^- V- ^^^-A-l «igHia»B*aii*t> , .' J ) J 1 J i »■ i * « • • \ ^. # Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by JOHN FROST, li tlie Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. oitEBflTYPED BX GEClRGr "IHi UI? ^ r-1^ f en N ■a; 5 o PEEPACE. u. O t A BOOK of tales and sketches, illustrating the manners and customs of the nations of the earth, must possess a variety of interest and instruction. To the attraction of a common geographical pano- rama, it adds, life only to be found in stories of hu- man passion and narratives of adventure; while the distiuo'uishins: features of national character. 8 PREFACE. and the many differences in manners and customs among the population of the world may be noted and studied in such a book with decided benefit. Here may be seen the restless, daring and inqui- sitive citizen of the United States — the noble, haughty but cruel Indian — the indolent, fickle and pleasure-loving Mexican — the degenerate descend- ant of the Spaniard in South America — the proud, substantial and dominion-loving Englishman — the hardy Highlander — the fun-and-fight-loving Irish- man — the vain, but brave and lively Frenchman — the haughty, hot-blooded and vindictive Spaniard — the fickle, indolent and superstitious Italian — the strong-willed, plodding, industrious German — the bold and patriotic Swiss — the persevering and in- telligent Swede and Norwegian — the stubborn, reverential Russian — the ease-loving, Christian- hating Turk — the daring and lively Greek — the handsome and manly Circassians — the roving Tar- tars — the ingenuous and industrious Chinese — the idol-worshipping Hindoo — the piratical inhabitant of the Barbary States — and ■ the almost brutal PREFACE. 9 African — all acting out their characters — together with those people who may be said to be but tinged with the traits of these nations. The book has numerous illustrations, which will serve to fix many thrilling incidents in the memory of the reader. Their use is now generally appre- ciated, and in a work intended, as the " Panorama of Nations" is, for popular circulation, they could not be omitted without a serious vacancy being felt. These are engraved from excellent designs by Croome and other distinguished artists. The reader will travel the whole world in com- pany with a narrator, whose endeavour it will be to rival in the interesting and vivid delineations of real events, the strong colouring, the romantic and thrilling incidents, the extraordinary vicissitudes and wild i^lay of passions, which characterize the productions of the improvisaiori of Italy or the story tellers of the Arabian caravanserais. CONTENTS. Introduction . . ... . i • Ascent op the Rocky Mountains . . . The Mountaineers and the Californians . Daniel Boone Whaling Adventures A Spanish Bull-Figut Adventure on tpe Concorvado ... The Peruvian Indians Adventure on the Puna of Peru- Treatment of Prisoners bt Rosas . . . Scotch and English Hunters in South Africa Daring Exploit of British Sailors . . • Life in Ireland Highland Sport The "Wild Boar and the "Welshman The Last of the Contrabandxeri Don Giro, or the Priest-Robber Story op Spanish Brigands .... The Smuggler's Leap — A Passage in the Pyrenees The Carmagnole ^ Charles and Susanne — A Real Incident The Walcheren Expedition .... Dufavel's Adventure in the "Well . The "Wolves of Russia . .... The Retreat from Moscow .... hiTE IN Siberia . . " Tqe Avalanche The Three Friends of Brussels . . . FAOa 13 17 34 51 61 84 85 94 97 100 102 115 122 128 144 152 176 198 202 211 217 225 243 247 254 261 275 280 (11) 12 CONTENTS, The Wild Boar of the Hart/ A Bear Hunt in the Pyrenees . . . . The Pindarries The Highlanders of India, or the Rohilla Robbers The Tiger of India A Romance of the Bedouins Macomo, the Caffre Chief .... A Late Remarkable Trial at Gibraltar . The Tartar Bandit Caled and Obeidah ..... Capture of Chuzan The King of Persia's Female Guards The Polish Guard The Forest Ride of a "West India Planter An Exploring Adventure in Australia Christmas in Sweden A Peep at Peraharra Hunting in the Indian Archipelago A Walk through Constantinople . The Jevts of Egypt .... A Visit to Bombay Madam Pfeiffer at Tahiti An Adventure on the Dee .... Specimen of a Spanish Reyolution . , PAQJ , 289 299 310 324 328 336 340 347 352 363 373 381 387 392 395 402 414 425 443 462 469 482 494 50a THE PANOEAMA OP NATIONS. To catcli the distinguishing features and the common expres- eion of national character is, or should be, one great object with those who consult history. Yet the assertion is well-founded, that the desire for such knowledge is more easily and more com^ pletely gratified by recourse to narratives of accident and adven- ture. These bring the qualities of men into full play, and set the national traits before us in boldest relief and freshest hues. The peculiarities of nature and habit, which mark the people of a particular country, seldom attract the notice of general history in its stately march. From it we are obliged to extort what we wish by a tedious and painful process. What moi'e striking display of the pure American character can we find than the ex- ploits and labors of the hardy borderers — the iron men of the west ? Yet in what well-known history have they been awarded a place ? Nor have the characteristic habits and achievements of the various nations of the Eastern World been better treated. Revolutions of state, and the monstrous deeds of war, fill up the measure of national record. A series of narratives, in which the procession of nations shall pass before the mind, in their native garb, and performing their native parts, cannot but possess a powerful interest. The keen-eyed,restlcss, and daring American, full of enterprize and fun, and ready to meet death in any shape he may assume — the burly, 2 CIS) 14 THE PANORAMA OF NATIONS. haughty, and reserved Englishman, coolly observing others, and while preferring home and quiet, ready upon occasion for the most daring enterprizes — the serious and shrewd Scot, the son of the heath and hill — the rollicking Irishman — the brisk, vain, showy, yet valorous Frenchman — the proud and chivalrous Spaniard — the indolent and intellectual Italian, interesting, even in his bandit life — the industrious, close-fisted, superstitious Ger- man — the firm, bold, rapacious Cossack — the laborious Scandi- navian — the ingenious, but treacherous Chinese — and the almost apish Negro, are seen in the train, not performing the general part of men, but acting with individual and peculiar force. Here may they be studied to the best advantage. Here do they revel among their own loved scenes. While such narratives awaken and satisfy a thirst for a knowl- edge of the traits of different nations ; they furnish the lovers of adventure and thrilling incident with an abundance of food. Courage, daring, intelligence, skill, and virtue, are brought to the test of danger aijd temptation, and their triumphs or defeats are pregnant with interest and instruction for all mankind. Wis- dom and virtue belong to no particular country, nor to any par- ticular people. They are golden fruit, and are produced in every clime, and by every class. True courage, which dreads no danger in the search of right and in its support, will be found illustrated in the histories of all nations, together with' its mimic, animal effrontery. The vices, too, are equally distributed among men. If, as a general thing, one people has more frankness than another, the account will be found balanced by its want of vene- ration for principle or something else. Whatever is foreign to our customs and notions either excites our disgust, or interests us by its very novelty. The rage for a knowledge of the peculiarities of other nations, in America at least, proves that the latter is the most common result. It is hoped, therefore, that we shall be able, in the course of the present work, to convey a complete idea of the characteristics of all the different peoples, whose exploits and customs may be touched upon, and yet retain the interest of those who peruse it. COLONEL FflEMONli ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS One of the best representatives of American energy and per- severance, and of a combination of those qualities which make the successful man, is Col. John C. Fremont. As the explorer of the far west, he has acquired a world-wide fame, while his name is strongly linked with the conquest and colonization of the vast region bordering upon the Pacific. In the records of few expeditions can be found so many deeds of daring, and displays of fortitude as in the first exploring tour of Col. Fremont. At the head of twenty-one men, he set out from St. Louis in May, 1842. Most of the men of the party were experienced hunters and were well acquainted with the region between St. Louis and the Rocky Mountains. The renowned Kit Carson was chosen for guide. This man had scarcely an equal in the west, and was regarded as the heau ideal of a mountaineer. Nothing daunted him, and his ingenuity surmounted many difficulties which seemed a bar to the progress of others. One great achievement, the 2* (17) 18 ASCENT OF THE EOCKT MOUNTAINS. / / ascent to the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains, will show the character of tlie party and its indomitable captain. " Early in the morning," says Fremont, " we left the camp, fifteen in number, well armed, of course, and mounted on our best mules. A pack-animal carried our provisions, with a coflFee-pot and kettle, and three or four tin cups. Every man had a blanket strapped over his saddle, to serve for his bed, and the instruments were carried by turns on their backs. We entered directly on rough and rocky ground; and, just after crossing the ridge, had the good fortune to shoot an antelope. We heard the roar, and had a glimpse of a waterfall as we rode along, and crossing in our way two fine streams, tributary to the Colorado, in about two hours' ride we reached the top of the first row or range of the mountains. Here, again, a view of the most romantic beauty met our eyes. It seemed as if, from the vast expanse of uninte- resting prairie we had passed over, Nature had collected all her beauties together in one chosen place. We were overlooking a deep valley, which was entirely occupied by three lakes, and from the brink to the surrounding ridges rose precipitously five hun- dred and a thousand feet, covered with the dark green of the balsam pine, relieved on the border of the lake with the light foliage of the aspen. They all communicated with each other, and the green of the waters, common to mountain lakes of great depth, showed that it would be impossible to cross them. The surprise manifested by our guides when these impassable obstacles suddenly barred our progress, proved that they were among the hidden treasures of the place, unknown even to the wandering trappers of the region. Descending the hill, we proceeded to make our way along the margin to the southern estremitj'. A narrow strip of angular fragments of rock sometimes afforded a rough pathway for our mules, but generally we rode along the shelving side, occasionally scrambling up, at a considerable risk of tumbling back into the lake. " The slope was frequently 60° ) the pines grew densely to- gether, and the ground was covered with the branches and trunks of trees. The air was fragrant with t!ic odor of the pines; and y ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 19 I realized this dcliglitful morning the pleasure of breathing that mountain air which makes a constant theme of the hunter's praise, and which now made us feel as if we had all been drink- ing some exhilarating gas. The depths of this unexplored forest were a place to delight the heart of a botanist. There was a rich undergrowth of plants, and numerous gay-colored flowers in bril- liant bloom. We reached the outlet at length, where some freshly-barked willows that lay in the water showed that beaver had been recently at work. There were some small brown squirrels jumping about in the pines, and a couple of large mal- lard ducks swimming about in the stream. " The hills on this southern end were low, and the