hear me you will require an assistant take me with you j take me with you


the priest struggled to conquer his waver ing resolution


no said be


no j i should be failing in my duty


i have bworn to the constitution i have done so from conviction and with all my heart and soul


the poor condemned woman is a guilty queen i should not fear death if that would be of service to my successor but i will not consent to fail in my duty


but i swear to j oui repeat raj oath againi do not wish to rescue the queen


see upon this cross that i do not wish to visit the conciergerie with the view of opposing her death


what then do you want


asked the old man much moved by that natural accent of sorrow which no one can imitate


hear me said the chavalier whose soul was thrown into his expression


lu was my benefactress b wai attached to me and the sight of me at the jos houi will i am satisfkd


prove a great consolation to her


is that all you wish asked the pries whose resolution was effectually shaken by that irresutable appeal


absolutely all i desire


you are not engaged in any conspiracy t attempt a rescue


i am not i am a christian father and if falsehood lurks in my mindif l even cherish a hope that she may yet liveif even i dream of effecting her deliverance in any manner may god punish me with everlasting condemna tion


no no no i cannot allow it said the abbe whose mind was staggered at the pros peet of braving the innumerable difficulties and dancers which surrounded the attempt


hear mehear me father


said the che valier in an ocoent of profound sorrow have addressed you as an obedient son i have only employed christian and charitable lan guage not one harsh word not one single menace has passed my lips but my brain is on fire a burning fever runs through my veins despair is consuming my heart


iam armed look at this dagger


and the chevalier drew from his breast a keen glittering blade that cast a flickering gleam around it as he waved it in his trembling hand


the abbe sprung back


fear not father said the chevalier with a sad smile others knowing you to be faithful to your promise might luv wrung compliance from your terror


i implored and limplore you again with folded ha i j s and bended brow to accede to my request


let me see her if only for a moment


here is your protection


the young man diew a letter from lus pocket which he handed to girard


the abbe unfolded it and read the folln ing i llene chevalier of the bed house de clare before my god and on my honour that by threats i compelled the worthy cure of st landry to tike me with him to the conciergerie notwithstanding hisrepeated refusal and strong objections


in proof of this witness my hand


bene chevalier of the bed house


very good said the priest but swear again that you will not be guilty of any impru dence


it is not enough that my life should be saved i ihust answer also for yours


do not trouble yourself about that you consent


it must be so since you so strongly insist upon it


you can wait below in the prison arid as she passes through the grating you will see her


the chevalier grasped the old mans hand and kissed it with as much respect and venera tion as if it had been the cross


oh muttered the chevalier she will at least die like a queen and will not be polluted by the hand of the executioner to be continned


pere jean or the jesuit missionary


a catholic story founded on facts


u chapter ix


the council


every night father laval and tltc novice had beenbound and confined with the other prisoners in the lodge


in the meanwhile rent bourdoise began to gain strength for morning flower compassionat ing his sufteringsextended her kindness towards him and supplied him as well as father laval with food in addition to that distributed by their captors


a little gentle exercise and hours of rest assisted nature wonderfully in her recuperative efforts but although the two frenchmen recruited each day in health they were still subject to all the petulant cruelty of the iroquois


still it was only the com mon torture which every captive was made to endure and though great in itself dwindled away into little ness when met by their boundless patience and tranquillity of heart


a week had passed but there seemed to be no disposition on the part of the mohawk warriors to leave their village eren upon a hunting expedition


it was the com moon and plenty surrounded them


and the indian is always satisfied if the present be provided for


they were awaiting the return of the runners with the firewater from fort orange


towards the evening of the sixth day these messen gors came back unexpectedly to the village having met a dutch trader some days journey from the village and purchased from him the necessary supply


it was now determined by the braves that a council should he held on the following day to decide upon the fate of the prisoners and a portion of the firewater was


set aside for the carousings which would follow upon such a proceeding


a runner was therefore at once despatched to the village which had joined in the war party inviting the presence of a deputation to assist at the council


father laval who had already retired to the council lodge watched these proceedings with a troubled oye j he saw bustle and preparation hut was unable to conceive its object


leloup sat coldly watching the movements of the iroquois knowing too well what was likely to ensue


the jesuit at length turned an inqairing eye upon him and questioned him what is the cause of all this commotion my son fire water


said leloup sententiously


the runners have come back from the traders and the mohawk will he crazy tonight he will kill if he can


if he can alas


there is nothing to prevent him j theaj my children we must look upon death ras immediately before us and be ready to meet him like christian men


good said leloup emphatically but they will not all drink hhey will cast lots who shall be guird may kill though


it is good to be ready


at length the council lodge was closed up and fastened firmly while it was evident to the prisoners that a double guard was placed over them to pro tect them from any attempts which might be made


gainst them by the intoxicated indians in the fury of their orgies


the noise without began to increase and soon became uproarious


the greater portion of the intoxicating liquid had been carefully con cealed in order that it might be preserved for the iecond festival in pursuance of the plan adopted the


intoxication therefore of the braves scarcely reached to that point of frenzy when the whole pas siori of the savage is aroused and nothing but blood will satisfy him


yet now and then an indian more excited than the rest would approach the lodge with reeling step but flashing eye and endea


vour to force his way to the prisoners but the strong guard at the entrance always baffled their attempts and drove off the assailants with good humoured blows and laughter


as the arms of the drinkers had been taken from them little danger was to be apprehended from them unless they should succeed in obtaining them again


night came on and by the light of the fires the revellers carried on their orgies


the blaze falling on the front of the council lodge cast the rear and the tents behind it into a dark shadow


most of the inhabitants had gathered in the open space and were occupied in observing the mad antics of the drunken indians


at length while the carousing was at its height a figure slowly emerged from the edge of the forest and keeping in the darkest shadows outstretched upon the ground ooilcd along slowly and cautiously towards the lodge


there it rolled up closo besido the lower logs of the wide building and even to a search ing eye


was almost indistinguishable from them


thus it lay for some time motionless


le loup had just stretched himself upon the hard floor when he heard a low sound like the licking of an insect in the log near his head


it persevered in a singular manner and lie answered it with a like sound


huron said a voice very low hut perfectly distinct reaching no other car but that of the prostrate warrior leloup


replied the other giving his name


good


buid the other voice which the huron recognised as that of ahabisrtari


council tonight v asked the chief after


a pausi


i


no tomorrow ltsaid lc loup


i is the blackgown strong enough to travel lothe river i i


j


yea


i but the mohawk is quick and watchful


oitu the huron esonpe from ihelodge with tjie hfil ofahnfiflari


r t


there is an opening above hut all are bound hiiid and font


thu lenife of


ahasistaii will sever the cord rilcnoe enauod during which the chief was busily occupied in removing a block whicli filled up the space between two uf


the logs let le lqup lie close so that the knife may cut his cord said ahasistirias the block began to yield to his efforts


at this moment two braves of the guard fearful that sotie of the caronsers might endeavour to do mischief through an opening in the rear passed around the lodge to examine it


they conversed as they wont along and the engrossing topic of the village expectation filled their minds


the pale face is a great medicine said one the braves of the tribe will not spare him in the council for he will blight the coming harvest and cast a spell on the hunting grounds


the big huron will he tortured said the other


yes


no one will adopt them and they tnust be tortured the dogs


the council will decide tomorrow kiohba wishes all to be tortured


none know the wishes oflcipdego and the war chief is silent


the two mohawks now stood for a moment almost touching ahasistari who lay close to the side of the lodge motionless as the wood itself


from their conversation the chief gathered that the council was looked to with great anxiety as tiere was a diver sity of opinion with regard to the fate of the jesuit


at this moment a wild yell interrupted the two mo hawks and drew them away


the carousers having exhausted the liquor set out for them searched for the remainder and having found itovyrpowered the guard and carried it off


the huron chief renewed his efforts with more hardihood when he was again interrupted


the indians in charge of the lodge had left it unprotected and hastened to the assistance of their companions


several of the halfintoxicated mohawks discovered this and rushed towards the lodge in a body determined to sacrifice the prisoners upon the instant


the old women had obtained some of the rum and now intoxicated they joined furiously in the revels till the open space around the fires presented a scene worthy of any pandemo nium


the light of the fires as they stirred and tossed up the brands flashed fitfully upon the crowds of reeling wretches shrieking in the madness of inebriety


here were groups contending with the guards for the last remnants of the firewater


there parties of the revellers fought and struggled in harmless fury among themselves


the grave and solemn indian warrior transformed into a wallowing brute some sat like grinning idiots gazing with meaningless faces into the fires whose glare played wildly over their crouching figures whilst fiercest of all came on towards the lodge the few bent on murder


they had reached the opening no guards were there the fastenings were yielded to their hands


at that moment a powerful figure rose up as it were in the midst of them and mingled with them


two heavy blows from his stalwart arm brought the foremost of the rioters to the ground the rest fell over them shouting madly


the figure drew back behind the corner of the lodge for the cries of the party had attracted the guard who ran in strength to the spot and having relieved the prisoners from danger which was imminent re mained doubly watchful at their position


in a moment more ahasistari gained the edgeof the forest and stood awaiting the result


all hope of escape for that night was cut off


some of the guards took their position within the lodge while others destroyed the rum that still remained as the only means of quieting the tumult and one by one the revellers fell off into the deep sleep of intoxi cation


ahasistari returned to his hiding place among the rocks satisfied that no further harm would befall the prisoners until the council should decide upon their fate


le loup felt little doubt and he could delay no longer in the attempt at rescue but must at length cast all his hope upon the hazard of the die


