with a tiger: From the heavy rain which falls upon Indian mountains the
low-lying country is liable to such sudden floods that every year many
beasts, and even human beings, are drowned ere they can make their
escape to the higher grounds. On one occasion a terrible flood came up
so suddenly that I had to spend a day and night in an open canoe in
consequence, during which time I had good opportunities of seeing the
good and bad effects produced by them. I lived at the time in a mat
house, situated upon a hill which I supposed was quite above high-water
mark, but an old Mahometan gentleman having told me that, when he was a
little boy, he recollected the water once rising higher than the hill, I
took the precaution of keeping a canoe in a small ditch close at hand.
The rainy season began, and daily the river rose higher. One morning we
noticed that the mountain tops were covered with heavy banks of dark
clouds, though no rain fell out on the plain where we were; but we
noticed many animals, a leopard among others, sneak out of the high
grass and make for hilly ground. The most curious thing, however, was
the smart manner in which rats and even grasshoppers came scampering
away from the threatening danger. These latter came in such crowds
toward my bungalow that not only the fowls about the premises had a good
feed on them, but kites and crows began to swoop down in such numbers
that the air was filled with their cries and the noise of their rushing
wings.
[Illustration: AFLOAT WITH A TIGER°]
While watching the immense destruction of these insects we were
startled by the outbreak of the thunderstorm high up on the mountains,
but far above the peals of thunder rose the terrible sound of rushing
water. Animals now came tearing out of the lowlands too terrified to
notice whither they went, so that I stood ready, gun in hand, in case
any of the dangerous kind should try to seek an asylum on my particular
hill; but with the exception of a huge wild boar, who had to be shot as
he charged up the slope, all took refuge elsewhere.
Soon the water burst through the river bank, spreading over the country,
sweeping down the tall grass jungle and surging and roaring round our
hill. Packing all that was valuable in small parcels, we gathered them
in a heap, hoping that the flood would subside ere it reached the
building. All round about large trees, uprooted by the terrible force of
the deluge, were swept along, several animals vainly trying to keep a
footing among their roots and branches. At last the water reached the
steps of the house; so, pulling our boat close up, we stepped in with
what we could save and hung to the wooden posts of the building, vainly
trusting that the worst had come; but it was not so, for we soon had to
leave go the post and pass the boat's rope round a tree. The water then
rushed in, the house toppled over, and it and its contents were swept
away by the flood.
In a short time the tree began to shake and bend, so we knew that it was
being uprooted; therefore, letting go the rope, we launched forth upon
the seething waste of waters and were whirled away. Onward we rushed
through masses of logs, branches, the remains of houses, and such like
wreck, having to be very careful that our frail vessel did not get upset
or crushed. Twice we made for the tops of hills that showed themselves
above water, but on approaching them we found that they had been taken
possession of by wild animals.
Here a tiger crouched on a branch of a tree, seemingly too much alarmed
at his perilous position to molest the half-dozen deer that crowded
timidly together right underneath his perch. Up above him the smaller
branches were stocked with monkeys, who looked very disconsolate at
their enforced imprisonment. As we swept past, the tiger raised his
head, gave a deep growl and showed his teeth, then crouched down again
as if fully aware of his helplessness, and we had too much to think of
ourselves to interfere with him.
Gaining the open country, the scene was one of desolation; but the
current was not so strong, so we turned round, seeing the flood was
going down, and by nightfall we had got back to where the house had
stood. Every vestige of the once pretty homestead had disappeared, with
sheep and cattle, though the fowls had managed to find a roost on the
topmost branches of some orange trees, which alone remained to mark the
spot.
As the moon rose, the mountaineers came down from the villages, and,
embarking on rafts and in canoes, went round the different hills,
shooting and spearing the animals that had swum there; and truly the
sight of such a hunting scene was an exciting one. Here a stout stag,
defending himself with his antlers as best he might against the
spearsmen, kept up a gallant fight till death.
The tiger we had seen in the morning took to swimming, and on being
wounded with a spear turned on the nearest canoe, upsetting the hunters
into the water, where a desperate encounter took place; but he was
eventually dispatched by a blow from an ax--not, however, before he had
clawed some of his pursuers most severely.
