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diff --git a/42491-8.txt b/42491-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bbef0e7..0000000 --- a/42491-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6129 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Lady Eureka, v. 1 (of 3), by Robert Folkestone Williams - -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: Lady Eureka, v. 1 (of 3) - or, The Mystery: A Prophecy of the Future - -Author: Robert Folkestone Williams - -Release Date: April 8, 2013 [EBook #42491] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 1 (OF 3) *** - - - - -Produced by eagkw, Robert Cicconetti and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - LADY EUREKA; - OR, - THE MYSTERY: - A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. - - BY THE AUTHOR - OF - "MEPHISTOPHELES IN ENGLAND." - - IN THREE VOLUMES. - VOL. I. - - LONDON: - LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, - PATERNOSTER-ROW. - 1840. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - INTRODUCTION. - I. THE CITY OF THE WORLD. - II. ZABRA. - III. A PHILANTHROPIST. - IV. A FIRE AT SEA. - V. PERILS OF EMIGRATION. - VI. APPEARANCE OF THE AFRICAN COAST. - VII. CAFFRETON, THE METROPOLIS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. - VIII. THE PIRATES. - IX. CAPTAIN DEATH. - X. THE PIRATE'S RETREAT. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -"Guten Morgen, Wilhelm!" said I, as I entered the chamber of my fellow -student. "How are you this morning? You look better--your eyes are -brighter, and your cheek possesses more colour than usual." - -"I am better, mein Freund," observed the youth, raising himself up -from the bed till his back rested upon the pillows. "But what have you -there?" - -"A fresh supply of flowers for you, Wilhelm," I replied; "and I bought -them of the prettiest Mädchen I ever saw in the market place." - -"Ich danke Ihnen für das Geschenk," murmured the grateful student. -"You know I love flowers better than any thing upon earth. They always -fill me with ideas of beauty and purity and splendour, above all -other earthly things; and I love them because they are so impartial -in bestowing their favours: they confer their fragrance and their -loveliness with equal liberality on all who venture within their -influence. Put them in the vase, mein freund, and let me again thank -you for so welcome a gift." - -"And now let us converse, Wilhelm, if you feel strong enough;" I -exclaimed, as I took a seat by the bedside of the invalid. "Has the -physician been this morning? And what said he." - -"He preceded you but a few minutes, mein freund," replied Wilhelm, "and -he said nothing. He shook his head, however, when he looked at me, which -I considered a bad sign." - -"There's nothing in it, be assured," said I, earnestly. - -"In the head, or in the sign?" inquired my fellow student, with a look -of mock gravity. - -"In both," cried I, laughing; "in both, no doubt. But I am glad to see -you so cheerful. Your appearance this morning makes me entertain hopes -of your speedy recovery, and I can almost convince myself, that in a few -days we shall be together pursuing our studies and our ramblings, as we -have so often and so happily done." - -"I have been entertaining a similar idea, mein freund," observed -Wilhelm; "I feel more cheerful than I have felt for a long time past; -and I was beginning to flatter myself into a belief, that the insidious -disease was about evacuating its territory. I shall roam among -the walls of old Göttingen again. I shall associate with my ancient -comrades--shall I not?" - -"'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished by others as well as myself," -said I; "but how liked you the book I lent you?" - -"'Tis a brilliant production," replied my friend; "and of that class of -works which affords me most pleasure. 'Give me the enjoyment of perusing -a succession of new works from the graceful pen of Crébillon, and -I shall have no other want,' said Gray. I exclaim, 'Give me the -gratification of reading the finest productions in the imaginative -literature of every civilised nation, and there will be little left for -me to wish for.' Nothing elevates and delights me so much as the best of -these works, especially if they be tinged with a tone of high romantic -feeling. What can be so charming as this mingling of the ideal and the -natural? What can take a firmer hold of the mind and of the heart?" - -"They certainly do, when ably written, create very powerful -impressions;" I observed. - -"I have read a considerable portion of the imaginative literature of -almost every European nation," said Wilhelm; "and an extraordinary power -of genius it evinces. The prose fictions of the present age produced -in Germany and England are wonderfully excellent and abundant. I think -the English exceed all others in the combination of judgment with -imagination, as seen in the best efforts of Scott, Bulwer, and Godwin. -After them come the Germans, and we can proudly boast of Göthe, -Lafontaine, Novalis, and Hoffmann. The French have much imagination and -very little judgment, as exhibited in the writings of Victor Hugo, -Mérimée, Paul de Kock, and Balzac, and are usually distinguished by -their sins against good taste. Of Italian imaginative literature, the -works I have met with that rise above mediocrity, are, 'I Promessi -Sposi,' of Manzoni, 'Ettore Fieramosca,' of Massino D'Azeglio, and -'Franco Allegri,' which do not soar very high. Of the modern fictions -of Spain, Portugal, and Holland, I know nothing; nor do I believe that -there is any thing to know; but I have seen one or two romantic novels -from Russia that possess considerable merit. What I object to in works -of this nature, written at the present time, is the too apparent -satisfaction of their authors in remaining in the beaten track. A vast -majority fill their volumes with characters that have been a thousand -times repeated, and with incidents and situations that are familiar to -every reader." - -"What would you have them do?" I inquired. - -"I would have them strike out a bolder class of subjects," replied the -student. "Instead of being satisfied with attempting illustrations of -historical periods, or of an existing state of society, suppose they -attempt to describe an imaginary time as well as imaginary characters. -If a man possess a powerful imagination, let him conceive the state -of the world a thousand years hence, or at any other time remote from -the present. I do not mean that he should merely delineate a state of -society, or of any section of society; I mean that he should take the -most important portions of the civilised world, and picture, as well -as he is able, the changes they may undergo, and the state of their -peoples, governments, religions, and philosophy." - -"I am afraid that such a work would be considered too serious for the -novel reader;" I observed. - -"Impossible, mein freund!" replied the student. "Always, in works of -imagination, the ideal and the matter of fact should be so blended as -to make an interesting and amusing whole; and it matters not whether -the time sought to be illustrated be of the past, of the present, or of -the future: each may be made equally laughable, equally pathetic, and -equally philosophical." - -"But the idea is too comprehensive to be done well;" said I. "To draw -an imaginary state of the world in any thing like consonance with -probability, requires more than ordinary talent in the draughtsman; but -to add to it pictures of an imaginary state of its inhabitants, and -an imaginary state of their philosophy, presents difficulties which I -should think are not to be overcome." - -"The imagination can conquer any difficulty;" exclaimed my companion. -"There is no power beneath heaven like imagination. It can dive into the -uttermost corners of the ocean, or ascend through the trackless fields -of air. It can fly where the eagle dare not move its wing, and amid -Alpine obstacles outclimb the chamois. It can pass the great desert at a -bound, and bear the four corners of the world in the hollow of its eye. -It seeth all things that nature showeth; and after disclosing these, -can show many things that nature never beheld. It pierces into the most -hidden things. It flingeth a shining light into the most utter darkness. -Locks, bolts, or bars, cannot keep it out--laws, walls and chains -cannot keep it in: it is the only thing belonging to human life that -is perfectly free. There is nothing imagination cannot do; no matter -whether it be good or evil, reasonable or absurd, to it all things are -alike easy. And as for wealth or power or dignity, or aught of which the -world thinks highly, where is the greatness, and where are the riches -that exceed those of the imagination? Mechanics are proud of their -engines, and think them wonderful: they are mere playthings compared -with the imagination. Cannot imagination make the sea dry land, and the -earth ocean? Archimedes boasted that he would move the world, could -he place it in a convenient situation. Let imagination put forth its -powers, and the world becomes obedient to its law, moves when required, -crumbles into dust, and is re-created with increased glory. Cannot it -break the rock like a reed, and snap the gnarled oak of many centuries -like a rotten thread? Cannot it build cities on the plain, and form -a garden in the wilderness? Cannot it people the solitude and confer -happiness on the desolate? Cannot it make the sands of the sea-shore -glittering with gold; and of the leaves of the forest create treasures -far outvaluing the riches of the earth and sea? And more than this, it -can make the dead live and the living die; it can raise the earthquake -and the pestilence; it can fight battles and win kingdoms; it can float -upon the whirlwind like a leaf upon the breeze; and pass through a -consuming fire unscathed by a single flame. - -"These are the powers of the imagination; and what are its pleasures? -Let the most luxurious seeker after enjoyment take all the delights -reality will give him. Let him wrap himself up in roses; lie in baths of -milk; taste all that is delicious to the appetite; be loved by the most -lovely and the most loving of women; and pass not a minute in which -his soul is not lapped in ecstacy; and his enjoyments will bear no -comparison with those of the imagination. Imagination can concentrate in -a single moment the pleasures of a thousand years: it possesses all the -delights the world may produce, in addition to raptures more exquisite -of worlds of its own: it can create forms clothed with a beauty far -excelling the rarest of those who have glorified the earth with their -presence; its sunshine pales the light of heaven; its flowers alone can -bloom with a perpetual fragrance." - -"Wilhelm, you must not excite yourself so;" said I, observing him fall -back exhausted against the pillow, from which he had raised himself, and -a violent fit of coughing follow. - -"O du ewige Güte?" exclaimed the student, gasping for breath. - -"Ah! I was afraid of this; you are too weak to allow yourself to be -carried away by the impetuosity of your feelings. Here! take some of -this drink. It will allay the irritation of the cough." - -"I am better now--I am better, mein freund," murmured the grateful -Wilhelm; "and now let us resume our conversation." - -"I am almost afraid, Wilhelm, for I see it excites you so much;" I -observed. - -"It has passed away. It is nothing:" replied my companion. - -"Supposing then, that the idea you mentioned was attempted to be worked -out to its full extent, how is it possible to convey any thing like a -natural picture of the state of existing nations at so remote a time?" -I inquired. - -"By a reference to what is already known of the growth, maturity and -decay of nations," said the student. "Every thing has its age. The tree -cannot flourish beyond a certain time--nor can a country. Time passes -his scythe over the verdant world, and wherever it glides, the crop is -cut down; and after the field has been left wild a sufficient period, -the seed is again sown, the produce is again abundant, and the mower is -again at work. Thus it has been from the creation of the world; thus it -will be for everlasting. How long was the growth of Babylon, of Nineveh, -of Tyre and Sidon, of Thebes and Carthage? They had their season. Then -came Pompeii, Etruria, Athens, Rome, and Constantinople. How long did -they last? Then came Venice and Genoa, the Moorish kingdom of Grenada, -and the Arabian empire at Jerusalem; they had their day. After these -came the omnipotence of Popish Rome, the magnificence of Madrid, and the -splendour of Lisbon: they have departed. And now we have the glories -of London and Paris, and Berlin and Vienna, and these will exist their -period, and then gradually fall into decay. It must be evident to any -observer, that Spain and Portugal, once the two greatest nations in -Europe, in opulence, power, and intelligence, are descending to the -lowest degradation of poverty, insignificance, and ignorance. The Roman -empire in Italy, having passed into a number of independent states, -each of which has attained a considerable degree of greatness, lies -now prostrate at the foot of the great European powers. Greece, the -intellectual and the free, having for many centuries been plunged in -ignorance and slavery up to the lips, shews signs of a regeneration. -And the barbarians of the North are making rapid approaches towards -pre-eminence." - -"But the superior civilisation we enjoy, must prevent our retrograding," -said I. "Think of our steam-engines, our rail-roads, our wonderful -discoveries in science and mechanics, and our extraordinary advancement -in intelligence; we are rising, and we shall continue to rise." - -"We cannot rise above the top, mein freund," observed my fellow student -with a smile; "and after that we must go down. There is a point beyond -which no nation advances, and to that point we are tending. As for our -superior civilisation, that remains to be proved. Boast as we may of our -machinery, we could neither raise such monuments as were frequent among -the Egyptians, or have we any tools that can make an impression upon -the stone out of which they were sculptured. The gunpowder upon the -discovery of which we pride ourselves, has not been so destructive as -the Greek fire, of the composition of which we know nothing. In art, we -are far from excelling the ancients, and in learning we are obliged to -acknowledge our obligations to them." - -"But how far the intelligence of the multitude at the present day -exceeds that of any preceding time!" I observed. - -"I am not convinced of that," replied Wilhelm. "With the exception of -Germany, particularly Prussia, the education of the people, has not -been attempted on a plan likely to confer on them much advantage, and -the only sure way of judging of a superiority of intelligence is by -comparing the state of the public morals in different countries. If it -can be proved that the Greeks or the Romans were a less moral people -than are the English or the French, then are the latter the most -intellectual; but if, taking the amount of population, it could be -ascertained that a less amount of crime was committed by the ancients, -then must the moderns be considered the least civilised." - -"I am afraid the philosophical character of such a work would not be -appreciated by the general reader, who takes up a book merely for -amusement," said I. - -"You are mistaken, mein freund," replied the student; "there is -nothing which may be made so amusing as philosophy. Every good book is -philosophical; and the idle reader is continually being made familiar -with philosophy without knowing it, just as the worthy gentleman in -Moličre's comedy talked prose all his life, in perfect ignorance of -having done so." - -"Well, I can only say, I should like exceedingly to read such a book," -I observed. - -"You see that ebony chest there, upon that pile of books;" said Wilhelm, -pointing in the direction to which he had alluded. "Take it. In it you -will find a MS. It is a work such as I have described to you, and I -wrote it at intervals, whenever I could find time for the employment." - -"_You_ write such a work, Wilhelm!" exclaimed I with surprise. "I am -aware how much you have devoted yourself to study. I know that you have -completely ruined your health by your severe application in the pursuit -of knowledge; but I had no conception of your attempting a production of -such a character, upon a subject beset by so many difficulties." - -"I have been ambitious," replied my companion. "I was desirous of -attempting something out of the common path--I yearned for literary -distinction. Take and read it, mein freund, and let me know if you think -it worthy of publication. I have endeavoured to make the story full of a -deep and pleasing interest. The characters introduced I have sought to -create in a sufficient variety, and of various shades, from the humblest -in intelligence to the most exalted. The incidents I have strived to -make striking and powerful, and vividly drawn; and the opinions you will -there find expressed, while I wished to make them natural and true, I -have been anxious that they should possess a claim to originality. It -has been my aim to combine wit, humour, pathos, and philosophy in such -a manner as I hope cannot fail of being thought at once amusing and -instructive, and if I live to see realised the aspirations I have -entertained, if I can but behold the work I have laboured to produce, in -popular estimation, I do not care how soon this feeble frame dissolves -into its parent dust. I must live to see that! mein freund; I _must_ -live to see that!" - -"I have not a doubt but what you will, Wilhelm;" I replied. "The genius -I know you to possess has only to exhibit itself fairly before the -public, to be considered a public property, and become an object of -general estimation. The learning you have laboured so diligently to -obtain, will then stand you in good service; and the liberality of your -sentiments, your deep love of virtuous principle, and your earnest -desire for the diffusion of truth, then cannot long remain without -exciting the admiration you covet." - -He made no reply. - -"Look!" I exclaimed. "There are Gerhard Kramer, and Hugo Messingen, -smoking their meerschaums out of the opposite window." - -He did not move. - -"Are you asleep, Wilhelm?" said I, advancing from the window to the -bedside, and gazing in the face of my now silent companion. His head was -sunk in the pillow, with his light hair falling in waving curls around -it. There lay the calm blue eyes, the fair smooth cheek, the delicate -moustache, and the mouth so exquisitely small, half open, giving a -glimpse of the white teeth within it. - -"Are you asleep, Wilhelm?" I repeated, taking the hand that rested -outside the bed clothes. - -He _was_ asleep: and from that sleep he never awoke. He now lies in the -left hand corner of Göttingen churchyard--a familiar place to me; for -while he was the most studious, he was the most amiable of all my fellow -students. He had become a martyr to his love of study, and the world -closed upon him just as he exhibited those signs of extraordinary -merit, which in time would have made him one of its most distinguished -ornaments. That his death was quite unexpected by himself was evident, -but in the progress of his illness he had drawn up a will, in which he -had made me his executor, and in it expressed his desire that I should -prepare his manuscript for the press. I have done so, and the result is -before the reader. I have left the first chapter as I found it, giving -notes to illustrate a few phrases that required explanation; but -imagining that these phrases, though perfectly characteristic, might -perplex the reader in his progress with the story, I made such -alterations in the rest of the MS. as I thought would bring the work -nearer to the taste of the time. - - - - -EUREKA; - -A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE CITY OF THE WORLD. - - -More than usual activity was observable in the tiers of shipping of -various nations that crowded the port of Columbus. The sun shone with -extraordinary splendour, throwing a golden light over the broad waters -of the river that spread out as far as the eye could reach, bearing on -their bosom vessels of every description used in commerce or warfare -(some coming into port, others leaving it for a distant destination), -that were diminishing in size as they receded from the view, till -they assumed the appearance of a mere speck between the horizon and -the wave; and the spreading sails of those in the distance, and the -many-coloured flags streaming from the masts of those closer to the -shore, with their various builds, sizes, costume and characteristics of -their crews, and the variety of employments in which the latter were -engaged,--infused such a spirit of animation into the scene, that the -stranger would have found it impossible to have looked on without an -earnest and delighted attention. Nearer the shore boats were passing to -and fro--from the graceful Swan (1.) and rapid Fish, full of gay parties -of pleasure, to the gigantic Hippopotamus and slow Tortoise, bearing -burthens of various kinds of produce towards the wharfs that lined each -side of that noble river; and many other boats of different dimensions, -some impelled by oars, others by sails, and others by machinery, were -passing from ship to ship, from the ship to the shore, or from the -metropolis to the neighbouring villages. - -If the appearances on the water were gratifying to the eye, those on the -land assumed a character equally cheerful, various, and magnificent. -Well might Columbus be styled THE CITY OF THE WORLD. In its dimensions, -in its splendour, in its riches, in the myriads of its inhabitants, and -in the multitudes of strangers who flocked from all parts of the globe -to witness its greatness or share in its traffic, it was worthy of being -considered an empire rather than a metropolis. Beyond those unrivalled -quays that stretched along each side of the river, connected by colossal -bridges, whose arches spanned from shore to shore with such an altitude -that under them the largest vessels might pass with ease, were seen the -proud palaces of the merchants--the lofty domes for the administration -of justice--the stupendous edifices for the conveniences of -commerce--the vast temples for the worship of the Deity--the imposing -halls for the diffusion of science--every description of dwelling -suitable to the wants of a free, industrious, enlightened, and -multitudinous population of various ranks, interspersed with noble -monuments in commemoration of admirable actions--exalted statues -personifying the highest degree of excellence--parks, fountains, -gardens, and public walks between rows of lofty trees; rising above -these, on the elevated land on which the city was erected, might be -observed, placed at considerable distances from each other, and adorned -with all the graces of architecture, the villas of the wealthy; and at -the very crown of the hill the obelisks, urns, and other monuments that -peered above its summit pointed out the cemetery of the city, and the -mausolea of its dead. - -Through the numerous streets the tide of population seemed hurrying with -an anxious eagerness; and the vehicles of luxury and of industry were -passing each other in the broad thoroughfares, in a similar crowd and -with a similar haste. Here came the votary of pleasure, seeking only -the enjoyment of the present--there went the accumulator of wealth, -enjoying no delight save in the prospect of the future; and they were -passed by the plodding antiquary, living only in his associations -with the past. The toil-worn mechanic--the enthusiastic student--the -venerable sage--the solemn priest--the proud soldier--and the bustling -citizen, took their separate ways through the crowd, with an apparent -thoughtlessness of all things except their own immediate objects; and -thus had they gone on for ages, each pursuing his own course, and every -one heedless of the rest; and thus will they go on till the day of the -world is over, and the night cometh when no man shall see because of the -darkness. - -At the foot of a flight of broad stone steps leading to the water from -a wharf on the quay near one of the bridges, a superior sort of ship's -boat was moored, where her crew, some resting on the benches, some -lounging on the steps, were grouped in conversation, evidently directing -their attention to a beautiful ship of small tonnage but perfect -symmetry that lay at anchor at a short distance, easily distinguished -from the numerous vessels in her neighbourhood by the smartness of her -rigging and the elegance of her build. - -"Ay, ay, Boggle!" exclaimed a stout weatherbeaten-looking mariner, -to whom all his associates appeared to listen with great deference, -arising either from his superior age or station,--"she _is_ a smart -boat; as neat a one as ever floated. She'll swim better than a shark, -and faster than a dolphin; and I'll wager a month's pay to a mouldy -biscuit, that between this and the tother side o' the world we shan't -meet with her match." - -"True enough, Hearty," said the person spoken to, a lumbering, stout, -short, and awkwardly-made man of about thirty, with a large head, and a -stupid yet good-natured countenance, which expressed an inclination to -act in the right way that was always marred by an extraordinary aptitude -to do wrong. "True enough. May I walk the deck till I split into -shivers, if I'm not convinced of every word you say! But every man as is -a man and thinks like a man should have a notion of his own on things in -general; therefore, Hearty, I don't believe it." - -"Pooh!" exclaimed a younger sailor, addressing himself to the last -speaker, "what's the value o' your judgment against the notions of such -an old hand as Hearty? Why he must ha' sailed in a power o' different -crafts afore you were launched!" - -"Exactly, Climberkin, exactly," replied Boggle eagerly--"that's my -opinion; it's true, there's not a doubt of it: but every man as is a -man----" - -"Well, may I be scrunched into everlasting smash if I know where we're -bound--that's all," emphatically remarked another speaker in the group, -thrusting forward a thick head of sandy hair, with a countenance sharp -and meagre. - -"Nor I," said another. - -"Nor I," echoed several around him. - -"Why you see how it is," answered Boggle, mysteriously; "there's a sort -o' a secret in it. It arn't for a fellow afore the mast to be 'quisitive -o' what's going on on the quarter-deck; but I likes to have right -notions o' things in general, as every man as is a man and thinks like -a man should. So having a pretty shrewd guess as how Scrumpydike, who's -al'ays alongside the captain, knowed more o' the matter than he'd a -mind to 'municate, I follows in his wake not a hundred years longer than -this very mornin'; and, quite palavering like, I hails him wi' 'I say, -Scrumpydike, my bo!' 'What cheer?' says he. 'P'raps you don't know -nothin' o' our sailing orders?' says I, quite social. 'P'raps I do,' -says he, in a manner as showed he did. I says nothin' more on _that_ -subject then, cause I had a notion 'twould be no good; so I speaks him -civil, and axed him to liquidate wi' me upon summat comfortable, and we -went together into a snuggish sort o' a spiritual close by, and when I -got him pretty 'municative I thought he'd a told the most secret thing -as he knowed, cause he was letting down the cable in reg'lar style. -Now's the time, thought I; so I says to him, quite familiar, as I felt -sartain sure o' his telling, 'Scrumpydike, my bo!' says I, 'where be we -bound?'--And what d'ye think he said?" inquired the speaker, suddenly -addressing himself to his associates. - -"What _did_ he say, Boggle?" anxiously inquired a young sailor, pressing -forward to hear the interesting communication. - -"Tell us, Boggle, tell us!" cried the others eagerly. - -"Why he turns round upon me his great yellow eyes, looking as if -he could ha' no secrets from a fellow who shared his earnings so -handsome--'cause I stood treat all the time, and he says to me, in a -slow whisper, just as a secret should be told----" - -"Well, what did he say?" said Climberkin impatiently. - -"'What's the odds?', says he."--The younger sailors laughed. - -"And what _is_ the odds?" asked old Hearty earnestly. "Arn't we well -paid, well fed, well clothed? and haven't we plenty o' every thing we -want? So what's the odds where we sail? I don't care the twist o' a -rope's end whether we go to India, or China, or Algiers, to any of the -ports in Australia, or even to the most uncivilized settlements in -Europe; and no true sailor cares on what water he floats, as long as -he's aboard a good ship, meets wi' sociable mates, and is commanded by -good officers." - -"I'll be spiflicated if every word Hearty says isn't true," remarked -Climberkin. - -"And now I'll just tell you what I knows o' the matter," continued -Hearty, "which amounts to something more than Boggle could tell." - -"Well, what is it?" inquired Boggle, as eager as the others to hear some -intelligence on the subject,--"you're smartish, clever, or I'm 'staken; -but though I must say my notion o' you is tip top, we're most on us -liable to a false reck'ning." - -"You all know master Porphyry," said the old man, without attending to -the dubious compliment of the last speaker. - -"Know him! to be sure we do," replied Climberkin hastily. "Haven't we -all sailed in his ships,--all but Scrumpydike there, who's asleep in the -boat? and don't we know as he's the richest merchant in Columbia, and -got ships laden with every sort o' precious merchandise, more than one -man ever had afore--sailing from port to port all over every sea that -runs. Know him! Why, who do we know, if we don't know a man as all the -world knows?" - -"Ay, ay," remarked the other quietly, "that's him; they do say he's as -rich as the emperor. But all I know is, that while he's greatest among -the rich he's kindest among the poor. He seems never happy but when he's -founding some hospital,--setting afoot some charity, or doing some good, -some how or other: his name is honoured in all parts o' the world. -There's no merchant all over this here globe that hasn't heard of the -fame of master Porphyry: and in his own country he's like a prince, -scattering his bounties wherever he thinks they are likely to confer -a benefit; and every one respects him, every one wishes to think as -he does; and all are anxious to show their opinion of his integrity, -cleverness, and all that sort o' thing. Well, what's uncommon strange, -although he squanders his money about as if there was no end to it, -it seems only to 'cumulate the faster; and although the emperor has -signified his wish to honour him wi' lots o' distinctions many's the -great man would be proud enough to gain, he refuses them all, and says -he won't be nothing more nor plain master Porphyry. So master Porphyry -he remains; but for all that he's a greater man than all the princes, -dukes, and nobles we're likely to see in our time. Well, master -Porphyry's got a son, as smart a figure of a youth as ever you see'd -aboard ship; and after 'ducating him in all sorts o' learnin', till he's -fit to be launched in the great ocean o' life, he wishes him, nat'rul -enough, to go and see foreign parts, that he may get plenty o' notions -o' different kinds o' people, and countries, and governments, that when -he comes back he may be able to do credit to his father. So master -Porphyry gets a ship built o' purpose, and a lovelier vessel than the -Albatross it arn't possible to look on; and has her stored wi' every -kind o' valuable merchandise likely to sell to a profit at the ports -she may visit, and wi' all sorts o' necessaries and comforts for the -crew; has her manned wi' a prime set o' picked hands from his other -vessels,--engages a 'sperienced captain, and accompanied by the -most celebrated teacher o' learnin' he could meet with, to show all -the 'markable things as might be overhauled, and give the proper -'splanations about their breed, seed, and generation, I expects him -here every minute to go aboard; and 'mediately arter that, up wi' her -cleaver, out wi' her wings, and good bye to old Columbia." (2.) - -"Now let me twist the rope a little," (3.) said Climberkin, while his -messmates continued to listen with the same interest they had shown all -the time Hearty had been speaking. "You see, mates," continued the young -sailor, apparently attempting to make the sleeves of his check shirt -roll above his elbows with more convenience, but more probably trying to -attract attention from the heightening colour of his cheek,--"you see, -mates, I've been sailing in convoy with a mighty smartish craft, who's a -sort o' cook's mate,--(now what are you jiggering at?" cried the speaker -sharply to a young fellow who had indulged himself with a grin,)--"who's -a sort of cook's mate in the noble family of Philadelphia; and she being -always among her messmates, hears a smartish lot o' notions 'cerning -her officers, which, when we've been yard-arm and yard-arm sailing in -company through the parks, or at anchor in the jollity houses, she -'municates to me by way o' divarsion: and she tells me as how master -Porphyry has a snuggery up the country, 'bout a cable's length from one -belonging to the noble Philadelphia, and that the two families were as -sociable as a shoal o' herrins. Philadelphia has a daughter, by all -accounts a reg'lar-built angelic; and master Porphyry having a son, an -equally smartish sort o' young chap, it was as sartain as a ship would -sail afore the wind, that they two while consortin' would pick up some -notions about gettin' afloat together; and as no signals o' a diff'rent -natur' were hung out by their commodores, they linked their hearts -pretty close, and never could see which way the wind blowed 'cept -when they were alongside o' each other. Well, somehow or other, there -came on a squall,--the powerful noble Philadelphia and the rich -merchant Porphyry parted company about politics: one took one side and -t'other took t'other, and they went on different tacks in no time. -Philadelphia, who's as proud as a port admiral, when he found as master -Porphyry wouldn't follow in his wake, blowed great guns, cut his cable; -and without letting his daughter the Lady Eureka have any 'munication -with her consort, he makes her set sail along wi' him, and the young -ones arn't been allowed to come in sight o' each other ever since. Well, -arter that, master Porphyry, who's as proud as an honest man should be, -wern't a going to strike his flag to nothin' o' the sort; so seeing as -his young'un looked cloudy weather, to 'leviate his disappointment he -thinks o' trying to make him forget the whole circumbendibus. So he -plans this here voyage." - -The loud huzzas of an approaching multitude put an end to the -conversation; and Scrumpydike, who appeared to have been asleep, but -had listened attentively to every word that had been uttered, suddenly -started from his recumbent position in the boat, presenting a muscular -form, with a yellow, rough, and scowling face, sufficiently forbidding -in its appearance, yet possessing an odd sort of twist about the -corners of the mouth that much disguised its natural ferocity. - -"Thunder and lightning!" (4.) shouted Scrumpydike, hastily regaining his -legs, "here they come!" - -Some of the sailors ran up the stone steps leading to the foot of the -bridge, and there a noble and gratifying sight presented itself. The -whole length of the magnificent street of stately mansions approaching -the water seemed filled with a countless multitude of citizens, each -huzzaing with extraordinary zeal some persons in a procession that was -proceeding along the centre of the thoroughfare. Windows, housetops, -bridges, and boats were thronged with spectators; and all the vessels -in the river were dressed with flags, which, streaming from the masts -in a variety of pleasing colours and devices, gave an animated and -picturesque character to the scene. - -"_There's_ master Porphyry!" exclaimed Hearty. - -"Where?" inquired half a dozen voices at once. - -"That stately-looking man on the tall grey horse who is bowing to -his fellow-citizens. Every body seems to have got a notion that the -merchant's son was going on his first voyage; so, you see, they're -resolved to show how much they respect the father, and all the city -turns out to a man (aye and to a woman too, as you may see at the -windows), and here they are throwing up their caps, waving their -handkerchiefs, and shouting like mad; the ladies scattering flowers upon -his head, and bands o' music playing all the way. And there's young -master Porphyry riding by his side, a fine handsome sort o' chap, and as -like his father as one whale's like another. And in the open carriage -behind them is the learned Professor Fortyfolios, who's written more -big books than any on us could carry; and opposite him's our Captain -Compass, and next him's little Log, the captain's clerk; and opposite -him's Doctor Tourniquet, our surgeon; and there's a lot more on 'em -followin' in different carriages, who ha' been promoted to a birth -aboard the Albatross. These dignified bodies in long robes, and some -on 'em wi' gold chains round their necks, are great magistrates and -merchants belonging to the city, and they look up to master Porphyry as -head on 'em all. But we must get to our oars, my mates, or else we shall -nap it pretty considerably." So saying he returned to the boat, quickly -followed by his companions, and they all began to be very busy preparing -for the comers. - -The appearance of the procession as it neared the bridge was very -imposing; for, as far as the eye could see, were carriages and horsemen -bearing streaming banners, and decorated with ribbons and flowers; and -every spot that could command a view of the scene from the land or from -the water was crowded with animated spectators, shouting their good -wishes for the son and praises of the father. The chief attraction in -this grand spectacle, master Porphyry, was a man apparently between -forty and fifty years of age, of a commanding figure and noble -countenance. When he took off a sort of coronetted velvet cap that -shielded his head from the sun's rays, as he bowed his grateful -acknowledgments for the plaudits of his fellow-citizens, his high -forehead, eloquent eyes, and benevolent smile made his features assume -an expression more nearly approaching the highest degree of beauty, -intelligence, and philanthropy in a man advanced in life, than anything -it is possible to conceive; and the robe of honour which encompassed his -powerful limbs, denoting his office as the chief civic magistrate, gave -a majesty to his deportment that increased the effect of his personal -appearance. - -The youth who rode by his side could not have numbered much more than -twenty years, and bore a great resemblance both in the form of his -limbs and in the expression of his countenance to master Porphyry; yet -while from a feeling of enthusiastic reverence for his parent he rode -bare-headed by his side, as he noticed the admiration his father excited -among the countless myriads who thronged their way, the fire that was -glowing in his eyes and the pride that was swelling at his heart gave -evidence of feelings to which the elder Porphyry was a stranger. The -youth sat on his steed, that pranced and curvetted with the same -high spirit in his blood as was possessed by his rider, showing that -elasticity of limb that marks the young and vigorous; and as the breeze -swept from his forehead the luxuriant curls of rich shining hair that -clustered upon his brows, while it fluttered in the folds of his -handsome tunic, the young men whose dreams had been of glory fancied -that they