myself and Dick kneel down and put our heads into it like camels. "I drank, I suppose, half a gallon, though I had been very particular in cautioning the men against drinking too much at a time, in case they ever came to water. I now saw how much easier it was to preach than to practice. They afterwards led us to a well, the water of which was black, and disgusting in appearance. A large bowl was now filled with it, and a little sour camel's milk poured from a goatskin into it. This tasted to me delicious, and we all drank of it till our stomachs were quite full. We now begged for something to eat; but these Arabs had nothing for themselves, and seemed very sorry it was not in their power to give us some food. "There were at and about the well about one hundred persons, men, women, and children, and from four to five hundred camels, large and small. The sun beat fiercely upon us, and our skins seemed actually to fry like meat before the fire. These people continued to draw water for their camels, of which the animals drank enormous quantities." The party travelled south-east over a plain covered with small sharp stones, which cut their feet badly. About midnight they halted, and for the first time got about a pint of pure camel's milk each. The wind was chilly cold. They lay on sharp stones perfectly naked; their bodies blistered and mangled, and the stones piercing their naked flesh to the ribs. On the morning of the 11th September, a pint of milk was divided amongst four of them, and they got nothing more until midnight, when they were allowed a little milk and water. They continued travelling in the desert, enduring all the miseries of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, with every addition Arab cruelty could inflict. An African trader, however, who had purchased them of the old Arab, became the means of their deliverance. He told Mr. Riley that he must write a letter to his friend at Suara, desiring him to pay the money for the ransom for himself and his people, upon which they should at once be set free. A scrap of paper, a reed, and some black liquor were then brought to Mr. Riley, who briefly wrote the account of the loss of his ship, his captivity, &c., adding, "Worn down to the bone by the most dreadful of all sufferings, naked and a slave, I implore your pity, and trust that such distress will not be suffered to plead in vain." The letter was addressed to the "English, French, Spanish, or American consuls, or any Christian merchant in Mogadore." The anxiety of the captives may be well imagined. For seven days after the trader's departure, they were shut up in a yard during the day where cows, sheep, and asses rested; and locked up all night in a dreary cellar. On the evening of the eighth day, a Moor came into the enclosure, and brought a letter from Mr. Wiltshire, the English consul, stating that he had agreed to the demands of the trader, whom he had kept as a hostage for their safe appearance, and that the bearer would conduct them to Mogadore. He had also sent them clothes and provisions; and thus equipped and comforted they set out under their new conductor, who brought them safe to Mogadore, where they were most kindly received by Mr. Wiltshire, who took each man by the hand, and welcomed him to life and liberty. He led them to his house; had them all washed, clothed, and fed; and spared neither pains nor expense in procuring every comfort, and administering with his own hands, night and day, such refreshments as their late sufferings and present weakness required. There's nae Luck About the House. BU UT are ye sure the news is true? Is this a time to think o' wark? For there's nae luck about the house, Is this a time to think o' wark, Rise up, and make a clean fireside, Put on the mickle pot; Gie little Kate her cotton gown, And Jock his Sunday coat. Mak' a' their shoon as black as sloes, There are twa hens into the crib, My Turkey slippers I'll put on, Sae sweet his voice, sae smooth his tongue, His breath's like cauler air; His very foot hae music in't TH The Cottager to her Infant. HE days are cold, the nights are long, Then hush again upon my breast, The kitten sleeps upon the hearth, Save one wee, hungry, nibbling mouse; Then why so busy thou? Nay, start not at that sparkling light; On the window-pane, bedropped with rain: And wake when it is day. BY A FEMALE FRIEND OF WORDSWORTH. The Life of Lord Nelson. (ABRIDGED FROM SOUTHEY'S LIFE.) CHAPTER II. HE first voyage which Nelson undertook was in a merchant ship to the West Indies. He returned a practical sailor, but with a hatred of the king's service. Shortly after this, he desired to accompany an expedition on a voyage of discovery to the North Pole. They sailed from the Nore on the 4th June, 1773, and a month later entered the icy regions of the north. Shortly after, the ice closed upon them, and no opening was to be seen anywhere, except a hole, or lake, as it might be called, of about a mile and a-half in circumference, where the ships lay fast to the ice with their ice anchors. From these ice-fields they filled their casks with water, which was very pure and soft. The men were playing on the ice all day; but the Greenland pilots, who were further than they had ever been before, and considered that the season was far advancing, were alarmed at being thus beset. The next day there was not the smallest opening; the ships were within less than two lengths of each other, separated by ice, and neither having room to turn. A day of thick fog followed it was succeeded by clear weather; but the passage. by which the ships had entered was closed, and no open water was in sight. By the pilot's advice the men were set to cut a passage. They sawed through pieces of ice twelve feet thick, and this labour continued the whole day, during which their utmost efforts did not move the ships more than three hundred yards. The season was far advanced, and every hour lessened the chance of getting out. Young as he was, Nelson was appointed to the command of one of the boats which were sent out to explore a passage into the open water. It was the means of saving a boat belonging to the other ship from a singular but very close danger. Some of the officers had fired at and wounded a walrus. As no other animal has so human-like an expression in its countenance, so also is there none that seems to possess, in such a degree, the passions of humanity. The wounded animal dived at once down into the water, and brought up a number of its companions, and they all joined in an attack upon the boat. They wrested an oar from one of the men, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the crew could prevent them from upsetting the boat till Nelson's boat came up, and the walruses finding their enemies increased, dispersed. Young Nelson exposed himself in a most daring manner. One night during the mid-watch, he stole from the ship with one of his comrades, taking advantage of a rising fog, and set off over the ice in pursuit of a bear. It was not long before they were missed. The fog thickened, and the captain and his officers became exceedingly alarmed for the safety of Nelson and his comrade. Between three and four in the morning the weather cleared, and the two adventurers were seen at a good distance from the ship attacking a huge bear. The signal for them to return was at once made; Nelson's comrade called upon him to obey it, but in vain. His gun flashed in the pan, their powder and shot were all gone, and an opening in the ice which separated him from the bear probably preserved his life. "Never mind," he cried, "do but let me get a blow at this monster with the end of my musket, and we shall have him." The captain, however, seeing his danger, fired a gun, which frightened the beast, and the boy then returned, somewhat afraid of the consequences of his trespass. The captain reproved him sternly for conduct so unworthy of the office which he filled, and desired to know what motive he could have for hunting a bear. "Sir," |