I see the deep's untrampled floor With green and purple sea-weeds strewn; I see the waves upon the shore, Like light dissolved, in star-showers thrown. I sit upon the sands alone. The lightning of the noontide ocean Is flashing round me, and a tone Arises from its measured motion, "Well," sais I, "I can do that now, poor as I be; he is no cousin of mine, and if he was he'd be no credit, for he is no great shakes. Gentlemen now don't set up for that office; How sweet, did any heart now share in my they can't live on it." "Oh, I don't mean that," he said, "but fifty thousand dollars, Sam, only think of that; ain't it a great sum, that; it's all I should ask in this world of providence; if I had that, I should be the happiest man that ever was. "Dotey," sais I, "would it cure you of the colic? you know how you suffer from that." "Phoo," sais he. 'Well, what would you do with it?" sais I. "I would go and travel," sais he, "and get into society and see the world." "Would it educate you, Dotey; at your age give you French and German, Latin and Greek, and so on. "Hire it, Sam," sais he, touching his nose with his fore-finger. "And manners," sais I, "could you hire that? I will tell you what it would do for you. You could get drunk every night if you liked, surround yourself with spongers, horse jockies, and foreign counts, and go to the devil by railroad instead of a one-horse shay." Well, as luck would have it, he drew a prize in the lottery at New Orleens of just that sum, and in nine months he was cleaned out, and sent to the asylum. It tain't cash, then, that gains it; that's as plain as preaching. What is it then that confers it? "A rope," said Blowhard, as we reached the side of the Nantasket, "in with your oars, my men. Now, Mr. Slick, let's take a dose of Sarsaparilly Pills." STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION, NEAR NAPLES. The sun is warm, the sky is clear, The purple noon's transparent might; The breath of the moist earth is light Around its unexpanded buds; Like many a voice of one delight, The winds, the birds, the ocean floods, The city's voice itself, is soft like Solitude's. emotion! Alas! I have nor hope nor health, Nor peace within nor calm around; Nor that content, surpassing wealth, The sage in meditation found, And walk'd with inward glory crown'd; Nor fame, nor power, nor love, nor leisure. Others I see whom these surroundSmiling they live, and call life pleasure ;To me that cup has been dealt in another measure. Yet now despair itself is mild, Ev'n as the winds and waters are; I could lie down like a tired child, Some might lament that I were cold, Unlike this day, which, when the sun Will linger, though enjoy'd, like joy in memory yet. THE ONLY SAFE PILOT. Man is a torch borne in the wind; a dream But of a shadow, summ'd with all his substance; And as great seamen, using all their wealth And skills in Neptune's deep invisible paths, In tall ships richly built and ribb'd with brass, To put a girdle round about the world; When they have done it (coming near their haven), Are fain to give a warning-piece, and call A poor stayed fisherman, that never pass'd His country's sight, to waft and guide them in: So, when we wander farthest through the waves Of glassy glory, and the gulfs of state, Topp'd with all titles, spreading all our reaches, As if each private arm would sphere the earth, We must to Virtue for her guide resort, Or we shall shipwreck in our safest port. GEORGE CHAPMAN. THE TIGER'S CAVE. AN ADVENTURE AMONG THE QUITO MOUNTAINS. On leaving the Indian village, we continued to wind round Chimborasso's wide base; but its snow-crowned head no longer shone above us in clear brilliancy, for a dense fog was gathering gradually around it. Our guides looked anxiously towards it, and announced their apprehensions of a violent storm. We soon found that their fears were well-founded. The fog rapidly covered and obscured the whole of the mountain; the atmosphere was suffocating, and yet so humid that the steel work of our watches was covered with rust, and the watches stopped. The river beside which we were travelling rushed down with still greater impetuosity; and from the clefts of the rocks which lay on the left of our path, were suddenly precipitated small rivulets, that bore the roots of trees, and innumerable serpents along with them. These rivulets often came down so suddenly and violently that we had great difficulty in preserving our footing. The thunder at length began to roll, and resounded through the mountainous passes with the most terrific grandeur. Then came the vivid lightning,-flash following flash-above, around, beneath,-everywhere a sea of fire. We sought a momentary shelter in a cleft of the rocks, whilst one of our guides hastened forward to seek a more secure asylum. In a short time he returned, and informed us that he had discovered a spacious cavern, which would afford us sufficient protection from the elements. We proceeded thither immediately, and with great difficulty at last got into it. The noise and raging of the storm continued with so much violence, that we could not hear the sound of our own voices. I had placed myself near the entrance of the cave, and could observe, through the opening, which was straight and narrow, the singular scene without. The highest cedar trees were struck down, or bent like reeds; monkeys and parrots lay strewed upon the ground, killed by the falling branches; the water had collected in the path we had just passed, and hurried along it like a mountain stream. From everything I saw I thought it extremely probable that we should be obliged to pass some days in this cavern. When the storm, however, had somewhat abated, our guides ventured out in order to ascertain if it were possible to continue our journey. The cave in which we had