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Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernldre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 d partir de i'angle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagr&mmes suivants illustrent !a mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 TALES OY A VOYAGER TO THE ARCTIC OCEAN. IN THREE VOLUMES. In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice." S/iukspeare. VOL I. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1826. U-- & J ui X SUA; ICBtl. .AND Ci LONDON >• jou.vson's coim , I LEKT-gTBKKT. s: g :> ui V. CONTENTS OP f THE FIRST VOLUME. Page. Introduction • 1 Departure 17 The Voyage 33 The Charioteer, or Night Adventures ia London.. 53 The Voyage, continued 06 The Nikkur Holl, a Romance of the Shetland Isles 154 The Voyage, continued 242 Woolcraft, a Story of Real Life 2C0 The Voyage, continued 334 S( t] tl al SI TALES OF A VOYAGER. INTRODUCTION. That there is a delight in the recollection of past dangers, which far exceeds the pleasure that springs from the remembrance of dejiarted joy, every one wlio has endured the pangs of misfortune or basked in the sunshine of happi- ness can bear testimony ; but why the retro- spection of pain should be accompanied by sensations so different from its subject, and why the review of felicity enjoyed should fail in pro- ducing equal gratification, is not easily to be explained. Nevertheless, 1 do not agree with those who assert that the reminiscence of former satisfaction always gives rise to sorrow; for, although I feel greater interest in recounting such parts of my narrative as were associated VOL. I. B 2 TALES OP A VOVAGEir. w,t ,ehen.l the care and .listre/s of my fath..,- and mother, when they saw me tlK.r other dnidren. Like them I had grown "Pvnpnily, from a stout florid hvel.y lad, into, tal and .pare man, with a pale countenance, and a lannnid and inactive temperament ; mv mclmations became studious, and my oecupa. t."..s sedentary ; a„d, 4,,„„g,, , eo,„i„u„lly ^trove to rouse n.yself, in onler to gratify the dosire of my parents, that I should take exercise and mmgle i„ society, in ^rder to counteract tl'c ohvtous effects of the revolution i„ mv frame, yet i, was evident that nature did not prompt me to exertion or gaiety. At length Mr. L , „,y medical adviser in ordinary suggested change of air, as n,ore likely to be of benefit to mo than any assistance the laeulty of medicine could afll.rd, and his opinion was taken into consideration ; but as I was now t .0 last male of my family, and as variation of elnnate had been tried without success in the cases of two of my brothers, there was a reluc- tance to part with me, which seen;^d likely to outweigh every reason that could be urcred i„ *^W H INTIIODUCTION. favour of this project. On my own part, t!ie proposal met witli the warmest welcoxiie ; for, cither from that instinct whicii, as some natural pliiiosophers tell us, directs the aniinal towards those objects which w ill be of benefit to it, or from a passion for travelling, which I liad carlj imbibed by reading, and had strengthened by the same means since I became sickly, I had conceived a great desire to make a voyage to any part of the globe. I felt my spirits revive at the idea, and began to argue for its utility, with that kind of elocjuence which eagorness always supplies. But this was not a question on which I waw to have a voice. However, by my entreaty, a consultation was held, and my respected friend Dr. B n, with two other j)hysicians, agreed that the motion of a ship and sea air were the means most likely to be of ser- vice to me; for, though they could discover no disease actually going on in my frame, there was a strong disposition to several. Upon these premises I held myself outward bound, but to what port or part of the world was still to be considered ; for taking a trip in search of health to the East or West Indies (where my father's connections are principally to be found,) was deemed preposterous; and though I argued 6 TALES OF A VOVAGEK. hat I might go to Madeira, and r.-main there my constitution was restored, my dear mother had still many objections to 1^ sur- mounted, and proposed going to France witl. me m the following spring, for she could not bear to part with me ; and thus several months though I did not improve. Thus I passed the winter, and saw March .M amve wuh pleasure, for I was determined «o to spend the following summer in England, If r could prevad upon my parents to sufft my absence. It wac in^^^j -^ should prevail 1 I ' "' "''"" """ ' . .• c J , ' "'^y "■"'•^ "<" thorouffhlv satisfied but that repeatedly sailing to and from Margate or Leith, or from Dover to Calais, or some such mode of passing my timl on the water, would be as serviceah/as fa i" » voyage to Canada, to the Bermudas, o to any distant place, without the same ri k, and with more comfort to myself and .„• e thpm Ti,- , •'^^" and satisfaction to with my wishes ; although it is the mode which would most likely have been adopted, had ot a circumstance occurred, that brought abou -voyage, of which the events are'relateil tne loiiowing narrative. INTRODUCTION. tin thefe iiy dear be sur- ice witli >uld not months worse, March rmined 'gland, Fer my that I )Ugh}j and ^er to ' time aking or to , and on to icidr hich i not Wt d in Among the number of my acquaintance, is Hr. William L , the son of my doctor, who had been my schoolfellow and playmate, and is still my friend. Although his disposi- tion is more lively and active than mine, and supported by a greater flow of animal spirits, much attachment has grown between u?, and indeed he was, and is, worthy of all I can manifest ; for, as well as being what is called *' a very clever fellow," he has always shewn me so much attention and kindness, that I have long ceased to consider him in any other light than as an affectionate brother, and I take this opportunity of letting him see, " in print," the sentiments I feel for him. William L came to me early one morn- ing, and said, not very exultingly to be sure at that time, " Harry, I shall make a voyage before you now, though you are under sailing orders." " What, to ?" I replied inquir- ingly. " No," returned he, " to Greenland." " To the infernal regions !"" exclaimed I. — *' To a much colder latitude," rejoined he. But, not to trouble my readers with our dia- logue, though I have set down the beginning, because it is so fresh in my memory, he as- sured me that he was going as surgeon on board 8 TALES OF A VOYAGEH. i;t „ '"' "*" P'««'"«. a« for reasons which I that I could accompany him. Thi. ,vas a temptation which, though of u coo, desciuL ^n,y™ag,„atio„onfire. I had i,eatl and read of the wonders of the frozen ocean, and IlZf > T , " ^"''' comparatively nothing about ,t I decorated every scene in that dista.a Cmewuhthemost peculiar im,„ery, and my pany ng n,y f^end would satisfy me. I imme 1 "scd so many arguments and persuasions, tha, by dt„ner.t,mc, the affair began to becan -assed G Jeni T'T T ''^"'" "''^' -^--odations a Greenland whaler afforded, and what comfort -™ght expect to find on board such a v^t ilut my eagerness was ,00 great to allow me ,„ :"' -"hout personally forwarding n,y IZ wishes, and the next dav r ,„. % 1 fri- nd iv;n- ^ prevailed on my which ."" '° """"''^"^ '"'' "> 'he ship i^ wh,ch he was to sail, that I might be an eye wit nessofUscondition,a„d become able to ansr every question and objection, which I knew mv INTRODUCTION. 9 parents would make to my visiting the Northern Seas. Accordingly we took a boat from the London Docks, and crossed over to Rotherhithe, where, in one of the basins, I was introduced on board a ship which had traversed the icy ocean, and which was soon again destined to return to that realm of desolate grandeur. I perhaps dwell too minutely on the trifling occurrences that preceded my departure ; but the pleasure I derived from my voyage, and the companions with whom it brought me acquainted, gives an agreeable form to every circumstance Avhich I review connected with it. However, I will curtail my preamble as much as possible, and hasten to launch the reader on the boundless ocean, which always has been, and always will be, the dehght of Englishmen. As it is my intention to obscure every light which might throw a gleam of information upon the identity of the writer of this sketch, my readers must pardon me if I substitute imagi- nary names for those of the ship in which I sailed, and of the persons who formed its crew. I dislike blanks, and shall therefore bestow a ci^nomen. We accordingly visited the Leviathan to- gether, and, to me at least, our examination was 10 TALES OF A VOYAGEn. ;j ii very satisfactory ; as it convinced me that on board I should find sufficient conveniences for a young traveller, even though he might be an invalid. I will not deny, that my desire to find every thing suitable to my situation might cause me to overlook several minor objections, which a more unbiassed spectator would have noticed ; but I found none of those dreadful grievances that I had been always taught to expect in a ship engaged in the northern whale fishery. The size of the Leviathan, (nearly three hundred tons), likewise exceeded what my information had led me to expect, nor could I perceive any of that disagreeable smell of oil, which I had been told rendered these vessels' intolerable. By chance we found the master, Captain Shafton, on board, and giving way to the natu^ ral impatience of youth, I discovered to him my wishes to become a passenger in his vessel. After satisfying his surprise at my unusual inclination, by telling him the circumstances under which it originated, I begged him to wait upon my father, to agree with him upon what terms I should be gratified. He told me that his owners must first be consulted, but I engaged to obtain leave from them j for I did ■4' INTEODUCTION. 11 not doubt that my father''s interest, or that of his connections, would easily prevail. To a young mind, every object seems easy to be obtained ; and when it finds difficulties inter- pose, its energies rise to cope with the oppo- sition. I felt so invigorated by the bodily and mental exertion, trifling as it was, that I had undergone in my visit to the dock, that I renewed my attack upon the fears and objec- tions of my parents with redoubled ardour. I had now gained some personal experience on the subject, by having been on board the vessel, and I succeeded so far, that it was granted, that if, upon her own inspection, my mother should find none of the inconveniences she dreaded really existing, I should have leave to gratify my inclinations. This bill, however, did not pass without sundry amendments, one of which was, that Dr. B n should concur with Mr. L , that the climate would not only not prejudice my health, but that it might be of service to it ; and another being, that I should promise to obey the captain in the instructions he should be directed to give me, concerning my regimen and actions, as well as on those points on which all persons in the vessel would be bound to observe his orders. From this and other specifications, I n TALES OF A VOYAGER. t II , a i ti discovered that my father hpd been beforehand with me in visiting the Leviathan, with the pro- pnetor of whicli he was acquainted, and I found also that he had satisfied himself that the voyage might prove beneficial to me. I shall not trouble the patience of my reader with recounting my further progress towards the accomplishment of my wishes. By the fol- lowing night, all my friends had agreed that there was no objection to be made, with regard to the comforts I might enjoy during my ab- sence; and as I should have no duties to per- form that would call me from the warmth of the cabin, it was concluded that my own feelings would prevent my exposing myself to any dan- gerous degree of cold. Indeed, it was well known, that I was particularly fond of the fire- side, and this circumstance served to increase the wonder that arose, why I chose the arctic ocean for the scene of a pleasurable excursion ; but every one cannot feel the ardour of curiosity that burns in the bosom of the youthful adven- turer. Those who have experienced the delight of preparing for an event, to which they have looked forward with the impatience of expected gratification, can tell how readily I commenced i INTRODUCTION. 13 the task of fitting out for the voyage ; and those who are blessed with near and affectionate rela- tions, can imagine how carefully and unremit- tingly my mother and sister were employed, in devising and executing projects for my personal comfort. Every species of fur and woollen was discussed and commented upon ; and so many descriptions of close and accumulated dress offered for my choice, that I might have fortified myself securely enough to have maintained my native caloric on the summit of an iceberg, throughout an arctic winter. But I left much of the selection of my apparel to my friend William, who had made many inquiries con- cerning the requisite clothing, amongst those who had experienced the northern climate, while I furnished myself with such books, instruments, and papers, as I fancied I should have occasion to use; for, notwithstanding my present ill health, I had determined to bring back delinea- tions of every object I might encounter, which was worthy the stroke of a pencil. Among other requisites for the amusements I intended to enjoy, I did not forget a fowling-piece, v/ith small shot and powder ; for the accounts I had perused of the Greenland seas, agreed in affirm. 14 TALES OF A VOYAGEK. ingthem to be covered with birds; and as I found there would be n usquets on board, I provided myself with bullet. I likewise put a pocket-pistol into my chest, having resolved to become so strong and hardy, as not to refrain from the chace of any animal; and I have always observed, in the relation of dangerous encounters, that most of the accidents resulting from them, might have been prevented by a second fire. A small thermometer was another of my prei)arations ; and I must add, as some return for the kindness and attention that pro- vided it, that I was furnished with a work-box, well stored with needles, pins, thread, worsted, scissors, and all other necessary equipments, by my sister. Indeed, this supply was often of great service to me and William, since the traveller by sea has frequent occasion for a needle, when he cannot find female hands to apply it. As I was truly in earnest in everything connected with my voyage, I found delight in bemg present at the muster of the ship s com. pany, which took place a short time before the day appointed for our departure. I likewise wished to obtain a view of the men who were to INTRODUCTION. 15 become the companions of my expedition, and I could not have procured a more complete mode of satisfying my curiosity. One object in mustering the crew of vessels employed in the northern whale fishery is to ascertain whether the owners have complied with the act of parliament, which regulates the bounty of a pound per ton, to every ship fitted out according to its directions. By this act it is rendered imperative, that a surgeon should be taken out, as well as five green men, or men who have never before been in the Arctic seas, under the penalty of not receiving the above bounty ; and I need not state that the condition is always fulfilled. As I held no official situation in the company, I was not included in the roll, but I was on the deck of the Leviathan with the rest, and crossed it from starboard to larboard with William L , when he was called as surgeon. The ceremony consisted in the repetition of the name and occupation of each individual of the crew, upon which, he passed before the officer of the customs, who performs this duty, to shew that he was in readiness to depart, as well as of able body. Had I been included in the commissioner's list I certainly should not have 16* talp:s of a voyagkr. I ■:\i passed muster in this latter particular; but as far as promptitude was necessary, I was onJ ot the foremost. Jboro was another general meeting „f ,|,e sh.p„ complement after this formal proceef love and • of spirits, forlorn at his way to niliar, and J infancy, thousands njoyment, n my seat n to cjm- he shore, ng at the Tilbury, I missed, ^ton, and )se of his ug" and ortion of lence of surgeon, tie large apartment, (I mean large for a vessel), out of which the sleeping cabins lead. The best of these dormitories, in size and accommodations, is appropriated to the commander, and called the state-room, and affords lodgment for a comfort- able bed, besides allowing sufficient space for a dressing or writing table, lockers, and a chest. Light is admitted into this retreat by means of a " bull's eye," a hemispherical piece of glass of great thickness, fixed into a small opening in the upper deck, and forming part of its surface. The gleam that pierces through this massy win- dow is certainly but faint, yet enough to allow the tenant of the cabin to read or write. By the side of the state-room is another cell, dif. fering from it in being somewhat smaller, on account of its containing two beds, placed one above the other like shelves in a closet, but possessing similar conveniences for the desk and toilette. This was allotted to " the doctor," and " the invalid," as I was at first called. The opposite side of the great cabin was occupied by a similar dormitory, for the two mates, and the bread-room, a large closet, filled with bis- aiits, placed there to be kept dry and more free from vermin. The forepart of the cabin was furnished with a cupboard, and a good stove, c S nil |l m m ^ TALES OF A VOYAGER. between which and the state-room a door led into the "store-room," and the after portion was divided into two windows, or " lights," that looked out upon the water. These openings being large are provided with shutters, closely fitted, called " dead lights," to keep out the sea during Gtorms. The cabin is provided with furniture like any other sitting-room ; precau- tion being taken that every article should be fastened to the floor, or " under deck," or to the partitions or " bulk heads," with screws, staples, « lashings" and '« elects." The door leading from the cabin to the deck opens first into a small anti-room, or lobby, called the '-'steerage," which contains lockers and recesses for stores, and, among other things, the medicine chest; and from the steerage a ladder conducts to the door of the " companion," a kind of hatchway, or entrance from the deck, raised several feet above its surface. This has folding leaves, with whicii it can be closed in severe weather, to prevent the water from pour- ing down during a gale. I shall not now describe the quarters occupied by the other officers and the men, as I had not yet seen them, and I prefer detailing my infor- mation in che way I find, from my journal, I DEPARTURE. door led r portion hts," that openings s, closely it the sea ied with ; precau- hould be :k," or to I screws, the deck r lobby, ; lockers T things, eerage a ipanion," he deck. This has closed in •m poui- )ccupied had not ly infor- urnal, I 29 acquired it, to arranging it in a more formal, though concise, method. A little conversation qulc^kly dissipated the cloud which had passed over my mind, and I began to enjoy my situation. I had now an opportunity of acquiring some insight into the dispositions of my companions, and observed nothing but what gave me pleasure. The first mate, to whom I shall give the appellation of Ridgway, (the name of an esteemed friend to whom he bears great resemblance,) displayed his good qualities very agreeably, though without design, in the kindness and attention he mani- fested towards " the strangers," and was gifted with that species of good humoured and intelli- gent physiognomy which conciliates esteem. The second mate, Matthew Shipley, was an older man than the other, and apparently less accomplished ; but he possessed the bold, bluff, sturdy exterior of a British tar, combined with a humorous archness of eye and feature, which, before he opened his lips, inclined one to laugh at what he was about to say. Unanimity and good fellowship were, I per- ceived from the free and unrestrained mode of their behaviour, the prevailing " humours " of the members of the Leviathan's cahiriet ; (for. :iiii| .(iii ! jHl so TALES OF A VOYAGER. Ill that respect, they differed from the members of a much more exalted cab let) ; and both William and I were freely disposed to join in their cordiality. A landsman is surprised if he behold aboard a ship any approach to the conveniences and comforts of domestic society, and I, like other ''green men,'' did not expect to find a table arranged and served with the same attention, if not with the same elegance, as in London. In- deed, there was not wanting some appearance of hnery m the tea equipage ; and though a cabin boy supplied the place of a footman, he was a dexterous and not uncomely lad, and only required a livery coat to have made as good a Avaiter as ever stepped lightly over a carpet. X^or my part, I preferred the genuine and unso- phisticated readiness of Jem to the mechanical activity of a more fashionable attendant, and I soon began to experience that inexpressible sen- sation of satisfaction which is attempted to be described as— »« feeling oneself at home." I had been shipped as a valetudinarian, and Mrs. Shafton required, in virtue of my promise of obedience to the commands of the captain, that I should retire early to repose after the fatigue, or rather excitements, of the day. It 3 :% DEPARTURE. 31 ! members and both to join in d aboard 3nces and like other 1 a table ention, if Ion. In- arance of 1 a cabin lie was a nd only ' good a carpet. id unso- chanical ;, and I ble sen- d to be > an, and sromise Japtain, ter the ly. It vam me to allege that the commander was not aboard, and that therefore his will could not bo known ; the lady asserted that she held the place of his lieutenant in domestic affairs, and the mate, as his legal representative, ordered me to bed, and thither I was compelled to withdraw on pain of being reported mutinous. If any thing occurred during the night I am ignorant of it, for I soon lost my perception under the influence of as sweet a slumber as I ever enjoyed. We began to heave the anchor early on the morning of the fourth, having dismissed Mrs. Shafton and her attendant, somewhat uncere- moniously ; but to a sailor a wife never stands in competition with a good wind, and a very fair and welcome breeze had just sprung up. They did not, however, quit us without abund- ance of mutual good wishes, and I took ad- vantage of their kindness to send a last farewell note to my relations. It is, I am told, a practice with the watermen, who, in hopes of obtaining employment, hover about a vessel when ready to depart for her destination, to make enormous charges for the services they are required to perform ; and I mention this cir- cumstance for the information of the outward- ; die TALES OF A VOVAGER. I)oun< , who may neglect sending letters by friendly opportunities ; the sum of half a guinea havmg been asked for only carrying a letter to the post office. By the time our boat returned we had weiVhed and at 71 .. ,t., departs, leaving other vessels bound to Greenland behind us. The appear, aneeofthe eountry on either side in.proves as you descend the river pa,st the Hope, point ; villages, wuh their ancient towers, lie along the dechv,t,es of hills, or crown their summits , Kent st.Il preserving its superiority. The waves now began to grow larger and impart some mot'on to the ship, while the gulls forming into small flocks flew against the wind, dipping their white bosoms into the water with a kind of alternate gambol. Their black-tipped wings sWly beat the air with a motion peeuliart their own, and the cheek they give to their flight IS singular. The sea breezes, which they love to oppose seem to occasion the slowness and difliculty of their progress; for when taking a contrary course, they skim over the surface of the water with delightful velocity. At 1 P. M. we passed Sheemess. The vessel begmning to reel, " we are now at sea, doctor." ^.d the captain to William, who was standing THE VOYAGE. 33 letters by If a guinea a letter to I weighed, ler vessels e appear- I proves as >e point ; along the ummits ; he waves art some ling into clipping I kind of :! wings 'culiarly !ir flight icy love ess and iking a •face of ) vessel loctor," anding by his side, — " at least what the Londoners call sea ; many of them make a voyage down to the Hope, but as soon as tiiey get past it they put about, run home, and tell their friends they could go no farther for rough weather and a heavy swell !" *' Ay !" said the second mate, who was then upon deck, laughing, " I once met a skift' crowding sail, with all hands puhing up Grave- send reach, in fear of an oyster boat, which was coming on behind her, and which she took for a pirate."* In spite of these marine jokes, the wind fresh- ened and the waves grew rough, and by two p, M. we began to lose sight of* land ; the hills appearing to decrease in height, and sinking into a long indefinite line of coast. About this time we passed many vessels of every description, both hoTieward and outward- bound, but I only noted the name of one, the *' Dorothea — Van Swinemunde," a small Dutch- • Mr. Shipley did notthink, when he sported this Jen d'esprit, that a pleasure-boat would actually be plundered in Gravesend reach, two years afterwards ; yet such has been the case ; a party of ladies and gentlemen, holiday- makers, having been assailed on the water, and obliged to part with their valuables. c 3 III if H :;( « TALES OF A VOYAGER. man or Dane. Another ship, a collier, gave us three hearty cheers, w uch we returned, and they again replied ; it being the custom for those who ofFer the first salute to give the last huzzas. At about 4 p. m. we dropped our anchor, the wind having tailed ; and the remain, der of the afternoon was employed in regulating vanous points of duty. We took this oppor- tunity of appointing the watches, that is, dividing the crew into parties, one of which is alternately on duty, while the others refresh and repose themselves; but as we had not yet our full com- plement on board, the arrangement was consi- dered only temporary, and afforded but two divisions, called the « captam's," or "starboard watch," and.the " mate's," or " larboard watch." Indeed, there are seldom more than two watches required at sea; but in Greenland, where both the labour and the cUmate are more severe, the crew is disposed into three portions, which 'per- mits each watch to enjoy sixteen hours relaxation and only exposes it during eight to fatigue and cold, unless upon extraordinary occasions, when all hands are called. In the evening, being still at anchor for want of wind, the cabin officers found amusement round a comfortable tire, in relating the adven- ^ THE VOYAGE. 35 , gave us •ned, and istom for 3 the last :)ped our s remain- 3gulating is oppor- dividing teniately I repose 'uU com- as consi- Ijut two ;arboard watch." w^atches re both ere, the ich per- ixation, :ue and >i when tures which they had encountered during the winter ; for at that time they engage themselves in the service of merchants trading to any part of the world, within the distance of a six months' voyage. A little grog served to heighten the good humour of the party, to which the presence of Captain Shafton gave no check. Of this ^"^ntleman I will say, in a few words, that to a mind full of enterprise and activity he united an open and unsuspecting dis- position, combined with much delicacy of feeling. He possessed eminently that kind of urbanity which does not degenerate into vulgar fami- liarity ; and I observed that he allowed every one to express his feelings freely, and tell his story without needless restraint, although, in the course of the voyage, we received visits from many strange creatures in the situation of sea- men. Disliking ignorance and vulgarity himself, he had chosen associates in his duty who were free from these defects ; but there may be found in the Greenland seas during the summer, many persons who delight in the habits of low life, whom, from the peculiarity of the circumstances, it is impossible to treat with deserved contempt. Such as these, however, seldom intruded them- jclves twice upon us, for they quickly found that ,l!llli f .1 M TALES OF A VOYAGEK. the atmosphere of the Leviathan's cabin did not afford breath congenial to theh- lungs ; but I must not anticipate. Our present company contained no one whose behaviour was in the least disagreeable, and though the second mate's fancy led him to enjoy broad and ludicrous humour, it did not delight in unpleasant descriptions. Ridgway's conver- sation evinced a more cultivated mind, and a disposition to literary pursuit, and the captain's manners and acquirements were such as a gen- tleman should possess, grafted on the free bold stock of a British sailor. My friend William's qualities I have already said were gay and ele- gant, and mine must be discovered from the particulars of this narrative, «* by time and the curious." The evening was passing away very merrily, enlivened by a good song, when we were disturbed by the repetition of high words and loud excla- mations, arising at some Httle distance from our vessel. The expressioas did not seem to be made in the English language, and, as we knew that several foreign ships had anchored near us, we conjectured that the sounds proceeded from some of them. As the uproar rather increased than diminished, we soon afterwards went -ipon THE VOYAGE. 87 deck, and perceived that the riot was in a small bark, about three lengths off, and which by the moonlight appeared lo be a Hollander. The first object that met my eyes was a bulky female, arrayed in the clumsy Dutch costume, parading the deck of tlie schip in all the majesty of wrath, brandishing a bundle of loi»g tobacco pipes in her hand, while she uttered, with great volubility and emphasis, a soliloquy composed of such hard words, that I did not wonder she maintained clear possession of the boards. There was, indeed, a little urchin above, but he had seated himself on the bowsprit, probably thinking he could secure his retreat to its extremity, should the storm be directed towards him. In the meanwhile, words could be heard ascending through the " hatches," of a tone less high than the lady's, but in the same key ; and presently afterwards a man appeared, and advanced to- wards the woman, to whom he seemed to make complaints. In this proceeding, however, he was quickly interrupted by the ascent of a shortish squat figure from below, who, with a gait evidently influenced by liquor, staggered towards the pair, and shaking his fisv changed into eagerness to pick up the poor victim of the lady's passion, and two or three boats were manned in a moment. A large water dog, which we carried with us, felt the «me inclination, and plunged into the sea, where tlie astounded skipper was floundering, yet "wmmmg instinctively, like a nn-„,ise ; but one ' THE VOYAGE. 39 of the boats gained the prize, and conveyed him back to his bark, while "Grampus" was obliged to be content with the red night-cap which had adorned the head of the unlucky Dutchman. This he brought on board, and actually wore when sick in Greenland, to defend him from the cold, which attacked his ears and eyes. As for the Hollanders, their little vessel soon became as quiet as it had been noisy, and we neither saw nor heard more of them. This adventure afforded considerable mirth to all hands throughout the evening, and much longer ; and when we reassembled in the cabin, Mr. Shipley began to relate an occurrence of the same kind, in which he himself had been a prin- cipal actor. " When I was quite a lad,'' said he, " I was put on board a collier, to get a little insight into a seafaring life, that I might not enter upon it without being aware of its nature ; for, though my father had failed in business, and was very poor, he still wished his cliildren to be satisfied." " Your first taste must have been rather a bitter one," said Mr. Ridgway. " Yes," answered the second mate, " had I not been strongly bent upon becoming a sailor, this 'i« '■'! m 40 TALES OP A VOYAGER. trial would have kept me ashore all the rest of my days. " You did not sail with old Swabham, I hope?" said the captain. «No,"replir K. Jey, "the master was no such sea-devil, b. .he mistress was; for Mrs Colton used always to go up to London with her husband, to take care of him, as she said, though I beheve it was more for the sake of the mate, whowasju^st such another overgrown brute as herself." « Whisht, man, do you caU the lady a brute .?'' criec' he captain. " Ay, and that is betler than another would say for her, upon my life," answered the second mate : « Vd sooner be lashed to a sea-lioness than l5e bayed by such another vixen. I never think of her but I wish her towing astern, at ten knots an hour. Would you believe, that the first night I was set afloat, she made me jump over- board hke a dog, to pick up a ball of worsted that she dropped into the water, (I don^t doubt on purpose,) though there was a great beast of a spamel standing by her side eager to fetch it She said the dog should not get sopped, because he would run against her and wet her ; so I was THE VOYAGlt. 41 obliged to strip off my jacket, and jump in— • but that is not what I was going to tell you. " The master, poor Col ton, was a small, meagre, pale-faced man : a devilish good sailor in manag- ing a ship, but a tame-hearted helpless creature amongst men. I do not think he would have returned a blow, if be had been struck in the teeth. He was, Iiowever, an honest <^ood-natured soul, except when he had been too free with the horn : but that was not often, as the old girl used to boast, owing to her care. We had just got up with the tide, one morning, as far as Erith, when it left us. This was on a Sunday morning, the Sunday after Easter. So, as we had been beating about with rough weather for ten days before, the master proposed keeping a holiday, whilst we waited for the turn of the tide. To this his wife agreed, and she added she would go to Erith church, and he must go with her to see her safe. Col ton said yes, though, poor man ! he wanted to smoke a quiet pipe aboard ; but he knew it was of no use refusing, so off they pushed, taking a bigger lad than J along with them, and leaving Bradsworth, the mate, in charge of the ship, and the cook and myself busy in preparing the " prog." We were !##» <'. 42 TALES OF A VOYAGER. •}«l I I; *!i !Ii to have a roast leg of mutton, and a great plum- pudding, for dinner. Well, as soon as the mutton was down and the pudding in tlie copper the mate and the cook called a boat, and told me to keep watch upon deck every now and then, and, if I saw anything coming, to get upon the taiferel and hold my hand up as a signal, whilst they would go over to a little public-house; about half a mile off, and fetch a bottle of rum to be merry with after dinner. I guessed, from their both leaving the ship, that there was more m the wind than they told me; but I had nothing to do in the business, but promise to do as I was bid. *' I kep a very sharp lookout for half an hour or so, first at the meat, and then above ; till, on going below again, I fancied a biscuit dipped in gravy would be very good, so I went off and fetched one, and sat myself down to bathe it in dripping. " All this while, a number of those men who dig in the chalk along the banks of the nver, a sort of keel-men, had been watching our «h>p from one of their pits, where they were taking a whiff together, and roasting potatoes at the kiln fire. What put it into their heads that 18 THE VOYAGE. 