THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. BOOKS OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE. One Volume, with Map, scarlet cloth. The Crimean Campaign with the Connaught Rangers, 1854-5-6. By Lieut.-Colonel NATHANIEL STEEVENS, late 88th (Connaught Rangers). <; A welcome addition to the military history of England." United Service Gazette. One Volume, Crown Bvo, cloth. Pictures of the Past : Memories of Men I have Met, and Sights I have Seen. By FRANCIS H. GRUNDY, C.E. Contains personal recollections of Patrick Branwell Bronte, Leigh Hunt and his family, George Henry Lewes, George Parker Bidder, George Stephenson, and many other celebrities, and gives besides descriptions of very varied experiences in Australia. Two Volumes, Crown %vo, cloth, gilt tops. The Secret of the Sands; or, The Water Lily and her Crew. A Nautical Novel. By HARRY COLLINGWOOD. " We own that we were fascinated ourselves by the story of the cruise. . . . We can add conscientiously that we have really enjoyed the book." Saturday Review. Cloth, illustrated. Hair-Breadth Escapes ; or, The Adventures of Three Boys in South Africa. By the Rev. H. C. ADAMS. Second Edition. Cloth, illustrated. The Young Franc Tireurs and their Adventures during the Franco- Prussian War. Second Edition. By G. A. HENTY, Special Correspondent of the Standard. Cloth, illustrated. Adventures in Australia ; or, The Wanderings of Captain Spencer in the Bush and the Wilds. By Mrs R. LEE. The African Wanderers ; or, Carlos and Antonio. By Mrs R. LEE. Paper boards. Among the Zulus : The Adventures of Hans Sterk in South Africa. By Lieut.-Col. A. W. DRAYSON, R.A. Illustrated. Sixth thousand. GRIFFITH & FARRAN, CORNER OF ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON. E. P. BUTTON & Co., NEW YORK. TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK ,11 BY PARKER GILLMORE. HOK OF "THE GREAT THIRST LAND," " PRAIRIE AND FOREST," "c;ux, ROD, AND SADDLE, "AFLOAT AND ASHORE," ETC., ETC., ETC. GRIFFITH & FARRAN, CORNER OF ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON. E. P. BUTTON & CO., NEW YORK. The Rights of Translation and Reproduction are reserved. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN, I CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD'S DAYS, . 16 CHAPTER III. FIRST ADVENTURES, ... 2 5 CHAPTER IV. SERGE'S STORY, . 3 1 CHAPTER V. CONTINUATION OF SERGE'S STORY, . . 36 CHAPTER VI. ST. JOE'S, . 40 CHAPTER VII. I FIND EMPLOYMENT, . .46 CHAPTER VIII. ACROSS THE PRAIRIE, . 5O CHAPTER IX. A BRUSH WITH THE RED SKINS, . 72 Vlll CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. A JEALOUS WIFE, CHAPTER XI. A TRAGEDY, . . . CHAPTER XII. A FIGHT WITH THE CAMANCHES, CHAPTER XIII. INDIANS IN CAMP, CHAPTER XIV. SANTA FE AT LAST ! . CHAPTER XV. PHILIP UPTON'S STORY, CHAPTER XVI. A VOYAGE IN THE HULDA SWICH, . CHAPTER XVII. HOME AGAIN ! ... CHAPTER XVIII. CONCLUSION, . TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. CHAPTER I. CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. IN the year 1850 there lived near the coast in the county of Northumberland an elderly naval Lieutenant. He was a fine specimen of his class at the time. He could swear a little, drink a little, smoke a little, and spin yarns innumerable. Although it was many years since he had been afloat, his old habits still prevailed in him, so that he talked of the first floor as " aloft," and the cellars as the " hold," the windows were " ports," the stair-case was the " gangway," and all people who did not follow the sea were either " land lubbers" or " land sharks ;" still he never spoke in bitterness against any one, save, on rare occasions, when he had taken an extra glass of toddy. The Lords of the Admiralty would then possibly get just the least bit of his mind. This is scarcely to be wondered at, for if medals and report spoke true, this old son of Neptune had been a most gallant officer, had performed very. daring feats in numer- ous cutting-out expeditions on the coasts of Spain and France, as well as among the West Indian Islands. His most intimate friend was Captain Cinnamon, of the Marines. As their respective residences were TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. only about two miles apart they met almost daily ; and there was a standing agreement that they should pass two nights a week in each other's society. In general appearance these two old cronies were very much alike ; it is doubtful if there was a pound of dif- ference between them in weight, and it would have taken a fine judge of colour to decide between their complexions which was the more florid. However marvellous might be the yarn spun by either, it was listened to by the other without doubt, if not without interruption. They had a standing rule of having always the same food on the same days : thus if the days were long enough to extend their walk after din- ner till they should meet, the salutation would invariably be " Hullo, Cinnamon !" or " Hullo, Swan !" " How did you enjoy your salt beef and greens ?" Then, and not till then, politics would be touched upon, and if there happened to be any naval news it was invariably decided, after discussing it, that the service was going emphatically to the devil. Both the houses of the two gentlemen were exactly alike. They had a wide verandah running the entire length of the front, and from each verandah there was an extensive view of the German ocean. The style of architecture was such as is to be seen at the present day on both shores of Chesapeake Bay, in fact all along the southern sea-board of the United States. This is easily accounted for by the circumstance of both having done duty for some years on the Halifax and West India station. In front of these dwellings was a carriage drive, just sufficiently wide for a conveyance to turn CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. 