grew to be so great that in twenty-eight days
+there had died eight persons.
+
+But it fell out that upon the twenty-ninth day, they reached the Isle of
+Candy, and landed at Gallipoli, where they were made much of by the
+Abbot and monks, and cared for and refreshed. They kept there the sword
+with which John Foxe had killed the keeper, esteeming it a most precious
+jewel.
+
+Then they sailed along the cost to Tarento, where they sold the galley,
+and went on foot to Naples, having divided the price. But at Naples they
+parted asunder, going every man his own way, and John Foxe journeyed to
+Rome, where he was well entertained by an Englishman and presented to
+the Pope, who rewarded him liberally and gave him letters to the King of
+Spain. And by the King of Spain also he was well entertained, and
+granted twenty pence a day. Thence, desiring to return into his own
+country, he departed in 1579, and being come into England, he went into
+the Court, and told all his travel to the Council, who, considering that
+he had spent a great part of his youth in thraldom, extended to him
+their liberality, to help to maintain him in age--to their own honour
+and the encouragement of all true-hearted Christians.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_BARON TRENCK_
+
+
+MOST men who have escaped from prison owe their fame, not to their
+flight, but to the deeds which caused their imprisonment. It may,
+however, safely be asserted that few people out of his own country would
+have heard of Baron Trenck had it not been for the wonderful skill and
+cunning with which he managed to cut through the 'stone walls' and 'iron
+bars' of all his many 'cages.' He was born at Koenigsberg in Prussia in
+1726, and entered the body-guard of Frederic II. in 1742, when he was
+about sixteen. Trenck was a young man of good family, rich,
+well-educated, and, according to his own account, fond of amusement. He
+confesses to having shirked his duties more than once for the sake of
+some pleasure, even after the War of the Austrian Succession had broken
+out (September 1744), and Frederic, strict though he was, had forgiven
+him. It is plain from this, that the King must have considered that
+Trenck had been guilty of some deadly treachery towards him, when in
+after years he declined to pardon him for crimes which after all the
+young man had never committed.
+
+Trenck's first confinement was in 1746, when he was thrown into the
+Castle of Glatz, on a charge of corresponding with his cousin and
+namesake, who was in the service of the Empress Maria Theresa, and of
+being an Austrian spy. At first he was kindly treated and allowed to
+walk freely about the fortifications, and he took advantage of the
+liberty given him to arrange a plan of escape with one of his
+fellow-prisoners. The plot was, however, betrayed by the other man, and
+a heavy punishment fell on Trenck. By the King's orders, he was promptly
+deprived of all his privileges, and placed in a cell in one of the
+towers, which overlooked the ramparts lying ninety feet below, on the
+side nearest the town. This added a fresh difficulty to his chances of
+escape, as, in passing from the castle to the town, he was certain to be
+seen by many people. But no obstacles mattered to Trenck. He had money,
+and then, as now, money could do a great deal. So he began by bribing
+one of the officials about the prison, and the official in his turn
+bribed a soap-boiler, who lived not far from the castle gates, and
+promised to conceal Trenck somewhere in his house. Still, liberty must
+have seemed a long way off, for Trenck had only one little knife
+(_canif_) with which to cut through everything. By dint of incessant and
+hard work, he managed to saw through three thick steel bars, but even
+so, there were eight others left to do. His friend the official then
+procured him a file, but he was obliged to use it with great care, lest
+the scraping sound should be heard by his guards. Perhaps they wilfully
+closed their ears, for many of them were sorry for Trenck; but, at all
+events, the eleven bars were at last sawn through, and all that remained
+was to make a rope ladder. This he did by tearing his leather
+portmanteau into strips, and plaiting them into a rope, and as this was
+not long enough, he added his sheets. The night was dark and rainy,
+which favoured him, and he reached the bottom of the rampart in safety.
+Unluckily, he met here with an obstacle on which he had never counted.
+There was a large drain, opening into one of the trenches, which Trenck
+had neither seen nor heard of, and into this he fell. In spite of his
+struggles, he was held fast, and his strength being at last exhausted,
+he was forced to call the sentinel, and at midday, having been left in
+the drain for hours to make sport for the town, he was carried back to
+his cell.
+
+Henceforth he was still more strictly watched than before, though,
+curiously enough, his money never seems to have been taken from him, and
+at this time he had about eighty louis left, which he always kept hidden
+about him. Eight days after his last attempt, Fouquet, the commandant of
+Glatz, who hated Trenck and all his family, sent a deputation consisting
+of the adjutant, an officer, and a certain Major Doo, to speak to the
+unfortunate man, and exhort him to patience and submission. Trenck
+entered into conversation with them for the purpose of throwing them off
+their guard, when suddenly he snatched away Doo's sword, rushed from his
+cell, knocked down the sentinel and lieutenant who were standing
+outside, and striking right and left at the soldiers who came flying to
+bar his progress, he dashed down the stairs and leapt from the ramparts.
+Though the height was great, he fell into the fosse without injury, and
+still grasping his sword. He scrambled quickly to his feet and jumped
+easily over the second rampart, which was much lower than the first, and
+then began to breathe freely, as he thought he was safe from being
+overtaken by the soldiers, who would have to come a long way round. At
+this moment, however, he saw a sentinel making for him a short distance
+off, and he rushed for the palisades which divided the fortifications
+from the open country, from which the mountains and Bohemia were easily
+reached. In the act of scaling them, his foot was caught tight between
+the bars, and he was trapped till the sentinel came up, and after a
+sharp fight got him back to prison.
+
+For some time poor Trenck was in a sad condition. In his struggle with
+the sentinel he had been wounded, while his right foot had got crushed
+in the palisades. Beside this, he was watched far more strictly than
+before, for an officer and two men remained always in his cell, and two
+sentinels were stationed outside. The reason of these precautions of
+course was to prevent his gaining over his guards singly, either by pity
+or bribery. His courage sank to its lowest ebb, as he was told on all
+sides that his imprisonment was for life, whereas long after he
+discovered the real truth, that the King's intention had been to keep
+him under arrest for a year only, and if he had had a little more
+patience, three weeks would have found him free. His repeated attempts
+to escape naturally angered Frederic, while on the other hand the King
+knew nothing of the fact which excused Trenck's impatience--namely, the
+belief carefully instilled in him by all around him that he was doomed
+to perpetual confinement.
+
+It is impossible to describe in detail all the plans made by Trenck to
+regain his freedom, first because they were endless, and secondly
+because several were nipped in the bud. Still the unfortunate man felt
+that as long as his money was not taken from him his case was not
+hopeless, for the officers in command were generally poor and in debt,
+and were always sent to garrison work as a punishment. After one wild
+effort to liberate _all_ the prisoners in the fortress, which was
+naturally discovered and frustrated, Trenck made friends with an officer
+named Schell, lately arrived at Glatz, who promised not only his aid but
+his company in the new enterprise. As more money would be needed than
+Trenck had in his possession, he contrived to apply to his rich
+relations outside the prison, and by some means--what we are not
+told--they managed to convey a large sum to him. Suspicion, however, got
+about that Trenck was on too familiar a footing with the officers, and
+orders were given that his door should always be kept locked. This
+occasioned further delay, as false keys had secretly to be made, before
+anything else could be done.
+
+Their flight was unexpectedly hastened by Schell accidentally learning
+that he was in danger of arrest. One night they crept unobserved through
+the arsenal and over the inner palisade, but on reaching the rampart
+they came face to face with two of the officers, and again a leap into
+the fosse was the only way of escape. Luckily the wall at this point was
+not high, and Trenck arrived at the bottom without injury; but Schell
+was not so happy, and hurt his foot so badly that he called on his
+friend to kill him, and to make the best of his way alone. Trenck,
+however, declined to abandon him, and having dragged him over the outer
+palisade, took him on his back, and made for the frontier. Before they
+had gone five hundred yards they heard the boom of the alarm guns from
+the fortress, while clearer still were the sounds of pursuit. As they
+knew that they would naturally be sought on the side towards Bohemia,
+they changed their course and pushed on to the river Neiss, at this
+season partly covered with ice. Trenck swam over slowly with this friend
+on his back, and found a boat on the other side. By means of this boat
+they evaded their enemies, and reached the mountains after some hours,
+very hungry, and almost frozen to death.
+
+Here a new terror awaited them. Some peasants with whom they took refuge
+recognised Schell, and for a moment the fugitives gave themselves up for
+lost. But the peasants took pity on the two wretched objects, fed them
+and gave them shelter, till they could make up their minds what was best
+to be done. To their unspeakable dismay, they found that they were,
+after all, only seven miles from Glatz, and that in the neighbouring
+town of Wunschelburg a hundred soldiers were quartered, with orders to
+capture all deserters from the fortress. This time, however, fortune
+favoured the luckless Trenck, and though he and Schell were both in
+uniform, they rode unobserved through the village while the rest of the
+people were at church, and, skirting Wunschelburg, crossed the Bohemian
+frontier in the course of the day.
+
+Then follows a period of comparative calm in Trenck's history. He
+travelled freely about Poland, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Denmark and
+Holland, and even ventured occasionally across the border into Prussia.
+Twelve years seem to have passed by in this manner, till in 1758 his
+mother died, and Trenck asked leave of the council of war to go up to
+Dantzic to see his family and to arrange his affairs. Curiously enough,
+it appears never to have occurred to him that he was a deserter, and as
+such liable to be arrested at any moment. And this was what actually
+happened. By order of the King, Trenck was taken first to Berlin, where
+he was deprived of his money and some valuable rings, and then removed
+to Magdeburg, of which place Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick was the
+governor.
+
+Here his quarters were worse than he had ever known them. His cell was
+only six feet by ten, and the window was high, with bars without as well
+as within. The wall was seven feet thick, and beyond it was a palisade,
+which rendered it impossible for the sentinels to approach the window.
+On the other side the prisoner was shut in by three doors, and his food
+(which was not only bad, but very scanty) was passed to him through an
+opening.
+
+One thing only was in his favour. His cell was only entered once a week,
+so he could pursue any work to further his escape without much danger of
+being discovered. Notwithstanding the high window, the thick wall, and
+the palisade, notwithstanding too his want of money, he soon managed to
+open negotiations with the sentinels, and found, to his great joy, that
+the next cell was empty. If he could only contrive to burrow his way
+into that, he would be able to watch his opportunity to steal through
+the open door; once free he could either swim the Elbe and cross into
+Saxony, which lay about six miles distant, or else float down the river
+in a boat till he was out of danger.
+
+Small as the cell was, it contained a sort of cupboard fixed into the
+floor by irons, and on these Trenck began to work. After frightful
+labour he at last extracted the heavy nails which fastened the staples
+to the floor, and breaking off the heads (which he put back to avoid
+detection), he kept the rest to fashion for his own purposes. By this
+means he made instruments to raise the bricks.
+
+On this side also the wall was seven feet thick, and formed of bricks
+and stones. Trenck numbered them as he went on with the greatest care,
+so that the cell might present its usual appearance before the Wednesday
+visit of his guards. To hide the joins, he scraped off some of the
+mortar, which he smeared over the place.
+
+As may be supposed, all this took a very long time. He had nothing to
+work with but the tools he himself had made, which of course were very
+rough. But one day a friendly sentinel gave him a little iron rod, and a
+small knife with a wooden handle. These were treasures, indeed! And with
+their help he worked away for six months at his hole, as in some places
+the mortar had become so hard that it had to be pounded like a stone.
+
+During this time he enlisted the compassion of some of the other
+sentinels, who not only described to him the lie of the country which he
+would have to traverse if he ever succeeded in getting out of prison,
+but interested in his behalf a Jewess named Esther Heymann, whose own
+father had been for two years a prisoner in Magdeburg. In this manner
+Trenck became the possessor of a file, a knife, and some writing paper,
+as the friendly Jewess had agreed to convey letters to some influential
+people both at Vienna and Berlin, and also to his sister. But this step
+led to the ruin, not only of Trenck, but of several persons concerned,
+for they were betrayed by an Imperial Secretary of Embassy called
+Weingarten, who was tempted by a bill for 20,000 florins. Many of those
+guilty of abetting Trenck in this fresh effort to escape were put to
+death, while his sister was ordered to build a new prison for him in the
+Fort de l'Etoile, and he himself was destined to pass nine more years in
+chains.
+
+In spite of his fetters, Trenck was able in some miraculous way to get
+on with his hole, but his long labour was rendered useless by the
+circumstance that his new prison was finished sooner than he expected,
+and he was removed into it hastily, being only able to conceal his
+knife. He was now chained even more heavily than before, his two feet
+being attached to a heavy ring fixed in the wall, another ring being
+fastened round his body. From this ring was suspended a chain with a
+thick iron bar, two feet long at the bottom, and to this his hands were
+fastened. An iron collar was afterwards added to his instruments of
+torture.
+
+Besides torments of body, nothing was wanting which could work on his
+mind. His prison was built between the trenches of the principal
+rampart, and was of course very dark. It was likewise very damp, and, to
+crown all, the name of 'Trenck' had been printed in red bricks on the
+wall, above a tomb whose place was indicated by a death's head.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Here again, he tells us, he excited the pity of his guards, who gave him
+a bed and coverlet, and as much bread as he chose to eat; and, wonderful
+as it may seem, his health did not suffer from all these horrors. As
+soon as he got a little accustomed to his cramped position, he began to
+use the knife he had left, and to cut through his chains. He next burst
+the iron band, and after a long time severed his leg fetters, but in
+such a way that he could put them on again, and no one be any the wiser.
+Nothing is more common in the history of prisoners than this exploit,
+and nothing is more astonishing, yet we meet with the fact again and
+again in their memoirs and biographies. Trenck at any rate appears to
+have accomplished the feat without much difficulty, though he found it
+very hard to get his hand back into his handcuffs. After he had disposed
+of his bonds, he began to saw at the doors leading to the gallery. These
+were four in number, and all of wood, but when he arrived at the fourth,
+his knife broke in two, and the courage that had upheld him for so many
+years gave way. He opened his veins and lay down to die, when in his
+despair he heard the voice of Gefhardt, the friendly sentinel from the
+other prison. Hearing of Trenck's sad plight, he scaled the palisade,
+and, we are told expressly, bound up his wounds, though we are _not_
+told how he managed to enter the cell. Be that as it may, the next day,
+when the guards came to open the door, they found Trenck ready to meet
+them, armed with a brick in one hand, and a knife, doubtless obtained
+from Gefhardt, in the other. The first man that approached him, he
+stretched wounded at his feet, and thinking it dangerous to irritate
+further a desperate man, they made a compromise with him. The governor
+took off his chains for a time, and gave him strong soup and fresh
+linen. Then, after a while, new doors were put to his cell, the inner
+door being lined with plates of iron, and he himself was fastened with
+stronger chains than those he had burst through.
+
+For all this the watch must have been very lax, as Gefhardt soon
+contrived to open communications with him again, and letters were passed
+through the window (to which the prisoner had made a false and movable
+frame) and forwarded to Trenck's rich friends. His appeal was always
+answered promptly and amply. More valuable than money were two files,
+also procured from Gefhardt, and by their means the new chains were
+speedily cut through, though, as before, without any apparent break.
+Having freed his limbs, he began to saw through the floor of his cell,
+which was of wood. Underneath, instead of hard rock, there was sand,
+which Trenck scooped out with his hands. This earth was passed through
+the window to Gefhardt, who removed it when he was on guard, and gave
+his friend pistols, a bayonet and knives to assist him when he had
+finally made his escape.
+
+All seemed going smoothly. The foundations of the prison were only four
+feet deep, and Trenck's tunnel had reached a considerable distance when
+everything was again spoilt. A letter written by Trenck to Vienna fell
+into the hands of the governor, owing to some stupidity on the part of
+Gefhardt's wife, who had been entrusted to deliver it. The letter does
+not seem to have contained any special disclosure of his plan of escape,
+as the governor, who was still Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, could find
+nothing wrong in Trenck's cell except the false window frame. The cut
+chains, though examined, somehow escaped detection, from which we gather
+either that the officials were very careless, or the carpenter very
+stupid. Perhaps both may have been the case, for as the Seven Years' War
+(against Austria) was at this time raging, sentinels and officers were
+frequently changed, and prison discipline insensibly relaxed. Had this
+not been so, Trenck could never have been able to labour unseen, but as
+it was, he was merely deprived of his bed, as a punishment for tampering
+with the window.
+
+As soon as he had recovered from his fright and an illness which
+followed, he returned to his digging. It was necessary for him to bore
+under the subterranean gallery of the principal rampart, which was a
+distance of thirty-seven feet, and to get outside the foundation of the
+rampart. Beyond that was a door leading to the second rampart. Trenck
+was forced to work naked, for fear of raising the suspicions of the
+officials by his dirty clothes, but in spite of all his precautions and
+the wilful blindness of his guards, who as usual were on his side, all
+was at length discovered. His hole was filled up, and a year's work
+lost.
+
+The next torture invented for him was worse than any that had gone
+before. He was visited and awakened every quarter of an hour, in order
+that he might not set to work in the night. This lasted for four years,
+during part of which time Trenck employed himself in writing verses and
+making drawings on his tin cups, after the manner of all prisoners, and
+in writing books with his blood, as ink was forbidden. We are again left
+in ignorance as to how he got paper. He also began to scoop out another
+hole, but was discovered afresh, though nothing particular seems to have
+been done to him, partly owing to the kindness of the new governor, who
+soon afterwards died.
+
+It had been arranged by his friends that for the space of one year
+horses should be ready for him at a certain place, on the first and
+fifteenth of every month. Inspired by this thought, he turned to his
+burrowing with renewed vigour, and worked away at every moment when he
+thought he could do so unseen. One day, however, when he had reached
+some distance, he dislodged a large stone which blocked up the opening
+towards his cell. His terror was frightful. Not only was the air
+suffocating and the darkness dreadful, but he knew that if any of the
+guards were unexpectedly to come into his cell, the opening must be
+discovered, and all his toil again lost. For eight hours he stayed in
+the tunnel paralysed by fear. Then he roused himself, and by dint of
+superhuman struggles managed to open a passage on one side of the stone,
+and to reach his cell, which for once appeared to him as a haven of
+rest.
+
+Soon after this the war ended with the Peace of Paris (1763), and
+Trenck's hopes of release seemed likely to be realised. He procured
+money from his friends, and bribed the Austrian Ambassador in Berlin to
+open negotiations on his behalf, and while these were impending he
+rested from his labours for three whole months. Suddenly he was
+possessed by an idea which was little less than madness. He bribed a
+major to ask for a visit from Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, again
+governor of Magdeburg, offering to disclose his passage, and to reveal
+all his plans of escape, on condition that the Duke would promise to
+plead for him with the King. This message never reached the Duke
+himself, but some officers arrived ostensibly sent by him, but in
+reality tools of the major's. They listened to all he had to say, and
+saw all he had to show, then broke their word, filled up the passage,
+and redoubled the chains and the watch.
+
+Notwithstanding this terrible blow, Trenck's trials were drawing to an
+end. Whether Frederic's heart was softened by his brilliant victories,
+or whether Trenck's influential friends succeeded in making themselves
+heard, we do not know, but six months later he was set free, on
+condition that he never tried to revenge himself on any one, and that he
+never again should cross the frontiers of Saxony or Prussia.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ADVENTURE OF JOHN RAWLINS_
+
+
+IN the year 1621, one John Rawlins, native of Rochester, sailed from
+Plymouth in a ship called the 'Nicholas,' which had in its company
+another ship of Plymouth, and had a fair voyage till they came within
+sight of Gibraltar. Then the watch saw five sails that seemed to do all
+in their power to come up with the 'Nicholas,' which, on its part,
+suspecting them to be pirates, hoisted all the sail it could; but to no
+avail, for before the day was over, the Turkish ships of war--for so
+they proved to be--not only overtook the Plymouth ships, but made them
+both prisoners.
+
+Then they sailed for Argier, which, when they reached, the English
+prisoners were sold as slaves, being hurried like dogs into the market,
+as men sell horses in England, and marched up and down to see who would
+give most for them. And though they had heavy hearts and sad
+countenances, yet many came to behold them, sometimes taking them by the
+hand, sometimes turning them round about, sometimes feeling their arms
+and muscles, and bargaining for them accordingly, till at last they were
+sold.
+
+John Rawlins was the last who was sold, because his hand was lame, and
+he was bought by the very captain who took him, named Villa Rise, who,
+knowing Rawlins' skill as a pilot, bought him and his carpenter at a
+very low rate--paying for Rawlins seven pounds ten reckoned in English
+money. Then he sent them to work with other slaves: but the Turks,
+seeing that through Rawlins' lame hand he could not do so much as the
+rest, complained to their master, who told him that unless he could
+obtain a ransom of fifteen pounds, he should be banished inland, where
+he would never see Christendom again.
+
+But while John Rawlins was terrified with this stern threat of Villa
+Rise, there was lying in the harbour another English ship that had been
+surprised by the pirates--the 'Exchange,' of Bristol. This ship was
+bought by an English Turk, who made captain of it another English Turk,
+and because they were both renegades, they concluded to have English
+and Dutch slaves to go in her. So it came about that, inquiring if any
+English slave were to be sold who could serve them as pilot, they heard
+of John Rawlins, and forthwith bought him of his master, Villa Rise.
+
+By January 7 the ship left Argier, with, on board her, sixty-three Turks
+and Moors, nine English slaves, and a French slave, four Dutchmen, who
+were free, and four gunners, one English, and one Dutch renegade.
+
+Now, the English slaves were employed for the most part under hatches,
+and had to labour hard, all of which John Rawlins took to heart,
+thinking it a terrible lot to be subject to such pain and danger only to
+enrich other men, and themselves to return as slaves. Therefore he broke
+out at last with such words as these:
+
+'Oh, horrible slavery, to be thus subject to dogs! Oh, Heaven strengthen
+my heart and hand, and something shall be done to deliver us from these
+cruel Mahometan dogs!'
+
+The other slaves, pitying what they thought his madness, bade him speak
+softly, lest they should all fare the worse for his rashness.
+
+'Worse,' said Rawlins, 'what can be worse? I will either regain my
+liberty at one time or another, or perish in the attempt; but if you
+would agree to join with me in the undertaking, I doubt not but we
+should find some way of winning glory with our freedom.'
+
+'Prithee be quiet,' they returned, 'and do not think of impossibilities,
+though, if indeed you could open some way of escape, so that we should
+not be condemned as madmen for trying as it were to pull the sun out of
+the heavens, then we would risk our lives; and you may be sure of
+silence.'
+
+After this the slavery continued, and the Turks set their captives to
+work at all the meanest tasks, and even when they laboured hardest,
+flogged and reviled them, till more and more John Rawlins became
+resolved to recover his liberty and surprise the ship. So he provided
+ropes with broad spikes of iron, and all the iron crows, with which he
+could, with the help of the others, fasten up the scuttles, gratings,
+and cabins, and even shut up the captain himself with his companions;
+and so he intended to work the enterprise, that, at a certain watchword,
+the English being masters of the gunner-room and the powder, would
+either be ready to blow the Turks into the air, or kill them as they
+came out one by one, if by any chance they forced open the cabins.
+
+Then, very cautiously, he told the four free Dutchmen of his plot, and
+last of all the Dutch renegades, who were also in the gunner-room; and
+all these consented readily to so daring an enterprise. So he fixed the
+time for the venture in the captain's morning watch.
+
+But you must understand that where the English slaves were there always
+hung four or five iron crows, just under the gun carriages, and when the
+time came it was very dark, so that John Rawlins, in taking out his iron
+dropped it on the side of the gun, making such a noise that the
+soldiers, hearing it, waked the Turks and told them to come down. At
+this the boatswain of the Turks descended with a candle, and searched
+everywhere, making a great deal of stir, but finding neither hatchet nor
+hammer, nor anything else suspicious, only the iron which lay slipped
+down under the gun-carriages, he went quietly up again and told the
+captain what had happened, who thought that it was no remarkable thing
+to have an iron slip from its place. But through this John Rawlins was
+forced to wait for another opportunity.
+
+When they had sailed further northward there happened another suspicious
+accident, for Rawlins had told his scheme to the renegade gunner, who
+promised secrecy by everything that could induce one to believe in him.
+But immediately after he left Rawlins, and was absent about a quarter of
+an hour, when he returned and sat down again by him. Presently, as they
+were talking, in came a furious Turk, with his sword drawn, who
+threatened Rawlins as if he would certainly kill him. This made Rawlins
+suspect that the renegade gunner had betrayed him; and he stepped back
+and drew out his knife, also taking the gunner's out of its sheath; so
+that the Turk, seeing him with _two_ knives, threw down his sword,
+saying he was only jesting. But the gunner, seeing that Rawlins
+suspected him, whispered something in his ear, calling Heaven to witness
+that he had never breathed a word of the enterprise, and never would.
+Nevertheless, Rawlins kept the knives in his sleeve all night, and was
+somewhat troubled, though afterwards the gunner proved faithful and
+zealous in the undertaking.
+
+All this time Rawlins persuaded the captain, who himself had little
+knowledge of seamanship, to steer northward, meaning to draw him away
+from the neighbourhood of other Turkish vessels. On February 6 they
+descried a sail, and at once the Turks gave chase, and made her
+surrender. It proved to be a ship from near Dartmouth, laden with silk.
+As it was stormy weather, the Turks did not put down their boat, but
+made the master of the conquered ship put down his, and come on board
+with five of his men and a boy, while ten of the Turks' men, among whom
+were one English and two Dutch renegades belonging to the conspiracy,
+went to man the prize instead.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But when Rawlins saw this division of his friends, before they could set
+out for the other ship, he found means to tell them plainly that he
+would complete his enterprise either that night or the next, and that
+whatever came of it they must acquaint the four English left on the
+captured ship with his resolution, and steer for England while the Turks
+slept and suspected nothing. For, by God's grace, in his first watch he
+would show them a light, to let them know that the enterprise was begun,
+or about to be begun.
+
+So the boat reached the ship from Dartmouth; and next Rawlins told the
+captain and his men whom the Turks had sent down among the other
+prisoners of his design, and found them willing to throw in their lot
+with him.
+
+The next morning, being February 7, the prize from Dartmouth was not to
+be seen--the men indeed having followed Rawlins' counsel and steered for
+England. But the Turkish captain began to storm and swear, telling
+Rawlins to search the seas up and down for her--which he did all day
+without success. Then Rawlins, finding a good deal of water in the hold,
+persuaded the captain, by telling him that the ship was not rightly
+balanced, to have four of the guns brought aft, that the water might run
+to the pump. This being done, and the guns placed where the English
+could use them for their own purpose, the final arrangement was made.
+The ship having three decks, those that belonged to the gunner-room were
+all to be there, and break up the lower deck. The English slaves, who
+belonged to the middle deck, were to do the same with that, and watch
+the scuttles. Rawlins himself prevailed with the gunner to give him as
+much powder as would prime the guns, and told them all there was no
+better watchword than, when the signal gun was heard, to cry:
+
+'For God, and King James, and Saint George for England.'
+
+Then, all being prepared, and every man resolute, knowing what he had to
+do, Rawlins advised the gunner to speak to the captain, that he might
+send the soldiers to the poop, to bring the ship aft, and, weighing it
+down, send the water to the pumps. This the captain was very willing to
+do; and so, at two o'clock in the afternoon the signal was given, by the
+firing of the gun, whose report tore and broke down all the binnacle and
+compasses.
+
+But when the Turks heard this, and the shouts of the conspirators, and
+saw that part of ship was torn away, and felt it shake under them, and
+knew that all threatened their destruction--no bear robbed of her whelps
+was ever so mad as they, for they not only called us dogs, and cried in
+their tongue, 'The fortune of war! the fortune of war!' but they tried
+to tear up the planking, setting to work hammers, hatchets, knives, the
+oars of the boat, the boat hook, and whatever else came to hand, besides
+the stones and bricks of the cook-room, still trying to break the
+hatches, and never ceasing their horrible cries and curses.
+
+Then Rawlins, seeing them so violent, and understanding that the slaves
+had cleared the decks of all the Turks and Moors underneath, began to
+shoot at them through different scoutholes, with their own muskets, and
+so lessened their number. At this they cried for the pilot, and so
+Rawlins, with some to guard him, went to them, and understood by their
+kneeling that they cried for mercy and begged to come down. This they
+were bidden to do, but coming down one by one, they were taken and slain
+with their own curtleaxes. And the rest, perceiving this, some of them
+leapt into the water, still crying: 'The fortune of war!' and calling
+their foes English dogs, and some were slain with the curtleaxes, till
+the decks were well cleared, and the victory assured.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the first report of the gun, and the hurly-burly on deck, the captain
+was writing in his cabin, and he came out with his curtleaxe in hand,
+thinking by his authority to quell the mischief. But when he saw that
+the ship was surprised, he threw down his curtleaxe, and begged Rawlins
+to save his life, telling him how he had redeemed him from Villa Rise,
+and put him in command in the ship, besides treating him well through
+the voyage. This Rawlins confessed, and at last consented to be
+merciful, and brought the captain and five more renegades into England.
+
+When all was done, and the ship cleared of the dead bodies, John Rawlins
+assembled his men, and with one consent gave the praise to God, using
+the accustomed services on shipboard. And for want of books they lifted
+up their voices to God, as He put it into their hearts or renewed their
+memories. Then did they sing a psalm, and last of all, embraced one
+another for playing the men in such a deliverance, whereby their fear
+was turned into joy. That same night they steered for England, and
+arrived at Plymouth on February 13, and were welcomed with all gladness.
+
+As for the ship from Dartmouth, that had arrived in Penzance on February
+11, for the English had made the Turks believe that they were sailing to
+Argier, till they came in sight of England. Then one of the Turks said
+plainly _that the land was not like Cape Vincent_; but the Englishmen
+told them to go down into the hold, and trim more to windward, and they
+should see and know more to-morrow. Thereupon five of them went down
+very orderly, while the English feigned themselves asleep; but presently
+they started up, and nailed down the hatches, and so overpowered the
+Turks. And this is the story of this enterprise, and the end of John
+Rawlins' voyage.
+
+
+
+
+_THE CHEVALIER JOHNSTONE'S ESCAPE FROM CULLODEN_
+
+
+THE Chevalier Johnstone (or _de_ Johnstone, as he preferred to call
+himself) was closely connected with the Highland army, hastily collected
+in 1745 for the purpose of restoring Charles Edward to his grandfather's
+throne. He was aide-de-camp to Lord George Murray, Generalissimo to the
+little force, and seems to have known enough of warfare to be capable of
+appreciating his commander's skill. He was also a captain in the
+regiment of the Duke of Perth, and later, when the petals of the White
+Rose were trampled under foot, he became an officer in the French
+service.
+
+From his position, therefore, he was peculiarly fitted to tell the tale
+of those two eventful years, 1745 and 1746. Though only the son of a
+merchant, Johnstone was well connected, and, like many Scottish
+gentlemen of that day, had been bred in loyalty to the Jacobite cause.
+He was one of the first to join the Prince when he had reached Perth,
+and it was from the Prince himself that he received his company, after
+the fight at Prestonpans. His life was all romance, but the part on
+which it is our present purpose to dwell is the account he has left in
+his memoirs of his escape from the field of Culloden, and the terrible
+sufferings he went through for some months, till he finally made his way
+safely to Holland.
+
+'The battle of Culloden,' he says,[14] 'was lost rather by a series of
+mistakes on our part than by any skilful manoeuvre of the Duke of
+Cumberland,' and every Scot in arms knew too well the doom that awaited
+him at the 'Butcher's' hands. The half-starved Highlanders were no match
+for the well-fed English troops, and when the day was lost, and the rout
+became general, each man sought to conceal himself in the fastnesses of
+the nearest mountains, and, as long as he put himself well out of reach,
+was not particular as to the means he took to purchase safety.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Panics disclose strange and unexpected depths in men's minds, and
+Johnstone was in no respect superior to his fellows. 'Being no longer
+able to keep myself on my legs,' he relates,[15] 'and the enemy always
+advancing very slowly, but redoubling their fire, my mind was agitated
+and undecided whether I should throw away my life, or surrender a
+prisoner, which was a thousand times worse than death on the field of
+battle. All at once I perceived a horse, about thirty paces before me,
+without a rider. The idea of being yet able to escape gave me fresh
+strength and served as a spur to me. I ran and laid hold of the bridle,
+which was fast in the hand of a man lying on the ground, whom I supposed
+dead; but, what was my surprise when the cowardly poltroon, who was
+suffering from nothing but fear, dared to remain in the most horrible
+fire to dispute the horse with me, at twenty paces from the enemy. All
+my menaces could not induce him to quit the bridle. Whilst we were
+disputing, a discharge from a cannon loaded with grape-shot fell at our
+feet, without however producing any effect upon this singular
+individual, who obstinately persisted in retaining the horse.
+Fortunately for me, Finlay Cameron, an officer in Lochiel's regiment, a
+youth of twenty years of age, six feet high, and very strong and
+vigorous, happened to pass near us. I called on him to assist me. "Ah
+Finlay," said I, "this fellow will not give me up the horse." Finlay
+flew to me like lightning, immediately presented his pistol to the head
+of this man, and threatened to blow out his brains if he hesitated a
+moment to let go the bridle. The fellow, who had the appearance of a
+servant, at length yielded and took to his heels. Having obtained the
+horse, I attempted to mount him several times, but all my efforts were
+ineffectual, as I was without strength and completely exhausted. I
+called again on poor Finlay, though he was already some paces from me,
+to assist me to mount. He returned, took me in his arms, with as much
+ease as if I had been a child, and threw me on the horse like a loaded
+sack, giving the horse at the same time a heavy blow to make him set off
+with me. Then wishing that I might have the good fortune to make my
+escape, he bounded off like a roe, and was in a moment out of sight. We
+were hardly more than fifteen or twenty paces from the enemy when he
+quitted me. As soon as I found myself at the distance of thirty or forty
+paces, I endeavoured to set myself right on the horse, put my feet in
+the stirrups, and rode off as fast as the wretched animal could carry
+me.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+There is something peculiarly funny in the simplicity of this account of
+horse-stealing with violence! Why a man should be more of a coward who
+clings to his own property and only means of safety, than the person who
+deliberately deprives him of both, is not easy to see. But Johnstone
+never doubts for one moment that what he does is always right, and what
+anyone else does is always wrong, and he goes on complacently to remark
+that he probably 'saved the life of the poltroon who held the horse, in
+rousing him out of his panic fear, for in less than two minutes the
+English army would have passed over him.'[16]
+
+The shelter which Johnstone made up his mind to seek was the castle of
+Rothiemurchus, the property of the Grant family, situated in the heart
+of the mountains, and on the banks of the 'rapid Spey.' But his troubles
+were not so easily over. The English army barred the way, and Johnstone
+was forced to take the road to Inverness. Again he was turned from his
+path by the dreaded sight of the British uniform, and, accompanied by a
+Highlander whom he had met by chance, he took refuge in a small cottage
+in Fort Augustus. In spite of his peculiar views about courage,
+Johnstone was a man who generally managed to do whatever he had set his
+heart on. He had resolved to go to Rothiemurchus, and to Rothiemurchus
+he would go. At last he arrived there, but found, to his great
+disappointment, that the laird, his old friend, was away from home. In
+his place was his eldest son, who was urgent that Johnstone should
+surrender himself a prisoner, as Lord Balmerino had just done, by his
+advice, and under his escort. Johnstone replied that he would keep his
+liberty as long as he could, and when it was no longer possible, he
+would meet his fate with resignation. We all know the end to which poor
+Balmerino came, but Johnstone was more fortunate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+His brother-in-law, the son of Lord Rollo, had been made inspector of
+merchant ships in the town of Banff, and Johnstone fondly hoped that by
+his help he might obtain a passage to some foreign country. So he set
+off with three gentlemen of the name of Gordon, who had also been
+staying at Rothiemurchus, and rested the first night at the house of a
+shepherd near the mountain of Cairngorm. Here he saw for the first time
+the stones which bear this name, and though he is flying for his life,
+he dwells with the delight of a collector on the beauty of the colours,
+and even persuades his friends to put off their departure for a day, in
+order that he may search for some specimens himself. He contrived, he
+tells us,[17] to find several beautiful topazes, two of which he had
+cut as seals, and presented to the Duke of York, brother of Prince
+Charles Edward.
