diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 00:25:54 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-08 00:25:54 -0800 |
| commit | 5b3dc8cee725c07238e5be0df63d68f1e421956c (patch) | |
| tree | 1de75d2be56641ed6c03e3ed76426876bf557de2 /42493-8.txt | |
| parent | 9e6a3a15746b7ee2daae7eb93a7103220ce65db7 (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to '42493-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 42493-8.txt | 6595 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6595 deletions
diff --git a/42493-8.txt b/42493-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e832331..0000000 --- a/42493-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6595 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Lady Eureka, v. 3 (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. 3 (of 3) - or, The Mystery: A Prophecy of the Future - -Author: Robert Folkestone Williams - -Release Date: April 8, 2013 [EBook #42493] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 3 (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. III. - - LONDON: - LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, - PATERNOSTER-ROW. - 1840. - - - - - LONDON; - Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, - New-Street-Square. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - I. ROLY POLY'S SICKNESS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. - II. AN AUSTRALIAN COLONY IN SPAIN. - III. OLD ENGLAND. - IV. THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. - V. AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF OLD ENGLAND. - VI. THE DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. - VII. LILYA. - VIII. LOVE MISPLACED. - IX. A DISCOVERY. - X. A FIGHT AT SEA. - XI. THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN DEATH, AND THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS. - XII. THE CONCLUSION. - - - - -EUREKA; - -A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ROLY POLY'S SICKNESS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. - - -"Oh, massa, I so bad!" exclaimed the fat cook, as he waddled up to the -surgeon, with a most woeful expression of countenance. - -"What's the matter with you, Roly Poly?" inquired Dr. Tourniquet. - -"Sich a debble ob a pain, massa," continued the black. - -"But where is it, man? where is it? Can't do you any good till I know -what's the matter with you, don't you see," said the surgeon. - -"Debble ob a pain, massa, in my tomack," replied his patient, rubbing -his huge hand over his stomach, and heaving the most despairing of -sighs. - -"Put out your tongue," exclaimed the doctor. - -The fat cook extended a pair of enormous jaws, and protruded something -which resembled a scorched brick-bat. - -"Ah! derangement of the digestive functions," remarked the practitioner, -after a brief inspection of the misshapen lump of flesh his patient had -exhibited. "What have you been eating?" - -"Eatin, massa?" repeated Roly Poly, looking most ludicrously pathetic, -"can't eat nutting, massa, to tink of. Loss nappetite 'pletely. -Breakfast, me only eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold -puddin big as my two fistes," (which were the size of another person's -head), "two or tree red herrin--harp-a-dozen egg--lope o' bread, and -one, two quart o' cocoa. Nuttin more, me 'sure you, massa. Yes, me loss -nappetite 'pletely. Den for lunch, me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry -little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red -herrin--and drop o' liquor wash it down, not more den harp a gallon, -nutting to tink of, massa. Den for dinner me eat pound and harp o' -beef--berry little lump o' hot puddin, big as my two fistes--plate or -two o' wedgeables--lope o' bread--small bit o' cheese, big as one o' my -two fistes--and drop o' liquor wash it down, not more nor harp a gallon. -Can't eat nuttin. Den for tea me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry -little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red -herrin--harp-a-dozen egg--lope o' bread, and one, two quart o' cocoa. -Nuttin to tink of. Den for supper, me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry -little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red -herrin, and two or tree roasted tatoroes--lope o' bread--small bit o' -cheese, big as one o' my two fistes--and drop o' liquor wash it down, -not more nor harp a gallon. Me eat nuttin, massa. Loss nappetite -'pletely." - -"Why, you eat enough to satisfy a regiment," exclaimed Dr. Tourniquet. - -"No, massa, me berry poor eater," replied the fat cook in a doleful -tone; "eat nuttin to sinnify. Ony pound and harp o' beef--berry little -lump o' cold puddin----" - -"Yes, yes; I've heard all that," said the doctor, impatiently -interrupting him. "Your plethoric habit must be reduced, don't you see. -You must be bled and physicked, till we bring down that mountain of -flesh into something like a healthy size. You must eat no beef, no -pudding, no red herrings, no eggs, and no cheese; and drink neither -liquor nor cocoa. You must drink nothing but barley water, and eat -nothing but arrow-root; and run up and down the deck for half an hour, -half-a-dozen times a-day." - -As the Doctor described the remedies he desired his patient to adopt, -Roly Poly's mouth gradually extended itself till it threatened to -approach his ears; and his eyes kept winking and staring as if in -complete consternation. - -"Massa!" at last he loudly exclaimed, and seemed gradually becoming -more indignant. "What, starve poor nigger! reduce poor Roly Poly to a -natomy! No eat no pound and harp o' beef, no berry little lump o' cold -puddin big as my two fistes--no red herrin--no nuttin! You want to kill -poor Roly Poly, Sar! You want to 'prive de world o' de cook what makes -de booflifulest dishes as you nebber see, Sar! You want to make skeleton -o' poor nigger to put in glass-case, Sar! Nebber heard o' sich numanity! -sick barbararity--sich cruelty to anmals! Where de debble you spect to -go when you die?" - -"Well, if you don't like to follow my prescriptions, it's no use coming -for my advice, don't you see," remarked the Doctor. - -"Follow your scriptions?" replied his patient, losing all respect for -his companion in the intensity of his indignation. "Follow a shark's -grandmutter, Sar. What, eat nuttin but arrow-root? nassy slop!--pooty -joke indeed. Drink nuttin but barley water?--washy stuff! Tink you catch -me at it. Be bled and physicked, and run up and down deck six times a -day for harp an hour--what a preposterosterous impossumbility." - -"You will get much worse if you don't, and possibly you may die, don't -you see," observed Tourniquet. - -"Die, Massa!" cried the fat cook, looking horrified at the idea, and -rubbing his stomach with an increased energy. "Oh, sich a debble ob a -pain! Die Massa! Poor Roly Poly die? Sich a boofliful cook die! Quite -unnatral, Massa. Oh, sich a debble ob a pain! What become o' de poor -fellars who eat him nice puddins, and soups, and all dat? Nebber hab no -beckfast; nebber hab no lunch; nebber hab no dinner; nebber hab no tea; -nebber hab no supper; never hab no nuttin! What become o' ebry body? -What become o' ship? Same o' you say Roly Poly die! Nobody do nuttin -widout him; cook be most important ofcer in ship. Roly Poly be -booflifulest cook as nebber was. Same o' you say Roly Poly die!" - -"Well you will find out the difference by-and-bye, don't you see," said -the Doctor; and, turning on his heel, he left his patient to his own -reflections. - -"Him no more doctor dan a jackmorass," muttered the fat cook, as he -waddled to another part of the ship, making the most ludicrous grimaces, -and rubbing his stomach with an activity, that for him, was quite -surprising. On his way he met with Loop, the young midshipman, who had -lately distinguished himself by his love of mischief, and fondness for -tricks. The lad, with a very demure face, approached Roly Poly. - -"How do you do, Roly Poly?" he inquired, looking into his face as if he -was wonderfully interested in the result of his question. - -"Oh, sich a debble ob a pain!" replied the fat cook, with a most -melancholy visage, continuing the up and down motion of his hand. - -"You look very ill, very ill indeed," observed the boy. "What an -extraordinary change! I should scarcely have known you. You must be in -a very dangerous state, Roly Poly. You ought to be in your hammock. You -ought to be making your will--you ought to be saying your prayers." - -"Oo, oo, oo!" blubbered out the fat cook, lengthening his face as he -listened to the remarks of his companion. "You tink I die, Massa Loop?" - -"I am much afraid you will be as dead as a herring before you can look -about you," replied Loop. - -"Oo, oo, oo!" The other continued. "Doctor say I die: you say I die: -spose I must die. Oo, oo, oo!----" - -"We are all mortal," observed the youth, with a grave countenance; "and -all, sooner or later, must leave this sublunary world. Cooks cannot be -spared any more than midshipmen." - -"Oo, oo, oo!" cried Roly Poly. - -"Is there any thing I can do for you?" anxiously inquired the -midshipman;--"any consolation I can afford, before your cold remains are -consigned to the deep." - -"Oo, oo, oo!" continued the fat cook. - -"You must have fortitude to bear the blow," said Loop, with a -countenance that would have done credit to a judge. "Let this be your -consolation, that although your body will be devoured by the first shark -that ventures in its way----" - -"Oo, oo, oo, oo!" vehemently sobbed the sick man, interrupting the -sentence before it was half finished. - -"You ought now to think of your sins," continued his tormentor. "It is -never too late to repent, you know; and I should earnestly advise you to -confess all the injuries you have done your fellow-creatures by imposing -upon their stomachs the villanous specimens of your cookery you have -from time to time set before them. Confess upon what pipe-clay and -train-oil system you made your puddings,--confess the abominable trash -you put together to manufacture into soups;--confess how many you have -poisoned with your atrocious cocoa--confess----" - -It is possible that the young midshipman might have said much more, -but Roly Poly, who had listened to his injunctions at first with -astonishment, and next with rage, lost all consideration for his -approaching dissolution, and his yellow eyeballs flashed with fury. -"What de debble you mean you fellar!" thundered out the enraged cook, -approaching his companion, who wisely kept out of arms' reach. "What de -debble you mean ob pipe-clay and train-oil? What you mean ob bominable -trash--what you mean ob poison wid trocious cocoa? You mean to sult me, -Sar? You tink I put up wid your imprance, Sar? You spose I low one man -to peak sick horble tings o' nodder man." - -"Man!" exclaimed the youth, as he edged away from his pursuer,--"You -don't call yourself a man, surely? You know you're nothing else but an -old blacking bottle, turned inside out." - -"Blacka bottle!" shouted Roly Poly, while his face became livid with -rage, and he looked utter annihilation at his insulter, "Blacka bottle! -I blacka bottle you, I catch you!" and he waddled after the midshipman -as fast as his fat legs would carry him, intent upon vengeance. - -Loop kept dodging him about from one place to another, saying the most -aggravating things he could think of, till the perspiration rolled -down the black cheeks of the infuriated cook, and he seemed completely -exhausted by his exertions. Roly Poly sat down at the foot of one of the -masts to rest himself, breathing all sorts of threatenings against his -tormentor; while the young midshipman, laughing at the success of his -trick, nimbly ascended the yards, and took up a position just over -the head of the victim of his mischief. The latter was congratulating -himself that he was left at peace, and was endeavouring to recover -the tranquillity of his temper, when he became conscious of something -dropping down upon him; putting his hand to his woolly head, he -discovered it was being covered with pitch, and, looking up, beheld -Master Loop snugly balanced aloft, amusing himself by pouring from an -old bucket some of the fluid that had polluted his person. - -It would be in vain attempting to delineate the passion of the fat cook -at this discovery. Furious with rage, he caught up a small hand-spike -that lay near, and poised it in his hand with the intention of throwing -it at his tormentor. Loop saw what he was about to do, and immediately, -as rapidly as possible, moved from his position, and kept changing from -place to place, with a quickness that baffled the fat cook's aim; but -when he had ascended to a greater height, and was passing from one point -to another with a velocity that seemed impossible to be imitated, his -foot slipped, and with a scream that made all on deck aware of his -danger, he fell headlong into the sea. - -The Albatross was proceeding at a moderate rate, and was about fifty -miles off the coast of Spain. Oriel Porphyry was conversing with Zabra -on the quarter-deck, when he noticed the accident. He, with others, -rushed to the side; and, observing where the boy descended, he -immediately threw off his upper garments, and plunged into the waves. -There was a strong sea running at the time, and it required the arm of -a powerful swimmer to force a way through the heaving billows. Upon -arriving at the surface, after his plunge, Oriel struck out for the -spot where the midshipman had fallen, but saw nothing of the object -of his search. He dived about in every direction; but was equally -unsuccessful. Anxious to endeavour to save the youth while a possibility -remained of his rescue, he continued his exertions; but he met with -nothing that could in the slightest degree, assist him in his object. -Not a trace of the boy was to be seen. Disappointed and weary, he -was about returning to the ship, when he caught the sound of a faint, -bubbling cry at no great distance from him, and turning his eyes in that -direction, he thought he could distinguish something like a human head -in the trough of an advancing wave. He swum rapidly in that direction; -and as he approached, saw it disappear from the surface. Down he dived -after it as rapidly as his skill would allow; but though he swept the -waters, far and near, with his arms, he touched nothing but the cold -salt water; and after remaining beneath the surface till his strength -and breath were nearly exhausted, he arose, dispirited and faint, into -the open air. - -While the most painful reflections were created in his mind, by the -unsuccessful result of his labours, he suddenly observed a dark -substance rise within a few feet of him; he struck out towards it -in a moment, and grasping it firmly with his hand, to his deep and -inexpressible delight discovered it to be the body of the lost -midshipman. His face was pallid, his skin cold, and as Oriel found that -he made no reply to his hurried inquiries, he was much afraid that the -boy was either dead, or was in a state nearly approaching dissolution. - -By this time the ship had been put about, and the sailors having been -made acquainted with the accident rushed with anxious faces to the side. -They watched with the deepest interest the young merchant gallantly -breasting the waves in search of their drowning favourite, and became -uneasy as they noticed the unprofitableness of his efforts. But none -regarded the progress of the swimmer with such intense excitement of -feeling as Zabra. He saw his patron pass from wave to wave--he observed -him dive into the dark waters, and waited for his re-appearance with -sensations impossible to be described. As the vessel was brought round -to the spot where Oriel Porphyry was pursuing his researches, he became -more earnest in his attention. He endeavoured to encourage him in -his efforts with his voice, and to strengthen him in his purpose by -his praise. The captain had not ascended to the deck, and he was -unacquainted with the accident: but as soon as he was made aware of it, -he hurried to the ship's side in an agony of apprehension, and it was -only the strong grasp of Boggle and Climberkin that prevented him from -plunging into the sea. - -A loud cheer from the crew announced that the young merchant had -succeeded in finding the object of his solicitude, and anxiously every -eye turned towards the spot where he was seen supporting the boy with -one arm and cleaving his way through the waves with the other. - -"A shark--a shark!" screamed Zabra; and to the horror of Oriel and -those who were observing him, a monstrous shark was seen coming rapidly -towards him. A cry of terror arose from the ship. Some shouted in hopes -of frightening away the ravenous animal--others to warn the young -merchant of his danger. Some ran to get fire arms, and Hearty, breaking -away from those who held him, suddenly hurried below the deck. The agony -of Zabra became insupportable. He screamed in all the piercing tones -of horror and despair, and his handsome features seemed convulsed with -fear. Still, as if there was a fascination in the object, he kept his -eyes upon the form of the shark. He watched its movements with a fearful -interest, and saw it near its intended victim with wild and frantic -terror. - -Oriel Porphyry beheld the approach of the giant of the deep with -consternation and dread. He could not abandon his companion, who was -incapable of making the least exertion for his own safety, and he saw no -way of rescue for himself. He held the boy tighter, and dashed along the -waves with greater velocity in hopes of reaching the rope that was hung -out from the ship before the huge animal could come up with him. To the -attainment of this purpose he strained all his powers. Many friendly -voices cheered him on, and others strove all they could to frighten -away his remorseless enemy. But the shark kept on his way, unheeding the -frightful cries and showers of missiles with which he was assailed. His -fierce eyes were fixed upon his prey, and his monstrous jaws were gaping -for their food. The rope was almost within reach, but the destroyer was -nearer. Oriel Porphyry gave himself up for lost. It appeared evident to -all that he could not escape. The crew redoubled their cries and flung -every thing at hand at the monster without avail. Just as he was turning -on his side to make the fatal gripe, Hearty rushed upon the deck with a -long knife in his hand, and before any one was aware of his purpose, he -leaped over the side of the ship and descended into the water close to -the jaws of the shark, with a splash that completely distracted the -animal's attention, and allowed Oriel Porphyry unmolested to seize the -rope which the eager sailors held to assist him in regaining the vessel. -In a moment, with his lifeless burthen still grasped in his arm, he -was hawled upon the deck, and then placing him under the care of Dr. -Tourniquet, he was turning to notice the result of the Captain's -manoeuvre when he found himself seized by the friendly grasp of Zabra, -whose delight at his escape appeared to have taken away all power of -utterance. - -But now an extraordinary scene presented itself upon the sea. The shark -had dived below the surface, when Hearty suddenly dashed down before -him; but on rising again, which he very shortly did, and on perceiving -his prey escape, he turned with increased ferocity towards the hardy -seaman, who was rejoicing at the success of his scheme. The old man -waited quietly till the shark turned to make a snap at him, then diving -quickly under his enormous belly, he plunged the knife up to the hilt in -his body, and rose up on the other side. The crew cheered vociferously -when they saw what their captain was about, and every one on board -watched the unequal combat with feelings of the most intense interest. -The ravenous monster, smarting with pain, again approached his opponent; -again he turned to gripe him within his jaws, and again the old man -diving under his belly, plunged his knife deep into his flesh. The -animal now became furious; he lashed the waves with his tail till they -became a mass of foam, and rapidly followed his brave antagonist, making -every effort to devour him; but the old man warily avoided all his -ferocious attempts, and at every blow of his arm crimsoned the water -with his blood. This fight continued for several minutes, till both the -combatants disappeared from the surface, when the anxious crew of the -Albatross began to fear that their brave old commander had fallen a -sacrifice to his exertions; but when they beheld the huge fish floating -on the water belly upwards, and heard the old man cry out for a rope, a -long and hearty cheer rose from the ship, and every one rushed to bear -a hand in assisting him on board. - -He appeared covered with the blood of the slaughtered shark, and with -the weapon in his hand, of which he had made such good service. While he -was receiving the congratulations of his messmates, he inquired eagerly -after his young relative. Oriel, who had ascertained that he was doing -well, hastened to communicate the intelligence; and the old man as soon -as he beheld the preserver of his boy, eagerly grasped his hand, and -uttered his grateful thanks. Both soon afterwards left the deck to -change their apparel. - -Among those who seemed most anxious for the recovery of the young -midshipman was Roly Poly, who, although exceedingly passionate, and -easily enraged, was a very good hearted sort of creature, and he quite -forgot the insults he had received--forgot even the terrible pains -that had a short time since so much alarmed him, when he witnessed the -dangers to which the boy had been exposed, and saw him brought lifeless -upon the deck. He assisted Dr. Tourniquet in using the usual means for -restoring suspended animation, and observed his recovery with a delight -equal to that of any one in the ship. - -After Loop was able to walk about, Roly Poly addressed him with a great -deal of gravity upon the offence he had committed. - -"Nebber you gain call me Blacka Bottle," said the fat cook. "Nebber -you say nuttin scandabalous bout de boofliful tings what I cook. -Nebber you say no preposterosterous impossumbilities. Horble ting, -massa Loop, to call Roly Poly Blacka Bottle--Horble ting to say nuttin -scandabalous--Horble ting to say preposterosterous impossumbilities." - -"I'll never say any thing against you again, Roly Poly, as long as I -live," exclaimed the contrite midshipman: and thus ended the quarrel; -and ever afterwards they were the best friends in the ship. - - - - -CHAP. II. - -AN AUSTRALIAN COLONY IN SPAIN. - - -"We are approaching the Colony to which you thought of emigrating, -are we not?" inquired Oriel Porphyry of the captain's clerk, who -stood beside him on the deck, and with whom he had been in earnest -conversation concerning the misfortunes of the young Australian. - -An expression of pain and regret passed over Ardent's countenance. - -"Yes it was here," he replied making a violent effort to conquer his -emotion. "We were destined to the penal settlement of New Sydney on the -Spanish coast, thriving accounts of which were in circulation in -Australia. My brothers were desirous of a location somewhere near the -banks of the Guadalquivir, as, although it was thinly settled, the land -was said to be of a very superior quality. My father was of the same -inclination. I had no other wish than to accompany them. Optima was -anxious for nothing but to be with me. But, alas! the devouring flame, -or the equally unrelenting flood has swallowed up all. I am a wanderer -and a beggar.--I have neither kin nor country." - -"Say not so," replied the young merchant kindly. "I have not forgotten -the services you have rendered me, nor am I likely to pass them by -without notice. If you wish to settle at the colony, I will take care -you shall have the means of doing so with every hope of success; or if -you have no particular inclination towards any country, if you will -return with me to Columbia, you may depend upon meeting with many kind -friends, and may pass the rest of your life in comfort. I must touch at -New Sydney as I expect a letter from my father, from whom I have not for -some time had any communication, which makes me exceedingly anxious; and -if you hear of any desirable farm or plot of land, I wish you would let -me know." - -"Your kindness is overpowering," said Ardent, much affected. "I have -done nothing to deserve it. I have already been rewarded in a manner far -exceeding my deserts. But while I can be of any service, I should like -to remain with you. I have no ties to bind me to any country--and where -I can be useful is where I should like to dwell." - -"So it shall be then," added Oriel Porphyry. "Be satisfied that the -remainder of your life shall bear no comparison with what has preceded -it. We are now nearing the shore. I shall require your services as I -have some business to transact; therefore you will be good enough to -prepare to land with me immediately." - -As the Albatross approached the coast, the buildings of a small seaport -became distinguishable. Some large houses faced the sea, and a battery -commanded the entrance to the port; but with the exception of one or -two streets running at right angles, the buildings straggled about -with very little pretensions to regularity. The country seemed thinly -inhabited, yet looked fertile and picturesque. Broad hills and valleys -and noble views were observable in the distance;--a wild and lofty rock -rose along the coast; and forests of noble trees were spread out in -various directions. There was no shipping in the bay, except a few small -craft; but the beach was crowded with spectators. It was observed that, -among the hundreds who were watching the progress of the ship from the -shore, there was only one female: the rest were men, and they were -apparently of all ages, but principally men in the prime of life and in -the full vigour of health. The appearance of only one woman surrounded -by such an assemblage of the other sex seemed so remarkable, that it -attracted the attention of all on board. As the ship entered the bay, -several boats were put off, and the crew of each seemed to strain every -nerve in endeavouring to get first alongside the vessel. In a few -minutes the Albatross was boarded by several different parties. - -"How many women have you?" cried one; as soon as he reached the deck. - -"Let me see your cargo of female emigrants," demanded another as he -bustled up to the captain. - -"I want a wife!" shouted a third. - -"We have no women here," exclaimed Hearty. - -"No women!" cried they in full chorus, looking as disappointed as men -could be. - -"None," replied the captain. - -"What! have you brought us no wives?" asked one in a most doleful tone. - -"Nothing of the kind," said Hearty. - -"Tarnation!" exclaimed they; and they looked at each other with all the -eloquence of mute despair. - -"A little un 'ill do for me!" squeaked out a dumpy sort of fellow, with -a red nose and a pepper-and-salt waistcoat. - -"We've got neither little nor big!" responded the captain. - -"Tarnation!" again exclaimed the bachelors; and, slowly and -despondingly, they prepared to leave the ship. - -"Now ar'nt you got nothing feminine of no kind?" earnestly asked a -sharp-visaged, lanky-looking settler, who seemed very loth to leave the -ship. "If she's a nigger, I don't care." - -"I tell you we've got no women at all!" said old Hearty, rather sharply. - -"Tarnation!" muttered the disappointed colonists: and in a short time -after they had reached the land, there was scarcely a creature, with the -exception of the female already alluded to, to be seen on the beach. -They had been expecting a ship laden with female emigrants, and as they -were very much in want of wives, imagining the Albatross to be the much -wished for vessel, they had been excessively eager to behold the cargo. -The incident created considerable amusement among the voyagers. The -sailors were particularly merry upon the occasion; and the rueful -visages of the unfortunate colonists afforded many a hearty laugh. - -Oriel had landed, and was walking along the beach, when he was startled -by a short, quick scream, and turning round, beheld the female who had -previously attracted his attention, rush into the arms of the captain's -clerk. He had noticed, on his approach to the shore, that this woman, -who from her dress appeared to be a domestic servant, seemed to regard -the persons in the boat with an anxious scrutiny; but imagining it to be -the effect of curiosity, it did not excite in him any remark. Ardent, at -this rencontre, seemed to be in a state of surprise and wonder that kept -him speechless. He gazed upon the prepossessing features of the fair -stranger as earnestly as if he had no other faculty than that of seeing. -The kind and anxious look that met his own--the arms that clasped his -neck so firmly, and the gentle voice that murmured his name, convinced -him of a fact of which he was almost incredulous. It was Optima. - -"By what fortunate chance did you escape the death I felt assured that -you had met with?" inquired Ardent, after, at Oriel's request, he -had for the purpose of privacy retired to a chamber in one of the -neighbouring habitations. - -"When I found the boat sinking, I clung to it," replied his companion; -"and when it again rose to the surface I floated on it. The blow which -it had received from the ship had propelled it a considerable distance, -and the force of the waves carried it still farther. The plunge I had -received, for some minutes took my breath away; and, although I held on -with all my strength to the boat, the heavy waves continually breaking -upon me, and the alarming position in which I found myself placed, -made me quite incapable of uttering a sound. As soon as I was able to -comprehend the extent of my danger, the thought that I was separated -from you, and the fear that you had perished in the sea, made my heart -sink within me. I clung instinctively to the floating vessel; but I had -no desire to live. I had seen enough of that dreadful conflagration -to fill me with terror; and I had not recovered from the feelings it -occasioned, when I was left alone, friendless, and about to be engulphed -in the waters. All around me was so dark that I could see nothing; but -the saltwater, as it dashed over me, scarcely allowed me to open my -eyes if I could have seen, and my strength was being rapidly exhausted. -I soon sunk into a state of stupor. How long this lasted I do not know; -but on recovery, I found myself in a cabin, receiving every attention -that my wants required; and, on inquiry, I found that I had been picked -up by the crew of a ship, which, attracted by the glare of the burning -vessel, had sent out a boat, in hopes of affording assistance to the -survivors." - -"I was saved in a similar manner," remarked Ardent. - -"When they had taken me into the boat they did not proceed any farther," -continued Optima, "as they observed that another vessel had sent out -a boat's crew upon the same errand, and having no spare time at their -command, they left the other boat to pick up the survivors, and returned -with me to the ship. I discovered also that the vessel to which I had -been conveyed had left Sydney with emigrants for the very colony to -which we were proceeding. I told my story to my preservers, and many -who heard it were kind and compassionate. An offer was made me by -the wife of a settler to remain with her in the capacity of domestic -servant, which offer I accepted without hesitation. One thing was a -great consolation to me, and that was the conviction that you had been -saved. I knew that you were a strong swimmer, and as I had been told -that a party had been sent from the ship to rescue the crew of the boat -they had run down, I concluded that you were in safety." - -"You were right, dear Optima!" said the captain's clerk; "I was taken -on board that ship, and have since held in it a responsible situation." - -"Believing you to have been rescued, I continued to live, with the hope -that I should meet you again," continued Optima. "I arrived at the -colony. The persons whose protection I had accepted, settled at Sydney, -where the husband commenced business as a builder, in which he succeeded -beyond his expectations. I was very well treated, and labour being -exceedingly valuable in the colony, my exertions were rather profitable -to me. At that time I entertained the idea that as all our property was -consumed in the fire, you must be very much in want of a variety of -comforts to which you had been used; and as the expectation of my -meeting you again was never absent from me, I laboured diligently, and -saved all my earnings as a provision for our future support." - -Ardent could only look his gratitude, and rapturously kiss the hand he -held in his own. - -"It was such a pleasure to me, dear Ardent," resumed his companion, "to -count my gains as fast as they accumulated, and I kept saying to myself -'a little more and there will be enough to begin the world again with;' -and I thought how happy I should be able to make you, and I kept hoping -we should soon meet--and every day passed by in imagining what we should -do, and in enjoying a happiness of my own creating. Every time I heard -that a ship was in the bay, I came down to the beach in hopes of finding -you among the passengers. I scrutinised every one that left the vessel -so closely that I offended some and surprised others; but although I -met with repeated disappointments, I never left off expecting your -arrival. By this time I had saved about two hundred dollars, and whether -it became known, or whether the scarcity of females brought me into -such consideration, I do not know; but scarcely a day passed without my -receiving an offer of marriage." - -"An offer of marriage!" exclaimed Ardent in surprise. - -"Yes, dear Ardent," replied Optima. "The men seemed frantic after me. I -was not safe any where. If I went to pay a bill, it was sure to conclude -on the part of the tradesman with an offer of his hand and heart. If I -entered the market, no sooner had I made a purchase than I received a -proposal. I was besieged in all hours and at all places,--I may almost -say that I received a new suitor at the corner of every street. It was -in vain I told them I was married, and showed them my wedding ring. They -saw that I had no husband with me, and they were desirous of supplying -his place; and men even of a superior rank continually plagued me with -their proposals. It is scarcely necessary to say that I gave them all -a negative answer; but these were things that they did not appear to -understand, for the more frequently I refused, the more frequently they -again proposed. At last I was obliged to state how I was situated to the -lady with whom I was staying, and she spoke to her husband; and he took -measures that put an end to the persecution. And now, dear Ardent, that -my anticipations are realised, we will be so very happy--won't we?" - -It is easier to imagine what was the answer than to describe it. It is -sufficient to say that Oriel Porphyry made a considerable addition to -the two hundred dollars which the devoted Optima had saved, that enabled -the young couple to take a promising farm up the country, with every -prospect of enjoying a life of continued happiness. - -"It is very strange," remarked the young merchant to Zabra on his return -to the ship, "it is very strange that I have had no communication from -my father. I expected one at Athenia, but I received no intelligence. I -expected one at Constantinople--there I met with the same result; and I -then made sure of meeting with one at New Sydney, but was there equally -unsuccessful. It makes me very uneasy." - -"Possibly he may have nothing of importance to write about," replied -Zabra. "Things at Columbia may remain in the same state as at his last -despatch." - -"I doubt it. I doubt that the emperor will remain satisfied with his -prerogatives curtailed to the extent to which they have lately been -reduced," said Oriel Porphyry. "There is no sincerity in these men. They -will break any compact when it suits their convenience. They have no -notion of either honour or honesty: and the emperor is a weak, vain, -foolish man, proud, tyrannical, and deceitful. Such a man must be ever -scheming to regain his former power; and if he think it be practicable -he will not be particular as to the means he will employ for that -purpose. I am much afraid my father has fallen a sacrifice to his -patriotism." - -"It cannot be," observed his companion. "They would not dare harm him." - -"Dare!" echoed his patron. "What evil will not bad men dare? And did not -that proud upstart Philadelphia load his honourable limbs with chains -and thrust him into a loathsome dungeon to die the lingering death of -starvation? He dared do that, and I doubt much whether a worse villainy -could have been perpetrated. I hope to live to see the time when I shall -have an opportunity of bringing him to an account for these and other -atrocities. If my good sword be true, and my arm has lost none of its -power, I'll not leave his worthless body till I have relieved it of his -equally worthless soul." - -"What!" exclaimed Zabra, with considerable excitement, "would you be -thus revengeful to the father of Eureka? You too, who a short time -since seemed ready to forgive him all his errors on account of his -relationship to her. What has changed you? Why would you follow the bad -examples of bad men? That he is not what he should be is too true; but -that is no reason why you should become his executioner. Do you think -that Eureka could regard you with affection when you came to her -stained with her father's blood? I am surprised that you should have -given utterance to such a sentiment." - -"I knew not till lately the atrocities he had committed, and the savage -disposition he possessed," replied the young merchant; "and I can see no -more harm in killing such a monster than there is in destroying a mad -beast." - -"How different then your feelings must be to those of your father," -observed the other. "He knew what was due to humanity, and practised it, -and he was the person best entitled to call for vengeance, but he was -satisfied with justice. Professing the regard you do towards Eureka, -nothing could surprise me more than to hear you proclaim so inhuman a -wish." - -"It is impossible for me to help feeling exasperated against him," said -Oriel. "Imagine for a moment yourself in my situation. Let your father -be as mine is, the kindest and noblest of his species; know that he who -never did harm to any living creature, but sought to create happiness -throughout the world--was fettered and reviled, and left lingering in -filth and darkness for three days, enduring all the pangs of famine; -and if you have a heart within your breast, and a soul that hates the -cowardly vices of despotism, you will feel as I do, and long for an -opportunity to punish your father's persecutor, in a manner worthy of -his crimes. I know that your relationship to the offender must stand in -the way of your seeing the justice of the punishment I would inflict: -but I am no hypocrite Zabra. I cannot disguise my detestation of such a -monster; and although next to Eureka and my father I honour you, even -your opposition would not make me change a sentiment so natural and -appropriate." - -"Leave Philadelphia to his own feelings, which sooner or later will be -sufficient punishment," responded Zabra. "Touch him not if you value -the love of Eureka. She I know has little cause to feel much affection -for him, but bad as he is she never can be brought to look upon his -destroyer with any feeling save that of repugnance." - -"If that be the case I hope he will keep out of my way," rejoined the -young merchant; "for I think I could endure anything rather than her -dislike; but the absence of intelligence from my father has certainly -made me suspicious. I am almost determined to return to Columbia without -proceeding to England." - -"I do not think such a course advisable, Oriel," observed Zabra. "There -may be a thousand things that prevent your father's correspondence, or -he may have written, and the despatches may have been lost. If this be -the case, and there is a great probability that it is, he would be very -much vexed at your returning without having accomplished your voyage." - -"Well, I will proceed, but I will only make a brief stay among the -antiquities of England, and then steer direct for Columbia," replied -Oriel Porphyry: "I have very strong doubts about things being exactly -right there. The accounts I have heard are of a contrary tendency; but -if the storm is to be, it will come unexpected. If any attempt be made -by the government to restore the old order of things, I hope they will -have the goodness to wait till my return before they commence their -proceedings. There is a powerful regiment of horse, composed of the -young citizens of Columbus, of which I have the command; I believe that -they are devoted to my will; and even with these, although they are not -above a thousand strong, I would make such a stand as would soon bring -around me all the brave spirits in the country: I only wish for an -opportunity to try the experiment." - -"Will you never dismiss these delusive visions," said his young friend, -anxiously. "I thought that you were at last becoming reconciled to a -more useful and amiable way of life." - -"You have been deceived, Zabra," observed Oriel; "I have been more -quiet, but not less ambitious. This passion for glory has become a part -of my nature; it is with me at all times. I think of it and dream of it. -It is the anticipation of finding the opportunity for greatness that -makes me able to endure the tedious inactivity of my present mode of -existence. I shall never be satisfied till I acquire the power for which -I yearn." - -"What an unhappy nature yours must be then," replied Zabra. "You have -every hope of happiness within your reach; yet because it does not -come clothed in the gorgeous draperies in which you wish it to appear, -you seem desirous of dismissing it, as of not sufficient value to be -enjoyed. I had hoped that you had become wiser; I had hoped, too, that -you had been more solicitous for the happiness of Eureka. I am afraid -all my labour has been thrown away, and that I shall have to return to -her with the intelligence that your ambitious hopes have stifled every -feeling of affection." - -"There you wrong me," exclaimed the young merchant, "you wrong me -exceedingly. My aspirations for greatness are never