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THE si:ttixg forth, II. IN HOUGH WEATHER, III. THE WRECK, IV. ALOXE AMOXG STRAXGEHS, V. ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HIM, VI. BEX HARD EX, VII. A SABLE ISLAXD WINTER, VIII. AXXIOUS TIMES, .... IX. FAREWELL TO SABLE ISLAND, X. RELEASE AND RF^TRIBUTIOX, 9 21 32 40 54 05 76 88 101 113 WRE A li i \ I I ;o woikIoi'lmI at thai li about iS'( notion of Eric ( 'opchuul goin«^' out to liis fa,tliei' in 1;; geiKTulIj away Nova Scotia sliouM I'orm tlic suitjcct of im him. II than one family council at Oakdcnc ^laiioi", tlu' 1m;ii m^iny w tiful country seat of the Coprland family, situatcil Indians i one of the prettiest parts of Warwickshire. seen on I Eric was the only son of J)octor Copeland, suii:^ little Nc in-chief of the Seventh Eusiliers, the favourite iv take in 1 ment of the Duke of Kent, the fatlier of Queen V self to sj; toria. This rej^iment formeil part of the garrison to speak Halifax, then under the command of the royal du So soo himself; and the doctor had written to say that was not the squire, Eric's grandfather, approved, he would 1: was of a Eric to come out to him, as ids tor)n of service ! was wha been extended three years beyond what he expeci -^nteen and he wanted to have his boy with him. At ; t)i'Ofl'd o same time, he left the matter entirely in the squii P^op<^i'tic hands for him to decide. ^^ ^"^^''^ So far as the old gentleman was concerned. ^^^^^ ^^ decided at once. '^^^'^^ ''^ "Send the boy out there to that wild place, .r ^^^'^^^''^^i^i have him scalped by an Lidian or gobbled by a I' ® ^^'''^ before he's there a month ? Not a bit of it. T wo.^^ ^^^ ^ " brave bi hear of it. He's a hundred times better off here.' The squire, be it observed, held very vague noti< than sin Tiin sirrTiNc; iv^inir. II it tliat tli aBbut Nova Seolia, and indeed tin; Aineiicaii continent tliei- in I li, general I3', in spite of his son's en«leavouv.s to enlighten ct of iiiM him. lie still lirnily believed that there wore as •, the 111 111 many wiL^wanis as houses in New York, and that situated i Ilklians in full war-paint and ])lunies were every day seen on the streets of I'hiladelphia. ; AN'hile as for poor id sur<'i'(-. little Nova Scotia, it was more than his ndnd could ourite r*. take in how the Duke of Kent could ever briny hini- Oueeii \! sslf to spend a week in such an outlandish place, not oarrison to speak of a runnber of years. royal dii So soon as Eric learned of his father's request, he say that was not less (juick in coining to a conclusion, but it e would 1 "^^^ ^^ '^ precisely opposite kind to the squire's. He service !. ^^^ what the Irish would call " a broth of a bo}^" he expect Fifteen last birthday, five feet six inches in height, ill! At ; l^J^oad of shoulder and stout of liuib, yet perfectly the snuii pi'Oportioned, as niuiVJe on his feet as a squirrel, and as quick of eye as a king-ljird, entirely free from any mcerned trace of nervousness or timidity, good-looking in that sense of the word which means more than merely II dHcc ;r^^^^^^^^^^^^'' courteous in his manners, and quite up to ^ 1 1 V '1 1)1 ^^® mark in his books, Eric represented the best type 'L T „.A of the British boy as he looked about him with his it. 1 ^\o "^ rn 1 " brave brown eyes, and lon^-ed to be somethinir more [)tt here. j ' o o ,- than simply a school-boy, and to see a little of that 3 noti'-'. J- -^ '^ aj^jue \ I 12 TIN-: sin T IXC I'oirni. It 1 1 ^ivat world up jm; bftttle-ll( frightened, or turned aside from anything upon wlik A&erica he liad set his heart, and the old s([uire felt as thou, the stru; he were seeini"' a youthful reflection of himself in (' new nai sturdy spirit of resolution shown by his grandso'.i. nianied " But, Eric, lad," he began to argue, " whether t when h^ Indians and bears are plentiful or not, I don't see ^v time. you want to leave Oakdene, and go away out to Thent wikl place that is oidy fit for soldiers. You're qii events 1 happy with us here, aren't you ( " And the old gent ^^^^ "^^'^^ man's face took on rather a reproachful expression studies he put the question. followec Eric's face flushed crimson, and crossino- o\'ei' wnippec where the squire sat, he l)ent down and kissed L where ] wrinkled forehead tenderly. ^^ ®^^'^ " I am quite happy, grandpa. You and graiidn "Ourhoo do so much for mo that it would be strange il' "^^• wasn't. But you know I have been more with } than I have with my own father ; and now when 1 . of milit dom fro TIIK Si:TTIN(i FOIITir. 13 1' Iwid 111 want^ iin' to on n:it, t() liiiu, T want to ^fo too. You caai t Idaiiic UK', cjiii you?" ic, pi'oiii]:! What Mric said was tiiu; (.'iiuiigli. Tlio doctor's e any Ixm regnncnt liad soiikjIiow -coino in for more than its sliould 1)1, share ol' Foreign service. It had carried its colours with credit over the hui'iiing plains ol' India, upon the dd be viu battlc-llelds of the Continent, and then, crossing to upon ^vlli Axneiica, liad taken its part, however ineti'ectunlly, in It as thoii. the struggle which ended so happily in the birth of a nsclf ill t J^GW nation. During all of his years Eric had ru- randson. mained at Oakdene, seeing nothing of his father save whether t when ho came to tliem on leave for a few months at a on c sec u time. ay out tn Those homo-condngs of the doctor were the great You're nil events in Eric's life. Nothing was allowed to inter- le old o'cut. ^^^^ witli his enjoyment of his father's society. All studies were laid aside, and one day of liappiness foUow^ed another, as together they rode to hounds, whipped the trout-streams, shot over the coverts where pheasants were in plenty, or went on delight- ful excursions to lovely places round about the ncigh- md grand), bourhood. strano'e it' ^^' ^^peland enjoyed his release from the routine ^«^ „.UL V oi military duty quite as much as Eric did his free- ore \N itn \ '' • 1 1 ,, ' dom from school, and it would not have been easy to 10 w when ' */ ixpvessioii ino- o\('i' d kissed 14 THE SETTING FORTH. If 1 i' time. It was just a year since the doctor had last Ixm.! home on leave, and a year seems a very long time t a boy of fifteen, so tliat when the letter came propos ing that Eric should go out to his father (it slioiil liave been told before that his mother was doa having been taken away from him when he was very little fellow), and spend three long years wit liim without a break, if the doctor had been : Kamtchatka o • Tierra del Fuego instead of simply ; Nova Scotia, Eric would not have hesitated a momci but have jumped at the offer. The old srpiirc was very loath to part with his gran son, and it was because he knew it would be so tli; the doctor had not positividy asked for Ei'ic to 1 sent out, but had left the question to be decided 1 the squire. Perhaps Eric might have failed to carry his poii but for the help given him by Major Maunsell, brother-officer of Doctor Copeland's, who had be- home on leave, and in whose charo-e Eric was to ' placed if it was decided to let him go. The major had come to spend a day or two at Onl; dene a little while before takinir his leave of EnL-lnii' n " Th( THE SETTING FORTH. 16 J for a goo( d last l)i.Mi oiig time t line propo>i L' (it slioul was dim 11 he was years wii ad been : )f simply : 1 a momci li his gran 1 be so til; Ei'ic to ' decided ' ry his poii Maun sell. liad 1)0- c was to I two at Onlv ; of Engl ail' and of course the question of Eric's returning to Nova Scotia with him came up for discussion. Eric pleaded his case very earnestly. '' Now please listen to me a moment," said he, taking advantage of a pause in the conversation. " I love you, grandpa and grandma, very dearly, and am very bappy with you here ; but I love my father too, and I never see him, except just for a little while, when he comes home on leave, and it would be lovely to be with him all the time for three whole years. B^/'sides that, I do want to see America, and this is such a good chance. I am nearly sixteen now, and by the timu father gets back I'll have to be going to college, and then, you know, he says he's going to leave the army and settle down here, so that dear knows when I can ever oet the chance to go aoain. Oh ! please let me go, grandpa, won't you ? " Major Maunsell's eyes glistened as he looked at Eric and listened to him. He was an old bachelor himself, and he could not help envying Doctor Cope- land for his handsome, manly son. At once he en- tered into full sympathy with him in his great desire, and determined to use all his intluence in supporting him. " There's a great deal (jf sense in what tlie boy 16 THE SETTING FORTH. t f t i 1 1 says," ho reinarkeel. " It is such a chance as he nur, -^en hii not get again in a liurry. There's nothing to hnn gM^ .|,,.j|i him out in Halifax ; and his father is longing to h;i\ |« Qq{[ him, for he's always talking to me about him, ai; ai!|xis be reading me bits out of his letters." p^^ yQ,^ So the end of it was t^ at the major and Eric L happen." tween them won the day, and after taking the ni-' ^i^i i to tliink over it, the good old squire announced tl moist ab next morning at breakfast that he would make i Eric was further objections, and that Eric might go. Maunsell The troop-ship in which Major Maunsell was goii on the bi would sail in a week, so there was no time to be lu J^t (^j in getting Eric roady for the voyage, and for the Ici stage of sojourn in the distant colony. Many were the tniii sail in tl of clothing, books, and other things that had to hundred packed with greatest care, and their number woi cargo, ci have been doubled if the major had not protest gether ^a against taking the jams, jellies, pickles, medicines, .11 precious other domestic conjforts that the loving old com as comfc wanted Eric to take with him, because they felt si; ness in t he could 2fet nothincj: so G^ood out in Halifax. were ass All too (juickly for them the day came when tli they at were to say good-bye to their grandson, and r Durin parting was a very tearful and trying one. Full sailing oj joy as Eric felt, he could not keep back the tuii scenes ai (4::) (441) THE SETTING FORTH. 