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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34849-8.txt b/34849-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..69652f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/34849-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4527 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rival Crusoes, by Agnes Strickland + +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 Rival Crusoes + The Ship Wreck also A Voyage to Norway; and The Fisherman's Cottage. + +Author: Agnes Strickland + +Release Date: January 4, 2011 [EBook #34849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE RIVAL CRUSOES; + + OR, THE SHIPWRECK. + + ALSO + + A VOYAGE TO NORWAY; + + AND THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE. + + BY AGNES STRICKLAND, + +AUTHOR OF THE "LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND," "TALES AND STORIES FROM +HISTORY," ETC. + + + SIXTH EDITION. + + LONDON: + GRANT AND GRIFFITH, + + SUCCESSORS TO + J. HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. + + MDCCCLI. + + LONDON: + + STEVENS AND CO., PRINTERS, BELL YARD, + + TEMPLE BAR. + + + + +THE RIVAL CRUSOES; + +OR, THE DESERT ISLAND. + + +"George! Harry!--lazy fellows that you are!--Why are you not in +attendance?" said Lord Robert Summers in an angry tone, throwing the +rein of his pony to his grooms, and rushing up the great staircase with +his handkerchief held close to his face. + +"What is the matter with our young lord to-day?" said Harry; "he seems +in a marvellous ill mood." + +"I suppose he has had another brush with Philip Harley to-day: did not +you see the blood on his handkerchief?" said the other. + +"That Philip is a saucy young rascal," replied Harry; "but he will get +himself into a scrape before long. Lord Robert will be even with him, I +will answer; for he never takes an offence without returning +twenty-fold." + +"They never meet now without a battle," returned the groom. "Lord Robert +has been so used to domineer over men twice his age, on board ship, that +he is more unbearable than any young man of rank I ever served. I wonder +who is to put up with all his tempers? If his elder brother, my young +lord, were half so hasty with his hands, or so flippant with his tongue, +I would leave his service to-morrow: however, he wont be with us +long--that's my comfort. It was but the other day I was airing the dogs, +and trod, by accident, on his favourite Neptune's toe. The plaguy beast +set up a yell. In an instant, I had a cuff of the head from the young +tyrant, and was called a careless rascal and scoundrel, while he had +breath to heap such epithets on me. I am glad the lad has given him a +dressing, and wish it had been twice as much; it might have done him +good." + +With this wish, George led off the pony. The fact was, Lord Robert had +caught Philip Harley trespassing, according to custom, in the Park, and +had tried to horsewhip him out of the grounds, but had fairly got the +worst of it. Lord Robert, though a stout and courageous youth, was +pulled off his horse by the desperate young rustic, and in the fray +received several contusions on the face. Philip did not part without +some tokens of his enemy's vengeance; but he certainly remained victor +in the contest. Lord Robert was glad to regain his pony and make a hasty +retreat, much mortified, and in a very evil temper. + +When he had reached his apartment, he washed the blood from his face, +and composed the swelling of his haughty spirit; and after smoothing his +ruffled plumes, he descended into the dining-room and joined the family +party. His mother made some inquiry respecting the bruises on his face; +but he turned it off with an evasive answer, as the effect of a fall he +had met with in the Park. No farther notice was taken, except a slight +sarcasm on the proverbial bad horsemanship of sailors. + +At the dessert, the Marquis, his father, handed him a letter. "It is +from your uncle, Sir Henry. See, Robert, what a charming surprise he has +prepared for you! He spoils you, boy! I think you would not be so +petulant and imperious, if every wish of that wayward heart were not +gratified by his fond affection." + +Lord Robert was so eager to read the letter from his beloved uncle, that +he scarcely heard this reproof, which, gentle as it was, at any other +time would have clouded his handsome brow with frowns. + +Captain Sir Henry Stanley wrote to his brother-in-law, that he should +sail in the Diomede, from Portsmouth, in less than a month; when he +should expect his noble boy, his brave Robert, again to accompany him to +victory. "I think it long till we are afloat," continued he; "and so, I +dare say, does my dear nephew. However, that the time may not appear so +very tedious, I have sent him a little pleasure-brig, the most complete +that could be procured: he can sail and manoeuvre it on your lake; not +that I approve of freshwater sailing, but it is better than dancing +after horses and dogs, and such landsmen's amusements." + +Lord Robert then heard that this fairy frigate had been safely landed +that day at a sea-port town, some little distance from his father's +domains. A waggon and team of horses had been despatched to bring it +home; and a servant soon afterwards entered to say that it had arrived, +and was carefully placed by the side of the lake, ready for launching, +which ceremony Lord Robert, full of impatient joy, sprang off to +superintend. + +It sometimes happens that time and tide will not wait obsequiously even +on the children of prosperity. These stubborn powers will sometimes fret +and chafe the proud and great, and, frequently, are so unpolite as to +ruffle a rose-leaf on their couch of pleasure; but, as if the young lord +had suffered mortification enough in the morning, his cup of delight was +full in the evening. The pleasure was scarcely promised before it was +realized. The gay glittering frigate dashed bravely into the lake: she +bounded and danced on the waves, with as much spirit as the youthful +noble could wish. The bottle of claret was flung with great effect; and +she received her name amidst the applauses of the peasantry of the +neighbouring village, who, as a great favour, were permitted to behold +this sight at an awful distance. + +Lord Robert sank to rest that night, anticipating the charming sail he +should take in the morning. + +The eyes of the young lord were open before sunrise; but whilst his +valet was hastily dressing him, what was his indignation, on casting his +eyes towards the lake, to see his fairy frigate, his beautiful Ariel, +spreading her white sails to the breeze, and gliding on the lake as +gallantly as if her noble master were commanding her? Who could be the +person that had dared to unmoor her? Down flew Lord Robert, half +undressed; and the servants were summoned; but none of the household had +been guilty of such a piece of audacity. At last, a thought struck him, +that it could be no other than that contemner of all legal authority, +Philip Harley. Lord Robert was soon by the border of the lake; and there +he saw his young enemy reclined in the gilded pleasure-boat, sailing at +his ease, and coasting near enough for Lord Robert to behold the look of +calm defiance with which he surveyed his anger: and he continued to +manage the Ariel with as much coolness as if her lawful owner had not +been viewing her manoeuvres with the greatest indignation. Lord Robert +was still more provoked, when he recollected that he had no means of +reaching the offender, to expel him from the boat. + +"Is there anything like a boat on the estate," exclaimed Lord Robert, +"that I may pursue that insolent young Harley, and take my property from +him?" + +"No, my Lord," said Edwards, the old gardener; "there is nothing of the +kind on any of the pieces of water within a mile or two of the hall. +Your Lordship may remember that when you were very young, and took such +a fancy to everything relating to ships and sailing, my Lady had all the +boats destroyed, for fear you should endanger your life by venturing on +the water." + +"And have they never been replaced?" asked Lord Robert. + +"No, my Lord: there were two boats and a fishing-punt staved in by her +Ladyship's order," replied Edwards. "You may recollect that your +Lordship got into sad disgrace, the next day, by embarking on the lake +in a large washing-tub." + +Lord Robert could not help laughing. "On my honour, Edwards," said he, +"I could find it in my heart to embark in a washing-tub at present, if I +thought it of any use." + +"I think, my Lord," said his valet, "Captain Bently has a small boat on +the river, about a mile from the Park." + +"Run, carry my compliments to Captain Bently, and ask him to lend it to +me for an hour." + +Two or three messengers started with obedient speed to fulfil the wishes +of their master: but the land conveyance of a boat is a work of time; +and, long before their return, Philip, tired, as we may suppose, of his +amusement, steered the boat to the most distant part of the lake (which +happened to be nearest his own home), and jumped on shore, behind some +bushes, which jutted out and concealed his landing. He had walked +quietly through the Park, and arrived at the village, before Lord Robert +perceived, by the irregular drifting of the little vessel, that she was +deserted, and the culprit had escaped his vengeance. + +Lord Robert was literally glowing with rage, when he met his father in +the breakfast-room. For some reason best known to himself, he had +hitherto concealed from the Marquis his encounters with Philip Harley; +but, in the moment of indignation, everything blazed forth; and, in all +the exaggeration of anger, he informed his father of every outrage +Philip had been guilty of towards him; adding, that the reason of their +first disagreement was, his interrupting Philip in the act of poaching. + +The Marquis was a good and humane man; but the representations of Lord +Robert highly incensed him. That a young ruffian, exercising the lawless +pursuits of a poacher, should take every opportunity of insulting and +thwarting his son, and even of brutally assaulting him in his own park, +was too much to be endured, and called for the severest punishment. +Certainly, of all the species of theft (and it is _theft_), poaching is +considered with the least mercy by noblemen and gentlemen of landed +property. Perhaps the Marquis may be reckoned severe, but this was an +aggravated case. + +It was then in the middle of the American war, and a press-gang paid +pretty frequent visits to the neighbouring sea-port town. His Lordship, +therefore, informed them that he wished to remove a noxious person from +the vicinity, and they took their measures accordingly. + +Philip was partial to the sea: he was clever in the management of a +boat, and was in the habit of taking trips, now and then, with some +seafaring friends. He was preparing for one of these excursions, when +the press-gang caught him near the harbour, dressed in a blue jacket and +trousers; and the unfortunate youth was immediately dragged from his +native place, without even being suffered to bid farewell to his +parents; and it was with the greatest difficulty that he obtained leave +to inform them of what had befallen him. Indeed, the first news they +heard of him was, that he was on board a tender, and destined to sail in +the first fleet that left England. + +Philip Harley has hitherto appeared in no very respectable light. That +he was a desperate trespasser and depredator is the most favourable +opinion that can be formed of him; yet there were people in the +neighbourhood, who, having known Philip from his infancy, ventured to +think that he had met with harsh treatment, and that his heart, once so +good and upright, must have undergone an extraordinary change, or that +he had received great provocation, to be guilty of such daring outrages. + +There is an excellent saying, which, though old and trite, it is +sometimes necessary to bear in mind: namely, "That one story is good +till another is told."--There was, in truth, some little excuse for +Philip's conduct; though he certainly deserved blame, and even +punishment, for giving up every proper pursuit and feeling to the +gratification of resentment. + +Before Lord Robert's return from his long voyage, Philip Harley was +considered as gentle in disposition, as he was manly and high-spirited. +At this time, he was just sixteen, and had begun to make himself useful +in his father's business, which was that of a carpenter. + +His father was rather independent in his circumstances; and his whole +family consisted of two children--this Philip, and a lovely little blind +girl, called Kate. This unhappy sister (if a creature in the practice of +the most angelic patience can be called _unhappy_) was the darling of +Philip's heart. Every spare minute he devoted to amusing and caressing +this child, who was many years younger than himself; and she returned +his love with the most grateful affection. The cottage where they lived +fronted the west, and could be seen from the London road; and blind Kate +used to take her evening seat on the threshold, waiting to hear the +step of this beloved brother on his return from work; with her fair face +and glittering curls turned to the setting sun--with a divine expression +of hope and peace on her innocent countenance, that attracted the +admiration of every passenger. + +Philip had a very large spaniel, one of the handsomest of that beautiful +species. This creature he had reared from a puppy, and taught to be +obedient to his sister; and in his absence Rover was her only source of +amusement; but he was, indeed, a most faithful and attached attendant, +serving both for a guard and guide. + +Sometimes Kate would walk on the road before the cottage, with her fair +hands grasping Rover's silky coat, who would restrain his natural +vivacity to guide the darkling steps of his little mistress. At other +times, when the sun shone warm and bright, and the grass was soft and +thick, Kate was as full of frolic and play as Rover himself, and would +gambol with him a whole spring-day on the lawn in front of the cottage; +but as the evening approached, Kate and Rover took their station at the +cottage-door, and greeted the return of Philip with the utmost joy. Both +were most dear to Philip: he tenderly loved his suffering sister; and +he loved the faithful dog for her sake. It is not surprising, therefore, +that Philip was almost broken-hearted when Kate fell sick, and after a +few days expired. True, she was removed to a better place. Philip knew +that she was taken in mercy, as her lot in this world was one of +peculiar hardship; but he could not bear to lose her; and he and Rover +moped in the most cheerless manner for many days after the funeral. + +It was some little time before this that Lord Robert returned to the +hall, after several years' absence. He had promised himself much +pleasure from the autumnal field-sports; but in this amusement, as in +every other occupation, he was too apt to suffer trifles to ruffle his +temper, and make him violent and unreasonable. + +One gloomy October evening, Lord Robert was returning with his gun and +dogs through the park, attended by a gamekeeper. He had pursued his +amusement that day with very little success: everything had gone wrong; +the dogs had pointed badly, and his new fowling-piece, that had cost him +twenty guineas only the week before, had hung fire several times, at +the very moment when the game sprang before him the finest mark +possible. In short, he had suffered disappointment enough to vex the +heart of the most patient person in the world, who had never in his life +felt what real affliction was. At this unlucky minute, it was Philip +Harley's ill fortune to cross the park by a public footway that led +through the grounds. It was the first day Philip had resumed his work +since the death of his sister; and he was walking in a melancholy way, +carrying his basket of tools, with his eyes fixed on the ground, +attending very little to what was passing around him, and Rover was +trudging by his side, when, unluckily, just as Lord Robert came up to +him, a hare darted out of some bushes, and Rover scampered after it. + +"That is the way all the game is poached off the estate!" exclaimed Lord +Robert in a fit of passion; and, yielding to the influence of temper, he +levelled his gun at the dog. The piece, that had so many times missed +fire that day, now rang sharp and true: the faithful creature was +mortally wounded; he crawled feebly to his master's feet, and expired. +Philip hung over his poor dog, while he saw him die, with anguish that +gave a painful sensation to Lord Robert; yet still, under the dominion +of temper, he said to his servant-- + +"What a fool the fellow makes of himself about a dog!" + +Philip lifted the body of his poor favourite from the ground, and taking +it in his arms, rushed by the young lord, giving him a look of contempt +and indignation as he passed. + +"It is the dog that used to lead about his blind sister," said the +humane gamekeeper. "She is just dead." + +Lord Robert then remembered meeting Kate and the dog when he first came +home: he had patted her curly head and admired her beauty. + +"Was it blind Kate's dog?" said Lord Robert. "Had I known that, he might +have destroyed every head of game on the estate before I would have shot +him." + +Perhaps, had Philip heard this half acknowledgment of error, much evil +might have been prevented. The next time he met the young noble, it was +with the most bitter feelings. He considered that Lord Robert had +wantonly murdered the innocent companion of his sister; and all the +grief he felt for her loss was turned into rage. Contemptuous words +succeeded angry looks: and these ere not to be borne by Lord Robert's +untamed spirit; though he felt greatly displeased with himself, and +would have given half his fortune to have recalled the past, yet he +would not bear Philip's reproaches. A very little provoked him to strike +him, and a desperate encounter ensued. This was followed by many others; +for Philip neglected all his better pursuits to gratify his revenge; he +lay in wait to attack Lord Robert, and took every opportunity of defying +him; till the most ferocious hatred took place between the two youths, +which led to the consequences we have already seen. In one instance, +however, Philip was wrongfully accused, as he never had stained his +hands with dishonest practices. Lord Robert well knew that the dog's +accidentally chasing the hare was perfectly involuntary on the part of +Philip, who was scarcely conscious of it before the poor animal was put +to death. + +This incident had given Lord Robert Summers great mental pain: he was as +angry with himself as with Philip Harley; he could not bear to think of +his conduct in this affair--he could not bear to recall any circumstance +relating to it; and only the _name_ of Philip Harley gave him the +greatest uneasiness. Yet he was not conscious that the whole of this +uneasiness sprang from giving the reins one moment to ungovernable +temper; for it was neither Philip nor his dog that had offended or +irritated him; but accidental circumstances had put him in a very ill +humour, and he vented his temper on the first beings that crossed his +path, and, by that means, he was induced to commit an act of cruelty and +oppression really foreign to his own disposition, and which outraged the +best feelings of a fellow-creature, already under the pressure of acute +affliction. If young people will look into their own hearts, they will +find that there is no frailty belonging to our erring nature so +deceptive as _temper_. Strange as it may appear, it often happens that +many individuals, when they express anger, generally wreak it on the +last person who would have thought of exciting it. Some unfortunate +servant, or still more unhappy dependant, is made the victim of ill +humour; which is not only in itself as blind and erring as it is unjust, +but also brings with it the additional pain of self-reproach. Yet the +heart is not always bad that gives way to its evil dominion; but it is +for want of self-examination--of saying, "I find myself mentally uneasy, +perhaps from accidental events, or even from indisposition of body; why +then should I make myself odious to this person, who is in my power, and +must endure my ill treatment, when a little patience and forbearance +will remove the cloud that rests on my mind, and my spirit will rise +bright and unclouded, rejoicing in the consciousness of having overcome +one of the most painful infirmities of human nature?" This +self-confession (if it may be so called) will bring mental health, and +rectify the most irritable disposition. + +Never did a month seem so long, as the time appeared to Lord Robert +Summers while he remained on shore. He parted from his noble relatives +with the less regret as he longed to be at sea, to lose in active +employment the memory of these errors and mortifying reflections. + +This young nobleman had passed his examination as lieutenant with the +greatest credit; and in a severe engagement between his uncle's ship and +a French man-of-war of superior force (which ended in the capture of the +Frenchman), Lord Robert Summers behaved with such distinguished valour, +that he was considered, both for intrepidity and nautical skill, a most +promising young officer; yet, on account of his youth, being but just +sixteen, he did not expect his commission for some time to come. In this +idea, however, he was agreeably deceived; for, before the Diomede put to +sea, he received his commission as lieutenant. Lord Robert was greatly +attached to his profession; and this early promotion, which he was +conscious was less the effect of interest than desert, seemed to him the +first fruits of a brilliant career of naval honours. + +He was received with transport by Sir Henry Stanley; who, himself an +ornament to the British navy, foresaw, in the early valour of this +beloved nephew, the glory of a Vernon or a Rodney. The Diomede had +received sailing orders; Lord Robert, in high spirits, and joyful +expectation of future triumphs, was in one of his happiest humours, when +a boat from a tender came alongside the Diomede, with a supply of +pressed men to recruit the ship's company. + +"Summers, are you ill?" asked a young officer, with whom Lord Robert was +gaily conversing; when a sudden alteration became observable in his +voice and manner, and his cheek was overspread with a deadly paleness. +Lord Robert did not hear him, being wholly occupied in watching the +progress of a young sailor up the ship's side. + +Lieutenant Cary repeated the question, but received no answer; and, +supposing that Lord Robert was troubled with one of his occasional fits +of patrician haughtiness, and being to the full as high-spirited as +himself, left him to his contemplations. These were of no pleasant +nature; for though emaciated, ragged, and dirty, and in many respects +different from the handsome youth he had lately seen, the young sailor +(who by this time stood on the deck of the Diomede) was Philip Harley! +He now felt that his dislike and abhorrence had arisen to a more +intolerable degree than ever; he fretted at the perverse accident that +had thrown this hated object in his way, and actually proceeded some +paces to request his uncle to remove Philip Harley from the ship; but +then he recollected that he should most likely be forced to enter into +particulars that he detested to recall, besides giving his enemy reason +to suppose that the presence or absence of so abject a creature could +be of the least consequence to him. + +"No," said he to himself, "let him remain; he will, in the discipline of +a man-of-war, be cured perhaps of his audacity, and learn submission to +proper authority." This was the result of Lord Robert's debate with +himself. At first, he had been a little touched by Philip's pale and +altered countenance; but, on a second glance, he found his enemy had +recognised him, and returned his glance with a look so full of reproach +and contempt, that Lord Robert vowed within himself that his haughty +spirit should be broken. + +Alas, for Philip! he needed no worse enemy than himself. Instead of a +manly resignation to what he knew was unavoidable, and a determination +to perform his duties so well as to gain respect from the crew--instead +of pursuing this course, which would have partly defeated the hatred of +his enemy,--he continued so sullen and contrary, that no means, whether +good or bad, could bring him out of his fits of obstinacy. There needed +no interference of Lord Robert's to bring on him the most severe and +cruel punishments. But no bodily pain could subdue Philip; disgrace and +suffering only rendered him furious and desperate; and he was considered +mutinous and ungovernable to such a degree, that he passed the first +three months of a seafaring life in a succession of confinement and +punishment. + +Had young Harley, instead of such headstrong conduct, exerted his real +abilities as a seaman, applied himself to his profession, and shown his +officers and commanders, that, though a mere youth, he could hand, reef, +and steer, as well as the most experienced seaman,--and this, added to +the sober and moral conduct natural to him, with an education and +manners far above his station in life, joined to a stout and active +body, and undaunted courage;--these qualifications would have created +respect in every one, and in no one more than his just and upright +commander; and his persecutor must have exposed his motives before he +could have injured him: _now_ he was fully in his power, and Lord Robert +vowed that he should most submissively implore his pardon for all his +transgressions, before he should find any mercy. + +"I can't tell what to make of that lad," said Lieutenant Cary to Lord +Robert, as the boatswain was untying Harley from a gun, where he had +borne, with Spartan firmness, the infliction of a cruel punishment, +which his wilful disobedience had brought on him: "he neither drinks nor +swears, nor associates with the more dissolute part of the crew: but we +have more trouble with him than with the most abandoned reprobate. Yet +he seems to me to be meant for better things." + +Cary said this as a sort of encouragement to the unfortunate youth, +whose manly endurance of extreme suffering had touched his heart. + +"Oh!" returned Lord Robert, with a contemptuous laugh, "mutiny and +disobedience are nothing new to this fellow; his conduct at sea only +matches his behaviour on land--he was always what you now see him!" + +"'Tis false! _You_ have made me what I am," said Philip, with a +withering look. + +"False!" exclaimed Lord Robert, striking Philip as he spoke. + +"Yes, oppressor, false!" repeated Philip, returning the blow. + +Cary, from a principle of humanity, tried to stay his arm; but Philip +was too quick for him. "Madman!" said he, in a tone of regret, "you have +forfeited your life!" + +"Then let him take it if he will! Thank God, it will be the last injury +he can do me!" said Philip, resigning his hands with composure to the +fetters with which he was immediately bound. + +Harley was considered on board ship so desperate a mutineer, that it was +judged necessary to chain him down to the deck, lest, in his fits of +rage, as he seemed so careless of his own life, he should set fire to +the vessel, and destroy himself and the ship's company together. Here, +then, exposed to the sun by day and the dews by night, with less liberty +than the savage beast, the wretched youth awaited the certain fate to +which, on their arrival in the first port, the laws of war would doom +him, for striking an officer on duty. + +At this period, the ship and her convoy were approaching the coast of +Brazil; they had hitherto enjoyed a prosperous voyage, with fair winds +and weather, and a healthy passage. The Diomede was destined to convoy a +fleet of merchant-ships bound for the Portuguese settlement of Rio de +Janeiro. Before they neared the Brazilian shore, they descried a sail, +which proved to be a French man-of-war, of nearly equal strength with +their own. Scarcely had the Diomede recognised her for an enemy, before +another sail appeared, which was soon known to be her consort. These +ships had been stationed to intercept our richly-freighted merchantmen. +The defenceless merchant-ships dispersed in every direction, leaving the +valiant Diomede to bear the thunders of the unequal combat. This +engagement was a fortunate circumstance for the unhappy Harley. I +believe it is a usual thing for seamen under confinement for mutiny to +be released before an engagement: however this may be, Philip was set at +liberty, by the orders of the Captain. + +Lieutenant Cary was the officer appointed to set him free. "Harley," +said he, "you have shown a bold spirit in a bad cause; let us now see +what you can do for your country. It will be my duty to head the +boarding-party. Let me see you near me!" + +"You _shall_ see me near you!" said young Harley, grasping the cutlass +which Cary put into his hand: "I would do much for you! You are the only +man who has felt for me as a fellow-creature since I was torn from my +home." + +By this time the decks were cleared; and, everything being prepared for +action on both sides, the Frenchmen approached pretty close. During the +awful pause, while this unequal force bore down upon them, perhaps even +some of the boldest hearts felt a chill of anxiety; for they were not +fighting now for wealth or conquest, but for life, liberty, and the +honour of their flag,--that flag which they had borne in triumph round +half the world, and which had never yet been lowered to a foe. True, the +odds against them were tremendous; but they were British seamen, and +would not doubt the result. Yet there was the heart of one amongst them +that throbbed high with desperate ardour for the combat, with the hope +of redeeming disgrace, and showing that he was worthy a better fate than +the death of a felon. + +The engagement was long and sanguinary; but British valour at length +prevailed, and the French ships were forced to sheer off in a shattered +condition, leaving the Diomede little better than a wreck on the mid +ocean. The retreat of the enemy was, however, a glorious and hard-earned +triumph; and the brave officers and crew of the Diomede were conscious +of having performed their duty, and protected the charge committed to +their care by their country. + +After matters were a little set to rights on deck, and the officers had +assembled round their gallant Captain, to congratulate him on the +retreat of the enemy, Sir Henry Stanley ordered the young mutineer to be +brought before him. Philip made his appearance, pale and bleeding, but +with a determined countenance. + +"Young man," said Sir Henry, "you have done your duty to-day. I have to +thank you for twice saving the life of my friend, Lieutenant Cary: he +speaks highly of your conduct in boarding. Your offences are +forgiven--you may return to your duty; and, I hope, from this day, your +conduct will be as remarkable for obedience, as it has before been the +reverse." + +Philip raised his eyes to his commander's face, and reading there an +expression of manly pity and candour, he was so completely softened by +conduct which he little expected from Lord Robert's uncle, that he said, +with tears, he had acted wrong, and would spend his best blood, or even +his life, if required, to amend his fault. + +"Then," said Sir Henry, "ask pardon of Lord Robert Summers for the +outrage you have committed, and all will be well, if you persevere in +your good resolutions." + +"I will ask _your_ pardon, Sir Henry, on my knees, for having rebelled +against so good and gracious a commander, and for having struck one of +_your_ officers; but I cannot ask forgiveness of Lord Robert Summers, +since he was the first to injure me, long before I saw this ship." + +Lord Robert, who stood by his uncle's side, gave him a disdainful look; +Philip's eyes answered scorn with scorn. + +"No conditions, sir!" said his captain; "they don't become you. But pray +how has my nephew injured you?" + +"Lord Robert can inform you," said Philip. + +"I perceive," said Sir Henry, "there has been some misunderstanding +between you and my nephew, before you came on board the Diomede; but +this is no excuse for your uniformly rebellious conduct. Had you done +your duty as a British sailor, you would have met with encouragement and +mild treatment. My nephew, dear as he is to me, could not have +influenced me to commit an act of injustice against any individual of my +ship's company. Go, and get your hurts examined; and let me have reason +to praise your future conduct." + +Philip bowed to his commander with gratitude and respect, and retired. + +It is certain that "misfortunes never come alone." Scarcely had the +convoy re-assembled, and the Diomede repaired some of the injuries she +had sustained in the action, when a furious gale sprang up, and +threatened the most mischievous consequences to the ship, in her +shattered condition. + +Towards midnight, the ship sprang so much water, that all hands were +obliged to spell the pumps. About two in the morning, the wind lulled, +and they flattered themselves that the gale was breaking. Soon after, +there was much thunder and lightning, with rain; when it began to blow +strong in gusts of wind, which obliged them to haul up the main-sail, +the ship being then under bare poles. This was scarcely done, when a +gust of wind, exceeding everything of the kind they had ever any +conception of, laid the ship on her beam-ends. The water forsook the +hold and appeared between the decks, so as to fill the men's hammocks +to leeward; the ship lay motionless, and to all appearance irrecoverably +overset. The water increasing fast, the captain gave directions to cut +away the main and mizen masts,[1] hoping, when the ship righted, to wear +her. The mizen-mast went first, without the smallest effect on the ship. +The main-mast followed; and they had the mortification to see the +foremast and bow-sprit follow also. The ship, upon this, immediately +righted, but with great violence; and the motion was so quick, that it +was difficult for the people to work the pumps. + +[Footnote 1: Cutting away the mast is nobly described by poor Falconer. + + "'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay, + And hew at once the mizen-mast away!' + He said: the attentive sailors on each side, + At his command the trembling cords divide. + Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands, + Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands: + Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound: + The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound." + +_Shipwreck._] + +Every moveable was destroyed, either by the shot thrown loose from the +lockers, or from the wreck of the deck. The masts had not been over the +side ten minutes, before the tiller broke short in the rudder-head; and +before the checks could be placed, the rudder itself was gone. Thus they +were as much disastered as possible, lying at the mercy of the wind. +These circumstances appeared sufficiently alarming; but upon opening the +after-hold, to get up some rum for the people, they found their +condition much more so in reality. + +It will be necessary to mention, that the ship's hold was enclosed by a +bulk-head at the after-part of the well.[2] Here were all the dry +provisions, and the ship's rum, stowed upon ten chaldrons of coal, +which, unfortunately, had been started in this part of the ship, and by +them the pumps were continually choked. At this time it was observed +that the water had not a passage to the well; all the rum (twenty-six +puncheons), all the provisions in casks, were stove; having floated with +violence from side to side, until there was not a whole cask remaining: +even the staves, that were found upon clearing the hold, were most of +them broken in two or three pieces. In the fore-hold they had the +prospect of perishing. Should the ship swim, they had no water but what +remained in the ground tier; and over this all the wet provisions in +barrels were floating, with so much motion, that no man could go into +the hold without the risk of his life. There was nothing left, but to +try baling with buckets at the fore-hatchway and fish-room; and twelve +large canvas buckets were immediately employed in each. On opening the +fish-room, they were so fortunate as to discover that two puncheons of +rum had escaped. They were immediately got up, and served out in drams; +and had it not been for this relief, and some lime-juice, the people +would have dropped. + +[Footnote 2: The well is an apartment in a ship's hold, serving to +enclose the pumps. It is sounded by dropping a measured iron rod down +into it by a long line; hence the increase or diminution of the leaks is +easily discovered. + + "They sound the well, and, terrible to hear, + Five feet immersed along the line appear; + At either pump they ply the clanking brake, + And turn by turn the ungrateful office take." + +FALCONER'S _Shipwreck_.] + +They soon found their account in baling: a spare pump had been put down +the fore-hatchway, and a pump shifted to the fish-room; but the motion +of the ship had washed the coals so small, that they had reached every +part of the ship, and these pumps were soon choked. However, the water +by noon had considerably diminished by working the buckets; but there +appeared no prospect of saving the ship, if the gale continued. The +labour was too great to hold out without water, yet the people worked +without a murmur, and, indeed, with cheerfulness. But their sufferings +for want of water were very great, and many of them could not be +restrained from drinking salt water. They fired many guns of distress, +in hopes some of the merchant-ships might approach and give them some +supply; but on the beginning of the storm they had run before the wind, +and made some port on the coast of Brazil,--an example which the Diomede +would have been glad to follow before the hurricane began, but her +crippled state from the engagement rendered this impossible. + +Towards morning, some of the most resolute of the seamen, rendered +desperate by thirst, went down into the hold, and found a whole +water-cask, which they contrived to heave up, and it afforded a +seasonable relief. + +All the officers and boys, who were not of the profession of seamen, had +been employed that night in thrumming a sail, which was passed under +the ship's bottom with good effect. The spars were raised for the +foremast; the weather looked promising, and they had the prospect of a +fine day;--it proved so; and they were determined to make use of it, +with every possible exertion. The captain divided the ship's company, +with the officers attending them, into parties, to raise the jury +foremast, to heave overboard the lower deck guns,[3] to clear the wrecks +of the fore and after holds, to prepare a machine for steering the ship, +and to work the pumps. By night, as the leak was stopped, the after-hold +was quite clear, ten chaldrons of coals having been baled out since the +commencement of the gale. + +[Footnote 3: + + "While on the quivering deck, from van to rear, + Broad surges roll in terrible career, + Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew, + This office in the face of death pursue. + The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide, + Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side. + Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave, + Fronting the rude attacks of every wave. + Meantime Arion traversing the waist, } + The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, } + And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. } + Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew, + And from their beds the reeling cannon threw. + Then from the windward battlements unbound, + Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round; + Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side, + Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide." + +FALCONER'S _Shipwreck_.] + +The standards of the cockpit, an immense quantity of staves and wood, +and part of the lining of the ship, were thrown overboard, that, if the +water should appear again in the hold, they might have no impediment in +baling. + +The Diomede, in this condition, exhibited a scene seldom witnessed,--a +line-of-battle ship without masts or rudder, a mere shell in the midst +of the ocean. The casks of all sorts, floating from side to side, were +stove, and the magazines and store-rooms of every kind washed down. + +By nightfall the foremast was secured, and the machine for steering +fixed; so that, if the moderate weather continued, they were in hopes of +steering the ship, the following day, for the coast of Brazil--the +violence of the wind having driven them far out of their course. + +During this time of peril and hardship, Sir Henry Stanley could not help +observing with satisfaction the altered conduct of young Harley, who was +so active, enterprising, and courageous, that no difficulty could +overcome him, and no hardship make him complain. He seemed to think the +benign looks of Sir Henry Stanley, ever bent with peculiar complacency +on those who performed their duties with manly firmness, were a reward +for the most painful exertions. All the officers, indeed, noticed the +altered conduct of the young mutineer: no traces remained of his former +rebellion, except that of his returning the haughty glances of Lord +Robert Summers with equal fierceness, when they chanced to meet in the +performance of their arduous duties. But nothing could induce him to +return the taunts this young officer sometimes bestowed on him with +disrespectful language. Depending on the justice of his captain, he bore +all in unmoved silence; indeed, his Lordship (who considered Philip as +too much his inferior to give him the opportunity of joining in a +warfare of words) never condescended to address any provoking speeches +_to_ him, but always _at_ him. One would have thought that such +frightful circumstances would have tamed the haughtiest minds; but they +both required still severer trials to wring the black spot from their +hearts. + +The ship, in this perilous state, was in the middle of the great +Atlantic, nearly under the equinoctial line, with the water-casks beat +to pieces, and most of the provisions spoiled; so that if, by especial +providence, the ship should swim, so as to reach a port on the Brazilian +coast, the crew would suffer the most cruel hardships from +thirst--painful at all times, but intolerable in these burning +latitudes. In this dilemma, some of the people descried land; and they +hoped it was one of those small islands on which the Portuguese have +little settlements to supply their ships, which trade to Africa, with +water and needful refreshments. This island, like those of St. Helena +and Ascension, appeared rocky and volcanic; but there were good hopes +that springs of water might be discovered on it, if any of the crew +could be found enterprising enough to effect a landing, with such a sea, +and on such a coast; for, though the gale had lulled, the breakers were +furiously high on the shore. + +Lord Robert Summers, daring and ardent, and much preferring danger to +the lingering agonies of thirst, volunteered to command a boat, if any +of the crew would venture themselves under his guidance. Three of the +most experienced seamen offered to man the boat; but five hands were +indispensable. His Lordship said that he himself would steer the boat, +if one more seaman would venture. Philip Harley volunteered his +assistance. "Any one but him!" muttered Lord Robert between his shut +teeth, incensed that Philip should show that his courage was equal to +his own: however, as his services were offered for the public good, he +thought proper, although very unwillingly and ungraciously, to accept +them, and the boat was lowered. Sir Henry Stanley bade adieu to his +gallant nephew with pain; but he did not attempt to withhold him, dear +as he was, from the benefit he was proposing to render the ship's +company. When the boat got among the breakers, the prospect of landing +appeared so hazardous, that one of the oldest of the seamen, who rowed +the boat, proposed returning to the ship. Lord Robert, considering +himself accountable for the lives of the men under his care, would not +insist on their continuing their efforts, but said: + +"My brave fellows! If the attempt seem to you hopeless, I will not urge +you to continue it; but if my single life only were at stake I would +willingly risk it to obtain a supply of water for our famishing +companions." + +The sailors then determined to persevere, their recent sufferings from +thirst being fresh in their minds. At length, by a desperate effort, +they gained the shore, and landed their water-casks. They soon found a +pure spring, which gushed from a rocky hill at some little distance from +the shore: there was a large wooden cross erected on an eminence, at the +spring head; but they found no Portuguese guard at the spring, which is +usual in a settlement in those latitudes; so they presumed the island +was uninhabited. The land seemed barren, rocky, and desolate; but, after +some research, they found, in a sheltered valley, a few fine lime and +cocoa-nut trees, which had evidently been planted by some beneficent +navigator. Gathering cocoa-nuts is no very easy operation, as they +adhere in close bunches to the crown of the tree by tough ligaments; but +as young Harley had brought his axe and saw to cut wood for firing, he +climbed the trees, while his comrades were filling the water-casks, and +expeditiously obtained a good number, both of limes and cocoa-nuts, +which he considered would be an acceptable refreshment to his exhausted +companions on board the Diomede. + +While they were thus employed, Lord Robert hailed them from the beach, +where he remained to watch the boat. + +"Come, my lads!" said he, "the gale freshens every minute; let us get +afloat, or we shall scarcely reach the ship before nightfall." + +The sailors hurried the water-casks and store of fruit into the boat, +and launched her among the breakers. With infinite toil, they got out of +the surf with safety, as the wind now blew off the shore; but the +furious gusts came every moment with increasing strength; and, at last, +a surge rose with such overwhelming violence, that, in spite of all +their efforts, the boat upset, and her unhappy crew were engulfed in the +roaring waters. Their fate was beheld from the ship; but no aid could be +given, as the renewed hurricane had rendered her state more deplorable +than ever: she was driven before the wind, and soon lost sight of this +fatal island. + +Some of the boat's crew struggled a little time with the waves; but +three of them were old men, and had been exhausted by the fatigues they +had lately undergone. These speedily sank; but Lord Robert, being young +and robust, strove hard for life, and at length gained the shore, almost +exhausted by his contentions with the surfy breakers. When he had a +little recovered his breath, he climbed the hill on which the cross was +erected, and gazed towards the ship, which he saw driving before the +wind, surrounded by foaming billows, and with every appearance of +speedily sharing the fate he had so lately escaped. Wholly occupied in +the thoughts of the revered friend that ship contained, he forgot his +own desolate state, till the last appearance of the ship vanished, and +he found himself alone. + +Oppressed with sad thoughts, he turned himself from the contemplation of +the wrathful ocean, now blackening with the sudden night of the torrid +zone, and after a little search, found a low arch in the rock, which was +the entrance to a natural hollow in its side. Into this place he crept, +to shelter himself from the inclemency of the storm, which increased +with tenfold fury after sunset. + +In this situation he passed the night which succeeded this dismal day. +It was a night of peculiar horror--tempestuous, dark, and rainy; and +Lord Robert, though in a state of complete exhaustion, found that, in +his late struggle with the breakers, he had received so many bruises, +that to sleep was impossible. At intervals, as the lightning gleamed on +the stormy expanse of waters before him, he thought how many of his +brave companions, in all probability, slept beneath its roaring waves; +and at that moment, instead of returning thanks to Heaven for his own +preservation, he felt inclined to envy his comrades. To be entirely shut +out from all intercourse with his fellow-creatures, never again to hear +the sound of a human voice, and to be condemned, in the very bloom of +youth, to pine away existence in that desolate place, far from every +friend, appeared a doom so dreadful, that he was insensibly led to +reflect for what crime so heavy a punishment could have befallen him. + +Conscience, which sometimes sleeps, but never dies, did not fail, in +this awful hour, to recall to his memory the cruelty and injustice of +his conduct to Philip Harley: and when he reflected that, to gratify his +imperious disposition and implacable spirit of revenge, the poor lad had +been dragged from his peaceful home, his honest employment, and his +affectionate parents, to endure a series of hardships and perils, and +that he had finally suffered an untimely death,--this thought gave him +so keen a pang of remorse, that, as if he expected from change of place +to escape from memory, he started from his rocky pillow, and, as the day +was now beginning to dawn, proceeded to the beach, to ascertain whether +any of his friends from the ship had been so fortunate as to gain the +shore; for, he remembered, his uncle had given orders to have the +pinnace and yawl in readiness, in case the ship's situation should +become desperate, that an attempt might be made to preserve the lives of +part of the crew. + +For some time, he pursued his melancholy walk, interrupted only by the +dismal sight of pieces of wreck, which the impetuous waves from time to +time dashed at his feet. The sea now running in high tide on the shore, +inspired him with the hope of seeing the pinnace and boats, or rafts +from the wreck; and that some, at least, of the ship's company might be +so fortunate as to reach the island with life. The sun, rising brightly +over the stormy ocean, discovered something struggling with the waves at +no great distance. Lord Robert felt the most agonizing sensations at the +idea that it was out of his power to render any assistance. All he could +do was to wave his handkerchief, from the little rocky promontory on +which he stood, and to shout with all his strength, to encourage him in +his efforts. At that moment, a tremendous wave engulfed the object of +his solicitude,--it sank, and his heart sank with it;--again it rose and +neared the shore;--but its efforts grew fainter and fainter;--and Lord +Robert, fearing that its strength would fail, though so near the shore, +regardless of his own safety, dashed through the breakers to render his +assistance, cheering as he did so. At the sound of his voice, the poor +creature appeared to recover his strength, and, struggling through the +breakers, sprang towards him with a joyful cry. + +"Ah, my poor Neptune! Is it you?" exclaimed Lord Robert, with mingled +anguish and pleasure, as he threw his arms round the faithful animal, +and gave vent to his feelings with a burst of tears. "Yes!" said he, as +he threw himself on the beach in bitter sorrow, "the Diomede must indeed +have foundered, or my kind, my benevolent uncle, would never have +committed this old memorial of his lost nephew to the mercy of the +waves, for the sake of lightening the vessel, or saving the morsel of +food he would have consumed." But again remembering the chance that some +of the crew might be saved by the pinnace, and condemning the indulgence +of his grief, he rose, and, dripping as he was, pursued his search, +attended by his faithful Neptune, who bounded round him with joyful +affection. In the course of his walk, he found some limes and cocoa-nuts +scattered on the beach; and, yielding to the painful thirst that +consumed him, he raised one of the limes to his parched lips, when he +recollected that they were some of the fruit young Harley had gathered, +and was carrying to the ship at the time the boat was upset, and the +unfortunate youth had been buried in the waves. This thought recalled +the bitter reflections he had with difficulty succeeded in banishing +from his mind; and when he remembered that, though he had not been the +immediate, he had certainly been the ultimate cause of his death, he +sickened at the thought, and casting the untasted fruit from him, he +said, "No; I cannot eat these!" Proceeding on his walk, he gained the +spot where he had landed with his unfortunate companions the day +before. He sighed deeply as he passed it; and, doubling a projection of +rock, he discovered the pinnace, floating bottom upwards close in shore. +At that sight, the most agonizing in the world to the heart of a sailor, +he turned away, and wept almost to suffocation. For some moments, he +continued to give way to the grief which oppressed him, till roused from +the indulgence of his feelings by a loud and joyful bark from Neptune, +and, uncovering his eyes, he perceived a young sailor, whose face was +turned from him, gazing on the pinnace, apparently in as melancholy a +mood as himself. This doubtless was the only one of her unfortunate crew +who had escaped the violence of the waves; and Lord Robert, losing all +distinction of rank in the fellowship of misfortune, sprang towards him +with open arms, exclaiming, in a voice broken by emotion--"What cheer, +my lad?" At the sound of his voice, the young man turned slowly round, +and discovered a face pale with contending feelings--it was Philip +Harley! For a moment, the two enemies surveyed each other in silence; +each wondering at the other's preservation; each somewhat softened by +the traces of sorrow and suffering in the countenance of the +other,--but, alas! each mutually yielding to the same stubborn and +haughty temper which had so long been the spring of all that was evil in +their separate characters, they surveyed each other with a look of +defiance, and walked gloomily away in opposite directions. + +Lord Robert certainly did feel his heart relieved of half the painful +emotions which had, for the last ten hours, oppressed it almost to +bursting; and as he retraced his steps almost instinctively to his +cheerless chamber in the rock, where he had spent that dreadful night, +he exclaimed, "Thank God, he lives! I am not then his murderer! It is +true, that entire solitude would have been much more agreeable to me, +than the idea of breathing the same air with him, and being constantly +exposed to the chance of meeting him; but that is more than compensated +by the knowledge that he lives, and is, indeed, no worse off than +myself." + +Thus did Lord Robert compose his troubled thoughts, and lull to sleep +those better feelings which almost prompted him, at the first sight of +young Harley, to make such advances towards amity, as would have been +pleasing in the sight of God, and even in that of his enemy, whose +heart, naturally kind and good, had been greatly softened by the awful +circumstances under which their last interview had taken place. Besides, +he had been an unseen spectator of Lord Robert's manly but acute sorrow, +when he beheld, in the deplorable situation of the pinnace, a +confirmation of his worst fears respecting the fate of his uncle and +friends. He, too, had been weeping; for he reverenced Sir Henry Stanley, +and loved Lieutenant Cary; and he was disposed to behold even Lord +Robert with complacency, for their sakes; for he knew he was very dear +to them both; and when he saw the agony with which Lord Robert staggered +forward, on reaching the spot which commanded this melancholy sight, and +heard his repeated sobs, he felt his hatred towards him so much +diminished, that he was forced to recollect all the injuries he had +received from this young officer, before he could sufficiently repel the +inclination he felt to speak to him in the voice of kindness and +comfort. Lord Robert had hitherto appeared to him haughty, rude, and +unfeeling; and Philip knew not that this spoiled child of prosperity +possessed at times much sensibility, strong affections, and feelings, +which, had they been properly directed, would have been conducive to the +happiness of all around him; instead of which, his unchecked passions +produced danger and inconvenience to all who, even unintentionally, +irritated them, and misery to their unhappy possessor, far beyond what +he had ever inflicted on others. + +But Philip was in many respects too like his adversary in character; and +he never took the trouble of asking his own heart, if he were not +sometimes to blame, as well as his high-born enemy. If Lord Robert was +haughty, Philip was insolent; if one was hasty in giving a provocation, +the other was still more so in retaliating. Had Philip for one moment +remembered that most divine maxim of holy writ, "A soft answer turneth +away wrath," and had he been sufficiently of a Christian disposition to +practise it in _one_ instance only, Lord Robert would have been +appeased; and what mischief might have been spared, what suffering +avoided, on one side! and what painful remorse on the other! When Philip +beheld Lord Robert's tears, his first emotion was surprise; and he said +to himself, "Can he weep? _he_ that is so hard-hearted and proud!" and +then the thought occurred to him, "Perhaps his heart is not so very hard +as I have reason to believe?" Philip was not uncandid; and he remembered +then, that he had often thrown himself in Lord Robert's way, and +committed many outrages, on purpose to provoke him. For the first time +in his life, he put himself in his Lordship's place, and asked his own +heart, whether he were sure, under such circumstances, that he should +have acted better? But Philip was not yet sufficiently acquainted with +the faults of his own character, to see that he had been almost equally +blameable; and though, perhaps, he would not have refused to forgive, he +had no idea that _he too_ required to be forgiven, if not by his erring +fellow-creature, at least by his heavenly Father. Had _this_ occurred to +him, he would not have renewed their suspended enmity, by being the +first to assume a look of defiance, while Lord Robert was undecided what +course to pursue: but the favourable moment was unfortunately lost; for +Lord Robert returned the glance with equal disdain, and they were as +much at variance as before. + +Lord Robert had returned to the cleft in the rock, and thrown himself at +full length, lost in unpleasant and bitter reflections for some hours, +before the cravings of hunger reminded him that it was necessary to make +some exertion for the preservation of that life which Heaven had spared; +but perhaps he would, in his gloomy frame of mind, have disregarded his +own wants, and remained obstinate in his self-neglect, had not the mute +appeals of his faithful Neptune roused him from inertion. Neptune was a +fine water-dog, a present from his elder brother at parting; and Lord +Robert, who had long desired to possess this animal, treated him with +the most unbounded affection; and always suffered him to share every +meal with him, and even divided with him his share of food and water +during their late dreadful privations; and Neptune, who had not tasted +food for many hours, continued to put his paws on his master's knees, +and to survey him with a wishful look, till Lord Robert rose, and left +the cave in search of something to satisfy his cravings. Amongst his +other troubles, he had little fear of perishing by famine; for he knew, +by the latitude he was in, that he should most likely find turtle, or +turtles' eggs, on the beach. In fact, while he was listlessly pacing the +shore, thinking of anything rather than the object of his search, +Neptune, who was not quite so uninterested, pounced on something in a +hole in the sand, which proved to be a fine turtle. His master soon +killed it, and satisfied the hunger of his humble friend with part of +the flesh; and then, in a more leisurely manner, set about collecting +pieces of wreck to make a fire; but, alas! he was wholly unpractised in +the sleight of striking a few sparks to kindle a flame. It is true, he +knew how they were to be procured, and soon found a flint proper for the +purpose: but in striking it with the back of his knife, he only rubbed +the skin off his hands, and bruised his knuckles, without producing the +desired effect; or, if he did elicit a few sparks, they died away for +want of proper kindling. This put him in a passion, and he redoubled his +violence till he broke the flint into a thousand pieces; and sat down in +a very ill humour, looking at his pile of wood and his raw turtle with +much discontent. At last he recollected, that if he could not cook his +turtle, he could quench his thirst at the clear spring they had +discovered on their first landing: this he soon found, and was much +refreshed by a draught from it. At a small distance, within view of the +spring, he saw the little grove of limes and cocoas in the valley; there +he beheld, with some little envy, a bright blazing fire, near which +Philip was employed cooking his supper. He hastily avoided the spot, and +returned to the beach, where he found in the sand some turtles' eggs, +which he could eat raw, and with them satisfied the calls of hunger. He +then lay down on his flinty couch, with Neptune for a pillow; and, being +completely exhausted by fatigue, notwithstanding his distress and +discontent, sank into a profound sleep. + +The next morning saw him still perplexed with those minor difficulties. +For though he could bear, with heroic self-denial, the hardships +incidental to his profession, and had not taken a morsel more food, or a +drop more water, in their late distress on board ship, than any other of +the suffering crew, and had even shared his scanty morsel with his +famishing dog, this he _could_ do, for he felt there was something noble +and refined in such conduct; but he felt sadly irritated at being thrown +on his own resources in the little common everyday necessaries of life. +From his infancy, he had been surrounded by servants, who were +accustomed to perform for him the most minute services, so that at +seventeen his Lordship (though a valiant officer, and perfect in his +professional duties,) was ignorant of many things very necessary for +every one to know; and if he was acquainted with the methods resorted to +in many situations, he was at least very awkward in his attempts of +putting them into practice. However, on this occasion, making use of his +own good sense, after a little calm reflection, he collected from the +sides of the rock some dry grey moss, and, drawing some rays from the +sun in the focus of a little perspective glass he had in his pocket, he +soon set his pile of wood in a blaze, and cooked sufficient turtle to +feed him for a day or two. + +He had scarcely completed this employment, when the sun, which had for +days been shaded by tempestuous clouds, broke forth with its usual +splendour; and there was promise of a continuance of that sultry weather +so seldom interrupted in these latitudes. Lord Robert, when he felt the +sun beat on his uncovered temples, fled for shelter to his cave, which +he found nearly of the same temperature as an oven half heated. Panting +for breath, he remembered the grove, of which Philip had taken +possession, and bent his steps towards it; but he found that this spot +of verdure did not consist of more than a rood of land; and he did not +choose to be so near young Harley as the farthest extremity of its +shelter. So he remained on the burning beach, or under the shade of some +arid rock, during the day, determining to make a tour of the island in +the cool of the evening, and hoping to fix his residence in some shady +vale similar to Philip's territories. But how can his disappointment be +expressed, when, after a most fatiguing walk, all the good he gained was +a knowledge of the extent of his prison? He had in vain searched for a +grove; barren rocks and burning sands alone met his sight: at last, he +climbed a conical hill, which towered above the other rocks, and which, +from his geological knowledge, he was certain contained the exhausted +crater of a volcano. Here he had a view of every nook of the island, +which was of the extent of about five miles, and presented a prospect of +one pile of horrid rocks heaped on another, without one spot of +fertility, except Philip's little cluster of trees, whose bright verdure +formed a refreshing contrast to the burning rocks, which seemed yet to +glow with the intense heat that had been poured on them through the +day. As he fixed his eyes wistfully on this favoured spot, and saw the +smoke of Philip's evening fire curling above the trees, he exclaimed, +"Yes; I must, though most reluctantly, share this only habitable place +with him; for such a day as the last I cannot endure again. Doubtless, +this grove was planted by some benevolent navigator (such as I have +often read of) on the soil formed by the accidental residence of +sea-birds; and the grass and trees[4] have gradually spread over a small +extent of land. Surely, as it was meant for universal benefit, I have a +right to a share of it." So saying, he descended the hill, and after a +toilsome walk arrived at the grove after nightfall, where he enjoyed the +luxury of stretching his aching limbs on the soft grass, under the +fragrant shade of a lime-tree, and slept soundly till after sunrise. He +awoke in the morning with the cheerful sound of a human voice singing, +and on opening his eyes, saw Philip Harley, a few paces from him, busy +at work. He was astonished to see the progress his enemy had made in +forming himself a habitation; for he had got very forward in the +frame-work of a neat hut, and was now boarding it in with planks, which +he had collected on the beach, singing as he knocked in every nail. This +hut was situated among the thickest cluster of trees, directly under a +fine young vine, the only one in the island; and as Philip roofed his +hut, he carefully trained the rich branches all over the dwelling, +taking care not to injure the purpling fruit, which was nearly ripe; +thus giving his hut, as soon as it was finished, the charming appearance +of a bower. + +[Footnote 4: The progress of vegetation is very curious in those +islands, which are supposed by geologists to be thrown up from the +bottom of the sea by volcanoes, or formed by the unceasing labours of +the coral animalculi. These generally present at first a rocky surface, +barren and arid. By degrees, a little soil is deposited by sea-fowl and +birds of passage; on this at first grow the seeds of some of those +minute plants, which are literally carried on the wings of the wind from +countries that appear too far distant for any such conveyance. These +plants flourish, fade, and are renewed by the seasons, until from their +decayed parts is formed that fine vegetable mould which overspreads the +more fertile surface of the earth. When this process is begun, if the +land receives from the hand of some benevolent discoverer a few seeds of +trees or plants to which the climate is congenial, the work of +fertilization is rapidly accelerated; grass grows luxuriantly under the +shade of the trees: verdure increases, and creeps farther and farther, +till from one little spot, an oasis in the midst of a desert, the whole +island becomes fruitful.] + +Overcome by the heat of the climate, Lord Robert lay for a day or two +wholly inactive, stretched beneath his lime-tree, amusing himself with +playing with Neptune, or when he thought he was unperceived, watching +the progress of his enemy's work, but not condescending to address one +word to him; who, on his part, preserved the same sullen silence. Lord +Robert could not help wondering how Harley came by the saw and hatchet +which he handled with so much adroitness; but he would not condescend to +ask him. The fact was, that when Philip and the sailors were called away +from gathering the cocoas, Philip, in his hurry had left the saw and +hatchet at the foot of the tree; and there he found them when he +regained the land. Possessed of these treasures, he made himself a +hammer of a hollow stone; and, drawing nails out of the wreck, he set to +work, and soon completed his hut. But when he proceeded to make a stool +and table, Lord Robert was moved to some exertion; for he thought, that +if he could make himself something of the kind to place under his +lime-tree, he should not regret the hut his adversary seemed so proud +of; and he was determined to try to construct some such articles of +comfort and convenience. He accordingly went to the beach, and soon +collected timber, from which he selected pieces with which he meant to +try to form a table and three-legged stool. He would willingly have +worked on the beach, out of the impertinent ken of his enemy: but the +intolerable heat soon drove him back to the delicious shade of the +grove, where a perpetual breeze seemed to play amongst the leaves; and +thither he reluctantly proceeded, carrying the wood, and followed by +Neptune. Sorry I am to record, that when Philip saw his haughty enemy +appear thus laden, he paused in his work with a malicious curiosity to +see how Lord Robert would acquit himself in his new employment. The +first thing he did was to tear a bough or two off a tree, meaning to cut +three truncheons to form the legs of his stool. It was lignum vitæ wood, +extremely hard; and Lord Robert eyed Philip's saw, which just then would +have been of great service to him, but he disdained to ask the loan of +it. So he seated himself on the turf, and began to cut the legs with his +pocket-knife (his only tool) with great difficulty; then he chose from +the fragments of wreck a small piece of square wood, and marked with +his pencil the holes he designed to make; he then walked, in a very +stately manner, to Philip's fire, and taking from thence three hot +coals, he laid them on his pencilled marks, and kept renewing them till +the wood was nearly burnt through; then he scraped through the burnt +wood, till he had got three holes; into these he knocked his truncheons +with a great stone, and placed his stool on the ground to admire his own +ingenuity; but he had knocked one leg more and another less, so that +their lengths were unequal, and down the stool fell. Philip, who had +seen this defect all the time, was highly diverted at his +disappointment, when the stool fell, particularly when he saw how it +irritated Lord Robert's impatient temper. At last, overcoming his +inclination to laugh, he said: "You must shorten the middle leg of your +stool, or it will never stand;" at the same time pushing his rule and +saw towards his Lordship, who rejected them with great disdain, +saying--"Do you think that I can condescend to learn the low mechanic +art of a _carpenter_?" And he laid a most contemptuous stress on the +word _carpenter_. + +Philip coloured with indignation, as he replied, "Perhaps your +_Lordship_ will in a little time see which is of most service in this +place, _your_ title, or _my_ useful knowledge." + +Lord Robert haughtily flung back the rule and saw, and began to shorten +the leg with his knife. This was a work of time and difficulty: the wood +was hard, and the knife unfit for the purpose, and, worse than all, Lord +Robert was very awkward in his mechanical attempts; but he was unusually +so in this, for he was in a pet, and he saw that Philip watched him and +enjoyed his unskilful manoeuvres. This had the effect of enraging and +confusing him; and, in his anger, the knife slipped and cut his knuckles +across. He glanced at Philip, and saw him smile. This greatly provoked +him, and he darted towards his enemy a furious look; but Philip +continued to survey his operations with a calm but sarcastic regard. The +next thing Lord Robert did was to set his knife so fast in the wood that +he could not move it. Philip smiled again; and Lord Robert, out of all +patience, used so violent an effort to get it free, that the blade +snapped in the middle, and, starting up in a passion, he dashed the +stool violently against the ground. Philip laughed aloud. + +"Insolent plebeian!" exclaimed Lord Robert; "do you presume to insult +me?" + +"Lord Robert Summers," replied Philip, "I would advise you to remember, +that you are neither in your father's park, nor on the deck of the +Diomede, where your imperious temper might be feared and indulged: but +here we are equals; and any outrage, either of words or actions, shall +meet with instant chastisement. I would therefore advise your Lordship +to be more guarded in your language, for it may be followed by +consequences which you may not approve!" + +"Villain!" retorted Lord Robert, "do you forget that I am your +commanding officer?" + +"No!" returned Philip, becoming greatly agitated as certain +recollections crossed his mind; "no:--you have put it out of my power +ever to forget that you were once enabled to gratify your ungenerous +malice to the utmost stretch of your power. Basely and cruelly did you +trample on me, when you knew that to resist the authority you abused was +impossible. I _was_ your victim, but am so no longer! And," continued +he, advancing very close to Lord Robert, "beware how you provoke me to +take such signal vengeance for all the injuries you have inflicted on +me, as shall teach your proud heart to rue the hour that ever you made +Philip Harley the companion of your voyage!" + +There was an expression so terrible in Philip's eyes as he spoke these +words, that Lord Robert, stout-hearted as he was, (and there never was a +braver officer,) changed colour; but in a moment recovering his intrepid +spirit and haughty bearing, he flashed back a look of defiance, and +assumed a posture of defence. + +"It is unnecessary," said Philip; "I am not going to attack you. You +have in many contests proved the strength of this arm: that it always +was superior to yours, I scarcely need remind you. That your late +injuries have not unnerved it, you may well believe; but, as long as you +observe a temperate line of conduct, and discontinue addressing me by +opprobrious names, you need not fear its force." + +"Fear!" repeated Lord Robert indignantly: "I fear God; and have no other +fear! Dost thou imagine that I fear aught like thee?" + +"Perhaps not," replied Philip; "but I would advise you not to provoke me +unnecessarily." + +So saying, he retired within his hut, leaving Lord Robert speechless +with contending emotions. He was indeed much ruffled by the short but +fierce altercation which had passed between himself and young Harley; +and the more so, when he reflected that Philip's bodily strength was +superior to his own, and that his high rank would be of no avail to him +in this desolate place, as Philip had very unceremoniously told him: and +as his own conscience whispered that he had formerly offered him the +most dreadful provocation, he could scarcely be astonished if Philip, +now that he was the more powerful, should meditate retaliation, and +take, as he threatened, unbounded vengeance for all that he had suffered +on board the Diomede and elsewhere. + +He was reluctant to abandon this sheltered and beautiful spot; but he +preferred returning to his dreary cleft in the rock, to residing in the +valley, where Philip had erected his dwelling; considering the heat and +barrenness of the rest of the island as far less evils than the company +of Philip, whose very sight, after the threats he had used, was most +intolerable to him: and Lord Robert felt that he could not bend his +haughty spirit to practise the civility and moderation which Philip had +recommended, lest this behaviour should be construed into fear of his +superior force. On the other hand, he reflected that if he persisted in +his natural imperiousness, so far as to provoke Philip to a personal +contest with him, the languor incidental to the climate had so much +enervated him, that, to maintain a combat with such an adversary as +young Harley had often proved himself to be, with the slightest prospect +of success, was impossible, and would only expose him to insult and +contempt, and perhaps even to more disgraceful treatment, from his +justly incensed enemy. To avoid such consequences, he judged it most +suitable to his dignity to retire; and, whistling to Neptune to follow +him, he slowly and sullenly returned to the beach, leaving Philip in +uninterrupted possession of the Valley of Limes. + +Though Philip, still smarting under the remembrance of the many injuries +he had received from Lord Robert, had, on the haughty expressions of +contempt uttered by that young officer, used threats which were most +irritating to his proud spirit, he by no means designed to proceed to +personal hostilities; for Philip was, in spite of all his faults, too +really generous to exert in this instance the advantages his superior +strength gave him; and he was far from intending to drive his companion +in misfortune from the only spot in the island capable of affording him +any of the comforts of life. In short, he expected that when Lord Robert +had vented his displeasure in a solitary walk, he would return to the +valley. When Philip's temper cooled, he began to reflect on the luxuries +Lord Robert had been accustomed to from his cradle; he thought how +severely his high-born adversary must feel the privations to which he +was now exposed; and his heart smote him for having, by his provoking +ridicule, occasioned that ebullition of feeling which had vented itself +in expressions of wrathful contempt, which he, on his part, (not +considering the provocation was of his own giving,) had been so ready to +return; and that their mutual recriminations had induced him to utter +menaces, which had driven his companion in misfortune from an employment +necessary even for the preservation of his existence. + +Occupied by these thoughts, Philip often paused in his work, and looked +round to see if Lord Robert had returned to the valley, and listened for +his step with anxiety; but he did not come. Night arrived, and Philip +did not see him reposing under his favourite lime-tree; and he felt out +of humour with himself, for being the cause of keeping him away. + +From some uneasy self-reproaches, he did not taste at night the calm +repose which generally follows a day of labour; on the contrary, he felt +that evening some of those painful feelings of remorse which had so +often tortured Lord Robert, but which had never been experienced by +himself before; and he now remembered that, though Lord Robert had +ill-treated him, yet there _was_ a difference in their rank, and that it +was brutal in him to threaten a high-spirited and elegant young man with +personal violence when they were united in the same distress: and that +Lord Robert's contemptuous expressions were caused by his laughter at +that which was a serious misfortune to his high-born foe; namely, his +want of skill in mechanics, and the mischance of breaking his knife, the +loss of which was irreparable, and would perhaps deprive him, on some +occasions, even of the means of procuring food. + +Philip would have repaired to the beach, to see what had become of Lord +Robert; but he thought it probable that some new cause of offence might +arise between them. However, in the afternoon, he had occasion to visit +the beach to search for some pieces of wreck. When he reached the shore, +he found there had been a very high tide the preceding night, and many +articles were scattered on the sand; as staves, pieces of rope, and +splinters from the mast. These Philip carefully collected, and placed +above high-water mark, lest they should be washed to sea again. In the +course of this important avocation, he approached the cave where Lord +Robert had again taken up his residence: but he had been too busily +engaged to think of him, till his eye was attracted by the flash of his +epaulet in the evening sun; and he saw him, at a little distance, +bending over some employment, in which he was too much occupied to +perceive the approach of Philip, who was tempted to draw near enough to +ascertain what it was that so deeply engaged his attention; but he did +so somewhat cautiously, lest he should again give offence. He soon was +near enough to discover that Lord Robert's employment was that of +digging a grave in the sand, with a butt-stave, and near him lay the +bodies of five seamen, which the high tide had washed on shore, close +to the entrance of Lord Robert's cave. Philip felt a bitter pang as he +gazed on the lifeless remains of his unfortunate messmates; and seizing +another stave, he placed himself opposite to Lord Robert, and began to +assist in the sad duty; but neither spoke. + +One of the bodies was that of a midshipman, whom Lord Robert had loved; +and as he now proceeded to place his remains in the narrow bed he had +scooped for him with so much toil, his tears fell fast on the face of +the deceased. When he attempted to raise him from the shingle, to lay +him decently in the grave, the effort was too much for him. Philip +immediately sprang forwards and assisted him, otherwise the corpse would +have fallen from his grasp. He did not reject the aid of his foe; but he +did not even glance at him in return. In silence they began their +melancholy task; in silence they proceeded in it; and the moon had risen +high and shone with splendour by the time they had dug the last grave, +when unfortunately, as they placed the seaman in the "house appointed +for all living," Philip recognised his features: it was the boatswain of +the Diomede! A crowd of agonizing feelings passed through Philip's +breast, as he recollected that from this man's hand he had received such +disgraceful punishment. He first turned pale, and then scarlet; and it +recurred to his mind, that this person had only been the passive +instrument obeying the orders of others. + +"It was thy malice, tyrant! that added this worst wrong to all the +rest," thought he. True, he did not utter these words: but he regarded +Lord Robert with a look, in which hatred and rage were but too visibly +painted to escape his Lordship's observation, though he was ignorant of +the cause of it; but he thought it shocking of Philip to take the +opportunity of insulting him at such an awful time, particularly when he +had condescended to _permit_ his assistance; and he returned Philip's +indignant look in so disdainful a manner, that, scarcely conscious that +he was the first himself to renew hostilities, Philip took fire, and +provokingly reminded his Lordship "that his haughty looks were useless, +when directed to him; and he advised him to reserve them for those who +cared for them, if he could find any such in the island." + +"To the full as many as will endure your low-bred insolence," returned +Lord Robert with equal scorn. "However, Mr. Harley, if I might +condescend to speak to you in the language of entreaty, it would be to +request the favour of your absence. You have taken possession of the +only habitable spot in the island, and _I_ have not attempted to deprive +you of it; and I think the least you can do, in return for my +moderation, is to leave me undisturbed on my barren domain." + +"If all my security were the _moderation_ of Lord Robert Summers," +replied Philip with a contemptuous laugh, "I should be as soon driven +from my dwelling here as I was forced from the home of my parents: but +here I can, by the strength of my own right hand, maintain my rights; +and whoever attempts to invade them, may chance to repent of his folly." + +As Philip uttered this threat, he finished casting the last heap of sand +on the boatswain's grave; on which, apparently exhausted with fatigue, +Lord Robert had seated himself. The sight of these bodies had recalled +the fate of his uncle, and he had been lately weeping bitterly; and when +young Harley observed his tearful eyes, and the evident languor and +despondency visible in his whole appearance, his conscience again smote +him; he remembered what he had so lately suffered from self-reproach; +and he reflected, that if he so much abused the mere bodily superiority +his strength gave him, it was by no means wonderful that when Lord +Robert possessed so much power, he should exert it when offended. + +He paused, and looked earnestly at Lord Robert. The moon shone brightly +on his face; the flush of resentment had faded from it; and he looked so +ill, and there was such an expression of hopeless dejection in his eyes, +that Philip was greatly touched; and he even thought of apologizing to +him for what he had lately said, and of entreating him to return with +him to the Valley of Limes. While he yet hesitated, Lord Robert looked +up, and waved his hand impatiently for him to be gone: and Philip, +finding that the conquest of his own pride was too great an effort to be +made at that time, retired to his home, self-condemned and unhappy. + +Lord Robert continued sitting on the grave, in a listless attitude, +leaning his head on his hand, almost unconscious that he was alone. The +faintness and languor which had been for some time stealing on him, +seemed so wholly overpowering, as even to take away the inclination of +retorting Philip's last innuendo; but now, though the words still rang +upon his ear, and he fully understood their meaning to comprise +reproach, insult, and threat, either of which was sufficient to put his +proud spirit in a flame, yet he was conscious of a growing confusion in +his own mind, which seemed to prevent his forming a suitable reply; and, +for the first time in his life, he found himself unwilling to continue +the war of words. He felt an impatient desire of quiet; and, forgetful +that Philip would most likely pay no attention to his mandate, he +motioned for him to retire, with no little of his habitual air of +superiority. Philip, however, _did_ obey in this instance. Lord Robert, +after some minutes, raised his aching head from his hand, and, looking +round to see if he were gone, uttered an expression of satisfaction at +finding himself alone. + +Lord Robert's naturally fine constitution had been greatly impaired +since his residence in the island, by the pain of mind he had suffered +from the loss of his uncle and friends, the remorse he felt for his +numerous errors, joined to his discontent and impatience at being +placed in a situation so uncongenial to all his former habits. Besides, +he suffered from the hardships which he was forced to endure: sleeping +on the flinty rock, or passing the night on the turf under the +lime-tree--a most unhealthy practice--for the dews were very heavy, and, +in common to all hot countries, very noxious to those who were exposed +to their influence. + +He had lost his hat when the boat was overset; and, trivial as this loss +may appear to the natives of a temperate climate, it was attended with +very painful consequences to Lord Robert, on whose head the rays of the +sun fell with unmitigated violence, and occasioned him the most acute +headache whenever he was exposed to the noon-day heat. After his retreat +from the Valley of Limes, he had for many hours paced the beach in a +tumult of rage, with the perpendicular rays of a tropical sun darting on +his uncovered head. The night he had passed without sleep; and, early in +the morning, he found the remains of the unfortunate seamen. He was ill +and feverish; and it was only by a strong effort that he so far overcame +his painful languor as to attempt the necessary but mournful task of +giving them burial. + +Notwithstanding the heat of the day, and the toilsome task he was +engaged in, he experienced repeated fits of shivering; the burning rays +of the sun pouring on his head, though they occasioned the most acute +pain, failed to impart warmth to his frame. This was accompanied with so +strong a disinclination to move, that he several times paused in the +course of digging the first grave; and, yielding to the sickly lassitude +which oppressed him, he retired to his cave; but that commanding a full +view of the poor seamen, the dreadful sight roused him from his +inactivity, and again he proceeded in his mournful work. He had scarcely +completed digging one grave with great toil and pain, and was wondering +how it would be possible for him, ill as he was, to go through the whole +business of interment, when Philip appeared and afforded his powerful +aid. This was too valuable to be rejected; and he felt grateful for the +silent manner in which he tendered his assistance and worked by his +side; and he was about to thank him for his services, when, on raising +his head for that purpose, he caught the offensive look which has +already been mentioned. Lord Robert, lost in his own sad thoughts, did +not perceive the _reason_ of this. Had he, indeed, recognised the +features of the boatswain in the person they were burying, perhaps the +same idea might have occurred to him. But, after having interred his +friend, he had sedulously averted his eyes from the faces of the dead. +Ignorant, therefore, of Philip's motives for renewed indignation, he +returned his hostile glance, and the second contention ensued. + +The rest of the night Lord Robert passed in a sort of stupor, seated on +the boatswain's grave; from which he felt unable to rise through extreme +exhaustion. The first rays of the sun drove him for shelter to the cave. +His thirst was excessive; and he had no means of allaying it, unless he +proceeded either to the Valley of Limes or the spring of water. The +remembrance of Philip induced him to prefer the latter; and thither, +with some difficulty, he crept rather than walked. Having drank +profusely, he filled a large shell for a supply in the cave; for he +thought it probable he should never be able to perform another journey +to the stream; and slowly and faintly returned to his comfortless +dwelling in the rock. The chills of the preceding day had terminated in +the burning heat of raging fever; and as he retraced his melancholy +steps through the sand, which reflected the intolerable rays of the sun +to his eyes, and surveyed the barren rocks and frightful basalts of +which the island was composed, he with a bitter sigh recalled the +verdure of his father's park, and the shades of his native groves which +bounded that beautiful domain. + +"But these," said Lord Robert, "I shall never see again: I shall perish +on this arid, frightful spot, without a living creature near who cares +for me, except my poor Neptune!