matters of business, Sir Robert Brompton took with him on his voyage an humble, but intelligent friend, one whose acquaintance and friendship he had made and cultivated in college, and whom he had learned to like for his many good qualities, though he was of very humble origin, and indeed at that time, a sort of charity student at the university. But Sir Robert, even when a mere lad, was not one to pass by humble merit unrecognized, and they became lasting and true friends. Frederick Howard was only too happy to leave the humble situation which he filled, as attachè to some city magazine, to go abroad, and also to accept the liberal pecuniary offer that Sir Robert made him for his services. "When we were in college together, I liked you," said Sir Robert, "because you were not a fawning, cringing, flattering hanger-on upon those who were more fortunate in the possession of the world's goods, than yourself." "I know how to appreciate your generous patronage, nevertheless, Sir Robert," replied his friend, smiling. "Well, enough of that matter; but what think you? Can this arrangement be made to suit you? Not exactly a clerk, you understand, but a friend and assistant-eh, Mr. Howard?" "It will suit me exactly, sir." "Very good; then it is a bargain," said Sir Robert. "Now, get ready as speedily as possible, for I am impatient to be on ship-board." Mr. Howard was about the same age as Sir Robert. He had tasted the bitter cup of misfortune, nay, had even drank its contents to the very dregs, and was consequently in his feelings not a little misanthropic. But yet his mind was too well balanced, to permit this to amount to any actual defect in his general character. In a long voyage, where they were thrown so'constantly together, it was but natural that there should be considerable interchange of feeling and thought between them, and for one possessing the peculiar feelings of Sir Robert, it was not singular that he should sympathize in no small degree with the sometimes remarkable philosophy and theories of the companion he had chosen. Having known him so long, Sir Robert treated him more like a brother than a mere friend, and thus it was that Frederick Howard often spoke to him so plainly. "When you were first married, Sir Robert," said his companion one day, as they sat together, "you seemed to belie my theory altogether, as to there being no love beyond the immediate promptings of self-interest, for you and your lady seemed most happy and contented together." "When I was first married?" said Sir Robert, in a tone of surprise. "Ay, I mean for a year or two," replied his companion. "For a year or two, Mr. Howard !" repeated Sir Robert, thoughtfully, at the same time rising with a troubled air, he walked the cabin for some moments in silence, evincing the while no slight tokens of agitation. At last he paused, and asked more coolly: "You think I'm changed then, Mr. Howard. Pray how am I altered?" "To an ordinary observer," said his companion, "perhaps not at all; but to me, who have observed you carefully for many years, you are much altered." "Indeed, indeed," said his patron, still walking to and fro. "Sir Robert, I think I may speak without the fear of offending you. You know me too well, I believe, to suppose I have any sinister motives in doing so; therefore, I will even venture to say that which under ordinary circumstances would be presuming in me." "Speak freely, Mr. Howard, speak freely, and I shall only feel that you are the better and truer friend to me," said Sir Robert. "Thank you for your confidence, Sir Robert, and I will endeavor to deserve it." His companion had, as he intimated, watched him with no little interest, and in his shrewdness and knowledge of human nature, he had suspected the true state of Sir Robert's feelings, and possessing this cue, he was enabled to satisfy himself of the fact beyond a doubt, as to his patron's being jealous and unhappy in relation to his wife. This he frankly told him, and by way of consolation, wrought with his philosophy upon Sir Robert, who frankly owned the truth. This confidence between them having once transpired, their intimacy, of course, became redoubled, and Mr. Howard gained the utmost influence over Sir Robert, who submitted with all confidence his most private interests to the supervision and direction of his friend. not seriously, yet considerably disfigured by it. THE business that had brought Sir Robert | it was with Sir Robert, whose face was, though Brompton to India became more intricate in its character than he had at first anticipated, and he found soon after landing, that so far from being able to return by the same ship that had brought him from England, he might find it necessary to remain abroad even a year or more, and finding also that unless he did so his pecuniary loss would be immense, he wrote his wife the circumstances