The strict morality of this proceeding, on the part of a people generally fair and upright, was, perhaps, never canvassed. The war, so far as carried on by Miriam, was looked upon as one of aggression; and the defence and retaliation regarded in the light of self-preservation. In the midst of this state of things Jethro Coffin returned to his home. He found himself a ruined man. Like a true philosopher, he set himself about repairing his shattered fortunes; but in the end was enabled to scrape together only a few fragments of a magnificent wreck. He placed great reliance, however, on the return of his ships from their whaling operations, to resuscitate his mercantile name and credit; but the reader has already been made acquainted with their ill success and their misfortunes, and may therefore judge of the keen disappointment of Jethro, when he found his hopes entirely blasted.

Jethro could never be brought to look upon Miriam's splendid designs, which had ended so disastrously, with any thing like patience or complacency.

"Had it not been for this," said Miriam, after she had finished giving her husband a faithful relation of her transactions" had it not been for this misfortune, and that accident, if things had gone so and so-as I had good reason to expect, we should, as thou seest, have been the wealthiest family in the colonies."

Nay," answered Jethro, "I do not see as thou seest thy unchastened ambition, not content with reasonable gains, hath ruined thy husband stock and flook! Get thee gone to thy kitchen, where it is fitting thou shouldst preside: go-go to thy kitchen, woman, and do thou never meddle with men's affairs more !"

Miriam's proud heart was humbled: it was almost broken at this reproof from her husband. But she obeyed; and, in time, put on the show of content, and seemed, to the eyes of the world at least, to accommodate herself, without murmuring, to the humble pursuits which suited her decayed fortunes. But that world VOL. II.--P

never knew of the volcanic fires burning with a smouldering flame in her bosom; nor of the yearnings for power; nor the throbbings, struggling to be revenged upon those who had brought her house to its ruin. She was

And in her breast was pent as fierce a fire.”

CHAPTER XII.

These days-these months-to years had worn,
When tidings of high weight were borne

To that lone island's shore.

WALTER SCOTT.

O fortunate, e ciascuna era certa

Della sua sepoltura.

DANTE.

MUCH bustle and speculation were created in the town of Sherburne by the appearance of a large ship, riding at anchor off the harbour, early one morning, shortly after the return of Jethro Coffin to his native place. She showed no flag, nor displayed any signal. Her sails were furled, and the stillness of death seemed to reign over her decks. Not a single form could be detected, even with the glass, moving on board; and her dark hull swung, broadside to the town, steadily and motionless, as if her keel were imbedded in the sands.

As the sun rose, a single boat put off from the ship and approached the shore. It was a whale-boat, full manned; and the helmsman, as usual, stood erect in the stern-sheets, while an extra man occupied the bow. The latter seemed, by his squatting position, to cower beneath the gaze of him at the helm, and to be desirous of escaping from observation. As the boat approached the pier, many of the inhabitants, anxious to ascertain. the name of the ship, gathered at the expected point of debarkation. There was an object, carefully covered from the sight, that reclined in the stern near the helmsman, which, from its shape and peculiar position, attracted the curiosity of the bystanders. The boat

sheared up, and displayed faces long familiar to the islanders.

"Can it be possible," exclaimed they, "that it is Captain Seth Macy so soon returned ?”

"You do indeed see him before you," answered he.
“And is that vessel riding at anchor thy ship?"
"No :-it is the Leviathan.”

“And where is the noble ship Grampus?"

"At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean."

"And the crew-where are they?" demanded a breathless spectator.

"Safe," answered Seth-" all safe, on board the ship in the offing. I would that I could say as much of her

The eager curiosity and deep sympathy of the auditors, who surrounded Seth upon the wharf, compelled him to repeat the painful story of his misfortunes; and the recital was listened to with silent attention. When he spoke of the manner of young Starbuck's death, a shudder thrilled the assembly, and they shed tears; and when he described the awful suddenness of the catastrophe which befell the Grampus, there was unfeigned sorrow depicted on every countenance. Seth continued thus:

"You see, my friends, that all, save poor Starbuck, escaped. It was the providence of God that saved us, and provided us with the means of escape. It was with heavy hearts that we reached the Leviathan, for we had lost our all; and we mounted her deck without a single change of clothing. We were now nearly a hundred souls in all; and the ship, of course, was encumbered with a double crew. After deliberating on our ⚫ condition, and thinking over what was best to be done, we came to the conclusion to put the ship about and return home. Our voyage seemed to be accursed. Thus far we had had nothing but accident and misfortune, and vexation upon vexation. Every thing went wrong, and even the elements conspired against us.

Having determined to return to port, we set about gathering our few slaughtered whales together; and in a few days, after securing all that was valuable of the animals, we left the Pacific. We arrived off the harbour late last evening, and cast our anchor where you now see the ship: but, as if Heaven had not yet emptied its vials of wrath upon us to the very dregs, it must visit us with murder!-Nay-start not, my friends, it is true to the letter. Cain was the first murderer in the human family, and I bring you the first ever known to our peaceful island. Behold him there !".

The auditors of Seth recoiled in horror, as they looked upon the dogged countenance of the murderer. He still sat in the bow of the boat, without attempting

to move.

"It is that accursed Indian !-it is Quibby!" exclaimed one, as he called to mind the features of the brute.

"Nay, fear him not," said Seth, observing the bystanders shrink from his presence, as if the angel of death were before them" fear him not," said he, "for he is manacled: his power of harming is past; and, if the laws of the land are enforced, he will shortly take his last look upon the face of men, and appear for judgment before his Creator, whose image he has marred, in the person of the young and gallant Harry Gardner!"

ers.

Seth uncovered the body of the murdered young man, and displayed his pallid face to the horror-struck islandThe Indian shuddered as the corpse met his eyes. There was a deathlike stillness in the audience, interrupted at times by sobs and groans. Not a word was spoken: but the eyes of many overflowed with tears. The scene was most painful to behold, and was the more shocking to the people, because they had never even dreamed of witnessing such inhuman violence in their exemplary and peaceful community.

There were some of the young men of the town present who were intimate friends of Harry, and had