Other natives showed them similar kindness, removing the two corpses out of the boat "with signs of the utmost compassion," and following in all respects the example of the good Samaritan. They brought soup, which seemed to Austin the most delicious food he had ever tasted, but his stomach was in so weak a state that it refused to retain it. Herbs and broth were prepared for him by the women, and his wound was bathed with a lotion made of tobacco. Every morning the men lifted these unfortunates from their hammocks, and carried them in their arms under the shade of a lemon-tree while they anointed their blistered skin with a healing oil pressed from the tails of crabs.
In consequence of this friendly care and attention Austin was able in three weeks to go about on crutches, and receive Carib visitors from all parts of the island, "none of whom came empty handed." He gave boards with his name cut on them, to be shown to any ship captains who might chance to touch on the island, and after many weeks this plan met with success. A sloop, bound for Martinique, laden with mules, touched at Sandy Point, the western extremity of Tobago, and its master at once sent the intelligence to Messrs. Roscoe & Nyles at Barbadoes, the owners of Captain Austin's bark, who promptly sent a small vessel to fetch him.
When about to depart, the friendly Caribs loaded him down with presents of poultry and fruit, especially oranges and lemons, which they thought useful for his recovery. He had absolutely nothing to give them in return, save the boat in which he had arrived, and which they might have taken without his leave. More than thirty of them accompanied him to the beach, where, at parting from them, "neither Austin nor the mate could refrain from tears."
The effects of the poor captain's privations were lasting. His digestion was so impaired that he could hardly speak or walk, and had to give up his calling and return to England. His case excited much public attention. A Bath physician, Dr. Russell, who had resided in the East, and was accustomed to deal with cases arising from long-protracted thirst in the Arabian deserts, came to London to prescribe for him. By means of constant bathing, and asses' milk for his only diet, Austin regained his health in six months, and survived his disaster two-and-twenty years.
[HOW BILLY WENT UP IN THE WORLD.]
BY ANNETTE NOBLE.
Part I.
This is the story of a boy who had red hair, a good appetite, and much else in common with other boys; one who rose very high in the world, who came down and rose again, not so high, but in a better way. He was not a genius, or I should not tell his story; for there are so many boy geniuses nowadays in books that the record of a common red-haired child may be more interesting, as a change.
One day fifteen years ago there had been a county fair in Langham. The grounds were full of people even at six o'clock in the afternoon. But under the tent the gay bed-spreads, the oil-paintings, the hair flowers, and the wax-works were being taken down, while the farmers' wives were exchanging compliments, sample biscuit, and currant jelly. Outside the canvas the men were taking away the cattle—the great oxen with prize tickets on their horns, or sheep, or swine, or poultry. Everywhere there was bellowing, grunting, shouting, scolding, and some grumbling. This last was chiefly done by a noisy party who came to the fair, not to bring the grain or cattle raised by their industry, but to stare at the two-headed calf never raised by anybody, to bet on horses, to steal water-melons, and to join at last the crowd that was elbowing around a man with a balloon, in which he was to go up when ready. This balloon, already inflated, was fastened by a rope to a well-driven stake, and floated a little way above the ground. Among the lookers-on, some who pretended to know declared that it was not a very good balloon, and must surely come to grief.