43 reat pliim- 'on as the lie copper, tid told me and then, upon the al, whilst )lic-house; ^e of rum sed, from was more d nothing ) as I was fan hour ; till, on lipped in ; off and ithe it in 5se men i of the iing our ey were atoes at ids that we were going to have a feast, I can't tell ; very likely they saw tlie leg of mutton taken down from the foretop, and noted the cook's being busy upon deck, or probably they meant to take a chance, seeing all hands had quitted the vessel ; but some six or eight of them put off" in one of their punts, and got alongside. I heard the splash of their oars, and ran upon deck, thinking it was the master come aboard ; but I beheld a tall, long, white fellow coming over the quarter. ' Boy !' says he sharply, * call your mate.' ' He's ashore,' I answered. ' Where's your cook, then ?' cried he. ' Gone with 'lim,' said I. * Then there's no one in the old tub ?' exclaimed he. * What do you look for ?' cried I, some- what alarmed by the manner of this stranger. ' You shall see,' answered he, looking over the bulwarks, and calling to his mates. " In a moment came up two or three other rascals, and jumped down into the galley ; and, before I could guess what they were about, I saw them again upon deck, with the leg of mut- ton nearly roasted, and the pudding half boiled, which they had turned out into a bag. By this time I was on the tafferel, with both my hands held up as a double signal of distress; but one of the rogues, guessing what I meant, :illi il "'MM 11 ' i ■ lii j "il II Mi 'ii 44 TALES OF A VOyACElt. P^Jd„pafida„dI,ovelt«t,„e. Seeing , hi,, f" ^''"'"f r^'-' ' got out to the end of the b«.», and the chalk^en " bundled- through .he gangway and over the quaner into th:ir old Colt ^^, "°' '""« »''°^^'J < "hen old Colton and h,s spouse came s,veepin« down he stream hke a finne., the wife bawhng^to tie thteve. to know what they wanted. 'Th y! however, made no answer, but ran ashore, abou " =°°";' "'« -"-'- reached the ship. Wh^n whafr. r ""' '"^ ''^'P''^ °f » '"-•-• found whathad happened. I thought they would have thrown me ,nto the river. She ran raving and stampmg, fore and aft, at one mom.nt offering the keel-men, who were scampering up the beach and abusing .„„ at the t:p of her breath. The master soon got down below out of the way, though by „o means in good humour, for he had been taking a whet brfor. he came off, and was not pleated to find the dinner gone, after sha,^ning his appetite for it. after I had answered all the mistress's furiou qu st,ons about Bradsworth and the cook. I„ fact, she sent me below, with a shove that almost pitched me head downwards through TUB VOVAGE. i0 seeing this, end of the " through into their off, when ping down i»g to the I, They, ore, about >• When ife found 3uld have iving and offering ^t hailing up the • of her elow out in good ?t before find the te for it. [ could, furious 5k. In i^e that hrough the hatch, to look if the potatoes were gone also, vvliilst she went into the cabin to give the poor old man anolhcr spell of her tongue. During this, the mate and the other came aboard, more merry than sober, singing and calling on me ; and, just as I popped my head through the galley hatch, the old harridan looked out at the companion. YouVe seen a bear turn short round upon a boat, when he finds it gains upon him, and if you had beheld Madame Colton's eyes and grin at that moment, you would have sworn she was one dressed up like a woman. She was a great, fat, hurley dame, of half a ton weight ; nor was her face at all little in propor- tion to her sides. No doubt she had gone snacks with her husband in whetting, before they came off, so that her visage, what with rage and the dram, was as red as a ' shooker crab.' Nor were her claws a bit behind in likeness to the nippers of those little devils, as I can bear witness. As soon as her eyes had lit upon the cook, who had reeled athwart ship, and was smirking in a funny humour, at he cculd not tell what, perhaps at the old woman's passionate looks, she lifted a capstan bar, and ran forward, and I verily believe would have stove in hw skull, had not her blow been caught by a rope 1 Vlii :|i M n ■ :iil ^1 m > II m T 40 TALES OF A VOVAUEB. which swung l,K,sc from the yard. This gave cookcy tnnc t„ recover himself, «„at was lat the best way to cover his fault was tp brazen it out, he had begun upon the old man first, and ac- cused him of deserting the ship, and sending thieves to plunder her ; swearing that he had l)een to look after him, and that, while he was gone, the keel-men had got aboard. " All this the master did not take so quietly as in general ; for the loss of his dinner had turned him sour, and his whet had worked upon his empty stomach, and made him a little giddy. I don't know what else could have kept him up in abusing Bradsworth, which he did heartily, putting him in mind of a hundred rows and qua'-rels in which he had been engaged, till the mate lost the patience he had put on, and became quite enraged. All the while I was listening, and peeping through the bulk head of the cabin, as boys do, and saw them both, like two cats, swelling with wrath, and howling at each other, but afraid to come to blows. Just then down crawled the old plague, who, being tired of ill treating the cook, took the other side, and joined Bradsworth against her husband, telling him he ought to have gone after the thieves. This set him up more furious than he had ever been in his life ; for 44 48 TALES OF A VOAGER. he knew she spoke the truth, and he called both the mate and his wife such names, that you had better imagine them than I repeat them. At lengtli, lie told Bradsworth that he had saved hrni from the gallows, by taking him on board out of chanty, which were the last words he spoke then ; for the mate snatched up the poker, which stood at hand, but instead of knockmg ont the master's brains, as I believe he at first intended, he twisted the fire-iron round his neck in a way which no one else but hmisclf could have done, f.r he was as strong as three men, and left it lying on his shoulders .Ike a collar, and ran uiion deck. Poor Colton, who had given himself over for lost, expecting to be smashed to pieces, seemed at first uncer! tarn whether he was murdered or not. Nor was his wife in less doubt till she came and pulled hnn by the arm, upon which lie turned his head towards her, and put his hand to the poker, but with aU their skill they could not get u off. They tried a long while, till at lengtn madam went forward, and begged Bradsworth to come and unbend it; bufhe icfused unless the master promised to forget ^11 that had passed and never mention it. This THE VOVAGE. 40 was readily agreed to, for Colton was ashamed of his part of the affair, and all hands grew friends again by the time the tide rose." " Did you ever hear any thing of your pud- ding ?" said Mr. Ridgway. " Notliing that gave us any satisfaction," answered the second mate. « I forgot to tell you, that the lad who came with the master went after the rogues, as soon as he had got rid of thq others, and, like a fool, ran among the pits to look for them ; but, though he could not find the dinner, he got a good keelhauling from some fel- lows, who no doubt had a share of the plunder, and came back plaistered oyer with chalk and sludge."" " Did you let the affair rest there r inquired the captain. " Yes," replied Shipley, " we were all sick of it, and * ratched up' next tide, after fuddling the old quean, and making her turn in to keep her quiet."' This tale, with a few anecdotes that it in- troduced, terminated my evening, for I was soon compelled to turn in, being on the sick list. About half past five, on the following morn- VOL i»L.w * / n ,^ r i LR ,i <-^ri/^a i Y. 'I. 50 TALES OF A VOYAGER. I I i itsu ing, I was awakened by the heaving of the anchor, or rather by the cheering voices of the hands engaged at it. There is always some- thing enUvening to me in the sounds uttered by the sailors during their occupations; and, after enjoying the chorus in conscious comfort till it ceased, I turned out to feast my sight with the passing scenery. But of this there was little that could be distinguished, nor did I see much worthy of notice till we came in sight of Harwich, standing at the extremity of a point of land, and distinguishable at a great distance by its tall light-house and a steeple. However, as the day was fine, I basked in the sunshine, and watched the waves, as they grew larger and broke more loudly against the vessel the farther we receded from the shore. Her motion, which had hitherto been an easy roll, was now becoming very perceptible, but was by no means troublesome, and I did not feel any indications of sickness. The beams of the sun, shooting obliquely through openmgs in the clouds, had a brilliant effect upon numerous ships around us, and the billows on which they rode ; while a bright and broad streak of light, of a pale red colour, THE VOYAGE. 51 stretching over the sea, formed a beautiful con- trast with the blue water beneath and the sky above it. The afternoon of this day was not as agreeable as the morning, and I was told that the little flashes of sunshine, which occasionally glanced through the clouds, were signs of wind ; but it did not appear at this time, for the air grew calm, and we were not able to reach Yarmouth, as we expected. To make me amends, the evening was clear and serene, and a splendid moonlight kept me on deck till bed-time. I found the prophecy correct at 7 a.m. ; for the ship was pitching rather uncomfortably when I awoke, and I could hear the wind roar- ing hoarsely through the rigging. I rose, how- ever, and took a peep at the waves, breaking against the bows, and dashing their white foam around. We were then close to a floating light, called « Haisboro' Light,"-a small bark with a mast and a yard, to which the lanterns are fixed. It would have been much more easy to roll about the cabin than to walk or even sit still, and, finding myself grow a little qualmish, I took William's advice and example, and returned to my bed. There, between sleeping and conver- PI I 'I ¥ ill •! I'll „ „„, If' f ■'!'l'i.,._ , a ■ ! ' ill I 1 1 59 TALES OF A VOYAGEK. sation, for the situations of our cabins allowed it, my nausea went off, nor did I ever feel any nwre of it. Having now a convenient opportunity, I re- quested William to inform me of the other reason that had induced him to take this ex- cursion, besides the inchnation he felt for voyag- ing; as he had promised to state it when we should be fairly out at sea. " Have you not heard anything from my friends," said he, « which leads you to give a good guess at the cause .?" " No, certainly,'' I replied ; « not one of them spoke of your motives." « Well, then," said William, « I shall not conceal them from you; though you must make a secret of them from every one till I give you leave to disclose them." To this I agreed, and he gave me the follow, ing relation. ", I 53 THE CHARIOTEER. ** You may recollect the illumination, which was appointed last year, in honour of the coro- nation of his present majesty. You know that you were too unwell to accompany me to witness the festivities and rejoicings, and that I went alone.'"' " I remember these circumstances very well, replied I, " and also that you did not return home till the next morning, which occasioned great uneasiness to your family. Your father, indeed, came to our house to see if you were with me. When I next saw you, I thought that you did not seem inclined to afford a full explanation of the reason of your absence ; but I supposed that arose more from unwillingness to be questioned than from any cause for concealment.'" " There was a cause, nevertheless," said Wil- liam ; " but I should not have kept it so long i^ 54 TALES OF A VOYAGER. v w from you, had I not been compelled by a promise not to let any one know it till I was permitted. I have since obtained leave, and shall now tell you all. You, of course, are aware that on the morning of the coronation a balloon ascended from the Green Park, in order to divide the crowd, which would otherwjse have accumulated round the Abbey. As I had never witnessed an exhibition of this kind, and preferred it to the pageantry of a procession, I took up a position on the opposite side of the pond, pool, lake, or whatever else they call it, on Constitution Hill, from the edge of which the balloon was to be set free, and saw very conveniently the process of filling the silken globe. Great numbers of the spectators did not appear, from their dress and behaviour, to belong to the most respectable class of society, and I noticed several, who evidently wished to create a disturbance. My first idea was that they were emissaries of parties averse to the regal ceremony about to take place; but I soon had opportunity to discover that they were merely pick-pockets and loose fellows, desirous of fishing in troubled water. This discovery, indeed, I effected by means of a circumstance in which I was concerned. THE CHAIIIOTEEB. 56 " Among the decent portion of the assembly was a gentleman, of about fifty years of age, apparently not an inhabitant of London. This was evident to me from the earnest manner in which he attended to the method of ill hug the balloon, without regarding a cluster of indifferent looking fellows, which began to collect around him, as if by chance. Ihe circumspection I have always used since you and I were hustled in Drury-lane, made me keep an eye upon the motions of these men, and I fancied I saw a few signs pass between them, which I interpreted to mean, that at the moment the balloon should start from the earth they would commence their frolic. " The face of the stranger had interested me from the first moment I noticed him ; for, besides* the cut of his coat, which was a little behind the fashion, and the air of the country which marked his figure, there was much good nature and in- telligence in liis countenance, and I dare say you have often felt that there are some faces which engage one's fancy more particularly than others, and almost warrant the notion of secret sympa- thies. In order, therefore, to frustrate the in- tentions of these vagabonds, and preserve the country gentleman from insult, I made my way ^v>, M ;* 66 TALES OF A VOYAGKft. ■W| li to l.im, not without some opposition from two of Havi„.toue,,e.Lo:trr;ri?i:- just step out ol tins ring into the park.. _ I don t linow you, Sir; replied he. No, I am aware of it,' I answered ; • nor is ■t necessary you should; but I can inform vo of what may be of service to you ' ^ "'Need you tell me before the balloon goes off' mdU,e stranger. I replied in the aflinna- What followed convinced me how correctly I ;.adguessedtheobJectofthemenwhos„rro:nl " What did follow ?■■ said I the stranger made a step ,„„.ards the park than one man cried out, < You can't go this wly." another exclaimed, ' There's no roL here Z •' t,etMer. i he opposition I found to ny scheme of preserving the country gen man ome,vbat .rruated me, and I laid m^ LIT^I an .11 lookmg scoundrel, who had thrust him^lf THE CHARIOTEER. -'57 in between me and the stranger, and told him that if he hindered my friend from getting out of the crowd, I would band him over to a peace officer. Tl-is threat for a moment silenced the crew, in whom the word < constable' produced an unpleasant association of ideas ; but at the next minute the balloon being ready was let loose, and the knaves, with a simultaneous movement, commenced what is commonly called ' a row,' while all eyes were watching its majes- tic ascent. They first pushed a lad into the pond, at the edge of which the spectators were congregated: then, some fellow pretended to take his part, and feigned a blow at theoiFender. This was resented by another party, whilst the women, children, and well disposed lookers-on, began to cry out and augment the disturbance. '• All this was just what I expected, so that I was not so confused by the uproar as many others, and I kept my eye fixed upon the stranger, who waaieompletely confounded by the turmoil, and, whilst looking, I saw a hand dive gently but quickly into his coat pocket. Anxious to frus ■ trate the villany of the rogues, and eager to give good cause for his believing what I intended to tell him, I seized hold of this hand, and held it with a grasp that made its owner cry out in D 3 ]4 I' I' A H 'I Iv' r~^ 58 TALES OF A VOYAGKft. earnest; for I was, I confess, somewhat in a passion. A blow on the arm, from another party, almost made me relinquish my prey as quickly as I had taken it; but anger gave me nerve, and still retaining my prisoner by the wrist, I dealt his champicm a lucky hit, which tumbled him backward over the leg of his associate into the water. Another'' thump, however, falling on my face, (which occasioned the bruise you may recollect noticing next day,) made me wince confoundedly ; but the stranger, who had begun to comprehend what was the matter, when he saw me entrap the man\s hand, which still remained in his pocket, held there by mine, took upon him to repay this blow for me ; and certainly he repaid it with interest, for he instantly levelled my assailant with the earth. A general combat now ensued. The cry of 'pick-pocket! pick-pocket!' became loud for my stranger, who had been attempted to be rifled, and the mob gathered strong round the unltlcky gang : but in good time a posse of constables and police officers collected, and the offenders were handed off in custody. "After the countrygentlemanhadso completely settled my assailant, he collared the fellow whose hand was in his pocket, and seeing, by the nature it a. v THE CHAIvIOTEER. 59 ewhat in a ^ni another my prey as ?r gave me ler by the hit, which eg of his ?r thiimp, occasioned next day,) e stranger, t was the an's hanrl, 1 there by tv for me ; ?st, for he he earth, le cry of id for my be rifled, ! unlucky constables offenders 'mpletely >w whose le nature of his fist, that his grasp was firm, I let go the limb. Just after that came up the peace-officers, and the thieves were secured and hurried away, accompanied by those they had robbed ; and my stranger friend being one, I lost sight of him. I had a great mind to offer myself as a witness, but, finding I was overlooked, I thought it best to give myself no farther trouble about the affair.*' " Well, but," said I, " though this is extraor- dinary in your life, I do not see how it is con- nected with your voyage to Greenland." *^ You will discover in time," replied William smiling. " You know good story-tellers never relate the end before they have made a begin- ning to their tale ; and, though mine is a true adventure, it has enough of romance in it to deserve being treated according to the rules of epopoeia.'' *' Well, then," said I, " having made a begin- ning, let us hear the middle part of your epic, that we may advance in due classic progression." " That, like the body of many other narratives, will be the least interesting, I imagine," answered my companion, '* for it consists in my meeting Price, a fellow student, whom, you may have seen with me, and my adjourning with him to TALES OP A VOYAOKIl. a c„ffc.e-l,„use, where I got my clothes brushed, ^-mh„g on the g:.u„d had soiled then. ;a,K we afterwards ma.Ie „erry over my Quixotie '.u."o.,r,.„ exposing my^lf.o he batte.^ by a ««..« of .h,eves, for the sake of a person ,uke unknown to me. I cannot say I fe,t „„y ' Z "" """'"™"' *•" "■'- "- «n attractive ■"flnence m ,„e strangers exterior, whieh had gamed my ^^ ,;„, „„, j ^^^ ^_^ -^ I had not had time to speak to him. "After refreshing ourselves, we went to Hyde f 7' '°/'«»' 'he preparations for the fire works o be exlnbited at night; and towards evenS I nee. who had another engagement, quitted m!: oi Hmdnnll-streel. to look for another com- panion, ,f , could meet with any Of my acquZ "''<^7V''''->ofthet„wn^utI InTth resolved to pass the remainder of the day aZe I^ j;d not then know what company Laited Here the voice of Mr. Ridgway. calling down ecompamon ,,„.,,,, „D„,,„^f go™ a.e bearing down upon Yarmouth." interrupted ny fnend's story; and as we hau both reque^ o be summoned, should any thing novel o^ war m s.ght, we turned out, ifst neglect o ■J 54, THE VOYACB. 61 this notice might cause our associates to be less courteous on future occasions. The approach to Yarmoutli by sea is difficult and dangerous, from t)ie number of sand banks with which tlie roads are bounded. Between the shoals are passages called " gats," through wliich vessels must steer carefully to avoid grounding. After we had passed these snares, we ibimd the water less rough, its force being broken by the interposition of the sands ; and having continued our course for a little while, we cast anchor in the roads, opposite the hos- p'tal. The distant view of the town presents long ranges of buildings, diversified with numerous churches and windmills, which form conspicuous objects from the sea. The most remarkable edifice, however, is a monument dedicated to Lord Nelson, composed of a tall shaft, rising from a pedestal, and surmounted by three figures, supporting a tablet, on which rests a large statue— it stands on the beach. The whole of the buildings which appear to constitute Yarmouth, are not, I am told, desig- nated by one name ; but I did not learn their other appellation correctly. Tile afternoon proved very beautiful and h u\ » 3 62 TALES OF A VOYAGER. I I serene, and I amused myself by sketciiing the town wl„]e the captain went on shore, bearing w.tu h,m a letter from me to my friends. In the evenn,g a lantern «as suspended between the masts, to direct his boat in its return. I must not forget, that this was Saturday mght, a weekly Jestival with sailors, who always devote u to merriment ; for the increase of which drams are served out to all hands, and the cabin mess is supplied with fried ham, hung beef, and pancakes. I mention the observance ot tins practice now, because it was never once neglected during the voyage, and was the source irom whence arose many entertaining tales and .l,«;ussions, which I shall narrate in the due order of their succession. Buring my long illness, I had acquired the hab,tof wrmng short hand, an advantageof which 1 was often accustomed to avail myself, when any occurrence or conversation took place that I wished not to forget; and as I was at the outset of this excursion forbidden to join in the conv.v,ahty of Saturday nignt, on account of my health, I used to solace myself by noting down the remarks that passed between my mesf mates, whilst I lay reclined in my cabin. Upon i-eadmg over to my friend William the anec- THE VOYAGE. 63 dotes whicli a few weeks afforded, we found so much amusement in them, that to please him as well as myself, and with a view of diverting my family on my return, I resolved to continue my ellipsiographic reminiscences during the remain- der of my navigation ; and it is from these MSS. that I have copied the various digressive rela- tions with which my simple journal is inter- spersed. I will, however, allow Miat I have omitted the greater part of the oaths and inex- pressible exclamations, to which some of our visitors gave utterance; and if the reader should find a few words, which he cannot suppose to have been familial to the mouths of seafaring men, he may conclude that I have exchanged speeches which were exceptionable for others more agreeable. I was pleased to find during the absence of the captain, that his men took the opportunity of expressing their favourable opinion of him among themselves, and many circumstances were related to me, which spoke much in his favour. One anecdote, which I heard from a harpooner, while I was engaged with my pencil upon deck, I shall introduce here. " It is the custom of all hands employed in the Greenland fishery," said the harpooner. 64 TALES OF A VOYAGER. "when they return from the north, at the close of the summer, to seek for fresh berths on board merchants' ships trading to any part of the world. ^11 they have to mind is, to be back in time for the next fit out for the ice, and this keeps them from lying by idle all the winter. Last September two years, I went as second mate ni a ship bound to Canada, of which our master was captain, and as we had no coals we were to go down to Shields, and take in what we wanted. The name of our vessel was the *Die-amaid'— (Diomed.?)~and surely she did die a maid .' for she had never been out before, and was as tight a sea boat as ever carried sten- sail." Here my informant gave a laugh at his own w:tty conceit, which I echoed, whilst he took a iew whiffs of his pipe ere he continued. " Weli, Sir, we got to thenorVard of Whitby pretty fair. The wind had blown somewhat freshish all the while, but we were all right, and did not mind a good puff or so. But before we got abreast of Sunderland, I believe all the wmds that had been blowing south-west for a year came back npon us at once. You have never been in the East Indies, I suppose ; I have seen more than two or three hurricanes, but I * t"? ;5 It I THE VOYAGE. 65 never met one half so violent as this gale. We were going at about eight knots before a good breeze from the southward, when slap it chopped round to the north-east, and before we were a.vare sent all our topgallant rigging clean over- board. I was not upon deck at the timt, but it was not long before I got there, and says the mate to me, « Cleeson, this ship will never make a voyage, I see— there's no luck in her name.' — No, Sir, said I, her hour is come, I believe ; but we had as well undress her before she takes to her bed, ha ! ha !— So up aloft I sprung to lend a hand in reefing the sails—but would you believe it, though we carried twenty-five hands, not more than eight of them would work. — By ! Sir, may I never strike another fish, if seventeen of our rascally lubbers did not refuse to come above board, after they had looked out and seen the waves running in shore like heaps of clouds, and the ship reeling on her beam ends, from the quantity of canvass she carried. Zounds ! it was murdering the vessel. Sir ! — giving her up ! They had as well scuttled her at once. — What was the consequence.? — The next blast that came stronger than the rest threw her flat on her side, as flat, Sir, as my hand now is on this binnacle, and she canted her ballast !" m TALKS OF A VOYAGER. " Stop," saidi, interrupting my informant,"you must tell me what canting her ballast means ?'' " True," replied the harpooner, « I did not think of that. Why, Sir, a ship cants her ballast when she falls so much to leeward that her ballast, that is the gravel and other things at the bottom of her hold, are thrown all on one side, and she is not able to right herself when the wind has passed over. However, we could have righted her, if those d d stupid bottlenoses had but lent a hand ; but nothing could prevail upon them— confound them ! and so the vessel began to fill. " Now, Sir, you know little as a man may care for another^s life, he generally looks after his own : jet, though these mud-raking scoundrels knew that the ship must go down, they would not one of them stir to get the captain's cutter over the side.- What made the matter worse was, that ourmasters wife was aboard, for she was to be left at Shields ; besides which it was as dark as the pump well, and we were forced to see the best boat stove to pieces by the waves, which beat over the deck like water spouts. At last, finding it was no use waiting for help from those rascals, the captain, and the mate, and inyself, and three men and two boys, laid hold I . I THE VOYAGE. 67 of the other boat, and between the winds forced licr into the sea. This we had no sooner done than the cowardly knaves came up, and began to jump in, and when five or six of them were afloat they would have cut the rope that held her on, had not Captain Shaftoii lifted a hatchet, wliich he had been using, and threatened to chop off the first hand that offered to cast her loose. Whilst this was transacting, the mate was gone after the mistress, for the master would not leave tiie boat for fear of those lubbers, and he came back with her, dressed half like a sailor half like a woman ; for she was turned in when the squall began, and could not get her things together. We put her into the boat, and then leaped after her ; and in good time, for we had scarce cut her adrift, when the ship gave a heel to windward and righted, and in the next mo- ment went down. " Well, now comes what I was going to tell you. Five of the fellows, (mind you, Sir, I do not call them sailors,) who would not help us, had no chance to get into the boat, and were left in the water when the Die-a-maid sunk. We could not see them, but we could hear them singing out, and though they had behaved so shamefully, and all hands I Ml ! Il ii I 'll'! ' TALES OF A VOYAGER. were willing to leave them, the captain ordered us to pull towards them, and kept dodging about till he picked them up. For my part, I would have shoved them under with pleasure • but as I was saying, our captain is one among a thousand. I believe we were saved on his account ; for we had not driven far from where we lost our ship when we were carried almost broadside on the Ehza of Shields, and got safe aboard her, though not without some trouble.'' ;' I should not have imagined," said I, - that British sailors would have conducted themselves in the manner you have told me." ^^ " Sailors /" repeated the harpooner in scorn ; Sir, they were not sailors; they were a gang of scape gallows rascals in purser's jackets, who Should have swung at the yard arm I" I was highly amused at the importance with which this sentence was uttered, followed bv several energetic puffs of smoke; and, had not William beckoned mefrom the companion door, should have enjoyed more of the humour for narration into which his allowance of rum had led Andrew Cleeson. I found supper ready below, and no lack of gaiety; and we all drank « Saturday night, sweethearts and wives," with hearty gl^J THE VOYAGE. Mr. Shipley, perhaps, cxcr -ted ; for, as he was a married man, he was compelled to vary his toast to wives and sweetheart8,--a trans- position seemingly never made with much cor- diality. The faltering tone in which the word wives is uttored, may, indeed, be occasioned by tender recollections arising at the time, but I have always judged the cause to be somewhat less sentimental. As my guardian was ashore, I followed the example of all wardb, and transgressed his rules during his absence. In truth, the hung beef saluted my nostrils with such a zosty odour, the pancakes looked so inviting, and the grog put in such a forcible claim to my attention, in the shape of the toast to be sanctioned by imbib- ing it, that I fell to work like one who wished to show by his actions how he honoured his mistress. My supper, indeed, resembled rather the hearty meal of a hungry husband, than the fastidious feeding of an absent lover ; but I have ever held it an axiom, worthy the observ- ance of all good citizens, that nothing sup- plies the place of the object of one's affections so well as a jovial carouse; and I would venture any day to build a fortification with roast beef and plumb pudding and good wine, which ,r»,»l »v, ro TALKS OF A VOYAGER. In shoultl resist the most savage assault of care and melancholy, assisted by all the battering rams of neglect, scorn and doubt, which ever assailed the dough-dumpling soul of a despond- ing Strephon. I did not find myself any worse on the fol- lowing morning for my over-night^s feasting, but rose in good spirits, to enjoy an early parade upon deck, on a fine Easter Sunday. From respect to the day, our ancient was hoisted to the mizen peak. I did not stay so long in Yarmouth Roads without thinking more Than once of n^y juvenile favourite, Robinson Crusoe, whose maritime adventures commence in this spot; for, as I can trace much of my predilection for wandering to his history, this roadsteaa was as sacred to me as the birth place of Homer and Shakspeare. We continued sailing all day with a tolerably fan- wind, and spoke a brig bound to the Green- land seas for ice. Of three vessels, which visited the Arctic ocean for this purpose, only one returned; and the circumstances which caused the loss of the other two, I shall describe in the proper place. A brilliant moon-light rendered the evening more delightful than the day. The sea appeared tii THE VOYAGE. Tl dark, almost to a sable hue, except where a lon Tho gale still continued to inorease during the d.'iy, but I felt no internal inconvenience from the bodily agitation to which I was often com- pelled : in fact, I enjoyed the idea oi being m a stiff' breeze, for to me it wa? novel, and the hidicrous commotion which it occasioned throughout the vessel, afforded abundance of food for merriment. In the afternoon we passed Flamborough Head, a promontory of the East Kidino- "of Yorkshire, exhibiting a light house a d an adjacent tower, and continued driving aloncr, when I retired to rest. *" I lis a singular circumstance, that the severe action to which the vessel was often subjected dunng a whole week, never disturbed my repose excepting when I was once thrown against the bulk head by a violent lurch. The fact is illus- trated by my having slept calmly throughout the night, though, upon waking on the morning of the tenth, I found the weather doubled in severity. I know not how the influence of the drowsy god acted in keeping me in a state of quiescence, but when I awoke I was obliged to fix my iiands and knees firmly against the sides of my cabin, to prevent my falling out of bed. Willing, however, to view the agnation 1(1 fl'' TJIE VOYAGL'. ?;■) of tlic ocean, which, from the effects it pro. (luccd, I imagined musi be worthv the trouble of rising to see, I staggered upon deck, and hchtld a vast range of swelhng biilows, rolling in majestic succession towards tl^ land. It is a grand and sublime sight to see the waves rising around us, as if about to unite their im- mense volumes, and overwhelm the little bark that glides along the hollow bt . veen them, like a fc ruher borne on the wind through a narrow glen ; and it 's a delightful sensatirm to ride in that buoyant vessel, and feel if bound over the liquid mountain?, which but moment before sccujcd about to burst above its masts, and bury it in a deepening g'llph. There can be no excitement from motion, ^vithin the leach of man, equal in pleasure to the exulting dance of a ship on the restless sea. The eagle, H)aring above the storm, which spreads fear and desolation on t! enrth he ha.« quitted, and marking with a . .nc i.ot less quick the swift descent of the lightning, over which he floats secure, might enjoy sublimity of leas superior, could he | assess them ; but, within human attainment, the extreme limit of intellectual grandeur is to be ;und only on the troubled deep. VOL. i. r E 74 TALES OF A YOYAC.ER. A feeling of wild and lonely joy continually rose in my mind, as our bark drove onward, mounting and sinking with unceasing alternation. I soon took delight in the deep plunge she gave, when the waves retired from beneath her keel, and loved to feel the elastic spring she made, when lifted from the green abyss on the back of the succeeding billow. At these moments a wide extent of watery waste, heaving and turn- bling, as if animated, into clumsy gambols, burst upon the eye, and as suddenly disappeared— at one instant we sunk down into a foaming trough, at the next we seemed to leap above the spray, which broke from the curhng summits of the watery ridges. Whilst we were thus rising and falling r a ti ^ bosom of the ocean, like the hopes of man'iiud on the stream of life, many objects of pic- turesque beauty glanced upon my sight. At many miles distance, the tall cliffs of Robin Hood's Bay were gleaming in all the brilliancy of a morning sun, while above as dark lowering clouds threw a deep gloom upon the atmo- sphere, and produced a strong and chilling con- trast. After a short exhibition of this scene, it changed, the clouds burst, and sent down a shower of snow and sleet, driven along by the THE VOYAGE. 