THE LIBRARY
OF THE
NIVERSITY
OMNIBUS ARTIBUS
*
OF MINNESOT
CLASS
BOOK
812N863
08

Herbert E. Carpenter
From Mother


May 212 759
Jesse A. Carpenter
%

THE HELPING
D
SERIES.
SALT WATER DICK
BOSTON
LEE & SHEPARD.
HELPING-HAND SERIES.
SALT-WATER DICK.
BY
MAY MANNERING, pseud, of
Harriet P.H. Nowell
UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA
LIBRARY
BOSTON:
LEE AND SHEPARD.
1869.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
LEE AND SHEPARD,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
ELECTROTYPED AT THE
BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,
19 Spring Lane.
FEB 13 38
813 N863
OS
WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE
This Little Story is Dedicated
то
MY MOTHER.
794462
THE HELPING HAND SERIES.
BY MAY MANNERING.
To be completed in six volumes. Illustrated.
1. CLIMBING THE ROPE.
2. WILLEY GRIMES' FAVORITE.
3. CRUISE OF THE DASHAWAY.
4. THE LITTLE SPANIARD.
5. SALT WATER DICK.
6. THE LITTLE MAID OF OXBOW.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER II.
VISIT ON SHORE. SEA-BIRDS AND ISLAND CU-
RIOSITIES.
• 23
CHAPTER III.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY.
Ex-
CURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
35
CHAPTER IV.
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE. SEA-LIONS. SALT-
WATER DICK PROVES A HERO.
·
58
CHAPTER V.
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS. GALLIPAGOS TURTLE.. 78
CHAPTER VI.
CALLAO. THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
92
CHAPTER VII.
THE MONASTERY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
LIMA.
MONKS AT SERVICE.
FAREWELL TO PERU.
THE OLD BRIDGE.
IIO
(7)
8
CONTENTS.
:
CHAPTER VIII.
PAGE
BOUND AROUND CAPE HORN. THE PELICAN'S
FEAST. A WRECK.-LOSS OF THE PET DOG. 132
—
CHAPTER IX.
LAND, HO!-FALKLAND ISLANDS. EARly Nav-
IGATORS. — Salt-water DICK'S STORIES.
CHAPTER X.
•
THE HARBOR OF RIO. SANTA CRUZ AND THE
SUGAR LOAF.—THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN. — Joe
TRICKEY TELLS HIS STORY..
149
. 166.
CHAPTER XI.
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. - SAFE ÁRRIVAL AT HOME.
- DEPARTURE OF THE SAILORS..
•
184
CHAPTER XII.
THE GREAT GRIEF.
. 201
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OLD BEGGAR. A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
CHAPTER XIV.
. 211
CONCLUSION.
226
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER I.
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
SALT-WATER DICK.
OURTEEN miles off the coast of Peru,
FOU
there suddenly rise out of the waters
of the blue Pacific three rocky, light-colored
islands. No plant, tree, flower, or blade of
grass can be found anywhere upon them,
though they rise three hundred feet above
the water, and each one extends more than
a mile in length and width.
White-crested waves, many feet high,
fringe the islands all about, and rush
violently into the innumerable caves and
arches which perforate their sides. Multi-
(9)
IO
SALT-WATER DICK.
tudes of penguins and other sea-birds circle
around the islands, and make their nests on
the rocks, and pierce myriads of little houses
into mounds of the guano which covers the
islands to the depth of one hundred and
sixty feet.
These are the valuable Chincha Islands,
which render immense revenue to the Peru-
vian government by every year selling and
sending away thousands of tons of their
precious deposits. Fleets of two hundred
large ships, at one time, are anchored in
Chincha harbor, loading with the wonderful
dust, which is either brought off to them in
great boats, or, if they lie under the cliffs,
is emptied down into their holds through
long canvas" shutes."
All the labor of carting the guano to the
edge of the bluffs is performed by poor
coolies, who are brought as slaves, for a
certain length of time, from China, India,
and the islands of the Pacific. These un-
happy, overtasked beings live in little eight-
by-ten cane huts, and subsist almost entirely
:
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
II
upon fish, both salt and fresh, with boiled
rice, cooked very hard, and colored yellow
by saffron. Task-masters watch and drive
them, and in early times so abused them,
that considerable numbers put an end to
their painful lives by throwing themselves
from the lofty cliffs, and being dashed to
pieces on the rocks below.
The waters about the islands abound with
fish of various kinds. Turtles and lizards
sun themselves upon the rocks, and sea-
lions sport and gambol along the shore, and
dream away the sunny days in cool and
quiet caves, or under the shadow of over-
hanging cliffs. These sea-lions (platy-
rhynchus leoninus) are from six to ten feet
long, of a yellowish-brown color, and the
males have a large mane upon their necks,
which almost covers their head and shoul-
ders. Their voices are very powerful, and
at night, when half a dozen males are că-
rousing in one of the great caves, the roar
of their voices sounds like heavy thunder,
and peals over the water for a long distance.
12
SALT-WATER DICK.
They are a species of seal, the body bearing
a general resemblance to that of a fish, but
instead of fins it has flippers, short limbs,
with five toes provided with nails, and united
by a membrane, which serve for fins, and
are used like paddles. The tail is very
short, the eyes large and handsome, the
nostrils open or close at the will of the
animal, and the upper lip is provided with
strong whiskers. They can remain a long
time under water, though atmospheric res-
piration is as indispensable to their existence
as it is to land quadrupeds. Seals feed
almost entirely upon flesh, being very ex-
pert, while swimming, in procuring fish,
crabs, and sea-birds.
The islands, with their rocks, caves, flocks
of birds, sea-lions, and high, white-capped,
fringing waves, are wonderfully wild and
picturesque. One fine, clear morning, when
they were arrayed in all their beauty, an
inward-bound ship appeared in the offing,
Her white sails, like the wings of a great
sea-bird, were spread to the breeze, and she
+
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
13
flew from her spanker peak the American
stars and stripes, while from the mizzen
floated private signals, from the main a
white bergee with the ship's name upon it,
and from the fore a blue flag with a white
star in the centre.
As she came nearer, small sail-boats and
row-boats, from the islands and the ships at
anchor in the harbor, went out to meet her
and bid her welcome.
As there are no regular pilots at the is-
lands, it has become a custom for parties
of captains, whose ships are loading in the
harbor, to go out and meet inward-bound
vessels, and conduct them to safe anchor-
age.
Sailors never wait for introductions; there
is a kind of freemasonry in the profession,
which makes them friends with each other
at first sight. So it was with those who
boarded the Dashaway, for it was that ship
which was just coming into port. Our young
readers may have recognized her by the
"white star," of which sailmaker Hammond,
14
SALT-WATER DICK.
in the "Cruise of the Dashaway," sung to
the "Nellie Downs" men
"With our sails spread so neatly,
While the white star we show,
Bound away in the Dashaway
To the s'uth'ard we'll go."
The ship had come down from San Fran-
cisco, and was to take in a cargo of guano
for Valencia, Spain. Ninety days were al-
lowed for her to load, as she was of large
tonnage, and there were so many vessels
then in port that the coolies had to work
night and day to supply their needs.
There were no passengers on board for
this trip, though the captain's family still
remained. The crew were mostly new
hands, who shipped at San Francisco when
the old crew left. Of the officers, Mr. Arm-
strong, the mate, had found a chance to go
captain of a small coaster which ran from
San Francisco up the Oregon coast. A
new mate, Mr. Bouzer, had taken his place.
As it had been difficult to find a suitable
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
15
second officer, Dick Harvey, the New Hamp-
shire boy, though but seventeen years old,
and on his first voyage, was appointed by
Captain Putnam as second mate of the Dash-
away.
The young man could hardly believe that
he was to be an officer of that great ship.
He was almost afraid to accept such a post,
fearing that he could not perform its duties
satisfactorily. Captain Putnam told him that
he would make due allowance for his inex-
perience, and that he preferred him for the
post to any one then on board the ship; and
if he did as well in his new position as he
had done in his old one, that of a boy before
the mast, — he should be perfectly satisfied.
Dick was very grateful for the honor con-
ferred upon him, and determined to apply
himself with even more zeal than before,
that he might faithfully discharge his new
and arduous duties, and not disappoint the
good commander, who had reposed so much
confidence in him. Dick really loved the
profession he had chosen, and during the six
16
SALT-WATER DICK.
months he had been at sea he had worked
so diligently to learn all the branches of
seamanship, that his ability to take his new
position was not doubted by any one.
No one rejoiced more over the new pro-
motion than did little Fred, the young son
of Captain Putnam. Child though he was,
he had noticed the zeal of his friend in per-
forming every duty that fell to him; so, long
before this, he had given him the name of
Salt-water Dick a title which remained
with him for many years after.
As the ship neared the islands, and the
little boats came out to meet her, Dick, or
Mr. Harvey, as he must now be called, saw
that the side-ladders were ready to receive
the guests on board. Lines were thrown to
the sailors as the boats came alongside, and
their captains sprang up the ship's side, and
grasped the hand of Captain Putnam as
heartily as if they had been friends from boy-
hood.
One of these captains took command of the
ship, and acted as pilot until he brought her
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
17
in among the other vessels lying about mid-
way between the eastern ends of the Middle
and North Islands, and anchored her in
thirty fathoms of water. The water is very
deep here, and sometimes accidents have
occurred from having too little chain over-
hauled, which makes the vessels liable to
drift from their position before the anchor
bites, and, in consequence, run afoul of other
vessels, which lie as near to each other as
they can with safety. It is necessary, on
entering Chincha harbor, to have at least
fifty fathoms of chain ready to run clear.
As the Dashaway swung around at her
anchor, the wind came on to blow very fresh
off the point of the Middle Island, laden with
dust and the odor of guano.
99
It was the regular breeze, the "Paraca,'
as it is called, which daily sets in about noon.
Often towards evening it blows a strong gale,
and raises a high surf on the weather side
of the islands, so that it is quite difficult for
boats to land there.
Little Fred, with his mother, sister Katie,
2
18
SALT-WATER DICK.
and the comical little colored girl, Woolly
Butts, were on deck as soon as the islands
appeared in sight. Although the Chinchas
are so near the main land,—but fourteen miles
off the coast,-yet it is very difficult and wea-
risome to get there from Callao, at which
place vessels first stop to make necessary
arrangements for loading at the islands.
•
On account of the trade winds blowing
nearly ahead off shore, and merging into
and losing themselves in calms and land
breezes generally contrary within sight of
the coast, the Dashaway was nearly a week
beating up to the islands. When at last the
wind became.fair, and the good ship was
making all her speed towards the islands,
which were lying full in sight, the family
came on deck, and eagerly watched the bar-
ren rocks as they neared them.
୧୧
Dese yer ole yellar rocks don't begin to
come up with Frisco," whispered Woolly to
Fred, as they stood side by side looking at
them. "Don't see no trees, nor people, nor
grass, nor nothin' walkin' round. Don't see
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
19
1
what's the good of guine to sich like places.
'Pears like yer couldn't have found a worse
place if ye'd searched the world round.
Fur my part, I'd like to git on to the land
again to live all the time. This guine sailin'
all round to nobody knows whar ain't much
account, I think. Don't see no good in it,
no how."
८
"Why, Oolly, I guess you don't feel very
well to-day — do you? You talk so naughty,
and find so much fault, that I think you must
be seasick aren't you?" said little Fred.
"Seasick!" exclaimed Woolly, indig-
nantly. "I reckon I'se sailed too long round
dese yer ole black seas to be seasick now.
"Taint seasick dat ails me; it's a looking at
dem yer ole yellar rocks dat ain't got no
trees, nor folks, nor nothin' walkin' round.
I'd a heap ruther be trampin' round New
York, lookin' into winders, treadin' on folks'
long gowns for fun, and making up faces to
young ones all dressed up, and led round,
. like little dogs, by their nurses, to make 'em
cry. Don't git much fun nowadays any
20
SALT-WATER DICK.
how. If I find any whar to go to, I'se guine
to run off when I gits in dar. I'se guine
to ship aboard of another vessel, what'll take
me back to New York."
ec
Why, Oolly, what is the matter with you?
I never heard you talk so before," said Fred.
"You cannot leave us, you know, 'cause
we've 'dopted you, and are going to bring
you up nice, and teach you things. We shall
feel very bad if you grow naughty. Why
can't you be good and learn? There's Mr.
Salt-water Dick Harvey!
See how smart
he is! He's our second officer now; and
once he was only a boy before the mast, and
used to holy-stone the deck on his knees.
Why can't you learn fast, like him, and sew,
and read, and fix your hair better?”
"I ain't de kind dat he is," answered
Wooly. "I like monkey shines better than
work. Monkeys have better times than
folks. I wish I was a monkey!"
Why, Oolly Butts! you drefful child!"
said little Fred, quite shocked at Woolly's
confessions. "We try to make you real
:
CHINCHA ISLANDS.
21
good, and now you've gone and got naughty.
Perhaps, if you'll be good, you'll find the
islands a great deal prettier than you think.
Just look off there, and see how pretty the
sun shines, and all those dear little boats.
coming off to see us!"
Woolly watched the boats with interest,
and when they came alongside she was the
first to look over the rail and inspect the
passengers. The excitement of seeing new
faces, and listening to the captain's cheery
words of welcome, quite changed the spirits
of Woolly, and by the time the anchor dropped,
and the thirty fathoms of chain ran out,
she was as good-natured as ever; the same
comical little darky, making fun for every-
body, and ready to do everybody's bidding.
"Let's you and I take one of them boats
alongside there and go ashore,” said Woolly
to Fred, when she found the family were all
engaged with the guests who had come on
board to greet them, as soon as they were
fairly at anchor.
Why, Woolly, you can't manage a boat,
22
SALT-WATER DICK.
and I wouldn't go with you if you could!"
said Fred, indignantly. "You musn't talk
like that, for I don't believe you mean it.
You shall go ashore with us some time, and
on board some of these beautiful ships, too,
that are lying all about us; but if you jump
overboard, or go off alone in the boats,
something awful will happen to you; per-
haps the sea-lions will eat you up!"
"Jinky! sea-lions? What awful kind of
creturs be they?"
"You just wait till we get ashore, and then
you'll see! My father has told me about
them. Perhaps you'll see them swimming
around the ship, and if you sit up to-night
you'll hear them roar in the caves.
shall go ashore to-morrow, I guess."
We
"Jolly! Ashore to-morrow!" exclaimed
Woolly, hopping around the deck in fine
spirits.
VISIT ON SHORE.
23
CHAPTER II.
VISIT ON SHORE. SEA-BIRDS AND ISLAND
CURIOSITIES.
HE next day all were busy on board,
THE
preparing the ship for her dusty cargo,
which penetrates everywhere, — tarnishing
articles of brass, silver, and gold, killing
every green leaf or plant which may be
growing on board, either for culinary pur-
poses or for pleasure and beauty, and some-
times eating into articles of clothing which
may be carelessly exposed. While this
work was going on, the young people went
ashore with the captain in his gig. As the
boat rowed along by the side of the Middle
Island, it loomed up so high that it seemed
to the children as if it would be impossible.
to reach the top.
The rock composing the islands is chiefly
24
SALT-WATER DICK.
:
of felspar or porphyry, and appears to
have been formed by separate inundations
of lava, under great pressure, probably at
the bottom of the sea. The whole surface
of the islands, where the rock can be seen,
has the appearance of a great cinder, and
seems to have cooled in an uneven mass,
just as it might be imagined lava would
cool under such circumstances. The preci-
pices around the islands are entirely per-
forated with immense caves, which extend
in farther than the eye can see, and into
which it would be dangerous to enter, on
account of the surf that rolls in with thun-
dering noise. As far within as we can look,
the dark, dripping, lichen-lined ledges are
covered with nests and birds, in every spot
where they find a resting-place. These un-
approachable recesses continually resound
with the hoarse cries of penguins and the
roar of sea-lions. Some caves have rocks
over them a hundred, and even two hundred,
feet thick; others are covered by a thin,
shell-like top; and a few have a double row
VISIT ON SHORE.
25
or second story of caverns, perfectly formed,
above them.
The landing at which the captain's boat
stopped at the middle island was under a
precipice, on a ledge that makes out in front
of a great cave extending quite through the
point. Several narrow, iron, ladder-like
staircases are fastened on the ledge, and
lead up, in a zigzag way, to the top of the
bluff.
The children proved themselves very good
sailors in climbing the ladder, though Cap-
tain Putnam kept close behind them, to assist
in case of accident, or if their courage
failed.
The day was very clear, and when they
reached the top of the cliff a magnificent
view was spread out before them. Below
them, moored and lying at anchor, were
more than a hundred tall vessels. A short
distance beyond were the precipitous walls
of the North Island, indented with immense
caves, and surrounded by fantastic rocks
fringed with foam. Myriads of sea-birds
26
SALT-WATER DICK.
were flying over the islands, and schools of
sea-lions were sporting in the water. In
the distance, towards the north-east, lay the
beautiful Bay of Risio, and beyond, the
glorious snow-covered Andes, which loom
up far into the sky, and look down in ma-
jesty and grandeur upon the great ocean.
Even little Fred could enjoy the glorious
beauty of the prospect; and when words
failed him to express his delight, he clapped
his hands and shouted for joy.
Near the edge of the cliff, directly over
the landing, in a little house composed of
canes, boards, and coarse matting, lived the
agent of the Middle Island. Captain Put-
nam had business with him: so the children
all went in, and were courteously received
by the gentleman, a middle-aged Spaniard,
a native of Barcelona, Spain.
The house had two or three little rooms,
all neatly and comfortably fitted up, one
for sleeping, another for dining and cook-
room, and the third for a store-closet. A
short distance behind this house Chinese
VISIT ON SHORE.
27
!
coolies were digging and wheeling guano,
and their black overseers were looking on.
A few rods back of them were the little
cane huts, where the workmen sleep, and
sometimes eat, though most of their meals
are taken out of doors.
ness.
The children walked with their father to
the highest part of the island, where the
men were at work cutting away one side.
of a guano hill for shipment. On the sides
where the men had sliced down for fifty
feet, the guano was seen to lie in different
colored layers, of various degrees of thick-
These were all shades of red, brown,
gray, and yellow, and are supposed to be
the deposits of birds and seals, made at
different seasons, year after year, for ages.
The various colors are accounted for by the
periodical visits of different species of birds
and seals. There is no soil upon the islands
except guano, which is like light, dry earth,
and difficult to walk upon, unless the upper
surface has been taken off for a few feet,
A
28
SALT-WATER DICK.
when that beneath is found as hard as any
good country road. The odor is much like
ammonia, and very pleasant to many, being
a cure for headache and dizziness.
Just back of the great hill which the
coolies were cutting away, Captain Putnam
and the children came upon a colony of one
kind of little birds, that frequent the islands
in vast multitudes. They are very pretty
birds, with either white or blue bodies,
bright-red bills, and one yellow S-shaped
feather on each side of their heads, reaching
half way down their necks. As the chil-
dren walked among them, the birds did not
seem to be much disturbed, for they only
rose lightly into the air for the party to pass,
and then quietly sat down again in the old
place.
୧୯
Oh, what dear, funny little birds!” ex-
claimed Fred, as he walked slowly about
among them. The child seemed to be an
object of much interest to the birds, for they
fixed their eyes intently upon him, and some
SEA-BIRDS AND ISLAND CURIOSITIES. 29
of the bravest flitted about him, and chatted
in a peculiar note, which seemed almost
human.
They are telling me something," said
little Fred; and I do wish I could under-
stand what they say; but I cannot make
out anything but wah, wah, wah, wah!'"
Walking on a little farther, they came to
the homes of the small black-winged, white-
breasted birds, who make honey-comb holes
for their nests in the hills of guano. These
little caves extend in about two feet, and
the birds can be taken out at any time by
reaching in the hand.
It is too bad to kill them, I know,"
said Katie; "but I want to preserve two
specimens of every kind of bird which lives
on these islands, to take home with us to
our own country."
"Yes, yes," said Fred, "do let us; and
Mr. Salt-water Dick Harvey can preserve
them real nice.. Don't you remember how
he stuffed that flying-fish, and spread out its
wings? and those orange and black land-
30
SALT-WATER DICK.
birds which came on board our ship, at sea,
to rest; and then that shark's jaw, and
whale's teeth, and everything!
">
Katie laughed at this confused account,
but said she knew that Dick could stuff
birds very nicely, and if her father could
spare him some day, they would take the
boat and hunt about the islands for fine
specimens to preserve.
୧୧
"Yes, my dear," said Captain Putnam;
"I shall be quite willing to let Dick go on
an excursion of that kind. Natural history
is a study in which I am always pleased to
have my children interested."
"Mr. Salt-water Dick knows ever SO
much about it, father," said Fred; "for in
his state-room he has got the walls almost
covered with strange things that he has
found this voyage, and he tells me all about
them. I can go, too, can't I father, when
Katie goes?"
"O, yes; and I shouldn't wonder if the
whole family went also, and perhaps a little
party besides. We'll see how we can ar-
range it by and by."
SEA-BIRDS AND ISLAND CURIOSITIES. 31
ર
"O, father, what a beautiful, strange
little thing!" cried Fred, who was walking
along ahead, looking out for pretty birds.
O, that is a lizard," said Captain Put-
It is quite harmless, and its chan-
nam.
ging colors are very beautiful to look at.
漆
​See how it puffs out its chin, like a frog;
Ah,
and hear what a faint croak it makes!
it is gone, darted into that little hole. But,
look! there is another. Why, how numer-
ous they are, darting in and out of holes
faster than you can count them! I see that
they are from three to ten inches long, and
of a species but little known. We must
observe. their habits when we come on
shore, and perhaps we can learn many
interesting and instructive things about
them."
With his marine glass Captain Putnam
then looked down upon his ship, from an
elevation which they had found. He saw
a large "bum-boat," or shore boat, draw-
ing near to his ship, with a full cargo of
fresh food, of which they were in need;
32
SALT-WATER DICK.
so he hastened with the children down to
the landing, and jumped into the boat,
which had been waiting for them under
the ledge.
The boat's crew were well-trained rowers,
and soon drew up alongside the Dashaway,
and the party went on board by means of
a comfortable stairway, which had been
rigged soon after anchoring.
The bum-boat was close alongside, and
the children, as they leaned over the taffrail,
looked down upon a very tempting display
of fruit, vegetables, flowers, and fresh meats.
The purchase which interested the children
the most was a bushel basket full of bana-
nas, paltas, cherimoyas, oranges, and papi-
nos. Some of this fruit was entirely new to
them; but their father, who was familiar
with it all, named and recommended it to
their taste. The cherimoyas tasted like a
combination of Jersey peaches, wild straw-
berries, and Bartlett pears. The papinos
are very small, nutmeg-flavored melons, and
dissolve as quickly in one's mouth as ice-
SEA-BIRDS AND ISLAND CURIOSITIES. 33
cream. The paltas are large pears with a
round, hard stone in the centre, and are
eaten very much as we do tomatoes, with
sugar, salt, and pepper. The bananas and
oranges were old favorites of the children,
though they had never before seen any so
ripe and sweet. The flowers were the most
beautiful of all; and although their shapes,
colors, and perfumes were entirely new, yet
they were joyously welcomed, and became
favorites at once.