lake looked like a mimic sea, as the waves broke on the sandy beach in the force of a strong breeze. There was a pretty open spot, wifh fine grass for our mules ; and we made our noon halt on the beach, under the shade of some large hemlocks. We resumed our jour- ney after a halt of about an hour, making our way up the ridge on the western side of the lake. In search of smoother ground we rode a little inland ; and, passing through groves of aspen, soon found ourselves again among the pines. Emerging from these, we struck the summit of the ridge above the upper end of ■ the lake. " We had reached a very elevated point, and in the yalley be- low, and among the hills, were a number of lakes of different levels; some two or three hundred feet above others, with which they communicated by foaming torrents. Even to our great height the roar of the cataracts came up, and we could see them leaping down in lines of snowy foam. From this scene of busy waters, we turned abruptly into the stillness of a forest, where we rode among the open bolls of the pines, over a lawn of vei'dant grass, having strikingly the air of cultivated grounds. This led us, after a time, among masses of rock which had no vegetable earth but in hollows and crevices though still the pine forest con- tinued. Towards evening we reached a defile, or rather a hole In the mountains, entirely shut in by dark pine- covered rocks. " A small stream, with scarcely perceptible current, flowed 20 ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. through a level bottom of perhaps eighty yards width, where the grass was saturated with water. Into this the mules were turned, and were neither hobbled nor picketed during the night, as the fine pasturage took away all temptation to stray ; and we made our bivouac in the pines. The surrounding masses were all of granite. While supper was being prepared, I set out on an ex- cursion in the neighborhood, accompanied by one of my men. AVe wandered about among the crags and ravines until dark, richly repaid for our walk by a fine collection of plants, many of them in full bloom. Ascending a peak to find the place of our camp, we saw that the little defile in which we lay communicated with the long green valley of some stream, which, here locked up in the mountains, far away to the south, found its way in a dense forest to the plains. " Looking along its upward course, it seemed to conduct, by a smooth gradual slope, directly towards the peak, which, from long consultation as we approached the mountain, we had decided to be the highest of the range. Pleased with the discovery of so fine a road for the next day, we hastened down to the camp, where we arrived just in time for supper. Our table-service was rather scant ; and we held the meat in our hands, and clean rocks made good plates, on which we spread our macaroni. Among all the strange places on which we had occasion to encamp during our long journey, none have left so vivid an impression on my mind as the camp of this evening. The disorder of the masses which surrounded us — the little hole through which we saw the stars over head — the dark pines where we slept — and the rocks lit up with the glow of our fires, made a night-picture of very wild beauty. " 13th. — The morning was bright and pleasant, just cool enough to inake exercise agreeable, and we soon entered the de- file I had seen the preceding day. It was smoothly carpeted with soft grass, and scattered over with groups of flowers, of which yellow was the predominant color Sometimes we were forced, by an occasional difficult pass, to pick our way on a narrow ledge *lon^ the side of the defile, and the mules wero frequently ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 21 on their knees ; but these obstructions were rare, and we jour- neyed on in the sweet morning air, delighted at our good fortune in having found such a beautiful entrance to the mountains. This road continued for about three miles, when we suddenly reached its termination in one of the grand views which, at every turn, meet the traveler in this magnificent region. Here the defile up which we had traveled opened out into a small lawn, where, in a little lake, the stream had its source. " There were some fine astei-s in bloom, but all the flowering plants appeared to seek the shelter of the rocks, and to be of lower growth than below, as if they loved the warmth of the soil, and kept out of the way of the winds. Immediately at our feei, a precipitous descent led to a confusion of defiles, and before us rose the mountains. It is not by the splendor of far-oflf views, which have lent such a glory to the Alps, that these impress the mind; but by a gigantic disorder of enormous masses, and a savage sublimity of naked rock, in wonderful contrast with innu- merable green spots of a rich floral beauty, shut up in their stern recesses. Their wildness seems well suited to the character of the people who inhabit the country. " I determined to leave our animals here, and make the rest of our way on foot. The peak appeared so near, that there was no doubt of our returning before night ; and a few men were left in charge of the mules, with our provisions and blankets. We took with us nothing but our arms and instruments, and, as the day had become warm, the greater part left our coats. Having made an early dinner, we started again. We were soon involved in the most ragged precipices, nearing the central chain very slowly, and rising but little. The first ridge hid a succession of others; and when, with great fatigue and difficulty, we had climbed up five hundred feet, it was but to make an equal descent on the other side ; all these intervening places were filled with small deep lakes, which met the eye in every direction, descend- ing from one level to another, sometimes under bridges formed by huge fragments of granite, beneath which was heard the roar of the water. These constantly obstructed our path, forcing us 22 ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. to make long detours ; frequently obliged to retrace our steps, and frequently falling among the rocks. Maxwell was precipi- tated towards the face of a precipice, and saved himself from going over by throwing himself flat on the ground. We clambered on, always expecting, with every ridge that wo crossed, to reach the foot of the peaks, and always disappointed, until about four o'clock, when, pretty well worn out, we reached the shore of a little lake, in which was a rocky island. We re- mained here a short time to rest, and continued on around tho lake, which had in some places a beach of white sand, and in others was bound with rocks, over which the way was difficult and dangerous, as the water from innumerable springs made them very slippery. " By the time we had reached the further side of the lake, we found ourselves all exceedingly fatigued, and, much to the satis- faction of the whole party, we encamped. The epot we had chosen was a broad flat rock, in some measure protected from the winds by the surrounding crags, and the trunks. of fallen pines affijrded us bright fires. Near by was a foaming torrent, which tumbled into the little lake about one hundred and fifty feet below us, and which, by way of distinction, we have called Island lake. We had reached the upper limit of the piney region ; as, above this point, no tree was to be seen, and patches of snow lay every- where around us, on the cold sides of the rocks. The flora of the region we had traversed since leaving our mules was extremely rich, and, among the characteristic plants, the scarlet flowers of the dodecatheon dentatum everywhere met the eye, in great abun- dance. A small green ravine, on the edge of which we were encamped, was filled with a profusion of alpine plants, in brilliant bloom. From barometrical observation, made during our three days' sojourn at this place, its elevation above the Gulf of Mexico is 10,000 feet. During the day, we had seen no sign of animal life; but among the rocks here, we heard what was supposed to be the bleat of a young goat, which we searched for with hungry activity, and found to proceed from a small animal of gray color, with short ears and no tail — probably the Siberian squirrel. We ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. ASCENT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 23 e;uv a considerable number of them, and with the exception of a small bird like a sparrow, it is the only inhabitant of this elevated part of the mountains. On our return, we saw, below this lake, large flocks of the mountain-goat. We had nothing to eat to- night. Lajeuncssc, with several others, took their guns, and sallied out in search of a goat; but returned unsuccessful. At sunset, the barometer stood at 20-522 j the attached thermometei 50°. Here we had the misfortune to break our thermometer, having now only that attached to the barometer. I was taken ill shortly after wo had encamped, and continued so until late in the night, with violent headache and vomiting. This was probably caused by the excessive fatigue I had undergone, and want of food, and perhaps, also, in some measure, by the rarity of the air. The m,ocky Mountains. On the third day after their arrival, behold our mountaineers again upon the march, driving before them — with the assistance of half a dozen Indians, impressed for the first few days of the journey until the cavallada get accustomed to travel without con- fusion — a band of four hundred head of mules tiud horses, them- selves mounted on the strongest and fleetest they could select from at least a thousand. Fray Augustin and the Hidalgo, from the house-top, watched them depart ; the former glad to get rid of such unscrupulous guests at any cost, the latter rather loth to part with his boon companions, with whom he had quaffed many a quartillo of Cali- fornian wine. Great was the grief, uud violent the sobbing, when THE MOUNTAINEERS AND THE CALIFORNIANS. 49 all the girls in the Mission surrounded Juanita to bid her adieu ; as she, seated en cavalier on an easy pacing mule, bequeathed her late companions to the keeping of every saint in the calendar, and particularly to the great St. Ferdinand himself, under whose especial tutelage all those in the Mission were supposed to live. Pedrillo, poor forsaken Pedrillo, a sullen, sulky half-breed, was overcome, not with grief, but with anger at the slight put upon him, and vowed revenge. He of the " sangre regular," having not a particle of enmity in his heart, waved his arm — that arm with which he had mowed down the enemies of Carlos Quinto — aud requested the mountaineers, if ever fate should carry them to Spain, not to fail to visit his quinta in the vega of Genii, which, with all in it, he placed at their worships' disposal — con muchis- siraa franquoza. Fat Fray Augustin likewise waved his arm, but groaned in spirit as he beheld the noble band of mules and horses, throwing back clouds of dnat on the plain where they had been bred. One noble roan stallion seemed averse to leave his accustomed pasture, and again and again broke away from the band. Luckily old \yalker had taken the precaution to secure the hell-mare of the herd, and mounted on her rode ahead, the animals all following their well-known leader. As the roan galloped back, the padre was in ecstasy. It was a favorite steed, and one he would have gladly ransomed at any price. "Ya viene, ya viene I" he cried out, "now, now it's coming! hurra for the roan I" but, under the rifle of a mountaineer, one of the Californians dashed at it, a lasso whirling round his head, and turning and twisting like a doubling hare, as the horse tried to avoid him, at last threw the open coil over the animal's head, and led him back in triumph to the band. " Maldito sea aquel Indio — curse that Indian I" quoth the padre, and turned away. And now our sturdy band — less one who had gone under — were fairly on their way. They passed the body of their comrade who had been killed in the fight before the Mission ; the wolves, nr Indian dogs, had picked it to the bones ; but a mound near 5 60 THE MOUNTAINEERS AND THE CALIFOENIANS. by, surmounted by a rude cross, showed wliere the