GOING TO SEA. 681

found the said Alexander gripping both her father and her husband, and
she labouring to loose his hands from her husband’s head and breast, her
husband fled out of doors, and she followed him, and called back again,
‘ You false loon, will you murder your father and my husband both ?’ where-
upon he followed her to the door; but whether he beat her or not, she
was in so great confusion, she cannot say distinctly, but ever since she hath
a sore pain in her head.

“The same day, Andrew Seleraig called, compeared, but said nothing to
purpose in the aforesaid business. ‘This business is delayed until the next
session until further inquiry be made.

“* November 29.—Alexander Selcraig, scandalous for contention and dis-
agreeing with his brothers, called, compeared, and being questioned con-
cerning the tumult that was in his house, whereof he was said to be the
occasion, ho coniessed that, he having taken a drink of salt water out of a
can, his younger brother Andrew laughing at him for it, he did beat him
twice with a staff. He confessed also that he had spoken very ill words
concerning his brother, and particularly he challenged his elder brother
John to a combat, as he called it, of dry neifs (fists), ells then, he said, he
would not even care to do it now, which afterwards he did refuse and
regrate (recall?) ; moreover he said several things, whereupon the session
appointed him to compear before the face of the congregation for his scandal.
ous carriage.

“ November 80.—Alexander Seleraig, according to the session’s appoint-
ment, compeared before the pulpit, and made acknowledgment of his sin in
disagreeing with his brothers ; and was rebuked in the face of the congrega-
tion for it, and promised amendment in the strength of the Lord, and so
was dismissed.”

In the following spring, the ever-restless Selkirk once more quitted the
scone of his youthful follies, and sailed for England, with the view of en-
gaging himself on board some ship destined to cruise against the Spanish
possessions in the South Seas. Here he fell in with Captain Dampier, the
well-known seaman, whose circumnavigation of the globe had secured him
a lasting reputation, and whose narrative of his adventures is written with a
force and a simplicity of style, and an accuracy of observation, which will
ever be found pleasing. England was then at war with Spain; and Dampier,
who was well acquainted with the American coast, proposed the equipment
of an expedition to act against the Spanish in a quarter of the world where
they were necessarily weakest. His design was, to sail up the river Plata
as far as Buenos Ayres, and capture two or three Spanish galleons which
were usually stationed there. If the prizes proved equal in value to what
he expected, he would return to England; otherwise, he would double Cape
Horn, enter the Pacific, and cruise off the coast of Peru for the Valdivia
ships. which conveyed great quantities of gold to Lima. But should this