--And you, my tender mother, who are so +benevolently solicitous to provide comforts for the sick poor, what +would be your feelings, could you see your unhappy son stretched on this +burning flint!" continued he, as entering the rocky chamber, he sank +exhausted on the floor. He thought his death was near; yet he felt far +from being in a proper frame of mind to die. Like too many of the young +and thoughtless, if he were not profane, he was careless in matters of +religion; in this awful moment, a thousand instances of neglect and +offence against his Creator occurred to his mind; and he felt that he +would have given worlds, had he possessed them, for a few hours of the +time he had so often abused. + +He recollected, too, with bitter regret, his pride, imperiousness, and +implacability of disposition; of this, his conduct to young Harley was a +frightful instance; he vainly wished he could have recalled the _past_, +but that was not in his power; and he felt it very doubtful, if for him +a _future_ in this world would be granted. The present was all he could +call his own; and it behoved him to make the best use he could of the +precious moments that were yet allowed him to make his peace with God. +But, alas! the confusion incidental to fever had already attacked his +brain; and, though he felt the necessity of penitence and prayer, it was +no longer in his power to collect his wandering thoughts, so as to raise +a single petition to the Throne of Mercy. He was sensible that he was on +the brink of eternity; yet the minutes passed rapidly away, leaving his +mind in a state between reason and delirium, yet conscious of his +danger, and the importance of that time which was ebbing from him for +ever. + +His bodily sufferings, too, were dreadful. Burning with fever, he had no +means of quenching his thirst--he had long since drained the last drop +from the shell, and could not replenish it; for the next morning saw him +raving in delirium, or sunk in long and death-like fits of stupor, from +which his faithful Neptune strove in vain to arouse him by his caresses. + +Philip, in the mean time, had returned to his comfortable hut in the +Valley of Limes, and laid himself down to rest; but the image of Lord +Robert, pale and languid as he had seen him seated on the boatswain's +grave after their last altercation, pursued him when awake, and haunted +his slumbers when he closed his eyes in sleep. In the morning, Philip +sedulously pursued his useful employments, to divert these painful +thoughts. He had discovered on the other side of the island some grass, +the only natural production of the place, growing in long, dry, silky +tufts out of the clefts of the rocks. He had cut several bundles of this +grass, and braided it into a soft, thick mat; this mat he had fixed on a +frame-work which he had made, and formed it into a most comfortable +couch, rolling one end of the mat over for a pillow. He was so +completely occupied and pleased with this employment, that he did not +think of Lord Robert, till, on stretching his limbs upon this excellent +bed, he remembered how differently his unfortunate enemy would sleep +that night. He recollected that he had seen nothing of him in the Valley +of Limes that day; and when he recalled the reproaches and threats he +had used the day before, and reflected on Lord Robert's high spirit, he +thought it probable that he would endure every suffering, rather than +improve his condition by procuring anything from that spot. Of Neptune, +Philip had seen nothing since the preceding day, when he had once +visited the valley, and begged for a share of his dinner; for Lord +Robert had peevishly chidden the dog for his importunities; indeed, he +had nothing to give him, being too ill to go in search of food. Philip, +who was very fond of Neptune, and had been accustomed to caress him when +Lord Robert was out of sight, had fed him, and expected to see him +again, but he did not come; and Philip thought it likely that Lord +Robert was very ill; and he again bitterly regretted having used such +expressions as had driven him from the valley. + +The next day, Philip again visited the beach, where he had never been +before in the meridian heat of the day, and when he experienced the +blinding effects of the sunbeams, which soon occasioned him to feel, +though in a lesser degree, one of those headaches that had continually +tortured his more delicate rival, he wondered where Lord Robert could +find shelter from the intense heat. Actuated by more humane motives than +mere curiosity, he continued to pace the beach, determining not to +return till he had seen Lord Robert. For some time he pursued his +solitary walk, without discovering the object of his research. The sight +of the seamen's graves redoubled his pain of mind. When he remembered +the hopeless dejection visible in Lord Robert's face, so different from +his usual animated expression of countenance, and combined it with the +illness so apparent in his whole person, the thought crossed his mind, +that he might have expired without a human creature near him. Philip +shuddered as this dreadful idea presented itself. He was busy with +self-accusing thoughts, when he paused before Lord Robert's cave, +wishing, yet unwilling, to enter, when Neptune sprang from the interior +part of it, and bounding round him, looked up wistfully in his face, +and returned, as if to invite him to follow. This Philip could not +prevail on himself to do. After waiting a few minutes, Neptune came +again; and, laying hold of his jacket with his teeth, endeavoured to +draw him into the cave--looking at him in such an imploring manner, that +Philip could no longer resist his entreaties, not withstanding the +reluctance he felt at intruding himself into Lord Robert's presence. + +On entering the cave he beheld the unfortunate young nobleman stretched +on the flinty floor in a stupor, so nearly resembling death, that Philip +started back in horror; and so much had the violence of the disorder +changed the appearance of his once beautiful countenance, that his +dearest friends would scarcely have recognised his convulsed and livid +features. On a second glance, Philip discovered that he still breathed, +but was unconscious of his approach. His heavy eyes, half closed and +fixed, had lost their expression of spirit and intelligence; his lips +appeared parched and burning; and his light brown ringlets hung in +disordered profusion, tangled and neglected, over his forehead. + +At this heart-rending sight, Philip, forgetful of the enmity that had +subsisted between him and the unhappy sufferer, turned away, and wept +bitterly. It was with feelings of the most bitter compunction he +recalled the altercation that had passed over the boatswain's +grave--particularly when he experienced the stifling closeness of the +cave, where he felt a difficulty in respiring; and reflected, that his +menaces had had the effect of driving Lord Robert from the only +temperate spot on the island. + +Philip could form some idea of his Lordship's sufferings, from the +recollection of an autumnal fever which had attacked him in his +childhood, and nearly brought him to the brink of the grave; he +remembered how much he had suffered from thirst, and the relief he had +felt from some ices which the Marchioness, Lord Robert's mother, had +brought him in her carriage. That noble lady had supplied him with the +most delicate fruits from the hothouse; and his mother believed that +these ices and fruits, which he took with so much avidity, had saved his +life. + +"And yet," said Philip, "wretch that I am! I see her darling son, +through the criminal indulgence of my resentful feelings towards him, +reduced to a state so deplorable, that, if his fond mother could behold +him, the sight would kill her." + +Here Philip was interrupted by Lord Robert's trying to articulate +something; but so very faint was the attempt, that it was not till he +had knelt down by his side, and raised his head on his arm, that he +could catch his imperfect accents, or distinguish what he intended to +express. Alas! it was but one word--"_Water!_" and that repeated +incessantly, in tones of agony, which Philip, some years after that +melancholy period, declared that night and day he strove in vain to +forget: and at that moment, when he beheld the parched and blackening +lips from which those sounds proceeded, they pierced his heart with an +anguish no tongue can describe. Fortunately he had a lime in his pocket, +with the juice of which he moistened the sufferer's mouth. Some minutes +elapsed before this appeared to have the least effect; but at length his +Lordship became conscious of the relief, and swallowed with avidity the +cooling fluid; and, opening his languid eyes, he turned them on Philip +with an expression of gratitude which overpaid him for his exertions. It +was evident, however, that he took him for some other person; for, +extending his arms towards him, he called him "Augustus! his beloved +brother!" and besought him in the most pathetic manner, "to remove him +from that horrid place, and to let him have a better bed than the hard +one on which he lay, which he assured him had sadly bruised his body." + +"Alas! poor sufferer!" said Philip, "if you knew to whom you were +addressing these tender names and moving petitions for assistance, your +proud spirit would make you reject my aid with scorn, and you would +perish rather than accept it." + +"However," continued he, "though I fear my help comes too late, yet you +shall at least die in a more comfortable place than this dreary cave." + +So saying, with some exertion of his strength, he raised the sufferer, +who had again relapsed into a state of insensibility, from the ground; +and, taking him in his arms, he proceeded to carry him to the Valley of +Limes. + +The touch of his dry and burning hand gave a sensation of pain to +Philip, when it came in contact with his own, and his head dropped in +powerless languor on his shoulder. Philip rested by the spring of water, +and bathed Lord Robert's face and hands in the cool element: this seemed +to revive him a little, and he drank eagerly from a shell of water which +Philip held to his burning lips. Had it not been for this refreshment, +the sufferer must have expired from thirst and exhaustion before they +arrived at the valley. As it was, he appeared to endure so much pain +from his exposure to the heat of the sun, that Philip uttered an +expression of thankfulness when he reached the shelter of the hut, and +laid his helpless burden on the couch of matting within it. But Lord +Robert had swooned from weakness and fatigue, and lay for many hours +without motion or sensation. + +Philip now busied himself in procuring a large supply both of water and +limes; and, mixing the juice of the limes in water, continually bathed +the sufferer's hands and temples with this refreshing liquid, watching +anxiously for returning life. The next day Lord Robert opened his eyes, +and expressed his surprise and pleasure at finding his condition so much +improved. But his reason was lost in delirium; he talked incessantly; +and, addressing Philip by the name of his brother, bestowed on him the +most endearing expressions of affection and described to him the +particulars of his illness, and all his dreadful privations, in a manner +pathetically minute. + +Philip, deeply interested, and forgetting that he spoke under the +influence of delirium, anxiously exclaimed, "Why did you not return to +the Valley of Limes?"--"Because," replied his Lordship, wholly +unconscious to whom he spoke, "I was ill and alone, and totally unable +to cope with that insolent Harley, who menaced me with his superior +strength." + +Philip started at hearing his name so mentioned; and Lord Robert +continued at intervals to speak on this subject, sometimes passionately +blaming himself; and at other times, with all the inconsistency of +delirium, bitterly complaining of Philip. + +Philip was greatly surprised and agitated, when, after much unconnected +wandering, Lord Robert said: "You, Augustus, always blamed me about that +Philip Harley, and said you knew him to be an estimable youth, and that +he had been hardly used through a prejudice I had against him; but what +would you have thought, Augustus, had you seen him clench his hand and +threaten your unhappy brother with personal ill-treatment, when he was +too ill to defend himself from his violence?" + +Philip blushed deeply when he heard this; for he remembered using this +gesture in the vehemence of his last wrathful address to Lord Robert; +and now that he found how ill he had been at that time, he felt doubly +ashamed of having suffered himself to be so transported by passion. + +From these self-reproaches he was again roused by Lord Robert's +speaking; but he had wandered to a different subject, and evidently +imagined himself at his own home, for he demanded "ices, peaches, and +strawberries," in a tone of feverish impatience; and Philip was at a +loss how to satisfy these cravings; but when at last Lord Robert +mentioned "grapes," Philip remembered those that were ripening on the +roof of the hut, and hastened to see if any were fit to eat; though his +patient, in a tone of displeasure, called him to return and send a +servant to execute his orders, for he did not choose to be left alone. +This was, however, unavoidable; and in a moment he returned with a rich +cluster, perfectly ripe. Lord Robert eagerly seized them, with an +exclamation of joy; but he was reduced to such a state of weakness, that +he was unable to convey them to his mouth; and resigning the cluster to +Philip, begged him to feed him. Philip obeyed, and attended to all his +whims with the greatest patience. At length, exhausted by the volubility +of delirium, he sank again into a death-like stupor, in which he lay, +without sense or motion, the whole of the night, and till the next day +was far advanced. + +Philip, who had continued to bathe his hands and face at intervals, +perceived by the painful motion of his lips that he wanted something to +drink. Philip raised his head, and supported it on his bosom, while he +held to his lips a shell full of the juice of limes and grapes. Lord +Robert drank this delicious beverage eagerly; then opening his eyes, +which Philip thought would never again have unclosed, he looked up in +his face, as if to thank him for the relief; and Philip saw by the +expression of wonder and astonishment in those eyes, so lately fixed and +rayless, that he knew him, and was no longer under the influence of +delirium. A deep crimson mounted to his pallid cheek, as he +said--"Harley, I don't deserve this kindness at _your_ hands:" and with +a deep sigh he again relapsed into insensibility. The sound of his +voice, and the manner in which he pronounced this short sentence, +thrilled to Philip's heart; and he hung over him with a tender interest, +watching the progress of his disorder with the most intense anxiety. +Philip had been little accustomed to witness illness: he had scarcely +ever watched by a sick-bed, with the exception of the illness of his +sister, who had died; but death had laid so gentle a hand on her, that +her decease rather resembled the withering of a flower than the passage +of a mortal to the grave: far different from the terrific advances of a +raging tropical fever, which brought Lord Robert, through stages of +exquisite suffering, nearly to the eve of dissolution. + +The sight of these sufferings had extinguished the last spark of +animosity in Philip's bosom; and it was with feelings nearly allied to +those with which he contemplated the death-bed of that beloved sister, +that he awaited the termination of Lord Robert's disorder. That it would +be fatal he doubted not, for he watched in vain for a second interval +of reason; but day after day passed, without the slightest intermission +of suffering; but the fever seemed rather to increase in violence, and +his Lordship's wanderings from reason assumed a more gloomy character, +in which the most unbounded expressions of self-reproach had a principal +share. No longer petulant and impatient, he appeared sunk in the deepest +despondency; and this turn in the disease alarmed Philip more than his +most extravagant fits of raving. It was truly awful to see a +fellow-creature, and, alas! a very erring one, on the brink of eternity, +without a ray of reason being granted him to prepare to meet his great +account. It then occurred to Philip, that many of the faults of which +the unhappy sufferer accused himself, had been occasioned by his own +pertinacity in throwing himself in his way, and provoking him to violent +conduct; by that means setting his fiery temper in a blaze, and causing +his evil passions to be ever uppermost, till they prompted him to commit +those injuries for which he now suffered the most bitter remorse. + +"Had I avoided him half as carefully as I sought him," exclaimed Philip, +"he would soon have forgotten an individual so much beneath his own +rank. I am accountable for many of his errors. True, he abused his power +on board the Diomede; but how have I behaved since our residence on this +island?" + +Philip pursued these self-accusing reflections as he was kneeling by +Lord Robert's side, and fanning him with the wing of a sea-fowl, which +Neptune had brought him the day before. The weather had been intensely +hot, and attended with thunder and lightning; but as the day declined, +some heavy rain descended, which had the effect of cooling the burning +earth. This salutary change produced an alteration in Lord Robert, who +opening his eyes, gazed round him in indescribable astonishment. At last +he said, "Where am I? How came I here?" + +"Be composed, my Lord," said Philip, much agitated; for he had long +dreaded the moment when Lord Robert would ask this question, and he had +meditated to address such words to him as would soothe his proud +feelings; but he found that he could not speak; he only regarded his +Lordship with a troubled countenance, dropping the feathers with which, +till now, he had continued to fan him. + +"Harley," said Lord Robert, the flush of fever fading to a deadly +paleness as he spoke, "I now comprehend my situation; cease to oppress +me with this unmerited kindness!" Then speaking in a less collected +manner: "No! it must not be! I have injured you too deeply! Go, leave +the oppressor to die alone; I saw _you_ suffering, and did not pity you; +and it is not fit for the merciless to receive mercy!" + +He turned away his face, and covered it with his emaciated hands; but +Philip knew, by the convulsive heaving of his bosom, that he was +weeping. Philip, from a feeling of delicacy, withdrew to a little +distance, to avoid the intrusive appearance of watching Lord Robert's +emotions; and he feared to increase his agitation, or offend his proud +spirit, by even offering a word of comfort. Yet his caution was +unnecessary, for the tears Lord Robert shed were not those of humbled +pride, but they were those of a broken and contrite spirit; they were +such tears as would occasion joy in Heaven, for they were those of true +penitence; and Lord Robert was not ashamed of indulging in them, neither +did he seek to conceal their traces from Philip, when he turned his eyes +towards him, and motioned him to approach. + +"Harley," said he, "can you forgive me?" + +"Ah, my Lord," said Philip, "I have to the full as much reason to ask +your forgiveness. We have both erred, from the indulgence of an +implacable temper; and if you repent of your offences as much as I have +done of my trespasses against you, we may both be, in future, more +acceptable in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, to whom 'hatred, malice, +and all uncharitableness,' are most offensive." + +"Harley," said his Lordship, "you are too generous! How could I so +cruelly persecute one capable of such noble conduct!" + +"Cease to accuse yourself, my Lord; you are too ill to continue this +agitating conversation," said Philip, observing Lord Robert look very +pale. + +"No," returned Lord Robert; "I feel my thoughts begin to grow confused! +This may be the last interval of reason vouchsafed me; and I would +willingly make use of it to assure you that I die at peace with you, and +blessing you; and may your last hours be sweetened by the remembrance of +your generous conduct to your enemy! When I am no more, save a lock of +my hair, and give it to my mother when you return to England, which you +will soon have an opportunity of doing. Tell her, if I wished to live, +it was to see her again, and to confess to my father that I had been +guilty of prejudicing him against you, Harley, by misrepresenting the +reason of our first quarrel, which was the cause of your being pressed. +Tell me, sincerely, can you forgive me for that, Harley?" + +"I can--I do!" replied Philip, approaching close to the couch; "and, in +proof that your Lordship exchanges forgiveness with me, give me your +hand." Lord Robert threw himself into his arms, and Philip felt his +tears wet his bosom. Yet at that moment each felt happier than he had +done for months before. But Philip became painfully anxious for the +invalid, the violence of whose emotions brought on a fresh access of +fever. He began again to talk wildly, and Philip strove in vain to +repress his ravings, till at length he sank into a death-like stupor, +scarcely giving any symptom of animation. + +Philip now entertained the greatest apprehensions for his Lordship's +life, and was himself surprised at the pain he felt at the idea of +losing him. He had evinced such full and noble contrition for his +errors, that Philip, forgetting all his injuries, wondered how he had +ever borne a hatred so bitter against him. That hatred had, indeed, +changed gradually into an affection so warm, that he was ready to impute +to his own faulty temper the blame of all that had passed. "And, oh!" +said he, as he hung over the couch where Lord Robert lay, apparently +unconscious of his presence, "who could think that I, who now watch so +anxiously every change of his pallid countenance, could once have taken +delight in provoking him to fight with me, and then took a savage +pleasure in aiming my blows at his face, and disfiguring his fine +features with the marks of my violence? Ruffian that I was!" + +Here a gentle pressure from the hand he held in his, convinced him that +Lord Robert was sensible, and had heard this soliloquy. Philip started +and coloured at this idea; and Lord Robert said in a faint voice:-- + +"If you, my dear Harley, so severely accuse yourself for what was a just +retaliation for my unfeeling arrogance, what must be my feelings of +self-condemnation for my conduct on board the Diomede, on which I cannot +think without agony?" + +"Never think of it again, my Lord," said Philip, to whom the appellation +of "dear Harley" had given a sensation of the greatest pleasure; "let me +beg you never again to agitate yourself by a painful remembrance of what +is past: I would endure much to see you well and happy." + +After some time, Philip succeeded in soothing his patient into some +degree of composure; and at length he had the satisfaction of seeing him +sink into a profound sleep. Then, being worn out with anxious watching +and fatigue, he threw himself on the ground, and enjoyed a calm and +refreshing slumber. When he awoke, it was about sunrise; and seeing Lord +Robert still asleep, he went out to get a supply of fruit and turtle. On +his return, he found Lord Robert awake and evidently better; for he was +returning the caresses of Neptune, who certainly had deserved his +fondness, for he had been almost as watchful and abstinent, and as +attentive to his master's sufferings, as Philip himself. The patient +extended his hand towards Philip as he entered, who hastened to him and +inquired tenderly, "how long he had been awake, and how he found +himself?" + +"Long enough to miss you, and well enough to thank you for your +unwearied kindness," said Lord Robert, with a melancholy smile. Philip +respectfully took the hand that was extended towards him; and, after +expressing his pleasure at seeing him so much recovered, began to busy +himself in procuring him all the comforts in his power. Lord Robert, for +the first time since his illness, was able to raise himself to wash his +hands and face in some water which Philip brought him in a turtle-shell. +After this grateful refreshment, he attempted with his pocket-comb to +disentangle his ruffled and matted hair; but his hands trembled so much +from weakness, that he sank exhausted on the couch. Philip took the comb +from his hands, and with great care and patience succeeded in smoothing +and reducing to their natural order these refractory ringlets. Lord +Robert repeatedly bade him give himself no farther trouble, but take his +knife and cut them off as well as he could. But Philip did not like to +spoil the fine hair which Lord Robert had once been proud of; and had +the Marchioness herself presided at this operation, it could not have +been more tenderly performed than by the hands of this young sailor; +and his patient appeared to derive great benefit from this attention to +his personal comforts, though reduced to a state of infantine weakness. + +Lord Robert now rapidly improved in health, and was soon enabled, with +the assistance of Philip's arm, to walk in the Valley of Limes in the +cool of the morning. Notwithstanding this improvement, however, Philip +continued to attend on him with the most assiduous care; and even when +he was in a state of convalescence, still performed for him all those +little offices which he knew Lord Robert had been accustomed to have +done for him by his attendants, though his Lordship did not wish to +consider himself entitled to such services in his present situation. + +One morning, Philip arose much earlier than usual. On his return from +the beach with a load of wreck, he was much surprised, not only to see +Lord Robert up and dressed, but employing himself in preparing the +breakfast. Philip threw down his load and ran to him, exclaiming, "Why, +my Lord, did you rise till I was ready to assist you to dress? And, +above all, why do you fatigue yourself by an employment so little +suitable to your rank?" + +"Hush! hush! my dear Harley," returned Lord Robert, laying his hand +playfully on Philip's lips. "Not a word about my useless rank now! +Remember _we are equals here_!" + +"Alas! my Lord," said Philip dejectedly, "I perceive you have not wholly +forgiven me, or you would not repeat my impertinence." + +"Which had much _truth_ in it, though I took it so ill at the time," +said Lord Robert, laughing. "However, Harley, without wishing to refer +to unpleasant occurrences, or designing to wound your feelings, (which I +should be a most ungrateful, cold-hearted fellow, were I to do,) I must +tell you, that I cannot consent to be attended on with the same +deference as if I were his Britannic Majesty in retirement,--at least, +while I have done nothing to merit such distinction." + +"Ah! my Lord," said Philip, "if you knew the pleasure which the +performance of these little services affords me, you would not wish to +deprive me of it: and, indeed, nothing but your absolute prohibition +shall prevent me from continuing them." + +"You are a noble-minded fellow, Harley; but it is not for me to talk of +prohibiting or commanding _here_, where I am your superior in +nothing----" + +"Again, my Lord!" said Philip, turning away. + +"Where," answered his Lordship, "I am your inferior in everything, and +am so much in love with your just way of thinking, and noble +independence, that I would willingly imitate both; and, my dear Philip, +you must not take it ill, if I refuse to live by your labours while I +have hands of my own. Tell me, Harley, will you accept such an awkward +fellow as I have proved myself to be, for your pupil?" + +"I cannot refuse you anything," said Philip; "but while you are so +debilitated from your long illness, you neither must nor shall do +anything to fatigue yourself." + +So saying, he proceeded to serve up the turtle which Lord Robert had +stewed for breakfast; reproaching him, as he did so, for demeaning +himself by performing the office of a cook. + +Lord Robert, laughing, told him that it encouraged him not a little in +his design of becoming useful, to observe that his last attempt of that +kind had succeeded so much better than his first. "But," continued he, +"perseverance overcomes all difficulties; and before long, I may become +as good a carpenter as I have this morning proved myself a cook." + +Philip shook his head, and looked grave. + +"So you doubt my abilities," continued Lord Robert, who would not +understand him; "now that is mortifying, Harley! But I forgive you, +considering that the circumstance of the three-legged stool could not +have impressed you with a very favourable opinion of my genius in such +matters." + +"Let me entreat your Lordship never to allude to my conduct in that +affair again," said Philip. + +"Now, on the contrary," returned Lord Robert gaily, "I have serious +thoughts of fetching the aforesaid stool from under the tree where I so +petulantly flung it; and of soliciting you to lend me that rule and saw, +which I so rudely refused when you would have permitted me to make use +of them to correct my blunders; which was very generous on your part, +considering how awkwardly I handled my only tool, and how easily I might +have injured yours." + +Philip was astonished at the ease and frankness with which Lord Robert +spoke of these circumstances, but again implored him not to allude to +the past. + +"Had you told me anything but the _truth_," replied Lord Robert, +"perhaps I might be excused if I repeated your remarks with displeasure. +But the lesson was too salutary to be forgotten. In common with many of +high birth, I have been too much accustomed to the language of flattery, +instead of that of truth and justice; till, forgetting the relative +obligations of society, and never checking the defects of my temper, I +was led to commit outrages on every one who did not yield a blind +submission to my whims. You, Harley, have opened my eyes to my faults; +and it will, in future, be my constant study to correct them, convinced, +as I now am, of the folly of trusting to rank and riches alone for +influence and consideration among my fellow-creatures." + +The day after this conversation, Lord Robert was well enough to +accompany Philip to the beach, to seek for turtles' eggs. In this search +they wandered to a different part of the island, and Lord Robert +discovered, at a little distance, something dark and large heaving +among the surf; he called Philip's attention to it, who soon got it on +shore; and they found it to be a chest belonging to some of the +unfortunate crew of the Diomede: it was heavy, but Philip soon carried +it to the hut. + +"What do you think it contains?" said Lord Robert, as Philip was forcing +the lid. + +"Tools, I hope," said Philip; "for the chest is weighty." And as he +spoke, he used so powerful an effort that the lid gave way to his force. + +"Not tools, but books!" exclaimed Lord Robert, highly delighted at the +sight which presented itself on Philip's removing the lid. Philip, +however, was disappointed. + +"Tools would have been of unspeakable service," said he, almost vexed at +the joy Lord Robert expressed at the sight of the books. + +"But these will be of infinitely more service," replied Lord Robert, +taking one of the books and turning to the title-page; but his lip +quivered as he read the name there written, which was "Lucius Cary." + +"Alas! poor Cary!" said he, in an altered tone of voice; "was it _your_ +chest that we thought ourselves so fortunate in finding, and that we +opened with such glee?" + +Philip, deeply affected, softly closed the lid: for they both were in +too melancholy a mood to continue to examine the contents of the chest; +nor was it till several days had passed that they assumed firmness +enough to open it again. + +They found in this chest a complete set of mathematical instruments, and +a small but valuable selection of books, fitting for the library of a +young officer; comprising the choicest works on navigation, astronomy, +and geometry; and two or three volumes of poetry and history. Some of +these were wetted by the sea-water, but Lord Robert carefully spread +them to dry. They also found a few changes of linen, an undress jacket +or two; and Lord Robert drew forth with much grief, from a corner of the +chest, Cary's flute. + +"This," said he, "should I ever be permitted to revisit my native +country, I will carry to England, and keep as long as I live, in memory +of our deceased friend." + +Though they were in sad want of linen and clothes, Lord Robert felt a +pang of regret when he saw Philip busy in removing his epaulet to Cary's +half-uniform jacket, and laying out for his use some of his shirts and +cravats, which, however, were of the greatest use to him, and highly +beneficial to his health. + +Soon after this, the rainy season set in, which is usual to these +latitudes; and now they found a source of delight and advantage in the +books which had been so opportunely thrown in their way. Lord Robert was +an accomplished young man; he had received a most superior education; +and was not only perfect in all acquirements befitting his rank, but had +made a considerable progress in those sciences which are necessary to be +known in order to obtain perfection in naval duties.[5] + +[Footnote 5: The sciences requisite to form a complete seaman are +beautifully described by Falconer:-- + + "Him Science taught by mystic lore to trace + The planets wheeling in eternal race; + To mark the ship in floating balance held, + By earth attracted, and by seas repelled; + Or point her devious track through climes unknown, + That leads to every shore, and every zone.-- + He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide, + And into motion charm the expanding tide; + While earth impetuous round her axle rolls, + Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles. + Light and attraction from their genial source, + He saw still wandering with diminish'd force; + While on the margin of declining day + Night's shadowy cone reluctant melts away." + +To add to this, + + "That never seaman more serenely brave + Led Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave." + + _The Shipwreck._ + +Perhaps it will be considered that Falconer's beautiful poem is too +generally known to give these extracts the charm of novelty; yet surely +every one who is acquainted with the talents and fate of Falconer, will +feel almost a tender emotion when his writings are alluded to, from a +combination of circumstances. His poem is very interesting, his +character and fate are still more so, and his memory is thrice hallowed +and will be immortalized by the beautiful allusion to his Shipwreck in +the "Pleasures of Hope."] + +This knowledge he was desirous of imparting to young Harley, who, at +Lord Roberts earnest request, became his pupil in geometry and nautical +astronomy, and improved rapidly under his tuition. + +This was to Philip the happiest period of his life: he had received from +his father a good plain education, which he had improved by reading the +best books he could procure; but now he found the acquirement of higher +branches of knowledge still more delightful; and the life he led was so +calm and peaceful, and Lord Robert's society and manners were so +charming, that he tasted on this island pleasure such as he had never +before experienced. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the +event which Lord Robert anticipated with much joy, should give him pain +whenever he thought of it; namely, the arrival of some vessel from the +coast of Africa, on its way to Brazil, which would take them from the +island. + +The affection which he had formed for his high-born companion was now +far stronger than ever his animosity had been; and certainly Lord Robert +had, since his illness, conducted himself in a manner deserving even the +unbounded attachment which his lowly but warm-hearted friend testified +towards him. No longer proud and irritable, his behaviour was gentle, +mild, and considerate; his manners, always elegant and polished, +possessed a charm altogether irresistible; and his conversation, pure, +refined, and chiefly directed to intellectual subjects, was so +delightful, that Philip thought his society would unfit him for any +other. + +As Philip had passed the greater part of his life in seclusion from +those of his own age and station, his manners and mind were free from +the taint which impure and corrupt society often gives; and when he was +by chance thrown in contact with his equals, he shrunk with horror from +vice and coarseness; and preferred, in his leisure hours, to nurse and +amuse his suffering sister, or to pore over Baker's Chronicle, Drayton's +Polyolbion, or Sir Walter Raleigh's History of the World, (which ancient +treasures his father possessed,) to the most enlivening games of quoits +or foot-ball. + +The taste he had formed for mental pursuits since he had been on the +island, brought with it a painful consciousness of the difference +between Lord Robert's rank and his own; and he thought it very +improbable, that so elegant and accomplished a young man could ever +condescend to form a friendship with him, though he might retain a +grateful sense of the assistance which he had subsequently rendered him. + +Philip had made a pretty latticed porch to the hut, and trained the vine +over it, that Lord Robert might enjoy the cool of the evening, without +being exposed to the noxious effect of the dews. Here then, after +spending the day in study or useful employment, they passed the evening, +conversing together, or examining the starry heavens, and noting +constellations, which appear very different from those of Europe. +Sometimes, Lord Robert would play on Cary's flute; but though it was +enchanting to listen to this music in the stillness of a moonlight +evening, when all the fire-flies in the island were collected in this +only spot of verdure, and were blazing round them, and everything above +and around accorded so well with these sweet sounds, yet it was +forbidden pleasure; for playing on the flute was injurious to Lord +Robert's health; and Philip, though he loved music, and this music most +of all, would often take the flute almost by force from the hands of his +noble friend, who, being a fine performer, and much attached to music, +never knew how to resign it in prudent time. + +The happiness Philip now enjoyed was only interrupted by the pain he +felt, whenever the probability was mentioned of their leaving the +island. Lord Robert expected that, when certain winds set in, some +vessel or other would touch at the island for water or turtle; and +Philip guessed, that when they were taken from their present abode, this +delightful intercourse would cease, and Lord Robert would be for ever +separated from him by the forms of society. This made him feel almost +pettish when he found that, when these winds commenced, Lord Robert +left him for hours, and passed his time leaning against the cross on the +hill, making observations through his perspective-glass; while Philip +remained in the valley, employing himself for their mutual benefit. But +though he felt almost angry with Lord Robert for depriving him so much +of his company, yet he never presumed to remonstrate with him on this or +any other subject; and when he saw him approach the valley on his +return, he would forget all his repinings, and hasten to meet him, and +offer his arm for his support, if he seemed faint or fatigued. It is not +surprising that Lord Robert returned this tender affection with the +utmost regard. He now felt the gratifying conviction, that it was not to +the superiority of his rank and power, but to his virtues, his +acquirements, and charming manners, that he owed his influence over the +heart of one on whom his situation in life had made no impression, and +who had denied him the slightest respect till he had proved himself +deserving of it; and he could not help remarking, that he had never, +when in the height of his pride and power, received half the real +deference, or marks of delicate attention, which had been shown him +since his residence on the island, by his only companion and former +enemy, Philip Harley. + +One afternoon, as Philip was employing himself in the valley, and had +begun to wonder at the long absence of his noble companion, Lord Robert +rushed into the hut, and, with an animation of manner Philip had not +observed in him for a long time, said: "Joy! joy! my dear Harley! I have +just seen a sail, and have hastened home to bring you the delightful +news." + +"Is that all?" said Philip in a melancholy tone. + +"No, not all," replied Lord Robert: "for I climbed to the top of the +cross, and hoisted my handkerchief as a signal of distress. And the lads +are now making the island! And we shall see Old England again, my boy!" + +But Philip Harley did not seem to participate in his delight; for he +looked grave and thoughtful. + +"How now!" said Lord Robert; "what are these dismal looks for? Shall you +be sorry to see your home again? Or does the name of England recall to +your remembrance some of my former exploits? Or do you think, if I +found myself on board ship once more, I should feel the temptation of +authority, and play the tyrant again?" + +"No," replied Philip, sighing; "you do me great injustice if you suppose +that I can for a moment form such an opinion of your Lordship." + +"My Lordship, too! Very formal, Mr. Harley!--But, Philip, my dear +fellow, tell me, what is the matter with you?" + +Philip did not speak. + +"Nay, then, Harley," said Lord Robert, taking both his hands, "I shall +soon begin to think that you are willing to consider our present amity +only in the light of a truce, occasioned by the breaking out of a +pestilence; and that you are anxious to recommence hostilities as soon +as an opportunity offers. But tell me, without more ado, are you +offended with me?" + +"Your Lordship is very gay this afternoon," said Philip gravely. "But I +hope I have seen my own errors in too strong a light, and am too well +convinced of my own insignificance, ever to take offence at anything +done by a person of _your_ rank and consequence." + +Lord Robert now appeared much wounded, and asked him seriously, what +was the reason of this strange behaviour; and Philip, who could not bear +the idea of giving him pain, replied-- + +"How can I share in your joy at the prospect of leaving the island, when +that event will separate us for ever?" + +"How so?" said Lord Robert, laughing. "To be sure, you don't mean to +remain here playing Robinson Crusoe or the Hermit Quarl, by yourself?" + +"No," said Philip sorrowfully, "that is not my intention; though, +perhaps, the wisest thing I could do. But the forms of society, you well +know, will as effectually separate us, as if I were to remain here." + +Lord Robert's eyes brightened with more than usual animation, as he +exclaimed-- + +"Is that all?--Am I, then, so dear to you, Harley?" + +The tears glistened in Philip's eyes; and Lord Robert pressing his hand, +cried, "Courage, man! We shall find a way to satisfy the most precise on +the article of etiquette?" + +So saying, he hastened to the beach; where he had the satisfaction of +seeing the boat rowing rapidly towards the shore. + +They found that the vessel was a Portuguese merchant ship; and from the +knowledge Lord Robert possessed of Spanish, he had no difficulty in +making himself understood by the mariners, who agreed to take him to the +port of Rio de Janeiro, to which place they were bound; for they only +landed to obtain a fresh supply of water. + +As our adventurers were now to leave the island in a few hours, Philip +bade a mournful adieu to the hut, where he had passed so many happy +hours, and conveyed their little property to the beach; while Lord +Robert amused himself by engraving the following inscription on the +cross. + +"On the 3rd of June, 17--, Lieutenant Lord Robert Summers, and Philip +Harley, of his Britannic Majesty's ship of war the Diomede, were by the +especial mercy of God preserved from the fury of the waves, and +permitted to land safely on this island; where, after enduring many +hardships, they became reconciled to their situation, and passed six +months in a state of great happiness, and were at last removed by the +Brazilian ship St. Sebastian." + +Their voyage from the island (to which Lord Robert gave the name of the +isle of Probation) was short and prosperous; and in less time than they +could have expected, they entered the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. Here +they began to feel some of the difficulties of their situation. Lord +Robert had a few pieces of gold about him; but when they made the coast +of Brazil, the Portuguese master did not fail to make such a demand on +the young Englishman, as reduced his whole stock to half a moidore and a +few pieces of silver; and these the sailors, on some pretence or other, +contrived to extort from him; for being of a generous temper, and always +accustomed to have money at command, his Lordship knew not how to refuse +it, even when the prospect of want appeared before him. Philip thought +him imprudent, and asked how he proposed reaching England? + +"Oh," returned he, in a careless, light-hearted manner, "we are both +able seamen; and, at the worst, we can work our passage in the first +Portuguese vessel that sails for Lisbon: and then, you know, my lad, we +are within a stone's throw of Old England." + +"You work your passage to Europe!" said Philip, regarding him with a +look of astonishment. "Does your Lordship mean to degrade your rank and +talents by taking the berth of a common seaman?" + +"Once, perhaps, I might have been alarmed at such an idea," said Lord +Robert; "but since my residence on the Island of Probation, I have +learnt the useful lesson, that nothing is really disgraceful but vice; +and that no useful employment can degrade a man, let his rank be what it +may, if there is an actual necessity for his taking it upon him. Of +course, I, Lord Robert Summers, who have the honour to hold the rank of +Lieutenant in his Majesty's navy, would not, willingly take upon myself +the post of a common sailor in the Portuguese service: but will not that +be less disgraceful than applying to some convent here for relief, and +living lazily on their charity till some English ship of war arrives, +whose officers, even if they disbelieve my noble birth, may, by +cross-questioning me, contrive to recognise my rank on the navy-list?" + +"But surely it was thoughtless of your Lordship to give away your last +shilling to those imposing fellows, when you have no means of procuring +necessaries in a foreign land; and, you know, your health is still +delicate." + +Lord Robert, laughing, still defended his extravagance, pretending that +it was not for the honour of the British navy for a young officer who +wore an epaulet and the remains of a white lapel, to appear shabby to +the crew of a foreign vessel, or behave as if a handful of silver was of +the least consequence to him. + +"But," continued he, "I never felt the want of money enough to know the +value of it. Perhaps, as there is no infliction of Providence sent in +vain, I may, in the privations which I shall most likely suffer in the +Brazils, be cured of my bad habit of thoughtless extravagance; and if I +can contrive to leave one of my follies at every port we touch at in our +return, I may chance to arrive at home a very perfect character." + +In the afternoon, the vessel approached the town; and Lord Robert's +attention was attracted by the appearance of a fine ship lying in the +King's dock: slapping Philip's shoulder, he exclaimed-- + +"Look at that vessel, Harley! I protest, if her rigging were not +evidently Portuguese, I should declare it was our old friend the +Diomede! But, alas! that brave bark foundered in the heavy gale which we +escaped." + +Philip did not perceive the resemblance, and tried in vain to restrain +the impatient tone of authority in which Lord Robert ordered the +Portuguese sailors to lower a boat, and row him and his friend alongside +the ship of war, which lay in the wet dock. "If these fellows knew the +state of your Lordship's purse, they would not move their oars quite so +nimbly," said Philip, when they were in the boat; "neither would they +pay such regard to your impatient gestures to quicken their motions; and +you might chance to get thrown into the sea, in return for your +vociferating, in Spanish, that they are the laziest dogs you ever met +with." + +"But, Philip, how came you, who are not quite so familiar in the Spanish +terms of abuse as I am, to guess what I was saying to them?" + +"Truly, my Lord," said Philip, "I guessed, by your tone and manner, that +you were not addressing the most polite expressions to them: and it +would perhaps be prudent to remember, that you are not _their_ +commanding officer; therefore, they are not obliged to put up with any +incivility." + +"True, Philip; I certainly have no right to abuse them; and I perceive I +have already violated one of my good resolutions, by giving way to my +usual intemperance of tongue, on a very slight occasion. Tell me, +Harley, were you not astonished, after all I had determined on that +subject, to see me swaggering and ordering about me, in the boat, quite +in my old way?" + +"No, my Lord," said Philip drily; "for I have always heard that good +resolutions are much easier made than adhered to." + +"Well, well! my dear Harley, I must exert all my strength of mind to +adhere to mine, though I own this is but a bad beginning." + +As he spoke, they approached near enough to the vessel to distinguish +her build by the naked eye. + +"It is a British ship of the line, though Portuguese rigged!" exclaimed +Lord Robert, starting up in the boat. + +"It is the Diomede itself!" said Philip, dropping Lord Robert's +perspective-glass into the water, through which he had been examining +the figure-head. + +The sight of this vessel brought a thousand agonizing remembrances to +Philip's mind; and he sank on one of the benches, almost annoyed by the +ardent Lord Robert; who, as they dashed up the river, besought the +rowers in the most moving Spanish he could command, to redouble their +speed. He laughed and wept by turns; till the men, shrugging their +shoulders, protested by all their saints that the young officer was the +maddest Englishman they ever had the honour of rowing. + +"Oh, my beloved uncle! My heroic commander! Shall I see you again?" +exclaimed Lord Robert, as the sailors rested on their oars under the +stern of the vessel: and, in another moment, he stood on the deck of the +Diomede, to the inexpressible astonishment of her officers and crew. + +The bustle on deck brought Sir Henry Stanley to the scene of action; as +he advanced, he was struck by the exclamations of-- + +"Can it be?--Is it possible?" On his nearer approach, he could scarcely +credit the evidence of his own eyes, when he beheld his lost nephew; +altered, it is true, from the hardships he had undergone; for he looked +pale and thin, and rather consumptive, and was grown considerably +taller. He was leaning on the arm of Philip Harley, his former enemy, +who now seemed to regard him with the greatest affection. Sir Henry, +like the rest of the officers and crew, was inclined to doubt the +reality of what he saw; when his impetuous nephew, catching a glimpse of +his majestic figure, broke through the group that surrounded him, and, +throwing himself into his arms, buried his head in his bosom, and sobbed +aloud. Sir Henry, who fondly loved this young man, and had mourned his +loss as for that of an only son, now felt himself overpowered by his joy +at so unexpectedly beholding him. + +"Look up, my dear boy!" he said, at length recovering his firmness. +"Look up, and let me once more behold that beloved face, which I never +thought to have seen again." + +Lord Robert raised his head, and smiled through his tears on his uncle; +but again, yielding to the joy of seeing that dear friend alive, he +concealed his face on Sir Henry's shoulder, and wept passionately. Sir +Henry was at last distressed by his agitation, and forced himself to +chide him for giving way to such an excessive indulgence of his +feelings. + +"Compose yourself, my dear boy!" said he; "or you will give these +gentlemen reason to suspect that it is one of your sisters, who has +taken it into her head to assume the appearance of my brave young +lieutenant." + +Lord Robert was ashamed of giving way to his emotions so publicly; till, +having in some degree collected himself, he looked in his uncle's face, +and was pleased to find that his eyes were full of tears, +notwithstanding the reproof he had just administered to him. + +"And now," said Sir Henry, "I hope that you will consider how powerfully +the curiosity of all present is excited, to learn by what means you have +been enabled to appear among us alive and well, when we thought we saw +you perish before our eyes, without being able to render you any +assistance, and after we had deeply deplored your loss." + +Lord Robert stepped back to the spot where he had left Philip, and +taking him by the arm, led him to his uncle. + +"For this interview," said he, "under the especial providence of God, +you must thank my kind preserver, the brave and noble-minded Harley." + +Sir Henry graciously presented his hand to Philip, who respectfully +pressed it to his lips in silence. + +"Ah, my dear uncle," said Lord Robert, in reply to Sir Henry's +commendations and grateful expressions to Philip for his care of his +nephew, "you know not half his merit yet; nor are you aware," said he, +lowering his voice, "of half my unworthiness." + +"Aware of your unworthiness! No, my dear boy--that is what I hope I +shall never be," said Sir Henry. + +"I fear," said Lord Robert, "you will have reason to blush for your +nephew soon; for I must summon courage to relate to you a story which +will, I fear, deprive me of your affection and esteem for ever." + +"I shall be sorry to hear anything that is likely to have such effects," +said Sir Henry, gravely: and when he looked from him to Philip Harley, +and observed his visible agitation, and remembered the bitter hatred +that once subsisted between them, he was convinced that Lord Robert had +something to communicate respecting his conduct to the young mutineer, +not much to his own credit. + +Lord Robert was roused from his meditation by the importunities of the +boatmen who had rowed him to the ship; and it was quite with the air of +his former gay liberality that he flung into their boat a handful of +money he had obtained from his uncle for that purpose. + +The appearance of Lieutenant Cary on deck occasioned a great surprise +to the young friends. + +He was absent on shore when they arrived; and they were the more +delighted at finding him alive, from the grief they had felt at his +supposed loss. Lord Robert told him the manner in which they had found +the chest containing his books, flute, and other property. + +"Ah! my poor books!" said Cary: "the chest was weighty; and, in the +extremity to which we were reduced, after you left the ship, we threw it +overboard, in common with everything else that was likely to lighten the +ship." + +"And pray, how came my poor Neptune overboard? Did you commit him to the +mercy of the waves in order to lighten the ship?" said Lord Robert, +patting the faithful creature as he spoke. + +"What became of Neptune we never knew," said Cary; "but we supposed that +he went away with the pinnace; for in the height of our distress, when +all on board expected the Diomede to founder every minute, the +boatswain, with one midshipman, and two or three sailors, contrived to +lower the pinnace and steal away, selfishly leaving their commander and +messmates to endure the worst; and, most likely, Neptune, being uneasy +at missing his master, jumped into the boat and went with them." + +"They met with a fitting reward for their cowardly desertion," said Lord +Robert; "for Neptune was the only creature that reached the island with +life: some of the bodies we found and buried. But how came the ship to +reach the shore of Brazil?" + +"By the mercy of Heaven, we met some Brazilian proas, which took us on +board, and the Diomede in tow; and, having favourable winds and a smooth +sea, we contrived to get the hulk into the King's dock at Rio de +Janeiro; where, being a fine new ship, she was found worth repairing and +refitting; and here we have been ever since, the Portuguese workmen +being very slow in their operations."[6] + +[Footnote 6: Commodore Byron found some repairs necessary at Rio de +Janeiro.--"We had six Portuguese caulkers to assist our carpenters, who +were paid at the rate of 6s. per diem; though it is certain an English +caulker could do as much in one day as they did in three; but, though +slow and inactive, they perform their work very effectually." + +BYRON'S _Voyage_.] + +It was not till late that day that Lord Robert summoned courage enough +to disclose to his uncle the whole particulars of his conduct towards +young Harley. It was not without reason that he dreaded the manner in +which Sir Henry would receive this explanation; for he was a man of the +purest honour himself, and was likely to consider with some severity the +misrepresentation his nephew had made to his father, which occasioned +Philip's being removed from his home. + +Lord Robert, when a child, had been treated with ruinous indulgence by +his fond parents, by whom his most extravagant whims were considered as +a law to which the whole establishment must submit. Sir Henry Stanley +was the only person who had ever attempted the arduous but necessary +task of controlling Lord Robert; although, with the self-delusion not +uncommon in such cases, his noble parents did not scruple to attribute +their son's violent temper and petulant conduct when on shore, to his +uncle's indulgence. But if there was a man in the world whom Lord Robert +feared, it was Sir Henry; yet, at the same time, he was so unerringly +just and judicious, that his nephew loved him with the most ardent +affection, and was used to consider the displeasure of his uncle as the +most serious misfortune that could befal him: and such was the good +effect this salutary awe had on him, when on board ship, that Sir Henry +was not a little proud of his officer-like conduct, never having had +occasion to frown on him for any breach of duty or immorality. Lord +Robert knew the high place he held in his uncle's opinion, and the idea +of forfeiting his esteem was dreadful. True, he was not actually under +the necessity of making a confession so mortifying. Sir Henry need never +know the misrepresentation he had made to his father:--a single word to +that fond parent would not only prevail on him to bury the whole in +oblivion, but induce him to devise excuses to cover his faults and +reconcile him to himself. From Harley, he knew, he need feel no fear of +its being divulged;--that generous friend would, he was assured, take +the whole blame of what had passed on himself to screen him from +reproach. + +Lord Robert was at first strangely tempted to take these measures, and +conceal the worst part of his conduct from his revered commander; but +his better principles obtained the victory in the struggle, and, +in a private conference with his uncle, he revealed every +circumstance,--beginning with his shooting Philip's dog, and relating +all that had happened between them till their reconciliation and +friendship on the Isle of Probation. And so severely did he blame +himself that Sir Henry, moved by his candour, would not increase his +mental sufferings by any reprimands. + +Lord Robert was in earnest conference with his uncle that evening and +the next morning; during which time Philip had resumed his duties on +board: but he was restless and unhappy; for he felt his separation from +Lord Robert had now commenced, and he conceived he should never more +enjoy the pleasure of his society. In this frame of mind, he looked back +with the most painful regret to their residence on the island, and the +delightful hours he had spent with his noble friend in the acquirement +of knowledge. In the midst of these repinings, he received a summons to +Lord Robert's cabin. He did not find any one there; but was told by his +conductor to wait till his Lordship returned from dining with his uncle. +At last, Philip heard a quick and well-known step at the door; and Lord +Robert rushed in with more than his usual impetuosity, and, seizing +Philip by the hand, he exclaimed: + +"Joy, my dear Harley! My noble uncle has forgiven me! For I have +confessed everything that has passed between us; and so highly does he +approve of your generous conduct towards me, that he has granted my +earnest request of placing you on the quarter-deck of the Diomede, where +you are now privileged to appear with the other midshipmen."--So saying, +he beckoned to his servant who followed him, carrying a full-dress +midshipman's uniform. He superintended himself the pleasing task of +arraying his friend in this dress; and buckled on the dirk with his own +hands, which was the same he had himself worn when a midshipman. When +all was complete, he surveyed Philip from head to foot with great +satisfaction; and assured him that the dress became him as well as if he +had been born a gentleman; and, with much animation, expressed his +conviction that he would, after serving his due time as a naval cadet, +arrive at the dignity of an epaulet, and fill in progression the highest +situations in the navy, to which, he was convinced, he would prove an +honour. + +The change was so sudden, that it almost took from Philip the power of +expressing his joy. Lord Robert could not help smiling to find that he +had, for once, overcome that firmness for which Philip generally was +distinguished. His agitation was painful in the extreme; but when he did +at length speak, it was with a vehemence of gratitude, which showed Lord +Robert the dominion he now possessed over the once stubborn and haughty +mind of Philip Harley. "It is not," said he, wringing Lord Robert's hand +as he spoke, "because I am proud and ambitious, and you have raised me +from my lowly rank, and given me an opportunity of distinguishing +myself--this is, indeed, much,--but it is not that which makes my heart +overflow with joy: it is the consciousness that I shall now sometimes be +suffered to be near you, and that my humble situation will not deprive +me of your friendship." + +"Now, my dear friend," said Lord Robert, "I must leave you, though +against my wishes: as the barge is waiting to convey my uncle on shore, +to spend two days with the Governor, and it is his pleasure that I shall +attend him. You will, in the mean time, find sufficient amusement, I +doubt not, among your brother officers." As he said this, he gaily +withdrew. Harley pursued his retreating figure with his eyes, as he +followed Sir Henry Stanley and Lieutenant Cary into the splendid +state-barge, which the Portuguese Governor had sent to convey them on +shore. As the sun shone brightly on the gilded vessel, and her silken +streamers fluttered in the breeze, it recalled to his mind the +remembrance of the Ariel; and he recollected with shame his lawless +exploit of sailing in that fairy frigate, in defiance of her owner, and +in his very sight. + +"Well might Lord Robert have been enraged at my repeated trespasses!" +thought he: and, as he looked down on his new uniform, and considered +how engagingly and delicately his noble friend had behaved in presenting +it to him, he wondered how he could ever have appeared so overbearing +and arrogant. Yet Philip was deceived when, in the warmth of his +affection, he thought it must have been his own prejudices that made +Lord Robert appear to him at one time so cruel and tyrannical. It was +from the trials experienced in adversity, that he had learned to correct +his faults and follies: yet it is but justice to Lord Robert to say, +that he never would have committed such outrages, had not Philip studied +modes of insult and provocation sufficient to have irritated a much +calmer spirit, and which finally drew upon Philip severe punishment, and +on Lord Robert proportionable remorse and suffering. + +When Philip presented himself on the quarter-deck, he had the +mortification to perceive a general coldness and disapprobation among +the officers, very painful to one of his quick feelings and high spirit; +and he attributed this contempt to his low birth. Perhaps many of them +were not without prejudice on that subject; but, in addition to this, +his former mutinous conduct had not failed to make a very ill impression +on the minds of these gentlemen; and this conduct they now appeared to +remember, so far as to render the time of Lord Robert's absence very +uncomfortable, and to deprive Philip of most of the pleasure his new +rank had given him. When Lord Robert returned, he found his friend, whom +he expected to have seen full of joy and spirits, walking by himself in +a very melancholy mood. To his anxious inquiries respecting the reason +of his dejection, he replied, by relating the various slights which he +had experienced since his departure. + +"I went on deck with a heart full of goodwill to every one," added he; +"and expecting to find every one there noble, generous, and refined, +like yourself. But see how they have treated me!" + +"For which, my young friend, you have no one to blame but yourself," +observed Lieutenant Cary, who had returned with Lord Robert, and +listened to Philip with some interest. Philip looked at him with +surprise, but he continued: + +"You perhaps forget, but they doubtless remember, that at the time you +thought proper to act the part of a mutineer, among the other +accomplishments of that character, you had a most provoking tongue; and +there is not one of these gentlemen but has had a specimen of your +sarcastic repartees, addressed to them, while in the lawful exercise of +the authority with which their country has intrusted them. And they now +think fit to show how much they disapprove of your former conduct when +on board the Diomede, and that they do not think one worthy to command +who formerly would not obey." + +Philip blushed deeply as he assented to the justice of these +observations; but Lord Robert, who was highly incensed at the conduct of +the officers, exclaimed, with no little of his usual impetuosity, +"Nonsense! Cary; they must have seen that I only was to blame for his +behaviour then." + +"Perhaps, as far as related to the blow which he struck, you were," +replied Cary; "and during your residence at the island, to which you +have given so _appropriate_ a name, it appears he completely satisfied +you for all his offences, and forgave you for yours. But, remember, the +other officers who had given him no reasonable cause of offence, are not +obliged to look over all the saucy speeches he addressed to them, +because a reconciliation has taken place between you." + +"But when they know all his noble conduct to me, they must and shall +treat him with respect!" replied Lord Robert; and, drawing Philip's arm +through his, he advanced towards the group of officers, who had +withdrawn to a different part of the deck, and were discussing the +matter among themselves. + +"Gentlemen," said he, "give me leave to present to you my friend, Mr. +Harley; for whose former faults I own myself more than answerable. He +is sensible that you all have had cause to be offended with him at +different times; but he trusts that you will have reason in future to +forget the rashness of the pressed man in the merits of the midshipman; +to which rank our noble captain, in reward of his valour in the last +engagement, has thought proper to promote him. I say nothing of his +admirable conduct to myself; though, I trust, that, with all my faults, +his having been the means of saving my life will be a recommendation to +my brother officers; and I should hope that his lowly birth will not be +remembered to his prejudice by officers of the British navy, whose boast +it is that some of its proudest ornaments[7] have risen from before the +mast." + +[Footnote 7: Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Admiral Hopson, Admiral Campbell, Sir +Samuel Cornish, and many other gallant gentlemen, rose from the lowest +ranks.] + +A murmur of applause followed this speech, which was seconded by +Lieutenant Cary's presenting his hand to young Harley; and his example +was followed by all the gentlemen present, who, with the frankness of +British officers, offered him successively their congratulations on his +promotion. + +"Spoken like yourselves, my gallant friends!" exclaimed Lord Robert, +warmly shaking hands with his brother officers; "it shall never be said +by our enemies, that valour and merit were slighted in the British navy, +unless recommended by the adventitious advantages of rank or riches in +their possessor." + +Lord Robert knew the way to the hearts of his brave friends. To their +good feelings he did not appeal in vain; and Philip never again had +reason to complain of the least slight or disregard from any officer on +board the Diomede; and never till that hour had Lord Robert tasted how +truly delightful is the possession of power, when the influence which +more or less it holds in society is applied to a noble purpose; and +Philip Harley, by his steady attention to his duty, and his officer-like +and gallant conduct in his new rank, speedily erased from the minds of +these gentlemen his former mutinous and violent behaviour, and obtained +the highest praise from his just and discriminating commander. How proud +was Philip--how happy Lord Robert, whenever Sir Henry Stanley expressed +his approbation at this conduct! There never was a friendship more warm +or sincere than that which now subsisted between the two former +enemies, who used often to relate their mutual sufferings, as a warning +of the folly of answering a provocation, or retaliating an injury. + +Before they sailed from Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry Stanley generously +presented Philip with every equipment necessary for his appearance as a +gentleman; and, during the voyage home, he was the friend, companion, +and pupil of Lord Robert, who delighted to impart to him every +accomplishment and took the greatest pleasure in witnessing the +development of his naturally fine talents. + +When the Diomede approached the shores of England, Philip again began to +be fearful lest the high rank of Lord Robert should separate them; but +he was agreeably surprised, when, on their landing, Lord Robert insisted +on his taking a place in the equipage that conveyed him to Lancashire; +and, though he permitted Philip to visit first the lowly home of his +sorrowing parents, yet he and his noble father came for him the next +day, and invited him to the Hall, where he shared in all the unbounded +affection and caresses which the Marquis and Marchioness bestowed on +their noble son. + +On the first arrival of the Diomede at Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry +Stanley, supposing he had seen his nephew and Philip Harley perish, +wrote to England an account of the dreadful loss, which was received +both in the cottage and at the Hall with the deepest affliction. Since +that time, no communication had been received; but as the Diomede was +nearly ready to sail when the young friends arrived from the island, +they themselves brought the first intelligence to England of their +safety and welfare. They found each family in deep mourning, and plunged +in acute sorrow, which was changed into extravagant joy at their +unexpected arrival. The Marquis had become acquainted with most of the +circumstances that occasioned the enmity between his son and Philip +Harley, and had suffered much remorse, reproaching himself continually +for having torn the only surviving child from his parents to meet an +untimely death. From his natural goodness of heart, he greeted Philip's +safe return as that of another son, particularly when he found he was +indebted to him for the delight of seeing Lord Robert once again. + +The unlimited indulgence which the young friends met with at home might +have been attended with bad effects, had they remained long exposed to +its influence. But, in less than a month, they were again summoned to +resume their duties on board the Diomede, where Sir Henry had hoisted +his flag on his promotion to the rank of Admiral. + +Both the friends were possessed of those high talents which, when +combined with valour, seldom fail of obtaining great distinction; and so +nobly did they acquit themselves in their naval duties, that after many +years had witnessed their career of glory, and they had attained the +height of their profession, England never saw two braver admirals than +Lord Robert Summers and the Mutineer. + + + + +ARTHUR RIDLEY; + +OR, A + +VOYAGE TO NORWAY. + + +Among the springs and mosses of Alston Moor, near the source of the +South Tyne, are several little grass farms, on which are bred sheep and +black cattle by the industrious farmers of Cumberland and +Northumberland. In a most retired spot between the two counties, dwelt +old farmer Ridley and his grandson Arthur. The farmer was one of those +small landholders, who are called _statesmen_ in the dialect of the +northern counties; he had lost his wife, but she had left him two sons. +Walter Ridley, the elder, was the father of Arthur, and captain of a +merchant ship, that traded to the Baltic, from the port of Newcastle. He +had married a tradesman's daughter from that place, who died when little +Arthur was but two years old; and Walter, who knew not what to do with +so young a child, begged his father to take the boy, and bring him up at +the farm, till he was old enough to go to sea. About four years after, +Hugh Ridley, the farmer's younger son, was killed in the command of a +privateer, while he was endeavouring to take a French merchant ship. It +was greatly against the wishes of old Mr. Ridley that both his sons +followed so dangerous a profession: one of them, at least, he hoped +would have remained at home to assist in cultivating the peaceful little +farm which had descended from father to son for three centuries; but +both the sons made light of the wishes of their father; and Hugh +actually disobeyed his express commands, when he became captain of the +privateer; a mode of life agreeing well enough with his rude rough +habits, but which the good farmer abhorred and detested, justly +considering such an occupation to be but one degree better than the +pursuits of a pirate. This act of disobedience was soon punished; for +Hugh Ridley fell in the first engagement, leaving a young widow and a +little girl quite destitute. His death filled his father's heart with +sorrow, and he lost no time in fetching his widowed daughter-in-law and +her little Phoebe from Newcastle, and bringing them to his own quiet +home, to the great joy of young Arthur, who promised to love aunt Rachel +and cousin Phoebe better than his best pet lamb. Indeed, he said that +little Phoebe was much prettier than his finest cosset; besides, she +could answer all his questions, and ask him a thousand in return. They +passed their happy summers together, keeping the sheep and cows on +Alston Moor; in the winter, their good grandfather taught them to read +the Bible; and in the long evenings, Phoebe spun by her mother's side, +while Arthur learned to write and keep accounts. Arthur seldom saw his +father, who only came to the farm for a few hours, when he was on shore, +and then only laughed at his quiet habits and peaceful temper, slapped +him rudely on the back, and asked him whether he were not ashamed of +remaining lounging on shore like a coward and a milksop. + +But Arthur was no coward. True, his very fair complexion and placid +features gave him that gentle look which might well deceive careless +observers into the belief that any insult might be offered to him with +impunity; but there was a quiet, determined firmness in his +character,--a spirit which silently says, on the appearance of any +difficulty, "I will overcome it." On such minds success is a sure +attendant: they follow the toilsome path which leads to glory and +distinction with unwearied and steady steps, and often leave those of +bold demeanour and boasting tongues at a hopeless distance. + +Mr. Ridley's house was a very long way from the other farms; so when +Arthur and Phoebe drove their cattle to any distance from home, on the +moor, to seek fresh pasture, they were considered as strangers and +intruders, by the boys who kept the flocks of the neighbouring farmers. +Though somewhat older than Phoebe, Arthur was scarcely so tall as the +blooming girl; and she looked better able to be his protector, than to +receive assistance from him; but Phoebe knew well to whom to fly in +any danger, as her cousin would beat off the most ferocious dog, or the +biggest boy that strove to molest her. The farmers' sons in the +neighbourhood, when once they had tried the force of Arthur's well-knit +little arm, and felt the effects of his cool, determined courage, soon +retracted the mean opinion they had formed of his prowess; and left off +their favourite amusements of pelting his whitest lambs with mud, and +running after Phoebe, to pull the long flaxen ringlets which floated +from under her bonnet. + +At fourteen, Arthur Ridley thought himself the happiest boy in the +world; for his grandfather had a gold medal presented to him at an +agricultural meeting in the county, as a prize for showing there six +finer and fatter lambs than any one else could produce. Mr. Ridley told +every one that it was by the care and attention of his grandson, that +his flock throve so well; and the nobleman who held the meeting patted +Arthur's head, and told him he would be an honour to Cumberland, and +hoped that he should see him at the next sheep-shearing. Oh! how Arthur +loved the dear little lambs that had obtained for him such an honour! +And, all the way home, he secretly resolved never to be anything but a +farmer. + +We may suppose that Arthur anticipated the next June with great delight: +but, alas! the succeeding summer, though it bloomed fairer than ever, +brought no joy in its course to him; for it was in that lovely season +that his young heart was to know the first taste of sorrow. + +The spring set in cold and stormy, and it was a very bad lambing-time +for the ewes. Farmer Ridley was more anxious for their well-doing than +usual, and, in taking care of some of the early new-fallen lambs, he +caught a bad cold, attended with ague, which hung on him through the two +succeeding months; and before May came with all her flowers, even the +inexperienced eyes of his grandchildren read, in his sunken temples and +hollow cheeks, that the mortal foe within would soon rob them of their +venerable protector. Arthur's father had passed the winter in Hamburgh, +and was now expected home every day. Mr. Ridley wished much to behold +his son once more in this world; and he seemed to linger from hour to +hour, in the hope of seeing him again; till, about eventide, on the 2nd +of May, his last minutes drew to a close. "Arthur," he said, in a faint +voice. Arthur started from the place where he was leaning his head +against the casement, and approached the bed. + +"Arthur," he said, "your father is away; but tell him from me to take +care of your aunt Rachel and your cousin Phoebe: I have little to +leave them; for the farm is entailed on my eldest son, and must descend +to you. Tell him that my dying request is, that he will never suffer +them to want a home. They will find, in my oaken box, eighty guineas in +a yellow canvas bag, and my will, which directs the money to be divided +between them. And now, Arthur, my dear boy, you have ever been a dutiful +child to me; be the same to your father, whatever his commands may be, +and make it your rule to do your duty in that state of life unto which +it may please God to call you." + +The rising sun beamed on the bed of death; the venerable Mr. Ridley was +no more! And his sorrowing family were not to be consoled. The next +Sunday, they followed his remains to the grave. It was in vain that the +first day of early summer smiled on them, and that between every solemn +response of the burial service the blackbird sang loud and joyously; +their hearts no longer leaped to the sound once so full of delight. + +"Oh, Arthur," said Phoebe, as her tears fell on her black sleeve, "we +shall never see May-flowers again without mourning!" + +Three melancholy days passed on, before Arthur could resume his former +employments; but on the evening of the fourth, after he had folded his +sheep, he returned home, expecting to see aunt Rachel busy in preparing +the milk-porridge for their supper, and Phoebe watering the flowers, +or gathering salad in the garden. Phoebe was not there. He lifted the +latch of the door; his cousin was laying the cloth, and aunt Rachel was +roasting a fowl for supper. In the chimney-corner, and in his +grandfather's high-backed chair, sat his father. Walter Ridley's stern +features were softened by an expression of grief; he looked more kindly +on his son than he had ever done before; and Arthur thought that when +time had whitened his thick black hair, and dimmed the fire of his dark +eyes, he would resemble in person his lamented grandfather. + +Captain Ridley was very kind to his sister-in-law and niece; and when +Arthur told him the last request of his father, he patted Phoebe's +curly head, and said: + +"Never fear, pretty one, I'll take care of you and your mother; you +shall never want for a shilling, whilst Wat Ridley has one, if it's only +for the sake of poor brother Hugh. Your uncle Hugh was a brave fellow, +Arthur! I wish I could see some of his manly spirit in you, boy!--So, +sister Rachel, you shall live in the farm, and look after the kine and +sheep, and live as comfortably as you can. If you have a shiner or two +over and above at the end of the year for me, it's all very well; and if +you have not, I shan't complain; so don't starve your little one here. +And when Arthur and I come back, after roving the salt waters for five +or six years, mayhap we may stay at home for good; that is, if Phoebe +should like the lad for a husband, and he should fancy her." + +Rachel thanked her brother-in-law for his kindness towards her and her +child; but Arthur, though much pleased with his father's intentions in +respect to his cousin, did not like what he said about the sea. + +"Are you determined that I shall be a sailor?" he asked, in a +disconsolate voice. + +"Hark'e, boy," said Captain Ridley; "I am determined to make a man of +you. So don't let's have any puling and muling, but pluck up a good +heart: and if you be a coward, don't show it. I have bought a good tight +ship at Hamburgh, and have laid out all my earnings for these twenty +years, that I may be owner of the vessel I sail in; she is freighted +with a valuable cargo, and will soon sail for Norway; and you are to +have a berth in her: so say no more, for I have made up my mind on the +matter." + +Arthur submitted in silence; for he well remembered the last words of +his grandfather, and made up his mind to obey his father, let his will +be what it would; besides, he was very grateful for the kindness shown +to his aunt and cousin. "I shall leave them in the bosom of our peaceful +home," thought he; "so I must not displease my father, for he must have +a good heart to be so kind to them." + +In two days, Captain Ridley declared his intention of being off, as he +called it. In vain Rachel and Phoebe pleaded for time to make Arthur +some new shirts, and pack up different things that he would want during +a sea-voyage. + +"No, no," said Captain Ridley; "the boy has been made too much of a pet +and cosset already. I shall fit him out with check-shirts and blue +jackets at Newcastle. I'll make a brave fellow of him, I warrant you. +There's been too many parsons and farmers among the Ridleys. Nobody +would believe they came of the same bold fellows who used to ride the +border some three hundred years ago. Who ever heard of a boy making a +brave, manly character, who spent his time lounging at the tails of two +or three kine or sheep? So, Arthur, my boy, your aunt and cousin will +find you quite a different sort of a lad when you come home from your +first voyage." + +The next morning Arthur bade adieu, with a heavy heart, to the home he +loved so much; and kissed his good aunt and the weeping Phoebe, with +tears in his eyes; but he durst not cry, for fear of bringing on himself +the rough taunts of his father. Captain Ridley had been to the village +church-yard that morning, to visit the new-made grave of his father; he +there remembered that he had not always been the most dutiful of sons to +him who now slept beneath the green turf; and he felt half inclined to +fulfil what he knew was his departed father's wish, and suffer Arthur to +remain at home and look after the farm: but then he thought again, that +when he grew old, and left off going to sea, and came to live at home, +there would be no one to talk to him of seafaring matters: so he +hardened his heart against the tears and entreaties of Phoebe and her +mother, and took Arthur to Newcastle, where his ship, the Aurora, lay in +harbour, ready to sail. + +Arthur found this new mode of life even more disagreeable than he had +imagined; however, he made a resolution to go through all that was +required of him with uncomplaining patience, and to shrink from none of +the hardships of his situation. Neither his father nor any of the crew +were disposed to lighten his difficulties; all were on the watch to jeer +at the mistakes of the young landsman; not but they were a little +surprised to see him go through the first seasoning of a seafaring life +with so much spirit. The sailors, naturally generous and frank, in a +little time began to look on him with more favourable eyes, particularly +an old friend of his father's, who sailed in the Aurora as mate. + +"Well, Captain," said he one day, as he saw Arthur aloft, and going +through his duties with great adroitness, "what do you think of our +young seaman now? To my mind, he will turn out as brave a fellow as ever +stepped between stem and stern." + +"He is better than might be expected from his breeding," returned +Captain Ridley: "but I doubt he will turn out a sad chicken-hearted +thing in time of danger." + +"We shall see," said the mate: "but if young Arthur don't show more +spirit than many of those who talk big and bluster, never believe a word +that old Jack Travers says to you again." + +"Well, well, old shipmate, I wish it may be as you say; but, I own, I +have not such good hopes of him." + +Arthur soon found a good friend in Jack Travers, who was determined that +he should not disgrace his predictions. During their voyage to Norway, +he taught Arthur to keep the log-book, to take the sun's meridian +altitude, to navigate the ship, and to perform the duties of a complete +seaman. + +Travers had spent the chief part of his life at sea, and had seen and +suffered much. He had twice lost his all by shipwreck, and had once been +taken prisoner by the French; he had of course seen a great deal of the +world, and had made many intelligent observations on the countries where +fortune had thrown him; and was intimately acquainted with the customs +and manners of the people whose shores they were now approaching. + +One summer night, when Arthur and Travers were on the watch together, +Travers began to tell him of all he had suffered by storm and wreck, in +the course of a long and disastrous life. "The last ship I sailed in," +said he, "the unfortunate Dædalus, was wrecked on one of the small +islands that stud the coast of Norway, off Drontheim. Now, there was no +very good understanding between the English and the subjects of the King +of Denmark, because of the battle of Copenhagen, the carnage of which +was so great as to occasion general mourning and sorrow throughout +Denmark and Norway. However, the brave Norwegians did not look upon us +in the light of enemies, but as suffering and shipwrecked men, and +treated us most kindly during the time we remained with them; which was +more than three of their winter months. A merchant of Drontheim gave me +a berth in a ship of his, that was bound to Hamburgh; and there I met +with your father, Arthur, who never was yet the man to see an old +shipmate in distress without giving a helping hand. He offered to put me +as mate in the Aurora, which he had just purchased. So here I am; but +whether my bad fortune will pursue me still, I know not." + +"I hope not," said Arthur; "for it is hard, at your time of life, to be +without the means of obtaining those comforts you will soon greatly +need: but did you not spend your time very miserably, to pass so many +months in a strange country, the language of which was unknown to you?" + +"As for that," returned Travers, "thank God! I am not given to be very +miserable anywhere. A seaman, who knows his duty, bears cheerfully +whatever hap Heaven may send him. But in fact, I never passed any time +pleasanter than I did in Norway. We were quartered on the farmers and +pilots who inhabited the coast where we were thrown. The good people, +instead of murmuring at the burden of our maintenance, came down with +their sledges, and contended whose home should afford shelter to the +shipwrecked strangers. I was not willing to eat the bread of idleness, +so I lent a helping hand to whatever work was going forward. As to +language, I found the inhabitants of the sea-coast very familiar with +the English tongue; and I knew a little German, by reason of trading to +Hamburgh; so, between the two, we made out very well. The coast of +Norway is tremendous to the sailor at the fall of the year, when the +equinoctial winds begin to blow; as you will judge when I tell you the +observations I have made during my acquaintance with it. The coast +extending upwards of three hundred leagues, is beset with a multitude of +small islands, affording habitations to fishermen and pilots, and +pasture to a few cattle. They form an infinite number of narrow +channels, and a natural barrier of rocks, which render Norway +inaccessible to the naval power of its enemies. Attempts of this kind +are the more dangerous, as the shore is generally bold, steep, and +impending; so that, close to the rocks, the depth of the sea amounts to +one hundred, two hundred, and even three hundred fathoms. You may easily +judge of the fate of the unfortunate ship that is hurled by tempests +against any of these frightful rocks: if she breaks, she instantly +fills, and must go down into a dreadful depth of water; and it is only +by the most signal mercy that any of the crew is ever saved. The perils +of the North Sea are also increased by sudden streams, sunk rocks, +violent currents, and dreadful whirlpools. The most remarkable vortex on +the coast is called Moskoestrom, from the small island Moskoe, +belonging to the district Lofoden. In time of flood, the stream runs up +between Lofoden and Moskoe, with the most boisterous rapidity; but in +its ebb to the sea it roars like a hundred cataracts, so as to be heard +at the distance of many leagues. On the surface are many vortices; and +if in one of those any ship be absorbed, it is whirled down to the +bottom, and dashed in pieces against the rocks. + +"When its fury has been heightened by a storm, no vessel ought to +venture within a league of it. Whales are frequently absorbed within the +vortex, and howl and bellow hideously during their fruitless endeavours +to free themselves. A bear, in attempting to swim from Lofoden to +Moskoe, was once hurried to this whirlpool, from which he struggled in +vain for deliverance, roaring so loud as to be heard on shore; but, +notwithstanding all his efforts, he was borne down and destroyed. Large +trees, being drawn into the current, are sucked down, and rise again all +shattered to splinters. There are three vortices of the same kind near +the islands of Ferroe." + +Before the vessel reached Christiania, the short northern summer had +commenced in all its beauty. Arthur had expected to see an icy, desolate +coast; he could not think that fair sunny days would smile so far +northwards; and when the Aurora entered the bay of Christiana, he could +scarcely believe it was the port to which they were bound. + +Before them lay the town of Christiana, situated at the extremity of an +extensive and fertile valley, forming a semicircular bend along the +shore of the beautiful bay. The grounds, laid out in rich enclosures, +gradually sloped to the sea. Behind, before, and around appeared the +inland mountains of Norway, covered with dark forests of pines and fir, +the inexhaustible riches of the North. The most distant summits were +capped with perpetual snows. From the glow of the atmosphere, the warmth +of the weather, the variety of the productions, and the mild beauties of +the adjacent scenery, it was hardly possible to believe that they were +nearly under the sixtieth degree of latitude.