3 upon, and beyond it a plot of grass about twenty-five yards wide, in the centre of which was a flagstaff, at whose truck a flag floated in all weathers from sunrise till sunset. This piece of bunting was, as a rule, a Union Jack in very disreputable condition, but on the anniver- saries of victories won by our fleet, a grand one, magnifi- cent in the brilliancy of its colours, was substituted ; on two occasions in each year the brighter banner was hung half-mast high; these were, the anniversaries of the death of Nelson and of Collingwood. It was a goodly sight of a summer evening to see these two old warriors sitting on the verandah with a table between them, on which was a decanter of old Jamaica rum, two tumblers, two glasses, a large snuffbox, and a tobacco jar, for our veterans were addicted to tobacco in both forms. Long clay pipes, called " Alder- - mans," were those they always smoked, and as the curl- ing smoke wreathed itself over their heads, there was an expression in each of their weather-beaten faces which said as plainly as words, " I am enjoying the ease I have earned." " Time for a fresh glass," says Lieutenant Swan. " Time for a fresh glass," repeats Captain Cinnamon. And both pour out exactly the same quantity of rum, and add to it precisely an equal measure of water. These worthies, in fact, drunk exactly the same quantity, each sip being imbibed apparently at the same moment, for they always seemed to exhaust and replenish their glasses at the same time ; it would be hard, indeed, to say if they did not pursue exactly the same course with their tobacco and snuff. TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. "Come, Swan," says Captain Cinnamon, "tell me that story about the First Lord and the snuff, it's a month at least since I heard it, and I want to have a laugh." "Yes, I believe it is a month. Heigh-ho! who would have thought it? Well, here goes, provided always you will give your exploits in the mud when your fellows landed to take that battery." This arrangement being assented to, Lieutenant Swan, after settling himself in the most comfortable position he could select, laid down his pipe, and, blow- ing his nose, commenced. "When I was third lieutenant on board the Are- thusa, we were stationed on the Halifax and West India station that is, as you know, we spent the winter in the islands to escape the ice, and the .summer in Halifax to escape yellow jack, at such times as we were not cruising along the coast of the United States, which was at least two months out of three. Lord ! how it does blow along the whole of that coast from Cape Hatteras to Cape Race, all the year round, except in the summer months ! " Here the Captain gave an assenting nod. " It was about the end of October, and the weather was hazy but calm. I had just come on deck after lunch, when an orderly informed me that my presence was required by the Captain. I was not a bit nervous in going down the companion, for you see, Cinnamon, I hadn't been up to any larks lately; and it's ever a guilty con- science that makes us cowards." Here the Captain gave another approving nod. " Well, our captain told CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. 5 me that, from information he had received, there was no doubt that there was in these waters a small fore and aft schooner-rigged privateer, which had lately been playing the very mischief with our commerce along the coast of New Brunswick, and as the weather was thick and calm I had better take my boat, silently run along the coast for twenty or more miles, and, if she was not too formidable, use my utmost efforts for her destruction or capture. ' If firing should be re- ported/ he added, * I will send you assistance. Under any circumstance, unless it should come on a gale of wind, you will find us here at noon the day after to- morrow. Mr Swan, I would not give you this im- portant duty if I had not great confidence in your dis- cretion and courage.' These are the very words he said the very words." Here came two approving nods from Cinnamon. " Now, off my lad, and the quicker the better ; but not a word to any one of what your business is." " A few minutes after my boat was piped away, and ten minutes from the time my interview with the Cap- tain terminated, the frigate was out of sight in the haze. " An hour and a half's pull brought us within sight of the shore, when, as I turned our boat's head to the westward, I cautioned the crew to keep their ears open, and not to speak a word above a whisper. There was little need of this, for there was not a man among them who didn't know that we were likely to have work on hand soon. Those were the days to be at sea, and no mistake ; those were the times when an officer had to command sailors, and not a lot of land-lubbers ; the TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. service had not gone to the devil then." The worthy narrator was becoming more and more excited, while his companion nodded and nodded again with more and more emphasis. "We hugged the coast all that night, and still the weather was mild, with scarcely a cat's-paw upon the water. Just before break of day we pulled into a cove for the double purpose of letting the crew have an opportunity of cooking breakfast, and of enabling me to survey the coast from the nearest high ground. Beyond a point six miles off I made out with my glass the spars of a craft exactly such as we were after ; and, judging from their appear- ance, I concluded she must be about one hundred and fifty tons burden. From her peak hung the Yankee flag, so whether she was the right schooner or not, she could not be a wrong one, for we were at war then with the United States. I said nothing to the men about what I had discovered, but told them that, as there might be work to do after sunset, they had better rest awhile, but on no account to leave the boat. I then returned to my point of observation, but as the haze had thickened, I was unable to see more of her. As this schooner was a larger one than I had anticipated, I resolved to wait till dark, and take her by surprise. Nothing like surprise and night work to equalise num- bers nothing like it." And the Captain nodded his approval. " As soon as the light suited, we again got afloat, and made the best of our way across the intervening bay. When only a mile more had to be pulled, I ordered the crew to lie on their oars and look to their arms. Every CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. 