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CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.

THIS redoubtable hero was born at Willoughby, in Lincolnshire, in the year 1579. He was descended, he says in his autobiography, from the family of the ancient Smiths of Crudley, in Lancashire, on the father's side, and from the Rickards, of Great Heck, in Yorkshire, on the mother's. At an early age, his parents having died, he was placed under the care of guardians, but these unfaithful stewards ill-treated the youth, squandered his property, and otherwise behaved in a manner highly offensive to his sensitive nature. In those days, young people considered it an excellent plan to run away, if all things were not quite comfortable at home. There were no electric telegraphs, rail-roads, or steam-boats to dart after the truant and bring him back again. If he had a stout heart, a keen wit, or a sharp sword, it was probable that he would make a way for himself in the world, and so utterly escape from all his former grievances. Smith's disposition became known to his guardians, and, to punish it, they sent him as an apprentice to a merchant at Lynn. The drudgery of a counting-house was the last thing in the world that could suit

his ardent nature. He gave it a very brief trial, and then, borrowing all the money he could (amounting to about ten shillings), he started for the Continent, in the company of Mr. Peregrine Bertz. He does not appear to have been a great favorite with this gentleman, and in a short time was dismissed from his train. Not in the slightest degree discouraged by this untoward event, young Smith determined to go in search of his own fortunes. He repaired, accordingly, to the Low Countries, where a plentiful dish of hard fighting was always supplied to the hungry visitor. Here he baptized his infant weapon, and performed prodigies of valor during four long but exciting years of warfare. At length, becoming weary of the struggle, he took his leave, and proceeded to Scotland, where, after a slight touch of shipwreck, he arrived in safety. The hospitality of the Scotch was lavished on the hero, but the court of King James entirely overlooked his existence. Slightly in disgust, therefore, he turned his back on the Scottish metropolis, and once more returned to Willoughby, in Lincolnshire. The good folks made a lion of him at first, and bored him with their invitations and attentions, "in which," he says, "he took small delight." To rid himself of these pests, he retired from the town, and established himself in an open field a good way from it. Here, beside a gay little rivulet, he built himself a pavilion of boughs, and, dispensing with all the luxuries of civilization, devoted himself to the study of war and morals. Concerning the latter he appeared to have somewhat loose notions. He looked upon the earth as a large domain, bestowed indifferently upon all Adam's children, who might, without blame, make use freely of what they found in their way. Practically applied, this theory resulted in a pastime which the law frowns at, under the name of poaching. In other words, he was in the habit of replenishing his scanty board with the prime venison and plump pheasants of his neighbors. He did not exactly do it himself. He had a worthy retainer who performed the important functions of the commissariat department, while the virtuous Smith improved himself in the pages of Machiavelli and Marcus Aurelius. The only amusement he took was on horseback, either hunting, or tilting with the lance, and acquiring a dexterity with that. weapon for which he was afterward renowned. Such a character in a quiet agricultural district became necessarily an object of extreme curiosity. Every one talked about the chivalric her

mit, and not a few fair damsels sighed for the possession of such a strange, fascinating knight, who seemed to live in a romance world of his own, with which this coarser firmament had no sort of connection. There were others, too, who became interested in his strange life, especially one-an Italian gentleman—of the name of Peodoro Polaloga, a superb horseman, and rider to the Earl of Lincoln. Smith derived so much satisfaction from this gentleman's society, that he was, after a time, persuaded to abandon his pavilion of boughs, and once more return to the world.

There is no doubt that peace was a very objectionable state of things to Smith, and that he infinitely preferred cutting throats wherever and whenever that relaxation could be enjoyed. At that time the Turks were ravaging Hungary, and pitching into the Christian armies with unusual ferocity. Smith, who, to use a vulgar expression, was spoiling for a fight, determined to join the Christians, and show the infidels what hard fighting really meant. With this object in view, he attired himself in great splendor, and conveyed himself and arms on board ship. The attractiveness of his appearance excited the cupidity of some of the rogues on board, who, seeing that he was as innocent as a child of all matters relating to the world, made up their minds to rob him. One of the band made approaches to Smith, pretending to be a nobleman of high degree, while three of his confederates were in attendance in the capacity of servants. A sort of intimacy sprung up between them; Smith divulged his plans for the future, and the man of birth condescendingly undertook to introduce him to a French duchess, "whose husband," he said, "was commander for the emperor in Hungary." The prospect of such desirable patronage was too much for our guileless hero. Gorgeous visions of splendid military success and advancement sprang from his fervid mind, and gave lustre to his manly eye. At length the vessel arrived in the roads of St.Valery-sur-Somme. Here the pretended nobleman undertook to convey Smith's baggage ashore, and, with the assistance of the captain, who was in league with the robbers, did so in the most effectual manner. It was landed with such safety that poor deluded Smith never saw it again. He was reduced to such straits by this misfortune, that he had to sell his cloak in order to proceed on his journey. One of the passengers on board—a soldier-did all he could to mitigate the annoyance, and even accompanied Smith to Mortain, where the rob