separate from my -hopes of Eureka; because the first are merely the result of the latter. -It is useless attempting to check the impulses which urge me on. I must -be what I am; and while my state of being, and the purposes which it -creates and would see fulfilled, cannot in any way dishonour Eureka, -nothing will convince me that they are to be condemned. From my own -knowledge of her character, I cannot imagine that she would regard -my efforts for advancement with the feeling which you have stated -she possesses. Her own greatness of soul must bring her to look with -commendation on another, who evinces a desire to obtain a similar -greatness: this ambition is a passion so entirely of her own creating, -that she cannot, with any justice, be displeased with its exhibition." - -"How little you seem to know of the nature of her whose love you -possess," replied Zabra, in a low, tremulous voice; "no doubt, she -would feel gratified at any circumstance which would exalt you in the -estimation of your countrymen. The honour you might receive would be her -glory as much as yours, and the fame you might obtain would find none -more desirous of its security than herself. But it was not for these -things that she loved you. Ambition formed no part of the qualities that -called into existence her admiration--which, having acquired its full -growth, cannot be made more perfect by the greatness you covet; and -that admiration must continue as long as the qualities that called it -into operation exist. But knowing your desire to acquire renown, and -knowing the nature of that feeling is to swallow up all the more amiable -aspirations, and being aware that the only way to its acquirement is -through a thousand terrible dangers, she cannot help the conviction, -that she would rather possess your affection as you were, than live in -continual fear, to witness your superiority, as you may be." - -"Let us say no more about it," said Oriel. "It is very evident that -neither can convince the other. I may be positive that I am going right, -and you may be positive that I am going wrong; but it is time spent to -no purpose, if we cannot be brought to change our opinions." - -"Remember, I am only doing my duty," replied the youth. "I warn you, -because the path you desire to take is surrounded by dangers. If you are -determined on going on, I say, go on and prosper; but if you go on, and -fail, the bitter disappointment you will experience will not only render -yourself miserable, but must make equally unhappy her whose felicity -you appear so desirous of creating. If you must go on, Oriel, I say -again--go on, and prosper." - - - - -CHAP. III. - -OLD ENGLAND. - - -"We are approaching the British Islands, are we not?" inquired Oriel -Porphyry. - -"Yes, Sir, the land lies right ahead," replied the captain. - -"There are several of these islands, I believe," added the young -merchant. - -"There are a great number on 'em o' different sorts and sizes," said -Hearty; "but them as is most visited are England and Ireland." - -"What is the meaning of the prefix to the word land in each of these -names?" asked Oriel of the professor. - -"England or Ingle-land means the land of the fire side," replied -Fortyfolios. "Ingle is an old British word meaning the fire at which -the inhabitants of a house warmed themselves or cooked their food. The -natives have been from the earliest times, famous for their love of the -comforts of this fire, which was usually made of coal dug out of the -earth, that made a cheerful blaze in a room, and their attachment to -their ingles procured the island the name of Ingle-land, which, in -course of time was abbreviated into the name of England." - -"I doubt that very much, don't you see," here observed Dr. Tourniquet; -"for in my opinion, England has a totally different derivation. -The aborigines of the island were principally fishermen, and very -appropriately had given to them the name of angle-ers, which means -people who fish. Each separate kingdom was called a kingdom of the -Angles, from the natives using an angle, and the whole island was called -Angle-land, or the land of the angle, which for shortness was soon -afterwards called England." - -"'Tis nothing of the kind, Dr. Tourniquet," rejoined the professor -warmly. "I wonder you should have started such an absurd idea." - -"It is quite as reasonable as yours at any rate, don't you see," -remarked the doctor. - -"It has no such pretension," said the other in a decided manner. "I -can prove that the fire or ingle was a national characteristic of the -people." - -"And I can prove that fishing or angle-ing was a national characteristic -of the people," added his antagonist. - -"Pooh!" exclaimed one, contemptuously. - -"Pish!" cried the other. - -"Ingle-land,"--resumed the professor. - -"Angle-land,"--said the doctor, interrupting him. - -"Now, Dr. Tourniquet, I beg I may not be interrupted by your ridiculous -blunders," observed Fortyfolios with considerable asperity, and a look -of dignity peculiar to himself. - -"The blunder is on your side, don't you see," replied the surgeon, with -a chuckle of satisfaction exceedingly annoying to his companion. - -"Never mind if it be Ingle-land or Angle-land," exclaimed Oriel -Porphyry. "All we know for certain is, that it is now called England. -But how do you account for the adoption of the other name?" - -"Of the derivation of that word there can be no doubt--it explains -itself," said Fortyfolios. "Ireland means the land of ire. The natives -from time immemorial have been known to be excessively irascible. They -would quarrel upon the slightest cause, and fight from no cause at all. -They would fight when they were hungry, upon which occasion, as was very -natural, they fought for a belly-full. They would fight for liquor; they -would fight for fun; they would fight for love; they would fight to get -drunk, and then fight to get sober. The happiest men among them were -those who were most frequently beaten, and such persons were known to be -the best friends as were continually trying to knock out each other's -brains. These men consequently got the appropriate name of Ire-ishmen, -and the island was called Ire-land." - -"There you're wrong again, don't you see," observed Tourniquet. "The -name Ire-land was derived from Higher-land, to express that the country -was more elevated in the estimation of the natives than any other part -of the globe. They entertained the most preposterous ideas about the -importance of their island. They stated that when the rest of the world -was sunk in barbarism, their Higher-land was the seat of intelligence, -and virtue, and superior bravery. They asserted that their soldiers -were the only soldiers that ever existed, and that their agricultural -labourers were 'the finest pisantry in the world.' But there was -certainly something very singular about them; and even their -brick-layers' labourers were odd men. The island was also called by the -natives The Emerald Island, I believe because it sometimes produced -Irish diamonds. The Green Isle was another of its names--and this was -derived from the greenness of the people. The men went by the name of -'the boys' long after the age at which other boys became men; and even -the oldest of the old men among them, when he breathed his last, was -said to die in a green old age." - -"It is extraordinary to me, Dr. Tourniquet, that you will give utterance -to such fallacies," remarked the professor. "The facts are exactly as I -have stated them." - -"The facts are exactly as I have stated them," said the other with -marked emphasis. - -"Was there not a very celebrated character styled St. Patrick, who -flourished at one time among the Irish?" inquired the young merchant. - -"Certainly there was," replied Fortyfolios. "Patrick, Pater Rick--or -Rick being the abbreviation of Richard--Father Richard, was a poor -monk----" - -"That I deny!" eagerly exclaimed the doctor. "For, as it is stated in a -very ancient poem I have met with, - - 'St. Patrick was a gintleman - And born of dacent paple.'" - -"That is no authority," resumed Fortyfolios. "I affirm that he was a -poor monk and----" - -"I maintain that he was a gentleman," replied the other. - -"I insist that you do not interrupt me, Dr. Tourniquet," exclaimed the -professor angrily. "He was an exceedingly pious and virtuous man, -and by his example and precepts did a great deal of good among his -countrymen." - -"Yes," said the surgeon, gravely, "I have met with an authority that -says - - 'He gave the frogs and toads a twist, - And banished all the varmint.' - -Now the usual reading of this couplet is that he drove the frogs and -toads out of the country; but if we look to the meaning of the word -twist, we shall find that it means an appetite: a man with a twist means -a man with a certain facility in swallowing anything eatable that comes -before him; and as we know that frogs at one time were considered a -great delicacy by the ancients, it is not unreasonable to imagine that -St. Patrick was a great epicure, and swallowed all the frogs and toads -in the island." - -"Preposterous!" exclaimed Fortyfolios; "he was a saint whose prayers -had the efficacy of ridding the country of every venomous thing it -contained. But there is a remarkable legend connected with his history, -which I will relate to you as I found it in a very ancient poem -preserved in the Columbian Museum. It appears that he was one fast day -on a visit at a house, and he desired dinner might be brought to him; -but the family having already dined there was no fish, the usual food -for fast days, for his meal; in fact there was nothing eatable in the -larder but a leg of mutton. With great regret the people of the house -acquainted him with the real state of the case: but the good saint, with -a benevolent smile, as the poet describes, merely said, - - 'Send my compliments down to the leg - And bid it come hither a salmon.'" - -"And what was the result?" inquired Oriel. - -"To use the simple and expressive words of the poem," replied the -professor, with his usual gravity, - - "'And the leg most politely complied.'" - -"You see those white cliffs just beginning to show 'emselves," said the -captain, pointing to the distant coast. - -"I see them plainly," replied the young merchant. - -"That's the coast of England, Sir," added Hearty. Oriel Porphyry gazed -on the classic shores that were rising before him with a deep and -peculiar interest. He had read so much, and he had heard so much of the -glory of the country he was approaching, and of the greatness of her -people, that the first sight of land awakened in him the most agreeable -associations. He thought of the splendour of her achievements--he -thought of the magnificence of her power--he thought of her illustrious -men--he thought of her noble efforts in the advance of intelligence--and -the white cliff upon which he was gazing appeared to him to be the most -interesting portion of the world. - -"The appearance of the shore from the sea at one time conferred -on England the name of Albion," said the professor. "From _Alba_ -white--from which word many other names were derived, particularly -_album_--a white book in great request at one time among the females of -the island, to teach them the art of spoiling paper for the benefit of -the stationers--and _albumen_, the white of an egg, a sort of food in -great request with the chicken-hearted. Some of the natives of Albion -carried their attachment to the name so far that they lived in a place -which they designated _the Albany_, and had a favourite place of resort -which they called 'Whites.' There was also a certain building situated -in _White_ Cross Street, to which they proceeded, to show their -nationality, by getting _white_-washed. The females were remarkable for -a partiality to white bread, white wine, and white linen, and the males -evinced an equal fondness for white bait, white waistcoats, and white -hands, and to such an extent did this favouritism for a particular -colour extend, that there was a neighbouring island, called the Isle of -White, to which the inhabitants of Albion made occasional journeys, for -the pleasure of destroying white ducks, or white muslin: and it was -usual for every generation to be christened in white, to be married in -white, and to be buried in white." - -"What are these vessels approaching us in this threatening manner," -inquired Oriel Porphyry, as he noticed several old crazy-looking boats -filled with men who were coming towards them with their crews, howling, -screeching, and yelling with all the strength of their lungs. - -"I do not think they mean us any good," replied the captain: then -turning to some of the sailors standing scrutinising the appearance of -a strange fleet, evidently bearing down upon them, he exclaimed, "Get -the long gun ready, and give these fools a taste of grape if they -attempt to attack us." - -"Ay, ay! Sir," replied one of the men; and every disposition was made -to repel any assault that might be attempted. - -As they approached nearer, it was observed that these vessels were a -vast number of large open boats, some with sails, but most without, -and they were so crammed with men, that many of them were in danger -of sinking every minute. Their crews were clothed in ragged vestments -of every colour and description, and they were armed with old swords, -pistols, guns, pitchforks, and bludgeons, and these they displayed as -they advanced, shouting all the time in wild savage tones perfectly -deafening. A larger boat was in advance of the others, and in a -conspicuous situation in this vessel stood up a tall fierce-looking -man with his head bound round with a hay-band, and a tattered blanket -dropping from his shoulders. He brandished a rusty sword as he -approached, and gave orders to those who followed, which appeared to -meet with implicit obedience. When he came within gun-shot of the -Albatross, he turned round to his followers and addressed them. - -"Boys," said he, pointing to the ship, "yonder's the furreners. It's -meself as 'ill take their big baste iv a ship if ye'll be all to the -fore. Divle a care ye may take ov their darty guns that their pointing -at yese--its made ov wood they are, and sorrow a harm they can do, bad -luck to 'em. Keep your powther dry, boys, and look to your flints, and -iv we don't kill and murther and throttle every mother's son ov 'em, -I'm not King Teddy O'Riley." - -"Sheer off there, you ragamuffins," shouted the captain through a -speaking trumpet. "Sheer off, or I'll sink ev'ry soul of ye within -gun-range." - -"Down wid the darty furreners!" screamed King Teddy O'Riley; a shower of -balls whistled past the captain, and on came the over-loaded boats, with -their crews yelling in the most frantic manner. There appeared to be at -least five or six hundred of them, and it was judged expedient to put -an immediate stop to their progress. The long gun was discharged, which -sunk the foremost boat, and killed the greater portion of its crew. The -rest hesitated when they beheld their monarch swept into the sea; and -a well-directed fire of musketry made them glad enough to commence a -retreat as fast as they could, screaming in hideous chorus as long as -they could be heard. - -"Take a boat and see if you can save any of those rascals sprawling in -the water," exclaimed the captain to the midshipman Loop. - -"Yes, Sir," was the reply; and the boat having been lowered, a party -proceeded to pick up the wounded and drowning. They succeeded in saving -several, among whom was their illustrious leader, King Teddy O'Riley, -who was brought upon deck, looking very much deprived of his dignity, -his coronet of hay-bands wet and dirty, and his blanket of state shrunk -out of all shape. He created considerable surprise among his captors, -and not without sufficient cause, for nothing could exceed the -eccentricity of his appearance. His hair was thick and long, and of a -dark-red colour. Large, bushy whiskers of the same tint surrounded his -cheeks. His nose was remarkably red, and his face seamed with the marks -of the small-pox. Below his cloak was a long coat, which did not appear -the more royal for being out at the elbows, and for having lost half its -skirt. His lower garments hung upon him like a bag, and they had the -legs rolled back up to the knees. A pair of old boots, exceedingly down -at heel, out of which the toes of his majesty were seen to peep in -spite of the straw with which they were lined, completed his costume. - -"And who the deuce are you?" demanded the captain, after he had -sufficiently scrutinised the appearance of his prisoner. - -"Faix and isn't it King Teddy O'Riley I am?" replied the man. - -"And what part o' the world are you king of, I should like to know?" -asked Hearty in considerable surprise. - -"Faix and ain't I king ov Blatherumskite?" said the other. - -"And where, in the name o' all that's wonderful, is Blatherumskite?" -inquired the captain. - -"And is it yourself that doesn't know where Blatherumskite is?" -exclaimed his majesty in seeming wonder. "Well the ignorance o' some -people is amazin! Not know Blatherumskite! Be the holy japers that bates -Bannagher, and Bannagher bate the divle. And Blatherumskite sich a jewel -ov a place! Why Blatherumskite's the finest kingdom and has the finest -paple under the sun. It's full ov commodities ov all sorts. It dales in -turpentine, brickdust, soft soap, and other swate mates--tracle, and -train oil, pepper and salt, and other hardware,--pigs, buttermilk, -paraties, and other kumbustibles. Not know Blatherumskite indade! Be -this and be that, you're as ignorant as a born brute." - -"And what induced you to fire at me, Mr. King Teddy O'Riley?" demanded -the captain. - -"Faix and wasn't it only just to kill ye we fired at ye?" replied the -king, with the utmost simplicity. - -"It was, was it?" exclaimed Hearty; "and for what reason did you attack -the ship?" - -"Wid no other rason in life than to take it," responded his majesty. "I -was jist a lading the boys to make a decint on England, wid the hope ov -being able to pick up a few thrifles, when we seed your ship. 'The top -ov the morning to ye,' says I, 'and if I don't be afther ransacking ye -intirely small blame to me there'll be.' And then we pulled away at the -divle's own rate, and a mighty dale ov divarsion the boys had about what -they'd do wid the big ship when they'd got her, when widout wid your -lave or by your lave, I was regularly kilt, smashed, and smothered into -the wather. And here I am." - -"Well, King Teddy O'Riley, we must be under the necessity of hanging -you," observed the captain. - -"Hang me!" shouted the man, in perfect amazement. "Hang a king!--hang -King Teddy O'Riley? Hang the King ov Blatherumskite? Why its rank -trason? Ye'll not be afther thinkin ov doin sich a rebellious action. I -shall feel obliged to ye if ye wont mintion it." - -"And what would you have done with us if you had succeeded in your -ridiculous idea of taking the ship?" inquired Hearty. - -"Faix and wouldn't we have kilt every sowl of yese, and taken the rest -prisoners?" replied his majesty. - -"Then we cannot do better than follow your example," observed the -captain; then turning to some of his men, who appeared to enjoy the -scene with particular satisfaction, he exclaimed, "Get a rope ready at -the fore-yard arm that we may hang this fellow!" The sailors with great -alacrity made the necessary preparations. - -"Be all the holy saints betwixt this and no where, ye'll not be -afther taking away the life ov a poor king!" exclaimed his majesty of -Blatherumskite, with the greatest earnestness and alarm. "What'll I do -now? Sure and I'm in a bad way! Sure and I'll be done for intirely! And -is it to be hanged I am?" continued he, looking woefully at the rope -that was dangling ready for immediate use. "Is King Teddy O'Riley -to be kilt afther sich a villainous fashion? Oh what a disgrace for -Blatherumskite! What a dishonour to a king. Oh what 'ill I do--what 'ill -I do?" - -"Is the rope ready?" inquired Hearty. - -"All right, Sir," said the boatswain. - -"Then hoist him up," replied the captain. The men proceeded to fulfil -the command of their officer. - -"Oh it's in a pretty way I am!" exclaimed the unfortunate monarch, with -tears in his eyes. "Be the holy japers, wouldn't I change places wid -any body as would like to be hanged in my place. It's yourself, Murphy -O'Blarney, that's the good subject," said the king, addressing one of -his companions with particular and impressive emphasis. "Sure, and ye've -got more pathriotism than to let the King ov Blatherumskite be hanged, -when it's your own loyal neck as would fit the rope so azy." Murphy -O'Blarney did not seem to hear. "Bad luck to the likes ov yese for -a thraitor," murmured his majesty. Then, turning to another of his -subjects, he said, "Larry Brogues, it's great confidence I place in -ye--ye're a jewel ov a man intirely; and if ye 'ill jist be afther doing -me the thrifling favour ov being hanged in my place, the best pig I have -shall be your's." Larry appeared as if he had lost all relish for pork. -"I always said ye were a base ribbel!" muttered the angry monarch, -turning from him to address a third. "Mick Killarney, a sinsible boy -you've showed yerself afore to-day, and little's the praise I take to -meself for not having rewarded ye according to your desarts; but if -ye'll show your superior desarnment, by letting the little bit ov a -rope be placed round your neck instead ov mine, it's meself that 'ill -make a man ov ye when I get back to Blatherumskite." Mick Killarney -turned the only eye he had in his head, to another part of the ship. -"There's more brains in the tail of a dead pig, than 'ill ever come -out ov yer thick skull, ye villain!" exclaimed King Teddy O'Riley in a -thundering rage: then he looked very pathetic, wiped his eyes with a -corner of his blanket, and began to chant, in the most miserable tones, -the following words:-- - - "Who'll bile the paraties and pale 'em and ate 'em! - Who'll drink all the butthermilk I used to swallow! - Who'll hand round the whiskey, and take his own share too - Wid mighty convanience. - - "Oh Teddy O'Riley your reign's put a stop to, - Small blame to your sowl! you're a king now no longer, - You're smashed all to smothers, and dished up and done for - In a way most amazin. - - "Not brave Alexander, or Nebuchadnezzar, - Who went out to grass wid the rest ov the cattle, - Not Moses, or Boney, nor yet Cleopatra, - Were treated so vilely. - - "Its meself that is up to me eyes in amazement - To see you desaved and surrounded by villains, - Who are wantin to place your poor neck in a halter - Bad luck to their mothers! - - "Is it rope you're desirin? the divle a ha'porth. - Is it hanged that you would be? not me then by Japers, - Oh! there's sinse and there's rason in your own way ov thinkin, - You're cliver intirely. - - "But sorrow a hope have ye got to indulge in, - For there hangs the rope like a murtherin blaguard, - Wid a knot at one end, and a noose at the other. - Oh what 'ill I do now?" - -Oriel Porphyry, who had laughed exceedingly at the whole scene, now -stepped forward, and, by his interference, saved his majesty's life. - -"I always thought that Ireland formed a portion of the British -dominions," observed the young merchant. - -"So it did," replied Fortyfolios, "and enjoyed an unexampled state of -prosperity; but the people were always dissatisfied and unreasonable; -and were ever accusing the government of the country by which they were -ruled of creating that social disorganisation which was the effect -of their own evil habits--and which had existed, as may be proved by -a reference to their own annals, as far back as it was possible to -refer--and, upon the first opportunity, they threw off their allegiance -to the British empire, and became, as they had previously been, a -separate kingdom. As might have been expected, internal strife now -appeared. As had formerly been the case, the country was cut up into a -party of petty monarchies, that were continually at war with each other. -These having gradually become smaller and more numerous, there is now a -king to every potato-garden, of which class of monarchs his majesty of -Blatherumskite is an example; and when these fellows are not striving -to exterminate each other, they make piratical excursions to the -neighbouring coast, and there create all the mischief in their power, -by robbing, plundering, killing, and burning." - -"We are entering the Nore, now Sir," remarked the captain. - -"The derivation of the word is exceedingly puzzling," remarked the -professor, "and I have met with no explanation that has satisfied me. -Some antiquarians trace it to Noah, but they bring forward nothing which -can be relied on in proof of this idea. I must say it is my opinion -that Noah was never in this part of the world. Others ascribe it to -the frequent use of the words 'Know her,'--as parties of pleasure used -frequently to start in steam-boats from the metropolis to this place, -and then return; and intimacies between the young males and the young -females who had never met previously, used to spring up during this -excursion, and the former used to reply when they were asked if they -knew an individual of the other sex, 'Know her? we met going towards the -sea,' and the words at last became so common that it gave name to the -place." - -"You're wrong again, don't you see!" exclaimed the doctor. "But I'll -tell you how the place came by the name. In very ancient times a company -of individuals created a joint-stock association to work a copper mine -of great value which they said had been discovered on the neighbouring -coast, and the people, deluded by the great anticipations held out by -the schemers, invested large sums in the affair. The shaft was sunk and -the mine worked, and the anxious citizens were every day coming down in -crowds to learn the progress of the mine, but they invariably met with -one answer to all their queries, which was 'No Ore;' and this lasted -till the bubble burst. Since then the place was called 'No Ore,' which -ultimately dwindled into 'Nore.'" - -"Preposterous!" cried Fortyfolios. "I wonder you can repeat such a -ridiculous conception." - -"I'm positive that my 'No ore' is as good as your 'Noah' or 'Know her,' -don't you see," replied the doctor, good humouredly. - -"Nothing of the kind, Dr. Tourniquet," said the other very gravely. "My -derivations are founded on well ascertained facts." - -"And my derivation is founded on better ascertained facts," added the -surgeon. - -"The coast here seems quite deserted," observed Oriel Porphyry. "I -do not see a habitation--nor a human creature--nor any species of -vessel--nor any sign of life whatever." - -"Possibly the natives have deserted this part of the coast from its -liability to be visited by the Irish pirates," replied the professor. -"But what a change there must have been in the appearance of this -neighbourhood a few centuries back! Then vessels of every size and -nation might have been seen sailing in almost countless numbers down the -river to the Port of London, which was the mart of the world. Merchant -ships and ships of war, colliers, fishing-vessels, passage-boats and -pleasure-yachts were passing and re-passing each other at all hours of -the day. Then these masses of ruins which you are passing on each side -of the river, were filled with busy inhabitants engaged in the various -labours of traffic. Here ships were built, fitted out, victualled, and -stored, and when manned with a gallant crew, set sail to visit every -quarter of the globe, to dispose of their cargoes and to bring home the -produce of other countries. There was a battery to prevent the passage -of the enemy's ships in time of war. A little further on we come to a -fashionable watering place, in which the tired citizens forgot the toils -of business in the pursuit of pleasure. Towns and villages existed on -either side; some of considerable importance, with a numerous population -engaged in every species of manufacture and of laborious employment." - -"The country possesses a most desolate appearance," remarked Zabra. - -"The natural effect of the cause which produced it," responded the -professor. "Here all the horrors of war have been exhibited on the most -comprehensive scale, and what warfare left untouched time has since -destroyed. Nothing meets the eye but blackened buildings and tottering -walls. The country is a wilderness--the town a desert. A little time -since all was busy--all was fertile; and every nook and corner resounded -with the stir of the artisan at his craft, and the mirth of the idler at -his pleasure." - -"What part of the island was this called?" inquired Oriel. - -"These are the shores of Kent, so called from the ancient word Kenned, -known or famous," replied Fortyfolios. "It was called the garden of -England, and, if the accounts which describe it are to be depended on, -well did it deserve the title. It was one continued field of fruit, and -flowers, and grain. Forests of magnificent timber afforded materials for -the carpenter and the ship-builder--plantations of hops gave employment -to the cultivators, the merchants, and the brewers of malt liquors; and -orchards of cherries were in constant demand from one end of the island -to the other. Now the timber has either been cut down, or died of -natural decay--the hop gardens have given place to crops of luxuriant -weeds--and the sweet and luscious fruits have become wild and sour." - -"Here is an extensive collection of ruins on the left--and it seems once -to have been an important place," observed the young merchant. - -"It was so," said the professor. "There were the public dockyards, the -arsenal, a college for the education of youth to the profession of -war, manufactures on the most extensive scale of materials employed in -fitting out ships for the war or merchant service, and conveniences for -traffic or accumulation of all sorts of naval and military stores. There -were foundries for cannon--manufactories of cordage, shot, nails, and -ship biscuit--magazines for the safe deposit of gunpowder--yards for -ship-building, and warehouses for apparel: now you see nothing but the -bare walls rising up from the mass of ruins of which they are a portion. -In solitude the wild dog howls where all was human life and industry; -and with the boldness of long indulgence, the bats congregate in the -chambers of the merchants." - -"Here are the remains of a more stately structure than any we have -hitherto passed--was it a palace?" inquired Oriel Porphyry. - -"It was nothing more than a hospital for poor sailors, such as had been -maimed in the service of their country," replied Fortyfolios. - -"Indeed!" exclaimed the young merchant, with considerable surprise. - -"Nothing else, I assure you," added his tutor. - -"The government were remarkably attentive to the wants of their seamen -then--they must have valued their services very high to have lodged them -in so sumptuous a building as this appears to have been," observed -Oriel. - -"Their dwelling was at one time far more magnificent than the palace of -the King of England," continued the professor. "There was no edifice -erected for such a purpose to equal it in the whole world. There the -wounded sailor passed the rest of his life enjoying every comfort he -required. He had the range of a magnificent mansion, and an extensive -and beautiful park. Proper officers watched over his health, his diet -was strengthening and plentiful, and under the care of good and pious -men his moral wants were equally well attended to. In another part of -the river there used to be a building of similar extent that had been -erected for poor and wounded soldiers, and they were provided for in a -manner equally generous and considerate." - -"These people were distinguished for their charities, I believe," -remarked the young merchant. - -"They were," replied Fortyfolios. "They had numberless hospitals in -which the poor, afflicted with disease, or hurt by accidents, were -promptly cared for, and skilfully treated. The ablest physicians, the -most experienced surgeons, and the most skilful nurses waited upon them; -and all that the necessities of their cases demanded was immediately -rendered. They had asylums for females who had strayed from the path of -virtue, where they were taught industrious and moral habits, and then -restored to society capable of taking a place with its most useful and -honourable members. They had houses of instruction to reclaim young -thieves, in which they received an excellent education, were taught -some useful trade, and then re-entered the community capable of passing -through the busy scenes of life with credit to themselves and others. -They had----." - -"They had hospitals and asylums for every vice that disgraces humanity, -don't you see," said the doctor, interrupting the speaker with more -bitterness than was usual with him. "The vilest of the vile were -sheltered and preached to, and made comfortable and happy; but while -vice received every possible attention in fine buildings, with numerous -servants, virtue might crawl through the public streets and starve; -and while the rogue was carefully instructed in all things that were -excellent to save his wretched life and soul, the honest man, struggling -with adversity and sickness, was left to die and be damned. There was no -asylum for the virtuous woman; but the vilest prostitute had always a -ready home. Integrity and intelligence had to fight with famine alone -and unnoticed; but ignorance and dishonesty, profligacy and crime, were -sought after and generously provided for. In fact, under this miserable -state of things there existed a bonus upon vice. If the vile were -only vile enough, they were the objects of universal benevolence: -but to be poor without being vile--oh! it was considered something so -contemptible, that the charitable could not be brought to pay it the -slightest regard." - -For a wonder Fortyfolios made no reply. - -"This place is also of considerable importance to the scientific -inquirer," continued the professor; "for here was a famous observatory, -in which the most illustrious astronomers carried on their -investigations into the motions of the heavenly bodies, and the laws -which govern them. Many interesting discoveries were here made. From -here were calculated the distances of various parts of the world. The -neighbourhood was also distinguished by being a place of favorite resort -of the inhabitants of the metropolis; and even members of the government -used to indulge themselves occasionally with a trip to this once -delightful place, for the purpose of enjoying a delicacy in the shape of -a very small fish, a thousand of which would scarcely make a sufficient -meal." - -"Here are many heaps of stones and fragments of brickwork. I should -suppose that they are the remains of a town of some kind," observed the -young merchant. - -"They cover a space sufficiently extensive to make it probable," replied -Fortyfolios; "but they ought to be considered as a distant suburb of -the metropolis. They were chiefly inhabited by persons engaged in the -production or sale of naval stores, and boat-builders, fishermen, and -sailors employed in managing the craft upon the river. In some places -there are wharves for merchandise, in others for coals; here was a -factory for the produce of canvass, there an establishment of engineers -who sent steam vessels to every sea that flows. The river here used to -be crowded with shipping; so much so that the passage of the vessels -often became slow and dangerous. Here were ships from every commercial -nation on the globe, each laden with the produce of their country, and -each intent on returning with a cargo of English goods." - -"What a gloomy looking building this must have been, if we may judge -from what remains of it!" remarked Zabra. - -"That used to be a fortress and state prison," said the Professor. -"There were once confined persons accused of treason, and there they -remained previous to their execution. Some of the noblest and best -spirits of the time have been incarcerated in those old walls. The noble -Raleigh, the patriot Russell, the lovely Anna Boleyn, and numberless -others whose names have become a part of history. There also were kept -the regalia and--." - -"And there also were kept the wild beasts," observed the doctor, good -humouredly, "and there is every reason for believing that the latter -managed to get at the regalia; for an ancient poem I have met with -says-- - - "The lion and the unicorn - Were fighting for the crown, - And the lion beat the unicorn - All about the town"-- - -no doubt to the great astonishment of the citizens." - -"I am going to anchor now, sir," here exclaimed the captain, "as the -navigation o' the river beyond this arn't practicable for a vessel o' -such tonnage as the Albatross." - -"Let it be done then," replied the young merchant; "and let an armed -party be got ready to accompany me on land, as I am desirous of -examining the antiquities of the place." - -"Yes, sir," responded Hearty; and preparations were immediately made to -go ashore. - -"You see before you the remains of a bridge," observed Fortyfolios, -pointing to several broken arches that appeared above the water; "it was -considered one of the finest examples of that kind of structure that -had ever been erected, and an old chronicler I lately perused gives an -elaborate account of the ceremonies that took place when it was first -opened to the public. On that occasion the king and queen went in state, -accompanied by their court, and all the great men were there, and the -great merchants, and thousands upon thousands of citizens. Now you -can behold nothing but the crumbling stone-work, green with age, and -instead of the music and shouts which accompanied the procession, we can -only hear the hoarse cry of the bittern from the neighbouring marshes, -and the fierce howl of the jackal from some ruined building." - -"The boat's ready, sir!" said the captain; and shortly afterwards the -whole party proceeded in a boat to the shore. - - - - -CHAP. IV. - -THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. - - -A large tent had been pitched in an open space among the ruins of the -ancient city. Before it stood Oriel Porphyry leaning on a gun, with -Zabra at his side, resting on his harp. At the distance of a few feet -Fortyfolios and Tourniquet were seated on a fallen pillar, disputing -about the character of a building, the remains of which lay before them. -The captain and the midshipman were conversing together by the side -of the tent, and grouped about were twenty or thirty sailors well -armed--some reclining on the ground, others leaning against a column, -and the rest congregated into little parties, engaged in talking over -the adventures of the day, or in passing their opinions upon the -neighbouring ruins. - -On one side of the tent stood a great portion of a very elegant -structure, of considerable dimensions, and of a classical style of -architecture; on the other side stood the ruins of a building of about -the same size, with a handsome portico supported by several beautiful -pillars, upon which might be observed a female draperied figure much -mutilated. A short distance from between them there arose a tall column -with a bronze statue of a warrior, broken and disfigured, lying at its -base. Beyond the column was a flight of broken steps that led to an open -space overgrown with wild shrubs and weeds; and beyond these, and around -in every direction, nothing met the eye but confused heaps of stone and -brickwork, overgrown with rank herbage; and pillars, and walls, and -glassless windows. - -"I am tired of this continual ruin," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry. "We -have travelled all the day and met nothing but broken pedestals, and -prostrate capitals; porches without pillars, and pillars without -porches; trembling porticoes, tottering walls, and roofless dwellings. -I never witnessed such a perfect desolation. The only living thing I -have seen was a wolf, who stared at me as if quite unused to a human -countenance, and never attempted to move till I sent the contents of my -gun at his head. Then, immediately I had fired, there flew around me -such flights of bats, ravens, vultures, and owls, and they created such -a din of screaming and hooting, that I was absolutely startled." - -"See how the ivy clings to the wall, Oriel!" said Zabra to his patron, -as he pointed to a ruin beside them; "how it twines round the fluted -pillar, and hides the ornaments of the richly decorated capital. There -is poetry astir in those leaves--there is a music breathing in the -breeze that shakes them. There! see you the bird moving out its head -from their friendly shelter to notice our movements? She has her nest -there, Oriel: in that little circle are all her pleasures concentrated. -She has made her happiness in the very desolation of which you complain. -It is impossible to look around and say all is barren. There is not a -weed that grows but what is full of enjoyment for myriads of creatures -of which we take no note. Is there nothing in these stones which does -not awaken in you associations that ought to people them with the -countless multitudes that once found pleasure in this wilderness? I see -not the ruin. I notice not the silence. Memory looks through the vista -of departed time, and lo! all is splendour and beauty--and the deserted -porticoes echo with the voice of gladness. Let me sing to you, Oriel; -this is a glorious place for sweet sounds and antique memories, and I -will see to what use I can apply them." - -The young musician, after a short, touching prelude, then sung, with the -deep expression that characterised all his attempts at minstrelsy, the -following words:-- - - "To the home of the brave ones, the true and the kind, - With a heart filled with hope I have been; - And I thought of the gladness and peace I should find, - And the smiles of delight I had seen. - - "But the dwelling was homeless, and roofless, and bare, - 'Twas a ruin that threatened to fall; - And my sorrowing heart seemed to cling to despair, - Like the ivy that clung to the wall. - - "Oh! where are the roses that clustered and spread - Round the porch where my wishes were told? - Alas! from the porch all the roses have fled, - And the hands that once plucked them are cold. - - "Oh! where are the friends, the young, thoughtless, and gay, - Who gave life to the garden and hall? - All, all have departed--all, all passed away, - Save the ivy that clings to the wall. - - "Be glad, my fond heart--there is hope for you yet, - For