to land, on an island quite desolate and barren. They called it Wager's Island; and a steep mount upon it they named Mount Misery. They cut steps to ascend it, and made it their post of observation. Having found an Indian hut in a wood, as many of the men as possible crowded into it for shelter during a tempestuous rainy night. One of the company died in the hut in the night. Two others perished of cold under a tree. During ten days following many others died of hunger. But the sufferings of the crew would have been much more endurable if they had not been aggravated by selfish passions, always the bitterest ingredients of misfortune. Byron, calm, brave, and patient, withdrew from all, and built a little hut just big enough for himself and a poor Indian dog that he found in the woods, and which could feed itself by getting limpets along the shore at low water. The patience, faithfulness, and affection, of this poor dog might have instructed the men. It guarded its kind master, and would let no one approach his hut.

"One day," says Byron, "when I was at

home in my hut with my Indian dog, a party came to my door, and told me their necessities were such, that they must eat the creature or starve."

We must feel for Byron, entreating in vain for the life of his only friend and protector. They took the dog by force, and killed and ate him. And how great must have been the wants of Byron himself, when he could sit down with them, and partake of his favourite. "Three

weeks after that I was glad to make a meal of his paws and skin, which, upon recollecting the spot where they had killed him, I found thrown aside and rotten."

The provisions in the wreck were got at with infinite difficulty, and proved quite inadequate. When the weather permitted, they sought for wild fowl, and shellfish. They met with many strange adventures, roving along the wild shores, and in the gloomy woods. One night, reposing in an old Indian wigwam, one of the company was disturbed by the blowing of some animal at his face, and, opening his eyes, the glimmering of the fire discovered a large beast

standing over him. He had the presence of mind to snatch a brand from the fire, which was now very low, and thrust it at the nose of the animal, which made off; the man then awakened his companions, and with horror on his countenance told them of his narrow escape from being devoured. Fatigue was, however, stronger than fear, and the party slept on till morning, when they traced on the sand impressions of a large round foot, well furnished with claws.

Another night they were alarmed by a strange cry, which resembled that of a man drowning. "Many of us," says Byron, "ran out of our huts towards the place whence the noise proceeded, which was not far off shore; where we could perceive, but not distinctly, (for it was then moonlight,) an appearance like that ofa man swimming half out of water. The noise that this creature uttered was so unlike that of any animal they had heard before, that it made a great impression upon the men."

To these adventures Campbell alludes in the lines