taken refuge was so extemely dark, that if we moved a few paces from the entrance, we could not see an inch before us; and we were debating as to the propriety of leaving it even before the Indians came back, when we suddenly heard a singular groaning or growling in the further end of the cavern, which instantly fixed all our attention. Wharton and myself listened anxiously, but our daring and inconsiderate young friend Lincoln, together with my huntsman, crept about upon their hands and knees, and endeavoured to discover, by groping, from whence the sound proceeded. They had not advanced far into the cavern before we heard them utter an exclamation of surprise; and they returned to us, each carrying in his arms an animal singularly marked, and about the size of a cat, seemingly of great strength and power, and furnished with immense fangs. The eyes were of a green colour; strong claws were upon their feet; and a blood red tongue hung out of their mouths. Wharton had scarcely glanced at them when he exclaimed in consternation, "Good God! we have come into the den of a -." He was interrupted by a fearful cry of dismay from our guides, who came rushing precipitately towards us, calling out, "A tiger! a tiger!" and at the same time, with extraordinary rapidity, they climbed up a cedar tree which stood at the entrance of the cave, and hid themselves among the branches.. After the first sensation of horror and surprise, which rendered me motionless for a moment, had subsided, I grasped my fire-arms. Wharton had already regained his composure and self-possession; and he called to us to assist him instantly in blocking up the mouth of the cave with an immense stone which fortunately lay near it. The sense of approaching danger augmented our strength; for we now distinctly heard the growl of the ferocious animal, and we were lost beyond redemption if it reached the entrance before we could get it closed. Ere this was done, we could distinctly see the tiger bounding towards the spot, and stooping in order to creep into his den by the narrow opening. At this fearful moment, our exertions were successful, and the great stone kept the wild beast at bay. There was a small open space, however, left between the top of the entrance and the stone, through which we could see the head of the animal, illuminated by its glowing eyes, which it rolled, glaring with fury upon us. Its frightful roaring too, penetrated to the depths of the cavern, and was answered by the hoarse growling of the cubs, which Lincoln and Frank had now tossed from them. Our ferocious enemy attempted first to remove the stone with his powerful claws, and then to push it with his head from its place; and these efforts, proving abortive, served only to increase his wrath. He uttered a tremendous, heart-piercing howl, and his flaming eyes darted light into the darkness of our retreat. "Now is the time to fire at him," said Wharton, with his usual calmness; "aim at his eyes; the ball will go through his brain, and we shall then have a chance to get rid of him." Frank seized his double-barrelled gun, and Lincoln his pistols. The former placed the muzzle within a few inches of the tiger, and Lincoln did the same. At Wharton's command, they both drew their triggers at the same moment; but no shot followed. The tiger, who seemed aware that the flash indicated an attack upon him, sprang growling from the entrance; but feeling himself unhurt, immediately turned back again, and stationed himself in his former place. The powder in both pieces was wet; they therefore proceeded to draw the useless loading, whilst Wharton and myself hastened to seek our powder flask. It was so extremely dark, that we were obliged to grope about the cave; and at last, coming in contact with the cubs, we heard a rustling noise, as if they were playing with some metal substance, which we soon discovered was the canister we were looking for. Most unfortunately, however, the animals had pushed off the lid with their claws, and the powder had been strewed over the damp earth, and rendered entirely useless. This horrible discovery excited the greatest consternation. "All is now over," said Wharton; "we have only now to choose whether we shall die of hunger, together with these animals who are shut up along with us, or open the entrance to the blood-thirsty monster without -and so make a quicker end of the matter." was struck more than once; but the light weapons bounded back harmless from his thick skin. At length, however, one of them struck him near the eye, and the arrow remained sticking in the wound. He now broke anew into the wildest fury, sprang at the tree, and tore it with his claws, as if he would have dragged it to the ground. But having at length succeeded in getting rid of the arrow, he became more calm, and laid himself down as before in front of the cave. Frank now returned from the lower end of the den, and a glance showed us what he had been doing. In each hand, and dangling from the end of a string, were the two cubs. He had strangled them; and before we were aware what he intended, he threw them through the opening to the tiger. No sooner did the animal perceive them than he gazed earnestly upon them, and began to examine them closely, turning them cautiously from side to side. As soon as he became aware that they were dead, he uttered so piercing a howl of sorrow, that we were obliged to put our hands to our ears. When I upbraided my huntsman for the cruel action he had so rashly committed, I perceived by his blunt and abrupt answers, that he also had lost all hope of rescue from our impending fate, and that under these circumstances the ties between master and servant were dissolved. For my own part, without knowing why, I could not help believing that some unexpected assistance would yet