+
+Four days after leaving Rothiemurchus Banff was reached, and the
+fugitives were sheltered by a Presbyterian minister, who was a secret
+adherent of the Stuarts. Johnstone at once took the precaution of
+exchanging his laced Highland dress for that of an old labourer, 'quite
+ragged, and exhaling a pestilential odour,' due apparently to its having
+been used for many years 'when he cleaned the stables of his master.' In
+this unpleasant disguise, he entered the town of Banff, then garrisoned
+with four hundred English soldiers, and went straight to the house of a
+former acquaintance, Mr. Duff. After gaining admittance from the servant
+with some difficulty, he found with dismay that his brother-in-law was
+away from home, and he could not therefore carry out his plan of
+embarking, with his permission, on board one of the merchant ships.
+There seemed nothing for it, therefore, but for Johnstone to return at
+daybreak to the house of Mr. Gordon, where he had spent the previous
+night. At daybreak, however, he was roused by a fearful disturbance in
+the courtyard below, occasioned by the quarrels of some stray soldiers.
+For a moment he thought death was certain, but the soldiers had no
+suspicion of his presence in the house, and as soon as they had settled
+their affairs took themselves off elsewhere.
+
+Mr. Rollo proved a broken reed, and the Chevalier found, after a few
+minutes' talk with his brother-in-law, that if he wished to reach the
+Continent he must not count on a passage in the merchant ships to help
+him. He therefore, after consultation with his friends, came to the
+conclusion that his best plan was to make for the Lowlands, and to this
+end he set out for Edinburgh as soon as possible. Of course this scheme
+was beset with difficulties and dangers of every kind. The counties
+through which he would be forced to pass were filled with Calvinists,
+inspired with deadly hatred of the Jacobite party. To escape their hands
+was almost certainly to fall into those of the soldiery, and over and
+above this, government passports were necessary for those who desired to
+cross the Firths of Forth and Tay.
+
+But, nothing daunted, Johnstone went his way. He was passed in disguise
+from one house to another, well-fed at the lowest possible prices (he
+tells us of the landlady of a small inn who charged him threepence for
+'an excellent young fowl' and his bed), till at last he found himself in
+the region of Cortachy, the country of the Ogilvies, who one and all
+were on the side of the Prince. At Cortachy he was quite secure, as long
+as no English soldiery came by, and even if they did, the mountains were
+full of hiding places, and there was no risk of treachery at home. Two
+officers who had served in the French army, Brown and Gordon by name,
+had sought refuge here before him, and lay concealed in the house of a
+peasant known as Samuel. They implored him not to run the risk of
+proceeding south till affairs had quieted down a little, and he agreed
+to remain at Samuel's cottage till it seemed less dangerous to travel
+south.
+
+It would be interesting to know what was 'the gratification beyond his
+hopes' which Johnstone gave Samuel when they parted company some time
+after. It ought to have been something very handsome considering the
+risks which the peasant had run in his behalf, and also the fact that
+for several weeks Johnstone and his two friends had shared the scanty
+fare of Samuel and his family. They had 'no other food than oatmeal, and
+no other drink than the water of the stream which ran through the glen.
+We breakfasted every morning on a piece of oatmeal bread which we were
+enabled to swallow by draughts of water; for dinner we boiled oatmeal
+with water, till it acquired a consistency, and we ate it with horn
+spoons; in the evening, we poured boiling water on this meal in a dish,
+for our supper.'[18] Even this frugal diet could not be swallowed long
+in peace, for shortly after their arrival, Samuel's daughter, who lived
+at the mouth of the glen, came to inform her father that some English
+troops had been seen in the neighbourhood, and whenever there was any
+chance of their appearing in the glen Johnstone and his friends had to
+take refuge in the mountains.
+
+One day this woman arrived with the news that the soldiery were hovering
+dangerously near, and had taken several notable prisoners. Upon this the
+fugitives decided to leave their shelter at daybreak the following
+morning and to make the best of their way to the Highlands, where they
+would be sure of finding some rocks and caverns to hide them from their
+foes.
+
+This resolution once taken, they all went early to bed, and there
+Johnstone had a dream which he relates with many apologies for his
+superstition. He fancied himself in Edinburgh safe from the snares of
+his enemies, and with no fears for the future, and describing his
+adventures and escapes since the battle of Culloden to his old friend
+Lady Jane Douglas. The impression of peace and happiness and relief from
+anxiety was so strong that it remained with him after he woke, and
+after lying turning the matter over in his mind for another hour,
+informed Samuel (who had come to rouse him with the intelligence that
+his companions had already set off for the mountains) that he had
+altered his plans and intended to go straight to Edinburgh. In vain the
+old man argued and entreated. Johnstone was determined, and that same
+evening he set forth on horseback with Samuel for his guide, and made
+straight for the nearest arm of the sea, which he describes, though
+quite wrongly, as being only eight miles from Cortachy.
+
+To reach this, they were obliged to pass through Forfar, a town which,
+being a Calvinistic stronghold, the Chevalier can never mention without
+an abusive epithet. But here poor Samuel, whose nerves had doubtless
+been strained by the perpetual watching and waiting of the last few
+weeks, was frightened out of his senses by the barking of a dog, and
+tried to throw himself from his horse. At this juncture, Johnstone, who
+knew that to be left without a guide in this strange place meant certain
+death, interfered promptly. 'He was continually struggling to get down,'
+he says,[19] 'but I prevented him by the firm hold I had of his coat. I
+exhorted him to be quiet; I reproached him; I alternately entreated and
+menaced him; but all in vain. He no longer knew what he was about, and
+it was to no purpose I assured him that it was only the barking of a
+dog. He perspired at every pore, and trembled like a person in an ague.
+Fortunately I had an excellent horse, and galloped through Forfar at
+full speed, retaining always fast hold of his coat. As soon as we were
+fairly out of the town, as no persons had come out of their houses, poor
+Samuel began to breathe again, and made a thousand apologies for his
+fears.'
+
+As the day broke and they drew near Broughty Ferry, where Johnstone
+intended to cross the Firth of Tay, the Chevalier dismounted, and being
+obliged to part from his horse, offered it as a present to Samuel, who
+declined the animal from motives of prudence. It was then turned loose
+in a field (the saddle and bridle being first thrown down a well), and
+the wayfarers proceeded on their way. Only a few minutes later, they
+were joined by an acquaintance of Samuel's, who seems to have been of a
+curious turn of mind, and cross-questioned him as to where he was going
+and why. Samuel, with more readiness than could have been expected from
+his recent behaviour, invented a story that sounded plausible enough,
+explaining Johnstone to be a young man whom he had picked up on the
+road, and had taken into his service at low wages, owing to his want of
+a character. The stranger was satisfied, and after a prolonged drink
+they separated, when Samuel informed Johnstone that the man was one of
+the 'greatest knaves and cheats in the country,' and that they would
+assuredly have been betrayed if he had discovered who they were.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+They arrived at the Ferry about nine in the morning, and by Samuel's
+advice, the Chevalier immediately sought the help of Mr. Graham, a
+gentleman of Jacobite family, then living at Duntroon. After a warm
+welcome from Mr. Graham, who gave him all the entertainment he could
+without the knowledge of his servants, a boat was engaged to convey him
+across the Firth about nine that night. Mr. Graham did not, however,
+dare to be his guide down to the sea-shore, but gave him careful
+directions as to his following an old woman who had been provided for
+this purpose. But all Mr. Graham's precautions would have been useless,
+had not chance once more favoured the Chevalier. His protectress decided
+that it would be dangerous to allow him to loiter about the shore while
+the boat was getting ready for sea, so she told her charge to wait for
+her on the road on top of the hill, and she would return and fetch him
+when all was ready. Half an hour passed very slowly: the sun was
+sinking, and the Chevalier grew impatient. He left the road by which he
+had been sitting, and lay down in a furrow a few yards off, nearer the
+brow of the hill, so that he might perceive his guide at the earliest
+moment. Scarcely had he changed his quarters, than he heard the sound of
+horses, and peeping cautiously out, 'saw eight or ten horsemen pass in
+the very place he had just quitted.' No sooner were they out of sight,
+than the old woman arrived, trembling with fright. 'Ah!' she exclaimed
+in a transport of joy, 'I did not expect to find you here.' She then
+explained that the horsemen were English dragoons, and that they had so
+threatened the boatmen engaged by Mr. Graham that they absolutely
+refused to fulfil their compact. This was a terrible blow to the
+Chevalier, but he declined to listen to the old woman's advice and
+return for shelter to Mr. Graham, and after much persuasion, induced his
+guide to show him the way to the public-house by the sea-shore. Here he
+was welcomed by the landlady, whose son had been likewise 'out' with the
+Prince, but neither her entreaties nor those of the Chevalier could move
+the boatmen from their resolution. They even resisted the prayers of the
+landlady's two beautiful daughters, till the girls, disgusted and
+indignant with such cowardice, offered to row him across themselves.
+
+'We left Broughty Ferry,' he writes in his memoirs, 'at ten o'clock in
+the evening, and reached the opposite shore about midnight.' He then
+took an affectionate leave of his preservers, and proceeded, footsore as
+he was, to walk to St. Andrews. At this time Johnstone seems to have
+felt more physically exhausted than at almost any other moment of his
+travels; and it was only by dint of perpetually washing his sore and
+bleeding feet in the streams he passed, that he managed to reach St.
+Andrews towards eight o'clock. He at once made his way to the house of
+his cousin, Mrs. Spence, who, herself a suspected person, was much taken
+aback by the sight of him, and hastily sent a letter to a tenant farmer
+living near the town, to provide the fugitive with a horse which would
+carry him to Wemyss, a seaport town on the way to Edinburgh. The old
+University city does not appear to have made a favourable impression on
+the Chevalier. He declares that no town 'ever deserved so much the fate
+of Sodom and Gomorrah,'[20] and this, not from any particular wickedness
+on the part of the inhabitants, but because they were supposed to be
+Calvinists. However, his sentiments must have been confirmed when the
+farmer declined to take his horses out on a Sunday, and, lame as he was,
+Johnstone had no choice but to set out on foot for Wemyss. Halfway, he
+suddenly remembered that close by lived an old servant of his family,
+married to the gardener of Mr. Beaton, of Balfour. Here he was housed
+and fed for twenty hours, and then conducted by his host, a rigid
+Presbyterian, to a tavern at Wemyss, kept by the mother-in-law of the
+gardener. By her advice they applied to a man named Salmon, who, though
+a rabid Hanoverian, could be trusted not to betray those who had faith
+in him. It was hard work to gain over Salmon, who was proof against
+bribery, but at last it was done. By his recommendation Johnstone was to
+lie till dawn in a cave near Wemyss (a place whose name means 'caves'),
+and with the first ray of light was to beg a passage to Leith from some
+men who were with Salmon part owners of a boat. In this cave, which,
+notwithstanding its narrow entrance, was deep and spacious, the
+Chevalier was glad to repose his weary bones. But, after dozing about an
+hour, he was 'awakened by the most horrible and alarming cries that ever
+were heard.'[21] His first thought was that Salmon had betrayed him, and
+he retreated to the interior of the cavern, cocked his pistol, and
+prepared to sell his life dearly. Soon, however, the swift movements
+accompanying the noise convinced him that it did not proceed from men,
+for 'sometimes the object was about my ears, and nearly stunned me, and,
+in an instant, at a considerable distance. At length I ceased to examine
+any more this horrible and incomprehensible phenomenon, which made a
+noise in confusion like that of a number of trumpets and drums, with a
+mixture of different sounds, altogether unknown to me.'
+
+Effectually aroused by the whining of the owls and bats (for these, of
+course, were the authors of all this disturbance), Johnstone fixed his
+eyes on the sea to note the first entrance of the fishing boats into the
+harbour. He then went down to the shore and began to make the bargain as
+directed by Salmon, and the fishermen agreed to land him at Leith for
+half-a-crown. But alas! once more his hopes were blighted. He was in the
+act of stepping into the boat, when Salmon's wife appeared on the scene,
+and forbade her husband to go to Leith that day, still less to take a
+stranger there. Neither Salmon nor Johnstone dared insist, for fear of
+rousing the woman's suspicions, and after a short retreat in the cave in
+order to collect his thoughts, he returned to the tavern at Wemyss, to
+consult with the friendly landlady. Thanks to her, and with the help of
+one or two people to whom she introduced him, Johnstone at last arrived
+at the house of one Mr. Seton, whose son had formerly served with
+Johnstone in the army of the Prince. Here he remained eight days, vainly
+seeking to find a second man who could aid the fisherman who had already
+promised to put him across, though it does not appear why Johnstone,
+who had already observed[22] that he was able to row, did not take an
+oar when his own head was at stake.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At last affairs were brought to a crisis, by rumours having got abroad
+of the presence of a fugitive on the coast. Things seemed in a desperate
+condition, when young Seton threw himself into the breach, and agreed to
+help Cousselain, the fisherman, to take the Chevalier to Leith. They
+were actually launching the boat when the inhabitants of the village,
+alarmed by the noise they made, raised a cry that a rebel was escaping,
+and the two oarsmen had barely time to conceal themselves without being
+discovered. However, in flat defiance of everyone's advice, and, as it
+turned out, in spite of the drunken state of Cousselain, Johnstone
+resolved to repeat the attempt in an hour's time, taking in the end, as
+he might have done at the beginning, his place at the oar. For a few
+moments they breathed freely; then the wind got up, and the waves, and,
+what was perhaps more dangerous, the drunken Cousselain, who had been
+placed in the bottom of the boat. 'We were obliged to kick him most
+unmercifully in order to keep him quiet,' observes Johnstone, 'and to
+threaten to throw him overboard if he made the least movement. Seton and
+myself rowed like galley slaves. We succeeded in landing, about six in
+the morning, on a part of the coast a league and a half to the east of
+Edinburgh,[23] near the battlefield of Gladsmuir.' Here he parted with
+his deliverers, tenderly embracing young Seton, and presenting to the
+'somewhat sober' Cousselain a gratification beyond his hopes.
+
+After taking a little of the food with which Mr. Seton had provided him,
+he determined to seek refuge for a few days with an old governess, Mrs.
+Blythe, wife of a small shipowner at Leith. Blythe himself was another
+of the many 'rigid Calvinists and sworn enemies of the house of Stuart'
+to whom Johnstone entrusted his safety during his wanderings, and never
+once had occasion to repent it. Mr. Blythe, indeed, combined the
+profession of Calvinist with that of smuggler, and had numerous hiding
+places in his house for the concealment of contraband goods, which would
+prove equally serviceable, as Johnstone told him, for 'the most
+contraband and dangerous commodity that he had ever had in his
+possession.'
+
+Though Johnstone had reached the goal of his desires, his perils were by
+no means at an end. English soldiers visited the house, and could with
+difficulty be persuaded to admit the exemption pleaded by Mr. Blythe. In
+consequence of this event, Johnstone accepted the offer of an asylum
+made him by Lady Jane Douglas, in her place at Drumsheugh, half a
+league away. So his dream came true, and after all his wanderings he was
+safe with Lady Jane, telling the story of his adventures. He remained
+with her for two months, unknown to anyone but his hostess and the
+gardener, reading all day, and only taking a walk at night, when the
+household was in bed. At the end of that time, when Lady Jane and his
+father were of opinion that he might safely go to London, and thence
+abroad, fresh rumours as to his whereabouts began to arise, and fearing
+the immediate visit of a detachment of English soldiers, he was
+concealed for a whole day under a huge haycock, so overcome by the heat
+that he could hardly breathe, in spite of a bottle of water and another
+of wine, with which he was provided.
+
+This measure, which after all was needless, for no soldiers came, was
+the last trial he had to undergo before leaving Scotland, and here we
+must part from him. In France, which he made his home, he became the
+friend of many eminent men, and was aide-de-camp in Canada to the
+Marquis de Montcalm. But the end of his life was sad, and he died in
+poverty.[24]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[14] P. 211.
+
+[15] P. 215.
+
+[16] P. 217.
+
+[17] P. 229.
+
+[18] P. 249.
+
+[19] P. 257.
+
+[20] P. 274.
+
+[21] P. 295.
+
+[22] P. 271.
+
+[23] P. 308.
+
+[24] From _Memoirs of the Chevalier de Johnstone_. Longmans. London,
+1822. The Memoirs were written in French, and deposited in the Scots
+College at Paris. They were communicated to Messrs. Longman by Robert
+Watson, the adventurer, who, under Napoleon, was Principal of the Scots
+College. The Chevalier left a granddaughter, who corresponded on the
+subject of the Memoirs with Sir Walter Scott.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ADVENTURES OF LORD PITSLIGO_
+
+
+WHEN Prince Charles came to Scotland in 1745, to seek his grandfather's
+crown, no braver and no better man rode with him than Lord Pitsligo. He
+was now sixty-seven years of age, for he was born in 1678, ten years
+before James II. was driven out of England. As a young man he had lived
+much in France, where he became the friend of the famous Fenelon, author
+of 'Telemaque.' Though much interested in the doctrines of Fenelon, Lord
+Pitsligo did not change his faith, but remained a member of the
+persecuted Episcopal Church of Scotland. In France he met the members of
+the exiled Royal family, whom he never ceased to regard as his lawful
+monarchs, though Queen Anne, and later the First and Second Georges,
+occupied the throne of England. When the clans rose for King James, the
+son of James II., in 1715, Lord Pitsligo, then a man of twenty-seven,
+joined the forces under his kinsman, Lord Marr. His party was defeated,
+and he went abroad. He did not stay long with James in Rome, but was
+allowed to return to his estates in Scotland. Here he lived very
+quietly, beloved by rich and poor. But, in 1745, Prince Charles landed,
+and the old Lord believed it to be his duty to join him. He had, as he
+says, no keen enthusiasm for the Stuarts, but to his mind they were his
+lawful rulers. So aged was he, and so infirm, that, when he left a
+neighbour's house before setting out, a little boy brought a stool to
+help him to mount his horse. 'My little fellow,' he said, 'this is the
+severest reproof I have yet met with, for presuming to go on such an
+expedition.' Lady Pitsligo in vain reminded him of the failure of 1715.
+'There never was a bridal,' he replied, 'but the second day was the
+best.' The gentlemen of his county thought that they could not do wrong
+in following so learned and excellent a man, so they all mounted the
+white cockade and rode with him. He arrived just too late for the
+victory of Preston Pans. 'It seemed,' said an eye-witness, 'as if
+religion, virtue, and justice were entering the camp under the
+appearance of this venerable old man.' When he wrote home, he said, 'I
+had occasion to discover the Prince's humanity, I ought to say
+tenderness: this is giving myself no great airs, for he showed the same
+dispositions to everybody.' In the fatigues of the campaign, the Prince,
+who was young and strong, insisted on Lord Pitsligo's using his
+carriage, while he himself marched on foot at the head of his army.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After the defeat of Culloden, Lord Pitsligo hid among the mountains,
+living on oatmeal, moistened with hot water. They had not even salt to
+their brose; for, as one of the Highlanders said, 'Salt is touchy,'
+meaning expensive. Yet these men, who could not even buy salt, never
+betrayed their Prince for the great reward of thirty thousand pounds,
+nor any of the other gentlemen in hiding. Possibly they did not believe
+that there was so much money in the world. Lord Pitsligo had made up his
+mind not to go abroad again, but to live or die among his own people. At
+one time he lay for days hidden in a damp hole under a little bridge,
+and at other times concealed himself in the mosses and moors. Here the
+lapwings, flitting and crying above him, were like to have drawn the
+English soldiers to his retreat. His wife gave him two great bags, like
+those which beggars carried; in these he would place the alms which were
+given to him, and in this disguise he had many narrow escapes. Once he
+saw some dragoons on the road behind him, but he was too old and too ill
+to run. He was obliged to sit down and cough, and one of the dragoons
+who were in search of him actually gave him some money as they passed
+by, and condoled with him on the severity of his cough.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Lord Pitsligo often hid in a cave on the coast of Buchan. Here was a
+spring of water welling through the rock, and he carved a little cistern
+for it, to pass the time. He was fed by a little girl, too young to be
+suspected, who carried his meals from a neighbouring farm. One day he
+was sitting in the kitchen of the farm, when some soldiers came in, and
+asked the goodwife to guide them to Lord Pitsligo's cave. She said,
+'That travelling body will go with you,' and Lord Pitsligo conducted the
+soldiers to his hiding place, left them there, and walked back to the
+farm. But the following adventure was perhaps his narrowest escape.
+
+In March 1756, and of course long after all apprehension of a search had
+ceased, information having been given to the then commanding officer at
+Fraserburgh, that Lord Pitsligo was at that moment in the house of
+Auchiries, it was acted upon with so much promptness and secrecy, that
+the search must have proved successful but for a very singular
+occurrence. Mrs. Sophia Donaldson, a lady who lived much with the
+family, repeatedly dreamt on that particular night that the house was
+surrounded by soldiers. Her mind became so haunted with the idea, that
+she got out of bed, and was walking through the room in hopes of giving
+a different current to her thoughts before she lay down again, when, day
+beginning to dawn, she accidentally looked out at the window as she
+passed it in traversing the room, and was astonished at actually
+observing the figures of soldiers among some trees near the house. So
+completely had all idea of a search been by that time laid asleep, that
+she supposed they had come to steal poultry; Jacobite poultry-yards
+affording a safe object of pillage for the English soldiers in those
+days. Under this impression Mrs. Sophia was proceeding to rouse the
+servants, when her sister having awaked, and inquiring what was the
+matter, and being told of soldiers near the house, exclaimed, in great
+alarm, that she feared they wanted something more than hens. She begged
+Mrs. Sophia to look out at a window on the other side of the house, when
+not only soldiers were seen in that direction, but also an officer
+giving instructions by signals, and frequently putting his fingers on
+his lips, as if enjoining silence. There was now no time to be lost in
+rousing the family, and all the haste that could be made was scarcely
+sufficient to hurry the venerable man from his bed, into a small recess
+behind the wainscot of an adjoining room, which was concealed by a bed,
+in which a lady, Miss Gordon of Towie, who was there on a visit, lay,
+before the soldiers obtained admission. A most minute search took place.
+The room in which Lord Pitsligo was concealed did not escape: Miss
+Gordon's bed was carefully examined, and she was obliged to suffer the
+rude scrutiny of one of the party, by feeling her chin, to ascertain
+that it was not a man in a lady's night-dress. Before the soldiers had
+finished their examination in this room, the confinement and anxiety
+increased Lord Pitsligo's asthma so much, and his breathing became so
+loud, that it obliged Miss Gordon, lying in bed, to counterfeit and
+continue a violent coughing, in order to prevent the high breathing
+behind the wainscot from being heard. It may easily be conceived what
+agony she would suffer, lest, by overdoing her part, she should increase
+suspicion, and in fact lead to a discovery. The _ruse_ was fortunately
+successful. On the search through the house being given over, Lord
+Pitsligo was hastily taken from his confined situation, and again
+replaced in bed; and as soon as he was able to speak, his accustomed
+kindness of heart made him say to his servant, 'James, go and see that
+these poor fellows get some breakfast, and a drink of warm ale, for this
+is a cold morning; they are only doing their duty, and cannot bear me
+any ill-will.' When the family were felicitating each other on his
+escape, he pleasantly observed, 'A poor prize had they obtained it--an
+old dying man!' That the friends who lived in the house,--the hourly
+witnesses of his virtues, and the objects of his regard, who saw him
+escape all the dangers that surrounded him, should reckon him the
+peculiar care of Providence, is not to be wondered at; and that the
+dream which was so opportune, as the means of preventing his
+apprehension, and probably of saving his life, was supposed by some of
+them at last to be a special interposition of Heaven's protecting shield
+against his enemies, need not excite surprise. This was accordingly the
+belief of more than one to their dying hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After some fifteen years, the English Government ceased to think Lord
+Pitsligo dangerous. He was allowed to live unmolested at the house of
+his son, where he died in 1762, in his eighty-fifth year. 'He was never
+heard to speak an ill word of any man living,' says one who knew him
+well, and who himself spoke many ill words of others.[25] Lord Pitsligo
+left a little book of 'Thoughts on Sacred Things,' which reminds those
+who read it of the meditations of General Gordon. His character, as far
+as its virtues went, is copied in the Baron Bradwardine, in Sir Walter
+Scott's novel of 'Waverley.'[26]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[25] Dr. King, of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford.
+
+[26] _From Thoughts Concerning Man's Condition and Duties in this Life_.
+By Alexander, Lord Pitsligo. Edinburgh: Blackwood. 1854.
+
+
+
+
+_THE ESCAPE OF CAESAR BORGIA FROM THE CASTLE OF MEDINA DEL CAMPO_
+
+
+          [CAESAR BORGIA forms, with his father Pope
+          Alexander VI., and his sister Lucrezia, one of a
+          trio who have become a proverb for infamy of every
+          kind. His father, Roderigo, was by birth a
+          Spaniard, and by education a lawyer, in which
+          profession he gained much distinction, till
+          suddenly, with an impetuosity strange in a man who
+          did everything by calculation, he threw up his
+          legal career for that of a soldier. But the rough
+          life was repugnant to one of his temperament,
+          which demanded ease and luxury, so after a little
+          active service, when his courage, during some
+          sharp engagements, was proved beyond a doubt, he
+          abandoned the army also, and retired to live in
+          comfort on the large fortune lately bequeathed to
+          him by his father.
+
+          It required some pressing on the part of his
+          uncle, Calixtus III., recently made Pope, to
+          induce him to leave his native land and his
+          secular existence, for Italy and a Cardinalate.
+          But no sooner did he occupy his new position, than
+          a set of base qualities, which had hitherto lain
+          dormant, suddenly developed themselves, and from
+          this moment he became one of the cleverest and
+          most successful hypocrites of his age.
+
+          It was in 1492, the year that saw the landing of
+          Columbus in America, and the death of Lorenzo the
+          Magnificent at Florence, that the Cardinal Borgia
+          obtained, by means of huge bribes, his election to
+          the Papal Throne, and took the name of Alexander
+          VI. His first care was to establish (for his own
+          credit's sake) order and security in Rome, and
+          this done, he turned his thoughts to the
+          aggrandisement of his family. For when Roderigo
+          sailed for Italy he was shortly followed by his
+          four children, Francis, Caesar, Lucrezia and
+          Geoffrey, and their mother Rosa Vanozza. All four,
+          but more particularly Caesar and Lucrezia,
+          inherited in the highest degree their father's
+          beauty, talents and wickedness. Honours of every
+          kind were showered upon them, marriages made and
+          unmade to suit the requirements of the moment,
+          murders committed to ensure them wealth and
+          possessions. For eleven years the roll of crime
+          grew heavier day by day, till at last the
+          chastisement came, and the Borgias, who had
+          invited several of the Cardinals to supper for the
+          purpose of poisoning them and seizing on their
+          revenues, were themselves served with the draught
+          they had intended for their guests. The Pope died
+          after eight days, in mortal agony, but, owing to
+          his having drunk less of the wine, Caesar slowly
+          recovered, and resumed his old trade of arms. The
+          talents which had made him one of the first
+          captains in Italy caused him to be the dread of
+          all his enemies, and finally led to his capture
+          (by violation of a safe-conduct), at the hands of
+          Gonsalvo de Cordova, Captain of the Forces of
+          Ferdinand of Spain.]
+
+It was in June 1504 that Caesar Borgia, General of the Church and Duke of
+Romagna and Valentinois, was conducted to the Castle of Medina del Campo
+in Spain. For two years Caesar waited in prison, hoping that his old
+ally, Louis XII., whose cousin Mlle. d'Albret he had married, would come
+to his assistance. But he waited in vain and his courage began to give
+way, when one day something happened which proved to him that he had
+still one friend left, his faithful Michelotto, a soldier of fortune who
+had followed him to Spain, and was now hidden in the neighbourhood of
+the prison. It was breakfast time, and Caesar was in the act of cutting
+his bread when he suddenly touched a hard substance, and found a file,
+and a small bottle containing a narcotic, and a note concealed in the
+loaf. The note was from Michelotto, and informed Caesar that he and the
+Count of Benevento would hide themselves every night on the road between
+the castle and the village, in company with three good horses, and that
+he must make the best use he could of the file and the sleeping
+draught.[27]
+
+Two years' imprisonment had weighed too heavily on Caesar for him to
+waste a single moment in trying to regain his freedom. He, therefore,
+lost no time in beginning to work on one of the bars of his window,
+which opened on an inside court, and soon contrived to cut through so
+far, that a violent shake would enable him to remove it altogether. But
+the window was nearly seventy feet above the ground, while the only way
+of leaving the court was by a door reserved for the governor alone, the
+key of which was always carried about his person. By day it was
+suspended from his belt, by night it was under his bolster. To gain
+possession of this key was the most difficult part of the matter.
+
+Now in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner, Caesar had invariably
+been treated with all the respect due to his name and rank. Every day at
+the dinner hour, he was conducted from the room in which he was
+confined to the governor's apartments and was received by him as an
+honoured guest. Don Manuel himself was an old soldier who had served
+with distinction under Ferdinand, and, while carrying out punctually his
+orders for Caesar's safe custody, he admired his military talents, and
+listened with pleasure to the story of his fights. He had often desired
+that Caesar should breakfast as well as dine with him, but, luckily for
+himself, the prisoner, perhaps aided by some presentiment, had always
+refused this favour. It was owing to his solitude that he was able to
+conceal the instruments for his escape sent by Michelotto.
+
+Now it happened that the very same day that he had received them, Caesar
+contrived to stumble, and twist his foot as he was returning to his
+room. When the hour of dinner came he tried to go down, but declared
+that walking hurt him so much, that he should be obliged to give it up,
+so the governor paid him a visit instead, and found him stretched on his
+bed.
+
+The next day Caesar was no better; his dinner was ordered to be served
+upstairs, and the governor paid him a visit as before. He found his
+prisoner so dull and bored with his own company, that he offered to come
+and share his supper. Caesar accepted the offer with gratitude and joy.
+
+This time it was the prisoner who did the honours of the table, and
+Caesar was particularly charming and courteous in manner. The governor
+seized the opportunity of putting some questions as to his capture, and
+inquired, with the pride of a Castilian noble, who set honour above all,
+what was the exact truth as to the way in which Gonsalvo de Cordova and
+Ferdinand had broken their faith with him. Caesar showed every
+disposition to give him satisfaction on this point, but indicated by a
+sign that he could not speak freely before the valets. This precaution
+was so natural, that the governor could not seem offended at it, and
+dismissed his attendants, so that he and his companion remained alone.
+When the door was shut, Caesar filled his glass and that of the governor,
+and proposed the king's health. The governor emptied his glass at once,
+and Caesar began his story, but he had hardly told a third of it, when in
+spite of its exciting adventures, the eyes of his guest closed as if by
+magic, and his head fell on the table in a deep sleep.
+
+At the end of half-an-hour, the servants, not hearing any noise, entered
+the room, and found the two boon companions, one on the table and the
+other under it. There was nothing very unusual about such an event to
+excite their suspicions, so they contented themselves with carrying Don
+Manuel to his chamber and laying Caesar on his bed; they then locked the
+door with great care, leaving the prisoner alone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+For a minute or two longer Caesar lay still, apparently plunged in a
+profound slumber, but when the sound of footsteps had completely died
+away, he softly raised his head, opened his eyes, and moved towards the
+door, rather slowly it is true, but without seeming to feel any
+ill-effects from his accident on the previous day. He stood still for a
+few seconds with his ear at the keyhole, then, raising himself, with a
+strange expression of triumph on his face, he passed his hand over his
+forehead, and, for the first time since the guards had left the room,
+breathed freely.
+
+But there was no time to be lost, and without a moment's delay he
+fastened the door from the inside as securely as it was fastened
+without. He next extinguished his lamp, threw open his window, and
+finished cutting through the bar. This done, he took off the bandages
+tied round his leg, tore down the curtains, both of his window and his
+bed, and made them into strips, adding to them sheets, table cloths,
+napkins, and whatever else he could lay hands on. At last he had a rope
+between fifty and sixty feet long, which he secured firmly at one end to
+the bar next to the one that he had sawn away, and mounting on the
+window-ledge, he began the most dangerous part of his expedition in
+trusting himself to this frail support. Happily, Caesar was as strong as
+he was agile, and slid down the whole length of the cord without
+accident; but when he had reached the very end, in vain he tried to
+touch the earth with his feet. The rope was too short.
+
+Caesar's position was terrible. The darkness of the night preventing his
+knowing how far he might be above the ground, and his exertions had so
+fatigued him that he could not have gone back even had he wished. There
+was no help for it, and, after muttering a short prayer, he let go the
+rope, and fell, a distance of twelve or fifteen feet.
+
+The danger he had escaped was too great for the fugitive to mind some
+slight bruises caused by his fall, so he jumped up, and taking his
+bearings, made straight for the little door which stood between him and
+freedom. When he reached it he felt in his pocket for the key, and a
+cold sweat broke out on his face as he found it was not there. Had he
+forgotten it in his room, or had he lost it in his descent?
+
+Collecting his thoughts as well as he could, he soon came to the
+conclusion that it must have fallen out of his pocket as he climbed down
+the rope. So he made his way a second time cautiously across the court,
+trying to discover the exact spot where it might be, by the aid of the
+wall of a cistern, which he had caught hold of to raise himself from the
+ground. But the lost key was so small and so insignificant, that there
+was little chance that he would ever see it. However, it was his last
+resource, and Caesar was searching for it with all his might, when
+suddenly a door opened and the night patrol came out, preceded by two
+torches. At first Caesar gave himself up for lost, then, remembering the
+water-butt that was behind him, he at once plunged into it up to his
+neck, watching with intense anxiety the movements of the soldiers who
+were advancing towards his hiding place. They passed him within a few
+feet, crossed the court, and vanished through the door opposite; but,
+though all this had taken such a very short time, the light of the
+torches had enabled Caesar to distinguish the key lying on the ground,
+and hardly had the gate closed on the soldiers when he was once more
+master of his liberty.
+
+Half-way between the castle and the village the Count of Benevento and
+Michelotto awaited him with a led horse. Caesar flung himself on its back
+and all three set out for Navarre, where, after three days' hard riding,
+they found an asylum with the king, Jean d'Albret, brother of Caesar's
+wife.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[27] What follows is translated from Dumas.