At daylight the water had entirely gone down, and a thick, muddy deposit
covered all the lowland, while an immense number of snakes, scorpions,
and other unpleasant creatures lay dead in all directions, upon which
and the drowned animals vultures, crows and kites were feeding.
=Queen Margaret and the Robbers.=
There were once two kings of England at the same time. One was Henry VI.
He was the rightful king, but a very weak and feeble man, and quite
unfit to rule his kingdom.
The other was young Edward, Duke of York, called Edward IV. He was made
king by some of the nobles, who grew weary of Henry and his foolish
deeds.
A number of the English people were faithful to King Henry, but many
others went over to King Edward's side, and there were quarrels between
the two parties, which ended in a war. This war was called the War of
the Roses, because the followers of Henry wore a red rose as their
badge, and Edward's friends wore a white one.
In one battle, fought at Hexham, the White Roses beat the Red ones, and
King Henry was taken prisoner and sent to the Tower of London. His wife,
Queen Margaret, with her little son, Prince Edward, escaped after the
battle, and hid themselves in a wild forest. As they wandered among the
trees, seeking some place where they might be safe from their enemies,
they met a band of robbers. These rough men took away the queen's money
and her jewels, tearing her necklace from her neck, and her rings from
her fingers. Then they began to dispute as to who should have most of
the stolen goods. And while they quarrelled, Queen Margaret took her
little boy by the hand and ran away to a thick part of the wood. There
they stayed until the angry voices of the robbers could no longer be
heard, and then, in the growing darkness, they came stealthily from
their hiding-place. They wandered on, knowing not where to go, hoping
much to meet some of their friends, and fearing still more to be found
by their enemies, the soldiers of the White Rose. But, alas! they saw no
kind face, and night came on. Then, as they crept fearfully from tree to
tree, they met another robber.
[Illustration: THE ROBBERS DISCOVER QUEEN MARGARET AND THE PRINCE]
The poor queen was much afraid that this robber, who looked very fierce,
would kill her and the prince, because she had no riches left to give
him. In despair she threw herself upon her knees before him, and said:
"My friend, this is the son of your king. I give him into your care."
The robber was much surprised to see the queen and the prince alone,
with their clothes torn and stained, and their faces white from hunger
and fatigue. But he was a kindhearted man, although his looks were
rough, and before he became a robber he had been a follower of King
Henry, so he was quite willing to do his best for the little prince. He
took the boy in his arms, and led the way to a cave in the forest, where
he lived with his wife. And in this poor shelter, the queen and her son
stayed for two days, listening to every sound, and fearing that their
enemies would find them. On the third day, however, the friendly robber
met some of the lords of the Red Rose in the forest, and led them to the
cave. The queen and prince were overjoyed to see their friends, and soon
they escaped with them to a place of safety.
Their hiding-place has been called "Queen Margaret's Cave" ever since
that time. If you go to Hexham Forest, you will be able to see it.
[Illustration: The Robber brings help to Queen Margaret]
=William Caxton=
In old days, books were not printed as they are now; they were written
by hand. This took a long time to do, so there were not many books, and
they were so dear that only the rich could buy them.
But after a time, some clever men made a machine, called a
printing-press, which could print letters.
About that time, an Englishman, named William Caxton, lived in Holland,
and copied books for a great lady. He says his hand grew tired with
writing, and his eyes became dim with much looking on white paper. So he
learned how to print, and had a printing-press made for himself, which
he brought to England. He set it up in a little shop in London, and then
he began to print books. He printed books of all sorts--tales, and
poetry, and history, and prayers, and sermons. In the time which it had
formerly taken him to write one book, he could now print thousands.
All sorts of people crowded to his shop to see Caxton's wonderful press;
sometimes the king went with his nobles. Many of them took written books
with them, which they wished to have put into print. Some people asked
Caxton to use in his books the most curious words he could find; others
wished him to print only old and homely words. Caxton liked best the
common, simple words which men used daily in their speech.
Caxton did a very good thing when he brought the printing-press to
England, for, after that, books became much cheaper, so that many people
could buy them, and learning spread in the land.