7 man-jack of them knew what this meant, and if one could have seen their faces, he would have noted the true pluck, the devil-may-care expression, that told there was not one among them that would not have gone to Davy Jones' locker sooner than show the white feather. There never were, and never will be, such sailors as our fleet was manned with in those days." Here came in sundry nods from the listener. " Or officers either," said the Captain. " Or officers either," echoed the Lieutenant. " We've had but two glasses," observed Cinnamon. " But one," said the Lieutenant. " Then make it one," rejoined the Marine. So they replenished their glasses and pipes, and took an interval ; after which, the stereotyped question was asked, "Where did I leave off?" "Where the boat's crew looked to their arms, pre- pared for action." "So I did; good!" I who, as the reader will find, was privileged by my position to be often a silent par- taker in these interviews always regarded this question as a test of the attention the auditor had been paying to the story. " * Now, my hearties, at it again! not a word for your lives ; in ten minutes more you may sing God save the King till you are black in the throat." "At this time I noticed that the breeze was springing up. It was light still ; but I did not like it, for it was northerly, making this a lea shore. But there was no time to think. Fifty yards ahead loomed the schooner; closer to her we drew ; twenty-five yards only severed 8 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. us, when the watch hailed, ' Give way, my lads, and the devil take the last on her decks!' It was a beautiful sight to see how the lads went at her beautiful no such sights to be seen now-a-days ; never, no more !" " Never, no more," and both nodded their heads together in mournful reflection. " In a moment we were fast alongside ; in another, half the boat's crew were on the schooner's deck, fight- ing a way for the rest to follow ; and how the Yankees fought, though half of them were just as they had turned out of their bunks, but we hammered at them, two blows for one. No asking for quarter : no giving it. It was the nicest little thing in the shape of a fight ever an eye looked on. There never was a fairer, never a prettier; for, you see, we were just about man to man, and well bless, those Yankees, they can fight, they can!" And the old Captain emphatically approved with his head this assertion. " I'm thirsty, comrade !" " So am I." "It's only two tumblers we have had?" enquiringly asked the Lieutenant. "Only two." "As I was saying, they fought like the very mis- chief, and we were doing little better than holding our own, when I got a clip on the head that nearly brought me down, here's the scar still, but in an instant I had turned round on the fellow that did it, for, you see, I was engaged hammer and tongs with another of them and, by Jove! it was a nigger, as black as ebony. I made a couple of cuts at him, but CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. 9 he could handle a cutlass as well as I could, and the Lord knows how it would have ended, but that the Coxswain gave him a back-hander that tumbled him into the scuppers. Over ten minutes the fight lasted, before we drove the sons of sea cooks below the hatches, and we should not have done it then, but for our having taken them by surprise. We had two, and they had four, killed, with a heavy bill of wounded on both sides. " Over an hour had passed in providing for the com- forts both of friends and foes. When I came on deck, I found that it had commenced to blow hard, with every indication of a heavy northerly gale, so there was no- thing for it but to trip anchor and make sail. "All that night we beat to and fro ; and a worse sea I have seldom seen. At daybreak the gale freshened to such an extent that yard after yard of canvass had to be taken in, so we found there was nothing for it but to turn tail and run for shelter. " On my chart was marked a river with ten feet of water on the bar. As far as I could judge, it lay about due south. After an hour's scudding, we made it, when I cracked on plenty of sail and steered straight at it. A succession of heavy bumps, a crash of timber as the masts go by the board, and, thank God, we are again in smooth water. Comrade, it was a near pinch ; if we had drawn one foot more water, every man -jack of us would have been food for the fishes, every man- jack of us." Here the two old gentlemen affectionately squeezed each other's hands across the table, then pro- ceeded leisurely to replenish their glasses without asking questions as to the number they had previously imbibed. 