Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Barge No. 3. 49
throw themselves into the holy river, there to seek
the eternal happiness promised by their creed.
“Rich in remembrances and strangely chequered,
was the life of my early days. Sometimes I sailed
with the genial winds of passage, and at other times I
battled with the icebergs of the arctic seas. Many a
leak I got in these hard strifes, but I had a heart
of oak and forest limbs, and rode the sea as long as
any one has done. Certainly, long voyages became
less frequent, and I had to content myself with
carrying coals, that gave me a swarthy complexion,
but I was still the proud Eagle of the Seas un-
furling my wings as I soared over the boundless
main. But at last came the day of adversity. A
raging, clamorous storm threw me against the coast,
and the sharp-edged teeth of the rocks cut deep
into my frame. My masts fell beneath the axes
of the sailors, and there I was thrown helplessly
amongst the furious breakers, and could do nothing
to escape their fell embrace. When the sea, re-
gretting its fury, became gentle again, I was
rescued and tugged into harbour—but they said
my limbs were out of joint, and my wings were
gone, so that I could never more sail the sea, and
I was sold as a wreck.
“Everything I had been so proud of was taken
from me, and the golden eagle that adorned my
prow was nailed to a lighter-shed at the wharf
where I had my worst damage repaired, to enable
me again to enter upon active service, though it was
but as a barge. Even my very name was taken
E
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