these leaves have a comfort convey'd; - There are moments and pleasures I ne'er can forget, - Though both roses and friends have decayed. - - "Though this breast be a ruin where sorrow hath cast - Desolations she cannot recal; - Still mem'ry shall cling to the joys that are past, - Like the ivy that clings to the wall." - -"I tell you, Dr. Tourniquet, you're completely in error," exclaimed -Fortyfolios. "The meaning of the word United Service is evident, and -admits of no dispute. In old authors we frequently read of people 'going -to service,' and as often of a union of offices in the same person, -such as butler and steward, valet and footman, gardener and groom; and -there cannot be a doubt that this is what was called united service, and -that this building was dedicated to the purpose of finding situations -for such people." - -"Dedicated to a fiddle-stick. Don't you see?" replied the doctor. "I -tell you it was a club that met there to play at cards, and that was the -reason that they had a king of clubs, and a queen of clubs, and a knave -of clubs, and ever so many other clubs; and as a qualification, all the -members were obliged to be club-footed, and they were governed by what -they called club law." - -"'T was no such thing, Dr. Tourniquet, depend upon it," said the -professor. "I'm sure 't was the united service, because I have a book -in my library that mentions it as the United Service." - -"And I'm sure it was a club, because I've got a book in my library that -mentions it as a club," responded the other. - -"Then the building opposite was devoted to very different purposes," -continued Fortyfolios. "It was called the Athenæum, the derivation of -which word I have never been able to discover. Perhaps it had its origin -in the Modern Athens, a place of some importance in the neighbourhood of -Blackwood's Magazine--once a famous depôt for combustibles, that blew up -occasionally with great damage. However, it was erected for the purpose -of bringing together all the intelligence of the country. - - 'Together let us range the fields, - Impearled with the morning dew,' - -says an ancient poet, and there is no doubt that the lines were -addressed by one member of the Athenæum to another." - -"And what good did they ever do by being brought together?" inquired -Tourniquet. - -"That has never been ascertained," replied the other. - -"For what purpose was this column erected?" asked the young merchant. - -"It was erected to commemorate the victories of a certain Duke of -York," said the professor. "He distinguished himself greatly during the -wars of the rival houses of York and Lancaster. Besides being a great -general, his piety was so great that he became a bishop, and there are a -series of moral discourses extant, that took place between the Bishop -and the Bishop's Clarke, a person who was also very celebrated. It may -be said that this Duke of York enjoyed more credit in his day than any -of his predecessors; indeed he was in such general requisition that the -constant inquiries after him, gave rise to the saying, 'York, you're -wanted;' and it was to him that the people, after a disturbance which -he had pacified, said,-- - - 'Now is the winter of our discontent - Made glorious summer by the son of York.'" - -"I certainly feel the charm of association as much as any one," observed -Oriel to his companion; "but the gratification I find in treading shores -so celebrated by historic recollections is changed to a painful feeling -at beholding the wreck to which has been reduced the greatness I have -honoured. I should suppose, from what I have seen, that the whole land -is in a similar state as that portion of it which has come under my -observation. I can imagine nothing so deplorable. There appear to be no -living things in the island but wild animals. I can only account for -their being here, from my knowledge that, in former times, the natives -kept several large collections of them for show, and that these having -escaped, they spread themselves over the country." - -At this moment Oriel's quick ear caught the sound of a low sharp growl -at no great distance from him, and turning round, beheld a large lion -crouching behind a heap of stones near the two philosophers, who were -disputing so vehemently that they had not the slightest idea of their -danger. The young merchant had just time to get his gun in readiness and -give the alarm to the sailors, when, with a fierce roar that came like -a peal of thunder upon the terrified disputants, the lion sprung upon -them, and knocked them both down. He stood majestically with one paw -upon the prostrate philosophers, looking defiance on Oriel and his -companions, as they cautiously approached him from all sides with their -muskets in their hands. - -"Now, my friends," exclaimed the young merchant, "don't fire till -you come within good aiming distance--don't more than half fire at a -time--let the others reserve their fire, in case he makes a spring--be -steady, and aim at his head." - -"Ay, ay, sir," was murmured by the captain; and every man held his -breath, cocked his gun, picked his way carefully over the stones, and -prepared himself for a struggle with his dangerous enemy. The lion saw -them advancing--shook his mane, lashed his tail, and, bending his head -to the ground, uttered a long and deafening roar. - -"Now then, mind your aim," said the young merchant. About a dozen -discharged their pieces; and, with a piercing howl, the lion dashed -among his foes, knocking down some half-a-dozen of them, and scattering -the rest in all directions. Luckily, he had been too severely wounded -to do any more serious mischief. His roar was terrible; but the men -having again approached him, poured in a more deadly fire, and with a -vain attempt to reach them, he gave a savage growl, and fell covered -with wounds. Scarcely had this been done, before a distant roar was -heard by the victors. - -"Make haste and reload, for, if I mistake not, we shall have the lioness -upon us in a few seconds," said Oriel Porphyry earnestly; and all -quickened their preparations, to be in readiness for another contest. -"Take up a position behind that ruin, for the lioness will first make to -the dead lion, and then she will attempt to turn her rage upon us. We -shall have her within gun range as soon as she comes to the lion, and -shall be in some sort of shelter when she begins her attack." - -Scarcely had the position been taken and the arrangements made, when the -roar became more distinct; and, soon afterwards, the lioness was seen -rapidly approaching, with a series of prodigious leaps that quickly -brought her into the immediate neighbourhood of the party in ambush. She -instantly proceeded to the lion. At first, she patted him with her paw. -Finding he took no notice of that, she fawned upon him, and licked him -with her tongue, playfully bit his ear, and played with his mane. -Observing that he was still inattentive to her movements, she gently -turned him over; and then, noticing the wounds in his head and body, and -his incapability of replying to her caresses, she uttered a roar so loud -and piercing, that it made the old walls about her echo again. This -was replied to by a peal of musketry from the neighbouring ruin. In a -moment, with another deafening howl, she rushed towards the place whence -came the reports, and with one desperate bound, leaped to the window -behind which Oriel and his companions lay concealed upon a heap of -stones and rubbish. She had got her fore paws and head upon the ledge of -the window, when another shower of balls sent her reeling back. Howling -with rage she made the leap again; when a blow on the head from the -butt end of a gun, held by a stout seaman, made her loosen her hold, -and, with a savage growl, she fell to the ground. From there she next -crawled to the body of the lion, licking the upper part of his body, -and uttering the most wild and melancholy howls. She was evidently much -wounded; but she managed to crawl round him several times, drawing her -long tongue over his mane, and moving a paw, or his head, in hopes of -noticing some sign of recognition. At last, finding all her efforts -ineffectual, she emitted a roar that rivalled the loudest thunder, -lashed her body furiously with her tail, began tearing up the stones and -soil around her, and then, as if putting forth her strength for a last -effort, she made two or three prodigious leaps towards the adjoining -building. The bullets that met her in her way did not stop her progress, -for with one enormous bound she cleared the window, and came down in -the midst of the voyagers, dashing them about with a violence that gave -several of the men very severe contusions, and grasping one by the neck -so furiously that he would have inevitably been killed, had not Loop -stabbed her to the heart with a short sword he carried, while Hearty -gave her a desperate blow on the head with an immense fragment of stone. -Letting go the man she had got so firmly in her grasp, she turned upon -her assailants a look of the most savage ferocity, and then, with a -short howl of agony, fell back dead at their feet. - -They had dragged the lioness out of the building, and several of the men -were busily engaged taking off the skins of the two animals, and the -rest were talking over the dangers they had escaped, when Zabra pointed -out to his patron the figures of an old man and a young female, who were -advancing up the broken steps that led to the base of the column. The -sight of human beings was so novel, that every one paid particular -attention to the individuals they now beheld. The man appeared to have -reached extreme old age, for his hair was white and long, and hung down -upon his neck and shoulders. His complexion was ruddy, but although the -face was covered with wrinkles and deeply marked furrows, there was -an animation in his eyes that showed that the fire of life was still -brilliantly burning. He was tall, and walked firmly, supporting himself -by a long staff. The skin of a lion hung from his neck over his manly -shoulders. The rest of his dress was composed of skins fastened by -thongs round his body and legs. A long sword was suspended at his side, -which, with a knife or dagger at his waist, seemed all the weapons he -possessed. - -He was accompanied by a young girl, whose complexion had evidently -been browned by exposure to the sun, the effect of which gave a warmer -character to the quiet beauty of her features. Her eyes were of a soft, -deep, blue, beaming with tenderness and benevolence; and her hair, which -was silken in its texture, and very light in colour, fell in clustering -curls from her forehead to her neck. A sort of cape, made of feathers, -covered her shoulders; beneath which was a long garment reaching below -the knees, made of different skins neatly sewed together, and bound -round the waist with a belt of the same. Her arms and legs were bare, -and they were of the most exquisite symmetry, delicately and beautifully -formed. In one hand she carried a light spear, and the other she rested -upon the shoulder of her companion. - -As soon as the young girl observed the voyagers, she started back with -an exclamation of fear, and clung to the arm of her elder companion, -who, noticing the cause of her alarm, immediately let fall his staff and -drew his sword. There was something remarkably imposing in the attitude -of the old man. He drew up his stately form to its full height; and as -he stood upon the defensive with his weapon firmly grasped in his right -hand, while with his left arm he clasped the young girl by the waist and -drew her behind him, there seemed a vigour in his silvery hairs, and -a fire in his sunken eyes, that neither youth or manhood could have -rivalled. - -Oriel Porphyry, who looked upon them with peculiar interest, laid down -his arms and advanced towards them, accompanied only by Zabra, who was -also unarmed. Their approaches were closely regarded by the man, and -watched with curiosity by the female. - -"Fear us not, old man, we will do you no harm," said the young merchant. - -"Fear!" exclaimed the old man proudly, "I know it not." - -"We are voyagers from a distant land, who have been induced to visit -your shores, from a desire to do honour to a country once so famous." - -The old man, without making any reply, hastily returned his sword to -its scabbard, and then, with a countenance in which fearlessness and -kindness were blended, held out his right hand. The hand of Oriel -Porphyry was soon in its cordial and friendly grasp, and a compact of -sociality seemed immediately agreed to between both parties. "And you, -fair maid, need not be alarmed," said Zabra, approaching the maiden with -a look that might have inspired a savage with confidence. "You will meet -amongst us none but friends anxious to do you honour and service." -She shrunk back from his advances with a strong feeling of timidity -expressed in her features; yet continued to gaze on the handsome face -and graceful person of the speaker, as if they had for her an attraction -impossible to be resisted. - -"The child is unused to strangers," observed her companion, as he -noticed the shy and wondering manner with which she regarded Zabra. "It -is long since she has seen a human being except myself. Be not afraid, -Lilya," he exclaimed, as he drew her towards him. "These are not -enemies. They are wanderers, like ourselves; but they have a home and -kindred--we have neither." - -The cheerful countenance of the old man now became clouded with -melancholy, and he sighed as if there was a heaviness upon his heart -that could not be removed; but the timid Lilya still gazed upon the -features of the young musician, as if she found it impossible to remove -her eyes from their beauty. There was an extraordinary contrast between -her and her companion. She seemed just in the dawn of womanhood, with -delicate limbs, and looks all bashfulness and pleased surprise; while -he appeared on the extreme verge of old age--all bone and sinews, hard -and rough with exposure to the severities of time and climate. She -was evidently too young to be his daughter; but that there was some -relationship between them was evident, for even in the gentle loveliness -that distinguished her youthful face might be discerned faint traces of -resemblance to the ancient but noble example of manhood that stood by -her side. - -"Your appearance has much interested me," said the young merchant, -gazing on the stranger's venerable appearance with affectionate respect; -"and I hope it will not be deemed intrusive or impertinent if I inquire -who it is I behold." - -"You see before you the last of the Englishmen," said the old man, -looking proudly upon the inquirer. - -"Is it possible?" exclaimed Oriel, regarding him with increased -admiration and a voluntary feeling of homage. - -"The last of that powerful and illustrious race is now before you," -he added, "and this is the child of my child's child. We are all that -remain of the great people who filled this island with their multitudes -and the world with their fame. Kindred and countrymen--all are gone; -their homes are the habitations of the wild cat and the vulture, and -even their very graves have been made desolate by the jackal and the -hyena." - -"You appear to have attained a great age," remarked Zabra. - -"Alas! I have outlived my country," replied the Englishman. "A hundred -and twenty years have passed since my existence commenced. Time has -forgotten me. I have been where the sword was ploughing deep furrows -around me far and near.--I have seen Death busy at his work amid the -youthful, the old, the innocent and the guilty.--I have noticed the -young trees grow up, put forth their bravery, and die.--I have beheld -mighty buildings crumble into dust.--I have known all things perish -before my eyes: yet I have remained untouched in the midst of the -desolation.--Three generations have passed away, and have left me to -gather consolation from their tombs." - -"If the relation of what you have known and endured be not too painful, -I should much like to hear it," said the young merchant. - -"If you have the patience to listen, all shall be told to you," replied -the old man. Then taking up his staff, he walked on to some fragments of -building that lay at a short distance, on which he sat with Lilya at his -feet. Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, Loop, the captain, Fortyfolios, and the -doctor sat or reclined in a circle round him, and beyond the circle, the -sailors stood leaning on their guns. - - - - -CHAP. V. - -AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF OLD ENGLAND. - - -"It must be at least a century since the necessities of the kingdom -obliged me, for the first time, to attempt the trade of war," said the -Englishman. "There had been some dispute between the government and the -people, which was originally of little consequence, but the zeal of -furious partizans on each side gave it an importance which would not -otherwise have belonged to it. One said the safety of the people -depended on their success--another declared that the security of -the crown was involved in the question. One party were frantic for -liberty--another party, not so numerous, but far more influential, -were enthusiastic for loyalty. But words were soon given up for more -effective weapons. The Court, proud in their strength, prepared -themselves for a sanguinary conflict; and their antagonists, having -equal confidence in their numbers, followed their example with the same -alacrity. The whole country was astir with contention: families were -divided, and friends turned into foes. He who opposed the King was -denounced as a rebel; and he who differed with the people was declared -a traitor. - -"Many disturbances had broken out before the parties took the field in -military array; but now the quarrel assumed a more serious aspect. Every -one armed himself, and hastened to join that cause which seemed to him -the best; and the most influential men on each side led these masses to -the battle. Though they were children of the same soil, and many had -relatives in the opposite ranks, nothing could equal the animosity with -which they engaged and the fury with which they fought. Never had they -against a foreign foe exhibited such fierceness. The battle raged -nearly the whole of the day with great slaughter on both sides. The -men of loyalty were less in number, but they were more experienced in -soldiership. The men of liberty had the most powerful army, but they -were deficient in military discipline and in martial appearance. They -fought with the most determined courage, resisting and making attacks, -attacking and defending positions, till, after a protracted struggle, -the latter succeeded in driving their opponents off the field. - -"This was merely the commencement of hostilities. The crown party, -though defeated, were very soon in a condition to renew the contest; and -though this victory to the popular cause brought a great increase of -strength, it did not save its partizans from being defeated with immense -slaughter in the next battle that was fought. For several years a -destructive civil war raged with unexampled ferocity in every part of -the kingdom; sometimes one party being the strongest, sometimes the -other. Every individual capable of bearing arms was obliged to join -either the cause of the king or that of the people; and, as a great -diversity of opinion existed, brothers were set against brothers, and -fathers against sons, and thousands and tens of thousands of the bravest -of her citizens daily were cast into pits to feed the worms of the soil -of England. At last the popular cause triumphed, and the King became a -fugitive. Loud were the congratulations of the victors when no doubt -seemed to remain of their success; but they had little cause for their -joy--they had only changed a bad ruler for a worse. - -"The triumphant party now sought out such of their fellow-citizens who -had most distinguished themselves by their hostility to their progress -during the late warfare; and they who did not succeed in escaping were -persecuted and exterminated in every way that vengeance could devise. -Blood continued to flow, and hatred and strife still existed. The -leading men among them had scarcely settled themselves in their -authority, before they began to differ concerning their notions of -government. Some were for one form and some for another, and each had -his own theory to support or his own ambition to gratify. The difference -soon increased to open hostility; and as each was supported by a -numerous band of partizans, each strove for the mastery with all the -cunning and boldness he possessed. Battles were again fought--victims -were again sacrificed. Party succeeded party; and as one overpowered the -other, the vanquished were sure to be massacred if they remained within -the power of their conquerors. - -"But the cause of the king was considered the cause of all kings; and -while the different leaders of the people seemed intent only upon -exterminating each other, a powerful armament was being fitted out in a -neighbouring kingdom for the purpose of restoring the deposed monarch to -his possessions. The first intimation that the ruling government had of -this expedition was derived from its landing upon the coast; and the -necessity of an immediate union between all parties against the common -enemy became so evident, that they lost no time in settling their -differences, joining their disposable forces, and making preparations -to resist the approaches of their expelled sovereign. Numbers, who had -suffered from the oppressions of the many, now hastened to the king's -standard. The loyal came from their hiding places, and those who had -fled to the neighbouring continent hurried back again to share in -the struggle. The battle-cry of one was, 'God and the King'--that of -the other, 'God and the People;' and, with increased animosity, the -contending armies rushed to the conflict, till the whole country seemed -flowing with blood. - -"At first the king was successful in almost every encounter with his -rebellious subjects. Battle after battle was fought, and still he kept -advancing and triumphing on his way. But the leaders of the people -did not despair. They carried on the contest with the same spirit -notwithstanding their defeats. The whole population rose in arms. No -sooner was one army dispersed than another was ready for action. Three -times the court party took possession of the capital, and were again -driven out. The contest was prolonged by the military genius of one -man, whose mind seemed exhaustless in resources. He had risen from -obscurity, and had gradually exalted himself from one command to another -during the civil war, till the whole forces on the side of the people -were at his disposal. Success appeared to attend all his efforts. As he -in his own person exhibited the most determined bravery, his followers -were stimulated to copy his example. The most daring attacks were -planned and executed, and the royalists began to lose all the advantages -they had previously gained. It was the intention of the popular general -to terminate the contest at a blow; and with this object in view he -concentrated all his forces, and unexpectedly brought them upon the -enemy's camp. The royalists were taken quite unprepared, and few escaped -to announce their defeat. The king, the nobles, the foreign troops, and -a great portion of their native allies perished in one indiscriminate -slaughter; and thus the hopes of the loyal were utterly annihilated for -the time. - -"As every man was obliged to join one or the other party, I had my share -in these struggles for mastery. I had inherited a small patrimony in -one of the inland counties, and I had recently married a young and -beautiful relative, to whom I had been attached from my youth, when I -was first called upon to contribute my assistance towards bringing the -contest to a termination. I was an ardent lover of liberty. I was a -great advocate for republics, and I had long looked upon kings as -expensive and useless machines, which the people could easily spare. It -may easily be imagined, from my acknowledgement of these sentiments, -that I eagerly embraced the popular cause. I mixed myself up as little -as possible with the squabbles of partizans; but there were few more -sincere adherents to the principles I professed than myself. I was -present at nearly all the great engagements, received several wounds, -and gradually acquired rank and experience in the republican army. -My superior officers respected me, and the men under my command were -attentive and obedient. - -"After the destruction of the royalists, the people were so frantic in -praise of their leader that he thought he might be allowed to assume -the sovereign power. He did so, amid the acclamations of the multitude; -and in six months after was assassinated. No sooner was his decease -known than there rose the same intrigues for supremacy that his master -mind had quelled. Party succeeded party, and government followed -government, in rapid succession; and the gibbet and the axe were in -constant requisition by whatever party happened to be in power. As if -it was determined that this unhappy nation should enjoy no respite from -its troubles, the son of the late king, assuming the royal dignity, had -succeeded in inducing a foreign power to grant such assistance as might -be required to reinstate him in the throne of his fathers. He landed on -the English coast with a large army of foreigners, and advanced in a -very imposing manner towards the ancient metropolis. The government had -no force sufficient to dispute his progress, and fancying itself unable -to struggle successfully against the army brought against it, it took -the dangerous resolution of inviting to its assistance the monarch of a -neighbouring and powerful kingdom. While this was being done the young -king marched forward, meeting with very little opposition till he came -within a few miles of the metropolitan city. There the leaders of the -people had taken up a strong position, and although they were inferior -to the royalists in number and soldiership, and had not yet received the -expected succours from the foreign power, they determined to dispute -the passage with the royalists. The battle was long and sanguinary. The -people, favoured by their position, quietly awaited the attack of their -opponents, and as they advanced, poured into their ranks a heavy and -destructive fire; but although they fought in the most steady and heroic -manner, the superiority of the enemy in numbers and discipline was too -great to be counteracted by the most steady courage. The republicans -were driven from their position, and defeated with great slaughter; -after which the young monarch marched into the ancient city, of which -he took possession. It was at first resolved to renew the fight in the -streets of the metropolis; but dissension and ill-will arose in their -councils, and nothing being resolved on, the popular army retreated -from the city, leaving it open to the advance of the royalists. - -"The young king, fancying that all opposition had ceased, or that the -defeated party could not now offer him any molestation, passed his time -in getting up the idle ceremonies of a coronation; but the leaders of -the people were preparing to recommence the struggle. A powerful army -from the monarch who had promised them assistance, had landed, and such -good use did they make of their time, that the young king was obliged -to leave the metropolis in the very midst of his coronation. Then again -the horrors of civil war broke out with fresh fury. As each party -was assisted by foreign allies, the war was never left to languish. -Reinforcements were continually being poured into the kingdom, and the -ranks of the opposing armies, thus strengthened, were led against each -other, and fiercer and more relentless became the strife. Blood -flowed like water, and flesh was cut down like grass. Villages were -deserted--towns burnt--cities depopulated. Whether by design or -accident is not known, but it was found out that in all engagements the -inhabitants suffered infinitely more than their foreign auxiliaries. At -every battle the fields were strewn with their dead, while the loss of -their allies was but trifling. - -"After the war had been protracted till there scarcely seemed materials -left in the kingdom to continue it, the king's party were completely -annihilated, and the foreign troops that had assisted them were glad to -make their escape out of the country. The allies which the leaders of -the people had called to their assistance, had been gradually augmented -until they had become an exceedingly numerous and powerful body, and -when the war was over, it was the anxious desire of the people to get -rid of them as soon as possible. But their friends were not so easily -to be disposed of. On different pretexts they protracted their stay -till they had obtained possession of nearly all the strong places in the -empire, and then they not only refused to depart, but commenced a war -of extermination on the people they came to protect. For this treachery -the inhabitants were but ill prepared. The greater portion of the -English army had been disbanded, and the rest were insignificant in -comparison with the new enemy against which they were called to act. The -consequence was, that for a considerable time the foreign army passed -from one part of the island to the other, burning and destroying -whatever they met with, without meeting any resistance. - -"A force was hastily organised for the purpose of driving these -treacherous friends out of the country. The old and young of all parties -and opinions rushed to the national standard with the hope of freeing -their native land from foreign rule. A battle ensued. Nothing could -exceed the desperate bravery of my countrymen; but the discipline of -their enemy was not to be resisted. The people were slaughtered in -multitudes, and I, who commanded one of the wings of the army on that -occasion, was the only general officer who retreated from the field -with anything like a respectable body of men. We were attacked as we -retreated by a force greatly our superior; but I continued to show a -resolute front, beat off the assailants, and maintained a successful -fight. I succeeded in placing my men within the shelter of impregnable -walls. - -"The people had by this time become sick of war. Thirty years of -continued bloodshed had done destructive work all over the country. The -population had been greatly reduced; agriculture had been neglected; -commerce was rapidly decaying; manufactures had been destroyed; all the -resources of industry had been annihilated; poverty, misery, and ruin -existed throughout the land. The people sued for peace. The enemy sent -back a message:--it was, 'England must be destroyed;' and still they -continued their relentless work of pillage, burning, and slaughter. -But the spirit of the nation was not utterly broken. They still waged -a defensive and offensive war whenever there was an opportunity of -doing so with advantage. Every small party of the enemy were cut off, -stragglers killed wherever met with, and their army harassed in every -way that hatred and ingenuity could devise. Bands of well-armed -Englishmen, from fifty to a thousand in number, under separate and -independent leaders, surprised positions, destroyed convoys, and cut -off supplies. A new plan of warfare was now attempted, which, although -destructive to the country, was found a most effective means of -expelling the invaders. This was, wherever the enemy approached, to burn -the dwellings, and to move or destroy every kind of provision. - -"About this period, there appeared amongst the crowd of wretched beings -who congregated the cities, a new and malignant epidemic. How it first -originated was a mystery. It came, and none knew from what cause. Its -fatal character was soon proved. At first, the people died in tens -and twenties, then they perished by hundreds, and then thousands fell -victims to its malignity. The rich fled from their town houses into the -country, carrying with them the very infection from which they were -flying, and in a short time it penetrated into the most remote corner -of the kingdom. Where the population had not been extensive, there were -not left enough to bury the dead. In some rural districts they died, -and none knew of their decease. It attacked all constitutions with the -same violence: the old, the young, the strong and the weak, were its -continual victims. The rich were as much subject to its ravages as the -poor. There was no condition or class of society in which the disease -did not enter and carry off the majority of its members. - -"The system which had been pursued, chiefly under my direction, against -the enemy, gave them considerable annoyance; but still the inhabitants -generally would have done anything to have purchased the blessings of -peace. Again was the boon sued for, and the reply was, 'You haughty -islanders have continued too long to lord it over the world. We have -been your victims many a time; but now you shall be ours--England must -be destroyed.' They might have triumphed over our hostility; they -might, by keeping up a communication with their ships, continue to have -supplies of provision and forage independent of the country; but they -saw that they could not escape the plague: and, after effecting all the -mischief they could produce, they hastened to their vessels, and sailed -from the pestilential shores they had come to conquer. - -"I had not mingled in the sufferings of my country without having to -endure my own share. I had found my home burnt to the ground, and my -wife sacrificed in the flames. Three of my sons had died fighting by -my side. But worse suffering was now in store for me: the plague was -amongst us. I had used every precaution to prevent the infection -spreading among my relatives. I had retired to a dwelling up a steep -mountain in the west, and there I resided with my children and their -families. There were four of my sons, strong, robust men, well inured -to all the dangers of war; and there were their wives, all of healthy -constitutions, and their children, of different ages, every one full -of health and spirits. With these were my two daughters, with their -husbands and families, none of whom were touched by the slightest -illness. One morning I was congratulating them upon the beneficial -effect of my regulations to prevent the spread of the infection, and -the mothers looked at their children and the husbands on their wives, -and I gazed on all, with a delight we found to be unspeakable. In less -than a week I had buried them all but one." - -Here the old man's voice sunk, and he appeared to be powerfully -agitated. No one attempted an observation; and after making a strong -effort to recover his self-possession, he continued. - -"The survivor was a boy of ten years of age; he was one of the few whom -the plague had touched and spared. Me it had passed by harmless. But -the destruction caused by the pestilence exceeded all calculation. As -in my case, whole families were carried off, and districts entirely -depopulated. The pits that were dug to throw in the dead were quickly -filled, and none were strong enough to dig others. The dead cart stood -in the street with its load piled up; for both the driver and the horse -had been destroyed by the pestilence. Physicians and surgeons appeared -to have been the earliest of its victims. They came to visit their -patients, and they died by the bedside. All remedies were tried without -avail; all precautions were used, but they were equally useless. There -were different opinions existing as to its origin. The royalists said -that it was a punishment for the sins of the republicans; and the -republicans retorted by proclaiming that it was a judgment on the -profligacy of the royalists. Religious fanatics went running about the -deserted streets, with streaming hair and blood-shot eyes, shouting out, -in piercing tones, 'Wo! wo! the day of judgment is at hand!'" - -This lasted for the better portion of a year; and, after putting the -boy in a place of safety, when the pestilence was over, as I journeyed -through the country to notice the effects it had produced, where I -had once known crowded thoroughfares, I passed along without meeting -a single inhabitant. The country appeared to have been completely -unpeopled; and in the city, the few persons I met with only made the -immense mortality which had existed appear more great. I inquired for -the government, and found that not a trace of it was in existence. -I asked for the army, and I was shown about a couple of hundred men. -I called a meeting of the citizens in the metropolis, and they all -came; and they filled a moderate sized room. I explained to them the -deplorable state into which the plague had reduced the country, and I -asked their counsel and assistance to form some sort of government to -manage its affairs. There was a melancholy silence for some minutes. -None attempted to speak. Their hearts seemed too full for utterance. At -last one of the citizens ventured to wish that I would do what I thought -best for the community; and I did do what I thought best. I travelled -through every part of this once populous island to notice with my own -eyes the exact state of the remaining population. Some cities I found -deserted; in others two-thirds of their buildings were untenanted; the -rank grass was growing in the public streets, and the gardens of the -rich were filled with nettles. - -"But the measure of afflictions for this unhappy country had not yet -been filled up. No sooner had the pestilence abated, than another -enemy, scarcely less dreadful, made its appearance. The continued -ravages of war had prevented the tilling of the fields. No one would -attempt to sow, knowing how insecure would be his ownership of the -crop he might produce. There had been no grain, and no fruits, and no -vegetables; and the cattle had died of the plague, or had been destroyed -by the enemy. It was in vain attempting to get a supply from foreign -countries. Our commerce had been destroyed, for no nation would -hold communication with a people among whom raged so destructive a -pestilence. They avoided the shores of England as if death was on its -soil; and any vessel attempting to communicate with them, or to enter -one of their ports, was fired at and sunk. The consequence was, our -ships lay rotting in the docks, and their crews were either dead, or -had dispersed over the island, and were not to be found. The terrific -visitation of famine was now upon us. Every thing was eaten that the -human stomach could be brought to swallow. Things the most loathsome -to the taste, and offensive to the eyes, were readily and ravenously -devoured. Then the cheek sunk; the eye-ball fell; the flesh dwindled -away; and all crawled with half lifeless limbs in search of any -substance that might lessen the cravings of their appetites. But at last -every thing that was digestible disappeared, and the skeleton forms of -the sufferers were stretched stiffly on the place where they fell--some -in madness, some in despair, and all in agony and dread. - -"There was no opportunity allowed me for legislating with any advantage. -I thought of every plan that afforded the slightest assistance towards -lessening the dreadful effects of the calamity which the whole country -was enduring; but I met with no one to second my exertions. The few who -retained the use of their faculties were feeble and emaciated. Famine -was in their gaunt limbs, and despair upon their aching hearts. No one -appeared inclined to pay the slightest attention to any thing but his -own sufferings. There was no authority but that of the strong, and they -who retained their physical power the longest, robbed the dying of such -slight nourishment as they had acquired. The rich would bring out their -treasures and offer them for a meal, and when some avaricious wretch was -found to make the exchange, one more strong than either would come by, -and wrest the food from the impoverished, and the wealth from the miser; -and both died within the hour. The breast of the mother became dry, and -the infant was abandoned to starve when it became an incumbrance to the -famished parent. Cats, dogs, rats, mice, and every kind of animal, no -matter how disgusting in its habits, had been greedily devoured; birds, -fish, and insects, that had previously been considered loathsome, were -sought after as delicacies; and weeds, roots, the leaves of trees, -offal, and even many things still more objectionable, became the daily -food of many who had been accustomed to the most luxurious fare. - -"Finding that I could do no good among the scanty band of skeletons that -clung to a lingering existence, I determined on endeavouring to make my -way to the northern part of the island, where an industrious and hardy -race had managed to retain their independence and prosperity during the -wars, the pestilence, and the famine, that ravaged its southern portion. -My grandson was too young to walk great distances; so, when he was -tired, I placed him upon my shoulder, and thus we journeyed on our way. -Our food was acorns, berries, roots, and leaves. Sometimes I was enabled -to catch a fish, or a bird, or a small animal; but these were luxuries -seldom to be enjoyed. We passed several parties apparently intent upon -the same object as ourselves; but many were there of the groups who -laid themselves down on the road-side weary and famishing, and there -perished. Continually I came upon some individual made desperate by his -hunger, scratching up the earth with his hands in search of the worms -it contained, which, if found, were eaten with as much enjoyment as the -most delicious meats, and if the search was fruitless, the dry soil -was crammed into the mouth as a substitute. Very few of the travellers -could have reached the end of their journey, for we continued to pass -the dying and the dead as far as we proceeded. Sometimes a solitary -wretch would be found prostrate at the foot of a tree, the bark of which -he had evidently been gnawing; further on a family of children were -discovered, with their little bodies shrunk to the bone, and the parents -at a short distance, with their faces turned from them, as if they could -not look upon their sufferings; and in another place, a lover and his -mistress lay clasped in each other's fleshless arms. - -"We were crossing an extensive and barren moor, when we came before -a group of dead bodies, among