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diff --git a/7870.txt b/7870.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4b1ee60 --- /dev/null +++ b/7870.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5866 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Tales of Daring and Danger, by George Alfred Henty + +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: Tales of Daring and Danger + +Author: George Alfred Henty + +Illustrator: George Alfred Henty + +Release Date: October 26, 2005 [EBook #7870] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF DARING AND DANGER *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell, Stacy Brown Thellend and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net +Merged with an earlier text produced by Juliet Sutherland, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +TALES OF DARING AND DANGER. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration: SIGHTING THE WRECK OF THE STEAMER.] + + + + +TALES OF + +DARING AND DANGER. + +BY + +G.A. HENTY, + +Author of "Yarns on the Beach;" "Sturdy and Strong;" "Facing Death;" "By +Sheer Pluck;" "With Clive in India;" &c. + +_ILLUSTRATED._ + +[Illustration] + +LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, 49 & 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C. GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND +DUBLIN. + +1890. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + Page +BEARS AND DACOITS, 7 + +THE PATERNOSTERS, 37 + +A PIPE OF MYSTERY, 71 + +WHITE-FACED DICK, 99 + +A BRUSH WITH THE CHINESE, 119 + + + + +[Illustration] + +BEARS AND DACOITS. + +A TALE OF THE GHAUTS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +A merry party were sitting in the verandah of one of the largest and +handsomest bungalows of Poonah. It belonged to Colonel Hastings, colonel +of a native regiment stationed there, and at present, in virtue of +seniority, commanding a brigade. Tiffin was on, and three or four +officers and four ladies had taken their seats in the comfortable cane +lounging chairs which form the invariable furniture of the verandah of a +well-ordered bungalow. Permission had been duly asked, and granted by +Mrs. Hastings, and the cheroots had just begun to draw, when Miss +Hastings, a niece of the colonel, who had only arrived the previous week +from England, said,-- + +"Uncle, I am quite disappointed. Mrs. Lyons showed me the bear she has +got tied up in their compound, and it is the most wretched little thing, +not bigger than Rover, papa's retriever, and it's full-grown. I thought +bears were great fierce creatures, and this poor little thing seemed so +restless and unhappy that I thought it quite a shame not to let it go." + +Colonel Hastings smiled rather grimly. + +"And yet, small and insignificant as that bear is, my dear, it is a +question whether he is not as dangerous an animal to meddle with as a +man-eating tiger." + +"What, that wretched little bear, Uncle?" + +"Yes, that wretched little bear. Any experienced sportsman will tell you +that hunting those little bears is as dangerous a sport as tiger-hunting +on foot, to say nothing of tiger-hunting from an elephant's back, in +which there is scarcely any danger whatever. I can speak feelingly about +it, for my career was pretty nearly brought to an end by a bear, just +after I entered the army, some thirty years ago, at a spot within a few +miles from here. I have got the scars on my shoulder and arm still." + +"Oh, do tell me all about it," Miss Hastings said; and the request being +seconded by the rest of the party, none of whom, with the exception of +Mrs. Hastings, had ever heard the story before--for the colonel was +somewhat chary of relating this special experience--he waited till they +had all drawn up their chairs as close as possible, and then giving two +or three vigorous puffs at his cheroot, began as follows:-- + +"Thirty years ago, in 1855, things were not so settled in the Deccan as +they are now. There was no idea of insurrection on a large scale, but we +were going through one of those outbreaks of Dacoity, which have several +times proved so troublesome. Bands of marauders kept the country in +confusion, pouring down on a village, now carrying off three or four of +the Bombay money-lenders, who were then, as now, the curse of the +country; sometimes making an onslaught upon a body of traders; and +occasionally venturing to attack small detachments of troops or isolated +parties of police. They were not very formidable, but they were very +troublesome, and most difficult to catch, for the peasantry regarded +them as patriots, and aided and shielded them in every way. The +head-quarters of these gangs of Dacoits were the Ghauts. In the thick +bush and deep valleys and gorges there they could always take refuge, +while sometimes the more daring chiefs converted these detached peaks +and masses of rock, numbers of which you can see as you come up the +Ghaut by railway, into almost impregnable fortresses. Many of these +masses of rock rise as sheer up from the hillside as walls of masonry, +and look at a short distance like ruined castles. Some are absolutely +inaccessible; others can only be scaled by experienced climbers; and, +although possible for the natives with their bare feet, are +impracticable to European troops. Many of these rock fortresses were at +various times the head-quarters of famous Dacoit leaders, and unless the +summits happened to be commanded from some higher ground within gunshot +range they were all but impregnable except by starvation. When driven to +bay, these fellows would fight well. + +"Well, about the time I joined, the Dacoits were unusually troublesome; +the police had a hard time of it, and almost lived in the saddle, and +the cavalry were constantly called up to help them, while detachments of +infantry from the station were under canvas at several places along the +top of the Ghauts to cut the bands off from their strongholds, and to +aid, if necessary, in turning them out of their rock fortresses. The +natives in the valleys at the foot of the Ghauts, who have always been a +semi-independent race, ready to rob whenever they saw a chance, were +great friends with the Dacoits, and supplied them with provisions +whenever the hunt on the Deccan was too hot for them to make raids in +that direction. + +"This is a long introduction, you will say, and does not seem to have +much to do with bears; but it is really necessary, as you will see. I +had joined about six months when three companies of the regiment were +ordered to relieve a wing of the 15th, who had been under canvas at a +village some four miles to the north of the point where the line crosses +the top of the Ghauts. There were three white officers, and little +enough to do, except when a party was sent off to assist the police. We +had one or two brushes with the Dacoits, but I was not out on either +occasion. However, there was plenty of shooting, and a good many pigs +about, so we had very good fun. Of course, as a raw hand, I was very hot +for it, and as the others had both passed the enthusiastic age, except +for pig-sticking and big game, I could always get away. I was supposed +not to go far from camp, because, in the first place, I might be wanted; +and, in the second, because of the Dacoits; and Norworthy, who was in +command, used to impress upon me that I ought not to go beyond the sound +of a bugle. Of course we both knew that if I intended to get any sport +I must go further afoot than this; but I merely used to say 'All right, +sir, I will keep an ear to the camp,' and he on his part never +considered it necessary to ask where the game which appeared on the +table came from. But in point of fact, I never went very far, and my +servant always had instructions which way to send for me if I was +wanted; while as to the Dacoits I did not believe in their having the +impudence to come in broad daylight within a mile or two of our camp. I +did not often go down the face of the Ghauts. The shooting was good, and +there were plenty of bears in those days, but it needed a long day for +such an expedition, and in view of the Dacoits who might be scattered +about, was not the sort of thing to be undertaken except with a strong +party. Norworthy had not given any precise orders about it, but I must +admit that he said one day:-- + +"'Of course you won't be fool enough to think of going down the Ghauts, +Hastings?' But I did not look at that as equivalent to a direct +order--whatever I should do now," the colonel put in, on seeing a +furtive smile on the faces of his male listeners. + +"However, I never meant to go down, though I used to stand on the edge +and look longingly down into the bush and fancy I saw bears moving +about in scores. But I don't think I should have gone into their country +if they had not come into mine. One day the fellow who always carried my +spare gun or flask, and who was a sort of shekarry in a small way, told +me he had heard that a farmer, whose house stood near the edge of the +Ghauts, some two miles away, had been seriously annoyed by his fruit and +corn being stolen by bears. + +"'I'll go and have a look at the place to-morrow,' I said, 'there is no +parade, and I can start early. You may as well tell the mess cook to put +up a basket with some tiffin and a bottle of claret, and get a boy to +carry it over.' + +"'The bears not come in day,' Rahman said. + +"'Of course not,' I replied; 'still I may like to find out which way +they come. Just do as you are told.' + +"The next morning, at seven o'clock, I was at the farmer's spoken of, +and there was no mistake as to the bears. A patch of Indian corn had +been ruined by them, and two dogs had been killed. The native was in a +terrible state of rage and alarm. He said that on moonlight nights he +had seen eight of them, and they came and sniffed around the door of the +cottage. + +"'Why don't you fire through the window at them?' I asked scornfully, +for I had seen a score of tame bears in captivity, and, like you, Mary, +was inclined to despise them, though there was far less excuse for me; +for I had heard stories which should have convinced me that, small as he +is, the Indian bear is not a beast to be attacked with impunity. Upon +walking to the edge of the Ghauts there was no difficulty in discovering +the route by which the bears came up to the farm. For a mile to the +right and left the ground fell away as if cut with a knife, leaving a +precipice of over a hundred feet sheer down; but close by where I was +standing was the head of a watercourse, which in time had gradually worn +a sort of cleft in the wall, up or down which it was not difficult to +make one's way. Further down this little gorge widened out and became a +deep ravine, and further still a wide valley, where it opened upon the +flats far below us. About half a mile down where the ravine was deepest +and darkest was a thick clump of trees and jungle. + +"'That's where the bears are?' I asked Rahman. He nodded. It seemed no +distance. I could get down and back in time for tiffin, and perhaps bag +a couple of bears. For a young sportsman the temptation was great. 'How +long would it take us to go down and have a shot or two at them?' + +"'No good go down. Master come here at night, shoot bears when they come +up.' + +"I had thought of that; but, in the first place, it did not seem much +sport to shoot the beasts from cover when they were quietly eating, and, +in the next place, I knew that Norworthy could not, even if he were +willing, give me leave to go out of camp at night. I waited, hesitating +for a few minutes, and then I said to myself, 'It is of no use waiting. +I could go down and get a bear and be back again while I am thinking of +it;' then to Rahman, 'No, come along; we will have a look through that +wood anyhow.' + +"Rahman evidently did not like it. + +"'Not easy find bear, sahib. He very cunning.' + +"'Well, very likely we sha'n't find them,' I said, 'but we can try +anyhow. Bring that bottle with you; the tiffin basket can wait here till +we come back.' In another five minutes I had begun to climb down the +watercourse--the shekarry following me. I took the double-barrelled +rifle and handed him the shot-gun, having first dropped a bullet down +each barrel over the charge. The ravine was steep, but there were bushes +to hold on by, and although it was hot work and took a good deal longer +than I expected, we at last got down to the place which I had fixed upon +as likely to be the bears' home. + +"'Sahib, climb up top,' Rahman said; 'come down through wood; no good +fire at bear when he above.' + +"I had heard that before; but I was hot, the sun was pouring down, there +was not a breath of wind, and it looked a long way up to the top of the +wood. + +"'Give me the claret. It would take too long to search the wood +regularly. We will sit down here for a bit, and if we can see anything +moving up in the wood, well and good; if not, we will come back again +another day with some beaters and dogs.' So saying, I sat down with my +back against a rock, at a spot where I could look up among the trees for +a long way through a natural vista. I had a drink of claret, and then I +sat and watched till gradually I dropped off to sleep. I don't know how +long I slept, but it was some time, and I woke up with a sudden start. +Rahman, who had, I fancy, been asleep too, also started up. + +[Illustration: "MY GUN, RAHMAN," I SHOUTED.] + +"The noise which had aroused us was made by a rolling stone striking a +rock; and looking up I saw some fifty yards away, not in the wood, but +on the rocky hillside on our side of the ravine, a bear standing, as +though unconscious of our presence, snuffing the air. As was natural, I +seized my rifle, cocked it, and took aim, unheeding a cry of 'No, no, +sahib,' from Rahman. However, I was not going to miss such a chance as +this, and I let fly. The beast had been standing sideways to me, and as +I saw him fall I felt sure I had hit him in the heart. I gave a shout of +triumph, and was about to climb up, when, from behind the rock on which +the bear had stood, appeared another growling fiercely; on seeing me, it +at once prepared to come down. Stupidly, being taken by surprise, and +being new at it, I fired at once at its head. The bear gave a spring, +and then--it seemed instantaneous--down it came at me. Whether it rolled +down, or slipped down, or ran down, I don't know, but it came almost as +if it had jumped straight at me. + +"'My gun, Rahman,' I shouted, holding out my hand. There was no answer. +I glanced round, and found that the scoundrel had bolted. I had time, +and only just time, to take a step backwards, and to club my rifle, when +the brute was upon me. I got one fair blow at the side of its head, a +blow that would have smashed the skull of any civilized beast into +pieces, and which did fortunately break the brute's jaw; then in an +instant he was upon me, and I was fighting for life. My hunting-knife +was out, and with my left hand I had the beast by the throat; while with +my right I tried to drive my knife into its ribs. My bullet had gone +through his chest. The impetus of his charge had knocked me over, and we +rolled on the ground, he tearing with his claws at my shoulder and arm, +I stabbing and struggling, my great effort being to keep my knees up so +as to protect my body with them from his hind claws. After the first +blow with his paw, which laid my shoulder open, I do not think I felt +any special pain whatever. There was a strange faint sensation, and my +whole energy seemed centered in the two ideas--to strike and to keep my +knees up. I knew that I was getting faint, but I was dimly conscious +that his efforts, too, were relaxing. His weight on me seemed to +increase enormously, and the last idea that flashed across me was that +it was a drawn fight. + +"The next idea of which I was conscious was that I was being carried. I +seemed to be swinging about, and I thought I was at sea. Then there was +a little jolt and a sense of pain. 'A collision,' I muttered, and opened +my eyes. Beyond the fact that I seemed in a yellow world--a bright +orange-yellow--my eyes did not help me, and I lay vaguely wondering +about it all, till the rocking ceased. There was another bump, and then +the yellow world seemed to come to an end; and as the daylight streamed +in upon me I fainted again. This time when I awoke to consciousness +things were clearer. I was stretched by a little stream. A native woman +was sprinkling my face and washing the blood from my wounds; while +another, who had with my own knife cut off my coat and shirt, was +tearing the latter into strips to bandage my wounds. The yellow world +was explained. I was lying on the yellow robe of one of the women. They +had tied the ends together, placed a long stick through them, and +carried me in the bag-like hammock. They nodded to me when they saw I +was conscious, and brought water in a large leaf, and poured it into my +mouth. Then one went away for some time, and came back with some leaves +and bark. These they chewed and put on my wounds, bound them up with +strips of my shirt, and then again knotted the ends of the cloth, and +lifting me up, went on as before. + +"I was sure that we were much lower down the Ghaut than we had been when +I was watching for the bears, and we were now going still lower. +However, I knew very little Hindustani, nothing of the language the +women spoke. I was too weak to stand, too weak even to think much; and I +dozed and woke, and dozed again, until, after what seemed to me many +hours of travel, we stopped again, this time before a tent. Two or three +old women and four or five men came out, and there was great talking +between them and the young women--for they were young--who had carried +me down. Some of the party appeared angry; but at last things quieted +down, and I was carried into the tent. I had fever, and was, I suppose, +delirious for days. I afterwards found that for fully a fortnight I had +lost all consciousness; but a good constitution and the nursing of the +women pulled me round. When once the fever had gone, I began to mend +rapidly. I tried to explain to the women that if they would go up to the +camp and tell them where I was they would be well rewarded; but although +I was sure they understood, they shook their heads, and by the fact that +as I became stronger two or three armed men always hung about the tent, +I came to the conclusion that I was a sort of prisoner. This was +annoying, but did not seem serious. If these people were Dacoits, or, as +was more likely, allies of the Dacoits, I could be kept only for ransom +or exchange. Moreover, I felt sure of my ability to escape when I got +strong, especially as I believed that in the young women who had saved +my life, both by bringing me down and by their careful nursing, I should +find friends." + +"Were they pretty, uncle?" Mary Hastings broke in. + +"Never mind whether they were pretty, Mary; they were better than +pretty." + +"No; but we like to know, uncle." + +"Well, except for the soft, dark eyes, common to the race, and the good +temper and lightheartedness, also so general among Hindu girls, and the +tenderness which women feel towards a creature whose life they have +saved, whether it is a wounded bird or a drowning puppy, I suppose they +were nothing remarkable in the way of beauty, but at the time I know +that I thought them charming. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +"Just as I was getting strong enough to walk, and was beginning to think +of making my escape, a band of five or six fellows, armed to the teeth, +came in, and made signs that I was to go with them. It was evidently an +arranged thing, the girls only were surprised, but they were at once +turned out, and as we started I could see two crouching figures in the +shade with their cloths over their heads. I had a native garment thrown +over my shoulders, and in five minutes after the arrival of the fellows +found myself on my way. It took us some six hours before we reached our +destination, which was one of those natural rock citadels. Had I been in +my usual health I could have done the distance in an hour and a half, +but I had to rest constantly, and was finally carried rather than helped +up. I had gone not unwillingly, for the men were clearly, by their +dress, Dacoits of the Deccan, and I had no doubt that it was intended +either to ransom or exchange me. + +"At the foot of this natural castle were some twenty or thirty more +robbers, and I was led to a rough sort of arbour in which was lying, on +a pile of maize straw, a man who was evidently their chief. He rose and +we exchanged salaams. + +"'What is your name, sahib?' he asked in Mahratta. + +"'Hastings--Lieutenant Hastings,' I said. 'And yours?' + +"'Sivajee Punt!' he said. + +"This was bad. I had fallen into the hands of the most troublesome, +most ruthless, and most famous of the Dacoit leaders. Over and over +again he had been hotly chased, but had always managed to get away; and +when I last heard anything of what was going on four or five troops of +native police were scouring the country after him. He gave an order +which I did not understand, and a wretched Bombay writer, I suppose a +clerk of some money-lender, was dragged forward. Sivajee Punt spoke to +him for some time, and the fellow then told me in English that I was to +write at once to the officer commanding the troops, telling him that I +was in his hands, and should be put to death directly he was attacked. + +"'Ask him,' I said, 'if he will take any sum of money to let me go?' + +"Sivajee shook his head very decidedly. + +"A piece of paper was put before me, and a pen and ink, and I wrote as I +had been ordered, adding, however, in French, that I had brought myself +into my present position by my own folly, and would take my chance, for +I well knew the importance which Government attached to Sivajee's +capture. I read out loud all that I had written in English, and the +interpreter translated it. Then the paper was folded and I addressed it, +'The Officer Commanding,' and I was given some chupattis and a drink of +water, and allowed to sleep. The Dacoits had apparently no fear of any +immediate attack. + +"It was still dark, although morning was just breaking, when I was +awakened, and was got up to the citadel. I was hoisted rather than +climbed, two men standing above with a rope, tied round my body, so that +I was half-hauled, half-pushed up the difficult places, which would have +taxed all my climbing powers had I been in health. + +"The height of this mass of rock was about a hundred feet; the top was +fairly flat, with some depressions and risings, and about eighty feet +long by fifty wide. It had evidently been used as a fortress in ages +past. Along the side facing the hill were the remains of a rough wall. +In the centre of a depression was a cistern, some four feet square, +lined with stone-work, and in another depression a gallery had been cut, +leading to a subterranean store-room or chamber. This natural fortress +rose from the face of the hill at a distance of a thousand yards or so +from the edge of the plateau, which was fully two hundred feet higher +than the top of the rock. In the old days it would have been +impregnable, and even at that time it was an awkward place to take, for +the troops were armed only with Brown Bess, and rifled cannon were not +thought of. Looking round, I could see that I was some four miles from +the point where I had descended. The camp was gone; but running my eye +along the edge of the plateau I could see the tops of tents a mile to my +right, and again two miles to my left; turning round, and looking down +into the wide valley, I saw a regimental camp. + +"It was evident that a vigorous effort was being made to surround and +capture the Dacoits, since troops had been brought up from Bombay. In +addition to the troops above and below, there would probably be a strong +police force, acting on the face of the hill. I did not see all these +things at the time, for I was, as soon as I got to the top, ordered to +sit down behind the parapet, a fellow armed to the teeth squatting down +by me, and signifying that if I showed my head above the stones he would +cut my throat without hesitation. There were, however, sufficient gaps +between the stones to allow me to have a view of the crest of the Ghaut, +while below my view extended down to the hills behind Bombay. It was +evident to me now why the Dacoits did not climb up into the fortress. +There were dozens of similar crags on the face of the Ghauts, and the +troops did not as yet know their whereabouts. It was a sort of blockade +of the whole face of the hills which was being kept up, and there were, +probably enough, several other bands of Dacoits lurking in the jungle. + +"There were only two guards and myself on the rock plateau. I discussed +with myself the chances of my overpowering them and holding the top of +the rock till help came; but I was greatly weakened, and was not a match +for a boy, much less for the two stalwart Mahrattas; besides, I was by +no means sure that the way I had been brought up was the only possible +path to the top. The day passed off quietly. The heat on the bare rock +was frightful, but one of the men, seeing how weak and ill I really was, +fetched a thick rug from the storehouse, and with the aid of a stick +made a sort of lean-to against the wall, under which I lay sheltered +from the sun. + +"Once or twice during the day I heard a few distant musket-shots, and +once a sharp heavy outburst of firing. It must have been three or four +miles away, but it was on the side of the Ghaut, and showed that the +troops or police were at work. My guards looked anxiously in that +direction, and uttered sundry curses. When it was dusk, Sivajee and +eight of the Dacoits came up. From what they said, I gathered that the +rest of the band had dispersed, trusting either to get through the line +of their pursuers, or, if caught, to escape with slight punishment, the +men who remained being too deeply concerned in murderous outrages to +hope for mercy. Sivajee himself handed me a letter, which the man who +had taken my note had brought back in reply. Major Knapp, the writer, +who was the second in command, said that he could not engage the +Government, but that if Lieutenant Hastings was given up the act would +certainly dispose the Government to take the most merciful view +possible; but that if, on the contrary, any harm was suffered by +Lieutenant Hastings, every man taken would be at once hung. Sivajee did +not appear put out about it. I do not think he expected any other +answer, and imagine that his real object in writing was simply to let +them know that I was a prisoner, and so enable him the better to +paralyse the attack upon a position which he no doubt considered all but +impregnable. + +"I was given food, and was then allowed to walk as I chose upon the +little plateau, two of the Dacoits taking post as sentries at the +steepest part of the path, while the rest gathered, chatting and +smoking, in the depression in front of the storehouse. It was still +light enough for me to see for some distance down the face of the rock, +and I strained my eyes to see if I could discern any other spot at which +an ascent or descent was possible. The prospect was not encouraging. At +some places the face fell sheer away from the edge, and so evident was +the impracticability of escape that the only place which I glanced at +twice was the western side, that is the one away from the hill. Here it +sloped gradually for a few feet. I took off my shoes and went down to +the edge. Below, some ten feet, was a ledge, on to which with care I +could get down, but below that was a sheer fall of some fifty feet. As a +means of escape it was hopeless, but it struck me that if an attack was +made I might slip away and get on to the ledge. Once there I could not +be seen except by a person standing where I now was, just on the edge of +the slope, a spot to which it was very unlikely that anyone would come. + +"The thought gave me a shadow of hope, and, returning to the upper end +of the platform, I lay down, and in spite of the hardness of the rock, +was soon asleep. The pain of my aching bones woke me up several times, +and once, just as the first tinge of dawn was coming, I thought I could +hear movements in the jungle. I raised myself somewhat, and I saw that +the sounds had been heard by the Dacoits, for they were standing +listening, and some of them were bringing spare fire-arms from the +storehouse, in evident preparation for attack. + +"As I afterwards learned, the police had caught one of the Dacoits +trying to effect his escape, and by means of a little of the ingenious +torture to which the Indian police then frequently resorted, when their +white officers were absent, they obtained from him the exact position of +Sivajee's band, and learned the side from which the ascent must be made. +That the Dacoit and his band were still upon the slopes of the Ghauts +they knew, and were gradually narrowing their circle, but there were so +many rocks and hiding-places that the process of searching was a slow +one, and the intelligence was so important that the news was off at once +to the colonel, who gave orders for the police to surround the rock at +daylight and to storm it if possible. The garrison was so small that the +police were alone ample for the work, supposing that the natural +difficulties were not altogether insuperable. + +"Just at daybreak there was a distant noise of men moving in the +jungle, and the Dacoit half-way down the path fired his gun. He was +answered by a shout and a volley. The Dacoits hurried out from the +chamber, and lay down on the edge, where, sheltered by a parapet, they +commanded the path. They paid no attention to me, and I kept as far away +as possible. The fire began--a quiet, steady fire, a shot at a time, and +in strong contrast to the rattle kept up from the surrounding jungle; +but every shot must have told, as man after man who strove to climb that +steep path, fell. It lasted only ten minutes, and then all was quiet +again. + +"The attack had failed, as I knew it must do, for two men could have +held the place against an army; a quarter of an hour later a gun from +the crest above spoke out, and a round shot whistled above our heads. +Beyond annoyance, an artillery fire could do no harm, for the party +could be absolutely safe in the store cave. The instant the shot flew +overhead, however, Sivajee Punt beckoned to me, and motioned me to take +my seat on the wall facing the guns. Hesitation was useless, and I took +my seat with my back to the Dacoits and my face to the hill. One of the +Dacoits, as I did so, pulled off the native cloth which covered my +shoulders, in order that I might be clearly seen. + +"Just as I took my place another round shot hummed by; but then there +was a long interval of silence. With a field-glass every feature must +have been distinguishable to the gunners, and I had no doubt that they +were waiting for orders as to what to do next. + +"I glanced round and saw that with the exception of one fellow squatted +behind the parapet some half-dozen yards away, clearly as a sentry to +keep me in place, all the others had disappeared. Some, no doubt, were +on sentry down the path, the others were in the store beneath me. After +half an hour's silence the guns spoke out again. Evidently the gunners +were told to be as careful as they could, for some of the shots went +wide on the left, others on the right. A few struck the rock below me. +The situation was not pleasant, but I thought that at a thousand yards +they ought not to hit me, and I tried to distract my attention by +thinking out what I should do under every possible contingency. + +"Presently I felt a crash and a shock, and fell backwards to the ground. +I was not hurt, and on picking myself up saw that the ball had struck +the parapet to the left, just where my guard was sitting, and he lay +covered with its fragments. His turban lay some yards behind him. +Whether he was dead or not I neither knew nor cared. + +"I pushed down some of the parapet where I had been sitting, dropped my +cap on the edge outside, so as to make it appear that I had fallen over, +and then picking up the man's turban, ran to the other end of the +platform and scrambled down to the ledge. Then I began to wave my arms +about--I had nothing on above the waist--and in a moment I saw a face +with a uniform cap peer out through the jungle, and a hand was waved. I +made signs to him to make his way to the foot of the perpendicular wall +of rock beneath me. I then unwound the turban, whose length was, I knew, +amply sufficient to reach to the bottom, and then looked round for +something to write on. I had my pencil still in my trousers pocket, but +not a scrap of paper. + +"I picked up a flattish piece of rock and wrote on it, 'Get a +rope-ladder quickly, I can haul it up. Ten men in garrison. They are all +under cover. Keep on firing to distract their attention." + +"I tied the stone to the end of the turban, and looked over. A +non-commissioned officer of the police was already standing below. I +lowered the stone; he took it, waved his hand to me, and was gone. + +"An hour passed: it seemed an age. The round shots still rang overhead, +and the fire was now much more heavy and sustained than before. +Presently I again saw a movement in the jungle, and Norworthy's face +appeared, and he waved his arm in greeting. + +"Five minutes more and a party were gathered at the foot of the rock, +and a strong rope was tied to the cloth. I pulled it up. A rope-ladder +was attached to it, and the top rung was in a minute or two in my hands. +To it was tied a piece of paper with the words: 'Can you fasten the +ladder?" I wrote on the paper: 'No; but I can hold it for a light +weight.' + +"I put the paper with a stone in the end of the cloth, and lowered it +again. Then I sat down, tied the rope round my waist, got my feet +against two projections, and waited. There was a jerk, and then I felt +some one was coming up the rope-ladder. The strain was far less than I +expected, but the native policeman who came up first did not weigh half +so much as an average Englishman. There were now two of us to hold. The +officer in command of the police came up next, then Norworthy, then a +dozen more police. I explained the situation, and we mounted to the +upper level. Not a soul was to be seen. Quickly we advanced and took up +a position to command the door of the underground chamber; while one of +the police waved a white cloth from his bayonet as a signal to the +gunners to cease firing. Then the police officer hailed the party within +the cave. + +"'Sivajee Punt! you may as well come out and give yourself up! We are in +possession, and resistance is useless!' + +"A yell of rage and surprise was heard, and the Dacoits, all desperate +men, came bounding out, firing as they did so. Half of their number were +shot down at once, and the rest, after a short, sharp struggle, were +bound hand and foot. + +"That is pretty well all of the story, I think. Sivajee Punt was one of +the killed. The prisoners were all either hung or imprisoned for life. I +escaped my blowing-up for having gone down the Ghauts after the bear, +because, after all, Sivajee Punt might have defied their force for +months had I not done so. + +"It seemed that that scoundrel Rahman had taken back word that I was +killed. Norworthy had sent down a strong party, who found the two dead +bears, and who, having searched everywhere without finding any signs of +my body, came to the conclusion that I had been found and carried away, +especially as they ascertained that natives used that path. They had +offered rewards, but nothing was heard of me till my note saying I was +in Sivajee's hands arrived." + +"And did you ever see the women who carried you off?" + +"No, Mary, I never saw them again. I did, however, after immense +trouble, succeed in finding out where it was that I had been taken to. I +went down at once, but found the village deserted. Then after much +inquiry I found where the people had moved to, and sent messages to the +women to come up to the camp, but they never came; and I was reduced at +last to sending them down two sets of silver bracelets, necklaces, and +bangles, which must have rendered them the envy of all the women on the +Ghauts. They sent back a message of grateful thanks, and I never heard +of them afterwards. No doubt their relatives, who knew that their +connection with the Dacoits was now known, would not let them come. +However, I had done all I could, and I have no doubt the women were +perfectly satisfied. So you see, my dear, that the Indian bear, small +as he is, is an animal which it is as well to leave alone, at any rate +when he happens to be up on the side of a hill while you are at the +foot." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +THE PATERNOSTERS. + +A YACHTING STORY. + + +"And do you really mean that we are to cross by the steamer, Mr. Virtue, +while you go over in the _Seabird_? I do not approve of that at all. +Fanny, why do you not rebel, and say we won't be put ashore? I call it +horrid, after a fortnight on board this dear little yacht, to have to +get on to a crowded steamer, with no accommodation and lots of sea-sick +women, perhaps, and crying children. You surely cannot be in earnest?" + +"I do not like it any more than you do, Minnie; but, as Tom says we had +better do it, and my husband agrees with him, I am afraid we must +submit. Do you really think it is quite necessary, Mr. Virtue? Minnie +and I are both good sailors, you know; and we would much rather have a +little extra tossing about on board the _Seabird_ than the discomforts +of a steamer." + +"I certainly think that it will be best, Mrs. Grantham. You know very +well we would rather have you on board, and that we shall suffer from +your loss more than you will by going the other way; but there's no +doubt the wind is getting up, and though we don't feel it much here, it +must be blowing pretty hard outside. The _Seabird_ is as good a sea-boat +as anything of her size that floats; but you don't know what it is to be +out in anything like a heavy sea in a thirty-tonner. It would be +impossible for you to stay on deck, and we should have our hands full, +and should not be able to give you the benefit of our society. +Personally, I should not mind being out in the _Seabird_ in any weather, +but I would certainly rather not have ladies on board." + +"You don't think we should scream, or do anything foolish, Mr. Virtue?" +Minnie Graham said indignantly. + +"Not at all, Miss Graham. Still, I repeat, the knowledge that there are +women on board, delightful at other times, does not tend to comfort in +bad weather. Of course, if you prefer it, we can put off our start till +this puff of wind has blown itself out. It may have dropped before +morning. It may last some little time. I don't think myself that it +will drop, for the glass has fallen, and I am afraid we may have a spell +of broken weather." + +"Oh no; don't put it off," Mrs. Grantham said; "we have only another +fortnight before James must be back again in London, and it would be a +great pity to lose three or four days perhaps; and we have been looking +forward to cruising about among the Channel Islands, and to St. Malo, +and all those places. Oh no; I think the other is much the better +plan--that is, if you won't take us with you." + +"It would be bad manners to say that I won't, Mrs. Grantham; but I must +say I would rather not. It will be a very short separation. Grantham +will take you on shore at once, and as soon as the boat comes back I +shall be off. You will start in the steamer this evening, and get into +Jersey at nine or ten o'clock to-morrow morning; and if I am not there +before you, I shall not be many hours after you." + +"Well, if it must be it must," Mrs. Grantham said, with an air of +resignation. "Come, Minnie, let us put a few things into a hand-bag for +to-night. You see the skipper is not to be moved by our pleadings." + +"That is the worst of you married women, Fanny," Miss Graham said, with +a little pout. "You get into the way of doing as you are ordered. I call +it too bad. Here have we been cruising about for the last fortnight, +with scarcely a breath of wind, and longing for a good brisk breeze and +a little change and excitement, and now it comes at last, we are to be +packed off in a steamer. I call it horrid of you, Mr. Virtue. You may +laugh, but I do." + +Tom Virtue laughed, but he showed no signs of giving way, and ten +minutes later Mr. and Mrs. Grantham and Miss Graham took their places in +the gig, and were rowed into Southampton Harbour, off which the +_Seabird_ was lying. + +The last fortnight had been a very pleasant one, and it had cost the +owner of the _Seabird_ as much as his guests to come to the conclusion +that it was better to break up the party for a few hours. + +Tom Virtue had, up to the age of five-and-twenty, been possessed of a +sufficient income for his wants. He had entered at the bar, not that he +felt any particular vocation in that direction, but because he thought +it incumbent upon him to do something. Then, at the death of an uncle, +he had come into a considerable fortune, and was able to indulge his +taste for yachting, which was the sole amusement for which he really +cared, to the fullest. + +He sold the little five-tonner he had formerly possessed, and purchased +the _Seabird_. He could well have afforded a much larger craft, but he +knew that there was far more real enjoyment in sailing to be obtained +from a small craft than a large one, for in the latter he would be +obliged to have a regular skipper, and would be little more than a +passenger, whereas on board the _Seabird_, although his first hand was +dignified by the name of skipper, he was himself the absolute master. +The boat carried the aforesaid skipper, three hands, and a steward, and +with them he had twice been up the Mediterranean, across to Norway, and +had several times made the circuit of the British Isles. + +He had unlimited confidence in his boat, and cared not what weather he +was out in her. This was the first time since his ownership of her that +the _Seabird_ had carried lady passengers. His friend Grantham, an old +school and college chum, was a hard-working barrister, and Virtue had +proposed to him to take a month's holiday on board the _Seabird_. + +"Put aside your books, old man," he said. "You look fagged and +overworked; a month's blow will do you all the good in the world." + +"Thank you, Tom; I have made up my mind for a month's holiday, but I +can't accept your invitation, though I should enjoy it of all things. +But it would not be fair to my wife; she doesn't get very much of my +society, and she has been looking forward to our having a run together. +So I must decline." + +Virtue hesitated a moment. He was not very fond of ladies' society, and +thought them especially in the way on board a yacht; but he had a great +liking for his friend's wife, and was almost as much at home in his +house as in his own chambers. + +"Why not bring the wife with you?" he said, as soon as his mind was made +up. "It will be a nice change for her too; and I have heard her say that +she is a good sailor. The accommodation is not extensive, but the +after-cabin is a pretty good size, and I would do all I could to make +her comfortable. Perhaps she would like another lady with her; if so by +all means bring one. They could have the after-cabin, you could have the +little state-room, and I could sleep in the saloon." + +"It is very good of you, Tom, especially as I know that it will put you +out frightfully; but the offer is a very tempting one. I will speak to +Fanny, and let you have an answer in the morning." + +"That will be delightful, James," Mrs. Grantham said, when the +invitation was repeated to her. "I should like it of all things; and I +am sure the rest and quiet and the sea air will be just the thing for +you. It is wonderful, Tom Virtue making the offer; and I take it as a +great personal compliment, for he certainly is not what is generally +called a lady's man. It is very nice, too, of him to think of my having +another lady on board. Whom shall we ask? Oh, I know," she said +suddenly; "that will be the thing of all others. We will ask my cousin +Minnie; she is full of fun and life, and will make a charming wife for +Tom!" + +James Grantham laughed. + +"What schemers you all are, Fanny! Now I should call it downright +treachery to take anyone on board the _Seabird_ with the idea of +capturing its master." + +"Nonsense, treachery!" Mrs. Grantham said indignantly; "Minnie is the +nicest girl I know, and it would do Tom a world of good to have a wife +to look after him. Why, he is thirty now, and will be settling down +into a confirmed old bachelor before long. It's the greatest kindness we +could do him, to take Minnie on board; and I am sure he is the sort of +man any girl might fall in love with when she gets to know him. The fact +is, he's shy! He never had any sisters, and spends all his time in +winter at that horrid club; so that really he has never had any women's +society, and even with us he will never come unless he knows we are +alone. I call it a great pity, for I don't know a pleasanter fellow than +he is. I think it will be doing him a real service in asking Minnie; so +that's settled. I will sit down and write him a note." + +"In for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose," was Tom Virtue's comment +when he received Mrs. Grantham's letter, thanking him warmly for the +invitation, and saying that she would bring her cousin, Miss Graham, +with her, if that young lady was disengaged. + +As a matter of self-defence he at once invited Jack Harvey, who was a +mutual friend of himself and Grantham, to be of the party. + +"Jack can help Grantham to amuse the women," he said to himself; "that +will be more in his line than mine. I will run down to Cowes to-morrow +and have a chat with Johnson; we shall want a different sort of stores +altogether to those we generally carry, and I suppose we must do her up +a bit below." + +Having made up his mind to the infliction of female passengers, Tom +Virtue did it handsomely, and when the party came on board at Ryde they +were delighted with the aspect of the yacht below. She had been +repainted, the saloon and ladies' cabin were decorated in delicate +shades of gray, picked out with gold; and the upholsterer, into whose +hands the owner of the _Seabird_ had placed her, had done his work with +taste and judgment, and the ladies' cabin resembled a little boudoir. + +"Why, Tom, I should have hardly known her!" Grantham, who had often +spent a day on board the _Seabird_, said. + +"I hardly know her myself," Tom said, rather ruefully; "but I hope she's +all right, Mrs. Grantham, and that you and Miss Graham will find +everything you want." + +"It is charming!" Mrs. Grantham said enthusiastically. "It's awfully +good of you, Tom, and we appreciate it; don't we, Minnie? It is such a +surprise, too; for James said that while I should find everything very +comfortable, I must not expect that a small yacht would be got up like a +palace." + +So a fortnight had passed; they had cruised along the coast as far as +Plymouth, anchoring at night at the various ports on the way. Then they +had returned to Southampton, and it had been settled that as none of the +party, with the exception of Virtue himself, had been to the Channel +Islands, the last fortnight of the trip should be spent there. The +weather had been delightful, save that there had been some deficiency in +wind, and throughout the cruise the _Seabird_ had been under all the +sail she could spread. But when the gentlemen came on deck early in the +morning a considerable change had taken place; the sky was gray and the +clouds flying fast overhead. + +"We are going to have dirty weather," Tom Virtue said at once. "I don't +think it's going to be a gale, but there will be more sea on than will +be pleasant for ladies. I tell you what, Grantham; the best thing will +be for you to go on shore with the two ladies, and cross by the boat +to-night. If you don't mind going directly after breakfast I will start +at once, and shall be at St. Helier's as soon as you are." + +And so it had been agreed, but not, as has been seen, without opposition +and protest on the part of the ladies. + +Mrs. Grantham's chief reason for objecting had not been given. The +little scheme on which she had set her mind seemed to be working +satisfactorily. From the first day Tom Virtue had exerted himself to +play the part of host satisfactorily, and had ere long shaken off any +shyness he may have felt towards the one stranger of the party, and he +and Miss Graham had speedily got on friendly terms. So things were going +on as well as Mrs. Grantham could have expected. + +No sooner had his guests left the side of the yacht than her owner began +to make his preparations for a start. + +"What do you think of the weather, Watkins?" he asked his skipper. + +"It's going to blow hard, sir; that's my view of it, and if I was you I +shouldn't up anchor to-day. Still, it's just as you likes; the _Seabird_ +won't mind it if we don't. She has had a rough time of it before now; +still, it will be a case of wet jackets, and no mistake." + +"Yes, I expect we shall have a rough time of it, Watkins, but I want to +get across. We don't often let ourselves be weather-bound, and I am not +going to begin it to-day. We had better house the topmast at once, and +get two reefs in the main-sail. We can get the other down when we get +clear of the island. Get number three jib up, and the leg-of-mutton +mizzen; put two reefs in the foresail." + +Tom and his friend Harvey, who was a good sailor, assisted the crew in +reefing down the sails, and a few minutes after the gig had returned and +been hoisted in, the yawl was running rapidly down Southampton waters. + +"We need hardly have reefed quite so closely," Jack Harvey said, as he +puffed away at his pipe. + +"Not yet, Jack; but you will see she has as much as she can carry before +long. It's all the better to make all snug before starting; it saves a +lot of trouble afterwards, and the extra canvas would not have made ten +minutes' difference to us at the outside. We shall have pretty nearly a +dead beat down the Solent. Fortunately tide will be running strong with +us, but there will be a nasty kick-up there. You will see we shall feel +the short choppy seas there more than we shall when we get outside. She +is a grand boat in a really heavy sea, but in short waves she puts her +nose into it with a will. Now, if you will take my advice, you will do +as I am going to do; put on a pair of fisherman's boots and oilskin and +sou'-wester. There are several sets for you to choose from below." + +As her owner had predicted, the _Seabird_ put her bowsprit under pretty +frequently in the Solent; the wind was blowing half a gale, and as it +met the tide it knocked up a short, angry sea, crested with white heads, +and Jack Harvey agreed that she had quite as much sail on her as she +wanted. The cabin doors were bolted, and all made snug to prevent the +water getting below before they got to the race off Hurst Castle; and it +was well that they did so, for she was as much under water as she was +above. + +"I think if I had given way to the ladies and brought them with us they +would have changed their minds by this time, Jack," Tom Virtue said, +with a laugh. + +"I should think so," his friend agreed; "this is not a day for a +fair-weather sailor. Look what a sea is breaking on the shingles!" + +"Yes, five minutes there would knock her into matchwood. Another ten +minutes and we shall be fairly out; and I sha'n't be sorry; one feels as +if one was playing football, only just at present the _Seabird_ is the +ball and the waves the kickers." + +Another quarter of an hour and they had passed the Needles. + +"That is more pleasant, Jack," as the short, chopping motion was +exchanged for a regular rise and fall; "this is what I enjoy--a steady +wind and a regular sea. The _Seabird_ goes over it like one of her +namesakes; she is not taking a teacupful now over her bows. + +"Watkins, you may as well take the helm for a spell, while we go down to +lunch. I am not sorry to give it up for a bit, for it has been jerking +like the kick of a horse. + +"That's right, Jack, hang up your oilskin there. Johnson, give us a +couple of towels; we have been pretty well smothered up there on deck. +Now what have you got for us?" + +"There is some soup ready, sir, and that cold pie you had for dinner +yesterday." + +"That will do; open a couple of bottles of stout." + +Lunch, over, they went on deck again. + +"She likes a good blow as well as we do," Virtue said, enthusiastically, +as the yawl rose lightly over each wave. "What do you think of it, +Watkins? Is the wind going to lull a bit as the sun goes down?" + +"I think not, sir. It seems to me it's blowing harder than it was." + +"Then we will prepare for the worst, Watkins; get the try-sail up on +deck. When you are ready we will bring her up into the wind and set it. +That's the comfort of a yawl, Jack; one can always lie to without any +bother, and one hasn't got such a tremendous boom to handle." + +The try-sail was soon on deck, and then the _Seabird_ was brought up +into the wind, the weather fore-sheet hauled aft, the mizzen sheeted +almost fore and aft, and the _Seabird_ lay, head to wind, rising and +falling with a gentle motion, in strong contrast to her impetuous rushes +when under sail. + +"She would ride out anything like that," her owner said. "Last time we +came through the Bay on our way from Gib., we were caught in a gale +strong enough to blow the hair off one's head, and we lay to for nearly +three days, and didn't ship a bucket of water all the time. Now let us +lend a hand to get the main-sail stowed." + +Ten minutes' work and it was securely fastened and its cover on; two +reefs were put in the try-sail. Two hands went to each of the halliards, +while, as the sail rose, Tom Virtue fastened the toggles round the mast. + +"All ready, Watkins?" + +"All ready, sir." + +"Slack off the weather fore-sheet, then, and haul aft the leeward. Slack +out the mizzen-sheet a little, Jack. That's it; now she's off again, +like a duck." + +The _Seabird_ felt the relief from the pressure of the heavy boom to +leeward and rose easily and lightly over the waves. + +"She certainly is a splendid sea-boat, Tom; I don't wonder you are ready +to go anywhere in her. I thought we were rather fools for starting this +morning, although I enjoy a good blow; but now I don't care how hard it +comes on." + +By night it was blowing a downright gale. + +"We will lie to till morning, Watkins. So that we get in by daylight +to-morrow evening, that is all we want. See our side-lights are burning +well, and you had better get up a couple of blue lights, in case +anything comes running up Channel and don't see our lights. We had +better divide into two watches; I will keep one with Matthews and +Dawson, Mr. Harvey will go in your watch with Nicholls. We had better +get the try-sail down altogether, and lie to under the foresail and +mizzen, but don't put many lashings on the try-sail, one will be enough, +and have it ready to cast off in a moment, in case we want to hoist the +sail in a hurry. I will go down and have a glass of hot grog first, and +then I will take my watch to begin with. Let the two hands with me go +down; the steward will serve them out a tot each. Jack, you had better +turn in at once." + +Virtue was soon on deck again, muffled up in his oilskins. + +"Now, Watkins, you can go below and turn in." + +"I sha'n't go below to-night, sir--not to lie down. There's nothing much +to do here, but I couldn't sleep, if I did lie down." + +"Very well; you had better go below and get a glass of grog; tell the +steward to give you a big pipe with a cover like this, out of the +locker; and there's plenty of chewing tobacco, if the men are short." + +"I will take that instead of a pipe," Watkins said; "there's nothing +like a quid in weather like this, it ain't never in your way, and it +lasts. Even with a cover a pipe would soon be out." + +"Please yourself, Watkins; tell the two hands forward to keep a bright +look-out for lights." + +The night passed slowly. Occasionally a sea heavier than usual came on +board, curling over the bow and falling with a heavy thud on the deck, +but for the most part the _Seabird_ breasted the waves easily; the +bowsprit had been reefed in to its fullest, thereby adding to the +lightness and buoyancy of the boat. Tom Virtue did not go below when his +friend came up to relieve him at the change of watch, but sat smoking +and doing much talking in the short intervals between the gusts. + +The morning broke gray and misty, driving sleet came along on the wind, +and the horizon was closed in as by a dull curtain. + +"How far can we see, do you think, Watkins?" + +"Perhaps a couple of miles, sir." + +"That will be enough. I think we both know the position of every reef to +within a hundred yards, so we will shape our course for Guernsey. If we +happen to hit it off, we can hold on to St. Helier; but if when we think +we ought to be within sight of Guernsey we see nothing of it, we must +lie to again, till the storm has blown itself out or the clouds lift. It +would never do to go groping our way along with such currents as run +among the islands. Put the last reef in the try-sail before you hoist +it. I think you had better get the foresail down altogether, and run up +the spit-fire jib." + +The _Seabird_ was soon under way again. + +"Now, Watkins, you take the helm; we will go down and have a cup of hot +coffee, and I will see that the steward has a good supply for you and +the hands; but first, do you take the helm, Jack, whilst Watkins and I +have a look at the chart, and try and work out where we are, and the +course we had better lie for Guernsey." + +Five minutes were spent over the chart, then Watkins went up and Jack +Harvey came down. + +"You have got the coffee ready, I hope, Johnson?" + +"Yes, sir, coffee and chocolate. I didn't know which you would like." + +"Chocolate, by all means. Jack, I recommend the chocolate. Bring two +full-sized bowls, Johnson, and put that cold pie on the table, and a +couple of knives and forks; never mind about a cloth; but first of all +bring a couple of basins of hot water, we shall enjoy our food more +after a wash." + +The early breakfast was eaten, dry coats and mufflers put on, pipes +lighted, and they then went up upon deck. Tom took the helm. + +"What time do you calculate we ought to make Guernsey, Tom?" + +"About twelve. The wind is freer than it was, and we are walking along +at a good pace. Matthews, cast the log, and let's see what we are doing. +About seven knots, I should say." + +"Seven and a quarter, sir," the man said, when he checked the line. + +"Not a bad guess, Tom; it's always difficult to judge pace in a heavy +sea." + +At eleven o'clock the mist ceased. + +"That's fortunate," Tom Virtue said; "I shouldn't be surprised if we get +a glimpse of the sun between the clouds, presently. Will you get my +sextant and the chronometer up, Jack, and put them handy?" + +Jack Harvey did as he was asked, but there was no occasion to use the +instruments, for ten minutes later, Watkins, who was standing near the +bow gazing fixedly ahead, shouted: + +"There's Guernsey, sir, on her lee bow, about six miles away, I should +say." + +"That's it, sure enough," Tom agreed, as he gazed in the direction in +which Watkins was pointing. "There's a gleam of sunshine on it, or we +shouldn't have seen it yet. Yes, I think you are about right as to the +distance. Now let us take its bearings, we may lose it again directly." + +Having taken the bearings of the island they went below, and marked off +their position on the chart, and they shaped their course for Cape +Grosnez, the north-western point of Jersey. The gleam of sunshine was +transient--the clouds closed in again overhead, darker and grayer than +before. Soon the drops of rain came flying before the wind, the horizon +closed in, and they could not see half a mile away, but, though the sea +was heavy, the _Seabird_ was making capital weather of it, and the two +friends agreed that, after all, the excitement of a sail like this was +worth a month of pottering about in calms. + +"We must keep a bright look-out presently," the skipper said; "there are +some nasty rocks off the coast of Jersey. We must give them a wide +berth. We had best make round to the south of the island, and lay to +there till we can pick up a pilot to take us into St. Helier. I don't +think it will be worth while trying to get into St. Aubyn's Bay by +ourselves." + +"I think so, too, Watkins, but we will see what it is like before it +gets dark; if we can pick up a pilot all the better; if not, we will lie +to till morning, if the weather keeps thick; but if it clears so that we +can make out all the lights we ought to be able to get into the bay +anyhow." + +An hour later the rain ceased and the sky appeared somewhat clearer. +Suddenly Watkins exclaimed, "There is a wreck, sir! There, three miles +away to leeward. She is on the Paternosters." + +"Good heavens! she is a steamer," Tom exclaimed, as he caught sight of +her the next time the _Seabird_ lifted on a wave. "Can she be the +Southampton boat, do you think?" + +"Like enough, sir, she may have had it thicker than we had, and may not +have calculated enough for the current." + +"Up helm, Jack, and bear away towards her. Shall we shake out a reef, +Watkins?" + +"I wouldn't, sir; she has got as much as she can carry on her now. We +must mind what we are doing, sir; the currents run like a millstream, +and if we get that reef under our lee, and the wind and current both +setting us on to it, it will be all up with us in no time." + +"Yes, I know that, Watkins. Jack, take the helm a minute while we run +down and look at the chart. + +"Our only chance, Watkins, is to work up behind the reef, and try and +get so that they can either fasten a line to a buoy and let it float +down to us, or get into a boat, if they have one left, and drift to us." + +"They are an awful group of rocks," Watkins said, as they examined the +chart; "you see some of them show merely at high tide, and a lot of them +are above at low water. It will be an awful business to get among them +rocks, sir, just about as near certain death as a thing can be." + +"Well, it's got to be done, Watkins," Tom said, firmly. "I see the +danger as well as you do, but whatever the risk, it must be tried. Mr. +Grantham and the two ladies went on board by my persuasion, and I should +never forgive myself if anything happened to them. But I will speak to +the men." + +He went on deck again and called the men to him. "Look here, lads; you +see that steamer ashore on the Paternosters. In such a sea as this she +may go to pieces in half an hour. I am determined to make an effort to +save the lives of those on board. As you can see for yourselves there is +no lying to weather of her, with the current and wind driving us on to +the reef; we must beat up from behind. Now, lads, the sea there is full +of rocks, and the chances are ten to one we strike on to them and go to +pieces; but, anyhow I am going to try; but I won't take you unless you +are willing. The boat is a good one, and the zinc chambers will keep her +afloat if she fills; well managed, you ought to be able to make the +coast of Jersey in her. Mr. Harvey, Watkins, and I can handle the yacht, +so you can take the boat if you like." + +The men replied that they would stick to the yacht wherever Mr. Virtue +chose to take her, and muttered something about the ladies, for the +pleasant faces of Mrs. Grantham and Miss Graham had, during the +fortnight they had been on board, won the men's hearts. + +"Very well, lads, I am glad to find you will stick by me; if we pull +safely through it I will give each of you three months' wages. Now set +to work with a will and get the gig out. We will tow her after us, and +take to her if we make a smash of it." + +They were now near enough to see the white breakers, in the middle of +which the ship was lying. She was fast breaking up. The jagged outline +showed that the stern had been beaten in. The masts and funnel were +gone, and the waves seemed to make a clean breach over her, almost +hiding her from sight in a white cloud of spray. + +"Wood and iron can't stand that much longer," Jack Harvey said; "another +hour and I should say there won't be two planks left together." + +"It is awful, Jack; I would give all I have in the world if I had not +persuaded them to go on board. Keep her off a little more, Watkins." + +The _Seabird_ passed within a cable's-length of the breakers at the +northern end of the reef. + +"Now, lads, take your places at the sheets, ready to haul or let go as I +give the word." So saying, Tom Virtue took his place in the bow, holding +on by the forestay. + +The wind was full on the _Seabird's_ beam as she entered the broken +water. Here and there the dark heads of the rocks showed above the +water. These were easy enough to avoid, the danger lay in those hidden +beneath its surface, and whose position was indicated only by the +occasional break of a sea as it passed over them. Every time the +_Seabird_ sank on a wave those on board involuntarily held their breath, +but the water here was comparatively smooth, the sea having spent its +first force upon the outer reef. With a wave of his hand Tom directed +the helmsman as to his course, and the little yacht was admirably +handled through the dangers. + +"I begin to think we shall do it," Tom said to Jack Harvey, who was +standing close to him. "Another five minutes and we shall be within +reach of her." + +It could be seen now that there was a group of people clustered in the +bow of the wreck. Two or three light lines were coiled in readiness for +throwing. + +"Now, Watkins," Tom said, going aft, "make straight for the wreck. I see +no broken water between us and them, and possibly there may be deep +water under their bow." + +It was an anxious moment, as, with the sails flattened in, the yawl +forged up nearly in the eye of the wind towards the wreck. Her progress +was slow, for she was now stemming the current. + +Tom stood with a coil of line in his hand in the bow. + +"You get ready to throw, Jack, if I miss." + +Nearer and nearer the yacht approached the wreck, until the bowsprit of +the latter seemed to stand almost over her. Then Tom threw the line. It +fell over the bowsprit, and a cheer broke from those on board the wreck +and from the sailors of the _Seabird_. A stronger line was at once +fastened to that thrown, and to this a strong hawser was attached. + +"Down with the helm, Watkins. Now, lads, lower away the try-sail as fast +as you can. Now, one of you, clear that hawser as they haul on it. Now +out with the anchors." + +These had been got into readiness; it was not thought that they would +get any hold on the rocky bottom, still they might catch on a projecting +ledge, and at any rate their weight and that of the chain cable would +relieve the strain upon the hawser. + +Two sailors had run out on the bowsprit of the wreck as soon as the line +was thrown, and the end of the hawser was now on board the steamer. + +"Thank God, there's Grantham!" Jack Harvey exclaimed; "do you see him +waving his hand?" + +"I see him," Tom said, "but I don't see the ladies." + +"They are there, no doubt," Jack said, confidently; "crouching down, I +expect. He would not be there if they weren't, you may be sure. Yes, +there they are; those two muffled-up figures. There, one of them has +thrown back her cloak and is waving her arm." + +The two young men waved their caps. + +"Are the anchors holding, Watkins? There's a tremendous strain on that +hawser." + +"I think so, sir; they are both tight." + +"Put them round the windlass, and give a turn or two, we must relieve +the strain on that hawser." + +Since they had first seen the wreck the waves had made great progress in +the work of destruction, and the steamer had broken in two just aft of +the engines. + +"Get over the spare spars, Watkins, and fasten them to float in front of +her bows like a triangle. Matthews, catch hold of that boat-hook and try +to fend off any piece of timber that comes along. You get hold of the +sweeps, lads, and do the same. They would stave her in like a nut-shell +if they struck her. + +"Thank God, here comes the first of them!" + +Those on board the steamer had not been idle. As soon as the yawl was +seen approaching slings were prepared, and no sooner was the hawser +securely fixed, than the slings were attached to it and a woman placed +in them. The hawser was tight and the descent sharp, and without a check +the figure ran down to the deck of the _Seabird_. She was lifted out of +the slings by Tom and Jack Harvey, who found she was an old woman and +had entirely lost consciousness. + +"Two of you carry her down below; tell Johnson to pour a little brandy +down her throat. Give her some hot soup as soon as she comes to." + +Another woman was lowered and helped below. The next to descend was Mrs. +Grantham. + +"Thank God, you are rescued!" Tom said, as he helped her out of the +sling. + +"Thank God, indeed," Mrs. Grantham said, "and thank you all! Oh, Tom, we +have had a terrible time of it, and had lost all hope till we saw your +sail, and even then the captain said that he was afraid nothing could be +done. Minnie was the first to make out it was you, and then we began to +hope. She has been so brave, dear girl. Ah! here she comes." + +But Minnie's firmness came to an end now that she felt the need for it +was over. She was unable to stand when she was lifted from the slings; +and Tom carried her below. + +"Are there any more women, Mrs. Grantham?" + +"No; there was only one other lady passenger and the stewardess." + +"Then you had better take possession of your own cabin. I ordered +Johnson to spread a couple more mattresses and some bedding on the +floor, so you will all four be able to turn in. There's plenty of hot +coffee and soup. I should advise soup with two or three spoonfuls of +brandy in it. Now, excuse me; I must go upon deck." + +Twelve men descended by the hawser, one of them with both legs broken by +the fall of the mizzen. The last to come was the captain. + +"Is that all?" Tom asked. + +"That is all," the captain said. "Six men were swept overboard when she +first struck, and two were killed by the fall of the funnel. Fortunately +we had only three gentlemen passengers and three ladies on board. The +weather looked so wild when we started that no one else cared about +making the passage. God bless you, sir, for what you have done! Another +half-hour and it would have been all over with us. But it seems like a +miracle your getting safe through the rocks to us." + +"It was fortunate indeed that we came along," Tom said; "three of the +passengers are dear friends of mine; and as it was by my persuasion that +they came across in the steamer instead of in the yacht, I should never +have forgiven myself if they had been lost. Take all your men below, +captain; you will find plenty of hot soup there. Now, Watkins, let us be +off; that steamer won't hold together many minutes longer, so there's no +time to lose. We will go back as we came. Give me a hatchet. Now, lads, +two of you stand at the chain-cables; knock out the shackles the moment +I cut the hawser. Watkins, you take the helm and let her head pay off +till the jib fills. Jack, you lend a hand to the other two, and get up +the try-sail again as soon as we are free." + +In a moment all were at their stations. The helm was put on the yacht, +and she payed off on the opposite tack to that on which she had before +been sailing. As soon as the jib filled, Tom gave two vigorous blows +with his hatchet on the hawser, and, as he lifted his hand for a third, +it parted. Then came the sharp rattle of the chains as they ran round +the hawser-holes. The try-sail was hoisted and sheeted home, and the +_Seabird_ was under way again. Tom, as before, conned the ship from the +bow. Several times she was in close proximity to the rocks, but each +time she avoided them. A shout of gladness rose from all on deck as she +passed the last patch of white water. Then she tacked and bore away for +Jersey. + +Tom had now time to go down below and look after his passengers. They +consisted of the captain and two sailors--the sole survivors of those +who had been on deck when the vessel struck--three male passengers, and +six engineers and stokers. + +"I have not had time to shake you by the hand before, Tom," Grantham +said, as Tom Virtue entered; "and I thought you would not want me on +deck at present. God bless you, old fellow! we all owe you our lives." + +"How did it happen, captain?" Tom asked, as the captain also came up to +him. + +"It was the currents, I suppose," the captain said; "it was so thick we +could not see a quarter of a mile any way. The weather was so wild I +would not put into Guernsey, and passed the island without seeing it. I +steered my usual course, but the gale must have altered the currents, +for I thought I was three miles away from the reef, when we saw it on +our beam, not a hundred yards away. It was too late to avoid it then, +and in another minute we ran upon it, and the waves were sweeping over +us. Every one behaved well. I got all, except those who had been swept +overboard or crushed by the funnel, up into the bow of the ship, and +there we waited. There was nothing to be done. No boat would live for a +moment in the sea on that reef, and all I could advise was, that when +she went to pieces every one should try to get hold of a floating +fragment; but I doubt whether a man would have been alive a quarter of +an hour after she went to pieces." + +"Perhaps, captain, you will come on deck with me and give me the benefit +of your advice. My skipper and I know the islands pretty well, but no +doubt you know them a good deal better, and I don't want another +mishap." + +But the _Seabird_ avoided all further dangers, and as it became dark, +the lights of St. Helier's were in sight, and an hour later the yacht +brought up in the port and landed her involuntary passengers. + +A fortnight afterwards the _Seabird_ returned to England, and two months +later Mrs. Grantham had the satisfaction of being present at the +ceremony which was the successful consummation of her little scheme in +inviting Minnie Graham to be her companion on board the _Seabird_. + +"Well, my dear," her husband said, when she indulged in a little natural +triumph, "I do not say that it has not turned out well, and I am +heartily glad for both Tom and Minnie's sake it has so; but you must +allow that it very nearly had a disastrous ending, and I think if I were +you I should leave matters to take their natural course in future. I +have accepted Tom's invitation for the same party to take a cruise in +the _Seabird_ next summer, but I have bargained that next time a storm +is brewing up we shall stop quietly in port." + +"That's all very well, James," Mrs. Grantham said saucily; "but you must +remember that Tom Virtue will only be first-mate of the _Seabird_ in +future." + +"That I shall be able to tell you better, my dear, after our next +cruise. All husbands are not as docile and easily led as I am." + + + + +[Illustration] + +A PIPE OF MYSTERY. + + +A jovial party were gathered round a blazing fire in an old grange near +Warwick. The hour was getting late; the very little ones had, after +dancing round the Christmas-tree, enjoying the snapdragon, and playing a +variety of games, gone off to bed; and the elder boys and girls now +gathered round their uncle, Colonel Harley, and asked him for a +story--above all, a ghost story. + +"But I have never seen any ghosts," the colonel said, laughing; "and, +moreover, I don't believe in them one bit. I have travelled pretty well +all over the world, I have slept in houses said to be haunted, but +nothing have I seen--no noises that could not be accounted for by rats +or the wind have I ever heard. I have never"--and here he paused--"never +but once met with any circumstances or occurrence that could not be +accounted for by the light of reason, and I know you prefer hearing +stories of my own adventures to mere invention." + +"Yes, uncle. But what was the 'once' when circumstances happened that +you could not explain?" + +"It's rather a long story," the colonel said, "and it's getting late." + +"Oh! no, no, uncle; it does not matter a bit how late we sit up on +Christmas Eve, and the longer the story is, the better; and if you don't +believe in ghosts, how can it be a story of something you could not +account for by the light of nature?" + +"You will see when I have done," the colonel said. "It is rather a story +of what the Scotch call second sight, than one of ghosts. As to +accounting for it, you shall form your own opinion when you have heard +me to the end. + +"I landed in India in '50, and after going through the regular drill +work, marched with a detachment up country to join my regiment, which +was stationed at Jubbalpore, in the very heart of India. It has become +an important place since; the railroad across India passes through it, +and no end of changes have taken place; but at that time it was one of +the most out-of-the-way stations in India, and, I may say, one of the +most pleasant. It lay high, there was capital boating on the Nerbudda, +and, above all, it was a grand place for sport, for it lay at the foot +of the hill country, an immense district, then but little known, covered +with forests and jungle, and abounding with big game of all kinds. + +"My great friend there was a man named Simmonds. He was just of my own +standing; we had come out in the same ship, had marched up the country +together, and were almost like brothers. He was an old Etonian, I an old +Westminster, and we were both fond of boating, and, indeed, of sport of +all kinds. But I am not going to tell you of that now. The people in +these hills are called Gonds, a true hill tribe--that is to say, +aborigines, somewhat of the negro type. The chiefs are of mixed blood, +but the people are almost black. They are supposed to accept the +religion of the Hindus, but are in reality deplorably ignorant and +superstitious. Their priests are a sort of compound of a Brahmin priest +and a negro fetish man, and among their principal duties is that of +charming away tigers from the villages by means of incantations. There, +as in other parts of India, were a few wandering fakirs, who enjoyed an +immense reputation for holiness and wisdom. The people would go to them +from great distances for charms or predictions, and believed in their +power with implicit faith. + +"At the time when we were at Jubbalpore, there was one of these fellows, +whose reputation altogether eclipsed that of his rivals, and nothing +could be done until his permission had been asked and his blessing +obtained. All sorts of marvellous stories were constantly coming to our +ears of the unerring foresight with which he predicted the termination +of diseases, both in men and animals; and so generally was he believed +in that the colonel ordered that no one connected with the regiment +should consult him, for these predictions very frequently brought about +their own fulfilment; for those who were told that an illness would +terminate fatally, lost all hope, and literally lay down to die. + +"However, many of the stories that we heard could not be explained on +these grounds, and the fakir and his doings were often talked over at +mess, some of the officers scoffing at the whole business, others +maintaining that some of these fakirs had, in some way or another, the +power of foretelling the future, citing many well authenticated +anecdotes upon the subject. + +"The older officers were the believers, we young fellows were the +scoffers. But for the well-known fact that it is very seldom indeed +that these fakirs will utter any of their predictions to Europeans, some +of us would have gone to him, to test his powers. As it was, none of us +had ever seen him. + +"He lived in an old ruined temple, in the middle of a large patch of +jungle at the foot of the hills, some ten or twelve miles away. + +"I had been at Jubbalpore about a year, when I was woke up one night by +a native, who came in to say that at about eight o'clock a tiger had +killed a man in his village, and had dragged off the body. + +"Simmonds and I were constantly out after tigers, and the people in all +the villages within twenty miles knew that we were always ready to pay +for early information. This tiger had been doing great damage, and had +carried off about thirty men, women, and children. So great was the fear +of him, indeed, that the people in the neighbourhood he frequented +scarcely dared stir out of doors, except in parties of five or six. We +had had several hunts after him, but, like all man-eaters, he was old +and awfully crafty; and although we got several snap shots at him, he +had always managed to save his skin. + +"In a quarter of an hour after the receipt of the message, Charley +Simmonds and I were on the back of an elephant, which was our joint +property; our shekarry, a capital fellow, was on foot beside us, and +with the native trotting on ahead as guide we went off at the best pace +of old Begaum, for that was the elephant's name. The village was fifteen +miles away, but we got there soon after daybreak, and were received with +delight by the population. In half an hour the hunt was organized; all +the male population turned out as beaters, with sticks, guns, tom-toms, +and other instruments for making a noise. + +"The trail was not difficult to find. A broad path, with occasional +smears of blood, showed where he had dragged his victim through the long +grass to a cluster of trees a couple of hundred yards from the village. + +"We scarcely expected to find him there, but the villagers held back, +while we went forward with cocked rifles. We found, however, nothing but +a few bones and a quantity of blood. The tiger had made off at the +approach of daylight into the jungle, which was about two miles distant. +We traced him easily enough, and found that he had entered a large +ravine, from which several smaller ones branched off. + +"It was an awkward place, as it was next to impossible to surround it +with the number of people at our command. We posted them at last all +along the upper ground, and told them to make up in noise what they +wanted in numbers. At last all was ready, and we gave the signal. +However, I am not telling you a hunting story, and need only say that we +could neither find nor disturb him. In vain we pushed Begaum through the +thickest of the jungle which clothed the sides and bottom of the ravine, +while the men shouted, beat their tom-toms, and showered imprecations +against the tiger himself and his ancestors up to the remotest +generations. + +"The day was tremendously hot, and, after three hours' march, we gave it +up for a time, and lay down in the shade, while the shekarries made a +long examination of the ground all round the hillside, to be sure that +he had not left the ravine. They came back with the news that no traces +could be discovered, and that, beyond a doubt, he was still there. A +tiger will crouch up in an exceedingly small clump of grass or bush, and +will sometimes almost allow himself to be trodden on before moving. +However, we determined to have one more search, and if that should prove +unsuccessful, to send off to Jubbalpore for some more of the men to come +out with elephants, while we kept up a circle of fires, and of noises +of all descriptions, so as to keep him a prisoner until the arrival of +the reinforcements. Our next search was no more successful than our +first had been; and having, as we imagined, examined every clump and +crevice in which he could have been concealed, we had just reached the +upper end of the ravine, when we heard a tremendous roar, followed by a +perfect babel of yells and screams from the natives. + +"The outburst came from the mouth of the ravine, and we felt at once +that he had escaped. We hurried back to find, as we had expected, that +the tiger was gone. He had burst out suddenly from his hiding-place, had +seized a native, torn him horribly, and had made across the open plain. + +"This was terribly provoking, but we had nothing to do but follow him. +This was easy enough, and we traced him to a detached patch of wood and +jungle, two miles distant. This wood was four or five hundred yards +across, and the exclamations of the people at once told us that it was +the one in which stood the ruined temple of the fakir of whom I have +been telling you. I forgot to say, that as the tiger broke out one of +the village shekarries had fired at, and, he declared, wounded him. + +"It was already getting late in the afternoon, and it was hopeless to +attempt to beat the jungle that night. We therefore sent off a runner +with a note to the colonel, asking him to send the work-elephants, and +to allow a party of volunteers to march over at night, to help surround +the jungle when we commenced beating it in the morning. + +"We based our request upon the fact that the tiger was a notorious +man-eater, and had been doing immense damage. We then had a talk with +our shekarry, sent a man off to bring provisions for the people out with +us, and then set them to work cutting sticks and grass to make a circle +of fires. + +"We both felt much uneasiness respecting the fakir, who might be seized +at any moment by the enraged tiger. The natives would not allow that +there was any cause for fear, as the tiger would not dare to touch so +holy a man. Our belief in the respect of the tiger for sanctity was by +no means strong, and we determined to go in and warn him of the presence +of the brute in the wood. It was a mission which we could not intrust to +anyone else, for no native would have entered the jungle for untold +gold; so we mounted the Begaum again, and started. The path leading +towards the temple was pretty wide, and as we went along almost +noiselessly, for the elephant was too well trained to tread upon fallen +sticks, it was just possible we might come upon the tiger suddenly, so +we kept our rifles in readiness in our hands. + +"Presently we came in sight of the ruins. No one was at first visible; +but at that very moment the fakir came out from the temple. He did not +see or hear us, for we were rather behind him and still among the trees, +but at once proceeded in a high voice to break into a sing-song prayer. +He had not said two words before his voice was drowned in a terrific +roar, and in an instant the tiger had sprung upon him, struck him to the +ground, seized him as a cat would a mouse, and started off with him at a +trot. The brute evidently had not detected our presence, for he came +right towards us. We halted the Begaum, and with our fingers on the +triggers, awaited the favourable moment. He was a hundred yards from us +when he struck down his victim; he was not more than fifty when he +caught sight of us. He stopped for an instant in surprise. Charley +muttered, 'Both barrels, Harley,' and as the beast turned to plunge into +the jungle, and so showed us his side, we sent four bullets crashing +into him, and he rolled over lifeless. + +"We went up to the spot, made the Begaum give him a kick, to be sure +that he was dead, and then got down to examine the unfortunate fakir. +The tiger had seized him by the shoulder, which was terribly torn, and +the bone broken. He was still perfectly conscious. + +"We at once fired three shots, our usual signal that the tiger was dead, +and in a few minutes were surrounded by the villagers, who hardly knew +whether to be delighted at the death of their enemy, or to grieve over +the injury to the fakir. We proposed taking the latter to our hospital +at Jubbalpore, but this he positively refused to listen to. However we +finally persuaded him to allow his arm to be set and the wounds dressed +in the first place by our regimental surgeon, after which he could go to +one of the native villages and have his arm dressed in accordance with +his own notions. A litter was soon improvised, and away we went to +Jubbalpore, which we reached about eight in the evening. + +"The fakir refused to enter the hospital, so we brought out a couple of +trestles, laid the litter upon them, and the surgeon set his arm and +dressed his wounds by torch-light, when he was lifted into a dhoolie, +and his bearers again prepared to start for the village. + +"Hitherto he had only spoken a few words; but he now briefly expressed +his deep gratitude to Simmonds and myself. We told him that we would +ride over to see him shortly, and hoped to find him getting on rapidly. +Another minute and he was gone. + +"It happened that we had three or four fellows away on leave or on staff +duty, and several others knocked up with fever just about this time, so +that the duty fell very heavily upon the rest of us, and it was over a +month before we had time to ride over to see the fakir. + +"We had heard he was going on well; but we were surprised, on reaching +the village, to find that he had already returned to his old abode in +the jungle. However, we had made up our minds to see him, especially as +we had agreed that we would endeavour to persuade him to do a prediction +for us; so we turned our horses' heads towards the jungle. We found the +fakir sitting on a rock in front of the temple, just where he had been +seized by the tiger. He rose as we rode up. + +"'I knew that you would come to-day, sahibs, and was joyful in the +thought of seeing those who have preserved my life.' + +"'We are glad to see you looking pretty strong again, though your arm +is still in a sling,' I said, for Simmonds was not strong in Hindustani. + +"'How did you know that we were coming?' I asked, when we had tied up +our horses. + +"'Siva has given to his servant to know many things,' he said quietly. + +"'Did you know beforehand that the tiger was going to seize you?' I +asked. + +"'I knew that a great danger threatened, and that Siva would not let me +die before my time had come.' + +"'Could you see into our future?' I asked. + +"The fakir hesitated, looked at me for a moment earnestly to see if I +was speaking in mockery, and then said: + +"'The sahibs do not believe in the power of Siva or of his servants. +They call his messengers impostors, and scoff at them when they speak of +the events of the future.' + +"'No, indeed,' I said. 'My friend and I have no idea of scoffing. We +have heard of so many of your predictions coming true, that we are +really anxious that you should tell us something of the future.' + +"The fakir nodded his head, went into the temple, and returned in a +minute or two with two small pipes used by the natives for +opium-smoking, and a brazier of burning charcoal. The pipes were +already charged. He made signs to us to sit down, and took his place in +front of us. Then he began singing in a low voice, rocking himself to +and fro, and waving a staff which he held in his hand. Gradually his +voice rose, and his gesticulations and actions became more violent. So +far as I could make out, it was a prayer to Siva that he would give some +glimpse of the future which might benefit the sahibs who had saved the +life of his servant. Presently he darted forward, gave us each a pipe, +took two pieces of red-hot charcoal from the brazier in his fingers, +without seeming to know that they were warm, and placed them in the +pipes; then he recommenced his singing and gesticulations. + +"A glance at Charley, to see if, like myself, he was ready to carry the +thing through, and then I put the pipe to my lips. I felt at once that +it was opium, of which I had before made experiment, but mixed with some +other substance, which was, I imagine, haschish, a preparation of hemp. +A few puffs, and I felt a drowsiness creeping over me. I saw, as through +a mist, the fakir swaying himself backwards and forwards, his arms +waving, and his face distorted. Another minute, and the pipe slipped +from my fingers, and I fell back insensible. + +"How long I lay there I do not know. I woke with a strange and not +unpleasant sensation, and presently became conscious that the fakir was +gently pressing, with a sort of shampooing action, my temples and head. +When he saw that I opened my eyes he left me, and performed the same +process upon Charley. In a few minutes he rose from his stooping +position, waved his hand in token of adieu, and walked slowly back into +the temple. + +"As he disappeared I sat up; Charley did the same. + +"We stared at each other for a minute without speaking, and then Charley +said: + +"'This is a rum go, and no mistake, old man.' + +"'You're right, Charley. My opinion is, we've made fools of ourselves. +Let's be off out of this.' + +"We staggered to our feet, for we both felt like drunken men, made our +way to our horses, poured a mussuk of water over our heads, took a drink +of brandy from our flasks, and then feeling more like ourselves, mounted +and rode out of the jungle. + +"'Well, Harley, if the glimpse of futurity which I had is true, all I +can say is that it was extremely unpleasant.' + +"'That was just my case, Charley.' + +"'My dream, or whatever you like to call it, was about a mutiny of the +men.' + +"'You don't say so, Charley; so was mine. This is monstrously strange, +to say the least of it. However, you tell your story first, and then I +will tell mine.' + +"'It was very short,' Charley said. 'We were at mess--not in our present +mess-room--we were dining with the fellows of some other regiment. +Suddenly, without any warning, the windows were filled with a crowd of +Sepoys, who opened fire right and left into us. Half the fellows were +shot down at once; the rest of us made a rush to our swords just as the +niggers came swarming into the room. There was a desperate fight for a +moment. I remember that Subadar Piran--one of the best native officers +in the regiment, by the way--made a rush at me, and I shot him through +the head with a revolver. At the same moment a ball hit me, and down I +went. At the moment a Sepoy fell dead across me, hiding me partly from +sight. The fight lasted a minute or two longer. I fancy a few fellows +escaped, for I heard shots outside. Then the place became quiet. In +another minute I heard a crackling, and saw that the devils had set the +mess-room on fire. One of our men, who was lying close by me, got up +and crawled to the window, but he was shot down the moment he showed +himself. I was hesitating whether to do the same or to lie still and be +smothered, when suddenly I rolled the dead sepoy off, crawled into the +ante-room half-suffocated by smoke, raised the lid of a very heavy +trap-door, and stumbled down some steps into a place, half storehouse +half cellar, under the mess-room. How I knew about it being there I +don't know. The trap closed over my head with a bang. That is all I +remember.' + +"'Well, Charley, curiously enough my dream was also about an +extraordinary escape from danger, lasting, like yours, only a minute or +two. The first thing I remember--there seems to have been something +before, but what, I don't know--I was on horseback, holding a very +pretty but awfully pale girl in front of me. We were pursued by a whole +troop of Sepoy cavalry, who were firing pistol-shots at us. We were not +more than seventy or eighty yards in front, and they were gaining fast, +just as I rode into a large deserted temple. In the centre was a huge +stone figure. I jumped off my horse with the lady, and as I did so she +said, 'Blow out my brains, Edward; don't let me fall alive into their +hands.' + +"'Instead of answering, I hurried her round behind the idol, pushed +against one of the leaves of a flower in the carving, and the stone +swung back, and showed a hole just large enough to get through, with a +stone staircase inside the body of the idol, made no doubt for the +priest to go up and give responses through the mouth. I hurried the girl +through, crept in after her, and closed the stone, just as our pursuers +came clattering into the courtyard. That is all I remember.' + +"'Well, it is monstrously rum,' Charley said, after a pause. 'Did you +understand what the old fellow was singing about before he gave us the +pipes?' + +"'Yes; I caught the general drift. It was an entreaty to Siva to give us +some glimpse of futurity which might benefit us.' + +"We lit our cheroots and rode for some miles at a brisk canter without +remark. When we were within a short distance of home we reined up. + +"'I feel ever so much better,' Charley said. 'We have got that opium out +of our heads now. How do you account for it all, Harley?' + +"'I account for it in this way, Charley. The opium naturally had the +effect of making us both dream, and as we took similar doses of the same +mixture, under similar circumstances, it is scarcely extraordinary that +it should have effected the same portion of the brain, and caused a +certain similarity in our dreams. In all nightmares something terrible +happens, or is on the point of happening; and so it was here. Not +unnaturally in both our cases, our thoughts turned to soldiers. If you +remember there was a talk at mess some little time since, as to what +would happen in the extremely unlikely event of the sepoys mutinying in +a body. I have no doubt that was the foundation of both our dreams. It +is all natural enough when we come to think it over calmly. I think, by +the way, we had better agree to say nothing at all about it in the +regiment.' + +"'I should think not,' Charley said. 