The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-03-29

We sailed with the first fair wind, and
after a long navigation, the first place
we touched at was a desert island,
where we found the egg Of roc, equal
in size to that l formerly mentioned.
There was young roc in It, just ready
TO be Matched, and its beak had begun to
break the egg.
The merchants who landed with me
broke the egg with hatchets and max
ing hole in it, pulled out the young roc
piecemeal, and roasted it. had in vain
entreated them not to NEEDLE with The
egg.
Scarcely had they finished their re-
past, when there appeared in the air at
a considerable distance, two great clouds.
The captain of my ship, knowing by ex-
perience what they meant, said they
were the male and female parents of the
roc, and pressed us to re-embark with
all speed, to prevent the misfortune
which he saw would otherwise befall us.
The two rocs approached with fright
full noise, which they redoubled when
they saw the egg broken, and their
young one gone. They flew back in the
direction they had come and disappeared
for some time, while we made all the
sail we coIld to endeavor to prevent that
which unhappily befell us.
They soon returned, and we observed
that each of them carried between its
talons an enormous rock. When they
came directly over my ship, they hoy
cred, and one OF them let go his rock;
but by the dexterity of the sherman it
missed us and fell into the sea. The
other 30 exacly hit the middle of the
ship as to split it into pieces. The ma
riners and passengers we're ell crushed
to death or fell into the sea. 1 myself
was in the number of the latter, but as l
came mp again, fortunately caught hold
of piece of the wreck, and swimming
sometimes with one hand and some
times with the other, but always hold
ing fast to the plank, the wind and the
| llhO ulcg W al lclduuJ
and got safely ashore.
l sat down upon.the grass, to recover
myself from my fatigue, after which 1
went into the island to explore it. 1t
seemed to .be delicious garden. l
found trees everywhere, some of them
bearing green and others ripe fruits, and
streams OF fresh, pure water. 1 ate of
the fruits, which found excellent; and
drank of the water, which was very light
and good.
When 1 was a little advanced into the
island, saw All old mau, who appeared
very weak and infrmed. He was sitting
on the bank OF a stream, and at first l
took him to be one who had been ship
wrecked like myself. 1 went toward
him and saluted HIM, but he only slight
y bowed his head. 1 asked him why
he sat 80 still but instead of answering
me, he made sign for me to take him
upon my back, and carry him over the
brook.
believed him really TO stand in need
of assistance, took him upon my back,
and having carried him over, babe him
get down, and for that end stopped, that
he might get off with ease; but instead
of doing so (which laugh at every time
think of it), the old man, who APP
peared to me to be quite decrepit, threw
his legs quite nimbly about my neck.
He sat astride upon my shoulder. and
held my throat so tight that thought
he would have strangled me, and faint
ed away.
Notwithstanding my faintipg, the ill
natured old fellow still kept his seat up
on my neck. When had recovered my
breath, he thrust one OF his feet against
my side, and struck me 30 rudely with
the other that he forced me to rise up,
against my will. Having arisen, he made
me carry him under the trees, and forced
me now and then to stop, that he might
gather and eat fruit. He never left his
seat all day and when laid down to
rest at night, he laid himself down with
me, holding still fast about my neck.
Every morning he pinched me to make
me awake, and afteIward obliged me to
get up and walk, and spurred me with
his feet.
One day / found several dry Gala
bashes that had fallen from a tree. l
took large one, and after cleaning il,
pressed into it some juice Of grapes,
which abounded in the island having
filed the calabash, put it by in a con-
venient place, and going thither sgain
some days after, tasted it, and found
the wine SO good, that it gave me new
vigor, and 80 exhilarated my spirits, that
began to sing and dance as l carried
my burden.
The old man, perceiving the effect
which this had upon me, and that car
ried him with more ease than before,
made me a 81 ga to give him some of it
1 handed him the calabash, and the lic-
uor pleasing his palate, he drank it off.
There being considerable quantity OF
it, he soon began to sing. and to move
about from side to side In his seat upon
my shoulders, and by degrees TO loosen
his legs from about me. Finding that
he did not press me as before, threw
him upon the ground, where he lay with.
out motion l then took up a great stone