saw in his noble bearing the hero of their visions, and the -young women who had begun feeding their youthful minds with loving -idealities gazed in ecstasy upon his graceful figure, and recognised -in him the god of their idolatry. The impression created was evidently -gratifying to him; but it did not satisfy his desires. Oriel Porphyry -was ambitious--he aspired to be something greater than he was: he panted -for power as well as popularity. The shouts of the multitude seemed -music to his ears, but it was of too calm a character--it was not that -in which he could have taken most delight. He desired to act a more -imposing part than that of a merchant's son. It was a military age in -which he lived, when men had been raised to empire by a daring valour -and a dazzling splendour in their actions that made every heart drunk -with enthusiasm. Conquest had been the key to greatness, and a victory -had led to a throne. But the general peace which had lately commenced -seemed to shut out from him all hopes of the distinction he coveted; the -peaceful ways of traffic, in which his father had achieved an universal -renown, presented to him no attraction: and as he rode along he lamented -the apparent ingloriousness of his destiny. - -The feelings of the merchant were of a far higher, better, kinder -character; for his was a mind not to be led away by the false glitter -of pride and ambition, and he entertained no sentiment that was not in -harmony with the philanthropy of his actions. His heart was full of -generous sympathy for his fellow-men; and till he alighted at the foot -of the bridge he thought only of how he could best advance the interests -of his country. - -The father and son descended the stone stairs, at the bottom of which -the boatmen were waiting; and after all who were going to the ship had -entered the boat except the merchant's son, master Porphyry took him -affectionately by the hand, and thus addressed him:-- - -"Oriel Porphyry! I have desired that you should visit the most -remarkable nations of the world, that you might gain from close -observation of their people and government knowledge such as may the -better fit you for your duties as a citizen and as a man; that when I -have passed away from the fading splendours that surround me, I shall -know that I leave one worthy to fill the high place I have held in the -affections of my fellow-citizens. Take these papers," continued the -merchant, in a voice that appeared to tremble with emotion, as he -produced a sealed packet--"they contain the directions I desire you -to pursue, and some intelligence with which I wish you to become -acquainted: consult them when you have been out at sea about a week. I -shall find means of communicating with you as often as may be desirable; -and if there is any thing you require that yonder vessel does not -possess to render your voyage more comfortable, you have only to send -word by the first of my ships you may meet, and you will have it -supplied at the next port. All noble sentiments and benevolent wishes -attend you!" - -"Father!" exclaimed the youth, falling on the neck and kissing the hand -of his parent, "I trust I shall never discredit the education I have -received, nor the parent from whom I sprung." - -In a few minutes master Porphyry was standing on the brink of the water, -surrounded by the wealthiest merchants of Columbus, following with his -eyes the rapid course of the receding boat; while his son, throwing -himself back in his seat, indulged in the enjoyment of a thousand -conflicting emotions, from which he was not roused till he gained the -side of the Albatross. - -While the machinery was set in motion to draw up the anchor, a small -boat was seen to dart from the numerous vessels of a similar class that -were floating on the river, and rapidly come alongside the ship. A young -handsome creole immediately leapt on board; and after giving orders -about some packages contained in the boat, advanced to that part of the -deck where Oriel Porphyry stood. The age of the new-comer did not seem -more than fifteen or sixteen. He was delicately formed, with features -whose expression lost something in its character among critics of manly -beauty by its feminine softness. On his head he wore a rich netted silk -cap, the gold tassel of which hung down towards his left shoulder; his -robe was a short tunic of embroidered cloth, bound by a broad silk sash. -An inner vest of rose-coloured silk, open at the breast, disclosed a -camese of the purest white; the lower part of his body was wrapt in a -sort of petticoat of thick linen made very full, below which appeared -leggings of rich silk, and small shoes trimmed with rosettes,--the usual -costume of the pages of Columbian ladies of rank. The merchant's son was -leaning against a mast, seemingly pondering over the fond remembrances -of a happier time; for his features had lost that glow of excitement -which a few minutes since his ambitious desires had created, and a -shadow of deep yet tranquil melancholy had passed over them,--when he -was roused from his reverie by the approach of the stranger. - -"Master Oriel Porphyry!" said the page, taking off his cap and allowing -a profusion of dark ringlets to fall upon his shoulders, and then taking -from his vest a small sealed packet,--"Master Oriel Porphyry! The Lady -Eureka sends you this." - -"Ha!" exclaimed the young merchant, gazing earnestly upon the features -before him as if they were immediately recognised; then finding the -recognition not reciprocal, he turned away with a deep expression of -disappointment: yet, while breaking the seal of the envelope, and before -he read the letter, he renewed his gaze two or three times, as if there -was an attraction in the page's handsome countenance he could not -withstand; but the large dark eyes that met his own were bent steadily -upon him with respectful attention; and, bewildered by the strange -disturbance of his thoughts, he at last attempted to read the letter. -It ran thus:-- - - "DEAREST, - - "Accidentally I have become acquainted with your intended departure - from Columbia, to dare the dangers of the waters, to risk a - thousand perils, and, more than all, to be separated by a long - and dreary boundary from a heart you have made so devotedly your - own. Every attempt I have made to communicate with you, has been - rendered of no avail. I believe you all I would have you be; but - I am fearful your impetuous nature will hurry you into continual - dangers, and, as I cannot myself watch over your safety, I would - have near you some one on whose zeal, fidelity, and care I can - place the utmost confidence. Zabra, whom you will readily recognise - as a child of my father, has been brought up as my page; his - Indian mother died in his infancy, but his education has not been - neglected. You will find him both useful and entertaining, and may - rely on his perfect devotion. Let him remain about you--let him be - my representative--and let him serve to keep in your remembrance - one whose soul clings to your footsteps,--who has no ambition but - in possessing your exclusive affections, and knows no pride but - that which is created by thinking herself, _your_ - - EUREKA." - -The letter was read many times, and with an increasing pleasure at -each re-perusal; and the bearer was received with such an abundance of -welcomes as must have convinced him his servitude would be very light. -But while his future master kept scanning his dusky physiognomy, as if -comparing his features with the brilliant beauty of her who had so long -been the glory of his existence, the page retained the same unmoved -demeanour which he had from the first evinced. - -During these proceedings the anchor had been weighed, the sails trimmed, -and, amid the firing of cannon from the houses on each bank, and the -deafening shouts of the spectators, the Albatross majestically sailed -down the river, and having reached the ocean, soon lost sight of the -city of Columbus, its noble quays, its stately palaces, its generous -merchant, and its grateful citizens. - - -NOTES. - -(1.) "The _graceful Swan_" and "rapid _Fish_" are probably intended -to be the names of pleasure boats, derived from the creatures they -were built to resemble; and the "gigantic _Hippopotamus_" and "slow -_Tortoise_" must be meant for the larger kind of barges and heavy -coasting vessels used in traffic. - -(2.) "Up wi' her _cleaver_, out wi' her _wings_, and good bye to Old -_Columbia_." The anchor and sails of the vessel are no doubt here -alluded to; and the names Columbus and Columbia which are met with -throughout these pages, evidently distinguish the metropolis from the -empire. - -(3.) "Now let me twist the rope a little." This sentence must be similar -in its meaning with the nautical phrase "spinning a yarn." - -(4.) "Thunder and lightnin'!" It will be seen that the oaths commonly -used by the Columbians differ from those now in fashion; but this is -very natural, for it is well known that the common phrases of one -century are quite changed in another. We swear not as we did in the -time of Queen Elizabeth, and the oaths then in vogue were altogether -different from those which prevailed during the reign of William the -Conqueror. - - - - -CHAP. II. - -ZABRA. - - -Zabra had not been many days on board, before he became a source of -wonder to the whole crew. A spirit flashed from his dark lustrous eyes, -that kept off every thing approaching the shape of sociality among -the persons by whom he was surrounded. He rarely spoke, except when -attending upon Oriel Porphyry; and then the proud expression of his -looks that made curiosity stand aloof, was changed into a glowing -animation, and the tongue which had seemed to disdain all converse -became eloquent with a resistless endeavour to delight. He had all the -external appearance of a graceful youth of sixteen, with a form tall, -elegant, and buoyant, whose heart had just received the invigorating -warmth of the first dawn of manly sentiments; but when the voice sent -its soft music to the ear, breathing the rich poetry of an ardent -imagination, the splendour of the language, its power and meaning, and -the energy with which it was supported, gave evidence of a mind much -nearer approaching the maturity of a masculine intellect, than the age -that has been mentioned could have possessed. He seemed as if he existed -only for the purpose for which he had been sent--as if he knew that -his occupation was watching over the safety of him to whom he had been -committed; and he appeared to enter into the service with a heart and -soul devoted to the object. His looks searched the inmost thoughts -of those upon whom they fell, as if to discover whether any sinister -intention against his lord and master was there harboured, and before -their piercing sight it was scarcely possible to stand unmoved; and -there was a mystery in his actions, when removed from the apparent -source of his solicitude, that still more made the wonderers marvel. He -sought a place where no one could intrude upon his privacy, and with a -harp, with which on these occasions he never failed to be accompanied, -so filled the air with unknown melodies, and unheard-of songs, that the -superstitious seamen, as they listened, imagined he was in communication -with beings of another world,--there was something so aërial, so soft, -and so sweet in the music he created. - -"Scrunch me if I can make it out at all!" exclaimed Climberkin to a -group of sailors in the forecastle. "He ar'n't got a word to throw away -upon a dog; but if he looks at one, one doesn't feel at all inclined to -be 'quisitive. He was wand'rin' about the main deck as it was getting -duskish yesterday--and I, not keeping a good look out ahead, run foul o' -him afore I knowed who it was. As soon as I diskivered the craft, I was -just beginning a bit of a 'pology, when he fixes on me a look as cut -through me like a nor-wester, waves his arm in a most mysterus manner, -and glides away as softly as if he trod upon butter." - -"As true as a fish swims, I've got the only prime notion of this here -mystery," said Boggle, with an air of considerable importance. - -"No!" cried several voices incredulously. - -"Ah! but I have though, or I'm the spawn of a toad-fish!" replied -Boggle. "And I'll tell you how I gripped it. You see I ar'n't a bit -afeard o' any 'dividual as is aboveboard in what he's arter; and I'm not -the chap likely to be flabbergasted in a fair fight;--so seeing as how -you were all in no little mystification about this youngster, I thought -to myself, says I, when he steers his course into your whereabouts, -'spose you show a civil flag at the mast-head, and ax arter his mother -and all the family; he nat'rally sees you knows manners, and 'mediately -returns the compliment. From this to that, and from that to t'other, -is as easy as catching sharks wi' pickled pork, when two civil fellows -lets go their jawing tackle; so you'll tell him your 'miniscences quite -confidential, and he'll be obligated to tell you his'n; and then having -overhauled his log-book pretty smartish, you can return to your mates -with the 'telligence. Well, I was walking along jest afore dinner, -when I seed master Zabra leaning against a mast, wi' folded arms, eyes -looking straight up to the clouds as was fleecing over the sky in all -sorts o' figurations, and his mahogany face seemin' quite fair by the -side o' the rollin' jet black curls as fell on each cheek down to his -shoulder. I seed in a moment he was no common sort o' cretur. If he -ar'n't a Indian prince, thinks I, I've no notion o' things in general. -Well, I was determined to know the rights on't, and was just about -recomembring the bit of a speech I was going to say about his mother and -the rest o' the family, when, as I came right afore him, he looks me -full in the face; and though I seed nothin' but the flash o' his two -eyes afore he flitted away to the other end o' the ship, they seemed so -'stonishingly curious that they held me to the ground as if I was nailed -to the deck, and the words I was going to say stuck in my throat like -lumps o' old Cucumber-Shin's puddin'." - -"Kukumshin!" shouted the black cook, a very fat old negro, indignantly -thrusting his woolly poll in the middle of the group. "Dare to call me -Kukumshin! Me, Roly Poly Cook in ship Albatross, and free gennleman o' -colour--me Kukumshin! Pretty kettle o' fish!--Puddin' berry much too -good for sich a fellar. Stick in him troat too! Him nebber hab no time, -acause him bolt him like smoke, a fellar! Call me Kukumshin indeed!" - -"I tell ye what it is, my mates," cried Hearty, inattentive to Roly -Poly's indignation. The group were all attention. - -"A fellar!" exclaimed the cook, casting one of his blackest looks upon -the offender, and then waddling off to another part of the ship. - -"In my time I've been many voyages to India and thereabouts," said the -old man; "and I knows it's the notion o' them people, that arter a -fellow's dead he comes to life again in another sort of a body. Now if -this here rigmarole's true, which every body there says is as sartain -as a stone 'ill sink, seeing that this youngster is more 'cute in -his notions than is usual at his time o' day, and appears a most -'straordinary sort o' a human, it's much more nat'ral to 'spose he's -been metamorphorosed from some of those Old Indian flos'phers who 's up -to ev'ry thing in natur', than that he should be a mere hobbledehoy, as -can't have any more gumption than what 'll serve him to carry a letter -or go on a message. But hush!" exclaimed the speaker as a beautiful -symphony full of passionate sentiment was borne upon the air. A soft -melodious voice soon mingled with the instrument, and these words were -sung with all the expression superior skill could bestow upon them:-- - - "The wave rolls on from shore to shore, - As from the first those billows roll'd; - All study its mysterious lore, - But none have yet its secrets told! - So in the heart a flood flows on - As free and boundless in its will; - As long, the learnčd there have gone-- - Its secrets are unfathom'd still! - - "Unfathomed still, fond heart! remain,-- - Veil thy rich flood's most precious prize! - Thy pearlčd worth--thy golden gain-- - Hide--hide from all too-curious eyes! - For see! th' adventurous diver comes, - Down in thy deeps he makes his stay; - Through ev'ry hidden cave he roams-- - Then bears thy treasured stores away. - - "But why thy sterling splendours hide?-- - Why veil the worth thou dost possess?-- - Pour out thy bright exhaustless tide! - Lay bare thy wealth!--and thee 't will bless. - The riches that are hoarded up, - In worthless hands at last must shrink;-- - And he who cares to fill the cup, - Should fill for one who longs to drink!" - -"There! that _is_ music," observed Climberkin in a whisper; "and it -makes my heart leap like a dolphin just taken out o' his element." - -"All hands to take in sail!" shouted a stentorian voice from the -quarter-deck, and in an instant the group were engaged in active duty. - -But the song had other listeners than the party just described. Oriel -Porphyry, after escaping from a weary lecture from the learned professor -Fortyfolios, who seemed laudably anxious to fulfil his duties to his -pupil, had been pacing the quarter-deck with long and hasty strides, -when he was roused from the ambitious reveries of his ardent imagination -by the mellow sounds of a harp at no great distance. In him, the voice, -the song, its sentiments, and their expression, recalled to his memory -the delicious beauty of her, from the wondrous lustre of whose gaze he -had drunk of that intoxicating stream which had bound his senses in a -wild and rapturous delirium. The dark eyes, radiant with the light of -the impassioned soul that floated in their depths, again raised on -him their sunny splendour; and the budding mouth, bearing the odorous -spirits of a thousand roses on its lips, once more appeared to teach -those smiling lessons that had been to him the fairest pages in the -book of knowledge. He listened, and his heart was filled with the sweet -influence of a happier time. The dreams of ambition were forgot--the -suggestions of pride were unthought of--fame, glory, power, the pomp of -greatness, the sway of empire, and the adulation of the governed, were -now as things for which he had no sympathy; and he thought only of the -time when the noble, gifted, young, and beautiful Eureka, regardless -of the loftiness of her exalted station, the opinions of her princely -family, or the sentiments of the world, ennobled him with the passionate -ecstacies of her enthusiastic nature, and first filled his youthful -brain with those heroic dreams which made him yearn after the glorious -influence of superiority. - -During the continuance of the song he listened with breathless -attention, and the rich harmonies of the music kept him spell-bound -to the spot on which he stood; but as the last chords of the closing -symphony were struck, he stood by the side of the musician. - -"I knew not, Zabra, that you were so well skilled in the science of -sweet sounds," said he. - -Zabra had appeared so lost in his own meditations, that he had not -noticed master Porphyry's approach. His gaze was fixed; and as he bent -over his harp, allowing the long curls of his dark hair to mingle with -its strings, no attitude, and no expression of countenance, could more -plainly interpret the perfect state of self-abandonment in which he then -existed; but when he heard the voice of him by whom he was addressed, in -an instant his dark handsome features assumed a different expression, -and throwing back the shining tresses that shaded his face, he seemed a -creature all smiles, devotion, and enjoyment. - -"Music has been to me the food of my existence," remarked the page: "on -its divine essence I was nurtured; and as the perfume forms a part of -the breeze on which it is borne, harmony has entered into my nature, and -is now my life, my strength, and my felicity." - -"Where did you learn the song I have just heard?" inquired the -merchant's son. - -"From the impulses of my own creative spirit," replied the other. "From -sympathies awakened into action by the strong power that creates and -controls them. See you the mighty tide that swells up into universal -motion, bearing by its own strength the burthen of resistless armaments -as if they were but reeds, and when it does put forth its power, -assuming such shapes and doing such things as make the marvel of every -age; and know you not that it is the operation of its attraction for -that fair world of light that dwelleth in the starry heaven, whose -glimpses of a glory not to be subdued enter into its innermost depths, -and stir its everlasting waves with passionate emotion?" - -"Surely one so young cannot have felt the power of Love?" asked the -elder of the two, in a tone that betrayed the influence of which it -spoke. - -"Who shall say when it shall come or when it shall depart?" said Zabra, -as the dusky hue of his cheek gave evidence of the warm blood that -filled his veins. "It is a presence that appeareth at all times when the -soul is fit to receive it. It cometh not at this time, nor at that--it -dwelleth not here, nor there; it filleth eternity of time, and infinity -of space. Look around you, over the vast circumference of boundless -nature--wherever there is life, wherever there is motion--wherever there -is an object that hath beauty in its form and fitness for its purpose, -it hath all its energies swayed by the thrilling impulses of that -almighty passion. The flower that liveth but a few days, trembles in the -warm embraces of the southern breeze; and the planet that smiled upon -the infancy of the world, in the unconquerable maturity of a thousand -ages, still enamoured, drinks in the beauty of the mountain stream. The -heart is ever young, as mine is; and as the mellowing sunbeam calls into -activity the principle of life in the insect's egg, the sunshine in -which I have basked, hath stirred the vital seed implanted within my -breast, and given it restless hopes and fond desires, and properties -and motives to an end, that are the wings with which it flutters in its -shell. The only thing in which I differ from the rest is that my Spring -hath preceded theirs. All have their seasons, but till the sun comes -the winter endures; and in me the frost hath been broken up, and the -current, freed from its icy chains, rushes through its channels in the -soft light of its first bright day, and makes a world of its own, full -of music and flowers." - -"But how can you bear to be parted from the object with which your -sympathies are so closely united?" asked master Porphyry. - -"We are inseparable," replied Zabra, as he fixed his eyes on the -inquirer, eloquent with animation. "Think you, you can part the melody -from the voice by which it is sung? The two cannot be severed; neither -can the spirit to which mine is linked be other than a part of myself. I -breathe its atmosphere--I enjoy its presence--I share in its delights. -Our bodies may be set asunder by a plank; but you may pile mountains -upon mountains, and worlds upon worlds between us, and yet our souls -will remain one and indivisible." - -"How much your voice and gestures remind me of Eureka!" remarked the -merchant's son, regarding with increasing interest the romantic -enthusiasm of his companion. - -"For what purpose than this was I sent?" asked the youth, as he -turned away from the gaze as if to examine some of the strings of his -instrument: then continued--"If you loved her with the same intense -devotion with which she regards you, you would not require to be -reminded; but, save in the color of our complexions, there is so perfect -a resemblance both in our appearance and in our natures, that I might -recall her image to any one who has seen her and seems likely to forget -her." - -"You wrong me, Zabra!" cried the other vehemently, "if you imagine it -possible that I can forget her. It is she who hath filled these veins -with a quenchless fire that makes my whole frame glow with a desire for -lofty enterprise, to attain a renown, and acquire a greatness worthy of -the love with which I have been honoured. Since that proud day when I -first beheld in her lustrous eyes the light that created a new splendour -over the horizon of my happiness, I have been shaking the chains that -bound me to the world, and, while yearning to emancipate myself from its -oppressive thraldoms, have sought how I could best subdue it to my own -ambitious purposes. I worship the nobility of her nature, and would have -her behold in mine something worthy of its intimate association. I would -not have her descend from the lofty pedestal on which she is placed; -therefore am I eager to win my way to a like elevation--ay, and ascend -higher, if a loftier step there be--and there acknowledge the greatness -I have worshipped, and everlastingly unite it to my own." - -"How little you know of her character, if you think she values any -thing except the spirit to which she is attached," observed the page. -"Did she care for the accidental difference of birth that distinguishes -you from her, you would never have known of her affection, because it -could never have existed. They who love the idle vanities of rank, set -their hearts upon a garment, a feather, a shining stone that is made to -adorn the person who possesses it; but it was not such artificial worth -that could attract Eureka. That she would feel proud of any distinction -you might by the force of your own merit acquire, is probable; but -knowing the qualities of your disposition, she holds them at their full -value, which could not be increased in the slightest degree by all the -honours you might gain. It was her observation of a tendency in you to -seek after the unattainable, that made her fearful it would lead you -into danger; and when she pressed me into this service, she bade me -warn you of the different perils it would produce. I warn you now. Take -heed of indulging in these ambitious dreams. You have the elements of -greatness in your character; they ought to content you; and what you -desire are but the shadows of what you have. There is another danger -which is equally imminent; and if you are as truly devoted to Eureka as -she hath ever been to you, you will pause before it reaches you.--Your -feverish pursuit after renown, or power, or whatever delusive meteor it -may be that dazzles your eyes, only tends to make you lose sight of that -one true, steady, and brilliant light that should be a glory in your -pathway." - -"Never!" exclaimed his companion with fervour--"never can any ambitious -dream of mine lead me from that splendour out of which it was created. -My aspirations are a natural result of the lofty source from which they -spring. They are but the reflections of her excellence--and the signs -of her presence; and loving her, I could no more exist without desiring -to be great, than I could bask in the sun's rays without acquiring -warmth.--Besides, had I not this stimulus to exertion, by what means can -I hope to make her mine. To the merchant's son the Lord of Philadelphia -would deny his daughter; but with Oriel Porphyry, his equal in dignity -and superior in power, the honoured of all and the feared of many, he -would gladly seek an alliance." - -"You think not of what Eureka's ideas may be on this subject?" inquired -Zabra. - -"I think of them, but they cannot avail," said the other. - -"They will avail!" replied the youth emphatically. - -"How?" asked master Porphyry. - -"Be assured of this," said his young companion, while again he seemed -more attentive to his harp than to his listener. "If, in a reasonable -time, the obstacles that retard your union still exist, she will point -out a way by which they may be honourably set aside, or acquiesce in any -plan with the same object in view, which you may propose." - -"How know you this?" inquired the other hastily. - -"I heard her say it," said the page. - -"But before I return, her father may compel her to enter into other -arrangements." - -"Eureka has a will which is not to be compelled--she will readily do -that which is right--but no power on earth could bend her inclinations -to an unjust purpose." - -"And she may be surrounded by dangers--subject to every kind of -suffering, and forced to endure a thousand indignities from which I have -no power to rescue her," continued master Porphyry. - -"She _is_ surrounded by dangers," said the youth with emphasis--"dangers -new and terrible to other minds; but of these she will think nothing, -and of what she may be obliged to endure she will be equally regardless, -as long as she is possessed with the conviction, that he for whom alone -she suffers is not unmindful of the sacrifices she has made." - -"There is a strength in your words," said the merchant, laying his hand -upon the shoulder of his companion, "which there is no withstanding; and -your looks are even more eloquent than your language. How is it possible -that one apparently so young should have acquired that force of -expression, and depth of meaning, which breathes in every sentence you -express." - -"I was taught early, and well," replied the other, as his frame trembled -slightly under the touch of his companion. "And as for my speech--truth -is always the most forcible. My external frame may appear light and -boyish; but size is no safe guide for the judgment. The ostrich never -leaves the earth along which it glides; but the eagle pierces the -unfathomable depths of air with an untiring wing, and floats with eye -undimmed within the scorching rays of the eternal sun." - -"Zabra, your nature is superior to the garb you wear," said the elder, -as he kindly took the hand and gazed into the face of his more youthful -associate. "I cannot allow you to be thus. You must put away the page, -and endeavour to be the friend of Oriel Porphyry." - -"By whatever title Oriel Porphyry can most love Zabra, that title Zabra -would most desire to be," replied the other. - -"Then be it so," said his companion. "From henceforth you shall be my -associate--my friend--my brother. Any thing in the ship that can extend -your enjoyments shall be at your disposal, and you may command the -services of every living creature it contains. We will be together as -often as possible, and the greatest delight you can create, or I can -indulge in, will be for us to discourse of her in whose affection I -exist; that when I hear the magic music of your voice, and meet the deep -intelligence of your gaze, the resemblance may make me imagine that the -blissful times have again returned, when beneath the shadows of the -welcome trees we sat together till the noonday hours ran on unnoticed -to the twilight, and the twilight deepened into evening, and still our -hands were clasped with the same gentle pressure with which they first -met, and still our eyes looked into each other with the same unspeakable -meaning that was first created in their mutual glances." - -Perhaps Oriel Porphyry would have said more, but at that moment his -companion withdrew his hand, and with looks full of an empassioned -tenderness, as he struck an accompaniment of harmonious chords, he sang -the following words:-- - - "Sound, oh Harp! some sweet and cheerful lay, - Soft as the breath of eve o'er mountain springs, - Awhile the spirit of a brighter day - Mingles its voice with thy rejoicing strings. - With thy rejoicing strings, oh Soul of Song! - Bind the fond air with spells rained free and fast; - And as thy thrilling echoes roll along, - We'll raise again THE RAPTURES OF THE PAST! - - "Sound, oh Harp! such harmony as dies - Within the warm and rosy atmosphere, - When gentle whispers, and delicious sighs, - Send a delighting welcome to the ear. - A welcome to the ear, oh Voice Divine! - Which long as life, and kind as hope, shall last; - That with the wealth of an exhaustless mine - Stores in our hearts THE TREASURES OF THE PAST! - - "Sound, oh Harp! thy music once again, - For now while I intrusive cares destroy, - An impulse stirs within the heart and brain, - Strong with the power of everlasting joy. - Of everlasting joy, Prophetic Sound! - (A bliss that cannot in the grave be cast;) - For as thy trembling murmurs swell around, - Still we embrace THE BLESSINGS OF THE PAST." - -When the song concluded their hearts seemed filled with a mutual -sympathy which neither could express; and Master Porphyry throwing his -arm round the young musician, and bringing Zabra's arm round his own -waist, drew him to another part of the vessel without either exchanging -a word. In this attitude, the youthful pair would have formed an -admirable study for a painter. The tall and manly form of the merchant's -son, his clear complexion and noble countenance creating a perfect -contrast to the symmetrical, yet delicate, figure of his companion, and -the soft voluptuous character of his more dark but not less beautiful -features. - -While these proceedings were going on, a scene of a very different -description was being acted in a low, dark, narrow cabin in a secluded -part of the ship. By the light of a small lamp that swung from the -roof, the diminutive form of Log the captain's clerk, with his little -conceited physiognomy, might be observed perched upon a high stool -engaged in writing, while the more burly figure, but not more -prepossessing countenance, of Scrumpydike, lay extended on some packages -near his feet. - -"Scrunch me, if this ar'n't the most miserable sort o' life, I ever -knowed," remarked the latter, as he rested his chin upon his hands and -supported himself upon his elbows. - -"Sad!" responded Log, who thinking that to speak much would lessen his -consequence, seldom allowed any thing beyond a monosyllable to escape -him, to which by repetitions and some slight additions he attempted to -give as much importance as if they contained volumes of meaning. "Sad, -sad, very sad, very sad upon my word, Mister Scrumpydike." - -"There's nothin' doin'," continued the other. "I feel as queer as a dog -wi' his tail cut off, cause there's no 'portunity to do nothin'." - -"Nothing, nothing, decidedly, actually, positively nothing, Mister -Scrumpydike," replied the little man. - -"It's a tarnation hard case that a fellow's obligated to be honest -against his will," remarked the sailor despondingly. - -"Hard, hard, very hard, very hard indeed, uncommonly hard, Mister -Scrumpydike," said the other, appearing to sympathise exceedingly in so -extraordinary a cause of complaint. - -"But what's most cruel in this here unnat'ral state o' things is, that -there's sich lots o' beautiful prigging for any chap as is a mind to -make his-self handy," added his companion in the same pathetic tone. - -"Cruel, cruel, most cruel, most unjustly, most unnaturally, most -deplorably cruel, Mister Scrumpydike," responded Log. - -"Well, I only knows I shan't be able to stand this here molloncolly sort -o' fun much longer. May I be bolted by a shark if I ar'n't a getting -into the most 'bominable reg'lar habits as can be. You wouldn't s'pose -it possible, but I ar'n't 'propriated nothin' o' nobodies since I've -been aboard this here craft. I ar'n't the same sort o' cretur I was -afore. I ar'n't, indeed. I resists temptation, and commits lots o' other -'straordinary impossibilities. I does without divarsion:--I ar'n't -killed a fellow cretur for ever so long. And worser nor all, some o' -the bugaboos here act'ly thinks I ar'n't no greater a villain than -themselves, ar'n't it horrid?" - -"Terrible, terrible, horribly terrible, upon my word, very horribly -terrible, Mister Scrumpydike." - -Here the dialogue was interrupted by a knocking at the door which made -Scrumpydike jump upon his legs, and Log twist himself round upon his -stool, each looking, in a considerable degree, alarmed and anxious. -Presently the door opened cautiously, and Captain Compass entered the -cabin. His sallow complexion, high cheek bones, prominent nose, thick -lips, and restless grey eyes were surrounded by a thick mass of coarse -black hair, that spread from each side of his narrow forehead, down his -cheeks and under his chin, in a formidable pair of whiskers. His figure -was spare of flesh, but in the gauntness of body, length of arm, and -sinewy leg, there was evidently more than ordinary strength. His -appearance was not likely to excite for him much regard, but there was -a careless freedom in his manner, a frank boldness in his conversation, -and a pungent satire in his wit, that had made him an agreeable -companion to the merchant's son. - -"All right, Scrumpy?" inquired Compass in a whisper, after closing the -door carefully after him. - -"All right, cap'ain," replied Scrumpydike. - -"Right, right, very right, perfectly right, right as a trivet, Captain -Compass," added Log. - -"Scrunch me, if we shan't all be served with sauce we don't like, unless -we keep a smart look out ahead," observed the captain as he flung -himself upon a bale of goods. - -"Why, what's in the wind now, cap'ain?" inquired Scrumpydike, with some -earnestness, while little Log remained silent with alarm. - -"May I be peeled to shreds in a hurricane, if that dark looking son of a -savage, who came on board the day we sailed, doesn't suspect the game we -are playing," continued the captain. - -"No!" exclaimed the other, as an expression of anxiety became visible in -his hard rough features; and the captain's clerk trembled on his stool -as if he was shaken by an ague. - -"I was palavering young Porphyry as smooth as a rat's tail, after he had -been pretty well blown up with the long-winded sentences of that tedious -old porpoise Fortyfolios, and was going it at a smacking rate about the -pleasure of liberty and the enjoyments of a life of enterprise, the sort -of discourse, I have found out, he'll suck in as a fish drinks water, -when happening to turn my daylights a little a starboard, I beheld -that black thief Zabra watching me like a snake, and when I met the -full stare of his great goggling eyes they seemed to have the power of -piercing through and through right into the hold where all my secrets -are ballasted, so I, having a sudden fear that he was up to the course -I was steering, lost the helm of my discourse, and anchored in shallow -water, with a muddy bottom, in no time." - -"Pooh!" responded Scrumpydike: "is that all? Leave him to me, and I'll -thank ye for the job." - -"No, that mustn't be: we must avoid every thing likely to create the -least suspicion," replied the captain. - -"I'll take care o' that," said the other: "I'll watch my 'portunity when -he's a hanging over the side o' the ship, as he does o' nights when -there ar'n't a human near enough to catch a glimpse o' his 'bominable -carcass, and then with my 'safe and sure' here," continued the fellow -as he drew a long knife a little way from its concealment in his vest, -"I'll make a sweep into his bread-room, and afore he can ax what it's -for, I'll heave him into a berth where he'll lie snug as a wet blanket -can make him." - -"It wo'n't do, I tell you," remarked his associate. - -"Nobody needn't know nothin' about it," added Scrumpydike. - -"There is too much risk and not sufficient advantage to be gained by -it," said the captain. "Ah!" he continued, after a pause--"if I only -had some of the old hands now, scrunch me, if I wouldn't put matters to -rights, after a fashion the fellows here don't dream of." - -"Wouldn't we? Breakers ahead! wouldn't we?" cried the other with -exultation. "But they've all cut their cables and gone adrift. There's -nothin' but misfortunes in this here world. It's a hard case for a -fellow who's sociably inclined to see his mates, as fine a set o' -villains as ever escaped hanging, partin' company without cuttin' each -other's throats or doin' any thing in a friendly way." A melancholy -pause succeeded this sentence.