he must win all or loose all


as quickfoot did not return he concluded that he must have fallen in with watook and that they awaited his commands at the appointed spot


it was now necessary to despatch the remaining huron instantly to bring up these warriors and it would even then occupy them until the evening of the next day to reach the rocky hiding place of their chief


the huron set out and ahasistari was left alone


he knelt and prayed


father laval remained some time absorbed in prayer after all the sounds without had died away of a strong and enduring frame and used to hard ships he had already recovered from the effects of the long and painful inarch through the forest while the novice though much improved still suffered severely from his labors


the hurons all along aware that their chief was hovering about them knew that any attempt at rescue was of too doubtful result for them to rest a hope upon and prepared themselves still more every hour for that final and fatal trial which impended over them


at length they gave themselves up to slumber with cheerful hearts trusting inthe goodness and mercy of god


with morning began the preparations for the council


the sullen countenances of those who had shared over night in the debauch boded ill for the prisoners


many a scowling and savage look was cast upon them


a little after noon came the depu tation from the neighbouring village it was small composed of but two or three braves the greater portion of the successful warriors had gone out with their share of the plunder towards fort orange to exchange it for powder lead rum and other articles of traffic


the deputies were received with much pomp and ceremony and regaled with the best fare that the village contained


they were then con ducted to the council lodge where the proceedings were opened with great state and solemnity


the elder and most distinguished braves formed


them selves in a circloin tho centre of the lodge beyond them sat the less notable of the tribe


each one as lie entered took his seat in order profound silence reigned throughout the assemblage


at length the old chief arrived the calumet tvas passed around and at a sign from kiodego as a mark of honor the brave who had commanded the successful war posts arose to address them


his voice at first low swelled out as he proceeded and his gesture became animated and picturesque


a robe of light skins was fastened around his waist and fell below his thigh a collar of the claws of tho wild bear hung nrqjiml his neck a snake skin encircled his arm and the feathers of the wild eagle adorned his head


his face was hideously painted


streaks of black and red were drawn from his cars towards his mouth while a broad band of vermillion extended across his forehead and over his eyes


as he spake he pointed towards the prisoners and at length singled out the jesuit


why has he come from his far land from tho bones of his fathers across the groat water to the hunting grounds of tho red men


his people havb settlejl down among our brothers in the north and lo


they have


made tlieni women


they have turnul tho hurons to dogs made thivn forsake tho grca spirit and join with the prfle face in battle against their own kind andcolor


jtheblackrobo is a medicine j he speaks


warriors weep j the hurons are his slaves lie is a great


mediciiic


what shall be the fate of the pale face


r the chief sat down and asilehca of a few minutes duration eiisued


it was broken at length by a warrior who said let him die


kiohbas voice is that the pale face die at the stake


his enchantments have des troyed the hurons have driven away the buffalo and bounding deer


his people have swept down the beautiful forests on the great river


kiohba has seen him make that sign upon his forehead which our white brothers of fort orango tells us is a folly and a wickedness a sorcery


if the chiefs spare the pale face he will soften the hearts of the jro quois and weaken their arms in battle and they will fall before his people and become slaves like the hurons


the pale face must die


several of the warriors nodded their head in silent approval of the speech of the brave


lot us keep the great medicine said one who had not been of the war party but who had listened with wonder to the reported conversions of the priest


let us keep him in the tribe


let us make him our brother and give him the first ripe corn and the fattest of the deer


let us build him a lodge and his heart will love the mohawk people he will strengthen their arms and protect their villages


a smile of scornplayed upon the lips of kiohba as he replied my brother is a cunning counsellor ho is wise and brave at the council fire


does he need a great medicine to strengthen his courage


kiohba fears not the medicine


he has met the huron and the french in battle


other warriors now arose some espousing one side and some the other


the dispute grew warm when kiodego interposed my brothers


he said it has been demanded why the blackrobe came into our land and why he goes far into the wilderness with the hurons scatter ing his spells upon his path


let the pale face answer


unbind him and lead him forward


a young warrior hastened to release the jesuit and assisted him into the circle


speak tulhasaga


said the old chief coldly as if he had as vet heard nothinc from the priest con cerning the object of his mission


speak


why comest thou to our land


what dost thou seek


father laval bowed his head for a moment in prayer and then replied chief i seek souls i came to do the work


of my master i came to preach another faith in this land to teach aud instruct the ignorant


my mission is one of peace it is with the souls of men and not their bodies


i would teach them to calm their passions to cast out the spirit of evil fcom their hearts to walk in the path of justice and of virtue


i came over the stormy waters to bear the tidings of the gospel to the heathen and to plant the holy cross in the wilderness


you ask with what object i was going far into the west


i was about to seek new converts to the cross


but chief and the voice of the missionary swelled out into its fullest and most musical tones entrancing the ear of the savage


his form was lifted up and his hands outstretched before him


t


but chief the great spirit in his wisdom has willed it otherwise


from my path to the huron country lie has turned my steps towards the mohawk villages and here chief in captivity submissive to the will ot my divine master i preach christ to the iroquois i preach christ crucified listen to me


deep exclamations broke from the astonished council but they awaited in patience


you are in dark ness i bring you light receive it


and he told them how god had created the world and man the lord of all of the fall of the redemp tion j of the new gospel of the commission to his apostles and their successors to gj forth and teach all nations baptizing them in the name


of the father and of the son aud of the holy ghost how the blind saw how the lame walked and tho dead were raised to life again


and then he painted be fore their eyes in glowing colours the joys of heaven which were reserved for those who should believe in him and love and serve him and the fearful torments which the alljust god destined for those who should reject and disobey his commands


a gleam of wild joy broke from the eyes of the hurons as they looked upon the astonished mo hawks while the jesuit continued this is the reli gion which i preach these are the glad tidings which bring you and it is to announce this gospel to the children of the wilderness that i have come from the land of the east


the great spirit speaks it to you by my mouth listen and believe


father laval concluded and silence reigned for a time throughout the lodge


at length kiodego addressed him my brother has spoken well he is wise


but he tells a strange tale how shall we believe him he speaks with a forked tongue said kiohba he is a liar


we are satisfied with our own god exclaimed another the wargod wacondah


the god of the great medicine has made cowards of the hurons the god of the mohawks strengthens the arms of his children in battle


the mohawks want not the god of the pale face


and then the clamour for his death became louder while the advocates not of mercy but of delay for


expediency were silenced


the fate of the good priest seemed already sealed


without further delay a mohawk approached him and at a signal from the chief compelled him to kneel and began to paint his head and facei then


a shout of joy broke from the crowd without for it was the mark of death upon the victim and they revelled already in anticipation of the tortue


at that moment a slight movement was made in the crowd aiound the door it swayed forward and back ward and then gave way leaving an opening into the centre of the circle


leaning upon a warrior kiskepila weak and tottering with his bandages still upon his wounds pressed forward through the passage


the eye of the young chief fell upon the group in the centre


an exclamation burst from his lips


with the mighty energy of a strong spirit he rose from the arm that supported his weak form and strode alone into the circle


with one hand ho cast aside the mohawk the other he rested upon the brow of the priest


a deathlike stillness reigned upon the scene not a hand was raised to arrest his course not a voice was uplifted against him


surprise held all tain silent while the flash ing eye of the young warrior turned from face to face


kiskepila is a chief said the young eagle of his tribe who will oppose him


the hurons have fled before the arm of kiskepila


shall he have no voice in the councils of the tribe


and he placed the other hand above the head of the knoeling priest


shall he be silent when the boaster is heard nnd he pointed to kiohba


kiskepila asks the chiefs and braves to spare the pale face


he looked around for a reply there was none


at length kiohba saidcoldly


the chiefs and braves have spoken the pale face must


die


see


the death paint is upon his brow


t


c


avfth a look of scorn the young man turned away from the speaker and glanced onco more around tlie circle tho features of the stern mohawks wero un moved hey were silent


kiohba wastriuinphingi my brothers said kiskepila his eye lighting up with indignation my brothers kiskepila was wounded and fainting and dying upon the field of battle and the pale face bathed his lips and bound his wounds


kiskepila owes a lifo to the pale face and he will repay it


let kiohba show the mark of a huron on his breast or the scalp of a foe at his girdle


the indian replied not


the eyes of the old men turned upon the jesuit and with an exclamation of wonder they looked to the chief of the war party for a confirmation of a story to thorn so strange


the words of the young eagle are true he said the pale face bound up the wounds of kiskepiln he saved his life


the blackrobe was a dove upon the field of battle a dove among the eagles


silence again ensued the jesuit wrapped in prayer scarce heeded the scene around him but eyer and


anon the bright eye of le loup would gleam upon him as with head bent forward the huron listened with interest to the words of the young mohawk chief


the council have spoken


said kiohba again fearful that a change might take place in the opinions of the warriors some of whom seemed to lean towards the young chief the council have already spoken the pale face must die


it is right for the spells of the blackrobe are upon the heart of kiskepila he has made a huron of the mohawk


you lie dog


exclaimed the young chief fiejcely


the tongue of kiohba is not forked said the other coldly feeling the advantage which he was gaining through the generous impetuosity of his opponent


let the chiefs look j kiskepila could not walk alone to the council lodge and see


he stands as if he had no wounds upon him it is the spell of the pale face medicine


the blackrobe must die or the warriors will become women


the old men shook their heads as they looked upon the upright and noble figure of the brave while the bandages were still fresh as it were upon deep and dangerous wounds


it was the energy of the spirit not of the flesh that sustained the chief


the eyes of kiohba gleamed with joy as he saw the impression he had made


the young man again spoke but in a lower and sterner tone kiskepila owes the pale face a life he shall not die


