Biographical Sketch 29 



foolhardy. I have too bright a prospect 

 before me to allow of my throwing away my 

 life needlessly, though I have sufficient con- 

 fidence in myself to think that if I am com- 

 pelled into danger I will face it like a man. 



" I am just on the eve of leaving. The old 

 rocks of Shetland, and the beloved household 

 faces rise pre-eminent among the objects left 

 behind. God ever bless you all. Should I 

 never see you again, dearest Mamma, my 

 last breath will be a prayer for your happi- 

 ness. God bless you, God bless you, and 

 He will. Kiss the dear bairns for their 

 brother Tom. He will be long away, and 

 he will be much altered ere they meet again ; 

 but they may be sure that many a time, 

 perhaps in the midst of danger and death, 

 his thoughts will wander to where they are. 



" The Captain has come aboard, and 

 there's the pipe. All hands make sail ! 

 Signal ditto to our Consort the Pandora. 

 Hoist away main royals. Adieu, adieu, God 

 bless you." 



Subsequent letters brimful of hope and 

 fun, and interesting accounts of the places 

 visited en route y are pitiful reading when 

 one thinks of the tragic end so near, which 