of the case by the returning vessel, and assured her of his earliest possible return. It was a sickly season in India, and Sir Robert had been domesticated there but a few months when he was taken very ill with that fearful scourge the small pox, ever terrible, but doubly so in a hot climate. His sickness was a prolonged one, and his life even, at one time was despaired of. But Frederick Howard proved to be a true and consistent friend to his patron, never leaving his side night or day, patiently tending and waiting upon him with all the tenderness of a woman, until at last Sir Robert was improving and finally became comparatively well. Rarely does this disease visit any one in hot climates without leaving the marks of its ravages upon the skin, and so Knowing as much as the reader already does of Sir Robert Brompton's character and general disposition, he will at once realize that this disfigurement, though in reality of such trifling import, was yet to him additional cause for secret unhappiness as it regarded his personal appearance. If he before had been annoyed by the unfortunate circumstance of his lameness, he was thrice as much disconcerted by this additional and equally prominent blemish, and in his moodishness and misanthropic spirit he counted himself as absolutely horrible and repulsive to the sight of those about him. If his wife had heretofore contrasted his appearance with that of the gay frequenters of her drawing-rooms, what would she do now? He almost shuddered at the contemplation of the idea. Each hour he seemed to grow more dejected, until one day, a proud ship came into port. bearing St. George's cross, with news from England. But sad news, alas, it was for him. It brought him letters stating that his wife had been suddenly taken with a fever which had proved fatal, and she was dead. This entirely unexpected vicissitude chang- | and moves through the water. Even Sir ed the whole current of Sir Robert's feelings. He forgot himself in his sincere sorrow for the departed, his deformities which he had magnified into such importance were no longer thought of. Had Sir Robert been on the most perfect terms of understanding with his wife, he could not have mourned her loss more sincerely, and for a long period his grief seemed completely to absorb him. Now that she was gone and lost to him forever, he solemnly believed that she had been true to him, beyond a doubt, and in his heart he honestly subscribed to her purity. Sir Robert was right, his wife was pure and true to him, and though she had mingled freely in the gay world of London, she was unscathed by the contest. "Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade Death came with timely care With ample and special directions to manage his affairs in London, Sir Robert despatched his friend Howard to England, resolving himself to stay at least a few months longer in India, until the poignancy of his grief was assuaged, and the world should have forgotten his sorrow. For counting its sympathy hollow and heartless, he could not patiently have borne to meet its false sympathy; he preferred to keep his grief sacred, and sorrow alone within his own heart. The few months that Sir Robert had intended to remain at Calcutta after the departure of his friend were swelled into some four years and over, before he made up his mind to return to England. In the mean time his agent, the trust-worthy Frederick Howard, had regularly despatched to him full intelligence of the matters that he had charge of in London, and thus Sir Robert felt no anxiety about his affairs at home. At last, however, he closed up his business matters in India, and prepared for a homeward bound voyage. He finally embarked in the good ship Northumberland, with every prospect of a quick and pleasant voyage. They took a pilot on board to bring the ship through the sea of Bengal to the south'ard of Ceylon, from whence they would lay their course, and open the Indian ocean. It is a lively and happy time on board when the homeward-bound ship loosens her canvass Robert entered into the spirit that seemed to pervade every soul on board, and noted each order and preparation that arranged the large ship for the voyage with marked interest. She was a picture of nautical beauty, with everything set that would draw-for your East Indiaman spreads a cloud of canvass on the long voyage. With her courses, topsails, topgallants and royals, she bowled along at a six knot rate over the blue waters of the Indian Bay. Even her becket main sky-sail was filled to the wind on her courses, a graceful tiny sky scraper that furls neatly, when need be, with the main royal. They had scarcely doubled the southern coast of Ceylon and prepared to land the pilot, when a fierce squall came leaping over the sea, and whirling in the air with a fury that made the oldest seaman on board the