Part 24 (1/2)

he answered

Mr McDonald replied, that he could not but say that this was the case, but that the lad had accompanied them, and they felt themselves answerable for his safe return

The captain, however, would not listen, but continued shouting out his orders to the men, who obeyed them withthat they rejoiced at having thus easily got rid of Mark Forrun away also, and shared his fate, whatever that reat, I should, even now, have jumped overboard and tried to join him But the attempt would have been equivalent to suicide, and I dared not make it

Away stood the shi+p out of the harbour, leaving my old friend all alone on the desert island I pictured toht endure for want of food and companionshi+p, and his too probable early death I went about my duty in a disconsolate mood I had now no friend to talk to Not one of the men appeared to pity me Even Julius Caesar uttered no word of coht of the Falkland Islands and shaped a course to round Cape Horn The shi+p was now surrounded by albatrosses, penguins, and pintado birds Several were shot, and others taken with a hook and bait An enorht on deck fought bravely for some time before it could be killed

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

South Sea whaler--I write a letter hoot on its way there--The Earl of Lollipop--Mr McTavish saves --My prospects sole for life--Tierra del Fuego--Cape Horn--In the Pacific--The coast of Patagonia, and hoe nearly got wrecked--Juan Fernandez-- Robinson Crusoe's Island--I again determine to run away, but am prevented by an offer I receive--”Shark! Shark!”--A narrow escape-- Valparaiso--Callao--Paita--The Sandwich Islands--The king and his court--Royal guests--So--Colulimpse of freedom--A farewell dinner--An untoward incident--Once more a prisoner--My captors' fears ain--My release--”Dis curious shi+p”

We had left the island for some days, e fell in with a homeward-bound South Sea whaler As the ocean was calht, her captain cae or letters hoht, ”will be an excellent opportunity of returning hoo back to Mr butterfield's office and the high stool, and listen to Aunt Deb's lectures” How to accomplish my purpose was the difficulty

I went up to the captain of the whaler

”I'entleman's son,” I said; ”I caain”

He gave a loud ”Whew!” as I said this

”I can't take you, my lad, without your captain's leave,” he answered

”If he gives it, I shall be happy to do so”

Captain Longfleet just then came out of the cabin

”I don't kno he came on board, but here he is and here he'll remain,” he said, as the captain of the whaler spoke to him ”Go forward,” he said tofor your i to Mr McTavish, asked hifleet in reply told him that he had no business to interfere

”I've lost one boy through you gentle to lose another,” he answered

In vain Mr McDonald and the other gentleh way

”I'm sorry, my lad, that I can't take you out of the shi+p without your captain's peret a letter scribbled off, I'll undertake to post it”

I had neither paper, pens, nor ink, but Mr McTavish, hearing as said, instantly broughtthat I should be there undisturbed I had great difficulty in penning the letter; and while I was kneeling down at the chest, old Growles came in and mocked ata love-letter to ave me a knock on the elbohich spattered the ink over the paper and nearly upset the ink-bottle Still I wrote on

”shi+p 'Emu,' somewhere off Cape Horn

”My dear Father,--I didn't intend to run away, but tumbled down into the hold and was carried off When I caet out of my prison I lived there for I don't kno many days, till, when almost dead, I was released I have been treated worse than a dog ever since by the captain, officers, and men

He's a terrible tyrant and brute, and if it had not been for Mark Riddle--whom, wonderful to say, I found on board the shi+p--he and his mates would have been knocked on the head and hove overboard

”I would h stool in Mr butterfield's office than where I am I wanted to return home, but the captain wouldn't let me I intend, however, to run on the first opportunity, and to get back if I can I tried to get away in the Falkland Islands, but was prevented Mark succeeded, and was left behind Whether he'll et back to Sandgate one of these days, I have no time to write more; so with love to mother, and my brothers and sisters, and even to Aunt Deb--