646 Newfoundland Adventures. [\JuNE, 



to Sebastian for a keepsake. 'Twill make a couvrelit for the poor lonely 

 child." He took a sharp knife from his pocket, and commenced the 

 operation of skinning by an incision along the breast, but speedily ex- 

 claimed, et I can't do it ; I feel as if / was slaughtering him ! Let some 

 of you take the knife, who don't feel as I do." 



Two of his comrades, who were standing by, undertook the work, 

 and Simon looked on for a while with mournful interest. At length, he 

 came close to Mr. English, and asked in a low but earnest tone, " Sir, 

 don't you think 'twould be decent and fitting to say a word of prayer 

 over poor Cabot, before we leave him for ever ?" 



Mr. English was somewhat startled; but after a little time* replied, 

 " There is no form of prayer prescribed for brute animals, Simon." 



" Well ! what signifies that?" said the fisher in a matter-of-fact tone. 

 " I have heard you pray on occasion without book, for fellows that 

 were not worth a cod's head, that eat like cormorants and drank like 

 fishes, and died like boobies, knocked down by death for want of sense 

 to get out of his way !" I, however, prevailed on him to postpone his 

 petition till he arrived at home. He did not quite forgive Mr. English, 

 for on a hint from him of the propriety of affording burial to the body 

 of the savage that lay beside us, he replied roughly, " Let it lie there ! 

 His fellows will return, I '11 engage, for the sake of his boots, and they 

 may eat him if they will, for what I care." So saying, he threw Cabot's 

 skin over his shoulder, and having seen his body fairly interred, and a 

 large stone rolled over his grave, he gathered up the bow and arrows of 

 the slain Esquimaux, and returned to the boat. 



These were the only remaining trophies ; for the routed party had 

 contrived to carry off the two empty canoes. They were very small 

 compared to similar weapons of the red tribes of North America. The 

 islanders have little choice of woods for their purpose. The bow was com- 

 posed of a species of fir (probably larch or spruce), in three pieces ; not 

 on the principle of compensation well known to the old English archers, 

 who glued together entire lengths of yew and lance-wood, to balance 

 elasticity by toughness ; but simply to make up the requisite length of 

 the weapon, as if their knowledge of carpentry did not enable them to 

 cut out a single piece of the proper size. The parts were attached by 

 thongs made out of the sinews of the deer, which had been cut up 

 fresh, and bound on tightly over the entire bow : these in drying had 

 shrunk exceedingly, and imparted to the wretched sticks a degree of 

 strength and spring that made the weapon tolerably effective. 



Our crew had evidently lost much of their zeal for the civilization 

 project, by the melancholy death of their comrade. After a short con- 

 sultation, it was determined to steer homewards, to inter the body of 

 Paul, and secure their prisoner. Accordingly, we hoisted sail, and de- 

 scended the river, placing the prisoner and her cloak as much to leeward 

 as possible. As we retraced our course along the bay, I was struck 

 with the great alteration of tempers and manners in my companions ; so 

 different from what they had been as we entered these wild scenes. 

 Then all was hope and gaiety : not even the habitual economy of the 

 pipe (prompting the propriety of smoking continuously once it was 

 lighted) could restrain their lively narratives and repartees. Simon had 

 been particularly vivacious. Now he, as well as they, sat smoking in 

 sober sadness, occasionally turning their eyes towards the corpse that 

 lay at their feet, and turning away their noses in unconcealed disgust, 



