Through all these occupations the thought never left me,--what could be

the object of Sir Dudley's continued voyaging? No feature of pleasure

was certainly associated with it; as little could it be attributed to

the practice of smuggling,--the very seas he had longest cruised in

forbade that notion. It must be, thought I, that other reason to which

he so darkly alluded on the day he called me to his cabin; and what

could that be? Never was ingenuity more tortured than mine by this

ever-recurring question; since it is needless to tell the reader I was

not then, nor indeed for a very long time afterwards, acquainted with

those particulars of his history I have already jotted down. This

intense curiosity of mine would doubtless have worn itself out at last,

but for a slight circumstance occurring to keep it still alive within

me. The little state-room in which I used to write lay at one side of

the cabin, from which it was entered,--no other means of getting to it

existing; a heavy silk curtain supplied the place of a door between the

two; and this, when four o'clock came, and my day's work was finished,

was let down till the following morning, when it was drawn aside, that

Sir Dudley, from time to time, might see, and, if needful, speak with

me. Now, one day, when we had been about three weeks at sea, the weather

being intensely hot and sultry, Sir Dudley had fallen asleep in his

cabin while I sat writing away vigorously within. Suddenly, I heard a

shout on deck: "The whales! a shoal of whales ahead!" and immediately

the sudden scuffling of feet, and the heavy hum of voices, proclaimed

the animation and interest the sight created. I strained myself to peep

through the little one-paned window beside me, but all I could see was

the great blue heaving ocean as, in majestic swell, it rolled along.

Still the noise continued; and, by the number and tone of the speakers,

I could detect that all the crew were on deck,--every one, in fact, save

myself. What a disappointment! full as my mind was of every monster of

land and water, burning to observe some of the wonderful things I had

read so much about, and now destined actually to be denied a sight

on which my comrades were then gazing! I could endure the thought

no longer; and although my task was each morning allotted to me, and

carefully examined the next day by Sir Dudley, I stepped lightly out on

tiptoe, and letting fall the curtain so that if he awoke I should not be

missed, I stole up the "companion," and reached the deck.

What a sight was there! the whole sea around us was in motion with the

great monsters, who, in pursuit of a shoal of herrings, darted at speed

through the blue water,--spouting, blowing, and tossing in all the

wildest confusion; here, every eye was bent on a calm still spot in the

water, where a whale had "sounded," that is, gone down quite straight

into the depths of the sea; here, another was seen scarcely covered

by the water, his monstrous head and back alternately dipping below or

emerging above it; harpoons and tackle were sought out, firearms loaded,

and every preparation for attack and capture made, but none dared to

venture without orders, nor was any hardy enough to awake him and

ask for them. Perhaps the very expectancy on our part increased the

interest, for certainly the excitement of the scene was intense,--so

much so that I actually forgot all about my task, and, without a thought

of consequences, was hanging eagerly over the taffrail in full enjoyment

of the wild scene, when the tinkle of the captain's bell startled me,

and, to my horror, I remembered it was now his dinner hour, and that,

for the rest of the day, no opportunity would offer of my reaching the

state-room to finish my writing.

I was so terrified that I lost all interest in the spectacle, whereof,

up to that time, my mind was full. It was my first delinquency, and had

all the poignancy of a first fault. The severity I had seen practised

on others for even slight infractions of duty was all before me, and

I actually debated with myself whether it would not be better to jump

overboard at once than meet the anger of Sir Dudley. With any one else,

perhaps, I should have bethought me of some cunning lie to account for

my absence; but he had warned me about trying to deceive him, and I well

knew he could be as good as his word. I had no courage to tell any of

the sailors my fault, and ask their advice; indeed, I anticipated what

would be the result: some brutal jest over my misfortune, some coarse

allusion to the fate they had often told me portended me, since "no

younker had ever gone from land to land with Sir Dudley without tasting

his hemp fritters." I sat down, therefore, beside the bowsprit, where

none should see me, to commune alone with my grief, and, if I could, to

summon up courage to meet my fate.

Night had closed in some time, and all was tranquil on board, when I

saw Halkett, as was his custom, going aft to the cabin, where he always

remained for an hour or more each evening. It was just then, I know not

how the notion occurred, but it struck me that if I could lower myself

over the side, I might be able to creep through the little window into

the state-room, and carry away the paper to finish it before morning. I

lost little time in setting about my plot; and having made fast a rope

to one of the clews, I lowered myself fearlessly over the gunwale, and

pushing open the little sash, which was unfastened, I soon managed to

insert my head and shoulders, and, without any difficulty dragging my

body slowly after, entered the state-room. So long as the danger of the

enterprise and its difficulty lasted, so long my courage was high and

my heart fearless; but when I sat down in the little dark room, scarcely

venturing to breathe, lest I should be overheard, almost afraid to touch

the papers on the table, lest their rustling noise should betray me, how

was this terror increased when I actually heard the voices of Sir Dudley

and Halkett as plainly as though I were in the cabin beside them!

"And so, Halkett," said Sir Dudley, "you think this expedition will be

as fruitless as the others?"

"I do, sir," said the other, in a low, dogged tone.

"And yet you were the very man who encouraged me to make it!"

"And what of that? Of two things, I thought it more likely that he

should be the leader of a band to a regiment in Canada than be a Faquino

on the Mole of Genoa. A fellow like him could scarcely fall so low as

that."

"He shall fall lower, by Heaven, if I live!" said Sir Dudley, in a voice

rendered guttural with deep passion.

"Take care you fall not with him, sir," said Halkett, in a tone of

warning.

"And if I should,--for what else have I lived these three last years? In

that pursuit have I perilled health and life, satisfied to lose both if

I but succeed at last."

"And how do you mean to proceed? For, assuredly, if he be attached

to the regiment at Kingstown, he 'll hear of you, from some source or

other. You remember when we all but had him at Torlosk, and yet he

heard of our coming before we got two posts from Warsaw; and again,

at 'Forli,' we had scarce dropped anchor off Rimini when he was up and

away."

"I 'll go more secretly to work this time, Halkett; hitherto I have been

slow to think the fellow a coward. It is so hard to believe anything so

base as a man bereft of every trait of virtue: now I see clearly that he

is so. I 'll track him, not to offer him the chances of a duel, but to

hunt him down as I would a wild beast. I 'll proceed up the river in the

disguise of an itinerant merchant,--one of those pedler fellows of which

this land is full,--taking the Irish dog along with me."

"Of whom, remember, you know nothing, sir," interposed Halkett.

"Nor need to know," said he, impatient at the interruption. "Let him

play me false, let me only suspect that he means it, and my reckoning

with him will be short. I have watched him closely of late, and I see

the fellow's curiosity is excited about us: he is evidently on the alert

to learn something of our object in this voyage; but the day he gains

the knowledge, Tom, will be his last to enjoy it. It is a cheap process

if we are at sea,--a dark night and an eighteen-pound shot! If on shore,

I 'll readily find some one to take the trouble off my hands."

It may be imagined with what a sensation of terror I heard these words,

feeling that my actual position at the moment would have decided my

fate, if discovered; and yet, with all this, I could not stir, nor make

an effort to leave the spot; a fascination to hear the remainder of the

conversation had thoroughly bound me as by a spell; and in breathless

anxiety I listened, as Sir Dudley resumed:

"You, with Heckenstein and the Greek, must follow, ready to assist me

when I need your aid; for my plan is this: I mean to entice the fellow,

on pretence of a pleasure excursion, a few miles from the town, into

the bush, there to bind him hand and foot, and convey him, by the forest

tracks, to the second 'portage,' where the batteaux are stationed, by

one of which--these Canadian fellows are easily bribed--we shall drop

down to Montreal. There the yacht shall be in waiting all ready for sea.

Even without a wind, three days will bring us off the Island of Orleans,

and as many more, if we be but fortunate, to the Gulf. The very worst

that can happen is discovery and detection; and if that ensue, I 'll

blow his brains out."

"And if we succeed in carrying him off, Sir Dudley, what then?"

"I have not made up my mind, Halkett, what I'll do. I 've thought of a

hundred schemes of vengeance; but, confound it, I must be content with

one only, though fifty deaths would not satisfy my hate."

"I'd put a bullet through his skull, or swing him from the yardarm, and

make an end of it," said Halkett, roughly.

"Not I, faith! He shall live; and, if I can have my will, a long life

too. His own government would take charge of him at 'Irkutsk,' for that

matter, at the quicksilver mines; and they say the diseased bones, from

the absorption of that poison, is a terrible punishment. But I have a

better notion still. Do you remember that low island off the east shore

of the Niger, where the negro fellows live in log huts, threshing the

water all day to keep the caymans from the rice-grounds?"

"The devil!" exclaimed Halkett; "you'll not put him there?"

"I have thought of it very often," said Sir Dudley, calmly. "He 'd

see his doom before him every day, and dream of it each night too. One

cannot easily forget that horrid swamp, alive and moving with those

reptiles! It was nigh two months ere I could fall asleep at night

without starting up in terror at the thought of them." Sir Dudley arose

as he said this, and walked the cabin with impatient steps; sometimes as

he passed his arm would graze the curtain and shake its folds, and then

my heart leaped to my mouth in very terror. At last, with an effort that

I felt as the last chance of life, I secured the papers in my bosom,

and, standing up on the seat, crept through the window, and, after a

second's delay to adjust the rope, clambered up the side, and gained

the deck unobserved. It could not have been real fatigue, for there

was little or no exertion in the feat; but yet such was my state of

exhaustion that I crept over to the boat that was fastened midships,

and, lying down in her, on a coil of cable, slept soundly till morning.

If my boyish experiences had familiarized my mind with schemes of

vengeance as terrible as ever fiction fabricated, I had yet to learn

that "gentlemen" cherished such feelings; and I own the discovery

gave me a tremendous shock. That some awful debt of injury was on Sir

Dudley's mind was clear enough, and that I was to be, in some capacity

or other, an aid to him in acquitting it, was a fact I was more

convinced of than pleased at. Neither did I fancy his notions of summary

justice,--perhaps it was my legal education had prejudiced me in favor

of more formal proceedings; but I saw with a most constitutional horror

the function of justice, jury, and executioner in the hands of one

single individual.

So impressed was I with these thoughts that had I not been on the high

seas, I should inevitably have run for it. Alas, however, the banks of

Newfoundland--which, after all I had heard mentioned on our voyage, I

imagined to be grassy slopes glittering with daisies, and yellow with

daffodils--are but sand heaps some two hundred fathoms down in "the

ocean blue;" and all one ever knows of them is the small geological

specimens brought up on the tallowed end of the deep-sea lead. Escape,

therefore, was for the present out of the question; but the steady

determination to attempt it was spared me by a circumstance that

occurred about a week later.

After some days of calm, common enough in these latitudes, a slight but

steady breeze set in from the northeast, which bore us up the Gulf with

easy sail till we came in sight of the long, low island of Anticosti,

which, like some gigantic monster, raises its dark, misshapen beach

above the water. Not the slightest trace of foliage or verdure to give

it a semblance to the aspect of land. Two dreary-looking log-houses,

about eighteen miles apart, remind one that a refuge for the shipwrecked

is deemed necessary in this dangerous channel; but, except these, not a

trace exists to show that the foot of man had trod that dreary spot.

The cook's galley is sure to have its share of horrors when a ship

"lies to" near this gloomy shore; scarcely a crew exists where some

one belonging to it has not had a messmate wrecked there; and then, the

dreadful narratives of starvation, and strife, and murders, were too

fearful to dwell on. Among the horrors recorded on every hand all agreed

in speaking of a terrible character who had never quitted the island for

upwards of forty years. He was a sailor who had committed a murder under

circumstances of great atrocity, and dared not revisit the mainland, for

fear of the penalty of his guilt. Few had ever seen him; for years back,

indeed, he had not been met with at all, and rumor said that he was

dead. Still, no trace of his body could be found, and some inclined to

the opinion that he might at last have made his escape.

He was a negro, and was described as possessing the strength of three or

four men; and although the proverbial exaggeration of sailors might, and

very probably did, color these narratives, the sad fate of more than one

party who had set out to capture him, gave the stories a terrible air

of truth. The fear of him was such that although very liberal terms

had been offered to induce men to take up their abode in the island to

succor the crews of wrecked vessels, none could be found to accept the

post; and even at the period when I visited these seas, and after a long

lapse of years since the Black Boatswain had been seen, no one would

venture.

The story went that his ghost still wandered there, and that at night,

when the storm was high, and the waves of the Gulf sent the spray over

that low and dreary island, his cries could be heard, calling aloud to

"shorten sail," to "brace round the yards, close the hatchways," mingled

with blasphemies that made the very hair stand on end.

