Part 2 (2/2)

I replied, ”I must see him, for he has sent me word that he has important discoveries to make.” ”What can he discover to you?” said the Count, ”Paleski has ever been an impostor.” ”This will render his confession on the brink of eternity so much the more remarkable. But I must not lose a moment. Farewell, Count, till I see you again!” So saying, I tore myself from him, and hastened with the friar to Paleski's apartment. When the nurse had left the room, the former said: ”you need but ring the bell, if you should want me, I shall be within hearing.”---With these words he went out of the room. Paleski stared at me for some time. The livid colour of death covered his haggard countenance, and the most agonizing anguish of a tormented conscience was strongly painted on his looks. ”My Lord!” he at length began, ”I owe you a thousand thanks for your condescension; I should undoubtedly have fallen a sacrifice to black despair, if you had refused to give me an opportunity to unfold mysteries to you which lie heavy on my mind.”

I took a seat close by the bed, seized with dreadful bodings.

(_To be continued._)

_A remarkable account of two Brothers, extracted from Linschoten's Voyages._

In the sixteenth century, the Portuguese carracks sailed from _Lisbon_ to _Goa_. There were no less than twelve hundred souls on board one of these vessels. The beginning of their voyage was prosperous; they had doubled the Cape of _Good Hope_ and were steering their course North-east, to the great continent of India, when some Gentlemen on board who having studied Geography and Navigation, found in the lat.i.tude they were then in, a large ridge of rocks laid down in their Sea-charts.

They no sooner made this discovery, than they acquainted the Captain of the s.h.i.+p with it, desiring him to communicate the same to the pilot, which request he immediately granted, recommending him to lay by in the night, and slacken sail in the day, until they should be past the danger. It is a custom among the Portuguese absolutely to commit the navigation, or sailing part of the vessel to the Pilot, who is answerable with his head for the safe-conduct or carriage of the King's s.h.i.+ps, or those that belong to private traders; and is under no manner of direction from the Captain, who commands in every other respect. The Pilot being a self sufficient man, took it as an affront to be taught his art, and instead of complying with the captain's request, actually crowded more sail. They had not sailed many hours, before the s.h.i.+p struck upon a rock. In this distress the Captain ordered the pinnace to be launched, into which having tossed a small quant.i.ty of biscuit, and some boxes of marmalade, he jumped in himself with nineteen others, who with their swords prevented the coming in of any more, lest the boat should sink. In this condition they put off in the great Indian ocean, without a compa.s.s to steer by or any fresh water, but what might happen to fall from the heavens, whose mercy alone could deliver them.

After they had rowed to and fro for four days the captain died: this added, if possible, to their misery, for as they now fell into confusion, every one would govern and none would obey. This obliged them to elect one of their company to command them, whose orders they implicitly agreed to follow. This person proposed to draw lots, and to cast every fourth man overboard; as their small stock of provision was not sufficient to sustain life above three days longer. They were now nineteen persons in all; in this number were a friar and a carpenter, both of whom they would exempt, as one was useful to absolve and comfort them in their last extremity, and the other to repair the pinnace, in case of a leak or other accident. The same compliment they paid to their new captain, he being the odd man, and his life of much consequence. He refused their indulgence a great while; but at last they obliged him to acquiesce, so that there were four to die out of sixteen.

The three first, after having confessed and received absolution submitted to their fate. The fourth was a Portuguese gentleman that had a younger brother in the boat, who seeing him about to be thrown overboard most tenderly embraced him, and with tears in his eyes besought him to let him die in his room, telling him that he had a wife and children at _Goa_, besides the care of three sisters: that as for himself he was single, and his life of no great importance; he therefore conjured him to suffer him to supply his place. The elder brother astonished with this generosity, replied, That since the divine Providence had appointed him to suffer, it would be wicked to permit any other to die for him; especially a brother to whom he was so infinitely obliged. The younger would take no denial; but throwing himself on his knees held his brother so fast that the company could not disengage them. Thus they disputed for awhile, the elder brother bidding him be a father to his children, and recommended his wife to his protection, and as he would inherit his estate, to take care of their common sisters; but all he said could not make the younger desist. At last the elder brother acquiesced, and suffered the gallant youth to supply his place, who being cast into the sea, and a good swimmer, soon got to the stern of the pinnace and laid hold of the rudder with his right hand, which being perceived by one of the sailors, he cut off the hand with his sword: then dropping into the sea, he frequently caught hold again with his left, which received the same fate. Thus dismembered of both hands, he made a s.h.i.+ft to keep himself above water with his feet and two stumps, which he held bleeding upwards.

This spectacle so raised the pity of the whole company that they cried out, he is but one man! let us endeavour to save his life! and he was accordingly taken into the boat; where he had his stumps bound up as well as the place and circ.u.mstances would permit. They rowed all that night, and the next morning, when the sun rose, as if heaven would reward the piety and gallantry of this young man, they descried land, which proved to be the mountains of _Mozambique_ in _Africa_, not far from a Portuguese colony. There they all safely arrived, where they remained until the next s.h.i.+p from _Lisbon_ pa.s.sed by and carried them to _Goa_.

At that city, _Linschoten_, a writer of good credit, a.s.sured us, that he himself saw them land, supped with the two brothers that very night, beheld the younger with his stumps, and had the story from their mouths, as well as from the rest of the company.

[[Source:

Original: Jan Huyghen van Linschoten (1563-1611), _Voyages_.

First English translation: 1598, rpt. by Hakluyt society 1885.

Notes: ”At that city, _Linschoten_, a writer of good credit, a.s.sured us, that he himself saw them land.”

The article is loosely adapted from chapter CXII, ”Of certaine memorable Things”, vol. II, pg. 179-181 in the reprint.

Link: mends it to the fine ladies, to furnish their toilets with the following articles:

_Self knowledge:_--A mirror, shewing the full shape in the truest light.

_Innocence:_--A white paint, which will stand for a considerable time, if not abused.

_Modesty:_--Very best rouge, giving a becoming bloom to the cheek.

_Contentment:_--An infallible smoother of wrinkles in the face.

_Truth:_--A salve, rendering the lips soft and peculiarly graceful.

_Good humour:_--An universal beautifier.

_Mildness:_--Giving a tincture to the voice.

_Tears of Pity:_--A water, that gives l.u.s.tre and brightness to the eye.

N.B. The constant use of these articles cannot fail rendering them quite agreeable to the sensible and deserving part of mankind.

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