MY FIRST ADVENTURE--PROGRAMME OF TRAVEL--OFF ACROSS THE ATLANTIC--THE
MISSISSIPPI--HOW WE GOT SNAGGED--I SAVE PETER ROBERTS--THE CAYMAN'S
COMPANY--THE ISLAND REFUGE.
The love of travel was a family instinct, and was born with me. My
maternal grandfather went to Central Africa--at least, he left us
intending to do so, but never came back again. I had a great uncle who
voyaged three times round the world, and one sailor uncle who, half a
century ago, spent a winter at the North Pole along with Parry and
Franklin. Then I had a cousin who was very ambitious of reaching the
moon, and spent his life in studying its maps and making preparations
for the journey, which, however, he never accomplished. When asked when
he was going to start, he always replied that he had deferred his
journey for six months--circumstances requiring his longer sojourn on
this planet Tellus; but he never expressed the slightest doubt about his
being able ultimately to accomplish his proposed journey. I held him in
great respect (which was more than any of the rest of the family did);
but as my ambition never soared beyond an expedition round this
sublunary globe, I resolved as soon as possible to commence my travels
in the hopes of having the start of him.
My voluntary studies were of a character to feed my taste. The travels
of the famed Baron Munchausen, "Gulliver's Travels," those of Sir John
Mandeville and Marco Polo, were read by me over and over again. I
procured others of a more modern date, and calculated to give more
correct information regarding the present state of the world; but I
stuck to my old friends, and pictured the globe to myself much in the
condition in which they described it. Not having the patience to wait
till I grew up, I resolved at the commencement of my summer holidays to
start by myself, hoping to come back before their termination, having a
full supply of adventures to narrate. I was some days maturing my plans
and making preparations for my journey. I had denied myself such
luxuries as had been brought to our school by the pieman, and had saved
up my pocket-money--an exercise of self-denial which proved the
earnestness of my resolve. I had had too several presents made to me by
relations and friends who happened to be in the house. I paid a visit
also to my cousin, Booby Skipwith, as he was called. I did not confide
to him all my plans; but I hinted that I had one of great importance in
hand, and, to my great delight, he presented me with a five-pound note,
observing that he believed that such things were not current in the
moon, and that, therefore, he could dispense with them. I hinted that
if such was the case he might hand me out a few more, for that where I
was going they would be greatly in demand; but it proved that this was
the only one of which he was possessed.
I had got a small portmanteau, into which I packed all my best clothes
and valuables, with a few glass beads and knives which I had purchased
to bestow on any savages I might encounter. I had a lance-head brought
home by my great uncle. With this I purposed manufacturing a lance for
my defence. I knew that, as England is an island, I must cross the
water. My idea, when on the other side, whether north, south, east, or
west I did not care, was to purchase two steeds--one for myself and
another for my luggage and a squire, whom I intended to find. I was
certain that he would turn up somewhere, and be very faithful and brave.
The first, thing, however, was to get away from home. I wrote an
affectionate letter to my father, telling him that I was going on my
travels as my ancestor had done, and that I should be back, I hoped, by
the end of the holidays; that if I was not, it could not much signify,
as I should be gaining more information from my intercourse with the
great world than I could possibly hope to reap from the instruction of
Dr Bumpus.
This done, one very fine morning I crept out of the house with my
portmanteau on my shoulders, and getting over the park palings, so as
not to be seen by the lodge-keeper, I stood ready for a coach that would
pass by, I had ascertained, about that time. I waited anxiously,
thinking that it must have already passed. At last I saw it coming
along the road in a cloud of dust. I hailed it in a knowing way, handed
up my portmanteau to be placed by the coachman in the boot under his
feet, and climbing up behind in a twinkling before any questions were
asked, away we bowled at a famous rate. "All right," I thought; "I am
now fairly off on my travels." We had twenty miles to get to the
railway station. Once in the train, I should be beyond pursuit. I had
no fear of that, however. I should not be missed for some hours, and
then no one would know in what direction I had gone.
We approached the station near Burton. My heart throbbed with
eagerness. In a few minutes the train would be starting. The coach
stopped before the hotel. At that a moment a gentleman on horseback was
passing. He saw me before I had time to hide my face.
"Why, Harry, where are you going?" he exclaimed. It was my uncle,
Roland Skipwith, the arctic voyager. He looked into the coach,
expecting to see some one. "What, are you all alone? Where are you
going, boy?"
"On my travels, uncle," I answered, boldly, hoping that he might approve
of my purpose, seeing that he was himself a great traveller. "You will
not stop me, I know."
"We'll see about that," he answered, in a tone I did not quite like.
"Get down, youngster. I'll give you a little advice on the subject.
You can't go by this train, that's certain."
While I reluctantly obeyed, he inquired of Tomkins, the coachman, how he
came to bring me away from home. Tomkins apologised--thought that I was
going on a visit to my aunt, Miss Rebecca Skipwith, who lived at Burton,
and finished by handing out my portmanteau, and receiving my fare to
Burton in exchange.
I was sold, that was clear enough. The portmanteau was deposited in the
bar till the coach would return soon after noon.
"Come along," said my uncle, who had given his horse to the hostler. "I
have ridden over to breakfast with your Aunt Rebecca, so we'll hear what
she has to say on the matter."