THE TWIN ISLANDS. 155 



accessible as I thought. Across my path there lay an 

 umbrella — and such a one ! When it was carried, there 

 Tvere giants in those days, or should have been. A 

 warming-pan, once silver-plated, but now brown with 

 oxidation of the copper of which it was made, came next 

 in view, and then a set of window -shades, something 

 like Venetian blinds, but made of narrow strips securely 

 held by hempen cord that still was strong. A roll of 

 bed-curtain — this I captured — with small squares, por- 

 traying Old Testament scenes; and scattered every- 

 where, over and under these, were old boots, shoes, and 

 knee -buckles; and best of all, warped, twisted, curled- 

 leaved volumes — remnants of a little library gathered a 

 century ago. As best I could I brought together my 

 umbrella, bed -curtains, and what books I could, and 

 backed into daylight. I had seven volumes before me, 

 and sat down by the little window to inspect them. The 

 first was a rheumatic specimen, with a back bent in all 

 directions, and leaves as outstanding as the fur of a fu- 

 rious cat. After some search I found the title-page, and 

 read, " The Journal of Thomas Chalkley, etc., etc.," and 

 the books had the imprint of Benjamin Franklin. " This 

 will do for a beginning;" and I laid it upon the bed- 

 curtains ; but it would not lie flat. The next was a lit- 

 tle duodecimo, or smaller, and alas ! I saw at a glance, 

 was marked Yol. II. I turned to the title-page, for the 

 title on the back was gone, and read, " History of Louisi- 

 ana, etc., Le Sage Du Pratz." Was it possible the other 

 volume was gone? A glance at the books beside me 

 showed it was not there. If the gloomy corners of the 

 garret closets must be again ransacked, so let it be — that 