The rest of the day was spent in making
the acquaintance of the visitors who con-
stantly thronged the ship, and in fishing
over the stern for some of the beautiful fish
which were swimming, in great numbers,
around the ship. Katie, Fred, and Woolly,
though not experienced in fishing, could not
help hooking into or baiting the pretty,
shiny little fellows, and pulling them up on
deck from time to time. Woolly especially
seemed to enjoy the sport very much, and
laughed and chatted, showing her white
teeth in high good-humor. The delightful
3
34
SALT-WATER DICK.
and salubrious climate, the bracing ocean
air, and the vivifying properties of the
guano, all contributed to make the children
healthier and happier than ever, and caused
them to look forward with much pleas-
ure to their three months' visit at the
Chinchas.
DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY. 35
CHAPTER III.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY.
- EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
E
ARLY one pleasant morning Katie and
Fred came on deck, each with a large,
sweet orange, which delightful fruit they
were in the habit of eating an hour or two
before breakfast. The Spaniards have a
proverb that "fruit eaten in the morning is
gold, eaten at noon is silver, and at night
lead;" so the children were improving the
golden opportunity.
The men, many of whom were Cholos,
or the mixed blood of the Indian and white,
who had shipped at Callao, especially for
service at the islands, were already busy at
work. Some of them were pulling off from
the ship in launches, or large, flat-bottomed
boats, to load under the cliffs, by having the
36
SALT-WATER DICK.
guano pushed down by coolies, from the
heights above, through "shutes," or long,
canvas pipes, about as large round as a
barrel. Others of the crew were unloading
launches, which were lying alongside the
ship, by hoisting the guano over the vessel's
side, in sacks, or tubs, drawn up by means
of tackle and fall. The poor Cholos have
very hard and disagreeable work in dis-
tributing guano in the hold, for the ammo-
nia is so strong there that it is almost like
entering a bottle of hartshorn.
These men who work in the hold are
called "trimmers." They work in the dark,
for the clouds of guano so thicken the air
there that they can only feel their way
about. "Muzzles,” or thick bandages, over
their mouths, are necessary to keep them
from being suffocated, and they are obliged
to work almost naked.
The children stood upon the promenade`
deck eating their oranges contentedly, and
watching all the work that was going on
before them. "I wonder where Woolly is,"
DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY.
37
said Fred.
"She always gets up very
early, and is sure to be on deck long before
we are."
"I'm sure I can't imagine what she is
about," replied Katie; "she must be very
busy helping the stewardess, or else she
has found something very interesting to
amuse her. This is the first morning since
we came here that she has not been on
deck when we came up the companion
way."
"I'm going down to look for her," said
Fred. "I shouldn't wonder if she were
down in the galley, helping the cook fry
plantains for breakfast. She likes to turn
them over as fast as they get browned. I
guess she'll let me help too."
So the little boy climbed down from the
upper deck, and steered his way among the
busy working-men, straight forward to the
galley door. There stood the cook, or
doctor," as the sailors call him, with a
clean white apron tied around his waist,
and a paper cap on his head, presiding over
et
38
SALT-WATER DICK.
a huge stove, upon which various articles -
were being prepared for breakfast. His
assistant, the cook's mate's minister," as
he is sometimes called, a roguish, good-
natured, thoroughly black little fellow, of
about ten years of age, attired in apron and
cap, like his master, was doing his best to
hasten forward the breakfast.
"Mornin', Mas'r Fred," said the little
darky, looking up from his work as the
child appeared at the galley door.
"Good morning, Johnny; I thought
Woolly might be here, and so I came down
to find her, and see if I might help turn
over the plantains."
"Well, she beant here; and I'se right
mighty glad, too; for 'pears like that little
nigger be the most botherin' young un dat I
ever seed. She don't seem to be good for
nothin' but tormentin' me, and gittin' me
into scrapes, so dat de "doctor" here he has
to keep cuffin' my ears de biggest part of
de time. No, I ain't seed Woolly dis yer
mornin', and don't want to, nuther!
nuther!" ex-
DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY.
39
claimed Johnny, indignantly, for he and
Woolly were not very warm friends.
"I wonder where she can be," asked
Fred, to whom Woolly was very entertain-
ing, and much regretted when absent.
"Don't know nothin' 'bout her!" said
Johnny, not disposed to continue the con-
versation.
Fred left him, and tried to make his way
back; but a couple of great tubs of guano
were just then being hoisted in, and two
darkies were walking away forward with
the falls; so he had to wait a few minutes.
While he was waiting quietly, sitting on a
spare spar, which was lashed upon deck
close under the taffrail, he heard the stew-
ardess, at the cabin door, calling loudly for
Woolly, in sharp and angry tones; so Fred
knew she could not be in that part of the
ship. As soon as the tubs were emptied,
a good-natured Cholo helped the little boy
along, and he hurried up to the stewardess,
to inquire for his favorite.
"Ain't seen nothin' of her dis live-long
40
SALT-WATER DICK.
" and
mornin'," said the colored woman,
don't know where she's taken herself off to.
Company comin' aboard to breakfast, de
capt'n guv orders, and dis yer young un's
taken herself out of de way jest when I
wanted her de most. I'll give it to her
when I kétch her. Yers spoilt dat little
nigger, Master Fred, and now I can't do
nothin' with her. Yer ma won't let me beat
her, an' I can't do nothin' with her if I don't.
She's used to lickin's; allus gittin' 'em 'fore
she come to you, and they are as natʼral to
her as de breath she draws. So she 'spects
'em, and they'd do her good. Well, if de
cook don't know where she is, and Johnny
don't know, and I don't know, and you and
Miss Katie don't know, I'd like to know
who does. De cap'n's gone off aboard
some of de ships, and de gig and boat's crew
has gone with him; so they can't tell us
about her."
"Now, Eliza," said little Fred, "I really
do believe that Woolly has run off; she said
she was going to the first time she got a

DISAPPEARANCE OF WOOLLY.
4I
chance.
She has jumped overboard and
swum off somewhere, or else she has taken
a boat and gone. O, isn't it dreadful ?"
"Don't see nothin' dreadful about it, 'cept
that it'll be dreadful for her when I ketch
her again. There's no boat she could take
'cept dat one de man left here last night,
that little canoe-like thing, dat he couldn't
get ashore in cause de surf run so high.
Sure 'nough dat's gone!" exclaimed Eliza,
looking over the stern of the ship, where the
boat had been fastened during the night.
rr
९९
"O, dear, dear!" cried Fred; poor
little, naughty Woolly! She'll be drowned
or killed by the lions or coolies! "
"Good 'nough for her! Serve her right!
But if she ever gets back here alive, I'll
give her one good whipping that she'll
remember to de end of her days! Don't
yer trubble yerself any 'bout her; jest let
her go till she gits so sick of it that she'll
come back ag'in. Guess yer ma'll get tired
of tryin' to do anything with dat little nig-
ger. I ain't got no kind of patience left with
her!"
1
42
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Poor little Woolly!" cried Fred; "she's
so wild and full of monkey shines' that
nobody can tame her. O, what will become
of her?"
Ce
Well," said Eliza, "I can't stand here
talking; for dere comes the company now,
and heaps of things to be done before I put
the breakfast on the table for 'em. You run
ask Miss Katie if she'll see about de flowers
and
get de bouquets all ready."
There was considerable consternation in
the cabin when Woolly's departure was
announced; and after breakfast it was pro-
posed to make up a party and go in search
for her. The guests were all ready for an
adventure of that kind, and little Fred en-
tered into it with great zeal, determining not
to pass by a single place where the naughty
Woolly could possibly be.
Accordingly, after breakfast two or three
boats started for the Middle Island, where it
was thought Woolly would be most likely to
go. Important business kept Captain Put-
nam from accompanying them that morn-
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
43
ing; so the command of the ship's gig was
given to the second mate, Mr. Harvey,
who, with Eliza, the children, and a good
set of rowers, made up the boat's crew.
As they went along they inquired among
the shipping for the runaway child, but they
could learn nothing of her until they came
to the last ship which was anchored the far-
- thermost out. They ran alongside without
boarding her, and the mate, leaning over
the gangway, told them, when he had heard
their errand, that early that morning he had
seen a light boat, rowed by a small girl and
a lad of about fourteen years of age, pull out
from the Middle Island, and steer for the
Ballistas, a group much resembling the
Chinchas, and about ten miles away from
them.
They were all very much surprised to
hear this, for they did not know that Woolly
had a single acquaintance outside the ship,
and as no one was missing from the crew,
they concluded that this must be some
strange boy that Woolly had coaxed to row
44
SALT-WATER DICK.
her away. As the sea was calm and the
day fair, the party concluded to steer for
the Ballistas, keeping near each other for
companionship.
وو
The sail was delightful, and the beautiful
ocean views were enjoyed by all. Off in
the distance, white-winged vessels, were sail-
ing away on their course. Now and then
was seen the spout of a distant whale, while
seals and small fish leaped out of the water,
frolicking about the boats, and flocks of
birds flew overhead, crying, "Wah! wah!"
"Pee wee!" as if wishing to inquire where
they were going. The snowy peaks of the
Andes loomed far up in the distant blue
haze, and the white-capped waves of the
ocean rolled and tumbled over each other
in the same happy sport that they had
enjoyed for ages.
The Ballistas are higher and more ex-
posed than the Chinchas, and afford less
guano, being almost inaccessible, as the
only landings are at the foot of perpendic-
ular precipices, or on the sharp points of
rocks that can hardly be climbed.
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
45
"I think it will be very easy to find
Woolly here," said Katie, as they neared
the islands. "She must be along the shore
somewhere, for nobody ever could climb to
the top of those dreadful rocks."
CC
Well, if she's got up there," said Eliza,
"and I never saw any place where she
wouldn't go,—she'll have to stay there, I
guess; for nobody in dis company is guine
to risk his life after a miserable little nigger
like her."
Ce
O, please don't talk so naughty about
Woolly, Eliza," said little Fred, much
pained to hear such sentiments in regard to
poor Woolly. "Perhaps she may be dead
this very minute, drowned, or fallen off
those great high rocks where she was try-
ing to hide away just for fun. You'd feel
bad, I guess, to be talking so, and she
dead."
Eliza laughed heartily, and seemed to
think it a curious idea.
ain't great for dyin',"
had found her voice.
"Sich kind as she
she said, when she
"Botherin' young uns
!
76
SALT-WATER DICK.
like Woolly are always left alive to torment
folks. 'Spose dey do as much good as
mosquitos, and flies, and sich; larn folks
patience, I'se heerd. Never did see much
good in dat way; allus 'fected me jest de
very contrary, riled me up and sent me
right off on de odder track. Don't be feared,
little Master Fred, dat she'll go and die.
Reckon we'll ketch her 'fore we git along
much further. I'd like nothin' better dan to
git a good 'scuse for cuffin' her ears and
+
givin' her something a little stronger too,
dat she'll remember one while."
୧୧
My
"You shall not whip her at all.
mother don't believe in whipping; she talks
to folks and chil'en," said little Fred, "and
'calls it 'moral suasion,' and says it does 'em
a great deal gooder than beatings. I'll
talk to Woolly, if we find her. I think I
understand her. She's rather a cur'ous
child."
Everybody in the boat was extremely
amused at this old speech, and Mr. Dick
Harvey and Eliza laughed heartily at it.
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
47
"That will almost save her from a whip-
ping, I think, Eliza," said the mate.
yee
Yes, sir; it's pretty good; but I reckon
I couldn't let her off so easy."
CC
Why, I'm sure," said Katie, "for my
part, I am very much obliged to Woolly for
running off to such a beautiful place; for I
don't believe we should have come here if
it hadn't been for her. This sail and the
charming ocean view I'm sure are delight-
ful."
“Well, maybe it is, miss," answered
Eliza, "for dem that likes it; but for my-..
self, I must say I had rather be travelling
around on land, or in something bigger
dan dis little boat, dat keeps a rockin' and
like to go over wid de like of dem mon-
strous waves. Gracious! how de surf
dashes up along de shore!
I wish I was
safe out of this! Won't I
Woolly for gittin' me 'way
horrid place!"
give it to dat
down to dis
"No, Eliza, no," said little Fred;
►
"please don't say anything more about that.
48
SALT-WATER DICK.
୧୯
I'm not afraid, Eliza, and I shouldn't think
anybody as big as you would be."
Eliza was very sensitive about her size;
for she was one of those enormous, two hun-
dred pound, jet-black negresses, who are
often found as stewardesses of packet-ships
and steamers. So, when Fred said that,
she instantly bristled up, and answered,
Why, bless yer soul, honey, I don't begin
to be what some is. I'se fallen away a sight
on dis voyage. Jest you see how loose my
dress is," holding in her breath and try-
ing to pinch up some spare folds about her
waist. "Won't be much left of me by the
time I get back to New York. I'se afeard
my friends won't know me. Wouldn't have
come at all if I'd a known a fust-class
packet was goin' to turn a guano ship.
Don't like de business."
"It makes more money," said Mr. Dick;
"and I thought you believed in making
money, Eliza."
"Well, yes, so I do; but I allus was
mighty pertic'lar to make all mine in a
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS. 49%
genteel way.
Folks has different idees
about things; but, howsomever, I guess I'll
live through it all, if it does make me as
thin as a skeleton."
It wouldn't do to smile about a matter so
serious to Eliza, but every one, even little
Fred, felt quite like doing so.
The boats, when they had reached the
islands, pulled along shore as near as they
dared venture, in search of Woolly's boat.
Nothing being seen of it, they determined to
go around to the other side of the island ;
and, in order to make the distance shorter,
they decided to run through a great arch,
which was at least a hundred feet through,
though so narrow that the men were obliged
to ship their oars. Although it was much
calmer than usual, yet the waves sucked the
boat in and out as easily as if it had been a
shingle, and it was with much difficulty that
she could be kept off the sharp points of
rocks on both sides. It was like going
through a tunnel, with white, creamy waves
beneath, and lichen, shell, and nest-lined
4
50
SALT-WATER DICK.
top of rock above. Little birds flew out
from their nests, and cried with fear and
alarm, at this unusual intrusion, and Eliza
and the children clung to the sides of the
boat with frightened faces.
They at last got safely through, though,
as soon as the arch was passed, the boat was
upon some sunken rocks, and nearly cap-
sized in the surf. No landing-place being
found around there, except a beach about a
quarter of a mile long, which was overhung
by a precipice so steep that it would be
impossible to climb to the top, and seeing
nothing of Woolly, or her boat, they pulled
away for another island of the group.
:
Looking about for a safe landing on this
second island, Mr. Dick Harvey saw a
beach in a small cove, at the mouth of a
great cave, which the sea did not appear to
reach; so he steered his boat for it. As
they came within the cove or notch in a
precipice, which was from one hundred and
fifty to two hundred feet high, Mr. Dick saw
that what he had taken for a cave was an
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS. 51
immense arch, with a beach in front of it.
He ran the boat up on this, thinking the
surf was so mild that they might here land
in safety; but although the sailors jumped
on shore and dragged up the boat, yet she
half filled with water.
Eliza sprung out and pulled the children
after her, loudly bewailing the fate that had
brought them to such a wild and dangerous.
place. The other boats had kept along
near them, and all landed on the little beach
at about the same time.
It was a place which, once seen, never
could be forgotten. Even little Fred gazed
about him with wonder and amazement.
The arch was sixty or seventy feet high, and
a hundred and fifty feet wide, extending
more than two hundred yards quite through
the island. The beach in front of the arch
was a bar, over which the surf often broke,
running across the eastern opening, on the
side they had entered, and exposed on either
side to the surf. The roar of the surf when
the wave came in was so great that the people
52
SALT-WATER DICK.
could hardly hear each other's voices; and
as its sounds reëchoed from side to side
of the stupendous precipices, the solemnity
of the place affected every one. The gigan-
tic arch, the beautiful sunshine upon the
cliffs, the vast old ocean spread out before
them, the white, foam-covered waves which
slowly rolled in upon the beach with a great
roar, as they had rolled for centuries, left
impressions upon the children which lasted
with them always.
•
Above the reach of the surf, lying on the
rocks, were two skeletons of sea-lions,
whose ghastly, eyeless sockets seemed still
to look upon the ocean. Bones of various
birds were scattered about among the sea-
weeds which grew between the stones.
Mr. Dick Harvey knocked out the canine
teeth of the sea-lions to preserve with his
other curiosities. They were very hard and
white, shaped like walrus teeth, and about
four inches long.
୧୯
Well, Mr. Harvey," said Eliza, "if you's
a guine to rest here a while, I may as well
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
53
give you the lunch I brought with me. I
should think you'd had hard work enough
this morning to like yer dinner now."
"O, yes, Eliza; I'm all ready for it, and
I doubt not that the others are also; so we
will take it as soon as you can get it ready.”
"O, I'm very glad," said little Fred, "for
I am very hungry, though I didn't say so;
for I didn't know as there was anything in
the boat to eat."
"Trust me for dat!" laughed the stew-
ardess. "I don't start off on a wild goose
chase with a party of people, unless I
provide dinner for dem. So, den, set your-
selves around, and I'll give you what I
brought."
Everybody was willing to do Eliza's bid-
ding, and they were glad to find that she
had provided an excellent lunch of pickled
oysters, sardines, buttered biscuit, and fruit.
After the guests had eaten, the crews of the
different boats finished the remnants.
"Now then," said Mr. Dick, "we must
continue our search; and I would not have
54
SALT-WATER DICK.
stopped here except that I wanted to give
the men a rest after their hard pulling."
But it was not so easy to get off; for
some of the gentlemen had brought guns.
with them, and already the reports were
reverberating through the clear air with an
echo almost deafening. The birds who
lived in the nests on the sides of the preci-
pices were greatly disturbed, and as they
flew out were shot down in considerable
numbers. There were the little blue birds,
and the white birds with the red bills, and
yellow feather in their necks, which the chil-
dren had so much admired in their first visit.
to the Middle Island. Then there were the
red-billed black ducks in great numbers,
and plenty, too, of a small, white-breasted
bird. A couple of each kind of these birds
Mr. Dick secured for Katie, and promised to
preserve them for her just as nicely as he
possibly could.
While they were selecting these speci-
mens, two of the best sportsmen in the party
happened to spy, in some holes in rocks on
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS. 55
a level with the beach, inside of the arch, as
far as the eye could see, a couple of large
birds sitting upon their nests. These they
were determined to secure; so they set
about it, crawling in on their hands and
knees, with boat-hooks under their arms.
After a half-hour's fight, during which one
of the gentlemen had a finger bitten to the
bone, they succeeded in bringing out two
fine penguins. They were very strong,
and when tied by the leg to an oar, could
easily pull the oar about on the beach.
They had a strange cry, something like the
lowing of a cow, and they were continually
giving it. They were about three feet high,
with dark gray backs, jet-black, fin-like
wings, and bills, and pure white breasts,
and two white streaks running down from
the eyes on each side of the neck. They
are called by the Peruvians "munos," or
"baby-birds," for at a distance they very
much resemble children with white aprons
on, the white streaks running from their
breasts around their necks giving that ap-
56
SALT-WATER DICK.
pearance.
They walk very awkwardly,
with their feet wide apart, and when they
get near the water they tumble in in the
clumsiest manner. They are famous divers,
and can remain a long time under water.
They use their flippers outspread, like seals,
which they much resemble when swim-
ming. Although they are innocent-looking
birds, yet they are not so simple as one
would take them to be, for they know
enough to select some of the prettiest rocks
and most delightful retreats, which they
hold with the right of squatters, and never
allow any other birds to live in the same
spot with themselves. They easily swallow
a whole mackerel at a mouthful, and in the
course of a day manage to stow away sev-
eral of these fish.
While the party were looking at the pen-
guins, and “Mr. Salt-water Dick,” as Fred
called him, was telling the children about
their habits, some one chanced to look out
upon the ocean, and instantly exclaimed,
"A boat! a boat! and two small persons in
her!"
EXCURSION TO THE BALLISTAS.
57
"O, it's Woolly! it's Woolly!" shouted
Fred, jumping up and down on the beach
with delight. Mr. Harvey ordered his crew
into their boat, and they hastily pushed off,
the other boats following more at leisure.
58
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER IV.
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
SEA-LIONS.
SALT-WATER DICK PROVES A HERO.
THE
HE boat which was supposed to contain
Woolly, turned about on being pursued,
and made straight for the leeward side of the
island. It reached the beach, and the boy,
and girl jumped out, drew up the boat, made
her fast to a rock, and then disappeared
within an immense, dark cavern, whose roof
reached nearly to the top of the island.
For several hundred yards along the shore
there were openings, or caves, many of
which seemed to be connected with the great
cave; for a flock of birds, entering through
one of these little arches, was seen to come
out of the mouth of the great cave.
Mr. Dick and his men ran their boat on
to the beach, and drew her up in the same
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
59
manner as the other boat. By this time the
fugitives were nowhere to be seen; and
though little Fred and several of the others.
of the party shouted and called them until
they were hoarse, there came no response.
They peered into the dark cavern, but
nothing could be seen except its great, black,
rocky sides, and immense flocks of sea-fowl.
"Dis yer is a great place for runaways.
No more could ye ketch 'em here dan in de
great swamp down South, whar de cullud
folks used to hide in de time dat I lived
dere," said Eliza.
Ce
Why, Eliza," said Fred, "Woolly and the
boy haven't anything to eat or drink, and so
they can't live here very long. I should
think they would be hungry now."
"Birds and fishes would keep 'em alive as
long as dey wanted to stay; and, as for
water to drink, dey could get dat whar de
birds do."
"Where is that?" asked Fred.
"Dun know no more'n you do,” answered
Eliza.
60
SALT-WATER DICK.
"I'm going into that cave!” exclaimed
little Fred. "I'm not a bit afraid. I don't
believe those little birds would hurt me.
are there, Mr.
There are not any big ones
Salt-water Dick?"
"Yes; I think I see some spiritual rap-
pers in there. It is a good place for them."
"Why, what are they?" asked half a
dozen persons at once.
Mr. Dick laughed. "O," he said, "I only
call them so because they resemble solemn
individuals, met together to consider impor-
tant questions. I meant pelicans; I thought
I saw some in there. There is a flock of
them now flying in a great circle over the
top of this island. Our sportsmen must not
shoot any of these birds, unless they are
willing to pay the fine which the Peruvian
government has put upon the offence."
९९
Why are they so particular about this
bird?" asked one of the gentlemen.
"Because it is supposed that the pelicans
and seals are the principal manufacturers of
what in process of time becomes guano.
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
6r.
They are not in the least shy, as they are
seldom molested; so you can probably have
an opportunity of observing them very close-
ly, if you like. We often see them in
our travelling menageries, but their ragged
and faded plumage, and depressed spirits,
would give you little idea of the appearance
of the birds in their native haunts. They are
very large birds, and great eaters, consum-
ing more fish in a day than several men. I
have known of more than a good-sized buck-
et full of newly-caught fish to be taken from
the crop of one of them.”
"O, what greedy birds!" said Fred. "But
how did you know so much about them, Mr.
Dick? for this is your first voyage, and I did
not know that we had caught any.
""
"To be sure, Master Fred, my experience
is not large at present; but what I have not
been able to see for myself, I have had ex-
plained to me by men and books. Any day
we can see immense numbers of these birds
flying and swimming among the shipping;
and much can be learned of their habits by
62
SALT-WATER DICK.
watching them.
