The Land of Fire: A Tale of Adventure

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Reid Mayne. The Land of Fire: A Tale of Adventure

Preface

Chapter One “The Sea! The Sea! The Open Sea!”

Chapter Two. The Star-Spangled Banner

Chapter Three. Portsmouth Mud-Larks

Chapter Four. Off the “Furies.”

Chapter Five. The Castaways

Chapter Six. A Battle with Birds

Chapter Seven. A World on a Weed

Chapter Eight. A Flurry with Fur-Seals

Chapter Nine. An Unnatural Mother

Chapter Ten. Saved by a Williwaw

Chapter Eleven. Why “Land of Fire.”

Chapter Twelve. A Catastrophe Not Anticipated

Chapter Thirteen. A Change of Quarters determined on

Chapter Fourteen. A Fuegian Fish-Hunt

Chapter Fifteen. A Rough Overland Route

Chapter Sixteen. By the “Kitchen Midden.”

Chapter Seventeen. Unwelcome Visitors

Chapter Eighteen. Fuegian Food-Providing

Chapter Nineteen. An Odd Renewal of Acquaintance

Chapter Twenty. Gone back to Barbarism

Chapter Twenty One. Boat Ahoy!

Chapter Twenty Two. Tekeneeka Hospitality

Chapter Twenty Three. The Dreaded Oensmen

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One of the most interesting of English highways is the old coach road from London to Portsmouth. Its interest is in part due to the charming scenery through which it runs, but as much to memories of a bygone time. One travelling this road at the present day might well deem it lonely, as there will be met on it only the liveried equipage of some local magnate, the more unpretentious turn-out of country doctor or parson, with here and there a lumbering farm waggon, or the farmer himself in his smart two-wheeled “trap,” on the way to a neighbouring market.

How different it was half a century ago, when along this same highway fifty four-horse stages were “tooled” to and fro from England’s metropolis to her chief seaport town, top-heavy with fares – often a noisy crowd of jovial Jack tars, just off a cruise and making Londonward, or with faces set for Portsmouth, once more to breast the billows and brave the dangers of the deep! Many a naval officer of name and fame historic, such as the Rodneys, Cochranes, Collingwoods, and Codringtons, – even Nile’s hero himself, – has been whirled along this old highway.

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For a time he keeps intently on the watch, wondering what sort of man the Calypso’s captain may be, and whether he will recognise him amidst the moving throng. Not likely, since most of those passing by are men of the sea, as their garb betokens. There are sailors in blue jackets and trousers that are tight at the hip and loose around the ankles, with straw-plaited or glazed hats, bright-ribboned, and set far back on the head; other seamen in heavy pilot-cloth coats and sou’-westers; still others wearing Guernsey frocks and worsted caps, with long points drooping down over their ears. Now, a staid naval officer passes along in gold-laced uniform, and sword slung in black leathern belt; now, a party of rollicking midshipmen, full of romp and mischief.

Not all who pass him are English: there are men loosely robed and wearing turbans, whom he takes to be Turks or Egyptians, which they are; others, also of Oriental aspect, in red caps with blue silk tassels – the fez. In short, he sees sailors of all nations and colours, from the blonde-complexioned Swede and Norwegian to the almost jet-black negro from Africa.

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