296 ALE ABOARD FOR SUNRISE LANDS.

was thought to be the man to find out. The summer our country
declared its independence — when was that, boys?”
“1776,” said Ralph promptly.
“The summer of ’76, Capt. Cook sailed away again. I wonder it
‘ he thought he might
never come back. He
sailed away, resolved to
pierce the ice-land by
way of Behring’s straits.
He made a faithful
trial, but Jack Frost
finally drove him back.
That was in 1778, and
Capt. Cook named the
point he succeeded in

 

“WISER THAN A WHOLE FAMILY OF OWLS.” reaching, J oy Cape. In

the course of this voyage,

he had discovered the Sandwich Islands, and he now turned back to
these ; not to give up his attempt however, but only to get ready for
another northern voyage, which was like the cabin boy of old
days, who was bound to win if he could. He discovered a new island,
Hawaii. The inhabitants were thievish, and stole one “of Capt. Cook’s
boats. The captain naturally wished to get his own back again, and
concluded to steal their king, and then exchange a king for a boat,
which was doubtless all he was worth; but the course pursued was a
mistaken one. I do not believe in deceit. But the captain went
ashore and urged the king to visit his ship. The people suspected the
-captain’s motive, and urged the kmg not togo. The two parties began’
to quarrel. Capt. Cook insisted on taking the king, and the strife
became violent. The English discharged their muskets in response to