+
+
+
+
+_THE KIDNAPPING OF THE PRINCES_
+
+(_The following story is adapted from Carlyle's Essay, 'The
+Prinzenraub'_)
+
+
+ABOUT the year 1455, one of the Electors of Saxony, Friedrich der
+Sanftmuetige (Frederick the Mild), quarrelled with a certain knight named
+Konrad von Kaufungen. Friedrich had hired Konrad, or Kunz as he was
+called, to fight for him in a war against another Elector. In one of the
+battles, Kunz was taken prisoner. To ransom himself he was obliged to
+pay 4,000 gold gulden, for which he thought Friedrich ought to repay
+him. Friedrich refused to do so, as Kunz was not his vassal whom he was
+bound to protect, but only a hired soldier who had to take all risks on
+himself. Kunz was very angry, and threatened to revenge himself on the
+Elector, who took all his threats very calmly, saying to him, 'Keep
+cool, Kunz; don't burn the fish in the ponds.' But Kunz was in bitter
+earnest. He went away to an old castle called Isenburg in Bohemia, on
+the Saxon frontier, where he lived for some time with his two squires,
+Mosen and Schoenberg, plotting against the Elector and his family. He
+had, moreover, bribed one of the Elector's servants, Hans Schwalbe, to
+tell him all that was being done in his castle of Altenburg. In July,
+Schwalbe sent word to him that, on the seventh day of the month, the
+Elector and most of his followers were going away to Leipzig, and would
+leave the Electress and his two boys, Ernst and Albrecht, guarded only
+by a few servants, and these, he added, would probably spend the evening
+drinking in the town. Now the castle of Altenburg was built on a steep
+hill, and one side of it overhung a precipice. As this side was little
+guarded, Hans agreed to let down a rope-ladder from one of the windows,
+and thus enable Kunz to get an entrance into the castle. His plan then
+was to make his way to the sleeping room of the two little princes,
+carry them off to his castle at Isenburg, and keep them till their
+father should grant his demands. Isenburg Castle was about a day's
+journey from the little town of Altenburg; so Kunz and his two squires,
+Mosen and Schoenberg, and a few other men, started early on the 7th to
+ride to Altenburg, and when they reached it they hid themselves till
+nightfall. About midnight Kunz and his men went as quietly as possible
+to the foot of the cliff. Everyone seemed asleep in the castle, and
+outside no sound was to be heard but the stealthy tramp of the armed
+men. When they reached the rendezvous under the castle, Kunz gave his
+men their orders. Mosen, Schoenberg, and three or four more were to come
+with him into the castle, and, when inside, to lock the doors of the
+Electress's and the servants' room, while the rest were to guard the
+gates in order that no one should escape to give the alarm. Each was to
+be ready when once the princes were secured to ride away for Isenburg as
+hard as possible.
+
+Then Kunz whistled softly. He listened for a moment; another whistle
+answered his own, and a rope-ladder was slowly lowered from one of the
+windows. Kunz mounted it, and made his way to the room where the two
+little princes were sleeping under the charge of an old governess. He
+seized the eldest, a boy of fourteen, and carried him down the ladder,
+and Mosen followed with a second child in his arms. This boy kept
+calling out, 'I am not one of the princes; I am their playfellow, Count
+von Bardi. Let me go! Let me go!' Thereupon, telling the others to ride
+on with Prince Ernst in order to secure him, Kunz dashed up the ladder
+again, and ran to the princes' room, where he found little Prince
+Albrecht hiding under the bed. He caught him up and descended again with
+him. As he went, the Electress, roused by the boys' cries and finding
+her door bolted, rushed to the window and begged and implored him not to
+take her children.
+
+'My husband shall grant all your demands, I swear to you,' she cried,
+'only leave me my children!'
+
+'Tell the Elector, Madam,' laughed Kunz, looking up, 'that I _can_ burn
+the fish in the ponds!'
+
+Then he mounted his horse, which his servant was holding, and away they
+rode as fast as the horses would carry them. They had not ridden many
+miles before the clang of bells broke on their ears. The alarm peal of
+the castle had awakened that of the town, and in a few hours every bell
+in every belfry in Saxony was ringing an alarm. The sun rose, and Kunz
+and his followers plunged deeper into the forest, riding through
+morasses and swamps, over rough and stony ground--anywhere to escape
+from the din of those alarm bells. At last the ride for dear life was
+nearly over; the band was within an hour's journey of the castle of
+Isenburg, when Prince Albrecht declared that he was dying of thirst.
+
+'For the love of Heaven, give me something to drink, Sir Knight,' he
+implored.
+
+Kunz bade the others ride on, and giving his squire his horse to hold he
+dismounted, lifted Albrecht down, and began looking for bilberries for
+him.
+
+Whilst he was doing so, a charcoal-burner with his dog came up. He was
+much surprised to see such grand people in the forest, and asked,
+
+'What are you doing with the young lord?'
+
+'He has run away from his parents,' answered Kunz, impatiently. 'Can you
+tell me where bilberries are to be found here?'
+
+'I do not know,' replied the charcoal-burner, still staring at the
+strangers.
+
+Anxious to make him leave them, Kunz turned angrily round on him, and in
+doing so caught his spurs in the bushes, and fell flat on his face.
+
+Albrecht caught hold of the charcoal-burner's arm.
+
+'Save me!' he whispered eagerly. 'I am the Elector's son; this man has
+stolen me!'
+
+The squire struck at the Prince with his sword, but the charcoal-burner
+warded aside the blow with his long pole, and felled the man to the
+ground. Kunz fought fiercely with him, but in answer to his summons for
+help, and attracted by the barking of the dog, a number of other
+charcoal-burners appeared on the scene to help their comrade, and Kunz
+was disarmed and taken prisoner. They marched him in triumph to the
+monastery of Gruenheim, where he was secured in one of the cells, and in
+a few days was sent to Freiburg. On the 14th he was tried and condemned
+to death. It is said that a pardon was sent by the Elector, but if it
+were so it arrived too late, and Kunz was beheaded.
+
+The rest of the robber-band with Prince Ernst did not fare much better.
+The alarm bells had aroused the whole country; six of the men were
+captured, and Mosen and the others with Prince Ernst took refuge in a
+cave near Zwickau. Not daring to venture out, and half starving for want
+of food, they lay there for three days in wretched plight. Then they
+learned accidentally from some woodmen, whose conversation they
+overheard, that Kunz had been taken prisoner, had been tried, and by
+this time was in all probability beheaded. As soon as they received this
+piece of intelligence, they held a consultation and finally decided to
+send a message to the Amtmann of Zwickau, offering to restore Prince
+Ernst if a free pardon were granted to them, but threatening, if this
+was refused, they would at once kill him. Had they known that Kunz was
+still alive, they might have stipulated for his pardon as well, but
+believing him dead, they made no terms as regards his fate. The Amtmann
+had no choice but to accede to their demands when their proposal reached
+him. Prince Ernst was given up. Mosen and the rest fled away, nor were
+they ever heard of any more.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the brave charcoal-burner, Georg Schmidt, was brought before the
+Elector and his court, the Electress asked him how he had dared to fight
+the robber-knight with no weapon but his pole.
+
+'Madam,' he replied, 'I gave him a sound "drilling" with my pole.'
+
+All the court laughed, and thenceforward he was always called Georg der
+Triller (the Driller), and his descendants took this name as their
+surname. The only reward he would accept for his brave deed was leave
+for himself and his family to cut what wood they needed in the forest in
+which he lived.
+
+The Electress and the two princes made a pilgrimage to the shrine at the
+monastery of Ebersdorf, and there in the church they hung up the coats
+which they and Kunz and the 'Triller' had worn on the memorable night
+when they were kidnapped, and there it is said they may be seen at this
+day.
+
+
+
+
+_THE CONQUEST OF MONTEZUMA'S EMPIRE_
+
+
+THE YOUTH OF CORTES
+
+LONG ago, when Henry VIII. was King of England and Charles V. was King
+of Spain, there lived a young Spanish cavalier whose name was Hernando
+Cortes. His father, Don Martin Cortes, sent him to Salamanca when he was
+about fourteen years old, intending to have him educated as a lawyer.
+But Hernando cared nothing for books, and after wasting two years at
+college returned home, to the great annoyance of his parents, who were
+glad enough when, after another year of idleness, he proposed to go and
+seek his fortune in the New World so lately discovered by Columbus. An
+exploring expedition was just being fitted out, and Hernando Cortes had
+quite made up his mind to join it, when he unluckily fell from a high
+wall which he was climbing, and before he had recovered from his
+injuries the ships had sailed without him. Two more years did he remain
+at home after this misadventure, but at length, when he was nineteen
+years old, he joined a small fleet bound for the Indian Islands. The
+vessel in which he sailed was commanded by one Alonso Quintero, who,
+when they reached the Canary Islands, and all the other vessels were
+detained by taking in supplies, stole out of the harbour under cover of
+the night, meaning to reach Hispaniola before his companions, and so
+secure a better chance of trading. However, he met with a furious storm,
+and was driven back to the port with his ship dismasted and battered.
+The rest of the fleet generously consented to wait while his ship was
+being refitted, and after a short delay they set out again, but so soon
+as they neared the islands, the faithless Quintero again gave his
+companions the slip, but with no better success, for he met with such
+heavy gales that he entirely lost his reckoning, and for many days they
+tossed about helplessly, until one morning they were cheered by the
+sight of a white dove, which settled upon the rigging. Taking the
+direction of the bird's flight, they soon reached Hispaniola, where the
+captain had the satisfaction of finding all the other ships had arrived
+before him, and had sold all their cargoes. Cortes, as soon as he
+landed, went to see Ovando, the governor of the island, whom he had
+known in Spain, and presently was persuaded by him to accept a grant of
+land and settle down to cultivate it, though at first he said, 'I came
+to get gold, not to till the ground like a peasant.' So six years
+passed, during which the monotony of Cortes's life was only broken by
+occasional expeditions against the natives, in which he learned to
+endure toil and danger, and became familiar with the tactics of Indian
+warfare. At length, in 1511, when Diego Velasquez, the governor's
+lieutenant, undertook the conquest of Cuba, Cortes gladly accompanied
+him, and throughout the expedition made himself a favourite both with
+the commander and the soldiers. But when later on there arose discontent
+over the distribution of lands and offices, the malcontents fixed upon
+Cortes as the most suitable person to go back to Hispaniola, and lay
+their grievances before the higher authorities. This came to the ears of
+Velasquez, however, and he at once seized Cortes, whom he loaded with
+fetters and threw into prison. Luckily he soon succeeded in freeing
+himself from the irons, and letting himself down from the window took
+refuge in the nearest church, where he claimed the right of sanctuary.
+Velasquez, who was very angry at his escape, stationed a guard with
+orders to seize Cortes if he should leave the sanctuary, and this he was
+soon careless enough to do. As he stood outside the church an officer
+suddenly sprang upon him from behind, and made him prisoner once more.
+This time he was carried on board a ship which was to sail the next
+morning for Hispaniola, where he was to be tried, but again he managed
+to escape by dragging his feet through the rings which fettered them,
+and dropping silently over the ship's side into a little boat under
+cover of the darkness. As he neared the shore the water became so rough
+that the boat was useless, and he was forced to swim the rest of the
+way; but at last he got safely to land, and again took refuge in the
+church. After this he married a lady named Catalina Xuarez, and by the
+aid of her family managed to make his peace with Velasquez. Cortes now
+received a large estate near St. Jago, where he lived prosperously for
+some years, and even amassed a considerable sum of money. But at last
+news came of an exploring expedition which had set out in 1518 under
+Grijalva, the nephew of Velasquez. He had touched at various places on
+the Mexican coast, and had held a friendly conference with one cacique,
+or chief, who seemed desirous of collecting all the information he could
+about the Spaniards, and their motives in visiting Mexico, that he might
+transmit it to his master, the Aztec emperor. Presents were exchanged at
+this interview, and in return for a few glass beads, pins, and such
+paltry trifles, the Spaniards had received such a rich treasure of
+jewels and gold ornaments that the general at once sent back one of his
+ships under the command of Don Pedro de Alvarado to convey the spoil,
+and acquaint the governor of Cuba with the progress of the expedition,
+and also with all the information he had been able to glean respecting
+the Aztec emperor and his dominions. Now in those days nothing whatever
+was known about the interior of the country or of its inhabitants--it
+was as strange to the explorers as another planet.
+
+
+THE WONDERS OF MEXICO
+
+This was what they had to tell the governor. Far away towards the
+Pacific Ocean there stood, in a beautiful and most fertile valley, the
+capital of a great and powerful empire, called by its inhabitants
+'Tenochtitlan,' but known to the Europeans only by its other name of
+'Mexico,' derived from 'Mexitli,' the war-god of the Aztecs. These
+Aztecs seem to have come originally from the north, and after many
+wanderings to have halted at length on the south-western borders of a
+great lake, of which there were several in the Mexican valley. This
+celebrated valley was situated at a height of about 7,500 feet above the
+sea, and was oval in form, about 67 leagues in circumference, and
+surrounded by towering rocks, which seemed to be meant to protect it
+from invasion. It was in the year 1325 that the Aztecs paused upon the
+shore of the lake, and saw, as the sun rose, a splendid eagle perched
+upon a prickly pear which shot out of a crevice in the rock. It held a
+large serpent in its claws, and its broad wings were opened towards the
+rising sun. The Aztecs saw in this a most favourable omen, and there and
+then set about building themselves a city, laying its foundations upon
+piles in the marshy ground beside the lake, and to this day the eagle
+and the cactus form the arms of the Mexican republic.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The little body of settlers increased rapidly in number and power, and
+made their name terrible throughout the valley, in which various other
+tribes had long been settled, until at last they united themselves with
+the king of the Tezcucans, to aid him against a tribe called the
+Tepanecs, who had invaded his territory. The allies were completely
+successful, and this led to an agreement between the states of Mexico,
+Tezcuco, and Tlacopan, that they should support each other in all their
+wars, and divide all the spoils between them. This alliance remained
+unbroken for over a hundred years and under a succession of able
+princes the Aztec dominion grew, till at the coming of the Spaniards it
+reached across the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
+The Aztecs had many wise laws and institutions, and were indeed in some
+respects a highly civilised community. When their emperor died a new one
+was chosen from among his sons or nephews, by four nobles. The one
+preferred was obliged to have distinguished himself in war, and his
+coronation did not take place until a successful campaign had provided
+enough captives to grace his triumphal entry into the capital, and
+enough victims for the ghastly sacrifices which formed an important part
+of all their religious ceremonies. Communication was held with the
+remotest parts of the country by means of couriers, who, trained to it
+from childhood, travelled with amazing swiftness. Post-houses were
+established on the great roads, and the messenger bearing his despatches
+in the form of hieroglyphical paintings, ran to the first station, where
+they were taken by the next messenger and carried forward, being sent in
+one day a hundred or two hundred miles. Thus fish was served at the
+banquets of the emperor Montezuma which twenty-four hours before had
+been caught in the Gulf of Mexico, two hundred miles away. Thus too the
+news was carried when any war was going on, and as the messengers ran to
+acquaint the court with the movements of the royal armies, the people by
+the way knew whether the tidings were good or bad by the dress of the
+courier. But the training of warriors was the chief end and aim of all
+Aztec institutions. Their principal god was the god of war, and one
+great object of all their expeditions was the capture of victims to be
+sacrificed upon his altars. They believed that the soldier who fell in
+battle was transported at once to the blissful regions of the sun, and
+they consequently fought with an utter disregard of danger. The dress of
+the warriors was magnificent. Their bodies were protected by a vest of
+quilted cotton, impervious to light missiles, and over this the chiefs
+wore mantles of gorgeous feather-work, and the richer of them a kind of
+cuirass of gold or silver plates. Their helmets were of wood, fashioned
+like the head of some wild animal, or of silver surmounted by plumes of
+variously coloured feathers, sprinkled with precious stones, beside
+which they wore many ornaments of gold, and their banners were
+embroidered with gold and feather-work.
+
+The Aztecs worshipped thirteen principal gods, and more than two hundred
+of less importance, each of whom, however, had his day of festival,
+which was duly observed. At the head of all stood the war-god, the
+terrible Huitzilopochtli, whose fantastic image was loaded with costly
+ornaments, and whose temples, in every city of the empire, were the most
+splendid and stately. The Aztecs also had a legend that there had once
+dwelt upon the earth the great Quetzalcoatl, god of the air, under whose
+sway all things had flourished and all people had lived in peace and
+prosperity; but he had in some way incurred the wrath of the principal
+gods, and was compelled to leave the country. On his way he stopped at
+the city of Cholula, where a temple was dedicated to him, of which the
+great ruins remain to this day. When he reached the shores of the
+Mexican Gulf he embarked in his magic boat, made of serpents' skins, for
+the fabulous land of Tlapallan, but before he bade his followers
+farewell he promised that he and his descendants would one day come
+again. The Aztecs confidently looked forward to the return of their
+benevolent god, who was said to have been tall in stature, with a white
+skin, long dark hair, and a flowing beard, and this belief of theirs
+prepared the way, as you will presently see, for the success of
+Cortes.[28] The Mexican temples, or teocallis as they were called--which
+means 'Houses of God'--were very numerous, there being several hundreds
+of them in each of the principal cities. They looked rather like the
+Egyptian pyramids, and were divided into four or five stories, each one
+being smaller than the one below it, and the ascent was by a flight of
+steps at an angle of the pyramid. This led to a sort of terrace at the
+base of the second story, which passed quite round the building to
+another flight of steps immediately over the first, so that it was
+necessary to go all round the temple several times before reaching the
+summit. The top was a broad space on which stood two towers, forty or
+fifty feet high, which contained the images of the gods. Before these
+towers stood the dreadful stone of sacrifice, and two lofty altars on
+which the sacred fires burned continually. Human sacrifices were adopted
+by the Aztecs about two hundred years before the coming of the
+Spaniards. Rare at first, they became more and more frequent till at
+length nearly every festival closed with this cruel abomination. The
+unhappy victim was held by five priests upon the stone of sacrifice,
+while the sixth, who was clothed in a scarlet mantle, emblematic of his
+horrible office, cut open his breast with a sharp razor of 'itztli,' a
+volcanic substance as hard as flint, and tearing out his heart, held it
+first up to the sun, which they worshipped, and then cast it at the feet
+of the god to whom the temple was devoted; and to crown the horror, the
+body of the captive thus sacrificed was afterwards given to the warrior
+who had taken him in battle, who thereupon gave a great banquet and
+served him up amid choice dishes and delicious beverages for the
+entertainment of his friends. When the great teocalli of Huitzilopochtli
+was dedicated in the year 1486, no less than 70,000 prisoners were thus
+sacrificed, and in the whole kingdom every year the victims were never
+fewer than 20,000, or, as some old writers say, 50,000. The Aztec
+writing was not with letters and words, but consisted of little coloured
+pictures, each of which had some special meaning. Thus a 'tongue'
+denoted speaking, a 'footprint' travelling, a 'man sitting on the
+ground' an earthquake. As a very slight difference in position or colour
+intimated a different meaning, this writing was very difficult to read,
+and in the Aztec colleges the priests specially taught it to their
+pupils. At the time of the coming of the Spaniards there were numbers of
+people employed in this picture-writing, but unfortunately hardly any of
+the manuscripts were preserved; for the Spaniards, looking upon them as
+magic scrolls, caused them to be burned by thousands. In many mechanical
+arts the Aztecs had made considerable progress. Their ground was well
+cultivated, they had discovered and used silver, lead, tin, and copper.
+Gold, which was found in the river-beds, they cast into bars, or used as
+money by filling transparent quills with gold dust. They also made many
+fantastic ornaments of gold and silver, and cast gold and silver
+vessels, which they carved delicately with chisels. Some of the silver
+vases were so large that a man could not encircle them with his arms.
+But the art in which they most delighted was the wonderful feather-work.
+With the gorgeous plumage of the tropical birds they could produce all
+the effect of a beautiful mosaic. The feathers, pasted upon a fine
+cotton web, were wrought into dresses for the wealthy, hangings for
+their palaces, and ornaments for their temples.
+
+These then were the people of whom Grijalva sent back to Cuba a few
+vague reports, and these, and the accounts of the splendour of the
+treasure, spread like wildfire through the island. The governor having
+resolved to send out more ships to follow up these discoveries, looked
+about him for a suitable person to command the expedition and share the
+expenses of it, and being recommended by several of his friends to
+choose Hernando Cortes, he presently did so. Cortes had now attained
+his heart's desire, and at once began with the utmost energy to purchase
+and fit out the ships. He used all the money he had saved, and as much
+more as he could persuade his friends to lend him, and very soon he was
+in possession of six vessels, and three hundred recruits had enrolled
+themselves under his banner. His orders were, first, to find Grijalva
+and to proceed in company with him; then to seek out and rescue six
+Christians, the survivors of a previous expedition, who were supposed to
+be lingering in captivity in the interior; and to bear in mind, before
+all things, that it was the great desire of the Spanish monarch that the
+Indians should be converted to Christianity. They were to be invited to
+give their allegiance to him, and to send him presents of gold and
+jewels to secure his favour and protection. The explorers were also to
+survey the coast, acquaint themselves with the general features of the
+country, and to barter with the natives.
+
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPEDITION
+
+But before Cortes was ready to start, a jealousy and distrust of him
+took possession of the mind of Velasquez, so that he determined to
+entrust the command of the fleet to someone else. This came to the ears
+of Cortes, and he with great promptitude assembled his officers
+secretly, and that very night set sail with what supplies he was able to
+lay hands upon, his ships being neither ready for sea nor properly
+provisioned. When morning broke news was carried to Velasquez that the
+fleet was under weigh, and he rose hastily and galloped down to the
+quay. Cortes rowed back to within speaking distance.
+
+'This is a courteous way of taking leave of me, truly,' cried the
+governor.
+
+'Pardon me,' answered Cortes, 'time presses, and there are some things
+that should be done before they are even thought of.' And with that he
+returned to his vessel, and the little fleet sailed away to Macaca,
+where Cortes laid in more stores. This was on November 18, 1518. Shortly
+afterwards he proceeded to Trinidad, a town on the south coast of Cuba,
+where he landed, and setting up his standard, invited all who would to
+join the expedition, holding out to them great hopes of wealth to be
+gained. Volunteers flocked in daily, including many young men of noble
+family, who were attracted by the fame of Cortes. Among them were Pedro
+de Alvarado, Cristoval de Olid, Alonso de Avila, Juan Velasquez de Leon,
+Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, and Gonzalo de Sandoval, of all of
+whom you will hear again before the story is finished. Finally, in
+February 1519, when all the reinforcements were assembled, Cortes found
+he had eleven vessels, one hundred and ten mariners, five hundred and
+fifty-three soldiers, and two hundred Indians. He also had sixteen
+horses, ten large guns, and four lighter, which were called falconets.
+Cortes, before embarking, addressed his little army, saying that he held
+out to them a glorious prize, and that if any among them coveted riches,
+he would make them masters of such as their countrymen had never dreamed
+of; and so they sailed away for the coast of Yucatan.
+
+The first thing that happened was that they were overtaken by a furious
+tempest, and Cortes was delayed by looking after a disabled vessel, and
+so was the last to reach the island of Cozumel. Here he found that
+Alvarado, one of his captains, had landed, plundered a temple, and by
+his violence caused the natives to fly and hide themselves inland.
+
+Cortes, much displeased, severely reprimanded his officer, and, by the
+aid of an interpreter, explained his peaceful intentions to two Indians
+who had been captured. Then he loaded them with presents, and sent them
+to persuade their countrymen to return, which they presently did, and
+the Spaniards had the satisfaction of bartering the trifles they had
+brought for the gold ornaments of the natives. Next Cortes sent two
+ships to the opposite coast of Yucatan, where they were to despatch some
+Indians inland, to seek for and ransom the Christian captives, of whom
+he had gained some tidings from a trader, and while they were gone he
+explored the island, and induced the natives to declare themselves
+Christians by the very summary method of rolling their venerated idols
+out of their temple, and setting up in their stead an image of the
+Virgin and Child. When the Indians saw that no terrible consequences
+followed, they listened to the teaching of the good priest, Father
+Olmedo, who accompanied the expedition, though it is probable that they
+did not, after all, understand much of his instruction. After eight days
+the two ships came back, but with no news of the captives, and Cortes
+sorrowfully decided that he could wait no longer. He accordingly took in
+provisions and water, and set sail again, but before they had gone far
+one of the ships sprang a leak, which obliged them to put back into the
+same port. It was lucky that they did, for soon after they landed a
+canoe was seen coming from the shore of Yucatan, which proved to contain
+one of the long-lost Spaniards, who was called Aguilas. He had been for
+eight years a slave among the natives in the interior, but his master,
+tempted by the ransom of glass-beads, hawk-bells, and such treasures,
+had consented to release him. When he reached the coast the ships were
+gone, but owing to the fortunate accident of their return, he found
+himself once more among his countrymen. Cortes at once saw the
+importance of having him as an interpreter, but in the end he proved to
+be of more use to the explorers than could have been at first imagined.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Again the fleet set out, and coasted along the Gulf of Mexico till they
+reached the mouth of the Rio de Tabasco. Here Cortes landed, but found
+that the Indians were hostile, and were drawn up in great force against
+him. However, after some hard fighting the Spaniards were victorious,
+and having taken possession of the town of Tabasco, Cortes sent
+messengers to the chiefs saying that if they did not at once submit
+themselves he would ravage the country with fire and sword. As they had
+no mind for any more fighting they came humbly, bringing presents, and
+among them thirty slaves, one of whom, a beautiful Mexican girl named
+Malinche, was afterwards of the utmost importance to the expedition. She
+had come into the possession of the cacique of Tabasco through some
+traders from the interior of the country, to whom she had been secretly
+sold by her mother, who coveted her inheritance. Cortes now reembarked
+his soldiers and sailed away to the island of San Juan de Uloa, under
+the lee of which they anchored, and soon saw the light pirogues of the
+Indians coming off to them from the mainland. They brought presents of
+fruit and flowers, and little ornaments of gold which they gladly
+exchanged for the usual trifles. Cortes was most anxious to converse
+with them, but found to his disappointment that Aguilar could not
+understand their dialect. In this dilemma he was informed that one of
+the slaves was a Mexican, and could of course speak the language. This
+was Malinche, or as the Spaniards always called her, 'Marina.' Cortes
+was so charmed with her beauty and cleverness that he made her his
+secretary, and kept her always with him; and she very soon learned
+enough Spanish to interpret for him without the help of Aguilar. But at
+first they were both necessary, and by their aid Cortes learned that his
+visitors were subjects of Montezuma, the great Aztec emperor, and were
+governed by Tenhtlile, one of his nobles. Cortes having ascertained that
+there was abundance of gold in the interior, dismissed them, loaded with
+presents, to acquaint their governor with his desire for an interview.
+The next morning he landed on the mainland with all his force. It was a
+level sandy plain, and the troops employed themselves in cutting down
+trees and bushes to provide a shelter from the weather; in this they
+were aided by the natives, who built them huts with stakes and earth,
+mats and cotton carpets, and flocked from all the country round to see
+the wonderful strangers. They brought with them fruits, vegetables,
+flowers in abundance, game, and many dishes cooked after the fashion of
+the country; and these they gave to, or bartered with, the Spaniards.
+The next day came Tenhtlile, the governor, with a numerous train, and
+was met by Cortes, and conducted to his tent with great ceremony. All
+the principal officers were assembled, and after a ceremonious banquet
+at which the governor was regaled with Spanish wines and confections,
+the interpreters were sent for and a conversation began. Tenhtlile first
+asked about the country of the strangers, and the object of their visit.
+Cortes replied that he was the subject of a powerful monarch beyond the
+seas, who had heard of the greatness of the Mexican emperor, and had
+sent him with a present in token of his goodwill, and with a message
+which he must deliver in person. He concluded by asking when he could
+be admitted into Montezuma's presence. To this the Aztec noble replied
+haughtily,
+
+'How is it that you have been here only two days, and demand to see the
+emperor?'
+
+Then he added that he was surprised to hear that there could be another
+monarch as powerful as Montezuma, but if it were so his master would be
+happy to communicate with him, and that he would forward the royal gift
+brought by the Spanish commander, and so soon as he had learned
+Montezuma's will would inform him of it. Tenhtlile then ordered his
+slaves to bring forward the present for the Spanish general. It
+consisted of ten loads of fine cotton, several mantles of gorgeous
+feather-work, and a wicker basket of golden ornaments. Cortes received
+it with due acknowledgments, and in his turn ordered the presents for
+Montezuma to be brought forward. These were an armchair richly carved
+and painted, a crimson cloth cap with a gold medal, and a quantity of
+collars, bracelets, and other ornaments of cut-glass, which in a country
+where glass was unknown were as valuable as real gems. The Aztec
+governor observed a soldier in the camp in a shining gilt helmet, and
+expressed a wish that Montezuma should see it, as it reminded him of one
+worn by the god Quetzalcoatl. Cortes declared his willingness that the
+helmet should be sent, and begged that the emperor would return it
+filled with the gold dust of the country, that he might compare its
+quality with that of his own. He also said that the Spaniards were
+troubled with a disease of the heart, for which gold was a sure remedy.
+In fact, he made his want of gold very clear to the governor. While
+these things were passing Cortes observed one of Tenhtlile's attendants
+busy with a pencil, and on looking at his work he found it was a sketch
+of the Spaniards, their costumes, weapons, and all objects of interest
+being correctly represented both in form and colour. This was the
+celebrated picture-writing, and the governor said that this man was
+drawing all these things for Montezuma, as he would get a much better
+idea of their appearance thus. Cortes thereupon ordered out the cavalry,
+and caused them to go through their military exercises upon the firm wet
+sands of the beach; and the appearance of the horses--which were
+absolutely unknown in Mexico--filled the natives with astonishment,
+which turned to alarm when the general ordered the cannon to be fired,
+and they saw for the first time the smoke and flame, and beheld the
+balls crashing among the trees of the neighbouring forest and reducing
+them to splinters. Nothing of this sort was lost upon the painters, who
+faithfully recorded every particular, not omitting the ships--the
+'water-houses,' as they called them--which swung at anchor in the bay.
+Finally, the governor departed as ceremoniously as he had come, leaving
+orders with his people to supply the Spanish general with all he might
+require till further instructions should come from the emperor.
+
+In the meantime the arrival of the strangers was causing no small stir
+in the Mexican capital. A general feeling seems to have prevailed that
+the Return of the White God, Quetzalcoatl, was at hand, and many
+wonderful signs and occurrences seemed to confirm the belief.
+
+In 1510 the great lake of Tezcuco, without tempest, earthquake, or any
+visible cause, became violently agitated, overflowed its banks, and,
+pouring into the streets of Mexico, swept away many buildings by the
+fury of its waters. In 1511 one of the towers of the great temple took
+fire, equally without any apparent cause, and continued to burn in
+defiance of all attempts to extinguish it. In the following years three
+comets were seen, and not long before the coming of the Spaniards a
+strange light broke forth in the east, resembling a great pyramid or
+flood of fire thickly powdered with stars: at the same time low voices
+were heard in the air, and doleful wailings, as if to announce some
+strange, mysterious calamity. A lady of the Royal house died, was
+buried, and rose again, prophesying ruin to come. After the conquest she
+became a Christian.
+
+Montezuma, terrified at these apparitions, took counsel of
+Nezahualpilli, King of Tezcuco, who was a great proficient in astrology;
+but far from obtaining any comfort from him, he was still further
+depressed by being told that all these things predicted the speedy
+downfall of his empire. When, therefore, the picture-writings showing
+the Spanish invaders reached Montezuma, they caused him great
+apprehension, and he summoned the kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan to
+consult with them as to how the strangers should be received. There was
+much division of opinion, but finally Montezuma resolved to send a rich
+present which should impress them with a high idea of his wealth and
+grandeur, while at the same time he would forbid them to approach the
+capital. After eight days at the most, which however seemed a long time
+to the Spaniards, who were suffering from the intense heat of the
+climate, the embassy, accompanied by the governor Tenhtlile, reached the
+camp, and presented to Cortes the magnificent treasure sent by
+Montezuma. One of the two nobles had been sent on account of his great
+likeness to the picture of Cortes which the Aztec painter had executed
+for Montezuma. This resemblance was so striking that the Spanish
+soldiers always called this chief 'the Mexican Cortes.' After the usual
+ceremonious salutes, the slaves unrolled the delicately wrought mats and
+displayed the gifts they had brought. There were shields, helmets, and
+cuirasses embossed with plates and ornaments of pure gold, with collars
+and bracelets of the same precious metal, sandals, fans, plumes, and
+crests of variegated feathers wrought with gold and silver thread and
+sprinkled with pearls and precious stones. Also imitations of birds and
+animals in wrought or cast gold and silver of exquisite workmanship; and
+curtain coverlets and robes of cotton, fine as silk--of rich and varied
+hues--interwoven with feather-work that rivalled the most delicate
+painting. There were more than thirty loads of cotton cloth, and the
+Spanish helmet was returned filled to the brim with grains of gold. But
+the things which excited the most admiration were two circular plates of
+gold and silver as large as carriage-wheels. One, representing the sun,
+was richly carved with plants and animals, and was worth fifty-two
+thousand five hundred pounds. The Spaniards could not conceal their
+rapture at this exhibition of treasure which exceeded their utmost
+dreams; and when they had sufficiently admired it the ambassadors
+courteously delivered their message, which was to the effect that
+Montezuma had great pleasure in holding communication with so powerful a
+monarch as the King of Spain, but he could not grant a personal
+interview to the Spaniards; the way to his capital was too long and too
+dangerous. Therefore the strangers must return to their own land with
+the gifts he had sent them. Cortes, though much vexed, concealed his
+annoyance and expressed his sense of the emperor's munificence. It made
+him, he said, only the more desirous of a personal interview, so that he
+felt it was impossible that he should present himself again before his
+sovereign without having accomplished this great object of his journey.
+He once more requested them to bear this message to their master, with
+another trifling gift. This they seemed unwilling to do, and took their
+leave repeating that the general's wish could not be gratified. The
+soldiers were by this time suffering greatly from the heat, surrounded
+as they were by burning sands and evil-smelling marshes, and swarms of
+venomous insects which tormented them night and day. Thirty of their
+number died, and the discomfort of the rest was greatly increased by
+the indifference of the natives, who no longer brought them such
+abundant supplies, and demanded an immense price for what they did
+provide. After ten days the Mexican envoys returned, bearing another
+rich present of stuffs and gold ornaments, which, though not so valuable
+as the first, was yet worth three thousand ounces of gold. Beside this
+there were four precious stones, somewhat resembling emeralds, each of
+which they assured the Spaniards was worth more than a load of gold, and
+was destined as a special mark of respect for the Spanish monarch, since
+only the nobles of Mexico were allowed to wear them. Unfortunately,
+however, they were of no value at all in Europe. Montezuma's answer was
+the same as before. He positively forbade the strangers to approach
+nearer to his capital, and requested them to take the treasure he had
+bestowed upon them, and return without delay to their own country.
+Cortes received this unwelcome message courteously, but coldly, and
+turning to his officers exclaimed, 'This is a rich and powerful prince
+indeed, yet it shall go hard but we will one day pay him a visit in his
+capital.' Father Olmedo then tried to persuade the Aztec chiefs to give
+up their idol-worship, and endeavoured by the aid of Marina and Aguilar
+to explain to them the mysteries of his own faith, but it is probable
+that he was not very successful. The chiefs presently withdrew coldly,
+and that same night every hut was deserted by the natives, and the
+Spaniards were left without supplies in a desolate wilderness. Cortes
+thought this so suspicious that he prepared for an attack, but
+everything remained quiet.
+
+The general now decided to remove his camp to a more healthy place a
+little farther along the coast, where the ships could anchor and be
+sheltered from the north wind. But the soldiers began to grumble and be
+discontented, and to say that it was time to return with their spoil,
+and not linger upon those barren shores until they had brought the whole
+Mexican nation about their ears. Fortunately at this juncture five
+Indians made their appearance in the camp, and were taken to the
+general's tent. They were quite different from the Mexicans in dress and
+appearance, and wore rings of gold and bright blue gems in their ears
+and nostrils, while a gold leaf, delicately wrought, was attached to the
+under lip. Marina could not understand their language, but luckily she
+found that two of them could speak in the Aztec tongue. They explained
+that they came from Cempoalla, the chief town of a tribe called the
+Totonacs, and that their country had been lately conquered by the
+Aztecs, whose oppressions they greatly resented. They also said that the
+fame of the Spaniards had reached their master, who had sent to request
+them to visit him in his capital. It is easy to imagine how eagerly
+Cortes listened to this communication, and how important it was to him.