17 t as he ma;, QO" to hai! m^f to ll;iv t him, ai; ncl Eric L o' the niu' lounced tl d make i il was goii. le to be lu for the Ici i the tniii i had to Tiber Avoi )t proti'sii 'dicines, ai old com ley felt si, IX. B when til Dn, and t tie. Full k the tea when his white-haired grandmother hugged him again and ngain to her heart, oxclaimino; fervently, — " God bless and keep my boy ! May his almighty arms be underneath and round about you, my darling. Piit your trust in him, Eric, no matter what may happen." And the bluff old squii-e himself was suspiciously moist about the eyes as the carriage drove away and Eric was really off to Chatham in charge of Major Maunsell, with whom he had by this time got to be on the l)est of terms. At Chatham they found their ship in the final stage of preparation for the voyage. They were to sail in tlie Francis, a fine, fast gun-brig of about three hundred tons, which had in lier hold a very valuable cargo, consisting of the Duke of Kent's library, to- gether with a quantity of very costly furniture, precious wines, and other luxuries intended to make as comfoi'table as possible the lot of his royal high- ness in the garrison at Halifax. The major and Eric were assigned a roomy cabin to themselves, in which they at once proceeded to make themselves at home. Durino* the few days that intervened before the sailing of the Francis, Eric's enjoyment of the novel scenes around him could hardly be put into words. (441) 2 18 THE SETTING FORTH. All ho knew about tlie sea was what he had loavnc. from a summer now and then at a watering-pin e. and the iireat a'atherinji' of Mix ships at Chatham ; tli unceasing hustle as some came in from long voyaov and others went forth to take their places upon distai, stations ; the countless sailors an^ had no objection lumself, l)ut feared that the capt ♦d plac( - 'SShiv Maimers, feael) hin |:ilJ THE SETTING FORTH. 19 ,d leariK' ham ; tli g voyag. on distal. [Is swari! •tant-lo(A coats, ail tones tilt, very h s' whistl' ning ; tl ^ly for 1 0(1 to, — r L which 1 happiiH'^ lal favoii: liad giv re. Prill Ids vom: that l>i (jnce ask' tlie cnpt:v : the Francis would not hear of it. However, he Ihoiiglit that Eric nnglit biing the dog up to Chatham, Ind tlien if the captain would not let him on board iie could be sent back to Oakdene. I Prince accordingly accompanied him, and a place laving been found for him with a friend of the major's, is master had no peace of mind until the question as settled. Some days passed before he got a chance |) .see Captain Reefw^ell, who was, of course, extremely sy ; but at last he managed to catch him one day st after lunch, when he seemed in a pretty good mnnour, and without wastin^f time preferred his re- f . . . Muest, trembling with eager hope as he did so. The fcuff' old sailor at first bluntly refused him ; but Eric avely returning to the charge, his kind heart was vod to the extent of making him say, — J '■ Well, let me have a look at your dog, anyway." ■m Hopinof for the best, Eric ran off and returned with friiico. Captain Reef well scanned the noble animal itically, and sti etched out his hand to pat him, |heroupon the mastiff gravely lifted his right paw d placed it in the captain's horny palm. f "Shiver my timbers! but the doom's e^ot good iainiers," said the captain in surprise. "Did you ^acli him that ? " turning to Eric. !.' I r' 20 THE SETTING FORTH. *' Yes, sir," replied Eric proudly; "and he can do other thiiiij^s too." And he proceeded to put the hig* dog through a number of tricks which pleased the; old sailor so much that finally he said, with a smile,-— " All right, my lad. You may bring your dog on | board. But, mind you, ho comes before the mast, He's not a cabin passenger." " Oh, thank you, sir! thank you, sir!" cried Eric^ joyfully. — "I won't lot you in the cabin, will L Prince ? Isn't it splendid ? You're to come with nie after all." And he huo-o-ed the mastiff as thouo'h lie had been his own brother. ( (,- can do the \m Lsed the smile, — dog on le mast, ied Eric will 1, with me lOUgh he CHAPTER 11. IN ROUGH WEATHER. IT was the first of Novcmher when the Francis got otf, and Captain Reef well warned his passengers that thoy might expect a rather rough voyage, as thev were sure to have a storm or two in crossino^ at that time of year. Eric protested that he would not mind , he was not afraid of a storm. Indeed, he wanted to see one really good storm at sea, such as he had often read about. But lie chanofed his tune wdien the Francis began to pitch and toss in the chops of the English Channel, and with pale face and piteous voice he asked the major " if a real storm were w^orse than this." A few days later, however, when he got his sea-legs all right, an' to sun and stars alikt having been invisible for so many days. He had m clear idea of his distance from the coast, and unlos^ he could soon secure a satisfactory observation the Francis would be in a perilous plight. The first of December was marked by a stonu more violent than any which had come before, followed by a dense fog wliich swathed the shii) in appalliii': gloom. The captain evidently regarded this fog ii^ a very grave addition to his difficulties. He hardly [eft the qi ^yes bloo ra-aliz: to know the ca]it ^'iiptain ] Ulg SOUK IN KOUCni AVICATIfKll. 23 etvvet'ii ])rivoii ho was (1 (luiti old liis lonif'uii^ wed iifi crosM 'i )roaclR'(l till eon- id couii- 'he triitli irse, anrt tlu'y < III the Laiinscll icutt'ium jii;iiits S 111! lit Dra )1(1 SiTVJ r]i)L;nig U; and let him find out exactly where we are, Eric, 1 would be all right. There is nothina' to do but t< IN ItOUUU WKATIIlvU. 25 Uis(> \\[; upon tl; inadt.' i: even tli- se l»ri;.:!; lieavily i hiiiisr;: cease It 'v :elt ])()[; auodiiT wisliiiii; okcd up e asked, Will the iecl witl. mly lift Eric, In > but to tit, mid lio[n) t'oi" the best." And sittiuL;' down be- de I'J'ic, be tbrew bis anii about luui in n tender, rutoctinj^' way tbat sbowed bow stronL;ly lie felt. So intense was tbe anxiety on board tbc Fnmc'is lat none of tbe passengers tboUL;bt of .iL^'oing to tbeir jrtlis or taking ofl' tbeir clotbes tbat nigbt, but all lierud in tbe cabins, finding wbat cbeer and coni- foi i tbcy could in one anotber's company. " !u tlie main cabin were otber officers l)csides ]\bijor M-'uniscll- — namely, Captain Sterling of tbe Fusiliers, Lieutenant iMercer of tbe Royal Artillery, and Lieu- teiiaiits Sutton, Roebuck, and Moore of tbe IGtb Li' 'it Dragoons ; wbile in tbe fore-cabin wx^rc bouse- )M servants of tbe prince and soldiers of tbe lino, [•inging tbe total number of passengers up to two nidred. During tbe nigbt Captain Reefwell, seeing tbat it ras no longer any use to conceal tbe seriousness of le situation, sent word to all on board to prepare for thi' worst, as tbc sbip migbt be among tbc breakers at nny moment. Tbe poor passengers bastened to Jathev tbeir most precious possessions into little bundles, and to prepare tbemselves for tbe approacb- ^g struggle witli deatb. The nigbt wore slowly on, tbe sturdy brig straining 2G IN liOUdll WI'.ATMKK. !i: and ,L;'i'oanin_L;' as the Mllows iiuule a plaything* of h,; tossinii" \\vv to ami IVo as tliouiili slic was iiu licuvi than a clii[), wliilo the iicrce stunn slirieki'd thruii; th(j rigging in ap[)aivnt glee at having so ricli a pviz- for the wreckers of Sable Ishind. It was a bravo band that awaited its fate \v li ^ main cabin. The men were botne \i\) by the duuii - less fortitude of the British soldier, and, cateliii; their spirit, Eric manifested a (juiet courage ^Vl worthy of the name he bore, lie had Prince uii | hiui now, for the captain had himself suggested tli ho had better have the doo* near at liand. The nol creature seemed to liave some o-limuierinL'" of tliei:' connnon peril, for he kept very close to his y<;iiii, | master, and every now and then lai1; struck the beach with fearful force?, and was instnnt buried under a vast mountain of water that huilt^ itself upon her as though it had long been wnitiii. for the chance to destroy her. When the billow Ir spent its force, the decks were clear. Not a hum; form was visible where a moment before more thi:, a score of men had been clinHno; for dear life. Hi^^ ing and seething like things of life, and sending tin Jpray -i 'tiiorcilc coiitoiiij icrambll jarrit-'d clashed tho wat| The confnsici Al 'Out leathern ifchat not unloose, icloso th( ^ Into :|togethei ■ffhe str iand the ^each w ^f3otwe(^i |Wliolly Eric cc iCv^nld 1 i^whose Ishore. THE WRECK. 35 1 — nnd \4 lin SterHii- atton. Ij,, still to I I liad l)iv lieJcl to 1:;' g'ht lioW ; beach w;- no- billov;. )oy, caii ecoiid, an the ^1;: s instnntr * lat hiirl^ 3n wait ill. jillow li } a liuiii;'': nore tha:^ fe. Hi- lino' tilt'. pray and spume higli into the mist-laden air, the o'ciless bieakers bure their victims off to cast them ^ontoiii[)tii()Usly upon the beach. Then, ere they could ■cramble ashore, they would be caught up again and larried oW by the recoil of the wave, to be once more ashed back as tliough they were the playthings of he water. I The major and Eric were separated in the wild %onfnsion ; but Eric was not pai'ted from Prince. M-hout his brawny neck the mastiff wore a stout leathern collar, and to this Eric cluno; with a grip f . ^ s F ;i)hat not even the awful violence of the breakers could jjinloose. Rather did it make his sturdy fingers but |close the tighter upon the leathern band. I Into the boiling flood the boy and dog were plunged ^oj^^ether, and bravely they battled to make the shore. MThe strucjojle would be a tremendous one for them, pmd the issue only too doubtful. The slope of the peach was very j^radual, and there was a lono^ distance ibetween where the briof struck and the dry land, ■|Wholly blinded and half-choked by the driving spray, lEric could do nothinof to direct his course. But he jc^nld have had no better pilot than the great dog, *vvhose unerring instinct pointed him straio^ht to the Ishoro, 36 'JHK WRECK. ! r i How loni^ they striigolcd witli the surf Eric coukl not tell. But liis streno'th had failed, and liis senses were fast leavini^ him, when liis f(}et touched sonip. thing firmer than tossing waves, and presently he ain] Prince were lifted up, and then hurled violently upon the sand. Hn.d he been alone, the recoil of the wavn would certainly have carried him back again into the sm'ge ; but the dog dug his big paws into the soft beach, and forced his way up, dragging his master with him. Dizzy, bewildered, and faint, V.vic staggered to lii> feet, looked about him in hope of finding the ninjor near, and then, seeing nobody, fell forward upon tlie sand in a dead faint. How long he lay unconscious upon the beach Iji had no idea; but when he at length came to hiiibel; he found a biii", bushv-bearded man bendino- over hiii: with a half -pi tying, half-puzzled look, while he^iJc him, ready for a spring, was faithful Prince, i--^ garding him with a look that said as plainly ;v vrords, — " Attempt to do my master any harm and I v;ill bt at your throat." But the bii^- man seemed to have no evil intenil r He had evich^ntlv been waitinof for Eric to o-ain coR' TIIK WRECK. 