[8] + +[Footnote 8: Cox's Travels.] + +"Is it possible?" said Arthur, as he stood on deck by the side of +Travers; "can this blooming land be one of the coldest and most barren +regions of the North?" + +"Ah," said Travers; "but you see it in the midst of its short, lovely +summer; its aspect would be bleak and horrid, were you to visit it +during the nine winter months. Were you to hear the roaring of the winds +among the mountains, the fall of great heaps of snow, and oftentimes of +huge masses of stone and rocks from their heights--sometimes choking up +the course of rivers, and overwhelming the cottages of the peasants--you +would then hardly believe that the return of the sun could produce so +much beauty as you now see before you." + +"I have heard," said Arthur, "that, farther to the North, the sun never +sets in the height of summer, nor rises in the depth of winter." + +"I have been at Tronsen,"[9] said Travers, "near the northern extremity +of this country, where the sun is continually in view at midsummer; I +have seen it circulate day and night round the North Pole, contracting +its orbit, and then gradually enlarging it, until it leaves the horizon. +In the depth of the winter, therefore, it is for some weeks invisible: +and all the light perceived at noon is a faint glimmering, for about one +hour and a half, which proceeds from the sun's rays being reflected from +the highest mountains. But the inhabitants have other lights, by which +they follow their work in the open air. The sky being very clear, the +moonshine is remarkably bright: they are likewise much assisted by the +Northern Lights,[10] which are very frequent in these parts of Europe." + +[Footnote 9: Encyclopædia Britannica.] + +[Footnote 10: Otherwise called Aurora Borealis.] + +"My grandfather showed me the Northern Lights once, in Cumberland," said +Arthur; "and told me they signified that something very dreadful would +soon happen to the country; for they were never seen but when famine, or +plagues or rebellions were about to come to pass. What do you think +about it, Travers? are such bad things very common in Norway?" + +"Not that ever I heard," returned Travers. "Indeed, the poor people +would be in a desperate way, if they were to have plagues and battles +every time they saw the Northern Lights. Why, Arthur, they see them as +often as we see the stars in England; and I have read, on a Sunday +night, the psalm for the day out of my prayer-book, as plain in the open +air, at ten o'clock, as ever I did by a candle. But that's the way with +you landsmen: you sit at home and scare yourselves, and shake your wise +heads, and prophesy evil, if a little glimmer reaches you of what is as +common as the air you breathe in other countries." + +Arthur did not greatly approve of hearing the opinion of his venerated +grandfather treated with so much contempt: yet he plainly saw the folly +of converting into an omen of ill a harmless and beautiful meteor; which +is a blessing, as common as it is useful, in a country a few degrees +farther to the north. + +Captain Ridley soon became very busy in disposing of his cargo, and +buying the different commodities that Norway produces, to reload his +vessel with. He bought copper, and iron forged into bars, (the iron of +Sweden and Norway is esteemed very good--much better than any England +produces;) marble he used for ballasting the ship; he likewise bought +goat-skins, and seal-skins, and some very valuable furs of the fox and +marten, of which he expected to make a great deal of money in England. +Another article of commerce, which is sold to great advantage in +England, Captain Ridley made part of his cargo, viz. eider-down +feathers.[11] He gave his son leave to purchase what pleased him most, +to take home as presents for his aunt and cousin. Arthur accordingly +bought a handsome fur cloak for aunt Rachel, and some curious baskets +made of birch-bark, and beautifully wrought with coloured quills, for +Phoebe. They passed about two months in Norway: by the expiration of +which time Captain Ridley had completed his lading, and got everything +ready for returning to England. + +[Footnote 11: The mollissima, or eider-duck, is double the size of the +common duck. The feathers, which are soft and valuable, fall off during +incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the +female is greenish. This species is found in the Western Isles of +Scotland, but in greater numbers in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland; from +whence vast quantities of the down, known by the name of _eider_, or +_edder_, (which these birds furnish,) is annually imported. Its warm, +light, and elastic qualities, make it highly esteemed as stuffings for +coverlets and down beds. This down is produced from the breast of the +birds, in the breeding season. The eider-duck lays its eggs among the +stones or plants near the shore, and prepares a soft bed for them by +plucking the down from its own breast; the natives watch the +opportunity, and take away both eggs and nest. The duck lays again, and +repeats the plucking of its breast. If she is robbed after that, she +will still lay; but the drakes must supply the down, as her stock is now +exhausted: but, if her eggs are taken from her a fourth time, she wholly +deserts the place. The number of eggs in each nest are from three to +five, warmly bedded in down; they are of a pale olive colour, and very +large, glossy, and smooth. The ducks now and then, however, lay as many +as eight, for sixteen have been found in one nest, with two females +sitting on them, who agree remarkably well together. They take their +young on their backs to sea; then dive to shake them off, and teach them +to shift for themselves. They live on shell-fish, for which they dive to +great depths. The males are five years old before they come to their +full colours. It is said they live to a great age, and grow quite +grey.] + +Arthur's heart bounded with joy as the sails were set for England; and +he now looked forward with sensations of pleasure towards the +continuance of the life which his father had chosen for him. He had +gained experience and knowledge, and felt happy that he had obeyed his +parent, however distasteful his commands were at first. Captain Ridley +was very proud of his ship; her clever sailing and tight figure were the +perpetual theme of his discourse and admiration: he was, besides, in +excellent spirits on another account; for he felt confident that he had +laid out his money to great advantage in the cargo, and expected a clear +profit of several hundreds. + +They ran before a favourable gale for some days, till, one clear lovely +morning, as Captain Ridley was standing on deck talking over his +expected gains with Arthur, Travers called from the main-top, "Look +abaft, Captain; for I think we are chased?" Ridley flew to his cabin, +and returning with his telescope, plainly saw a ship bearing down before +the wind, in full pursuit of them. All hands instantly went to work, to +raise every bit of canvas the Aurora could carry; and as she was a +swift-sailing vessel, they had hopes that she would keep ahead of the +enemy until night came on, when she might elude the pursuit under the +shades of darkness. But, alas! the same gale which bore the Aurora so +bravely along, brought her lightly-laden pursuer more swiftly after her. +At length, after a hard chase, and a day of the most agonizing suspense +to our poor countrymen, about sunset their fate seemed decided, when the +adverse ship bore down upon them within hail, and fired a gun to bring +them to. The crew of the Aurora still ventured to hope that, after all, +she might be a neutral ship; but the experienced eye of Travers had from +the first noted all her bearings, and felt convinced that she was a +French privateer; which was soon confirmed by her hoisting the +tri-coloured flag, and preparing to board. To resist was utterly +useless, as a single broadside from the armed ship would have soon +settled the fray: and Captain Ridley saw his favourite ship the prey of +the most lawless and insolent crew that ever manned a privateer! + +To a man of Ridley's violent passions, this stroke was worse than death; +but his indignant expressions were only answered by laughter and mockery +from the enemies into whose hands he had fallen, and who added insult +and ill-usage to the calamities of war. It was at that period of the +French Revolution when the war was carried on between the two nations +with a fury scarcely known in modern times, and the animosity of the +French towards our country knew no bounds. + +There could scarcely be a more dreadful situation than that of the crew +of this defenceless merchant ship, which had fallen into the hands of +men whose bad passions were inflamed by national hatred. For many hours, +the English expected every moment to be their last. Outrage succeeded +outrage, and massacre seemed resolved on; but at last, after many blows +and much reviling, the privateers contented themselves with thrusting +their prisoners, strongly ironed, into the hold. These were horrors of +which poor Arthur had never even dreamed; yet, in the terrors of that +dreadful night, there was a satisfaction to his well-regulated mind in +the consciousness that he was near his suffering parent, and could +offer all the consolation that can be received from the affection of a +dutiful child. And, truly, Captain Ridley had great need of it. +Neglected by the ruffians who had conquered them, they were left without +food; and, what was infinitely more needful, without water. This, joined +to want of air, (the hatches being close shut down,) made their +situation almost equal to that of the prisoners in the black hole at +Calcutta. + +Walter Ridley had hitherto been a fortunate man in life: where others +had met with storms and capture, he had sailed securely and +prosperously. This he did not fail to attribute to his own wisdom and +merit, instead of ascribing it to the protecting hand of a bountiful +Providence; therefore, when this reverse of fortune came, he received it +with transports of rage, instead of patience and resignation. The +violence of his emotions, and the confinement and ill usage he +underwent, had such an effect on his frame, that, long before the +morning, he was attacked by a dangerous illness. Poor Arthur sat by him, +holding his burning hands, and offering his bosom as a pillow to his +aching head; nor could the wild and frantic exclamations, uttered in the +delirium of fever, affright the affectionate boy from the side of his +suffering father. + +The next day had nearly passed, before the captors thought fit to take +any notice of their prisoners; they then resolved to divide the English +crew; for as the captain of the French privateer determined to cruise in +search of fresh prey, he did not choose to encumber himself with his +prize. + +Seven of Captain Ridley's crew were carried on board the privateer; and +himself, Travers, and Arthur, were left below, with two sailors, in the +hold. The French captain put his mate and a few seamen on board the +Aurora, just sufficient to navigate her into Dunkirk, and proceeded on +his cruise. The situation of the prisoners was now a little improved: +for the mate, to whose charge they were committed, took off the fetters +from Captain Ridley and Travers, and allowed them better berths; and +when Arthur, by signs, made him understand how ill his father was, he +gave him some wine, and suffered him to occupy the cabin that had +formerly been his own. For some days, Arthur thought it impossible for +his father to live, as his illness was violent, and he had no medical +assistance; yet the strength of his constitution was such, that in a +few days he passed the crisis of the fever favourably, and got a little +better, though he remained as weak and feeble as an infant. Travers kept +up his own and Arthur's spirits with the hope that they might fall in +with some British cruiser and be retaken; but, however probable such a +circumstance was, yet day passed after day, and they still remained +captives, until it was reckoned that another or two would bring them +into a French port. Arthur's mild manners and affectionate attention to +his sick father induced the French mate to permit him to come when he +pleased on deck; and one morning, after he had watched by his father +till he fell asleep, he asked Travers to supply his place while he went +on deck to take a little fresh air. He sat down on a chest, after he had +paced to and fro in a very melancholy mood, and began to muse +sorrowfully on the case they were in. "Here," thought he, "my poor +father will be dragged to a French prison, and there he must die; for, +in his weak state, the hardships he will have to go through will +certainly kill him; and, perhaps, I shall never see England, nor my +home, nor my cousin Phoebe again! Is there no remedy to be found for +all this?" + +He kept lifting up the lid of the chest he sat on, without noticing what +he was about, till he pinched his finger pretty sharply, which drew his +attention to it; and he saw it was a chest of arms belonging to the +Frenchmen, and filled with sabres and muskets. At the first glance of +these weapons, a thought darted through Arthur's brain, which he +instantly ran down to communicate with Travers. He mentioned the arms to +him, and said: "What hinders our retaking the ship? Surely it might be +done with a little prudence and courage." + +"And dare you venture on a scheme so full of peril? Can you look death +stoutly in the face? For I tell you plainly, if we should fail, death, +without mercy, would be our portion. Think on it, boy, and search your +own mind; for an undertaking of this kind requires a cool head and an +undaunted heart!" + +"I dare," said Arthur firmly, laying his hand on his breast; "I will +freely venture my life to regain the ship and our liberty. Think of a +plan, and I will do my part as far as my strength will go." + +"I have thought much of it already," answered Travers; "but your years +were so tender, that I mistrusted your prudence, though not your +courage. If we attempt it, we must proceed by art, rather than by force. +We must take the opportunity of mastering the French, when one part of +the crew are asleep and the other off their guard." + +"In the night, I suppose?" said Arthur. + +"Yes," said Travers. "It will be a sanguinary business; but the +provocation was theirs. Surely a man may strive even unto death for his +liberty." + +"Ah!" said Arthur; "but it is a frightful thing to murder so many +sleeping men--to send so many to their great account, without a moment's +warning. I have thought that it is possible to take them prisoners +without hurting them." + +"Well!" said Travers; "let us hear your plan. I should be glad of +anything that would save me the horrid work of despatching sleeping +men." + +"If I had a large gimblet and a dozen strong nails," said Arthur, "I +would engage to secure all the Frenchmen but two, without hurting a hair +of their heads." + +"Yours seems a notable plan!" said Travers; "and if it is only the want +of such tools that stops you, here is a great gimblet that the +Frenchmen lent me, instead of a corkscrew, and you will find two or +three hundred large nails in that cupboard. But tell me how such a +little fellow as you can think of mastering six stout men?" + +"You know," replied Arthur, "that if a hole were bored in the panels of +our sleeping berths, and a nail slipped in when they are shut, it would +be impossible to slide them back, to open them. I go about the ship +without being suspected, and could take the opportunity, when the men +are all on deck, of boring a hole, and fitting a strong nail in each +berth, ready to be put in when I choose; and when the Frenchmen are all +safe asleep in their berths, I may put in the nails, and they will be as +safe as if they were caught in so many traps." + +"It is an ingenious scheme," said Travers; "and I allow that it has +every prospect of success. To-night, therefore, we will make the +attempt; for every hour brings us nearer to Dunkirk. But hark'e, Arthur; +don't let your father know our plan till it has either succeeded or +failed; for he is so impatient, and still so weak, that the suspense +would probably kill him." + +"It will be much the best," said Arthur; "but I must go, for the +Frenchmen are all on deck,--so now or never." + +So saying, he left the cabin. Hour passed after hour, and Travers saw no +more of him. Captain Ridley awoke; and Travers gave him some gruel, +which he had boiled for his dinner. The sick man found great fault with +it, and inquired very peevishly for Arthur. Travers made him some vague +answer, and Captain Ridley complained much of his absence, assured +Travers that he was the worst nurse in the world, and that it was a +shame for that boy to leave him, and at last grumbled himself to sleep +again. + +Travers now began to be exceedingly alarmed; thinking that Arthur had +been taken in the attempt, and perhaps murdered. He looked at the sun, +(for his captors had spared him the trouble of keeping a watch,) and +thought it might be about four o'clock, when Arthur appeared at the +cabin-door, and with a pale cheek, but a look of determined courage, +beckoned Travers, without uttering a word. He left the cabin, and +followed Arthur with a noiseless step. While they were ascending the +companion-ladder, Arthur turned round, and said in a low voice: "Every +man in the ship is secured excepting two; one of whom is at the helm, +and the other in the shrouds: master them, and the ship is ours!" + +There was no time for questions; or Travers would have asked how all +this came to pass: but Arthur hurried him on deck; and, going to the +arm-chest, gave Travers a sabre, and armed himself with a musket. +Travers stepped to the steerage, and took the helmsman unawares; who +uttered a cry of astonishment at seeing a man standing near him in a +threatening attitude, with a drawn sabre in his hand, and began, with a +loud voice, to implore for mercy. This supplication reached the ears of +his companion in the shrouds, who, putting a stop to the Marseillaise +Hymn, with which he was entertaining himself, began to descend with +great expedition. But Arthur stopped his progress by levelling his +musket at him; and by his menaces made him understand, that if he did +not remain where he was, he would receive the whole contents in his +body. Now the French sailor did not know, nor did Arthur at the time +remember, that there was no charge in the musket. However, it had the +effect of intimidating the man, who made signs that he would obey, and +supplicated with his hands for his life. + +Travers and Arthur had proceeded thus far with success; but they were at +this moment in a most awkward predicament, for each held his man in +check, yet it was necessary to do something more. The steersman was a +strong muscular fellow, and notwithstanding that, had at first been +frightened by the suddenness of the occurrence; yet Arthur saw, by the +expression of watchfulness that lurked in the turn of his eye, that he +only waited till Travers was off his guard, to spring upon him. + +There was a coil of strong rope, which lay about twelve paces from +Arthur on the deck; of this he longed to make himself master: but he was +afraid of taking his attention from his prisoner above; for he knew how +soon a sailor could swing himself from rope to rope, and stand on deck +in a moment. At last he lost all patience, and determined to trust to +the man's fears: so with one spring he seized the cord and gave it to +Travers, and resumed his guard with the musket, whilst Travers pinioned +his prisoner, and bound him so strongly that escape was impossible. They +then beckoned the man above to descend, and soon bound him safely. +"Now," said Arthur, "you must take the helm, my friend; whilst I go +below, and set at liberty our two shipmates, who are confined between +decks." + +He soon returned with the two English sailors, who could scarcely +believe that they were at liberty, and the ship in their possession. +Travers's first care was to shift the sails and alter their course. They +then went down to tell Captain Ridley what had happened. As soon as they +came below, they heard a most violent uproar among the Frenchmen, who +were shouting and calling, and accusing each other of shutting up the +berths. Travers thought it quite necessary to dispose of them, for fear, +when they grew desperate, they should split the panels. He therefore +called down the stoutest of his men, opened the berths, one by one, and +put the irons they had formerly occupied, on their astonished prisoners; +who by many gestures and exclamations, expressed their surprise at such +a proceeding. + +They then took them to the hold; and, after securely confining them, +they went to Captain Ridley. + +When Arthur came into the cabin, his father was sitting up in his berth, +with a very discontented air; and, after making a sour face or two, +began to complain of being neglected. He told Arthur that he could have +sat up a few hours, if he had been there to dress and assist him. "I +have just been wakened," said he, "by those detestable Frenchmen making +the most hateful noise I ever heard: I thought they were certainly +murdering you all." + +"Come, come, Walter!" said Travers; "don't look so sulky at the most +noble boy that ever a father was blessed with: but take Arthur in your +arms, and thank him for the recovery of your ship and of your liberty." + +"What!" said Captain Ridley; "have we met with one of our cruisers? And +are we retaken? Well, Travers, if you are in your right wits, and know +what you are talking of, this is the news that will presently make me +well again." + +"Did I say that we had fallen in with any of our ships?" answered +Travers. "But I tell you now, in plain English, that by the prudence and +courage of your brave boy, your ship is your own again: we are all +free; the Frenchmen are in irons; and we have tacked about for Old +England, instead of being carried into Dunkirk." + +"And _Arthur_, you say, has done all this; but how?--You are not given +to tell lies, Jack Travers,--and yet I can hardly believe it." + +"I don't wonder that you can't," returned Travers, "for I can scarcely +trust my own senses that it is so. But this is the short of the matter: +Arthur, this morning, contrived a scheme for fastening the Frenchmen in +their berths when they were asleep. He went away to prepare matters for +it. The attempt was not to have been made till night. But, to my +surprise, he came to me, an hour ago, and told me he had all our enemies +secure, except two. Those we easily managed; and, after getting the +assistance of our two men, we as easily mastered the others. How Arthur +contrived to execute his plan so soon, he can best tell you, for I have +not yet heard." + +But Arthur could not just then speak. He had thrown himself into his +father's extended arms, and given ease to the fulness of his heart in a +burst of tears. It was some moments before he raised his head from his +father's bosom, who thanked and blessed him, and declared that were +everything in the world taken from him and his gallant boy spared, he +should still consider himself the happiest and richest of men. + +When Arthur had recovered from the agitation that had deprived him of +his voice, Travers again pressed him to tell by what means he had +secured the Frenchmen. + +"You know," said Arthur, "I left you with the intention of fitting the +nails into the panels. I got safely into the cabin, where they slept, +and soon bored all the holes; but when I came to fit in my nails, I +found they might be pushed out with a violent shake; and, you know, they +could not be knocked in tight without a great noise. For some minutes I +thought our scheme was at an end; but at last I remembered there was a +paper of large screws in the locker. These I soon found, and made holes +in the top and bottom of each panel, and then greased the screws; so +that I could put them all in with a screw-driver without the least +noise. I likewise greased the slides of the panels, that they might slip +easily. Well, while I was at work, I recollected that the Frenchmen were +in the habit of sleeping for an hour or two in the middle of the day, +leaving only two men on deck. This, therefore, appeared the best time +for the execution of our plan; for it was likely we might blunder in the +dark, and they were off their guard and in such security in the middle +of the day, that I was determined to try. About three o'clock, they all +came down and tumbled into their berths. I waited more than half an +hour, and then stole into the cabin, hoping they were asleep. Some of +the panels were open; my hands trembled as I closed them; but +fortunately I made no noise. After I had put in the screws, I tried +every panel, and found that all were well secured. I then went to you: +and, by the blessing of Heaven, everything has thus far gone +prosperously!" + +"And all we have now to do," said Travers, "is to keep what we have +gained; that, Arthur, is not the least part of the work: but there shall +be no exertion wanting on my part to bring the good ship safe into an +English port." + +Travers faithfully kept his word: for he paced the deck of the Aurora, +with pistols in his hands, almost night and day; and when he was +compelled to take a little rest, Arthur kept watch with equal vigilance. +Two desperate attempts were made by the French crew to regain their +liberty: the last time, Captain Ridley (who was now able to walk about +and come on deck) was greatly inclined to send a volley of musket-balls +among them; but Arthur and Travers both implored him to shed no blood, +if it were possible to avoid it. After a few days of incessant toil and +anxiety, a favourable gale carried them into the Thames; and, a few +hours after their arrival at Sheerness, they had the pleasure of seeing +the privateer which had captured them brought in as a prize, at the +stern of a British frigate. She had been taken whilst cruising in the +Channel: and thus the whole of the crew of the Aurora were delivered +from their anticipated sufferings in a French prison. Captain Ridley +lost no time in disposing of the Aurora and her cargo. He said he would +tempt the sea no longer, but remain peacefully in the quiet home he was +so fortunate as to possess. "And, Travers, my friend," said he, "I need +hardly tell you, that whilst I have a guinea, you shall share it; and +whilst I have a home, it shall shelter you." Half of the money which the +cargo produced, Captain Ridley settled on Travers: he rewarded the two +men who had assisted in bringing home the Aurora, and made a present to +all his sailors who had been retaken in the privateer. + +During their stay in London, their story was the news of the day; and +much admiration was excited by the conduct of Travers and Arthur; and +Captain Ridley was given to understand, from high authority, that if his +son chose to enter the navy, he should be peculiarly marked for +promotion. + +Walter Ridley no longer wished to control his son. He respected his +courage and high principles; and left it to his choice, whether he would +return and cultivate the farm, or accept the offer that had been made +him. + +"Father," said Arthur, "I am very young, and have a life before me that +I am now convinced may be more usefully employed than in a state of +inactive ease. I will serve my country with alacrity; and I pray God I +may be able to do something for her service." + +I will not stay to describe their arrival at Alston Moor, nor the joyful +meeting between Arthur and his aunt and cousin. Many years have rolled +on since Arthur went through his service as midshipman, and passed as +lieutenant with the greatest credit: he is now a gallant and +distinguished officer,--the pride of his father, the delight of his old +friend Travers, an honour to his country, and the husband of his pretty +cousin Phoebe. + +The picture I have drawn is not exaggerated. Arthur is no creature of my +imagination; it was drawn from life, and may be realized by any youth +who takes for his rule of life the maxim of our Church: "Do thy duty in +that state of life unto which it shall please God to call thee." + + * * * * * + +This tale is founded on facts: and the recapture of the ship, +extraordinary as it may seem, is a simple relation of occurrences that +really happened, in the beginning of the American war, when the Lark +merchant-ship was taken by a French privateer, and retaken by her +captain, having no English on board, but a boy, and an English merchant, +one of the Society of Friends. This gentleman refused to stain his hands +with blood: but assisted in this peaceable recapture with great firmness +and resolution. The underwriters presented the captain with £100, as a +small reward for his intrepidity. + + + + +THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE. + + +Nearly a century and a half ago, there lived, in a little cottage on the +eastern coast, an aged widow and her two grandsons. Although neither +carpenter nor bricklayer was employed in the construction of this +cottage, it was as neat a fisherman's cabin as any in that part of +England. James Mayhew, the widow's son, had ingeniously built it on the +sea-beach, under the cliffs. It was formed of pebbles and sea-stones; +and he had, with great toil and labour, carried down earth from the +cliffs, and made a nice little kitchen-garden, which formed a pleasing +contrast with the barren sands that surrounded the cottage; and this, +with a shed for a cow, (which got her living on the common belonging to +the adjacent town,) made a very comfortable little dwelling place. It +was poor James's summer work; and at Michaelmas he brought to live in it +his widowed mother, old Amy Mayhew, and his wife, who had formerly been +a tidy dairy-maid, and to whom he had been married just a twelvemonth. +Now James was very clever and industrious; he could turn his hand to any +sort of work; he would labour for the farmers at harvest and seed-time, +and pursued the trade of a fisherman the rest of the year. He made one +harvest on the land, and two more from the sea; for he used to go out in +a boat and catch herrings and mackerel at those seasons when they abound +so plentifully on our coasts. James was an excellent son and husband, +and would, no doubt, have been as good a father. His wife had just +presented him with two twin little boys, when James was forced to leave +her, to go to sea for the herring-fishery; and, sad it is to tell what +followed! though such events are too common on these coasts. From the +cottage window, his boat was seen to founder; and the wife never beheld +her husband, nor the mother her son, until the tide threw up his corpse +within a few yards of his own door. His poor wife, in her weak state, +was unable to bear so severe a shock, and sank into a state of +stupefaction, which was soon succeeded by death. The neighbouring +townsmen contributed a sum to bury the poor young people: and many, who +were standing by at the funeral, and saw the sorrow of the aged Amy, and +thought of the hard trial which had befallen her, said it would have +been a mercy if the orphan little twins had been buried in the same +grave with their unfortunate parents! But Amy did not think so. "God +bless the poor babes!" she said; "they are all that is left me of my +good dutiful James: I will do my best to bring them up; and, if my life +be spared so long, I may see them prove a blessing and a comfort to me; +and, perhaps, they may lay my head in the same grave with my poor son!" + +Amy did, indeed, strive to do her best to rear her poor little +grandsons. She was often seen with a baby on each arm coming into the +town to fetch the cow off the common; and then the good-hearted sailors, +who had known her son, would give her a white loaf for the babes, or a +piece of meat or cheese for herself. With these helps, and with the milk +from the cow and the vegetables from the garden, she contrived to get +through that trying year. "Before the winter comes again," she said to a +friendly old pilot who had called to see her, "my little boys will run +alone; and when these aged arms are relieved from their heavy burden, I +shall be able to work hard for their living." + +Amy was firm in her resolution: and, by her good nursing, the little +orphans throve and grew nicely,--so that by the end of the next summer +they could run about, holding by each other, to assist their steps. They +were very good and quiet, and fond of each other, and gave much less +trouble than could have been expected. + +Amy was now able to earn a little money by netting; and by the time the +children were three years old, James and Michael learned to fill her +netting needles with the twine she made the herring-nets of; and the +little creatures would stand by her the whole day, each watching until +his turn came to fill granny's needle. When they grew a little older, +they used to pick up stones on the beach, which were wanted in the town +for building. They carried them up the cliffs by little baskets-full at +a time, and laid them in a heap, and then the bricklayers gave for them +a halfpenny a bushel. And when the cold snowy winter nights came, they +learned to net, and helped their grandmother a great deal. By the time +they were twelve years old, the boys nearly earned their living. James +got something every week, by fetching his neighbours' cows off the +common: he was always up by five in the summer, and before light in the +winter, that he might not be too late. He soon got work at the Hall +farm, in the next parish; and though it was a long way to walk, night +and morning, he was always there in time, and contrived to do some work +for his grandmother in the hours he had for his meals. James took +delight in the quiet employments of the country; he greatly preferred +the husbandman's life to the unsettled condition of the fisherman or +sailor. Michael, on the contrary, loved the sea, and always tried, in +getting his daily bread, to remain, if possible, by the beach, as it was +his most ardent desire to be a sailor. It may be supposed this wish gave +pain to his poor grandmother, who never heard him express it without +thinking of the death of his father. To divert him from his inclination, +she did her best to teach him to read; but, though both he and his +brother were very apt, and could soon read a chapter in the Bible, yet, +even in that holy book, Michael contrived to find something to flatter +his passion for ships and sailors. By the time the boys had attained the +age of fourteen, James had learned so much of the duties of husbandry, +that his employer, as a reward for his diligence and industry, promised +to hire him for the following year at man's wages. Poor Michael was much +hurt that his brother would now be able to maintain his grandmother, and +give her those comforts that her age required, whilst he could merely +fish on the beach with lines for whiting or cod, or pick up stones for +the bricklayers; and that he could do when he was but seven years old. +He was so ashamed of his inferiority, that he made a resolution of going +to labourer's work with his brother, and was determined to give up his +favourite wish, to please his good grandmother; but an accident which +happened that winter altered his intention. + +The day had closed-in some time, on the Christmas eve; and, though the +moon showed a bright light, yet the wind had risen as the night came on, +and soon blew a furious easterly gale directly on to this dangerous +coast. Amy had swept her cottage clean, and looked out some time for her +grandsons, when James trudged in with a billet of wood on his shoulder, +which he threw on the hearth. "I have staid later than usual, granny," +he said, "to look after the horses of some gentry, who have just arrived +at the Hall to spend the Christmas holidays; but the good 'Squire has +sent you this nice piece of beef for your dinner to-morrow, and this +wood to warm your poor limbs this bitter weather." + +"May heaven bless both you and your good master!" said the grateful Amy: +"and may both he and his ever have good cheer and warm fires, when the +cold and hard weather comes on! But, James, have you seen your brother?" + +At that minute, Michael opened the door: he brought with him some fine +whiting on the lid of an old basket. "I have been lucky to-day, +grandmother," said he; "I have caught as many fish along-shore as I sold +in the town for seven groats. Here is the money; let it be put in the +earthen pot, with the rest that is to buy you a red cloak this cold +weather." + +"Thank you, my dear Michael," said Amy: "how good and dutiful you both +are! The time was, when I thought that the Almighty had dealt hardly in +taking from the lone widow her only son,--but he has restored me that +blessing in a twofold degree; and if I could but see you take to quiet +farming-work like James--" + +"Well," said Michael, "I will do my best to like it: though, I am +afraid, I shall never get over my wish to be a sailor. But look at these +fine fish! I might have sold them in town; but, I thought, as it was +Christmas-tide, that you should have them for supper." + +Amy now began to bestir herself to dress the supper. She soon raised a +cheerful blaze; but just as she was putting on the fish, the loud report +of a gun at sea made her start and drop them. It seemed so close to the +cottage, that the concussion made everything rattle and ring around. + +"Heaven help them!" said Amy; "it is some poor distressed ship's crew at +sea, firing guns for help this stormy night. Oh, Michael! this is what +you wish for! This is the life you love so much! Can you say you wish to +be a sailor now?" + +"I wish," answered Michael, "I had been sailor enough to go off in the +pilot-boat I saw trying to put off just now as I came under the cliffs. +There's a brave ship--a king's ship, I believe,--has been in distress +all the evening; and they want a pilot to go to her, for they fear she +will be driven by the gale right on to the bar;--but the wind and waves +run so contrary, that though they have been trying for this hour, they +cannot get the boat off. Hark! there is another gun! She has certainly +struck! Oh that I could help them!" + +Michael now started up, and sprang to the door; but Amy ran after him, +and held him back. "Oh, stay, my dear boy," she cried; "don't go off to +sea! Don't let me see another child perish before these old eyes!" + +"No," said Michael, turning round, "I will not disobey you; besides, I +have not experience enough to be of any great use. Our brave pilots +would help them, if help were possible." + +"See, brother!" said James, "there lies the ship; she is beating on the +Barnet-reef, sure enough; and yet the moon shines bright through the +storm." + +"Yes," said Michael; "and could they have got a pilot that knew the +coast, they might have been saved. Look! they are putting out boats. +See! There are two!" + +"Where? where?" asked James: "the white flashing billows dazzle my eyes. +I can see but one little black speck dancing among the waves." + +"Oh, yes!" said Amy, "even I can see two; but they will never reach the +shore. See, there goes down one of them!" + +"No, no! I hope not," said James; "it is only hidden for a moment +between the high waves." + +"I tell you it is gone," said Amy. "Alas! I know that shocking sight +too well?--Don't I _know_ what it is to see a boat swallowed by the sea? +Come in, boys, or I shall think I see your father again washed on shore +at my feet." + +"Go you in," said Michael; "but I will stay and see if indeed some one +be thrown on shore; for we may give timely help." + +As he spoke, he plainly discovered some one struggling with the waves at +a little distance. The brothers hastened to the spot just as the man was +thrown with violence on the sands by the huge breakers; they seized and +dragged him out of the reach of the waves, and Amy ran out of the +cottage to help them. + +"Is he dead?" said she, fearfully. + +"I am afraid," said Michael, "that the waves, in throwing him ashore, +have beaten the breath out of him; but he was alive just now, for I saw +him struggle with the breakers." + +They carried the poor man into the cottage, and tried every means in +their power to revive him; but Amy had nothing better than a little +elder wine to give him. This she hastened to warm; and James ran to the +town to borrow or buy a little brandy, and to get medical assistance. He +soon procured the liquor; but the doctor was so busy attending other +sufferers who had been washed ashore, that he could not leave them. +James thought it best to return quickly with the spirits; and he had the +pleasure to see the person they had saved sitting in the chimney-corner; +and after he had taken the brandy which James had brought, he seemed +considerably revived. + +It was not till he was out of danger that the kind cottagers remarked +that the dress and appearance of their guest were far above those of a +common seaman. Amy had put him on some dry clothes, which were more +comfortable (though very coarse) than his dripping garments; and on +holding up the latter to dry, an elegant watch fell from one of the +pockets. This she hung up before the fireplace; and soon afterwards the +weary stranger retired to rest, the brothers having cheerfully given up +their bed, and slept that night on a heap of old nets and sea-weed in +the cow-shed. + +Early in the morning, the doctor came to visit the shipwrecked stranger, +and brought with him one of the sailors, who had got safe to land in the +other boat. As soon as they entered the cottage, the seaman cast his +eyes on the uniform that hung at the fire, and eagerly asked if the +owner of it were alive. He was informed that he was alive, and likely to +do well; but that he was then asleep. + +"Then the storm has spared one of the bravest captains in his Majesty's +fleet," said the sailor. + +"What! is he a sea-captain?" asked Michael. + +"Yes," answered the sailor: "our brave Captain Lucas." + +A voice from the inner room now called, "Is that you, Tom?" + +"Yes, your Honour," said the sailor, who immediately recognised the +voice of Captain Lucas, his commander. Captain Lucas called the sailor +to him, and asked, with much anxiety, how many of the ship's company +were lost? "Only ten," said he; "the long-boat came safe ashore; and +several of those in the boat with you were picked up by the good +town's-people. We thought all night that you were lost: it would have +been a bitter loss to us, Captain; for you are, indeed, the sailor's +friend. It was a dreadful sight for us to see your boat go down; but +your Honour knows that we all begged you to go in the long-boat, for we +said the other could not live in such a sea." + +"Well, Tom," said the Captain, "mine was but a single life; most of you +were fathers and husbands. I am thankful that so many have been spared; +and, as for myself, I could not have fallen into better hands. Mind and +get a good Christmas dinner, you and your messmates, to cheer your poor +hearts; I'll be at the expense: thank God! I have enough to spare a few +comforts for my brave sailors, after all their sufferings." + +Tom, having made a sailor's acknowledgment, hastened to the town to tell +his messmates the joyful news, that their noble captain was saved. + +Captain Lucas was so much bruised, that the doctor told him he must keep +in bed for a day or two, and take the medicine which he would send him; +but the captain seemed averse to physic, and thought that Amy's +treacle-possets did him more good. He refused to be removed from the +cottage, saying that he could not find better quarters anywhere. Michael +attended him with the greatest care, and his sailors came daily to see +him. + +Michael was delighted with the frankness and noble bearing of the +Captain, and with the affection his men bore him: and Captain Lucas was +as much pleased with the honest and warm-hearted Michael. "You are the +brave fellow," he said to him one day, "that pulled me ashore." + +"I helped my brother James," said Michael. + +"It is not always," said the Captain, "that shipwrecked men fall into +such good hands; but it shall be the better for you, my lad." + +Captain Lucas was not a man to keep his bed a long time for a few +bruises. He was soon able to walk about; and his first care was to see +the bodies of the drowned seamen decently buried. He attended their +funeral, with all the surviving crew, and showed himself to be as pious +as he was brave. + +The night before he departed for London, he handsomely rewarded old Amy +and her grandsons for their kindness to him; and as he put some broad +pieces into Michael's hand, he said, "My young friend, I thought of +giving you and your brother the watch and rings which I had about me +when I was thrown ashore; but I think these pieces will be more +serviceable: and I give them to you as much for your uncommon honesty as +the humanity you have shown to me." + +"Ah, Sir!" said Michael, laying the gold on the table, "you could do me +a favour, that I should prize more than your little golden clock[12] and +all the Caroluses[13] in the world." + +[Footnote 12: Watches were only in general use at court, in the time of +Charles the Second.] + +[Footnote 13: The gold coinage in the reigns of the Stuarts were +commonly called Caroluses and Jacobuses.] + +"Ah!" said the Captain; "and what is that, my lad?" + +"To persuade my grandmother to let me go to sea with you." + +"Well, my brave boy, I should be glad to have you under my command. What +do you say, Amy? You hear your grandson's wish. But, remember, that I +will never repay your hospitality so basely, as to take him away without +your consent." + +Amy sighed. "Well, your Honour, as it is Michael's desire, and as he has +wished it for a long time, I wont deny him; for I see his heart is +wholly set on being a sailor. I should have thought that the lives he +had just seen lost would have shown him his folly; but, as it is, I +would rather he should go to sea with such a noble gentleman as yourself +than with any one else." + +Michael rejoiced that his grandmother had at last given her consent. +"While I can have Captain Lucas for a commander, and King Charles for a +master," said he, "I never will serve a Suffolk farmer." + +The Captain was pleased with his spirit; but Michael's heart rather +failed him, when he bade farewell, the next day, to his good grandmother +and his twin-brother. "I know the Captain wont despise me for crying," +he said to Tom; for "I saw _him_ weep when the poor sailors were +buried." + +"Ay! ay!" said Tom, "he has a tender heart, and he is the better for it, +and so are you; and considering as how you are but a young one, I think +you have borne it very well. Why I sometimes pipe a bit myself when I +bid good b'ye to my Jane, and mother, and the little ones." + +Captain Lucas was soon appointed to another ship; and Michael sent word +to Amy and James, that he loved the life he had chosen better than ever, +and that he would not change it for any other. + +For a long time Michael was sadly missed at the cottage. James and Amy +would look sorrowfully at one another, and shake their heads when they +saw Michael's empty place at dinner, and the vacant corner where he used +to put his three-legged stool by the chimney-side--and it was war-time. +England was engaged in a severe struggle with the Dutch for naval +pre-eminence in those days; and perhaps she never had to sustain a more +arduous maritime contest; and Michael had many perils to encounter +besides the danger of the stormy seas; but then he was very punctual in +writing to his relatives--they were sure to have a letter from him at +every opportunity; and Michael took a pride in sending home a +considerable portion of his pay. Amy had so often heard that Michael was +safe and well, that it was only after hearing of some sharp engagement +that her heart ached for him. James was as diligent and industrious as +ever, and kept his old place, and pleased his good master. Poor Amy had +nourishing food and warm clothing, and more comforts in her old age than +she had ever expected. + +Three years passed quickly away, and James had grown a fine-looking +young man. Old Amy, though healthy and strong for her years, seemed to +fear that she should not see her dear Michael before she died. + +The war now raged more fiercely than ever between the English and Dutch; +and it was said that the fleets would soon come to action in the seas +between England and Holland. James and Amy understood very little about +this. All their care was to know whether it was likely for Michael's +ship to be in the action: this they could not learn; but they saw a +great fleet nearly opposite at sea, hovering to and fro, and many seamen +and officers came on shore; but they neither saw nor heard anything of +Michael; so they hoped he was not in the fleet. + +It was a lovely morning in the latter end of May, and James had been +some time at work in his master's fields, when he was suddenly startled +with a tremendous noise, louder than any thunder he had ever heard. He +looked round about, and up at the heavens; all was blue and serene +there, and he could see no traces of a thunder-cloud: still the roar +continued in horrid bursts that seemed to shake the shores and the very +ground he stood on, and it rang and rebounded through the hollow coast +with the most frightful din.[14] At last he cast his eyes towards the +East, and there he saw, in the bar, white clouds of smoke, mixed with +flashes of flame. "The sea-fight has surely begun," he said aloud, "so +near in shore! Our cottage will certainly be knocked down with the +balls." This thought induced him to throw down his hoe, and away he ran +towards his home, thinking of nothing but his poor grandmother. + +[Footnote 14: In an old song, published a few days after Solebay fight, +there are the following lines:-- + + "Well might you hear their guns, I guess, + From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness; + They fill'd up all the hollow coast, + From Walberswick to Dunwich."] + +He got safely down the cliffs, though the cannon-balls were coming on +shore very near him, and in some places they actually shattered large +pieces of earth and stones from the cliffs. James found poor old Amy +kneeling by the bed in the inner room, hiding her face and half dead +with terror. He wanted to take her farther up the country, out of the +reach of danger; but Amy dared not venture out of the house, and James +could not persuade her that the cottage would be no defence in case a +cannon-ball should strike it. He determined at first to take her in his +arms and carry her away to a place of safety: "But, who knows," thought +he, "but I may drag her into the very danger she dreads so much?" So he +determined to stay with her at every risk, and they spent the day +half-deafened with the roar of the cannon, expecting every moment that +their little home would be shattered about them. + +Towards evening, the firing grew weaker and weaker, and the people who +were beholding the fight from the cliffs, shouted that the Duke of York +had gained the victory. But before the action was quite over, a boat was +seen making to the shore; it seemed to bear in the direction of Amy's +cottage, and actually ran on shore within a few yards of it. The +sailors leaped out, and, lifting an officer in their arms, bore him +towards the cottage; whilst a young sailor walked slowly after, leaning +on an old seaman's arm. James flung open the cottage door, and told them +to place the officer on the bed. They accordingly laid him down. He +moaned faintly with pain. At the sound of his voice, the young sailor +approached the bed with an unsteady step. Amy gazed wistfully on the +young man, and then on James;--they were exactly alike. "It is my own +boy Michael!" she cried at last. + +"Yes, it is Michael!" said James, throwing himself on his neck. + +"Ah, my poor grandmother! and my dear James!" said Michael, "I have come +home to you in a sorrowful hour! My noble Captain is mortally wounded." + +"Is this the brave gentleman who took you away, and behaved so kindly to +us? Alas, how wan he looks!" said Amy, looking mournfully on the pale +features of Captain Lucas, as he lay fainting on the lowly bed, where +they had placed him. + +"But you look as white and ill as he does, Michael!" + +"Yes," said he faintly, pointing to his side, from which the blood +slowly trickled; "I was wounded whilst fighting near him--I return to my +home once more; but it is to die. Our Captain's brother took the command +of the ship after he fell; and when the fight slackened, he sent the +boat ashore with him, in hopes of getting better assistance. He did not +know I was wounded, but he told me to go on shore with my master, and +take care of him. Instead of suffering the sailors to take him to the +town, I bade them steer direct for the cottage on the beach. He laid his +noble head there when he was in distress before; and I resolved that he +should not die among strangers." + +Here Michael's voice faltered with grief and pain; and he was so faint +that he would have sunk from his seat, had not James supported him in +his arms. A surgeon arrived soon after, and at once pronounced that the +Captain's wounds were mortal, and that Michael was in a dangerous state. +Before night, Captain Lucas's brother came on shore, and hastened to the +cottage: Captain Lucas held out his hand when he saw his brother. +"William," said he, "is England victorious?" William Lucas turned from +his dying brother, and wept.--"Oh yes, Charles! The Duke has gained the +battle, but it is a dearly-purchased victory." + +"Many a one has fallen, William, who will be more missed than I shall +be," replied the Captain. "I have but one dear brother to weep my +loss.--Hear my last request: you know, by my will, you inherit my +estates;--but give my faithful Michael the gold in my portmanteau, and a +hundred pounds besides, to be divided between him and his brother: if +Michael should die, give his share to his grandmother--I fear I have +robbed her of one of the props of her age! It is owing to the good +inhabitants of this cottage that my death has been a glorious one: three +years ago they saved my life from the waves on this coast." + +Captain Lucas did not live through that night: and Michael only survived +him two days. They were buried together, with many a hero who fell in +that engagement. Captain William faithfully executed his brother's dying +request. But it was not the riches they obtained that could console Amy +and James for the loss of their dear Michael;--it was long before they +could think, without extreme sorrow, on his untimely death. + +James's good master assisted him with his advice in laying out the +Captain's legacy, which amounted to more than five hundred pounds. James +took a good farm, and, by his unremitting industry, soon became a rich +man; and old Amy had the pleasure of seeing her great grandchildren born +to affluence: yet the beautiful month of May never returned but she +remembered with sadness the fall of her brave sailor-boy and his noble +captain. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rival Crusoes, by Agnes Strickland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + +***** This file should be named 34849-8.txt or 34849-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/4/34849/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 Rival Crusoes + The Ship Wreck also A Voyage to Norway; and The Fisherman's Cottage. + +Author: Agnes Strickland + +Release Date: January 4, 2011 [EBook #34849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>THE RIVAL CRUSOES;</h1> + +<h2>OR, THE SHIPWRECK.</h2> + +<h3>ALSO</h3> + +<h2>A VOYAGE TO NORWAY;</h2> + +<h2>AND THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE.</h2> + +<h2>BY AGNES STRICKLAND,</h2> + +<h3>AUTHOR OF THE "LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND," "TALES AND STORIES FROM +HISTORY," ETC.</h3> + + +<h3>SIXTH EDITION.</h3> + +<h3>LONDON:<br /> +GRANT AND GRIFFITH,</h3> + +<h3>SUCCESSORS TO<br /> +J. HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.</h3> + +<h3>MDCCCLI.</h3> + +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h3>STEVENS AND CO., PRINTERS, BELL YARD,</h3> + +<h3>TEMPLE BAR.</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#THE_RIVAL_CRUSOES">THE RIVAL CRUSOES;</a><br /> +<a href="#ARTHUR_RIDLEY">ARTHUR RIDLEY;</a><br /> +<a href="#THE_FISHERMANS_COTTAGE">THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_RIVAL_CRUSOES" id="THE_RIVAL_CRUSOES"></a>THE RIVAL CRUSOES;</h2> + +<h3>OR, THE DESERT ISLAND.</h3> + + +<p>"George! Harry!—lazy fellows that you are!—Why are you not in +attendance?" said Lord Robert Summers in an angry tone, throwing the +rein of his pony to his grooms, and rushing up the great staircase with +his handkerchief held close to his face.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with our young lord to-day?" said Harry; "he seems +in a marvellous ill mood."</p> + +<p>"I suppose he has had another brush with Philip Harley to-day: did not +you see the blood on his handkerchief?" said the other.</p> + +<p>"That Philip is a saucy young rascal," replied Harry; "but he will get +himself into a scrape before long. Lord Robert will be even with him, I +will answer; for he never takes an offence without returning +twenty-fold."</p> + +<p>"They never meet now without a battle," returned the groom. "Lord Robert +has been so used to domineer over men twice his age, on board ship, that +he is more unbearable than any young man of rank I ever served. I wonder +who is to put up with all his tempers? If his elder brother, my young +lord, were half so hasty with his hands, or so flippant with his tongue, +I would leave his service to-morrow: however, he wont be with us +long—that's my comfort. It was but the other day I was airing the dogs, +and trod, by accident, on his favourite Neptune's toe. The plaguy beast +set up a yell. In an instant, I had a cuff of the head from the young +tyrant, and was called a careless rascal and scoundrel, while he had +breath to heap such epithets on me. I am glad the lad has given him a +dressing, and wish it had been twice as much; it might have done him +good."</p> + +<p>With this wish, George led off the pony. The fact was, Lord Robert had +caught Philip Harley trespassing, according to custom, in the Park, and +had tried to horsewhip him out of the grounds, but had fairly got the +worst of it. Lord Robert, though a stout and courageous youth, was +pulled off his horse by the desperate young rustic, and in the fray +received several contusions on the face. Philip did not part without +some tokens of his enemy's vengeance; but he certainly remained victor +in the contest. Lord Robert was glad to regain his pony and make a hasty +retreat, much mortified, and in a very evil temper.</p> + +<p>When he had reached his apartment, he washed the blood from his face, +and composed the swelling of his haughty spirit; and after smoothing his +ruffled plumes, he descended into the dining-room and joined the family +party. His mother made some inquiry respecting the bruises on his face; +but he turned it off with an evasive answer, as the effect of a fall he +had met with in the Park. No farther notice was taken, except a slight +sarcasm on the proverbial bad horsemanship of sailors.</p> + +<p>At the dessert, the Marquis, his father, handed him a letter. "It is +from your uncle, Sir Henry. See, Robert, what a charming surprise he has +prepared for you! He spoils you, boy! I think you would not be so +petulant and imperious, if every wish of that wayward heart were not +gratified by his fond affection."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was so eager to read the letter from his beloved uncle, that +he scarcely heard this reproof, which, gentle as it was, at any other +time would have clouded his handsome brow with frowns.</p> + +<p>Captain Sir Henry Stanley wrote to his brother-in-law, that he should +sail in the Diomede, from Portsmouth, in less than a month; when he +should expect his noble boy, his brave Robert, again to accompany him to +victory. "I think it long till we are afloat," continued he; "and so, I +dare say, does my dear nephew. However, that the time may not appear so +very tedious, I have sent him a little pleasure-brig, the most complete +that could be procured: he can sail and manœuvre it on your lake; not +that I approve of freshwater sailing, but it is better than dancing +after horses and dogs, and such landsmen's amusements."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert then heard that this fairy frigate had been safely landed +that day at a sea-port town, some little distance from his father's +domains. A waggon and team of horses had been despatched to bring it +home; and a servant soon afterwards entered to say that it had arrived, +and was carefully placed by the side of the lake, ready for launching, +which ceremony Lord Robert, full of impatient joy, sprang off to +superintend.</p> + +<p>It sometimes happens that time and tide will not wait obsequiously even +on the children of prosperity. These stubborn powers will sometimes fret +and chafe the proud and great, and, frequently, are so unpolite as to +ruffle a rose-leaf on their couch of pleasure; but, as if the young lord +had suffered mortification enough in the morning, his cup of delight was +full in the evening. The pleasure was scarcely promised before it was +realized. The gay glittering frigate dashed bravely into the lake: she +bounded and danced on the waves, with as much spirit as the youthful +noble could wish. The bottle of claret was flung with great effect; and +she received her name amidst the applauses of the peasantry of the +neighbouring village, who, as a great favour, were permitted to behold +this sight at an awful distance.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert sank to rest that night, anticipating the charming sail he +should take in the morning.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the young lord were open before sunrise; but whilst his +valet was hastily dressing him, what was his indignation, on casting his +eyes towards the lake, to see his fairy frigate, his beautiful Ariel, +spreading her white sails to the breeze, and gliding on the lake as +gallantly as if her noble master were commanding her? Who could be the +person that had dared to unmoor her? Down flew Lord Robert, half +undressed; and the servants were summoned; but none of the household had +been guilty of such a piece of audacity. At last, a thought struck him, +that it could be no other than that contemner of all legal authority, +Philip Harley. Lord Robert was soon by the border of the lake; and there +he saw his young enemy reclined in the gilded pleasure-boat, sailing at +his ease, and coasting near enough for Lord Robert to behold the look of +calm defiance with which he surveyed his anger: and he continued to +manage the Ariel with as much coolness as if her lawful owner had not +been viewing her manœuvres with the greatest indignation. Lord Robert +was still more provoked, when he recollected that he had no means of +reaching the offender, to expel him from the boat.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything like a boat on the estate," exclaimed Lord Robert, +"that I may pursue that insolent young Harley, and take my property from +him?"</p> + +<p>"No, my Lord," said Edwards, the old gardener; "there is nothing of the +kind on any of the pieces of water within a mile or two of the hall. +Your Lordship may remember that when you were very young, and took such +a fancy to everything relating to ships and sailing, my Lady had all the +boats destroyed, for fear you should endanger your life by venturing on +the water."</p> + +<p>"And have they never been replaced?" asked Lord Robert.</p> + +<p>"No, my Lord: there were two boats and a fishing-punt staved in by her +Ladyship's order," replied Edwards. "You may recollect that your +Lordship got into sad disgrace, the next day, by embarking on the lake +in a large washing-tub."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert could not help laughing. "On my honour, Edwards," said he, +"I could find it in my heart to embark in a washing-tub at present, if I +thought it of any use."</p> + +<p>"I think, my Lord," said his valet, "Captain Bently has a small boat on +the river, about a mile from the Park."</p> + +<p>"Run, carry my compliments to Captain Bently, and ask him to lend it to +me for an hour."</p> + +<p>Two or three messengers started with obedient speed to fulfil the wishes +of their master: but the land conveyance of a boat is a work of time; +and, long before their return, Philip, tired, as we may suppose, of his +amusement, steered the boat to the most distant part of the lake (which +happened to be nearest his own home), and jumped on shore, behind some +bushes, which jutted out and concealed his landing. He had walked +quietly through the Park, and arrived at the village, before Lord Robert +perceived, by the irregular drifting of the little vessel, that she was +deserted, and the culprit had escaped his vengeance.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was literally glowing with rage, when he met his father in +the breakfast-room. For some reason best known to himself, he had +hitherto concealed from the Marquis his encounters with Philip Harley; +but, in the moment of indignation, everything blazed forth; and, in all +the exaggeration of anger, he informed his father of every outrage +Philip had been guilty of towards him; adding, that the reason of their +first disagreement was, his interrupting Philip in the act of poaching.</p> + +<p>The Marquis was a good and humane man; but the representations of Lord +Robert highly incensed him. That a young ruffian, exercising the lawless +pursuits of a poacher, should take every opportunity of insulting and +thwarting his son, and even of brutally assaulting him in his own park, +was too much to be endured, and called for the severest punishment. +Certainly, of all the species of theft (and it is <i>theft</i>), poaching is +considered with the least mercy by noblemen and gentlemen of landed +property. Perhaps the Marquis may be reckoned severe, but this was an +aggravated case.</p> + +<p>It was then in the middle of the American war, and a press-gang paid +pretty frequent visits to the neighbouring sea-port town. His Lordship, +therefore, informed them that he wished to remove a noxious person from +the vicinity, and they took their measures accordingly.</p> + +<p>Philip was partial to the sea: he was clever in the management of a +boat, and was in the habit of taking trips, now and then, with some +seafaring friends. He was preparing for one of these excursions, when +the press-gang caught him near the harbour, dressed in a blue jacket and +trousers; and the unfortunate youth was immediately dragged from his +native place, without even being suffered to bid farewell to his +parents; and it was with the greatest difficulty that he obtained leave +to inform them of what had befallen him. Indeed, the first news they +heard of him was, that he was on board a tender, and destined to sail in +the first fleet that left England.</p> + +<p>Philip Harley has hitherto appeared in no very respectable light. That +he was a desperate trespasser and depredator is the most favourable +opinion that can be formed of him; yet there were people in the +neighbourhood, who, having known Philip from his infancy, ventured to +think that he had met with harsh treatment, and that his heart, once so +good and upright, must have undergone an extraordinary change, or that +he had received great provocation, to be guilty of such daring outrages.</p> + +<p>There is an excellent saying, which, though old and trite, it is +sometimes necessary to bear in mind: namely, "That one story is good +till another is told."—There was, in truth, some little excuse for +Philip's conduct; though he certainly deserved blame, and even +punishment, for giving up every proper pursuit and feeling to the +gratification of resentment.</p> + +<p>Before Lord Robert's return from his long voyage, Philip Harley was +considered as gentle in disposition, as he was manly and high-spirited. +At this time, he was just sixteen, and had begun to make himself useful +in his father's business, which was that of a carpenter.</p> + +<p>His father was rather independent in his circumstances; and his whole +family consisted of two children—this Philip, and a lovely little blind +girl, called Kate. This unhappy sister (if a creature in the practice of +the most angelic patience can be called <i>unhappy</i>) was the darling of +Philip's heart. Every spare minute he devoted to amusing and caressing +this child, who was many years younger than himself; and she returned +his love with the most grateful affection. The cottage where they lived +fronted the west, and could be seen from the London road; and blind Kate +used to take her evening seat on the threshold, waiting to hear the +step of this beloved brother on his return from work; with her fair face +and glittering curls turned to the setting sun—with a divine expression +of hope and peace on her innocent countenance, that attracted the +admiration of every passenger.</p> + +<p>Philip had a very large spaniel, one of the handsomest of that beautiful +species. This creature he had reared from a puppy, and taught to be +obedient to his sister; and in his absence Rover was her only source of +amusement; but he was, indeed, a most faithful and attached attendant, +serving both for a guard and guide.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Kate would walk on the road before the cottage, with her fair +hands grasping Rover's silky coat, who would restrain his natural +vivacity to guide the darkling steps of his little mistress. At other +times, when the sun shone warm and bright, and the grass was soft and +thick, Kate was as full of frolic and play as Rover himself, and would +gambol with him a whole spring-day on the lawn in front of the cottage; +but as the evening approached, Kate and Rover took their station at the +cottage-door, and greeted the return of Philip with the utmost joy. Both +were most dear to Philip: he tenderly loved his suffering sister; and +he loved the faithful dog for her sake. It is not surprising, therefore, +that Philip was almost broken-hearted when Kate fell sick, and after a +few days expired. True, she was removed to a better place. Philip knew +that she was taken in mercy, as her lot in this world was one of +peculiar hardship; but he could not bear to lose her; and he and Rover +moped in the most cheerless manner for many days after the funeral.</p> + +<p>It was some little time before this that Lord Robert returned to the +hall, after several years' absence. He had promised himself much +pleasure from the autumnal field-sports; but in this amusement, as in +every other occupation, he was too apt to suffer trifles to ruffle his +temper, and make him violent and unreasonable.</p> + +<p>One gloomy October evening, Lord Robert was returning with his gun and +dogs through the park, attended by a gamekeeper. He had pursued his +amusement that day with very little success: everything had gone wrong; +the dogs had pointed badly, and his new fowling-piece, that had cost him +twenty guineas only the week before, had hung fire several times, at +the very moment when the game sprang before him the finest mark +possible. In short, he had suffered disappointment enough to vex the +heart of the most patient person in the world, who had never in his life +felt what real affliction was. At this unlucky minute, it was Philip +Harley's ill fortune to cross the park by a public footway that led +through the grounds. It was the first day Philip had resumed his work +since the death of his sister; and he was walking in a melancholy way, +carrying his basket of tools, with his eyes fixed on the ground, +attending very little to what was passing around him, and Rover was +trudging by his side, when, unluckily, just as Lord Robert came up to +him, a hare darted out of some bushes, and Rover scampered after it.</p> + +<p>"That is the way all the game is poached off the estate!" exclaimed Lord +Robert in a fit of passion; and, yielding to the influence of temper, he +levelled his gun at the dog. The piece, that had so many times missed +fire that day, now rang sharp and true: the faithful creature was +mortally wounded; he crawled feebly to his master's feet, and expired. +Philip hung over his poor dog, while he saw him die, with anguish that +gave a painful sensation to Lord Robert; yet still, under the dominion +of temper, he said to his servant—</p> + +<p>"What a fool the fellow makes of himself about a dog!"</p> + +<p>Philip lifted the body of his poor favourite from the ground, and taking +it in his arms, rushed by the young lord, giving him a look of contempt +and indignation as he passed.</p> + +<p>"It is the dog that used to lead about his blind sister," said the +humane gamekeeper. "She is just dead."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert then remembered meeting Kate and the dog when he first came +home: he had patted her curly head and admired her beauty.</p> + +<p>"Was it blind Kate's dog?" said Lord Robert. "Had I known that, he might +have destroyed every head of game on the estate before I would have shot +him."</p> + +<p>Perhaps, had Philip heard this half acknowledgment of error, much evil +might have been prevented. The next time he met the young noble, it was +with the most bitter feelings. He considered that Lord Robert had +wantonly murdered the innocent companion of his sister; and all the +grief he felt for her loss was turned into rage. Contemptuous words +succeeded angry looks: and these ere not to be borne by Lord Robert's +untamed spirit; though he felt greatly displeased with himself, and +would have given half his fortune to have recalled the past, yet he +would not bear Philip's reproaches. A very little provoked him to strike +him, and a desperate encounter ensued. This was followed by many others; +for Philip neglected all his better pursuits to gratify his revenge; he +lay in wait to attack Lord Robert, and took every opportunity of defying +him; till the most ferocious hatred took place between the two youths, +which led to the consequences we have already seen. In one instance, +however, Philip was wrongfully accused, as he never had stained his +hands with dishonest practices. Lord Robert well knew that the dog's +accidentally chasing the hare was perfectly involuntary on the part of +Philip, who was scarcely conscious of it before the poor animal was put +to death.</p> + +<p>This incident had given Lord Robert Summers great mental pain: he was as +angry with himself as with Philip Harley; he could not bear to think of +his conduct in this affair—he could not bear to recall any circumstance +relating to it; and only the <i>name</i> of Philip Harley gave him the +greatest uneasiness. Yet he was not conscious that the whole of this +uneasiness sprang from giving the reins one moment to ungovernable +temper; for it was neither Philip nor his dog that had offended or +irritated him; but accidental circumstances had put him in a very ill +humour, and he vented his temper on the first beings that crossed his +path, and, by that means, he was induced to commit an act of cruelty and +oppression really foreign to his own disposition, and which outraged the +best feelings of a fellow-creature, already under the pressure of acute +affliction. If young people will look into their own hearts, they will +find that there is no frailty belonging to our erring nature so +deceptive as <i>temper</i>. Strange as it may appear, it often happens that +many individuals, when they express anger, generally wreak it on the +last person who would have thought of exciting it. Some unfortunate +servant, or still more unhappy dependant, is made the victim of ill +humour; which is not only in itself as blind and erring as it is unjust, +but also brings with it the additional pain of self-reproach. Yet the +heart is not always bad that gives way to its evil dominion; but it is +for want of self-examination—of saying, "I find myself mentally uneasy, +perhaps from accidental events, or even from indisposition of body; why +then should I make myself odious to this person, who is in my power, and +must endure my ill treatment, when a little patience and forbearance +will remove the cloud that rests on my mind, and my spirit will rise +bright and unclouded, rejoicing in the consciousness of having overcome +one of the most painful infirmities of human nature?" This +self-confession (if it may be so called) will bring mental health, and +rectify the most irritable disposition.</p> + +<p>Never did a month seem so long, as the time appeared to Lord Robert +Summers while he remained on shore. He parted from his noble relatives +with the less regret as he longed to be at sea, to lose in active +employment the memory of these errors and mortifying reflections.</p> + +<p>This young nobleman had passed his examination as lieutenant with the +greatest credit; and in a severe engagement between his uncle's ship and +a French man-of-war of superior force (which ended in the capture of the +Frenchman), Lord Robert Summers behaved with such distinguished valour, +that he was considered, both for intrepidity and nautical skill, a most +promising young officer; yet, on account of his youth, being but just +sixteen, he did not expect his commission for some time to come. In this +idea, however, he was agreeably deceived; for, before the Diomede put to +sea, he received his commission as lieutenant. Lord Robert was greatly +attached to his profession; and this early promotion, which he was +conscious was less the effect of interest than desert, seemed to him the +first fruits of a brilliant career of naval honours.</p> + +<p>He was received with transport by Sir Henry Stanley; who, himself an +ornament to the British navy, foresaw, in the early valour of this +beloved nephew, the glory of a Vernon or a Rodney. The Diomede had +received sailing orders; Lord Robert, in high spirits, and joyful +expectation of future triumphs, was in one of his happiest humours, when +a boat from a tender came alongside the Diomede, with a supply of +pressed men to recruit the ship's company.</p> + +<p>"Summers, are you ill?" asked a young officer, with whom Lord Robert was +gaily conversing; when a sudden alteration became observable in his +voice and manner, and his cheek was overspread with a deadly paleness. +Lord Robert did not hear him, being wholly occupied in watching the +progress of a young sailor up the ship's side.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Cary repeated the question, but received no answer; and, +supposing that Lord Robert was troubled with one of his occasional fits +of patrician haughtiness, and being to the full as high-spirited as +himself, left him to his contemplations. These were of no pleasant +nature; for though emaciated, ragged, and dirty, and in many respects +different from the handsome youth he had lately seen, the young sailor +(who by this time stood on the deck of the Diomede) was Philip Harley! +He now felt that his dislike and abhorrence had arisen to a more +intolerable degree than ever; he fretted at the perverse accident that +had thrown this hated object in his way, and actually proceeded some +paces to request his uncle to remove Philip Harley from the ship; but +then he recollected that he should most likely be forced to enter into +particulars that he detested to recall, besides giving his enemy reason +to suppose that the presence or absence of so abject a creature could +be of the least consequence to him.</p> + +<p>"No," said he to himself, "let him remain; he will, in the discipline of +a man-of-war, be cured perhaps of his audacity, and learn submission to +proper authority." This was the result of Lord Robert's debate with +himself. At first, he had been a little touched by Philip's pale and +altered countenance; but, on a second glance, he found his enemy had +recognised him, and returned his glance with a look so full of reproach +and contempt, that Lord Robert vowed within himself that his haughty +spirit should be broken.</p> + +<p>Alas, for Philip! he needed no worse enemy than himself. Instead of a +manly resignation to what he knew was unavoidable, and a determination +to perform his duties so well as to gain respect from the crew—instead +of pursuing this course, which would have partly defeated the hatred of +his enemy,—he continued so sullen and contrary, that no means, whether +good or bad, could bring him out of his fits of obstinacy. There needed +no interference of Lord Robert's to bring on him the most severe and +cruel punishments. But no bodily pain could subdue Philip; disgrace and +suffering only rendered him furious and desperate; and he was considered +mutinous and ungovernable to such a degree, that he passed the first +three months of a seafaring life in a succession of confinement and +punishment.</p> + +<p>Had young Harley, instead of such headstrong conduct, exerted his real +abilities as a seaman, applied himself to his profession, and shown his +officers and commanders, that, though a mere youth, he could hand, reef, +and steer, as well as the most experienced seaman,—and this, added to +the sober and moral conduct natural to him, with an education and +manners far above his station in life, joined to a stout and active +body, and undaunted courage;—these qualifications would have created +respect in every one, and in no one more than his just and upright +commander; and his persecutor must have exposed his motives before he +could have injured him: <i>now</i> he was fully in his power, and Lord Robert +vowed that he should most submissively implore his pardon for all his +transgressions, before he should find any mercy.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell what to make of that lad," said Lieutenant Cary to Lord +Robert, as the boatswain was untying Harley from a gun, where he had +borne, with Spartan firmness, the infliction of a cruel punishment, +which his wilful disobedience had brought on him: "he neither drinks nor +swears, nor associates with the more dissolute part of the crew: but we +have more trouble with him than with the most abandoned reprobate. Yet +he seems to me to be meant for better things."</p> + +<p>Cary said this as a sort of encouragement to the unfortunate youth, +whose manly endurance of extreme suffering had touched his heart.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" returned Lord Robert, with a contemptuous laugh, "mutiny and +disobedience are nothing new to this fellow; his conduct at sea only +matches his behaviour on land—he was always what you now see him!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis false! <i>You</i> have made me what I am," said Philip, with a +withering look.</p> + +<p>"False!" exclaimed Lord Robert, striking Philip as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Yes, oppressor, false!" repeated Philip, returning the blow.</p> + +<p>Cary, from a principle of humanity, tried to stay his arm; but Philip +was too quick for him. "Madman!" said he, in a tone of regret, "you have +forfeited your life!"</p> + +<p>"Then let him take it if he will! Thank God, it will be the last injury +he can do me!" said Philip, resigning his hands with composure to the +fetters with which he was immediately bound.</p> + +<p>Harley was considered on board ship so desperate a mutineer, that it was +judged necessary to chain him down to the deck, lest, in his fits of +rage, as he seemed so careless of his own life, he should set fire to +the vessel, and destroy himself and the ship's company together. Here, +then, exposed to the sun by day and the dews by night, with less liberty +than the savage beast, the wretched youth awaited the certain fate to +which, on their arrival in the first port, the laws of war would doom +him, for striking an officer on duty.</p> + +<p>At this period, the ship and her convoy were approaching the coast of +Brazil; they had hitherto enjoyed a prosperous voyage, with fair winds +and weather, and a healthy passage. The Diomede was destined to convoy a +fleet of merchant-ships bound for the Portuguese settlement of Rio de +Janeiro. Before they neared the Brazilian shore, they descried a sail, +which proved to be a French man-of-war, of nearly equal strength with +their own. Scarcely had the Diomede recognised her for an enemy, before +another sail appeared, which was soon known to be her consort. These +ships had been stationed to intercept our richly-freighted merchantmen. +The defenceless merchant-ships dispersed in every direction, leaving the +valiant Diomede to bear the thunders of the unequal combat. This +engagement was a fortunate circumstance for the unhappy Harley. I +believe it is a usual thing for seamen under confinement for mutiny to +be released before an engagement: however this may be, Philip was set at +liberty, by the orders of the Captain.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Cary was the officer appointed to set him free. "Harley," +said he, "you have shown a bold spirit in a bad cause; let us now see +what you can do for your country. It will be my duty to head the +boarding-party. Let me see you near me!"</p> + +<p>"You <i>shall</i> see me near you!" said young Harley, grasping the cutlass +which Cary put into his hand: "I would do much for you! You are the only +man who has felt for me as a fellow-creature since I was torn from my +home."</p> + +<p>By this time the decks were cleared; and, everything being prepared for +action on both sides, the Frenchmen approached pretty close. During the +awful pause, while this unequal force bore down upon them, perhaps even +some of the boldest hearts felt a chill of anxiety; for they were not +fighting now for wealth or conquest, but for life, liberty, and the +honour of their flag,—that flag which they had borne in triumph round +half the world, and which had never yet been lowered to a foe. True, the +odds against them were tremendous; but they were British seamen, and +would not doubt the result. Yet there was the heart of one amongst them +that throbbed high with desperate ardour for the combat, with the hope +of redeeming disgrace, and showing that he was worthy a better fate than +the death of a felon.</p> + +<p>The engagement was long and sanguinary; but British valour at length +prevailed, and the French ships were forced to sheer off in a shattered +condition, leaving the Diomede little better than a wreck on the mid +ocean. The retreat of the enemy was, however, a glorious and hard-earned +triumph; and the brave officers and crew of the Diomede were conscious +of having performed their duty, and protected the charge committed to +their care by their country.</p> + +<p>After matters were a little set to rights on deck, and the officers had +assembled round their gallant Captain, to congratulate him on the +retreat of the enemy, Sir Henry Stanley ordered the young mutineer to be +brought before him. Philip made his appearance, pale and bleeding, but +with a determined countenance.</p> + +<p>"Young man," said Sir Henry, "you have done your duty to-day. I have to +thank you for twice saving the life of my friend, Lieutenant Cary: he +speaks highly of your conduct in boarding. Your offences are +forgiven—you may return to your duty; and, I hope, from this day, your +conduct will be as remarkable for obedience, as it has before been the +reverse."</p> + +<p>Philip raised his eyes to his commander's face, and reading there an +expression of manly pity and candour, he was so completely softened by +conduct which he little expected from Lord Robert's uncle, that he said, +with tears, he had acted wrong, and would spend his best blood, or even +his life, if required, to amend his fault.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Sir Henry, "ask pardon of Lord Robert Summers for the +outrage you have committed, and all will be well, if you persevere in +your good resolutions."</p> + +<p>"I will ask <i>your</i> pardon, Sir Henry, on my knees, for having rebelled +against so good and gracious a commander, and for having struck one of +<i>your</i> officers; but I cannot ask forgiveness of Lord Robert Summers, +since he was the first to injure me, long before I saw this ship."