If the reader, armed with the triple mail of incredulity, so snugly

ensconced in his easy-chair, before a sea-coal fire, can afford to

scoff at such perils, not so did I, as I sat in a corner of the galley,

gathering with greedy ears the horrors that fell on every side, and now

and then stealing out to cast a glance over the bulwarks at the long low

bank of sand, which seemed more like an exhalation from the water than a

solid mass of rock and shingle.

I have said that a feeling of rivalry existed between the Moorish boy,

El Jarasch, and myself; and although I endured the scoffs and sneers

at first with a humility my own humble garb and anomalous position

enforced, I soon began to feel more confidence in myself, and that

species of assurance a becoming dress seems somehow to inspire; for

I was now attired like the rest of the crew, and wore the name of

the yacht in gold letters on my cap, as well as on the breast of my

waistcoat.

The hatred of El Jarasch increased with every day, and mutual scoffs and

gibes were the only intercourse between us. More than once, Halkett,

who had always befriended me, warned me of the boy, and said that his

Moorish blood was sure to make his vengeance felt; but I only laughed at

his caution, and avowed myself ready to confront him when and however he

pleased. Generosity was little wasted on either side, so that when one

day, in a fierce encounter with the lions, El Jarasch received a fall

which broke one of his ribs, and was carried in a state of insensibility

to his berth, I neither pitied him nor regretted his misfortune. I

affected even to say that his own cowardice had rendered the creatures

more daring, and that had he preserved a bolder front the mischance

would have never occurred. These vauntings of mine, coupled with an

avowed willingness to take his place, came to Sir Dudley's ears on the

third evening after the accident, and he immediately sent for me to his

cabin.

"Is it true, sirrah," said he, in a harsh, unpleasant voice, "that you

have been jesting about Jarasch, and saying that you were ready to take

charge of the whelps in his stead?"

"It is," said I, answering both questions together.

"You shall do so to-morrow, then," replied he, solemnly; "take care that

you can do something as well as boast!" and with this he motioned me to

leave the cabin.

I at once repaired to the steerage to report my interview to the men,

who were all more friendly with me than with the "Moor." Many were the

counsels I received about how I should conduct myself the next morning;

some asserting that, as it was my first time, I could not be too gentle

with the animals, avoiding the slightest risk of hurting them, and even

suffering their rough play without any effort to check it. Others, on

the contrary, advised me at once to seek the mastery over the beasts,

and by two or three severe lessons to teach them caution, if not

respect. This counsel, I own, chimed in with my own notions, and also

better accorded with what, after my late vauntings, I felt to be my

duty.

It was altogether a very anxious night with me, not exactly through

fear, because I knew, as the men were always ready with their arms

loaded, life could not be perilled, and I did not dread the infliction

of a mere sprain or fracture; but I felt it was an ordeal wherein my

fame was at stake. Were I to acquit myself well, there would be an

end forever of those insulting airs of superiority the Moorish boy had

assumed towards me. Whereas if I failed, I must consent to bear his

taunts and sarcasms without a murmur.

In one point only the advice of all the crew agreed, which was, that the

female cub, much larger and more ferocious than the male, should more

particularly demand my watchfulness. "If she scratch you, boy, mind that

you desist," said an old Danish sailor, who had been long on the African

coast. This caution was re-echoed by all; and, resolving to follow its

dictates, I "turned in" to my hammock, to dream of combats and battles

till morning.

I was early astir,--waking with a sudden start. I had been dreaming of a

lion-hunt, and fancied I heard the deep-mouthed roaring of the beasts in

a jungle; and, true enough, a low, monotonous howl came from the place

where the animals lay, for it was now the fourth morning of their being

confined without having been once at liberty.

I had just completed my dressing,--the costume was simply a short pair

of loose trousers, hands, arms, and feet bare, and a small Fez cap on my

head,--when Halkett came down to me to say that he had been speaking

to Sir Dudley about the matter, and that as I had never yet accustomed

myself to the whelps, it was better that I should not begin the

acquaintance after they had been four days in durance. "At the same

time," added Halkett, "he gives you the choice; you can venture if you

please."

"I've made up my mind," said I. "I'm sure I'm able for anything the

black fellow can do."

"My advice to you, boy," said he, "is to leave them alone. Those Moorish

chaps are the creatures' countrymen, and have almost the same kind of

natures,--they are stealthy, treacherous, and cruel. They never trust

anything, man or beast!"

"No matter," said I. "I'm as strong as he is, and my courage is not

less."

"If you will have it so, I have nothing to say,--indeed, I promised Sir

Dudley I'd give you no advice one way or other; so now get the staff

from Jarasch, and come on deck."

The staff was a short thick truncheon of oak, tipped with brass at each

end, and the only weapon ever used by the boy in his encounters.

"So you're going to take my place!" said the black fellow, while his

dark eyes were lighted up like coals of fire, and his white teeth

glanced between his purple lips. "Don't hurt my poor pet cubs; be gentle

with them."

"Where's the staff?" said I, not liking the tone in which he spoke, or

well knowing if he affected earnest or jest.

"There it is," said he; "but your white hands will be enough without

that. You'll not need the weapon the coward used!" and as he spoke, a

kind of shuddering convulsion shook his frame from head to foot.

"Come, come," said I, stretching out my hand, "I ought not to have

called you a coward, Jarasch,--that you are not! I ask you to forgive

me; will you?"

He never spoke, but nestled lower down in the hammock, so that I could

not even see his face.

"There, they 're calling me already. I must be off! Let us shake hands

and be friends this time at least. When you're well and up, we can fight

it out about something else!"

"Kiss me, then," said he; and though I had no fancy for the embrace, or

the tone it was asked in, I leaned over the hammock, and while he placed

one arm round my neck, and drew me towards him, I kissed his forehead,

and he mine, in true Moorish fashion; and not sorry to have made my

peace with my only enemy, I stepped up the ladder with a light heart and

a firm courage.

I little knew what need I had for both! When Jarasch had put his arm

around my neck, I did not know that he had inserted his hand beneath the

collar of my shirt, and drawn a long streak of blood from his own vein

across my back between my shoulders. When I arrived on deck, it was to

receive the congratulations of the crew, who were all struck with my

muscular arms and legs, and who unanimously pronounced that I was far

fitter to exercise the whelps than was the Moor.

Sir Dudley said nothing. A short nod greeted me as I came towards

him, and then he waved me back with his hand,--a motion which, having

something contemptuous in it, pained me acutely at the moment. I had not

much time, however, to indulge such feelings. The whelps were already on

deck, and springing madly at the wooden bars of their cage for liberty.

Eager as themselves, I hastened to unbolt the door and set them free.

No sooner were they at large than they set off down one side of the

deck and up the other, careering at full speed, clearing with a bound

whatever stood in their way; and when by any chance meeting each

other, stopping for an instant to stare with glaring eyes and swelling

nostrils; and then, either passing stealthily and warily past, or one

would crouch while the other cleared him at a spring, and so off again.

In all this I had no part to play. I could neither call them back, like

Jarasch, whose voice they knew, nor had I his dexterity in catching them

as they went, and throwing all manner of gambols over and upon them, as

he did.

I felt this poignantly, the more as I saw, or thought I saw, Sir

Dudley's eyes upon me more than once, with an expression of disdainful

pity. At last, the great tub which contained the creatures' food

was wheeled forward; and no sooner had the men retired than the

quick-scented animals were on the spot,--so rapidly, indeed, that I

had barely time to seat myself, cross-legged, on the lid, when they

approached, and with stately step walked round the vessel, staring as it

were in surprise at the new figure who disputed their meal with them.

At last, the male placed one paw on the lid, and with the other tapped

me twice or thrice on the shoulder with the kind of gentle, pattering

blow a cat will sometimes use with a mouse. It was a sort of mild

admonition to "leave that," nothing of hostility whatever being

announced.

I replied by imitating the gesture, so far as a half-closed fist would

permit, and struck him on the side of the head. He looked grave at this

treatment, and, slowly descending from his place, he lay down about a

yard off. Meanwhile the female, who had been smelling and sniffing round

and round the tub, made an effort to lift the lid with her head, and,

failing, began to strike it in sharp, short blows with her paw; the

excitement of her face, and the sturdy position of her hind legs,

showing that her temper was chafed at the delay. To increase her rage,

I pushed the lid a few inches back; and as the savory steam arose, the

creature grew more eager, and at last attracted the other to the spot.

It was quite clear that hunger was the passion uppermost with them,

and that they had not yet connected me with the cause of their

disappointment; for they labored by twenty devices to insert a paw or to

smash the lid, but never noticed me in the least. Wearied of my failures

to induce them to play, and angry at the indifference they manifested to

me, I sprang from the lid, and, lifting it from the tub, flung it back.

In an instant they had each their heads in the mess; the female had even

her great paw in the midst of the tub, and was eating away with that

low, gurgling growl peculiar to the wild beast.

Dashing right between them, I seized one by the throat with both hands,

and hurled him back upon the deck. A shout of "Bravo!" burst from the

crew at the boldness of the feat, and with a bound the fellow made at

me. I dropped suddenly on one knee as he came, and struck him with the

staff on the fore legs. Had he been shot, he could not have fallen more

rapidly; down he went, like a dead mass, on the deck. To spring on his

back and hold him fast down was the work of a second, while I belabored

him about the head with my fists.

The stunning effect of his first fall gave me the victory for a moment,

but he soon rallied, and attacked me boldly. It was now a fair fight;

for if I sometimes succeeded in making him shake his huge head or drop

his paw with pain, more than once he staggered me with a blow which, had

it been only quickly followed, would soon have decided the struggle. At

last, after a scuffle in which he had nearly vanquished me, he made a

leap at my throat. I put in a blow of such power with the staff on the

forehead that he gave a loud roar of pain, and, with drooping tail,

slunk to hide away himself beneath a boat.

Up to this moment the female had never stirred from the mess of food,

but continued eating and snarling as though every mouthful was a battle.

Scarcely, however, had the roar of the other cub been heard than

she lifted her head, and, slowly turning round, stared at me with an

expression which, even now, my dreams will recall.

I had not yet recovered from the exhaustion of my late encounter,

and was half sitting, half kneeling on the deck, as the whelp stood

glowering at me, with every vein in her vast forehead swollen, and her

large, red eyes seeming to dilate as she looked. The attitude of the

creature must have been striking, for the crew cheered with a heartiness

that showed how much they admired her.

So long as I sat unmoved she never stirred; but when I prepared to

arise, she gave one bound, and, striking me with her head, hurled me

back upon the deck: her own impulse had carried her clean over me, and

when she returned, I was already up, on my knees, and better prepared to

receive her. Again she tried the same manoeuvre; but this time I leaped

to my feet, and, springing on one side, struck her a heavy blow on the

top of the head. Twice or thrice the same attack, with the same result,

followed; and at each blow a gallant cheer from the men gave me fresh

courage.

The beast was now excited to a dreadful degree; but her very passion

favored me, for her assaults were wilder and less circumspect than at

first. At length, just as I was again making the side leap by which I

had escaped, my foot slipped, and I fell. I was scarcely down ere she

was upon me, not, as before, to strike with her paws, but with a rude

shock she threw herself across me, as if to crush me by her weight;

while her huge head and terrific mouth, frothy and steaming, lay within

a few inches of my face.

Halkett and two others advanced to my rescue; but I bade them go back

and leave me to myself, for I was only wearied, not conquered. For some

minutes we lay thus; when at length, having recovered strength once

more, I grasped the whelp's throat with both hands, and then by a

tremendous effort threw her back, and rolled myself uppermost. She soon

shook herself free, however, and turned upon me: I was now on my knees,

and with the staff I dealt her a fierce blow on the leg. A terrific howl

followed, and she closed with me in full fury. Seizing my shirt, she

tore it away from my breast, and with her paw upon the fragment, ripped

it in a hundred pieces. I endeavored to catch her by the throat once

more, but failed, and rolled over on my face, and in doing so, disclosed

the bloody streak between my shoulders; she saw it, and at the same

instant sprang on me. I felt her teeth as they met in my neck, while her

terrible cry, the most appalling ears ever heard, rang through my brain.

"Save him! Save him! She's killing him!" were now heard on every side;

but none dared to fire for fear of wounding me, and the terrible rage

of the animal deterred all from approaching her. The struggle was now

a life-and-death one; and alternately falling and rolling, we fought--I

cannot tell how, for the blood blinded me as it came from a wound in my

forehead; and I only felt one firm purpose in my heart: "If I fall, she

shall not survive me." Several of the sailors came near enough to strike

her with their cutlasses; but these wounds only increased her rage, and

I cried to them to desist.

"Shoot her! put a bullet through her!" cried Halkett. "Let none dare

to shoot her!" cried Sir Dudley, loudly. I just heard these words, as,

after a fierce struggle, in which she had seized me by the shoulder, I

fell against the bulwark. With a last effort I staggered to my knees,

flung open the gangway, and then, with an exertion that to myself

seemed my very last on earth, I seized her by the throat and hurled her

backwards into the sea. On hands and knees I leaned forward to see her

as the rapid Gulf-stream, hurrying onward to the ocean, bore her away;

and then, as my sight grew fainter, I fell back upon the deck, and

believed I was dying.

