way that filled his favourite pupil, Baldwin Burr, with inexpressible
delight.

When he had finished, Bob Corkey rose, and with an air of intense
solemnity said--

"Messmates, my lady, fathers, and brethren,--I begs to offer a
observation or two. It seems to me that a college with only one
professor ain't quite the thing for this great and enlightened republic.
Seems to me; therefore, that we should appint a professor who could
spin yarns for our amusement, not to say edification. And, for this
end, I moves that we appint Simon O'Rook (great applause), whose gifts
in the way o' story-tellin', or nat'ral lyin', so to speak, is
unequalled by any nat'ral philosopher on the island." (Hear, hear, and
cheers, mingled with laughter.)

This motion was seconded by Bounce, and the appointment was gracefully
accepted by O'Rook, who, however, declined taking office till the
following night as it was getting late, and he required time to compose
his professional lies; but he ventured, as a free citizen of the "noo"
republic, to move that the house should adjourn to bed.

The idea thus jestingly introduced was so far carried into effect in
earnest, that Philosopher Jack did, on many evenings thereafter, amuse
and interest his comrades round the camp-fire, by relating many a tale
from history, both ancient and modern, with which his memory was well
stored. He also proved to himself, as well as to others, the great
value of even a small amount of scientific knowledge, by being able to
comment on the objects of surrounding nature in a way that invested them
with an interest which, to absolutely ignorant men, they could not have
possessed.

O'Rook also fulfilled his engagements to some extent, being not only
able, but willing, to spin long-winded yarns, which, when genuine
material failed, he could invent with facility.

Thus the time passed pleasantly enough for several weeks, and the
shipwrecked crew succeeded in keeping up their spirits, despite the
undercurrent of heavy anxiety with which they were oppressed,--as indeed
they could scarcely fail to be, when they reflected on the fact that the
island, on which they had been cast, lay far out of the ordinary track
of ships. This had been ascertained by the captain, who, it may be
remembered, had taken his sextant from the ship, and who, the day before
the destruction of the raft on the coral reef, had obtained a reliable
observation, and fixed their position.

But this an