FATE OF A GALLANT CREW. 143 



self. Our love of sport, and desire to obtain new 

 specimens, led us more than once into rather dan- 

 gerous localities upon the main land, and that at a 

 time when the Imperial Government at Pekin 

 offered the magnificent amount of five hundred 

 dollars for every " foreign devil's " head brought 

 them. 



Again, there were two other naval friends, both 

 good naturalists, and in whose society I had many 

 delightful outings, and doubtless I would have re- 

 peated those enjoyments, but death stepped in when 

 least expected, and took them, with their brother 

 officers and their entire crew, to a purer and better 

 home than can be had on earth. Their names 

 were Commander Colville and Lieutenant Fitzroy, 

 and their vessel was the gun-brig Camilla. She 

 was a splendid craft truly, about 500 tons in 

 measurement, and had spars upon her that I have 

 heard provoke even the unwilling admiration of a 

 down-east Yankee skipper. Alas ! those graceful, 

 towering masts, I doubt not, but that they were the 

 cause of her ruin. Whether the Camilla turned 

 "turtle," or went to the bottom all standing, she 

 was the unfortunate instrument of destruction to as 

 gallant and smart a crew as ever sailed under our 

 time-honoured flag. 



Colville, Fitzroy, and self had resolved to make 

 an ornithological collection, especially devoting our 

 attention to water-fowl. Already we had a goodly 

 number of specimens gathered as a foundation to our 

 interesting work, when the cruel sea took them, and 

 I never had the heart to recommence what had been 

 heretofore a labour of love. 



I saw my friends depart upon their last voyage. 

 It was a mysterious yet fascinating morning when 

 their anchor was tripped, for a fleecy mist, as fine 

 as loose-woven gossamer, shut out the distant sur- 

 roundings, yet was the smooth water bright and 