kiskepila will adopt


him as his brother in place of him who is dead


he demands the pale face for his brother


kiohba smiled grimiy as he replied pointing to the old chief the father may demand the prisoner to adopt him as his son


let the chief speak will he take to his lodge the sorcerer who has changed the heart of the young eagle who was once the truest of the mohawks


absorbed in anxious expectation the young brave heeded not the taunt


tho old man was silent for a moment then raising his head replied firmly kiskepila was a warrior a mohawk


he has taken a huron heart


the pale face has told him strange tales antl he has heard


the black gown is a sorcerer


the lather of kiskepila will not claim him let him die the head of the young chief smk upon his breast and he was silent


he must die


reechoed kiohba aiid taunt ingly continued he tells you that his god raised the dead to life why does he not call un the creat champlain from the tomb to protect his people


let us see whether his god will save the pale face when the flames shall glow and cuil around his white limbs


you demand of me a miracle


father laval replied gently you call on mygod to raise the dead


he has done so he can do it againr he has opened the silent tomb and bid the dead arise and come forth glowing witli life and health and energy and he has done this at the prayer of his holy servants


i am but his humble follower


what right have you to demandfrom the god who made you a sign and a miracle in testimony


yours is not the prayer of the willing it is the scoff of the hater


the indignant voice of the jesuit ceased


after a pause of some moments an indian approached and finished painting his head and face


it was the sign of fatal


condemnation and was received with exulta tion by many yet there were not a few who began to entertain an increased dread of what they imagined to be his power


but the feeling of the council was excited although that assemblage still retained its calm and grave aspect and with but little delay the novice and the hurons were also condemned to the torture


father laval le loup and two other hurons were to suffer on the morrow in front of the counoil lodge while ren bourdoise arid the three remaining


hurons were to be tortured at the other village


the prisoners received their doom calmly the hurons looking coldly on the preparations which were begun at once to carry out the sentence of the council which then broke up


when kiskepila found all his efforts fruitless he took the arm of the warrior who had assisted him to the spot for his strength began to fail very rapidly and in silence returned to his tent de termined not to look upon suserings which he could not prevent or alleviate


morning flower awaited sadly the termination of the council and wept over the fate of the blackgown but she recalled to memory the beautiful lessons of patience which he had taught her and suppressed the manifestation of her grief


the huron messenger of ahasistari struck directly through the forest in the direction of the place where the braves were supposed to lie concealed


the stars were shining in the clear heavens and an occasional glance at their sparkling orbs served to guide his path


up over hill and steep ascent over awamp and morass went the swift indian at his loping trot tireless never pausing


midnight came and the runner still pressed on his mocassined feet springing yet lightly from the soft tuif as he bounded on


darkness melted slowly into the grey of morn and morning brightened into day and yet the huron speeded on


at length he paused upon the summit of a little hill


at its foot


fleiu and pellucid flowed a gentle stream


but no trace could he discover of any living thing upon its hanks


or in its surrounding forest


a moment mbrehis eye scanned the wood and then descended to the waters edge


as ho leaned upon his rifle he care fully observed the current flowing by liimj till his gaze seemed riveted by a floating twig with green leaves upon it


an eddy whirled it in towards the shore and he drew it towards him with the butt of his rifle


the fracture of the branch was fresh and it was evidently torn not bitten off


swinging his rifle into the hollow of his arm the runner turned directly up the stream taking care to leave no tracksbehind him


for some time he proceeded oh his course still casting an occasional glance at tho forest around him and on the ground before him jwatchiug for the marks of a trail


suddenly ho ipaused and looked intently uponthe ground and thetustoojed down to examinn the suiface more closely


hugh


pale face


ho exclaimed


the step was turned from the stream treading cautiously so as not to obliterate the trail


he followed it back to the waters edge and examined the bushes which grew tlure they were of the sams lindnsthe branch in which he held in his hand


falling into the trail ho traced it up the hill along the summit of which it ran


at length a low whistling struck upon his ear and he paused to listen and then crept on more cautiously


at the foot of a largo tree on an elevated spot from which an extensive sweep of the forest facing towards the mohawk village was visible sat the figure of a white man holding in his hand a large rough ox horn which he was busily engaged in shaping into a powderhorn


every now and then he compared it with the oiie which wa slung at his side and then renewed his labors


suddenly a new idea seemed to strike him and putting it to his mouth he gave a blast which made the huron start with surprise


then he began at once to shape the small opening into something like a mouthpiece


at last he seemed satisfied and putting it to his lips sounded it again


ha that will do


he said at length good idea indian hates the sound of a horn and i like it


well i may want it soon and he stuck it in his belt


as he did so the huron runner stepped before him


lespion hardi


the scout sprang to his feet grasping his rifle ah


huron


he said as his eye fell upon the dress and paint of the indian and he resumed his seat again


hurofi


yes


nomobawk


or and the indian pointed significantly to his scalp


right huron


i was making a powderhorn when i thought of the trumpets of champlain as he marched to battle


ah


did you ever fight under champlain huron


no


the chief and many of the braves were out


yes i know it huron


well it came into my head to try how a good blast would sound in this old forest


it was rash i wont den it he con tinued as the houron shojk his head but a frenchman loves the sound of the trumpet


listen now he said applying the trumpet to his lips once more j but the ludian placed his hand upon it and said


daring scout


mohawk hunter may hear


yes he was a warrior


it does me good to hear his name shouted in a brisk charge it helps won derfully although he is dead and gone now


yes he was a man continued pierre sorrowfully no such man in all the province now or these rascally mohajgks would be taught a lesson worth remem bering


the daring scout is with the huron braves asked the runner


yes


and i suppose you are the messenger that i am to look for


the runner nodded his head and the other continued they are across the stream let us go and swinging his rifle over his shoulder the scout de scended the hill with rapid strides


when they approached the stream the runner glided to the side of


the hunter and holding up the broken twig before him said daring scout casts a trail upon the water


huron found this far down the stream


the scout looked at it for a moment while the runiier explained himself and then half angry at the implied reproach answered well and but for that twig you would not have found us you missed the trail


i crossed it in the night said the huron but not far off


up or down the stream the huron wouldsoonhave found it far enough at any rate said the scout or you would have been here at bnccwithout


striking on the stream below


see here is one of quick foots marks upon this oak he followed directly upon the trail and even made it pliurer for you by these gashes


bad replied the runner quickly mohawk keeneye


night and day continued the scout we kept watch by turns upon that hill which overlooked the path waiting for the messenger whom quickfoot toldu aliasistariwould send


huron said pierre after walking some time in silence have you seen the prisoners


yes from the woods saw blackgown walking about


well perhaps they wont attempt to kill them yet and we can get there in time


the indian shook his head and said today council tomorrow torture daring scout know how it is


then said the scout sternly as he strode along with swifter step then huron there will be at the dahce some guests not invited


they hastened on in silence until they reached the place of concealment


it was well chosen


in an extensive thicket a space had been cut away and here the warriors were lying about in groups upon their blankets


exclamations of delight wel comed the scout and the runner and the whole body assembled in council the runner explained the condition of things and delivered the order of the chief and in a few moments more the party nine teen in number took up their line of march throw ingout active scouts in advance to guard against any accidental meeting with the mohawks


to le continued


the portland guardian and normanby general advertiser


published every monday wednesday friday to protect our rightsnot to infringe upon those of others


wednesday november


adventures and observations in australia


by alister macalister gent chapter iv


preliminary notifications continued


i stood near the stern of the vessel lean ing over the bulwarks and gazing in a state of stupefaction in the direction of liverpool even long alter the town had ceased to be visible


i was not conscious at the time that i had been weeping and mingling my tears with the waters of the irish sea


from this dreary abstraction i was rather unceremoniously startled by a smart slap on the shoulder and turning round found myself face to face with the odd but goodnatured steward


now my hearty he said i takes a liberty which i doesnt do with every cabin pas senger


because how


some of them bes landish all over and doesnt deserve no attentions and i hasent been twenty years at sea not to know by their looks them as is gentlemen


now i likes you from the first and i doesnt think a man a milk sop and no gentlemen who pumps a drop of saltwater when he leaves a sweet heart or a sister for a long trip


and as sure as twenty seven makes three nines forards them that doesnt do so are lubbers


but cheer up my hearty you have had a long watch and i thinks it is time for a change


i has got a togallant cure for a sore heart or a loose stomach


it is the only cure i has for myself when i am like to sick under or be laid on my beamends


nothing better than a nob bler which never does no harm cepting to them as takes one too many


i had never heard the word before and i sup posed it to be the name of a seamedicine and whilst i declared that i had no need of doctors stuff of any kind i yet had the curiosity to inquire what he meant by a nobbler


why he answered some calls it a nip and some calls it a tot but in melbourne where they knows and where i learned is right name they calls it a nobbler


and pray i asked im patiently what is a nobbler


a nobbler he replied is the right physic for pains and cares and all them troubles that make foggy and dirty weather and


and on he would have went had i not hastily interrupted him by saying well well i certainly am much obliged bring the stuff whatever it may be and perhaps i may know something about it when l see it as it is very plain i need not hope for information otherwise


thats what i calls sensible he said apparently well pleased and off he set nimbly to fetch the mysterious nobbler


i felt considerably annoyed at first on being so rudely brought back to a real and lively sense of existence


but the inter ference of the kindly and talkative steward did me essential good by restoring me to myself and although during the voyage i had many strange fits of melancholy mus ing i never again relapsed into the same entire mental deadness


the steward speedily returned with his expurgator of all ills and i was at once enlightened


