BY THE
AUTHOR OF "TOM CRINGLE'S LOG."
[Transcriber's note: Author is Michael Scott]
"ON LIFE'S VAST OCEAN DIVERSELY WE SAIL,
REASON THE CARD, BUT PASSION IS THE GALE."
ESSAY ON MAN
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH;
AND T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDON.
MDCCCXXXVI.
EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND CO., PAUL'S WORK.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME SECOND.
CHAP.
I. A HAIRBREADTH ESCAPE
II. A VISION—THE DYING BUCANIER
III. SCENES IN HAVANNA
IV. A CRUISE IN THE MOUNTAINS—EL CAFETAL
V. THE MOSQUITO
VI. SPIRITING AWAY—WHERE IS THE BALLAHOO?
VII. THE DEVIL'S GULLY
VIII. MY UNCLE
IX. OCCIDENTAL VAGARIES
X. THE MOONBEAM
XI. THE BREAKING WAVE
XII. THE END OF THE YARN
I must either have been weaker, or the opiatestronger than the doctor expected, for it was nearmidnight before I awoke. Although still very lowand faint, I felt much refreshed and invigorated. Forsome time I lay enjoying the coolness of the nightair, and listening to the chirping of the crickets, inthe crevices of the lofty roof. There was not thesmallest noise besides to be heard in the house, andevery thing without was equally still. At mybedside, on the right hand, there stood a smallold-fashioned ebony table, inlaid with mother-of-pearl,with several phials, a bottle of wine, and glasses onit, an open book, the leaves kept down on one side bya most enticing uncut pine-apple, and a large brownwax candle, burning dimly in its tall massive silvercandlestick. A chair of the same substance andantique character, and richly carved, was set beside thistable, over the high perpendicular back of which hunga seaman's jacket, and a black silk neckerchief, as ifthe wearer had recently been reading beside me, andvery possibly watching me. I listened—all continuedsilent; and I turned, but still with great pain, towardsthe open window or balcony that projected into andoverhung the neighbouring thoroughfare. Themoonlight streamed through the casement, and, with asensation of ineffable pleasure, I gloated on the brightstars beyond, deep set into the dark blue sky, whilethe cool night breeze, charged with the odour of thepine-apple, breathed gently, and oh! how passingsweetly, on my feverish temples!
From the pain experienced in moving, I only turnedhalf-round, and therefore lay in a position thatprevented my seeing more than the upper part of thelarge window; but I gradually slewed myself, so asto lie more on my side. "Heaven and earth, therehe is again!" My heart fluttered and beat audibly.My breathing became impeded and irregular, and largedrops of ice-cold perspiration burst from my foreheadand face; for there