--"It was an ugly business that at Cape -Danger, warn't it, Mister Log?" at last asked the scoundrel of the -little man upon the stool. - -"Ugly, ugly, very ugly, I may say uncommonly, deplorably, ferociously -ugly, Mister Scrumpydike," replied the captain's clerk. - -"Well, it's no use lamenting the catastrophe now," observed the captain. -"All we've got to do is to get a new ship and a fresh set of hands. The -ship we've as good as got, but she can be of no use without a crew of -the right sort. To get such a set of fellows together will take some -time. We must either pick them up where we can, or try and make the -present crew adopt our views. This will be rather a ticklish business, -and requires very careful management, for the slightest knowledge of -our intentions among those not inclined to join us will wreck the whole -concern. Now, Scrumpy, you've got jawing tackle that will stand in any -weather." - -"Ay, ay, cap'ain," cried the fellow with a grin: "may I be washed to -rags in a waterspout if I couldn't bamboozle the devil's grandmother." - -"Well, you must sound these fellows, but do it cautiously--and try if -the inducement of plenty of plunder and a free life will be likely to -lead them to assist us in our bold undertaking. As for the boy Zabra, -although there appears something very mysterious about him, and he looks -as sharp as a sword-fish, I don't think it possible he can find me out. -Scorch my body to a cinder! but it would be a hard case if, after having -baffled so many big vessels, I should be sunk by such a bit of a craft -as that. However, I mus'n't stay here any longer or my absence may -create inquiry," observed the speaker as he proceeded to the door; then -looking at his associates said, "Remember what you have heard, and -steer your course accordingly," and with the same caution with which he -entered left the cabin. - -"Well, ar'n't this enough to make a fellow ready to jump down his own -throat wi' vexation?" remarked Scrumpydike to his companion. "Here, I -was jest 'gratulating myself that spiflicating that young blackamoor -would be a tolerable bit o' a pastime to cheer up the dulness o' this -here molloncholy life, when he turns round upon me and says it ar'n't -to be at no price! I'd rather live in a whale's belly up to my nose in -blubber than endure this uncomfortable state o' feeling. Scrunch me if -I wouldn't. Don't you think now, Master Log, it's as bad a state o' -existence as is possible for a human to know on?" - -"Bad, bad, shocking bad, particularly shocking bad, upon my word -very particularly shocking bad, Mister Scrumpydike," replied the -commiserating captain's clerk; and immediately afterwards the -dissatisfied villain walked away to join his unsuspicious messmates. - - - - -CHAP. III. - -A PHILANTHROPIST. - - -A few days after the circumstances that have been related, Oriel -Porphyry, being alone, broke open the packet that had been given him -by his father, and on perusal found it to contain the following -communication:-- - -"It is time, my dear Oriel, that you should know something of your -father's history; that being made acquainted with the steps by which he -has acquired his reputation, you may seek the same path to honour with a -certainty that it cannot mislead; and the moment is equally opportune -for you to learn the true state of your country, which you cannot know -unless you can have the account from one who is neither desirous of -deceiving himself nor his associates, that when you are called upon to -take your place on the grand stage of the world, as you will be aware -what portion of the drama has preceded your appearance, you may -understand the tendency of the whole so well, as to be able to play your -part with power, with truth, with a just conception of the character, to -the satisfaction of yourself, and with the admiration of your audience. -I have observed, with considerable anxiety, that you possess a -disposition that does not conform itself readily to the spirit -of the times. You are impatient of restraint--you are anxious for -enterprise--you are yearning for distinction;--not that distinction -which rewards the exertions of the truly great, the just, the good, the -benevolent--which is the loving admiration of their fellow-creatures, -and comes in the delightful shape of blessings, and good wishes, and -the sight of social happiness--but the vain splendour of a false renown, -such as is often acquired by adventurers, impostors, conquerors, and -tyrants, and is made visible in the shrieks of wounded men, in the -adulation of slaves, in tears and curses, blood and flame, in the blast -of trumpets and the clang of chains. Your eyes are enamoured of the -glory with which the mighty invest themselves: to excite the wonder of -the fearful and the foolish, and assist in their subjection--thrones -and sceptres, robes of state, gaudy ceremonies, and idle distinctions, -dazzle your senses--you would wish them yours, seek for them, fight for -them, die for them: having obtained them, your sole gratification would -exist in exhibiting yourself surrounded by these delusive honours, or -in conferring some of minor importance upon such of your followers as -may make themselves most useful or agreeable: dying in seeking their -possession, you would render up your everlasting soul, to mingle with -the bright source from which it sprung, with the sole consolation that -you will be talked of by a multitude you could not enslave. - -"The only unerring way of judging of the value of a thing is by the -happiness it produces. The degree of happiness that results to the -acquirer of this glory, of which you are so desirous, must indeed be -small, when we take into consideration the danger with which it is -obtained, the fear of losing it, and the struggles to maintain its -possession, which are its common accompaniments; and still less is the -quantity of happiness it creates among those at whose expense it must -exist--for there is no happiness in thraldom--in the debasement of human -nature to an idol--in the march of conquering hordes destroying as -they go--or in the bitter anguish of noble minds struggling in vain -to emancipate themselves from the tyranny under which they groan. The -only real happiness consists in the practice of benevolence, and the -only real glory is the admiration it excites. I have enjoyed a more -than ordinary share of happiness, because I have taken advantage of -opportunities for benefiting my fellow-creatures that were presented -to me in more than ordinary abundance, and I have acquired an unusual -degree of reputation for a private individual, in consequence of making -the most profitable use of these abundant opportunities for doing good. - -"It was in the middle of the last reign, when the late emperor, after -ascending the steps of military greatness to a throne, was pursuing an -uninterrupted career of conquest throughout the vast continent of this -immense portion of the globe, when I, a youth like yourself, but with -far different feelings, left the mansion of my father, (who had lately -been ennobled, as it is called, for his services in the wars,) to escape -from a way of life it was desired I, being his eldest son, should -follow--a way of slaughter and tyranny, of blood, and shame, and guilt, -which was disgustingly repugnant to my disposition,--and disguised, and -under a fictitious name, seeking some more honourable occupation, I was -so fortunate as to enter into the service of the wealthiest merchant in -the city of Columbus. I became useful to him--he praised my industry and -integrity--I was admired by his daughter--she loved me for the praises -to which she had been a frequent and not unwilling listener. He was -generous and noble in his nature--she simple, modest, and kind. She was -your mother, Oriel, and after having been enriched with her beauty and -excellence, I became possessed of all the store of treasure, which had -gone on accumulating as it passed from father to son through several -generations of princely merchants. - -"I had always done whatever trifling good the little power I had allowed -me to accomplish, and the sweetest gratifications I enjoyed arose from -these actions, and had always longed for the arrival of that time when -my sphere of usefulness might be equal to my desires; therefore when, -by the demise of my adopted father, I found myself the uncontrollable -master of funds almost exhaustless, to render the benefits I wished -them to produce as ample as possible, I studied every way which great -knowledge and extraordinary means could create to increase them, -that without diminishing my source of good I might have a liberal, -a continual, and increasing fund from which to realise my benevolent -intentions. With this object in view, and with the experience I had -acquired by many years of close application, I brought into operation -all my resources--my ships, continually increasing in number, traversed -every known sea, laden with the most desirable produce--and my agents, -always becoming more numerous, penetrated into every habitable region, -and opened new sources of traffic and fresh accumulations of wealth. The -consequence was, that I was enabled to live a life of the most active -benevolence. I purchased happiness by diffusing it around me. I founded -hospitals for the sick and asylums for the poor. I endeavoured to -lessen the growth of crime by increasing the means of intelligence, -and I attempted to strengthen the example of virtue by adding to the -recreative power of its advantages. I rewarded genius, I enriched worth, -I assisted industry, I fostered skill. I made disappointment forget her -name, and allowed misfortune to become a stranger in the places where I -was known. - -"But at this period, in what state of feeling lived the emperor--he -whose state you would envy, and whose pride you would covet? He was -getting into the winter of his days, but the fire that burnt within -him was not to be subdued by its frost. His soul was like a volcano -in a region of snow. He was disturbed by the restless turmoil of his -own thoughts, that made his couch of down a bed of rock, his robe of -sovereignty a perpetual blister, and the acclamations of a fickle -multitude a piercing discord. In vain, when he found that all his -conquests had been achieved, and he consolidated them into one immense -empire, comprising the two Americas, over which he ruled alone and -absolute, he tried to calm the fever of his desires by building palaces -and churches, erecting triumphal arches and towering pillars--creating -convenient highways, majestic bridges, noble aqueducts, immense canals, -and unrivalled docks:--in vain he strived to have forests grow in the -place of weeds, and sought to have gardens of roses in deserts of -sand--he encouraged agriculture--he promoted manufactures--he protected -commerce--science was ennobled in his halls, and learning dwelt -in comfort in his colleges:--in vain he established institutions, -originated titles, conferred honours, and distributed wealth--the fire -that slumbered in his breast was not to be thus extinguished. He was -miserable for want of opportunities for action. His busy inclinations -allowed him no repose. There was no peace for his soul. - -"The happiness I enjoyed became known to him--became familiar to -all--for with the true spirit of philanthropy, which knows no -distinction of creed or country, I endeavoured to confer my benefits -wherever they were most required; and the loving admiration with which -I found my name regarded in every part of the globe, and the abundant -pleasures I saw arise from my own exertions wherever they could be -applied, created in me a degree of happiness almost impossible to be -exceeded. He became aware of my extraordinary wealth, and was told of -the beneficial effects it was producing. The emperor sent me word that -a certain distinction waited my acceptance--with a proper humility I -declined the favour. Surprised at the refusal, and desirous of tempting -me into obligation, he caused it to be intimated to me that a higher -honour would, if desired, be granted--this, in the same manner, and with -as little consideration, I also refused. His astonishment increased, and -his inclination to shackle me with the trappings of his own grandeur -grew more intense. I was told that the highest honours to which a -subject could aspire might at a wish be mine; and I need scarcely add -that the offer met with the same result as its predecessors. No, my son! -as Oriel Porphyry I had acquired almost boundless riches, and had lived -in a state of happiness which left no desire ungratified--as Oriel -Porphyry I had obtained an influence over the hearts of my fellow-men, -compared to which the power of conquerors was an idle boast--and as -Oriel Porphyry I had created for myself a renown beside which the glory -of an emperor sunk into insignificance. What could be to me the baubles -he sought to confer--the sounding titles--or the pompous privileges? -They could not extend my usefulness a hair's breadth--they could not add -to my enjoyments the fraction of a grain. - -"To say that the emperor was not offended by my repeated refusals -would be to give a more charitable interpretation to his feelings -than would be true; but my behaviour seemed to him something -so extraordinary--something so opposed to the spirit of his -experience--and something so utterly incomprehensible to his notions -of human nature--that he sent for me to be satisfied by his own eyes -that there existed in the world what he considered so remarkable a -phenomenon. He endeavoured to persuade me into a conviction that I did -wrong, in not accepting the advantages, as he was pleased to call them, -I might obtain; and I replied by describing the advantages that more -justly deserved the name I already possessed. I asked if he could give -me any thing of real value that was not at my disposal, and enumerated -every good I was enabled to bestow. He reflected, and the more he -reflected, the more he seemed to wonder. I do not remember the whole of -our conversation, but it was of sufficient interest to him to desire my -visit to be repeated. - -"I saw the emperor frequently at his continual requests, and the more I -conversed with him the more he appeared gratified with my conversation. -I expressed my opinions fearlessly, and my boldness he excused--I -censured his government with freedom, and he listened without offence. -I suggested some valuable improvements, and my ideas were immediately -adopted; but our acquaintance did not end there. He was continually -entreating me to occupy a place in his council, from which I endeavoured -to be excused; but on reflection, seeing that it might confer upon me -opportunities I could not otherwise possess, for giving a more liberal -character to the government, by which means I might improve the -condition of the people, I at last consented, on the understanding that -it should confer on me no rank, no privileges, and no emoluments. I knew -that my country had once been a republic, and under that title had for -centuries enjoyed an unexampled degree of prosperity; but though I would -have preferred a government of a similar character, more perfect in its -influence, and more simple in its organisation, as a change in the state -of things could not evidently be made, without creating a degree of -confusion, strife, hatred, and unhappiness, the thought of which I could -not endure, it was my aim so to work and improve the machinery of the -state, that the public wants should be as completely satisfied as it -was possible for them to be. It matters little under what name a nation -is governed,--a monarchy, an oligarchy, and a republic are but different -names for the same thing; and a president, a doge, and an emperor, are -only different titles for the same office: they may all represent a -state of tyranny in the country, and their chiefs may become the most -despotic rulers of the people. The true value of a thing, as I have -previously said, is the quantity of happiness it can be made to produce; -and every system of government may, by proper administration, be made -productive of the greatest degree of happiness to the governed. - -"At the head of the grand council of the empire I was in due time -installed; and while I there remained, was the originator of a multitude -of various measures, having for their object the public welfare. My -coadjutors I found to be men with whom I could but little sympathise, -because they had no sympathy for their fellows. They were proud, vain, -selfish, and intolerant. They imagined themselves governors instead -of ministers. They liked to rule better than to advise. They bowed in -abject servility to their superior, and strived to make those having -less power as slavish in their behaviour to themselves. - -"It is not at all extraordinary that such dispositions should regard the -untitled merchant who presided at their deliberations, always exercised -his own judgment in preference to theirs, paid no deference to their -fancied superiority, and appeared on terms of equality even with their -emperor, as one unqualified for government, and solely kept in office -by the emperor's foolish partiality; and I was neither surprised or -offended, when I found them opposing the measures I brought forward; -treating my arguments with inattention, and my person with disrespect. -Finding that, under such circumstances, my services could be of no value -to the community, I was obliged to request the emperor to release me -from the responsibilities of my situation. He desired to know the -reasons for my resignation. I told him. I was entreated to remain; an -intimation was conveyed to the members of the council from him they -acknowledged as their master, and, when I returned to my duties, I -found them rivalling each other in obsequiousness to my will. That, -notwithstanding the readiness with which they embraced my views, they -hated me in their hearts, I regret to say, was too evident. But they -were little to be blamed. Had they known that, even in the idle rank -which they prized so highly, I was the equal of the noblest, and the -superior of the rest, they would have regarded me with more generous -feelings; but none knew when my father died, and my younger brother took -possession of the titles and estates of the family; that the rightful -heir, long lamented as dead, was living, in the person of an object of -secret disdain to his coadjutors; and that he was Oriel Porphyry, the -merchant. - -"It may easily be imagined by you, from what I have related, that the -emperor had sympathies in his nature rarely met with in conquerors; but -by me they were first awakened. On one of our earliest interviews, when -the spirit that kept his desires in a ferment was still strong upon him, -he said,-- - -"'I want action--I want action. I cannot live except in the stir of -battle, and the pursuit of conquest. But my triumphs are completed--I -have nothing left to conquer.' - -"Sire," said I, "the most valuable--the most difficult conquest remains -unachieved." - -"'What have I to conquer?' he asked, eagerly. - -"Yourself," I replied. I will do him the justice to say that he did not -lose sight of the suggestion. His mind became liberalised--his heart -expanded to the influence of sincere philanthropy--for the first time he -understood the nature of true happiness; and although from the effects -of a disease of long standing his reign, from this time, was brief, he -lived to effect some valuable reformations in the laws, and by their -results in ameliorating the condition of the people, provided, as far -as he had the power, a remedy for the mischiefs he had created. - -"His successor was a weak, proud, vain young man, possessing a -disposition for tyranny--usually found in company with incapacity -holding power; and it is almost unnecessary to state that such a -character found plenty of bad advisers, and that I was speedily -obliged by their machinations to retire from all participation in the -government. Although my time had always been actively employed, I had -regarded the progress of your education with so much interest, that I -never failed to create opportunities for superintending your studies. I -witnessed the developement of your mind with increasing pleasure, and -found a continual gratification in the approaches you were making to the -perfect dignity of manhood. About this time we went to reside in the -neighbourhood of Philadelphia's noble mansion, because the scenery was -endeared to me by all the most pleasant of my early recollections, and -I encouraged your intimacy with our proud neighbours, in consequence -of an inclination I had long retained, which was created in me by many -powerful reasons with which you cannot now be made acquainted, for a -union between our families. Philadelphia seemed for a considerable time -with great cordiality to enter into my views; but as the government of -which he was a supporter were pursuing measures highly inimical to the -liberties of the people, and as he found I would not be brought into any -thing like an approval of such a policy, he began to look upon me with -less friendship--he thought it would hurt his loyalty to retain feelings -of sociality for one who opposed the measures of his sovereign, and -imagined it beneath the dignity of his nobility to encourage an alliance -with an untitled merchant. But he little knew that a word would make -me his equal in his own ideas of greatness; which, when uttered, would -at the same time reduce him to a state of insignificance to which, in -comparison, my plebeian condition would have appeared to him princely. - -"From a friendly neighbour, Philadelphia became an implacable enemy. I -regretted, for the reasons to which I have alluded, that all idea of the -proposed union should be thus suddenly terminated; but I had noticed -in Eureka so powerful a romantic impulse in her nature, and observed -that its effect upon you was so productive of ambitious desires, that -I did not lament your separation, but in a very slight degree. The -disappointment under which I observed you suffer so acutely, and the -restless eagerness for a life of enterprise, I noticed becoming in you -daily less supportable, induced me to plan the voyage upon which you -are now proceeding. Engage yourself in careful observation of every -thing you meet worthy of notice--seek every opportunity for diffusing -happiness among those near you, by whom it may be required; and all -motive for exertion, that does not tend towards benevolence, all regret -for the past, and all desires for the future, will be forgotten in the -enjoyment of your own happiness." - -"It cannot be," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, as he concluded the preceding -sentence. "I honour my father's noble nature, and would do all in my -power to fulfil his benevolent intentions, but I cannot give up Eureka. -My ambition I will strive to conquer; but love is not so easily -subdued. What care I for the disdain of the proud Philadelphia? I see -signs in the times that are likely to bring about important changes, if -this state of things continues. The people are dissatisfied with their -rulers, and the emperor is endeavouring to make himself absolute. Every -day will increase the public discontent, and when the crisis arrives, -there will be nothing required but a leader, and down the whole rotten -fabric of despotism must tumble. I will wait the time; and then, my -father! we will see who is greatest in the land--the generous merchant -or the proud noble." - - - - -CHAP. IV. - -A FIRE AT SEA. - - -The mid-day meal had concluded in the chief cabin, and its partakers -were grouped round a table in the centre of the apartment, assisting -with conversation the enjoyment of the wines and delicacies of which -they were partaking. The cabin was elegant in its decorations, but they -were marked by a more valuable quality than mere elegance: the pictures -and other ornaments, possessing features of peculiar interest to persons -engaged in traffic, for they represented, or were connected in some way -with the objects, the pleasures, and the advantages of commerce; some -weapons arranged in a picturesque manner, and placed amongst them by -Oriel Porphyry, were the only things there seen that did not partake of -the peaceful character of the appearance of the room. - -"The only thing I can see in nature," said Captain Compass, as he sat -at one end of the table opposite Oriel Porphyry, re-filling his glass, -"and the only thing I think worth seeing is glory. May I sink to the -bottom of the sea in the next gale, if there's any thing else a fellow -should wish to possess. What do you say, master Porphyry?" - -"Why, I must acknowledge it has extraordinary attractions," replied the -young merchant. "It is generally difficult to obtain,--its pursuit is -usually attended with much hazard, but then there is such an excitement -in the effort made to possess it, and such a splendour accompanying its -possession, that difficulties and dangers ought not to be considered by -those by whom it is sought." - -"Exactly," responded the captain, with more than usual cordiality; "and -they only can obtain glory who express such sentiments." - -"But it is uncertain as yet what definition you give to the idea you -call glory," remarked the oldest member of the party,--a man rather -above the medium height, and considerably beyond the middle age, with a -large head, nearly bald, prominent nose, and deep-set eyes, well shaded -by a pair of thick grisly eyebrows. His features were somewhat stern -in their expression, apparently more from the result of continual -reflection than from want of kindly feeling; and although they indicated -considerable mental power, a consciousness of superiority betrayed -itself quite as conspicuously. It may easily be imagined that this was -the learned Professor Fortyfolios. "The consideration of any abstract -idea," continued the professor, who, it will be observed, having been -a public lecturer in the university of Columbus, had acquired a more -important manner of expressing his sentiments than was usual in -conversation. "The consideration of any abstract idea, appears under -different circumstances in the minds of different individuals, but this -is as much the result of an habitual tendency to certain associations in -the person who considers the subject, as the consequence of the variety -of organisations that exist in society. Scarcely any two persons are -to be met with whose reflective faculties pursue the progress of -ratiocination exactly in the same manner,--because no two individuals -being exactly alike, and the mind being a portion of the self, partaking -of its individuality, as in a mirror, the shadow is a resemblance of the -features, each must receive its own separate impressions, and consider -them in its own peculiar manner. It follows, as a natural consequence, -that the thoughts of the speaker will partake of his individual -habitude, and that his conception of glory, or any other abstract idea, -will be coloured by his particular way of life." - -"Well, I don't know in what latitude abstract ideas may be found," said -the captain, a little puzzled by the professor's explanation; "but I -think any body knows the landmarks of glory. If I saw a little ship -manned by a few brave spirits, fight a ship double its size, or may be -two ships or may be three, defended by a crew as superior in numbers; -and after raking her fore and aft, smashing every thing to splinters, -and cutting every thing to rags, pipe all hands to board, and sweep away -the enemy from their own decks into the sea, and after that sail away -with the prize, I should call _that_ glory." - -"The action is glorious no doubt," observed Oriel Porphyry, "but it -does not realise my conception of glory. I imagine a man, in the truest -sense of the word, living in a country groaning under the despotism -of a tyrant, and having that spirit of freedom in his nature, which -must always accompany greatness; and that uncontrollable energy of -valour in his character, which is its element, pointing out to his -fellow-sufferers the cause of their slavery, stirring in their hearts an -unconquerable love of independence, and after gathering them together -by twos and threes, then by hundreds and thousands, and lastly, by -resistless multitudes, at their head attacking the hordes of armed -plunderers by whom their subjugation had been effected; driving -them from the tented field to the battlemented wall, and from the -battlemented wall to the grave; and when not a trace of tyranny remained -throughout the land, I imagine that man the liberator of his country, -and the emancipator of its people, honoured as he ought to be, and -possessed with the power with which their gratitude should invest him, -conducting the nation he had enfranchised to the highest degree of -prosperity and greatness--and I call _that_ glory." - -"Then my notion of the same idea differs materially from those you -have given," said the professor. "In the first place, there are two -antagonist principles, from which all good and ill emanate--intelligence -and ignorance; and only according to the predominance of the former can -we judge of the extent of the excellence of any thing. As we know that -all which is beneficial proceeds from intelligence, and that without -intelligence nothing good can arise, and that without good there can -be no such thing as glory, it must be evident that he who produces -intelligence acquires the truest and greatest glory. The philosopher who -spends laborious days in amassing knowledge by observation and study, -which he distributes to the whole world, and whose labours continue to -the end of time to ennoble and refine mankind; in the fame with which -his name must be inseparably connected among all generations, and -wherever civilisation exists, realises, in my opinion, the _only_ true -idea of glory the human mind can conceive." - -"I beg leave to differ from you all," cried a stout little man (whose -round, rosy face bore the perfect expression of good humour), sitting -opposite the professor, and whose professional conversation proclaimed -him to be Dr. Tourniquet, "I beg leave to differ from you all, don't you -see. I cannot imagine glory to belong to anything that does not tend -to alleviate the sufferings or remove the diseases of the human frame, -don't you see. Life is subject to a multitude of maladies--from the -cradle to the grave there is a constant succession of aches and pains, -and few escape without experiencing disorders more or less dreadful. -Now my idea is, that evil and good are but other names for pain and -pleasure, don't you see; that he who lessens the quantity of evil is -alone entitled to the name of benefactor, which brings with it the -greatest degree of glory it is possible to possess, don't you see; and -that, consequently, the man who devotes his life to procure others -the enjoyment of health--who boldly ventures among the most malignant -contagions to study their effects, and origins--who carefully examines -every morbid structure in the living and the dead, at the greatest -personal risk and inconvenience, till he becomes familiar with all its -appearances and discovers its creating cause; and by long study of the -properties of different medicinal substances, of external circumstances -that tend to produce health or disease, and by his intimate acquaintance -with the human body in every state in which it can be seen;--in my -opinion, that man, who by knowledge thus acquired, and thus applied, -through his example made public, being enabled to save or prolong the -lives of millions of his fellow-creatures, and multiply the blessings -of existence, in the admiration with which his name must always be -regarded, is the _only_ perfect conception of glory that can be -entertained, don't you see." - -"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed the captain, somewhat contemptuously. "What -glory can there be in giving a fellow a dose of physic?" - -"Unless there be some ennobling sentiment in the mind, which is -developed in great actions such as I have described, glory cannot -exist," said Oriel Porphyry. - -"Strife must always be a bad means to whatever end it may lead," -observed his tutor; "and as nothing but ignorance can make men endeavour -to destroy each other, strife can never be productive of true glory." - -"The amount of pain, resulting from battles either on sea or land, is -immense," remarked the doctor. "Gunshot wounds, fractures, contusions, -ruptures, laceration, inflammation, suppuration, mortification, and -death; and, therefore, he who creates so much pain, cannot, by his -actions, be said to achieve anything like glory, don't you see. As for -philosophy and its qualifications for being considered the only thing -that is most glorious, if the philosopher cannot set a broken bone, or -remove a disease, pain must exist in spite of such philosophy; and -therefore, the philosopher, who is enabled to prevent or remove pain, -has the best reason to glory in his philosophy, don't you see." - -"But pain cannot, on many occasions, be either removed or prevented," -replied the professor, seemingly preparing himself for an argument. -"Pain is frequently produced by accidents which cannot be foreseen, and -therefore cannot be prevented; and these frequently assume shapes on -which science is exerted in vain, and therefore they cannot be removed: -in these cases, where surgery and medicine are perfectly useless, -philosophy is triumphant; for it will enable the sufferer to be -regardless of his pain, and to look upon his dissolution with -indifference." - -"What is the use of your philosophy to the insane?" asked the doctor, -who seemed to take considerable delight in opposing the professor. - -"I should imagine it would be about as serviceable as your medical -treatment," retorted the other. - -"Nothing of the kind," replied his antagonist with a chuckle of -triumphant congratulation. "A knowledge of the anatomy of the brain, -its functions, and operations, with sufficient information as to the -patient's history, general habits and mode of thinking, applied by an -experienced practitioner, may often effect a cure, don't you see." - -"May often, but how often?" inquired Fortyfolios, with some appearance -of sarcasm. "To one restored to sanity, there will be found fifty -incurables--so where's your remedy?" - -"To one philosopher there will be discovered a thousand fools, don't you -see--so where's your philosophy?" responded the other in a similar tone. - -"Dr. Tourniquet," replied the professor with a look of offended dignity, -"I trust my philosophy will be found whenever it is required." - -"Professor Fortyfolios," said the doctor, evidently desirous of pushing -matters with his antagonist as far as possible, "if you wait till it's -required, perhaps you may have to wait a long time, don't you see." - -"No Sir, I don't see!" cried the now angry Professor with much warmth. -"And allow me to add, Dr. Tourniquet--allow me to add, I say----" - -"The wine, if you please," cried Oriel Porphyry, who, with the captain, -had enjoyed the discussion till he thought it necessary to interfere. - -"Ay, the wine, Professor Fortyfolios," repeated the doctor, with his -usual good humour. "It is the most admirable addition to your excellent -arguments you could have conceived; and, therefore, as a mark of sincere -respect for your superior learning, allow me to propose your health, -don't you see." - -The professor recovered his dignity immediately. "I agree completely," -said he, after having properly acknowledged the compliment he had -received, "I agree completely with the opinion of my accomplished -friend, as to the great degree of pain produced by warfare, and----" - -"Froth and moonshine!" exclaimed the captain, interrupting him. "Why we -must all die some day or other, and it is quite as agreeable to strike -your colours to a bullet or a sword thrust, as to old age or the gout. -In my opinion, a fellow who lives past his strength, is like a ship that -isn't sea-worthy,--he ought to be destroyed as useless. As for fighting -being unnatural, it's the most natural thing in nature. In the sea, the -big fish destroy the little fish; in the air, the great birds prey upon -the smaller ones; and on the land, the more powerful animals devour -those of less strength. Every thing has to fight for its existence, and -so does man." - -"But man alone preys upon his own species," remarked the professor. - -"You're out of your reckoning there, most decidedly, Mister Professor," -replied Captain Compass hastily: "cocks, quails, pheasants, bulls, deer, -dogs, and cats fight each other, as long as they've got a leg to stand -upon; and the sow devours her own farrow, and the rabbit her own litter, -without any sort of compunction." - -"There can at least be no apology for the ferocity with which man in a -state of civilisation, pursues his fellow-creatures to the death, don't -you see," said the doctor. - -"Ferocity!" exclaimed the captain fiercely. "Who are so ferocious as -philosophers?" - -The professor and the doctor uttered a simultaneous exclamation of -surprise. - -"Did you ever hear of fellows the most ready for fighting," continued -the other, "filling the veins of live animals with poison,--maiming -and torturing poor dumb creatures, in every way ingenuity could devise, -merely for the sake of experiment; and then, after having indulged -themselves with the sight of such cruelty, sitting down quietly to -describe in the most minute manner, the agonies they have inflicted? -No, it's only the philosopher does these things,--the philosopher, who -shudders at the idea of a man killing those who seek to kill him, but -counts how many seconds an unoffending animal is in dying, after having -its brain scooped out, or its heart torn from its breast. Scrunch me, if -I wouldn't at once be the man who kills whoever opposes him, a thousand -times, than such a cowardly, calculating, inhuman miscreant." - -What the reply to these observations might have been, it is impossible -to say, as the party were disturbed just at that moment by a knock at -the cabin door, and entrance being given, in walked the ungracious -villain Scrumpydike. - -"Well, what news?" inquired the captain. - -"Ship a fire, Sir," said the man, composedly. - -"The ship on fire!" loudly exclaimed all at once, as they suddenly rose -from their seats with different degrees of alarm expressed on their -several countenances. - -"Yes Sir, ship a fire, about half a mile off," replied the sailor, -looking as if he would have laughed if he had dared at the consternation -he had created. - -It was wonderful to observe the change which took place on hearing -the last announcement. The idea of being roasted alive, would be -sufficiently terrible to scare the stoutest heart; and on this occasion -even the bold spirit of Oriel Porphyry quailed at the sudden and -frightful danger. It is a mistake to imagine, that the brave never feel -an emotion of fear; dangers that they have contemplated, may be met -without the slightest feeling of dread; but a new danger, for which they -are unprepared, is sure to leave upon the bravest of the brave some -impression of affright. The alarm, however, that had been created was -but momentary, and as soon as it was erased, the whole party hastened -upon deck to observe the conflagration. Scrumpydike had been left alone; -so seeing the coast clear, and the table covered with tempting viands, -he hastily proceeded to cram his mouth with preserves and fruits; and -was just raising a bottle to his lips, to wash them down with a good -draught of exquisite wine, when he beheld in the shadow of the room, -what he thought to be, two flaming eyes, fixed upon him, flashing -glances of scorn and indignation: the bottle fell from his hands into -a thousand pieces, his forbidding features expressed the most intense -horror, and with a piercing yell he fled from the room trembling with -all the terrors of an evil and superstitious nature, and leaving Zabra -more than usually gratified by the impression he had made. - -The night was dark as the grave. There was no moon, and no stars. One -immense cloud hung over the broad surface of the ocean, like a mighty -pall, and the constant gusts of wind that hurried with their melancholy -voices through the sails of the ship, might be supposed to be the lament -of nature at the funeral of the world. The waters swept up to the -vessel, like waves of boiling pitch. The air was burthened with an -impenetrable gloom. An intense blackness enveloped the whole untrackable -length of way over which the ship had passed. Looking back from the -vessel all was like the prospect of the dead. Looking upward, it seemed -as if the eyes of heaven had been put out, and that a deep and awful -blindness had blasted the vision of the universe. Save at a considerable -distance ahead, all was a chaos of darkness--a visible nothingness--an -infinite void; but when the eye looked in that direction, flames -appeared to shoot out of the pitchy sea, licking the darkness, and -writhing, darting, twisting through the smoke like serpents in the -agonies of death. As the light became stronger, part of the hull and -rigging of a ship could be discerned, and hurrying to and fro, minute -forms, readily discovered to be human figures, became visible. Now a -shower of blazing sparks rushed as from a volcano, up, up, high into -the gloomy cloud, piercing its black depths with their lurid beams, and -immediately the flame seemed dulled; a moment after, they burst out -again, with a fiercer fury, and with a doubled volume; fragments of -burning timber were hurled into the air with a giant's strength; flames -red, blue, and yellow, and vapours of every conceivable colour from -white to black, rose and fell, and mingled and separated, like an army -of many nations fighting for mastery; and now that the whole extent of -the vessel was evidently one mass of resistless fire, its fierce rays -were reflected over the vast surface of the surrounding ocean, making -visible dark figures, that looked like despairing men struggling in the -drowning waves, and scorching rafters hissing and smoking around them. -Presently when the glare of light was at the strongest, and the ship was -seen blazing to the water's edge, a sudden movement was observed, the -fire sunk into the wave beneath it,--a tall column of thick grey smoke -rose in its place, and in a moment all was again swallowed up in deep, -utter, and boundless darkness. - -It appeared as if the contemplation of this spectacle had hitherto -kept every one on board the Albatross from any consideration for the -sufferers; but a suggestion having been made, immediately each person -seemed to exceed the other in anxiety to render them assistance. - -"Burn a blue light at the mast head!" exclaimed the captain. - -"Ay, ay, Sir," responded Hearty. - -"Set up every stitch of canvass she'll bear," continued the captain. - -"Ay, ay, Sir," repeated the other. - -"Put her machine to the fullest speed!" - -"Ay, ay, Sir!" was again the ready exclamation. - -"And bear right down upon the spot where the flames were last seen." - -"Ay, ay, Sir." - -In a moment the deck, the sails, and rigging were enveloped in a bright -blue flame, that gave the vessel and its crew the appearance of the ship -of death freighted with spectres; and the Albatross was rushing through -the waves with the velocity of lightning. - -"There seems great danger, while going at such extraordinary speed, of -passing over the people who may have escaped from the burning vessel, -don't you see," remarked Dr. Tourniquet. - -"Never fear," replied the captain. "If they can't keep a sharp look out -it's their own fault; and if they don't hail us when they see us, they -can't blame us for the consequences." - -"Ship, ahoy! Starboard your helm!" cried a voice; and immediately a -shriek of piercing agony arose from under the ship's bows as the swift -vessel passed right over a large boat crammed full of men. - -"Ease her! Stop her!" exclaimed a dozen voices at once, as soon as the -accident was discovered. - -"There! I told you how 't would be, don't you see," said the doctor. - -"Out with the galley and pick 'em up!" shouted Captain Compass, surlily; -and the men hastened to obey the command. - -"Take two or three blue lights with you, and stow them in the stern -sheets," he continued. - -"Gently with her," cried Hearty, as he and some of his messmates lowered -the boat into the sea, and the first who leapt into her was Oriel -Porphyry. - -"Now, boys, pull away!" exclaimed the young merchant, as he laid hold of -an oar, "and you shall be rewarded for every man you save." - -The sailors, however, wanted no such stimulus. They exerted themselves -bravely, and were quickly in the midst of between twenty or thirty -swimmers, struggling in the waves and shouting for assistance. The light -in the boat not only showed to the drowning men the near approach of the -aid they required, but directed its crew to the places where they could -be of most service. - -"Help! help!" screamed one, with the water gurgling in his throat. - -"Save me, or I sink!" cried another, nearly exhausted by his struggles. - -"Here! here! here!" shouted a dozen voices in different directions. -Among the most active in the rescue was Oriel Porphyry, who was so -fortunate as to save many who were on the very point of sinking; and -being well seconded, with great difficulty and at considerable risk they -succeeded in hauling into their boat fifteen, many of whom were more -dead than alive; but the rest they saw engulphed in the waters before -they could reach them. - -"Hollo!" exclaimed Hearty, in a tone of wonder and disappointment, as -the crew were about to return. "Where's the ship?" - -Not a vestige of the Albatross was visible, and nothing was seen before -or around them but impenetrable darkness. - -"May I be food for fishes, if this arn't a pleasant look out," observed -Climberkin. - -"Surely they'll burn a light," said Oriel Porphyry. - -"I've my misgivings on that 'ere head," muttered Hearty. - -"But how can we get back to the ship without?" inquired the merchant's -son. - -"There'd be no difficulty about that, Sir," here remarked Boggle, "if -we knowed her whereabouts; but a man as is blind can't see, and nobody -can point out a thing in the dark if they has no notion where it is." - -"You're a conjuror," replied Oriel. - -"No, not _quite_ so clever as that, Sir," rejoined the man. "But I likes -to have a notion o' things in general, as every man as is a man, and -thinks like a man, should." - -"Well, I wish, among your notions of things in general, you could find -one that will lead us to the ship," said master Porphyry. "I don't like -the idea of these poor fellows in their wet jackets passing the night -here, nor have I any great desire for remaining here myself." - -"That's not the worst we've got to expect, Sir," said Hearty; "for if -the ship holds on her course, when we can see our way in the mornin', -she'll be far enough out o' sight, and here we shall be--nearly thirty -on us--crammed together in a open boat out at sea, where there's no land -within more nor five hundred miles on us; without never a compass, or a -bit o' biscuit, or a drop o' water." - -"Surely, Captain Compass has forgotten we cannot find our way back -without seeing the vessel," said Oriel Porphyry, now beginning to feel -some anxiety for the fate of himself and his associates. "But we cannot -be much above a hundred yards from the ship. Shout as loud as you can, -and that will put them in mind of our existence." - -"Ahoy!--Ahoy!--Ahoy!--Hoy!--Hoy! Oy!" Every one who was able shouted as -loud as he could, and then waited in perfect silence for a reply. - -"Yeho!--Yeho!--Yeho! Yho!--Ho!--O!" was replied by voices at a short -distance. - -"That's some on 'em," exclaimed Hearty, steering the boat towards the -place from whence the sounds came. - -"Hulloo! Hulloo! Ulloo! Loo! Oo!" was heard in another direction. - -"Well if this arn't a most considerable cruel puzzlement, I'll be -transmogrified," observed Boggle. The men again rested on their oars, -some with perplexity, others with superstitious fear. - -"There's the Albatross!" cried they, joyfully, all at once, as a blue -flame was seen to rise in the midst of the darkness, and disclose the -well-known figure of their beautiful vessel, at rather more than a -hundred yards from them. - -"Pull away, mates!" shouted Hearty; and the oarsmen, straining every -muscle, soon brought their boat alongside the ship. - - - - -CHAP. V. - -PERILS OF EMIGRATION. - - -"Cheer up, my dolphins!" loudly exclaimed Climberkin to the men rescued -from drowning, whom he and his shipmates were endeavouring to make as -comfortable as possible after their fashion. "Cheer up, and wet your -gills with this--precious sight better stuff nor salt water, of which -sort o' liquidation I've a notion you were obligated last night to -drink more than was agreeable. Give us your fin, my flying fish!" he -continued, as in the most cordial manner he shook the hand of a fine -looking young man who sat near him. "A fellow don't deserve to be -called a naval if he ar'nt a got no 'miseration for another fellow in -misfortune. So here's to 'ee--and may you never have such tipple _above_ -your gills, and all'ays keep the salt water _under_ your foot." - -"None on us 'a heard the 'ticulars o' this here deplorable -'flagration," said Hearty, "and if it arn't too unpleasant to 'municate, -I should like to hear the whole circumbendibus." - -"Perhaps none of my comrades, now present, are so well acquainted with -the circumstances of that unhappy affair as myself," remarked the young -man just alluded to; "and if you will allow me, I will not only relate -to you all concerning it that has come within my observation, but -combine the information with a narrative of my own life that possibly -may render it more interesting." - -Consent having been readily and unanimously given, the stranger -proceeded to fulfil the intention he had communicated. - -"I am a native of Malthusia, an extensive province far into the interior -of Australia, where my family, for many generations, had owned a small -estate; but as the difficulty of living in any state approaching -comfort, in a densely populated country, where consumption exceeds -supply, and the price of labour is reduced to limits within which life -can scarcely be supported, in consequence of the constant pressure of -competition, produced by the supply greatly exceeding the demand, became -so great, it was considered amongst us whether it would not be the most -advantageous thing that could be done under the circumstances, to leave -a land where we could not exist with the same respectability in which -our fathers had lived, and seek our fortunes in a new country, where -the means of subsistence were more easily procured, and the results of -labour more profitable to the industrious. The idea was debated long and -frequently before it was resolved upon. Children of the soil, whose most -pleasurable associations were connected with the land on which we had -been born, it could not be expected that we could easily tear asunder -the loving ties that connected us to our ancient home. My father was -getting into the vale of life, but possessed much of the strength of -man in his vigour; and myself and five other brothers were strong and -active, ingenious, laborious, and persevering. We were considered the -very persons for whom emigration would be most advantageous. - -"But, besides the natural disinclination to leave the scene of every -pleasure I had known, I had a still stronger repugnance, which I found -it impossible to remove. May I claim your indulgence, while I speak of -one who made my native earth and sky a paradise of delights. She, of -whom I speak, Optima, the fair, the kind, the good, by the sweetness of -her disposition and the excellence of her behaviour, created in me that -perfect sympathy, which greater personal attractions and a less amount -of moral advantages, would have failed to have produced in a nature like -mine. From having lived in each other's society from childhood, and -our fortunes and prospects being as nearly as possible alike, we had -mutually indulged in the same fond hopes of an undivided existence, -and in our quiet walks by the hill side, and by the margin of the soft -flowing stream, and in the long delightful rests we took beneath the -shadow of the friendly trees, our little ambition was pictured in rosy -colours, and the landscape of our future seemed to glow with sunshine, -gladness, and beauty. At this time, having suddenly been made an orphan, -Optima became dependent upon an old querulous aunt, who having saved a -little property in the course of a long life, which she designed for her -niece, was desirous that she should marry some one of still more ample -means; and opposed our union with all the despotism she could exercise: -but we managed to meet as usual, though not quite so frequently. -Notwithstanding the efforts made to keep us asunder, and although in -consequence of the gratitude she felt towards her relative for the -protection she had received, she would not listen to my wishes for an -immediate union, for the purpose of joining the intended emigrants, she -bade me hope for better times, and assured me, with all the fervour of -her guileless spirit, that her affection must endure with her existence. - -"Preparations were now made for the departure of my family for their -destination to a flourishing colony on the European continent, but I -finding it impossible to quit the scene that held all that was dear -to me, resolved to remain in Australia, supporting myself by the -application of an unceasing industry, till in company with my adored -Optima, I could join them in their new home. My brothers did not seem -to approve of my resolution, and endeavoured to induce me to change it; -but my father, who had more knowledge of human nature, understood my -motives, and left me to follow my own inclinations. I busied myself in -assisting in their arrangements, but I found my feelings far more active -than my endeavours. I strived to shut out from my mind all idea of -the loneliness in which I must live after the departure of my family, -and sought to banish the fear I sometimes experienced, that as then -the difficulty of seeing Optima would be increased, some unfortunate -accident would render our union impossible. Our interviews now became -exceedingly painful, my entreaties grew more urgent, my dread of the -consequences of her refusal more intense; but she only answered me -with tears; and at last, as the time drew near for quitting Malthusia, -our hearts became too full for utterance, and our congratulations at -meeting, and sorrows at parting, were alike silent. - -"'Ardent!' said she to me on one occasion, after we had sat together a -long time without daring to speak, 'you must not think me unkind by thus -seeming to oppose your happiness. I do a violence to my own feelings, -indeed I do, Ardent, whenever I refuse your solicitations.'--Her sobs -for some time prevented her proceeding; at last she continued;--'But I -should be selfish, were I to allow myself to do as you would have me, -and act with a regardlessness of your interests, for which I should -never be able to forgive myself. My aunt, it is evident to all who see -her, is rapidly approaching her dissolution. She has been kind to me. I -wish not her last moments to be rendered miserable, by what in me would -appear to her ingratitude, and I am most anxious for your sake, dear -Ardent, that she should not, through any imprudence of mine, annul those -intentions in my favour she has so frequently expressed. Her property is -but small, but it will enable us to join your family, and with industry -and economy may produce for us a greater degree of comfort than without -it we can hope to obtain. Wait, Ardent; the time is not propitious now; -but if we are not impatient of our happiness, we shall soon be as happy -as we can desire.' - -"I pressed her more closely to my breast--I blessed her in my heart, but -my voice seemed to have lost all power of expressing my emotions; no -longer I made use of entreaties. I was grateful, and resigned. The day -came on which the emigrants were to leave the seat of all their past -enjoyments. My brothers appeared careless of quitting the land of their -fathers. They were hard working, hard thinking men, who valued nothing -except for its utility, and looked upon the affection with which memory -regards the scenes of its pleasures, as romantic nonsense, only fit to -delight children. But my father could not so readily get rid of the -impressions he had cherished from his infancy; with him the departure -from his home seemed a banishment from his happiness. He visited the -lands his forefathers had owned, but which had long passed from their -descendants. He walked in the fields he had ploughed and drilled and -harrowed since he was a boy, and he looked upon the trees he had -planted, and the buildings he had raised, as if he was taking a last -farewell of a company of ancient friends. As he approached the cemetery -in which lay the bones of his ancestors, his manly form seemed to lose -half its strength--his ruddy cheek grew pale--his step became feeble, -his eye dim, and his heart faint; and as he bared his head that the cool -breeze might fan the thin white hairs that played about his forehead, he -was obliged to lean against a monument to support his sinking form. Here -rested in peace the wife of his bosom and the mother of his children; -and he felt as if he was about to desert her remains to be trampled on -by strangers. He thought of where _his_ grave would be, and in the agony -of his heart lamented that two who had never been divided in life should -in death be placed so far apart. - -"I witnessed the sale of the land and stock; I assisted in packing up -the moveables; I was present when the neighbours came to bid farewell, -and to express their honest regrets; and after having beheld my family -turn their backs upon the habitation of their race, I hastened to -Optima, with the design of enjoying her sweet presence for the last -time, until I had parted with my father and my brothers at the nearest -sea-port. I came to the house of her relative and found it closed. -Having with some difficulty gained admittance, Optima rushed into my -arms, and wept upon my breast. It was not till a considerable time had -elapsed, that I ascertained what was the cause of her grief. Her aunt -had died the night previous. - -"After a lapse of a few weeks Optima became mine. On the day of our -marriage she placed a packet in my hands, and speaking in a voice broken -with emotion, she said:-- - -"'I have a favour to ask you, and I know on such a day as this you -cannot deny me. Take this, dear Ardent, and make whatever use of it you -think proper. Your heart is yearning to join your relatives; be assured -that wherever you wish to go I desire to follow. I cannot be happy but -where your happiness may be best secured. I am indifferent to country -and to kindred,--I can acknowledge no relative but a husband, and can -know of no country except that in which I find his home. Whenever your -preparations are made, dear Ardent, I am ready.' - -"I kissed off the tears that were trembling on her eyelids, and in -brief but eloquent language expressed the love with which my heart was -overflowing. The packet contained a sum of money amply sufficient for -our purposes. Having by letter previously apprised my family of these -circumstances, they delayed their departure; and after providing every -thing that was necessary for the wants of agricultural emigrants, we all -set sail from the populous seaport Kangarootown, in a magnificent ship -fitted up in the most splendid manner, and carrying more than three -hundred passengers." - -"'No!' exclaimed half a dozen anxious listeners, starting up with horror -and surprise. - -"'Tis true!" replied the young man, in a voice scarcely audible. - -"The Lord ha' mercy on their miserable souls!" said Hearty. - -"We had not been many days out at sea," continued the narrator, "and -were busily and cheerfully employed in forming plans for the future, -when one evening, as soon as we had all retired to our berths, the -gas with which the interior of the ship was lighted, through some -carelessness had been suffered to escape, and it having caught fire, -the first alarm the passengers received was from finding themselves -surrounded by flames. There were but two or three boats belonging to the -vessel, to which there was immediately a general rush. Without waiting -to secure any of my property, I instantly hurried on deck with Optima, -and was so fortunate as to secure her and myself a place in the largest -boat. I shouted to my father and my brothers to join us, but as soon -as we were full the rope was cut, and we pulled from the burning ship -with all the strength of desperate men. As the flames rose up into the -rigging we could see hundreds running backwards and forwards, bewildered -and stupified by fear. One after another jumped into the remaining -boats, into which they crowded so rapidly that their own weight at once -sunk them to the bottom. Others in their frenzy leapt into the sea--the -rest retreated from the flames as they advanced, shrieking their own -knell, till the fire beginning to scorch their flesh they fell over -into the waves, or letting go their grasp of the ropes up which they -had climbed, sunk yelling with agony into the midst of the raging fire. -I saw nothing of my brothers. I imagine they perished in the smaller -boats. But while observing the destruction of the ship, I beheld, high -up the tallest mast, the figure of an old man--his white hair scorched -upon his brows--his blood-shot eyes bursting from their sockets--his -trembling limbs clinging to the rigging, screaming for mercy and for -help. I knew the form--the voice pierced my brain. I would have leapt -into the sea with the wild but fruitless hope of hastening to his -rescue, but I was forcibly held to my seat; and Optima, who had not -changed her position since I placed her in the boat, with her face upon -my breast and her arms round my neck, clung to me trembling with terror. -In a moment afterwards the flaming vessel disappeared. - -"We could scarcely congratulate ourselves upon our safety, for although -we had escaped being burnt to death, there seemed but little hope of our -being saved from drowning, or from starvation. There were thirty of us -closely packed together, not one of whom knew exactly how far we were -from land; few were clothed, and none had either provisions or water. My -feelings were of the most agonising description. I had seen my family -perish before my eyes without having the ability to render them the -slightest assistance--all their property and mine--all that the loving -kindness of Optima had enabled me to procure for our future wants, were -swallowed up in the devouring fire, and now I was left with her upon -the boundless ocean enjoying no other hope than that we should perish -together. Bitter as my reflections were, they grew almost insupportable -when I considered with what a dreadful fate the devotion of her I loved -would be rewarded. But she whose goodness had been thus cruelly turned -to evil seemed to think of nothing, and care for nothing, but for him -to whom she clung. At this instant when we were giving ourselves up to -despair, a light blazing from your ship proclaimed to us the joyful -intelligence that assistance was at hand. Then what a change came -upon us. The murmurs of complaint were turned to the loud shouts of -gladness; and so completely did we enter into the spirit of the moment, -that none noticed the rapid approach of the ship coming to our relief, -till she was just upon us. - -"We are saved, dearest!" I whispered. - -"Optima unclasped her arms, and took one of my hands in hers. Then came -the overwhelming crush of the great ship--a shout--a scream--and her -keel passed over us. The shock came so unexpected that none had time to -think of the danger, and we were gasping and struggling in the water -before we were aware of the accident. I made a snatch at what I thought -was the sinking form of Optima, but soon I found out the dreadful -mistake. It was a strong man, who being no swimmer caught hold of my -limbs with a desperate grasp that nothing but death could relax. In vain -I strove to shake him off--I struggled--I fought--I kicked in vain. He -held me as a serpent holds its prey. The thought of my beloved sinking -into the bowels of the great deep, deserted by him whose happiness she -had ever striven to secure, nerved my arms with a giant's strength, and -catching the drowning wretch by the throat, I squeezed the breath out -of his miserable body, hurled him from me as if he had been a loathsome -reptile, and then struck out into the sea, swimming in various -directions, shouting her name in every tone of agony--plunging, diving, -and beating the waters with the fierce energy of a madman. My heart sunk -within me--my strength was exhausted. I felt the terrible conviction, -that for me there was no hope--and resigned myself to the cold embraces -of the relentless wave. Of what afterwards occurred I know not, till I -found myself on board the Albatross, recovered from the jaws of death by -the kind and unceasing attention of her friendly crew. But do not think -me ungrateful, when, reflecting upon the dreadful loss I have endured, -and the wretched fate to which I have been left, I express a regret that -my life has been spared." - -"Scrunch me, if I ar'nt springing a leak as no pump can stop!" exclaimed -Climberkin, as soon as the stranger had concluded his narrative, as -he wiped with his knuckles the big tears out of the corners of his -eyes;--an example which was followed by many of his shipmates. - -"May I go to sea in a cockle shell, if ever I heard o' any thin' so -cruel molloncholy," said Boggle; "my eyes are like sieves catching -a thunder shower. But a fellow who can listen to such a tarnation -heart-twister as this here without runnin' out like a water spout, must -have the soul o' a nigger." - -"Soul ob a nigger!" exclaimed the fat cook, furiously, while the drops -that ran down his black cheeks evinced his sympathy for the sufferings -he had heard. - -"Soul ob a nigger!--What da debble you mean, you fellar! Tink a nigger -no heart--tink him hab no sensebillity, you fellar?" Then turning to the -stranger, he said, as well as his sobs would allow, "Roly Poly berry -much feel for you Sar, oo, oo!--Hard ting to lose him missee, Sar, oo, -oo!--Roly Poly in lub himself once, Sar.--Lubly cretur too, oo, oo!--She -had de dropsy, Sar.--Doctor nebber make her no better, so she turn her -nose against de wall and die like a lamb, oo, oo, oo!" And away the -poor fellow went, sobbing as if his heart would break. - -"Well, whip me into eel skins, if I sees the fun o' givin' a fellow the -miserables!" exclaimed Scrumpydike, gulping down a deep draught of the -liquor before him; "I seed many a sight worser nor what you've been -telling on us, mister,--and ar'nt a thought it worth while to say -nothin' to nobody about it. There ar'nt no sort o' life as produces so -many wonderfuls as that o' a free mariner. Once upon a time I was taken -prisoner with some other chaps, and kept aboard one o' them darin' -crafts what goes bang at any thin' as comes in their track--and I seed -sich jollifications--sich junkettings--sich cargoes o' grog--and sich -chests o' money, as I never had afore a wink o' a notion on. There -they were, dancin' and singin', and rollin' in riches--caring for -nobody--doing whatever they had a mind--every one o' the crew a cap'ain, -and the cap'ain a prince; and whenever they had a brush, which was as -often as they fell in with anythin' worth havin', at it they went, -harem scarem--carryin' every thin' afore 'em--cuttin' down and blowin' -up, and sinkin' or seizin' the richest ships as sailed in them seas. -Scrunch me, if they did'nt seem as happy as periwinkles on a rock." - -"No doubt," observed Boggle; "and I ar'nt afeard to say, as many a -honest naval would become a free mariner, if he had'nt the gumption to -reccomember he was consiserable sure o' a sartainty o' being hanged." - -"Either hanged or drowned, or spiflicated in some other unnat'ral -manner," added Hearty; "and not without desarvin' on 't. None o' sich -scum ever died in a honest fashion. Now in the course o' my sperience, I -knowed a smartish lot consarnin' the notorious sea-sharks, Cap'ain Death -and his Lef'tenant Rifle, and----" - -"Did you know 'em?" inquired Scrumpydike, eagerly, fixing a searching -look upon the old man. - -"No, I did'nt exactly know 'em, but I knowed a good deal _on_ 'em; and -if ever I comes upon their tack, with a few other honest chaps as -knows how to give and take, if I don't leave my mark on some o' their -figure-heads, I ha' lost all notion o' hand-writing;" said Hearty. - -"Well, you may chance to come alongside on 'em afore you're aware, and -then you'd best look out for squalls, old boy;" observed the other. - -"I ar'nt afeard o' that. But as I was a sayin', these here varmint were -'sociated wi' a gang o' similar bloody-minded villains, and in a well -armed craft which they'd got hold on, by no partic'lar honesty I'll be -bound, they went a robbin' and plund'rin, and burnin' and massacr'in', -every ship as they came anigh, till at last flesh and blood couldn't -stand any sich howdacity--so two or three smartish vessels, full o' -chaps o' the right sort, steered into their haunts, and there they kept -cruising about in hopes o' coming to close quarters. But somehow or -other they hadn't no sich luck. At last, when they began to calc'late -as Cap'ain Death had given them the slip, one o' the ships diskivered -a strange sail--and she was narrowly watched, hoping she might prove -to contain the 'dentical set o' murd'rin' vagabonds they was arter. -Suspicions becoming pretty strong, signals were made to her consorts to -take a long sweep, so as to circumvent the villains so reg'larly as they -couldn't escape no how. But that 'ere Cap'ain Death was no goslin'. He -seed the canouvres they was a going about, hung out ev'ry bit o' canvass -he could carry, and cut his precious stick like winkin! Howsomdever, -he war'nt awake to the movement till they came rollin' up to him in a -manner quite lovely to look on; and then they showed that they was as -good hands at followin' as he was at runnin' away. The chase was carried -on for a matter o' six hours, in sich a style as made him look behind -oftener than he looked afore; and for all he went on this tack, and on -t'other tack, and tried all sorts o' games to get out o' the way, they -came so near as to be able to give him a pretty considerable taste o' -their quality. Well, as night began to set in, there came on one o' the -most thund'rin' storms as ever was--the wind blowed away as if it would -shiver its own bellows into saw-dust, and the sea came up mountains -high, in a manner it was more grand than pleasant to look on. The -vessels in chase, finding themselves close upon an ugly sort of a -coast, were obligated to keep out at sea as much as possible; but they -endeavoured to keep such a look out as would prevent the villains from -making themselves scarce afore morning. Well, when the mornin' broke all -as clear as if there'd never been no rumpus--our ship--for, mind ye, I -volunteered a purpose to have a rap at some on 'em--our ship and her -consorts, who'd rode out the gale with nothin' but the loss o' a few -spars, approached the shore for the purpose o' making secure o' Cap'ain -Death, but the very first thing they clapped their blessed eyes on, was -the ship they'd been in chase lyin' a perfect wreck among the breakers, -making it a right down positive stark staring fact that every mother's -son o' the gallows birds that belonged to her were feeding the crabs and -lobsters, and sich like." - -"Then they were all drowned!" said Climberkin. - -"Nothin's been heard o' any on 'em from that day to this;" replied -Hearty. - -"But war'nt there a sort o' song which 'twas said the crew of the ship -used to sing?" enquired Climberkin. - -"To be sure there was," cried Scrumpydike, who had for some time looked -more gloomy than usual; "I've heard it many's a time; and if you've a -mind to listen, though I ar'nt no great shakes o' a singing bird, I'll -give you the only original version as used to be sung by the free -mariners." - -"I don't want to hear none o' such villainous ditties!" exclaimed -Hearty, as he left the circle. - -"Who axed you, old Snapdragon?" responded the other, and presently with -more animation than music, sung the following words:-- - - "Our ship sails on the wave, - On the wave, on the wave, - Our ship sails on the wave, Captain Death! - For free mariners are we, and we ride the stormy sea, - And our captain still shall be, - Captain Death! Captain Death! - Our captain still shall be Captain Death! - - "Our black flag proudly floats, - Proudly floats, proudly floats, - Our black flag proudly floats, Captain Death! - And down upon the prey, we boldly bear away, - And we quickly make them pay, - Captain Death! Captain Death! - We quickly make them pay, Captain Death! - - "We stifle ev'ry cry, - Ev'ry cry, ev'ry cry, - We stifle ev'ry cry, Captain Death! - And then we spread our sails, that are filled with welcome gales: - Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales, - Captain Death! Captain Death!' - Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales, Captain Death!' - - "Bring out our golden store, - Golden store, golden store; - Bring out our golden store, Captain Death! - And let's send the wine-cup round, to forget the dead and drown'd, - And rejoice _we're_ safe and sound, - Captain Death! Captain Death! - And rejoice _we're_ safe and sound, Captain Death! - - "Thus pass our gallant lives, - Gallant lives, gallant lives, - Thus pass our gallant lives, Captain Death! - And while the ocean flows, and the driving tempest blows, - We'll live upon our foes, - Captain Death! Captain Death! - We'll live upon our foes, Captain Death!" - - - - -CHAP. VI. - -APPEARANCE OF THE AFRICAN COAST. - - -Zabra had by this time become more familiar to the people of the -Albatross, with some of whom his kindness and generosity made him an -especial favourite. They had ceased to see any thing supernatural in his -large lustrous eyes,--and had forgot that there was any thing mysterious -in the dark colour of his complexion. His solitary wanderings about the -ship created neither fear nor surprise, and the rich harmonies of his -music were listened to with much more admiration than dread. Loop, a -boy belonging to the vessel, who was a sister's son of Hearty, had been -attacked with fever, and the attentions of Zabra, during his illness, -won not only the heart of the old man, but that of every one on board. -He procured for him every kind of nourishing food and refreshing -beverage, that the Doctor would allow; took care that he should possess -every comfort that the vessel contained; sung to him, played to him, and -stayed beside his hammock for hours and hours, seeking to while away the -tedious moments of indisposition. Oriel Porphyry having desired that he -should be treated by every one as if he was his brother, instead of his -attendant, Zabra found his slightest request always promptly attended -to; and, though his manner was somewhat proud, as he seemed to possess -abundant funds for every purpose, and gave liberally whenever he thought -it was requisite, scarcely any one in the ship ever hesitated in joining -in his praise. - -The boy Loop got well, and he was not ungrateful. As for old Hearty, -nothing could exceed his devotion to his nephew's benefactor. To every -listener he could lay hold of, he narrated at length all that he knew -of the youth's history, since he came on board: the people, rescued -from the fire-ship, were in due time made familiar with every anecdote -concerning him with which the old man was acquainted; and to no one were -his details of more interest than to the young Australian, Ardent, who -sometimes appeared to forget his own sorrows while attentive to the -unpolished eloquence of the honest sailor. From this time Zabra became -an object of general interest. Even Captain Compass seemed to look upon -him with something like respect; Scrumpydike had ceased to entertain -against him any hostile intentions; and Log, the captain's clerk, was -heard to acquiesce in the opinion of his shipmates, with an affirmative -repeated with the usual supply of adjectives. - -But to Oriel Porphyry the admirable qualities of his page became every -day more and more apparent. In the frequent conversations that took -place between them, he could not but observe the developement of a mind -of the highest order. It was not a mind impregnated with the heavy -spirit of bookish learning, but an intelligence of a lighter, a more -graceful, and a more original nature, replete with a sweet sympathy, -and a lofty enthusiasm for all that was noble, good and beautiful; -and throwing over the youthful figure and handsome countenance of its -possessor, a poetical and romantic character, that was both a wonder -and a charm to his companion. Zabra spoke of Eureka as if he had become -acquainted with her most hidden thoughts, and had been constituted their -interpreter; but of himself he never spoke. When Oriel seemed desirous -of learning something of his history, he appeared uneasy, and -immediately attempted to turn the conversation into another channel. -This was noticed; but the unwillingness of the young Creole to speak of -himself, Oriel attributed to the disinclination usually shown by natural -children to allude to their own illegitimacy, knowing the unreasonable -and cruel prejudices of society: therefore he ceased to desire from him -any information on the subject. Still, his youth,--the singular beauty -of his countenance, and the strange interest it often expressed, made -him imagine that there was some mystery connected with him. - -As he treated Zabra with the utmost confidence, and appreciated the -intelligence he evinced, Oriel Porphyry communicated to him the contents -of his father's letter. - -"Your father is a noble character," he exclaimed with fervour; "and the -proudest title of which you ought to boast, is that of being his son. -I never could have supposed that it was possible for such nobility -to reside in a spirit devoted to the mere money-getting purposes of -traffic, but I have been educated in an aristocratic school, and with -its lofty principles I have imbibed some of its illiberal prejudices. -I would _my_ father had been such a one--I should not have been the -fugitive I am." - -"Express no regrets, Zabra. Let it be my pleasing task to see that your -fortunes are worthy of your merits;" said Oriel Porphyry, affectionately -taking in his the hand of his youthful companion. "And although I have -not much reason to think well of the proud Philadelphia, for his conduct -has not been such as would be likely to inspire me either with affection -or respect; when I think of his relationship to her whose genuine worth -it is impossible not to appreciate, I cannot regard the unfavourableness -of his disposition." - -"Eureka is not unmindful of your kind feelings towards her;" observed -the other in a more tremulous voice than he had hitherto used. "It is -her desire to deserve your affections, that has supported her under many -trials. Her father is proud, but not so proud as Eureka. Yet there is an -impassable gulf between the pride of the two. He would sacrifice every -one around him for the immediate gratification of his own self-love: -she would sacrifice all selfish considerations that interfered with the -happiness of one she loved." - -"And think you I cannot honour such goodness in the manner it deserves?" -asked the merchant's son. "Let him be what he will--let his pride be as -mean, and his ambition as selfish as it may, for the sake of Eureka I -will endeavour to forget his unworthiness. All I hope is, that he will -not attempt to force her inclinations to an alliance more pleasing to -him." - -"He cannot force her inclinations--that he knows;" remarked Zabra. "He -has made the attempt for the first and last time; and Eureka is now -beyond his reach." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Oriel with astonishment. - -"Ay!" he replied. "He thought the more completely to secure your -separation from her, to hurry her into a marriage with the wealthy and -powerful head of the princely house of Vermont; but the character of -such a man, had no other obstacle existed, would have been sufficient -to have produced in her feelings a repugnance which nothing could -overpower. As it was, she indignantly refused to become a sacrifice to -her father's ambition. Her sentiments, however, on the subject, were so -little regarded by him, that he made preparations to compel her to the -union." - -"Ha!" exclaimed master Porphyry, "I could not have imagined such -despotism in a parent." - -"Closely as she was watched," he continued, "Eureka managed to escape -from her confinement; and when she sent me to be the companion of your -fortunes, she had secured for herself the asylum she required." - -"But where is she? Let me hasten to afford her the protection of which -she must be so much in want!" exclaimed the impetuous Oriel; then -reproachfully added, "Why, why did you not tell me this before?" - -"I have obeyed my instructions;" replied the youth calmly. "It is -sufficient for you to know that now she is safe, and that she is in the -enjoyment of as much happiness as it is possible for her to obtain under -the circumstances. Her retreat can only be made known to you when all -the purposes of the present voyage are completed, and you return to -Columbus." - -"But can I not communicate with her? will she not write to me?" eagerly -inquired the other. - -"Be satisfied that it is impossible she should forget you, and endeavour -to prove to her without the aids of continual correspondence, that in -your affection the same durability exists." - -"I will! I will!" cried Oriel; "I will do all she would have me. I will -follow the plan my father has laid out, even to the minutest details; -will try to find patience for its endurance by thinking of the blissful -result with which it will be crowned. We are now approaching the -southern coast of Africa," he continued after a pause of some duration, -which neither had attempted to interrupt; "and my immediate destination -Caffreton, the great mart of traffic in this part of the world is the -first point of my commercial voyage. My father has written me very full -instructions which I have carefully studied, and you will shortly see, -Zabra, how well I shall be able to play the merchant." - -They had been standing together on the deck gazing upon the world of -waters before them during the preceding dialogue, and were now silently -observing the progress of some distant vessels, when they were joined by -the learned Professor Fortyfolios. Addressing Oriel, he said-- - -"That portion of land you observe yonder, rising out of the sea, is an -important Cape, well known in the annals of navigation, and was called -by the ancients the Cape of Good Hope. It used to be celebrated for -producing an inferior wine, called Cape Wine, which being cheap, as it -was worthless, was brought in considerable quantities for the purpose -either of adulterating wines of a higher value, or was palmed upon the -ignorant as the produce of a different vintage. The English, a people -with whose history you are doubtless familiar, though not wine growers, -were the greatest wine consumers of that period, and it was the immense -demand for this necessary of life among that people, which the wines of -Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Italy, France, Germany, and other countries, -could not sufficiently supply, that brought this Cape into notice. The -African wines are now remarkable for their admirable qualities. That it -was the search after new liquors that sent the English into this part of -the world chroniclers are not agreed, and that there were other wines -produced in the same locality much superior in flavour, I think is -more than probable, because I have found in the course of my reading, -eloquent commendation of an African wine, called Constantia, and I have -good reason for imagining that the deserts which the first voyagers -of that nation met with on some portions of the coast, when they -ascertained that a superior liquor was here procurable, originated the -English proverb 'Good wine needs no bush.' However, there can be no -doubt that the English planted a colony at this very Cape; gradually -drove the natives from their land as they increased in power and -numbers, till the whole continent from the Cape of Good Hope to -Alexandria, and from Abyssinia to Senegambia, acknowledged their sway, -and, in a great measure, spoke their language." - -"Truly, those English were a great people!" remarked Oriel. - -"They were so," said the Professor; "when we consider what they did, and -the means they had to do it, we must acknowledge that they deserve the -epithet, 'great.' At an early period of the world's history, England was -utterly unknown. In the times of Assyrian greatness, in the eras of -Babylon, of Jerusalem, and of Troy--and in the more brilliant ages of -the Greeks, the Romans, and the Carthaginians, such an island had never -been heard of--scarcely two thousand years had elapsed before this -speck upon the waters became the most powerful kingdom upon the earth. -She had possessions in every quarter of the globe; her conquering armies -had penetrated into the remotest regions, and her gallant navies had -triumphed in every sea. She had given a new people and a new language -to the vast continent of America; she had founded a new division of the -world in Australia; she had been acknowledged the mistress of the mighty -Indies; she had forced a path through deserts of perpetual ice, and -found a home in the scorching heat of the torrid zone. And by this time -what had become of the nations of a more remote antiquity? Of some, the -localities were not to be traced; others remained a heap of stones. The -Carthaginians were extinct--the free and noble Greeks had become slaves -or pirates--and the daring Romans, who boasted having conquered the -world, were an ignoble emasculated race, confined to a single city and -its suburbs, and governed by a despotic old woman in the shape of a -priest." - -"The form of government under which the people of this continent -exists, is republican, I believe;" observed Master Porphyry. - -"The whole is divided into a multitude of republics, some of which are -always at war with one another," replied his tutor; "and they show their -idea of liberty, of which they make the most preposterous boast, by -keeping up a system of slavery the most tyrannical and revolting that -can be imagined." - -"Ay, ay," exclaimed Captain Compass, coming up and joining in the -conversation; "it's the way of the world. Hear your most famous spouter -about the blessings of freedom and all that sort of thing, and ten to -one if you don't find him ready to domineer over every body beneath him. -When I hear a fellow mighty fine in his notions of universal liberty, I -always feel pretty certain that he only wants the power to trample on -the independence of all who might stand in the way of his particular -enjoyments. But this is all natural enough; the feeble are monstrously -indignant at the exercise of power in the hands of their rulers; but -when by any accident they become powerful, they all at once see the -advantages of keeping down those who are down, and in a very short time -become just as despotic as those of whom they complained." - -"What vessels are these, Captain?" inquired Oriel, pointing to several -ships, appearing at different distances in the open sea before them. - -"Yonder vessel, whose tall masts are bending before the brisk breeze -that fills her sails, is an Algerine merchantman, and has most probably -a cargo of dancing masters, cooks, figurantes, and opera singers, which -are as much now the chief produce of the people to whom she belongs, -as they were a thousand years ago the principal exports of their -progenitors. That sombre thing, with the long funnel in the centre of -her deck, is very similar to the steamers of which the ancients were so -proud, before an improved propelling power was discovered. She belongs -to the Abyssinians--a people remarkably slow in adopting the inventions -of their more civilised neighbours; she trades from the sea of Babel -Mandeb to the Gulph of Guinea, sometimes touching at Madagascar, and -the neighbouring islands, and carries passengers, pigs, crockery, and -snuff. This rakish looking craft, flying afore the wind like a petrel in -a storm, is a free trader with a rich cargo of smuggled merchandise from -the continent to the Mauritius; and the big ship yonder, bearing down -upon us as if she'd sink every thing that stood in her way, is a man of -war belonging to the Liberians--a powerful nation of blacks. All these -small fry that are starting up from every point, are merely coasting -vessels--government packets,--fishing smacks--pilot boats,--pleasure -yachts, and other floaters of a similar nature." - -"But what is this?" inquired Oriel, pointing to something of a very -strange appearance that was seen at the distance of about three quarters -of a mile, making way at a rapid rate towards the shore. They all gazed -in that direction, and a most extraordinary spectacle they beheld. At -first it seemed like a ball--but as it approached the ship it enlarged, -and every one who saw it knew it to be a balloon. How it came there, -floating on the waves by itself, many conjectured; but their surprise -at its appearance was wonderfully increased, when they observed a man, -with his body immersed in the waves, clinging to it, or more probably -attached to its fastenings. His peril he endeavoured to make known -by screams of the most piercing description; but it was not till the -miserable wretch was being rapidly borne past their vessel that the -people of the Albatross discovered the full extent of his danger. For at -least half a mile behind him the sea was a mass of white smoking foam, -which was created by nearly a hundred immense sharks following him with -eager speed, lashing the waves with their tails, leaping over each -other, plunging, snorting, and displaying the most ravenous desire to -catch him in their enormous jaws. Sometimes the balloon ascended a -little distance above the sea and then would rapidly descend, plunging -the unhappy aeronaut over his head in the salt water; but while the -sharks were all striving against each other to make a mouthful of his -limbs, it would again ascend, floating swiftly over the surface, bearing -its screaming appendant about a foot above his unrelenting pursuers, -who continued to follow him struggling furiously with each other, and -eagerly snapping at his limbs whenever they approached the surface of -the water. It was impossible to render him any assistance, although he -passed within a few yards of the ship, he was carried so swiftly along; -and on he went, shrieking with agony, now high above the waves--then -dashed in beneath them--then flying over the surface, with the horrid -expectation of being immediately devoured by the hungry pack by whom he -was pursued. - -"Scrunch me, if that isn't the most cruel chase I ever saw," exclaimed -the captain. - -"These sort of accidents are not at all extraordinary," observed -Fortyfolios, "and with such things must frequently occur. Balloons are -an old invention, and one the least useful for philosophical purposes -of any we have received from the ancients. Attempts have been made, -attended with success, to get one or several individuals borne by -them from an island to an adjoining continent, and from one part of a -continent to a part far remote; but as they have found it impossible to -control the current of wind met with in certain elevations, and as they -can seldom rely upon a current in any one direction lasting for any -length of time, they have been able to rise as high as they please, but -can never previously fix exactly upon the place of their descent; and it -has in many instances occurred, as in the one we have just now observed, -that after the aeronaut has made his ascent, a sudden wind takes him in -a direction contrary to what he designed, or various currents rising -unexpectedly at nearly the same time, he is shifted about to every -point of the compass; and when he is obliged to descend, he finds -himself floating over some unknown sea, or some wild uncultivated land, -hundreds of miles from human assistance, where he is left to endure -the conviction that he must either be drowned or starved. A balloon -is, in fact, a toy, with which one fool amuses many." - -Nothing more was said on the subject, although the dangerous situation -of the poor fellow who had attached himself to the balloon was -anxiously watched as long as he remained in sight, and the imminent -peril in which he was seen: his heart-rending cries, and desperate -struggles, long left their unpleasant impression on the memory of all -who beheld him. - -The bold outline of the coast they were approaching every hour became -more apparent: its singular mountain and other landmarks were seen, -pointed out, and commented on. Birds flew into the rigging--weeds -accumulated before the ship--and stray logs of timber, broken barrels, -and pieces of wreck, were continually floating past. The character of -the scenery now began to be clearly defined--the lowlands spreading out -far and wide into the interior, intersected by numerous railroads, and -the mountains holding up their proud heads covered with vegetation -nearly to their summits. The more the country became visible, the -greater was the evidence it exhibited of a high degree of cultivation, -a fruitful soil, and a numerous and industrious population; and as -buildings began to be made out, it was observable from their form, -numbers, and disposition, that manufactures was a primary object in the -estimation of the inhabitants. - -"You will find these people a money-getting generation," said the -professor to his pupil: "their sole object appears to be to accumulate, -and their only idea of the respectability of a person is derived from -the proportion of substance he is worth. They never ask, is a man an -excellent husband, an exemplary father, or an admirable citizen?--is he -distinguished by the attention with which he fulfils his moral duties, -or celebrated by the right application of extraordinary talents? they -merely inquire how much money he has in his pockets. In fact, when they -speak at all of 'a good man,' they allude to some individual imagined to -be possessed of a certain amount of available property: money with them -is every thing. Respectability means money--reputation or credit means -money, and cleverness means money. Money, therefore, is the universal -virtue: they who have the most are honoured the most, and they who have -it not at all are considered by those who have it, although in ever so -small a proportion, as being separated from their fellow-creatures by -an impassable chasm, where all that is infamous is thought to dwell." - -"And yet they are considered to be a very religious people," remarked -Oriel. - -"None are more regular in going to church, none are greater respecters -of the ceremonies of worship, but of religion they are ignorant," -replied Fortyfolios. "Nothing can be more certain than that it is -impossible that a pure morality or a sincere devotion can exist, when -the heart is filled with one engrossing desire--the accumulation of -capital--the very principle of which is selfishness--a feeling -incompatible with the social charities of true religion." - -"But when did you ever find that any thing like true religion generally -existed?" inquired the captain, in a tone approaching sarcasm. "Since -the memory of man the faith of the majority has been unvaryingly -orthodox, and sticks, like a lobster to its shell, to the old proverb, -'Every one for himself, and the devil take the hindmost,'--and more -absurd conduct doesn't exist than some people exhibit, who, after -having made money a standard of excellence, condemn to infamy not only -those who are not possessed of it, but they who gain it by means not in -exact accordance with their notions of the way it should be obtained. -Scrunch me, if it don't make one ready to heave one's ballast overboard, -when I see the homage paid to a mean-spirited scoundrel, who by -chicanery, hypocrisy, avarice, and a horde of other contemptible vices, -robs his fellows of a pretty handsome share of plunder; and hear the -execrations heaped upon the bolder and better villain, who lays society -under contributions in a more open, manly, and daring manner. They -pretend to notions of honesty, too, that's the joke. Why a fish would -laugh at a thing so ridiculous. The government in their necessity -take from the people, and those who can't afford to pay they send to -prison--an individual in his necessity takes from another, and the very -government who set the example of appropriation punish the appropriator -as an offender. Then governments plunder each other, or rather the -people of each other; but when any of the people attempt to rob their -governments, they judge, hang, draw and quarter the poor wretches -without the slightest mercy. Honesty, forsooth! If the whole world were -asked what the meaning of the word was, every man would give a different -definition, and not only would each contradict the other, but every one -would contradict himself. Honesty appears to be of all shapes and all -sizes: it will suit all complexions--it will flavour every dish. Honesty -is every thing, and yet it is nothing. It is neither fish, flesh, -nor fowl--will neither sink nor swim--and is not to be touched, seen, -or tasted. Honesty is every where--the greatest rogue is honest to -his chosen associates--and yet it is no where, for the desire of -appropriation is universal. It is a sort of ghost that only exists in -the minds of the superstitious--a mirror that shows any reflection -thrown upon it--a sky that all over the world can take every variety of -colour. Some call it truth, and lay claim to its possession, although -their lives are a continual deceit; some call it justice, and fancy -themselves exceedingly just, although they would consign to eternal -perdition all not exactly of their way of thinking; and some call it -conscientiousness, and are satisfied with their own dealings, when, -at the same time, their first thought is for their own personal -gratification. But we are entering the bay, and these fellows require -looking after." So saying, he suddenly left the group, and began -shouting to the crew some orders about the ship. - -"Captain Compass has singular notions," remarked the professor: "I -should not feel particularly comfortable if I thought he entertained -the opinions he expresses. There would be an end to all sense of moral -obligations if such ideas became general." - -"Oh there is no harm in him," replied Oriel. "He is too frank, too -careless, too bold to have any evil intention. It has often appeared to -me, though, that the principle we call honesty does not exist either in -ourselves or in society to the extent we imagine; and believing such a -state of things an evil, I have often wished, but never been able, to -find a way in which it could be remedied." - -"It is an evil, undoubtedly," here observed Doctor Tourniquet, who had -for some time been an attentive but silent listener--"and there is but -one way in which it can be completely removed." - -"And how is that way to be found?" inquired Oriel Porphyry. - -"The cause of this want of a definite unvarying character in our notion -of honesty," said the Doctor, "may be traced to the present and past -construction of society, where each individual has a separate interest, -exists in a state of competition with the others, and must always be -endeavouring to shape his own notions of right to his own exclusive -advantage: were property a fund in common from which each might be -allowed to take what he pleased--there being no individual interests, -the world would be one family, and there could be no dishonesty in -openly appropriating that to which he had an acknowledged right, don't -you see." - -"Preposterous!" exclaimed Fortyfolios. - -"An impossible state of things, I should think," added his pupil. - -"Nothing more reasonable, and nothing more easy," replied the Doctor. -"Let every one in a community labour equally according to his physical -or mental powers--every kind of labour being productive will produce -every thing in abundance--this abundance having been produced must -supply every want--every want being gratified at the suggestion of the -inclination, there remains nothing to desire--and as all have an equal -right to appropriate as much as they require for the gratification of -their inclinations, by having equally, according to their abilities, -assisted in producing the abundance they enjoy, no desire in which they -might think fit to indulge could ever take the appearance of an act of -dishonesty, don't you see." - -"Ridiculous!" exclaimed the professor. - -"But how in the present state of society can you get such notions -adopted?" inquired Oriel. - -"Either by educating children from the earliest age into the application -of these social principles, or by constituting communities apart from -the general mass, who will exist within themselves by the same manner -of life, till, as the advantages of such a state of society become -universally evident, it is adopted by the whole population," said the -Doctor. - -"The thing has been tried times out of number," remarked Fortyfolios, -contemptuously, "and has always lingered a short time and then died, -with very little regret on the part of those for whose superior -happiness it was created. It is based upon an idea of equality, which -idea has no personal existence in nature. No matter how carefully the -young mind is schooled, there will always be some superiority somewhere. -In muscular energy, in mental power, in ingenuity, in quickness of -comprehension, and in the skilful adaptation of means to an end--even -in the natural desires and susceptibilities--even in acquired habits of -industry, and self-denial, in all societies, some will be found greater -than others, and these will endeavour to rise above the equality by -which they are surrounded; perhaps they will succeed, and then the -homogeneousness of the community is soon destroyed; perhaps they will -fail, and then their more exalted natures must be crushed down to the -Procrustean bed of their associates. Equality can only be a state of -general mediocrity. Could we imagine such a social organisation, what -would become of the worship of superior greatness that leads men to -become great? With what feelings would exist, could they exist under -such circumstances, those commanding intellects whose supremacy should -be acknowledged by all who love knowledge, and virtue, and humanity, at -finding themselves classed with the mere breaker of the clod, a creature -without an idea, whose only quality, that of strength and fitness for a -certain labour, he shares with brutes and with machines; who eats and -drinks, and sleeps and dies, and then makes room for another of the same -class? Must they also become hewers of wood and drawers of water for -the benefit of their fellows? With as much probability of a beneficial -result might an attempt be made to force the ploughman, the shepherd, -the mechanic, and the domestic servant, to become a sculptor, a -philologist, a musician, and a philosopher." - -What Doctor Tourniquet might have replied, it is impossible now to -relate, as the Albatross at that moment was boarded by the port-officers -who came to examine the state of health of the ship and the cargo with -which she was laden; and as she was expected shortly to drop her anchor -among the shipping with which she was now surrounded, those who designed -to land proceeded to make the necessary preparations. - - - - -CHAP. VII. - -CAFFRETON, THE METROPOLIS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. - - -In a large heavy building on the banks of a canal in the city of -Caffreton, all seemed bustle and confusion: barges were at the water -side unloading, and at the land side were waggons being filled with -packages for conveyance into the interior by the rail-roads, and others -starting off heavily laden to supply the traders in the town and -neighbourhood. A considerable number of black slaves were actively -employed in assisting the goods from the barges to the stores, and -from the stores to the waggons; who jostled, shouted, and chattered -apparently with as much noise as they could make; two or three white -men were seen among them giving orders in a loud voice to their dark -associates, and seeing that their commands were promptly attended to. -Under a gloomy archway, which led from the street to the water side were -doors opposite each other. One of these, after passing through a long -warehouse filled with articles of merchandise of every description, -in the midst of which were several slaves of both sexes engaged in -weighing, measuring, and packing parcels of various sizes, led into a -counting house, in which about a dozen blacks, principally young ones, -much better dressed than those in the warehouse, were writing in large -books; and beyond this was a much smaller room, furnished with maps and -a few cumbrous books, wherein two men were seated opposite each other; -one a tall, thin, sharp visaged man about forty, whose features -expressed an extraordinary degree of fear and servility, was reading a -newspaper, and the other, who appeared considerably older, was short -and corpulent, had a dark complexion, and a look of mingled cunning and -fierceness, sat leaning back against a huge arm chair, with an open -ledger on the table before him. - -"Foreign stock rising, eh!" inquired the latter. - -"Yes, sir," replied the other, glancing his eye over the paper, -"particularly Columbian and Australian." - -"How goes the share market?" - -"Brisk, sir, in many things--Gondar Railroad at a premium--Congo Canal -at 125-3/8--Ashantee Salt Company, 105-1/2--Mocaranga Timber, -109--Biafra Gold Mines, 200." - -"Capital!" exclaimed the elder, rubbing his hands together briskly, and -his forbidding features assuming an expression of intense gratification. -"I shall do well by my speculations there;--but how goes the Madagascar -Silkworm Company?" - -"Down to 45, sir," replied the thin man. - -"Bankrupt and jails! you scoundrel, it can't be," furiously exclaimed -the other. - -"It is so here, sir," said his companion humbly. - -"Then my eternal malediction rest on all silk worms. I've lost some -thousands. But you haven't said any thing about the Timbuctoo Beet-root -Sugar." - -"Down to 22, sir." - -"You rascal, you're trying to put me in a passion; you're inventing -that, because you know I've invested large sums in that affair. I'll -have you whipped like a slave if you don't tell me the truth." - -"It is so here, sir," said the man trembling, and turning pale. - -"Then the Caffreton Universal Intelligence is a universal liar!" -screamed the other in a rage. "Why, if it's true, I've lost all I gained -by the indigo and cochineal job. It's a bad business, Mr. Quagga. -There's cheating in it! There's ruination in it! I shall be laughed at -on 'Change. My solvency will be suspected--my credit diminish;--but go -on, Mr. Quagga--go on, I'm perfectly cool--I'm not going to put myself -out of temper by such a loss, don't think it. In the name of poverty, -why don't you go on, Mr. Quagga?" thundered out the principal. - -"Wer--wer--wer--wer--what shall I read next sir?" inquired his servant -as plainly as his fright would allow. - -"Read the arrivals, you stuttering, stupid blockhead," cried the -broker. - -"Arrived in the bay, the Sultan from Cairo, Selim, master." - -"Nothing for me." - -"The Golden Horn, from Stamboul, Mahmoud, master:--twenty chests of -opium, consigned by Mandragora and Poppy." - -"Send some one to see it warehoused in the docks." - -"Yes, sir," said the clerk, respectfully. - -"What next?" - -"The Hellas, from Smyrna, Mavricordato, master." - -"Nothing for me. Cargo of figs and raisins, from Drum and Company." - -"The Albatross, from Columbus, Compass, master." - -"Look to that, Quagga--look to that. She belongs to Master Porphyry, the -richest merchant in the whole world. Her cargo is of great value. By -last advices from my correspondent, expect some bales of rich -fabrics.--Go on, Quagga." - -"There's a paragraph, here, sir, that seems to relate to that vessel." - -"Read it, Quagga." - -"'In the Albatross, arrived in our harbour, comes the only son of -the great merchant, Master Porphyry, whose name is in such high -estimation in every part of the civilised world for his wealth and his -philanthropy. It is said that he has come out on a commercial voyage, -and that it was Master Porphyry's desire that his son should visit -some of the most celebrated places of traffic in various parts of the -globe.'" - -"Very good, except philanthropy, which is all humbug, you know, Quagga," -observed the broker, "a bad spec--a dead loss.--We must look after -him"--and the face of the master seemed to glance more pleasantly upon -his servant.--"Well, what provincial news?" he asked, after a pause. - -"'We regret to inform our readers, that the respectable banking house of -Mangel Wurzel, Carrots, and Co., at Lattakoo, have stopped payment.'" - -"Stopped payment, you rascal!" shouted the broker, his face becoming -purple with rage. "How dare you tell me Mangel Wurzel and Co. have -stopped payment? It's all a conspiracy--a base invention--a lie--a -cheat! You know I've got all the payments made to me per the -Springbok--on account of that fine gang of Hottentots--in their wretched -paper. I'll have you hanged, you scoundrel, for deceiving me. I'll----" - -Here the torrent of his indignation was interrupted by one of the young -slaves from the counting-house showing himself at the door. - -"Well, you imp of darkness! what do you want?" he cried. - -"Cap'ain Gumpas, sar, want to peak wi' you," said the young Hottentot. - -"Who, scoundrel?" - -"Cap'ain Gumpass, sar, ship Albatross." - -"Admit him, instantly." - -The slave disappeared, and so did the broker's passion. - -In a moment afterwards the door opened, and a tall man, of rather -handsome exterior, whom it would have been impossible to have -recognised as the Captain Compass of the Albatross, had it not been -for a peculiar expression in the countenance--sarcastic, bold, and -treacherous--no one could mistake, entered the room. His whiskers had -disappeared, the colour of his hair had changed, and he looked a much -younger and better featured man than he appeared the day previous. As he -advanced, the broker seemed to gaze upon him with fear and wonder. - -"Well, old Boor, is this the hail I'm to meet after such a long cruise?" -cried the captain. - -Boor stared till his yellow eye-balls appeared starting out of his head. - -"Dockets and bad bills!" at last he exclaimed, with a long breath, -"surely it can't be you!" - -"But it is, though, old boy, and I'm afloat in the most slappish style," -replied the other. - -"But how did you escape, when----" - -"No matter," said the captain, interrupting his companion. "I'm come to -have a little bit of a confabulation with you about a matter that will -enrich us both." - -"This way, my good friend," hastily whispered the broker, leading his -associate cautiously to a little door at the further extremity of the -room, which opened into a smaller apartment, filled with iron safes, -papers, and books. "This way, captain--this way," added he; then turning -to his clerk, said, "Don't let me be interrupted, Quagga," as the door -opened and closed upon the pair: and there they remained in close -conference for a full hour, to the great mystification of the principal -clerk. When they returned, the features of the captain wore an air of -triumph, and the countenance of Boor expressed all the congratulation of -successful cunning. - -"Every thing shall be managed according to your desire, captain," he -remarked. - -"Be cautious," said the other. - -"Depend upon that," responded his companion. "You had better go out at -this side door." - -The captain was going out as directed, when he quickly asked, "When -shall I see you again?" - -"To-morrow night," replied his associate. - -"Agreed." - -When his visiter had taken his departure, the broker seemed to have -forgotten the losses that had affected him so much a short time -previous. His unprepossessing countenance appeared lit up with a -continual smile of inward satisfaction, as he leaned back upon his -chair, occasionally resting his hands upon his capacious stomach, then -crossing his arms--then leaning his chin upon his hand as if in deep -reflection, uttering such ejaculations as "capital scheme"--"hazardous -though"--"daring villain"--"worth the risk," and others of a similar -nature--till the wondering Quagga, neither daring to move or to speak, -began to imagine that his tyrannical master had lost the use of his -senses. At that moment the door opened again, and the same slave made -his appearance. - -"Ha, Beelzebub!" shouted Master Boor, "what now?" - -"Massa Porfry, sar, and young gennleman ob colour wish to peak wi' you," -said the youth. - -"Admit them," he exclaimed. Then in a lower tone said, "Coloured -persons! what can he mean by bringing such vermin here?" However, though -considering the introduction of such a person an indignity, the game he -had to play induced him for the present to forget his prejudices, and he -met his visitors with every appearance of cordiality. - -"Welcome to Caffreton, welcome to the sunny shores of Afrik;" he cried -as they advanced into the room. "The land of universal liberty.--Quagga, -tell those slaves if I hear them chattering again, I'll give them the -lash----!" - -"Yes, sir!" said Quagga; and immediately delivered the message. - -"The land of universal equality.--Quagga, you scoundrel! why don't you -get seats for the gentlemen----?" - -"Yes, sir!" said Quagga; and instantly did as he was desired. - -"And the land of universal freedom of conscience.--Quagga! tell Pipkin, -that if he doesn't choose to attend the same church as his master, I'll -thrash his soul out of his body." - -"Yes, sir," said Quagga; and Pipkin received the brutal command. - -Oriel Porphyry seemed in some degree amused by this exemplification of -liberty, equality, and freedom of conscience, but he said nothing; and -Zabra seemed intently observing the countenances of the clerk and his -master. - -"I hope your worthy father is well, sir," continued Boor. "Health's a -precious commodity--cannot be too highly prized. Quagga! is Nimbo in the -warehouse yet?" - -"No, sir; doctor says he can't stand," said the clerk. - -"Then tell him if he don't come down I'll make him," said his master -with ferocious emphasis. - -"Yes, sir;" replied the obedient Quagga. - -"Your father does a deal of good, sir, with his charities," he resumed. -"Ah! charity's a fine thing!--an admirable thing! I do a wonderful deal -of good myself that way sometimes. I give the poor all the bad coin -that comes into my hands. I do a deal of good I assure you. Your father -enjoys a great reputation for integrity in his dealings. Nothing like -it, sir;--It is always at a premium. Hope you will tread in your -father's footsteps; and if you should have a desire for speculating, I -trust the credit I possess will induce you to place confidence in me. I -should recommend you to invest largely in the shares of the Madagascar -Silk Worm Company, and the Timbuctoo Beet-root Sugar Joint Stock -Association. I have some shares at my disposal, which, although they're -now very high in the market, to oblige the son of so respectable a man -as my correspondent, master Porphyry, I would let you have at a fair -price,--say the first at 95-7/8, and the other at 80." - -"I am obliged to you," replied Oriel Porphyry; "but I have no desire to -speculate in such things at present." - -"Very good--very good," said the broker, not at all disconcerted at -the failure of his schemes. "Caution is advisable in all mercantile -transactions, and I am the last person in the world to suggest any thing -to you, which I do not think would turn to your advantage. Perhaps you -have bullion to dispose of? If so, I could afford a very handsome per -centage, and exchange with you to a considerable amount in notes of one -of the most steady banks in the country--that of Mangel Wurzel, Carrots -and Co. at Lattakoo." - -"I'm much obliged to you; but as my stay in this part of the world must -be brief, it would not be advisable to change my bullion into the paper -currency of the country;" said Oriel. - -"True--true;" remarked master Boor, and a cloud did pass over his -gloomy countenance when he found he could not dispose of any of his -unprofitable speculations. "You are right. So you do not intend staying -here? Fine country. No kings--none of _that_ nonsense. Every man does -just as he likes, and cares for nobody.--Quagga! you rascal, I'll have -you flayed alive if you don't finish that intricate account with -Botherem, Blunder, and Bigfist, in an hour." The frightened clerk began -to write away with the speed of a steam-engine. "In no place in the -world is the right of opinion so much respected.--Quagga, you scoundrel! -I understand you spoke at the Universal Consolidated Democratic -Discussion Society, against the measure now before the legislature for -the tax on tenpenny nails. How dare you oppose my political sentiments! -This is insolence, sir--treason, anarchy, and rebellion! If ever I -hear you entertain an opinion different from mine again, I'll have you -inclosed within four stone walls and starve you upon a mouthful a day." - -Quagga trembled like an aspen, and did not dare lift his eyes from the -book. - -"Yes, sir, I repeat, this is the only country on the face of the globe, -where mankind enjoy a perfect state of civil and religious liberty. What -do they think of us, sir, in Columbia? Don't they envy us our noble -institutions, ey? Our excellent government--our enlightened people?" - -"Why, those who ever do think of the African states--" - -"Ever think of them!" cried the old fellow, with emphasis, interrupting -the speaker; "they must always think of them. They cannot help drawing -comparisons, sir, with their own wretched state; and they must -therefore be wonderfully desirous of sharing in the blessings we enjoy." - -"I really never heard of such a desire existing in any part of the -country;" observed Oriel. - -"Ah, sir, they live in a wretched state of despotism, and they dare not -express their sentiments;" replied the broker. "There cannot be anything -like public virtue amongst them--no political honesty--no notion of true -liberty. But how did you make the voyage, sir?" - -"Admirably!" exclaimed the merchant's son. "The Albatross is one of the -most perfect vessels that was ever launched." - -"Nothing like the African shipping, depend upon it--made of free timber, -sir?