CHAPTER XI. MEANS AND MEDITATIONS

It was the second evening after my lion adventure, and I was stretched

in my hammock in a low, half-torpid state, not a limb nor a joint in all

my body that had not its own peculiar pain; while a sharp wound in my

neck, and another still deeper one in the fleshy part of my shoulder,

had just begun that process called "union,"--one which, I am bound

to say, however satisfactory in result, is often very painful in its

progress. The slightest change of position gave me intolerable anguish,

as I lay, with closed eyes and crossed hands, not a bad resemblance of

those stone saints one sees upon old tombstones.

My faculties were clear and acute, so that, having abundant leisure for

the occupation, I had nothing better to do than take a brief retrospect

of my late life. Such reviews are rarely satisfactory, or rather, one

rarely thinks of making them when the "score of the past" is in

our favor. Up to this moment it was clear I had gained little but

experience; I had started light, and I had acquired nothing, save a

somewhat worse opinion of the world and a greater degree of confidence

in myself. I had but one way of balancing my account with Fortune, which

was by asking myself, "Would I undo the past, if in my power? Would I

wish once more to be back in my 'father's mud edifice,' now digging a

drain, now drawing an indictment,--a kind of pastoral pettifogger, with

one foot in a potato furrow, and the other in petty sessions?" I stoutly

said, "No!" a thousand times "no!" to this question.

I could not ask myself as to my preference for a university career,

for my college life had concluded abruptly, in spite of me; but still,

during my town experiences I saw enough to leave me no regrets at

having quitted the muses. The life of a "skip," as the Trinity men have

it,--_vice_ gyp., for the Greek word signifying a "vulture,"--is only

removed by a thin sheet of silver paper from that of a cabin boy in a

collier; copious pummelling and short prog being the first two articles

of your warrant; while in some respects the marine has a natural

advantage over him on shore. A skip is invariably expected to invent

lies "at discretion" for his master's benefit, and is always thrashed

when they are either discovered or turn out adverse. On this point his

education is perfectly "Spartan;" but, unhappily too, he is expected to

be a perfect mirror of truth on all other occasions. This is somewhat

hard, inasmuch as it is only in a man's graduate course that he learns

to defend a paradox, and support by good reasons what he knows to be

false.

Again a "skip" never receives clothes, but is flogged at least once

a week for disorders in his dress, and for general untidiness of

appearance; this, too, is hard, since he has as little intercourse with

soap as he has with conic sections.

Thirdly, a good skip invariably obtains credit for his master at

"Foles's" chop-house; while, in his own proper capacity, he would not

get trust for a cheese-paring.

Fourthly, a skip is supposed to be born a valet, as some are born

poets,--to have an instinctive aptitude for all the details of things

he has never seen or heard of before; so that when he applies Warren's

patent to French leather boots, polishes silver with a Bath brick,

blows the fire with a quarto, and cuts candles with a razor, he finds

it passing strange that he should be "had up" for punishment. To be fat

without food, to be warm without fire, to be wakeful without sleep, to

be clad without clothes, to be known as a vagabond, and to pass current

for unblemished honesty, to be praised as a liar, and then thrashed for

lying,--is too much to expect at fifteen years of age.

Lastly, as to Betty's I had no regrets. The occupation of horse-boy,

like the profession of physic, has no "avenir." The utmost the most

aspiring can promise to himself is to hold more horses than his

neighbors, as the Doctor's success is to order more "senna." There

is nothing beyond these; no higher path opens to him who feels the

necessity for an "upward course." It is a ladder with but one round to

it! No, no; I was right to "sell out" there.

My steeplechase might have led to something,--that is, I might have

become a jockey; but then, again, one's light weight, like a "contralto"

voice, is sure to vanish after a year or two; and then, from the heyday

of popularity, you sink down into a bad groom or a fourth-rate tenor,

just as if, after reaching a silk gown at the bar, a man had to begin

life again as crier in the Exchequer! Besides, in all these various

walks I should have had the worst of all "trammels," a patron. Now, if

any resolve had thoroughly fixed itself in my mind, it was this: never

to have a patron, never to be bound to any man who, because he had once

set you on your legs, should regulate the pace you were to walk through

a long life. To do this, one should be born without a particle of

manhood's spirit,--absolutely without volition; otherwise you go through

life a living lie, talking sentiments that are not yours, and wearing a

livery in your heart as well as on your back!

Why do we hear such tirades about the ingratitude of men, who, being

once assisted by others,--their inferiors in everything save gold,--soar

above the low routine of toadyism, and rise into personal independence?

Let us remember that the contract was never a fair one, and that a whole

life's degradation is a heavy sum to pay for a dinner with his Grace,

or a cup of tea with her Highness. "My Lord," I am aware, thinks

differently; and it is one of the very pleasant delusions of his

high station to fancy that little folk are dependent upon him,--what

consequence they obtain among their fellows by his recognition in

public, or by his most careless nod in the street. But "my Lord" does

not know that this is a paper currency that represents no capital,

that it is not convertible at will, and is never a legal tender; and

consequently, as a requital for actual _bona fide_ services, is about as

honest a payment as a flash note.

It was no breach of my principle that I accepted Sir Dudley's offer. Our

acquaintance began by my rendering him a service; and I was as free

to leave him that hour, and, I own, as ready to do so, if occasion

permitted, as he could be to get rid of me; and it was not long before

the occasion presented itself for exercising these views.

As I lay thus, ruminating on my past fortunes, Halkett descended the

steerage-ladder, followed by Felborg, the Dane; and, approaching my

hammock, held a light to my face for a few seconds. "Still asleep?" said

Halkett. "Poor boy! he has never awoke since I dressed his wound this

morning. I 'm sure it's better; so let us leave him so."

"Ay, ay," said the Dane, "let him sleep; bad tidings come soon enough,

without one's being awoke to hear them. But do you think he 'll do it?"

added he, with lower and more anxious tone.

"He has said so; and I never knew him fail in his promise when it was a

cruel one."

"Have you no influence over him, Halkett? Could you not speak for the

boy?"

"I have done all I could,--more than perhaps it was safe to do. I told

him I could n't answer for the men, if he were to shoot him on board;

and he replied to me short, 'I 'll take the fellow ashore with me alone;

neither you nor they have any right to question what you are not to

witness.'"

"Well, when I get back to Elsinore, it's to a prison and heavy irons I

shall go for life, that's certain; but I 'd face it all rather than live

the life we've done now for twenty months past."

"Hush! speak low!" said the other. "I suppose others are weary of it as

well as you. Many a man has to live a bad life just because he started

badly."

"I 'm sorry for the boy!" sighed the Dane; "he was a bold and fearless

fellow."

"I am sorry for him too. It was an evil day for him when he joined us.

Well, well, what would he have become if he had lived a year or two on

board!"

"He has no father nor mother," said the Dane, "that's something. I lost

mine, too, when I was nine years old; and it made me the reckless devil

I became ever after. I was n't sixteen when the crew of the 'Tre-Kroner'

mutinied, and I led the party that cut down the first lieutenant. It

was a moonlight night, just as it might be now, in the middle watch, and

Lieutenant Oeldenstrom was sitting aft, near the wheel, humming a tune.

I walked aft, with my cutlass in one hand, and a pistol in the other;

but just as I stepped up the quarter-deck my foot slipped, and the

cutlass fell with a clank on the deck.

"'What's that?' cried the lieutenant.

"'Felborg, sir, mate of the watch,' said I, standing fast where I was.

'It's shoaling fast ahead, sir.'

"'D--n!' said he, 'what a coast!'

"'Could n't you say a bit of something better than that?' said I,

getting nearer to him slowly.

"'What do you mean?' said he, jumping up angrily; but he was scarce on

his legs when he was down again at his full length on the plank, with a

bullet through his brain, never to move again!"

"There, there, avast with that tale; you've told it to me every night

that my heart was heavy this twelvemonth past. But I 've hit on a way to

save the lad,--will you help me?"

"Ay, if my help does n't bring bad luck on him; it always has on every

one I befriended since--since--"

"Never mind that. There 's no risk here, nor much room for luck, good or

bad." He paused a second or two, then added,--

"I 'm thinking we can't do better than shove him ashore on the island

yonder."

"On Anticosti!" said Felborg, with a shudder.

"Ay, why not? There's always a store of biscuit and fresh water in the

log-houses, and the cruisers touch there every six or seven weeks to

take people off. He has but to hoist the flag to show he 's there."

"There's no one there now," said the Dane.

"No. I saw the flag-staff bare yesterday; but what does that matter? A

few days or a few weeks alone are better than what's in store for him

here."

"I don't think so. No! Beym alia Deyvelm! I 'd stand the bullet at three

paces, but I 'd not meet that negro chap alone."

"Oh, he's dead and gone this many a year," said Halkett. "When the

'Rodney' transport was wrecked there, two years last fall, they searched

the island from end to end, and could n't find a trace of him. They were

seven weeks there, and it's pretty clear if he were alive--"

"Ay, just so,--if he were alive!"

"Nonsense, man! You don't believe those yarns they get up to frighten

the boys in the cook's galley?"

"It's scarce mercy, to my reckoning," said Felborg, "to take the lad

from a quick and short fate, and leave him yonder; but if you need my

help, you shall have it."

"That's enough," said Halkett; "go on deck, and look after the boat.

None of our fellows will betray us; and in the morning we 'll tell Sir

Dudley that he threw himself overboard in the night, in a fit of frenzy.

He'll care little whether it's true or false."

"I say, Con--Con, my lad," said Halkett, as soon as the other had

mounted the ladder. "Wake up, my boy; I've something to tell you."

"I know it," said I, wishing to spare time, which I thought might be

precious; "I've been dreaming all about it."

"Poor fellow, his mind is wandering," muttered Halkett to himself.

"Come, my lad, try and put on your clothes,--here's your jacket;" and

with that he lifted me from my hammock, and began to help me to dress.

"I was dreaming, Halkett," said I, "that Sir Dudley sent me adrift in

the punt, and fired at me with the swivel, but that you rowed out and

saved me."

"That's just it!" said Halkett, with an energy that showed how the

supposed dream imposed upon him.

"You put me ashore on Anticosti, Halkett," said I; "but wasn't that

cruel!--the Black Boatswain is there."

"Never fear the Black Boatswain, my lad, he 's dead years ago; and it

strikes me you 'll steer a course in life where old wives' tales never

laid down the soundings."

"I can always be brave when I want it, Halkett," said I, letting out a

bit of my peculiar philosophy; but I saw he didn't understand my speech,

and I went on with my dressing in silence.

Halkett meanwhile continued to give me advice about the island, and

the log-houses, and the signal-ensign; in fact, about all that could

possibly concern my safety and speedy escape, concluding with a warning

to me, never to divulge that anything but a mere accident had been the

occasion of my being cast away. "This for your own sake and for mine

too, Con," said he; "for one day or other he,"--he pointed to the

after-cabin,--"he'd know it, and then it would fare badly with some of

us."

"Why not come too, Halkett?" said I; "this life is as hateful to you as

to myself."

"Hush, boy; no more of that," said he, with a degree of emotion which I

had never witnessed in him before. "Make yourself warm and snug, for you

mustn't take any spare clothes, or you 'd be suspected by whoever takes

you off the island; here's my brandy-flask and a tinder-box; that's a

small bag of biscuit,--for you 'll take six or seven hours to reach the

log-house,--and here is a pistol, with some powder and ball. Come along,

now, or shall I carry you up the ladder?"

"No, I'm able enough now," said I, making an effort to seem free from

pain while I stepped up on deck.

I was not prepared for the affectionate leave-taking which met me here;

each of the crew shook my hand twice or thrice over, and there was not

one did not press upon me some little gift in token of remembrance.

At last the boat was lowered, and Halkett and three others, descending

noiselessly, motioned to me to follow. I stepped boldly over the side,

and, waving a last good-bye to those above, sat down in the stern to

steer, as I was directed.

It was a calm night, with nothing of a sea, save that rolling heave ever

present in the Gulf-stream; and now the men stretched to their oars, and

we darted swiftly on, not a word breaking the deep stillness.

Although the island lay within six miles, we could see nothing of it

against the sky, for the highest point is little more than twelve feet

above the water-level.

I have said that nothing was spoken as we rowed along over the dark and

swelling water; but this silence did not impress me till I saw ahead of

us the long low outline of the dreary island shutting out the horizon;

then a sensation of sickening despair came over me. Was I to linger

out a few short hours of life on that melancholy spot, and die at last

exhausted and broken-hearted? "Was this to be the end of the brilliant

dream I had so often revelled in?" "Ah, Con!" said I, "to play the game

of life, a man must have capital to stand its losses,--its runs of evil

fortune; but you are ruined with one bad deal!"