10 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. " Comrade, we have had some near shaves in our lives." " Yes, Swan, we have." " Men don't now-a-days have to go through the like." "No; they don't." "An hour after we had entered the river, winter com- menced in earnest. A heavy fall of snow was added to the terrific gale that was raging, and the temperature fell many degrees below freezing point. If we had been an hour later, we could not have found out our present harbour. " The wounded suffered much, for we had no one among us who had the slightest knowledge of surgery ; but, be it said to the credit of both friends and foes, all submitted to their misfortunes without murmur. "For a week the terrific weather continued, but at length gave way to the most charming of all winters, that of Canada. After the storm had passed off, the Indians of the neighbourhood, Micmacks by tribe, found us out and supplied us with fresh meat. One of them could speak English a little, for he had been many times in Halifax, so I made an arrangement with him to take a despatch to the governor describing our posi- tion and the circumstances that had led to it, at the same time begging him to use all efforts for our imme- diate release. It was while waiting for an answer to this message that I discovered that wonderful snuff, wonderful though I say it," here both the old gentlemen laughed together as if their sides would split. " Come, fill your glass, Captain ; this will only be the third." CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. I I " Fourth," says the marine. " We'll make it three," and without dissent they made it three. " This snuff, you see, I first found out by seeing the Indians use it. I tried it, and for pungency never met its equal." " Yes, that's the truth ; the first time you gave it to me I nearly sneezed my head off. In fact, I thought I never should have stopped sneezing." " By Jove, I shall never forget it." " Nor shall I." And both laughed at their recollections of the story. "After some enquiry I found it was made from a root which abounds everywhere in the woods of Nova Scotia, and which, when ground to powder by a peculiar process, makes the snuff, whose wonderful pungency you have experienced." "And so have the Duke and the First Lord," an- swered the Captain ; at which they both laughed again. " I thought at the time, I had made a most valuable discovery, and I should think so still, if people could only be induced to give up their prejudices and take to my snuff, instead of snuffing tobacco." " Well, comrade, why don't you set the example ? " " For the reason I mentioned, prejudice. I am no less subject to that weakness than my fellowmen." " Evidently," and both took a pinch out of the mull that was on the table, and laughed over the idea of gull- ing the public. " After I had been placed on the shelf some years, I 2 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. having only half-pay, barely sufficient to keep soul and body together " " Barely enough, indeed." "It struck me that I might add to my income by introducing my Nova Scotia snuff; so I sent to a friend in Canada to forward me one or two hundred pounds' weight of the root. With due care I had them pre- pared according to the process I had learned, and then endeavoured to get some snuff dealers to bring the article before the public. All had but one answer ' Get one of the Royal Family, some leading nobleman of fashion, or some other distinguished person, to patro- nise it, and your fortune is made.' Now, as I could obtain neither of the former two, I at last thought, after I had pondered the subject over, of the First Lord of the Admiralty, who, as I knew by reputation, was an inveterate snuffer. But how was I to approach him on such a subject ? for I hated to go near Whitehall even when in commission. At length it struck me that my dear old patron, formerly the Captain of the Arethusa, who had for many years been an Admiral, would be the very person to give me a good introduction, as he must be a favourite with the authorities, being then in command of the Channel squadron. " My request was at once complied with, and many were the kind expressions contained in the Admiral's letter of the appreciation he held me in as an officer. This document was duly forwarded to the Admiralty, together with a letter stating the purport of my visit, and containing a request to know when I might be CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. I 3 \J honoured with an interview. In due time was received an answer, and an early date named. " Punctually to the appointed moment I arrived, but I was kept waiting quite two hours in the ante-room. This I did not mind, for the time passed pleasantly enough in the contemplation of my future fortune. " At length the usher showed me into the august pre- sence ; he was a little man, very stout, with a short neck, a pimply face, and a very red complexion. While I was producing my snuff-box, another gentle- man entered the room from an opposite door ; he was very tall and thin, and had an exceedingly bald head and an aquiline nose. As soon as he made his ap- pearance, the First Lord called out, ' Ah ! your Grace, just in time ; you are actually, I may say, in luck. Lieutenant Swan (making a gradual motion of the head towards me) has brought with him from abroad a new snuff, the most delicious and refreshing that has ever been introduced into the country.' To get a First Lord was something, but with a Duke for a patron, my fortune was assuredly made." " Look here," said the Captain, " just halt a bit ; I have two reasons for asking you to do so. In the first place, I want to have a quiet laugh in anticipation ; secondly, Don't you Jhink it advisable we should fill our glasses ? " " Certainly I do ; for if we fill them now they will be ready for use when I have finished my yarn." That important operation having been performed, and the worthy Captain having resumed his gravity, Lieutenant Swan continued his narrative 14 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. " I carefully opened the box which had previously been highly perfumed. The First Lord took it, smelt, and handed it to his Grace, who did likewise. ' A very pleasant flavour,' said the one. ' Extremely/ said the other. Then each took a pinch. For a few seconds both appeared highly pleased with the result ; but soon one, then the other, commenced to sneeze, gently