+Hitherto, as he knew absolutely nothing of the state of affairs in the
+interior of the country, he had supposed the empire to be strong and
+united. Now he saw that the discontent of the provinces conquered by
+Montezuma might be turned to his own advantage, and that by their aid he
+might hope to succeed in his cherished scheme of subduing the emperor
+himself. He therefore dismissed the Totonacs with many presents,
+promising soon to visit their city. Then with his usual energy and
+diplomacy he turned upon the immediate difficulties which beset him--the
+discontent of the soldiers, the jealousy of some of his officers, and
+the fact that he had no warrant for his ambitious plans in the
+commission that he had received from Velasquez. By tact and cunning he
+managed to settle everything as he wished, and set to work to establish
+a colony in the name of the Spanish sovereign, and appointed his chief
+friend Puertocarrero to be one of its magistrates, and Montejo, who was
+a friend of Velasquez, to be the other. The new town was called Villa
+Rica de Vera Cruz, 'The rich town of the True Cross,' and, as you see,
+its governors and officials were appointed before a single house was
+built. To them Cortes then resigned the commission which he had received
+from Velasquez, and the council, which consisted chiefly of his own
+friends, immediately reappointed him to be captain-general and chief
+justice of the colony, with power to do practically just as he liked. Of
+course this caused a great commotion in the opposing party, but Cortes
+put the leaders into irons and sent them on board one of the ships,
+while he sent the soldiers on a foraging expedition into the surrounding
+country. By the time these returned with supplies they had altered their
+minds, and joined their companions in arms, pledging themselves to a
+common cause, while even the cavaliers on board the ship came to the
+same conclusion, and were reconciled to the new government, and were
+from that time staunch adherents to Cortes.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Peace being thus restored, the army set out to march northwards to the
+place where it had been decided to build the town. They crossed a river
+in rafts and broken canoes which they found upon its bank, and presently
+came to a very different scene from the burning sandy waste, which they
+had left. The wide plains were covered with green grass, and there were
+groves of palms, among which the Spaniards saw deer and various wild
+animals, and flocks of pheasants and turkeys. On their way they passed
+through a deserted village, in the temples of which they found records
+in the picture-writing, and also, to their horror, the remains of
+sacrificed victims. As they proceeded up the river they were met by
+twelve Indians, sent by the cacique of Cempoalla to show them the way to
+his town. The farther they went the more beautiful did the country
+become. The trees were loaded with gorgeous fruits and flowers, and
+birds and butterflies of every hue abounded. As they approached the
+Indian city they saw gardens and orchards on each side of the road, and
+were met by crowds of natives, who mingled fearlessly with the soldiers,
+bringing garlands of flowers, in which they specially delighted, to deck
+the general's helmet and to hang about the neck of his horse. The
+cacique, who was tall and very fat, received Cortes with much courtesy,
+and assigned to the army quarters in a neighbouring temple, where they
+were well supplied with provisions, and the general received a present
+of gold and fine cotton. But in spite of all this friendliness he
+neglected no precautions, stationing sentinels, and posting his
+artillery so as to command the entrance. The following morning Cortes
+paid the cacique a visit at his own residence, and, by the aid of
+Marina, a long conference was held in which the Spanish general gained
+much important information, and promised to aid the Totonacs against
+Montezuma, and prevent him from carrying off their young men and maidens
+to be sacrificed to his gods. The following day the army marched off
+again to the town of Chiahuitztla, which stood like a fortress on a crag
+overlooking the gulf. Though the inhabitants were alarmed at first, they
+soon became friendly, and the chiefs came to confer with Cortes and the
+cacique of Cempoallo, who had accompanied him, carried in a litter. Just
+then there was a stir among the people, and five men entered the
+market-place where they were standing. By their rich and peculiar dress
+they seemed to belong to a different race: their dark glossy hair was
+tied in a knot at the top of the head, and they carried bunches of
+flowers in their hands. Their attendants carried wands, or fans, to
+brush away the flies and insects from their lordly masters. These
+persons passed the Spaniards haughtily, scarcely deigning to return
+their salutations, and they were immediately joined by the Totonac
+chiefs, who seemed anxious to conciliate them by every sort of
+attention. The general, much astonished, inquired of Marina what this
+meant, and she replied that these were Aztec nobles empowered to receive
+tribute for Montezuma.
+
+Soon after the chiefs returned in dismay, saying that the Aztecs were
+very angry with them for entertaining the Spaniards without the
+emperor's permission, and had demanded twenty young men and maidens to
+be sacrificed to the gods as a punishment. Cortes was most indignant at
+this insolence, and insisted that the Totonacs should not only refuse
+the demand, but should also seize the Aztec nobles, and throw them into
+prison. This they did, but the Spanish general managed to get two of
+them freed in the night, and brought before him. He then very cunningly
+made them believe that he regretted the indignity that had been offered
+them, and would help them to get away safely, and the next day would do
+his best to release their companions. He also told them to report this
+to Montezuma, assuring him of the great respect and regard in which he
+was held by the Spaniards. Them he sent them away secretly to the port,
+and they were taken in one of the vessels, and landed safely at a little
+distance along the coast. The Totonacs were furious at the escape of
+some of their prisoners, and would at once have sacrificed the
+remainder, had not Cortes expressed the utmost horror at the idea, and
+sent them on board one of the ships for safe keeping, whence he very
+soon allowed them to join their companions. This artful proceeding had,
+as we shall presently see, just the effect it was meant to have upon
+Montezuma. By order of Cortes, messengers were now sent to all the other
+Totonac towns, telling them of the defiance that had been shown to the
+emperor, and bidding them also refuse to pay the tribute. The Indians
+soon came flocking into Chiahuitztla to see and confer with the powerful
+strangers, in the hope of regaining liberty by their aid, and so
+cleverly had Cortes managed to embroil them with Montezuma, that even
+the most timid felt that they had no choice but to accept the protection
+of the Spaniards, and make a bold effort for the recovery of freedom.
+
+Cortes accordingly made them swear allegiance to the Spanish sovereign,
+and then set out once more for the port where his colony was to be
+planted. This was only half a league distant, in a wide and fruitful
+plain, and he was not long in determining the circuit of the walls, and
+the site of the fort, granary, and other public buildings. The friendly
+Indians brought stone, lime, wood, and bricks, and in a few weeks a town
+rose up, which served as a good starting-point for future operations, a
+retreat for the disabled, a place for the reception of stores, or
+whatever might be sent to or from the mother-country, and was, moreover,
+strong enough to overawe the surrounding country. This was the first
+colony in New Spain, and was hailed with satisfaction by the simple
+natives, who could not foresee that their doom was sealed when a white
+man set his foot upon their soil.
+
+While the Spaniards were still occupied with their new settlement they
+were surprised by another embassy from Mexico. When the account of the
+imprisonment of the royal collectors first reached Montezuma, his
+feelings of fear and superstition were swallowed up in indignation, and
+he began with great energy to make preparations for punishing his
+rebellious vassals, and avenging the insult offered to himself. But when
+the Aztec officers liberated by Cortes reached the capital and reported
+the courteous treatment they had received from the Spanish commander, he
+was induced to resume his former timid and conciliatory policy, and sent
+an embassy consisting of two young nephews of his own and four of his
+chief nobles to the Spanish quarters. As usual they bore a princely gift
+of gold, rich cotton stuffs, and wonderful mantles of feather
+embroidery. The envoys on coming before Cortes presented this offering,
+with the emperor's thanks to him for the courtesy he had shown to the
+captive nobles. At the same time Montezuma expressed his surprise and
+regret that the Spaniards should have countenanced the rebellion. He had
+no doubt, he said, that Cortes and his followers were the
+long-looked-for strangers, and therefore of the same lineage as himself.
+From deference to them he would spare the Totonacs while they were
+present, but the day of vengeance would come. Cortes entertained the
+Indians with frank hospitality, taking care, however, to make such a
+display of his resources as should impress them with a sense of his
+power. Then he dismissed them with a few trifling gifts and a
+conciliatory message to the emperor, to the effect that he would soon
+pay his respects to him in his capital, when all misunderstanding
+between them would certainly be adjusted. The Totonacs were amazed when
+they understood the nature of this interview; for, in spite of the
+presence of the Spaniards, they had felt great apprehension as to the
+consequence of their rash act, and now they felt absolutely in awe of
+the strangers who even at a distance could exercise such a mysterious
+influence over the terrible Montezuma.
+
+Not long after the cacique of Cempoalla appealed to Cortes to aid him
+against a neighbour with whom he had a quarrel. The general at once
+marched to support him with a part of his force, but when they reached
+the hostile city they were received in a most friendly manner, and
+Cortes had no difficulty in reconciling the two chiefs to one another.
+In token of gratitude the Indian cacique sent eight noble maidens,
+richly decked with collars and ornaments of gold, whom he begged the
+general to give as wives to his captains. Cortes seized the opportunity
+of declaring that they must first become Christians, and be baptized,
+since the sons of the Church could not be allowed to marry idolaters.
+The chief replied that his gods were good enough for him, and that he
+should at once resent any insults offered to them, even if they did not
+avenge themselves by instantly destroying the Spaniards. However, the
+general and his followers had seen too much already of the barbarous
+rites of the Indian religion and its horrible sacrifices. Without
+hesitation they attacked the principal teocalli, whereupon the cacique
+called his men to arms, the priests in their blood-stained robes rushed
+frantically about among the people, calling upon them to defend their
+gods, and all was tumult and confusion. Cortes acted with his usual
+promptitude at this crisis. He caused the cacique and the principal
+inhabitants and the priests to be taken prisoners, and then commanded
+them to quiet the people, threatening that a single arrow shot at the
+Spaniards should cost them their lives. Marina also represented the
+madness of resistance, reminding the cacique that if he lost the
+friendship of the strangers, he would be left alone to face the
+vengeance of Montezuma. This consideration decided him: covering his
+face with his hands, he exclaimed that the gods would avenge their own
+wrongs. Taking advantage of this tacit consent, fifty soldiers rushed up
+the stairway of the temple, and dragging the great wooden idols from
+their places in the topmost tower, they rolled them down the steps of
+the pyramid amid the groans of the natives and the triumphant shouts of
+their comrades, and then burnt them to ashes. The Totonacs, finding that
+their gods were unable to prevent or even punish this profanation of
+their temple, now believed that they were indeed less to be feared than
+the Spaniards, and offered no further resistance. By Cortes's orders the
+teocalli was then thoroughly purified, and an altar was erected,
+surmounted by a great cross hung with garlands of roses, and Father
+Olmedo said Mass before the Indians and Spaniards, who seem to have been
+alike impressed by the ceremony. An old disabled soldier, named Juan de
+Torres, was left to watch over the sanctuary and instruct the natives in
+its services, while the general, taking a friendly leave of his Totonac
+allies, set out once more for Villa Rica, to finish his arrangements
+before departing for the capital. Here he was surprised to find that a
+Spanish vessel had arrived in his absence, having on board twelve
+soldiers and two horses, a very welcome addition to the tiny army.
+Cortes now resolved to execute a plan of which he had been thinking for
+some time. He knew very well that none of his arrangements about the
+colony would hold good without the Spanish monarch's sanction, and also
+that Velasquez had great interest at court, and would certainly use it
+against him. Therefore he resolved to send despatches to the emperor
+himself, and such an amount of treasure as should give a great idea of
+the extent and importance of his discoveries. He gave up his own share
+of the spoil, and persuaded his officers to do the same, and a paper was
+circulated among the soldiers, calling upon all who chose to resign the
+small portion which was due to them, that a present worthy of the
+emperor's acceptance might be sent home. It is only another proof of the
+extraordinary power which Cortes had over these rough soldiers, who
+cared for nothing but plunder, that not a single one refused to give up
+the very treasure which he had risked so much to gain.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+These are some of the wonderful things that were sent. Two collars made
+of gold and precious stones. Two birds made of green feathers, with
+feet, beaks, and eyes of gold, and in the same piece with them animals
+of gold resembling snails. A large alligator's head of gold. Two birds
+made of thread and feather-work, having the quills of their wings and
+tails, their feet, eyes and the ends of their beaks of gold, standing
+upon two reeds covered with gold, which are raised on balls of
+feather-work and gold embroidery, one white and the other yellow, with
+seven tassels of feather-work hanging from each of them. A large silver
+wheel, also bracelets, leaves, and five shields of the same metal. A
+box of feather-work embroidered on leather, with a large plate of gold
+weighing seventy ounces in the midst. A large wheel of gold with figures
+of strange animals on it, and worked with tufts of leaves, weighing
+three thousand eight hundred ounces. A fan of variegated feather-work
+with thirty-seven rods plated with gold. Sixteen shields of precious
+stones, with feathers of various colours hanging from their rims, and
+six shields each covered with a plate of gold, with something resembling
+a mitre in the centre. Besides all this there was a quantity of gold
+ore, and many pieces of richly embroidered cotton cloth and
+feather-work. He accompanied this present with a letter to the emperor
+in which he gave an account of all his adventures and discoveries, and
+ended by beseeching him to confirm his authority, as he was entirely
+confident that he should be able to place the Castilian crown in
+possession of this great Indian empire. He also sent four slaves, who
+had been rescued from the cage in which were kept the victims about to
+be sacrificed, and some Mexican manuscripts.
+
+Very soon after the departure of the treasure-ship Cortes discovered
+that there was a conspiracy among some of his followers, who either did
+not like the way the general arranged matters, or else were terrified at
+the prospect of the dangerous campaign that was before them. They had
+seized one of the ships, and got provisions and water stored, and were
+on the eve of setting sail for Cuba, when one of their number repented
+of the part he had taken in the plot, and betrayed it to Cortes, who at
+once took measures for the arrest of the ringleaders, two of whom were
+afterwards hanged. This affair showed the general that there were some
+among his followers who were not heart and soul in the expedition, and
+who might therefore fail him when he most needed them, and might also
+cause their comrades to desert if there was any chance for them to
+escape. He therefore determined to take the bold step of destroying the
+ships without the knowledge of his army. Accordingly, he marched the
+whole army to Cempoalla, and when he arrived there he told his plan to a
+few of his devoted adherents, who entirely approved of it. Through them
+he persuaded the pilots to declare the ships unseaworthy, and then
+ordered nine of them to be sunk, having first brought on shore their
+sails, masts, iron, and all movable fittings. When the news of this
+proceeding reached Cempoalla, it caused the deepest consternation among
+the Spaniards, who felt themselves betrayed and abandoned, a mere
+handful of men arrayed against a great and formidable empire, and cut
+off from all chance of escape. They murmured loudly, and a serious
+mutiny was threatened. But Cortes, whose presence of mind never deserted
+him, managed to reassure them, and to persuade them that he had only
+done what was really best for everyone; and he so cunningly dwelt upon
+the fame and the treasure which they were on the eve of gaining, that
+not one of them accepted the offer which he made to them of returning to
+Cuba in the only remaining ship. Their enthusiasm for their leader
+revived, and as he concluded his speech they made the air ring with
+their shouts of 'To Mexico! To Mexico!'
+
+
+THE MARCH TO MEXICO
+
+While he was still at Cempoalla, news came to Cortes from Villa Rica
+that four strange ships were hovering off the coast, and that they
+refused to respond to repeated signals made to them by Don Juan de
+Escalante, who was in command of the garrison left in the town. This
+greatly alarmed Cortes, who was continually dreading the interference of
+his enemy, the governor of Cuba. He rode hastily back to Villa Rica,
+and, almost without stopping to rest, pushed on a few leagues northwards
+along the coast, where he understood the ships were at anchor. On his
+way he met with three Spaniards just landed from them, and learned that
+they belonged to a squadron fitted out by Francisco de Garay, who had
+landed on the Florida coast a year before, and had obtained from Spain
+authority over the countries he might discover in its neighbourhood.
+Cortes saw he had nothing to fear from them, but he did wish he could
+have induced the crews of the ships to join his expedition. The three
+men he easily persuaded, but those who remained on board feared
+treachery, and refused to send a boat ashore. Finally, by a stratagem,
+Cortes succeeded in capturing three or four more, out of a boat's crew
+who came to fetch their comrades, and with this small party of recruits
+he returned to Cempoalla. On August 16, 1519, Cortes bade farewell to
+his hospitable Indian friends, and set out for Mexico. His force
+consisted of about four hundred foot and fifteen horse, with seven
+pieces of artillery, and in addition to these he had obtained from the
+cacique of Cempoalla thirteen hundred warriors, and a thousand porters
+to carry the baggage and drag the guns. During the first day the army
+marched through the 'tierra caliente,' or hot region. All around them
+fruit and flowers grew in the wildest profusion, as indeed they did all
+the year round in that wonderful climate; the air was heavy with
+perfume, and bright birds and insects abounded. But after some leagues'
+travel, over roads made nearly impassable by the summer rains, they
+began to ascend gradually, and at the close of the second day they
+reached Xalapa, from which they looked out over one of the grandest
+prospects that could be seen anywhere. Down below them lay the hot
+region with its gay confusion of meadows, streams, and flowering
+forests, sprinkled over with shining Indian villages, while a faint line
+of light upon the horizon told them that there was the ocean they had so
+lately crossed, beyond which lay their country, which many of them would
+never see again. To the south rose the mighty mountain called 'Orizaba,'
+in his mantle of snow, and in another direction the Sierra Madre, with
+its dark belt of pine-trees, stretched its long lines of shadowy hills
+away into the distance. Onward and upward they went, and on the fourth
+day they arrived at the strong town of Naulinco. Here the inhabitants
+entertained them hospitably, for they were friendly with the Totonacs,
+and Cortes endeavoured, through Father Olmedo, to teach them something
+about Christianity. They seem to have listened willingly, and allowed
+the Spaniards to erect a cross for their adoration, which indeed they
+did in most of the places where they halted. The troops now entered upon
+a rugged, narrow valley, called 'the Bishop's Pass,' and now it began to
+be terribly cold, the snow and hail beat upon them, and the freezing
+wind seemed to penetrate to their very bones. The Spaniards were partly
+protected by their armour, and their thick coats of quilted cotton, but
+the poor Indians, natives of the hot region and with very little
+clothing, suffered greatly, and indeed several of them died by the way.
+The path lay round a bare and dreadful-looking volcanic mountain, and
+often upon the edge of precipices three thousand feet in depth. After
+three days of this dreary travelling the army emerged into a more genial
+climate; they had reached the great tableland which spreads out for
+hundreds of miles along the crests of the Cordilleras, more than seven
+thousand feet above the sea-level. The vegetation of the torrid and
+temperate regions had of course disappeared, but the fields were
+carefully cultivated. Many of the crops were unknown to the Spaniards,
+but they recognised maize and aloes, and various kinds of cactus.
+Suddenly the troops came upon what seemed to be a populous city, even
+larger than Cempoalla, and with loftier and more substantial buildings,
+of stone and lime. There were thirteen teocallis in the town, and in one
+place in the suburbs one of the Spaniards counted the stored-up skulls
+of a hundred thousand sacrificed victims. The lord of the town ruled
+over twenty thousand vassals; he was a tributary to Montezuma, and there
+was a strong Mexican garrison in the place. This was probably the reason
+of his receiving Cortes and his army very coldly, and vaunting the
+grandeur of the Mexican emperor, who could, he declared, muster thirty
+great vassals, each of whom commanded a hundred thousand men. In answer
+to the inquiries of Cortes, he told him about Montezuma and his capital.
+How more than twenty thousand prisoners of war were sacrificed every
+year upon the altars of his gods, and how the city stood in the midst of
+a great lake, and was approached by long causeways connected in places
+by wooden bridges, which when raised cut off all communication with the
+country--and many other strange things which were not of a kind to
+reassure the minds of the Spaniards. They hardly knew whether to believe
+the old cacique or not, but at any rate the wonders they heard made
+them, as one of their cavaliers said, 'only the more earnest to prove
+the adventure, desperate as it might appear.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The natives were also very curious to know about the Spaniards, their
+horses and dogs, and strange weapons, and Marina in answering their
+questions took care to expatiate upon the exploits and victories of her
+adopted countrymen, and to state the extraordinary marks of respect they
+had received from Montezuma. This had its effect upon the cacique, who
+presently sent the general some slaves to make bread for the soldiers,
+and supplied them with the means of refreshment and rest, which they
+needed so much after their toilful march.
+
+The army rested in this city four or five days, and even at the end of
+the last century the Indians would still point out the cypress tree
+under the shelter of which the conqueror's horse had been tied. When the
+journey was resumed, the way was through a broad green valley, watered
+by a splendid river and shaded by lofty trees. On either side of the
+river an unbroken line of Indian dwellings extended for several leagues,
+and on some rising ground stood a town which might contain five or six
+thousand inhabitants, commanded by a fortress with walls and trenches.
+Here the troops halted again, and met with friendly treatment.
+
+In their last halting-place Cortes had been advised by the natives to
+take the route to the ancient city of Cholula, the inhabitants of which
+were a mild race, subjects of Montezuma, and given to peaceful arts, who
+were likely to receive him kindly. But his Cempoallan allies declared
+that the Cholulans were false and perfidious, and counselled him to go
+to Tlascala, a valiant little republic which had managed to maintain its
+independence against the arms of Mexico. The tribe had always been
+friendly with the Totonacs, and had the reputation of being frank,
+fearless, and trustworthy. The Spanish general decided to try and secure
+their goodwill, and accordingly despatched four of the principal
+Cempoallans with a gift, consisting of a cap of crimson cloth, a sword
+and a cross-bow, to ask permission to pass through their country,
+expressing at the same time his admiration of their valour, and of their
+long resistance of the Aztecs, whose pride he, too, was determined to
+humble. Three days after the departure of the envoys the army resumed
+its march, lingering somewhat by the way in hopes of receiving an answer
+from the Indian Republic. But the messengers did not return, which
+occasioned the general no little uneasiness. As they advanced the
+country became rougher and the scenery bolder, and at last their
+progress was arrested by a most remarkable fortification. It was a stone
+wall nine feet high and twenty feet thick, with a parapet a foot and a
+half broad at the top, for the protection of those who defended it. It
+had only one opening in the centre, made by two semicircular lines of
+wall overlapping each other for the space of forty paces, and having a
+passage-way between, ten paces wide, so contrived as to be perfectly
+commanded by the inner wall. This fortification, which extended for more
+than two leagues, rested at either end on the bold, natural buttresses
+of the chain of mountains. It was built of immense blocks of stone
+nicely laid together without cement, and from the remains that still
+exist it is easy to imagine what its size and solidity must have been.
+This singular structure marked the limits of Tlascala, and was intended,
+the natives said, as a barrier against Mexican invasions. The soldiers
+paused amazed, and not a little apprehensive as to their reception in
+Tlascala, since a people who were capable of such a work as that would
+indeed prove formidable should they not be friendly. But Cortes, putting
+himself at the head of his cavalry, shouted, 'Forward, soldiers; the
+Holy Cross is our banner, and under that we shall conquer.' And so they
+marched through the undefended passage, and found themselves in
+Tlascala.
+
+The Tlascalan people belonged to the same great family as the Aztecs,
+and had planted themselves upon the western shore of Lake Tezcuco at
+about the same period--at the close of the twelfth century. There they
+remained many years, until they had, for some reason, incurred the
+displeasure of all the surrounding tribes, who combined to attack them,
+and a terrible battle took place. Though the Tlascalans were entirely
+victorious, they were so disgusted by this state of things that they
+resolved to migrate, and the greater number of them finally settled in
+the warm and fruitful valley overshadowed by the mountains of Tlascala.
+After some years the monarchy was divided, first into two, then four
+separate states, each with its own chief, who was independent in his
+own territory, and possessed equal authority with the other three in all
+matters concerning the whole republic, the affairs of which were settled
+by a council consisting of the four chiefs and the inferior nobles. They
+were an agricultural people, and the fertility of their new country was
+signified by its name--'Tlascala' meaning the land of bread. Presently
+their neighbours began to be envious of their prosperity, and they were
+frequently obliged to defend themselves against the Cholulans, and were
+always successful. But when Axayacatl, king of the Aztecs, sent
+demanding the same tribute and obedience from them which the other
+people of the country paid him, threatening, if they refused, to destroy
+their cities, and give their land to their enemies, they answered
+proudly, 'Neither they nor their forefathers had ever paid tribute or
+homage to a foreign power, nor ever would pay it. If their country was
+invaded, they knew how to defend it.'
+
+This answer brought upon them the forces of the Mexican monarch, and a
+pitched battle was fought in which the republic was again victorious,
+but from that time hostilities never ceased between the two nations,
+every captive was mercilessly sacrificed, and the Tlascalan children
+were trained from the cradle to hate the Mexicans with a deadly hatred.
+In this struggle the Tlascalans received valuable support from a wild
+and warlike race from the north, called the Otomies. Some of them
+settled in the republic, and having proved themselves courageous and
+faithful, were entrusted with the defence of the frontier. After
+Montezuma became emperor of Mexico greater efforts than before were made
+to subdue Tlascala. He sent a great army against it, commanded by his
+favourite son, but his troops were defeated and his son killed. Enraged
+and mortified, Montezuma made still greater preparations and invaded the
+valley with a terrific force. But the Tlascalans withdrew to the
+recesses of the hills, and watching their opportunity, swept down upon
+the enemy and drove them from their territory with dreadful slaughter.
+Nevertheless they were greatly harassed by these constant struggles with
+a foe so superior to themselves in numbers and resources. The Aztec
+armies lay between them and the coast, cutting off all possibility of
+obtaining any supplies. There were some things, as cotton, cacas, and
+salt, which they were unable to grow or manufacture, of which they had
+been deprived for more than fifty years, and their taste was so much
+affected by this enforced abstinence that they did not get used to
+eating salt with their food for several generations after the conquest.
+This was the state of affairs in Tlascala when the Spaniards reached
+it, and it is easy to see how important it was to Cortes to form an
+alliance with it, but that was not an easy thing to do.
+
+The Tlascalans had heard about the Christians and their victorious
+advance, but they had not expected that they would come their way. So
+they were much embarrassed by the embassy demanding a passage through
+their territories. The council was assembled, and a great difference of
+opinion was found among its members. Some believed that these were the
+white-skinned, bearded men whose coming was foretold, and at all events
+they were enemies to Mexico, and might help them in their struggle
+against it. Others argued that this could not be: the march of the
+strangers through the land might be tracked by the broken images of the
+Indian gods, and desecrated temples. How could they be sure that they
+were not friends of Montezuma? They had received his embassies, accepted
+his gifts, and were even now on their way to his capital in company with
+his vassals. This last was the opinion of an aged chief, one of the four
+rulers of the republic. His name was Xicotencatl, and he was nearly
+blind, for he was over a hundred years old. He had a son of the same
+name as himself, an impetuous young man, who commanded a powerful force
+of Tlascalans and Otomies on the eastern frontier where the great
+fortification stood. The old chief advised that this force should at
+once fall upon the Spaniards. If they were conquered they would be at
+the mercy of the Tlascalans, but if by any mischance his son should
+fail, the council could declare that they had nothing to do with the
+attack, laying the whole blame of it upon the young Xicotencatl.
+Meantime the Cempoallan envoys were to be detained under pretence of
+assisting at a religious sacrifice. By this time, as we know, Cortes and
+his gallant band had passed the rocky rampart, from which, for some
+reason or other, the Otomie guard was absent. After advancing a few
+leagues he saw a small party of Indians, armed with sword and buckler,
+who fled at his approach. He made signs for them to halt, but they only
+fled the faster.
+
+The Spaniards spurred their horses, and soon succeeded in overtaking
+them, when they at once turned, and, without showing the usual alarm at
+the horses and strange weapons of the cavaliers, attacked them
+furiously. The latter, however, were far too strong for them, and they
+would soon have been cut to pieces had not a body of several thousand
+Indians appeared, coming quickly to their rescue. Cortes seeing them,
+hastily despatched a messenger to hurry up his infantry. The Indians,
+having discharged their missiles, fell upon the little band of
+Spaniards, striving to drag the riders from their horses and to tear
+their lances from their grasp. They brought one cavalier to the ground,
+who afterwards died of his wounds, and they killed two horses, cutting
+their necks through with one blow of their formidable broadswords. This
+was a most serious loss to Cortes, whose horses were so important, and
+so few in number.
+
+The struggle was a hard one, and it was with no small satisfaction that
+the Spaniards saw their comrades advancing to their aid. No sooner had
+the main body reached the field of battle, than, hastily falling into
+position, they poured such a volley from their muskets and cross-bows as
+fairly astounded the enemy, who made no further attempt to continue the
+fight, but drew off in good order, leaving the road open to the
+Spaniards, who were only too glad to get rid of their foes and pursue
+their way. Presently they met two Tlascalan envoys, accompanied by two
+of the Cempoallans. The former, on being brought to the general, assured
+him of a friendly reception in the capital, and declared the late
+assault upon the troops to have been quite unauthorised. Cortes received
+his message courteously, pretending to believe that all was as he said.
+As it was now growing late the Spaniards quickened their pace, anxious
+to reach a suitable camping-ground before nightfall, and they chose a
+place upon the bank of a stream, where a few deserted huts were
+standing. These the weary and famishing soldiers ransacked in search of
+food, but could find nothing but some animals resembling dogs, which,
+however, they cooked and ate without ceremony, seasoning their unsavoury
+repast with the fruit of the Indian fig, which grew wild in the
+neighbourhood. After several desperate battles with the Tlascalans,
+Cortes finally won a great victory.
+
+The next day--as he usually did after gaining a battle--the Spanish
+commander sent a new embassy to the Tlascalan capital, making as before
+professions of friendship, but this time threatening that if his offers
+were rejected he would visit their city as a conqueror, razing their
+house to the ground and putting every inhabitant to the sword. Of course
+this message was given to the envoys by the aid of the Lady Marina, who
+became day by day more necessary to Cortes, and who was, indeed,
+generally admired for her courage and the cheerfulness with which she
+endured all the hardships of the camp and raised the drooping spirits of
+the soldiers, while by every means in her power she alleviated the
+miseries of her own countrymen. This time, the ambassadors of Cortes
+received a respectful hearing from the deeply dejected council of
+Tlascala, for whom nothing remained but to submit. Four principal
+caciques were chosen to offer to the Spaniards a free passage through
+the country, and a friendly reception in the capital. Their friendship
+was accepted, with many excuses for the past, and the chiefs were
+further ordered to touch at the camp of Xicotencatl, the Tlascalan
+general, and require him to cease hostilities and furnish the white men
+with a plentiful supply of provisions.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+While the Tlascalan envoys were still in the camp came a fresh embassy
+from Montezuma. Tidings had been sent to him of each step in the
+progress of the Spaniards, and it was with great satisfaction that he
+had heard of their taking the road to Tlascala, trusting that if they
+were mortal men they would find their graves there. Great was his
+dismay, therefore, when courier after courier brought him news of their
+successes, and how the most redoubtable warriors had been scattered by
+this handful of strangers. His superstitious fears returned with greater
+force than ever, and in his alarm and uncertainty he despatched five
+great nobles of his court, attended by two hundred slaves, to bear to
+Cortes a gift consisting of three thousand ounces of gold and several
+hundred robes of cotton and feather-work. As they laid it at his feet
+they said that they had come to offer Montezuma's congratulations upon
+his victories, and to express his regret that he could not receive them
+in his capital, where the numerous population was so unruly that he
+could not be answerable for their safety. The merest hint of the
+emperor's wishes would have been enough to influence any of the natives,
+but they made very little impression upon Cortes; and, seeing this, the
+envoys proceeded, in their master's name, to offer tribute to the
+Spanish sovereign, provided the general would give up the idea of
+visiting the capital. This was a fatal mistake, and a most strange one
+for such a brave and powerful monarch to make, for it amounted to an
+admission that he was unable to protect his treasures. Cortes in
+replying expressed the greatest respect for Montezuma, but urged his own
+sovereign's commands as a reason for disregarding his wishes. He added
+that though he had not at present the power of requiting his generosity
+as he could wish, he trusted 'to repay him at some future day with good
+works.' You will hear before long how he kept his word.
+
+The Mexican ambassadors were anything but pleased at finding the war at
+an end and a firm friendship established between their mortal enemies
+and the Spaniards, and the general saw with some satisfaction the
+evidences of a jealousy between them, which was his surest hope of
+success in undermining the Mexican empire. Two of the Aztecs presently
+returned to acquaint Montezuma with the state of affairs; the others
+remained with the Spaniards, Cortes being willing that they should see
+the deference paid to him by the Tlascalans, who were most anxious for
+his presence in their city.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The city of Tlascala lay about six leagues away from the Spanish camp,
+and the road led through a hilly region, and across a deep ravine over
+which a bridge had just been built for the passage of the army; they
+passed some towns by the way, where they were received with the greatest
+hospitality. The people flocked out to meet them, bringing garlands of
+roses, with which they decorated the Spanish soldiers, and wreathed
+about the necks of their horses. Priests in their white robes mingled
+with the crowd, scattering clouds of incense from their censers, and
+thus escorted the army slowly made its way through the gates of the city
+of Tlascala. Here the press became so great that it was with difficulty
+that a passage was cleared for it. The flat housetops were crowded with
+eager spectators, while garlands of green boughs, roses, and
+honeysuckle were thrown across the streets, and the air was rent with
+songs and shouts and the wild music of the national instruments.
+Presently the procession halted before the palace of the aged
+Xicotencatl, the father of the general, and Cortes dismounted from his
+horse, that the blind old man might satisfy his natural curiosity
+respecting him, by passing his hand over his face. He then led the way
+to a spacious hall, where a banquet was served to the whole army, after
+which, quarters were assigned to them in a neighbouring teocalli, the
+Mexican ambassadors being, at the desire of Cortes, lodged next to
+himself that he might the better protect them in the city of their foes.
+
+For some days the Spaniards were feasted and entertained in four
+quarters of the city, which was really like separate towns divided from
+one another by high walls, in each of which lived one of the rulers of
+the republic, surrounded by his own vassals. But amid all these friendly
+demonstrations the general never for a moment relaxed the strict
+discipline of the camp, and no soldier was allowed to leave his quarters
+without special permission. At first this offended the Tlascalan chiefs,
+as they thought it showed distrust of them. But when Cortes explained
+that this was only in accordance with the established military system of
+his country, they began to think it admirable, and the young Xicotencatl
+proposed, if possible, to imitate it. The Spanish commander now turned
+his thoughts to the converting of the Tlascalans; but as they refused to
+part with their own gods, though they were willing enough to add the God
+of the Christians to their number, he took the advice of the wise Father
+Olmedo, and abandoned the idea for the time. However, a cross was
+erected in one of the great squares, and there the Spaniards held their
+religious services unmolested, and it happened, strangely enough, that
+they had scarcely left the city when a thin, transparent cloud settled
+like a column upon the cross, wrapping it round, and continuing through
+the night to shed a soft light about it. This occurrence did more for
+the conversion of the natives than all the preaching of Father Olmedo.