76 wind with bitter fury; the view of the land was completely obscured, and every wave, but those which boiled around the vessel, was hidden by the drifting veil. In the midst of this squall, the sun broke out, and darted his brightest rays through the snowy curtain, touching every flake with a spark of light, and spreading a wide sheet of radiance over the varying surface of the water. Then, in a little while, the whole storm passed away before our eyes, exhibiting the turbulent march of a tempest sweeping over the sea, like an army of barbarians pouring forth from the regions of the north. Those who have visited the parts of London which lie below bridge, may have been struck with the peculiar circumambulatory mode of progression exhibited by a great portion of the people who throng the zy^es of the river. They swing out their leg, as if about to describe a circle with their toes at every step, while their back and shoulders come loitering on above, as if wondering at the antic motions of their lower limbs. Few have failed to recognize these beings as sailors, who have acquired this custom of walking from the habit of constantly pacing a moving deck. Were any one to place his E 2 ^4 76 TALES OF A VOYAGER. feet Straight forward, while the ship is rcchng and pitching beneath him, he would inevitably be capsized at every instant ; and T was amused to observe that a cat, which sailed with us, had acquired the same mode of throwing out his limbs as his biped shipmates " Tom" had been born and bred a sailor, and the " cut of his jib" shewed that he was no land lubber. When the vessel reared too far towards the perpendicular to allow of his maintaining his position unassisted, he would bend his forepaw round a rope, or lay hold of a projecting corner, as deliberately as any " hand" aboard ; while, in the calmer intervals, he would return to dressing his coat, till the next roll bade him " hold on" again. For my part, I was obliged to grasp the nearest object continually, both below and above, for our ship often lay so low to leeward, that I have swung off from the deck repeatedly, as if about to drop into the sea, and every motion was performed while clinging like a squirrel to the shrouds or rough-trees. The manuscript of my journal gives plpnaful evidence of the little steadiness of the writer ; for I never neglected committing my observations to paper directly I went below, though I was often n THE CHARIOTEER. 77 »)bliged to stretch myself out prostrate on a cJiest, or to fix myself in a corner, with my legs like a sweep in a chimney. I had enjoyed this prospect of the stiff gale while Captain Shafton was asleep, but when he came upon deck he ordered me below, and I was compelled to obey, in virtue of my promise. Indeed, I was conscious of having transgressed the rules of prudence, by exposing myself to the cold wind, mingled with rain and snow; but I had not felt any disagreeable sensations during " my watch," and the grandeur of the turbid ocean was too beautiful to be abandoned for a narrow cabin. My friend William had, however, preferred the ease and comfort of his bed to the contem- plation of stormy billows, and on joining iiim I requested him to resume his account of his adventures on the day of the coronation. To this he willingly consented, for I believe circumstances connected with them had occupied liis thoughts during the morning, and having replaced myself in my recess I listened to the following continuation. " I do not suppose," said William, " that you are as familiar with the penetralia of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens as I am ; for I 78 TALKS OF A VOYAGER. "' ■'• r/' : ■ :>!• Si your want of health has prevented your taking many trips to the * west end of the town ;' but to me, these delightful pleasure grounds were the scenes of many an afternoon's relaxation while attending Brookes' lectures in Blenheim- street. The cool fountain, just within the Cumberland entrance to the gardens, and the Banbury cakes and ale, at the tavern close with- out the Bayswater gate, have often solaced me after the disagreeable duty of sitting for many hours to dissect a decomposing carcass." ^^ " I can readily believe it," interrupted I. " What practice can be more prejudicial either to your health or your comfort-almost all the day confined in an apartment with corrupting bodies taken from their graves !~the escape into a park must have been enchanting!" " You," said my friend, « like most other people, probably imagine this very necessary part of a surgeon's education to be more un- wholesome and disagreeable than it really is • but, without stopping to argue the point with you, I will acknowledge that I felt no objection to adjourning occasionally, to inhale a little unadulterated oxygen in Hyde Park and the Gardens, and soon became acquainted with all their beauties." THE CHARIOTEER. 79 " Beauties of more kinds than one, I sup- pose ?"" said I. " To that I answer nothing," replied my companioii, « though I could tell you a divert- ing story or two, connected with those spots. At present, I shall only state, that after roaming and sauntering over the mount, the hidden pool, the basin, the promenade and the orangerie, and taking a long glimpse at my favourite gravel pit, and its neighbouring mazy paths, I returned to Hyde Park, and approached a circular in- closure, surrounded with tall palisades, within which all the glories of pyrotechny were being arranged. " The evening was now fast closing in, and the Park began to fill with persons of all conditions of life and age. Chinese lamps faintly gHm- mered among the trees, and gay belles and happy beaux flitted along by the side of the unbending Serpentine, in all the merriment of seldom tasted liberty. " Though I am fond of society, as you tell me, and by no means averse to pleasure, I feel great delight in passing unknown and unheeded amidst a vast collection of people. I like to view their various expressions of countenance, and to speculate on the peculiarities of the 80 Tales of a voyager. different groups I meet ; for every little party possesses some mode of its own, which distin- guishes it from the rest, and I fancy I can quickly discern what sets are composed of mem- bers of one family, or of persons intimately connected, and those which are formed of mere acquaintances ; not by their manner of address- ing each other, but by their gait and by the sounds of their voices." Just then the tacking of the ship set all tlie mobiles which had been left accidentally loose, rolling and tumbling from larboard to starboard, with horrid din, and it took us some time to bolster ourselves up in fresh positions, that we might "ride secure;'' after which William proceeded. When I came near the palisade, I found a circle of carriages surrounding it, drawn up close to the railings, and the spectators on foot assert- mg very justly that those who could afford coaches should keep off at a little distance, as their bemg elevated would allow them to see the fire-works without interruption ; whereas their takmg a station close to the inclosure, (which was in truth of no great advantage to them- selves), excluded the more humble lookers-on from a fair view. I saw this act of injustice m THE CIIARrOTEKR. 81 an additional light, for I believed that directly the first discharge of squibs and crackers went off, the horses would take fright, and endanger the safety of those who had so selfishly engrossed the best situations.—The populace, however, preserved them from this danger. By degrees more vehicles arrived, and formed at the back of the first rank, and in iniitation of their ' betters,' many of the pedestrians procured carts and waggons, and took up a position wherever an opening was left between the more commo- diously arranged barouches and chariots. This insolent and monopolizing behaviour stirred up the wrath of the mobility, though it did not immediately burst forth, but was slowly and silently engaged in preparing for action. " I could not, for a considerable period, divine why a parcel of young fellows, and boys of every description, were employed, in all directions, strip- ping oft'the turf from the banks and green sward, (I should rather say brown sward, for the weather had been previously very dry, and the Park is never extremely verdant in the open areas) ; but at last, seeing them arrange their s]X)ils near to the inclosure, and lay them in heaps, I ima- gined they proposed making points of elevation, E 3 .1; , 8^ TALES OF A VOYAGEE. Iilii !• Il n' I il'i to obtain some chance of viewing the fire-works, and I turned my attention to other things. " I believe I was looking at a crowd of persons who were getting a little urchin out of the water, into which he had fallen from some rail- ings that run out into it near the bridge, when a sudden commotion behind me caused me to turn my eye towards the palisade. It was not quite dark, for the last look of twilight still lingered in the sky, and by its dim and some- what desolate gleam, I saw showers of missiles flying from all quarters upon the double line of carriages which encircled the inclosure. " This spot being a little more elevated than the side of the Serpentine, the summits of the vehicles, and the heads of those who occupied them, appeared to me clearly marked against the sky, and I have never beheld a more sin- gular effect than this circumstance produced. The vollies of turf and pieces of dead wood, which were projected up from the dark and indiscriminate mass of people on the ground, and the hurried actions and agitation of the ladies, and the confusion of the gallants, who were mounted in the open landaus and ba- rouches, afforded a spectacle both imposing and if THE CHARIOTEER. 88 ludicrous. The glee and cheers of the almost indistinguishable assailants added a dramatic air to the onslaught, while the restlessness of the horses, and the increasing outcries of the females, began to give it a serious character. Expecting that something would occur, in which I could afford assistance, or perhaps excited by curiosity, I hurried into the midst of the throng, which, being composed of the lower orders, seemed disposed to shew little mercy to the offenders. I cannot say that I pitied them much, because they had wantonly provoked this outrage; but as the carriages were mostly filled with children and young women, it would have been as well to have refrained from further mischief, after the first discharge of resentment ; especially as the coachmen began to use their best endeavours to move off. This, however, was not easily accomplished ; for the haste they adopted only served to wedge many of the coaches together, and the mob made no allowances, and gave no quarter, but seemed to take delight in seeing the "gentry" tumble out of their vehicles, in at- tempting to descend out of the way of the showers of turf. " Near to the spot where I was standing was a hackney chariot, which, for some reason or r it i' r 84 TALES OF A VOYAGER. "ther, did not move. This seeming obstinacy drew down upon the driver a concentrated volley of sticks, stones, and clods of earth, and one fellow in particular attacked him so pertina- ciously, that, after making several ineffectual cuts at him with his whip, he gave way to his anger, and leaped off the box to take vengeance on his assailant with his fists. The usual cry of •' a ring ! a ring !" resounded through the mob. I heard blows given and returned, and in a moment the rush of the crowd, and the violence of the battle, carried the combatants to a distance from the coach, and I lost sight of them, or rather my attention was attracted from them by the horses of the chariot taking fright, starting and flinging out ungovernably, while the shrieks of two ladies Avithin, who rightly imagined themselves in great danger, rungalove the other cries of the fiying. "The same spirit of interference which had prompted me to extricate the country gentleman from the snares of the pick-pockets, now stimu> lated me to render assistance to the screaming ladies ; and, with more courage than prudence, I seized an opportunity and sprung upon the coach -box. " I am, as you may recollect, fond of the whip. i(p THE CHARIOTEER. 85 rind was not out of my element with the reins in my hands ; and, being not a little exasperated with the brutality of the crowd, for its persever- ance in battering the coach of two unprotected women, I set off the horses at a speed that made tiic blackguards scuttle away most precipitately. Several hats and toes suffered, 1 believe, from my rashness, although it was not easy to mode- rate the beasts, as they were alarmed ; and in return for a lump of turf, which struck me on the breast, I fetched the fellow who threw it a slash over the face, which I warrant he has not yet forgotten. As a rejoinder to this reply of mine, I was covered with dust, dirt, and projec- tiles of every description, by the « canaille ;"" but my career quickly brought me out of their reach, as they did not think fit to pursue my course. " After running a good way along the ring, I drew up, and considered what I was doing on the box of a stranger's carriage, occupied by persons of whom I knew nothing. This deter- mined me to dismount, and I immediately put my resolution in practice. As you are not so amorously inclined as myself, I shall not apos- trophize the beauty of the face which was bent forward upon my openin£ the door, and asking to what place I should have the pleasure of 86 TALES OF A VO^ VGER. driving the chariot. I have heard you call Miss C the most beautiful girl you ever saw, but she could no more compare with the charn I then beheld, by the light of one of the lamps that hung near us, than a Thames punt with the good ship Leviathan. " Arretez vous la, mon ami !" quoth I ; <* for, in the first place, you promised not to eulogize, and, in the second, I shall be forced to call you out, in the name and on the behalf of this said Miss C , whom you so unwarrantably post- pone to your strange goddess, after affirming me to be her admirer." " Well," replied William, '^as I had rather not be called out just now, Til say nothing more of that kind, except that I found Cupid had made a pass through my heart with his rapier, which, far from giving me my quietus, threw me into a strange state of agitation." "Cupid should have used a bare bodkin,'' said I, "such an instrument being capable, accordmg to the poet, of producing a quietus." " Only in cases of felo de se," exclaimed my companion; "but this, you know, was an assault committed by the God of love." "Nay, then," cried I, "you will find an assault occasioned by love, perpetrated with a THE CIIAIIIOTEER. 87 bare bodkin, in the History of the Seven Cham- pion., ; bi T df see what pica you can adduce for furnib, g (.upid with a rapier at all." <• Simply," replied William, « because, so far )m being a bow-shot apart, we were not half an arrow's length from each other, and tliere could be no space for the little rogue to pull his string." "I deny 'lat," said T: « Cupid need not, as some of yoi.i ancient romance writers have it, * shoot his arrows from the eyes of the divine paragon of all perfection, as, if he be at hand, he may use a cross bow, which, I rather imagine he does, as well from the effect he produces on the temper of the wounded, as from the adage, « a fool's bolt is soon shot ;' and what missile is more foolishly or more suddenly discharged than the arrow of love ?" " Very true," answered my friend ; " but I assert that the son of Venus draws a long bow, as every woman can tell who has listened to a lover's professions ; unless she believe him, for then he may lie outrageously, and fear no rebuke for his fables. However, from my own experi- ence, I hold that Cupid wears side arms ; because English arrows should be a cloth yard long, and I do not think he v/ould condescend to 'n il- .^. )■ •■ i ■ 1^ m fiei:mtmi4 1 - ■f ^^^^1 l-i -.imk i^^l^l 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) / o 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.5 18 U ill 1.6 V] -1 ^ // ^^- % w// w Photographic Sdences Corporation V'.^^' ^^1>. ^ M % 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 t ffw^ 88 TALKS OF A VOYAGER. carry other than the best. Now, granting this, how could I be pierced with such a weapon, when there was less than a foot and a half of distance betM'een us ?'' « Nay, nay," said I, "you still will imagine that Cupid sits ' enthroned in the eyes ," but I tell you, and I prove my assertion by referring to all pictures of such scenes, that Cupid always Hies in the air a good bow-shot off." " Well, well," cried William, " setting Cupid with his beaux and his blades aside for the pre- sent, it will be sufficient to say, that I stood like a moonstruck coachee, waiting the commands of my mistress." « And what said the damsel to her captive charioteer .?*' " Why, after a little hesitation, she replied with the sweetest voice imaginable, ' Sir, you must excuse me, if I am at a loss to answer your question, for I am a stranger to London; nor do I well comprehend what has befallen us. We saw our coachman jump from his box, and some one mount in his room ; but we are unable to understand why all this disturbance has, taken place, and what was the reason of our being attacked." " It was most infamous, Madam," answered I, I THE CHARIOTEER. 89 " that tlie fury of the mob should be wreaked upon ladies, although I esteem it a fortunate — '^ '' Na}, now, William,'' interrupted I, "if you l>egin to detail speech after speech, with all their accompaniments of compliments, and saccha- rine softnesses, and delicate insinuations, we shall hear 'eight bells' strike before you get from the coach door." " When did you ever think of dinner before ?" replied my friend. " This sea air begins to work a change in you ; but I will not, nor did I intend to repeat our speeches, like debates in a news- paper. It shall, therefore, suffice, that I de- scribed to them the cause of the riot, and the way in which they escaped from it, and that I tendered my services still further. I must tell you, that I had a great desire both to remain in the Park and to keep my protegees there also. Accord- ingly, I exerted my eloquence to tempt them to let me drive them back towards the inclosure, and place the chariot at a distance from the palisade, among those which had retreated from their first station, and had taken up another out of the way of the pedestrians. " I presume there was an equal desire on their parts not to lose the opportunity of 1> holding the fireworks, so I prevailed; and I 4* i''S! M. 'J 90 TALES OF A VOYAGER. after making a turn, to shew them that all the confusion had subsided, I took possession of a commodious standing, from whence all the pyrotechnical exhibitions were visible as much as they could be from one position." " But you have not told me who this second lady was," said I, " this beauty seems to have engaged all your attention ?" " Any one out you would have guessed that she was the motherof the first," replied William ; "and, as you are so deficient in imagination] I will also tell you, that the chariot was hired, and that those within i^ knew nothing of its owners ; and, as the coachman had dismounted, were unable to say to whom it should be re- turned. This was one reason, among others, for their consenting to continue in the Park as they hoped the driver would find them again, or send somebody else to claim the vehicle. « You may readily imagine, that I was eager to gaze upon brighter luminaries than rockets, cathenne-wheels and roman-candles, and that the coach-box was not the most satisfactory seat Nevertheless, as the continued explosions ot fire-works kept the horses restive, I could not safely quit the reins, but sat whip in hand with all the devotion of a Leander; yet I did THE CHARIOTEER. 91 contrive occasionally to get a glimpse at the face of the youngest lad} , and I became more resolved than before to pursue the adventure in which I was engaged. " Besides my solitary station, I was not quite at ease on another account. I observed at times several ill-looking fellows regard me with a suspicious eye, and fancied, as one always does fancy on such occasions, that they held discourse about me. This I attributed to their having seen me jump upon the box, when the coach was attacked, and as arising either from admira- tion or malice, I could not tell which ; though their sinister glances made me believe they intended to renew the combat at a convenient opportunity. I was, however, more concerned that I could not invite the ladies to walk about and view the illumination among the trees, and longed for the return of the coachman, to take my place. " To shorten my story a little, for I suppose you are thinking of the ' beef locker"* more than of my situation, it began to rain as the night passed on, and my new acquaintances would not allow me to remain exposed to the wet. Still, as the horses could not be left unguarded, I refused to abandon the command, and they 93 TALES OF A VOYAGEE. . 'Ill I III were resolved that I should not sacrifice my health to their amusement; so it was agreed I should drive them to their residence in B street, where I purposed to put the equipage into the charge of the watchman, who I knew would conduct it to the green-yard, where, o{ course, the owner would discover it. I must observe, that my protegees were quite fresh from the country, and, with tliat amiable though perilous confidence usual in strangers to London, put themselves completely under my guidance. " With a little difficulty and delay, I got safe through Cumberland-gate; for, part of the north western wall having been thrown down by the impatience of the people, there was not so much obstruction from passengers as usual. I took my way up Great C umberland- street, to avoid the throng of vehicles which filled Oxford-street, and was driving down Berkely-street to the square, when the cry of ' Stop, you Sir ! Hoy there ! Stop !' attracted my attention. However, as I had no reason to suppose the summons was to me, I kept driving on, till two men came running up, and laid hold of the horses' heads. One of them I could see was a constable, by his staff; his as- THE CHARIOTEKR. DS sociate, a coachman ; others also advanced, whom I did not at first recognize, but whom I after- wards recollected well enough. I demanded of the constable by what right he arrested the carriage, and he and his companion answered together sneeringly, asking by what right I had run away with it. " This, of course, I explained ; but the ras- cals laughed in my face, and told me that I was one of the fellows who had pelted the coach- man, who knew me well. The scoundrel of a driver affirmed this, for it was the same man with the constable who had been assailed by the mob, and he concluded by giving me in charge to the officer, who informed me I must lodge that night in the watch-house. " It was to no purpose that the ladies in the chariot remonstrated, and denied the truth of the fellow's charge. He persisted in the most brazen manner, and, with the proverbial in- solence of his caste, told them he would have them locked up with me, as accomplices in de- priving him of his coach, if they contradicted him. However, he mounted his box, and drove on, while I was conducted by the constable towards the watch-house. " I leave you," continued William, " to ima- I <■ it W » ■ If 94 Tales of a voyager. gine my feelings, at finding myself in such a scrape, sofarfrom my friends, and in (he hands of a pack of low scoundrels, who seemed to take pleasure in my situation. I endeavoured, indeed, to conceal my vexation as much as possible, but the crew who followed did all in their power to lacerate my mind, by taunting expressions and insulting jokes. " We came at length to the bottom of Mary- le-bonne-lane, where the watch-house is situated, and were admitted through a guarded door. We passed across an anti-room, filled with lounging officers and supernumerary watchmen, to a small inner room, where sat the night con- stable, with his books before him, and a quart pot full of inspiration by his side. " ' Ho ! ho!' said this potentate, on behold- ing us, ' another squib and cracker case, I sup- pose—Your name. Sir .?' " ' Let me first know why I am here. Sir,' I replied. What, Sir, did you come here in your sleep.?' cried the autocrat. i 116 TALES OF A VOYAGEll. i , I 't^f m to be satisfied with many things which I knew could have been improved. It will not be expected, I trust, that I should give more than a brief sketch of a place, in which I only spent a few hours; but of what I ob- served, the reader shall be put in possession. I saw several houses in progress of edification, though there were others falling to pieces, as if through want of inhabitants ; yet I am told the town is increasing in population. There were some buildings which appeared of more ancient date than the others, and to which little walled courts and gateways gave an appearance of su- periority, not diminished by coats of arms, cut in stone over the arches of the entrances. At one of these I found the post office, and deposited a lett-r for my family, in the care of " Magnus Hawick," the occupant of the dwelling, if I remember his name aright. The Tolbooth is a wretched and crazy fabric, with a paltry kind of tower, like a watch-box set upon a barn, in which a bell rings on Sunday for prayers. One of the windows has iron bars, and on the door were affixed advertisements, notices against smuggling, and other papers. This prison stands near the water's edge ; but the kirk, for which it does the duty of summon- THE VOYAGE. 117 lat I should je, in which m what I ob- ssession. I edification, pieces, as if im told the riiere were ore ancient ittle walled ance of su- irms, cut in s. At one leposited a " Magnus ling, if I azy fabric, tch-box set ►n Sunday iron bars, lisements, !r papers. :^dge; but ' summon- ing the congregation, is situated between two of the lanes leading up the acclivity from the high street. Yet, though on high ground, it is placed in a small boggy yard. There are a few monu- ments of several kinds in the enclosure, among which I noticed some triangular pieces of wood, supported by stalks, in place of headstones. These mementos are, I believe, erected as marks that Dutchmen have been interred near them ; but there were three or four white marble slabs, belonging to natives, which displayed more wealth and vanity in the surviving friends of those they recorded. The oldest monument I discovered was of sandstone, bearing a chiselled escutcheon, full of devices, and inscribed with the name of " Milne," whose former condition and merits were amply set forth in Latin. The kirk itself is a quadrangular low roofed building, resembling very much in shape and exterior appearance a large gardener's latticed handglass for raising cucumbers, and with its oozy peat cemetery presents a miserable aspect. The fort or "castle,'' is capacious, and strongly built with large masses of stone, on a site of which material it is elevated, so as to command the town. There o^e barracks within its precincts, apparently the best buildings in 118 TALES OF A VOVAGER. Wr Bin ii ii Lerwick ; but they are unoccupied by soUlie-s, and the walls are without cannon; but the minister has found a retreat within its dwellings, from whence he sallies forth, JJihle (not sword) m hand, in a spiritual sortie against the belea- guering powers of darkness. Having spent two or three hours in running through alloys of as little breadth as could well be devised, from which many small courts and be yards led to different abodes, and in one of which 1 observed a fountain, and in others small gardens, William and I resolved to explore our way into the country ; for the afternoon had become smihng with sunshine, and we were growing weary of threading mazes of houses, in which we knew none of the residents. The des- tination we bound ourselves to reach was Seal- loway, a place of which I knew nothing but the name, except that I was aware of its possessing a rumed castle, from having casually seen a sketch of it, made by a wanderer into these islands many years ago. iU«cordingly, we passed over the hill to the back of the town and asked our way of the first person we encountered. The direction was plain and satisfactory, since it embraced the only road that existed in the islands, and which led THE VOYAGE. 119 by soldiers, 1 ; but the :s dwellings, (not sword) t the belea- in running could well courts and 1 in one of 1 in oihers i to explore ernoon Had i we were " bouses, in The des- » was Scal- r^g but the possessing lly seen a into these lingly, we the town, person we plain and only road which led ' 'A exclusively to the town we were desirous of reaching. On descending towards a small loch, which lies behind Lerwick, between it and a lofty opposite hill, we were struck with the quantity of stone that lay scattered over the surface of the ground, as if rocks had been shattered to pieces and strewed around. There were many small spots of ground enclosed with dry stone walls, and manured with sea-weed, preparing for cultivation ; and in one, a small plough, drawn hy Shetland j)onies, was at work. This was the only instance in which I beheld the earth thus broken; it is usually turned up with a little spade, like a spud, with a projecting bar, to receive the })ressure of the foot, and the cultivators of the soil are mostly females. The prettiest and most engaging girl I met in these islands, was labori- ously employed with one of these instruments, in assisting several others to dig a small field ; and as 1 roamed about the valleys, I obser\*ed companies of women similarly engaged. This seemingly ungallant abandonment of toil to the softer sex, was probably the result of the enlist- ment of the men in the service of the whale fishery. It is their general practice to sow their land before their departure, that they may reap no TALES OF A VOYAGEK. the harvest on their return ; but possibly every kind of crop would not allow of such an early deposit of its seed in the ground. The view inland, from the rear of Lerwick, presents a series of high, long-backed mountains, brown, barren and desolate. Along the sides of the nearest, black patches of tilled land were visible, among wastes of dingy yellow moss and withered heather, and a hw lowly, straw- thatched huts might occasionally be discerned, surrounded by such signs of cultivation ; but by far tiie greatest portion of the surface of the country consisted of sterile untamed tracts of desert peat, from which the gray rocks, forming the bed of the island, raised up their hoary summits. To contemplate objects at a distance, was not the mode in hich we had resolved to spend our time, and we entered upon the road, which led us past the head of the loch, with hasty strides, and with great desire to increase our warmth by walking, for the wind was stiff, and the keen air of the country needed no such frigoriric auxi- liary in abstracting our caloric. We now per- ceived a long and marshy pool, stretching out towards Whitbyman's bight, above the level of the other loch, into which it discharged its THE VOYAGE. 121 watersthrougbpchannel running beneath theroad that lay between them; and, situated over this small water course, we noticed a little turf-clad hutch, to which we were at a loss to assign a character. It was so low that we might have cleared it witli a leap, and therefore it could not be high enough for a dwelling, nor was it of dimensions sufficie^nt for a stable. A sheepcoteor pigsty it might have formed, but its position above the streamlet, which poured its slender waters through its stony basenjent, denoted that it was destined for other uses ; and upon inquiring from a passer-by to what purpose it was applied, we learnt that it was a " mull." As a mill, it therefore became an object »'^ greater curiosity, and we entered it to observ- /hat machinery could find sufficient room for action within its narrow cell. By bending nearly double, we contrived to insinuate ourselves into the edifice, and saw, by the lio-ht which fell through a hole in the sod-covered roof, two circular flat stones lying on a paved compartment of the floor; that is, the lowest and largest stone was fixed into the ground on a raised surface of imperfect pavement, and the upper stone reposed u])on it. From the rafters of the roof, was suspe. ded a conical straw basket, hke an inverted Lee-hive, from the dependant VOL. I. ft <*• 'M >1f f (' 122 TALES OF A VOYAGER. mi i 4 I'ViVj'i''"' apex of wliich a little wooden spout projected over a small opening in the centre of the superior millstone. Across this orifice was fixed a small bar, and into this bar was inserted the extremity of an iron pin or spindle, which penetrated through the lowest stone, and became the axis to a small horizontal water-wheel, which was turned by the streamlet passing beneath the floor. Al- though the " mull" was not then at work, we imagined to ourselves the mode ofits action to be thus r — the water being conducted by a trough against the wheel, the upper stone, to which the axis is fixed, revolves upon the lower one, which is stationary, and in the meanwhile the grain falls from the conical bag of straw, through the central opening, and gradually becomes re- duced to powder. The meal falls out from between the edges of the stones, during the pro- cess, upon the paved elevation, and from thence is collected by the miller. To travellers like us, there was little time to spare for many reflections, and we regained the road to prosecute our journey with speed, for we knew little or nothing of the distance from Ler- wick to Scalloway, and the information we re- ceived on that point was so contradictory, that it rather increased our fears than satisfied our THE VOYAGE. 128 doubts. Upon ascending the hill, up which our route now conducted us, we were encountered by sevcral men and many women laden with peat, which they carried at their backs in baskets of the same kind as we had observed hanging in the interior of the mill. The fabric of these straw sacks was curious, and the mode in which they were fastened to the carrier was ps per- nicious as it was liable to impede their progress. This singular way of lightening a burden was by bringing a strap from it across the chest, which, instead of being free for the inflation of the lungs' was thus compressed by the weight of the load pulling upon the band ; and it is needless to point out the difficulty this incumbrance must cause in traversing steep and rugged acclivities. Although the face of the road was strewn with loose pieces of granite, and armed with pro- jecting points of the rocky surface of the hill, many of the passengers walked barefoot, some bearing their shoes in their hands, and others m appearing possessed of such luxuries. The dresses of all, though coarse and ill-conditioned, were variegated with glaring colours, and in fashion much resembling the garb of the poor labouring Irish about London. Hard, withered, and weather-beaten features, toilworn frames, and 'J' ['t \ G Q U4> TALES OF A VOVAfiEU. dccrepldgails, characterised those wlio seemed in the afternoon of life ; but the children who accon)j)anied them were a blue-eyrt', chiibby- fdced, rosy-cheeked race, and shewed by the promise of their childliood, that their parents might not liave exhibited such premature signs of exhausted nature in a climate more genial, and with labour less excessive. When we reached the summit of the hill, we soon left beliind us tlie troop of peat carriers, which, like a swarm of ants, kept passing to and from the town, to certain excavations near the highest part of the road, from whence the fuel was dug. This abundant material seems to cover the face of the Shetland islands, in various degrees of thickness and quality. It is a blackish oozy substance, resembling in general appear- ance the cakes of tanner's bark sold about the streets of the metropolis, under the name of " burning turf," but, on near inspection, appears more like old manure mingled with dark earth, and closely compressed. A youth, with whom we conversed on the subject of his country, told us, that Shetland was covered with woods till the Spanish armada destroyed the forests by fire; and, certainly, the soil appears as if composed of the ashes and half-burned fibres of trees, united m^ii THE VOYAGE. 