The Advance of Science in the Last Half-Century

present time. There were no "ocean greyhounds" then. The passage was a long and trying one in the clumsy craf

ent on missions of discovery, of conquest, or of commerce; but the women and children abode at home, save, o

ar-away Nova Scotia should form the subject of more than one family council at Oakdene Manor, the be

ison at Halifax, then under the command of the royal duke himself; and the doctor had written to say that if the squire, Eric's grandfather, approved, he would like Eric to come out to him, as his

ntleman was concerne

an Indian or gobbled by a bear before he's there a month? Not a bi

believed that there were as many wigwams as houses in New York, and that Indians in full war-paint and plumes were every day seen on the streets of Philadelphia; while as for poor l

f limb, yet perfectly proportioned, as nimble on his feet as a squirrel, and as quick of eye as a king-bird, entirely free from any trace of nervousness or timidity, good-looking in that sense of the word which means more than merely handsome, courteous in his manners, and quite up to the ma

ly. "I don't believe there are any bears or Indians at Halifax; a

ing upon which he had set his heart, and the old squire felt as though he were seeing a

ant to leave Oakdene, and go away out to a wild place that is only fit for soldiers. You're quite happy with us

over to where the squire sat, he bent down

if I wasn't. But you know I have been more with you than I have with my own father; and

plains of India, upon the battle-fields of the Continent, and then, crossing to America, had taken its part, however ineffectually, in the struggle which ended so happily i

society. All studies were laid aside, and one day of happiness followed another, as together they rode to hounds, whipped the trout-strea

te as much as Eric did his freedom from school, and it would not have

out to his father (it should have been told before that his mother was dead, having been taken away from him when he was a very little fellow), and spend three long years with h

se he knew it would be so that the doctor had not positively asked for Er

Major Maunsell, a brother-officer of Doctor Copeland's, who had been home on l

ng his leave of England, and of course the question of Eric's returning to Nov

or a little while, when he comes home on leave, and it would be lovely to be with him all the time for three whole years. Besides that, I do want to see America, and this is such a good chance. I am nearly sixteen now, and by the time

lf, and he could not help envying Doctor Copeland for his handsome, manly son. At once he entered into

y not get again in a hurry. There's nothing to harm him out in Halifax; and his father is longin

taking the night to think over it, the good old squire announced the next morni

Many were the trunks of clothing, books, and other things that had to be packed with greatest care, and their number would have been doubled if the major had not protested against taking th

rting was a very tearful and trying one. Full of joy as Eric felt, he could not keep back the tear

e underneath and round about you, my darling. Put y

the carriage drove away and Eric was really off to Chatham in charge of Ma

d a very valuable cargo, consisting of the Duke of Kent's library, together with a quantity of very costly furniture, precious wines, and other luxuries intended to make as comfortable as

le as some came in from long voyages and others went forth to take their places upon distant stations; the countless sailors and dock-hands swarming like ants hither and thither; the important-looking officers strutting about in gold-laced coats, and calling out their commands in such hoarse tones that Eric felt te

nimal, and devoted to his young master. No sooner had it been settled that Eric should go out to his father than the boy at once asked if his dog might not go with him. Major Maunsell had no objection himself, bu

ance to see Captain Reefwell, who was, of course, extremely busy; but at last he managed to catch him one day just after lunch, when he seemed in a pretty good humour, and without wasting time preferred

ave a look at y

ed the noble animal critically, and stretched out his hand to pat him, whereupon t

d manners," said the captain in surprise.

And he proceeded to put the big dog through a number of tricks which

og on board. But, mind you, he comes bef

u in the cabin, will I, Prince? Isn't it splendid? You're to come with me