the wonderful nobbler i found to be simply a glass of brandy neat


for an instant i was disposed to be indig nant but at last notwithstanding my pre vious crushing dullness i confounded my servator by fairly laughing aloud in his face


i took the brandy however with thanks and i do believe had it been verit able poison i would have swallowed it sooner than have hurt the feelinags of the honest warmhearted fellow who had prof fered it to me with such lofty and sincere encomiums


when i returned him the empty glass he appeared as much grati fied as if i had bestowed upon him a par ticular favor and declared i would soon be shipshape and fit for sea


i ventured to ask him when he thought we would reach melbourne


please god he answered we shall reach it in good time


this here old lady doesnt hold the same course as them there steamers


she is a ship and they arethey aredarnt if i knows what to call them but they are not ships howsomever


now you may believe it or not but what i am going to tell you is just as true as that i am not a frog eating frenchman not a yankeedoodle


yes i have seen with these here peepers some of the chimnified craft push on right in the teeth of a strong head wind which i counts is against the rules of fair sailing but it all comes of them infernal fires that they keep under hatches why they aint all of a blaze is past counting


they tells me that they sometimes blows up like a powdermagazine but it doesnt signify as they aint ships no how


but the old lady is a ship from stem to stern and no mistake about her though she bes now and then a little cantankerous like other old ladies and


but she is a good old girl and please god if there be no parson or cat on board we shall arrive at mel bourne sometime


i expressed my sur prise at his seeming antipathy to parsons and cats


as for the parsons he said i respects them on shore but when the devil finds out that one is on board a ship he plays all sorts of mischief and some times wrecks the vessel that he may catch and carry him off to say prayers for the young imps down below


i doesnt


dis respect a cat either more than a parson but they always brings bad luck to a ship


before i knowd so much as i do now i shipped with an ignorant skipper to the levant who allowed me to take with me a fine tomcat which i had purchased for five shillings from some boys who had halfbanged it and were about to stone it to death but it was most misfortunate for the brig sarah as we was caught in a reglar blowout lost our masts and rigging and had two men and a boy washed over board


it fortunately happened bowsom ever that bill sparling who was lashed to the stump of the foremost remembered that blessed cat after we had been knocked about for twelve hours and cried out to me as i was holding on for dear life not two yards from him tom the cat


the cat


toss that cat overboard


the cat nearly drowned and gasping for breath had found me out a few minutes before and clung to me like an evil thing


i knew quite well that we was bedevilled and bewitched so i took the cretur by the tail and swung it for certain five fathoms beyond the wreck and sure enough in less than two hours after we got quit of it it settled down to a dead calm


but this was not the last that we saw of the cursed cretur for next morning when we was clearing the wreck and getting up a jury mast who does we spy a walking along the deck but that dentical cat as if it had not been drowned at all


ise no coward myself but i felt all of a tremble and cold sweat and bill sparkling the bravest man in the brig shot off like a rocket down the trap of the forecastle


the master who had no feelings for nobody at no times only danced and roared and laughed at us as if he either had lost his wits or was in partnership with the cat


and i for one resolved that if my foot ever touched the shore it should never enter his brig again


as this was no joking matter we consulted what was best to be done and argreed to be as kind as possible to the cretur that it might do us no harm and if it allowed us to enter port we re solved to give it to any body who would take it in a present


well to cut this yarn short every one of us petted the cat and it gave us a fair breeze and a good land ing


on the morning after we had got snug into harbour i was sent to order some fresh provisions from a butcher and took the cretur with me under my jacket


the butcher was in want of a varmint of the kind to help his dogs to kill rats and readily gave me half a dollar for the brigs devil and we heard no more of him


i was amused in spite of myself and brought back to good humour by these ludicrous relations which were given with all imaginable earnestness and gravity and they may serve as a specimien of many yarns of a kindred nature with which i was favoured by the same wellconditioned narrator


we had twelve passengers including two ladies in the cabin and one hundred and fifty in the steerage


the two ladies for i suppose we must in courtesy call every female admitted to a cabintable a lady were mother and daughter


neither of them were handsome or goodlooking but they dressed very richly and showily yet as i thought without either taste or propriety


they were uneducated low bred forward and on the whole exces sively disagreeable persons although it must be confessed that the absurd airs which thay assumed afforded occasionally no small share of merriment


these modest and unassuming representatives of the fair sex were as i ascertained the wife and child of a convict who having served out his time was now doing a large stroke of business as a publican in sydney


i flattered myself that the younger lady who might be near my own age was in clined to look sweetly upon me but it will readily be believed that instead of courting either i studiously avoided the advances of both


in speaking of the ladies i must not forget to notice the matron


she was a quiet sensible elderly woman an offi cers widow and really a lady in manners but she was destitute of firmness and alto gether incompetent to the proper discharge of her troublesome duties


the male pas sengers in the cabin were for the most part young unmarried men and presented in a small space considerable variety of character


the captain joseph hunks of whom we have not hlitherto spoken was unlike the generality of seaman a tall potbellied englishman who must have passed his fortieth year


his temper and habits were peculiar


the former was more uncertain than the weather


this half hour all sunshine and peace the next all cloud and tempest


the latter were regularly irregular


one half of the week he would be so intoxicated as to be unable to leave his cabin on the other he would scrupulously abstain from wine and spirits and anathematise them with the most fearful oaths


it may easily be conceived that this man intrusted with arbitrary power and placed at the head of our little community frequently succeeded in rendering uncomfortable every soul on board


the sailors used to say on his sober days that he had on his dry and on his drunk days his wet nightcap


when he put on his dry nightcap with all his faults and caprices he was a smart active seaman who both knew and did his duty and expected others to know and to do their


when about to exchange the dry for the wet cap he always left special in structions with the first mate for the cau tious working of the ship


he evidently had a strong and controlling notion that the ship was not particularly safe except


ing


when he had on his dry cap and i re collect a most laughable and yet at the same time most vexatious instance of his prudence


we had been becalmed and had been lying for eight or ten days a scarcely moving log upon the water nor was their any prospect of immediate relief when the captain having given his specal orders retired to put on his wet cap


a few hours after to our inexpressible delight a fine steady strong favourable breeze sprung up


all on deck was life and ac tivity every rag of canvas was speedily set and the old lady putting her best foot forward joyously bounded along at a speed which she had not adventured since we left liverpool


but our congratulations on this happy change had not ceased when captain joseph hunks suddenly appeared on deck in his wet nightcap


he could scarcely stand his face was red as crimson save tha dark purple peak of his nose his eyes glared like those of a hyena and he shook from head to heel with ungovernable passion


making a staggering run up to the first mate he poured upon him a volley of the most tremendous curses for diso bedience and ordered him instantly to his cabin


he then commanded every sail to be immediately reefed home


this was done with many a muttered growl and oath


he waited steady ing himself by the capstan till the last sail was furled and having fully satis fied himself that the old lady was put under bare poles he with some difficulty withdrew to his den and was seen by no one for two days with the exception of the stewards boy who was appointed to answer his calls


the mate was every inch a gentleman and a thorough seaman and when joseph hunks put on his dry cap he found himself reduced to the plea sant alternative of either giving him a written apology or abiding the result of a trial in a court of law


prudent joseph preferred the former course of proceeding signed a paper which the mate himself drew up and was very respectful to him during the rest of the voyage


the surgeon superintendent was a dissipated young blackguard with an inexhaustible fund of wit and humour but who for his gross conduct in relation to the female emigrants was dismissed from the ship immediately on her arrival at melbourne


our only other prominint cabin official was one of the animals so much dreaded by the wor


thy stewarda live parson


this was a young man who had recently taken orders as a curate and who was on his way to sydney


he was a high churchman of low mental calibre


in his religious views he was narrow and shallow pedantic and dogmatical


he said grace at meals and on sabbaths read prayers and a short ar menian or papistical essay on deck to the few who sought to profit by his pompous and inane ministrations


what a con trast was here presented to the noble the clearheaded and large hearted divines of the protestant episcopal church of en glandto such men as jeremy taylor howe barrow and newton


this small successor of the apostles extended to me at first a patronising intimacy but as soon as he understood that i was a presbyterian and knew a little of my bible he at once cut the connection


and i have no doubt but he found the conversation of miss amelia stubbs whose company he assidu ously courted much more congenial to his taste than the dry remarks of the young highland gentleman


one third of the steerage passengers were girls the refuse of irish workhouses and a more unpromising assortment of fe males were never sent from the shores of britain to aid in peopling a new country


they were with scarcely an exception entirely ignorant of the most simple and necessary arts which we are accustomed to expect in every mechanics or labourers wife or daughter and as might be ex pected they were filthy in their habits and intractable in their tempers


to send such miserable and worse than useless creatures to a colony at the expense of that colony under the name of conferring a benefit was the most outrageous insult the home country could offer to a dependancy


if we are to have assisted emigration let those who are put in charge of this important matter do their duty faithfully by taking especial care that we do not pay away our money for the introduction of a class of persons whoso presence among us can only pollute and deteriorate society


our voyage proceeded very slowly and it may be sufficient to indicate the progress of the swift to say that we were five weeks before sighting madeira


but if we had been slow we had met as yet with no accidents deserving of record and as we creeped along our living freight the first seasickness over continued healthy


as we neared the famous wineisland many of the passengers crowded eagerly to the side of the vessel to obtain a distinct view of it


among the most conspicuoues of the pros pectors was miss amelia stubbs leaning lovingly on the arm of the amiable parson


they were pressed suddenly from behind and in a moment the loving pair were pre cipitated overboard through a hatchment in the bulwarks which by some mischance had been left open