Then some of our men
have had considerable acquaintance with
them in spite of the fine; and I, perhaps,
1
have profited by their evil deeds. Books
have told me something; so, altogether, I
have quite a little idea of the pelican."
What sort of looking birds are they?"
asked Katie.
They are very large black and white
birds, with pouched bills more than two feet
long. When they dive for fish, they always
turn a back somerset, and plunge down
with a force and velocity quite astonishing.
The feathers and ends of their broad wings
are sometimes worn to the quill, from con-
tinually beating the air and water, though
they can fly at great heights, as well as skim
the surface. Their bills are so heavy that
they have to rest them on their necks in fly-
ing and standing still, and they never extend.
their necks except when they dive."
CC
Well, I'm not afraid of them, though I
should think their bills might give some
heavy blows, if they were angry," said Fred.
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
63
* At any rate, I'm going in to hunt for Woolly,
and talk good to her. Poor child! I don't
see why she should want to do so."
Mr. Dick, Kate, and the gentlemen
laughed, but Eliza's merriment resounded
from one side of the cove to the other.
"Ha, ha, ha! Do hear dat young un talk!"
said Eliza, when she was able to speak.
"You'd think he was ninety now. She ain't
worth thinking 'bout, Mass' Fred. I believe
she b'longs to de bery ole one hisself. Į
never could see no good in her. I reckon
it's best to let her run. She's no account.
Sich low niggers never 'mount to anything,
and I s'prised that 'spectable people will
bother themselves trying to make anything
of them. It's all in blood.
It's all in blood. It comes out
in black and white folks jest as it does in
horses, and cows, and pigs. I'se noticed dat
more'n a hunded times. Can't make a dam-
ask rose out of a cabbage. I can tell de real
kind de real gemmen and ladies- quick
as I set my eyes on 'em.
on 'em. Sometimes some
of 'em go a little wrong; but de blood is
64
SALT-WATER DICK.
dere, anyhow; and dey never can git so
low as de trash dat ain't got their kind of
blood. Now, yer see, I was raised by ole
cunnel."
"But I must go now, Eliza," said Fred,
who had heard the story of Eliza's pedigree
so many times that it was quite familiar to
him. "I must truly go, for I think I could
do better with Woolly than anybody else. I
can call out loud to you if anything happens,
and I get frightened."
No, no, Fred," said Mr. Dick, "I cannot
let you go alone; I will go with you, and
the others may wait here. You'll find some
pretty pebbles and sea-mosses along on the
beach there, Miss Katie, and if you choose
to collect some, I'll show you how to arrange
them some time. I'll take a pistol with me,
in case we should meet with an accident in
the cave; and, when you hear the report,
some of you may hasten to us, for you may
be sure we shall need help then."
Everything being arranged, they started
off, little Fred holding on to Mr. Dick's
1
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
65
brown hand, and trying to keep up with his
long steps.
Within the cave the rocks were smooth
and slippery, for, when the surf was high, it
rushed in over them. Wet mosses and shin-
ing shells clung to the sides of the cave, and
birds' heads, with piercing black eyes, looked
out from their nests all along the way. Red-
billed ducks, or divers, flew in clouds around
Mr. Dick and Fred, and made themselves
so disagreeably familiar that the mate threw
handfuls of stones at them, which only made
the matter worse, for they instantly set up
almost deafening cries, and flew about wilder
than ever.
"They almost put my eyes out," said poor
little Fred. "They brush their wings across
my face so that it makes the tears come in
my eyes. I never can find Woolly while
these dreadful birds stay here."
The birds were so surprised to be visited
by beings so different from sea-lions and liz-
ards, that they could do nothing but try to
find out what creatures they were by flying
5
66
SALT-WATER DICK.
around and at them. It was certainly dis-
agreeable, but there seemed to be no help for
it; so, in spite of the slippery stones and im-
pudent birds, they made their way along.
After a little distance it began to grow
dark; but they felt their way onward, calling,
from time to time, to Woolly Butts and the
boy. There came back to them no response,
save the echo of their own voices, and the
monotonous cry of the birds. They were
beginning to despair, when they saw a faint
light ahead.
"That must be Woolly's eyes shining,"
said Fred; "they shine like everything in
the dark. One night, when she was lying
on the floor in the dining-cabin, I thought
they were two coals that had hopped out of
the stove."
୧୧
"O, no!" laughed Mr. Dick. "I think
the light we see comes through another cave,
which leads into this, and opens not far from
here, along the same side of the island from
which we entered. You know we saw a
flock of birds fly into a large-sized pigeon-
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
Grg
hole, and come out through this cave. This
light must come through the avenue which
leads to it. Probably the fugitives have
gone that way. Surely they cannot be in
this part of the cave, for I have looked into
every hole and corner big enough to hold
them. Ah, I see there is nothing beyond
that avenue; so we must turn in there. The
wind rushes through with considerable force.
I hope the sea will not rise."
"You can swim, Mr. Dick - can't you?"
asked little Fred, who did not seem to un-
derstand the danger.
"Yes, I could once, though I'm somewhat
out of practice now. But I fear I couldn't
do much in here against wind and tide. I
hope Woolly and the boy are out of danger,
for they would stand a poor chance in here."
The avenue they had entered grew nar-
rower and lower, until Mr. Dick had to stoop
at every step of the way. They were ad-
vancing towards the light, and there was
plenty of fresh air to breathe; indeed, the
wind was almost blowing a gale as it came.
68
SALT-WATER DICK.
in from the sea through the narrow pas-
sage.
"O, the stones are so slippery!" exclaimed
little Fred, "and there are so many lizards
hopping across my feet every few min-
utes, and the birds' wings almost brush my
eyes out, and the wind blows such a gale
that I can hardly go against it, and the
sea roars so loud outside that I am almost
deaf, and O, dear me! I wish we could find
her!"
"Where that jagged rock juts out over
there on the right, did you notice, just a mo-
ment ago, that something like a person's
head bobbed up above it, and then quickly
hid down again?" asked Mr. Dick.
Why, no, I didn't," said Fred; "but
there! there it is now, this very minute. O,
it must be Woolly, for nobody else ever
comes here! But it might be a seal seals
heads are just as round as people's heads
are, and at a distance, in the dark, we
couldn't tell the difference. O, let us
hurry and see."

SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF WOOLLY IN THE CAVE.-P. 69.
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
69
ee
We cannot get along much faster than
we are going now. We had better be slow
and sure, for one misstep here might do us
a great deal of harm."
All of a sudden, just as little Fred was
making his way over a particularly large
and slippery stone, out from behind a great
rock leaped a huge black animal, which
struck him lightly upon the shoulder, and
threw him to the ground. The poor child
cried out with fright, and as Mr. Dick ran
to his assistance, the black image made
another spring at him, and shouted in his
"Catch me if you can!" Then it
bounded away and hid again before any
one could tell where it had gone. Mr. Dick
and Fred were perfectly astonished to recog-
nize in this black animal, which looked so
much like a sea-lion, the object of their
search-the naughty Woolly Butts.
ear,
Fred called loudly after her, "O, Woolly,
Woolly, how can you do so? Come back
with us, for we've come all this dreadful
way after
you, and you'll certainly starve or
70
SALT-WATER DICK.
be drowned if you don't! Poor Woolly, if
you're sorry now, we'll forgive you, if you
promise never in the world to do so again!
Come back, and be good and tame, and
don't get wild any more!"
A strange, loud laugh, which echoed
almost from "peak to peak and crag to
crag" of the rough rocks of the cavern,
came back to them as the only answer.
Mr. Dick's patience was now quite ex-
hausted; so he told little Fred to work his
way along towards the mouth of the cavern,
in the same direction that he was then pur-
suing, and to come slowly and carefully,
while he himself made after that little black
vixen.
"Don't you hurt her for anything, Mr.
Dick. She's a pe-cu-liar child, and every-
body does not understand her."
"Pe-cu-liar or not," said Mr. Dick, imi-
tating little Fred's difficult pronunciation of
that, for him, long word, "she's played this
game long enough; and as I was sent out to
bring her back, I shall now try my best to
!
ADVENTURE IN THE CAVE.
71
do so.
Don't be alarmed at anything you
may hear, but keep right along as I told
you." Fred promised, and Mr. Dick soon
left him alone behind. He was a brave
little boy, but stouter hearts than his have
failed in a place so dreary and desolate.
As he toiled on alone, the rocks seemed to
him to assume shapes much more strange
and grotesque than any of those he had
passed. Some of them looked like huge
sea-lions just ready to spring upon him.
He tried to remember all he had heard
about that animal, so as to know how it would
attack him, if at all. He remembered that
some one had said that sea-lions, with their
flippers extended, seem like evil spirits in
half-human forms, and that of all created
monsters, when seen near at hand, none
wear so horrible a face and shape. Peo-
ple had told him that their mouths, with
their enormous tusks or fangs, and cat-like
whiskers, are very much like those of land
lions; and that their nostrils and blow-holes
are very large, and their eyes are as big as
72
SALT-WATER DICK.
saucers.
He thought they must need great,
bright eyes, because they are supposed to
see at many fathoms' depth. Perhaps sun-
light did not agree with their eyesight, and
that might be the reason they stared so, and
looked so disagreeable. Some one had told
Fred that the sea-lion's face expresses
fierceness and cruelty, and that they also
have a look of agony, suffering, and despair.
He was glad to remember that they never
attack people, and they could easily be
killed by a few heavy blows on the nose.
No sea-lions, however, were to be encoun-
tered, for all the hideous shapes proved to
be rocks.
Presently there was a great outcry and
shout, and then a loud cry of distress coming
from the mouth of the arch towards which
Fred was going. The little boy stumbled
along as fast as he could; but the stones
were more slippery than ever, for the tide
was coming in; so, although the distance
was short, it was quite ten minutes before
he reached the spot whence the cries pro-
ADVENTURE IN A CAVE.
73
ceeded. There, just at the mouth of the
arch, stood a Cholo boy of about fifteen
years of age, jumping up and down in great
excitement, and crying and shouting with
all his might. Woolly was nowhere to be
seen, and all that remained of Mr. Dick was
his coat, which was thrown over a rock.
"Where are they? Where are they?"
exclaimed little Fred.
The boy was greatly frightened, but yet
he was able to answer in broken English, -
"To de bottom of de sea! To de ocean
deeps! De gentleman ketch de good little
nig, who run off for fun, and let me go in her
boat to row and save me from de wicked
black devils who will keel me some day wid
beatings if I go back to de island. Jest
when de gentleman ketch her, she screeched
out from de high rock where she had climbed
up, and den she jumped right off into de sea;
and de gentleman he did it too, and now
dey is both gone to de bottom of de ocean.
O! O! O!"
Fred gave out a loud cry of grief, and
Y
74
SALT-WATER DICK.
wished somebody was there to help him.
Then he remembered the pistol, which was
to be fired in case the others of the party
were needed. Mr. Dick had carried it in
his belt, and little Fred thought it must have
gone down with him; but the Cholo took up
the coat, and putting his hand in one pocket,
drew out the pistol.
୧୧
"O, that is just what I want," he ex-
claimed. "That would bring us help if I
could fire it."
"I can well do dat thing," said the Chole.
“I did it all de time since a little boy. Shall
I turn it up de caves or out to sea?"
2,
They concluded that assistance would
reach them much sooner if their friends
heard the report from along the shore, as
they judged they were then quite near the
beach where the boats were drawn up. The
Cholo discharged the pistol, and the report
resounded over the sea.
It was but a few minutes before boats were
heard approaching; and when they were
near enough, little Fred called out that
ADVENTURE IN A CAVE.
75
Woolly had jumped into the sea, and Mr.
Dick had tried to save her, and they had
not seen him since. The cockswain of the
first boat just then caught sight of some-
thing floating around the corner of the is-
land, and told his men to "give way for.
their lives."
The tide swept fiercely past the point, but
the strong rowers strained every nerve to
grasp the floating body, which they soon
found was that of Mr. Dick. By great ex-
ertion they succeeded in reaching it, and
carefully drew it into the boat. Life was
not extinct, though the poor young man was
greatly exhausted from swimming and strug-
gling with the waves. When he found his
strength failing, he threw himself on his
back, with his arms quietly folded behind
him, and remained motionless, while the
waves bore him on. He had seen the boat
coming to his rescue, and his heart leaped
for joy, for he felt that he should yet be
saved, though he could do nothing for him-
self.
76
SALT-WATER DICK.
The efforts and attention of those in the
boat soon restored him; and by the time
they came up with the other boats, for they
had turned about, and were running for the
beach, where they had left some of their
party, Mr. Dick was able to sit up.
One boat that had followed them had been
fortunate in finding the body of Woolly,
though at first it could not be seen that a
spark of life was left. The stewardess took
the child in her arms, and, laying her upon.
the beach, commenced scientifically perform-
ing the movement remedies, which should
always be applied to those who have been
long under water.
Great was the grief of poor little Fred
and the Cholo, who had been brought around
by one of the boats. They, with Katie, did
everything they could to assist Eliza in the
recovery of Woolly.
After an hour's persevering work, they
were all greatly encouraged by seeing man-
ifestations of returning consciousness in the
child. As soon as she was able to be
ADVENTURE IN A CAVE.
77
moved, it was thought advisable to return to
the ship: so, as the day was drawing to its
close, they all entered their boats and started
on their homeward voyage.
78
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER V.
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS…..
TURTLE.
GALLIPAGOS
T was many weeks before Woolly fully
IT
recovered from her adventure at the
Ballistas. Long before that time the Cholo
had told his story. It seems that Woolly, in
a spirit of mischief, took a small boat, which
was left one night astern of the Dashaway,
and started off on an expedition of her own.
She thought it would be fine fun to run
away for a while, and have people hunt for
her; and, besides, she did not object to
taking a holiday herself. She had become
quite experienced in rowing a boat; for
when she lived in New York, she and the
ragged children who played around the
wharves used to pull all about the docks in
leaky wherries, and anything they could
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS.
79
find. The boat that she took for her island
exploit was a small, light gig, made for one
person to row; so she managed it very well
for a while. She soon found, however, that
rowing alone in the rough waters of Chincha
harbor was quite a different thing from pull-
ing from dock to dock in New York. When
she came to the conclusion that there was
more hard work than sport in what she had
undertaken, she made for the Middle Island,
and went ashore. Rambling about, she was
attracted around a guano hill by hearing
the cries of some one in distress. It proved
to be the young Cholo boy, who was writh-
ing and shrieking under the lash of a black
driver. Woolly's feelings were deeply
aroused, and she determined to stop the
cruel beating if she could find any way to
do so. She begged the fellow to leave off;
but he told her that it was his business, and
that he should do it as often as the boy did
not accomplish the amount of work that was
daily set for him. The blows came thick and
fast, until from fatigue the cruel driver was
So
SALT-WATER DICK.
obliged to stop. The poor Cholo was aching
in every bone and sinew, and yet was made
to commence cutting away a huge guano
hill. Seeing him painfully though hard at
work, the fellow left him, saying he should
be back in an hour, and if a certain amount
were not ready for carting, he would beat
him again. When he was well out of sight,
Woolly, who had remained rooted to the
spot, then ventured to speak to the poor
slave. His English was quite imperfect ;
yet she could understand much that the poor
boy told her of his life of suffering.
"Would you run away if you could?"
asked Woolly, eagerly.
"O, I be very glad to. I got no place to
run into. My home great way off over the
seas. My mother never get me again. I
be dead here before many days, for I no do
so great work as dat bad man tell me to;
and so every day he beat me.
I die soon,
or kill myself over de rocks."
"O, no, poor boy, you must not die,” said
the compassionate Woolly. "If you would
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS.
8r
like to run away, I will take you in my boat,
and carry you off to some place where they
cannot get you."
"O, I will be great glad!" said the Cholo,
throwing down his pickaxe. ee Show me
quick where is dat boat, and I run to it.”
Woolly waited not an instant, but hurried
off to her skiff, followed closely by the
Cholo. They jumped in, and the boy
quickly seized the oars, and rowed away,
with all his might. He knew of the Bal-
listas, and told Woolly of them; and she,
thinking of nothing but that she might get
the poor boy safely out of danger, told him
to pull away as fast as he could for that
place.
Several hours afterwards, when they saw
three boats pursuing them, they thought at
once that the Chincha Island agent had
sent out a party to find the runaway man;
so they went ashore on the beach, and hid
away in the cave. When Woolly found out
her mistake, she then remembered that she
herself was running away, but only for fun;
6
82
SALT-WATER DICK.
so she determined to keep up the sport, as
she thought it, and make them search for
her as long as she could. Even at the last
moment, when Mr. Dick was about to seize
her, she did not lose her spirit of mischief,
but with a thoughtless and foolish daring
jumped into the sea, and so came near losing
her own life and causing the death of a
brave and good young man.
The nobleness and willingness with which
Mr. Dick risked his life for a poor foolish
child like Woolly, was a deed which was
warmly commended by everybody at the
islands. The greatness of the act none
could deny, though many felt that the “little
nigger," as they called her, was too insig-
nificant a creature to waste one's life upon.
Not so felt Salt-water Dick. He believed
that one soul was as much valued by its
Maker as another.
Woolly never could forget what Mr. Dick
had done. As often as once a week, for the
rest of the voyage, she would exclaim,
You've saved my life! I was not worth
ce
1
1
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS.
83
saving; but now I'm going to make myself
worthy of it. Some day, Mr. Dick, you
won't be sorry for this. You're a brave,
good man, and if my prayers-for I say some
now-will be of any good, you'll be one of
the happiest folks in the world.”
"That Salt-water Dick, as little Fred
Putnam calls him, is the bravest, smartest
young sailor boy I've seen yet," said one old
captain to another. "He deserves to suc-
ceed well in life, and he's got my good
wishes for it. It is not every young lad
that goes to sea who stands as that one does
to-day. I give his mother much joy for a
boy like that. I'd like to get such a young
man on board of my ship. ` I'd trust all the
treasures of the world in his hand. It is no
small thing to be second mate of a big clip-
per ship like the Dashaway at seventeen
years of age. There's not one young fellow
in a hundred-I don't know as there is more
than one in five hundred-who would be able
to do it. He's a hero in more ways than
one."
84
SALT-WATER DICK.
7
So, after the Ballista expedition, Salt-water
Dick was more of a hero than ever. The
poor Cholo, through the influence of Captain
Putnam, was transferred from slavery at the
islands to the forecastle of the Dashaway,
where, before sailing, he became one of the
crew, and shipped for the voyage. Woolly
was severely reproved for her mischievous
and foolish behavior in running away for
the fun of it. She was really very sorry
for the trouble she had caused, and prom-
ised never to do anything like it again. The
kindness of Mr. Dick, in risking his life for
her, made a great impression upon the child,
and did more to turn her from wrong doing
than all the teachings and preachings of the
whole Putnam family.
During their stay at the islands, the chil-
dren made frequent excursions to the great
caves and beaches which were to be found
on all sides of the islands. They searched
for pebbles, lions' teeth, shells, and mosses,
while the older people hunted for birds and
eggs, fished from the rocks, explored pas-
LIFE AT THE CHINCHAS.
85
sages through arches and caves, and climbed
over the precipices.
"surf-
All the days are fine at the islands, for
rain, except that which comes in a heavy
morning mist, is unknown. The early
mornings are generally veiled, after which
comes a sunny forenoon haze, and in the
afternoon the land breeze, or paracca, and
the evenings clear and beautiful, with the
cloudless, starry sky of the Pacific. Every
few weeks come what are called
days," when the surface of the sea will be
undisturbed by a ripple, but the surf will roll
in tremendously upon the narrow beaches,
and dash, in great white sheets of foam fifty
feet high, against the precipices. The busi-
ness of loading the boats under the cliffs
must then be suspended; so, as the swell is
scarcely felt among the shipping, all take a
holiday, and visit about from ship to ship.
It was on one of these days, while Katie
and Fred were visiting an English ship, that
they found on board a very beautiful little
Spanish poodle, which so pleased them that
86
SALT-WATER DICK.
the kind-hearted captain made them a pres-
ent of it. The dog was a bright little fel-
low, with white, silken, curly hair, and large,
intelligent, brown eyes. He was the first
pet the children had found; so they became
very much attached to him. In order to
keep him clea.. and agreeable, Woolly every
morning gave him a warm bath, then rolled
him up in a soft little blanket, and left him
to get dry and take a nap at the same time.
As soon as he made known that he was
awake, Katie would take him up from his
little bed-basket as tenderly as she would a
baby. His hair was then neatly parted from
the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, and
the silken curls arranged in little ringlets all
over his body. The dog had a baby brush -
and comb of his own, a box of toilet pow-
der and soap, and quite a collection of pretty
neck ribbons, so that he could wear a dif-
ferent one almost every day.
Little Fred, who had heard a good many
fairy stories of princes and princesses who
had been enchanted and obliged to take the
GALLIPAGOS TURTLE.
87
form of an animal until some person recog-
nized the human in them, when they would
again take their own form, was led to believe
that his pet dog, Louie, was a good and
lovely human being in disguise. For hours
at a time he would walk up and down deck
with the dog in his arms, caressing and
petting him, and whispering all sorts of in-
teresting things in his ear. Sometimes parts
of these conversations were heard, and the
listeners were very much amused at the
stories and confidences which were poured
into the dog's ear. With so much kindness.
and attention, Louie grew in beauty and
wisdom every day, and became the constant
companion of the children in all their excur-
sions about the islands.
Among the strange things which they saw
at the Chinchas were the immense Gallipa-
gos turtle, which were brought down from
those islands to supply the shipping along
the coast. Ships going on long voyages
found the tortoises the most convenient and
agreeable stock they could take. They can
88
SALT-WATER DICK.
be stowed away between decks, as other
provisions are stowed; and they require
neither water nor food for a year, and no
attention need be given them except to see
that their shells are preserved unbroken.
After fasting and resting for that length of
time, the turtle are found to be much plumper
and of better flavor than when at first caught.
They weigh from fifty to four hundred
pounds, and their flesh is very agreeable
and delicate. Sailors call them "Gallipagos
mutton," and are always glad when they
see a good stock of them taken in for a voy-
age. Before stowing them away between
decks, they are piled up on deck for a few
days, in order that they may discharge the
contents of their stomachs before being taken
below. An awning is always spread over
them, to protect them from the sun's rays,
which make them very restless and uncom-
fortable. They are not celebrated for their
beauty, yet the children were never tired of
watching them. To little Fred it seemed a
great feat that they could draw their heads
GALLIPAGOS TURTLE.
89
under their shell, and hide them quite out
of sight. Turtles have no teeth, and their
lower jaw is covered with horn, as is the
beak of a bird. They are cold-blooded
creatures, and they always carry a large
reservoir of cool water in their stomachs,
which is almost as agreeable to drink as
that taken from a ship's tank. Turtle
eggs are often brought away from the
islands to sell among the shipping; but
they are very dry, and taste more like saw-
dust than anything else. They are quite
pretty to look at, being perfectly round and
white, and about three inches in diameter.
