enough seals to fill another large storehouse.
At last, after two years had thus passed away, Ned, who had been fishingdown the harbour, came hurrying back. His countenance was grave, and helooked much agitated.
"I have been watching a vessel standing in for the island. She has hoveto, and is sending a boat on shore. The time has come, Mr Gurton, whenwe must part. I dare not go back into the world, and have made up mymind to remain here. You are young, and have many years before you, andI would advise you to go, and all I ask is that you will think of me andpray for me."
This announcement made Humphry even more agitated than Ned. He hurriedto the spot where the boat could be seen.
She made her way up the harbour. Humphry and his companion went down tomeet her. An officer-like looking man stepped on shore, accompanied byanother in dark clothes. They seemed much surprised at seeing Humphryand Ned.
"What! are you Englishmen?" asked one of the strangers. "We onlydiscovered the island this morning, and had no expectation of finding itinhabited."
Humphry explained that they were the only inhabitants; that he had beenleft there some years before, and, pointing to Ned, said, "This man wasafterwards wrecked on the coast, and he alone was saved from his ship."
"I am Captain Summers of the _Hope_, now lying in the offing. Thisgentleman is the Reverend Mr Evans, a missionary, whom I am conveying toan island where he is about to settle. What is your name?" asked theofficer.
Humphry told him.
"And my name is Tom Martin," said Ned coming forward, greatly toHumphry's surprise.
"Well, my friends, it seems but a barren island. I wonder how you havemanaged to live here so long."
Humphry briefly explained the various means by which he had procuredfood, and leading the way to the garden, showed them the perfectcultivation into which it had been brought. He then invited CaptainSummers and Mr Evans into his hut. His Testament lay open on the table.The latter took it up, observing--
"I am glad to see, my young friend, that you have not been deprived ofGod's Word during your long stay here."
"It has indeed been my great solace and delight," answered Humphry."Without it I should have been miserable."
"Well, my friends, I shall be most happy to receive you both on board myship; and as I hope to sail for England in the course of a few months,you will then be able to return home."
Humphry thanked the captain for his offer, which he gladly accepted.Ned looked very grave.
"I am much obliged to you, sir," he said, "and though I shall be sorryto part from Mr Gurton, I am very sure that I had better stay where I amtill God thinks fit to call me from this world. I have lived too longamong savages, and worse than savages, to go back again and live withcivilised people. If Mr Gurton will leave me his Testament, which hehas taught me to read, and his gun and harpoons, it's all I ask."
"No, my friend," observed Mr Evans, "man is not made to live alone. If,as I hope from what you say, you have learned to love Jesus Christ, youshould try to serve Him, and endeavour to do good among yourfellow-creatures. Now, as I am going to settle in an island inhabitedby savages, I shall be very glad of your assistance, and if you alreadyunderstand their language, which I have to learn, you may speak to them,and tell them of Him who died for them, that they may be reconciled toHim. You will thus be showing your love for Him far more than by livinga life of solitude, even although you spend your days in reading HisWord. Remember it is not only those who hear the Word of God, but thosewho hear and do it, who are His disciples."
"You are right, sir," exclaimed Ned, brightening up. "My only fear if Ileft this was to find myself among those who would lead me back into badways, but I will gladly go with you--that I will, sir."
As the captain was anxious to see the island, Humphry undertook to guidehim and Mr Evans to the top of the hill, whence they could obtain a viewover the whole of it. Before setting out, Humphry showed them the storeof seal-skins.
"I shall be sorry to leave these behind," he observed, "and if you canreceive them on board, they will assist to pay my passage."
"As to that, my friend," answered the captain, "I will very gladly sendmy boats to take them off, and you shall pay freight for them; but you,I am very sure, will be able to work your passage, and I hope you willfind they will sell for some hundred pounds in England."
"Part of them belong to my companion," observed Humphry.