there was little wind the sea was calm and fortunately this time the swift was moving at her usual snails pace


the confusion that ensued on this unexpected event was indiscribable


the cries of the poor wretches were distinctly heard as they rose together to the surface at a short distance from the stern of the vessel


some of the men were hindering each other in busily attempting to lower a boat but i had cast off my coat and the instant i observed the heads of the un lucky pair i sprung into the water and swam vigorously towards them


in a few seconds i succeeded in seizing miss stubbs by the hair of the head whose dress float ting on the water helped to lighten my burden but in the meantime the parson had sunk a second time


providentially he rose within reach of my arm and i managed to get hold of the nape of his coat


both my arms were now employed and i had to tread with my feet to support myself and my double load


this could not continue long


i was rapidly becom ing exhausted and the death of all of us was imminent


i had just determined to throw off the parson when i saw the boat swiftly approaching from the ship


i could not have sustained myself half a minute when the boat reached and rescued us


i have sometimes thought since that had there not been a parson in this falling overboard i might have been anticipated in my errand of mercy or at least have obtained more speedy assistance


under the appliances and directions of the surgeon who in this case proved him self to be a man of ready skill in his pro fession miss stubbs was soon recovered and the parson though much farther gone was in a few day perfectly restored to health


as for myself a good stitf tum bler of sherry and a nights rest were the only prescriptions i required


good advice a tarn for the road dedicated to pilgrims in the journey o lifo and written expressly for the moreton bay courier introduction


tub thrao pieces of advice upon which tho follow ing story is founded have beon familiar to tre mind of the writer fiom childhoodwhence tlioy come he knows not neither is it materinl


think ing them good he hss striven to drew thom in garb that may render them attractive and i secure the end desireda careful perusal


moreton boy sept st


chapter i somowhere amongst the despotio nations of the east lived nn humble plain but good yonnj


man


and to him the fairest most beautiful ans most intelligent of his country women having rejected the addresses of tho son of the reigning prince hod plighted her troth and notwithstand ing the oft reiterated throat of the royal suitor withdrew to a distance and were married


now seemed foil even to overflowing tho cup of their earthly bliss


visions too bright for mortal pen now opened before thoir entranced eyes


a very few short yet happyvery happy days and tlis oup was dashed from their lips the husband m a prisoner in chains crossing the binning sands of nn all but boundless desert and tho fuir and beautiful bride was mourning in her solitary chamber that her poor stricken and shattered heart still beat with life


the threat lind in deed been exeouted a ohargo of conspiracy lind been brought against the innocent and without the formality of a trial poor hassan for that was his name had been hurried away beyond the pale of civilization and the region of hope


com munication wa hopeless and lonely desolation withered the hearts of the separated ones


mont li and years of sorrow suffering and darkness lind past away when he who never forgets thoso worthy of remembrance caused a beautiful bright ray of happy sunlight to pierce the gloomy dark ness of the captivos cell


the goodness which had brought down upon him tho ire ot the civilis ed sovereign had attracted the attention and called forth the favour of the barbarous prince


tho limb of hassan were bound no longer but soon the admiration of the people the beloved of the prince he became the intimato friend of the one and tho benefaotor of the other but neither the nil but worship of the poople and tho constant favour and friendship of the prince nor all the splendour of a most gorgeous court could efface from his good faithful heart the fair image of his absent wife or lighten the binden of sor row which bowed down bia soul to tho earth


hut sad countenance and heavy sighs had evor called forth tho sympathy of his people and the ton derest concern of iis prince but helpxt was be yond their province to render


time however tint ruthless destroyer of many blighthopes shakes ticidowuy soiup precious blosifngs


fiom hi flapping wings


tlie piince had just receited nurcel of despatches and hassan stood by to i malt his commands


heedlessly one after an other wag incedover and past by without a wordi at


lertgththo princes attention mis ostight his very mind seemed rite ted to tho do cument upon which he gazed


he dashed it aside started to his feet and with a look of mingled lorrow and gladness exclaimed oh hassan hassan good faithful hassan


my heart rejoices yet my soul grieves thine enemy is dead and i am freed fiom my oath


got thee gone andthe prophet of allah smile npon thee and console m for thy lossfor never again shall the eyes of ossan gase upon another hassan


before a journey of importance immemorial custom bad rendered it all but obligatory to take the advice of the wae man or most renowned mge of the place


now it happened there wns one of far famed celebrity iu hassans immediate neighbourhood of the name of serjabil


so to serjabil hnsan in great pomp repaired to seek sjvice for the journey befoio him


but serjabil was not more i unowned for the goodness ot his idvic than for his exorbitant charge for advice ghennot a word could be obtnined till a ood round sum had been first paid down


these charges were all alike in all cases but were re galatea acoordingto the means of his applicant hot in every case they were sufficiently nigh to mike those who had obtained the udvicu of sor isbil feel that they had obtained it at a cost rom this rule he never departed


now as hassan me in great stylo and was known to be exceed ingly rich serjabil demanded from jiim a sum quitaient to a thousand pounds


hassan ex postulated bnt it was of no avail


that was ser jails prico and he would not bate a single frac tion


the um though with some reluctance wm at length paid down and hassan al impa tient to hear w hat tho sage w ould sny to lum could hnrdly brook what seemed to him to bo a mark of durespect


but serjabil was unmoved bj all his manifestations of haste and went on coolly as ever countisg over and examining the money before bim


satisfied m to its quantity and quality he carefully deposited it in the ampio foils of his long flowing garmenta kind of pneitlt robe and then drew from his breastand placed in the eager hands of hassan a small slip of parchment thus inscribed pry into no mans business


thinking this a foolishly laconic nnj an extremely dour piece of advice hassan ctpresied his dissatisfaction in not very measured term and demanded something more


cer tainly replied serjabil but you must pay for it


so another thousand pounds was pnid down counted over and examined it possible with still more circ mid deliberation on the patt of serja bil and with still more impatience on the part of hassan and then deposited as boforo in the fold oftheseeis robe and another piece of parchment iras put into the hand of hassan the same in size shspe und appearance but bearing a different inscription keep the mai road


moro en raged than before hassan still demanded some thing moi o


and serjabil still repliedcer tainly upon the same conditions


a similar sum was again paid down pasted through the hume ordeal examination ana was deposited se curely with the test


during the hole process seijitbils eye glanced fiom the money before him to the flushed and changing countenance of has san ami seemed to maik it with intenso interest


when fully satisfied he diow forth another piece of poiohment it bore but three words they were these ootiibn your passions


hassan could heir no moro his anger scirce knew any bounds b stamped tho pieces of parchment beneath his feet and exclaimed there serjabil


thou choat thou knave by allah


had not the pro phets command been to respect such men as thee i would serte theo as i serve thy advice fool that i am to uavo purchased thy trash so emly tako back thy parchments they may serveto catch otlipr silly birds foolish as myself


as for me i nood them not they havo rost me too much over to ha forgotten by me


i go to tiroilnim thee rogue and cheat wheiever


i como


ile turned to depart but serjabil begged bim to remain for a fow moments


ho consented and serjabil withdrew to a kind of inner cave fiom which ho soon again returned bearing in bia hands a amall package bound sealed and signed serjaiiil to hassan


he advanced toward hassan and with ii look of mingled pleasure and anxiety said there hassan pledge me thine jraiwur that in all iii wanderings thou bear this with theo and that thou break not a seal thereof till thou shall arrive at homo


i pledge thee serjabil farowell


and hassan was on his journey


cto be continued


j


the stoliy of the campmgn


continued from our last


written in a tent from tho crimea


from blackwoodt magazine


pabt


cliapteb xxiii


assault of the mittme low and quarbies


notwithstanding the extent of our force great part of which was necessarily idle our trategotical operations seemed to be limited to the expedition to kcrtsch as the preparations for a renewal of the cannonade on sebastopol to be followed by an assault were actively continued


we erected now batteries accu mulrtcd great stoics of ammunilion nnd aug mented the number of mortars in the trenches


on the th june at three oclock in the after noon the batteries opened and after n short space the kussianb replied with a lire heavier lhan in former attacks but by no means so well directed owing perhaps to the want of reinforcements of ood artillerymen


all that afternoon ami all night our fire continued and next morning that of the russians which had begun so spiritedly was much subdued


the mammelon which on tho previous afternoon had fired salvos was reduced to two or three guns and its parapets as well as those of the ltedan and tho face of the malnkoff looking towards our batteries were little more than a shapeless heap of earth tcstiiyinp to tho ex cellence of our artillery fire which was prob ably unequalled lov precision and effect tho practice of our mortars was admirable scarcely the smallest interval elapsed without a huge shell bursting in the midst of the mammelou and the loss of its garrison must have been very severe of which indeed we shortly had proof


it had been ananged before opening the fire that on the second tay an assault should be made by the french on tho mammelon and the smaller works towards careening bay by us on a work known as tho quarries in front of tho ltedan


up to our lost cannonado the ground there had been occupied merely by heaps of loose stones and rubbish where marksmen were posted but since then the enemy had thrown up en entrenchment sur rounding the ilcdan at about four hundred yards in front of it and had filiotlit with rifle men and it was this work which though quite regular in foim retained the old name of the quarried


as soon as the french hud secured tho mammelon we were to attack this point and establish ourselves hut our attack was for the present to terminate witii tho suc cess of this operation because he bedan if carried would be untenable bo long as tho russians retained possession of the malakoh


the time chosen was halfpast six in tho even ing and for this reason that as men advance with much more spirit and confidence when they sec what is before them than in night attacks the assailants would have daylight enough to secure possession of the work whilo darkness would descend in tirau to enable them to thrw up tie necessary cover against tho fire which