rescue us from so horrible a fate. Alas! I little anticipated the sacrifice that my rescue was to cost. The thunder had now ceased, and the storm had sunk to a gentle gale; the songs of birds were again heard in the neighbouring forest, and the sunbeams sparkled in the drops that hung from the leaves. We saw through the aperture how all nature was reviving after the wild war of elements which had so recently taken place; but the contrast only made our situation the more horrible. We were in a grave from which there was no deliverance; and a monster, worse than the fabled Cerberus, kept watch over us. The tiger had laid him So saying, he placed himself close beside the stone which for the moment defended us, and looked undauntedly upon the lightning eyes of the tiger. Lincoln raved and swore; and Frank took a piece of strong cord from his pocket, and hastened to the farther end of the caveI knew not with what design. We soon, how-self down beside his whelps. He was a beautiever, heard a low, stifled groaning; and the tiger, who had heard it also, became more restless and disturbed than ever. He went backwards and forwards before the entrance of the cave in the most wild and impetuous manner then stood still, and, stretching out his neck in the direction of the forest, broke forth into a deafening howl. Our two Indian guides took advantage of this opportunity to discharge several arrows from the tree. He ful animal, of great size and strength, and his limbs being stretched out at at their full length, displayed his immense power of muscle. A double row of great teeth stood far enough apart to show his large red tongue, from which the white foam fell in large drops. All at once another roar was heard at a distance, and the tiger immediately rose and answered it with a mournful howl. At the same instant, our Indians uttered a shriek, which announced that some new danger threatened us. A few moments confirmed our worst fears, for another tiger, not quite so large as the former, came rapidly towards the spot where we were. "This enemy will prove more cruel than the other," said Wharton; "for this is the female, and she knows no pity for those who deprive her of her young." ness of the road, our flight was slow and difficult. Wharton, though an active seaman, had a heavy step, and had great difficulty in keeping pace with us, and we were often obliged to slacken our own on his account. We had proceeded thus for about a quarter of an hour, when we found that our way led along the edge of a rocky cliff with innumerable The howls which the tigress gave, when she fissures. We had just entered upon it, when had examined the bodies of her cubs, sur- suddenly the Indians, who were before us, passed everything of horrible that we had yet uttered one of their piercing shrieks, and we heard; and the tiger mingled his mournful immediately became aware that the tigers were cries with hers. Suddenly her roaring was in pursuit of us. Urged by despair, we rushed lowered to a hoarse growling, and we saw her towards one of the breaks, or gulfs, in our way, anxiously stretch out her head, extend her over which was thrown a bridge of reeds, that wide and smoking nostrils, and look as if she sprang up and down at every step, and could were determined to discover immediately the be trod with safety by the light foot of the murderers of her young. Her eyes quickly Indians alone. Deep in the hollow below fell upon us, and she made a spring forward rushed an impetuous stream, and a thousand with the intention of penetrating to our place pointed and jagged rocks threatened destruction of refuge. Perhaps she might have been on every side. Lincoln, my huntsman, and enabled, by her immense strength, to push myself passed over the chasm in safety; but away the stone, had we not, with all our united Wharton was still in the middle of the waving power, held it against her. When she found bridge, and endeavouring to steady himself, that all her efforts were fruitless, she approached when both the tigers were seen to issue from the tiger, who lay stretched out beside his cubs, the adjoining forest; and the moment they and he rose and joined in her hollow roarings. descried us, they bounded towards us with They stood together for a few moments, as if dreadful roarings. Meanwhile, Wharton had in consultation, and then suddenly went off at nearly gained the safe side of the gulf, and a rapid pace, and disappeared from our sight. we were all clambering up the rocky cliff except Their howling died away in the distance, and Lincoln, who remained at the reedy bridge to then entirely ceased. We now began to enter-assist his friend to step upon firm ground. Whartain better hopes of our condition; but Wharton | ton, though the ferocious animals were close upon shook his head-"Do not flatter yourselves," said he, "with the belief that these animals will let us escape out of their sight till they have had their revenge. The hours we have to live are numbered." Nevertheless, there still appeared a chance of our rescue, for, to our surprise, we saw both our Indians standing before the entrance, and heard them call to us to seize the only possibility of our yet saving ourselves by instant flight, for that the tigers had only gone round the height to seek another inlet to the cave, with which they were no doubt acquainted. In the greatest haste the stone was pushed aside, and we stept forth from what we had considered a living grave. Wharton was the last who left it; he was unwilling to lose his double-barrelled gun, and stopped to take it up; the rest of us thought only of making our escape. We now heard once more the roaring of the tigers, though at a distance; and, following the example of our guides, we precipitately struck into a side path. From the number of roots and branches