"Run her in here, in this creek!" cried Halkett to the men; and the boat

glided into a little bay of still water under the lee of the land, and

then, after about twenty minutes' stout rowing, her keel grated on the

rugged, shingly shore of Anticosti.

"We cannot land you dry-shod, Con," said Halkett; "it shoals for some

distance here."

"No matter," said I, trying to affect an easy, jocular air, my choking

throat and swelling heart made far from easy; "for me to think of wet

feet would be like the felon at the drop blowing the froth off the

porter because it was unwholesome!"

"I 've better hopes of you than that comes to, lad!" said he; "but

good-bye! good-bye!" He shook my hand with a grasp like a vice, and sat

down with his back towards me; the others took a kind farewell of me;

and then, shouldering my little bag of biscuit, I pressed my cap down

over my eyes, and stepped into the surf. It was scarcely more than over

mid-leg, but the clay-like, spongy bottom made it tiresome walking.

I had only gone a few hundred yards, when a loud cheer struck me; I

turned: it was the boat's crew, giving me a parting salute. I tried to

answer it, but my voice failed me; the next moment they had turned the

point, and I saw them no more!

I now plodded wearily on, and in about half an hour reached the land;

and whether from weariness, or some strange instinct of security on

touching shore, I know not, but I threw myself heavily down upon the

shingly stones, and slept soundly,--ay, and dreamed too! dreamed of fair

lands far away, such as I have often read of in books of travels, where

bright flowers and delicious fruits were growing, and where birds and

insects of gaudiest colors floated past with a sweet murmuring song that

made the air tremble.

Who has not read "Robinson Crusoe;" and who has not imagined himself

combating with some of the difficulties of his fortune, and pictured to

his mind what his conduct might have been under this or that emergency?

No speculations are pleasanter, when indulged at our own fireside, in an

easy-chair, after having solaced our "material" nature by a good dinner,

and satisfied the "moral" man by the "City Article," which assures us

that the Three per Cents are rising, and that Consols for the Account

are in a very prosperous state. Then, indeed, if our thoughts by any

accident stray to the shipwrecked sailor, they are blended with

a wholesome philanthropy, born of good digestion and fair worldly

prospects; we assure ourselves that we should have made precisely the

same exertions that he did, and comported ourselves in all the varied

walks of carpenter, tailor, hosier, sail-maker, and boat-builder exactly

like him. The chances are, too, that if accidentally out of temper with

our neighbors, we cordially acknowledge that the retirement was not

the worst feature in his history; and if provoked by John Thomas, the

footman, we are ready to swear that there was more gratitude in Friday's

little black finger than in the whole body corporate of flunkeys, from

Richmond to Blackwall.

While these very laudable sentiments are easy enough in the

circumstances I have mentioned, they are marvellously difficult to

practise at the touch of stern reality. At least I found them so, as

I set out to seek the "Refuge" on Anticosti. It was just daybreak as,

somewhat stiffened with a sleep on the cold beach, and sore from my

recent bruises, I began my march. "Nor'-west and by west" was Halkett's

vague direction to me; but as I had no compass, I was left to the

guidance of the rising sun for the cardinal points. Not a path nor track

of any kind was to be seen; indeed, the surface could scarcely have

borne traces of footsteps, for it was one uniform mass of slaty shingle,

with here and there the backbone of a fish, and scattered fragments

of seaweed, washed up by the storms, on this low bleak shore. I

cannot fancy desolation more perfect than this dreary spot; slightly

undulating, but never sufficient to lose sight of the sea; not a

particle of shelter to be found; not a rock, nor even a stone large

enough to sit upon when weary. Of vegetation, no trace could be met

with; even a patch of moss or a lichen would have been a blessing to

see; but there were neither. At last, as I journeyed on, I wandered

beyond the sound of the sea as it broke upon the low strand, and then

the silence became actually appalling. But a few moments back, and the

loud booming of the breakers stunned the ear; and now, as I stopped

to listen, I could hear my own heart as in full, thick beat it smote

against my ribs. I could not dismiss the impression that such a

stillness, thus terrible, would prevail on the day of judgment, when,

after the graves had given up their millions of dead, and the agonizing

cry for mercy had died away, then, as in a moment of dread suspense, the

air would be motionless, not a leaf to stir, not a wing to cleave it.

Such possession of me did this notion take that I fell upon my knees and

sobbed aloud, while, with trembling and uplifted hands, I prayed that I

too might be pardoned.

So powerful is the influence of a devotional feeling, no matter how

associated with error, how alloyed by the dross of superstition, that I,

who but an instant back could scarcely drag my wearied limbs along for

very despair, became of a sudden trustful and courageous. Life seemed no

longer the worthless thing it did a few minutes before; on the contrary,

I was ready to dare anything to preserve it; and so, with renewed vigor

I again set forward.

At each little swell of the ground, I gazed eagerly about me, hoping to

see the log-hut, but in vain; nothing but the same wearisome monotony

met my view. The sun was now high, and I could easily see that I was

following out the direction Halkett gave me, and which I continued to

repeat over and over to myself as I went along. This and watching my

shadow--the only one that touched the earth--were my occupations. It may

seem absurd, even to downright folly; but when from any change in the

direction of my course the shadow did not fall in front of me, where I

could mark it, my spirits fell, and my heavy heart grew heavier.

When, however, it did precede me, I was never wearied watching how

it dived down the little slopes, and rose again on the opposite bank,

bending with each swell of the ground. Even this was companionship,--its

very motion smacked of life.

At length I came upon a little pool of rain-water, and, although

far from clear, it reflected the bright blue sky and white clouds so

temptingly that I sat down beside it to make my breakfast. As I sat

thus, Hope was again with me, and I fancied how--in some long distant

time, when favored by fortune, and possessed of every worldly gift, with

rank, and riches, and honor--I should remember the hour when, a poor,

friendless outcast, I ate my lonely meal on Anticosti. I fancied even,

how friends would listen almost incredulously to the tale, and with what

traits of pity or of praise they would follow me in my story.

I felt I was not doomed to die in that dreary land, that my own courage

would sustain me; and, thus armed, I again set out.

Although I walked from daybreak to late evening, it was only a short

time before darkness closed in that I saw a bulky mass straight before

me, which I knew must be the log-house. I could scarcely drag my legs

along a few moments before; but now I broke into a run, and with many

a stumble, and more than one fall,--for I never turned my eyes from the

hut,--I at last reached a little cleared spot of ground, in the midst of

which stood the "Refuge-house."

What a moment of joy was that as, unable to move farther, I sat down

upon a little bench in front of the hut! All sense of my loneliness, all

memory of my desolation, was lost in an instant. There was my home; how

strange a word for that sad-looking hut of pine-logs, in a lone island,

uninhabited! No matter, it would be my shelter and my refuge till better

days came round; and with that stout resolve I entered the great roomy

apartment, which in the settling gloom of night seemed immense.

Striking a light, I proceeded to take a survey of my territory, which I

rejoiced to see contained a great metal stove and an abundant supply

of bed-clothing,--precautions required by the frequency of ships being

ice-bound in these latitudes. There were several casks of biscuits,

some flour, a large chest of maize, besides three large tanks of water,

supplied by the rain. A few bags of salt and some scattered objects

of clothing completed the catalogue, which, if not very luxurious,

contained nearly everything of absolute necessity.

I lighted a good fire in the stove, less because I felt cold, for it

was still autumn, than for the companionship of the bright blaze and the

crackling wood. This done, I proceeded to make myself a bed on one of

the platforms, arranged like bed-places round the walls, and of which

I saw the upper ones seemed to have a preference in the opinion of my

predecessors, since, in these, the greater part of the bed-clothing

was to be found,--a choice I could easily detect the reason of, in

the troops of rats which walked to and fro, with a most contemptuous

indifference to my presence; some of them standing near me while I made

my bed, and looking, as doubtless they felt, considerably surprised

at the nature of my operations. Promising myself to open a spirited

campaign against them on the morrow, I trimmed and lighted a large lamp,

which from its position had defied their attempt on the oil it still

contained; and then, a biscuit in hand, betook myself to bed, watching

with an interest not, I own, altogether pleasant, the gambols of these

primitive natives of Anticosti.

From my earliest years I had an antipathy to rats,--so great that it

mastered all the instincts of my courage. I feared them with a fear I

should not have felt in presence of a wild beast, and I was confident

that had I been attacked vigorously by even a single rat, the natural

disgust would have rendered me unable to cope with him. When very young,

I remembered hearing the story of an officer who, desirous of visiting

the vaults under St. Patrick's Church, in Dublin, descended into them

under the escort of the sexton. By some chance they separated from

each other, and the sexton, after in vain seeking and calling for his

companion for several hours, concluded that he had already returned to

the upper air; and so he returned also, locking and barring the heavy

door, as was his wont. The following day the officer's friends, alarmed

at his absence, proceeded to make search for him through the city, and

at last, learning that he had visited the cathedral, went thither,

and even examined the vaults, when what was their horror to discover

a portion of the brass ornament of his shako and a broken sword in the

midst of several hundreds of rats, dead and dying,--the terrible remains

of a combat that must have lasted for hours. This story, for the truth

of which some persons yet living will vouch, I heard when a mere child;

and perhaps to its influence may I date a species of terror that has

always been too much for either my reason or my courage.

If I slept, then, it was more owing to my utter weariness and exhaustion

than to that languid frame of mind; and although too tired to dream, my

first waking thought was how to commence hostilities against the rats.

As to any personal hand-to-hand action, I need scarcely say I declined

engaging in such; and, my supply of gunpowder being scanty, the method

I hit upon was to make a species of grenade, by inserting a quantity

of powder with a sufficiency of broken glass into a bottle, leaving an

aperture through the cork for a fuse; then, having smeared the outside

of the bottle plentifully with oil, of which I discovered a supply in

bladders suspended from the ceiling, I retired to my berth, with the

other extremity of the fuse in my hand, ready to ignite when the moment

came.

I had not long to wait; my enemies, bold from long impunity, came

fearlessly forward, and surrounded the bottle in myriads; it became a

scene like an election row, to witness their tumbling and rolling over

each other. Nor could I bring myself to cut short the festivity, till

I began to entertain fears for the safety of the bottle, which already

seemed to be loosened from its bed of clay. Then at last I applied

a match to my cord, and almost before I could cover my head with the

blanket, the flask exploded, with a crash and a cry that showed me its

success. The battle-field was truly a terrible sight, for the wounded

were far more numerous than the dead, and I, shame to say, had neither

courage nor humanity to finish their sufferings, but lay still, while

their companions dragged them away in various stages of suffering.

I at first supposed that this was an exploit that could only succeed but

once, and that the well-known sagacity of the creatures would have

made them avoid so costly a temptation. Nothing of the kind; they were

perfect Scythians in their love of oil; and as often as I repeated my

experiment, they were ready to try their fortunes. Or perhaps they had

some of the gambler's element in their nature, and each felt that he

might win where others lost.

I had made Halkett a promise that for a couple of days, at least, I

would not hoist the signal-flag, lest any accident should induce Sir

Dudley to suspect my place of refuge, so that I was completely reduced

to my campaign against the rats for occupation and amusement. So far

as I could discover, the little island, traverse it how I would, never

varied, the same rise and swell of surface, clad with loose stone, lay

on every side; and so depressing had this mournful uniformity become to

me that I rarely ventured out of the hut, or, when I did, it was to sit

upon the little bench outside the door, from which a sea view extended

over the wide waters of the Gulf.

To sit here and try to decipher the names cut into the wood was my

constant occupation. What histories, too, did I weave of those who

carved these letters; and how did they fix themselves in my mind,

each name suggesting an identity, till I felt as if I had known them

intimately. Some seemed the precious work of weeks; and it was easy

to see that after the letters were cut, the sculptor had gone on

embellishing and ornamenting his work for very lack of labor. Others,

again, were mere initials, and one was a half-finished name, leaving me

to the perpetual doubt whether he had been rescued from his captivity,

or died ere it was completed.

Between my hours spent here and the little duties of my household, with

usually three or four explosions against my rats, the day went over,--I

will not say rapidly, but pass it did; and each night brought me nearer

to the time when I should hoist my signal, and hope--ay, that was the

great supporter through all--hope for rescue.

It was now the third night of my being on the island, and I sat at my

fire trying to invent some new mode for the destruction of my enemies,

for my last charge of powder had been expended. I had nothing remaining,

save the loading in my pistol. It was true that I had succeeded to a

great extent; the creatures no longer appeared with their former air of

assurance, nor in large bodies. Their army was evidently disorganized;

they no longer took the field in battalions, but in scattered guerilla

parties, without discipline or courage. Even had my ammunition lasted,

it is more than doubtful that my tactics would have continued to have

the same success; they had begun to dread the bottle, like a reformed

drunkard. Often have I seen them approach within a few feet of it,

and wait patiently till some younger and more adventurous spirit would

venture nearer, and then, at the slightest stir,--the least rustling of

my bed-clothes,--away they went in full career. It was evident that the

secret, like most great mysteries of the same kind, had had its day.