the mulakoffi looking on tho rear of tho mammolon would otherwise pour in so hotly ob perhaps to render the occupation of it difficult and attended will heavy loss


at halfpast five tho french columns of attack were formed at the mouth of the ravino which divides the english right from tho left of the french at inkcrmann and o each battalion general bosquet addressed a few words of encouragement to which they res ponded with cheers and stiaightway plunged lii rather more tumultous array than english discipline permits into the ravine


a most conspicuous personage was a vkantiicre who well mounted and wearing a vhte hat and feather rode at tho head of ihu column with a little keg slung at her saddle


first went tho algerine zouaves tall lithe bwarthy and with african features j next the french zou aves who having obtained precedence over the green chasseure greeted them latter braves as they passed them with screams howls and derisive expressions which wcro received in silence by the chasseurs who fol lowed next attended by their vivandiere a very pielty ond smartlydressed girl who ticemed to possess great control over her feel in for whorcas a woman can scarcely bo expected to see with indifference even a tingle lover going to battle this young lady beheld with equanimity a whole regiment of admirers advancing to deadly conflict


several regiments of the line followed cod the whole array swept down the ravino to the trenches


the english light and second divisions were destined to attack the quarries two bodies each of two hundred men issuing from tho foremost trench of our right attack wcro to turn the extremities of the work drive out the occupant and advancing towards the redan atid lying down thero keep up a fire to cover tho operations of eight hundred workmen who with pickaxe and shovel were to throw up a parapet towards tho enemy


besides the guards of tko tienchcs other detachments wore to remain at convenient points ready to support them against all attempts of tho enemy


by somo moans the news had got abroad that an assault was to be made and crowds assembled at different commanding points be fore tho camps


as the hour approached and tho number of tho spectators augmented the greatest excitement prevailed


we could see the french lining their trenches and the english filing into theirs


the fire from our batteries was hotter than ever and shells were showered more thickly into the devoted mam melon


at length three rockets wore fired from tho victoria redoubt which general pelissicr had just entered and every glass was turned towards the french trenches from which the assailants wcro socn to issue and swarm up tho slope


led by one man who kept considerably in advance of tho rest they passed the line of entrenchment which the enemy had drawn round the front of tho work and iu a few minutes wero seen at tho edgo of tho ditch firing into the embrasures


pre sently tome climbed the parapet largo columns pressed in at tho loft and


almost without a struggle tho russians hurried off towards the malukoff whilo the tricolor was hoisted in the captured work


tho smaller works towards careening bry had deon simul taneously assaulted though the conflict there was disregarded in the absorbing interest of the attack on the mauimolon and they also wero carried after a short struggle but the one nearest the sea being exposed to the fire of batteries on tho north tide of the harbour was found too hof


to remain in and tho french quitted it


possession of the mammelon being obtained it was necessary to cover the operations of the workmen by a further advance and the fore most assailants dashed cit in pursuit of tho russians who made for the malakolf


flushed with their easy success the french did not content themselves with a demonstration against this formidable work but actually assailed it


it immediately became a hornets nest every gun opened its parapets sparkled with musketry and the garrison of tlic itc dan not yet assailed by the english were sen leaving their post probably to succour the muhkoff


the french pressed ou gallantly till stop ped by a belt of nbattis an obstacle composed of trees with tho branches pointed and sharp stakes


a few men penetrated through this and advaucing to the edge of the ditch fired on the defenders


at this time the malakoff became wrapt in smnko


which drifting across the scene dimmed the view of the struggle


the guns fired wildly shells exploded in all parts of the ground and shot came bounding up among the spectators one of which later ii


the evening kiilcd an unfortunate civilian who was looking ou


after tho lapse of about a quarter of an hour during which the french unable to penetrate into the malakolf gal luntlv held their ground on the slope before it the russians reinforced by several bat talion drove them back amidst a tremendous uproii of musketry and cannon and cannon and they rmred into he mamuicion behind which a considerable body of their comrades wcro drawn up


hero they raado n stand asinst the enemy and commenced a strupglo which wore an unpromising aspectfar whilo some of tho french supporting force held their ground others retired to the intrenchment midway down the slope anil began to ire from thence


at length tho french gave way and ran down the face tc their own trenches where their reicrvcs wero drawn uj


upon these thov tallied and after a breathing space were again led to the ussault and successfully


again they rushed into the aminclon drove out its defenders and pursued them to the matooff aiouni which their musketry con tinued to crackle long after darkness set in while their comrades intrenched themselves in the maminclon which was found strewn with dead from tho cficct ot our shells


mcamimo our men issuing from their trenches had entered the quarries which they found unoccupied and advanced towards the redan to caver the operations of the working party


their movements wcro not so plainly visiblo from the rear as those of the french owing partly to the nature of the ground partly to tho dense smoke which overhung tlio scene but lord raglan who remained at i point about halfway between the ridge before our camps aud the batteries of our left attack received occasional notices of the state of affairs


some of our men had entered the redan and found it empty the garrison having as bolorc said probably gone to reinforce the malakolt but they speedily returned in force and our reserves advanced to support tho assailants


when darkness sot in iio lino of musketry marked the disputed points but the artillery fire had almost ceased except from our mortars which threw shells into the re dan and malakoff


the latter work seemed to still amailed by the french the former was silent


all was darkness except where the sparks of musketry were scattered as from n forge then with a flash and roar a shell would climb tho sky passing tbo ridge of eeuds on the horizon mingling confusedly amid tho stare and then rotating downwards when as it disappeared behind the parapet aimed at for a moment nil was dark till the explosion lit up the work making it stand out in transient rcj relief from tho surrounding blacknoss or a shell from a gun would tia vorso tho ground at a low angle tho burning fuse rising and falling in graceful curves as it bounded on till its course ended in a burst of flame


sometimes a huglo sounded shrilly in in tho still night onco or twice there was a cheer and these sounds aud the rattle of the small arms showed tho chief part of the com bat in which so many of our comrades and friends were darkly engaged to be in the ravino ot the woronnobroad


sometimes the sound af strife died almost away and then was renewed with great warmth


these sudden outbursts marked tho onsets of tho rubsianb who madb vigorous efforts to retake the work and even drove our men out of it but were again repulsed


towards morning they ad vanced op our lrcnohes and penetrated into some of the approaches but wore driven back with iosb the next morning the russian works beaten inta uneven lieaps wero almobt silent firing only an occasional shot


the french had in treuched themsatves in tho manimelo and had placed some small mortars there while wo had made good our footing in tho quar ries


both the english divisions had suffered severely in the cocond the report up to ten oclock in the morning showed killed and wounded while in tho light the th and th had suffered severely


in the afternoon several russian mortars were directed on the maminclon and must bnve caused loss to the french in it


before and during tho assault no feint or demonstration was made at any other point of the line to mislead or distract the enemy who took advantage of the directness of the attack to collect their troops in the malakoff in suffi cient numbers to drive back tho


french as before described from that work and even temporarily to retako tho mammelon


our nllies attacked with great gallantry and the russians taken as they wero by surprise and having already suffered much from our heavy fire showed more stubbornness in tho defence than was generally anticipated


next day the expectation was very strong in tho eng lish camp that the attack was to bo renewed in tho courso of the day aud that this time the whole south side would be ours but the sun went down without iny preparations for a second assault


to be continued


the portland guardian and normanby general advertiser


published every monday wednesday friday to protect our rightsnot to infringe upon those of others


wednesday december


adventures and observations in australia


by alister macalister gent chapter viii


i rose early feverish and unwell


as i was passing the door of his pantry the steward beckoned me kindly into his den and presenting me his own threelegged stool politely requested me to be seated


i reluctantly complied with my old friends invitation as i would have preferred to have escaped his present attentions and to have breathed the freshmorning air of which i stood much in need


but i was fairly caught and submitted with the best grace i could


i see how it is young gentleman he said


you wants now to cast off the towline and thinks as how you can go ahead yourself i aint angry no but someat sorry that you wishes to part company


but i talks like a fool i is an old battered craft and you is new hull and rigging and on your first trip


howsomever i hopes you will long be a trim ship and that fair winds will always carry you into the right port


i assured him that he laboured under a great mis take if he thought i intended to slight him in any way and that there was no man on board that i respected more than himself but that being not altogether free from sickness i was hasting to seek the reviv ing influence of the cool breeze on deck


my apology or explanation was taken in good part by the touchy veteran who however had no faith in fresh air alone being a cure for any ailment


he admitted indeed that fresh air was better than foul but declared that it was only wind at the best and strongly recommended his own infallible specifica nobbler of brandy


this i refused but qualified my refusal by promising to drink a parting glass with him before the vessel left hobsons bay


he then told me he would be going in a few minutes to rouse the black doctor the cook and would speak to me on deck


the morning was delightfully cool a light breeze gently ruffled the surface of the noble bay on the bosom of which there were only four vessels besides our own


williamstown then a mere village and a few detached houses were seen in the near distance


the scenery presented nothing remarkable but on the contrary appeared to me comparatively tame and uninteresting after what i had witnessed elsewhere


melbourne was not visible but i looked intensely in the direction in which it stood and checked myself in busily building up a town in my imagination


hitherto i ejaculated aloud i have only vegetated on these to me as yet un known and mysterious shores i am to begin actual life and must either honour ably win fortune or perish in the attempt


i might perhaps have indulged in yet farther extravagance of expression had i not been unexpectedly interrupted by the steward who had evidently overheard my words but had as evidently misappre hended their meaning