which, to my exceeding astonishment, I -beheld a child--a delicate girl of five or six years of age--busily -occupied in chasing a butterfly. The scene was so extraordinary that I -stood gazing on it for a considerable period before I could determine -what to do. The insect's gaudy wings kept fluttering over the lifeless -forms that were cold and stiff on the ground, sometimes alighting on -a hand, sometimes on a face; and the child, in an ecstasy of delight, -screaming, and laughing, and stretching out its little arms, pursued it -from place to place. What a time was this for reflection! Here was life -in the midst of death--the pursuit of pleasure among the most fatal and -least endurable examples of pain. It was a wonderful sight! The girl -seemed to know neither want nor sorrow; and continued her sport, -indifferent to the spectral shapes that lay extended at her feet. Their -ghastly stare, and gaunt visages, had no terrors for her. The hunt of -the butterfly occupied all her thoughts, and the hope of attaining -possession of its beautiful colours seemed the only desire entertained. -After watching her movements with indescribable interest for several -minutes, I advanced towards the child, and invited her to go with me. I -had considerable difficulty to get her to leave the butterfly; and when -I led her away from the spot, she chatted with infantile volubility, as -if there was nothing else but the butterfly in the world. - -"I found the people of the northern provinces hospitable, and with them -I lived for nearly half a century. They escaped the ravages of the -pestilence by not allowing any infected persons from the neighbouring -counties, who crowded towards the borders, to enter into their -territory. None had presented themselves during the prevalence of the -famine but myself; and their own frugality saved them from the horrors -which had desolated England. They looked upon the southern portion of -the island as a doomed country, for although several parties from the -north had gone there for the purpose of forming settlements, they either -returned after a short stay, stating that neither cattle nor crops would -nourish on the land, or were never more heard of, and were supposed to -have fallen victims to the pirates who occasionally visited the coast. I -passed my time in educating the two children of whom I had taken charge, -and both made great progress under my instructions. The boy became -a fine, active, intelligent man, the girl an admirable example of -womankind; and as I found that their hearts were for each other, in due -time I had them made man and wife. I have outlived them and all their -progeny, with the exception of Lilya, whom, after the decease of her -family, I took with me to England, having at the time an ardent desire -to revisit its desolated shores. - -"What I found England I need scarcely describe; you see it before you. -It was a complete ruin. A sad and miserable remnant of her people did -strive to till the land; but the soil refused to give sustenance to the -seed, and the cultivator could gather nothing but a harvest of weeds. -The earth was abandoned for the waters, and the farmers became -fishermen; but the sea and the river gave an inadequate supply. One by -one the inhabitants dropped off, till at last the only human creatures -within the country were myself and Lilya. We managed to subsist by -hunting and fishing. Our fare was not at all times very delicate, and -was seldom very plentiful; but we provided for ourselves tolerably -well. We were obliged to rely upon our own resources; for the savage -appearance of the island, and the belief that it was doomed to -destruction, prevented our being visited by any vessels from the -continent; and even the pirates from the neighbouring islands, having -found that the country contained nothing to tempt them to a visit, -turned their attention to more opulent regions. Lilya and I, therefore, -had the whole land to ourselves, and over it we held absolute -sovereignty. Even the savage monsters of the forest appeared to -acknowledge our supremacy, for none offered to molest us. We took our -way through deserted piles and fallen monuments; and if we disturbed -the lion in his lair, or the eagle in his eyrie, they made way for our -approach, and returned to their haunts when we were gone. - -"Thus passed the time. Lilya grew up as you see--a child of the forest, -skilful in snaring game, and in preserving skins; affectionate in her -manner, gentle in her temper, and shy as a dove in her nest. As for me, -I was a wanderer over the lands of my forefathers. The stream, the vale, -the mountain, and the plain, were accustomed to my visits. I became a -denizen of the forest and the plain--a resident in the deserted cities. -I found a dwelling in the palace and the hut; and all places were my -home. I experienced a melancholy pleasure in beholding the scenes in -which the greatness of my country had once been exhibited. I walked -among the crumbling ruins of her once gorgeous halls. The sunken -roofs of her stately cathedrals for me were full of religious awe and -veneration; the dilapidated battlements of her ancient castles seemed -still to show the dauntless valour of the spirits by whom they had been -defended; and the moss and lichens that disfigured her public monuments -gave only a fresher interest to the worth they represented. From these -I gathered the memories of a better time, and the glories of the past -warmed my old heart with the vigour of a second youth. I lived over -again the departed age--I recalled to life the buried generations--I -contemplated the happiness which the grave had long since hid in her -bosom--and the discoloured stones around me seemed to echo the busy -goings on of an industrious population. Free hearts were throbbing -proudly around me, and the stillness of the desert along which I stalked -was made alive with the pleasures of the young, the noble, and the -brave. - -"Gone is your glory, oh my country!" exclaimed the old man, in a more -feeble voice; "your greatness among the nations is put down; your -magnificence has dwindled to a heap of stones; your power has nothing by -which it may be known. If the stranger come in a few years, and inquire -for the city which was the wonder of the world, none shall tell him, for -both city and citizens will have crumbled into dust. If he ask for the -people whose name was a glory in every clime that exists, he shall find -no better reply than the echo of his own voice. He may wander over the -brave old island in search of places that history has made immortal, -without being able to discover a trace of their existence. The thistle -and the nettle will hide the graves of its illustrious; ravenous beasts -will prowl in its cities; and all that is noble and grand in its -localities will be crushed, swallowed, and lost in one devouring ruin; -and I, that am here as an ancient tree with gnarled trunk and brittle -boughs, that stands up as if unnoticed by the destroyer, when the rest -of the forest have mouldered into the soil, will then have perished and -passed away, and not even a remembrance of my name will be left upon the -land." - -"Noble old man!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry with fervour, "there is no -one here who does not sympathise with your situation. I would endeavour -to console you, but I am afraid that your case is one beyond all -consolation. What can I do to render you assistance? Let me prevail -on you to leave this land, which has been so completely devoted to -destruction, and I will find you a more attractive home, and friends as -kind as those you have lost." - -"Leave this land!" loudly cried the Englishman, apparently astonished -at the suggestion. "For a hundred and twenty years this island has been -the attraction of all my thoughts; my love for it arose from admiration -of its magnificence, and my heart still clings to it in its utter -annihilation. Do you think it would be possible for me, after having -made myself so familiar with its ruins, to find pleasure in the -prosperity of a far off country? No! to me the world hath nothing like -it. What are smiling landscapes? What are stately edifices? What are -fields busy with life, and cities astir with industry, if on a foreign -shore? Its homes are not my home--its graves are not the graves of my -people. But these tottering walls and depopulated lands are mine; I -hold them in undisputed possession; I have a claim on them which has -been long acknowledged; and they have a claim on me which I feel I must -speedily prepare to liquidate. No: leave me to the desolation in which -I dwell. It has become habitual--it has become necessary. I have long, -perhaps too long, been its inhabitant; but the hour comes when another -ruin must be added to those which now encumber the soil." - -"And then what is to become of the gentle Lilya?" inquired the young -merchant. - -"Ah! 'tis of that I am ever anxious," replied the old man, with a look -of affectionate solicitude towards his youthful relative. "The child is -full of amiable ways--she is artless and untutored: I cannot part with -her; and yet to leave her unprotected in this wilderness is a source of -constant disquietude to me." - -"If you entrust her to me," added Oriel, "by the honour of manhood I -promise to behave to her as a brother; and I will place her under the -protection of a lady from whom she will receive every attention her -youth and unfriended situation requires." - -"In her name I can promise all that she stands most in need of," said -Zabra. - -"What say you, my Lilya?" inquired the Englishman. "Will you go with -the strangers? Will you leave this wretched country, and seek one where -happiness awaits you?" - -"I will have no other country but yours, oh my protector!" exclaimed the -girl, as she flung herself into the old man's arms. "These strangers -are good; but they can never be so good as you have been: and these old -walls too--where shall I meet with such verdant moss, or such beautiful -ivy, as they possess? While you live, with you must my existence be -passed: and when you have ceased to lead me in my wanderings through the -silent forest or the deserted city, I care not where I go; for I shall -never again find the parent, the friend and guardian I shall have lost." - -The Englishman pressed her more closely to his breast. - - - - -CHAP. VI. - -THE DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. - - -"My life is drawing rapidly to its close," faltered the old man; "my -weary pilgrimage is nearly over. Farewell, ye solitary halls and -voiceless palaces! Farewell, ye grassy streets and ivied porticoes! The -eyes that have gazed upon ye in your splendour, and watched ye gradually -passing into ruin, will soon be darkened and closed. The heart that hath -drawn so many pleasures from your unfading braveries is fast sinking -into that state of nothingness to which you all hasten. City of the -silent! he who worshipped your prosperity, and loved your decay, must -now pass from amidst your ruined dwellings. Like your time-honoured -walls, I totter and tremble, and am ready to fall upon the earth that -supports me--the ivy seems twining up my unsteady limbs, and the moss -is spreading over my ancient heart. Farewell, ye untasted pastures, ye -uncultivated fields, ye gardens of weeds and orchards of brambles--the -wildness of your looks shall welcome me no more. Farewell, ye hoary -mountains and savage rocks, ye untrodden forests and unhonored -streams--the same iron hand that hath visited ye so heavily, as heavily -must fall on me. I pass from among ye, oh land of my fathers! Your earth -shall receive me to her breast!" - -The old man lay on a green bank overgrown with wild flowers, while Oriel -and Zabra supported his head. Lilya was reclining at his side, with -one of his hands at her lips, and her face hid on his breast, and she -spoke only in convulsive sobs. Tourniquet stood near him feeling his -pulse, and the professor was close beside endeavouring to administer -consolation. At a short distance stood the captain and midshipman, with -part of the crew of the Albatross, apparently taking a deep interest in -the scene. They were congregated together near a shelving hillock in the -neighbourhood of an extensive marsh. Before them was an ancient arch of -marble, and beyond that, the ruins of a structure evidently once of very -great extent and magnificence, with many statues, some standing where -they had been placed, and others lying mutilated among the heaps of -stones that were piled up around the place for a considerable distance. -The sun was declining in the heavens, and the day was bright and warm. -Ruins, in different stages of decay, were observed as far as the eye -could reach in every direction, except towards the west, where an open -space showed the distant hills, over which the sun was hastening his -descent. - -It was evident that the Englishman was dying. His venerable brow was -covered with a thick perspiration, and his fine countenance had become -more pallid and anxious than it had previously been. Yet his eyes beamed -as if they had lost none of their accustomed brilliancy, and his noble -form possessed the same dignity which had first attracted the attention -of the voyagers. He was still in possession of all his faculties, -and there was an energy in his manner, and an impressiveness in his -language, which proved that the spirit that had outlived so many -generations had lost none of its youthful vigour. - -"Your pulse is getting more feeble, don't you see?" said the doctor, -with much sympathy for his patient; "and I regret to be obliged to agree -with you in stating that your hours are numbered. You have lived far -beyond the usual term of life, and it must be a great consolation to -you, in your present state, to know that you have lived all that time in -honour, and worth, and virtue." - -"Be grateful to Providence that you have been so long spared," observed -Fortyfolios. "The age of man is threescore and ten, and this is but -rarely attained; and yet your existence has been prolonged to nearly -double that length of time. How much have you to be thankful for! -Consider the myriads of human beings who are cut off unprepared;--who -die in infancy, in early youth, or perfect manhood--who just begin to -taste the sweets of life, and then are hurried from its enjoyment. -Consider the advantages you have enjoyed over your fellow-countrymen, -who were destroyed by war, by pestilence, and famine. You have much -reason to congratulate yourself. You have been spared, doubtless, for -some admirable purpose which our finite reason cannot comprehend. -Reflect upon these things, and you will be enabled to meet the approach -of death without apprehension." - -"What are your wishes concerning the disposal of Lilya?" inquired Oriel -Porphyry. "Remember that it is impossible that she can be left alone -upon this island with the slightest comfort to herself or pleasure -to others. The offer I made to you the other day I repeat. It is not -probable that her welfare can be secured more effectively in any other -way. Let me implore you then, as you value her future happiness, to take -advantage of my accidental arrival, and give me authority to bear her to -a secure and honourable asylum." - -"It must be so, oh my Lilya," exclaimed the old man affectionately. -"When I have left you, this desolate place can be no proper home for -you. You must accompany these kind strangers to their own country. There -you will find that protection and care which is necessary to make you -pass through life with the esteem of your associates. Remember, oh my -Lilya, that if you wish the spirit of the old man who has been your -constant companion in all your journeyings to rest satisfied with his -afterlife, your conduct must be irreproachable, and you must endeavour -to keep your mind free from the approach of all degrading errors. The -world is open before you; but although you will find it fruitful in -every delicious produce--though it possess the most lovely landscapes, -and is peopled by multitudes of the good and generous, there is less -ruin in the desolation you see around you than exists in those fair and -fertile shores. I part with you with much regret--deeply does my heart -feel the separation--but it must be. The evil has no remedy. It ought -to be endured without a murmur. Go then, my Lilya, to the land of the -stranger, and my blessing shall be upon your footsteps, like an eternal -sunshine, wherever they may wander. But in whatever part of the world -you may make your sojourn, forget not that the land from whence you came -exceeded in glory and in excellence all other lands that have existed -since the creation of the world. Do it no dishonour. Show that you are -worthy to acknowledge the place of your nativity; and if you should hear -the idle, the ungenerous, and the thoughtless attempt to lower her fame, -or seek to question her superiority, stand up in her defence with all -the eloquence that truth inspires and patriotism makes perfect; and -speak of the good she has done, and the wonders she has achieved, and -then the most illiberal and unjust of your audience shall find their -erroneous impressions fade before your convincing eulogy, and with -a new and better spirit they shall say, 'Would that I had been an -Englishman!'" - -Lilya answered only with her sobs, which now became quicker and more -vehement. - -"It must be gratifying to you to know that your country has never been -enslaved," remarked the young merchant, earnestly. "While other lands -have been degraded by the vilest spirit of despotism, the energies of -the public men of England kept her unshackled." - -"I stand on the grave of a mighty empire," replied the Englishman, "who -has erected monuments of her greatness in every quarter of the globe. I -am hurrying to the same sepulchre. In such a situation, more than in any -other, it is natural that I should speak the words of truth and honesty. -It is my conviction, then, that this country could never have fallen -from its greatness, except through its own internal dissensions. When -it enjoyed an unexampled state of prosperity, there existed men calling -themselves patriots, yet possessing no claim to such a title, who kept -the multitude in a restless and unsatisfied state, by their continual -abuse of its institutions, and frequent demands for change. If these -individuals could have been believed on their own testimony, they were -the most disinterested set of men that ever existed. They had no motive -except for the common good. They had no feeling separate from the -interests of the community. In my time there flourished few more ardent -lovers of liberty than myself; my inclination for freedom was a passion, -an enthusiasm, a dream. I seemed to see nothing but chains where a -fetter never existed, and found nothing but slavery in a state of -society that enjoyed a higher degree of independence than any in the -world. My connection with the popular party brought me much into contact -with the influencial patriots; and I found them the most selfish, -narrow-minded, bigotted men that ever disgraced a country: they had no -other desire but for their own aggrandisement. They fawned upon the -people till they became possessed of the power they coveted, and then -endeavoured to exert a more absolute authority than had ever been -exhibited by the government they superseded. Self was the great object -of all their exertions, and to selfish ends their fine speeches and -liberal promises always tended. They had no care for the multitude -except as steps for their own advancement. Freedom still appears to me -in the same alluring guise in which she first won me to follow in her -footsteps, and amid the solitude of this uncultivated wild I have -enjoyed more of her smiles than the most perfect form of government -could create; but my experience has convinced me that a vast population -must be well prepared for a change in their constitution, that promises -a considerable accession of liberty, as it is called, before it can be -enjoyed with safety to the commonwealth. Sudden changes never come to -any good. The whole frame-work of society is unhinged by them; opinions -are unsettled, the public confidence is withdrawn, the reverence for -the old is broken, and the new being untried, cannot be regarded with -the same respect as a state of things which has existed for centuries. -I have noticed this; and it proves that revolutions in systems of -government that have any lasting value should be introduced by the -gradual growth of public opinion, and that any system of government that -produces a certain quantity of benefit to the people, however faulty -it may be in other respects, is preferable to any other system of -government which has been untried, and the utility of which, therefore, -has not been ascertained. I am convinced that the dissolution of this -great empire originated in the dissatisfaction in the public mind for -the existing laws, which had been artfully created by numbers of mock -patriots, such as may be found in all states enjoying liberty of -opinion, for the purpose of realising schemes they had entertained for -their own advantage." - -"But true patriotism may exist in a state, though the false may be -predominant, don't you see," remarked Tourniquet; "and it is too -sterling a thing to be set aside, because any constitution which governs -the many possesses some acknowledged merit. The real patriotism may -always be known from the false by its self-abandonment, and the true -patriot seeks no other advantage than the public good." - -"In the history of nations of any celebrity," said Fortyfolios, "there -can be nothing more interesting to the student than to observe their -gradual rise, decline, and fall. They first arise out of an obscurity -so profound, that among earlier empires they were known, if known -at all, only as a few straggling savages. These multiply and become -enlightened, build cities and ships, cultivate the land and invent -manufactures, make war and obtain great triumphs; and as they advance in -civilisation their resources increase, their intelligence becomes more -general, and at last they acquire a superiority over the most important -nations at such a time existing in the world. This power they retain as -long as they are united, wise, and brave; but immediately a disunion -appears, a complete disorganisation takes place, every thing goes wrong, -and the whole fabric, so elaborately built up, tumbles to pieces. They -once more become reduced to wandering savages, and their country is -again a wilderness. All the earliest nations of antiquity have been -thus created, and thus have perished: and as Carthage, Egypt, Troy, and -numberless other states of equal importance in the youth of the world, -were dissolved till nothing remained of them but the name, so has -England, infinitely their superior, both in public intelligence and in -public glory, arrived at a dissolution as desolating and complete. The -subject of inquiry for the philosopher now is, whether kingdoms or -commonwealths, having returned to the state of barbarism from which they -advanced, will not at a proper period again progress in civilisation -till they once more arrive at the pre-eminence from which they had -fallen." - -"The spirit of the future is upon me!" exclaimed the last of the -Englishmen, in an elevated tone of voice, and with his countenance lit -up with deep and powerful excitement. "The glory of the past rises from -its sepulchre with renewed life, and a power exceeding all experience. -Again the ruin rings with life, and the wilderness is a smiling garden, -fruitful in human happiness. The voices of industry now cheer every -corner of the solitary city, and the laugh of pleasure awakens the -gloomy recesses of the forest with an inspiring feeling of gladness. -Now are the broad waters of the abandoned river covered with shipping -of every maritime nation under the sun; and in every sea that flows -beneath the arching vault of the everlasting heavens, the dauntless -mariners of England dash along, triumphing over the tempest and the foe. -The magnificence, the bravery, the intelligence, the virtue, and the -might of former times now rise before my gaze, multiplied tenfold in -degree. I see the banners of a thousand victories; the shouts of freedom -and the glad pæans of triumph swell upon my ear; the pomp of stirring -music--the beauty of art in its noblest creations--the perfection of -unrivalled manufactures--the imposing array of palaces of streets and -streets of palaces, stupendous bridges, noble monuments, and stately -halls;--the throngs of the noble, the great, the good, the wise and the -industrious, with sumptuous equipages, numerous retinues, gay liveries, -or joyous faces, and happy hearts, become evident to my senses. I -see the felicitous influence of a wise government exercised upon a -flourishing and contented population countless as the stars. I see -societies, and families, and individuals, all sharing in the general -joy. I see wealth, abundance, skill, and industry, flowing in a -refreshing channel that fertilises the whole island. I behold thee, oh, -my country! the proudest of the nations, whose laws govern the seas, and -whose name is absolute on the dry land, rising from the darkness and the -desolation which now shrouds thy greatness, and with a prouder dignity, -and a fresher splendour, and a power more universal than to one nation -ever belonged resume thy ancient throne upon the waters, and commence a -reign which shall far exceed in glory all the glories by which it has -ever been preceded." - -The old man fell back exhausted into the arms of Oriel and Zabra, and it -was at first feared that his spirit had departed; but in a few moments -respiration gently recommenced, the look of life beamed in his gaze, and -he returned to a state of consciousness. - -"This will not last long, don't you see;" said the doctor to his -companions. "Though the intellectual powers have suffered but little, -the physical are nearly destroyed. He is but lingering on his journey. -His resting-place is close at hand." - -"Let me see the sun;" exclaimed the Englishman, with the same -enthusiastic fervour he had previously exhibited, as he endeavoured -to turn himself in the required direction. His hearers lifted him up -gently, so that he could have a full view of that majestic luminary -as it was setting behind the western hills. "Let me again behold that -glorious orb whose uprisings and whose goings down I have witnessed -so long and proudly. Ha! There still spread the ruddy tints--the glow -of fire and gold is upon the skies once more;--there are the gorgeous -colours and radiant splendours that have so often shed their -magnificence upon our ancient island. Once again, O wondrous Oread, I -drink in delighted the sweet effulgence of your rays. They warm me, they -cheer me, they invigorate the flagging current still flowing through -my veins. How many times have I looked upon your rising and your -setting!--and on every fresh occasion have exclaimed how lovely! how -new! how wonderful! And now for the last time, I watch ye taking the -accustomed path, clothed in that panoply of state that knows of no -decay. Stay, stay a little in your course: your rising on the morrow -will not be for my enjoyment; for, with your setting, on me sets -the world. Stay, bright harbinger of gladness, your task is not yet -done;--there is a soul fondly hovering on your beams, that, as you fade, -must pass away. Slowly your glories dissolve into the cloud, and with -them the impulses of my existence disappear. The fires around you, -are becoming faint, and the flame that burns in this receptacle is -trembling, and flickering, and dying into darkness. Still I follow you -over the distant hills, now purpled with your beauty. Heaven and earth -are fading from my sight, and England, the land of my birth and grave, -of my long pilgrimage and devoted love, passeth from my view like a -cloud in the nighttime. Lilya! my blessing be upon you from now to -eternity. Friends, I submit her to your care with a thankfulness that -language cannot speak. I die with many consolations. I have no enemies -to forgive;--I have had none to sin against. I die in the religion of -my fathers, with glory to God and good will towards men. See, the last -streak of crimson over the hill, just above the fading disc of the -setting sun. Watch it--my spirit is hastening to share in its -splendours. See,--it lessens--it fades--'t is gone!" - -The old man had extended his arm towards that part of the horizon to -which he wished to attract attention; and as the last words of the -preceding sentence were uttered, the disc of the sun disappeared over -the hills, the arm fell, the head dropped, and without a sigh, the -spirit of the last of the Englishmen had departed to its eternal rest. -Lilya, in an uncontrollable agony of grief, flung herself upon the -corpse; and there was scarcely a person present who was not deeply -affected. - -"Is he quite dead?" whispered the young merchant, observing that -Tourniquet had his fingers upon his wrist. - -"It's impossible to be more so, don't you see;" replied the surgeon, as -he dropped the lifeless arm by the side of the body. - -"We had better give him christian burial before we leave the island;" -remarked Fortyfolios. "The wild beasts, it seems, are numerous about -here, and it would not be a friendly act to leave his body to be -devoured by them. I do not know whether there is any consecrated ground -near, but I should think in a city so celebrated for the number of its -churches, a burial-place cannot be far off." - -"I will not have his remains mingle with the herd that choke up a -church-yard;" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry. "He shall have a more honourable -sepulchre. About a mile hence I noticed the colossal statue of some -distinguished hero. It is in a large park-like place, slightly elevated, -and at a considerable distance from any ruins. We will bury him at -its base: it is a grave such as his free spirit would have loved to -contemplate." - -The young merchant instantly gave orders about the funeral, and while -the preparations were being made, he, assisted by Zabra, drew Lilya -from the body, which she could not be induced to leave without force. -The seamen had brought with them some pickaxes and shovels for the -purpose of digging for antiquities, and these were now to be called into -use for a more melancholy occasion. Every one being in readiness, twelve -sailors with muskets reversed, walked slowly two abreast: then came the -body, still in its dress of wild skins, wrapped up in the Columbian -flag, and carried by eight men upon four muskets crossed. After them -walked Lilya, supported by Oriel Porphyry and Zabra. They were followed -by Fortyfolios and Tourniquet, and the captain and the midshipman, and -the procession was closed by twelve seamen marching slowly, two abreast, -with arms reversed. - -They passed along what appeared to be the remains of a road, for about -half a mile, when they came to a magnificent ancient triumphal arch, -a splendid example of architectural beauty, standing in excellent -preservation, with a colossal equestrian statue of a warrior trampling -under his horse's feet a group of warlike figures in different -costumes. An illegible inscription, supposed to be a list of victories -gained over the enemies of his country by the original of the statue, -was placed under the prostrate group, and beneath them in large -capitals that might be read at a great distance, was observed the word -"WELLINGTON." This admirable work of antiquity was divided into a -large central arch and two smaller ones, one on each side. They were -richly sculptured in bas relief, and adorned with every appropriate -architectural ornament. - -Passing beneath this grand triumphal monument, the funeral train -observed another of a less imposing character just before them, which -was much dilapidated. To reach it, they had to walk through a field of -weeds and high grass, which at different places, showed signs of having -once been a fine broad public thoroughfare; and venturing under the -tottering walls of this arch, they entered an expansive field of docks -and nettles, wild flowers, and gigantic thistles. Ruins of considerable -buildings were observed on the right. Clumps of trees were scattered in -every direction, and about the centre, on a high mound, stood a colossal -bronze statue of an ancient warrior, supposed to be some illustrious -English general. It was a splendid specimen of sculpture, and appeared -to be of great antiquity. - -Here it was intended should be consigned the remains of the heroic old -man, and the seamen having dug a deep grave at the foot of the statue, -he was deposited on the bank, where he lay wrapped up in the flag for a -few minutes to give to every one an opportunity of seeing him for the -last time. Lilya knelt down by the side of the dead body, kissed the -cold hand, and covered it with her tears. Many attempts were made to -tranquillise her grief, but without success. Every head was uncovered as -the professor read the funeral service, and even the hardy seaman seemed -much affected by the impressive character of the scene. - -"The brevity of existence has been much insisted on," observed -Fortyfolios at the conclusion of the service; "and here is an example -of the prolongation of life far beyond the usual term, and prolonged -under circumstances remarkably rare and interesting. This human -antiquity bore all the marks of greatness which were first impressed -upon its nature, through the violent changes that shook to ruin the -society to which it belonged. He was brave, patriotic, noble, and -patient. He could draw hope from the materials of despair, and find -comfort in the midst of desolation. Let us not murmur, then, at the -small evils among which we exist, when we find such admirable endurance -of evils of the greatest magnitude. The love of country is a natural and -amiable virtue, but never has it sat so gracefully, and existed with -such disinterestedness, as in the character of this ancient Englishman. -He loved, not because such love was a common feeling which every object -around him might excite; but he loved as if he had calculated what -would be the amount of patriotism possessed by his countrymen had they -existed; and considering himself as the representative of the dead, -endeavoured to exhibit the total of their contributions; and this -exhibition seemed the more abundant, as the objects which should have -the most readily created it became the least capable of exciting it -into action. He was a great man, and may be looked upon as the last -production of a great country." - -"As for the men who are vulgarly called great, don't you see," observed -the doctor, "your kings, your conquerors, and such poor cattle, they -shrink into their proper insignificance when compared to the last of the -Englishmen. How could they have endured the barren waste and wilderness -of ruins for any length of time! They could have found nothing to -appreciate in its solitude, they would have left its desolation in -disgust. Patriotism here was the most amiable of virtues. It was pure -and honest and excellent. It was full of truth and courage, and a power -that was invincible. Let us honour this old man: the grave will hold him -fast. We shall see nothing of the kind again. Let us then make the most -of his memory, for the estimation of such excellence will be always a -proof of the existence of a love of that which is best. The self-denials -of ascetics, and the mortifications of religious misanthropists, who, -shutting themselves up from the sweet influence of social intercourse, -hate their fellows and torture themselves; what are these compared with -that nobler, purer, better feeling which bound this old man to the grave -of his country, and made him find enjoyment and consolation in the -recollection of her immortal excellences? Let us honour him, for he is -an example of how much honour humanity may attain." - -"I cannot unwillingly join in praise so well deserved," said Oriel -Porphyry; "the extraordinary energy of his heroic nature that made him -endure with so cheerful a spirit the evils under which generation after -generation sunk into utter hopelessness, is worthy of all the admiration -we can confer upon it. We will bury him in the earth he loved so well; -and although we raise no monument to glorify his actions, and although -to strangers he be indebted for the rites of sepulture, his sleep will -not be the less profound, nor his obsequies the less honourable. -Perhaps in some future age, when, as he hath prophesied, this ancient -nation shall arrive at a degree of prosperity and greatness far beyond -any thing it has hitherto attained, the people of the future imagining -that this monument has been erected over the mortal remains of some -heroic spirit of the early ages, shall throng in crowds to confer on it -the homage of their reverence; and the fame, though in error, will do -him justice, and posterity, though ignorant, will rightly apply their -admiration." - -"Grieve not, sweet Lilya!" exclaimed Zabra, as he was endeavouring to -console the afflicted mourner; "he for whom you mourn mourns not; why, -therefore, should you be afflicted? His spirit is at peace with the -world; he treads no more among the ruins and weeds of this deserted -land; his home is where nature enjoys an unfading youth; where beauty -breathes from an unclouded atmosphere, and love dwells around him like -a perpetual blessing. Grieve not for the loss of the goodness which was -enshrined in his nature, it has gone to join the First Great Cause of -all good from which its goodness was derived. You see the wild flowers -that are scattered at our feet; they gather from the air and the soil -their fragrance and their loveliness, and these qualities they give back -to the air and the soil, when the freshness of their leaves is dried up, -and the soft hues in which we so much delight fade from their blossoms. -Whatever exists, exists in a state of continual giving and receiving. It -gains only to lose when what it has acquired can no longer be rendered -profitable to its owner. As the rivers run into the sea, glides all -humanity into the boundless ocean of the eternal; yet, fast as they -empty themselves as rapidly they flow from their sources, just as the -waters of life rush into the gulf of death, and though swallowed up with -inconceivable velocity, rise from their innumerable springs in greater -abundance. Grieve not, then, for grief is of no utility to either -the living or the dead. Consider yourself: in you are deposited the -materials of much happiness for yourself and others; endeavour to apply -them to the most advantage. Some fond youth may soon be looking on your -eyes, as gazes the devotee on the innermost sanctuary of his temple. In -you he will concentrate all his ideas of what is most admirable; to you -he will turn his thoughts; for you he will breathe his aspirations; -his dreams he will gladden with your smiles; his hopes he will make -brilliant in the lustre of your gaze. Are such things unworthy of your -contemplation? Leave off these regrets; quit this senseless clay which -answers not to your sympathy. Strive to become all, when living, he -would have wished you to be. Virtue and truth and wisdom invite you to -partake of their enjoyments, and if you attend to the better business of -life, under their instructive auspices, you may be assured of becoming -possessed of such happiness as it is felicitous even to imagine." - -Lilya raised her eyes streaming with tears to the handsome countenance -of the speaker, and her face was lit up with an expression that for -the time obliterated all traces of sorrow. At this moment the body was -carefully deposited in the grave, over which the seamen fired a volley -of musketry, after which he was covered with the soil, and the party -returned to their tents. Here, immediately on Zabra's arrival, he -proceeded to his harp, and after a few chords full of melancholy and -tender feeling, sang the following lines:-- - - "The last of his race now lies low, - Lies low in the soil that gave bliss to his eyes, - Though his country no joy could bestow, - For in deserts he lived and 'mid ruin he dies; - For him no dull trappings of woe, - No dark hirelings of grief round his sepulchre rise, - And he leaves not a friend or a foe, - His merits to praise or his faults to despise. - - "The last of his race to his rest, - To his rest in the grave hath gone silently down; - With his sword girded on o'er his vest, - And arrayed as in life from the foot to the crown. - But say not his tomb is unblest, - Or the name he hath left be unknown to renown, - For the wild flow'r shall bloom o'er his breast, - And his fame shall be echoed through village and town. - - "Though strangers his corse in the grave, - In the grave they have chosen with honour shall place, - Though the earth take the life which it gave, - And the tooth of the worm shall the mortal efface, - There shall dwell neither tyrant or slave, - There shall live not a people so lost in disgrace, - Who shall know not the land of the brave, - And respect not the bones of the Last of his Race." - -At the close of the song, Zabra felt a hand placed lightly on his -shoulder, and, turning round, beheld Lilya gazing on him with a look so -full of pleasure, that he felt almost inclined to doubt it was the same -creature who a short time since was so overpowered with affliction. "I -will go with you," said the timid girl, as a slight blush appeared on -either cheek; "I will go with you to your own country--if--that is--I -should like to go with you if you will take me." - -The same evening they were all on board the Albatross, which immediately -set sail, and retraced her way through the river into the wide ocean. - - - - -CHAP. VII. - -LILYA. - - -"I am getting very anxious about my father!" said Oriel Porphyry to his -young friend; "I am sure something must have happened, or I should have -found a communication from him at one or other of the different ports I -have touched at. Not a syllable of information have I been able to gain -from any of my father's ships I have spoken with, for most of them had -left Columbia about the same time as my last advices, and the others -were not aware of any thing important having transpired." - -"We are going homewards now, Oriel, and if any thing has happened shall -soon be made aware of it;" observed Zabra. "Let us hope for the best. I -should not imagine, from the immense influence that he possesses, that -the government would attempt