Year: 1873

board all East Indiaman, and for the
last ten years had commanded the Belle.
one of the finest crafts that ever Aoated


l was an old sea dog, and had dwelt so
long on salt water that l felt almost a
hatred for the land.


On the goth of October, 1924, l re-
ceived orders to put myself in readiness
for Cayenne. Twas to transport seven
ty five. soldiers and convict. had Or
ders to treat this individual we'll. and the
letter bad received from the directory
enclosed another, with a huge red seal,


which was not to open until between
81 and 2s.deg west longitude, that is,
just before we were about to cross the
line


The letter was long packet, so well
closed ON every eide that it was impossi-
to catch the slightest glimpse of its con-
tents. l am not naturally superstitious,
but there was something in the look Of
the letter that l did not altogether like,
though l could give no reason why
However, l carried it into the cabin, and
stuck it under the glass of little I'm
glish clock, which was fastened above
me. l was busy fixing the letter under
the clock, when who should come into
my cabin but the convict and his wife !!
This was the first time had seen either
of them, and may say that more pre-.
possessing couple l never met. The
women was scarcely more than fifteen,
and as handsome as a picture while
the husband was an intelligent. magnif
Gently formed man, on whose features
nature had never written "villain''


His crime, to be plain, was the mis-
fortune Of being hundred years ahead
of his age He and others had attempt
ed something which our government call
ed treason, and which it punished with
death. 1t therefore occasioned me con-
wonder that he should be plac.
ed under my charge ! but more Of this



He had, as I said, his wife hanging
on his arm She was as merry as
bird she looked like turtle dove coo-
ing and nesting beneath his great wing.


Before a month had passed over our
heads I looked upon them as my own
children. Every morning l used to call
them into my cabin. The young fellow
would sit writing at my table, that is to
say, at my chest, which was my bed
He would often help me at reckoning,
and soon learned to do better than l
could. was amazed at his ability. His
young wife would cit upon one of the
round stools in my cabin working at her
needle.


One day we were all three sitting in
this way when l said


"Do you know, my young ones, as it
seems to me, We make very pretty fam
lily picture =? Mind | don't mean to ask
questions. but may be you have' not
much money to spare, and you are both
Of you, as L think, too handsome to dig
in the burning sun of Cayenne, like many
a poor wretch before you. It's a bad
bad country, take my word
for it /, who have roughed it through
ond sunshine till I've the skin
of rbinoceros, might get along there
but you-I am afraid Of you. So, if
you should chance to have a bit of fool
ish friendship 70, your poor old captain,
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll get rid of
this old brig she's not much better
than an old tub, after all so I'll settle
myself down there with you, if you like.
You see have not living soul in the
world to care for, or that cares for me.
want relations, I want home, 1 want
4 family. l should like to make my
home with You, my pretty ones. What
say ye?"