'We should never hear the end of +it; they would chaff us out of our lives.' + +"We kept our secret, and came at last to laugh over it heartily when we +were together. Then the subject dropped, and by the end of a year had as +much escaped our minds as any other dream would have done. Three months +after the affair the regiment was ordered down to Allahabad, and the +change of place no doubt helped to erase all memory of the dream. Four +years after we had left Jubbalpore we went to Beerapore. The time is +very marked in my memory, because the very week we arrived there, your +aunt, then Miss Gardiner, came out from England, to her father, our +colonel. The instant I saw her I was impressed with the idea that I knew +her intimately. I recollected her face, her figure, and the very tone of +her voice, but wherever I had met her I could not conceive. Upon the +occasion of my first introduction to her, I could not help telling her +that I was convinced that we had met, and asking her if she did not +remember it. No, she did not remember, but very likely she might have +done so, and she suggested the names of several people at whose houses +we might have met. I did not know any of them. Presently she asked how +long I had been out in India? + +"'Six years,' I said. + +"'And how old, Mr. Harley,' she said, 'do you take me to be?' + +"I saw in one instant my stupidity, and was stammering out an apology, +when she went on,-- + +"'I am very little over eighteen, Mr. Harley, although I evidently look +ever so many years older; but papa can certify to my age; so I was only +twelve when you left England.' + +"I tried in vain to clear matters up. Your aunt would insist that I took +her to be forty, and the fun that my blunder made rather drew us +together, and gave me a start over the other fellows at the station, +half of whom fell straightway in love with her. Some months went on, and +when the mutiny broke out we were engaged to be married. It is a proof +of how completely the opium-dreams had passed out of the minds of both +Simmonds and myself, that even when rumours of general disaffection +among the Sepoys began to be current, they never once recurred to us; +and even when the news of the actual mutiny reached us, we were just as +confident as were the others of the fidelity of our own regiment. It was +the old story, foolish confidence and black treachery. As at very many +other stations, the mutiny broke out when we were at mess. Our regiment +was dining with the 34th Bengalees. Suddenly, just as dinner was over, +the window was opened, and a tremendous fire poured in. Four or five men +fell dead at once, and the poor colonel, who was next to me, was shot +right through the head. Every one rushed to his sword and drew his +pistol--for we had been ordered to carry pistols as part of our uniform. +I was next to Charley Simmonds as the Sepoys of both regiments, headed +by Subadar Piran, poured in at the windows. + +"'I have it now,' Charley said; 'it is the scene I dreamed.' + +"As he spoke he fired his revolver at the subadar, who fell dead in his +tracks. + +"A Sepoy close by levelled his musket and fired. Charley fell, and the +fellow rushed forward to bayonet him. As he did so I sent a bullet +through his head, and he fell across Charley. It was a wild fight for a +minute or two, and then a few of us made a sudden rush together, cut our +way through the mutineers, and darted through an open window on to the +parade. There were shouts, shots, and screams from the officers' +bungalows, and in several places flames were already rising. What became +of the other men I knew not; I made as hard as I could tear for the +colonel's bungalow. Suddenly I came upon a sowar sitting on his horse +watching the rising flames. Before he saw me I was on him, and ran him +through. I leapt on his horse and galloped down to Gardiner's compound. +I saw lots of Sepoys in and around the bungalow, all engaged in looting. +I dashed into the compound. + +"'May! May!' I shouted. 'Where are you?' + +"I had scarcely spoken before a dark figure rushed out of a clump of +bushes close by with a scream of delight. + +"In an instant she was on the horse before me, and shooting down a +couple of fellows who made a rush at my reins, I dashed out again. +Stray shots were fired after us. But fortunately the Sepoys were all +busy looting, most of them had laid down their muskets, and no one +really took up the pursuit. I turned off from the parade-ground, dashed +down between the hedges of two compounds, and in another minute we were +in the open country. + +"Fortunately, the cavalry were all down looting their own lines, or we +must have been overtaken at once. May happily had fainted as I lifted +her on to my horse--happily, because the fearful screams that we heard +from the various bungalows almost drove me mad, and would probably have +killed her, for the poor ladies were all her intimate friends. + +"I rode on for some hours, till I felt quite safe from any immediate +pursuit, and then we halted in the shelter of a clump of trees. + +"By this time I had heard May's story. She had felt uneasy at being +alone, but had laughed at herself for being so, until upon her speaking +to one of the servants he had answered in a tone of gross insolence, +which had astonished her. She at once guessed that there was danger, and +the moment that she was alone caught up a large, dark carriage rug, +wrapped it round her so as to conceal her white dress, and stole out +into the verandah. The night was dark, and scarcely had she left the +house than she heard a burst of firing across at the mess-house. She at +once ran in among the bushes and crouched there, as she heard the rush +of men into the room she had just left. She heard them searching for +her, but they were looking for a white dress, and her dark rug saved +her. What she must have suffered in the five minutes between the firing +of the first shots and my arrival, she only knows. May had spoken but +very little since we started. I believe that she was certain that her +father was dead, although I had given an evasive answer when she asked +me; and her terrible sense of loss, added to the horror of that time of +suspense in the garden, had completely stunned her. We waited in the +tope until the afternoon, and then set out again. + +"We had gone but a short distance when we saw a body of the rebel +cavalry in pursuit. They had no doubt been scouring the country +generally, and the discovery was accidental. For a short time we kept +away from them, but this could not be for long, as our horse was +carrying double. I made for a sort of ruin I saw at the foot of a hill +half a mile away. I did so with no idea of the possibility of +concealment. My intention was simply to get my back to a rock and to +sell my life as dearly as I could, keeping the last two barrels of the +revolver for ourselves. Certainly no remembrance of my dream influenced +me in any way, and in the wild whirl of excitement I had not given a +second thought to Charley Simmonds' exclamation. As we rode up to the +ruins only a hundred yards ahead of us, May said,-- + +"'Blow out my brains, Edward; don't let me fall alive into their hands.' + +"A shock of remembrance shot across me. The chase, her pale face, the +words, the temple--all my dream rushed into my mind. + +"'We are saved,' I cried, to her amazement, as we rode into the +courtyard, in whose centre a great figure was sitting. + +"I leapt from the horse, snatched the mussuk of water from the saddle, +and then hurried May round the idol, between which and the rock behind, +there was but just room to get along. + +"Not a doubt entered my mind but that I should find the spring as I had +dreamed. Sure enough there was the carving, fresh upon my memory as if I +had seen it but the day before. I placed my hand on the leaflet without +hesitation, a solid stone moved back, I hurried my amazed companion in, +and shut to the stone. I found, and shot to, a massive bolt, evidently +placed to prevent the door being opened by accident or design when +anyone was in the idol. + +"At first it seemed quite dark, but a faint light streamed in from +above; we made our way up the stairs, and found that the light came +through a number of small holes pierced in the upper part of the head, +and through still smaller holes lower down, not much larger than a +good-sized knitting-needle could pass through. These holes, we +afterwards found, were in the ornaments round the idol's neck. The holes +enlarged inside, and enabled us to have a view all round. + +"The mutineers were furious at our disappearance, and for hours searched +about. Then, saying that we must be hidden somewhere, and that they +would wait till we came out, they proceeded to bivouac in the courtyard +of the temple. + +"We passed four terrible days, but on the morning of the fifth a scout +came in to tell the rebels that a column of British troops marching on +Delhi would pass close by the temple. They therefore hastily mounted and +galloped off. + +"Three quarters of an hour later we were safe among our own people. A +fortnight afterwards your aunt and I were married. It was no time for +ceremony then; there were no means of sending her away; no place where +she could have waited until the time for her mourning for her father was +over. So we were married quietly by one of the chaplains of the troops, +and, as your story-books say, have lived very happily ever after." + +"And how about Mr. Simmonds, uncle? Did he get safe off too?" + +"Yes, his dream came as vividly to his mind as mine had done. He crawled +to the place where he knew the trap-door would be, and got into the +cellar. Fortunately for him there were plenty of eatables there, and he +lived there in concealment for a fortnight. After that he crawled out, +and found the mutineers had marched for Delhi. He went through a lot, +but at last joined us before that city. We often talked over our dreams +together, and there was no question that we owed our lives to them. Even +then we did not talk much to other people about them, for there would +have been a lot of talk, and inquiry, and questions, and you know +fellows hate that sort of thing. So we held our tongues. Poor Charley's +silence was sealed a year later at Lucknow, for on the advance with Lord +Clyde he was killed. + +"And now, boys and girls, you must run off to bed. Five minutes more +and it will be Christmas-day. So you see, Frank, that although I don't +believe in ghosts, I have yet met with a circumstance which I cannot +account for." + +"It is very curious anyhow, uncle, and beats ghost stories into fits." + +"I like it better, certainly," one of the girls said, "for we can go to +bed without being afraid of dreaming about it." + +"Well, you must not talk any more now. Off to bed, off to bed," Colonel +Harley said, "or I shall get into terrible disgrace with your fathers +and mothers, who have been looking very gravely at me for the last three +quarters of an hour." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +WHITE-FACED DICK, + +A STORY OF PINE-TREE GULCH. + + +How Pine-tree Gulch got its name no one knew, for in the early days +every ravine and hillside was thickly covered with pines. It may be that +a tree of exceptional size caught the eye of the first explorer, that he +camped under it, and named the place in its honour; or, may be, some +fallen giant lay in the bottom and hindered the work of the first +prospectors. At any rate, Pine-tree Gulch it was, and the name was as +good as any other. The pine-trees were gone now. Cut up for firing, or +for the erection of huts, or the construction of sluices, but the +hillside was ragged with their stumps. + +The principal camp was at the mouth of the Gulch, where the little +stream, which scarce afforded water sufficient for the cradles in the +dry season, but which was a rushing torrent in winter, joined the Yuba. +The best ground was at the junction of the streams, and lay, indeed, in +the Yuba valley rather than in the Gulch. At first most gold had been +found higher up, but there was here comparatively little depth down to +the bed-rock, and as the ground became exhausted the miners moved down +towards the mouth of the Gulch. They were doing well as a whole, how +well no one knew, for miners are chary of giving information as to what +they are making; still, it was certain they were doing well, for the +bars were doing a roaring trade, and the store-keepers never refused +credit--a proof in itself that the prospects were good. + +The flat at the mouth of the Gulch was a busy scene, every foot was good +paying stuff, for in the eddy, where the torrents in winter rushed down +into the Yuba, the gold had settled down and lay thick among the gravel. +But most of the parties were sinking, and it was a long way down to the +bed-rock; for the hills on both sides sloped steeply, and the Yuba must +here at one time have rushed through a narrow gorge, until, in some +wild freak, it brought down millions of tons of gravel, and resumed its +course seventy feet above its former level. + +A quarter of a mile higher up a ledge of rock ran across the valley, and +over it in the old time the Yuba had poured in a cascade seventy feet +deep into the ravine. But the rock now was level with the gravel, only +showing its jagged points here and there above it. This ledge had been +invaluable to the diggers: without it they could only have sunk their +shafts with the greatest difficulty, for the gravel would have been full +of water, and even with the greatest pains in puddling and timber-work +the pumps would scarcely have sufficed to keep it down as it rose in the +bottom of the shafts. But the miners had made common cause together, and +giving each so many ounces of gold or so many day's work had erected a +dam thirty feet high along the ledge of rock, and had cut a channel for +the Yuba along the lower slopes of the valley. Of course, when the rain +set in, as everybody knew, the dam would go, and the river diggings must +be abandoned till the water subsided and a fresh dam was made; but there +were two months before them yet, and every one hoped to be down to the +bed-rock before the water interrupted their work. + +The hillside, both in the Yuba Valley and for some distance along +Pine-tree Gulch, was dotted by shanties and tents; the former +constructed for the most part of logs roughly squared, the walls being +some three feet in height, on which the sharp sloping roof was placed, +thatched in the first place with boughs, and made all snug, perhaps, +with an old sail stretched over all. The camp was quiet enough during +the day. The few women were away with their washing at the pools, a +quarter of a mile up the Gulch, and the only persons to be seen about +were the men told off for cooking for their respective parties. + +But in the evening the camp was lively. Groups of men in red shirts and +corded trousers tied at the knee, in high boots, sat round blazing +fires, and talked of their prospects or discussed the news of the luck +at other camps. The sound of music came from two or three plank +erections which rose conspicuously above the huts of the diggers, and +were bright externally with the glories of white and coloured paints. To +and from these men were always sauntering, and it needed not the clink +of glasses and the sound of music to tell that they were the bars of the +camp. + +Here, standing at the counter, or seated at numerous small tables, men +were drinking villainous liquor, smoking and talking, and paying but +scant attention to the strains of the fiddle or the accordion, save when +some well-known air was played, when all would join in a boisterous +chorus. Some were always passing in or out of a door which led into a +room behind. Here there was comparative quiet, for men were gambling, +and gambling high. + +Going backwards and forwards with liquors into the gambling-room of the +Imperial Saloon, which stood just where Pine-tree Gulch opened into Yuba +valley, was a lad, whose appearance had earned for him the name of +White-faced Dick. + +White-faced Dick was not one of those who had done well at Pine-tree +Gulch; he had come across the plains with his father, who had died when +half-way over, and Dick had been thrown on the world to shift for +himself. Nature had not intended him for the work, for he was a +delicate, timid lad; what spirits he originally had having been years +before beaten out of him by a brutal father. So far, indeed, Dick was +the better rather than the worse for the event which had left him an +orphan. + +They had been travelling with a large party for mutual security against +Indians and Mormons, and so long as the journey lasted Dick had got on +fairly well. He was always ready to do odd jobs, and as the draught +cattle were growing weaker and weaker, and every pound of weight was of +importance, no one grudged him his rations in return for his services; +but when the company began to descend the slopes of the Sierra Nevada +they began to break up, going off by twos and threes to the diggings, of +which they heard such glowing accounts. Some, however, kept straight on +to Sacramento, determining there to obtain news as to the doings at all +the different places, and then to choose that which seemed to offer the +best prospects of success. + +Dick proceeded with them to the town, and there found himself alone. His +companions were absorbed in the busy rush of population, and each had so +much to provide and arrange for, that none gave a thought to the +solitary boy. However, at that time no one who had a pair of hands, +however feeble, to work need starve in Sacramento; and for some weeks +Dick hung around the town doing odd jobs, and then, having saved a few +dollars, determined to try his luck at the diggings, and started on foot +with a shovel on his shoulder and a few day's provisions slung across +it. + +Arrived at his destination, the lad soon discovered that gold-digging +was hard work for brawny and seasoned men, and after a few feeble +attempts in spots abandoned as worthless he gave up the effort, and +again began to drift; and even in Pine-tree Gulch it was not difficult +to get a living. At first he tried rocking cradles, but the work was far +harder than it appeared. He was standing ankle deep in water from +morning till night, and his cheeks grew paler, and his strength, instead +of increasing, seemed to fade away. Still, there were jobs within his +strength. He could keep a fire alight and watch a cooking-pot, he could +carry up buckets of water or wash a flannel shirt, and so he struggled +on, until at last some kind-hearted man suggested to him that he should +try to get a place at the new saloon which was about to be opened. + +"You are not fit for this work, young 'un, and you ought to be at home +with your mother; if you like I will go up with you this evening to +Jeffries. I knew him down on the flats, and I daresay he will take you +on. I don't say as a saloon is a good place for a boy, still you will +always get your bellyful of victuals and a dry place to sleep in, if +it's only under a table. What do you say?" + +Dick thankfully accepted the offer, and on Red George's recommendation +was that evening engaged. His work was not hard now, for till the miners +knocked off there was little doing in the saloon; a few men would come +in for a drink at dinner-time, but it was not until the lamps were lit +that business began in earnest, and then for four or five hours Dick was +busy. + +A rougher or healthier lad would not have minded the work, but to Dick +it was torture; every nerve in his body thrilled whenever rough miners +cursed him for not carrying out their orders more quickly, or for +bringing them the wrong liquors, which, as his brain was in a whirl with +the noise, the shouting, and the multiplicity of orders, happened +frequently. He might have fared worse had not Red George always stood +his friend, and Red George was an authority in Pine-tree Gulch--powerful +in frame, reckless in bearing and temper, he had been in a score of +fights and had come off them, if not unscathed, at least victorious. He +was notoriously a lucky digger, but his earnings went as fast as they +were made, and he was always ready to open his belt and give a bountiful +pinch of dust to any mate down on his luck. + +One evening Dick was more helpless and confused than usual. The saloon +was full, and he had been shouted at and badgered and cursed until he +scarcely knew what he was doing. High play was going on in the saloon, +and a good many men were clustered round the table. Red George was +having a run of luck, and there was a big pile of gold dust on the table +before him. One of the gamblers who was losing had ordered old rye, and +instead of bringing it to him, Dick brought a tumbler of hot liquor +which someone else had called for. With an oath the man took it up and +threw it in his face. + +"You cowardly hound!" Red George exclaimed. "Are you man enough to do +that to a man?" + +"You bet," the gambler, who was a new arrival at Pine-tree Gulch, +replied; and picking up an empty glass, he hurled it at Red George. The +by-standers sprang aside, and in a moment the two men were facing each +other with outstretched pistols. The two reports rung out +simultaneously: Red George sat down unconcernedly with a streak of blood +flowing down his face, where the bullet had cut a furrow in his cheek; +the stranger fell back with the bullet hole in the centre of his +forehead. + +The body was carried outside, and the play continued as if no +interruption had taken place. They were accustomed to such occurrences +in Pine-tree Gulch, and the piece of ground at the top of the hill, that +had been set aside as a burial place, was already dotted thickly with +graves, filled in almost every instance by men who had died, in the +local phraseology, "with their boots on." + +Neither then nor afterwards did Red George allude to the subject to +Dick, whose life after this signal instance of his championship was +easier than it had hitherto been, for there were few in Pine-tree Gulch +who cared to excite Red George's anger; and strangers going to the +place were sure to receive a friendly warning that it was best for their +health to keep their tempers over any shortcomings on the part of +White-faced Dick. + +Grateful as he was for Red George's interference on his behalf, Dick +felt the circumstance which had ensued more than anyone else in the +camp. With others it was the subject of five minutes' talk, but Dick +could not get out of his head the thought of the dead man's face as he +fell back. He had seen many such frays before, but he was too full of +his own troubles for them to make much impression upon him. But in the +present case he felt as if he himself was responsible for the death of +the gambler; if he had not blundered this would not have happened. He +wondered whether the dead man had a wife and children, and, if so, were +they expecting his return? Would they ever hear where he had died, and +how? + +But this feeling, which, tired out as he was when the time came for +closing the bar, often prevented him from sleeping for hours, in no way +lessened his gratitude and devotion towards Red George, and he felt +that he could die willingly if his life would benefit his champion. +Sometimes he thought, too, that his life would not be much to give, for +in spite of shelter and food, the cough which he had caught while +working in the water still clung to him, and, as his employer said to +him angrily one day-- + +"Your victuals don't do you no good, Dick; you get thinner and thinner, +and folks will think as I starve you. Darned if you ain't a disgrace to +the establishment." + +The wind was whistling down the gorges, and the clouds hung among the +pine-woods which still clothed the upper slopes of the hills, and the +diggers, as they turned out one morning, looked up apprehensively. + +"But it could not be," they assured each other. Every one knew that the +rains were not due for another month yet; it could only be a passing +shower if it rained at all. + +But as the morning went on, men came in from camps higher up the river, +and reports were current that it had been raining for the last two days +among the upper hills; while those who took the trouble to walk across +to the new channel could see for themselves at noon that it was filled +very nigh to the brim, the water rushing along with thick and turbid +current. But those who repeated the rumours, or who reported that the +channel was full, were summarily put down. Men would not believe that +such a calamity as a flood and the destruction of all their season's +work could be impending. There had been some showers, no doubt, as there +had often been before, but it was ridiculous to talk of anything like +rain a month before its time. Still, in spite of these assertions, there +was uneasiness at Pine-tree Gulch, and men looked at the driving clouds +above and shook their heads before they went down to the shafts to work +after dinner. + +When the last customer had left and the bar was closed, Dick had nothing +to do till evening, and he wandered outside and sat down on a stump, at +first looking at the work going on in the valley, then so absorbed in +his own thoughts that he noticed nothing, not even the driving mist +which presently set in. He was calculating that he had, with his savings +from his wages and what had been given him by the miners, laid by eighty +dollars. When he got another hundred and twenty he would go; he would +make his way down to San Francisco, and then by ship to Panama and up to +New York, and then west again to the village where he was born. There +would be people there who would know him, and who would give him work, +for his mother's sake. He did not care what it was; anything would be +better than this. + +Then his thoughts came back to Pine-tree Gulch, and he started to his +feet. Could he be mistaken? Were his eyes deceiving him? No; among the +stones and boulders of the old bed of the Yuba there was the gleam of +water, and even as he watched it he could see it widening out. He +started to run down the hill to give the alarm, but before he was +half-way he paused, for there were loud shouts, and a scene of bustle +and confusion instantly arose. + +The cradles were deserted, and the men working on the surface loaded +themselves with their tools and made for the high ground, while those at +the windlasses worked their hardest to draw up their comrades below. A +man coming down from above stopped close to Dick, with a low cry, and +stood gazing with a white scared face. Dick had worked with him; he was +one of the company to which Red George belonged. + +"What is it, Saunders?" + +"My God! they are lost," the man replied. "I was at the windlass when +they shouted up to me to go up and fetch them a bottle of rum. They had +just struck it rich, and wanted a drink on the strength of it." + +Dick understood at once. Red George and his mates were still in the +bottom of the shaft, ignorant of the danger which was threatening them. + +"Come on," he cried; "we shall be in time yet," and at the top of his +speed dashed down the hill, followed by Saunders. + +"What is it, what is it?" asked parties of men mounting the hill. "Red +George's gang are still below." + +Dick's eyes were fixed on the water. There was a broad band now of +yellow with a white edge down the centre of the stony flat, and it was +widening with terrible rapidity. It was scarce ten yards from the +windlass at the top of Red George's shaft when Dick, followed closely by +Saunders, reached it. + +"Come up, mates; quick, for your lives! The river is rising; you will +be flooded out directly. Every one else has gone!" + +As he spoke he pulled at the rope by which the bucket was hanging, and +the handles of the windlass flew round rapidly as it descended. When it +had run out, Dick and he grasped the handles. + +"All right below?" + +An answering call came up, and the two began their work, throwing their +whole strength into it. Quickly as the windlass revolved, it seemed an +endless time to Dick before the bucket came up, and the first man +stepped out. It was not Red George. Dick had hardly expected it would +be. Red George would be sure to see his two mates up before him, and the +man uttered a cry of alarm as he saw the water, now within a few feet of +the mouth of the shaft. + +It was a torrent now, for not only was it coming through the dam, but it +was rushing down in cascades from the new channel. Without a word the +miner placed himself facing Dick and the moment the bucket was again +down, the three grasped the handles. But quickly as they worked, the +edge of the water was within a few inches of the shaft when the next man +reached the surface; but again the bucket descended before the rope +tightened. However, the water had began to run over the lip--at first in +a mere trickle, and then, almost instantaneously, in a cascade, which +grew larger and larger. + +The bucket was half-way up when a sound like thunder was heard, the +ground seemed to tremble under their feet, and then at the turn of the +valley above, a great wave of yellow water, crested with foam, was seen +tearing along at the speed of a race-horse. + +"The dam has burst!" Saunders shouted. "Run for your lives, or we are +all lost!" + +The three men dropped the handles and ran at full speed towards the +shore, while loud shouts to Dick to follow came from the crowd of men +standing on the slope. But the boy still grasped the handles, and with +lips tightly closed, still toiled on. Slowly the bucket ascended, for +Red George was a heavy man; then suddenly the weight slackened, and the +handle went round faster. The shaft was filling, the water had reached +the bucket, and had risen to Red George's neck, so that his weight was +no longer on the rope. So fast did the water pour in, that it was not +half a minute before the bucket reached the surface, and Red George +sprang out. There was but time for one exclamation, and then the great +wave struck them. Red George was whirled like a straw in the current; +but he was a strong swimmer, and at a point where the valley widened +out, half a mile lower, he struggled to shore. + +Two days later the news reached Pine-tree Gulch that a boy's body had +been washed ashore twenty miles down, and ten men, headed by Red George, +went and brought it solemnly back to Pine-tree Gulch. There, among the +stumps of pine-trees, a grave was dug, and there, in the presence of the +whole camp, White-faced Dick was laid to rest. + +Pine-tree Gulch is a solitude now, the trees are growing again, and none +would dream that it was once a busy scene of industry; but if the +traveller searches among the pine-trees, he will find a stone with the +words: + +"Here lies White-faced Dick, who died to save Red George. 'What can a +man do more than give his life for a friend?'" + +The text was the suggestion of an ex-clergyman working as a miner in +Pine-tree Gulch. + +Red George worked no more at the diggings, but after seeing the stone +laid in its place, went east, and with what little money came to him +when the common fund of the company was divided after the flood on the +Yuba, bought a small farm, and settled down there; but to the end of his +life he was never weary of telling those who would listen to it the +story of Pine-tree Gulch. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +A BRUSH WITH THE CHINESE, + +AND WHAT CAME OF IT. + + +It was early in December that H.M.S. _Perseus_ was cruising off the +mouth of the Canton River. War had been declared with China in +consequence of her continued evasions of the treaty she had made with +us, and it was expected that a strong naval force would soon gather to +bring her to reason. In the meantime the ships on the station had a busy +time of it, chasing the enemy's junks when they ventured to show +themselves beyond the reach of the guns of their forts, and occasionally +having a brush with the piratical boats which took advantage of the +general confusion to plunder friend as well as foe. + +The _Perseus_ had that afternoon chased two Government junks up a creek. +The sun had already set when they took refuge there, and the captain +did not care to send his boats after them in the dark, as many of the +creeks ran up for miles into the flat country; and as they not +unfrequently had many arms or branches, the boats might, in the dark, +miss the junks altogether. Orders were issued that four boats should be +ready for starting at daybreak the next morning. The _Perseus_ anchored +off the mouth of the creek, and two boats were ordered to row backwards +and forwards off its mouth all night to insure that the enemy did not +slip out in the darkness. + +Jack Fothergill, the senior midshipman, was commanding the gig, and two +of the other midshipmen were going in the pinnace and launch, commanded +respectively by the first lieutenant and the master. The three other +midshipmen of the _Perseus_ were loud in their lamentations that they +were not to take share in the fun. + +"You can't all go, you know," Fothergill said, "and it's no use making a +row about it; the captain has been very good to let three of us go." + +"It's all very well for you, Jack," Percy Adcock, the youngest of the +lads, replied, "because you are one of those chosen; and it is not so +hard for Simmons and Linthorpe, because they went the other day in the +boat that chased those junks under shelter of the guns of their battery, +but I haven't had a chance for ever so long." + +"What fun was there in chasing the junks?" Simmons said. "We never got +near the brutes till they were close to their battery, and then just as +the first shot came singing from their guns, and we thought that we were +going to have some excitement, the first lieutenant sung out 'Easy all,' +and there was nothing for it but to turn round and to row for the ship, +and a nice hot row it was--two hours and a half in a broiling sun. Of +course I am not blaming Oliphant, for the captain's orders were strict +that we were not to try to cut the junks out if they got under the guns +of any of their batteries. Still it was horribly annoying, and I do +think the captain might have remembered what beastly luck we had last +time, and given us a chance to-morrow." + +"It is clear we could not all go," Fothergill said, "and naturally +enough the captain chose the three seniors. Besides, if you did have +bad luck last time, you had your chance, and I don't suppose we shall +have anything more exciting now; these fellows always set fire to their +junks and row for the shore directly they see us, after firing a shot or +two wildly in our direction." + +"Well, Jack, if you don't expect any fun," Simmons replied, "perhaps you +wouldn't mind telling the first lieutenant you do not care for going, +and that I am very anxious to take your place. Perhaps he will be good +enough to allow me to relieve you." + +"A likely thing that!" Fothergill laughed. "No, Tom, I am sorry you are +not going, but you must make the best of it till another chance comes." + +"Don't you think, Jack," Percy Adcock said to his senior in a coaxing +tone later on, "you could manage to smuggle me into the boat with you?" + +"Not I, Percy. Suppose you got hurt, what would the captain say then? +And firing as wildly as the Chinese do, a shot is just as likely to hit +your little carcase as to lodge in one of the sailors. No, you must just +make the best of it, Percy, and I promise you that next time there is a +boat expedition, if you are not put in, I will say a good word to the +first luff for you." + +"That promise is better than nothing," the boy said; "but I would a deal +rather go this time and take my chance next." + +"But you see you can't, Percy, and there's no use talking any more about +it. I really do not expect there will be any fighting. Two junks would +hardly make any opposition to the boats of the ship, and I expect we +shall be back by nine o'clock with the news that they were well on fire +before we came up." + +Percy Adcock, however, was determined, if possible, to go. He was a +favourite among the men, and when he spoke to the bow oar of the gig, +the latter promised to do anything he could to aid him to carry out his +wishes. + +"We are to start at daybreak, Tom, so that it will be quite dark when +the boats are lowered. I will creep into the gig before that and hide +myself as well as I can under your thwart, and all you have got to do is +to take no notice of me. When the boat is lowered I think they will +hardly make me out from the deck, especially as you will be standing up +in the bow holding on with the boat-hook till the rest get on board." + +"Well, sir, I will do my best; but if you are caught you must not let +out that I knew anything about it." + +"I won't do that," Percy said. "I don't think there is much chance of my +being noticed until we get on board the junks, and then they won't know +which boat I came off in, and the first lieutenant will be too busy to +blow me up. Of course I shall get it when I am on board again, but I +don't mind that so that I see the fun. Besides, I want to send home some +things to my sister, and she will like them all the better if I can tell +her I captured them on board some junks we seized and burnt." + +The next morning the crews mustered before daybreak. Percy had already +taken his place under the bow thwart of the gig. The davits were swung +overboard, and two men took their places in her as she was lowered down +by the falls. As soon as she touched the water the rest of the crew +clambered down by the ladder and took their places; then Fothergill took +his seat in the stern, and the boat pushed off and lay a few lengths +away from the ship until the heavier boats put off. As soon as they were +under way Percy crawled out from his hiding-place and placed himself in +the bow, where he was sheltered by the body of the oarsmen from +Fothergill's sight. + +Day was just breaking now, but it was still dark on the water, and the +boat rowed very slowly until it became lighter. Percy could just make +out the shores of the creek on both sides; they were but two or three +feet above the level of the water, and were evidently submerged at high +tide. The creek was about a hundred yards wide, and the lad could not +see far ahead, for it was full of sharp windings and turnings. Here and +there branches joined it, but the boats were evidently following the +main channel. After another half-hour's rowing the first lieutenant +suddenly gave the order, "Easy all," and the men, looking over their +shoulders, saw a village a quarter of a mile ahead, with the two junks +they had chased the night before lying in front of it. Almost at the +same moment a sudden uproar was heard--drums were beaten and gongs +sounded. + +"They are on the look-out for us," the first lieutenant said. "Mr. +Mason, do you keep with me and attack the junk highest up the river; Mr. +Bellew and Mr. Fothergill, do you take the one lower down. Row on, men." + +The oars all touched the water together, and the four boats leapt +forward. In a minute a scattering fire of gingals and matchlocks was +opened from the junks, and the bullets pattered on the water round the +boats. Percy was kneeling up in the bow now. As they passed a branch +channel three or four hundred yards from the village, he started and +leapt to his feet. + +"There are four or five junks in that passage, Fothergill; they are +poling out." + +The first lieutenant heard the words. + +"Row on, men; let us finish with these craft ahead before the others get +out. This must be that piratical village we have heard about, Mr. Mason, +as lying up one of these creeks; that accounts for those two junks not +going higher up. I was surprised at seeing them here, for they might +guess that we should try to get them this morning. Evidently they +calculated on catching us in a trap." + +Percy was delighted at finding that, in the excitement caused by his +news, the first lieutenant had forgotten to take any notice of his being +there without orders, and he returned a defiant nod to the threat +conveyed by Fothergill shaking his fist at him. As they neared the junks +the fire of those on board redoubled, and was aided by that of many +villagers gathered on the bank of the creek. Suddenly from a bank of +rushes four cannons were fired. A ball struck the pinnace, smashing in +her side. The other boats gathered hastily round and took her crew on +board, and then dashed at the junks, which were but a hundred yards +distant. The valour of the Chinese evaporated as they saw the boats +approaching, and scores of them leapt overboard and swam for shore. + +In another minute the boats were alongside and the crews scrambling up +the sides of the junks. A few Chinamen only attempted to oppose them. +These were speedily overcome, and the British had now time to look +round, and saw that six junks crowded with men had issued from the side +creek and were making towards them. + +"Let the boats tow astern," the lieutenant ordered. "We should have to +run the gauntlet of that battery on shore if we were to attack them, and +might lose another boat before we reached their side. We will fight them +here." + +The junks approached, those on board firing their guns, yelling and +shouting, while the drums and gongs were furiously beaten. + +"They will find themselves mistaken, Percy, if they think they are going +to frighten us with all that row," Fothergill said. "You young rascal, +how did you get on board the boat without being seen? The captain will +be sure to suspect I had a hand in concealing you." + +The tars were now at work firing the gingals attached to the bulwarks +and the matchlocks, with which the deck was strewn, at the approaching +junks. As they took steady aim, leaning their pieces on the bulwarks, +they did considerable execution among the Chinamen crowded on board the +junks, while the shot of the Chinese, for the most part, whistled far +overhead; but the guns of the shore battery, which had now been slewed +round to bear upon them, opened with a better aim, and several shots +came crashing into the sides of the two captured junks. + +"Get ready to board, lads!" Lieutenant Oliphant shouted. "Don't wait +for them to board you, but the moment they come alongside lash their +rigging to ours and spring on board them." + +The leading junk was now about twenty yards away, and presently grated +alongside. Half-a-dozen sailors at once sprang into her rigging with +ropes, and after lashing the junks together leaped down upon her deck, +where Fothergill was leading the gig's crew and some of those rescued +from the pinnace, while Mr. Bellew, with another party, had boarded her +at the stern. Several of the Chinese fought stoutly, but the greater +part lost heart at seeing themselves attacked by the "white devils," +instead of, as they expected, overwhelming them by their superior +numbers. Many began at once to jump overboard, and after two or three +minutes' sharp fighting, the rest either followed their example or were +beaten below. + +Fothergill looked round. The other junk had been attacked by two of the +enemy, one on each side, and the little body of sailors were gathered in +her waist, and were defending themselves against an overwhelming number +of the enemy. + +The other three piratical junks had been carried somewhat up the creek +by the tide that was sweeping inward, and could not for the moment take +part in the fight. + +"Mr. Oliphant is hard pressed, sir." He asked the master: "Shall we take +to the boats?" + +"That will be the best plan," Mr. Bellew replied. "Quick, lads, get the +boats alongside and tumble in; there is not a moment to be lost." + +The crew at once sprang to the boats and rowed to the other junk, which +was but some thirty yards away. + +The Chinese, absorbed in their contest with the crew of the pinnace, did +not perceive the new-comers until they gained the deck, and with a shout +fell furiously upon them. In their surprise and consternation the +pirates did not pause to note that they were still five to one superior +in number, but made a precipitate rush for their own vessels. The +English at once took the offensive. The first lieutenant with his party +boarded one, while the new-comers leapt on to the deck of the other. The +panic which had seized the Chinese was so complete that they attempted +no resistance whatever, but sprang overboard in great numbers and swam +to the shore, which was but twenty yards away, and in three minutes the +English were in undisputed possession of both vessels. + +"Back again, Mr. Fothergill, or you will lose the craft you captured," +Lieutenant Oliphant said; "they have already cut her free." + +The Chinese, indeed, who had been beaten below by the boarding party, +had soon perceived the sudden departure of their captors, and gaining +the deck again had cut the lashings which fastened them to the other +junk, and were proceeding to hoist their sails. They were too late, +however. Almost before the craft had way on her Fothergill and his crew +were alongside. The Chinese did not wait for the attack, but at once +sprang overboard and made for the shore. The other three junks, seeing +the capture of their comrades, had already hoisted their sails and were +making up the creek. Fothergill dropped an anchor, left four of his men +in charge, and rowed back to Mr. Oliphant. + +"What shall we do next, sir?" + +"We will give those fellows on shore a lesson, and silence their +battery. Two men have been killed since you left. We must let the other +junks go for the present. Four of my men were killed and eleven wounded +before Mr. Bellew and you came to our assistance. The Chinese were +fighting pluckily up to that time, and it would have gone very hard with +us if you had not been at hand; the beggars will fight when they think +they have got it all their own way. But before we land we will set fire +to the five junks we have taken. Do you return and see that the two +astern are well lighted, Mr. Fothergill; Mr. Mason will see to these +three. When you have done your work take to your boat and lay off till I +join you; keep the junks between you and the shore, to protect you from +the fire of the rascals there." + +"I cannot come with you, I suppose, Fothergill?" Percy Adcock said, as +the midshipman was about to descend into his boat again. + +"Yes, come along, Percy. It doesn't matter what you do now. The captain +will be so pleased when he hears that we have captured and burnt five +junks, that you will get off with a very light wigging, I imagine." + +"That's just what I was thinking, Jack. Has it not been fun?" + +"You wouldn't have thought it fun if you had got one of those matchlock +balls in your body. There are a good many of our poor fellows just at +the present moment who do not see anything funny in the affair at all. +Here we are; clamber up." + +The crew soon set to work under Fothergill's orders. The sails were cut +off the masts and thrown down into the hold; bamboos, of which there +were an abundance down there, were heaped over them, a barrel of oil was +poured over the mass, and the fire then applied. + +"That will do, lads. Now take to your boats and let's make a bonfire of +the other junk." + +In ten minutes both vessels were a sheet of flame, and the boat was +lying a short distance from them waiting for further operations. The +inhabitants of the village, furious at the failure of the plan which had +been laid for the destruction of the "white devils," kept up a constant +fusilade, which, however, did no harm, for the gig was completely +sheltered by the burning junks close to her from their missiles. + +"There go the others!" Percy exclaimed after a minute or two, as three +columns of smoke arose simultaneously from the other junks, and the +sailors were seen dropping into their boats alongside. + +The killed and wounded were placed in the other gig with four sailors in +charge. They were directed to keep under shelter of the junks until +rejoined by the pinnace and Fothergill's gig, after these had done their +work on shore. + +When all was ready the first lieutenant raised his hand as a signal, and +the two boats dashed between the burning junks and rowed for the shore. +Such of the natives as had their weapons charged fired a hasty volley, +and then, as the sailors leapt from their boats, took to their heels. + +"Mr. Fothergill, take your party into the village and set fire to the +houses; shoot down every man you see. This place is a nest of pirates. I +will capture that battery and then join you." + +Fothergill and his sailors at once entered the village. The men had +already fled; the women were turned out of the houses, and these were +immediately set on fire. The tars regarded the whole affair as a +glorious joke, and raced from house to house, making a hasty search in +each for concealed valuables before setting it on fire. In a short time +the whole village was in a blaze. + +"There is a house there, standing in that little grove a hundred yards +away," Percy said. + +"It looks like a temple," Fothergill replied. "However, we will have a +look at it." And calling two sailors to accompany him, he started at a +run towards it, Percy keeping by his side. + +"It is a temple," Fothergill said when they approached it. "Still, we +will have a look at it, but we won't burn it; it will be as well to +respect the religion, even of a set of piratical scoundrels like these." + +At the head of his men he rushed in at the entrance. There was a blaze +of fire as half a dozen muskets were discharged in their faces. One of +the sailors dropped dead, and before the others had time to realize what +had happened they were beaten to the ground by a storm of blows from +swords and other weapons. + +A heavy blow crashed down on Percy's head, and he fell insensible even +before he realized what had occurred. + +When he recovered, his first sensation was that of a vague wonder as to +what had happened to him. He seemed to be in darkness and unable to move +hand or foot. He was compressed in some way that he could not at first +understand, and was being bumped and jolted in an extraordinary manner. +It was some little time before he could understand the situation. He +first remembered the fight with the junks, then he recalled the landing +and burning the village; then, as his brain cleared, came the +recollection of his start with Fothergill for the temple among the +trees, his arrival there, and a loud report and flash of fire. + +"I must have been knocked down and stunned," he said to himself, "and I +suppose I am a prisoner now to these brutes, and one of them must be +carrying me on his back." + +Yes, he could understand it all now. His hands and his feet were tied, +ropes were passed round his body in every direction, and he was fastened +back to back upon the shoulders of a Chinaman. Percy remembered the +tales he had heard of the imprisonment and torture of those who fell +into the hands of the Chinese, and he bitterly regretted that he had +not been killed instead of stunned in the surprise of the temple. + +"It would have been just the same feeling," he said to himself, "and +there would have been an end of it. Now, there is no saying what is +going to happen. I wonder whether Jack was killed, and the sailors." + +Presently there was a jabber of voices; the motion ceased. Percy could +feel that the cords were being unwound, and he was dropped on to his +feet; then the cloth was removed from his head, and he could look round. + +A dozen Chinese, armed with matchlocks and bristling with swords and +daggers, stood around, and among them, bound like himself and gagged by +a piece of bamboo forced lengthways across his mouth and kept there with +a string going round the back of the head, stood Fothergill. He was +bleeding from several cuts in the head. Percy's heart gave a bound of +joy at finding that he was not alone; then he tried to feel sorry that +Jack had not escaped, but failed to do so, although he told himself that +his comrade's presence would not in any way alleviate the fate which was +certain to befall him. Still the thought of companionship, even in +wretchedness, and perhaps a vague hope that Jack, with his energy and +spirit, might contrive some way for their escape, cheered him up. + +As Percy, too, was gagged, no word could be exchanged by the midshipmen, +but they nodded to each other. They were now put side by side and made +to walk in the centre of their captors. On the way they passed through +several villages, whose inhabitants poured out to gaze at the captives, +but the men in charge of them were evidently not disposed to delay, as +they passed through without a stop. At last they halted before two +cottages standing by themselves, thrust the prisoners into a small room, +removed their gags, and left them to themselves. + +"Well, Percy, my boy, so they caught you too? I am awfully sorry. It was +my fault for going with only two men into that temple, but as the +village had been deserted and scarcely a man was found there, it never +entered my mind that there might be a party in the temple." + +"Of course not, Jack; it was a surprise altogether. I don't know +anything about it, for I was knocked down, I suppose, just as we went +in, and the first thing I knew about it was that I was being carried on +the back of one of those fellows. I thought it was awful at first, but I +don't seem to mind so much now you are with me." + +"It is a comfort to have someone to speak to," Jack said, "yet I wish +you were not here, Percy; I can't do you any good, and I shall never +cease blaming myself for having brought you into this scrape. I don't +know much more about the affair than you do. The guns were fired so +close to us that my face was scorched with one of them, and almost at +the same instant I got a lick across my cheek with a sword. I had just +time to hit at one of them, and then almost at the same moment I got two +or three other blows, and down I went; they threw themselves on the top +of me and tied and gagged me in no time. Then I was tied to a long +bamboo, and two fellows put the ends on their shoulders and went off +with me through the fields. Of course I was face downwards, and did not +know you were with us till they stopped and loosed me from the bamboo +and set me on my feet." + +"But what are they going to do with us do you think, Jack?" + +"I should say they are going to take us to Canton and claim a reward +for our capture, and there I suppose they will cut off our heads or saw +us in two, or put us to some other unpleasant kind of death. I expect +they are discussing it now; do you hear what a jabber they are kicking +up?" + +Voices were indeed heard raised in angry altercation in the next room. +After a time the din subsided and the conversation appeared to take a +more amiable turn. + +"I suppose they have settled it as far as they are concerned," Jack +said; "anyhow, you may be quite sure they mean to make something out of +us. If they hadn't they would have finished us at once, for they must +have been furious at the destruction of their junks and village. As to +the idea that mercy has anything to do with it, we may as well put it +out of our minds. The Chinaman, at the best of times, has no feeling of +pity in his nature, and after their defeat it is certain they would have +killed us at once had they not hoped to do better by us. If they had +been Indians I should have said they had carried us off to enjoy the +satisfaction of torturing us, but I don't suppose it is that with them." + +"Do you think there is any chance of our getting away?" Percy asked, +after a pause. + +"I should say not the least in the world, Percy. My hands are fastened +so tight now that the ropes seem cutting into my wrists, and after they +had set me on my feet and cut the cords of my legs I could scarcely +stand at first, my feet were so numbed by the pressure. However, we must +keep up our pluck. Possibly they may keep us at Canton for a bit, and if +they do the squadron may arrive and fight its way past the forts and +take the city before they have quite made up their minds as to what kind +of death will be most appropriate to the occasion. I wonder what they +are doing now? They seem to be chopping sticks." + +"I wish they would give us some water," Percy said. "I am frightfully +thirsty." + +"And so am I, Percy; there is one comfort, they won't let us die of +thirst, they could get no satisfaction out of our deaths now." + +Two hours later some of the Chinese re-entered the room and led the +captives outside, and the lads then saw what was the meaning of the +noise they had heard. A cage had been manufactured of strong bamboos. +It was about four and a half feet long, four feet wide, and less than +three feet high; above it was fastened two long bamboos. Two or three of +the bars of the cage had been left open. + +"My goodness! they never intend to put us in there," Percy exclaimed. + +"That they do," Jack said. "They are going to carry us the rest of the +way." + +The cords which bound the prisoners' hands were now cut, and they were +motioned to crawl into the cage. This they did; the bars were then put +in their places and securely lashed. Four men went to the ends of the +poles and lifted the cage upon their shoulders; two others took their +places beside it, and one man, apparently the leader of the party, +walked on ahead; the rest remained behind. + +"I never quite realized what a fowl felt in a coop before," Jack said, +"but if its sensations are at all like mine they must be decidedly +unpleasant. It isn't high enough to sit upright in, it is nothing like +long enough to lie down, and as to getting out one might as well think +of flying. Do you know, Percy, I don't think they mean taking us to +Canton at all. I did not think of it before, but from the direction of +the sun I feel sure that we cannot have been going that way. What they +are up to I can't imagine." + +In an hour they came to a large village. Here the cage was set down and +the villagers closed round. They were, however, kept a short distance +from the cage by the men in charge of it. Then a wooden platter was +placed on the ground, and persons throwing a few copper coins into this +were allowed to come near the cage. + +"They are making a show of us!" Fothergill exclaimed. "That's what they +are up to, you see if it isn't; they are going to travel up country to +show the 'white devils' whom their valour has captured." + +This was, indeed, the purpose of the pirates. At that time Europeans +seldom ventured beyond the limits assigned to them in the two or three +towns where they were permitted to trade, and few, indeed, of the +country people had ever obtained a sight of the white barbarians of +whose doings they had so frequently heard. Consequently a small crowd +soon gathered round the cage, eyeing the captives with the same interest +they would have felt as to unknown and dangerous beasts; they laughed +and joked, passed remarks upon them, and even poked them with sticks. +Fothergill, furious at this treatment, caught one of the sticks, and +wrenching it from the hands of the Chinaman, tried to strike at him +through the bars, a proceeding which excited shouts of laughter from the +by-standers. + +"I think, Jack," Percy said, "it will be best to try and keep our +tempers and not to seem to mind what they do to us, then if they find +they can't get any fun out of us they will soon leave us alone." + +"Of course, that's the best plan," Fothergill agreed, "but it's not so +easy to follow. That fellow very nearly poked out my eye with his stick, +and no one's going to stand that if he can help it." + +It was some hours before the curiosity of the village was satisfied. +When all had paid who were likely to do so, the guards broke up their +circle, and leaving two of their number at the cage to see that no +actual harm was caused to their prisoners, the rest went off to a +refreshment house. The place of the elders was now taken by the boys +and children of the village, who crowded round the cage, prodded the +prisoners with sticks, and, putting their hands through the bars, pulled +their ears and hair. This amusement, however, was brought to an abrupt +conclusion by Fothergill suddenly seizing the wrist of a big boy and +pulling his arm through the cage until his face was against the bars; +then he proceeded to punch him until the guard, coming to his rescue, +poked Fothergill with his stick until he released his hold. + +The punishment of their comrade excited neither anger nor resentment +among the other boys, who yelled with delight at his discomfiture, but +it made them more careful in approaching the cage, and though they +continued to poke the prisoners with sticks they did not venture again +to thrust a hand through the bars. At sunset the guards again came +round, lifted the cage and carried it into a shed. A platter of dirty +rice and a jug of water were put into the cage; two of the men lighted +their long pipes and sat down on guard beside it, and, the doors being +closed, the captives were left in peace. + +"If this sort of thing is to go on, as I suppose it is," Fothergill +said, "the sooner they cut off our heads the better." + +"It is very bad, Jack. I am sore all over with those probes from their +sharp sticks." + +"I don't care for the pain, Percy, so much as the humiliation of the +thing. To be stared at and poked at as if we were wild beasts by these +curs, when with half a dozen of our men we could send a hundred of them +scampering, I feel as if I could choke with rage." + +"You had better try and eat some of this rice, Jack. It is beastly, but +I daresay we shall get no more until to-morrow night, and we must keep +up our strength if we can. At any rate, the water is not bad, that's a +comfort." + +"No thanks to them," Jack growled. "If there had been any bad water in +the neighbourhood they would have given it to us." + +For six weeks the sufferings of the prisoners continued. Their captors +avoided towns where the authorities would probably at once have taken +the prisoners out of their hands. No one would have recognized the two +captives as the midshipmen of the _Perseus_; their clothes were in +rags--torn to pieces by the thrusts of the sharp-pointed bamboos, to +which they had daily been subjected--the bad food, the cramped position, +and the misery which they suffered had worn both lads to skeletons; +their hair was matted with filth, their faces begrimed with dirt. Percy +was so weak that he felt he could not stand. Fothergill, being three +years older, was less exhausted, but he knew that he, too, could not +support his sufferings for many days longer. Their bodies were covered +with sores, and try as they would they were able to catch only a few +minutes' sleep at a time, so much did the bamboo bars hurt their wasted +limbs. + +They seldom exchanged a word during the daytime, suffering in silence +the persecutions to which they were exposed, but at night they talked +over their homes and friends in England, and their comrades on board +ship, seldom saying a word as to their present position. They were now +in a hilly country, but had not the least idea of the direction in which +it lay from Canton or its distance from the coast. + +One evening Jack said to his companion, "I think it's nearly all over +now, Percy. The last two days we have made longer journeys, and have +not stopped at any of the smaller villages we passed through. I fancy +our guards must see that we can't last much longer, and are taking us +down to some town to hand us over to the authorities and get their +reward for us." + +"I hope it is so, Jack; the sooner the better. Not that it makes much +difference now to me, for I do not think I can stand many more days of +it." + +"I am afraid I am tougher than you, Percy, and shall take longer to +kill, so I hope with all my heart that I may be right, and that they may +be going to give us up to the authorities." + +The next evening they stopped at a large place, and were subjected to +the usual persecution; this, however, was now less prolonged than during +the early days of their captivity, for they had now no longer strength +or spirits to resent their treatment, and as no fun was to be obtained +from passive victims, even the village boys soon ceased to find any +amusement in tormenting them. + +When most of their visitors had left them, an elderly Chinaman +approached the side of the cage. He spoke to their guards and looked at +them attentively for some minutes, then he said in pigeon English, "You +officer men?" + +"Yes!" Jack exclaimed, starting at the sound of the English words, the +first they had heard spoken since their captivity. "Yes, we are officers +of the _Perseus_." + +"Me speeke English velly well," the Chinaman said; "me pilot-man many +years on Canton river. How you get here?" + +"We were attacking some piratical junks, and landed to destroy the +village where the people were firing on us. We entered a place full of +pirates, and were knocked down and taken prisoners, and carried away up +the country; that is six weeks ago, and you see what we are now." + +"Pirate men velly bad," the Chinaman said; "plunder many junk on river +and kill crew. Me muchee hate them." + +"Can you do anything for us?" Jack asked. "You will be well rewarded if +you could manage to get us free." + +The man shook his head. + +"Me no see what can do, me stranger here; come to stay with wifey; +people no do what me ask them. English ships attack