--beat all vessels at sailing, and last for ever. Skilful captain -that Compass, sir--known him long; knew his father--highly respectable. -You may place the greatest confidence in him, I assure you." - -During the preceding sentences Zabra kept his eyes fixed upon the face -of the speaker, which he observing, turned his own gaze upon the person -so earnestly regarding him; but the piercing look that met his quite -disconcerted him. His complexion grew more livid; his look became -confused; he frowned and smiled by turns; he shifted his position, and -evinced by many other signs that he was anything but at ease under the -scrutiny to which he was subjected. At last, unable to endure it any -longer, he said, in a tone in which anger seemed struggling with -indifference. "Who is that person of colour, sir? it is not usual to -bring people of that class in company with free Africans." - -"That young gentleman is my most esteemed and intimate friend;" replied -Oriel. - -"Oh, I beg pardon; but it's not respectable to have such friends in a -free and enlightened country like the African States; and the 'young -gentleman'," said he, with contemptuous emphasis, "seems to look on me -as if he knew me intimately." - -"I do know you intimately, sir;" remarked Zabra, bending on the old man -a stern and searching look. - -"Well, this assurance beats any thing I ever saw. Why, I never met with -your coppery countenance before," said the broker, indignantly. - -"You spoke the truth _there_," replied Zabra, still continuing to regard -him with the same earnestness; and the broker's attempts to conceal his -passion and his uneasiness became every moment more unsuccessful. - -"He is thus to every one," observed Oriel Porphyry; "and he means no -offence. But let us proceed to business. According to your request, -my father has sent you a lot of fabrics of the choicest patterns and -materials, which I shall give you an order to remove from the docks upon -receiving payment in gold. You can examine them if necessary, whenever -it is convenient to you, when you will find them exactly of the -description you ordered. I am also commissioned to purchase, to any -amount, ivory, gold dust, gums, pearls and precious stones, ostrich -feathers, amber, and any other article of traffic of approved quality -that may suit the Columbian markets, or that may be turned to a -profitable account during my voyage. They can be paid for in money or -in goods--whichever should be most desirable." - -"Good--good," remarked the broker, losing, in his attention to business, -all his angry feelings. "Ah! let me see. I think I shall be able to -treat with you for a considerable portion of your cargo; and, as a -particular friend, I should not advise you to go to any strange brokers; -they'll take you in, depend upon it." - -"Why, I thought, in this free country, all your transactions were -distinguished by a degree of honesty superior to that of other nations;" -said Oriel. - -"Yes, yes," hastily replied master Boor, considerably puzzled to account -for the discrepancy in his statements. "But every man will make a good -bargain, if he can." - -"Then what offer are you inclined to make for a thousand bales of lace -and cambric goods, best quality?" - -"Why, you see, master Porphyry, the truth is, the market here is a -little overstocked just now with those articles; they are a complete -drug." - -"I have good reason to believe there is a great demand for them," said -Oriel. - -"Nothing of the kind, master Porphyry. I wouldn't deceive you for the -world. But, although things are so heavy, I don't mind offering twenty -thousand dollars for them, either in money or goods." - -"That is just half I am commissioned to take;" remarked the young -merchant, rising to go away. "And as we shall not be able to do business -on those terms, I must seek a more advantageous market." - -"Don't be too hasty, sir. Reflect before you determine. The price I -offer is a good price; and it is impossible you can get one so high, -search Caffreton through and through." Perceiving his visitors were at -the door, he added--"Suppose we say five and twenty--a great risk--a -hazardous----" - -"Good day to you, master Boor!" exclaimed Oriel, bending his head -proudly, and departed with his companion through the counting-house. -The old man scowled after his visitors, muttering to himself,--"I'll -have them at a less price, in spite of you." - -About the same time two persons were seen walking cautiously through a -narrow unfrequented street in the suburbs of the town, connected with a -number of other thoroughfares of a like description, chiefly inhabited -by the lowest class of the black population. The tallest of the two, who -was a little in advance of his companion, whose short dumpy figure and -conceited physiognomy it was impossible to mistake, turned round, and -addressed his associate:-- - -"Come, master Log, show more sail. I'm spiflicated if we shall ever find -safe anchorage if you don't. I think I arn't forgotten the landmarks; -but, somehow, I've got into a little bit of a mystification about making -the proper tacks. This is it! No, it arn't! Ha! Now I see, as clean as a -cable. There's the sign o' the Ship, at the corner yonder. We goes right -ahead there; then we makes a tack; then we goes ahead again; then we -makes another tack; then I knows all the whereabouts. That's right, -arnt it, mister?" - -"Right--right--very right--decidedly right--absolutely right: indeed, I -may say, positively right, mister Scrumpydike," responded the little -man, endeavouring to keep pace with his more bulky companion. - -"Here comes another Hottentot;" said Scrumpydike, noticing an individual -of that race approaching them. "What a lot o' them black craft one meets -wi' steerin' about in these here seas; they puts one in mind o' a fleet -of colliers, creepin' along shore. But this nigger _is_ black, arnt he, -master Log?" - -"Black, black,--monstrous black,--very monstrous black--upon my word -most diabolically black, mister Scrumpydike;" replied the captain's -clerk, puffing and blowing with the exertion he made to prolong his -walk. - -"I say, won't them bugaboos afloat entertain something of a 'stonishment -when we commences the fun. Don't you think some on 'em 'll go mad?" -inquired the other. - -"Mad, mad,--very mad, very mad, indeed,--pretty considerably wild, -stiff, stark, staring mad, mister Scrumpydike," rejoined his companion. - -They had now reached one of the narrowest, darkest, and filthiest -streets in that quarter of the town; and by the expression of -satisfaction that gleamed on the coarse features of Scrumpydike, it was -evident that they were near the end of their journey. They proceeded -along this street till they came to a court through which they passed, -and entered a lane where there were no houses on one side, and very few, -and those far apart on the other. Keeping on the side where the houses -were, they followed the footpath, till they came to a ruined habitation -of the poorest class, little better than a mud kraal. The few windows it -possessed were broken and covered with dirt; its door was battered to a -fragment; the roof had fallen in, and the walls threatened to tumble. -Looking cautiously round to see if any persons were observing them, the -sailor removed the door to admit himself and his companion, and then -carefully replaced it; afterwards they picked their way over fragments -of stone and timber, through a moderate sized chamber, and descended a -long flight of steps till they came to a wall. - -"Ship ahoy!" shouted Scrumpydike, putting his mouth near the wall. - -"What cheer?" was answered in a low voice from within. - -"Death and gold!" was the strange reply; immediately after which, -bolts were heard quickly drawn, and the wall, or rather a door made to -resemble the wall in which it was placed opened, and a stout, active man -of a fierce aspect, clad in coarse jacket and trowsers, without shoes -or cap, carrying a naked cutlass in his hand, and wearing several large -pistols in his belt, became visible by the light of a torch that burned -stuck upright in the ground beside him. Without another word Log and -Scrumpydike entered. The door was quickly closed, the bolts set, and -the man, taking up the torch, preceded them through a long passage or -cellar, till they were stopped by the brickwork. - -"Ship ahoy!" shouted the man. - -"What cheer?" was answered from within. - -"Death and gold!" he replied. In an instant another door opened, the man -turned back, and the captain's clerk, and his companion were admitted -into a long subterranean chamber, in which the many torches that were -burning enabled them to distinguish the figures of about twenty men, -dressed like sailors, all variously armed, seated round a large table -covered with drinking vessels. Immediately Scrumpydike made his -appearance, the whole party set up a loud shout of welcome, and in -a moment they were all crowding round him, shaking hands, asking -questions, and offering him refreshment. - -"Ha! let us stow in a cargo o' some sort or other," said the sailor, -seating himself before what appeared to be the remains of a roast kid, -and proceeding to help himself. "I've had a desperate long cruise here. -Come, master Log, bear a hand:" a command the captain's clerk was not -slow in executing. "And so you'd given me up, ey? never made a worser -recknin; scrunch me if I arnt a got more lives nor a cat. But the best -of the joke is," said he taking a hearty draught from a can of liquor -which was handed to him, and which example was immediately followed by -his companion; "the best o' the joke is--but you'll think I'm gammonin' -ye--I knows you will. The joke is--I've been livin' in the most -honestest way you ever heard on." - -The whole party raised a shout of incredulity, and laughed in derision -at such an idea. - -"I know'd how it would be--I was afear'd I should lose my precious -character," remarked the man gloomily; "but master Log can tell ye as -how I ha' been for a matter o' two or three months most abominably -honest,--arn't I master Log?" - -"Honest--honest," replied the captain's clerk, moving the wine can -from his mouth a short distance; "shamefully honest--disgracefully -honest--indeed I may say villainously honest, master Scrumpydike." -The men stared with astonishment, and many still seemed to doubt his -assertion. - -"Nobody can lament the unfortnit occurrence more nor I do," said -Scrumpydike; "but what's done can't be undone,--so clear the decks o' -this lumber--pipe all hands to grog, and I'll tell ye a sort o' summat -much more nat'ral and creditable." - -The eatables were cleared off into an open pantry at the side, and fresh -flasks of liquor and drinking vessels were placed on the table. Some -of the men began to smoke from long pipes; others made for themselves -mixtures of the different beverages before them; and every one sat -himself down laughing and joking with the rest with the evident -intention of commencing a carouse. Log having procured a pipe almost as -big as himself, and a large jug of a strong potation he had carefully -prepared, sat smirking with secret satisfaction at his own comfort. His -pig-like eyes twinkled with self-conceit, and his pug nose seemed to -curl itself up with delight. Opposite to him, but not less at his ease, -sat Scrumpydike. He also had taken care of himself after a similar -fashion; and the humorous twist of his ugly countenance became every -minute more evident. The set by whom they were surrounded, were -remarkable for the daring and somewhat ferocious character of their -features, and the great variety of their costumes; and as they sat -enveloped in the smoke they were creating, bandying the ready jest, and -pushing about the intoxicating liquor, they presented to the eye a band -of as determined ruffians as the whole world could have produced. - -"Have you all a mind for a job?" at last inquired Scrumpydike. - -"Every one on us," replied a stout fellow with a red nose and a fierce -squint. "We've been laid up here for a month or more, waiting for a -'portunity to get afloat." - -"Well, Billbo! you shall go aboard a prime craft afore another week's -out, or I'm less nor nobody." - -"Hurra!" exclaimed the men joyfully. - -"I can't tell ye the 'ticulars just now," he continued; "but I'll make -it all plain sailin' afore you goes. Push the stuff about; a ship at -anchor makes no way. Here's to ye, my trumps! wi' lots o' plunder and a -wide berth; and may we stick to one another while there's a plank left -for us to stand on." - -"Hurra!" replied his associates with increased delight! and they all -seemed now to abandon themselves to riot and debauchery with additional -zest. Briskly were the liquor cans replenished, rapidly was the tobacco -consumed;--the laugh became louder, and occasionally an attempt at a -ribald song was made by some of the more musical members of the company. - -"Well, scrunch me! if this arn't pleasant in the extreme," said the -individual addressed as Billbo; who, by the vacuity of his gaze, and -the unsteadiness of his body, was evidently far gone towards complete -intoxication. "I'm as happy as if I was a cap'ain. I'm happier nor any -body. I'm happier nor any body, afloat or ashore." - -"You arn't more happier nor me!" shouted a big-headed fellow fiercely, -from the other end of the table, as he attempted to get upon his legs. - -"I'm happier nor any body," repeated the man with the squint. - -"I don't allow nobody to be more happier nor me," cried the other, as -he, after repeated efforts, attained the perpendicular. - -"I'm happier nor any body," doggedly repeated Billbo. - -"Then I'm spiflicated if I don't give you toko, 'cause you arn't no -business to be more happier nor me," rejoined his associate, attempting -to draw his cutlass. - -"Silence, Loggerhead!" shouted Scrumpydike, in a voice of thunder -that made the captain's clerk start from his seat with affright. "No -squabbling, or you'll get a broadside from one as arn't fond o' -trifling." - -"He says he's more happier nor me," exclaimed Loggerhead, in a most -lachrymose tone of voice. - -"I'm happier nor any body," repeated the pertinacious Billbo, his eyes -squinting defiance upon his jealous antagonist. - -"Silence, Billbo!" shouted Scrumpydike, "or I'll rake ye fore and aft." - -"He arn't no right to be more happier nor me," cried Loggerhead, as the -tears swelled in his eyes at such an assumption of superior happiness. -"I'm very happy!" he added, in a manner the most miserable that can be -conceived. "Unkimmon happy. I'm as happy as a fellow can be in this here -molloncholy world;" and he began crying like a fretful child. - -"I'm happier nor any body," muttered the other, sinking back upon the -floor. - -"Let's have a song!" cried Scrumpydike. - -"A song, a song," echoed as many of his associates as were able to -speak. - -"A song, master Log," continued Scrumpydike, with the desire of -preventing a quarrel among his drunken companions. "Come, my prince o' -singing birds! Pipe away till all's blue. You're a reg'lar trump at -chaunting a good stave; a right-down warbler; a nightingale's a fool to -ye. Arn't it true, now?" - -"True, true--very true--undeniably true--most undeniably true--most -undeniably true, indeed, mister Scrumpydike," cried the captain's clerk, -his gratified vanity visible even through the sleepy expression that -now characterised his countenance; and after a few preparatory hems, -considerable smirking, and a plentiful affectation of modesty, he sang, -in a voice that might have frightened an owl, the following verses:-- - - "Woman and wine are my delight; - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - Woman and wine are my delight, - From Monday morning till Saturday night; - For they cheer the heart and gladden the sight, - And make a man feel divine: - From woman's glances all fondness flows, - And wine rejoices wherever it goes, - And both are a cure for all earthly woes,-- - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - - "I went a courting once on a time, - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - I went a courting once on a time, - And I flattered my deary in prose and in rhyme; - And though the stuff was not by any means prime, - She vowed it was monstrous fine: - But in wine's inspiration my praise had been clad, - And whatever I said she could never think bad, - For I always 'saw double' the charms that she had: - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - - "I took to wine as a friend in need; - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - I took to wine as a friend in need, - And have ever since found it a friend indeed, - Which nothing on earth could be brought to exceed, - Or made so completely mine: - In Fortune's smile, and in Fortune's frown, - It laid me up, and it laid me down; - And went to my heart by a way of its own, - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - - "Oh, woman and wine are capital things-- - Woman and wine! woman and wine! - Woman and wine are capital things, - In gladness or care to man's soul ever springs, - To which each its own perfect felicity brings; - And long may such pleasures combine: - And he who would ever, by night or by day, - In sorrow or joy, turn from either away, - Should never in better men's company stay, - Woman and wine! woman and wine!" - -While his associates were wildly shouting, in a dozen different keys, -the burthen of the song, Log, in whom the exertion of singing had -destroyed the little sense he had remaining, as he was swinging his body -back, lost his balance, pitched head over heels off his seat, and then -rolled under the table, in a state of complete insensibility. - - - - -CHAP. VIII. - -THE PIRATES. - - -"'Tis a lovely night!" observed Oriel Porphyry, as he stood upon the -deck of the Albatross, watching the fast receding shores of Africa. - -"Indeed it is," said his companion. "The air is filled with beauty, and -there is an eloquent glory in the stars that speaks marvels of wisdom. -See how the rolling waves rush on, bathed with the trembling light from -above them--so do the multitudinous hearts within the world send forth -their tide, each illumined by glimpses of a heaven of its own. The -planets look down upon the waters, and from their mighty mirror drink in -the images of their own loveliness--just as the maiden venturing to gaze -into the glowing eyes of the youth of whom she is enamoured, sees in -their depths the reflection of her own beauty, and lingers delighted -within the influence of the charm she herself created. But what a -philanthropist is the world! A universal spirit of love exists around -us, and beneath its outstretched wings throbs the everlasting heart of -the universe, distributing through its rosy channels that refreshing -stream which is the life, the strength, the humanity of nature. What a -wonder is the world! All within the boundless circle of infinity, with a -harmony of soul-entrancing modulations, tune the same music to the ear. -Systems of worlds, and worlds of systems--each earth blessed with its -own sun, moon, and stars, that fill its atmosphere with gladness, and -its waters with delight, rejoicing in the abundance in which it rears -its countless offspring, that draw their verdure, their fragrance, and -their consummate grace, from the exhaustless nourishment of its breast, -rolls on in one unvarying course, carrying with it the fond desires of -youth, the proud ambition of manhood, and the peaceful speculations -of age; while, as the stream of Time progresses on its way to float -them into the shoreless ocean of Eternity, its own nature, keeping a -continual change in all things which have from it their existence, from -the beginning hath followed its particular path in the glad possession -of a perpetual youth. What a gladness is the world! There is not a -creature born of its most fruitful womb that is not taught to slake its -thirst and bathe its buoyant limbs in the fountain of delight that flows -for all. Smiles and flowers are about us from our infancy. The air -breathes of gladness. The clear firmament looks down on us in bliss. -The leaves that quiver in the breeze dance for joy, and the stream that -wandereth on its way singeth its own merry tune. The voice of song -murmurs a continual carol that stirs the hearts of the antique forest -trees, and the echoes of the mighty hills--in swelling tones the -vigorous wind joins in the thrilling harmony--and as the natural concert -rises into power, into its gladdening sounds the deep sea roars its -triumphant chorus." - -"You are eloquent, Zabra!" remarked Oriel, gazing with wondering eyes -upon the handsome countenance of his companion, which appeared more than -usually excited. - -"'T is a fit time, and a most fitting subject for eloquence," he -replied; "and if the soul hath such impulses, never were they more -likely to be called into action than on such an occasion, and with such -a theme as I have now. We are again upon the sea. That is sufficient -impetus for the thought. We have left the dwellings of men whose souls -were devoted to the mere scraping together wealth they would not use for -any benefit to their fellow-creatures, and could not expend with any -happiness to themselves." - -"Ay, I am glad I have escaped from the place," said the young merchant. -"It has given me every thing but a favourable impression of the -pleasures of traffic. Each person I met seemed anxiously intent upon -cheating me; and, if I had not been carefully attentive to my father's -instructions, before I had left their filthy town I should have been -plundered of every bale of goods in my possession. As for Master Boor, -he is as fine a sample of deliberate roguery as I ever met with." - -"He is worse than that, or I am much mistaken," remarked Zabra, -earnestly. "I have not been able to collect sufficient proof, but I -strongly suspect, from observation I have made, that he is connected -with your captain, whom he praised so much, in some deep-laid scheme of -treachery, of which you are to be the sufferer." - -"Impossible!" exclaimed Oriel. "That Boor would cheat his own father, -I believe; but I don't think he would act the villain, except in the -general routine of business:--as for Compass, there's no harm in -him--the freedom of his language and the unprepossessing character of -his manners are likely to create an unfavourable impression in any -observer. Besides, he is alone in the ship, or nearly so. He is not -at all popular with the crew, and were he to attempt any thing, the -majority would rise in my favour. No, no, Zabra, your suspicions must -be groundless." - -"Who are those strange men that have come on board?" asked his -companion, in a whisper. - -"Those in long frocks and straw hats? They are some poor agricultural -labourers that have begged a free passage from the captain, which, at -his desire, I have granted." - -"I have received information, through the boy Loop, from old Hearty, -whose fidelity I can depend on, that these men are not what they appear -to be; that they are evidently sailors, and, from their countenances -alone, I should imagine that they are here for no good purpose," said -Zabra. - -"Ha!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, for the first time entertaining a -suspicion of the captain's intentions. - -"Hush!" whispered Zabra, clutching his companion firmly at the arm, -while the expression of his features became intensely anxious. - -"Heard you that?" - -It was a stifled scream. While both listened in great excitement, it was -followed by a discharge of fire-arms, a clashing of weapons, shouts, -imprecations, and yells of agony; and immediately afterwards Hearty, -Boggle, Ardent, Climberkin, and about half a dozen others, rushed -upon deck, followed by Captain Compass, Scrumpydike, and the gang of -ruffians described in the last chapter, fighting furiously; and, though -streaming blood from many wounds, obstinately disputing every inch of -ground. - -"I have no weapon, but I must find one!" cried the young merchant, -attempting to break from his companion. - -"Move not for your life, Oriel," said his companion, earnestly, as he -held him more firmly. "You can only be slaughtered, without conferring -the slightest assistance, for see, the unequal struggle is over." - -A loud cheer from the ruffians proclaimed the truth of Zabra's -intimation. The faithful few were either killed, or so wounded as to be -unable to continue the contest, and the victors were rejoicing at their -triumph. Oriel Porphyry was not allowed many moments to consider of what -he had best do, when Compass, Scrumpydike, and two or three of their -associates, came hastily towards the place where he stood, flourishing -their bloody weapons, and shouting their riotous hurras. - -"Captain Compass!" exclaimed Oriel proudly, as the party advanced, -"what is the meaning of this bloodshed?" - -"Beg your pardon, Master Porphyry," he replied, "I have the honour of -being Captain Death; ey, boys?" said he turning to his men, and the -appeal was answered by a noisy demonstration of applause. "Yes, I am -Captain Death, the most distinguished leader of the Free Mariners in -these seas; and I beg to inform you, that I now hold the ship and all it -contains for the benefit of myself and brave companions; ey, boys?" and -the inquiry met with a similar reply. - -"And I begs to add to what the cap'ain says," observed Scrumpydike, -giving his ugly countenance a more ludicrous twist than ever, "that I'm -Leevetenant Rifle, very much at your sarvice, gennlemen; and if you has -the slightest 'clination to end your miserable lives, I'll do the job -handsome, and to show my respect for ye, wo'n't charge ye nothin'"--a -riotous roar of laughter followed. - -"You need not be afraid, Master Gloomy," cried the captain, noticing -that Zabra trembled as he clung to Oriel Porphyry--"your pretty -countenance shan't be spoilt just yet, at any rate, if you behave -yourself; and as for you, Master Porphyry! your life shall be spared, -and those of your men who may have survived this conflict, on condition -that you follow my directions regarding your conduct; but the slightest -show of disobedience will be punished with instant death to yourself and -all who belong to you." - -By this time Professor Fortyfolios and Doctor Tourniquet had hurried -upon deck, and with much appearance of apprehension had joined the -group. - -"What is this dispute about, captain?" asked the professor, looking -fearfully upon the threatening faces he saw around him. "Let us argue -the matter coolly." - -"The dispute is settled, Professor Fortyfolios, and these are my -arguments," said the pirate, pointing to the bloody weapons of his -companions. The professor was convinced without inquiry; and the -perspiration seemed to break out over his bald head as if he had taken -a shower bath. - -"This looks very much like an act of piracy, don't you see," remarked -the incautious Tourniquet. - -"So like, that there can be no difference," replied the pirate; "and you -look as if you had a great desire for a swing from the fore-yard arm, -or a plunge under the bows, don't you see. But you are too useful at -present, so look to the wounded, Doctor Tourniquet, or I'll have you -hanged before you can suspect any thing about it." - -The doctor's ruddy features grew pale with fear, and he made his way to -his patients without loss of time. - -"Master Porphyry, you had better go to your cabin," said the captain, -"and your shadow may go with you; but if I notice any treachery in -either, you shall not have time to say a prayer." The friends left the -deck together without a reply. - -"And now, boys, hey for Madagascar; and as this job's done, you may -set your hearts afloat as much as you like." A cheer followed the -announcement--the liquor was soon in requisition; and the pirates -became so incapable of taking care of themselves, that if the defenders -of the ship who were alive had not been disabled by their wounds, the -Albatross might have been retaken the same evening. - -The wounded men were lying where they had fallen when the doctor arrived -amongst them. In a moment his fear for himself disappeared in his -anxiety for the poor fellows who so much required his assistance. - -"Here, Loop!" he cried as soon as he noticed the lad, unhurt, -endeavouring to support his wounded relative. "Run into my cabin, and -you will find on the table there a case of instruments, bring them here, -look in at the cook room as you return, and ask Roly Poly to let me have -a basin of warm water instantly, for I have immediate want for it, don't -you see." The boy, with tears in his eyes, left old Hearty to the care -of the surgeon, and hastened to obey his instructions. - -"Well, old friend!" exclaimed he, taking the sailor by the hand, "where -are you hurt? Ah, I perceive--ugly gash in the face--don't you see--any -thing else?" - -"Arm cut to the bone, and shot through the body," said the man faintly. - -"Bad," replied the doctor; "but cheer up. I've put worse things than -that to rights, don't you see. There, let me take off your jacket. Don't -exert yourself: I'll do it. You've lost a good deal of blood, my friend, -and feel a little sickish or so. Never mind that. Now let me move your -shirt from the wound. Tut, tut," he exclaimed, as the man seemed to -shrink with pain when the linen was withdrawn from the lacerated flesh. -"You must learn to bear pain, don't you see. Wo'n't hurt you more than I -can help." He then minutely examined his patient's hurts. "Bad gun-shot -wound that; but the bullet's taken a more favourable direction than I -expected, don't you see. Ugly cut this in the arm; muscles cut through; -arteries severed; requires much attention. Gash in the face don't look -well, but is in no way alarming. So, old friend, cheer up; you're -wounded severely, but not mortally, don't you see." - -"Don't care about it, sir," replied Hearty, in a more feeble voice than -usual. "Don't care if I had as many holes in me as a sieve; but to be -circumwented in this here 'bominable way by a set o' rascally pirates -arn't to be endured." - -"Hush!" exclaimed Tourniquet, looking round him anxiously, to see if any -of the victors were within hearing. "You must be cautious of what you -say, don't you see." - -"While I a got a breath o' wind in the canvass I'll tell 'em they're -a set o' murderin' thieves," cried the brave old fellow, with all his -remaining strength. - -"Hush, I tell you!" said the alarmed doctor. "Do you want to have me -murdered as well as yourself? Keep your tongue still, or every soul of -us left alive in the ship will be massacred." - -"Where's Master Porphyry?" asked the man, languidly. - -"Safe," replied the surgeon. - -"Glad on't. And Master Zabra, they arn't a done him no harm, the -villains?" he inquired anxiously. - -"Both are unhurt," said Tourniquet, in a whisper; "and the only way you -can keep them so, is to remain as quiet as possible, and say nothing -to incense your conquerors; and who knows, but that after you have -recovered, you may have an opportunity of doing them some service, don't -you see." - -"The very thought a'most sets me on my legs again," observed his -patient, clasping the doctor's hand affectionately. - -"Hush," he exclaimed, "here comes Roly Poly and Loop, at last." - -"Oh, massa!" cried the black, as he rubbed his sleepy eyes with one -hand, while carrying the basin of water with the other--"Sockin' doin's! -Sockin' doin's! Me was takin' bit of nap, and heard nuttin. But who'd o' -ebber tort ob such obstroplousness." - -"Hold your tongue, Roly Poly," said the surgeon, as he proceeded to -cleanse, to dress, and bind up the wounds. "Hold your tongue, and bring -the basin nearer I can't reach it, don't you see." - -"Yes, massa, me see berry well," replied the fat cook, heedless of the -injunction he had heard. "Sorry for poor Massa Hearty; him look done to -a turn, poor fellar. Him nebber eat no more puddin'; no more soup; no -more meat; no more nuttin, as Roly Poly cooks so boofliful. Sorry for -him." - -"Hold your tongue, sir, directly," exclaimed the doctor, with more -emphasis. - -"Yes, massa," responded Roly Poly, and in a moment afterwards -recommenced. "Massa Hearty, him berry good man. Him eat ebry thin' me -cook, and ax no 'pertinent questions. Nebber turn up him nose when him -find bacca in him soup, or lump o' soap in him puddin'. Sorry for him, -poor fellar." - -"Will you hold your tongue, sir?" said Doctor Tourniquet, angrily, "and -help to carry the patient to his hammock. Talk to him on your peril, -sir. He requires rest, don't you see." - -"Yes, massa," he replied, assisting to support the wounded man; but he -had not proceeded a yard before his voice was heard running on as fast -as ever. "Wo'n't say word more. Hate a fellar as can't hold him tongue -when him told. Al'ays talkee, talkee. Mornin' till night him foolis -tongue nebber hab no peace. He go talkee, talkee, to eb'ry body; foolis' -fellar! Poor man, him want rest; nebber mind, him not hold him tongue -bit more. Hate a fellar as can't hold him tongue when him told." And so -he continued till he left old Hearty in his hammock. - -The next person the doctor approached was lying on his back motionless. -A brief inspection seemed sufficient. He shook his head and passed on -towards a man who was supporting his back against the mast. His face was -pale, and his look haggard, and he seemed trying with a handkerchief to -stop the blood that was oozing from his side. - -"Not much hurt, I hope?" was Doctor Tourniquet's first inquiry. - -"Why, sir, I likes to have particular notions o' things in general, as -every man as is a man, and thinks like a man, should have, and I must -say," said he, slowly and faintly, "as I've a notion, as I'm right down -reglarly spiflicated;" and immediately afterwards his head fell upon his -shoulder, his back glided from its support, and he fell flat upon the -deck. - -"Bad look that," remarked the surgeon, kneeling down beside his patient, -whom he proceeded to examine. "Bad look--but 'tis only a swoon. He'll -recover presently, and in the mean time I'll look at the wound. Ah! -unpromising case. Dangerous thrust that; don't like it by any means, -but if he is tractable he may get over it. Well, my friend," exclaimed -Tourniquet, perceiving his patient open his eyes and look wildly about -him, "your case is not so desperate as you imagine; and if you are -attentive to what I tell you, it's very possible I shall be able to -make you safe and sound again, don't you see." - -After doing what he thought necessary, he ordered him off to his -hammock, and proceeded to the others. Ardent was found suffering from -severe fracture of the skull; Climberkin had fainted from loss of -blood, having been wounded in nearly a dozen different places, but -none of them were dangerous; five others had received the same rough -treatment, who were expected to recover, and seven more were either dead -or dying. As Doctor Tourniquet was placing a bandage on the last of his -patients, he heard the pirates, who had been joining in a wild uproar -the whole of the time he had been engaged upon the wounded, shouting as -loud as they could bawl,-- - - "We stifle ev'ry cry, - Ev'ry cry, ev'ry cry, - We stifle ev'ry cry, Captain Death! - And then we spread our sails, that are filled with welcome gales, - Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales, - Captain Death! Captain Death!' - Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales, Captain Death!'" - -The surgeon shuddered as he collected together his instruments, and with -a heart full of anxiety for the fate of himself and his companions -proceeded to his cabin. - - - - -CHAP. IX. - -CAPTAIN DEATH. - - -The Albatross was within a day's sail of the shores of Madagascar, and -as both Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, the professor, and the doctor, appeared -desirous of giving their captors no cause of offence, they were better -treated than they expected to have been. Zabra, more than all the -others, seemed anxious to please the captain and his lieutenant; and -the kindness of his disposition and the beauty of his music in a short -time had such an influence upon their savage natures that their former -distrust was completely obliterated, and they entertained something like -a friendly feeling towards him. But Zabra had evidently some object in -the course he was pursuing. He allowed no opportunity to escape by which -he might win their confidence. He was continually doing some obliging -offices for their gratification. He seemed to take a pleasure in their -bold way of life, joined with them in its praise, and shared with them -in its enjoyments. He handled their weapons with an air of bravery, and -learned from them to shoot at a mark, and to cut and thrust with the -sword; and there was such a loftiness in the enthusiasm he manifested on -these occasions, that they invariably treated him with more respect than -any of his fellow captives. But a close observer might have noticed that -he often turned aside to conceal the disgust he entertained. When not -within the observation of the pirates, his dark eyes flashed with -indignation, and his beautiful mouth was compressed into an expression -of scorn. He looked proudly around him, as if his spirit was exalted -above the meaner natures with whom he was obliged to mingle. He loathed -their fellowship. He abhorred their ways. And often, when the feeling -of disdain with which he regarded these men seemed about to break -forth into open acknowledgment, a glance towards the place where Oriel -Porphyry stood, striving to control the contempt and hatred for the -whole crew of ruffians, of whom he was a prisoner, that kept darting -from his eyes, appeared sufficient to induce him to redouble his -exertions to please the pirate chiefs. - -They were all in the cabin, with the addition of Scrumpydike, or as he -should now be styled, Lieutenant Rifle, and Log the captain's clerk, -the latter looking twice as important and twice as conceited as he used -to be. Zabra sat leaning on his harp, near Oriel Porphyry, apparently -absorbed in thought. The doctor and the professor were disputing upon -some metaphysical subject, as if they had forgotten all their fears, and -cared for nothing but triumphing over the other. The captain had been -talking with his lieutenant upon the progress of the ship. Oriel sat -proud and abstracted; and Log was intently engaged in eating and -drinking as much of the good things on the table as lay within his -reach. - -"All's goin' on as smooth as a mackerel's back," said the -lieutenant--"every man knows his dooty, and looks arter it. There's no -flinchers among 'em; and every one feels in his nat'ral element, cause -there's no abominable honesty among 'em to corrupt their morals." - -"So you must acknowledge that it's impossible there can be such a thing -as free-will, don't you see," said Dr. Tourniquet. - -"I acknowledge nothing of the kind, doctor, I assure you," replied -Professor Fortyfolios. "The doctrine of necessity----" - -"Hullo! is my nightingale silent?" cried the captain, unceremoniously -interrupting the logicians. "Have you piped all dry--not a song left, -nor a voice to sing it with? Is the harp dumb, or the singer sad, that -we haven't heard so much as the ghost of a tune!" - -"Neither, noble captain," replied Zabra, dressing his handsome face in -his happiest smiles. "I wait your pleasure for a theme. Shall it be of -love, or of war--of the pleasures of wine, or the gladness of gold--a -song of the hunters amid the melodious forests--or of the mariner upon -the everlasting sea?" - -"If I might be so bold as to speak for the cap'ain," said the -lieutenant, "I should say you might sing any thin' you has a mind--any -thin' in the univarsal globe, so as there's nothin' about honesty in -it--a thing as I've got a most vartuous abhorrence on. So chirrup away -as soon as you like. I loves to listen to your toons--they fills me wi' -a sort o' all overishness. Arn't it delightful, Master Log!" - -"Delightful--delightful--very delightful--positively delightful--upon my -word very superlatively delightful, Mister Scrumpy--I mean Lieutenant -Rifle," mumbled the little man, as plainly as his mouth filled full of -preserves would allow. - -"Let it be what is most agreeable to yourself," said the captain. -"But I would rather have something to stir one up a bit--a sort of -nor-easter--that will make