This was consolatory, too, as I had no longer the means of continuing my

siege operations; while the caution and reserve of the enemy suggested

a system of defence of the simplest, but most effectual kind, which was,

to place a certain number of bottles at different parts of the hut, the

very sight of which inspired terror; and if followed by any noise, was

certain to secure me, for some time at least, from all molestation.

Shall I tell the reader how this stratagem first occurred to me? It was

simply thus: In one of the early but unrecorded years of my history, I

used to act as driver to the Moate and Kilbeggan caravan,--not, indeed,

as the recognized coachee of that very rickety and most precarious

conveyance, but as a kind of "deputy assistant" to the paid official,

who, having a wife at Kilbeggan, usually found some excuse for stopping

at Clara, and sending me forward with the passengers,--a proceeding, I

am bound to own, not over consistent with humanity to "man or beast."

Many were the misadventures of that luckless conveniency, and the

public were loud in their denunciations of it; but as nobody knew the

proprietors, nor did the most searching scrutiny detect the existence of

a "way-bill," the complaints were uttered to the wind, and I was at

full liberty "to do my stage" in three hours, or one half the time, as I

fancied.

The passengers at length learned this valuable fact, and found that

greasing my palm was a sure method of oiling the wheels. All complaints

gradually subsided; in fact, the dumb animals were the only ones who had

any right to make them. I drove them at a very brisk pace,--a thriving

trade; the caravan became popular, and my fame rose as the horses'

condition declined. At last the secret was discovered; and instead of my

imposing whip of four yards and a half of whipcord, they reduced me to

a stunted bit of stick, with a little drooping lash that would n't reach

the tail of my one leader. My receipts fell off from that hour; in fact,

instead of praises and sixpences, I now got nothing but curses and hard

names; and at one hill, near "Horse-leap," which I used in my prosperous

days to "go at" in a slashing canter, amid a shower of encomiums, I was

now obliged to stagger slowly up, with four-and-twenty small farmers,

and maybe a priest, in full cry at my sulkiness, laziness, incivility,

and other good gifts; and all this, ay, and more, for lack of a bit of

whipcord.

I have been told that very great people will stoop to low alliances

when hard pressed; even cabinet ministers, I believe, have now and

then acknowledged very dubious allies. Let not Con Cregan, then, be

reproached if he called in the help of a little bare-footed boy who

used to beg on the hill of Horse-leap, and who, at the sound of the

approaching caravan, sallied forth with a long branch of an ash-tree,

and belabored the team into some faint resemblance to a canter. Through

this auxiliary I recovered in part my long-lost popularity, and was

likely to be again reinstated in public favor, when my assistant caught

the measles, and I was once more reduced to my own efforts.

In this emergency I had nothing for it but a stratagem; and so, as the

conveyance arrived at the foot of the hill, and the horses, dropping

their heads, were gradually subsiding into the little shuffling amble

that precedes a slow walk, I used to scream out at the top of my

voice all my accustomed exhortations to the boy. "Ah, hit him again,

Tommy,--into him, boy,--under the traces, my lad!--give him enough

of it!--welt him well. Ha! there!" exclamations that, from old

associations, always stimulated the wretched beasts into a canter; and

under the impression of this salutary terror, we used to reach the top

almost as speedily as in the old days of the penal code.

The same device now aided me against the rats of Anticosti; and if

any one will say to what end this narrative of an encounter so

insignificant, my answer is, that whether in the St. Lawrence or in

St. Stephen's, rats are far more formidable than their size or

strength would seem to imply; and whether they nibble your rags or your

reputation, their success is invariably the same.

Four days had now elapsed, and I concluded that the yacht must ere this

have been miles on her voyage up the river. The next morning, then, I

should venture to hoist the signal, and thus apprise the passing ships

that one deserted and forlorn creature, at least, still lingered on the

miserable island.

I sat at my fire till a late hour. I was lower in spirits than usual. I

had watched the Gulf from sunrise to sunset, and without seeing one sail

upon its surface. A light breeze was blowing from the northward, and on

this I supposed many of the outward vessels would be borne along; but

not one appeared. From time to time a fleeting cloud, resting for a

moment on the horizon, would assume the semblance of a ship; but at

length I grew accustomed to these deceptions, and suffered little or no

disappointment when a second glance at the spot failed to detect them.

Once or twice the thought crossed my mind that I might never leave the

island, that winter might close in, and the Gulf be frozen before I

could make my escape; and I actually shuddered at the very notion of a

fate so terrible. I cowered nearer to the fire as the flame subsided,

and was sitting with my hands outstretched over the blaze, when the

sudden crash of one of the bottles behind startled me. Were the rats

already regaining courage in anticipation of the time when I could no

longer resist them? With this idea, I turned my head round. The flame

threw a long ray of light upon the floor as I moved, and in the midst

of this I beheld, at a distance of about three yards off, a large black

head, with two immense and bloodshot eyes glaring fixedly at me. It

seemed to rise out of the earth, above which it rose scarcely more than

a foot in height.

Paralyzed by terror, I could not stir, I could scarcely breathe, as with

a slow and nodding motion the large black face came nearer; and now I

could see that it was a man--a negro,--who on hands and knees was slowly

creeping towards me. Overwhelmed by fear as I was, I noted the features

as marked by age and worn by want; they resembled those of a wild

beast rather than of a human creature. More from the force of a mere

mechanical impulse than with any notion of defence, for which my terror

totally incapacitated me, I had drawn my pistol from my bosom, and held

it pointed towards him. "No fire!--no fire!" cried the creature, in a

low, faint voice; and at the same time, while resting on one hand, he

held up with the other a long bright knife in an attitude of menace.

"No nearer, then!" screamed I, as I fell back beside the stove, and

still kept my eyes fixed upon him whom now I knew to be the Black

Boatswain; and thus we remained, each watching the other, while the fire

flickered and threw its fitful glare over the gloomy space around us. As

we were thus, I saw, or I thought I saw, the negro stealthily drawing up

his legs, as if for a spring, and in my terror I believe I should have

pulled the trigger, when suddenly the knife dropped from his hand, and

pointing with his finger to his dry, cracked lips, he said, "A boire,

"--water.

The look of earnest, almost passionate entreaty of the poor creature's

face, the expression of want and misery, struggling with a faint hope,

as he uttered these words, routed all fears for myself; and filling a

cup from the tank with water, I emptied the last remaining drops of my

brandy-flask into it, and held it to his mouth.

He swallowed it greedily; and then, clasping my wrist with his gaunt

and bony fingers, held me fast for a few seconds while he recovered his

breath; at last, with an effort that seemed almost convulsive, he said

some words in Spanish which I could not understand. I shook my head to

show him my ignorance of the language, and then, fixing his eye full

upon me, he said, "Alone, here? boy alone?"

Understanding that this referred to myself, I answered at once that I

was alone, and had been deserted by my companions.

"Bad men, white men!" cried he, gnashing his teeth savagely; while again

he pointed to his lips, and muttered, "Water!" I endeavored to free

myself from his grasp to fill the cup once more; but he held me firmly,

and showed by a sign that he wished me to assist him to reach the tank.

I accordingly stooped down to help him, and now perceived that he could

do little more than drag his legs forward and support himself on the

knees; being either wholly or in part paralyzed from his hips downwards.

"Ah, foco!" cried he, twice or thrice, and then changed to the word

"Feu!" "Le feu!" on which his gaze was fixed with a horrid earnestness.

It was not without labor and much exertion that I succeeded in

dragging him near the embers of the fire; but having done so, I quickly

replenished the dying flame, and, fanning it with my hat, soon succeeded

in making a cheerful blaze once more. "Buono! goot! goot!" said he,

several times, as he held his shrivelled and wasted fingers almost into

the fire.

"Are you hungry?" said I, bending down to make myself heard.

He nodded twice.

"Can you eat biscuit? I have nothing else," said I; for I half feared

that the hard, dry food would be impracticable for his almost toothless

jaws.

He said something about "Guisado," once or twice; and at last made a

sign that I understood to mean that the biscuit might be softened in

water for him. And with that I placed a pot of water on the fire, and

soon saw by the expression of his eye that I had divined his meaning.

As I continued to blow the fire, and occasionally examined the water to

see if it boiled, I could mark that the negro's eyes never once quitted

me, but, with a restless activity, followed me wherever I went, or

whatever I did; and although from his age, and the dreadful infirmity

he labored under, I felt I should prove his equal in any struggle, I own

that I cast many a sidelong look towards him, lest he should take me by

surprise. That he was the notorious Black Boatswain of whom I had heard

so much, I had no doubt whatever; and I felt not a little vain of my own

courage and presence of mind as I saw myself so possessed and collected

in such company.

"Give! give!" cried he, impatiently, as I examined the mess of steeping

biscuit, and for which he seemed ravenously eager; and at length I

removed it from the fire, and placed it before him. Such voracity as his

I never witnessed, save in the case of Sir Dudley's lions; he crammed

the food with both hands into his mouth, and devoured it with all the

savage earnestness of a wild beast. Twice was I obliged to replenish the

mess; and each time did it vanish with the same despatch.

He now lay back on one arm, and, half closing his eyes, appeared as if

he was going asleep; but at the least stir or movement on my part, I saw

that his wild, red-streaked eyes followed me at once.

Halkett had given me a little bag of tobacco at parting, saying that

although I was no smoker, I should soon learn to become one in my

solitude. This I now produced, and offered him a handful.

The dark features were immediately lighted up with an almost frantic

expression of pleasure, as he clutched the precious weed; and tearing

off a fragment of the paper, he rolled it into the shape of a cigarette.

"No smoke?" asked he, as I sat watching his preparations.

I shook my head. "Ah!" cried he, laying down the tobacco before him.

"Tehoka, here," said he, pointing to it.

"I don't understand," said I; "what is Tehoka?"

"Bad! bad!" said he, shaking both hands; "weed make negro so------,

so------," and he opened his mouth wide, and dropped his arms heavily

backwards, to represent sickness, or perhaps death.

"No, no," said I; "this is good, a friend gave it to me."

"Smoke," said he, pushing it over towards me; and I saw now that my

abstaining had excited his suspicions.

"If you like, I will smoke," said I, setting to work to manufacture a

cigar like his own.

He sat eying me all the while; and when I proceeded to fill it with

tobacco, he leaned over to see that I did not attempt any sleight of

hand to deceive him.

"Will that do?" said I, showing him the little paper tube.

"Smoke," said he, gravely.

It was only after watching me for several minutes that he took courage

to venture himself; and even then he scrutinized the tobacco as keenly

as though it demanded all his acuteness to prevent stratagem. At length

he did begin; and certainly never did anything seem to effect a more

powerful and more immediate influence. The fiery, restless eyes grew

heavy and dull; the wide-distended nostrils ceased to dilate with their

former convulsive motion. His cheek, seamed with privation and passion,

lay flaccid and at rest, and a look of lethargic ease stole over all the

features one by one, till at last the head fell forward on his

chest, his arm slipped softly from beneath him, and he rolled heavily

back,--sunk in the deepest sleep.

I soon abandoned my tobacco now, which had already begun to produce

a feeling of giddiness and confusion very unfavorable to cool

determination,--sensations which did not subside so readily as I could

have wished; for as I sat gazing on my swarthy companion, fancies the

wildest and most absurd associated themselves with the strange reality.

The terrible tales I once listened to about the "Black Boatswain"

came to mingle with the present. The only remnant of right reason left

prompted me to keep up my fire; a certain terror of being alone and in

the dark with the negro predominating over every other thought.

By the bright blaze, which soon arose, I could now mark the enormous

figure, which, in all the abandonment of heavy slumber, lay outstretched

before me. Although it was evident he was very old, the gigantic limbs

showed what immense strength he must have possessed; while in the

several white cicatrices that marked his flesh, I could reckon a great

number of wounds, some of them of fearful extent. The only covering he

wore was a piece of sailcloth wrapped round his body; over this he had

a blanket, through a round hole in which his head issued, like as in

a Mexican poncho, leaving his sinewy limbs perfectly naked. A bit of

ragged, worn bunting--part, as it seemed, of an old union-jack--was

bound round his head, and, in its showy colors, served to enhance the

stern expression of his harsh features.

As my senses became clearer, I began to imagine how it happened that

he came to the hut, since in all the narratives I had heard of him, the

greatest doubt existed that he was still living, so effectually did he

manage his concealment. At last, and by dint of much thought, I hit upon

what I suspected to be the real solution of the difficulty, which was,

that he was accustomed to venture hither whenever the signal-flag was

not hoisted; and as I had not done so, that he was under the belief that

he was the only living man on the island.

