FATE OF A GALLANT CREW, 



143 



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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 deat'^ stepped in when 

 least expected, and took them, v.ith their brother 

 officers and their entire r -ew, 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 



