to contain no object that indicated a human

dwelling.

The wind had died away gradually as the sun attained towards the meridian, and at last it became perfectly calm; when, to their inexpressible delight, they observed a spiral column of smoke, curling erect over a wood not more than a mile distant.

Towards this they immediately steered, and, rounding a promontory, entered a little bay which was fronted by an island, on which stood a wooden cottage, built of the trunks of trees, laid horizontally upon each other. On the shore were a number of nets and fishing-lines, distended between two rugged poles; while a broad-beamed, sharp-bowed boat lay moored

to the beach.

the

As the raft approached this solitary place,

poor inhabitants ran to the threshold of their cabin, to gaze at such an unusual appearance.Presently a stout, flaxen-headed man, in loose trowsers, large boots, grey jerkin, and a weather

beaten hat, advanced inquiringly towards the shore, with a gait that sufficiently displayed surprise and fear; while an elderly woman and

beautiful rosy-cheeked girl, tremblingly occupied their original position at the door. Poor harmless people--even here, Nature had given them something to fear!

The appearance of the raft gave them confidence in the story of the wreck, which was related in signs, mutters, gesticulations, child's language, and all manner of diminutive, as well as hard words, that English is capable of being tortured into; but the appearance of arms created suspicion; besides, Ben Mot, the cockswain, had already forgotten his troubles, and commenced to make love to the Finland Hebewho, quite unconscious of the meaning of “deary, darling, duckky," (the only soft words ever known in Ben's amatory vocabulary,) felt no little alarm at his less equivocal, but more un ceremonious practical addresses.

CHAPTER XIII.

I have done,

As you have done; that's what I can; induc'd
As you have been; that 's for my country :
He, that has but effected his good will,
Hath overta'en mine act.

SHAKSPEARE.

THOUGH Finland then, as now, legally appertained to Russia, yet Nature, truer to her divisions than governments, has implanted a dislike of Russian control in the hearts of the Finlanders, and, on the fisherman being made to understand that the party wished to reach a vessel in a harbour not far distant, he consented to take them all in his boat, and land them the same evening on an island adjoining to it. This being accomplished, Morland and his

thick wood, on the narrow footpath which was pointed out by the fisherman, as leading to a position from whence the harbour alluded to could be seen.

Their guide, on leaving them, had said it was only a league to the place; but this, as most other undefined traveller's distances, seemed, like distant objects, to enlarge as they advanced.

The grey shades of evening had commenced to shed their quiet influence on the "glimmering landscape," when the little party reached the wished-for spot, from whence they perceived the masts of a vessel peeping above a ridge of coppice-wood that margined the shore.

It was now determined that Morland, and his trustworthy cockswain, Ben Mot, should creep down among the underwood, close to the beach, and reconnoitre.

Ben, who was a spirited and expert seaman, and moreover a great favourite, from his known perseverance and good-humour under all dif

ficulties, no sooner heard the proposition, than he hitched up his trowsers with a peculiar jerk-rolled the quid in his mouth-felt the pistol by his side-laughed at the damp powder-drew his cutlass a little out of the scabbard, and leaving his comrades with a broad grin, 10lled along after his young commander through the wood.

Arrived at the declivity of the little hill, they distinctly saw there was only a galliot in the harbour; but, from an undulation in the woodland, it was impossible to discern what they had to expect on the beach. "Down on all-fours, Mot," said Morland, "and let us ascertain perfectly what we have to trust to." They accordingly crawled on their hands and knees, among the broom and underwood, till they were within fifty yards of the water, and clearly saw that the harbour only contained one vessel, and that a wooden storehouse and two small skiffs were all that graced the beach.

"What think you of this ?" said Morland.