[Illustration: CAXTON IN HIS PRINTING SHOP]
=Sir Philip Sidney=
When Elizabeth was Queen of England it was a time of great deeds and
great men. The queen was brave and clever herself, so she liked to have
brave and clever people around her. Great soldiers, and writers, and
statesmen went to her court; and when brave seamen came back from their
voyages to unknown lands far away, they were invited by the queen to
visit her, and tell her of all the strange places and people they had
seen. In this Elizabeth was wise, for men did their best to show
themselves worthy of her favours.
Among all the great men at court, none was more beloved than Sir Philip
Sidney. He was called "the darling of the court".
[Illustration: SIR PHILIP SIDNEY°]
At that time, there was much trouble and many wars in some other
countries, where people were fighting for the right to worship God in
their own way. Philip Sidney heard of these things when he was a boy in
his father's house, and his heart was stirred with pity. Later, when he
was in France, a great number of people were cruelly killed because they
would not pray in the way which the king ordered. Sidney never forgot
the dreadful sights and sounds of that sad time, and when Queen
Elizabeth sent an army to help the people of Holland, who were fighting
for their freedom, he asked for leave to go with it. This was granted to
him, and he was made one of the leaders.
[Illustration: MARTYRED FOR PRAYING°]
But alas! he went out to die. In one battle, a small band of the English
bravely attacked a large army of their enemies. The horse which Sidney
was riding was killed under him, and as he mounted another, he was shot
in the leg, and his thigh-bone was broken. The horse took fright and
galloped away from the fight, but its wounded and bleeding rider held
to his seat, and when he reached a place of safety was lifted from his
horse, and gently laid upon the ground. He was faint from loss of blood,
and in great pain, and his throat was parched with thirst.
"Bring me water," said he to a friend.
This was not easy to do, for there was not a stream near at hand, and in
order to get to one it would be necessary to pass where the shot from
the enemy's cannons was falling fast. But his friend was brave and went
through the danger. Then he found some water, and brought it to him.
Sidney eagerly held out his hand for the cup, and as he was preparing to
drink, another poor wounded soldier was carried past. This man was
dying; he could not speak, but he looked with longing eyes at the water.
Sir Philip saw the look, and taking the cup from his own lips, passed it
to the soldier, saying: "Thy need is greater than mine." The poor man
quenched his thirst, and blessed him as he died.
Sir Philip lived on for a few weeks, growing weaker every day, but he
never came back to his own land, and the many friends who loved him.
Sidney was great in many ways; very fair to see, very wise and good, and
very clever and witty. He was one of the bravest fighters, one of the
finest poets, and one of the best gentlemen who ever lived. He will
always be remembered for his brave deeds, and his wise sayings, but most
of all do men bless his name for this act of kindness to his poor dying
comrade.
[Illustration: SIR PHILIP SIDNEY AND THE DYING SOLDIER]
=The "Revenge"=
In the days of Queen Elizabeth, English sailors first began to find
their way across the seas to new lands, from which they brought home
many strange, and rich, and beautiful things. The Spaniards sailed
across the seas too, to fetch gold and silver from the mines in Mexico,
which belonged to the King of Spain. Sometimes the English ships met the
Spanish ones, and robbed them of their gold, for it was thought quite
right and fair in those days to take every chance of doing harm to the
enemies of England. Of course the Spaniards hated the English for this,
and whenever they met English ships which were weaker than theirs they
attacked them, and robbed them, killing the sailors, or taking them
prisoners.
Once, a small ship, called the _Revenge_, was sailing home to England,
when it met with fifty great Spanish vessels. The captain of the
_Revenge_ was Sir Richard Grenville, and he had a great many sick men on
board. There was no time to escape from the Spanish ships, which soon
surrounded the little _Revenge_. So there were only two courses which
Sir Richard could take. One was to give up his ship to the Spaniards;
the other was to fight with them till his men were all killed, or his
ship sank.
Some of the sailors wished him to take the first course, but the others,
and all the sick men, said: "Nay, let us fall into the hands of God, and
not into the hands of Spain." This they said because they thought it
better to die, than to be made prisoners by the cruel Spaniards.
Sir Richard made up his mind to fight. It was after noon when the
firing began, and all night long, until daylight came, the little
English ship kept the fifty Spanish vessels at bay. Then it was found
that all the powder was gone, and all the English were dead or dying.
And then only was the flag of the _Revenge_ pulled down, to show that
she surrendered to her enemies.
