the mate
observed that was wrong. Our shipmates, probably, could not help
themselves. They might have supposed we should not return, and, if they
had gone with their own will, might have been unable to leave any
message for us. The mate was a truly charitable man, for he was anxious
to put the best construction on the conduct of our shipmates. There,
however, we were left, with a diminished party, with the possibility
that another ship might not approach the coast for many months to come.
The summer was drawing to a close. It had been somewhat damp and cold,
and we expected that the winter would be proportionally severe.

"`We may get off, but we may possibly have to stay; and if we are wise,
lads, we shall prepare for the worst,' said the mate; and telling the
men what would be wanted, forthwith began the work he advised.

"We were to build a couple of huts, to cut and dry turf for fuel, and to
kill some cattle and prepare the flesh; to hunt for vegetables or herbs,
which might keep off scurvy, and to do various other things.

"`Example is better than precept, Tom, as you will find,' observed the
mate to me. `I never tell men to do what I am not ready to do myself.
That's the reason they obey me so willingly.'

"I've ever since remembered the mate's words, and told them to Mr
Morgan; and I am sure he never orders men to do what he is not ready to
try and do himself if necessary. It was fortunate for all that the
mate's advice was followed. Some comfortable huts were got up, and a
store of provisions and fuel collected before the winter began. It set
in with unusual seventy, and I believe that we should all have perished
from cold, and damp, and snow, had we not been prepared, though I do not
remember that the frost was hard at any time.

"Some of the men abused their companions for going away without them.

"`Let be,' said the mate; `all's for the best. We don't know where they
are now, but we do know that we are not badly off, with a house,
clothing, food, and firing. These islands are not so much out of the
way, but what we are certain to get off some day or other, and in the
meantime we have no cause to complain. Let us rather be thankful, and
rejoice that we are so well off.'

"I remembered those words of the mate afterwards. It is now my belief
that the mate was a God-fearing man, but religion had been so unpopular
among those with whom he had sailed, that he was afraid of declaring his
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