37 I'ic f'Oiikl^Bg^.j^^Q^in.,>;s, aji| the mnjor upon tiii'l .^ach hri o himseJL over him le be<^ide rince, i'?' lainlv ;i v . I will 1' 88 'p THE WJIECK. ! I !| Eric was eager to liear about ^lajor IMaunsiH fi:: the others who liad been on board tlie FraacU. \\Vi- it not for liis weakness he wouM be rininin^- up ;iii down the beach in search of them. But the teirilij, struggle with the surf, following upon the \ou<^ «-P posure to tlie storm, had completely exhausted liiin and he was sorelv bruised l)esides. Turning his fue up to the strange man, wlio seemed to have notliin. further to say on his own account, he asked liiiu^ anxiously, — " Where's Major ^launsell { Is he all right { ' Instead of answeiing, the man looked away troin Eric, and there was an expression on his face tk'Pl somehow sent a chill of dread to the boy's heart. " Please tell me what has happened. Oh, take iihL to him, won't you ? He's looking after me, you knuw,' he pleaded earnestly, the tears begimiing to well bm his eyes. Still tlie big man kept silence. Then as !•;: pressed him with entreaty, he suddenly wheeled aliuii! I and spoke in grutler tones than he had so far usecl- | " You'd best be still and keep quiet. You'll iitv.: | see Major Maunsell, as you call him, or any of t!:^ rest of them again, and you might just as well ki. it first as last." i% TMK WRECK. 89 At tlieso tlrcadt'iil words Eric raised liiinseli' by a [groat ortbrt to a sitting posture, gazed into the man's Ifaei' as though lioping to fnid some sign of his not Ib.'iiig in earnest, and then with a cry of frantic grief raving liimself back and buried his face in his hands, whilf hi ; wliolc frame shook with the violence of his Isohhhig. TIk' mail stood watching him in silence, although [his face, hard and stern as it was, gave evidence of [his being moved to sympathy with the boy. He Iseeiiied to be thinking deeply, and to be in much Idoubt as to what he should do. He was just about [to stoop down and lift Eric up, when a harsh, grating [voice called out, — " Hallo, Ben ! What have you got there ? " Itlll kountt'ii; )f ill'' luuianit] loss (.' 1' 1 ALONE CHAPTER IV. AMONG STRANGERS. B EN started as tliouiih lie had been cauulit some crime, and there was a sulkv tone in In. voice that showed very pUiinly that lie resent(.'d the appearance of the questioner, as he replied, — " Only a boy and a dog." The other man drew near and inspected Eric clo.^cly. Prince at once sprang to his feet, and taking up lii^ position between the new-comer and his j'oung niastii fixed his l)ig eyes upon the former, while his tcctli showed threateningly, and a deep growl issued fioiii between them. It was no wonder that the sa^jacious mastiff's sus- picions were aroused, for surely never before had lii> eyes fallen upon so sinister a specimen of humanity, The man was of little more than medium heio'ht ; but . Prince his frame showed great strength, combined with nn- ^| " Ho usual activity, and one glance was sufficient to nuuk |l-vii-E] diuiiken| from U' Tlii'ough in a 11 i'"' iixc.l fill To it ENil-Ey Iiaii\t'd h .\va.>, in of \vuecl> F.vil-l Slicfli W staling ^*' that S' m. w fl:)rute." •■i ALONK AMOXC; STUANtJKKS. 41 DllV ill li|. enteJ tl. ic clo.st'ly. iig- up ]ii^ g inastti j ucd fi'oiii iff's sus- liad lii> LUJianitv, flit ; but , vith iin- :o mark ^1111 out ns a man willi \\l)u;ii few could L*v)p(). His )unteuance, naturally u^i;ly, had boeii the playground \( the strongest and coarsest passions tiiat degrade imianlty, and was rendered still more ludeous hy the Joss of his left eye, which had been gouged out in a diuiikon 'inele'e, and by a, frightful scar that ran clear from tnnple to chin on the right side of his face. lu'uugh the remaining eye all the vile nature of the "thjui fouinl expression, and its baleful glare, when Ifixcd full upon one, was sim})Iy appalling. To it, perhaps more than to any other qnalit}^ vii-Kye — for so his comrades appropriately iiick- jiaiiRd him — owed his influence among them ; for ho was, in some sort, regarded as a leader of the band M wieekers to which both he and Ben belono-ed. I'A'il-Eye held in his right hand a cutlass whose sliccii w is already dinnned with suspicious stains. '\\ell," he growled, pointing at Eric, who was slaving at him spell bound with horror and dread, ?" that seems to be the last of them. Let's finish him ;;Oll' We want no tell-tales. — Out of the way, you brute." And he lifted his cutlass as though to strike P] -ill CO tirst. Hold ! " cried Ben, springing forward and grasping Kvil-Eye's arm. " Let the boy alone." . I • I : 42 ALONE AMONG STRANGERS. Let him alone," roared Evil-Eye, with a horn oath. " That I won't. Let go of me, will y oil And wrenching himself free by a tremendous eii'on le swunir tne th nmsei cutlass hiijh over his head and ru> -I CO .1 : upon the defenceless hoy, who was too terror-striekc to move or cry out. But quick as Evil-Eye's movements had been, tli.i was anothei- present whose movements were quick still. Witli a short, deep growl like a distant roll u, thunder, Prince launched himself full at the rnfliaih throat. His aim was unerring, and utterly unpi'epaiv, for so sudden an onset, the man rolled over upon ti sand, the cutlass fallino- harndessly from his hand. ' ~ t,' Content with havinu' brouoht him to the i-ioiiiii Prince did not pursue his advantage further, but ^tuu over the prostrate scoundrel, who made no attempt i move, wdiile he implored Ben to drag the dog olf Imn. But this Ben seemed in no hurry to do. He evi- dently enjoyed his associate's sudden defeat, ami felt little sympathy for him in his present predicameiii Then as he looked from the j^rowling mastiff to hi ,J youii^' master, who had almost forgotten his own fiai in his admiration for his faithful dog, a liappy tliou;ilit|| flashed into his mind. His face brightened, and tlior^ was a half-smile upon it, as, turning oo Evil-Eye, wk ileal' close to '' Loo iditiol - \Vh ICO) an» ^ Wh 1 wail if you'll as I \va I'll just Evil .head, h' coiupani siidit, ai '■ All then a ' ddcd, ' liare o hey'll Ben ut cue est. ■ i bis t "As his til r^. ALONE AMOXG STRANGERS. 4S 1 a horn,;, ^vill yoi! i^lous eliiji; ror-.stiickeii been, tli ■!• ^'re (juick:; tant roli F ilio niffian'^ uiipi-epai' L^ upon t:, s ]iaii(l, be i'']'ouiM I', but fitui/ attempt u Og Olf I rill: He .•'•;. t, a 111] felt I edicami'iit, tifF to In.; I !• "i 1 own i'^'iiiy )y thoiiL;'litp and tlKTcj ■Eye, \vlv:g ^ai'Ce dai'ed to breatbe lest tbose great black jav/s, so clo.se to bis tbvoat, would close tigbt upon it, be said, — , "Look bere, Evil-Eye. I'll take tbe <](»g off on one ojidition. Will you agree ? " " What is tbat ? " groaned Evil-Eye. '■ Why, I've taken a fancy to this lad and bis dog, and want to keep tbem for a wbile, anyway. Now, if you'll promise me tbat you'll let tbem alone so long- as I \va' ': tbem. 111 get tbe dog off; but if you won't. Til just let you bave it out witb bim." Evil-Eye did not answer at once. Twisting bis head, be looked around to see if any otber of bis companions were near ; but tbere was not a .>50ui in fiii'lit, and tbe storm was still ra£>ino'. "All right, Ben, I'll promise," be said sulkily; and tlieii a crafty gleam came into bis baleful eye as be added, " And say, Ben, will you give me half your sli.are of this take if I stand by you for tbe boy ? hoy'll be w^anting bim tinisbed off, maybe." Ben was about to say something bitter in reply, ut checked himself as thouo'h second thoughts were est. Yet be could not entirely conceal bis contempt in his tone as he replied, — " As you like. These two are what I w\ant most this tinie. But, mind you, Evil-E\e, if any barm 44 ALONE AMONG STRANGERS. 1 1 comes to either of them through your doiii«;', you! own blood shall pay for it, so sure as my nanic'b Bti. Harden." Then, turning to Eric, he said, — " Here, boy, you can call ott' your dog now." Eric obeyed the directions at once. " Comu Ik. iv Prince ! " he commanded. " Couie to me, sir ' " Prince wagged his tail to indicate that he heard tlif order, but w^as evidently in some doubt as to t';- wisdom of obeying it. According to his way oi thinking, the best place for Evil-Eye was just mIhiv he had him, and he would like to keep him thuruii while longer, anyway. But Eric insisted, and at leniith the doo- obeyed and came over to him, turning, however, to glance back at Evil -Eye, as though he was just itcliing to tumble him over aQ-ain. Looking very much out of humour, Evil-E}o piirie' himself together, an as to tl^ is WlW (;t just Wll(;l. Ill there a ►g obeyeJ. to ^a'lanc^ i telling t'j tliroat in done hiiii collar li ill aroiiiy: :ill better 5o lie Ava^ id fetlin: III now for the first time took a good look at Eric, who had also risen to his feet, the excitement of the eiicoiiiite]* having made him forget his pain and weak- ness. ' Humph ! rather a likely lad," he grunted. " But he niav give us trouble some time. Have you thought of that, Ben ? " • Xo ; but it doesn't matter," answered Ben. " I'll ^v;lrra:.:^ for his not getting us into trouble. AVe can manaue that all right when the time comes." • Humph ! maybe. But it's a risk, all the same," returned Evil-Eve. " But come, we must be off. We've lost too much time already." The all-prevailing gloom of the day was already cliepening into the early dark of late autumn as the three set off across the sands. The spray that tlie storm tore from the crests of the billows dashed in tlifir faces as they advanced. Eric could not have gone far had not Ben thrown his brawny arm around him, and almost carried him along. Prince trotted qniptly at his heels, having quite regained his com- posure, and resigned himself to the situation. In this fnshion thev had csone some distance, and E' il-Eyc. who liad. kept a little ahead, was about to turn otf to the riofht townrd the interior of the island, 46 ALONE AMONG STK ANGERS. when Prince suddenly snitted the air eagerly, threw lip his head with a curious cry, lialf whine, half Iirk and then bounded away in the direction of the water Eric stopped to watch hiui, and following him cloviv with his eyes, saw that he ran up to a dark ohjee; that lay stretched out upon the sand, about fifty \m awav. The doo; touched it with his nose, and tliffi lifting his head, gave a long, weird howl, that y. startled Eric as to make him foro-et his weariiiPv, Breaking away from Ben, who, indeed, made no effon to detain him, he hastened over to see what Priiir; had found. Darkness was coming on, but before he liatl ^i; half way to the object he could make out that it w;,- a human body, and a few steps nearer made it plai;: that the body was that of Major Maunsell. Horror stricken, yet hoping that the major DiiLi! still be living, Eric rushed forward, and throwin: himself down beside the motionless form, cried pa- sionately, — " Major Maunsell ! What's the matter ! Cair you look up ? Oh, surefy you're not dead I " But the major made no response. Beyond all dor' his body was cold in deatli, and as Eric looked upi. the white, set face, he saw that his cries were useless, s. ALONE AMONG STRANGEKS. 