at first, but as time lapsed more and more rapidly and violently, till both continued giving vent to one inces- sant series of sneezes. The First Lord buried his face in the sofa ; his Grace threw himself back in an arm- chair. From one I flew to the other. The former was black in the face, the latter covered with perspiration, and still they kept up the most incessant sneezing. What to do I knew not. There was no water in the room ; I was about to ring the bell for some, when in trooped a dozen of servants. I heard the First Lord say, with a sneeze between each word, ' Secure the scoundrel.' Such a hint was not to be neglected. I seized my hat, darted from the room, rushed down the stairs, taking three at a time, and never looked back till I was across Westminster Bridge. Indeed, I did not feel safe then, and for weeks after I expected daily to hear that I had been deprived of my half-pay. " Since that day I have never been inside the Admi- ralty, and if I live a hundred years I never intend to be, although my snuff-box, a very handsome one, which had been the property of my grandfather, is there, for aught I know, to this day. " My kind friend the Admiral wrote to me in terms such as implied that I had betrayed his confidence. I CAPTAIN CINNAMON AND LIEUTENANT SWAN. 1 5 was much grieved at this, and sent him an apology, which he was good enough to accept. "I could not understand how my admirable snuff, which I still esteem so valuable a discovery, became so pungent. To put it to the test, I wished to discover if it had the same effect on others ; so I gave the land- lord of the ' Ship and Anchor ' a pinch. He was a very tall and stout man, and I can assure you that his sneezes were so terrific that they shook the ornaments off the mantelpiece, and they were so protracted that his wife rushed into the room to learn the cause. When she had done so, she attacked me with a broom ; the boots and waiter came to her support. I was again obliged to fly, and my wounded pride has compelled me ever since to give up a favourite haunt. " To this moment I am confident it is prejudice that has done it all, and nothing more. It does not make me sneeze so." " No, Swan, it does not, for your nose, I suspect, is copper-lined ; but, Lord bless your soul, I should like to have seen you between the First and Second Lords, and afterwards coming down the staircase." And the Captain of Marines and the Lieutenant of the Navy laughed, and laughed again, till it was pro- nounced time to fill up their glasses. CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD'S DAYS. WHEN the reader of the preceding chapter is informed that the narrator is the only son of Lieutenant Swan, he will not be surprised to learn that I had been completely spoiled by my father and his bosom friend the Captain, and that I got generally my own way in everything. It is true that I had been for some time a pupil of the grammar school, but my attendance was almost nominal, for if it was spring or summer, and the day was suitable for fishing, by the river side I was certain to be found ; if winter, and there was shooting or ice, I would be in the company of the neighbouring Baronet's game- keepers, or doing the intricacies of inside and outside turns upon my skates. At length my want of attention to my classes became so glaring that the dominie, good man, thought he ought to remonstrate with my father on the subject, especially as it was setting such a per- nicious example to the other scholars. With this inten- tion, he interviewed the old gentleman, and stated his reasons for doing so. However, Mr Swan could not see matters in the same light, and informed the worthy schoolmaster that my mother, who died a long time ago, had been consumptive, and that he was afraid I had the germs of the same disease. "Consumption!" exclaimed the schoolmaster indig BOYHOOD'S DAYS. 1 7 nantly. " Consumption, do you say, fiddle-sticks ! more likely he is suffering from over-consumption of victuals." Now, this was about as unfortunate an answer as could have been made to my father, for he saw in it not only an attempt to dictate how I should be brought up, but a slighting insinuation levelled at the sufficiency of his knowledge of the world. So, ringing the bell, he ordered the servant to open the door for Mr Rudiman, and informed the zealous advocate of education that his school should no longer be troubled with my presence. Shortly after this a council was held between Captain Cinnamon and my father as to what steps should be taken for the furtherance of my education. " A boarding-school," suggested the former. " No ;" answered the latter. " No ; that would never do." "Why?" interrogates the Captain. " For this reason ; you see he is a high-spirited lad, so half the time he would be engaged in licking his companions, or getting licked by them ; to the former I would not object to the latter I do most decidedly." "No; it would never do for our Jack to get licked never do. I have it. Sergeant Trenchman, late of the Royal Engineers, that fine specimen of an old soldier, who has lately come to reside in the village, would make the youngster a capital tutor; the non-commissioned officers of his corps are a very intelligent, well-educated body of men." " Yes; but he's a soldier. Now, if he had been a blue jacket, I would say done with you." " Or a marine," quietly insinuated the Captain. 