CalifornianiS (seven of whom were killed) had been interred — the pile of stones at the foot of the cross testifying that many an ave Maria had already been said by the poor Indians, to save the souls of their slaughtered companions from the pangs of purgatory. Ruxton's Life in the Far West. A MEXICAN INN. "//// DANIEL BOONE. The spring of 17G9 rose calmly over the broad woodlands which »ay immediately beyond the mountains to the west of Virginia. It was a beauteous wilderness, known as yet only to the red Indian, but abounding in game and wild fruits, and whatever can form a temptation to man seeking for a residence. At that time there lived in Yadkin valley, in North Carolina, a hardy peasant of about thir- ty-seven years of age, a native of the county of Somerset in Eng- land, but long naturalized to America, and now married, with a fa- mily of several children. A born hunter Daniel was, and fond of nothing but hunting — a man who preferred to roam the moun- tain, and sleep in a cavern, or camp by a rushing spring, to the dull farm life and the home fire-side. We say he was a born hunter; he possessed the instinct of the bee, and could go to his own dwelling in a Ice-line from any point to which his wander- ings might carry him. Fatigue, hunger, and exposure, he could bear like any Indian. Strong, but light, active as a deer, cour- ageous, but cautious, kind, silent, thoughtful, he was the very (51) 52 DANIEL BOONE. man to act the part of pioneer. Two years before the above date, a man named Finlay had gone afar in the land of the red man upon a mercantile expedition. Him Daniel sought out, and learned that of a truth there was a country to the north-west where buffalo swarmed like flies in summer, and where the wild turkey and the deer were scarce worth wasting powder upon. He meditated and dreamed upon it for a year, talked with his wife about it, who endeavored to drive it from his mind ; and finally, tightening his belt, and putting a new edge upon his knife, he shouldered his rifle, bade his little family good-by, and, in company with five comrades, started in quest of the country of Kentucky, Finlay led the way. For five weeks did the little band toil on and on through hill and valley, gushing stream and tangled woods, enduring all the inclemency of the elements, till at length they came to the Red river, a branch of the Kentucky. For months they hunted with success ; but at length, in December, Boone and one of his companions fell into the hands of the Indians, from whom they only escaped by stratagem. On returning to their camp, they found it deserted by the rest. . Determined to perse- vere, they remained in it, using great precautions against the hostile Indians ; until Squire, a brother of Boone, joined him with another man, and entered upon the same kind of life. A few months after, by the death of one man, and the desertion of another, the two Boones were left alone ; and thus they continued to be for several months, when Squire was compelled to return to the settlements for a supply of ammunition, and Daniel was left without a dog for company — the sole white man in all tha* vast region. It is impossible for men who have grown up in our tame civi lization to enter into the feelings of one so situated. Many hun- dred miles from all to whom he could look for aid ; in a boundless wood, filled with subtle and cruel enemies ; dependent upon his gun, yet with a scanty store of ammunition; without a comrade, or the hope of one — and still contented and cheerful, nay, very happy. Every day he changed his position ; every night he slept in a different place from the one he had occupied the night before; SIMOIN" KENTOK p."5s; DANIEL BOONE. 53 constantly in danger, he was forced to 'bo constantly on his guard; but freedom, the love of nature, the excitement of peril, and the pleasures of the chase, appear to have repaid him for all his trials, toils, and watchfulness. One circumstance, which helps us to explain Boone's security while among the bands of roaming savages, and as we should suppose, in hourly dread of losing his life, was this : the forests of Kentucky, at that early period, were £lled with a species of nettle, which, being once trodden on, re- tained for a long time the impression of the foot, even a turkey might with ease be tracked in it. This weed the Indians, numer- ous and fearless, took no pains to avoid, while the solitary hunter never touched it ; it thus became to him a sure and easy means of knowing the presence, position, and numbers of his enemies, without betraying his own whereabouts. There is an anecdote of ])Oone, refcrrible to a different period, which gives a striking idea of such a stealthy life as he now led. He had approached the Licking river from the west, at the same time that another adventurer, Simon Kenton, had reached the borders of the valley from the east. Each paused to reconnoitre, before he left the covert of the woods ; and each ascertained the presence of another human being in the neighborhood. Then commenced a process on the part of each for learning who the other was, without re- vealing himself; and such was their mutually baffling power of concealment, that forty-eight hours passed before either could satisfy himself that the other was not an Indian, and a foe ! Squire Boone returned at the end of June, (1770,) and the two brothers continued to hunt together. Meanwhile a band called the Long Hunters, led by Captain James Knox, entered the territory on the south, and spent some time in it ; but Boone knew nothing of their proceedings. He and his brother remained about the vale of the Kentucky till the ensuing March, and then returned home, in order to bring more settlers, including Daniel's family. In the autumn, Boone was passing again into Kentucky, with five families besides his own, and forty other men, when, upon the 10th of October, unlooked-for as thunder from a clear sky, a 5* 64 DANIEL BOONE. band of Indians poured upon the rear of the little emigrant army a deadly fire. Women shrieked, children squalled, the cattle broke and ran, horses reared and plunged, the young men drew their rifles to their shoulders, and the old " treed" instantly. A few moments decided the matter : the whites were victors; but six dead men, and one badly wounded, gave them an idea of the nature of frontier life. Among the dead was Daniel's eldest son. The party retreated, and Boone spent another year in inactivity. During this time land-speculatoi's and surveyors poured into the land of Kentucky, and roused the hostility of the Indians to a high pitch. A party of eight hundred of them were only saved from destruction by Boone's undertaking, at the request of the governor of Virginia, (the Earl of Dunuiore,) to bring them off; in which duty he was perfectly successful. The contention between the colouistb uud tae unjtlicr country was now coming to a head j and it was iu liiu midst of teri'ors, inspired by the policy of the Britisli iu employing the Indians as allies, that the colonization of Kentucky took place. James Harrod was the first to buiid a house in that regiou ; this was iu 1774. Then one Richard Henderson, a Carolinian, by Boone's assistance, made a treaty with the Cherokees for certain lands lying between the Kentucky and Cumberland Ilivers, where it was proposed to establish a colony. The ground had still to bo .fought for with other tribss; but in spite of all obstacles, a fort of block-houses and cabiris was planted in the summer of 1775, at Boonesborough — the pioneer working with his axe in one hand and his rifle in the other. A sort of legislative council made laws for the new settlement, which was regarded as an off-shoot from the state of Virginia. Boone then returned to his family, which, with three others, he brought into Kentucky in Sei)tember. The four women of this party — Mrs. Boone, Mrs. M'Garry, Mrs. Denton, and Mrs. Hogan — were the first of white complexion who entered the country — the " mothers of the west." The war just then break- ing out, and all the horrors of Indian hostility impending, the heroism of these women deserves especial honor. SHAAVANEE CHIEF. P. 55. DANIEL BOONE. 55 tt soon became necessary to keep a careful watch upon tho movements of the Indians. All aloniz tho hnrW ih- impression gained strength that savages, instigated and backed by the British, would suddenly swoop down and lay all waste. The huted race of " c:ibin(>rs," those speculators who came out to obtain a pi-'jcuipaaa i ,-ii; uy Lu,i-,!iiig a cabin and planting a crop; the wretclu^dtrauiTs who were always wandering about the frontier; the hunters, who were revelling among the countless herds of game, now for the first time seen — all began, during the winter and spring of 177G, to draw closer to the stations. And within these stations men pat round the fire with loaded ritluri, aud LuiU u,lii- .....t, ui ua\ cituiu and peril with uevf interest, us every sound reminded them how near their deadly enemies mi "-lit be. And from hour to hour scouts came in with rumors of natives seen here and there; and parties of the bold rangers tightened their belts, and left the protection of their forts, to learn the truth of these alarms. But there was one who sat at such times silent, and seemingly unheeding, darning his hunting-shirt, or mending his leggins, or preparing his rifle-balls for use ; and yet to him all eyes often turned. Two or three together, the other hunters started by day-light to reconnoitre; silently he sat working until nightfall. Then noiselessly he went : none saw him go. But when they observed him gone, they would say, " Now we shall know something sure, for old Daniel's on the track." And when, by and bye, some one yet wakeful saw the shadow of Boone, as he reentered the cabin, he found, as usual, that the solitary scout had learned all that was to be known, and the watchful slept in peace. In July the storm broke upon the poor colonists, most of whom fled before the wrath of the Shawanese and Cherokees, leaving only a few determined little bands in the forts. It was a terrible time; yet Daniel Boone was never dismayed. One day his daughter and two other young girls were amusing themselves in a skifi" on the Kentucky, while several of the male settlers looked on. Suddenly they felt the boat taking a direction for the oppo- site shore. A lurking Indian bad swam in, and caught hold of 56 ■ DANIEL BOONE. it, and the poor children quickly found themselves prisoners amongst a band who had posted themselves in a little thicket close to the river. The settlers heard their* scream as. they were • caught and hurried oiF. It was some time before Boone, and a little party of friends, could cross to commence a pursuit, so that the Indians got the start for several miles. At daybreak he re- covei'ed their trail, but soon lost it again in a thick wood, to pene- trate which would have sadly impeded him. Life and death, freedom or captivity, hung upon the right use of every moment. Boone was not long at a loss 5 turning southward Vv'ith his com- panions, so as to leave the track upon his loft, having carefully observed its general direction, and feeling sure that the captors would take their prisoners to the Indian towns upon either the Scioto or Miami, he boldly struck forward, and travelled witii all speed thirty miles or more; then turning at right angles tv>w;irds the north, he looked narrowly for marks of the passage of the marauders. It was a bold and keen device, and the event proved it a sagacious one; for, after going a fcw^ miles they came upim the' Indian trail in one of the great buffalo paths. Inspirit*, d with ' new hope and strength, the whites pushed forward quickly, hut quietly, and on the alert, lest unexpectedly they might come upon the red men. And well was it that they used great caution ; for when, after going ten miles, they at length caught sight of the natives as they were leisurely, and half-stripped, preparing their dinner, the quick-eyed sons of the forest saw them as soon as they were themselves discovered. Boone had feared that, if their ap- proach was known, the girls would be killed instantly, and he was prepared for instant action. So soon, therefore, as the savages were seen, he and his companions fired, and then the v.diole-body rushed forward so suddenly, as to cause their opponents to take to their heels, without waiting for scalps, guns, knives, moccas- sins, or blankets ; and the three terrified girls were recovered unhurt. For two years the gallant Kentuckiaus maintained their posts amidst incredible hardships and dangers. It became difficult to supply themselves with food, as there was hardly any safety for -A CAPTURE OF DANIEL BOONE. P. 57. DANIEL BOONE. 