+Several of the Indian princesses were now baptized, and given in
+marriage to the officers of Cortes. One, who was the daughter of
+Xicotencatl, became the wife of Alvarado, who was always a great
+favourite with the Tlascalans. From his gay manners, joyous countenance,
+and bright golden hair, he gained the nickname of 'Tonatiuh,' or the
+'Sun,' while Cortes, who hardly ever appeared anywhere without the
+beautiful Marina, was called by the natives 'Malinche,' which you will
+remember was her Indian name. While all this was happening, came yet
+another embassy from Montezuma, loaded as usual with costly gifts. This
+time he invited the Spaniards to visit him in his capital, assuring them
+that they would be welcome. Further, he besought them to enter into no
+alliance with the base and barbarous Tlascalans, but he invited them to
+take the route of the friendly city of Cholula, where arrangements were
+being made, by his orders, for their reception. The Tlascalans were much
+concerned that Cortes should propose to go to Mexico, and what they told
+him fully confirmed all the reports he had heard of the power and
+ambition of Montezuma, of the strength of his capital, and the number of
+his soldiers. They warned him not to trust to his gifts and his fair
+words, and when the general said that he hoped to bring about a better
+understanding between the emperor and themselves, they replied that it
+was impossible; however smooth his words, he would hate them at heart.
+They also heartily protested against the general's going to Cholula. The
+people, they said, though not brave in the open field, were crafty; they
+were Montezuma's tools, and would do his bidding. That city, too, was
+specially under the protection of the god Quetzalcoatl, and the priests
+were confidently believed to have the power of opening an inundation
+from the foundations of his shrine, which should overwhelm their enemies
+in the deluge, and lastly, though many distant places had sent to
+testify their goodwill, and offer their allegiance, Cholula, only six
+leagues distant, had done neither. This consideration weighed more with
+the general than either of the preceding ones, and he promptly
+despatched a summons to the city demanding a formal tender of its
+submission. It was not long before deputies arrived from Cholula profuse
+in expressions of goodwill and invitations to visit their city; but the
+Tlascalans pointed out that these messengers were below the usual rank
+of ambassadors, which Cortes regarded as a fresh indignity. He therefore
+sent a new summons, declaring that if they did not at once send a
+deputation of their principal men he would treat them as rebels to his
+own sovereign, the rightful lord of these realms. This soon brought some
+of the highest nobles to the camp, who excused their tardy appearance,
+by saying that they had feared for their personal safety in the capital
+of their enemies. The Tlascalans were now more than ever averse to the
+projected visit. A strong Aztec force was known to be near Cholula, and
+the city was being actively prepared for defence. Cortes, too, was
+disturbed by these circumstances, but he had gone too far to recede
+without showing fear, which could not fail to have a bad effect on his
+own men, as well as on the natives. Therefore, after a short
+consultation with his officers, he decided finally to take the road to
+Cholula. This ancient city lay six leagues to the south of Tlascala, and
+was most populous and flourishing. The inhabitants excelled in the art
+of working in metals and manufacturing cotton cloth and delicate
+pottery, but were indisposed to war, and less distinguished for courage
+than for cunning. You will remember that it was in this place that the
+god Quetzalcoatl had paused on his way to the coast, and in his honour a
+tremendous pyramid had been erected, probably by building over a natural
+hill, and on the top of this rose a gorgeous temple, in which stood an
+image of the god bedecked with gold and jewels. To this temple pilgrims
+flocked from every corner of the empire, and many were the terrible
+sacrifices offered there, as, indeed, in all the other teocallis, of
+which there were about four hundred in the city. On the day appointed,
+the Spanish army set out for Cholula, followed by crowds of citizens,
+who admired the courage displayed by this little handful of men in
+proposing to brave the mighty Montezuma in his own territory. An immense
+body of warriors had offered to join the expedition, but Cortes thought
+it wise to accept only six thousand, and even these he left encamped at
+some distance from Cholula, because the caciques of that city, who came
+out to meet the Spaniards, objected to having their mortal enemies
+brought within its walls. As the troops drew near the town they were met
+by swarms of men, women, and children, all eager to catch a glimpse of
+the strangers, whose persons, horses, and weapons were equally objects
+of intense curiosity to them. They in their turn were struck by the
+noble aspect of the Cholulans, who were much superior in dress and
+general appearance to the other tribes they had encountered. An immense
+number of priests swinging censers mingled with the crowd, and, as
+before, they were decorated with garlands and bunches of flowers, and
+accompanied by gay music from various instruments. The Spaniards were
+also struck by the width and cleanliness of the streets and the solidity
+of the houses. They were lodged in the court of one of the many
+teocallis, and visited by the great nobles of the city, who supplied
+them plentifully with all they needed, and at first paid them such
+attentions as caused them to believe that the evil apprehensions of the
+Tlascalans had been merely suspicion and prejudice. But very soon the
+scene changed. Messengers came from Montezuma, who shortly and
+pleasantly told Cortes that his approach occasioned much disquietude to
+their master, and then conferred apart with the Mexicans who were still
+in the Spanish camp, presently departing, and taking one of them away
+with them. From this time the Cholulans visited the Spanish quarters no
+more, and when invited to do so excused themselves, saying they were
+ill. Also, the supply of provisions ran short, and they said it was
+because maize was scarce. Naturally, Cortes became very uneasy at this
+change, and his alarm was increased by the reports of the Cempoallans,
+who told him that in wandering about the city they had seen several
+streets barricaded, and in some places holes had been dug, and a sharp
+stake planted upright in each, and branches strewn to conceal them,
+while the flat roofs of the houses were being stored with stones and
+other missiles. Some Tlascalans also came in from their camp to inform
+him that a great sacrifice, mostly of children, had been held in a
+distant quarter of the town, to secure the aid of the gods in some
+intended enterprise, and numbers of the people had taken their wives and
+children out of the city.
+
+These tidings confirmed the worst suspicions of Cortes, but just then
+the Lady Marina made a discovery which changed his doubts into
+certainty. The wife of one of the Cholulan caciques had taken a great
+fancy to the Mexican girl, and continually urged her to visit her house,
+hinting mysteriously that she would in this way escape a great danger
+which threatened the Spaniards. Marina pretended to be delighted with
+this proposal, and glad of the chance of escaping from the white men,
+and by degrees she thus won the confidence of the Cholulan, who
+presently revealed the whole plot to her. It originated, she said, with
+the Aztec emperor, who had bribed the caciques of Cholula, her husband
+among the number, to assault the Spaniards as they marched out of the
+city, and to throw them into confusion all sorts of obstacles had been
+placed in their way. A force of twenty thousand Mexicans was already
+quartered near the city to support the Cholulans, and the Spaniards
+would, it was confidently expected, fall an easy prey to their united
+enemies. A sufficient number of them were to be reserved to be
+sacrificed in Cholula, and the rest led in fetters to the capital of
+Montezuma. While this conversation was taking place, Marina was making a
+show of collecting and packing up such dresses and jewels as she was to
+take with her to the house of her new friend. But after a while she
+managed to slip away without exciting her suspicion, and, rushing to the
+general, told him all. Cortes at once caused the cacique's wife to be
+seized, and she repeated to him the same story that she had told to
+Marina. He was most anxious to gain further particulars of the
+conspiracy, and accordingly induced two priests, one of them a person of
+much influence, to visit his quarters, where by courteous treatment and
+rich presents he got from them a complete confirmation of the report.
+The emperor had been in a state of pitiable vacillation since the
+arrival of the Spaniards. His first orders had been that they should be
+kindly received, but on consulting his oracles anew he had obtained for
+answer that Cholula would be the grave of his enemies, and so positive
+of success were the Aztecs, that they had already sent into the city
+numbers of the poles with thongs attached to them with which to bind the
+prisoners. Cortes now dismissed the priests, bidding them observe the
+strictest secrecy, which, indeed they were likely to do for their own
+sakes. He also requested that they would induce some of the principal
+caciques to grant him an interview in his quarters. When they came he
+gently rebuked them for their want of hospitality, and said that the
+Spaniards would burden them no longer, but would leave the city early
+the next morning. He also asked that they would supply him with two
+thousand men to carry his artillery and baggage. The chiefs, after some
+consultation, agreed to this as being likely to favour their own plans.
+Then he sent for the Mexican ambassadors, and acquainted them with his
+discovery of the plot, saying that it grieved him much to find Montezuma
+mixed up in so treacherous an affair, and that the Spaniards must now
+march as enemies against a monarch they had hoped to visit as a friend.
+The ambassadors, however, asserted their entire ignorance of the
+conspiracy, and their belief that Montezuma also knew nothing of it. The
+night that followed was one of intense anxiety; every soldier lay down
+fully armed, and the number of sentinels was doubled; but all remained
+quiet in the populous city, and the only sounds which reached their ears
+were the hoarse cries of the priests who, from the turrets of the
+teocallis, proclaimed through their trumpets the watches of the night.
+
+With the first streak of morning light Cortes was on horseback,
+directing the movements of his little band, part of which he posted in
+the great square court. A strong guard was placed at each of the three
+gates, and the rest had charge of the great guns which were outside the
+enclosure, and so placed as to command the roads which led to the
+teocalli. The arrangements were hardly completed before the Cholulan
+caciques appeared, bringing a larger body of porters than had been
+demanded. They were marched at once into the square, which was, as we
+have seen, completely lined by the Spanish troops. Cortes then took the
+caciques aside, and sternly and abruptly charged them with the
+conspiracy, taking care to show that he knew every detail. The Cholulans
+were thunderstruck, and gazed with awe upon the strangers who seemed to
+have the power of reading their most secret thoughts. They made no
+attempt to deny the accusation, but tried to excuse themselves by
+throwing the blame on Montezuma. Cortes, however, declared with still
+more indignation that such a pretence would not serve them, and that he
+would now make such an example of them as should be a warning to the
+cities far and near, and then the fatal signal--the firing of a gun--was
+given, and in an instant every musket and crossbow was levelled at the
+unhappy Cholulans as they stood crowded together in the centre. They
+were completely taken by surprise, having heard nothing of what was
+going forward, and offered hardly any resistance to the Spanish
+soldiers, who followed up the discharge of their pieces by rushing upon
+them with their swords and mowing them down in ranks as they stood.
+
+While this dreadful massacre was going on the Cholulans from outside,
+attracted by the noise, began a furious assault upon the Spaniards, but
+the heavy guns opened fire upon them and swept them off in files as they
+rushed on, and in the intervals of reloading the cavalry charged into
+their midst. By this time the Tlascalans had come up, having by order of
+Cortes bound wreaths of sedge about their heads that they might be the
+more easily distinguished from the Cholulans, and they fell upon the
+rear of the wretched townsmen, who, thus harassed on all sides, could no
+longer maintain their ground. They fled, some to the near buildings,
+which were speedily set on fire, others to the temples. One strong body
+headed by the priests got possession of the great teocalli. There was,
+as you remember, a tradition that if part of the wall was removed the
+god would send a flood to overwhelm his enemies. Now the Cholulans
+strove with might and main, and at last succeeded in wrenching away a
+few stones, but dust, not water, followed. In despair they crowded into
+the wooden turrets which surmounted the temple, and poured down stones,
+javelins, and burning arrows upon the Spaniards as they came swarming up
+the steps. But the fiery shower fell harmlessly upon the steel
+head-pieces of the soldiers, and they used the blazing shafts to set
+fire to the wooden towers, so that the wretched natives either perished
+in the flames or threw themselves headlong from the parapet. In the fair
+city, lately so peaceful and prosperous, all was confusion and
+slaughter, burning and plundering. The division of spoil was greatly
+simplified by the fact that the Tlascalans desired wearing-apparel and
+provisions far more than gold or jewels; they also took hundreds of
+prisoners, but these Cortes afterwards induced them to release. The work
+of destruction had gone on for some hours before the general yielded to
+the entreaties of the Cholulan chiefs who had been saved from the
+massacre, and of the Mexican envoys, and called off his men, putting a
+stop as well as he could to further violence. Two of the caciques were
+also permitted to go to their countrymen with offers of pardon and
+protection to all who would return to their obedience, and so by degrees
+the tumult was appeased. Presently Cortes helped the Cholulans to choose
+a successor to their principal cacique, who was among the slain, and
+confidence being thus restored the people from the country round began
+to flock in, the markets were again opened, and the ordinary life of the
+city resumed, though the black and smouldering ruins remained to tell
+the sad tale of the massacre of Cholula. This terrible vengeance made a
+great impression upon the natives, and none trembled more than the
+Mexican monarch upon his throne among the mountains. He felt his empire
+melting away from him like a morning mist, for some of the most
+important cities, overawed by the fate of Cholula, now sent envoys to
+the Spanish camp tendering their allegiance, and trying to secure the
+favour of the conqueror by rich gifts of gold and slaves. Again did
+Montezuma seek counsel from his gods, but the answers he obtained were
+far from reassuring, and he determined to send another embassy to Cortes
+to declare that he had nothing to do with the conspiracy at Cholula. As
+usual the envoys were charged with a splendid present of golden vessels
+and ornaments, and among other things were artificial birds, made in
+imitation of turkeys with plumage of worked gold; there were also
+fifteen hundred robes of delicate cotton cloth. The emperor's message
+expressed regret for the late catastrophe, and denied all knowledge of
+the plot which had, he said, brought a retribution upon its authors
+which they richly deserved; and he explained the presence of the Aztec
+force in the neighbourhood by saying that there was a disturbance that
+had to be quelled. More than a fortnight had passed since the Spaniards
+entered Cholula, and the general had, after the city was once more
+restored to order, tried to induce the people to give up their false
+gods, but this they would not do willingly. However, he seized upon the
+great teocalli of which all the woodwork had been burned, and built a
+church of the stone that remained, and he opened the cages in which the
+wretched victims about to be sacrificed were imprisoned, and restored
+them to liberty, and then he thought it time to begin the march to
+Mexico once more. So the allied army of Spaniards and Tlascalans set
+out upon their journey through luxuriant plains and flourishing
+plantations, met occasionally by embassies from different towns, anxious
+to claim the protection of the white men, and bringing rich gifts of
+gold to propitiate them. They passed between the two enormous mountain
+peaks, Popocatapetl, 'the hill that smokes,' and Iztaccihuatl, 'the
+white woman,' and presently encountered a blinding snow-storm, from
+which they found shelter in one of the large stone buildings, put up by
+the Mexicans for the use of travellers and couriers, and here they
+encamped for the night. The next morning they reached the top of a range
+of hills where progress was comparatively easy, and they had not gone
+far when, turning sharply round the shoulder of a hill, they saw spread
+out before them the lovely Mexican valley. The clearness of the air
+enabled them to see distinctly the shining cities, the lakes, woods,
+fields and gardens, and in the midst of all the fair city of Mexico rose
+as it were from the waters of the great lake, with its towers and
+temples white and gleaming, and behind it the royal hill of Chapoltepec,
+the residence of the Mexican kings, crowned with the very same gigantic
+cypress trees which to this day fling their broad shadows across the
+land. The Spaniards gazed in rapture over the gay scene, exclaiming, 'It
+is the promised land!' but presently the evidences of a power and
+civilisation so far superior to anything they had yet encountered
+disheartened the more timid among them, they shrank from the unequal
+contest, and begged to be led back again to Vera Cruz. But this was not
+the effect produced upon Cortes by the glorious prospect. His desire for
+treasure and love of adventure were sharpened by the sight of the
+dazzling spoil at his very feet, and with threats, arguments, and
+entreaties he revived the drooping spirits of his soldiers, and by the
+aid of his brave captains succeeded in once more rousing them to
+enthusiasm, and the march down the slope of the hill was gaily resumed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+With every step of their progress the woods became thinner, and villages
+were seen in green and sheltered nooks, the inhabitants of which came
+out to meet and welcome the Spaniards. Everywhere Cortes heard with
+satisfaction complaints of the cruelty and injustice of Montezuma, and
+he encouraged the natives to rely on his protection, as he had come to
+redress their wrongs. The army advanced but slowly, and was soon met by
+another embassy from the emperor, consisting of several Aztec lords
+bringing a rich gift of gold, and robes of delicate furs and feathers,
+and offering four loads of gold to the general, and one to each of his
+captains, with a yearly tribute to the Spanish sovereign, if they would
+even then turn back from Mexico. But Cortes replied that he could not
+answer it to his sovereign if he were to return without visiting the
+emperor in his capital. The Spaniards came in the spirit of peace as
+Montezuma would see for himself; but should their presence prove
+burdensome to him, it would be very easy for them to relieve him of it.
+
+This embassy had been intended to reach the Spaniards before they
+crossed the mountains, and the dismay of the Aztec emperor was great
+when he learned that it had failed, and that the dreaded strangers were
+actually on their march across the valley. They were so utterly unlike
+anything he had ever known before, these strange beings, who seemed to
+have dropped from another planet, and by their superior knowledge and
+more deadly weapons overcome the hitherto unconquerable nations, though
+a mere handful of men in comparison to the swarms of his own countrymen.
+He felt himself to be the victim of a destiny from which nothing could
+save him. All peace, power, and security seemed to be gone from him, and
+in despair he shut himself up in his palace, refusing food, and trying
+by prayers and sacrifices to wring some favour from his gods. But the
+oracles were dumb. Then he called a council of his chief nobles, but a
+great difference of opinion arose amongst them. Cacama, the emperor's
+nephew, king of Tezcuco, counselled him to receive the Spaniards
+courteously as ambassadors of a foreign prince, while Cuitlahua, his
+brother, urged him to muster his forces and then and there drive back
+the invaders, or die in the defence of his capital. But Montezuma could
+not rouse himself for this struggle. He exclaimed in deep dejection, "Of
+what avail is resistance when the gods have declared themselves against
+us? Yet I mourn for the old and infirm, the women and children, too
+feeble to fight or fly. For myself and the brave men around me, we must
+face the storm as best we may!" and he straightway sent off a last
+embassy, with his nephew at its head, to meet the Spaniards and welcome
+them to Mexico. By this time the army had reached the first of the towns
+built on piles driven into the lake, and were delighted with its fine
+stone houses, with canals between them instead of streets, up and down
+which boats passed continually, laden with all kinds of merchandise.
+Though received with great hospitality, Cortes still was strictly on his
+guard, and neglected no precaution for the security of his men. Before
+he left this place a messenger came, requesting him to wait for the
+arrival of the king of Tezcuco, who very soon afterwards appeared, borne
+in a palanquin richly decorated with plates of gold and precious stones,
+having pillars curiously wrought which supported a canopy of green
+plumes. He was accompanied by a numerous retinue of nobles and inferior
+attendants, and when he came into the presence of Cortes he descended
+from his palanquin and advanced towards him, his officers sweeping the
+ground before him as he did so.
+
+The prince was a handsome young man, erect and dignified; he made the
+usual Mexican salutation to people of high rank, touching the earth with
+his right hand and raising it to his head, and said that he came as the
+representative of Montezuma to bid the Spaniards welcome to Mexico, and
+presented the general with three pearls of uncommon size and lustre.
+Cortes embraced him, and in return threw over his neck a chain of cut
+glass. After this exchange of courtesies, and the most friendly and
+respectful assurances on the part of Cortes, the Indian prince withdrew,
+leaving the Spaniards much impressed by his superiority in state and
+bearing to anything they had before seen in the country.
+
+Resuming their march along the southern shore of Lake Chalco, through
+splendid woods, and orchards glowing with unknown fruits, the army came
+at length to a great dyke or causeway four or five miles long, which
+divided the Lake Chalco from Xochicalco on the west. It was a lance in
+breadth at the narrowest part, and in some places wide enough for eight
+horsemen to ride abreast, and was solidly built of stone and lime. As
+they passed along it they saw multitudes of Indians darting up and down
+the lake in their light pirogues, eager to catch a glimpse of the
+strangers, and they were amazed at the sight of the floating islands,
+covered with flowers and vegetables and moving like rafts over the
+waters. All round the margin, and occasionally far out in the lake, they
+saw little towns and villages half buried in foliage; and the whole
+scene seemed to them so new and wonderful that they could only compare
+it to the magical pictures of the old romances. Midway across the lake
+the army halted at the town of Cuitlahuae, which was not large, but was
+remarkable for the beauty of its buildings. The curiosity of the Indians
+increased as the Spaniards proceeded, and they clambered up the causeway
+and lined the sides of the road, so that the troops were quite
+embarrassed by them, and Cortes was obliged to resort to commands, and
+even menaces, to clear a passage. He found, as he neared the capital, a
+considerable change in the feeling shown towards the government, and
+heard only of the pomp and magnificence of Montezuma, and nothing of his
+oppressions. From the causeway the army descended on a narrow point of
+land which lay between the two lakes, and crossing it reached the royal
+residence of Iztapalapan.
+
+This place was governed by the emperor's brother, who, to do greater
+honour to Cortes, had invited the neighbouring lords to be present at
+his reception, and at the banquet which followed. The Spaniards were
+struck with admiration, when, after the usual ceremonies had been gone
+through, and a gift of gold and costly stuffs had been presented, they
+were led into one of the gorgeous halls of the palace, the roof of which
+was of odorous cedar-wood, and the stone walls tapestried with brilliant
+hangings. But, indeed, this was only one of the many beautiful things
+which they saw in this fairy city. There were gardens cunningly planted,
+and watered in every part by means of canals and aqueducts, in which
+grew gorgeous flowers and luscious fruits. There was an aviary filled
+with all kinds of birds, remarkable for the brilliancy of their plumage
+and the sweetness of their songs. But the most elaborate piece of work
+was a huge reservoir of stone full of water and stocked with all kinds
+of fish, and by this all the fountains and aqueducts were supplied. In
+this city of enchantment the army rested for the night, within sight of
+the capital into which Cortes intended to lead them on the morrow.
+
+
+THE OCCUPATION OF MEXICO.
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA GREETS THE SPANIARDS]
+
+With the first faint streak of dawn, on the morning of November 8, 1519,
+the Spanish general was astir and mustering his followers, and as the
+sun rose above the eastern mountains he set forth with his little troop
+of horsemen as a sort of advanced guard, the Spanish infantry followed,
+then the baggage, and finally the dark files of the Tlascalan warriors.
+The whole number cannot have amounted to seven thousand, of which less
+than four hundred were Spaniards. For a short distance the army kept
+along the narrow tongue of land between the lakes, and then entered upon
+the great dyke which crosses the salt waters of Lake Tezcuco to the very
+gates of the capital. It was wide enough all the way for ten horsemen to
+ride abreast, and from it the Spaniards could see many towns and
+villages--some upon the shores of the lake, some built upon piles
+running far out into its waters. These cities were evidently crowded
+with a thriving population, and contained many temples and other
+important buildings which were covered with a hard white stucco
+glistening like enamel in the sunshine. The lake was darkened with a
+swarm of canoes filled with Indians who were eager to gaze upon the
+strangers, and here and there floated those fairy islands of flowers
+which rose and fell with every undulation of the water, and yet were
+substantial enough to support trees of a considerable size. At the
+distance of half a league from the capital they encountered a solid
+fortification, like a curtain of stone, which was built across the dyke.
+It was twelve feet high, and had a tower at each end, and in the centre
+a battlemented gateway through which the troops passed. This place was
+called the Fort of Xoloc, and was afterwards occupied by Cortes in the
+famous siege of Mexico. Here they were met by several hundred Aztec
+chiefs in their gay and fanciful costume. Some of them wore broad
+mantles of delicate feather embroidery, and collars and bracelets of
+turquoise mosaic with which fine plumage was curiously mingled, while
+their ears, underlips, and sometimes even their noses, were adorned with
+pendants of precious stones, or crescents of fine gold. After the usual
+formal salutations, which caused some delay, the march was resumed, and
+the army presently reached a wooden drawbridge which crossed an opening
+in the dyke, meant to serve as an outlet for the water, should it for
+any reason rise beyond its usual height. As they left this bridge
+behind them the Spaniards felt that they were indeed committing
+themselves to the mercy of Montezuma, who might, by means of it, cut
+them off from communication with the country, and hold them prisoners in
+his capital. They now beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor
+emerging from the great street which led through the heart of the city.
+Amidst a crowd of Indian nobles, preceded by three officers of state
+bearing golden wands, they saw the royal palanquin, blazing with
+burnished gold. It was borne on the shoulders of nobles, and over it a
+canopy of gorgeous feather-work, powdered with jewels and fringed with
+silver, was supported by four attendants, also of high rank, who were
+barefooted and walked with a slow, measured pace, with their eyes bent
+upon the ground. As soon as the procession had come within a short
+distance of the Spaniards the emperor descended from his palanquin, and
+advanced under the canopy, leaning upon the arms of his nephew and his
+brother. The ground before him was strewn with cotton tapestry by his
+attendants, and the natives who lined the sides of the causeway bent
+forward with their eyes fixed upon the ground as he passed, whilst some
+of the humbler class prostrated themselves before him. Montezuma wore
+the usual broad girdle and square cloak of the finest cotton, on his
+feet were sandals with soles of gold, and leathern thongs ornamented
+with the same metal. Both cloak and sandals were sprinkled with pearls
+and precious stones, principally emeralds, and the green 'chalchivitl,'
+which was more highly esteemed by the Aztecs than any jewel. On his head
+he wore only a plume of royal green feathers, a badge of his military
+rank. He was at this time about forty years of age, and was tall and
+thin, and of a lighter complexion than is usual among his countrymen; he
+moved with dignity, and there was a benignity in his whole demeanour
+which was not to have been anticipated from the reports of his character
+which had reached the Spaniards. The army halted as Montezuma drew near,
+and Cortes dismounted and advanced to meet him with a few of the
+principal cavaliers. The emperor received him with princely courtesy,
+and expressed his satisfaction at seeing him in his capital. Cortes
+responded by the most profound expressions of respect and gratitude for
+all Montezuma's munificence to the Spaniards; he then hung round the
+emperor's neck a chain of coloured crystal, making at the same time a
+movement as if to embrace him, but was restrained by the two Aztec
+lords, who were shocked at the idea of such presumption. Montezuma then
+appointed his brother to conduct the Spaniards to their quarters in
+the city, and again entering his litter was borne off amid prostrate
+crowds in the same state in which he had come. The Spaniards quickly
+followed, and with colours flying and music playing entered the southern
+portion of the city of Mexico. The great wide street facing the causeway
+stretched for some miles in nearly a straight line through the centre of
+the city. In the clear atmosphere of the tableland it was easy to see
+the blue mountains in the distance beyond the temples, houses, and
+gardens which stood on either side of it. But what most impressed the
+Spaniards was the swarm of people who thronged every street, canal, and
+roof, and filled every window and doorway. To the Aztecs it must indeed
+have been a strange sensation when they beheld the fair-faced strangers,
+and for the first time heard their well-paved streets ringing under the
+iron tramp of the horses--those unknown animals which they regarded with
+superstitious terror. But their wonder changed to anger when they saw
+their detested enemies, the Tlascalans, stalking through their city with
+looks of ferocity and defiance.
+
+As they passed along the troops frequently crossed bridges which spanned
+some of the numerous canals, and at length they halted in a wide open
+space, near the centre of the city, close to the huge temple of the
+war-god. Facing the western gate of the temple enclosure stood a range
+of low stone buildings, spreading over a large extent of ground, once a
+palace belonging to the emperor's father. This was to be the lodging of
+the Spaniards. Montezuma himself was waiting in the courtyard to receive
+them. Approaching Cortes he took from one of his slaves a massive
+collar, made of the shells of a kind of crawfish much prized by the
+Indians, set in gold, and connected by heavy golden links; from this
+hung eight finely-worked ornaments, each a span long, made to resemble
+the crawfish, but of fine gold. This gorgeous collar he hung round the
+neck of the general, saying: 'This palace belongs to you, Malinche'
+(this was the name by which he always addressed him), 'and your
+brethren. Rest after your fatigues, for you have much need to do so; in
+a little while I will visit you again.' So saying, he withdrew with his
+attendants. The general's first care was to inspect his new quarters.
+The rooms were of great size, and afforded accommodation for the whole
+army--the Tlascalans probably encamping in the outer courts. The best
+apartments were hung with draperies of gaily coloured cotton, and the
+floors were covered with mats or rushes. There were also low stools
+carved from single pieces of wood, and most of the rooms had beds made
+of the palm-leaf, woven into a thick mat, with coverlets, and sometimes
+canopies of cotton. The general, after a rapid survey, assigned his
+troops their respective quarters, and took as vigilant precautions for
+security as if he expected a siege; he planted his cannon so as to
+command the approaches to the palace, stationed sentinels along the
+walls, and ordered that no soldier should leave his quarters under pain
+of death. After all these precautions he allowed his men to enjoy the
+banquet prepared for them. This over, the emperor came again, attended
+by a few nobles; he was received with great deference by Cortes, and
+with Marina's aid they conversed, while the Aztecs and the cavaliers
+stood around in respectful silence. Montezuma made many inquiries
+concerning the country of the Spaniards, its sovereign, and its
+government, and especially asked their reasons for visiting Mexico.
+Cortes replied that they had desired to see its great monarch, and to
+declare to him the true faith professed by the Christians. The emperor
+showed himself to be fully acquainted with all the doings of the
+Spaniards since their landing, and was curious as to their rank in their
+own country; he also learned the names of the principal cavaliers, and
+their position in the army. At the conclusion of the interview the
+Aztecs brought forward a gift of cotton robes, enough to supply every
+man, even including the Tlascalans, and gold chains and ornaments, which
+were distributed in profusion among the Spaniards. That evening Cortes
+ordered a general discharge of artillery, and the noise of the guns and
+the volumes of smoke filled the superstitious Aztecs with dismay,
+reminding them of the explosions of the great volcano.
+
+On the following morning he asked permission to return the emperor's
+visit, and Montezuma sent officers to conduct the Spaniards to his
+presence.
+
+[Illustration: CORTES IN THE TEMPLE OF HUITZILOPOCHTLI]
+
+On reaching the hall of audience the Mexican officers took off their
+sandals, and covered their gay attire with mantles of 'nequen,' a coarse
+stuff made from the fibres of the aloe, and worn only by the poorest
+classes; for it was thus humbly that all, excepting the members of his
+own family, approached the sovereign. Then with downcast eyes and formal
+obeisance they ushered the Spaniards into the royal presence. They found
+Montezuma surrounded by a few of his favourite chiefs, and were kindly
+received by him; and Cortes soon began upon the subject uppermost in his
+thoughts, setting forth as clearly as he could the mysteries of his
+faith, and assuring Montezuma his idols would sink him in perdition.
+But the emperor only listened calmly, and showed no sign of being
+convinced. He had no doubt, he said, that the god of the Spaniards was
+good, but his own gods were good also; what Cortes told him of the
+creation of the world was like what he had been taught to believe. It
+was not worth while to discuss the matter farther. He added that his
+ancestors were not the original possessors of his land, but had been led
+there by the great Being, who, after giving them laws, and ruling over
+them for a time, had withdrawn to the region where the sun rises,
+declaring on his departure that he or his descendants would some day
+come again and reign. The wonderful deeds of the Spaniards, their fair
+faces, and the quarter whence they came all showed that they were his
+descendants. If Montezuma had resisted their visit to his capital, it
+was because he had heard that they were cruel, that they sent the
+lightning to consume his people, or crushed them to pieces under the
+hard feet of the ferocious animals on which they rode. He was now
+convinced that these were idle tales, that the Spaniards were kind and
+generous,--mortals indeed, but of a different race from the Aztecs,
+wiser, and more valiant. You, too, he added with a smile, have perhaps
+been told that I am a god and dwell in palaces of gold and silver. But
+you see it is false: my houses, though large, are of wood and stone; and
+as to my body, he said, baring his tawny arm, you see it is flesh and
+bone like yours. It is true that I have a great empire inherited from my
+ancestors, lands, and gold and silver, but your sovereign beyond the
+waters is, I know, the rightful lord of all. I rule in his name. You,
+Malinche, are his ambassador; you and your brethren shall share these
+things with me. Rest now from your labours. You are here in your own
+dwellings, and everything shall be provided for your subsistence. I will
+see that your wishes shall be obeyed in the same way as my own. Cortes,
+while he encouraged the idea that his own sovereign was the great Being,
+as Montezuma believed, assured him that his master had no desire to
+interfere with his authority otherwise than, out of concern for his
+welfare, to effect his conversion, and that of his people, to
+Christianity. Before the emperor dismissed his visitors, rich stuffs and
+ornaments of gold were distributed among them, so that the poorest
+soldier received at least two heavy collars of gold, and on their
+homeward way they could talk of nothing but the generosity and courtesy
+of the Indian monarch. But the general was harassed by many anxious
+thoughts. He had not been prepared to find so much luxury, civilisation,
+and power. He was in the heart of a great capital which seemed like an
+extensive fortification, with its dykes and drawbridges, where every
+house might be converted into a castle. At a nod from the sovereign all
+communication with the rest of the country might be cut off, and the
+whole warlike population be at once hurled upon himself and his handful
+of followers, and against such odds of what avail would be his superior
+science? As to the conquest of the empire, now he had seen the capital,
+it must have seemed to him a more doubtful enterprise than ever; but at
+any rate his best policy was to foster the superstitious reverence in
+which he was held by both prince and people, and to find out all he
+could about the city and its inhabitants. To this end he asked the
+emperor's permission to visit the principal public buildings, which was
+readily granted, Montezuma even arranging to meet him at the great
+temple. Cortes put himself at the head of his cavalry, and, followed by
+nearly all the Spanish foot, set out under the guidance of several
+caciques sent by Montezuma. They led him to the great teocalli near
+their own quarters. It stood in the midst of a vast space which was
+surrounded by a wall of stone and lime about eight feet high, ornamented
+on the outer side by raised figures of serpents, which gave it the name
+of the 'Coatepantli,' or 'wall of serpents.' This wall was pierced by
+huge battlemented gateways, opening upon the four principal streets of
+the city, and over each gate was a kind of arsenal filled with arms and
+warlike gear. The teocalli itself was of the usual pyramidal shape, and
+five stories high, coated on the outside with hewn stones. The ascent
+was by flights of steps on the outside, and Cortes found two priests and
+several caciques waiting to carry him up them as they had just carried
+the emperor; but the general declined this compliment, preferring to
+march up at the head of his men. On reaching the great paved space at
+the summit, the first thing they saw was the stone on which the unhappy
+victims were stretched for sacrifice; at the other end of the platform
+stood two-towers, each three stories high, the lower story being of
+stone, the two upper of carved wood. In these stood the images of the
+gods, and before each stood an altar upon which blazed the undying
+fires, the putting out of which was supposed to portend so much woe to
+the nation. Here also was the huge drum, made of serpents' skins, struck
+only on extraordinary occasions, when it sent forth a melancholy sound
+that could be heard for miles--a sound of woe to the Spaniards in after
+times. Montezuma, attended by a high priest, came forward to receive
+Cortes. After conferring with the priests the emperor conducted the
+Spaniards into the building, which was adorned with sculptured figures;
+at one end was a recess, with a roof of timber richly carved and gilt,
+and here stood a colossal image of Huitzilopochtli, the war-god. His
+countenance was hideous; in his right hand he held a bow, and in his
+left a bunch of golden arrows, which a mystic legend connected with the
+victories of his people. A huge serpent of pearls and precious stones
+was coiled about his waist, and costly jewels were profusely sprinkled
+over his person. On his left foot were the delicate feathers of the
+humming-bird, from which, singularly enough, he took his name, while
+round his neck hung a chain of gold and silver hearts, as an emblem of
+the sacrifice in which he most delighted. Indeed, even at that moment
+three bleeding human hearts lay upon the altar before him. The next
+sanctuary was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, who, they believed, had created
+the earth and watched over it. He was represented as a young man, and
+his image of polished black stone was garnished with gold plates and
+ornaments, among which was a shield burnished like a mirror, in which he
+was supposed to see reflected all the doings of the world; and before
+this shrine also lay five hearts in a golden platter. From the horrors
+of this place the Spaniards gladly escaped into the open air, and Cortes
+said, turning to Montezuma, 'I do not understand how a great and wise
+prince like you can put faith in such evil spirits as these idols. If
+you will but permit us to erect here the true cross, and place the
+images of the Blessed Virgin and her Son in your sanctuaries, you will
+soon see how your false gods will shrink before them.' Montezuma was
+greatly shocked at this speech. 'These,' said he, 'are the gods who have
+led the Aztecs on to victory since they were a nation, and who send us
+the seed time and harvest. Had I thought you would have offered them
+this outrage I would not have admitted you into their presence.' Cortes
+then took his leave, expressing concern for having wounded the feelings
+of the emperor, who remained to expiate, if possible, the crime of
+having exposed the shrines of his gods to such profanation by the
+strangers. On descending into the court the Spaniards took a leisurely
+survey of the other buildings in the enclosure; there were several other
+teocallis, but much smaller ones, in which the Spaniards saw implements
+of sacrifice and many other horrors. And there was also a great mound
+with a timber framework upon its summit, upon which were strung hundreds
+of thousands of skulls--those of the victims who had been sacrificed.