"I can make you a hundred different
kinds of dishes out of a turtle," said the
cook one day to the children, when they
were watching the monsters reposing under
the awning. "You'll think you've got roast
turkey, broiled shad, roast pig, oyster stew,
chicken pie, roast duck, boiled salmon, fried
halibut, baked crab, roast oysters, wild duck,
stewed rabbit, fricasseed frogs, fried eels,
roast prairie chicken, and ten times as many
90
SALT-WATER DICK.
different things. Turtles are queer crea-
tures; they have as many different kinds of
tastes in their bodies as all the things I've
mentioned, and plenty more besides."
"Then we will have plenty of variety, and
be in no fear of starving while the turtles last,"
said Katie. "I'm very glad for the sailors;
now they can have something besides salt
meat. It seems to me that their common
food is almost as bad as prison fare."
The cook laughed. "There are different
opinions about that," he said. "They have
considerable variety, after all. Twice a week
they get baked beans and pork; twice a
week, duff, which you probably know, miss,
is a pudding made of flour and water, and
eaten with molasses sauce. Twice a week
we give them a salt-fish dinner, with boiled
rice and molasses for dessert. Breakfast they
get coffee, ship bread, and pork stew or cold
pork, just as it happens. They always get
tea for dinner and supper, and now and
then they have hot biscuit, which they call
୧୧ soft tack." We give them potatoes and
GALLIPAGOS TURTLE.
.91
any other vegetables we have; so I do not
think they suffer much for food. There are
plenty of people in our cities, not the very
poorest by any means, who don't begin to
have such good food, nor so much of it.
If everybody fared as well as the sailors.
aboard this ship, there wouldn't be many
to pity."
९९
Ah, that's it, doctor," said Katie, it being
the fashion to call the cook "doctor" on
board ship; "all ships do not so provide for the
men. There ought to be a law about pro-
visioning a vessel. Now, I think it is all
left to the generosity of the owners and
captain; and if they happen to be mean,
miserly men, the poor sailors have to suffer
for it. O, I do wish better times would come
for sailors everywhere, socially, morally,
and physically."
୧୧
"Amen!" said the cook. ee I wish it,
too, with all my heart."
-92
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER VI.
CALLAO. THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
HE three months allowed by the Pe-
THE
the
ruvian government for the loading of
Dashaway passed very quickly and
pleasantly to the young people on board.
Besides the healthful climate, delightful
scenery, fishing parties, bird hunts, boat-
races, and excursions to the islands, there
were, nearly every week, large parties and
balls on board of some fine ship. On these
occasions the vessel was illuminated, from
the mast-heads and every yard-arm, with
brilliant colored lights, and an excellent
band from the main land performed nation-
al airs and other pleasant music upon the
deck. The saloons and decks were deco-
rated with flags of all nations and the beau-
tiful and fragrant flowers of Peru.
CALLAO.
93
There were so few children then at the
islands, that the presence of Katie and
Fred was begged as a great favor; and the
young people were generally permitted to
spend a few hours in the early part of the
evening in the enjoyment of the gay scene.
They joined with their elders in singing
their own national songs and the favorite
popular airs of the day, and then, with in-
nocence and light-heartedness, they danced
with the older people to the lively music
of the Spanish band. Before the supper
came-around, which usually consisted of
native wine, fruit, game, and sweetmeats,
- the children were supplied with a little
basket of refreshments, of which they could
partake in the morning, and sent home in
their own boat.
When the time was up, and the Dasha-
way deeply loaded with her valuable cargo,
the crew, as the custom is at the islands,
hoisted their national flag, and sent up
one of their number, in a tub, to the yard-
arm, where he led off with cheers, which
94
SALT-WATER DICK.
were taken up in turn by the vessels lying
near, and echoed throughout the entire
fleet. Then, as soon as the vessel was put
in sailing order, the captains of the differ-
ent ships came on board the Dashaway, to
bid their friends "good by." They together
partook of a farewell breakfast, and then
the guests accompanied the ship for a few
miles outside of the harbor, where they
took their final departure, and separated,
perhaps never again to meet in this world.
That same afternoon, by five o'clock, the
Dashaway was at anchor in Callao Roads,
having run down in a day a distance which
it often takes two weeks for a vessel to
make beating up.
The family were all on deck, enjoying
the beautiful view before them. The ship
was lying so near the beach, at the mouth
of the river, that they could easily see chil-
dren bathing. Fred and Woolly watched
them with considerable interest, and wished
that they themselves could have a nice salt-
water bath, which they had not dared to
CALLAO.
95
take at the Chinchas, on account of the
sea-lions, lizards, and diving birds.
Far along the shore extended a line of
fresh green trees, and beyond them, at
the base of the mountains, rose the white
church towers and steeples of Lima. The
sun set clear, as it always does in that
delightful climate, and lighted up the moun-
tain tops, until the yellow summits came out
above each other, shining and golden, and
then more and more distant and hazy, till
they were hidden by the shadow of the
ocean, and night had come.
Gradually ascending from the sea is a
fertile plain, ten miles wide and twenty
long, upon which, seven miles from Callao,
and several hundred feet higher, is the city
of Lima. Behind the city the plain ex-
tends upward and becomes a valley in the
mountains, through which flows the River
Rimac, which waters Lima and then emp-
ties into a bay north of Callao.
"Ciudad de los Reyes" - City of Kings
-the Spaniards call Lima; and certainly
96
SALT-WATER DICK.
the situation or site of the city is worthy such
a name. The plain upon which it is located
is broad and beautiful, overlooking the blue
Pacific, and overshadowed and enclosed on
three sides by dark mountains, which seem
like guardian giants.
The morning after the arrival, the family
went ashore, and were hospitably received
by an American family residing in Callao.
They found the place just as they had left
it three months before, and the same as it
had stood for many years. Changes and
improvements were not considered advisa-
ble, for at any moment the buildings were
liable to be thrown down by earthquakes,
which every few months were accustomed
to rumble under ground, and so shake build-
ings that many of them would have been
thrown to the ground, had they not been
built with partitions of cane, which could
bend and wave with the motions of the
earth.
"Wouldn't it be dreadful to have an
earthquake come to-night," said little Fred,
CALLAO.
97
the first time he slept on shore. "If I
should wake up and find my bed rocking
like a cradle, and the walls moving as if
they were great fans, I should take my
clothes and run for my life.”
"Where would you run to?" asked Katie.
"I don't see that you would be any safer
out of the house than in it. For my part,
I don't like to stay in these countries, where
you could be swallowed up in a moment.
Our good old New England, taken all to-
gether, is about as perfect as any country
that can be found. If you won't dream of
frightful things, I will read you to sleep
with a little of the account of the great
earthquake which occurred here in 1746."
"O, yes, do, Katie; that is what I want
to know; for I often hear people speak of
the great earthquake, and I want to learn
something about it. I guess I shall not
dream of it, for I am so tired when I
get
asleep, that dreams do not come into my
head. If you hear me breathing hard-
I think I do not snore
?
you may know
98
SALT-WATER DICK.
that I am asleep, and need not read any
more."
"Very well," answered Katie; "I'll re-
member, and not waste my breath. I'll read
only those parts of the history which a little
fellow like you can understand and be inter-
ested in, and as soon as you are asleep I
will read to myself.
"The account which I have before me
was written by Father Eusebio, who was
not only an eye-witness of the scene, but
a sufferer in the catastrophe, and who writes
of the terrible earthquake in a manner which
must make it clear to any one."
99
"I am wide awake now, Katie; so please
commence," said little Fred, as he curled
himself up on one corner of his pillow, and
prepared to keep his eyes open, though he
seemed in a fair way to be soon fast asleep.
"We will call this account," said Katie,
"the story of
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
"It was night of the twenty-eighth of
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
99
October, in the year seventeen hundred
and forty-six, while the churches in Lima
were celebrating, with great pomp and holy
zeal, the festivity of those two apostolic
saints, Simon and Judas (not Iscariot), -
a night when the moon seemed blending
only benevolence and loveliness in the
brightness of her beams, it was on such
a night, and on such an occasion, that the
greatest earthquake which has ever visited
Peru occurred at Callao and Lima.
"The ocean was calm and the heavens
serene; but just at half past ten o'clock, a
few hours before the full moon, all the quiet
beauty of the night was broken by a sudden
and terrible concussion of the earth, and it
seemed as if the subterranean caverns were
broken up, and the elements of water, fire,
and air, were bursting forth, each in its vio-
lence struggling to destroy that which had
been spared from the voracity of the other.
"Nothing was able to resist an impulse so
sudden and so terrible, where the small as
well as the great edifices of the city served
100
SALT-WATER DICK.
only for the sepulchres of many of the in-
habitants, and where those who were ar-
rested by fright, or unmindful of the event,
were crushed by the falling houses, or suffo-
cated by the dust which arose from their
ruins.
"This first and terrible movement of the
earth lasted a little more than three min-
utes; but that little time was sufficient for
the destruction of what had cost the labor
of two hundred and eleven years in con-
struction! The greatest part of Lima, mag-
nificent temples and sumptuous palaces,
edifices of the most splendid and costly char-
acter were tumbled into heaps of promis-
cuous ruins.
K
·
"The next day dawned upon a city of
great sorrow. All was lamentation and con-
sternation. Fathers and mothers grieved for
their children, children mourned for their
parents, and friends wept for the destruc-
tion of their friends and acquaintances.
The sufferings of those who were left were
worse than death, and in agony and de-
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
IOI
spair they knelt down among the fallen
buildings, and in silent fervor directed their
prayers to the Most High.
CC
During the next twenty-four hours there
were nearly two hundred shocks in Lima,
and the people every moment expected a
mournful termination to their painful exist-
ence. They assembled together in the
Plazas Campanas and waited for death.
"Late in the afternoon of the second day
the distressed people were thrown into re-
newed consternation by the appalling news
that the ocean was bursting from its con-
fines, and was rolling in with such power
as would soon overwhelm and destroy every-
thing that had life in the city.
"The agony of the people was then in-
tense, for they thought the day of doom had
come. The moon and stars were obscured,
earthquakes came in quick succession, the
sea and waves roared fearfully and threat-
ened to overwhelm them, the air was filled
with sulphuric and unpleasant odors; and
this, with the cries of the wounded and
102
SALT-WATER DICK.
dying, caused men's hearts to fail them for
fear.
"A great crowd of wild and frenzied
people rushed through the streets, shouting
in loud and unnatural accents, and calling
upon the priests to hear them confess and
give them absolution. Nuns, who had been
accustomed to live in the retirement of cells
and cloisters, were obliged to leave their
ruined convents, and with the crowd seek
refuge wherever they might find it.
"To escape from the rising sea the terror-
stricken inhabitants rushed tumultuously
towards the neighboring mountains, hoping
to find on their summits safety from the
approaching waters. In their precipitant
flight the wounded and dying were left
behind, and many of those who were rush-
ing forward dropped dead from fright and
haste.
"A few hours after they started, the
report of the rising of the sea was contra-
dicted, as it had been ascertained that it
was not so. The people were easily led
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
103
:
to believe that such a thing was true, be-
cause, at the first shock, on the night of
the twenty-eighth, at Callao, six miles dis-
tant, the sea had risen and overwhelmed
and destroyed everything within its reach.
The buildings there which resisted the move-
ments of the earth could not withstand the
overwhelming force of the ocean, which
came pouring in with maddening fury,
piled up in mountainous waves, and destroy-
ing everything which the earthquake had
spared.
It then recoiled, as if to gather
new power, and again rushed forward, still
more elevated, overthrowing castellated walls
and turrets, tearing them up from their deep
foundations, and burying them in the dark
caverns beneath.
"There were only about two hundred
saved of the four thousand eight hundred
inhabitants who resided in Callao. Twen-
ty-two of these were saved on the bastion
of a rampart, which was formerly called the
strength of Santa Cruz, and the rest were
thrown upon the Island of San Lorenzo,
104
SALT-WATER DICK.
7
situated six miles from the castle of Callao,
and upon different beaches and forts.
୧୧
Nineteen of the twenty-three ships which
were anchored in Callao Bay were foun-
dered; and as they were driven along over
the town, their anchors caught in the houses,
dragging parts of them along to where they
were all dashed to pieces, far up the road
to Lima.
"Great ships of war were tossed about as
if they were egg-shells; and at the present
day the spot where the frigate San Fermin
went to pieces is designated by a cross
which is erected a little to the right of the
road which leads to Lima, and about a mile
from the beach.
"Most of the unhappy people returned to
their ruined city when they were assured
that the sea was still confined to its usual
boundaries. They still clung to what was
once their happy home, though most of their
kindred were dead, and the city was a
dreary waste.
"Lying mangled and mouldering among
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
105
the ruins were the bodies of nearly fifteen
hundred people; and these, with the bodies
of horses, mules, and dogs, filled the air
with a dreadful odor, which it was feared
must bring on some terrible pestilence.
Added to this new affliction was the scar-
city of bread and the suffering consequent
upon a partial famine. All the mills, ovens,
and every building connected with the man-
ufacture of bread, were destroyed; and large
amounts of provisions of various kinds were
buried in the general ruins.
"A few persons, who were fortunate enough
to be provided with large supplies of food,
practised extortions on the wants and ne-
cessities of their fellow-citizens, and could
only be persuaded to sell their provisions in
exchange for large quantities of gold, silver,
pearls, and precious stones.
Several days passed, and no severe shock
came, though there was almost incessant
motion or trembling of the earth beneath
the city. Gradually the minds of the peo-
ple became more composed, not because
106
SALT-WATER DICK.
the danger was less, but because they had
become familiar with it. The cabildo, or
city council, resumed its meetings and began
to take the most active measures for the
restoration of order, and for repairing the
damages done to the city.
"It was decided that the city would not
permit the erection of elevated or heavy
buildings, and that the temples, palaces,
and tribunals of justice should be built in
strict reference to the trials they might have
to encounter. The dwelling-houses were
planned to be distant from each other, with
an open square in the centre, as a place of
retreat and security to the inhabitants from
the falling materials around them. The
magnificence of the city had departed, and
in its place the builders put up plain ånd
lightly-constructed houses, such as could
resist the trembling earth, or, if thrown
down, cause but little injury.
"Disasters of different kinds continually
visited the city after the great earthquake.
At one time there was a great flood of rain,
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
107
which came down in such torrents for fifteen
minutes, that, had it continued but a short
time longer, it would have caused great
devastation. Some days after that, a light
rain fell, of a quality so rare that it acted as
a caustic on everything sensitive which it
touched, burning up green pastures like a
consuming fire, and causing sickness and
disease among the people. Soon after that
came a tornado of impure air, which arose
from vapors issuing from the pores of the
earth. It blew with such violence that it
seemed as if it would bear off houses and
people in its fierce embrace.
These distressing visitations so troubled
the suffering people, that they publicly im-
plored the aid of Heaven in saving them
from further calamities. On the second of
December a large procession moved away
from the Dominican church, with the image
of Rosario and Santa Rosa Peruana. A
venerable community of religionists, a great
many penitents of both sexes, and the great-
er part of the ladies of Lima followed, sing-
108
SALT-WATER DICK.
ing in plaintive and touching voices. Some,
with hair cut, feet bare, and besprinkled
with ashes, who, in other times, might have
been seen decked with much splendor in
the magnificence of their equipage, were
now dressed in coarse woollens, and, in
the public streets, to be seen asking par-
don for their transgressions, and in fervent
prayer imploring Heaven to spare their
beloved city.
"For four months the city of Lima was
daily visited by shocks and threatening
earthquakes. Between October and Feb-
ruary of 1746 and 1747, there occurred in
the city four hundred and thirty earth-
quakes, the nauseous exhalations of which
produced various epidemics, and caused
the death of more than two thousand inhab-
itants. So ended the great earthquake
season of Lima, one of the saddest and
most distressing catastrophes which ever
befell that country."
my
"Aren't you glad that we do not live here,
dear brother?" said Katie, looking
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
109
towards the pillow where the curly head
rested. There came no response, for the
long lashes were closed over the eyes, the
rosy lips were parted, and the pure little
breast rose and fell with healthful sleep,
and the child was all unconscious of the
suffering of the poor Peruvians in the earth-
quake of seventeen hundred forty-six.
ΙΙΟ
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER VII.
LIMA.
THE
MONASTERY OF SAN FRAN-
CISCO.
MONKS AT SERVICE.
THE OLD
BRIDGE.
FAREWELL TO PERU.
HERE were but a few days for the
THE
Putnams to remain in Peru, and as
they wanted to improve them, they started
away early the next morning for Lima.
Captain Putnam could not go with his fam-
ily himself; so he selected Salt-water Dick
as their escort, feeling sure that he would
be a good guide, and useful to them, as
he had learned considerable of the Spanish
language.
Every two hours during the day the fine
English cars, built with compartments, each
holding six persons, ran from Callao to
Lima. The road had then been built but
a few years; so it was a novelty of wonder
LIMA.
III
and surprise to many of the native Peruvi-
ans, who, all along the route, stopped to
look at it with astonishment and delight.
Katie and Fred sat each at a window in
their comfortable parlor-like apartment, and
watched the objects of interest upon the
way. In the depot at Callao, the children,
before starting, saw, from their car win-
dows, a small detachment of Peruvian sol-
diers, who looked so much like large-sized
monkeys dressed up, that little Fred could
hardly keep from laughing. They were
all very small men, not any of them being
over five feet in height, and most of them
several inches short of that. Their shoul-
ders were very narrow and stooping, and
when they were drawn up in military order,
as they were at one time, by order of a
commanding officer, they stood in such ir-
regular lines, that they looked like so many
crooked broomsticks. They were all very
dark, with high cheeks, Aztec noses, and
straight, black hair, which showed that they
were of native Indian blood. Their faces
I12
SALT-WATER DICK.
were not very intelligent, but had an expres-
sion of cunning and cruelty which is often
observed in savages. They seemed much
like a little company of good-sized apes,
and one felt like calling to them, "Jocko!
Jocko!" When they are mounted on horse-
back they are curious indeed, for they are
dressed in very ill-fitting uniforms, of a
reddish-gray color, with small capes, and
they bear their accoutrements in the most
awkward manner, and cling upon their
horses like little goblins.
The first two miles of the road to Lima
led over a miserable burnt plain, where a
poor class of Cholos lived in cane shanties,
with low mud fences shutting them off from
the railroad. There were a few trees here
and there, long droves of donkeys, with
women attired in bright-colored cotton dress-
es, having their coarse black hair parted
behind and hanging in two long braids
almost to their feet, sitting astride the don-
keys, and apparently driving them to mar-
ket. There were plenty of ragged negroes,
LIMA.
113
mud ruins of broken-down huts, and a gen-
eral appearance of desolation for the first
part of the journey. After passing that
burnt plain, more pleasing objects met the
eye. Fine fields of Indian corn came into
sight, but growing in a way that the chil-
dren had never before seen; for it seemed
to be in many stages of growth, some of
it ripening and other of it just springing
from the ground. There were beautiful
little canals of swift-running water, which
supplied nourishment to plantations of lux-
uriantly leaved bananas and fragrant orange.
trees. Locust and willow trees bordered
pleasant carriage roads, and here and there,
at short distances from each other, were
seen groups of people kneeling before some
shaded shrines and little stone crosses.
Bright flowers bloomed along the railroad
sides, and little children of various colors
roamed about in the simple covering that
Nature had given them.
"We must be near Lima," said little
Fred, about twenty minutes after leaving
8.
114
SALT-WATER DICK.
:
Callao; "for the train goes slower, and
mud cabins grow thicker."
"Yes, I think so," said Katie; "for do
see the swarms of little negroes of every
shade and size, who run along by our side
and shout and scream like the steam-whistle.
What queer little creatures they are! - all
naked, like so many little imps of darkness.
Here we are stopped at the great gateway
which leads into the principal calle, as
they call street in Lima."
Here the party alighted from the car,
after the conductor in uniform had un-
locked the door. They found themselves
in a long, narrow, paved street, lined with
low, gloomy, two-story houses, rudely built
of adobes, or mud. But few of the poor
houses about there had glass in the win-
dows, the narrow casements opening into
blank walls or latticed verandas, after the
fashion of old Spain.
The street which they had entered was
one of the very oldest in the city, reaching
through the arcade fronting the church in
LIMA.
115
the grand Plaza, and then under the gate-
way, over the bridge, and far on the other
side, which gave it a course nearly through
the middle of the city. A few buildings
saved in the great earthquake were to be
seen here.
The children walked in single file along
the ancient and uneven pavement, which
was so narrow that but one person could
walk there at a time. The streets slope off
from sidewalks to gutters in the middle,
where, in the streets leading east and west,
are swift-running streams of water, which
carry off the various impurities which are
continually being thrown into them.
Little Fred looked about him on all sides,
and saw many strange sights. Standing
at the head of different streets and looking
down them, they seemed to be only alleys
with yellow mud walls, with gateways or
entrances for carriages, precisely like so
many streets of stables.
"There are ever so many great bundles
of dust walking down the street,” said little
116
SALT-WATER DICK.
Fred; "I don't see how they can walk.”
Salt-water Dick laughed. "Why, those,"
said he, "are water-carriers. There's a
donkey with a small cask of water on each
side of him, and a negro driver sitting astern
of those. The old rope trappings, panniers,
color and clothes of the negro, are all so
nearly of the tint of dust, that no wonder you
think they are animated masses of that com-
mon substance."
"Just look there, Katie," said Fred, com-
ing up one of those narrow streets leading
into the Plaza here, there is a long line of
great walking bales of grass and weeds."
"Donkeys again," said Salt-water Dick.
"There is a great string of them laden and
almost hidden under great loads of new hay,
or rather grass, for it does not seem to be
cured, and it is pretty coarse too, hardly
fit for any creatures but donkeys to eat;
and their tongues and throats can even
enjoy thistles, you know."
"Poor donkeys, how hard they have to
work! I should think they would fall
LIMA.
エエグ
​down under such dreadful loads," said little
Fred.
"Yes, they are very hard working ani-
mals, and they carry their loads in the most
fatiguing way. If the people would only
get carts for them it would enable them to
work much easier. Every conceivable thing
is now transported about the country on the
backs of donkeys. They carry wood and
earth for building, meat, vegetables, iron,
stone, flour, dry goods, cotton, rice, water,
liquors, and everything possible to mention.
Donkeys have great powers of endurance,
and seem to be designed by nature for
beasts of burden. I don't know what the
people of this country would do without
them; yet, with the use of carts, how much
more the animals might do! The Peruvi-
ans are far behind the times in almost
everything."
"How pleasant it is," said Fred, "to look
through the gateways which lead through
the houses, and see the pretty little parlors in
back, and the doors open to beautiful gar-
118
SALT-WATER DICK.
dens beyond! The family carriage stands
on one side of the court, I see, but there
are very few to be seen in the streets."
୧୯
"Yes; I know we see but few pleasure
carriages driving in the streets. The ladies
drive out but little during the day, but on
the early evening a good many fine car-
riages may be seen taking ladies out on
pleasant drives. You observe, too, that
there is scarcely a lady to be seen walking
in the street. All these females whom we
see walking about in such gayly-colored
garments are Cholo and Zambo women
a mixture of Indian and white and African
and Spanish.'
"I should think that they were beasts of
burden too, if we judge by the loads they
carry," said Katie. "See, too, how many
of them are smoking!
