Instead of striving to break the rope and escape, which he might have done with ease, his courage seemed weakened by this new kind of restraint. I had some struggles, it is true; but I quickly conquered him, and we were soon friends.

I have met, in the course of my life with a variety of other adventures, which I will narrate to my young readers, if they will give their attention. I am an old man now and have plenty of leisure; but the greater portion of my life has been passed in unceasing activity and has been full of incident:—

“Up to the north—the polar north,

With the whalers did I go,

’Mong the mountains of eternal ice

To the land of the thawless snow.

“We were hemmed in by icy rocks,

The strength of man was vain;

But at once the arm of God was shown

The rocks were rent in twain.