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert, who stood by his uncle's side, gave him a disdainful look; +Philip's eyes answered scorn with scorn.</p> + +<p>"No conditions, sir!" said his captain; "they don't become you. But pray +how has my nephew injured you?"</p> + +<p>"Lord Robert can inform you," said Philip.</p> + +<p>"I perceive," said Sir Henry, "there has been some misunderstanding +between you and my nephew, before you came on board the Diomede; but +this is no excuse for your uniformly rebellious conduct. Had you done +your duty as a British sailor, you would have met with encouragement and +mild treatment. My nephew, dear as he is to me, could not have +influenced me to commit an act of injustice against any individual of my +ship's company. Go, and get your hurts examined; and let me have reason +to praise your future conduct."</p> + +<p>Philip bowed to his commander with gratitude and respect, and retired.</p> + +<p>It is certain that "misfortunes never come alone." Scarcely had the +convoy re-assembled, and the Diomede repaired some of the injuries she +had sustained in the action, when a furious gale sprang up, and +threatened the most mischievous consequences to the ship, in her +shattered condition.</p> + +<p>Towards midnight, the ship sprang so much water, that all hands were +obliged to spell the pumps. About two in the morning, the wind lulled, +and they flattered themselves that the gale was breaking. Soon after, +there was much thunder and lightning, with rain; when it began to blow +strong in gusts of wind, which obliged them to haul up the main-sail, +the ship being then under bare poles. This was scarcely done, when a +gust of wind, exceeding everything of the kind they had ever any +conception of, laid the ship on her beam-ends. The water forsook the +hold and appeared between the decks, so as to fill the men's hammocks +to leeward; the ship lay motionless, and to all appearance irrecoverably +overset. The water increasing fast, the captain gave directions to cut +away the main and mizen masts,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> hoping, when the ship righted, to wear +her. The mizen-mast went first, without the smallest effect on the ship. +The main-mast followed; and they had the mortification to see the +foremast and bow-sprit follow also. The ship, upon this, immediately +righted, but with great violence; and the motion was so quick, that it +was difficult for the people to work the pumps.</p> + +<p>Every moveable was destroyed, either by the shot thrown loose from the +lockers, or from the wreck of the deck. The masts had not been over the +side ten minutes, before the tiller broke short in the rudder-head; and +before the checks could be placed, the rudder itself was gone. Thus they +were as much disastered as possible, lying at the mercy of the wind. +These circumstances appeared sufficiently alarming; but upon opening the +after-hold, to get up some rum for the people, they found their +condition much more so in reality.</p> + +<p>It will be necessary to mention, that the ship's hold was enclosed by a +bulk-head at the after-part of the well.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> Here were all the dry +provisions, and the ship's rum, stowed upon ten chaldrons of coal, +which, unfortunately, had been started in this part of the ship, and by +them the pumps were continually choked. At this time it was observed +that the water had not a passage to the well; all the rum (twenty-six +puncheons), all the provisions in casks, were stove; having floated with +violence from side to side, until there was not a whole cask remaining: +even the staves, that were found upon clearing the hold, were most of +them broken in two or three pieces. In the fore-hold they had the +prospect of perishing. Should the ship swim, they had no water but what +remained in the ground tier; and over this all the wet provisions in +barrels were floating, with so much motion, that no man could go into +the hold without the risk of his life. There was nothing left, but to +try baling with buckets at the fore-hatchway and fish-room; and twelve +large canvas buckets were immediately employed in each. On opening the +fish-room, they were so fortunate as to discover that two puncheons of +rum had escaped. They were immediately got up, and served out in drams; +and had it not been for this relief, and some lime-juice, the people +would have dropped.</p> + +<p>They soon found their account in baling: a spare pump had been put down +the fore-hatchway, and a pump shifted to the fish-room; but the motion +of the ship had washed the coals so small, that they had reached every +part of the ship, and these pumps were soon choked. However, the water +by noon had considerably diminished by working the buckets; but there +appeared no prospect of saving the ship, if the gale continued. The +labour was too great to hold out without water, yet the people worked +without a murmur, and, indeed, with cheerfulness. But their sufferings +for want of water were very great, and many of them could not be +restrained from drinking salt water. They fired many guns of distress, +in hopes some of the merchant-ships might approach and give them some +supply; but on the beginning of the storm they had run before the wind, +and made some port on the coast of Brazil,—an example which the Diomede +would have been glad to follow before the hurricane began, but her +crippled state from the engagement rendered this impossible.</p> + +<p>Towards morning, some of the most resolute of the seamen, rendered +desperate by thirst, went down into the hold, and found a whole +water-cask, which they contrived to heave up, and it afforded a +seasonable relief.</p> + +<p>All the officers and boys, who were not of the profession of seamen, had +been employed that night in thrumming a sail, which was passed under +the ship's bottom with good effect. The spars were raised for the +foremast; the weather looked promising, and they had the prospect of a +fine day;—it proved so; and they were determined to make use of it, +with every possible exertion. The captain divided the ship's company, +with the officers attending them, into parties, to raise the jury +foremast, to heave overboard the lower deck guns,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> to clear the wrecks +of the fore and after holds, to prepare a machine for steering the ship, +and to work the pumps. By night, as the leak was stopped, the after-hold +was quite clear, ten chaldrons of coals having been baled out since the +commencement of the gale.</p> + +<p>The standards of the cockpit, an immense quantity of staves and wood, +and part of the lining of the ship, were thrown overboard, that, if the +water should appear again in the hold, they might have no impediment in +baling.</p> + +<p>The Diomede, in this condition, exhibited a scene seldom witnessed,—a +line-of-battle ship without masts or rudder, a mere shell in the midst +of the ocean. The casks of all sorts, floating from side to side, were +stove, and the magazines and store-rooms of every kind washed down.</p> + +<p>By nightfall the foremast was secured, and the machine for steering +fixed; so that, if the moderate weather continued, they were in hopes of +steering the ship, the following day, for the coast of Brazil—the +violence of the wind having driven them far out of their course.</p> + +<p>During this time of peril and hardship, Sir Henry Stanley could not help +observing with satisfaction the altered conduct of young Harley, who was +so active, enterprising, and courageous, that no difficulty could +overcome him, and no hardship make him complain. He seemed to think the +benign looks of Sir Henry Stanley, ever bent with peculiar complacency +on those who performed their duties with manly firmness, were a reward +for the most painful exertions. All the officers, indeed, noticed the +altered conduct of the young mutineer: no traces remained of his former +rebellion, except that of his returning the haughty glances of Lord +Robert Summers with equal fierceness, when they chanced to meet in the +performance of their arduous duties. But nothing could induce him to +return the taunts this young officer sometimes bestowed on him with +disrespectful language. Depending on the justice of his captain, he bore +all in unmoved silence; indeed, his Lordship (who considered Philip as +too much his inferior to give him the opportunity of joining in a +warfare of words) never condescended to address any provoking speeches +<i>to</i> him, but always <i>at</i> him. One would have thought that such +frightful circumstances would have tamed the haughtiest minds; but they +both required still severer trials to wring the black spot from their +hearts.</p> + +<p>The ship, in this perilous state, was in the middle of the great +Atlantic, nearly under the equinoctial line, with the water-casks beat +to pieces, and most of the provisions spoiled; so that if, by especial +providence, the ship should swim, so as to reach a port on the Brazilian +coast, the crew would suffer the most cruel hardships from +thirst—painful at all times, but intolerable in these burning +latitudes. In this dilemma, some of the people descried land; and they +hoped it was one of those small islands on which the Portuguese have +little settlements to supply their ships, which trade to Africa, with +water and needful refreshments. This island, like those of St. Helena +and Ascension, appeared rocky and volcanic; but there were good hopes +that springs of water might be discovered on it, if any of the crew +could be found enterprising enough to effect a landing, with such a sea, +and on such a coast; for, though the gale had lulled, the breakers were +furiously high on the shore.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert Summers, daring and ardent, and much preferring danger to +the lingering agonies of thirst, volunteered to command a boat, if any +of the crew would venture themselves under his guidance. Three of the +most experienced seamen offered to man the boat; but five hands were +indispensable. His Lordship said that he himself would steer the boat, +if one more seaman would venture. Philip Harley volunteered his +assistance. "Any one but him!" muttered Lord Robert between his shut +teeth, incensed that Philip should show that his courage was equal to +his own: however, as his services were offered for the public good, he +thought proper, although very unwillingly and ungraciously, to accept +them, and the boat was lowered. Sir Henry Stanley bade adieu to his +gallant nephew with pain; but he did not attempt to withhold him, dear +as he was, from the benefit he was proposing to render the ship's +company. When the boat got among the breakers, the prospect of landing +appeared so hazardous, that one of the oldest of the seamen, who rowed +the boat, proposed returning to the ship. Lord Robert, considering +himself accountable for the lives of the men under his care, would not +insist on their continuing their efforts, but said:</p> + +<p>"My brave fellows! If the attempt seem to you hopeless, I will not urge +you to continue it; but if my single life only were at stake I would +willingly risk it to obtain a supply of water for our famishing +companions."</p> + +<p>The sailors then determined to persevere, their recent sufferings from +thirst being fresh in their minds. At length, by a desperate effort, +they gained the shore, and landed their water-casks. They soon found a +pure spring, which gushed from a rocky hill at some little distance from +the shore: there was a large wooden cross erected on an eminence, at the +spring head; but they found no Portuguese guard at the spring, which is +usual in a settlement in those latitudes; so they presumed the island +was uninhabited. The land seemed barren, rocky, and desolate; but, after +some research, they found, in a sheltered valley, a few fine lime and +cocoa-nut trees, which had evidently been planted by some beneficent +navigator. Gathering cocoa-nuts is no very easy operation, as they +adhere in close bunches to the crown of the tree by tough ligaments; but +as young Harley had brought his axe and saw to cut wood for firing, he +climbed the trees, while his comrades were filling the water-casks, and +expeditiously obtained a good number, both of limes and cocoa-nuts, +which he considered would be an acceptable refreshment to his exhausted +companions on board the Diomede.</p> + +<p>While they were thus employed, Lord Robert hailed them from the beach, +where he remained to watch the boat.</p> + +<p>"Come, my lads!" said he, "the gale freshens every minute; let us get +afloat, or we shall scarcely reach the ship before nightfall."</p> + +<p>The sailors hurried the water-casks and store of fruit into the boat, +and launched her among the breakers. With infinite toil, they got out of +the surf with safety, as the wind now blew off the shore; but the +furious gusts came every moment with increasing strength; and, at last, +a surge rose with such overwhelming violence, that, in spite of all +their efforts, the boat upset, and her unhappy crew were engulfed in the +roaring waters. Their fate was beheld from the ship; but no aid could be +given, as the renewed hurricane had rendered her state more deplorable +than ever: she was driven before the wind, and soon lost sight of this +fatal island.</p> + +<p>Some of the boat's crew struggled a little time with the waves; but +three of them were old men, and had been exhausted by the fatigues they +had lately undergone. These speedily sank; but Lord Robert, being young +and robust, strove hard for life, and at length gained the shore, almost +exhausted by his contentions with the surfy breakers. When he had a +little recovered his breath, he climbed the hill on which the cross was +erected, and gazed towards the ship, which he saw driving before the +wind, surrounded by foaming billows, and with every appearance of +speedily sharing the fate he had so lately escaped. Wholly occupied in +the thoughts of the revered friend that ship contained, he forgot his +own desolate state, till the last appearance of the ship vanished, and +he found himself alone.</p> + +<p>Oppressed with sad thoughts, he turned himself from the contemplation of +the wrathful ocean, now blackening with the sudden night of the torrid +zone, and after a little search, found a low arch in the rock, which was +the entrance to a natural hollow in its side. Into this place he crept, +to shelter himself from the inclemency of the storm, which increased +with tenfold fury after sunset.</p> + +<p>In this situation he passed the night which succeeded this dismal day. +It was a night of peculiar horror—tempestuous, dark, and rainy; and +Lord Robert, though in a state of complete exhaustion, found that, in +his late struggle with the breakers, he had received so many bruises, +that to sleep was impossible. At intervals, as the lightning gleamed on +the stormy expanse of waters before him, he thought how many of his +brave companions, in all probability, slept beneath its roaring waves; +and at that moment, instead of returning thanks to Heaven for his own +preservation, he felt inclined to envy his comrades. To be entirely shut +out from all intercourse with his fellow-creatures, never again to hear +the sound of a human voice, and to be condemned, in the very bloom of +youth, to pine away existence in that desolate place, far from every +friend, appeared a doom so dreadful, that he was insensibly led to +reflect for what crime so heavy a punishment could have befallen him.</p> + +<p>Conscience, which sometimes sleeps, but never dies, did not fail, in +this awful hour, to recall to his memory the cruelty and injustice of +his conduct to Philip Harley: and when he reflected that, to gratify his +imperious disposition and implacable spirit of revenge, the poor lad had +been dragged from his peaceful home, his honest employment, and his +affectionate parents, to endure a series of hardships and perils, and +that he had finally suffered an untimely death,—this thought gave him +so keen a pang of remorse, that, as if he expected from change of place +to escape from memory, he started from his rocky pillow, and, as the day +was now beginning to dawn, proceeded to the beach, to ascertain whether +any of his friends from the ship had been so fortunate as to gain the +shore; for, he remembered, his uncle had given orders to have the +pinnace and yawl in readiness, in case the ship's situation should +become desperate, that an attempt might be made to preserve the lives of +part of the crew.</p> + +<p>For some time, he pursued his melancholy walk, interrupted only by the +dismal sight of pieces of wreck, which the impetuous waves from time to +time dashed at his feet. The sea now running in high tide on the shore, +inspired him with the hope of seeing the pinnace and boats, or rafts +from the wreck; and that some, at least, of the ship's company might be +so fortunate as to reach the island with life. The sun, rising brightly +over the stormy ocean, discovered something struggling with the waves at +no great distance. Lord Robert felt the most agonizing sensations at the +idea that it was out of his power to render any assistance. All he could +do was to wave his handkerchief, from the little rocky promontory on +which he stood, and to shout with all his strength, to encourage him in +his efforts. At that moment, a tremendous wave engulfed the object of +his solicitude,—it sank, and his heart sank with it;—again it rose and +neared the shore;—but its efforts grew fainter and fainter;—and Lord +Robert, fearing that its strength would fail, though so near the shore, +regardless of his own safety, dashed through the breakers to render his +assistance, cheering as he did so. At the sound of his voice, the poor +creature appeared to recover his strength, and, struggling through the +breakers, sprang towards him with a joyful cry.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my poor Neptune! Is it you?" exclaimed Lord Robert, with mingled +anguish and pleasure, as he threw his arms round the faithful animal, +and gave vent to his feelings with a burst of tears. "Yes!" said he, as +he threw himself on the beach in bitter sorrow, "the Diomede must indeed +have foundered, or my kind, my benevolent uncle, would never have +committed this old memorial of his lost nephew to the mercy of the +waves, for the sake of lightening the vessel, or saving the morsel of +food he would have consumed." But again remembering the chance that some +of the crew might be saved by the pinnace, and condemning the indulgence +of his grief, he rose, and, dripping as he was, pursued his search, +attended by his faithful Neptune, who bounded round him with joyful +affection. In the course of his walk, he found some limes and cocoa-nuts +scattered on the beach; and, yielding to the painful thirst that +consumed him, he raised one of the limes to his parched lips, when he +recollected that they were some of the fruit young Harley had gathered, +and was carrying to the ship at the time the boat was upset, and the +unfortunate youth had been buried in the waves. This thought recalled +the bitter reflections he had with difficulty succeeded in banishing +from his mind; and when he remembered that, though he had not been the +immediate, he had certainly been the ultimate cause of his death, he +sickened at the thought, and casting the untasted fruit from him, he +said, "No; I cannot eat these!" Proceeding on his walk, he gained the +spot where he had landed with his unfortunate companions the day +before. He sighed deeply as he passed it; and, doubling a projection of +rock, he discovered the pinnace, floating bottom upwards close in shore. +At that sight, the most agonizing in the world to the heart of a sailor, +he turned away, and wept almost to suffocation. For some moments, he +continued to give way to the grief which oppressed him, till roused from +the indulgence of his feelings by a loud and joyful bark from Neptune, +and, uncovering his eyes, he perceived a young sailor, whose face was +turned from him, gazing on the pinnace, apparently in as melancholy a +mood as himself. This doubtless was the only one of her unfortunate crew +who had escaped the violence of the waves; and Lord Robert, losing all +distinction of rank in the fellowship of misfortune, sprang towards him +with open arms, exclaiming, in a voice broken by emotion—"What cheer, +my lad?" At the sound of his voice, the young man turned slowly round, +and discovered a face pale with contending feelings—it was Philip +Harley! For a moment, the two enemies surveyed each other in silence; +each wondering at the other's preservation; each somewhat softened by +the traces of sorrow and suffering in the countenance of the +other,—but, alas! each mutually yielding to the same stubborn and +haughty temper which had so long been the spring of all that was evil in +their separate characters, they surveyed each other with a look of +defiance, and walked gloomily away in opposite directions.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert certainly did feel his heart relieved of half the painful +emotions which had, for the last ten hours, oppressed it almost to +bursting; and as he retraced his steps almost instinctively to his +cheerless chamber in the rock, where he had spent that dreadful night, +he exclaimed, "Thank God, he lives! I am not then his murderer! It is +true, that entire solitude would have been much more agreeable to me, +than the idea of breathing the same air with him, and being constantly +exposed to the chance of meeting him; but that is more than compensated +by the knowledge that he lives, and is, indeed, no worse off than +myself."</p> + +<p>Thus did Lord Robert compose his troubled thoughts, and lull to sleep +those better feelings which almost prompted him, at the first sight of +young Harley, to make such advances towards amity, as would have been +pleasing in the sight of God, and even in that of his enemy, whose +heart, naturally kind and good, had been greatly softened by the awful +circumstances under which their last interview had taken place. Besides, +he had been an unseen spectator of Lord Robert's manly but acute sorrow, +when he beheld, in the deplorable situation of the pinnace, a +confirmation of his worst fears respecting the fate of his uncle and +friends. He, too, had been weeping; for he reverenced Sir Henry Stanley, +and loved Lieutenant Cary; and he was disposed to behold even Lord +Robert with complacency, for their sakes; for he knew he was very dear +to them both; and when he saw the agony with which Lord Robert staggered +forward, on reaching the spot which commanded this melancholy sight, and +heard his repeated sobs, he felt his hatred towards him so much +diminished, that he was forced to recollect all the injuries he had +received from this young officer, before he could sufficiently repel the +inclination he felt to speak to him in the voice of kindness and +comfort. Lord Robert had hitherto appeared to him haughty, rude, and +unfeeling; and Philip knew not that this spoiled child of prosperity +possessed at times much sensibility, strong affections, and feelings, +which, had they been properly directed, would have been conducive to the +happiness of all around him; instead of which, his unchecked passions +produced danger and inconvenience to all who, even unintentionally, +irritated them, and misery to their unhappy possessor, far beyond what +he had ever inflicted on others.</p> + +<p>But Philip was in many respects too like his adversary in character; and +he never took the trouble of asking his own heart, if he were not +sometimes to blame, as well as his high-born enemy. If Lord Robert was +haughty, Philip was insolent; if one was hasty in giving a provocation, +the other was still more so in retaliating. Had Philip for one moment +remembered that most divine maxim of holy writ, "A soft answer turneth +away wrath," and had he been sufficiently of a Christian disposition to +practise it in <i>one</i> instance only, Lord Robert would have been +appeased; and what mischief might have been spared, what suffering +avoided, on one side! and what painful remorse on the other! When Philip +beheld Lord Robert's tears, his first emotion was surprise; and he said +to himself, "Can he weep? <i>he</i> that is so hard-hearted and proud!" and +then the thought occurred to him, "Perhaps his heart is not so very hard +as I have reason to believe?" Philip was not uncandid; and he remembered +then, that he had often thrown himself in Lord Robert's way, and +committed many outrages, on purpose to provoke him. For the first time +in his life, he put himself in his Lordship's place, and asked his own +heart, whether he were sure, under such circumstances, that he should +have acted better? But Philip was not yet sufficiently acquainted with +the faults of his own character, to see that he had been almost equally +blameable; and though, perhaps, he would not have refused to forgive, he +had no idea that <i>he too</i> required to be forgiven, if not by his erring +fellow-creature, at least by his heavenly Father. Had <i>this</i> occurred to +him, he would not have renewed their suspended enmity, by being the +first to assume a look of defiance, while Lord Robert was undecided what +course to pursue: but the favourable moment was unfortunately lost; for +Lord Robert returned the glance with equal disdain, and they were as +much at variance as before.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert had returned to the cleft in the rock, and thrown himself at +full length, lost in unpleasant and bitter reflections for some hours, +before the cravings of hunger reminded him that it was necessary to make +some exertion for the preservation of that life which Heaven had spared; +but perhaps he would, in his gloomy frame of mind, have disregarded his +own wants, and remained obstinate in his self-neglect, had not the mute +appeals of his faithful Neptune roused him from inertion. Neptune was a +fine water-dog, a present from his elder brother at parting; and Lord +Robert, who had long desired to possess this animal, treated him with +the most unbounded affection; and always suffered him to share every +meal with him, and even divided with him his share of food and water +during their late dreadful privations; and Neptune, who had not tasted +food for many hours, continued to put his paws on his master's knees, +and to survey him with a wishful look, till Lord Robert rose, and left +the cave in search of something to satisfy his cravings. Amongst his +other troubles, he had little fear of perishing by famine; for he knew, +by the latitude he was in, that he should most likely find turtle, or +turtles' eggs, on the beach. In fact, while he was listlessly pacing the +shore, thinking of anything rather than the object of his search, +Neptune, who was not quite so uninterested, pounced on something in a +hole in the sand, which proved to be a fine turtle. His master soon +killed it, and satisfied the hunger of his humble friend with part of +the flesh; and then, in a more leisurely manner, set about collecting +pieces of wreck to make a fire; but, alas! he was wholly unpractised in +the sleight of striking a few sparks to kindle a flame. It is true, he +knew how they were to be procured, and soon found a flint proper for the +purpose: but in striking it with the back of his knife, he only rubbed +the skin off his hands, and bruised his knuckles, without producing the +desired effect; or, if he did elicit a few sparks, they died away for +want of proper kindling. This put him in a passion, and he redoubled his +violence till he broke the flint into a thousand pieces; and sat down in +a very ill humour, looking at his pile of wood and his raw turtle with +much discontent. At last he recollected, that if he could not cook his +turtle, he could quench his thirst at the clear spring they had +discovered on their first landing: this he soon found, and was much +refreshed by a draught from it. At a small distance, within view of the +spring, he saw the little grove of limes and cocoas in the valley; there +he beheld, with some little envy, a bright blazing fire, near which +Philip was employed cooking his supper. He hastily avoided the spot, and +returned to the beach, where he found in the sand some turtles' eggs, +which he could eat raw, and with them satisfied the calls of hunger. He +then lay down on his flinty couch, with Neptune for a pillow; and, being +completely exhausted by fatigue, notwithstanding his distress and +discontent, sank into a profound sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning saw him still perplexed with those minor difficulties. +For though he could bear, with heroic self-denial, the hardships +incidental to his profession, and had not taken a morsel more food, or a +drop more water, in their late distress on board ship, than any other of +the suffering crew, and had even shared his scanty morsel with his +famishing dog, this he <i>could</i> do, for he felt there was something noble +and refined in such conduct; but he felt sadly irritated at being thrown +on his own resources in the little common everyday necessaries of life. +From his infancy, he had been surrounded by servants, who were +accustomed to perform for him the most minute services, so that at +seventeen his Lordship (though a valiant officer, and perfect in his +professional duties,) was ignorant of many things very necessary for +every one to know; and if he was acquainted with the methods resorted to +in many situations, he was at least very awkward in his attempts of +putting them into practice. However, on this occasion, making use of his +own good sense, after a little calm reflection, he collected from the +sides of the rock some dry grey moss, and, drawing some rays from the +sun in the focus of a little perspective glass he had in his pocket, he +soon set his pile of wood in a blaze, and cooked sufficient turtle to +feed him for a day or two.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely completed this employment, when the sun, which had for +days been shaded by tempestuous clouds, broke forth with its usual +splendour; and there was promise of a continuance of that sultry weather +so seldom interrupted in these latitudes. Lord Robert, when he felt the +sun beat on his uncovered temples, fled for shelter to his cave, which +he found nearly of the same temperature as an oven half heated. Panting +for breath, he remembered the grove, of which Philip had taken +possession, and bent his steps towards it; but he found that this spot +of verdure did not consist of more than a rood of land; and he did not +choose to be so near young Harley as the farthest extremity of its +shelter. So he remained on the burning beach, or under the shade of some +arid rock, during the day, determining to make a tour of the island in +the cool of the evening, and hoping to fix his residence in some shady +vale similar to Philip's territories. But how can his disappointment be +expressed, when, after a most fatiguing walk, all the good he gained was +a knowledge of the extent of his prison? He had in vain searched for a +grove; barren rocks and burning sands alone met his sight: at last, he +climbed a conical hill, which towered above the other rocks, and which, +from his geological knowledge, he was certain contained the exhausted +crater of a volcano. Here he had a view of every nook of the island, +which was of the extent of about five miles, and presented a prospect of +one pile of horrid rocks heaped on another, without one spot of +fertility, except Philip's little cluster of trees, whose bright verdure +formed a refreshing contrast to the burning rocks, which seemed yet to +glow with the intense heat that had been poured on them through the +day. As he fixed his eyes wistfully on this favoured spot, and saw the +smoke of Philip's evening fire curling above the trees, he exclaimed, +"Yes; I must, though most reluctantly, share this only habitable place +with him; for such a day as the last I cannot endure again. Doubtless, +this grove was planted by some benevolent navigator (such as I have +often read of) on the soil formed by the accidental residence of +sea-birds; and the grass and trees<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> have gradually spread over a small +extent of land. Surely, as it was meant for universal benefit, I have a +right to a share of it." So saying, he descended the hill, and after a +toilsome walk arrived at the grove after nightfall, where he enjoyed the +luxury of stretching his aching limbs on the soft grass, under the +fragrant shade of a lime-tree, and slept soundly till after sunrise. He +awoke in the morning with the cheerful sound of a human voice singing, +and on opening his eyes, saw Philip Harley, a few paces from him, busy +at work. He was astonished to see the progress his enemy had made in +forming himself a habitation; for he had got very forward in the +frame-work of a neat hut, and was now boarding it in with planks, which +he had collected on the beach, singing as he knocked in every nail. This +hut was situated among the thickest cluster of trees, directly under a +fine young vine, the only one in the island; and as Philip roofed his +hut, he carefully trained the rich branches all over the dwelling, +taking care not to injure the purpling fruit, which was nearly ripe; +thus giving his hut, as soon as it was finished, the charming appearance +of a bower.</p> + +<p>Overcome by the heat of the climate, Lord Robert lay for a day or two +wholly inactive, stretched beneath his lime-tree, amusing himself with +playing with Neptune, or when he thought he was unperceived, watching +the progress of his enemy's work, but not condescending to address one +word to him; who, on his part, preserved the same sullen silence. Lord +Robert could not help wondering how Harley came by the saw and hatchet +which he handled with so much adroitness; but he would not condescend to +ask him. The fact was, that when Philip and the sailors were called away +from gathering the cocoas, Philip, in his hurry had left the saw and +hatchet at the foot of the tree; and there he found them when he +regained the land. Possessed of these treasures, he made himself a +hammer of a hollow stone; and, drawing nails out of the wreck, he set to +work, and soon completed his hut. But when he proceeded to make a stool +and table, Lord Robert was moved to some exertion; for he thought, that +if he could make himself something of the kind to place under his +lime-tree, he should not regret the hut his adversary seemed so proud +of; and he was determined to try to construct some such articles of +comfort and convenience. He accordingly went to the beach, and soon +collected timber, from which he selected pieces with which he meant to +try to form a table and three-legged stool. He would willingly have +worked on the beach, out of the impertinent ken of his enemy: but the +intolerable heat soon drove him back to the delicious shade of the +grove, where a perpetual breeze seemed to play amongst the leaves; and +thither he reluctantly proceeded, carrying the wood, and followed by +Neptune. Sorry I am to record, that when Philip saw his haughty enemy +appear thus laden, he paused in his work with a malicious curiosity to +see how Lord Robert would acquit himself in his new employment. The +first thing he did was to tear a bough or two off a tree, meaning to cut +three truncheons to form the legs of his stool. It was lignum vitæ wood, +extremely hard; and Lord Robert eyed Philip's saw, which just then would +have been of great service to him, but he disdained to ask the loan of +it. So he seated himself on the turf, and began to cut the legs with his +pocket-knife (his only tool) with great difficulty; then he chose from +the fragments of wreck a small piece of square wood, and marked with +his pencil the holes he designed to make; he then walked, in a very +stately manner, to Philip's fire, and taking from thence three hot +coals, he laid them on his pencilled marks, and kept renewing them till +the wood was nearly burnt through; then he scraped through the burnt +wood, till he had got three holes; into these he knocked his truncheons +with a great stone, and placed his stool on the ground to admire his own +ingenuity; but he had knocked one leg more and another less, so that +their lengths were unequal, and down the stool fell. Philip, who had +seen this defect all the time, was highly diverted at his +disappointment, when the stool fell, particularly when he saw how it +irritated Lord Robert's impatient temper. At last, overcoming his +inclination to laugh, he said: "You must shorten the middle leg of your +stool, or it will never stand;" at the same time pushing his rule and +saw towards his Lordship, who rejected them with great disdain, +saying—"Do you think that I can condescend to learn the low mechanic +art of a <i>carpenter</i>?" And he laid a most contemptuous stress on the +word <i>carpenter</i>.</p> + +<p>Philip coloured with indignation, as he replied, "Perhaps your +<i>Lordship</i> will in a little time see which is of most service in this +place, <i>your</i> title, or <i>my</i> useful knowledge."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert haughtily flung back the rule and saw, and began to shorten +the leg with his knife. This was a work of time and difficulty: the wood +was hard, and the knife unfit for the purpose, and, worse than all, Lord +Robert was very awkward in his mechanical attempts; but he was unusually +so in this, for he was in a pet, and he saw that Philip watched him and +enjoyed his unskilful manœuvres. This had the effect of enraging and +confusing him; and, in his anger, the knife slipped and cut his knuckles +across. He glanced at Philip, and saw him smile. This greatly provoked +him, and he darted towards his enemy a furious look; but Philip +continued to survey his operations with a calm but sarcastic regard. The +next thing Lord Robert did was to set his knife so fast in the wood that +he could not move it. Philip smiled again; and Lord Robert, out of all +patience, used so violent an effort to get it free, that the blade +snapped in the middle, and, starting up in a passion, he dashed the +stool violently against the ground. Philip laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Insolent plebeian!" exclaimed Lord Robert; "do you presume to insult +me?"</p> + +<p>"Lord Robert Summers," replied Philip, "I would advise you to remember, +that you are neither in your father's park, nor on the deck of the +Diomede, where your imperious temper might be feared and indulged: but +here we are equals; and any outrage, either of words or actions, shall +meet with instant chastisement. I would therefore advise your Lordship +to be more guarded in your language, for it may be followed by +consequences which you may not approve!"</p> + +<p>"Villain!" retorted Lord Robert, "do you forget that I am your +commanding officer?"</p> + +<p>"No!" returned Philip, becoming greatly agitated as certain +recollections crossed his mind; "no:—you have put it out of my power +ever to forget that you were once enabled to gratify your ungenerous +malice to the utmost stretch of your power. Basely and cruelly did you +trample on me, when you knew that to resist the authority you abused was +impossible. I <i>was</i> your victim, but am so no longer! And," continued +he, advancing very close to Lord Robert, "beware how you provoke me to +take such signal vengeance for all the injuries you have inflicted on +me, as shall teach your proud heart to rue the hour that ever you made +Philip Harley the companion of your voyage!"</p> + +<p>There was an expression so terrible in Philip's eyes as he spoke these +words, that Lord Robert, stout-hearted as he was, (and there never was a +braver officer,) changed colour; but in a moment recovering his intrepid +spirit and haughty bearing, he flashed back a look of defiance, and +assumed a posture of defence.</p> + +<p>"It is unnecessary," said Philip; "I am not going to attack you. You +have in many contests proved the strength of this arm: that it always +was superior to yours, I scarcely need remind you. That your late +injuries have not unnerved it, you may well believe; but, as long as you +observe a temperate line of conduct, and discontinue addressing me by +opprobrious names, you need not fear its force."</p> + +<p>"Fear!" repeated Lord Robert indignantly: "I fear God; and have no other +fear! Dost thou imagine that I fear aught like thee?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," replied Philip; "but I would advise you not to provoke me +unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>So saying, he retired within his hut, leaving Lord Robert speechless +with contending emotions. He was indeed much ruffled by the short but +fierce altercation which had passed between himself and young Harley; +and the more so, when he reflected that Philip's bodily strength was +superior to his own, and that his high rank would be of no avail to him +in this desolate place, as Philip had very unceremoniously told him: and +as his own conscience whispered that he had formerly offered him the +most dreadful provocation, he could scarcely be astonished if Philip, +now that he was the more powerful, should meditate retaliation, and +take, as he threatened, unbounded vengeance for all that he had suffered +on board the Diomede and elsewhere.</p> + +<p>He was reluctant to abandon this sheltered and beautiful spot; but he +preferred returning to his dreary cleft in the rock, to residing in the +valley, where Philip had erected his dwelling; considering the heat and +barrenness of the rest of the island as far less evils than the company +of Philip, whose very sight, after the threats he had used, was most +intolerable to him: and Lord Robert felt that he could not bend his +haughty spirit to practise the civility and moderation which Philip had +recommended, lest this behaviour should be construed into fear of his +superior force. On the other hand, he reflected that if he persisted in +his natural imperiousness, so far as to provoke Philip to a personal +contest with him, the languor incidental to the climate had so much +enervated him, that, to maintain a combat with such an adversary as +young Harley had often proved himself to be, with the slightest prospect +of success, was impossible, and would only expose him to insult and +contempt, and perhaps even to more disgraceful treatment, from his +justly incensed enemy. To avoid such consequences, he judged it most +suitable to his dignity to retire; and, whistling to Neptune to follow +him, he slowly and sullenly returned to the beach, leaving Philip in +uninterrupted possession of the Valley of Limes.</p> + +<p>Though Philip, still smarting under the remembrance of the many injuries +he had received from Lord Robert, had, on the haughty expressions of +contempt uttered by that young officer, used threats which were most +irritating to his proud spirit, he by no means designed to proceed to +personal hostilities; for Philip was, in spite of all his faults, too +really generous to exert in this instance the advantages his superior +strength gave him; and he was far from intending to drive his companion +in misfortune from the only spot in the island capable of affording him +any of the comforts of life. In short, he expected that when Lord Robert +had vented his displeasure in a solitary walk, he would return to the +valley. When Philip's temper cooled, he began to reflect on the luxuries +Lord Robert had been accustomed to from his cradle; he thought how +severely his high-born adversary must feel the privations to which he +was now exposed; and his heart smote him for having, by his provoking +ridicule, occasioned that ebullition of feeling which had vented itself +in expressions of wrathful contempt, which he, on his part, (not +considering the provocation was of his own giving,) had been so ready to +return; and that their mutual recriminations had induced him to utter +menaces, which had driven his companion in misfortune from an employment +necessary even for the preservation of his existence.</p> + +<p>Occupied by these thoughts, Philip often paused in his work, and looked +round to see if Lord Robert had returned to the valley, and listened for +his step with anxiety; but he did not come. Night arrived, and Philip +did not see him reposing under his favourite lime-tree; and he felt out +of humour with himself, for being the cause of keeping him away.</p> + +<p>From some uneasy self-reproaches, he did not taste at night the calm +repose which generally follows a day of labour; on the contrary, he felt +that evening some of those painful feelings of remorse which had so +often tortured Lord Robert, but which had never been experienced by +himself before; and he now remembered that, though Lord Robert had +ill-treated him, yet there <i>was</i> a difference in their rank, and that it +was brutal in him to threaten a high-spirited and elegant young man with +personal violence when they were united in the same distress: and that +Lord Robert's contemptuous expressions were caused by his laughter at +that which was a serious misfortune to his high-born foe; namely, his +want of skill in mechanics, and the mischance of breaking his knife, the +loss of which was irreparable, and would perhaps deprive him, on some +occasions, even of the means of procuring food.</p> + +<p>Philip would have repaired to the beach, to see what had become of Lord +Robert; but he thought it probable that some new cause of offence might +arise between them. However, in the afternoon, he had occasion to visit +the beach to search for some pieces of wreck. When he reached the shore, +he found there had been a very high tide the preceding night, and many +articles were scattered on the sand; as staves, pieces of rope, and +splinters from the mast. These Philip carefully collected, and placed +above high-water mark, lest they should be washed to sea again. In the +course of this important avocation, he approached the cave where Lord +Robert had again taken up his residence: but he had been too busily +engaged to think of him, till his eye was attracted by the flash of his +epaulet in the evening sun; and he saw him, at a little distance, +bending over some employment, in which he was too much occupied to +perceive the approach of Philip, who was tempted to draw near enough to +ascertain what it was that so deeply engaged his attention; but he did +so somewhat cautiously, lest he should again give offence. He soon was +near enough to discover that Lord Robert's employment was that of +digging a grave in the sand, with a butt-stave, and near him lay the +bodies of five seamen, which the high tide had washed on shore, close +to the entrance of Lord Robert's cave. Philip felt a bitter pang as he +gazed on the lifeless remains of his unfortunate messmates; and seizing +another stave, he placed himself opposite to Lord Robert, and began to +assist in the sad duty; but neither spoke.</p> + +<p>One of the bodies was that of a midshipman, whom Lord Robert had loved; +and as he now proceeded to place his remains in the narrow bed he had +scooped for him with so much toil, his tears fell fast on the face of +the deceased. When he attempted to raise him from the shingle, to lay +him decently in the grave, the effort was too much for him. Philip +immediately sprang forwards and assisted him, otherwise the corpse would +have fallen from his grasp. He did not reject the aid of his foe; but he +did not even glance at him in return. In silence they began their +melancholy task; in silence they proceeded in it; and the moon had risen +high and shone with splendour by the time they had dug the last grave, +when unfortunately, as they placed the seaman in the "house appointed +for all living," Philip recognised his features: it was the boatswain of +the Diomede! A crowd of agonizing feelings passed through Philip's +breast, as he recollected that from this man's hand he had received such +disgraceful punishment. He first turned pale, and then scarlet; and it +recurred to his mind, that this person had only been the passive +instrument obeying the orders of others.</p> + +<p>"It was thy malice, tyrant! that added this worst wrong to all the +rest," thought he. True, he did not utter these words: but he regarded +Lord Robert with a look, in which hatred and rage were but too visibly +painted to escape his Lordship's observation, though he was ignorant of +the cause of it; but he thought it shocking of Philip to take the +opportunity of insulting him at such an awful time, particularly when he +had condescended to <i>permit</i> his assistance; and he returned Philip's +indignant look in so disdainful a manner, that, scarcely conscious that +he was the first himself to renew hostilities, Philip took fire, and +provokingly reminded his Lordship "that his haughty looks were useless, +when directed to him; and he advised him to reserve them for those who +cared for them, if he could find any such in the island."</p> + +<p>"To the full as many as will endure your low-bred insolence," returned +Lord Robert with equal scorn. "However, Mr. Harley, if I might +condescend to speak to you in the language of entreaty, it would be to +request the favour of your absence. You have taken possession of the +only habitable spot in the island, and <i>I</i> have not attempted to deprive +you of it; and I think the least you can do, in return for my +moderation, is to leave me undisturbed on my barren domain."</p> + +<p>"If all my security were the <i>moderation</i> of Lord Robert Summers," +replied Philip with a contemptuous laugh, "I should be as soon driven +from my dwelling here as I was forced from the home of my parents: but +here I can, by the strength of my own right hand, maintain my rights; +and whoever attempts to invade them, may chance to repent of his folly."</p> + +<p>As Philip uttered this threat, he finished casting the last heap of sand +on the boatswain's grave; on which, apparently exhausted with fatigue, +Lord Robert had seated himself. The sight of these bodies had recalled +the fate of his uncle, and he had been lately weeping bitterly; and when +young Harley observed his tearful eyes, and the evident languor and +despondency visible in his whole appearance, his conscience again smote +him; he remembered what he had so lately suffered from self-reproach; +and he reflected, that if he so much abused the mere bodily superiority +his strength gave him, it was by no means wonderful that when Lord +Robert possessed so much power, he should exert it when offended.</p> + +<p>He paused, and looked earnestly at Lord Robert. The moon shone brightly +on his face; the flush of resentment had faded from it; and he looked so +ill, and there was such an expression of hopeless dejection in his eyes, +that Philip was greatly touched; and he even thought of apologizing to +him for what he had lately said, and of entreating him to return with +him to the Valley of Limes. While he yet hesitated, Lord Robert looked +up, and waved his hand impatiently for him to be gone: and Philip, +finding that the conquest of his own pride was too great an effort to be +made at that time, retired to his home, self-condemned and unhappy.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert continued sitting on the grave, in a listless attitude, +leaning his head on his hand, almost unconscious that he was alone. The +faintness and languor which had been for some time stealing on him, +seemed so wholly overpowering, as even to take away the inclination of +retorting Philip's last innuendo; but now, though the words still rang +upon his ear, and he fully understood their meaning to comprise +reproach, insult, and threat, either of which was sufficient to put his +proud spirit in a flame, yet he was conscious of a growing confusion in +his own mind, which seemed to prevent his forming a suitable reply; and, +for the first time in his life, he found himself unwilling to continue +the war of words. He felt an impatient desire of quiet; and, forgetful +that Philip would most likely pay no attention to his mandate, he +motioned for him to retire, with no little of his habitual air of +superiority. Philip, however, <i>did</i> obey in this instance. Lord Robert, +after some minutes, raised his aching head from his hand, and, looking +round to see if he were gone, uttered an expression of satisfaction at +finding himself alone.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert's naturally fine constitution had been greatly impaired +since his residence in the island, by the pain of mind he had suffered +from the loss of his uncle and friends, the remorse he felt for his +numerous errors, joined to his discontent and impatience at being +placed in a situation so uncongenial to all his former habits. Besides, +he suffered from the hardships which he was forced to endure: sleeping +on the flinty rock, or passing the night on the turf under the +lime-tree—a most unhealthy practice—for the dews were very heavy, and, +in common to all hot countries, very noxious to those who were exposed +to their influence.</p> + +<p>He had lost his hat when the boat was overset; and, trivial as this loss +may appear to the natives of a temperate climate, it was attended with +very painful consequences to Lord Robert, on whose head the rays of the +sun fell with unmitigated violence, and occasioned him the most acute +headache whenever he was exposed to the noon-day heat. After his retreat +from the Valley of Limes, he had for many hours paced the beach in a +tumult of rage, with the perpendicular rays of a tropical sun darting on +his uncovered head. The night he had passed without sleep; and, early in +the morning, he found the remains of the unfortunate seamen. He was ill +and feverish; and it was only by a strong effort that he so far overcame +his painful languor as to attempt the necessary but mournful task of +giving them burial.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the heat of the day, and the toilsome task he was +engaged in, he experienced repeated fits of shivering; the burning rays +of the sun pouring on his head, though they occasioned the most acute +pain, failed to impart warmth to his frame. This was accompanied with so +strong a disinclination to move, that he several times paused in the +course of digging the first grave; and, yielding to the sickly lassitude +which oppressed him, he retired to his cave; but that commanding a full +view of the poor seamen, the dreadful sight roused him from his +inactivity, and again he proceeded in his mournful work. He had scarcely +completed digging one grave with great toil and pain, and was wondering +how it would be possible for him, ill as he was, to go through the whole +business of interment, when Philip appeared and afforded his powerful +aid. This was too valuable to be rejected; and he felt grateful for the +silent manner in which he tendered his assistance and worked by his +side; and he was about to thank him for his services, when, on raising +his head for that purpose, he caught the offensive look which has +already been mentioned. Lord Robert, lost in his own sad thoughts, did +not perceive the <i>reason</i> of this. Had he, indeed, recognised the +features of the boatswain in the person they were burying, perhaps the +same idea might have occurred to him. But, after having interred his +friend, he had sedulously averted his eyes from the faces of the dead. +Ignorant, therefore, of Philip's motives for renewed indignation, he +returned his hostile glance, and the second contention ensued.</p> + +<p>The rest of the night Lord Robert passed in a sort of stupor, seated on +the boatswain's grave; from which he felt unable to rise through extreme +exhaustion. The first rays of the sun drove him for shelter to the cave. +His thirst was excessive; and he had no means of allaying it, unless he +proceeded either to the Valley of Limes or the spring of water. The +remembrance of Philip induced him to prefer the latter; and thither, +with some difficulty, he crept rather than walked. Having drank +profusely, he filled a large shell for a supply in the cave; for he +thought it probable he should never be able to perform another journey +to the stream; and slowly and faintly returned to his comfortless +dwelling in the rock. The chills of the preceding day had terminated in +the burning heat of raging fever; and as he retraced his melancholy +steps through the sand, which reflected the intolerable rays of the sun +to his eyes, and surveyed the barren rocks and frightful basalts of +which the island was composed, he with a bitter sigh recalled the +verdure of his father's park, and the shades of his native groves which +bounded that beautiful domain.</p> + +<p>"But these," said Lord Robert, "I shall never see again: I shall perish +on this arid, frightful spot, without a living creature near who cares +for me, except my poor Neptune!—And you, my tender mother, who are so +benevolently solicitous to provide comforts for the sick poor, what +would be your feelings, could you see your unhappy son stretched on this +burning flint!" continued he, as entering the rocky chamber, he sank +exhausted on the floor. He thought his death was near; yet he felt far +from being in a proper frame of mind to die. Like too many of the young +and thoughtless, if he were not profane, he was careless in matters of +religion; in this awful moment, a thousand instances of neglect and +offence against his Creator occurred to his mind; and he felt that he +would have given worlds, had he possessed them, for a few hours of the +time he had so often abused.</p> + +<p>He recollected, too, with bitter regret, his pride, imperiousness, and +implacability of disposition; of this, his conduct to young Harley was a +frightful instance; he vainly wished he could have recalled the <i>past</i>, +but that was not in his power; and he felt it very doubtful, if for him +a <i>future</i> in this world would be granted. The present was all he could +call his own; and it behoved him to make the best use he could of the +precious moments that were yet allowed him to make his peace with God. +But, alas! the confusion incidental to fever had already attacked his +brain; and, though he felt the necessity of penitence and prayer, it was +no longer in his power to collect his wandering thoughts, so as to raise +a single petition to the Throne of Mercy. He was sensible that he was on +the brink of eternity; yet the minutes passed rapidly away, leaving his +mind in a state between reason and delirium, yet conscious of his +danger, and the importance of that time which was ebbing from him for +ever.</p> + +<p>His bodily sufferings, too, were dreadful. Burning with fever, he had no +means of quenching his thirst—he had long since drained the last drop +from the shell, and could not replenish it; for the next morning saw him +raving in delirium, or sunk in long and death-like fits of stupor, from +which his faithful Neptune strove in vain to arouse him by his caresses.</p> + +<p>Philip, in the mean time, had returned to his comfortable hut in the +Valley of Limes, and laid himself down to rest; but the image of Lord +Robert, pale and languid as he had seen him seated on the boatswain's +grave after their last altercation, pursued him when awake, and haunted +his slumbers when he closed his eyes in sleep. In the morning, Philip +sedulously pursued his useful employments, to divert these painful +thoughts. He had discovered on the other side of the island some grass, +the only natural production of the place, growing in long, dry, silky +tufts out of the clefts of the rocks. He had cut several bundles of this +grass, and braided it into a soft, thick mat; this mat he had fixed on a +frame-work which he had made, and formed it into a most comfortable +couch, rolling one end of the mat over for a pillow. He was so +completely occupied and pleased with this employment, that he did not +think of Lord Robert, till, on stretching his limbs upon this excellent +bed, he remembered how differently his unfortunate enemy would sleep +that night. He recollected that he had seen nothing of him in the Valley +of Limes that day; and when he recalled the reproaches and threats he +had used the day before, and reflected on Lord Robert's high spirit, he +thought it probable that he would endure every suffering, rather than +improve his condition by procuring anything from that spot. Of Neptune, +Philip had seen nothing since the preceding day, when he had once +visited the valley, and begged for a share of his dinner; for Lord +Robert had peevishly chidden the dog for his importunities; indeed, he +had nothing to give him, being too ill to go in search of food. Philip, +who was very fond of Neptune, and had been accustomed to caress him when +Lord Robert was out of sight, had fed him, and expected to see him +again, but he did not come; and Philip thought it likely that Lord +Robert was very ill; and he again bitterly regretted having used such +expressions as had driven him from the valley.</p> + +<p>The next day, Philip again visited the beach, where he had never been +before in the meridian heat of the day, and when he experienced the +blinding effects of the sunbeams, which soon occasioned him to feel, +though in a lesser degree, one of those headaches that had continually +tortured his more delicate rival, he wondered where Lord Robert could +find shelter from the intense heat. Actuated by more humane motives than +mere curiosity, he continued to pace the beach, determining not to +return till he had seen Lord Robert. For some time he pursued his +solitary walk, without discovering the object of his research. The sight +of the seamen's graves redoubled his pain of mind. When he remembered +the hopeless dejection visible in Lord Robert's face, so different from +his usual animated expression of countenance, and combined it with the +illness so apparent in his whole person, the thought crossed his mind, +that he might have expired without a human creature near him. Philip +shuddered as this dreadful idea presented itself. He was busy with +self-accusing thoughts, when he paused before Lord Robert's cave, +wishing, yet unwilling, to enter, when Neptune sprang from the interior +part of it, and bounding round him, looked up wistfully in his face, +and returned, as if to invite him to follow. This Philip could not +prevail on himself to do. After waiting a few minutes, Neptune came +again; and, laying hold of his jacket with his teeth, endeavoured to +draw him into the cave—looking at him in such an imploring manner, that +Philip could no longer resist his entreaties, not withstanding the +reluctance he felt at intruding himself into Lord Robert's presence.</p> + +<p>On entering the cave he beheld the unfortunate young nobleman stretched +on the flinty floor in a stupor, so nearly resembling death, that Philip +started back in horror; and so much had the violence of the disorder +changed the appearance of his once beautiful countenance, that his +dearest friends would scarcely have recognised his convulsed and livid +features. On a second glance, Philip discovered that he still breathed, +but was unconscious of his approach. His heavy eyes, half closed and +fixed, had lost their expression of spirit and intelligence; his lips +appeared parched and burning; and his light brown ringlets hung in +disordered profusion, tangled and neglected, over his forehead.</p> + +<p>At this heart-rending sight, Philip, forgetful of the enmity that had +subsisted between him and the unhappy sufferer, turned away, and wept +bitterly. It was with feelings of the most bitter compunction he +recalled the altercation that had passed over the boatswain's +grave—particularly when he experienced the stifling closeness of the +cave, where he felt a difficulty in respiring; and reflected, that his +menaces had had the effect of driving Lord Robert from the only +temperate spot on the island.</p> + +<p>Philip could form some idea of his Lordship's sufferings, from the +recollection of an autumnal fever which had attacked him in his +childhood, and nearly brought him to the brink of the grave; he +remembered how much he had suffered from thirst, and the relief he had +felt from some ices which the Marchioness, Lord Robert's mother, had +brought him in her carriage. That noble lady had supplied him with the +most delicate fruits from the hothouse; and his mother believed that +these ices and fruits, which he took with so much avidity, had saved his +life.</p> + +<p>"And yet," said Philip, "wretch that I am! I see her darling son, +through the criminal indulgence of my resentful feelings towards him, +reduced to a state so deplorable, that, if his fond mother could behold +him, the sight would kill her."</p> + +<p>Here Philip was interrupted by Lord Robert's trying to articulate +something; but so very faint was the attempt, that it was not till he +had knelt down by his side, and raised his head on his arm, that he +could catch his imperfect accents, or distinguish what he intended to +express. Alas! it was but one word—"<i>Water!</i>" and that repeated +incessantly, in tones of agony, which Philip, some years after that +melancholy period, declared that night and day he strove in vain to +forget: and at that moment, when he beheld the parched and blackening +lips from which those sounds proceeded, they pierced his heart with an +anguish no tongue can describe. Fortunately he had a lime in his pocket, +with the juice of which he moistened the sufferer's mouth. Some minutes +elapsed before this appeared to have the least effect; but at length his +Lordship became conscious of the relief, and swallowed with avidity the +cooling fluid; and, opening his languid eyes, he turned them on Philip +with an expression of gratitude which overpaid him for his exertions. It +was evident, however, that he took him for some other person; for, +extending his arms towards him, he called him "Augustus! his beloved +brother!" and besought him in the most pathetic manner, "to remove him +from that horrid place, and to let him have a better bed than the hard +one on which he lay, which he assured him had sadly bruised his body."</p> + +<p>"Alas! poor sufferer!" said Philip, "if you knew to whom you were +addressing these tender names and moving petitions for assistance, your +proud spirit would make you reject my aid with scorn, and you would +perish rather than accept it."</p> + +<p>"However," continued he, "though I fear my help comes too late, yet you +shall at least die in a more comfortable place than this dreary cave."</p> + +<p>So saying, with some exertion of his strength, he raised the sufferer, +who had again relapsed into a state of insensibility, from the ground; +and, taking him in his arms, he proceeded to carry him to the Valley of +Limes.</p> + +<p>The touch of his dry and burning hand gave a sensation of pain to +Philip, when it came in contact with his own, and his head dropped in +powerless languor on his shoulder. Philip rested by the spring of water, +and bathed Lord Robert's face and hands in the cool element: this seemed +to revive him a little, and he drank eagerly from a shell of water which +Philip held to his burning lips. Had it not been for this refreshment, +the sufferer must have expired from thirst and exhaustion before they +arrived at the valley. As it was, he appeared to endure so much pain +from his exposure to the heat of the sun, that Philip uttered an +expression of thankfulness when he reached the shelter of the hut, and +laid his helpless burden on the couch of matting within it. But Lord +Robert had swooned from weakness and fatigue, and lay for many hours +without motion or sensation.</p> + +<p>Philip now busied himself in procuring a large supply both of water and +limes; and, mixing the juice of the limes in water, continually bathed +the sufferer's hands and temples with this refreshing liquid, watching +anxiously for returning life. The next day Lord Robert opened his eyes, +and expressed his surprise and pleasure at finding his condition so much +improved. But his reason was lost in delirium; he talked incessantly; +and, addressing Philip by the name of his brother, bestowed on him the +most endearing expressions of affection and described to him the +particulars of his illness, and all his dreadful privations, in a manner +pathetically minute.</p> + +<p>Philip, deeply interested, and forgetting that he spoke under the +influence of delirium, anxiously exclaimed, "Why did you not return to +the Valley of Limes?"—"Because," replied his Lordship, wholly +unconscious to whom he spoke, "I was ill and alone, and totally unable +to cope with that insolent Harley, who menaced me with his superior +strength."</p> + +<p>Philip started at hearing his name so mentioned; and Lord Robert +continued at intervals to speak on this subject, sometimes passionately +blaming himself; and at other times, with all the inconsistency of +delirium, bitterly complaining of Philip.</p> + +<p>Philip was greatly surprised and agitated, when, after much unconnected +wandering, Lord Robert said: "You, Augustus, always blamed me about that +Philip Harley, and said you knew him to be an estimable youth, and that +he had been hardly used through a prejudice I had against him; but what +would you have thought, Augustus, had you seen him clench his hand and +threaten your unhappy brother with personal ill-treatment, when he was +too ill to defend himself from his violence?"</p> + +<p>Philip blushed deeply when he heard this; for he remembered using this +gesture in the vehemence of his last wrathful address to Lord Robert; +and now that he found how ill he had been at that time, he felt doubly +ashamed of having suffered himself to be so transported by passion.</p> + +<p>From these self-reproaches he was again roused by Lord Robert's +speaking; but he had wandered to a different subject, and evidently +imagined himself at his own home, for he demanded "ices, peaches, and +strawberries," in a tone of feverish impatience; and Philip was at a +loss how to satisfy these cravings; but when at last Lord Robert +mentioned "grapes," Philip remembered those that were ripening on the +roof of the hut, and hastened to see if any were fit to eat; though his +patient, in a tone of displeasure, called him to return and send a +servant to execute his orders, for he did not choose to be left alone. +This was, however, unavoidable; and in a moment he returned with a rich +cluster, perfectly ripe. Lord Robert eagerly seized them, with an +exclamation of joy; but he was reduced to such a state of weakness, that +he was unable to convey them to his mouth; and resigning the cluster to +Philip, begged him to feed him. Philip obeyed, and attended to all his +whims with the greatest patience. At length, exhausted by the volubility +of delirium, he sank again into a death-like stupor, in which he lay, +without sense or motion, the whole of the night, and till the next day +was far advanced.</p> + +<p>Philip, who had continued to bathe his hands and face at intervals, +perceived by the painful motion of his lips that he wanted something to +drink. Philip raised his head, and supported it on his bosom, while he +held to his lips a shell full of the juice of limes and grapes. Lord +Robert drank this delicious beverage eagerly; then opening his eyes, +which Philip thought would never again have unclosed, he looked up in +his face, as if to thank him for the relief; and Philip saw by the +expression of wonder and astonishment in those eyes, so lately fixed and +rayless, that he knew him, and was no longer under the influence of +delirium. A deep crimson mounted to his pallid cheek, as he +said—"Harley, I don't deserve this kindness at <i>your</i> hands:" and with +a deep sigh he again relapsed into insensibility. The sound of his +voice, and the manner in which he pronounced this short sentence, +thrilled to Philip's heart; and he hung over him with a tender interest, +watching the progress of his disorder with the most intense anxiety. +Philip had been little accustomed to witness illness: he had scarcely +ever watched by a sick-bed, with the exception of the illness of his +sister, who had died; but death had laid so gentle a hand on her, that +her decease rather resembled the withering of a flower than the passage +of a mortal to the grave: far different from the terrific advances of a +raging tropical fever, which brought Lord Robert, through stages of +exquisite suffering, nearly to the eve of dissolution.</p> + +<p>The sight of these sufferings had extinguished the last spark of +animosity in Philip's bosom; and it was with feelings nearly allied to +those with which he contemplated the death-bed of that beloved sister, +that he awaited the termination of Lord Robert's disorder. That it would +be fatal he doubted not, for he watched in vain for a second interval +of reason; but day after day passed, without the slightest intermission +of suffering; but the fever seemed rather to increase in violence, and +his Lordship's wanderings from reason assumed a more gloomy character, +in which the most unbounded expressions of self-reproach had a principal +share. No longer petulant and impatient, he appeared sunk in the deepest +despondency; and this turn in the disease alarmed Philip more than his +most extravagant fits of raving. It was truly awful to see a +fellow-creature, and, alas! a very erring one, on the brink of eternity, +without a ray of reason being granted him to prepare to meet his great +account. It then occurred to Philip, that many of the faults of which +the unhappy sufferer accused himself, had been occasioned by his own +pertinacity in throwing himself in his way, and provoking him to violent +conduct; by that means setting his fiery temper in a blaze, and causing +his evil passions to be ever uppermost, till they prompted him to commit +those injuries for which he now suffered the most bitter remorse.</p> + +<p>"Had I avoided him half as carefully as I sought him," exclaimed Philip, +"he would soon have forgotten an individual so much beneath his own +rank. I am accountable for many of his errors. True, he abused his power +on board the Diomede; but how have I behaved since our residence on this +island?"</p> + +<p>Philip pursued these self-accusing reflections as he was kneeling by +Lord Robert's side, and fanning him with the wing of a sea-fowl, which +Neptune had brought him the day before. The weather had been intensely +hot, and attended with thunder and lightning; but as the day declined, +some heavy rain descended, which had the effect of cooling the burning +earth. This salutary change produced an alteration in Lord Robert, who +opening his eyes, gazed round him in indescribable astonishment. At last +he said, "Where am I? How came I here?"</p> + +<p>"Be composed, my Lord," said Philip, much agitated; for he had long +dreaded the moment when Lord Robert would ask this question, and he had +meditated to address such words to him as would soothe his proud +feelings; but he found that he could not speak; he only regarded his +Lordship with a troubled countenance, dropping the feathers with which, +till now, he had continued to fan him.</p> + +<p>"Harley," said Lord Robert, the flush of fever fading to a deadly +paleness as he spoke, "I now comprehend my situation; cease to oppress +me with this unmerited kindness!" Then speaking in a less collected +manner: "No! it must not be! I have injured you too deeply! Go, leave +the oppressor to die alone; I saw <i>you</i> suffering, and did not pity you; +and it is not fit for the merciless to receive mercy!"</p> + +<p>He turned away his face, and covered it with his emaciated hands; but +Philip knew, by the convulsive heaving of his bosom, that he was +weeping. Philip, from a feeling of delicacy, withdrew to a little +distance, to avoid the intrusive appearance of watching Lord Robert's +emotions; and he feared to increase his agitation, or offend his proud +spirit, by even offering a word of comfort. Yet his caution was +unnecessary, for the tears Lord Robert shed were not those of humbled +pride, but they were those of a broken and contrite spirit; they were +such tears as would occasion joy in Heaven, for they were those of true +penitence; and Lord Robert was not ashamed of indulging in them, neither +did he seek to conceal their traces from Philip, when he turned his eyes +towards him, and motioned him to approach.</p> + +<p>"Harley," said he, "can you forgive me?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Lord," said Philip, "I have to the full as much reason to ask +your forgiveness. We have both erred, from the indulgence of an +implacable temper; and if you repent of your offences as much as I have +done of my trespasses against you, we may both be, in future, more +acceptable in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, to whom 'hatred, malice, +and all uncharitableness,' are most offensive."</p> + +<p>"Harley," said his Lordship, "you are too generous! How could I so +cruelly persecute one capable of such noble conduct!"</p> + +<p>"Cease to accuse yourself, my Lord; you are too ill to continue this +agitating conversation," said Philip, observing Lord Robert look very +pale.</p> + +<p>"No," returned Lord Robert; "I feel my thoughts begin to grow confused! +This may be the last interval of reason vouchsafed me; and I would +willingly make use of it to assure you that I die at peace with you, and +blessing you; and may your last hours be sweetened by the remembrance of +your generous conduct to your enemy! When I am no more, save a lock of +my hair, and give it to my mother when you return to England, which you +will soon have an opportunity of doing. Tell her, if I wished to live, +it was to see her again, and to confess to my father that I had been +guilty of prejudicing him against you, Harley, by misrepresenting the +reason of our first quarrel, which was the cause of your being pressed. +Tell me, sincerely, can you forgive me for that, Harley?"</p> + +<p>"I can—I do!" replied Philip, approaching close to the couch; "and, in +proof that your Lordship exchanges forgiveness with me, give me your +hand." Lord Robert threw himself into his arms, and Philip felt his +tears wet his bosom. Yet at that moment each felt happier than he had +done for months before. But Philip became painfully anxious for the +invalid, the violence of whose emotions brought on a fresh access of +fever. He began again to talk wildly, and Philip strove in vain to +repress his ravings, till at length he sank into a death-like stupor, +scarcely giving any symptom of animation.</p> + +<p>Philip now entertained the greatest apprehensions for his Lordship's +life, and was himself surprised at the pain he felt at the idea of +losing him. He had evinced such full and noble contrition for his +errors, that Philip, forgetting all his injuries, wondered how he had +ever borne a hatred so bitter against him. That hatred had, indeed, +changed gradually into an affection so warm, that he was ready to impute +to his own faulty temper the blame of all that had passed. "And, oh!" +said he, as he hung over the couch where Lord Robert lay, apparently +unconscious of his presence, "who could think that I, who now watch so +anxiously every change of his pallid countenance, could once have taken +delight in provoking him to fight with me, and then took a savage +pleasure in aiming my blows at his face, and disfiguring his fine +features with the marks of my violence? Ruffian that I was!"</p> + +<p>Here a gentle pressure from the hand he held in his, convinced him that +Lord Robert was sensible, and had heard this soliloquy. Philip started +and coloured at this idea; and Lord Robert said in a faint voice:—</p> + +<p>"If you, my dear Harley, so severely accuse yourself for what was a just +retaliation for my unfeeling arrogance, what must be my feelings of +self-condemnation for my conduct on board the Diomede, on which I cannot +think without agony?"</p> + +<p>"Never think of it again, my Lord," said Philip, to whom the appellation +of "dear Harley" had given a sensation of the greatest pleasure; "let me +beg you never again to agitate yourself by a painful remembrance of what +is past: I would endure much to see you well and happy."</p> + +<p>After some time, Philip succeeded in soothing his patient into some +degree of composure; and at length he had the satisfaction of seeing him +sink into a profound sleep. Then, being worn out with anxious watching +and fatigue, he threw himself on the ground, and enjoyed a calm and +refreshing slumber. When he awoke, it was about sunrise; and seeing Lord +Robert still asleep, he went out to get a supply of fruit and turtle. On +his return, he found Lord Robert awake and evidently better; for he was +returning the caresses of Neptune, who certainly had deserved his +fondness, for he had been almost as watchful and abstinent, and as +attentive to his master's sufferings, as Philip himself. The patient +extended his hand towards Philip as he entered, who hastened to him and +inquired tenderly, "how long he had been awake, and how he found +himself?"</p> + +<p>"Long enough to miss you, and well enough to thank you for your +unwearied kindness," said Lord Robert, with a melancholy smile. Philip +respectfully took the hand that was extended towards him; and, after +expressing his pleasure at seeing him so much recovered, began to busy +himself in procuring him all the comforts in his power. Lord Robert, for +the first time since his illness, was able to raise himself to wash his +hands and face in some water which Philip brought him in a turtle-shell. +After this grateful refreshment, he attempted with his pocket-comb to +disentangle his ruffled and matted hair; but his hands trembled so much +from weakness, that he sank exhausted on the couch. Philip took the comb +from his hands, and with great care and patience succeeded in smoothing +and reducing to their natural order these refractory ringlets. Lord +Robert repeatedly bade him give himself no farther trouble, but take his +knife and cut them off as well as he could. But Philip did not like to +spoil the fine hair which Lord Robert had once been proud of; and had +the Marchioness herself presided at this operation, it could not have +been more tenderly performed than by the hands of this young sailor; +and his patient appeared to derive great benefit from this attention to +his personal comforts, though reduced to a state of infantine weakness.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert now rapidly improved in health, and was soon enabled, with +the assistance of Philip's arm, to walk in the Valley of Limes in the +cool of the morning. Notwithstanding this improvement, however, Philip +continued to attend on him with the most assiduous care; and even when +he was in a state of convalescence, still performed for him all those +little offices which he knew Lord Robert had been accustomed to have +done for him by his attendants, though his Lordship did not wish to +consider himself entitled to such services in his present situation.</p> + +<p>One morning, Philip arose much earlier than usual. On his return from +the beach with a load of wreck, he was much surprised, not only to see +Lord Robert up and dressed, but employing himself in preparing the +breakfast. Philip threw down his load and ran to him, exclaiming, "Why, +my Lord, did you rise till I was ready to assist you to dress? And, +above all, why do you fatigue yourself by an employment so little +suitable to your rank?"</p> + +<p>"Hush! hush! my dear Harley," returned Lord Robert, laying his hand +playfully on Philip's lips. "Not a word about my useless rank now! +Remember <i>we are equals here</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Alas! my Lord," said Philip dejectedly, "I perceive you have not wholly +forgiven me, or you would not repeat my impertinence."</p> + +<p>"Which had much <i>truth</i> in it, though I took it so ill at the time," +said Lord Robert, laughing. "However, Harley, without wishing to refer +to unpleasant occurrences, or designing to wound your feelings, (which I +should be a most ungrateful, cold-hearted fellow, were I to do,) I must +tell you, that I cannot consent to be attended on with the same +deference as if I were his Britannic Majesty in retirement,—at least, +while I have done nothing to merit such distinction."</p> + +<p>"Ah! my Lord," said Philip, "if you knew the pleasure which the +performance of these little services affords me, you would not wish to +deprive me of it: and, indeed, nothing but your absolute prohibition +shall prevent me from continuing them."</p> + +<p>"You are a noble-minded fellow, Harley; but it is not for me to talk of +prohibiting or commanding <i>here</i>, where I am your superior in +nothing——"</p> + +<p>"Again, my Lord!" said Philip, turning away.</p> + +<p>"Where," answered his Lordship, "I am your inferior in everything, and +am so much in love with your just way of thinking, and noble +independence, that I would willingly imitate both; and, my dear Philip, +you must not take it ill, if I refuse to live by your labours while I +have hands of my own. Tell me, Harley, will you accept such an awkward +fellow as I have proved myself to be, for your pupil?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot refuse you anything," said Philip; "but while you are so +debilitated from your long illness, you neither must nor shall do +anything to fatigue yourself."</p> + +<p>So saying, he proceeded to serve up the turtle which Lord Robert had +stewed for breakfast; reproaching him, as he did so, for demeaning +himself by performing the office of a cook.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert, laughing, told him that it encouraged him not a little in +his design of becoming useful, to observe that his last attempt of that +kind had succeeded so much better than his first. "But," continued he, +"perseverance overcomes all difficulties; and before long, I may become +as good a carpenter as I have this morning proved myself a cook."</p> + +<p>Philip shook his head, and looked grave.</p> + +<p>"So you doubt my abilities," continued Lord Robert, who would not +understand him; "now that is mortifying, Harley! But I forgive you, +considering that the circumstance of the three-legged stool could not +have impressed you with a very favourable opinion of my genius in such +matters."</p> + +<p>"Let me entreat your Lordship never to allude to my conduct in that +affair again," said Philip.</p> + +<p>"Now, on the contrary," returned Lord Robert gaily, "I have serious +thoughts of fetching the aforesaid stool from under the tree where I so +petulantly flung it; and of soliciting you to lend me that rule and saw, +which I so rudely refused when you would have permitted me to make use +of them to correct my blunders; which was very generous on your part, +considering how awkwardly I handled my only tool, and how easily I might +have injured yours."</p> + +<p>Philip was astonished at the ease and frankness with which Lord Robert +spoke of these circumstances, but again implored him not to allude to +the past.</p> + +<p>"Had you told me anything but the <i>truth</i>," replied Lord Robert, +"perhaps I might be excused if I repeated your remarks with displeasure. +But the lesson was too salutary to be forgotten. In common with many of +high birth, I have been too much accustomed to the language of flattery, +instead of that of truth and justice; till, forgetting the relative +obligations of society, and never checking the defects of my temper, I +was led to commit outrages on every one who did not yield a blind +submission to my whims. You, Harley, have opened my eyes to my faults; +and it will, in future, be my constant study to correct them, convinced, +as I now am, of the folly of trusting to rank and riches alone for +influence and consideration among my fellow-creatures."</p> + +<p>The day after this conversation, Lord Robert was well enough to +accompany Philip to the beach, to seek for turtles' eggs. In this search +they wandered to a different part of the island, and Lord Robert +discovered, at a little distance, something dark and large heaving +among the surf; he called Philip's attention to it, who soon got it on +shore; and they found it to be a chest belonging to some of the +unfortunate crew of the Diomede: it was heavy, but Philip soon carried +it to the hut.</p> + +<p>"What do you think it contains?" said Lord Robert, as Philip was forcing +the lid.</p> + +<p>"Tools, I hope," said Philip; "for the chest is weighty." And as he +spoke, he used so powerful an effort that the lid gave way to his force.</p> + +<p>"Not tools, but books!" exclaimed Lord Robert, highly delighted at the +sight which presented itself on Philip's removing the lid. Philip, +however, was disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Tools would have been of unspeakable service," said he, almost vexed at +the joy Lord Robert expressed at the sight of the books.</p> + +<p>"But these will be of infinitely more service," replied Lord Robert, +taking one of the books and turning to the title-page; but his lip +quivered as he read the name there written, which was "Lucius Cary."</p> + +<p>"Alas! poor Cary!" said he, in an altered tone of voice; "was it <i>your</i> +chest that we thought ourselves so fortunate in finding, and that we +opened with such glee?"</p> + +<p>Philip, deeply affected, softly closed the lid: for they both were in +too melancholy a mood to continue to examine the contents of the chest; +nor was it till several days had passed that they assumed firmness +enough to open it again.</p> + +<p>They found in this chest a complete set of mathematical instruments, and +a small but valuable selection of books, fitting for the library of a +young officer; comprising the choicest works on navigation, astronomy, +and geometry; and two or three volumes of poetry and history. Some of +these were wetted by the sea-water, but Lord Robert carefully spread +them to dry. They also found a few changes of linen, an undress jacket +or two; and Lord Robert drew forth with much grief, from a corner of the +chest, Cary's flute.</p> + +<p>"This," said he, "should I ever be permitted to revisit my native +country, I will carry to England, and keep as long as I live, in memory +of our deceased friend."</p> + +<p>Though they were in sad want of linen and clothes, Lord Robert felt a +pang of regret when he saw Philip busy in removing his epaulet to Cary's +half-uniform jacket, and laying out for his use some of his shirts and +cravats, which, however, were of the greatest use to him, and highly +beneficial to his health.