TITTLE JACK. 173

ship nor boat was to be seen. Jack now lost all hopes of
rejoining his comrades, for he knew that the ship was to sail at
farthest on the third day, and would not wait for him. He
therefore set himself to find a lodging for the night. He had
not examined far before he found a dry cavern in a rock, which
he thought would prove a very comfortable residence. ‘The
next day Jack arose, a little melancholy indeed, but with a
resolution to struggle manfully with the difficulties of his
situation. He walked into the woods, and saw several kinds of
fruits and berries, some of which he ventured to eat, as the
birds had pecked them, and found the taste agrecable. In this
manner did Jack lead a kind of savage, but tolerably contented
life for several months, during which time he enjoyed perfect
health, and was never discovered by any of the natives. He used
several times a day to visit the shore, in hopes that some ship
might pass that way and deliver him from his solitary impri-
sonment. This at length happened by the boat of an’ English
ship, that was sailing to India, which touched upon the coast.
k instantly hailed the crew, and the officer, upon hearing

v, agreed to receive him; the captain, tov, when he
was by no means a contemptible sailor, very

 

   

found that J;
willingly gave him his passage, and promised him a gratuity
besides if he behaved well.

Jack arrived in India without any accident, and relating his
story, was permitted to serve in another regiment, as his own
was no longer there. He soon distinguished himself by his

 

courage and good behaviour on several occasions, and before
long was advanced to the rank of serjeant. In this capacity,
he was ordered out upon an expedition into the remote parts of
the country. ‘The little army in which he served now marched
on for several weeks, through a burning climate, and in want
of all the necessaries of life. At length they entered upon some