57 cattle; and in hunting, men were frequently cut off by the prow- ling enemy. One day, as the women of Logan's fort were milking the cows, attended by a guard of men, the Indians made a sudden attack, and killed several persons. Such incidents were very harassing. The commander of this fort, after being beleaguered by the savages for some weeks, found himself running short of powder and shot, so that unless relief should come soon, it seemed inevitable that they should have to surrender. The required ammunition could only be got two hundred miles off, across a wild and mountainous country. Yet he resolved to make the attempt ; and he succeeded. Over mountain and vale, through tangled wood and brake, this man sped his way v.ith two companions, and on the tenth day he was once more within the fort. It is pleasant to know that the party was thus able to hold out till relieved. At the beginning of 1778 there were but three stations left, containing in all a hundred and ten men ; but the Indians had been baffled, and forced to retire behind the Ohio ; so that a small breathing-time was afforded to the settlers. At this time Boone was compelled to go, with thirty men, to the Blue Licks, in order to prepare salt for the use of his people. He had succeeded so far in his object, when a band of Indians fell upon him as he was hunting singly in the woods. He fled, but was soon overtaken, and made prisoner. His companions, obeying gestures made by him at a distance, surrendered, and the whole party was then march- ed off to a British post, where several officers interceded for the ran- som of Boone, but without success, for the chief had taken a fancy to him, and determined to make him one of themselves. Boone was actually obliged, for some months, to act the part of a Shawanese Indian, and to affect a reconciliation to their habits. He was made a son in some family, and caressed by father and mother, brothers and sisters, till he was thoroughly sick of them. Yet, to appearance, he was cheerful and happy. He took his part in their games and romps ; shot as near the centre of the target as a good hunter ought to do, and yet left the savage marksmen a chance to excel him ; and smiled, in his quiet eye, when he witnessed their joy at having done better than the best of the 5.8 DANIEL BOONE. Long Knives. He grew into favor with the chief, was trusted, treated with respect, and listened to with attention. After some months of captivity, he was called upon to accompany a salt- making party to Chillicothe; there he saw a body of 450 painted warriors, whom ho guessed to be on their way to Boonesborough, to make final work of it. Could he do nothing to save his family and friends ? It was IGO miles of wild country to Boonesborough, and not a friend by the way. Yet it was necessary he should try. So, on the morning of the IGth of June, he stole away without any breakfast, leaving an Indian father and mother in- consolable for his loss. Over hill and valley he sped, for four successive days, forty luiles a day, eating but one meal all the way. Such power there is in the human frame of withstanding all fatigue and hunger when the soul is alive and strong within us. He reached Boonesborough — and where was his wife ? Why did she not rush to meet him ? ''Bless your soul," said his old companions, as they hailed him like one risen from the dead, and shook his hand till it tingled, " she put into the settlements long ago ; she thought you was dead, Daniel, and packed up, and was off to Carolina, to the old man's." There was no time for regrets, for the Indians were expected. Days, however, passed without showing them ; and it was then ascertained that they were brought to a stand by his flight, believing that he must have given warn- ing of their approach. Some weeks after, learning that the country was clear of the Indians, he started with a party of nine- teen for the town on Paint Creek, ijitending probably to make some kind of reprisals. But this had neaidy proved a fatal step, for, by the way, he suddenly popped upon an Indian party going in the contrary direction. Judging from this circumstance that a larger body must be on its way to attack the settlements, he immediately turned back ; and it was well he did so just then, as he only got back a day before the Indians and British appear- ed in strength at Boonesborough. It was on the 8th of August that, with British and French flags flying, the dusky army gathered round the little fortress of logs, defended by its inconsiderable garrison. Captain Du- GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE. P. 60. DANIEL BOONE. 59 quesno, on behalf of hiy uiujesty King George III., summoned Captain Boone to surrender. It was, as Daniel had acknowledged in his journal, a critical period for him and his friends. Should they yield, what mercy could they look for ? and he especially, after his unkind flight from his Shawanese parents ? Should they refuse to yield, v.-liat hope of successful resistance ? And they had so much need of all their cattle to aid them in sustaining a siege, and yet their cows were abroad in the woods. Daniel pon- dered the matter, and concluded it would be safe, at any rate, to ask two days for consideration. It was granted, and he drove in his cows! The evening of the 9th soon arrived, however, and he must say one tiling or another; so he politely thanked the representative of his gracious majesty for giving the garrison time to prepare for their defence, and announced their determi- nation to fight. The British officers professed so much apparently sincere regret for this resolution, that Daniel was induced, after all, to come to a negotiation. It wj.^ to take place immediately beyond the widls of the fort, betwetm nine of the garrison and a party of the eucniy. To guard ngair.st treachery, the sharpest shooters stood upon the v/alls, ready to defend their friends. The treaty was nia;l.! and signed; and then the Indians, saying it was their custosn for two of them to shake hands with every white man when a treaty was made, expressed a wish to press the palms of their new allies. Boone and his comrades must have looked rather queer at this proposal ; but it seemed safer to accede than to refuse; so they presented each his hand. As anticipated, the warriors seized thorn with rough and fierce eagerness; the whites drew biick struggling; the treachery was apparent. The rifle- bails from the garrison struck down the foremost of the assailants of the little band ; and, amid a fire from friends and foes, Boone and his fellow-deputies bounded back into the station, with the exception of one, unhurt. The treaty-trick having thus failed. Captain Duquesne had to look to more ordinary modes of warfare; and opened a fire, which lasted ten days ; though to no purpose, for the woodsmen were determined not to yield. On the *20tli of August the In- 60 DANIEL BOONE. dians were forced unwillingly to retire, having lost thirty-seven of their number, and wasted a vast amount of powder and lead. The garrison picked up from the ground, after their departure, one hundred and twenty-five pounds of their bullets. It was amidst such scenes that the foundation of the state of Kentucky was laid, by a mere handful of rough, but high-spirited men. The year '78 was the crisis of its fate. But for the stand then made, it would probably have been no part of the American Union. Animated by the reports of the courage of the first settlers, multitudes now poured in, and soon placed it beyond all danger. In the ensuing events, the conspicuous man was George Rogers Clark, who took the British governor, Hamil- ton, prisoner at Vincennes. It is undoubted, however, that the real hero of the settlement was he who had first entered upon it, and who had stood by it through all its earliest and worst strug- gles — Daniel Boone This remarkable man closed his career in 1818, having lived to see Kentucky one of the most flourishing and populous states of the Union. WHALING ADVENTURES. The American spirit has found no more brilliant fields for the display of hardihood and enterprise th;m whaling afi'ords. The dangers to be encountered in the pursuit are recommendations rather than objections in the eyes of the bold and persevering seamen of New England. Long ago were the deeds of these men eulogized in one of the glorious speeches of Edmund Burke, which all must have read and admired ; and since the period when they called forth such praise, there has been no falling off in the charac- ter, Avhile there has been a great increase in the extent of their ex- ploits. New Bedford, Nantucket, New London, and Sag Harbor yearly send forth many ships for the prosecution of this profitable business. At those ports strange scenes occur, belonging exclusively to America. There the Yankee tar may be seen in his full perfec- tion ; with long and wiry limbs, hard features, keen eyes, nasal voice, and yarns that stretch to the " crack of doom." The Pa- cific is the destination of most of the vessels that sail from the New England ports. But many go to search for the valuable Greenland whale in the North Atlantic. The voyages frequently last three or four years — a long time for men to be absent from 6 (61) 62 WHALING ADVEi\TURES. their native land, and from their families and friends. Yet the number of persons engaged in the fishery shows that it possesses charms other than those of pecuniary profit. Its very perils — and they are numerous — cause many to join in it. They seek adventure as they seek food, and to be without some daring and difiicult exploit or '^ hair-breadth 'scape/' which may form the burden of a brag, is to them a sore deprivation. The whale is the largest of all known animals. Three varie- ties are distinguished ; the Greenland, called by the sailors the right whale, as being most highly prized by them; the great northern rorqual, called by fishers the razor-back, or finner, and the cachalot, or spermaceti whale. The common whale measures from sixty to seventy feet in length ; the mouth when open, is large enough to admit a ship's jolly boat, with all her men in it. It contains no teeth ; and enormous as the creature is, the open- ing to the throat is very nai-row, not more than one inch and a half across in the largest whale. The food of the whale consists of shrimps, small fishes, sea-snails and innumemble minute creatures, called medusae, which are found in those seas where the whales feed, in such vast quantities that they make the water of a deep green or olive color. In swallowing these, the whale takes in a great quantity of water, which passes back through the nostrils, and is collected in a bag, placed at the external orifice of the cavity of the nose, whence it is expelled by the pressure of pow- erful muscles through a very narrow opening in the top of the head. In this way, it spouts the water in beautiful jets from twenty to thirty feet in height. But enough information con- cerning the whale, the whale fishery, and the American whale- fishermen will be found in the following interesting narratives, to enable us to dispense with further description. No finer ship than the Essex ever sailed upon a whaling voy- age. She belonged to Nantucket, in whose harbor many a noblo craft finds anchorage. But the Essex was considered a stouter ship and a better sailer than any of her neighbors. She rode the waves as if a favorite of the winds. Her Captain, George Pol- lard, was a fine specimen of the New England tar. His voyages \niALING ADVENTURES. 