of which time he was brought before Flag-officer Goldborough, who informed him that his vessel had saltpetre on board, and that in consequence she fell a lawful prize to the Federal Government; at the same time intimating that Wilson might take a passage on board her to Philadelphia. Wilson promptly replied that his cargo was not saltpetre, that his ship was British property, and he could not acknowledge her a lawful prize.

In about an hour's time he returned to his ship, when he found that all his crew had been taken away, except the cook and the steward, and that a fresh crew had been placed on board, consisting of Lieutenant Stone, a master's mate, twelve men, and an engineer, a passenger— fifteen in all. Having weighed anchor, they proceeded to sea.

Captain Wilson was certain that the capture was illegal-but what was to be done? He would not hesitate to re-capture the ship if he could, but how was that possible single-handed? He cast about in his mind how he should proceed, and carefully yet cautiously sounded the cook and the steward, and satisfied himself that he might trust them in an emergency. Whatever was done must be done soon, and as the opportunity did not arrive, he must hasten it.

About half-past four o'clock on the morning of the 21st March, when Lieutenant Stone had his watch on deck, Wilson called the cook and the steward into his state-room, and told them that he had made up his mind to regain his ship or lose his life in the attempt, and asked them whether they were ready to assist and run the venture with him. They at once promised to stand by him through thick and thin, and faithfully they kept their word. He then gave them each a pair of irons and a sheet, and told them to follow him, as the moment of action had arrived. The master's mate was asleep in his berth. Quietly opening the door, Wilson walked in, and, after handing out his revolver and sword, grasped the mate's hands. In an instant the men had placed the gag in his mouth and the irons on his wrists. Then the brave captain, with his two followers, went to the cabin of the passenger, and having taken the arms from his berth, secured him in the same way they had the mate. Now came a critical moment, and the most difficult part of the undertaking, for he must next overcome the commanding officer, who, unsuspicious of danger, was walking the deck of his prize.

With astounding coolness, Wilson went up on deck, as if he had just turned out of his berth, and joining Lieutenant Stone in his walk, talked to him unconcernedly about the weather. After walking for about ten minutes, he raised a point of discussion, and induced the lieutenant to go down into the cabin to look at the chart, and at the same time take a cup of coffee. At once he fell into the trap, and Wilson, following him from the poop, took up on his way an iron belaying-pin. Everything depended upon the success of the next move in the game; the chart. lay open upon the table, the cook and the steward were hid in ambush behind the door. Wilson entered the fore-cabin just as the lieutenant was at the door of the after-cabin where the chart was spread; and so face to face with him, he said, "Stone!" and, lifting up the belaying-pin, told him that if he stirred he was a dead man, adding that the ship should never go to Philadelphia. Before he had time to utter a sound or recover from his surprise, the cook and the steward sprang on him, forced the gag into his mouth and the irons on his wrists, and pitched him without ceremony into the nearest cabin, the door of which they locked. Having secured all the cabin passengers, the crew had next to be mastered; three were walking the deck, one was at the helm, and one on the look-out forward.

Without a tremor in his voice, Wilson called the three men aft, and pointing to the

hatchway of the store-room near the helm, said that a coil of rope was wanted up. He then shoved off the hatch, and pointing to a corner where the rope was, they all three jumped down. Instantly he replaced the hatch, which his allies fastened securely, while he turned to the wondering man at the helm, and told him that if he moved or spoke he should pay the penalty with his life. The look-out was then called aft and seized. On being asked whether he would assist in navigating the ship to a British port, he replied emphatically, "No;" whereupon he was put with the other prisoners, while Wilson remained to guard the hatchway.

Then Wilson called the watch, knowing well that they would not all come on deck together, as sailors never do. He was consequently able to secure two before the suspicions of the rest were aroused. The third man of the watch, however, drew his knife as the steward was about to seize him, when the latter fired upon him, and the shot went through his shoulder. He was seized, as were all the remainder, and Captain Wilson was again in charge of his ship.