Northumberland look toward the quarter deck for orders to meet the emergency. The pilot's quick eye saw it at once, and he leaped back to the station which he was just about to leave as commander of the ship, for the time being. With a quick perception of the danger and the means to prevent it, he issued his orders at once with the coolness and rapidity, so requisite at times on the ocean, and which showed him master of his noble profession. "The water darkens, and the rustling sound Tells of the coming squall." "All hands shorten sail," shouted the pilot from the quarter deck. The crew of a well regulated ship are all trained to know their stations, and when an order is issued, there is no jostling or indecision-each man knows his duty. "Lay aft here, and brail up the spanker. Lay aloft and furl." Already "ay, ay, sir," was responded to each order by those who sprung to fulfil it. "Bear a hand forward there, down with the flying jib and stow it, some of ye run up and help hand the topgallant sails." alacrity and promptness that characterizes all manœuvres at sea. The ship though greatly relieved by the spread of canvass that had been taken in, yet reached through the water like a race horse, while the squall seemed to be ripening into a gale. The black clouds were driving on in thick array, and big drops of rain mingled with the gusts of wind, until at last it poured in torrents from the sky. Though near mid-day, yet it became almost as dark as night, and the seamen put on their storm clothes with ominous looks at these startling signs of the weather, which foreboded hard work for them. Seeing he promptness and ability of the pilot, the captain of the Northumberland had at the commencement of the squall sprung into the waist of the ship and borne a hand with the rest of the crew in obeying the orders that were issued. There being now a pause, he came aft again. "She staggers under it, Mr. Pilot," he said, looking at the canvass that the ship still spread to the storm, and observing the way in which she plunged into the sea. "True, she does strain a little," said the pilot, with a quick eye directed about the ship. "Hadn't we better get in the mainsail?" suggested the captain. "Not yet, we must weather these points before it will do to take in any more," said the officer, as he instructed the man at the helm to steer "small." To one not acquainted with the gear of a ship, it may be well to say that the sail which the pilot had just ordered set, was a sort of storm sail, and having got the ship in hand, he found her, although laboring hard, yet safe. In this gear they run for some hours to the south'ard, at a speed that placed all calculation at fault. The sea all the while increasing in violence until at last a heavy wave combed over the taffrail, half engulfing the helmsman, and causing him to let the ship yaw off proudly, as seamen say. The heft of the sea, however, passed under the ship as she lifted like a sea bird upon its swell. "Where are you carrying the ship to?" shouted the pilot, abruptly. "What are you about? Don't you see your wake broad off the lee beam!" The helmsman, who was really a good sailor, was disconcerted, and shoved the helm hard down at once to recover his course, which caused the ship to broach to, with such force and rapidity that it seemed utterly impossible. to meet her with the helm in time. "Meet her!" shouted the pilot from the weather main rigging. "Ay, ay, sir," said the man, struggling at his post of duty. "Meet her, I say!" again shouted the pilot, angrily, leaping upon the deck and rushing aft to enforce his order: for to his experienced eye all depended upon this movement. Seizing the helm, he endeavored to remedy "Nothing off, sir, nothing off," repeated the the trouble by his own skill. pilot sternly, to the man at the helm. Already the sea was blown and tossed into a perfect fury, and run tremendously high, and having gained the desired point, the order was at last given by the pilot. "Stand by to take in the mainsail, ease off the sheet, up with it, lively-so-belay that, ease away the tacks, so-well-furl." Following these orders, the huge sheet of canvass was soon strongly lashed in place. "Stand by to reef topsails. Close reef topsails. Haul down the jib." “Mr. Mate,” said the pilot to a smart, intelligent sailor who filled that post. Ay, ay, sir," responded the mate. "Now hoist the foretopmast staysail, that's it, chcerily, cheerily, boys, with a will there," said the pilot, in encouraging tones. "In with your foretopsail." But it was too late. The ship came gracefully up in the wind, and in the next moment was taken aback, losing her steerage way, and was thrown at once on her beam ends. Every one rushed to secure a hold upon some object that might seem to give even temporary support, and all discipline seemed lost. The captain and some of the crew were