The Mission

was not yet five o'clock, and the descending sun shone bright and warm through the windows, which were level with the ground, and from which there was a view of a spacious park, hig

an easy chair and remained in deep though

had amassed a handsome fortune, was advised to leave the country for a time on account of his health. He returned to England on furlough, and had not been ther

ply which he received was most painful; his wife and two of his daughters had been carried off by the cholera, which had been very fatal during the previous rainy season.

ons. But he was a good man and a religious one, and he bowed in humility to the dispensation, submitting with resignation to his loss, and s

and waited with anxiety for the return of his only daughter, who now seemed more dear to him than ever. He employed himself in making preparations for her reception, fitting up her a

arance. It was supposed that she had been captured by the enemy, but still no tidings of her capture were received. At length, however, this state of anxiety and doubt was put an end to by the dreadful intelligence that the ship had been wrecked on the east coast of Afri

now quite bereaved and childless. This was the last blow and the most severe; it was long before he could resign himself to the unsearchable dispensations of Providence; but time and religion ha

he felt an interest, and one in particular who promised to deserve all his regard. This was his grand-nephew, Alexander Wilmot,

passed on, painful feelings of hope and doubt were occasionally raised in Sir Charles's mind, from the occasional assertions of travelers, that all those did not perish who were supposed so to do when the Grosvenor was wrecked, and that, from the reports of the natives, some of them and of

best cricketer at Oxford, very fond of horses and hunting, and an excellent shot; in character and disposition he was generous and amiable, frank in his manner, and obliging to his inferiors. Every one liked Alexander Wilmot, and he certainly deserved to be liked, for he never injured or spoke ill of any body. Perhaps his most prominent fault was obstinacy; but this was more shown in an o

aid Alexander, as he came into the r

, my boy?" repl

is now as gentle as a lamb; but he

exander, when the horsebreaker wo

so soon

nt of a horse as to require such hurry;

u, more than I can use; but I l

ve lived as long as I have, you will find more pleasure in

le," said Alexander, going up to Sir Char

ed me, has called up painful feelings and remini

ost as his uncle; he took a chai

ndation for this, my dear sir?

similar accounts. You may easily credit the painful anxiety which is raised in my mind when I read such a statement as this. I think I see my poor Elizabeth, the wife or slave to some wild savage; her children, merciful Heaven! my grandchildren, growing

ave never yet heard any such details as would warrant this apprehension of yours. It is generally supposed that all p

hat all did not perish who were accounted as dead. If you have nothing particularly to engage you at this moment, I will enter into a det

ful to you, my dear uncle,

of Port Natal, that the Grosvenor was wrecked. She soon divided and went to pieces, but by a sudden-I know not that I can say a fortunate-change of wind, yet such was the will of Heaven,-the whole of the crew and passengers (with the exception of si

hen Sir Charles paused for a wh

drifted on shore, left the beach at dark. The wretched sufferers lighted fires, and having collected some casks of beef and flour, and some live stock, they remained on the rocks during that night. The next

done otherwise,

ays. How far his calculation was correct, is proved by the fact that those who did reach it at last were one hundred and seventeen days on their journey. But even admitting that the distance could have been performed in the time stated by the captain

ould have bee

have gone on board again, have procured arms to defend themselves and the means of fortifying their position against any attempt of the savages, who had no other weapons but assaguays or spears, and then might have obtained the provisions and other articles necessary for their support. Armed as they might have been, and numerous as they were, for there were on

it would have been the

ery thing to his hand-the means-the men to build the boats, provisions, arms, sails and c

those who were save

hman of the name of Trout, who had fled to the Caffre country for some murder he had committed in the colony, fell in with them and told them the attempt was impracticable, from the number of savage nations, the width of the rivers, the desert co

hipwreck any thing was considered preferable by the major p

ave been, had they been counseled by a judicious leader; for he might fairly hav

uncle. Pra

re them, they resisted as well as they could, and, being nearly one hundred men in force, succeeded in driving them off, not without receiving many severe wounds. After a few days' more traveling, their provisions were all expended, and the seamen began to murmur, and resolved to

cru

lties; they coasted along the seashore because they had no other food than the shell-fish found on the rocks; they had continually to cross rivers from a mile to two miles wide; they were kept from their slumbers by the wild beasts which prowled around them, and at length they endured so much from want of water, that their sufferings were extreme. They again subdivided and separated, wandering they hardly knew where, exposed to a burning sun, without clothing and without food. One by one they sat down an

who separated from the captain and

es

ame of the ca

e savages. Le Vaillant first mentioned it, and then it died away and was not credited; but since that, the reports of various travelers appear to give confirmation to what Le Vaillant asserted. The paragraph you have now read in the newspaper has again renewed the assertion, and the parties from whom it proceeds are by all accounts

ve, she was not so young at the time of the wreck

e idea of my grandchildren having returned to a state of barbarism is painful enough; I wish it were possible that I could discover the truth, for it is the uncertainty which so much distresses me. I have but a few years to live, Alexander; I am a very old man, as you know, and may be summoned to-morrow or to-night, for we know not what a day may bring forth. If I were only ce

nd of his grand-uncle in a reverential and feeling m