her with the energy of despair, but the Americans gave
chase, and we need scarcely add that, in a very short time, all were
captured.

When the man-of-war rejoined the West-Indiaman, the night had set in and
a stiff breeze had arisen, so that the long and laborious search that
was made for the body of poor Mrs Ellice, proved utterly fruitless.
Captain Ellice, whose wound was very severe, was struck down as if by a
thunderbolt, and for a long time his life was despaired of. During his
illness Fred nursed him with the utmost tenderness, and, in seeking to
comfort his father, found some relief to his own stricken heart.

Months passed away. Captain Ellice was conveyed to the residence of his
sister in Grayton, and, under her care, and the nursing of his little
niece, Isobel, he recovered his wonted health and strength. To the eyes
of men, Captain Ellice and his son were themselves again, but those who
judge of men's hearts by their outward appearance and expressions, in
nine cases out of ten judge very wide of the mark indeed. Both had
undergone a great change. The brilliancy and glitter of this world had
been completely and rudely dispelled, and both had been led to enquire
whether there was not something better to live for than mere present
advantage and happiness; something that would stand by them in those
hours of sickness and sorrow which must inevitably, sooner or later,
come upon all men.

But Captain Ellice could not be induced to resume the command of his old
ship, or voyage again to the West Indies. He determined to change the
scene of his future labours and sail to the frozen seas, where the
aspect of every object--even the ocean itself--would be very unlikely to
recall the circumstances of his loss.

Some time after his recovery, Captain Ellice purchased a brig, and
fitted her out as a whaler, determined to try his fortune in the
northern seas. Fred pleaded hard to be taken out, but his father felt
that he had more need to go to school than to sea; so he refused, and
Fred, after sighing very deeply once or twice, gave in with a good
grace. Buzzby, too, who stuck to his old commander like a leech, was
equally anxious to go, but Buzzby, in a sudden and unaccountable fit of
tenderness, had, just two months before, married a wife, who might be
appropriately described as "fat, fair, and forty," and Buzzby's wife
absolutely forbade him to go. Alas! Buzzby was no longer his own
master. At the age of fo