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, the rainy season set in, which is usual to these +latitudes; and now they found a source of delight and advantage in the +books which had been so opportunely thrown in their way. Lord Robert was +an accomplished young man; he had received a most superior education; +and was not only perfect in all acquirements befitting his rank, but had +made a considerable progress in those sciences which are necessary to be +known in order to obtain perfection in naval duties.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>This knowledge he was desirous of imparting to young Harley, who, at +Lord Roberts earnest request, became his pupil in geometry and nautical +astronomy, and improved rapidly under his tuition.</p> + +<p>This was to Philip the happiest period of his life: he had received from +his father a good plain education, which he had improved by reading the +best books he could procure; but now he found the acquirement of higher +branches of knowledge still more delightful; and the life he led was so +calm and peaceful, and Lord Robert's society and manners were so +charming, that he tasted on this island pleasure such as he had never +before experienced. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the +event which Lord Robert anticipated with much joy, should give him pain +whenever he thought of it; namely, the arrival of some vessel from the +coast of Africa, on its way to Brazil, which would take them from the +island.</p> + +<p>The affection which he had formed for his high-born companion was now +far stronger than ever his animosity had been; and certainly Lord Robert +had, since his illness, conducted himself in a manner deserving even the +unbounded attachment which his lowly but warm-hearted friend testified +towards him. No longer proud and irritable, his behaviour was gentle, +mild, and considerate; his manners, always elegant and polished, +possessed a charm altogether irresistible; and his conversation, pure, +refined, and chiefly directed to intellectual subjects, was so +delightful, that Philip thought his society would unfit him for any +other.</p> + +<p>As Philip had passed the greater part of his life in seclusion from +those of his own age and station, his manners and mind were free from +the taint which impure and corrupt society often gives; and when he was +by chance thrown in contact with his equals, he shrunk with horror from +vice and coarseness; and preferred, in his leisure hours, to nurse and +amuse his suffering sister, or to pore over Baker's Chronicle, Drayton's +Polyolbion, or Sir Walter Raleigh's History of the World, (which ancient +treasures his father possessed,) to the most enlivening games of quoits +or foot-ball.</p> + +<p>The taste he had formed for mental pursuits since he had been on the +island, brought with it a painful consciousness of the difference +between Lord Robert's rank and his own; and he thought it very +improbable, that so elegant and accomplished a young man could ever +condescend to form a friendship with him, though he might retain a +grateful sense of the assistance which he had subsequently rendered him.</p> + +<p>Philip had made a pretty latticed porch to the hut, and trained the vine +over it, that Lord Robert might enjoy the cool of the evening, without +being exposed to the noxious effect of the dews. Here then, after +spending the day in study or useful employment, they passed the evening, +conversing together, or examining the starry heavens, and noting +constellations, which appear very different from those of Europe. +Sometimes, Lord Robert would play on Cary's flute; but though it was +enchanting to listen to this music in the stillness of a moonlight +evening, when all the fire-flies in the island were collected in this +only spot of verdure, and were blazing round them, and everything above +and around accorded so well with these sweet sounds, yet it was +forbidden pleasure; for playing on the flute was injurious to Lord +Robert's health; and Philip, though he loved music, and this music most +of all, would often take the flute almost by force from the hands of his +noble friend, who, being a fine performer, and much attached to music, +never knew how to resign it in prudent time.</p> + +<p>The happiness Philip now enjoyed was only interrupted by the pain he +felt, whenever the probability was mentioned of their leaving the +island. Lord Robert expected that, when certain winds set in, some +vessel or other would touch at the island for water or turtle; and +Philip guessed, that when they were taken from their present abode, this +delightful intercourse would cease, and Lord Robert would be for ever +separated from him by the forms of society. This made him feel almost +pettish when he found that, when these winds commenced, Lord Robert +left him for hours, and passed his time leaning against the cross on the +hill, making observations through his perspective-glass; while Philip +remained in the valley, employing himself for their mutual benefit. But +though he felt almost angry with Lord Robert for depriving him so much +of his company, yet he never presumed to remonstrate with him on this or +any other subject; and when he saw him approach the valley on his +return, he would forget all his repinings, and hasten to meet him, and +offer his arm for his support, if he seemed faint or fatigued. It is not +surprising that Lord Robert returned this tender affection with the +utmost regard. He now felt the gratifying conviction, that it was not to +the superiority of his rank and power, but to his virtues, his +acquirements, and charming manners, that he owed his influence over the +heart of one on whom his situation in life had made no impression, and +who had denied him the slightest respect till he had proved himself +deserving of it; and he could not help remarking, that he had never, +when in the height of his pride and power, received half the real +deference, or marks of delicate attention, which had been shown him +since his residence on the island, by his only companion and former +enemy, Philip Harley.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, as Philip was employing himself in the valley, and had +begun to wonder at the long absence of his noble companion, Lord Robert +rushed into the hut, and, with an animation of manner Philip had not +observed in him for a long time, said: "Joy! joy! my dear Harley! I have +just seen a sail, and have hastened home to bring you the delightful +news."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" said Philip in a melancholy tone.</p> + +<p>"No, not all," replied Lord Robert: "for I climbed to the top of the +cross, and hoisted my handkerchief as a signal of distress. And the lads +are now making the island! And we shall see Old England again, my boy!"</p> + +<p>But Philip Harley did not seem to participate in his delight; for he +looked grave and thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"How now!" said Lord Robert; "what are these dismal looks for? Shall you +be sorry to see your home again? Or does the name of England recall to +your remembrance some of my former exploits? Or do you think, if I +found myself on board ship once more, I should feel the temptation of +authority, and play the tyrant again?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Philip, sighing; "you do me great injustice if you suppose +that I can for a moment form such an opinion of your Lordship."</p> + +<p>"My Lordship, too! Very formal, Mr. Harley!—But, Philip, my dear +fellow, tell me, what is the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>Philip did not speak.</p> + +<p>"Nay, then, Harley," said Lord Robert, taking both his hands, "I shall +soon begin to think that you are willing to consider our present amity +only in the light of a truce, occasioned by the breaking out of a +pestilence; and that you are anxious to recommence hostilities as soon +as an opportunity offers. But tell me, without more ado, are you +offended with me?"</p> + +<p>"Your Lordship is very gay this afternoon," said Philip gravely. "But I +hope I have seen my own errors in too strong a light, and am too well +convinced of my own insignificance, ever to take offence at anything +done by a person of <i>your</i> rank and consequence."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert now appeared much wounded, and asked him seriously, what +was the reason of this strange behaviour; and Philip, who could not bear +the idea of giving him pain, replied—</p> + +<p>"How can I share in your joy at the prospect of leaving the island, when +that event will separate us for ever?"</p> + +<p>"How so?" said Lord Robert, laughing. "To be sure, you don't mean to +remain here playing Robinson Crusoe or the Hermit Quarl, by yourself?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Philip sorrowfully, "that is not my intention; though, +perhaps, the wisest thing I could do. But the forms of society, you well +know, will as effectually separate us, as if I were to remain here."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert's eyes brightened with more than usual animation, as he +exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Is that all?—Am I, then, so dear to you, Harley?"</p> + +<p>The tears glistened in Philip's eyes; and Lord Robert pressing his hand, +cried, "Courage, man! We shall find a way to satisfy the most precise on +the article of etiquette?"</p> + +<p>So saying, he hastened to the beach; where he had the satisfaction of +seeing the boat rowing rapidly towards the shore.</p> + +<p>They found that the vessel was a Portuguese merchant ship; and from the +knowledge Lord Robert possessed of Spanish, he had no difficulty in +making himself understood by the mariners, who agreed to take him to the +port of Rio de Janeiro, to which place they were bound; for they only +landed to obtain a fresh supply of water.</p> + +<p>As our adventurers were now to leave the island in a few hours, Philip +bade a mournful adieu to the hut, where he had passed so many happy +hours, and conveyed their little property to the beach; while Lord +Robert amused himself by engraving the following inscription on the +cross.</p> + +<p>"On the 3rd of June, 17—, Lieutenant Lord Robert Summers, and Philip +Harley, of his Britannic Majesty's ship of war the Diomede, were by the +especial mercy of God preserved from the fury of the waves, and +permitted to land safely on this island; where, after enduring many +hardships, they became reconciled to their situation, and passed six +months in a state of great happiness, and were at last removed by the +Brazilian ship St. Sebastian."</p> + +<p>Their voyage from the island (to which Lord Robert gave the name of the +isle of Probation) was short and prosperous; and in less time than they +could have expected, they entered the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. Here +they began to feel some of the difficulties of their situation. Lord +Robert had a few pieces of gold about him; but when they made the coast +of Brazil, the Portuguese master did not fail to make such a demand on +the young Englishman, as reduced his whole stock to half a moidore and a +few pieces of silver; and these the sailors, on some pretence or other, +contrived to extort from him; for being of a generous temper, and always +accustomed to have money at command, his Lordship knew not how to refuse +it, even when the prospect of want appeared before him. Philip thought +him imprudent, and asked how he proposed reaching England?</p> + +<p>"Oh," returned he, in a careless, light-hearted manner, "we are both +able seamen; and, at the worst, we can work our passage in the first +Portuguese vessel that sails for Lisbon: and then, you know, my lad, we +are within a stone's throw of Old England."</p> + +<p>"You work your passage to Europe!" said Philip, regarding him with a +look of astonishment. "Does your Lordship mean to degrade your rank and +talents by taking the berth of a common seaman?"</p> + +<p>"Once, perhaps, I might have been alarmed at such an idea," said Lord +Robert; "but since my residence on the Island of Probation, I have +learnt the useful lesson, that nothing is really disgraceful but vice; +and that no useful employment can degrade a man, let his rank be what it +may, if there is an actual necessity for his taking it upon him. Of +course, I, Lord Robert Summers, who have the honour to hold the rank of +Lieutenant in his Majesty's navy, would not, willingly take upon myself +the post of a common sailor in the Portuguese service: but will not that +be less disgraceful than applying to some convent here for relief, and +living lazily on their charity till some English ship of war arrives, +whose officers, even if they disbelieve my noble birth, may, by +cross-questioning me, contrive to recognise my rank on the navy-list?"</p> + +<p>"But surely it was thoughtless of your Lordship to give away your last +shilling to those imposing fellows, when you have no means of procuring +necessaries in a foreign land; and, you know, your health is still +delicate."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert, laughing, still defended his extravagance, pretending that +it was not for the honour of the British navy for a young officer who +wore an epaulet and the remains of a white lapel, to appear shabby to +the crew of a foreign vessel, or behave as if a handful of silver was of +the least consequence to him.</p> + +<p>"But," continued he, "I never felt the want of money enough to know the +value of it. Perhaps, as there is no infliction of Providence sent in +vain, I may, in the privations which I shall most likely suffer in the +Brazils, be cured of my bad habit of thoughtless extravagance; and if I +can contrive to leave one of my follies at every port we touch at in our +return, I may chance to arrive at home a very perfect character."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, the vessel approached the town; and Lord Robert's +attention was attracted by the appearance of a fine ship lying in the +King's dock: slapping Philip's shoulder, he exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Look at that vessel, Harley! I protest, if her rigging were not +evidently Portuguese, I should declare it was our old friend the +Diomede! But, alas! that brave bark foundered in the heavy gale which we +escaped."</p> + +<p>Philip did not perceive the resemblance, and tried in vain to restrain +the impatient tone of authority in which Lord Robert ordered the +Portuguese sailors to lower a boat, and row him and his friend alongside +the ship of war, which lay in the wet dock. "If these fellows knew the +state of your Lordship's purse, they would not move their oars quite so +nimbly," said Philip, when they were in the boat; "neither would they +pay such regard to your impatient gestures to quicken their motions; and +you might chance to get thrown into the sea, in return for your +vociferating, in Spanish, that they are the laziest dogs you ever met +with."</p> + +<p>"But, Philip, how came you, who are not quite so familiar in the Spanish +terms of abuse as I am, to guess what I was saying to them?"</p> + +<p>"Truly, my Lord," said Philip, "I guessed, by your tone and manner, that +you were not addressing the most polite expressions to them: and it +would perhaps be prudent to remember, that you are not <i>their</i> +commanding officer; therefore, they are not obliged to put up with any +incivility."</p> + +<p>"True, Philip; I certainly have no right to abuse them; and I perceive I +have already violated one of my good resolutions, by giving way to my +usual intemperance of tongue, on a very slight occasion. Tell me, +Harley, were you not astonished, after all I had determined on that +subject, to see me swaggering and ordering about me, in the boat, quite +in my old way?"</p> + +<p>"No, my Lord," said Philip drily; "for I have always heard that good +resolutions are much easier made than adhered to."</p> + +<p>"Well, well! my dear Harley, I must exert all my strength of mind to +adhere to mine, though I own this is but a bad beginning."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, they approached near enough to the vessel to distinguish +her build by the naked eye.</p> + +<p>"It is a British ship of the line, though Portuguese rigged!" exclaimed +Lord Robert, starting up in the boat.</p> + +<p>"It is the Diomede itself!" said Philip, dropping Lord Robert's +perspective-glass into the water, through which he had been examining +the figure-head.</p> + +<p>The sight of this vessel brought a thousand agonizing remembrances to +Philip's mind; and he sank on one of the benches, almost annoyed by the +ardent Lord Robert; who, as they dashed up the river, besought the +rowers in the most moving Spanish he could command, to redouble their +speed. He laughed and wept by turns; till the men, shrugging their +shoulders, protested by all their saints that the young officer was the +maddest Englishman they ever had the honour of rowing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my beloved uncle! My heroic commander! Shall I see you again?" +exclaimed Lord Robert, as the sailors rested on their oars under the +stern of the vessel: and, in another moment, he stood on the deck of the +Diomede, to the inexpressible astonishment of her officers and crew.</p> + +<p>The bustle on deck brought Sir Henry Stanley to the scene of action; as +he advanced, he was struck by the exclamations of—</p> + +<p>"Can it be?—Is it possible?" On his nearer approach, he could scarcely +credit the evidence of his own eyes, when he beheld his lost nephew; +altered, it is true, from the hardships he had undergone; for he looked +pale and thin, and rather consumptive, and was grown considerably +taller. He was leaning on the arm of Philip Harley, his former enemy, +who now seemed to regard him with the greatest affection. Sir Henry, +like the rest of the officers and crew, was inclined to doubt the +reality of what he saw; when his impetuous nephew, catching a glimpse of +his majestic figure, broke through the group that surrounded him, and, +throwing himself into his arms, buried his head in his bosom, and sobbed +aloud. Sir Henry, who fondly loved this young man, and had mourned his +loss as for that of an only son, now felt himself overpowered by his joy +at so unexpectedly beholding him.</p> + +<p>"Look up, my dear boy!" he said, at length recovering his firmness. +"Look up, and let me once more behold that beloved face, which I never +thought to have seen again."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert raised his head, and smiled through his tears on his uncle; +but again, yielding to the joy of seeing that dear friend alive, he +concealed his face on Sir Henry's shoulder, and wept passionately. Sir +Henry was at last distressed by his agitation, and forced himself to +chide him for giving way to such an excessive indulgence of his +feelings.</p> + +<p>"Compose yourself, my dear boy!" said he; "or you will give these +gentlemen reason to suspect that it is one of your sisters, who has +taken it into her head to assume the appearance of my brave young +lieutenant."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was ashamed of giving way to his emotions so publicly; till, +having in some degree collected himself, he looked in his uncle's face, +and was pleased to find that his eyes were full of tears, +notwithstanding the reproof he had just administered to him.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Sir Henry, "I hope that you will consider how powerfully +the curiosity of all present is excited, to learn by what means you have +been enabled to appear among us alive and well, when we thought we saw +you perish before our eyes, without being able to render you any +assistance, and after we had deeply deplored your loss."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert stepped back to the spot where he had left Philip, and +taking him by the arm, led him to his uncle.</p> + +<p>"For this interview," said he, "under the especial providence of God, +you must thank my kind preserver, the brave and noble-minded Harley."</p> + +<p>Sir Henry graciously presented his hand to Philip, who respectfully +pressed it to his lips in silence.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear uncle," said Lord Robert, in reply to Sir Henry's +commendations and grateful expressions to Philip for his care of his +nephew, "you know not half his merit yet; nor are you aware," said he, +lowering his voice, "of half my unworthiness."</p> + +<p>"Aware of your unworthiness! No, my dear boy—that is what I hope I +shall never be," said Sir Henry.</p> + +<p>"I fear," said Lord Robert, "you will have reason to blush for your +nephew soon; for I must summon courage to relate to you a story which +will, I fear, deprive me of your affection and esteem for ever."</p> + +<p>"I shall be sorry to hear anything that is likely to have such effects," +said Sir Henry, gravely: and when he looked from him to Philip Harley, +and observed his visible agitation, and remembered the bitter hatred +that once subsisted between them, he was convinced that Lord Robert had +something to communicate respecting his conduct to the young mutineer, +not much to his own credit.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was roused from his meditation by the importunities of the +boatmen who had rowed him to the ship; and it was quite with the air of +his former gay liberality that he flung into their boat a handful of +money he had obtained from his uncle for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The appearance of Lieutenant Cary on deck occasioned a great surprise +to the young friends.</p> + +<p>He was absent on shore when they arrived; and they were the more +delighted at finding him alive, from the grief they had felt at his +supposed loss. Lord Robert told him the manner in which they had found +the chest containing his books, flute, and other property.</p> + +<p>"Ah! my poor books!" said Cary: "the chest was weighty; and, in the +extremity to which we were reduced, after you left the ship, we threw it +overboard, in common with everything else that was likely to lighten the +ship."</p> + +<p>"And pray, how came my poor Neptune overboard? Did you commit him to the +mercy of the waves in order to lighten the ship?" said Lord Robert, +patting the faithful creature as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"What became of Neptune we never knew," said Cary; "but we supposed that +he went away with the pinnace; for in the height of our distress, when +all on board expected the Diomede to founder every minute, the +boatswain, with one midshipman, and two or three sailors, contrived to +lower the pinnace and steal away, selfishly leaving their commander and +messmates to endure the worst; and, most likely, Neptune, being uneasy +at missing his master, jumped into the boat and went with them."</p> + +<p>"They met with a fitting reward for their cowardly desertion," said Lord +Robert; "for Neptune was the only creature that reached the island with +life: some of the bodies we found and buried. But how came the ship to +reach the shore of Brazil?"</p> + +<p>"By the mercy of Heaven, we met some Brazilian proas, which took us on +board, and the Diomede in tow; and, having favourable winds and a smooth +sea, we contrived to get the hulk into the King's dock at Rio de +Janeiro; where, being a fine new ship, she was found worth repairing and +refitting; and here we have been ever since, the Portuguese workmen +being very slow in their operations."<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>It was not till late that day that Lord Robert summoned courage enough +to disclose to his uncle the whole particulars of his conduct towards +young Harley. It was not without reason that he dreaded the manner in +which Sir Henry would receive this explanation; for he was a man of the +purest honour himself, and was likely to consider with some severity the +misrepresentation his nephew had made to his father, which occasioned +Philip's being removed from his home.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert, when a child, had been treated with ruinous indulgence by +his fond parents, by whom his most extravagant whims were considered as +a law to which the whole establishment must submit. Sir Henry Stanley +was the only person who had ever attempted the arduous but necessary +task of controlling Lord Robert; although, with the self-delusion not +uncommon in such cases, his noble parents did not scruple to attribute +their son's violent temper and petulant conduct when on shore, to his +uncle's indulgence. But if there was a man in the world whom Lord Robert +feared, it was Sir Henry; yet, at the same time, he was so unerringly +just and judicious, that his nephew loved him with the most ardent +affection, and was used to consider the displeasure of his uncle as the +most serious misfortune that could befal him: and such was the good +effect this salutary awe had on him, when on board ship, that Sir Henry +was not a little proud of his officer-like conduct, never having had +occasion to frown on him for any breach of duty or immorality. Lord +Robert knew the high place he held in his uncle's opinion, and the idea +of forfeiting his esteem was dreadful. True, he was not actually under +the necessity of making a confession so mortifying. Sir Henry need never +know the misrepresentation he had made to his father:—a single word to +that fond parent would not only prevail on him to bury the whole in +oblivion, but induce him to devise excuses to cover his faults and +reconcile him to himself. From Harley, he knew, he need feel no fear of +its being divulged;—that generous friend would, he was assured, take +the whole blame of what had passed on himself to screen him from +reproach.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was at first strangely tempted to take these measures, and +conceal the worst part of his conduct from his revered commander; but +his better principles obtained the victory in the struggle, and, +in a private conference with his uncle, he revealed every +circumstance,—beginning with his shooting Philip's dog, and relating +all that had happened between them till their reconciliation and +friendship on the Isle of Probation. And so severely did he blame +himself that Sir Henry, moved by his candour, would not increase his +mental sufferings by any reprimands.</p> + +<p>Lord Robert was in earnest conference with his uncle that evening and +the next morning; during which time Philip had resumed his duties on +board: but he was restless and unhappy; for he felt his separation from +Lord Robert had now commenced, and he conceived he should never more +enjoy the pleasure of his society. In this frame of mind, he looked back +with the most painful regret to their residence on the island, and the +delightful hours he had spent with his noble friend in the acquirement +of knowledge. In the midst of these repinings, he received a summons to +Lord Robert's cabin. He did not find any one there; but was told by his +conductor to wait till his Lordship returned from dining with his uncle. +At last, Philip heard a quick and well-known step at the door; and Lord +Robert rushed in with more than his usual impetuosity, and, seizing +Philip by the hand, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Joy, my dear Harley! My noble uncle has forgiven me! For I have +confessed everything that has passed between us; and so highly does he +approve of your generous conduct towards me, that he has granted my +earnest request of placing you on the quarter-deck of the Diomede, where +you are now privileged to appear with the other midshipmen."—So saying, +he beckoned to his servant who followed him, carrying a full-dress +midshipman's uniform. He superintended himself the pleasing task of +arraying his friend in this dress; and buckled on the dirk with his own +hands, which was the same he had himself worn when a midshipman. When +all was complete, he surveyed Philip from head to foot with great +satisfaction; and assured him that the dress became him as well as if he +had been born a gentleman; and, with much animation, expressed his +conviction that he would, after serving his due time as a naval cadet, +arrive at the dignity of an epaulet, and fill in progression the highest +situations in the navy, to which, he was convinced, he would prove an +honour.</p> + +<p>The change was so sudden, that it almost took from Philip the power of +expressing his joy. Lord Robert could not help smiling to find that he +had, for once, overcome that firmness for which Philip generally was +distinguished. His agitation was painful in the extreme; but when he did +at length speak, it was with a vehemence of gratitude, which showed Lord +Robert the dominion he now possessed over the once stubborn and haughty +mind of Philip Harley. "It is not," said he, wringing Lord Robert's hand +as he spoke, "because I am proud and ambitious, and you have raised me +from my lowly rank, and given me an opportunity of distinguishing +myself—this is, indeed, much,—but it is not that which makes my heart +overflow with joy: it is the consciousness that I shall now sometimes be +suffered to be near you, and that my humble situation will not deprive +me of your friendship."</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear friend," said Lord Robert, "I must leave you, though +against my wishes: as the barge is waiting to convey my uncle on shore, +to spend two days with the Governor, and it is his pleasure that I shall +attend him. You will, in the mean time, find sufficient amusement, I +doubt not, among your brother officers." As he said this, he gaily +withdrew. Harley pursued his retreating figure with his eyes, as he +followed Sir Henry Stanley and Lieutenant Cary into the splendid +state-barge, which the Portuguese Governor had sent to convey them on +shore. As the sun shone brightly on the gilded vessel, and her silken +streamers fluttered in the breeze, it recalled to his mind the +remembrance of the Ariel; and he recollected with shame his lawless +exploit of sailing in that fairy frigate, in defiance of her owner, and +in his very sight.</p> + +<p>"Well might Lord Robert have been enraged at my repeated trespasses!" +thought he: and, as he looked down on his new uniform, and considered +how engagingly and delicately his noble friend had behaved in presenting +it to him, he wondered how he could ever have appeared so overbearing +and arrogant. Yet Philip was deceived when, in the warmth of his +affection, he thought it must have been his own prejudices that made +Lord Robert appear to him at one time so cruel and tyrannical. It was +from the trials experienced in adversity, that he had learned to correct +his faults and follies: yet it is but justice to Lord Robert to say, +that he never would have committed such outrages, had not Philip studied +modes of insult and provocation sufficient to have irritated a much +calmer spirit, and which finally drew upon Philip severe punishment, and +on Lord Robert proportionable remorse and suffering.</p> + +<p>When Philip presented himself on the quarter-deck, he had the +mortification to perceive a general coldness and disapprobation among +the officers, very painful to one of his quick feelings and high spirit; +and he attributed this contempt to his low birth. Perhaps many of them +were not without prejudice on that subject; but, in addition to this, +his former mutinous conduct had not failed to make a very ill impression +on the minds of these gentlemen; and this conduct they now appeared to +remember, so far as to render the time of Lord Robert's absence very +uncomfortable, and to deprive Philip of most of the pleasure his new +rank had given him. When Lord Robert returned, he found his friend, whom +he expected to have seen full of joy and spirits, walking by himself in +a very melancholy mood. To his anxious inquiries respecting the reason +of his dejection, he replied, by relating the various slights which he +had experienced since his departure.</p> + +<p>"I went on deck with a heart full of goodwill to every one," added he; +"and expecting to find every one there noble, generous, and refined, +like yourself. But see how they have treated me!"</p> + +<p>"For which, my young friend, you have no one to blame but yourself," +observed Lieutenant Cary, who had returned with Lord Robert, and +listened to Philip with some interest. Philip looked at him with +surprise, but he continued:</p> + +<p>"You perhaps forget, but they doubtless remember, that at the time you +thought proper to act the part of a mutineer, among the other +accomplishments of that character, you had a most provoking tongue; and +there is not one of these gentlemen but has had a specimen of your +sarcastic repartees, addressed to them, while in the lawful exercise of +the authority with which their country has intrusted them. And they now +think fit to show how much they disapprove of your former conduct when +on board the Diomede, and that they do not think one worthy to command +who formerly would not obey."</p> + +<p>Philip blushed deeply as he assented to the justice of these +observations; but Lord Robert, who was highly incensed at the conduct of +the officers, exclaimed, with no little of his usual impetuosity, +"Nonsense! Cary; they must have seen that I only was to blame for his +behaviour then."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, as far as related to the blow which he struck, you were," +replied Cary; "and during your residence at the island, to which you +have given so <i>appropriate</i> a name, it appears he completely satisfied +you for all his offences, and forgave you for yours. But, remember, the +other officers who had given him no reasonable cause of offence, are not +obliged to look over all the saucy speeches he addressed to them, +because a reconciliation has taken place between you."</p> + +<p>"But when they know all his noble conduct to me, they must and shall +treat him with respect!" replied Lord Robert; and, drawing Philip's arm +through his, he advanced towards the group of officers, who had +withdrawn to a different part of the deck, and were discussing the +matter among themselves.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said he, "give me leave to present to you my friend, Mr. +Harley; for whose former faults I own myself more than answerable. He +is sensible that you all have had cause to be offended with him at +different times; but he trusts that you will have reason in future to +forget the rashness of the pressed man in the merits of the midshipman; +to which rank our noble captain, in reward of his valour in the last +engagement, has thought proper to promote him. I say nothing of his +admirable conduct to myself; though, I trust, that, with all my faults, +his having been the means of saving my life will be a recommendation to +my brother officers; and I should hope that his lowly birth will not be +remembered to his prejudice by officers of the British navy, whose boast +it is that some of its proudest ornaments<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> have risen from before the +mast."</p> + +<p>A murmur of applause followed this speech, which was seconded by +Lieutenant Cary's presenting his hand to young Harley; and his example +was followed by all the gentlemen present, who, with the frankness of +British officers, offered him successively their congratulations on his +promotion.</p> + +<p>"Spoken like yourselves, my gallant friends!" exclaimed Lord Robert, +warmly shaking hands with his brother officers; "it shall never be said +by our enemies, that valour and merit were slighted in the British navy, +unless recommended by the adventitious advantages of rank or riches in +their possessor."</p> + +<p>Lord Robert knew the way to the hearts of his brave friends. To their +good feelings he did not appeal in vain; and Philip never again had +reason to complain of the least slight or disregard from any officer on +board the Diomede; and never till that hour had Lord Robert tasted how +truly delightful is the possession of power, when the influence which +more or less it holds in society is applied to a noble purpose; and +Philip Harley, by his steady attention to his duty, and his officer-like +and gallant conduct in his new rank, speedily erased from the minds of +these gentlemen his former mutinous and violent behaviour, and obtained +the highest praise from his just and discriminating commander. How proud +was Philip—how happy Lord Robert, whenever Sir Henry Stanley expressed +his approbation at this conduct! There never was a friendship more warm +or sincere than that which now subsisted between the two former +enemies, who used often to relate their mutual sufferings, as a warning +of the folly of answering a provocation, or retaliating an injury.</p> + +<p>Before they sailed from Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry Stanley generously +presented Philip with every equipment necessary for his appearance as a +gentleman; and, during the voyage home, he was the friend, companion, +and pupil of Lord Robert, who delighted to impart to him every +accomplishment and took the greatest pleasure in witnessing the +development of his naturally fine talents.</p> + +<p>When the Diomede approached the shores of England, Philip again began to +be fearful lest the high rank of Lord Robert should separate them; but +he was agreeably surprised, when, on their landing, Lord Robert insisted +on his taking a place in the equipage that conveyed him to Lancashire; +and, though he permitted Philip to visit first the lowly home of his +sorrowing parents, yet he and his noble father came for him the next +day, and invited him to the Hall, where he shared in all the unbounded +affection and caresses which the Marquis and Marchioness bestowed on +their noble son.</p> + +<p>On the first arrival of the Diomede at Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry +Stanley, supposing he had seen his nephew and Philip Harley perish, +wrote to England an account of the dreadful loss, which was received +both in the cottage and at the Hall with the deepest affliction. Since +that time, no communication had been received; but as the Diomede was +nearly ready to sail when the young friends arrived from the island, +they themselves brought the first intelligence to England of their +safety and welfare. They found each family in deep mourning, and plunged +in acute sorrow, which was changed into extravagant joy at their +unexpected arrival. The Marquis had become acquainted with most of the +circumstances that occasioned the enmity between his son and Philip +Harley, and had suffered much remorse, reproaching himself continually +for having torn the only surviving child from his parents to meet an +untimely death. From his natural goodness of heart, he greeted Philip's +safe return as that of another son, particularly when he found he was +indebted to him for the delight of seeing Lord Robert once again.</p> + +<p>The unlimited indulgence which the young friends met with at home might +have been attended with bad effects, had they remained long exposed to +its influence. But, in less than a month, they were again summoned to +resume their duties on board the Diomede, where Sir Henry had hoisted +his flag on his promotion to the rank of Admiral.</p> + +<p>Both the friends were possessed of those high talents which, when +combined with valour, seldom fail of obtaining great distinction; and so +nobly did they acquit themselves in their naval duties, that after many +years had witnessed their career of glory, and they had attained the +height of their profession, England never saw two braver admirals than +Lord Robert Summers and the Mutineer.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ARTHUR_RIDLEY" id="ARTHUR_RIDLEY"></a>ARTHUR RIDLEY;</h2> + +<h3>OR, A</h3> + +<h2>VOYAGE TO NORWAY.</h2> + + +<p>Among the springs and mosses of Alston Moor, near the source of the +South Tyne, are several little grass farms, on which are bred sheep and +black cattle by the industrious farmers of Cumberland and +Northumberland. In a most retired spot between the two counties, dwelt +old farmer Ridley and his grandson Arthur. The farmer was one of those +small landholders, who are called <i>statesmen</i> in the dialect of the +northern counties; he had lost his wife, but she had left him two sons. +Walter Ridley, the elder, was the father of Arthur, and captain of a +merchant ship, that traded to the Baltic, from the port of Newcastle. He +had married a tradesman's daughter from that place, who died when little +Arthur was but two years old; and Walter, who knew not what to do with +so young a child, begged his father to take the boy, and bring him up at +the farm, till he was old enough to go to sea. About four years after, +Hugh Ridley, the farmer's younger son, was killed in the command of a +privateer, while he was endeavouring to take a French merchant ship. It +was greatly against the wishes of old Mr. Ridley that both his sons +followed so dangerous a profession: one of them, at least, he hoped +would have remained at home to assist in cultivating the peaceful little +farm which had descended from father to son for three centuries; but +both the sons made light of the wishes of their father; and Hugh +actually disobeyed his express commands, when he became captain of the +privateer; a mode of life agreeing well enough with his rude rough +habits, but which the good farmer abhorred and detested, justly +considering such an occupation to be but one degree better than the +pursuits of a pirate. This act of disobedience was soon punished; for +Hugh Ridley fell in the first engagement, leaving a young widow and a +little girl quite destitute. His death filled his father's heart with +sorrow, and he lost no time in fetching his widowed daughter-in-law and +her little Phœbe from Newcastle, and bringing them to his own quiet +home, to the great joy of young Arthur, who promised to love aunt Rachel +and cousin Phœbe better than his best pet lamb. Indeed, he said that +little Phœbe was much prettier than his finest cosset; besides, she +could answer all his questions, and ask him a thousand in return. They +passed their happy summers together, keeping the sheep and cows on +Alston Moor; in the winter, their good grandfather taught them to read +the Bible; and in the long evenings, Phœbe spun by her mother's side, +while Arthur learned to write and keep accounts. Arthur seldom saw his +father, who only came to the farm for a few hours, when he was on shore, +and then only laughed at his quiet habits and peaceful temper, slapped +him rudely on the back, and asked him whether he were not ashamed of +remaining lounging on shore like a coward and a milksop.</p> + +<p>But Arthur was no coward. True, his very fair complexion and placid +features gave him that gentle look which might well deceive careless +observers into the belief that any insult might be offered to him with +impunity; but there was a quiet, determined firmness in his +character,—a spirit which silently says, on the appearance of any +difficulty, "I will overcome it." On such minds success is a sure +attendant: they follow the toilsome path which leads to glory and +distinction with unwearied and steady steps, and often leave those of +bold demeanour and boasting tongues at a hopeless distance.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ridley's house was a very long way from the other farms; so when +Arthur and Phœbe drove their cattle to any distance from home, on the +moor, to seek fresh pasture, they were considered as strangers and +intruders, by the boys who kept the flocks of the neighbouring farmers. +Though somewhat older than Phœbe, Arthur was scarcely so tall as the +blooming girl; and she looked better able to be his protector, than to +receive assistance from him; but Phœbe knew well to whom to fly in +any danger, as her cousin would beat off the most ferocious dog, or the +biggest boy that strove to molest her. The farmers' sons in the +neighbourhood, when once they had tried the force of Arthur's well-knit +little arm, and felt the effects of his cool, determined courage, soon +retracted the mean opinion they had formed of his prowess; and left off +their favourite amusements of pelting his whitest lambs with mud, and +running after Phœbe, to pull the long flaxen ringlets which floated +from under her bonnet.</p> + +<p>At fourteen, Arthur Ridley thought himself the happiest boy in the +world; for his grandfather had a gold medal presented to him at an +agricultural meeting in the county, as a prize for showing there six +finer and fatter lambs than any one else could produce. Mr. Ridley told +every one that it was by the care and attention of his grandson, that +his flock throve so well; and the nobleman who held the meeting patted +Arthur's head, and told him he would be an honour to Cumberland, and +hoped that he should see him at the next sheep-shearing. Oh! how Arthur +loved the dear little lambs that had obtained for him such an honour! +And, all the way home, he secretly resolved never to be anything but a +farmer.</p> + +<p>We may suppose that Arthur anticipated the next June with great delight: +but, alas! the succeeding summer, though it bloomed fairer than ever, +brought no joy in its course to him; for it was in that lovely season +that his young heart was to know the first taste of sorrow.</p> + +<p>The spring set in cold and stormy, and it was a very bad lambing-time +for the ewes. Farmer Ridley was more anxious for their well-doing than +usual, and, in taking care of some of the early new-fallen lambs, he +caught a bad cold, attended with ague, which hung on him through the two +succeeding months; and before May came with all her flowers, even the +inexperienced eyes of his grandchildren read, in his sunken temples and +hollow cheeks, that the mortal foe within would soon rob them of their +venerable protector. Arthur's father had passed the winter in Hamburgh, +and was now expected home every day. Mr. Ridley wished much to behold +his son once more in this world; and he seemed to linger from hour to +hour, in the hope of seeing him again; till, about eventide, on the 2nd +of May, his last minutes drew to a close. "Arthur," he said, in a faint +voice. Arthur started from the place where he was leaning his head +against the casement, and approached the bed.</p> + +<p>"Arthur," he said, "your father is away; but tell him from me to take +care of your aunt Rachel and your cousin Phœbe: I have little to +leave them; for the farm is entailed on my eldest son, and must descend +to you. Tell him that my dying request is, that he will never suffer +them to want a home. They will find, in my oaken box, eighty guineas in +a yellow canvas bag, and my will, which directs the money to be divided +between them. And now, Arthur, my dear boy, you have ever been a dutiful +child to me; be the same to your father, whatever his commands may be, +and make it your rule to do your duty in that state of life unto which +it may please God to call you."</p> + +<p>The rising sun beamed on the bed of death; the venerable Mr. Ridley was +no more! And his sorrowing family were not to be consoled. The next +Sunday, they followed his remains to the grave. It was in vain that the +first day of early summer smiled on them, and that between every solemn +response of the burial service the blackbird sang loud and joyously; +their hearts no longer leaped to the sound once so full of delight.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Arthur," said Phœbe, as her tears fell on her black sleeve, "we +shall never see May-flowers again without mourning!"</p> + +<p>Three melancholy days passed on, before Arthur could resume his former +employments; but on the evening of the fourth, after he had folded his +sheep, he returned home, expecting to see aunt Rachel busy in preparing +the milk-porridge for their supper, and Phœbe watering the flowers, +or gathering salad in the garden. Phœbe was not there. He lifted the +latch of the door; his cousin was laying the cloth, and aunt Rachel was +roasting a fowl for supper. In the chimney-corner, and in his +grandfather's high-backed chair, sat his father. Walter Ridley's stern +features were softened by an expression of grief; he looked more kindly +on his son than he had ever done before; and Arthur thought that when +time had whitened his thick black hair, and dimmed the fire of his dark +eyes, he would resemble in person his lamented grandfather.</p> + +<p>Captain Ridley was very kind to his sister-in-law and niece; and when +Arthur told him the last request of his father, he patted Phœbe's +curly head, and said:</p> + +<p>"Never fear, pretty one, I'll take care of you and your mother; you +shall never want for a shilling, whilst Wat Ridley has one, if it's only +for the sake of poor brother Hugh. Your uncle Hugh was a brave fellow, +Arthur! I wish I could see some of his manly spirit in you, boy!—So, +sister Rachel, you shall live in the farm, and look after the kine and +sheep, and live as comfortably as you can. If you have a shiner or two +over and above at the end of the year for me, it's all very well; and if +you have not, I shan't complain; so don't starve your little one here. +And when Arthur and I come back, after roving the salt waters for five +or six years, mayhap we may stay at home for good; that is, if Phœbe +should like the lad for a husband, and he should fancy her."</p> + +<p>Rachel thanked her brother-in-law for his kindness towards her and her +child; but Arthur, though much pleased with his father's intentions in +respect to his cousin, did not like what he said about the sea.</p> + +<p>"Are you determined that I shall be a sailor?" he asked, in a +disconsolate voice.</p> + +<p>"Hark'e, boy," said Captain Ridley; "I am determined to make a man of +you. So don't let's have any puling and muling, but pluck up a good +heart: and if you be a coward, don't show it. I have bought a good tight +ship at Hamburgh, and have laid out all my earnings for these twenty +years, that I may be owner of the vessel I sail in; she is freighted +with a valuable cargo, and will soon sail for Norway; and you are to +have a berth in her: so say no more, for I have made up my mind on the +matter."</p> + +<p>Arthur submitted in silence; for he well remembered the last words of +his grandfather, and made up his mind to obey his father, let his will +be what it would; besides, he was very grateful for the kindness shown +to his aunt and cousin. "I shall leave them in the bosom of our peaceful +home," thought he; "so I must not displease my father, for he must have +a good heart to be so kind to them."</p> + +<p>In two days, Captain Ridley declared his intention of being off, as he +called it. In vain Rachel and Phœbe pleaded for time to make Arthur +some new shirts, and pack up different things that he would want during +a sea-voyage.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Captain Ridley; "the boy has been made too much of a pet +and cosset already. I shall fit him out with check-shirts and blue +jackets at Newcastle. I'll make a brave fellow of him, I warrant you. +There's been too many parsons and farmers among the Ridleys. Nobody +would believe they came of the same bold fellows who used to ride the +border some three hundred years ago. Who ever heard of a boy making a +brave, manly character, who spent his time lounging at the tails of two +or three kine or sheep? So, Arthur, my boy, your aunt and cousin will +find you quite a different sort of a lad when you come home from your +first voyage."</p> + +<p>The next morning Arthur bade adieu, with a heavy heart, to the home he +loved so much; and kissed his good aunt and the weeping Phœbe, with +tears in his eyes; but he durst not cry, for fear of bringing on himself +the rough taunts of his father. Captain Ridley had been to the village +church-yard that morning, to visit the new-made grave of his father; he +there remembered that he had not always been the most dutiful of sons to +him who now slept beneath the green turf; and he felt half inclined to +fulfil what he knew was his departed father's wish, and suffer Arthur to +remain at home and look after the farm: but then he thought again, that +when he grew old, and left off going to sea, and came to live at home, +there would be no one to talk to him of seafaring matters: so he +hardened his heart against the tears and entreaties of Phœbe and her +mother, and took Arthur to Newcastle, where his ship, the Aurora, lay in +harbour, ready to sail.</p> + +<p>Arthur found this new mode of life even more disagreeable than he had +imagined; however, he made a resolution to go through all that was +required of him with uncomplaining patience, and to shrink from none of +the hardships of his situation. Neither his father nor any of the crew +were disposed to lighten his difficulties; all were on the watch to jeer +at the mistakes of the young landsman; not but they were a little +surprised to see him go through the first seasoning of a seafaring life +with so much spirit. The sailors, naturally generous and frank, in a +little time began to look on him with more favourable eyes, particularly +an old friend of his father's, who sailed in the Aurora as mate.</p> + +<p>"Well, Captain," said he one day, as he saw Arthur aloft, and going +through his duties with great adroitness, "what do you think of our +young seaman now? To my mind, he will turn out as brave a fellow as ever +stepped between stem and stern."</p> + +<p>"He is better than might be expected from his breeding," returned +Captain Ridley: "but I doubt he will turn out a sad chicken-hearted +thing in time of danger."</p> + +<p>"We shall see," said the mate: "but if young Arthur don't show more +spirit than many of those who talk big and bluster, never believe a word +that old Jack Travers says to you again."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, old shipmate, I wish it may be as you say; but, I own, I +have not such good hopes of him."</p> + +<p>Arthur soon found a good friend in Jack Travers, who was determined that +he should not disgrace his predictions. During their voyage to Norway, +he taught Arthur to keep the log-book, to take the sun's meridian +altitude, to navigate the ship, and to perform the duties of a complete +seaman.</p> + +<p>Travers had spent the chief part of his life at sea, and had seen and +suffered much. He had twice lost his all by shipwreck, and had once been +taken prisoner by the French; he had of course seen a great deal of the +world, and had made many intelligent observations on the countries where +fortune had thrown him; and was intimately acquainted with the customs +and manners of the people whose shores they were now approaching.</p> + +<p>One summer night, when Arthur and Travers were on the watch together, +Travers began to tell him of all he had suffered by storm and wreck, in +the course of a long and disastrous life. "The last ship I sailed in," +said he, "the unfortunate Dædalus, was wrecked on one of the small +islands that stud the coast of Norway, off Drontheim. Now, there was no +very good understanding between the English and the subjects of the King +of Denmark, because of the battle of Copenhagen, the carnage of which +was so great as to occasion general mourning and sorrow throughout +Denmark and Norway. However, the brave Norwegians did not look upon us +in the light of enemies, but as suffering and shipwrecked men, and +treated us most kindly during the time we remained with them; which was +more than three of their winter months. A merchant of Drontheim gave me +a berth in a ship of his, that was bound to Hamburgh; and there I met +with your father, Arthur, who never was yet the man to see an old +shipmate in distress without giving a helping hand. He offered to put me +as mate in the Aurora, which he had just purchased. So here I am; but +whether my bad fortune will pursue me still, I know not."</p> + +<p>"I hope not," said Arthur; "for it is hard, at your time of life, to be +without the means of obtaining those comforts you will soon greatly +need: but did you not spend your time very miserably, to pass so many +months in a strange country, the language of which was unknown to you?"</p> + +<p>"As for that," returned Travers, "thank God! I am not given to be very +miserable anywhere. A seaman, who knows his duty, bears cheerfully +whatever hap Heaven may send him. But in fact, I never passed any time +pleasanter than I did in Norway. We were quartered on the farmers and +pilots who inhabited the coast where we were thrown. The good people, +instead of murmuring at the burden of our maintenance, came down with +their sledges, and contended whose home should afford shelter to the +shipwrecked strangers. I was not willing to eat the bread of idleness, +so I lent a helping hand to whatever work was going forward. As to +language, I found the inhabitants of the sea-coast very familiar with +the English tongue; and I knew a little German, by reason of trading to +Hamburgh; so, between the two, we made out very well. The coast of +Norway is tremendous to the sailor at the fall of the year, when the +equinoctial winds begin to blow; as you will judge when I tell you the +observations I have made during my acquaintance with it. The coast +extending upwards of three hundred leagues, is beset with a multitude of +small islands, affording habitations to fishermen and pilots, and +pasture to a few cattle. They form an infinite number of narrow +channels, and a natural barrier of rocks, which render Norway +inaccessible to the naval power of its enemies. Attempts of this kind +are the more dangerous, as the shore is generally bold, steep, and +impending; so that, close to the rocks, the depth of the sea amounts to +one hundred, two hundred, and even three hundred fathoms. You may easily +judge of the fate of the unfortunate ship that is hurled by tempests +against any of these frightful rocks: if she breaks, she instantly +fills, and must go down into a dreadful depth of water; and it is only +by the most signal mercy that any of the crew is ever saved. The perils +of the North Sea are also increased by sudden streams, sunk rocks, +violent currents, and dreadful whirlpools. The most remarkable vortex on +the coast is called Moskœstrom, from the small island Moskœ, +belonging to the district Lofoden. In time of flood, the stream runs up +between Lofoden and Moskœ, with the most boisterous rapidity; but in +its ebb to the sea it roars like a hundred cataracts, so as to be heard +at the distance of many leagues. On the surface are many vortices; and +if in one of those any ship be absorbed, it is whirled down to the +bottom, and dashed in pieces against the rocks.</p> + +<p>"When its fury has been heightened by a storm, no vessel ought to +venture within a league of it. Whales are frequently absorbed within the +vortex, and howl and bellow hideously during their fruitless endeavours +to free themselves. A bear, in attempting to swim from Lofoden to +Moskœ, was once hurried to this whirlpool, from which he struggled in +vain for deliverance, roaring so loud as to be heard on shore; but, +notwithstanding all his efforts, he was borne down and destroyed. Large +trees, being drawn into the current, are sucked down, and rise again all +shattered to splinters. There are three vortices of the same kind near +the islands of Ferroe."</p> + +<p>Before the vessel reached Christiania, the short northern summer had +commenced in all its beauty. Arthur had expected to see an icy, desolate +coast; he could not think that fair sunny days would smile so far +northwards; and when the Aurora entered the bay of Christiana, he could +scarcely believe it was the port to which they were bound.</p> + +<p>Before them lay the town of Christiana, situated at the extremity of an +extensive and fertile valley, forming a semicircular bend along the +shore of the beautiful bay. The grounds, laid out in rich enclosures, +gradually sloped to the sea. Behind, before, and around appeared the +inland mountains of Norway, covered with dark forests of pines and fir, +the inexhaustible riches of the North. The most distant summits were +capped with perpetual snows. From the glow of the atmosphere, the warmth +of the weather, the variety of the productions, and the mild beauties of +the adjacent scenery, it was hardly possible to believe that they were +nearly under the sixtieth degree of latitude.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>"Is it possible?" said Arthur, as he stood on deck by the side of +Travers; "can this blooming land be one of the coldest and most barren +regions of the North?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Travers; "but you see it in the midst of its short, lovely +summer; its aspect would be bleak and horrid, were you to visit it +during the nine winter months. Were you to hear the roaring of the winds +among the mountains, the fall of great heaps of snow, and oftentimes of +huge masses of stone and rocks from their heights—sometimes choking up +the course of rivers, and overwhelming the cottages of the peasants—you +would then hardly believe that the return of the sun could produce so +much beauty as you now see before you."</p> + +<p>"I have heard," said Arthur, "that, farther to the North, the sun never +sets in the height of summer, nor rises in the depth of winter."</p> + +<p>"I have been at Tronsen,"<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> said Travers, "near the northern extremity +of this country, where the sun is continually in view at midsummer; I +have seen it circulate day and night round the North Pole, contracting +its orbit, and then gradually enlarging it, until it leaves the horizon. +In the depth of the winter, therefore, it is for some weeks invisible: +and all the light perceived at noon is a faint glimmering, for about one +hour and a half, which proceeds from the sun's rays being reflected from +the highest mountains. But the inhabitants have other lights, by which +they follow their work in the open air. The sky being very clear, the +moonshine is remarkably bright: they are likewise much assisted by the +Northern Lights,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> which are very frequent in these parts of Europe."</p> + +<p>"My grandfather showed me the Northern Lights once, in Cumberland," said +Arthur; "and told me they signified that something very dreadful would +soon happen to the country; for they were never seen but when famine, or +plagues or rebellions were about to come to pass. What do you think +about it, Travers? are such bad things very common in Norway?"</p> + +<p>"Not that ever I heard," returned Travers. "Indeed, the poor people +would be in a desperate way, if they were to have plagues and battles +every time they saw the Northern Lights. Why, Arthur, they see them as +often as we see the stars in England; and I have read, on a Sunday +night, the psalm for the day out of my prayer-book, as plain in the open +air, at ten o'clock, as ever I did by a candle. But that's the way with +you landsmen: you sit at home and scare yourselves, and shake your wise +heads, and prophesy evil, if a little glimmer reaches you of what is as +common as the air you breathe in other countries."</p> + +<p>Arthur did not greatly approve of hearing the opinion of his venerated +grandfather treated with so much contempt: yet he plainly saw the folly +of converting into an omen of ill a harmless and beautiful meteor; which +is a blessing, as common as it is useful, in a country a few degrees +farther to the north.</p> + +<p>Captain Ridley soon became very busy in disposing of his cargo, and +buying the different commodities that Norway produces, to reload his +vessel with. He bought copper, and iron forged into bars, (the iron of +Sweden and Norway is esteemed very good—much better than any England +produces;) marble he used for ballasting the ship; he likewise bought +goat-skins, and seal-skins, and some very valuable furs of the fox and +marten, of which he expected to make a great deal of money in England. +Another article of commerce, which is sold to great advantage in +England, Captain Ridley made part of his cargo, viz. eider-down +feathers.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> He gave his son leave to purchase what pleased him most, +to take home as presents for his aunt and cousin. Arthur accordingly +bought a handsome fur cloak for aunt Rachel, and some curious baskets +made of birch-bark, and beautifully wrought with coloured quills, for +Phœbe. They passed about two months in Norway: by the expiration of +which time Captain Ridley had completed his lading, and got everything +ready for returning to England.</p> + +<p>Arthur's heart bounded with joy as the sails were set for England; and +he now looked forward with sensations of pleasure towards the +continuance of the life which his father had chosen for him. He had +gained experience and knowledge, and felt happy that he had obeyed his +parent, however distasteful his commands were at first. Captain Ridley +was very proud of his ship; her clever sailing and tight figure were the +perpetual theme of his discourse and admiration: he was, besides, in +excellent spirits on another account; for he felt confident that he had +laid out his money to great advantage in the cargo, and expected a clear +profit of several hundreds.</p> + +<p>They ran before a favourable gale for some days, till, one clear lovely +morning, as Captain Ridley was standing on deck talking over his +expected gains with Arthur, Travers called from the main-top, "Look +abaft, Captain; for I think we are chased?" Ridley flew to his cabin, +and returning with his telescope, plainly saw a ship bearing down before +the wind, in full pursuit of them. All hands instantly went to work, to +raise every bit of canvas the Aurora could carry; and as she was a +swift-sailing vessel, they had hopes that she would keep ahead of the +enemy until night came on, when she might elude the pursuit under the +shades of darkness. But, alas! the same gale which bore the Aurora so +bravely along, brought her lightly-laden pursuer more swiftly after her. +At length, after a hard chase, and a day of the most agonizing suspense +to our poor countrymen, about sunset their fate seemed decided, when the +adverse ship bore down upon them within hail, and fired a gun to bring +them to. The crew of the Aurora still ventured to hope that, after all, +she might be a neutral ship; but the experienced eye of Travers had from +the first noted all her bearings, and felt convinced that she was a +French privateer; which was soon confirmed by her hoisting the +tri-coloured flag, and preparing to board. To resist was utterly +useless, as a single broadside from the armed ship would have soon +settled the fray: and Captain Ridley saw his favourite ship the prey of +the most lawless and insolent crew that ever manned a privateer!</p> + +<p>To a man of Ridley's violent passions, this stroke was worse than death; +but his indignant expressions were only answered by laughter and mockery +from the enemies into whose hands he had fallen, and who added insult +and ill-usage to the calamities of war. It was at that period of the +French Revolution when the war was carried on between the two nations +with a fury scarcely known in modern times, and the animosity of the +French towards our country knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>There could scarcely be a more dreadful situation than that of the crew +of this defenceless merchant ship, which had fallen into the hands of +men whose bad passions were inflamed by national hatred. For many hours, +the English expected every moment to be their last. Outrage succeeded +outrage, and massacre seemed resolved on; but at last, after many blows +and much reviling, the privateers contented themselves with thrusting +their prisoners, strongly ironed, into the hold. These were horrors of +which poor Arthur had never even dreamed; yet, in the terrors of that +dreadful night, there was a satisfaction to his well-regulated mind in +the consciousness that he was near his suffering parent, and could +offer all the consolation that can be received from the affection of a +dutiful child. And, truly, Captain Ridley had great need of it. +Neglected by the ruffians who had conquered them, they were left without +food; and, what was infinitely more needful, without water. This, joined +to want of air, (the hatches being close shut down,) made their +situation almost equal to that of the prisoners in the black hole at +Calcutta.</p> + +<p>Walter Ridley had hitherto been a fortunate man in life: where others +had met with storms and capture, he had sailed securely and +prosperously. This he did not fail to attribute to his own wisdom and +merit, instead of ascribing it to the protecting hand of a bountiful +Providence; therefore, when this reverse of fortune came, he received it +with transports of rage, instead of patience and resignation. The +violence of his emotions, and the confinement and ill usage he +underwent, had such an effect on his frame, that, long before the +morning, he was attacked by a dangerous illness. Poor Arthur sat by him, +holding his burning hands, and offering his bosom as a pillow to his +aching head; nor could the wild and frantic exclamations, uttered in the +delirium of fever, affright the affectionate boy from the side of his +suffering father.</p> + +<p>The next day had nearly passed, before the captors thought fit to take +any notice of their prisoners; they then resolved to divide the English +crew; for as the captain of the French privateer determined to cruise in +search of fresh prey, he did not choose to encumber himself with his +prize.</p> + +<p>Seven of Captain Ridley's crew were carried on board the privateer; and +himself, Travers, and Arthur, were left below, with two sailors, in the +hold. The French captain put his mate and a few seamen on board the +Aurora, just sufficient to navigate her into Dunkirk, and proceeded on +his cruise. The situation of the prisoners was now a little improved: +for the mate, to whose charge they were committed, took off the fetters +from Captain Ridley and Travers, and allowed them better berths; and +when Arthur, by signs, made him understand how ill his father was, he +gave him some wine, and suffered him to occupy the cabin that had +formerly been his own. For some days, Arthur thought it impossible for +his father to live, as his illness was violent, and he had no medical +assistance; yet the strength of his constitution was such, that in a +few days he passed the crisis of the fever favourably, and got a little +better, though he remained as weak and feeble as an infant. Travers kept +up his own and Arthur's spirits with the hope that they might fall in +with some British cruiser and be retaken; but, however probable such a +circumstance was, yet day passed after day, and they still remained +captives, until it was reckoned that another or two would bring them +into a French port. Arthur's mild manners and affectionate attention to +his sick father induced the French mate to permit him to come when he +pleased on deck; and one morning, after he had watched by his father +till he fell asleep, he asked Travers to supply his place while he went +on deck to take a little fresh air. He sat down on a chest, after he had +paced to and fro in a very melancholy mood, and began to muse +sorrowfully on the case they were in. "Here," thought he, "my poor +father will be dragged to a French prison, and there he must die; for, +in his weak state, the hardships he will have to go through will +certainly kill him; and, perhaps, I shall never see England, nor my +home, nor my cousin Phœbe again! Is there no remedy to be found for +all this?"</p> + +<p>He kept lifting up the lid of the chest he sat on, without noticing what +he was about, till he pinched his finger pretty sharply, which drew his +attention to it; and he saw it was a chest of arms belonging to the +Frenchmen, and filled with sabres and muskets. At the first glance of +these weapons, a thought darted through Arthur's brain, which he +instantly ran down to communicate with Travers. He mentioned the arms to +him, and said: "What hinders our retaking the ship? Surely it might be +done with a little prudence and courage."</p> + +<p>"And dare you venture on a scheme so full of peril? Can you look death +stoutly in the face? For I tell you plainly, if we should fail, death, +without mercy, would be our portion. Think on it, boy, and search your +own mind; for an undertaking of this kind requires a cool head and an +undaunted heart!"</p> + +<p>"I dare," said Arthur firmly, laying his hand on his breast; "I will +freely venture my life to regain the ship and our liberty. Think of a +plan, and I will do my part as far as my strength will go."</p> + +<p>"I have thought much of it already," answered Travers; "but your years +were so tender, that I mistrusted your prudence, though not your +courage. If we attempt it, we must proceed by art, rather than by force. +We must take the opportunity of mastering the French, when one part of +the crew are asleep and the other off their guard."</p> + +<p>"In the night, I suppose?" said Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Travers. "It will be a sanguinary business; but the +provocation was theirs. Surely a man may strive even unto death for his +liberty."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Arthur; "but it is a frightful thing to murder so many +sleeping men—to send so many to their great account, without a moment's +warning. I have thought that it is possible to take them prisoners +without hurting them."</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Travers; "let us hear your plan. I should be glad of +anything that would save me the horrid work of despatching sleeping +men."</p> + +<p>"If I had a large gimblet and a dozen strong nails," said Arthur, "I +would engage to secure all the Frenchmen but two, without hurting a hair +of their heads."</p> + +<p>"Yours seems a notable plan!" said Travers; "and if it is only the want +of such tools that stops you, here is a great gimblet that the +Frenchmen lent me, instead of a corkscrew, and you will find two or +three hundred large nails in that cupboard. But tell me how such a +little fellow as you can think of mastering six stout men?"</p> + +<p>"You know," replied Arthur, "that if a hole were bored in the panels of +our sleeping berths, and a nail slipped in when they are shut, it would +be impossible to slide them back, to open them. I go about the ship +without being suspected, and could take the opportunity, when the men +are all on deck, of boring a hole, and fitting a strong nail in each +berth, ready to be put in when I choose; and when the Frenchmen are all +safe asleep in their berths, I may put in the nails, and they will be as +safe as if they were caught in so many traps."</p> + +<p>"It is an ingenious scheme," said Travers; "and I allow that it has +every prospect of success. To-night, therefore, we will make the +attempt; for every hour brings us nearer to Dunkirk. But hark'e, Arthur; +don't let your father know our plan till it has either succeeded or +failed; for he is so impatient, and still so weak, that the suspense +would probably kill him."</p> + +<p>"It will be much the best," said Arthur; "but I must go, for the +Frenchmen are all on deck,—so now or never."</p> + +<p>So saying, he left the cabin. Hour passed after hour, and Travers saw no +more of him. Captain Ridley awoke; and Travers gave him some gruel, +which he had boiled for his dinner. The sick man found great fault with +it, and inquired very peevishly for Arthur. Travers made him some vague +answer, and Captain Ridley complained much of his absence, assured +Travers that he was the worst nurse in the world, and that it was a +shame for that boy to leave him, and at last grumbled himself to sleep +again.</p> + +<p>Travers now began to be exceedingly alarmed; thinking that Arthur had +been taken in the attempt, and perhaps murdered. He looked at the sun, +(for his captors had spared him the trouble of keeping a watch,) and +thought it might be about four o'clock, when Arthur appeared at the +cabin-door, and with a pale cheek, but a look of determined courage, +beckoned Travers, without uttering a word. He left the cabin, and +followed Arthur with a noiseless step. While they were ascending the +companion-ladder, Arthur turned round, and said in a low voice: "Every +man in the ship is secured excepting two; one of whom is at the helm, +and the other in the shrouds: master them, and the ship is ours!"</p> + +<p>There was no time for questions; or Travers would have asked how all +this came to pass: but Arthur hurried him on deck; and, going to the +arm-chest, gave Travers a sabre, and armed himself with a musket. +Travers stepped to the steerage, and took the helmsman unawares; who +uttered a cry of astonishment at seeing a man standing near him in a +threatening attitude, with a drawn sabre in his hand, and began, with a +loud voice, to implore for mercy. This supplication reached the ears of +his companion in the shrouds, who, putting a stop to the Marseillaise +Hymn, with which he was entertaining himself, began to descend with +great expedition. But Arthur stopped his progress by levelling his +musket at him; and by his menaces made him understand, that if he did +not remain where he was, he would receive the whole contents in his +body. Now the French sailor did not know, nor did Arthur at the time +remember, that there was no charge in the musket. However, it had the +effect of intimidating the man, who made signs that he would obey, and +supplicated with his hands for his life.</p> + +<p>Travers and Arthur had proceeded thus far with success; but they were at +this moment in a most awkward predicament, for each held his man in +check, yet it was necessary to do something more. The steersman was a +strong muscular fellow, and notwithstanding that, had at first been +frightened by the suddenness of the occurrence; yet Arthur saw, by the +expression of watchfulness that lurked in the turn of his eye, that he +only waited till Travers was off his guard, to spring upon him.</p> + +<p>There was a coil of strong rope, which lay about twelve paces from +Arthur on the deck; of this he longed to make himself master: but he was +afraid of taking his attention from his prisoner above; for he knew how +soon a sailor could swing himself from rope to rope, and stand on deck +in a moment. At last he lost all patience, and determined to trust to +the man's fears: so with one spring he seized the cord and gave it to +Travers, and resumed his guard with the musket, whilst Travers pinioned +his prisoner, and bound him so strongly that escape was impossible. They +then beckoned the man above to descend, and soon bound him safely. +"Now," said Arthur, "you must take the helm, my friend; whilst I go +below, and set at liberty our two shipmates, who are confined between +decks."</p> + +<p>He soon returned with the two English sailors, who could scarcely +believe that they were at liberty, and the ship in their possession. +Travers's first care was to shift the sails and alter their course. They +then went down to tell Captain Ridley what had happened. As soon as they +came below, they heard a most violent uproar among the Frenchmen, who +were shouting and calling, and accusing each other of shutting up the +berths. Travers thought it quite necessary to dispose of them, for fear, +when they grew desperate, they should split the panels. He therefore +called down the stoutest of his men, opened the berths, one by one, and +put the irons they had formerly occupied, on their astonished prisoners; +who by many gestures and exclamations, expressed their surprise at such +a proceeding.</p> + +<p>They then took them to the hold; and, after securely confining them, +they went to Captain Ridley.</p> + +<p>When Arthur came into the cabin, his father was sitting up in his berth, +with a very discontented air; and, after making a sour face or two, +began to complain of being neglected. He told Arthur that he could have +sat up a few hours, if he had been there to dress and assist him. "I +have just been wakened," said he, "by those detestable Frenchmen making +the most hateful noise I ever heard: I thought they were certainly +murdering you all."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Walter!" said Travers; "don't look so sulky at the most +noble boy that ever a father was blessed with: but take Arthur in your +arms, and thank him for the recovery of your ship and of your liberty."</p> + +<p>"What!" said Captain Ridley; "have we met with one of our cruisers? And +are we retaken? Well, Travers, if you are in your right wits, and know +what you are talking of, this is the news that will presently make me +well again."</p> + +<p>"Did I say that we had fallen in with any of our ships?" answered +Travers. "But I tell you now, in plain English, that by the prudence and +courage of your brave boy, your ship is your own again: we are all +free; the Frenchmen are in irons; and we have tacked about for Old +England, instead of being carried into Dunkirk."</p> + +<p>"And <i>Arthur</i>, you say, has done all this; but how?—You are not given +to tell lies, Jack Travers,—and yet I can hardly believe it."</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder that you can't," returned Travers, "for I can scarcely +trust my own senses that it is so. But this is the short of the matter: +Arthur, this morning, contrived a scheme for fastening the Frenchmen in +their berths when they were asleep. He went away to prepare matters for +it. The attempt was not to have been made till night. But, to my +surprise, he came to me, an hour ago, and told me he had all our enemies +secure, except two. Those we easily managed; and, after getting the +assistance of our two men, we as easily mastered the others. How Arthur +contrived to execute his plan so soon, he can best tell you, for I have +not yet heard."</p> + +<p>But Arthur could not just then speak. He had thrown himself into his +father's extended arms, and given ease to the fulness of his heart in a +burst of tears. It was some moments before he raised his head from his +father's bosom, who thanked and blessed him, and declared that were +everything in the world taken from him and his gallant boy spared, he +should still consider himself the happiest and richest of men.</p> + +<p>When Arthur had recovered from the agitation that had deprived him of +his voice, Travers again pressed him to tell by what means he had +secured the Frenchmen.</p> + +<p>"You know," said Arthur, "I left you with the intention of fitting the +nails into the panels. I got safely into the cabin, where they slept, +and soon bored all the holes; but when I came to fit in my nails, I +found they might be pushed out with a violent shake; and, you know, they +could not be knocked in tight without a great noise. For some minutes I +thought our scheme was at an end; but at last I remembered there was a +paper of large screws in the locker. These I soon found, and made holes +in the top and bottom of each panel, and then greased the screws; so +that I could put them all in with a screw-driver without the least +noise. I likewise greased the slides of the panels, that they might slip +easily. Well, while I was at work, I recollected that the Frenchmen were +in the habit of sleeping for an hour or two in the middle of the day, +leaving only two men on deck. This, therefore, appeared the best time +for the execution of our plan; for it was likely we might blunder in the +dark, and they were off their guard and in such security in the middle +of the day, that I was determined to try. About three o'clock, they all +came down and tumbled into their berths. I waited more than half an +hour, and then stole into the cabin, hoping they were asleep. Some of +the panels were open; my hands trembled as I closed them; but +fortunately I made no noise. After I had put in the screws, I tried +every panel, and found that all were well secured. I then went to you: +and, by the blessing of Heaven, everything has thus far gone +prosperously!"</p> + +<p>"And all we have now to do," said Travers, "is to keep what we have +gained; that, Arthur, is not the least part of the work: but there shall +be no exertion wanting on my part to bring the good ship safe into an +English port."</p> + +<p>Travers faithfully kept his word: for he paced the deck of the Aurora, +with pistols in his hands, almost night and day; and when he was +compelled to take a little rest, Arthur kept watch with equal vigilance. +Two desperate attempts were made by the French crew to regain their +liberty: the last time, Captain Ridley (who was now able to walk about +and come on deck) was greatly inclined to send a volley of musket-balls +among them; but Arthur and Travers both implored him to shed no blood, +if it were possible to avoid it. After a few days of incessant toil and +anxiety, a favourable gale carried them into the Thames; and, a few +hours after their arrival at Sheerness, they had the pleasure of seeing +the privateer which had captured them brought in as a prize, at the +stern of a British frigate. She had been taken whilst cruising in the +Channel: and thus the whole of the crew of the Aurora were delivered +from their anticipated sufferings in a French prison. Captain Ridley +lost no time in disposing of the Aurora and her cargo. He said he would +tempt the sea no longer, but remain peacefully in the quiet home he was +so fortunate as to possess. "And, Travers, my friend," said he, "I need +hardly tell you, that whilst I have a guinea, you shall share it; and +whilst I have a home, it shall shelter you." Half of the money which the +cargo produced, Captain Ridley settled on Travers: he rewarded the two +men who had assisted in bringing home the Aurora, and made a present to +all his sailors who had been retaken in the privateer.</p> + +<p>During their stay in London, their story was the news of the day; and +much admiration was excited by the conduct of Travers and Arthur; and +Captain Ridley was given to understand, from high authority, that if his +son chose to enter the navy, he should be peculiarly marked for +promotion.</p> + +<p>Walter Ridley no longer wished to control his son. He respected his +courage and high principles; and left it to his choice, whether he would +return and cultivate the farm, or accept the offer that had been made +him.</p> + +<p>"Father," said Arthur, "I am very young, and have a life before me that +I am now convinced may be more usefully employed than in a state of +inactive ease. I will serve my country with alacrity; and I pray God I +may be able to do something for her service."</p> + +<p>I will not stay to describe their arrival at Alston Moor, nor the joyful +meeting between Arthur and his aunt and cousin. Many years have rolled +on since Arthur went through his service as midshipman, and passed as +lieutenant with the greatest credit: he is now a gallant and +distinguished officer,—the pride of his father, the delight of his old +friend Travers, an honour to his country, and the husband of his pretty +cousin Phœbe.</p> + +<p>The picture I have drawn is not exaggerated. Arthur is no creature of my +imagination; it was drawn from life, and may be realized by any youth +who takes for his rule of life the maxim of our Church: "Do thy duty in +that state of life unto which it shall please God to call thee."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>This tale is founded on facts: and the recapture of the ship, +extraordinary as it may seem, is a simple relation of occurrences that +really happened, in the beginning of the American war, when the Lark +merchant-ship was taken by a French privateer, and retaken by her +captain, having no English on board, but a boy, and an English merchant, +one of the Society of Friends. This gentleman refused to stain his hands +with blood: but assisted in this peaceable recapture with great firmness +and resolution. The underwriters presented the captain with £100, as a +small reward for his intrepidity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FISHERMANS_COTTAGE" id="THE_FISHERMANS_COTTAGE"></a>THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE.</h2> + + +<p>Nearly a century and a half ago, there lived, in a little cottage on the +eastern coast, an aged widow and her two grandsons. Although neither +carpenter nor bricklayer was employed in the construction of this +cottage, it was as neat a fisherman's cabin as any in that part of +England. James Mayhew, the widow's son, had ingeniously built it on the +sea-beach, under the cliffs. It was formed of pebbles and sea-stones; +and he had, with great toil and labour, carried down earth from the +cliffs, and made a nice little kitchen-garden, which formed a pleasing +contrast with the barren sands that surrounded the cottage; and this, +with a shed for a cow, (which got her living on the common belonging to +the adjacent town,) made a very comfortable little dwelling place. It +was poor James's summer work; and at Michaelmas he brought to live in it +his widowed mother, old Amy Mayhew, and his wife, who had formerly been +a tidy dairy-maid, and to whom he had been married just a twelvemonth. +Now James was very clever and industrious; he could turn his hand to any +sort of work; he would labour for the farmers at harvest and seed-time, +and pursued the trade of a fisherman the rest of the year. He made one +harvest on the land, and two more from the sea; for he used to go out in +a boat and catch herrings and mackerel at those seasons when they abound +so plentifully on our coasts. James was an excellent son and husband, +and would, no doubt, have been as good a father. His wife had just +presented him with two twin little boys, when James was forced to leave +her, to go to sea for the herring-fishery; and, sad it is to tell what +followed! though such events are too common on these coasts. From the +cottage window, his boat was seen to founder; and the wife never beheld +her husband, nor the mother her son, until the tide threw up his corpse +within a few yards of his own door. His poor wife, in her weak state, +was unable to bear so severe a shock, and sank into a state of +stupefaction, which was soon succeeded by death. The neighbouring +townsmen contributed a sum to bury the poor young people: and many, who +were standing by at the funeral, and saw the sorrow of the aged Amy, and +thought of the hard trial which had befallen her, said it would have +been a mercy if the orphan little twins had been buried in the same +grave with their unfortunate parents! But Amy did not think so. "God +bless the poor babes!" she said; "they are all that is left me of my +good dutiful James: I will do my best to bring them up; and, if my life +be spared so long, I may see them prove a blessing and a comfort to me; +and, perhaps, they may lay my head in the same grave with my poor son!"