63 had been iniiny, and liis experience was such as to entitle him to be called " an oM salt." Finn, dotcrmincd, skilful, ready wittcd and good-huuiorcd, he was crjually desirable as a commander or a companion. No one who had sailed under him had just cause to complain of his severity, while most loved him as if he were a provident father. Captain Pollard had a wife and daughter at Nantucket, who mourned his absence during his long and distant A'oyagcs; and he had more than once resolved to abandon his •sea life and seek some other means of procuring comfort and in- dependence for his family. Yet the resolution was not performed. However, it was understood, that the captain was about to make his last voyage. In August, 1819, the Essex was prepared for sea. Her whaling equipment was renewed, and a plentiful stock of provi- sions was shipped. Her crew consisted of 21 men, fourteen of whom were whites, mostly belonging to Nantucket; the remain- der were blacks. Siie was destined for the Pacific. Every thing being ready. Captain Pollard bade his weeping wife and daughter an affectionate farewell, brushed the tear from his manly cheek, stepped aboard of his vessel — his kingdom, and ordered his men to weigh anchor. As the vessel was moving out, a violent storm arose, and she was forced to put back. The Yankee sailors arc not very superstitious, but they have their notions of signs and omens, and such an incident was not regarded as favorable. But the storm soon passed, and once more the Esses set her bow sea- wai-d. As the houses of Nantucket were lessening in the dis- tance, and as the town assumed the appearance of a black line upon the waves, Captain Pollard and the first mate, Owen Chase, stood upon the deck in conversation. Owen, a long and hungry- looking creature, as hard as the granite of his native New Hamp- shire, had observed the captain wearing an unusually solemn countenance, and as he gazed intently at his fading home, biting his lip to suppress his emotion. " Nantucket '11 soon be jest any where but in sight, Cap'n. It '11 be a short spell afore we get it within range again," said the mate, prying indirectly at the Captain's thoughts and feelings. 64 WHALING ADVENTURES. '' YeS; Chase, a long time will elapse before we'll touch home asrain. Confound it ! I don't know what has come over mc. I never felt so streaked and down in the mouth on leaving land before." "Better take a glass of grog, Cap'n. Prehaps your sto- mach's out of order, and that makes you feel queerish/' said the mate. " Well, that may be the case," replied Pollard, unwilling to let the mate into the real state of aifairs. " That may be the case. You must come and take a glass with me. But, I say, did you ever take to mind what an unfortunate name for a ves- sel, this Esses is? I don't think there ever was a lucky vessel that bore it." " Wull, now I come to think, there have been several vessels that have been christened so, that have gone down. Some names seem to have a hard fate always tied to them. But this is a noble ship, and arter all's said and done, there's no rule on the subject." "Just so," said the Captain, whatever he thought, and the two descended to his cabin. We pass over the monotonous days of the voyage which ensued. That monotony was unbroken until the Essex arrived at the whaling ground. The sailors laughed and joked, and spun yarns, and wormed themselves into each other's secrets; and then, becoming tired, longed for new faces and new scenes. In November of the nest year, in latitude 0° 40' S., longitude 119° W., the crew had the gratification of discovering a school of whales. The boats were instantly man- ned; they were always equipped with lines, harpoons, &c., and prepared for service. The Captain commanded in one boat; the first mate and the second mate controlled the movements of the other two. The esperienced eye of the first mate soon detected a young whale beside its dam. The Avhale shows great affection for her young, which is called the calf. The fishermen well know this, and turn it to their own account. They try to strike the young with the strong barbed harpoon, and if they do this they are al- WHALING ADVENTURES. 65 jure of securing the mother also, as nothing will induce her to leave it. Boswell caused his men to row towards the calf, which was about half the size of its monstrous mother; and when within about fifty feet of it, he struck the harpoon into its back, forwards, towards the fins. The first effort of the stricken fish was to es- cape from the boat by sinking, its mother remaining alongside of it. Down — down it went, taking the line with it at such a rapid rate, that tne side of the boat was several times on fire from the friction. But the fish cannot remain long under water; it was forced to rise in about a quarter of an hour, and by that time, the other two boats were in the vicinity. The mother rose about the same time, and expressed her sympathy with the convulsive throes of her calf, by striking the water with her fins and tail with such tremendous force, that the sea was covered with foam, and the boats were in great danger of being destroyed. In these circumstances, Pollard and his men displayed great presence of mind and daring courage. Three or four more harpoons were thrown at the calf, lances pierced its vitals; it spouted streams of blood, and at length lay dead upon the water. The mother now displayed her affection by swimming around it, rolling over with it, and furiously striking around with her tail. She made no attempt to escape, though the fatal harpoon was thrown into her body ; and after receiving many wounds from the persevering foe, she died beside her offspring. The sea around was dyed with blood, and covered with foam. The death of the game, which was made evident by their lying still, and upon their Bides, was welcomed with loud hurrahs and striking of flags. Every boat fast to a living whale carries a flag, and the ship to which such boat belongs also wears a flag until the whale is either killed or makes its escape. These signals serve to indicate to Burrounding ships the exclusive title of the " fast ship," to the entangled whale, and to prevent their interference, exfX3pt in the way of assistance in the capture. Both these whales were secured within forty minutes from the time of the throwing of the first harpoon. The average length of time consumed in the capture of a whale m'^y be stated 66 WHALING ADVENTURES. at an liour. But active and skillful fishermen, under favorable circumstances will often secure their prey within one-half that time. Our triumphant hunters of the sea had now to perform tbo more laborious, though less dangerous part of their work. Two holes were pierced in the tail of each, and a rope passed several times through them was fastened to the bows of the boats of the Captain and first mate. The difficult operation of freeing the whales from the entanglement of the lines was then attempted. As the whales lay on their sides, the lines and harpoons were far under water. As they hung obliquely they were hooked up with a grapnel, though not without considerable exertion, and cut. While this was in progress, the men of the second mate's boat employed themselves in fastening their boat to the bow of the first mate's to aid in towing the large whale towards the ship. Signals being made, the ship steered for the boats. The fish being towed to the vessel, were taken to the larboard side and arranged for flensing, as the operation of securing the whalebone and blubber is called. The following account of the arrangement and performance may not be uninteresting. " Towards the stern of the ship, the head of the fish is directed _ and the tail, which is first cut oiF, sent abreast of the fore chains. The smallest or posterior part of the whale's body, where the tail is united, is called the rump, and the extremity or anterior part c^f the head is drawn in an opposite direction by means of the nose tackles. Hence, the body of the fish is forcibly extended. The right-side fin, being next the ship is lashed upwards towards the gunnel. A band of blubber, two or three feet in width, en- circling a fish's body, and lying between the fins and the head, being the fat of the neck, or what corresponds to the neck in other animals, is called the henty because by means of it the fish is turned over or hented. In the commencement of this band of fat or kent is fixed the lower extremity of a combination of pow- erful blocks, called the hent purchase. Its upper extremity is fixed round the head of the main mast, and ha fall or rope is ap- plied to the windlass, drawn tight, and the uj^per surface of the WHALING ADVENTURES. 67 fish risiniT several inches above tlic water. The enormous weight of a whalo prevents the possibility of raising it more than one fourth, or one fifth part out of the water, except, indeed, when it has been some days dead, in which case it swells in consequence of air generated by putrefaction, until one third of its bulk ap- pears above the surface ; the fish then lying belly upwards, ex- tended and well secured, is ready f(ir the operation of flensing. " After the whale is properly secured along side of the ship, the harpooners, having their feet armed with spurs, to prevent them from slipping, descend upon the fish Two boats, each of which is under the guidance of one or two boys, atte'nd upon them, and serve to hold all their knives, and other apparatus. Thus pro- vided, the harpooners, directed by the specksioner,* divide the fat into oblong pieces, or 'slips,' by means of 'blubber spades' and 'blubber knives;' then afiixing a 'speck-tackle' to each slip, flay it progressively off", as it is drawn upwards. The speck- tackles, which are two or three in number, are rendered eff'ective by capstern winches, or other mechanical powers. The flensera commence with the belly and under jaw, being the only part then above water. The blubber, in pieces of half a ton each, is re- ceived on deck, and divided into portable, cubical, or oblong pieces, containing near a solid foot of fat, and passed down be- tween decks, when it is packed in a receptacle provided for it in the hold, or other suitable place, called the flens-gut, where it remains until fuither convenience. " All the fat being taken av,-ay from the belly, and the right fin removed, the fi.sh is then turned round on its side by means of the kent, which, by the power of tlie windlass, readily performs this office. The upper surface of fat is again removed, together with the left fin, and after a second kentiug, one of the ' lips' is taken away, by which the whalebone of one side of the head, now lying -nearly horizontal, is exposed. The fish being a little further turned, the whalebone of the left side is dislodged by the * Tho name of this officer was introduced by the Dutch, and is derived from the word specie, which, in their hmguage, is aiiplied to the fr.i of tlio whale, as well as to that of other animals. 68 WHALING ADVENTURES. use of "bono hand-spikes," ''bone knives," and ''bone spades." These constitute what are called " bone geer," and are used, with the assistance of speck-tackles, for taking up the whalebone in one mass. On its arrival on deck it is split with bone wedgca into 'junks,' containing five to ten blades each, and stowed away. A further kenting brings the fish's back upward, and the next exposes the second side of bone. As the fish is turned round, every part of the blubber becomes successively uppermost, and is removed. At length, when the whole of the blubber, whalebone, and jaw bones have been taken on board, the kent, which now appears a slip of perhaps 30 feet in length, is also separated, to- gether with the rump rope, and nose tackle, on which the car- cass, being at liberty, generally sinks in the water and disap- pears. " When sharks are present, they generally help themselves very plentifully during the progress of the flensing; but they often pay for their temerity with their lives. Fulmars pay close at- tendance in immense numbers. They seize the fragments occa- sionally disengaged by the knife, while they are swimming in the water; but most of the other gulls, who attend on the occa- sion, take their share on the wing. The burgomaster is decidedly master of the feast. Hence every bird is obliged to relinquish the most delicious morsel, when the burgomaster descends to claim it. "When despatch is seconded by ability, the operation of flensing can be performed on a whale, affording 20 or 30 tons of blubber. in the space of three or four hours. Flensing in a swell is a most difficult and dangerous undertaking, and when the swell is considerable, it is commonly impracticable. No ropes or blocks are capable of bearing the jerk of the sea. The hai'pooners are annoyed by the surge, and repeatedly drenched in water, and are likewise subject to be wounded by the breaking of ropes, or hooks, or tackles, and even by strokes from each other's knives. Hence, accidents in this kind of flensing are not uncommon. The har- pooncrs not unfrecpently fall into the fish's niou'ih, when it is WHALING ADVENTURES. 