bers (who resorted to the profession as a kind of elegant diversion) resided. But in those days of tardy justice, the words of an injured foreigner were not listened to with eager attention. The villains escaped. With such funds as he could now command, our hero turned once more toward the sea-coast, and traveled from port to port, with the hope of finding a ship to convey him to his destination. It was not so easy in those days, and his slender means were soon exhausted; weariness, hunger, and heartsickness overtook him; he dropped from exhaustion, and thought, as you or I would have done, of the gay, glad things at home, which he would never, never see again. Happily, a rich farmer found him as he lay by the road side, and bore him tenderly to his house, where he was properly cared for, and sent on his journey again with renewed vigor.

Shortly after this he came across one of the four villains who had robbed him, and a very quiet and earnest fight immediately ensued. It is to be hoped the poor wretch had said his prayers, for his black soul took flight that day through a convenient aperture made for the purpose by our hero. Smith now traveled through the western and southern provinces of France, visited the kingdoms of Bearne and Navarre, and at length arrived at Marseilles, where he embarked for Italy. The passengers being mostly bigoted Catholics, and Smith, on the other hand, being a tremendous Protestant, fierce disputes immediately ensued, and, when a terrific storm arose, all the black-coated priests declared that it was caused entirely by Smith's presence on board, and so, to put a stop to it, they threw him overboard. Fortunately, he had learned the art of swimming, and managed to buffet his way to the lonely shore of an uninhabited island, where, as good luck would have it, a vessel lay at anchor waiting for the storm to abate. The captain turned out to be a friend of some of Smith's acquaintances, and, when he heard his story, behaved in the most handsome manner. But the captain was afflicted with the moral looseness of the times, and erred on the side of piracy. During the voyage they came across several vessels which they fought and plundered in a perfectly systematic manner. Smith behaved with such gallantry that, when he reached the Roads of Antibes, he found himself the master of a good deal of ready cash-500 zechins, and of a box containing as many more-which, he observes rather brazenly, "God sent him." Feeling now complete

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ly at his ease, he made the tour of Italy, and, having gratified his curiosity in that land of romance, started on his way once more, and in due time joined the army of Ferdinand, Arch-duke of Austria, afterward Emperor of Germany. He soon distinguished himself by great personal bravery, and by the exercise of many ingenious military tactics, which caused him to be promoted to the rank of captain. But he appears never to have had what he considered a fair share of fighting, although he took an active part in all the battles, and perforated Paynim bodies with the heartiest of wills and the sharpest of weapons. To satisfy his appetite in this respect, he cheerfully accepted any private invitations to fight. On one occasion, a Turkish officer-desirous, as he said, of amusing the ladies-solicited some Christian officer, of equal rank, to engage with him in a passage of arms before Regal. Lots were cast, and Smith won the privilege. He mounted his war-horse with great glee, and, lance in hand, started for the ground. “The ramparts of Regal," he says, were lined with ladies, while the Christian host stood in battalions on the plain, to observe the conduct of their own champion." The combat was of short duration. Smith rushed at the Osmanli, and pierced him through the head with his lance, and then descending, cut off the poor fellow's damaged member, and bore it in triumph to his camp. The Osmanlis were not satisfied with this. On the following day they sent a special challenge to Smith, staking the head, horse, and armor of another champion against his prowess. Smith was quite willing to accommodate the Osmanlis. They met, and at the first charge shivered their lances without doing any particular damage. Pistols were then drawn, and finally a hand-to-hand struggle ensued, both grappling fiercely on the ground. When Smith got up, he was the possessor of a bleeding head, a horse, and a suit of armor. Imagining that the Osmanlis might not yet be thoroughly happy in their mind, and anxious to accommodate them in every reasonable way, he now sent a challenge to Regal, expressing his willingness to restore the two heads he had in his possession, provided they would send some one who would make the number three, by adding that of the challenger. A redoubtable Osmanli, of the name of Bonamalgro (at least so Smith calls him), took up the gage thus thrown down, and promised to entertain Smith with pistol, battle-axe, and sword, but not with the lance, of which he appears to have had a wholesome distrust. They met with the

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