125 by time and moisture into a compact mass ; but the most probable source of its formation is the excessive growth and decay of moss and heather, which gradually have left deposits of their withered remains, till beds of peat have accu- mulated, where at first the plants could scarce find tenure. .We now descended a gentle declivity, which led, winding romantically over a small bridge, to a valley, where the sea, penetrating through a deep voe, brought its waters to the foot of the village of Dell. A village in Shetland is a cluster of eight or ten little huts, seated among a few spots of tilled land, which lie irregularly upon the waste of moss and oozy pasture that spreads along the glen. A bourne, collecting a thousand triclding rills which descend from the higher ground, wanders half hidden by its dark banks near the hamlet, and a " mull," such as I have described, is always to be found upon the stream. To him who is familiar with the neat cottages of the English peasantry, and with the air of comfort and attention to refinement visible in the habi- tations of the poor of southern Britain, the town of Lerwick itself must appear wanting in many accommodations, both general and particular. 1S6 TALES OF A VOYAGER. \'-A which the same class of dwellings in England would have possessed ; but when he views the villages In Shetland, with their little huts, built of loose masonry, their straw and turf roofs, bound down by haybands, fastened to the wall by heavy stones, lest the wind should blow them away; their interiors, Jlnorcd with clay and canopied with soot, their beds, placed in boarded recesses, and their fires, smothering on raised hearths in the middle of the cabins, he bethinks himself of the Kraals of the Hottentots and the dens of the Kamschatdales. But yet in this wild and dreary land, where the eye may turn from side to side and behold nothing but long ranges of hills, bending their dark brows on heaven, and deep and desolate vallies, stretched out in sterile slumber, it is delightful to meet suddenly with such a slight indication of civilized humanity as a Shetland village. The prospect of Dell, seated at the entrance of a glen, near a soft sandy beach, on which gentle waves were murmuring in playful brawl^ with its lonely mull, and its tiny mill-pool, dammed up with a simple sluice gate, its low bridge of ragged stones, and its swift stream of dark brown water, rushing beneath the path-way to join the dancing tide, opened THE VOYAGE. 127 upon our sight as we paced down the lull that bounded it to the eastward, and we were both equally arrested by the beauty it displayed. It was beautiful, because all around it was void of beauty ; and spoke of home, because its cot- tages smoked amidst a desert: but when re- garded without reference to its situation, it possessed no attractions, and its doors offered no temptations to the foot of the wanderer. There was, however, a simplicity about it that engaged the imagination, though it could not captivate the reason, and its primitive want of comfort told forcibly the £ew desires of its inhabitants. Several females, and one or two men, were engaged in turnin/^ up the soil on the bare patches near the dwellings, as we passed, and children were loitering around, while on the hill side, up which we proceeded, a [e\v smaii, shaggy, pot-bellied, short-limbed horses grazed amongst an equal number of miniature cows, whose sleek, fat, well-proportioned bodies, and soft marbled hides, offered a strong contrast to the appearance of their savage companions. Along the edge of the eminence, a loose stone wall stretched its dreary gray front, to separate land and cattle. There was also a group of 128 TALES OF A VOVAGER. dwellings, the appellation of which we could not learn, in consequence of the barking and yelling of a troop of restless dogs, which ran threat- ening around us, while a girl endeavoured to make us comprehend her answers to our queries. Hopeless of hearing her shrill pipe amidst the din of yelping curs, that were not to be silenced either by menaces or enticements, we paddled through a swampy heath, on which the cottages were placed, in the direction pointed out by the vestiges of former travellers, and, after turning to the left, and proceeding some way, we came to the banks of the Loch of Tingwell, on which we could perceive a white stone house, situated near a barefaced ' arn-like kirk. The loch, or, as the natives pronounce it, "lochr," of Tingwell, is the largest piece of fresh water I have seen in Shetland ; and its beauti- fully transparent fluid, resting on a sandy bot- tom, from which points of rocks rose up above the surface, attracted our admiration. Several gulls were sporting on its bosom, like beauties hanging over a mirror, and beyond it rose gentle slopes of moss and heather, forming one side of the range of hills, whose opposite de- clivities descended to the valley of Dell. THE VOYAGE. 129 lounce It, I The Kirk of Tingwell is a paltry, oblong building, apparently formed of the materials of a more ancient edifice, the foundations of which still remain by its side. It has galleries and pews, and a kirk-yard, and within this iriclosure is a rude mausoleum, in the form of a vault, but to whom appertaining we knew not. There are many tomb-stGnf whales, and the pursuit of bears, contributed to whet the mental appetite for fresh encoun- ters. The cabin mess, or " the members of the caliinet," as we jocularly styled ourselves, were peculiarly happy in the association which cir- cumstances had formecl ; for each of us was fond both of hearinpj and detailing the talcs and anecdotes which liad come to our knowledge. The time between supper and *' turning in," was usually occupied in " story telling,^' for our mutual entertainment ; and I never failed, when any tale thus introduced seemed interesting, to draw out my note-book, and follow the speaker with my pen. This practice, indeed, liad now iK^come almost requisite, as a kind of com])li- ment to the narrator ; for it was looked upon as a mark of the merit of a tale when the first lieutenant, (as I was humourously called), thought it worthy of being taken down in *' harpoons and ice anchors," the name given to Tai.k-ti: 1,1,1 NO. 151 luy sliort hand by thu sailors ; and I was not a little amused by the literary vanity of many of the men, who used to [)ly me witii relations of all kiadH, in hopes tl.'it I siiould mscribe them in these wonderful characters. From this motive, as well as from the fashion set by their superiors, our wiiole crew became a company of tale-tellers, and it is now my delight to peruse the numerous anecdotes which I was then almost compelled by courtesy to collect: some of them, indeed, 1 consider interesting from their own deserts ; others, because they lelate to persons with whom I became acquainted (luring my voyage; and others, again, from the characteristic touches they afford of man placed in a situation for which he seems not to have been intended — that of a seafarer. Human inven- tion and art altme have assisted him to dwell upon the water, for nature formed him to live upon the earth ; and it is when placed in cir- cumstances which must be considered as extra- ordinary, since they are unnatural, that he exhibits habits and feelings as singular as his condition. Customs become necessities by frequent in- dulgence, and the evening tale was as regularly expected as the grog, and, in accordance with *' n. J ! I ft LLC ^/ r TER Li wi V. \i i I • 152 T.\LE.S OF A VOYAGER. the manners of the parties, the relation of the stor3, became a sort of duty, regulated by the discipline of the crew. Tlie accession of the Shetland men had allowed of three watches being instituted, and the officer of the watch for the time being was always con- sidered bound either to tell an adventure him- self, or to piovide some one to supply his place. This practice in no way interfered with the progress of the voyage, for the harpooners are usually capable of taking care of a ship, and it was only at hours of leisure that " spinning long yams " was permitted ; besides, as I was consi- dered a spare hand on these occasions, I was always solicited" to make good the interruptions, VNhen the speaker was called away, by relating an anecdote, to fill up the interim till his return. V\ illiam was obliged to take his turn, ex officio. To illustrate our social en joyments, as well as t<) record the tales which contributed to them, I ir.tend to transcribe several of the narratives which fill my note-book ; and, indeed, I have ofien thought of publishing the whole, under the title of Horae Pelagicae, or Noctes Navales. At present, however, the few that follow shall suffice. After our departure from Shetland, those TAI.K-TELLING. ua islands afforded many themes to the recollection of our mess, and the inhabitants hr'.d supplied in their own conversation tales which were now remembered and repeated. Mr. Ridgway, the first mate, related the following story, which he liad heard from the mouth of an elderly laird, with whom he had fallen into company at Ler- wick, who had received it from another, who had obtained it_ from a third, who knew the parties to whom it related; for its genealogical descent was accurately preserved. % « 1 ;l fil ! I|^l] H 3 i4h' t54 TALEB OF A VOYAGKK. THE NIKKUR HOLL. In one of the outer Skerries, there dwelt, many years ago, tWo fishermen, who, from their Iiaving both been left when young without parents or protectors, had formed an intimacy which sub- sisted throughout their lives. By their joint exertions they had managed to possess them- selves of a boat, which led to a mutual good will or partnerthip, extending itself over all their other property in trade; for, as each inherited the cabin of his ancestors, there were two sepa- rate domestic establishments, though these ex- isted more in appearance than reahty. The difference in the ages of this pair was not great, but their persons and tempers were as unlike as a sealgh and a siJlock. Petie Winwig was a thickset, Dutch-built, heavy-headed calf, with a broad, swollen, grinning countenance. His cheeks rose like two lumps of blubber on each THE NIKKUR IIOLL. 155 side of his nose, almost concealing that, as well as his little eyes, when he laughed. A perpetual smile of good humour and acquiescence sat upon his face, and his well fattened limbs and body shewed that care and discontent never prevented his stomach's doing its duty in an able manner. If, instead of having been bom in this needy land, he had been the son of an English trader, he would have become one of those sleek, oily, full-bottomed swabbers, whom I have seen marching down Wapping High-street as if they were heaving an anchor at every step ; and who, when they cjme aboard to look after stores, oblige us to lay a double plank from the quay to the gangway, for fear they should snap a good two inch deal asunder with their weight. "' Ay !' said Captain Shafton, " I know one who could raise a ton at least — perhaps you have seen him — old Fodder ?" " Fat Fodder!'' cried Shipley, laughing, " I know him well — tkey say he measures three yards round the waist. I have seen the watermen refuse to take him across the river, for fear of swamping their boats— I wanted him to let them tow him astern, like a dead fish, for there would be no fear of his sinking." " I can tell you a merry jest of old Fodder," -■■A ■ AlttCt -1- 156 TALES OF A VOYAGER. s^id the first mate, " if you'll put me in mind of him another night—at present I'll continue the laird's story." Petic Winwig was not only fat, he was lazy and sleepy ; and, had not his station compelled him to daily exertions and nocturnal watchings, he would have been the greatest though the most harmless drone in the islands. On the other hand, his associate and partner was a perfect wasp, both in appearance and activity. He was " a lean and hungry looking" rogue, a complete " spare Cassius" in his way. His figure was tall and bony, with a length of arm fit for a king, and an eye as quick as a " donkey's." His looks were prying and inquisitive, and the shrewdness of his features was greatly heightened by a long and hooked nose, which obtained for him amongst his countrymen, who had been, (as most of them have,) in the Greenland seas, the designation of the Mallemak.* This title he indeed well sustained, for he was as rapacious, and as constantly on the wing, as that unwearied bird ; but he might as justly have been called a Solan, or a pelican, for if he could not poise him- self in the air and plunge down, like one of them * Pronounced *'• Mollymawk." THE NIKKUR HOLL. 157 on a shoal of fishes, he knew no bounds to his desire to obtain them ; nor would the posses- sion of all the inhabitants of the deep have satisfied his covetousness. Hi« real name was Daniel, but he was most commonly called Spiel Trosk, the hardest driver of a bargain who ever brought goods to Lerwick; and, if he did not openly cheat and delude his cus- tomers, it was only because he had not been brought up according to the newest and most liberal system of education. He was, indeed, as much in the dark in this particular, as if he had lived through the whole of one of the dark ages, and though Pctie VVinwig, his comrade, as well from indolence as from stupidity, never questioned his dealings, but left the manage- ment of the money entirely in his hands without suspicion, he was not enlightened enough to think of swindling him. This ignorance was indeed deplorable ; for Petie preferred sitting in doors, making fishing lines and mending nets, to plying in the market, and was, besides, fully convinced both of his own incapacity for busi- ness, and of his companion's talents ; so ^hat, but for this want of illumination. Spiel might have bilked him out of the profits of their mutual labours. There were, however, no unfair I J.. 158 TALES OF A VOYAGER. dealings between them, but, on the contrary, perfect confidence and friendship.— They tilled one plot of ground, and sowed it with the same seed ; they assisted each other in digging peat, and in making or repairing every shed or utensil which the necessities of either required; and they knew no need of asking when they wished to borrow. In fact, the division of their huts was the only distinction that existed between them, and as these were situated close together, en a slope lying under the lee of a rocky hill, apart from the rest of the village, this separation was merely nominal. To their lonely and isolated situation may perhaps be traced the commencement of their union ; and in such islands, where every want beyond the capacity of the individual to supply, must be obviated by the assistance of a neigh- bour, close intimacies must necessarily be pro- duced. Similarity of temper and inclinations may be essential to matrimonial connections, but the friendships of either sex exist most strongly between those of different dispositions and pursuits ; and he who considers that jealousy, envy, and avarice, are the rocks on which most friendships are wrecked, will not be at a loss for the cause. THE NIKKUll HOLL. 159 The loveof gain, which Spiel Trosk nourished as the dearest affection of his heart, increased, like all other inordinate desires, in strength and magnitude, till it became a monster. He grew discontented with €2 spare profits of his occu- pation— a creel of sillocks brought him but a trifle, hundreds of ling and tusk were sold without filling his purse, and the mittens and caps, which he and Petie knitted at spare hours, or whilst watching their lines, hardly repaid the cost and the labour, and "o dig and carry peat was absolute waste of time In fact, his thoughts were directed towards obtaining large sums of moneys s"ch as he had heard were amassed by the southrons, whose ships passed occasionally before his eyes. He had sailed in a Greenland-man, in his youth, and he now dreamed of the wealth the owner must have possessed to fit out such a vessel ; he thought of the shoals of bottle-noses he had seen killed in his native voes, and he calculated the produce which the laird had enjoyed — Money became the only theme of his thoughts, his idol, and he might be said to worship Mammon in his heart. At length he became possessed with a strange idea, he fancied that he was destined to be rich —not rich like Magnus Horrick, the fish salter, 160 TALES OF A VOYAGER. •t M who traded to Spain ; nor like Davie Steinson, the spirit dealer ; but rich as Gilbert Maclure of Leith, who, it was said, could buy all Shet- land ; or as a merchant of London, whose ships came yearly to Lerwick, on their way to the whale jfishery, and returned, in their homeward course, laden with the ransom of a monarch. For sometime the idea which Spiel had con- ceived, of his approaching state of affluence, was of great benefit to the firm of Winwig and Trosk ; for the fisherman had believed that his riches were to be the result of unparalleled exer. tion and success. He had accordingly become more energetic than ever, and he began to attract much notice at this period, from his constantly going about in search of gain. He knew no rest by land or by sea, his nets and his lines were always in the water, and his fish were never wanting in the market. Petie now was of greater importance than he had ever been before, and his hours were well engaged in net- ting and twisting lines ; for Spiel had doubled his demand for tackle, and employed two sets of fishing gear instead of one. But it was not from fish only that Trosk expected to obtain his wealth ; he became a speculator, and at the close of the summer THE NIKKUR HOLL. 161 bought the surplus grain of his neighbours, and added it to an extraordinary quantity which he and Winwig had raised by their own exertions. This he intended to carry in his boat to the surrounding islands, when corn might be dear, and he talked of stretching over to Orkney, if he could hear of a good market. At the depar- ture and return of the Greenland fleet, he was one of the most diligent visitors to the vessels in Brassa Sound, whither he always repaired in due time, with lambs, poultry, eggs, mittens, hose, and every other saleable commodity ; but, unlike his brethren, instead of preferring to receive the value of his merchandize in meal, split pease, and pieces of beef or pork, he would never part even with a muscle unless for money, for the only delight he knew was the possession of cash. Another source of revenue to the firm was down, collected during those times when the weather rendered fishing impracticable, and Spiel was soon known as the most adventurous climber amongst precipices who had ever plun- dered a nest. Even the eagles of Sumburgh vTerc not safe from his depredations, when engaged in scaling the heights of the mountains — no man could strike down a shag or a gannet W 'J ,". •» 162 TALKS OF A VOVAGKR. like the Skerry fisherman, nor could any one boast of having killed so many wild swans. With all his diligence and dexterity, after a year and a half spent in anxious labour and peril, Trosk found that the accumulated profits of twice fifty such terms, would not produce ihe wealth he had allotted to himself in his dream of avarice ; and, instead of questioning the justness of his impression that he was to become rich, he concluded that Fome strange and unprecedented good fortune was to befal him. This fancy wrong h t in the mind of Spiel till he could not contain it, and it was spread abroad through the medium of Winwig, who, finding his friend did not mean to make it a secret, took delight in teliing what he began to believe as truth, for his opinion of Trosk's sagacity was great, and his own weakness of mind was not triflino-. To the simple declaration which Petie made, the neighbours added their own comments, and in- eorporated them with the text. It was said, that Spiel had been visited by his infernal majesty himself, who had offered to make him a rich man, on certain conditions, and that only the consent of the fisherman was wanting to render him wealthy. Several even recollected the time of the proposal, and were almost sure they had TIIF, NIKKUR HOLL. J63 I seen the evil one pull the latch of the cottage, and enter during a storm. A description of the Devil became familiar with the gossips of the Skerries, and from thence found its way to Lerwick ; and at length " Mess John, the pas- tor," made some allusion to it in the ! .irk on a Sunday. Others had a different way of account- ing for the foretold riches of the fisherman. He was the orphan of an orphan, ani. that was suf- ficient to ensure him luck. This assertion, however, did not contain enough of the wonder- ful to give general satisfaction ; and, accordingly some declared that Trosk had discovered the means of propitiating the lost race of urownies, and of obtaining their long withheld kindness ; while still another party said, that the prophet, who had predicted the future riches of the fislierman, was a being without name or de- scription, which had risen up from the bottom of the sea one moonlight night, when Spiel pulled his line, thinking he had hooked a large fish, and Avhich had told him explicitly, that he should possess more pieces of gold than he had ground " aits in the niull." Which of these reports is correct, is not for me to state, but an occurrence soon took place which induced Spiel Trosk to believe and hope li .ii JfT 164 TALES OF A VOVAGEll. in secret, that that portion of them which re- ferred to the quantity of gold he should amass would prove correct. It is one of the attributes of superstition to give credit to relations which are totally at variance with our own exjierience and knowledge, provided they promise something improbable and supernatural ; and, although the fisherman at first declared that he had neither seen the devil, nor propitiated a brownie, nor fished up a demon from the depth of the ocean, he suddenly altered his manner, and hinted that the report of his having communication with' beings of another world was not altogether without foundation. The desire of wealth, which at first had prompted Spiel to exert every muscle in the pursuit ^of profitable occupations, now rose to a height which rendered it, like all other over- strained passions, injurious to its entertainer. By his unrivalled diligence and foresight, and the obedience and docility of Petie, Trosk and Winwig were already spoken i" as the most flourishing fishermen within the isles. On them Magnus Horrick, the mighty fish curer, de- pended for a greater supply than on any four otliers, and from their nets and lines the gas- tronomes of Lerwick obtained the choicest THE NIKKUR HOLL. 165 offerings of the seas. Their fame, too, began to be attached to other articles of commerce; Spiel had disposed of his barJey and oats with great success, liavincn carried them to the neigh- bouring isles at a season when they were greatly needed, for which the laird of Calk had presented him with a fizgig, or small harpoon. Petie's mittens and caps were in great esteem amongst traders and sailors, and were thouo-ht equal to those of Fair Isle, and their boat was always welcome alongside of every ship in the sound, since, as I have said, they were not civilized enough to know how to cheat. In this thriving condition, when they were considered as the most monied men in the Skerries, and had contracted for more land for raising barley, and feeding sheep and horses, than any other tenants of the laird. Spiel Trosk became dis- contented, and possessed with the belief that his riches were to be the result of some fortuitous circumstance. His mind grew uneasy and anxious, and instead of wearing the air of an active man of business, with a keen and decisive glance of the eye, he shewed the restless and haggard countenance of a person bereft of his property. He began to prowl and roam about now, more in hopes of meeting with the gifts of y 1 i 4.^ .;-- f i KiO TALKS OF A VOYAGKK. cimnco, than in pnrKuir ^>f any determined ol)ject, and Jus l(Mjks grow rupucious from avarice, and angry from disappointment ; still he did not neglect any of his former occupations, tiiough he performed tliem with less t.]i;tiity of spirit and gratification than before; hut he was wont to fall into reveries and calculations upon the nature of the event which was to fill up the measure of his covetousness, if, indeed, such a desire can be satiated. Dangerous is the precipice that hangs over the gulph of futurity, and fearful is his situation who attempts to look st idily down it. The meditations of the fishermen, on the possibility of gaining money without labour, gave birth to strange fancies and desires in his mind. The gossip of the old women often recurred to his thoughts, and when at night the wind whistled around his cabin, and the sea poured into the voc near which it was situated, and broke among the rocks, his ear listened, almost without his consent, for some unusual and portentous sound. What it was he expected to hear, or to behold, he knew not, and wished not t(' think, but ^he heavy pattering of rain often sounded to him shook gust door. he looked at the latch, with the fixed yet hag TIIF XIKKUR IlOI.r.. 167 iranl eye of one who firmly awaits tlic arriv; ' of a torrihle visitor. Tlie mind of Spiel was likewise p(!ipotuaiIy disturbed by tljc reeurrcnce of a singular cir- cumstanc-e, whenevui he sought repose on his ])illow. At tlie moment of dropping off* to sleep, he was awakeni d by a word whispered in his car, which, notwithstanding all his endeavours, he could not perfectly recolKxt, although it seemed as if the mention of one letter of it would have enabled him to reinonhcr i. • whole. It was not a word he had ever lieard before, nor uttered in a toue hko the voice of any being he knew; b it, to whatever language it belonged, or however it was spoken, it was distinctly pronoun- ced, and nothing but the want of a cue to begin with prevented his ropeati g it. He iield it in his mind, and felt it as it were at the end of his tongue, but all his attempts to give it utterance were unavailing, and he might have forgotten it, but that, when he least thought of it, the same syllables were n seated near to him —not con- stantly, but from tin r ) time, just as his eyen closed, and he lost .he consciousness of his situation. Still this was a circumstance of no consequence, and he strove to look upon it as a curious annoy- m 168 TALES OF A VOYAGER. „ii' ance, which caused him more uneasiness than it deserved. It was the omen of nothing; for nothing took i)]ace that Iiad not happened before. No good or evil fortune crossed his path, but the neighbours, with natural malignity, remarked that success had not made Trosk ha])pitT, and pitliy hints, about the blessings t)f poverty and contentment, were dropped in liis presence. But the malicious insinuations of his countrymen were less heeded by Spiel than the froth of the sea ; his thoughts were on bags of money, and his attention was engaged with things to come. Winter had now fairly tct in, short days succeeded the long nights of that season, and the northern ocean was dashed in huge bil- lows upon the shores. The blasts, which swept the icy sea of Spitzbergen, came laden with triple coldness, and withered the vegetation of the vallies through which diey passed. The spray no longer merely whitened the rocks along the beach ; ic rose in showers upon the breeze, and smote the face of the wanderer far within the land. The wild fowl forsook the coast, and gathered together upon the sheltered lochs and pools among the hills; and squalls of hail and sleet drove along in rapid succes- sion. I THK NiKKUa iroLL. J 69 At this season little opportunity offered to the fishermen, to pursue their avocations ; they were, for the most part, confined to their cottages, and employed themselves in refitting their tackle for the ensuing spring. Not so Spiel Trosk ; if the sea would yield him no fish, it might give him drift wood, or the spoil of a wreck, or curious shells for the Greenland doctors, or even sea weed, or he might light upon a seal sleeping on a rocky nook, or sur- prise a solan witiiin reach of a stone, or he might find something which would add to his pos- sessions, and eventually be converted into money ; for, like Ben Franklin, he well knew that, after lying by Ibr seven years, many things at last turn to c.-- .unt. With this view. Spiel was accustomed to make a tour of the beach early every morning, and he seldom returned without a trifle of some kind in his hand. In one of his rounds he stopped to observe a speck floating on the water, which, as it drew near, he found to be a seal by its diving. He stood for a little while, in hopes it might crawl out upon the shore, and give him an oppor- tunity of striking it, and whikt thus engaged, just within the verge of the flood tide, which was rising, he occasionally turned his eyes upon VOL. I. T I 170 TALES OF A VOYAGER. the pebbles that were driven forward by the force of the waves. A billow, more heavy and more angry than the rest, rolled towards him, and as it rushed up the strand, it brouglit, amongst a cluster of wreck and sea moss, a yellow pellet, which it left at his feet. From habitual inclination to appropriate every thing to himself, the fisherman at first picked it up as an uncommon stone; but his fingers soon con- tracted with spasmodic firmness, when he dis- covered that be held in his hand a piece of pure gold. After a momentary ccstacy, he again looked at it, and saw that by the action of the water it had been rolled to and fro at the bot- tom, till it had become as round, and about as large, as a nuisquet bullet. From ruminating on his wishes, and on the reports that had been framed concerning their accomplishment, the mind of Trosk had acquired a tinge of supcrf,tition. He gazed again and agahi at the golden pebble, and thought of the bullets of precious metal which he had heard in his childhood were sometimes shot at witches, and he felt a slight thrill through his frame, when the idea of a bait being laid for him by the infernal foe crossed his brain. The consideration of the weight and yalue THE NIKKUR HOLL. 171 of th is little ingot, however, soon put weak fan- cies to flight, and he sat himself down to form some conjecture as to the manner of its arrival on that coast, while he carefully watched the waves for another such gift. Long and abstract were the meditations of Spiel Trosk, as he patiently awaited the ebbing of the tide, in hopes the retiring waters would leave a second ball of gold for his reward. He reflected that, unless his prize had been cast into the form of a bullet, a supposition which he would not seriously entertain, it had probably formed the centre of a large piece of gold, which had been worn away to the size he nosv found it ; and, with a sigh, at the loss of so many precious grains, as deep as if they had been drawn from his own pocket, he strove to estimate what might have been the bulk of the original ingot. I cannot tell you how he set to work ; but he was interrupted by a heavy squall of 'rain, hail, and sn^w, which drove with blinding fury over tlie ocean, full in his face, and tliough he cared little for weather, he thought it as well to seek shelter in a kind of cavern in the rocks, not far from where he was standing, foreseeing that the tempest would not last long. Hithcj^ I 2 I 172 TALES OF A VOYAGER. then, he retreated, not by entering at its mouth, for the sea constantly poured in at that opening, but by descending down a wide gap in its roof, which led by craggy steps to the cavity within. A dark and dreary retreat wir, tliis cavern, and of unusual formation, for it was not a blind cave, penetrating directly into the chff, but a vast gallery or tunnel, which opened on one side of a steep headland, and pierced through to the other, allowing the waves to rush and tumble along its gloomy gulph, till they foamed out at the end opposite to that at which they entered. From the position of the external rocks, a constant succession of waves were directed through it, and a perpetual roar rever- berated in its hollow bowels. Few but adven- turous and thoughtless lads had ever ventured within its interior, and their curiosity led them not far ; while the more mature, who had no motive for encountering its difficulties, were con- tented with warning their children not to fall down the rift that led to it, which gaped amidst a cluster of heather at the back of the promontory, and with handing down its name of the Nickkur HoU, as they had received it from their fathers. Trosk left the low beach, and hurried round THE NTKKUR HOLL. 173 the hill, to the opening that conducted to the chasm ; for the storm came pelting down more angrily than he had expected, and so thickly fell the sieet, that he could scarcely see to pick his way through the peat bogs, that lay at the foot of the acclivity, deluged as they were with the little rills that descended into them. He had not sought " the yawn," as the mouth of the rift was called, since he had been a youth, but he found it with little difficulty. On enter- ing, however, he perceived that its gulph was much less practicable to him now than he had been used to consider it, when younger and more venturesome ; and though he was the most expert climber within the Skerries, he felt no inclination to penetrate farther within its abyss, than was requisite to screen him from the driv- ing of the tempest. At about ten or twelve feet below the edge, there was a shelf formed by the projection of a ledge of rock, and to this he let himself down, and having seated himself, at length, under the lee of a block of stone, he drew out his piece of gold from his pocket, und renewed his contemplations. His chief endeavour was to recollect if he had ever heard of a vessel having been cast away near the Skerries ; for to some such occur- rence he attributed the presence of the golden ri --It" ! t t-si 3f 1 174 TALES OF A VOYAGER. l)iil](3t, and he wislicd, besides, to flatter a hope he had conceived, that tliis prize was only the harbinger of a greater treasure ; but, with all his retrospection, lie could recall no tradition of a shipwreck near his native isle, and he remained lost in amazement and doubt. Meanwhile, the i'ao.o of the heavens became less obscure with clouds, the wind no longer howled over the mouth of the gulph, and the deep echoing bellow of the troubled surge within the Nikkur Holl was the only sound distinguishable. The fisherman, however, did not awaken from the reverie into which he had fallen, but remained sitting, almost unconsciously, on the ledge within " the yawn." He was calling over in his mind the names of several old persons, from whom he meant to inquire what vessels had been lost on the coast within their memory, and was scarcely aware that he was not seated by his own hearth, when a voice whispered slowly in his ear, « Car-mil-han." " Good God !" cried Spiel, starting up and looking fearfully down the abyss, from whence the sound seemed to come, " this is the word that haunts me in my sleep ! what can it mean r What is Car- milhan ? he would have said, but he felt un- wilUng to pronounce the strange term, though he now recognized it as that which he had so THE NIKKUE IIOLL. ITS long endeavoured to utter. He continued a few moments gazing into the dark void beneath, Hud listening to the roaring waves, which seemed to wrestle unceasingly within the craggy- entrails of the hill, till a degree of alarm over- came him, and he turned to ascend the sides of the rift; but, just as his last foot was with- drawn over the upper edge, a slight breath of wind passed out, and muttered " Carmilhan." " Carmilhan !'' repeated Trosk with violence : *' Gracious Heaven, why is this unknown word thus spoken to me!" He then rushed down the hill, and stopped not till he had hastened a great way towards his cottage. It must not be supposed, from this behaviour, that Sp: el was a coward ; he was, on the con- trary, oLe of the bravest of his countrymen, but the singular coincidence of the same sound, ringing in his ears at unexpected moments, and the dreary place in which he had last heard it, combined to agitate his mind. He felt, too, a degree of nervous irritibility gain upon him, as his desire of wealth grew stronger; for that powerful impulse was opposed by a conscious- ness, that the encouragement he gave it was criminal, and he had, bei^ide-v, constantly re- marked, that the word which annoyed him f' * « I i i i t^ f < t \ i ^ s i . f \\ a*> 176 TALES OF A VOYAGE K. alwaya followed his reveries and dreams of riches. By the time he reached his cabin, which he did at a swift pace, Trosk felt inclined to smile at his own folly, at scampering through burns and bogs at the rustling of the air from an outlet in the rock. He now half doubted that he had heard any tlung more than a gust of wind ; for, though he was confident that « Car- milhan" was the word he had fancied spoken to him in his sleep, and which he had in vain endeavoured to reaped, he attributed the sup- posed repetition of it in « the yawn," to his having remembered it unexpectedly, at the instant the « sough" rose up through the tunnel. In fact, he burst out into a laugh, as he looked at his breeks, splashed with the oozy puddles through which he had hurried, and he fondled " Sealgh," the dog who guarded both the cottages, in a more playful manner than was natural to him. Not having been at home to light his fire, he went to Winwig's hut, in hopes of getting some warm burgoo for breakfast, and, on entering, he found Petie fast asleep, sitting with his back propped against a chest, by the side of some smoaking peat, that lay amidst a heap of white ashes on the raised hearth, in tlie THE NIKKLR HOLL. 1*77 midst of the room. In each hand he still held a knitting needle, with which he had been at work, and a kitten was playing with the worsted ball attached to them, whilst Petie's head occa- sionally nodded forward, as if in mute appro- bation of its antics. The fisherman entered the cottage of his comrade, with the intention of shewing him the piece of gold he had found, but Winwig did not awake with the noise he made, and Spiel seated himself by the fire, and warmed his pan- nikin to prepare his meal in silence. At another time he would have roused Petie, who had fallen into a doze, as he was wont when unen- gaged in any very active employment ; but now he felt some doubts of the prudence of letting his friend know his good fortune, since that harmless and simple being might take delight in spreading the news among the neighbour;?, who would be continually on the watch for other prizes of the same kind, and who might also adopt a measure he had contemplated himself. At length he resolved not to make his partner acquainted with " his luck," but to pursue his own counsels, till he had satisfied himself that there would be no danger in riskino- I 3 ,^ 178 TALKS OP A VOYAGER. s .r the disclosure ; and lie continued eating his crowd ie with good appetite, and admiring tliu full, sleek, and torpid countenance of Winwig, and wondering how any being capable of making money by exertion could resign himself to such a state of unprofitable inaction. There was, however, in the blubber swollen cheeks and massive double chin of Petie, an air of content- ment and happiness that offered the best reply to the sarcastic reflections of Trosk ; and could a stander-by have beheld the broad, smooth, rounded features of one, half smiling in sleep, while his head nodded at case, unable to sink far, from the rolls of fat that encompassed his neck and pillowed it up, and at the same glance could have viewed the sharp and care-marked visage of Spiel, with its deepening furrows, its wrinkled front, its thin projecting nose, curved over its compressed lips, while its hue of livid brown was rendered still more lurid by the gleams of its haggard eye, which shone behind its contracted brow of stiff black hair, like the glance of a tiger through a bush, he would have required no time to decide which person he would have chosen to be. Petie's slumber was ended by the kitten, THE NIKKUE IIOLL. 