already missing and were doubtless drowned. It was a trying time, such as proves a man, and such an one as few men are equal to. The pilot of the Northumberland was quite a young man to fill such a station, but he proved himself fully equal to the task. Steady, for your lives!" he shouted to a small knot of seamen nearest to him, in a voice that was distinctly heard above the din of the rushing waters and howling storm. The men, accustomed to strict discipline, and to obey the voice of authority, stood firm, and watched their young commander like those who felt the power of a directing mind. "Forward there with your hatchets! Promptly, men, it's no time for play now! Cut way the foremast, lee lanyards first, well -now the weather." A few strokes of the axe, and the mast snapped off like a pipe-stem and went by the board, for the strain upon it was immense. The head stays were cut loose from the bowsprit, and the ship drifted free from the wreck, while the pilot paused for a moment to see what effect this movement would have upon the hull of the Northumberland. It was only for a moment, when he cried: The men were impressed with the utmost confidence in the young officer, for no one knows quicker than your foremast hand, whether the ship is handled in a masterly manner, and if this is the case, admiration and respect are both the result, in Jack's honest heart. The pilot ordered some refreshments dealt out to the crew, with a small ration of spirit to each man, for they had tasted neither food nor drink for many long hours, and they partook of both like famished men. These refreshments came from the cabin stores, and were better than the fare they were accustomed to in the forecastle, which gave it additional zest, and also pleased the men as a mark of consideration and kindness from those "Hurra! She lifts a bit. Lay aft here, above them. and cut away the mizzen." This order was obeyed in a like manner with that which had removed the foremast. As the dismembered spar cleared itself, it also dragged the main topmast off the cap, and thus relieved, the ship slowly righted, but not without having shipped a large quantity of water. It will be observed that the Northumberland had still her mainmast standing, and of course with it the main spencer; a sail which brails to the mast itself. Consequently those in command of the ship had only to haul aft the main spencer sheet, and put the helm down, although she was a third full of water and a partial wreck, to lay her to, snugly, even in a hard gale, and this was at once done. All through the series of catastrophes that beset the noble ship, Sir Robert Brompton had been as calm as it was possible for any one to be under such circumstances. He was too much of a philosopher to fear death, nor had life such strong ties with him as to make him tremble at the thought of leaving it. He had found time more than once during the struggle of the elements, to admire the selfpossession of the young pilot, who seemed to be equal to any emergency, and to rise in ability and skill in a ratio with the increase of danger, and the demand upon him for the exercise of these qualities. To look upon, he was scarcely more than a boy, and yet he had held the ship in complete control during the whole period of her danger, as far as any human being might do so, and had, as we have seen, rescued her from a most perilous and appalling situation. The brief meal was hurriedly partaken of when the order came from the pilot : "Stand by, to man the pumps. "Ay, ay, sir," shouted a dozen willing voices; and there is a charm in the promptness with which a mariner responds, both in word and action, to the orders at sea. "Clap on there in earnest," said the pilot pleasantly to the men-" we've water enough along side, and can't afford it stowage on board. In earnest, men, in earnest!" Thus encouraged and directed, the men applied themselves with vigor to the work, and burst forth in the long drawling "ye-ho-boys," such as they sing when the windlass is manned, and the ponderous anchor is hove up preparatory to the long voyage. "You have these men in complete control," remarked Sir Robert to the young officer, as he stood on the quarter deck issuing his orders. "O yes, sir. In our profession men will always follow your lead, if it is ship-shape." "You seem very young, sir, for the responsible station you hold." "The greater part of my life has been passed upon the water," replied the pilot. "And to good purpose, too," said Sir Rob. ert, "for you certainly possess every requisite. of coolness and prompt judgment." Every now and then the pilot bore a hand at the pumps with the rest, though his attention was required frequently at the other part of the ship, but he constantly incited the men with those prompt and cheerful orders that sound so well from the lips of those in command on the ocean. |