why now you talks of vegetables as i take it and of their being difficult to be had without a fortune and that same is as true as that the skipper will put on his wet cap tonight


sure as the old irishman says you are a witch of a guesser for they does know in melbourne that cabbages is cabbages and them as would buy them would need a for tune as they charges two shillings and sixpence for a stalk not so big as i have myself bought in the cove of cork two for a halfpenny


ireland is the only place i knows where vegetables and eggs is to be had at a price to suit gentlemen without fortunes


i did not think it worth my while to correct my friends absurd mis take and perhaps was a little nettled at the prosaic rendering of my ejaculatory speech


however i waited silently and respectfully for the more important com munications which he had given me reason to expect


and i had determined in order to secure brevity not to interrupt him whatever might be the nature of his statements or remarks


i respects you he said as a young gentleman and therefore i takes a liberty with you which i does not often condes cend to do


i knows you may safely take sailingorders from one who has been in so many ports and i believes you will or i would not be spinning out here when i should be looking after that thicksculled tor menting black devil in the galley


you knows all the ropes and you knows how to reef to steer to take a lunar and to work a dead reckoning so that you is an edicated gen tleman and i respects you all hows


but i knows summat more than you cause how


i has been boxing about much longer than you has


but when you has got my experience you will be able to give sailing orders yourself


well then when you gets afloat in this here melbourne you must keep a sharp lookout at the masthead for rocks and sandbanks and fireships


tis not what i calls deepsea sailing but a narrow ugly strait as requires good navigation


they has a watchhouse in the place not so big as is that of liver pool but snug enough when one has to down anchor only they charges twice as much for clearance as they does at home which i told the port master was an impo sition and would you believe it the land lubber doubled them imposition charges and when i offered if they would leave their cabin to lick him and his writing fellow one after the other or both toge ther they only laughed at me like jack asses as they was and i was shoved adrift without no manner of satisfaction


but i is a drifting now and must try to bear up


i was a going to say that i hates pirates and false colours and that them as sails with them may look out for squalls and expect to dance upon nothing from a yard arm


you understands what i mean i abominates that doctornot my own doctor who is as honest and handy a nigger as ever did duty cept when he forgets but the white doctor who is the blackest devil of the two


you knows he is a dangerous craft and yet you sails in company the man who abuses a woman that he is paid to keep from harm i says is a monstrous villain and ought to be kicked and tarred and feathered as i has seen done to better men in america where they makes cable lengths of law conve nient and just as they needs them


true we has on board of this here old lady as dainty a lot of live rubbish as ever was shipped


i supposes they are intended as a gift to the colonies and a precious dear bargain they are even at that figure


but though they bes stupid and filthy they belongs to the fair sex and a right man wouldnt do them no wrong


i judges the white doctor by what i has seen and there is more black spots about him and i says to myself says i the man that does what he does can do worse and is a bad mate


i does not gave my sailing orders ignorant like so i hopes you will steer clear of him or you will come to grief


as we will be eight days in this hobsons bay perhaps i may have a cruise on shore and see you at anchor before we sail for sydney but should i not you might send me a letter to tell me how the land lies


i doesnt receive many letters cause how


i never answers none


i knows you doesnt care for no answers but i shall care to hear that you are holding on a good course and if you has as pleasant a voyage through life as i wishes you will be a blessed sailor


but i forgets you must put on the back of your letter for the steward of the ship swift and the port sydney


steward is what i has been called for a dozen of trips but i was christened tom merewether after the name of the old block but i did not fancy it by no manner of means cause how


i did not understand it


bill sparling was a great scholar and had what they calls in shore talk a dictionar a book that stows away all the words as were ever spoken but darnt we could not find it


no how


well says i bill i wont stand this i shall have a name as has some sense in it so i got myself entered on the ships books as tom fairweather which was my name and a very good one too all the time i was a foremast man


steward is not a bad name neither and is in the dictionar


i is used to it and likes it almost as well as i did tom fairweather so put steward my name as now is on the back of the paper and it will be all square sailing


i felt gratified at the thought that there was at least one person on board who sin cerely cared for my welfare and thanked him warmly for the interest he manifested


having assured him that i would be most happy to see him on shore and that in the event of my being denied this pleasure i would write to his address the worthy fellew left me delighted to engage in the performance of his ordinary duties


i felt refreshed and revived by the pure and bracing air of the morning but was rend ered uncomfortable by the free remarks which the steward had passed upon the surgeon and was beginning to suspect that i had been guilty of great imprudence in committing myself as i had done to his companionship


but retreat was now impossible even if i had desired it but strangely enough though an indefinable sense of fear or something akin to it came over me i had no desire to break the unpropitious connec tion and by degrees i succeeded in softening down the more repulsive cha racteristics of the surgeon till the picture not only became bearable but sin gularly attractive


i do not attempt to explain the cause or causes of this peculiar state of mind


i simply state the fact that the man excercised over me a kind of fascination as real but much more mysterious than that which the snake exerts over the hapless bird that becomes its victim


the steward had not long left me when the object of my thoughts made his ap pearance


his manner was entirely changed from what it had been on the previous night


he saluted me frankly and cheer fully and to my no small surprise pro ceeded at once to make some lively and witty remarks


he guessed by my looks that i was contrasting the man of the present with the man of a few hours ago for looking earnestly in my face he said with a smile


my good sir you seem to be somewhat puzzled this morning and stare at me as if i was a lusus nature a new and wonderful thing in creation but you behold no phenomenon


man is an instrument capable of giving forth more than one tunenay an endless variety and the sad and the gay frequently trip closely on the heels of each other


this is the ordering of chance of fate of what you will


no man has power over his own spirit


last night i was in the grasp of the demonin the darkin the mud


today i am out of bondsin sunshineon firm ground and may laugh and sing with the merriest and most musical


i actually shuddered at the bold avowal of these commonplace infidel sentiments but i had sufficient courage to challenge and contradict them


i am sorry i replied exceedingly sorry to hear you speak after this fashion


you would des troy all free agency in man and conse quently all responsibility


now nature itself teaches us that we are free agents and the conscience in every man however rude or uncivilized determlnes the charac ter of his actions and presses home upon him the fact of responsibility


indeed these two great leading truths though they may be ostentatiously denied by a few who arrogantly assume to be wiser than others are universally recognised and on them all human legislation is based and supposing them not to exist then the law which pun ishes the most notorious criminai is unjust and cruel for if there be no such things as free agency and responsibility he ought to be an object of pity and not of penalty


but the bible which claims to be the word of god and which i believe to be so both from internal and external evidences dis tinctly affims the free agency and respon sibility of man


true it regards man as a guilty degraded and helpless being


it however does not abandon him to despair but promises to the lowly suppliant par don holiness and needed aid that he may win present peace and future glory


would that you knew the value of this book which i have myself too lightly es teemed and your increase of happiness here would be a foretaste and earnest of a coming eternal felicity


i have no doubt that i spoke forcibly for i felt keenly


my dear sir he answered with a bitter sardonic laugh


you ought to have been a parson yet believe me you have still much to learn but if you please we will drop this subject and abjure it in time to come as one on which we are not likely to agree


i trust however that my honesty has not made you as fickle as the rest of the world and that you have not determined to abjure the man as i now abjure the subject


i replied if you still wish to lodge with me i have no objection and you will be so good as recollect that you yourself have been the occasion of this misunderstanding


i must however be permitted to say that i will not allow my religious principles to be at tacked by any individual without endeavour ing to defend them and as i most truly de sire your wellbeing my fervent prayer is that you may be speedily led to give more needful consideration to the sublime truths and incontrovertible evidences of our holy christianity


well well he answered offering his hand which i took we are again friends


i cannot afford to lose you


if have inadver tently cast a spark into a barrel of gunpow der i promise to be more careful in future


so this disagreeable matter being happily ended we may perhaps be at liberty to talk on something else


i am quite aware that my conduct in agree ing to be the companion of the surgeon after what had passed was unjustifiable and that i ought to have sought divine assistance to have enabled me to break the strange spell with which i was bound against by better judgment but i sinfully yielded to the fascination with out putting forth the slightest opposing effort


at am a small steamer came alongside and the captain the surgeon myself and a few of the passengers entered her to proceed to melbourne


i parted with the old lady with regret as if she had been a thing of life


if occasionally cantankerous as the steward phrased it she had borne us safely over many a league of ocean and i felt indebted to her and as heartily wished her well as if she had been an old and living friend


nay i am persuaded that years after had the opportunity offered i would have cheerfully travelled miles to visit her in consideration of the ac quaintance formed and the obligation received


although melbourne be only two or three miles from the bay and the railwaycarriage now gets over the intervening space in less than five minutes we were an hour and ahalf in as cending the yarra yarra not from the compara tive slowness of our conveyance but from the winding character of the river i was disap pointed with the yarra yarra


i had been led to expect a noble river like the tay or the clyde with rich and varied scenery adorning its banks but i found instead a narrow and deep stream wending it way through a flat dull and most uninviting country and was strongly reminded of a dutch canal


this river is deep as far as melbourne but from impediments at its mouth and in some parts of its course only vessels of light burthen can ascend to the city


our monotonous sail as i have said lasted for an hour and a half and my patience was nearly exhausted when for the first time my foot trod upon austalian soil


chapter iii


in which ckiitain tieh


reilsons aiw


introduced ok the same teiims as mention has been already made more than once of a certain dragon who swung and erenked coniuliiiiiiiurly before the tillage ale house door


a faded and an ancient dragon he was and many a wintry storm of rain snon sleet and hail bad changed his colour from a gaudy blue to a faint lacklustre shade of tey


but there he hung rearing in a state of monstrous imbecility on his bin j legs waxinjr with every uioulli that passed so much more dim and shapeless that as you gazed at him on one side of the signboard it seemed as if he must lie gradually inching through it he waa a courteous and considerate dragon too or had been iu his dislinctcr days for iu the midst of his rampant feebleness lie kept one of his tors paws near his nose ns though he would say dont mind me its only my fun while he held out the other in polite and honitable entreaty


indeed it miibt be conceded lo the whole brood of dragons of modem times that they havemadc a greut ad longer demand a beautiful virgin for breatfast tame single gentleman expects his hot rolliut rest content wiih the society of idle bachelors and roving married men and they are now remarkable rather lor holding auol irani the softer ses nnd discouraging their visits es pecially on salurday nights than for rudely insisting on their company without any refer ence to their inclinations as they are known to have done in days of yore


or is this tribute to ihe reclaimed animals in oiiestiou so wide adigressiou inui the realms of nalural history as it may at first sight aniictr lo he fur the present busiuess is with the dragon who had his retreat iu mr peck sniffs neighbourhood and that courteous animal being already on the carpet there is nothing in the way of ius immediate tran saction


for many years then he had swung nnd creaked and flapped himself about before the two windows of llie best bedroom iu thut house of entertainment to uliich he lent his name but never in all his swinging creaking aud flapping had there been such a stir within its that upon which the incidents detailed iu the last chapter occurred when there was such a hurrying ui and down stairs of feet such a glancing of lights such a wliispeiiug of voices such a smoking and sputtering of wood newly lighted in a damp chimney such an airing of linen such a searching snell of hot war


ig


pans such a domestic bustle and todo in short mal of that species presided over since they first began ui interest themselves iu household affairs


an old gentleman and a young lady travel ling unattended in a rusty old chatiot with posthorses coming nobody knew whence mid going nobody knew whither bad turned out nf i high road and driven unexpectedly to the blue dragon and here was the old gen tleman who liad taken this steji by reason of his sudden illness in the carriage suffering the mostuorritile crampsand spasms et protesting and vowing in the very midst of his pain that he wouldnt have a doctorsent for and wouldnt take any remedies but those which the young lady administered from a small medicinechcsl and wouldnt in a word do anything but terrify the landlady out of her five wits and obsti nately refuse compliance wilhevery suggestion that was made to liim


or all the five hundred proposals for his re lief which the good woman poured out in less iuuii uauaiitiour ue wuuia entertain out one


tliat was thut he should go to bed


aud it was in the preparation of his bed and the ar rangement uf his chamber thatail theslir was made in the room behind the dragon


lie was beyond all question very ill ami suffered exceedingly not the less perhaps with a will of iron auda voiccof brass


but neither the apprehensions wlrch he plainly en tertained at times for his life nor the great lain he underwent influenced his resolution in the least degree


he would have no person sent for


the worse he grew ijie more rigid and iuflexible he becumc in this determination


if they sent for any person to attend him man woman or child he would leave the house di rectly so he told them though he quitted it on foot aud died upon the threshold of the ivow there being no medical practitioner ac tually resident iu the village but a poorapothe


the landlady had upon lftr owu responsibility seut fur him in the very first burst and outset of the disaster


uf course it followed as a necessary result of his being wauled thut he was not at home lie iiud gone sume miles away aud was not expected home until lute at night so the landlady being by this time prcity well beside hereell despatched the same messeuner in all hasle for mr pecksniff us a learned man who could bear a deal of respon sibihty uud a moral man who could administer n urti ui uuiutui v iu u nuuuicii mum


jimi her guest had need of some efficient services under the latter head was obvious enough from llie retlcss expressions importing however ralher a worldly than a spiritual anxiety to which he gave frequent utterance


from ibis last mentioned secret errand the messenger relumed with no belter news tliiiu from the first mr pecksniff waa not at home


however they got the patient into bed without him aud iu llie course of two hours he gradu ally became so fur belter that there were much longer intervals ibun in first between his terms of suffering


by degrees he censed lo suffer at all though his exhaustion was occasionally so great that it suggested hardly less aluriu than his actual endurance had dune


il wusin one of bis intervals of repose when looking round with greut caution and reaching uneasily out of his nest of pillows ko endea voured with a strange air of secrecy and dib trust lo make ube uf the writing materials which lie had ordered to be placed on a table beside him that the young lady and the mis tress of the blue dragon found themselves sitting side by side before the fire in the sick chamber


the mistress of the blue dragon was in outward uppcarance jtibt wliat a landlady should be broad buxom comfortable and goodlooking with a face of clear red and white which by its jovial aspect at once bore testimuuy to tlieir nearly participation iu the


good things of the larder and the cellar aud to their thriving and healthful influences


she was a widow but years ago had pabbedtbrough her stale of ivecdb and burst into flower again and in full bloum shehad continued evereince and in full bloom she was now with roses on her ample skirts and roses un her boddice robes iu her cap roses in her cheeks ay and roses worth the gathering too on her lips for tliut matter


blio bad still a bright black ey and jet black liair was comely dimpled plump and tight ob a gooseberry and though she was not exactly what the world calls young you may make an affidavit on trubt before any mayoror magistrate in christendom that there are a great many young ladies in the world blessings on them one and all whom you wouldnt like half as well or admire half ab mucli as the beaming busless of the blue dragon


as this lair matron sal beside the fire she glanced occasionally with all the pride of ownership about the room which was a large apartment sucb as one may see in country places wiih a low roof and a sunken flooring all downbill from the door and a descent of two steps on the inside so exquisitely unex pected tbat strangers despite the mostelaborate cautiouino usually dived in ucadfirst as into a plungiugballi


llwas none of your frivolous and preposterously bright bedrooms where nobody can close an eye with any kind of pro priety or decent regard to the association of ideas but it was a goon dull leaden drowsy place where every article of furniture reminded you thai you came there to sleep and that you were expected to go to sleep


there was no wakeful reflection of the fire there as iu your modern chambers which upon the darkest nights have a watchful consciousness of french polish the old spanish mahogany winked at it now und then as a dozing cut or dog might nothing more


the very size uud shape and uupciesa iiiiiiiuveiiumiy vi ur


ubiaitvi iu wardrobe nnd in a minor degree of even the chairs and cables provoked sleep they were plainly npoplectic and disposed to snore


there were no staring portraits to reinoiibtrate with you for being lazy no roundeyed birds upon the curtains disgustingly wide awake und insufferably prying


the thick iinunil hang ings and the dark blinds and the heavy heap of bedclothes were all designed to hold in sleep and act as nonconductors to the day and getting up


even the old stuffed fox upon tlic top of ihe wardrube was devoid of any spark of vigilance fur his glass eye had fallen out and he slumbered as lie stood


to be continued


titttllt thsttttplllrrns ttlorie persovxal adventueell of master hjuiupirey


ath old ctrtoiots shopcsardlet xxis


almost broken hearted nell withdrewv withs the schoolmaster from the bedside and returned to his cottage


in the midst of her grief and tears she was yet careful to conceal their real cause from the old man for the dead boy had been a grandchild and left but one aged relative to mourn his premature decay


she stole away to bed as quickly as she could and when she was alone gave free vent to the for row with which her breast was overcharged


but the sad scene she had witnessed was not without its lesson of content and gratitude of content with the lot which left her health and freedom and gratitude that she was spared to the one relative and friend she loved and to live and move in a beautiful world when no many young creatures as young and full of hope as she were stricken down and gathered to their graves


how many of the mounds in that old churchyard where she sad lately strayed grew green above the graves of children i


and though she thought as a child herself and did not perhaps sufficiently consider to what


a bright and happy ex sstence those who die young are borne and how in death they lose the pain of seeing others die around them bearing to the tomb some strong affection of their hearts which makes the old die many times in one long life still she thought wisely enough to draw a plain and easy moral from what soe had seen that night and to store it deep in her mind


her dreams were of the little scholar not coffined and covered up but mingling with angels and smi ling happily


the sun darting his cheerful rays into the room awoke lher and now there remained but to take leave of the poor schoolmaster and wan der forth once more


by the time they were ready to depart school had begun


in the darkened room the din of yesterday was going on again a little sobered and softened down perhaps but only a very little if at all


the schoolmaster rose from his desk and walked with them to the gate


it was with a trembling and reluctant hand that the child held out to him the money which the lady had given her at the races for her flowers faltering in her thanks as she thought how small the sum was and blushing as she offered it


but he bade her put it up and stooping to kiss her cheek turned back into his house


they had not gone half a dozen pares when he was at the door again the old man retraced his steps to shake hands and the child did the same


good fortune and happiness go with you said tho poor schoolmaster


i am quite a solitary man now


if you ever pass this way again youll not forget the little village school


we shall never forget it sir rejoined nell nor ever forget to be grateful to you for your kind ness to us


i have heard such words from the lips of children very often said the schoolmaster shaking his head and smiling thoughtfully but they were soon for gotten


i had attached one young friend to me the better friend for being young but thats over god bless you


i they bade him farewell very many times and turned away walking slowly and often looking back until they could see him no more


at length they had left the village far behind and even lost sight of the smoke among the trees


they trudged onward now at a quicker pace resolving to keep the main raad and go wherever it might lead them


but main roads stretch a long long way


with the exception of two or three inconsiderable clusters of cottages which they passed without stopping and one lonely roadside public house where they had some bread and cheese this highway had led them to nothing late in the afternoon and still lengthened out far in the distance the same dull tedious winding course that they had been pursuing all day


as they had no resource however but to go forward they still kept on though at a much slower pace being very weary and fatigued