"That would put them in spirits; they would then know how to steer the raft."

"Their joy was very short-lived, for the compass was unfortunately dropped, and it fell between the openings of the raft, and was lost. Their troubles now came thick upon them, for hunger is clamorous, and not easily satisfied without sufficient food. Mingling the biscuit they had with wine, they gave it out in small quantities well knowing that their hope of adding to their stock of provisions was a forlorn one. Erecting something like a mast, and hoisting one of the royals that had belonged to the frigate, they tried to keep up their courage with the thought of again seeing the boats when the night, which was coming on, had passed away. The wind freshened, and the waves began to swell around them."

"What a trying situation!"

"It was, boys. When a sudden trial comes upon us, and we are obliged to act, we are often so roused by it, as to be able to endure it; but to stand still, hour after hour, and day after day, without any thing to do, while danger increases, and distress becomes more and more urgent, this is truly terrible. God's presence and grace are necessary, in such cases of extremity, to keep the mind tranquil. When we can say, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,' we can endure any thing."

"How did they pass through the night?"

66

Badly enough; for the weather still freshened, and the waves swept over them. Though they held on as fast as they could to the spars of the raft, several were washed

away; and, beside this, ten or a dozen of them were crushed to death between the spars. Morning came, but no boats were seen. Another day passed, the sea still breaking over them, and sweeping many from the raft. In rushing to the middle of the raft for safety, several were smothered to death."

66 Poor creatures! What was the end of it all?"

"A spirit of desperation came over the soldiers and sailors. They bored a hole in the head of a wine cask, and drank to excess; and when the sea water rendered the wine unfit to drink, they were half frantic, threatening to murder their officers.'

"Dreadful! dreadful! That came of drinking so much

wine."

"One man, in his desperation, began with an axe to cut the ropes which bound the raft together: the officers rushed forward, and the man was cut down with a sabre. The passengers and officers opposed the mutineers, but the latter were the most numerous. Another mutineer, while cutting the ropes, was flung into the sea."

66

66

Why the mutineers must have been mad!"

Mad, indeed, boys! And so thought the officers and passengers, for they made a furious charge upon them, and several were cut down. At last the mutineers cried out for mercy on their knees: this was granted, but it was of little avail; for about an hour after midnight, the mutineers, more desperate than ever, rushed on their officers like tigers, and the raft was soon strewn with the dying and the dead.

"Of all madmen that we ever heard of, these soldiers and sailors are the worst.'

"When daylight came, it appeared that sixty-five of the mutineers were killed, and only two of the opposite party. They had still a cask of wine remaining; so, getting up their mast again, which had been broken down, they let the raft drive before the wind. Driven to extremity by the cravings of hunger, some tried to eat the leather of their hats, while others gnawed their sword belts and cartridge boxes. At last, they began to eat the dead bodies around them. Oh, boys! Thank God, again and again, for the hardest crust that you ever put into your mouths."

66

Indeed, we ought to be thankful."

"I think it was on the fourth day, that a shoal of flying-fish fell on the raft: it was as though they were sent from heaven; but this supply of food was soon consumed. I need not dwell on all the scenes of horror that took place, nor describe the last conspiracy that was entered into among the mutineers. It will be quite enough to say, that when there were left on the raft only twenty-eight persons, thirteen of them, who were already half dead, were flung overboard to save the lives of the remainder; and that, out of a hundred and fifty persons who embarked on the raft, only fifteen were alive when the Argus brig, which had been sent out from Senegal, to look for them, hove in sight. Ten or eleven days had they been at sea; many of the party could hardly stir, and before they arrived at St. Louis, six of them died."

K

66

'Why, out of a hundred and fifty, only nine were left alive!"

"True, boys. How far misery was brought upon the party by the reckless conduct of the mutineers, it is hard to say; but the lesson to be learned from the raft of La Meduse is this, it sets forth the sin and folly of indulging in excess, and giving way to gloomy despair in the hour of trial. If you will ask me, I will tell you, another time, how differently the crew of the Alceste, English frigate, behaved, when shipwrecked. By discipline and good conduct, they were all kept together; and, by God's goodness, brought in safety across the raging ocean.'

"We will be sure to remind you, Captain."

66

And, perhaps, I may tell you, boys, of the wreck of the Maria mail-boat, and that will surprise you still more than the other, because you will then see what a weak woman may endure, when strengthened with pious principles, when her heart magnifies the Lord, and her spirit rejoices in God her Saviour."

"We will not forget the Maria mail-boat, depend upon it."

"Well, then, now up with your sky-scrapers, and prepare for a run afore the wind.”

The hovel-The old sea Captain talks seriously to his young friends-Civilized and savage people-Doubling the CapePopulation of the globe-The number of pagans-The largest ocean, sea, and lake-The highest mountain, the longest river, and the best country-Points of the compass, latitude, and longitude-Bower-anchor-Stream-anchor-Kedge-anchor-Pi

lot's-anchor-Floating-anchor.

CAPTAIN! Captain! come into the hovel; all is dry here. Do come in, Captain."

66

What, boys; do you think an old tar, who has been drenched with salt water and fresh, on the wide ocean, for forty years, is to hide his head like a baboon in a hollow tree, on account of such a drizzle as this! No,