179 wliich, after taking sundry gamesome wheels round the room, ran scrambling up his clothes, till it mounted his head, from whence, when the " man mountain" moved, it leaped off in alarm. Not less alarmed was Winwig, who, clapping l)oth his hands on his crown, where the beast had left several scratches, started up and stag- gered about, with his eyes half open, and his senses yet asleep ; but a loud laugh, which Spiel was provoked to utter, recalled his recol- lection. " Heigh ! Spiel,^^ cried the drowsy loon, rub- bing his eyes, « I am very glad you are safe ; for I have been dreaming strange thino-s about you. " About me, do you say r replied the other. " Ay, indeed, hinney," said Winwig, « I but now thought I was yourself, and, though I knew I was not you, I still fancied I was, and at the same time I thought I was a fish, and that I saw a bait which I wanted to take, though I knew there was a hook in it, that would lay hold of me. It was a yellow bait, and the more I looked at it the more I longed for it, and something seemed to mutter « take it, take it,' in my ear, till at last I snapped at it, •3< "msl 180 TALES or A VOYAGEU. and was caught, and I felt as if being drawn along by the hook when I awaked ; but all the while 1 thought I was you, and not me, though I imagined I was close by at the time." *' Pheugh ! dreams are but dreams," said Spiel : " you felt the cat's claws in your head, and you imagined the rest to account for it. Has Steenson been here to-day .?" " No," replied Petie; " I think the squall has kept him away. It was so thick for a time that I could not see, and just then I dropped off." " Where were you in the storm ?" " I was under shelter of a rock," said Trosk, turning the conversation, and, shortly after, he left the cabin. From this time Spiel became more moody and discontented than ever. The sight of the gold, which he used to contemplate several times a day, seemed to infect him with an insatiability and restlessness, that kept him constantly from home. In spite of frost and snow, and storms and tempests, he was always on the beach ; and whenever the boat could live on the sea, he put off shore, on pretence of fishing, though many old craftsmen made it their business to inform him that it was not the season for catching fish. But Spiel gave them some evasive answer, and I.I NlhKUU HOLL. 181 tliey grew ircd of imparting wi.dom to no purpose to a ^eit- willed advcntu Trosi 's real object, in pref nu t. . lish, was to use a grapnel ho ijad constructed, in hopes of laying hold of aoiucth at the bottom, which would prove of value, or, at least, confirm him in his idea that some ship had foundered near the spot where he found the piece of gold. He had in vain inquired, of the oldes inhabitants of the isle, whether any vessel had ucen wrecked at any time near the Skerries. No one knew of a loss so near ; nnd, though many could tell him of all the catastrophes of the kind that had liappened amongst the Shetland Islands, since the time when the Spanish 4rmada appeared off them, lie could hear of nothing that had taken place where he expected. Spring appeared, and yet Spiel had met with no second piece of gold, although he had paced the beach till he had almost numbered every stone that lay upon it. He had raked the bottom with his grapnel, for a mile along the coast, and for the depth of ten fathoms, but had found nothing. He had watched when the waves were most rough, and the surf most violent, in hopes of seeing another rounded mass of precious metal thrown on the strand, but in vain, and now it was •I ^ [k ^% ^n.^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / O '«^r 4/ 1.0 1.1 M 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 41 6" ^ V] <^ /y /a '^/,. ^ /A #1 '^ Photographic Sciences Corporation % V # 23 WEST MAIN STRRET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 W^.r (/x V ^ 4^ 182 TALES OF A VOYAGER. time to return to his usual duties— to drain the land, to till and sow, and dig peat, and set his tackle in order. Yet, without neglecting the business of the firm, he resolved to continue his researches for more gold. He felt convinced, that one lump of that substance could not have comealoneto where he found it, and he persuaded himself, that he had not hitherto struck upon the place where the wreck had happened. To avoid wasting the time necessary for his other occupations, he regularly went out at night with his boat, and this he did for a long time in private; but, when his proceedings were noticed, he still continued the practice, declaring that he could not sleep, and that it was better to run the chance of catching something, than to be awake and idle in bed. By degrees, however, he let his desire for acquiring the supposed lost treasure overcome his prudence, and, instead of returning ashore to renew his labours in the field, he remained, pre- tending to fish, for the greater part of the day. Unfortunately, the place near which he had found the bullet was notorious for its want of fish; and, when his countrymen saw him toiling in such a barren spot, they were amazed at his pertinacity in dropping his lines where no prey had been taken for years. This obstinacy THE NlKKUll IIOLL. 183 was the more conspicuous, because quantities of sillocks, herrings, mackarel, cod, ling, and tusk, were to be met with in other places ; and the sagacity for which Spiel had formerly been remarkable began to be questioned, while the property he had accumulated daily dwindled away. At the same time, in consequence of all these meditations and considerations, and painful watchings, Trosk himself grew leaner, and more avaricious, without becoming more rich. Indeed, he was now much poorer ; his features put on a more greedy and sharpened appearance, his eyes seemed capable of piercing through every thing at which he looked, and his cupidity was without controul. Instead of Spiel Trosk, the money- maker, he was now called " Dan Bottlenose ;" — not that any one dared apply such a name to him in his presence, for his blows were never tenderly given, nor slow in forthcoming, but his wilful folly in "fishing for blobs," as his neighbours used to term his labours, had become the jest of the island. He was not, however, forsaken by Petie, though he brought home no fish, nor struck down wild swans as before; nor though Gustave Guckelsporn and Chriss Mienkel endeavoured to persuade him that Spiel was daft or possessed, and that it was sinful to have any thing to do with him. ; .if* IM' TALES OF A VOYAGER. *t'. Iff 1'*^ !■ while there were so many other good fellows in the island, to whom he could unite in partnership, as he had done with him. But so well was Winwig persuaded of the superior sense and conduct of his companion, that he adhered to his fortunes as firmly now as when they were more prosperous, and never even questioned Trosk concerning his motions. Spiel himself, at length, began to doubt the rationality of his conduct, and looked back with regret on tlie months he had wasted in vain ; yet, the poorer he became, the more earnest grew his attempts to recover some of the hidden wealth. He now loaded a large stone with tallow, and let it sink quickly to the bottom, in hopes cf bringing up a pellet of gold attached to It, as stones and shells are found clinging, by the same means, to the sounding lead; but he drew from the bottom nothing but pebbles, starfish, and sea urchins, and this contrivance proved as unsuccessful as his grapnel had for- merly done. Whilst labour and disappointment exhausted tbe strength and the patience of the infatuated fisherman, a more obscure and indefinable misery preyed upon those moments wnich he was con- stramed to allow for rest. Still, from time to THE NIKKUR HOLL. 185 time, as he resigned himself to sleep, the same strange unearthly voice whispered in his ear the unknown word, to which he could find no inter- pretation, and still he doubted the evidence of his drowsy senses, and endeavoured, when awake, to persuade himself, that by continually thinking of a sound, which had been at first only the creation of his fancy, he had rendered its recur- rence habitual. Yet, while his reason strove to contradict his feelings, his mind became influen- ced by superstitious misgivings ; he listened to tales of kelpies and water fiends with attention, and began to attribute his torment to a call from an evil spirit. He now could account for his hearing "Carlmilhan" repeated in the "yawn," by believing that the Holl was haunted by these beings, and he thought of applying to the minister for advice. Then, he paused to consider whether charms would not drive them away, and would have taken council of an old woman, famous in those isles for her necromancy, had not his better feelings told him that the practice was unchristian; but an occurrence took place which overthrew his scruples, and brought him to the brink of the deep pit. The moon appeared one night, when he was prosecuting his research with his grapnel. It A, I ,, iMi 186 TALES OF A VOYAOEH. rose full from behind a deep black cloud, whose skirt rested on the horizon, while its upper edge floated like a vast black pall in the mid heaven. The wind had gone down, and left the sea un- ruffled, but heaving with a heavy ground swell, rising and falling in large smooth billows, like the dance of a host of hills. Spiel continued his occupation, in spite of the uneasy motion which the water communicated to his boat ; not without some hope, that the agitation of the ocean might lay bare or detach some portion of the treasures for which he was seeking. The position he occupied at the rising of the moon, was not far from the entrance to theNikkurHoll; for he had investigated almost every other station, and when the moonlight threw the broad shadow of the cliffs upon the water, he could not help turning his head to mark the grotesque image of the noss, or headland, through which the tunnel ran. Its shade was stretched upon the surface, like die figure of a huge monster, while the roaring of the surge through the cavern seemed to imitate its bellow. Around it spread a field of brilliant light, but, far beyond, the sea was buried in the deepest gloom, beneath the sable cloud from which the moon had ghded. Troskj while his boat drifted, and drew the THE NIKKUR HOLL. 187 grapnel along the bottom, gazed first at tl fanciful shadow of the Nikkiir Holl, and then le at th promontory itself, till his attention was fixed by his seeing something move on its summit. What it was he knew not, but at first he thought it was a pale flame, then it looked hke a winged creature, dancing with extended pinions, and he fancied he could see its features, which were human. He looked to see if its shadow was reflected in the water, but nothing was visible on the image of the noss. He turned his eyes again towards the top of the cliff, and a chill sweat crept out of his skin, when he beheld the little being leap up distinctly from the brow of the hill, and fdl down repeatedly on its taper legs. A thousand strange and superstitious feelings arose within the mind of the fisherman, as he gazed on this realization of the gossip tales he had once despised. This, then, was a sea sprite or kelpie, and was no doubt the demon that tormented him with its unceasing whisper. This it was, which had muttered Carmilhan in the yawn ; this %vas the little imp. Still Spraakel, which had always been said to dwell in the Nikkur Holl, and whose visits boded both good and evil, though no one could tell which till it I^Oid W:m:m. 188 TALES OF A VOYAGER. happened ; this was the moonlight in which it loved to appear. Spiel was running on thus in his fancy, while he looked at the object of his conjectures, till it made a third vault and va- nished, and at the same time the grapnel caught hold of something at the bottom, and brought up the boat. The fisherman forgot the spirit for a moment, in the hope that this might prove some part of the treasure, and he began to haul with care upon his line. He pulled with force, but the hooks still clung firmly to the bottom, and though the swell of the waves jerked hard upon the rope, it kept its grasp. Spiel pulled still stronger, and brought his skiff close over the spot by his tugging; but the grapnel kept its hold. He grew uneasy, and feared his line might break, and he looked back to the noss, to see if the apparition was there. It was not there, but he beheld the black cloud advancing on all sides from the horizon, while the moon looked pale in the space in which she yet shone, in the centre of the heavens. The shadow of the headland was gone, and darkness was fast closing around him. The wind began to rise, and the bowels of the Nikkur Holl roared more loudly than before, while the heaving of the sea grew more troubled. His boat rocked, and he leaned - tiLWtm r THE NIKKUR IIOLL. 189 over its side, and pulled with violence, resolved upon breaking his rope, or bringing up the spoil, be it rock or kist of gold. Again he strained hard, just as the clouds were about to shut out tiie light of the moon; the impediment gave way, and he believed the line had broken, for he felt no weight; but, in an instant*, something large and dark rose up above the surface of the water, over which he bent, as if disposed to spring into the boat. He fixed his eyes upon it, with his hands extended to grasp it, whatever it might be ; and as the water, which had now assumed a sparkling appearance, se- parated to give it passage, he saw inscribed upon a round black mass of something, though what he could not define, the hateful word, " Carmilhan." It stopped scarce half an in- stant al)ove the surface, and again sunk, as quickly as it had risen ; but Trosk, rendered desperate by this repetition of his torment, plunged his arm swiftly after it, and caught it by Its hair. This gave way, and the rest was gone. He drew back his hand, but the moon had disappeared, and he could not see what sort of slippery matter remained in it. A groan of despair, urged almost to madness, burst from the lips of the fisherman at this defeat, and he i--- f-fT'" 190 TALES OF A VOYAGER. gnashed his teeth and tore his hair with vexa- tion ; but, presently, loud claps of thunder, followed hy heavy drops of rain, foretold the onset of a storm, and he was compelled to take to his paddles, and make for the shore. A raging tempest succeeded, and Spiel, though cooped beneath a 1-dge of rock, v\ as drenched with rain and spray; but, notwithstanding his situation, and the occurrences he had witnessed, he fell asleep before the day dawned over the occean. His dreams were but a repetition of what he had shortly before beheld while awake, though aggravated by the wild delusions of unbridled fancy, and he was disturbed from his repose by an imaginary disappointment, similar to that which he liad really suffered. When he opened his eyes, the first rays of the sun were gleaming over the waters before him. The billows had dwindled to little waves, leaping and dancing along the surface, with ghttering crests and ])ale blue bosoms. A soft mist occupied the horizon, extending towards the island, and gleaming in many places with imperfect rainbows, v^hich gradually seemed to melt away in the morning sunbeams. Of wind there was scarcely a breath, and one small black cloud floated alone upon a sky of milky azure. fr' THE NIKKUtt IIOLI,. 191 The fisherman lay for some time looking at the mild features of the new-born day, and com- paring them with the hideous scowl of the pre- ceding night. His view stretched over a wide expanse of sea, swelling in joyous motion, from the foot of the rocks, in which he had found protection, to the light veil of vapour which hung before the distance. He saw, at intervals, the restless gulls glide along the face of the deep, and the glittering fishes leap from its bosom ; but yet he did not stir, and he won- dered what feeling of idleness now bound his hitherto unwearied limbs. After remaining a little longer thus stretched at ease, he was about to arise and take to his boat, when he fancied he could see, at the utmost verge of vision, something floating on the water. It was, indeed, but a speck, but it was a speck of hope, and Spiel never neglected the slightest chance of acquisition. It was something, and it might be something valuable, and that idea was sufficient to engage his atten- tion. He resolved, therefore, to make tov/ards It, lest any one else should have it in his eye, and secure it before him, and he was every moment on the point of creeping from his recess, but yet he felt willing to stay an instant longer. (f> J- 192 TALKS OF A VOYAGER. This instant was spent in a fresh conjecture on the nature of the floating body, and the suc- ceeding instant was similarly occupied. In the meanwhile, the object of his consideration drew sensibly nearer, and became more visible ; and as lie concluded, by its progress, that it possessed more means of making way than the action of the winds and waves, he began to suppose that it might be a skiff'. That it was a boat, lie in a short time became convinced, for he could mark its outline, and descry a figure sitting in it ; but his surprise at the rapidity of its advance was increased, by his not being able to descry either the sails or oars by which it was propelled. Having determined to remain wliere he was, Spiel drew himself as far back as possible within his hiding place, and kept his eyes fixed upon the bark. He now fancied that its quickness of motion had decreased, and that it came forward very slowly indeed. This he considered natural enough, as it evidently had no source of motion but the uncertain action of the waves, and he attributed his former supposition to the incorrect vision caused by the fog; but still he was astonished to observe it glide on, on end, with the stem towards the shore, instead of driving along with its broadside to the wind ; because (il;Ki« THE NXKK'JR HOLL. 193 he could see that the person aboard payed no attention to the udder, if it had one, but was seated rather more forward than aft. He no- ticed another circumstance, that excited his wonder, wliich was, that a small string of petrels, or Mother Carc/s chickens, followed the wake of the bark, and flew at times around the head of the stranger ; though it is well known that these birds never appear except in stirms, of wl h they are considered both the harbingers and the spirits; yet just then the weather and the ocean were remarkably calm. Again, he was at a loss to account for the boat being directed immediately towards the spot in which he was secreted, for there was no inlet or land- ing place for some distance along the coast, but a bluff, rocky margin, till you come to Dumma- frith's Voe. This circumstance, however, he attributed to ignorance of the shore, or want of power to manage the boat, and he had time to form a thousand speculations while he lay ensconced in his nook. " At length. Spiel could make out something of the features and figure of the person who occupied the bark, and he found him to be a little withered old man, who sat quite stiff and VOL. I. » ptr't 'SI ! , 4 : il 194 TALES OF A VOYAGER. upright on the rowers' bench, and neither moved his head nor body to the right nor to the left. His face was thin and sharp, and covered by a dry, wrinkled, tawny skin, stretched tightly over the stringy muscles which formed his cheeks and lips. His dress was of bright yellow canvas, or something like it, and a red nightcap covered his head, with its point sticking upright in the air, whi^e in his hand he held a kind of instrument, that resembled a harpoon at one end and a blubber fork at the other."*' «* This is a very odd little fellow," thought Trosk to himself, as the boat came up towards him, "he looks as old and as stiff as if he had been dead and dried like a salted tusk for this fifty years— -he certainly is not alive now." This conjecture, indeed, seemed true, for the skiff having run up against the boat of the fish- erman, which lay beneath his recess, remained stationary, and Spiel could see plainly enough, that the eyes of the little figure were closed, and that its mouth was shut, as if a long time had passed since it had been opened, and that there was no perceptible respiration going on. Spiel, having i;r^vanced to the edge of his retreat, sat for some time looking down upon the immoveable little figure before h\^], in won- THE NIKKUE IIOLL. 195 dcr at the situation and attire of the man, and at the kind of boat which had brought him; for the whole was unUke anything he bad ever before Ixjheld or heard of. But, after striving in vain to account for what he saw, he became impatient, and in a tone somewhat influenced by a kind of awe, which lie felt creeping into his mind, he called out to the stranger to know if he was asleep. He might as well have called to the NikkurNossfor any answer he received, though he repeated the question several times, each louder than the last. But, growing more bold or curious, he descended into his boat, and grasping the boat hook gave the little oddity a .smart push. This was of no avail, and he })ushed again harder than before, to as little purpose; and he was about to fiisten a rope to the head of the skiff' to tow it round to the voe, by the side of which he resided, thinking it fit that the authorities of the island should take cognizance of the dead ])ody, for such he now considered it to be, when it slowly began to move. lis eyes opened, but at first Uiey were lifeless, and void of sight, and turned in their sockets with a ghastly rolling, which, if it did not terrify tlie Shetlander, made him push off the strange 6oat from liis own with a feeling of horror. it 2 i ,. 196 TALES OF A VOYAGER. Shortly after, the lips quivered, and were drawn apart into a fearful grin, which shewed gums large and toothless, and expanded into a fright- ful gape, from whence a deep sigh, or rather groan, issued, along with a blast of vapour, more like the smoke of gunpowder than the steam of breath. Upon seeing this, Spiel me- ohanically shipped his oar over the stem of his boat, and began to skull her a little way off; but, reflecting that he was acting like a coward, he put her head about again. In the mean while, life seemed to have taken possession of the stranger, and he turned his eyes towards Trosk, and said, in a voice of uncommon ex- pression, " Where am I .?"' This was uttered in Dutch, and the fisher- man, who was partially acquainted with that language, from having associated with whale- catchers and traders from Holland, exclaimed in the same tongue, " Who are you ?" " I am one sitting in a boat," answered the stranger, somewhat sharply, « to whom it would have been better for you to have given an answer than a question.' « Why r said Spiel drily, for he was not a man to be lectured. " Because," said the other, '« I could have hi THE NlKKUft HOLL. 197 satisfied questions you might have liked to ask." " You have not satisfied one which I asked just now," cried the fislierman ; " but I have no mind to wrangle with you. You are at one of the Shetland isles— one of the outer Skerries —whence do you come ? and why do you come in this strange fashion ?" " What is strange to you is not strange to me," replied the little man.— « I came over the sea to look for the Carmilhan." " For the Devil !" ejaculated Spiel. " I have no need to look for /«;w," said the stranger. " In the name of God ! what is the Carmil- han .?" cried the fisherman fervently. " I answer no questions put in that manner," exclaimed the little man, wriggling about as if in pam, and groaning as if he growled. " I say what is the Carmilhan ?" repeated Spiel, not heeding the anguish of the stranger. " The Carmilhan is nothing now," said the other ; " but once she was as brave a ship aa ever bore a mast." « A ship !" cried Trosk. " Yes,a ship," repeated the stranger ; "and when she was lost among these islands, she carried more g^iiu ii!i« only a seal. In this occupation he was joi : : by Spiel, after he had recovered fiom his surprise, though he felt as much reluctance now as eagerness before, and his heart sickened at the hot steams that arose from the carcass. Ere the hide was taken off, the mist had gathered so densely around the hills, that the fishermen were both en- veloped in clouds, and drenched with rain. The fog rolled along the little plain in revolving billows, but slowly ; for, though the wind was heard rusjiing through the dells below, and ♦ ^I'\ 216 TALES OF A VOYAGER. Struggling with tlie distant surge, it was not yet amongst the mountains. The rumbling of thunder grew louder around them, and came nearer at times, exploding among the highest eminences, and descending at times upon the plain. Bright flashes and corruscations darted across the moss, and played about the « Stane," appearing to settle for a moment upon its sum- mit, and then gliding swiftly over the surface of the swamp ; and more than once the Shet- landers started, and looked up, as they fancied they heard the flap of a wing close above their heads. At length, the skin being stripped off, it was stretched out upon the ground, at a little dis- tance from the carcass, and Spiel laid himself upon it. Without breaking the silence that had been maintained since the fallof Luckie, Winwig proceeded to envelop his companion in the covering, still warm from the body, leaving only his head unswathed. He then bound tr.s rope round the outside, and, having completed the operation as fully as he could devise, he stood for a moment looking down upon Trosk, whose features were now scarcely visible through the darkness of night. He then spoke-" Spiel," said he, « can I do any thing else for you ?" THK NlKKUa IIOLL. 217 <( ■ Nothing more," replied the other, ^* fare thee well I" « Farewell r returned Petie, « and may God protect and forgive you, as I do." These last words were uttered in a less firm tone than that in which he had before spoken, and m an instant he was gone from the view of his associate. The simple fisherman had scarcely left his more daring partner exposed upon the wild peat bog, than, as if his departure had been a signal concerted with the demons of storm and deso- lation, a tempest broke forth, to which neither the experience of Spiel, nor his recollection of the reports of others, could find a parallel. It began with a glare of lightning, which exposed to his view, not only the crags and hills in his own neighbourhood, but the vallies beneath, and the sea, and the small islands which lay scattered out beyond the bay. He saw them but for a moment, but he could perceive their rocks whitened with the foam of tremendous billows, which were bursting over them ; and he believed he beheld what appeared to him the vision of a large strange-built vessel, driving along, dis- masted, upon the ocean. He scarcelv did believe, and half doubted, that he had seen this VOL. T. T i r' I 218 TALES OF A VOYAGER. latter object, for its figure and its crew, (whose frantic gestures he had also imagined he had dis- lingiiished,) were such as were to him befoie unknown. But if this sight were a mr'o phantom, what could have brought it before his ej'cs? The darkness that succeeded this wide gleam was of the deepest dye, and the peals of thunder that broke around him were as loud as though tlie heavens had burst in its discharge. A shower of fragments was scattered from the mountain tops, and poured down their sides, with a din and clatter more terrible than the noise of the elements. Spiel expected every moment to be crushed to pieces, or buried beneath a mass of rock, and his helpless state was now to him a source of the greatest anguish. Some of the pieces dashed nearly up to him, and others bounded past, and rushed headlong over the declivity into the dell beneath, where he could hear them rolling and splashing through the deep morass. It rained when Winwig had left him, but now a body of fluid fell down upon him scarcely divided into streams, for of drops there were none, and in an instant the surface of the quaking bog on which he lay became de- luged. He suddenly found himself surrounded by water, which covered his lower extremities, THE NIKKUR IIOLL. 