That he must have contrived his hiding-place with great success was

clear enough; for whether the allegations against him were true or

false, they were so universally believed by sailors that if he had been

discovered they would unquestionably have carried him off to Quebec.

It was now in _my_ power "to do the state this service;" and I began to

canvass with myself all the reasons for and against it. If, on the one

hand, it reminded me of the old legends I used to read about striplings

that led captive huge giants or fierce dragons, on the other, I felt

it would be a species of treachery to one who had eaten bread from my

hands. Besides, to what end--even supposing him guilty to any extent--to

what end bring him now to justice, when a few days, or hours, perhaps,

would close a life whose suffering was manifest enough? And, lastly,

was I so certain of escape myself that I already plotted carrying away

a prisoner with me? The last reflection saved me the trouble of thinking

much more on the others; and so I fell a pondering over myself and my

destitution.

Not long was I permitted to indulge in such reveries; for the negro

now began to dream, and talk aloud with a rapidity of utterance and

vehemence very different from the monosyllabic efforts he had favored me

with. As the language was Spanish, I could catch nothing of his meaning;

but I could see that some fearful reminiscence was agitating his mind,

by the working of his fingers and the violent contortions of his face.

In the struggle of his paroxysm--for it was really little less--he

tore open the coarse rag of canvas that he wore, and I could perceive

something fastened round his neck by a piece of spun-yarn. At first I

thought it one of those charms that seamen are so fond of carrying

about them,--amulets against Heaven knows what kind of dangers: but, on

stooping down, I perceived it was an old leather pocket-book which once

had been red, but by time and dirt was almost black.

More than once he clutched this in his hand, with a wild energy, as if

it was his heart's treasure; and then the great drops of sweat would

start out upon his forehead, and his parted lips would quiver with

agony. In one of these struggles he tore the book from the cord,

and, opening it, seemed to seek for something among its contents.

The rapidity of the movement, and the seeming collectedness of every

gesture, made me believe that he was awake; but I soon saw that his

great and staring eyeballs were not turned to the spot, but were fixed

on vacancy.

His motions were now more and more hurried; at one time his fingers

would turn over the papers in the pocket-book, at another he would grope

with his hand along the ground, and pat the earth down with his palm, as

if, having buried something in the earth, he would conceal every trace

of it from discovery; and at these moments the Spanish word _oro_, gold,

would escape him in a half-sigh; and this and the word "Guajaqualla"

were the only ones I could catch; but my mind retained both for many a

day after.

At last he crushed the papers hurriedly together and closed the

pocket-book; but in doing so, a single slip of paper fell to the ground.

I leaned over, and caught it; and by the light of the fire I read the

following lines, which were in print, and apparently cut from the column

of a newspaper:--

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.

Any one will be entitled to the above reward who may detect

or give such information as may lead to the detection of

Menelaus Crick, a negro slave, aged forty-eight; he stands

six feet two high; broad chest and shoulders, the right

higher than the left; has marks of the lash on back, and two

cutlass scars on the face; the great toe of the left foot

is wanting, and he walks occasionally with difficulty, from

a gunshot wound in the spine.

As he is a fellow of resolute character and great strength,

all persons are hereby warned not to attempt his capture,

save in sufficient numbers. He was last seen at San Luis,

and is supposed to have gone in the direction of

Guajaqualla, where it is said he worked once as a gold-

washer.

Address: The Office of the "Picayune "--Letter--T. G--

B--. New Orleans.

There were a few words in Spanish scrawled on the back.

"Here is the man!" said I, looking down on the sleeping figure; "who

would have thought a thousand dollars could be made of him?" Not,

indeed, that I speculated on such an unholy gain. No, the very offer

enlisted my sympathies in favor of the poor wretch; besides, how many

years ago must that advertisement have appeared? He was forty-eight at

that time, and now his age might be nigh eighty. My curiosity became

intense to see the contents of the pocket-book, from which I could fancy

abundant materials to eke out the negro's history. I am afraid that

nothing but the terror of discovery prevented my stealing it. I even

planned how it might be done without awaking him; but the long bright

knife which glistened in the strap of his blanket admonished me to

prudence, and I abstained.

My fire waxed fainter as the dawn drew nigh, and as I was afraid of

sleep coming over me, I stepped noiselessly from the hut, and gained the

open air. My first occupation was to hoist the signal; and as it rose

into the air, I watched its massive folds unfurling, with a throb of

hope that gave me new courage. The standard was very lofty, and stood

upon a mound of earth; and as the flag itself was large, I had every

reason to think it could not escape notice. Scarcely, indeed, had I made

fast the halyard than I beheld on the very verge of the horizon what

seemed to be a vessel. The moment of sunrise, like that of sunset, is

peculiarly favorable to distinct vision; and as the pink line of dawn

sheeted over the sea, the dark object stood out clear and sharp; but the

next moment the glare of brighter day covered sky and water together,

and I could no longer see the ship.

In my anxiety to try and catch sight of it from another spot, I hastened

down to the shore; but already a rosy tint was spread over the wide sea,

and nothing was discernible except the heaving waves and the streaked

sky above them.

I sat upon a rock straining my eyes, but to no purpose; and at last the

cold raw air pierced through me, and I remembered that I had left my

jacket in the hut. But for this, indeed, I would not have returned to

it,--for, without absolute fear of the negro, his repulsive features and

scowling look made his companionship far from pleasurable. His suspicion

of me, too, might have led him to some act of violence; and therefore

I determined, if I were even to seek shelter in the Refuge-house at the

other end of the island, I would not go back to this one.

It was some time before I could summon courage to venture back again;

and even when I had reached the door, it was not without a struggle with

myself that I dared to enter. The daylight was now streaming in, across

the long and dreary chamber, and, encouraged by this, I stepped across

the threshold. My first glance was towards the stove, where I had left

him lying asleep. The fire had burned out, and the negro was gone! With

cautious steps, and many a prying glance around, I ventured forward, my

heart thumping with a fear I cannot explain,--since his very presence

had not caused such terror; but nowhere was he to be found,--not a trace

of him remained. Indeed, were it not for the scrap of printed paper,

which I had carefully preserved, I should have believed the whole events

of the night to be the mere fancies of a dream.

Twice was I obliged to take it from my pocket and read it over, to

assure myself that I was not pursuing some hallucination of sleep;

and if I felt convinced that the events were real, and had actually

happened, I will frankly own that the reality inspired me with a sense

of fear which no memory of a mere vision could have inspired.

Daylight is a bold companion, however, and where night would make the

heart beat fast and the cheek pale, the sun will give a strong pulse and

a ruddy face. This I could not help feeling, as I acknowledged to myself

that had it been yet dark, I had rather have perished with cold than

sought for my jacket within the hut.

At last, grown bolder, I had even courage to seek for the negro on every

side. I examined the berths along the walls; I searched the recesses

beside the biscuit-casks; I removed planks and turned over sails; but

without success. The difficulty with which he moved made this seem

doubly strange, and satisfied me that his place of concealment could

not be far off,--nay, possibly, at that very moment he might be actually

watching me, and waiting for a favorable instant to pounce upon me.

This dread increased as my search continued to be fruitless; so that

I abandoned the pursuit, assured that I had done everything that could

have been asked either of my courage or humanity; nor was I sorry to

assure myself that I had done enough.

My interest in the subject was soon superseded by one nearer to my

heart; for as I left the hut I beheld, about four miles off, a large

three-masted vessel bearing up the Gulf, with all her canvas spread.

Forgetting the distance, and everything save my longing to be free, I

ascended a little eminence, and shouted with all my might, waving my

handkerchief back and forward above my head. I cannot describe the

transport of delight I felt, at perceiving that a flag was hoisted to

the main peak, and soon after lowered,--a recognition of the signal

which floated above me. I even cried aloud with joy; and then, in the

eagerness of my ecstasy, I set off along the shore, seeking out the best

place for a boat to run in.

Never did a ship appear so glorious an object to my eyes; her spars

seemed more taper, her sails more snowy, her bearing prouder, than

ever a vessel owned before; and when at length I could distinguish the

figures of men in the rigging, my heart actually leaped to my mouth with

delight.

At last she backed her topsail, and now I saw shooting out from beneath

her tall sides a light pinnace, that skimmed the water like a sea-bird.

As if they saw me, they headed exactly towards where I stood, and ran

the craft into a little bay just at my feet. A crew of four sailors and

coxswain now jumped ashore, and advanced towards me.

"Are there many of you?" said the coxswain, gruffly, and as though

nothing were a commoner occurrence in life than to rescue a poor forlorn

fellow-creature from an uninhabited rock.

"I am alone, sir," said I, almost bursting into tears, for mingled joy

and disappointment; for I was, I own it, disappointed at the want of

sympathy for my lone condition.

"What ship did you belong to, boy?" asked he, as shortly as before.

"A yacht, sir,--the 'Firefly.'"

"Ah, that 's it; so they shoved you ashore here. That's what comes of

sailing with gentlemen, as they calls 'em."

"No, sir; we landed--a few of us--during a calm--"

"Ay, ay," he broke in, "I know all that,--the old story; you landed to

shoot rabbits, and somehow you got separated from the others; the wind

sprung up meantime; the yacht fired a gun to come off--eh, is n't that

it! Come, my lad, no gammon with me. You 're some infernal young scamp

that was 'had up' for punishment, and they either put you ashore here

for the rats, or you jumped overboard yourself, and floated hither on

a spare hencoop. But never mind,--we 'll give you a run to Quebec; jump

in."

I followed the order with alacrity, and soon found myself on board the

"Hampden" transport, which was conveying the --th Regiment of Foot to

Canada.

"No one but this here boy, sir," said the coxswain; shoving me before

him towards the skipper, who, amidst a crowd of officers in undress, sat

smoking on the after-deck.

A very significant grunt seemed to imply that the vessel's way was lost

for very slight cause.

"He says as how he belonged to a yacht, sir," resumed the coxswain.

"Whose yacht, boy?" asked one of the officers.

"Sir Dudley Broughton's, sir; the 'Firefly,'" said I.

"Broughton! Broughton!" said an old, shrewd-looking man, in a

foraging-cap; "don't you know all about him? But, to be sure, he was

before _your_ day;" and then, changing his discourse to French,--with

which language, thanks to my kind old friend Father Rush, I was

sufficiently acquainted to understand what was said,--he added, "Sir

Dudley was in the Life Guards once; his wife eloped with a Russian or a

Polish Count,--I forget which,--and he became deranged in consequence.

Were you long with Sir Dudley, boy?" asked he, addressing me in English.

"Not quite two months, sir."

"Not a bad spell with such a master," resumed he, in French, "if the

stories they tell of him be true. How did you happen to be left on

Anticosti?"

"No use in asking, Captain!" broke in the skipper. "You never get a word

of truth from chaps like that; go for'ard, boy."

And with this brief direction I was dismissed. All my fancied

heroism--all my anticipated glory--vanishing at once; the only thought

my privations excited being that I was a young scamp, who, if he told

truth, would confess that all his sufferings and misfortunes had been

but too well merited.

This was another lesson to me in life, and one which perhaps I could not

have acquired more thoroughly than by a few days on Anticosti.

CHAPTER XII. A GLIMPSE OF ANOTHER OPENING IN LIFE

Although only a few hundred miles from Quebec, our voyage still

continued for several days; the "Hampden" like all transport-ships, was

only "great in a calm," and the Gulf-stream being powerful enough to

retard far better sailers.

To those who, like myself, were not pressed for time, or had no very

pleasing vista opening to them on shore, the voyage was far from

disagreeable. As the channel narrowed, the tall mountains of Vermont

came into view, and gradually the villages on the shore could be

detected,--small, dark clusters, in the midst of what appeared

interminable pine forests. Here and there less pleasant sights presented

themselves, in the shape of dismasted hulks, being the remains of

vessels which had got fastened in the ice of the early "fall," and were

deserted by the crews.

On the whole, it was novelty, and novelty alone, lent any charm to the

picture; for the shores of the Gulf, until you come within two days'

journey of Quebec, are sadly discouraging and dreary. The Log-house is

itself a mournful object; and when seen standing alone in some small

clearing, with blackened stumps studding the space, through which two

or three figures are seen to move, is inexpressibly sad-looking and

solitary.

Now and then we would pass some little town, with a humble imitation of

a harbor for shipping, and a quay; and in the midst a standard, with

a flag, would denote that some Government official resided there,--the

reward, doubtless, of some gallant deed, some bold achievement afloat;

for I heard that they were chiefly lieutenants in the navy, who, having

more intimacy with French grape and canister than with "First Lords,"

were fain to spend the remnant of their days in these gloomiest of

exiles.