Canton, much fight +and take town, people all hate English. Bad country dis. People in one +village fight against another. Velly bad men here." + +"How far is Canton away?" Jack asked. "Could you not send down to tell +the English we are here?" + +"Fourteen days' journey off," the man said; "no see how can do +anything." + +"Well," Jack said, "when you get back again to Canton let our people +know what has been the end of us; we shall not last much longer." + +"All light," the man said, "will see what me can do. Muchee think +to-night!" And after saying a few words to the guards, who had been +regarding this conversation with an air of surprise, the Chinaman +retired. + +The guards had for some time abandoned the precaution of sitting up at +night by the cage, convinced that their captives had no longer strength +to attempt to break through its fastenings or to drag themselves many +yards away if they could do so. They therefore left it standing in the +open, and, wrapping themselves in their thickly-wadded coats, for the +nights were cold, lay down by the side of the cage. + +The coolness of the nights had, indeed, assisted to keep the two +prisoners alive. During the day the sun was excessively hot, and the +crowd of visitors round the cage impeded the circulation of the air and +added to their sufferings. It was true that the cold at night frequently +prevented them from sleeping, but it acted as a tonic and braced them +up. + +"What did he mean about the villages attacking each other?" Percy asked. + +"I have heard," Jack replied, "that in some parts of China things are +very much the same as they used to be in the highlands of Scotland. +There is no law or order. The different villages are like clans, and +wage war on each other. Sometimes the Government sends a number of +troops, who put the thing down for a time, chop off a good many heads, +and then march away, and the whole work begins again as soon as their +backs are turned." + +That night the uneasy slumber of the lads was disturbed by a sudden +firing; shouts and yells were heard, and the firing redoubled. + +"The village is attacked," Jack said. "I noticed that, like some other +places we have come into lately, there is a strong earthen wall round +it, with gates. Well, there is one comfort--it does not make much +difference to us which side wins." + +The guards at the first alarm leapt to their feet, caught up their +matchlocks, and ran to aid in the defence of the wall. Two minutes later +a man ran up to the cage. + +"All lightee," he said; "just what me hopee." + +With his knife he cut the tough withes that held the bamboos in their +places, and pulled out three of the bars. + +"Come along," he said; "no time to lose." + +Jack scrambled out, but in trying to stand upright gave a sharp +exclamation of pain. Percy crawled out more slowly; he tried to stand +up, but could not. The Chinaman caught him up and threw him on his +shoulder. + +"Come along quickee," he said to Jack; "if takee village, kill evely +one." He set off at a run. Jack followed as fast as he could, groaning +at every step from the pain the movement caused to his bruised body. + +They went to the side of the village opposite to that at which the +attack was going on. They met no one on the way, the inhabitants having +all rushed to the other side to repel the attack. They stopped at a +small gate in the wall, the Chinaman drew back the bolts and opened it, +and they passed out into the country. For an hour they kept on. By the +end of that time Jack could scarcely drag his limbs along. The Chinaman +halted at length in a clump of trees surrounded by a thick undergrowth. + +"Allee safee here," he said, "no searchee so far; here food;" and he +produced from a wallet a cold chicken and some boiled rice, and unslung +from his shoulder a gourd filled with cold tea. + +"Me go back now, see what happen. To-mollow nightee come again--bringee +more food." And without another word went off at a rapid pace. + +Jack moistened his lips with the tea, and then turned to his companion. +Percy had not spoken a word since he had been released from the cage, +and had been insensible during the greater part of his journey. Jack +poured some cold tea between his lips. + +"Cheer up, Percy, old boy, we are free now, and with luck and that good +fellow's help we will work our way down to Canton yet." + +"I shall never get down there; you may," Percy said feebly. + +"Oh, nonsense, you will pick up strength like a steam-engine now. Here, +let me prop you against this tree. That's better. Now drink a drop of +this tea; it's like nectar after that filthy water we have been +drinking. Now you will feel better. Now you must try and eat a little of +this chicken and rice. Oh, nonsense, you have got to do it. I am not +going to let you give way when our trouble is just over. Think of your +people at home, Percy, and make an effort, for their sakes. Good +heavens! now I think of it, it must be Christmas morning. We were caught +on the 2nd and we have been just twenty-two days on show. I am sure that +it must be past twelve o'clock, and it is Christmas-day. It is a good +omen, Percy. This food isn't like roast beef and plum-pudding, but it's +not to be despised, I can tell you. Come, fire away, that's a good +fellow." + +Percy made an effort and ate a few mouthfuls of rice and chicken, then +he took another draught of tea, and lay down, and was almost immediately +asleep. + +Jack ate his food slowly and contentedly till he finished half the +supply, then he, too, lay down, and, after a short but hearty +thanksgiving for his escape from a slow and lingering death, he, too, +fell off to sleep. The sun was rising when he woke, being aroused by a +slight movement on the part of Percy; he opened his eyes and sat up. + +"Well, Percy, how do you feel this morning?" he asked cheerily. + +"I feel too weak to move," Percy replied languidly. + +"Oh, you will be all right when you have sat up and eaten breakfast," +Jack said. "Here you are; here is a wing for you, and this rice is as +white as snow, and the tea is first rate. I thought last night after I +lay down that I heard a murmur of water, so after we have had breakfast +I will look about and see if I can find it. We should feel like new men +after a wash. You look awful, and I am sure I am just as bad." + +The thought of a wash inspirited Percy far more than that of eating, and +he sat up and made a great effort to do justice to breakfast. He +succeeded much better than he had done the night before, and Jack, +although he pretended to grumble, was satisfied with his companion's +progress, and finished off the rest of the food. Then he set out to +search for water. He had not very far to go; a tiny stream, a few +inches wide and two or three inches deep, ran through the wood from the +higher ground. After throwing himself down and taking a drink, he +hurried back to Percy. + +"It is all right, Percy, I have found it. We can wash to our hearts' +content; think of that, lad." + +Percy could hardly stand, but he made an effort, and Jack half carried +him to the streamlet. There the lads spent hours. First they bathed +their heads and hands, and then, stripping, lay down in the stream and +allowed it to flow over them, then they rubbed themselves with handfuls +of leaves dipped in the water, and when they at last put on their rags +again felt like new men. Percy was able to walk back to the spot they +had quitted with the assistance only of Jack's arm. The latter, feeling +that his breakfast had by no means appeased his hunger, now started for +a search through the wood, and presently returned to Percy laden with +nuts and berries. + +"The nuts are sure to be all right; I expect the berries are too. I have +certainly seen some like them in native markets, and I think it will be +quite safe to risk it." + +The rest of the day was spent in picking nuts and eating them. Then +they sat down and waited for the arrival of their friend. He came two +hours after nightfall with a wallet stored with provisions, and told +them that he had regained the village unobserved. The attack had been +repulsed, but with severe loss to the defenders as well as the +assailants; two of their guards had been among the killed. The others +had made a great clamour over the escape of the prisoners, and had made +a close search throughout the village and immediately round it, for they +were convinced that their captives had not had the strength to go any +distance. He thought, however, that although they had professed the +greatest indignation, and had offered many threats as to the vengeance +that Government would take upon the village, one of whose inhabitants, +at least, must have aided in the evasion of the prisoners, they would +not trouble themselves any further in the matter. They had already +reaped a rich harvest from the exhibition, and would divide among +themselves the share of their late comrades; nor was it at all +improbable that if they were to report the matter to the authorities +they would themselves get into serious trouble for not having handed +over the prisoners immediately after their capture. + +For a fortnight the pilot nursed and fed the two midshipmen. He had +already provided them with native clothes, so that if by chance any +villagers should catch sight of them they would not recognize them as +the escaped white men. At the end of that time both the lads had almost +recovered from the effects of their sufferings. Jack, indeed, had picked +up from the first, but Percy for some days continued so weak and ill +that Jack had feared that he was going to have an attack of fever of +some kind. His companion's cheery and hopeful chat did as much good for +Percy as the nourishing food with which their friend supplied them, and +at the end of the fortnight he declared that he felt sufficiently strong +to attempt to make his way down to the coast. + +The pilot acted as their guide. When they inquired about his wife, he +told them carelessly that she would remain with her kinsfolk, and would +travel on to Canton and join him there when she found an opportunity. +The journey was accomplished at night, by very short stages at first, +but by increasing distances as Percy gained strength. During the daytime +the lads lay hid in woods or jungles, while their companion went into +the village and purchased food. They struck the river many miles above +Canton, and the pilot, going down first to a village on its banks, +bargained for a boat to take him and two women down to the city. + +The lads went on board at night and took their places in the little +cabin formed of bamboos and covered with mats in the stern of the boat, +and remained thus sheltered not only from the view of people in boats +passing up or down the stream, but from the eyes of their own boatmen. + +After two days' journey down the river without incident, they arrived +off Canton, where the British fleet was still lying while negotiations +for peace were being carried on with the authorities at Pekin. Peeping +out between the mats, the lads caught sight of the English warships, +and, knowing that there was now no danger, they dashed out of the cabin, +to the surprise of the native boatmen, and shouted and waved their arms +to the distant ships. + +In ten minutes they were alongside the _Perseus_, when they were hailed +as if restored from the dead. The pilot was very handsomely rewarded by +the English authorities for his kindness to the prisoners, and was +highly satisfied with the result of his proceedings, which more than +doubled the little capital with which he had retired from business. Jack +Fothergill and Percy Adcock declare that they have never since eaten +chicken without thinking of their Christmas fare on the morning of their +escape from the hands of the Chinese pirates. + +THE END. + + + + +[Illustration: Blackie & Son's Books for Young People] + +_By the Author of "John Herring," "Mehalah," &c._ + +=Grettir the Outlaw:= A Story of Iceland. By S. Baring-Gould. +With 10 full-page Illustrations by M. Zeno Diemer and a +Coloured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + A work of special interest, not only because of the high rank which + Mr. Baring-Gould has of late years acquired by his brilliant series + of novels, _Mehalah_, _John Herring_, _Court Royal_, &c., but + because of his earlier won reputation as a historian and explorer + of folk-legends and popular beliefs. In the story of Grettir, both + the art of the novelist and the lore of the archaeologist have had + full scope, with the result that we have a narrative of adventure + of the most romantic kind, and at the same time an interesting and + minutely accurate account of the old Icelandic families, their + homes, their mode of life, their superstitions, their songs and + stories, their bear-serk fury, and their heroism by land and sea. + The story is told throughout with a simplicity which will make it + attractive even to the very young, and no boy will be able to + withstand the magic of such scenes as the fight of Grettir with the + twelve bear-serks, the wrestle with Karr the Old in the chamber of + the dead, the combat with the spirit of Glam the thrall, and the + defence of the dying Grettir by his younger brother. + + * * * * * + +BY G.A. HENTY. + + * * * * * + +=With Lee in Virginia:= A Story of the American Civil War. By G.A. +Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + The great war between the Northern and Southern States of America + has the special interest for English boys of having been a struggle + between two sections of a people akin to us in race and language--a + struggle fought out by each side with unusual intensity of + conviction in the rightness of its cause, and abounding in heroic + incidents. Of these points Mr. Henty has made admirable use in this + story of a young Virginian planter, who, after bravely proving his + sympathy with the slaves, serves with no less courage and + enthusiasm under Lee and Jackson through the most exciting events + of the struggle. He has many hairbreadth escapes, is several times + wounded and twice taken prisoner; but his courage and readiness + bring him safely through all difficulties. + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Mr. Henty is one of the best of story tellers for young +people."--_Spectator._ + + * * * * * + +=By Pike and Dyke:= A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By +G.A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Maynard +Brown and 4 Maps. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + A story covering the period which forms the thrilling subject of + Motley's _Rise of the Dutch Republic_, when the Netherlands, under + the guidance of William of Orange, revolted against the attempts of + Alva and the Spaniards to force upon them the Catholic religion. To + a story already of the keenest interest, Mr. Henty has added a + special attractiveness for boys in tracing through the historic + conflict the adventures and brave deeds of an English boy in the + household of the ablest man of his age--William the Silent. Edward + Martin; the son of an English sea-captain, after sharing in the + excitement of an escape from the Spaniards and a sea-fight, enters + the service of the Prince as a volunteer, and is employed by him in + many dangerous and responsible missions, in the discharge of which + he passes through the great sieges and more than one naval + engagement of the time. He is subsequently employed in Holland by + Queen Elizabeth, to whom he is recommended by Orange; and + ultimately settles down as Sir Edward Martin and the husband of the + lady to whom he owes his life, and whom he in turn has saved from + the Council of Blood. + +=The Lion Of St. Mark:= A Tale of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. By +G.A. Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "Every boy should read _The Lion of St. Mark_. Mr. Henty has never + produced any story more delightful, more wholesome, or more + vivacious. From first to last it will be read with keen + enjoyment."--_The Saturday Review._ + + "Mr. Henty has probably not published a more interesting story than + _The Lion of St. Mark_. He has certainly not published one in which + he has been at such pains to rise to the dignity of his subject. + Mr. Henty's battle-pieces are admirable."--_The Academy._ + + "The young hero has shrewdness, courage, enterprise, principle, all + the qualities that help the young in the race and battle of + life."--_Literary Churchman._ + +=Captain Bailey's Heir:= A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By +G.A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by H.M. +Paget. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "A Westminster boy who, like all this author's heroes, makes his + way in the world by hard work, good temper, and unfailing courage. + The descriptions given of life are just what a healthy intelligent + lad should delight in."--_St. James's Gazette._ + + "The portraits of Captain Bayley, and the head-master of + Westminster school, are admirably drawn; and the adventures in + California are told with that vigour which is peculiar to Mr. + Henty."--_The Academy._ + + "Mr. Henty is careful to mingle solid instruction with + entertainment; and the humorous touches, especially in the sketch + of John Holl, the Westminster dustman, Dickens himself could hardly + have excelled."--_Christian Leader._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Surely Mr. Henty should understand boys' tastes better than any man +living."--_The Times._ + + * * * * * + +=Bonnie Prince Charlie:= A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "Ronald, the hero, is very like the hero of _Quentin Durward_. The + lad's journey across France with his faithful attendant Malcolm, + and his hairbreadth escapes from the machinations of his father's + enemies, make up as good a narrative of the kind as we have ever + read. For freshness of treatment and variety of incident, Mr. Henty + has here surpassed himself."--_Spectator._ + + "A historical romance of the best quality. Mr. Henty has written + many more sensational stories, but never a more artistic + one."--_Academy._ + +=For the Temple:= A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By G.A. +Henty. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Solomon J. +Solomon: and a coloured Map. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, _6s_. + + "Mr. Henty is ever one of the foremost writers of historical tales, + and his graphic prose pictures of the hopeless Jewish resistance to + Roman sway adds another leaf to his record of the famous wars of + the world. The book is one of Mr. Henty's cleverest + efforts."--_Graphic._ + + "The story is told with all the force of descriptive power which + has made the author's war stories so famous, and many an 'old boy' + as well as the younger ones will delight in this narrative of that + awful page of history."--_Church Times._ + +=The Lion Of the North:= A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars of +Religion. By G.A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by +John Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "As we might expect from Mr. Henty the tale is a clever and + instructive piece of history, and as boys may be trusted to read it + conscientiously, they can hardly fail to be profited as well as + pleased."--_The Times._ + + "A praiseworthy attempt to interest British youth in the great + deeds of the Scotch Brigade in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus. + Mackay, Hepburn, and Munro live again in Mr. Henty's pages, as + those deserve to live whose disciplined bands formed really the + germ of the modern British army."--_Athenaeum._ + + "A stirring story of stirring times. This book should hold a place + among the classics of youthful fiction."--_United Service Gazette._ + +=The Young Carthaginian:= A story of the Times of Hannibal. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, +R.I. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "The effect of an interesting story, well constructed and vividly + told, is enhanced by the picturesque quality of the scenic + background. From first to last nothing stays the interest of the + narrative. It bears us along as on a stream, whose current varies + in direction, but never loses its force."--_Saturday Review._ + + "Ought to be popular with boys who are not too ill instructed or + too dandified to be affected by a graphic picture of the days and + deeds of Hannibal."--_Athenaeum._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in the +very first rank."--_Academy._ + + * * * * * + +=With Wolfe in Canada:= Or, The Winning of a Continent. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "A model of what a boys' story-book should be. Mr. Henty has a + great power of infusing into the dead facts of history new life, + and as no pains are spared by him to ensure accuracy in historic + details, his books supply useful aids to study as well as + amusement."--_School Guardian._ + + "It is not only a lesson in history as instructively as it is + graphically told, but also a deeply interesting and often thrilling + tale of adventure and peril by flood and field."--_Illustrated + London News._ + + "This is a narrative which will bear retelling, and to which Mr. + Henty, whose careful study of details is worthy of all praise, does + full justice.... His adventures are told with much spirit; the + escape when the birch canoes have been damaged by an enemy is + especially well described."--_Spectator._ + +=With Clive in India:= Or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "In this book Mr. Henty has contrived to exceed himself in stirring + adventures and thrilling situations. The pictures add greatly to + the interest of the book."--_Saturday Review._ + + "Among writers of stories of adventure for boys Mr. Henty stands in + the very first rank. Those who know something about India will be + the most ready to thank Mr. Henty for giving them this instructive + volume to place in the hands of their children."--_Academy._ + +=True to the Old Flag:= A Tale of the American War of Independence. By +G.A. Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "Does justice to the pluck and determination of the British + soldiers. The son of an American loyalist, who remains true to our + flag, falls among the hostile redskins in that very Huron country + which has been endeared to us by the exploits of Hawkeye and + Chingachgook."--_The Times._ + + "Mr. Henty's extensive personal experience of adventures and moving + incidents by flood and field, combined with a gift of picturesque + narrative, make his books always welcome visitors in the home + circle."--_Daily News._ + +=In Freedom's Cause:= A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s_. + + "Mr. Henty has broken new ground as an historical novelist. His + tale of the days of Wallace and Bruce is full of stirring action, + and will commend itself to boys."--_Athenaeum._ + + "Written in the author's best style. Full of the most remarkable + achievements, it is a tale of great interest, which a boy, once he + has begun it, will not willingly put on one side."--_Schoolmaster._ + + "Scarcely anywhere have we seen in prose a more lucid and + spirit-stirring description of Bannockburn than the one with which + the author fittingly closes his volume."--_Dumfries Standard._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Mr. Henty is one of our most successful writers of historical +tales."--_Scotsman._ + + * * * * * + +=Through the Fray:= A Story of the Luddite Riots. By G.A. +Henty. With 12 full-page Illustrations by H.M. Paget. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "Mr. Henty inspires a love and admiration for straightforwardness, + truth, and courage. This is one of the best of the many good books + Mr. Henty has produced, and deserves to be classed with his _Facing + Death_."--_Standard._ + + "The interest of the story never flags. Were we to propose a + competition for the best list of novel writers for boys we have + little doubt that Mr. Henty's name would stand first."--_Journal of + Education._ + + "This story is told in Mr. Henty's own easy and often graphic + style. There is no 'padding' in the book, and its teaching is, that + we have enemies within as well as without, and therefore the power + of self-control is a quality that should be striven after by every + 'true' boy."--_Educational Times._ + +=Under Drake's Flag:= A Tale of the Spanish Main. By G.A. +Henty. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "There is not a dull chapter, nor, indeed, a dull page in the hook; + but the author has so carefully worked up his subject that the + exciting deeds of his heroes are never incongruous or + absurd."--_Observer._ + + "Just such a book, indeed, as the youth of this maritime country + are likely to prize highly."--_Daily Telegraph._ + + "A book of adventure, where the hero meets with experience enough + one would think to turn his hair gray."--_Harper's Monthly + Magazine._ + + * * * * * + +BY PROFESSOR A.J. CHURCH. + + * * * * * + +=Two Thousand Years Ago:= Or, The Adventures of a Roman Boy. By +Professor A.J. Church. With 12 full-page Illustrations by +Adrien Marie. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "Adventures well worth the telling. The book is extremely + entertaining as well as useful, and there is a wonderful freshness + in the Roman scenes and characters."--_The Times._ + + "Entertaining in the highest degree from beginning to end, and full + of adventure which is all the livelier for its close connection + with history."--_Spectator._ + + "We know of no book which will do more to make the Romans of that + day live again for the English reader."--_Guardian._ + + * * * * * + +=Robinson Crusoe.= By Daniel Defoe. Illustrated by above 100 +Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine +edges, _6s._ + + "One of the best issues, if not absolutely the best, of Defoe's + work which has ever appeared."--_The Standard._ + + "The best edition I have come across for years. If you know a boy + who has not a 'Robinson Crusoe,' just glance at any one of these + hundred illustrations, and you will go no further afield in search + of a present for him."--_Truth._ + +BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + +"Mr. Fenn is in the front rank of writers of stories for +boys."--_Liverpool Mercury._ + + * * * * * + +=Quicksilver:= Or a Boy with no Skid to his Wheel. By George +Manville Fenn. With 10 full-page Illustrations by Frank +Dadd. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "_Quicksilver_ is little short of an inspiration. In it that prince + of story-writers for boys--George Manville Fenn--has surpassed + himself. It is an ideal book for a boy's library."--_Practical + Teacher._ + + "The story is capitally told, it abounds in graphic and + well-described scenes, and it has an excellent and manly tone + throughout."--_The Guardian._ + + "This is one of Mr. Fenn's happiest efforts, and deserves to be + read and re-read by every school-boy in the land. We are not + exaggerating when we say that _Quicksilver_ has nothing to equal it + this season."--_Teacher's Aid._ + +=Dick o' the Fens:= A Romance of the Great East Swamp. By G. +Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Frank +Dadd. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital reading. + It is full of incident and mystery, and the mystery is kept up to + the last moment. It is rich in effective local colouring; and it + has a historical interest."--_Times._ + + "We have not of late come across a historical fiction, whether + intended for boys or for men, which deserves to be so heartily and + unreservedly praised as regards plot, incidents, and spirit as + _Dick o' the Fens_. It is its author's masterpiece as + yet."--_Spectator._ + +=Devon Boys:= A Tale of the North Shore. By G. Manville Fenn. +With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "An admirable story, as remarkable for the individuality of its + young heroes as for the excellent descriptions of coast scenery and + life in North Devon. It is one of the best books we have seen this + season."--_Athenaeum._ + + "We do not know that Mr. Fenn has ever reached a higher level than + he has in _Devon Boys_. It must be put in the very front rank of + Christmas books."--_Spectator._ + +=Brownsmith's Boy:= A Romance in a Garden. By G. Manville Fenn. +With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "Mr. Fenn's books are among the best, if not altogether the best, + of the stories for boys. Mr. Fenn is at his best in _Brownsmith's + Boy_."--_Pictorial World._ + + "_Brownsmith's Boy_ must rank among the few undeniably good boys' + books. He will be a very dull boy indeed who lays it down without + wishing that it had gone on for at least 100 pages more."--_North + British Mail._ + +=In the King's Name:= Or the Cruise of the _Kestrel_. By G. Manville +Fenn. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "A capital boys' story, full of incident and adventure, and told in + the lively style in which Mr. Fenn is such an adept."--_Globe._ + + "The best of all Mr. Fenn's productions in this field. It has the + great quality of always 'moving on,' adventure following adventure + in constant succession."--_Daily News._ + +BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + +"Our boys know Mr. Fenn well, his stories having won for him a foremost +place in their estimation."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + + * * * * * + +=Bunyip Land:= The Story of a Wild Journey in New Guinea. By G. +Manville Fenn. With 12 full-page Illustrations by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "Mr. Fenn deserves the thanks of everybody for _Bunyip Land_, and + we may venture to promise that a quiet week may be reckoned on + whilst the youngsters have such fascinating literature provided for + their evenings' amusement."--_Spectator._ + + "One of the best tales of adventure produced by any living writer, + combining the inventiveness of Jules Verne, and the solidity of + character and earnestness of spirit which have made the English + victorious in so many fields."--_Daily Chronicle._ + +=The Golden Magnet:= A Tale of the Land of the Incas. By G. +Manville Fenn. Illustrated by 12 full-page Pictures by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _6s._ + + "This is, we think, the best boys' book Mr. Fenn has produced.... + The Illustrations are perfect in their way."--_Globe._ + + "There could be no more welcome present for a boy. There is not a + dull page in the book, and many will be read with breathless + interest. 'The Golden Magnet' is, of course, the same one that + attracted Raleigh and the heroes of _Westward Ho!_"--_Journal of + Education._ + + * * * * * + +BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD. + +=The Log Of the "Flying Fish:"= A Story of Aerial and Submarine Peril +and Adventure. By Harry Collingwood. With 12 full-page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne, Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, _6s._ + + "The _Flying Fish_ actually surpasses all Jules Verne's creations; + with incredible speed she flies through the air, skims over the + surface of the water, and darts along the ocean bed. We strongly + recommend our school-boy friends to possess themselves of her + log."--_Athenaeum._ + + * * * * * + +BY SARAH DOUDNEY. + +=Under False Colours.= By Sarah Doudney. With 12 full-page +Illustrations by G.G. Kilburne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +olivine edges, _6s._ + + "This is a charming story, abounding in delicate touches of + sentiment and pathos. Its plot is skilfully contrived. It will be + read with a warm interest by every girl who takes it + up."--_Scotsman._ + + "Sarah Doudney has no superior as a writer of high-toned + stories--pure in style, original in conception, and with skilfully + wrought-out plots; but we have seen nothing from this lady's pen + equal in dramatic energy to her latest work--_Under False + Colours_."--_Christian Leader._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"The brightest of all the living writers whose office it is to enchant +the boys."--_Christian Leader._ + + * * * * * + +=One Of the 28th:= A Tale of Waterloo. By G.A. Henty. With 8 +full-page Illustrations by W.H. Overend, and 2 Maps. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _5s._ + + Herbert Penfold, being desirous of benefiting the daughter of an + intimate friend, and Ralph Conway, the son of a lady to whom he had + once been engaged, draws up a will dividing his property between + them, and places it in a hiding-place only known to members of his + own family. At his death his two sisters determine to keep silence, + and the authorized search for the will, though apparently thorough, + fails to bring it to light. The mother of Ralph, however, succeeds + in entering the house as a servant, and after an arduous and + exciting search secures the will. In the meantime, her son has + himself passed through a series of adventures. The boat in which he + is fishing is run down by a French privateer, and Ralph, scrambling + on board, is forced to serve until the harbour of refuge is entered + by a British frigate. On his return he enters the army, and after + some rough service in Ireland, takes part in the Waterloo campaign, + from which he returns with the loss of an arm, but with a + substantial fortune, which is still further increased by his + marriage with his co-heir. + +=The Cat Of Bubastes:= A Story of Ancient Egypt. By G.A. Henty. +With 8 full-page Illustrations by J.R. Weguelin. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "The story is highly enjoyable. We have pictures of Egyptian + domestic life, of sport, of religious ceremonial, and of other + things which may still be seen vividly portrayed by the brush of + Egyptian artists."--_The Spectator._ + + "The story, from the critical moment of the killing of the sacred + cat to the perilous exodus into Asia with which it closes, is very + skilfully constructed and full of exciting adventures. It is + admirably illustrated."--_Saturday Review._ + + "Mr. Henty has fairly excelled himself in this admirable story of + romance and adventure. We have never examined a story-book that we + can recommend with more confidence as a boy's reward."--_Teachers' + Aid._ + +=The Dragon and the Raven:= Or, The Days of King Alfred. By G.A. +Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, +R.I. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "Perhaps the best story of the early days of England which has yet + been told."--_Court Journal._ + + "We know of no popular book in which the stirring incidents of + Alfred's reign are made accessible to young readers as they are + here."--_Scotsman._ + +=St. George for England:= A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. By G.A. +Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne, in +black and tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "Mr. Henty has done his work well, producing a strong story at once + instructive and entertaining."--_Glasgow Herald._ + + "Mr. Henty's historical novels for boys bid fair to supplement, on + their behalf, the historical labours of Sir Walter Scott in the + land of fiction."--_Standard._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Mr. Henty is the king of story-tellers for boys."--_Sword and Trowel._ + + * * * * * + +=The Bravest Of the Brave:= With Peterborough in Spain. By G.A. +Henty. With 8 full-page Pictures by H.M. Paget. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "Mr. Henty never loses sight of the moral purpose of his work--to + enforce the doctrine of courage and truth, mercy and loving + kindness, as indispensable to the making of an English gentleman. + British lads will read _The Bravest of the Brave_ with pleasure and + profit; of that we are quite sure."--_Daily Telegraph._ + +=For Name and Fame:= Or, Through Afghan Passes. By G.A. Henty. +With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne, in black and +tint. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "The best feature of the book, apart from its scenes of adventure, + is its honest effort to do justice to the patriotism of the Afghan + people."--_Daily News._ + + "Not only a rousing story, replete with all the varied forms of + excitement of a campaign, but, what is still more useful, an + account of a territory and its inhabitants which must for a long + time possess a supreme interest for Englishmen, as being the key to + our Indian Empire."--_Glasgow Herald._ + +=In the Reign Of Terror:= The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. By +G.A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. +Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s_. + + "Harry Sandwith, the Westminster boy, may fairly be said to beat + Mr. Henty's record. His adventures will delight boys by the + audacity and peril they depict. The story is one of Mr. Henty's + best."--_Saturday Review._ + +=Orange and Green:= A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. By G.A. +Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "An extremely spirited story, based on the struggle in Ireland, + rendered memorable by the defence of 'Derry and the siege of + Limerick."--_Sat. Review._ + + "The narrative is free from the vice of prejudice, and ripples with + life as vivacious as if what is being described were really passing + before the eye.... _Orange and Green_ should be in the hands of + every young student of Irish history without delay."--_Belfast + Morning News._ + + +=By Sheer Pluck:= A Tale of the Ashanti War. By G.A. Henty. +With 8 full-page Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, _5s._ + + "_By Sheer Pluck_ will be eagerly read. The author's personal + knowledge of the west coast has been turned to full + advantage."--_Athenaeum._ + + "Morally, the book is everything that could be desired, setting + before the boys a bright and bracing ideal of the English + gentleman."--_Christian Leader._ + +BY G.A. HENTY. + +"Mr. G.A. Henty's fame as a writer of boys' stories is deserved and +secure."--_Cork Herald._ + + * * * * * + +=A Final Reckoning:= A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. By G.A. +Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by W.B. Wollen. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "Exhibits Mr. Henty's talent as a story-teller at his best.... The + drawings possess the uncommon merit of really illustrating the + text."--_Saturday Review._ + + "All boys will read this story with eager and unflagging interest. + The episodes are in Mr. Henty's very best vein--graphic, exciting, + realistic; and, as in all Mr. Henty's books, the tendency is to the + formation of an honourable, manly, and even heroic + character."--_Birmingham Post._ + +=Facing Death:= Or the Hero of the Vaughan Pit. A Tale of the Coal +Mines. By G.A. Henty. With 8 full-page Illustrations by +Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "If any father, godfather, clergyman, or schoolmaster is on the + look-out for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth + his salt, this is the book we would recommend."--_Standard._ + + * * * * * + +BY F. FRANKFORT MOORE. + +=Highways and High Seas:= Cyril Harley's Adventures on both. By F. +Frankfort Moore. With 8 full-page Illustrations by Alfred +Pearse. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + The story belongs to a period when highways meant post-chaises, + coaches, and highwaymen, and when high seas meant post-captains, + frigates, privateers, and smugglers; and the hero--a boy who has + some remarkable experiences upon both--tells his story with no less + humour than vividness. He shows incidentally how little real + courage and romance there frequently was about the favourite + law-breakers of fiction, but how they might give rise to the need + of the highest courage in others and lead to romantic adventures of + an exceedingly exciting kind. A certain piquancy is given to the + story by a slight trace of nineteenth century malice in the + picturing of eighteenth century life and manners. + +=Under Hatches:= Or Ned Woodthorpe's Adventures. By F. Frankfort +Moore. With 8 full-page Illustrations by A. Forestier. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "Mr. Moore has never shown himself so thoroughly qualified to write + books for boys as he has done in _Under Hatches_."--_The Academy._ + + "A first-rate sea story, full of stirring incidents, and, from a + literary point of view, far better written than the majority of + books for boys."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + + "The story as a story is one that will just suit boys all the world + over. The characters are well drawn and consistent; Patsy, the + Irish steward, will be found especially amusing."--_Schoolmaster._ + +BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + +"No one can find his way to the hearts of lads more readily than Mr. +Fenn."--_Nottingham Guardian._ + + * * * * * + +=Yussuf the Guide:= Being the Strange Story of the Travels in Asia Minor +of Burne the Lawyer, Preston the Professor, and Lawrence the Sick. By +G. Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by John +Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "The narrative will take its readers into scenes that will have + great novelty and attraction for them, and the experiences with the + brigands will be especially delightful to boys."--_Scotsman._ + +=Menhardoc:= A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. By G. Manville +Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C.J. Staniland. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "They are real living boys, with their virtues and faults. The + Cornish fishermen are drawn from life, they are racy of the soil, + salt with the sea-water, and they stand out from the pages in their + jerseys and sea-boots all sprinkled with silvery pilchard + scales."--_Spectator._ + + "A description of Will Marion's descent into a flooded mine is + excellent. Josh is a delightfully amusing character. We may + cordially praise the illustrations."--_Saturday Review._ + + +=Mother Carey's Chicken:= Her Voyage to the Unknown Isle. By G. +Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Illustrations by A. +Forestier. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "Jules Verne himself never constructed a more marvellous tale. It + contains the strongly marked English features that are always + conspicuous in Mr. Fenn's stories--a humour racy of the British + soil, the manly vigour of his sentiment, and wholesome moral + lessons. For anything to match his realistic touch we must go to + Daniel Defoe."--_Christian Leader._ + + "When we get to the 'Unknown Isle,' the story becomes exciting. Mr. + Fenn keeps his readers in a suspense that is not intermitted for a + moment, and the _denouement_ is a surprise which is as probable as + it is startling."--_Spectator._ + +=Patience Wins:= Or, War in the Works. By G. Manville Fenn. +With 8 full-page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "An excellent story, the interest being sustained from first to + last. One of the best books of its kind which has come before us + this year."--_Saturday Review._ + + "Mr. Fenn is at his best in _Patience Wins_. It is sure to prove + acceptable to youthful readers, and will give a good idea of that + which was the real state of one of our largest manufacturing towns + not many years ago."--_Guardian._ + +=Nat the Naturalist:= A Boy's Adventures in the Eastern Seas. By G. +Manville Fenn. With 8 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, +_5s._ + + "Among the best of the many good books for boys that have come out + this season."--_Times._ + + "This sort of book encourages independence of character, develops + resource, and teaches a boy to keep his eyes open."--_Saturday + Review._ + +BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD. + + * * * * * + +=The Missing Merchantman.= By Harry Collingwood. With 8 +full-page Illustrations by W.H. Overend. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "Mr. Collingwood is _facile princeps_ as a teller of sea stories + for boys, and the present is one of the best productions of his + pen."--_Standard._ + + "This is one of the author's best sea stories. The hero is as + heroic as any boy could desire, and the ending is extremely + happy."--_British Weekly._ + +=The Rover's Secret:= A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of Cuba. By +Harry Collingwood. With 8 full-page Illustrations by W.C. +Symons. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "_The Rover's Secret_ is by far the best sea story we have read for + years, and is certain to give unalloyed pleasure to boys. The + illustrations are fresh and vigorous."--_Saturday Review._ + +=The Pirate Island:= A Story of the South Pacific. By Harry +Collingwood. Illustrated by 8 full-page Pictures by C.J. +Staniland and J.R. Wells. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "A capital story of the sea; indeed in our opinion the author is + superior in some respects as a marine novelist to the better known + Mr. Clarke Russell."--_The Times._ + + "Told in the most vivid and graphic language. It would be difficult + to find a more thoroughly delightful gift-book."--_Guardian._ + +=The Congo Rovers:= A Story of the Slave Squadron. By Harry +Collingwood. With 8 full-page Illustrations by J. +Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "No better sea story has lately been written than the _Congo + Rovers_. It is as original as any boy could desire."--_Morning + Post._ + + * * * * * + +BY ASCOTT R. HOPE. + +=The Seven Wise Scholars.= By Ascott R. Hope. With nearly One +Hundred Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Square 8vo, cloth +elegant, gilt edges, _5s._ + + "As full of fun as a volume of _Punch_; with illustrations, more + laughter-provoking than most we have seen since Leech + died."--_Sheffield Independent._ + + "A capital story, full of fun and happy comic fancies. The tale + would put the sourest-tempered _boy_ into a good humour, and to an + imaginative child would be a source of keen delight."--_Scotsman._ + +=The Wigwam and the War-path:= stories of the Red Indians. By Ascott +R. Hope. With 8 full-page Pictures by Gordon Browne. Crown +8vo, cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "All the stories are told well, in simple spirited language and + with a fulness of detail that make them instructive as well as + interesting."--_Journal of Education._ + +BY G. NORWAY. + +The Loss of John Humble: What Led to It, and what Came of It. By G. +Norway. With 8 full-page Illustrations by John Schoenberg. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + John Humble, an orphan, is sent to sea with his Uncle Rolf, the + captain of the _Erl King_, but in the course of certain adventures + off the English coast, in which Rolf shows both skill and courage, + the boy is left behind at Portsmouth. He escapes from an English + gun-brig to a Norwegian vessel, the _Thor_, which is driven from + her course in a voyage to Hammerfest, and wrecked on a desolate + shore. The survivors experience the miseries of a long sojourn in + the Arctic circle, with inadequate means of supporting life, but + ultimately, with the aid of some friendly but thievish Lapps, they + succeed in making their way to a reindeer station and so southward + to Tornea and home again. The story throughout is singularly vivid + and truthful in its details, the individual characters are fresh + and well marked, and a pleasant vein of humour relieves the stress + of the more tragic incidents in the story. + +BY ROSA MULHOLLAND. + +Giannetta: A Girl's Story of Herself. By Rosa Mulholland. With +8 full-page Illustrations by Lockhart Bogle. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, _5s._ + + "Giannetta is a true heroine--warm-hearted, self-sacrificing, and, + as all good women nowadays are, largely touched with the enthusiasm + of humanity. The illustrations are unusually good, and combine with + the binding and printing to make this one of the most attractive + gift-books of the season."--_The Academy._ + + "No better book could be selected for a young girl's reading, as + its object is evidently to hold up a mirror, in which are seen some + of the brightest and noblest traits in the female + character."--_Schoolmistress._ + +Perseverance Island: Or the Robinson Crusoe of the 19th Century. By +Douglas Frazar. With 12 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _5s._ + + "This second Robinson Crusoe is certainly a marvellous man. His + determination to overcome all difficulties, and his subsequent + success, should alone make this a capital book for boys. It is + altogether a worthy successor to the ancient Robinson + Crusoe."--_Glasgow Herald._ + +Gulliver's Travels. Illustrated by more than 100 Pictures by Gordon +Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "By help of the admirable illustrations, and a little judicious + skipping, it has enchanted a family party of ages varying from six + to sixty. Which of the other Christmas books could stand this + test?"--Journal of Education. + + "Mr. Gordon Browne is, to my thinking, incomparably the most + artistic, spirited, and brilliant of our illustrators of books for + boys, and one of the most humorous also, as his illustrations of + 'Gulliver' amply testify."--Truth. + +NEW EDITION OF THE UNIVERSE. + +=The Universe:= Or the Infinitely Great and the Infinitely Little. A +Sketch of Contrasts in Creation, and Marvels revealed and explained by +Natural Science. By F.A. Pouchet, M.D. With 272 Engravings on +wood, of which 55 are full-page size, and a Coloured Frontispiece. Tenth +Edition, medium 8vo, cloth elegant, gilt edges, _7s. 6d._; also morocco +antique, _16s._ + + "We can honestly commend Professor Pouchet's book, which _is_ + admirably, as it is copiously illustrated."--_The Times._ + + "This book is as interesting as the most exciting romance, and a + great deal more likely to be remembered to good + purpose."--_Standard._ + + "Scarcely any book in French or in English is so likely to + stimulate in the young an interest in the physical + phenomena."--_Fortnightly Review._ + + + * * * * * + +BY GEORGE MAC DONALD. + +=At the Back of the North Wind.= By George Mac Donald, LL.D. +With 75 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "In _At the Back of the North Wind_ we stand with one foot in + fairyland and one on common earth. The story is thoroughly + original, full of fancy and pathos, and underlaid with earnest but + not too obtrusive teaching."--_The Times._ + +=Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood.= By George Mac Donald, LL.D. With +36 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes. New Edition. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "The sympathy with boy-nature in _Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood_ is + perfect. It is a beautiful picture of childhood, teaching by its + impressions and suggestions all noble things."--_British Quarterly + Review._ + +=The Princess and the Goblin.= By George Mac Donald, LL.D. With +30 Illustrations by Arthur Hughes, and 2 full-page Pictures by +H. Petherick. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "Little of what is written for children has the lightness of touch + and play of fancy which are characteristic of George Mac Donald's + fairy tales. Mr. Arthur Hughes's illustrations are all that + illustrations should be."--_Manchester Guardian._ + + "A model of what a child's book ought to be--interesting, + instructive, and poetical. We cordially recommend it as one of the + very best gift-books we have yet come across."--_Elgin Courant._ + +=The Princess and Curdie.= By George Mac Donald, LL.D. With 8 +full-page Illustrations by James Allen. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, +_3s. 6d._ + + "There is the finest and rarest genius in this brilliant story. + Upgrown people would do wisely occasionally to lay aside their + newspapers and magazines to spend an hour with Curdie and the + Princess."--_Sheffield Independent._ + +=Girl Neighbours:= Or, The Old Fashion and the New. By Sarah +Tytler. With 8 full-page Illustrations by C.T. Garland. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _5s._ + + "One of the most effective and quietly humorous of Miss Sarah + Tytler's stories.... Very healthy, very agreeable, and very well + written."--_Spectator._ + + * * * * * + +BY MARY C. ROWSELL. + +=Thorndyke Manor:= A Tale of Jacobite Times. By Mary C. +Rowsell. With 6 full-page Illustrations by L. Leslie +Brooke. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + Thorndyke Manor is an old house, near the mouth of the Thames, + which is convenient, on account of its secret vaults and situation, + as the base of operations in a Jacobite conspiracy. In consequence + its owner, a kindly, quiet, book-loving squire, who lives happily + with his sister, bright Mistress Amoril, finds himself suddenly + involved by a treacherous steward in the closest meshes of the + plot. He is conveyed to the Tower, but all difficulties are + ultimately overcome, and his innocence is triumphantly proved by + his sister. + +=Traitor or Patriot?= A Tale of the Rye-House Plot. By Mary C. +Rowsell. With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. +6d._ + + "A romantic love episode, whose true characters are lifelike + beings, not dry sticks as in many historical tales."--_Graphic._ + + * * * * * + +BY ALICE CORKRAN. + + * * * * * + +=Meg's Friend.= By Alice Corkran. With 6 full-page +Illustrations by Robert Fowler. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. +6d._ + + "Another of Miss Corkran's charming books for girls, narrated in + that simple and picturesque style which marks the authoress as one + of the first amongst writers for young people."--_The Spectator._ + +=Margery Merton's Girlhood.= By Alice Corkran. With 6 full-page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. +6d._ + + "Another book for girls we can warmly commend. There is a + delightful piquancy in the experiences and trials of a young + English girl who studies painting in Paris."--_Saturday Review._ + +=Down the Snow Stairs:= Or, From Good-night to Good-morning. By +Alice Corkran. With 60 character Illustrations by Gordon +Browne. New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, olivine edges, _3s. +6d._ + + "A fascinating wonder-book for children."--_Athenaeum._ + + "A gem of the first water, bearing upon every page the signet mark + of genius. All is told with such simplicity and perfect naturalness + that the dream appears to be a solid reality. It is indeed a Little + Pilgrim's Progress."--_Christian Leader._ + +BY JOHN C. HUTCHESON. + + * * * * * + +=Afloat at Last:= A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea. By John C. +Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Illustrations by W.H. Overend. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + Mr. Hutcheson's reputation for the realistic treatment of life at + sea will be fully sustained by the present volume--the narrative of + a boy's experiences on board ship during his first voyage. From the + stowing of the vessel in the Thames to her recovery from the Pratas + Reef on which she is stranded, everything is described with the + accuracy of perfect practical knowledge of ships and sailors; and + the incidents of the story range from the broad humours of the + fo'c's'le to the perils of flight from and fight with the pirates + of the China Seas. The captain, the mate, the Irish boatswain, the + Portuguese steward, and the Chinese cook, are fresh and + cleverly-drawn characters, and the reader throughout has the sense + that he is on a real voyage with living men. + +=The White Squall:= A Story of the Sargasso Sea. By John C. +Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Illustrations by John +Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "Few writers have made such rapid improvement in the course of a + few years as has the author of this capital story.... Boys will + find it difficult to lay down the book till they have got to the + end."--_Standard._ + + "The sketches of tropical life are so good as sometimes to remind + us of _Tom Cringle_ and the _Cruise of the Midge_."--_Times._ + +=The Wreck of the Nancy Bell:= Or Cast Away on Kerguelen Land. By +John C. Hutcheson. Illustrated by 6 full-page Pictures. Crown +8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "A full circumstantial narrative such as boys delight in. The ship + so sadly destined to wreck on Kerguelen Land is manned by a very + lifelike party, passengers and crew. The life in the Antarctic + Iceland is well treated."--_Athenaeum._ + +=Picked Up at Sea:= Or the Gold Miners of Minturne Creek. By John C. +Hutcheson. With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. +6d._ + + "The author's success with this book is so marked that it may well + encourage him to further efforts. The description of mining life in + the Far-west is true and accurate."--_Standard._ + +=Sir Walter's Ward:= A Tale of the Crusades. By William +Everard. With 6 full-page Illustrations by Walter Paget. +Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "This book will prove a very acceptable present either to boys or + girls. Both alike will take an interest in the career of Dodo, in + spite of his unheroic name, and follow him through his numerous and + exciting adventures."--_Academy._ + +=Stories Of Old Renown:= Tales of Knights and Heroes. By Ascott R. +Hope. With 100 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. New +Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "A really fascinating book worthy of its telling title. There is, + we venture to say, not a dull page in the book, not a story which + will not bear a second reading."--_Guardian._ + +BY CAROLINE AUSTIN. + + * * * * * + +=Cousin Geoffrey and I.= By Caroline Austin. With 6 full-page +Illustrations by W. Parkinson. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. +6d._ + + The only daughter of a country gentleman finds herself unprovided + for at her father's death, and for some time lives as a dependant + upon the kinsman who has inherited the property. Life is kept from + being entirely unbearable to her by her young cousin Geoffrey, who + at length meets with a serious accident for which she is held + responsible. She is then passed on to other relatives, who prove + even more objectionable, and at length, in despair, she runs away + and makes a brave attempt to earn her own livelihood. Being a + splendid rider, she succeeds in doing this, until the startling + event which brings her cousin Geoffrey and herself together again, + and solves the problem of the missing will. + +=Hugh Herbert's Inheritance.= By Caroline Austin. With 6 +full-page Illustrations by C.T. Garland. Crown 8vo, cloth +elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "Will please by its simplicity, its tenderness, and its healthy + interesting motive. It is admirably written."--_Scotsman._ + + "Well and gracefully written, full of interest, and excellent in + tone."--_School Guardian._ + + * * * * * + +BY E.S. BROOKS. + + * * * * * + +=Storied Holidays:= A Cycle of Red-letter Days. By E.S. Brooks. +With 12 full-page Illustrations by Howard Pyle. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "It is a downright good book for a senior boy, and is eminently + readable from first to last."--_Schoolmaster._ + + "Replete with interest from Chapter I. to _finis_, and can be + confidently recommended as one of the gems of Messrs. Blackie's + collection."--_Teachers' Aid._ + +=Chivalric Days:= Stories of Courtesy and Courage in the Olden Times. By +E.S. Brooks. With 20 Illustrations by Gordon Browne +and other Artists. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "We have seldom come across a prettier collection of tales. These + charming stories of boys and girls of olden days are no mere + fictitious or imaginary sketches, but are real and actual records + of their sayings and doings. The illustrations are in Gordon + Browne's happiest style."--_Literary World._ + +=Historic Boys:= Their Endeavours, their Achievements, and their Times. +By E.S. Brooks. With 12 full-page Illustrations by R.B. +Birch and John Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. +6d._ + + "A wholesome book, manly in tone, its character sketches enlivened + by brisk dialogue. We advise schoolmasters to put it on their list + of prizes."--_Knowledge._ + +BY MRS. E.R. PITMAN. + + * * * * * + +=Garnered Sheaves.= A Tale for Boys. By Mrs. E.R. Pitman. With +4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "This is a story of the best sort ... a noble-looking book, + illustrating faith in God, and commending to young minds all that + is pure and true."--Rev. C.H. Spurgeon's _Sword and Trowel_. + +=Life's Daily Ministry:= A Story of Everyday Service for others. By Mrs. +E.R. Pitman. With 4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth +extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "Shows exquisite touches of a master hand. She has not only made a + close study of human nature in all its phases, but she has acquired + the artist's skill in depicting in graphic outline the + characteristics of the beautiful and the good in life."--_Christian + Union._ + +=My Governess Life:= Or Earning my Living. By Mrs. E.R. Pitman. +With 4 full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "Full of sound teaching and bright examples of + character."--_Sunday-school Chronicle._ + + * * * * * + +BY MRS. R.H. READ. + + * * * * * + +=Silver Mill:= A Tale of the Don Valley. By Mrs. R.H. Read. +With 6 full-page Illustrations by John Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, +cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "A good girl's story-book. The plot is interesting, and the + heroine, Ruth, a lady by birth, though brought up in a humble + station, well deserves the more elevated position in which the end + of the book leaves her. The pictures are very spirited."--_Saturday + Review._ + +=Dora:= Or a Girl without a Home. By Mrs. R.H. Read. With 6 +full-page Illustrations. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "It is no slight thing, in an age of rubbish, to get a story so + pure and healthy as this."--_The Academy._ + + * * * * * + +BY ELIZABETH J. LYSAGHT. + + * * * * * + +=Brother and Sister:= Or the Trials of the Moore Family. By +Elizabeth J. Lysaght. With 6 full-page Illustrations. Crown +8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "A pretty story, and well told. The plot is cleverly constructed, + and the moral is excellent."--_Athenaeum._ + +=Laugh and Learn:= A Home-book of Instruction and Amusement for the +Little Ones. By Jennett Humphreys. Charmingly Illustrated. +Square crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + _Laugh and Learn_, a most comprehensive book for the nursery, + supplies, what has long been wanted, a means whereby the mother or + the governess may, in a series of pleasing lessons, commence and + carry on systematic home instruction of the little ones. The + various chapters of the _Learn_ section carry the child through the + "three R's" to easy stories for reading, and stories which the + mother may read aloud, or which more advanced children may read to + themselves. The Laugh section comprises simple drawing lessons, + home amusements of every kind, innumerable pleasant games and + occupations, rhymes to be learnt, songs for the very little ones, + action songs, and music drill. + +=The Search for the Talisman:= A Story of Labrador. By Henry +Frith. With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. Schoenberg. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "Mr. Frith's volume will be among those most read and highest + valued. The adventures among seals, whales, and icebergs in + Labrador will delight many a young reader, and at the same time + give him an opportunity to widen his knowledge of the Esquimaux, + the heroes of many tales."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + +=Self-Exiled:= A Story of the High Seas and East Africa. By J.A. +Steuart. With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. Schoenberg. +Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. 6d._ + + "It is cram full of thrilling situations. The number of miraculous + escapes from death in all its shapes which the hero experiences in + the course of a few months must be sufficient to satisfy the most + voracious appetite."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Reefer and Rifleman:= A Tale of the Two Services. By J. +Percy-Groves, late 27th Inniskillings. With 6 full-page +Illustrations by John Schoenberg. Crown 8vo, cloth elegant, _3s. +6d._ + + "A good, old-fashioned, amphibious story of our fighting with the + Frenchmen in the beginning of our century, with a fair sprinkling + of fun and frolic."--_Times._ + +=The Bubbling Teapot.= A Wonder Story. By Mrs. L.W. Champney. +With 12 full-page Pictures by Walter Satterlee. Crown 8vo, +cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "Very literally a 'wonder story,' and a wild and fanciful one. + Nevertheless it is made realistic enough, and there is a good deal + of information to be gained from it. The steam from the magic + teapot bubbles up into a girl, and the little girl, when the fancy + takes her, can cry herself back into a teapot. Transformed and + enchanted she makes the tour of the globe."