It was a moment of intense delight, but it was no time to rejoice as though the re-capture were complete. His crew consisted of two men, neither of whom could steer, nor were they accustomed to go aloft; he had the Atlantic and a stormy season between himself and safety, and on board, prisoners eager to re-take the ship; but he never quailed nor feared, and at once shaped a course for England. Then he went below and announced to Lieutenant Stone that the ship was his own again, and with a generous consideration of the position of his prisoner, offered to take the gag out of his mouth and the irons off his wrists if he would give his word of honour that he would content himself to remain a prisoner in his berth. To this he consented, and dined at the cabin-table every day under guard, and was then replaced in his berth. The crew were supplied daily with bread, beef, and water, and such things as were necessary to their health. After a while four of their number, rather than remain in confinement, volunteered their services in working the ship; but as they were landsmen, and only one could steer, while none were able to go aloft, they were not very useful, and must have been a source of continual anxiety lest they should devise means for the escape of the prisoners.

Not long after Captain Wilson had commenced his homeward passage it came on to blow hard, and, increasing to a gale, it was necessary to close-reef the topsails. The cook and the steward were placed at the helm, and the others were ordered to take the reef tackles to the capstan. Then Wilson went aloft alone, and laying out on the yard, passed the ear-rings and tied the reef points, keeping an eye at the same time on the ship's head, and waving instructions to the two men at the helm how they were to steer. The gale increased in fury, the sea became violently boisterous, and in the midst of the storm the tiller was broken by a sudden jerk and carried away. For a little while the brave man for the first time began to fear that after all it was not to be that he should have the gratification of taking his vessel safely back to port. But it was only a passing fear, and one that he did not for a moment give way to; he set to work to repair the mischief as far as possible, and in twelve hours' time had fitted up a temporary tiller.

While the weather continued stormy the labour devolving upon all that little crew was unceasing, and all their energies were tried to the utmost; especially those of Wilson, the cook, and the steward, who not only had to navigate the vessel, but to keep a constant watch upon the four men who had been liberated, as well as to feed and

attend to the prisoners. However, in spite of all difficulties, progress was made; in course of time the wind moderated and became favourable for their course; and at last, after a voyage of thirty days since he had re-taken his vessel, Captain Wilson brought the Emilie St. Pierre safely to anchor in the Mersey, having accomplished, under unprecedented circumstances, a passage of 3,000 miles.

It is hardly necessary to say that as soon as this gallant exploit became known, Captain Wilson and his brave companions were received everywhere with unbounded enthusiasm. The Council of the Mercantile Marine Service presented him with a gold medal, and silver medals with suitable inscriptions to the steward and the cook; 170 merchants of Liverpool bestowed on him a handsome service of plate, while the owners of the ship acknowledged their indebtedness by presenting him with a purse of two thousand guineas. But not less interesting than any of these was the acknowledgment by his own officers and men who had been made prisoners by the Federals. On their arrival in Liverpool they gave him a valuable sextant to mark their sense of his kindness to them during the voyage from India, and of his noble conduct.

"I desire in this public manner and on this pleasing occasion," said Captain Wilson on the night of the presentation at Liverpool, "to offer my thanks to Almighty God for His great and marvellous help in all my trying circumstances. My thanks are also due to my faithful cook and steward, who this day, receive a reward for their brave services at your hands. For myself, gentlemen, I can only say that I did my duty in trying to capture my ship against tremendous odds, and you are here to-day to rejoice over my success."

"The best hearts, Trim, are ever the bravest,' said my uncle Toby." So wrote Sterne, and so we find everywhere; and the conduct of Captain Wilson is an illustration of the truth of the saw. His gallantry was not less conspicuous in the considerate and generous manner in which he treated Lieutenant Stone and the other prisoners, than in the daring bravery of the re-capture of the ship. "True bravery, humanity, and generosity are ever united;" and of the true British sailor it may be said in the words of Cowper:

The Story of Exploration in Australia-Edward John Eyre-Opposes a Proposed Expedition, and starts Another-Meets with Obstacles-Baffled-In a Dry and Thirsty Land Searching for Water-holes-A Crisis-Dangers and Difficulties -Murder-Footsteps Dogged--Succour The "Burke and Wills Expedition "-The Start-Disaffection-The Party Re-organised-Cooper's Creek-The Journey to the Gulf of Carpentaria-The Return in Hope-Abandoned-A Terrible Situation-Death of Wills-Death of Burke-King among the Natives-The Relief Party.