</p> + +<p>Amy did, indeed, strive to do her best to rear her poor little +grandsons. She was often seen with a baby on each arm coming into the +town to fetch the cow off the common; and then the good-hearted sailors, +who had known her son, would give her a white loaf for the babes, or a +piece of meat or cheese for herself. With these helps, and with the milk +from the cow and the vegetables from the garden, she contrived to get +through that trying year. "Before the winter comes again," she said to a +friendly old pilot who had called to see her, "my little boys will run +alone; and when these aged arms are relieved from their heavy burden, I +shall be able to work hard for their living."</p> + +<p>Amy was firm in her resolution: and, by her good nursing, the little +orphans throve and grew nicely,—so that by the end of the next summer +they could run about, holding by each other, to assist their steps. They +were very good and quiet, and fond of each other, and gave much less +trouble than could have been expected.</p> + +<p>Amy was now able to earn a little money by netting; and by the time the +children were three years old, James and Michael learned to fill her +netting needles with the twine she made the herring-nets of; and the +little creatures would stand by her the whole day, each watching until +his turn came to fill granny's needle. When they grew a little older, +they used to pick up stones on the beach, which were wanted in the town +for building. They carried them up the cliffs by little baskets-full at +a time, and laid them in a heap, and then the bricklayers gave for them +a halfpenny a bushel. And when the cold snowy winter nights came, they +learned to net, and helped their grandmother a great deal. By the time +they were twelve years old, the boys nearly earned their living. James +got something every week, by fetching his neighbours' cows off the +common: he was always up by five in the summer, and before light in the +winter, that he might not be too late. He soon got work at the Hall +farm, in the next parish; and though it was a long way to walk, night +and morning, he was always there in time, and contrived to do some work +for his grandmother in the hours he had for his meals. James took +delight in the quiet employments of the country; he greatly preferred +the husbandman's life to the unsettled condition of the fisherman or +sailor. Michael, on the contrary, loved the sea, and always tried, in +getting his daily bread, to remain, if possible, by the beach, as it was +his most ardent desire to be a sailor. It may be supposed this wish gave +pain to his poor grandmother, who never heard him express it without +thinking of the death of his father. To divert him from his inclination, +she did her best to teach him to read; but, though both he and his +brother were very apt, and could soon read a chapter in the Bible, yet, +even in that holy book, Michael contrived to find something to flatter +his passion for ships and sailors. By the time the boys had attained the +age of fourteen, James had learned so much of the duties of husbandry, +that his employer, as a reward for his diligence and industry, promised +to hire him for the following year at man's wages. Poor Michael was much +hurt that his brother would now be able to maintain his grandmother, and +give her those comforts that her age required, whilst he could merely +fish on the beach with lines for whiting or cod, or pick up stones for +the bricklayers; and that he could do when he was but seven years old. +He was so ashamed of his inferiority, that he made a resolution of going +to labourer's work with his brother, and was determined to give up his +favourite wish, to please his good grandmother; but an accident which +happened that winter altered his intention.</p> + +<p>The day had closed-in some time, on the Christmas eve; and, though the +moon showed a bright light, yet the wind had risen as the night came on, +and soon blew a furious easterly gale directly on to this dangerous +coast. Amy had swept her cottage clean, and looked out some time for her +grandsons, when James trudged in with a billet of wood on his shoulder, +which he threw on the hearth. "I have staid later than usual, granny," +he said, "to look after the horses of some gentry, who have just arrived +at the Hall to spend the Christmas holidays; but the good 'Squire has +sent you this nice piece of beef for your dinner to-morrow, and this +wood to warm your poor limbs this bitter weather."</p> + +<p>"May heaven bless both you and your good master!" said the grateful Amy: +"and may both he and his ever have good cheer and warm fires, when the +cold and hard weather comes on! But, James, have you seen your brother?"</p> + +<p>At that minute, Michael opened the door: he brought with him some fine +whiting on the lid of an old basket. "I have been lucky to-day, +grandmother," said he; "I have caught as many fish along-shore as I sold +in the town for seven groats. Here is the money; let it be put in the +earthen pot, with the rest that is to buy you a red cloak this cold +weather."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my dear Michael," said Amy: "how good and dutiful you both +are! The time was, when I thought that the Almighty had dealt hardly in +taking from the lone widow her only son,—but he has restored me that +blessing in a twofold degree; and if I could but see you take to quiet +farming-work like James—"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Michael, "I will do my best to like it: though, I am +afraid, I shall never get over my wish to be a sailor. But look at these +fine fish! I might have sold them in town; but, I thought, as it was +Christmas-tide, that you should have them for supper."</p> + +<p>Amy now began to bestir herself to dress the supper. She soon raised a +cheerful blaze; but just as she was putting on the fish, the loud report +of a gun at sea made her start and drop them. It seemed so close to the +cottage, that the concussion made everything rattle and ring around.</p> + +<p>"Heaven help them!" said Amy; "it is some poor distressed ship's crew at +sea, firing guns for help this stormy night. Oh, Michael! this is what +you wish for! This is the life you love so much! Can you say you wish to +be a sailor now?"</p> + +<p>"I wish," answered Michael, "I had been sailor enough to go off in the +pilot-boat I saw trying to put off just now as I came under the cliffs. +There's a brave ship—a king's ship, I believe,—has been in distress +all the evening; and they want a pilot to go to her, for they fear she +will be driven by the gale right on to the bar;—but the wind and waves +run so contrary, that though they have been trying for this hour, they +cannot get the boat off. Hark! there is another gun! She has certainly +struck! Oh that I could help them!"</p> + +<p>Michael now started up, and sprang to the door; but Amy ran after him, +and held him back. "Oh, stay, my dear boy," she cried; "don't go off to +sea! Don't let me see another child perish before these old eyes!"</p> + +<p>"No," said Michael, turning round, "I will not disobey you; besides, I +have not experience enough to be of any great use. Our brave pilots +would help them, if help were possible."</p> + +<p>"See, brother!" said James, "there lies the ship; she is beating on the +Barnet-reef, sure enough; and yet the moon shines bright through the +storm."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Michael; "and could they have got a pilot that knew the +coast, they might have been saved. Look! they are putting out boats. +See! There are two!"</p> + +<p>"Where? where?" asked James: "the white flashing billows dazzle my eyes. +I can see but one little black speck dancing among the waves."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!" said Amy, "even I can see two; but they will never reach the +shore. See, there goes down one of them!"</p> + +<p>"No, no! I hope not," said James; "it is only hidden for a moment +between the high waves."</p> + +<p>"I tell you it is gone," said Amy. "Alas! I know that shocking sight +too well?—Don't I <i>know</i> what it is to see a boat swallowed by the sea? +Come in, boys, or I shall think I see your father again washed on shore +at my feet."</p> + +<p>"Go you in," said Michael; "but I will stay and see if indeed some one +be thrown on shore; for we may give timely help."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he plainly discovered some one struggling with the waves at +a little distance. The brothers hastened to the spot just as the man was +thrown with violence on the sands by the huge breakers; they seized and +dragged him out of the reach of the waves, and Amy ran out of the +cottage to help them.</p> + +<p>"Is he dead?" said she, fearfully.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said Michael, "that the waves, in throwing him ashore, +have beaten the breath out of him; but he was alive just now, for I saw +him struggle with the breakers."</p> + +<p>They carried the poor man into the cottage, and tried every means in +their power to revive him; but Amy had nothing better than a little +elder wine to give him. This she hastened to warm; and James ran to the +town to borrow or buy a little brandy, and to get medical assistance. He +soon procured the liquor; but the doctor was so busy attending other +sufferers who had been washed ashore, that he could not leave them. +James thought it best to return quickly with the spirits; and he had the +pleasure to see the person they had saved sitting in the chimney-corner; +and after he had taken the brandy which James had brought, he seemed +considerably revived.</p> + +<p>It was not till he was out of danger that the kind cottagers remarked +that the dress and appearance of their guest were far above those of a +common seaman. Amy had put him on some dry clothes, which were more +comfortable (though very coarse) than his dripping garments; and on +holding up the latter to dry, an elegant watch fell from one of the +pockets. This she hung up before the fireplace; and soon afterwards the +weary stranger retired to rest, the brothers having cheerfully given up +their bed, and slept that night on a heap of old nets and sea-weed in +the cow-shed.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning, the doctor came to visit the shipwrecked stranger, +and brought with him one of the sailors, who had got safe to land in the +other boat. As soon as they entered the cottage, the seaman cast his +eyes on the uniform that hung at the fire, and eagerly asked if the +owner of it were alive. He was informed that he was alive, and likely to +do well; but that he was then asleep.</p> + +<p>"Then the storm has spared one of the bravest captains in his Majesty's +fleet," said the sailor.</p> + +<p>"What! is he a sea-captain?" asked Michael.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the sailor: "our brave Captain Lucas."</p> + +<p>A voice from the inner room now called, "Is that you, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, your Honour," said the sailor, who immediately recognised the +voice of Captain Lucas, his commander. Captain Lucas called the sailor +to him, and asked, with much anxiety, how many of the ship's company +were lost? "Only ten," said he; "the long-boat came safe ashore; and +several of those in the boat with you were picked up by the good +town's-people. We thought all night that you were lost: it would have +been a bitter loss to us, Captain; for you are, indeed, the sailor's +friend. It was a dreadful sight for us to see your boat go down; but +your Honour knows that we all begged you to go in the long-boat, for we +said the other could not live in such a sea."</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom," said the Captain, "mine was but a single life; most of you +were fathers and husbands. I am thankful that so many have been spared; +and, as for myself, I could not have fallen into better hands. Mind and +get a good Christmas dinner, you and your messmates, to cheer your poor +hearts; I'll be at the expense: thank God! I have enough to spare a few +comforts for my brave sailors, after all their sufferings."</p> + +<p>Tom, having made a sailor's acknowledgment, hastened to the town to tell +his messmates the joyful news, that their noble captain was saved.</p> + +<p>Captain Lucas was so much bruised, that the doctor told him he must keep +in bed for a day or two, and take the medicine which he would send him; +but the captain seemed averse to physic, and thought that Amy's +treacle-possets did him more good. He refused to be removed from the +cottage, saying that he could not find better quarters anywhere. Michael +attended him with the greatest care, and his sailors came daily to see +him.</p> + +<p>Michael was delighted with the frankness and noble bearing of the +Captain, and with the affection his men bore him: and Captain Lucas was +as much pleased with the honest and warm-hearted Michael. "You are the +brave fellow," he said to him one day, "that pulled me ashore."</p> + +<p>"I helped my brother James," said Michael.</p> + +<p>"It is not always," said the Captain, "that shipwrecked men fall into +such good hands; but it shall be the better for you, my lad."</p> + +<p>Captain Lucas was not a man to keep his bed a long time for a few +bruises. He was soon able to walk about; and his first care was to see +the bodies of the drowned seamen decently buried. He attended their +funeral, with all the surviving crew, and showed himself to be as pious +as he was brave.</p> + +<p>The night before he departed for London, he handsomely rewarded old Amy +and her grandsons for their kindness to him; and as he put some broad +pieces into Michael's hand, he said, "My young friend, I thought of +giving you and your brother the watch and rings which I had about me +when I was thrown ashore; but I think these pieces will be more +serviceable: and I give them to you as much for your uncommon honesty as +the humanity you have shown to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sir!" said Michael, laying the gold on the table, "you could do me +a favour, that I should prize more than your little golden clock<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> and +all the Caroluses<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> in the world."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the Captain; "and what is that, my lad?"</p> + +<p>"To persuade my grandmother to let me go to sea with you."</p> + +<p>"Well, my brave boy, I should be glad to have you under my command. What +do you say, Amy? You hear your grandson's wish. But, remember, that I +will never repay your hospitality so basely, as to take him away without +your consent."</p> + +<p>Amy sighed. "Well, your Honour, as it is Michael's desire, and as he has +wished it for a long time, I wont deny him; for I see his heart is +wholly set on being a sailor. I should have thought that the lives he +had just seen lost would have shown him his folly; but, as it is, I +would rather he should go to sea with such a noble gentleman as yourself +than with any one else."</p> + +<p>Michael rejoiced that his grandmother had at last given her consent. +"While I can have Captain Lucas for a commander, and King Charles for a +master," said he, "I never will serve a Suffolk farmer."</p> + +<p>The Captain was pleased with his spirit; but Michael's heart rather +failed him, when he bade farewell, the next day, to his good grandmother +and his twin-brother. "I know the Captain wont despise me for crying," +he said to Tom; for "I saw <i>him</i> weep when the poor sailors were +buried."</p> + +<p>"Ay! ay!" said Tom, "he has a tender heart, and he is the better for it, +and so are you; and considering as how you are but a young one, I think +you have borne it very well. Why I sometimes pipe a bit myself when I +bid good b'ye to my Jane, and mother, and the little ones."</p> + +<p>Captain Lucas was soon appointed to another ship; and Michael sent word +to Amy and James, that he loved the life he had chosen better than ever, +and that he would not change it for any other.</p> + +<p>For a long time Michael was sadly missed at the cottage. James and Amy +would look sorrowfully at one another, and shake their heads when they +saw Michael's empty place at dinner, and the vacant corner where he used +to put his three-legged stool by the chimney-side—and it was war-time. +England was engaged in a severe struggle with the Dutch for naval +pre-eminence in those days; and perhaps she never had to sustain a more +arduous maritime contest; and Michael had many perils to encounter +besides the danger of the stormy seas; but then he was very punctual in +writing to his relatives—they were sure to have a letter from him at +every opportunity; and Michael took a pride in sending home a +considerable portion of his pay. Amy had so often heard that Michael was +safe and well, that it was only after hearing of some sharp engagement +that her heart ached for him. James was as diligent and industrious as +ever, and kept his old place, and pleased his good master. Poor Amy had +nourishing food and warm clothing, and more comforts in her old age than +she had ever expected.</p> + +<p>Three years passed quickly away, and James had grown a fine-looking +young man. Old Amy, though healthy and strong for her years, seemed to +fear that she should not see her dear Michael before she died.</p> + +<p>The war now raged more fiercely than ever between the English and Dutch; +and it was said that the fleets would soon come to action in the seas +between England and Holland. James and Amy understood very little about +this. All their care was to know whether it was likely for Michael's +ship to be in the action: this they could not learn; but they saw a +great fleet nearly opposite at sea, hovering to and fro, and many seamen +and officers came on shore; but they neither saw nor heard anything of +Michael; so they hoped he was not in the fleet.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely morning in the latter end of May, and James had been +some time at work in his master's fields, when he was suddenly startled +with a tremendous noise, louder than any thunder he had ever heard. He +looked round about, and up at the heavens; all was blue and serene +there, and he could see no traces of a thunder-cloud: still the roar +continued in horrid bursts that seemed to shake the shores and the very +ground he stood on, and it rang and rebounded through the hollow coast +with the most frightful din.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> At last he cast his eyes towards the +East, and there he saw, in the bar, white clouds of smoke, mixed with +flashes of flame. "The sea-fight has surely begun," he said aloud, "so +near in shore! Our cottage will certainly be knocked down with the +balls." This thought induced him to throw down his hoe, and away he ran +towards his home, thinking of nothing but his poor grandmother.</p> + +<p>He got safely down the cliffs, though the cannon-balls were coming on +shore very near him, and in some places they actually shattered large +pieces of earth and stones from the cliffs. James found poor old Amy +kneeling by the bed in the inner room, hiding her face and half dead +with terror. He wanted to take her farther up the country, out of the +reach of danger; but Amy dared not venture out of the house, and James +could not persuade her that the cottage would be no defence in case a +cannon-ball should strike it. He determined at first to take her in his +arms and carry her away to a place of safety: "But, who knows," thought +he, "but I may drag her into the very danger she dreads so much?" So he +determined to stay with her at every risk, and they spent the day +half-deafened with the roar of the cannon, expecting every moment that +their little home would be shattered about them.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, the firing grew weaker and weaker, and the people who +were beholding the fight from the cliffs, shouted that the Duke of York +had gained the victory. But before the action was quite over, a boat was +seen making to the shore; it seemed to bear in the direction of Amy's +cottage, and actually ran on shore within a few yards of it. The +sailors leaped out, and, lifting an officer in their arms, bore him +towards the cottage; whilst a young sailor walked slowly after, leaning +on an old seaman's arm. James flung open the cottage door, and told them +to place the officer on the bed. They accordingly laid him down. He +moaned faintly with pain. At the sound of his voice, the young sailor +approached the bed with an unsteady step. Amy gazed wistfully on the +young man, and then on James;—they were exactly alike. "It is my own +boy Michael!" she cried at last.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is Michael!" said James, throwing himself on his neck.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my poor grandmother! and my dear James!" said Michael, "I have come +home to you in a sorrowful hour! My noble Captain is mortally wounded."</p> + +<p>"Is this the brave gentleman who took you away, and behaved so kindly to +us? Alas, how wan he looks!" said Amy, looking mournfully on the pale +features of Captain Lucas, as he lay fainting on the lowly bed, where +they had placed him.</p> + +<p>"But you look as white and ill as he does, Michael!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he faintly, pointing to his side, from which the blood +slowly trickled; "I was wounded whilst fighting near him—I return to my +home once more; but it is to die. Our Captain's brother took the command +of the ship after he fell; and when the fight slackened, he sent the +boat ashore with him, in hopes of getting better assistance. He did not +know I was wounded, but he told me to go on shore with my master, and +take care of him. Instead of suffering the sailors to take him to the +town, I bade them steer direct for the cottage on the beach. He laid his +noble head there when he was in distress before; and I resolved that he +should not die among strangers."</p> + +<p>Here Michael's voice faltered with grief and pain; and he was so faint +that he would have sunk from his seat, had not James supported him in +his arms. A surgeon arrived soon after, and at once pronounced that the +Captain's wounds were mortal, and that Michael was in a dangerous state. +Before night, Captain Lucas's brother came on shore, and hastened to the +cottage: Captain Lucas held out his hand when he saw his brother. +"William," said he, "is England victorious?" William Lucas turned from +his dying brother, and wept.—"Oh yes, Charles! The Duke has gained the +battle, but it is a dearly-purchased victory."</p> + +<p>"Many a one has fallen, William, who will be more missed than I shall +be," replied the Captain. "I have but one dear brother to weep my +loss.—Hear my last request: you know, by my will, you inherit my +estates;—but give my faithful Michael the gold in my portmanteau, and a +hundred pounds besides, to be divided between him and his brother: if +Michael should die, give his share to his grandmother—I fear I have +robbed her of one of the props of her age! It is owing to the good +inhabitants of this cottage that my death has been a glorious one: three +years ago they saved my life from the waves on this coast."</p> + +<p>Captain Lucas did not live through that night: and Michael only survived +him two days. They were buried together, with many a hero who fell in +that engagement. Captain William faithfully executed his brother's dying +request. But it was not the riches they obtained that could console Amy +and James for the loss of their dear Michael;—it was long before they +could think, without extreme sorrow, on his untimely death.</p> + +<p>James's good master assisted him with his advice in laying out the +Captain's legacy, which amounted to more than five hundred pounds. James +took a good farm, and, by his unremitting industry, soon became a rich +man; and old Amy had the pleasure of seeing her great grandchildren born +to affluence: yet the beautiful month of May never returned but she +remembered with sadness the fall of her brave sailor-boy and his noble +captain.</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<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> Cutting away the mast is nobly described by poor Falconer. +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And hew at once the mizen-mast away!'<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He said: the attentive sailors on each side,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At his command the trembling cords divide.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +<i>Shipwreck.</i></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> The well is an apartment in a ship's hold, serving to +enclose the pumps. It is sounded by dropping a measured iron rod down +into it by a long line; hence the increase or diminution of the leaks is +easily discovered. +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They sound the well, and, terrible to hear,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Five feet immersed along the line appear;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">At either pump they ply the clanking brake,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And turn by turn the ungrateful office take."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +<span class="smcap">Falconer's</span> <i>Shipwreck</i>.</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> +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"While on the quivering deck, from van to rear,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Broad surges roll in terrible career,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">This office in the face of death pursue.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Fronting the rude attacks of every wave.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Meantime Arion traversing the waist, }<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, }<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. }<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And from their beds the reeling cannon threw.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Then from the windward battlements unbound,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +<span class="smcap">Falconer's</span> <i>Shipwreck</i>.</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> The progress of vegetation is very curious in those +islands, which are supposed by geologists to be thrown up from the +bottom of the sea by volcanoes, or formed by the unceasing labours of +the coral animalculi. These generally present at first a rocky surface, +barren and arid. By degrees, a little soil is deposited by sea-fowl and +birds of passage; on this at first grow the seeds of some of those +minute plants, which are literally carried on the wings of the wind from +countries that appear too far distant for any such conveyance. These +plants flourish, fade, and are renewed by the seasons, until from their +decayed parts is formed that fine vegetable mould which overspreads the +more fertile surface of the earth. When this process is begun, if the +land receives from the hand of some benevolent discoverer a few seeds of +trees or plants to which the climate is congenial, the work of +fertilization is rapidly accelerated; grass grows luxuriantly under the +shade of the trees: verdure increases, and creeps farther and farther, +till from one little spot, an oasis in the midst of a desert, the whole +island becomes fruitful.</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> The sciences requisite to form a complete seaman are +beautifully described by Falconer:— +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i1">"Him Science taught by mystic lore to trace<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The planets wheeling in eternal race;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To mark the ship in floating balance held,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">By earth attracted, and by seas repelled;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Or point her devious track through climes unknown,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That leads to every shore, and every zone.—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And into motion charm the expanding tide;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">While earth impetuous round her axle rolls,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Light and attraction from their genial source,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He saw still wandering with diminish'd force;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">While on the margin of declining day<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Night's shadowy cone reluctant melts away."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +To add to this, +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"That never seaman more serenely brave<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Led Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave."<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><i>The Shipwreck.</i></p> + +<p> +Perhaps it will be considered that Falconer's beautiful poem is too +generally known to give these extracts the charm of novelty; yet surely +every one who is acquainted with the talents and fate of Falconer, will +feel almost a tender emotion when his writings are alluded to, from a +combination of circumstances. His poem is very interesting, his +character and fate are still more so, and his memory is thrice hallowed +and will be immortalized by the beautiful allusion to his Shipwreck in +the "Pleasures of Hope."</p></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> Commodore Byron found some repairs necessary at Rio de +Janeiro.—"We had six Portuguese caulkers to assist our carpenters, who +were paid at the rate of 6s. per diem; though it is certain an English +caulker could do as much in one day as they did in three; but, though +slow and inactive, they perform their work very effectually." +</p><p> +<span class="smcap">Byron's</span> <i>Voyage</i>.</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> Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Admiral Hopson, Admiral Campbell, Sir +Samuel Cornish, and many other gallant gentlemen, rose from the lowest +ranks.</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> Cox's Travels.</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> Encyclopædia Britannica.</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> Otherwise called Aurora Borealis.</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> The mollissima, or eider-duck, is double the size of the +common duck. The feathers, which are soft and valuable, fall off during +incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the +female is greenish. This species is found in the Western Isles of +Scotland, but in greater numbers in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland; from +whence vast quantities of the down, known by the name of <i>eider</i>, or +<i>edder</i>, (which these birds furnish,) is annually imported. Its warm, +light, and elastic qualities, make it highly esteemed as stuffings for +coverlets and down beds. This down is produced from the breast of the +birds, in the breeding season. The eider-duck lays its eggs among the +stones or plants near the shore, and prepares a soft bed for them by +plucking the down from its own breast; the natives watch the +opportunity, and take away both eggs and nest. The duck lays again, and +repeats the plucking of its breast. If she is robbed after that, she +will still lay; but the drakes must supply the down, as her stock is now +exhausted: but, if her eggs are taken from her a fourth time, she wholly +deserts the place. The number of eggs in each nest are from three to +five, warmly bedded in down; they are of a pale olive colour, and very +large, glossy, and smooth. The ducks now and then, however, lay as many +as eight, for sixteen have been found in one nest, with two females +sitting on them, who agree remarkably well together. They take their +young on their backs to sea; then dive to shake them off, and teach them +to shift for themselves. They live on shell-fish, for which they dive to +great depths. The males are five years old before they come to their +full colours. It is said they live to a great age, and grow quite +grey.</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> Watches were only in general use at court, in the time of +Charles the Second.</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 gold coinage in the reigns of the Stuarts were +commonly called Caroluses and Jacobuses.</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> In an old song, published a few days after Solebay fight, +there are the following lines:— +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Well might you hear their guns, I guess,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They fill'd up all the hollow coast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From Walberswick to Dunwich."<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rival Crusoes, by Agnes Strickland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + +***** This file should be named 34849-h.htm or 34849-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/4/34849/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 Rival Crusoes + The Ship Wreck also A Voyage to Norway; and The Fisherman's Cottage. + +Author: Agnes Strickland + +Release Date: January 4, 2011 [EBook #34849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE RIVAL CRUSOES; + + OR, THE SHIPWRECK. + + ALSO + + A VOYAGE TO NORWAY; + + AND THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE. + + BY AGNES STRICKLAND, + +AUTHOR OF THE "LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND," "TALES AND STORIES FROM +HISTORY," ETC. + + + SIXTH EDITION. + + LONDON: + GRANT AND GRIFFITH, + + SUCCESSORS TO + J. HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. + + MDCCCLI. + + LONDON: + + STEVENS AND CO., PRINTERS, BELL YARD, + + TEMPLE BAR. + + + + +THE RIVAL CRUSOES; + +OR, THE DESERT ISLAND. + + +"George! Harry!--lazy fellows that you are!--Why are you not in +attendance?" said Lord Robert Summers in an angry tone, throwing the +rein of his pony to his grooms, and rushing up the great staircase with +his handkerchief held close to his face. + +"What is the matter with our young lord to-day?" said Harry; "he seems +in a marvellous ill mood." + +"I suppose he has had another brush with Philip Harley to-day: did not +you see the blood on his handkerchief?" said the other. + +"That Philip is a saucy young rascal," replied Harry; "but he will get +himself into a scrape before long. Lord Robert will be even with him, I +will answer; for he never takes an offence without returning +twenty-fold." + +"They never meet now without a battle," returned the groom. "Lord Robert +has been so used to domineer over men twice his age, on board ship, that +he is more unbearable than any young man of rank I ever served. I wonder +who is to put up with all his tempers? If his elder brother, my young +lord, were half so hasty with his hands, or so flippant with his tongue, +I would leave his service to-morrow: however, he wont be with us +long--that's my comfort. It was but the other day I was airing the dogs, +and trod, by accident, on his favourite Neptune's toe. The plaguy beast +set up a yell. In an instant, I had a cuff of the head from the young +tyrant, and was called a careless rascal and scoundrel, while he had +breath to heap such epithets on me. I am glad the lad has given him a +dressing, and wish it had been twice as much; it might have done him +good." + +With this wish, George led off the pony. The fact was, Lord Robert had +caught Philip Harley trespassing, according to custom, in the Park, and +had tried to horsewhip him out of the grounds, but had fairly got the +worst of it. Lord Robert, though a stout and courageous youth, was +pulled off his horse by the desperate young rustic, and in the fray +received several contusions on the face. Philip did not part without +some tokens of his enemy's vengeance; but he certainly remained victor +in the contest. Lord Robert was glad to regain his pony and make a hasty +retreat, much mortified, and in a very evil temper. + +When he had reached his apartment, he washed the blood from his face, +and composed the swelling of his haughty spirit; and after smoothing his +ruffled plumes, he descended into the dining-room and joined the family +party. His mother made some inquiry respecting the bruises on his face; +but he turned it off with an evasive answer, as the effect of a fall he +had met with in the Park. No farther notice was taken, except a slight +sarcasm on the proverbial bad horsemanship of sailors. + +At the dessert, the Marquis, his father, handed him a letter. "It is +from your uncle, Sir Henry. See, Robert, what a charming surprise he has +prepared for you! He spoils you, boy! I think you would not be so +petulant and imperious, if every wish of that wayward heart were not +gratified by his fond affection." + +Lord Robert was so eager to read the letter from his beloved uncle, that +he scarcely heard this reproof, which, gentle as it was, at any other +time would have clouded his handsome brow with frowns. + +Captain Sir Henry Stanley wrote to his brother-in-law, that he should +sail in the Diomede, from Portsmouth, in less than a month; when he +should expect his noble boy, his brave Robert, again to accompany him to +victory. "I think it long till we are afloat," continued he; "and so, I +dare say, does my dear nephew. However, that the time may not appear so +very tedious, I have sent him a little pleasure-brig, the most complete +that could be procured: he can sail and manoeuvre it on your lake; not +that I approve of freshwater sailing, but it is better than dancing +after horses and dogs, and such landsmen's amusements." + +Lord Robert then heard that this fairy frigate had been safely landed +that day at a sea-port town, some little distance from his father's +domains. A waggon and team of horses had been despatched to bring it +home; and a servant soon afterwards entered to say that it had arrived, +and was carefully placed by the side of the lake, ready for launching, +which ceremony Lord Robert, full of impatient joy, sprang off to +superintend. + +It sometimes happens that time and tide will not wait obsequiously even +on the children of prosperity. These stubborn powers will sometimes fret +and chafe the proud and great, and, frequently, are so unpolite as to +ruffle a rose-leaf on their couch of pleasure; but, as if the young lord +had suffered mortification enough in the morning, his cup of delight was +full in the evening. The pleasure was scarcely promised before it was +realized. The gay glittering frigate dashed bravely into the lake: she +bounded and danced on the waves, with as much spirit as the youthful +noble could wish. The bottle of claret was flung with great effect; and +she received her name amidst the applauses of the peasantry of the +neighbouring village, who, as a great favour, were permitted to behold +this sight at an awful distance. + +Lord Robert sank to rest that night, anticipating the charming sail he +should take in the morning. + +The eyes of the young lord were open before sunrise; but whilst his +valet was hastily dressing him, what was his indignation, on casting his +eyes towards the lake, to see his fairy frigate, his beautiful Ariel, +spreading her white sails to the breeze, and gliding on the lake as +gallantly as if her noble master were commanding her? Who could be the +person that had dared to unmoor her? Down flew Lord Robert, half +undressed; and the servants were summoned; but none of the household had +been guilty of such a piece of audacity. At last, a thought struck him, +that it could be no other than that contemner of all legal authority, +Philip Harley. Lord Robert was soon by the border of the lake; and there +he saw his young enemy reclined in the gilded pleasure-boat, sailing at +his ease, and coasting near enough for Lord Robert to behold the look of +calm defiance with which he surveyed his anger: and he continued to +manage the Ariel with as much coolness as if her lawful owner had not +been viewing her manoeuvres with the greatest indignation. Lord Robert +was still more provoked, when he recollected that he had no means of +reaching the offender, to expel him from the boat. + +"Is there anything like a boat on the estate," exclaimed Lord Robert, +"that I may pursue that insolent young Harley, and take my property from +him?" + +"No, my Lord," said Edwards, the old gardener; "there is nothing of the +kind on any of the pieces of water within a mile or two of the hall. +Your Lordship may remember that when you were very young, and took such +a fancy to everything relating to ships and sailing, my Lady had all the +boats destroyed, for fear you should endanger your life by venturing on +the water." + +"And have they never been replaced?" asked Lord Robert. + +"No, my Lord: there were two boats and a fishing-punt staved in by her +Ladyship's order," replied Edwards. "You may recollect that your +Lordship got into sad disgrace, the next day, by embarking on the lake +in a large washing-tub." + +Lord Robert could not help laughing. "On my honour, Edwards," said he, +"I could find it in my heart to embark in a washing-tub at present, if I +thought it of any use." + +"I think, my Lord," said his valet, "Captain Bently has a small boat on +the river, about a mile from the Park." + +"Run, carry my compliments to Captain Bently, and ask him to lend it to +me for an hour." + +Two or three messengers started with obedient speed to fulfil the wishes +of their master: but the land conveyance of a boat is a work of time; +and, long before their return, Philip, tired, as we may suppose, of his +amusement, steered the boat to the most distant part of the lake (which +happened to be nearest his own home), and jumped on shore, behind some +bushes, which jutted out and concealed his landing. He had walked +quietly through the Park, and arrived at the village, before Lord Robert +perceived, by the irregular drifting of the little vessel, that she was +deserted, and the culprit had escaped his vengeance. + +Lord Robert was literally glowing with rage, when he met his father in +the breakfast-room. For some reason best known to himself, he had +hitherto concealed from the Marquis his encounters with Philip Harley; +but, in the moment of indignation, everything blazed forth; and, in all +the exaggeration of anger, he informed his father of every outrage +Philip had been guilty of towards him; adding, that the reason of their +first disagreement was, his interrupting Philip in the act of poaching. + +The Marquis was a good and humane man; but the representations of Lord +Robert highly incensed him. That a young ruffian, exercising the lawless +pursuits of a poacher, should take every opportunity of insulting and +thwarting his son, and even of brutally assaulting him in his own park, +was too much to be endured, and called for the severest punishment. +Certainly, of all the species of theft (and it is _theft_), poaching is +considered with the least mercy by noblemen and gentlemen of landed +property. Perhaps the Marquis may be reckoned severe, but this was an +aggravated case. + +It was then in the middle of the American war, and a press-gang paid +pretty frequent visits to the neighbouring sea-port town. His Lordship, +therefore, informed them that he wished to remove a noxious person from +the vicinity, and they took their measures accordingly. + +Philip was partial to the sea: he was clever in the management of a +boat, and was in the habit of taking trips, now and then, with some +seafaring friends. He was preparing for one of these excursions, when +the press-gang caught him near the harbour, dressed in a blue jacket and +trousers; and the unfortunate youth was immediately dragged from his +native place, without even being suffered to bid farewell to his +parents; and it was with the greatest difficulty that he obtained leave +to inform them of what had befallen him. Indeed, the first news they +heard of him was, that he was on board a tender, and destined to sail in +the first fleet that left England. + +Philip Harley has hitherto appeared in no very respectable light. That +he was a desperate trespasser and depredator is the most favourable +opinion that can be formed of him; yet there were people in the +neighbourhood, who, having known Philip from his infancy, ventured to +think that he had met with harsh treatment, and that his heart, once so +good and upright, must have undergone an extraordinary change, or that +he had received great provocation, to be guilty of such daring outrages. + +There is an excellent saying, which, though old and trite, it is +sometimes necessary to bear in mind: namely, "That one story is good +till another is told."--There was, in truth, some little excuse for +Philip's conduct; though he certainly deserved blame, and even +punishment, for giving up every proper pursuit and feeling to the +gratification of resentment. + +Before Lord Robert's return from his long voyage, Philip Harley was +considered as gentle in disposition, as he was manly and high-spirited. +At this time, he was just sixteen, and had begun to make himself useful +in his father's business, which was that of a carpenter. + +His father was rather independent in his circumstances; and his whole +family consisted of two children--this Philip, and a lovely little blind +girl, called Kate. This unhappy sister (if a creature in the practice of +the most angelic patience can be called _unhappy_) was the darling of +Philip's heart. Every spare minute he devoted to amusing and caressing +this child, who was many years younger than himself; and she returned +his love with the most grateful affection. The cottage where they lived +fronted the west, and could be seen from the London road; and blind Kate +used to take her evening seat on the threshold, waiting to hear the +step of this beloved brother on his return from work; with her fair face +and glittering curls turned to the setting sun--with a divine expression +of hope and peace on her innocent countenance, that attracted the +admiration of every passenger. + +Philip had a very large spaniel, one of the handsomest of that beautiful +species. This creature he had reared from a puppy, and taught to be +obedient to his sister; and in his absence Rover was her only source of +amusement; but he was, indeed, a most faithful and attached attendant, +serving both for a guard and guide. + +Sometimes Kate would walk on the road before the cottage, with her fair +hands grasping Rover's silky coat, who would restrain his natural +vivacity to guide the darkling steps of his little mistress. At other +times, when the sun shone warm and bright, and the grass was soft and +thick, Kate was as full of frolic and play as Rover himself, and would +gambol with him a whole spring-day on the lawn in front of the cottage; +but as the evening approached, Kate and Rover took their station at the +cottage-door, and greeted the return of Philip with the utmost joy. Both +were most dear to Philip: he tenderly loved his suffering sister; and +he loved the faithful dog for her sake. It is not surprising, therefore, +that Philip was almost broken-hearted when Kate fell sick, and after a +few days expired. True, she was removed to a better place. Philip knew +that she was taken in mercy, as her lot in this world was one of +peculiar hardship; but he could not bear to lose her; and he and Rover +moped in the most cheerless manner for many days after the funeral. + +It was some little time before this that Lord Robert returned to the +hall, after several years' absence. He had promised himself much +pleasure from the autumnal field-sports; but in this amusement, as in +every other occupation, he was too apt to suffer trifles to ruffle his +temper, and make him violent and unreasonable. + +One gloomy October evening, Lord Robert was returning with his gun and +dogs through the park, attended by a gamekeeper. He had pursued his +amusement that day with very little success: everything had gone wrong; +the dogs had pointed badly, and his new fowling-piece, that had cost him +twenty guineas only the week before, had hung fire several times, at +the very moment when the game sprang before him the finest mark +possible. In short, he had suffered disappointment enough to vex the +heart of the most patient person in the world, who had never in his life +felt what real affliction was. At this unlucky minute, it was Philip +Harley's ill fortune to cross the park by a public footway that led +through the grounds. It was the first day Philip had resumed his work +since the death of his sister; and he was walking in a melancholy way, +carrying his basket of tools, with his eyes fixed on the ground, +attending very little to what was passing around him, and Rover was +trudging by his side, when, unluckily, just as Lord Robert came up to +him, a hare darted out of some bushes, and Rover scampered after it. + +"That is the way all the game is poached off the estate!" exclaimed Lord +Robert in a fit of passion; and, yielding to the influence of temper, he +levelled his gun at the dog. The piece, that had so many times missed +fire that day, now rang sharp and true: the faithful creature was +mortally wounded; he crawled feebly to his master's feet, and expired. +Philip hung over his poor dog, while he saw him die, with anguish that +gave a painful sensation to Lord Robert; yet still, under the dominion +of temper, he said to his servant-- + +"What a fool the fellow makes of himself about a dog!" + +Philip lifted the body of his poor favourite from the ground, and taking +it in his arms, rushed by the young lord, giving him a look of contempt +and indignation as he passed. + +"It is the dog that used to lead about his blind sister," said the +humane gamekeeper. "She is just dead." + +Lord Robert then remembered meeting Kate and the dog when he first came +home: he had patted her curly head and admired her beauty. + +"Was it blind Kate's dog?" said Lord Robert. "Had I known that, he might +have destroyed every head of game on the estate before I would have shot +him." + +Perhaps, had Philip heard this half acknowledgment of error, much evil +might have been prevented. The next time he met the young noble, it was +with the most bitter feelings. He considered that Lord Robert had +wantonly murdered the innocent companion of his sister; and all the +grief he felt for her loss was turned into rage. Contemptuous words +succeeded angry looks: and these ere not to be borne by Lord Robert's +untamed spirit; though he felt greatly displeased with himself, and +would have given half his fortune to have recalled the past, yet he +would not bear Philip's reproaches. A very little provoked him to strike +him, and a desperate encounter ensued. This was followed by many others; +for Philip neglected all his better pursuits to gratify his revenge; he +lay in wait to attack Lord Robert, and took every opportunity of defying +him; till the most ferocious hatred took place between the two youths, +which led to the consequences we have already seen. In one instance, +however, Philip was wrongfully accused, as he never had stained his +hands with dishonest practices. Lord Robert well knew that the dog's +accidentally chasing the hare was perfectly involuntary on the part of +Philip, who was scarcely conscious of it before the poor animal was put +to death. + +This incident had given Lord Robert Summers great mental pain: he was as +angry with himself as with Philip Harley; he could not bear to think of +his conduct in this affair--he could not bear to recall any circumstance +relating to it; and only the _name_ of Philip Harley gave him the +greatest uneasiness. Yet he was not conscious that the whole of this +uneasiness sprang from giving the reins one moment to ungovernable +temper; for it was neither Philip nor his dog that had offended or +irritated him; but accidental circumstances had put him in a very ill +humour, and he vented his temper on the first beings that crossed his +path, and, by that means, he was induced to commit an act of cruelty and +oppression really foreign to his own disposition, and which outraged the +best feelings of a fellow-creature, already under the pressure of acute +affliction. If young people will look into their own hearts, they will +find that there is no frailty belonging to our erring nature so +deceptive as _temper_. Strange as it may appear, it often happens that +many individuals, when they express anger, generally wreak it on the +last person who would have thought of exciting it. Some unfortunate +servant, or still more unhappy dependant, is made the victim of ill +humour; which is not only in itself as blind and erring as it is unjust, +but also brings with it the additional pain of self-reproach. Yet the +heart is not always bad that gives way to its evil dominion; but it is +for want of self-examination--of saying, "I find myself mentally uneasy, +perhaps from accidental events, or even from indisposition of body; why +then should I make myself odious to this person, who is in my power, and +must endure my ill treatment, when a little patience and forbearance +will remove the cloud that rests on my mind, and my spirit will rise +bright and unclouded, rejoicing in the consciousness of having overcome +one of the most painful infirmities of human nature?" This +self-confession (if it may be so called) will bring mental health, and +rectify the most irritable disposition. + +Never did a month seem so long, as the time appeared to Lord Robert +Summers while he remained on shore. He parted from his noble relatives +with the less regret as he longed to be at sea, to lose in active +employment the memory of these errors and mortifying reflections. + +This young nobleman had passed his examination as lieutenant with the +greatest credit; and in a severe engagement between his uncle's ship and +a French man-of-war of superior force (which ended in the capture of the +Frenchman), Lord Robert Summers behaved with such distinguished valour, +that he was considered, both for intrepidity and nautical skill, a most +promising young officer; yet, on account of his youth, being but just +sixteen, he did not expect his commission for some time to come. In this +idea, however, he was agreeably deceived; for, before the Diomede put to +sea, he received his commission as lieutenant. Lord Robert was greatly +attached to his profession; and this early promotion, which he was +conscious was less the effect of interest than desert, seemed to him the +first fruits of a brilliant career of naval honours. + +He was received with transport by Sir Henry Stanley; who, himself an +ornament to the British navy, foresaw, in the early valour of this +beloved nephew, the glory of a Vernon or a Rodney. The Diomede had +received sailing orders; Lord Robert, in high spirits, and joyful +expectation of future triumphs, was in one of his happiest humours, when +a boat from a tender came alongside the Diomede, with a supply of +pressed men to recruit the ship's company. + +"Summers, are you ill?" asked a young officer, with whom Lord Robert was +gaily conversing; when a sudden alteration became observable in his +voice and manner, and his cheek was overspread with a deadly paleness. +Lord Robert did not hear him, being wholly occupied in watching the +progress of a young sailor up the ship's side. + +Lieutenant Cary repeated the question, but received no answer; and, +supposing that Lord Robert was troubled with one of his occasional fits +of patrician haughtiness, and being to the full as high-spirited as +himself, left him to his contemplations. These were of no pleasant +nature; for though emaciated, ragged, and dirty, and in many respects +different from the handsome youth he had lately seen, the young sailor +(who by this time stood on the deck of the Diomede) was Philip Harley! +He now felt that his dislike and abhorrence had arisen to a more +intolerable degree than ever; he fretted at the perverse accident that +had thrown this hated object in his way, and actually proceeded some +paces to request his uncle to remove Philip Harley from the ship; but +then he recollected that he should most likely be forced to enter into +particulars that he detested to recall, besides giving his enemy reason +to suppose that the presence or absence of so abject a creature could +be of the least consequence to him. + +"No," said he to himself, "let him remain; he will, in the discipline of +a man-of-war, be cured perhaps of his audacity, and learn submission to +proper authority." This was the result of Lord Robert's debate with +himself. At first, he had been a little touched by Philip's pale and +altered countenance; but, on a second glance, he found his enemy had +recognised him, and returned his glance with a look so full of reproach +and contempt, that Lord Robert vowed within himself that his haughty +spirit should be broken. + +Alas, for Philip! he needed no worse enemy than himself. Instead of a +manly resignation to what he knew was unavoidable, and a determination +to perform his duties so well as to gain respect from the crew--instead +of pursuing this course, which would have partly defeated the hatred of +his enemy,--he continued so sullen and contrary, that no means, whether +good or bad, could bring him out of his fits of obstinacy. There needed +no interference of Lord Robert's to bring on him the most severe and +cruel punishments. But no bodily pain could subdue Philip; disgrace and +suffering only rendered him furious and desperate; and he was considered +mutinous and ungovernable to such a degree, that he passed the first +three months of a seafaring life in a succession of confinement and +punishment. + +Had young Harley, instead of such headstrong conduct, exerted his real +abilities as a seaman, applied himself to his profession, and shown his +officers and commanders, that, though a mere youth, he could hand, reef, +and steer, as well as the most experienced seaman,--and this, added to +the sober and moral conduct natural to him, with an education and +manners far above his station in life, joined to a stout and active +body, and undaunted courage;--these qualifications would have created +respect in every one, and in no one more than his just and upright +commander; and his persecutor must have exposed his motives before he +could have injured him: _now_ he was fully in his power, and Lord Robert +vowed that he should most submissively implore his pardon for all his +transgressions, before he should find any mercy. + +"I can't tell what to make of that lad," said Lieutenant Cary to Lord +Robert, as the boatswain was untying Harley from a gun, where he had +borne, with Spartan firmness, the infliction of a cruel punishment, +which his wilful disobedience had brought on him: "he neither drinks nor +swears, nor associates with the more dissolute part of the crew: but we +have more trouble with him than with the most abandoned reprobate. Yet +he seems to me to be meant for better things." + +Cary said this as a sort of encouragement to the unfortunate youth, +whose manly endurance of extreme suffering had touched his heart. + +"Oh!" returned Lord Robert, with a contemptuous laugh, "mutiny and +disobedience are nothing new to this fellow; his conduct at sea only +matches his behaviour on land--he was always what you now see him!" + +"'Tis false! _You_ have made me what I am," said Philip, with a +withering look. + +"False!" exclaimed Lord Robert, striking Philip as he spoke. + +"Yes, oppressor, false!" repeated Philip, returning the blow. + +Cary, from a principle of humanity, tried to stay his arm; but Philip +was too quick for him. "Madman!" said he, in a tone of regret, "you have +forfeited your life!" + +"Then let him take it if he will! Thank God, it will be the last injury +he can do me!" said Philip, resigning his hands with composure to the +fetters with which he was immediately bound. + +Harley was considered on board ship so desperate a mutineer, that it was +judged necessary to chain him down to the deck, lest, in his fits of +rage, as he seemed so careless of his own life, he should set fire to +the vessel, and destroy himself and the ship's company together. Here, +then, exposed to the sun by day and the dews by night, with less liberty +than the savage beast, the wretched youth awaited the certain fate to +which, on their arrival in the first port, the laws of war would doom +him, for striking an officer on duty. + +At this period, the ship and her convoy were approaching the coast of +Brazil; they had hitherto enjoyed a prosperous voyage, with fair winds +and weather, and a healthy passage. The Diomede was destined to convoy a +fleet of merchant-ships bound for the Portuguese settlement of Rio de +Janeiro. Before they neared the Brazilian shore, they descried a sail, +which proved to be a French man-of-war, of nearly equal strength with +their own. Scarcely had the Diomede recognised her for an enemy, before +another sail appeared, which was soon known to be her consort. These +ships had been stationed to intercept our richly-freighted merchantmen. +The defenceless merchant-ships dispersed in every direction, leaving the +valiant Diomede to bear the thunders of the unequal combat. This +engagement was a fortunate circumstance for the unhappy Harley. I +believe it is a usual thing for seamen under confinement for mutiny to +be released before an engagement: however this may be, Philip was set at +liberty, by the orders of the Captain. + +Lieutenant Cary was the officer appointed to set him free. "Harley," +said he, "you have shown a bold spirit in a bad cause; let us now see +what you can do for your country. It will be my duty to head the +boarding-party. Let me see you near me!" + +"You _shall_ see me near you!" said young Harley, grasping the cutlass +which Cary put into his hand: "I would do much for you! You are the only +man who has felt for me as a fellow-creature since I was torn from my +home." + +By this time the decks were cleared; and, everything being prepared for +action on both sides, the Frenchmen approached pretty close. During the +awful pause, while this unequal force bore down upon them, perhaps even +some of the boldest hearts felt a chill of anxiety; for they were not +fighting now for wealth or conquest, but for life, liberty, and the +honour of their flag,--that flag which they had borne in triumph round +half the world, and which had never yet been lowered to a foe. True, the +odds against them were tremendous; but they were British seamen, and +would not doubt the result. Yet there was the heart of one amongst them +that throbbed high with desperate ardour for the combat, with the hope +of redeeming disgrace, and showing that he was worthy a better fate than +the death of a felon. + +The engagement was long and sanguinary; but British valour at length +prevailed, and the French ships were forced to sheer off in a shattered +condition, leaving the Diomede little better than a wreck on the mid +ocean. The retreat of the enemy was, however, a glorious and hard-earned +triumph; and the brave officers and crew of the Diomede were conscious +of having performed their duty, and protected the charge committed to +their care by their country. + +After matters were a little set to rights on deck, and the officers had +assembled round their gallant Captain, to congratulate him on the +retreat of the enemy, Sir Henry Stanley ordered the young mutineer to be +brought before him. Philip made his appearance, pale and bleeding, but +with a determined countenance. + +"Young man," said Sir Henry, "you have done your duty to-day. I have to +thank you for twice saving the life of my friend, Lieutenant Cary: he +speaks highly of your conduct in boarding. Your offences are +forgiven--you may return to your duty; and, I hope, from this day, your +conduct will be as remarkable for obedience, as it has before been the +reverse." + +Philip raised his eyes to his commander's face, and reading there an +expression of manly pity and candour, he was so completely softened by +conduct which he little expected from Lord Robert's uncle, that he said, +with tears, he had acted wrong, and would spend his best blood, or even +his life, if required, to amend his fault. + +"Then," said Sir Henry, "ask pardon of Lord Robert Summers for the +outrage you have committed, and all will be well, if you persevere in +your good resolutions." + +"I will ask _your_ pardon, Sir Henry, on my knees, for having rebelled +against so good and gracious a commander, and for having struck one of +_your_ officers; but I cannot ask forgiveness of Lord Robert Summers, +since he was the first to injure me, long before I saw this ship." + +Lord Robert, who stood by his uncle's side, gave him a disdainful look; +Philip's eyes answered scorn with scorn. + +"No conditions, sir!" said his captain; "they don't become you. But pray +how has my nephew injured you?" + +"Lord Robert can inform you," said Philip. + +"I perceive," said Sir Henry, "there has been some misunderstanding +between you and my nephew, before you came on board the Diomede; but +this is no excuse for your uniformly rebellious conduct. Had you done +your duty as a British sailor, you would have met with encouragement and +mild treatment. My nephew, dear as he is to me, could not have +influenced me to commit an act of injustice against any individual of my +ship's company. Go, and get your hurts examined; and let me have reason +to praise your future conduct." + +Philip bowed to his commander with gratitude and respect, and retired. + +It is certain that "misfortunes never come alone." Scarcely had the +convoy re-assembled, and the Diomede repaired some of the injuries she +had sustained in the action, when a furious gale sprang up, and +threatened the most mischievous consequences to the ship, in her +shattered condition. + +Towards midnight, the ship sprang so much water, that all hands were +obliged to spell the pumps. About two in the morning, the wind lulled, +and they flattered themselves that the gale was breaking. Soon after, +there was much thunder and lightning, with rain; when it began to blow +strong in gusts of wind, which obliged them to haul up the main-sail, +the ship being then under bare poles. This was scarcely done, when a +gust of wind, exceeding everything of the kind they had ever any +conception of, laid the ship on her beam-ends. The water forsook the +hold and appeared between the decks, so as to fill the men's hammocks +to leeward; the ship lay motionless, and to all appearance irrecoverably +overset. The water increasing fast, the captain gave directions to cut +away the main and mizen masts,[1] hoping, when the ship righted, to wear +her. The mizen-mast went first, without the smallest effect on the ship. +The main-mast followed; and they had the mortification to see the +foremast and bow-sprit follow also. The ship, upon this, immediately +righted, but with great violence; and the motion was so quick, that it +was difficult for the people to work the pumps. + +[Footnote 1: Cutting away the mast is nobly described by poor Falconer. + + "'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay, + And hew at once the mizen-mast away!' + He said: the attentive sailors on each side, + At his command the trembling cords divide. + Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands, + Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands: + Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound: + The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound." + +_Shipwreck._] + +Every moveable was destroyed, either by the shot thrown loose from the +lockers, or from the wreck of the deck. The masts had not been over the +side ten minutes, before the tiller broke short in the rudder-head; and +before the checks could be placed, the rudder itself was gone. Thus they +were as much disastered as possible, lying at the mercy of the wind. +These circumstances appeared sufficiently alarming; but upon opening the +after-hold, to get up some rum for the people, they found their +condition much more so in reality. + +It will be necessary to mention, that the ship's hold was enclosed by a +bulk-head at the after-part of the well.[2] Here were all the dry +provisions, and the ship's rum, stowed upon ten chaldrons of coal, +which, unfortunately, had been started in this part of the ship, and by +them the pumps were continually choked. At this time it was observed +that the water had not a passage to the well; all the rum (twenty-six +puncheons), all the provisions in casks, were stove; having floated with +violence from side to side, until there was not a whole cask remaining: +even the staves, that were found upon clearing the hold, were most of +them broken in two or three pieces. In the fore-hold they had the +prospect of perishing. Should the ship swim, they had no water but what +remained in the ground tier; and over this all the wet provisions in +barrels were floating, with so much motion, that no man could go into +the hold without the risk of his life. There was nothing left, but to +try baling with buckets at the fore-hatchway and fish-room; and twelve +large canvas buckets were immediately employed in each. On opening the +fish-room, they were so fortunate as to discover that two puncheons of +rum had escaped. They were immediately got up, and served out in drams; +and had it not been for this relief, and some lime-juice, the people +would have dropped. + +[Footnote 2: The well is an apartment in a ship's hold, serving to +enclose the pumps. It is sounded by dropping a measured iron rod down +into it by a long line; hence the increase or diminution of the leaks is +easily discovered. + + "They sound the well, and, terrible to hear, + Five feet immersed along the line appear; + At either pump they ply the clanking brake, + And turn by turn the ungrateful office take." + +FALCONER'S _Shipwreck_.] + +They soon found their account in baling: a spare pump had been put down +the fore-hatchway, and a pump shifted to the fish-room; but the motion +of the ship had washed the coals so small, that they had reached every +part of the ship, and these pumps were soon choked. However, the water +by noon had considerably diminished by working the buckets; but there +appeared no prospect of saving the ship, if the gale continued. The +labour was too great to hold out without water, yet the people worked +without a murmur, and, indeed, with cheerfulness. But their sufferings +for want of water were very great, and many of them could not be +restrained from drinking salt water. They fired many guns of distress, +in hopes some of the merchant-ships might approach and give them some +supply; but on the beginning of the storm they had run before the wind, +and made some port on the coast of Brazil,--an example which the Diomede +would have been glad to follow before the hurricane began, but her +crippled state from the engagement rendered this impossible. + +Towards morning, some of the most resolute of the seamen, rendered +desperate by thirst, went down into the hold, and found a whole +water-cask, which they contrived to heave up, and it afforded a +seasonable relief. + +All the officers and boys, who were not of the profession of seamen, had +been employed that night in thrumming a sail, which was passed under +the ship's bottom with good effect. The spars were raised for the +foremast; the weather looked promising, and they had the prospect of a +fine day;--it proved so; and they were determined to make use of it, +with every possible exertion. The captain divided the ship's company, +with the officers attending them, into parties, to raise the jury +foremast, to heave overboard the lower deck guns,[3] to clear the wrecks +of the fore and after holds, to prepare a machine for steering the ship, +and to work the pumps. By night, as the leak was stopped, the after-hold +was quite clear, ten chaldrons of coals having been baled out since the +commencement of the gale. + +[Footnote 3: + + "While on the quivering deck, from van to rear, + Broad surges roll in terrible career, + Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew, + This office in the face of death pursue. + The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide, + Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side. + Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave, + Fronting the rude attacks of every wave. + Meantime Arion traversing the waist, } + The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, } + And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. } + Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew, + And from their beds the reeling cannon threw. + Then from the windward battlements unbound, + Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round; + Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side, + Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide." + +FALCONER'S _Shipwreck_.] + +The standards of the cockpit, an immense quantity of staves and wood, +and part of the lining of the ship, were thrown overboard, that, if the +water should appear again in the hold, they might have no impediment in +baling. + +The Diomede, in this condition, exhibited a scene seldom witnessed,--a +line-of-battle ship without masts or rudder, a mere shell in the midst +of the ocean. The casks of all sorts, floating from side to side, were +stove, and the magazines and store-rooms of every kind washed down. + +By nightfall the foremast was secured, and the machine for steering +fixed; so that, if the moderate weather continued, they were in hopes of +steering the ship, the following day, for the coast of Brazil--the +violence of the wind having driven them far out of their course. + +During this time of peril and hardship, Sir Henry Stanley could not help +observing with satisfaction the altered conduct of young Harley, who was +so active, enterprising, and courageous, that no difficulty could +overcome him, and no hardship make him complain. He seemed to think the +benign looks of Sir Henry Stanley, ever bent with peculiar complacency +on those who performed their duties with manly firmness, were a reward +for the most painful exertions. All the officers, indeed, noticed the +altered conduct of the young mutineer: no traces remained of his former +rebellion, except that of his returning the haughty glances of Lord +Robert Summers with equal fierceness, when they chanced to meet in the +performance of their arduous duties. But nothing could induce him to +return the taunts this young officer sometimes bestowed on him with +disrespectful language. Depending on the justice of his captain, he bore +all in unmoved silence; indeed, his Lordship (who considered Philip as +too much his inferior to give him the opportunity of joining in a +warfare of words) never condescended to address any provoking speeches +_to_ him, but always _at_ him. One would have thought that such +frightful circumstances would have tamed the haughtiest minds; but they +both required still severer trials to wring the black spot from their +hearts. + +The ship, in this perilous state, was in the middle of the great +Atlantic, nearly under the equinoctial line, with the water-casks beat +to pieces, and most of the provisions spoiled; so that if, by especial +providence, the ship should swim, so as to reach a port on the Brazilian +coast, the crew would suffer the most cruel hardships from +thirst--painful at all times, but intolerable in these burning +latitudes. In this dilemma, some of the people descried land; and they +hoped it was one of those small islands on which the Portuguese have +little settlements to supply their ships, which trade to Africa, with +water and needful refreshments. This island, like those of St. Helena +and Ascension, appeared rocky and volcanic; but there were good hopes +that springs of water might be discovered on it, if any of the crew +could be found enterprising enough to effect a landing, with such a sea, +and on such a coast; for, though the gale had lulled, the breakers were +furiously high on the shore. + +Lord Robert Summers, daring and ardent, and much preferring danger to +the lingering agonies of thirst, volunteered to command a boat, if any +of the crew would venture themselves under his guidance. Three of the +most experienced seamen offered to man the boat; but five hands were +indispensable. His Lordship said that he himself would steer the boat, +if one more seaman would venture. Philip Harley volunteered his +assistance. "Any one but him!" muttered Lord Robert between his shut +teeth, incensed that Philip should show that his courage was equal to +his own: however, as his services were offered for the public good, he +thought proper, although very unwillingly and ungraciously, to accept +them, and the boat was lowered. Sir Henry Stanley bade adieu to his +gallant nephew with pain; but he did not attempt to withhold him, dear +as he was, from the benefit he was proposing to render the ship's +company. When the boat got among the breakers, the prospect of landing +appeared so hazardous, that one of the oldest of the seamen, who rowed +the boat, proposed returning to the ship. Lord Robert, considering +himself accountable for the lives of the men under his care, would not +insist on their continuing their efforts, but said: + +"My brave fellows! If the attempt seem to you hopeless, I will not urge +you to continue it; but if my single life only were at stake I would +willingly risk it to obtain a supply of water for our famishing +companions." + +The sailors then determined to persevere, their recent sufferings from +thirst being fresh in their minds. At length, by a desperate effort, +they gained the shore, and landed their water-casks. They soon found a +pure spring, which gushed from a rocky hill at some little distance from +the shore: there was a large wooden cross erected on an eminence, at the +spring head; but they found no Portuguese guard at the spring, which is +usual in a settlement in those latitudes; so they presumed the island +was uninhabited. The land seemed barren, rocky, and desolate; but, after +some research, they found, in a sheltered valley, a few fine lime and +cocoa-nut trees, which had evidently been planted by some beneficent +navigator. Gathering cocoa-nuts is no very easy operation, as they +adhere in close bunches to the crown of the tree by tough ligaments; but +as young Harley had brought his axe and saw to cut wood for firing, he +climbed the trees, while his comrades were filling the water-casks, and +expeditiously obtained a good number, both of limes and cocoa-nuts, +which he considered would be an acceptable refreshment to his exhausted +companions on board the Diomede. + +While they were thus employed, Lord Robert hailed them from the beach, +where he remained to watch the boat. + +"Come, my lads!" said he, "the gale freshens every minute; let us get +afloat, or we shall scarcely reach the ship before nightfall." + +The sailors hurried the water-casks and store of fruit into the boat, +and launched her among the breakers. With infinite toil, they got out of +the surf with safety, as the wind now blew off the shore; but the +furious gusts came every moment with increasing strength; and, at last, +a surge rose with such overwhelming violence, that, in spite of all +their efforts, the boat upset, and her unhappy crew were engulfed in the +roaring waters. Their fate was beheld from the ship; but no aid could be +given, as the renewed hurricane had rendered her state more deplorable +than ever: she was driven before the wind, and soon lost sight of this +fatal island. + +Some of the boat's crew struggled a little time with the waves; but +three of them were old men, and had been exhausted by the fatigues they +had lately undergone. These speedily sank; but Lord Robert, being young +and robust, strove hard for life, and at length gained the shore, almost +exhausted by his contentions with the surfy breakers. When he had a +little recovered his breath, he climbed the hill on which the cross was +erected, and gazed towards the ship, which he saw driving before the +wind, surrounded by foaming billows, and with every appearance of +speedily sharing the fate he had so lately escaped. Wholly occupied in +the thoughts of the revered friend that ship contained, he forgot his +own desolate state, till the last appearance of the ship vanished, and +he found himself alone. + +Oppressed with sad thoughts, he turned himself from the contemplation of +the wrathful ocean, now blackening with the sudden night of the torrid +zone, and after a little search, found a low arch in the rock, which was +the entrance to a natural hollow in its side. Into this place he crept, +to shelter himself from the inclemency of the storm, which increased +with tenfold fury after sunset. + +In this situation he passed the night which succeeded this dismal day. +It was a night of peculiar horror--tempestuous, dark, and rainy; and +Lord Robert, though in a state of complete exhaustion, found that, in +his late struggle with the breakers, he had received so many bruises, +that to sleep was impossible. At intervals, as the lightning gleamed on +the stormy expanse of waters before him, he thought how many of his +brave companions, in all probability, slept beneath its roaring waves; +and at that moment, instead of returning thanks to Heaven for his own +preservation, he felt inclined to envy his comrades. To be entirely shut +out from all intercourse with his fellow-creatures, never again to hear +the sound of a human voice, and to be condemned, in the very bloom of +youth, to pine away existence in that desolate place, far from every +friend, appeared a doom so dreadful, that he was insensibly led to +reflect for what crime so heavy a punishment could have befallen him. + +Conscience, which sometimes sleeps, but never dies, did not fail, in +this awful hour, to recall to his memory the cruelty and injustice of +his conduct to Philip Harley: and when he reflected that, to gratify his +imperious disposition and implacable spirit of revenge, the poor lad had +been dragged from his peaceful home, his honest employment, and his +affectionate parents, to endure a series of hardships and perils, and +that he had finally suffered an untimely death,--this thought gave him +so keen a pang of remorse, that, as if he expected from change of place +to escape from memory, he started from his rocky pillow, and, as the day +was now beginning to dawn, proceeded to the beach, to ascertain whether +any of his friends from the ship had been so fortunate as to gain the +shore; for, he remembered, his uncle had given orders to have the +pinnace and yawl in readiness, in case the ship's situation should +become desperate, that an attempt might be made to preserve the lives of +part of the crew. + +For some time, he pursued his melancholy walk, interrupted only by the +dismal sight of pieces of wreck, which the impetuous waves from time to +time dashed at his feet. The sea now running in high tide on the shore, +inspired him with the hope of seeing the pinnace and boats, or rafts +from the wreck; and that some, at least, of the ship's company might be +so fortunate as to reach the island with life. The sun, rising brightly +over the stormy ocean, discovered something struggling with the waves at +no great distance. Lord Robert felt the most agonizing sensations at the +idea that it was out of his power to render any assistance. All he could +do was to wave his handkerchief, from the little rocky promontory on +which he stood, and to shout with all his strength, to encourage him in +his efforts. At that moment, a tremendous wave engulfed the object of +his solicitude,--it sank, and his heart sank with it;--again it rose and +neared the shore;--but its efforts grew fainter and fainter;--and Lord +Robert, fearing that its strength would fail, though so near the shore, +regardless of his own safety, dashed through the breakers to render his +assistance, cheering as he did so. At the sound of his voice, the poor +creature appeared to recover his strength, and, struggling through the +breakers, sprang towards him with a joyful cry. + +"Ah, my poor Neptune! Is it you?" exclaimed Lord Robert, with mingled +anguish and pleasure, as he threw his arms round the faithful animal, +and gave vent to his feelings with a burst of tears. "Yes!" said he, as +he threw himself on the beach in bitter sorrow, "the Diomede must indeed +have foundered, or my kind, my benevolent uncle, would never have +committed this old memorial of his lost nephew to the mercy of the +waves, for the sake of lightening the vessel, or saving the morsel of +food he would have consumed." But again remembering the chance that some +of the crew might be saved by the pinnace, and condemning the indulgence +of his grief, he rose, and, dripping as he was, pursued his search, +attended by his faithful Neptune, who bounded round him with joyful +affection. In the course of his walk, he found some limes and cocoa-nuts +scattered on the beach; and, yielding to the painful thirst that +consumed him, he raised one of the limes to his parched lips, when he +recollected that they were some of the fruit young Harley had gathered, +and was carrying to the ship at the time the boat was upset, and the +unfortunate youth had been buried in the waves. This thought recalled +the bitter reflections he had with difficulty succeeded in banishing +from his mind; and when he remembered that, though he had not been the +immediate, he had certainly been the ultimate cause of his death, he +sickened at the thought, and casting the untasted fruit from him, he +said, "No; I cannot eat these!" Proceeding on his walk, he gained the +spot where he had landed with his unfortunate companions the day +before. He sighed deeply as he passed it; and, doubling a projection of +rock, he discovered the pinnace, floating bottom upwards close in shore. +At that sight, the most agonizing in the world to the heart of a sailor, +he turned away, and wept almost to suffocation. For some moments, he +continued to give way to the grief which oppressed him, till roused from +the indulgence of his feelings by a loud and joyful bark from Neptune, +and, uncovering his eyes, he perceived a young sailor, whose face was +turned from him, gazing on the pinnace, apparently in as melancholy a +mood as himself. This doubtless was the only one of her unfortunate crew +who had escaped the violence of the waves; and Lord Robert, losing all +distinction of rank in the fellowship of misfortune, sprang towards him +with open arms, exclaiming, in a voice broken by emotion--"What cheer, +my lad?" At the sound of his voice, the young man turned slowly round, +and discovered a face pale with contending feelings--it was Philip +Harley! For a moment, the two enemies surveyed each other in silence; +each wondering at the other's preservation; each somewhat softened by +the traces of sorrow and suffering in the countenance of the +other,--but, alas! each mutually yielding to the same stubborn and +haughty temper which had so long been the spring of all that was evil in +their separate characters, they surveyed each other with a look of +defiance, and walked gloomily away in opposite directions. + +Lord Robert certainly did feel his heart relieved of half the painful +emotions which had, for the last ten hours, oppressed it almost to +bursting; and as he retraced his steps almost instinctively to his +cheerless chamber in the rock, where he had spent that dreadful night, +he exclaimed, "Thank God, he lives! I am not then his murderer! It is +true, that entire solitude would have been much more agreeable to me, +than the idea of breathing the same air with him, and being constantly +exposed to the chance of meeting him; but that is more than compensated +by the knowledge that he lives, and is, indeed, no worse off than +myself." + +Thus did Lord Robert compose his troubled thoughts, and lull to sleep +those better feelings which almost prompted him, at the first sight of +young Harley, to make such advances towards amity, as would have been +pleasing in the sight of God, and even in that of his enemy, whose +heart, naturally kind and good, had been greatly softened by the awful +circumstances under which their last interview had taken place. Besides, +he had been an unseen spectator of Lord Robert's manly but acute sorrow, +when he beheld, in the deplorable situation of the pinnace, a +confirmation of his worst fears respecting the fate of his uncle and +friends. He, too, had been weeping; for he reverenced Sir Henry Stanley, +and loved Lieutenant Cary; and he was disposed to behold even Lord +Robert with complacency, for their sakes; for he knew he was very dear +to them both; and when he saw the agony with which Lord Robert staggered +forward, on reaching the spot which commanded this melancholy sight, and +heard his repeated sobs, he felt his hatred towards him so much +diminished, that he was forced to recollect all the injuries he had +received from this young officer, before he could sufficiently repel the +inclination he felt to speak to him in the voice of kindness and +comfort. Lord Robert had hitherto appeared to him haughty, rude, and +unfeeling; and Philip knew not that this spoiled child of prosperity +possessed at times much sensibility, strong affections, and feelings, +which, had they been properly directed, would have been conducive to the +happiness of all around him; instead of which, his unchecked passions +produced danger and inconvenience to all who, even unintentionally, +irritated them, and misery to their unhappy possessor, far beyond what +he had ever inflicted on others. + +But Philip was in many respects too like his adversary in character; and +he never took the trouble of asking his own heart, if he were not +sometimes to blame, as well as his high-born enemy. If Lord Robert was +haughty, Philip was insolent; if one was hasty in giving a provocation, +the other was still more so in retaliating. Had Philip for one moment +remembered that most divine maxim of holy writ, "A soft answer turneth +away wrath," and had he been sufficiently of a Christian disposition to +practise it in _one_ instance only, Lord Robert would have been +appeased; and what mischief might have been spared, what suffering +avoided, on one side! and what painful remorse on the other! When Philip +beheld Lord Robert's tears, his first emotion was surprise; and he said +to himself, "Can he weep? _he_ that is so hard-hearted and proud!" and +then the thought occurred to him, "Perhaps his heart is not so very hard +as I have reason to believe?" Philip was not uncandid; and he remembered +then, that he had often thrown himself in Lord Robert's