No Preface
Introduction [7-8]
[7] Life, even in this so-called ‘prosaic’ nineteenth century, is full of strange events and startling adventures. Englishmen are as heroic under the conditions of ‘the new order’ as ever they were in the days of old; and they are as often put to the test. This is well: for deeds of high daring and enterprise raise and exalt both nations and individuals. And boys still love to read the record of brave deeds, and feel their hearts burn within them at every tale of dauntless courage and self-sacrifice. It is happy for mankind that they do so feel; for thus the germs are sown of a future race of heroes; and any boy who dares to emulate even the few deeds recorded in this little volume, will become an honour to his race and country, and leave another name to draw men upwards. But no one can be a true hero who is not ready to sacrifice self, and the first step in the path of heroism is to learn to be unselfish. The great Example of this truth in our century has just died a martyr’s death; betrayed at the post of duty, but leaving a name – immortal in its fullest and most perfect sense – to show us how a man ought to live and die. May all boys desire to emulate the noble life of Gordon, with its unselfish devotion and its perfect trust in God. [8] It is with the hope of adding some slight kindling to the noble fire of heroism, that these pages have been collected. They tell stories of dangers, endurance, courage, and self-devotion unmatched, we believe, in the history of any people who do not speak our noble English tongue – for we need scarcely say that several of our recitals belong to our kindred ‘over the sea.’ Trusting that they may give pleasure to the young reader, as well as show him that ‘Whatever men dare they may do,’ we offer him these annals of ‘moving accidents by flood and fell,’ asking him to remember that –
‘Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time; –
‘Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.’
Contents
Introduction 7A Great Land Avalanche 9
A Terrible Volcanic Eruption in Central America 15
Attacked by Cannibals 17
Adventures with Tigers 23
A Tin Pedlar’s Adventure with Wolves 29
After the Pirates 36
Sir Henry Keppel and the Pirates of Sarebus 40
A Race with the Flames 49
Battle of Chinhutt 57
Siege of Lucknow 63
Havelock’s March of Lucknow 66
An Heroic Exploit 79
Adventure of a Young Mexican 84
Lost on the Prairies 89
The Wreck of the La Plata 101
In an Old Molasses Hogshead 108
Perilous Adventure of Mr. Stanley 114
A Brave Man 125
The Strathmore Shipwreck 127
A Week of Carnage at Plevna 130
Running the Blockade at Plevna 145
The Black Ladrones 160
Through Waterspout and Typhoon 166
A Shack in the Bad Lands 182
A Narrow Escape 206
A Brave Cowboy 208
Battle with a Shark 214
Struggle with an Alligator 216
An Ivory Hunt in Salagore 217
A Storm off Cape Horn 225
A Bear-keeper’s Peril 228
Attacked by Indians 229
Bear-Hunting in Mississippi 232
Bear-Hunting on the Ice 244
The Fireman’s Story 246
Lost on the Dakota Prairie 251
Defence of Rorke’s Drift 256
Capture of a Brigand 265
Capture on Morosi’s Mountain 270
A Gallant Rescue, 1881 281
A Dual Providence 283
Earthquake at Ischia 286
Volcanic Eruption in Java 289
A Remarkable Story of Shipwreck 300
Diary of an American Girl during the Egyptian War of 1882 303
The Floods in Missouri 324
Narrow Escape from an Elephant 331
Saved by a Rat 333
A Gallant Rescue at Sea 337
War in the Soudan 340
El Teb, 1883 342
The March through the Desert 345
Battle of Abu Klea 351
Battle of Abu Kru 361
Sir Charles Wilson sent to Khartoum 377
How Sir Charles Wilson Was Rescued 378
The Rescue of Greely 382
A Tale of the Sea 400
Hippopotamus Hunting 403
Escape from Peccaries 407
After the Mindanao Pirates 411