69 jxposed by the removal of a surface of blubber ; -wlicrc tbey miglit easily be drowned, but for prompt assistance." Our fishermen performed the flensing process •with much good humor and activity. The kreug, or carcass of the large whale was out adrift, and the flensing of the young one was completed, when a terrible accident occurred. | Chase stood on one of the jaw bones of the fish, with a boat by his side. In this situation, while he was in the act of cutting the kreng adrift, a boy inadvertently stuck the point of the boat- hook, by which he usually held the boat, through the ring of Chase's spur, and in the same act seized the jaw bone of the fish with the hook of the same instrument. Before this was disco- vered the kreng was set at liberty, and began instantly to sink. The mate then threw himself towards the boat, but being firmly entangled by the foot, he fell into the water. Providentially he caught the gunwale of the boat with both hands ; but overpow- ered by the force of the sinking kreng, he was on the point of relinquishing his grasp, when some of his companions got hold of his hands while others threw a rope round his body. The carcass of the fish was now suspended entirely by his body, which was consequently so dreadfully extended, that there was some dancer of his bcin"; drawn asunder. But such was his terror of being taken under water, that notwithstanding the excruciating pain he sufi'ered, he constantly cried to his companions to " haul away the rope." He remained in this dreadful state until means were adapted for hooking the kreng with a grapnel, and drawing it back to the surface of the water. Chase was not much injured by the immense strain which he had endured. Ho received the congratulations of his companions t;pon his escape. Pollard expressed the opinion that he was worth a dozen men yet. The crew now set about " making ofi"," the finishing process of the fishery. While the line-managers and a few others were enaaced in clearing out the hold, the rest of the crew on deck arranged all the variety of apparatus used for the preparation of the blubber before it is put into the casks. The "krengers" 70 WHALING ADVKNTURES. cleared it of the muscular and sinewy pints : the ''skinners" removed the skin ; the " choppers" cut the blu'ober into oblong pieces, not exceeding four inches in diameter, and the men in the hold, packed it in casks, which were arranged in tiers. In the meantime, a good look out was kept from the "crow's nest" in the maintop, for more game. So far the Essex had been fortunate, and the gloom had passed from her captain's mind. A good lot of blubber was in the hold, and much profit was promised. But a few daj-s after, misfortune began to assert her sway. The look-out gave the signal of a school of whalea being in sight. In pursuing them, the mate's boat was stove, and he was forced to return to the .'^lJilliJllWllvl'>i"'>i ''•Mv'ii^^ HUXTEKS IN SOUTH AFRICA. Ill elephant was dying, but I continued firing to hasten his demise. Towards the end he took up a position in a dense thorny thicket, where for a long time he remained. Approaching within twelve paces, I fired my two last shots, aiming at his left side, close be- hind the shoulder. On receiving these he backed slowly through the thicket, and, clearing it, walked gently forward about twenty yards, when he suddenly came down with tremendous violence right on his broadside. To my intense mortiticatiou, the heavy fall was accompanied by a loud sharp crack, and on going up I found one of his matchless tusks broken short off by the lip. This was a glorious day's sport : I had bagged in one afternoon probably the two finest bull elephants in Bamangwato, and had it not been for the destruction of their noble trophies, which were the two finest pair of tusks I had obtained that season, my triumph on the occasion had been great and unalloyed. " I was now languid and faint from excessive thirst, and the nearest water was still very remote. Being joined by the natives we quickly proceeded to divest the side of the elephant of a large sheet of the outer skin, when of tlie under one we constructed a pair of water-bags, with which two of the natives set out, leading along with them the dogs and horses; nor did they rejoin us till after midnight, having lost their reckoning by the way. Their comrades who were with me, conjecturing the cause of the delay, requested me to fire signal-shots at intervals throughout the night, which was the means of their eventually reaching their destination. At an early hour on the following day, leaving Kleinboy with the natives to look after the ivory, I set out with two men to shuw them where the other elephant lay, and thence to continue uiy w;\y to camp. " I continued hunting to the eastward of Bamangwato until the 3rd of October, during which time I added four other noble elephants, besides rhinoceroses and other animals, to my already satisfactory list of game." Sir Cornwallis Harris met with many adventures of a thrilling nature, of which the following may serve as a specimen : — •" On the morning of the 9th of October, when the wagons had 112 HUNTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. started on their way to the Meritsane river our next stage, 1 turned off the road in pursuit of a group of brindled gnoos, and presently came upon another which was joined by a third still larger ; then by a vast herd of zebras, and again by more gnoos, with sassabes and hartebeests pouring down from every quarter, until the landscape literally presented the appearance of a moving mass of gamj3. Their incredible numbers so impeded their pro- gress, that I had no difficulty in closing in with them, dismount- ing as opportunity offered, firing both barrels of my rifle into the retreating phalanx, and leaving the ground strewed with the slain. Still unsatisfied, I could not resist the temptation of mix- ing with the fugitives, loading and firing, until my jaded horse suddenly exhibited symptoms of distress, and shortly afterwards was unable to move. At this moment I discovered that I had dropped my pocket compass, and being unwilling to lose so valu- able an ally, I turned loose my steed to graze, and retraced my steps several miles without success ; the prints of my horse's hoofs being at length lost in those of the countless herds which had crossed the plain. Completely absorbed in the chase, I had retained but an imperfect idea of my locality, but returning to my horse, I led him in what I believed to be a north-easterly di- rection, knowing from a sketch of the country which had been given me by cur excellent friend, Mr. Moffatt, and which together with drawing materials, I carried about me, that that course would eventually bring me to the Meritsane. After dragging my weary horse nearly the whole of the day, under a burning sun, my flagging spirits were at length revived by the appearance of several villaij-es. Under other circumstances I should have avoided intercourse with their inhospitable inmates, but dying with thirst, I eagerly entered each in succession, and tomy inex- j.re.'sible astonishment found them deserted; the same evidence exi.-.tiug of their having been recently inhabited. I shot a harte- bccst, in the hope that the smell of meat would as usual bring some stragglers to the spot, but no : the keen-sighted vultures, that were my only attendants, descended in multitudes, but no woolly-headed negro appeared to dispute the prey. In many of ilim,'""-'^' '""'"i; HUNTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 113 the trees I observed large tliatclied houses resembling hay-stacks, and under the impression that these had been erected in so sin- gular a position by the natives as a measure of security against the lions, whose recent tracks I distinguished in every direction, I ascended more than one in the hope of at least finding some vessel containing water ; alas ! they proved to be the habitations of large communities of social grosbeaks, those winged republi- cans, of whose architecture and magnificent edifices, I had till now entertained a very inadequate conception. Faint and bewil- dered, my prospects began to brighten as the shadows of evening lengthened ; large troops of ostriches running in one direction plainly indicated that I was approaching water, and immediately afterwards I struck into a path impressed with the foot-marks of women and children, soon arriving at a nearly dry river, which, running east and west, I at once concluded to be that of which I was in search. " Those only who have suffered as I did during this day from prolonged thirst, can form a competent idea of the delight, and, I may say, energy, afforded me by the first draught of the putrid waters of the Mcritsane. They equally invigorated my exhausted steed, which I mounted immediately, and cantered up the bank of the river, in order, if possible, to reach the wagons before dark. The banks are precipitous, the channels deep, broken, and rocky, clusters of reeds and long grass indicating those spots which retain the water during the hot months. It was with no small difiiculty, after crossing the river, that I forced my way through the broad belt of tangled bushes which margined the edge. The moonless night was fast closing round, and my weary horse again began to droop. The lions, commencing their nightly prowl, were roaring in all directions, and no friendly fire or bea- con presenting itself to my view, the only alternative was to bivouac where I was, and to renew my search in the morning. Kindling a fire, I formed a thick bush into a pretty secure hut, Dy cutting away the middle, and closing the entrance with thorns; and having knee-haltered my horse, to prevent his straying, I proceeded to dine upon a guinea-fowl that I had killed, comfort- 10* T14 HUNTERS IK SOUTH AFRICA. ing myself with another draught otaquapura. The inonarcbs of the forest roared incessantly, Jind so alarmed my horse tliat 1 was obliged repeatedly to fire my riflo to give him confidence. It was piercingly cold, and all my fuel being expended, I sufl'ercd as much from the chill, as I had during the day from the scorch- ing heat. About three o'clock, completely overcome by fatigue, I could keep my eyes open no longer, and commending myself to the protecting care of Providence, fell into a profound sleep. On opening my eyes, my first thought was of my horse. I started from my heathy bed in the hope of finding him where I had last seen him, but his place was empty. I roamed everywhere in search of him, and ascended trees which offered a good look out; but he was nowhere to be seen. It was more than probable that he bad been eaten by lions, and I had almost given up the search iu despair, when I at length found his footmark, and traced him to a deep hollow near the river, where he was quietly grazing. The night's rest, if so it could be called, had restored him te strength, and I pursued my journey along the bank of the river, which I now crossed opposite to the site of some former scene of strife, marked by numerous human bones, bleached by exposure. A little further on I disturbed a large lion, which walked slowly off, occasionally stopping and looking over his shoulder, as he deliberately ascended the opposite bank. In half an hour I reached the end of the jungle; and discovered the wagon road ; but, as I could detect no recent traces of it, I turned to the