--_The Times._ + +=Dr. Jolliffe's Boys:= A Tale of Weston School. By Lewis Hough. +With 6 full-page Pictures. Crown 8vo, cloth extra, _3s. 6d._ + + "Young people who appreciate _Tom Brown's School-days_ will find + this story a worthy companion to that fascinating book. There is + the same manliness of tone, truthfulness of outline, avoidance of + exaggeration and caricature, and healthy morality as characterized + the masterpiece of Mr. Hughes."--_Newcastle Journal._ + +BLACKIE'S HALF-CROWN SERIES. + +Illustrated by eminent Artists. In crown 8vo, cloth elegant. + + * * * * * + +New Volumes. + +=The Hermit Hunter of the Wilds.= By Gordon Stables, C.M., +M.D., R.N. + + A dreamy boy, who likes to picture himself as the Hermit Hunter of + the Wilds, receives an original but excellent kind of training from + a sailor-naturalist uncle, and at length goes to sea with the hope + of one day finding the lost son of his uncle's close friend, + Captain Herbert. He succeeds in tracing him through the forests of + Ecuador, where the abducted boy has become an Indian chief. + Afterwards he is discovered on an island which had been used as a + treasure store by the buccaneers. The hero is accompanied through + his many adventures by the very king of cats, who deserves a place + amongst the most famous animals in fiction. + +=Miriam's Ambition:= A Story for Children. By Evelyn +Everett-Green. + + Miriam's ambition is to make some one happy, and her endeavour to + carry it out in the case of an invalid boy, carries with it a + pleasant train of romantic incident, solving a mystery which had + thrown a shadow over several lives. A charming foil to her grave + and earnest elder sister is to be found in Miss Babs, a small + coquette of five, whose humorous child-talk is one of the most + attractive features of an excellent story. + +=White Lilac:= Or The Queen of the May. By Amy Walton. + + When the vicar's wife proposed to call Mrs. White's daughter by the + heathen name of Lilac, all the villagers shook their heads; and + they continued to shake them sagely when Lilac's father was shot + dead by poachers just before the christening, and when, years + after, her mother died on the very day Lilac was crowned Queen of + the May. And yet White Lilac proved a fortune to the relatives to + whose charge she fell--a veritable good brownie, who brought luck + wherever she went. The story of her life forms a most readable and + admirable rustic idyl, and is told with a fine sense of rustic + character. + + * * * * * + +=Little Lady Clare.= By Evelyn Everett-Green. + + "Certainly one of the prettiest, reminding us in its quaintness and + tender pathos of Mrs. Ewing's delightful tales. This is quite one + of the best stories Miss Green's clever pen has yet given + us."--_Literary World._ + + "We would particularly bring it under the notice of those in charge + of girls' schools. The story is admirably told."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=The Eversley Secrets.= By Evelyn Everett-Green. + + "Is one of the best children's stories of the year."--_Academy._ + + "A clever and well-told story. Roy Eversley is a very touching + picture of high principle and unshrinking self-devotion in a good + purpose."--_Guardian._ + +=The Brig "Audacious."= By Alan Cole. + + "This is a real boys' book. We have great pleasure in recommending + it."--_English Teacher._ + + "Bright and vivacious in style, and fresh and wholesome as a breath + of sea air in tone."--_Court Journal._ + +=The Saucy May.= By H. Frith. + + "The book is certainly both interesting and + exciting."--_Spectator._ + + "Mr. Frith gives a new picture of life on the ocean wave which will + be acceptable to all young people."--_Sheffield Independent._ + +=Jasper's Conquest.= By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. + + "One of the best boys' books of the season. It is full of stirring + adventure and startling episodes, and yet conveys a splendid moral + throughout."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Sturdy and Strong:= Or, How George Andrews made his Way. By G.A. +Henty. + + "The history of a hero of everyday life, whose love of truth, + clothing of modesty, and innate pluck carry him, naturally, from + poverty to affluence. He stands as a good instance of chivalry in + domestic life."--_The Empire._ + +=Gutta-Percha Willie=, The Working Genius. By George Mac +Donald, LL.D. + + "Had we space we would fain quote page after page. All we have room + to say is, get it for your boys and girls to read for themselves, + and if they can't do that read it to them."--_Practical Teacher._ + +=The War of the Axe:= Or Adventures in South Africa. By J. +Percy-Groves. + + "The story of their final escape from the Caffres is a marvellous + bit of writing.... The story is well and brilliantly told, and the + illustrations are especially good and effective."--_Literary + World._ + +=The Lads of Little Clayton:= Stories of Village Boy Life. By R. +Stead. + + "A capital book for boys. They will learn from its pages what true + boy courage is. They will learn further to avoid all that is petty + and mean if they read the tales aright. They may be read to a class + with great profit."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Ten Boys= who lived on the Road from Long Ago to Now. By Jane +Andrews. With 20 Illustrations. + + "The idea of this book is a very happy one, and is admirably + carried out. We have followed the whole course of the work with + exquisite pleasure. Teachers should find it particularly + interesting and suggestive."--_Practical Teacher._ + +=Insect Ways on Summer Days= in Garden, Forest, Field, and Stream. By +Jennett Humphreys. With 70 Illustrations. + + "The book will prove not only instructive but delightful to every + child whose mind is beginning to inquire and reflect upon the + wonders of nature. It is capitally illustrated and very tastefully + bound."--_Academy._ + +=A Waif of the Sea:= Or the Lost Found. By Kate Wood. + + "A very touching and pretty tale of town and country, full of + pathos and interest, told in a style which deserves the highest + praise."--_Edinburgh Courant._ + +=Winnie's Secret:= A Story of Faith and Patience. By Kate +Wood. + + "One of the best story-books we have read. Girls will be charmed + with the tale, and delighted that everything turns out so + well."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Miss Willowburn's Offer.= By Sarah Doudney. + + "Patience Willowburn is one of Miss Doudney's best creations, and + is the one personality in the story which can be said to give it + the character of a book not for young ladies but for + girls."--_Spectator._ + +=A Garland for Girls.= By Louisa M. Alcott. + + "The _Garland_ will delight our girls, and show them how to make + their lives fragrant with good deeds."--_British Weekly._ + + "These little tales are the beau ideal of girls' + stories."--_Christian World._ + +=Hetty Gray:= Or Nobody's Bairn. By Rosa Mulholland. + + "A charming story for young folks. Hetty is a delightful + creature--piquant, tender, and true--and her varying fortunes are + perfectly realistic."--_World._' + +=Brothers in Arms:= A Story of the Crusades. By F. Bayford +Harrison. + + "Full of striking incident, is very fairly illustrated, and may + safely be chosen as sure to prove interesting to young people of + both sexes."--_Guardian._ + +=The Ball Of Fortune:= Or Ned Somerset's Inheritance. By Charles +Pearce. + + "A capital story for boys. It is simply and brightly written. There + is plenty of incident, and the interest is sustained + throughout."--_Journal of Education._ + +=Miss Fenwick's Failures:= Or "Peggy Pepper-Pot." By Esme +Stuart. + + "Esme Stuart may be commended for producing a girl true to real + life, who will put no nonsense into young heads."--_Graphic._ + +=Gytha's Message:= A Tale of Saxon England. By Emma Leslie. + + "This is a charmingly told story. It is the sort of book that all + girls and some boys like, and can only get good from."--_Journal of + Education._ + +=My Mistress the Queen:= A Tale of the 17th Century. By M.A. +Paull. + + "The style is pure and graceful, the presentation of manners and + character has been well studied, and the story is full of + interest."--_Scotsman._ + + "This is a charming book. The old-time sentiment which pervades the + volume renders it all the more alluring."--_Western Mercury._ + +=The Stories of Wasa and Menzikoff:= The Deliverer of Sweden, and the +Favourite of Czar Peter. + + "Both are stories worth telling more than once, and it is a happy + thought to have put them side by side. Plutarch himself has no more + suggestive comparison."--_Spectator._ + +=Stories of the Sea in Former Days:= Narratives of Wreck and Rescue. + + "Next to an original sea-tale of sustained interest come + well-sketched collections of maritime peril and suffering which + awaken the sympathies by the realism of fact. 'Stories of the Sea' + are a very good specimen of the kind."--_The Times._ + +=Tales of Captivity and Exile.= + + "It would be difficult to place in the hands of young people a book + which combines interest and instruction in a higher + degree."--_Manchester Courier._ + +=Famous Discoveries by Sea and Land.= + + "Such a volume may providentially stir up some youths by the divine + fire kindled by these 'great of old' to lay open other lands, and + show their vast resources."--_Perthshire Advertiser._ + +=Stirring Events of History.= + + "The volume will fairly hold its place among those which make the + smaller ways of history pleasant and attractive. It is a gift-book + in which the interest will not be exhausted with one + reading."--_Guardian._ + +=Adventures in Field, Flood, and Forest.= Stories of Danger and Daring. + + "One of the series of books for young people which Messrs. Blackie' + excel in producing. The editor has beyond all question succeeded + admirably. The present book cannot fail to be read with interest + and advantage."--_Academy._ + +=Jack o' Lanthorn:= A Tale of Adventure. By Henry Frith. + + "The narrative is crushed full of stirring incident, and _is_ sure + to be a prime favourite with our boys, who will be assisted by it + in mastering a sufficiently exciting chapter in the history of + England."--_Christian Leader._ + +=The Family Failing.= By Darley Dale. + + "At once an amusing and an interesting story, and a capital lesson + on the value of contentedness to young and old alike."--_Aberdeen + Journal._ + +=The Joyous Story of Toto.= By Laura E. Richards. With 30 +humorous and fanciful Illustrations by E.H. Garrett. + + "An excellent book for children who are old enough to appreciate a + little delicate humour. It should take its place beside Lewis + Carroll's unique works, and find a special place in the affections + of boys and girls."--_Birmingham Gazette._ + +=BLACKIE'S TWO-SHILLING SERIES.= + +With Illustrations in Colour and black and tint. In crown 8vo, cloth +elegant. + + * * * * * + +New Volumes. + +=Sam Silvan'S Sacrifice:= The Story of Two Fatherless Boys. By Jesse +Colman. + + The story of two brothers--the elder a lad of good and steady + disposition; the younger nervous and finely-strung, but weaker and + more selfish. The death of their grandparents, by whom they are + being brought up, leads to their passing through a number of + adventures in uncomfortable homes and among strange people. In the + end the elder brother's generous care results in his sacrificing + his own life to save that of his brother, who realizes when it is + too late the full measure of his indebtedness. + +=A Warrior King:= The Story of a Boy's Adventures in Africa. By J. +Evelyn. + + A story full of adventure and romantic interest. Adrian Englefield, + an English boy of sixteen, accompanies his father on a journey of + exploration inland from the West Coast. He falls into the hands of + the Berinaquas, and becomes the friend of their prince, Moryosi, + but is on the point of being sacrificed when he is saved by the + capture of the kraelah by a neighbouring hostile tribe. He is soon + after retaken by the Berinaquas, and saves the life of Moryosi. The + two tribes are ultimately united, and Adrian and his friends are + set at liberty. + + * * * * * + +=Susan.= By Amy Walton. + + "A clever little story, written with some humour. The authoress + shows a great deal of insight into children's feelings and + motives."--_Pall Mall Gazette._ + +="A Pair of Clogs:"= And other Stories. By Amy Walton. + + "These stories are decidedly interesting, and unusually true to + nature. For children between nine and fourteen this book can be + thoroughly commended."--_Academy._ + +=The Hawthorns.= By Amy Walton. + + "A remarkably vivid and clever study of child-life. At this species + of work Amy Walton has no superior."--_Christian Leader._ + +=Dorothy's Dilemma:= A Tale of the Time of Charles I. By Caroline +Austin. + + "An exceptionally well-told story, and will be warmly welcomed by + children. The little heroine, Dorothy, is a charming + creation."--_Court Journal._ + +=Marie's Home:= Or, A Glimpse of the Past. By Caroline Austin. + + "An exquisitely told story. The heroine is as fine a type of + girlhood as one could wish to set before our little British damsels + of to-day."--_Christian Leader._ + +=Warner's Chase:= Or the Gentle Heart. By Annie S. Swan. + + "In Milly Warren, the heroine, who softens the hard heart of her + rich uncle and thus unwittingly restores the family fortunes, we + have a fine ideal of real womanly goodness."--_Schoolmaster._ + + "A good book for boys and girls. There is no sickly goodyism in it, + but a tone of quiet and true religion that keeps its own + place."--_Perthshire Advertiser._ + +=Aboard the "Atalanta:"= The Story of a Truant. By Henry Frith. + + "The story is very interesting and the descriptions most graphic. + We doubt if any boy after reading it would be tempted to the great + mistake of running away from school under almost any pretext + whatever."--_Practical Teacher._ + +=The Penang Pirate= and The Lost Pinnace. By John C. +Hutcheson. + + "A book which boys will thoroughly enjoy: rattling, adventurous, + and romantic, and the stories are thoroughly healthy in + tone."--_Aberdeen Journal._ + +=Teddy:= The Story of a "Little Pickle." By John C. Hutcheson. + + "He is an amusing little fellow with a rich fund of animal spirits, + and when at length he goes to sea with Uncle Jack he speedily + sobers down under the discipline of life."--_Saturday Review._ + +=Linda and the Boys.= By Cecilia Selby Lowndes. + + "The book is essentially a child's book, and will be heartily + appreciated by the young folk."--_The Academy._ + + "Is not only told in an artless, simple way, but is full of the + kind of humour that children love."--_Liverpool Mercury._ + +=Swiss Stories for Children and those who Love Children.= From the +German of Madam Johanna Spyri. By Lucy Wheelock. + + "Charming stories. They are rich in local colouring, and, what is + better, in genuine pathos."--_The Times._ + + "These most delightful children's tales are essentially for + children, but would fascinate older and less enthusiastic minds + with their delicate romance and the admirable portraiture of the + hard life of the Swiss peasantry."--_Spectator._ + +=The Squire's Grandson:= A Devonshire Story. By J.M. Callwell. + + "A healthy tone pervades this story, and the lessons of courage, + filial affection, and devotion to duty on the part of the young + hero cannot fail to favourably impress all young + readers."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Magna Charta Stories:= Or Struggles for Freedom in the Olden Time. +Edited by Arthur Gilman, A.M. With 12 full-page Illustrations. + + "A book of special excellence, which ought to be in the hands of + all boys."--_Educational News._ + +=The Wings Of Courage:= And The Cloud-Spinner. Translated from +the French of George Sand, by Mrs. Corkran. + + "Mrs. Corkran has earned our gratitude by translating into readable + English these two charming little stories."--_Athenaeum._ + +=Chirp and Chatter:= Or, Lessons from Field and Tree. By +Alice Banks. With 54 Illustrations by Gordon Browne. + + "We see the humbling influence of love on the haughty + harvest-mouse, we are touched by the sensibility of the + tender-hearted ant, and may profit by the moral of 'the disobedient + maggot.' The drawings are spirited and funny."--_The Times._ + +=Four Little Mischiefs.= By Rosa Mulholland. + + "Graphically written, and abounds in touches of genuine humour and + innocent fun."--_Freeman._ "A charming bright story about real + children."--_Watchman._ + +=New Light through Old Windows.= A Series of Stories illustrating Fables +of AEsop. By Gregson Gow. + + "The most delightfully-written little stories one can easily find + in the literature of the season. Well constructed and brightly + told."--_Glasgow Herald._ + +=Little Tottie=, and Two Other Stories. By Thomas Archer. + + "We can warmly commend all three stories; the book is a most + alluring prize for the younger ones."--_Schoolmaster._ + +=Naughty Miss Bunny:= Her Tricks and Troubles. By Clara +Mulholland. + + "This naughty child is positively delightful. Papas should not omit + _Naughty Miss Bunny_ from their list of juvenile presents."--_Land + and Water._ + +=Adventures of Mrs. Wishing-to-be=, and other Stories. By Alice +Corkran. + + "Simply a charming book for little girls."--_Saturday Review._ + + "Just in the style and spirit to win the hearts of + children."--_Daily News._ + +=Our Dolly:= Her Words and Ways. By Mrs. R.H. Read. With many +Woodcuts, and a Frontispiece in colours. + + "Prettily told and prettily illustrated."--_Guardian._ + + "Sure to be a great favourite with young children."--_School + Guardian._ + +=Fairy Fancy:= What she Heard and Saw. By Mrs. R.H. Read. With +many Woodcuts and a Coloured Frontispiece. + + "All is pleasant, nice reading, with a little knowledge of natural + history and other matters gently introduced and divested of + dryness."--_Practical Teacher._ + +=BLACKIE'S EIGHTEENPENNY SERIES.= + +With Illustrations in Colour, and black and tint. In crown 8vo, cloth +elegant. + + * * * * * + +New Volumes. + +=Tales of Daring and Danger.= By G.A. Henty. + + A selection of five of Mr. Henty's short stories of adventure by + land and sea. The volume contains the narrative of an officer's + bear-shooting expedition, and his subsequent captivity among the + Dacoits; a strange tale of an Indian fakir and two British + officers; a tale of the gold-diggings at Pine-tree Gulch, in which + a boy saves, at the cost of his own life, a miner who had + befriended him, and two others. + +=The Seven Golden Keys.= By James E. Arnold. + + Hilda gains entrance into fairy-land, and is there shown a golden + casket with seven locks. To obtain the treasure it contains, it is + necessary that she should make seven journeys to find the keys, and + in her travels she passes through a number of adventures and learns + seven important lessons--to speak the truth, to be kind, not to + trust to appearances, to hold fast to all that is good, &c. It is + one of the most interesting of recent fairy-books, as well as one + of the most instructive. + +=The Story of a Queen.= By Mary C. Rowsell. + + A pleasant version for young people of the romantic story of Marie + of Brabant, the young queen of Philip the Bold of France. Though + the interest centres in a heroine rather than in a hero, the book + has no lack of adventure, and will be read with no less eagerness + by boys than by girls. To the latter it will give a fine example of + patient, strong and noble woman-hood, to the former it will teach + many lessons in truthfulness and chivalry. + +=Joan's Adventures=, At the North Pole and Elsewhere. By Alice +Corkran. + + "This is a most delightful fairy story. The charming style and easy + prose narrative makes its resemblance striking to Hans + Andersen's."--_Spectator._ + +=Edwy:= Or, Was he a Coward? By Annette Lyster. + + "This is a charming story, and sufficiently varied to suit children + of all ages."--_The Academy._ + +=Filled with Gold.= By Jennie Perrett. + + "The tale is interesting, and gracefully told. Miss Perrett's + description of life on the quiet Jersey farm will have a great + charm."--_Spectator._ + +=The Battlefield Treasure.= By F. Bayford Harrison. + + "Jack Warren is a lad of the Tom Brown type, and his search for + treasure and the sequel are sure to prove interesting to + boys."--_English Teacher._ + +=By Order of Queen Maude:= A Story of Home Life. By Louisa +Crow. + + "The tale is brightly and cleverly told, and forms one of the best + children's books which the season has produced."--_Academy._ + +=Our General:= A Story for Girls. By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. + + "A young girl of indomitable spirit, to whom all instinctively turn + for guidance--a noble pattern for girls."--_Guardian._ + +=Aunt Hesba's Charge.= By Elizabeth J. Lysaght. + + "This well-written book tells how a maiden aunt is softened by the + influence of two Indian children who are unexpectedly left upon her + hands. Mrs. Lysaght's style is bright and pleasant."--_Academy._ + +=Into the Haven.= By Annie S. Swan. + + "No story more attractive, by reason of its breezy freshness, as + well as for the practical lessons it conveys."--_Christian Leader._ + +=Our Frank:= And other Stories. By Amy Walton. + + "These stories are of the sort that children of the clever kind are + sure to like."--_Academy._ + +=The Late Miss Hollingford.= By Rosa Mulholland. + + "No book for girls published this season approaches this in the + charm of its telling, which will be equally appreciated by persons + of all ages."--_Standard._ + +=The Pedlar and His Dog.= By Mary C. Rowsell. + + "The opening chapter, with its description of Necton Fair, will + forcibly remind many readers of George Eliot. Taken altogether it + is a delightful story."--_Western Morning News._ + +=Yarns on the Beach.= By G.A. Henty. + + "This little book should find special favour among boys. The yarns + are full of romance and adventure, and are admirably calculated to + foster a manly spirit."--_The Echo._ + +=A Terrible Coward.= By G. Manville Fenn. + + "Just such a tale as boys will delight to read, and as they are + certain to profit by."--_Aberdeen Journal._ + +=Tom Finch's Monkey:= And other Yarns. By J.C. Hutcheson. + + "Stories of an altogether unexceptionable character, with + adventures sufficient for a dozen books of its size."--_U. Service + Gazette._ + +=Miss Grantley's Girls=, And the Stories She Told Them. By Thomas +Archer. + + "For fireside reading more wholesome and highly entertaining + reading for young people could not be found."--_Northern + Chronicle._ + +=Down and Up Again:= Being some Account of the Felton Family, and the +Odd People they Met. By Gregson Gow. + + "The story is very neatly told, with some fairly dramatic + incidents, and calculated altogether to please young + people."--_Scotsman._ + +=The Troubles and Triumphs of Little Tim.= A City Story. By Gregson +Gow. + + "An undercurrent of sympathy with the struggles of the poor, and an + ability to describe their feelings, eminently characteristic of + Dickens, are marked features in Mr. Gow's story."--_N.B. Mail._ + +=The Happy Lad:= A Story of Peasant Life in Norway. From the Norwegian +of Bjoernson. + + "This pretty story has natural eloquence which seems to carry us + back to some of the love stories of the Bible."--_Aberdeen Free + Press._ + +=The Patriot Martyr:= And other Narratives of Female Heroism in Peace +and War. + + "It should be read with interest by every girl who loves to learn + what her sex can accomplish in times of danger."--_Bristol Times._ + +=Madge's Mistake:= A Recollection of Girlhood. By Annie E. +Armstrong. + + "We cannot speak too highly of this delightful little tale. It + abounds in interesting and laughable incidents."--_Bristol Times._ + +=Box of Stories.= Packed for Young Folk by Horace Happyman. + +=When I was a Boy in China.= By Yan Phou Lee, a native of +China, now resident in the United States. Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth +extra, _1s. 6d._ + + "This little book has the advantage of having been written not only + by a Chinaman, but by a man of culture. His book is as interesting + to adults as it is to children."--_The Guardian._ + + "Not only exceedingly interesting, but of great informative value, + for it gives to English readers a peep into the interior and + private life of China such as has perhaps never before been + afforded."--_The Scottish Leader._ + + * * * * * + +THE SHILLING SERIES OF BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. + +Square 16mo, neatly bound in cloth extra. Each book contains 128 pages +and a Coloured Illustration. + + * * * * * + +New Volumes. + +=Mr. Lipscombe's Apples.= By Julia Goddard. +=Gladys: or the Sister's Charge.= By E. O'Byrne. +=A Gypsy against Her Will.= By Emma Leslie. +=The Castle on the Shore.= By Isabel Hornibrook. +=An Emigrant Boy's Story.= By Ascott R. Hope. +=Jock and his Friend.= By Cora Langton. +=John a' Dale.= By Mary C. Rowsell. +=In the Summer Holidays.= By Jennett Humphreys. +=How the Strike Began.= By Emma Leslie. +=Tales from the Russian of Madame Kubalensky.= By G. Jenner. +=Cinderella's Cousin, and Other Stories.= By Penelope. +=Their New Home.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=Janie's Holiday.= By C. Redford. +=A Boy Musician:= Or, the Young Days of Mozart. +=Hatto's Tower.= By Mary C. Rowsell. +=Fairy Lovebairn's Favourites.= By J. Dickinson. +=Alf Jetsam:= or Found Afloat. By Mrs. George Cupples. +=The Redfords:= An Emigrant Story. By Mrs. George Cupples. +=Missy.= By F. Bayford Harrison. +=Hidden Seed:= or, A Year in a Girl's Life. By Emma Leslie. +=Ursula's Aunt.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=Jack's Two Sovereigns.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=A Little Adventurer:= or How Tommy Trefit went to look for his Father. + By Gregson Gow. +=Olive Mount.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=Three Little Ones.= Their Haps and Mishaps. By C. Langton. +=Tom Watkins' Mistake.= By Emma Leslie. +=Two Little Brothers.= By M. Harriet M. Capes. +=The New Boy at Merriton.= By Julia Goddard. +=The Children of Haycombe.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=The Cruise of the "Petrel."= By F.M. Holmes. +=The Wise Princess.= By M. Harriet M. Capes. +=The Blind Boy of Dresden and his Sister.= +=Jon of Iceland:= A Story of the Far North. +=Stories from Shakespeare.= +=Every Man In his Place:= Or a City Boy and a Forest Boy. +=Fireside Fairies and Flower Fancies.= Stories for Girls. +=To the Sea in Ships:= Stories of Suffering and Saving at Sea. +=Jack's Victory:= and other Stories about Dogs. +=Story of a King=, told by one of his Soldiers. +=Prince Alexis=, or "Beauty and the Beast." +=Little Daniel:= a Story of a Flood on the Rhine. +=Sasha the Serf:= and other Stories of Russian Life. +=True Stories of Foreign History.= + + * * * * * + +_THE ILLUSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT PRINTED IN COLOURS._ + +4TO, ONE SHILLING EACH. + +=GORDON BROWNE'S SERIES OF OLD FAIRY TALES.= + +1. HOP O' MY THUMB. +2. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. + +Each book contains 32 pages 4to, and is illustrated on every page by +Pictures printed in colours. + +=THE NINEPENNY SERIES OF BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.= + +Neatly bound in cloth extra. Each contains 96 pages and a Coloured +Illustration. + + * * * * * + +New Volumes. + +=Things will Take a Turn.= By Beatrice Harraden. +=The Lost Thimble:= and other Stories. By Mrs. Musgrave. +=Max or Baby:= the Story of a very Little Boy. By Ismay Thorn. +=Jack-a-Dandy:= or the Heir of Castle Fergus. By E.J. Lysaght. +=A Day of Adventures:= A Story for little Girls. By Charlotte Wyatt. +=The Golden Plums=, and other Stories. By Frances Clare. + +=The Queen of Squats.= By Isabel Hornibrook. +=Shucks:= A Story for Boys. By Emma Leslie. +=Sylvia Brooke.= By M. Harriet M. Capes. +=The Little Cousin.= By A.S. Fenn. +=In Cloudland.= By Mrs. Musgrave. +=Jack and the Gypsies.= By Kate Wood. +=Hans the Painter.= By Mary C. Rowsell. +=Little Troublesome.= By Isabel Hornibrook. +=My Lady May:= And one other Story. By Harriet Boultwood. +=A Little Hero.= By Mrs. Musgrave. +=Prince Jon's Pilgrimage.= By Jessie Fleming. +=Harold's Ambition:= Or a Dream of Fame. By Jennie Perrett. +=Sepperl the Drummer Boy.= By Mary C. Rowsell. +=Aboard the Mersey.= By Mrs. George Cupples. +=A Blind Pupil.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=Lost and Found.= By Mrs. Carl Rother. +=Fisherman Grim.= By Mary C. Rowsell. + + "The same good character pervades all these books. They are + admirably adapted for the young. The lessons deduced are such as to + mould children's minds in a good groove. We cannot too highly + commend them for their excellence."--_Schoolmistress._ + + * * * * * + +=SOMETHING FOR THE VERY LITTLE ONES.= + +Fully Illustrated with Woodcuts and Coloured Plates. 64 pp., 32mo, +cloth. Sixpence each. + +=Tales Easy and Small= for the Youngest of All. In no word will you see +more letters than three. By Jennett Humphreys. + +=Old Dick Grey= and Aunt Kate's Way. Stories in little words of not more +than four letters. By Jennett Humphreys. + +=Maud's Doll and Her Walk.= In Picture and Talk. In little words of not +more than four letters. By Jennett Humphreys. + +=In Holiday Time.= And other Stories. In little words of not more than +five letters. By Jennett Humphreys. + +=Whisk and Buzz.= By Mrs. A.H. Garlick. + +=THE SIXPENNY SERIES FOR CHILDREN.= + +Neatly bound in cloth extra. Each contains 64 pages and a Coloured Cut. + +=A Little Man of War.= By L.E. Tiddeman. +=Lady Daisy.= By Caroline Stewart. +=Dew.= By H. Mary Wilson. +=Chris's Old Violin.= By J. Lockhart. +=Mischievous Jack.= By A. Corkran. +=The Twins.= By L.E. Tiddeman. +=Pet's Project.= By Cora Langton. +=The Chosen Treat.= By Charlotte Wyatt. +=Little Neighbours.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=Jim:= A Story of Child Life. By Christian Burke. +=Little Curiosity:= Or, A German Christmas. By J.M. Callwell. +=Sara the Wool-gatherer.= By W.L. Rooper. +=Fairy Stories:= told by Penelope. +=A New Year's Tale:= and other Stories. From the German. By M.A. Currie. +=Little Mop:= and other Stories. By Mrs. Charles Bray. +=The Tree Cake:= and other Stories. By W.L. Rooper. +=Nurse Peggy, and Little Dog Trip.= +=Fanny's King.= By Darley Dale. +=Wild Marsh Marigolds.= By D. Dale. +=Kitty's Cousin.= By Hannah B. Mackenzie. +=Cleared at Last.= By Julia Goddard. +=Little Dolly Forbes.= By Annie S. Fenn. +=A Year with Nellie.= By A.S. Fenn. +=The Little Brown Bird.= +=The Maid of Domremy:= and other Tales. +=Little Eric:= a Story of Honesty. +=Uncle Ben the Whaler.= +=The Palace of Luxury.= +=The Charcoal Burner.= +=Willy Black:= a Story of Doing Right. +=The Horse and His Ways.= +=The Shoemaker's Present.= +=Lights to Walk by.= +=The Little Merchant.= +=Nicholina:= a Story about an Iceberg. + + "A very praiseworthy series of Prize Books. Most of the stories are + designed to enforce some important moral lesson, such as honesty, + industry, kindness, helpfulness."--_School Guardian._ + + * * * * * + +=A SERIES OF FOURPENNY REWARD BOOKS.= + +Each 64 pages, 18mo, Illustrated, in Picture Boards. + +=A Start in Life.= By J. Lockhart. +=Happy Childhood.= By Aimee de Venoix Dawson. +=Dorothy's Clock.= By Do. +=Toddy.= By L.E. Tiddeman. +=Stories about my Dolls.= By Felicia Melancthon. +=Stories about my Cat Timothy.= +=Delia's Boots.= By W.L. Rooper. +=Lost on the Rocks.= By R. Scotter. +=A Kitten's Adventures.= By Caroline Stewart. +=Holidays at Sunnycroft.= By Annie S. Swan. +=Climbing the Hill.= By Do. +=A Year at Coverley.= By Do. +=Phil Foster.= By J. Lockhart. +=Papa's Birthday.= By W.L. Rooper. +=The Charm Fairy.= By Penelope. +=Little Tales for Little Children.= By M.A. Currie. +=Worthy of Trust.= By H.B. Mackenzie. +=Brave and True.= By Gregson Gow. +=Johnnie Tupper's Temptation.= Do. +=Maudie and Bertie.= Do. +=The Children and the Water-Lily.= By Julia Goddard. +=Poor Tom Olliver.= By Do. +=Fritz's Experiment.= By Letitia M'Lintock. +=Lucy's Christmas-Box.= + +LONDON: BLACKIE & SON, 49 OLD BAILEY, E.C. +GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN. + + +[Transcriber's Note: The following section was at the beginning of the book +in the original copy.] + +MR. HENTY'S HISTORICAL TALES. + +_Crown 8vo, Cloth elegant, Olivine edges. 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