to injure him." - -"They only want the power, I believe;" replied the young merchant. -"I know these sort of people too well to put much confidence in an -appearance of tranquillity that has been forced upon them. They must -hate my father. As the prime mover in the revolution which exhibited -their insignificance so palpably, they will look upon the merchant as a -person particularly odious, and no doubt would gladly get rid of him at -any cost or risk." - -"I should think for their own interests they would let him alone;" -remarked his companion. "Experience ought to have taught them the danger -of meddling with so popular a character, and having suffered so severely -it is not like that they will renew the hazardous experiment." - -"It is because they have suffered that they will be desirous of -revenging themselves upon one whom they consider as the cause of the -infliction;" said Oriel. "It would have appeared bad enough to them if -my father had been one of the most powerful of the aristocracy; but it -wounds them to the quick when they reflect that he is a plebeian--in -their ideas immeasurably beneath them--an individual of no ancient -family, without rank or dignity. With the feelings which a knowledge of -this fact must create it is impossible that they can rest satisfied with -their limited privileges and curtailed power. They will be continually -intriguing for his destruction." - -"They dare not do it, Oriel," replied Zabra; "I feel assured they dare -not." - -"I wish I could think so," said his patron; "but I have a little more -knowledge of the world than you, Zabra, and I know something more of -the disposition of such men. As long as he lives they will consider -themselves insecure. They can know no peace save in his death; and I am -convinced that they will use every exertion to accomplish it. I hope I -may be enabled to return in time to frustrate their intentions. I should -like nothing better than to expose their machinations, and to punish -them in an appropriate manner; and if the people exist in the same state -of feeling as when my father last wrote, I will show them something -they little expect to see. My father's friends are almost innumerable in -Columbus, and are always ready with hand and heart to serve him whenever -he will give the word, which he is always exceedingly loth to give; -and I think I may say that my friends in the metropolis are neither -despicable in number nor in influence, and are as eager to befriend me -in time of need; and I shall be quite as eager to accept their services. -I remember the times when I have been exercising my regiment, the -devotion that was displayed by both officers and men; but this I am well -aware was owing to their admiration of my father's virtues. Of them I am -secure. My fondness for military exercises made me labour to perfect in -discipline the troops I commanded, and they are now as effective a body -of men as ever entered a field of battle. They will perform good service -wherever they go. The national guard is another powerful engine to be -employed on such an occasion. In the metropolis alone they amount in -number to about twenty thousand; and they are devotedly attached to my -father. If there exist but a sufficient cause I know that I have only -to present myself amongst them, to induce them to follow me wherever I -choose to lead." - -"I trust you will have no occasion for their services," said his -companion; "it is my belief that on our return we shall find every thing -in the most comfortable state, and all parties satisfied with each -other. Your military dreams will then be completely disappointed, and -you will be under the painful necessity of making up your mind to share -the well-earned honours of your father, and partake of a perfect state -of happiness with Eureka." - -"Ah, Eureka!" exclaimed the young merchant with passionate emphasis; -"how rejoiced I shall be to return to her! I often find myself inquiring -into the possibility of a change in her disposition towards me." - -"That can never be, Oriel;" observed the other. - -"I have the fullest confidence in her fidelity, but sometimes I find -an apprehension intrude without knowing what produced it;" said his -companion. "There are no such self-tormentors as your true lovers; and -although I should be among the first to laugh at the suffering they give -themselves, I must acknowledge that on more than one occasion I have -endured a state of feeling which was any thing but satisfactory." - -"By what was it occasioned?" inquired Zabra. - -"Merely from my ignorance of the motives which have induced her to deny -me any communication with her till my return;" answered Oriel. - -"You would not condemn her if you knew what made such a denial -necessary;" remarked his young friend. - -"Very probably not: but the mischief of it is, I do _not_ know;" -said Master Porphyry. "Any thing in the shape of a mystery annoys me -amazingly, and this behaviour of hers appears to me most mysterious and -unaccountable. I think between lovers the most perfect sincerity should -exist. There should be no room left for doubt or suspicion. But in -the generality of attachments you will find much more deception than -sincerity. In the affections of youth there is an earnestness which is -the most natural and convincing that can be conceived; but as the heart -grows older, it gradually loses all this admirable freshness and purity, -and in a few short years it has recourse to artifices and disguises -without number. I detest deceit. I cannot imagine Eureka deceitful. I -hope never to find her so. To the truly devoted--to one who finds no -enjoyment like that which proceeds from honoring his adored as the -truest, the purest, and the best, there can be nothing so revolting -as the discovery that she whom he worships as one so pre-eminent in -goodness is the habitual practiser of contemptible deceits, hides -all her actions under a cloak of elaborate artifices, and lives in a -spider-like existence, spinning a dirty web to hide herself and betray -her victims." - -"Eureka is of a very different character;" observed Zabra, who during -the preceding observations had appeared exceedingly confused. "She has -not deceived you in any thing which it was requisite for you to know. -She detests artifice as much as you do. But there are always some things -which the most sincere may find it necessary to conceal. The truth -cannot be spoken at _all_ times." - -"You might just as well say that good money ought not to be passed at -all times;" said Oriel Porphyry. "That which is good ought to be good -upon all occasions, and truth is the very best of things in social -intercourse. It is the sterling coin of the affections; and she who uses -base counterfeits deserves the ignominy with which such vile cheating -should be punished. I have the very highest opinion of the female -character, and I desire always to think highly of womankind; but taking -the sex generally, I do sincerely think that they are amazingly fond -of disguising the truth as much as possible. It is a crooked policy--a -policy that in time poisons every better feeling a woman can possess. -Deception and a love of general admiration are her prevailing vices. -I am well aware that they are thought very innocent little foibles by -those who practise them, but on that account they are not the less -destructive to feminine excellence. Love is a passion of one for one -only. It ought to be excited by one object, and conferred on one object -alone. And thus exhibited, it is the purest, the most graceful, and the -most natural of human emotions. If either party introduce another as a -sharer in the affections, the whole feeling becomes tainted. What can be -more unjust to the lover who concentrates all his hopes on the exclusive -possession of the affections of the object of his fond idolatry, which -hopes have been called into existence by fond avowals and delicious -caresses, than for the woman whom he thus regards, to be just as -affectionate in her manner to a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, and -a sixth? Some women seem to pride themselves on the number of their -admirers. What a miserable vanity it is! It is exactly the same feeling -with which an Eastern monarch used to regard the number of females in -his seraglio. Imagine the state of mind produced in a man of refined -intellect and delicacy of feeling at discovering that the lips he -thought sacred to his caresses were defiled by the caresses of another! -Or if she allow others merely to continue to profess to her their -ardent admiration, she evinces a neglect of the unalterable law of the -affections, which ought to be punished by contempt, scorn, and disgust." - -"But no woman ought to be accountable for the admiration she may -excite;" observed Zabra. "The most virtuous woman may without the -slightest intention create an unhallowed passion in one of the opposite -sex." - -"Women are remarkably quick sighted in every thing connected with the -affections;" replied the young merchant. "They can discover the earliest -signs of admiration, and every truly virtuous woman, if her sympathies -are pre-engaged, will endeavour to crush this feeling in the bud, and -show, by her displeasure and avoidance of the object, that he has -created no reciprocal emotion. If after such passion is declared she -continue to tolerate the attentions of her admirer, although she be -virtuous in other respects she has no conception of the nature of -perfect virtue. She is fostering an illicit feeling; she is encouraging -a passion she has no intention of indulging--a crime the most -destructive in its effects upon the happiness of the individual whose -passion she encourages; and as it is vicious in its tendency, because -it aims at indulgence at the expense of virtue, and as she assisted in -its developement instead of destroying it in its early growth, she is -answerable for all the consequences that may arise from its existence, -and has deserved the censure of being considered vicious in her -disposition. Toleration creates hope, and hope will love through all -difficulty; but no man, unless he be a fool or a knave, will love in -utter hopelessness." - -"Surely these observations can have no relation to Eureka!" exclaimed -Zabra earnestly. - -"Not the slightest;" replied his patron. "She is all I would wish her -to be; and the only cause of uneasiness she has given me during our -attachment is this mystery about the place of her concealment, and her -avoidance of any communication with me for so long a time." - -"Your uneasiness will soon be removed, then, and the mystery will be -explained in a manner that will perfectly satisfy you;" said the youth. - -"I hope so;" exclaimed his patron. "But I certainly do not like being -mystified by those in whom I take an interest. Mysteries, however, seem -most abundant around me just now. There is something very strange and -unaccountable in you, Zabra." - -"Me! in me, Oriel?" replied his companion, in evident confusion. "What -can there be strange or unaccountable in me?" - -"I have noticed many things in your behaviour exceedingly -extraordinary;" said the young merchant. "Your superiority to the -situation in which you were introduced to me has often made me imagine -that you are not what you assume to be." - -"Not what I assume to be!" exclaimed Zabra in increased embarrassment. -"Is it possible I can be any thing else?" - -"That is best known to yourself, and to her who sent you," replied -Oriel Porphyry; "but there certainly is a mystery about your character." - -"A mystery! how strange you should imagine such a thing;" responded his -youthful companion, attempting to conceal his confusion. - -"Then there's my father, he has _his_ mystery," continued his patron; -"it is some secret connected with that wretched aristocrat Philadelphia, -but what it is about he is not inclined to communicate." - -"I have noticed it," said Zabra, recovering from his confusion; "and I -imagined it to be a knowledge of some circumstances connected with my -father's early life, the publication of which would do him very serious -injury." - -"I cannot say what it is, but these things are very perplexing," -observed the young merchant; "however, I hope to make my way through -them on my arrival at Columbia. How glad I shall be to see its glorious -shores again! Nothing is so likely to excite patriotism as exile; and -Columbia is a country worthy of one's patriotism; the first nation of -the world; its citizens have reason to be proud. I have beheld during -my voyage many lands and many people, but I have seen neither land or -people to be compared to Columbia and its inhabitants. I rejoice that I -am returning to them, and though I am glad that this voyage is nearly -at an end, I hope that my father will be gratified with my proceedings -during my absence; and then if Eureka's sentiments in my favour have -not undergone any change I shall have nothing to fear." - -"Of Eureka's constancy you will soon be convinced;" said Zabra, in a -more subdued tone than he had previously used. - -"I shall be delighted to find it so. But do you think that she would -have no objection to protect the gentle Lilya?" asked Oriel. - -"None whatever;" replied his companion. "I am sure she will be much -gratified by your suggestion of such an arrangement. Lilya is timid and -perfectly ignorant of the world, yet she is docile and affectionate, and -with proper management I have no doubt she would become an amiable and -accomplished woman, qualified to adorn any rank in society." - -"The creature is so shy that I can scarcely ever get a glimpse of her," -observed his patron. - -"She is almost always with me," said the other; "every thing appears to -be new to her on board the ship, and her pleasure at the novelties she -beholds is so genuine that it is delightful to see her. She requires a -companion, or she would feel quite alone amongst us; and I being about -her own age, she naturally feels more at ease with me than with any -other. Her diffidence is excessive; I cannot get her to associate with -any one except myself; but I have no doubt that in time she will gain -confidence, and join us in the cabin or on the quarter-deck with perfect -self-possession. She seems remarkably fond of music, and appears to -enjoy nothing so much as hearing me sing to her." - -"Take care, Zabra;" said the young merchant, with a smile. "An ancient -poet has said that music is the food of love. The harmony of sweet -sounds, breathed around two such hearts as yours and Lilya's, will be -sure to put them in unison. If you go on in this way, existing in a -state of such intimate communion, it will be utterly impossible for -either of you to resist the soft influence of the tender passion, and -you have both of you arrived at a time of life when the disposition is -peculiarly susceptible to its impressions." - -"There is no fear of such feelings being created, I assure you;" replied -Zabra. - -"It seems to me very probable," observed Oriel; "your being so much -together is sufficient to produce such an effect. Besides, she is so -very pretty. What a depth of tenderness there exists in the soft blue -of her beautiful eyes! and her smile is positively exquisite. The rich -bloom of her complexion reminds me of some delicious fruit, it is so -warm, and soft, and tempting; and then the expression,--so innocent, -so artless, and so bashful, it is absolutely enchanting. I must not -forget her graceful figure, it is worthy of the highest eulogium for -being so delicately rounded. I am glad she has not thrown aside her -dress of skins and feathers, for, in my opinion, its simplicity and -picturesqueness would put fashion out of countenance. I never behold -her, whenever she does venture into my presence, but I imagine her to be -the Psyche of the heathen mythology, or some other amiable character in -that system of dreams:--the object of devotion to the immortal youth, or -the rosy cup-bearer to the gods. I assure you, I admire her very much." - -"Indeed!" exclaimed Zabra, who had listened to these praises of Lilya in -evident uneasiness. - -"Yes, she has interested me very deeply;" replied Oriel. "I am -charmed at the gentle being who has been so unexpectedly thrown on my -protection. I feel delighted at being able to gratify her unambitious -wishes; and when she comes shrinking into my presence, like a delicate -flower before the breeze, nothing pleases me so much as endeavouring to -assure her of her safety. And then the simple creature is so grateful, -and thanks me with such looks, that there is no resisting them." - -Zabra's eyes gleamed restlessly, his lips became pale, and his cheeks -bloodless. - -"I wish I could see her more frequently, and she would be somewhat -less reserved;" continued his patron. "It is so difficult to get her -to converse; yet her voice is so subdued and melodious that it is a -pleasure to hear her. It is seldom any thing beyond a murmur. She never -attempts to raise her voice into a more audible sound. She seems as -if she was afraid of hearing herself speak. After having been used to -the affectations and hypocrisies of female society, the artlessness -of Lilya's conduct and the purity of her nature becomes exceedingly -refreshing: I certainly do admire her very much." - -Zabra, as if unable to conceal the emotions that were evidently -producing a most powerful effect upon him, with a look of indescribable -anguish hastily left the cabin. - -"How strange!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, astonished at the sudden -departure of his young friend. "He must love her. I am certain from his -appearance while I was speaking in her praise, that he loves her, and -is jealous of the admiration I have expressed. How very strange!" - -Zabra hastened to the quarter deck, where he sat himself down in a -retired corner, apparently in the most intense agony of mind. His dark -features were impressed with the workings of a violent passion; his -lustrous eyes shone with a brilliancy that was vivid and piercing to an -extraordinary degree; and his breast heaved with that full and rapid -pulsation of the heart which is the usual effect of great excitement. -Covering his face with his hands, he continued in that position for -several minutes. "That it should come to this!" he muttered in a voice -tremulous with emotion. "That it should come to this! What a reward -for all I have done and suffered! Oh agony insupportable!--Oh misery -scarcely to be endured! Where will the devoted heart meet with fidelity? -Where will the loving one, who feels and thinks and acts with no other -desire than for the happiness of the loved, meet with a like regard? -The dream is over--the delusion is passed--the hope which has led me on -seems utterly extinguished. But perhaps it may not be--I may be deceived -in my suspicions. It would look like injustice to condemn him without -a more perfect knowledge. I will observe them. But he said how much he -admired her; he said it to me!--Ah! it must be true." - -Zabra was impatiently starting from his seat when he beheld Lilya -standing before him with every appearance of deep concern in her -countenance; he suddenly snatched her by the arm, drew her towards him, -and gazed in her face with a fierce and searching look. - -"Why do you gaze on me thus?" inquired Lilya, shrinking from the stern -scrutiny to which she was being subjected. "Why is your look so dark? He -whom I used to call my father never looked thus on me, and you never so -regarded me before. Have I done any thing wrong, by which I could offend -you? How sorry I shall be if I have! Or are you ill? Let me endeavour -to make you better: I know where grow the healing herbs and the balmy -plants that are good for many different maladies. Let me gather them -and make you a drink such as may restore you to health; or shall I run -down the young leveret or snare the tender woodpigeon to procure you -delicate eating? Ah me! I forgot that I am not where either herbs or -plants, or leveret or woodpigeon are to be found, but on the wide waste -of sea, where neither green moss nor twining ivy, nor flowers, nor -trees, nor any leafy thing exists. But what can I do to make you -better?" - -"Can I believe you?" asked her companion, relaxing in some degree in -the severity of his gaze. - -"You can if you like, Zabra," replied the simple girl; "and I do not see -why anyone should not believe me, because I always speak the truth; and -why _you_ should not believe me seems so very strange. I always believe -you. I am sure you would not say any thing that was not true, and I -could not think of saying a word with an intention of deceiving you." - -"You do not seem like one inclined to be treacherous;" observed the -youth. - -"I never saw any one inclined to be treacherous, therefore I cannot say -whether I do or do not look in that way," said the girl; "but I am not -so inclined, that I am positive of, for I have nothing in the world -to be treacherous about, and it is impossible that I should ever be -treacherous to you. Now, Zabra, you look more like the good and kind -being I have known you to be. Ah! what a pleasure it is to listen to you -when you sing your delightful songs, or speak to me so persuasively of -virtue, and wisdom, and excellence, and all such admirable things. It -makes me forget how much I loved to watch the birds at their nests, and -the young kids at play; and hear the lark's song in the morning, and the -nightingale's at night. It makes me forget all my favourite haunts where -the choicest flowers used to grow. It makes me to forget all I once -found so pleasant to remember." - -"You have noticed Oriel Porphyry, have you not?" inquired Zabra, fixing -on his companion a searching glance. - -"Oh yes," replied Lilya eagerly; "he that is so noble looking. His eyes -are so bright, and his hair curls over his forehead so beautifully, and -he looks so kindly at me when I see him and talks to me so kindly, that -I like him very much." - -"No doubt you do!" exclaimed the youth, with considerable bitterness. - -"I have not been much with him, for I feel quite afraid of him;" -continued Lilya. "He seems to me so very grand and proud in his -appearance, that I dare scarcely look at him when we meet, and as for -speaking I have then neither voice nor words. But he appears so good. -He takes my hand in his, and he presses it so gently, and he says to -me such encouraging things, and he looks upon my face with so much -earnestness, that----" - -"Oh it's palpable!" cried Zabra, hastily interrupting his companion, -and regarding her with a gloomy scowl. - -"That I cannot help feeling that I like him very much; and, although -I am afraid to utter a sentence, he still continues his kindness, and -never lets my hand go from his. However, I must try to tell him how -grateful I am. It is very foolish of me, I believe, in not saying how I -feel towards him. But how you look at me, Zabra!" exclaimed Lilya, as -she noticed the dark and angry expression of her companion's features. -"Is it displeasing to you that I do not express the sentiments I -entertain? I will confess them. Are you angry because I do not like -him so well as I ought to do? I will like him ever so much more." - -"Truly, you are obedient!" observed the other, with sarcastic emphasis; -"a pattern of one who is willing to please! There cannot be a question -about your dutifulness. Dupe, that I have been not to see your -artifices! But who could have supposed that, under such apparent -artlessness, there lurked so much treachery? Your deceit is well done. -None would suspect it. It is the most finished piece of falsehood that -ever was acted." - -"Falsehood! Deceit! Treachery!" exclaimed Libya, astonished and alarmed -by the violence in the language and conduct of her companion. "What are -such things to me, Zabra? I know them not. They cannot be for me to -use. Oh, why do you look at me in so unkind a manner? They are not the -looks that make me happy. I see you are angry with me, and I know not -for why. I must have done some great wrong, or you would not behave to -me in a way so unlike what you have used me to. And, indeed, I did not -do it intentionally. I would not have offended you if I could have -avoided it. What shall I do? Tell me what I shall do to acquire your -forgiveness, and I will never repeat the offence again." - -"And do you think that I will now believe these professions?" inquired -her companion, with considerable asperity. "Do you think, after having -been once deceived, I would allow myself to be the victim of the same -deception? Oh no! that can never be. You are discovered. I know you -thoroughly. Away with you, and let me no more be made miserable by your -presence." - -"Alas! alas! what heinous wrong have I done?" exclaimed Lilya, as the -tears made their appearance on her cheeks. "I know not what it is--I -cannot imagine any thing, unless it be my behaviour to Oriel Porphyry, -that offended you. I acknowledge he deserved better treatment; but, if -it be your desire, I will immediately go and tell him all that I think -of him: and when he looks so kindly, and talks so kindly, and presses my -hand----" - -"Away, vile hypocrite!" shouted Zabra, as with looks of indignation and -rage he pushed Lilya aside, and rushed from the place. She gazed after -him without uttering a word. Her spirit appeared quite overwhelmed; and -all the confidence she felt in his society completely deserted her. The -heart of the timid girl seemed filled with a sense of desolation she had -never before experienced, and she sat down in the seat he had vacated, -and wept. Here she remained, in the full consciousness of her -unprotected state, till the sound of approaching footsteps made her -hurriedly seek concealment in some obscure part of the ship. - -"The Albatross is crossing the Atlantic in very brilliant style, I -think;" observed the young merchant. - -"Yes, sir, she does spank along pretty smartly," replied the captain. -"But it's utterly impossible for a better bit o' timber to be found. -She's been tried in all sorts o' weathers, in all sorts o' seas; and no -matter whether we were doubling the Cape, or beating about in that ere -terrible monsoon in the Bay o' Bengal, she stood on her feet like a -trump, and answered to the helm as sensible as any born cretur." - -"Our passage home will be brief and pleasant, I should imagine, from the -portion we have passed," remarked Oriel Porphyry. - -"There's no knowin' sir," said old Hearty, seriously. "Sometimes it's -fair weather and sometimes it's foul, and sometimes it's a bit o' both. -The weather's the most unsartaintest thing in nature; it puzzles the -wisest on us. It's quite optional whether it has a mind to blow one way -or t'other, and sometimes it seems as if there was a reg'lar blow up wi' -ev'ry wind as blows, and they gets a skylarking wi' one another most -considerably." - -"I am very anxious to return to Columbia with as little delay as -possible," observed the young merchant. "My not having received any -communication from my father, and my knowledge of the unsettled state of -the country, makes me fear that the government have got the upper hand -again, and that they have made my father the victim of their vengeance." - -"They daren't harm him, sir," replied the old man; "they daren't harm a -hair o' his head; they knows of old how popular he is, and how popular -he desarves to be; and they must have a pretty considerable winkin' that -they'll be left among breakers if they 'tempts to steer that course. I -arn't no great politician, but it's as plain as a marlin spike to me, -that if they bore down upon master Porphyry after that fashion, they'd -get such a broadside from the people as 'ould sew 'em all up in their -hammocks in very little time." - -"I hope I shall arrive before they can execute their evil intentions, if -such intentions they have," remarked Oriel. "In case I should require -their services, do you think I could depend on the crew of this ship?" - -"On ev'ry mother's son of 'em," said the captain, with emphasis. "Ev'ry -man in the vessel's selected, and most ov 'em have sailed wi' me at -some time or other. There arn't a braver or more skilful crew afloat; -and if 'tis required that they shall bear a hand in defence o' master -Porphyry, I've got a notion there's nothin' they'd do wi' half so much -'lacrity. Master Porphyry ha' done so much good in his time that there's -scarcely a cretur livin' as has'nt through his friends or relations -profited by it in some degree, and it arn't in the natur o' a seaman not -to be grateful. As for me, when I've had never a shot in the locker, -master Porphyry, more nor once, has made me comfortable inside and out, -and sent me afloat, laden wi' summat else besides ballast; and if I -don't stand among the foremost in any shindy as you've a mind to kick -up, and don't sarve out the lubbers as would be tryin' to circumvent -your honourable old father, I'll give you leave to slice me into -pea-shells and dish me up into hogswash." - -"I'm perfectly satisfied with your fidelity, captain," said the young -merchant, "and I am very much gratified by hearing that I can depend -upon the crew. There's no knowing what may happen, and you and your -men might render me service of the highest value. If the struggle -I anticipate is to be made, every brave man will be an important -acquisition." - -"If we could only get together all the craft as master Porphyry -possesses, scrunch me! if we shouldn't be able to turn 'em inside out, -wi' as much ease as a fellow might take in a reef," exclaimed the old -man. - -"That cannot be done without the sacrifice of more time than I can -spare," observed Oriel. "My great object is to arrive in the metropolis -before the government can find an opportunity for working out its -schemes, as I feel convinced that they only wait occasion to resume the -influence of which they were dispossessed. If I am in time to prevent -their intrigues, I will speedily take such measures as shall put it out -of their power to make any attempt of the kind; and if the mischief -should be done previous to my arrival, I will make such a stir in the -country as shall shake them out of their ill-got authority before they -have had time to exercise it." - -"I maintain that the ancients greatly excel us!" exclaimed Fortyfolios -in a loud voice, as he approached the place where the captain and the -young merchant were conversing. - -"And I maintain quite the reverse, don't you see," replied the doctor. - -"Think of their universities, their schools, their royal academies -of painting and music, their royal societies for the advancement of -science, their extensive libraries, their galleries of art, and the -wonderful degree of perfection they attained in mechanics," said the -professor. - -"As for their universities," observed Tourniquet, "they distinguished -themselves most by their bigoted attachment to prejudices that had long -been exploded in every other part of the community. They wasted a vast -deal of time and intellect in teaching all such knowledge as was most -unprofitable; and this was what they called a classical education. It -consisted in making the student devote the best portion of his life in -learning one or two languages which were never spoken by the living, -and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred could not be of the slightest -advantage to the learner. A facility in the making of Latin verses, -which had no pretension to the name of poetry, was looked upon as -evidence of great merit; and he who could put together a few sentences -in Greek, unmarked by one original idea, was regarded as a genius which -his college ought to be proud of." - -"Do you mean to affirm that the dead languages are not worthy of study?" -inquired Fortyfolios. - -"I affirm nothing of the kind, don't you see," replied the doctor. "I -only maintain that the time devoted to their acquisition in the system -of education pursued by the ancients might have been more advantageously -employed. Both the teachers and the taught enslaved their minds with the -same shackles. What loads of paper have been spoiled by the labours of -some learned blockhead on the Greek particle, or by the annotations and -interpretations of some laborious trifles attempting to elucidate the -meaning of some obscure Latin writer. But there is a greater mischief -in this than the mere worthlessness of what it produces. The exclusive -attention which is required to gain a mastery over a dead language -stifles the affections and narrows the intellect. It makes men egotists -and bigots; ignorant, prejudiced, proud, and quarrelsome. What was -Bentley? what was Parr? what was Johnson? what was Porson? What were all -who distinguished themselves by such great talents in small things? Were -they temperate, or modest, or amiable? moderate in their enjoyments, -or inoffensive in their behaviour? Were they not the very reverse of -these?" - -"They were great scholars," observed the professor. - -"They were great fools, don't you see," said the other sharply. "A man -who offends against decency, who is quarrelsome and imperious, knows not -the respect he owes himself or the courtesies which are due to society; -and his actions, if they are not crimes, must certainly be follies. -As for his wisdom--as for the wisdom of the grammarian, or the mere -number of books comparatively useless, his is the knowledge of a man -who has lived all his life in the narrow circuit of a little village; he -may know every brick in every house, and may be familiar with the exact -state and quantity of every dunghill there to be met with: but take him -out into the open world, and he knows nothing but the prejudices of the -place from which he came." - -"That does not prove that the learning of the ancients is unworthy of -study," remarked Fortyfolios. - -"Who are the ancients?" inquired Tourniquet. "The English are our -ancients, the Romans were their ancients, the Greeks were the ancients -of the Romans, and the Egyptians were the ancients of the Greeks: the -Hindoos, or the Chinese, were the ancients of the Egyptians; and if we -could look to a more remote period, we should be sure to find a people -who also had their ancients. It is a very strange idea of the world to -expect to progress by always looking back, don't you see. The learning -of our predecessors may always be worthy of study if it be superior to -the learning in existence; but it has been the system of universities -and public schools to concentrate the attention of the studious upon the -learning of the ancients, to the neglect of a knowledge more available -and of far more practical utility." - -"It is strange, then, that the public schools and universities of -the English should have produced so many illustrious men!" said the -professor. - -"I maintain that their most illustrious men were not produced in the -public schools, don't you see," replied the doctor. "Of philosophers, -Bacon, Hume, Hobbes, Berkley, Shaftesbury, Dugald Stewart, and Hartley; -of men of science, Newton, Flamstead, Napier, Davy, Priestley, and -Black; of statesmen, Burleigh, Clarendon, Wolsey, Cromwell, Raleigh, -Temple, Burke, and Pitt; of divines, Tillotson, Chillingworth, More, -Jeremy Taylor, Selden, and Sherlock; of heroes, Hampden, Russell, -Marlborough, Clive, and Wolfe; and of poets, Shakspeare, Ben Jonson, -Spenser, Goldsmith, Pope, and Thomson; besides numberless others I -cannot now remember; attained their eminence without any assistance from -public schools." - -"I suppose you equally condemn their royal societies and academies?" -inquired Fortyfolios. - -"I do, so far as concerns their utility, don't you see," said -Tourniquet. "Did their royal societies ever produce a great man? What -eminent philosopher or distinguished man of science did they ever -create? And as for their royal academies, when you can point out to me -the great painters and great musicians they have given to the world, I -will acknowledge the benefit society has received from them, but not -till then." - -"It is not to be expected that all institutions will perfectly answer -the end for which they were designed," remarked the professor. "The -object for which they were founded was wise and admirable, and to a -certain extent they realise that object. They collect together the -talent in the country, and then as much as possible make it known to -the public." - -"They neglect much more talent than they collect, don't you see," -replied the doctor; "and these being usually governed by a select few -who have no conception of such a thing as impartiality, he is considered -the greatest man amongst them who possesses the most patronage. But the -manner in which superior intelligence was regarded by the government of -England was exceedingly discouraging to men of genius. They would lavish -pensions upon profligates, spies, political apostates, the tools of -power, and the slaves of intrigue; but the man who strived to exercise -talents from which his country would derive a certain and lasting -advantage was left to struggle on without the slightest assistance. Any -person, however ignorant, if he could manage by prostituting his soul -to every kind of meanness and chicanery to scrape together a sufficient -sum of money, might aspire to the dignity of a title of honour; and -sometimes, but very rarely, the same title was conferred upon a -favourite painter or physician; minds of the highest order were obliged -to be satisfied without any such distinction. The pliant orator, the -successful soldier, and the ready lawyer were ennobled; but genius, and -virtue, and honour, and worth, such as were developed in the wisest and -best of men, were not thought worthy of a regard." - -"Notwithstanding all this, the literature, and science, and art of -England flourished till it became the admiration of surrounding nations, -and excited the wonder of each succeeding generation," observed the -professor. - -"Which proves that neither universities, nor public schools, nor royal -societies, nor academies, nor artificial distinctions, such as existed -in England, were of any advantage in increasing the intelligence of the -people, don't you see," added his companion. "All such institutions -might be rendered highly serviceable to the state; but the system upon -which they were conducted was so faulty, their government so illiberal, -and their influence so ineffective, that I cannot conscientiously afford -to give them any praise, as they existed among the ancients. As for -their extensive libraries, on what principle could a government defend -the policy of not only withholding from men of genius the patronage -they ought to afford them, but robbing every author of several copies -of every book he produced without the slightest recompence--merely for -the purpose of augmenting their libraries? The wealthiest state then -existing was guilty of this meanness. The philosopher might exist as -he could--starve--die--rot--in any obscure hole in which he could find -refuge, without attracting the least attention: but immediately his -works were published--no matter how expensive they were to him, or how -much labour and suffering they had cost him--down came a demand for -eleven copies for the public libraries, for which the author never in -any shape saw a consideration." - -"But the author had proper protection for his publications," said -Fortyfolios. - -"Nothing of the kind," replied the doctor; "the law of copyright, as it -was called, then in existence for the protection of authors in the sale -of their works, was the most bungling atrocity that ever originated in a -legislature. An author was allowed to possess his property, the product -of his own labour, _only_ for a certain time. Any man might leave to his -heir the land he had received from his father--any man was allowed to -bestow on his child the wealth that he possessed; but the children -of the man of genius could not inherit any right in the acknowledged -property of their parent. After the term had expired in which he was -allowed to possess his own--think of their generosity in allowing -this!