way, and +committed many outrages, on purpose to provoke him. For the first time +in his life, he put himself in his Lordship's place, and asked his own +heart, whether he were sure, under such circumstances, that he should +have acted better? But Philip was not yet sufficiently acquainted with +the faults of his own character, to see that he had been almost equally +blameable; and though, perhaps, he would not have refused to forgive, he +had no idea that _he too_ required to be forgiven, if not by his erring +fellow-creature, at least by his heavenly Father. Had _this_ occurred to +him, he would not have renewed their suspended enmity, by being the +first to assume a look of defiance, while Lord Robert was undecided what +course to pursue: but the favourable moment was unfortunately lost; for +Lord Robert returned the glance with equal disdain, and they were as +much at variance as before. + +Lord Robert had returned to the cleft in the rock, and thrown himself at +full length, lost in unpleasant and bitter reflections for some hours, +before the cravings of hunger reminded him that it was necessary to make +some exertion for the preservation of that life which Heaven had spared; +but perhaps he would, in his gloomy frame of mind, have disregarded his +own wants, and remained obstinate in his self-neglect, had not the mute +appeals of his faithful Neptune roused him from inertion. Neptune was a +fine water-dog, a present from his elder brother at parting; and Lord +Robert, who had long desired to possess this animal, treated him with +the most unbounded affection; and always suffered him to share every +meal with him, and even divided with him his share of food and water +during their late dreadful privations; and Neptune, who had not tasted +food for many hours, continued to put his paws on his master's knees, +and to survey him with a wishful look, till Lord Robert rose, and left +the cave in search of something to satisfy his cravings. Amongst his +other troubles, he had little fear of perishing by famine; for he knew, +by the latitude he was in, that he should most likely find turtle, or +turtles' eggs, on the beach. In fact, while he was listlessly pacing the +shore, thinking of anything rather than the object of his search, +Neptune, who was not quite so uninterested, pounced on something in a +hole in the sand, which proved to be a fine turtle. His master soon +killed it, and satisfied the hunger of his humble friend with part of +the flesh; and then, in a more leisurely manner, set about collecting +pieces of wreck to make a fire; but, alas! he was wholly unpractised in +the sleight of striking a few sparks to kindle a flame. It is true, he +knew how they were to be procured, and soon found a flint proper for the +purpose: but in striking it with the back of his knife, he only rubbed +the skin off his hands, and bruised his knuckles, without producing the +desired effect; or, if he did elicit a few sparks, they died away for +want of proper kindling. This put him in a passion, and he redoubled his +violence till he broke the flint into a thousand pieces; and sat down in +a very ill humour, looking at his pile of wood and his raw turtle with +much discontent. At last he recollected, that if he could not cook his +turtle, he could quench his thirst at the clear spring they had +discovered on their first landing: this he soon found, and was much +refreshed by a draught from it. At a small distance, within view of the +spring, he saw the little grove of limes and cocoas in the valley; there +he beheld, with some little envy, a bright blazing fire, near which +Philip was employed cooking his supper. He hastily avoided the spot, and +returned to the beach, where he found in the sand some turtles' eggs, +which he could eat raw, and with them satisfied the calls of hunger. He +then lay down on his flinty couch, with Neptune for a pillow; and, being +completely exhausted by fatigue, notwithstanding his distress and +discontent, sank into a profound sleep. + +The next morning saw him still perplexed with those minor difficulties. +For though he could bear, with heroic self-denial, the hardships +incidental to his profession, and had not taken a morsel more food, or a +drop more water, in their late distress on board ship, than any other of +the suffering crew, and had even shared his scanty morsel with his +famishing dog, this he _could_ do, for he felt there was something noble +and refined in such conduct; but he felt sadly irritated at being thrown +on his own resources in the little common everyday necessaries of life. +From his infancy, he had been surrounded by servants, who were +accustomed to perform for him the most minute services, so that at +seventeen his Lordship (though a valiant officer, and perfect in his +professional duties,) was ignorant of many things very necessary for +every one to know; and if he was acquainted with the methods resorted to +in many situations, he was at least very awkward in his attempts of +putting them into practice. However, on this occasion, making use of his +own good sense, after a little calm reflection, he collected from the +sides of the rock some dry grey moss, and, drawing some rays from the +sun in the focus of a little perspective glass he had in his pocket, he +soon set his pile of wood in a blaze, and cooked sufficient turtle to +feed him for a day or two. + +He had scarcely completed this employment, when the sun, which had for +days been shaded by tempestuous clouds, broke forth with its usual +splendour; and there was promise of a continuance of that sultry weather +so seldom interrupted in these latitudes. Lord Robert, when he felt the +sun beat on his uncovered temples, fled for shelter to his cave, which +he found nearly of the same temperature as an oven half heated. Panting +for breath, he remembered the grove, of which Philip had taken +possession, and bent his steps towards it; but he found that this spot +of verdure did not consist of more than a rood of land; and he did not +choose to be so near young Harley as the farthest extremity of its +shelter. So he remained on the burning beach, or under the shade of some +arid rock, during the day, determining to make a tour of the island in +the cool of the evening, and hoping to fix his residence in some shady +vale similar to Philip's territories. But how can his disappointment be +expressed, when, after a most fatiguing walk, all the good he gained was +a knowledge of the extent of his prison? He had in vain searched for a +grove; barren rocks and burning sands alone met his sight: at last, he +climbed a conical hill, which towered above the other rocks, and which, +from his geological knowledge, he was certain contained the exhausted +crater of a volcano. Here he had a view of every nook of the island, +which was of the extent of about five miles, and presented a prospect of +one pile of horrid rocks heaped on another, without one spot of +fertility, except Philip's little cluster of trees, whose bright verdure +formed a refreshing contrast to the burning rocks, which seemed yet to +glow with the intense heat that had been poured on them through the +day. As he fixed his eyes wistfully on this favoured spot, and saw the +smoke of Philip's evening fire curling above the trees, he exclaimed, +"Yes; I must, though most reluctantly, share this only habitable place +with him; for such a day as the last I cannot endure again. Doubtless, +this grove was planted by some benevolent navigator (such as I have +often read of) on the soil formed by the accidental residence of +sea-birds; and the grass and trees[4] have gradually spread over a small +extent of land. Surely, as it was meant for universal benefit, I have a +right to a share of it." So saying, he descended the hill, and after a +toilsome walk arrived at the grove after nightfall, where he enjoyed the +luxury of stretching his aching limbs on the soft grass, under the +fragrant shade of a lime-tree, and slept soundly till after sunrise. He +awoke in the morning with the cheerful sound of a human voice singing, +and on opening his eyes, saw Philip Harley, a few paces from him, busy +at work. He was astonished to see the progress his enemy had made in +forming himself a habitation; for he had got very forward in the +frame-work of a neat hut, and was now boarding it in with planks, which +he had collected on the beach, singing as he knocked in every nail. This +hut was situated among the thickest cluster of trees, directly under a +fine young vine, the only one in the island; and as Philip roofed his +hut, he carefully trained the rich branches all over the dwelling, +taking care not to injure the purpling fruit, which was nearly ripe; +thus giving his hut, as soon as it was finished, the charming appearance +of a bower. + +[Footnote 4: The progress of vegetation is very curious in those +islands, which are supposed by geologists to be thrown up from the +bottom of the sea by volcanoes, or formed by the unceasing labours of +the coral animalculi. These generally present at first a rocky surface, +barren and arid. By degrees, a little soil is deposited by sea-fowl and +birds of passage; on this at first grow the seeds of some of those +minute plants, which are literally carried on the wings of the wind from +countries that appear too far distant for any such conveyance. These +plants flourish, fade, and are renewed by the seasons, until from their +decayed parts is formed that fine vegetable mould which overspreads the +more fertile surface of the earth. When this process is begun, if the +land receives from the hand of some benevolent discoverer a few seeds of +trees or plants to which the climate is congenial, the work of +fertilization is rapidly accelerated; grass grows luxuriantly under the +shade of the trees: verdure increases, and creeps farther and farther, +till from one little spot, an oasis in the midst of a desert, the whole +island becomes fruitful.] + +Overcome by the heat of the climate, Lord Robert lay for a day or two +wholly inactive, stretched beneath his lime-tree, amusing himself with +playing with Neptune, or when he thought he was unperceived, watching +the progress of his enemy's work, but not condescending to address one +word to him; who, on his part, preserved the same sullen silence. Lord +Robert could not help wondering how Harley came by the saw and hatchet +which he handled with so much adroitness; but he would not condescend to +ask him. The fact was, that when Philip and the sailors were called away +from gathering the cocoas, Philip, in his hurry had left the saw and +hatchet at the foot of the tree; and there he found them when he +regained the land. Possessed of these treasures, he made himself a +hammer of a hollow stone; and, drawing nails out of the wreck, he set to +work, and soon completed his hut. But when he proceeded to make a stool +and table, Lord Robert was moved to some exertion; for he thought, that +if he could make himself something of the kind to place under his +lime-tree, he should not regret the hut his adversary seemed so proud +of; and he was determined to try to construct some such articles of +comfort and convenience. He accordingly went to the beach, and soon +collected timber, from which he selected pieces with which he meant to +try to form a table and three-legged stool. He would willingly have +worked on the beach, out of the impertinent ken of his enemy: but the +intolerable heat soon drove him back to the delicious shade of the +grove, where a perpetual breeze seemed to play amongst the leaves; and +thither he reluctantly proceeded, carrying the wood, and followed by +Neptune. Sorry I am to record, that when Philip saw his haughty enemy +appear thus laden, he paused in his work with a malicious curiosity to +see how Lord Robert would acquit himself in his new employment. The +first thing he did was to tear a bough or two off a tree, meaning to cut +three truncheons to form the legs of his stool. It was lignum vitae wood, +extremely hard; and Lord Robert eyed Philip's saw, which just then would +have been of great service to him, but he disdained to ask the loan of +it. So he seated himself on the turf, and began to cut the legs with his +pocket-knife (his only tool) with great difficulty; then he chose from +the fragments of wreck a small piece of square wood, and marked with +his pencil the holes he designed to make; he then walked, in a very +stately manner, to Philip's fire, and taking from thence three hot +coals, he laid them on his pencilled marks, and kept renewing them till +the wood was nearly burnt through; then he scraped through the burnt +wood, till he had got three holes; into these he knocked his truncheons +with a great stone, and placed his stool on the ground to admire his own +ingenuity; but he had knocked one leg more and another less, so that +their lengths were unequal, and down the stool fell. Philip, who had +seen this defect all the time, was highly diverted at his +disappointment, when the stool fell, particularly when he saw how it +irritated Lord Robert's impatient temper. At last, overcoming his +inclination to laugh, he said: "You must shorten the middle leg of your +stool, or it will never stand;" at the same time pushing his rule and +saw towards his Lordship, who rejected them with great disdain, +saying--"Do you think that I can condescend to learn the low mechanic +art of a _carpenter_?" And he laid a most contemptuous stress on the +word _carpenter_. + +Philip coloured with indignation, as he replied, "Perhaps your +_Lordship_ will in a little time see which is of most service in this +place, _your_ title, or _my_ useful knowledge." + +Lord Robert haughtily flung back the rule and saw, and began to shorten +the leg with his knife. This was a work of time and difficulty: the wood +was hard, and the knife unfit for the purpose, and, worse than all, Lord +Robert was very awkward in his mechanical attempts; but he was unusually +so in this, for he was in a pet, and he saw that Philip watched him and +enjoyed his unskilful manoeuvres. This had the effect of enraging and +confusing him; and, in his anger, the knife slipped and cut his knuckles +across. He glanced at Philip, and saw him smile. This greatly provoked +him, and he darted towards his enemy a furious look; but Philip +continued to survey his operations with a calm but sarcastic regard. The +next thing Lord Robert did was to set his knife so fast in the wood that +he could not move it. Philip smiled again; and Lord Robert, out of all +patience, used so violent an effort to get it free, that the blade +snapped in the middle, and, starting up in a passion, he dashed the +stool violently against the ground. Philip laughed aloud. + +"Insolent plebeian!" exclaimed Lord Robert; "do you presume to insult +me?" + +"Lord Robert Summers," replied Philip, "I would advise you to remember, +that you are neither in your father's park, nor on the deck of the +Diomede, where your imperious temper might be feared and indulged: but +here we are equals; and any outrage, either of words or actions, shall +meet with instant chastisement. I would therefore advise your Lordship +to be more guarded in your language, for it may be followed by +consequences which you may not approve!" + +"Villain!" retorted Lord Robert, "do you forget that I am your +commanding officer?" + +"No!" returned Philip, becoming greatly agitated as certain +recollections crossed his mind; "no:--you have put it out of my power +ever to forget that you were once enabled to gratify your ungenerous +malice to the utmost stretch of your power. Basely and cruelly did you +trample on me, when you knew that to resist the authority you abused was +impossible. I _was_ your victim, but am so no longer! And," continued +he, advancing very close to Lord Robert, "beware how you provoke me to +take such signal vengeance for all the injuries you have inflicted on +me, as shall teach your proud heart to rue the hour that ever you made +Philip Harley the companion of your voyage!" + +There was an expression so terrible in Philip's eyes as he spoke these +words, that Lord Robert, stout-hearted as he was, (and there never was a +braver officer,) changed colour; but in a moment recovering his intrepid +spirit and haughty bearing, he flashed back a look of defiance, and +assumed a posture of defence. + +"It is unnecessary," said Philip; "I am not going to attack you. You +have in many contests proved the strength of this arm: that it always +was superior to yours, I scarcely need remind you. That your late +injuries have not unnerved it, you may well believe; but, as long as you +observe a temperate line of conduct, and discontinue addressing me by +opprobrious names, you need not fear its force." + +"Fear!" repeated Lord Robert indignantly: "I fear God; and have no other +fear! Dost thou imagine that I fear aught like thee?" + +"Perhaps not," replied Philip; "but I would advise you not to provoke me +unnecessarily." + +So saying, he retired within his hut, leaving Lord Robert speechless +with contending emotions. He was indeed much ruffled by the short but +fierce altercation which had passed between himself and young Harley; +and the more so, when he reflected that Philip's bodily strength was +superior to his own, and that his high rank would be of no avail to him +in this desolate place, as Philip had very unceremoniously told him: and +as his own conscience whispered that he had formerly offered him the +most dreadful provocation, he could scarcely be astonished if Philip, +now that he was the more powerful, should meditate retaliation, and +take, as he threatened, unbounded vengeance for all that he had suffered +on board the Diomede and elsewhere. + +He was reluctant to abandon this sheltered and beautiful spot; but he +preferred returning to his dreary cleft in the rock, to residing in the +valley, where Philip had erected his dwelling; considering the heat and +barrenness of the rest of the island as far less evils than the company +of Philip, whose very sight, after the threats he had used, was most +intolerable to him: and Lord Robert felt that he could not bend his +haughty spirit to practise the civility and moderation which Philip had +recommended, lest this behaviour should be construed into fear of his +superior force. On the other hand, he reflected that if he persisted in +his natural imperiousness, so far as to provoke Philip to a personal +contest with him, the languor incidental to the climate had so much +enervated him, that, to maintain a combat with such an adversary as +young Harley had often proved himself to be, with the slightest prospect +of success, was impossible, and would only expose him to insult and +contempt, and perhaps even to more disgraceful treatment, from his +justly incensed enemy. To avoid such consequences, he judged it most +suitable to his dignity to retire; and, whistling to Neptune to follow +him, he slowly and sullenly returned to the beach, leaving Philip in +uninterrupted possession of the Valley of Limes. + +Though Philip, still smarting under the remembrance of the many injuries +he had received from Lord Robert, had, on the haughty expressions of +contempt uttered by that young officer, used threats which were most +irritating to his proud spirit, he by no means designed to proceed to +personal hostilities; for Philip was, in spite of all his faults, too +really generous to exert in this instance the advantages his superior +strength gave him; and he was far from intending to drive his companion +in misfortune from the only spot in the island capable of affording him +any of the comforts of life. In short, he expected that when Lord Robert +had vented his displeasure in a solitary walk, he would return to the +valley. When Philip's temper cooled, he began to reflect on the luxuries +Lord Robert had been accustomed to from his cradle; he thought how +severely his high-born adversary must feel the privations to which he +was now exposed; and his heart smote him for having, by his provoking +ridicule, occasioned that ebullition of feeling which had vented itself +in expressions of wrathful contempt, which he, on his part, (not +considering the provocation was of his own giving,) had been so ready to +return; and that their mutual recriminations had induced him to utter +menaces, which had driven his companion in misfortune from an employment +necessary even for the preservation of his existence. + +Occupied by these thoughts, Philip often paused in his work, and looked +round to see if Lord Robert had returned to the valley, and listened for +his step with anxiety; but he did not come. Night arrived, and Philip +did not see him reposing under his favourite lime-tree; and he felt out +of humour with himself, for being the cause of keeping him away. + +From some uneasy self-reproaches, he did not taste at night the calm +repose which generally follows a day of labour; on the contrary, he felt +that evening some of those painful feelings of remorse which had so +often tortured Lord Robert, but which had never been experienced by +himself before; and he now remembered that, though Lord Robert had +ill-treated him, yet there _was_ a difference in their rank, and that it +was brutal in him to threaten a high-spirited and elegant young man with +personal violence when they were united in the same distress: and that +Lord Robert's contemptuous expressions were caused by his laughter at +that which was a serious misfortune to his high-born foe; namely, his +want of skill in mechanics, and the mischance of breaking his knife, the +loss of which was irreparable, and would perhaps deprive him, on some +occasions, even of the means of procuring food. + +Philip would have repaired to the beach, to see what had become of Lord +Robert; but he thought it probable that some new cause of offence might +arise between them. However, in the afternoon, he had occasion to visit +the beach to search for some pieces of wreck. When he reached the shore, +he found there had been a very high tide the preceding night, and many +articles were scattered on the sand; as staves, pieces of rope, and +splinters from the mast. These Philip carefully collected, and placed +above high-water mark, lest they should be washed to sea again. In the +course of this important avocation, he approached the cave where Lord +Robert had again taken up his residence: but he had been too busily +engaged to think of him, till his eye was attracted by the flash of his +epaulet in the evening sun; and he saw him, at a little distance, +bending over some employment, in which he was too much occupied to +perceive the approach of Philip, who was tempted to draw near enough to +ascertain what it was that so deeply engaged his attention; but he did +so somewhat cautiously, lest he should again give offence. He soon was +near enough to discover that Lord Robert's employment was that of +digging a grave in the sand, with a butt-stave, and near him lay the +bodies of five seamen, which the high tide had washed on shore, close +to the entrance of Lord Robert's cave. Philip felt a bitter pang as he +gazed on the lifeless remains of his unfortunate messmates; and seizing +another stave, he placed himself opposite to Lord Robert, and began to +assist in the sad duty; but neither spoke. + +One of the bodies was that of a midshipman, whom Lord Robert had loved; +and as he now proceeded to place his remains in the narrow bed he had +scooped for him with so much toil, his tears fell fast on the face of +the deceased. When he attempted to raise him from the shingle, to lay +him decently in the grave, the effort was too much for him. Philip +immediately sprang forwards and assisted him, otherwise the corpse would +have fallen from his grasp. He did not reject the aid of his foe; but he +did not even glance at him in return. In silence they began their +melancholy task; in silence they proceeded in it; and the moon had risen +high and shone with splendour by the time they had dug the last grave, +when unfortunately, as they placed the seaman in the "house appointed +for all living," Philip recognised his features: it was the boatswain of +the Diomede! A crowd of agonizing feelings passed through Philip's +breast, as he recollected that from this man's hand he had received such +disgraceful punishment. He first turned pale, and then scarlet; and it +recurred to his mind, that this person had only been the passive +instrument obeying the orders of others. + +"It was thy malice, tyrant! that added this worst wrong to all the +rest," thought he. True, he did not utter these words: but he regarded +Lord Robert with a look, in which hatred and rage were but too visibly +painted to escape his Lordship's observation, though he was ignorant of +the cause of it; but he thought it shocking of Philip to take the +opportunity of insulting him at such an awful time, particularly when he +had condescended to _permit_ his assistance; and he returned Philip's +indignant look in so disdainful a manner, that, scarcely conscious that +he was the first himself to renew hostilities, Philip took fire, and +provokingly reminded his Lordship "that his haughty looks were useless, +when directed to him; and he advised him to reserve them for those who +cared for them, if he could find any such in the island." + +"To the full as many as will endure your low-bred insolence," returned +Lord Robert with equal scorn. "However, Mr. Harley, if I might +condescend to speak to you in the language of entreaty, it would be to +request the favour of your absence. You have taken possession of the +only habitable spot in the island, and _I_ have not attempted to deprive +you of it; and I think the least you can do, in return for my +moderation, is to leave me undisturbed on my barren domain." + +"If all my security were the _moderation_ of Lord Robert Summers," +replied Philip with a contemptuous laugh, "I should be as soon driven +from my dwelling here as I was forced from the home of my parents: but +here I can, by the strength of my own right hand, maintain my rights; +and whoever attempts to invade them, may chance to repent of his folly." + +As Philip uttered this threat, he finished casting the last heap of sand +on the boatswain's grave; on which, apparently exhausted with fatigue, +Lord Robert had seated himself. The sight of these bodies had recalled +the fate of his uncle, and he had been lately weeping bitterly; and when +young Harley observed his tearful eyes, and the evident languor and +despondency visible in his whole appearance, his conscience again smote +him; he remembered what he had so lately suffered from self-reproach; +and he reflected, that if he so much abused the mere bodily superiority +his strength gave him, it was by no means wonderful that when Lord +Robert possessed so much power, he should exert it when offended. + +He paused, and looked earnestly at Lord Robert. The moon shone brightly +on his face; the flush of resentment had faded from it; and he looked so +ill, and there was such an expression of hopeless dejection in his eyes, +that Philip was greatly touched; and he even thought of apologizing to +him for what he had lately said, and of entreating him to return with +him to the Valley of Limes. While he yet hesitated, Lord Robert looked +up, and waved his hand impatiently for him to be gone: and Philip, +finding that the conquest of his own pride was too great an effort to be +made at that time, retired to his home, self-condemned and unhappy. + +Lord Robert continued sitting on the grave, in a listless attitude, +leaning his head on his hand, almost unconscious that he was alone. The +faintness and languor which had been for some time stealing on him, +seemed so wholly overpowering, as even to take away the inclination of +retorting Philip's last innuendo; but now, though the words still rang +upon his ear, and he fully understood their meaning to comprise +reproach, insult, and threat, either of which was sufficient to put his +proud spirit in a flame, yet he was conscious of a growing confusion in +his own mind, which seemed to prevent his forming a suitable reply; and, +for the first time in his life, he found himself unwilling to continue +the war of words. He felt an impatient desire of quiet; and, forgetful +that Philip would most likely pay no attention to his mandate, he +motioned for him to retire, with no little of his habitual air of +superiority. Philip, however, _did_ obey in this instance. Lord Robert, +after some minutes, raised his aching head from his hand, and, looking +round to see if he were gone, uttered an expression of satisfaction at +finding himself alone. + +Lord Robert's naturally fine constitution had been greatly impaired +since his residence in the island, by the pain of mind he had suffered +from the loss of his uncle and friends, the remorse he felt for his +numerous errors, joined to his discontent and impatience at being +placed in a situation so uncongenial to all his former habits. Besides, +he suffered from the hardships which he was forced to endure: sleeping +on the flinty rock, or passing the night on the turf under the +lime-tree--a most unhealthy practice--for the dews were very heavy, and, +in common to all hot countries, very noxious to those who were exposed +to their influence. + +He had lost his hat when the boat was overset; and, trivial as this loss +may appear to the natives of a temperate climate, it was attended with +very painful consequences to Lord Robert, on whose head the rays of the +sun fell with unmitigated violence, and occasioned him the most acute +headache whenever he was exposed to the noon-day heat. After his retreat +from the Valley of Limes, he had for many hours paced the beach in a +tumult of rage, with the perpendicular rays of a tropical sun darting on +his uncovered head. The night he had passed without sleep; and, early in +the morning, he found the remains of the unfortunate seamen. He was ill +and feverish; and it was only by a strong effort that he so far overcame +his painful languor as to attempt the necessary but mournful task of +giving them burial. + +Notwithstanding the heat of the day, and the toilsome task he was +engaged in, he experienced repeated fits of shivering; the burning rays +of the sun pouring on his head, though they occasioned the most acute +pain, failed to impart warmth to his frame. This was accompanied with so +strong a disinclination to move, that he several times paused in the +course of digging the first grave; and, yielding to the sickly lassitude +which oppressed him, he retired to his cave; but that commanding a full +view of the poor seamen, the dreadful sight roused him from his +inactivity, and again he proceeded in his mournful work. He had scarcely +completed digging one grave with great toil and pain, and was wondering +how it would be possible for him, ill as he was, to go through the whole +business of interment, when Philip appeared and afforded his powerful +aid. This was too valuable to be rejected; and he felt grateful for the +silent manner in which he tendered his assistance and worked by his +side; and he was about to thank him for his services, when, on raising +his head for that purpose, he caught the offensive look which has +already been mentioned. Lord Robert, lost in his own sad thoughts, did +not perceive the _reason_ of this. Had he, indeed, recognised the +features of the boatswain in the person they were burying, perhaps the +same idea might have occurred to him. But, after having interred his +friend, he had sedulously averted his eyes from the faces of the dead. +Ignorant, therefore, of Philip's motives for renewed indignation, he +returned his hostile glance, and the second contention ensued. + +The rest of the night Lord Robert passed in a sort of stupor, seated on +the boatswain's grave; from which he felt unable to rise through extreme +exhaustion. The first rays of the sun drove him for shelter to the cave. +His thirst was excessive; and he had no means of allaying it, unless he +proceeded either to the Valley of Limes or the spring of water. The +remembrance of Philip induced him to prefer the latter; and thither, +with some difficulty, he crept rather than walked. Having drank +profusely, he filled a large shell for a supply in the cave; for he +thought it probable he should never be able to perform another journey +to the stream; and slowly and faintly returned to his comfortless +dwelling in the rock. The chills of the preceding day had terminated in +the burning heat of raging fever; and as he retraced his melancholy +steps through the sand, which reflected the intolerable rays of the sun +to his eyes, and surveyed the barren rocks and frightful basalts of +which the island was composed, he with a bitter sigh recalled the +verdure of his father's park, and the shades of his native groves which +bounded that beautiful domain. + +"But these," said Lord Robert, "I shall never see again: I shall perish +on this arid, frightful spot, without a living creature near who cares +for me, except my poor Neptune!--And you, my tender mother, who are so +benevolently solicitous to provide comforts for the sick poor, what +would be your feelings, could you see your unhappy son stretched on this +burning flint!" continued he, as entering the rocky chamber, he sank +exhausted on the floor. He thought his death was near; yet he felt far +from being in a proper frame of mind to die. Like too many of the young +and thoughtless, if he were not profane, he was careless in matters of +religion; in this awful moment, a thousand instances of neglect and +offence against his Creator occurred to his mind; and he felt that he +would have given worlds, had he possessed them, for a few hours of the +time he had so often abused. + +He recollected, too, with bitter regret, his pride, imperiousness, and +implacability of disposition; of this, his conduct to young Harley was a +frightful instance; he vainly wished he could have recalled the _past_, +but that was not in his power; and he felt it very doubtful, if for him +a _future_ in this world would be granted. The present was all he could +call his own; and it behoved him to make the best use he could of the +precious moments that were yet allowed him to make his peace with God. +But, alas! the confusion incidental to fever had already attacked his +brain; and, though he felt the necessity of penitence and prayer, it was +no longer in his power to collect his wandering thoughts, so as to raise +a single petition to the Throne of Mercy. He was sensible that he was on +the brink of eternity; yet the minutes passed rapidly away, leaving his +mind in a state between reason and delirium, yet conscious of his +danger, and the importance of that time which was ebbing from him for +ever. + +His bodily sufferings, too, were dreadful. Burning with fever, he had no +means of quenching his thirst--he had long since drained the last drop +from the shell, and could not replenish it; for the next morning saw him +raving in delirium, or sunk in long and death-like fits of stupor, from +which his faithful Neptune strove in vain to arouse him by his caresses. + +Philip, in the mean time, had returned to his comfortable hut in the +Valley of Limes, and laid himself down to rest; but the image of Lord +Robert, pale and languid as he had seen him seated on the boatswain's +grave after their last altercation, pursued him when awake, and haunted +his slumbers when he closed his eyes in sleep. In the morning, Philip +sedulously pursued his useful employments, to divert these painful +thoughts. He had discovered on the other side of the island some grass, +the only natural production of the place, growing in long, dry, silky +tufts out of the clefts of the rocks. He had cut several bundles of this +grass, and braided it into a soft, thick mat; this mat he had fixed on a +frame-work which he had made, and formed it into a most comfortable +couch, rolling one end of the mat over for a pillow. He was so +completely occupied and pleased with this employment, that he did not +think of Lord Robert, till, on stretching his limbs upon this excellent +bed, he remembered how differently his unfortunate enemy would sleep +that night. He recollected that he had seen nothing of him in the Valley +of Limes that day; and when he recalled the reproaches and threats he +had used the day before, and reflected on Lord Robert's high spirit, he +thought it probable that he would endure every suffering, rather than +improve his condition by procuring anything from that spot. Of Neptune, +Philip had seen nothing since the preceding day, when he had once +visited the valley, and begged for a share of his dinner; for Lord +Robert had peevishly chidden the dog for his importunities; indeed, he +had nothing to give him, being too ill to go in search of food. Philip, +who was very fond of Neptune, and had been accustomed to caress him when +Lord Robert was out of sight, had fed him, and expected to see him +again, but he did not come; and Philip thought it likely that Lord +Robert was very ill; and he again bitterly regretted having used such +expressions as had driven him from the valley. + +The next day, Philip again visited the beach, where he had never been +before in the meridian heat of the day, and when he experienced the +blinding effects of the sunbeams, which soon occasioned him to feel, +though in a lesser degree, one of those headaches that had continually +tortured his more delicate rival, he wondered where Lord Robert could +find shelter from the intense heat. Actuated by more humane motives than +mere curiosity, he continued to pace the beach, determining not to +return till he had seen Lord Robert. For some time he pursued his +solitary walk, without discovering the object of his research. The sight +of the seamen's graves redoubled his pain of mind. When he remembered +the hopeless dejection visible in Lord Robert's face, so different from +his usual animated expression of countenance, and combined it with the +illness so apparent in his whole person, the thought crossed his mind, +that he might have expired without a human creature near him. Philip +shuddered as this dreadful idea presented itself. He was busy with +self-accusing thoughts, when he paused before Lord Robert's cave, +wishing, yet unwilling, to enter, when Neptune sprang from the interior +part of it, and bounding round him, looked up wistfully in his face, +and returned, as if to invite him to follow. This Philip could not +prevail on himself to do. After waiting a few minutes, Neptune came +again; and, laying hold of his jacket with his teeth, endeavoured to +draw him into the cave--looking at him in such an imploring manner, that +Philip could no longer resist his entreaties, not withstanding the +reluctance he felt at intruding himself into Lord Robert's presence. + +On entering the cave he beheld the unfortunate young nobleman stretched +on the flinty floor in a stupor, so nearly resembling death, that Philip +started back in horror; and so much had the violence of the disorder +changed the appearance of his once beautiful countenance, that his +dearest friends would scarcely have recognised his convulsed and livid +features. On a second glance, Philip discovered that he still breathed, +but was unconscious of his approach. His heavy eyes, half closed and +fixed, had lost their expression of spirit and intelligence; his lips +appeared parched and burning; and his light brown ringlets hung in +disordered profusion, tangled and neglected, over his forehead. + +At this heart-rending sight, Philip, forgetful of the enmity that had +subsisted between him and the unhappy sufferer, turned away, and wept +bitterly. It was with feelings of the most bitter compunction he +recalled the altercation that had passed over the boatswain's +grave--particularly when he experienced the stifling closeness of the +cave, where he felt a difficulty in respiring; and reflected, that his +menaces had had the effect of driving Lord Robert from the only +temperate spot on the island. + +Philip could form some idea of his Lordship's sufferings, from the +recollection of an autumnal fever which had attacked him in his +childhood, and nearly brought him to the brink of the grave; he +remembered how much he had suffered from thirst, and the relief he had +felt from some ices which the Marchioness, Lord Robert's mother, had +brought him in her carriage. That noble lady had supplied him with the +most delicate fruits from the hothouse; and his mother believed that +these ices and fruits, which he took with so much avidity, had saved his +life. + +"And yet," said Philip, "wretch that I am! I see her darling son, +through the criminal indulgence of my resentful feelings towards him, +reduced to a state so deplorable, that, if his fond mother could behold +him, the sight would kill her." + +Here Philip was interrupted by Lord Robert's trying to articulate +something; but so very faint was the attempt, that it was not till he +had knelt down by his side, and raised his head on his arm, that he +could catch his imperfect accents, or distinguish what he intended to +express. Alas! it was but one word--"_Water!_" and that repeated +incessantly, in tones of agony, which Philip, some years after that +melancholy period, declared that night and day he strove in vain to +forget: and at that moment, when he beheld the parched and blackening +lips from which those sounds proceeded, they pierced his heart with an +anguish no tongue can describe. Fortunately he had a lime in his pocket, +with the juice of which he moistened the sufferer's mouth. Some minutes +elapsed before this appeared to have the least effect; but at length his +Lordship became conscious of the relief, and swallowed with avidity the +cooling fluid; and, opening his languid eyes, he turned them on Philip +with an expression of gratitude which overpaid him for his exertions. It +was evident, however, that he took him for some other person; for, +extending his arms towards him, he called him "Augustus! his beloved +brother!" and besought him in the most pathetic manner, "to remove him +from that horrid place, and to let him have a better bed than the hard +one on which he lay, which he assured him had sadly bruised his body." + +"Alas! poor sufferer!" said Philip, "if you knew to whom you were +addressing these tender names and moving petitions for assistance, your +proud spirit would make you reject my aid with scorn, and you would +perish rather than accept it." + +"However," continued he, "though I fear my help comes too late, yet you +shall at least die in a more comfortable place than this dreary cave." + +So saying, with some exertion of his strength, he raised the sufferer, +who had again relapsed into a state of insensibility, from the ground; +and, taking him in his arms, he proceeded to carry him to the Valley of +Limes. + +The touch of his dry and burning hand gave a sensation of pain to +Philip, when it came in contact with his own, and his head dropped in +powerless languor on his shoulder. Philip rested by the spring of water, +and bathed Lord Robert's face and hands in the cool element: this seemed +to revive him a little, and he drank eagerly from a shell of water which +Philip held to his burning lips. Had it not been for this refreshment, +the sufferer must have expired from thirst and exhaustion before they +arrived at the valley. As it was, he appeared to endure so much pain +from his exposure to the heat of the sun, that Philip uttered an +expression of thankfulness when he reached the shelter of the hut, and +laid his helpless burden on the couch of matting within it. But Lord +Robert had swooned from weakness and fatigue, and lay for many hours +without motion or sensation. + +Philip now busied himself in procuring a large supply both of water and +limes; and, mixing the juice of the limes in water, continually bathed +the sufferer's hands and temples with this refreshing liquid, watching +anxiously for returning life. The next day Lord Robert opened his eyes, +and expressed his surprise and pleasure at finding his condition so much +improved. But his reason was lost in delirium; he talked incessantly; +and, addressing Philip by the name of his brother, bestowed on him the +most endearing expressions of affection and described to him the +particulars of his illness, and all his dreadful privations, in a manner +pathetically minute. + +Philip, deeply interested, and forgetting that he spoke under the +influence of delirium, anxiously exclaimed, "Why did you not return to +the Valley of Limes?"--"Because," replied his Lordship, wholly +unconscious to whom he spoke, "I was ill and alone, and totally unable +to cope with that insolent Harley, who menaced me with his superior +strength." + +Philip started at hearing his name so mentioned; and Lord Robert +continued at intervals to speak on this subject, sometimes passionately +blaming himself; and at other times, with all the inconsistency of +delirium, bitterly complaining of Philip. + +Philip was greatly surprised and agitated, when, after much unconnected +wandering, Lord Robert said: "You, Augustus, always blamed me about that +Philip Harley, and said you knew him to be an estimable youth, and that +he had been hardly used through a prejudice I had against him; but what +would you have thought, Augustus, had you seen him clench his hand and +threaten your unhappy brother with personal ill-treatment, when he was +too ill to defend himself from his violence?" + +Philip blushed deeply when he heard this; for he remembered using this +gesture in the vehemence of his last wrathful address to Lord Robert; +and now that he found how ill he had been at that time, he felt doubly +ashamed of having suffered himself to be so transported by passion. + +From these self-reproaches he was again roused by Lord Robert's +speaking; but he had wandered to a different subject, and evidently +imagined himself at his own home, for he demanded "ices, peaches, and +strawberries," in a tone of feverish impatience; and Philip was at a +loss how to satisfy these cravings; but when at last Lord Robert +mentioned "grapes," Philip remembered those that were ripening on the +roof of the hut, and hastened to see if any were fit to eat; though his +patient, in a tone of displeasure, called him to return and send a +servant to execute his orders, for he did not choose to be left alone. +This was, however, unavoidable; and in a moment he returned with a rich +cluster, perfectly ripe. Lord Robert eagerly seized them, with an +exclamation of joy; but he was reduced to such a state of weakness, that +he was unable to convey them to his mouth; and resigning the cluster to +Philip, begged him to feed him. Philip obeyed, and attended to all his +whims with the greatest patience. At length, exhausted by the volubility +of delirium, he sank again into a death-like stupor, in which he lay, +without sense or motion, the whole of the night, and till the next day +was far advanced. + +Philip, who had continued to bathe his hands and face at intervals, +perceived by the painful motion of his lips that he wanted something to +drink. Philip raised his head, and supported it on his bosom, while he +held to his lips a shell full of the juice of limes and grapes. Lord +Robert drank this delicious beverage eagerly; then opening his eyes, +which Philip thought would never again have unclosed, he looked up in +his face, as if to thank him for the relief; and Philip saw by the +expression of wonder and astonishment in those eyes, so lately fixed and +rayless, that he knew him, and was no longer under the influence of +delirium. A deep crimson mounted to his pallid cheek, as he +said--"Harley, I don't deserve this kindness at _your_ hands:" and with +a deep sigh he again relapsed into insensibility. The sound of his +voice, and the manner in which he pronounced this short sentence, +thrilled to Philip's heart; and he hung over him with a tender interest, +watching the progress of his disorder with the most intense anxiety. +Philip had been little accustomed to witness illness: he had scarcely +ever watched by a sick-bed, with the exception of the illness of his +sister, who had died; but death had laid so gentle a hand on her, that +her decease rather resembled the withering of a flower than the passage +of a mortal to the grave: far different from the terrific advances of a +raging tropical fever, which brought Lord Robert, through stages of +exquisite suffering, nearly to the eve of dissolution. + +The sight of these sufferings had extinguished the last spark of +animosity in Philip's bosom; and it was with feelings nearly allied to +those with which he contemplated the death-bed of that beloved sister, +that he awaited the termination of Lord Robert's disorder. That it would +be fatal he doubted not, for he watched in vain for a second interval +of reason; but day after day passed, without the slightest intermission +of suffering; but the fever seemed rather to increase in violence, and +his Lordship's wanderings from reason assumed a more gloomy character, +in which the most unbounded expressions of self-reproach had a principal +share. No longer petulant and impatient, he appeared sunk in the deepest +despondency; and this turn in the disease alarmed Philip more than his +most extravagant fits of raving. It was truly awful to see a +fellow-creature, and, alas! a very erring one, on the brink of eternity, +without a ray of reason being granted him to prepare to meet his great +account. It then occurred to Philip, that many of the faults of which +the unhappy sufferer accused himself, had been occasioned by his own +pertinacity in throwing himself in his way, and provoking him to violent +conduct; by that means setting his fiery temper in a blaze, and causing +his evil passions to be ever uppermost, till they prompted him to commit +those injuries for which he now suffered the most bitter remorse. + +"Had I avoided him half as carefully as I sought him," exclaimed Philip, +"he would soon have forgotten an individual so much beneath his own +rank. I am accountable for many of his errors. True, he abused his power +on board the Diomede; but how have I behaved since our residence on this +island?" + +Philip pursued these self-accusing reflections as he was kneeling by +Lord Robert's side, and fanning him with the wing of a sea-fowl, which +Neptune had brought him the day before. The weather had been intensely +hot, and attended with thunder and lightning; but as the day declined, +some heavy rain descended, which had the effect of cooling the burning +earth. This salutary change produced an alteration in Lord Robert, who +opening his eyes, gazed round him in indescribable astonishment. At last +he said, "Where am I? How came I here?" + +"Be composed, my Lord," said Philip, much agitated; for he had long +dreaded the moment when Lord Robert would ask this question, and he had +meditated to address such words to him as would soothe his proud +feelings; but he found that he could not speak; he only regarded his +Lordship with a troubled countenance, dropping the feathers with which, +till now, he had continued to fan him. + +"Harley," said Lord Robert, the flush of fever fading to a deadly +paleness as he spoke, "I now comprehend my situation; cease to oppress +me with this unmerited kindness!" Then speaking in a less collected +manner: "No! it must not be! I have injured you too deeply! Go, leave +the oppressor to die alone; I saw _you_ suffering, and did not pity you; +and it is not fit for the merciless to receive mercy!" + +He turned away his face, and covered it with his emaciated hands; but +Philip knew, by the convulsive heaving of his bosom, that he was +weeping. Philip, from a feeling of delicacy, withdrew to a little +distance, to avoid the intrusive appearance of watching Lord Robert's +emotions; and he feared to increase his agitation, or offend his proud +spirit, by even offering a word of comfort. Yet his caution was +unnecessary, for the tears Lord Robert shed were not those of humbled +pride, but they were those of a broken and contrite spirit; they were +such tears as would occasion joy in Heaven, for they were those of true +penitence; and Lord Robert was not ashamed of indulging in them, neither +did he seek to conceal their traces from Philip, when he turned his eyes +towards him, and motioned him to approach. + +"Harley," said he, "can you forgive me?" + +"Ah, my Lord," said Philip, "I have to the full as much reason to ask +your forgiveness. We have both erred, from the indulgence of an +implacable temper; and if you repent of your offences as much as I have +done of my trespasses against you, we may both be, in future, more +acceptable in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, to whom 'hatred, malice, +and all uncharitableness,' are most offensive." + +"Harley," said his Lordship, "you are too generous! How could I so +cruelly persecute one capable of such noble conduct!" + +"Cease to accuse yourself, my Lord; you are too ill to continue this +agitating conversation," said Philip, observing Lord Robert look very +pale. + +"No," returned Lord Robert; "I feel my thoughts begin to grow confused! +This may be the last interval of reason vouchsafed me; and I would +willingly make use of it to assure you that I die at peace with you, and +blessing you; and may your last hours be sweetened by the remembrance of +your generous conduct to your enemy! When I am no more, save a lock of +my hair, and give it to my mother when you return to England, which you +will soon have an opportunity of doing. Tell her, if I wished to live, +it was to see her again, and to confess to my father that I had been +guilty of prejudicing him against you, Harley, by misrepresenting the +reason of our first quarrel, which was the cause of your being pressed. +Tell me, sincerely, can you forgive me for that, Harley?" + +"I can--I do!" replied Philip, approaching close to the couch; "and, in +proof that your Lordship exchanges forgiveness with me, give me your +hand." Lord Robert threw himself into his arms, and Philip felt his +tears wet his bosom. Yet at that moment each felt happier than he had +done for months before. But Philip became painfully anxious for the +invalid, the violence of whose emotions brought on a fresh access of +fever. He began again to talk wildly, and Philip strove in vain to +repress his ravings, till at length he sank into a death-like stupor, +scarcely giving any symptom of animation. + +Philip now entertained the greatest apprehensions for his Lordship's +life, and was himself surprised at the pain he felt at the idea of +losing him. He had evinced such full and noble contrition for his +errors, that Philip, forgetting all his injuries, wondered how he had +ever borne a hatred so bitter against him. That hatred had, indeed, +changed gradually into an affection so warm, that he was ready to impute +to his own faulty temper the blame of all that had passed. "And, oh!" +said he, as he hung over the couch where Lord Robert lay, apparently +unconscious of his presence, "who could think that I, who now watch so +anxiously every change of his pallid countenance, could once have taken +delight in provoking him to fight with me, and then took a savage +pleasure in aiming my blows at his face, and disfiguring his fine +features with the marks of my violence? Ruffian that I was!" + +Here a gentle pressure from the hand he held in his, convinced him that +Lord Robert was sensible, and had heard this soliloquy. Philip started +and coloured at this idea; and Lord Robert said in a faint voice:-- + +"If you, my dear Harley, so severely accuse yourself for what was a just +retaliation for my unfeeling arrogance, what must be my feelings of +self-condemnation for my conduct on board the Diomede, on which I cannot +think without agony?" + +"Never think of it again, my Lord," said Philip, to whom the appellation +of "dear Harley" had given a sensation of the greatest pleasure; "let me +beg you never again to agitate yourself by a painful remembrance of what +is past: I would endure much to see you well and happy." + +After some time, Philip succeeded in soothing his patient into some +degree of composure; and at length he had the satisfaction of seeing him +sink into a profound sleep. Then, being worn out with anxious watching +and fatigue, he threw himself on the ground, and enjoyed a calm and +refreshing slumber. When he awoke, it was about sunrise; and seeing Lord +Robert still asleep, he went out to get a supply of fruit and turtle. On +his return, he found Lord Robert awake and evidently better; for he was +returning the caresses of Neptune, who certainly had deserved his +fondness, for he had been almost as watchful and abstinent, and as +attentive to his master's sufferings, as Philip himself. The patient +extended his hand towards Philip as he entered, who hastened to him and +inquired tenderly, "how long he had been awake, and how he found +himself?" + +"Long enough to miss you, and well enough to thank you for your +unwearied kindness," said Lord Robert, with a melancholy smile. Philip +respectfully took the hand that was extended towards him; and, after +expressing his pleasure at seeing him so much recovered, began to busy +himself in procuring him all the comforts in his power. Lord Robert, for +the first time since his illness, was able to raise himself to wash his +hands and face in some water which Philip brought him in a turtle-shell. +After this grateful refreshment, he attempted with his pocket-comb to +disentangle his ruffled and matted hair; but his hands trembled so much +from weakness, that he sank exhausted on the couch. Philip took the comb +from his hands, and with great care and patience succeeded in smoothing +and reducing to their natural order these refractory ringlets. Lord +Robert repeatedly bade him give himself no farther trouble, but take his +knife and cut them off as well as he could. But Philip did not like to +spoil the fine hair which Lord Robert had once been proud of; and had +the Marchioness herself presided at this operation, it could not have +been more tenderly performed than by the hands of this young sailor; +and his patient appeared to derive great benefit from this attention to +his personal comforts, though reduced to a state of infantine weakness. + +Lord Robert now rapidly improved in health, and was soon enabled, with +the assistance of Philip's arm, to walk in the Valley of Limes in the +cool of the morning. Notwithstanding this improvement, however, Philip +continued to attend on him with the most assiduous care; and even when +he was in a state of convalescence, still performed for him all those +little offices which he knew Lord Robert had been accustomed to have +done for him by his attendants, though his Lordship did not wish to +consider himself entitled to such services in his present situation. + +One morning, Philip arose much earlier than usual. On his return from +the beach with a load of wreck, he was much surprised, not only to see +Lord Robert up and dressed, but employing himself in preparing the +breakfast. Philip threw down his load and ran to him, exclaiming, "Why, +my Lord, did you rise till I was ready to assist you to dress? And, +above all, why do you fatigue yourself by an employment so little +suitable to your rank?" + +"Hush! hush! my dear Harley," returned Lord Robert, laying his hand +playfully on Philip's lips. "Not a word about my useless rank now! +Remember _we are equals here_!" + +"Alas! my Lord," said Philip dejectedly, "I perceive you have not wholly +forgiven me, or you would not repeat my impertinence." + +"Which had much _truth_ in it, though I took it so ill at the time," +said Lord Robert, laughing. "However, Harley, without wishing to refer +to unpleasant occurrences, or designing to wound your feelings, (which I +should be a most ungrateful, cold-hearted fellow, were I to do,) I must +tell you, that I cannot consent to be attended on with the same +deference as if I were his Britannic Majesty in retirement,--at least, +while I have done nothing to merit such distinction." + +"Ah! my Lord," said Philip, "if you knew the pleasure which the +performance of these little services affords me, you would not wish to +deprive me of it: and, indeed, nothing but your absolute prohibition +shall prevent me from continuing them." + +"You are a noble-minded fellow, Harley; but it is not for me to talk of +prohibiting or commanding _here_, where I am your superior in +nothing----" + +"Again, my Lord!" said Philip, turning away. + +"Where," answered his Lordship, "I am your inferior in everything, and +am so much in love with your just way of thinking, and noble +independence, that I would willingly imitate both; and, my dear Philip, +you must not take it ill, if I refuse to live by your labours while I +have hands of my own. Tell me, Harley, will you accept such an awkward +fellow as I have proved myself to be, for your pupil?" + +"I cannot refuse you anything," said Philip; "but while you are so +debilitated from your long illness, you neither must nor shall do +anything to fatigue yourself." + +So saying, he proceeded to serve up the turtle which Lord Robert had +stewed for breakfast; reproaching him, as he did so, for demeaning +himself by performing the office of a cook. + +Lord Robert, laughing, told him that it encouraged him not a little in +his design of becoming useful, to observe that his last attempt of that +kind had succeeded so much better than his first. "But," continued he, +"perseverance overcomes all difficulties; and before long, I may become +as good a carpenter as I have this morning proved myself a cook." + +Philip shook his head, and looked grave. + +"So you doubt my abilities," continued Lord Robert, who would not +understand him; "now that is mortifying, Harley! But I forgive you, +considering that the circumstance of the three-legged stool could not +have impressed you with a very favourable opinion of my genius in such +matters." + +"Let me entreat your Lordship never to allude to my conduct in that +affair again," said Philip. + +"Now, on the contrary," returned Lord Robert gaily, "I have serious +thoughts of fetching the aforesaid stool from under the tree where I so +petulantly flung it; and of soliciting you to lend me that rule and saw, +which I so rudely refused when you would have permitted me to make use +of them to correct my blunders; which was very generous on your part, +considering how awkwardly I handled my only tool, and how easily I might +have injured yours." + +Philip was astonished at the ease and frankness with which Lord Robert +spoke of these circumstances, but again implored him not to allude to +the past. + +"Had you told me anything but the _truth_," replied Lord Robert, +"perhaps I might be excused if I repeated your remarks with displeasure. +But the lesson was too salutary to be forgotten. In common with many of +high birth, I have been too much accustomed to the language of flattery, +instead of that of truth and justice; till, forgetting the relative +obligations of society, and never checking the defects of my temper, I +was led to commit outrages on every one who did not yield a blind +submission to my whims. You, Harley, have opened my eyes to my faults; +and it will, in future, be my constant study to correct them, convinced, +as I now am, of the folly of trusting to rank and riches alone for +influence and consideration among my fellow-creatures." + +The day after this conversation, Lord Robert was well enough to +accompany Philip to the beach, to seek for turtles' eggs. In this search +they wandered to a different part of the island, and Lord Robert +discovered, at a little distance, something dark and large heaving +among the surf; he called Philip's attention to it, who soon got it on +shore; and they found it to be a chest belonging to some of the +unfortunate crew of the Diomede: it was heavy, but Philip soon carried +it to the hut. + +"What do you think it contains?" said Lord Robert, as Philip was forcing +the lid. + +"Tools, I hope," said Philip; "for the chest is weighty." And as he +spoke, he used so powerful an effort that the lid gave way to his force. + +"Not tools, but books!" exclaimed Lord Robert, highly delighted at the +sight which presented itself on Philip's removing the lid. Philip, +however, was disappointed. + +"Tools would have been of unspeakable service," said he, almost vexed at +the joy Lord Robert expressed at the sight of the books. + +"But these will be of infinitely more service," replied Lord Robert, +taking one of the books and turning to the title-page; but his lip +quivered as he read the name there written, which was "Lucius Cary." + +"Alas! poor Cary!" said he, in an altered tone of voice; "was it _your_ +chest that we thought ourselves so fortunate in finding, and that we +opened with such glee?" + +Philip, deeply affected, softly closed the lid: for they both were in +too melancholy a mood to continue to examine the contents of the chest; +nor was it till several days had passed that they assumed firmness +enough to open it again. + +They found in this chest a complete set of mathematical instruments, and +a small but valuable selection of books, fitting for the library of a +young officer; comprising the choicest works on navigation, astronomy, +and geometry; and two or three volumes of poetry and history. Some of +these were wetted by the sea-water, but Lord Robert carefully spread +them to dry. They also found a few changes of linen, an undress jacket +or two; and Lord Robert drew forth with much grief, from a corner of the +chest, Cary's flute. + +"This," said he, "should I ever be permitted to revisit my native +country, I will carry to England, and keep as long as I live, in memory +of our deceased friend." + +Though they were in sad want of linen and clothes, Lord Robert felt a +pang of regret when he saw Philip busy in removing his epaulet to Cary's +half-uniform jacket, and laying out for his use some of his shirts and +cravats, which, however, were of the greatest use to him, and highly +beneficial to his health. + +Soon after this, the rainy season set in, which is usual to these +latitudes; and now they found a source of delight and advantage in the +books which had been so opportunely thrown in their way. Lord Robert was +an accomplished young man; he had received a most superior education; +and was not only perfect in all acquirements befitting his rank, but had +made a considerable progress in those sciences which are necessary to be +known in order to obtain perfection in naval duties.[5] + +[Footnote 5: The sciences requisite to form a complete seaman are +beautifully described by Falconer:-- + + "Him Science taught by mystic lore to trace + The planets wheeling in eternal race; + To mark the ship in floating balance held, + By earth attracted, and by seas repelled; + Or point her devious track through climes unknown, + That leads to every shore, and every zone.-- + He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide, + And into motion charm the expanding tide; + While earth impetuous round her axle rolls, + Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles. + Light and attraction from their genial source, + He saw still wandering with diminish'd force; + While on the margin of declining day + Night's shadowy cone reluctant melts away." + +To add to this, + + "That never seaman more serenely brave + Led Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave." + + _The Shipwreck._ + +Perhaps it will be considered that Falconer's beautiful poem is too +generally known to give these extracts the charm of novelty; yet surely +every one who is acquainted with the talents and fate of Falconer, will +feel almost a tender emotion when his writings are alluded to, from a +combination of circumstances. His poem is very interesting, his +character and fate are still more so, and his memory is thrice hallowed +and will be immortalized by the beautiful allusion to his Shipwreck in +the "Pleasures of Hope."] + +This knowledge he was desirous of imparting to young Harley, who, at +Lord Roberts earnest request, became his pupil in geometry and nautical +astronomy, and improved rapidly under his tuition. + +This was to Philip the happiest period of his life: he had received from +his father a good plain education, which he had improved by reading the +best books he could procure; but now he found the acquirement of higher +branches of knowledge still more delightful; and the life he led was so +calm and peaceful, and Lord Robert's society and manners were so +charming, that he tasted on this island pleasure such as he had never +before experienced. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the +event which Lord Robert anticipated with much joy, should give him pain +whenever he thought of it; namely, the arrival of some vessel from the +coast of Africa, on its way to Brazil, which would take them from the +island. + +The affection which he had formed for his high-born companion was now +far stronger than ever his animosity had been; and certainly Lord Robert +had, since his illness, conducted himself in a manner deserving even the +unbounded attachment which his lowly but warm-hearted friend testified +towards him. No longer proud and irritable, his behaviour was gentle, +mild, and considerate; his manners, always elegant and polished, +possessed a charm altogether irresistible; and his conversation, pure, +refined, and chiefly directed to intellectual subjects, was so +delightful, that Philip thought his society would unfit him for any +other. + +As Philip had passed the greater part of his life in seclusion from +those of his own age and station, his manners and mind were free from +the taint which impure and corrupt society often gives; and when he was +by chance thrown in contact with his equals, he shrunk with horror from +vice and coarseness; and preferred, in his leisure hours, to nurse and +amuse his suffering sister, or to pore over Baker's Chronicle, Drayton's +Polyolbion, or Sir Walter Raleigh's History of the World, (which ancient +treasures his father possessed,) to the most enlivening games of quoits +or foot-ball. + +The taste he had formed for mental pursuits since he had been on the +island, brought with it a painful consciousness of the difference +between Lord Robert's rank and his own; and he thought it very +improbable, that so elegant and accomplished a young man could ever +condescend to form a friendship with him, though he might retain a +grateful sense of the assistance which he had subsequently rendered him. + +Philip had made a pretty latticed porch to the hut, and trained the vine +over it, that Lord Robert might enjoy the cool of the evening, without +being exposed to the noxious effect of the dews. Here then, after +spending the day in study or useful employment, they passed the evening, +conversing together, or examining the starry heavens, and noting +constellations, which appear very different from those of Europe. +Sometimes, Lord Robert would play on Cary's flute; but though it was +enchanting to listen to this music in the stillness of a moonlight +evening, when all the fire-flies in the island were collected in this +only spot of verdure, and were blazing round them, and everything above +and around accorded so well with these sweet sounds, yet it was +forbidden pleasure; for playing on the flute was injurious to Lord +Robert's health; and Philip, though he loved music, and this music most +of all, would often take the flute almost by force from the hands of his +noble friend, who, being a fine performer, and much attached to music, +never knew how to resign it in prudent time. + +The happiness Philip now enjoyed was only interrupted by the pain he +felt, whenever the probability was mentioned of their leaving the +island. Lord Robert expected that, when certain winds set in, some +vessel or other would touch at the island for water or turtle; and +Philip guessed, that when they were taken from their present abode, this +delightful intercourse would cease, and Lord Robert would be for ever +separated from him by the forms of society. This made him feel almost +pettish when he found that, when these winds commenced, Lord Robert +left him for hours, and passed his time leaning against the cross on the +hill, making observations through his perspective-glass; while Philip +remained in the valley, employing himself for their mutual benefit. But +though he felt almost angry with Lord Robert for depriving him so much +of his company, yet he never presumed to remonstrate with him on this or +any other subject; and when he saw him approach the valley on his +return, he would forget all his repinings, and hasten to meet him, and +offer his arm for his support, if he seemed faint or fatigued. It is not +surprising that Lord Robert returned this tender affection with the +utmost regard. He now felt the gratifying conviction, that it was not to +the superiority of his rank and power, but to his virtues, his +acquirements, and charming manners, that he owed his influence over the +heart of one on whom his situation in life had made no impression, and +who had denied him the slightest respect till he had proved himself +deserving of it; and he could not help remarking, that he had never, +when in the height of his pride and power, received half the real +deference, or marks of delicate attention, which had been shown him +since his residence on the island, by his only companion and former +enemy, Philip Harley. + +One afternoon, as Philip was employing himself in the valley, and had +begun to wonder at the long absence of his noble companion, Lord Robert +rushed into the hut, and, with an animation of manner Philip had not +observed in him for a long time, said: "Joy! joy! my dear Harley! I have +just seen a sail, and have hastened home to bring you the delightful +news." + +"Is that all?" said Philip in a melancholy tone. + +"No, not all," replied Lord Robert: "for I climbed to the top of the +cross, and hoisted my handkerchief as a signal of distress. And the lads +are now making the island! And we shall see Old England again, my boy!" + +But Philip Harley did not seem to participate in his delight; for he +looked grave and thoughtful. + +"How now!" said Lord Robert; "what are these dismal looks for? Shall you +be sorry to see your home again? Or does the name of England recall to +your remembrance some of my former exploits? Or do you think, if I +found myself on board ship once more, I should feel the temptation of +authority, and play the tyrant again?" + +"No," replied Philip, sighing; "you do me great injustice if you suppose +that I can for a moment form such an opinion of your Lordship." + +"My Lordship, too! Very formal, Mr. Harley!--But, Philip, my dear +fellow, tell me, what is the matter with you?" + +Philip did not speak. + +"Nay, then, Harley," said Lord Robert, taking both his hands, "I shall +soon begin to think that you are willing to consider our present amity +only in the light of a truce, occasioned by the breaking out of a +pestilence; and that you are anxious to recommence hostilities as soon +as an opportunity offers. But tell me, without more ado, are you +offended with me?" + +"Your Lordship is very gay this afternoon," said Philip gravely. "But I +hope I have seen my own errors in too strong a light, and am too well +convinced of my own insignificance, ever to take offence at anything +done by a person of _your_ rank and consequence." + +Lord Robert now appeared much wounded, and asked him seriously, what +was the reason of this strange behaviour; and Philip, who could not bear +the idea of giving him pain, replied-- + +"How can I share in your joy at the prospect of leaving the island, when +that event will separate us for ever?" + +"How so?" said Lord Robert, laughing. "To be sure, you don't mean to +remain here playing Robinson Crusoe or the Hermit Quarl, by yourself?" + +"No," said Philip sorrowfully, "that is not my intention; though, +perhaps, the wisest thing I could do. But the forms of society, you well +know, will as effectually separate us, as if I were to remain here." + +Lord Robert's eyes brightened with more than usual animation, as he +exclaimed-- + +"Is that all?--Am I, then, so dear to you, Harley?" + +The tears glistened in Philip's eyes; and Lord Robert pressing his hand, +cried, "Courage, man! We shall find a way to satisfy the most precise on +the article of etiquette?" + +So saying, he hastened to the beach; where he had the satisfaction of +seeing the boat rowing rapidly towards the shore. + +They found that the vessel was a Portuguese merchant ship; and from the +knowledge Lord Robert possessed of Spanish, he had no difficulty in +making himself understood by the mariners, who agreed to take him to the +port of Rio de Janeiro, to which place they were bound; for they only +landed to obtain a fresh supply of water. + +As our adventurers were now to leave the island in a few hours, Philip +bade a mournful adieu to the hut, where he had passed so many happy +hours, and conveyed their little property to the beach; while Lord +Robert amused himself by engraving the following inscription on the +cross. + +"On the 3rd of June, 17--, Lieutenant Lord Robert Summers, and Philip +Harley, of his Britannic Majesty's ship of war the Diomede, were by the +especial mercy of God preserved from the fury of the waves, and +permitted to land safely on this island; where, after enduring many +hardships, they became reconciled to their situation, and passed six +months in a state of great happiness, and were at last removed by the +Brazilian ship St. Sebastian." + +Their voyage from the island (to which Lord Robert gave the name of the +isle of Probation) was short and prosperous; and in less time than they +could have expected, they entered the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. Here +they began to feel some of the difficulties of their situation. Lord +Robert had a few pieces of gold about him; but when they made the coast +of Brazil, the Portuguese master did not fail to make such a demand on +the young Englishman, as reduced his whole stock to half a moidore and a +few pieces of silver; and these the sailors, on some pretence or other, +contrived to extort from him; for being of a generous temper, and always +accustomed to have money at command, his Lordship knew not how to refuse +it, even when the prospect of want appeared before him. Philip thought +him imprudent, and asked how he proposed reaching England? + +"Oh," returned he, in a careless, light-hearted manner, "we are both +able seamen; and, at the worst, we can work our passage in the first +Portuguese vessel that sails for Lisbon: and then, you know, my lad, we +are within a stone's throw of Old England." + +"You work your passage to Europe!" said Philip, regarding him with a +look of astonishment. "Does your Lordship mean to degrade your rank and +talents by taking the berth of a common seaman?" + +"Once, perhaps, I might have been alarmed at such an idea," said Lord +Robert; "but since my residence on the Island of Probation, I have +learnt the useful lesson, that nothing is really disgraceful but vice; +and that no useful employment can degrade a man, let his rank be what it +may, if there is an actual necessity for his taking it upon him. Of +course, I, Lord Robert Summers, who have the honour to hold the rank of +Lieutenant in his Majesty's navy, would not, willingly take upon myself +the post of a common sailor in the Portuguese service: but will not that +be less disgraceful than applying to some convent here for relief, and +living lazily on their charity till some English ship of war arrives, +whose officers, even if they disbelieve my noble birth, may, by +cross-questioning me, contrive to recognise my rank on the navy-list?" + +"But surely it was thoughtless of your Lordship to give away your last +shilling to those imposing fellows, when you have no means of procuring +necessaries in a foreign land; and, you know, your health is still +delicate." + +Lord Robert, laughing, still defended his extravagance, pretending that +it was not for the honour of the British navy for a young officer who +wore an epaulet and the remains of a white lapel, to appear shabby to +the crew of a foreign vessel, or behave as if a handful of silver was of +the least consequence to him. + +"But," continued he, "I never felt the want of money enough to know the +value of it. Perhaps, as there is no infliction of Providence sent in +vain, I may, in the privations which I shall most likely suffer in the +Brazils, be cured of my bad habit of thoughtless extravagance; and if I +can contrive to leave one of my follies at every port we touch at in our +return, I may chance to arrive at home a very perfect character." + +In the afternoon, the vessel approached the town; and Lord Robert's +attention was attracted by the appearance of a fine ship lying in the +King's dock: slapping Philip's shoulder, he exclaimed-- + +"Look at that vessel, Harley! I protest, if her rigging were not +evidently Portuguese, I should declare it was our old friend the +Diomede! But, alas! that brave bark foundered in the heavy gale which we +escaped." + +Philip did not perceive the resemblance, and tried in vain to restrain +the impatient tone of authority in which Lord Robert ordered the +Portuguese sailors to lower a boat, and row him and his friend alongside +the ship of war, which lay in the wet dock. "If these fellows knew the +state of your Lordship's purse, they would not move their oars quite so +nimbly," said Philip, when they were in the boat; "neither would they +pay such regard to your impatient gestures to quicken their motions; and +you might chance to get thrown into the sea, in return for your +vociferating, in Spanish, that they are the laziest dogs you ever met +with." + +"But, Philip, how came you, who are not quite so familiar in the Spanish +terms of abuse as I am, to guess what I was saying to them?" + +"Truly, my Lord," said Philip, "I guessed, by your tone and manner, that +you were not addressing the most polite expressions to them: and it +would perhaps be prudent to remember, that you are not _their_ +commanding officer; therefore, they are not obliged to put up with any +incivility." + +"True, Philip; I certainly have no right to abuse them; and I perceive I +have already violated one of my good resolutions, by giving way to my +usual intemperance of tongue, on a very slight occasion. Tell me, +Harley, were you not astonished, after all I had determined on that +subject, to see me swaggering and ordering about me, in the boat, quite +in my old way?" + +"No, my Lord," said Philip drily; "for I have always heard that good +resolutions are much easier made than adhered to." + +"Well, well! my dear Harley, I must exert all my strength of mind to +adhere to mine, though I own this is but a bad beginning." + +As he spoke, they approached near enough to the vessel to distinguish +her build by the naked eye. + +"It is a British ship of the line, though Portuguese rigged!" exclaimed +Lord Robert, starting up in the boat. + +"It is the Diomede itself!" said Philip, dropping Lord Robert's +perspective-glass into the water, through which he had been examining +the figure-head. + +The sight of this vessel brought a thousand agonizing remembrances to +Philip's mind; and he sank on one of the benches, almost annoyed by the +ardent Lord Robert; who, as they dashed up the river, besought the +rowers in the most moving Spanish he could command, to redouble their +speed. He laughed and wept by turns; till the men, shrugging their +shoulders, protested by all their saints that the young officer was the +maddest Englishman they ever had the honour of rowing. + +"Oh, my beloved uncle! My heroic commander! Shall I see you again?" +exclaimed Lord Robert, as the sailors rested on their oars under the +stern of the vessel: and, in another moment, he stood on the deck of the +Diomede, to the inexpressible astonishment of her officers and crew. + +The bustle on deck brought Sir Henry Stanley to the scene of action; as +he advanced, he was struck by the exclamations of-- + +"Can it be?--Is it possible?" On his nearer approach, he could scarcely +credit the evidence of his own eyes, when he beheld his lost nephew; +altered, it is true, from the hardships he had undergone; for he looked +pale and thin, and rather consumptive, and was grown considerably +taller. He was leaning on the arm of Philip Harley, his former enemy, +who now seemed to regard him with the greatest affection. Sir Henry, +like the rest of the officers and crew, was inclined to doubt the +reality of what he saw; when his impetuous nephew, catching a glimpse of +his majestic figure, broke through the group that surrounded him, and, +throwing himself into his arms, buried his head in his bosom, and sobbed +aloud. Sir Henry, who fondly loved this young man, and had mourned his +loss as for that of an only son, now felt himself overpowered by his joy +at so unexpectedly beholding him. + +"Look up, my dear boy!" he said, at length recovering his firmness. +"Look up, and let me once more behold that beloved face, which I never +thought to have seen again." + +Lord Robert raised his head, and smiled through his tears on his uncle; +but again, yielding to the joy of seeing that dear friend alive, he +concealed his face on Sir Henry's shoulder, and wept passionately. Sir +Henry was at last distressed by his agitation, and forced himself to +chide him for giving way to such an excessive indulgence of his +feelings. + +"Compose yourself, my dear boy!" said he; "or you will give these +gentlemen reason to suspect that it is one of your sisters, who has +taken it into her head to assume the appearance of my brave young +lieutenant." + +Lord Robert was ashamed of giving way to his emotions so publicly; till, +having in some degree collected himself, he looked in his uncle's face, +and was pleased to find that his eyes were full of tears, +notwithstanding the reproof he had just administered to him. + +"And now," said Sir Henry, "I hope that you will consider how powerfully +the curiosity of all present is excited, to learn by what means you have +been enabled to appear among us alive and well, when we thought we saw +you perish before our eyes, without being able to render you any +assistance, and after we had deeply deplored your loss." + +Lord Robert stepped back to the spot where he had left Philip, and +taking him by the arm, led him to his uncle. + +"For this interview," said he, "under the especial providence of God, +you must thank my kind preserver, the brave and noble-minded Harley." + +Sir Henry graciously presented his hand to Philip, who respectfully +pressed it to his lips in silence. + +"Ah, my dear uncle," said Lord Robert, in reply to Sir Henry's +commendations and grateful expressions to Philip for his care of his +nephew, "you know not half his merit yet; nor are you aware," said he, +lowering his voice, "of half my unworthiness." + +"Aware of your unworthiness! No, my dear boy--that is what I hope I +shall never be," said Sir Henry. + +"I fear," said Lord Robert, "you will have reason to blush for your +nephew soon; for I must summon courage to relate to you a story which +will, I fear, deprive me of your affection and esteem for ever." + +"I shall be sorry to hear anything that is likely to have such effects," +said Sir Henry, gravely: and when he looked from him to Philip Harley, +and observed his visible agitation, and remembered the bitter hatred +that once subsisted between them, he was convinced that Lord Robert had +something to communicate respecting his conduct to the young mutineer, +not much to his own credit. + +Lord Robert was roused from his meditation by the importunities of the +boatmen who had rowed him to the ship; and it was quite with the air of +his former gay liberality that he flung into their boat a handful of +money he had obtained from his uncle for that purpose. + +The appearance of Lieutenant Cary on deck occasioned a great surprise +to the young friends. + +He was absent on shore when they arrived; and they were the more +delighted at finding him alive, from the grief they had felt at his +supposed loss. Lord Robert told him the manner in which they had found +the chest containing his books, flute, and other property. + +"Ah! my poor books!" said Cary: "the chest was weighty; and, in the +extremity to which we were reduced, after you left the ship, we threw it +overboard, in common with everything else that was likely to lighten the +ship." + +"And pray, how came my poor Neptune overboard? Did you commit him to the +mercy of the waves in order to lighten the ship?" said Lord Robert, +patting the faithful creature as he spoke. + +"What became of Neptune we never knew," said Cary; "but we supposed that +he went away with the pinnace; for in the height of our distress, when +all on board expected the Diomede to founder every minute, the +boatswain, with one midshipman, and two or three sailors, contrived to +lower the pinnace and steal away, selfishly leaving their commander and +messmates to endure the worst; and, most likely, Neptune, being uneasy +at missing his master, jumped into the boat and went with them." + +"They met with a fitting reward for their cowardly desertion," said Lord +Robert; "for Neptune was the only creature that reached the island with +life: some of the bodies we found and buried. But how came the ship to +reach the shore of Brazil?" + +"By the mercy of Heaven, we met some Brazilian proas, which took us on +board, and the Diomede in tow; and, having favourable winds and a smooth +sea, we contrived to get the hulk into the King's dock at Rio de +Janeiro; where, being a fine new ship, she was found worth repairing and +refitting; and here we have been ever since, the Portuguese workmen +being very slow in their operations."[6] + +[Footnote 6: Commodore Byron found some repairs necessary at Rio de +Janeiro.