47 ^'crlj, threir ^, half bait f tlie watt! liim cIospIv dark oljjefi b fiftv vani. 3, and tlieii, wl, that ? i weariiie- de no etTon ^'hat PriiK;; he liaJ ^v,r that it w;;^ ide it plain lajor iiiii::! 1 throwiii: cried pa; t^ V Can* d all d(.r!i oked upoi. ere u^cl'^^' in '6. )ack upon , who lu'ii! 8 satisfied forc^cttin.' ne dinner 36 hungry, llino; a tin CHArTELl V. ERIC LOOKS ABOUT ItlM. IT was broad da^'liglit \\]\vn tlio boy awoke, and Ii, felt vciy well ])lease(l at fjiuliiig no one iu tin- room but Ben, who sat by the table, evidently wail- ing for him to open his eyes. As soon as he di.l so the hitter lioticed it, and coming up to the bunk said in liis grutl' way, — " Oh, ho ! Awake at last. Was wondcriiiL; il' V')k were going to sleep all day. Feel like turning out,' " Of course," replied Eric, brightly. " I feel all ri^iii now. On getting out of the bunk, however, he fonnii himself so di'eadfully stiif and sore that it wns poM- tively painfid to move, and he had much dillienlty ii' draii'ii'imjj himself over to the table, where he foun'J ; pile of ship's biscuit and a pannikin of tea nwaitiic him. He did not feel at all so hungry as Ik.' lui'l tin night before, and this very plain repast seemed vd} Kiac LOOKS Ar.OlJ'I' II I M. 55 untiUnictivo, accastonied as he was to tlw host of t'iii'c. Ho iiil)l->lc;(l at i\ui biscuit, took a si[) of the U'ii, mill tlu'ii pushed tlie thin^i^s away, saying, — '' 1 don't want any breakfast, tliaiik you. I'm not a bit hungry." Ben was too shrewd not to guess tlie true reason of tlu! boy's indillerent appetite. " There's not niucli choice of Lirub on Sable Isl- (IIKl d 1 saiU lie, with one til of 1 lis iirini smiles ou 11 li;i\o to take kindly to hard- tack and tea if you don't Wiint to starve >) " Ijut really I am not hungry," explained Eric eagerly, afi'aid of seeming not to appreciate his fiionds hospitality. " If I were, I'd eat the biscuits fil^t enough, for I'm quite fond of them." Ben now proceeded to fdl and light a big pipe. '' Do you smoke ?" he asked, after he had got it in full blast. '' Oh, no," nnswered Eric. " My father doesn't ItL'lievc.' ill boys smoking, and has forbidden me to Icaiii." " Vour fatht'r's a sensible man, my boy," said Ben ; tlici) added, " AVdl, you'd best stay about tlic hut to- <1h3', shice you feel so still'. I'\e got to go off", but ill be back by mid-day." He put on his hat and 56 ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HIM. 11 went away, leaving Erio and Prince in possession of the establishment. Eric did noi by any means like the idea of beino' left alone, but he naturally shrank from sayin<>' so, He went to the door and regretfully looked after the tall figure striding swiftly over the sand until it div appeared behind a hillock, beyond which he thou'lt must be the ocean. Now that he was left entirely to his own rcsoui-nes, Eric's curiosity began to assert itself. Had lie Imt known in what direction to go, and felt equal to the task, his hrst business would certainly have hcun to set forth in search of the scene of the wreck, if haply he might find traces of other survivors besides himself. But neither could he tell where to o-o, nor was hi- fit to walk any great distance. For a\ight he knew. he miu'ht be miles from tlie beach where the Fraucfi finally struck. Anyway, Evil-Eye was certain to h there, hunting foi* more prizes, and lie had no \Yi:li to encounter him. So he proceeded to examine lii^ strano'e surrounding's. The hut — for, despite its size, it was really notliing more than a hut — was a very curious building. It had evidently been put together by many hands, out I ElUC LOOKS ABOUT Hlivi. 57 ■i,ii session of of bein-v saying so, . after the itil it div - tllOU^'lit resournes^ d lie ki vi\ to the ) h('(in to wreck, ii' 's be.sidih )r was lit' 10 knew. lin to be no wi'll iiiine \m iiodiinii' mug. It mds, out I of tlie wreckage of many ships, the builders appa- rently being more proficient in ship-carpentry than in I house-ioinery. Their labours had resulted, through an amazing adaptation of knees, planking, stanchions, and bulk-heads, in a long, low-ceilinged, but roomy .builuing, something after the shape of a large vessel's poop, For lighting and ventilation it depended upon a number of port-holes irregularly put in. Running I around two sides of the room was a row of bunks, ^ tr\' much like those in a forecastle, the tier being two high, Eric counted them. There w^ere just thirty, and he wondered if each had an occupant. If f so, ho nuist have sle2:>t in Ben's last night, and where, then, had Ben himself slept ? ITpon the walls of the other two sides of the room knng a great number of w^eapons of various kinds — cutlasses, swords, muskets, dirks, daggers, and pistols, l a perfect armoury, all carefully burnished and ready tor use. They strongly excited Eric's curiosity, and be occupied himself examining them one by one. ^hie pair of pistols especially attracted his attention. They were of the very latest make, and the handles Were beautifully inlaid with silver. He took one troni the wall, and aimed at one of the port-holes with it. As he did so a thought flashed into his ERIC LOOKS ABOUT 11 IM. II ■ ! mind that gave him an electric thrill, and sent tlie blood bounding wildly through his veins. What if that port-hole were the repulsive rnmi. tenance of Evil-E^'e, and they were alone togitiw ; Would Jie be able to resist the impulse to give wiili his forefinger the slight pressure upon the tiinjlv- balanced trigger that would send a bullet eia-,lii:i:; into the ruffian's brain ? So intense was liis vxm- ment that he almost stao-o-ered under its iiiihience, For the first time in his life an overmastering pa:ssiun for revenge, for retribution, took possession of liirn, and carried him out of himself. Smooth, cloar, aiil briij'ht as the lovelv stream that watered the Oiikdene meadows had been the current of his life Liiliirto. To few boys had the lines fallen in pleasanter places, Yet this happy fortune had not rendered liiui iri- manly or irresolute, lie was capable of coiiceivir.^ and carrying out any purpose that lay within t'l' range of a boy's powers. The Copeland courage ami the Copeland determination were his inheritaiiCL'. Now never before had he been brought into coiitaci with any one who had so roused his repul>>ii)ii or liatred as Evil-Eve. Not only b.^cause of his liidcoih appearance and tlu'eatcned violence, but bicaii.^e ot JJens dark hints and his own suspicions as to Evil- ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HIM. 69 |E\'(' being no better than a niui'derer, the very depths of liis nature were stirred, and he felt as though it :\vuukl bo but right to inflict summary vengeance at the fuv-it opportunity. Trembling with these strange, wild thoughts, he liel'-l the j_'istol still pointed at the port-hole, and nn- I consciously pressing upon tlie trigger, there was a sharp report, which caused Prince, dozing comfortably by tlio fire, to spring to his feet with a startled orowb followinix the crash of broken o'lass, as the bullet pierced the port-lid. Almost at the same moment the door was thrown rou;^'bly open and Evil-Eye entered the room. " "What are you doing witli my pistols?" he cried, his ffico aflame with rage, as he strode toward Eric. Scarce knowing what he was doing, Eric snatched up the other pistol and darted around the big table, so that it would form a barrier between himself and EvibEye. His hand was perfectly steady now, and Knelling tlie pistol at his assailant, he said in a firm tone, — "' Let me alone, or I'll shoot you." Witli a feai'ful oath tlie ruffian drew a pistol from bis belt, and in another moment blood would un- doubtedly have been shed, had not Ben Harden 60 ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HIM. rushed in through tlie open door, and snateliing Evil- Eye's pistol out of his hand, thrown it to the otliei end of the room, where it went otF without haim to any one. " You scoundrel ! " he roared. " If you don't leave that boy alone, I will break every bone in your body." At first Evil-Eye was so completely taken aliack by this unexpected interference that he seemed duz.l for a moment. Then his hand went again to his belt. as though he would turn his baffled fury u]x)n Ben. But evidently a wiser second thought prevailed, aiiii choking down his wrath, he growled out contemptu- ously, — " Don't be in such a stew. I'm not goino: to hmt your baby. I was only teaching him manners, and not to meddle with other people's belongings without first askin<>" their leave." This speech drew Ben's attention to the pistol Erie still held in his hand. " Ah," said he, " you'v^e got one of Evil-Eye's pet> there, liave you ? Well, put it back in its jilace, ani don't touch it again." Feeling very confused, Eric replaced the pistols carefully, their owner watching him with a nialii;!! ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HIM. 61 glare which boded him no good. Its meaning was not lost upon observant Ben. •' Come, my lad," said he ; " a bit of an airing will do you good. Put on your cap, and come out with ine. Only too glad to obey, Eric picked up his cap, and calling to Prince, followed Ben out into the open air, leaving Evil-Eye alone in the hut. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was almost cloudless, and the wind blew as softly and innocently I, h'om the south as though it had not raged with fatal finy but a few hours before. Eric's spirits, which liad been wofully depressed by the events of the past i two davs, boo'an to rise a little, and he looked about him with much interest as he trudged along through I the deep sand. Ben appeared to be in no mood for talking, and stalked on ahead in moody silence, pufRng hard at I tlie short black pipe which was hardly ever away fi'om his mouth except at meal-time and when he I was sleeping. Eric therefore did not bother him P with questions, and found companionship in Prince, who showxd lively satisfaction in being out-of-doors, I frisking about and barking loudly in the exuberance P of his glee. One good night's rest and plenty to eat )Z ERTO LOOKS ATIOTJT TTTM. had been suflieiont to coiiipletol}^ restore his shvi^tl] He looked and felt quite equal to anything that uiinht be required of him, and was an inexpressible conii'oit to Eric, to whom he seemed much more than a looie dog — a protector and friend, who could be trustr,! to the uttermost. Half-an-hour's walking brought Ben to tlic liii^hcst point of a sand-ridge, where lie threw hiiiisolf, wait- ing for Eric, who had lagged behind a little, to come up. '' Sit ye down, lad," said he, when the boy readied him. " You're feeling tired, no doubt." Eric was tired, and very glad indeed to scat liiin- self near Ben, who continued to puff away at liis pipe, as though he had nothing more to say. Tliii^ left to himself, Eric let his eves wander ovir the strange and striking scene spread out before him, He was upon the crest of a sand-hill, a hmi'liTil feet or more in height, which sloped to the '>oacii upon whose glistening sands the great billows wore breaking, although the day was clear and calm. Fur out beyond the serried lines of white-mancd sea- coursers the ocean could be seen sleeping peaccfnlly. Here and there, upon the sand-bars, the hulls of ves- sels in various stages of destruction told plainly lio^v EPJC LOOKS ABOUT ITTM. 63 jcommou was tlic fate which had befallen the Francis, [{ind Ik'w rich a field the wreckers had chosen for Ithuir dreadful business. Tnrniu^j: to his right, Eric saw a lonp^ narrow lake iin tlio middle of the island, its banks densely grown iwitli rushes and lilies. Upon its placid surface flocks of (lucks wTre paddling, while snipes and sand-pipers I hopped along the margin. The valley of the lake I pn.'sonted a curious contrast to those portion.' of the j island that faced seaward, for it was thickly carpeted ^vith coarse grass and wihl vines, wliich were still j green enough to be grateful to the eye weary of the moneiouy of sand and sea. Upon the left the island rose and fell, a succession of sanddnlls. Far in the distance, a faint line of I white showed where it once more touched the ocean, and a'jivc cause for other lines of roarinix suro-es. All ;this and more had Eric time to take in before Ben ibroko silence. He had been regarding him very !thoui4'htfully for a few moments, and at length he spoke, — ''Well, lad," said he, ''I've been thinking much .altout ye. I've saved your life, but I'm not so clear in my mind but what it 'ud have been best to have let you o'o with the others." 64 ERIC LOOKS ABOUT HUI Ei'ic gave a start of surprise, ano it went on, until I lost my lad. He and his niati; wdi out in their dory fishing, and the cod w^ero plcnti and they were so fidl of catching them that tiny not notice the fog coming up and creeping all avonml them. They lost their bearings, and no man ovor set eyes on them again. " I didn't give up hoping I'd find them for iiioiuh^ afterwards. I cruised about the Banks, I call(i aceonrn o'oru'ooi have 1 iiiannei keepiii Littl liberal o-ariuci: o backs ( have b struttii superb foi'ces • Altl shocke all the about oecnpi to hhi was 1 h'll tc Th associ BEN I!A1U)I:N. 78 vory much to tlicir likino-. Moreover, the clothinsj: chests had been raii.sacked, each man helping himself according to his fancy. The result was a display of gorgeous uniforms and elegant apparel that would have heen quite imposing had not the faces and iiianners of the wearers been so ludicrously out of keeping ^vith their costumes. Little did Prince Edward imajjine, when ordering: liberal additions to his wardrobe, that those resplendent ganiieiits were destined to be worn to tatters on the backs of the wreckers of Sable Island. What ^ 'ould have been his feelings could he have seen Evil-Eye strutting about as proud as a turkey-cock in the superb uniform intended for the connnander of the forces at Halifax ? Although the profuse profanity of the speakers shock(vl and sickened him, Eric listened attentively to all that was said, in the liope of picking up something about his future. But the wreckers were too much occupied with their own affairs to pay any attention to him. Presently Black Joe announced that supper was ready, whereupon they all stopped talking, and nil to with ravenous appetites. The table looked curiously out of keeping wdth its associations of squalid hut and coarse, brutal men. 74 BEN HARDEN. It was covered with a cloth of richest daiiuisk that should have adorned a royal dining-room, and sot out wdth china, glass, plate, and cutlery of correspondinff elegance. It filled Eric with indignation and disoust to see the wreckers hacking their meat with i\oiv- handled knives, impaling their potatoes upon silvir forks, and quenching their thirst by copious draiiglits out of cut-glass goblets, which seemed to be descciateii by their foul toucli. Ben motioned him to a seat beside liiui,belf, and helped him bountifully. Ill at ease as the boy felt, he was very hungry, and was glad to do full justice to the coarse but plentiful fare provided by Black Joe, The wine he would not touch. The hearty supper and the abundant wine put the men in even better humour than before, and Ben now saw his opportunity to carry out a plan that had Leen forminnj in his mind. Risinof to his feet, he secured his companions' attention by rapping loudly upon the table with the handle of his knife, and then proceeded to surprise them by making a little speech ; for so chary of his words was he, as a usual thing, that they sometimes called him Silent Ben. " I want a w^ord with you, mates," said he ; and ut once every face was turned toward him. BEN HARDEN. 75 "You see this boy here. Now, I've taken a great likin"' to him, and I'm willing that he and his dog shall be counted as part of my share of this last prize. That's all right, ain't it ? " "Ay, ay, Ben; right cnougli," came from half-a- dozcn of them, while some of the others looked a little doubtful, as if they didn't know exactly what was commg. CHAPTER VJI. w A SAT.LE l.SLAXi) AVIXTER. ELL now, look here, mates," Ben continued; '' fail' and square's tlie word between lis. ain't it ? It' I choose to take a notion to tlic->e t^vo here, it's my own lookout, and it's not for any othi r chap to be interfering with me, any more than I'd lo after wantini*- vour thinus, eh ? " They were beginning to see what ho was driving at now, and one of them said, with a sort of sneer.— " You're not afraid of any one wanting your boy, or his dog either, are you ? " " Not exactly," answered Ben ; " but what Eve on my mind is this: seeing they're my property, I ov"s lii'i'. It was against his principle of dead men telling no tales that he shouM he spared ; and, again, he hated Beii, and the mere fact of his beinoj interested in Erie was quite sufficient to cause the inn "cnt lad to got a share of that hatred. In the days that followed, Eric could not fail to be conscious of the frerpiency with which the riitiian's one eye was turned upon liim, and. of the hyona-like look with which it regarded him. Happy for Inia was it that there was a restraining- influence which kept tliat awful look from finding its way into fitting deed. Thouodi they did not distiactlv recoo-nize anv leader — their motto being each man for himself, and one as good as another — the wreckers regarded Ben with a respect accorded no other member of the motley erew, A SABLE ISLAND WINTER, 70 This was in -mrt duo to his crreat size and stroiiotli, aii fovnior l<)(^k of linii^crinL;' Imtrd, hr. now sooincd to havo a foiling of dread. Ilo shrank from IxiiiM' n..iv hhn, avoidini^' liini in cv(My possilik^ way ; tivntinrr liiiu, in fact, much as a dog would a man wlio luu;. been especially cruel to him. V)vn and l^^i'ic at once noted the ehanne, and wore well })li'ased at it. Some time after, they It^nrinMl the .^ause. It seemed that the eveninLi" Evildlvc lia'i acted so strangely he had l)een awakencil Uvwi lii, drunken sleep ahout mi(hiight by a startling vision. It was the form of a tall man in a military uniiorm dripping with sea- water and soiled with sand. On his face was tlie pallor of death, and his e\'('S liad an awful, fai*-away expression, as though tiny wwv looking through the startled sleeper. Fixiiiu' Hk'hi steadfastly upon Evil-Eye, wdiosc blood seemed to fivozi^ in his veins, he held up his forefinger as if eoiuinnii'l- ing attention, and pointed to the bunk whoi'i' Eric lay sleeping. At the same time his face took on n threatening look, and his lips moved. Although no words reached Evil-Eye's onrs lie understood. As the spectre stood Ijcfoi'c liim. so intense was his terror that it broke the s]it'11 wliich locked his lips, and he shrieked out the words iilri ady A 8AliLi: ISLAM) XVlXriOK. 83 nioniiniiod. Mo knnw no move until, at broad day- light, lu' i'cnnid liims('lf weak and inisorablo in Ids licrtli. Liko many men of his kind, l^]vil-Eye was very superstitious. At'tov tlio vision lie looked upon Eric us lioini;' under the pi'otection oi' some gliostly beino- tli.it would for ever haunt any one wlio did him any juu'in. llencofortli Eric had nothini-' to fear from liim. C7 Willi ev on Sablo Island is not like winter on the inn inland. The Gulf Stream prevents any lono' con- liiHinnce of cold. Tha snow comes in violent storms, and iills the valleys with drifts; hut those soon vniiisli. There is more rain and foo- tlian snow, even ill mid-winter; and the herds of wild, shnf^-gy, sharp- I'Oiiod ponies which scamper from end to end of the island have no difHculty in finding plenty to eat unieng the grasses which gr^ w rankly in every shel- te !'