1830.] Newfoundland Adventures. 647 



whenever a whiffling wind came back from the poor prisoner. Were it 

 not for the promised bounty, and the presence of Mr. English and my- 

 self, I am inclined to think that she would at least have been tossed over- 

 board like many an odd- fish-looking creature that boded bad luck to af- 

 frighted fishermen, as they laboured in their vocation with all the super- 

 stition and ignorance incident to its solitude and danger ; caring little 

 what loss science might sustain, so they ward off ill-luck themselves. 

 My friend English and I had the conversation all to ourselves, and I 

 recollect that even we spoke in whispers ; so infectious is melancholy : 

 the shores looked more bleak and barren, the breeze and surf chilled us 

 as we sat listlessly beneath their influence, and the breakers seemed to 

 strike more sharply against the rocks, as our open ears unconsciously 

 admitted their ill-omened burthen. At last our thoughts received a 

 sudden turn by Simon starting up and exclaiming in anger, " Where 's 

 Cabot's skin ? I brought it into the boat. Who has dared to throw it out?" 



" It's all safe," said one of the fishers. "I stowed it away snug in 

 the bear-skin cloak there." 



" Damn your eyes !" cried Simon fiercely. " How dare you roll up 

 his skin in that carrion hide, which is enough to rot the plank it lies on ? 

 Shake it out, you lubber, and hang it to air, if you wouldn't rouse him 

 out of his grave to chop your head off !" 



" No offence !" said the fisher, " I meant all in kindness. I didn't 

 think the skin was so touchy." 



Nothing further occurred to checker our voyage home. The female 

 was by common consent given in care to Mr. English, who gladly un- 

 dertook to teach her whatever was possible, and provide for her main- 

 tenance. He had her disgusting apparel immediately removed, and re- 

 placed with the usual dress of respectable females of the island. I beheld 

 her thus attired next day, when she was presented to the admiral, and 

 recollect thinking her very much humanized, and almost comely : such 

 alteration does dress make ; but her dark eyes were very wild and un- 

 settled. 



The admiral attended the funeral of Paul, along with our little crew, 

 and a number of islanders, who knew and regretted him. At the head 

 of the procession, Simon led his little grandson in one hand, and Paul's 

 weeping mother in the other. As the ceremony concluded, I overheard 

 Sebastian say to the old man, " I hope the ugly savage woman that mur- 

 dered Cabot is to be killed and buried too. I 'm sure she deserves it." 



" Ay, boy !" replied Simon, " but the admiral gives no bounty for 

 dead vermin." 



" I fear," said I, as I shook hands with Mr. English at parting, (i the 

 civilization of the natives will go on but slowly. You can't expect any 

 aid from these people. If I don't visit you next season, pray write me 

 word how you succeed with this poor woman." He promised he would, 

 and the admiral's barge soon after brought me back to the ship. 



In the winter I left Newfoundland for St. Heliers, with three cargoes 

 of cod for the French market. There I had the satisfaction to receive a 

 letter from my friend English, dated nearly a year after my departure. 



" Toulinguet, 4th August, 1818. 



****** 



" Your prediction is correct. The civilization of the natives goes on 