The absence of all signs of life and movement in the picture cannot fail

to depress the spectator. No team of oxen draws the loaded wagon along;

not a plough is seen. There are no gatherings of people in the open

places of the towns; no cattle can be descried on the hills. The

settlements appear like the chance resting-places of men travelling

through the dark forests, and not their homes for life. At times a

single figure would be seen on some high cliff above the sea, standing

motionless, and, to all seeming, watching the ship. I cannot say how

deeply such a sight always affected me; and I could not help fancying

him some lone emigrant, following with beating heart the track he was

never again to travel.

Apparently, these things made a deeper impression on me than upon most

others on board. As for the soldiers, they were occupied with getting

their arms and equipments in order, to make a respectable appearance on

landing. It was one eternal scene of soap and pipeclay all day long;

and creatures barely able to crawl, from sea-sickness and debility, were

obliged to scour and polish away as if the glory of England depended

upon the show the gallant--th would make, the day we should set foot on

shore. The skipper, too, was bent on making an equally imposing show to

the landsmen; his weather topmasts were stowed away, and in their place

were hoisted some light and taper spars, not exactly in accordance

with the lubberly hull beneath. Pitch and white paint were in great

requisition too; and every day saw some half-dozen of the crew suspended

over the side, either scraping or painting for the very life. Many a

shirt dangled from the boom, and more than one low-crowned hat received

a fresh coat of glistening varnish; all were intent on the approaching

landing, even to the group of lounging officers on the poop, who

had begun to reduce their beards and whiskers to a more "regulation"

standard, and who usually passed the morning inspecting epaulettes and

sword-knots, shakos, gorgets, and such like, with the importance of men

who felt what havoc among the fair Canadians they were soon about to

inflict.

My services were in request among this section of the passengers, since

I had become an expert hand at cleaning arms and equipments with Sir

Dudley; besides that, not wearing his Majesty's cloth, the officers were

at liberty to talk to me with a freedom they could not have used with

their men. They were all more or less curious to hear about Sir Dudley,

of whom, without transgressing Halkett's caution, I was able to relate

some amusing particulars. As my hearers invariably made their comments

on my narratives in French, I was often amused to hear them record their

opinions of myself, expressed with perfect candor in my own presence.

The senior officer was a Captain Pike, an old, keen-eyed, pock-marked

man, with a nose as thin as a sheet of parchment. He seemed to read me

like a book; at least, so far as I knew, his opinions perfectly divined

my true character.

"Our friend Con," he would say, "is an uncommonly shrewd varlet, but he

is only telling us some of the truth; he sees that he is entertaining

enough, and won't produce 'Lafitte' so long as we enjoy his

'Ordinaire.'"

"Now, what will become of such a fellow as that?" asked another. "Heaven

knows! such rascals turn out consummate scoundrels, or rise to positions

of eminence. Never was there a more complete lottery than the life of a

young rogue like that."

"I can't fancy," drawled out a young subaltern, "how an ignorant cur,

without education, manners, and means, can ever rise to anything."

"Who can say whether he has not all these?" said the captain, quietly.

"Trust me, Carrington, you'd cut a much poorer figure in _his_ place

than would he in _yours_."

The ensign gave a haughty laugh, and the captain resumed: "I said it

were not impossible that he had each of the three requisites you spoke

of, and I repeat it. He may, without possessing learning, have picked

up that kind of rudimentary knowledge that keenness and zeal improve on

every day; and as for tact and address, such fellows possess both as a

birthright. I have a plan in my head for the youngster; but you must all

pledge yourselves to secrecy, or I'll not venture upon it."

Here a very general chorus of promises and "on honors" broke forth;

after the subsidence of which, Captain Pike continued, still, however,

in French; and although being far from a proficient in that tongue, I

was able to follow the tenor of his discourse, and divine its meaning,

particularly as from time to time some of the listeners would propound

a question or two in English, by the aid of which I invariably contrived

to keep up with the "argument."

"You know, lads," said the captain, "that our old friend Mrs. Davis, who

keeps the boarding-house in the Upper Town, has been always worrying us

to bring her out what she calls a first-rate man-servant from England;

by which she means a creature capable of subsisting on quarter rations,

and who, too far from home to turn restive, must put up with any wages.

The very fact that he came out special, she well knows, will be a puff

for the 'Establishment' among the Canadian Members of Parliament and the

small fry of officials who dine at the house; and as to qualifications,

who will dare question the 'London footman '?"

"Pooh, pooh!" broke in Carrington; "that fellow don't look like a London

footman."

"Who says he does?" retorted the captain. "Who ever said brass buttons

and blue beads were gold and turquoise? But they pass for the same in

villages not fifty miles from where we are sailing. Mother Davis was

wife of a skipper in the timber trade who died harbor-master here; she

is not a very likely person to be critical about a butler or footman's

accomplishments."

"By Jove," cried another, "Pike is all right! Go on with your plan."

"My plan is this: we'll dress up our friend Con, here, give him a few

lessons about waiting at table, delivering a message, and so forth,

furnish him with a jolly set of characters, and start him on the road of

life with Mother Davis."

A merry roar of approving laughter broke forth from the party at this

brief summary of Captain Pike's intentions; and indeed it was not

without great difficulty I avoided joining in it.

"He looks so devilish young!" said Carrington; "he can't be fifteen."

"Possibly not fourteen," said Pike; "but we'll shave his head and

give him a wig. I'll answer for the 'make up;' and as I have had some

experience of private theatricals, rely on 't he'll pass muster."

"How will you dress him, Pike?"

"In livery,--a full suit of snuff-brown, lined with yellow; I 'll devote

a large cloak I have to the purpose, and we 'll set the tailor at work

to-day."

"Is he to have shorts?"

"Of course; some of you must 'stand' silk stockings for him, for we

shall have to turn him out with a good kit."

A very generous burst of promises here broke in, about shirts, vests,

cravats, gloves, and other wearables, which, I own it, gave the whole

contrivance a far brighter coloring in my eyes than when it offered to

be a mere lark.

"Will the rogue consent, think you?" asked Carrington.

"Will he prefer a bed and a dinner to nothing to eat and a siesta under

the planks on the quays of Quebec?" asked Pike, contemptuously. "Look

at the fellow! watch his keen eyes and his humorous mouth when he's

speaking to you, and say if he would n't do the thing for the fun of it?

Not but a right clever chap like him will see something besides a joke

in the whole contrivance.

"I foresee he 'll break down at the first go-off," said Carrington,

who through all the controversy seemed impressed with the very humblest

opinion of my merits.

"I foresee exactly the reverse," said Pike. "I've seldom met a more

acute youngster, nor one readier to take up your meaning; and if the

varlet does n't get spoilt by education, but simply follows out the bent

of his own shrewd intelligence, he'll do well yet."

"You rate him more highly than I do," said Carrington, again.

"Not impossible either; we take our soundings with very dissimilar

lead-lines," said Pike, scoffingly. "My opinion is formed by hearing the

boy's own observations about character and life when he was speaking of

Broughton; but if you were ten times as right about him, and I twice as

many times in the wrong, he 'll do for what I intend him."

The others expressed their full concurrence in the captain's view of

the matter, voted me a phoenix of all young vagabonds, and their

brother-officer Carrington a downright ass,--both being my own private

sentiments to the letter.

And now for an honest avowal! It was the flattery of my natural

acuteness--the captain's panegyric on my aptitude and smartness--that

won me over to a concurrence in the scheme; for, at heart, I neither

liked the notion of "service," nor the prospect of the abstemious

living he had so pointedly alluded to. Still, to justify the favorable

impression he had conceived of me, and also with some half hope that I

should see "life"--the ruling passion of my mind--under a new aspect, I

resolved to accept the proposition so soon as it should be made to me;

nor had I long to wait that moment.

"Con, my lad," said the captain, "you may leave that belt there; come

aft here,--I want to speak to you. What are your plans when you reach

Quebec? Do you mean to look after your old master, Sir Dudley, again?"

"No, sir; I have had enough of salt water for a time,--I 'll keep my

feet on dry land now."

"But what line of life do you propose to follow?"

I hesitated for the answer, and was silent.

"I mean," resumed he, "is it your intention to become a farm-servant

with some of the emigrant families, or will you seek for employment in

the town?"

"Or would you like to enlist, my lad?" broke in another.

"No, thank you, sir; promotion is slow from the ranks, and I 've a

notion one ought to move 'up,' as they move 'on,' in life."

"Listen to the varlet now," said Pike, in French; "the fellow's as cool

with us as if we were exactly his equals, and no more. I 'll tell you

what it is, lads," added he, seriously, "when such rogues journey the

road of life singly, they raise _themselves_ to station and eminence;

but when they herd together in masses, these are the fellows who pull

_others_ down, and effect the most disastrous social revolutions.--So

you 'll not be a soldier Con?" added he, resuming the vernacular; "well,

what are your ideas as to the civil service?"

"Anything to begin with, sir."

"Quite right, lad,--well said; a fair start is all you ask?"

"Why, sir, I carry no weight, either in the shape of goods or character;

and if a light equipment gives speed, I 've a chance to be placed well."

The captain gave a side-glance at the others as though to say, "Was

I correct in my opinion of this fellow?" and then went on: "I have a

thought in my head for you, Con: there is a lady of my acquaintance at

Quebec wants a servant; now, if you could pick up some notion of the

duties, I 've no doubt you'd learn the remainder rapidly."

"I used to wait on Sir Dudley, sir, and am therefore not entirely

ignorant."

"Very true; and as these gentlemen and myself will put you into training

while the voyage lasts, I hope you 'll do us credit in the end."

"Much will depend on my mistress, sir," said I, determining to profit

by what I had overheard, but yet not use the knowledge rashly or

unadvisedly. "Should she not be very exacting and very particular,

but have a little patience with me, accepting zeal for skill, I 've no

doubt, sir, I 'll not discredit your recommendation."

"That's the very point I'm coming to, Con," said the captain, lowering

his voice to a most confidential tone.

"The true state of the case is this: "--and here he entered upon an

explanation which I need not trouble the reader by recapitulating, since

it merely went the length I have already related, save that he added, in

conclusion, this important piece of information:--

"Your golden rule, in every difficulty, will then be, to assure Mrs.

Davis that you always did so, whatever it may be, when you were living

with Lord George, or Sir Charles, or the Bishop of Drone. You understand

me, eh?"

"I think so, sir," said I, brightening up, and at the same time stealing

an illustration from my old legal practices. "In Mrs. Davis's court

there are no precedents."

"Exactly, Con; hit the nail on the very head, my boy!"

"It will not be a very difficult game, sir, if the guests are like the

mistress."

"So they are, for the most part; now and then you'll have a military and

naval officer at table, and you'll be obliged to look out sharp, and

not let them detect you; but with the skippers of merchantmen, dockyard

people, storekeepers, male and female, I fancy you can hold your own."

"Why, sir, I hope they'll be satisfied with the qualification that

contented my former titled masters," said I, with a knowing twinkle of

the eye he seemed to relish prodigiously, and an assumed tone of voice

that suited well the part I was to play.

"Come down below, now, and we 'll write your characters for you;" and so

he beckoned the others to accompany him to the cabin, whither I followed

them.

An animated debate ensued as to the number and nature of the

certificates I ought to possess, some being of opinion that I should

have those of every kind and degree; others alleging that my age forbade

the likelihood of my having served in more than two or three situations.

"What say you to this, lads?" said Pike, reading from a rough and

much-corrected draft before him:--

The bearer, Cornelius Cregan, has lived in my service ten

months as a page; he is scrupulously honest, active, and

intelligent, well acquainted with the duties of his station,

and competent to discharge them in the first families. I now

dismiss him at his own request.

Cecilia Mendleshaw.

"Gad! I'd rather make him start as what they call in his own country a

'Tay-boy,'" said Carrington,--"one of those bits of tarnished gold-lace

and gaiters seen about the outskirts of Dublin."

"Your honor is right, sir," said I, glad to show myself above any absurd

vanity on the score of my early beginning; "a 'Tay-boy' on the Rathmines

road, able to drive a jaunting-car and wait at table."

"That's the mark, I believe," said Pike. "Suppose, then, we say: 'Con

Cregan has served me twelve months, waited at table, and taken care of a

horse and car.'"

"Ah, sir!" said I, "sure an Irish gentleman with a 'Tay-boy' would be

finer spoken than that. It would be: 'I certify that Cornelius Cregan,

who served in my establishment as under-butler, and occasionally

assisting the coachman, is a most respectable servant, well-mannered and

respectful, having always lived in high situations, and with the most

distinguished individuals.'"

"Ah, that's it," broke in Carrington; "'understands lamps, and is

perfectly competent to make jellies, soups, and preserves.'"

"Confound it, man! you 're making him a cook."

"By Jove, so I was! It's so hard to remember what the fellow is."