+Schools, granaries, gardens, and fountains filled up the remainder of
+the enclosed space, which seemed a complete city in itself, containing a
+mixture of barbarism and civilisation altogether characteristic of the
+Aztec nation. The next day the Spaniards asked permission to convert one
+of the halls in their palace into a chapel where they might hold the
+services of their church. The request was granted, and while the work
+was in progress some of them discovered what seemed to be a door
+recently plastered over. As there was a rumour that Montezuma kept the
+treasures of his father in this palace, they did not scruple to gratify
+their curiosity by removing the plaster and forcing open the door which
+it concealed, when they beheld a great hall filled with rich and
+beautiful stuffs, articles of curious workmanship of various kinds, gold
+and silver in bars or just as it had been dug from the earth, and many
+jewels of great value. 'I was a young man,' says one of the Spaniards
+who was allowed a sight of the treasure, 'and it seemed to me that all
+the riches of the world were in that room.'
+
+By Cortes' order the wall was built up again, and strict injunctions
+were given that the discovery should be kept a profound secret. The
+Spaniards had now been a week in Mexico, and the general's anxieties
+increased daily. Cortes resolved upon a bold stroke. Calling a council
+of his officers, he laid his difficulties before them, and, ignoring the
+opinion of some who advised an immediate retreat, he proposed to march
+to the royal palace and by persuasion or force to induce Montezuma to
+take up his abode in the Spanish quarters. Once having obtained
+possession of his person, it would be easy to rule in his name by
+allowing him a show of sovereignty, until they had taken measures to
+secure their own safety and the success of their enterprise. A pretext
+for the seizure of the emperor was afforded by a circumstance which had
+come to the ears of Cortes while he was still in Cholula. Don Juan de
+Escalante, who had been left in charge of the Spanish settlement at Vera
+Cruz, had received a message from an Aztec chief called Quanhpopoca
+declaring his desire to come in person and tender his allegiance to the
+Spaniards, and requesting that four soldiers might be sent to protect
+him through the country of an unfriendly tribe. This was not an uncommon
+request, and the soldiers were sent, but on their arrival two of them
+were treacherously murdered by the Aztec; the others escaped, and made
+their way back to the garrison. The commander at once marched with fifty
+of his men and some thousands of Indians to take vengeance upon the
+cacique, and though his allies fled before the Mexicans, the few
+Spaniards stood firm, and by the aid of their firearms made good the
+field against the enemy. Unfortunately, seven or eight of them were
+killed, including Escalante himself, and the Indians who were taken
+prisoners declared that the whole proceeding had been by Montezuma's
+orders. One of the Spaniards fell into the hands of the enemy, but soon
+died from his wounds. He happened to be a very big man of ferocious
+appearance, and when his head was sent to Montezuma, the Aztec emperor
+gazed upon it with a shudder, and commanded that it should be taken out
+of the city, and not offered at the shrine of any of his gods. He seemed
+to see in those terrible features a prophecy of his sure destruction.
+The bolder spirits among the cavaliers approved of the general's plan,
+and the next day, having asked an audience of Montezuma, Cortes made the
+necessary arrangements for his enterprise. The principal part of his
+force was drawn up in the courtyard; one detachment was stationed in the
+avenue leading to the palace, to prevent any attempt at rescue by the
+citizens. Twenty-five or thirty soldiers were ordered to drop in at the
+palace by twos and threes, as if accidentally, and he took with him five
+cavaliers on whose coolness and courage he could rely.
+
+That they should all be in full armour excited no suspicion; it was too
+common an occurrence. The Spaniards were graciously received by the
+emperor, who by the aid of interpreters held a gay conversation with
+them, and as usual presented them with gold and jewels. He paid Cortes
+the compliment of offering him one of his daughters in marriage--an
+honour which was respectfully declined, on the ground that he already
+had one wife. But as soon as the general saw that his soldiers had all
+come upon the scene he abruptly changed his tone, and accused the
+emperor of being the author of the treacherous proceedings on the coast.
+Montezuma listened in surprise, and declared that such an act could only
+have been imputed to him by his enemies. Cortes pretended to believe
+him, but said that Quanhpopoca and his accomplices must be sent for that
+they might be dealt with after their deserts. Montezuma agreed, and,
+taking his royal signet from his wrist, gave it to one of his nobles,
+with orders to show it to the Aztec governor and require his immediate
+presence in the capital, and in case of his resistance to call in the
+aid of the neighbouring towns. When the messenger had gone, Cortes
+assured the emperor that he was now convinced of his innocence in the
+matter, but that it was necessary that his own sovereign should be
+equally convinced of it. Nothing would promote this so much as for
+Montezuma to transfer his residence to the palace occupied by the
+Spaniards, as this would show a condescension and personal regard for
+them which would absolve him from all suspicion. The emperor listened to
+this proposal with profound amazement, exclaiming with resentment and
+offended dignity:
+
+'When was it ever heard that a great prince like myself willingly left
+his own palace to become a prisoner in the hands of strangers?'
+
+Cortes declared that he would not go as a prisoner, but would be simply
+changing his residence. 'If I should consent to such degradation,' he
+cried, 'my subjects never would.'
+
+When further pressed, he offered one of his sons and two of his
+daughters as hostages, so that he might be spared this disgrace. Two
+hours passed in this fruitless discussion, till Velasquez de Leon,
+impatient of the long delay, and seeing that to fail in the attempt must
+ruin them, cried out, 'Why do we waste words on this barbarian? Let us
+seize him, and if he resists plunge our swords into his body!' The
+fierce tone and menacing gesture alarmed the emperor, who asked Marina
+what the angry Spaniard said. She explained as gently as she could,
+beseeching him to accompany the white men, who would treat him with all
+respect and kindness, while if he refused he would but expose himself to
+violence, perhaps to death.
+
+This last appeal shook the resolution of Montezuma; looking round for
+support and sympathy, he saw only the stern faces and mail-clad forms of
+the Spaniards, and felt that his hour had indeed come. In a scarcely
+audible voice he consented to accompany them, and orders were given for
+the royal litter to be brought. The nobles who bore and attended it
+could hardly credit their senses, but now Montezuma had consented to go
+pride made him wish to appear to go willingly. As the royal retinue
+marched dejectedly down the avenue, escorted by the Spaniards, the
+people ran together in crowds, declaring that the emperor had been
+carried off by force, and a tumult would have arisen had not he himself
+called out to them to disperse, since he was of his own accord visiting
+his friends, and on reaching the Spanish quarters he sent out his nobles
+to the mob with similar assurances, bidding them all return to their
+homes.
+
+He was received with ostentatious respect by the Spaniards, and chose
+the apartments which pleased him best, which were speedily furnished
+with tapestry, featherwork, and all other Indian luxuries. He was
+attended by his own household, and his meals were served with the usual
+pomp and ceremony, while not even the general himself approached him
+without due obeisance, or sat down in his presence uninvited.
+Nevertheless it was but too clear to his people that he was a prisoner,
+for day and night the palace was guarded by sixty sentinels in front and
+sixty in the rear, while another body was stationed in the royal
+antechamber. This was the state of affairs when Quanhpopoca arrived from
+the coast. Montezuma received him coldly, and referred the matter to
+Cortes, who speedily made an end of it by condemning the unhappy chief
+and his followers to be burnt to death. The funeral piles were erected
+in the courtyard before the palace, and were made of arrows, javelins,
+and other weapons drawn by the emperor's permission from those stored
+round the great teocalli. To crown these extraordinary proceedings,
+Cortes, just before the executions took place, entered the emperor's
+apartments, followed by a soldier bearing fetters in his hands. Sternly
+he again accused Montezuma of having been the original contriver of the
+treacherous deed, and said that a crime which merited death in a subject
+must in some way be atoned for even by a king, whereupon he ordered the
+soldier to fasten the fetters upon Montezuma's ankles, and after coolly
+waiting until it was done turned his back and quitted the room.
+
+The emperor was speechless under this last insult, like one struck down
+by a heavy blow. But though he offered no resistance low moans broke
+from him, which showed the anguish of his spirit. His faithful
+attendants did their utmost to console him, holding his feet in their
+arms, and trying to keep the irons from touching him by inserting their
+own robes; but it was not the bodily discomfort that so afflicted him,
+but the feeling that he was no more a king, and so utterly broken in
+spirit was he that when Cortes came after the execution had taken place,
+and with his own hands unclasped the irons, Montezuma actually thanked
+him as if for some great and unmerited favour. Not long after the
+Spanish general expressed his willingness that the emperor should if he
+wished return to his own palace, but Montezuma declined the offer,
+doubtless fearing to trust himself again to the haughty and ferocious
+chieftains, who could not but despise the cowardly proceedings of their
+master, so unlike the usual conduct of an Aztec monarch. Montezuma often
+amused himself with seeing the Spanish troops go through their
+exercises, or with playing at some of the national games with Cortes and
+his officers. A favourite one was called 'totoloque,' played with
+golden balls, which were thrown at a golden target, and the emperor
+always staked precious stones or ingots of gold, and won or lost with
+equal good-humour, and indeed it did not much matter to him, since if he
+did win he gave away his gains to his attendants. But while Montezuma
+thus resigned himself without a struggle to a life of captivity, some of
+his kinsmen were feeling very differently about the matter, and
+especially his nephew Cacama, lord of the Tezcuco, and second in power
+to Montezuma himself.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This prince saw with alarm and indignation his uncle's abject submission
+to the Spaniards, and endeavoured to form a league with the other chiefs
+to rescue him out of their hands. But they, from jealousy, declined to
+join him, declaring themselves unwilling to do anything without the
+emperor's sanction. These plots came to the ears of Cortes, who wished
+at once to march upon Tezcuco and stamp out this spark of rebellion, but
+Montezuma dissuaded him. He therefore sent a friendly message of
+expostulation, which met with a haughty response, and to a second
+message asserting the supremacy of the King of Spain Cacama replied that
+'he acknowledged no such authority. He knew nothing of the Spanish
+sovereign or his people, nor did he wish to know anything of them.' When
+Montezuma sent to him to come to Mexico that this difference might be
+adjusted, he answered that he understood the position of his uncle, and
+that when he did visit the capital it would be to rescue it, as well as
+the emperor himself and their common gods, from bondage, to drive out
+the detested strangers who had brought such dishonour on their country.
+This reply made Cortes very angry; but Montezuma, anxious to prevent
+bloodshed, begged him still to refrain from declaring war against
+Cacama, saying that it would be better to obtain possession of him
+personally, which he could easily do by means of several Tezcucan nobles
+who were in his own pay. So Cacama was enticed by these faithless chiefs
+into a villa overhanging the lake, where he was easily overpowered and
+forced into a boat, which speedily brought him to Mexico. Cortes
+promptly fettered and imprisoned him, while Montezuma declared that he
+had by his rebellion forfeited his kingdom and appointed his brother--a
+mere boy--to reign in his stead. Now Cortes felt himself powerful enough
+to demand that Montezuma and all his nobles should formally swear
+allegiance to the Spanish sovereigns, and accordingly the emperor
+assembled his principal caciques and briefly stated to them the object
+for which he had summoned them.
+
+'You all know,' said he, 'our ancient tradition--how the great Being,
+who once ruled over the land, declared that he would one day return and
+reign again. That time has now arrived. The white men have come from the
+land beyond the ocean, where the sun rises, sent by their master to
+reclaim the obedience of his ancient subjects. I am ready, for my part,
+to acknowledge his authority. You have been faithful vassals of mine all
+the years that I have sat upon the throne of my fathers; I now expect
+that you will show me a last act of obedience, by acknowledging the
+great king beyond the waters to be your lord also, and that you will pay
+him tribute as you have hitherto done to me.' As he spoke the tears fell
+fast down his cheeks, and his nobles were deeply affected by the sight
+of his distress. Many of them, coming from a distance, and not having
+realised what was taking place in the capital, were filled with
+astonishment on beholding the voluntary abasement of their master, whom
+they had reverenced as the all-powerful lord of the whole country. His
+will, they told him, was their law now as ever, and if he thought the
+sovereign of the strangers was the ancient lord of their country, they
+were willing to swear allegiance to him as such. Accordingly the oaths
+were administered with all due solemnity, and a full record of the
+proceedings was drawn up by the royal notary to be sent to Spain. Cortes
+now seemed to have accomplished most of the great objects of his
+expedition, but towards the conversion of the natives he had made no
+progress, and still the horrible sacrifices took place day by day. The
+general could bear it no longer, but told the emperor that the
+Christians could not consent to hold the services of their religion shut
+in within the narrow walls of the garrison. They wished to spread its
+light abroad and share its blessings with the people. To this end they
+requested that the great teocalli should be given up to them as a fit
+place where their worship might be conducted in the presence of the
+whole city. Montezuma listened in consternation.
+
+'Malinche,' said he, 'why will you push matters to an extremity that
+must surely bring down the vengeance of our gods and stir up an
+insurrection among my people, who will never endure this profanation of
+their temple?'
+
+Cortes, seeing that he was much agitated, pretended that the demand had
+come from his followers, and that he would endeavour to persuade them to
+be contented with one of the sanctuaries of the teocalli. If that were
+not granted, they should be obliged to take it by force and to throw
+down the idols in the face of the city. Montezuma, still greatly
+disturbed, promised to confer with the priests, and in the end the
+Spaniards were allowed to take possession of one of the sanctuaries, in
+which, when it had been purified, an altar was raised, surmounted by a
+crucifix and the imago of the Virgin; its walls were decorated with
+garlands of fresh flowers, and an old soldier was stationed to watch
+over it. Then the whole army moved in solemn procession up the winding
+ascent of the pyramid, and mass was celebrated by Father Olmedo and
+another priest, while the Aztecs looked on with mingled curiosity and
+repugnance. For a nation will endure any outrage sooner than that which
+attacks its religion, and this profanation touched a feeling in the
+natives which the priests were not slow to take advantage of.
+
+Soon the Spaniards noticed a change in Montezuma. He was grave instead
+of cheerful, and avoided their society. Many conferences went on between
+him and the priests and nobles, at which even Orteguilla, his favourite
+page, was not allowed to be present. Presently Cortes received a summons
+to appear before the emperor, who told him that his predictions had come
+to pass, his gods were offended, and threatened to forsake the city if
+the sacrilegious strangers were not driven from it, or sacrificed on
+their altars as an expiation. 'If you have any regard for your safety,'
+he continued, 'you will leave the country without delay. I have only to
+raise my finger, and every Aztec in the land will rise against you.'
+
+Cortes knew well enough that this was true, but, concealing his dismay,
+he replied that he should much regret to leave the capital so
+precipitately, especially when he had no ships to take him back to his
+own country. He should also regret that if he quitted it under these
+circumstances he should be driven to taking the emperor with him.
+Montezuma was evidently troubled by this last suggestion, and finally
+offered to send workmen to the coast to build ships under the direction
+of the Spaniards, while he restrained the impatience of his people with
+the assurance that the white men would leave their land as soon as they
+were ready. This was accordingly done, and the work went forward at Vera
+Cruz with great apparent alacrity, but those who directed it took care
+to interpose as many delays as possible, while Cortes hoped in the
+meantime to receive such reinforcements from Spain as should enable him
+to hold his ground. Nevertheless the whole aspect of affairs in the
+Spanish quarters was utterly changed; apprehension had taken the place
+of security, and as many precautions were observed as if the garrison
+was actually in a state of siege. Such was the unpleasant state of
+affairs when, in May 1520, six months after his arrival in the capital,
+Cortes received tidings from the coast which caused him greater alarm
+than even the threatened insurrection of the Aztecs. The jealous
+governor of Cuba was sending an expedition to attack Cortes.
+
+It was the news of the arrival of this fleet at the place where he had
+himself landed at first that had caused Cortes so much consternation,
+for he at once suspected that it was sent by his bitter enemy the
+governor. The commander of this second expedition, who was called
+Narvaez, having landed, soon met with a Spaniard from one of the
+exploring parties sent out by Cortes. This man related all that had
+occurred since the Spanish envoys left Vera Cruz, the march into the
+interior, the furious battles with the Tlascalans, the occupation of
+Mexico, the rich treasures found in it, and the seizure of Montezuma,
+'whereby,' said the soldier, 'Cortes rules over the land like its own
+sovereign, so that a Spaniard may travel unarmed from one end of the
+country to the other without insult or injury.'
+
+Narvaez and his followers listened in speechless amazement to this
+marvellous report, and the leader waxed more and more indignant at the
+thought of all that had been snatched from Velasquez, whose adherent he
+was. He now openly proclaimed his intention of marching against Cortes
+and punishing him, so that even the natives who had flocked to this new
+camp comprehended that these white men were enemies of those who had
+come before. Narvaez proposed to establish a colony in the barren, sandy
+spot which Cortes had abandoned, and when informed of the existence of
+Villa Rica, he sent to demand the submission of the garrison. Sandoval
+had kept a sharp eye upon the movements of Narvaez from the time that
+his ships had first appeared upon the horizon, and when he heard of his
+having landed he prepared to defend his post to the last extremity. But
+the only invaders of Villa Rica were a priest named Guevara and four
+other Spaniards, who formally addressed Sandoval, pompously enumerating
+the services and claims of Velasquez, taxing Cortes with rebellion, and
+finally demanding that Sandoval should tender his submission to Narvaez.
+That officer, greatly exasperated, promptly seized the unlucky priest
+and his companions, and, remarking that they might read the obnoxious
+proclamation to the general himself in Mexico, ordered them to be bound
+like bales of goods upon the backs of sturdy porters and placed under a
+guard of twenty Spaniards, and in this way, travelling day and night,
+only stopping to obtain relays of carriers, they came within sight of
+the capital at the end of the fourth day.
+
+Its inhabitants were already aware of the fresh arrival of white men
+upon the coast. Indeed Montezuma had sent for Cortes and told him there
+was no longer any obstacle to his leaving the country, as a fleet was
+ready for him, and in answer to his astonished inquiries, had shown him
+a picture map sent him from the coast, whereon the Spaniards, with their
+ships and equipments, were minutely depicted. Cortes pretended to be
+vastly pleased by this intelligence, and the tidings were received in
+the camp with firing of cannon and other demonstrations of joy, for the
+soldiers took the newcomers for a reinforcement from Spain. Not so
+Cortes, who guessed from the first that they came from the governor of
+Cuba. He told his suspicions to his officers, who in turn informed the
+men; but, though alarm succeeded their joy, they resolved to stand by
+their leader come what might. When Sandoval's letter acquainting him
+with all particulars was brought to Cortes, he instantly sent and
+released the bewildered prisoners from their ignominious position, and
+furnished them with horses to make their entry into the capital, where,
+by treating them with the utmost courtesy and loading them with gifts,
+he speedily converted them from enemies into friends, and obtained from
+them much important information respecting the designs of Narvaez and
+the feelings of his army. He gathered that gold was the great object of
+the soldiers, who were evidently willing to co-operate with Cortes if by
+so doing they could obtain it. Indeed, they had no particular regard for
+their own leader, who was arrogant, and by no means liberal. Profiting
+by these important hints, the general sent a conciliatory letter to
+Narvaez, beseeching him not to unsettle the natives by a show of
+animosity, when it was only by union they could hope for success, and
+declaring that for his part he was ready to greet Narvaez as a brother
+in arms, to share with him the fruits of conquest, and, if he could
+produce a royal commission, to submit to his authority. Of course Cortes
+knew well enough that he had no such commission to show. Soon after the
+departure of Guevara he resolved to send a special envoy of his own, and
+chose Father Olmedo for the task, with instructions to converse
+privately with as many of the officers and soldiers as he could with a
+view to securing their goodwill; and to this end he was also provided
+with a liberal supply of gold. During this time Narvaez had abandoned
+his idea of planting a colony on the sea-coast, and had marched inland
+and taken up his quarters at Cempoalla. He received the letter of Cortes
+with scorn, which changed to stern displeasure when Guevara enlarged
+upon the power of his rival and urged him to accept his friendly offers.
+But the troops, on the other hand, listened with greedy ears to the
+accounts of Cortes, his frank and liberal manners, and the wealth of his
+camp, where the meanest soldier could stake his ingot and his chain of
+gold at play, and where all revelled in plenty. And when Father Olmedo
+arrived, his eloquence and his gifts soon created a party in the
+interest of Cortes. This could not go on so secretly as not to excite
+the suspicions of Narvaez, and the worthy priest was sent back to his
+master, but the seed which he had sown was left to grow.
+
+Narvaez continued to speak of Cortes as a traitor whom he intended to
+punish, and he also declared he would release Montezuma from captivity
+and restore him to his throne. It was rumoured that the Aztec monarch
+had sent him a rich gift, and entered into correspondence with him. All
+this was observed by the watchful eye of Sandoval, whose spies
+frequented his enemy's camp, and he presently sent to Cortes saying that
+something must speedily be done to prevent Villa Rica from falling into
+the hands of the enemy, and pointing out that many of the Indians, from
+sheer perplexity, were no longer to be relied upon.
+
+The general felt that it was indeed time to act, but the situation was
+one of great difficulty. However, he marched against Narvaez, defeated
+and captured him, embodied his forces, and set out on his return to
+Mexico, where he had left Alvarado in command.
+
+On his march he received a letter from Alvarado, which conveyed the
+startling news that the Mexicans were up in arms and had assaulted the
+Spanish quarters, that they had overwhelmed the garrison with a torrent
+of missiles, which had killed some and wounded many, and had burned some
+brigantines which Cortes had built to secure a means of retreat, and it
+ended by imploring him to hasten to the relief of his men if he would
+save them or keep his hold on the capital. This was a heavy blow to
+Cortes, but there was no time for hesitation. He laid the matter fully
+before his soldiers, and all declared their readiness to follow him.
+
+On June 24, 1520, the army reached the same causeway by which they had
+before entered the capital; but now no crowds lined the roads, and no
+pirogues swarmed upon the lake; a death-like stillness brooded over the
+scene. As they marched across Cortes ordered the trumpets to sound, and
+their shrill notes were answered by a joyful peal of artillery from the
+beleaguered fortress. The soldiers quickened their pace, and all were
+soon in the city once more. But here the appearance of things was far
+from reassuring. In many places they saw the smaller bridges had been
+taken away; the town seemed deserted, and the tramp of the horses
+awakened melancholy echoes in the deserted streets. When they reached
+the palace the great gates were speedily thrown open, and Cortes and his
+party were eagerly welcomed by the garrison, who had much to tell and to
+hear. Of course the general's first inquiry was as to the origin of the
+tumult, and this was the story he heard.
+
+The Aztec festival called 'The incensing of Huitzilopochtli' was about
+to be celebrated, in which, as it was an important one, nearly all the
+nobles took part. The caciques asked the permission of Alvarado to
+perform their rites in the teocalli which contained the chapel of the
+Spaniards, and to be allowed the presence of Montezuma. This latter
+request was refused, but he consented to their using the teocalli
+provided they came unarmed and held no human sacrifice. Accordingly, on
+the day appointed the Aztecs assembled to the number of at least six
+hundred. They wore their magnificent gala costumes, with mantles of
+featherwork sprinkled with precious stones, and collars, bracelets, and
+ornaments of gold. Alvarado and his men, fully armed, attended as
+spectators, and when the hapless natives were engaged in one of their
+ceremonial dances, they fell upon them suddenly, sword in hand. Then
+followed a great and dreadful slaughter. Unarmed, and taken unawares,
+the Aztecs were hewn down without resistance. Those who attempted to
+escape by climbing the wall of serpents were speared ruthlessly, till
+presently not one of that gay company remained alive; then the Spaniards
+added the crowning horror to their dreadful deed by plundering the
+bodies of their murdered victims. The tidings of the massacre flew like
+wildfire through the capital, and every long-smothered feeling of
+hostility burst forth in the cry that arose for vengeance. The city rose
+in arms to a man and almost before the Spaniards could secure themselves
+in their defences, they were assaulted with desperate fury: some of the
+assailants attempted to scale the walls, others succeeded in partially
+undermining and setting fire to the works. It is impossible to say how
+the attack would have ended, but the Spaniards entreated Montezuma to
+interfere, and he, mounting the battlements, conjured the furious people
+to desist from storming the fortress out of regard for his safety. They
+so far respected him that they changed their operations into a regular
+blockade, throwing up works round the palace to prevent the egress of
+the Spaniards, and suspending the market so that they might not obtain
+any supplies, and then they sat down to wait sullenly till famine should
+throw their enemies into their hands.
+
+The condition of the besieged was gloomy enough. True their provisions
+still held out, but they suffered greatly from want of water, that
+within the enclosure being quite brackish, until a fresh spring was
+suddenly discovered in the courtyard. Even then the fact that scarcely a
+man had escaped unwounded, and that they had no prospect before them but
+a lingering death by famine, or one more dreadful still upon the altar
+of sacrifice, made their situation a very trying one. The coming of
+their comrades was therefore doubly welcome. As an explanation of his
+atrocious act, Alvarado declared that he had but struck the blow to
+intimidate the natives and crush an intended rising of the people, of
+which he had received information through his spies.
+
+Cortes listened calmly till the story was finished, then exclaimed with
+undisguised displeasure, 'You have done badly. You have been false to
+your trust. Your conduct has been that of a madman!' And so saying, he
+turned and left him abruptly, no doubt bitterly regretting that he had
+entrusted so important a command to one whose frank and captivating
+exterior was but the mask for a rash and cruel nature. Vexed with his
+faithless lieutenant, and embarrassed by the disastrous consequences of
+his actions, Cortes for the first time lost his self-control, and
+allowed his disgust and irritation to be plainly seen. He treated
+Montezuma with haughty coldness, even speaking of him as 'this dog of a
+king' in the presence of his chiefs, and bidding them fiercely go tell
+their master and his people to open the markets, or he would do it for
+them to their cost. The chiefs retired in deep resentment at the insult,
+which they comprehended well enough from his look and gesture, and the
+message lost nothing of its effect in transmission. By the suggestion of
+Montezuma, Cortes now released his brother Cuitlahua, thinking he might
+allay the tumult and bring about a better state of things. But this
+failed utterly, for the prince, who was bold and ambitious, was bitterly
+incensed by the injuries he had received from the Spaniards. Moreover,
+he was the heir presumptive to the crown, and was welcomed by the people
+as a substitute for the captive Montezuma. So being an experienced
+warrior, he set himself to arrange a more efficient plan of operations
+against the Spaniards, and the effect was soon visible. Cortes,
+meanwhile, had so little doubt of his ability to quench the insurrection
+that he said as much in the letter that he wrote to the garrison of
+Villa Rica informing them of his safe arrival in the capital. But his
+messenger had not been gone half-an-hour before he returned breathless
+with terror, and covered with wounds, saying that the city was in arms,
+the drawbridges were raised, and the enemy would soon be upon them.
+
+Surely enough before long a hoarse, sullen roar arose, becoming louder
+and louder, till from the parapet surrounding the enclosure the great
+avenues that led to it could be seen dark with masses of warriors
+rolling on in a confused tide towards the fortress, while at the same
+time the flat roofs of the neighbouring houses were suddenly covered, as
+if by magic, with swarms of menacing figures, brandishing their
+weapons--a sight to appal the stoutest heart.
+
+
+FIGHTING IN MEXICO.
+
+When notice was given of the approach of the Aztecs, each man was soon
+at his post, and prepared to give them a warm reception. On they came,
+rushing forward in dense columns, each with its gay banner, and as they
+neared the enclosure they set up the hideous yell or shrill whistle used
+in fight, which rose high above the sound of their rude musical
+instruments. They followed this by a tempest of stones, darts, and
+arrows, which fell thick as rain on the besieged, and at the same time
+those upon the roofs also discharged a blinding volley. The Spaniards
+waited until the foremost column was within fire, and then, with a
+general discharge of artillery, swept the ranks of their assailants,
+mowing them down by hundreds. The Mexicans for a moment stood aghast,
+but soon rallying swept boldly forward over the prostrate bodies of
+their comrades: a second and third volley checked them and threw their
+ranks into disorder, but still they pressed on, letting off clouds of
+arrows, while those on the house-tops took deliberate aim at the
+soldiers in the courtyard. Soon some of the Aztecs succeeded in getting
+close enough to the wall to be sheltered by it from the fire of the
+Spaniards, and they made gallant efforts to scale the parapet, but only
+to be shot down, one after another, as soon as their heads appeared
+above the rampart. Defeated here, they tried to effect a breach by
+battering the wall with heavy pieces of timber, but it proved too strong
+for them, and then they shot burning arrows among the temporary
+buildings in the courtyard. Several of these took fire, and soon a
+fierce conflagration was raging, which was only to be checked by
+throwing down part of the wall itself, and thus laying open a formidable
+breach. This was protected by a battery of heavy guns, and a file of
+arquebusiers, who kept up an incessant volley through the opening. All
+day the fight raged with fury, and even when night came, and the Aztecs
+suspended operations according to their usual custom, the Spaniards
+found but little repose, being in hourly expectation of an assault.
+Early the next morning the combatants returned to the charge. Cortes did
+not yet realise the ferocity and determination of the Mexicans, and
+thought by a vigorous sortie he would reduce them to order, and, indeed,
+when the gates were thrown open, and he sallied out, followed by his
+cavalry, supported by a large body of infantry and Tlascalans, they were
+taken by surprise and retreated in some confusion behind a barricade
+which they had thrown up across the street.
+
+But by the time Cortes had ordered up his heavy guns and demolished the
+barrier they had rallied again, and though, when the fight had raged all
+day, Cortes was, on the whole, victorious, still he had been so harassed
+on all sides by the battalions of natives who swarmed in from every side
+street and lane, by those in canoes upon the canal, and by the showers
+of huge stones from those upon the house-tops, that his losses had been
+severe. Earlier in the day he had caused a number of houses to be burned
+to rid himself of some of his tormentors, but the Aztecs could probably
+better afford to lose a hundred men than the Spaniards one, and the
+Mexican ranks showed no signs of thinning. At length, exhausted by toil
+and hunger, the Spanish commander drew off his men, and retreated into
+his quarters, pursued to the last by showers of darts and arrows; and
+when the Spaniards re-entered their fortress, the Indians once more
+encamped round it; and though through the night they were inactive,
+still they frequently broke the stillness with menacing cries and
+insults.
+
+'The gods have delivered you into our hands at last!' they said.
+'Huitzilopochtli has long cried for his victims. The stone of sacrifice
+is ready--the knives are sharpened. The wild beasts in the palace are
+roaring for their feast.' These taunts, which sounded dismally in the
+ears of the besieged, were mingled with piteous lamentations for
+Montezuma, whom they entreated the Spaniards to deliver up to them.
+Cortes was suffering much from a severe wound and from his many
+anxieties, and he determined to induce Montezuma to exert his authority
+to allay the tumult. In order to give greater effect to his appearance
+he put on his imperial robes. His mantle of blue and white was held by a
+rich clasp of the precious 'chalchivitl,' which with emeralds of
+uncommon size, set in gold, also ornamented other portions of his dress.
+His feet were shod with golden sandals, and upon his head he wore the
+Mexican diadem. Surrounded by a guard of Spaniards and preceded by a
+golden wand, the symbol of sovereignty, the Indian monarch ascended the
+central turret of the palace. His presence was instantly recognised by
+the people, and a magical change came over the scene: the clang of the
+instruments and the fierce cries of the assailants ceased, and many in
+the hushed throng knelt or prostrated themselves, while all eyes were
+turned with eager expectation upon the monarch whom they had been taught
+to regard with slavish awe. Montezuma saw his advantage, and in the
+presence of his awestruck people felt once more a king. With his former
+calm authority and confidence he addressed them:
+
+'Why do I see my people here in arms against the palace of my fathers?
+Is it that you think your sovereign a prisoner, and wish to release him?
+If so you have done well; but you are mistaken. I am no prisoner. The
+strangers are my guests. I remain with them only for choice, and can
+leave them when I will. Have you come to drive them from the city? That
+is unnecessary; they will depart of their own accord if you will open a
+way for them. Return to your homes then. Lay down your arms. Show your
+obedience to me, whose right it is. The white men shall go back to their
+land, and all shall be well again within the walls of Mexico.'
+
+As Montezuma declared himself the friend of the detested strangers a
+murmur of contempt ran through the multitude. Their rage and desire for
+vengeance made them forget their ancient reverence, and turned them
+against their unfortunate monarch.
+
+'Base Aztec,' they cried, 'woman, coward! The white men have made you a
+woman, fit only to weave and spin.'
+
+A chief of high rank brandished a javelin at Montezuma, as these taunts
+were uttered, and in an instant the place where he stood was assailed
+with a cloud of stones and arrows. The Spaniards, who had been thrown
+off their guard by the respect shown by the people on their lord's
+appearance, now hastily interposed their shields, but it was too late:
+Montezuma was wounded by three of the missiles, one of which, a stone,
+struck him on the head with such violence that he fell senseless to the
+ground. The Mexicans, shocked at their own sacrilegious act, set up a
+dismal cry, and dispersed panic-stricken until not one of all the host
+remained in the great square before the palace. Meanwhile, the unhappy
+king was borne to his own apartments, and as soon as he recovered from
+his insensibility the full misery of his situation broke upon him. He
+had tasted the last bitterness of degradation. He had been reviled and
+rejected by his people. Even the meanest of the rabble had raised their
+hands against him, and he had nothing left to live for. In vain did
+Cortes and his officers endeavour to soothe the anguish of his spirit
+and encourage him to hope for better things. Montezuma answered not a
+word. His wounds, though dangerous, need not have proved fatal had he
+not refused all remedies, tearing off the bandages as often as they were
+applied, and maintaining all the while a determined silence. He sat
+motionless, with downcast eyes, brooding over his humiliation; but from
+this painful scene the Spanish general was soon called away by the new
+dangers which threatened the garrison.
+
+[Illustration: MONTEZUMA ASSAILED BY MISSILES]
+
+Opposite to the Spanish quarters stood the great teocalli of
+Huitzilopochtli, rising to a height of nearly a hundred and fifty feet,
+and thus completely commanding the palace occupied by the Spaniards. A
+body of five or six hundred Mexicans, many of them nobles and warriors
+of the highest rank, now took possession of the teocalli, whence they
+discharged such a tempest of arrows upon the garrison that it was
+impossible for any soldier to show himself for an instant outside his
+defences without great danger, while the Mexicans themselves were
+completely sheltered. It was absolutely necessary that they should be
+dislodged, and Cortes entrusted the task to his chamberlain Escobar,
+giving him a hundred men for the purpose. But after making three
+desperate attempts, in which he was repulsed with considerable loss,
+this officer returned unsuccessful, and Cortes determined to lead the
+storming party himself, though he was suffering much from a wound which
+disabled his left hand. He made the arm serviceable, however, by
+strapping his shield to it, and thus prepared sallied forth at the head
+of three hundred chosen cavaliers and several thousand of the Indian
+allies. In the courtyard of the temple a body of Mexicans was drawn up
+to oppose him, and he charged them briskly, but the horses could not
+keep their footing on the slippery pavement, and many of them fell.