୧୯
""
"O, yes; they are famous smokers,
thieves, liars, and everything bad. They
are poor, ignorant, and low, and have no
idea of the higher duties of life. Mission-
aries could find large fields for employment
here; I wish there were scne."
LIMA.
119
After the party had seen the little stores
with their gay goods, and had watched the
lines of laden women and donkeys, Salt-
water Dick procured a neat English car-
riage and driver, and they all went out to
the monastery of San Francisco, which
occupies seven or eight acres in the north-
eastern quarter of the city.
"O, what very great, great castles!"
exclaimed the young people, when they
came in sight of the monastery. "They
almost make a city by themselves."
Passing within, they found the monastery
to consist of an assemblage of ancient clois-
ters, chapels, and monastic halls, built
with many courts, quadrangles, and gar-
dens planted with trees. There were many
wide galleries and dark passages, where
Katie and Fred held their breath and kept
close to each other. The place was found-
ed in 1536, and the walls and ceilings gave
evidence of the vast wealth and expense
lavished upon their frescoes, mosaic work,
and curiously carved wood, in the old
time.
120
SALT-WATER DICK.
ee
O, it is very gloomy and mouldy here,"
said little Fred. "I am almost afraid
of it."
"Nothing can harm people in this holy
place," said an English monk, who acted
as guide for foreigners about the monas-
tery.
The old monk led them along through
half-lighted galleries, from which they could
look into ancient cells which had long
before gone to decay and ruin. All along
their way, at short distances from each
other, were shrines of saints, before which
dim lamps were always kept burning.
Opening a small door, the party found
themselves ushered into a deep gallery in
the principal chapel. Far below was the
empty church, covered with carvings, or-
naments,`statuary, paintings, and beautiful
marble columns, the colors of which were
but half revealed in the dim light of the
silver lamps which burned upon the altar
and at the shrines of saints. .
In the gallery which they had entered
MONKS AT SERVICE.
121
there was a little body of monks engaged
in some religious service. They stood in
two rows, with shaven crowns and coarse
black robes, ranged behind a turning stand,
on which were large volumes of canticles in
parchment manuscript, the letters being an
inch long, and antiphoned in the ancient
mode. They were led in their devotions
by an aged priest, who chanted a few lines,
and was then responded to by the others
in slow, solemn sounds.
The young people were glad to leave the
dim church and go out into a pretty garden
below, where the monks had made quite a
little paradise, with fountains, shady arbors,
flowers, fruits, and vegetables. There were
grapes, olives, and oranges growing in per-
fection, and many varieties of roses and
geraniums. The old monk who acted as
guide arranged a neat bouquet for each of
the party, and when they passed within
doors again, presented them with the mon-
astery mission-box, into which they will-
ingly dropped a few pieces of Peruvian
silver coin.
122
SALT WATER DICK.
?
Safely outside of the gloomy buildings,
the young people breathed more freely, and
felt glad that they did not have to live
there. As they drove along, they passed
several convents with high walls and strong,
heavy gates, which were securely locked
and barred against the outside world.
There were no windows on the street, and
the children pitied the poor men and women
who had shut themselves into such gloomy.
places, out of the beautiful sunlight and
happy world.
""
"O, what a funny-looking priest! ex-
claimed Fred, as he saw, from his carriage
window a queer old padre trudging along.
Instead of the usual black gown and shovel
hat, or coarse, gray robe and high-pointed
cap, this reverend gentleman was attired in
a light, straw-colored gown or cassock, with
a hood for a cape, strings of beads around
his neck and waist, a high, towering mitre
on his head, a long cane in his hand, and
a paper cigar in his mouth. It was diffi-
cult to say to what order he belonged, but
LIMA.
123
his appearance was certainly very com-
ical.
•
There was one sight which pleased the
travellers very much, and they had the
pleasure of gazing upon it from almost
every point in the city. It is the boast
and pride of Lima a beautiful conical
mountain, rising two thousand feet above
the city, from the northern bank of the
River Rimac. It is crowned with a gigan-
tic crucifix, and presents a sublime specta-
cle of nature and art. Several other peaks
around the plain are distinguished in a
similar manner, but this lofty one is seen
from every point, and is the most beautiful
of all.
In streets running parallel with the river,
through which are small streams of water
used as open drains, the children were sur-
prised to see crowds of large, ugly birds.
"What homely, disagreeable creatures!'
exclaimed Fred. "What are they doing
here?"
"Those," answered Salt-water Dick, "are
124
SALT-WATER DICK.
turkey buzzards, who make themselves very
useful to the city, and are much esteemed
by the people, because they act as scav-
engers, and take upon themselves the duty
of keeping the streams clear of offensive
matter, which, if not so taken away, would
make Lima very unhealthy."
"Then I'm sure they are very useful,
but disagreeable and dirty-looking fellows.
I suppose they cannot keep looking very
nice while they are engaged in such un-
cleanly business.”
Driving on, the carriage soon reached
the Plaza Mayor, or great square, which is
in the centre of the city, and one hundred
and seventy feet above the level of the
ocean. Each side measures five hundred
and ten feet, and is lined with portales or
arcades, which are arched porticos shad-
ing a wide sidewalk påved with pebbles.
The best stores of the city, are in the grand
square, and between the pillars of the por-
tico, between the sidewalk and the Plaza,
are show-cases of fancy goods. Fringe-
LIMA.
125
Con-
knitters have little cases there, and silver-
wire weavers display pretty goods.
fectioners there exhibit tempting French
and native sweetmeats, and fresco-sellers
provide the heated passers with their cool-
ing beverage, made of the juices of melons
and other fruits. Pastry cooks tempt buy-
ers to their dainty compositions, and dealers
in all kinds of light wares do a thriving
business in that shady, much frequented
place. During fashionable hours well-
dressed ladies and gentlemen pass along
under the arches, and make purchases as
they feel inclined.
The carriage in which the Putnams was
driving, here drew up, and the party alight-
ed to make some purchases and watch the
busy crowd.
On the eastern side of the Plaza was a
large building which attracted the atten-
tion of the strangers. It was the great
cathedral of Lima, a massive stone struc-
ture three hundred and twenty feet long
by a hundred and eighty wide. The front
126
SALT-WATER DICK.
of the building was strangely painted in
red and yellow, two colors which are
much admired by Peruvians, and the
three great doors were of a bright green.
While the party were purchasing some of
the pretty goods in the shops, the heavy,
beautifully-toned bell of the cathedral tolled
slowly. It was the time of morning mass,
and at that moment was being performed
the elevation of the host. Labor instan-
taneously ceased all over the city, and every
person remained silent and fixed, as in
prayer, for a few minutes. While the An-
gelus is being said, in the evening, the
inhabitants of Lima observe the time as
religiously as they do in the morning.
Before taking their carriage again the
American party went across the square to
see the great cathedral. A grand altar,
covered with silver plate, is one of the
most important features, for beneath it,
carefully treasured, lie the remains of Pi-
zarro. The children wandered through its
great aisles, and enjoyed the fine paintings
LIMA.
127
and statuary, and the beautiful music of
the grand organ.
Near the cathedral they saw the palace
of the archbishops, and the palace of the
Spanish viceroys, - a mean-looking edifice,
with its basement occupied by small shops.
In the centre of the grand Plaza there was
a beautiful stone fountain, which claimed
attention. A bronze statue of Fame sur-
mounts it. It was constructed in 1653,
and is supplied with pure water from the
River Rimac.
Other days were devoted to visiting a
few of the eighty-two churches and chapels,
the sixteen nunneries, fourteen asylums, and
the great Dominican convent, which has a
steeple one hundred and eighty feet high,
the loftiest in Lima.
دو
One day there was a bull-fight, and the
streets leading to "Plaza firme del Acho,
or amphitheatre, were crowded with people
dressed in their best and gayest attire.
"We can go out in that direction -
can't we?" asked Fred. "But I wouldn't
128
SALT-WATER DICK.
go inside the amphitheatre, and see the poor
bulls killed, for anything in the world."
At the end of the public promenade or
Alameda, on the north-west bank of the
river, was the large, circular enclosure to
which all the people were hastening. The
way to it was through the principal calle,
and over a beautiful bridge, from which
there were fine views of the city, river, and
surrounding mountains. The bridge is one
of the curious antiquities of Lima, being
built, in 1638, of hewn stone, heavily
arched, and with massive piers, in the an-
cient fashion. It is five hundred and thirty
feet in length, with six lofty arches, which
are provided with seats, and are a favorite
resort for the people in summer evenings.
"Everybody all the people of Lima-
must be going to the bull-fight,” said little
Fred, as he stood in one of the arches of the
bridge, and watched the throngs of people.
"Yes," said his mother, "I'm sorry to
say that the people enter into this cruel
sport with a keen delight."
LIMA.
129
"O, what great arks of carriages!" said
Fred.
"They must weigh as much as ten tons
each," said Salt-water Dick. "They are
the most patriarchal vehicles I ever saw.”
.
"But aren't the ladies beautiful who are
riding in them?" said Katie. "They are
dressed as if they were going to a wedding
or a ball. Full costume they have! without
bonnet, and fans in their hands. What
beautiful great eyes they have! and how
black and shining their hair is! I don't
see how they can be so cruel as to enjoy
seeing bulls killed in so dreadful a way..
I suppose, though, that it has been so long
an established and inherited custom, that
nobody ever thinks of its being cruel.
Well, I'm very glad that we have been
brought up in a Christian country, where
such things are unknown. The very ac-
counts which I have read of bull-fights
are so full of distressing things, that I
never, never could be persuaded to look
upon a real scene of the kind. It is
It is very
9
130
SALT-WATER DICK.
strange that American ladies can come here
and attend bull-fights with as much pleas-
ure as any of those who have always been
used to them. O, if I could only do some-
thing to show the people the sin of tortur-
ing these poor animals so!"
"You'd have a rather difficult task, Miss.
Reformer, if you should attempt to convert
the people of Lima," said Salt-water Dick.
"O, I don't think it would be impossible.
When I get home I'm going to talk over
the subject with some charitable institutions,
and get them to send missionaries out here."
"You good, dear sister Katie!" said
Fred; "you want everybody to do right,
and you yourself set them an example, and
lend them a helping hand."
"My dear little brother has got into his
head a famous idea of his sister. He al-
most thinks her a fairy princess of good-
ness. It encourages me very much to try
to bring myself up somewhere near his bril-
liant ideas. But I fear it will be impossi-
ble ever to reach them."
4
131
FAREWELL TO PERU.
"We must hurry, now, for the next train
to Callao, for you know we sail to-morrow,
and cannot be left in Lima all night,"
said Mr. Dick.
The party took their last look of the gay
carriages and lively throngs, which were
hurrying over the bridge, and then a part-
ing look at the beautiful cross-crowned.
mountain, and bade farewell to Lima.
132.
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER VIII.
BOUND AROUND CAPE HORN.
THE PELI-
CANS' FEAST. — A WRECK.
PET DOG.
LOSS OF THE
THE
HE next morning, the day being fine
and the wind fair, the good ship Dash-
away sailed out of Callao, bound away
"Round Cape Horn." With flying colors,
and full white sails, she swept around San
Lorenzo, an island which forms the barrier
to the roadstead of Callao. It is about seven
miles long by two wide, and is à deso-
late ridge of volcanic rock and sand, rising
out of the sea twelve hundred feet in the .
highest or northern end, where it terminates
in a straight slope, around which vessels
pass in and out of the harbor. It is the only
large island for a long distance on the coast,
and so is easily recognized by all who have
BOUND AROUND CAPE HORN.
133
ever once made it. It is attended on the
south side by two other islets, or heaps of
rock, and a few smaller ones are on the sea-
ward side, one of which has a great arch,
or hole, worn through it by the sea.
Ce
All on board seemed glad once more to be
fairly out on the ocean sailing;" and all
faces were bright, and hearts happy, as the
noble ship bounded over the blue and white
capped waves at the rate of fourteen knots
an hour.
The children, as they stood on deck watch-
ing the beautiful changing scenes, were sur-
prised to observe what seemed like low
islands, rising and falling on the curves of
the slowly-heaving undulations.
"They cannot be islands, Fred," said
Katie, "for no one ever heard of islands
moving in that way."
Ce
May be dey're great rafts of sea-weed,"
said Woolly. "I shouldn't mind taking a
sail in that way myself.”
"It wouldn't be a very safe way, I think,"
ર
said little Fred. "I thought you had sail
134
SALT-WATER DICK.
enough to last you for a long time when you
went off to the Ballistas. I didn't believe
you'd ever want to go off on another wild-
goose adventure:"
"Please don't speak of dat," said Woolly,
sorrowfully. "I dun know what got into me
den. Ain't gwine to do it agin. No, never
ain't gwine to. Mr. Salt-water Dick has
been lending me a helping hand. I guess
he's got me on the right track now. He
saved my life, and I'd be willing to die for
him now.
Ain't gwine to cut up shines no
more; but them rafts of sea-weed do look
don't they?"
jolly
"You mustn't talk that way, Woolly," said
Fred, who was fast outgrowing his baby pro-
nunciation, and learning to say Woolly in-
stead of "Ooly," and all the other "grown-
up" letters, as he called them.
"Those are
not rafts of sea-weed, but I'm sure I cannot
imagine what they can be. I'll run down
and get father's marine glass, and then, per-
haps, we can make them out."
୧୧
Katie looked first. "O!" she exclaimed
THE PELICANS' FEAST.
135
in great surprise, "there are myriads and
myriads, legions innumerable, of birds!
They are not resting upon anything but the
water. What can they be doing?"
Fred and Woolly looked, too, and were
loud in their expressions of astonishment.
Look, look at the birds, Mr. Dick!" said
Fred, as the second officer came along where
the children were standing. "What are they
doing?"
"I've been watching them," said Mr. Dick.
"There are several large flocks of pelicans
making a feast upon schools of mackerel and
herring. This must be the harvest season,
for the fish appear to be as numerous as the
birds. Look over here to leeward; and as
far as you can see, the green, discolored sea
is populous with them. The fish are leap-
ing and sporting under our bows, either in
great glee or great fright, for these ravenous
birds, with their immense pouched bills, must
make sad havoc among them.”
* O, can't we go up in the bows and fish?"
asked little Fred, who, during his long visit
136
SALT-WATER DICK.
at the islands, had become quite an expert
fisherman.
"We are dashing along at too rapid a rate
for ordinary fishing," answered Mr. Dick;
but the fish are so numerous that you may
possibly catch some. It will do no harm to
try. The carpenter will give you the lines,
and the cook will give you some scraps of
pork for bait. Look out for yourselves,
and don't tumble overboard, for it is pretty
rough up there in the bows, and the white
caps may give you a sprinkling now and
then."
So, day after day, as the vessel flew on her
course, there were new wonders of the deep
to be admired. The time passed pleasantly
and swiftly, much as it did in the outward
voyage, which is described in the "Cruise
of the Dashaway." The hours of daylight
very rapidly increased as the vessel went to
the southward, and warm clothing, pea-
jackets, and sou'-westers, long unused, came
into requisition.
One evening, just after sunset, when the
A WRECK.
137
Dashaway had been out a few weeks, a long,
black object was observed upon the ocean,
now coming slowly into sight, and then lost
again on the surface of a long, heavy swell.
The cry of "A wreck!" brought the crew
on deck; and, as one after another made
out the object, it was fancied that human be-
ings could be seen upon it.
Captain Putnam, hearing the cry as it
sounded through the ship, came quickly on
deck, and asked anxiously," Where away?"
For a few moments he carefully examined
the object which was pointed out to him, with
his glass; and then, suddenly dropping it, he
gave the order to change the ship's course.
He was instantly obeyed, and the yards flew
around like magic; after which a boat was
quickly lowered, manned by a volunteer
crew, the command of which was given to
Salt-water Dick, and despatched for the
wreck.
The forms upon the deck became more
apparent as the ship neared the wreck; and
then, when the Dashaway was hove to,
138
SALT-WATER DICK.
all waited anxiously for the return of the
boat.
Night came on, and the ocean was lonely
and quiet, but the boat did not return. Lan-
terns were hoisted in the rigging, and, at
last, a little speck was seen coming through
the darkness. As she came nearer no new
forms were among her crew; so it was feared
her mission was in vain. She brought tid-
ings that the wreck was that of a brig, all
under water except a part of her forward
deck, and that there were no human beings on
board, what had seemed such being knight-
heads and the stanchions of the rail. The
Dashaway's yards were then braced around
again, and she was soon sailing away on her
course.
Little Louie, the dog which had been
given to the children at the islands, was a
great pet on board ship, and almost as much
in favor with everybody as a young child
would have been. He was esteemed by
everybody in the ship, and all spoke kindly
to him, and admired his beauty and his good
LOSS OF THE PET DOG.
139
nature. He had almost as much sense as a
human being, and the cunning tricks that he
could do were numerous.
There was a large house full of pigeons,
hens, and turkeys on deck, and the children
used to let them out, and feed them on fine
mornings. Louie took great pleasure in be-
ing present on such occasions, that he might
have a good romp with his feathered friends,
though he seemed to enjoy it more than they
did. He chased the poor things about, pull-
ing out their feathers, and frightening and
teasing them till they wished he was safe on
land.
One evening, just after tea, Katie put the
dog on deck to get a little fresh air before he
was put to bed in his snug little box. When
it was time for him to come down, she called
to him in the usual way, "Come, Louie; it's
bed-time!" He always obeyed that call,
and ran to answer it as fast as his feet would
take him; but that night there was no re-
sponse.
Thinking that he did not hear, or had
1
140
SALT-WATER DICK.
fallen asleep in some snug corner, Katie
called again, louder than before; but not get-
ting an answer, she went on deck to search
for him. All the little nooks and corners
and coils of rope where he could be asleep
were carefully searched, but no dog was to
be found in them. Little Fred came up to
join in the search, and the man at the wheel,
and the people then engaged on deck, were
questioned in regard to the dog; but none of
them knew anything about him.
The children became much distressed,
fearing some harm had happened to their
pet; and the crew pitied them so much that
they all joined in pursuit of the little fellow.
They searched the wheel-house, the bin-
nacle, all the coils of rope, looked behind
the spare spars, under the steps leading
down from the upper deck, carefully exam-
ined the booby-hatch-house, and the great
poultry-house, the well-room, the boys' house,
galley, cook's room, sailors' forecastle, car-
penter's shop, sail-room, cable and hawser-
room, paint-shop, and all the little hide-
LOSS OF THE PET DOG.
141
away places in the forward part of the ship,
but without finding a trace of the missing
dog. One of the hatches had been off that
day; so it was thought that Louie might have
fallen down into the guano, and become
smothered, or was still wandering about
down there.
One sailor took a lantern, and
went down into the almost suffocating dust,
looking about carefully, and frequently call-
ing the dog, but all without success.
When everybody had given up the search,
the poor, grieved children sat down and
cried as if their hearts would break. It was
to them a dreadful misfortune to lose that
dear little pet dog, who was so worthy of
their love, and had given them so much
pleasure. It could not be believed that he
had jumped overboard, for he was always
afraid of the water, whether in his little bath
tub, or over the ship's side in the great
ocean. Sometimes for fun the children
would hold him over the water, and the poor
little thing would tremble like a leaf, and
struggle to get back on deck again. If he
142
SALT-WATER DICK.
ever had any love for sea-bathing, he had
become entirely cured of it by this treatment;
so they were all convinced that he had not
jumped overboard of his own accord; and as
he was nowhere in the ship, the great ocean
hiding-place was the only one left to him.
So then, if he did not go there by himself,
some one must have assisted him. Who
could do it? That was the great problem,
for every one liked the little fellow, and each
one declared that he had not seen him that
evening.
The man who was stationed at the wheel
at that time said, that during the hour in
which the dog was on deck, he only remem-
bered to have seen one person pass that way,
and that was Joe Trickey, the boy who
brought the binnacle lights.
Fred questioned Joe very closely. "Now,
Joe," said he, "are you just as sure as any-
thing that you didn't see Louie anywhere
when you went up to carry the lights that
night?"
"Sure as I breathe," said Joe. "There
:

Loss of the PET DOG. - Page 142.
LOSS OF THE PET DOG.
143
wasn't nothing to be seen of the dog any-
wheres about. Guess I should remember if
there was. Why, if I'd seen anything of
the dear little creter, you don't suppose I'd do
him any harm - do you?"
"Why, I shouldn't think you would. You
know how much we thought of him, and
you'd certainly tell us if you knew anything
about him — wouldn't you?"
"Certain sure I would.
I would. I can't see for
the life of me what's become of him. I'll
bet you he had a fit, and fell overboard.”
"O, no; he was perfectly well, and
wouldn't be at all likely to have a fit; and
he couldn't fall overboard very well, for the
rail was a great deal too high for that. O,
Joe, if you knew how badly we felt about
it, you would feel very sorry.
९९
وو
Sorry for what? I ain't done anything
to your dog. I hope you don't go for to say
that I did!"
"I meant sorry, because we feel so badly.
I didn't say you had drowned him. I don't
believe you could do it, Joe."
144
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Course I couldn't. Ketch me killing a
dog! I'd be above it!"
"It would be real wicked, you know. It
would be most as bad as killing a man!"
"I don't see how that can be. In
In my cal-
culation a dog don't come anywhere near a
man. I don't consider it murder to kill a
dog, but I do to kill a man; 'cause a man
has got a soul, and a dog hasn't."
"You don't know that, Joe Trickey," said
Katie, who had been standing near; "I've
seen dogs who seemed to have a great deal
more soul than some people I know. The
commandment says, "Thou shalt not kill!'
but it does not say that it is only men that
you shall not kill. I think it means a good
many others besides men."
"Well, then," said Joe, "you mustn't kill
fish, nor whales, nor beef, nor lambs, nor
anything what we do now, if that's the way
you take it. Now, in my calculation, the
poorest cod that swims is of more use in
the world than them 'ere little poodle dogs,
that people make such a fuss over. You can't
LOSS OF THE PET DOG.
145
eat a dog, if you do kill him, unless you
happen to be a Chinaman, or shipwrecked,
and can't get anything else. I never did see
no good in dogs, no how!”
"Why, Joe," said Katie, "if you talk like
that I shall think you were the only enemy
that Louie had here. I shall begin to believe
that you know something more about him
than you tell.
tell. I didn't know that you ever
had such an idea of dogs; if I had known it,
I should have felt uneasy about the poor little
fellow before."
Well, miss," answered Joe, hastily, "if
it's me you think that's made way with your
dog, you're greatly mistaken. I know no
more about him, nor half so much, as the
man in the moon!
""
"I hope you don't, Joe," said Katie; "for
I wouldn't like to think that there was a man
or boy on board of this ship who could be
cruel enough to kill or injure an innocent
little dog like Louie."
"You can count on me, miss," said Joe,
ΙΟ
146
SALT-WATER DICK.
as he hastened away to attend to some duty
in another part of the ship.
This conversation awakened a slight sus-
picion in the minds of the children that all
might not be quite right with Joe. They
had no opportunity to speak with him for
several weeks after, for he kept out of their
way as much as he could; and when they
chanced to pass him on deck while he was
pulling ropes, or doing any particular work,
he would not look up, or appear to see them.
The affair remained a great mystery for a
long time; but feeling sure that "murder
will out" at last, the children gave up their
searches and inquiries, and were content to
wait until time should reveal.