--his labours might enrich any one who chose to make them -profitable, and he and his children, and his children's children, were -left to starve. The man who writes a book which acquires a certain value -by publication, has as much right to consider all the profits it may -produce as belonging to him and to his heirs for ever, as is the man who -becomes possessed of land or other property entitled to continue it in -the possession of his family from generation to generation: and it is -nothing better than an act of robbery for any government to deprive -either of a right to which they have so perfect a claim." - -"But you have said nothing about the perfection to which they carried -their machinery," said the professor. "I think the ancients deserve our -thanks for their mechanical inventions." - -"I cannot confer praise on any invention, however brilliant it may be, -that must come into operation at the expense of human sufferings, don't -you see," observed the other; "and all those machines which were brought -into use for the purpose of diminishing the amount of manual employment, -did produce a very great degree of human wretchedness. It may be very -satisfactory to some parties, to consider that the country becomes more -wealthy according to the increasing facility with which its manufactures -are sent to market; but the time must come, if this rapidity of creating -produce continue, when the supply must exceed the demand, and then -finding an inadequate market for its manufactures, the country must -become poor. But while this result is gradually brought about by -the manufacturers endeavouring to produce their goods by means of -machinery, at as little cost and with as great facility as it is -possible to attain, the thousands who gained their subsistence by the -labour which these machines have supplied, are left without a resource; -they must crawl out the remainder of their miserable lives as they can, -and are left to famish, to beg, or to steal. It is pleasant, perhaps, to -know that machinery allows you to purchase half a dozen pairs of shoes -at the price you formerly paid for one, but while every one can get -shoes for a trifle, they who make them can neither get shoes nor bread." - -"Are you still arguing, gentlemen?" inquired Oriel Porphyry as he -returned from another part of the ship to which he had proceeded with -the captain on the approach of the philosophers. "There certainly must -be a great fascination in your method of reasoning, or you would either -be tired of talking, or want subjects to talk about. What has been the -matter in debate on this occasion?" - -"We have been arguing upon the superiority of the ancients over the -moderns," replied the professor. "I maintained and do still maintain, -that the ancients far exceeded us in intelligence, in skill, and in -every thing which is a sign of superior civilisation. Their works of -learning are invaluable--their efforts in art not to be surpassed--their -discoveries in science have been the admiration of every succeeding -age." - -"And what says the doctor to this?" inquired the young merchant. -Fortyfolios looked round, and discovered that his antagonist had left -the field. - - - - -CHAP. VIII. - -LOVE MISPLACED. - - -Zabra's disposition appeared to have undergone a complete change. He -was no longer to be found in the cabin delighting every one with the -stirring eloquence of his language, or on the quarter-deck instructing -the gentle Lilya in the wonders of the ship. Instead of, as had hitherto -been the case, seeking the company of Oriel Porphyry as the greatest -enjoyment he possessed, he had for several days avoided every place -where they were likely to meet. He roamed about the vessel without -attempting to converse with either officers or crew, and if any one -ventured to address him, the proud look with which the speaker was -regarded, as the young creole turned away, was sufficiently repulsive to -prevent the experiment being repeated. Even those with whom he had used -to be on terms of intimacy, the captain and the young midshipman, were -passed by with the same gloomy look. Every one wondered at the change, -and all were ignorant of the cause. - -Oriel more than once sought him for the purpose of inquiring the reason -of his strange conduct, with the intention of endeavouring to induce him -to return to his usual place, as his friend and companion; but the youth -fled from his approach so determinedly, and treated his messages with -such a studied neglect, that the young merchant, imagining that Zabra -was in one of his mysterious moods, at last abandoned all intention -of interfering, expecting that in a day or two he would become more -reasonable, and join in the cabin circle as usual. Oriel Porphyry had -observed so much in the behaviour of his friend that was extraordinary, -that he had ceased to be surprised by the strange way in which he -frequently acted. His conduct, therefore, in this instance, did not -excite in him any particular attention or remark. But no one appeared to -regard Zabra's unsocial manner with so deep an interest as Lilya. She -felt severely his estrangement from her society: all her pleasures -seemed to be completely annihilated by his absence. It was evident that -his kind attentions had not been lost upon her grateful disposition, for -she was too artless to disguise her feelings, and her sentiments in his -favour seemed too evident to be misinterpreted. His handsome features, -so warm and eloquent in their expression--his lustrous eyes, shining -with so soft a light--and his youthful figure, so buoyant and elastic, -had from the first awakened in her breast a feeling of surprise and -admiration that was both strange and delightful. A new world seemed -rising before her eyes. She entered into a different state of existence. -All around her breathed an atmosphere of happiness that made her -previous pleasures appear dull and cold; and then she found no enjoyment -except in being near him, and when he kindly endeavoured to lead her -mind to the contemplation of such subjects as were likely to interest, -to amuse, and instruct her simple nature, as the fire of youthful -enthusiasm shone in his brilliant gaze, and his intellectual countenance -kept changing its expression in accord with the different feelings which -the subject created, she held her breath, as if she thought that there -was something in what she saw that the least disturbance would destroy; -and hung upon his words as if there was a charm in their sound which, -once destroyed, could never be created again. - -In the lessons with which he sought to enlighten her untutored -intellect, her feelings had participated. Her timid nature acquired -confidence in his presence. She more frequently sought than shrunk from -his society; and she forgot that she was alone upon the world without -a single connecting tie to associate her with its sympathies. It was -from such feelings as these that she was first disturbed by Zabra's -unaccountable and unkind behaviour. In vain she endeavoured to find a -reasonable cause for such conduct in any thing she had done; she knew -nothing in which she could have offended, except in not having appeared -sufficiently grateful to Oriel Porphyry; and this fault of hers -she reflected on so long, that she began to regard it as something -particularly heinous, and became daily more desirous of attempting, by -a different behaviour, to repair the wrong she had committed. - -She strived as much as possible to get rid of her natural bashfulness, -and sought out the young merchant with the design of repairing her fault -in the best way she could. After considerable hesitation and frequent -desire to turn back as she proceeded, she ventured as far as the cabin -door; where, after waiting a considerable time, daring neither to go on, -or to return, she knocked gently. A voice kindly bid her come in, and -with a palpitating heart she opened the door and entered. - -"Ah, Lilya!" exclaimed Oriel, who sat alone studying a book of military -exercises, "this is an unexpected pleasure." Then hastening towards her -with a smile of welcome, he led her blushing and trembling to the sofa. - -"I hope you will not any longer be such a truant as you have proved -yourself," said the young merchant, kindly. - -"Have I been a truant?" asked the timid girl. - -"Yes you have, and a very sad truant too," replied Oriel Porphyry, with -a smile. - -"How sorry I am!" murmured Lilya, looking deeply concerned, though she -knew not what wrong she had committed. - -"Well, I will forgive you if you will promise not to repeat the -offence," said Oriel. "You must let me see you more frequently. It is -not kind of you to absent yourself from your best friends. Remember that -in me you will always find a friend ready to do any thing that is likely -to insure your happiness. Will you promise me, that you will not keep -away from me as you have done?" - -"If you will forgive me, I will promise any thing that is proper for -me to do," replied the bashful maiden, appearing by her downcast eyes -afraid to look upon her companion. - -"Of course I will forgive you," responded the other affectionately, -taking one of her hands in his. "There can be very little difficulty in -my doing that." - -"But there is something else," said Lilya, trembling like a condemned -criminal. - -"What else can there be?" inquired Oriel. - -"Something else for you to forgive," replied the timid girl. - -"Indeed, I was not aware of its existence," responded the young -merchant. "Tell me what it is. It will give me pleasure to forgive you." - -"I have never told you how grateful I am for your kindness to me," -murmured his fair companion in a voice scarcely audible. "But indeed I -feel it. I cannot help seeing how good you are, and--and--and I like you -very much for it." - -"You are an admirable creature," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, apparently -delighted with her unaffected simplicity; "and it will be a great source -of pleasure to me to be able to assist in creating your happiness. As -for gratitude, there is no necessity for that, at any rate, at present; -but when I have succeeded in insuring you all the blessings I wish you -to enjoy, you may be as grateful as you please." - -"And you forgive me for my neglect?" asked Lilya, looking up to his face -imploringly, and then instantly casting her eyes to the ground. - -"Forgive you!" cried her companion kindly, "you have committed no fault. -But if it be any satisfaction to you to receive my forgiveness, it is -readily granted; indeed, I feel so much pleasure in conferring it, that -I hope you will very soon either commit the same or a similar fault, -that I may be allowed the same enjoyment I now possess." - -"No, I will not do so again, because that would be wrong," observed the -bashful maiden; "I should be unworthy of your kindness if, after you -had once been so good as to forgive me for a fault I had committed, I -committed the same fault again." - -"In truth, you are a most admirable creature," exclaimed the young -merchant, with impressive emphasis. "But what can I do to make your -stay in the ship more endurable. Your being used to roam at will over -the wide fields and open valleys of your native land, must make this -voyage appear very tedious. I should like to vary its monotony for you -as much as possible. Have you a desire for any pleasure I can gratify?" - -Lilya looked confused, the colour in her face disappeared and returned, -and she tried once or twice to raise her eyes from the ground to the -face of her companion; but as soon as she had elevated them about half -way, she let them fall, and seemed as if she had not courage to make -another effort. - -"You don't answer me, Lilya," said Oriel Porphyry. "Do not be afraid of -asking for what you require. I wish your time to pass as pleasantly as I -can make it, and you will afford me gratification as well as yourself by -giving me an opportunity for increasing your enjoyments. Tell me what it -is you most wish to be done." - -"I wish Zabra would be as he used to be," exclaimed the simple girl, and -an expression of sadness became visible upon her beautiful features. - -"So do I," replied the young merchant; "but I have done every thing to -induce him to become so, without success. I cannot tell what it is that -makes him act so strangely; but he is a strange creature at all times, -and as I have allowed him to do as he pleases, I am afraid nothing I -could say or do would make him become more rational. He avoids every -attempt I have made to prevail upon him to take his place amongst us as -usual, and I have therefore no remedy now but patience." - -"He never used to be so," murmured Lilya. - -"He appears to have taken offence at something or somebody, but what the -cause is I do not pretend to know," said Oriel. "I am sure I have said -or done nothing at which he ought to have felt offence." - -"I thought he was offended with me, because I did not tell you how -grateful I was for your kindness," observed his companion. - -"I doubt that that is the cause," replied the other. "But it is my -opinion that, if any one can bring him back to his former behaviour, it -is yourself, Lilya." - -"Me!" exclaimed the blushing maiden; "I bring him back to be what he -was! Oh I wish I could!" - -"I think you have only to try and there is no doubt of success," -remarked Oriel: "Go to him, be kind to him; tell him how much you are -afflicted by observing him abandon all his friends, and assure him how -happy it will make you to see him exerting himself in the same social -offices in which he used to take delight." - -"Do you really think that would be of use?" inquired Lilya, as she -raised her eyes till they met those of her companion. - -"There is not a doubt of it," replied he. - -"Then I will go this moment," she exclaimed; and leaping from the sofa, -she hastened out of the cabin. - -Zabra was alone bending over his harp and striking a series of -melancholy chords. He was so completely lost in his own reflections, -which evidently from the gloomy expression of his countenance were far -from being pleasant, that he did not observe the approach of Lilya. The -first notice he had of her vicinity was in feeling his hand timidly laid -hold of; and on turning his head round, he beheld her gazing on him -anxiously and kindly close at his side. - -"What brought you here? Why do you follow me? Is there no place where -I can be secure from your intrusion?" were the quick inquiries of the -young musician, as with a stern look he snatched his hand from the hold -of the timid girl. - -"Indeed I have no wish to offend you, Zabra," said Lilya, feeling quite -confounded with the unfriendly reception she had met with. "I come to -you, because I think you are unhappy." - -"Who told you I was unhappy?" asked Zabra, sharply; "and what is my -unhappiness to you?" - -"It is much, because it makes _me_ unhappy," replied the simple girl; -"and I thought you were unhappy, because you have abandoned all your -friends, and deprived me of the pleasure you used to confer." - -"I did not abandon them till they showed themselves unworthy of my -companionship," said the youth proudly. "Do you think I can sit quietly -to become the victim of deceit and treachery? Do you imagine I can stand -tamely by while the heart I worship is ensnared by another? No! I cannot -endure it, and I will not. I wish to be alone." - -"And will you not return to your place among the friends who delight in -your presence?" inquired the bashful maiden; "they are very anxious to -see you. And I--I should like you--I should very much like you to be -as you used to be; for then you were so kind, and talked to me so -delightfully, and appeared so very happy." - -"I was very happy then," exclaimed her companion, in a voice tremulous -with emotion. "I loved and believed myself loved in return. But it is -all over now; I have been deceived. Go and leave me." - -"And if you did love, Zabra," murmured Lilya without daring to move -her eyes from the ground, "if you are sure you loved--I think I'm -convinced--that is, I mean, that if you do love, you must be loved in -return." - -"No, no! I saw it too plain," observed Zabra. "It's beyond a doubt; it -is evident--palpable--I cannot be mistaken. Why do you waste your time -here? Have I not told you I wish to be alone?" - -"Oh! do not look upon me so sternly," exclaimed the gentle girl, with -tears in her eyes; "indeed I wish to make you happy. I will never offend -you. I will be all you desire. I will listen to you with the most -perfect attention, and carefully remember every thing you tell me. Come, -Zabra, come!" she continued, as she ventured tremblingly to lay hold of -his hand. "Let me lead you to the kind friends who are so desirous of -your presence; let me assure you that you are loved," she added, as she -raised the hand she held in her own to her lips, and pressed them softly -and quickly upon it, and then, as if alarmed by her own temerity, she -hastily dropped it and stood blushing and trembling by his side. - -"No, no! I tell you no! I am not loved. I know it too well. Why do you -come to me with your affectionate words and fond endearments? Take them -to Oriel Porphyry; he can best appreciate them," said her companion. - -"Well, I will if you wish it, Zabra," replied the simple girl. "I would -do any thing to please you." - -"No doubt you would," exclaimed Zabra sarcastically. - -"Yes I would, Zabra; and I will go this moment and do what you require -me:" and she had scarcely uttered the words before she hurriedly left -the presence of her companion. - -Zabra sat alone at his harp, half doubting in his mind whether it was -simplicity or artifice that Lilya had exhibited; but as he remembered -what both had confessed, he felt the conviction that she was again -endeavouring to deceive him; and the miserable feeling thus created he -endeavoured to express in the following words:-- - - "Be not deceived, fond heart, - Be not deceived; - Words are but sounds, and looks changing and vain; - None are believed, fond heart, - None are believed: - When they delude, never trust them again. - - "Seek not for truths, sad heart, - Seek not for truth; - Truth's in the grave, and there only will stay; - Maiden and youth, sad heart, - Maiden and youth: - Each will beguile and then each will betray. - - "Love is a dream, fond heart, - Love is a dream; - Clothed with delight for the heart and the eye; - Bright though it seem, fond heart, - Bright though it seem, - Sleep not--you dream but to wake--and to die!" - -"Mustn't allow you to sing such melancholy ditties, don't you see," -exclaimed Dr. Tourniquet, standing before the young musician, where -he had been for several minutes. "They make every body miserable and -yourself too; and besides this they are very hurtful in their effects -upon the system. They are a sort of sedative that affect the head and -the heart at the same time--prevent eating, drinking, or sleeping with -any thing like a healthy state of feeling. Allow me the privilege of an -old friend to ask you what's the matter with you?" - -"Alas! it is a malady beyond the reach of medicine!" exclaimed Zabra -mournfully. - -"That's to be proved, don't you see," replied the doctor. "I have for -some days noticed you running into holes and corners away from all your -friends. It is both unreasonable and unsocial. I don't pretend to know -what has been the occasion of it; but as you have acquainted me with -your secret, I can make a shrewd guess. Ah! this love's a terrible -thing." - -"After having been assured you were beloved," said the young musician; -"after having convinced your own heart that your affection was returned -with the same ardour with which it was given, to find doubt follow -doubt, till a certainty that you were not loved gradually forced itself -on your mind--this, this is terrible." - -"But that cannot have been your case, don't you see," exclaimed -Tourniquet. "You cannot doubt--there's nothing for you to dread." - -"It is too true. I have been deceived," replied Zabra, and his features -became overcast with a deeper melancholy. "All that I have done has been -unavailing; all that I have dared has been cast to the winds. To be the -sole possessor of one heart I thought would be a sufficient recompense -for all my past sufferings, and dangers, and difficulties; but now I -have discovered the unwelcome truth, that another has acquired the -ownership of what I strove so earnestly to gain. Oh shame on the -treachery that can allure a trusting soul into the conviction that its -sweet hopes are acknowledged and its fond dreams replied to! and then, -as a new face or a more beguiling nature comes upon the scene, will turn -to it with a fondness which should have been confined to the sincere -one, and leave all those hopes and dreams to be crushed under the -withering touch of despair!" - -"I'll wager my professional skill you're mistaken, don't you see," said -the doctor. "But who do you imagine to be the guilty parties?" - -"Oriel and Lilya," replied his young companion. - -"It can't be, don't you see," remarked the other. "I'm a little older -than you are, and a better judge of character; and from the result of -my own observations, I feel certain that neither of them are capable -of such conduct. Oriel Porphyry is noble, and is more sincere in his -character than any man I ever met with; and Lilya is the most artless, -shy, unsophisticated creature that ever existed. You must be wrong, -don't you see." - -"Both of them have acknowledged it to me," said Zabra; "both have -confessed to me their mutual regard. Yes, it is too true. It is placed -beyond the possibility of a doubt." - -"Without meaning any offence to you, I can't believe it, don't you see," -said the doctor good humouredly. "You have been deceiving yourself. -There is a little bit of jealousy in the case, depend upon it. And -though I maintain that jealousy is usually a very reasonable passion; -for it is impossible for one who has thought himself the owner of -the affections of another, to find a third party regarded as their -possessor, without feeling a considerable degree of indignation: I -think, in this instance, there is no cause for it." - -"I wish I could think so! I most fervently wish I could think so!" -exclaimed the youth earnestly. "Nothing could gratify me so much as to -find my suspicions unfounded; but the facts are so clear that the most -credulous would be convinced." - -"Ah! lovers are the worst people in the world to argue with, don't you -see," remarked Tourniquet with a smile. "They are always convinced of -something that no one else would entertain for a moment. They believe -without a proof, and deny without a cause. With all due respect for you, -I must say that love is the greatest folly upon earth. I don't mean to -say that I have not had my follies, don't you see; for I have had a very -fair share of them. I remember my first folly of the kind very well. I -had commenced my medical education under the auspices of an old uncle -of mine. He was exceedingly like all other uncles from the creation of -the world to the present time. He was obstinate, peevish, domineering, -and quarrelsome, and was blest with a daughter, as all uncles are that -have a nephew to reside with them. I was then a youth remarkable for the -pains I took in my clothes and in my personal appearance; in fact, my -dandyism was so conspicuous that I was ashamed to look a dog in the face -for fear he should acknowledge me as a puppy. - -"All at once I thought it was highly necessary I should be in love, -don't you see; so I brushed up my bits of whiskers, held my head as high -as I could, and looked about me. My eyes quickly fell upon the charming -Papaverica. To be sure her hair was as much like a bundle of scorched -tow as it was possible to be; but of course I called it an auburn. Her -nose was a lump of flesh; but of what shape it would have puzzled a -geometrician to decide; yet I declared it was Grecian; and her mouth -_was_ a mouth--there was no mistaking it, and it gave an openness to -her countenance more than usually expressive; and of course I swore it -was like two cherries seeming parted. Then her body showed that she was -somebody. It might have been as thick as it was long, for its length was -nothing to brag of. As for her feet, Papaverica was not a girl to stand -upon trifles. But whatever her figure was like, I had no difficulty in -convincing her it was the very perfection of grace and beauty. - -"I fell in love. Papaverica was medicine, surgery, and anatomy to me. -The pharmacopoeia was neglected, the vade mecum thrust on one side. I -forgot drugs and dressings, lancets and laudanum. I had no taste for -mixtures, and my soul was above pills. My thoughts were ever wandering -towards the charming Papaverica; and as it is not possible for the mind -to entertain two thoughts at the same time, my labours in making up the -medicines for my uncle's patients occasionally produced very strange -effects. Potions and lotions, cathartics and emetics, pills and squills, -were mixed together in what was not considered 'most admired disorder;' -for my uncle's stick spoke of any thing but admiration. But my blunders -were most conspicuous in writing the labels. In giving the directions -for a mixture I was sure to write 'Papaverica, when taken to be well -shaken'--for a draught, 'Papaverica to be taken at bedtime,'--and for -a lotion that had been repeated, 'Papaverica as before.' - -"All this time we met, and made love after our fashion, don't you see. -Papaverica and I looked at each other till we couldn't see out of our -eyes, and sighed like paviers at work on a hard piece of ground. But -her father tried to put a stop to our proceedings; and if he caught -me talking to her, he gave me such a setting down, or more properly, -speaking, such a knocking down, as gave me cause to remember the -conversation. - -"'Fathers have flinty hearts!' said the sympathising Papaverica. - -"'And desperate thick sticks!' I exclaimed, with tears in my eyes, as -I rubbed my aching back against the door. However, this sort of thing -could not go on for ever. I was sent to pursue my studies at Columbus, -and I lost sight of Papaverica--I may add, for ever; for she soon -afterwards eloped with a strolling actor who had been vagabondising -in the neighbourhood, and who had won her heart by playing Romeo in a -cocked hat and leather breeches. - -"My next folly was of a different kind. I was a young student as fond of -mischief as any of the fraternity to which I belonged. I was invited to -an evening party, where among the company, I noticed a young girl with a -laughing, dare-devil eye, and a person remarkably smart. I inquired her -name, and from a friend learned all the particulars of her history. -Observing that she was regarding me in a manner that told me that she -was quizzing me to her companions, I advanced, humming an air till I -came close before her. - -"'Ah Floss!' said I, nodding familiarly. 'Is it you? Haven't seen you -this age. You look particularly charming; and how is your grandmother? -Shouldn't suppose you half so old as you are, to look at you. And -has the cat kittened? I always admire your style of dress--it's very -becoming. So the house dog's got well at last! Being an old friend of -the family, you must really make room for me beside you.--How is your -aunt's toothach?' - -"The girl at first stared at my impudence, don't you see; but, finding I -proceeded with the same nonchalance, making all sorts of heterogeneous -remarks and inquiries, she laughed heartily, in which she was as -heartily joined by her companions, and we became intimate in a moment. -We joked and romped in the most provoking manner, and said the smartest -things of each other that could possibly be conceived. I found that she -lived with an aged grandmother and an old maiden aunt, in a small house -in a retired part of the town. I watched my opportunity when I saw -the two old women go out to take their evening walk, and gave such a -tremendous knock at the door that it made the windows rattle again. As -I expected my charmer opened the door, and in I marched as stately as -an emperor. - -"'Halloo, sir, where are you going? This is like your impudence, -certainly!' said she, not knowing whether to be most offended or amused -at my behaviour. - -"'I have come to honour you with a little of my superfluous time, -Floss,' I replied in an easy, condescending manner. - -"'You have, have you? then I shall just thank you to make the best of -your way back again,' she rejoined as she followed me into the parlour. - -"'I shall do nothing of the kind, Floss, till I please,' said I, as -observing some decanters of wine on the table I began very quietly to -help myself; 'and I have the pleasure to drink your health, Floss, and -a good husband to you--when you can get one.' - -"'You impudent jackanapes!' she exclaimed, as she observed me toss off -a bumper. 'This exceeds every thing I ever heard of.' - -"'I always strive to excel, Floss,' I replied, flinging myself at full -length on a sofa. But come here. Come to me like a good girl. I have -something to say to you.' - -"'Go to you! I'll see you farther first!' she cried, looking as -disdainfully as she could. - -"'Very well,' said I, rising and retreating a few paces: 'now come to -me--you see me further.' - -"'I shan't do any thing of the kind, Mr. Impudence,' she exclaimed, -trying to hide her laughter. - -"'Then if you wo'n't come to me, I shall be obliged to go to you, which -is a great hardship,' I observed as I advanced towards her. - -"'If you come near me I'll scratch your eyes out!' cried Floss, looking -monstrously fierce; yet I could easily see by the corners of her mouth -that she was very much disposed to laugh, so I still approached. - -"'If you touch me I'll box your ears!' she exclaimed, beginning to look -more serious. - -"'Don't be alarmed, Floss; you wouldn't hurt a hair of my head, I know,' -said I, as I attempted to insinuate my arm round her waist. 'Ha, will -you?' she cried; and she gave me a slap of the face that made my teeth -rattle in my mouth like a box of cherry stones. I was not to be easily -driven from my purpose, so I attempted to make good my hold, but -immediately received a box on the ear that made me see all the colours -of the rainbow. - -"'You haven't the heart to hurt a fly,' said I very coolly, while I -endeavoured to throw my left arm over her left shoulder, to get the -command of her arms; but in the execution of this manoeuvre, I received -a shower of blows that would have made a less eager lover than myself -glad enough to leave the field. - -"'What means this behaviour, sir?' exclaimed my charmer, endeavouring to -look expressively angry, and struggling with me with all her might. - -"'I mean to honour you so far as to kiss you, Floss,' I replied very -quietly, though smarting from the pain of the blows. - -"'I'll scream--I'll raise the house--I'll cry murder--I'll----' - -"'I'm remarkably fond of music,' said I, interrupting her; and in a -moment afterwards I had both her arms tightly pressed to her body, and -her face blushing and looking angry a few inches beneath my own. - -"'I'll never let you see me again as long as I live--I'll hate -you--I'll----' - -"Her mouth was stopped by mine, and every time she attempted to speak I -repeated the same interesting ceremony, which she struggled unavailingly -to prevent; but with this revenge I was not satisfied. - -"'Let me go, sir; let me go this minute! You wretch, don't you see how -you're rumpling my collar! Let me go, I command you!' - -"'Before I do that I shall first allow you the pleasure of kissing me,' -said I, with as much condescension as I could assume. - -"'Kiss you!' cried Floss, looking as savage as an enraged turkey-cock; -'I'd see you hanged first!' - -"'You'll not go till you do,' I replied, with all the coolness -imaginable. - -"'Let me go, sir; your assurance is unbearable!' she exclaimed, making -violent but ineffectual efforts to release herself from my embrace. - -"'You'll not go till you kiss me,' said I, as calmly as possible. A loud -knock at this moment was heard at the door. - -"'Let me go, sir. Here's my grandmother and my aunt returned, and -they'll abuse me famously if they catch you here.' - -"'You'll not go till you kiss me,' I repeated in exactly the same tone -of voice I had previously used. Another louder knock was now heard. - -"'There then, you plague!' she cried as she hurriedly pressed her lips -to mine; 'and now let me go.' - -"'Leave every thing to me, I'll manage the old ladies,' said I as I -allowed her to escape. - -"'It's very strange, Floss, that you always will keep us at the door so -long when we knock,' mumbled the eldest of the two old ladies as well as -her want of teeth would allow her, as soon as the door was opened. - -"'It's very strange,' remarked the other with stronger emphasis. - -"'I've spoken to you so often about it, that I'm quite shocked at your -negligence,' mumbled the first. - -"'I'm quite shocked at your negligence;' echoed the other. - -"'Goodness, a man!' screamed out the eldest, throwing her arms back, and -nearly pitching off her balance as she entered the room. - -"'Goodness, a man!' squeaked out the other in exactly the same tone, and -with exactly the same motion. - -"'May I be allowed to know the cause which has conferred upon me -the honour of a visit from a perfect stranger, as it seems very -extraordinary,' said the mumbler, advancing towards me with stately -steps, and scrutinising me through her spectacles as if she would look -right through me. - -"'It seems very extraordinary,' remarked the other emphatically, as she -also brought her spectacles to bear upon my person. - -"'Have I the honour of speaking to the amiable and accomplished Mrs. -Parrot-cum-Poodle?" I inquired, advancing two steps with a grave and -respectful air, and making a bow to the ground. - -"I am that humble individual," replied the ugliest of the two, making -a profound courtesy; and then turning to her companion, she said in a -whisper, "A very well spoken young man." - -"A very well spoken young man," echoed the least ugliest. - -"How much have I reason to be gratified with my good fortune;" I -observed, looking as delighted as I could. "I have travelled far to -procure it." - -"Take a seat, my dear sir!" exclaimed the old one, with a look of -sympathy that did not make her look more agreeable. - -"Take a seat, my dear sir!" repeated the other, in the same tone and -manner. - -"Floss, why don't you give the gentleman a chair?" cried number one, -sharply. - -"Floss, why don't you give the gentleman a chair?" cried number two in -a similar voice. - -"I should prefer standing in the presence of ladies for whom I have -such perfect respect," said I, with another bow equally profound. - -"Oh, you are too good!" mumbled the first, with something that was -intended to be a smile. - -"Oh, you are too good!" muttered the other, after the same fashion. - -"I have come all the way from the village of Parrot-cum-Poodle for the -express purpose of elucidating an important point in the pedigree of -the respectable and ancient family which still bears the name of that -distinguished place," said I, with the gravest face I had ever made use -of. "When the Parrot-cum-Poodles first intermarried with the Tabbies, -connected as the Tabbies previously were with the Macaws, one of the -collateral branches of the Parrot-cum-Poodle family; and the Macaws -having formed several alliances with the Pugs, I am desirous of knowing -what degree of consanguinity the Pugs bear to the present descendants -of the ancient race of the Parrot-cum-Poodles, because it is an inquiry -of exceeding interest, and one of the utmost value towards a right -understanding of the family genealogy. You must remember, that when the -branch of the Tabbies became extinct for want of heirs male, there was a -lineal descendant that could trace his pedigree in a direct line up to -the first inheritor of the ancient name of Parrot-cum-Poodle; but he -being abroad at the time when the title was declared extinct, knew -nothing of his legal claim to the honourable name of his ancestors, and -had a large family which were brought up in perfect ignorance of their -relationship with the Tabbies. One of these has lately married a remote -branch of the Pugs: now the descendants of this pair will stand in a -very extraordinary point of relationship to the Parrot-cum-Poodles; and -I should wish to know where any of these descendants are to be found." - -"The oldest old lady had gradually opened her mouth as I proceeded to -show the labyrinth of the Parrot-cum-Poodle genealogy, till it was -extended as far as it could stretch, and she stared at me through her -spectacles with as complete a look of mystification as it was possible -to imagine, and was turning towards the youngest old lady when she met a -mouth equally wide, and eyes equally mystified on the point of turning -towards her with the same desire for explanation. All this time Floss -had stood behind them making the most desperate efforts to swallow her -pocket-handkerchief. - -"However it is sufficient to say, that after having bothered the old -folks till they did not know whether they were standing on their head or -their heels, I took my departure; and so ended my second folly, for I -never saw Floss again. And now, having amused you, don't you see, which -is all I aimed at, I must insist upon your going to Oriel Porphyry, and -inquiring of him whether there exist any reason for your suspicions." - -"I will try and do it," replied Zabra, in a more cheerful tone than he -had previously used; "and I hope it may be as you say." - - - - -CHAP. IX. - -A DISCOVERY. - - -"And so you have no desire to live in the gay world of fashion, Lilya?" -inquired Oriel Porphyry, as they sat together on the sofa. - -"I do not understand what fashion means," replied the simple girl. - -"Fashion itself is merely the way in which a certain class of persons -dress, think, speak, and conduct themselves," said Oriel. "And the -world of fashion is this exclusive class, with all its gaieties, its -frivolities, its prejudices, its follies, and its crimes." - -"If there is any thing wrong in it, I certainly should not like to live -there," observed Lilya. - -"What, not to partake of its brilliant pleasures, of its balls, operas, -concerts, dinners, and fêtes?" asked the young merchant. - -"The things you mention I know nothing of. Where do they grow?" inquired -his fair companion. - -"They do not grow, Lilya," replied Oriel, with a smile; "they are the -amusements of the world of fashion. A ball is a collection of persons, -or rather the amusement of a collection of persons brought together -for the purpose of enjoying the diversion of dancing; and dancing is -a gliding motion of the feet, by which the body is moved in different -attitudes from one place to another." - -"And do people amuse themselves in this way; or is it an amusement for -others to look upon?" asked Lilya. - -"It is the amusement in which both sexes most delight," said the young -merchant. "They meet together in rooms such as this cabin, only much -larger, and much more gay, where music is provided; and directly the -music plays, they are all set in motion, and so continue till the dance -is over. Some dances consist in whirling round, others in bounding -forward, and a great number in gliding from place to place." - -"I do not think a ball would amuse me; I should soon get tired of such -exertion, especially as I cannot perceive what causes the amusement," -said Lilya. - -"The amusement, I believe, is more generally created by the persons who -are brought together than by any quality in the dance," observed Oriel. -"But it is considered a graceful and agreeable way of passing the time; -and, to young people particularly, it appears to possess very great -attractions. It might be rendered a profitable exercise, but the heat -and glitter of a ball-room is not the place in which it can be made most -advantageous." - -"I would rather run after the leveret, or chase the young deer for -exercise," observed the simple girl. - -"Operas and concerts are places where fashionable people meet to hear -music," continued the young merchant. "It is rarely that the best music -is played there; but, generally, the best performers are there to be met -with." - -"I would rather hear Zabra," exclaimed the bashful maiden, hanging down -her head as if afraid the acknowledgment might not have been proper. - -"And so would I a thousand times," replied the young merchant, -emphatically. "For in him we might be sure of finding something like -nature, which is not to be hoped for at operas or concerts. As for -dinners and fêtes, they are merely for the purpose of allowing people to -eat and drink together, talk, stare, push, squeeze, and elbow." - -"Then I have no desire for any of these," said Lilya. "I do not perceive -the pleasure they would confer. I would rather be what I am, than exist -in a state such as you have described." - -"But that cannot be Lilya," observed Oriel, kindly. "I am going to put -you under the protection of a lady--of the lady whom I love, Lilya. She -is a beautiful, accomplished, and amiable woman, of high family, and -admirable disposition; and, as she is obliged to find friends and -acquaintances in the circle I have pointed out to your attention, you -must from the same source derive all your social enjoyments; and then -you will be clothed in silks and velvets, feathers and diamonds--will -not that delight you?" - -"Do these fine things make the possessor happy?" asked his companion. - -"To tell you the truth Lilya, I do not think they do," replied Oriel -Porphyry. - -"Then I will have none of them," she exclaimed. "I know that I can be -happy in these humble skins that I have put together with my own hands; -but I know not that I can be happy in the gay things to which I am -unused; and I would rather retain what I possess, than give it up for -an uncertainty." - -"But the Lady Eureka, with whom you will stay, makes use of these -things," said the young merchant; "and, unless you mean to offend your -best friends, you must do the same." - -"I will wear them if my friends wish it," observed the simple girl; -"but I would rather not, because I should appear so awkward in them." - -"I do not fear that," exclaimed the young merchant. "You will not be -allowed to wear them till you know in what manner they should be worn; -and that you should look, and act, and think, as becomes one who is the -Lady Eureka's friend. The most skilful masters in every department of -education will be provided for you; and every endeavour will be made to -render you as elegant, intellectual, and agreeable a woman as the world -of fashion can produce." - -"Will Zabra be there?" inquired Lilya, timidly. - -"Yes, I think so. I've no doubt he will," replied Oriel Porphyry. - -"Then I should like to be there!" murmured his fair companion, with -marked emphasis on the pronoun. "And the Lady Eureka you speak of--do -you love her? - -"Indeed I do, Lilya," replied the young merchant, earnestly; "and -you will find her worthy of being beloved. She is beautiful, good, -affectionate, and intelligent." - -"And does she love you in return?" asked Lilya. - -"It is my happiness to believe so," responded Oriel. - -"How delightful it must be for both of you," exclaimed the simple girl, -with her face beaming with animation as she turned her soft blue eyes -full upon her companion. - -"And you shall share in this delight, Lilya, if you prove yourself -worthy of it," said Oriel, kindly. "Eureka is distinguished for her -superior excellence; and she cannot love you unless you possess goodness -to recommend you to her. There is nothing in the world that a woman -ought so much to pride herself upon as the purity of her actions. She -ought not to allow any one even to suspect her of wrong; and if her -behaviour is free from mystery or deceit, she will never give cause for -suspicion. The first step towards the commission of great criminality in -a woman, is a carelessness in tolerating familiarities from more than -one, that are not considered any thing beyond trifling gallantries from -the one by whom she is truly loved; and from that one only can such -things be permitted, because in this instance they become the natural -signs of a sincere affection, that are peculiarly graceful and -refreshing in their influence: but as the wife confines all expressions -of affection to her husband, so ought the loved one to preserve all her -devotion for her lover. Their situations are exactly similar; and 't is -as great a crime for a woman to deceive her lover by allowing others to -share in her affections, as it is for a wife to betray her husband by a -violation of the marriage vow." - -"I do not understand you," said Lilya, looking considerably puzzled and -bewildered. - -"Ah! I forgot it was to you I was speaking," replied Oriel. "But what I -meant to express to you is, that if you wish to insure and preserve the -good opinion of those whose good opinion is most valuable to you, you -will show yourself particularly anxious to become distinguished for -excellence of conduct and goodness of disposition." - -"Ah, that is just what Zabra has told me," exclaimed the blushing -maiden, "He used to be always