+Hastily dismounting the Spaniards sent the animals back to their
+quarters, and then, renewing the assault, had little difficulty in
+dispersing the Indians and securing a passage to the teocalli. And now
+began a great and terrible struggle. You will remember that the huge
+pyramid-shaped teocalli was built in five divisions, growing smaller and
+smaller, till at the top you came out upon a square platform, crowned
+only by the two sanctuaries in which stood the images of the Aztec gods.
+You will also remember that the only ascent was by flights of stone
+steps on the outside, one above another, and that it was necessary
+between each flight to pass by a kind of terrace, right round the
+building, so that a distance of nearly a mile had to be traversed before
+reaching the top. Cortes sprang up the lower stairway, followed by
+Alvarado, Sandoval, Ordaz, and the other gallant cavaliers, leaving a
+strong detachment to hold the enemy in check at the foot of the temple.
+On every terrace as well as on the topmost platform the Aztec warriors
+were drawn up to dispute his passage. From their elevated position they
+showered down heavy stones, beams, and burning rafters, which thundering
+along the stairway overturned the ascending Spaniards and carried
+desolation through their ranks. The more fortunate, eluding or springing
+over these obstacles, succeeded in gaining the first terrace, where they
+fell upon their enemies and compelled them to give way, and then, aided
+by a brisk fire from the musketeers below, they pressed on, forcing
+their opponents to retreat higher and higher, until at last they were
+glad to take shelter on the broad summit of the teocalli. Cortes and his
+companions were close behind them, and the two parties soon found
+themselves face to face upon this strange battle-field, engaged in
+mortal combat in the presence of the whole city, while even the troops
+in the courtyard ceased hostilities, as if by mutual consent, and
+watched with breathless interest the issue of the struggle.
+
+The Spaniards and Mexicans closed with the desperate fury of men who
+have no hope but in victory. Quarter was neither asked nor given, and to
+fly was impossible. The edge of the platform was unprotected by parapet
+or battlement, and many of the combatants, as they struggled together,
+were seen to roll over the edge of the precipice, locked in a
+death-grip. Cortes himself but narrowly escaped this frightful fate. Two
+powerful warriors had seized upon him, and were dragging him violently
+towards the side of the pyramid, when, by sheer strength, he tore
+himself from their grasp and hurled one of them over the brink with his
+own arm.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The battle raged unceasingly for three hours. The number of the Mexicans
+was double that of the Spaniards, but the armour of the latter and their
+skill as swordsmen outweighed the odds against them. Resistance grew
+fainter and fainter on the side of the Aztecs. The priests, who had run
+to and fro among them with streaming hair and wild gestures, encouraging
+and urging them on, were all slain or captured. One by one the warriors
+fell dead upon the blood-drenched pavement, or were hurled from the
+dizzy height, until at last the wild struggle ceased, and the Spaniards
+stood alone upon the field of battle. Their victory had cost them dear,
+for forty-five of their comrades lay dead, and nearly all the remainder
+were more or less seriously wounded; but there was no time for regrets.
+The victorious cavaliers rushed to the sanctuaries to find that the
+cross and the image of the Virgin had disappeared from the one they had
+appropriated, and that in the other, before the grim figure of
+Huitzilopochtli, lay the usual offering of human hearts, possibly those
+of their own countrymen! With shouts of triumph the Spaniards tore the
+hideous idol from its niche, and in the sight of the horror-stricken
+Aztecs hurled it down the steps of the teocalli, and, after having set
+fire to the sanctuaries, descended joyfully into the courtyard.
+
+Passing through the ranks of the Mexicans, who were too much dismayed by
+all they had witnessed to offer any resistance, they reached their own
+quarters in safety, and that very night they followed up the blow they
+had struck by sallying forth into the sleeping town and burning three
+hundred houses. Cortes now hoped that the natives were sufficiently
+subdued to be willing to come to terms with him. He therefore invited
+them to a parley, and addressed the principal chiefs, who had assembled
+in the great square, from the turret before occupied by Montezuma. As
+usual, Marina interpreted for him, and the Indians gazed curiously at
+their countrywoman, whose influence with the Spanish general was well
+known. Cortes told them that they must now know how little they had to
+hope from their opposition to the Spaniards. They had seen their gods
+trampled in the dust, their altars destroyed, their dwellings burned,
+and their warriors falling on all sides. 'All this,' he continued, 'you
+have brought upon yourselves by your rebellion. Yet, for the sake of the
+affection felt for you by the sovereign you have treated so unworthily,
+I would willingly stay my hand if you will lay down your arms and return
+once more to your obedience. But if you do not,' he concluded, 'I will
+make your city a heap of ruins, and leave not a soul alive to mourn over
+it.'
+
+But the Spanish commander did not yet understand the character of the
+Aztecs if he thought to intimidate them by menaces. It was true, they
+replied, that he had destroyed their temples, broken in pieces their
+gods, and massacred their countrymen. Many more doubtless were yet to
+fall under their terrible swords. But they were content so long as for
+every thousand Mexicans they could shed the blood of a single white man.
+'Look out,' they said, 'upon our streets and terraces. See them still
+thronged with warriors as far as your eyes can reach. Our numbers are
+scarcely diminished by our losses. Yours, on the contrary, are lessening
+hour by hour. Your provisions and water are failing. You are perishing
+from hunger and sickness; you must soon fall into our hands. _The
+bridges are broken down, and you cannot escape!_ There will be too few
+of you left to glut the vengeance of our gods.' With this they
+discharged a volley of arrows, which compelled the Spaniards to beat a
+speedy retreat from the turret. The fierce answer of the Aztecs filled
+the besieged with dismay.
+
+The general himself, pressed by enemies without and factions within,
+was, as usual, only roused to more energetic action by a situation which
+would have paralysed any ordinary mind. He calmly surveyed his position
+before deciding what course he would pursue. To retreat was hazardous,
+and it mortified him cruelly to abandon the city in which he had so long
+been master and the rich treasure which he had secured, with which he
+had hoped to propitiate the King of Spain. To fly now was to acknowledge
+himself further than ever from the conquest and to give great
+opportunity to his enemy, the Governor of Cuba, to triumph over him. On
+the other hand, with his men daily diminishing in strength and numbers,
+with the stock of provisions so nearly exhausted that one small daily
+ration of bread was all the soldiers had, with the breaches in his
+fortifications widening every day and his ammunition nearly gone, it was
+manifestly impossible to hold the place much longer against the enemy.
+Having reached this conclusion, the next difficulty was to decide how
+and when it would be well to evacuate the city. He tried to fight his
+way out, but he failed, and when night fell the Mexicans dispersed as
+usual, and the Spaniards, tired, famished, and weak from their wounds,
+slowly re-entered the citadel, only to receive tidings of a fresh
+misfortune. Montezuma was dead. 'The tidings of his death,' says the old
+Spanish chronicler, 'were received with real grief by every cavalier and
+soldier in the army who had had access to his person, for we all loved
+him as a father, and no wonder, seeing how good he was.'
+
+Montezuma's death was a real misfortune for the Spaniards. While he
+lived there was still a possibility of his influence with the natives
+being of use to them. Now that hope was gone. The Spanish commander
+showed all respect for his memory. His body, arrayed in its royal robes,
+was laid upon a bier, and borne on the shoulders of those nobles who had
+remained with him to the last to his subjects in the city, whose
+wailings over it were distinctly heard by the Spaniards; but where he
+was buried, and with what honours, they never knew.
+
+The Spanish general now called a council to decide as speedily as
+possible the all-important question of the retreat. It was his intention
+to fall back upon Tlascala, and once there to arrange according to
+circumstances his future operations. There was some difference of
+opinion as to the hour of departure; but owing to the predictions of a
+soldier named Botello, who pretended to be able to read the stars, and
+who announced that to leave the city at night would be for the good of
+his comrades, though he himself would meet his death through it, it was
+decided that the fortress should be abandoned that very night. After
+events proved that Botello's prophecy was unfortunately only true as far
+as he himself was concerned.
+
+The general's first care was to provide for the safe conveyance of the
+treasure. The soldiers had most of them converted their share into gold
+chains or collars which could be easily carried about their persons. But
+the royal fifth, with that of Cortes himself and his principal officers,
+was in bars and wedges of solid gold.
+
+That belonging to the crown was now given in charge to the royal
+officers, with the strongest horse to carry it, and a special guard for
+its protection. But much treasure belonging to the crown and to private
+individuals was necessarily abandoned, and the precious metal lay in
+shining heaps upon the floors of the palace. 'Take what you will of it,'
+said Cortes to the soldiers; 'better you should have it than those
+Mexican hounds. But be careful not to overload yourselves: he travels
+safest who travels lightest.' His own wary soldiers took heed to his
+counsel, taking few treasures, and those of the smallest size. But the
+troops of Narvaez thought that the very mines of Mexico lay open before
+them, and the riches for which they had risked so much were within their
+reach at last. Rushing upon the spoil, they loaded themselves with all
+they could possibly carry or stow away.
+
+Cortes next arranged the order of march. The van consisted of two
+hundred Spanish foot, commanded by Sandoval, with twenty other
+cavaliers. The rest of the infantry formed the rear-guard under Alvarado
+and De Leon, while the general himself took charge of the centre, some
+of the heavy guns, the baggage, the treasure, and the prisoners, among
+whom were a son and two daughters of Montezuma, Cacama, and several
+nobles. The Tlascalans were pretty equally divided among the three
+divisions. The general had previously superintended the construction of
+a portable bridge to be laid across the open canals. This was entrusted
+to the care of an officer named Magarino and forty men, all pledged to
+defend the passage to the last extremity. Well would it have been if
+three such bridges had been made, but the labour would have been great
+and the time was short. At midnight all was ready, and after a solemn
+mass had been celebrated by Father Olmedo, the Spaniards for the last
+time sallied forth from the ancient fortress, the scene of so much
+suffering and of such great courage.
+
+
+THE NIGHT OR HORROR.
+
+The night was dark, and a fine rain fell steadily. The vast square
+before the palace was deserted, as indeed it had been since the death of
+Montezuma, and the Spaniards made their way across it as noiselessly as
+possible, and entered the great street of Tlacopan. Though to their
+anxious eyes every dark lane and alley seemed to swarm with the shadowy
+forms of their enemies, it was not really so, and all went well until
+the van drew near the spot where the street opened upon the causeway.
+Before the bridge could be adjusted across the uncovered breach the
+Mexican sentinels stationed there fled, raising the alarm as they went.
+The priests from the summits of the teocallis heard them, and sounded
+their shells, while the huge drum upon the desolate temple of the
+war-god sent forth its solemn sound, which--heard only in seasons of
+calamity--vibrated through every corner of the capital. The Spaniards
+saw that there was no time to be lost; the bridge was fitted with all
+speed, and Sandoval rode across first to try its strength, followed by
+the first division, then came Cortes with the baggage and artillery, but
+before he was well over, a sound was heard as of a stormy wind rising in
+a forest. Nearer and nearer it came, and from the dark waters of the
+lake rose the plashing noise of many oars. Then a few stones and arrows
+fell at random among the hurrying troops, to be followed by more and
+more, ever thicker and faster, till they became a terrible blinding
+storm, while the air was rent with the yells and war-cries of the enemy,
+who seemed to be swarming in myriads over land and lake.
+
+The Spaniards pushed on steadily, though the Mexicans, dashing their
+canoes against the sides of the causeway, clambered up and broke in upon
+their ranks. The soldiers, anxious only to make their escape, simply
+shook them off, or rode over them, or with their guns and swords drove
+them headlong down the sides of the dyke again. But the advance of such
+a body of men necessarily took time, and the leading files had already
+reached the second gap in the causeway before those in the rear had
+cleared the first. They were forced to halt, though severely harassed by
+the fire from the canoes, which clustered thickly round this opening,
+and many were the urgent messages which were sent to the rear, to hurry
+up the bridge. But when it was at length clear, and Magarino and his
+sturdy followers endeavoured to raise it, they found to their horror
+that the weight of the artillery and the horses passing over it had
+jammed it firmly into the sides of the dyke, and it was absolutely
+immovable. Not till many of his men were slain and all wounded did
+Magarino abandon the attempt, and then the dreadful tidings spread
+rapidly from man to man, and a cry of despair arose. All means of
+retreat were cut off; they were held as in a trap. Order and discipline
+were at an end, for no one could hope to escape except by his own
+desperate exertions. Those behind pressed forward, trampling the weak
+and wounded under foot, heeding not friend or foe. Those in front were
+forced over the edge of the gulf, across which some of the cavaliers
+succeeded in swimming their horses, but many failed, or rolled back into
+the lake in attempting to ascend the opposite bank. The infantry
+followed pell-mell, heaped one upon the other, frequently pierced by the
+Aztec arrows, or struck down by their clubs, and dragged into the canoes
+to be reserved for a more dreadful death. All along the causeway the
+battle raged fiercely.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Mexicans clambered continually up the sides of the dyke, and
+grappled with the Spaniards, till they rolled together down into the
+canoes. But while the Aztec fell among friends, his unhappy antagonist
+was secured, and borne away in triumph to the sacrifice. The struggle
+was long and deadly, but by degrees the opening in the causeway was
+filled up by the wreck of the waggons, guns, rich bales of stuffs,
+chests of solid ingots, and bodies of men and horses which had fallen
+into it; and over this dismal ruin those in the rear were able to reach
+the other side. Cortes had found a place that was fordable, and, halting
+halfway across, had vainly endeavoured to check the confusion, and lead
+his followers safely to the opposite bank. But his voice was lost in the
+wild uproar; and at length, attended by a few trusty cavaliers, he
+pushed forward to the front. Here he found Sandoval and his companions,
+halting before the last breach, trying to cheer on the soldiers to
+attempt the crossing; but, though not so beset with enemies as the last,
+it was wide and deep, and the men's resolution failed them. Again the
+cavaliers set the example, by plunging into the lake. Horse and foot
+followed, swimming or clinging to the manes and tails of the horses.
+Those fared best, as the general had predicted, who travelled lightest,
+and many were the unfortunate wretches, who, weighed down by the fatal
+treasure, were buried with it at the bottom of the lake. Cortes, with a
+few others, still kept in advance, leading the miserable remnant off the
+causeway. The din of battle was growing faint in the distance, when the
+rumour reached them that, without speedy succour, the rearguard must be
+utterly overwhelmed. It seemed a desperate venture, but the cavaliers,
+without thinking of the danger, turned their horses, and galloped back
+to the relief of their comrades. Swimming the canal again, they threw
+themselves into the thick of the fray. The first gleam of morning light
+showed the hideous confusion of the scene; the masses of combatants upon
+the dyke were struggling till the very causeway seemed to rock, while as
+far as the eye could see, the lake was covered with a dense crowd of
+canoes full of warriors. The cavaliers found Alvarado unhorsed, and,
+with a mere handful of followers, defending himself against an
+overwhelming tide of the enemy, who by this time possessed the whole
+rear of the causeway, and received constant reinforcements from the
+city. The Spanish artillery, which had done good service at first, had
+been overthrown, and utterly confounded by the rush from the back. In
+the general ruin, Cortes strove by a resolute charge to give his
+countrymen time to rally, but it was only for a moment: they were
+speedily borne down by the returning rush. The general and his
+companions were forced to plunge into the lake once more, though with
+their numbers reduced this time, and Alvarado stood for an instant upon
+the brink, uncertain what to do. There was no time to be lost. He was a
+tall and powerful man. Setting his long lance firmly on the wreck which
+strewed the lake, he gave a mighty leap which landed him in safety upon
+the opposite bank. Aztecs and Tlascalans looked on in amazement at this
+almost incredible feat, and a general shout arose. 'This is truly the
+Tonatiuh--the Child of the Sun.' To this day, the place is called
+'Alvarado's Leap.' Cortes now rode to the front, where the troops were
+straggling miserably off the fatal causeway. Most fortunately, the
+attention of the Aztecs was diverted by the rich spoil that strewed the
+ground, and their pursuit ceased, so that the Spaniards passed
+unmolested through the village of Popotla. There the Spanish commander
+dismounted from his weary steed, and sitting down on the steps of an
+Indian temple, looked mournfully on while the broken files dragged
+slowly past. It was a piteous spectacle. The cavalry, many of them
+dismounted, were mingled with the infantry, their shattered mail
+dripping with the salt ooze, and showing through its rents many a
+ghastly wound; their firearms, banners, baggage, artillery, everything
+was gone. Cortes, as he looked sadly on their thin, disordered ranks,
+sought in vain many a familiar face, and missed more than one trusty
+comrade who had stood by his side through all the perils of the
+conquest; and accustomed as he was to conceal his emotions, he could
+bear it no longer, but covered his face with his hands, while he wept
+tears of anguish. It was, however, some consolation to him that Marina
+had been carried safely through the awful night by her faithful guards.
+Aguilar was also alive, and Martin Lopez, who had built two boats for
+him in Mexico, as well as Alvarado, Avila, Sandoval, Olid, and Ordaz.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But this was no time to give way to vain regrets. Cortes hastily mounted
+again and led his men as speedily as possible through Tlacopan, and, as
+soon as he reached the open country, endeavoured to bring his
+disorganised battalions into something like order. The broken army,
+half-starved, moved slowly towards the coast. On the seventh morning the
+army reached the mountain range which overlooks the plains of Otumba.
+All the day before, parties of the enemy had hovered round, crying
+vindictively, 'Hasten on. You will soon find yourselves where you cannot
+escape!' Now, as they climbed the steep hillside, Cortes realised what
+this meant, for his scouts came back reporting that a powerful body of
+Aztecs was encamped upon the other side waiting for them, and truly
+enough, when they looked down into the valley, they saw it filled with a
+mighty host of warriors who had been gathered together by Cuitlahua, and
+stationed at this point to dispute the passage of the Spaniards. Every
+chief of importance had taken the field with his whole array. As far as
+the eye could reach extended a moving mass of glittering shields and
+spears, mingled with the banners and bright feather-mail of the
+caciques, and the white cotton robes of their followers. It was a sight
+to dismay the stoutest heart among the Spaniards, and even Cortes felt
+that his last hour was come. But since to escape was impossible, he
+disposed his little army to the best advantage, and prepared to cut his
+way through the enemy or perish in the attempt. He gave his force as
+broad a front as possible, protecting it on each flank with his cavalry,
+now reduced to twenty horsemen, who were instructed to direct their long
+lances at the faces of the enemy, and on no account to lose their hold
+of them. The infantry were to thrust, not strike, with their swords, and
+above all to make for the leaders of the enemy, and then, after a few
+brave words of encouragement, he and his little band began to descend
+the hill, rushing, as it seemed, to certain destruction. The enemy met
+them with the usual storm of stones and arrows, but when the Spaniards
+closed with them, their superiority became apparent, and the natives
+were thrown into confusion by their own numbers as they fell back from
+the charge. The infantry followed up their advantage, and a wide lane
+was opened in the ranks of the enemy, who receded on all sides as if to
+allow them a free passage. But it was only to return with fresh fury,
+and soon the little army was entirely surrounded, standing firmly,
+protected on all sides by its bristling swords and lances, like an
+island in the midst of a raging sea. In spite of many gallant deeds and
+desperate struggles, the Spaniards found themselves, at the end of
+several hours, only more deeply wedged in by the dense masses of the
+enemy. Cortes had received another wound, in the head, his horse had
+fallen under him, and he had been obliged to mount one taken from the
+baggage train. The fiery rays of the sun poured down upon the nearly
+exhausted soldiers, who were beginning to despair and give way, while
+the enemy, constantly reinforced from the rear, pressed on with
+redoubled fury. At this critical moment the eagle eye of Cortes, ever on
+the watch for any chance of arresting the coming ruin, descried in the
+distance a chief, who, from his dress and surroundings, he knew must be
+the commander of the Aztec forces. He wore a rich surcoat of
+feather-work, and a gorgeous plume of jewelled feathers floated from his
+helmet, while above this, and attached to his back between the
+shoulders, showed a golden net fastened to a short staff--the customary
+symbol of authority for an Aztec commander. Turning quickly round to
+Sandoval, Olid, Alvarado, and Avila who surrounded him, he cried,
+pointing to the chief, 'There is our mark! Follow and support me!' And
+shouting his war-cry he plunged into the thickest of the press. Taken by
+surprise the enemy fell back; those who could not escape were trampled
+under his horse's feet, or pierced by his long lance; the cavaliers
+followed him closely; in a few minutes they were close to the Aztec
+chief, and Cortes hurled him to the ground with one stroke from his
+lance; a young cavalier named Juan de Salamanca hastily dismounted and
+slew him where he lay, and tearing away his banner presented it to the
+Spanish general. The cacique's guard, overpowered by this sudden onset,
+fled precipitately, and their panic spread to the other Indians, who,
+on hearing of the death of their chief, fought no more, but thought only
+of escape. In their blind terror they impeded and trampled down their
+own comrades, and the Spaniards, availing themselves fully of the
+marvellous turn affairs had taken, pursued them off the field, and then
+returned to secure the rich booty they had left behind them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Cortes reached Tlascala in safety, and at once began to prepare his
+revenge on the Mexicans, aided by reinforcements of a few Spaniards from
+Vera Cruz. Gunpowder had also to be manufactured, and a cavalier named
+Francio Montano undertook the perilous task of obtaining sulphur for the
+purpose from the terrible volcano of Popocatepetl. He set out with four
+comrades, and after some days journeying, they reached the dense forest
+which covered the base of the mountain, and forcing their way upward,
+came by degrees to a more open region. As they neared the top the track
+ended, and they had to climb as best they could over the black glazed
+surface of the lava, which, having issued from the crater in a boiling
+flood, had risen into a thousand odd forms wherever it met with any
+obstacle, and continually impeded their progress. After this they
+arrived at the region of perpetual snow, which increased their
+difficulties, the treacherous ice giving way at every step, so that many
+times they narrowly escaped falling into the frozen chasms that yawned
+all round them. At last, however, they reached the mouth of the crater,
+and, crawling cautiously to the very edge, peered down into its gloomy
+depths. At the bottom of the abyss, which seemed to them to go down into
+the very heart of the earth, a lurid flame burned sullenly, sending up a
+sulphureous steam, which cooling as it rose, fell again in showers upon
+the sides of the cavity. Into this one of the brave explorers had to
+descend, and when they had cast lots the choice fell upon Montano
+himself. His preparations were soon made, and his companions lowered him
+in a basket into the horrible chasm to a depth of four hundred feet, and
+there as he hung, he scraped the sulphur from the sides of the crater,
+descending again and again until he had procured enough for the wants of
+the army, with which they returned triumphantly to Tlascala. Meanwhile
+the construction of the ships went forward prosperously, and by
+Christmas, in the year 1520, there was no longer any reason to delay the
+march to Mexico.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+While all these preparations were being made, some changes had taken
+place among the Aztecs. Cuitlahua had suddenly died after reigning four
+months, and Guatemozin his nephew had been chosen in his stead. This
+young prince had married one of Montezuma's daughters. He was handsome
+and valiant, and so terrible that his followers trembled in his
+presence. He had a sort of religious hatred of the Spaniards, and
+prepared manfully to meet the perils which he saw threatening his
+country, for by means of spies he had kept a watch upon the movements of
+the Spaniards, and had discovered their intention of besieging the
+capital. Cortes, upon reviewing his army, found that his whole force
+fell little short of six hundred men, of whom forty were cavalry, and
+eighty arquebusiers and cross-bowmen. The rest were armed with sword,
+target, and the long copper-headed pikes, which had been made specially
+by the general's directions. There were also nine cannons of moderate
+size, but the supply of powder was but indifferent. Cortes published a
+code of strict regulations for the guidance of his men before they set
+out, and addressed them as usual with stirring words, touching all the
+springs of devotion, honour, and ambition in their hearts, and rousing
+their enthusiasm as only he could have done. His plan of action was to
+establish his headquarters at some place upon the Tezcucan lake, whence
+he could cut off the supplies from the surrounding country, and place
+Mexico in a state of blockade until the completion of his ships should
+enable him to begin a direct assault. The most difficult of the three
+ways into the valley was the one Cortes chose; it led right across the
+mountain chain, and he judged wisely that he would be less likely to be
+annoyed by the enemy in that direction. Before long the army halted
+within three leagues of Tezcuco, which you will remember was upon the
+opposite shore of the lake to Mexico, and somewhat further north. Up to
+this time they only had had a few slight skirmishes with the Aztecs,
+though beacon fires had blazed upon every hill-top, showing that the
+country was roused. Cortes thought it very unlikely that he would be
+allowed to enter Tezcuco, which was now reigned over by Coanaco, the
+friend and ally of Guatemozin. But the next morning, before the troops
+were well under arms, came an embassy bearing a golden flag, and a gift
+for Cortes, and imploring him to spare Coanaco's territories, and to
+take up his quarters in his capital. Cortes first sternly demanded an
+account of the Spaniards who, while convoying treasure to the coast, had
+been slain by Coanaco just when Cortes himself was retreating to
+Tlascala. The envoys declared at once that the Mexican emperor alone was
+to blame; he had ordered it to be done, and had received the gold and
+the prisoners. They then urged that to give them time to prepare
+suitable accommodation for him, Cortes should not enter Tezcuco until
+the next day; but disregarding this he marched in at once, only to find
+the place deserted, and Coanaco well on his way across the lake to
+Mexico. The general, however, turned this to his own advantage by
+assembling the few persons left in the city, and then and there electing
+a brother of the late sovereign to be ruler in his place, and when a few
+months later he died, he was succeeded by Ixtlilxochitl, son of
+Negahualpilli, who, always a friend of the Spaniards, now became their
+most valuable ally, and by the support of his personal authority and all
+his military resources, did more than any other Aztec chieftain to rivet
+the chains of the strangers round the necks of his own countrymen.
+
+
+THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MEXICO.
+
+The city of Tezcuco, which lay about half a league from the shore of the
+lake, was probably the best position Cortes could have chosen for the
+headquarters of the army. His first care was to strengthen the defences
+of the palace in which they were lodged, and next to employ eight
+thousand Indian labourers in widening a stream, which ran towards the
+lake, so that when the ships arrived they might be put together in
+Tezcuco, and floated safely down to be launched upon it. Meanwhile many
+of the places in the neighbourhood sent in their submission to Cortes,
+and several noble Aztecs fell into his hands. These men he employed to
+bear a message to Guatemozin, in which he deprecated the necessity of
+the present hostilities, and declared himself willing to forget the
+past, inviting the Mexicans by a timely submission to save their capital
+from the horrors of a siege. But every man in Mexico was determined to
+defend it to the uttermost, and this appeal produced no effect. The
+general now turned his attention to securing all the strong places upon
+the lake. Iztapalapan was the first; the attacking party, after a sharp
+struggle, succeeded in entering the town; many of the inhabitants fled
+in their canoes, but those who remained were massacred by the Tlascalans
+in spite of all Cortes could do to restrain them. Darkness set in while
+the soldiers were eagerly loading themselves with plunder; some of the
+houses had been set on fire, and the flames lighted up the scene of ruin
+and desolation. Suddenly a sound was heard as of the rush of the
+incoming tide--and Cortes with great alarm realised that the Indians had
+broken down the dykes, and that before long the low-lying ground upon
+which the town stood would be under water. He hastily called off his men
+and retreated, the soldiers, heavily laden, wading with difficulty
+through the flood which gained fast upon them. As they left the burning
+city behind them they could no longer find their way, and sometimes
+plunged into deep water where many of the allies, unable to swim, were
+carried away and drowned. When morning dawned they were harassed by the
+enemy, who hovered round and discharged volleys of arrows and stones, so
+that it was with no small satisfaction that they presently found
+themselves once more within the walls of Tezcuco. Cortes was greatly
+disappointed at this disastrous end of an expedition which had begun so
+well, but after all the fate of Iztapalapan produced a good effect, and
+many more towns sent to tender their allegiance, amongst others Otumba
+and Chalco, which was a place of great importance. Cortes also managed
+to induce the tribes, who though friendly to him were hostile to one
+another, to forget their feuds and combine against Mexico, and to this
+wise policy he owed much of his future success.
+
+News now came from Tlascala that the ships were ready, and Sandoval was
+despatched with a considerable guard to bring them to Tezcuco. On his
+way he was to stop at Zoltepec, where the massacre of the Spaniards had
+taken place, to find out and punish all who had had a hand in the
+matter; but when they got there the inhabitants had fled. In the
+deserted temples they had the horror of finding many traces of the fate
+of their comrades; for beside their arms and clothing, and the hides of
+their horses, the heads of several soldiers were found suspended as
+trophies of victory; while traced in charcoal upon the wall in one
+building were the words, in the Spanish language, 'In this place the
+unfortunate Juan Juste, with many others of his company, was
+imprisoned.' It was fortunate that the inhabitants had fled, for they
+would have met with but scant mercy from the Spaniards, who were full of
+indignation at the thought of the horrible doom which had overtaken
+their companions. Sandoval now resumed his march to Tlascala, but before
+he could reach it, the convoy appeared transporting the ships through
+the mountain passes. Retaining twenty thousand of the warriors as a
+guard, the Spanish captain dismissed the rest, and after four laborious
+days Cortes and his garrison had the joy of welcoming them safe within
+the walls of Tezcuco. It was not long before the general once more
+sallied forth to reconnoitre the capital, and by the way to chastise
+certain places which had sent him hostile messages. After an exciting
+struggle Xaltocan and three other towns were taken, and a considerable
+quantity of gold and food fell into the hands of the victors. Marching
+on, the general found himself before Tlacopan, through whose streets he
+had hurried in consternation at the end of the night of horror. It was
+his intention to occupy the town, which he did after a sharp fight, just
+before nightfall, and the next morning, seeing the enemy in battle array
+on the open ground before the city, he marched out against them and
+routed them utterly. The Aztecs fled into the town, but were driven
+through its streets at the point of the lance, and compelled once more
+to abandon it, after which the Tlascalans pillaged and set fire to the
+houses, much against the will of Cortes, but they were a fierce race,
+and sometimes dangerous to friends as well as foes. After six days the
+general went back to Tezcuco, and for some time things went on as
+before, with many skirmishes and expeditions against the towns
+garrisoned by the Mexicans. Sandoval took several strongholds which
+threatened the security of Chalco, and all the while the work upon the
+canal was going rapidly forward, and the ships were nearing completion
+in spite of three attempts made by the enemy to burn them. Just at this
+time came the welcome news that three vessels had arrived at Villa Rica,
+with two hundred men on board well provided with arms and ammunition,
+and with seventy or eighty horses, and the new comers soon made their
+way to Tezcuco, for the roads to the port were now safe and open.
+
+In April 1521, Cortes started once more to scour the country with a
+large force, passing quite round the great lakes, and exploring the
+mountain regions to the south of them. Here he came upon Aztec forces
+intrenched in strong towns, often built like eagles' nests upon some
+rocky height, so that to take them was a work of great difficulty and
+danger. Once he found himself before a city which it was absolutely
+necessary to subdue, but he was separated from it by a cleft in the
+solid rock of no great width, but going sheer down thousands of feet.
+The bridges which generally crossed it had been broken down at the
+approach of the Spaniards, and as they stood there, unable to advance,
+the enemy's archers as usual kept up a steady fire, to which they were
+unavoidably exposed. The general sent a party to seek a passage lower
+down, but they met with no success until they came to a spot where two
+large trees, growing one on either side of the ravine, interlaced their
+branches overhead, and by this unsteady and perilous bridge one of the
+Tlascalans ventured to cross. His example was soon followed, and one by
+one about thirty Spaniards and some more of the natives crawled across,
+swinging dizzily above the abyss. Three lost their hold and fell, but
+the rest alighted in safety on the other side and attacked the Aztecs,
+who were as much amazed at their sudden appearance as if they had
+dropped from the clouds. Presently a temporary bridge was contrived by
+which the remainder of the force managed to cross also, and before long
+the town was taken, and the trembling caciques appeared before Cortes,
+throwing the blame of their resistance upon the Mexicans, and promising
+submission for the future.
+
+The general then continued his march across the eastern shoulder of the
+mountain, descending finally upon Xochimilco, which was built partly
+upon the lake like Mexico itself, and was approached by causeways,
+which, however, were of no great length. It was in the first attack upon
+this town that Cortes was as nearly as possible taken prisoner by the
+Aztecs. He had thrown himself into the thick of the fight with his usual
+bravery, and was trying to resist an unexpected rush of the enemy, when
+his horse stumbled and fell, he himself received a severe blow upon the
+head before he could rise, and was seized and dragged off in triumph by
+several Indians. At this moment a Tlascalan saw his danger and sprang
+furiously upon his captors, trying to tear him from their grasp. Two
+Spaniards also rushed to the rescue, and between them the Aztecs were
+forced to quit their hold of the general, who lost no time in regaining
+his saddle, and laying about him with his good sword as vigorously as
+before. After a terrible struggle the enemy was driven out, and Cortes
+took possession of the city. As it was not yet dusk he ascended the
+principal teocalli to reconnoitre the surrounding country, and there
+beheld a sight which could but cause him grave anxiety. The lake was
+covered with rapidly approaching canoes full of warriors, while inland
+Indian squadrons were marching up in dense columns. Xochimilco was but
+four leagues from the capital, and at the first tidings of the arrival
+of the Spaniards, Guatemozin had mustered a strong force and marched to
+its relief. Cortes made all possible preparations for the defence of his
+quarters, but not until the next day did the Mexicans attack him, and
+then the battle raged long and with varying success; but in the end
+Spanish discipline prevailed, and the natives were routed with such
+dreadful slaughter that they made no further attempt to renew the
+conflict. The city yielded a rich hoard of plunder, being well stored
+with gold and feather-work, and many other articles of use or luxury, so
+that when the general mustered his men upon the neighbouring plain
+before resuming his march, many of them came staggering under the weight
+of their spoil. This caused him much uneasiness, since their way would
+be through a hostile country; but seeing that the soldiers were
+determined to keep what they had so hardly won, he contented himself
+with ordering the baggage to be placed in the centre guarded by part of
+the cavalry, and having disposed the rest to the best advantage, they
+once more set forth, at the last moment setting fire to the wooden
+buildings of Xochimilco, which blazed furiously, the glare upon the
+water telling far and wide the fate that had befallen it. Resting here
+and there, and engaging in many skirmishes with the Aztecs who followed
+them up, furious at the sight of the plunder which was being carried
+away by the invaders, the army presently completed the circuit of the
+lakes, and reached Tezcuco, to be greeted with the news that the ships
+were fully rigged and the canal completed, so that there was no longer
+any reason to delay their operations against Mexico.
+
+It was a triumphant moment when the vessels were launched, and reached
+the lake in good order. Cortes saw to their being properly armed and
+manned, and then reviewed the rest of his forces, and summoned his
+native allies to furnish their promised levies at once.