The brave Sir Richard was taken on board a Spanish ship, where he soon
died of his wounds.
These were his last words: "Here die I, Richard Grenville, with a joyful
and quiet mind, for I have ended my life as a good soldier ought. I have
fought for my country and my queen, for honour, and for God."
[Illustration: DEATH OF SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE°]
=The Pilgrim Fathers=
There was a time when the people of England were not allowed to pray to
God in the way they thought right, but were punished if they did not
worship as the king ordered. This was very hard, and when James I was
king, a little band of brave people, who found that they could not obey
the king, left their country to make a new home across the sea, where
they could be free. They are called the "Pilgrim Fathers".
A hundred people--men, women, and children--set sail in a little ship
called the _Mayflower_ for the new world which a great explorer called
Columbus had discovered away in the west, and which we now call America.
They had a long and stormy voyage, but at last, in mid-winter, they
landed on the shores of North America, and set up their huts.
At first they had much trouble, for the ground was frozen and barren.
They suffered from hunger and sickness, and the wild Indians who lived
in that land came down upon them and tried to drive them away. But the
Pilgrim Fathers did not lose courage. They were free, and they worked
hard, and waited in patience for brighter days. By and by other ships
from England brought food to keep them alive, and more people to help
them. Then they made friends with the Indians, and when spring came they
planted seeds and grew crops for themselves.
After a time many other Englishmen, who wished to be free, followed the
Pilgrim Fathers, and settled in America. They founded the colonies of
New England, which are now a part of the United States.
[Illustration: THE PILGRIM FATHERS ENTERING THE NEW WORLD]
=Guy Fawkes=
In the time of James I, many of the English people were very hardly
treated because of their religion. At last they could bear the ill-usage
no longer, and they thought of a plan to get rid of the king and queen
and their eldest son.
Many barrels of gunpowder were secretly put into a cellar under the
Parliament House, where James was to meet his lords and commons on
November 5; and a man named Guy Fawkes was hired to set fire to it at
the right time, and so to blow up the hall above, and all in it.
All was ready, when one of the plotters remembered that a friend of his
would be at the meeting next day. As he did not wish him to be killed,
he sent him a letter, without signing his name, saying: "Do not go to
the House, for there shall be a sudden blow to many, and they shall not
see who hurts them".
The lord who received this letter took it to the King's Council, and
when King James saw it, he guessed what the "sudden blow" would be. Men
were sent to search the cellars, and there, on the very night before the
deed was to be done, Guy Fawkes was found waiting till the time should
come to set fire to the powder. He was cruelly tortured to make him tell
all he knew, but he was a brave man, and he died without betraying his
friends.
Since that time, every year, on the 5th of November, bonfires have been
lighted in many places in England, and "guys" burned, to remind people
how an English king was once saved from a great danger.
[Illustration: THE ARREST OF GUY FAWKES]
=Cromwell and his Ironsides=
When Charles I came to the throne of England, it was soon seen that he
was as bad a king as his father James I had been.
He did not care at all for the good of his country and his people, but
thought only of his own pleasure. He took away men's money and lands,
and if they offended him he took their lives too.
Englishmen would not bear this unjust treatment for long, and soon a war
began between the king and the people, who were determined to be free.
At first the king and his men were victorious everywhere, for they were
all used to horses and arms, and fought so well and so bravely that the
people could not stand against them. But at last a great leader arose
among the people. This leader, who was called Oliver Cromwell, was a
rough man, but he was just, good, and honest.
He saw at once that the people would never gain the victory over the
brave gentlemen-soldiers of King Charles, unless they had obedient and
well-trained men to fight for them. So he chose a band of plain,
hard-working men who feared God, and loved duty and right, and he spent
all his money in fitting them with arms and horses, and in training them
sternly, until they became the finest soldiers the world has ever known.
Cromwell called his men his "lovely company", and others called them
"Ironsides", for they were strong and firm as iron, and were never
beaten. It was these brave, sober, obedient soldiers who at last
defeated the king's army, and won freedom for the people of England.
[Illustration: CROMWELL LEADS HIS IRONSIDES TO BATTLE]
=The Spanish Armada=
The Armada was a great fleet which the King of Spain sent to attack
England, in the days of Queen Elizabeth. There were more than a hundred
ships, so large and high that they looked like towers on the sea; and
they came sailing along arranged in the shape of a big half-moon.