one's timbers creak again: none of your -lack-a-daisical love and dove jimcracks--sink them--give us a song that -will make one feel as if one was standing on the tip of one's toes on -the tip-top of the world." - -"You shall have what you desire, noble captain," replied Zabra; and, -after a stirring prelude on the harp, sang the following verses:-- - - "I heard a voice upon the sea, - That pierced the waters fierce and free,-- - The loud winds running wild with glee - Brought it to me; - I heard a voice the land-breeze bore, - That thrilled the mountains to the core, - And shouted out, from shore to shore, - 'WHO ARE THE FREE?' - Reply, reply aloud, air, earth, and sea! - Shout to the list'ning stars, 'WHO ARE THE FREE!' - - "The cities heard, but heard in vain; - It stirred the hill, the vale, the plain; - The forest monarch's young again, - Seemed they to be; - But all beneath the conscious sky, - With trembling heart and quailing eye, - Looked round and raised th' accusing cry, - 'WHERE ARE THE FREE?' - Reply, reply aloud, air, earth, and sea! - Shout to th' eternal sun, 'WHERE ARE THE FREE!' - - "I saw a gallant band at last, - Upon the boundless waters cast, - Daring the battle and the blast, - Rocks and the sea; - They heard the voice that pierced the tide; - And all in one proud cause allied, - With tones that shook the world, replied-- - 'WE ARE THE FREE!' - We have no masters on the earth or sea! - Our home is with the wind--'WE ARE THE FREE!'" - -Loud and long were the commendations with which the captain and -his lieutenant rewarded the singer. They had listened with as much -gratification as it was possible for them to receive from such a source, -and the bold glances that darted from their eyes, as the song proceeded, -showed how much they were excited. Even the conceited spirit of the -captain's clerk seemed moved. He winked his little eyes most valiantly, -and put as much bravery into his smirking countenance as it could be -brought to assume. Oriel Porphyry regarded the musician, for the first -time, with a look of distrust. To him there seemed an evident desire of -becoming on more friendly terms with the pirates than he thought could -be desired by an honest nature; and the ingratitude, as well as the -treachery of such conduct, made Zabra appear to him unworthy of any -kindly feeling. But when their eyes met, there was such an earnest -devotion in the gaze of Zabra, and so much sincerity of purpose, that he -resolved to defer passing a condemnation till he had more positive proof -of his unworthiness. - -"After such a song as that, I feel a wonderful deal more social towards -you all," observed the captain; "and to show the confidence I would -place in you--as well as to pass away the time as agreeably as may -be--if there's no particular objection, I'll tell you my history from -first to last." - -"Do, noble captain; your adventures must surely be of deep interest to -all who love the inspiring actions of a bold spirit," observed Zabra. -Oriel turned on him a searching look; but the lustrous eyes upon which -he gazed still seemed filled with the light of truth and affection; and -he knew not what to think. - -"I was born a younger brother--the youngest of several," said the -Captain. "There was some property in the family, but it was all -carefully nursed for the heir, who was brought up in the enjoyment of -every indulgence, while the rest of us picked up our education, and our -existence, as we could. I was least cared for of all. From my boyhood I -was allowed to go where I pleased, so that I kept out of the way of my -parents and my elder brother; and I was left to do as I liked, as long -as my proceedings did not inconvenience those affectionate relatives. As -I soon perceived that I got nothing I required by asking for it, I ever -afterwards managed to acquire what I wanted without thinking it was -necessary to trouble any person upon the subject. Once I was discovered -acting in this necessary and philosophical manner, and I was considered -guilty of a crime, and most savagely punished. I cannot say that I was -made conscious of my offence, or that I was ever brought to acknowledge -the justice of its punishment; but I can most truly affirm, that the -whole proceeding created in me that hatred of tyranny which led me to be -what I am. - -"Our house was by the sea-side, in a wild and unfrequented part of the -coast of Madagascar. It was a mansion of considerable extent, ancient, -but capable of being put to very good uses in the hands of a spirited -proprietor; and there were no houses near it, with the exception of a -few cottages on the cliff, belonging to some smugglers, with whom I had -long since made myself on very good terms. I was then about twelve years -of age, tall and strong, reckless and daring, perfectly uneducated, as -far as school learning is considered, but wiser than many of my elders -in that really useful knowledge that proceeds from observation. My -intimacy with the smugglers had taught me many things which I managed to -turn to advantage on several occasions--particularly notions affecting -the rights of property, and the legality of resisting the law. Smarting -from the effects of the treatment I had received, I hastily collected -whatever I considered most valuable, and without waiting to perform the -ceremonies of departure, I took the shortest way to the cliff, and was -the same evening sailing in a swift cutter far from my native shores. - -"My companions early initiated me into all the mysteries of their craft. -I soon acquired a knowledge of landmarks--knew every creek and bay, and -sheltered inlet along the shore--was familiar with every part of the -vessel, its uses, and management--learned to understand the appearances -of coming storms--and could always tell the best time and place for -effecting a landing upon any required portion of the coast. I became an -active hand, exceedingly useful, quick, and vigilant; and shared in all -the dangers of my associates, their disappointments, and successes. My -boldness at all times, my readiness to labour, and the ability with -which I performed all I undertook, made me a general favourite; and the -captain, an old stern smuggler, rough in his humour, and rather despotic -in his sway, took me under his especial protection. I was chosen to -assist in many hazardous exploits, in which I was often a principal -figure; for my youth, disarming all suspicion in those who were on -the look-out to capture the contrabandists, gave me opportunities -for acquiring information as to their proceedings, which was quickly -communicated to my companions; and we have sometimes managed matters so -well as to be able to store our cargo in the very house in which our -most vigilant enemy resided. In this way I existed till I was about -seventeen, making voyages from the island to the continent, and along -various parts of the coast, acquiring a very creditable knowledge of -navigation, and gaining a considerable degree of information on many -other subjects; and then, for my services and approved fidelity, I was -promoted to be mate in the craft in which I had been sailing. I had -been in several desperate conflicts with the revenue officers, but had -been so fortunate as to escape with a few slight scratches; and the -excitement of these affrays had created in me an inclination to share in -more fierce encounters. However, on one occasion, we were unexpectedly -attacked by very superior numbers, and, although we defended ourselves -with an obstinacy that rendered the victory dearly bought, we were -over-powered; and when I recovered consciousness after falling on the -deck, as I imagined, mortally wounded, I found myself immured in a -gloomy dungeon, on a charge of smuggling and murder. - -"I was accused of murder! I, who had merely slayed the slayers--who had -only fought in self-defence--who in a fray of three to one, had beaten -down some four or five of the hireling band by whom my associates were -being slaughtered, was loaded with chains, thrust into a loathsome -hole, and condemned to death, as guilty of the blackest of their -black catalogue of crimes! What miserable bunglers are lawyers and -governments! what wretched blunderers,--what empty fools! They create -the necessity for an act, punish with death a deed which could not be -avoided, and then boast of their wisdom and justice. Much parade, too, -they made about carrying their atrocious sentence into effect upon one -so young. They affected to be wonderfully pitiful,--the jury gave their -award in a tone of commiseration, and the judge pretended to be moved -to tears when he passed the sentence; and then, as many exaggerated -statements had been published of the determination with which I had -resisted being taken, many humane persons, as the world called them, -visited me in prison, and they brought me what they said were good -books, and talked to me about things they styled repentance and virtue, -and a few other fooleries. I listened with a patience that I have since -often thought extraordinary; but I imagined at the time that this -attempt at sympathy might lead to my liberation, and consequently they -always found me earnestly studying their books, and admirably attentive -to their discourses. But my hopes were disappointed; I was a fool not to -have known the hypocrites better. They could whine and cant, but they -had no mercy. However, from a quarter to which I had never looked for -assistance, help came when I least expected it. - -"My jailer was a cold, stern, unfeeling brute; but he was a brute -by profession, and his disposition was his stock in trade. He had -originally been a housebreaker, or a mean villain of some kind; and -having betrayed his accomplices, he was rewarded by the miscreants whom -he served, with a place of trust. For him bolts and bars seemed to have -as much attraction as if he was a loadstone. His heart appeared only -to throb in the shadow of the thick walls; and of no music could he be -more fond than the clank of chains and the groans of the despairing -prisoners. Him I cursed every time we met: but he had a daughter--a -buxom, light-hearted little creature, whose eye was afloat in gladness, -and whose breast was freighted with gentle and generous feelings; her -olive complexion, azure eyes, and rich black curling hair, gave the most -charming expression to her face. She saw me from a window when I was -taking my solitary walk in the gloomy court-yard. My youthful appearance -attracted her attention. She inquired my history, and as there was -nothing in it of the dastard or the sneak--nothing she found ignoble -or revolting, she felt an interest for me which every day grew more -intense. She watched for the coming of the time when I was allowed to -enjoy my daily walks with increased anxiety; and knowing that I was -doomed to death, her eyes were filled with tears and her heart with -tenderness whenever she saw me. I was ignorant of the feelings I had -excited for several days after they had attained a power she found it -impossible to resist; for as my execution approached, I strode the -narrow court-yard, hemmed in by towering walls, with folded arms and -eyes upon the ground, muttering imprecations upon the whole human race; -and beheld not, and thought not of the kind creature that watched me so -anxiously: but one dull day, the last my judges had allowed me in this -world, I was engaged in making my accustomed perambulations, when I -was roused from my melancholy reverie by seeing a stone fall at my -feet I looked about me, but did not perceive whence it came. As I was -continuing my cheerless round, another stone was thrown close to the -place where I stood. I then made a more careful examination of the few -windows by which I could be overlooked, and at one, about forty or fifty -feet from the ground, I observed a female figure--whether she was young -or handsome I could not exactly determine, because I was unable to -distinguish her features, but I could have no doubt that she was an -angel when I beheld the end of a strong rope slowly descend that was -evidently falling from her hand. Before it was within reach, I had run -to grasp it within my eager hands. Soon I clutched it firmly--I felt -it was tightly fastened above; long experience in rope-climbing, and a -desperate desire to escape at any hazard, in a few seconds carried me up -to the open window, where I embraced my deliverer, whom I discovered to -be just the sort of smart-looking little craft I have described. - -"'Pull up the rope,' she said anxiously, 'or you will be discovered.' - -"I lost no time in hauling it into the room, where it was strongly -fastened to the bedstead;--from this it was immediately made loose and -stowed away into a box, and the window closed. The chamber in which -I found myself was a small bed-room, possessing all the neatness and -cleanliness in its appearance which distinguish the sleeping rooms of -girls in the first flush of womanhood. Against the wall was a bed with -linen of a pure white, enclosed in curtains of the same colour. At one -end of the room a simple toilet was arranged; utensils for washing were -standing in a corner--a row of books upon a little cabinet--a small -vase with a few flowers, two or three chairs, and a table, composed -the furniture. - -"My arms were again round her waist, and I was showing my gratitude -after a fashion I thought would be most agreeable, when she raised -herself from my arms, smiling, blushing, and trembling, and fixing on -me a look full of sincerity, purity, and affection, said: - -"'You may perhaps think me bold--over bold; but indeed I could not exist -under the idea that you were about to lose your life. I was determined -to make an effort to save you. I procured the rope from a manufactory -attached to the prison in which those sentenced to hard labour are -employed, and having well secured it here, watched my time to drop it -within your reach. I knew that you were left alone for a short time, and -I tried to attract your attention without exciting the suspicion of -any one. Having provided every thing that was necessary, and seeing my -opportunity, I endeavoured to make you look up--I coughed--I hemmed--but -you did not move from your position. I then threw down a stone; you -looked about you, and to my great disappointment and fear walked on -without observing me. My heart seemed to sink when I thought the -opportunity might be lost, and that on the morrow you would die. I again -threw a stone, and felt the sweetest pleasure I have ever known when I -saw that you observed me. Quickly and cautiously I let down the rope; -but when I saw you ascend, and knew that the slightest slip would send -you headlong against the hard stones so far beneath you, I trembled with -fear. You are now safe, and I am rejoiced. But the greatest caution will -be necessary, or your retreat will be discovered. By this time your -escape is known, and an active search is being made for you in every -direction. If you wish to retain your life you must do whatever I desire -you. Ha!' she exclaimed, as footsteps were heard approaching, 'they -come--get into that bed.' I hesitated about soiling the sheets with my -shoes. 'In with you instantly--there's not a moment to be lost.' - -"While I snugly deposited myself under the bed-clothes, I observed her -rapidly put on a night-gown over the dress she wore, and a cap upon her -head, throw off her shoes, and whispering, 'Lie still, if you value your -life,' she jumped into the bed, placed my head in her lap as she sat -nearly upright leaning against the pillows, and arranged the clothes in -such a manner that no one could imagine that the bed contained any one -but herself. - -"This had scarcely been done, before I heard the door open and some one -walk into the room. - -"'Have you heard any one enter your window, Virgo?' asked a gruff voice -I readily recognised. - -"'My window, father!' exclaimed my angel, in a tone of the utmost -astonishment. 'How is it possible any one can get near it?' - -"'Don't know,' replied the old man surlily. 'But I left a prisoner a -short time ago in the yard, to let him stretch his legs for the last -time before we stretched his neck; I returned in a few minutes, and -there was not a glimpse of him to be seen. I defy a cat to get up the -wall. How he's managed to gi' me the slip I can't guess, unless he -jumped out o' the keyhole, or flew in at one o' the windows. But you -haven't heard no noise?' - -"'Not the slightest!' said Virgo. - -"'Strange--unkimmonly strange! How long ha' you been awake?' inquired -her father. - -"'About an hour,' replied my angel. 'I felt a little better to-day, and -was thinking of getting up when you entered.' - -"I heard the old man grope under the bed, and knew that he was exploring -every corner, grumbling and swearing at me at a rate it did my heart -good to hear. - -"'Unkimmonly strange!' he exclaimed, 'and I shall get sent to the right -about if I can't tell how he's bolted.' - -"Then I heard him draw aside the curtains, and I lay as still as a rock. - -"'What do you want, father?' cried Virgo, very angrily. 'It's -ridiculous for you to imagine he can be here.' - -"'Unkimmonly strange!' grumbled out the brute; and having satisfied -himself that his prisoner was not in the room, he shuffled out of it, -growling like a she bear deprived of her cubs. I could feel Virgo's -little heart beating violently as she listened to the retreating sounds. -Neither of us moved for several minutes. At last, convinced that the -coast was clear, I raised my head from the clothes, and observed her -face covered with blushes; but as soon as I moved she made a spring and -left me in the bed alone. - -"'You must remain here till you hear me leave the room,' said she, -drawing the curtains round me; 'and when I lock the door, change the -clothes you have on for those you will find laid out for you.' I -promised obedience, and with a winning smile she left me to my own -reflections in a pretty considerable puzzlement concerning the whole -affair. Directly I knew she was gone, I jumped out of my snuggery, -and looked for the change of rigging she had mentioned. May I be -considerably spiflicated if it wasn't a woman's dress! I must say I felt -but little inclined to the thing; but, thinking that it might be the -only chance I had for getting out of prison, I stripped, and began -putting on the first thing that came to hand. It was a sort of shirt, -and yet it wasn't a shirt. It didn't look like the shirt of Jew, Turk, -or Christian. However, after a deal of manouvring, I slipped it on, -and the first thing I discovered was that both sleeves shortened sail -considerably, and though I tried to haul up the collar to my neck, I -found it wouldn't come above my shoulders any how, but hung down with an -ugly flap afore and abaft. Well, the next thing I put my head through -was something of a similar nature, only it came up a little higher and -fell down a little lower, and was braced up more tight about the body. -After that, I got hold of the strangest piece of stuff that ever I -overhawled. It was shaped something like a jacket without sleeves or -collar, buttons or button-holes, set round with a number of slight -stiffish spars, one of which was much broader in the beam than the -others, and there was a running line going through two rows of holes -that kept the thing pretty smartly together. I found out that there -were places for the arms to go in, and I managed to get it then over -my shoulders. Then I tugged away at the running line till I had got it -through all the holes, and by pulling and hauling, twisting and turning, -I made all fast; but the spars pinched me most confoundedly, and the big -one stood out astern of my back bone in the oddest manner possible. Then -there were a few more things into which I found my way more easily, and -when I was regularly rigged out, I took a look at myself at the glass; -and I will say, a more ridiculous craft never ventured afloat that what -I appeared to be. - -"I was amusing myself with the figure I cut, when I heard a -footstep--the key turned in the lock, and Virgo entered, fastening the -door after her. As soon as she clapped eyes upon me, they began to -twinkle famously, and, without any ceremony, she opened upon me as -complete a laugh as ever I heard. And she had good reason, for I'd got -a hump on my back as big as a dromedary's, owing to my having put the -thing with the spars on stern foremost; and I'd managed to twist every -thing out of its proper place, because I was ignorant of the right way -of putting them on. Well, she made no more to do, but just took me to -pieces as if I'd been a baby, and put every thing to rights, laughing -all the time; yet as modest as any she creature that ever lived. Then -she made me wash my face; and afterwards she combed my hair, curled it, -and put a sort of turban on my head; and then, with a triumphant smile, -she bade me look in the glass. I did'nt know myself. I looked as -complete a girl as ever walked in petticoats. My complexion had been -rather browned by the sun, and my limbs had little of the feminine about -them; but notwithstanding these things I appeared more womanish than -previously I thought it possible I could have been made. As yet I had no -whiskers, and my beard did'nt give me any particular deal of trouble; -so that, on that score, there was little that could betray that I was -sailing under false colours. - -"Virgo seemed to enjoy the change she had produced amazingly. She walked -about me with her eyes filled with pleasure, as if delighting in the -contemplation of her own work; while I, scarcely able to understand the -whole drift of the proceedings, looked a little bothered and mystified. - -"Now if any of our people do see you," said she, cheerfully, "I do'nt -think it at all likely that they would suspect who you are." - -"Well, there was I, a wild, daring, uncontrollable youth, living locked -up in the bed-room of an innocent little creature some years younger -than myself. She brought me every thing that she thought likely to -render my confinement more endurable, and endeavoured, by a thousand -affectionate ways, to make me forget that I was deprived of my liberty. -To get out of the prison, she told me, was impossible at present, as -every person entering and going out underwent strict examination; but I -had some idea that she said this to keep me where I was; and though I -loved her as well as I was able to love, for having saved my life, the -sort of existence I led was not one my spirit could long endure. I can -say, most solemnly, that she remained as pure in heart and mind as it -was possible for the purest to be. She allowed my caresses--she returned -them--but there was such a modesty in her spotless nature, that it -repelled the slightest exhibition of passion. At night she would leave -the room while I undressed, and, when I was in bed, she would come and -lay by my side upon the bed in her clothes, and, with her arms round -my neck, and her cheek upon mine, we went to sleep. When she made her -toilet, she would draw the curtains round me, kiss me, and tell me not -to move; and her innocence and gentleness seemed to exert upon me such -a spell, that I did'nt dare move an inch, or make the slightest attempt -to watch her proceedings. Extraordinary was the care with which this -guileless creature endeavoured to avoid a discovery. She watched over me -as if I was her treasure, and appeared as if she knew no enjoyment but -in my presence. I know not what she would have made of me in time, -for I was as a child in her hands; but I began to grow restless at -this imprisonment, and was seeking an opportunity to bring it to a -termination. This was brought about sooner than I expected, and, in a -manner, too, I did not at all anticipate. - -"One day, while we were enjoying ourselves in our usual quiet manner, we -heard footsteps approaching the door. She had just time to throw some -work, upon which she had been employed, into my lap, and tell me to sew -away as well as I could, when the door opened, and her father entered. - -"'Hullo, who's that young woman?' he inquired, rather surlily. - -"'Oh! it's only a person come to help me on with some work, father,' his -daughter replied. - -"'Oh!' he exclaimed, scrutinising my appearance very earnestly. Now, I -was never any great hands at hemming and stitching: I held the needle -like an oar, and pricked my fingers more than I did the stuff I was -required to sew. - -"'Is she a good work-woman?' asked the old man, approaching nearer to -me, and watching my awkward labours with more attention than I desired. - -"'Capital, father!' said my angel. - -"'Humph!' he responded, in the same gruff tone. - -"'Do good work-women usually hold the needle in the left hand?' - -"'Oh, she works left-handed,' replied Virgo. Catch a woman off her guard -if you can, thought I. - -"'Humph!' exclaimed the old fellow; and then, while I was busily engaged -in sewing my fingers together, and before I could have the slightest -idea of what he intended, he snatched the turban off my head. - -"'Ah, ah! you young gallows-bird!' he cried, in a tone of exultation; -'I've found you, have I? I thought you couldn't have given me the slip -completely. But come along,' he added, as he clutched me forcibly by the -arm. 'You shall be hanged this time, be assured.' - -"'Not if I can help it, old boy!' said I, as I tripped up his heels; -then, snatching a knife that lay at hand, I put my knee upon his chest, -and held the blade over his throat. - -"'Call assistance, you hussey!' screamed the prostrate jailer to his -daughter, who seemed in an agony of terror. - -"'If you speak another word, I'll cut your throat,' said I. 'And you, -Virgo, if you don't wish your father to be killed before your face, -which I shall be obliged to do to save myself, you will hand me some -rope, with which I can bind him in such a manner as will prevent his -giving the alarm before I have escaped.' - -"'Oh, save him!' she exclaimed earnestly. - -"'Quick, quick!' I cried. The rope was brought, and I tied the old boy -down, safe and sound, and gagged his mouth as he was muttering curses on -us both. - -"'There is only one way of escaping from this place,' she observed -with considerable anxiety in her features, as she saw me preparing to -depart. - -"'How? let me know it instantly, for I have not a moment to lose,' I -replied. - -"'You will be stopped at the gate, unless I am with you,' she added, -gazing on me with tears in her eyes. - -"'Well, come then, sweet one,' said I, hastily; 'you will lead a dog's -life of it, if you remain here; and I will do the best I can for you -when you are out of it.' - -"She looked grateful and affectionate; instantly arranged my dress, -which had become disordered by the struggle; hastily collected a few -valuables; and, opening the door, we went out together. I have lived a -good many years since then, but I must acknowledge that I never lived so -happily as I did in the little bed-room of the jailer's daughter. I was -striding along the narrow passages of the prison, when she stopped me, -and told me that if I proceeded at that rate, I could not avoid being -discovered, and bade me, as near as I could, imitate her manner of -walking; so I immediately began to tread the ground as if I was picking -my way over cherry stones, and after threading a multitude of dreary -passages, we arrived at the gate, where, being in company with Virgo, I -excited no suspicion, and with merely a word or two of greeting from the -attendants, we passed into the street. - -"I was now in the open air; I had at last escaped the stifling -atmosphere of a prison; and any one, having been used to the freedom of -the wide seas and the excitement of a life of enterprise, who has been -immured for months within stone walls, enduring the dreary monotony of -imprisonment, may imagine what were my feelings when I found myself -again in the enjoyment of my liberty; but what to do now I was free was -the next consideration. The dress I wore could not conceal me long, -especially when, as I knew must be the case, the manner of my escape -was made public; and as it would be unsafe for me to remain in the -neighbourhood, I saw that it might encumber my flight; and what to do -with Virgo was another puzzle: she who had risked so much for me I felt -ought not to be abandoned; but I knew it would be impossible for us -to remain together. I told her of this, but she begged so hard to be -allowed to remain with me, and seemed to despair so completely at the -thought of our separation, that I resolved at any rate that we should -not part company till all hope of remaining near each other with any -safety was destroyed. - -"In this dilemma, I thought of a smuggler's widow, who carried on a -little bit of a trade in the outskirts of the town, to whom I had done -many a good turn out of regard for her husband, a brave-spirited fellow, -who was shot by my side, while defending a cargo from the greedy -clutches of the revenue rascals, and to her humble abode I bent my way. -Glad, indeed, was she to see me, when I made myself known to her. I -never knew a creature who appeared more delighted; and having told her -how I was situated, actively she sat about insuring my safety. The next -day, as I had anticipated, the particulars of my escape, with many -exaggerations, were published all over the country. A price was set upon -my head, and every hole and corner was searched, in the hope of finding -the fugitive. I never felt more satisfaction than when I cut the -petticoats. I was always kicking my shins against them. They hurt my -spirit, and almost stifled my manhood. I was now dressed in a suit -of sober brown, like a young apprentice, and I passed as the widow's -nephew; serving in her shop, and going about her errands, as knowingly -as if I had been a shop-boy all my life. For my sake the widow paid -every possible attention to Virgo, who seemed never easy but when I -was with her. The fear of discovery was always in her heart. She was -restless, anxious, and melancholy. - -"After a few months of this kind of life I grew quite as tired of it -as I had been of my existence in the little bed-room of the gaoler's -daughter. I longed for the freedom of the open sea. I felt an -unconquerable desire to return to a life of enterprise. The chase, -I thought, must by this time have been given up in despair; and, -consequently, that now I might steer my course wherever I pleased. As I -was reflecting upon the most available means of satisfying my desires, -while alone pursuing some employment in the widow's little shop, who -should enter, to inquire his direction to a neighbouring street, but the -very last person I desired to see--Virgo's father. - -"'No! surely! humph! ha! Yes, it must be. You rascal, I've found you, at -last,' exclaimed the old brute, as he approached, and seized me by the -collar. I had a wooden mallet in my hand at the moment; I gave it a -swing round, and the gaoler fell senseless at my feet. Without stopping -to acquaint any one with what I had done, I ran out of the house; and -bending my way to the water-side, I inquired if any ship was on the -point of sailing, and hearing that a merchant-vessel was waiting for a -few hands before she started, I presented myself on board, offered my -services, was engaged, and was sailing, far out of the reach of all -pursuit, the same evening. - -"Our voyage was a long one. We were bound to China: the crew were a -medley of various nations picked up at random. The captain was proud -and tyrannical; ignorant of his duty, yet continually interfering with -those who were better seamen than himself. His mate was a mean-spirited -sycophant, who exceeded his superior in insolence and tyranny. -Punishments were frequent, and often without any thing like sufficient -cause; and the men became discontented, grumbled, and at last began -to threaten vengeance on their oppressors. To add to their causes of -complaint the provisions fell short, which was entirely owing to the -mismanagement of the captain--the men were placed on short allowance; -and their officers, instead of endeavouring to render the privation as -endurable as possible, by their arrogance and oppression seemed to seek -every opportunity of increasing their miseries. Secret meetings were -held in the ship--plans of resistance were discussed by the crew--and -every day made an open revolt among them more probable. Neither the -captain nor his mate appeared to entertain the least apprehension of -danger, for they did not alter their behaviour in the slightest degree. -In the conspiracies which had been agitated I had always been an -active hand--I counselled the boldest measures, and advised their -early adoption; but although my ability in seamanship was generally -acknowledged, they had no knowledge of my character, and wanted what -they called a more experienced leader. The mutiny broke out, however, -at last, before all our plans were ripe. - -"I had committed some slight offence, so trifling, that men of any sense -would have passed it over; but I was seized upon by the despots, and -sentenced to a hundred lashes. I was rather a favourite with all, and a -loud murmur of discontent arose amongst the crew as soon as my sentence -became known; but their cries were unheeded. I was being lashed to the -grating, and both the tyrants were swearing at and threatening the men -for not showing more alacrity in proceeding with my punishment, when -the mate was felled to the deck with a handspike, and the captain was -whipped up in the arms of a tall negro and hurled overboard. All -who opposed would have met with similar treatment; but there was no -opposition, nor was there any commiseration for the fate of the men -who had been killed. I was speedily released from my disagreeable -situation, and then we commenced overhauling the cargo, which we found -valuable, and examining the stores, which were pronounced inadequate for -the wants of a long voyage. Many plans were agitated by which we might -govern our future conduct. Some were for sailing for Borneo, and there -disposing of the ship and cargo for the benefit of the crew; others were -for steering direct for Sumatra; there disposing of the cargo, and sail -from thence to enjoy ourselves with the proceeds in one or other of the -islands in the Indian Ocean. I advised, that as we were close upon the -Philippine islands, where we should meet with plenty of customers for -what we did not require, and could easily purchase from them whatever -we wanted, it was not advisable to risk a longer voyage. We could there -dispose of that portion of the cargo that found the readiest market, -have the ship disguised, and fitted with as many guns as she could -carry, and afterwards commence war against all the rich vessels we met -from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. - -"All the bold spirits among the crew applauded this proposal; but the -timorous dispositions saw in it too much danger, and gave it their -opposition; however, when it was found that the provisions would not -last a longer voyage, part of the plan was agreed upon, and the helm was -turned towards Mindanao. I was ambitious of being chosen captain, for -which office I knew myself better fitted than any of my companions, -but I was disappointed; and a man rather more than thirty, a native -of Mozambique, on the southern coast of Africa, was promoted to the -command, who was bold enough for a leader in an attack of boarders, but -had not the seamanship that could conduct a vessel through every variety -of danger. I concealed my disappointment as well as I could, determining -to wait my opportunity till I could put forth my claims in a way that -should insure their being properly acknowledged. I had some staunch -friends among my associates, and these were the bravest of the whole -crew. I saw that with a few more of the same kind nothing could prevent -the realisation of my ambition. - -"We anchored in a noble bay in the island I have mentioned; and as I -was thought, even by the captain, to know more of the value of the -things than any of the others, I was sent ashore, in company with two -or three messmates considerably older than myself, to arrange about -the sale. We were dressed as merchants; and as no one appeared to have -any suspicion of our real characters, we soon negotiated, upon what -we thought very favourable terms, a sale of a great portion of our -merchandise. A division having been made of the proceeds, here most of -those upon whom I could not depend left us, a proceeding with which -I was exceedingly well satisfied; and my intentions were put into -execution with regard to the alterations required in the ship to make -her fit for piratical expeditions, that gratified me in a similar -degree. - -"While our vessel was changing her appearance, I was leading a life -of indolent luxury. The part of the island near which we had anchored -abounded in the most delightful kind of scenery. Plains, rich with -vegetation--forests of gigantic trees, bending beneath their heavy crops -of tempting fruit--and a sky over head always looking down with a warm -delicious aspect--and there were other enjoyments in which I also had -an abundant share. I found hearts not less warm than their climate, and -looks not less glowing than their skies. To these pleasures I abandoned -myself with all the heedlessness of such a wild unbridled nature as mine -had always been. I revelled in a continual intoxication of the passions. -I was entranced in a perpetual dream of luxurious enjoyment. But madly -as I plunged into the dissipation with which I was surrounded, I never -was so happy as I was while I remained in the little bed-room of the -gaoler's daughter; and I have often found myself turning away from the -voluptuous beauties whose ready smiles I had purchased, to think of the -innocent love of the simple Virgo, who had shown to me such wonderful -disinterestedness in her devotion. But these thoughts were of little -avail, and why should they be otherwise? Man was made to enjoy the -pleasures within his reach, or why were those pleasures created to tempt -him with their near approximation? I did nothing more, therefore, in -giving loose to the passions that formed part of my nature, than was -natural, and the excesses into which they led were forced upon me as -things impossible to be avoided. - -"It was in this island I first formed the acquaintance of Master Boor, -who was then a clerk in a merchant's counting-house. We met at some -place of licentious indulgence. A similarity of tastes soon made us -intimate--and a certain quickness of comprehension possessed by both -made each familiar with the character of the other. I found him a deep, -designing, low minded wretch, whose sole object was the accumulation -of money by any means that cunning could devise or cruelty execute. -He thought me an admirable agent to assist in carrying his plans into -execution, and believing that he would be particularly useful in my -pursuits, I lent myself in some measure to forward his designs. His -true disposition he had well concealed from the people by whom he was -surrounded, who placing unbounded confidence in his integrity, by -degrees gave up to him nearly the entire management of their business. -To him at all times I disposed of my plunder, and although I found -him an avaricious scoundrel, over-reaching me in every way, he was -too necessary to be quarrelled with. Chiefly by his assistance I got -intelligence of what desirable ships were on the neighbouring seas, -where they were to be found, and how the vessels of war protecting their -traffic were best to be avoided; and soon as ever our ship could be got -into proper trim for our purposes, we commenced a career of plunder -which in a few years made us the terror and scourge of that part of the -world. - -"I had made myself so useful to the captain by this time, that he had -named me his second in command, and intrusted me with the principal -duties of the ship, with the idea of so concealing his own inefficiency; -but I was not to be satisfied with a second place, when I knew the first -was my right; and having now attained to the full maturity of manhood, -and having about me a numerous crew of brave fellows, the majority of -whom I knew were in my interest, I set about devising a plan by which my -ambitious ideas might be satisfied. The man was of a fiery temper when -roused, and hesitated not to commit any action to rid himself of an -enemy. I watched my opportunity, picked a quarrel with him:--he attacked -me with his usual violence, and after a short struggle I slew him on the -deck. It was a fair stand-up fight, and none of the men attempted to -interfere. After the body had been cast into the sea, I was unanimously -voted into the vacant command: some through fear, and some through -choice, desired that I should become their captain; but I cared not what -they thought, or what they felt. I resolved, now I had obtained the -superiority I wanted, to allow no obstacles that were likely to prevent -me from retaining it. It was a difficult thing to get a band of fierce -unruly men to obey the commands of one of themselves, but I knew that -the strong will only be ruled by the strongest, and that fear was the -surest chain to control the reckless; so I soon began to show them I -was not to be trifled with--I made them pay the most implicit obedience -to my commands--well rewarded those whom I found most tractable, and -punished with instant death all who attempted resistance. In this way I -created around me a set of daring spirits, ready to obey my slightest -wish, and willing to follow wherever I chose to lead. - -"By this time Boor had become a partner in the house whose servant he -had previously been, and seemed to live in much estimation with his -coadjutors; but he had not been above a year in this promotion, when -both his partners died suddenly in a way best known to himself; and as -he produced a will, in which he was made sole heir to their property, -he took possession of the whole business, and went on with his usual -cunning and treachery, accumulating money as fast as he could. I -continued to live, sometimes enjoying myself like a prince on shore, at -other times, when afloat, striking terror wherever I went. But in that -part of the world, I found that this state of things could not last much -longer. The daring manner with which our proceedings were carried on, -the boldness with which we plundered, and the fierceness with which -we destroyed, while it created alarm among the merchants, forced the -governments to use something like activity in their measures for our -extermination. Ships of war were sent after us in every direction: we -were chased from sea to sea, and from coast to coast, with a rapidity -that allowed us no repose; and every day, at considerable disadvantages, -we were obliged to fight our way wherever we went, continually losing -some of the bravest of the crew, and not being allowed a single -opportunity of gaining any prizes. However, by the intelligence I -received from Boor, I managed to elude being taken; and as he found that -suspicions of his true character were afloat on the island, and that -arrangements were being made to take him into custody upon charges -he would have found it difficult to answer, he secretly and suddenly -disposed of the greater portion of his property; and by an arrangement -with me, he embarked on board my ship as soon as I could with safety -appear on the coast, when, without losing a moment's time, we steered -direct for the southern coast of Africa; and soon after my landing him -at his desire at Caffreton, he commenced business there as a broker of -merchandise, with a great portion of which he was supplied through me. - -"I now began to feel rather desirous of knowing what had become of -Virgo; for in all the scenes of danger and of pleasure in which I -had since moved, I could not banish from my mind the cheerful, pure, -and devoted little creature, who had risked so much to preserve my -existence. Many years had passed by; I had become more stern and savage: -knowing that every man's hand was raised against me, I showed but little -mercy when any of the class to which I was opposed fell into my power; -but though I was continually the daring leader in scenes of bloodshed, -and in all animal gratifications upon every fitting opportunity -abandoned myself with no other thought than to get as much pleasure into -the moment as the moment could possess, I had frequently found myself -looking back to what always appeared my happiest hours, to the innocent -enjoyments I had known in the little bedroom of the gaoler's daughter; -and finding myself, comparatively speaking, so near Madagascar, and -knowing that I was so altered by time and climate that it was impossible -for me to be recognised by any of my old acquaintances, I resolved to -visit the old town, and try if I could discover the only being in the -world for whom I ever entertained any thing like affection. The external -character of the ship was always so mercantile, that the most knowing -seamen were deceived by her; and as whenever I entered a port I took -especial caution to make the men and every part of the vessel within -observation disguised in such a manner that no suspicion could be -entertained, I felt satisfied that from that quarter there was also no -occasion for apprehension. - -"I found the old widow in her old place--she was the same as ever. I -was welcomed and wondered at as soon as I discovered to her who I was. -I found her, but the dear one I had sought I never found. When she -was told that I had left her, her heart seemed smitten with a sudden -melancholy--her cheerfulness departed for ever--and day after day she -pined till her smile was turned into darkness, and her pure spirit -floated among breakers, struck, struggled, and went down. The news -almost made me mad. I became as savage as a tiger; the last touch of -humanity seemed to have fled from my nature; and from that moment I -commenced an unrelenting warfare against my fellow-men. I was right. -They had no sympathies for me, and why should I have any for them? All -sought my destruction, and I destroyed all in return. But wherever I -looked around the world I observed the same fierce enmity prevailing. -All were waging war upon each other. The powerful crushed the weak--the -rich trampled on the poor--and the idle preyed upon the labour of the -industrious. It was well for them to boast of such things as justice and -mercy, and love and virtue, and charity and religion: I laughed at them -and their fine catalogue of hypocrisies. I saw the thin veil of spotless -lace with which they sought to conceal their own rottenness and filth. I -scorned their hollow professions; I hated their mean vices. - -"I quickly left a place that had become detestable; and for the first -time since my boyhood I visited that part of the coast near which was -situated the dwelling of my family. Here I learned that my affectionate -parents had long since mingled with the dust, leaving their hopeful -heir, hated by all the neighbourhood for his detestable deeds and -tyrannical disposition, the inheritor of their property. Finding that -he had committed offences that deserved summary punishment, without -asking his permission I brought him to trial: his guilt was undeniable; -and I thought the ends of justice would be best accomplished if I -turned him over for punishment to the people whom he had so cruelly -wronged. What they did with him I do not exactly know, but I never -heard of him afterwards. I then took possession of the old house,--had -many alterations made in it, the more completely to fit it for my -purpose--managed the approaches so as to render it inaccessible to all -but friends, and used it as an asylum after my piratical expeditions. By -Boor's assistance I carried on the same game which had made me famous in -the Indian Seas, and with the same effect. The mere mentioning my name -struck terror into the hearts of merchant-captains and their crews--all -the feeble were frightened, and all the bold were in pursuit. But Boor -by this time had become rich, and fancying that his connection with me -was too hazardous to be continued any longer, after some fresh act of -daring upon my part, when the whole coast seemed up in arms against -me, as I ascertained, he gave secret information as to where I was -most likely to be found. An expedition of several well armed ships -was immediately fitted out, of which I had timely notice from another -quarter, and sought to avoid; but when I thought I had given them the -slip, and was bearing down upon what I imagined was a rich merchant -vessel, I discovered that I was approaching into the very net from which -I was most desirous of escaping; and was obliged to put up every stitch -of canvass, and make use of every manoeuvre in the hope of getting -away. My ship was a splendid sailer; but I found myself held in chase by -vessels whose powers were equal to hers, and I should have inevitably -been taken or killed in the struggle: but in the night a terrific storm -came on; and as I was creeping along-shore, with the hope of avoiding -the ships in chase, knowing that they would keep out at sea, she struck -on a rock, in a short time went to pieces, and of all the crew none were -saved but myself, my lieutenant, and my clerk. - -"This catastrophe would have been enough to have damped the energies of -any man; but I was made of different stuff. I had got some money about -me, which I knew would be a letter of recommendation in any part of the -world; so when we got on shore we lived in some sort of style, and there -I fell in with one Captain Compass--a foolish, communicative creature, -from whom I learned that he was going to Columbus, with the intention -of endeavouring to get the command of one of the ships belonging to -Master Porphyry the rich merchant, to whom he had strong letters of -recommendation. By mutual consent we travelled together, and at the -first favourable moment I took charge of his letters, and my lieutenant -took charge of him. I lost no time in presenting myself with my -credentials to Master Porphyry, by whom I was placed in the command of -the Albatross--a vessel which, from the first moment I saw it, I had the -strongest inclination to appropriate. I found that nothing could be done -during the voyage to Africa; but upon my arrival at Caffreton I sought -my old associate Boor, by whom I had been given over as lost, but whom -the prospect of getting a rich cargo on the most advantageous terms -induced to assist me as far as he was able. When my arrangements were -completed, I called upon him, as he thought, to settle about the amount -to be paid, but as I knew to put into execution a plan I had devised to -punish him for his treachery. I was shown as usual into a little room -at the back of his office, in which I had noticed a large iron cupboard -wherein he secured his valuables. He kept haggling with me some time, -and at last the price was agreed upon, and he gave me the money. Before -he had the slightest suspicion of my intentions, I suddenly caught hold -of him by the throat till I had squeezed the breath out of his wretched -body: his struggles were feeble, and he hadn't time to utter a cry. I -quickly thrust the lifeless carcass into the iron cupboard, locked it, -put the key in my pocket, and walked away as if nothing had happened. - -"Of what followed after I got on board, none of you here want being -told; and I have only to add to those who are now my prisoners, that -Master Porphyry I keep alive, because I consider it my interest to do -so, and tell him, that if he falls into my plans he will insure his own -safety and that of his companions; if he opposes them, he must expect to -meet with the fate of hundreds who have preceded him." - -Oriel Porphyry looked proudly, and made no reply. - -"Well, captain, that is the most interesting 'munication that ever -was--isn't it, Master Log?" inquired the lieutenant. - -"Interesting--interesting!" exclaimed the captain's clerk, aroused from -his sleep, and rubbing his drowsy eyes--"most interesting--most cruelly -interesting--upon my word most ferociously interesting, Mister Scrum--I -mean Lieutenant Rifle." - - - - -CHAP. X. - -THE PIRATE'S RETREAT. - - -The Albatross was creeping up the Mozambique channel, with her captain -at her helm, who showed an extraordinary degree of knowledge of the -coast, piloting the ship through narrow passages lined with breakers, -and surrounded by stupendous rocks, amid which the waves kept lashing -each other into foam on every side. Threading the mazes of this -intricate labyrinth, the ship was borne through a long opening between -huge masses of granite, in which it seemed utterly impossible for any -vessel to keep afloat, and then entered a snug little bay, perfectly -concealed from observation by passing ships by the surrounding rocks, -and there she cast anchor. Boats were let down, and the prisoners, well -guarded, were taken ashore. Upon landing, they found themselves upon -a clean shingly beach, leading to a soil of exceeding verdure, where -trees of immense proportions bowed their luxuriant heads to the passing -breeze; and parasitical and creeping plants, of wonderful variety and -beautiful appearance, twisted and twined among the rocks, and over the -gigantic trees. There the bread-fruit tree spread its welcome burden, -and the raven palm held out its green abundance. Further on, the -cocoa-nut bent down its branches, overladen with their grateful -fruit--while limes, oranges, tamarinds, and figs, on every side, offered -their refreshing stores. Among the flowering plants, the most remarkable -was the _anramatico_, whose bell-shaped flower contained nearly half a -gallon of water, always pure and fresh, and whose excellent fruit was -formed like a cup and cover. Among these, several flamingoes were -noticed, in their scarlet liveries, like sentinels upon duty--and troops -of gaudy paroquets were chattering among the branches of the trees. -There the green lizard ran along the bank, and the grey chameleon glided -among the boughs. - -The party proceeded on through fields of maize, rice, sugar-canes, -yams, and bananas, into a thick forest of gloomy trees, from among -which they disturbed the wild hogs at their roots, and the monkeys in -their branches--occasionally they would meet with a porcupine, or a -babyroussa--and more than once they came upon a troop of bisons, or a -stray zebra, who were munching the green herbage. Flocks of pigeons were -flying wildly about, and innumerable singing birds were endeavouring to -create a living harmony in the forest. After proceeding in this manner -about a mile, the captain and his followers began to ascend a steep -rock, covered with every species of tropical verdure, and they passed, -with increasing difficulty, from precipice to precipice till they came -to an immense black chasm that yawned fearfully before them. Over this -there was no passing. Here the captain fired a pistol, and the report, -reverberating through the hollow rocks, was repeated with a thousand -echoes, that called up from the dreary depths of the abyss flights of -monstrous bats, several hawks, and two or three gigantic eagles, that -whirled round and round over the heads of the intruders, and then -disappeared in various directions. Immediately afterwards a troop of -armed men, of the dark olive complexion of the country, clad in loose -tunics, and lower garments reaching to the knee--with naked legs and -arms--were seen descending the rock on the other side; and, as soon as -they noticed the captain, they set up a cry of welcome, and danced and -shouted in joyful recognition. - -They immediately threw a thick rope across the chasm, which was made -fast to a neighbouring tree--another rope was fastened within a foot of -it--over these, two strong hoops were sent across, connected with each -other, and affixed to a strong rope, and by resting the body within -these, and holding the ropes by the arms, each individual of the party -was dragged in safety to the other side of the rock. From thence they -proceeded along a narrow path cut in the rock, winding upwards to the -top, and then descended on the other side, where, at the foot of the -descent, they beheld a low, heavy, antique mansion, strongly built, and -almost hid among plantations of the raven palm. Here they were joined -by several more of the same sort of men as those by whom they had been -assisted over the chasm; and the delight they evinced at the return of -their master was equally noisy and wild as that previously shown by -their companions. - -"Welcome, gentlemen," said the captain, turning to his prisoners, -"welcome to my humble abode. It does not look so imposing as the -mansions to which some of you have been accustomed, but I think you -will find in it every thing likely to make your captivity endurable." - -"Your abode looks most invitingly, noble captain," observed Zabra, -apparently much delighted; "and if the interior accord with the promise -of what we see, I doubt much if either of us will have any desire to -quit its attractions." - -Oriel Porphyry glanced angrily upon his friend, and again a suspicion -of treachery entered his mind; but his attention was soon directed into -another channel, when, upon entering the house, he found it fitted up -in the most sumptuous style of Eastern taste. The spacious rooms -were floored with marble, that threw a delicious coolness into the -atmosphere, and flowers growing out of beautiful vases filled the -air with fragrance. Here were ottomans and couches to attract the -indolent--and at the open windows the grapes hung in clusters to tempt -the thirsty. All the furniture was costly and elegant, and every room -breathed an air of luxurious enjoyment. - -Here the pirate chief kept his prisoners closely watched, but allowed -them every comfort that his house afforded. The wounded men were -carefully attended to; and through the skill of Doctor Tourniquet, and -the benefit they derived from strolling about in the neighbourhood, -which they were allowed to do when well guarded, they became -convalescent. Zabra was more than ever in favour with the captain, and, -by the same attractions, gained the good will of every one of the wild -gang whom he commanded. They let him go where he pleased, and do as he -pleased; and he had excited so complete a confidence in his captors, -that they left him to roam about unguarded at all times, when the rest -were watched with the most jealous care. Not only was he allowed this -indulgence, but they showed him all the secrets of their retreat; -conducted him into subterranean caves, where piles of the most valuable -merchandise were stored, and led him into the vaults where their -ammunition and weapons, in great abundance, were laid up ready for use. -He also went several times with them from the house to the ship, till he -could find his way alone. - -Oriel Porphyry was not long allowed to remain in ignorance of the -conditions upon which his life and the lives of his companions might be -preserved; and these were, that he should sail in the Albatross on his -destination, as if nothing had transpired--negotiate a sale of the -merchandise it contained--and betray into the captain's hands such of -his father's ships as he might meet with on his voyage. These proposals -were immediately spurned; but the entreaties of Doctor Tourniquet and -the professor, and his own consideration for the poor men whose safety -was in his hands, at last induced him to adopt a temporising policy. He -seemed to listen with some attention to the captain's propositions, and, -as the pirates thought, not unwillingly; but he was only waiting for an -opportunity to attempt some desperate struggle, by which the liberation -of himself and friends might be effected. This apparent acquiescence -gained for him a greater degree of liberty, and a less strict -surveillance, than he had previously known; and then, when they found -themselves entirely free from observation, Zabra and he often met -together, and had long and earnest conferences. Zabra, too, took every -opportunity to converse with Hearty and the others, who had recovered -from their wounds, and all seemed to listen to him with extraordinary -interest. These men had intimated to the captain, that they had no -objection to join his band on condition that they were not separated -from Master Porphyry; and as they associated with the pirates, with -every appearance of sociality and sincerity, the captain, though he did -not then allow their request, left them in a less guarded state than he -had previously done. Then Zabra's communications with them became more -frequent, and their conferences with one another appeared to increase in -interest. - -One day, when the captain, and about half his band, had gone out -shooting wild hogs in the adjacent woods, the rest of the pirates, with -their prisoners, were mingled together, talking and joking, and amusing -themselves among the trees at the back of the house, and Hearty was -looking anxiously every now and then as if he was waiting for some one -to join his party. His companions also shared in the laugh, and in the -sport which was proceeding, but it seemed as if their thoughts were -otherwise employed. They were evidently inattentive to what was going -on around them. They evinced a restlessness--an anxiety--an impatience -not characteristic of men engaged in amusement; and now and then looks -passed between them in which there appeared more meaning than was -visible to the others. But the pirates heeded not these things. They -thought only of the sport in which they were occupied; and being -well armed, and much out-numbering their prisoners, who were without -weapons, they had not the slightest fear or expectation of their -attempting an escape. At last the boy Loop was observed turning the -corner of the house, carrying a heavy bundle on his head. As soon as he -was seen, Hearty and his companions hastily put their right arms into -the upper part of their vests, each produced a pistol, and in an instant -eight or ten of the pirates fell dead or wounded at their feet. With a -shout, the sailors rushed towards the boy Loop, whose bundle, containing -weapons, was soon appropriated, and then, amid yells and imprecations, -cheers and shouts, there commenced a war of extermination between the -two parties. The pirates were taken quite by surprise, and were put in -confusion by the fierceness and suddenness of the attack. They still -outnumbered their opponents, but while they gathered together, and were -seeking to revenge their fallen comrades, a discharge of fire-arms -in their rear from Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, Doctor Tourniquet, and -the professor, still more diminished their numbers, and still more -distracted their attention. They were not allowed a moment of inaction. -At once from both sides came the attack. Pistols were only discharged, -when it was almost impossible to miss; but the chief weapon was the -sword, and with this Hearty, Boggle, Climberkin, and Ardent, well backed -by their companions, and Oriel Porphyry, closely followed by Zabra, -Fortyfolios, and the doctor, cut down all who opposed them. The conflict -was fierce. Oriel Porphyry displayed an energy that nothing could -resist. He hewed his way through the thickest of his foes, and they fell -like reeds before his sword; while a stern scorn was breathing from his -handsome features, and his fine manly figure seemed to dilate with the -pride of conscious power. Close to his side came Zabra, whose exertions -were not so effective; but his object seemed more to be to defend Oriel -than to attack the pirates. Several times the arm that threatened the -destruction of the young merchant was rendered powerless by the ready -interference of his youthful friend, and the pistol levelled at his head -dropped harmless to the ground. It soon became a struggle of man to -man. Each singled out his opponent, and when he was disposed of, looked -out for another. In a few minutes the state of the parties had changed -exceedingly. A great number of the pirates had fallen, and the rest, -unable to withstand the fierceness of the encounter, appeared desirous -of making their escape. They were pressed so closely, that only three -out of the whole band got away, and each of these was severely wounded. - -"Now, my brave fellows, we have not a moment to lose," exclaimed Oriel -Porphyry. "Zabra, you will lead the way. Climberkin, you are much hurt, -I'm afraid?" - -"O, it's nothing, sir," replied the man cheerfully, although he -was bleeding from several deep gashes: "we've nearly all got a few -scratches; but I wouldn't have cared being cut to pieces, now I behold -these blood-thirsty villains so reg'larly done for." - -"Well, we must get forward, or the others may be upon us. Let every one -look to his weapons, and be in readiness to use them. You go on, Zabra: -I will follow you in a few minutes." - -The young merchant hastily re-entered the house, while the others -proceeded up the acclivity, and before they reached the top, he -joined them. "Hullo, my friends!" he cried, with a face glowing with -excitement: "just take one parting glance at this den of infamy, and -I will stake my existence it will give you pleasure." - -They had scarcely turned round for the purpose of complying with this -request, when they observed flames issuing from the windows of the -house. In so dry a climate fire burnt rapidly, and very quickly the -whole place was a sheet of flame. While they were gazing, a loud noise -like an earthquake shook the ground upon which they stood, and they -beheld the house lifted up high into the air--the walls crack--the -timbers split into pieces--and in a moment the retreat of the pirates -was a mass of smoking ruins, and the air was darkened with a thick smoke -and a shower of ashes. The men gave three hearty cheers, and proceeded -merrily on their way. They descended the mountain till they came to -the chasm where the rude bridge they had previously used remained. -First, Hearty got within the hoops, and with the assistance of the -ropes dragged himself across: when the hoops were pulled back, each in -succession passed over; and the last was in the act of crossing as the -pirate chief and the rest of his followers appeared upon the summit -of the mountain. A yell of mingled ferocity and hatred arose as they -witnessed the escape of their prisoners; and with malignity in their -eyes and curses on their lips, they, as rapidly as possible, commenced -descending the rock with the intention of overtaking the fugitives. - -"Cut the ropes! cut the ropes!" shouted Oriel, and in an instant the -swords of all the party were hacking at the thick twists of hemp; and -as the pirates descended on the other side they were severed, and the -ends fell into the abyss. A volley of pistol bullets and a chorus of -imprecations arose from the enraged and baffled villains, but they did -no mischief, and they were only answered by a triumphant cheer from the -crew of the Albatross. The fugitives now rapidly pursued their way till -they came to the sea shore, where they found two boats high and dry; -these were immediately launched into the sea, and pulling the oars -vigorously, they were soon by the side of the Albatross. There were not -above half a dozen of the pirates left in charge of the ship, but these -had noticed the approach of the boats, and seeing who they contained, -were prepared to give them a hostile reception. A gun was brought to -bear upon them--they saw it pointed--fired--and in the next moment the -shot whizzed over their heads. With another cheer of triumph the brave -fellows mounted the ship's side. Every obstacle was used to prevent -their boarding, and the few who were in the ship, from the determination -with which they defended it, seemed likely still to remain its masters. -At this instant, when Oriel and his party were unavailingly attempting -to make good a footing upon the deck, assistance came from a quarter -from whence any thing so welcome had never been anticipated. - -Roly Poly was pursuing his avocations in the cook-house when he heard -the affray, and looking out observed exactly the state of the opposing -parties. By him the pirates had never been regarded with any thing like -affection. They had treated him with great disrespect. They esteemed -not his art, and spoke contemptuously of his skill. His resolve was soon -made, and as quickly executed. Dipping a mop in a copper of boiling -water, in which his cookery was going on, he hurried as fast as his fat -limbs could carry him upon deck. - -"See how Roly Poly come to 'sist him friends," cried he, exultingly, as -he began to use his strange weapon among the pirates with a dexterity -that scattered them right and left. "Ha! you call my boofliful puddin' -'choke dog'--take dat you libellious vagabone," and with a forcible -sweep the scalding mop descended upon his face, sending him howling off -his heels. "Ha! you say my lumptious soup wishy-washy,--take dat, you -ignrant jackmorass!" and a resistless blow upon the ear levelled him -with his companion, yelling with pain; and thus he proceeded till he -had cleared a way for Oriel Porphyry and his coadjutors, who quickly -silenced all opposition. "I hab you now, you fellar!" shouted Roly -Poly, striding in triumph over one of his victims, and seemingly -intent upon ramming the scalding mop down the man's throat. "Like your -imprence, I tink, you fellar! to go for to say I boil sich nice puddin -I make, in nassy dishcloth!" - -"Hubble, bubble, hubble, bloo!" said the choking wretch. - -"Now I gib you puddin debblis nice, you fellar!" cried the fat cook, -ramming away with all his might. - -"Hobble, a bobble, a gobble, a gloo!" were the only sounds that were -heard in reply. - -"Dis nebber boil in nassy dishcloth, you fellar!" - -"Grow, a row, a row, ow, oo, oo, oo!" - -"Like your 'bominable imprence, you fellar!" - -"Rug, a rug, a glug." - -"Take debblis good care you nebber say no more sich diclus -impossumbilties. Ha! him dead as herrin' now," observed the unrelenting -negro; and then adding, "But serb him berry right--berry right, -indeed--a fellar!" he shouldered his mop, and turned on his heel. - -"Up with the anchor, and get out to sea as fast as you can," exclaimed -Oriel Porphyry. - -"If I might advise, sir," said Hearty, respectfully, "I should recommend -an unkimmon deal o' care in steerin through these shallows. I paid -'ticular notice when we entered this here rascally neighbourhood. I've a -notion them varmint never had sich a reglar spiflification since they -commenced their murderin rigs--and I'm sartan sure the ship'll be lost -if we don't look out pretty sharpish." - -"Well, what is best to be done?" asked Oriel. "You, of all of us, are -best acquainted with these matters--what do you advise." - -"Why I advises this," replied the old man: "I thinks it's best, under -all the 'cumstances o' the case, for a boat to be sent a little forrard -takin soundins, while I takes the helm and pilots the ship 'cordingly." - -"Let it be done, then," said Master Porphyry; "and as I have the -greatest confidence in your skill and experience, and as I wish to show -in some appropriate manner how much I regard the fidelity and courage -you have evinced in my service, from this time I intrust the entire -management of the ship to you, allowing you to choose your own officers -from among those of your shipmates whom you think most fitted for the -duties you will require from them." - -At this announcement a cheer of loud congratulation proceeded from -the delighted crew, among whom Hearty, by the inoffensiveness of -his conduct, his general kindness, and approved courage, had become -remarkably popular; but the old seaman appeared as if he did not know -what to make of so unexpected a piece of intelligence. His honest, -weather-beaten countenance assumed a variety of different expressions, -and his confusion for some time prevented his utterance. However, at -last, making an effort, he stammered, and as well as the state of his -feelings would allow,-- - -"Thank 'ee, sir. But though I desarves nuffin o' the sort, and ar'n't -hardly got gumption enough for the sitivation, I'll do all as I can as -long as there's a timber afloat in this here craft, or as long as ever I -can be of any sarvice to the owners." - -Two men then went in a boat in advance of the ship, taking soundings as -they rowed along, the result of which they continued to cry out to -Hearty, who with firm hand and steady eye stood at the helm, skilfully -piloting the ship through the midst of the rocks. Notwithstanding the -caution that was used, she was aground more than once; but immediately -she touched, she was backed off the rock by the skilful seamanship of -the anxious sailors; and in this way she floated slowly along, threading -the intricacies of this dangerous navigation, till she passed from -amidst the breakers into the open sea. It was an arduous task, and one -full of peril to the Albatross and her gallant crew; and it was not -without considerable anxiety that Oriel Porphyry and his companions -watched the vessel's progress from the deck. They spoke not to each -other, but looked to the huge masses of granite that rose around -them--and listened to the cry of the men in the boat with an interest -that had swallowed up every other consideration. But when the ship -was seen safely clearing her way through the deep waters, leaving the -foaming breakers far in her rear, each looked upon his neighbour as if -congratulating him on his escape; and Hearty, when he gave the helm -into the hands of Boggle, received the sincere thanks of all whom by -his skill he had saved from destruction. - -"Zabra, you seem ill! What ails you?" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, noticing -for the first time that the eyes of his young associate looked dim and -unsteady, and that he appeared as if unable, from weakness, to keep his -footing on the deck. - -"Nothing, Oriel, nothing!" replied Zabra, faintly, as he caught hold of -the arm of his patron. - -"Nay," cried the merchant's son, in tones of affectionate -solicitude--"you are wounded. I see the blood trickling through your -vest. How strange I should not have observed it before, and how wrong -of you not to have mentioned it. Doctor Tourniquet!" cried he to the -surgeon, who was discussing with the professor the philosophy of cause -and effect, "here is one who requires your immediate attention. I hope -there is nothing of much consequence, but whatever it may be, let it -receive all your skill." - -Doctor Tourniquet hurried to his patient; but not without evincing much -concern in his good-natured countenance, when he noticed by whom he was -wanted. - -"Not now, doctor, not now!" cried Zabra, hastily, and in evident -confusion, as Tourniquet was proceeding to examine the state of the -wound. - -"But, my dear young friend," observed the surgeon, kindly, "unless you -let me take off part of your dress it is impossible that I can discover -the injury you have received, don't you see." - -"Here! I will remove his tunic," said Oriel, eagerly coming forward to -assist the doctor. - -"Oh no, no, no!" hastily exclaimed Zabra, retreating in alarm from the -proffered assistance. "I shall be better presently--that is--I am not -much hurt. It is nothing. It will get well without assistance." - -"You must have your wound dressed, Zabra!" said Oriel Porphyry, -surprised that his young friend should exhibit such a disinclination to -intrust himself to the surgeon's treatment. "I dare say it will give you -but little pain, and will soon be over." - -"I can say nothing on the subject till I have seen the wound, don't -you see," remarked the surgeon, in a slight degree offended at the -extraordinary want of confidence in his surgical skill evinced by his -patient. - -"I am very faint," cried Zabra, looking bewildered around him, as he -leaned for support upon Master Porphyry--"very faint. I think I had -better descend to my berth, where the doctor can attend me." - -"Very well," replied Oriel: "only you must let me assist you." - -"Oh no, no!" exclaimed his young associate, eagerly. "Not now, Oriel. -The doctor's arm will be all the assistance I shall require. You can -come to me afterwards." - -"You are a strange creature," observed the merchant's son. "But let it -be as you wish." - -Doctor Tourniquet assisted his patient into a small cabin, into which -he had scarcely entered, before Zabra would have sunk on the floor in -a swoon, had not the surgeon observed his faintness, and prevented him -from falling. He then laid him gently on his back. The doctor never -before had had such an opportunity for noticing the rich and peculiar -beauty of the countenance before him. He gazed for several minutes -in undisguised admiration on the faultless features of his youthful -patient, with the full conviction that he had rarely, if ever, met with -any human face so attractive in its expression. The long black curls -which Zabra had allowed to grow till they nearly reached his shoulder -hung in shining clusters around his face and forehead; and the faint -bronze in his complexion appeared to heighten the grace in which the -features were modelled. Desirous of saving so much attraction to the -world, if it were endangered, he sought to examine the injury the youth -had received. It was a gun-shot wound in the shoulder. Doctor Tourniquet -was carefully unfastening and removing the upper part of his patient's -dress, for the purpose of getting at the wound, when he suddenly -started back, looking as if in the highest degree bewildered and -amazed--his ruddy countenance acquired an additional glow--and surprise -seemed to have had the power of taking away his breath; and after some -minutes' silent wondering, with eyes staring, and mouth opening wide, he -recovered sufficiently to be able to ejaculate a long drawn "whew!" - - -END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. - - - LONDON: - Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, - New-Street-Square. - - - - -Transcriber's Note - - -A table of Contents has been added. - -Text in italics has been placed between _underscores_ and text in small -capitals has been changed to all capitals. - -Some punctuation errors have been corrected silently. Inconsistent use -of quotation marks in some parts of the book has not been changed. - -The following corrections have been made, on page - - xii "imagin on" changed to "imagination" and "cean" to "ocean" - (Cannot imagination make the sea dry land, and the earth ocean?) - 29 "bouyant" changed to "buoyant" (elegant, and buoyant) - 33 "pole" changed to "poll" (indignantly thrusting his woolly poll - in the middle) - 74 "disrepect" changed to "disrespect" (and my person with - disrespect) - 81 "reprepresented" changed to "represented" (for they represented, - or were connected) - 99 "Abatross" changed to "Albatross" (and the Albatross was rushing - through the waves) - 193 "un" changed to "sun" (with its own sun, moon and stars) - 268 "ound" changed to "found" (he found it fitted up in the most) - 287 "gettin" changed to "getting" (for the purpose of getting at the - wound) - 288 "Spotiswoode" changed to "Spottiswoode". (Printed by A. - Spottiswoode). - -Otherwise the original was preserved, including archaic and inconsistent -spelling and hyphenation. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady Eureka, v. 1 (of 3), by -Robert Folkestone Williams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 1 (OF 3) *** - -***** This file should be named 42491-8.txt or 42491-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/9/42491/ - -Produced by eagkw, Robert Cicconetti and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -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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