219 leaving his head and shoulders free ; for Petie had raised them on a tuft of moss, which, had he not done, Trosk would have been totally im- merscd. Still he felt the inundation rise, for the waterspout, or whatever else it was, continued to descend, and as he was unable to stir, either hand or foot, he gave himself up to death. He wouJd have called upon heaven, but the reflec- tion of the iniquity in which he was engaged, choked his prayer. He would have invoked the powers of darkness, but a deep-felt horror thrilled through his frame at the idea. He endeavoured to struggle, but the hide of Luckie seemed to cling more closely to him, with an avenging em- brace. He thought of Petie— where was Petie.?' He shouted Petie! Petio ! with all his strength, hut his voice was drowned in the rush and tur- bulence of the flood, and he strained it till its sound was only a hoarser scream. A hoarser scream replied to him, or was it eclio.' He screamed again, in greater agony, half hoping, half in terror; but the water filled his ears, and heknewnot if hewere answered. " Gracious God, I perish !" murmured Spiel as the fluid touched his lips, and passed over them : but, in the next instant, a rush, like the hurried tumble of a cataract, faintly reached his hearing, and he felt L 2 no TALES OF A VOYAGEIl. the deluge sink from liim, and leave his mouth uncovered. It subsided, liowever, but a little, yet enough to give him liope, and his dismay grew less. The pouring down from the clouds likewise diminished, and the pitchy blackness of the atmosphere was less intense. Gradually the fall of water became converted into a heavy shower, which continued to grow less, and glimpses of dull light broke through the mass of darkness. Spiel blessed the sight, and found his courage return ; but he felt as exhausted as if he had been struggling with death, and he longed to be released from his confinement. Still the purport of his sufferings was unac- complished, and with reviving life he felt his avaricious desires re-enter his heart, and this even whilst the water was still above his shoulders. He was sensible, however, that it passed away, and he conjectured rightly that its sudden rise had been owing to one of the fragments of stone having rolled to the outlet of the stream, and stopped its passage into the glen, through the rocky ledge : but the weight of the accumulating body of water had moved it from its position, and allowed sufficient opening for the stream to escape, and this drew off the inundation by degrees. THE NIXKUR UOLL. ftsn iiis mouth jt a little, lis dismay :he clouds lackneas of idualiy the ) a heavy less, and he mass of ind found hausted as h, and he ment. was unac- he felt his d this even shoulders, ised away, idden rise ts of stone ream, and rough the umulating > position, stream to dation by Midnight passed, and Trosk, though lie knew not the time, began to doubt the efficacy of the charm. He was tired and weary of his situation, and he would have preferred an incan- tation of a more busy kind, Ilest with him was only appropriated to sleep, and that he granted with reluctance ; but, now that he was compelled to be quiescent, he felt a sense of drowsiness. Whether this was the effect of habit, or fatigue, or cold, I cannot say, but so it was, and it so overpowered him, that, in spite of his situation, he lost at times all consciousness. The ebbing of the flood had nearly left him dry in the space of half an hour, and, believing morning to have advanced two hours at least, he resolved to give himself up to sleep, as the best way of passing the hours till he was released. He closed his eyes, and slept ; but how long he knew not. He was awakened by whai at first he thought something passing across his face, but he was soon sensible that it was a violent gust of wind. It was again nearly as dark as before, and repeated blasts rushed past him, with an angry murmur. There was but little rain now- falling, and that came more like spray upon a gale than a shower, but he felt even more chilled fl"- -w 222 TALES OF A VOYAGEJt. than when he was surrounded by water. He heard the rage of the ocean more distinctly than he had done, and he fancied that it forced its stubborn waves much further into the valley below than the beach. An inexplicable tur- bulence seemed mingled with the usual uproar of billows bursting on a rocky shore, and the dells seemed more the seat of the confusion than of the echo. He could have imagined that the sea had overcome its boundaries of ages, and was taking possession of the conquered land. A rush of water was certainly coming towards him— he longed to be able to see. Ano- ther glare of lightning, like the first, lit up all the horizon, and he saw for a moment tlio ocean and the islands looking more fearful than before. Even in that instant he strained his eyes to catch one glance of the ship he had thought abandoned to the fury of the elements, and he again believed he beheld it, raised on the back of a huge billow, which dashed it down at the foot of a distant promontory, and closed over it. The headland was the Nikkur Noss, which he knew well, as the scene of his mis-spent la- bours. He might, perhaps, have looked longer, for the lightning continued to flash so fast that there was scarcely an interval of darkness, but ;l'^ THE NIKKUR HOLL. 2^ with a tremendous gush a colarnn of foam rose up, from beyond the craggy ledge of the plat- form on which he lay, and, whirling round in the air, came towards him. What passed during a few succeedingmoments. Spiel could not well remember. He felt him- self raised from the moss, and borne along above it, and he saw the Peights' AnUar Stane twisted out of the earth. He heard a raging struggle, as of wind and water fighting for mastery, and he was hurled against a bank with violence, and deprived of his senses. When he recovered, the tempest had ceased, the heavens were clear and bright with a vivid illumination, and the air was still. He was lying, not where Petie had left him, but at the foot of the ridge of eminences, bounding the little plain, and his frame seemed shaken and more powerless than before. He could now distinguish the roll of the waves on the shore, flowing as they were wont in calm weather, and he attempted to discover the time by the rise of the tide ; for there was not the least sign of dawn, though the sky was brilliantly en- lightened. He listened attentively, and heard not only the brawling murmur of the sea pour* Jng among the sh'rgles, but a burst of solemn -mM 224 TALES OF A VOYAGEE. music mingled with it—yet so faint that he was not convinced of its reality. A pause ensued— again a strain of harmony floated on the un- troubled air — and again it was lost as a gust of wind swept up the dell. Again he heard it louder than before, and he fancied it approached him, and, as it continued, he believed he could distinguish the tune of a psalm he had heard sung by the crew of a Dutch herring-buss, which had been off the Skerries in the preced- ing summer. Nay, he fancied he could per, ceive voices occasionally join the notes, and sing the very words he had formerly heard ; for, as I have said before, Trosk understood the language. Although, when the winds rose, he always lost the sounds of this singular con- cert, yet, whenever there was a lull, he was satisfied that it gradually drew nearer, and he could now trace its advance, winding slowly up the glens from below, towards that in which he was extended. At length it was so distinct, that he was per- suaded it must have crossed the ledge that bounded the brink of the plain, and he en- deavoured to raise his head, so that he might gain a view of the source of this extraordinary melody. There was a loose fragment of stone if THE NIKKUB HOLL. 225 near him, and by dint of wriggling and pushing himself along like a seal, he contrived to elevate his head upon it, and, looking forth, he beheld a long and gleamy procession approachmg towards him, over the quaking bog on which he had at first been laid. Sorrow and dejection were marked on the countenances of the beings composing the troop, and their habiliments appeared heavy with moisture, and dripping like fresh sea weeds. They drew close up to him, and were silent. First came the musicians, whose instruments he had heard so long and so anxiously, but he could not scrutinize them much, for, as they advanced opposite to him, they wheeled off to the right and left, and took their stations on either side. The front space was immediately occupied by a varied group, who appeared, by their deportment, to precede some object of great distinction, which, when they parted and filed off in the same manner as the band, presented itself to view. This was a tall, bulky, though well built man, whose capacity of belly was properly balanced by the protuberance of that part which honour has assumed to herself. His head was not little, and his face appeared rather swollen. His shoulders were wide, and were clothed in L 3 226 TALES OF A VOYAGER. a full coat of broad cloth, fashioned after tlie manner of the fourth generation past. Its skirts reached below his knees, round which they curved. It was collarless, but sleeves, vastly deep, hung from the arms, the cuffs of which were adorned with cut-steel buttons, of great circumference and brightness. Broad bands of rich gold lace covered every seam and edge, more glorious in the eyes of the beholder than the setting sun, and the lappels of a quilted vest hung down from the immense orb of his bowels, heavy with the precious metal that braided them. His thighs were arrayed in breeches of scarlet velvet, silk hose disguised his legs, and large square-toed shoes covered his feet, and lent their thongs to support gold buckles of great breadth, which glittered with precious stones. On his head was placed a long, flowing, flaxen, curling wig, surmounted by a small three-cornered cocked hat, buttoned up with gold bands, and a long, straight, basket-hiked sword hung, suspended in a broad buff-embroidered belt, by his side. In his hand he held a gold-headed clouded ground rattan, of great length and thickness, and close by his side walked a black boy, bearing a long, twisted, grotesquely fashioned pipe, which he it THK NJKKUR HOLL. 227 occasionally offered to his lord, who stopped and gave a solemn puff or two, and then proceeded. When he came immediately opposite to Spiel, he stood still and erect, and a number of others ranged themselves on his right hand and on his left, whose dresses were fine, but not so splendid as their superior's, and they bore pipes of common form only. Behind these drew up a group of persons, many of whom were ladies, some bear- ing infants in their arms, others leading children by their hands, all dressed in strange and gor- geous apparel, though of fashions unknown to him who beheld them ; and, lastly, came a body of men and lads, with big loose trowsers, thick heavy jackets, and red worsted night-caps, whom Trosk instantly knew to be Dutch sailors. Each of these had a quid of tobacco stuck in his cheek, and a short blackened pipe in his mouth, which he sucked in melancholy silence. The fisherman lay still, and saw this grim troop assemble around him, with feelings of mingled alarm and wonder ; his heart did not sink, for it was kept alive by fearful curiosity, but cold sweats gathered upon his brow. Pre- sently, the principal figure looked round, and seeing his attendants all in their stations, he took his long twisted pipe from the hands of the 228 Tales of a voyagek. negro, and began to smoke in long and deep- drawn whiffs ; and this seemed as a signal to the rest to follow his example, for, immediately, every mouth was in action, and . • , >>ver \vay Spiel cast his looks, he beheld .thing but glowing tubes and gleaming eyes turned towards him, while wreaths of smoke rose up from the multitude, and formed a dense cloud-like canopy above them. Nevertheless, though he could plainly distinguish the features and the dresses of tins ghastly crew, he could also see the stars clearly glimmering trough them, and now gleams of fire and electric flashes began to shoot across the heavens, and the sky grew more vividly bright than it had been. Still, though Trosk could behold all these appearances through the bodies of the phantoms, he could also per- ceive that his ghostly visitants were closing slowly upon him, that their ranks grew more dense, and the space between him and them more narrow, while their puffs became more violent, and the smoke rose up with redoubled velocity. The Shetlander was naturally a bold and, indeed, a desperate man, and he bad come to the glen with the desire of conversing with beings of another world ; but when he beheld this fearful, strange, and unintelligible multitude TKE NIKKUa HOLL. 229 crowded round him, and pressing nearer and nearer, as if about to overwhelm him, his courage yielded, his frame shook, and the sweat ran copiously down his face. The appearance of the black boy occasioned him more terror than all the rest ; for, never having seen a negro in those far distant isles, he believed him to be a little devil, and his white teeth and whiter eye- balls looked terrific against his sable face ; but his terror redoubled, when, on turning his eyes up to look at the sky above, he perceived close behind his head that little dry withered man who had accosted him in the skiff, sitting now as rigidly upright as before, but with a pipe in his mouth, which he seemed to hold there as if in grave mockery of all the assembly. Trosk started convulsively, and a choking sensation seized upon his throat; but, summoning all his energy, he mastered it, and directing himself to the principal person before him, he exclaimed, " In the name of him ye obey, who are ye ? and what want ye all with me ?" The great man gave three pufFs, more so- lemnly than ever, upon this adjuration, and then, taking the pipe slowly from his lips, and giving it to his attendant, he replied, in a tone of chilling formahty, « I am Aldret Janz Dundrellesy ■ fp ■ *l 230 TALES OF A VOYAGER. Vander Swelter, whilome commander of the good ship Carmilhan, of the city of Amsterdam, homeward bound from Batavia, in the east, which being in .lorthern latitude, 60°, 10", and 17°, 5', longitude east, from the island of Ters, at 12 P.M. on the night of the 21st of October, 1699, was cast away on the inhospitable rocks of this island, and all on board perished. These are mine officers, these my passengers, and these the mariners forming my gallant crew. Why hast thou called us up from our peaceful bowers, at the bottom of the ocean, where we rest softly on beds of ooze, and smoke our pipes in quiet, listening to the songs of mer aaids ? — I say, why hast thou called us up?" Spiel had expected to commune with spirits, good or bad, but he had not anticipated a visit from the captain of the vessel he wished to rifle ; and, indeed, the ques- tion he had to propose was rather an awkward one to put to Mynheer Vander Swelter, for ghosts are in general tenacious of hidden trea- sure, and a Dutch ghost was likely to be more tenacious than any other, and, in particular, the spirit of a commander in whose charge a treasure had been placed, since he might still think he had a right to preserve it for the true owners, or at least for their heirs lawfully begotten and ■■>ii ill THE NIKKUR HoLL. 881 m duly qualified. But this was no time for deli- beration, and the prospect of gaining his wishes poured like a reviving cordial over the soul of the fisherman, and washed away his terror. " I would know," replied he, "where I can find the treasure, with which your ship was laden." " At the bottom of the sea," answered the captain with a groan, which was echoed by all his crew. " At what place ?" said Spiel. " In the Nikkur Noss," replied the spectre. " How came they there ?" inquired the Skerry- man. " How came you here .?*" answered the captain. " I came here," said Spiel. '''Tis false!" exclaimed the Spirit, *J46 TALES OF A VOYAGER. and dancing billow, is pleasure to me ; a feeling for which I can give no reason, much less one in accordance with the rest of my habitudes. Certain of the wise men, of whom I have already made mention, have decided, that the love of revisiting our country is a disease, and they have bestowed upon it a hard name in their systems of sicknesses. Now, should not the desire to quit our native land be considered in the same light, and bear a title too ':' No, say the wise men, love of country is more intense than dislike to it, and produces bodily illness, if not gratified, which restlessness of station does not effect. There is love-sickness of another kind, but who has heard of hatred-sickness of any description ? Be that as it may, imj)atience of staying at home is in most instances an irrational pro- pensity, and in direct opposition to the interests of the individual afflicted with it. It cannot, therefore, be considered in any other way than as a malady of the mind, and those who meet their deaths, in consequence, deserve to have a verdict of " lunacy" recorded for or against them, as may suit the wishes of their friends. But what am I saying.? I whose health has already received so much benefit fi'om this very disease ! THE VOYAGE. 247 The tv enty-second came in with fair wind and favourable weather, which bore us along at the rate of ten knots an hour during the fore part of the day, declining in the afternoon to eight, six, and five. As the evening closed in, a pigeon was observed about the vessel, but it eluded the vigilance and agility of the sailors, who delight IP. showing their cunning in surprising visitors of this kind. ^During the night, however, it was caught, and proved to be a tame one, sup- posed to belong to the Alexander, a Greenland ship, which usually takes a variety of birds, even canaries, with her. The evening following was extremely fine, warm, and agreeable. Ful- mars floated unceasingly round the vessel, not on the deep blue sea, which here rose into a grand swelling surface, of the purest azure, but through the more subtle air, in which they glided with the ease and silence attributed to a spirit. What a luxury of motion must these creatures experience, as they sail inactive over trough and biUow, like the down of a thistle borne softly along upon the breeze!— an union of repose and progression, which, could it be imitated by man, would add another source of enjoyment to his existence- Mallemuks were not the only bircts we saw to- " i iifij ill J248 TALES OF A VOYAGER. day. Ill tlu' afternoon, a snow-bird was caught on the deck by " Tom," from whoso clutches I unjustly rescued it, and a pippet was seen among tlie rigging. The jKJwer of traversing immense spaces on the wing, which small birds possess, (perhaps only occasionally), is one of the most unaccount- able facts in natural history. The snow-bird, (Emberiza Nivalis?), is scarcely as large as a yellow hammer, of which it is a congener ; and the pippet, a species of lark, is one of those common little field birds which flit across the meadows, swamps, and heaths round London ; yet at the time I saw them, they were at least two hundred and fifty miles from the nearest land. In their proper situations, neither of them is remarkable for keeping on the pinion for an extraordinary length of time, nor do their habits require it. It is, therefore, fair to con- clude, that, if birds, which may be called short winged, can take a flight of five hundred miles and upwards, swallows, whose mode of livin^ and natural conformation requires them to be eontmually in the air, may accomplish a transit to Africa, without distress, especially as they can obtain food on their passage. The snow, bird is migratory to Greenland, and has winoN ffli TIIK VOVAGK. 249 was seen rather lonf^cr than is usual with its tribe ; but I have not hearil that the pippet huk passes from one country to aiiotlier, nor are its j)riniary tjuill feathers pecuharly lengthened. That which I saw, might have been driven out to sea by a hawk, or a squall. On shore, it is rather remark ible for its inclination to settle at short distances, when disturbed, and may be put up repeatedly before it will fly out of sight. Althouglj we passed the sixty-flfth degree of north latitude to-day, the air was serene and warm, and not the least indication of a northern clime could be discovered, unless in tht' presence of the fulmars ; but 1 doubt much that more delightful weather was experienced fifteen de- crees further south. For my part I have often shivered at this season at home, and have been glad to take up my abode by the fireside through llie day, while here I can constantly expose iMVself to the atmosphere with pleasure. As if to check my unpatriotic reflections, the twenty-third began chilly and wet, but the cold was not disagreeable, and my occupation of stuffing my bunting kept me below out of its roach. In the afternoon, an unusual bustle com- menced throughout the vessel, arising from the M 3 •I ^50 TALES OF A VOYAGER. first preparation for the whale fishery, called " spanning the harpoons." Most persons know that a hai-poon is an iron instrument, somewhat m the shape of an arrow ; but to those who are not acquainted with its special configuration, I will detail its proportions, although the late publication of works expressly treating on the apparatus, and « modus operandi," of the craft of whale-catching, leaves me free from the ne- cessity of minutely describing its mysteries. I shall not, therefore, stop in the course of my nar- rative, to give a dry catalogue of instruments and processes, which have already been repeatedly laid before the public. Mine is more a display of my own enjoyments, and of the social and domestic ccconomy of the nursery of British seamen, than an official account of their trans- actions, and I shall assume the privilege of passing by, or noticing, as much of the " matter of business" as suits my purpose. A harpoon is formed of soft ductile iron, and comprises three portions: The barb, which resembles " the king\s broad arrow," with wethers or flukes, which make it about six inches broad; is massy internally, and sharpened round the exterior edge. From its centre proceeds the shank, diminishing in size till it becomes not THE VOYAGE. 251 much thicker than the little finger, and again gradually growing larger, till it terminates in the socket— a cavity something wider than a modern wine-glass, and twice as deep. The whole is about three feet long, and is the harpoon, ^ro/^r^e dictum; but a sock, or staff, six feet in length, is fitted into the socket, by means of which the weapon is thrust into the back of the whale. This stock sometimes gets loose, after the fish is fast ; but that occurrence is of no consequence, as the line is fixed to tiie harpoon, and this attach- ment of the line to the instrument is the " span- ning," which took place to-day. The commencement of business was preceded by a ceremony, which will no doubt maintain its ground, when other more pompous observances shall have become the tales of old wives and antiquaries. The harpooners were invited into the cabin, bearing the harpoons they had selected for their boats, and each was compelled to drink a bumper of rum, from the socket of his weapon, to the success of the fishery. The compulsion found necessary to oblige these officers to quaff a quarter of a pint of real Jamaica, was by no means so great as that occasionally requi- site to force a culprit to receive the fata' noose i;i^ 252 TALES OF A VOYAGER. round his neck. Indeed, I thought thej bore the infliction of their sentence with becoming meekness and resignation; and, though the length of tlie shafts, appended to their drinking vessels, gave them a most ludicrous appearance when turned towards the sky, and caused much merri- ment and many jokes, it was endured with chris- tian fortitude. Some affectation to be sure was manifested in the management of their glasses, but, In palliation of this offence against common- sense, let it be remembered that the goblet was a full yard long. On this occasion all the linglishmen had the favour of draining the liarpoon socket granted to them, whilst to the Shetlanders drams, or ordinary glasses of liquor, were distributed ; nor was this the only time that I found the men of Shetland were con- sidered as inferior to their comrades, though I could not discover why, unless, (as Robinson Crusoe would say,) because they were inferior in rascality and low manners. After this began the spanning, which is accomplished by splicing a piece of new untarred rope round the shank. This rope is called the forcgangcr, and is made from the best hemp, unsoiled by pitcli of anv kind, that it may bend freely with the vvea[X)n. 'Jim THE VOYAGE. 253 It is about the length of thirty feet, and the loose end is spliced to the end of the whole line when wanted. After the spanning, the harpoon is hooked on to a loop, and the foreganger is bent to the capstan, and stretched taught with some force, while several blows are struck with a mallet on the weapon. This process is intended to try the goodness both of the rope and the harpoon ; which being ascertained, they are folded up, and put by in a dry place, with oiled rope yarn wrapped round the barb. This duty being completed, Jock, the cook, was called down, and a fiddle was placed in his hands, upon which he performed several airs, with all the conscious superiority of a Mori or a Spagnoletti. Nor was he less urbane in devot- ing his talents to the decantation of several horns of grog, with which he was liberally supplied ; and after regaling our ears with sundry airs, among which the " fisher's boy" was most in favour, he was sent upon deck for the amuse- ment of " all hands." All hands met Jock more than half way; und, notwithstanding the heaving of the deck, a sudden djnce commenced, which shewed the '25^ TALES OF A VOYAGER, right merry humour of the volunteers, if it did not display their acconiplishments. I do not mean, however, to insinuate, that there were not several who evinced themselves to be active and gay professors of the fairy science; but the greater part of them seemed to consider the vigour of their motions the best proof of their skill ; and these shook their limbs at each other with a remorseless fury, which would have dis- located the joints of any one of our fashionable waltzigyrizing generation. The Shetland men, in general, expressed in their faces, and in their movements, far more delight and agility than their southern mess- mates, and their evolutions were as rapid and fantastic as the most desperate Highland reel could encourage, and the rolling of the ship increase. They danced to the tune of *' Scallo- way Lasses," a quick monotonous air, which one of them scraped upon the violin, for Jock had resigned it to enjoy (though more than a sexa- genarian) the mysteries of Thalian worship. The swiftest repetition of the following lines may give some idea of the excessive velo- city and confusion of the tune, which, as I heard it played, required the foot of a true sA m THE VOYAGE. 255 reeler to beat its time with any thing like pre. cision. ♦• Nay, softly, Jenny, I'm no such ninny. To care a doit what passes : Twixt you and any, there are full many Right bonny Scalloway lasses : So cease your flouting, and ease your poutin-, I'll o'er the hills to-morrow j And you may vex whose heart you can. Mine was not made for sorrow." Many of the Shehies are tall men, but Jock, the cook, a lofty, gaunt, bony, broad-shouldered Scot, looked like a tottering tree shaken by an earthquake, amidst a group of shrubs. His steps and his air excelled those of the rest, and he moved with some degree of grace, but every joint seemed stiffened by age, and the violent gesticulations of his comrades strongly contrasted ills unbending majesty of motion. It afforded great sport to the mischievously disposed to (lance over tliat part of the deck above the head« of the harpooners belonging to the ensuing watch, who had turned in, and now and then a heavy stamp was given, accompanied by a burst of glee, that shewed the wicked pleasure of the miscreants. About ten, the festivity was closed, and those who could retreated below. .'iii.,X.-^''- ^>56 TALES OF A VOYACJEll. \Vliilst this scone, as politic as ludicrous, was i^oiiig forward, llic ship was })itchin<;- from eight to ton f'cct. Th le sea was Ijurstuiu" witli violence against the bows; and the wind hlowin*; pretty cool in 70" degrees N. L. Da) light lasteil clear till nine o'clock, and at ten every tl deck was visible. We of the cabinet did not spend all the ni«>ht nuii uuon i> m ixtv/.\u-r a t tl le outra"og with a sort of declaretl that he saw so un \anity, for tiie captj nuich aniendnient in my health, that he thought I niijiht be taken off the sick list, and ailniitted to the privilege of si})ping " old puncheon"" at dis- cretion. 1 believe the increasing coldness of the climate had some influence in obtaininij: me this induliience from my rtli wortiiy iiuariiian but it IS true that 1 was rapiiUy recovering my health, and the unbiassed evidence of the sailors tended imcquivocally to assure me that my ap])earanec was impri)ved. It was tiie captain's watch during the evening, and the duty of entertaining us with a tale devolved upon the oflicer for the time being, as I have already stated. (If all jierson.s under this regulation, the caj)tain was least likely to be i'li Tin'. VOVAtiK. tir>7 ixi'usod from peritH-miuf;- Wis task, siiK i' his «)i'(liiuiiy sorvicos upou ^\vvk vvi'ii' always t'Xi'- fuU'd hy tlu" second uuitr, uho was liis luuti'iumi of" tlu* watch. This nipt< I to «j;et oil' hy a !>ham plea of hoarseness, and our threats of f^ivino- up the custom altont'iJur, iniless he maintained his part, and ' hundretl other mock compulsatory exclamations, at length pre- vailed. " AVell, gentlemen,'" said he with his usual pieface, " if you ohiige me to torment you with my didl prosing, let the punishni nt he upon your own heads ; I shall feel pleasure in inflict- ing it for your ohstinacy." lJ()on this notice, the pipes of those who used them were nplenished, and the; horns received new cargoes of diluted nectar, for 1 maintain that the l)evera";e of the ancient deities was nothing hut brandy and other ardont spirits, with which the mortals of those days were unaccpiainted. In the meantime, 1 had adjusted my note-book, ami mended my pen, and seated myself, with the official air of a reporter in a court of law ; nt least I fancied so— and it is sufficient for the imaiiinaliori (.o 25-^ TALKS OF A VOYAGER. become possessed with an idea of that kind, to make one suspect that every body else thinks the same. '« I think, Ridgway," said the captain, after a few moments consideration, " tliat 1 will give you and your friends here some account of the fortunes of that gentleman, whom you received on board this ship in the Pool one day, whilst I was (m shore. Do you recollect him, and my promise to tell you some adventures, in which we were both engaged ?''"' " Yes, Sir," replied the mate, « I do— you mean Mr. Woolcraft, do you not." " Woolcraft is his name," returned the cap- tain ; «« and so it was his business, by a singu- lar coincidence, but this is not the only instance of such occurrences. I have known several persons whose surnames were descriptive of their professions." " So have I,'' cried Shipley : « I knew a schoolmaster who was called Horsham, which his scholars always pronounced Horse'em ; and when a boy I used to join with others in plaguing an old German tailor in Hull, who went by the name of Snipshears ; though I have since learnt that the appellation his father brought into England was Schneipzer." THE VOYAGE. i59 '' Those were rather twisted to suit the purpose," observed Ridgway ; " but in walking through liOndon you will notice many names inscribed over shop doors, which exactly cor- respond with the trades of their owners, such as Baker, Carpenter, Taylor, and so forth." " I could point out many such," said William, " among the rest Doctor Pellet." " Let me listen to the tale while I can," cried the second mate : " Mr. Shafton is going to begin." (I, «G( TALES OF A VOVAGKIl. WOOLCUAFT. " You are aware, I believe," said tlie cap- tail), " that I was not ori]craft, the father and partner of tl e gentleman whose story I am about » relate to you. " Mr. Wooicraft and his son differed as widely from each other as the old and voung courtier in the ancient ballad. The advantage, however, was on the side of the young citizen. The character of the elder Wooicraft w as strangely compounded of selfishness and generosity, ex- panded ideas and ignorance, and his manners were coarse and unpolished. Robert (for such was the name of his only son,) seemed to inherit ail the brighter p .s of his father's miii. without any of his harsh or illiberal feelings. He was generous, in the most extensive mean mg of the word, his comprehension was power- m (> TALKS OF -.\- VOYAC.KK. ful, his manners fijcntle, nnd his mind highly polished, an advantage he owed, indeed, to his father, who often lamented, in the latter part of his life, that lie had received no instruction beyond what he had obtained at a country day-school, and who, therefore, spared no ex. pense upon the education of his son. About the time I became an inmate of this family, the elder Mr. Woolcraft gradually relinquished an active part in the business. He had been all his life attached to the country, and at an early period he had hired a cottage in Surrey, where he was accustomed to pass his Sundays, the only holiday the careful citizen of that period allowed himself to enjoy. As his for- tune increased, he suffered his wife and family to reside there the greater part of the week, and at length, having become attached to the spot, he had purchased it, together with some Ian adjoining. Every year, while it added to his income, added to his purchases, until, imper- ceptibly, he found himself possessed of a large landed estate ; and, shortly after I was bound to him, he filled tlie measure of his ambition, by becoming lord of the manor in which his property was situated. " For a long time Mr. Woolcraft had neglected WoOLcnAFT. 2()a id biglily 2cl, to hih alter part nstriiction I country d no ex. 1. About is family, inquished Iiad been and at an n Surrey, Sundays, I of that s his for- 1 family to jk, and at 2 spot, he )me Ian 2d to hi^i il, imper- of a large as bound ambition, vhich his neglected the city for the country ; now, he resolved to withdraw from business altogethei-. He dis- covered that the confined air of Watling-street did not agree with liim, that his gout never troubled him at his villa,~that his duties as a magistrate would not allow liim to attend to trade ; in fact, as he had now acquired a handsome fortune, and had only three children, one son and two daughters, for whom he was able amply to provide, he resolved to pass the rest of his days in ease, and in improving his estate, tliougli what these improvements were to be, I believe neither he nor any other person could imagine. He immediately put his determination m practice, and resigned his business into the har da c f his son, who thus, at the early age of two n: a twenty, became possessed of a concern which had cost his father nearly forty years of successful labour to acquire. " The constitution of Robert was delicate, and his health far from equal to the fatigues of an extensive traffic. Confinement really had on him the effect his father supposed it to have upon himself, and he began tc droop almost from the day he became independent. Still he struggled with his weakness. He knew that the happiness of his father depended on seeing 264 TALKS OF A VOYAGEK. * • :i him flourish in business, and he applied him- self to it with unremitting assiduity, neglecting even the scientific and literary amusements he had formerly allowed himself; for, harsh and over-bearing as was the elder Woolcraft, he doated on his son, and Robert returned his afFedion, and would have sacrificed any thing to please him. Now, therefore, that all the affairs of a large concern rested on the son's exertions, his whole attention was occupied ; and whether it was that iiis mind was worn out by incessant activity, or whether confinement undermined his strength, he gradually became languid, and manifested many very dangerous symptoms. *' Still he adhered closely to business ; per- haps more closely than was altogether neces- sary, because he knew that, by so doing, he should oblige his father, who seemed to think that Robert had no right even to the most trifling amusement; alleging that, for the first ten years after he had begun business, he had no country-house, (his only pleasure;) and, therefore, laying down as a rule, that his son ought to deny himself recreation of anv kind during the same period. Indeed, he required of his son the closest attention ; per- haps the more so, because he began the world S..v-#lf/.' WOOLCIIAFT. 265 lied hini- icjijlc'ctinii mcnts lie arsli and craft, he irned hi;^ ' thing to affairs of ?xertions, I whether inccssanl [lermined 5 aid, and oms. ?ss ; per- ler neccs- oing, he to think he most the first he had ;;) and, that his of any leed, he )n ; per- le world with a good business ; for every one knows that thosa who cciiimence with a connection ready formed are tVequently less attentive than those who have to ay the foundation of their for- tunes. Aliiiough he had now, virtually, no concern whatever with the affairs of his son, he took upon hir,;self the office of overlooking all his transactioi-a, and he used to come to town, occasionally, raerely to hold a sort of inquiry into the conduce of Robert, and to find fault with every iJung and every body in the place; for his disposition seemed now, when hu had reached the very summit of his wishes, to have grown sourer than ever. To this hour I can recollect the niarm we all used to feel, as the periods of tluv-.e inquisitorial visits approached, and the dismay every countenance was wont to exhibit, at the sight of his awful person ; for, from the highest to the lowest, we were all sure of being somehow included in his displeasure; and to be upbraided and threatened by a man to whom you acknowledge no obligation, but who has unbounded influence over one on whom you depend, is extremely galling to the feelings. " Of course, Robert himself always came in for a share of these ill-natured observations ; but he bore every thing with the greatest good humour, VOL. I. VT I I'll, tl 266 TALES OF A VOYAGER. and never failed to atone to his dependents, for the harshness of his father, by some act of kind- ness. Indeed we all deserved praise rather tha'" blame from our former master. Robert, since he became proprietor of the business, had en- larged it considerably, and his energy and ac- tivity seemed to pervade every department of his concern. In fact, he managed his establishment with so much firmness, yet with so much skill, that everyone felt obliged to exert himself to the utmost, and yet no one could complain of being overworked or unrequited. This I consider no trifling praise, for nothing is more difficult than to combine and direct the abilities of a number of persons, held together by a bond so slight as that which unites dependents to their employers in a commercial city. " Never was any business conducted witli more regularity than that of Robert Woolcraft ; and, indeed, everything seemed to answer to the very utmost of his wishes ; but, notwithstanding the success of his undertakings, it was evident that he laboured beyond his strength, and after he had been about three years sole proprietor, every one perceived that his health was rapidly failing. Indeed, both his figure and countenance gave unequivocal symptoms of approaching consauq)- m WOOLCUAFT. 