s, and when at their request we had told them our
story, informed us that a vessel from the Netherlands was at anchor at
Kola, a Russian port not many miles distant. We entreated them to go
with one of our party to Kola by land, but as they could not go
themselves they sent a messenger, who in a few days returned without
our comrade, but with a letter, through which we learnt to our joy and
astonishment, that Ryp himself, the commander of the other vessel,
from whom we had separated at Bear's Island, had arrived at Kola in
safety, after seeking for an eastern passage in vain.

"It was not long before he arrived himself, in a boat loaded with
provisions, and after a warm greeting we took, for the first time
since many days, our usual food and drink. Favored by the wind,
Heemskerk soon brought us to Kala, where the Russian governor listened
with great sympathy to the history of our adventures and sufferings,
and ordered our two boats to be preserved as memorials of our wondrous
journey.

"On the 18th of September we set sail, and after a prosperous voyage
entered the Meuse. From there we went to Amsterdam, and doubtless it
is still fresh in your memories, how we were conducted into the town,
dressed in the fox skins we had worn at Nova Zembla, and followed by
the acclamations of the whole population."

Father Gerhard ceased speaking, and for a while the young people kept
silent too, so much had they been astonished by the recital of such
strange adventures. Most did they marvel at the calm resignation of
the voyagers to their sad fate, and they hoped that in the voyages
which they themselves might hereafter make, that they should have as
excellent and brave companions.

They now thanked their patron for the trouble he had taken to gratify
them, and with a hearty squeeze of the hand wished him good night.

The Shipwreck.

A few years ago a company of one of the English regiments of infantry,
consisting of eleven officers and two hundred soldiers embarked in a
large, strongly built ship, to sail from Quebec to Halifax. Besides
the troops, there were forty-eight passengers on board, most of them
women and children, and the whole number of persons, including the
sailors, amounted to upwards of three hundred.

On the evening of the tenth day, when they were clear of the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and a brisk wind had driven them out many leagues to
seaward, the pilot who, for the greater security of the troops had