Year: 1870

his child, nor yet the love Of a child to il


parent; it is not that which brother feel


for bis sister No; it is something strong


er than this il is the affection which an al


dent lover feels for bis mistress is low


riveted by the strongest links of attachment


in it he has westhered many a tougl


gale; in it are contained his joviial ship


mates, bound together by mutual hardship


and perils.


The prospect which at this moment pre-


sented itself to the officers view was beauti


full in the extreme. To the south, beyond


the long, fiat sands of Holy Island, wer,


seen the old castle and abbey Of Lindisfern


hallowed by so many sacred associations


beyond them were seen, rising in the dis


tance, the castles Of Bamburgh and Duns


tanburg; to the west were the fields yellow


with corn ready for sickle to the north wa,
the bold promontory Of st. Abb's, the Gnes


headland in Europe, jutting into the sea


to the east was the erman Ocean, stretch
ing away till the view was bounded by the
clouds in the distant horizon, which seemed
Level with the sea and, what to the officer
was dearer than all these, there was
bis little vessel, the pride of bis heart,
skimming, like thing Of life, over the blue
waters.


Before proceeding farther with our pres
ent story, it may not be smiss FIRST to give
the reader some insight inte the history Of
the hero Of our tale


Harry Fenwick was the son Of small
landed PROPRIETOR in the southwest Of ing
land, who, having unfortunately embarked
his whole fortune in a mercantile specula-
ton, was, by a sudden loss, reduced to pow
erty. The distress occasioned by this mis-
fortune was increased by the sudden death
of his wife, which 30 preyed upon his spirits
that be soon after died Of broken heart,
leaving poor Harry and bis little sister,
Susan, unprotected in the world But
Providence, who watches over the orphan
and the destitute, soon raised them up a
protector in the person of maternal uncle,
who, having been abroad for a number of
years, had amsssed handsome fortune, but
arrived in England 100 late to close the eyes
Of bis sister. Having no children, be de-
termined to adopt his nephew and niece,
who, from that day, became as bis own
Harry was fourteen years old on the death
Of bis parents; and bis uncle, Benjamin
Davis, determined to bring bin up to bis
own professlOn-tbat of sailor He was
accordingly entered as a midshipman on
board the Ranger, a ffty-gun ship, where
his conduct was such that be rose from one
degree to another till, at length, in an en-
with a ship of superior metal, be
50 distinguished himself that, in reward for
bis bravery, he was promoted to the com.
nand Of the brig Hank, mounting eight
-welves and two short carronades, with a
crew of eighty hands, as smart fellows as
ever sailed on salt water


At the time when our story begins, Harry
mad left bis ship at Leith, to visit an old
friend Of bis uncle's, at whose house be was
4 frequent visitor Certain it is that, how
ever much Harry loved the yarns and com
pany of the old tar, yet there was another
no less powerful attraction, in the person of
bis gentle and lovely daughter, Maria.
Maria Everett was not what most people
would call a beauty, but the grace and sym
netry Of her slight figure, ber sweet, pen
'ive manner, and the righteousness Of her
goice, threw around her charm which cap
ivated much more etfectually than those
whose beauty daxsles at first sight


Often would Maria listen, in silent won
Ter and admiration, to the conversations be- /
ween her father and Harry, Of hairbreadth
escapes, If storms and battles; and, stealing
\ tlmid glance at the young and hardy sail
or, she would Sigh, and, like Desdemona,
would desire him to repeat again what be
mad been relating. Harry, on the other
hand, felt interested in the lovely girl. At
first be esteemed her for her fathers sake,
but better acquaintance made him love
her for her own and it was with secret JOY
and inward qualification that the old father
observed the growing attachment between
Harry and bis daughter. Often would
Harry, when cruising on the coast, think Of
the peaceful home Of the old sailor, where
dwelt she whom be loved above all the
world and, however far absent, bis
thoughts, like the needle in bis compass,
always reverted to the north. Great, then,
was bis disappointment when, on arriving
at Everet's house, he found that Maria had
gone to England to visit his uncle Ben and
sister Susan. Without stopping longer than
to take a nights rest, he set out for Ber-
wick, where his ship was to wait till bis ar.
rival; and as he was bound for Plymouth,
after an eighteen months cruise, be deter
mined to call on bis uncle, who dwelt on
the sea coast.


But to return to our story.


BY the time the vessel had reached the
mouth of the barbor, our old friend, Bill
Curtis, was burrying along the pier, blow
ing like pOrpoise, and bawling out to the
porter who accompanied him


Come, bear hand, nv lad sec they
are ust manning the six-oared gig


On the approach Of the gig, Harry leaped
down to the landing place, and stepped on
board. In moment, the caps Of the sail
ors we're doffed in salutatiOn to their com
mander and smile OF pleasure lighted up
their wea ber-beaten countenances as be ad-
dressed them in a kindly manner


Harry was received on the quarter by bis
first and second lieutenants; when the sail
ors, no longer restrained by the presence Of
their commander, and bursting With impa-
tience, asked all at once


Well, Bill, what's brought the captain
and you so soon back? Has the bird
flown n


'Avast bit, cried Bill must first
fill up hole in my stomach, big enough to
hold a hogshead." "


So, bursting past, be descended the com
panion ladder, and straightway betook him
self to the galley, where the cook, an old
tar who had got his larboard fin carried
away by cannon ball, was serving, out Of
q monStrons ladIe a mess of beef and green's