The great English admiral, Sir Francis Drake, was playing at bowls when
messengers came hurrying to tell him that the Armada was approaching. He
quietly finished his game, and then set sail to fight the Spaniards. His
fleet was not so large as the Armada, and the ships were small, but they
were light and fast. They met the Armada in the English Channel, and
sailed round it, attacking any ship that dropped out of line, and
speeding away before the clumsy Spanish vessels could seize them. In
this way they did much harm to the enemy. Then, one night, when it was
dark, and the Spanish vessels were lying quietly at anchor, Admiral
Drake sent eight blazing fire-ships into their midst. In great fear, the
Spaniards cut their anchor-ropes, and sailed out to the open sea, and
the English ships followed, firing upon them as they fled. For two days
the English chased the flying Spaniards. Then their powder and shot
failed, and a storm arose; so they had to go back. The Armada sailed on,
hoping to escape, but the wild tempest tossed many of the great vessels
on the rocks and cliffs of the coast, and dashed them to pieces. Only a
few, broken and battered, with starving and weary men on board, ever
reached Spain again. And so England was saved.
[Illustration: DRAKE IS TOLD THAT THE ARMADA IS APPROACHING]
[Illustration: THE LITTLE "REVENGE" FIGHTS FIFTY SPANISH GALLEONS]
=The Defence of Lathom House=
Lathom House is an old English castle. When the war broke out between
King Charles I and his people, the Earl of Derby, who was the master of
this castle, went away to fight for the king. He left the Countess at
home with her children, with a small band of armed men to guard her and
the castle. One day an army of the people's soldiers came to the castle,
and the leader of the army sent word to the Countess that she must give
up the castle at once.
But the Countess was a brave woman. She replied that she would rather
set fire to the castle, and die with her children in the flames, than
give it up to the king's enemies.
Then began a fight which lasted many weeks. The large army outside the
walls did their best to break a way in, but the small company inside
defended the castle bravely. At last the leader of the besiegers brought
a strong new gun, and it was soon seen that this would break down the
walls. Then one night the Countess sent out a party of brave men, who
seized the new gun and brought it into the castle, and so the worst
danger was over. Soon afterwards Prince Rupert, one of the king's
generals, came with an army to help the Countess, and Lathom House was
saved.
The prince drove away the soldiers of the people, and took from them
twenty-two banners, which he sent as a present to the Countess, to show
how much he admired her bravery.
[Illustration: THE COUNTESS RECEIVES THE BANNERS]
THE OUTLAWED ARCHERS.
Many years ago there dwelt in the forest of Inglewood, in the North
country, three yeomen, who had been outlawed for killing the king's
deer. They were all famous archers, and defying every attempt to arrest
them, they lived a free life in the green wood. But finally growing
tired of this dangerous life, they went to the king to sue for pardon.
It happened that the king's archers were exhibiting their skill by
shooting at marks, which none of them missed. But one of the outlawed
archers, named Cloudesly, made light of their skill, and told the king
that he could do better than any of his archers had done. "To prove the
truth of my claim," he said, "I will take my son, who is only seven
years old and is dear to me, and I will tie him to a stake, and lay an
apple on his head, and go six score paces from him, and with a broad
arrow I will cleave the apple in two."
"Now listen," said the king, "and do as you say; but if you touch his
head, or his dress, you shall be hanged all three."
"I will not go back on my word," said Cloudesly; and driving a stake
into the ground, he bound thereto his little son, and placed an apple on
his head. All being ready he bent his bow, the arrow flew from the
string, the apple was cleft in twain, and the child was unhurt. The king
thereupon pardoned the three outlaws and received them into his
service.
[Illustration: CLOUDSEY SHOOTS AN APPLE FROM THE HEAD OF HIS SON°]
=Elizabeth and Raleigh=
Sir Walter Raleigh was a favourite courtier of Queen Elizabeth. An old
story tells us of the way he won her favour.
One day, as the queen and her ladies were out walking, dressed in fine
robes of silk and lace, they came to a miry puddle in the road. The
queen stopped in dismay, for she did not like getting her feet wet and
dirty. As she was thinking how best to step through the mud, a young man
in a rich suit came along the road.