୧୧
Sait-water Dick drew a pretty little pencil
sketch of a neat monument erected to the
Memory of Lu," in mid ocean, near a fine
ship which was flying away under full sail.
These two little verses were under the pic-
ture:
Tell me, tell me, darling Lu,
Where have they secreted you?
"Fathoms in the briny deep
Among mermaids lie I asleep."
LOSS OF THE PET DOG.
147
HIC JACET, beneath this log,
The remains of a much-loved dog.
His mode of decease was known to few;
A secret enemy had the darling Lu.
This gave considerable consolation to the
children; and they still more relieved them-
selves by giving their spare moments to com-
posing a long poem to the memory of their
lost pet. Some of the verses were very sin-
gular, but they were all saved and copied
out in print, that little Fred could read them
at any time. It would be a hard task to re-
member them all, but these are a few of
them :
Louie was our darling pet;
Lulu bright, Lulu gay,
Dancing gayly by our side
All the live-long day.
There came a great many verses describ-
ing his "flowing curls" and "beautiful brown
eyes," and telling of the interesting and
wise things he could do. These conclude
with,
O, many things could Louie do,
Both strange and funny, and marvellous too;
Long, long stories of him we could tell,
If they would only restore him safe and well.
148
SALT-WATER DICK.
'Tis just one week since Lu went to sleep
In the Nereids' home, in the blue sea deep;
But seems like two, for we never knew
We should miss a pet as we do Lu.
These verses, with a few locks of the dog's
white hair tied up with blue ribbon, were
carefully hoarded away, and kept as sacred
treasures for a long time.
LAND, HO!
149
LAND, HO!.
CHAPTER IX.
FALKLAND ISLANDS.
EARLY
NAVIGATORS. — SALT-WATER DICK'S STO-
RIES.
NE night, between eleven and twelve
ON
o'clock, the children were called on
deck to see the islands of Diego Ramirez,
which lie almost thirty miles southwardly
from Cape Horn, and are the southernmost
land belonging to the South American conti-
nent.
The young people were of course sound
asleep in their snug little bunks, at that time
of night, but as they had not seen land
since leaving San Lorenzo, Captain Put-
nam thought they would be glad to see the
islands they were then passing.
father?" said little
•
"Where are they, father?
150
SALT-WATER DICK.
Fred, trying to get his eyes open far
enough to see plainly.
"They are not very distinct, Fred; for
this thick, misty scud driving across the sky
makes the night so dark, that you will have
to look sharp in order to make them out.
Over there on the larboard beam, about five
miles distant you can distinguish the islands.
They are a group of high, barren rocks,
with heavy surf breaking upon them. The
moon being shut out by the clouds, gives
an unnatural gloom to the midnight, and
makes it so dark that you will need your
eyes quite clear from sleepiness in order to
discern them."
even
"O, I can see them, father!" exclaimed
Katie; "I can see them very well. It is
delightful to see land once more,
such land as this! Love the ocean as much
as we can, we are always glad when we
can see land. Sailors always feel so-
don't they, father?"
"Yes, my dear, I believe so. When we
can approach land with safety, it is always
FALKLAND ISLANDS.
151
pleasant; but during a storm, the great
ocean and plenty of sea-room are often
more desirable. Do you see how we dash
through the water? We must be making
fourteen or fifteen knots now. We shall
have a wonderful run if the winds hold fair
twenty-four hours longer."
The next land which claimed their atten-
tion was the Falkland Islands, the first land
they made on their outward voyage. They
passed nearer to them this time, and found
they consisted of two large islands and many
smaller ones, some of which were mere
rocks, and situated for the most part be-
tween the fifty-first and fifty-second degrees
of south latitude, and nearly opposite the
southern extremity of Patagonia, which is
the nearest land. The islands lie right in
the track of all vessels passing around Cape
Horn, and are found very convenient for
those which are crippled by the furious
winds and storms of the southern seas, or
those in need of supplies. Mr. Dick and
the children were on deck examining the
152
SALT-WATER DICK.
islands through a marine glass. These
are desolate and gloomy seas,” he said, “but
how much more dreary they must have
been to the early navigators!
"5
"Who were the early navigators of these
waters, Mr. Dick?" asked Katie.
"Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese, in
the service of the Emperor Charles V., was
probably the original discoverer of the south-
ern coast of Patagonia and the northern
coast of Terra del Fuego, in 1520. This
navigator was the first to attempt to circum-
navigate the world, and probably would
have done so had he
Ladrones in 1521.
not been killed at the
Then there was one
Groaca de Loaisa, a knight of Malta, in the
service of Spain, who, in 1527, passed
through the strait which Magellan discov-
ered and named for himself; but the knight
lost his squadron of seven ships, and he
and all his men perished. Sebastian Cabot,
Amerigo Vespucci, and Simon de Alcazara
also made unsuccessful attempts to pursue
the same route. Cabot was, however, suc-
FALKLAND ISLANDS.
153
cessful in exploring the Rio de la Plata.
The Spaniards became disheartened at so
many failures, and gave up all attempts at
discovery for many years."
Ce
Why, Mr. Dick, how did you find out
all that?"
History,
"Books told me, to be sure.
which I studied at school, and voyages and
travels which I have read since, acquaint
me with these matters. Sailors, of all per-
sons, ought to read such books, and know
the histories and discoveries of voyagers
and travellers who have preceded them."
"I don't see how you get much time to
read and study now; you have to stand
watch so at night, that you must make it
up days, and then your wide-awake time
must be on deck," said Katie.
"Where there's a will there's a way!"
said Salt-water Dick. "Odd moments
loose time little snatches here and there,
if one would but improve them, would
store the mind with a vast deal in the
course of a year. It is a good habit so to
improve your chances."
154
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Yes, I know it must be," said Katie.
"But won't you tell us something more
about the early sailors of these seas?".
୧୧
"Lately," said Salt-water Dick, "I have
been reading about Sir Francis Drake. He
was the great English circumnavigator. In
1578 he passed the Strait of Magellan, and
was driven by storms beyond fifty-seven
degrees of south latitude, where he saw the
extremity of the American coast, which is
Cape Horn. It is supposed that Jacob Le
Maire, a Dutchman in the service of the
States of Holland, was the first who doubled
the southernmost point of South America.
That was in 1616, and he gave it the name
of Cape Hoorn, from a village in Holland.
He gave his own name, Le Maire, to the
strait between Terra del Fuego and Staten
Land."
"The Falkland Islands," said Mr. Dick,
"are supposed to have been first seen by
Davies, an Englishman and a companion of
Cavendish, in his voyage to the South Seas
in 1592. Two years afterwards they were.
EARLY NAVIGATORS.
155
visited by Sir Richard Hawkins, and by
him called, in honor of his queen and him-
self, Hawkins's Maiden-land. Then, four
years after that, a Dutch squadron found
them out, and gave them the name of Le-
bald's Islands. Again, in 1683, they re-
ceived a new name, this time being called
Sibbet de Wards. Six years after that, an
English navigator called them Falkland
Islands, and that name has generally been
adopted by geographers and men of sci-
ence."
୧୯
“Well, I should think that they had re-
ceived names enough," said Fred. But
look, Mr. Dick, and see how fast we are
coming up with that large ship. She is
about the size of the Dashaway is she
not?"
CC
Yes, just about. Let's see. I believe I
can make out her bergee, which they have
hoisted to have us report her. The name
is Antelope,' and I remember they were
building her at Remick's when I came
away. Captain Hill was building her for
156
SALT-WATER DICK.
his son Fred, who will probably command
her when he gets a few more years over
his head. A splendid craft
The wind is fair for us, but not
isn't she?
for her, as
She looks
she is bound around Cape Horn.
rather uncomfortable, steadily heaving up
and down on the waves. We must present
a fine appearance to her, rushing along
through the water, with this splendid
breeze!"
The Dashaway had not encountered a
single severe storm since leaving Callao,
and the voyage seemed like a delightful
pleasure-trip, with fair skies and favorable
winds. She had had a remarkably short
run, but her pumps having become choked
with guano, which is often liable to affect
them, it was deemed necessary to run into
Rio for a few days, and have the matter
set right.
This was an unexpected and delightful
treat to the children, and they looked for-
ward to it with bright anticipations.
We will learn all we can about Brazil
THE BRAZILIAN EMPIRE.
157
before we arrive- won't we, Fred? We
shall enjoy seeing the country a great deal
better when we know something of it,"
said Katie, a few days before going into
port.
"Yes, indeed, we shall," said little Fred,
whose intelligent mind, encouraged and
stimulated by his sister, who was several
years older, was already able to understand
subjects which children of his years were
not accustomed even to hear mentioned.
"Father, and mother, and Salt-water Dick
can tell us, and then you can read and find
out for yourself, and tell me, so that I can
understand."
So the children obtained all the informa-
tion they could, and together talked it over
on deck, where they used to promenade
hand in hand, for an hour or two, every
pleasant evening.
"It is a great country," said Katie, "the
Brazilian Empire, of which the city of Rio
de Janeiro is the capital. It is about three
thousand miles wide, and as many long."
158
SALT-WATER DICK.
୧୧
"O, it is very large," said Fred; "but
who do you suppose first found it out?"
"Why, it was discovered by accident-
in the year 1500 I believe it was - by a
Portuguese admiral named- O, what was
his name? I know now; it was Pedro Al-
varez Cabral, who was on his way to India
by way of the Cape of Good Hope, with a
large squadron of thirteen ships and twelve
hundred men. But just how it was that
he got out this way I cannot remember.
Let's ask Salt-water Dick; he's standing
over the other side all alone this evening,
and I am sure that he can tell us. He
reads and studies all his spare time, Fred,
and he knows ever so much now."
"O, he's real splendid -isn't he, Katie?
I should think his mother and sisters would
be ever so proud of him. He's real good
and smart, and I think everything of him
- don't you, Katie?"
"Yes, I'm sure I do.
too. He does not think
He's so obliging,
that we are both-
ering children, as Mr. Bowzer, the mate,
SALT-WATER DICK'S STORIES. 159
does; but he does anything for us that he
can, just as soon as we ask him. It is his
watch on deck now, but everything is so
calm that he is not particularly busy; so
we'll go over there, Fred, and talk with
him."
Salt-water Dick was able and ready to
give the desired information.
"This was
the way," said he, "that Admiral Cabral
chanced to discover Brazil. You know
that he was on his way to India by the
Cape of Good Hope, and in order to avoid
the tedious calms and baffling winds which
had so much retarded the progress of all
his predecessors in running down the west-
ern coast of Africa, he made a more circu-
itous route, and crossed the equator several
degrees farther west than any other navi-
gator had done before him. So, then, the
consequence was, that a brisk south-east
trade-wind carried him directly to the coast
of South America, in latitude about sixteen
south, where he found a convenient bay,
in which he could anchor his squadron in
160
SALT-WATER DICK.
safety. To this inlet, which is about five
hundred miles north of Rio Janeiro, he
gave the name of Porto Seguro. The
admiral naturally concluded that what he
had just discovered was a more southern
part of the same continent which Columbus
had shortly before made known; so he
took possession of it in the name of his
sovereign, and called it Santa Cruz, or the
Holy Cross."
"Did anybody live there then?” asked
little Fred.
"O, yes; the country was inhabited by
Indians, who were much alarmed by this
visit of the Portuguese, and fled to their hills
and woods. Two of them, however, were
caught, and to these the admiral presented
brass rings, bells, mirrors, and other trin-
kets, and then set them at liberty. The
sight of the toys soon restored the confi-
dence of the others, and they put themselves
on good terms with the strangers. The
country was found to be extensive, fertile,
and finely wooded, and the admiral imme-
་
SALT-WATER DICK'S STORIES. 161
diately sent one of his vessels home to Por-
tugal to communicate the news of his discov-
ery, while, with the rest, he went on to India."
"Well," said little Fred, "did they ever
come back to live there?
99
"The King of Portugal, Don Emanuel,
at once sent out people to establish colonies
in several places along the coast, for the
purpose, as he said, of converting the
natives to the Christian faith. But the set-
tlements did not thrive well, and were
finally broken up. Still, the king would
not give up a country so full of mineral
and other treasure; so he found a new plan
for colonization. He made Brazil a country
to which should be banished all who were
obnoxious to the Holy Inquisition, all con-
victed felons under sentence of death, and
all Jews, and those who were suspected of
sorcery, witchcraft, and heresy. The Jews
were very glad to be sent there, and it
was to them a welcome sanctuary from the
injustice and tyranny they had experienced
at home."
II
162
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Did they do well, and were they kind
to the Indians?" asked Katie.
He
"Yes, they were kind to the natives, and
so industrious themselves in making excel-
lent sugar and several other valuable arti-
cles, that their fame led the mother country
to take them under her own protection
again. So, after they had been there about
forty years, a man named Thomas de Lou-
sa was sent out from Portugal to superin-
tend the colony as governor-general.
was very obnoxious to the Indians, as he
tried to reduce them at once to slavery and
to the Roman Catholic faith. The free,
independent spirit of the Indians would not
endure such treatment; so they commenced
to make war upon the colonies, and would
have driven them from their country had it
not been for the interference of some Jesuit
missionaries who had acquired great influ-
ence over certain of the Indians. So the na-
tives gave up the idea of driving the Portu-
guese away, but they declared to them that
they would not be made their slaves."
SALT-WATER DICK'S STORIES.
163
"I am glad that the Indians were SO
spunky," said Katie. "But how did slaves
get into Brazil? I believe they have had
them for a long time."
୧୧
Why, when the new governor-general
and his colonies came from Portugal, they
were much too fine to work and cultivate
the ground; so, as they could not make the
'Indians work for them, after trying to re-
duce them to slavery, they turned their eyes.
towards Africa, and at once commenced the
horrible traffic in human flesh, which they
carried on successfully for more than three
hundred years!"
"O, how dreadful!" said both the chil-
dren. "How could they prosper so well,
and make such a lovely country, full of
everything beautiful?"
'It is one of the problems of life,” an-
swered Salt-water Dick, "why the wicked
are permitted to prosper, and the good often
to suffer. The reasons, evidently, are not
for us to know here; but hereafter, what
we now see through a glass darkly' will,
I believe, be made clear."
164
SALT-WATER DICK.
"But about Rio, Mr. Dick; did any of
those wicked people find out that beautiful
place?"
"It was about fifteen years after the first
landing of Admiral Cabral in Brazil, that
a beautiful bay and harbor, which had
hitherto remained concealed from every eye
but those of the natives, was discovered by
one Solis, on the first day of January, the
feast of St. Januarius, in whose honor he
conferred the name.
CC
The bay was at that time called by the
natives Nithero-hy,' or 'Hidden Water,'
from its retired situation. In course of time.
a thriving colony surrounded the harbor, on
the banks of which a city was founded,
which grew rapidly in wealth and splen-
dor. The discovery of rich gold and dia-
mond mines within three hundred miles of
Rio Janeiro, caused the viceroy to remove
there, and make the city the capital of the
empire. There is no better location for a
city in any part of the world, and its harbor
is the best on the whole surface of the globe.
SALT-WATER DICK'S STORIES.
165
Regular trade-winds send vessels at once
into the port, and morning land breezes
send them out again. No pilot is needed
in entering, and facilities for watering, pro-
visioning, and providing for the various
needs of vessels, are excellent."
"Thank you, Mr. Dick, for telling us
all this," said Katie. "I've been finding
out a good many other things, too; but now
it is getting late, and we must go down.
Good night.".
•
"Good night."
166
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER X.
THE HARBOR OF RIO.
THE SUGAR LOAF.
SANTA CRUZ AND
THE BEAUTIFUL GAR-
DEN. -JOE TRICKEY TELLS HIS STORY.
ARLY one morning, a few days after
EA
the conversation in the last chapter,
the children, with their mother, were on
deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the
harbor of Rio Janeiro, which they were just
entering.
From the offing it presented the appear-
ance of a gap or chasm in the high ridge of
mountains which skirt this part of the coast;
but, when once within its granite barriers, a
beautiful and capacious basin is found im-
bosomed among elevated mountains, whose
pointed heights are reflected in the quiet
waters below.
"No wonder the natives used to call this
THE HARBOR OF RIO.
167
*
Nithero-hy,' Hidden Water,' for it is so
shut in from the ocean that I am not sur-
prised that it so long was passed by the early
voyagers,” said Katie.
"That's the fort of Santa Cruz, on the
east," said Mrs. Putnam.
"It looks very
familiar to me, for I have been here several
times, you know. On the opposite side are
other forts, which quite protect the harbor
from invaders. That high, conical hill,
which so much resembles the 'Leaning Tow-
er' of Pisa, is called the 'Sugar-loaf;' and
I'm sure it is shaped very much like one.”
"Wouldn't it be nice if it were really a
sugar-loaf!" said Fred. "It would be big
enough to load several ships with — wouldn't
it? "
"Yes, indeed, I think it would," answered
his mother. "It is nearly seven hundred
feet high, and if it were white, instead of
granite, it would certainly very much re-
semble a great pyramid of sugar.”
९९
How proudly the Brazilian banner floats
over the frowning batteries of Santa Cruz
168
SALT-WATER DICK.
castle!" said Captain Putnam, as he passed
his family group, while pacing the deck.
"Yes; isn't it beautiful, father?" said
Katie. "It must be a very strong fort, based
on a solid rock of granite thirty feet in height.
Why, what a perfect oval the basin is
thirty miles long, and fifteen miles wide!"
said Katie, who had read and learned so
much about the harbor that she experienced
much more pleasure in seeing it than she
would if she had known nothing of it.
"Yes," answered her mother; "and how
perfectly it is encircled by mountains, which
rise one above another, until they are lost
amid the white and fleecy clouds which play
around their summits! All the hills and
eminences, too, in the immediate vicinity,
are crowned, you observe, with a church,
convent, picturesque ruin, fort, or castellated
parapet. See, too, how beautifully the shores
of this emerald-gemmed' basin, as it has
been called, are indented with inlets, which
are the mouths of those rivulets which dash
down the mountain sides, and hasten to
SNAKE ISLAND.
169
mingle with the peaceful waters of the bay.
How very lovely it all is!"
There," said Captain Putnam, walking
near, "is Ilha dos Cobras, or Snake Island,
which is, after all the strong defences at the
entrance of the harbor, the principal de-
fence of the place. The island is a solid
rock, nine hundred feet in length, three hun-
dred in breadth, and, at the point where the
citadel stands, eighteen feet in height. Ves-
sels of the largest burden may lie in perfect.
security close alongside of this strongly-
fortified rock, and find the conveniences of
dock-yards, wharves, magazines, arsenals,
naval stores, and many facilities for heaving
down and careening vessels."
In a few minutes more the Dashaway
dropped her anchor, and health officers, cus-
tom-house men, and guests flocked aboard
from various boats, which had pulled out to
meet the handsome clipper.
In landing at Rio, one of the first things
which attracted the attention was a beautiful
quay, built of solid blocks of chiselled granite,
170
SALT-WATER DICK.
and forming an elegant façade in front of
the city. Going up the central flight of
stairs, which is the principal landing-place,
the young travellers found themselves in the
great square of Rio, one entire side of which
was the stone quay which they had just ad-
mired.
"O, Katie," said Fred, "what a hand-
some city this is! Just see that beautiful
fountain right in front of the square!”
Ce
Yes, it is very beautiful indeed," said
Katie; "and you see that it is built, like the
pier, of hewn granite. How crystal-clear
are the streams of water which come out of
its four sides! What a blessing this foun-
tain must be to this part of the city, and es-
pecially to the shipping in the harbor!"
"Fred, see what a fine paving we have
here under our feet," said Captain Putnam.
"This whole square is paved with a smooth,
solid surface of granite!
"
"But how shiny it is, father! I can hardly
look at it, because it dazzles my eyes so.
What makes it?”
THE IMPERIAL PALACE.
171
"Because it is thickly sprinkled over with
quartzose sand, which, together with the
glistening mica, so abundant in the Rio
granite, and the fervid rays of the sun, make
the trying glare upon the eyes which is al-
ready so unpleasant to you.”
"Father, what is that fine large building
which is situated on the opposite side of the
square, and directly in view of the harbor
and shipping?” asked Katie.
ce
That, my dear, is the palace, or imperial
residence, and it occupies, as you see, one
entire side of the square. It is certainly de-
lightfully situated, with the capacious square
in front of it, and an unbroken view of the
anchorage. The buildings on the other two
sides are for offices, warehouses, and stores;
and, taken all together, I think the square
presents a fine appearance."
"I see that the houses are nearly all built
of stone, two story, with little wooden balco-
nies in front of the upper windows," said
Katie.
"There are some ladies arranging bouquets
172
SALT-WATER DICK.
from the plants up in that balcony on the
corner," said Fred.
"How many windows there are without
any glass in them!" said Katie. "I think
latticed windows' sounds very pretty in sto-
ries and poetry, but I don't think they are
so pleasant to really have. Why, some of
them are barred across with iron, just like
prisons."
୧୧
"No, I shouldn't like them at all," said
Fred; and, besides the looks, they are all
the time letting mosquitos in. If there are
half as many inside as there are out here, I
don't see how people can sleep, or have any
peace. See how they have bitten me since
I've been ashore!"
୧୧
Why, you poor child," said Katie, “I
didn't know that you were having so hard a
time; you've borne it well, I'm sure. They
don't trouble me so; it must be that you are
very sweet. I suppose people who live here
get used to them, for they never end, as they
do with us. Our frosts kill them, you know,
immediately; but here in the tropics no frosts
A RAMBLE ABOUT RIO.
173
come; so new generations of them are con-
stantly springing up, and so they last from
one year's end to another."
"See what pretty things they have in the
store windows!" said Fred, looking in as he
went along. "O, here are some lovely Chi-
nese goods — sandal-wood, carved ivory toys
and fans, and beautiful polished boxes and
tables!"
"Yes; and they keep wonderful silk em-
broideries, satins, and silks, and teas. I
could buy some splendid things, if I had as
much money as I could spend," said Katie.
In the four or five days that the Dashaway
remained in the harbor, the young people,
accompanied by one or both parents, or by
some other reliable person, had taken a com-
plete tour of Rio, and visited the imperial
chapel, cathedral, many of the churches,
convents, and nunneries.
Their young
minds were filled with many beautiful
scenes, and interesting and instructive mat-
ter, which lasted them for a long time.
One fine day they drove a few miles out
174
SALT-WATER DICK.
of the city to visit the beautiful botanical
gardens. Entering through the broad gate-
way, they found themselves at the beginning
of a wide, long avenue, bordered on both
sides by tall and stately trees.
"What noble, beautiful trees these are!"
exclaimed Katie. "I'm sure I've never seen
any like them before; what are they, father?"
୧୧
Those are the tall palm trees of the east-
ern countries, my dear; but in this genial
climate you see them thriving almost as well
as on their own native soil."
CC
I've read of them very often," said Katie;
"but I never expected to be walking under
them. How wonderfully straight and up-
right they are! and their beautifully crowned
tops reach almost into the clouds. No won-
der that in the Bible we read that the right-
eous man is like the upright palm tree, and
that he shall flourish as this tree does. Why,
I think I never saw a tree which made me
feel happier to look upon than this palm, un-
less, perhaps, it was the graceful, drooping
elm, which we have so abundantly in our
own dear New England."
THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
175
୧୧
'O, come here! Do come quick!" called
out little Fred, who had wandered away by
himself; "see what lovely flowers!"
He had turned into a broad avenue, bor-
dered by hedges of cactus six feet high, in
full pink and red blossoms. "It is a glori-
ous sight!" said all the party. "Just think
how tenderly we rear even one little dwarf
of a cactus in our houses at home, and when
it blooms we think we have a wonderful
treasure. How surprised and delighted some
of our friends would be to see a sight like
this!"
"There must be thousands of flowers on
that hedge,” said Fred; "perhaps there are
a million!"
'I've found a camphor tree," called out
one of the party. Everybody rushed to see
it. "I must have some of those long, smooth,
glossy leaves to press for my herbarium," said
Katie. "I'm going to get leaves and flow-
ers of everything rare to preserve for my
friends at home. Why, just rub these cam-
phor leaves in your hand! Don't they
176
SALT-WATER DICK.
remind
you of
of grandmother? How pungent
and invigorating even the leaves are!"
Nearly all day was spent in roaming about
that garden of rare trees and plants, and all
were happy in their discoveries, finding tea-
plants in full bloom, coffee and-cotton, cin-
namon and cloves, the guava, pine-apple,
fruit of the passion-flower, tamarind, pepper,
guinea-corn, rice, brinjals, yams, sweet po-
tatoes, custard-apple, and several varieties.
of the Brazilian orange, which were full of
beauty and redolent of fragrance. Then
there were myriads of lilies, roses, dahlias,
poppies, asters, and strange and curious.
plants quite unknown to those who were ad-
miring them. There were rustic seats and
arbors where they could rest when tired, and
beautiful fountains constantly cooling the air
with sparkling jets of pure water. Birds of
brilliant plumage flitted through the trees,
and bright-winged butterflies played among
the flowers, and the whole place seemed like
some enchanted fairy-land.
While the ship was in port, Captain Put-
文
​VIEW OF THE GRAND SQUARE. 177
nam's family remained on shore, boarding at
a hotel in the grand square. From the bal-
conies under their windows they could see
all the interesting scenes which daily took
place in the square below. Half naked
slave men and women, and entirely nude
little children, were constantly crossing and
recrossing, with great burdens upon their
heads, sometimes as much as they could
walk under. There were venders of vege-
tables, rusk-sellers, orange-boys, pastry-car-
riers, and persons with every imaginable
kind of merchandise, carried in baskets upon
the head. All these odd-looking people, of
every shade from white to ebony, shouted, in
shrill, discordant cries, the wares they had to
dispose of. The naked little children made
a great deal of fun for the young Americans.
They seemed like so many little frog-colored
imps, and their voices were quite as croak-
ing and chirping as frogs and crickets.
There were religious processions and cele-
brations in the square, and there were trained
monkeys and dogs, troops of donkeys and
บ.
I2
178
SALT-WATER DICK.
drivers, and plenty of objects to interest the
strangers every minute.
The day before the ship sailed, while Cap-
tain Putnam was on board attending to some
business, Joe Trickey came up on deck look-
ing very pale, and trembling a good deal,
and stood before him.
"What do you want, Joe?" asked the
captain.
"I wanted to tell you something, sir."
"Well, tell it."
<<
I'se afeard to; s'pose you can't guess
what it is."
**
I don't wish to guess. If you have any-
thing of importance to say to me, you may
say it."
"Yes, sir; it's somethin' of importance."
Speak out with it, then!"
୧୧
"Well, sir, you see that I was— O, cap-
tain, I can't tell ye."
"Very well; go about your business.
then."
"O, but I must tell ye. It's been a wearin'
on my mind so that I ain't got half my sleep
JOE TRICKEY TELLS HIS STORY. 179
sence it happened. O, captain, it's hard
work to tell."
"I've something else to attend to, Joe, and
I cannot give any more time to you, as it
seems you have not made up your mind to
say anything."
"O, yes, I have, sir; I have made up my
mind; I'se been a makin' it up this long
time. It was that I was goin' to tell — I
mean, that I was agoin' for to tell ye-to
say to ye, sir, that that time it was me that
did the whole of it:"
*The whole of it! What do you mean?
Speak out, and don't stand there looking like
a whipped dog!"
"There! O, dear me! you know all about
it! O, did you see me, after all?"
"No more of this. I will not stand such
nonsense," said the captain, rising to go
away.
"O, dear, captain, just listen a minute
more. It was me that drowned Miss Katie's
little dog! I'll tell ye how it was, and all
about it, now that I've commenced, and got
180
SALT-WATER DICK.
the load off my mind; and captain, sir, if
you want to, you may put me on bread and
water for a month, or do anything else you
please to me, so bein' that I'll never do it
again—no, never, if I live to be a hundred
years old; for to keep imagining how it was
that he'd a looked if the night hadn't a been
dark, and I could have seen his eyes, that I
know was full of tears, to think I'd be so
cruel as to go and do a deed like that; but,
O, captain-
""
"Take breath, Joe; take breath. So you
threw the dog overboard- did you?"
"Yes, sir, I did; and as I was a tellin' ye,
I ain't had no kind of rest to speak of since
I went and done it. You see, I never cared
much for dogs, no how; and this little cretur,
he wan't no kind of good, as fur as my
knowledge of dogs go; and he was allus a
pokin' his nose into everything, and a snap-
pin' at my bare toes, as I ginerally wore 'em
bare in hot weather; and 'twan't anything
premeditated, but just got up on the spur of
the moment; so 'tain't so bad as if I'd a
JOE TRICKEY TELLS HIS STORY.
181
thought and planned it all out is it, cap-
tain? I come on deck that night with the
binnacle lights, and that ar little cretur come
a friskin' round, and a jumpin' up on me, and
a botherin' me so, for my hands ain't the
stidiest any time, and I thought I'd amost
drop the lights, for dogs allus did make me
kind of trembly; and then he spied my bare
toes, and at 'em he goes, 'till I thought I
should fly. So, when I sot the lights in
their places, I jest grabbed that leetle cretur,
I did, and then I jest give him only jest one
toss over the side, kind of shaking him hard,
you know, captain, an', my jings, if he wan't
gone quicker than nothin'. I tell ye that's
the time I was scared, and it is a wonder
and a blessin', as my dear grandmarm that
brought me up by hand says, that my hair
wasn't turned white in one night. I couldn't
tell ye afore, captain, no, no how; so I jest
burrid it in my own buzzum, and kept a med-
itating on it till I'm completely upsot. I'm
ready to take anything you'll give me; and
that, with what I've suffered all these weeks,
г
182
SALT-WATER DICK.
what with lying, and worrying, and trem-'
bling, and having neuraligee, and one thing
an' another, there ain't much left of it. I
wanted to tell ye, captain, and ax your par-
don, if ye see fit to give it, and the young
lady's pardon, too; and I promise ye, that
as long as I live, I'll never do sich another
thing again. There, I promise that!
"See that you stick to it, Joe; and while
you are making good resolutions, make one
to give up telling lies, and drinking whiskey,
and then you'll be on the fair way to re-
form."
"Ain't you got nothin' to say to me, cap-
tain, 'cause I killed that dog?"
CC
Well, Joe, if you've told the truth this
time, you've suffered enough already; and, as
I believe more in punishments of conscience
than in any other kind, I shall have nothing
more to say to you; you may go."
"O, captain, this is too much!"
ce
There, there, Joe; that'll do, that'll do.
Now go attend to your work."
When the young people heard of this, they
JOE TRICKEY TELLS HIS STORY. 183
were very much astonished at Joe's duplicity,
and at his cruelty. in drowning Louie; but,
as the poor fellow had evidently suffered
much, they forgave him, and said no more
about it.
184
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER XI.
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
SAFE ARRIVAL AT
HOME.
DEPARTURE OF THE SAILORS.
F
ROM Rio the Dashaway was bound
across the Atlantic to Valencia, Spain;
so, as soon as her pumps were in order,
she sailed away on her pleasant voyage.
Although her crew had shipped at Callao
for the voyage, yet some of them deserted
in Rio, and two or three were discharged,
one of whom was Mr. Bowzer, the mate,
who had proved himself unworthy and
unreliable on account of a sad fondness
which he had for intoxicating liquors. Of
course a fine ship could not be trusted in
the hands of such a man; so he was sent
away as soon as the ship reached Rio.
Another promotion awaited Salt-water
Dick, who had proved himself so reliable
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
185
and trustworthy in his first. This time he
was made first officer, and having an excel-
lent knowledge of navigation, commenced
at home in school, and carried on during
the long voyage, together with good prac-
tice in seamanship, Captain Putnam con-
sidered him quite as well fitted for his new
position as he had been for the old one at
the time of taking it. The young man had
constantly tried to improve himself in every
way, and his efforts being observed by
Captain Putnam and his family, they had
willingly lent him a helping hand, and had
assisted him to rise so far in the profession
which he had chosen. It is indeed a true
saying that "God helps those who help
themselves," for while this young sailor-
boy was working hard to help himself,
God was raising up friends to assist him
in his endeavors.
It was a short and pleasant trip across to
Spain, and the experience and adventures
of the young people there very interesting.
The whole story has been faithfully related
186
SALT-WATER DICK.
in "THE LITTLE SPANIARD, OR OLD JOSE'S
GRANDSON."
From Valencia the Dashaway went
around to Cadiz, a beautiful Spanish city,
where the young Americans saw many
pretty things, and enjoyed every day.
Then came a flying trip homeward, and
with good earnest everybody sang,
"We're homeward bound,
We're homeward bound!"
On arriving at New York the compagnons
de voyage separated, the poor sailors to
drift into sailor boarding-houses until all
their money is gone, and then to ship again
and earn more, to be squandered in the
same way, and Captain Putnam's family
-attended by Woolly Butts and Cholo
Jack, who had proved himself too useful
to be left behind-to take up their resi-
dence once more in their own beautiful
home in New England.
Salt-water Dick, rounded and height-
ened into a man's stature, his noble, hand-
THE SAILOR AT HOME.
187
some face all browned with exposure to the
sun and winds of different climates, went
back to that happy home of his childhood,
which he had left two years before to brave
the dangers of the deep. When the mother
clasped that beloved boy in her arms, and
sisters, crying tears of joy, clung about his
neck, the scene would have melted the
hardest heart.
There was a welcome word from all the
old friends and a hearty shake of the hand
for the young sailor wherever he went about
the old home. A few weeks passed away
pleasantly, and then he was off again upon
the blue ocean, with a kind wish and a
"God bless you!" from every one who
knew him.
Captain Putnam had promised him the
same situation in his ship which he held
on the last voyage, and as it was an excel-
lent position the young man was very glad
to get it.
Mrs. Putnam, Katie, Fred, Woolly Butts,
and Cholo remained at home this voyage.
188
SALT-WATER DICK.
The children had their schools to attend,
and Cholo, being a faithful, good-natured,
and competent fellow, was employed as
man of all work about the house and gar-
den.
"We must have Salt-water Dick to come
and see us, father, before you sail," said
little Fred. "Can't you spare him a few
days?
CC
""
Yes, my son, I think so; and I have
no doubt that your friend Mr. Harvey will
be very glad to pay us a short visit. You
seem to have taken a great fancy to him ;
and really I think you have made a very
wise choice, for I consider him one of the
best and smartest young fellows I've seen
this long time. Boys of his stamp are not
so common in these days as they were when
I was young. In those times boys were
all brought up to look out for themselves
and "paddle their own canoe;" but now-
adays the fashion has changed; the young
Americans are the spenders, and the mid-
dle-aged and old must make the money
CAPTAIN PUTNAM'S ADVICE.
CAPTA
189
and furnish the means. I don't know what
the world will come to, if it keeps on much
longer at this pace."
"I'm not going to be a lazy, spendthrift
young American, father," said little Fred.
"I am going to try to be like Salt-water
Dick."
It
"Well, my dear, if you do as well as your
young friend I shall be very happy.
is the character that must be built up first.
All worldly success is trifling when com-
pared with that. Your better nature, if
you early learn to know its voice, will tell
you what things are pure, honest, and
noble. These, with the rules of life laid
down in the great Book of Books, will ever
be your infallible guides. Look to your
chart well, and shoals, quicksands, and
sunken rocks will be so clear to you that
you can avoid them all. Tempests and
dangers of many kinds must befall you,
but with your life prerervers about you you
can weather them all. It will be a nice
piece of work, my dear boy, to steer your
190
SALT-WATER DICK.
own craft straight all the time; but although
you must look out for your own interests,
do not let a single opportunity slip to lend
a helping hand to a comrade who has got
his helm the wrong way.
Set all your
sail, if need be, to draw off a fellow craft
from a quicksand or sunken rock, and ten
to one, if you do your duty well, he will
be set right again. In short, the whole
duty of life can be found in the new com-
mandment of Jesus - Love the Lord your
God with your whole mind and strength,
and treat your fellow-beings as you would
be treated yourself."
୧୫
"Thank you, dear father, for these good
words," said Katie, who had been stand-
ing near. We'll always remember them;
and Fred will help me, and I will help
him, to keep them."
In a few days more Captain Putnam
went to New York to take charge of his
ship, and Salt-water Dick went to visit the
Putnams. Happy, happy were the days
of that visit! There was the morning ride
DICK, KATIE, AND FRED.
191
in the little carriage drawn by the beautiful
Spanish pony Black Beauty; there were
picnic parties to Robin Rock, Lewy's Cove,
Little Boar's Head, and Elwyn's Woods;
there were boating and fishing excursions
to Bobden's Lake, Dancier's Island, and
Brower Creek, and every moment was
crowded with happiness.
The evening before Dick's departure he
sat with Katie and Fred upon the broad,
pleasant piazza overlooking the bay. It
was at the close of a lovely Indian summer
day, and the purple haze was still hanging
over the hills. The short twilight had
almost faded, and brown and scarlet leaves.
were fluttering to the ground as the light
evening breeze stirred them.
"What a charming evening this is!"
said Katie. "I do love this beautiful earth!
These leaves fåding so gloriously, the de-
lightful fragrance of ripened fruits and dry-.
ing cornstalks; the sound of falling chest-
nuts over in our grove there, and the rustle
of the dead leaves as they flutter to the
ground."
192
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Yes, it is very beautiful," said Dick.
"I shall carry the memory of this evening
with me on my long voyage, and I think
it will be a bright picture to bring up many
a stormy night when I am keeping a lonely
watch on deck."
"You are feeling a little sad, Mr. Dick,
I'm afraid, and I'm sure I don't blame
you," said Katie. "Nobody could sail
away on a long voyage, such as you are
just commencing, without serious thoughts.
Who can tell what may happen before you,
see us again?"
୧୧
"O, Katie, don't talk so," said Fred.
"You'll make Mr. Dick gloomy. For my
part I know of nothing so delightful as a
noble great ship. Give me a
'Wet sheet and a rolling sea,
And a wind that follows fast,
That fills the white and flowing sail,
And bends the noble mast.'
It's better than autumn woods and old dried
cornstalks."
"O, Fred, I fear going to sea has spoiled
A SAILOR'S LIFE.
193
away two years ago.
you. You're a regular little jack tar. You're
not the same little cunning boy that we took
years ago. Then you were a
curly-headed, sweet child of five years old,
and now you are a closely-shaven, romping,
wide-awake fellow of seven.
There's a
great difference! Sometimes I think I like
little Fred best."
"No, no, Katie; you know you love me
a great deal better every year I live. You
don't despise sailors, now, truly, do you?
O, a sailor's life for me,
'A home on the rolling deep,
A life on the boundless sea,
Where the waters never sleep:
A sailor's life for me!
Some dwell upon the land,
And say they love its hills,
Its grassy vales, its woods and dales,
And its gently murmuring rills.
'But give me the ocean's roar,
The restless, rolling sea;
I love not the listless shore:
A sailor's life for me!
My foot on a firm-set plank,
Then let the wild wind shout-
I love to sweep o'er the foaming deep,
When the tempest-king is out!'"
13
194
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Why, Fred Putnam, where did you
learn that salt, salt song? I should think
you had just come out of a forecastle!"
"Well, so I have, and there is where I
learned it. Joe Bunker and Charlie Given
used to be singing it all the time. I
thought you would like it, Katie. Seems
to me you've changed a good deal since
you came home. I suppose now that you
won't want me to be a sailor when I grow
up."
"No, dear, I'm sure I wouldn't. I cannot
bear to have any one I love exposed to such
a life. Then it is so hard to be separated
for months and years from our dear ones.
It is bad enough to have father go to sea;
but if you ever go, Fred, I don't know
what I should do. Mr. Dick, do not your
mother and sisters miss you dreadfully, and
long for you to get home, when you are
gone?"
"That's what they tell me," answered
the young man. "I know I long to see
them. It's a great comfort to get their let-
5
LETTER-WRITING.
195
ters, though. Good news from home, com-
ing way across the deep blue sea, takes
away half the pain of our separation."
"You'll write to us-won't you, Mr.
Dick?" asked Fred.
"Yes, with pleasure, if you'll send me
good long answers.”
"Katie must do that, for I can't make
anything but pot-hooks and m's now. But
I'm learning fast, and before you get home
I guess I can send you a long letter."
"Then you'll do the writing won't
you Miss Katie? It would make me very
happy to hear from you and Fred, for I've
been so long with you now that I feel-
that I cannot forget you or let you forget
me.”
"Perhaps my letters wouldn't be interest-
ing, and you would get tired of reading
them. Why, what should I write about?"
"Write about anything that interests you,
and you may be very sure that it will in-
terest me. Your school and Fred's; the
studies you are pursuing; give me, too, some
196
SALT-WATER DICK.
of your puzzles in arithmetic and geome-
try; some little conversations in French
and whatever other language you may be
studying; then tell me of your winter sports
and amusements in-doors, and of the boys
and girls whom you meet. In return I
will tell you of the countries I visit
manners and customs of the people, the
friends I make, and my life on the ocean
wave.""
the
"O, that will be delightful to hear, Mr.
Dick, and for it I think I can make the
exertion to write."
"And is that the only reason why you
would wish to write to me, just to pay for
what you receive? Don't you care the
least little bit for the sailor-boy who has
been your shipmate for so many long
months?
୧୯
Why, yes, I suppose so; but then
39
"But what? If you know it will make
me very happy to receive letters from
you, will you not take pleasure in sending
some?"
PARTING OF DICK AND KATIE. 197
CC
Why, yes; I like to make all people
happy, when I can.
Father and mother
would be quite willing I should write to
you, too. So, then, it's a bargain.
promise.'
99
I
"But I'm not quite satisfied. I fear you
feel obliged to do it.
You think I will feel
I don't want you to
bad if you do not.
write to me So. If you don't care a bit
for me you need not write at all. Now, I
am going away on a long and lonely voy-
age, and
and besides my own dear ones at
home I shall have only my friends Katie
and Fred to miss and long to see again.
You, on the contrary, are constantly mak-
ing new friends, and soon poor Dick Har-
vey will be quite forgotten. It is sweet
to be remembered;' so I wish you would
try not quite to forget me.”
"O, dear Salt-water Dick," said Fred,
climbing up on his knee, "you musn't talk
So. We couldn't possibly forget you. We
both love you dearly — don't we, Katie?"
198
SALT-WATER DICK.
"Ahem!" coughed Katie. "Look over
there, Fred, and see that little boy on
horseback!”
"Yes, we see the boy," said Dick; "but
he came in the way of the question. It
was too hard a one to answer wasn't it?"
"Why, no, not very," said Katie, laugh-
ing. "Of course we like you ever so much.
We always did, Mr. Dick, and we haven't
the least idea of forgetting you now. I
don't see what makes you think so."
Why, I see that in the two or three
years which I shall be gone, a good many
changes must come. At the end of that
time you'll be a young lady of seventeen
or eighteen, and who knows what will
happen then?"
"O, Mr. Dick, I guess you mean that
perhaps Katie will be thinking about get-
ting married to somebody then,” said Fred.
"I shall be old enough to look after her,
and I promise you that I won't let any
beaux come here. She'll wait for you,
DICK'S DEPARTURE.
199
Dick, I know. I'd rather have you for a
brother than anybody else in the world.”
CC
""
Why, Fred, Fred, how you do talk!
exclaimed poor Katie, with her pretty young
face just as rosy and glowing as it could
be. "I'm ashamed of you. I don't know
what Mr. Dick will think. Let's talk about
something else. Aren't the leaves beauti-
ful this autumn?"
"Yes, indeed, very beautiful," said Dick,
looking upon the fair face of Katie. "Never
mind what Fred says. Do just as you
choose; but always remember that 'over
the seas' there's a true sailor-heart that
will always beat for you."
"Thank you," said Katie.
"I'll remem-
ber." But perhaps Mr. Dick did not hear,
for he had turned suddenly away, and was
walking across the piazza.
The next morning the young sailor took
his departure. There was an old book of
poems, which he had been
open upon the parlor table.
reading, left
A little slip
200
SALT-WATER DICK.
of paper lay against the last verse.
It was
Salt-water Dick's parting word. Katie read
it aloud to her mother and Fred.
"Farewell to all on life's rude main;
And though we ne'er may meet again,
Through stress of stormy weather,
Yet, summoned by the board above,
We'll harbor in the port of love,
And all be moored together."
THE GREAT GRIEF.
201
1
CHAPTER XII.
THE GREAT GRIEF.
Μ
M news of the Dashaway. People
ONTHS passed away, and there came
no news
began to shake their heads and look sad
when she was mentioned. There was a ter-
rible storm soon after she sailed, and it was
feared that she had encountered it, and per-
haps foundered. Great was the grief of the
Putnam family at this distressing affliction.
They could not give them up, but day after
day searched the papers, hoping to see some
account of the vessel's being spoken, or her
crew picked up, and carried into some port.
After months of anxious waiting, Fred
rushed in one night, waving a Boston Jour-
nal over his head, and exclaiming, "They
are safe! they are safe!"
"O, thank God! thank God!" cried Mrs.
202
SALT-WATER DICK.
Putnam, seizing the paper from her son's
hand.
"The ship's reported at last, mother," said
Fred. "The news ought to have got here
long ago! O, she's had a dreadful time!
Just read it, word for word, mother!
""
Mrs. Putnam turned to the marine column
and read the following: "Arrived at Mel-
bourne, 30th ult., clipper ship Dashaway,
Putnam, from New York. The following is
the captain's report of the voyage: -
"The Dashaway left New York on
Wednesday 18; had tolerably fine
weather until Saturday, the 21st, when she
encountered a severe hurricane from south-
south-west, with a fearful sea running, the
ship laboring heavily; was boarded by a sea
which stove in the sail-room, and flooded the
forecastle, caused great damage to the sails
and men's clothing, and destroyed a great
part of the fresh water on deck, and a quan-
tity of provisions. On the night of Sunday,
the 22d, struck something which made the
ship tremble throughout; it being dark, could
THE GREAT GRIEF.
203
not make out what it was, but supposed it to
be part of a wreck. Sounded the pumps,
and found thirty-five inches of water in the
hold; was compelled to keep the crew on
deck for thirty hours, most of the time at the
pumps.
"On Monday, 23d, the wind and weather
somewhat better, discovered the maintop-
mast badly sprung. From the 24th had fine
weather, but very light winds, to the equa-
tor; crossed in long. 22 deg. 35 min. W.,
thirty-four days from New York.
"We found the south-east trades blowing
well to the eastward, and rather light. We
had good weather off the Cape of Good
Hope, which point we passed on the sixty-
third day from New York. The weather
continued very favorable, but the wind was
not as strong as we expected. From
21 until
13 we experienced a very
heavy swell from the westward, attended
with dark, cloudy weather; but on that day
the barometer fell to 28.40, thermometer 52,
with violent squalls in quick succession from
204
SALT-WATER DICK.
the west, the sea running very high. Con-
sidered it prudent to scud the ship, hoping to
avoid the centre of the storm, the wind grad-
ually hauling to the south; ship going eight
points off her course, at the rate of twelve
knots per hour, under goose-winged fore and
main lower topsails.
CC
Sunday, at 2 P. M., 14, it blew a
typhoon from the south-west, the ocean per-
fectly white with foam, and threatening to
ingulf the ship; tons and tons of water
coming over her fore and aft, the ship labor-
ing fearfully. One sea boarded us which
completely filled up the deck, and before she
could free herself it stove in all the houses
forward, and filled the forecastle, washing
the men's bedding and chests out, and caus-
ing the spars, water-casks, ladders, and
everything that was properly lashed, to part,
and mingle in one mass of confusion. Some
of the water-casks drew the bolts out of the
deck, were washed clear of the rail, and
were lost. At the same time sprung bow-
sprit, and opened the bows near the knight-
THE GREAT GRIEF.
205
heads about four inches. Parted the back-
stay chain-plates on the fore and main, and
stranded the main-top-gallant back-stay ; but,
fortunately, the masts stood firm, for it was
blowing too hard to do anything at the time,
and no man could show his head above the
rail.
"At 3 P. M. we were boarded by another
sea, which partly filled the two cabins, flood-
ing sail-room, boys' room, coal-lockers, car-
penter's shop, and cook's galley. At this
time there was but little hope of the ship
surviving the storm. All hands were on
deck, wet to the skin, and there were no dry
clothes in the ship, and no chance to put
them on if there were. Found both boats.
on the quarter-deck, stove by the sea, and
all the fresh water on deck destroyed; ship
making great quantities of water, and men
constantly at the pumps.
"No language can describe the scene on
board the Dashaway from 2 to 3 P. M. The
men were completely exhausted, and no dry
place to lay their heads. At midnight the
206
SALT-WATER DICK.
sea was running in all directions; the wind
blowing in squalls at longer intervals, at-
tended with heavy rain. At sunrise, on the
15th, the weather looked a little better, and
the sea was more regular. Barometer 29.10,
thermometer 55. From
15th we had
very heavy weather; compelled to carry very
short sail, on account of the crippled condi-
tion of the ship. Took a pilot off Melbourne
Heads
30, 105 days from New York."
"O, poor souls! poor souls! how they
have suffered!" cried Mrs. Putnam. "Those
two severe storms the one in the Gulf
Stream, and the other in the Indian Ocean
must have been the most severe of any that
my husband ever experienced in all his long
life at sea. O, how thankful we ought to be
that they are spared! To-morrow we may
expect letters.!"
Fred was dismissed from school at recess
to go to the mail, and there he found a pack-
age of foreign papers and letters thickly
covered with Victoria sixpenny stamps and
post-marks. It was a great day of rejoicing.
THE GREAT GRIEF.
207
They were all well, notwithstanding their
hardships, and were looking forward to meet-
ing their friends again after their cruise in
the Indian Ocean, and across to England.
Salt-water Dick had a long story to tell of
the dangers of the deep, and the many inter-
esting and peculiar incidents of the voyage.
His letters were eagerly read by all the fam-
ily. According to promise, Katie had writ-
ten for Fred and herself to Mr. Dick, and
her letters, probably, awaited his arrival in
Melbourne. The Dashaway had a quick
despatch, and sailed for Batavia, where she
shortly arrived, finished her business, and
started homeward to England.
After that she never was seen, never
spoken, nor reported. Months passed, and
two or three years rolled away, and all had
long given up the ship as lost. The calm,
silent, despairing grief of the Putnam family
was very painful to witness. Sunlight and
joy seemed to have gone out of their dwell-
ing. Daily duties and work went on, but
buoyancy and light-heartedness were gone.
208
SALT-WATER DICK.
•
The child Fred had grown into the thought-
ful boy, trying to brighten the sad life of his
mother, and relieve her of care and anxiety.
Katie had bloomed into a beautiful and ten-
der young woman, with always a kind and
sympathetic word for every one, though her
fair face was saddened by her great grief.
Now and then a few weeks of summer va-
cation Katie and Fred spent with Dick Har-
vey's family, on the New Hampshire coast.
Together they mourned for the noble, manly
young sailor, who had gone out from the old
home never to return. It was very hard for
that good mother to bear the loss of that
strong, brave arm, which would have been
the support of her declining years.
"He may be living yet," the mother often
said. "Like Enoch Arden, he may have
been cast upon some desert or remote island,
which ships rarely visit, and, perhaps, ere
many more years pass away we may see
him again."
"God grant it!" they all said, but it seemed
to them that it could hardly be so.
THE GREAT GRIEF.
209
Katie, when she was alone, would often
sit at the piano, and softly sing to its accom-
paniment the beautiful words and music of
Claribel :
"O, many a time I am sad at heart,
And I haven't a word to say,
And I keep from the lasses and lads apart,
In the meadows a-making hay.
But Willie will bring me the first wild rose,
In my new sun-bonnet to wear;
And Robin will wait at the keeper's gate,
For he follows me everywhere.
But I tell them they needn't come wooing to me,
For my heart, my heart, is over the sea.
Two summers ago, when a brave ship sailed
Far away to the golden west,
O, nobody knew that my heart went too,.
For the secret I never confessed.
A mother took leave of her boy that day;
I could hear her sob and cry
As I followed her back to her dreary home,
But never a word said I.
But I tell them they needn't come wooing to me,
For my heart, my heart, is over the sea.
I sat by his mother one midsummer day,
And she looked me through and through,
As she spoke of her lad, who was far away,
For she guessed that I loved him too.
She turned to me fondly, and whispered low,
I was worthy her sailor boy!
My foolish tears they began to flow,
Though my heart beat high for joy.
14
210
SALT-WATER DICK.
So you see that they needn't come wooing to me,
For my heart, my heart, is over the sea.”
Time passed on, and the memory of the
absent ones grew dearer and dearer as hope
for their return grew fainter.
Ce
Always I'll wait," Katie used often to
say. "The sufferings of poor Enoch Arden
shall never be for Dick. The memory of
one true and noble heart will last me a life-
time."
THE OLD BEGGAR.
211
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OLD BEGGAR. A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
“O₁
RUSSET, red, and golden leaves,
All crowned with hazy light,
As soft as halo round the moon,
Of a mild autumn night!
So green through all the summer heat,
Affording kindly shade;
And now, in their appointed time,
How gloriously they fade!
All veined and dappled, flecked and lined,
In magic tints most rare,
A dash of glowing sunshine here,
And drop of crimson there!
Shimmering in the smoky light
Of still October days,
Their gorgeous mantles, like a spell,
Entrance our willing gaze.
We linger now about the woods,
In love with open sky,
And only wish such beauty could
Remain with us for aye.
But, like Aurora, when she puts
Her flitting glory on,
We scarce can name their mystic hues,
Ere they are changed or gone.
212
SALT-WATER DICK.
Gently detached from every bough,
Borne by the faintest breeze;
Trembling, eddying, down they fall,
Under the mournful trees.
We loved the leaves from first to last,
From spring-time until now;
We bless them for the crown they put
Upon the old year's brow.
But most we bless them, year by year,
For the great truth they teach,
That points beyond this transient world,
And up to heaven doth reach.
Thrice blest are they for telling us,
When we resign our breath,
If faithful, we, like them, shall wear
A beauty won by Death!"
SUSAN FRANCIS CLAPP.
"O, this lesson which the leaves teach us
every year!" said Katie to Fred, as she fin-
ished the poem and closed the book.
They were sitting together upon the front
piazza of their own house that early even-
ing, watching the leaves flutter to the
ground.
"If faithful, we, like them, shall wear
A beauty won by Death!"
said Katie, repeating the words slowly, in a
low voice. "How beautifully and gloriously
THE OLD BEGGAR.
213
they do their life-work! Each little leaf is
faithful to its appointed duty, and does it
´ well. If I could only do mine even half so
well!"
"Dear sister," said Fred, drawing nearer,
you learned the lesson of the leaf long ago,
and every year sees you practising it. The
leaves teach you, and you teach us and
everybody by your sweet life and example;
and, truly, not only when you 'resign your
breath,' but while you have it in your body,
reward and blessing will come to you."
ce
Ce
Ah, my dear Fred," answered Katie,
the eyes of my brother see me in far too
bright a light. I wish that it were all as he
thinks it is. It will make me strive the
harder to have it so. Yes, I feel daily re-
warded for all I try to do; but rewards and
bereavements walk hand in hand in this
world. Perfection is not here."
"Not quite, but pretty near it, sometimes.
Now, I, for one, think some great reward,
some great joy, is coming to us, and soon,
I knocked my elbow."
too.
214
SALT-WATER DICK.
"O, Fred, don't jest about anything so
serious!"
"As knocking one's elbow on the crazy
bone? Well, it is pretty serious, I know."
Now, Fred
99
"And a great black spider spun down from
the ceiling in one corner of my room. That's
a sure sign that -
99
"That my eyes didn't look very sharp
when I was dusting your room the other
day. But-
وو
"O! and I put on my stockings wrong side
out this morning, and left them so for luck;
and mother had her collar fastened way
around under her ear, at breakfast, and her
hair all tied up askew!"
"Fred, I am actually ashamed of you.
Why, I haven't heard you talk so foolishly
for a long time; not since you were a little
bit of a boy. What is the matter with you?"
"Well, to tell the truth, Katie, I've got
some good news to tell you. I promised to
announce it in some lively way, and not give
you all a shock. I've known it since noon,
-
THE OLD BEGGAR.
215
but haven't had a fitting opportunity of letting
it out before; in fact, I was forbidden to say
anything about it until this hour."
Ce
Why, Fred, what do you mean? How
provoking you are! Give us a shock! Why,
I don't see what possibly can do it. It's some
mischief you're planning now, I know. You
had better tell me at once. But there is a
poor old man coming up the walk; let me go
and see what he wants."
Fred, very much excited, hurried down
the piazza steps, and followed Katie as she
approached the poor beggar.
"Ah, well-a-day, marm!" he exclaimed in
a feeble voice; "an' is it the crumb that ye
has for the likes of me? Ill luck, indeed,
has come to me when I needs must be beg-
ging my food from door to door. But what
can a poor old shipwrecked sailor do but jest
ax whoever he finds?".
"A shipwrecked sailor! did you say?"
exclaimed Katie, eagerly, stretching out her
hand to help the feeble old man up the steps.
"Ah, sure, marm, an' I never said
truer
216
SALT-WATER DICK.
word in my life. It's hard enough, indeed,
for a poor old feller like me to have to plough
the sea at this late age of me life, to say
nothing of being wrecked, with the loss of
me few old clothes, and then to be wander-
ing about in cold evenings like this."
"Poor old man! Sit right down here by
the kitchen fire, and I will warm you a bowl
of nice soup."
"Thank ye, thank ye, kind lady; and if
ye've no objection, I'd like a good bite of
meat with it, and a biscuit or two, for my
teeth are as strong as they were when I was
young; and I'm as hungry to-night as I ever
was then."
"You shall have it all," said Katie, smil-
ing, and bustling about. "I always have a
great pity for sailors, and they are sure to
get well treated whenever they come along
this way.'
ee
Many thanks to ye, marm; an' sure it's
meself that can wish all the blessings of
Heaven to come on ye. Ye're worthy of the
bravest sailor, marm, that ever trod the

THE OLD BEGGAR. - Page 217.
THE OLD BEGGAR.
217.
quarter-deck. May be there's the likes of
that this minute awaiting ye now over the
seas."
Katie looked at the ragged old fellow as
he was bent over his staff, looking into the
kitchen fire. He certainly was a very strange
old man, and she hardly knew what to make
of him. She placed his lunch before him,
and sat down near by while he ate. Al-
though he professed to be so hungry, it was
but little he put in his mouth, though he pre-
tended to be eating very heartily.
१९
Poor old man!" said Katie, compassion-
ately; "you must have had a very hard time
when you were wrecked."
"Ah, truly, that I did, marm.
But it was
some years ago, and I don't talk much of it
now. Me and my comrad was washed ashore
to a lonely island in the South Pacific, and
there we lived with the Indians, or negroes,
for years, without a single chance of getting
back to our native land. At last a whaling
vessel came in there in distress, and we
shipped on board of her, and got home after
218
SALT-WATER DICK.
a while, though she had to cruise south first;
and then we fell in with a vessel bound to
England, which took us on board, and car-
ried us to Liverpool, where we got a chance
in the Flying Dutchman, bound to New
York. It's many a long year since I trod
me native soil, and there's not a face as sees
me now that knows me at all. Me own
mother wouldn't know me, and I'm sure I
couldn't expect any one else to. Them that's
gone are soon forgotten. If any of my old
friends still live, they are either married, or
have long ago forgotten poor old Joe.”
"It's a pitiful story, I'm sure," said Katie.
"I've read of such things, but I hardly ex-
pected to see one who had really experi-
enced it."
O, it is not the first time that a thing like
this has happened. On the very island that
I was, there was a poor young fellow cast
away, very much in the same way as my-
self. We got to be very good friends while
we lived there. He took his being laid up
there pretty hard
expected his folks had
THE OLD BEGGAR.
219
given him up for lost, and that his old mother
had died broken-hearted for him. He could
not have been very old, yet he was an officer
of some ship or another."
"O, can you remember his name?" Katie
eagerly exclaimed.
"Well, I never was much at remembering
names; but I can say that this one was a
tallish, broadish fellar, with a brownish face,
except under his hat, where 'twas considera-
bly lighter colored; and his eyes and hair
was some browner than his face, and he was
sort of good-natured like.”
"Do you know the name of the ship from
which he was wrecked?" asked Katie, full
of excitement.
୧୧
Well, seems to me it was some kind of a
flyaway name, something that made you
think she could sail fast. I didn't give much
heed, though; he was always calling the
names of people his folks and another
family that he seemed to know pretty well.
There was an old gentleman there, too; that
is, he was middle-aged, compared to what
220
SALT-WATER DICK.
you'd take me to be, marm; and the two of
'em was the biggest cronies you'd see in a
long while."
"O, what did he look like? O, tell us
something more about him."
"Why, my fine lady, it's greatly interested
ye be in the yarns of a poor old sailor.
What do you care for the couple of poor fel-
lars who got wrecked down there?”
"O,
O, everything! I almost believe that
they two are the ones we love dearest upon
earth; two who have been away from us for
years, and who were long ago given up for
lost by everybody but ourselves. O, tell me
quickly all you know about them!"
"Who'd a thought it!" said the old man.
"I may yet do some good in the world by
bringing these friends together. Would ye
know 'em, marm them two that ye lost
seeing 'em come back to ye all ragged and
beaten out?"
१९
'O, yes, yes!” cried Katie and her mother
together. "We should know them anywhere
- anyhow-see them as we would.
not keep us in suspense."
Do
THE OLD BEGGAR.
221
"You are a strange man," said Katie;
"but I believe you know more than you
claim to. Are you not, after all, a messen-
ger come to bring us word of them?"
Well, marm, since you are getting so
excited like, I'll just say that I've got the
bearings of this place pretty well, and think
it is about the spot that I was bound for."
"O, mother, mother!" cried Katie, falling
upon her mother's shoulder, "they are both
alive! They have sent this old man to take
us word from them!"
"Well, marm," said the strange visitor, "I
reckon I've steered pretty straight, and, if I'm
not mistaken, your names might be Putnam."
"Yes, yes, you are right! Tell us quick,
where is my father, and Dick?"
९९
There, that's his name! Dick was the
young fellar's, I remember now. Maybe
you're the Katie that he allus used to be
talkin' about."
"I am; what did he say of me?”
"He seemed to think you was an angel,
or some such kind; and the way he took on,
222
SALT-WATER DICK.
not expectin' to get back here again very
soon, was kind of pitiful to see. From all ac-
counts you must be the very one, marm."
"O, but please don't keep talking so long
without telling us if they are still alive, and
ever can get back to us."
୧୧
'O, yes'm; they're alive, or was when I
saw them last, and that was on their way
home, not long ago. They say they've
changed considerable, and seemed to feel
that nobody would know them."
ee
'O, we should know them the instant we
saw them. Why, we could tell their voices,
even if their clothes were old and worn out."
Here, Fred, who had been looking on
with great interest, now burst into a loud
laugh.
Ce
Why, Fred, are you crazy?" asked
Katie. "What are you laughing at? I'm
sure I don't know what to make of you to-
day."
"Well, marm, guess I must be going
now," said the old beggar. "Thank ye
kindly for your good supper, and your
A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
223
kindness to an old sailor. Good night to ye
all." He rose slowly from his chair, and
tottered in a very feeble way towards the
door.
The family looked at him in surprise, for
he seemed to be much more infirm than
when he came in. Finally he began to
shake like one with palsy, and Fred ran to
his assistance. He continued to shake so
hard that his old ragged coat fell off, and,
with it, various miserable wrappings. The
old tarpaulin dropped from his head, and, to
keep it company, off came a long, white
beard, a gray wig, and a curious mask full
of the wrinkles of an old man. Fred
capered about him in high glee, and Mrs.
Putnam and Katie stood speechless in sur-
prise and astonishment.
When the wrap-
pings were all off, the figure suddenly rose
in height, and faced about directly before the
ladies. One glance at the tall, manly figure
was enough, and, with a loud cry of joy,
Mrs. Putnam and Katie fell into the arms of
Salt-water Dick.
224
SALT-WATER DICK.
And is there nothing left for me?” said a
voice at the door, which made them all start.
Captain Putnam had followed the young man
at a short distance, and, unperceived by the
family, had witnessed the beggar's recep-
tion. With rapture and delight his wife and
children ran to him, and, as he embraced
and held them to his heart, he almost cried
aloud for joy.
The return of the long-lost wanderers was
a night ever to be remembered. Friends and
neighbors turned out in a body to bid them
welcome. The village church bells were
rung, and the old cannon upon the hill was
made to sound out a greeting. Evening
prayers of thanksgiving were offered in the
church where the family were accustomed to
worship, and joy and gratitude filled every
heart.
The old beggar's story of his misfortunes
proved to be correct, and yet many weeks
passed away before the whole of the long
story could be told. Salt-water Dick went
to his own home the very next day, and
A JOYFUL SURPRISE.
225
there the joyous welcome was all gone over
again.
The exposure and suffering of those long
years of exile had brought a much more
mature look to the face of the young sailor.
His character had been rounded and per-
fected, and patience had done a noble work.
The sea life was not to be given; up so a
short voyage to Europe was soon planned;
and, when that was over, ah, then.
15
226
SALT-WATER DICK.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONCLUSION.
T was a busy scene, that in the great
kitchen at the old family mansion of the
Putnams. A tall, stout, good-looking col-
ored woman, with a bright turban folded
about her head and fastened in a neat bow
knot in front, stood at a great table, with
her sleeves rolled up and a large blue and
white checked apron tied around her ample
waist, carefully mixing proper proportions
of sugar and butter, flour, citron, currants,
raisins, lemons, wine, and spices, to make
into great loaves of wedding cake. Though
deep in thought upon a subject so impor-
tant and interesting, yet she found plenty
of time to scold two or three young girls
who were engaged in picking and dressing
turkeys, chickens, and wild game, and in
CONCLUSION.
227
preparing famous dishes for the wedding
festivities, which were shortly to take place.
Ce
They said they'd have the ice creams,
fruits, jellies, and all the rest of it here in
time, Woolly," said a colored man, coming
into the kitchen.
"All right, Jack," answered the woman,
who was none other than our old acquaint-
ance Woolly. "Now you jest stir yerself
and heat that great oven for me; for I've
got a powerful deal of cooking to do for
all the fine folks that be coming to Miss
Katie's wedding."
१९
So, so, Woolly; don't be so touchy to
your old man. Plenty of time, - plenty
of time. I must give the baby a toss first."
Hearing this, a lively chuckling and crow-
ing proceeded from a corner, where, quietly
amusing itself, tied into a chair, was a
plump, brown, shiny-faced baby of about
eight months old. Jack, the father, once
the poor abused Cholo boy of the Chincha
Islands, untied the bandage which kept the
child in captivity, and then joyfully tossed
228
SALT-WATER DICK.
Woolly junior into the air, until she
screamed and shouted so loud with delight
that her mother left her important duties
and snatched her away from the father,
boxing his ears and telling him to "leave
that young 'un alone, and not go to making
such a noise that people couldn't hear their
own ears."
In the great drawing-room busy hands
were arranging evergreens and vases of
beautiful conservatory flowers, and rare and
costly bridal gifts, which were constantly
arriving. Up stairs, great travelling trunks
were being packed with linens, laces, India
muslins, silks, and all sorts of pretty little
bridal garments.
When all the preparations were com-
pleted, and the old house full of happy
guests, a beautiful home wedding was con-
summated. The bridegroom, with bronzed
cheek and noble, manly form, was the hero
of our story, Salt-water Dick, and the fair,
young girl at his side, so beautifully ar-
rayed in white satin, point lace, and orange
CONCLUSION.
229
blossoms, was our old friend Katie Putnam.
At last,
"The prayer is said,
The service read,
The joyous bridegroom bows his head,
And in tears the good old master
Shakes the brown hand of his son,
Kisses his daughter's glowing cheek
In silence, for he cannot speak.
The worthy pastor
Spoke, with accents mild and clear,
Words of warning, words of cheer,
But tedious to the bridegroom's ear."
Thus said he:
"Like unto ships far off at sea,
Qutward or homeward bound, are we.
Before, behind, and all around,
Floats and swings the horizon's bound,
Seems at its distant rim to rise
And climb the crystal wall of the skies,
And then again to turn and sink,
As if we could slide from its outer brink.
Ah! it is not the sea,
It is not the sea that sinks and shelves,
But ourselves
That rock and rise
With endless and uneasy motion,
Now touching the very skies,
Now sinking into the depths of ocean.
Ah! if our souls but poise and swing
Like the compass in its brazen ring,
Ever level, and ever true
To the toil and the task we have to do,
230
SALT-WATER DICK.
We shall sail securely, and safely reach
The Fortunate Isles, on whose shining beach
The sights we see and the sounds we hear
Will be those of joy, and not of fear.”
Then came words of congratulation, bless-
ing, and farewell, and the young people
sailed away. Wishing them fair skies and
favorable winds, and a happy entrance into
the Safe Harbor, we bid them adieu.

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Any boy or girl who will write to the Publishers, shall receive
a specimen copy by mail free.
LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.

8 1 2 N 8 63
Os

wils
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
812N863 OS
Nowell, Harriet P. H.
Salt-water Dick / by May Mannering.
3 1951 002 092 771 |
WILSON
ANNEX
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MEMORIAL DRIVE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14623
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PRODUCED BY GRAPHIC ARTS RESEARCH CENTER