(,'( 1 spot. Those ponies were a gn ;).t source of amusement to Kric. P.ut for them nnd th^ rabbits, whicli were even move numerous, the winter, wearisome at best, would ha\o been simply intolerable. The wreckers liad captured a score of the ponies, '111(1 broken them in after a fashion. They were kept 84 A SABLE ISLAND WINTETI. near the hnt, in a large corral built of drit'twood, and there were plenty of saddles and bridles. Now if there was one manly acconiplishmcnt- moic than another upon which Eric prided hiniselL* it wa.^ his horsemanship. He had been put upon a pony when only five years old, and had been an entlmsias- tic rider ever since. At Oakdeiie he had riikk-u to hounds since he was twice fiv^e years of age, and tliero wr,s not a lad in tlie county with a firmer seat in tlio saddle or a more masterful touch of the reins. TL-j saddles and bridles at Sable Island were poor tliin-s compared with those he had been accustomed to : and the ponies themselves were about as wicked and \'icious as animals of that size could be. Liit tlii^ only lent an additional zest to the anuisement ot riding them. Their bad behaviour did not damit Eric in the least. With Ben's assistance a pony would be caught in the corral and saddled, and then off he would go for a long, lively gallop. Prince, as full of glee as himself, barking and bounding almg at his side. Very often Ben would keep him comj^any, i'oi' there was an old black stallion of unusual size, ^vllich seemed e(}ual to the task of bearing his huge b'ame. Then Eric's happiness was complete, for every day ^^^ A SABLE ISLAND WINTER. 85 ^\•as groA^'iiig fonder of the big man who had saved him from a dreadful death, and ^Yllo now treated him witli paternal tenderness. WitJi the keen wintry air making- Jiis cheeks tino-le, he would scamper otf at full speed for mile after mile, wliih' Ben lumbered along more slowly, thoroughly eiijoyiiig the boy's vigour and daring. Then, halt- iiii;' until Ben overtook him, he would canter on An annisement of whicli Eric never tired was cluisiug the wild ponies, as though he wanted to eateli one of them. Climbing" one of the sand-hills, lie would look about until he si^'hted a herd crazinii' qnietly in the hollows, and guarded as usual by a toiizh.'-maned stallion of mature years. Making a ^\■i(le detour, and carefully concealing his approach by keeping the hillocks between himself and the ponies, he would get as near as he possibly could without being seen. If necessary, he dismounted and crept ale'iig on his hands and knees, dragging his own pony by the bridle, while Prince followed. When concealment was no longei' possible, he would •spring into his saddle, and with wild shouts charge '!< \^■Il upon the startled ponies ; and they would gallop off in headlong stampede. 86 A SABLE ISLAND WINTER. One afternoon, while thus amusing hiinsclf, lie had quite an exciting experience, and rather a naiTuw escape from injury. He had stampeded a lieid of ponies, and picking out a sturdy little youngster n- his particular prey, was pressing him pretty closflv, when the pony charged straight up the side of a liill, As it was not steep, Eric followed hard after him, taking for granted the slope would be ahout ilic .same on the other side. Instead of that, the hill fell away abruptl}'. Over plunged the luuited pony. T^nalil" to check his own animal, full of the spirit of tlie chase, over plunged Eric too. For a mouiout I'olh ponies kept their feet ; but the treaclierous sau'l giving way beneatli them, tliey rolled head over heels. Eric happily got free from liis horse in time to savv himself from being crushed underneatli it ; but when they all reached the bottom in a heap togctliei', h*' could not escape the frantically pawiug hoof-, aii'l one of them struck him such a blow upon tlic he id a^ to stun him. When he recovered he found himself lying n\)0\\ the sand, not a pony in sight, and Prince lickiiii;' hi^ face with affectionate anxiety. His head achul sharply, and he felt somewhat sore after his treiiKii- dous tumble ; but not a bone was broken nor a joint 1 • < A SABLE ISLAND WINTER. 87 spiiiiiied. Thankful at having gotten olf so well, he iiuulo the Lest of his way 1)ack to the hut. Bon was greatly pleased at the adventure, and re- oLv.'tted he had not been there when ponies, boy, and Jol;' rolled down the hill together. '- You ought to let your friends know when you're ooiiiii" to ti'ive a performance like that, my lad," said 111", after a hearty laugh. " It's too good to keep to Yuiu'self." " Perhaps you'd like me to repeat it for you," Eric suu'u'csted. " No indeed, Eric. You got off all right tliat time, but you might break your precious neck the next. How A\x)uld you like to have a try at a morse ? The 111(^1 teU me they saw a lot of therxi at the west end this morning ; and as you're so fond of hunting, tliere's something w^U worth killing." ciiAPTEU vni. H A N X I () U ,S TIME S. 0\V would I like it?" cried Eric, liis i'acr^ beaniiriLi'. " Why, above all tbinii's. I'vo often seen pictures of tlie great ni;ly creatures, and 1 think it vvould be just splendid to shoot one and get bis tusks." " All ri--ht, my boy," replied Ben. " We'll start the first tbino- in the mornino-." Accordin^dy, the next niornino; the two set out upon their ponies for the west end. Ben carried n heavy nuisket that would send a load of slug's through a ship's side, and Eric a light smooth-bore, the accuv acy of which lie liad proved by fi-equent practice. As they would be away all day, they took plciitv of biscuits with tliem. Prince, of course, accompanied them, nnd as soon as they had disposed of breaki'a.^t they started. '.'^hi ;.e XsX've iiiany creatures to be found on Sable ANXIOUS TIMES. 89 Maiul ill those days ^vhich would bo vainly souo-ht I'or now. Besides the ponies, a large number of wild cattle and hogs roamed aboiit the interior, and fur- iiis]ie*l the wreckers with abundant meat ; while iliiriiig the winter the morse, or walrus, and the great Gi'eenland seal paid the beaches regular visits. The connnon harbour seal was there all the year immd. Of these animrls, only the ponies and com- mon seals still remain ; the others liave been all killed ofF. AMien Ben and Eric drew near the end of the island they dismounted and tethered the ponies, so tliat they couid not run back to the corral. They then made their way cautiously to the edge of the Kn.nk thrown up by the waves. Ben was a little ahead of Eric, and the moment he peeped over the bank he turned and motioned Eric to follow. " Look, lad ! " said he, in a voice full of excitem t, as he pointed to the beach in front. "There liicy are '. Aren't they beauties ? " Eric looked, and his face showed the surpr m ]\o liiHl too much sense to put into words. " Benuti(\s ! " he thought to himself. " Why, they are the most hideous monsters I ever saw in my life." And they certainly were hideous, with their huge, IK) ANXIOUS TI3IES, dun-coloured, ungaiuly bodies, their bullet Ik'juIs, thoiv grizzly beards, their terrible tusks, and their l)ul"-iim' eyes. They looked as ugly as some iiiglituiare vi.^ion, Plucky as he was, Eric could not restrain a tii'inor us he o-azed at theui. But he had no time to iudul'v,' his feelings, for Ben said in a hoarse whisper,— - " You take tliat tuskiT right in front of yen, aivl I'll take the big fellow to the right, and when 1 ^av •' Fire ! ' let drive. Be sure and aim rii-ht at the nose." Eric's heart was beating wiltJly, and he coiiM scarcely breathe for excitement ; but liis hand wii< steady as he drew the musket to his shoulder, aii-l took careful aim at the nose of the walrus Ben liau assigned to him. Giving a quick glance to scu tlmt all was ready, Ben called " Fire ! " Like the report of one the two muskets cracked together, and the marksmen peered eagei-ly tluoiiuli the smoke to sec the result. Clearly enougli tlitir aim had been i-'ood ; for while the remainder (f i'k little pack of walruses lumbered off into the v\-.:il:'.i' snorting with terror, the two that had been \}kh\ out as targets did not follow. Ben's fell over uii ili' sand, to all appearance dead; but Eric's pluiig'il madly about, seeming to be too bewildered tu take refuL!'e in tiii^lit. ANXIOUS TIME8. 91 Ifctily reloading, the hunters rushed upon their prey, and Ben, seizing a good opportunity, put another charge of slugs into the struggling creature's head, just behind the ear, which cut short its sutf'erings. " Harrah 1 '' cried Ben, radiant with pride and sat- isiaetion, " We've got them both, and no mistake. We'll each have a tine pair of tusks, won't we ^ " Eiie was no less delighted, and all his nervousness hnving vanished, executed a sort of war-dance around the prosti-ate forms of t)-e sea-monsters, which looked all the uijlier tlie closer he i;'ot to them. DrawinLC a \Aif Ivuife from his belt, Ben approached his ^^'*^h'us to sever the head from the body, Eric standing' a little tlistance ofF to w^atch him. They were quite sure the creature was dead ; but the instant the sharp steel touched its neck it came to life, for it had been only stunned. With a sudden sweep of its fore-tlipper, it hurled Ben over upon his back, sending the knife Hying from his hand. ■ Eric ! quick ! for God's sake ! " cried Ben, as he fell. The infuriated monster was riiiht over him. In mother moment those terrible tusks would have been buried in his body, when, with a roar like that of a lion, Prince launched himself full at the walrus's head, 02 ANXIOUS TIMES. and liis great fangs closed tiglitly in tlie soft pait whore the liead joins tlie neck. Utterini;' a wnw: quite e(]ual to the dog's, the morse turned u|i()ii l,is new assailant ; hut just as lie did so, Eric's nflfj spoke again. Its hullet craslied into the Mioiisttii-s brain, and with a mad fhu'ry, which loosened even Prince s hold, it rolled over upon the sand, this time dead beyond question. Ben sprang to his feet, an"et thern out in perfect cond'' oiily { v.itli per ANXIOUS TIMES. 