267 tion. Still, he neither complained nor relaxed in his exertions ; for, notwithstanding the harsh- ness and boorishness of his father, Robert was so much attached to him, that he would probably have rather died at his post, than have resigned it, unless ordered to do so by him. But although his illness was now apparent to all, his father, for a long time, affected not to notice it, though I could see that his very soul was tortured by concealing his sorrow. Yet he could not con- fess that he saw the full extent of the danger, without desiring Robert to relinquish his busi- ness, or diminish his activity ; and the idea of giving up a concern that seemed likely to be so profitable, was in his eyes most horrible. All the friends of the family now exclaimed against the brutality of the father, for they naturally imagined that he chose rather to see his son die, than relinquish his business— but they did not know my old master. Much as he loved money he loved his son more, and at the time he pretended to imagine Robert was only nervous, or slightly indisposed, I have often seen him shed tears in private ; an event which never failed to make a powerful impression upon me, for I naturally concluded, that if the illness of my young master was sufficiently dangerous to N 2 I' til I ihH'" 268 TALES OF A VOYAGER. draw tears from one so harsh and unfeehng as his father, it must be of the most fatal descrip- tion. Alas ! I could not then understand the feelings of a parent. "At length the disorder of Robert arrived at such a height that his father could no longer avoid taking notice of it, and it now became a question, whether he should die a martyr to traffic, or whether he should retire from trade altogether. Some palliatives were, indeed, imagined ; but none of them met the approbation of the elder Woolcraft. That is, it was proposed that Robert should admit a partner to his con- cern, who should undertake the laborious part of the business, — but his father declared that ho had made his money by bis own efforts, and that he did not approve of partners; — then Robert was advised to diminish his trade, and consequently his fatigue ; but to this his father would by no means consent. ' It looked,' he said, 'as if he was reduced by failure;' and rather than such an opinion should become current, he preferred sacrificing the concern altogether. He, therefore, ordered him to dis- pose of the business, and to dedicate all his time to the preservation of his health. " It had been my fortune to attract more of the I WOOLCRAFT. 269 •ill notice of my young master, than any other person in his large estabhshment. Perhaps, my youth made me a favourite, or, perhaps, my domestic and retired habits pleased him ; for I was fond of reading, and, when the business of the day was over, he used to send for me to his sitting-room, to which he was latterly entirely confined, and employ me in reading to him the newspapers and other light productions of the time ; repaying my attention by keeping me to supper, and by innumerable acts of kindness which, by degrees, obliterated the distinctions that generally exist in the city between master and apprentice, and placed us on the footing of two friends. " The business which Robert Woolcraft was compv^lled by illness to relinquish, was so con- siderable, that it allowed of being divided into three shares, and my father strained every re- source, to enable him to procure one for me. This object, however, he would not have been able to accomplish, but for the liberality and kindness of my young master, who offered to lake the purchase money by such instalments as my parents could afford, iid he even had the bounty to tell me privately, itiat he would wait till I could pay off the obligation from my own ■•»•',. . ^% .%. A% IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. Ms^ / 5r ^./^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 I JO '""^" u 1.4 2.2 iiM 1.8 1.6 ^ <^ /}. oi ^>. /^ ^>V'^ "^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ^ ^>^ v^w .^w^. V % «/ f/^ 276 TALES OF A VOYAGER. of his affections ; but this avowal only made him endeavour to drive forward his bargain with still greater rapidity ; for now, he imagined that his son stood on the brink of destruction, and that nothing but this rich marriage could snatch him from utter ruin, and he hoped by precipitation to oblige him to comply, by not allowing him sufficient time to take measures for opposing him. He, therefore, continued his negociation \vith the father of the lady he had chosen, and he was not a little urged onward in his resolution by his wife and daughters ; who, for some reason which they did not, and perhaps could not disclose, hated the unfortu- nate girl on whom young Woolcraft had placed his affections. " In short time, matters were brought so near to a conclusion, that Robert perceived it was necessary he should take some decisive method of signifying his resolution to be free. He waited upon the father of the lady, and explained his circumstances to him, hoping that he would break off the negociation ; but this gentleman, like the elder Woolcraft, was one of those who think the consent of the parties most immediately concerned of little consequence in marriage, as long as the parents or guardians are agreed ; WOOLCKAFT. 277 and, in a positive, though complimentary, manner, he informed Robert that he could not think of breaking his engagements with his father ; and, indeed, it afterwards appeared that botli the parents had bound themselves not to break off the treaty, under forfeiture of one thousand pounds. " As he was returning from this unsuccessful interview, he met me, and his heart being full of vexation, he, to soothe his sorrows, recounted them to me. I know not what spirit of mischief inspired my thoughts, but I interrupted him in the midst of his lamentations, by saying, ' Were I you, I would put it out of my own power to obey my father, by marrying the object of my aff'ec- tion."" He was silent for a moment, and then he endeavoured to shew me why he ought not to follow my advice ; but I saw that his heart was on my side, and that he argued weakly, and, perhaps, from the mere vanity of carrying my point, or for the pleasure of thwarting my old master, I had recourse to every method 1 could imagine, to convince him that he was bound to secure his own happiness in this affair at any hazard. Agitation had in some degree deprived him of his self- command ; and, although not convinced by my arguments, he yet complied with my wishes ; 2J78 TALES OF A VOVAGEK. Avhile I, finding he resigned himself to my direction, urged him forward with so much pre- cipitation, that within three days the marriage was privately celebrated. This hasty measure was, I may say, dictated by me, and I afterwards bitterly lamented the advice I had given ; but, at the time, I was very young, and felt all the hatred ofyouth for what 1 imagined to be paternal oppression. I was animated by the most sincere wish for the ha])|)iness of my friend, and I was too inexperienced to examine into future con- sequences. "The marriage was to h-ive been kept a pro- found secret; it was merely a precautionary measure, and was not to have been noticed, till every other means had failed of avoiding the match proposed by Mr. Woolcraft, senior. An officious friend, however, discovered it, and innnediately made it public. This was the only act of disobedience Robert had ever committed, (if it could be called an act of disobedience, in a man of six and twenty, to marry the woman he loved, in preference to one for whom he had no affection); and it was followed by what was to him sudden punishment. His father, u|X)n receiving intelligence of it, burst into a paroxysm of rage, which terminated in a fit of apoplexy ; WOOLCKAFT. 279 and although, by prompt medical assistance, he was rescued from immuhate danger, it was evident that his constitution hail received a sliock which would eventually overthrow it. '•' The misfortunes of Robert may now be said to have commenced, for he had a most feeling heart, and he was perpetually goaded by the reflection that he liad shortened the days of one whose greatest error had been a mistaken desire to serve him. It is not necessary to enlarge upon his sorrow at this event; the sensitive mind will readily conceive it, and the hardened heart will not comprehend it from the most elaborate description. *' The happiness of the elder Woolcraft seemed now blighted for ever;— he had no longer an object in life, and with him every thing had lost its interest. He no longer delighted in the country ; he was accustomed to walk to town, and to visit his former establishment, to wander over the shop and warehouse, and to lament the days when they formed his pl«!asure and his pride. All his anger, against both his son and myself, had now given place to a deep seated and ever-present melancholy, which neither amusement nor argument could remove, and he used to give vent to his sorrows, by complaining I' 11 280 TALES OF A VOYAGER. to me and to Sedgwick. * I will not disinherit Robert,' lie would say — ' I cannot — I have toiled for him, and my only wish was to keep liim from poverty. Besides, if 1 leave what I have to his sisters, they will marry, and I shall only have laboured to enrich other men. Yet, after the step he has taken, no dependance can be placed upon him, and my estate, like those of so many other careful fathers, will be brought to the hammer. This ill-fated marriage seems to have been destined to cause my death, and his ruin. He has no family ; if he had a son, I could yet find means to preserve him from destruction.'' " I do not wish to mingle more of my own his- tory than is absolutely necessary with that of Mr. Woolcraft ; yet I deem it r)roper to digress for a moment, to think of myself. I have already told you, that I conducted the exportation trade of our house, and that I was very largely con- cerned in shipments of goods. One evening, when about to return from on board a vessel, lying some miles below bridge, I missed my footing, as I was descending the side; and, although by good luck I fell into the boat, I so violently sprained my leg, that I imagined it was broken. All the sailors who came to my WOOLCRAFT. 281 aid were of the same opinion, and, as it imme- diately began to swell, I desired to be carried to the nearest tavern, that it might be examined by a surgeon. I was literally obeyed, for I was landed at the termination of a narrow alley, in Rothcrhithe, and conveyed, almost senseless from extreme pain, into a public-house, where I was put to bed, and attended by a medical practi- tioner. Although my leg was not broken, my surgeon recommended me to remain where I was for a few days, and I followed his advice ; for I feared that motion would increase my agony, and I found in the landlord and his niece very careful and gentle attendants, al- though, from their appearance and occupation, the reverse might have been expected. As I shall have hereafter occasion again to make mention of this public-house, and its inhabitants, I will now interrupt the progress cf my narra- tive to describe them. "Perhaps the only part of the metropohs that can give any idea of what London was, previous to the great fire, is a portion of Rotherhithe, in the vicinity of the Thames. There, the curious observer may yet behold narrow streets, blind allies, and dark courts, filled with wooden 282 TALES OF A VOYAGEU. houses, covered with pitch, and adorned with lofty roofs and curious gabels. These houses are, for the most part, small and gloomy, jammed and wedged together, as if the principal object of the builders had been to exclude both light and air. The outsides of many of them yet retain the ancient jutting out of the floors, each beyond the other; while, within, they show that odd confusion of rooms, passages, and stairs, jumbled together without order, which modern architects so carefully avoid. ** The inhabitants of these antique dwellings are, for the most part, a simple or rather an uneducated race. Solely intent on their traffic, which is generally connected with the water, they seem to give themselves but little concern with the business of the land. All their con- versations, manners, customs, thoughts, and dealings, owe their origin to the Thames. That beneficent river is the source of their existence, and they, in return, may be said to extend the celebrity of their parent ; for, at die period of which I speak, scarcely a vessel quitted the metropolis which was not in soine degree in- debted to them for building, repairing, or find- ing in naval stores ; and many of them were VVOOLCRAFT. 283 actually engaged as sailors in that hazardous branch of adventure in which we arc now occu- pied. " In one of the narrow lines, which here lead down to the river, was situated the public-house to which I had been carried.— It was known by the name of * The Jovial Sailors.' " A modern tavern keeper might have been content to have written this title on his door- post, but the respectable proprietor of this place still retained the customs of his ancestors ; and, knowing that a sign was intended, as its name imports, to convey intelligence to those who canont read, he had caused one, the production of an eminent artist in this line, to be suspended from tlie front of his mansion. In the back ground of this symbolic representation was depicted a number of mariners, enjoying them- selves in various manners; smoking, drinking, or listening to the notes of a fiddle, while, in the centre, the principal light fell upon the figure of a youthful sailor, indulging in the height of marine joviality, dancing a hornpipe, with a bottle in one hand and a glass in the other ; beneath whose feet, still further to display the animating powers of liquor, music, and danc- ing, was inscribed a doggrel legend, too long 284 TALES OF A VOYAGER. for repetition, the object of wliicli was, that *Jack was now really alive.' The landlord o^ this place was an < ancient mariner,' who had faced danger in almost every shape in which it can encounter a sailor, and who had sought it in almost every place where it was to be found. He was the only son of the former proprietor of the house ; but, at an early age, he had quitted his paternal roof, and had gone to sea, and nearly forty years of his life had been spent in traversing the ocean. During this time, his father had died, bis mother had re-married, and conveyed the house to another person, and died also ; and, when he returned, he found that he was utterly unknown, and that a niece, nearly his own age, the daughter of his eldest sister, was his only living relation. Years had effectually cooled his blood, and allayed the thirst of adventure that had caused him to quit his parents, and go to sea. He had become prudent and regular, and he was, when discharged, entitled to a large share of prize- money, the accumulation of many years. He resolved, therefore, to remain on shore; and, by way of settling himself for life, he purchased the housj in which he had been born, installed his aged niece behind the bar, and commenced f^ ^ WOOLCRAFr. 285 business with all the regularity to which he had been accustomed in his early youth. " I have had considerable experience in the characters of English seamen, and I am far from believing them to be that open-hearted, generous, thoughtless race of men they are ima- gined to be, by those who are not intimately ac- quainted with them. On the contrary, I know them to be, like all uncultivated beings, knavish, selfish, and malevolent ; and I am well aware that their apparent generosity, when on shore, is only the lavish expenditure of ignorance. From this unfavourable character my host of the ' Jovial Sailors' was an exception. His manner was somewhat stern and positive ; but, if he had about him none of the thoughtlessness of the sailor, he had none of the duplicity which thoughtlessness, (as it is termed) usually con- ceals. He was strict and correct in all his dealings, and he expected the same in all who dealt with him; yet he was really kind and generous, whenever an opportunity offered for exercising those virtues. These particulars of his character and history I gleaned, while con- fined for about a week in his house, during which time I experienced the greatest kindness and attention from him and his niece. 1 mi TALKS OF A VOYA(ii;R. " I hud scarcely been rctiirncil home ten (lays, when our prosperity and all niy hopes were utterly destroyed, by an unexpected event, whicli involved n.orc than ourselves in ruin. To meet the bills which we had j^ivcn for hcveral extensive orders on our manufacturers, we had collected almost tho whole of our debts, and placed the money, as it came in, in the bands of a banker of great credit and lon^r standing. It would, perhaps, have been im- possible, at any other time, to have found the proi)erty of the firm so entirely out of our hands. We had a vast consignment of goods afloat, the greater part of which had sailed ; and, indeed, the last vessel in which we harl made a shipment was below the Hope. We had executed many commissions from the country, which had exhausted the remainder of our supplies for the time being, and we had not long furnished most of our London cus- tomers with fresh assortments. Just at that critical moment, the bank of Messrs. B stopped payment, and all our money was si'.nk in that gulph, which sv/allowed so much city wealth, and spread so much consternation among merchants. " I shall not describe the distress of our minds. WOOLCUAIT. 28T at (ii)(ling ou liopes blasted by tbis fatal bank- ruptcy ; for I do not wisb to tliink a^ain of my own state of mind at tbat time. — We, too, became bauia-upts, and every thing, liousebold and stock, was given up to tiie commissioner!". I am liappy, however, in knov/ing now that our creditors lost notliing, for our bankruptcy was ultimately superseded ; but, long iK'fore our affairs were settled, I had given up all wishes to renew business. The shock I felt was intolerable, and, whilst suffering under its violence, I hurried to the -Jovial Sailors,' as to a retreat in a lime of misfortune. I felt desirous of hiding myself from all my former friends and acquaintances, as if 1 had been guilty of a crime, and, though I heard that llobert Woolcraft was inquiring and f-eeking for me, I remained secluded irv my lodgings, not even letting my father know the place of my re- sidence, tlxough I informed him of my being in London. " At the Jovial Sailors I formed a thousand extravagant plans for my future disposal, and relished those most which were least concordant with reason and practicability. At last my landlord, who knew my situation, and who had become the only confidant of my wild schemes, m 288 TALES OF A VOYAGEll. came to me one day, and told me tliat Capt. P , of the B , Greenlandman, wanted a steward and clerk for a voyage, and asked me if I should like the birth. The idea of going to Greenland was to me at that time much what sailing to the East Indies was two hundred years back, an adventure full of risk and difficulty, and I caught at the proposal somewhat, (I am afraid) as a^ian snatches up a pistol with the in- tention of blowing out his brains. I was delighted, in my desperation, with the prospect of encounter- ing danger, and of adding bodily suffering to my mental agony, and I engaged myself to do every thing required, for the pay that was offered, without consideration, and without desire to render the situation better than I found it. My little stock of ready money I mostly exhausted in fitting myself, or rather in letting my landlord fit me out, with necessary clothing ; and I sailed on my first voyage to these seas more miserable and desolate than if I had been a convict torn from a starving family. I must here tell you of the great kindness of my landlord, which I did not discover till I had nearly completcv! my expedition. I had given him my purse, requesting him to deduct his own due for my board and lod/r'.ng first, and 3 WOOLCKAFT. 289 then to procure me what he thought I miglit require at sea, as he had volunteered to do ; and so he did, as I imagined ; but when we were making Shetland, on our way home, I looked for my purse, intending to buy some trifles on the island, for my parents, and I found in it all the cash, excepting what had been laid out for my equipment, together with a receipt for my expenccs at the Jovial Sailors, and a note, in the hand-writing of my host' begging me not to be angry, and informing me that he would not take a farthing from me, until I was as well off as before, if he were to go on board the tender for want of it. This benevolence I have not forgotten; and it has been my happiness to be the means of intro- ducing this worthy man to a friend, who will ever stand betwixt him and misfortune. " I spent four years in the Greenland service, and one and a half in a voyage to the South Seas, during which time I became boat-steerer, har- pooner, and mate ; for I took great hking to the sea, and I had conceived a violent disgust against the land. I never returned to London, but with a feeling of hatred towards the place, as if the scenery had been an accomplice in my loss ; and I always set ofFimmediately to M , VOT. " iTii i cir\vard in their career of avarice with redoubled fury; they availed themselves of every oj)j)ortunity, and took advantage, liowever uno-enerously, of every weakness. The very misfortunes of IVfr. Wot)leraft, which had ren- dered him indecisive, slow, and indifferent, were to them reasons why they should push him with" vigour, inasnuich as he was less ca})able of defending himself. " Unfortunately, theletter and the spirit of the will were at variance, and afforded ani})le matter for the exercise of legal acuteness and legal duplicity. I say of legal acuteness, for, to my sim])le com]n'ehension, there seemed to be no difficulty at all, since the estate was evidently left, together with four-fifths of the income, to Robert for his life, in trust for his son, if ho had one ; or else, for the sons of his sisters. Some doubts, indeed, might have arisen, whether he ought not to pay this one-fifth to these sons ; but even this is doubtful ; for, as he was under forty, there was no reason why he should not yet have more sons himself, in which case no WOOLcriAFT. 305 otiier persons could in any manner pretend to the property. We sailors, however, have very imperfect ideas of law, whatever we may have of equity ; for the lawyers on the opposite side could imd innumerable reasons, why Jlobert liad no claim whatever to the property his fatlier had been so anxious to secure to him ; and I nuist say for his legal advisers, that they found arguments ecjually good to oppose them ; so that one ponit was no sooner decided than another was started, and every term produced a new trial, or a rule to shew cause why a new trial should not be granted. This persecution, for my friend felt every thing a persecution that withdrew his attention from his wife, lasted two years ; at the end of which time it was more involved and peri)lexed than it was at the begin- ning ; and it at length appearing, that the infe- rior courts could not bring it to a conclusion, the plaintiffs threw the cause, with all its doubts and difficulties, into chancery. The paralizing influence of this powerful court suspended for a while the animation of all parties ; but to Mr. Woolcraft tliis suspension was little better than death, for it now aj)peared that the letter of the will might be interpreted so much against him, ll.l 306 TALES OF A VOYAGER. Si '« U tliat it was thought expedient to sequestrate the disputed estate, till the case was decided. " This long and expensive suit, the illness of his wife, ard many losses, arising generally from misplaced kindness, had much impaired tlie fortune of my friend. A still larger portion of his funded property had been expended in embellishing and improving the very land he was now so likely to lose. He was, besides, considerably involved, owing to the failure of a concern to which he had advanced money, and for some of the debts of wliich he had rendered himself liable ; the sequestration of the estate, therefore, to him was ruin. " When this new misfortune arrived, Robert Woolcraft might be said to stand almost alone in the world. The illness of his wife, and the consequent seclusion in which he had lived, had driven away many of his former associates; several of his friends had died, and he had taken no pains to cultivate others, and the few that remained stood aloof, now that difficulty began to environ him. 1 had again become his only adviser; and to me he detailed his sorrows. « My friend,' said he, *it'is not for myself I suffer, God knows : to my witljered :\ WOOLCRAFT. 307 feelings and breaking heart, poverty is no pain- ful addition ; but my wife ! she who has been so long accustomed to ease; the only alleviation of whose misery is the gratification of those little wants which the blighting of her more serious hopes and duties have rendered the sole solace of her existence :-to know that she must suffer the bitterness and the privations of penury ; to see her sinking day by day ; to see her die, perhaps, from the mere want of what are to her the necessaries of life—Gogd God 1 I cannot bear the thought !' " He walked about the room in great agita- tion, and I vainly endeavoured to calm him. * When I reflect,' said he, 'that all this misery has been inflicted by my sisters' husbands— men to whom my purse and my interest have always been open, and whose heirs would have had the estate— all they contend for— in a few years, by the course of nature !' " ' My dear friend,' interrupted I, ' this is no time for such reflections; let us consider how to discharge your debts, and yet retain enough for you, till you are reinstated in the property.' " ' That is impossible,' said he ; « were I to pay every one, I should not have one hundred ;i: I llMi ■ ' :';Sifi;.; :r". f : m 308 TALES OF A VOYAGKR. pounds left in the world. You know not the avidity with which men now call for money, — men who formerly would scarcely malie out their ])ills, even when I sent for them, — who would rather that their accounts should run on for years, so eager v/ere they to secure my custom, now importune for every farthing, as if their existence depended upon it ; and I zo'dl pay them ! yet, good God ! what misery shall I bring upon — ' * No, no,' interrupted I, * do not pay them now. They can as well afford to be without their money now, as when you were rich. Besides, you will deprive yourself of the means of carrying on the suit ; and, by preserving the life of your wife, you will yet have something to give you spirit for the con- tention —quit the country ; you can live cheaper on the coiicinent, and can send over your savings to liquidate your debts."* He seemed pleased with the idea ; but I saw that he was too undecided;^ and too much weakened by ill-health and mis- fortune, to put it in immediate practice. His spirits, however, in some degree revived, and I left him more determined to resist his difficulties tlian when I came. " Some days after this conversation, I liad occasion to go to M , where my father still ill WOOLCRAFT. 309 resided ; and in the evening, Robert Woolcraft suddenly rushed into the parlour, where wc were sitting, and hastily bolted the door behind him. His look was so haggard, wild, and terrified, that I became seriously alarmed, and I led him gently into another room, to inquire the reason of his unexpected appearance—' I am pursued,' he exclaimed, « hunted by the vilest retainers of the law ! One creditor has sent an execution into my house, a writ is issued against my person at the suit of another. Had it not been for the courage and presence of mind of— of my— Mary— I should have been at this moment a prisoner, that first stage on the r, id to destruction. Yet they scented me an., .based me all' through Middlesex, but I escaped them over Fulham Bridge.' " ' Then for to-night you are safe,' said I, * their writ is of no service in this county.' . " ' Yes, for to-night,' he exclaimed ; ' but to-morrow ' " ' My dear Robert,' said I, * allow me to act for you — by to-morrow you shall be in a place of safety.' " 'Good God !' cried he, ' that I, who have had so high a name in the city, whose bare word M>"''' ' iiiiiif'' ; ' i' ' ?f ' Ml' 810 TALES OF A VOYAGEll. would have been taken for thousands, should now be driven forth a beggar !^ " * Such reflections will only incapacitate you for acting,' replied I : * drive them from your mind, and all will yet be well ; or, at least, not so ill as it now appears. When your creditors perceive you are out of their reach, they will willingly enter into arrangements with me, for payment at a distant period,— but we can talk of these matters when you are in a place of security.' " I knew that we had not a moment to lose, for I was aware that that night was the only time when my friend could effect his escape. I, there- fore, proceeded to the nearest inn, and took a chaise, desiring the postiliont o drive to Black- friars' bridge. An ill-looking fellov/, the bailiff who had pursued Robert through Middlesex, instantly hired another chaise, and followed us, (for he had planted himself outside our house, no doubt to track the footsteps of his prey,) but I cared not for him, for I knew his writ was of no service in Surrey. We arrived at Blackfriars' Bridge, a short time before our pursuer, and I instantly hired a boat ; but we had scarcely got dear of the craft about the stairs, when I saw — *. — WOOLCRAFT. 811 our enemy jump into another wherry, ond shove off. I was, and am still, so i/rnorant of Ic^^a] jurisdictions, that T knew not what poAvcr his writ might have on the river; but there I was on my own element, and , perhaps, you may jau^di at me when I tell you, that I, who had no id'^ea of resisting an officer in the execution of his hateful duty on shore, should certainly Iiave knocked him overboard, had he attempted to make a capture of my friend on the Thames. Luckily, however, we had no necessity for such a dangerous measure; for I no sooner saw our follower fairly afloat, than I took an oar, and encouraging my waterman by the promise of a liberal reward, we soon left our pursuer behind us. We landed at the Old Swan Stairs, hastened up to Cornhijl, where we hired a coach, and drove rapidly to the Minories, where we left our vehicle, in order to break the scent, and running down to St. Catherine's, embarked in another boat, and were soon in the centre of the river, amid a confusion of ships and barges, which, together with the darkness of the night, would have sheltered us even if the bailiff had been at our heels. " I had previously determined to proceed to the habitation of my ancient friend, the % ill" fi\9. TALES OF A VOYAGER. landlord of the Jovial Sailors. The tid( was falling, and wc went rapidly down the river, and quickly landed at the stairs, leading to the little alley in which he dwelt; and from thence I carried Mr. Woolcraft into the parlour, behind the bar, by a ])rivate door, through which none but particular friends of mine host were allowed to enter. " My landlord w as rejoiced to see me, for I had paid him my annual visit, and he did not expect that I should call upon him again, till the following spring ; and as I knew his seaman- like abhorrence of all connected with the law, whom he never named but by the title of sharks, an appellation he bestowed on all from the highest to the lowest inclusively, I felt that I sliould serve my friend, by hinting the dan- gerous situation in which he was placed. " My host was delighted at this proof of con- fidence, and declared that his guest should be safe, if he called in half Rotherhithe to protect him. * I have,'' said he, ' an excellent room up stairs, which you. Captain Shafton, have never seen. — I mean the one that is usually occupied by Captain Eastland, but he is now luckily absent, on a voyage to Hamburgh. — I promise you they will no more be able to find him there, WOOLCRAFT. 313 than if he were at the bottom of the bay of Biscay, which you know has never yet been fathomed.— And FU take care his being there shall not get wind, for I'll trust none of my women to attend him ; they are naturally curious, and given to tattling, especially when they ought to hold their tongues.' " * Surely you can trust your niece, my kind and affectionate nurse?' said I. "* I'd sooner trust my nephew,' replied my landlord ; * though he is so young, you may trust to him, as you would to the north star."* " Presuming ^hat my friend would be equally well attended by either, I thought it most pru- dent not to interfere in a question so delicate as the relative merits of the niece and nephew, (of the latter of whom I had never before heard,) of my landlord. I, therefore, requested that Mr. Woolcraft might be shewn to the room intended for him ; and our host, taking a candle, lighted us up the ill-contrived stairs of his oddly-constructed dwelling. The upper part of the house contained such a confusion of passages, stairs, and chambers, that I have often been puzzled to imagine how the builder had accumulated so much disorder in so small a space. Nevertheless, in one comer of this VOL. I. p fc 1)111 m,i- iiii; p 814 TALES OF A VOYAGER. labyrinth was placed a room, much better than I had expected to find in the Jovial Sailors ; for, thougii not lofty, it was large, and its projecting bow-window rendered its appearance both ancient and interesting. The furniture, however, was strictly modern, and, however my fancy may have led me to admire the dwel- lings of our forefathers, I have always had a hiiih value for the domestic conveniences of modern times. My host, I suppose, perceived my astonishment, to find tliat he possessed a phice fitted up with so much attention. He, therefore, informed me, that in his youth it liad been the best room in the house, and oc- cupied every evening by a select party of block- makers; but that, in process of time, these worthies having been gathered to their fathers, and none having arisen to supply their place, the room had been degraded to a rece]itacle for lumber; and so it had remained till some time after he, the present landlord, had taken pos- session. But some years after he became pro- prietor, Captain Eastland, going by chance into it, had taken a liking to it, and had agreed to occupy it, whenever he resided in London, and for his convenience it had been fitted up as I now saw it. Such was the history of the cham- WOOL C II A FT. 315 ber, v\ Inch my host detailed to Mr. W(K)lcraft and myself, very little, as you may imagine, to the gratification of either of us ; for, perhaps, of all uninteresting tales, the account of the mutations- of a bed-room is one of the most tedious to a man in difficulties. " Having seen that my friend had every con- venience, of which the melancholy circumstances in which he was placed would admit, I left him, in order to visit Mrs. Woolcraft, and assure her of the safety of her husband ; but before I quitted the house, I stepped into the little parlour, to make some further arrangements with the landlord. While I was talk ins- with him, his nephew came in, a handsome youth, of some ten years of age, with whose features I felt extremely familiar, although I could not distinctly recollect having seen the:;, before. As my eye mechanically wandered over him, I could not help calling to mind that I had often heard my host affirm that his niece, who was nearly as old as himself, was the only relation he had in the world, and, suspecting that this youth was more intimately related to him than he acknowledged, I jocularly repeated to him the common jest of the man who said he never had a mother, b'.'cause he was the son of his aunt i m i' ?i t 1 gl6 TALES OF A VOYAGER. (I '^pf ' My host understood the allusion, but said I was mistaken. * The boy,' said he, * is the son of some people who lodged with me. His father died prematurely, and his mother, after being reduced to great distress, ran away — I have kept him ever since, and I mean to leave him what I have, for I have no relations ; — and I call him my nephew, because his parents were not very respectable people, and I wish to bring him up to think himself related to somebody of good character, as it may have an effect upon his own.' " Although I had no right to expect this explanation, I was highly pleased w h it, as it shewed me that my landlord, notwithstanding his rough exterior, united good sense to kind- ness of heart, and I left him, convinced that Mr. Woolcraft would meet with all those atten- tions from him which a man in his painful situation required. ** I must confess, that I approached the residence of Mrs. Woolcraft with the most melancholy forebodings, and that, Avhtn I knocked at the door, I endeavoured to prepare myself for a scene of misery ; but I was agreeably disappointed. Her spirit, which had so long lain dormant, appeared to have WOOLCRAFT. 