southward, and, after riding eight miles in the direction of Siek- lajole, had the satisfaction of perceiving the wagons drawn up under a large tree in the middle of the plain." DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. Within the beautiful port of Genoa, lay at anchor a French frigate of forty-two guns, dressed out in splendid array, with all the ensigns of the maritime world, to commemorate the anniversary of the Republic of France : the day was most auspicious — light airs displayed the flags to the admiring gaze of the distingue of Genoa, many of whom crowded the variegated gondolas that flocked round the frigate, whilst others traversed the 3Iole from end to end, praising the equipment of this superb vessel, which seemed equally adapted for defence and flight ; her tiers of guns, rdised high above the surface of the sea, frowned defiance to all, whilst her exquisite construction stamped her the fastest sailer out of France. In the distribution of her flags, it was observed that a marked preference' was given to those of the most favoured nations of the new Republic ; the stars of the United American States waved from the fore-royal-mast head, whilst those flags belonging to Holland and the Italian States, had lofty positions avo-) 116 DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. assigned them. In vain did the eje look above her gunwale for a flag belonging to England, none floated in the breeze ; but, oh, horror to English eyes ! was seen extended and drooping from the frigate's head-rails, the glorious ensign of St. George for England. Here was a sight for Frenchmen to revel in, and here, also, was a sight that filled some hundreds of English hearts with indignation, as they looked from the deck of a British line-of-battle ship rid- ing at anchor in the outer roads. This ship, the Berwick, Capt. Littlejohn, had lately arrived, to gain intelligence of the route taken by the French fleet after its departure from Toulon, with a considerable armament, under General Bonaparte. The performance of this duty was soon cut short by an unlooked-for event; for whilst the captain was pacing the quarter-deck, his attention became directed to the advance of a numerous body of his ship's company, who, in respectful terms and manner, pointed towards the outrageous insult offered by the French frigate before their eyes, and humbly asked his permis- sion to proceed in the boats, and tear down the British flag from its disgraceful position. This application was accompanied by a shrewd remark by one of the delegates, saying, that although the French ship was protected by the neutrality of the port, yet that protection became forfeited by the hostile breach so conspicuously displayed before the Genoese, in face of a British man-of-war of seventy-four guns. This harangue was, however, stopped by the captain, who, whilst applauding their attachment to their king and country, cautioned them to refrain from all violent acts, as measures would be taken by himself and the English Consul for the immediate removal of the cause of irritation, in a suitable and dignified man- ner; he, therefore, on dismissing the delegates, proceeded toward^ the shore for the completion of his object. We will here pause for a moment, and endeavour to describe the internal state of this ship. Soon after the captain's departure, the principal officers retired from the quarter-deck, and as noon was fast approaching, they assembled together in the ward-room, agreeable to custom, pflfering up libations to the rosy god in a DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. 117 style not practised in these more refined times. Whilst thus re- freshing themselves, quietness seemed to reign throughout the upper decks ; for although much feeling was exhibited by tho officers on the occasion of the Frenchman's insult, yet no sooner was the captain gone, than, drinking success to the war, they became passive on the subject, owing to the reliance they placed on the known energies of their commander. But far different was the scene below ; a master spirit, in the person of George Manson, a Scotch youth (foretop-man) was stirring up for volun- teers to avenge the dishonour cast upon the British navy. Already fifty of the boldest were busily employed arming themselves with weapons of every kind ; and all sorts of ammunition especially twelve-pounder cartridges, and canister-shot, were divided amongst them, fully determined to carry the French frigate or perish in the attempt; their leader also pointed out to each their several parts, and great stress was laid upon that party armed with tomahawks to cut away the tackle belonging to the bow-chasers, on the forecastle on the instant of possession, and point their muzzles towards the quarter-deck. These premises being understood, they shook hands with all, and appeared as if prepared for some chivalrous show instead of a deadly en- counter. At the hour of twelve, three boats floating astern were hauled close under the fore-chains, thus enabling the undaunted fifty to pass into them through the port-holes unobserved by the officers ; and it was not till the desperadoes had reached several hundred yards on their way, that the officers became aware of their absence ; consequently, the few shot fired to compel thejr return were found perfectly useless and thrown away. And now all on board were on the lookout for the result; every telescope was put in requisition, but not a word escaped the lips of the anxious crew during the dread interval of the boats passing from the Berwick to the frigate's buoy; when the silence became broken by the discharge of a musket from the French sentinel on the gangway. '' They will be cut to pieces," cried a veteran marine officer. In a few seconds more the boats were alongside 118 DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILOKS. under the fore-ebains. "They are at it/' exclaimed several voices. Pistol reports, shouts, and loud cries were distinctly heard from the frigate; whilst the gay multitude on the mole were seen running about in evident distraction. Another minute passed, v/hen a loud boom from a great gun on board the frigate announced to their anxious minds the progress of the enterprise; and in ten minutes from that ominous sound, the French frigate was seen under a loosed fore-topsail, and staysail half hoisted, slowly leaving the port exposed to the fire of the batteries on the mole : but it was evident to all spectators that the master spirit, George Manson, derided all their efforts to stop her; and to crown his extraordinary success, St. George's ensign was seen at the main towering over the tricolor of France ! '' It must be noticed that when the commanding officer of H. M. S. Berwick found all his efforts ineffectual to recall the fugi- tive boats, he instantly gave orders for hoisting out the launch ; and as this operation usually takes several minutes, it was scarce- ly afloat when it became necessary to despatch her with a strong division of officers and men, towards the approaching frigate, which they soon anchored in safety under the protection of the Berwick. Thus did the French frigate L'Unite in one short hour be- come a captive to an intrepid band of seamen belonging to the nation they so wantonly contemned. Even her very flags, (the cause of the strife,) so gaily waving in the air in regular order and succession, now lay xipon the yards and rigging in wisps and folds, unseemly to the sight ; whilst her decks were covered with the blood of dead warriors, who lay scattered about, marked with ghastly wounds terrific to behold. It is difficult to describe the ferment which arose in the city of Genoa on seeing L'Unite in a state of confusion, leaving their harbour under English colours. At one period they insisted upon the detention of Capt. Littlejohn until England had satisfied their demands consequent upon the violation of the port, according to the practice of civilized nations ; but that officer had wisely em- barked the moment the fracas was announced, and joined his DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. 119 ship, to tliG great, joy of the. Urifi.sh Consul, who advised the de- tention of the French frigate till he had reported the "catasti'Ophe" to the commander-in-chief (Eurl St. Vincent;) so off sailed the Berwick and L'Unito from tha Italian shores, shaping their course, under a cro'.vd of sail, for Gibraltar, assisted by a fair wind that not only gave them promise of a short voyage, but Enabled the captain to hold a cnuuci! with his ofiiccrs on an cx- pliiit unparu'.k'ii'd in the annals of warfare. The result of this procedure showed that fifty British seamen, in broad open day, boarded and took a French frigate of forty-two guns, and three hundred and fifty men : all of whom were either killed or driven overboard, at the sacrifice of thirty-five mca killed, and the re- maining fifteen men wounded, who, notwithstanding their severe hurts, managed to cut the frigate's cable, loose the foretopsail, and with George Manson at the helm steered out of port, to the astonishment of the natives. The arrival of II. M. S. Berv/ick with L'Unite was hailed with great joy and commendations by earl St. Vincent. The frigate was now announced as a priz3, and commissioned instanter ; thus becoming one of the fleet belonging to the command of the noble earl, who testified his approbation of the gallant deeds of George Manson and his intrepid followers by giving direction for their dispersion amongst his fleet, and on their recovery, to be brought forward as officers, and cherished their hopes with pro- mises of advancement when they had qualified for the rank of lieutenant. Here we leave his brethren tars to their fortunes, and keep only to those of George Manson ; accordingly, we find him equipped in midshipman's uniform by tiio bounty of his benevo- lent superiors, and aided by the chaplain in acquiring the art of navigation, soon became qualified to pass his examination for a lieutenant. Thus having passed this ordeal, he received an act- ing order to do duty as lieutenant; which duty he faithfull}'^ per- formed till his ship was paid off, and then he became of course a gentleman at large. Several years had now passed since the afitiir of taking 120 DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. L'Uuite ; he naturally became surprised and uneasy at not receiv- ing his full commission as lieutenant in the navy ; but, having reached London, he determined upon making application at the fountain-head. So, entering the admiralty hall with a heart beat- ing high with hopes of preferment, he sent up his card, not doubt- ing but the hall would soon resound with the echoes of his name ; but hour after hour passed without the least mention of George Manson. In this state of suspense he stepped towards the porter, asking him if he was sure he had delivered his card. " Quite certain," replied Old BluiF; " and what's more, you may dance attendance here many a day ere you see the Great Man I" This was sad news to the young hero, — and too true he found it ; for not only days, but weeks and months passed away without the smallest notice being taken of him. At length his eyes were opened by a kind friend, who whispered the fatal truth that, however the noble earl St. Vincent might view the affair of L'Uuite at Gibraltar, the principal ministers of government looked upon it as an untoward act. " What I" said George Manson, " have they not kept the French frigate, and do they disavow the captor ? I have got Lord St. Vincent's promise in my pocket, and am determined to show it to his lordship, and would do so this moment if I could get at him. However, I will try once more." So the next day George Manson was seen in close confab with the porter at the Admiralty; who, moved with compassion at the recital of his sufferings, and yielding to a persuasive golden argument practised in those venal times, took our hero's card for the last time. But vain was the attempt — a positive refusal was given. This was a thunderbolt to his hopes ! What was to be done ? Aye, there was the rub. jMost men under similar cir- cumstances, would have done "a deed of dreadful note." Not so our hero — he was made of sterner stuff — he set about finding out the day his lordship was to have a party j and having succeeded in learning that Earl St. Vincent was to give a grand entertain- DARING EXPLOIT OF BRITISH SAILORS. 