1 8 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. However, it resulted in Sergeant Trenchman being engaged. My new tutor was a fairly well-educated man, but did not understand how to impart his knowledge to others. He had travelled all over the world, and had wonderful stories to tell about each part of it. He was also a pro- ficient in single-stick ; thus my time was either passed in fencing or listening to his exploits abroad. My father and his boon companion used frequently to visit the school-room shortly before dinner. That was the hour devoted to the study of thrusts and cuts. As soon as the door opened, and the weather-beaten visages of the old gentlemen were seen, Sergeant Trenchman would shout with the voice of a bull, " ten-shun," spring- ing himself into that position, and insisting that I should do likewise. " That's right, Sergeant; that's right, Sergeant," both veterans would exclaim together. Then my father would continue, "Any complaints, Sergeant?" to which he always received the stereotyped answer, " No, sir." And as the two old worthies left the room, they might be heard saying sotto voce, " that's the way to bring up a lad nothing like discipline, nothing." This state of things went on for more than a year, when the good Sergeant took to dissipated courses, and was reduced to the ranks, that is, dismissed. "By Jupiter!" exclaimed the Captain of Marines, "he should have been tried for habitual drunkenness; the scoundrel has been six times drunk in a week a fair enough allowance for a year." " That comes of having engaged a soldier. I foresaw BOYHOOD'S DAYS. 19 it. There is no confidence to be put in those land- lubbers." " Not a particle not a particle. I believe both ser- vices are going to the devil." " You may take your oath on it," angrily exclaimed my father. After Sergeant Trenchman's disgrace, for many months I ran wild, scarcely knowing what to do with myself, when arrangements were entered into with the Curate for so many hours tuition daily. He was a quiet, retiring, studious gentleman, who never lost his temper, or raised his voice. When I was inattentive, indolent, or lacking in punctuality, he used to appeal to my better feelings, and the fault he complained of was at once amended. I cannot say I know very much, but the little I do know is entirely due to the patience and kindness of this excellent clergyman during the three years I was under his care. Thus it may be understood that when I reached the age of eighteen I understood more of fencing, swim- ming, rowing, fishing, shooting, and hunting, than of Euclid, modern languages, and the Classics. Moreover, I possessed health, strength, and endurance in no ordi- nary degree. My father could not afford to purchase me a commis- sion, or even to make me an adequate allowance if I could have procured one, so the army the profession I should have preferred to all others had to be given up. For the navy, I was too old ; and as to the mercantile marine, the old gentleman set his foot down upon my 20 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. choice of it at once. " What! sail in a craft that doesn't fly a pennant, whose quarter-deck receives no more respect than the cook's galley never, never ! " About this time, an occurrence took place that had a great effect upon my future steps. It was autumn, and the fishermen were obtaining heavy catches of herring. Several times I had gone out in one or other of the fish- ing fleet, for there is a wondrous fascination on a fine night to see or assist in taking on board the nets filled with their captures. As the herring are thrown into the hold, for a few seconds the mass look like a dancing pool of liquid silver; then all is still, the brilliancy remaining, but the surface as unbroken as that of a woodland lake in the calm of a summer evening. Then to listen to the sounds that speed over the waters ; the snatch of a song, or the emphatic word of command, sometimes coming from a distant and un- known vessel, more frequently from one of your own companion crafts, detracts not from the enchantment. In our dreams we sometimes visit a mysterious and unknown world. To be afloat on the German Ocean in calm weather, when the fishing fleet are successful, is to have such dreams transferred from phantoms to realities. As the majority of the fishermen knew me, and as they much respected my father, I had little difficulty in obtaining a passage. Within the few previous days the herring had moved further north, thus bringing the prospect of an absence of several days. The weather was beautifully fine when we got under way, with scarcely sufficient wind to enable us to steer. At length, we got to our fishing ground, and the nets were planted. BOYHOOD S DAYS. 2 I Soon after it commenced to blow fresh, yet we hung on to our moorings. At daybreak it was blowing a gale, compelling us to cut adrift and run for it. On the third day we found ourselves on the coast of Denmark, just as the gale had blown itself out. Before we could return, fresh supplies required to be laid in, thus I had an oppor- tunity of seeing something of a foreign country. The result was that I must see more. I had tasted the cup of adventure, and wished to drink deeper of it. When I returned home, I communicated my inten- tions to my father. His countenance expressed his disappointment, but he said nothing. Nevertheless, I thought that he bid me a more affectionate farewell that night when I retired to bed than usual. The next day Captain Cinnamon passed the evening with him. I had been shooting all day, and when I approached the house I found, as the weather was fine, that the old companions were enjoying themselves as usual. " Go and change your clothes, my son, and get some- thing to eat ; and if you have nothing better to do, come and join us afterwards." I did as I was desired. None of the stereotyped stories were being told, but the tobacco was being inhaled in regular and measured puffs, and but for the action of blowing it forth, both might have been taken for statues. After a protracted silence the old Captain spoke. " So you want to leave us my boy, is that the case ? " My father said nothing, but looked straight before him. " No ; certainly not. But I am of an age at which others go out into the world. I wish to see it and pos- 22 