talking to me in that way; and told me so -much that was proper for me to know, and looked so kind, and appeared -so attentive, that I was always delighted to hear him. But he no longer -talks to me in that manner. He is now harsh in his language, and stern -in his gaze; and he will scarcely look or speak to me." - -"Have you not been able to induce him to return to us? I should have -thought your intreaties would have been complied with immediately," said -the young merchant. - -"Alas, no!" replied Lilya, sorrowfully. "All my intreaties have been -disregarded." - -"Then you must allow me to make you forget him till he comes to his -senses," said Oriel. - -"No, I cannot forget him--I'm sure I cannot forget him--indeed, I cannot -forget him," exclaimed the artless girl. - -"He scarcely deserves to be so well remembered," observed the young -merchant. "In fact I am beginning to feel angry with him for being so -obstinate." - -"Oh, do not be angry with him!" exclaimed Lilya, earnestly; "you must -not be angry with him, for I am sure he is unhappy." - -"Well, then, if I promise you not to be angry, you must allow me to be -as kind to you as you would wish him to be," said Oriel Porphyry. "For I -cannot suffer a creature so unoffending as you are to be made wretched -by such unreasonable conduct. I shall regard you as a favorite sister; -and I feel just as much interested in your happiness as if you were so -dearly related to me. I will not allow you to have a wish ungratified -that is harmless and natural. I will endeavour to afford you whatever -pleasure you most delight in, that I have the means of procuring; and I -will watch over you, and guard you from all evil, and shield you from -every danger." - -"Oh, how good you are!" murmured the gentle girl, raising her beautiful -eyes, suffused with tears, to his face. - -"And I shall expect in return for all this attention to your welfare, -that you will regard me with a sisterly affection," continued the other. -"You must be as kind to me as I will be to you. You must endeavour -always to appear cheerful and willing to be pleased. Every effort that -I make to render your life an enjoyment to you, you must respond to by -showing the gladness it ought to produce. You must be attentive to my -instructions, obedient to my wishes, be gratified with my attentions, -and satisfied with the exertions I shall make to insure your happiness." - -"Indeed, I will!" exclaimed the timid maiden, affectionately clasping -the hand of Oriel in her own. - -"It will be a most pure and exquisite pleasure to me to be allowed to -labour in such a good work as creating the felicity of so gentle and -innocent a creature," said the young merchant; his noble countenance -beaming with benevolence. "It will be a labour of which my father would -be proud; and to do as he would do must always appear to me to be the -highest degree of excellence. It will be delightful to be loved as a -brother, and to show a brother's care and anxiety and solicitude. It -will be admirable to be able to enjoy the sweet sympathies of a nature -such as yours, and to live in the enjoyment of an interchange of -endearments so purifying to the heart as ours will be. I must be -loved Lilya. I will be as kind to you and as careful of you as may be -necessary for your welfare; but I must be loved." - -"And I will love you;" murmured his fair companion, trembling and -blushing she knew not for why--"I will love you as fondly as you wish. I -will love you kindly and affectionately. I will love you always. I will -be at all times every thing you most desire me to be. You shall never -find reason to be dissatisfied. I will not allow you to be unhappy: all -I do shall be done with the intention of giving you pleasure. My heart -is overflowing with your goodness; and, indeed--and, indeed I love you -very much." With these words she caught up the hand she had held in her -own; and eagerly, yet timidly, pressed it to her lips! - -Oriel Porphyry was so charmed by the simplicity and genuine affection -expressed by the action, that he drew the bashful girl to his arms, -and pressed her lips to his own. This had scarcely been done, when, on -raising his eyes, he encountered the full and piercing gaze of Zabra. -He stood before them,--his dark features wearing an expression the most -wild and fearful--his breast heaving with passion, and his whole frame -trembling with the powerful excitement under which he laboured. Lilya, -with an exclamation of surprise, shrunk into the farthest corner of the -sofa, and covered her face with her hands. Oriel looked upon him with -astonishment, not unmixed with wonder; for the extraordinary beauty -of his countenance, shrouded by its clustering black curls, with the -intensity of the expression now impressed upon it, looked perfectly -sublime. - -"Has it come to this?" muttered the youth, in a voice that seemed choked -with emotion. "Has it come to this? The last hope I have been allowed to -entertain is now utterly crushed. Nothing remains but the conviction of -my own misery, and of your baseness." - -"Zabra!" exclaimed Oriel. - -"What a reward is this you have given me!" continued the other, in the -same hoarse tones. "What a recompense for all I have done! Could you -think of no way of showing your appreciation of my devotion for you than -by destroying the dream of happiness I have entertained? Have I not been -faithful, and attached, and willing, and affectionate--as ready in the -hour of danger to defend as desirous in a time of pleasure to amuse? Did -I not share with you your anxieties, and rejoice with you in every thing -that gave you joy? And yet you have committed this treachery." - -"Zabra!" again exclaimed his patron. - -"In what have I failed to do you honour and worship?" still continued -his companion, slightly raising his voice as he proceeded. "In what have -I been deficient? Where have I offended? Have I not sought all times and -opportunities to fulfil your wishes before they could be expressed? Has -not my heart been ever anxious to assist in the realisation of your -best hopes? Is there any one thing you could have wished me to do that -I have not done? If I had been slack in my exertions--if I had been -careless in my services--if I had been heedless, thoughtless, or -inattentive in my behaviour, there might have been some cause for -depriving me of the affections which then I should have been unworthy to -possess:--but I have exceeded all previous examples in the exclusiveness -of my devotion. I have dared to do more than others could have -imagined--I have sought you out to watch over your safety--and have -served you with all honour, and care, and kindness. Why--why have you -used me thus?" - -"Zabra, what madness is this?" exclaimed the young merchant, more -surprised than offended. - -"And this is your love for Eureka!" continued the youth. "This is the -way in which you return an affection, so deep, so earnest, and so true -as her's has been? Have you lost all notion of justice, of virtue, and -of that sincerity which most ennobles manhood? Where is your sense of -shame? What manner of man are you, who, after you have been loved in -all earnestness, in all purity, in all exclusiveness, and with all that -self-abandonment which is most conspicuous in the love of woman, can -turn round upon the object by whom you have been so truly honoured, and -cast her hopes to the wind?" - -"Zabra, you are proceeding beyond the limits of endurance; and I shall -be obliged to acquaint Eureka with your unreasonable and offensive -conduct," said Oriel. - -"I--I AM EUREKA!" shouted the disguised page, in a voice that made both -her companions leap from their seats with looks of the most intense -astonishment, as, with flashing eyes, and words that seemed to breathe -of fire, she exclaimed,--"It was Eureka who left her father's house -to escape from an alliance into which she would have been forced had -she remained.--It was Eureka who forsook family and friends, and the -security and comforts of her own land, to share the dangers and watch -over the safety of one to whom she was so completely devoted.--It was -Eureka who quitted the dress and abandoned the prejudices of womanhood, -the more securely to devote her disinterested heart to the service -of her lover.--It was Eureka who dared with him the perils of the -sea--rescued him from the clutches of the pirate--stopped the blows -that were aimed at his life--shed her blood in his defence; and, in all -offices of kindness--in all times of danger and difficulty--in all -moments of tranquillity and desire of innocent enjoyment, thought only -of his security--cared only for his amusement, and was anxious only for -the perfect realisation of his happiness. It was Eureka who did these -things: and I--I am Eureka!" - -Probably she might have continued the same eloquent and forcible -language; but the attention of herself and of her lover were attracted -towards their companion. Lilya had listened with the most breathless -interest to the avowal of the disguised Zabra; her eyes were fixed upon -the speaker in one continued stare--wild, ghastly, and unnatural: the -colour fled from her lips, the blood rushed from her face; her breast -heaved in quick, short, spasms, and something was seen rising and -swelling at her throat. An expression of unutterable anguish was -impressed upon her beautiful features; she made two or three choking -gasps, and tottering forward a few steps, fell at the feet of Eureka. - -Oriel hurried to raise her from the ground; gently he lifted her head, -and exposed to view a face pale as marble; the delicate mouth, half -open, and the fair blue eyes fixed and sightless. As he attempted to -take her hand, the head fell back upon his shoulder.--She was dead. - -"Eureka!" exclaimed the young merchant, in a voice husky with emotion, -as he supported the drooping corpse upon his arm, "you have wronged both -her and me. She would never have been regarded by me save as a sister; -and it was only with a brother's fondness that you saw me caress her. I -am deeply grateful to you for the devotion with which you have honoured -me; but when I look here,"--he continued, gazing on the lifeless form he -held, with feelings that almost deprived him of utterance,--"and find -a creature so perfectly innocent, so simple, so gentle, and so kind, -that has been made its victim, I am obliged to regret that it has been -purchased at so fearful a sacrifice." - -He was answered only by hysteric sobs, that in a few minutes were -succeeded by violent convulsions: and Dr. Tourniquet entering the cabin -at this moment, Oriel hastily explained what had transpired; left her to -his care, and rushed upon deck. - - - - -CHAP. X. - -A FIGHT AT SEA. - - -"A sail to leeward!" shouted the look-out man on the gangway. - -"Give me my glass, Loop!" cried the Captain. - -"What does she look like, Cap'ain," inquired Climberkin. - -"I see nothin' yet but a tall spar, pointing pretty sharpish into the -sky," said Hearty. "Now I observe she has her royals set, and has an -unkimmon low hull. But take the glass yourself, and see what you can -make of her." - -"She's schooner built, sir, with raking masts, carries a smartish number -o' guns, and is altogether as suspicious looking a craft as ever I -seed," observed the Lieutenant. - -"Which way does she steer?" inquired the old man. - -"She's bearin' right down upon us, sir," replied Climberkin; "and she -means mischief, or I'm pretty considerably mistaken." - -"Call up all hands to quarters--throw open the ports, and let the guns -be shotted;" cried the captain. All was immediately bustle and confusion -in every part of the Albatross. Fore and aft the men with the utmost -alacrity, prepared to give the strange vessel a proper welcome in case -of an attack. Muskets, pikes, cutlasses, powder and shot, were handed up -from the hold with as much cheerfulness as if the crew were commencing -some favourite amusement. The officers were giving their orders, the men -busy at their preparations. Some threw off their jackets and tucked up -their sleeves to be the more free in their movements. The decks were -cleared: all things put away that could be an obstacle at such a time; -the guns run out, and every man was at his post ready for action. - -The schooner bore down gallantly upon the Albatross, and certainly was a -very suspicious-looking vessel. A shot from one of her carronades came -booming along without doing any mischief. - -"There's no mistaking that, captain;" said Oriel Porphyry, who had been -watching the proceedings around him with considerable interest. - -"She's a pirate, sir, there's not a doubt on 't," observed the old man; -"but she'll find we are not to be caught napping; and as she's ventured -to begin the game, we'll just see who can play at it best. Give her a -taste of the long gun, Boggle." - -"Ay, ay, sir;" replied the second lieutenant. - -"I must bear a hand in this, Hearty;" said the young merchant, unable to -restrain his eagerness to join in the approaching fight. - -"As you please, sir," rejoined the captain; "and as we know you are -a fighter, and one o' the right sort, we shall be very glad o' your -company. Here's a capital cutlass, which is much at your service." - -"No, thank you; I'll go and get my own arms;" replied Oriel, and he -immediately left the deck. - -A long brass thirty-two pounder under the management of an experienced -gunner was now got ready, and fired with such precision as to make the -splinters fly from her hull. - -"Pitch the shot into her as often as you can load and fire;" cried the -captain. - -"Ay, ay, sir;" said the man at the gun. - -At this instant, a shot from the schooner brought down some of the -standing and running rigging of the Albatross, and severed the jaws of -the main-gaff. It was immediately answered by her long gun, which was -kept rapidly firing, and ploughed up the decks of the pirate at every -shot. During this, the Albatross by her superiority of sailing, kept -wearing round the schooner, raking her fore and aft with a most -destructive fire. They were now near enough to see that the decks of the -supposed pirate were covered with men, among whom the thirty-two pounder -had done considerable mischief. Finding that this sort of warfare was -telling against them, the pirates altered their course, made sail, and -ranged up within a cable's length of their opponent, displaying at the -same time in their ship a black flag soaring up to her main-peak. As -they approached, the sound of many voices came over the waters, and -the crew of the Albatross distinctly heard the pirates singing in full -chorus:-- - - "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!" - -"It must be the miscreants we left on the island of Madagascar;" said -the young merchant. "I remember that murderous song well; but we'll -strive hard to spoil their singing." - -"Scrunch me if we don't make 'em change their toon at any rate;" -exclaimed the old man. "There's nothin in life I've been so much wishin -for as a 'portunity to sarve out that ere double distilled willain -Scrumpydike, or Rifle, or whatever his name is." - -"And you must leave the other scoundrel to me;" added Oriel Porphyry. "I -have an account to settle with him, and if I can get within reach, he -shall not escape." - -The pirate ranged up on the quarter of the Albatross, pouring in her -broadside as she advanced, which was answered with all the guns that -could be brought to bear on that side of the ship, and then, by a -manoeuvre skilfully executed, the Albatross was made to wear round the -schooner, pouring in a volley of musketry, till she presented her other -side, from which another sweeping fire belched forth. The shot crashed -through the timbers of the pirate, committing dreadful slaughter upon -her closely packed deck, and when the smoke which enveloped her bows -cleared away, it was seen that her foretop-mast had gone, her sails had -been shot through in numerous places, and a considerable portion of -her rigging hung in ragged shreds. Three cheers from the crew of the -Albatross, and groans, and shouts and imprecations from the schooner, -evinced the effect the firing had in both ships. - -The pirate bore up as if with the intention of running alongside to -board, and poured in her broadside as she advanced, which killed six or -seven men, and wounded several others; but her opponent waited till she -was within about three ships' length, and then gave her the contents -of all her available carronades. The mizen and mainmast of the pirate, -which had previously been wounded, now fell by the board. At this -instant the schooner fell foul of the Albatross on her larboard quarter, -and the pirates made several desperate attempts to board, but the crew -of the other ship kept up such a murderous discharge of musketry and -small arms from her tops as well as from her decks, that every attempt -was ineffectual, and the Albatross wearing off, discharged her larboard -quarter-deck guns, and such of the main-deck guns as could be brought to -bear, into the schooner's larboard bow. - -The excitement on board the Albatross was now at its height. Every man -was at his post, and one spirit seemed to stir the whole. The wounded -were carried down to the surgeon as soon as their hurts were known, and -the dead thrown into the sea that they might not incommode the living. -Oriel Porphyry continued in one of the most exposed parts of the ship -encouraging the men, and firing a musket whenever the ships were near -enough for him to do so with any effect. Broadside after broadside -followed from the Albatross in rapid succession, sweeping the decks of -the schooner, and splitting her timbers into fragments. But the pirate -captain still made every exertion to board the merchant ship. His vessel -was scarcely manageable, and nearly half her crew were either killed -or wounded: but he bore up to his opponent with the same dauntless -resolution that had distinguished him throughout his career; he cheered -his men on to the fight; and continued to discharge every gun that could -be brought into play. - -A quick and well-directed fire of musketry was kept up from the tops and -forecastle of the Albatross, and her quarter deck guns were discharged -with scarcely any intermission and with dreadful effect. The schooner -now fell on board the merchant ship on the starboard quarter, and the -pirates lashed her bowsprit to the stump of their mainmast; but the -lashings soon afterwards gave way, and the two vessels, yard-arm and -yard-arm, continued to pour into each other their sweeping broadsides, -very much to the advantage of the Albatross, who was crippling her -opponent at every discharge, and slaughtering her crew. - -At this time the main-mast of the pirate fell over the side, and as the -smoke cleared away, she was seen with her ports jammed in, her decks -torn up in several places, her hull battered, and every part of her -wearing the appearance of a complete wreck. But Captain Death was not a -man to think of surrendering. When his vessel became short of hands, he -assisted in working a gun; and as soon as he could get the two ships -close alongside, he headed a party that lashed them together, and then, -followed by the remainder of his crew--men of all nations, of all -colours, and of every kind of costume, rushed upon the deck of the -Albatross. - -The fight now became one of hand to hand. The pistol, the pike, and -the cutlass seemed the only weapons in requisition. The crew of the -Albatross hurried to the place where Captain Death, Lieutenant Rifle, -and their followers were hewing their way with the most desperate -valour. Oriel Porphyry, the captain, Climberkin, and Boggle headed -their party, cheering them on, and cutting down their opponents. Oriel -Porphyry was engaged with a gigantic negro, whose head he severed at a -blow, and then attacked a second and a third with the same spirit, and -with a similar effect. Old Hearty beheld his ancient enemy, first known -to him by the name of Scrumpydike, and frantic with the remembrance of -what he had once suffered at his hands, he rushed upon him, cutlass in -hand. A pistol was discharged at his head as he advanced which missed -its object, and the two were immediately engaged in hacking at each -other with all their strength and skill. The old man in strength was the -equal of his opponent, but he was his superior at the weapon, at which -he had been practising ever since their previous fight, with the desire -of having his revenge should they meet again. The struggle was a fierce -one, but it was brief. Hearty cut his opponent's sword-arm above the -elbow with such force that it severed the bone, and at the same moment -the young midshipman Loop run him through the body with a boarding-pike. -With a malignant scowl he fell dead on the deck. - -Oriel Porphyry had endeavoured to come in contact with the pirate -captain, whom he observed at a short distance from him cutting down all -by whom he was opposed; but several times he was attacked by some other -of the gang whom he was obliged to dispose of before he could have the -slightest chance of getting at him. At last Captain Death saw his former -companion, and freeing himself from those with whom he was engaged, he -hurried towards him, waving his uplifted sword streaming with blood, and -shouting exclamations of rage and defiance. - -"It is you I have sought far and near since you escaped me, but there's -no escape for you now;" muttered the pirate, as he rushed furiously -upon the young merchant, and strived by the force and rapidity of his -blows to bring the combat to a speedy termination. But he was engaged -with one of the most accomplished swordsmen in existence, with a -well-tried weapon, and a spirit burning to destroy the wretch with whom -he fought. He parried dexterously, and warded off with the greatest ease -the most furious blows that were aimed at him; and the blood flowing -from wounds in the captain's head and shoulder soon proved that he was -not content with acting merely on the defensive. During the struggle -these two got separated from the other combatants, and they stood in a -part of the deck unnoticed by the men engaged on either side. Death, -smarting from his wounds, pressed upon his antagonist with increasing -rage and violence; but the latter, knowing that the victory was in his -own hands, allowed the other to exhaust his strength in unavailing -blows; then when he found the pirate's exertions slacken, his sword -flashed about with a rapidity that baffled the eye, and seemed to draw -blood at every stroke. He followed him with a strength of arm that -appeared perfectly irresistible, beating down his defence, and striking -aside his blows; but just as he was hurrying forward to put a finishing -stroke to the contest, he tumbled over a dead body, and fell unarmed at -the feet of his foe. - -"Ah, ha!" shouted the pirate chief, while a gleam of malignant -satisfaction shot from his eyes; "your doom is sealed." He swung round -his sabre to bring it with all his strength upon the head of his -defenceless antagonist, but before the blow had time to descend he heard -a slight shriek, a rush of feet, and the next moment received two pistol -bullets in his body. Oriel Porphyry regained his footing as Captain -Death fell staggering on the deck, and with a wild cry of exultation -Eureka rushed into his arms. - -The pirates on the fall of their leader became dispirited; but knowing -what would be their reward if taken, they returned to their ship, -fighting desperately every inch of the way, and the strife was renewed -upon their own deck till every man of them was cut down. The crew -of the Albatross had upon the termination of the conflict dispersed -themselves over the schooner with the intention of securing whatever -valuables she might contain, when they were obliged to make a rapid -retreat to their own vessel, as the schooner was rapidly sinking, but -they did not depart without bringing with them a prisoner whom they had -found secreted in the hold. The lashings were immediately cut away, and -the Albatross had just time to sheer off, when the pirate filled and -went down. - -"Well, master Log!" exclaimed Boggle to his trembling prisoner; "I likes -to ha' particular notions o' things in general, as every man as is a man -and thinks like a man should have, and I has a notion o' you as is werry -particular; arn't you a willain?" - -"A villain--a villain--a great villain--a very great villain--indeed I -may say a pretty considerable, atrocious, abominable tarnation villain, -mister Boggle!" cried the other with a look that showed that he had been -entirely put out of conceit of himself. - -"What you says true's parfectly right," said the second lieutenant; -"and I must pay you the compliment to acknowledge as how you shows a -deal o' gumption in your 'splanation o' your own character. Don't you -desarve to be spiflicated?" - -"Spiflicated--spiflicated--well spiflicated--regularly spiflicated--I -must confess that I ought to be right down regularly spiflicated, -smothered, smashed, dished up and done for;" acknowledged the -unfortunate captain's clerk, with a most woeful physiognomy and a -sincerity of manner that carried conviction to his hearers. - -"I likes to make ev'ry fellar comfortable arter his own fashion," said -Boggle, with the utmost gravity; and then addressing a sailor who was -grinning from ear to ear at a few paces distant, he cried, "I say, -Solemnchops! just rig a noose in the main top gallant halyards." - -"I'll do it wi' pleasure for the gentleman, sir;" replied the man, -benevolently hastening to execute the command. - -"Now, master Log, I begs to say as how I got no notion o' hurtin' any o' -your feelins," continued the lieutenant; "but I considers it necessary -for your health as you should be hanged. I knows unkimmon well as human -natur' is human natur', and in consequence o' that ere I comes to the -conclusion as it is the most properest thing as is for you to make -yourself agreeable to your friends wi' a dance upon nuffin. But afore I -leaves you in this here moloncholy perdickyment, I think 't will be but -friendly in me to hint to you as how you ought to die like a respectable -'dividual; arn't you rayther a miserable sinner?" - -"A miserable sinner!--a miserable sinner! a very miserable sinner--a -very shocking miserable sinner, indeed I may say a very extraordinary -shocking miserable sinner, and no mistake;" cried the unhappy Log. - -More dead than alive the trembling wretch had the noose placed round his -neck, and was run up to the halyards, accompanied by the consolations of -the friendly Boggle. - -"Hullo! what are you about there? Let that man down directly!" shouted -the captain as he approached the scene, and the ex-captain's clerk -descended upon the deck with a velocity that sent all the breath out of -his body. "What's the meaning o' this?" - -"Why, you see, sir," replied the second lieutenant, with his usual -gravity; "I can't say as Master Log be given to drinkin, but I sartainly -seed him just now unkimmonly elewated." - - - - -CHAP. XI. - -THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN DEATH, AND THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS. - - -"There's no saving his life, don't you see;" remarked Tourniquet, who -had discovered that Captain Death was not quite dead, and had been -examining his wounds. "Every effort would be useless here, all skill -unavailing; and there are many others in imminent danger, to whom I -might be of service." - -"Stop, he moves!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, as he stood gazing on the -changing features of the dying pirate. - -Captain Death lay extended on his back on the deck where he had fallen. -His sword was still firmly grasped in his hand, and both his arms were -stretched out nearly at right angles with his body. The long silken cap -in which he used to confine his black hair had fallen off, and the hair -fell in disordered masses, clotted with blood, around his face. He had -allowed his beard and moustachios to grow, and they now added to the -natural ferocity of his countenance. His jacket, of the richest velvet, -was cut through in several places, and stiffened with gore, which had -run down and soiled the crimson shawl of embroidered silk he wore girded -round his waist, and had more conspicuously stained his lower garments -of linen. His face was livid, and his eyes blood-shot, and the -expression which was impressed upon them kept continually changing -from pain to rage, and from rage to hate. Occasionally some convulsive -movement of the muscles would more strongly distort his features, and -his body writhed and twisted as if in great agony. After a long fit of -violent shuddering, which shook every part of his body, his face assumed -a more tranquil expression, and his lips moved as if with an effort to -speak. - -"Virgo!" he whispered; "'tis your father. He comes to drag me to the -halter. See how he glares at me! He laughs. He shows me his chains. No, -no, no! 'Tis not that savage old man. 'Tis not him. There is no one. -Come to me, my preserver, come to me; and let the refreshing purity of -your caresses drive away the evil thoughts which have made my nature so -abandoned and desperate. There is the little bed, with its clean white -curtains; there are the flowers. There, there! I see you all again, -reminding me of a state of innocence I was unworthy to share. Come, my -preserver, come!" - -"He is delirious, don't you see;" observed the doctor. - -"Do you think there is any possibility of his recovering?" inquired the -young merchant. - -"Not the slightest; he won't live an hour;" replied Tourniquet. - -"Hush!" exclaimed Oriel; "he speaks again." - -"Virgo! 'tis time to rise. See how the rosy morning dawns upon the room! -Let me kiss you before you leave me: there! my soul is on my lips, and -I drink in a better life from yours. Draw around the curtains. My face -is on the pillow; I cannot see you, but my blessings follow you wherever -you go. Ah! you leave the room, and all is strife and hate and passion -within me." - -"He's talking of that young creature that was so fond of him, don't you -see," said the doctor; "though for my part I can't comprehend what she -could see in him to like." - -"There's no knowing," replied Oriel Porphyry; "the love of woman is a -mystery which none properly understand and few appreciate." - -"She's dead!" exclaimed the pirate in a heart-broken voice; "she's dead! -the innocent, the good, the gentle, the fearless, the confiding one, who -would have plucked the rank weeds from my sinful nature, has perished -and left me none like her in the world. She died for me--for me, a -wretch unworthy to breathe in her presence. All is lost. There is no -goodness now remaining on the earth. She's dead! she's dead!" - -"I did not think he had so much natural feeling in him;" said the young -merchant. - -"There's nothing so evil but what has some good in it, don't you see;" -replied the surgeon. - -The expression in the features of Captain Death now underwent a complete -change: it became fierce, daring, and revengeful. His body appeared -violently agitated, and his arms moved with convulsive twitches. - -"Pipe all hands to quarters!" shouted the dying pirate with all -his remaining strength. "Make sail--clear away for fighting--run -out the guns and shot them.--She's a rich merchantman, and there's -enough in her to enrich us all. Pour out a broadside--there goes her -main-mast:--another, and her mizenmast goes by the board. Sweep her -quarter deck with our quarter deck guns, and pour down upon her a fire -of musketry from the tops. Board her by the bow-sprit. Now, boys, follow -me and cut down all." Here the features of the dying pirate became -absolutely terrific, and he made some desperate struggles to rise from -the ground, in which he at last succeeded; when, waving his sword round -his head, he sung in a piercing voice-- - - "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." - -"Ah!" screamed the singer, while an expression of the most intense agony -distorted his features. He dropped the sword he had held; he drew both -his hands suddenly to his wounded side, and staggering back, gasping -frightfully for breath, he fell violently on his back. - -"He's dead, don't you see;" said the doctor. - -"A sail on the starboard quarter;" cried a man aloft. - -"No more pirates, I hope;" exclaimed Fortyfolios, who had just ventured -on deck. - -"It is not quite impossible, don't you see;" was the surgeon's -encouraging reply, and both almost immediately descended the hatchway, -one to look after his patients, and the other to look after himself. -Oriel Porphyry hastened to the captain, whom he found standing in the -waist, examining the distant vessel through a glass. - -"Any more fighting preparing for us?" inquired the young merchant. - -"Can't exactly say yet, sir, but it's best to be prepared;" replied old -Hearty, as he gave some orders to the men around him. "She looms large, -and looks as if she was arter standing right across our fore-foot. Now -she's alterin her course, and is comin with all sail set right down upon -us. Call all hands to quarters: Climberkin, let the guns be shotted, -and the dead bodies flung into the sea;--and yet I think she's a -merchantman. Scrunch me, if it arn't my old ship, the Whittington!" - -"What, my father's vessel?" asked Oriel Porphyry. - -"The very same!" cried the old man with delight. "I knows her better -nor any ship I ever sailed in. No doubt she wants to speak with us. -Bring her head up to the wind, helmsman! I wonder whether my old captain -is alive still? He was a right-down trump. But what a mazement he'll be -in to find me in command o' the Albatross." - -"I know Captain Barter well. I've met him frequently at my father's -table, and a very gentlemanly, sensible man he is;" said the young -merchant. "I have no doubt he's brought me some communication from -Columbus." - -"We shall soon see, sir, as we shall be alongside very shortly;" -observed Hearty. - -"Is master Oriel Porphyry on board?" was shouted from the Whittington, -as the ships neared each other. Oriel caught up a speaking trumpet. - -"Yes, Captain Barter, I am here;" he replied. - -"I will come on board, sir, if you please, as soon as a boat is -lowered;" said the captain of the Whittington. - -"Have you any communication for me from my father?" inquired Oriel. - -"I have, sir; and 'tis of great consequence," replied the other. - -Oriel Porphyry was now all anxiety and impatience to know the -intelligence he was promised. He hurried to the quarter-deck to receive -his visitor, and strode backwards and forwards with hasty steps till he -made his appearance. Now he thought that the news must be bad, and in a -moment after he imagined that it was good. One instant he anticipated -the death of his father, and in the next, hoped that he had been raised -by his fellow-citizens to the highest honours in the nation. And in this -way his mind continued changing its impressions for the better and for -the worse, till he had worked himself into a state of considerable -excitement, when Captain Barter advanced towards him. - -He was an elderly man, of gentlemanly appearance; neat in his dress, and -polite in his deportment. His face was pale, and slightly marked with -wrinkles; and his features were mild and pleasing. His hair was gray, -and his body rather thin; but he was perfectly upright in his walk, and -his step was firm and manly. - -"I regret I have unpleasant intelligence to communicate to you, sir," -said Captain Barter, after they had exchanged the customary salutations. - -"It is then as I suspected," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, earnestly. "My -father is dead." - -"No, sir, it is not so bad as that," replied the captain, as if -hesitating in making the communication. - -"What is it then? let me know immediately. I am sure by your manner it -is something dreadful," cried the young merchant. - -"Your father is a prisoner," said Captain Barter, with a look of sincere -commiseration. - -"Have they dared?" exclaimed Oriel. - -"But I am sorry to say it is worse than that, sir," added his companion. - -"What! what is it? Do not keep me in suspense--I implore you to tell -me," cried the other. - -"He is ordered for execution," said the captain. - -"The miscreants!" muttered the young merchant. "But I knew it would -be so. I knew they would not rest satisfied with their privileges -curtailed. I knew they would seek the first opportunity to regain their -lost power. I was convinced that they would regard my father as their -enemy, and sacrifice him on the earliest occasion. But tell me how it -was brought about? I would know all." - -"After the revolution, which effected those important changes in the -government of which you have been informed," said Captain Barter, -"nothing could have exceeded the appearance of good will which existed -in every part of the empire. The emperor seemed desirous of nothing so -much as gratifying the people; and his ministers appeared to emulate -each other in endeavouring to become popular. Public fêtes were given -in honour of the revolution, at which the emperor assisted in person; -and measures of the most liberal character were passed through the -legislature, without a division. All was harmony and social order. -The citizens congratulated each other on the improved state of the -country--the industrious classes found themselves provided with -sufficient employment, at a fair recompense--trade again became -brisk--commerce flourished; and abundance seemed to be generally -diffused over the whole surface of Columbia." - -"A mere trick!