93 \\oiiM be necessary to boil tlie li(\uls until tlio llesli oaino otr readily ; so tbey had to take them back to till' hut for that purpose. AW'II satisliod with the result oi' their hunt, they ato their lunch and took a i>ood rest before retiirnino; to {]\o hut, which they reached early in the afternoon. They both folt that they were now bound to each otlior by ties of peculiar stren^'ili. Eric, uncertain and full of (hiliculty as to the future, somehow felt con\inced that Ben would brin<>" it out all riMit fur him. He httle imagined how nuich he would help himself in escaping. Chasiiig' ponies and hunting walruses were not the only amusements Sable Island afibrded Eric. As has bt'Gii already mentioned, the grassy dolls abounded ^vitli ral)bits and the marshy lake and ponds with •\viM fowl. The rablnt-shooting was really capital' sport. The bunnies were fine big fellows, as lively and wary as any sportsman could wish, and to secure ii good bag of them meant plenty of hard work. 1 1 was tlie rabbit-hunting that found Prince in his glory. Had he been a greyhound instead of a liiastiff he could not have entered more heartily into die chase. To be sure, he pi'oved, upoi^ the whole, rather more of a hindrance than a help ; but no 04 ANXIOl S TIMKS. suspicion of tills fact over dasliod his l»rio^lit spirit, aiul not I'or the world would Eric have liiiit'^d it to liiiii. Tlis I'odeoiniiig quality lay in liis n^tiirvini^^ i'or he liad been carefully trained to fetch mid canv and ho ([uickly loarnely ii]"iii the pack one day, and grasping by the tail a fim. sleek, shiny little fellow. After a couple of weeks confinement in a pen, that Eric built for him, with constant, kind attention, the captive became so c young master, that he was allowed his liberty, fk' showed not the slightest disposition to run away AXXT(^T'S 'IIMKS. i)5 l:;ric' iVdind liim qiiito as intt^lliucnl nu<\ ^\ov\\v n« ?. (locf, iinil tauirlit liiin manv jiimisin''' tricks. So lni»L^* as the woatlun' was iim^ Vlv'w Imd ]>1(Mi(v of rniV'S I'or low spirits. But in tlir w iul(U' tli(> ])ri)|H)r- tion ui" fine days to foul is very small on Sablo Mnnd. For n whole week at a time the suu would not appear, and lon^' storms were fnujuent, llap])ily, tliev<> was one resource at )iand i'or the stori'.v' weatlior. Aiiioug the spoils of the Francis was a. leather- povored hox, so handsome and so heavy that one of \\\c wreckers, feelino* sure it contained souK'thiuii* valna-hle, brought it carefully ashore. When Ik^ iirok'o it open he was nnieh diso-nsted to iiud that it contained nothing; hut books. Tie iluu_<;" it into a corner, boastina* that "he had no book laruin', and wliat's more, didn't want none." I'l'ic afterwards picked it up, anack of his ''link, and thenceforth, when compell('y clap[)ijii;- Inni on the back as he passed, and saying, in his most enconraginL;- tone, — "Keep up your heart, my lad. We'll maiiu",. \-^ somehow." But the removal of the booty was almost eoiiiplote, and still he did not know his fate. Only aiiotlic'i' boat-load of stutl' remained to be taken oft; and in tlu' boat that came for this were Ben, Evil-Eye, aiiuments. His countenance showed 1i< v,'i> wavering, and his opposition weakening. With rising hope, Eric noted this. Evil-Eye .^aw it too, but with dilierent feelings. He thought k FAllKWKI.L TO SAI'.LK ISLAND. 10:3 lvil-E\x' haw tinio to iiitei'fure, and; drawing noarcr, l)egan, in a IuikI, luilf-tlireateiiiiig tone, — '• Say, now, captain — " I'nt before he could get out another word Ben wlit'cled rcjund, his face allanie witli anger. Ivising to liis utmost height, lie drew a pistol from his belt, ujid pointing it straight at Evil-Eye's breast, roared out. — '• th)ld that tongue of yours, / say, or J'll put a Inillet through your heart before you can wdnk." With a start of terror the ruffian shrank away from the giant who towered above him, and satisfied that 111- would not venture to interpose again, Ben I'esumed his talk with the captain. For a little longer the dialoo'uc continued. What the arouments were that Ben used, or what inducements he offered, Eric did not learn until afterwards. But, oh 1 what a bound his heart gave when Ben left the captain and came toward him, his face so full of relief as to seem almost I'iidiant. " It's all right, my lad," said he, grasping him by tlie shoulder and pushing him toward the boat. You're to come. Let's hurry up now and get on b^ard." Too overjoyed to speak, Eric hastened to obey; 1(H IWUKWKLL I'O SAHLK ISLAND. .ill!. givinq; J^on a look of iiiisp(3akiil)lo gratitude as ho clasped his hand with passionate fervour. Kvil-Kyo scowled terribly wdicn the hoy sprang into tlw^ lioat, and dared only nuitter liis protests, for clearly erK)ii<;li lien was in no mood for trilling, and the ca])taiii ^v,^s evidi'utly quite on his side. Without waiting for an invitation, Prince promptly leaped in beside his young master, at which the nun in the boat laughed, and the captain said good- humouredly, — " Let him conje too. He's too good to leave 1»l;- hind." In a few minutes more, Eric, with a feehng of glad relief beyond all power of words to express, hUmmI upon the schooner's deck and looked back at tlie island which for well nigh half a year had been his prison — almost his grave. The low, broad, weather-beaten hut was easily visible. " How good God was to protect me there ! '" he thought, as he recalled the many scenes of violence he had witnessed. " I wonder what is to become of me. Poor father must have given me up for dead lonff ao'o. Shall I ever o-et to him ? " With many a " Yo ! heave ho ! " the sailors set about raising the anchor, the schooner's broad wings FAKKWKiJ. 'I'D s.\i;li-: island. 105 wciv hoisted to catcli tlu; breeze already Idowiiig, and soon she was speedin*^' away southward toward Boston. 'y\\vy had just got well under way when, happening to glance around, Eric, wlio was standing in tlie bow cniovini'' tlie swift rush of tlie schooner throuiili the I'ljiuiiing water, noticed a number of the wreckers and tlie crew gathered about the captain on the poop. They were exaihhiing something very carefully tlirougli Ills telescope. Following the direction of the glass, Kiic could make out a dark object risini»' out of the uater, several miles away on tlie port side. This was evidently the cause of the men's concern. Almost unconsciously he drew near the group, in order to !i<\Tr what they were saying. The captain just then liMiided tlie telescope to Evil-Eye. His face darkened with ra<>'e as he said, " It's one i)f those British brigs, and no mistake, and she's run- ning right across our course. If we keep on this way 'Ae'll fall right into her clutches. Look you, Evil-Eye, and see if I'm not riiiht." Evil-Eye took the glass and looked long and care- i'nlly. It was clear enough that he came to the same conclusion as the captain, for one of his most liideous ^^cowls overspread his countenance as he growled uUt, lOd rAin:\vi:i.L to saiilk isi.and. I' i|;l' t '\l " It's tilt' l)i'i,n', Jind no iiiistakt', and we're runnin.; sti'ai<^'ht into her jaws. We'll have to gu aljoiit aii-l sail oft' si lore, captain." At once the captain roared out his ualers, and the sailors spraiii'' to ohey. There was a rattliiii; of blocks, a creaking- ot* booms, a fierce tlappiiii]^ of cunvfi^ After a moment's liesitation in the eye of the wiinl, the schooner gracefully fell olf, and was soon glidin- away on the other tack, with the brig now }iliii(i>i directlv astern. Whatever doubt there may have been on boaid ih'' brig as to the propriety of pursuing the schooner was dissipated by its sudden change of course; and, still distant though she was, a keen eye could make out that they were hoisting additional sails and niakiiiir every eti'ort to overtake the schooner. There were yet three hours of davliu'ht, an>l th brig was evidently a fast sailer. The sclioonci's chance of escape lay in keeping her well astern ui'ti! night came on, and then, by a sudden change of couise slipping away from her in the darkness. Every inch of canvas the schooner boasted wth clapped on her, and, almost buried in foam, she ruslaU madly through the water. Eric s first feeling, on seeing the brig, and the leai fai:k\vi:m. to sai'.lio island. Wi rivatt'd aiiioii;^' lii.^ capturs, ^vas ut' iiitciiM; joy, and lie watcht'll its steady <''i'0\vtli ui)oii tla; liDrizoii witli i'u<;('r anx'u'ty. He did not notice tlu' oininoiis looks cii.st upon liini hy l'^\ il-J'^yc and others, until Jjen, whoso eyes Heoiued to iniss nothing', di*ew him away to his t'uniier post near the bows, sa^'iii*^', in a deep iindcr- Lunc, — "Come with me, lad. 1 want a word with you." Ben's countenance showed that he was nuicli trouhled, and Kv'w, full of hope though he was at tlie iiL'.ir prospect of his own deliverance, could not help Rciing as though it were very selfish of liim, for it (vrUiiidy meant that Ben would be placed in danger. He determined in bis own mind that il' the brie*' should ca]:^turo the schooner, he would plead so hard for his kiiiil rescuer that no harm would be done him. 'Will the brig catcb up to us, Ben?" he asked ea^^'rly. " Do you think it will ? " " It'll be a bad business for you, my lad, if it does," answered Ben, in an unusually grufi* tone. '' Wliy, Ben, wbat do you mean ? " asked Eric, in Mirprise. " Mean wdjat 1 say," retorted Ben. Then, after a moment's silence, he went on : " Captain says that Uig's been sent from Halifax after us, and nobody 108 FAREWELL TO SAHLE ISLAND. ii I'! if else ; and if she should catch us, you may bo ,^u^l^ the wreckers am't going to leave you round to tell the people on the brig all you know about them. Bt't'oro the brig's alongside they'll drop you over the bulwark with a weight that'll prevent your ever showing up on top again." At these words, whose truth Eric realized at once, his heart seemed turned to stone. And now, just as passionately as he had prayed that the brig minlit overtake them, did he pray that the schooner inigbt keep out of its reach. In the meantime, the two vessels were tearing throuo'h the water without much chan^-e in tlicir relative positions. Darkness was drawing- near. As the sun went down, the change that the beauty of the niornini: foreboded took place. The sky grew cloudy, the wind blew harder, and there was every sign of an approaching storm. As luck would have it, this state of affairs suited the schooner far better than the brig. Witli great exultation the wreckers noted that their pursuer was shortening sail. The square-rigg\ d bark could not stand a storm as well as could the schooner. " Hurrah!" the captain shouted gleefully. " They n FAREWELL TO SABLE ISLAND. 