covered, in the last stage of exhaustion, about seventy miles from Fort Ellis, by two men who had been sent out to hunt for him. One of them started immediately for medical assistance from the fort, while the other remained with Mr. Evarts, who in two days was capable of being moved to a miner's cabin, twenty miles distant. But there he nearly perished, for though the miners most carefully tended and watched him, and did everything in their power to alleviate his sufferings, they had not the medicines necessary for his condition. A thirtyfive days' diet of tough fibrous roots had completely arrested all the digestive functions of the body, and he would most undoubtedly have died, had not an old hunter and trapper happened to pass by. This man, who had probably been many times starved himself, knew exactly what was the matter, and fortunately he had also the means of overcoming the evil. From the fat of a bear he had recently killed he squeezed out a pint of clear oil, and administered the draught to Mr. Evarts. This had the desired effect, and rest and good food completed the cure.

Altogether it is a wonderful history, and one worthy of notice as showing what an incredible amount of hardship, cold, and starvation the human frame is capable of enduring, and what apparently hopeless obstacles and difficulties a man can overcome, if only he can manage to retain some mastery over his mind and reason.

L.

KING JOHN, Act iii., Scene 3.-How John Planned Arthur's Death.

[Shakespeare's play of King John deals chiefly with the imprisonment and death of John's nephew, Arthur, whom the king regarded as a dangerous rival, Arthur being the son of John's elder brother Geoffrey. In a war between England and France, brought about by an emissary of the Pope, Arthur was taken prisoner by his uncle, who is represented in this scene as planning his young nephew's death, and suggesting his murder to Hubert de Burgh, in whose charge Prince Arthur had been placed.]

SCENE: Plains near Angiers in France; after the battle; the English victorious; Arthur a prisoner.

K. John. Come hither, Hubert.

Hubert,

O, my gentle

We owe thee much! within this wall of flesh
There is a soul counts thee her creditor
And with advantage means to pay thy love;
And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath
Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished.
Give me thy hand. I had a thing to say,
But I will fit it with some better time.
By heaven, Hubert, I am almost ashamed
To say what good respect I have of thee.

Hub. I am much bounden to your majesty.

5

10

K. John. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so

yet,

But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow,
Yet it shall come for me to do thee good.

I had a thing to say, but let it go:

The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day,
Attended with the pleasures of the world,
Is all too wanton and too full of gawds

K

15

To give me audience: if the midnight bell
Did, with his iron tongue and brazen mouth,
Sound on into the drowsy race of night;

If this same were a churchyard where we stand,
And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs,
Or, if that surly spirit, melancholy,

Had baked thy blood and made it heavy-thick,
Which else runs tickling up and down the veins,
Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes
And strain their cheeks to idle merriment,
A passion hateful to my purposes,

Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes,
Hear me without thine ears, and make reply
Without a tongue, using conceit alone,
Without eyes, ears, and harmful sound of words:
Then, in despite of brooded-watchful day,
I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts..
But, ah! I will not yet I love thee well;
And, by my troth, I think thou lov'st me well.
Hub. So well, that what you bid me undertake,
Though that my death were adjunct to my act,
By Heaven, I'd do't.

K. John.

Do not I know thou would'st? 40
Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye
On yon young boy. I'll tell thee what, my friend,
He is a very serpent in my way;

And, wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread,
He lies before me. Dost thou understand me?
Thou art his keeper.

45

KING JOHN, Act iv., Scene 1.-Arthur and Hubert.

[Hubert de Burgh has undertaken that Arthur's eyes shall be put out, and in this scene enters with the intention of carrying out this cruel purpose. The scene should probably have been laid in France, as most historians make Falaise the place of the prince's imprisonment, and Rouen that of his death.]

SCENE: Northampton. A room in the Castle.

Enter HUBERT and two Attendants.

Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and look thou stand Within the arras: when I strike my foot

Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth,
And bind the boy, which you shall find with me,
Fast to the chair; be heedful. Hence, and watch.

5

1 Atten. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed. Hub. Uncleanly scruples! fear not you: look [Exeunt Attendants,

to't.

Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Good morrow, little prince.

10

Arth. Good morrow, Hubert.
Hub.
Arth. As little prince, having so great a title
To be more prince, as may be. You are sad.
-Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Arth.

Methinks nobody should be sad but I ;

Mercy on me!

Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
Only for wantonness. By my Christendom,
So I were out of prison and kept sheep,
I should be as merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practises more harm to me;
He is afraid of me, and I of him :
Is it my fault that I was Geoffrey's son ?
No, indeed, is't not; and I would to heaven
I were your son, so you would love

15

20

me, Hubert.
Hub. (Aside.) If I talk to him, with his innocent
prate

He will awake my mercy which lies dead;
Therefore I will be sudden and despatch.

25

Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day; In sooth, I would you were a little sick,

That I might sit all night and watch with you; 30 I warrant I love you more than you do me.

Hub. (Aside.) His words do take possession of my

bosom.

Read here, young Arthur.

(Aside.) How now, foolish rheum!

Turning dispiteous torture out of door!

[Showing a paper.

35

I must be brief, lest resolution drop
Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.
Can you not read it? is it not fair writ?

Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect;
Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth.

Hub.

And will you?

And I will. 40

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,

I knit

my

handkerchief about your brows