HE Story of Exploration in Australia is brimful of incident, as the many bulky volumes written on the subject testify. It is a colony, too, full of interest to Englishmen everywhere, inasmuch as there is hardly a family in the land but is directly or indirectly concerned in Australia, and is eager to welcome every fresh piece of information. Many a thrilling story has been told of the wild adventures and dangerous explorations of Wentworth, Lawson, Hovell, Hume, Cunningham, Sturt, Mitchell, Tyers, Strzelecki, Gray, Lander, Lefay, Leichhardt, Kennedy, Roe, Gregory, and a host of others. In these pages we shall confine

ourselves to two instances only-the explorations of Eyre, and of Burke and Wills.

Edward John Eyre, a native of Yorkshire, left England for Sydney at the age of sixteen; he commenced sheep farming, was successful, became rich, and settled on his own estate on the Lower Murray. He was appointed Protector of the Aborigines, and as such was engaged in settling the numerous disputes which arose between the natives and the colonists-a task in which he displayed great ability. But his instincts were for exploration and adventure, and in 1840, when he was still only twenty-three years of age, he started off on an expedition which is almost unparalleled for dramatic interest and heroic resolution. The principal object of the proposed expedition was to ascertain whether a route could not be opened between Adelaide and the settlements in Western Australia by which sheep and cattle could be sent in safety, and at a less expense than by sea. Eyre was unfavourable to the project, on the ground that it was not practicable; and urged by means of earnest and sagacious letters in the public press that not west, but north, would be the direction in which the colonists must look for their great pathway of intercommunication. His arguments showed so clearly his thorough knowledge of the subject on which he wrote, that public opinion went with him; and having thus succeeded in diverting it from its original bent, he felt in duty bound to show his faith in his own views by offering to lead an expedition northward. The proposal was cordially taken up by the colonists, although, being poor-it was only four years after the foundation of South Australia-they were not able to subscribe much. Nevertheless, help came in from various quarters, and on the 18th of June, Eyre started off, with five Europeans, two natives, thirteen horses, forty sheep, and provisions for three months. The theory of Eyre was, that if he could successfully pass Lake Torrens, about which not much was known, he would then come into fertile regions, where there would be room for settlements, and ample means of communication with the already established colonies. Another theory, held by many, was that there was an immense inland sea, and that the northern half of Australia could be reached by water communication. Either theory held out a tempting bait to an explorer of Eyre's energy and adventurous zeal, and with a light heart he set off with his little band of followers. But Lake Torrens was found to be nothing better than a great dismal swamp, a huge bed of mud covered with a coating of salt, which they could not get over and could not get round; "in every direction Lake Torrens, overlapping them like a monster horse-shoe, checked their progress." ." Eyre and his party struggled hard for months to find a way northward, but failed, and then they endeavoured to cross the lake. For six miles they made their hazardous way over the mud, which was so far free from surface water, but the farther they went the more precarious became their position; the horses sank in the slime up to their bellies, and the whole party was in imminent danger of sinking at every step. It was utterly impossible to proceed northward, and Eyre therefore struck out a westerly course, and reached the sea at Port Lincoln, from whence he proceeded to Fowler's Bay in the Great Bight. Scarcity of water on two occasions thwarted him in his purpose of rounding the head of the Bight, but on the third attempt he was successful, and penetrated fifty miles beyond it. It was done at a great cost to the expedition, however, as four of the best horses were lost in the undertaking, and in consequence he was left without the means of carrying provisions.

"Across Australia." By Colonel Egerton Warburton.