The Solitary of Juan Fernandez, or the Real Robinson Crusoe

e.-Eight Years of Absence. -Maritime Comb

d his intelligence, until the day when, hearing of the beauty of the landlady of the Royal Salmon, he was seized with an irresistible desire to see her: he saw her, and became violently enamored. It was one of those youthful passions, springin

ral philosophy, mathematics and history, suddenly taken by storm, whirled confusedly and pell-m

annual exhibition he would obtain six gre

llege grounds during the vacation. But its gates were no

prisonment, he was shut up in a cellar; he escaped thr

rigible, he was expell

to his father, and at last wholly free, his own master, he took lodgings in a ca

earliest fogs of morning, with the first beams of day; in the evening he

ar, between a pipe and a pewter pot, he watched the m

then at the age of twenty-two, in all the glory of her transient royalty; he, scarcely sixteen, was in her eyes a boy, a raw and awkward boy, like

shed spark, did but increase the flame, by ki

ences, dreams, writes of love in prose and verse, but does not talk of it. Selkirk had twenty times attempted to confess his affection to C

his was a hard task for the poor boy, who, with a tremulous and hesitating voice, saw himself forced

s confidence, and gave him good advice as an elder sister might have done.

an account, which he might never have means to pay, was revolting to him. On the other hand, the thought of returning home, and asking pardon of his father, was not less repugnant to

nd sailors. This was for him an inspiration; he did not hesitate, he hastened to engage. That very evening he had gained the open sea, beyond the Isle of May, and, with his eyes turned towar

the proud young man has not found one worthy of him. After having served two years in the merchant marine, he has entered the navy. Thanks to the war kindled in Europe for the Spanish succession, he has for a long time cruised with the brave Admiral Rooke along the coasts of France; with

ope, have not satisfied the vast desires of the ambitious sailor. He experiences an invincible thirst to apply his

, Hall, and covered London almost entirely with the fragments of broken vessels, appeared to Selkirk a favorable occasion

master! He profited by this to pay a visit to his birthplace in Scot

val of William Dampier at St. Andrew.

capacity, all my wishes will be gratified. I thirst to see tattooed faces, other trees besides beeches, oaks and firs; other shores than those of the Balt

haps of royalty, in one of those archipelagoes which he imagined to exist in the bosom o

r the dwelling occupied by Dampier. The

ht of his old friend Catherine, his pretty black-

two small curls on her temples; in a toilette which the early hour of the morning did

laimed to the boy, pointing to t

r full of bitterness; a glass of whiskey, if you please,----' and, pointing to the litt

I will return t

ed at him with

nize me?' said he in a care

ible! is it you,

niversity of St. Andrew; recently a master pilot in the

h other closely, but the impression on

nner, bony frame and dilapidated costume; but a stout young man, with a broad chest, active and graceful form; though his features are decidedly Scotch, they are handsome

complexion, the soft voice, the youthful look, the twenty-two yea

ds and utter a sigh; he, o

he, with the fear of gazing too earnestly;

despised by a sailor. He therefore prolongs his

roving; she gives him an estimate of it in round numbers, as well as of the suitors she has r

sh ships against the great boom of Vigo; but, when she asks him what motive has brought him back to St. Andrew, he replies b

old friend

ent effort, goes away, not forgetting,

reason why, notwithstanding her soft words of the evening before and her grand morni

did not fail to meet at the Royal Salmon. Selkirk came to see Dampier;

w the two others, that he had sailed with th

ibe a tangent towards the counter, and come to converse with the pretty hostess. He no longer fe

his ears to the narratives of his illustrious friend William Dampier, or pre-oc

g, he went, in his turn

when is our marria

n air of levity which would once have became her bett

et out on my

talk of our plan

e world, as well as my friend Dampier.

it will give us both

c Englishman, and nothing on his po

be gratitude and little attentions. At all events, I prefer a young husband who will whisper words of love in my ear, to amusing myself by pouring out drink for my lord and master, while he smokes his pipe, with his feet on the brands. Was it not thus that icicle, dressed in blue, called Stradling, talked to me of the pleasures of marriage? And what a name! But Mistress Selkirk!-that sounds well. In our Scotland, there is the county of Selkirk, the town of S

silk, with the two little curls upon her temples. She thus waited a great part of the day. At last, abo

rine, 'a presentiment of the

an, almost out of breath; 'I am appointed mate of

ou are

an h

long

be a great commercial voyage and a voyage of discovery. Unfortunately William Dam

adli

is signed,-I am mate! I am going to explore the New World! Ah! I would not exchang

s!' murmure

beneath the cold perspiratio