"I think we may leave it to himself," said Pike; "he seems to have a

very good notion of what is necessary. So, Master Con, write your

own biography, my lad, and we 'll give it all the needful currency of

handwriting and seal."

"It's a pity you're a Papist," said another, "or you could have such a

recommendation from a 'serious family' I know of in Surrey."

"Never mind," rejoined the captain; "one signed 'P. O. Dowdlum, Bishop

of Toronia,' will do even better in the Lower Province."

"Exactly, sir; and, as I used to serve mass once, I can 'come out

strong' about my early training with 'his Grace'!"

"Very well," said Pike; "tell the tailor to take your measure for the

livery, and you'll wait on us to-day at table." With this order I

was dismissed, to con over my fictitious and speculate on my true

"character."

CHAPTER XIII. QUEBEC

As viewed from Diamond Harbour, a more striking city than Quebec is

seldom seen.

The great rock rising above the lower town, and crowned with its

batteries, all bristling with guns, seemed to my eyes the very

realization of impregnability. I looked from the ship that lay

tranquilly on the water below, and whose decks were thronged with blue

jackets, to the Highlander who paced his short path as sentry, some

hundred feet high upon the wall of the fortress; and I thought to

myself, with such defenders as these, that standard yonder need never

carry any other banner.

The whole view is panoramic. The bending of the river shuts out the

channel by which you have made your approach, giving the semblance of a

lake, on whose surface vessels of every nation lie at anchor, some with

the sails hung out to dry, gracefully drooping from the taper spars;

others refitting again for sea, and loading the huge pine-trunks,

moored as vast rafts to the stern. There were people everywhere; all

was motion, life, and activity. Jolly-boats with twenty oars, man-of-war

gigs bounding rapidly past them with eight; canoes skimming by without

a ripple, and seemingly without impulse, till you caught sight of the

lounging figure who lay at full length in the stern, and whose red

features were scarce distinguishable from the copper-colored bark of his

boat. Some moved upon the rafts, and even on single trunks of trees,

as, separated from the mass, they floated down on the swift current,

boat-hook in hand, to catch at the first object chance might offer them.

The quays, and the streets leading down to them were all thronged; and

as you cast your eye upwards, here and there above the tall roofs might

be seen the winding flight of stairs that lead to the upper town, alike

dark with the moving tide of men. On every embrasure and gallery, on

every terrace and platform, it was the same. Never did I behold such a

human tide!

Now, there was something amazingly inspiriting in all this, particularly

when coming from the solitude and monotony of a long voyage. The very

voices that ye-hoed, the hoarse challenge of the sentinels on the rock,

the busy hum of the town, made delicious music to my ear; and I could

have stood and leaned over the bulwark for hours to gaze at the scene.

I own no higher interest invested the picture, for I was ignorant of

Wolfe; I had never heard of Montcalm; the plains of "Abra'm" were to

me but grassy slopes, and "nothing more." It was the life and stir;

the tide of that human ocean on which I longed myself to be a

swimmer,--these were what charmed me. Nor was the deck of the old

"Hampden" inactive all the while, although seldom attracting much of my

notice. Soldiers were mustering, knapsacks packing, rolls calling,

belts buffing, and coats brushing on all sides; men grumbling; sergeants

cursing; officers swearing; half-dressed invalids popping up their heads

out of hatchways, answering to wrong names, and doctors ordering them

down again with many an anathema; soldiers in the way of sailors,

and sailors always hauling at something that interfered with the

inspection-drill: every one in the wrong place, and each cursing his

neighbor for stupidity.

At last the shore-boats boarded us, as if our confusion wanted anything

to increase it. Red-faced harbor-masters shook hands with the skipper

and pilot, and disappeared into the "round-house" to discuss grog and

the late gales. Officers from the garrison came out to welcome their

friends, for it was the second battalion we had on board of a regiment

whose first had been some years in Canada; and then what a rush of

inquiries were exchanged. "How's the Duke?" "All quiet in England?" "No

signs of war in Europe?" "Are the 8th come home?" "Where's Forbes?" "Has

Davern sold out?"--with a mass of such small interests as engage men who

live in coteries.

Then there were emissaries for newspapers, eagerly hunting for spicy

rumors not found in the last journals; waiters of hotels, porters,

boatmen, guides, Indians with moccasins to sell, and a hundred other

functionaries bespeaking custom and patronage; and, although often

driven over the side most ignominiously at one moment, certain to

reappear the next at the opposite gangway.

How order could ever be established in this floating Babel, I knew not;

and yet at last all got into train somehow.

First one large boat crammed with men, who sat even on the gunwales,

moved slowly away; then another and another followed; a lubberly thing,

half lighter, half jolly-boat, was soon loaded with baggage, amid which

some soldiers' wives and a scattering population of babies were seen;

till by degrees the deck was cleared, and none remained of all that vast

multitude, save the "mate" and the "watch," who proceeded to get things

"ship-shape,"--pretty much in the same good-tempered spirit servants are

accustomed to put the drawing-rooms to rights, after an entertainment

which has kept them up till daylight, and allows of no time for sleep.

Till then I had not the slightest conception of what a voyage ended

meant, and that when the anchor dropped from the bow, a scene of bustle

ensued, to which nothing at sea bore any proportion. Now, I had no

friends; no one came to welcome me,--none asked for _my_ name. The

officers, even the captain, in the excitement of arriving, had forgotten

all about me; so that when the mate put the question to me, "why I

didn't go ashore?" I had no other answer to give him than the honest

one, "that I had nothing to do when I got there." "I suppose you know

how to gain a livin' one way or t' other, my lad?" said he, with a very

disparaging glance out of the corner of his eye.

"I am ashamed to say, sir, that I do not."

"Well, I never see'd Picaroons starve,--that's a comfort you have; but

as we don't mean to mess you here, you 'd better get your kit on deck,

and prepare to go ashore."

Now, the kit alluded to was the chest of clothes given to me by the

captain, which, being bestowed for a particular purpose, and with an

object now seemingly abandoned or forgotten, I began to feel scruples as

to my having any claim to. Like an actor whose engagement had been for

one part, I did not think myself warranted in carrying away the wardrobe

of my character; besides, who should tell how the captain might resent

such conduct on my side? I might be treated as a thief,--I, Con Cregan,

who had registered a solemn vow in my own heart to be a "gentleman"!

Such an indignity should not be entertained, even in thought. Yet was it

very hard for one in possession of such an admirable wardrobe to want

a dinner; for one so luxuriously apparelled on the outside, to be so

lamentably unprovided within. From the solution of this knotty question

I was most fortunately preserved by the arrival of a corporal of

the--th, who came with an order from Captain Pike that I should at once

repair to his quarters in the Upper Town.

Not being perhaps in his captain's confidence, nor having any very clear

notion of my precise station in life,--for I was dressed in an old cloak

and a foraging-cap,--the corporal delivered his message to me with a

military salute, and a certain air of deference very grateful to my

feelings.

"Have you a boat alongside, Corporal?" said I, as I lounged listlessly

on the binnacle.

"Yes, sir; a pair of oars,--will that do?"

"Yes, that will do," replied I, negligently. "See my traps safe on

board, and tell me when all's ready."

The corporal saluted once more, and went to give the necessary

directions; meanwhile the mate, who had been a most amazed spectator of

the scene, came over and stood right opposite me, with an expression

of the most ludicrous doubt and hesitation. It was just at that moment

that, in drawing the cloak round me, I discovered in a pocket of it an

old cigar-case. I took it out with the most easy _nonchalance_, and,

leisurely striking a light, began smoking away, and not bestowing even a

glance at my neighbor.

Astonishment had so completely gotten the better of the man that he

could not utter a word; and I perceived that he had to look over the

side, where the boat lay, to assure himself that the whole was reality.

"All right, sir," said the corporal, carrying his hand to his cap.

I arose languidly from my recumbent position, and followed the soldier

to the gangway; then, turning slowly around, I surveyed the mate from

head to foot, with a glance of mild but contemptuous pity, while I said,

"In your station, my good man, the lesson is perhaps not called for,

since you may rarely be called on to exercise it; but I would wish to

observe that you will save yourself much humiliation and considerable

contempt by not taking people for what they seem by externals." With

this grave admonition, delivered in a half-theatrical tone of voice, I

draped my "toga" so as to hide any imperfection of my interior costume,

and descended majestically into the boat.

When we reached the barrack, which was in the Upper Town, the captain

was at mess, but had left orders that I should have my dinner, and be

ready at his quarters, in my full livery, in the evening.

I dined, very much to my satisfaction, on some of the "débris" of the

mess, and, under the auspices of the captain's servant, arrayed myself

in my new finery, which, I am free to confess, presented what artists

would call "a flashy bit of color;" being far more in the style of

Horace Vernet than Van Dyke. Had the choice been given me, I own I

should have preferred wooing Fortune in more sombre habiliments; but

this was a mere minor consideration, and so I felt as I found myself

standing alone in the captain's sitting-room, and endeavoring to

accustom myself to my own very showy identity, as reflected in a large

cheval glass, which exhibited me down to the very buckles of my shoes.

I will not affirm it positively, but only throw it out as a hint, that

the major part of a decanter of sherry, which I discussed at dinner,

aided in lifting me above the paltry consideration of mere appearance,

and made me feel what I have often heard ragged vagabonds in the streets

denominate "the dignity of a man." By degrees, too, I not only grew

reconciled to the gaudy costume, but began--strange accommodation of

feeling--actually to enjoy its distinctive character.

"There are young gentlemen, Con," said I, in soliloquy, "many are there

who would look absurd merry-andrews if dressed in this fashion. There

are fellows to whom this kind of thing would be a sore test! These

bright tints would play the very devil with their complexion,--not to

mention that every one's legs could n't afford such publicity! But Con,

my friend, you have a natural aptitude for every shade of color, and for

every station and condition. Courage, my boy! although in the rear rank

at present, you 'll march in the van yet. Nature has been gracious with

you, Mr. Cregan!" said I, warming with the subject, while, with my hands

deep down in my coat-pockets, I walked backward and forward before

the glass, stealing sidelong glances at myself as I passed; "there are

fellows who, born in your station, would have died in it, without a bit

more influence over their fate in this life than a Poldoody oyster;

they 'd vegetate to the end of existence, and slip out of the world as

a fellow shirks out of a shebeen-house when he has n't tu' pence for

another 'dandy' of punch. Not so with you, Con Cregan! You have hydrogen

in you,--you have the buoyant element that soars above the vulgar herd.

These are not the partial sentiments of a dear friend, Con, they are the

current opinions of the world about you. How soon the 'Captain' saw what

stuff you were made of! How long was old Pike in detecting the latent

powers of your intellect?" What a shout of laughter followed these

words! It came from half-a-dozen officers, who, having entered the room

during my apostrophe, had concealed themselves behind a screen to listen

to the peroration.

They now rushed out in a body, and, throwing themselves into chairs and

upon sofas, laughed till the very room rang with the clamor, the captain

himself joining in the emotion with all his heart. As for me, however

self-satisfied but one moment back, I was humbled to the very earth

now; the vauntings by which I had been soothing my vanity were suddenly

turned into scorns and sneers at my self-conceit, and I actually looked

to see if I could not leap out of the window, and never be seen by

one of the party again. The window, however, was barred, the door was

unapproachable, there was a fire in the grate; and so, as escape was

denied me, I at once abandoned a plan which I saw unfeasible, and, with

a quickness to which I owe much in life, immediately adopted an opposite

tactic. Assuming a deferential position, I drew back towards the wall,

to be laughed at as long as the honorable company should fancy it.

"So, Mr. Cregan," cried one, drying his eyes with his handkerchief,

"modesty is one of those invaluable gifts with which nature has favored

you?"

"I sincerely trust it may be no bar to your advancement," said another.

"Rather cruel," added a third, "to be balked for such a mere trifle."

"I say, Pike," added another, "I rather envy you the insinuated flattery

of your discrimination. It would seem that you detected the precious

metal here at once."

"What country do you come from, boy?" said a hard-featured old officer

who had laughed less than the others.

"How can you ask, Chudleigh?" said another. "There's only one land rears

that plant."

"There's a weed very like it in Scotland, M'Aldine," said the captain,

with a grin which the last speaker did not half relish.

"You're Hirish, ain't you?" said a very boyish-looking ensign, with sore

eyes.

"Yes, sir."

"Very much so, I fancy," said he, laughing as though he had been very

droll.

"I always heard your countrymen had wings; what has become of them?"

"I believe we used to have, sir; but the English plucked us," said I,

with a look of assumed simplicity.

"And what is all that about the Blarney stone?" said another; "is n't

there some story or other about it?"

"It's a stone they kiss in _my_ country, sir, to give us a smooth

tongue."

"I don't see the great use of that," rejoined he, with a stupid look.

"It's mighty useful at times, sir," said I, with a half glance towards

Captain Pike.