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry; "nothing but an artifice to -lull the people into a fancied security, I'll wager my existence." - -"Just so, sir," replied the captain. "The leaders of the people had -now nothing to complain of. Every improvement was made before they had -time to offer a suggestion on the subject; and that being rendered -comparatively useless, they quickly lost their influence over their -fellow-citizens. Your father, observing how well things were proceeding, -withdrew himself from all participation in politics, considering that -his services were no longer required, and devoted himself to his -commercial pursuits, and to the realisation of those philanthropic -desires that have distinguished every portion of his existence. He -became again so completely the private citizen, that no person unaware -of the circumstances could have imagined that he had recently played so -important a part in the late changes. All the most influential of the -popular leaders gradually retired into private life in the same manner." - -"I see the scheme," cried Oriel, eagerly. "The vile treachery becomes -manifest. How well 'twas planned. How artfully designed. Oh! these -planners and plotters are a brilliant set; they are too wise for us poor -citizens." - -"So they proved, sir," continued the captain; "for while the things I -have related were being done, the government gradually and imperceptibly -concentrated a military force in the metropolis, by calling in portions -of the garrisons distributed over the empire; and these were well -supplied with all the necessaries of war, and liberally paid, and -officered by men upon whom the government could depend. Soon after this, -on the pretence that they were no longer necessary, the national guards -were disbanded and deprived of their arms. Suspicion was now created -among the sharp-sighted few; but the public generally did not appear to -have the slightest notion of the danger which threatened them. As the -object of the emperor and his party began to assume a more threatening -aspect, the leaders of the people took the alarm, and endeavoured to -awaken their fellow-citizens to a sense of their danger. In the course -of a few hours every one of them was securely lodged in a dungeon." - -"And my father amongst them," exclaimed the young merchant. - -"He appears to have been the chief object at which their malice was -directed," observed the captain. "At this time it was thought necessary -to throw off the mask. The old ministers were restored to their -forfeited privileges and possessions; and your father's implacable foe, -Philadelphia, was placed at the head of the government. An imposing -force of soldiery was kept continually under arms, to prevent any rising -of the populace; and seizures of concealed arms were made in every -direction. The people, deprived of their leaders and of their weapons, -felt themselves powerless. They saw too late the trap into which they -had fallen. They beheld the despotism that was approaching them, and -were unable to make the slightest effort to defend themselves from its -approaches. Domiciliary visits were now made, upon the most frivolous -pretexts, to the houses of the principal citizens; and papers and -arms were seized, and their owners, if they gave the slightest cause -of offence, were hurried to prison. Any one known or suspected of -entertaining hostile intentions was seized and incarcerated, and fined -in heavy penalties, or sent out of the country. The citizens were -confounded, and appeared utterly unable to make the slightest -resistance." - -"Oh, I wish I had been there!" exclaimed Oriel, eagerly, "I would have -infused such a spirit into their natures as should have made them ready -to rush upon their oppressors with a certainty of success; and that -conviction should have insured their triumph. I would have made their -hearts astir with the love of freedom, till all obstacles in their way -should have been as straws in the path of the tempest. I would have made -them fight like lions--I would have made them conquer like men. But what -became of my father? you have not told me that. Tell me what became of -him?" - -"While they were placing the citizens in a degree of subjection fit -for their purpose," replied Captain Barter, "with a monstrous deal of -unnecessary parade, they were making preparations for the trial of the -leaders of the people. The long-expected day came, and its proceedings -were watched with eager interest by the citizens, although they dared -not show the anxiety they felt. Master Porphyry, with his companions, -were arraigned as rebels and traitors, accused of murder and treason, -and reviled by the hired advocates of the crown in terms which only the -more exposed the badness of the cause they defended. Philadelphia was -president of the Chamber of Peers, by whom they were tried; and he took -every occasion to abuse, brow-beat, and threaten your father in language -the most intemperate that can be imagined; but your father replied in a -manner that would have conciliated a savage. His language was mild, his -bearing noble; and when he was called upon to make his defence, he made -one of the most eloquent speeches that had ever been heard within those -walls. He merely related what he had done, and what were his reasons for -so doing; exposed the errors of the government, and the mischiefs to -which they had led; recounted the share he had had in the revolution, -which had reduced the power of the crown and of the aristocracy to -reasonable limits, and the motives which induced him to use all his -influence in the contest: and his defence so utterly annihilated the -charges brought against him, that he must have been acquitted had he -been treated with any thing like justice; but his judges were his -accusers, and they sealed his doom before they entered upon his trial. -The prisoners were all found guilty. Some were sent into exile, some -imprisoned for life, some were heavily fined--and Master Porphyry was -condemned to be beheaded, and to have all his property confiscated to -the crown." - -"The murderous and insatiate tyrants!" exclaimed the young merchant. - -"When Philadelphia delivered the sentence," continued the captain, "he -appeared to take a malignant joy in having such an opportunity for -reviling your father--there was no name of opprobrium he did use: but -your honoured parent replied to him only with a look of wonder and pity; -and with a bow to his relentless judges, left the court in company with -his guards." - -"Noble old man!" cried Oriel, earnestly. - -"As soon as the people learned the result of the trial, they were in the -deepest affliction," added Captain Barter, "that the kind and excellent -philanthropist--the true and disinterested patriot, the glory of their -city, and the pride of the world--should perish on a scaffold, was more -than they could endure. But they had no leaders, and no weapons; and, -although they would have risen in a mass in his rescue, under the -circumstances of the case they saw that any attempt of the kind was -utterly hopeless. All eyes were then turned toward you. Your character -had already acquired their admiration; your relationship to Master -Porphyry excited their devotion; and, knowing that you had departed on -a voyage, the most powerful friends of your father met secretly for the -purpose of devising some plan by which they could make you acquainted -with your father's danger, and with their desire to assist in his -rescue. With this idea in view, all your father's vessels that could be -sent to sea, besides a vast number of ships belonging to other merchants -who had volunteered to give their assistance, sailed in quest of you. -From knowing something of the plan of voyage designed by your father I -imagined that about this time you would be crossing the Atlantic; so -here I have been sailing about for the last two days, and there are -nearly a hundred sail of merchant vessels in the same pursuit." - -"A sail on the larboard bow!" shouted a man. - -"That is one of them, I have no doubt, sir," observed Captain Barter. - -"A sail on the starboard quarter!" shouted another. - -"There is another, sir!" added the captain. - -"A sail to leeward!" cried a third. - -"We shall have them all about you soon, sir," said Captain Barter. - -"There's a sail in every point o' the compass," cried Climberkin, as he -swept the horizon with his glass. - -"I told you so, sir," continued the captain. - -Climberkin was right. Wherever the eye could gaze the spars of a vessel -were seen rising from the wave; and, apparently, as soon as each ship -discovered the Albatross, she made all sail towards her. It was a -beautiful sight to see them approaching, most of them with every stitch -of canvass set--some bearing right down upon the Albatross, and others -making tacks; while the distant cheers of their crews, answered by the -crews of the Whittington and the Albatross, increased the stirring -character of the scene. As soon as they were near enough a boat was seen -putting off from each vessel; and, a few minutes after, the captains of -the different ships came on board the Albatross, and sat with Oriel -Porphyry in his cabin for several hours, in deep and earnest conference. -These had scarcely departed when others arrived. New vessels kept -continually approaching. As fast as one party left the ship others made -their appearance, and at last the Albatross was surrounded by an immense -fleet. All their commanders having at last communicated with Oriel -Porphyry, they crowded sail for Columbia. - -"Captain," exclaimed the young merchant, after the last of his visitors -had departed, "are you sure of the crew?" - -"To a man, sir," replied old Hearty. "There's such a stir in the ship as -never was afore. They are all impatient to be led against your enemies. -I never saw such enthusiusiasm in all my life." - -"Keep them in that humour, captain," said Oriel Porphyry. "Let every man -have a good supply of ball cartridges, a musket, a pair of pistols, and -a cutlass." - -"Yes, sir." - -"And let a party be formed who can use the hatchet and crow-bar with -good effect." - -"Yes, sir." - -"And get the carpenter to make carriages for the larger guns, so that -they can be dragged by ropes upon the land; and let them be manned by -picked men." - -"Yes, sir: and if we don't rescue your honourable father out o' the -clutches o' them ere lubbers, I'm spiflicated if we don't diskiver the -reason why." - -"How far are we from port?" asked Oriel. - -"About two days sail, sir," replied the captain. - -"We shall be too late if the greatest despatch is not used," observed -the young merchant, earnestly. "I rely upon your using every effort that -your skill can suggest." - -"I'll do every thing, sir, as a mortal cretur can do!" exclaimed the old -man. "I arn't the fellow to stand shilly-shally at such a time as this. -I'll look to every thing myself, and see about it immediately." - -The captain had scarcely left the cabin, and Oriel had thrown himself -back in his seat, in deep and earnest meditation, when he was disturbed -by a knock at the door. - -"Come in," he cried. - -"May I enter, Oriel?" said Eureka, as she gently opened the door. - -"Of course, dearest!" replied Oriel Porphyry, as he hastened towards -her, and led her into the cabin, with her hands clasped in his. - -"You are kinder to me than I deserve, Oriel," murmured his fair -companion, with a look of gratitude from her lustrous eyes that he -found perfectly irresistible. - -"Not at all, my Eureka!" said her lover, affectionately; "am I not -indebted to you for life and liberty, and all that render them valuable? -Do I not know how much you have dared and endured for my sake? And -do you think it possible, that with a knowledge of these things, I -can regard you with any other feeling than that of the most devoted -affection? No, Eureka, I must love you while I have life. But how -cleverly you continued the disguise. When I first saw you, I recognised -in the handsome page a resemblance to features it was impossible for me -not to notice; but your scheme was so admirably managed that I never -entertained the slightest suspicion of your true character." - -"Nor up to the present moment has any one in the ship," replied Eureka. -"They only know me as Zabra, except that worthy creature, Tourniquet, -who discovered my secret when I was wounded, and I immediately made him -aware of my history and object in joining you, at which he was so much -delighted as to proffer his assistance in carrying on the deception; and -I should have been discovered but for him on more than one occasion." - -"That accounts for his confusion at the tiger-hunt," observed Oriel; -"and for what I considered the mystery in your behaviour. But there is -nothing strange or unaccountable in it now. I only wonder at you. I am -amazed when I think of your risking so much for one who is so little -worthy of such extraordinary devotion." - -"You will not love me the less for it, will you?" inquired Eureka, -gazing in his face with a look of thrilling tenderness. - -"Love you less, Eureka!" exclaimed the young merchant; "that would be -ungrateful! While I have an appreciation of truth and excellence and -fidelity, and that wonderful intellectual power you have so often -exhibited, the admiration with which I regard you must approach -idolatry. You are a creature to be proud of." - -"And yet I am afraid I shall lose you," said his companion, anxiously; -"I have just heard upon what errand you are hastening. It is full of -danger. It is beset by perils. But the cause is a proud one, and I do -not attempt to dissuade you from proceeding with it. Go on your career -of glory. Give your impetuous soul free scope for the developement of -its energies. Think not of me, except the thought can nerve your arm and -strengthen your resolution. Be as daring as your fearless nature prompts -you to be. With such an end in view as that you have before you, I can -allow myself no other sense, or impression, or emotion than that which -may accompany my earnest hopes for your success. I have come to a -resolution to forget my own selfish feelings. It is time I should. Your -advancement, your greatness, your fame, are the objects to which any -thoughts must now always incline. If you live to triumph over your -enemies, and to attain that eminence whereon you are so desirous of -being placed, and to which you will do so much honour, none will rejoice -more sincerely than she who has shown herself so anxious to insure your -happiness--if you die----" - -"Eureka, my adored!" rapturously exclaimed Oriel, pressing her to his -breast, as he noticed that she was unable to proceed, "there is no fear -of such a result. Believe me you alarm yourself unnecessarily. I shall -succeed, I am assured of it: I shall succeed to have the proud enjoyment -of glorifying you with my pre-eminence. I feel convinced that if we can -only arrive in time, I shall rescue my father. Nothing shall stop me--I -will not be defeated: and if we should be too late for this great -object, which I see no reason to apprehend, I will not rest satisfied -till I have punished his murderers. I have no dread of death; but if I -should die, I shall die a death worthy of the lover of Eureka. I shall -die in endeavouring to rescue my country from its oppressors.--I shall -die in avenging the murder of one of the noblest and best of men." - -"One word more, Oriel--one word more," said Eureka. "I have only to ask -you, as a testimony of your love for me, that, if in the coming conflict -you should meet my father, you will not kill him." - -"He deserves little mercy at my hands," replied the young merchant. "But -your desire is natural, and I will comply with it. He must answer for -his crimes to the country they have disgraced. And now let us go on -deck, a little fresh air would do neither of us any harm; and when you -behold the noble fleet that has joined me in my enterprise, I hope that -all your apprehensions will vanish." - -Among the crew of the Albatross the intelligence of the events which had -occurred in Columbia created an extraordinary sensation; and as soon -as it was known that Oriel Porphyry designed attempting his father's -rescue, every man in the ship volunteered to assist in the enterprise. -Never was such a general indignation produced as that which burst from -them when they learned the fate to which the government had doomed -Master Porphyry. A land fight was something new to them, but they did -not prepare themselves for it with less alacrity, nor were their tongues -less active than their limbs. Various opinions prevailed as to the -best method of bringing about a revolution; and as to the best form -of government which should replace the old one, there were as many -different notions as tongues to utter them. A group had gathered -together in the forecastle, where they had been engaged for some -time over an extra allowance of grog, discussing different political -subjects, when Boggle, who, notwithstanding his promotion, was amazingly -fond of associating with his old messmates, joined the disputants. - -"I'll tell you what it is, my mates," said he, "government's tryin to -come their handy-dandy sugar-candy over us, and we arn't a goin to stand -nuffin o' the sort. Are we to be slaves?" - -"Never," shouted a dozen voices simultaneously. - -"Nebber," echoed Roly Poly, with equal energy, as he was gulping down -the contents of a huge black-jack of hot grog. - -"Now I likes to have particular notions o' things in general as every -man as is a man, and thinks like a man, should," continued Boggle. "And -I must say as how it's my notion that there's never no occasion for no -government whatsomdever." - -"Of course," remarked the boatswain, who would have thought it high -treason to have disagreed with his officer. - -"Ob coorse," repeated Roly Poly, still pulling away at the black-jack. - -"We don't want no rulers--there arn't no 'cessity for 'em;" said the -second lieutenant. "But if we must have kings--let every man be his own -king." - -"Let every man be his own king," was echoed from one to another -throughout the circle. - -"Let ebery man be his own king," repeated the fat cook. - -"The whole circumbendibus comes to this," continued Boggle. "If so be as -how we're obligated to pay for what we don't want, it's hoptional on our -parts not to want what we're obligated to pay for." - -"Certainly, sir," said the boatswain. - -"Sartinly, sar," echoed Roly Poly, endeavouring to hold his head up, and -look as if he understood what was going forward. - -"There's nuffin but oppression goin on fore and aft," said the orator. -"They grinds the faces o' the poor, and makes their bread o' the flour; -and therefore we must stand up for the liberty o' the subject." - -"We must stand up for the liberty o' the subject, there's not a doubt -on't," remarked the boatswain, evidently without knowing what the -liberty of the subject expressed. - -"De libty ob de subjack?" exclaimed the fat cook, vainly endeavouring -to steady his position. "I like de libty ob de black-jack best;" and -so saying, he waddled off after a very circuitous fashion, with the -black-jack under his arm. - - - - -CHAP. XII. - -THE CONCLUSION. - - -The morning dawned slow and sullenly over the great metropolis of -Columbia; and its immense field of buildings seemed as gloomy as the -skies above them. All the shops were closed, as if in a time of general -mourning; and the citizens hurried along the streets with melancholy and -unsocial looks. Occasionally, two or three would stop at a corner of a -street and exchange a few eloquent words and gesticulations; but the -approach of some of the numerous bands of soldiers that continually -perambulated the streets separated them, and they continued on their -way. Everywhere the houses looked cheerless, as if they had been -deserted. The shutters were closed, the windows darkened, and not a sign -of life appeared about them. Such of the inhabitants as had ventured -out, appeared to be proceeding in one direction, communicating with one -another when they could do so without being observed by the troops. All -wore the same aspect--that of deep dejection; but, occasionally, a -close observer might have noticed a more fierce expression in their -countenances, as a muttered execration escaped from their lips. - -They passed regiments of horse and foot at every commanding situation. -The whole city seemed to be filled with them; and their picquets -stationed at regular intervals, patroling every thoroughfare, prevented -any attempt at revolt on the part of the citizens. Still they proceeded -forward till they entered a spacious quadrangle, the whole space of -which, including all the avenues that approached it, was filled with -soldiers and citizens. Along the wall of a high gloomy building, -evidently from its construction a prison, there had been erected a -platform, covered with black cloth. Upon it appeared a block, and at a -short distance from it a coffin, both covered with black cloth. Around -the platform were a troop of horse; and others were posted along the -sides of the quadrangle, the inner space of which was filled with a -regiment of foot supported by several pieces of artillery. - -At one corner of the principal entrance to the quadrangle was an ancient -stone structure, very strongly built, from the windows of which there -was a good view of the proceedings before the prison; at the opposite -corner was a similar edifice, and in their windows and on their roofs -crowds of anxious citizens had congregated. If any had come with an -intention of attempting a rescue, the disposition of the military was -sufficient to make them despair; and all they did was to throng as near -as possible to the place of execution, where they stood regarding the -scaffold and its defenders with scowling looks, and hearts eager for -vengeance. - -The utmost decorum prevailed among the multitude. There was no talking -or laughing; and when Master Porphyry made his appearance upon the -scaffold every head was uncovered, and blessings loud and deep were -breathed from all. The philanthropist advanced to the block with a firm -step, and eyes as mild and kind as they had ever beamed. His look was -cheerful, and his bearing noble and manly. He wore the robe of honour, -which distinguished him as the chief magistrate of the city, as -if desirous of dying in possession of the dignity to which he had -been raised by the respect of his fellow-citizens. After bowing in -acknowledgment of the recognitions of the people, he looked unmoved upon -the coffin and the block; and with the executioner on one side, masked, -having a glittering axe in his hand, and with a priest on the other, who -kept addressing him with pious exhortations, to which he paid respectful -attention, he advanced to that part of the platform which overlooked the -surrounding multitude. Some murmurs and execrations had burst from the -spectators at sight of the executioner; but when it was noticed that -Master Porphyry was about to address them, the vast assembly were -instantly hushed to the most perfect silence. - -"My countrymen!" exclaimed the philanthropist, in a clear unbroken -voice, "I do not in any way regret the fate that has been prepared for -me, except so far as it prevents me continuing those offices of social -kindness which made the happiness of my existence. To be without the -means of doing good is scarcely less desirable than to be in the -commission of evil; and it was a wise and charitable thing of my -persecutors, after having confiscated all my property, to take away a -life no longer of value to the community."--A low murmur escaped from -the crowd. "I may safely say, and I proudly say, I have lived for you; -and it is an equal gratification for me to be allowed to assert, that -I die for you."--Ten thousand blessings followed the delivery of this -sentence. - -"My death, therefore, is not to be considered pitiable, if regarded in -that light. I am pleased that I have been thought worthy of this honour. -I am delighted that my oppressors have given me an opportunity of -leaving life with so much satisfaction to myself. Let me beg of you, -therefore, to refrain from any exhibition of regret for the manner of -my death--it is a very humane one; and my persecutors have shown me -a kindness in allowing me to be so disposed of.--I see nothing in it -terrible. I see nothing in it painful. I see nothing in it of shame or -dishonour. 'T is a blow, and it is over.--Had my oppressors wished, I -might have died suffering the most excruciating tortures. Had I lived, -probably I might have been the victim of some loathsome disease; or have -been deprived of my faculties--have become idiotic, or insane, or blind; -and at the last extremity have been deserted by friends, or left without -the means of serving those who most required assistance. How much better -is it for me to close my existence in this way, without pain, in the -full enjoyment of my reason, and surrounded by friends; and although -I am rendered incapable of continuing of use to you, the remembrance -of the pleasures I have enjoyed from a life of active benevolence is -sufficiently agreeable to overpower the regret I feel in having been -left to so unprofitable an end."--Again murmurs of applause broke from -all parts of the crowd. - -"There is however a regret, which is powerful, and which I require all -my philosophy to endure.--I regret that I leave my country in a worse -condition than I found her.--I regret that the freedom for which I -strived so earnestly is passing away from her people.--I regret to see -a state of bondage in preparation for the free hearts around me, which -is likely to deprive them of all their noblest privileges. I was born -a free citizen, and a free citizen I will die. The galling chains of -abject servitude which are being forged for you shall never disgrace -my nature. Remember, oh, my countrymen, that freedom is your natural -inheritance; and although it would be madness to attempt its -repossession without sufficient means, never give up the desire of -liberty--wait the fitting time; and while you endure, forget not that -the graves of your fathers are disgraced, and the spirits of your -children are being dishonoured."--The citizens testified, by loud shouts -and eager exclamations, their assent to the sentiments expressed by the -philanthropist; and many were the fierce looks directed towards the -soldiery. - -"If there is any man amongst you whom I have injured, I desire of him -most earnestly to tell me the wrong I have done, that I may repair it -before I die. I am quite certain that I have never done any one an -intentional injury; but if I have left undone any good which I might -have done, I consider that I have done an injustice, and would remedy it -before it be too late. Speak, my fellow-citizens; tell me what injuries -against you I have committed."--There was an eloquent silence, that -lasted for several minutes. Each man looked at his neighbour, and all -saw that the philanthropist had no accuser. - -"There is one more subject to which I wish to draw your attention, and -it is the last," said Master Porphyry, in a voice less firm than had -distinguished the delivery of the preceding portion of his discourse. -"I have a son. My persecutors, while punishing me, have thought proper -to make my child a beggar;--_that_ I feel. He possesses many good -qualities--many good qualities likely to render him an excellent -citizen. Let me bequeath him to your care."--A simultaneous shout of -assent from the immense multitude proved that the appeal had not been -made in vain. - -"And now that I have left nothing undone, and nothing untold, I must -take my leave of you." - -"No, no!" was shouted by every voice. - -"My dear friends, it must be," continued Master Porphyry; "I am taking -up the time of these good people; and although it is a pleasure for me -to linger among you, I must not purchase it at the expense of trouble to -others. I should leave you with a cheerful heart, if I had not upon me -the fear that there is much suffering preparing for you; and I should -die without an unkind feeling against any human creature, if I did not -possess at this time a natural indignation against your oppressors. For -myself I have no fear--those who have wronged me I forgive; but I have -the feelings of a man and a citizen, and I cannot forgive the enemies -of my country."--Groans and indignant exclamations here rose on every -side. "I implore you to desist from the exhibition of any acts of -violence with the hope of procuring my liberation. There is not a chance -of success. You will be slaughtered in crowds the first attempt of the -kind you may make. Let not my last moments be made wretched by seeing -your blood shed unavailingly. If I have done that which seems good in -your eyes, it was with the desire of gaining your love that I did it. -Have I succeeded?"--An universal shout of assent burst from all parts of -the crowd. - -"Then I die with the proudest satisfaction I could enjoy under the -circumstances. I hope you will raise for me no useless monuments. I -desire that when I am dead my unprofitable body may meet with no funeral -honours. If I have done that which is honourable, honour me in your -remembrance. If I have done that which is good, teach your children to -do as I have done. With my best wishes for your happiness--with my most -earnest aspirations for your enfranchisement, I can now lay my head -upon the block. Grieve not because I die: you should rejoice that your -fellow-citizen can die without dishonour." - -"We'll avenge you, our benefactor!" shouted a voice from the crowd. - -"We'll be revenged on your murderers!" exclaimed another. - -"Down with the tyrants!" cried a third. Similar exclamations followed, -and the masses of the people seemed in great commotion, pressing forward -towards the soldiery with groans, hisses, and execrations; but when the -different regiments made a movement forward and presented their arms -as if about to fire, the multitude fell back, and order was restored -amongst them. - -"Think of your sins, unhappy man," said the priest, with a hypocritical -visage, who was one of those bigots who put on the garment, and know -nothing of the spirit, of religion;--"think of your sins, and repent, -for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - -"I would repent, good sir," replied Master Porphyry, mildly, "if I -thought I had any thing of which I could repent; or if I thought I -could do any good by repenting." - -"Confess your sins against your God! confess, and be saved! There is -salvation for the worst of sinners," drawled out the other. - -"I am not aware of having committed any sins," said the philanthropist; -"therefore I can have no confession to make." - -"How have you served your Creator? What has been your religion?" -inquired his companion, sharply. - -"I have considered that philanthropy was the only true religion, and I -have practised it," replied master Porphyry; "and I felt convinced that -the right way of worshipping God was by doing all the good in my power -to my fellow-creatures; and from that way I have never deviated." - -"Atheistical, abominable, atrocious, heretical, and damnable!" exclaimed -the priest, with a look of horror. "You are in the hands of the devil. -The church renounces you. Flames and brimstone must be your portion; -wailing and gnashing of teeth your reward." - -The philanthropist looked surprised; but turning to one of the -assistant executioners who stood at a short distance, he said, "I am -ready." The man instantly proceeded to disrobe him of his upper garment, -and arranged his dress so that the whole of his neck was bare. - -"I would rather have died in that robe," observed he; "for I like not -parting with the honours that have been bestowed upon me. However, it -is gratifying to know that I have never disgraced it. It can give me -no distinction where I am going, therefore there let it lie."--His -countenance every moment appeared to become more benevolent in its -expression; and there was a nobility in his manner that commanded -respect from all around him. - -"Kill me as quickly as you can, my good friend," said he to the -executioner; "but after you have killed me you may do what you please." - -The citizens had watched with breathless interest the preparations for -Master Porphyry's execution; but when they beheld him kneel down before -the block, and saw the headsman raise his axe, a shudder seemed to pass -over the whole multitude. At this instant a proud-looking man, in a -military costume, appeared upon the scaffold; and, immediately he was -observed, a yell of execration arose from the quadrangle, and from every -place that could command a view of the platform. The officer stood up -his full height, and looked down upon the people with glances of scorn -and contempt. Groans, hisses, and curses became louder and more general. - -"Death to the persecutor!" shouted one. - -"Down with the oppressor!" cried another. - -"Yell on ye wretched rabble!" exclaimed the object of their indignation, -his mustachios curling with a contemptuous sneer, and his eyes flashing -with malignity. "It matters not to me what is said by such vile hounds. -Yell on then, it does my heart good to hear ye; and ye know full well ye -dare not do any thing else." Then turning round to Master Porphyry, he -said, "I have come to testify my loyalty by beholding the death of a -traitor." - -"There is no traitor here, Philadelphia," replied the philanthropist, -mildly, "unless it be yourself." - -"Oh, the hated tyrant!" shouted some of the multitude. - -"The curses of the people are upon thee, thou miserable slave!" cried -others. - -"Down with him! Down with the despot! Down with the enslaver of his -country!" exclaimed the rest. At this instant a banner was raised near -the centre of the quadrangle, with the inscription upon it, in large -letters, of "PORPHYRY, OR DEATH!" It was the signal for an immediate -rush towards the scaffold. With one simultaneous cheer the vast -multitude hurried forwards, burst in upon the troops, and with frantic -rage began to struggle with them for the possession of their arms. A -volley of musketry from an opposite window at this moment killed the -executioners and several others, and the rest, with the exception of -Philadelphia and Master Porphyry, took to flight. - -"Leap down here, my benefactor, and I will save you," shouted a voice -from beneath the platform. - -"You shall not escape me a second time, my enemy," muttered the noble -as he drew his sword, and with a look of mingled hatred and ferocity -exclaimed, "Thus I punish a traitor!" as he drove the weapon through -the body of his companion. - -The philanthropist gazed on his murderer, more in sorrow than in anger; -and the only words he uttered, before he dropped down dead on the -platform, were, "MY BROTHER!" The miserable fratricide seemed confounded -by the avowal; but little time was allowed him for reflection. Curses, -yells, screams, groans, and execrations burst from the assembled -citizens as they noticed the death of their chief magistrate; and -Philadelphia fell by his side, pierced by a hundred bullets. A shout -of triumph arose when they beheld the fall of the tyrant; and, as if -inspirited by the sight, they threw themselves upon the soldiery in -countless masses, and endeavoured to drag them from their horses, or -wrest their weapons out of their hands. In this manoeuvre, although it -was attended by immense loss of life, many succeeded; but the strength -and discipline of the troops at last prevailed, and the citizens were -forced out of the quadrangle; and when the artillery began to play upon -them they dispersed in all directions. - -The soldiery were now forming ready to make a charge in case the people -should re-assemble, when from the stone buildings at the corner of the -avenue a most destructive fire of heavy cannon was opened upon them. -Every window in the neighbourhood was broken by the concussion, and the -havoc made in both the horse and foot regiments was excessive. The word -was given for the foot soldiers to endeavour to take these buildings by -assault, and they marched forward for that purpose; but directly they -came near enough, a continuous stream of bullets issued from every place -that could command a shot at them, and they fell back in confusion. -Again they advanced to the assault, pouring in a steady fire at the -windows; but these spaces were blocked up with sand-bags, allowing only -sufficient room for a ship's gun to be run in and out, and they were -defended by the crew of the Albatross, under the command of their -veteran captain. After fighting their way through all opposition, -assisted by detachments from the fleet, and by the citizens, they had -dragged the guns through the city, and when the people made their attack -upon the soldiers, they were preparing their batteries. The military -again came to the attack, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the brave -sailors; and although they persisted for a long time in endeavouring to -obtain possession of the buildings, they were repulsed and retreated in -disorder. - -The artillery was then brought to bear upon the place, but scarcely -had it been placed in a proper position, before it was rendered -unserviceable by the destructive fire from the batteries; and the troops -finding that they were being mowed down without a chance of silencing -their opponents, charged up the avenue--the horse supported by the foot -regiments. Here they were met by a fire of musketry from the houses -on each side, and having passed a short distance amid showers of -heavy missiles, that were hurled down upon them from the tops of the -buildings by the enraged citizens, they came to a barrier hastily -erected of stones and earth, from which a murderous fire from three -thirty-two pounders opened upon them as they advanced, throwing the -cavalry into confusion, and causing them to retreat in disorder upon -the infantry. - -Here they were joined by a strong reinforcement, consisting of several -thousand fresh troops, and a charge was made upon the barrier which, -after an obstinate resistance, was forced. They then proceeded onwards, -exposed to a destructive fire from the neighbouring houses; but they -had not advanced above a hundred yards, when they were thrown into a -complete derout by the hasty retreat of a regiment of horse, which fell -back upon them, scattering dismay and terror into their ranks. Shouts of -triumph were heard in the distance, accompanied by the fierce roar -of cannon, and the rattle of frequent volleys of musketry. While the -whole military force was on the point of endeavouring to find safety -in flight, they were joined by another large reinforcement, and the -cavalry having re-formed as soon as they beheld the new troops, they -moved forward in a body to where it was evident that a violent contest -was raging. They continued to meet parties both of horse and foot flying -from the scene of action; and these were received into their ranks. - -Having passed through several streets, fighting at every step, they -advanced under a broad archway into an open park. Here a tremendous -battle was still going on. The two contending armies were placed -opposite each other, and had been engaged for several hours attacking -each other's positions, and defending their own. The army of the people -had taken up a position on a slope with a plantation of fine oak trees -on one side, and a deep but narrow rivulet on the other. Their centre -was composed of the national guards; their right wing consisted of a -body of several thousand sailors; and their left was a body of armed -citizens equally numerous, supported by several batteries, and a reserve -of cavalry. They were opposed by the flower of the emperor's troops; -but their superior discipline and military skill availed them nothing. -Although the citizens suffered severely from the attacks which were -made upon them, they increased in numbers every hour. Thousands joined -their ranks; new batteries were raised; and while the enemy was losing -strength, they were increasing their forces. - -Oriel Porphyry, on his landing, made for the rendezvous which had been -agreed upon. Here he placed himself at the head of his own regiment of -dragoons; with which, assisted by the citizens from their houses, he -attacked several parties of the military that paraded the streets. The -national guards then began to make their appearance in great numbers; -and these having provided themselves with arms from the gun-shops while -the young merchant kept the imperial troops employed, soon collected -together and marched to his assistance. Finding himself in two or three -hours at the head of a body of nearly twenty thousand men, willing to -follow wherever he led, he left the street-fighting to the citizens, and -sending several detachments in different directions, so as, as much -as possible, to divide the attention of the military, he took up the -position that has been described, in the park, with the intention of -attacking a large body of troops there posted. - -The battle began by a division of the imperial troops attempting to -force a bridge over the rivulet, which was defended by the sailors, -supported by several pieces of cannon. The attack was continued with -great spirit, reinforcements arriving almost every half hour; but it was -defended with equal bravery, and the soldiers were beaten back every -time with very great loss. Two regiments of cavalry then were sent -against it, but the bridge being narrow, only a few could attempt to -cross at a time, and these were brought down by the cannon and musketry -as soon as they made their appearance. The lower part of the bridge -became blocked up with dead bodies, and the cavalry, after repeated -efforts, were obliged to retreat, having lost nearly one third of their -number. - -An attempt was now made on the wood by a strong party of infantry, while -the cavalry in great force made an attack upon the centre; but a strong -palisade had been raised among the trees, from which the citizens, -in almost perfect security, poured a deadly fire upon the advancing -columns, which thinned their ranks rapidly; and the national guards -having formed into square, as the cavalry advanced, received them -with such streams of bullets, that they staggered and fell back. They -repeated the attack several times, and always met with the same result. -While these proceedings had been going on, Oriel Porphyry had given -orders for the sailors to pass the bridge, whom he supported with his -cavalry, and they fell with irresistible impetuosity upon the left wing -of the enemy, which had been considerably weakened by its unsuccessful -attacks upon the bridge. - -The young merchant dashed on at the head of his dragoons, exhibiting the -most daring valour. He had had three horses killed under him during the -battle, and had been wounded in several places, but he continued his -brilliant career, making both cavalry and infantry fly before him. The -left wing, after a brief resistance, gave way, and they were in full -retreat when they were met by the soldiers who had been on guard in the -quadrangle. Immediately they fled, he made a desperate attack upon the -enemy's rear, and the national guards making a charge at the same moment -all along their line, the imperial troops were thrown into inextricable -confusion, and the reinforcement which made its appearance only came in -time to be mixed up in the general rout. They were pursued from street -to street without the slightest cessation; and so general was the panic -that spread among them on their retreat, that they flung away their -arms, and dispersed in every direction. - -A few days after the transactions just narrated the city seemed as -if dressed for a festival. The houses were decorated with garlands -of flowers, flags, and pieces of rich tapestry, and the windows and -house-tops were crowded with elegantly dressed females, and the citizens -in their holyday-dresses. Every face seemed breathing gladness, and -every eye beamed with delight. The long thoroughfares were thronged with -spectators, all of whom wore the same joyful expression of countenance; -they were waiting the expected return of Oriel Porphyry from his last -battle with the enslavers of his country, in which the emperor had been -slain, and his forces completely discomfited. - -Distant shouts of triumph announced the approach of the young conqueror; -and every neck was stretched out, and every eye turned in the direction -from whence the sounds proceeded. The cheers of the excited citizens -became gradually more loud, and the impatience of the inhabitants of -the houses more conspicuous. At last the measured sound of military -music came upon the ear, and in a few minutes the whole force of the -metropolitan national guards marched by; every regiment with its band -playing and its ensigns waving; after them came a car, drawn by four -milk-white horses, on which lay the body of the philanthropist in his -robe of honour; it was followed by Oriel Porphyry, or, to give him his -proper title, the prince of Philadelphia, bare-headed, on a powerful -war-charger, who seemed by his prancings and curvettings, proud of the -noble burden he carried. Blessings were showered upon him from every -side; flowers descended on his head, and all hailed him as the deliverer -of his country. His handsome countenance and manly figure never appeared -impressed with such a nobility of character as when he bowed in -acknowledgment of the universal enthusiasm which was excited in his -favour. Eureka rode at his side, expressing by her beautiful countenance -the delight she experienced. His own regiment of cavalry came next, -and they were followed by the crew of the Albatross, and of the other -merchant vessels that had assisted him in the struggle. Nothing was -heard among the people but cheering and exclamations of praise; nothing -was seen but the waving of caps and handkerchiefs. - -In the course of the same day Oriel Porphyry was declared emperor of the -Columbians; and when he ascended the throne of his country Eureka shared -in his glory. - - -THE END. - - - 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 - - 15 "Chinberkin" changed to "Climberkin" (the strong grasp of Boggle - and Climberkin that prevented) - - 32 "ome" changed to "some" (I offended some and surprised others) - - 98 "shrunkback" changed to "shrunk back" (She shrunk back from) - - 109 "acknowment" changed to "acknowledgement" (from my - acknowledgement of these sentiments) - - 129 "because" changed to "became" (and the farmers became fishermen) - - 178 "n" changed to "in" (in evident confusion) - - 178 "trange" to "strange" (can there be strange or unaccountable) - - 182 "Lilya'" changed to "Lilya's" (such hearts as yours and Lilya's) - - 200 "thumber" changed to "number" (or the mere number of books - comparatively useless) - - 279 "misable" changed to "miserable" (a very shocking miserable - sinner). - -Otherwise the original was preserved, including archaic and inconsistent -spelling and hyphenation. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady Eureka, v. 3 (of 3), by -Robert Folkestone Williams - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY EUREKA, V. 3 (OF 3) *** - -***** This file should be named 42493-8.txt or 42493-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/9/42493/ - -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. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at - www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email -contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the -Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |