TheCrewOf

TheWaterWagtail

ByR.M.Ballantyne

TheCrewoftheWaterWagtail

ChapterOneARoughBeginning

Itiswellthatmankindcannotpryintothesecretsoffuturity.At all events, it is certain that if the crew of theWaterWagtail had knownwhatwas in store for themwhen they set sail fromBristol, one fine springmorningat thebeginningof thesixteenthcentury,mostof themwouldhaveremainedathomethoughitisnotimprobablethat,evenwithfullknowledgeofcomingevents,someoftheromanticamongthem,andafewofthereckless,mighthavedecidedtogoon.UndoubtedlyPaulBurnswouldhavescornedtodrawback,forhewasa“heroof romance;” an enthusiast of the deepest dye, with an inquiring mind, asanguine disposition, and a fervent belief in all things great and good andgrand.Hewasalsoasix-footerinhissocks,ahorseinconstitution,aHerculesinframe,withahooknoseandahawkeyeandastrongjawandalltherestofit. Paul had a good brain, too, and was well educatedas education went inthosedays.Yes,therecanbelittledoubtthateventhoughPaulBurnshadbeenable to see into the future, hewould have deliberately chosen to go on thatvoyage.SowouldOliverTrench, forOliverworshippedPaul!He lovedhimas ifhe

had been an elder brother.He admired him, afar off, as a rare specimen ofhuman perfection.He looked up to him, physically aswell asmentally, forOliverwasat that time littlemore thanaboyofmediumsize,butboldasabull-dogandactiveasaweasel.Yes,wearesafetosaythatarevelationofthedisasters,dangers,sufferings,etcetera,instore,wouldnothavedeterredOliverTrench.HewouldhavegoneonthatvoyagesimplybecausePaulBurnswent.Thatwas reason enough for him.The devotion ofRuth toNaomiwasmildcomparedwith thatofOliver toPaulifwordsarea testof feelingsforRuth’sbeautifullanguagecouldnotcomparewiththeforcibleexpressionswithwhichOliverassuredhisfriendthathewouldsticktohim,neckornothing,throughthickandthin,tothelatesthouroflife!Asfor therestof thecrewBigSwinton,LittleStubbs,GeorgeBlazer,Squill,andthelikeitwaswell,aswehavesaid,thattheycouldnotseeintothefuture.Therewerefortyofthem,all told, includingthecookandthecabin-boy.WedonotincludePaulBurnsorOliverTrench,becausetheformerwasnaturalistto the expeditiona sort of semi-scientific freelance; and the latter, besidesbeingthemaster’s,orskipper’s,son,wasafree-and-easy lance,so tospeak,whosedutiesweretoonumeroustomention,andtooindefinitetounderstand.Most of themenwerewhat is expressedby thephrase “nobetter than theyshouldbe.”Someofthem,indeed,wereevenworsethanthat.Thewarsoftheperiodhadrendereditdifficulttoobtaingoodseamenatthatparticulartime,sothatmerchantskippershadtocontentthemselveswithwhatevertheycouldget. The crew of theWaterWagtailwas unusually bad, including, as it did,several burglars and a few pickpockets, besides loafers and idlers; so that,beforeleavingBristol,afriendof theskipper,whoseimaginationwaslively,styleditacrewoffortythieves.The coast of Norway was the destination of theWater Wagtail. She neverreached the coast ofbut we must not anticipate. What her object was inreferencetoNorwaywecannottell.Ancientrecordsaresilentonthepoint.TheobjectofPaulBurnswastogathergeneralinformation.Atthatperiodtheworldwasnotrich ingeneral information.Todiscover, todare, todoifneedwere,todiewastheintentionofourbighero.Tobesimilarlycircumstancedinasmallwaywasourlittlehero’sambition.“Goin’ to blow,” remarked Skipper Trench, on the evening of the day onwhichhesailed,ashepacedthedeckwithhishandsinhispockets,and,ashissonOliversaid,his“weather-eye”open.Itseemedasthoughtheweather,havingoverheardtheprophecy,waseagertofulfil it, fora squallcouldbe seenbearingdownon the shipevenwhile the

wordswerebeinguttered.“Close reef to-o-o-p-s’ls!” roaredMaster Trench,with the energy of amanwhomeanswhathesays.Wearenotsureoftheprecisenauticaltermsused,buttheresultwasasuddenand extensive reduction of canvas; and not a moment too soon, for theoperationhadscarcelybeencompletedwhenthesquallstrucktheship,almostcapsizedher,andsenthercareeringoverthebillows“likeathingoflife.”Thiswas thefirstofasuccessionofsqualls,orgales,whichblewtheWaterWagtailfaroutupontheAtlanticOcean,stoveinherbulwarks,carriedawayherbowspritandforetopmast,damagedherskylights,strainedherrudder,andclearedherdecksofloosehamper.After many days the weather moderated a little and cleared up, enablingMasterTrench to repair damages and shape his course forNorway.But theeasterlygales returnedwith increasedviolence,undidall the repairs, carriedaway the compass, and compelled these ancient mariners to run westwardunderbarepoleslittlebetterthanawreckforwindsandwavestoplaywith.Intheseadversecircumstancestheskipperdidwhattoomanymenareapttodointheirdayofsorrowhesoughtcomfortinthebottle.LoveofstrongdrinkwasMasterTrench’sweakestpoint.ItwasoneofthefewpointsonwhichheandhisfriendBurnsdisagreed.“Now,mydearman,”saidPaul,seatinghimselfoneeveningatthecabintableandlayinghishandimpressivelyonhisfriend’sarm,“doletmelockupthisbottle.You can’t navigate the ship, youknow,whenyou’vegot somuchofthatstuffunderyourbelt.”“Oyes, Ican,”said theskipper,withan imbecilesmile, forhis friendhadawinning way with him that conciliated even while he rebuked. “Don’t youfear,Paul,II’mallright!”Thehalf-offendedidioticexpressionoftheman’sfacewasintenselyludicrous,but Paul could not see the ludicrous at that time. He only saw his usuallysedate,manly,generousfriendreducedtoastateofimbecility.“Come, now,MasterTrench,” he said persuasively, taking hold of the case-bottle,“letmeputitaway.”“N–no,Iwon’t”saidthecaptainsharply,forhewasshortoftemper.Thepersuasive lookonPaul’s face suddenlyvanished.He rose, grasped the

bottlefirmly,wenttotheopenhatch,andsentitwhizzingupintotheairwithsuchforcethatitwentfaroverthesternoftheshipanddroppedintothesea,to the unutterable amazement of the man at the helm, who observed thebottle’sunaccountableflightwithanexpressionofvisageallhisown.There is no accounting for the rapid transitions of thought and feeling indrunkenmen.The skipper sprangup, clenched his right hand, andgazed infierceastonishmentathisfriend,whoadvancedtowardshimwithabenignantsmile,quiteregardlessofconsequences.Evenintheactofstriking,thecaptainrestrained his arm and opened his hand. Paul met it with a friendly grasp,whilethefacesofbothmenexpandedinsmilinggoodwill.“Y–you’reatrump,P–Paul,”saidthecaptain.“IIwon’tdrinka–anotherd’op!”And Master Trench kept his word. From that day forth, till circumstancesrendereddrinkingimpossible,hedranknothingstrongerthanwater.Soonafterthiseventtheweatherimproved,damageswereagainrepaired,andtheskipperinwhomtherewasmuchofthespiritoftheoldvikingsoncemorelaidhiscourseforNorway,resolvingtosteer,asthesaidvikingswerewonttodo, by the stars.But a spirit ofmutinywas abroad in the forecastle by thattime. Ifhardwork,hard fare, andhard fortuneare tryingeven togoodmenandtrue,whatmusttheybetobadmenandfalse?“Here’showitlays,men,”saidBigSwinton,inasubduedvoice,toaknotoffriendsaroundhim.“Blowin’hardasithasbineversinceweleftEngland,itstands to reason thatwemusthaveprettynighgotacross thewesternsea tothat noo land discovered by that man wi’ the queer nameI can’t rememberrightly”“Columbus, you mean,” cried George Blazer. “Why, my father sailed withColumbusonhisfirstvoyage.”“No,itwasn’tColumbus,”returnedSwinton,inasharptone,“an’youneedn’tspeakasifwewasalldeaf,Blazer.ItwasJohnCabotIwasthinkin’of,who,with his son Sebastian, discovered land a long way to the nor’ard o’Columbus’s track. They called it Newfoundland.Well, as I was sayin’, wemustbealongwaynearertothatlandthantoNorway,an’itwillbefareasierto reach it.Moreover, theCabots said that thenatives thereare friendlyandpeaceable,soit’smyopinionthatweshouldcarryonaswegotillwereachNewfoundland,an’seewhetherwecan’tleadajollierlifetherethanwedidinOldEngland.”“Butit’smyopinion,”suggestedLittleStubbs,“thattheskipper’sopiniononthatpointwillhavetobefoundoutfirst,Swinton,forit’sofmoreimportance

thanyours.Youain’tskipperyet,youknow.”“That’sso,Stubbs,”saidSquill,withanod.“Let your tongues lie still,” retorted Swinton, in an undertoned growl. “OfcourseIknowI’mnotskipperyet,butifyoumenhavethecourageofrabbitsI’llbeskipperbeforeanothersunrisesorwhoeveryouchoosetoappoint.”A sudden silence ensued for a few moments, for, although there had beenmutinouswhisperingsbefore,noonehad,uptothattime,venturedtomakeadistinctproposalthatactionshouldbetaken.“What! steal the ship?” exclaimed a huge black-bearded fellow namedGrummidge.“NayI’llhavenohandinthat.”“Of course not; we have no intention to steal the ship,” retorted Swinton,before any one else had time to express an opinion; “we are all uprighthonourablemenhere.Weonlymeantotaketheloanofher.Afterallwehavesufferedweareentitledsurelytoapleasure-trip,andwhenthat’soverwecanreturntheshiptotheownersifsodisposed.You’lljoinusinthat,Grummidge,won’tyou?Andwe’llmakeyouskipperorfirstmate,ifyou’retoomodesttotakecommand.”Thissallywasreceivedwithasubduedlaugh,andwithmarksofsuchdecidedapproval, thatGrummidgewascarriedwith thecurrentatallevents,heheldhistongueafterthat.An earnest undertoned discussion followed, and itwas finally arranged thatBig Swinton should soundMaster Trench about the propriety of running toNewfoundlandinsteadofreturningontheirtracktoNorway.Theseamanwasnotslowtoact.Thatafternoon,whileatthehelm,hemadethesuggestiontotheskipper,butmetwithasharprebukeandanordertoattendtohisduty.NoworddidBigSwintonreply,butthatverynightheenteredthecabinwithadozenmenandseizedtheskipper,hisson,andPaulBurns,whiletheyslept.Of course, being greatly outnumbered, theywere overcome andbound.Thetwoofficersof thevesselwerealsoseizedbyanotherpartyondeck,andallthefivewereimprisonedinthehold.Nextmorningtheywerebroughtondeck,andmadetostandinarowbeforeBigSwinton,whohad, in themeantime,beenappointedby themutineers tothecommandoftheship.“Now,MasterTrench,”saidSwinton,“wearenopirates.Wehavenodesiretokillyou,sothatwhetheryouarekilledornotwilldependonyourself.Ifyouagree to navigate this ship toNewfoundlandgood; if notwewill heave youoverboard.”

“Heaveawaythen,”growledtheskipper,hisnaturebeingsuchthatthemorehewasdefiedthemoredefianthebecame.“Well,MasterTrench,youshallhaveyourway.Get theplank ready,boys,”said Swinton, turning to the men. “Now stand aside and let the first matechoose.”Thesamequestionbeingputtothetwomates,theyreturnedsimilaranswers,andwereorderedtopreparetowalktheplank.“You don’t understand navigation, I fancy,Master Burns,” said Swinton toPaul,“butasyoucansetbrokenbones,andthingsofthatsort,wewillspareyouifyouagreetoserveus.”“Thankyou,”repliedPaul,withquieturbanity.“IprefertoaccompanyMasterTrench,ifyouhavenoobjection.”Therewasaslightlaughatthecoolnessofthisreply,whichenragedthenewskipper.“Sayyouso?”heexclaimed, jumpingup.“Come, then,shoveout theplank,lads,andbringthemononeatatime.”“Stop!”criedlittleOliver,atthispoint.“You’veforgotme.”“No,mylittleman,Ihaven’t,”returnedSwinton,withacynicalsmile.“Youshallaccompanyyouramiablefather;butfirstI’llgiveyouafairchance,”headded,inabanteringtone:“willyounavigatetheship?”“Yes,Iwill,”answeredOliverpromptly.“Indeed!”exclaimedthenewskipper,takenabackbytheboy’sboldness,andatalossforareply.“Yes,indeed,”retortedOliver,“onlyputmeincommand,withanauger,andI’llnavigatetheshiptothebottomofthesea,withyouandallyourcowardlycrewonboardofher!”“Wellsaid,littlemaster,”criedGrummidge,whileagenerallaughofapprovalwentround.Seeing that therewas a symptomof better feeling among someof themen,MasterTrenchwasabouttomakeanappealtothem,when“Landho!”wasshoutedbythelook-outinstentoriantones.

ChapterTwo

TheAdventurersLandontheIslandTheexcitementcausedbythesightoflandwastremendous.Nearlyeveryoneran to the bow or leaped on the bulwarks, and the prisoners were leftunguarded.Seeingthis,Grummidgequietlycuttheirbondsunobserved,andthenhurriedforward to gazewith the rest. Even theman at the tiller left his post for amomenttogetabetterviewoftheland.Onreturning,hefoundMasterTrenchoccupyinghisplace,andPaulBurnsstandingbesidehimwithahandspikeinhisgrasp.Oliverhadalsoarmedhimselfwithamarlinespike indefaultofabetterweapon.“Gofor’ard,myman,”saidtheskipper,inaquietvoice,“an’tellyourmatestogetreadytheanchorandstandbythecable.Hasteye,ifyouvaluelife.”Themanslunkawaywithoutaword.“Weseemfarfromlandyet,MasterTrench;whysuchhaste?”askedPaul.“Lookoverthestern,”wastheskipper’scurtreply.PaulandOliverbothdidso,andsawthatanothersquallwasbearingdownonthem.“IsitNewfoundland?”askedPaul.“Ay,andanuglycoasttomakeinasquall.Hallo!thereifyewouldnotbefoodforfisheslayaloftandtakeinallsail!”Theskipper,ashiswontwas,gavetheorderinasterntoneofcommand,andresignedthetillertoGrummidge,whocameaftatthemoment.Themensawwith surprise that a heavy squall was bearing down on them from theeastward.Mutinyflew,asitwere,outatthehawseholes,whiledisciplinere-enteredbythecabinwindows.EvenBigSwintonwascowedforthemoment.ItmaybethatthepeculiarwayinwhichPaulBurnseyedhimandtoyedwiththe handspike had some effect on him. Possibly hewas keenly alive to thedangerwhichthreatenedthem.Atallevents,hewenttoworkliketherest!Andtherewasoccasionforhaste.Beforethesailswereproperlysecured,thesquallstruckthem;theforemastwassnappedoffclosetothedeck;foratimetheshipbecameunmanageableanddriftedrapidlytowardstheland.“IsthatasmallislandthatIseeontheweatherbow,Olly?”saidtheskipperto

hisson.“Look,youreyesarebetterthanmine.”“Yes,father.Itlookslikeasmallone.”“Steerforthat,Grummidge.We’lltakeshelterinitslee.”Thesailswerebraced,andthedirectionofthevesselwaschanged,whilethewreckoftheforemastwasbeingclearedaway;but,justastheyweredrawingnear to the island, the wind chopped round, and the hoped-for shelter theywereapproachingbecamesuddenlyaleeshore.“Nothingcansaveusnow,”mutteredGrummidge,“theWaterWagtailisgoingtoherdoom.”“You’reright,myman.Beforeanotherhourgoesby,shewillhavewaggedhertailforthelasttime,”saidMasterTrench,somewhatbitterly.Theywerebothright.Inlessthananhourafterthattheshipwashurledupontheoutlyingrocksofalowisland.Shakenandstrainedasshehadbeenduringherdisastrousvoyage,ittookbutashorttimetobreakherup,butthebowhadbeenthrusthighbetweentworocksandremainedfast.Circumstances do not change character, but they often bring it to the front.Heroesandpoltroonsmayremainunknownuntilasuddenincidentorchangeofcondition reveals them.As thecrewof thewreckedshipclusteredon thefragmentofthebow,andgazedonthetumultuousfloodoffoamingwaterthatseethedbetween themand the shore, their hearts failed them for fear.Somesternly compressed their lips, and looked like men who hadmade up theirminds to“diegame.”Afeweven lookeddefiant,as ifdaringFate todoherworst,thoughthepalloroftheircountenancesgavethelietotheexpressionoftheirfeatures;butmanyofthem,intheterrorofthemoment,criedaloudformercy,andwildlypromisedamendmentiftheirlivesshouldbespared.Afewwere composed and grave. Bravemen, though bad. Possibly some of theseprayed.Ifso,theyhadthesensetodoitsilentlytoHimwhoknowsthesecretsofallhearts.“Nomancancrossthatandlive,”saidtheskipper,inalow,sadtone.“Itismyintentiontotry,MasterTrench,”saidPaulBurns,graspingtheendofalightlineandtyingitroundhiswaist.LittleOliverlookedquicklyandanxiouslyathisfriend.Hisheartsank,forhesawataglancethatitwasnotpossibletofollowhim.Thedeed,ifdoneatall,mustbedonebyhisfriendalone.Great,therefore,wasthereboundofjoyintheboy’sheartwhenPaulsaid

“Now,Olly,attendtome.Mylife,underGod,maydependoncloseattentiontomysignalsandthemanagementoftheline.Icantrustyourfatherandthementohaulmebacktotheshipifneedbe,butIwilltrustonlyyoutopayoutand readmysignals.Observe,now, let therebenoslack to the line;keep itjust tautbutwithoutanypullon it,so thatyoumayfeel thesignalsatonce.Onepullmeanspayoutfaster,twopullsmeanhaulmeaboard,threepullsisallrightandfixthebighawsertothelinesothatImayhaulitashore.Now,Olly,Itrusttoyoutoreadmysignalsandactpromptly.”Oliver’sheartwas too full to speak.He lookedathis friendwithswimmingeyesandnoddedhishead.“Men,” said Paul to the crew, “let me beg you to obey the boy’s orderssmartly.IfGodwillsitso,weshallallbesaved.”Heleapedoverthesideasheconcluded.Anothermomentandhewasseentorise and buffet the plunging waters manfully. Great as was the muscularstrengthoftheyoungman,itseemedabsolutefeeblenesstothosewholookedon;neverthelesshemadeheadwaytowardstheshore,whichwasstrewnwithgreatboulderswithalowcliffbehindthem.Itwasamongthesebouldersthathis chief danger anddifficulty lay, for his strong framewouldhavebeen asnothingifdashedagainstthem.Quicklyhewaslosttoviewinthehurly-burlyoffoamandspray.With the utmost care did Oliver Trench perform his duty. It required bothvigour of hand and delicacy of touch to keep the line right, but it wasmanipulatedbyhandswhosevigourandtouchwereintensifiedbylove.“Easeoff!”hecried,lookingbackimpatientlyatthestrongfellowswhoheldtheslackoftheline.Themenobeyedsoreadilythatthelineranouttoofastandtheboyhadmuchadotocheckit.Justashegotitsufficientlytaut,hefeltwhatseemedtohimlike twopulls“haulme in!”Could itbe?Hewasnotcertain. Inanagonyofanxietyheheldon,andwasabouttogivethesignaltohaulin,whenhisfather,whowatchedhiseverymovement,instantlysaid,“Givehimanothersecondortwo,Olly.”Justthentherewasastrongsinglepullattheline.“Pay out!faster!” shoutedOliver, and, at the samemoment he eased off hisownfeelingsinatremendoussighofrelief.Afterthatthelineransteadilyforafewseconds,andnosignalscame.Thenit

ceasedtorun,andpoorOliver’sfearsbegantorushinuponhimagain,buthewasspeedilyrelievedbyfeelingthreedistinctandvigorouspulls.“Thank God, he’s safe,” cried the boy. “Now then, pass along thehawserquick!”Thiswasdone,thelightlinewasattachedtoathree-inchrope,andthepartyonthewreckwaitedanxiously.“Giveitapull,Olly,bywayofsignal,”suggestedMasterTrench.“Hedidnottellmetodothat,father,”returnedtheboy,hesitating.“Nodoubtheforgotitinthehurrytryit,anyhow.”A hearty pull on the line was accordingly given, and they soon had thesatisfaction of seeing the hawser move over the side and run towards theshore.WhenitceasedtorunouttheyknewthatPaulmusthavegotholdoftheendofit,so,makingtheirendfasttotheheelofthebowsprit,theywaited,forasyettheropelaydeepintheheavingwaters,andquiteuselessasameansofescape.Presentlytheropebegantojerk,thenittightened,soonthebightofitroseoutoftheseaandremainedthererigid.“Welldone,Paul,”exclaimedtheskipper,whenthiswasaccomplished.“Now,Olly,yougofirst,you’relight.”Buttheboyhesitated.“No,father,youfirst,”hesaid.“Obeyorders,Olly,”returnedtheskippersternly.Without another word Oliver got upon the rope and proceeded to clamberalong it. The operationwas by nomeans easy, but the boywas strong andactive,andthewaternotverycold.Itleapedupanddrenchedhim,however,ashepassedthelowestpointofthebight,andthereaftertheweightofhiswetgarments delayed him, so that on nearing the shore he was pretty wellexhausted.There,however,hefoundPauluptothewaistintheseawaitingforhim,andthelastfewyardsofthejourneyweretraversedinhisfriend’sarms.BymeansofthisropewaseverymanoftheWaterWagtail’screwsavedfromawaterygrave.Theyfoundthattheislandonwhichtheyhadbeencastwassufficientlylargetoaffordthemshelter,andabriefsurveyofitprovedthattherewasbothwoodandwaterenoughtoservethem,butnothingofanimalorvegetablelifewasto

be found. This was serious, because all their provisions were lost with thewreckedportionoftheship,sothatstarvationstaredthemintheface.“If only the rum-kegs had been saved,” said one of the men, when theyassembled,aftersearchingtheisland,todiscusstheirprospects,“wemight,atleast,haveledamerrylifewhileitlasted.”“Humph!Muchgoodthatwoulddoyouwhenyoucametothinkoveritinthenextworld,”saidGrummidgecontemptuously.“Idon’tbelieveinthenextworld,”returnedthefirstspeakergruffly.“Ablindman sayshedoesn’t see the sun, anddon’t believe in it,” rejoinedGrummidge:“doesthatprovethatthere’snosun?”HereMasterTrenchinterposed.“Mylads,”hesaid,“don’tyouthinkthatinsteadoftalkingrubbishitwouldbewisetoscatteryourselvesalongthecoastandseewhatyoucanpickupfromthewreck?Dependon’tsomeoftheprovisionshavebeenstrandedamongtherocks,and,as theywillbe smashed topiecesbefore long, the soonerwegoabout it the better.The truth is, thatwhile youhave beenwastin’ your timerunningabouttheisland,MasterBurnsandIhavebeendoin’this,an’we’vesavedsomethingsalreadyamongthemabarrelofpork.Come,rouseupandgotoworksometotheshore,otherstomakeacampinthebush.”Thisadviceseemedsogoodthat themenactedonitatonce,withtheresultthat before dark they had rescued twomore barrels of pork and a barrel offlourfromthegraspof thesea,besidessomecasesofgoodswhichtheyhadnottakentimetoexamine.Returning from the shore together, ladenwith various rescued articles, PaulandOliverhaltedandsatdownonarocktorestforafewminutes.“Olly,” said the former, “what was that I saw you wrapping up in a bit oftarred canvas, and stuffing so carefully under the breast of your coat, soonaftertheshipstruck?”“Mother’slastlettertome,”saidtheboy,withaflushofpleasureashetappedhisbreast.“Ihaveitsafehere,andscarcelydamagedatall.”“Strange,” remarkedPaul, as he pulled awell-covered packet fromhis ownbreast-pocket;“strangethatyourmindandmineshouldhavebeenrunningonthesamesubject.Seehere,thisismymother’slastgifttomebeforeshediedaletter,too,butitisGod’slettertofallenman.”

Withgreatcaretheyoungmanunrolledthepacketanddisplayedawell-wornmanuscriptcopyofaportionoftheGospelofJohn.“This is copied,” he said, “from the translation ofGod’sWord by the greatWycliffe.Itwasgiventomymotherbyanoldfriend,andwas,asIhavesaid,herpartinggifttome.”The friendswere interrupted in theirexaminationof this interestingM.S.bythearrivalofoneofthesailors,withwhomtheyreturnedtotheencampmentinthebush.

ChapterThreeFirstExperiencesontheIsland

Awonderfullypicturesqueappearancedidtheseshipwreckedmarinerspresentthat nightwhen,under the shelter of the shrubbery that crowned their smallisland, they kindled several camp-fires, and busied themselves in preparingsupper.Astherewasnolawintheislandandourskipper,havinglosthisship,forboretoassert any right tocommandeveryonenaturallydidwhat seemed right inhisowneyes.Asyettherehadarisennoboneofcontentionamongthem.Offoodtheyhadsecuredenough for at least a fewdays.Fire theyhadprocuredbymeansofflint, steel, and tinder.A clear spring furnished themwithwater, and ships’bucketswashedashoreenabledthemtoconveythesametotheirencampment.Fortunately,norum-kegshadbeenfound,sothatevilpassionswerenotstirredup,and,onthewhole,thefirstnightontheislandwasspentinafairdegreeofharmonyconsideringthecharacterofthemen.Thosewhohadbeenkindredsoulsonboardshipnaturallydrewtogetheronshore, and kindled their several fires apart. Thus it came to pass that theskipper and his son, the two mates, and Paul Burns found themselvesassembledroundthesamefire.Butthetwomates,itisrighttoadd,wereonlysympatheticinasmalldegree,because of their former position as officers, and their recent imprisonmenttogether. In reality they were men of no principle and of weak character,whosetendencywasalwaystothrowintheirlotwiththewinningside.Beinga little uncertain as to whichwas thewinning side that night, they had thewisdomtokeeptheirowncounsel.Oliverpresidedovertheculinarydepartment.

“You see, I’m rather fondof cookin’,” he said, apologetically, “that’swhy Itakeitinhand.”“Ah,thatcomesofhisbein’agoodboytohismother,”saidMasterTrenchinexplanation,andwithanodofapproval.“Ollywasalwaysreadytolendherahelpin’handinthehouseatanythingthathadtobedone,whichhasmadehimaJack-of-all-tradescookin’amongtherest,asyousee.”“Apitythatthemeansofdisplayinghispowersaresolimited,”saidPaul,whobusiedhimselfinlevellingthegroundbesidethefirefortheirbeds.“Limited!” exclaimed Trench, “you are hard to please,Master Paul; I havelivedonworsefoodthansaltporkandpancakes.”“Ifso,father,”saidOliver,ashedeftlytossedoneofthecakesintotheairandneatlycaughtitonitsothersideinthepan,“youmusteitherhavehadtheporkwithoutthepancakesorthepancakeswithoutthepork.”“Nay,MasterShallowpate,Ihadneither.”“What!didyouliveonnothing?”“Onnothingbetterthanboiledsheepskinanditwasuncommontoughaswellastasteless;butitiswonderfulwhatmenwilleatwhenthey’restarving.”“I think, father,” returned the boy, as he tossed and deftly caught the cakeagain,“thatitismorewonderfulwhatmenwilleatwhenthey’renotstarving!Ofalltheabominationsthatmortalmaneverputbetweenhisgrinders,Ithinktheworstisthatvilestuff”Hewas interrupted by a suddenoutbreakofwrath at the fire next to theirs,where Big Swinton, Grummidge, and several others were engaged, likethemselves,inpreparingsupper.“There will be trouble in the camp before long, I see plainly enough,”remarked Paul, looking in the direction of the disputants. “These twomen,SwintonandGrummidge,aretoowell-matchedinbodyandmindandself-willtoliveatpeace,andIforeseethattheywilldisputeyourrighttocommand.”“Theywon’tdothat,Paul,”returnedTrenchquietly,“forIhavealreadygivenup a rightwhich I no longer possess.When theWaterWagtailwent on therocks,my reigncame toanend.For the futurewehavenoneed toconcernourselves.Themanwith themostpowerfulwill and thestrongestmindwillnaturally come to the topand that’s how it should be. I think that all thetroublesofmankindarisefromourinterferingwiththelawsofNature.”

“Agreed,heartily,”repliedPaul,“onlyIwouldprefertocallthemthelawsofGod.By theway,MasterTrench, I havenot yet toldyou that I have inmypossessionsomeofthesesamelawsinabook.”“Have you, indeed?in a book! That’s a rare and not altogether a safepossessionnow-a-days.”“You speak the sober truth,MasterTrench,” returnedPaul, puttinghis handinto a breast-pocket and drawing forth the packet which contained thefragmentoftheGospelofJohn.“PersecutionbecauseofourbeliefsiswaxinghotterandhotterjustnowinunfortunateEngland.However,werunnoriskofbeingroastedaliveinNewfoundlandforreadingGod’sblessedWordsee,thereitis.AportionoftheGospelofJohninmanuscript,copiedfromtheEnglishtranslationofgoodMasterWycliffe.”“Agood and trueman, I’ve heard say,” responded the skipper, as he turnedovertheleavesofthepreciousdocumentwithaspeciesofsolemnwonder,foritwasthefirsttimehehadeitherseenorhandledaportionoftheBible.“Pitythatsuchafriendofthepeopleshouldnothavelivedtotheageo’thatancientfellowwhat’shisnameThoosle,somethingorother?”“Methuselah,”saidPaul;“you’rerightthere,MasterTrench.Whatmightnotagoodman likeWycliffe have accomplished if hehadbeenpermitted to liveandteachandfightforthetruthforninehundredandsixty-nineyears?”“Youdon’tmeantosayhelivedaslongasthat?”exclaimedtheboy,lookingupfromhispotsandpans.“IndeedIdo.”“Well,well!hemusthavebeenlittlebetterthanalivemummybytheendofthattime!”repliedOliver,resuminghisinterestinhispotsandpans.“But how came you to know about all that Master Paul, if this is all theScriptureyou’vehad?”askedTrench.“Mymotherwasdeeply learned in theScriptures,”answeredPaul, “and shetaughtmediligentlyfrommyboyhood.Thewayshecametobesolearnediscurious. I will tell you how it came about, while we are doing justice toOliver’scookery.”“Youmustknow,MasterTrench,”continuedPaul,after the firstdemandsofappetitehadbeenappeased,“thatmydearmotherwasa trueChristian fromher youth.Her fatherwas converted toChrist by one of that noble band ofmissionaries who were trained by the great Wycliffe, and whom he sent

throughoutEnglandtopreachtheGospeltothepoor,carryingintheirhandsmanuscriptportionsofthatGospel,translatedbyWycliffeintoplainEnglish.Yousee,thatcuriousinventionoftheGerman,JohnGutenbergImeanprintingbymovable typeswasnotknownat that time,andevennow,althoughhalfacenturyhaspassed since theBiblewasprintedabroad inLatin,noonewithmeansandthepowertodoithasyetarisentoprintanEnglishBible,buttheday is not far distant when that work shall be done, I venture to prophesy,thoughImakenopretencetobeamongtheprophets!“Well, as Iwas going to say, themissionarywas a hoary oldmanwhen hepreached the sermon that turnedmygrandfather fromdarkness to light.Mygrandfatherwas just fifteen years old at that time. Ten years later the samemissionarycametograndfather’shouse,wornoutwithyearsandlabours,anddied there, leaving all his treasure to his host. That treasure was a smallportion of the New Testament in English, copied from Wycliffe’s owntranslation. You may be sure that my grandfather valued the legacy veryhighly.When he died he left it to my mother. About that time my mothermarriedandwent to liveon thebanksof theSevern.Not far fromour farmthere dwelt a family of the name of Hutchins. The father had changed hisname and taken refuge there during the recent civil wars. This familypossessed a Latin Bible, and the head of it was well acquainted with itscontents.ItwasthroughhimthatmymotherbecamewellacquaintedwiththeOldaswellastheNewTestament,andthusitwasthatIalsocameincourseoftime to know about Methuselah, and a good many more characters aboutwhomImayperhapstellyouoneofthesedays.”“So,then,thisisthemanuscripttheoldmissionarycarriedabout,isit?”saidTrench,fingeringthefragmenttenderly.“Ay,andagoodtranslationit is,Ihavebeentoldbyonewhommostpeoplewould think tooyoung tobea judge.Youmustknow that thisMrHutchinshasa sonnamedWilliam,who is considerablyyounger than I am,buthe issuchaclever,precociousfellow,thatbeforehelefthomeforcollegeIusedtofindhimamost interesting companion. Indeed, I owe tohimmuchofwhatlittleIhavelearned,forheisawonderfullinguist,beingabletoreadHebrewandGreekaboutaseasilyasLatinorEnglish.HeisatOxfordnowatleasthewas therewhen I lastheardofhim.Moreover, itwas through theHutchins’family, in a roundaboutway, that yourmother,Olly, came to learn towritesuch letters as you have got so carefully stowed away there in your breast-pocket.”“GoodlucktotheHutchins’familythen,sayI,”returnedOlly,“forI’mgladtobe able to read, though, on account of the scarcity and dearness ofmanuscripts, Idon’thave thechanceofmakin’muchuseofmyknowledge.

Butyoupuzzleme,Paul.ItwaspoorLucyWentworthwhousedtolivewithus,andwhodiedonlylastyear,thattaughtmetoread,andIneverheardhermentionthenameofHutchins.Didyou,father?”“No, Ineverdid,Olly.Shesaid shehad livedwitha familynamedTyndalebeforeshecametous,poorthing!Shewasanamazin’clevergirltoteach,andmadeyourmothergoodatitinawonderfulshorttime.Shetriedmetoo,butitwasofnouse,Iwastootoughan’old!”“Just so,Master Trench,” rejoined Paul. “Hutchins’ real namewasTyndale,andhehad resumed thenamebeforeLucyWentworthwent to livewith thefamily.So,yousee,Olly,youareindebted,inaroundaboutway,asIsaid,tothe Tyndales for your mother’s letter. William will make his mark prettydeeplyonthegeneration,Ithink,ifGodspareshim.”LittledidPaulBurnsthink,whenhemadethispropheticspeechbythecamp-fireonthatdistantisleofthesea,that,evenwhilehespokeWilliamTyndalewaslayingthefoundationofthatminuteknowledgeoftheGreekandHebrewlanguages,whichafterwardsenabledhimtogivetheBibletoEnglandinherowntongue,andthatsoablytranslated,that,afternumerousrevisionsbythemost capableof scholars, largeportionsofhiswork remainunaltered at thepresentday.Thenightwas far spent, and theothermembers of the camphadbeen longburied in slumber before Paul andTrench andOliver could tear themselvesaway from the manuscript Gospel of John. The latter two, who knewcomparativelylittleofitscontents,wereatfirstimpressedchieflywiththefactthat theywereexamining that rareandcostlyarticleabook,anda forbiddenbook,too,forthereadingofwhichmanyamanandwomanhadbeenburnedto death in times pastbut they became still more deeply impressed as Paulwenton readingandcommentingandpointingout thevalueof theBookasGod’sown“Word”tofallenman.“Hereisapromisetorestupon,”saidPaul,ashefinallyclosedthebookandrepeatedtheversefrommemory,“Jesussaid,Ifyecontinueinmyword,thenare yemy disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shallmakeyoufree.”“Ay,that’s it,Paulfree!We’reallslaves,moreor less, tosomethingorother.Whatweallwant is tobe free,” saidMasterTrench,ashedrewhisblanketroundhim,pillowedhisheadonhiscloak,andwenttosleep.SilentlyPaulandOliverfollowedhisexample,thefiresdiedout,andinafewminutestheslumberingcampwasshroudedinthemantleofnight.

Energeticactionwastheorderofthenextday,forthoseshipwreckedmarinersknewwellenoughthatnothingbuthardandsteadylabourcouldenablethemtoliveonanapparentlydesolateisland.Bydaybreakmostof thecrewhadscattered themselvesalong theshores,orovertheinterior,tospyouttheland.Abouttwohourslatertheybegantodropintocampashungryashawks,eachcarryingtheresultofhisresearchesinhisarmsoronhisshoulders.“Welldone,Squill!”saidPaul,whochancedtobefirstbackincamp,withahugesailbundleduponhisshoulder,andwho,justthen,wasbusyblowinguphisfire;“gotanotherbarrelofpork,eh?”“It’s myself as doesn’t know, sur,” answered Squill, “and it wasn’t me asfound it, but Jim Heron there. I only helped to sling it on the pole, andshoulderanend.It’saitherporkorgunpowther,soifitain’tgoodforablowoutit’llbegoodforablowup,anyhow.”“DidyouseelittleOliveranywhere?”askedPaul.“Ay, sur, I sawhimon the shore,bringingupwhat seemed tome the ship’sbowspritanyhow,asparo’somesort,aboutasbigashecouldhaulalong.”“Justso,”returnedPaul,withalaugh,“aridge-poleforourtent.He’sasmartboy,littleOlly.”“Surehe’sallthat,sur,andmore.Herehecomes,blowin’likeaporpoise.”Sure enough,Oliver appeared at themoment, dragging a heavy spar behindhim. Several of themen appeared at the same time, staggering through thebushes,withvarious loadsofwreckage,which they flungdown,andnoisilybegan discussing their experiences as they lighted the fires and preparedbreakfast.“HerecomesLittleStubbs,”criedJimHeron.“Whatfortune,comrade?”“Goodfortune,thoughmyloadisthelightestyetbroughtin.”Heflungdownasmallpieceofwoodwithanairofsatisfaction.“Why,it’sonlyaboat’srudder!”saidOliver.“Ay, so it is, and theboat lieswhere Ipicked it up,but itwas tooheavy tobringintocampwithoutyourassistance,boy.Andthebestofitisthatit’snotmuchdamaged.Verylittlerepairwillmakeherfitforseaagain.”This was indeed a find of immense importance, and the assembled party

discussedtheeventinall itsbearingstill theirmouthswerepartiallystoppedbyporkandpancakes.In the midst of this they were interrupted by the arrival of Big Swinton,GeorgeBlazer,andGrummidgewithanotherfind,whichafterwardscostthemmuch troubleand regretnamely, a coupleofyoung lads,natives,whom theyledintocampwiththeirwriststightlyboundbehindtheirbacks.

ChapterFourStrangeVisitorsDarkPlotsAndEvilPurposes

The youths who had been captured were simple savages, with very littleclothing,andwithanexpressionofconsiderablealarmontheirfaces.Aswasafterwards learned, they had been coasting along the shore of the largeneighbouring island in a canoe; had observed the strange fires in the night-time,andhadcrossedoverthechanneltoseewhatcouldbethecausethereof.Onreachingthehighestpartoftheislandtheydiscoveredsomeofthesailors,and turned to fly to their canoe, butBlazer had observed them, their retreatwascutoff,andtheywerecapturednotwithoutaseverestruggle,however,inwhichtheywereveryroughlyhandled.BigSwinton,stillsmartingunderthebruisesandbiteshehadreceivedinthescuffle,draggedthemforward,anddemandedangrilywhatwastobedonetothem.“Whathavetheydone?”askedTrench.“Done!why, theyhavekickedandbitten likewildcats, and I doubtnothavecomeoverheretoseewhattheycansteal.Inmyopinionathiefdeserveskeel-haulingattheveryleast.”MasterTrench’smouthexpandedintoaverybroadsmileashelookedroundthegroupofmen.“D’yehearthat,lads,whatMasterSwintonthinksoughttobedonetothieves?”Themenbrokeintoaloudlaugh,foreventhemostobtuseamongthemcouldnotfailtoperceivethehumouroftheskipper’slookandquestion.“Youhavenothingmoretodowi’thematter,Trench,thananyoneelsehas,”returnedSwinton.“Iclaimthese ladsasmyprisoners,andI’lldowith themwhatIplease.Nomanismasternow.Mightisrightonthisisland!”ThewordshadscarcelybeenutteredwhenBigSwintonfelthisrightshouldergraspedasifinavice,andnextmomenthewasflungviolentlytotheground,whilePaulBurnsstoodoverhimwithahugepieceofwoodinhishand,anda

half-stern,half-smilinglookonhiscountenance.Themen were taken completely by surprise, for Paul had, up to this time,shownsuchagentleunwarlikespiritthatthecrewhadcometoregardhimas“asoftlumpofafellow.”“BigSwinton,”hesaid,inthemildestofvoices,“asyouhavelaiddownthelawthat ‘might is right,’youcannot,ofcourse,object tomyactingon it. Invirtueofthatlaw,Iclaimtheseprisonersasmine,soyoumaygetupandgoabout your business. You see, lads,” he added, turning to the men, whileSwintonroseandretired,“thoughIhavenowishtodomineeroveryouortousurpauthority. Ihavea right toclaim thatmyvoiceshallbeheardandmyreasonsweighed.AsSwintontrulyremarked,nomanismasternow,butashefollowedthisremarkbymakinghimselfmaster,andlayingdownalawforus,Ithoughtitmightbecomplimentarytohimjusttoact,foronce,underhislaw,andshowhimhowwellitworks!Now,letmehaveawordwithyou.“Itisevidentthatthelandoverthereispeopledwithsavageswho,probably,neversawwhitemenbefore.Ifwetreattheseyoungfellowskindly,andsendthemawaywithgifts in theirhands,weshall,nodoubt,makefriendsof thesavages. If we treat them ill, or kill them, their relations will come over,mayhapinswarms,anddriveusintothesea.IdroptheSwintonlawofmightbeingright,andaskyouwhoarenowthelaw-makerswhichisittobekindnessorcruelty?”“Kindness!”shoutedbyfarthegreaternumberoftheaudience,forevenbadmenarereadyenoughtoseeandadmit thebeautyof truthand justicewhentheyarenotthemselvesunpleasantlyaffectedbytheseprinciples.Thedecisionbeingthusmade,PaultookthearmofoneoftheyoungIndiansand ledhimgently towardshis fire,while themen scattered to their severalcamps.MasterTrench led theotheryouth in the samekindlyway,and littleOliver,motioningtothemtositdown,setbeforethemtwoplattersofporkandpancakes.Thishedidwithsuchabenignantsmilethatthepooryouthswereobviouslyrelievedfromthedreadof immediateandpersonalviolence.Aftersomeglancesoftimiduncertaintytheybegantoeat.“That’s right,” said Oliver, patting the bigger of the two on the shoulder,“you’ll find the victuals pretty good, though you’re notmuch used to ’em,mayhap.”Ofcourse theyouthsdidnotunderstand thewords,but theyunderstoodandfully appreciated the feeling with which they were expressed. They alsoappreciatedmostpowerfully theviands.At first theyweregreatlyperplexedbytheofferofknivesandforks;but,afterlookingattheseimplementsgravely

for a few moments, they laid them gently down, and went to work in thenaturalwaywithfingersandteeth.After they had finished the food, and licked the platters clean, they werepresentedwithseveralbrightbrassbuttons,anoldclasp-knife,acomb,andakerchief or two,withwhich inestimable gifts they embarked in their canoe,andreturnedtotheoppositeshore.Thatdayamostimportantdiscoverywasmadeamongthewreckage,namely,a case containing fish-hooks of various sizes and a number of lines. Withthese, and the boat repaired, Master Trench saw his way to prolongedexistenceontheisland.“Totellyetheplaintruth,”heremarkedtoLittleStubbs,withwhomhefellinwhilesearchingontheshore,“beforethiscaseoftacklewasfound,Ihadnohopeatallofsurvivinghere,forafewbarrelsofporkandflourcouldnotlastlongamongsomany,andourendwouldhavebinsomethingawful;butnow,withGod’sblessing,wemaydowellenoughuntilwehavetimetothinkandplanforourescape.”“Butd’yethink,master,”saidStubbs,“thatweshallfindfishinthemwaters?”“Find’em!Ay,Imakenodoubto’that,butweshallsoonputittothetest,fortheboatwillbereadybyto-morrowornextdayatfurthest,andthenweshallseewhatthefishhereaboutsthinko’saltpork.If theytaketoitaskindlyastheIndiansdid,weshallsoonhavegrubenoughandtospare.”Thenaturaltendencyofmantobowtothebestleaderwasshownimmediatelyafter the incident of the capture of the Indians, for Paul Burnswas thence-forwardquietly appealed to bymost of the crew in all circumstanceswhichrequired much consideration. Paul, being a law-respecting man, naturallyturned to the skipper, whose decision was usually final, and thus MasterTrenchdropped,bygeneralconsent,intohisoldpositionofcommander.Butitmustnotbesupposedthatallthepartyacquiescedinthisarrangement.There were men among that crewsuch as Swinton, Blazer, Garnet, andotherswho, either from false training, bad example, or warped spirits, hadcometo theconditionofbelieving that theworldwasmadefor theirspecialbehoof; that they possessed that “divine right” to rule which is sometimesclaimedbykings,andthatwhoeverchancedtodifferfromthemwasguiltyofarrogance, and required tobeputdown!Thesemenwerenotonlybad, likemost of the others, but revengeful and resolute. They submitted, in themeantime, to the “might”ofPaulBurns, backedashewasbynumbers, butthey nursed their wrath to keep it warm, and, under the leadership of BigSwinton,plottedthedownfalloftheirrivals.

Meanwhile, being unquestionably “in power,” Master Trench, Paul, Oliver,Grummidge,Stubbs,andseveralof thewell-affected, tookpossessionof theboat when ready, and, inviting Swinton to join themas a stroke ofpolicypushedoff,withhooksandlines,tomakethefirstessayinthewayoffishingonthenowfamousBanksofNewfoundland.Anchoringtheboatinwhattheydeemedasuitablespot,theywenttowork.“Iwonderifthey’lltaketopork,”remarkedStubbs,ashebaitedalargehook.“If they take to it as you do, we shall soon run short o’ that article,” saidSwinton,droppinghishookintothewater.“I have brought off some shellfish,” remarked Master Trench. “They maypreferthat.”“Sohave I, father,” saidOliver,whosebaitwas alreadyat thebottom, “andifhallo!holdon!hi!Oh!Isay!”Whiletheboywasthusejaculating,inastateofblazingexcitement,hisarms,andindeedhisbody, tosaynothingofhisspirit,werebeingjerkedviolentlybyhislineinawaythatsuggestedsomethingawfulattheotherend!“Have a care, Olly!” “Gently, lad!” “Hold on, boy!” “Let ’im run!” wereamong thecontradictorypiecesofadvicegiven invarious tonesofwarning,remonstrance,orsimplerecommendation;butOliverheededthemnot.Actingonhisownjudgmenthedrewhisfish,orwhateveritmightbe,graduallyandcarefullyfromthedeep.“Amermaiditmustbe,totugsohard,”mutteredStubbs,asheandtheotherslookedonwitheagerinterest.“Amermanifit’sanything,”saidSquill;“suretherewasneveramaidinthesay,oroutofit,aswouldtuglikethat.”“That depends,” saidGrummidge. “I’ve had ’em tuggin’ atmyheart-stringsworsethanthatmanyatime.”“Look out!Here it comes,” criedOliver, as something huge andwhitewasseentoflashwildlyinthegreendepths.“Havethecleekready.”“Allready,myboy,”saidhisfather,inalowvoice,leaningoverthesidewithastick,attheendofwhichwasalargeironhook.“Nowthen,father!Quick!Missedit?No!Hurrah!”

ForamomentitseemedasifMasterTrenchhadgotNeptunehimselfonhiscleek, so severely did his stout frame quiver. Then he gave a tremendousheave“ya-hoy!”andupcameamagnificentcodthefirstofagrandhecatombofcod-fishwhichhavesincethatdayenrichedtheworld,nauseatedthesickwith“liveroil,”andplacedNewfoundlandamongthemostimportantislandsoftheBritishEmpire.“Welldone,Olly!”exclaimedthedelightedfather;buthehadbarely timetoopenhismouthforthenextremark,whenSquillutteredanIrishyell,andwasseenholdingontohislinewithdesperateresolvestampedoneveryfeature.“That’sthemermanthistime,”criedStubbs.“His gran’mother, no less,”muttered Squill, in a strongly suppressed voice,whileheanxiouslyhauledintheline.Ashoutfromtheothersideoftheboatheredivertedattention.“Attacked front and rear!” cried Paul, with a hilarious laugh, “I shouldn’twonderifhallo!N–no,itwasonlyanibha!thereheis!”And,truly,therehewasinafewminutes,anothersplendidcodinthebottomoftheboat.Tomakealongstoryshort,theboatwasnearlyfilledwithcodbeforethesunset, and that nightwas spent in general rejoicing and feasting on fishwith asecondcourseofporkandpancakesforthosewhowereinsatiable.But the state of contentment did not last long.Thevery next day therewasquarrellingas towhoshouldgo in theboat.Toallay thecontention,TrenchandPaulvolunteeredtostayincampandhelpthepartythatshouldbelefttosplit and clean the fish, and erect tents and booths. Again the fishing wassuccessful,butdissensionsabouttheuseoftheboatsoonbecamemoreviolentthanever.Ofcourse,inallthisMasterTrenchandhisfriendPaultookaprominentpartin trying to smoothmatters, to the intense jealousy ofBig Swinton and hissympathisers. In short, the camp ere long was divided into two hostilebandsthemoderatelybadand the immoderatelywicked, ifwemaysoput it.The first, who were few in number, sided with Trench and his friends; theseconddeclaredforSwinton.ButtheresolutebearingofPaulandtheskipper,and the fact that thewholepartywasdestituteofweapons (exceptclubscutout of the bush, and a few clasp-knives), kept the larger and more viciouspartyincheck.

Swintonandhisfriends,therefore,hadrecoursetosecretplotting;but,plotasthey would, they had not sufficient brain-power among them to devise amethodbywhichtofreethemselvesofthementheyenvied.At lastcircumstances favoured them. Itwas foundnecessary tosendmen totheother sideof the island tocutand fetchoversomesmall trees thatgrewthere, in order tomake stages on which to dry their fish. As the operationwould require part of two days, it was proposed to spend the night there.Swintonwastocommandtheparty,andMasterTrenchsaid,jestingly,thatheandMasterBurns,withOlly,wouldstaytoguardthecamp!Thewood-cuttingpartywastostartearlythenextday.Then a plan of revenge flashed into Big Swinton’s mind. That night herevealed it to those of his friends whom he could trust, and who werenecessary to his purpose. The night followingwhile the men around themshouldbesleepingattheothersideoftheisland,andtheirenemieswerealoneinthecampwasfixedonfortheexecutionoftheirpurpose.

ChapterFiveTurnedAdriftinaForeignLand

It was a calm but very dark night when Swinton, Blazer, Garnet, Heron,Taylor,andseveralothermenofkindredspirit,rosefromtheircouchesatthefurther endof the island, and, stealthily quitting theplace, hastenedback totheiroriginalcamp.Theyreacheditaboutmidnight,and,astheyhadexpected,foundallquiet,fortheso-called“guard”ofthecamphadbeenhardatworkalldayandwereatthatmoment fast asleep. Paul and the captain,withOliver, lay side by sideunder a tentwhich they had constructed out of broken spars and a piece ofsailcloth.Theirfoesdrewtogethernotfarfromthespot.“Now,men,”saidSwinton,“thisisatoughjobwehaveinhand,fortheyarestrongmen,andtheboy,albeitnotbig,isaverytiger-cattofight.Yousee,ifourplanwasmurderwecouldeasilysettletheirbusinesswhiletheysleptbutthat’snotourplan.Wearenotmurderersbynomeans!”“Certainlynot,”growledBlazer,withvirtuoussolemnity.“Well, thatbein’ so,wemust take themalive. Iwillcreep into the tentwithyou,JimHeron,foryou’rebigandstrongenough.YouwillfallonTrenchandhold ’imdown. I’ll do the same toBurns.Garnetwillmanage theboy.The

momenttherestofyouheartherowbegin,youwilljumpinandlendahandwi’theropes.Afterwe’vegot’emallsafeintotheboat,wewillpulltothebigislandlandthemthere,an’bidthematenderfarewell!”“Butsurelyyouwon’tlandthemwithoutamorseltoeat?”saidTaylor.“Whynot?They’resuretofallinwi’theirdearfriendsthesavages,whowill,doubtless, be very grateful to ’em, an’ supply grub gratis! Now, lads, youunderstandwhatyou’vegottodo?”“Ay,ay,”wastheresponse,inalowtone,astheymovedcautiouslyaway,likeevilspirits,tocarryouttheirwickedplans.“Fortune,” it is said, “favours the brave,” but in this case she did not thusbestowherfavours,forthecowardlyplanwassuccessfullycarriedout.Beforethe sleeperswerewell awake, theywere overwhelmedby numbers, securedandbound.Theywerenotgagged,however,asnoonewasneartohearevenifthey shouted their loudest, which they knew it was useless to do. In a fewminutes the three prisonerswere hurried into the boat and rowed across thewidechannelthatseparatedtheisletfromtheoppositeshore.At that time itwasnot supposed, either by theoriginal discoverers or thosewho immediately followed them, that Newfoundland was one largeislandconsiderably larger than Ireland. Not till many a year afterwards didexplorersascertainthatitwasanislandofaboutthreehundredandseventeenmiles in length, by about the same in breadth; but so cut up by deep bays,inlets,andfordsastohavemuchtheappearanceofagroupofislands.During their passage across the channel both Trench and Paul attempted toreasonwithSwinton,butthathardenedvillainrefusedtoutterawordtilltheirprisonersweremarcheduptheshinglybeach,andtoldtositdownonaledgeofrockunderthesteepcliffs,whereinnumerablesea-birdswerescreamingaclamorouswelcome,or,perchance,anoisyremonstrance.“Now,myfriends,”saidtheirfoe,“asyouarefondofcommanding,youmaytakecommando’ them there sea-birdstheywon’tobject!and ifye fall inwi’yourfriendsthesavages,youmaygivethemmylovean’goodwishes.”“Butsurelyyoudon’tmeantoleaveusherewithoutfood,andwithourhandstiedbehindus?”fiercelyexclaimedMasterTrench,whosewrathatanythinglikeinjusticewasalwayspronetogetthebetterofhiswisdom.“As to grub,” answeredSwinton, “there’s plentyof that around, if youonlyexertyourselftofindit.Iwon’tcutyourlashin’s,however,tillwearefairlyintheboat,forwecan’ttrustyou.Comealong,lads;and,Garnet,youbringthe

boywithye.”Under theimpressionthathewastobeseparatedfromhisfatherandfriend,and takenbackagain to the islet,poorOliver,whomtheyhadnot thought itworthwhiletobind,struggledwithaferocitythatwouldhavedonecredittothewildcatswithwhichhehadbeencompared;butGarnetwasastrongman,andheldhimfast.“Take it easy,my boy,” said Paul,who, being helpless, could only look onwithintensepity.“SubmittoGod’swillwewillprayforyou.”ButOlly’s spirit couldbynomeans reach the submittingpointuntil hewasfairlyexhausted.Whiletheydraggedhimtowardstheboat,Taylorturnedbackandflungasmallcanvasbagatthecaptain’sfeet.“There,Master Trench,” he said, “you’ll find a lump o’ pork in that bag tokeepyougoin’tillyegetholdo’somethin’else.An’don’ttakeonabouttheboy.Wedon’twant’im,blessyou.Why,weonlywanttopreventhimsettin’youfreebeforewegetsfairlyaway.”Thiswastrue.Whentheboatwasreachedandthemenwereonboard,readytoshoveoff,Garnet,stillholdingOllyfastbythearm,said,“Keepstill,willyou,andhearwhatMasterSwintonhasgottosay?”“Now,you fierypolecat,” saidSwinton, “youmaygoandcut their lashin’s,andtakethatasapartinggift.”The gift was a sounding box on the ear; but Ollyminded it not, for whileGarnetwasspeaking,ashestoodknee-deepinthewaterclosetotheboat,hehadobservedanaxe lyingononeof the thwartsnear tohim.The instanthewassetfree,therefore,heseizedtheaxe,and,flourishingitclosepastGarnet’snose, with a cheer of defiance he sprang towards the beach. Garnet leapedafterhim,buthewasnomatchfortheagileboy,whoinanotherminutehadseveredPaul’sbondsandplacedtheweaponinhishands.“Hallo!hi,you’veforgotme.Cutmyho!”ButtherewasnooccasionforMasterTrenchtocryoutandstrugglewiththecords thatboundhim.A furious rushofPaulwith the axecausedGarnet todoublewith the neatness of a hunted hare.He bounded into the boatwhichwas immediately shoved off, and the sailors rowed away, leaving Paul toreturnandliberatethecaptainatleisure.Silently the triostoodandwatched therecedingboat,until itwas lost in thedarknessofthenight.Thentheylookedateachothersolemnly.Theircasewas

certainlyagraveone.“Castawayonanunknownshore,”murmuredthecaptain,inalowtone;asifhecommunedwithhisownspirit rather thanwithhiscompanions,“withoutfood,withoutashiporboatwithouthope!”“Nay,MasterTrench,” saidPaul, “notwithout hope; for ‘God is our refugeandourstrength,averypresenthelpintrouble,’sosaysHisownWord,asmymotherhasoftenreadtome.”“Itiswellforyou,Paul,”returnedthecaptain,“thatyoucanfindcomfortinsuchwordsIcanfindnone.Sternrealitiesandfactsaretoostrongforme.Howcan I take comfort in unfulfilled promises?Herewe are in trouble enough,surely.InwhatsenseisGoda‘refuge’tousor‘strength,’ora‘presenthelp’?Why,weareleftabsolutelydestitutehere,withoutsomuchasabiteoffoodtokeepourbodiesandsoulstogether.”Hespokewithsomebitterness,forhewasstillchafingunderthesenseofthewrong which he had suffered at the hands of men to whom he had beeninvariably kind and forbearing. As he turned from Paul with a gesture ofimpatience his foot struck against the canvas bag of pork which the manTaylorhadflungtohimonleaving,andwhichhadbeenforgotten.Hestoppedsuddenlyandgazedatit;sodidPaul.“LookslikeasifGodhadalreadyhelpedusatleast tofooddoesitnot?”saidthelatter.“ItwasTaylorhelpedustothat,”objectedTrench.“AndwhoputitintoTaylor’shearttohelpus?”askedPaul.“Heisoneoftheworstmenofourcrew,sowecanhardlysayitwashisowntenderness,andcertainlyitwasnotthedevilwhomovedhimtoit.AmIwronginholdingthatitwas‘OurFather’?”“I believe you are right, Paul. Anyhow, I have neither the capacity nor theinclination todispute thepointnow.Pickup thebag,Olly, andcomealong.Wemusttrytofindsomesortofshelterinwhichtospendtheresto’thenightandconsiderourfutureplans.”Withalighterheartandfirmerfaith,PaulBurnsfollowedhisleader,silentlythankingGodashewentalongforthusfar,andsoopportunely,demonstratingHisownfaithfulness.Theyhadtowandersometimebeforeasuitablecampingspotwasfound,forthat part of the Newfoundland coast on which they had been landed was

almostinaccessible.Thecliffsinmanyplacesrosesheeroutofthewatertoaheightoffull threehundredfeet.Only inafewplaces littlestripsofshinglybeachlaybetweenthebaseofthecliffsandthesea,sothatthefindingofanopening in those stupendous ramparts of rockwas no easymatter in a darknight.Atlasttheycametoaplacewherethecliffsappearedtoriselessprecipitously.Aftercarefulclamberingforsomeminutestheydiscoveredasortofgapintherampart,upwhich theyclimbed,amid ruggedandbrokenmasses,until theyreachedasomewhat levelplateau,orshelf,coveredwithsmallbushes.Heretheyresolvedtoencamp.“Whether it’s the top o’ the cliffs or not, there’s no findin’ out,” remarkedTrench,ashetriedtosurveytheground;“butwhetherornotdon’tmatter,foritlookslevelenoughtolieon,an’we’reaslikeasnottobreakournecksifwetrytogofurther.”“Agreed,”saidPaul;“butnowitoccurstomethatourporkmayberaw,andthatweshallwantfiretocookit.Haveyougotflintandsteelinyourpocket,MasterTrench?”“Aynevertravelwithoutit;butbyill-luckI’vegotnotinder.Flintandsteelareuseless,youknow,withoutthat.”“Ifill-lucktroublesyou,”returnedPaul,“goodluckfavoursme,forIhavegotabitoftinder,and”“The pork’s raw,” exclaimedOliver,who had been hastily investigating thecontentsofthecanvasbag;“but,Isay,there’smorethanporkhere.There’saloto’thelittleflour-cakesourcookwassofondofmakin’.”“Good.Nowthenletushaveasearchforwood,”saidPaul.“Ifwefindthat,weshallgetalongwellenoughtillmorning.Buthaveacare,Olly,keepfromtheedgeofthecliff.Theledgeisnotbroad.Haveaneyetoo,orratheranear,forwaterasyougoalong.”Success attended their search, for in a few minutes Paul and the captainreturnedwithloadsofdrybranches,andOllycamebackreportingwatercloseathand,tricklingfromacreviceinthecliffs.“Your shirt-front tells the tale,Olly.You’ve been drinking,” said Paul,whowasbusystrikingalightatthetime.“IndeedIhave;andweshallallbeobligedtodrinkunderdifficulties,forwehaveneithercupnormugwithus.”

“Neither is wanted, boy, as I’ll soon show you,” said Paul. “Why, a bit ofbirch-bark, even a piece of paper, forms a gooddrinking vessel if you onlyknow how to use it. Ha! caught at last,” he added, referring to some drygrassesandtwigswhichburstintoflameashespoke.Anothermoment and a ruddy glare lit up the spot, giving to things near athandacosy,red-hotappearance,andtomoredistantobjectsaspectralaspect,while,strangelyenough, itseemedtodeepentoprofounderdarknessallelsearound.Heapingonfreshfuelandpressingitdown,foritconsistedchieflyofsmallbranches, theysoonhadaglowingfurnace, in frontofwhich theporkere longsputteredpleasantly, sendingupa smell thatmighthavecharmedagourmand.“Now, then,while this isgettingreadyletusexamineourpossessions,”saidthecaptain,“forweshallgreatlyneedallthatwehave.Itisquiteclearthatwecouldnotreturntoourshipmatesevenifwewould”“No,andIwouldnotevenifIcould,”interruptedOliver,whilebusywiththeporkchops.“And,”continuedhisfather,regardlessoftheinterruption,“itisequallyclearthatweshallhavetoearnourownlivelihoodsomehow.”Uponcarefulexaminationitwasfoundthattheirentirepossessionsconsistedof two largeclasp-knives; a sheathhunting-knife; flint, steel, and tinder; thecaptain’s watch; a small axe; a large note-book, belonging to Paul; threepencils;bitofindiarubber;severalfish-hooks;alongpieceoftwine,andthreebrassbuttons, thepropertyofOliver,besidesthemanuscriptGospelofJohn,andOlly’streasuredletterfromhismother.Thesearticles,withthegarmentsin which they stood, constituted the small fortune of our wanderers, and itbecameamatterofprofoundspeculation,duringtheprogressofthesupper,astowhether it was possible to exist in an unknownwilderness on such veryslendermeans.Ollythoughtitwasasamatterofcourse.MasterTrenchdoubted, and shookhis headwith an air ofmuch sagacity, amethodofexpressinganopinionwhichiseminentlyunassailable.PaulBurnscondescendedonreasonsforhisbeliefwhich,likeOlly’s,wasfavourable.“Yousee,”hesaid,wipinghisuncommonlygreasyfingersonthegrass,“wehaveenoughofporkandcakeshereforseveraldaysonshortallowance.Thenitislikelythatweshallfindsomewildfruits,andmanagetokillsomethingorotherwithstones,anditcannotbelongtillwefallinwithnatives,whowillbesuretobefriendlyifnot,wewillmakethemsoandwheretheycanlive,wecan

live.SoIamgoingtoturninanddreamaboutit.Luckilytheweatheriswarm.Good-night.”Thusdidourthreeadventurers,turninginonthatgiddyledge,spendtheirfirstnightinNewfoundland.

ChapterSixDifficultiesmetandOvercome

Thepositioninwhichthetriofoundthemselvesnextmorning,whendaylightrevealedit,was,wemightalmostsay,tremendouslyromantic.Theledgeonwhich theyhadpassed thenightwasmuchnarrower than theyhad supposed it to be, and their beds, if we may so call them, had beendangerouslynear to the edgeof a frightful precipicewhichdescended sheerdown to a strip of sand that looked like a yellow thread two hundred feetbelow.Thecliffbehindthemrosealmostperpendicularlyanotherhundredfeetormore, and thenarrowpathor gully bywhich theyhadgained their eyriewas so steep and rugged that their reaching the spot at all in safety seemedlittle short of a miracle. The sun was brightening with its first beams anabsolutelytranquilseawhenthesleepersopenedtheireyes,andbeheldwhatseemed to themagreat universeof liquid light.Their ears at the same timedrankinthesoftsoundofmurmuringripplesfarbelow,andtheoccasionalcryofsportivesea-birds.“Grand!glorious!”exclaimedTrench,ashesatupandgazedwithenthusiasmonthescene.Paul did not speak.His thoughtswere too deep for utterance, but hismindrevertedirresistiblytosomeoftheversesinthatmanuscriptGospelwhichhecarriedsocarefullyinhisbosom.AsforOliver,hisflushedyoungfaceandglitteringeyestoldtheirowntale.Atfirsthefeltinclinedtoshoutforjoy,buthisfeelingschokedhim;sohe,too,remainedspeechless.ThesilencewasbrokenatlastbyacommonplaceremarkfromPaul,ashepointedtothehorizon“ThehomeofourshipmatesisfurtheroffthanIthoughtitwas.”“The rascals!” exclaimed the captain, thinking of the shipmates, not of thehome;“theplaceistoogoodfor’em.”“Butallofthemarenotequallybad,”suggestedPaulgently.“Humph!”repliedTrench,forkindandgood-naturedthoughhewashealwaysfound it difficult to restrain his indignation at anything that savoured of

injustice. In occasionally givingway to this temper, he failed to perceive atfirst thathewashimself sometimesguiltyof injustice. It isonly fair toadd,however,thatinhiscoolermomentsourcaptainfreelycondemnedhimself.“‘Humph!’ is a very expressive word,” observed Paul, “and in some sensesatisfactoryto thosewhoutter it,but it isambiguous.Doyoumeantodeny,MasterTrench,thatsomeofyourlatecrewwereverygoodfellows?anddon’tyou admit that Little Stubbs and Squill and Grummidge were first-ratespecimensof”“Idon’tadmitordenyanything!”saidthecaptain,rising,withalightlaugh,“and I have no intention of engaging in a controversy with you beforebreakfast.Come,Olly,blowup the fire, andgo toworkwithyourporkandcakes.I’llfetchsomemorewood,andPaulwillhelpme,nodoubt.”With a good gracePaul dropped the discussion andwent towork. In a fewminutesbreakfastwasnotonlyready,butconsumed;foracertainmeasureofanxietyastotheprobabilityoftherebeinganavailablepathtothetopofthecliffstendedtohastentheirproceedings.The question was soon settled, for after ascending a few yards above theirencampmenttheyfoundanindentationorcreviceinthecliffwhichledintoanopenspotasortofbroadershelfwhichslopedupwards,andfinallyconductedthemtothesummit.Here,totheirsurprise,theydiscoveredthattheirnewhome,insteadofbeing,astheyhadsupposedit,oneofaseriesoflargeislands,wasintruthaterritoryof vast, apparently boundless, extent, coveredwith dense forests. Far as theeyecouldreach,interminablewoodspresentedthemselves,merging,inthefardistance,intowhatappearedtobearangeoflowhills.“Newfoundlandisbiggerthanwehavebeenledtobelieve,”saidPaulBurns,surveyingtheprospectwithgreatsatisfaction.“Ayisit,”respondedTrench.“Thefactisthatdiscoverersofnewlands,bein’naturally in ships, have notmuch chance to go far inland. In a country likethis,withsuchawildseaboard,it’snowondertheyhavemademistakes.Wewillfindoutthetruthaboutitnow,however,forwe’llundertakealandvoyageofdiscovery.”“What!withoutarmsorprovisions,father?”askedOliver.“Whatd’yecallthetwothingsdanglingfromyourshoulders,boy?”returnedthe captain, with some severity; “are these not ‘arms’? and have notwoodsgenerally got lakes in ’em and rivers which usually swarm with

provisions?”“That’s so, father,” returned the lad, somewhat abashed; “but I didnot raisethequestionasadifficulty,onlyI’veheardyousometimessaythataship isnotfitforseatillsheiswell-armedandprovisioned,soIthoughtthatitmightbethesamewithlandexpeditions.”Beforetheskippercouldreply,Pauldrewattentiontoanopeninginthewoodsnotfarfromthem,whereananimalofsomekindwasseentoemergeintoanopenspace,gazeforamomentaroundit,andthentrotquietlyaway.“Someofourprovisionsuncookedasyet,”remarkedOliver.“Moreof them,”returnedhis father,pointing toacoveyofbirds resemblinggrouse,whichflashedpastthematthemomentonwhirringwings.“Howwearetogetholdof’em,however,remains,ofcourse,tobeseen.”“Therearemanywaysofgettingholdofthem,andwithsomeoftheseIamfamiliar,” saidPaul. “For instance, I canuse the long-bowwith someskillatleast I could do sowhen at school.And I have no doubt, captain, that youknowhowtousethecross-bow?”“ThatIdo,”returnedTrench,withabroadgrin.“Iwasnotedatschoolasbein’outo’sighttheworstshotintheneighbourhoodwhereIlived.Indeed,I’vebinknowntomissabarn-doorattwentyyards!”“Well, well, you must learn to shoot, that’s all,” said Paul, “and you may,perchance,turnoutbetterwiththesling.Thatweapondidgreatexecution,asnodoubtyouknow,inthehandsofKingDavid.”“Butwherearewetogetlong-bowsandcross-bowsandslings?”askedOlivereagerly.“Why,Olly,myboy,excitementseemstohaveconfusedyourbrain,ortheairof Newfoundland disagrees with you,” said Paul. “We shall make them, ofcourse. But come,” he added, in a more serious tone, “we have reached apointImaysayacrisisinourlives,forwemustnowdecidedefinitelywhatweshalldo,andIprayGodtodirectussothatwemaydoonlythatwhichisrightandwise.Areyouprepared, captain, togiveupallhopeof returning toourshipmates?”“OfcourseIam,”returnedTrenchfirmly,whileaslightfrowngatheredonhisbrow. “The fewwhoareonour side couldnotmake the rest friendly.Theymaynowfightitoutamongstthemselvesasbesttheycan,forallthatIcare.Wedidnotforsakethem.Theysentusaway.Besides,wecouldnotreturn,if

wewishediteversomuch.No;agrandnewcountryhasbeenopeneduptous,andImeantohaveacruiseofexploration.Whatsayyou,Olly?”“I’mwith’ee,father!”answeredtheboy,withanodoftheheadthatwasevenmoreemphaticthanthetoneofhisvoice.WithalaughatOliver’senthusiasm,Pauldeclaredhimselftobeofmuchthesamemind, and added that, as they had no boxes to pack or friends to bidfarewellto,theyshouldcommencethejourneythereandthen.“Idon’tagreewiththat,”saidthecaptain.“Whynot,MasterTrench?”“Becausewehavenotyetmadeourweapons,anditmaybethatweshallhavesomegoodchancesofgettingsuppliesattheverybeginningofourtravels.Myopinionisthatweshouldarmourselvesbeforestarting,fortheporkandcakescannotlastlong.”Thisbeingatoncerecognisedassoundadvice,theyenteredtheforest,whichwasnotsothickatthatplaceasitatfirstappearedtobe.Theywentjustfarenoughtoenablethemtoobtainaspeciesofhardwood,whichtheexperiencedeyeofPaulBurnstoldthemwassuitableforbow-making.Heretheypitchedtheir camp. Paul took the axe and cut down several small trees; the captaingatheredfirewood,andOliversetaboutthefabricationofahutorbooth,withpoles,bark,turf,andleaves,whichwastoshelterthemfromrainifitshouldfall,thoughtherewaslittlechanceofthat,theweatherbeingfineandsettledatthetime.Theworkwhich theyhadundertakenwasbynomeans as easy as theyhadanticipated.Paulhadindeedmadebowsandarrowsinformeryears,butthenall thematerialshadbeenfurnished“in the rough” tohishands,whereashehad now not only to select the tree best adapted to his purpose, but had tochoosethebestpartofit,andtoreducethatportionfromamassivetrunktosuitablyslenderproportions.Itwasmuchthesamewiththearrowsandcross-bowbolts.However,therewasresolutionandperseveranceineachmemberofthepartyfarmorethansufficienttoovercomesuchlittledifficulties;only,aswehavesaid,theyweresloweraboutitthanhadbeenexpected,andtheworkwas far from completed when the descent of night obliged them to seekrepose.“Not a bad little bower,” remarked Paul, as they sat down to supper in theprimitiveedificewhichOliverhaderected.The said bower was about four feet high, eight wide, and five deep, of

irregularform,with threesidesandaroof;wallsandroofbeingof thesamematerialbranchy,leafy,andturfy.Thefourthsidewasanopenspaceinwhichthe inhabitants sat, facing the fire. The latter, being large enough to roast asheepwhole,wasbuiltoutside.“Why,Olly, you’re a selfish fellow,” said the captain, during a pause in themeal; “you’ve thought only of yourself in building this bower. Just look atPaul’sfeet.Theyarestickingouttenortwelveinchesbeyondourshelter!”“That comes of his being so tall, daddy. But it does notmattermuch. If itshould comeon to rain he candrawhis feet inside; there’s roomenough todoubleup.Don’tyouthinkso,Paul?”ButPaul repliednot, savebyagentle snore, forhewasahealthyman, andchild-likeinmanyrespects,especiallyinthematterofgoingofftothelandofNod the moment his head touched his pillow. Possibly the fresh air, theexcitement,theenergywithwhichhehadwrought,andtherelishwithwhichhehadsupped,intensifiedthistendencyonthepresentoccasion.Oliververysoon followed his friend’s example, and so Captain Trench was left tomeditate beside the fire. He gazed into its glowing embers, or sometimesglancedbeyondittowardsanopenspacewhereatinyrivuletglitteredinthemoonlight,andalittlecascadesentitspurlingmusicintothestillair.Erelonghepassedfromthemeditativetotheblinkingstage.Thenheturnedhiseyesonthesleepers,smiledmeeklyonceortwiceandnoddedtothemquiteinadvertently! After that he stretched his bulky frame beside them, andresignedhimselftorepose.Now, it is probable that we should have had nothing more to record inreferencetothatfirstnightinNewfoundlandifCaptainTrenchhadbeeninthehabitof takinghis rest likeordinarymortals,but suchwasnothishabit.Hebouncedinhissleep!Whyhedidsonoonecouldeverfindout.Hehimselfdenied the “soft impeachment,” and, in his waking moments, was wont toexpress disbelief as well as profound ignorance in regard to the subject.Severalbrokenbeds,however,had,inthecourseofhiscareer,testifiedagainsthim; but, like themanwho blamed “the salmon,” not “thewhisky,” for hisheadaches,Trenchblamed“thebeds,”not“thebouncing,”forhismisfortunes.OnemighthavecountedhimsafewiththesolidearthofNewfoundlandforhisbed, but danger often lurkswhere least expected.OliverTrenchwas not anarchitecteitherbynatureor training.Hisbowerhadbeenerectedonseveralfalseprinciples.Thebouncingofabigmaninsidewastoomuchforitsinfirmconstitution. Itsweak pointswere discovered by the captain.A bounce into

one of its salient supports proved fatal, and the structure finally collapsed,buryingitsfamilyinacompostofearthandherbage.With a roar that would have done credit to a native walrus, the captainstruggled to free himself, under the impression that a band of savages hadattackedthem.Allthreequicklythrewoffthecomparativelylightmaterialthatcovered them, and stood in warlike attitudes for a few seconds, glancingaroundforfoeswhodidnotexist!Thentheroarofalarmwastransformedintoshoutsoflaughter,butthesewerequicklycheckedbyarealfoewhocreptupinsidiously and leaped on them unexpectedly. The half-extinguished fire,having been replenished by the falling structuremuch ofwhichwas dry andinflammablecaughtontheroofandflasheddownintotheinterior.“Save the pork, lad!” shouted the captain, as he sprang out of the kindlingmass.“Ay,ay,father,”repliedtheson.Paulmeanwhilegrasped thehalf-finishedbows and arrows inhis arms, andthus their little all was rescued from the flames. Of course, the bower wasutterly consumed, but that caused them little grief.Having extinguished theflames,theyalllaydowntofinishoffthenightunderaneighbouringtree,andevenitsarchitectbecamesoobliviousofwhathadoccurredthatheemployedthe remainder of his slumbering hours in dreaming of the home in oldEngland,andofthatdearmotherwhoselastletterwasstillcarefullyguardedinthepocketofthecoatthatcoveredhisardentlittlebosom.

ChapterSevenTheyBegintheirTravelsinEarnest

When their weapons were complete our three travellers started on theirjourneyofexplorationinthenew-foundland.CaptainTrencharmedhimselfwitha strong,heavily-madecross-bow,andabirch-barkquiver fullofbolts.PaulBurnscarriedabowas longashimself,withaquiverfulloftheorthodox“cloth-yardshafts.”Oliverprovidedhimselfwithabowandarrowsmoresuitedtohissize,and,beingnaturallysanguine,hehadalsomadeforhimselfaslingwiththecordhechancedtopossessandtheleatherntongueofoneofhisshoes.Helikewisecarriedaheavybludgeon,somewhatlikeapoliceman’sbaton,whichwasslungathisside.Notcontentwith this,he soughtandobtainedpermission tocarry theaxe inhisbelt.Ofcourse,noneoftheboltsorarrowshadmetalpoints;butthatmatteredlittle,asthewoodofwhichtheyweremadewasveryhard,andcouldbesharpenedtoafinepoint; and,being feathered, themissiles flewstraight to themarkwhen

pointedintherightdirection.“Now,captain,”saidPaul,onthemorningtheysetout,“let’sseewhatyoucandowithyourcross-bowatthefirstbirdyoumeet.Imeanthefirsteatablebird;for Ihavenoheart tokill the little twitterersaroundus for themeresakeofpractice.”“ThatwillIrightgladly,”saidTrench,fixinghisbowandstring,andinsertingaboltwithaconfidentair.“Andthere’sachance,daddy!See!abirdthatseemstowishtobeshot,itsitssoquietlyonthetree.”The seaman raised his weapon slowly to his shoulder, shut the wrong eye,glaredat thebirdwith theother, tooka longunsteadyaim,andsenthisbolthighoverthecreature’shead,aswellasverymuchtooneside.“Mighthavebeenworse!”saidthecaptain.“Mighthavebeenbetter,”returnedPaul,withequaltruth.“Nowit’smyturn.”Thebird,allignorantofthefateintendedforit,satstill,apparentlyinsurprise.Paul drew his cloth-yard shaft to his ear and let fly. It went apparently insearchofthecaptain’sbolt.“Nowme!”criedtheimpatientOlly,inahoarsewhisper,asheplacedastonein the sling andwhirled it roundhis head.His companions drewoff!Therewasa“burring”noiseasthestonespedonitsmissionandstruckthetree-stemwithasoundingcrack,threeyardsfromthebird,which,learningwisdomfromexperience,atlasttookwing.Inanticipationoftheirchancecomingroundagain,bothPaulandthecaptainhadgotreadytheirartillery,andOliverhastilyputanotherstoneinhissling.Alook and exclamation of disappointment were given by each as the birdvanished,butjustatthatmomentalargerabbitdartedacrosstheirpath.Whiz!twang!burr!wentboltandbowandstone,andthatrabbit,piercedinheadandheart,andsmittenonflank,felltorisenomore.“Strange!” said Trench, in open-mouthed surprise, “I’ve often heard ofcoincidences,butIneverdidseeorhearofthelikeofthat.”“Allthreetohititatonce!”exclaimedPaul.“Ay,andallthreeofusdoin’ourbesttohitit,too,”exclaimedOliver.“Justsothat’sthepuzzle, lad,”rejoinedthecaptain.“Ifwehadbeentryin’to

hitsomethingelsenow,therewouldhavebeennothingstrangeaboutit!Buttohitwhatweallaimedat”Apparentlythecaptainfailedtofindwordsadequatelytoexpresshisideas,forhe did not finish the sentence; meanwhile Paul picked up the rabbit andattached it to his belt. After this, advancing through the woods in a north-westerlydirection,theymadeforasomewhatelevatedridge,hopingtoobtainfromthatpointamoreextendedviewoftheland.Towards noon, feeling hungry, they began to look out for a suitable spotwhereon to lunch, or rather to dine; for while travelling on foot in wildcountriesmenusuallyfinditconvenienttotakeaverysubstantialmealabout,orsoonafter,noon.“To have water handy,” remarked Paul, as they stopped to look round, “isessentialtocomfortaswellascookery.”“Look there, away to thenor’-westo’ thatbuncho’ trees,” said the captain,pointingtoadistantspot,“there’sadepressioninthegroundthere;andfromthelieo’ the landall roundIshouldsayweshall findastreamo’somesortnearit.”“Ihopeso,”saidOliver;“forIshallwantwatertowashtherabbitwith,andIhave a strong hope that we may find fish in the rivers of this land, andalthoughmyhooksarebig,I thinkthefishmaynotbeparticular,seein’ thattheyhaveneverbeforebeentemptedinthatway.”“That’s true, Olly; I hope youwon’t be disappointed. But whatmakes youwanttowashtherabbit,myboy?”askedthecaptain;“itisnotdirty?”“Perhapsnot;but Idon’tquite relish thedirtyworkofcleaningouta rabbitbeforecookingit,soIwanttotrytheplanofcuttingitopen,holdingitunderwater,andscrapingouttheinsidewhileinthatposition.”“Myson,youwon’tbesoparticularwhenyou’vebeenafewweekshuntin’inthewildwoods.Butwhataboutthehair?”“Oh,wecansingethatoff,daddy.”“What!singeoffwethair?AndtheskinIdoubtwemightfindthattough?”The young cookfor such he became to the exploring expeditionlookedpuzzled.“Ineverskinnedarabbit,”hesaid,“butnodoubtitiseasyenough.I’lljustcutitopenattheheadortailandpullitofflikeaglove.”

“Notquitesoeasilydoneasthat”remarkedPaul,withalaugh;“butIhappentoknowsomethingaboutskinningbirdsandbeasts,Olly,somakeyourmindeasy.Iwillshowyouhowtodoit.”“Youhappen to know something about almost everything, I think,” said thecaptain.“Tellmenow,d’yehappentoknowwhatsorto’beastitisthatIseestarin’atusoverthebushesyonder?”“No,MasterTrench, I donot;but it looksmarvellously like adeerof somesort,”saidPaul,ashehastilyfittedanarrowtohisbow.Butbeforehecoulddischargeittheanimalwiselyretiredintotheshelterofitsnativewilds.Bythis time,havingwalkedsmartly, theyhadgained thecrestofoneof thelowerridges,orplateaus,thatroseingentleslopesfromtherockyshore,andthere,ashadbeenanticipated,theyfoundasmallrivulet,suchasAmericanswould call a creek, and Scotsmen a burn. It flowed in a north-easterlydirection,andwasbrokenbyseveralsmallrapidsandcascades.With a little shout of satisfaction, Oliver ran down to its banks, getting hishooksoutashewent.Arrivingat themarginofadeeppool,hebentover itandgazedearnestlydown.Thewaterwasasclearascrystal, showingeverystoneatthebottomasifithadbeencoveredmerelywithasheetofglass,andthere,apparentlyundisturbedbytheintruder,layseverallargefish.What theywere he knew notcared not. Sufficient for him that they seemedlarge and fat. His first impulse was to turn and shout the discovery to hiscompanions; but seeing that they had already set towork to cut firewood alittlehigherupthestream,hecheckedhimself.“I’llcatchafishfirstmaybe,”hemuttered,ashequicklyadjustedtohispieceofcordoneof the smallest cod-hookshepossessed.A fewminutes sufficedfor this; butwhen hewas ready, it occurred to him that he had no bait.Helookedaroundhim,butnothingsuitablewastobeseen,andhewasabouttoattempt the all but hopeless task of tearing up the soil with his fingers insearchofaworm,whenhiseyesfellonasmallbrightfeather thathadbeendropped by some passing bird. “Happy thoughts” occurred to people in thedays of which we write, even as now, though they were not recognised orclassifiedassuch.Fly-fishingwas instantlysuggested to theeagerboy.Hehadoften tried it inOldEngland;whynottryitinNewfoundland?Averybriefperiodsufficedtounwindathreadfromthecord,andtherewithtoattachthefeathertothehook.Hehadnorod,andneithertimenorpatiencetomakeone.Gatheringthecordintoacoil,suchaswharfmenformwhencastingropestosteamers;heswung

itroundhishead,andhovehishookhalf-wayacrosstheglassypool.Thefishlookedupathim,apparentlyincalmsurprisecertainlywithoutalarm.ThenOllybegantohaulinthehook.Itwasafearfulflytolookat,suchashadneverdesecratedthosewaterssincethedaysofAdam,yetthosecovetousfishrushedat it inabody.Thebiggestcaught it, and foundhimselfcaught!Theboy held on tenderly,while the fish inwild amazement darted from side toside,orspranghighintotheair.Oliverwasfartooexperiencedafishernottoknowthat thecaptivemightbebutslightlyhooked,soheplayeditskilfully,castingasidelongglancenowandthenathisbusycomradesinthehopethattheyhadnotobservedhim.Atlastthefishbecametired,andthefisherdrewitslowlytothebankafour-orfive-poundtroutat theveryleast!Unfortunatelythebankwassteep,andtheboyfound, tohisdistress, that thehookhadonlycaughtholdslightlyof thefish’slip.Toliftouttheheavycreaturewiththelinewasthereforeimpossible,tocatchholdofitwiththehandwasalmostequallyso;forwhenhelaydownandstretchedouthisarmasfaraspossible,hecouldscarcelytouchitwiththeendofhisfinger.“If itmakes another dash it’ll escape,”muttered the anxious boy, as he slidfurtherandfurtherdownthebankahairbreadthatatime.Justthenthefishshowedsymptomsofrevival.Ollycouldstandthisnolonger.Hemade a desperate grasp and caught it by the gills just as the hook cameaway.Theactdestroyedwhatlittlebalancehehadretained,andhewentwithasharpshortyellintothepool.Paullookedupintimetoseehisfriend’slegsdisappear.Herantothespotinconsiderable alarm, supposing that the boymight have taken a fit, and notknowingwhetherhecouldswim.Hewasrelieved,however,tofindthatOllyonreappearingstruckoutmanfullywithonehandforashallowplaceat thelowerendofthepool,whilewiththeotherhepressedsomeobjecttightlytohisbosom.“Youdon’tmeantosay,”exclaimedPaul,asheassistedhisfriendoutofthewater,“thatyouwentinforthatsplendidtroutandcaughtitwithyourhands!”“You sawme dive,” replied the boy, throwing the fish down with affectedindifference,andstoopingtowringthewaterfromhisgarmentsaswellastohide his face; “andyoudon’t suppose, surely, that I caught itwithmy feet.Come,lookatthedepthIhadtogodowntocatchhim!”Seizinghisprize,Olly ledhis friend to thespotwherehehad fallen in,andpointedwithalookoftriumphtotheclear,deeppool.Atthemomentasmile

of intelligence litupPaul’s features,andhepointed to theextemporisedfly-hookwhichstilldangledfromthebank.Bursting into a hearty fit of laughter, the successful fisher ran up to theencampment, swinging the trout round his head, to the surprise and greatsatisfaction of his father,who had already got the fire alight and the rabbitskinned.Needitbesaidthat themealwhichfollowedwasaheartyone, thoughtherewasnovarietysaveroastrabbit,roasttrout,androastpork,withthelastofthecakesaspudding?“A first-rate dinner!” exclaimed Paul, after swallowing a draft of sparklingwaterfromthestream.“Notbad,”admittedCaptainTrench,“ifweonlyhadsomethingstrongerthanwatertowashitdown.”Paulmade no reply to this remark, but he secretly rejoiced in the necessitywhichdeliveredhisfriendfromtheonlyfoethathadpowertoovercomehim.“Now,” remarked Paul, when he had finished dinner, “I will strengthenmybowbeforestarting,foritdoesnotsendthearrowswithsufficientforce,andtheonlywaytodothat,thatIcanthinkof,istoshortenit.”“And Iwill feather the last arrowImade,” saidOliver,drawing the shaft inquestionoutofhisquiver.“Well, as my bow and bolts are all ship-shape and in perfect order, I willrambletothetopoftheridgebeforeusandtakealookoutahead.”So saying the captain departed, and the other two were soon so deeplyabsorbed in theirwork and in conversation about future plans that they hadalmostforgottenhimwhenaloudshoutcausedthemtostartup.Onlookingtowards the ridge theybeheldCaptainTrench tossinghisarmswildly in theair,andshoutingandgesticulatingviolently.“Seessavages,Ithink,”saidPaul.“Orgonemad!”criedOlly.Catchinguptheirarms,thetworanhastilytothetopoftheridge,wheretheyarrivedperspiringandpanting, to find that their excitablecomradehadonlygoneintoecstasiesaboutthemagnificentscenerythathadburstuponhissight.

ChapterEight

BeautifulScenesandStrangeExperiences

And,truly,thescenewhichmettheirgazewasofanaturecalculatedtoarouseenthusiasminamuchlessardentbosomthanthatofCaptainTrench.Awideundulating country, studded with lakelets and rich with verdure, stretchedawayfromtheir feet to thehorizon,wherea rangeofpurplehillsseemed tomelt andminglewith cloudland, so that the eyewas carried, as itwere, byimperceptible gradations from the rugged earth up into the soft blue sky;indeed, itwas difficult to distinguishwhere the former ended and the latterbegan.Thelakesandpondsweregaywithyellowwater-lilies,andtheairwasmusicalwiththesweetcriesofwildfowl;whilethenoon-tidesunbathedthewholeinagoldenglory.The effect of such a sight on our wanderers was at first too powerful forwords,andwhenwordsdidburstforththeyservedtoshowhowwonderfullydiversearethespiritsofmen.CaptainTrench,aswehaveseen,wasmovedbythisvisionofbeautytoshout,almosttodance,withdelight,whileinthoughtheboundedoverthelengthandbreadthofthenewland,takingbearings,andmaking notes and charts with the view of extending the geographicalknowledge of mankind! His son Oliver, on the other hand, allowed hisimagination to revel freely through the forests and over the hills and acrosslakes and savannahs in powerful sympathywith the aspirationswhichmusthaveanimatedNimrod;while toPaulBurns,whosetemperamentwassedateand earnest, as well as cheerful and hearty, the glorious vision at oncesuggested thoughts of that tranquil home inwhichman’s lotwas originallycastbythelovingheartofGod.“Now it is quite plain,” said Trench, as they slowly descended into thisbeautiful scene, “that this land is no collection of small islands, aswe havebeenledtosuppose,butagreatlandfullofall thatisneedfultomakeit thehappyabodeofman.”“Justso,daddy!”exclaimedtheenthusiasticOliver,“andwehavebeensenttoexplore it andcarryhome thenewsperhaps tobringout the first settlersandshowthemtheway!”“Why,Olly,youcarrytoomuchsailforsosmallacraft;youlookoutrathertoofarahead.Andwhatmeanyebysayingwearesent?Nobodysentusonthis journey that I know of, unless you mean that Swintonthe bigscoundrel!sentus.”“WhateverOllymeantbytheexpression,”interposedPaul,“Ithinkheisright;forallmenaresentbytheAlmighty,nomatterwheretheygo.”“What!d’yemeanthatmenaresentby theAlmightywhether theygo todo

goodorevil?”“Ay,MasterTrench,thatiswhatImean;theyaresentbyHim,thoughnotsenttodoevil.Lookhere,don’tyouadmitthatGodcreatedallmenandsentthemintothisworld?”“OfcourseIdo.”“AndthatHemadeyouanEnglishman,andsosentyoutoEngland;andthatHe made you a sea-captain, and among other places sent you toNewfoundland.”“WellIIsupposeHedid,”returnedthecaptain,withthatpuzzledexpressionofcountenance which was wont to indicate that his mind was grapplingdifficulties.“Well,then,”continuedPaul,“beinggood,ofcoursetheAlmightysentustodogood;butHealsogaveusfreewills,whichjustmeanspermissiontodoaswe please; so it remains to be seen whether we will use our free wills inworkingwithHim,or in trying toworkagainstHim, for, strange to say,wecannotreallyworkagainstGod,wecanonlytrytodoit,andinsotryingweestablish the fact of our ownwickedness; butHis grand and good purposesshallbecarriedoutinspiteofusnotwithstanding,forhecanbringgoodoutofevil.”“Now,Paul, I’ve lost soundings altogether, and it’smyopinion that you arefoolishlytalkingaboutthingsthatyou,don’tunderstand.”“Ineverheard,MasterTrench,thatitwasfoolishtotalkaboutwhatonedoesnot understand! On the contrary, it is by talking of things that we don’tunderstand that we manage at last to understand them. You had a deal oftalkingaboutnavigation,hadyounot,beforeyouunderstoodit?”“Look ’ee here, lad,” said Trench, stopping suddenly, with his legs plantedfirmlyapartasthoughonthequarter-deckofhisshipinacrosssea,whilehedrovehisright fist into thepalmofhis lefthandargumentatively.“Look’eehere.How can it be possible thatthatpooh! Come along,we’ll never get onwithoursurveyofthelandifwedisputeatthisrate.”The stoutmariner turnedawaywithanairof exasperation, and resumedhiswalkatarapidpace,closelyfollowedbyhisamusedfriendandson.This irreverent mode of dismissing a grave and difficult subject was notpeculiartoCaptainTrench.Ithasprobablybeenadoptedbythosewhoshrinkfrommental effort ever since the days of Adam and Eve.Minds great and

small have exercised themselves since the beginning of time on thisperplexing subjectGod’s sovereignty and man’s free willwith benefit,probably, to themselves.We recommend it in passing, good reader, to yourattention,andwewillclaimtobeguiltlessofpresumptioninthusadvising,solongasthewritingstands,“Proveallthings,andholdfastthatwhichisgood.”Beforethesunwentdownthatnightourexplorershadplungedintotheveryheartof thebeautifulcountrywhichwehavedescribednowpushing throughtangledunderwood,orfollowingthe innumerabledeer-trackswithwhichthecountrywasseamed,orbreastingthehill-sides,ormakingdétourstogetroundsmalllakes,beingguided,inawesterlydirection,byasmallpocket-compasswhich Captain Trench was fortunately in the habit of carrying with himwhereverhewent.No large lakesorbroad rivershadyetbeenmetwith, sothatuptothispointthedivergenciesfromthedirectlinehadnotbeengreat.Thustheyadvancedforseveraldays,subsistingongameandfish,chieflythelast,however;fortheirshootingpowerswereverydefective,andOliverwasan ardenttoo ardentfisher. Their inability to shoot became at last a seriousmatter,formanyarrowsandboltswerelost,aswellasmuchgame.“Look, now, there’s another chance,” whispered Paul, pointing to a plumpwillow-grouse that sat in a bush in front of them. “You try first, MasterTrench.”“An’don’tmiss,daddy,”saidOliverentreatingly;“there’sonlythebonesofarabbitleftfromthismorning’sbreakfast.”Thecaptaintookaferventlycarefulaim,butwentfarwideofthemark,tohisintense chagrin. Paul then bent his bow, but without success, though hisarrows stuck inabranchcloseunder thebird,which,beingvery tame,onlyglanceddowninquiringly.Oliver’sarrowwentoverit,andthestonewhichheafterwards slangmade such a rattling in the bush that the puzzled creaturefinallyretired.“Thisisbecomingserious,”remarkedthecaptain,withafacesosolemnthatPaulburstintoafitoflaughter.“Ha!youmaylaugh,lad,”continuedTrench,“butifyouwereashungryasIam you’d bemore inclined to cry.D’ye think a stoutman likeme can supheartilyonrabbitbones?”“You’veforgot,daddy,thefourbigtroutIcaughtto-day.”“SoIhave,Olly;well,comeandlet’shave’emcookedatonce.”

The fish, which were really more than sufficient without the rabbit bones,weresoongrillingoverahugefireunderthecanopyofaspreadingbirch-tree.When the skipper had disposed of enough to allay the pangs of hunger, heturnedandsaidtohiscomrades,inatoneofmarkeddecision“Now,mess-mates,I’vebeenrummagin’mybrainsabit,andtheoutcomeofitisasfollows:‘Whateverisworthdoin’isworthdoin’well,’astheoldproverbputsit.Ifwearetoexplorethiscountry,wemustsetaboutlearningtoshoot,for ifwedon’t,weare likely to starve in themidstofplenty, and leaveourbonestobleachinthisbeautifulwilderness.”“True, Master Trench,” remarked Paul, for the seaman had paused at thispoint;“thusfaryouandIthinkalike.Whatmorehaveyoutosay?”“This Ihave tosay, that Iamresolvednot toexploreanother fathomo’ thislanduntilIcanmakesureofhittin’thecrowno’mycapwithacross-bowboltat a reasonable distance; and I would advise you both to make the sameresolution,forifyoudon’tyouwillhavetodoyourexploringwithoutme.”“Just so, captain,” said Paul, putting the lastmorsel of fish into hismouth,with a sigh of contentment; “you are commander of this expedition. I willobeyorders.”“Butwhatdoyoucalla‘reasonable’distance,daddy?”askedOliver,withthatpertcockoftheheadpeculiartoinsolentyouths;“ayard,orafathom?”“Well,now,”continuedTrench,ignoringthequestion,“wewillsetaboutitto-morrow morning, first thing after breakfast; stick up a target, retire to areasonabledistance,andworkawayfrommorningtillnight,andeverydaytillwebecomeperfect.”“Agreed,captain,”saidPaul;“butwhataboutfood?”“WewillgiveOllyleaveofabsenceforanhourortwodailytogoandfish,”said the captain; “thatwill keep us alive, coupledwithwhat birds or beastsmaycomeaccidentallyinfrontofourarrows.”This plan, although proposed at first half in jest,was carried into operationnextday,during thewholeofwhich theypractised shootingat amarkmostdiligently.Atsupper-time,overacoupleoffinetrout,itwasadmittedsadlybyeachthattheprogressmadewasveryslightindeed,scarcelyperceptible.Nextnight,however,thereportwasmorefavourable,andthethirdnightitwasfeltthat theprospectaheadwasbecominghopeful; for,besides the improvementin shooting, two rabbitsgraced their supper,onehavingbeenarrestedbyan

almost miraculous bolt when bolting; the other having been caught,unintentionally, by a stone similar to that which brought down the giant ofGath.Thefactthatskillhadnothingtodowiththeprocuringofeitherdidnotintheleastdetractfromtheenjoymentwithwhichtheyconsumedboth.“Nothing is denied,” they say, “to well-directed labour, and nothing can bedonewithoutit.”Likemostoftheworld’smaxims,thisisapartiallyerroneousstatement;formanythingsaredeniedtowell-directedlabour,andsometimesamazingsuccessisaccordedtoill-directedandblunderingefforts.Still,whattruthdoesexistinthesayingwasverifiedbyourthreefriends;for,aftertwoweeksofunremitting,unwearied,persistentlabour,eachlabourersucceededinraising enormous blisters on two fingers of his right hand, and in hittingobjectsthesizeofaswansixtimesoutoftenata“reasonabledistance!”Havingarrivedat this stateofproficiencywith theirweapons, they resumedtheir journey, fortifiedwith a hearty breakfast, the foundation ofwhichwasfish, the superstructurewillow-grouse interspersedwith rabbit, and the apexplover.Notlongafterthatthefirstdeerwasshot.Itoccurredthus:Theywerewalkingonebeautifulmorningslowlyalongoneofthenumerousdeer-tracks ofwhichwe have alreadymademention, andwere approachingthesummitofaridgeattheverytimethataherdofdeer,headedbyanoblestag,wereascendingthesameridgefromtheoppositeside.Thelittleairthatmovedwasblowingintherightdirectionfromthedeertowardsthetravellers.As they topped the ridge about the same instant, the two parties stoodsuddenly face to face, and it would be difficult to determine which partylookedmostamazed.Facilityinfittingarrows,etcetera,hadbeenacquiredbythattime.Thehunterswerereadyinacoupleofseconds.Thedeer, recovering,wheeledabout;butbefore theycould take thefirstbound,“burr, twang,andwhizz,”sounded intheirears.Thestonestruckanantlerofthestag,thearrowpiercedhisflank,theboltquivered inhisheart,and themonarchof thewoods, leapingwildlyintotheair,felldeadupontheground.“Welldone,MasterTrench!”shoutedPaul,withaheartycheer.AsforOliver,heutteredasquealofdelight,threwanuncontrollablesomersault,andlanded,sittingwise,onabedofsoftmoss.Thiswasatremendoustriumphandsourceofjubilation,anditsoonbecameobvioustoeachthattheothertwohadahardstruggletokeeptheirexpressionsof satisfaction within the limits of moderation; for not only had they nowobtained thecrowningevidenceof their skill,but theywereprovidedwitha

supply of meat which, if properly dried, would furnish themwith food formanydaystocome.Itwas a striking and picturesque, though perhaps not an agreeable, sight towitness theparty thatnight, in theruddylightof thecamp-fire,withsleevesrolledtotheshoulders,andbloodyknivesinhands,operatingonthecarcaseofthedeer,anditwasseveralhourspast theirusualsupper-timebeforetheyfeltthemselvesatlibertytositdownonabedofspruce-firbranchesandenjoytheluxuryofrestandfood.Nextday,whileproceedingslowly through thewoods,chattingmerrilyovertheincidentsofthepreviousday,asuddensilencefelluponthem;foroutofthethickshrubberytherestalkedatall,noble-lookingmanofmiddleage.Hewasdressedinthegarbofahunter.Longyellowcurlshungonhisshoulders,andaheavybeardandmoustacheofthesamecolourconcealedthelowerpartof a bronzed and handsome countenance. His bright blue eyes seemed tosparklewithgoodhumourashegazedinquiringly,yetsadly,attheastonishedfacesofthethreetravellers.

ChapterNineTheirNewAcquaintanceBecomesInterestedandPractical

The tall strangerwho had thus suddenly presented himself bore so strong aresemblancetothevikingsofoldthatPaulBurns,whowasfamiliarwithtalesand legends about the ancient sea-rovers, felt stealing over him at the firstglanceasensationsomewhatakintoawe,for itseemedasifoneof thesea-kingshadactuallyrisenfromhisgravetovisitthem.This feeling was succeeded, however, by one of intense surprise when thestrangeraddressedthemintheEnglishtongue.“Ithought,yearsago,”hesaid,“thatIhadseenthelastofwhitefaces!”ItimmediatelyoccurredtoOliverTrenchthat,astheirfaceswerebythattimedeeplyembrownedbythesun,thestrangermustbeinabanteringmood,butneither he nor his companions replied. They were too much astonished tospeakorevenmove,andwaitedformore.“Thisisnotalandwherethemenwhoserulingideasseemtobewarandgoldare likely to findwhat theywant,”continued thestranger,somewhatsternly.“Whence come ye? Are you alone, or only the advance-guard of thebloodthirstyrace?”There was something so commanding as well as courtly in the tone and

bearingofthisextraordinaryman,thatPaulhalfinvoluntarilyremovedhiscapashereplied:“Forgive me, sir, if astonishment at your sudden appearance has made meappearrude.Willyousitdownbesideusandshareourmeal,whileIansweryourquestions?”With a quiet air and slight smile the stranger accepted the invitation, andlistenedwithprofoundinteresttoPaulashegaveabriefoutlineofthewreckof theWaterWagtail, the landing of the crew, themutinous conduct ofBigSwintonandhiscomrades,andthesubsequentadventuresandwanderingsofhimself,MasterTrench,andOliver.“Yourvoicesare like theechoesofanold,oldsong,”said thestranger, inalow sad voice,when the narrativewas concluded. “It ismany years since IheardmynativetonguefromEnglishlips.IhadforgotteniterenowifIhadnottakenspecialmeanstokeepitinmind.”“Andpray,goodsir,”saidPaul,“mayIaskhowithappensthatweshouldfindanEnglishmaninthisalmostunheard-ofwilderness?Totellyouthetruth,myfirstimpressiononseeingyouwasthatyouweretheghostofanancientsea-king.”“Iamtheghostofmyformerself,”returnedthestranger,“andyouarenotfarwrongaboutthesea-kings,forIaminverytruthadescendantofthoseroverswhocarrieddeathanddestructionroundtheworldinancienttimes.Warandgoldorwhatgoldrepresentsweretheirgodsinthosedays.”“Itseemstome,”saidCaptainTrench,atlastjoiningintheconversation,“thatifyouwereinOldEnglandjustnow,oranyotherpartofEurope,you’dsaythatwarandgoldareasmuchworshippednow-a-daysastheyeverwereinthedaysofold.”“Ifyouaddloveandwinetothecatalogue,”saidPaul,“youhaveprettymuchthemotivepowersthathaveswayedtheworldsincethefallofman.Buttellus,friend,howyoucametobehereallalone.”“Notnownotnow,”repliedthestrangerhurriedly,andwithasuddengleaminhis blue eyes that told of latent power and passion under his calm exterior.“When we are better acquainted, perhaps you shall know. At present, it isenoughtosaythatIhavebeenawandereronthefaceof theearthformanyyears.Forthelasttenyearsmyhomehasbeeninthiswilderness.Mynativelandisoneofthoseruggedisleswhichformtheadvance-guardofScotlandintheNorthernOcean.”

“But are you quite alone here?” asked Captain Trench, with increasinginterest.“Notquitealone.Onewomanhashadpityonme,andsharesmysolitude.Wedwell,withourchildren,onanislandinagreatlake,towhichIwillconductyouifyouwillacceptmyhospitality.Redmenhaveoftenvisitedmethere,butIhadthoughtthatthefaceofawhitemanwouldnevermoregrievemysight.”“Is,then,thefaceofthewhitemansodistastefultoyou?”askedPaul.“Itwas;butsomechangemusthavecomeoverme,forwhileIholdconversewith you the old hatred seemsmelting away. If I hadmet you eight or tenyearsago,IverilybelievethatIwouldhavekilledyouallincoldblood,butnow”Hestoppedabruptly,andgazedintotheflamesofthecamp-fire,withagrave,almost tender air that seemed greatly at variance with his last murderousremark.“However,thefeelingispastandgoneitisdead,”hepresentlyresumed,withatossofhisheadwhichsent theyellowcurlsback,andappearedat thesametimetocastunpleasantmemoriesbehindhim,“andIamnowgladtoseeandwelcomeyou,thoughIcannothelpgrievingthatthewhiteracehasdiscoveredmylonelyisland.Theymighthavediscovereditlongagoiftheyhadonlykepttheirearsopen.”“Isitabigisland,thennotaclusterofislands?”askedTrencheagerly.“Yes, it isa largeisland,andthereisagreatcontinentofunknownextent tothewestwardofit.”“Butwhatdoyoumean,stranger,bysayingthatitmighthavebeendiscoveredlongago if peoplehadkept their earsopen?” askedPaul. “It iswell knownthatonlyafewyearsagoasea-captainnamedColumbusdiscoveredthegreatcontinentofwhichyouspeak,andthatsorecentlyastheyear1497theboldmariner,JohnCabot,withhissonSebastian,discoveredthese islands,whichtheyhavenamedNewfoundland.”The stranger listened with evident interest, not unmingled with surprise, tothis.“Of Columbus and Cabot I have never heard,” he replied, “having had nointercoursewiththecivilisedworldfortwentyyears.IknewofthisislandanddweltonitlongbeforethetimeyousaythatCabotcame.Butthatremindsmethat once, on returning from a hunting expedition into the interior, it was

reportedtomebyIndiansthatagiantcanoehadbeenseenoffthecoast.ThatmayhavebeenCabot’sship.AstoColumbus,myforefathersdiscoveredthegreat continent lying to thewest of this about five hundred years before hecould have been born. When I was a boy, my father, whose memory wasstoredwithinnumerablescrapsoftheoldvikingsagas,orstories,usedtotellme about the discovery ofVinland by theNorsemen,which is just the landthat seems to have been re-discovered by Columbus and Cabot. My fatherused tosay thatmanyof thewrittensagaswerebelieved toexistamong thecolonists of Iceland. I know not. It is long sincemy thoughts ceased to betroubledbysuchmatters,butwhatyoutellmehasopeneduptheflood-gatesofoldmemoriesthatIhadthoughtweredeadandburiedforever.”Allthatdaythestrangehunteraccompaniedthem,andencampedwiththematnight.Nextmorningheresumedwithever-increasinginteresttheconversationwhichhadbeeninterruptedbythenecessityoftakingrest.Itwasevidentthathisheartwaspowerfullystirred;notsomuchbythenewswhichhereceived,as by the old thoughts and feelings that had been revived. He was verysociable, and, amongother things, showedhisnew friendshow to slice anddrytheirvenison,soastokeepitfreshandmakeitconvenientforcarriage.“But you won’t require to carry much with you,” he explained, “for thecountryswarmswithlivingcreaturesatalltimesespeciallyjustnow.”Onthisheadhegavethemsomuchinformation,particularlyastothehabitsand characteristics of birds, beasts, and fishes, that Paul’s natural-historicenthusiasm was aroused; and Oliver, who had hitherto concerned himselfexclusivelywiththeusestowhichwildanimalsmightbeappliedinthewayofbone-points for arrows, twisted sinews forbowstrings, flesh for thepot, andfursforgarmentsbegantofeelconsiderablecuriosityastowhatthecreaturesdidwhenathome,andwhytheydidit.“Ifwecouldonlyfindoutwhattheythinkabout,”heremarkedtothehunter,“wemightbecomequitesociabletogether.”Whatitwasinthisnotveryremarkablespeechthatinterestedtheirnewfriendwecannottell,butcertainitisthatfromthetimeitwasutteredhetookgreaterinterest in the boy, and addressedmany of his remarks and explanations tohim.Therewasaspeciesofdignityaboutthisstrangebeingwhichpreventedunduefamiliarityeitherwithorbyhim;hence,healwaysaddressed theboybyhisfullname,andnevercondescendedto“Olly!”ThenamebywhichhehimselfchosetobecalledwasHendrick,butwhetherthatwasarealorassumednameofcoursetheyhadnomeansofknowing.

Continuingtoadvancethroughamostbeautifulcountry,thepartycameatlasttoariverofconsiderablesizeanddepth,upthebanksofwhichtheytravelledforseveraldays.Hendrickhadby tacitagreementassumed the leadershipofthe party, because, being intimately acquaintedwith the land, both as to itscharacter,form,andresources,hewasnaturallyfittedtobetheirguide.“Itseemstome,”saidCaptainTrench,astheysatdowntorestoneafternoonon a sunny bank by the river sideout of which Olly had just pulled amagnificent trout“that the climate of this island has been grosslymisrepresented.The reportwasbrought tous that itwasawildbarren land,alwaysenvelopedinthickfogs;whereas,althoughIamboundtosaywefoundfogs enough on the coast we have found nothing but beauty, sunshine, andfertilityintheinterior.”“Doesnotthisarisefromthetendencyofmankindtofoundandformopinionsoninsufficientknowledge?”saidHendrick.“EventheIndiansamongwhomIdwellarepronetothiserror.IfyourdiscovererCabothaddweltasmanyyearsas I have in this great island, hewould have told you that it has a splendidclimate, and is admirably adapted for the abode of man. Just look aroundyoutheregionwhichextendsfromyourfeettothehorizoninalldirectionsiswateredasyouseebylakesandrivers,whichswarmwithfishandarealivewith wildfowl; the woods, which are largely composed of magnificent anduseful trees,giveshelter tomyriadsofanimalssuitable for food toman; thesoilisexcellent,andthegrazinglandswouldmaintainthousandsofcattlewhatmorecouldmandesire?”“Nothingmore,”answeredPaul,“savetheopportunitytoutiliseitall,andtheblessingofGoduponhisefforts.”“The opportunity to utilise it won’t be long of coming, now that the factsaboutitareknown,orsoontobemadeknown,byus,”remarkedTrench.“I’mnotsosureaboutthat”saidPaul.“Itiswonderfulhowslowmenaretobelieve,andstillmorewonderfulhowslowtheyaretoact.”That thecaptain’shopeswerenotwell founded,and thatPaul’sdoubtswerejustified, is amply proved by the history of Newfoundland. At first itscharacter wasmisunderstood; then, when its unparalleled cod-fishing bankswere discovered, attentionwas entirely confined to its rugged shores. Afterthatthetradefellintothehandsofselfishandunprincipledmonopolists,whowilfullymisrepresentedthenatureofthisisland,andprevailedontheBritishGovernment to enact repressive laws, which effectually preventedcolonisation.Thenprejudice,privileges,anderrorperpetuatedtheevilstateofthings,so that the truecharacterof the landwasnotknownuntil thepresent

century;itsgrandinteriorwasnotsystematicallyexploredtillonlyafewyearsago,and thus it comes topass that evenat thepresentdayoneof the finestislands belonging to the British Crownas regards vast portions of itsinteriorstillremainsabeautifulwildernessunusedbyman.Butwith thiswehavenothingatpresent todo.Ourbusiness is, in spirit, tofollow Hendrick and his friends through that wilderness, as it was at thebeginningofthesixteenthcentury.Deer-tracks,aswehavesaid,wereinnumerable,andalongoneofthosetracksaherdofdeerwereseentrottingonedayabouttwobow-shotsfromtheparty.With characteristic eagernessOliverTrenchhastily let fly anarrowat them.Hemightaswellhaveletitflyatthepole-star.Theonlyeffectithadwastostartlethedeerandsendthemgallopingintotheshelterofthewoods.“Whatapity!”exclaimedOliver.“Not so,myboy,” remarkedhis father. “Experience, they say, teaches fools;andifexperiencehasnowtaughtyouthatitisfoolishtoshootatgameoutofrange,youarenofool,whichisnotapity,butmatterforcongratulation.”“Butwhataboutpractice,daddy?Didyounotsayonlylastnightthatthereisnothinglikepracticetomakeperfect?”“True,lad,butIdidnotrecommendpractisingatdeerbeyondrange.Besides,youcanpractiseatstumpsandstones.”“Butstumpsandstonesdon’taffordrunningshots,”objectedOlly.“Yes they do, boy.You can run past the stumpswhile you shoot, and as tostones,youcanrollthemdownhillandletflyatthemastheyroll.Nowclapthehatchesonyourmouth;you’retoofondofargument.”“I’m only a chip of the ancient tree, father,” retorted the boy, with a quietlaugh.Howmuchfurtherthislittleskirmishmighthaveproceededwecannottell,foritwasbroughttoanabruptclosebythesuddenappearanceofablackbear.Itwas on turning a cliff which bordered the edge of a stream that they cameupon the monsterso close to it that they had barely time to get ready theirweaponswhenitroseonitshindlegstoattackthem.“Lookout!”yelledOliver,who,beinginadvance,wasthefirsttoseethebear.A stone from his slingwaswell though hastily aimed, for it hit the animalfairlyonthenose,therebyrenderingitparticularlyangry.Almostatthesame

momentaboltandanarrowflewfromtheweaponsofPaulandTrench;buttheyflewwideofthemark,andthereisnosayingwhattheresultmighthavebeenhadnotHendrickbenthisshortbutpowerfulbow,andsentanarrowtothefeatherintothecreature’sbreast.The modern bullet is no doubt more deadly than the ancient arrow,neverthelessthelatterhadsomeadvantagesovertheformer.Oneofthesewasthat,asittransfixedseveralmuscles,ittendedtohamperthemovementsofthevictimshot.Italsodrewattentioninsomedegreefromtheassailant.Thus,onthe present occasion the bear, with a savage growl, seized the head of thearrowwhich projected from thewound andwrenched it off. This, althoughlittlemorethanamomentaryact,gavethehunter timetofitanddischargeasecondarrow,whichenteredtheanimal’sthroat,causingittofallwrithingontheground,whileOliver,whohadgonealmostmadwithexcitement,graspedhisaxe,boundedforward,andbroughtitdownonbruin’sskull.WellwasitfortherecklessboythatHendrick’sarrowshaddonetheirwork,for,althoughhisyoungarmwasstoutandtheaxesharp,littleimpressionwasmade on the hard-headed creature by the blow. Hendrick’s knife, however,completed theworkanddespatched thebear.Then theyall satdown to restwhilethehuntersettoworktoskintheanimal.

ChapterTenOlly’sFirstSalmonandHendrick’sHome

From this time forward the opportunities for hunting and fishingbecame sonumerousthatpoorOliverwaskeptinaconstantlybubbling-overconditionofexcitement,andhisfatherhadtorestrainhimagooddealinordertopreventthelarderfrombeinggreatlyoverstocked.Oneafternoontheycametoariverwhichtheirguidetoldthemwasoneofthelargestinthecountry.“Itflowsoutofthelake,ononeoftheislandsofwhichIhavebuiltmyhome.”“May I ask,” said Paul, with some hesitation, “if yourwife camewith youfromtheShetlandIsles?”Aprofoundlysadexpressionflittedacrossthehunter’scountenance.“No,” he replied. “Trueheart, as she is named in the Micmac tongue, is anativeof this islandat leasthermotherwas;buther father, Ihavebeen told,wasawhitemanawandererlikemyselfwhocameinanopenboatfromnooneknowswhere, and cast his lot among the Indians, oneofwhomhemarried.

Bothparentsaredead.Ineversawthem;butmywife,Ithink,mustresembleher white father in many respects. My children are like her. Look now,Oliver,”he said, as ifdesirousof changing the subject, “yonder is apool inwhichitwillbeworthwhiletocastyourhook.Youwillfindsomethinglargerthere thanyouhaveyetcaught in thesmaller streams.Get ready. Iwill findbaitforyou.”Olly needed no urging. His cod-hook and line, being always handy, werearrangedinafewminutes,andhisfriend,turningupthesodwithapieceofwood, soon procured several large worms, which were duly impaled, untiltheyformedabunchonthehook.Withthistheladhurriedeagerlytotheedgeofamagnificentpool,wheretheoilyripplesandcurlingeddies,aswellasthegreat depth, effectually concealed the bottom from view. He was about towhirlthebunchofwormsroundhishead,preparatorytoagrandheave,whenhewasarrestedbytheguide.“Stay,Oliver;youwillneedarodforthisriver.Withoutoneyouwillbeapttoloseyourfish.Iwillcutone.”Sosaying,hewentintothewoodsthatborderedthepool,andsoonreturnedwithwhatseemedtotheboytobeasmalltreeaboutfourteenfeetlong.“Why,Hendrick,doyoutakemeforGoliath,whoasPaulBurnstellsus,wasbroughtdownbya stone from the slingofDavid? I’ll neverbe able to fishwiththat.”“Oliver,”returnedthehuntergravely,ashecontinuedthepeelingofthebarkfromtherod,“aladwithstronglimbsandastoutheartshouldneverusethewords ‘not able’ till he has tried. I have seen many promising and goodlyyoungmencometowreckbecause‘Ican’t’was toooftenon their lips.Youneverknowwhatyoucandotillyoutry.”Theboylistenedtothisreproofwithaslightfeelingofdispleasure,forhefeltin his heart that he was not one of those lazy fellows to whom his friendreferred.However,hewiselysaidnothing,butHendrickobserved,withsomeamusement,thathisbrowflushedandhislipswerefirmlycompressed.“Therenow,”hesaidinacheerytone,beinganxioustoremovetheimpressionhehadmade,“youwillfindtherodislighterthanitlooks,andsupple,asyousee.We will tie your line half-way down and run it through a loop at theendso!topreventitsbeinglostifthepointshouldbreak.Now,trytocastyourhookintothespotyonderwhereacurlinthewatermeetsandbattleswithaneddy.Doyouseeit?”“Yes, I see it,” repliedOlly, advancing to the pool,with the rod grasped in

bothhands.“It would be better,” continued Hendrick, “if you could cast out into thestreambeyond,butthelineistooshortforthat,unlessyoucouldjumpontothatbigrockintherapid,whichisimpossiblewiththeriversohigh.”Oliverlookedattherockreferredto.Itstoodupinthemidstoffoamingwater,fulltwentyfeetfromthebank.Heknewthathemightaswelltrytojumpoverthemoonasattempttoleapuponthatrock;nevertheless,withoutamoment’shesitation,herusheddownthebank,sprangfuriouslyoff,clearedconsiderablymorethanhalfthedistance,anddisappearedinthefoamingflood!Hendrickwassuddenlychangedfromaslowandsedateelephantintoanagilepanther.Hesprangalongthebanktoapointlowerdownthestream,andwasuptothewaistinthewaterbeforeOllyreachedthepointstrugglingtokeephisheadabovethesurface,andatthesametimetoholdontohisrod.Hendrickcaughthimbythecollar,anddraggedhim,panting,toland.Paulandhisfatherhadeach,withashoutofsurpriseoralarm,rushedforthesamepoint,buttheywouldhavebeentoolate.“Olly,myson,”saidTrench,inaremonstrativetone,“haveyougonemad?”“No,father;IknewthatIcouldnotjumpit,butI’vebeenadvisednevertosaysotillIhavetried!”“Nay,Oliver, be just,” said the guide,with a laugh. “I did truly advise younever to say ‘I can’t’ till you had tried, but I never told you to try theimpossible.However,Iamnotsorryyoudidthis,forI’dratherseeaboytryandfail,thanseehimfailbecauseofunwillingnesstotry.Come,now,Iwillshowyousomethingelsetotry.”HetookOliverupthestreamafewyards,andpointedtoaledgeofrock,morethanknee-deepunderwater,whichcommunicatedwiththerockhehadfailedtoreach.“Theledgeisnarrow,”hesaid,“andthecurrentcrossingitisstrong,butfromwhat I’ve seen of you I think you will manage to wade out if you gocautiously, anddon’t loseheart. Iwill godown streamagain, so that if youshouldslipI’llbereadytorescue.”Boldly did Oliver step out upon the ledge; cautiously did he advance eachfoot,untilhewasmore than leg-deep,andwildly, likean insanesemaphore,didhewavehisarms,aswellastheheavyrod,inhisfranticeffortsnottolosehisbalance!Atlastheplantedhisfeet,withacheeroftriumph,ontherock.

“Hush,Olly,you’llfrightenthefish,”criedPaul,withfeignedanxiety.“You’lltumbleinagain,ifyoudon’tmind,”saidhiscautiousfather.ButOllyheardnot.Thewholeofhislittlesoulwascentredontheoilypoolintowhich he had just cast the bunch ofworms.Anothermoment, and thestoutrodwasalmostwrenchedfromhisgrasp.“Have a care! Hold on! Stand fast!” saluted him in various keys, from thebank.“Acod!orawhale!”wastheresponsefromtherock.“More likely a salmon,” remarkedHendrick, in anundertone,while a sobersmilelituphisfeatures.At the moment a magnificent salmon, not less than twenty pounds weight,leaptlikeabarofsilverfromtheflood,andfellback,withamightysplash.The leap caused amomentary and sudden removal of the strain on the rod.Oliver staggered, slipped,and fellwithayell that toldofanxietymore thanalarm;buthegotupsmartly,stillholdingonbybothhands.In fishing with the tapering rods and rattling reels of modern days, fishersneverbecomefullyawareofthestrengthofsalmon,unless,indeed,ahitchintheirlineoccurs,andeverythingsnaps!Itwasotherwiseaboutthebeginningofthesixteenthcentury.Itisotherwisestillwithprimitivefisherseverywhere.Oliver’slinecouldnotrun;hisrodwasrigid,saveatthepoint.Theresultwasthat itwasallhecoulddotostandandholdontohiscaptive.Therod,bentdown into thewater, sprangup to theperpendicular, flewhither and thither,jerked and quivered, causing the poor boy to jerk and quiver in irresistiblesympathy.Atlastamightyrushofthefishdrewthefisherheadlongintotheflood.“He’llbedrownedorkilledonthebouldersbelow,”gaspedhisfather,runningwildlydownthebankoftheriver.“Don’t fear,” saidHendrick, as he ran beside him. “There is a shallow justabovetheboulders.Wewillstophimthere.”Paul Burns was already abreast of the shallow in question, and Oliver wasstrandedon it, but a deep rapid stream ranbetween it and the bank, so thatPaulhesitatedandlookedeagerlyaboutforthebestspottocross.“Followme,”criedHendrick,“Iknowtheford.”

He led his comrade swiftly to a pointwhere the riverwidened and becameshallow, enabling them to wade to the tail of the bank at the top of whichOliverstoodengagedinadoublestrugglewiththewaterthathissedandleapedaround him, and the fish that still surgedwildly about in its vain efforts toescape.Asthethreemenwadednearertohimtheygotintoshallowerwater,andthenperceived that the boy had not lost his self-possession, but was still tightlygraspingthebuttofhisrod.Justastheycameupthesalmon,initsblindterror,ran straight against the boy’s legs. Olly fell upon it, let go the rod, andembraced it!Happily,his friends reachedhimat themoment, else thewaterthatrushedoverhisheadwouldhavecompelledhimtoletgoordie!Paulliftedhimup.Thegreatfishstruggledinitscaptor’sarms.Itwasslipperyasaneel,anditsstrengthtremendous.Nodiggingofhistennailsintoitwasofany use. Slowly but surely it was wriggling out of his tight embrace whenHendrick inserted his great thumbs into its gills, and grasped it round thethroat.“Letgo,Oliver,”hesaid,“I’vegothimsafe.”ButOllywould not let go. Indeed, in the state of hismind and body at themomentitisprobablethathecouldnotletgo.His father, having made some ineffectual attempts to clear the line, withwhich,andtherod,theyhadgotcompletelyentangled,wasobligedto“standby”andseethattheentanglementbecamenoworse.Thus,holdingoneachtotheotherandalltogether,theystaggeredslowlyandsafelytolandwiththeirbeautifulprize.“Are theremanyfish like that in theserivers?”askedPaul,as theyallstoodcontemplatingthesalmon,andrecoveringbreath.“Ay,thousandsoftheminall therivers,andtheriversarenumeroussomeofthemlarge,”repliedHendrick.“Thiswill be a great country some day, you takemyword for it,” said thecaptain,inadogmaticmanner,whichwaspeculiartohimwhenheattemptedamateurprophecy.That prophecy, however, like many other prophecies, has been only partlyfulfilled.Ithascometrue,indeed,thatNewfoundlandnowpossessesthemostvaluable cod-fishery in the world, and that her exports of salmon areconsiderable, but as to her being a great countrywell, that still remainsunfulfilledprophecy;for,owingtonofaultofherpeople,but to theevilsof

monopoly and selfishness, as we have already said, her career has beenseverelychecked.NotmanydaysafterthecatchingofthesalmonwhichremainedamemorablepointinthecareerofOliverTrenchtheexplorerswereledbyHendricktotheshoresofamagnificent lake. Itwasso large that thecaptainat firstdoubtedwhetheritwasnotthegreatoceanitself.“It isnot the sea,” said theirguide, ashe surveyed thewatery expansewithevidententhusiasm.“It isa lakefull fiftymiles long,yet it isnot the largestlake in this island.Taste itswaters andyouwill find themsweet.Here,”headded,withalookofgratification,“ismyhome.”“Godhasgivenyouawidedomain,” saidPaul,gazingwithpleasureon theverdantisletswithwhichthebaybeforehimwasstudded.“YetIcannothelpthinking that it is a waste of one’s life to spend it in a solitude, howeverbeautiful,whenthesorrowingandthesufferingworldarounduscallsfortheactiveenergiesofallgoodmen.”ThehunterseemedtoponderPaul’swords.“Itappearstome,”hesaidatlast,“thatourCreatormeantustoserveHimbymakingourselvesandthosearoundushappy.Ihavetodosohere,andinsomedegreehavesucceeded.”Ashespokeheraisedbothhandstohismouthandgaveventtoaprolongedhalloothatsweptoutoverthecalmwatersofthebay.It was quickly replied to by a shrill cry, and in a few minutes a canoe,emergingfromoneoftheislets,wasseenpaddlingswiftlytowardsthem.

ChapterElevenTheHunter’sHome

Thecanoe,whichapproachedtheshoresofthelakewhereourexplorersstood,wasa largeone,builtafter the fashionof thecoracleof theancientBritons,namely,withaframeofwicker-workcoveredwithdeerskin.Itwaspropelledwithpaddlesbyawomanseatedinthesternandalittlegirlinthebow.“My wife is a woman of forethought,” remarked Hendrick, with a pleasedexpression. “Seeing thatwe are a large party, she has not only brought ourlargestcanoe,buthasmadeOscargetoutthesmallone.”He pointed to the island, from a creek in which a little canoe of a reddishcolourwasseen to issue. Itwasmadeofbirch-bark,andwaspropelledbya

smallboy,whoseemedfromhisexertionstobeinurgenthastetoovertaketheothercraft.“Yourson,Isuppose?”saidPaul.“Yes, my eldest. His younger brother is but a babe yet. These, with mydaughter Goodred, and my wife Trueheart, who are now approaching,constitutethefamilywhichGodhasgiventome.”AfeelingofsatisfactionfilledtheheartofPaulBurnsashelistenedtothelastwords,fortheyprovedthattheirnewfriendwasnotamongthosewhodeemitweakness or hypocrisy in men to openly acknowledge their Maker as theGiverofallthattheypossess.Thisfeelingwasmergedinoneofsurprisewhenthe canoe touched the shore, and an exceedingly pretty child, with faircomplexion, blue eyes, and curling hair, stepped lightly out, and ran to herfather,whostoopedtokissheronthecheek.Hendrickwasnotdemonstrative,thatwasevident;neitherwashiswife,norhischild.Whateverdepthoffeelingtheypossessed,thesurfaceransmooth.Yettherewasanairofquietgladnessabout themeetingwhich enabledPaul to understandwhat the huntermeantwhen,inaformerconversation,hehadsaidthathe“madethosearoundhimhappy.”“Isbabywell?”heaskedquickly.“Yes, father, quitewell, and I very surewishingmuch that you comehomesoon.Youbeenlongtimeaway.”“Longer thanIexpected,Goodred.AndIhavebrought friendswithme,”headded, turning to his wife. “Friends whom I have found in the forest,Trueheart.”“You friendsbewelcome,” saidTrueheart,with amodest yet self-possessedair.The woman, who advanced and held out a small hand to be shaken inEuropean fashion, was obviously of Indian extraction, yet her brown hair,refined cast of features, and easy manner, showed as obviously thecharacteristicsofherwhitefather.Thoughnotnearlysofairasherchild,shewasstillfarremovedfromthedeepcolourofhermother’srace.Beforemorecouldbesaidoneithersidetheenthusiasticyoungsterinthebarkcanoeleapedashore,burstintothemidstofthegroupwithacheer,andbeganwildlytoembraceoneofhisfather’shugelegs,whichwasaboutasmuchofhispersonashecouldconvenientlygrasp.HewasaminiatureHendrick,cladinleatherfromtoptotoe.

Thewholepartynowenteredthecanoes,skimmedoverthelake,andpastthewoodedislets,towardstheparticularislandwhichthehuntercalled“home.”Itwasasromanticaspotasonecoulddesireforaresidence.Thoughonlyaquarterofamileorsoindiameter,theisland,whichwascomposedofgranite,was wonderfully diversified in form and character. There was a little covewhichformedaharbour for thehunter’scanoes;bordering itwasapatchofopengroundbackedbyshrubs,abovewhichroseaminiatureprecipice.Theground in the centre of the isle was ruggedas the captain remarked, quitemountainous in a smallway!Hendrick had taught his children to call it themountain,andinthemidstofitsminiaturefastnesseshehadarrangedasortofcitadel,towhichheandhisfamilycouldretireincaseofattackfromsavages.Onepeakofthismountainetteroseinnakedgrandeurtoaheightofaboutfiftyfeetabovethelake.Elsewheretheisletwaswoodedtothewater’sedgewithspruce andbirch-trees, in someplaces fringedwithwillows.Ona fewopenpatchesweremultitudesofripeberries,whichhereandthereseemedliterallytocoverthegroundwithacarpetofbrightred.Ontheopenground,orlawn,besidethecove,stoodthehunter’shut,asmallstructureofroundedlogs,withadoor,oneithersideofwhichwasawindow.Fromthoseglasslesswindowstherewasaviewof lakeandislesanddistantwoods,withpurplemountainsbeyond,whichformedasceneofindescribablebeauty.Closetothedoor,forming,asitwere,aporchtoit,therestoodasemi-circular erection of poles coveredwith birch-bark and deerskins, in front ofwhichblazedthehouseholdfire,withatripodoverit,andabubblingearthenpot hanging therefrom. Around the inner side of the fire, under the semi-circulartent,werespreadanumberofdeerskinstoserveascouches.OnoneofthesesatanIndianwoman,withthefamilybabeinherarms.Itwasawonderfulbabe!andobviouslyawiseone,foritknewitsownfatherdirectly,stretchedout its littlearms,andshoutedfor instantrecognition.Norhad it to shout long, for Hendrick, being fond of it and regardless ofappearances,seizeditinhisarmsandsmothereditinhisbeard,outofwhichretreatcrowsandsquallsofsatisfactionthereafterissued.“Excuseme,friends,”saidHendrickatlast,deliveringthechildtoitsmother.“Ihavebeenabsentonavisittomywife’srelations,andhavenotseenlittleIanforalongtime.Sitdown,andwewillseewhatcheerthepotcontains.Idon’t ask you to enter the hut, because while the weather is mild it ispleasanteroutside.Whenwintercomeswemakemoreuseof thehouse.Mywife,yousee,doesnotlikeit,havingbeenaccustomedtotentsallherlife.”“ButmeIlikesitwhenthesnowfall,”saidTrueheart,lookingupwithabright

smilefromthepot,intowhichshehadpreviouslybeenmakinginvestigations.“Truetrue. I thinkyou likewhatever I like;at leastyou try to!” returned thehunter,ashesatdownandbegantotiethefeathersontheheadofanarrow.“Youeventrytospeakgoodgrammarformysake!”Trueheartlaughedandcontinuedherculinaryduties.“Youtolduswhenwefirstmet,”saidCaptainTrench,whohadmadehimselfcomfortableonadeerskinbesidethebaby,“thatyouhadtakenspecialmeansnot to forget your native tongue. Do I guess rightly in supposing that theteachingofittoyourwifeandchildrenwasthemeans?”“Youareright,captain.Ofcourse,thelanguageoftheMicmacIndiansismorefamiliar and agreeable to Trueheart, but she is obstinate, though a goodcreatureonthewhole,andinsistsonspeakingEnglish,asyouhear.”Another little laugh in the vicinity of the earthen pot showed that his wifeappreciatedtheremark.MeanwhileGoodredbusiedherselfinpreparingvenisonsteaksoverthesamefire,andOscarundertooktoroastmarrowbonesforthewholeparty,aswellastoinstructOliverTrenchinthatdelicateoperation.Whiletheywerethusengagedtheshadesofeveninggraduallydescendedonthescene,butthatdidnotinterferewiththeirenjoyment,forbyheapingfreshresinouslogsonthefiretheyproducedaruddylight,whichseemedscarcelyinferiortothatofday;alightwhichglowedontheprettyandpleasantfeaturesof the wife and daughter as they moved about placing plates of birch-barkbefore the guests, and ladling soup and viands into trenchers of the same.Savoury smells floatedon the air, andgradually expelled the scent of shrubandflowerfromthebanqueting-hall.Truly,itwasarightroyalbanquet;fitforakingifnottooparticularakingtosay nothing of its being spread before one who was monarch of all hesurveyed,andservedbyhisqueenandprincess!Therewas,firstofall,soupofexcellentquality.Thenfollowedboiledsalmonandroastsea-trout.Nextcameacourseofboiledvenison,fatandjuicy,withan alternativeof steaks andgrilled ribs.Thiswas followedbywhatmaybestyledahaunchofbeaver,accompaniedbytheanimal’stailaprimedelicacyinregardtowhichCaptainTrench,withhismouthfullofit,said“Thisisexcellenteatin’,MasterHendrick.WhatmayitbeifImaypresumetoask?”

“Beaver’stail,”repliedthehunter.“Dearme!” exclaimedOlly,withdrawing a roast rib fromhismouth for thepurposeofspeech;“beaversseemtohavewonderfullybroadandflattails.”“Theyhave,Oliver,and ifyouwill tryabityouwill find that their tailsarewonderfullygood.”Oliver tried, and admitted that itwas good; then, observing that littleOscarhadjustfinishedhisfourthvenisonsteak,hepolitelyhandedhimthetrencher.Thegreasy-fingeredboygravelyhelpedhimselftonumberfive,andassaileditasifhehadonlyjustbeguntoterminatealongfast.Therewerenovegetablesatthatfeast,andinsteadofbreadtheyhadcakesofharddeer’s-fat,withscrapsofsuettoastedbrownintermixedaspeciesofplum-cake,whichwas greatly relished by the visitors.At the last,when repletionseemedimminent,theyfinishedoffwithmarrowbones.Withthesetheytrifledfaronintothenight.Ofcourseasthedemandsofappetiteabatedtheflowofsoulbegan.“I see neither nets, hooks, nor lines about the camp, Hendrick,” said PaulBurns,afterthequeenandprincesshadretiredintothehutforthenight.“Howdoyoumanagetocatchsalmon?”The hunter replied by pointing to a spear somewhat resembling Neptune’stridentwhichstoodagainstaneighbouringtree.“We spear them by torchlight,” he said. “Oscar is a pretty good hand at itnow.”“Youlivewell,MasterHendrick,”remarkedTrench,raisingabarkflagontohislipsandtossingoffapintofvenisonsoup,withthememoryofpotsofalestronguponhim.“Doyoueverhaveascarcityoffood?”“Never;forthecountry,asyouhaveseen,swarmswithgame.Wedrythefleshofdeer,otter,martens,andmusk-rats,andstoreitforwinter,andduringthatseasonwehavewillow-grouseandrabbitsforfreshmeat.Besides,inautumnwefreezebothfleshandfish,andthuskeepitfreshtillspring,atwhichtimethewildfowlreturntous.Theskinsandfursofthesecreaturesfurnishuswithplenty of clothingin fact, more than we can use. The question sometimescomes intomymind,Whydid theGreatFatherprovide suchabundance fortheuseofmanwithoutsendingmentouseit?forthefewMicmacswhodwellinthelandarebutasadropintheocean,andtheytotallyneglectsomethings,whiletheywasteothers.Ihaveseenthemslaughterthousandsofdeermerelyforthesakeoftheirtonguesandothertit-bits.”

“There ismuchofmysteryconnectedwith that,MasterHendrick,whichwecannotclearup,”remarkedTrench.“Mystery there is, no doubt,” said Paul quickly. “Yet there are some thingsaboutitthatareplainenoughtothosewhochoosetolook.TheWordofGod(which,bytheway,isbeginningtobecirculatednowamongusinEnglandinourmothertongue),thatWordtellsmanplainlytogoforthandreplenishtheearth.Commonsense,fromthebeginningoftime,hastoldusthesamething,butwhat doesman do?He sticks to several small patches of the earth, andthere he trades, and works, and builds, and propagates, until these patchesswarm like ant-hills, and then hewars, and fights, and kills off the surpluspopulation;inotherwords,slaystheyoungmenoftheworldandsowsmisery,debt and desolation broadcast. In fact,man seems tome to bemad.Ratherthan obey God and the dictates of common sense, he will leave the fairestportionsoftheworlduntenanted,andwastehislifeandenergiesintoilingforacrustofbreadorfightingforafootofland!”“Some such thoughts have passed through my mind,” said Hendrickthoughtfully,“whenIhaverememberedthatmyancestors,asIhavetoldyou,discoveredthisland,aswellasthatwhichliestothewestandsouthofit,longbeforethisColumbusyouspeakofwasborn.Butsurelywemaynowexpectthat with all our modern appliances and knowledge, the earth will soon beoverrunandpeopled.”“Idon’tfeelverysanguineaboutit,”saidPaul,withapropheticshakeofthehead.ThatPaulwasjustifiedinhisdoubtsmustbeobvioustoeveryreaderwhoisawareofthefactthatinthepresentyearofgrace(1889)therearemillionsoftheworld’sfairandfertileacresstillleftuntenantedandalmostuntroddenbythefootofman.“It’smyopinion,”remarkedCaptainTrench,withablinkoftheeyes,inducedpossiblybywisdomandpartlybysleep,“thatyoutwoaretalkingnonsenseonasubjectwhichisquitebeyondthereachofman’sintellect.”“Itmaybe so,” repliedPaul,with a laughwhichmerged into a yawn, “andperhaps it would be wiser that we should go to rest. Olly and Oscar havealreadysetusagoodexample.Whatsayyou,Hendrick?”“Asyouplease,”answeredthepolitehunter.“Iamreadyeithertosleeportoconverse.”

“ThenIwillnot taxyourgood-nature.Wewillseekrepose.Butwhatofourfuture movements? My sleep will be sounder if I could lie down with theassurance that you will continue to be our guide into the fertile interior ofwhichyouhavesaidsomuch.”“Iwillgowithyou,”returnedHendrick,afterafewmoments’thought,“butImust ask you to spend a few days in my camp to rest yourselves, while Iprovidea supplyof freshmeatand fish formy family; for,willingandablethoughOscaristoprovideforthem,heisyettooyoungtohavethedutylaiduponhislittleshoulders.”This having been satisfactorily settled, the captain and Paul wrappedthemselvesindeerskinblankets,andlaydownwiththeirfeettothefire.Hendrick,havingheapedafreshsupplyoffuelontheembers,followedtheirexample,andthecampwassoonburiedinprofoundsilence.

ChapterTwelveASurprise,aFight,andaWarParty

Atthispointinourtalewemightprofitablyturnasideforalittletodilateupontheinterestingnottosayexcitingproceedingsofourexplorersandthehunter’sfamilyduring the fewdays spent in the islandhomeand itsneighbourhood,were it not that incidents of amore stirring and important nature claim ourattention.Wemight, if timeand spacepermitted, tellhow theyallwent fishing in thelakewithOliver’s cod-hooks,whichwere, of course, greatly superior to thebone-hookswhichHendrickhadbeenaccustomed tomanufacture;how theywent salmon-spearing by torchlight in a neighbouring stream, in whichoperation Oliver soon became as expert as his entertainers, and even moreenthusiastic, insomuch that he several times met what seemed to be hisordinary fatea ducking in the water; how, in consequence, he caught a badcold, aswell as fish, andwascompelled to lieupandbenursed for severaldays, during which time of forced inaction he learned to appreciate theexcellent nursing qualities of Trueheart and her daughter Goodred. He alsolearned to estimate at its true value the yelling power of the family baby,whosewillwasironandwhoselungswereleather,besidesbeinginflatedbythe fresh,wholesomeairof thegrandwilderness.Wemight tellof the shortbutthrillingexpeditionsundertakenbythemenandboysinpursuitofbears,otters, beaver, and deer, in which Hendrick displayed the certainty of hisdeadly aim, and Master Trench the uncertainty of his dreadful shooting,despite all his former “practice.” We might relate the interesting stories,

anecdotes, and narrativeswithwhich the explorers and the hunter sought tobeguile the pleasant periods that used to follow supper and precede repose,anddescribethetremendousenergyofPaulBurnsinspringingtotherescueoftheself-willedbabywhenitfell intothefire,andthecoolcourageofOliverTrenchinsuccouring thesamebabywhenit tumbled into thewater.All thiswemightdilateon,andagreatdealmoresuchasthegreatfriendshipstruckupbetweenOscarandOliver,andtheintenseinterestexpressedbyHendrickonfindingthathisfriendPaulpossessedamanuscriptcopyoftheGospelofJohn,and the frequent perusals of that Gospel over the camp-fire, and thediscussions that followed on the great subjects of man’s duty, the soul’sdestiny,andtheloveofGod,asshowninandbyJesusChristbutoverallthiswe must unwillingly draw a curtain and leave it to the courteous reader’simagination, while we pass on to subjects which bearmore directly on theissuesofourtale.Oneday,sometimeafterleavingHendrick’scamponthegreatlake,CaptainTrench and his son, with Paul Burns and the hunter, halted to rest on thesummit of a cliff from which they could obtain a magnificent view of thecountrylyingbeyond.Theyhadbythattimepassedovertherichgrasslandwithitspark-likeplains,its lakes and streams and belts of woodland, and had entered upon thatmountainousregionwhichliestowardsthesouthwesterlyportionoftheisland.“Hendrick,”saidPaul,ashegazedwithadmirationonthewildscenebeforehim,“Ihavenowseenenoughtoknowthatthislandismostsuitablefortheabodeofman.The soil is admirable; thewoodscontainmagnificent timber;fish, flesh, and fowl are plentiful; coal exists in, I should think, extensivefields, while there are indications in many places of great mineral wealth,especially copper. Besides this, the land, you tell me, is pierced byinnumerable bays, inlets, fords, and natural harbours; and, to crown all, theclimate,exceptonsomepartsofthecoast,isexceedinglygood.NowitseemstomethatthesefactsoughttobemadeknowninEngland,andthatourKingshouldnotonlytakepossession,butshouldsendoutcoloniststosettlealloverthisislandanddevelopitsresources.Ifpermitted,itwillbemyparttofinishthisexplorationandcarryhomethenews.”Hendrickdidnotreplyforafewminutes,thenafaintsighescapedhimashereplied“Nodoubtwhatyousayisjust,andIdoubtnotthattheseplainsandhillswillonedayresoundwiththeactivitiesofcivilisedlife:theploughwillobliteratethedeer-tracks, theaxewill lay lowtheforests,andthe lowingofcattleandthebarkofdogswillreplacethetrumpetingofthewild-gooseandthecryof

plover;butwhenthechangebeginstocome,Iwillstrikemytentandgotothegreatunknownlandsofthewest,forIcannotbeartheclatterandthestrifeofmen.”Paulwasabout toreply,whenanarrowwhizzed throughtheair,pierced thesleeveofhiscoat,scratchedhisleftarmslightlyasitpassed,andquiveredinatreebehindthem.Leaping up, each member of the party sprang for shelter behind aneighbouringtree.Atthesamemomenttherearoseaterriblecry,asofmenrushingtoattackeachother. The form of the ground prevented our travellers from seeing thecombatants,thoughthesoundoftheirstrifeprovedthemtobecloseathand.Suddenly Hendrick left the tree behind which he had taken shelter, and,runningtowardsaprecipitousbankorcliff,calledtohiscompanionstofollow.Theyobeyedatonce.“Ifear,”hesaid,asPaulranupalongsideofhim,“thatIknowthemeaningofthis. Someof the voices sound familiar tome.That arrowwas not, I think,dischargedatus.Weshallbewantedhere.MayIcountonyou?”“Youmay,”saidPaul.“Icannotdoubtthatyourcausemustbeajustone.”“I’mwithyou!”exclaimedMasterTrench,pluckingthehatchetfromhisson’sbeltaweaponthattheyoungstercouldwellspare,asthebludgeonandthebowwerestilllefttohim.Hendrickhadspokeninquick,sharptones,forhewasevidentlymuchexcited.Onreachingthecrestofarisinggroundhelookedcautiouslyoverit.“As I thought!” he said; “mywife’s relations are attacked by savages fromLabrador.Come,followme!”He ran swiftly round thebaseof the risingground,notgivinghis comradestimeeventoseethecombatantstowhomhereferred.Suddenly they came in full sight of perhaps themost terrible sight that ourfallenworldcanpresenttwobandsofarmedmen,madwithrage,engagedinthefiendishworkofbutcheringeachother.In the immediate foreground two powerful Indians were struggling each toplantashortspearintheother’sheart.One,whowasshorterthantheotherbutequallypowerful,wasmakingadesperateefforttowrenchhisrighthandfromhisfoe’sgrasp,andanotherfoewasonthepointofstabbingtheshortmanintheback,when thewhitemenappearedon the scene.Paul, thecaptain, and

Oliver,althoughreadywitharrowandbolthesitated,fortheyknewnotwhichtoregardasfoes,andwhichasfriends.Nosuchdifficulty,however,interferedwithHendrick,whosentanarrowintothebrainofthesavagewhomeanttostrike from behind. At the same instant the short warrior succeeded in hiseffort;hisspearflashedupwards,andthenextmomenthis tallenemyfell torisenomore.Hendrick,whoseemedtohavebeentransformedintoahumantiger,rushedtothe attackwith a shout andadisplayof fury that for amoment arrested thefight.TheshortIndian,whoselifehehadjustsaved,bestowedonhimandhiscompanionsonelookofsurprise,andjoinedhimintherush.CaptainTrench,whose combative tendencies were easily aroused, joined them with a roarwhichwassomewhatintensifiedbythefactthathewasstillalittleuncertainas towhichwas “the enemy.”Oliver relievedhis overcharged bosomby aninvoluntary shriekorhowl, that rosehighand shrill above the tumult, ashefollowedsuit,whirlinghisbludgeonwithsomedifficultyroundhishead.Thecombinedeffectofallthiswastostriketerrorintotheenemywho,turningshortround,fledprecipitately,andwerefollowedforaconsiderabledistancebysomeofthevictoriousIndians.On returning from the pursuit, Hendrick introduced the short Indian as hiswife’scousin,who,withapartyofhunters,hadbeenoutforasupplyoffreshmeatwhenattackedbytheLabradorsavages.“It is anold feud,” remarkedHendrick, ashe andPaul sat a little apart thatevening,whiletheircomradesassistedtheIndianstopreparesupper;“anoldfeud.Oh!warwar!Thereisnoplaceofrestfromit,Ifear,inthisworld.”Thehunter’stonewassosadthatPaullookedathiminquiringly.“Youaresurprised,”saidhiscompanion,“that I should long thus forescapefrom thewarring passions ofmen, but if you knewwhat reason I have forhatingwar, youwouldnotwonder.Listen!Manyyears ago IwentwithmywifeandchildtovisitakinsmanintheScottishHighlands.Ineedscarcelytellyouthatitwasnotmypresentwifeandchild.Shewasyoung,fair,faultlessinpersonanddisposition.Ourlittledaughterresembledherinallrespects.Therechanced to be a miserable feud existing between my relative and aneighbouring chief. It originated in some disputed boundary, and alwayssmouldered, like a subdued volcano, but occasionally broke forth in openwarfare.Atthetimeofmyvisitmykinsman,whowasabachelor,hadgonetotransactsomebusinessatatownnotfardistant,leavingamessageformetofollow him as he requiredmy assistance in some family arrangements, andmeanttoreturnhomethesamenight.Iwent,leavingmywifeandchildinthe

castle.Thatverynightmykinsman’sfoeknowingnothingofmyarrivalcameto the castle, took the small body of defenders by surprise, overcame them,andsettheplaceonfire.Fiendishandrevengefulthoughthemarauderswere,Ibelievetheywouldnotwantonlyhavemurderedthehelplessones,hadtheyknownoftheirbeingintheplace,buttheyknewitnotuntiltoolate.“Whenwe returned that night the castlewas a black smoking ruin, andmywifeandlittleonehadperished!CanyouwonderthatIfledfromthehorriblespot;thatIleftmynativelandforever;andthatIshudderattheverythoughtofstrife?”“Nay,brother,Iwondernot,”saidPaul,inasympathetictone;“butIfearthereisno regionon the faceof thisearthwhere the terriblewar-spirit,or, rather,war-fiend,isnotalive.”“Why,themanwhoselifeItookthisveryday,”resumedHendrick,clenchinghis right hand almost fiercely, “has doubtless left awoman at homewho isnowawidow,and itmaybechildren,whomIhave rendered fatherless!Norestnorestanywherefromthisconstantslayingofourfellow-men;yetIwasforced to do it to save the life of my wife’s kinsman! Oh! is there nodeliverance,nohopeforthispoorworld?”“Hendrick,”saidPaul,layinghishandimpressivelyonhisfriend’sarm,“thereisdeliverancethereishope.Seehere.”Hepulledout themanuscriptGospelashespoke,andturningoverthewell-thumbedleaves,readthewords“‘Jesus saith... A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love oneanother...Letnotyourheartbetroubled:yebelieveinGod,believealsoinme.InMyFather’shousearemanymansions.’Hendrick,thissameJesus,whoisImmanuel,Godwithus,hassaid,‘Comeuntome,allye that labourandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.’‘HimthatcomethuntomeIwillinnowisecastout.’Theselatterwordsarenothere,buttheyareinotherscriptureswhichIhaveoftenheardread.”“But how shall I know,” said the hunter earnestly, “that these words aretruethattheyarethewordsofGod?”ForsometimePaulmadenoreply,thensuddenly,tothesurpriseofhisfriend,helookedupwards,and,inalowvoice,said“O Holy Spirit of God, convince my friend that these words are Thine,inJesus’name!”

Then,turningtothehunter,hecontinued:“Come,letusexaminethiswritingtogether.”“Somethingof thishave Iheardbefore,” saidHendrick, “and, as I thirst forlightandtruth,Iwillgladlyexamineitwithyou.”NeedwesaythatthosetwoearnestmenweresoonengrossedinthestudyoftheWord,andthattheinterruptionoftheeveningmealdidnotpreventthemfromafterwardsporingover themanuscript far into thenightby the lightofthecamp-fire.Hendrickwaswellabletodoso,for,likePaul,hehadreceivedabettereducationthanfelltothelotofmostmeninthosedays.At first Captain Trench and his son had listened to the conversation anddiscussion of the students with much interest and the sturdy matter-of-factmarinerevenventured toputoneor twopuzzlingquestions to them;butbydegreestheirinterestflagged,andatlasttakingexamplebytheIndians,theyrolledthemselvesindeerskinrobesandsoughtrepose.Continuing their journeynextday, theywereabout topart from their Indianfriendsonthemountainridge,fromwhichaviewoftheWesternoceancouldbe obtained, when they observed a band of Indians in the far distancetravellingeastward.“Onthewar-path!”suggestedHendrick.AfteraprolongedgazethekinsmanofTrueheartcametothesameconclusion,andsaidhefeltsurethattheywerenotfromLabrador,butwereevidentlymenoftheIsland.“Canyouguesswhattheyaregoingtodo?”askedHendrick.TheIndianshookhisheadsolemnly.“No,hedidnotknowhecouldnotguess,andastheywereseparatedbysomemilesofvalleys,precipices,andmountaingorges,therewasnopossibilityoffindingout.”After some time spent in speculationandguessingas to the intentionof thewar party, our explorers, bidding farewell to their red friends, proceeded ontheir journey,while the latterdiverged to thesouthward,andcontinued theirhuntafterfreshmeat.IfPaulBurns andhis friends hadknown the purpose of thewarriorswhomthey had just seen, it is probable that they might not have slept quite assoundlyastheydidthatnightunderthegreenwoodtrees.

ChapterThirteen

Unlooked-forInterruptionsandDifficulties

Noelaboratedissertationisneededtoprovethatweareignorantofwhatthemorrowmaybring forth,and that thebest-laidplansofmenareatall timessubject to dislocation. It is sufficient here to state that immediately afterpartingfromtheIndians,PaulBurnsandCaptainTrenchhadtheirplansandhopes, in regard toexploration,overturned ina suddenandeffective thoughexceedinglysimplemanner.On the evening of the day onwhich their travelswere resumed they haltedsoonerthanusualinordertohavetimetoformtheircampwithsomecare,forthe weather had suddenly become cold, and that night seemed particularlythreatening.Accordinglytheyselectedaspotsurroundedbydensebushes,canopiedbythebranchesofawide-spreadingfir-tree,andbackedbyaprecipitouscliff,whichaffordedcompleteshelterfromasharpnor’-westgalethatwasblowingatthetime. In this calm retreat they erected a rough-and-readywall of birch-barkandbranches,whichenclosedthemonallsidesexceptone,whereagloriousfirewaskindleda fire thatwouldhave roastedanything froma tom-tit toanox,andtheroaringflamesofwhichhadtobeoccasionallysubduedlesttheyshouldroastthewholeencampment.There,saturated,sotospeak,withruddylightandwarmth,theyrevelledintheenjoyment of a hearty meal and social intercourse until the claims of tiredNature subdued Captain Trench and Oliver, leaving Paul and Hendrick toresume their eager and sometimes argumentative perusal of the GospelaccordingtoJohn.At last, theyalsosuccumbed to the irresistible influencesofNature,and laydownbesidetheirfellows.ThenitwasthatNatureasifshehadonlywaitedfortheopportunitybegantounfoldher“littlegame”foroverturningthesleepers’plans. She quietly opened her storehouse of northern clouds, and silentlydroppeduponthemaheavyshowerofsnow.It was early in the season for such a shower, consequently the flakes werelarge.Had the cold been excessive the flakeswould have been small.As itwas, they covered the landscape by imperceptible but rapid degrees untileverythingturnedfromghostlygreytoghastlywhite,whichhadtheeffectoflighting,somehow,thedarknessofthenight.Butinthemidstoftheeffectivethoughsilenttransformationthecampofourexplorers remained unchanged; and the dying embers of the slowly sinkingfirecontinuedtocasttheirdullredglowontherecumbentformswhichwerethoroughlyprotectedbythespreadingfir-tree.

By degrees the morning light began to flow over the dreary scene, and atlengthithadtheeffectofrousingOliverTrenchfromslumber.Withtheinnatelazinessofyouththeladturnedonhisotherside,andwasabouttosettledownto a further spell of sleepwhen he chanced towink. Thatwink sufficed toreveal something that induced anotherwink, then a stare, then a start into asitting posture, a rubbing of the eyes, an opening of the mouth, and asuccessionofexclamations,ofwhich“Oh!hallo!Isay!”and“Hi-i-i-i!”wereamongtheleastimpressive.Ofcourseeveryonestartedupandmadeasuddengraspatweapons,forthememoryoftherecentfightwasstillfresh.“Winter!”exclaimedPaulandthecaptain,inthesamebreath.“Notquitesobadasthat,”remarkedHendrick,ashesteppedoutintothesnowand began to look round him with an anxious expression; “but it may,nevertheless,putanendtoyourexplorationsifthesnowcontinues.”“Neverabiton’t,man!”exclaimed thecaptainpromptly. “What!d’ye thinkwearetobefrightenedbyasprinklingofsnow?”TothisHendrickrepliedonlywithagentlesmile,ashereturnedandsetaboutblowinguptheembersofthefirewhichwerestillsmouldering.“Thereismorethanasprinkling,MasterTrench,”observedPaul,ashebeganto overhaul the remnants of last night’s supper; “but I confess it would begreatlyagainstthegrainwerewetobebeatenatthispointinourtravels.Letushopethatthestormwon’tlast.”“Anyhowwecangoontillwecan’t,daddy,”saidOliver,withatremendousyawnandstretch.“Wellsaid,myson;asyouoncetrulyremarked,youareachipoftheancientlog.”“Justso,daddy.Don’tquitefinishthatmarrowbone;Iwantsomeofit.”“There,youyoungrascal,I leaveyouthelion’sshare,”returnedthecaptain,throwingtheboneinquestiontohisson.“Butnow,Hendrick,whatd’yereallythinko’thisstateofthings?Shallwebeforcedtogiveinan’’boutship?”“No one can tell,” answered the hunter. “If the snow stops and theweathergetswarm,allwillbewell.Ifnot,itwillbeuselesstocontinueourjourneyingtillwinterfairlysetsin,andthesnowbecomesdeep,andtheriversandlakesare frozen. In which case you must come and stay with me in my island

home.”“Youareverygood,Hendrick;butdon’tletustalkofgivin’uptillthemastsgo by the board. We will carry all sail till then,” said the captain, rathergloomily,forhefeltthatthehunterknewbest.ThisfirstsnowfalloccurredaboutthemiddleofOctober;therewas,therefore,some reasonable prospect that itmightmelt under an improved state of theweather, and there was also the possibility of the fall ceasing, and stillpermittingthemtoadvance.Under the impulseof hopederived from these considerations, they set forthoncemoretothewestward.The prospect in that direction, however, was not cheering. Mountainsucceeded mountain in irregular succession, rugged and bleakthe darkprecipicesandsombrepine-woodslookingblackerbycontrastwiththenewly-fallensnow.Someofthehillswerewoodedtotheirsummits;others,bristlingandcastellatedinoutline,affordednoholdtotherootsoftrees,andstoodoutinnakedsterility.Everywherethelandseemedtohaveputonitswintergarb,and all day, as they advanced, snow continued to fall at intervals, so thatwadingthroughitbecameanexhaustinglabour,andOliver’simmatureframebegantosuffer,thoughhisbravespiritforbadehimtocomplain.Thatnighttherecameanotherheavyfall,andwhentheyawokenextmorningitwasfoundthatthecountrywasburiedunderacarpetofsnowfullthreefeetdeep.“Doyouadmitnow,MasterTrench, that themastshavegonebytheboard,”askedPaul,“andthatitisimpossibletocarrysailanylonger?”“Iadmitnothing,”returnedthecaptaingrumpily.“That’s right, daddy, never give in!” cried Oliver; “but what has MasterHendrickgottosaytoit?”“Wemustturninourtracks!”saidthehuntergravely,“andmakeforhome.”“Home, indeed!”murmured the captain,whosemind naturally flew back tooldEngland. “Ifweare toget to any sort ofhomeat all, the soonerwe setaboutmakingsailforitthebetter.”Therewas something in the captain’s remark, aswell as in his tone,whichcausedaslightflushonHendrick’sbrow,butheletnoexpressionoffeelingescapehim.Heonlysaid

“Youareright,CaptainTrench.Wemustsetoffwiththeleastpossibledelay.WillyouandyoursonstartoffinadvancetogetsomethingfreshforbreakfastwhileMasterPaulandIremaintopackupandbringonourcampequipage?Hunters,youknow,shouldtravellightwewilldotheheavyworkforyou.”Thecaptainwassurprised,butrepliedatonce“Mostgladly,MasterHendrick,willIdoyourbidding;butaswedon’tknowwhatcoursetosteer,won’twebeapttogoastray?”“Thereisnofearof that,captain.Seeyouyonderbluffwiththebushonthetopofit?”“Whereaway,MasterHendrick?D’yemeantheonelyin’towind’ardo’thatcliffshapedlikethesideofaDutchgalliot?”“Thesame. It isnotmore thanaquarterofamileoffmakestraight for that.You’llbesure to fall inwithgameof somesortbetween thisand that.Waitthere till we come up, for we shall breakfast there. You can keep yourselfwarmbycuttingwoodandkindlingafire.”Ratherpleasedthanotherwisewiththislittlebitofpioneerworkthathadbeengivenhimtodo,Trenchsteppedboldlyintothesnow,carryinghiscross-bowin one hand, and the hatchet over his shoulder with the other. He wassurprised,indeed,tofindthatatthefirststepbeyondtheencampmenthesankconsiderably above the knees, but, beingwonderfully strong, he dashed thesnowasideandwassoonhidfromviewbyinterveningbushes.Oliver,bearinghisbowandbludgeon,followedsmartlyinhistrack.When they were gone Paul turned a look of inquiry on his companion.Hendrick returned the look with profound gravity, but there was a fainttwinkleinhiseyeswhichinducedPaultolaugh.“Whatmeanyoubythis?”heasked.“ImeanthatMasterTrenchwillbethebetterofalessonfromexperience.Hewillsoonreturnsooner,perhaps,thanyouexpect.”“Whysohow?Idon’tunderstand.”“Because,” returned the hunter, “it is next to impossible to travel over suchground indeepsnowwithoutsnow-shoes.Wemustmake these,whetherweadvance or retreat. Meanwhile you had better blow up the fire, and I willpreparebreakfast.”“Didyounottellthecaptainweweretobreakfastonthebluff?”

“Idid;butthecaptainwillneverreachthebluff.MethinksIhearhimreturningevennow!”Thehunterwasright.Aquarterofanhourhadbarelyelapsedwhenoursturdymarinerre-enteredtheencampment,blowinglikeagrampusandperspiringateverypore!Oliverwascloseathisheels,butnotnearlysomuchexhausted,forhehadnotbeenobligedto“beatthetrack.”“MasterHendrick,” gasped the captain,when he had recovered breath, “it’smyopinionthatwehaveonlycomeheretolaydownourbonesandgiveuptheghostay, and it’s no laughingbusiness;MasterPaul, asyou’ll findwhenyoutrytohaulyourlonglegsoutofaholethreefuttdeepateverystep.”“Threefuttdeep!”echoedOliver,“why,it’sfourfuttifit’saninchlookatme.I’vebeenwadin’uptothewaistallthetime!”Itneedscarcelybesaidthattheirmindsweremuchrelievedwhentheyweremadeacquaintedwiththetruestateofmatters,andthatbymeansofshoesthatcould be made by Hendrick, they would be enabled to traverse withcomparativeeasethesnow-cladwildernesswhichelsewereimpassable.But thiswork involved severaldays’delay in camp.Hendrick fashioned thelarge though lightwooden frameworkof the shoesfive feet longbyeighteeninchesbroadandOlivercutseveraldeerskinsintofinethreads,withwhich,anddeersinews,Paulandthecaptain,underdirection,filledinthenet-workoftheframeswhenready.“Canyougoafterdeeronsuchthings?”askedthecaptainonenightwhiletheywereallbusyoverthiswork.“Ay,wecanwalkthirtyorfortymilesadayoverdeepsnowwiththeseshoes,”answeredHendrick.“Where do the deer all come from?” asked Oliver, pausing in his work tosharpenhisknifeonastone.“If youmeanwhere did the reindeer come fromat first, I cannot tell,” saidHendrick. “Perhaps they came from the great unknown lands lying to thewestward.Butthoseinthisislandhavesettleddownhereforlife,apparentlylikemyself. I have hunted them in every part of the island, and know theirhabitswell.Theirmovementsareasregularastheseasons.Thewintermonthsthey pass in the south, where the snow is not so deep as to prevent theirscrapingitawayandgettingatthelichensonwhichtheyfeed.InspringaboutMarchtheyturntheirfacesnorthward,forthenthesnowbeginstobesoftened

bytheincreasedpowerofthesun,sothattheycangetattheherbagebeneath.Theymigrate to the north-west of the island in innumerable herds of fromtwenty to twohundredeachtheanimals followingoneanother in single file,andeachherdbeingledbyanoblestag.Thustheymoveinthousandstowardsthehillsof thewest andnor’-west,where theyarrive inApril.Here,on theplains and mountains, they browse on their favourite mossy food andmountainherbage; andhere theybring forth theiryoung inMayor June. InOctober,when the frostynightsset in, theyagain turnsouthwardandmarchback towinter-quartersover the same tracks,withwhich, asyouhave seen,thewholecountryisseamed.Thustheyproceedfromyeartoyear.Theymoveover the land in parallel lines, save where mountain passes oblige them toconverge, and at these points, I regret to say, my kinsmen! the BethuckIndians,lieinwaitandslaughterthemingreatnumbers,merelyforthesakeoftheirtonguesandothertit-bits.”“There isnocall for regret,MasterHendrick,” saidCaptainTrench.“Surelywhere thedeer are in suchnumbers, thekillingof a fewmoreor less don’tmattermuch.”“I think it wrong, captain, to slay God’s creatures wantonly,” returned thehunter.“Besides, if it iscontinued, I fear that thedescendantsof thepresentraceofmenwillsufferfromscarcityoffood.”ThatHendrick’sfearswerenotgroundlesshasbeenprovedinmanyregionsofthe earth,wherewanton destruction of game in former days has resulted ingreatscarcityorextinctionatthepresenttime.Inafewdaysapairofsnowshoesforeach travellerwascompleted,and theparty was prepared to set out with renewed vigour on their return to thehunter’shome.

ChapterFourteenTellsofaTremendousStormandaStrangeShelter,etcetera

Proverbial philosophy teaches us that misfortunes seldom come singly.Newfoundland, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, does not seem tohavebeenaplaceofrefugefromtheoperationofthatlaw.On themorning of the day inwhich the explorersmeant to commence thereturn journey,astormofunwontedrigourburstupon them,andsweptoverthe land with devastating violenceoverturning trees, snapping off mightylimbs, uplifting the new-fallen snow in greatmasses, and hurling it inwildconfusionintospace,so thatearthandskyseemedtocommingle inahorridchaos.

Thefirstintimationthetravellershadoftheimpendingstormwastherendingof a limb of the tree under which they reposed. The way in which OliverTrench received the rude awakening might, in other circumstances, haveraised a laugh, for he leaped up like a harlequin, with a glare of suddenamazement,and,plungingheadlongawayfromthethreateneddanger,buriedhimselfinthesnow.Fromthisheinstantlyemergedwithanaspectsimilartothat of “Father Christmas,”minus the good-natured serenity of that liberal-heartedpersonage.“Daddy!”hegasped,“areyouthere?”Thequestionwasnotuncalledfor,thecaptainhavingmadeaplungelikethatof his son, but unlike his son, having found it difficult to extricate himselfquickly.Paul andHendrickhadalso sprungup,but the latter, remainingclose to thestemofthetree,kepthiseyewatchfullyonthebranches.“Comeherequick!”hecried“thestemisoursafeguard.Lookout!”As he spoke his voice was drowned in a crash which mingled with theshrieking blast, and a great branch fell to the ground. Fortunately thewindblewitsufficientlytoonesidetoclearthecamp.Theairwassochargedwithsnowparticles that thecaptainandhis sonseemed to staggeroutofawhitemistastheyreturnedtotheircomradeswhowereclingingtotheweather-sideofthetree.“D’ye think it will go by the board?” asked the captain, as he observedHendrick’sanxiousgazefixedontheswayingtree.“Itisagoodstoutstick,”repliedhisfriend,“buttheblastispowerful.”Thecaptainlookedupatthethickstemwithadoubtfulexpression,andthenturnedtoHendrickwithanauticalshakeofthehead.“Ineversawastick,”hesaid,“thatwouldstandthelikeo’thatwithoutforean’backstays,butitmaybethatshoregoin’sticksare”He stopped abruptly, for a terrific crash almost stunned him, as the tree bywhichtheystoodwentdown,tearingitswaythroughtheadjacentbranchesinitsfall,andcausingthewholepartytostagger.“Keep still!” shoutedHendrick in a voice of stern command, as he glancedcriticallyatthefallentree.

“Yes,”headded,“itwilldo.Comehere.”He scrambled quickly among the crushed branches until he stood directlyunder the prostrate stem, which was supported by its roots and stouterbranches.“Here,”saidhe,“wearesafe.”Hiscomradesglancedupwardswithuneasyexpressionsthatshowedtheydidnotquitesharehisfeelingsofsafety.“Seems to me, Master Hendrick,” roared the captain, for the noise of thehurly-burlyaroundwastremendous,“thatitwassaferwherewewere.Whatifthestemshouldsinkfurtherandflattenus?”“Aslongaswestoodtowindwardofit”repliedHendrick,“weweresafefromthe tree itself, though in danger from surrounding trees, but now, with thisgreat trunkaboveus,other treescandousnoharm.Asfor thestemsinkinglower, itcan’tdo thatuntil thissolidbranch that supports itbecomes rotten.Comenow,”headded,“wewillencamphere.Givemetheaxe,Oliver,andthethreeofyouhelptocarryawaythebranchesasIchopthemoff.”Inlittlemorethananhouracircularspacewasclearedofsnowandbranches,and a hut was thus formed, with the great tree-stem for a ridge-pole, andinnumerablebranches,greatandsmall,servingatonceforwallsandsupports.Having rescued their newlymade snow-shoes and brought them,with theirotherproperty,intothisplaceofrefuge,theysatorreclinedontheirdeerskinstoawait theendof thestorm.Thiseventdidnot,however, seemtobenear.Hourafterhour theysat,scarcelyable toconversebecauseof thenoise,andquite unable to kindle a fire. Towards evening, however, the wind veeredround a little, and a hill close to their camp sheltered them from its directforce.At thesame time,aneddy in thegalepiledup thesnowon thefallentreetillitalmostburiedthem;convertingtheirrefugeintoasortofsnow-hut,withabranchyframeworkinside.Thischangealsopermittedthemtolightasmallfireandcooksomevenison,sothat theymadeasuddenboundfromastate of great discomfort anddepression to oneof considerable comfort andhilarity.“Awonderfulchange,”observedTrench, lookingroundthenowruddywallsof their curious dwelling with great satisfaction. “About the quickest builthouseonrecord,Ishouldthinkandthestrongest.”“Yes,daddy,andbuiltundertheworstofcircumstancestoo.Whatpuzzlesmeisthatsuchatreeshouldhavegivenwayatall.”“Don’tyousee,Olly,”saidPaul,“thatsomeofitsrootsarehollow,rottenatthecore?”

“Ah!boysamewithmenastrees,”remarkedthecaptain,moralising.“Rottenatthecoresuretocomedown,soonerorlater.Laythattoheart,Olly.”“IfeverIdocomedown,daddy,Ihopeitwon’tbewithsomuchnoise.Why,itwentofflikeacannon.”“Acannon!”echoedthecaptain.“Morelikeasifthemain-masto’theworldhadgonebytheboard!”“Whatifthegaleshouldlastaweek?”askedOlly.“Thenweshallhavetostayhereaweek,”returnedHendrick;“butthere’snofearofthat.Thefiercerthegalethesoonerthecalm.Itwon’tdelayuslong.”Thehunterwasright.Thedayfollowingfoundthepartyenroute,withaclearsky,brightsun,andsharpcalmair.Buttheartofsnow-shoewalking,thougheasyenough,isnotlearnedinanhour.“They’reclumsythingstolookatmorelikesmallboatsflattenedthananythingelse,” remarked the captain, when Hendrick had fastened the strange butindispensable instruments onhis feetas he had already fastened those of theothertwo.“Now look atme,” saidHendrick. “I’ll take a turn round of a few hundredyardstoshowyouhow.Thechiefthingyouhavetoguardagainstistreadingwithoneshoeontheedgeoftheother,atthesametimeyoumustnotstraddle.Justpasstheinneredgeofoneshoeovertheinneredgeoftheother,andwalkverymuchasifyouhadnosnow-shoesonatallso.”Hesteppedoffataroundpace,thebroadandlongshoeskeepinghimsowellonthesurfaceofthesnowthathesankonlyafewinches.“Why,itseemsquiteeasy,”observedthecaptain.“Remarkablyso,”saidPaul.“Anybodycandothat,”criedOliver.“Nowthen,upanchorheregoes!”saidthecaptain.Hesteppedoutvaliantly;tookthefirstfivepaceslikeatrainedwalker;trippedat the sixth step, andwent headlong down at the seventh,with such awildplunge thathisanxiousson, runninghastily tohisaid,summarilysharedhisfate.Paulburstintoanuncontrollablefitoflaughter,losthisbalance,andwentdownasthecaptainsaidsternforemost!

It was a perplexing commencement, but the ice having been broken, theymanagedinthecourseofafewhourstoadvancewithonlyanoccasionalfall,and,beforethenextdayhadclosed,walkedalmostaseasilyastheirguide.Thiswassofarsatisfactory.Ourthreetravellerswerequitecharmedwiththeirproficiency in thenewmodeofprogression,whena sudden thawset inanddamped not only their spirits but their shoes. The netting and lines becameflabby. The moccasins, with which Hendrick had supplied them from thebundlehecarriedforhisownuse,werereducedtosomethingofthenatureoftripe. The damp snow, which when rendered powdery by frost had fallenthroughthenet-workoftheshoes,nowfelluponitinsoftheapsandremainedthere, increasing theweightsomuchas towrench jointsandstrainmuscles,while the higher temperature rendered exertion fatiguing and clothingunbearable.“IwonderhowlongIcanstandthiswithoutmylegscomingoff,”saidpoorOliver,givingwayatlasttoafeelingofdespair.“Seems tome to get hotter and hotter,” growled his father, as hewiped theperspiration from his face with the tail of his coathaving lost the solitaryhandkerchiefwithwhichhehadlanded.“I’mgladthethawissocomplete,”saidHendrick,“foritmayperhapsclearawaythesnowaltogether.Itistooearlyforwintertobegininearnest.Iwouldsuggestnowthatweencampagainforafewdays,toseewhethertheweatherisreallygoingtochange;huntalittle,andrestawhile.Whatsayyou?”With a sigh of contentment the captain answered, “Amen!” Paul said,“Agreed!”andOliver cried, “Hurrah!”at the same time throwinghis cap intheair.Two days after that theywere enabled to continue the journey on snowlessground,withtheunwieldyshoesslungattheirbacks.The change, although decidedly an improvement was not perfect, for theground had been made soft, the rivers and rills had been swollen, and theconditionsaltogetherwere renderedmuch less agreeable than theyhadbeenon the outward journey. The travellers enjoyed themselves greatly,notwithstanding, and the captain addedmany important jottings in what hestyledthelog-bookofhismemoryastobearingsofsalientpoints,distances,etcetera, while Paul took notes of the fauna and flora, soils, products, andgeologicalfeaturesofthecountry,onthesameconvenienttablets.“Therecanbenodoubtaboutit,”saidthelatteronemorning,ashesurveyedthecountryaroundhim.

“Nodoubtaboutwhat?”askedthecaptain.“About thesuitablenessof thisgreat islandfor theabodeofman,”answeredPaul; and then, continuing to speak with enthusiasm, “the indication ofmineralsisundoubted.Seeyouthatserpentinedepositmingledwithavarietyofother rocks,varying incolour fromdarkestgreen toyellow,andfromthetranslucent to the almost transparent?Wherever that is seen, therewe havegoodreasontobelievethatcopperorewillbefound.”“Ifso,”observedHendrick,“muchcopperorewillbefoundonthesea-coast,onthenorthsideoftheisland,forIhaveseenthesamerocksinmanyplacesthere.”“Butthereareindicationsofothermetals,”continuedPaul,“whichIperceive;thoughmyacquaintancewithgeologicalscienceisunfortunatelynotsufficienttomakemecertain, still, I think I can see that,besidescopper,nickel, lead,and ironmaybedugfromtheminesofNewfoundland; indeed, Ishouldnotwonderifsilverandgoldwerealsotobefound.Oftheexistenceofcoal-bedstherecanbenodoubt,thoughwhattheirextentmaybeIcannotguess;butofthisIamcertain,thatthedaycannotbefardistantwhenthemineralandforestwealthofthislandshallbedevelopedbyalargeandthrivingpopulation.”“Itmaybeasyousay,Paul,”remarkedCaptainTrench,withadubiousshakeofthehead;“butifyouhadlivedaslongasIhave,andseenasmuchoftheworld and its ways, you wouldn’t be quite so sanguine about the thrivingpopulationorthespeedydevelopment.Yousee,hitchesareapttooccurintheaffairsofmenwhichcausewonderfuldelays,andtanglementscomeaboutthattakeyearstounravel.”IfCaptainTrenchhadbeenaprofessionalprophethecouldhardlyhavehitthenailmorefairlyonthehead,forheindicatedexactlywhatbadgovernmenthasactuallydone forNewfoundlandonlyhemighthavesaidcenturies insteadofyearsforitsinternalresources,evenatthepresenttime,remaintoaverygreatextentundeveloped.However,notbeingaprofessionalprophet,butmerelyanancientmariner, thecaptainwounduphis remarkwitha recommendation tohoistall sailand lay theircourse,as therewasnosayinghow long themildweatherwouldlast.Forseveraldaysafterthistheyploddedsteadilyonward,sometimesoverthemountainsoracrossthegrassyplains,wheremigratingreindeersuppliedthemwith abundant venison; at other times among lakelets and streams, whoseexcellent fish and innumerablewildfowl provided themwith variety for thetable and music for the ear. Now and then they saw the great moose-deer,

which rivals the horse in size, and onceHendrick shot one, at a timewhentheychancedtohaveconsumedtheirlastcaribousteak,andhappenedtoenteragreat forestwithoutanything for supper in theirwallets.For,occasionally,circumstancesmayrendermensupperlessevenwhensurroundedbyplenty.Atlasttheyreachedthegreatlake,withitsbeautifulislands,whereHendrickhadsetuphishome.Thehunterbecameverysilentastheydrewneartoitsshores.“Youseemanxious,”remarkedPaul,astheyapproachedthelake.“Haveyoureasontofearaught?”“Nonenone,” replied his friend quickly; “but I never return after a longabsencewithoutfeelinganxious.”A loud halloo soon brought the echoing answer in the shrill voice of littleOscar,whosecanoequicklyshotoutfromthecreek.Itwasspeedilyfollowedby the deerskin boat, and, when near enough to be heard, the reply toHendrick’sanxiousinquirywasthegratifyingassurance“All’swell!”

ChapterFifteenGrummidgeassertshimselfGreatDiscoveriesaremadeandtheCrewflits.WemustturnasidenowforatimetoinquireintothedoingsofthecrewoftheWaterWagtail,whomwe left on the little islandoff the eastern seaboardofNewfoundland.Atfirst,whenthediscoverywasmadethatthecaptain,Paul,andOliver had been put ashore and left to take care of themselveswithoutweaponsorsupplies, therewasadispositiononthepartofthebettermenofthecrewtoapplywhatwenowstyleLynchlawtoBigSwinton,DavidGarnet,andFredTaylor.“Let’shang’em,”suggestedGrummidge,atameetingofthemenwhen the culprits were not present. “Sure an’ I’ll howld the rope widpleasure,”saidSquill.“An’I’llhelpye,”criedLittleStubbs.But JimHeron shookhis head, anddid not quite see hisway to that,whileGeorge Blazer protested against such violent proceedings altogether. As hewasbackedupbythemajorityofthecrew,theproposalwasnegatived.“Butwhatarewetodo,boys?”criedGrummidgevehemently.“Arewegoin’tobedomineeredoverbySwinton?Why,everymanhetakesadisliketo,he’llsneakintohistentwhenhe’sasleep,makehimfast,heavehimintotheboat,pull tothebigisland,landhimthere,andbidhimgood-bye.Therewon’tbeoneofussafewhileheprowlsaboutan’gitshelpfromthreeorfourrascalsasbadashimself.”

“Ay, that’s it, boys,” saidLittleStubbs; “itwon’tbe safe to trusthim.Hanghim,sayI.”Stubbswasaveryemphaticlittleman,buthisemphasisonlyrousedtheideaof drollery in theminds of thosewhomhe addressed, and rather influencedthemtowardsleniency.“No,no,”criedthefirstmateoftheWaterWagtailwho,sincethewreck,hadseldomventuredtoraisehisvoiceincouncil;“Iwouldadviseratherthatweshouldgivehimathrashing,andteachhimthatwerefusetoobeyorrecogniseaself-constitutedcommander.”“Ah, sure now, that’s a raisonable plan,” said Squill with something ofsarcasm inhis tone; “an’ if Imightmake sobowld I’d suggist thatyoursilf,sor,shudgivehimthethrashin’.”“Nay,Iamfarfrombeingthestrongestmanofthecrew.Theonethatisbestableshoulddothejob.”ThematelookedpointedlyatGrummidgeashespoke;butGrummidge,beingamodestman,pretendednottoseehim.“Yes,yes,you’reright,sir,Grummidgeistheveryman,”criedStubbs.“Hear, hear,” chorused several of the others. “Come, old boy, you’ll do it,won’tyou?andwe’llallpromisetobackyouup.”“Well, look ’eehere, lads,” saidGrummidge,who seemed tohave suddenlymadeuphismind,“thismanhasbinquarrellin’wi’me,offan’on,sincethebeginningofthevoyage,whetherIwouldornot,soitmaybeaswelltosettlethematternowasatanothertime.I’lldothejobononeconsideration.”“What’sthat?”criedseveralmen.“Thatyoupromises,onyourhonour(thoughnoneo’you’sgotmucho’that),thatwhenI’vedonethejobyouagreetomakemecaptainofthecrew.It’samoral impossibility,d’eesee,forpeopletogitalongwithouta leader,soifIagreetoleadyouinthis,youmustagreetofollowmeineverythingisitso?”“Agreed, agreed!” chorused his friends, only too glad that one of thephysicallystrongestamongthemalsooneofthebest-humouredshouldstanduptostemthetideofanarchywhichtheyallclearlysawwasrisingamongthem.“Well, then,” resumedGrummidge, “I see Swintonwith his three friends a-comin’.I’llexpectyoutostandbyan’seefairplay,forhe’srathertooreadywi’hisknife.”

While he spoke the comrade in question was seen approaching, with FredTaylor andDavidGarnet, carrying a quantity of cod-fish that had just beencaught.“You’ve been holding ameeting, comrades, I think,” said Swinton, lookingsomewhatsuspiciouslyatthegroupofmen,ashecameupandflungdownhisload.“Yes, we have,” said Grummidge, advancing, hands in pockets, and with apeculiarnauticalrollwhichdistinguishedhim.“You’reright,BigSwinton,wehavebinhavin’ameetin’,asortoftrial,sotospeak,an’asyouarethemanwhat’s bin tried, itmay interest you to knowwhat sentence has bin passeduponyou.”“Ohindeed!”returnedSwinton,withalookofcoolinsolencewhichheknewwellhowtoassume,nomatterwhathefelt.“Well,yes, itwouldinterestmegreatlytohearthesentenceofthelearnedjudgewhoeverheis.”Thefingersofthemanfumbledashespokeathiswaist-belt,nearthehandleofhisknife.Observingthis,Grummidgekeptawatchfuleyeonhim,butdidnotabatehisnonchalantfree-and-easyair,ashesteppedcloseuptohim.“Thesentenceis,”hesaidfirmlybutquietly,“thatyounolongerpresumetogiveordersasifyouwasthecaptaino’thisherecrew;thatfromthishouryoufall to therearandundertakesecondfiddleor fourthfiddle, for themattero’that;andthatyouheadapartytoguidetheminasarchwhichisjusta-goin’tobeginforthetwomenandtheboyyouhavesosneakinglybetrayedandputonshorean’allthisyou’llhavetodowithareadygoodwillonpaino’havin’yourbrains knocked out if you don’t. Moreover, you may be thankful that thesentence is so light, forsomeo’yourcomradeswouldhavehadyouhangedrightoff,ifothershadn’tseenfittobemarciful.”While this sentencewasbeingpronounced,Swinton’s expressionunderwentvariouschanges, andhis facebecamevisiblypalerunder the steadygazeofGrummidge.Atthelastwordhegraspedhisknifeanddrewit,buthisfoewasprepared.LikeaflashoflightheplantedhishardknucklesbetweenSwinton’seyes,andfolloweduptheblowwithanotheronthechest,whichfelledhimtotheground.Therewasnoneedformore.Thebigbullywasrendered insensible,besidesbeingeffectuallysubdued,andfromthattimeforwardhequietlyconsentedtoplayanyfiddlechiefly,however,thebassone.ButheharbouredinhisheartabitterhatredofGrummidge,andresolvedsecretlytotakeafearfulrevengeatthefirstfavourableopportunity.

Soon after that the boat was manned by as many of the crew as it couldcontain,andanexploringpartywenttothespotwhereCaptainTrenchandhiscompanionshadbeen landed,guided theretobySwinton,and ledbyhis foeGrummidge, whose bearing indicated, without swagger or threat, that thebrainingpartofthesentencewouldbecarriedoutontheslightestsymptomofinsubordination on the part of the former.While this partywas away; thosewhoremainedontheisletcontinuedtofish,andtopreservethefishforwinterusebydryingtheminthesun.Weneedscarcelyaddthattheexploringpartydidnotdiscoverthoseforwhomtheysought,buttheydiscoveredthetruenatureofthemainisland,which,upto that time, theyhadsupposed tobeagroupof isles.When thesearchwasfinally given up as hopeless, an examination of the coastwasmade,with aviewtoachangeofabode.“You see, lads,” observed Grummidge, when discussing this subject, “it’squiteplainthatweshallhavetospendthewinterhere,an’asIwasashortbitto the south of these seas in the late autumn one voyage, I have reason tobelievethatwehadbetterhouseourselves,an’layinastocko’provisionsifwewouldescapebein’frozean’starved.”“Troth, it’swell toescapethat,boys,”remarkedSquills,“forit’sfrozeIwasmesilfwanceallbutonavoyagetotheBaltic,an’it’sstarvedtodeathwasmeowldgrandmotheralmostsoIcanspakefromexperience.”“An’ we couldn’t find a better place for winter-quarters than what we seebeforeus,”saidGarnet.“Itlookslikeasorto’paradise.”WecannotsaywhatsortofideaGarnetmeanttoconveybythiscomparison,but there could be no question that the scene before themwas exceedinglybeautiful.Thepartyhadheldtheirconsultationonthecrestofabluff,andjustbeyond it lay a magnificent bay, the shores of which were clothed withluxuriantforests,andthewatersstuddedwithmanyislets.Atthedistantheadof thebay the formationor dipof the land clearly indicated themouthof alarge river, while small streams and ponds were seen gleaming amid thefoliagenearerathand.Atthetimethesunwasblazinginacloudlesssky,andthosethickfogswhichsofrequentlyenshroudthecoastsofNewfoundlandhadnotyetdescendedfromtheicynorth.“Isay,lookyonder.What’sBlazerabout?”whisperedJimHeron,pointingtohis comrade, who had separated from the party, and was seen with a largestoneineachhandcreepingcautiouslyroundarockypointbelowthem.Conjecturewasuselessandneedless,for,whiletheywatchedhim,Blazerrose

up,madeawildrushforward,hurledthestonesinadvance,anddisappearedroundthepoint.Afewmomentslaterhereappeared,carryingalargebirdinhisarms.Thecreaturewhichhehadthuskilledwithman’smostprimitiveweaponwasa specimenof thegreat aukabirdwhich isnowextinct. Itwas the sizeofalarge goose, with a coal-black head and back, short wings, resembling theflippersofaseal,whichassisteditwonderfullyinthewater,butwereuselessforflight,broadwebbedfeet,andlegssetsofarbackthatonlanditsaterectlikethepenguinsofthesouthernseas.Atthetimeofwhichwewrite,thegreataukwas found inmyriads on the low rocky islets on the eastern shores ofNewfoundland.Now-a-days there isnota singlebird tobe foundanywhere,andonlyafewspecimensandskeletonsremaininthemuseumsoftheworldtotell thatsuchcreaturesonceexisted.Theirexterminationwastheresultofman’s recklessslaughterof themwhen theNewfoundlandbanksbecame theresort of the world’s fishermen. Not only was the great auk slain in vastnumbers,forthesakeoffreshfood,butitwassaltedbytonsforfutureuseandsale.Thevaluablefeathers,ordown,alsoprovedasourceoftemptation,andasthebirdscouldnotflytootherbreeding-places,theygraduallydiminishedinnumbersandfinallydisappeared.“Why, Blazer,” exclaimed Heron, “that’s one o’ the sodger-like birds wefrightenedawayfromourlittleislandwhenwefirstlanded.”“Ay,an’there’splentymorewherethisonecamefrom,”saidBlazer,throwingthebirddown; “an’ they are so tameon the rocks round thepoint that I dobelievewecouldknock’emontheheadwithsticks,ifwetook’emunawares.Whatd’eesaytotry,lads?”“AgreedforI’mgettin’tiredo’fishnow,”saidGrummidge.“Howshouldwesetaboutit,think’ee?”“Cutcudgelsforourselves,thentaketotheboatcreeproundtooneo’thelittleislandsinthebay,andgoat’em!”answeredBlazer.Thisplanwascarriedoutwithaslittledelayaspossible.Anisletwasboarded,as Squill said, and the clumsy, astonished creatures lost numbers of theircompanions beforemaking their escape into the sea.A further treasurewasfoundinalargesupplyoftheireggs.Ladenalmosttothegunwalewithfreshprovisions, the search-party returned to their campsome of them, indeed,distressed at having failed to find their banished friends, but most of themelatedbytheirsuccesswiththegreatauks,andtheprospectofsoongoingintopleasantwinter-quarters.Soeagerwere theyall to flit into thisnew regionthisparadiseofGarnetthat

operationswerecommencedontheverynextdayatearlymorn.Theboatwaslaunchedandmanned,andasmuchoftheirpropertyasitwouldholdwasputonboard.“Youcallitparadise,Garnet,”saidGrummidge,asthetwocarriedabundleofdriedcodslungonapolebetweenthem,“butifyou,andthelikeofye,don’tgiveupswearin’,an’trytomendyourmanners,theplacewepitchonwillbemorelikehellthanparadise,nomatterhowcomfortableandprettyitmaybe.”Garnetwasnotinahumoureithertodiscussthispointortoacceptarebuke,soheonlyrepliedtotheremarkwithasurly“Humph!”Landingonthemainislandtothenorthwardofthelargebay,soastosecureasouthern exposure, theboat-partyproceeded topitch their campon a lovelyspot, where cliff and coppice formed a luxuriant background. Ramparts ofrock protected them from the nor’-west gales, and purling rivulets hummedtheirlullaby.Heretheypitchedtheirtents,andinashortspaceoftimeranupseveral log huts, the material for which was supplied in abundance by thesurroundingforest.Whenthelittlesettlementwassufficientlyestablished,andall thegoodsandstoreswereremovedfromwhatnowwasknownasWreckIsland, theyoncemorelaunchedtheboat,andturnedtheirattentiontofishingnotontheGreatBank, aboutwhichat the time theywere ignorant, buton the smallerbanksnearershore,wherecod-fishwerefound in incrediblenumbers.Someof theparty,however,hadmoreof thehunter’s thanthefisher’sspirit in them,andprepared to make raids on the homes of the great auk, or to ramble in theforests.Squillwasamongthelatter.Oneday,whileramblingonthesea-shorelookingforshellfish,hediscoveredacreaturewhichnotonlycausedhimtofireoffalltheexclamationsofhisrichIrishvocabulary,butinducedhimtorunbacktocampwithheavingchestanddistendedeyesalmostburstingfromexcitement.“Whatisit,boy?”chorusedhiscomrades.“Och!musha!I’vefounditatlonglast!thegreatsaysurno,notexactlythat,butthethe great, sprawlin’, long-leggedoch! what shall I say? The great-grandfatherofallthethewordsiswantin’,boys.Comean’seeforyourselves!”

ChapterSixteenAGiantDiscoveredNewHomeAtWagtailBayAStrangeAdditiontothe

Settlement

The creaturewhich had so powerfully affected the feelings of the Irishmanwas dead; but dead and harmless though it was, it drew forth from hiscomradesashoutofintensesurprisewhentheysawit,foritwasnolessthanacuttlefishofproportionssogiganticthattheyfeltthemselvesinthepresenceofone of those terriblemonsters of the deep, aboutwhich fabulous tales havebeentold,andexaggerateddescriptionsgivensincethebeginningofhistoricaltime.“Avhe’snotthesay-sarpinthimself,boys,”pantedSquill,ashepointedtohimwithlooksofunmitigatedadmiration,“surehemustbehisfirstcousin.”And Squill was not far wrong, for it was found that the monstrous fishmeasuredfifty-twofeetbetweentheextremitiesofitsoutspreadarms.Itsbodywasabouteightfeetlongandfourfeetbroad.Itsgreatarms,ofwhichithadten radiating from its body, varied in length and thicknessthe longest beingabouttwenty-fourfeet,andtheshortestabouteight.Theundersidesofthesearms were supplied with innumerable suckers, while from the body thereprojectedahornybeak,likethebeakofaparrot.“It’swishin’,Iam,thatImightseewano’yerfamilyalive,”saidSquill,asheturnedoverthedeadarms;“butI’drathernotbeembracedbyye.Och!whatahugyecouldgivean’astohowldin’onathousandlimpetswouldbenothin’toye.”“Amisergrippin’hisgoldwouldbemorelikeit,”suggestedGrummidge.“Idon’texpectevertoseeonealive,”saidLittleStubbs,“an’yettheremustsurelybemorewherethatcamefrom.”The very next day Squill had his wish gratified, and Stubbs his unbeliefrebuked, for, while they were out in the boat rowing towards one of thefishing-bankswith severalof theircomrades, theydiscovereda livinggiant-cuttlefish.“What’s that, boys?” cried the Irishman, pointing to the object which wasfloatinginthewaternotfaraheadofthem.“Seaweed,”growledBlazer.Blazeralwaysgrowled.Hisvoicewasnaturallylowandharshsowashisspirit.Sometimes a grunt supplanted the growl, suggesting that hewas porcine innatureasnotafewmenare.Butitwasnotseaweed.Thethingshowedsignsoflifeastheboatdrewnear.“Starboard!starboardhard!”shoutedLittleStubbs,startingup.

Butthewarningcametoolate.Nextmomenttheboatranwitha thudintoamonstercuttlefish.Grummidgeseizedaboat-hook, shouted,“Sternall!”andhitthecreaturewithallhismight,whileStubbsmadeawildgraspatahatchetwhichlayunderoneofthethwarts.Instantlythehornyparrot-likebeak,thesizeofaman’sfist,reareditselffromamongthefoldsofthebodyandstrucktheboataviolentblow,whileapairofsaucer-likeeyes,fullyfourinchesindiameter,openedandglaredferociously.Thiswasterrifyingenough,butwhen,amoment later, twotremendousarmsshotout from thebodynear the eyes, flung themselves around theboat andheldon tight,ayellof fearescapedfromseveralof themen,andwithgoodreason,foriftheinnumerablesuckersonthoseslimyarmsoncefairlyattachedthemselvestotheboatthereseemedtobenochanceofescapefromthedeadlyembrace.InthatmomentofdangerLittleStubbsprovedhimselfequaltotheoccasion.Withthehatchethedeftlyseveredthetwolimbsastheylayoverthegunwaleof theboat, and themonster,without cryor signofpain, fell backinto thesea,andmovedoff,ejectingsuchaquantityof inkyfluidas itwentthatthewaterwasdarkenedfortwoorthreehundredyardsaround.“Well done, Little Stubbs!” cried Grummidge, as he watched the creaturedisappearing. “You’ve often worried our lives in time past, but this timeyou’ve saved ’em.Coil away the limbs, boys.We’llmeasure ’emand enter’eminthelogwhenwegoashore.”Itmayinterestthereadertoknowthatthemeasurementswereasfollows:Thelongerandthinnerarmwasnineteenfeetinlength;aboutthreeandahalfinchesincircumference;ofapalepinkishcolour,andexceedinglystrongandtough. As all the men agreed that more than ten feet of the arm were leftattachedtothemonster’sbody,thetotallengthmusthavebeenlittleshortofthirty feet. Towards the extremity it broadened out like an oar, and thentapered to a fine tongue-like point. This part was covered with about twohundredsuckers,havinghorny-toothededges,thelargestofthesuckersbeingmorethananinchindiameter,thesmallestaboutthesizeofapea.Theshortarmwaselevenfeetlong,andteninchesincircumference.Itwascoveredonthe under side throughout its entire length with a double row of suckers.Grummidge,whowaspronetoobserveclosely,countedthemthatnightwithminutecare,andcametotheconclusionthatthecreaturemusthavepossessedaboutelevenhundredsuckersaltogether.TherewasalsoatailtothefishwhichSquillcalleda“divil-fish”shapedlikeafin.Itwastwofeetinwidth.Lestanyreadershouldimaginethatweareromancinghere,weturnasidetorefer him to a volume entitled Newfoundland, the oldest British Colony,

writtenbyJosephHattonandtheReverendM.Harvey,inwhich(pages238to242) hewill find an account of a giant-cuttlefish, devil-fish, or squid, verysimilartothatwhichwehavenowdescribed,andinwhichitisalsostatedthatMrHarvey, in1873,obtainedpossessionofonecuttlefish armnineteen feetlong, which he measured and photographed, and described in variousnewspapersandperiodicals,and,finally,senttotheGeologicalMuseuminSt.John’s, where it now lies. The same gentleman afterwards obtained anuninjuredspecimenofthefish,anditiswellknownthatcompletespecimens,as well as fragments, of the giant cephalopod now exist in several othermuseums.Cananyonewonderthatmarvelloustalesoftheseaweretoldthatnightroundthe fires at supper-time? thatLittle Stubbs became eloquently fabulous, andthat Squill, drawing on his imagination, described with graphic power amonster before whose bristling horrors the great sea-serpent himself wouldhide his diminished head, andwent into particulars sominute and complexthathiscomradessethimdownas“oneo’ thebiggest liars” thatever lived,until he explained that the monster in question had only appeared to him“wanceinwanofhisowldgrandmother’sdreams!”Infishing,andhuntingwithbowsandarrowsmadebythemselves,aswellaswith ingenious traps andweirs and snares of their own invention, the crewspenttheirtimepleasantly,andthesummerpassedrapidlyaway.Duringthisperiod therude tentsofsparsandsailclothweresupplantedbyruderhutsofround logs, caulked with hay and plastered with mud. Holes in the wallsthereofdidserviceaswindowsduringtheday,andbitsofoldsailsorbundlesofhaystuffed into themformedshuttersatnight.Shedswerealsoputup toguard provisions and stores from the weather, and stages were erected onwhich to dry the cod-fish after being split and cleaned; so that ourshipwrecked crew, in their new home, which they namedWagtail Bay, hadthusunwittinglybegunthatgreatindustryforwhichNewfoundlandhassincebecomecelebratedalltheworldover.Itisnottobesupposedthatamongsuchmeninsuchcircumstanceseverythingwentharmoniously.Atfirst,indeed,whatwithhavingplentytodoinfishing,hunting,building,splittinganddryingfish,etcetera,allday,andbeingprettywelltiredoutatnights,thepeacewaskeptprettyeasily;allthemorethatBigSwinton had been quelled and apparently quite subdued. But as the storesbecamefulloffoodandthedaysshortened,while thenightsproportionatelylengthened,timebegantohangheavyontheirhands,andgraduallythecampbecame resolved into the two classes which are to be found everywheretheenergeticallyindustriousandthelazilyidle.Perhapsweshouldsaythatthosetwoextremephasesofhumannaturebegantoshowthemselves,forbetween

them there existed all shades and degrees, so that itwas difficult to tell, insomecases,towhichclassthemenbelonged.Theproverbialmischief,ofcourse,wassoonfound,forthelatterclasstodo,andGrummidge began to discover that the ruling of his subjects,which satlightlyenoughonhisshouldersduringthesummer,becameamatterofsometroubleandanxietyinautumn.Healsofound,somewhattohissurprise, thatlegislation was by no means the easywe might say free-and-easybusinesswhichhehad supposed it tobe. In short, thecamppresented the interestingspectacle of a human society undergoing the process of mushroom growthfromaconditionofchaoticirresponsibilitytothatofcivilisedorder.The chaotic condition had been growing worse and worse for some timebeforeGrummidgewas forced to takeaction, forGrummidgewasamanoflong-suffering patience. One night, however, he lost all patience, and, likemostpatientpeoplewhenforcedoutoftheirnaturalgroove,heexplodedwithsurprisingviolenceandvigour.Ithappenedthus:The crew had built for themselves a hut of specially large dimensions, inwhichtheynightlyassembledalltogetherroundthefires,ofwhichthereweretwooneateitherend.Someof themen toldstories,somesangsongs,othersplayedatdraughtsofamateurconstruction,andagoodmanyplayedtheeasybutessentialpartofaudience.Thenoise,ofcourse,wastremendous,buttheywereusedtothat,andmindeditnot.When,however,twoofthemenbegantoquarrelovertheirgame,withso much anger as to interrupt all the others, and draw general attention tothemselves, the thing became unbearable, andwhen one called the other “aliar,”andtheothershoutedwithanoath,“You’reanother,”thematterreachedaclimax.“Come,come,DickSwanandBobCrow,”criedGrummidge,inasternvoice;“youstopthat.Twoliarsaretoomuchinthishereship.Oneisonetoomany.Ifyoucan’tkeepciviltonguesinyourheads,we’llpitchyouoverboard.”“You mind your own business,” gruffly replied Dick Swan, who was anirasciblemanandtheaggressor.“That’s justwhatI’lldo,”returnedGrummidge,stridingup toSwan,seizinghimbythecollar,andhurlinghimtotheotherendoftheroom,wherehelaystill,undertheimpression,apparently,thathehadhadenough.“Mybusiness,”saidGrummidge, “is tokeeporder, and Imean to attend to it. Isn’t that so,boys?”

“Noyesno,”repliedseveralvoices.“Whosaid‘No’?”demandedGrummidge.Every one expected to see Big Swinton step forward, but he did not. Hisrevengewasnottobegratifiedbymereinsubordination.Themanwhodidatlast step forward was an insignificant fellow, who had been nicknamedSpitfire,andwhosechiefcharacteristicswereself-willand ill-nature.Hedidnotlackcourage,however,forheboldlyfacedtheangryruleranddefiedhim.EveryoneexpectedtoseeSpitfirefollowDickSwan,andinsimilarfashion,buttheyweremistaken.TheydidnotyetunderstandGrummidge.“Well, Spitfire, what’s your objection to my keeping order?” he said, in avoicesogentlethattheothertookheart.“Myobjection,”hesaid,“isthatwhenyouwasappintedcaptingtherewasnovotetaken.Youwasstuckupbyyourownfriends,an’thatain’tfair,an’I,forone,refusetoknuckleunderto’ee.Youmayknockmedownifyoulike,forIain’tyourmatchbyalongway,butyou’llnotprovewrongtoberightbydoin’that.”“Wellspoken,MasterSpitfire!”exclaimedavoicefromthemidstofthecrowdthatencircledthespeakers.“Wellspoken,indeed,”echoedGrummidge,“andIthankyou,MasterSpitfire,for bringin’ this herematter to a head.Now, lads,” he added, turning to thecrowd, “you have binwrong an’ informal, so to speak, in your proceedin’swhen you appinted me governor o’ this here colony. There’s a right and awrongineverything,an’Idobelieve,fromthebottomofmysoul,thatit’sthatit’sthatwell,Iain’tmuchofadabatpreachingasyouknow,butwhatIwouldsayisthisit’srighttodoright,an’itain’trightfortodowrong,sowe’llkrectthislittlemistakeatonce,forIhavenowishtorule,blessyou!Nowthen,allwhat’sinfavouro’mybein’gov’nor,walktotheendo’theroomonmyrighthand,an’allwhowantssomebodyelsetobeSpitfire,forinstancewalkovertowhereDickSwanisa-sittin’enjo’in’ofhisself.”Immediately three-fourthsof thecrewsteppedwithalacrity to theright.Theremainderwent rather slowly to the left. “TheGrummidgeshaswon!”criedSquill,amidheartylaughter.Therulerhimselfmadenoremarkwhatever,but,seatinghimselfinacornerofthehut,resumedthegamewhichhadbeeninterrupted,quiteassuredthatthegameofinsubordinationwasfinallyfinished.

The day following that on which the reign of King Grummidge wasestablished,anewmemberofconsiderable interestwasadded to thecolony.Blaze,Stubbs,andSquillchanced tobeout thatdayalong theshore.Squill,being in a meditative mood, had fallen behind his comrades. They hadtravelled further than usual, when the attention of the two in front wasattractedbywhatseemedtothemthemelancholyhowlingofawolf.Gettingtheir bows ready, they advanced with caution, and soon came upon a sadsightthedeadbodyofanative,besidewhichcroucheda largeblackdog.Atfirsttheythoughtthedoghadkilledtheman,andwereabouttoshootit,whenStubbs exclaimed, “Hold on! don’t you see hemust have tumbled over thecliff?”AbriefexaminationsatisfiedthemthattheIndian,inpassingalongthetopofthecliffs,hadfallenover,andthattheaccidentmusthavebeenrecent,forthebodywas still fresh.Thedog,whichappeared tobe starving, showedall itsformidable teeth when they attempted to go near its deadmaster. PresentlySquillcameup.“Ah,boys,”hesaid,“yedon’tonderstandthenatur’o’thebasteseehere.”Taking a piece of dried fish from his pocket, he went boldly forward andpresentedit.Thedogsnappeditgreedilyandgulpeditdown.Squillgavehimanotherandanotherpiece;asthefourthofferingwaspresentedhepattedtheanimalquietlyonitshead.Thevictorywasgained.Thedogsufferedthemtoburyitsmaster,butforfourdaysitrefusedtoleavehisgrave.DuringthattimeSquillfeditregularly.Thenhecoaxedittofollowhim,andatlastitbecame,underthenameofBlackboy,ageneralfavourite,andalovingmemberofthecommunity.

ChapterSeventeenHasReferencetoFoodandaGreatFight

Thereisalwaysacertainamountofpleasuretobederivedfromthetracingofanysubjectofinterestbacktoitsorigin.Wehavealreadyseenhowlikeanobleriver, which has its fountain-head in some mountain lakelet that wouldscarcelyserveasawashing-basinforaCyclopsthegrandcod-fishingindustry,whichhas enriched theworld, and foundemployment for thousandsofmenfor centuries, had its commencement in the crew of theWaterWagtail! weshall nowshow that anothergreat industry, namely, theNewfoundland seal-fishery,haditsorigininthesameinsignificantsource.KingGrummidgewaswalkingonemorningalongtheshoreofWagtailBay,with hands in pockets, hat on back of head, and that easy roll of gait socharacteristicofnauticalmenandroyalty.Hewasevidentlytroubledinmind,

fora frownrestedonhisbrow,andhis lipswerecompressed. Itmighthavebeensupposedthatthecaresofstatewerebeginningtotelluponhim,butsuchwasnotthecase:foodwasthecauseofhistrouble.“Fish,fish,fish,”hegrowled,toLittleStubbs,whowashiscompanioninthewalk.“I’msicktiredo’fish.It’smyopinionthat ifwegooneatin’fishlikewe’ve bin doin’ since we was cast away here, we will turn into fish, ormermaids,ifnotsomethin’worse.Whatareyelaughin’at?”“Atthenotiono’youturnin’intoamaidofanysort,”repliedStubbs.“That’sgotnothin’ todowi’ theargiment,” returnedGrummidgesternly, forhisanxietiesweretooserioustopermitofhisindulginginlevityatthetime.“Whatwe’vegot todo is to findmeat, for themauksarenighasdryas thefish.Meat,lad,meat,wi’plentyo’fat,that’sthequestiono’thehour.”“Yes,it’sourquestion,nodoubt,”rejoinedStubbs.Hemightaswellhavebestowedhisbadpunonarabbit,forGrummidgewasessentiallydenseandsober-minded.“Butwe’vehadafewrabbitsoflate,an’ducksan’partridges,”headded.“Rabbits!ducks!partridges!” repeatedhis companion,with contempt. “Howmanyofthemdelicacieshavewehad?That’swhatIwantstoknow.”“Notmany,Iadmitforthere’snoneofusgotmuchtoboastofasshots.”“Shots!”echoedGrummidge.“You’reright,Stubbs.Ofalltheblindbatsandhelplessboyswiththebow,there’snotIbelieve,inthewholeworldsuchalotasthepopilationofWagtailBay.Why,there’snottwoofyewhocouldhitthebigshedatsixtypaces,an’allthefreshmeatasyou’vebroughtinyethasbintheresulto’chance.Nowlook’eehere,Stubbs,anotionhasenteredmyhead,an’ when a notion does that, I usually grab that notion an’ hold ’im a fastprisoner until I’vemade somethin’ useful an’ ship-shape of ’im. If itworksproperlywe’llsoonhavesomethin’bettertoeatthanfish,an’moresubstantialthanrabbits,ducks,partridges,orauks.”Wemayremarkinpassingthattheanimalswhichthosewreckedsailorscalledrabbits were in reality hares. Moreover, the men took an easy, perhapsunscientific, method of classifying feathered game. Nearly everything withwings that dwelt chieflyon lake, river, or sea they calledducks, and all thefeathered creatures of the forest they styled partridges. From this simpleclassification,however,wereexceptedswans,geese,eagles,andhawks.“Well,Grummidge,whatmaybeyournotion?”askedStubbs.

“Mynotionisseals!Forallourhardrowin’andwastin’ofarrowswe’vefailedtocatchorkillasingleseal,thoughthere’ssuchswarmsof’emallabout.Nowthis is a great misfortin’, for it’s well known that seals make first-ratebeefleastwise to them as ain’t partic’larsowe’ll set about catchin’ of ’em atonce.”“But how?” asked Stubbs, becoming interested under the influence of hiscomrade’searnestenthusiasm.“This is how.Look there, d’ye see that small island lyin’ close to the shorewithseveralseals’headsappearin’inthechannelbetween?”“Yeswhatthen?”“Well,then,whatImeantodoistohavenetsmadewithbigmeshes,an’set’embetweenthatislandan’theshore,andseewhatcomesofit.”“Butwhere’sthetwinetocomefrom?”objectedStubbs.“Twine!Ain’ttherenoendo’cordageswashin’abouttheWaterWagtaileversinceshewentashore?An’haven’twegotfingers?Can’tweundothestrandsan’ make small cord? Surely some of ye have picked oakum enough tounderstandwhatthatmeans!”Stubbswasconvinced.Moreover,therestofthemenweresoconvincedthattheplanpromisedwell,whenitwasexplainedtothem,thattheysettoworkwithalacrity,and,inabriefspaceoftime,madeastrongnetseveralfathomsinlength,andwithmesheslargeenoughtopermitofaseal’sheadsqueezingthrough.No soonerwas it ready than thewhole communitywent down to see it set.Then,withdifficulty,theywerepreventedfromwaitingontheshoretowatchtheresult.Intheafternoon,whenGrummidgegavepermission,theyrandownagainwithalltheeagernessofchildren,andwererewardedbyfindingsixfatsealsentangled in thenetand inflatedalmost toburstingwith thewater thathaddrownedthem.Thus they were supplied with “beef,” and, what was of almost equalimportance, with oil, which enabled them to fry the leanest food, besidesaffordingthemthemeansofmakingasteadierandstrongerlightthanthatofthelogfirestowhichtheyhadhithertobeenaccustomed.Itmaybehereremarkedbycaptiousreaders,ifsuchtherebe,thatthiscannotappropriately be styled the beginning of that grand sealing, or, as it is nowstyled,“swilehuntin’,” industry,whichcalls intoactioneveryyearhundreds

ofsteamandothervessels,andthousandsofmen,whoslaughterhundredsofthousandsofseals;whichproducesmintsofmoney,andintheprosecutionsofwhichmendare the terribledangersof ice-drift andpack, inorder that theymaybludgeontheyoungsealsuponthefloes.Aswellmightitbeobjectedthatatinyrivuletonthemountain-topisnotthefountain-head of amighty river, because its course is notmarked by broadexpanses and thundering cataracts. Grummidge’s net was undoubtedly thebeginning, the tiny rill, of the Newfoundland seal-fishery, and even thebludgeoningwasinitiatedbyoneofhisparty.Ithappenedthus:BigSwintonwentoutonemorningtotryhisfortunewiththebowandarrowin the neighbourhood of a range of cliffs that extended far away to thenorthward.Swintonusuallychosetohuntinsolitude.Havingfewsympathieswith the crewhe shut up his feelingswithin his ownbreast and brooded insilenceon the revengehewas still resolved to takewhena safeopportunityoffered, for theman’s naturewas singularly resolute and, at the same time,unforgiving.NowitchancedthatGrummidge,inutterignoranceofwherehisfoehadgone,tookthesamedirectionthatmorning,butstartedsometimelater,intendingtoexploretheneighbourhoodofthecliffsinsearchofsea-fowls’eggs.Onreachingthelocality,Swintonfoundthatalargeice-floehadcomedownfromtheArcticregions,andstrandedontheshoreoftheisland.Ontheicelayablackobjectwhichherightlyjudgedtobeaseal.Atfirst,hesupposedittobeadeadone,but justashewasabout toadvance toexamine it theanimalraised its head and moved its tail. Love of the chase was powerful inSwinton’sbreast.Heinstantlycrouchedbehindaboulder,andwaitedpatientlytillthesealagainlaiditsheadontheiceasiftocontinueitsnap.While theseamancrouchedthere,perfectlymotionless,hisbrainwasactive.Arrows,hefeared,wouldbeoflittleuse,evenifhewerecapableofshootingwell,whichhewasnot.Otherweaponhehadnone,with theexceptionofaclasp-knife.Whatwas he to do?The only answer to that questionwastry aclub.Buthowwashetogetatthesealwithaclub?Whileponderingthisquestionheobservedthattherewasanothersealonthesamemass of ice, apparently sleeping, behind a hummock.He also noticedthat both seals were separated from the water by a considerable breadth oficeespeciallytheonebehindthehummock,andthattherewasatongueoficeextendingfromthefloetotheshorebywhichitseemedpossibletoreachthefloe by patient stalking without disturbing the game. Instantly Swintondecidedonaplan,andcommencedbycrawling into thebushes.There,with

hisclasp-knife,hecarefullycutandpeeledaclubwhichevenHerculesmighthavedeignedtowield.Withthisweaponhecrawledonhandsandkneesslowlyouttothefloe,andsoondiscoveredthatthesealsweremuchlargerthanhehadatfirstsupposed,andwereprobablyamaleandafemale.Beingignorantofthenatureofseals,andonlyacquaintedwiththefactthatthetendernoseoftheanimalisitsmostvulnerable part, he crept like a cat after a mouse towards the smaller seal,whichhejudgedtobethefemale,untilnearenoughtomakearushandcutoffitsretreattothesea.Hethenclosedwithit,broughthisgreatclubdownuponitssnout,andlaiditdeadupontheice.Turningquicklyround,heobserved,tohis surprise, that the male seal instead of making for the water, as he hadexpected,wasmakingtowardshimselfinflounderingandviolentbounds!Itmaybenecessaryhere to state that there are several kindsof seals in thenorthernseas,and that the“hoodseal”or,ashunterscall it the“dog-hood”isamong the largest and fiercest of them all. The male of this species isdistinguishedfromthefemalebyasingularhood,orfleshybag,onhisnose,which he has the power to inflate with air, so that it covers his eyes andfacethusformingapowerfulprotectiontohissensitivenose,for,besidesbeingelastic, the hood is uncommonly tough. It is said that this guard will evenresistshotandthattheonlysurewayofkillingthedog-hoodsealistohithimontheneckatthebaseoftheskull.Besides possessing this safeguard, or natural buffer, the dog-hood is full ofcourage,which becomes absolute ferocitywhenhe is defending the female.This is now sowell known that hunters always try to kill themale first, ifpossible,whenthefemalebecomesaneasyvictim.Swintonsawatasingleglancethathehadtodealwithagiganticandfuriousfoe,forthecreaturehadinflateditshoodanddilateditsnostrilsintotwohugebladders,aswithglaringeyesitbouncedratherthanrushedathiminterrificrage. Feeling that his arrowswould be useless, theman flung them and thebowdown,resolvingtodependentirelyonhismightyclub.Beingpossessedofagoodshareofbrutecourage,and feelingconfident inhisgreatphysicalstrength,Swintondidnotawaittheattack,butrantomeethisfoe,swunghisponderousweapononhigh,andbroughtitdownwithtremendousforceontheseal’s head, but the hood received it and caused it to reboundas if fromindiarubberwith suchviolence that it swung theman toone side.So far thiswaswell, as it savedhim fromablowof thedog-hood’s flipper thatwouldprobablyhavestunnedhim.Asitwas,itgrazedhisshoulder,toreagreatholeinhisstrongcanvasjacketandwoundedhisarm.Experienceusuallyteachescaution.Whenthesealturnedwithincreasedfury

to renewtheassaultSwintonstoodon thedefensive,andassoonas itcamewithinreachbroughthisclubdownasecondtimeonitsheadwith,ifpossible,greaterforcethanbefore;butagaintheblowwasbrokenbythehood,thoughnotagainwasthemanstruckbytheflipper,forhewasagileasapantherandevadedtheexpectedblow.Hisfootslippedontheice,however,andhefellsoclose to the seal that it tumbled over him and almost crushed himwith itsweight.Atthesametimetheclubflewfromhishand.Thoughmuchshakenbythefall,theseamanscrambledtohisfeetintimetoescapeanotheronslaught,butdowhathewouldhecouldmakenoimpressiononthecreature’shead,becauseofthatmarvelloushood,andbodyblowswere,of course, useless. StillBigSwintonwas not theman to give in easily to aseal!Althoughheslippedontheiceandfellseveraltimes,hereturnedagainand again to the encounter until he began to feel his strength going. Asmuscularpowerwashis soledependence, a sensationof fearnow tended tomakemattersworse; at last he tripped over a piece of ice, and the seal felluponhim.Itwasat thiscriticalpoint thatGrummidgecameinsightof thecombatants,andranatfullspeedtotherescue.Buthewasstillataconsiderabledistance,andhadtocrossthetongueoficebeforehecouldreachthefloe.Meanwhile the seal opened its well-armed jaws to seize its victim by thethroat.Swinton felt thatdeath staredhim in the face.Desperationsharpenedhisingenuity.Hethrusthislefthandasfaraspossibledownthethroatofhisadversary,and,seizingitwiththeotherarmroundtheneck,heldoninatightthoughnotlovingembrace!Thestruggle thatensuedwasbrief.Theseal shookoff themanas ifhehadbeenbutachild,andwasonthepointofrenewingtheattackwhenitcaughtsightofGrummidge,andreareditselftomeetthisnewenemy.Grummidge possessed a fair-sized clasp-knife. Armed with this, he rushedboldlyinandmadeapowerfulstabatthecreature’sheart.Alas! for the poor man, even though his stabbing powers had been goodinsteadofbad,forhewouldonlyhaveimbeddedtheshortweaponinamassof fat without touching the heart. But Grummidge was a bad stabber. Hemissedhisaimsobadlyastoplungehisweaponintothehood!Nothingcouldhave been more fortunate. The air escaped and the hood collapsed. At thesamemomentGrummidgereceivedanuglyscratchon thecheekwhichsenthim sprawling. As he rose quickly he observed Swinton’s club, which hegraspedandbroughtvigorouslydownontheseal’snowunprotectednose,andfelled it.Another effective blow terminated its career for ever, and then the

victorturnedtofindthatBigSwintonlayontheice,quiteconsciousofwhatwasgoingonthoughutterlyunabletomovehandorfoot.

ChapterEighteenTellsofDeathandDisaster

TobindupSwinton’swounds, someofwhichwereuglyones,was the firstbusinessofGrummidge,afterhehadhastilystaunched thebloodwhichwasflowingcopiouslyfromhisowncheek.Thestoutseamanwaswellabletoplaythepartofamateursurgeon,beingahandyfellow,andheusuallycarriedaboutwithhimtwoorthreeoddpiecesofspun-yarnforemergenciesalsoalumpofcotton-wasteasahandkerchief,whilethetailofhisshirtservedatalltimesasaconvenientrag.Havingfinishedthejobhelookedearnestlyatthepalefaceandclosedeyesofhisoldenemy,andsaid“You’vebinprettymuchbangedaboutoldchapeh?”As thewoundedmanmade no reply,Grummidge rose quickly, intending torun to the settlement for help, knowing that no time shouldbe lost.HewashasteningawaywhenSwintonstoppedhim.“Hallo!holdon!”heshouted.Grummidgeturnedback.“Youyou’renotgoin’toleaveme,areyou?”demandedhisenemy,somewhatsternly,“IIshalldieifyouleavemehereonthecoldice.”Aninvoluntaryshudderhereboretestimonytotheprobabilityofhisfearbeingwellgrounded.“Swinton,” replied Grummidge, going down on one knee, the moreconveniently to grasp the unwounded hand of his foe, “you mistake myc’rackterentirely.ThoughI’mnotmuchtoboastonasaman,Iain’tquiteadevil.Iwasonlygoin’toruntoWagtailBaytostartsomeo’theboyswithastretchertofetchyean’it’smybeliefthatthere’snotimetobelost.”“Rightyouare,Grummidge,”repliedthepoormaninafaintvoice,“solittletime that if you leaveme here the boyswill only find somehuman beef tocarryback,an’thatwon’tbeworththetrouble.”“Don’tsaythat,oldchap,”returnedtheother,inalow,gruffvoicewhichwastheresultoftenderfeeling.“Keepupheartblessyou,I’llbebackinnotime.”“Allright,”saidSwinton,witharesignedlook,“goan’fetchtheboys.ButIsay,Grummidge, shakehandsbeforeyougo, Idon’twant tocarryagrudgeaginyouintothenextworldifIcanhelpit.Goodbye.”

“No, no,mate, if that’s to be theway of it I’ll stick to ’ee.D’ye think youcouldmanagetogitonmyback?”“I’lltry.”With much heaving, and many half-suppressed groans from the one, and“heave-ho’s” from the other, Big Swinton was at last mounted on hiscomrade’sbroad shoulders, and the two started forhome. Itwas a longandwearyjourney,forGrummidgefoundtheroadroughandtheloadheavy,butbefore night he deposited his old enemy in a bunk in the large roomof thesettlement and then himself sank fainting on the floornot,we need scarcelyadd, from the effect of sentimental feeling, but becauseof prolonged severeexertion,coupledwithlossofblood.Two days laterGrummidge sat by the side of Swinton’s bunk. It was earlyforenoon, and they were aloneall the other men being out on variousavocations.Blackboy,thelargedog,layasleeponthefloorbesidethem.Suddenlythedogjumpedup,rantothedoor,andbegantowhinerestlessly.“Wolvesabout,Isuppose,”saidGrummidge,risingandopeningthedoor.Blackboyboundedawayinwildhaste.“H’m!heseemsinahurry.Perhapsit’sabearthistime.Well,mate,howd’yefeelnow?”headded,closingthedoorandreturningtohisseat.“Grummidge,”saidthesickman,inalowvoice,“I’llnevergitoverthis.Thatsealhavedoneforme.There’sinjurysomewheresinsideo’me,Ifeelsureonit. But that’s not what I was going to speak about. I want tomake a cleanbreastofitaforeIgoes.I’vebeenabadman,Grummidge,there’snoquestionaboutthatinmyownmind,whatevermaybeinthemindofothers.Ihadevengonethelengthofmakingupmymindtomurderyou,thefirstsafechanceIgot,forwhich,andallelseI’vedoneandthoughtaginye,Iaxyourpardon.”“You have it” said his friend earnestly. “Thank ’ee. That’s just what Iexpected, Grummidge. Now what I want to know is, d’ye think God willforgiveme?”Theseamanwasperplexed.Suchaquestionhadneverbeenputtohimbefore,and he knew not what to answer. After a few moments’ consideration, hereplied

“Whatyousayistrue,Swinton.You’vebinabadloteversinceI’veknow’dye.Iwon’tgofortodenythat.AstowhattheAlmightywilldoorwon’tdo,howcanI tell? IwishIknewmoreaboutsuch thingsmyself, for I’d like tohelpyou,butIcan’t.”Suddenlyanideaflashedintohismindandhecontinued:“But it do seem tome, Swinton, that if a poor sinner likeme is willin’ toforgiveye,ain’ttheAlmightylikelytobemuchmorewillin’?”“There’s somethin’ in that,Grummidgesomethin’ in that,” said the sickmaneagerly. Then the hopeful look disappeared as he added slowly, “but I fear,Grummidge, thatwhatyousaydon’tquite fitmycase, for I’vegotanotionthattheAlmightymusthavebeenwillin’allmylifetosavemefrommyself,andthatallmylifeI’vebinrefusin’tolistentoHim.”“Howd’yemakethatout,boy?”“Thisway.There’sbin somethin’orother insideo’me,as farbackas Icanremember, that somehowdidn’t seem tobeme, that hasbeen always sayin’‘Don’t’tome,wheneverIwasa-goin’todoameanthing.Now,Ican’thelpthinkin’ that it must have bin God that spoke, for a man would never say‘Don’t’tohimself,an’thengorightoffan’doit,wouldhe?”“That’s more than I can tell,” answered Grummidge. “I remember hearin’Master Burns a-talkin’ on that point wi’ the cappen, an’ he thought it wasconscienceorthevoiceofGod.”“Well,conscienceornoconscience,I’veresisteditallmylife,”returnedthesick man, “an’ it do seem a mean, sneakin’ sort o’ thing to come to theAlmighty at the very last moment, when I can’t help myself, an’ say, ‘I’msorry.’”“Itwouldbemeanertosay‘I’mnotsorry,’wouldn’tit?”returnedGrummidge.“But,nowI thinkof it,MasterBurnsdid readoneor two thingsouto’ thatwritin’thathe’ssofondof,whichhesaysistheWordofGod.Ifit’struewhathesays,hemaywellbefondof it,but Iwonderhowhehasfoundthatout.Anyway,Irememberthatoneo’thethingshereadoutofitwasthattheLambofGod takes away the sins of theworld; an’ he explained that Jesus is theLambofGod,an’thathestandsinourplacetakesourpunishmentinsteadofus,an’fulfilsthelawinsteadofus.”Thesickmanlistenedattentively,eveneagerly,butshookhishead.“Howcananymanstandinmyplace,ortakemypunishments?”hesaid,ina

tonesavouringalmostofcontempt.“AsfarasIcansee,everymanwillhaveenoughtodotoanswerforhimself.”“That’sjustwhatcomeintomymindtoo,whenIheardMasterBurnsspeak,”returned theother;“buthecleared thatupbyexplainin’ thatJesus isGodaswellasman‘Godwithus,’hesaid.”“That do seem strange,” rejoined the sick man, “and if true,” he addedthoughtfully, “there’s somethin’ in it, Grummidge, somethin’ in it to give amancomfort.”“Well,mate,I’mofyourmindaboutthat,forifGodhimselfbeforus,surelynobody can be agin us,” said the seaman, unconsciously paraphrasing thewordofScriptureitself.“Blowhighorblowlow,thatseemstomeananchorthatyouan’me’ssafetohangonto.”Theconversationwasinterruptedat thispointbythesuddenentranceofJimHeronwithanarrowstickinginthefleshypartofhisback.“Attackedbysavages!”hegasped.“Here,Grummidge,lendahandtohauloutthisIcan’twellreachit.Theycameonusbehindthebigstore,t’othersideo’thesettlement,and,afterlettin’flyatustooktotheirheels.Theladsareafterthem.Igotseparatedfromtheboys,andwasshot,asyousee,soIcamehah!pullgently,Grummidgecamebackherethatyoumighthaulitout,forit’shardtorunan’fightwithanarrowinyourback.”“Stay here, Jim,” said Grummidge, after hastily extracting the shaft. “Youcouldn’tdomuchwithawoundlikethat.I’lltakeyourplaceandfollowupthemen, andyou’ll takeminehere, asnurse toSwinton.Wemustn’t leavehimalone,youknow.”EagerthoughJimHeronwasatfirstforthefray,thelossofbloodhadreducedhisardourandmadehimwillingtofallinwiththisproposal.“Good-bye,Grummidge,” cried Swinton, as the former, having snatched uphisknifeandbow,washasteningtothedoor.“Good-byegood-bye, mate,” he responded, turning back and grasping theprofferedhand.“You’llbeallrightsoon,oldchapandJim’sabetternursethanIam.”“Ilikewhatyousaidaboutthatanchor,mate,I’llnotforgetit”saidSwinton,sinkingbackonhispillowasGrummidgesalliedforthtojoininthepursuitofthesavages.Thestoutseaman’smovementswerewatchedbysomehundredsofglittering

blackeyes, theownersofwhichwereconcealedamid thebrushwoodof theadjoiningforest.Meanwhile, at the other end of the settlement, the greater number of theshipwreckedmarinerswereengagedinhotpursuitofthepartyofIndianswhohad attacked them.Theywere very indignant, several of theirmates havingbeenwounded,andaconsiderablequantityoftheirstorescarriedoff.It quickly became apparent, however, that the seamen were no match forsavage,ataracethroughthewoods,thereforeGrummidge,whosoonovertookhis comrades, called a halt, and gathered as many of his men as possiblearoundhim.“Now,lads,”hesaid,“it’splainthatsomeofyoucan’trunmuchfurther.Youain’t used to this sort o’ work. Besides, we have left our settlementundefended. Most of you must therefore return, an’ a few of the smartestamongyouwillfollowme,forwemustgivetheserascalsafrightbyfollowin’’em till we catch ’emif we canor by drivin’ ’em back to their own place,whereverthatmaybe.”Manyofthemenweremorethanwillingtoagreetothisarrangement,whileotherswerequitereadytofollowtheirleader.Theparty,therefore,thatfinallycontinued in pursuit of the Indians was composed of Grummidge, GeorgeBlazer, FredTaylor, Little Stubbs,Garnet Squill, and several others.Armedwithbows,arrows,shortspears,andclubs,thesesetoffwithoutdelayintotheforest, trusting to the sun and stars for guidance.The remainder of themenreturned to the settlement, where they discovered that they had been thevictimsofaruseonthepartofthesavages.Theassaultatthefurtherendofthesettlementprovedtobeamerefeint,madebyacomparativelysmallparty,forthepurposeofdrawingtheseamenaway,andleavingthemainpartofthesettlement undefended, and open to pillage.While the small detachment ofIndians, therefore, was doing its part, themain body descended swiftly butquietly onWagtail Bay, and possessed themselves of all that was valuablethere,andcarrieditoff.Ofcourse,SwintonandJimHeronwerefoundthere.Bothhadbeenbeheaded,andtheirbodiesstrippedandleftonthefloor.Heronseemedtohaveofferedastoutresistance,untiloverpoweredbynumbersandslain.PoorSwinton,whocouldnothavehadmuchmoreliferemainingthanenabledhimtounderstandwhatwasoccurring,hadbeenstabbedtodeathwherehelay.Fortunately, itwasnotpossible for the Indians tocarryoffall thedried fishandotherprovisions,sothatthemenwerenotreducedtoabsolutestarvation.All ignorant of what was going on at the settlement, the avengers were

pushingtheirwaythroughthewoodsinpursuitofthesmallerbodyofsavages.Nothing could have been more satisfactory to these latter. From everyeminence and knoll unseen eyeswatched themovements of thewhitemen,whoremainedunderthedelusionthattheywerestrikingterrorintotheheartsofaflyingfoe.“Sure,we’llhavetotakearestsoon,”saidSquill,astheyhaltedonthetopofamound,aboutsunsettobreatheandwipetheirheatedbrows.“True, a short sleep wemust have, but we’ll have to take our rest withoutkindlingafire,”saidGrummidge.“Ay, an’ go supperless to bed, too,” remarked Little Stubbs; “for we’vebroughtnothingtoeatwithus.”Thisfacthadnotstruckanyof theparty till thatmoment.Theyhadbeensoeagerinpursuitofthefoethatallprudentialconsiderationshadbeenthrowntothe winds. They now lay down, therefore, to the very brief rest that wasabsolutelyneedful,notonlywithoutsupper,butwiththeprospectofstartingagainwithoutbreakfast.However,eachmanfeltboundinhonournottodamphisfellowsbycomplaining.“Now,boys,”saidGrummidge,“youliedown,an’I’llmountguard.Sleepasfastasyoucan,forI’llrouteyeoutinanhourorso.”ButGrummidgedidnotfulfilhispromise.Seatinghimselfwithhisbacktoatree, his bows and arrows ready to hand, and actuated by a firm resolve towatch with intense care, he fell fast asleep, and the whole party snored inconcert.About fifty Indians,whohad joined the original attackingparty, hadwaitedpatientlyforthisstateofaffairs.Whenquitecertainthattheseamenwereallsleeping soundly, they crept silently forward, and pounced upon them. Thestrugglewassharp,butshort.Courageandstrengtharefutilewhenopposedtooverwhelmingnumbers.Afewminuteslater,andthewhitemenwereled,withhandsboundbehindthem,intothedepthoftheunknownwilderness.

ChapterNineteenANewFriendwithStartlingNews

TurnwenowtotheislandinthegreatlakewhereHendrick,thehunter,hadsetuphisromantichome.Theprematuretouchofwinter,whichhadputsosuddenastoptotheworkofourexplorers,gavewaytoaburstofwarmthandsunshinealmostassudden.It

wasthatbriefperiodofcalmreposeinwhichnatureindulgesinsomepartsofthe world as if to brace herself for the rough work of approaching winter.There was a softness in the air which induced one to court its embrace.Absolute stillness characterised the inanimate world. Clouds floated in theheavenly blue in rotund masses, which seemed, to the careless glance, asunchangeable as the hills, and the glassy water reflected them with perfectfidelity. It also reflected gulls, ducks, plover, and other wildfowl, as theysailed,whirred, orwaded about, absorbed in the activities of their domesticeconomy,orinthehilariousenjoymentofthesweetinfluencesaroundthem.Coloursmost resplendentdyed the forest trees;gentle sounds frombird andbeasttoldofjoyouslifeeverywhere,andtheblessedsunthrewagoldenhazeoverwoodand lakeandhill. Itwasas thoughParadisehadbeenrestored toman, andour lovingCreatorhad swept awayevery traceof evil andmiseryfromthebeautifulearth.But although the day is surely comingwhen, through JesusChrist, “sorrowandsighingshallfleeaway,”Paradisehadcertainlynotreturnedtoearthatthedatewewriteof.Doubtless,however,somethingwhichseemedmarvellouslylike it had reappeared round the hunter’s home, for, while all nature waspeacefulaswellasbeautiful,lovewasthegrandmotivepowerwhichactuatedtheheartsofthosewhodweltthere,andthatlovehadbeengreatlyintensified,aswellaspurified,sincetheadventofPaulBurnswiththemanuscriptGospelofJohninhisbosom,andtheSpiritofGodinhisheart.Besidesbeingnaturallysympathetic,PaulandHendrickwerethusdrawnstillmore strongly together, as they communedwith each othersometimeswhilewalking through the forest engaged in the chase; often beside the camp-fireaftersupperwhileothersslept;and,notunfrequently,whilepaddlingintheircanoeoverthesleepinglake.Oneeveningtheywereinthelatterpositionreturningfromasuccessfulday’shunt in the canoewhen Hendrick became more communicative than usualabout the Indian tribe to which his wife belonged, and in regard to whichsubjecthehadhithertobeenreticent.Thesunwassetting;theislandhomewasnotfardistant.Thetotalabsenceofwindandconsequentstillnessofthelakerendereditunnecessarytodomorethanmakeanoccasionaldipofthepaddleswith which the light craft was propelledPaul using his in the bow, whileHendricksatinthesternandsteered.Noonewaswiththemindeedthecanoewas toosmall tocarrymore than twowhen loadedwith theproceedsof thechase.“I have often thought” said the hunter, dipping his paddle lazily, “that youmust wonder why one whose position in the world warranted his lookingforwardtoabrightandprosperouscareershouldinflictonhimselfvoluntary

banishment,andwedanIndianwoman.”“Hendrick,” returned Paul, “I wonder at few things in this life, for I knowsomething of theworking of the humanmind and heart and have ceased tojudgeothermen’sfeelingsbymyown.Besides, Icriticisenot theactionsofmyfriend.ThemotivesofhisactsareknownonlytohimselfandhisGod.TheGospel tells me to ‘judge not according to the appearance.’ Moreover, thelongerIlivewithyou,themorehaveIlearnedtoknowthattherearequalitiesinTrueheartwhichwoulddohonourtodamesofthehigheststation.”A gleam of satisfaction lightened the hunter’s face for a moment as heexclaimed, with unwonted energy, “You do her no more than justice, myfriend.Ihavelivedtolearnthatlove,truth,andeveryvirtuearetobefoundineverystationalikewiththehigh-bornandthelowly;alsothatthelackofthesequalitiesiscommontoboth,and,tosaytruth,Ihadrathermatewithagentlesavagethanwithacivilisedfemaletiger!”“ButTrueheartisnotagentlesavage,”returnedPaul,scarcelyabletorepressasmile at the tone inwhichhis friendutteredhis sentiments; “she is agentlewoman.”“Ofcourse, Iknowthat” rejoinedHendrick;“moreovershe isahalf-caste! Ionlyusedthewordtodesignate theclassofhumanity towhichshebelongs,and tocontrastherwith thatotherclasswhichdeems itselfat the topof thecivilisedtree.”“Butitseemstome,MasterHendrick,thatyouareinclinedtobetoosevereon the high-born. There are those among themwhose lives conform to theteachingsoftheGospelofJesus.”“DoInotknowit?”repliedthehunterabruptly.“HaveInottoldyouthatmymurderedwifewashigh-bornandendowedwitheverygrace?”“True,butwhatofthiscivilisedfemaletigerwhomyouwouldscorntowed.DidnotChristdieforher?MayshenotbesavedbythesamePowerthatdragsthetigerofthelowerranksbothmaleandfemalefromthepit?”“Idoubtitnot,”answeredHendrickthoughtfully,asherelapsedintohisusualquietmanner,“and IamgladyouappreciateTrueheart, for she isworthyofyour regard. Her name was bestowed on her by her Indian relations. MychildrenIhavenamedaftersomeofmykindredintheoldcountry.Thetribetowhichmywife belongs are calledBethucks. They arewell-disposed andkindly indisposition, anddonotquarrel among themselvesmore thanotherhumanbeingsindeednotsomuchasmeninourownland;probablybecausetheyhavenotsomuchtoquarrelaboutandhavemoreelbow-room.Theyare

goodkinsmen,as Iknow;goodhuntersalso,and inclined forpeace,but thenativesofLabradorrenderpeaceimpossible,fortheymakefrequentraidsonourisland,andofcoursewehavetodrivethemaway.IfwhitemennowcometoNewfoundland, I fear that the poorBethuckswill be exterminated.” (TheBethucksarenowextinct.)“Itrustnot,”saidPaul.“SodoI,”returnedHendrick,“andiftheGospelyouhavebroughthereonlytakes good root in our own land all will be well, for if men acted on thecommand‘letusloveoneanother,’warandrobbery,murderandstrife,wouldbeatanend.”“Canweexpectallmentoactuponthatprecept?”askedPaul.“Apparentlynot;butwemightatleastexpectChristianstodoso;thosewhoaccepttheGospelastheirbookoflaw.Ihadexpectedtoescapefromwarandbloodshed when I left civilised lands and settled here, but I have beendisappointed.Thenecessityforfightingstillexists!”“And will exist until the reign of Jesus extends to every human heart,”returnedPaul. “It seems tome thatwhatwehave some right andground toexpectis,notthestoppageofallwar,buttheabolitionofwarbetweennationscallingthemselvesChristian.”Itisacuriouscircumstancethat,onlyafewdaysaftertheaboveconversation,anincidentoccurredwhichinducedbothPaulandHendricktobuckleontheirarmour,andsallyforthwithaclearperceptionthatitwastheirboundendutytoengageinwar!That incidentwas thearrivalofanIndianhunterwhowasslightlyknowntoHendrick’swife.HecameinacanoejustasthefamilyontheIslandwereabouttositdowntosupper.Itwasdarkwhenhistallfigurewasseentostalkoutofthesurroundinggloomintothecircleoffirelight.Trueheartrecognisedhimatonce,andawordfromher sufficed to inform her husband that the stranger was a friend. He waswelcomedofcoursecordially,andmadetositdownintheplaceofhonour.Everyattentionheacceptedwiththegravesolemnityofanowl,andwithoutanyother recognition thanamildgrunt,whichwasbynomeansmeantasasurlyreturnofthanks,butasaquietmodeofintimatingthattheattentionwasagreeabletohisfeelings.

Itmay,perhaps,benotunknowntothereaderthatgravereticenceisoneofthecharacteristics of the Red men of the west. They are never in a hurry tocommunicate their news, whether important or otherwise, but usually, onarrivingatanyhospitableabode,sitdownwithcalmdignityandsmokeapipe,ormake slight reference to unimportantmatters before coming to themainpointoftheirvisitifithaveamainpointatall.AsitiswiththeRedmennow,so was it with the Bethucks at the time we write of. True, the perniciouspracticeofsmokingtobaccohadnotyetbeenintroducedamongthem,sothatthe social pipe was neither offered, desired, nor missed! but the Indianacceptedabirch-barkbasketofsoupwithplacidsatisfaction,andconsumeditwithslowfelicity.Then,beingofferedaformidablevenisonsteak,helookedcalmlyathishost,blinkedhisthanksorwhateverhefeltanddevouredit.“Hashegotnothing to say forhimself?”askedCaptainTrench, surprisedattheman’ssilence.“Plenty to say, I doubt not,” answeredHendrick,who then explained to theCaptaintheIndiancharacteristicjustreferredto.“Whatapowerofsuctionhehasgot”saidOlly,referringnottotheIndian,butto the family baby which he had got on his knee, and was feeding with adangerouslylargelumpofbear’sfat.“Whatdoeshesay?”askedPaul,referringtotheirvisitor,who,havingcometo a temporary pause,with a sighof contentment had said something in hisnativetonguetoHendrick.“Heaskedmeifthesinging-birdswillgladdenhisearsandcausehishearttothrill.”“Whatmeanshebythat?”“HeonlyreferstoafactwellknownamongtheIndians,”repliedthehunter,withaquietsmile,“thatTrueheartandGoodredhavesuchsweetvoices thatthey areknowneverywhereby thenameof the singing-birds.Happening tohavesomeknowledgeofmusic,Ihavetrainedthemtosinginpartsoneortwohymnstaughttomebymymother,andcomposed,Ibelieve,byagoodmonkoftheoldentime.Somethingsinthehymnspuzzledme,Iconfess,untilIhadthegood fortune tomeetwithyou. I understand thembetternow.You shallhearoneofthem.”Sosaying,he turnedandnodded toTrueheartwhoofcourseunderstood theconversation.Withaslightinclinationoftheheaddenotingacquiescenceshebegantosing.AtthesamemomentGoodredpartedherprettylipsandjoinedher.Theresultwastofill theairwithharmonysosweetthatthecaptainand

hiscomradewerestruckdumbwithdelightandsurprise,theIndian’sjawwasarrestedwithanunchewedmorsel in themouth,and the familybabygazingupwardinwonder,ceasedtheefforttochokeitselfonbear’sfat.ItneedscarcelybesaidthatthegruntoftheIndianwasveryemphaticwhenthe sounds died away like fairy-music, and that the hunter’s white guestsentreatedformore.Trueheartandherdaughterwerequitewilling,and,foraconsiderabletime,kepttheiraudienceenthralled.At last, having washed down his meal with a final basketful of soup, theIndian began to unbosomhimself of his newsa fewwords at a time. Itwassoon found, however, that he had no news of importance to tell. Hewas ahunter;hehadbeenoutwithapartyofhistribe,buthavingdifferedwiththemas to thebest district to bevisited, hehad left themand continued thehuntalone.BeingnotfardistantfromthehomeofthewhitehunterwhohadmatedwiththeBethucksinging-bird,hehadturnedasidefornootherpurposethantohavehisearsgladdenedandhisheartthrilled!“Wearehappy,”saidHendrick,“thatourBethuckbrothershouldhavehisearsgladdenedandhisheartthrilled,andwetrustthatthespiritofthewolfwithinhimissubdued,nowthathisstomachisalsofilled.”Apolitegruntwasthereply.“WillourBethuckbrothertellusmorenews?”“Thereisnomore,”heanswered,“Strongbowisnowanemptyvessel.”“Considering that Strongbow has just filled himself with venison, he canhardly call himself an empty vessel,” responded the hunter, with intensegravity.Strongbow turned his head quickly and gazed at the speaker.His solemnitydeepened. Could his white brother be jesting? The white brother’s gravityforbadetheidea.InordertoconveymorestronglythefactthathehadnonewstogivetheIndiantouchedhisforehead“Strongbowisemptyhere.”“Thatmaywellbe,”remarkedHendrickquietly.Again the Indian glared. Solemnity is but a feeble word after all! He saidnothing,butwasevidentlypuzzled.“HasourBethuckbrotherseennoenemies fromthesettingsun? Isallquietandpeacefulamonghisfriends?”askedthehunter.“Allispeacefulallisquiet.Butwehavenewsofawarpartythatleftusmany

days past. They had gone, about the time that the deer begin to move, topunish some white men who were cast on shore by the sea where the sunrises.”“What say you?” cried Hendrick, starting. “Have the Red warriors beensuccessful?”“Theyhave.Someofthewhitemenhavebeenkilled,otherscaughtandtakentoourwigwamstobemadeslavesortodie.”The consternation of Paul and his friends, on this being translated to them,maybe imagined.Past injurieswereforgotten,andinstantpreparationsweremadetosetofftotherescueattheearliestdawnofthefollowingday.

ChapterTwentyTheRescuePartyARencontreandBadNews

Hothaste nowmarked theproceedingsof the rescueparty, forPaul andhisfriends felt that they had no time to lose. Fortunately theweather favouredthem.That verynight a sharp frost set in, hardening themoist and swampygroundsoverwhich theyhad topass.Strongbow,onbeingmadeacquaintedwith the state of matters, willingly agreed to lead the party to the place towhich he thought it likely the captives had been taken, or where, at least,informationaboutthemmightbeobtainedfrommembersofhisowntribe.LittleOscar,athisownurgentrequest,wasallowedtoaccompanythem,andTrueheart,Goodred,andthefamilybabyandnursewereleft inchargeofanold Indianwhose life hadoncebeen savedbyHendrick, andwho, althoughtoo old to go on the war-path, was still well able to keep the family inprovisions.Although thepartywas smallnumberingonly six, twoofwhomwereboysitwasneverthelessformidable,eachmanbeingmorethanusuallypowerful,aswell as valiant,whilst the boys, although comparatively small, possessed somuchoftheunconquerablespiritoftheirsiresastorenderthemquiteequaltoaveragemen.Thefrost,whichseemedtohavefairlyset in,kept themcoolduringthedaywhile walking, and rendered their bivouac-fires agreeable at nights. Littletime,however,wasallowedfor restor food.Theypressedoneachdaywithunflagging energy, and felt little disposition to waste time in conversationduringthebriefhaltsforneededrestandfood.Occasionally, however, some of the party felt less disposed than usual for

sleep, and sought to drive away anxiety regarding their old shipmates bytalkingofthingsandscenesaroundthem.“DoesStrongbowthinkthatthefrostwillhold?”askedHendrick,oneeveningaftersupper,ashereclinedinfrontofthefireonapileofbrushwood.“Strongbowcannottell,”returnedtheIndian.“Itlookslikethaw,buttheGreatSpiritsometimeschangeshismindandsendswhatwedonotexpect.”Having uttered this cautious replywith sententious gravity he continued hissupperinsilence.“The Great Spirit never changes his mind,” said Paul. “Perfection cannotchange,becauseitneednot.”“Waugh!” replied the Indian. Itwasevident thathedidnotagreewithPaul,butwastoopolitetosayso.“Ilikethissorto’thing,”remarkedCaptainTrench,lookingupfromtheribonwhichhewasengaged,andgazingroundatthemagnificentsweepofhillanddaleofwhichtheyhadabird’s-eyeviewfromtheircamp.“SodoI,daddy;withlotstoeatan’aroarin’fireafellowfeelsashappyasaking,”saidOliver.“Happierthanmostkings,Idoubtnot,”returnedHendrick.“But, Olly, you have mentioned only two of the things that go to producefelicity,”saidPaul.“Foodandfirearecertainlyimportantelements,butthesewouldbeoflittleavailifwehadnothealth,strength,andappetite.”“To say nothin’ of the fresh air o’ themountains, and the excitement o’ thewilderness,andtheenthusiasmofyouth,”addedthecaptain.“Areyounotashappyasme,daddy?”askedtheboy,withasuddenglanceofintelligence.“Happieragreatdeal,Ishouldsay,”repliedthefather,“forI’mnotsomuchofagoose.”“Whythen,daddy,ifyouarehappierthanwe,whatyoucalltheenthusiasmofyouthcanhavenothingtodowithit,youknow!”“Youyoungrascal,theenthusiasmofmiddleageismuchmorepowerfulthanthatofyouth!Youletyourtonguewagtoofreely.”“D’ye hear that, Osky?” said Oliver to his little companion in an audible

whisper.“There’scomfortforyouan’me.We’llbemoreenthusiasticandfarhappierwhenwecometomiddleage!Whatd’yethinko’that?”Oscarwho, although much inclined to fun and humour, did not alwaysunderstand the curious phases of them presented to him by his civilisedfriendlooked innocently in his face and said, “Me no tink about it at all!”WhereuponOllyburstintoashortlaugh,andexpressedhisbeliefthat,onthewhole,thatstateofmindwasaboutthehappiesthecouldcometo.“Howlong, thinkyou,will it takeus to reach thewigwamsofyourkindredfromthispoint?”askedHendrickoftheirguide,ashepreparedtoliedownforthenight.“Twodays,”answeredtheIndian.“God grant thatwemay be in time,”murmured Paul, “I fear a thaw, for itwoulddelayusgreatly.”Thatwhichwas feared cameupon them thenext day.Theywereyet asleepwhenthosebalmyinfluences,whichalonehavepowertodisruptanddestroytheice-king’sreign,begantowork,andwhenthetravellersawoke,thesurfaceof the landwasmoist. Itwasnotsoft,however, for timeis required todrawfrostoutoftheearth,sothatprogresswasnotmuchimpeded.Still,theeffectofthethawdepressedtheirspiritsagooddeal,fortheywerewellawarethatacontinuance of it would render the low grounds, into which they hadfrequentlytodescend,almostimpassable.It was, therefore, with anxious forebodings that they lay down to rest thatnight, and Paul’s prayer for strength and guidance was more fervent thanusual.About this period of the year changes of temperature are sometimes veryabrupt,andtheirconsequencescurious.Duringthenightfrosthadagainsetinwith great intensity. Fatigue had compelled the party to sleep longer thanusual,despitetheiranxietytopressforward,andwhentheyawoketheraysoftherisingsunweresweepingoverthewholelandscape,andrevealing,aswellas helping to create, a scene of beauty which is seldom, if ever, witnessedelsewhere.Whenrainfallswithalowthermometerneartheearthitbecomesfrozenthemoment it reaches the ground, and thus a regular deposit of pure glassy icetakes place on every branch and twig of the leafless shrubs and trees. Thelayeroficegoesonincreasing,sometimes,tillitattainsthethicknessofhalfan inch ormore. Thus, in a few hours, amagical transformation is broughtabout.The trees seem tobehungwithglittering jewels; the larger limbsare

edgedwith dazzling ice-ropes; theminutest twigswith threads of gleamingcrystal,andallthis,withthesunshootingonandthroughit,presentsasceneofsplendourbeforewhichevenourmostvividconceptionsoffairy-landmustsinkintocomparativeinsignificance.Such, then, was the vision presented to the gaze of the rescue party onawaking that morning. To some of them it was a new revelation of thewonderfulworksofGod.ToHendrickandtheIndianitwasfamiliarenough.TheNewfoundlandersofmoderntimesknowitwellbythenameofa“silverthaw.”After the first gaze of surprise and admiration, our travellers made hastypreparation to resume the journey, and the frost toldbeneficiallyon them inmore ways than one, for while it hardened the ground it rendered theatmosphere clear and exhilarating, thus raising their spirits and their hopes,whichtendedgreatlytoincreasetheirpowerofactionandendurance.Thatnighttheyencampedagainonacommandingheight,andpreparedsupperwiththehopefulfeelingsofmenwhoexpecttogaintheendoftheirjourneyonthemorrow.Asif tocheer themstillmore, theauroraborealisplayedin theheavensthatnight with unwonted magnificence. It is said that the northern lights aregrander inNewfoundlandeven than in theArctic regions.Atallevents theywere finer thananythingof thekind thathadeverbeforebeenseenbyPaulBurnsorCaptainTrenchandhisson,insomuchthatthesightfilledthemwithfeelingsofawe.Theentireheavensseemedtobeablazefromhorizontozenith,notaswiththelurid fires of a great conflagration, which might suggest only the idea ofuniversaldevastation,butwiththetendersheenofvariedhalf-tints,playfullyshooting athwart and intermingling with brighter curtains of light of everyconceivablehue.The repose of the party was somewhat interfered with by the wonders thatsurrounded them that night, and more than once they were startled fromslumberbytheloudreportofgreatlimbsoftrees,which,strongthoughtheyseemedtobe,weretornoffbytheloadoficethathadaccumulatedonthem.Daybreakfoundthepartyagainpassingswiftlyovertheland.Itreallyseemedas if even the boys had received special strength for the occasion, for theyneitherlaggedbehindnormurmured,butkeptwellupduringthewholeforcedmarch. No doubt that youthful enthusiasm to which Captain Trench hadreferredkeptOllyuptothemark,whileOskyashisfriendcalledhimhadbeeninuredtohardlabourofeverykindfrominfancy.

Atlast,aboutnoonthatday,theirleadercametoasuddenhalt,andpointedtosomethingonthegroundbeforehim.“Whatdoeshesee?”askedPaul,inalowvoice.“Footprints,”saidHendrick.“Whatofdeer?”askedthecaptain,inahoarsewhisper.“Nonatives.Perhapshisfriends.”While they were whispering, the Indian was on his knees examining thefootprintsinquestion.Risingafterafewminutes’survey,withagravelookhesaid“Strongbow is not sure.The prints look like those of his tribe, buthe is notsure!”“At all events we can follow them,” said Hendrick. “The land is open; wecannoteasilybesurprised,andwehaveourweaponshandy.”Ashespokehedrewanarrowfromhisquiver,and,affixingthenotchtothebow-string, carried the weapon in his left hand. The others followed hisexample.Oliverfelthisbeltbehind,tomakesurethattheaxewasthere,andglancedatthemightyclubthathungfromhisshoulder.Oscar, regardingwithaslightdegreeofwonder thewarlikearrangementsofhisfriend,alsofittedanarrowtohislittlebow,andthen,withcautiousstepsandinquiringglances,thepartycontinuedtoadvance.ButHendrickwaswrong in supposing that a surprisewas not probable, forsuddenlyfrombehindafrowningrockorcliffthereappearedabandofarmedmenwhoconfrontedthem,andinstantlyraisedtheirbowstoshoot.Quickaslightning thewhitemendid the same.Evidently both partieswere takenbysurprise,foriftheIndianshadbeenapartyinambushtheywouldhaveshotatthe others without showing themselves. This or some such idea seemed toflashintothemindsofbothparties,fortherewasaslighthesitationonthepartofeach.JustatthatmomentalargeblackdogwhichaccompaniedtheIndians,andhaddisplayedall its formidable teethandgumson seeing the strangers,wasobservedtocoveritsteethandwagitstailinterrogatively.Hendrickgavealowwhistle.Instantlythedogboundedtowardshim,andbegantofawnandleapuponandaroundhimwitheverydemonstrationofexcessivejoy,atsightofwhichboth

partiesloweredtheirweapons.“Thedogisanoldfriend,”explainedHendricktoPaul.“Gooddog,”headded,addressingtheanimalintheIndiantongue,“youareafaithfulfriendfaithfulintimeofneed.”Then,droppinghisbowandadvancingunarmedtotheIndians,hesaid“Thisdogbelongsto theBethucksofGrandLake.Didyouobtainhimfromthem?”“No,wedidnot,”repliedoneoftheIndians,whoseemedfromhisbearingtobe a chief, “but we are kinsmen of the men of Grand Lake. One of theirbraves,LittleBeaver,tookoneofourgirls,RisingSun,forhiswife.Wecomefrom yonder (pointing northward). Some moons have passed since LittleBeaver,whocametorevisituswithhiswife,leftustoreturntohiswigwamonGrandLake.”“IknowLittleBeaverwell,”saidHendrick,asthechiefpausedatthispoint;“thedogbelongstohim.”Withoutnoticingtheremarkthechiefcontinued“WhenLittleBeaverandRisingSunleftustheywentonalonebytheshoresofthegreatsaltlake.Weneversawourbraveinlifeagain.Sometimeafter,aparty of ourwarriors came upon a grave. They examined it, and found thedeadbodyofLittleBeaver. Itwasbruised,andmanyboneswerebroken.Aparty ofwhitemen had built lodges near to the place. Itwas theywho hadmurderedLittleBeaver,weknew,fortherewasnosignofothersnear,andhisdogwaswiththem.SoourbraveswenttothekinsmenofRisingSun,andwereturnedandattackedthepalefaces.”“Didyouslayallthepalefaces?”askedHendrickanxiously.“No,someweslew,otherswetookprisoners.”HendrickthoughtitbesttoreserveinthemeantimehiscommunicationofallthistoPaulandhisfriends.“I amyourkinsmanalso,”he said to thechief, “forTrueheart ismywife. Ihavemuchtosaytoyou,butourbusinessispressing.Willyouwalkwithmewhilewetalk?”Thechiefbowedhishead,andorderedhispartytofalltotherearandfollow,whilehewalkedinadvancewiththepale-facedhunter.

HendrickthenexplainedtotheIndianasmuchaboutthewreckoftheWaterWagtailandthedismissalofCaptainTrenchandhiscomradesashethoughtnecessary,and thensaid thatalthoughhis threefriendswere indignantat thetreatment they had received from their comrades, theywould be grieved tohearthatanyofthemweretobekilled,andhegreatlywishedtopreventthat.“Wouldthechiefguidehimtotheplacewheretheprisonerswere?”“I will guide you,” said the chief, “but you will find it hard to save them.PalefaceshaveslainLittleBeaverandstolenRisingSun,andpalefacesmustdie.”

ChapterTwentyOneOldFriendsinaSadPlight

AnxiousthoughPaulBurnsnaturallywasforthefateofthecrewoftheWaterWagtail, he could not help being interested in and impressed by the finecountrywhichhewasthusunexpectedlyobligedtotraverse.Hismindbeingofapracticalandutilitariancast,aswellasreligious,henotonlyadmiredthegrand and richly diversified land as being part of theworks ofGod, but asbeingeminentlysuitablefortheuseandenjoymentofman.“Lookthere,”hesaidtoCaptainTrench,astheyploddedsteadilyalong,atthesame time pointing to a break in a neighbouring cliff which revealed thegeological features of the land. “Do you see yonder beds of rock of almosteverycolourintherainbow?Thesearemarble-beds,andfromthelookofthepartsthatcropoutIshouldsaytheyareextensive.”“Butnotofmuchuse,” returned thecaptain,“so longasmenarecontent tohousethemselvesinhutsofbarkandskins.”“Somightsomeshort-sightedmortalamongourownsavageforefathershavesaid longago if themineralwealthofBritainhadbeenpointedout tohim,”returnedPaul.“YetwehavelivedtoseetheAbbeyofWestminsterandmanyothernotableedificesariseinourland.”“Thenyoulookforwardtosuch-likerisinginthisland?”saidthecaptain,withsomethingofacynicalsmile.“Well,notexactly,MasterTrench;butourgrandchildrenmayseethem,ifmenwill only colonise the land and strive to develop its resources on Christianprinciples.”“Suchas?”askedTrench.“Suchasthedoingtoothersasonewouldhaveothersdotoone’s-self,andthe

enactingofequallawsforrichandpoor.”“ThenwillNewfoundlandneverbedeveloped,”saidthecaptainemphatically;“for history tells us that the bulk of men have never been guided by suchprinciplessincethedaysofAdam.”“Sincewhenwereyouenrolledamongtheprophets,MasterTrench?”“Sinceyouuttered theprevioussentence,MasterPaul. Iappeal toyourownknowledgeofhistory.”“Nay,Iquestionnotyourhistoricalviews,butyourpropheticalstatements,asto the fate of this island. Have you not heard of this writingthat ‘theknowledgeoftheLordshallcovertheearthasthewaterscoverthesea?’Doesnot that signify completeness in the spread of knowledge? And when thatcomestopass,willitbearnogoodfruit?Ifnot,whyisitrecordedasablessedstate of things towhichwemay look forward, and towardswhichwemaystrive?Iadmitthatthewickednessofmanmaydelaythedesiredend.Unjustlaws,interferencewithfreedomofaction,hatredoftruth,maycheckprogresshereasithasdoneelsewhere;butwhocantellhowsoonthetruth,asitisinJesus,maybegintooperate,orhowrapidlyitmayculminate?”“Youmayberight,MasterPaul;Iknownot.AnyhowIwithdrawmyclaimtobe numbered with the prophetsall the more that I see Strongbow makingsignalswhichIdon’trightlyunderstand.”The Indianguide,whohadbeenwalkingsomewhat inadvanceof theparty,wasseenstandingonthesummitofaknollmakingsignals,nottohisfriendsbehindhim,butapparentlytosomeoneinfront.Hasteningforwardtheysoonfoundthathehaddiscoveredfriends,abodyofIndians,whowerehurryingtomeethim;whiledowninthevalleybeyond,whichsuddenlyburstupontheirview,stoodanextensiveIndianvillage.Itwasofthatevanescentandmovablekind,which consists of cone-like tentsmade of skins and bark spread uponpoles.“They are friends,” said Strongbow, whenHendrick and the others reachedhim;“kinsmenofthemurderedLittleBeaver.”“Friends of Hendrick also, I see,” said the captain to Paul, as the hunterhastenedforwardtomeettheIndiansandsalutethem.Hewasright,andafewminutes’conversationwithhisfriendssufficedtoputtheguideinpossessionofallhewishedtoknow.Returningtohiscompanions,heatoncerelievedtheirminds,tosomeextentatleast,bytellingthemthatitwasindeedthetribeintowhosehandstheiroldshipmateshadfallen,andthat

thesailorswerestillaliveandwell,thoughprisoners,andlyingundersentenceofdeath.“Come,thatatalleventsisgoodnews,”saidPaul.“IthankGodwearenottoolate,andImakenodoubtthatwewillpersuadetheIndianstodelayexecutionof the sentence tillwe findoutwhetherornot theyhavebeenguiltyof thismurder. Someof our old shipmates I know are capable of it, but others arecertainlyinnocent.”Hendrickdidnotatoncereply.ItwasevidentfromhislooksthathehadnotmuchhopeinthemercifuldispositionoftheIndians.“Iknowsomemenofthistribe,”hesaid,“butnotallofthemthoughtheyallknowmebyreport.Youmayat leastdependonmyinfluencebeingused totheutmostinbehalfofyourfriends.Come,wewilldescend.”Afewminutes’walkbroughtthemtothefootofthehillwheretheIndiantentswere pitched. Here they found a multitude of men, women, and childrenwatchingthemastheydescendedthehill,and,fromthelooksofmanyoftheformer,itseemednotatallimprobablethataroughreceptionawaitedthem.“You see,” saidPaul, in a lowvoice to the captain, “they probably class uswith themurderers, because of ourwhite skins.Our only hope, underGod,restsinHendrick.”ThatPaul’shopewasnotill-foundedbecameapparentthemomentthehuntermadehimselfknown.Forthescowlingbrowsclearedatonce,andoneortwomen,whohadformerlymetwiththewhitehunter,cameforwardandsalutedhimintheEuropeanmannerwhichhehadalreadytaughttomanyoftheredmen,namely,withashakeofthehand.Agreatpalaverfollowedinthewigwamofthechief,Bearpaw,inthecourseofwhichmanythingsweretalkedabout;butweconfineourrecordtothatpartofthetalkwhichbearsspeciallyonourtale.“The men must die,” said Bearpaw sternly. “What you tell me about theirharshtreatmentoftheirchiefandhissonandfriendonlyprovesthemtobethemoredeservingofdeath.Mytwoyoungbraveswhovisitedthemontheislandweretreatedlikedogsbysomeofthem,andLittleBeavertheyhaveslain.Itisjustthattheyshoulddie.”“Butmythreefriendshere,”returnedHendrick,“treatedyourbraveswell,andthey had no knowledge or part in the killing of Little Beaver. Perhaps thepalefacesdidnotkillhim.Dotheyadmitthattheydid?”

“How can we tell what they admit?We know not their language, nor theyours.Butthereisnoneedtopalaver.DidnotStrongbowandhisbravesfindthedeadbodyofLittleBeaverbruisedandbroken?Didtheynotseehisblackdog in thepalefacecamp,andhasnotRisingSundisappeared like theearlyfrostbefore thesun?Doubtless she isnow in thecampwith thosepalefaceswhohaveescapedus,butwhomwewillyethuntdownandkill.”“Bearpawisright,”saidHendrick,“murderersdeservetodie.ButBearpawisalsojust;hewillletthemenoftheseaspeakintheirowndefencenowthatIamheretointerpret?”“Bearpaw is just,” returned thechief.“Hewillhearwhat thepalefaceshavegottosay.Oneoftheyoungmenwilltakeyoutotheirprison.”HesignedashespoketoayoungIndian,whoinstantlyleftthetent,followedbyHendrickandhisfriends.Passingrightthroughthevillagethepartyreachedaprecipice,onthefaceofwhichwaswhatappearedtobetheentrancetoacavern.TwoIndiansstoodinfront of it on guard. A voicewas heardwithin, which struck familiarly yetstrangelyonPaulandthecaptain’sears.Andlittlewonder,foritwasthevoiceofGrummidgeengagedintheunaccustomedactofprayer!TheyoungIndianpaused, and,with a solemn look, pointed upwards, as if to intimate that heunderstood the situation, and would not interrupt. Those whom he led alsopaused and listenedas did the sentinels, though they understood noword ofwhatwassaid.PoorGrummidge had evidently been brought very low, for his oncemanlyvoicewasweakandhis tonesweredesponding.Neverbefore,perhaps,wasprayerofferedinamorefamiliarorlessperfunctorymanner.“O Lord,” he said, “do get us out o’ this here scrape somehow!We don’tdeserveit,thoughweareawfulsinners,forwe’vedonenothin’asIknowsontohurt themsavages.Wecan’tspeaktotheman’ theycan’tspeaktous,an’there’snobodytohelpus.Won’tyoudoit,Lord?”“Sure it’s no manner o’ use goin’ on like that, Grummidge,” said anothervoice.“You’vedoneitmorethanwancea’ready,an’there’snoanswer.Verylikelywe’vebintoowickedintirelytodeserveanansweratall.”“SpeakforyourselfSquill,”growledavoicethatwasevidentlythatofLittleStubbs.“Idon’tthinkI’vebeenaswickedasyouwouldmakeout,norhalfaswickedasyourself!Anyhow,I’mgoin’todiegame,ifitcomestothat.Wecanonlydieonce,an’it’llsoonbeover.”

“Ochone!”groanedSquill,“av itwasn’t for theshortallowance they’veputtuson,an’thebadwalkin’everyday,an’allday,Iwouldn’tmindsomuch,butI’ve scarcegot strengthenough left to sneeze,an’as tomy legs,och!quillstheyareinstidofSquill’s.”“Forshame,man,”remonstratedGrummidge,“tobemakin’yourbadjokesatatimelikethis.”The tone of the conversation now led the young Indian to infer thatinterruptionmightnotbeinappropriate,soheturnedroundthecornerofrockthathidtheinteriorfromview,andledhispartyinfrontofthecaptives.Theywere seated on the groundwith their backs against thewall, and their armstiedbehindthem.Theaspectoftheunfortunateprisonerswasindeedforlorn.Itwouldhavebeenludicroushaditnotbeenintenselypitiful.Sowoe-begoneandwornweretheirfacesthat theirfriendsmighthavebeenexcusedhadtheyfailedtorecognisethem,buteveninthedepthsofhismiseryandstateofsemi-starvationitwasimpossible tomistake theexpressivevisageofpoorSquill,whose legswereindeed reduced to somethingnot unsuggestiveof “quills,” to saynothingoftherestofhisbody.But all the other prisoners,Grummidge, Stubbs,Blazer, Taylor, andGarnet,were equally reduced andmiserable, for the harsh treatment and prolongedjourneyingthroughforestandswamp,overhillanddale,oninsufficientfood,hadnotonlybrought them to thevergeof thegrave,buthadkilledoutrightoneortwoothersofthecrewwhohadstartedwiththem.Thevisitors,owingtotheirpositionwiththeirbackstothelightofthecave’smouth, could not be recognised by the prisoners, who regarded them withlistlessapathyuntilCaptainTrenchspoke,swallowingwithdifficultyalumpofsomesortthatnearlychokedhim.“Hallo!shipmates!howgoesit?Gladtohavefoundye,lads.”“Och!”exclaimedSquill,startingup,asdidallhiscompanions;butnoothersoundwasutteredforafewseconds.Thenadeep“thankGod”escapedfromGrummidge,andLittleStubbstriedtocheer,butwithsmallsuccess;whileoneortwo,sittingdownagain,laidtheirthinfacesintheirhandsandwept.Reader,itwerevaintoattemptadescriptionofthescenethatfollowed,fortheprisonerswerenotonlyoverwhelmedwithjoyatameetingsounexpected,butwere raised suddenly from the depths of despair to the heights of confidenthope,fortheydidnotdoubtthattheappearanceoftheirmatesasfriendsoftheIndians was equivalent to their deliverance. Even when told that their

deliverancewasbynomeansa certainty, their joywasonlymoderated, andtheirhopebutslightlyreduced.“But tellme,”saidPaul,as theyallsatdowntogether in thecave,while theIndians stoodbyand looked silentlyon, “what is the truthabout this Indianwhowasmurdered,andthedogandthewoman?”“TheIndianwasnevermurdered,”saidGrummidgestoutly.“Hehadevidentlyfallen over the precipice.We found him dead and we buried him. His dogcame tousat last andmade friendswithus, though it ranaway theday thesettlement was attacked. As to the woman, we never saw or heard of anywomanatalltillthishour!”WhenBearpawwastoldhowthematteractuallystood,hefrownedandsaidsternly“Thepalefaceslie.IftheyneversawRisingSun,whydidshenotcomebacktousandtellwhathadhappened?Shewasnota littlechild.Shewasstrongandactive,liketheyoungdeer.Shecouldspearfishandsnarerabbitsaswellasouryoungmen.Whydidshenotreturn?Whereisshe?Eithersheisdeadandthepalefaceshavekilledher,ortheyhaveherstillamongthem.Notonlyshallthepalefacesanswerforherwiththeirlives,buttheBethuckswillgoonthewar-pathtothecoastandsweepthepalefacesettlementintothesea!”Itwasofnoavail thatHendrickpleadedthecauseoftheprisonersearnestly,andsetfortheloquentlyallthatcouldbesaidintheirfavour,especiallyurgingthatsomeofthemhadbeenkindtothetwoIndianswhofirstvisitedthewhitemen.RisingSunhadbeenafavouritewiththechief;shewasdeadandsothepalefacesmustdie!

ChapterTwentyTwoTellsofTerribleSuspenseViolentIntentionsandReligiousDiscussion

“Now I tell youwhat it is,MasterHendrick,” saidCaptainTrench, the dayaftertheirarrivalattheIndiancamp.“Iseethisisgoin’tobeanuglybusiness,an’IgiveyoufairwarningthatI’mgoin’togitsurly.Iwon’tstandbyquietlyandseeGrummidgeandmymenslaughteredbeforemyeyeswithoutmovin’afinger. I’ll keep quiet as long as there’s any chance of all your palaverin’resultinginanything,butiftheworstcomestotheworstI’llshowfight,evenifIshouldhavetostandalonewithallthereddevilsinNewfoundlandarrayedagainstme.”“I honour your feelings,CaptainTrench, but doubt your judgment.Howdoyouproposetoproceed?”

“Willyoujoinme?Answermethatquestionfirst.”“Iwilljoinyouinanyschemethatisreasonable,”returnedHendrick,afterapause, “but not in a useless attempt to fight against a whole colony ofIndians.”“ThenI’llkeepmyplansofprocedure inmyownnoddle,”said thecaptain,turningawaywithanindignantfling,andtakingthepaththatledtothecaveorprison-houseofhisshipmates,forasyettheywereallowedfreeintercoursewiththeirfriends.“Grummidge,” said he, in a stern voice, as he squatted down on the floorbesidetheunfortunateseaman,“thingslookbad,there’snodoubtaboutthat,an’ itwould be unkind deception to say otherwise, for that villainBearpawseems togitharderandharder themore they try to softenhim.Nowwhat Iwanttoknowis,areyouan’theotherspreparedtojoinme,ifImanagetocutyourcordsan’giveyouweapons,an’”“Shush! clap a stopper on your mouth, cappen,” said Grummidge in anundertone,“theredskinsarelistening.”“An’ what then? They know no more about English than I know aboutTimbuctoosh,” returned thecaptain irascibly.“Let ’em listen!What Iwasa-goin’tosayis,areyouan’theotherladsreadytofollowmeintothewoodsan’boltifwecan,orfighttothedeathifwecan’t?”“Surean’I’mreadytofight,”interposedSquill,“ortofollowyetotheendo’theworld, an’ further; but if I do I’ll have to leavemy legs behindme, forthey’re fit for nothin’. True it is, I feel a little stronger since your friendHendrickgot thebastes to increaseourallowanceo’grub,butI’mnotup tomuchyet.Howsiver, I’mstrongenoughp’r’aps todie fightin’.Anyhow, I’lltry.”“SowillI,”saidLittleStubbs.“IfeeltwicethemanIwassinceyoufoundus.”“Puttmedownonthelisttoo,cap’n,”saidFredTaylor,whowasperhapstheleastreducedinstrengthofanyoftheprisoners.“I’mgameforanythingshorto’murder.”Similar sentiments having been expressed by his other friends, the captain’sspiritwassomewhatcalmed.Leavingthemhewentintothewoodstoponderandworkouthisplans.TherehemetPaulandHendrick.

“Wearegoingtovisittheprisoners,”saidtheformer.“You’llfind’eminamorehopefulframeofmind,”observedthecaptain.“I wish they had better ground for their hopes,” returned his friend, “butBearpawisinexorable.Wearetohaveafinalmeetingwithhimto-morrow.Igonowtohaveatalkwithourpoorfriends.Itmaybethatsomethingintheirfavourshallbesuggested.”Nothing, however,was suggested during the interview that followed,whichgavetheremotesthopethatanythingtheycouldsayordowouldinfluencethesavagechiefinfavourofhisprisoners.Indeed,evenifhehadbeenmercifullydisposed,theangerofhispeopleagainsttheseamenespeciallytherelativesofLittleBeaverandthosewhohadbeenwoundedduringtheattackonWagtailsettlementwouldhaveconstrainedhimtofollowoutwhathebelievedtobethecourseofjustice.Whenthefinalmeetingbetweenthevisitorsandthechieftookplace,thelatterwassurroundedbyhisprincipalwarriors.“Hendrick,”he said, in reply to a proposal that execution shouldbe at leastdelayed,“thenameofthewhitehunterwhohasmatedwiththeBethuckgirlisrespectedeverywhere,andhiswishesalonewouldmoveBearpaw topardonhis paleface foes, but blood has been shed, and the price of bloodmust bepaid.Hendrickknowsourlawstheycannotbechanged.TherelationsofLittleBeavercryaloudforit.TellyourpalefacefriendsthatBearpawhasspoken.”When this was interpreted to Paul Burns a sudden thought flashed into hismind,andstandingforthwithflushedcountenanceandraisedarm,hesaid“Hendrick, tell the chief of theBethucks thatwhen theGreat Spirit formedmanHemadehimwithoutsinandgavehimajustandholylawtoobey;butmanbrokethelaw,andtheGreatSpirithadsaidthatthepriceofthebrokenlawisdeath.Sothereseemednohopeforman,becausehecouldnotundothepast,and theGreatSpiritwouldnotchangeHis law.Buthe foundawayofdeliverance. TheGreat Spirit himself came down to earth, and, as themanJesus Christ, paid the price of the broken lawwith His own blood, so thatguilty,butforgiven,manmightgofree.Now,iftheGreatSpiritcouldpardonthe guilty and set them free, would it be wrong in Bearpaw to follow Hisexample?”ThiswassuchanewideatotheIndianthathedidnotatfirstreply.Hestood,with foldedarmsandknittedbrow,pondering thequestion.At lasthespokeslowly

“Bearpawknowsnotthethingaboutwhichhispalefacebrotherspeaks.Itmaybetrue.Itseemsverystrange.Hewillinquireintothematterhereafter.ButthelawsthatguidetheGreatSpiritarenotthelawsthatguidemen.WhatmaybefitinHim,maynotbefitinthem.”“Mydark-skinnedbrotheriswrong,”saidHendrick.“ThelawthatguidestheGreatSpirit,andthatshouldguideallHiscreatures,isoneandthesame.Itisthelawoflove.”“Was it love that induced thepalefaces tokillLittleBeaverandstealRisingSun?”demandedthechieffiercely.“It was not,” replied Hendrick; “it was sin; and Bearpaw has now anopportunitytoactliketheGreatSpiritbyforgivingthosewho,hethinks,havesinnedagainsthim.”“Never!” returned the chief vehemently. “The palefaces shall die; but theyshall liveoneday longerwhile thismatter is considered in council, for it isonlychildrenwhoactinhaste.Go!Bearpawhasspoken.”To have secured even the delay of a single day was almost more than theprisoners’friendshadhopedfor,andtheyresolvedtomakethemostofit.“Now,Hendrick,”saidPaul,whentheywereinthetentthathadbeensetasidefortheiruse,“wemustbeprepared,youandI,togivethechiefafullaccountofourreligion;for,dependonit,hismindhasbeenawakened,andhewon’trestsatisfiedwithmerelydiscussingthesubjectwithhismenofwar.”“True,Paul;whatdoyouproposetodo?”“The first thing I shalldo is topray forguidance.After that Iwill talkwithyou.”“Formypart,” saidCaptainTrench,asPaul roseand left the tent, “I seenochanceofmovingthatsavagebyreligionoranythingelse,soI’llgoan’makearrangementsforthecarryin’outo’myplans.Comealongtothewoodswithme,Olly,Ishallwantyourhelp.”“Father,”saidtheboy,inaserioustone,astheyenteredtheforest,“surelyyoudon’tmean tocarryout inearnest theplanyouspokeof toGrummidgeandtheothersyesterday?”“Whynot,myson?”“Becausewearesuretobeallkilledifyoudo.Aswellmightwetrytostoptherisingtideastosubdueawholetribeofsavages.”

“Andwouldyou,Olly,”saidtheseaman,stoppingandlookingsternlyat theboy,“wouldyouadvisemetobesomeanastolookonattheslaughterofmyshipmateswithoutmakingoneefforttosavethem?”“Iwouldneveradviseyoutodoanythingmean,father;an’ifIdidsoadviseyou,youwouldn’tdoit;buttheeffortyouthinkofmakin’wouldnotsavethemen.Itwouldonlyendinallofusbein’killed.”“Well,andwhato’that?Woulditbethefirsttimethatmenhavebeenkilledinagoodcause?”“Butacausecan’tbeagoodoneunlesssomegoodcomesofit!Iftherewasachanceatall,Iwouldsaygoat’em,daddy,an’bowl’emdownlikeskittles,butyouknowthere’snochanceinyourplan.Boltin’intothewoodsan’gittin’lostwouldbelittleuseinthefaceo’savagesthatcantrackadeerbyinvisiblefootprints. An’ fighting themwould be like fightingmoskitoesone thousanddown, another thousand come on! Besides, when you an’ I are killedwhichwe’resure tobewhatwouldcomeo’mother,sittin’ thereallalone,dayafterday,wonderin’whywenevercomeback,thoughwepromisedtodoso?Thinkhowanxiousit’llmakeherforyearstocome,an’howbroken-heartedatlast;an’ think how careful she always was of you. Don’t you remember in thatblessedlettershesentme,justbeforewesailed,howshetellsmetolookwellafter you, an’ sew the frogs on your sea-coat when they git loose, for sheknows you’ll never do it yourself, but will be fixin’ it up with a woodenskewerorabito’rope-yarn.An’howIwastoseean’makeyoukeepyourfeetdry by changin’ your hose for you when you were asleep, for you’d neverchangethemyourselftillallyourtoesan’heelscamethrough’em.Ah!daddy,itwillbeabadjobformotheriftheykillyouandme!”“ButwhatcanIdo,Olly?”saidthemariner,inasomewhathuskyvoice,whenthispatheticpicturewaspresentedtohisview.“Yourmotherwouldbethelastto adviseme to standby and lookonwithoutmoving a finger to save ’em.WhatcanIdo,Olly?WhatcanIdo?”This question was more easily put than answered. Poor Oliver looked asperplexedashissire.“Pr’aps,”hesaid,“wemightdoasPaulsaidhe’ddo,an’prayaboutit.”“Well,wemightdoworse,myson.IfIonlycouldbelievethattheAlmightylistenstousan’troublesHimselfaboutoursmallaffairs,I”“Don’tyou think it likely, father,” interrupted theboy,“that if theAlmightytookthetroubletomakeus,Hewilltakethetroubletothinkaboutandlook

afterus?”“There’s somethin’ in that, Olly. Common sense points out that there’ssomethin’inthat.”Whetherornotthecaptainactedonhisson’ssuggestion,thereisnorecordtotell. All we can say is that he spent the remainder of that day in a verydisturbed, almost distracted, state of mind, now paying short visits to theprisoners,anonmakingsuddenrushestowardsthechief’stentwithaviewtopleadtheircause,andcheckinghimselfonrememberingthatheknewnowordoftheIndiantongue;nowandthenarguinghotlywithPaulandHendrick,thatallhadnotbeendonewhichmightoroughttohavebeendone,andsometimeshurryingintothewoodsalone.Meanwhile,ashadbeenanticipated, thechief sent forHendrickandPaul todemand an explanation of the strange words which they had used aboutforgivenessandthebrokenlawoftheGreatSpiritandJesusChrist.Itwouldbeoutofplacehere toenter into thedetailsofall thatwassaidonbothsides,butitmaynotbeuninterestingtostatethat,duringthediscussion,both the palefaces and the red men became so intensely absorbed incontemplation of the vast region of comparatively new thought into whichtheywereinsensiblyled,thattheyforgotforthetimebeingthemainobjectofthemeeting,namely,theultimatefateofthecaptives.That the chief and his warriors were deeply impressed with the Gospelmessagewasevident,butitwasequallyevidentthattheformerwasnottobemovedfromhisdecision,andinthisthewarriorssympathisedwithhim.Hisstrongconvictionsinregardtoretributivejusticewerenottobeshaken.“No,” he said, at the end of the palaver, “the blood of a Bethuck has beenshed;thebloodofthepalefacesmustflow.”“Buttellhimthatthatisnotjustevenaccordingtohisownviews,”saidPaul.“ThebloodofonepalefaceoughttosufficeforthebloodofoneBethuck.”Thiswasreceivedinsilence.Evidentlyithadsomeweightwiththechief.“Thepalefaceisright,”hesaid,afteraminute’sthought.“Onlyoneshalldie.Lettheprisonersdecideamongthemselveswhoshallbekilled.Go,Bearpawhasspokenwaugh!”Afewminutes later,and theprisoners,with their friends,wereassembled inthecavediscussingthisnewphaseoftheircase.“It’shorrible!”saidGrummidge.“D’yethinkthechiefisreallyinearnest?”

“Therecanbenodoubtofit,”saidHendrick.“Then,mylads,I’llsoonbidyeallfarewell,forasIwasyourleaderwhentheso-calledmurderwasdone,I’mboundinhonourtotaketheconsequences.”“Not at all,” cried Squill, whose susceptible heart was touched with thisreadinesstoself-sacrifice.“Youcan’tbesparedyet,Grummidge;ifanymanshuddieit’stheIrishman.Shureit’susedwearetobein’kilt,anyhow!”“There’llbenoneo’youkilledatall,”criedCaptainTrench,startingupwithlooksofindignation.“I’llgoandcarryoutmyplansah!youneedn’tlooklikethat,Olly,wi’yourpoormother’sreproachfuleyes,forI’mdeterminedtodoit,rightorwrong!”

ChapterTwentyThreeDeliverance

FortunatelyforCaptainTrench,andindeedforthewholeparty,theexecutionof his planwas renderedunnecessaryby an incident the full significanceofwhich requires that we should transport the reader to another, but not fardistant,partofthebeautifulwildernessofNewfoundland.Under the boughs of a spreading larch, on the summit of a mound whichcommandedawideprospectofplainandmorass, satan Indianwoman.Shemighthavebeen taken foranoldwoman,sowornand thinwasshe,andsohollowwerehercheeks;buttheglossyblacknessofherhair,thesmoothnessof her brow, and the glitter of her dark eyes told that she was yet in heryouthfulyears.She sat perfectly listless,with a vacant yet steadfast expression on her thinfeatures,asifsheweredreamingwithhereyesopen.Theviewbeforeherwassuch as might indeed arouse the admiration of the most stolid; but it wasevident that she took no notice of it, for her eyeswere fixed on the cloudsabovethehorizon.Long she sat, almostmotionless, thus gazing into space.Then she began tosing in a low sweet voice a plaintive air,which rose and fell for some timemore likea tunefulwail thanasong.Suddenly,and in theverymidstofhersong,sheburstintoawildlaugh,whichincreasedinvehemenceuntilitrangthrough the forest in a scream so terrible that it could be accounted for bynothing but insanity. That the poor creature’s reason was indeed dethronedbecameevident fromhersubsequentmovements, forafter fallingbackwardsfrom the exhaustion produced by her effort, or, itmight be, from the sheer

weaknessresultingfrompartialstarvation,shegotupandbeganquietlytocutup and devour raw a small bird which she had killed with a stone.Strengthened a little by this food, she rose andmade a futile effort to drawmore closely aroundher a little shawl, or ratherkerchiefofdeerskin,whichcoveredhershoulders,shudderingwithcoldasshedidso.Her short leathern gown and leggings were so soiled and torn that theornamentalworkwithwhich theyhadbeenoriginally decoratedwas almostinvisible,andthemoccasinsshehadwornhunginmereshredsuponherlittlefeet.Risingslowly,andwithawearysigh,thepoorcreaturedescendedthesideofthehillandenteredtheforestatthefootofit.Lying concealed in a neighbouring thicket an Indian youth hadwatched themotionsofthegirl.Itwasevident,fromhisgazeofsurprise,thathehadjustdiscoveredher.Itwasequallyevident,fromhisexpressionofperplexity,thathehesitatedtointrudeupononewho,hecouldnothelpseeing,wasmad;butwhen she moved forward he followed her with the soft wary tread of apanther.At first the girl’s stepwas slow and listless. Then it became rapid.A fit ofexcitementseemedtocomeon,andshebegantorun.Presentlytheexcitementseemed tohavepassed, for she fellagain into the listlesswalk.Aftera timeshesatdown,andrecommencedherlowwailingsong.At this point, taking advantage of a neighbouring thicket, the young Indiandrew as near to the girl as possible, and, in a low voice, uttered the Indianwordfor“RisingSun!”Starting violently, the girl turned round, stretched out both arms, and, withintensehopeexpressedineveryfeature,tookastepforward.Inaninstanttheexpressionvanished.Anotherterriblescreamresoundedintheair,and,turningquicklyaway,shefledlikeahunteddeer.Theyoungmanpursued,butheevidentlydidnot try toovertakeheronly tokeep her in sight. The maniac did not choose her course, but ran straightbeforeher, leapingoverfallentreesandobstructionswithadegreeofagilityand power that seemed marvellous. Sometimes she shrieked as she ran,sometimesshelaughedfiercely,butsheneverlookedback.Atlastshecametoasmalllakeaboutaquarterofamilewide.Shedidnotattempttoskirtit,butwentstraightinwithawildrush,and,beingwellabletoswim,struckoutfortheoppositeshore.Theyoungmanfollowedwithouthesitation,butcouldnotovertakeher,andwhenhelandedshehaddisappearedinthewoodsbeyond.

Skilled to followa trail,however, theyouthsoonrecoveredsightofher,butstilldidnottrytoovertakeheronlytokeepherinview.At length the fire which had sustained the poor creature seemed to haveburneditselfout.InattemptingtoleapoveralowbushRisingSunstumbled,fell,andlayasifdead.TheIndianyouthcameupand,raisingherinhisarms,lookedverysadlyintoher face. She still breathed, but gave no other sign of life. The youth,therefore,liftedherfromtheground.Hewastallandstrong.Shewassmallinperson, and reduced almost to skin and bone.He carried her in his arms asthough she had been but a little child, and, an hour later, bore her into theIndiancamp,forwhichformanydayspastshehadbeenmakingstraightasthearrowfliesfromthebow.Hecarriedheratonce to thechief’s tentand laidhisburdensoftlydown,atthesametimeexplaininghowandwherehehadfoundher.BearpawsprangupwithanairofexcitementwhichanIndianseldomdisplays.Evidentlyhis feelingsweredeeply touched, asheknelt and raised thegirl’shead.ThenheorderedhischiefsquawtosupplyRisingSunwithsomewarmfood.Itwaseveningwhenthisoccurred.Mostof thepeopleweresuppingintheirtents.Noonewaswiththechiefsavehisownfamilyandtwoofhisbraves.When the poor maniac revived under the influence of the warm food, shestartedupwithwild looksandsoughtagaintofly,butwasforciblydetainedbyoneofthebraves.“Oh, let me golet me go!to his mother!” she wailed piteously, for she feltherselftobehelplessintheyouth’sstronggrasp.“Has Rising Sun forgotten Bearpaw?” said the chief tenderly, as he stoodbeforeher.“Yesyesno. I havenot forgotten,” she said, passingherhandoverherbrow;“but,oh!letmegotoherbeforeIdie!”“RisingSunshallnotdie.Sheisamongfriendsnow.Thepale-facedenemieswhokilledLittleBeavercandohernoharm.”“Killedhimenemies!”murmuredthepoorgirl,asifperplexed;then,quickly,“Yesyesheisdead.DoesnotRisingSunknowit?Didshenotseeitwithherowneyes?Hewaskilledkilled!”

Thepoorgirl’svoiceroseasshespokeuntilitwasalmostashriek.“Rising Sun,” said the chief, in a tonewhich the girl could not choose butobey,“telluswhokilledhim?”“Killedhim?Noonekilledhim!”sheanswered,withareturnoftheperplexedlook.“Hemissedhisfootingandfelloverthecliff,andtheGreatSpirittookhim.”“Thenthepalefaceshadnothingtodowithit?”askedthechiefeagerly.“Oh!yes;thepalefaceshadtodowithit.Theywerethere,andRisingSunsawallthattheydid;buttheydidnotseeher,forwhenshesawthemcomingshehidherself,beingingreatfear.AndsheknewthatLittleBeaverwasdead.Nomancouldfallfromsuchacliffandlive.Deaddead!Yes,heisdead.Oh!letmego.”“Notyet,RisingSun.Whatdidthepalefacesdo?Didtheytakehisscalp?”“No;oh!no.Thepalefaceswerekind.Theyliftedhimtenderly.Theydughisgrave.Theyseemedas if they lovedhim likemyself.Then theywentaway,and thenRising Sun forgets! She remembers running and bounding like thedeer.Shecannotsheforgets!”Thepoorgirlstoppedspeaking,andputherhandtoherbrowasiftorestrainthe tumult of her thoughts. Then, suddenly, she looked up with a wild yetintelligentsmile.“Yes,sheremembersnow.Herheartwasbroken,andshelongedtolayitonthebreastofLittleBeaver’smotherwholovedhimsowell.SheknewwherethewigwamsofBearpaw stood, and she ran for themas thebee flieswhenladenwithhoney to itshome.She forgetsmuch.Hermind isconfused.Sheslept, she fell, she swam, she was coldcold and hungrybutbut now she hascomehome.Oh,letmego!”“Lethergo,”saidthechief,inalowvoice.Theyoungbraveloosedhishold,andRisingSunboundedfromthetent.Itwasdarkby that time,but several camp-fires threwa luridglareover thevillage,sothatshehadnodifficultyinfindingthehutofherdeadhusband’smother, for,during the interchangeofseveralvisitsbetweenmembersof thetwo tribes, shehadbecomevery familiarwith thecamp.All ignorantof thepoormaniac’s arrival, for the news had not yet spread, themother of LittleBeaver sat embroidering a moccasin with dyed quill-work. The traces ofprofound griefwere on herworn face, and hermeek eyeswere dim as she

raisedthemtoseewholiftedthecurtainofthetentsoviolently.Only onewordwas uttered byRising Sun as she sprang in and fell on herkneesbeforetheoldwoman:“Mother!”Nocrywasuttered,notevenanexpressionofsurprisemovedtheoldwoman’sface;butherreadyarmswereextended,andthegirllaidherhead,withalong-drawnsigh,upontheoldbosom.Longdidshelietherethatnight,whileatenderhandsmoothedhercoal-blackhair, andpressed the thin cheek to awarm throbbingheart,which feared tomovelestthegirl’srestshouldbedisturbed;buttherewasnoneedtofearthat.Eventhelovingoldheartcouldnolongerwarmthecheekthatwasslowlybutsurelygrowingcold.Whenthefacewasat last turnedanxiouslytowardsthefirelightitwasseenthatarestwhichcouldnotbedisturbedhadbeenfoundatlastforRisingSunwasdead.Whilethissolemnscenewasenactingintheoldmother’stent,averydifferentonewas taking place in the cave prison,where the captives still sat, boundhandandfootleaningagainstthewall.CaptainTrench and his son sat in front of them.A small fire burned in thecave,thesmokeofwhichfoundanexitamongthecrevicesofthehighroof.Itcastaluridlightonthefacesofthemenandonprojectionsofthewall,butlefttheroofinprofounddarkness.Thecaptainwasstillmuchexcited,forthemomentforhisdesperateventurewasrapidlyapproaching.“Now,Grummidge,”hesaid, ina lowbutearnestvoice,“it’sofnouseyourobjectin’anymore,forI’vemadeupmymindtodoit.”“Which means,” returned the seaman, “that for the sake of savin’ my life,you’re a-goin’ to riskyourownand the livesof all consarned.Now it’smyopinionthatasthesayin’goes,oftwoevilsamanshouldchoosetheleast.It’sbetter that I shoulddiequietly than that thewholeofus shoulddie fightin’,and,maybe,killin’savagesaswell,whichwouldbeofnomannerofuse,d’yesee.Icanonlydieonce,youknow,soIadviseyetogiveitup,an’leavethewholematterinthehandsofProvidence.”“Notatall,”saidSquillstoutly.“It’smyopinion thatwhenthey’vekiltyou,Grummidge, they’llbe like tigerswhen they’ve tastedblood: they’llwant tokilltherestofus.No;I’vemadeupmemindtobolt,and,ifneedbe,fight,an’sohasalltherestonussoheaveahead,cappen,an’telluswhatwe’vegotto

do.”“Well,boys,hereit is,”saidthecaptain.“Youseethisweapon.”Hetookupthe heavy bludgeon that Oliver had made for himself on commencing histravels inNewfoundland.“Well,I’vebrought thishereeverytimeI’vecomejusttogetthetwosentriesaccustomedtoseemewithit.Thisisyourlastnightonearth,Grummidge,soI’mgoin’topayyouanextravisitaboutmidnight,by way of sayin’ farewell. As I pass the sentrieswho are quite used to menowI’ll fetch the firstone Icome tosuchacrackwith thishere thathewillgivenoalarm.BeforetheotherhastimetowinkI’lltreathimtothesame.It’sameansorto’thingtodo,butnecessityhasnolaw,soI’vemadeupmymindtogothroughwithit.”“It’llbeabadlook-outifyoudo,”saidGrummidge.“It’llbeaworse look-out if Idon’t,” replied thecaptain.“Then,when that’sdone,” he continued, “I’ll cut your lashin’s, an’we’ll crowd all sail for thewoods,whereIhavealreadyconcealedsomearmsan’drieddeer’s-meat,an’ifwecan’tgetfairoffandmakefortheeastcoast,we’llgetonthetopo’somemound or rock an’ show theseRedskinswhatEnglish seamen can dowhenthey’rehardpressed.”“NottomintionIrishwans!”saidSquill.“An’ have Master Paul an’ Hendrick agreed to fall in wi’ this mad plan?”askedGrummidge.“No,Ican’tsaytheyhave.Tosaytruth,considerin’thatHendrick’sarelationo’ the Redskins an’ that Master Paul is his friend, I thought it best to saynothingtothemaboutit.SoI’ll”He was interrupted here by the sudden entrance of Hendrick and Paulthemselves,accompaniedbyBearpawandthesentries.Tooneofthelatterthechiefgaveanorder,andtheman,drawinghisknife,advancedtoGrummidge.The seaman instinctively shrank from him, but was agreeably surprised onhavinghisbondscut.Theothershavingalsobeenliberated,thechiefsaid:“Mypale-facedbrothersarefree.”“Yes, lads,” said Paul, heartily graspingGrummidge by the hand. “God hassentdeliveranceattheeleventhhouryouareallfree.”

ChapterTwentyFourTheLast

The joywithwhich the newswas received by our seamen and their friendswas somewhatmarred by the death of the poor girlwho had unconsciouslybeenthemeansoftheirdeliverance.DuringseveraldaystherewasprofoundgriefintheIndianvillage,forRisingSunhadbeenafavouritewitheveryone.About this timeone or two scattered bands of the party,which hadgone toattack the paleface settlement, returned to the village, andwhen they foundwhathadoccurred in their absence, their enmitywas turned into friendship,andgeneralgoodwillprevailedamongall.From the men just arrived Paul and his friends heard of the fate of poorSwintonandJimHeron,butatthesametimewererelievedtofindthatnoneoftheotherseamenhadbeenslain.A grand council and palaver was held in front of Bearpaw’s tent not longafterwards.Itwasaverygraveandorderlycouncilonewhichwouldcontrastfavourablywithmany of our nineteenth century councils, for those savageshad not at that time acquired the civilised capacity for open offhandmisrepresentation, calumny, and personal abuse which is so conspicuous inthese days, and which must be so gratifying to those who maintain thatcivilisation is the grand panacea for all the moral ills that flesh is heir to.WhethertheBethuckseverimprovedinthismatterisnotknown,forhistoryissilenton thepoint;but it is,perhaps,of littleconsequence, theBethuckracehavingbecomeextinct.“It is now a matter for our consideration, my friends and warriors,” saidBearpaw, in opening the palaver, “whether the palefaces are to spend thewinterhereandhuntwithus,ortoreturntotheCrookedLaketostaywithourkinsman, the white hunter, and his wife, the sweet singer. Of course, mywarriorsknowwellthatwecouldkeepthepalefacesbyforcejustaseasilyaswecouldtaketheirscalps,ifweweresodisposed;butBearpawisnotatyrant.Hewillnotinflictkindnessonhisfriends.Hisheartisgreat.Itswellswithinhim. Something inside of himwhispers, ‘Let them do as they please.’ Thatmust be right, for if circumstances were reversed, it would be right to letBearpawdoashepleases.”Thechiefpausedandlookedsternlyround,asiftosay,“Contradictthatifyoudare!”Possiblyhe felt that the“something insideofhim”mighthavestatedthegoldenrulemoresimply.Returningtothepoint,hecontinued“Bearpawisglad thatRisingSuncamehomebeforehekilled thepalefaces,for herwords have saved their lives.He is also glad that the friends of thepalefacescame,fortheyhavetaughthimwisdom.Theyhaveshownhimthathewasgoingtoactinhaste;theyhavetoldhimthattheGreatSpiritordersall

events here, and theGreat Spirit himself has proved the truth ofwhat theysaid;for,whenBearpawrefusedtobelievethepalefaces,HesentRisingSuntoconfirmtheirwords,andtoconvinceBearpawthathewaswrong.”Again the chief paused, and looked round upon his men, some of whomappearedtodissentfromwhathesaidincondemnationofhimselfbyslightlyshakingtheirheads.“Bethuckwarriors,”continuedthechief,“haveoftentoldBearpawthatheiswise.Bearpawnowtellshiswarriorsthat theyarefoolsfoolsfortellingtheirchiefthatheiswise!Ifhehadbeenwisehewouldnothavecomesoneartosheddingthebloodofinnocentmen;buttheGreatSpiritpreventedhim.IftheGreatSpirit hadnot preventedhim, still thatwouldhavebeen right, for theGreatSpiritcannotdowrong,andHeisnotboundtogiveexplanationstohiscreatures;though,doubtless,wewilldoitintheend.TheheartofBearpawisgratefultohispalefacebrothers,andhewouldbegladiftheywillstaytohuntoverhislandsandpalaverinhiswigwamduringthewinter;butiftheyprefertogo,theymaydoastheyplease.Waugh!Bearpawhasspoken.”Thechiefsatdownwithemphasis,asifhefeltthathehaddonehisduty,andhismenutteredadecided“Ho!”ofapproval.ThenHendrickrose,and, lookinground thecirclewith thatgravedignityofcountenance and manner which was not less natural to himself thancharacteristicofhisIndianfriends,deliveredhimselfasfollows:“I and my friends are glad that Bearpaw recognises the hand of the GreatSpirit in all that has occurred, forwe rejoice to believe thatHe is the greatFirstCauseofallthings,andthatmenareonlysecondcauses,gifted,however,withthemysteriouspowertodoevil.“In thankingmyBethuck brother and hiswarriors for their kind invitationIspeakforallmypartyweareallgrateful,andwewouldgreatlyliketospendthewinterhere,andenjoythehospitalityofourredbrothers.EspeciallywouldmyfriendPaulBurnsrejoicetoreadmoretoyoufromhiswonderfulwriting,andexplain it;butwecannot stay.Mypalefacebrotherswish to returnwithme to Crooked Lake, where the sweet singer and her little ones await thereturnofthehandsthatfeedandprotectthem.”Hendrick,pausing, lookedroundandreceivedsomenodsofapprovalat thispoint.“Thewinterislong,however,”hecontinued,“andwhenthesnowisdeepoverallthelandwecanputonoursnow-shoesandrevisitBearpaw;or,betterstill,BearpawandhiswarriorsmaycometoCrookedLake,whenthesweetsinger

andherdaughterwillgivethemheartywelcome,supplythemwithmorefoodthantheycanconsume,andcausetheirearsandheartstothrillwithmusic.”Hendrickpausedagain,anddecidedmarksofapprovalgreetedhislastwords.“But,myfriendsandkinsmen,”heresumed,“whenwinterdraws toaclose,thepalefaceswillgotothecoasttoseehowitfareswiththeircomrades,andtotrywhetheritisnotpossibleforthemtomakeabigcanoeinwhichtocrossthegreatSaltLake,forsomeofthemhavewivesandmothers,sisters,fathers,and other relations whom they love, in the mighty land that lies far awaywherethesunrisesthelandofmyownfathers,aboutwhichIhaveoftentalkedtoyou.If theycannotmakeabigenoughcanoe, theywillwaitandhopetillanother great canoe, like the one they lost, comes to this islandas come itsurelywill,bringingmanypalefacestosettleintheland.”“When they come they shall be welcome,” said Bearpaw, as Hendrick satdown,“andwewillhunt for them till they learn tohunt for themselves;wewillteachthemhowtocapturethebigfishwiththeredflesh,andshowthemhow to track thedeer through thewildernesswaugh!Butwill ourguestsnotstaywithustillthehardfrostssetin?”“No;wemustleavebeforethedeepsnowfalls,”saidHendrick.“Muchofthatwhichfelllatelyhasmeltedaway;sowewillstartforCrookedLakewithoutfurtherdelay.”TheIndianchiefbowedhishead inacquiescencewith thisdecision,and thevery next dayPaul and the captain andOliver,with their rescued comradesand Strongbow, set out for Hendrick’s home, which they reached not longafter,tofindthatallwaswell,thattheoldIndianservanthadkeptthefamilyfullysuppliedwithfish,flesh,andfowl;thatnoonehadvisitedtheisletsincetheyleft,thatthesweetsingerswereingoodvoice;andthatthefamilybabywas as bright as ever, as great an anxiety to its mother, and as terrible atormenttoitsidolisingnurse!Amongotherswhotookuptheirabodeatthattimeonthehunter’sisletwasthelargedogBlackboy.Thatfaithfulcreature,havingalwayshadalikingforHendrick,andfindingthattheoldmasterandmistressnevercameback,hadattacheditselftothepartyofpalefaces,andquietlyacceptedtheEnglishnameofBlackboy.Now, it is impossible, with the space at our command, to recount all thesayings and doings of this section of theWaterWagtail’s crew during thatwinter:howtheybuiltahutforthemselvesclosetothatoftheirhost;howtheylearnedtowalkonsnowshoeswhenthedeepsnowcame;how,whenthelakeset fast and the thick ice formed a highway to the shore, littleOscar taught

OliverTrenchhow to cut holes through to thewater and fishunder the ice;howhunting,sledging,football,andfirewood-cuttingbecametheorderoftheday; supping, story-telling, singing, and reading the manuscript Gospelaccording to John, the order of the evening, and sleeping like tops, withoccasionalsnoring,theorderofthenight,whenthewaterswerethusarrestedbythepoweroffrost,andthelandwassmotheredinsnow.Allthisandagreatdeal more must be left untold, for, as we have said, or hinted, or impliedbefore,mattersofgreatermomentclaimourattention.Onenight, towardsthecloseofthatwinter,PaulBurnssuggestedthatitwasabouttimetogodowntothecoastandvisittheircomradesthere.“SosayI,”remarkedGrummidge,whoatthetimewasfeedingthebaby,tothegravesatisfactionofBlackboy.“Sure,an’I’magreeable,”saidSquills,whowastoobusyfeedinghimself tosaymore.AsLittleStubbs,GeorgeBlazer,FredTaylor, andDavidGarnetwereof thesameopinion,andHendrickhadnoobjection,exceptthatTrueheart,Goodred,andOscarwouldbeverysorrytopartwiththem,andthefamilybabywouldbeinconsolable,itwasdecidedthatastartshouldbemadewithoutdelay.Theysetoutaccordingly,HendrickandStrongbowalternatelyleading,and,asit is styled,beating the track,while the rest followed in single file. Itwasalong,hardjourney,butourtravellerswerebythattimeinuredtoroughingitinthe cold. Every night theymade their camp by digging a hole in the snowunderthecanopyofatree,andkindlingahugefireatoneendthereof.Everymorningatdawntheyresumedthemarchoverthesnow-cladwilderness,andcontinuedtillsun-down.Thus,daybydaytheyadvanced,livingonthedriedmeat they carried on their backs, and the fresh meat and ptarmigan theyprocuredwithboltandarrow.Atlasttheyreachedthecoast.Itwasaclear, sharp, starrynightwhen theyarrivedatWagtailBay,withanunusually splendid aurora lighting them on their way. Anxious forebodingsfilledthebreastsofmostoftheparty,lesttheyshouldfindthattheircomradeshadperished;but on coming in sightof theprincipalhut,Oliver exclaimed,“There’salightinthewindow,andsmokecomingfromhurr!”Hewouldhavecheered,butGrummidgecheckedhim.“Shutupyourhatchway,lad!Letusseewhattheyareaboutbeforegoin’in.”They all advanced noiselessly, Grummidge leading, Strongbow bringing uptherear.Thehuthadtwowindowsofparchment,whichglowedwiththelight

inside,butthroughwhichtheycouldnotsee,exceptbymeansofoneortwovery small holes, to which eager eyes were instantly applied. A mostcomfortable scenewas presented, and jovial sounds smote the ears of thosewholistened.Asfarastheycouldmakeouteverymanofthecrewwasthere,except,ofcourse,BigSwintonandJimHeron.Somewereplayingdraughts,someweremendingnetsorfashioningbows,andothersweretellingstoriesordiscussingtheeventsofthepastday.Butagreatchangeforthebetterwasperceptiblebothinwordsandmanners,for someof the seedwhichPaulBurns had let fall by thewayside, had, allunexpectedly, foundgoodground in severalhearts, andwas alreadybearingfruit.DickSwanandSpitfirenolongerquarrelledastheyplayedtogether,andBobCrownolongerswore.“Heigho!”exclaimedthelatterattheendofagame,ashestretchedhisarmsabovehishead,“Iwonder ifwe’lleverplaydraughts inOldEnglandorseeourfriendsagain!”“You’ll see some of ’em to-night, anyhow,God bless ye,BobCrow,” criedGrummidge, as he flung open the door and sprang in, while his snow-sprinkledcomradescametramp,tramp,inalinebehindhim!Who can describe that meeting as they shook hands, gasped, exclaimed,laughedalmostcried;whileBlackboyleapedaroundwildlyjoyfulatthesightofsomanyoldfriends?Wewillnotattemptit;but,leavingthemthere,wewillconductthereaderdowntoasmallcreekhardby,whereacurioussightmaybeseenasmallshiponthestocksnearlyfinished,whichwillclearlybereadytolaunchonthefirstopenwater.From the wreck of the old ship, tools, and timber, and cordage had beenrecovered. The forests of Newfoundland had supplied what was lacking.Ingenuityandperseverancedidtherest.Needweaddthat theworkwentonmerrilynowthatthewanderershadreturned?Hendrickstayedwiththemtillthelittleshipwaslaunched.Withapleasedyetsorrowfulexpressionhewatchedastheeagermentestedherstabilityandhersailingpowers, and rejoicedwith themon finding that sheworkedwell andansweredtoherhelmsmartly.“Good-bye,friends,andGodwatchoveryouandmetillthatdayafterwhichthereshallbenomorepartings,”hesaid,astheyallshookhandsforthelasttime.HewasleftstandingbesidehisIndianfriendontherockswhentheMorningStarfinallysetsail.Thetallformsofthetwomenwerestillvisiblewhenthe

littlevessel rounded theneighbouringheadlandand turned its prow towardsEngland. They stood there sadly watching the lessening sails till the shipbecameamerespeckonthehorizonandfinallydisappeared.Then Hendrick slowly re-entered the forest, and, followed by Strongbow,returnedtohisownhomeinthebeautifulwildernessofNewfoundland.

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