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. sibly learn how I can do something for my own support. My life up to this has been one unbroken holiday. I feel that it is time for this to cease, for it cannot so go on for ever. In fact, I wish to learn to lean upon my- self, not upon others." " I said it, Swan. I said it," excitedly exclaimed the Captain. " The boy is right. It's what you did ; it's what I did, and by I was going to swear it's what he is going to do. By heavens ! if the service had men like him in it, it would not now be going to the devil." " I believe you are right, comrade," said my father ; then turning to me, he said "Jack, I don't mean to preach to you, for I don't think you require it; still listen for a moment. Wherever you are, remember you are a gentleman. Never do in secret what you would be ashamed should see the light of day, and let your motto be the Queen, the Church, and the Game Laws." "My sentiments exactly," chimed in the Captain, " although I could not have expressed them quite as well." The evening was now late. The house-keeper came, as was her wont, to tie under Captain Cinnamon's chin the string that held down the ear-pieces of his fur cap. He then wound round his neck half a dozen turns of a gigantic blue handkerchief, and as he walked off home- wards, under care of a man-of-all-work, I heard him muttering, in spite of the barricading that covered his mouth, " The Queen, the Church, and the Game Laws." Due preparation had been made for my intended journey, and the night previous to my departure had arrived. My father and his friend had made up their minds to see me to Carlisle, whence I was to catch the BOYHOOD'S DAYS. 23 train for Glasgow, the port from which I intended em- barking for the United States. The old companions were together as of yore, but the night being chilly, they occupied the dining room. Conversation had flowed in the usual channel, till about eight o'clock, when my father took his pipe from his mouth, drew down his spectacles from his forehead to his nose, and turned round so as directly to face me. " Jack, my son, as you leave us in the morning let us have a little business talk. It will be short, for I hate business." " So do I," said the Captain, emphatically. " Here, in this bag, are fifty sovereigns. It's all I had at my bankers. Not much, truly ; but in two weeks I draw a quarter's half-pay, when I will send you a letter of credit for as much more as I can spare. If it should not be enough well, Kitty, the red-cow, will have calved ; she's worth twenty pounds at least, and can well be spared, so through her I shall make up the deficiency. And remember, while I have a roof over my head that it is yours. That's all, my lad." " You are done, Swan," said the dear old Captain. " You have had your turn, and it would not be like a blue-jacket to keep the marines out of action, or refuse them a chance to win their share of glory. Here are fifty sovereigns. Your father and I always keep fifty at the bank (little did I know then that it was to provide a respectable funeral), and you will also find a bill now due for fifteen pounds, drawn by a most respectable livery stable keeper in Carlisle, for some oats I sold him in the summer, and when your father sends you the 24 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. letter of credit, I must have a word to say in it. You shan't run short of money, by I nearly swore there. Sooner than he should do that, Swan, you and I will go without grog and tobacco. And remember while I have a room over my head that it is yours. That's all, my boy." My father stretched his hand across the table, and took that of his comrade. " Thanks, thanks, my dear old friend ; thanks again," he said. " No need of that," answered the other ; " no need of that. Isn't Jack as much mine as yours ? " " I don't know that," quietly smiled my father. " But he is," emphatically exclaimed the Captain. " Make it so," said my father. " Aye ! aye, sir ! " responded the dear old Captain, and a diamond tear stood in the eye of each of the veterans, fit homage to affection, for it could not have been wrung from either by any enemy on earth. CHAPTER III. FIRST ADVENTURES. PARTING scenes are at the best but painful affairs. Mine was eminently so. I would have liked to cry, but was determined not to give way, although several times I was on the verge of doing so. Just before the road makes a turn that shuts my home out of view, I took a final look. The old gentlemen were together watching the rapidly retreating conveyance. I waved my handkerchief, both of theirs responded, and the world was before me, but not as it is to some ; for if disaster or misfortune overtook me, had I not a safe haven to run to for shelter ? Christmas found me in New York. By March I had reached St Louis. To get so far westward I had tra- velled by rail, ridden in stages, and sometimes even walked. To the West was my motto ; for, even so long ago as the time I write of, the labour market was over- stocked in the Atlantic States, unless for such as could wield the pick-axe and shovel. Those that knew the capital of the State of Missouri in the days I speak of, know how different it was then from what it is now. What the child is to the man, is the best simile I can think of. I stopped at " The Planters," then the principal hotel, and now associated with the memory of one of the most charming of writers and the most adventurous of tra- 26 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. vellers, Lieutenant Ruxton. He had just returned from the Indian country, and the newspapers teemed with his adventures, wonderful escapes, and extraordi- nary feats of endurance. These I resolved, if possible, to rival. One evening I lounged into a half bar, half reading- room to peruse the evening papers. There was nothing unusual in this arrangement, for the room