14. THE PASSENGER AND THE PILOT

It had blown* a violent storm at sea, and the whole crew of a large vessel were in imminent danger of shipwreck. After the rolling of the waves was somewhat abated, a passenger who had never been at sea before, observing the pilot had appeared wholly unconcerned even in the greatest danger asked him what death his father died. "What death?" said the pilot. "Why! he perished at sea, as my grandfather did before him. " "And are you not afraid of trusting yourself to an element that has proved thus fatal "Afraid? by no means. Why! we "Yes, but

to your family?".

must all die*: is not your father dead?"

he died in his bed. " "And why then are you not afraid of trusting yourself to your bed?" "Because I am there perfectly secure. "It may be so,

-

دو

replied the pilot, "but if the hand of Providence is equally extended over all places, there is no more reason for me to be afraid of going* to sea, than for you to be afraid of going* to bed.

DODSLEY.

The photographer said: "If you would only be pleasant now, smile a little. "The visitor smiles. 66 My dear sir, that will never do*: it's too wide for the instrument."

Abate (to), se calmer
Crew, équipage
Death, mort (subst.)
Die (to), mourir
Even, même

Means (by no), nulle-
ment

Passenger, passager

Pleasant, aimable
Prove (to), se mon-
trer
Rolling, roulis,
fureur
Secure, en sûreté
Shipwreck,naufrage
Somewhat, un peu

Smile (to), sourire
Storm, orage
Trust (to) one's self,
se fier

To be pleasant, pren-
dre un air agréable
Wide, large

15. THE TRICOLOR

Red, white and blue were the colours of the good city of Paris. Her national guards elected to wear* them in a cockade, and thus originated the famous tricolor, the flag that, torn* to shreds by shot and shell, has floated triumphant in every part of the world where danger is to be encountered and honour won*. How many hearts have shed* their life blood to further it twenty paces in the charge, to preserve its honour unsullied in the retreat; how many eyes swimming* in death, and watching it to the last, have taken* its image with them to another world; how many noble spirits, swelling with pride and patriotism, have trooped gloriously into Paris under the remnants of their victorious flag! Even in reverse it has retained its prestige, and though defeated, has never been disgraced.

WHYTE MELville.

Quills are things that are sometimes taken* from the pinions of one goose to spread* the opinions of another.

16. PLEASANT THINGS

'Tis sweet to hear*

At midnight on the blue and moonlit deep
The song and oar of Adria's gondolier,
By distance mellowed, o'er the water sweep*;
'Tis sweet to see the evening star appear;
'Tis sweet to listen as the night winds creep*
From leaf to leaf; 'tis sweet to view on high
The rainbow, based on ocean, span the sky.

'Tis sweet to hear* the watch-dog's honest bark
Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw* near home;
'Tis sweet to know* there is an eye will mark
Our coming, and look brighter when we come*;
'Tis sweet to be awaken'd by the lark,

Or lull'd by falling* waters; sweet the hum
Of bees, the voice of girls, the song of birds,
The lisp of children, and their earliest words.

BYRON.

Adria, l'Adriatique
Bark, aboiement
Based, appuyé
Bay deep-mouth'd
welcome,souhaiter
la bienvenue par
ses longs aboie-
ments.

Creep (to), se glisser
Deep, abîme, océan
Hum, bourdonne-
ment

Listen (to), écouter
Lulled, invité au
sommeil
Lark, alouette

Lisp, bégaiement
Mellowed, adouci
Oar, rame
Span (to), traverser

toute l'étendue de Sweep (to) over, cou

rir au-dessus, raser

17. THE ISLAND OF JUAN FERNANDEZ Description de l'île où Alexandre Selkirk a vécu

The following description is taken from the logbook (1) of captain Pendleton, who, in 1859, paid a visit to the island in his ship Golden Rocket." The island is about 25 miles long by about 4 in breadth. The land is very high, rising* in rugged precipitous peaks, one of them being 3,500 feet above the level of the sea. The peaks are generally overhung* with clouds. The valleys are exceedingly fertile, the grass growing* to the height of six or eight feet. Figs, strawberries, peaches and cherries abound in their season. The valleys and hill-sides were full of trees loaded down with delicious fruit. Strawberries flourish best in December and January. There are three remarkable caves in the side of the hill facing the harbour, about 30 feet in length, 25 in width and about the same in height. The inhabitants now number but 14, and formerly a penal colony, numbering 500, was located there, the caves above mentioned being used by them, but the project was found to be impracticable, and the convicts were taken back to the mainland. "

(1) Log en fr. loch est un instrument pour mesurer la vitesse du navire.

The Golden Rocket anchored on the opposite side from that upon which Selkirk lived, and there being a mountain to cross to reach the Robinson Crusoe abode, no one ventured to make* the journey. The best landing is on the eastern side; so bold is the shore that in some places the water is 75 fathoms deep. An immense number of goats run* wild over the island, and an abundance of fish is taken on every coast. The water is obtained from a number of never-failing rivulets trickling down over the rocks from the cloudcapped mountains. This island was formerly a favourite resort (1) of the buccaneers in their expeditions against the American possessions; in 1749 the Spaniards formed a settlement, but subsequently abandoned the island.

The fairest rose at last is withered.

There is no general rule without some exception.
Few words are best.

Ill news come a-pace.

Birds of a feather flock together.

One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush(2).

(2) Dans bush, u ou français, voir fre partie, page 9, note 2.