of trees with which the storm had strewed our way, and the slipperi him, never lost his courage or presence of mind. As soon as he had gained the edge of the cliff, he knelt down, and with his sword divided the fastenings by which the bridge was attached to the rock. He expected that an effectual barrier would thus be put to the further progress of our pursuers; but he was mistaken, for he had scarcely accomplished his task, when the tigress, without a moment's pause, rushed towards the chasm, and attempted to bound over it. It was a fearful sight to see the mighty animal suspended for a moment in the air, above the abyss; but the scene passed like a flash of lightning. Her strength was not equal to the distance: she fell into the gulf, and before she reached the bottom, she was torn into a thousand pieces by the jagged points of the rocks. Her fate did not in the least dismay her companion; he followed her with an immense spring, and reached the opposite side, but only with his foreclaws; and thus he clung to the edge of the precipice, endeavouring to gain a footing. The Indians again uttered a wild shriek, as if all hope had been lost. But Wharton, who was nearest the edge of the rock, advanced courageously towards | mournful procession. On the way Wharton the tiger, and struck his sword into the animal's breast. Enraged beyond all measure, the wild beast collected all his strength, and with a violent effort, fixing one of his hind legs upon the edge of the cliff, he seized Wharton by the thigh. That heroic man still preserved his fortitude; he grasped the trunk of a tree with his left hand, to steady and support himself, while with his right he wrenched, and violently turned the sword that was still in the breast of the tiger. All this was the work of an instant. The Indians, Frank, and myself hastened to his assistance; but Lincoln, who was already at his side, had seized Wharton's gun, which lay near upon the ground, and struck so powerful a blow with the butt end upon the head of the tiger, that the animal, stunned and overpowered, let go his hold, and fell back into the abyss. All would have been well had it ended thus; but the unfortunate Lincoln had not calculated upon the force of his blow; he staggered forward, reeled upon the edge of the precipice, extended his hand to seize upon anything to save himself-but in vain. His foot slipped; for an instant he hovered over the gulf, and then was plunged into it, to rise no more! suddenly opened his eyes, but instantly closed them again, and lay as immovable as before. Towards evening we drew near our destination, and our Indian friends, when they saw our situation, expressed the deepest sympathy; but the whole tribe assembled round us, and uttered piercing cries of grief, when they learned poor Lincoln's unhappy fate. Yanna, the fair maiden whose heart he had won, burst into tears; and her brothers hastened away, accompanied by some other Indians, in search of the body. I remained with my wounded friend; he still lay apparently insensible to everything that passed around him. Towards morning sleep overpowered me. A song of lamentation and mourning aroused me. It was the Indians returning with Lincoln's body. Yanna was at the head of the procession. I hastened to meet them, but was glad to turn back again, when my eyes fell upon the torn and lifeless body of our young companion. The Indians had laid him upon the tiger's skins, which they had strewed with green boughs; and they now bore him to the burialplace of their tribe. Yanna sacrificed on his tomb the most beautiful ornament she possessed her long black hair-an offering upon the grave of him who had first awakened the feelings of tenderness in her innocent bosom. We gave vent to a shriek of horror, and then for a few minutes there was a dead and awful silence. When we were able to revert to our own condition, I found Wharton fainting upon On the third day, as I sat at Wharton's bed, the brink of the precipice. We examined his he suddenly moved; he raised his head, and wound, and found that he was torn in a dread-opening his eyes, gazed fixedly upon a corner ful manner, and the blood flowed incessantly of the room. His countenance changed in a from the wide and deep gash. The Indians most extraordinary manner; it was deadly collected some plants and herbs, the application pale, and seemed to be turning to marble. of which stopped the bleeding; and we then I saw that the hand of death was upon him. bound up the mangled limb, while poor Whar- "All is over," he gasped out, while his looks ton lay perfectly insensible. His breathing continued fixed upon the same spot. "There was thick and heavy, and his pulse beat fever- it stands!" and on saying these words, he fell ishly. It was now evening, and we were back and died.-From the Danish. obliged to resolve upon passing the night under the shelter of some cleft in the rocks. The Indians lighted a fire to keep the wild beasts from our couch; and, having gathered some fruit, I partook of a meal that was the most sorrowful of my life. No sleep visited my eyes that night. I sat at Wharton's bed, and listened to his deep breathing. It became always more and more hard and deep, and his hand grasped violently, as if in convulsive movements. His consciousness had not returned, and in this situation he passed the whole night. In the morning the Indians thought it would be best to bear our wounded friend back to the village we had left the previous day. They plaited some strong branches together, and formed a bridge to repass the gulf. It was a LAST WORDS. Gane were but the winter cauld, I could sleep in the wild woods, And cauld at my feet, And the finger o' death's at my een Let nane tell my father, Or my mither sae dear: ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. |