121 meut and ball upon an appointed day, he therefore made prepa- rations for being there also. Accordingly, he is seen stepping from a carriage, on the evening in question, at his lordship's residence, dressed as a lieutenant in full uniform. Up went Lieutenant Manson's name, and up ho wended his way along the crowded staircase, and with firm step entered the suite of rooms filled by the elite of the town, and, after some difficulty, which he declared was worse than boarding the Frenchman, found himself in the presence of .the veteran earl. ''Have you brought despatches, sir?" said the earl. " No : but I have brought your lordship a letter, which I now have the honour to present." " Why, it is from myself !" " Yes, my lord ; and I am come to receive the fulfilment of the promise contained therein." His lordship looked again at the letter, and then, with a fixed look, said to Greorge Manson, " call sir, at the Admiralty to-morrow, and there receive your lieutenant's commission !" The promptness of his lordship's reply fixed G-eorge Manson like a statue. A gush of tears came to his relief, and he was soon restored to his senses by finding himself pressed on all sides with congratulations on his well-merited promotion (for the earl had whispered his history in a few words.) Thus he joined in the festivities of the evening, and the next day George Manson was seen, with elastic step and joyful countenance, leaving the Admiralty with his commission in his pocket, as Lieutenant of H. M. sloop Moselle, in January, 1805. 11 TIM. LIFE IN IRELAND. > Since, Witu 1)n a fino bright August morning, ?o\v.e t my trusty Mantoii in my ijnnd, and nc'com, -y a favourite setter, I str-jHe;! up the mountain, whicli overhung a friend's shooting lodge in Connehiara. For some time, i was tolerably successful in my sport; bird after bird sprang- n:-. from the heather, only to find its way into my capacious pockets; and i)y twelve o'clock I fnind I had secured more game than I could well stow away. Cursing my want of forethought, which had prevented toe from accepting the services of J'.t least one of the dozen lazy (122) LIFE IN IRELAND. 123 liangers-on at tlie lodge, I determined on retracing my footsteps, with what feelings I leave it to my brother sportsmen to decide. Fortune, however, had better luck in store for me. I had not moved ten yards from the spot where I had been standing, when a thin blue wreath of smoke, curling over the shoulder of a mountain far away to the right, attracted my atten- tion. Certain, now, of discovering some house where I might deposit my spoil, and obtain shelter from the heat which was be- coming intense, I drew my shot-belt tighter around me, and shouldering my gun, pushed briskly forward — now plunging to the hips in the tall heather, now threading my way through a morass — till, after half-an-hour's hard work, I reached a small low cabin at the top of a narrow glen, and out of the chimney of which the smoke was pouring in considerable volumes. I had been long enough in Connemara to more than half suspect I had come unawares on an illicit still ; indeed the day before, I had heard there was one in full operation somewhere in these mountains, so without farther ceremony than the usual Irish benediction of 'God save all here' (to which the over-scrupulous add, ' except the cat,') I pushed open the door and entered the cabin. A tall, fine-looking girl, whom I immediately recognized as an old acquaintance, having frequently seen her at the lodge, was seated on a low stool in the centre of the apartment, while a stout, middle-aged countryman, dressed in a long frieze coat and knee breeches, but without shoes or stockings, was on his knees in a corner blowing away with a pair of old bellows at a turf fire, on which hung what appeared to my uninitiated eyes an immense pot. My sudden entrance evidently startled him not a little, for, springing to his feet, he grasped a stout blackthorn stick that lay beside him, and stared at me for a moment with a countenance in which fear and rage were curiously blended. Not so the girl. She rose from her seat and welcomed me to the cabin, with that gay, frank, and peculiarly Irish hospitality, which, i'll be sworn, 124 LIFE IN IRELAND. has gladdened the heart of many a weary sportsman like myself. " A, thin, bud yer honour's welcome. It's happy and proud we are to see you. Tim, you unmannerly thief, what are you starin' for, as if ye seen the gauger ? Don't ye see the master's frind standin' foreninst you ? and yer caubeen on your head, ye amathaun !" Tim doffed his hat with much reverence. He " axed my honour's pardon ;. but the thievin' gangers wor gettin' so plenty, that a poor boy could hardly get done a hand's turn without havin' them on his tracks." I looked at the fellow as he spoke. There was none of that bru- tal, debauched look about him which distinguishes the English law-breaker. On the contrary, he was a very fair specimen of an Irish peasant; and, as I examined his honest, manly countenance, I could not help feeling strong misgivings as to the righteousness of the excise laws. Whether this feeling was caused by the de- licious smell of the 'potheen' that pervaded the room, I leave to the charitably disposed reader to decide. Meantime, a bottle tilled with the aforesaid potheen was placed on the table by the girl, and consigning my Manton to a corner and emptying my pockets on the dresser, I speedily came to the conclusion that there are worse places than an Irish still- house for a tired sportsman to rest in. I had hardly drained the first glass to the health of my fair hostess, when a little ragged, sunburnt gossoon rushed into the cabin, and, clasping his hands above his head, broke out into the most unearthly yell I ever heard. " Och ! wirr-as-thrue, murder ! — och hone ! och hone ! Save yourselves for the sake of the blessed Vargin ! "We're sowld ! — the peelers are an us !" Tim jumped from his seat as he spoke, and, seizing him by the collar, shook him violently, — " Who ? what ? — How many is in it ? Spake, you young reprobate, or, by Jabers, I'll make short work of you!" " There's two ! — bad luck to them !" sobbed out the poor boy. LIFE IN IRELAND. * 125 "They kem round the priest's pass, and were an me afore I could bless myself." "Then the devil resave the drop of sparits they'll seize there to-day !" said Tim, as his eye fell on my double-barrel that was leaniufi: acrainst the wall beside me. "Come, my fine fellow," I cried, "that won't do. I'll do what I can for you. But you had better not try that." We had no time for further parley, for the next moment the heavy tramp of footsteps was heard without, and two revenue policemen, with fixed bayonets, entered the cabin. " A purty mornin's work you have made of it, Misther Con- nolly," said the foremost of the pair, "but a mighty expensive one, I'm thinkin.' Long threatnin' comes at last. I towld you I'd be on your thrack afore long, and I've kept my word. Guard the door Jim, and let no one pass out." " An' I towld you," said Tim, his face darkening as he spoke — " I towld you I'd be even wid you for what ye did to poor Hugh Connor. So pass on your way, and lave me and mine alone, or it '11 be the worst job ever you put a hand in." " I must first see what 3-ou have on the fire, my good lad," said the man : " so make way there, in the queen's name." " It ill becomes the like of ye to have the queen's name in yer mouth, ye dirty informer," said Tim. " So pass on yer way — I say again — or the divil a bit of this world's bread ever you '11 cat." " We '11 try that presently," said the policeman, coolly : "Jim, keep an eye on the girl that she doesn't bolt on ye — she's as cunnin' as a fox." So saying, and lowering his carbine, he attempted to pass Tim, but in doing so, he evidently reckoned without his host, for, with a shout like a Delaware Indian, Tim sprang within his guard and seizing him by the collai", in a second both men were rolling over on the ground, grappling one another like two bull-dogs. My hostess, like myself, had iitherto remained an inactive spectator; but she now evidently determined not to let them have all the fun to themselves, for, taking up a pair of heavy II* 126 LIFE IN IRELAND. iron tongs, she would soon, no doubt, have made a considerable diversion in Tim's favour, had not the other policeman jumped forward and caught her by the wrist. " So that's yer game, is it, my lady ? then I'll take the liberty of fittin' you wid a pair of bracelets,'^ producing at the same time a pair of hand-cuffs which he attempted to force on her wrists; but the girl struggled desperately, and, in doing so, must have irritated him greatly, for the ruffian struck her a heavy blow with his closed fist. My blood was now fairly up, and grasping my gun I inserted the butt-end under the fellow's ribs, and dashed him into the corner; where his head striking heavily against the sharp edge of a table, he lay apparently insensible. " Run for it, Master Harry — never mind Tim — run or you '11 be cotched I" shouted Mary, as she vanished out of the back door, while I bolted at the front. The ringing sound of a stick against the policeman's shako, telling me, as I went, that Tim's blackthorn was doing i^ office. I had got about fifty yards up the mountain, when I turned and witnessed a sight I shall not easily forget. I have mentioned before that the cabin was built at the top of a glen, between two mountains. Down this glen bounded Tim with the speed of a hunted stag, his long frieze coat streaming in the wind behind him, while the worm (the only valuable part of the apparatus) was bobbing up and down over his shoulder, keeping time to the motion of his bare legs, which were taking the ground along with them at an awful pace. In front of the cabin was his antagonist ramming a cartridge down his carbine, with unmistakeable energy, which the moment he had accomplished, he fired slap after the caubeen, but the ball only tore up the ground some yards to his right, and with a yell of triumph I saw Tim disappear round the corner of the glen. It was late in the evening, when tired and travel-stained, I entered the dining-room at the lodge, where I found a largo party assembled. " Harry, my boy," said my friend, " we had given you up in LIFE IN IRELAND. 127 despair. Ellcu in.siited you had fallen over a precipice, or were drowned in a bog-bole, or something of the kind. You look tired too," filling me a tumbler of claret as he spoke ; " there, now, take off that." I never was remarkable for setting the table in a roar ; but, on this occasion, if Theodore Hook himself had been relating my adventure I doubt whether he could have succeeded better than I did myself, and the old oak ceiling rang again, as my friend starting up and pointing to a short, punchy, red-faced little man, said : — " Let me introduce you to Lieutenant Cassidy, late of H. M's. 88th regiment, and now commander of the Clifden revenue police " "And an officer," said the lieutenant, bowing, "who would be sorry to interfere with any gentleman's diversions, even if he chose to break the heads of every scoundrel in the squad. The only thing I would recommen 1," he added, lowering his voice as he spoke, "is change of air; after your praiseworthy exertions this morning, I am sure it would be of service." AN IRTSII PEASANT GIRL ss-ife; "'^■"'' N :^ HIGHLAND SPORT. r If i-- ■ / fr- ''«»(^/;- ■ Wljttl It was a September morning that we rode our pony (liight Glenelg /v^"/- . ^ from the country of hi:? breeding) 7v%v* .-^.^^■Ai^! _jj to the highest farm-house in Aber- nethy, where we left him to wait our return. Two active Lids, sons of the tenant, were delighted to ac- company us, and we were on our march when the day was still early. In t!in«e days, tho lower part of the glen of Nethy was too n.uk hcutl.er for g;\'use ; and for miles we passed over, scai'cely letting our dogs hunt it. Towards evening we fell among scvorn'! "■^•^(1 f"-