assist you, and it really will give me
great pleasure.' I cannot say that I replied very cordially. `Mr
Henniker,' said I, `you have been fortunate, by all appearances, and can
therefore afford compassion to those who have not been so; but, sir, in
our positions, I feel as if pity was in reality a sort of triumph, and
an offer of assistance an insult. I am content with my present
position, and will at all events not change it by your interference. I
earn my bread honestly. You can do no more. Times may change yet.
It's a long road that has no turning to it. I wish you a good morning.'
So saying, I turned from him, and walked away forward, with my heart
full of bitterness and anger. From that hour he never spoke to me or
noticed me again; but the captain was more severe upon me, and I
ascribed his severity most unjustly to your father. We were about to go
round Cape Horn, when the gale from the S.E. came on, which ended in the
loss of the vessel. For several days we strove up against it, but at
last the vessel, which was old, leaked so much from straining, that we
were obliged to bear up and run before it, which we did for several
days, the wind and sea continuing without intermission. At last we
found ourselves among these islands, and were compelled occasionally to
haul to the wind to clear them. This made her leak more and more, until
at last she became water logged, and we were forced to abandon her in
haste, during the night, having no time to take anything with us; we
left three men on board, who were down below. By the mercy of Heaven we
ran the boat into the opening below, which was the only spot where we
could have landed. I think I had better stop now, as I have a good deal
to tell you yet."

"Do then," replied I; "and now I think of it, I will bring up the chest
and all the things which were in it, and you shall tell me what they
are."

I went down and returned with the clothes and linen. There were eight
pair of trousers, nine shirts, besides the one I had torn up to bandage
his wounds with, two pair of blue trousers, and two jackets, four white
duck frocks, some shoes, and stockings. Jackson felt them one by one
with his hands, and told me what they were, and how worn.

"Why don't you wear some of them?" inquired I.

"If you will give me leave, I will," replied he. "Let me have a duck
frock and a pair of trousers."

I handed the articles to him, and then went back for the rest, which I