devoted to the one purpose was usually devoted to the other, espe- cially in Western cities. I paid my piccaune, received my paper, and sat down to read. I had not been long thus engaged when my ear was attracted by a very musical foreign voice. Looking up, I observed that it came from a very gentlemanly-looking young man about two or three and twenty, and, if I mistook not, a German. After procuring his paper he took his seat on the bench beside me, apologising in the most courteous manner for the inconvenience. Again and again I looked at him unperceived, and the more I did so the more was I charmed with his faultless air. I should have liked to introduce myself to him, but hesi- tated to do so, consoling myself with the hope that something or other might occur to enable me to make his acquaintance. Little as I had seen of America, I could not help perceiving that his manners were not those of the country, and that he had probably not been there much longer than myself. I had just laid aside my paper, and was thinking of returning to the hotel, when a noisy crowd of the class usually denominated .roughs entered the reading-room and advanced to the bar. From their conversation I FIRST ADVENTURES. 27 imagined that they might have been at a trotting match, and that there was a difference of opinion among them as to the time made by some favourite horse. For a quarter of an hour they continued wrangling, and calling for fresh drinks every few minutes, when one of them, the tallest and burliest of the party, exclaimed angrily, " I tell you it's so, and no other. Barman, give me the evening paper." " Not got it. Well, I guess I'll find one somewhere abouts." And off he started round the room in search of one. Perceiving that the stranger had one in his hand, he did not take the trouble to look farther, but deliberately walked up to him, and pulled it unceremoniously away, saying, "What does an infernal Dutchman like you want with a paper?" In an instant the stranger was on his feet, and, rushing at the bully, endeavoured to seize him by the throat ; but his efforts were for some time futile. At length, however, they closed, and the blackguard being the taller and heavier of the two, threw his antagonist. With this one would have supposed he should have been satisfied ; but no ; he continued to strike his antagonist in the face, uttering with every blow such exclamations as " I'll give you a beauty spot. There's another for you. I'll teach you manners," &c. Nor was he satisfied with this, but deliberately proceeded to shove his finger in the eye of his almost insensible antagonist foreigner. I could not longer endure the sight of such barbarism ; and as I considered a creature who could act as this wretch was doing, a brute and not a man, I gave him a kick on the head close to the 28 TRAVEL, WAR, AND SHIPWRECK. ear with my heavily-nailed shooting-boot. I had the satisfaction of seeing him go over like a lump of lead ; but short-lived was my pleasure his comrades were upon me in a moment I succeeded in planting two blows home then I remember a violent struggle and the remainder is a blank. It was several days after this escapade, when I again became conscious. A sister of the Sacred Heart sat by my bed quietly knitting, while close at hand was an adjoining bedstead, occupied by whom I could not see. I felt sore and bruised, so I turned to ease my position ; when my nurse, who was an elderly person, looked at me with a quiet, placid smile, and gently said, "You are better now." I asked, scarcely knowing what I said, Have I been ill ? " " No, no ; but you and your companion met with an accident. He is in the next bed to yours, but he is asleep." " I have no companion, lady." " Oh, yes, you have ; he is so anxious about you, but you must not talk." And as she held a cup of some refreshing drink to my lips, she continued, " You must try to go to sleep now ; you will be much better to- morrow, when I will let you talk just a little." " But answer me, lady, one question, Where am I ? " " In the hospital, and I am your nurse." With such a nurse and watcher I feared not to sleep ; so I gave way to my drowsy feelings doubtless the result of weakness and must soon have been again in the land of unconsciousness. I suppose it must have been the next day when FIRST ADVENTURES. 2 9 I awoke again, for the sun was shining brightly, and the shadows appeared not to have lengthened. The same guardian sat by my bed, engaged exactly as she had been when I had first seen her. With a pleased expression, as soon as she observed that I was awake, she said, " Good morning, I hope you feel better." " I don't feel very ill." " But you have been, and must remain very quiet for some days." And thus far she had got in her advice, when a voice from the adjoining cot, with a very foreign accent, said, " My friend, I am so glad to hear you speak, 'Ah! mein Gott, I thought they had you killed.'" I turned to look at the speaker, it was the stranger whose rescue I had attempted. Here our good nurse interrupted us by saying, " I will not have any talking till you are both better ; and I am certain you will not disobey a lady's wishes." Next day the doctor paid his visit, and complimented our nurse on the progress her patients had made. In a few days after we were pronounced convalescent, and so permitted to return to our hotel. There we learned the particulars of the whole affair. Both of us were beaten almost to mummies ; fortunately the barman knew where we were staying, so he sent for the hotel proprietor, who, like a sensible person, had us removed to the hospital, where we were treated with every care and consideration. But let me say a word in favour of those devoted good women who compose the orders of Sisters of Charity, such kindness and attention as I have observed and experienced under their care I have never witnessed 3