--"We had six Portuguese caulkers to assist our carpenters, who +were paid at the rate of 6s. per diem; though it is certain an English +caulker could do as much in one day as they did in three; but, though +slow and inactive, they perform their work very effectually." + +BYRON'S _Voyage_.] + +It was not till late that day that Lord Robert summoned courage enough +to disclose to his uncle the whole particulars of his conduct towards +young Harley. It was not without reason that he dreaded the manner in +which Sir Henry would receive this explanation; for he was a man of the +purest honour himself, and was likely to consider with some severity the +misrepresentation his nephew had made to his father, which occasioned +Philip's being removed from his home. + +Lord Robert, when a child, had been treated with ruinous indulgence by +his fond parents, by whom his most extravagant whims were considered as +a law to which the whole establishment must submit. Sir Henry Stanley +was the only person who had ever attempted the arduous but necessary +task of controlling Lord Robert; although, with the self-delusion not +uncommon in such cases, his noble parents did not scruple to attribute +their son's violent temper and petulant conduct when on shore, to his +uncle's indulgence. But if there was a man in the world whom Lord Robert +feared, it was Sir Henry; yet, at the same time, he was so unerringly +just and judicious, that his nephew loved him with the most ardent +affection, and was used to consider the displeasure of his uncle as the +most serious misfortune that could befal him: and such was the good +effect this salutary awe had on him, when on board ship, that Sir Henry +was not a little proud of his officer-like conduct, never having had +occasion to frown on him for any breach of duty or immorality. Lord +Robert knew the high place he held in his uncle's opinion, and the idea +of forfeiting his esteem was dreadful. True, he was not actually under +the necessity of making a confession so mortifying. Sir Henry need never +know the misrepresentation he had made to his father:--a single word to +that fond parent would not only prevail on him to bury the whole in +oblivion, but induce him to devise excuses to cover his faults and +reconcile him to himself. From Harley, he knew, he need feel no fear of +its being divulged;--that generous friend would, he was assured, take +the whole blame of what had passed on himself to screen him from +reproach. + +Lord Robert was at first strangely tempted to take these measures, and +conceal the worst part of his conduct from his revered commander; but +his better principles obtained the victory in the struggle, and, +in a private conference with his uncle, he revealed every +circumstance,--beginning with his shooting Philip's dog, and relating +all that had happened between them till their reconciliation and +friendship on the Isle of Probation. And so severely did he blame +himself that Sir Henry, moved by his candour, would not increase his +mental sufferings by any reprimands. + +Lord Robert was in earnest conference with his uncle that evening and +the next morning; during which time Philip had resumed his duties on +board: but he was restless and unhappy; for he felt his separation from +Lord Robert had now commenced, and he conceived he should never more +enjoy the pleasure of his society. In this frame of mind, he looked back +with the most painful regret to their residence on the island, and the +delightful hours he had spent with his noble friend in the acquirement +of knowledge. In the midst of these repinings, he received a summons to +Lord Robert's cabin. He did not find any one there; but was told by his +conductor to wait till his Lordship returned from dining with his uncle. +At last, Philip heard a quick and well-known step at the door; and Lord +Robert rushed in with more than his usual impetuosity, and, seizing +Philip by the hand, he exclaimed: + +"Joy, my dear Harley! My noble uncle has forgiven me! For I have +confessed everything that has passed between us; and so highly does he +approve of your generous conduct towards me, that he has granted my +earnest request of placing you on the quarter-deck of the Diomede, where +you are now privileged to appear with the other midshipmen."--So saying, +he beckoned to his servant who followed him, carrying a full-dress +midshipman's uniform. He superintended himself the pleasing task of +arraying his friend in this dress; and buckled on the dirk with his own +hands, which was the same he had himself worn when a midshipman. When +all was complete, he surveyed Philip from head to foot with great +satisfaction; and assured him that the dress became him as well as if he +had been born a gentleman; and, with much animation, expressed his +conviction that he would, after serving his due time as a naval cadet, +arrive at the dignity of an epaulet, and fill in progression the highest +situations in the navy, to which, he was convinced, he would prove an +honour. + +The change was so sudden, that it almost took from Philip the power of +expressing his joy. Lord Robert could not help smiling to find that he +had, for once, overcome that firmness for which Philip generally was +distinguished. His agitation was painful in the extreme; but when he did +at length speak, it was with a vehemence of gratitude, which showed Lord +Robert the dominion he now possessed over the once stubborn and haughty +mind of Philip Harley. "It is not," said he, wringing Lord Robert's hand +as he spoke, "because I am proud and ambitious, and you have raised me +from my lowly rank, and given me an opportunity of distinguishing +myself--this is, indeed, much,--but it is not that which makes my heart +overflow with joy: it is the consciousness that I shall now sometimes be +suffered to be near you, and that my humble situation will not deprive +me of your friendship." + +"Now, my dear friend," said Lord Robert, "I must leave you, though +against my wishes: as the barge is waiting to convey my uncle on shore, +to spend two days with the Governor, and it is his pleasure that I shall +attend him. You will, in the mean time, find sufficient amusement, I +doubt not, among your brother officers." As he said this, he gaily +withdrew. Harley pursued his retreating figure with his eyes, as he +followed Sir Henry Stanley and Lieutenant Cary into the splendid +state-barge, which the Portuguese Governor had sent to convey them on +shore. As the sun shone brightly on the gilded vessel, and her silken +streamers fluttered in the breeze, it recalled to his mind the +remembrance of the Ariel; and he recollected with shame his lawless +exploit of sailing in that fairy frigate, in defiance of her owner, and +in his very sight. + +"Well might Lord Robert have been enraged at my repeated trespasses!" +thought he: and, as he looked down on his new uniform, and considered +how engagingly and delicately his noble friend had behaved in presenting +it to him, he wondered how he could ever have appeared so overbearing +and arrogant. Yet Philip was deceived when, in the warmth of his +affection, he thought it must have been his own prejudices that made +Lord Robert appear to him at one time so cruel and tyrannical. It was +from the trials experienced in adversity, that he had learned to correct +his faults and follies: yet it is but justice to Lord Robert to say, +that he never would have committed such outrages, had not Philip studied +modes of insult and provocation sufficient to have irritated a much +calmer spirit, and which finally drew upon Philip severe punishment, and +on Lord Robert proportionable remorse and suffering. + +When Philip presented himself on the quarter-deck, he had the +mortification to perceive a general coldness and disapprobation among +the officers, very painful to one of his quick feelings and high spirit; +and he attributed this contempt to his low birth. Perhaps many of them +were not without prejudice on that subject; but, in addition to this, +his former mutinous conduct had not failed to make a very ill impression +on the minds of these gentlemen; and this conduct they now appeared to +remember, so far as to render the time of Lord Robert's absence very +uncomfortable, and to deprive Philip of most of the pleasure his new +rank had given him. When Lord Robert returned, he found his friend, whom +he expected to have seen full of joy and spirits, walking by himself in +a very melancholy mood. To his anxious inquiries respecting the reason +of his dejection, he replied, by relating the various slights which he +had experienced since his departure. + +"I went on deck with a heart full of goodwill to every one," added he; +"and expecting to find every one there noble, generous, and refined, +like yourself. But see how they have treated me!" + +"For which, my young friend, you have no one to blame but yourself," +observed Lieutenant Cary, who had returned with Lord Robert, and +listened to Philip with some interest. Philip looked at him with +surprise, but he continued: + +"You perhaps forget, but they doubtless remember, that at the time you +thought proper to act the part of a mutineer, among the other +accomplishments of that character, you had a most provoking tongue; and +there is not one of these gentlemen but has had a specimen of your +sarcastic repartees, addressed to them, while in the lawful exercise of +the authority with which their country has intrusted them. And they now +think fit to show how much they disapprove of your former conduct when +on board the Diomede, and that they do not think one worthy to command +who formerly would not obey." + +Philip blushed deeply as he assented to the justice of these +observations; but Lord Robert, who was highly incensed at the conduct of +the officers, exclaimed, with no little of his usual impetuosity, +"Nonsense! Cary; they must have seen that I only was to blame for his +behaviour then." + +"Perhaps, as far as related to the blow which he struck, you were," +replied Cary; "and during your residence at the island, to which you +have given so _appropriate_ a name, it appears he completely satisfied +you for all his offences, and forgave you for yours. But, remember, the +other officers who had given him no reasonable cause of offence, are not +obliged to look over all the saucy speeches he addressed to them, +because a reconciliation has taken place between you." + +"But when they know all his noble conduct to me, they must and shall +treat him with respect!" replied Lord Robert; and, drawing Philip's arm +through his, he advanced towards the group of officers, who had +withdrawn to a different part of the deck, and were discussing the +matter among themselves. + +"Gentlemen," said he, "give me leave to present to you my friend, Mr. +Harley; for whose former faults I own myself more than answerable. He +is sensible that you all have had cause to be offended with him at +different times; but he trusts that you will have reason in future to +forget the rashness of the pressed man in the merits of the midshipman; +to which rank our noble captain, in reward of his valour in the last +engagement, has thought proper to promote him. I say nothing of his +admirable conduct to myself; though, I trust, that, with all my faults, +his having been the means of saving my life will be a recommendation to +my brother officers; and I should hope that his lowly birth will not be +remembered to his prejudice by officers of the British navy, whose boast +it is that some of its proudest ornaments[7] have risen from before the +mast." + +[Footnote 7: Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Admiral Hopson, Admiral Campbell, Sir +Samuel Cornish, and many other gallant gentlemen, rose from the lowest +ranks.] + +A murmur of applause followed this speech, which was seconded by +Lieutenant Cary's presenting his hand to young Harley; and his example +was followed by all the gentlemen present, who, with the frankness of +British officers, offered him successively their congratulations on his +promotion. + +"Spoken like yourselves, my gallant friends!" exclaimed Lord Robert, +warmly shaking hands with his brother officers; "it shall never be said +by our enemies, that valour and merit were slighted in the British navy, +unless recommended by the adventitious advantages of rank or riches in +their possessor." + +Lord Robert knew the way to the hearts of his brave friends. To their +good feelings he did not appeal in vain; and Philip never again had +reason to complain of the least slight or disregard from any officer on +board the Diomede; and never till that hour had Lord Robert tasted how +truly delightful is the possession of power, when the influence which +more or less it holds in society is applied to a noble purpose; and +Philip Harley, by his steady attention to his duty, and his officer-like +and gallant conduct in his new rank, speedily erased from the minds of +these gentlemen his former mutinous and violent behaviour, and obtained +the highest praise from his just and discriminating commander. How proud +was Philip--how happy Lord Robert, whenever Sir Henry Stanley expressed +his approbation at this conduct! There never was a friendship more warm +or sincere than that which now subsisted between the two former +enemies, who used often to relate their mutual sufferings, as a warning +of the folly of answering a provocation, or retaliating an injury. + +Before they sailed from Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry Stanley generously +presented Philip with every equipment necessary for his appearance as a +gentleman; and, during the voyage home, he was the friend, companion, +and pupil of Lord Robert, who delighted to impart to him every +accomplishment and took the greatest pleasure in witnessing the +development of his naturally fine talents. + +When the Diomede approached the shores of England, Philip again began to +be fearful lest the high rank of Lord Robert should separate them; but +he was agreeably surprised, when, on their landing, Lord Robert insisted +on his taking a place in the equipage that conveyed him to Lancashire; +and, though he permitted Philip to visit first the lowly home of his +sorrowing parents, yet he and his noble father came for him the next +day, and invited him to the Hall, where he shared in all the unbounded +affection and caresses which the Marquis and Marchioness bestowed on +their noble son. + +On the first arrival of the Diomede at Rio de Janeiro, Sir Henry +Stanley, supposing he had seen his nephew and Philip Harley perish, +wrote to England an account of the dreadful loss, which was received +both in the cottage and at the Hall with the deepest affliction. Since +that time, no communication had been received; but as the Diomede was +nearly ready to sail when the young friends arrived from the island, +they themselves brought the first intelligence to England of their +safety and welfare. They found each family in deep mourning, and plunged +in acute sorrow, which was changed into extravagant joy at their +unexpected arrival. The Marquis had become acquainted with most of the +circumstances that occasioned the enmity between his son and Philip +Harley, and had suffered much remorse, reproaching himself continually +for having torn the only surviving child from his parents to meet an +untimely death. From his natural goodness of heart, he greeted Philip's +safe return as that of another son, particularly when he found he was +indebted to him for the delight of seeing Lord Robert once again. + +The unlimited indulgence which the young friends met with at home might +have been attended with bad effects, had they remained long exposed to +its influence. But, in less than a month, they were again summoned to +resume their duties on board the Diomede, where Sir Henry had hoisted +his flag on his promotion to the rank of Admiral. + +Both the friends were possessed of those high talents which, when +combined with valour, seldom fail of obtaining great distinction; and so +nobly did they acquit themselves in their naval duties, that after many +years had witnessed their career of glory, and they had attained the +height of their profession, England never saw two braver admirals than +Lord Robert Summers and the Mutineer. + + + + +ARTHUR RIDLEY; + +OR, A + +VOYAGE TO NORWAY. + + +Among the springs and mosses of Alston Moor, near the source of the +South Tyne, are several little grass farms, on which are bred sheep and +black cattle by the industrious farmers of Cumberland and +Northumberland. In a most retired spot between the two counties, dwelt +old farmer Ridley and his grandson Arthur. The farmer was one of those +small landholders, who are called _statesmen_ in the dialect of the +northern counties; he had lost his wife, but she had left him two sons. +Walter Ridley, the elder, was the father of Arthur, and captain of a +merchant ship, that traded to the Baltic, from the port of Newcastle. He +had married a tradesman's daughter from that place, who died when little +Arthur was but two years old; and Walter, who knew not what to do with +so young a child, begged his father to take the boy, and bring him up at +the farm, till he was old enough to go to sea. About four years after, +Hugh Ridley, the farmer's younger son, was killed in the command of a +privateer, while he was endeavouring to take a French merchant ship. It +was greatly against the wishes of old Mr. Ridley that both his sons +followed so dangerous a profession: one of them, at least, he hoped +would have remained at home to assist in cultivating the peaceful little +farm which had descended from father to son for three centuries; but +both the sons made light of the wishes of their father; and Hugh +actually disobeyed his express commands, when he became captain of the +privateer; a mode of life agreeing well enough with his rude rough +habits, but which the good farmer abhorred and detested, justly +considering such an occupation to be but one degree better than the +pursuits of a pirate. This act of disobedience was soon punished; for +Hugh Ridley fell in the first engagement, leaving a young widow and a +little girl quite destitute. His death filled his father's heart with +sorrow, and he lost no time in fetching his widowed daughter-in-law and +her little Phoebe from Newcastle, and bringing them to his own quiet +home, to the great joy of young Arthur, who promised to love aunt Rachel +and cousin Phoebe better than his best pet lamb. Indeed, he said that +little Phoebe was much prettier than his finest cosset; besides, she +could answer all his questions, and ask him a thousand in return. They +passed their happy summers together, keeping the sheep and cows on +Alston Moor; in the winter, their good grandfather taught them to read +the Bible; and in the long evenings, Phoebe spun by her mother's side, +while Arthur learned to write and keep accounts. Arthur seldom saw his +father, who only came to the farm for a few hours, when he was on shore, +and then only laughed at his quiet habits and peaceful temper, slapped +him rudely on the back, and asked him whether he were not ashamed of +remaining lounging on shore like a coward and a milksop. + +But Arthur was no coward. True, his very fair complexion and placid +features gave him that gentle look which might well deceive careless +observers into the belief that any insult might be offered to him with +impunity; but there was a quiet, determined firmness in his +character,--a spirit which silently says, on the appearance of any +difficulty, "I will overcome it." On such minds success is a sure +attendant: they follow the toilsome path which leads to glory and +distinction with unwearied and steady steps, and often leave those of +bold demeanour and boasting tongues at a hopeless distance. + +Mr. Ridley's house was a very long way from the other farms; so when +Arthur and Phoebe drove their cattle to any distance from home, on the +moor, to seek fresh pasture, they were considered as strangers and +intruders, by the boys who kept the flocks of the neighbouring farmers. +Though somewhat older than Phoebe, Arthur was scarcely so tall as the +blooming girl; and she looked better able to be his protector, than to +receive assistance from him; but Phoebe knew well to whom to fly in +any danger, as her cousin would beat off the most ferocious dog, or the +biggest boy that strove to molest her. The farmers' sons in the +neighbourhood, when once they had tried the force of Arthur's well-knit +little arm, and felt the effects of his cool, determined courage, soon +retracted the mean opinion they had formed of his prowess; and left off +their favourite amusements of pelting his whitest lambs with mud, and +running after Phoebe, to pull the long flaxen ringlets which floated +from under her bonnet. + +At fourteen, Arthur Ridley thought himself the happiest boy in the +world; for his grandfather had a gold medal presented to him at an +agricultural meeting in the county, as a prize for showing there six +finer and fatter lambs than any one else could produce. Mr. Ridley told +every one that it was by the care and attention of his grandson, that +his flock throve so well; and the nobleman who held the meeting patted +Arthur's head, and told him he would be an honour to Cumberland, and +hoped that he should see him at the next sheep-shearing. Oh! how Arthur +loved the dear little lambs that had obtained for him such an honour! +And, all the way home, he secretly resolved never to be anything but a +farmer. + +We may suppose that Arthur anticipated the next June with great delight: +but, alas! the succeeding summer, though it bloomed fairer than ever, +brought no joy in its course to him; for it was in that lovely season +that his young heart was to know the first taste of sorrow. + +The spring set in cold and stormy, and it was a very bad lambing-time +for the ewes. Farmer Ridley was more anxious for their well-doing than +usual, and, in taking care of some of the early new-fallen lambs, he +caught a bad cold, attended with ague, which hung on him through the two +succeeding months; and before May came with all her flowers, even the +inexperienced eyes of his grandchildren read, in his sunken temples and +hollow cheeks, that the mortal foe within would soon rob them of their +venerable protector. Arthur's father had passed the winter in Hamburgh, +and was now expected home every day. Mr. Ridley wished much to behold +his son once more in this world; and he seemed to linger from hour to +hour, in the hope of seeing him again; till, about eventide, on the 2nd +of May, his last minutes drew to a close. "Arthur," he said, in a faint +voice. Arthur started from the place where he was leaning his head +against the casement, and approached the bed. + +"Arthur," he said, "your father is away; but tell him from me to take +care of your aunt Rachel and your cousin Phoebe: I have little to +leave them; for the farm is entailed on my eldest son, and must descend +to you. Tell him that my dying request is, that he will never suffer +them to want a home. They will find, in my oaken box, eighty guineas in +a yellow canvas bag, and my will, which directs the money to be divided +between them. And now, Arthur, my dear boy, you have ever been a dutiful +child to me; be the same to your father, whatever his commands may be, +and make it your rule to do your duty in that state of life unto which +it may please God to call you." + +The rising sun beamed on the bed of death; the venerable Mr. Ridley was +no more! And his sorrowing family were not to be consoled. The next +Sunday, they followed his remains to the grave. It was in vain that the +first day of early summer smiled on them, and that between every solemn +response of the burial service the blackbird sang loud and joyously; +their hearts no longer leaped to the sound once so full of delight. + +"Oh, Arthur," said Phoebe, as her tears fell on her black sleeve, "we +shall never see May-flowers again without mourning!" + +Three melancholy days passed on, before Arthur could resume his former +employments; but on the evening of the fourth, after he had folded his +sheep, he returned home, expecting to see aunt Rachel busy in preparing +the milk-porridge for their supper, and Phoebe watering the flowers, +or gathering salad in the garden. Phoebe was not there. He lifted the +latch of the door; his cousin was laying the cloth, and aunt Rachel was +roasting a fowl for supper. In the chimney-corner, and in his +grandfather's high-backed chair, sat his father. Walter Ridley's stern +features were softened by an expression of grief; he looked more kindly +on his son than he had ever done before; and Arthur thought that when +time had whitened his thick black hair, and dimmed the fire of his dark +eyes, he would resemble in person his lamented grandfather. + +Captain Ridley was very kind to his sister-in-law and niece; and when +Arthur told him the last request of his father, he patted Phoebe's +curly head, and said: + +"Never fear, pretty one, I'll take care of you and your mother; you +shall never want for a shilling, whilst Wat Ridley has one, if it's only +for the sake of poor brother Hugh. Your uncle Hugh was a brave fellow, +Arthur! I wish I could see some of his manly spirit in you, boy!--So, +sister Rachel, you shall live in the farm, and look after the kine and +sheep, and live as comfortably as you can. If you have a shiner or two +over and above at the end of the year for me, it's all very well; and if +you have not, I shan't complain; so don't starve your little one here. +And when Arthur and I come back, after roving the salt waters for five +or six years, mayhap we may stay at home for good; that is, if Phoebe +should like the lad for a husband, and he should fancy her." + +Rachel thanked her brother-in-law for his kindness towards her and her +child; but Arthur, though much pleased with his father's intentions in +respect to his cousin, did not like what he said about the sea. + +"Are you determined that I shall be a sailor?" he asked, in a +disconsolate voice. + +"Hark'e, boy," said Captain Ridley; "I am determined to make a man of +you. So don't let's have any puling and muling, but pluck up a good +heart: and if you be a coward, don't show it. I have bought a good tight +ship at Hamburgh, and have laid out all my earnings for these twenty +years, that I may be owner of the vessel I sail in; she is freighted +with a valuable cargo, and will soon sail for Norway; and you are to +have a berth in her: so say no more, for I have made up my mind on the +matter." + +Arthur submitted in silence; for he well remembered the last words of +his grandfather, and made up his mind to obey his father, let his will +be what it would; besides, he was very grateful for the kindness shown +to his aunt and cousin. "I shall leave them in the bosom of our peaceful +home," thought he; "so I must not displease my father, for he must have +a good heart to be so kind to them." + +In two days, Captain Ridley declared his intention of being off, as he +called it. In vain Rachel and Phoebe pleaded for time to make Arthur +some new shirts, and pack up different things that he would want during +a sea-voyage. + +"No, no," said Captain Ridley; "the boy has been made too much of a pet +and cosset already. I shall fit him out with check-shirts and blue +jackets at Newcastle. I'll make a brave fellow of him, I warrant you. +There's been too many parsons and farmers among the Ridleys. Nobody +would believe they came of the same bold fellows who used to ride the +border some three hundred years ago. Who ever heard of a boy making a +brave, manly character, who spent his time lounging at the tails of two +or three kine or sheep? So, Arthur, my boy, your aunt and cousin will +find you quite a different sort of a lad when you come home from your +first voyage." + +The next morning Arthur bade adieu, with a heavy heart, to the home he +loved so much; and kissed his good aunt and the weeping Phoebe, with +tears in his eyes; but he durst not cry, for fear of bringing on himself +the rough taunts of his father. Captain Ridley had been to the village +church-yard that morning, to visit the new-made grave of his father; he +there remembered that he had not always been the most dutiful of sons to +him who now slept beneath the green turf; and he felt half inclined to +fulfil what he knew was his departed father's wish, and suffer Arthur to +remain at home and look after the farm: but then he thought again, that +when he grew old, and left off going to sea, and came to live at home, +there would be no one to talk to him of seafaring matters: so he +hardened his heart against the tears and entreaties of Phoebe and her +mother, and took Arthur to Newcastle, where his ship, the Aurora, lay in +harbour, ready to sail. + +Arthur found this new mode of life even more disagreeable than he had +imagined; however, he made a resolution to go through all that was +required of him with uncomplaining patience, and to shrink from none of +the hardships of his situation. Neither his father nor any of the crew +were disposed to lighten his difficulties; all were on the watch to jeer +at the mistakes of the young landsman; not but they were a little +surprised to see him go through the first seasoning of a seafaring life +with so much spirit. The sailors, naturally generous and frank, in a +little time began to look on him with more favourable eyes, particularly +an old friend of his father's, who sailed in the Aurora as mate. + +"Well, Captain," said he one day, as he saw Arthur aloft, and going +through his duties with great adroitness, "what do you think of our +young seaman now? To my mind, he will turn out as brave a fellow as ever +stepped between stem and stern." + +"He is better than might be expected from his breeding," returned +Captain Ridley: "but I doubt he will turn out a sad chicken-hearted +thing in time of danger." + +"We shall see," said the mate: "but if young Arthur don't show more +spirit than many of those who talk big and bluster, never believe a word +that old Jack Travers says to you again." + +"Well, well, old shipmate, I wish it may be as you say; but, I own, I +have not such good hopes of him." + +Arthur soon found a good friend in Jack Travers, who was determined that +he should not disgrace his predictions. During their voyage to Norway, +he taught Arthur to keep the log-book, to take the sun's meridian +altitude, to navigate the ship, and to perform the duties of a complete +seaman. + +Travers had spent the chief part of his life at sea, and had seen and +suffered much. He had twice lost his all by shipwreck, and had once been +taken prisoner by the French; he had of course seen a great deal of the +world, and had made many intelligent observations on the countries where +fortune had thrown him; and was intimately acquainted with the customs +and manners of the people whose shores they were now approaching. + +One summer night, when Arthur and Travers were on the watch together, +Travers began to tell him of all he had suffered by storm and wreck, in +the course of a long and disastrous life. "The last ship I sailed in," +said he, "the unfortunate Daedalus, was wrecked on one of the small +islands that stud the coast of Norway, off Drontheim. Now, there was no +very good understanding between the English and the subjects of the King +of Denmark, because of the battle of Copenhagen, the carnage of which +was so great as to occasion general mourning and sorrow throughout +Denmark and Norway. However, the brave Norwegians did not look upon us +in the light of enemies, but as suffering and shipwrecked men, and +treated us most kindly during the time we remained with them; which was +more than three of their winter months. A merchant of Drontheim gave me +a berth in a ship of his, that was bound to Hamburgh; and there I met +with your father, Arthur, who never was yet the man to see an old +shipmate in distress without giving a helping hand. He offered to put me +as mate in the Aurora, which he had just purchased. So here I am; but +whether my bad fortune will pursue me still, I know not." + +"I hope not," said Arthur; "for it is hard, at your time of life, to be +without the means of obtaining those comforts you will soon greatly +need: but did you not spend your time very miserably, to pass so many +months in a strange country, the language of which was unknown to you?" + +"As for that," returned Travers, "thank God! I am not given to be very +miserable anywhere. A seaman, who knows his duty, bears cheerfully +whatever hap Heaven may send him. But in fact, I never passed any time +pleasanter than I did in Norway. We were quartered on the farmers and +pilots who inhabited the coast where we were thrown. The good people, +instead of murmuring at the burden of our maintenance, came down with +their sledges, and contended whose home should afford shelter to the +shipwrecked strangers. I was not willing to eat the bread of idleness, +so I lent a helping hand to whatever work was going forward. As to +language, I found the inhabitants of the sea-coast very familiar with +the English tongue; and I knew a little German, by reason of trading to +Hamburgh; so, between the two, we made out very well. The coast of +Norway is tremendous to the sailor at the fall of the year, when the +equinoctial winds begin to blow; as you will judge when I tell you the +observations I have made during my acquaintance with it. The coast +extending upwards of three hundred leagues, is beset with a multitude of +small islands, affording habitations to fishermen and pilots, and +pasture to a few cattle. They form an infinite number of narrow +channels, and a natural barrier of rocks, which render Norway +inaccessible to the naval power of its enemies. Attempts of this kind +are the more dangerous, as the shore is generally bold, steep, and +impending; so that, close to the rocks, the depth of the sea amounts to +one hundred, two hundred, and even three hundred fathoms. You may easily +judge of the fate of the unfortunate ship that is hurled by tempests +against any of these frightful rocks: if she breaks, she instantly +fills, and must go down into a dreadful depth of water; and it is only +by the most signal mercy that any of the crew is ever saved. The perils +of the North Sea are also increased by sudden streams, sunk rocks, +violent currents, and dreadful whirlpools. The most remarkable vortex on +the coast is called Moskoestrom, from the small island Moskoe, +belonging to the district Lofoden. In time of flood, the stream runs up +between Lofoden and Moskoe, with the most boisterous rapidity; but in +its ebb to the sea it roars like a hundred cataracts, so as to be heard +at the distance of many leagues. On the surface are many vortices; and +if in one of those any ship be absorbed, it is whirled down to the +bottom, and dashed in pieces against the rocks. + +"When its fury has been heightened by a storm, no vessel ought to +venture within a league of it. Whales are frequently absorbed within the +vortex, and howl and bellow hideously during their fruitless endeavours +to free themselves. A bear, in attempting to swim from Lofoden to +Moskoe, was once hurried to this whirlpool, from which he struggled in +vain for deliverance, roaring so loud as to be heard on shore; but, +notwithstanding all his efforts, he was borne down and destroyed. Large +trees, being drawn into the current, are sucked down, and rise again all +shattered to splinters. There are three vortices of the same kind near +the islands of Ferroe." + +Before the vessel reached Christiania, the short northern summer had +commenced in all its beauty. Arthur had expected to see an icy, desolate +coast; he could not think that fair sunny days would smile so far +northwards; and when the Aurora entered the bay of Christiana, he could +scarcely believe it was the port to which they were bound. + +Before them lay the town of Christiana, situated at the extremity of an +extensive and fertile valley, forming a semicircular bend along the +shore of the beautiful bay. The grounds, laid out in rich enclosures, +gradually sloped to the sea. Behind, before, and around appeared the +inland mountains of Norway, covered with dark forests of pines and fir, +the inexhaustible riches of the North. The most distant summits were +capped with perpetual snows. From the glow of the atmosphere, the warmth +of the weather, the variety of the productions, and the mild beauties of +the adjacent scenery, it was hardly possible to believe that they were +nearly under the sixtieth degree of latitude.[8] + +[Footnote 8: Cox's Travels.] + +"Is it possible?" said Arthur, as he stood on deck by the side of +Travers; "can this blooming land be one of the coldest and most barren +regions of the North?" + +"Ah," said Travers; "but you see it in the midst of its short, lovely +summer; its aspect would be bleak and horrid, were you to visit it +during the nine winter months. Were you to hear the roaring of the winds +among the mountains, the fall of great heaps of snow, and oftentimes of +huge masses of stone and rocks from their heights--sometimes choking up +the course of rivers, and overwhelming the cottages of the peasants--you +would then hardly believe that the return of the sun could produce so +much beauty as you now see before you." + +"I have heard," said Arthur, "that, farther to the North, the sun never +sets in the height of summer, nor rises in the depth of winter." + +"I have been at Tronsen,"[9] said Travers, "near the northern extremity +of this country, where the sun is continually in view at midsummer; I +have seen it circulate day and night round the North Pole, contracting +its orbit, and then gradually enlarging it, until it leaves the horizon. +In the depth of the winter, therefore, it is for some weeks invisible: +and all the light perceived at noon is a faint glimmering, for about one +hour and a half, which proceeds from the sun's rays being reflected from +the highest mountains. But the inhabitants have other lights, by which +they follow their work in the open air. The sky being very clear, the +moonshine is remarkably bright: they are likewise much assisted by the +Northern Lights,[10] which are very frequent in these parts of Europe." + +[Footnote 9: Encyclopaedia Britannica.] + +[Footnote 10: Otherwise called Aurora Borealis.] + +"My grandfather showed me the Northern Lights once, in Cumberland," said +Arthur; "and told me they signified that something very dreadful would +soon happen to the country; for they were never seen but when famine, or +plagues or rebellions were about to come to pass. What do you think +about it, Travers? are such bad things very common in Norway?" + +"Not that ever I heard," returned Travers. "Indeed, the poor people +would be in a desperate way, if they were to have plagues and battles +every time they saw the Northern Lights. Why, Arthur, they see them as +often as we see the stars in England; and I have read, on a Sunday +night, the psalm for the day out of my prayer-book, as plain in the open +air, at ten o'clock, as ever I did by a candle. But that's the way with +you landsmen: you sit at home and scare yourselves, and shake your wise +heads, and prophesy evil, if a little glimmer reaches you of what is as +common as the air you breathe in other countries." + +Arthur did not greatly approve of hearing the opinion of his venerated +grandfather treated with so much contempt: yet he plainly saw the folly +of converting into an omen of ill a harmless and beautiful meteor; which +is a blessing, as common as it is useful, in a country a few degrees +farther to the north. + +Captain Ridley soon became very busy in disposing of his cargo, and +buying the different commodities that Norway produces, to reload his +vessel with. He bought copper, and iron forged into bars, (the iron of +Sweden and Norway is esteemed very good--much better than any England +produces;) marble he used for ballasting the ship; he likewise bought +goat-skins, and seal-skins, and some very valuable furs of the fox and +marten, of which he expected to make a great deal of money in England. +Another article of commerce, which is sold to great advantage in +England, Captain Ridley made part of his cargo, viz. eider-down +feathers.[11] He gave his son leave to purchase what pleased him most, +to take home as presents for his aunt and cousin. Arthur accordingly +bought a handsome fur cloak for aunt Rachel, and some curious baskets +made of birch-bark, and beautifully wrought with coloured quills, for +Phoebe. They passed about two months in Norway: by the expiration of +which time Captain Ridley had completed his lading, and got everything +ready for returning to England. + +[Footnote 11: The mollissima, or eider-duck, is double the size of the +common duck. The feathers, which are soft and valuable, fall off during +incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the +female is greenish. This species is found in the Western Isles of +Scotland, but in greater numbers in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland; from +whence vast quantities of the down, known by the name of _eider_, or +_edder_, (which these birds furnish,) is annually imported. Its warm, +light, and elastic qualities, make it highly esteemed as stuffings for +coverlets and down beds. This down is produced from the breast of the +birds, in the breeding season. The eider-duck lays its eggs among the +stones or plants near the shore, and prepares a soft bed for them by +plucking the down from its own breast; the natives watch the +opportunity, and take away both eggs and nest. The duck lays again, and +repeats the plucking of its breast. If she is robbed after that, she +will still lay; but the drakes must supply the down, as her stock is now +exhausted: but, if her eggs are taken from her a fourth time, she wholly +deserts the place. The number of eggs in each nest are from three to +five, warmly bedded in down; they are of a pale olive colour, and very +large, glossy, and smooth. The ducks now and then, however, lay as many +as eight, for sixteen have been found in one nest, with two females +sitting on them, who agree remarkably well together. They take their +young on their backs to sea; then dive to shake them off, and teach them +to shift for themselves. They live on shell-fish, for which they dive to +great depths. The males are five years old before they come to their +full colours. It is said they live to a great age, and grow quite +grey.] + +Arthur's heart bounded with joy as the sails were set for England; and +he now looked forward with sensations of pleasure towards the +continuance of the life which his father had chosen for him. He had +gained experience and knowledge, and felt happy that he had obeyed his +parent, however distasteful his commands were at first. Captain Ridley +was very proud of his ship; her clever sailing and tight figure were the +perpetual theme of his discourse and admiration: he was, besides, in +excellent spirits on another account; for he felt confident that he had +laid out his money to great advantage in the cargo, and expected a clear +profit of several hundreds. + +They ran before a favourable gale for some days, till, one clear lovely +morning, as Captain Ridley was standing on deck talking over his +expected gains with Arthur, Travers called from the main-top, "Look +abaft, Captain; for I think we are chased?" Ridley flew to his cabin, +and returning with his telescope, plainly saw a ship bearing down before +the wind, in full pursuit of them. All hands instantly went to work, to +raise every bit of canvas the Aurora could carry; and as she was a +swift-sailing vessel, they had hopes that she would keep ahead of the +enemy until night came on, when she might elude the pursuit under the +shades of darkness. But, alas! the same gale which bore the Aurora so +bravely along, brought her lightly-laden pursuer more swiftly after her. +At length, after a hard chase, and a day of the most agonizing suspense +to our poor countrymen, about sunset their fate seemed decided, when the +adverse ship bore down upon them within hail, and fired a gun to bring +them to. The crew of the Aurora still ventured to hope that, after all, +she might be a neutral ship; but the experienced eye of Travers had from +the first noted all her bearings, and felt convinced that she was a +French privateer; which was soon confirmed by her hoisting the +tri-coloured flag, and preparing to board. To resist was utterly +useless, as a single broadside from the armed ship would have soon +settled the fray: and Captain Ridley saw his favourite ship the prey of +the most lawless and insolent crew that ever manned a privateer! + +To a man of Ridley's violent passions, this stroke was worse than death; +but his indignant expressions were only answered by laughter and mockery +from the enemies into whose hands he had fallen, and who added insult +and ill-usage to the calamities of war. It was at that period of the +French Revolution when the war was carried on between the two nations +with a fury scarcely known in modern times, and the animosity of the +French towards our country knew no bounds. + +There could scarcely be a more dreadful situation than that of the crew +of this defenceless merchant ship, which had fallen into the hands of +men whose bad passions were inflamed by national hatred. For many hours, +the English expected every moment to be their last. Outrage succeeded +outrage, and massacre seemed resolved on; but at last, after many blows +and much reviling, the privateers contented themselves with thrusting +their prisoners, strongly ironed, into the hold. These were horrors of +which poor Arthur had never even dreamed; yet, in the terrors of that +dreadful night, there was a satisfaction to his well-regulated mind in +the consciousness that he was near his suffering parent, and could +offer all the consolation that can be received from the affection of a +dutiful child. And, truly, Captain Ridley had great need of it. +Neglected by the ruffians who had conquered them, they were left without +food; and, what was infinitely more needful, without water. This, joined +to want of air, (the hatches being close shut down,) made their +situation almost equal to that of the prisoners in the black hole at +Calcutta. + +Walter Ridley had hitherto been a fortunate man in life: where others +had met with storms and capture, he had sailed securely and +prosperously. This he did not fail to attribute to his own wisdom and +merit, instead of ascribing it to the protecting hand of a bountiful +Providence; therefore, when this reverse of fortune came, he received it +with transports of rage, instead of patience and resignation. The +violence of his emotions, and the confinement and ill usage he +underwent, had such an effect on his frame, that, long before the +morning, he was attacked by a dangerous illness. Poor Arthur sat by him, +holding his burning hands, and offering his bosom as a pillow to his +aching head; nor could the wild and frantic exclamations, uttered in the +delirium of fever, affright the affectionate boy from the side of his +suffering father. + +The next day had nearly passed, before the captors thought fit to take +any notice of their prisoners; they then resolved to divide the English +crew; for as the captain of the French privateer determined to cruise in +search of fresh prey, he did not choose to encumber himself with his +prize. + +Seven of Captain Ridley's crew were carried on board the privateer; and +himself, Travers, and Arthur, were left below, with two sailors, in the +hold. The French captain put his mate and a few seamen on board the +Aurora, just sufficient to navigate her into Dunkirk, and proceeded on +his cruise. The situation of the prisoners was now a little improved: +for the mate, to whose charge they were committed, took off the fetters +from Captain Ridley and Travers, and allowed them better berths; and +when Arthur, by signs, made him understand how ill his father was, he +gave him some wine, and suffered him to occupy the cabin that had +formerly been his own. For some days, Arthur thought it impossible for +his father to live, as his illness was violent, and he had no medical +assistance; yet the strength of his constitution was such, that in a +few days he passed the crisis of the fever favourably, and got a little +better, though he remained as weak and feeble as an infant. Travers kept +up his own and Arthur's spirits with the hope that they might fall in +with some British cruiser and be retaken; but, however probable such a +circumstance was, yet day passed after day, and they still remained +captives, until it was reckoned that another or two would bring them +into a French port. Arthur's mild manners and affectionate attention to +his sick father induced the French mate to permit him to come when he +pleased on deck; and one morning, after he had watched by his father +till he fell asleep, he asked Travers to supply his place while he went +on deck to take a little fresh air. He sat down on a chest, after he had +paced to and fro in a very melancholy mood, and began to muse +sorrowfully on the case they were in. "Here," thought he, "my poor +father will be dragged to a French prison, and there he must die; for, +in his weak state, the hardships he will have to go through will +certainly kill him; and, perhaps, I shall never see England, nor my +home, nor my cousin Phoebe again! Is there no remedy to be found for +all this?" + +He kept lifting up the lid of the chest he sat on, without noticing what +he was about, till he pinched his finger pretty sharply, which drew his +attention to it; and he saw it was a chest of arms belonging to the +Frenchmen, and filled with sabres and muskets. At the first glance of +these weapons, a thought darted through Arthur's brain, which he +instantly ran down to communicate with Travers. He mentioned the arms to +him, and said: "What hinders our retaking the ship? Surely it might be +done with a little prudence and courage." + +"And dare you venture on a scheme so full of peril? Can you look death +stoutly in the face? For I tell you plainly, if we should fail, death, +without mercy, would be our portion. Think on it, boy, and search your +own mind; for an undertaking of this kind requires a cool head and an +undaunted heart!" + +"I dare," said Arthur firmly, laying his hand on his breast; "I will +freely venture my life to regain the ship and our liberty. Think of a +plan, and I will do my part as far as my strength will go." + +"I have thought much of it already," answered Travers; "but your years +were so tender, that I mistrusted your prudence, though not your +courage. If we attempt it, we must proceed by art, rather than by force. +We must take the opportunity of mastering the French, when one part of +the crew are asleep and the other off their guard." + +"In the night, I suppose?" said Arthur. + +"Yes," said Travers. "It will be a sanguinary business; but the +provocation was theirs. Surely a man may strive even unto death for his +liberty." + +"Ah!" said Arthur; "but it is a frightful thing to murder so many +sleeping men--to send so many to their great account, without a moment's +warning. I have thought that it is possible to take them prisoners +without hurting them." + +"Well!" said Travers; "let us hear your plan. I should be glad of +anything that would save me the horrid work of despatching sleeping +men." + +"If I had a large gimblet and a dozen strong nails," said Arthur, "I +would engage to secure all the Frenchmen but two, without hurting a hair +of their heads." + +"Yours seems a notable plan!" said Travers; "and if it is only the want +of such tools that stops you, here is a great gimblet that the +Frenchmen lent me, instead of a corkscrew, and you will find two or +three hundred large nails in that cupboard. But tell me how such a +little fellow as you can think of mastering six stout men?" + +"You know," replied Arthur, "that if a hole were bored in the panels of +our sleeping berths, and a nail slipped in when they are shut, it would +be impossible to slide them back, to open them. I go about the ship +without being suspected, and could take the opportunity, when the men +are all on deck, of boring a hole, and fitting a strong nail in each +berth, ready to be put in when I choose; and when the Frenchmen are all +safe asleep in their berths, I may put in the nails, and they will be as +safe as if they were caught in so many traps." + +"It is an ingenious scheme," said Travers; "and I allow that it has +every prospect of success. To-night, therefore, we will make the +attempt; for every hour brings us nearer to Dunkirk. But hark'e, Arthur; +don't let your father know our plan till it has either succeeded or +failed; for he is so impatient, and still so weak, that the suspense +would probably kill him." + +"It will be much the best," said Arthur; "but I must go, for the +Frenchmen are all on deck,--so now or never." + +So saying, he left the cabin. Hour passed after hour, and Travers saw no +more of him. Captain Ridley awoke; and Travers gave him some gruel, +which he had boiled for his dinner. The sick man found great fault with +it, and inquired very peevishly for Arthur. Travers made him some vague +answer, and Captain Ridley complained much of his absence, assured +Travers that he was the worst nurse in the world, and that it was a +shame for that boy to leave him, and at last grumbled himself to sleep +again. + +Travers now began to be exceedingly alarmed; thinking that Arthur had +been taken in the attempt, and perhaps murdered. He looked at the sun, +(for his captors had spared him the trouble of keeping a watch,) and +thought it might be about four o'clock, when Arthur appeared at the +cabin-door, and with a pale cheek, but a look of determined courage, +beckoned Travers, without uttering a word. He left the cabin, and +followed Arthur with a noiseless step. While they were ascending the +companion-ladder, Arthur turned round, and said in a low voice: "Every +man in the ship is secured excepting two; one of whom is at the helm, +and the other in the shrouds: master them, and the ship is ours!" + +There was no time for questions; or Travers would have asked how all +this came to pass: but Arthur hurried him on deck; and, going to the +arm-chest, gave Travers a sabre, and armed himself with a musket. +Travers stepped to the steerage, and took the helmsman unawares; who +uttered a cry of astonishment at seeing a man standing near him in a +threatening attitude, with a drawn sabre in his hand, and began, with a +loud voice, to implore for mercy. This supplication reached the ears of +his companion in the shrouds, who, putting a stop to the Marseillaise +Hymn, with which he was entertaining himself, began to descend with +great expedition. But Arthur stopped his progress by levelling his +musket at him; and by his menaces made him understand, that if he did +not remain where he was, he would receive the whole contents in his +body. Now the French sailor did not know, nor did Arthur at the time +remember, that there was no charge in the musket. However, it had the +effect of intimidating the man, who made signs that he would obey, and +supplicated with his hands for his life. + +Travers and Arthur had proceeded thus far with success; but they were at +this moment in a most awkward predicament, for each held his man in +check, yet it was necessary to do something more. The steersman was a +strong muscular fellow, and notwithstanding that, had at first been +frightened by the suddenness of the occurrence; yet Arthur saw, by the +expression of watchfulness that lurked in the turn of his eye, that he +only waited till Travers was off his guard, to spring upon him. + +There was a coil of strong rope, which lay about twelve paces from +Arthur on the deck; of this he longed to make himself master: but he was +afraid of taking his attention from his prisoner above; for he knew how +soon a sailor could swing himself from rope to rope, and stand on deck +in a moment. At last he lost all patience, and determined to trust to +the man's fears: so with one spring he seized the cord and gave it to +Travers, and resumed his guard with the musket, whilst Travers pinioned +his prisoner, and bound him so strongly that escape was impossible. They +then beckoned the man above to descend, and soon bound him safely. +"Now," said Arthur, "you must take the helm, my friend; whilst I go +below, and set at liberty our two shipmates, who are confined between +decks." + +He soon returned with the two English sailors, who could scarcely +believe that they were at liberty, and the ship in their possession. +Travers's first care was to shift the sails and alter their course. They +then went down to tell Captain Ridley what had happened. As soon as they +came below, they heard a most violent uproar among the Frenchmen, who +were shouting and calling, and accusing each other of shutting up the +berths. Travers thought it quite necessary to dispose of them, for fear, +when they grew desperate, they should split the panels. He therefore +called down the stoutest of his men, opened the berths, one by one, and +put the irons they had formerly occupied, on their astonished prisoners; +who by many gestures and exclamations, expressed their surprise at such +a proceeding. + +They then took them to the hold; and, after securely confining them, +they went to Captain Ridley. + +When Arthur came into the cabin, his father was sitting up in his berth, +with a very discontented air; and, after making a sour face or two, +began to complain of being neglected. He told Arthur that he could have +sat up a few hours, if he had been there to dress and assist him. "I +have just been wakened," said he, "by those detestable Frenchmen making +the most hateful noise I ever heard: I thought they were certainly +murdering you all." + +"Come, come, Walter!" said Travers; "don't look so sulky at the most +noble boy that ever a father was blessed with: but take Arthur in your +arms, and thank him for the recovery of your ship and of your liberty." + +"What!" said Captain Ridley; "have we met with one of our cruisers? And +are we retaken? Well, Travers, if you are in your right wits, and know +what you are talking of, this is the news that will presently make me +well again." + +"Did I say that we had fallen in with any of our ships?" answered +Travers. "But I tell you now, in plain English, that by the prudence and +courage of your brave boy, your ship is your own again: we are all +free; the Frenchmen are in irons; and we have tacked about for Old +England, instead of being carried into Dunkirk." + +"And _Arthur_, you say, has done all this; but how?--You are not given +to tell lies, Jack Travers,--and yet I can hardly believe it." + +"I don't wonder that you can't," returned Travers, "for I can scarcely +trust my own senses that it is so. But this is the short of the matter: +Arthur, this morning, contrived a scheme for fastening the Frenchmen in +their berths when they were asleep. He went away to prepare matters for +it. The attempt was not to have been made till night. But, to my +surprise, he came to me, an hour ago, and told me he had all our enemies +secure, except two. Those we easily managed; and, after getting the +assistance of our two men, we as easily mastered the others. How Arthur +contrived to execute his plan so soon, he can best tell you, for I have +not yet heard." + +But Arthur could not just then speak. He had thrown himself into his +father's extended arms, and given ease to the fulness of his heart in a +burst of tears. It was some moments before he raised his head from his +father's bosom, who thanked and blessed him, and declared that were +everything in the world taken from him and his gallant boy spared, he +should still consider himself the happiest and richest of men. + +When Arthur had recovered from the agitation that had deprived him of +his voice, Travers again pressed him to tell by what means he had +secured the Frenchmen. + +"You know," said Arthur, "I left you with the intention of fitting the +nails into the panels. I got safely into the cabin, where they slept, +and soon bored all the holes; but when I came to fit in my nails, I +found they might be pushed out with a violent shake; and, you know, they +could not be knocked in tight without a great noise. For some minutes I +thought our scheme was at an end; but at last I remembered there was a +paper of large screws in the locker. These I soon found, and made holes +in the top and bottom of each panel, and then greased the screws; so +that I could put them all in with a screw-driver without the least +noise. I likewise greased the slides of the panels, that they might slip +easily. Well, while I was at work, I recollected that the Frenchmen were +in the habit of sleeping for an hour or two in the middle of the day, +leaving only two men on deck. This, therefore, appeared the best time +for the execution of our plan; for it was likely we might blunder in the +dark, and they were off their guard and in such security in the middle +of the day, that I was determined to try. About three o'clock, they all +came down and tumbled into their berths. I waited more than half an +hour, and then stole into the cabin, hoping they were asleep. Some of +the panels were open; my hands trembled as I closed them; but +fortunately I made no noise. After I had put in the screws, I tried +every panel, and found that all were well secured. I then went to you: +and, by the blessing of Heaven, everything has thus far gone +prosperously!" + +"And all we have now to do," said Travers, "is to keep what we have +gained; that, Arthur, is not the least part of the work: but there shall +be no exertion wanting on my part to bring the good ship safe into an +English port." + +Travers faithfully kept his word: for he paced the deck of the Aurora, +with pistols in his hands, almost night and day; and when he was +compelled to take a little rest, Arthur kept watch with equal vigilance. +Two desperate attempts were made by the French crew to regain their +liberty: the last time, Captain Ridley (who was now able to walk about +and come on deck) was greatly inclined to send a volley of musket-balls +among them; but Arthur and Travers both implored him to shed no blood, +if it were possible to avoid it. After a few days of incessant toil and +anxiety, a favourable gale carried them into the Thames; and, a few +hours after their arrival at Sheerness, they had the pleasure of seeing +the privateer which had captured them brought in as a prize, at the +stern of a British frigate. She had been taken whilst cruising in the +Channel: and thus the whole of the crew of the Aurora were delivered +from their anticipated sufferings in a French prison. Captain Ridley +lost no time in disposing of the Aurora and her cargo. He said he would +tempt the sea no longer, but remain peacefully in the quiet home he was +so fortunate as to possess. "And, Travers, my friend," said he, "I need +hardly tell you, that whilst I have a guinea, you shall share it; and +whilst I have a home, it shall shelter you." Half of the money which the +cargo produced, Captain Ridley settled on Travers: he rewarded the two +men who had assisted in bringing home the Aurora, and made a present to +all his sailors who had been retaken in the privateer. + +During their stay in London, their story was the news of the day; and +much admiration was excited by the conduct of Travers and Arthur; and +Captain Ridley was given to understand, from high authority, that if his +son chose to enter the navy, he should be peculiarly marked for +promotion. + +Walter Ridley no longer wished to control his son. He respected his +courage and high principles; and left it to his choice, whether he would +return and cultivate the farm, or accept the offer that had been made +him. + +"Father," said Arthur, "I am very young, and have a life before me that +I am now convinced may be more usefully employed than in a state of +inactive ease. I will serve my country with alacrity; and I pray God I +may be able to do something for her service." + +I will not stay to describe their arrival at Alston Moor, nor the joyful +meeting between Arthur and his aunt and cousin. Many years have rolled +on since Arthur went through his service as midshipman, and passed as +lieutenant with the greatest credit: he is now a gallant and +distinguished officer,--the pride of his father, the delight of his old +friend Travers, an honour to his country, and the husband of his pretty +cousin Phoebe. + +The picture I have drawn is not exaggerated. Arthur is no creature of my +imagination; it was drawn from life, and may be realized by any youth +who takes for his rule of life the maxim of our Church: "Do thy duty in +that state of life unto which it shall please God to call thee." + + * * * * * + +This tale is founded on facts: and the recapture of the ship, +extraordinary as it may seem, is a simple relation of occurrences that +really happened, in the beginning of the American war, when the Lark +merchant-ship was taken by a French privateer, and retaken by her +captain, having no English on board, but a boy, and an English merchant, +one of the Society of Friends. This gentleman refused to stain his hands +with blood: but assisted in this peaceable recapture with great firmness +and resolution. The underwriters presented the captain with L100, as a +small reward for his intrepidity. + + + + +THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE. + + +Nearly a century and a half ago, there lived, in a little cottage on the +eastern coast, an aged widow and her two grandsons. Although neither +carpenter nor bricklayer was employed in the construction of this +cottage, it was as neat a fisherman's cabin as any in that part of +England. James Mayhew, the widow's son, had ingeniously built it on the +sea-beach, under the cliffs. It was formed of pebbles and sea-stones; +and he had, with great toil and labour, carried down earth from the +cliffs, and made a nice little kitchen-garden, which formed a pleasing +contrast with the barren sands that surrounded the cottage; and this, +with a shed for a cow, (which got her living on the common belonging to +the adjacent town,) made a very comfortable little dwelling place. It +was poor James's summer work; and at Michaelmas he brought to live in it +his widowed mother, old Amy Mayhew, and his wife, who had formerly been +a tidy dairy-maid, and to whom he had been married just a twelvemonth. +Now James was very clever and industrious; he could turn his hand to any +sort of work; he would labour for the farmers at harvest and seed-time, +and pursued the trade of a fisherman the rest of the year. He made one +harvest on the land, and two more from the sea; for he used to go out in +a boat and catch herrings and mackerel at those seasons when they abound +so plentifully on our coasts. James was an excellent son and husband, +and would, no doubt, have been as good a father. His wife had just +presented him with two twin little boys, when James was forced to leave +her, to go to sea for the herring-fishery; and, sad it is to tell what +followed! though such events are too common on these coasts. From the +cottage window, his boat was seen to founder; and the wife never beheld +her husband, nor the mother her son, until the tide threw up his corpse +within a few yards of his own door. His poor wife, in her weak state, +was unable to bear so severe a shock, and sank into a state of +stupefaction, which was soon succeeded by death. The neighbouring +townsmen contributed a sum to bury the poor young people: and many, who +were standing by at the funeral, and saw the sorrow of the aged Amy, and +thought of the hard trial which had befallen her, said it would have +been a mercy if the orphan little twins had been buried in the same +grave with their unfortunate parents! But Amy did not think so. "God +bless the poor babes!" she said; "they are all that is left me of my +good dutiful James: I will do my best to bring them up; and, if my life +be spared so long, I may see them prove a blessing and a comfort to me; +and, perhaps, they may lay my head in the same grave with my poor son!" + +Amy did, indeed, strive to do her best to rear her poor little +grandsons. She was often seen with a baby on each arm coming into the +town to fetch the cow off the common; and then the good-hearted sailors, +who had known her son, would give her a white loaf for the babes, or a +piece of meat or cheese for herself. With these helps, and with the milk +from the cow and the vegetables from the garden, she contrived to get +through that trying year. "Before the winter comes again," she said to a +friendly old pilot who had called to see her, "my little boys will run +alone; and when these aged arms are relieved from their heavy burden, I +shall be able to work hard for their living." + +Amy was firm in her resolution: and, by her good nursing, the little +orphans throve and grew nicely,--so that by the end of the next summer +they could run about, holding by each other, to assist their steps. They +were very good and quiet, and fond of each other, and gave much less +trouble than could have been expected. + +Amy was now able to earn a little money by netting; and by the time the +children were three years old, James and Michael learned to fill her +netting needles with the twine she made the herring-nets of; and the +little creatures would stand by her the whole day, each watching until +his turn came to fill granny's needle. When they grew a little older, +they used to pick up stones on the beach, which were wanted in the town +for building. They carried them up the cliffs by little baskets-full at +a time, and laid them in a heap, and then the bricklayers gave for them +a halfpenny a bushel. And when the cold snowy winter nights came, they +learned to net, and helped their grandmother a great deal. By the time +they were twelve years old, the boys nearly earned their living. James +got something every week, by fetching his neighbours' cows off the +common: he was always up by five in the summer, and before light in the +winter, that he might not be too late. He soon got work at the Hall +farm, in the next parish; and though it was a long way to walk, night +and morning, he was always there in time, and contrived to do some work +for his grandmother in the hours he had for his meals. James took +delight in the quiet employments of the country; he greatly preferred +the husbandman's life to the unsettled condition of the fisherman or +sailor. Michael, on the contrary, loved the sea, and always tried, in +getting his daily bread, to remain, if possible, by the beach, as it was +his most ardent desire to be a sailor. It may be supposed this wish gave +pain to his poor grandmother, who never heard him express it without +thinking of the death of his father. To divert him from his inclination, +she did her best to teach him to read; but, though both he and his +brother were very apt, and could soon read a chapter in the Bible, yet, +even in that holy book, Michael contrived to find something to flatter +his passion for ships and sailors. By the time the boys had attained the +age of fourteen, James had learned so much of the duties of husbandry, +that his employer, as a reward for his diligence and industry, promised +to hire him for the following year at man's wages. Poor Michael was much +hurt that his brother would now be able to maintain his grandmother, and +give her those comforts that her age required, whilst he could merely +fish on the beach with lines for whiting or cod, or pick up stones for +the bricklayers; and that he could do when he was but seven years old. +He was so ashamed of his inferiority, that he made a resolution of going +to labourer's work with his brother, and was determined to give up his +favourite wish, to please his good grandmother; but an accident which +happened that winter altered his intention. + +The day had closed-in some time, on the Christmas eve; and, though the +moon showed a bright light, yet the wind had risen as the night came on, +and soon blew a furious easterly gale directly on to this dangerous +coast. Amy had swept her cottage clean, and looked out some time for her +grandsons, when James trudged in with a billet of wood on his shoulder, +which he threw on the hearth. "I have staid later than usual, granny," +he said, "to look after the horses of some gentry, who have just arrived +at the Hall to spend the Christmas holidays; but the good 'Squire has +sent you this nice piece of beef for your dinner to-morrow, and this +wood to warm your poor limbs this bitter weather." + +"May heaven bless both you and your good master!" said the grateful Amy: +"and may both he and his ever have good cheer and warm fires, when the +cold and hard weather comes on! But, James, have you seen your brother?" + +At that minute, Michael opened the door: he brought with him some fine +whiting on the lid of an old basket. "I have been lucky to-day, +grandmother," said he; "I have caught as many fish along-shore as I sold +in the town for seven groats. Here is the money; let it be put in the +earthen pot, with the rest that is to buy you a red cloak this cold +weather." + +"Thank you, my dear Michael," said Amy: "how good and dutiful you both +are! The time was, when I thought that the Almighty had dealt hardly in +taking from the lone widow her only son,--but he has restored me that +blessing in a twofold degree; and if I could but see you take to quiet +farming-work like James--" + +"Well," said Michael, "I will do my best to like it: though, I am +afraid, I shall never get over my wish to be a sailor. But look at these +fine fish! I might have sold them in town; but, I thought, as it was +Christmas-tide, that you should have them for supper." + +Amy now began to bestir herself to dress the supper. She soon raised a +cheerful blaze; but just as she was putting on the fish, the loud report +of a gun at sea made her start and drop them. It seemed so close to the +cottage, that the concussion made everything rattle and ring around. + +"Heaven help them!" said Amy; "it is some poor distressed ship's crew at +sea, firing guns for help this stormy night. Oh, Michael! this is what +you wish for! This is the life you love so much! Can you say you wish to +be a sailor now?" + +"I wish," answered Michael, "I had been sailor enough to go off in the +pilot-boat I saw trying to put off just now as I came under the cliffs. +There's a brave ship--a king's ship, I believe,--has been in distress +all the evening; and they want a pilot to go to her, for they fear she +will be driven by the gale right on to the bar;--but the wind and waves +run so contrary, that though they have been trying for this hour, they +cannot get the boat off. Hark! there is another gun! She has certainly +struck! Oh that I could help them!" + +Michael now started up, and sprang to the door; but Amy ran after him, +and held him back. "Oh, stay, my dear boy," she cried; "don't go off to +sea! Don't let me see another child perish before these old eyes!" + +"No," said Michael, turning round, "I will not disobey you; besides, I +have not experience enough to be of any great use. Our brave pilots +would help them, if help were possible." + +"See, brother!" said James, "there lies the ship; she is beating on the +Barnet-reef, sure enough; and yet the moon shines bright through the +storm." + +"Yes," said Michael; "and could they have got a pilot that knew the +coast, they might have been saved. Look! they are putting out boats. +See! There are two!" + +"Where? where?" asked James: "the white flashing billows dazzle my eyes. +I can see but one little black speck dancing among the waves." + +"Oh, yes!" said Amy, "even I can see two; but they will never reach the +shore. See, there goes down one of them!" + +"No, no! I hope not," said James; "it is only hidden for a moment +between the high waves." + +"I tell you it is gone," said Amy. "Alas! I know that shocking sight +too well?--Don't I _know_ what it is to see a boat swallowed by the sea? +Come in, boys, or I shall think I see your father again washed on shore +at my feet." + +"Go you in," said Michael; "but I will stay and see if indeed some one +be thrown on shore; for we may give timely help." + +As he spoke, he plainly discovered some one struggling with the waves at +a little distance. The brothers hastened to the spot just as the man was +thrown with violence on the sands by the huge breakers; they seized and +dragged him out of the reach of the waves, and Amy ran out of the +cottage to help them. + +"Is he dead?" said she, fearfully. + +"I am afraid," said Michael, "that the waves, in throwing him ashore, +have beaten the breath out of him; but he was alive just now, for I saw +him struggle with the breakers." + +They carried the poor man into the cottage, and tried every means in +their power to revive him; but Amy had nothing better than a little +elder wine to give him. This she hastened to warm; and James ran to the +town to borrow or buy a little brandy, and to get medical assistance. He +soon procured the liquor; but the doctor was so busy attending other +sufferers who had been washed ashore, that he could not leave them. +James thought it best to return quickly with the spirits; and he had the +pleasure to see the person they had saved sitting in the chimney-corner; +and after he had taken the brandy which James had brought, he seemed +considerably revived. + +It was not till he was out of danger that the kind cottagers remarked +that the dress and appearance of their guest were far above those of a +common seaman. Amy had put him on some dry clothes, which were more +comfortable (though very coarse) than his dripping garments; and on +holding up the latter to dry, an elegant watch fell from one of the +pockets. This she hung up before the fireplace; and soon afterwards the +weary stranger retired to rest, the brothers having cheerfully given up +their bed, and slept that night on a heap of old nets and sea-weed in +the cow-shed. + +Early in the morning, the doctor came to visit the shipwrecked stranger, +and brought with him one of the sailors, who had got safe to land in the +other boat. As soon as they entered the cottage, the seaman cast his +eyes on the uniform that hung at the fire, and eagerly asked if the +owner of it were alive. He was informed that he was alive, and likely to +do well; but that he was then asleep. + +"Then the storm has spared one of the bravest captains in his Majesty's +fleet," said the sailor. + +"What! is he a sea-captain?" asked Michael. + +"Yes," answered the sailor: "our brave Captain Lucas." + +A voice from the inner room now called, "Is that you, Tom?" + +"Yes, your Honour," said the sailor, who immediately recognised the +voice of Captain Lucas, his commander. Captain Lucas called the sailor +to him, and asked, with much anxiety, how many of the ship's company +were lost? "Only ten," said he; "the long-boat came safe ashore; and +several of those in the boat with you were picked up by the good +town's-people. We thought all night that you were lost: it would have +been a bitter loss to us, Captain; for you are, indeed, the sailor's +friend. It was a dreadful sight for us to see your boat go down; but +your Honour knows that we all begged you to go in the long-boat, for we +said the other could not live in such a sea." + +"Well, Tom," said the Captain, "mine was but a single life; most of you +were fathers and husbands. I am thankful that so many have been spared; +and, as for myself, I could not have fallen into better hands. Mind and +get a good Christmas dinner, you and your messmates, to cheer your poor +hearts; I'll be at the expense: thank God! I have enough to spare a few +comforts for my brave sailors, after all their sufferings." + +Tom, having made a sailor's acknowledgment, hastened to the town to tell +his messmates the joyful news, that their noble captain was saved. + +Captain Lucas was so much bruised, that the doctor told him he must keep +in bed for a day or two, and take the medicine which he would send him; +but the captain seemed averse to physic, and thought that Amy's +treacle-possets did him more good. He refused to be removed from the +cottage, saying that he could not find better quarters anywhere. Michael +attended him with the greatest care, and his sailors came daily to see +him. + +Michael was delighted with the frankness and noble bearing of the +Captain, and with the affection his men bore him: and Captain Lucas was +as much pleased with the honest and warm-hearted Michael. "You are the +brave fellow," he said to him one day, "that pulled me ashore." + +"I helped my brother James," said Michael. + +"It is not always," said the Captain, "that shipwrecked men fall into +such good hands; but it shall be the better for you, my lad." + +Captain Lucas was not a man to keep his bed a long time for a few +bruises. He was soon able to walk about; and his first care was to see +the bodies of the drowned seamen decently buried. He attended their +funeral, with all the surviving crew, and showed himself to be as pious +as he was brave. + +The night before he departed for London, he handsomely rewarded old Amy +and her grandsons for their kindness to him; and as he put some broad +pieces into Michael's hand, he said, "My young friend, I thought of +giving you and your brother the watch and rings which I had about me +when I was thrown ashore; but I think these pieces will be more +serviceable: and I give them to you as much for your uncommon honesty as +the humanity you have shown to me." + +"Ah, Sir!" said Michael, laying the gold on the table, "you could do me +a favour, that I should prize more than your little golden clock[12] and +all the Caroluses[13] in the world." + +[Footnote 12: Watches were only in general use at court, in the time of +Charles the Second.] + +[Footnote 13: The gold coinage in the reigns of the Stuarts were +commonly called Caroluses and Jacobuses.] + +"Ah!" said the Captain; "and what is that, my lad?" + +"To persuade my grandmother to let me go to sea with you." + +"Well, my brave boy, I should be glad to have you under my command. What +do you say, Amy? You hear your grandson's wish. But, remember, that I +will never repay your hospitality so basely, as to take him away without +your consent." + +Amy sighed. "Well, your Honour, as it is Michael's desire, and as he has +wished it for a long time, I wont deny him; for I see his heart is +wholly set on being a sailor. I should have thought that the lives he +had just seen lost would have shown him his folly; but, as it is, I +would rather he should go to sea with such a noble gentleman as yourself +than with any one else." + +Michael rejoiced that his grandmother had at last given her consent. +"While I can have Captain Lucas for a commander, and King Charles for a +master," said he, "I never will serve a Suffolk farmer." + +The Captain was pleased with his spirit; but Michael's heart rather +failed him, when he bade farewell, the next day, to his good grandmother +and his twin-brother. "I know the Captain wont despise me for crying," +he said to Tom; for "I saw _him_ weep when the poor sailors were +buried." + +"Ay! ay!" said Tom, "he has a tender heart, and he is the better for it, +and so are you; and considering as how you are but a young one, I think +you have borne it very well. Why I sometimes pipe a bit myself when I +bid good b'ye to my Jane, and mother, and the little ones." + +Captain Lucas was soon appointed to another ship; and Michael sent word +to Amy and James, that he loved the life he had chosen better than ever, +and that he would not change it for any other. + +For a long time Michael was sadly missed at the cottage. James and Amy +would look sorrowfully at one another, and shake their heads when they +saw Michael's empty place at dinner, and the vacant corner where he used +to put his three-legged stool by the chimney-side--and it was war-time. +England was engaged in a severe struggle with the Dutch for naval +pre-eminence in those days; and perhaps she never had to sustain a more +arduous maritime contest; and Michael had many perils to encounter +besides the danger of the stormy seas; but then he was very punctual in +writing to his relatives--they were sure to have a letter from him at +every opportunity; and Michael took a pride in sending home a +considerable portion of his pay. Amy had so often heard that Michael was +safe and well, that it was only after hearing of some sharp engagement +that her heart ached for him. James was as diligent and industrious as +ever, and kept his old place, and pleased his good master. Poor Amy had +nourishing food and warm clothing, and more comforts in her old age than +she had ever expected. + +Three years passed quickly away, and James had grown a fine-looking +young man. Old Amy, though healthy and strong for her years, seemed to +fear that she should not see her dear Michael before she died. + +The war now raged more fiercely than ever between the English and Dutch; +and it was said that the fleets would soon come to action in the seas +between England and Holland. James and Amy understood very little about +this. All their care was to know whether it was likely for Michael's +ship to be in the action: this they could not learn; but they saw a +great fleet nearly opposite at sea, hovering to and fro, and many seamen +and officers came on shore; but they neither saw nor heard anything of +Michael; so they hoped he was not in the fleet. + +It was a lovely morning in the latter end of May, and James had been +some time at work in his master's fields, when he was suddenly startled +with a tremendous noise, louder than any thunder he had ever heard. He +looked round about, and up at the heavens; all was blue and serene +there, and he could see no traces of a thunder-cloud: still the roar +continued in horrid bursts that seemed to shake the shores and the very +ground he stood on, and it rang and rebounded through the hollow coast +with the most frightful din.[14] At last he cast his eyes towards the +East, and there he saw, in the bar, white clouds of smoke, mixed with +flashes of flame. "The sea-fight has surely begun," he said aloud, "so +near in shore! Our cottage will certainly be knocked down with the +balls." This thought induced him to throw down his hoe, and away he ran +towards his home, thinking of nothing but his poor grandmother. + +[Footnote 14: In an old song, published a few days after Solebay fight, +there are the following lines:-- + + "Well might you hear their guns, I guess, + From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness; + They fill'd up all the hollow coast, + From Walberswick to Dunwich."] + +He got safely down the cliffs, though the cannon-balls were coming on +shore very near him, and in some places they actually shattered large +pieces of earth and stones from the cliffs. James found poor old Amy +kneeling by the bed in the inner room, hiding her face and half dead +with terror. He wanted to take her farther up the country, out of the +reach of danger; but Amy dared not venture out of the house, and James +could not persuade her that the cottage would be no defence in case a +cannon-ball should strike it. He determined at first to take her in his +arms and carry her away to a place of safety: "But, who knows," thought +he, "but I may drag her into the very danger she dreads so much?" So he +determined to stay with her at every risk, and they spent the day +half-deafened with the roar of the cannon, expecting every moment that +their little home would be shattered about them. + +Towards evening, the firing grew weaker and weaker, and the people who +were beholding the fight from the cliffs, shouted that the Duke of York +had gained the victory. But before the action was quite over, a boat was +seen making to the shore; it seemed to bear in the direction of Amy's +cottage, and actually ran on shore within a few yards of it. The +sailors leaped out, and, lifting an officer in their arms, bore him +towards the cottage; whilst a young sailor walked slowly after, leaning +on an old seaman's arm. James flung open the cottage door, and told them +to place the officer on the bed. They accordingly laid him down. He +moaned faintly with pain. At the sound of his voice, the young sailor +approached the bed with an unsteady step. Amy gazed wistfully on the +young man, and then on James;--they were exactly alike. "It is my own +boy Michael!" she cried at last. + +"Yes, it is Michael!" said James, throwing himself on his neck. + +"Ah, my poor grandmother! and my dear James!" said Michael, "I have come +home to you in a sorrowful hour! My noble Captain is mortally wounded." + +"Is this the brave gentleman who took you away, and behaved so kindly to +us? Alas, how wan he looks!" said Amy, looking mournfully on the pale +features of Captain Lucas, as he lay fainting on the lowly bed, where +they had placed him. + +"But you look as white and ill as he does, Michael!" + +"Yes," said he faintly, pointing to his side, from which the blood +slowly trickled; "I was wounded whilst fighting near him--I return to my +home once more; but it is to die. Our Captain's brother took the command +of the ship after he fell; and when the fight slackened, he sent the +boat ashore with him, in hopes of getting better assistance. He did not +know I was wounded, but he told me to go on shore with my master, and +take care of him. Instead of suffering the sailors to take him to the +town, I bade them steer direct for the cottage on the beach. He laid his +noble head there when he was in distress before; and I resolved that he +should not die among strangers." + +Here Michael's voice faltered with grief and pain; and he was so faint +that he would have sunk from his seat, had not James supported him in +his arms. A surgeon arrived soon after, and at once pronounced that the +Captain's wounds were mortal, and that Michael was in a dangerous state. +Before night, Captain Lucas's brother came on shore, and hastened to the +cottage: Captain Lucas held out his hand when he saw his brother. +"William," said he, "is England victorious?" William Lucas turned from +his dying brother, and wept.--"Oh yes, Charles! The Duke has gained the +battle, but it is a dearly-purchased victory." + +"Many a one has fallen, William, who will be more missed than I shall +be," replied the Captain. "I have but one dear brother to weep my +loss.--Hear my last request: you know, by my will, you inherit my +estates;--but give my faithful Michael the gold in my portmanteau, and a +hundred pounds besides, to be divided between him and his brother: if +Michael should die, give his share to his grandmother--I fear I have +robbed her of one of the props of her age! It is owing to the good +inhabitants of this cottage that my death has been a glorious one: three +years ago they saved my life from the waves on this coast." + +Captain Lucas did not live through that night: and Michael only survived +him two days. They were buried together, with many a hero who fell in +that engagement. Captain William faithfully executed his brother's dying +request. But it was not the riches they obtained that could console Amy +and James for the loss of their dear Michael;--it was long before they +could think, without extreme sorrow, on his untimely death. + +James's good master assisted him with his advice in laying out the +Captain's legacy, which amounted to more than five hundred pounds. James +took a good farm, and, by his unremitting industry, soon became a rich +man; and old Amy had the pleasure of seeing her great grandchildren born +to affluence: yet the beautiful month of May never returned but she +remembered with sadness the fall of her brave sailor-boy and his noble +captain. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rival Crusoes, by Agnes Strickland + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIVAL CRUSOES *** + +***** This file should be named 34849.txt or 34849.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/4/34849/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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