"No, no, Mr Gurton," said Ned. "They are all yours. Not a shilling oftheir value will I touch, except enough to give me a new rig-out, as Iam not fit to accompany Mr Evans in these tattered old clothes of mine."
"Set your mind at rest about that," said the captain. "You shall bewelcome to a thorough fit out, suitable for the task you are about toundertake, and your friend Mr Gurton will require the money more thanyou will."
Captain Summers, according to his promise, loaded his own boat withseal-skins, and sent her off to the ship with orders for the long-boatto come ashore and carry off the remainder. Meantime he and Mr Evanspaid their intended visit to the hill-top.
On their return Humphry took the first opportunity of drawing Ned aside,and asking why he had not given his right name.
"I did give my right name, Mr Gurton," he answered. "Ned Hadow wasmerely a purser's name which I took when I entered on board the _Wolf_,because you see, sir, I had run from a man-of-war. Now I know better, Iwould only tell the truth; and so, please, call me Tom Martin in future,and I am ready to stand the consequences."
Humphry and his companion were kindly received on board the _Hope_, whenthe good captain supplied them with new suits of clothes, which theyindeed much required.
The _Hope_ continued her voyage.
How different was the life led on board her to that on board the _Wolf_!Captain Summers and his officers were Christian men. The crew werekindly treated; not an oath escaped the lips of any of the men, whileall did their duty with cheerfulness and alacrity.
The voyage was prosperous. At the end of three weeks the _Hope_ droppedher anchor in the harbour of a fine island where Mr Evans was to remain.
A native missionary, who had been sent there a year before, came off toreceive him, and brought him the satisfactory intelligence that a largenumber of the natives were anxiously looking out for his arrival.
Some days were spent in landing his property, and assisting him inputting up his house, while an abundance of fresh provisions was broughtoff by the natives to the ship.
Humphry parted from his old friend with the less regret from feelingsure that he would be well occupied, and free from the temptations hedreaded.
"We shall meet again, I trust, as Captain Summers has offered me a berthas third mate of the _Hope_ on her next voyage, which he expects to maketo these seas," said Humphry, as he bade him farewell.
"If we don't meet here, we shall in another world, sir. And bless you,Mr Gurton, for pointing out to me the way to it," said Tom, as he wrungHumphry's hand, and tears burst from his eyes.
The _Hope_ had a prosperous voyage home, during which Humphry did hisutmost to fit himself for the duty he was to undertake. He had no tiesin England, so he gladly again sailed in the _Hope_. Captain Summershaving sold the seal-skins for a good price, judiciously invested theproceeds for him.
Humphry had the satisfaction of meeting his old friend Ned, or rather MrMartin, as he was now called, and of finding that he had been of thegreatest service to Mr Evans. He never returned to England, but died athis post, labouring to the last in spreading the gospel among thenatives.
Humphry won the regard of Captain Summers by his steadiness and goodconduct, and at the end of his third voyage he married his daughter, andsoon afterwards obtained the command of a ship. When at length he wasable to quit the sea and live on shore, he often used to relate to hischildren, among his many adventures, how he spent five years of his lifealone on an island.
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The End.
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BOOK III--THE BROTHERS; A TALE OF THREE LIVES.
CHAPTER I.
Many years ago, while King George the Third sat on the tranquil throneof England, and before the First Napoleon became Emperor of France,Gilbert Maitland, the youngest of Farmer Maitland's three sons, was oneautumn evening, mounted on his shaggy pony, riding through the NewForest. He had set out from the town of Christchurch to return to hisfather's house, which was situated between it and Lymington. Theshadows of the trees grew longer and longer, till they disappearedaltogether in the general gloom, as the sun sank, into theleaden-coloured foam-topped waves of the English Channel, which couldhere and there be seen from the higher ground through the openings ofthe trees on his right. The wind howled and whistled, and the dryleaves and twigs, blown off by the south-westerly gale, came flying byeven
The School Friends; Or, Nothing New Page 15