109 aii's suited taking in some of their canvas. They can't standi this blow with so much top-hamper. We'll show them a clean pail" ot* heels yet." And so it turned out. With bow buried in foam and decks awash the schooner staggered swiftly onward under full press of sail, although every moment the canvas threatened to tear itself out of the bolts. Before the darkness enveloped her the brig had disappeared behind, completely distanced. Everybody on board breathed more freely. Setting a course that, by a wide detour, would bring him in due time to Boston, the captain took satisfaction by cursing the brig for causing him the loss jf a whole day at least. That night Ben, for the first time, told Eric what had been arranged concerning him. On their arrival in Boston he was to be kept hidden in the hold until the time came for the sailing of a ship for England, about which the captain knew. He would be placed on board this ship as cabin boy. When she reached her destination he might make his way to his friends th(5 best he could. By that time the wreckers (none ''f whom intended to return to Sable Island) would have disposed of their booty, and scp.ttered beyond all po.'isiljility of being caught. 110 FAREWELL TO SABLE ISLAND. Ben did not add, as lie might liave done, tliat in order to effect this arrangement he had to bribe tlio captain, b}^ turning over to him one-half of his own interest in the scliooner's cargo. After living in peril of death for so many months, this plan lilled Eric's heart with joy. It might mean many more hardships, but it also meant return to those who were now mourning him as dead. Ho thanked Ben over and over again, assuring him lie would never fori^et his wonderful kindness ; and ns Ben listened in silence there w^as a distinct p-listonin':'' in the corner of his eve that showed he was not unmoved. The storm blew itself out durino- the nii>-ht, and wa^ followed by a steady l)i'eeze, wdiich bore the schoonor alonof so fast that ere the sun went down on tho followino- afternoon she was o-lidinn^ up Boston Eav looking as innocent as any ordinary fishing schooner. The anchor plunged with a big splash into the still water, the chain rattled noisily through the liawse- hole, and the voyage was ended. Without delay a boat was lowered. The captain and Evil-Eve i^ot into it, invitinof Ben to accompany them, l)u. he declined. He intended to watch over ^;'\y E ric un til he should be taken to the EngHsh ship D. FAREWELL TO SABLE ISLAND. Ill 10, tluit in ) brilte tlio f his own \y months, light mean return to lead. He m him he IS ; and ns p'h'stoninu' 3 was not it, and was e schoontu' rn on iho 3ston Bay y schooner. the still Jie liawsf- he captain nccompany v^atch over glish ship The boat rowed off, and before it returned Eric was ^ound asleep. He was awakened by the singing of the men as tliev toiled at the windlass, and the sullen rattle of the chain as it rose reluctantly link by link from the water. Then he heard the weaves rippling against the bow, and he knew that the schooner was mo\'in2r. As he rightly guessed, she was making her way to ]ior berth at the wharf. During all that day there was continual motion on the deck, and the boy im- prisoned in the hold tried to while away the long hours by guessing what it meant, and what the sailors wore about. Ben brought him a bountiful breakfast, dinner, and tea. He stayed only while Eric ate, and (lit he knew not, when he was aroused by two men talking in loud tones on the dick just above him. They were evidently the worse for liquor, and had fallen into a dispute about somctliinu-. Presently one of them exclaimed, — "It is there. I know it's there. I'll prove it to you." CHAPTEll X. RELEASE AND KETinBUTION. 'T^TIEN came the sound of the i'ore-liatch Wmrr ^ unfastened and lifted aside, and the light of ;t lantern flashed into the hold. Whatever the man sought, he soon found it ; for he said ti'iumphantly, — " There, now ! ])o you see it ? Didn't I say right ? " He drew the hatcli back ngain, and with his com- 1 tan ion went stumbling off to the cabin. As the liatch was opened, Eric shrank back into a corner, for ih; knew not what the man might be about. But ^vhvn all was silent again, lie crept to the spot under- ni'uth the hatchway, and looked up. The instant he did so he saw somethino- that caused liis heart to give a wild bound. It was one little ^tiir shining brightly into his eye. The sailor had care- i<'>!sly left the hatch unfastened and drawn a little aside. Tlie way of escape was there 1 114 IIELEASE AND KETIMBUTION. WiU\ bated breath and beating beai't, V/nc. i-nisod himself softly and pushecl at the hatch. At iirst it would not budg'e, but on his putting forth mow; strength, it slid away a few inches, niakinn- no perceptible noise. Little by little he pushed at it, until there was space enough for him to pass through. Tlieii, Avith extreme caution, he lifted himself until he could sin- vey the deck, and peered eagerly i)ito the darkness to see if any of the men were about. There was jio moon, but the stars shone their brightest ; and as tlio boy's eyes were accustomed to the darkness, he coiikl see fairly well. It was easy for him to swing himself up on tlie deck. Then, crouched in the deep shadow of tlio fore- mast, he looked anxiously about him. Not a soul wns in sio'ht. Not a sound disturbed the still air. Tlio black line of the whai'f rose but a few feet above tlir bulwarks. Gliding nois(dessly across, he finally got upon the rail, and thence, with an active spring, n]Mm the wharf. He was fi-ee ! The wharf was as deserted and silent as the schoon* v's deck. Along one side was piled a line of casks nrid barrels, behind which he crept witli the quietness of a cat until the tall warehouses w^ere reached ; tlun l^ELEASE AND RETT? 1 BUTTON. 115 strnigliteniriG: liinisolf np, lie moved more rapidly until ho caino out upon tlio sti'oct, wliicli opened to riglit and left, leading away into the darkness — whither, lie knew not. Taking the right tinning, he liastened on, resolved to appeal for protection to the first respectahle-look- ing person he might meet. By tlie dim light of infrequent oil-lamps at the corners, lie could make out that he was in a street of shops, taverns, and warehouses. Some of the taverns were still open, hut all the other buildings were closed. Ycvy few persons were al)Out, and as these all appeared to be seafaring folk lio carefully avoided them, keeping in the shadow of jiorches and alley-ways until they passed. He was in ii state of high excitement — his anxiety to find some safe refuge contending with joy at his escape from the wreckers' clutches. He must have gone about a quarter of a mile, wjien, just as he approached a tavern that was ^till in full blast, the door suddenly opened, and a I'road band of light fell upon the pavement, in the "Miidst of which appenred Evil -Eye, loaring out a 'inmken sonuf as he beckoned to others inside to follow him. 116 helhasi: and iM:TiMiuT'rroN. For ail instant Eric stood root<'- from his hiding-place with a suddenness that caused the passer-by to start in some alarm, ho cauglit hold of the ample cloak, and, lifting up his face to the wearer, said beseechingly, '• Oh, sir, won't you help mc ? " Quito reassured on seeing how youthful was this ■uiddcai disturl)or of his homeward walk, the gentleman looked d(j\vn at the eager, pleading face, and, attracted at once by its honostj^ put his liand kindly upon the hoy's shoulder, saying, — "Pray, what is the matter, my son ? I will gladly lielp you, as may be within my power." 'J'he o-ravo, a'ontlo words, with their assurance of protection, wrought a quick revulsion in poor Eric's feelings, strained as they had been for so long to their highest pitch. Instead of replying at once, he burst 1J« |{i:li-:ask and UF/rKiiiuTK^N. into tears ; and his iicw-l'oiind friend, seeing that lie Iiad no ordinary case to deal witli, touk him by tlu arm, and soutliinuiv said, — "Come with nie. Mv liouse is near h\'. Vuu shall tell me your story there." Directing his ste})s to a large house, in whicli lights were still burning, he k;d Eric into a room whose walls were lined with rows of })ortly volumes. " Now, my son," said he, " be seated ; and when yuii feel more composed, tell me your troubles. I am quite at your service." With a delicious sense of security, such as he hiul not felt for many months, Eric sank into a big arm- chair, and proceeded to tell his strange story to the grave old gentleman before him. With intense in- terest and sympathy did Dr. Saltonstall listen to the remarkable narrative as it was simply related, puttini^ in a question now and then when he wanted fullii details. As soon as the hoy had finished, the doctor arose and again put on his hat and cloak. " Master Copeland," said he, " this is a communica- tion of the utmost inqjortance, and it must be laiil before the governor this very night, that immediate action th«3reon may be taken. I had but lately left his honour when, in God's good providence, I jm:ij:asI': and iMiTiiiurTiox. Hi) iiirt you. Wo w'lW oi) itt oimv to his inanbiuii. Il;i])ly \h) luLs nut yet ivtirc*! I'di the night." Forthwith the two sut out, and, wnlkiuL;' rapidly, were soon at the governor's mansion. Fortunately lie was still awaUe, and at once gave audience to his late visitors. Ijet'ore hiui Eric rehearsed his story. The Honouralile Mr. Strong listened with no less interest than had Dr. Saltonstall ; nor was he less [ironipt in takhig action. His secretary was sum- jiioned, and ordei-s given for a strong posse of eonstahles tvj be despatched without loss of time in search of the schooner. Eric so fully descrihed her that the tin>ca. By Achilles Daunt, Author of ' ' The Three Trapiiers. " With Illustrations. "'■ 1 . the Bush and on the Trail. -Vilventures in the Forests of X'Tth America. A Book for !')< vs. By M. Benedict Revoil. '^Virh 70 IliustratioiiS. Th3 Lake Reg-ions of Central Africa. A Record of Modern Di.-^overy. By John (teddie. F.E.(;.S.' With 32 Illustrations. Lost in the Backwoods. A Tale '' 'Ke Canadian Fore.-t. By Mrs. i'i-viLL. 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