317 revived with the difficulty of her situation. Those energies and passions which, while she was in prosperity, had disappeared or wasted themselves on trifles, for want of an object, were now called forth, and directed towards the preservation of her husband. She received me with a degree of gaiety she had not lately exhibited ; not the forced and boisterous glee of mirth, assumed to hide a breaking heart, but that tempered cheerfulness which arises from a good cause, and a sense of doing our duty. I laid before her my plan, that her husband should immediately quit England, and she willingly agreed to it, desir- ing to see him before he departed, to make final arrangements for joining him on the con- tinent. " The following evening, she met me, by ap~ pointment, at the house of a friend in the city, and I conveyed her to a private wharf, where I had my own boat in waiting ; and I could not but remark, how resolutely she, who had lately shrunk and trembled beneath every breath of air, now walked through the narrow, dark, and broken lanes, leading towards the river, and with how much determination she committed ill. i I ¥ it m^ I'll* ; ■ m ■ ri,. . ■ T ' , %• 318 TALES OF A VOYAGER. m i PS li t I: 1 .a herself to a frail boat, to cross the pool, at all times an unpleasant passage, and, of course, peculiarly so to a delicate female, unacquainted with the water. " I felt her shudder as we advanced up the lane, in which the Jovial Sailors was situated, and shrink closer to me, as the groups of ship- wrights, watermen, and fish-women, passed us, returning to their dwellings; and 1 knew she was lamenting that her husband was obliged to fly for concealment to the haunts of similar persons ; but she said not a word, and we entered unnoticed into the little back parlour. " The landlord's nephew was sitting at a table with his nominal uncle, and to shew how anxious he was to serve Mr. Woolcraft, he immediately took up a candle, and led the way to the room which he occupied. I shall not attempt to describe the meeting, for it was one of those scenes the melancholy of which is enhanced by the affectionate concealment of sorrow, while both my friends endeavoured to appear cheerful, and redoubled their grief by not giving it vent. At length, however, they became calmer, and the unhappy husband rang for some wine, to refresh his wife after her long night journey. ■ WOOLCRAFT. 319 He was answered and attended by the nephew of the host, who performed his office in a man- ner which shewed that, young as he was, he appreciated the situation of his guests. " A man of tender feelings, in the situation of my friend, naturally clings to any one who appears to sympathize with him ; consequently Mr. Woolcraft had attached himself peculiarly to this child. He presented him to his wife, saying that he had been his companion all day, and she, loving every thing that her husband loved, made him sit down by her, and talked to him with pleasure. " We had brought with us some papers of importance to my friend, and Mrs. Woolcraft, fearing she might forget to leave them, arose, after a short time, and, taking them from her muff, went towards an escrutoire which stood in the room, to deposit them in safety. I observed her fix her eyes upon it with great agitation, and the instant she opened it, I saw her turn pale, and stagger towards a chair. Both her husband and myself ran to prevent her from falling, imagining that she was fainting from the violence of concealed grief. But she did not faint, and after several ineflfectual efforts to speak, :.nl'' f«i- itill' ■ yf , (I "'■■ ; Ottt i 320 TALES OF A VOYAGER. she almost inarticulately exclaimed, « Look at that escrutoire — did you never see it before ?' " We both cast our eyes upon the article she pointed out, and the conviction instantly flashed across our minds, not only that we had seen it before, but that it was one which had for- merly been in the study of Mr. Woolcraft, and which was supposed to have been destroyed when the house was consumed. "Although we all knew that much of the furniture of the late mansion of Mr. Woolcraft had been stolen, during the fire, and although it was highly probable that this escrutoire had passed through many hands since that event, we all seemed to imagine that we had at length got a clue to that mysterious transaction, and I instantly called up the landlord, to examine him concerning his knowledge of it. He entered the room with a seaman-like bow, and I was about to lead the conversation by degrees to the subject I had in view, but Mrs. Woolcraft was too impatient for a moment's delay.-—* For Hea- ven's sake tell me,' she cried, 'where you got that escrutoire ?' My host looked a little astonished at being thus questioned. < I came honestly by it, ma'am,' said he, « though. WOOLCRAFT. S21 perhaps, those I had it from did not. It be- longed to a lodger of mine, who ran away, and left it to pay the rent.' " Upon hearing this reply, I, who knew more of the domestic history of the Jovial Sailors than either of my friends, fancied that some great discovery was at hand. Though dread- fully agitated myself, I begged them to be calm. I desired the landlord to be seated, and began to examine him ; but I know not how it was, I seemed to have lost all presence of mind, and I could only ask how long it was since the lodger, who had owned the escrutoire, had become his tenant. * Was he here,' continued I, recovering myself a little, and willing to assist his memory by referring to a particular event, * when I returned from the South Sea ?^ " * No, not so soon as that,' replied my land-? lord — ^* Was he here,' cried I, * when I was appointed captain ?' — * No,' answered my host— * but now I recollect, he came here the year after — it was the first of October, in the year 18 — . Sure enough, I thought there was some- thing wrong, they came so early in the morn- ing ; but they said they had brought the fur* niture out of the country.' P 3 !li^l III S22 TALES OF A VOYAGER. " This declaration seemed almost conclusive, for it was on the last night of September, in that same year, that the ho- .- f !»Ir. Wool- craft had been consumed; ' proofs still stronger were almost immediately adduced. " * If this escrutoire was mine,' said my friend, speaking for the first time during this singular examination, « there is a secret drawer within it, containing some letters, written to me by my wife before our marriage, together with eight notes of one hundred pounds each ; they were there previous to ,ae fire, and they have never yet been paid into the bank.' "As he spoke, he arose, and went to the escrutoire, and I need not tell you that we watched him with breathless attention. Obr suspense was soon terminated ; on his touching a spring, a pannel, which appeared to be solid, opened, and displayed a narrow recess, from which he drew both the notes and the letters he had described. "This was positive proof, and I saw that Mrs. Woolcraft anticipated the discovery of the long lost servant, and seemed to abstract her mind from the present, to cast her eyes into futurity. Little did she know how near she >'mm WOOLCRAFT. 323 was to the object of her search. I again en- treated her to be calm, and to listen, while I continued to question the landlord. * I think I have heard you say,' said I, addressing him, * that our young friend here is the son of the people you mention ? Did he come with them when they first arrived ?' " My landlord did not approve of this ques- tion, as tending to render the mother of his young favourite contemptible in the eyes of her son ; still he determined to adhere to truth. " ' I cannot but say he did,' replied he, ' but he is none the worse for that. Whatever his mother might be ' " * His mother, my friend,' said— I ' never mind his mother ; but tell us what age he appeared to be when first brought here ?' " * I heard his mother gay,' replied our host, * that he was three years old the very day.' " ' You might hear the woman who called her?elf his mother say so,' said I, * and she told the truth ; but I fancy his mother is no other than the lady who sits opposite to us.' " I shall pass over the remainder of that night. The recollection of it is like the remem- brance of a dream, or a delirious vision. It was ilH. ii' I 824 TALES OF A VOYAGER. a night of joy, and yet it left no distinct trace upon the memory. *' By day-break, next morning, I began my search after the fugitive servant, whom, my land- lord informed me, he had often seen lurking about the neighbourhood ; and, after tracing her through various gradations of misery, I found her dying in St. Thomas's Hospital. " She screamed and sunk back in her bed when she saw m'e ; for she instantly recognized me, though vice and wretchedness had made such an alteration in her person, that I could not, in the squalid and degraded object before me, trace any resemblaiice to the plump, neat, and coquettish nursery-maid of former years. She was speedily revived, and she sat up and, eyed me with that air of determination, or rather recklessness, which is acquired by long acquaint- ance with crime. Still, my appearance seemed to revive in her the feelings of better times, and, after a few daring but common-place expres- sions, she said—* I always thought it would end thus. The gallows has haunted me day and night, ever since the deed was done ; and it would be better to die at once, than to live in fear as I have lived. Have you brought an WOOLCRAFT. S}£5 officer ? — I shall disappoint. you after ell. They will not hang a dying woman/ " Had I been inclined to severity, I could not have spoken harshly to her, I was so much affected by the miserable change she exhibited. Besides, I thought, that, even politically, it was best to treat her with mildness ; for I knew not how far her obstinacy might proceed, if it were once called forth. ♦* * No, Jane,' I replied, * I have not brought an officer; and, far from injuring you, I will do all I can to make you comfortable. Only t' 11 me what you did with little Robert.' " * Heaven bless you !' said she : * but it is too late to serve me, I am dying. Robert lives with the landlord of the Jovial Sailors in alley, Rotherhithe, and, I understand, passes for his nephew.' " This was all the confirmation I desired. I eagerly requested her to make a deposition of the fact, assuring her of her master's forgiveness ; and I related to her his difficulties, by way of inter- esting her feelings, and convincing her that, by giving a fair account of the whole transaction, she would make the only reparation in her power for the evil she had occasioned. This she wil- lingly consented to do, and I immediately sent to h 326 TALES OF A VOYAGER. Union Hall, to procure the necessary legal assistance. A magistrate quickly attended, and, in his presence, the unfortunate girl made the following confession. *' She stated that, some time previous to the fire, she became acquainted with a person, who pre- tended that he was the steward of a gentleman in the neighbourhood ; and that, in order to give this person an opportunity to see her in private, she had, on the night in question, knowing that her master and mistress were engaged in the city, persuaded the other servants to take a holiday ; and that when her visitor arrived, he wore a great coat, which he refused to pull off, and which he continued to wear, under pretence of having a cold, and fearing the draughts of air in the kitchen. " She went on to say, that, about the hour of ten, she being busy in preparing some supper, her visitor went up stairs, which she did not notice, he having been often accustomed to do so, and that, shortly afterwards, he returned? and they sat down to their meal ; but that they were speedily alarmed^by persons knocking at the door, saying that the house was on fire. " As soon as the alarm was given, her com- panion took off his great-coat, and she saw that he WOOLCttAFT. 827 was dressed in her master's livery ; and he imme] diately hegan, with the aid of many persons, some of whom were casual passengers, but the greater part of whom were his accompUces, (thougli they all pretended to be strangers to each other), to remove the furniture into carts, which they had previously provided. " In the midst of the confusion, she continued, she recollected her master's son, and ran up stairs and fetched him out of his bed, at the hazard of her life. When she descended, the crowd liad become too numerous to ailow her visitor to plunder any longer with safety ; he, therefore, led her away, she allowing him to convey her where he pleased, from fear of punishment, if she remained. They spent a few hours at a house, to which the plunder had been carried, and where a partition was made, and from thence she accompanied the robber to the Jovial Sailors, where he had taken a lodging, as he afterwards told her, in contemplation of what he had effected. " She acknowledged she had heard of the rewards offered for her, and for the child, whom she had often wished to send back, but was deterred, both by fear of giving a clue to her situation, and by terror of the man who now passed for her husband, and who threatened to C28 TALES OP A VOYAGER. murder her, if she did any thing which could lead Mr. Woolcraft to suspect she had escaped from the fire. " This man, she continued, was at length de. tected in attempting to commit a robbery, in the fields near Peckham, on some persons returning from the fair at that village, and was so roughly treated by them, that, though he escaped the hands of justice, he died in consequence of the injuries he received. After his decease, having no longer the means of support, she had been obliged to part with such of her ill-gotten furniture as had not been already sold ; the escrutoire being the only article she retained, and this she had at length left with her landlord, when obliged to fly from her creditors, who threatened her with the Court of Requests and the Marshalsea. Driven by misery and poverty, she had fled from one retreat of wretchedness to another, and she had now come to the hospital to die. She concluded by saying, that when she left the Jovial Sailors, she had given the child of Mr. Woolcraft, who passed for her son, to the care of the landlord, who was fond of him, and that he had since de- clared to her his intention to adopt him, and bring him up as his nephew. This being all that was requisite to identify (( ,i*' WOOLCttAFT. 829 the child, I thought it unnecessary to press her further. The confession was legally signed, and witnessed ; and, leaving some money with her, to procure any additional comforts she might require, I hastened to my friends, to rejoice their hearts with the confirmation of a trutli of which indeed none of us entertained any doubts. "My host was the only person ignorant of the extent of our proceedings ; for, though he h^d learnt much, and suspected more, yet, as he knew nothing of Mr. Woolcraft, he could not tell whether the discovery o; hh parents was a benefit or an injury to ^lis favourite. I no'.r thought it proper he should hear the true history of .lis adopted nephew ; and I called him up and detailed the whole of it, beginning with the fire, and terminating with the confession of the former nursery maid. « He listened with a degree of gravity that I thought almost amounted to apathy, but which was indeed assumed, to repress the violent joy he felt, and which he feared to exhibit before such honourable persons as he now discovered his guests to be. But his passion could not be controlled. Like a statue suddenly animated, he arose, and, as if desirous of exhibiting a livin- representation of the Jovial Sailor over pi ill \>m ■<\m M\ m ii! 330 TALES OF A VOVAGER. his door, he dashed into a hornpipe, whistling and stamping, till the house shook with his mer- riment. At length, he danced up to his * nephew,' and catching him in his arms, blubbered out congratulations; and then recollecting himself, he begged pardon of all around. I cannot say I saw anything very ludicrous in this scene, yet I know not what came over me, I could not help laughing outrageously, I hardly knew why, and immediately afterwards crying almost is plentifully as my host himself. I recovered myself, however, as quickly as I could, and, to hide my confusion, I began to moralize, plainly proving to Mr. Woolcraft, that had not his family impelled him to fly by all the violence of persecution, he v/ould not have been obliged to seek for shelter in the Jovial Sailors, and con- sequently would not have discovered his son. "Nobody was, however, in the humour to listen to moral deductions, and J, at length, was obliged to abandon the field to the landlord, who was busy detailing the youthful history of his * nephev/ ;' a tale to which I thought my friends listened with more pleasure than they would to the most exquisite moral that ever was drawn from history or fable. I, tlierefore, quitted the Jovial Sailors, and went to the house of Mr. WOOLCllAFT. 331 Woolcrailt, to see how affairs were going on there ; for I knew not what steps the creditors might take, now both my friend and his wife had disappeared. " I had taken care to have several witnesses to the deposition of the former nursery maid ; intelligence of the recovery of the lost son had, consequently, got to street before I arrived there. The first persons I met, on entering the house, were the two creditors, whose severe measures had obliged my friend to fly. They had both come to apologize for their folly, (as they now called it,) to inform me that they had withdrawn their proceedings, and to assure me that they had commenced them entirely against their own inclinations, solely to gratify their wivci-. It is astonishing what complaisance men have for the wishes of their wives, on similar occasions. " They had scarcely retired, when several friends of Mr. Woolcraft's came in, persons whom some unfortunate circumstance or other had prevented from visiting him for the last year or two, but who now appeared with most liberal offers of their hearts and pursej, begging me to inform him he was at liberty to draw upon them for any sum he might require ; and assuring me, Hi (K I: ^n TALES OF A VOYAGER. that they wished for no security with so honour- able a men. What is very singular, neither the creditors nor these liberal friends had heard of the recovery of the heir ; at least they said so ; and it would be very uncharitable in me to imagine that they did not speak the truth. Liberal as they were, however, I could make no reply to their offers, and having dismissed them, I returned to the Jovial Sailors. " It would be needless to detail the progress of "Mr. Woolcraft's re-establishment. The current of success had now set in his favour ; difficulties, that had formerly appeared insurmountable, vanished at his approach, and, in a short time, he was as rich and happy as ever. His first care was to reward the landlord of the Jovial Sailoi^s, through whose kindness his son had been rescued from the vicious society of his pretended mother, and had received, if not a liberal, at least a moral and useful, education. "The gratitude of Woolcraft did not stop at mere pecuniary donations, although his liberality was such as to provide generously for the future support of the seaman. He knew the affection our host entertained for his adopted nephew, and he, therefore, assured him that, whenever he pleased to see him, he should he welcome to his WOOLCIIAFT. 333 house and table, even if he chose to take up his residence there entirely. I am informed that some of Mr. Woolcraft's fashionable friends, especially those who abandoned him during his adversity, cavil at this offer; but I must con- fess, that I cannot see why a gentleman should be above being grateful to a man in humble sta^ tion, from whom he has received an essential service. ** The servant, whose thoughtlessness had led to so much vice and misery, died within two days after her deposition had been taken, not- withstanding every care and kindness that could be bestowed upon her ; but disease and mental misery had made an impression which her new- . formed hopes could not eradicate. " It now only remains for me to say, that for- tune was not the only consequence of the happy discovery made in the Jovial Sailors. Both my friends, their minds being now at ease, quickly regained their health ; they resumed that place in society from which they had so long with- drawn; and they are now surrounded by a bloom- ing and increasing family." 334 TALES or A VOYAGF.R. THE VOYAGE, CONTINUED. Such was the history detailed by Captain Shafton, a history I was happy to hear from a person on whose veracity I could depend, and who had been so intimately connected with the parties ;, because, several false and cc/ntradictory accounts of Mr. Woolcraft and his fortunes had already reached my ears. He had no sooner ended, than both Ridgway and Shipley broke forth in praise of the landlord of the Jovial Sailors, who had been personally known to them, and whose health was immediately proposed and drank, I need not say, with unbounded ap- plause. When the plaudits bestowed upon the character of this worthy British seaman had subsided, we all began, as usual, to offer our observations on the tale we had heard. A great number of them, of course, I need not repeat, since they were only such as would naturally THE VOYAGE. 335 arise in every mind from the nature of the story. One fact, indeed, had struck me as extra- ordinary, and as requiring some explanation. It was, that Captain Shafton had been in the habit of going occasionally to the public-house, in which the fugitive servant had concealed her. self, and yet had never met her. I remarked, that T should have thought it impossible for him to have frequented the place in which she re- sided, without at some time encountering her. " There certainly was some probability that I should see her," replied the captain; " but then you are to recollect that my visits to the Jovial Sailors were not many, and that I did not go in there by the passage common to those who lodged in the house. I entered by the back door, which 1 have noticed as leading to the back parlour, situated behind the bar; so that, though actually within the house, I saw as little of its inhabitants, with the exception of the landlord, as if I had been in any other in the same allev. Besides, I was not very well acquainted with the person of the nursery-maid, for I had not seen her above three times. But, though I never discovered her at the Jovial Sailors, she acknowledged that she had seen ^6 TALES OF A VOYAGKB. me ; and when 1 asked her why she conthiued to reside in a place where she knew I came, she replied, that she was afraid to tell her husband I had been there, lest he should suppose she had spoken to me, or had been the means of bringing me there. What appeared most sin- gular to me,"" continued Mr. Shafton, " was, that, after the death of the man she called her husband, she did not come forward ; but you must recollect, that then her feelings had be- come seared by iniquity, and that the fear of punishment overbalanced the hope of reward. But, perhaps,"" added he, " the most singular part of the affair is, that she should go for con- cealment to a place with which I was acquainted, and which I actually chose afterwards for the retreat of Mr. Woolcraft ; but yet, similar co- incidences h?.ppen every day, though, as they are usually in affairs of no consequence, they are seldom noticed.'" " That is very true," said Ridgway ; " and I often think, when two persons, residing in dif- ferent parts of London, meet by accident, that there were at least one hundred thousand chances to one, that they should not have met at that time and place, yet we see such rencontres happen every hour." THE VOYAGK. 337 (t "You bring to my mind," said William an event which happened in the family of my fnend here. I allude to two persons who met each other in a manner that no human fore- sight would have produced. It is true, one of them was seeking for the other, yet the dis- covery was made through means which were not intended to bring it about. I advert," con- tmued he, turning to me, « to the adventure which happened to your grandfather at Home." The desire to tell and to hear stories is, like many other inclinations, increased by being indulged. All present, therefore, requested me to detail to them the anecdote to which William had alluded, and I, both from the cause I have noticed above, and from the pleasure which I m common with every other person feel in speak- ing of my forefathers, readily consented. " The adventure I am about to relate," said I, »* occurred, as our doctor has already observed,' to my grandfather, at Rome; but, unless I were to give you some account of his previous hfe and education, I know not how I should be able to represent his conduct in a proper bght; for, certainly, the story I am about to repeat will give you no very high opinion of his prudence." VOL, T. Q 338 TALES OF A VOYAGER. r, 1 **Nay, I entreat," said Captain Shafton, laughing, " that you will not allow us to form a bad opinion of your grandfather, for want of being sufficiently explanatory." *' Consider,'' cried llidgway, "that the honour of your ancestor is involved, and pray do not spare a few words for the sake of clearing it up ; besides," continued he, "you owe us a long story, for the number we have given you ; for while you slily take down in your note-book all we say, you tell us nothing in return." To uphold the honour of my ancestor, and to acquit myself of the debt which my friends declared I owed them, I began the life of my grandfather; but I had scarcely uttered ten sentences, when a violent lurch of the sea gave such an unexpected motion to every moveable in die cabin, that I was carried away from my seat before I could close my mouth. I was bori.e sprawling over the table into Mr. Ridg- way's bosom, where my head, like the butt-end of a battering ram, planted such a hit, as tumbled him backwards off his chest against the bread-locker. Shipley happened to have his feet wedged in with the table frame, which, being lashed fast to the deck, held him tight, while William caught hold of his arms as they THE VOYAGE. 339 were thrown out by the jerk,, and stopped a career somewhat similar to mine; but the* cap- tain, on whose side the kick was given, was stretched over me, and a horn of grog, which he held in his hand, was poured as cunningly into my ear, and down my neck, as if it had been done by an experienced practitioner. Other vessels, containing liquids, and amongst them a bottle of rum, were rolled down upon the luckless mate, who received a deluge of mixed fluids over his face and breast, as he lay on his back, with his legs still suspended over his box. A few moments sufficed to extricate some of us, and the captain and second mate ran upon deck, where it was plainly visible that a heavy swell and a stiff breeze had united their forces, to throw us into dismay. Clewing up top- garnsels (quasi, top-gallant-sails,) reefing top- sails, and hauling in the gaff, &c. &c. &c. quieted- the commotion a little, though the heaving of the sea still continued to make our vessel rise, and fall, and roll, as though proceeding in a state of intoxication. A bear, if drunk, might bowl himself forward in some oUch awkward way, as a ship reels upon a troubled ocean ; but, to enjoy something like the pitch and lift of head and stern, I would advise a pair of Q % I 0.; I H 340 TALES OF A VOYAGER. cocknies, (my dear native cocknies,) to construct a "see-saw," across a moveable beam, which whilst they alternately rise and fall at either end of the board, would give their seat a lateral motion, as if it were about to turn them over on one side. An ingenious friend, who has perused the MS. of my journal, proposes building moveable rooms of wood, to which, by means of machinery, an undulatory motion may be given, which will produce sickness similar to the nausea caused by the action of the sea. These, he supposes, when correctly adjusted, so as to convey the exact sensation of a reeling vessel, would produce the same effect on a diseased constitution as is expected from a voy- age, with the advantage of being within the reach of those who cannot compass the means to profit by a transit to Madeira, Quebec, or Greenland. The plan, indeed, appears so feasible, that I recommend it to the proprietors of baths, steam-engines, and indeed to the College of Physicians, which, no doubt, will pay great attention to any recommendation of mine ! Ridgway, William, and I, remained in the cabin, " dripping like pearls," as Cervantes would have said, or rather his translator, for I presume the renowned ^nd precise Cid Hamet actually THE VOYACr.. G41 does say dripping as if hung with pearls ;— but T mean to learn the Spanish, if only to view that emperor of witty conceits in his real dross. After we had dripped and drained our garments for some space, and murmured and laughed at each other a little while longer, the mate sum- moned " Jem" to our assistance, and bad him bring aft some hot water. We, (that is, 'Wil- liam and I), wondered what consolation was to be found in this simple element, even though combined with its natural enemy, caloric ;— and we asked Ridgway if he felt sick, and was in- clined to encourage vomiting. " You will think both for and against your question, when you see and hear what I am about to do, replied he ; since, in the first place, I intend to make some hot grog, to comfort us after our capsizing ; and, in the next, I propose singing a song to pass away the rest of the even- ing, for we will not have your grandfather's story while our mess-mates are upon deck.'' " Certainly not," said William, " but all your intentions are on the side adverse to being sick. Pray, what have you conceived in favour of it ?" " Allowing you to hear me sing," cried the mate laughing, '« and if that does not turn your Q 3 3-ta TAL£S OF A VOYAGER. Stomach— ay, and make your very bowels loath their contents, I shall believe you have no sen- sibility belonging to you." *' Do try me," exclaimed the doctor. " And me," added I. « I have not been sea- sick, you know ; and if your notes are more powerful than squalls and billows, you may stay ashore all the rest of your life, and get a decent livehhood by attending on hospitals, and following physicians, to administer emetics and purges by the ear instead of the mouth."" " Well, since you give me such hopes of bettering my fortune," said Ridgway, " I will begin ; yet let me have the benefit of your further advice, touching the airs and songs most provocative of qualms and retching." " Oh," cried William, " that must depend upon the constitution of the hearer. To my friend here, a love ditty chanted to a doleful tune is equal to five and twenty grains of ipecacuanha ; and an appropriate tremor of the voice, is like several gulps of warm water swallowed afterwards.— I have known him « cast accounts' as speedily after hearing — 'A fair maid sat sighing by the side of a stream. Oh willow ! — willow ! — willow'— THE VOYAGE. 343 sung by a sentimental young lady, as though ho had swallowed a dose of tartar emetic, or a table spoonful of mustard." "Then, that is the very song I'll treat him with," said llidgway— « here goes— hem ! hem .' —A fair maid sat sighing but no— now I think of it, there was a doctor sailed with us two years ago, who doled out such a pitiful ballad, in so lamentable a strain, that we were fain to quiet him for fear he should scare away the whales. He used to sing it as he lay abed, by way of accompaniment to the creaking of the main-mast, which was loose— but the sailors all swore that the old stump had the best voice of the two." ** I dare you to make the experiment with this dismal chant," cried I, "and if you succeed in ex- citing a tempest in my interior, I will hold myself bound to sing a merry strain in the midst of it." " I despair of equalling the original," replied the mate, " for he had the gift of dealing out his sad stanzas as slowly, and as solemnly, as an old undertaker's wife measures out yards of black crape for a funeral ; with this difference, that, instead of clipping off a little at each end, to afford an extra portion for his own use, he QU TALES OF A VOYAGEH. added half a line ^now and then, uttered in a lengthened warble of so lugubrious a nature, that I have known a kittiwake fly for a mile after the ship, thinking its mate was confined aboard, and crying for assistance." ' " After this," said William, "you must give us a specimen of his song, and I will be umpire in the wager." "Well, get out your handkerchiefs," cried Ridgway, " and fill up your horns, forye'll have need of weepers and comforters both—hem— « If thou must beat— ah ! beat more fast. Too soon thou canst not beat thy last, Unhappy thing! Far better on a wheel lie broke, Than feel thy fluttering mock the stroke Of Time's slow wing ! Time's wing!— Time does not fly, but creeps ; The drowsy watch, who watks and sleeps. Has swifter pace.' "Enough enough !'' cried I, interrupting Ridgway, " cease I beseech you, and let Jem bring me a ♦ kidd' immediately, for I feel as if a rebelhon had broken forth in m,y interior." " No, no, go on, Ridgway, go on '" exclaimed THE VOYAGE. 345 the doctor, « unless he instantly commences the strain he promised, if your song took effect on his stomach." •' A moment's grace," cried I, « and I will. " " Not one instant," replied the mate, continu- ing his dolorous complaint — 'Then why should'st thou with pulses slow, Prolonging hopeless life and woe. His footsteps trace ? Oh, swiftly throb, or cease to move ? Thou'st lingered long enough to prove How thou art riven. Yield now to death, thou should'st have burst—' " In mercy cease," exclaimed William, "for I have promised no song, but T feel my stomach quake, and my mouth fill with water— Your song has upon me the same effect as the balsam of fierebras had upon Sancho Pan^a.'' "Set to work there," cried the barbarous mate : « a clear stomach, like a clear conscience, will never make your head ache— give way there, doctor— heave 1" But before Ridgway could finish the next line, which he began, I broke forth in the midst of the puling horrors of his love-lorn lay, as follows— '• Ye merry crew of mirthful sprites, Who strew man's pathway with delights, 346 TALES OF A VOYAC.ER. Song, and smile, and dream of pleasure, Hither haste ia luiry measure I , Hither, hither, quiek resort, ^ Yo elves of glee and fes.tive sport! Gaily laughing, sweetly singing. Wreathed joys around ye flinging ! Meet ye on your airy way With Gloom and Grief, that life decay, Oh put the scowling (lends to flight j With such ye never can imite. Drive them honcc, with mirth and glee ; Then come and sip this bowl with me ; Bask around its sparkling brim, And o'er its mantling nectar skim !" " Huzza ! bravo ! encore !" cried my compa- nitMis, ** well done, sick man.'" *' 'Tis all the good effects of my grog, d'ye see," exclaimed Ilidgway, filling up our cups, and making me repeat the song, to whicli he and William joined chorus. In the midst of it the noise and merriment which our voices carried upon deck, brought down the second mate, for the ship was now made tight, and bounding be- fore the breeze. " Ha, hot grog !" cried he directly his nos« had gotten below the companion. "Here's THE VOYAGK. 347 pretty revelry going on under water ! — have ye the devil among ye ?'' " He"'8 just arrived/"' replied the mate, "and mistakes tbe scent of rum for brimstone; it gives him so much pleasure."''' " Nay, man, Belzebub knows grog as well as any tar, and values it too," cried Shipley, " for we all know it saved his crown I" " I know nothing about it,"" said William. " You are but a landsman, or you would," replied Shipley : •* however, for your instruction, and for the benefit of your sick friend, who seems to have recovered his health all of a sudden, if we may judge from the uproar he has been making, I'll tell it you.— Ay, there's the note-book !" EKD OF VOL I. LONDON : W. SHACKELt^ PRINTER, JOHN'SON's-CODRT.