+
+The general's plan of action against Mexico was to send Sandoval with
+one division to take possession of Iztapalapan at the southern end of
+the lake, while Alvarado and Olid were to secure Tlacopan and
+Chapoltepec upon its western shore, and at the latter place destroy the
+aqueduct, and so cut off the supply of fresh water from Mexico. This
+they did successfully, and in several days of fierce fighting breach
+after breach was carried, and the Spaniards penetrated the city as far
+as the great teocalli, driving the natives before them, while the
+Tlascalans in the rear filled up the gaps in the dyke as well as they
+could, and brought up the heavy guns. Cortes and his men now pushed
+their way into the inclosure of the temple, and some of them rushed to
+the top, so lately the scene of their terrible battle, and there found a
+fresh image of the war-god. Tearing away the gold and jewels with which
+it was bedecked, they hurled it and its attendant priests over the side
+of the pyramid, and hastened down to the assistance of their comrades,
+who were by this time in a most perilous position, the Aztecs having
+rallied and attacked them furiously. Indeed it seemed likely to go hard
+with them, for they were driven helplessly back down the great street in
+utter confusion and panic; but the timely arrival of a small body of
+cavalry created a diversion in their favour, and Cortes managed to turn
+them once more and drive the enemy back into the enclosure with much
+loss. As it was by this time evening, he retreated in good order to
+Xoloc. Though this affair caused some consternation among the Mexicans,
+they speedily opened the canals and built up the ramparts again, so that
+when Cortes renewed the attack the whole scene had to be gone through as
+before. When they had once gained the street, however, they found it
+much easier to advance, the Tlascalans having on the last occasion
+pulled down many of the houses on either side. This time Cortes had
+determined to destroy some of the cherished buildings of the Mexicans,
+and began by setting fire to his old quarters, the palace of Axayacatl,
+and then the palace of Montezuma on the other side of the great square.
+The sight so maddened the natives that the Spaniards had some ado to
+make good their retreat, and few reached their camp that night
+unwounded. The Aztec emperor for his part made frequent sallies against
+the Spaniards both by land and upon the lake, sometimes with
+considerable success. At first he managed to obtain supplies of food in
+canoes, under cover of the darkness, but by degrees the large towns on
+the mainland, seeing the Mexicans unable to defend themselves, gave in
+their allegiance to the Spaniards, and then starvation began to be felt
+in the unhappy city. In spite of everything, however, all offers of
+terms from Cortes were steadily refused.
+
+At this juncture, the general was persuaded by some of his officers that
+it would be well for two of the divisions to unite, and occupy the great
+market-place in the heart of the town, and so at a given time they
+marched along their respective causeways and entered the city. Strict
+orders were given by Cortes that as they advanced every opening in the
+causeways should be filled up and made secure. The attack began, and the
+enemy, taken apparently by surprise, gave way and fell back; on rushed
+the Spaniards by every street, eager to reach the appointed meeting
+place. Only the general suspected that the enemy might be purposely
+luring them on to turn upon them when they were hopelessly involved.
+Taking a few men with him, he hastily proceeded to see for himself if
+the way was clear should a retreat become necessary, and found, as he
+had feared, that all had been too eager to be in the front to attend to
+this most important duty. In the first street he traversed was a huge
+gap, twelve feet wide, and at least as many deep, full of water, for it
+connected two canals. A feeble attempt had been made to fill this up
+with beams and rubbish, but it had been left before any good had been
+done. Worse than all Cortes saw that this breach was freshly made, and
+that his officers had probably rushed headlong into a snare laid by the
+enemy. Before his men could do anything towards filling up the trench,
+the distant sounds of the battle changed into an ever-increasing tumult,
+the mingled yells and war cries, and the trampling of many feet grew
+nearer, and at last, to his horror, Cortes beheld his men driven to the
+edge of the fatal gulf, confused, helpless, surrounded by their foes.
+The foremost files were soon hurried over the edge, some trying to swim
+across, some beaten down by the struggles of their comrades, or pierced
+by the darts of the Indians. In vain with outstretched hands did Cortes
+try to rescue his soldiers from death, or worse still from capture; he
+was soon recognised, and six of the enemy tried to seize and drag him
+into a canoe. It was only after a severe struggle, in which he was
+wounded in the leg, that he was rescued by his brave followers. Two were
+killed in the attempt, while another was taken alive as he held the
+general's horse for him to mount. In all, sixty Spaniards were captured
+on this fatal day, and it was only when the rest reached their guns in
+the open space before the causeway that they were able to rally and beat
+back the Aztecs. The other division had fared equally ill, and were
+moreover in great anxiety as to the fate of Cortes, who was reported to
+have been killed. When they once more reached their quarters, Sandoval,
+though badly wounded, rode into the camp of Cortes to learn the truth,
+and had a long and earnest consultation with him over the disaster, and
+what was next to be done. As he returned to his camp he was startled by
+the sound of the great drum on the temple of the war-god, heard only
+once before during the night of horror, and looking up he saw a long
+file of priests and warriors, winding round the terraces of the
+teocalli. As they came out upon the platform at the top he perceived,
+with rage and despair, that his own countrymen were about to be
+sacrificed with the usual ghastly ceremonies. The camp was near enough
+to the city for the white skins of the victims and their unavailing
+struggles to be distinctly seen by their comrades, who were nevertheless
+powerless to help them, and their distress and fury may be imagined.
+
+For five days the horrible scenes went on, the Mexicans feasting,
+singing, and dancing, while their priests predicted that in eight days
+the war-god, appeased by these sacrifices, would overwhelm their enemies
+and deliver them into their hands. These prophecies had a great effect
+upon the native allies of Cortes, who withdrew from him in immense
+numbers. But the general treated their superstition with cheerful
+contempt, and only bargained with the deserters to remain close by and
+see what would happen. When the ninth day came, and the city was still
+seen to be beset on every side, they ceased to believe in the oracle,
+and returned, with their anger against the Mexicans rekindled, and their
+confidence in the Spaniards greatly strengthened. At this time another
+vessel loaded with stores and ammunition touched at Vera Cruz, and her
+cargo was seized and sent on to Cortes by the governor. With his
+strength thus renewed the Spanish general resumed active operations.
+This time not a step was taken in advance without securing the entire
+safety of the army, once and for all, by solidly building up the dykes,
+filling every canal, and pulling down every house, so that slowly and by
+degrees a bare open space was made, which took in more and more of the
+town, till at last the unhappy Aztecs, after many desperate sallies,
+were shut into the portion of the city which lay between the northern
+and western causeways. Here famine and pestilence did their awful work
+unchecked. The ordinary articles of food were long exhausted, and the
+wretched people ate moss, insects, grass, weeds, or the bark of trees.
+They had no fresh water. The dead were unburied, the wounded lay in
+misery, yet all the endeavours of Cortes to induce Guatemozin and his
+chiefs to submit were useless. Though the two divisions of the army had
+proceeded with their work of destruction until they could join their
+forces, and seven-eighths of the city lay in ruins, though the banner of
+Castile floated undisturbed from the smouldering remains of the
+sanctuary on the teocalli of the war-god, still the Aztecs defied the
+conquerors, and fiercely rejected their overtures of peace.
+
+Hundreds of famishing wretches died every day, and lay where they fell,
+for there was no one to bury them. Familiarity with the spectacle made
+men indifferent to it. They looked on in dumb despair waiting for their
+own turn to come. There was no complaint or lamentation, but deep,
+unutterable woe. In the midst of this appalling misery Guatemozin
+remained calm and courageous, and as firmly resolved not to capitulate
+as at the beginning of the siege. It is even said that when Cortes
+persuaded a noble Aztec prisoner to bear his proposals for a treaty to
+the emperor, Guatemozin instantly ordered him to be sacrificed. The
+general, who had suspended hostilities for several days hoping for a
+favourable answer to his message, now resolved to drive him to
+submission by a general assault, and for that purpose led his men across
+the dreary waste of ruins to the narrow quarter of the city into which
+the wretched Mexicans had retreated. But he was met by several chiefs,
+who, holding out their emaciated arms, exclaimed, 'Why do you delay so
+long to put an end to our miseries? Rather kill us at once that we may
+go to our god Huitzilopochtli, who waits to give us rest from our
+sufferings!'
+
+Cortes, moved by the piteous sight, replied that he desired not their
+death but their submission. 'Why does your master refuse to treat with
+me,' he said, 'when in a single hour I can crush him and all his
+people?' Then once more he sent to demand an interview with Guatemozin.
+This time the emperor hesitated, and agreed that next day he would meet
+the Spanish general. Cortes, well satisfied, withdrew his force, and
+next morning presented himself at the appointed place in the great
+square, where a stone platform had been spread with mats and carpets and
+a banquet made ready. But after all Guatemozin, instead of coming
+himself, sent his nobles. Cortes, though greatly disappointed, received
+them courteously, persuading them to partake of the feast he had
+prepared, and dismissing them with a supply of provisions for their
+master and a renewed entreaty that he would next day come in person. But
+though he waited for three hours beyond the time appointed, neither the
+emperor nor his chiefs appeared, and the general heard that the Mexicans
+were preparing to resist an assault. He delayed no longer, but ordering
+Sandoval to support him by bringing up the ships and directing his big
+guns against the houses near the water, he marched at once into the
+enemy's quarters. The Mexicans set up a fierce war-cry, and with their
+usual spirit sent off clouds of arrows and darts; but the struggle soon
+became a hand-to-hand one; and weakened by starvation and hemmed in as
+they were the unhappy Aztecs had no chance against their foes. After a
+scene of indescribable horror, which appalled even the soldiers of
+Cortes, used as they were to war and violence, the Spanish commander
+sounded a retreat and withdrew to his quarters, leaving behind him forty
+thousand corpses and a smouldering ruin. Through the long night that
+followed all was silent in the Mexican quarter. There was neither light
+nor movement. This last blow seemed to have utterly stunned them. They
+had nothing left to hope for. In the Spanish camp, however, all was
+rejoicing at the prospect of a speedy termination to the wearisome
+campaign. The great object of Cortes was now to secure the person of
+Guatemozin, and the next day, which was August 18, 1521, he led his
+forces for the last time across the black and blasted ruin which was all
+that remained of the once beautiful city. In order to give the
+distressed garrison one more chance, he obtained an interview with the
+principal chiefs and reasoned with them about the conduct of their
+emperor.
+
+'Surely,' he said, 'Guatemozin will not see you all perish when he can
+so easily save you.' But when he had with difficulty prevailed upon them
+to urge the king to confer with him, the only answer they could bring
+was that Guatemozin was ready to die where he was, but would hold no
+communication with the Spanish commander. 'Go then,' replied the stern
+conqueror, 'and prepare your countrymen for death. Their last moment is
+come.' Still, however, he postponed the attack for several hours; but
+the troops were impatient at the delay, and a rumour spread that
+Guatemozin was preparing to escape by the lake. It was useless to
+hesitate: the word was given, and the terrible scene that ensued
+repeated the horrors of the day before. While this was going forward on
+shore numbers of canoes pushed off across the lake, most of them only
+to be intercepted and sunk by the Spanish ships, which beat down upon
+them, firing to right and left. Some few, however, under cover of the
+smoke, succeeded in getting into open water. Sandoval had given
+particular orders that his captains should watch any boat that might
+contain Guatemozin, and now two or three large canoes together attracted
+the attention of one named Garci Holguin, who instantly gave chase, and
+with a favourable wind soon overtook the fugitives, though they rowed
+with the energy of despair. As his men levelled their guns at the
+occupants of the boat one rose saying, 'I am Guatemozin; lead me to
+Malinche; I am his prisoner. But let no harm come to my wife and
+followers.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Holguin took them on board, and then requested that the emperor would
+order the people in the other canoes to surrender. 'There is no need,'
+he answered sadly, 'they will fight no longer when they see their prince
+is taken.' And so it was, for when the news of his capture reached the
+shore the Mexicans at once ceased to defend themselves. It seemed as if
+they had only gone on so long to give their sovereign a better chance
+of escape. Cortes, who had taken up his station on the flat roof of one
+of the houses, now sent to command that Guatemozin should be brought
+before him, and he came, escorted by Sandoval and Holguin, who each
+claimed the honour of having captured him. The conqueror, who was, as
+usual, accompanied by the Lady Marina, came forward with dignified
+courtesy to receive his noble prisoner. The Aztec monarch broke the
+silence saying, 'I have done all I could to defend myself and my people.
+I am now reduced to this state. Deal with me, Malinche, as you will.'
+Then laying his hand on a dagger which hung from the belt of Cortes, he
+added, 'Better despatch me at once with this and rid me of life.'
+
+'Fear not,' answered the conqueror. 'You shall be treated with honour.
+You have defended your capital like a brave warrior, and a Spaniard
+knows how to respect valour even in an enemy.' He then sent for the
+queen, who had remained on board the Spanish ship, and after ordering
+that the royal captives should be well cared for and supplied with all
+they needed, he proceeded to dispose of his troops. Olid and Alvarado
+drew off their divisions to their quarters, leaving only a small guard
+in the wasted suburbs of the pestilence stricken city, whilst the
+general himself, with Sandoval and the prisoners, retired to a town at
+the end of the southern causeway. That night a tremendous tempest arose,
+such as the Spaniards had never before witnessed, shaking to its
+foundations all that remained of the city of Mexico. The next day, at
+the request of Guatemozin, the Mexicans were allowed to leave the
+capital, and for three days a mournful train of men, women, and children
+straggled feebly across the causeways, sick and wounded, wasted with
+famine and misery, turning often to take one more look at the spot which
+was once their pleasant home. When they were gone the conquerors took
+possession of the place and purified it as speedily as possible, burying
+the dead and lighting huge bonfires in the deserted streets. The
+treasure of gold and jewels found in it fell far short of the
+expectation of the Spaniards, the Aztecs having probably buried their
+hoards or sunk them in the lake on purpose to disappoint the avarice of
+their enemies. Cortes, therefore, to his eternal disgrace, caused
+Guatemozin to be tortured; but fire and cord could not wring the secret
+of the treasure from this illustrious prince. In later days Cortes
+hanged Guatemozin, on pretence of a conspiracy. Cortes, having no
+further need for his native allies, now dismissed them with presents
+and flattering speeches, and they departed well pleased, loaded with the
+plunder of the Mexican houses, which was despised by the Spanish
+soldiers. Great was the satisfaction of the conquerors at having thus
+brought the long campaign successfully to an end. Cortes celebrated the
+event by a banquet as sumptuous as circumstances would permit, and the
+next day, at the request of Father Olmedo, the whole army took part in a
+solemn service and procession in token of their thankfulness for
+victory.
+
+Thus, after a siege of nearly three months, in which the beleaguered
+Mexicans showed a constancy and courage under their sufferings which is
+unmatched in history, fell the renowned capital of the Aztecs, and with
+its fall the story of the nation comes to an end.
+
+The Aztec empire fell by its own sin. The constant capture of men from
+neighbouring states as victims for sacrifice had caused the Aztecs to be
+hated; thus Cortes obtained the aid of the Tlascalans, but for which
+even his courage and energy would have been of no avail. He deserted
+Marina when she ceased to be useful, and gave her as a wife to one of
+his followers.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[28] In 1121 Bishop Eric left Iceland for Vinland, part of America
+discovered by Leif the Lucky (1000-1002). Bishop Eric was heard of no
+more. Can he have reached the Aztecs, and been regarded as a god?
+
+
+
+
+_ADVENTURES OF BARTHOLOMEW PORTUGUES, A PIRATE_
+
+
+A CERTAIN pirate, born in Portugal, and from the name of his country
+called Bartholomew Portugues, was cruising from Jamaica in his boat (in
+which he had only thirty men and four small guns) near the Cape de
+Corrientes, in the island of Cuba. In this place he met with a great
+ship bound for the Havana, well provided, with twenty great guns and
+threescore and ten men, passengers and mariners. This ship he assaulted,
+but found strongly defended by them that were on board. The pirate
+escaping the first encounter, resolved to attack her more vigorously
+than before, seeing he had sustained no great damage hitherto. This
+resolution he boldly performed, renewing his assaults so often that
+after a long and dangerous fight he became master of the great vessel,
+having lost only ten men, and had four wounded.
+
+Having possessed themselves of such a ship, and the wind being contrary
+for returning into Jamaica, the pirates resolved to steer towards the
+Cape of St. Anthony, on the western side of the isle of Cuba, there to
+repair themselves and take in fresh water, of which they had great
+necessity at the time.
+
+Being now very near the cape above mentioned, they unexpectedly met with
+three great ships that were coming from New Spain, and bound for the
+Havana. By these, not being able to escape, were easily retaken both
+ship and pirates. Thus they were all made prisoners through the sudden
+change of fortune, and found themselves poor, oppressed, and stripped of
+all the riches they had won.
+
+Two days after this misfortune there happened to arise a huge and
+dangerous tempest, which separated the ships one from another. The great
+vessel in which the pirates were arrived at Campeche, where many
+considerable merchants came to salute and welcome the captain. These
+knew the Portuguese pirate as one who had committed innumerable crimes
+upon these coasts, not only murders and robberies, but also lamentable
+burnings, which those of Campeche still preserved very fresh in their
+memory.
+
+The next day after their arrival the magistrates of the city sent
+several of their officers to demand and take into custody the prisoners
+from on board the ship, with intent to punish them according to their
+deserts. Yet fearing lest the captain of the pirates should escape out
+of their hands on shore (as he had formerly done, being once their
+prisoner in the city before), they judged it more convenient to leave
+him safely guarded on board the ship for the present. In the meanwhile
+they caused a gibbet to be erected, whereon to hang him the very next
+day, without any other form of trial than to lead him from the ship to
+the place of punishment.
+
+The rumour of this tragedy was presently brought to the ears of
+Bartholomew Portugues, and he sought all the means he could to escape
+that night. With this design he took two earthen jars, in which the
+Spaniards usually carry wine from Spain to the West Indies, and he
+stopped them very well, intending to use them for swimming, as those who
+are unskilled in that art do a sort of pumpkins in Spain, and in other
+places they use empty bladders. Having made this necessary preparation,
+he waited for the night when all should be asleep, even the sentry that
+guarded him. But seeing he could not escape his vigilance, he secretly
+purchased a knife, and with the same gave him a stab that suddenly
+deprived him of life and the possibility of making any noise. At that
+instant Bartholomew Portugues committed himself to the sea, with those
+two earthen jars before mentioned, and by their help and support, though
+never having learned to swim, he reached the shore. Having landed,
+without any delay he took refuge in the woods, where he hid himself for
+three days without daring to appear, not eating any food but wild herbs.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Those of the city failed not the next day to make diligent search for
+him in the woods, where they concluded him to be. This strict search
+Bartholomew Portugues watched from the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay
+concealed. Seeing them return without finding what they sought for, he
+adventured to sally forth towards the coast of Golfotriste, forty
+leagues distant from the city of Campeche. Here he arrived within a
+fortnight after his escape from the ship, in which time, as also
+afterwards, he endured extreme hunger, thirst, and fear of falling again
+into the hands of the Spaniards. For during all this journey he had no
+provision but a small calabash with a little water: neither did he eat
+anything but a few shellfish, which he found among the rocks nigh the
+seashore. Besides this, he was compelled to pass some rivers, not
+knowing well how to swim. Being in this distress, he found an old board
+which the waves had thrown upon the shore, in which there stuck a few
+great nails. These he took, and with no small labour whetted against a
+stone, until he made them sharp like knives. With these, and no other
+instruments, he cut down some branches of trees, which he joined
+together with twigs and osiers, and as well as he could made a boat, or
+rather a raft, with which he crossed over the rivers. Thus he reached
+the Cape of Golfotriste, as was said before, where he happened to find a
+certain vessel of pirates who wore great comrades of his own, and were
+lately come from Jamaica.
+
+To these pirates he instantly related all his misfortunes, and asked of
+them a boat and twenty men to return to Campeche and assault the ship
+that was in the river, from which he had escaped fourteen days before.
+They readily granted his request, and equipped him a boat with the said
+number of men. With this small company he set forth for the execution of
+his design, which he bravely performed eight days after he separated
+from his comrades; for being arrived at the river of Campeche, with
+undaunted courage he assaulted the ship before mentioned. Those that
+were on board were persuaded that Bartholomew's was a boat from the land
+that came to bring goods, and therefore were not on their defence. So
+the pirates assaulted them without any fear of ill success, and in a
+short space of time compelled the Spaniards to surrender.
+
+Being now masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchor and set
+sail, determining to fly from the port, lest they should be pursued by
+other vessels. This they did with extreme joy, seeing themselves
+possessors of such a brave ship--especially Bartholomew Portugues, their
+captain, who now, by a second turn of fortune's wheel, was become rich
+and powerful again, who had been so lately in that same vessel a poor
+miserable prisoner, and condemned to the gallows. With this plunder he
+designed to do great things, for he had found in the vessel a great
+quantity of rich merchandise. Thus he continued his voyage towards
+Jamaica for four days. But coming nigh to the isle of Pino, on the south
+side of the island of Cuba, fortune suddenly turned her back once more,
+never to show him her countenance again; for a horrible storm arising at
+sea caused the ship to split against the rocks, and it was totally lost,
+and Bartholomew, with his companions, escaped in a canoe.
+
+In this manner he arrived in Jamaica, where he remained but a short
+time, till he was ready to seek his fortune anew. But from that day of
+disaster it was always ill-luck with him.
+
+
+
+
+_THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH FREEBOOTERS_[29]
+
+
+IN January, 1688, the daring band of French pirates who, sometimes
+alone, sometimes in company with English captains, had been cruising in
+the South Seas, resolved to return to St. Domingo with all the treasure
+they had won from the Spaniards. But it was manifest that this return
+would be a matter of great difficulty. They had not one seaworthy vessel
+left in which to set out for a long voyage, and, with forces exhausted
+by the frightful hardships they had gone through in the past years, they
+had to pass through a country peopled by Spaniards--cowardly, indeed,
+but innumerable, and only longing for revenge on the reckless crew that
+had plundered so many of their rich ships and towns. Moreover,
+provisions were scarce among the Spaniards themselves, and it seemed
+likely that the freebooters, in their passage, would find scant
+entertainment. But they were determined to risk everything, and having
+prayed, and sunk their canoes that the Spaniards might make no use of
+them, they set out on their journey. What followed is thus recounted by
+one of their party, Raveneau de Lussan:--
+
+The Spaniards, having been warned of our approach, employed every means
+they could think of for our destruction, burning all the provisions
+before us, setting fire to the prairies we entered, so that we and our
+horses were almost stifled, and continually blocking our way with great
+barricades of trees. About three hundred of them formed themselves into
+a kind of escort, and morning and evening diverted us with the sound of
+trumpets, but never dared to show their faces.
+
+A detachment of our men were always set to fire into woods and thickets,
+to find out if a Spanish ambush were concealed there. On January 9 we
+reached an opening in the forest where we could see a good way before
+us, and therefore did not fire. But we had been looking in front for
+what was really on both sides of us, for in the bushes right and left
+the Spaniards were crouching, and presently they let fly on us so
+suddenly that only half the guard had time to fire back, and two of our
+men were killed on the spot.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+On the 10th we found another ambush, where we surprised our enemies, who
+took to flight, abandoning their horses, which became our property.
+
+On the 11th, as we drew near Segovia, we found yet another ambuscade,
+which we forced to retire, and passed into the town, ready to fight our
+best--for we thought that here the Spaniards might make a great effort
+to expel us. But they only discharged their muskets at us now and then
+from the shelter of the pine-wood above the town, into which they had
+fled. But we found nothing to eat, for they had burned all the
+provisions.
+
+On the 13th, having left Segovia, we climbed a hill which looked like a
+good place to camp, and we saw opposite us, on a mountain slope from
+which only a narrow valley divided us, twelve to fifteen hundred horses,
+which for some time we took for cattle pasturing there. Rejoicing in the
+prospect of good cheer, we sent forty men to make sure, and when they
+came back they told us that what we had taken for cattle were horses,
+ready saddled, and that in the same place they had found three
+intrenchments a pistol shot from each other, which, rising by degrees to
+about the middle of the mountain slope, entirely barred the way which we
+meant to travel the next day. These intrenchments commanded the river
+which ran the length of the valley, into which it was absolutely
+necessary for us to descend, there being no other way. They saw a man
+who, having discovered them, threatened them with a bare cutlass.
+
+This grievous news was a bitter disappointment to us, especially the
+loss of our supposed cows, for we were perishing with hunger. But we had
+to take courage and find out how to leave this place--and without delay,
+for the Spaniards, who were assembling from all the country round, would
+fall upon our little troop, which must be overwhelmed, if we waited for
+them. The means were not easy to find, and perhaps escape would have
+seemed impossible, except to our reckless band, who had hitherto
+succeeded in nearly all our exploits. But ten thousand men could not
+have crossed that guarded valley without being cut off entirely, both by
+reason of the number of the Spaniards and the position they occupied.
+
+Men alone could have gone round without crossing the valley, but we
+could find no way round for the horses and baggage. For the country on
+each side was nothing but a thick forest, without the trace of a path,
+all precipices and ravines, and choked with a multitude of fallen trees.
+And even had we found a way of escape through so many obstacles, it was
+indispensable to fight the Spaniards sooner or later, if they were ever
+to let us alone!
+
+There was only one thing to be done--to cross these woods, rocks, and
+mountains, however inaccessible they seemed, and surprise our enemies,
+taking advantage of the place by coming upon them from above, where they
+certainly would not expect us. As to our prisoners, horses, and baggage,
+since through all our march a troop of three hundred Spaniards had been
+dogging our steps without daring to approach, we would leave eighty men
+to guard them--enough to beat four times as many Spaniards.
+
+At nightfall we set out, leaving our eighty men, with orders to the
+sentinels to fire and beat the retreat and the diane at the usual times,
+to make the three hundred Spaniards who lurked near us think that we had
+not left the camp. If we were successful we would send back messengers
+with the good news, but if, an hour after the firing ended, none of us
+returned, they were to escape how they could.
+
+All being arranged, we prayed in a low voice, not to be heard by the
+Spaniards, and set out by the moonlight, two hundred men of us, through
+this country of rocks, woods, and frightful precipices, where we went
+leaping and climbing, our feet seeming to be much less use to us than
+our hands and knees.
+
+On the 14th, at the break of day, when we had already gained a great
+height, and were climbing on in profound silence, with the Spanish
+intrenchments to our left, we saw a sentry party, which, thanks to the
+fog--always thick in this country till ten o'clock in the morning--did
+not discover us. When it had passed we went straight to the place where
+we had seen it, and we found that there was really a road there. This,
+when we had halted half an hour to take breath, we followed, guided by
+the voices of the Spaniards, who were at matins. But we had only gone a
+few steps when we found two sentinels, very far advanced, on whom we
+were forced to fire, which warned the Spaniards, who dreamed of nothing
+less than our coming upon them from above, since they only expected us
+from below. So those who guarded the intrenchment--about five hundred
+men--being taken at a disadvantage when they thought they had all the
+advantage on their side, were so terribly frightened that, when we fell
+upon them all at once, they vanished from the place in an instant, and
+escaped into the thick fog.
+
+This unexpected assault so utterly upset their plans that the men in the
+second intrenchment all passed into the lowest one, where they prepared
+to defend themselves. We fought them a whole hour, under cover of the
+first intrenchment, which we had taken, and which commanded them, being
+higher up the mountain side. But as they would not yield we fancied our
+shots must have missed, since the fog hindered us from seeing our foes
+distinctly, so, resolved to waste no more powder, we went down, and fell
+right on the spot whence they had been firing. Then we assailed them
+furiously, and at sight of our weapons close upon them--which hitherto
+the fog had concealed--they left everything, and fled into the road
+below the intrenchments. Here they fell into their own trap; for,
+thinking it was the only road we could possibly come by, they had cut
+down trees and blocked it up, and their way being stopped, we could fire
+upon them from their intrenchment without once missing aim.
+
+At last, seeing the river in the ravine running down with blood, and
+tired of pursuing the fugitives, we spared the few remaining Spaniards.
+After we had chanted the 'Te Deum,' sixty of us went to tell those left
+in the camp of the victory which Heaven had vouchsafed to us. We found
+them on the point of giving battle to the three hundred Spaniards, who
+had already (on finding out their weakness) sent a message to them by an
+officer to tell them that it was hopeless for them to expect to cross
+the valley, and to offer terms of peace. To which our men replied that
+were there as many Spaniards as the blades of grass in the prairie they
+would not be afraid, but would pass through in spite of them, and go
+where they liked!
+
+The officer, being just dismissed with this message when we arrived,
+shrugged his shoulders with astonishment when he saw us safe back again,
+and mounted on the horses of his comrades of the intrenchments. He rode
+off with the news to his troop, whom we presently fired upon, to rid
+them altogether from their desire to follow in our wake. Unfortunately
+for them they had not time to mount their horses, so after a brief
+conflict, in which a great number of them fell, we let the rest go,
+though we kept their horses. Then, with our baggage, we joined those of
+our men who had stayed to guard the intrenchments. In both these combats
+we had only two men slain and four wounded.
+
+Continuing our journey, we passed one more Spanish intrenchment, where,
+since the news of our victory had gone before us, we found no
+resistance. At last, on the sixteenth day of our march, we reached the
+river which we had been seeking eagerly, by whose means we meant to gain
+the sea into which it flowed.
+
+At once we entered the woods which are on its banks, and everyone set to
+work in good earnest to cut down trees, in order to construct
+_piperies_, with which to descend the river. The reader may perhaps
+imagine that these piperies were some kind of comfortable boat to carry
+us pleasantly along the stream, but they were anything but this. We
+joined together four or five trunks of a kind of tree with light
+floating wood, merely stripping off their bark, and binding them,
+instead of cord, with a climbing plant growing in those forests, and
+embracing the trees like ivy, and when these structures, each large
+enough to hold two men (and in appearance something like huge wicker
+baskets) were completed, vessels and crew were ready.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The safest plan was to stand upright in them, armed with long poles to
+push them off from the rocks, against which the fierce current every
+moment threatened to dash them. As it was, they sank two or three feet
+deep in the water, so that we were nearly always immersed up to our
+waists.
+
+This river rises in the mountains of Segovia, and falls into the sea at
+Cape Gracia a Dios, after having flowed for a long distance, with
+frightful rapidity, among an infinite number of huge rocks, and between
+the most terrible precipices imaginable. We had to pass more than a
+hundred cataracts great and small, and there were three which the most
+daring of us could not look at without turning giddy with fear, when we
+saw and heard the water plunging from such a height into those horrible
+gulfs. Everything was so fearful that only those who have experienced
+it can imagine it; as for me, though I shall all my life have my memory
+full of pictures of the perils of that voyage, it would be impossible
+for me to give any idea of it which would not be far below the reality.
+
+We let ourselves go with the current, so rapid that often, in spite of
+our resistance, it bore us into foaming whirlpools, where we were
+engulfed with our pieces of wood. But happily before the greatest
+cataracts, and also just beyond them, there was a basin of calm water,
+which made it possible for us to gain the bank, drawing our piperies
+after us. Then, taking out of them whatever valuables we had there, we
+descended with these, leaping from rock to rock till we had reached the
+foot of the cataract. Then one of us would return and throw the
+piperies, which we had left behind, down into the flood--and we below
+caught them as they descended. Sometimes, indeed, we failed to catch
+them, and had to make new ones.
+
+When we first set out we voyaged all together, that in case of accident
+we might come to each other's aid. But in three days, being out of all
+danger of the Spaniards, we began to travel separately, since a piperie
+dashed against the rocks had often been prevented from freeing itself by
+other piperies which the current hurled against it. It was arranged for
+those who descended first, when they came to an especially dangerous
+rapid, to hoist a little flag at the end of a stick, not to warn those
+behind of the cataract, since they could hear it nearly a league away,
+but to mark the side on which they ought to land. This plan saved a
+number of lives, nevertheless many others were lost.
+
+The bananas which we found on the river bank were almost our only
+nourishment, and saved us from dying of hunger; for, though there was
+plenty of game, our powder and weapons were all wet and spoiled, so that
+we could not hunt.
+
+Some days after we had begun to descend the river, as we were travelling
+separate, several freebooters who had lost all their spoils in gambling
+were guilty of most cruel treachery. Having gone in advance, these
+villains concealed themselves behind some rocks commanding the river, in
+front of which we all had to pass, and as everyone was looking after
+himself, and we descended unsuspiciously, at some distance from each
+other--for the reasons already given--they had time to fix upon and to
+massacre five Englishmen, who possessed greater shares of booty than the
+rest of us. They were completely plundered by these assassins, and my
+companion and I found their dead bodies on the shore. At night, when we
+were encamped on the river bank, I reported what we had seen, and the
+story was confirmed both by the absence of the dead Englishmen and of
+their murderers, who dared not come back to us, and whom we never saw
+again.
+
+On the 20th of February we found the river much wider, and there were no
+more cataracts. When we had descended some leagues further it was very
+fine, and the current was gentle, and seeing that the worst of our
+perils were over, we dispersed into bands of forty each to make canoes,
+in which we might safely complete our voyage down the river.
+
+On the 1st of March, by dint of great diligence, having finished four
+canoes, a hundred and twenty of us embarked, leaving the others, whose
+canoes were still incomplete, to follow.
+
+On the 9th we reached the mouth of the river in safety, and lived there
+among the mulattos and negroes who inhabit the coast, till an English
+boat, touching there, took on board fifty of us, of whom I was one. On
+the 6th of April, without any other accident, we arrived at our
+destination, St. Domingo.
+
+
+          PRINTED BY
+          SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
+          LONDON
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[29] 'The return of the French Freebooters from the South Sea, by the
+mainland, in 1688.' Written by Sieur Raveneau de Lussan, one of the
+party, taken from his _Journal du voyage fait a la Mer du Sud avec les
+filibustiers de l'Amerique en 1684 et annees suivantes_. Paris. 1689.
+
+
+
+
+Just published. Crown 8vo. price 7_s._ 6_d._
+
+With 546 Illustrations, including 18 Coloured Plates.
+
+THE OUTDOOR WORLD
+
+OR
+
+_THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S HANDBOOK._
+
+By W. FURNEAUX, F.R.G.S.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+PART I.--ANIMAL LIFE.
+
+          CHAP.
+
+             I. Ponds and Streams.
+
+            II. Insects and Insect Hunting.
+
+           III. The Sea-shore.
+
+            IV. Snails and Slugs.
+
+             V. Spiders, Centipedes, and Millepedes.
+
+            VI. Reptiles and Reptile Hunting.
+
+           VII. British Birds.
+
+          VIII. British Mammals.
+
+
+PART II.--THE VEGETABLE WORLD.
+
+            IX. Sea-weeds.
+
+             X. Fungi.
+
+            XI. Mosses.
+
+           XII. Ferns.
+
+          XIII. Wild Flowers.
+
+           XIV. Grasses.
+
+            XV. Our Forest Trees.
+
+
+PART III.--THE MINERAL WORLD.
+
+           XVI. Minerals and Fossils.
+
+
+
+          London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO.
+          New York: 15 East 16th Street.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Obvious punctuation errors corrected.
+
+The illustration that was originally on page 271 was moved to 269 so
+that it would not interrupt the flow of a paragraph. This was also done
+with the plate originally on page 277. It is now on page 274.
+
+Many and varied were the hyphenations in this text due to the different
+stories. Examples are: battlefield and battle-field, and bodyguard and
+body-guard. These variations were retained.
+
+Page 156, although the original does have "Ireland", possibly "Iceland"
+was meant (within sight of Ireland)
+
+Page 159, "Cortes" changed to "Cortes" (first took Cortes)
+
+Page 237, "slik" changed to "silk" (silk--of rich and)
+
+Page 248, "miles" changed to "feet" (seven thousand feet above)
+
+Page 261, "sacrified" changed to "sacrificed" (reserved to be
+sacrificed)
+
+Page 266, "Atzec" changed to "Aztec" (dismay of the Aztec)
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRUE STORY BOOK***
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