Maven, Swaen Styrman, the most expert and daring navigator throughout the Islands, and myself, attempted to launch a small boat to the aid of the vessel; but this was unsuccessful, the boat was quickly swamped, and the prodigious force of the waves tossed us with violence upon the shore. I remained insensible for some time, and was awakened to recollection, only by the cry of horror which arose from my companions, when the Fire-Drake first struck upon the Maiden-Skerry. Life returned rapidly enough to allow me to be a spectator of her second and succeeding concussion; and I saw at every time, some fresh part of the good ship give way with a dreadful crash, and some more of her gallant ill-fated crew swept off into the deep. At length, when the splitting timbers no longer bore any resemblance to a ship, I saw Harvey rush forward to the highest part of them; it was but for a moment, he looked steadily upon me and beckoned, then raised his arms and eyes upwards, the planks were washed from under him, and he fell into the ocean upon his face, as if he had been embracing the waters. In my first emotions of distress, I hastened forward with the intent of precipitating myself after him; but I was withheld from perpetrating this rash action by old Martin Skelder, who cried out, "Why what the Fiend ails the stripling? An't it enough to lose the good skiff, and a whole shallop full of brave hearts against the Maiden Skerry, but you must be rushing in too, as if ye were crowding to a whale-hunt." The violence of my grief still continuing, I was forced from the beach by several of my comrades, but the noise of the storm, the striking of the Fire-Drake against the rock, and above all, the appearance and actions of my friend Harvey, were still present to my imagination.-Throughout the night that followed, every hour, whether sleeping or waking, his form seemed before me; still beckoning as if to claim my promise, and then again falling with extended arms into the deep. I know not if at the period when I really beheld him he spoke to me, but his actions strongly reminded me of the summons which

Samuel's spirit delivered to Saul,"To-morrow, thou and thy sons shall be with me ;" and I was powerfully impressed with the conviction, that in a short time, I too should be passed into immateriality, and the land of spirits; although it now seemed as if it were impossible for me to keep my melancholy promise, of looking upon my friend's body, I felt assured that he would speedily redeem his pledge by appearing to me indeed, his presence seemed already with me, and I could scarcely divest myself of the idea, that I had beheld him with my bodily sight. He was in every place that I visited, and I saw and heard in all things,

His hovering shade,

His groan in every sound."

With all this, however, there was not a single trace of fear; although I felt a great degree of distress, chiefly because it seemed impossible that I should be enabled to look upon my friend's corse, covered as it was by the blue waters, stretched upon the rugged rocks and dank sea-weed, and bedded in the undiscovered deeps.

Those who have never passed a night of sorrow, cannot appreciate the "joy that cometh in the morning.". After having spent my almost sleepless hours in tears and in heart-sickening grief, the appearance of the next day, which formed a most beautiful contrast to the preceding one, gave me somewhat of a feeling of consolation, if not of hope; and I rose from my bed unrefreshed by repose, yet certainly with assuaged sorrow and calmer spirits.— The morning now presented one of those rare and splendid instances of fine, bright, and open weather, which sometimes enlightens the gloom of a Zetland winter. The atmosphere was clear, and even before the sun rose, his beautiful ruddy light was spread far around to the Eastern Sea, over the Island of Unst. Upon his rising, which at that season was about half past nine, his beams glanced brightly upon the verdant and leaping waves, and the snow which had fallen upon the preceding day. The sea was now as calm and shining as a rich pasture field, and its general tint was broken into a thousand other lighter and darker shades

of green, blue, and purple. All the scenery that I could behold from my own apartment, was so calm, fair, smiling, and inviting, that with a lightened but a yet sorrowful heart, I walked forth. It was early upon the same morning, that the Sea-Gull frigate, Captain Cutwater, arrived at Zetland, from the Northern Islands of Scotland,where he had been conducting some experiments with Dr. Halley's Diving-Bell, in order to ascertain its use for the Royal Navy; and be had now continued his course to North-Maven, to extend his observations round our Island. As a better knowledge of the coast, and the various depths of the sea round them, could be gained from the inhabitants of Zetland, than from any other source, several of those inhabiting our village were sent for on board the frigate; and I determining within my own mind how to act, accompanied them. The Sea-Gull had anchored about half a cable's length from the Maiden Skerry, where the tragedy of the former day had taken place; and which is a lofty rock, or holm as it is called in Zetland, with perpendicular mural sides; while on its top, the black-backed gull lives alone and unmolested, for the boldest cragsman has never yet gained its summit. Our first discourse with Captain Cutwater, was on the late wreck, pieces of which were floating near the rock, while others had drifted on the beach of North-Maven. "They went down," said Martin Skelder, 66 even as ye have seen the Imber goose fly downward and plunge under water for his prey; while the storm raged with such fury, that our staunchest sea-boat was swamped when we would have put off to them. they were fated men! they scaped the icebergs and the snow wreaths of Spitzbergen, to split on their own rocks, and to be drowned in their own seas."

But

"What!" replied the Captain, "and were you unable to learn any particulars of their voyage ?"

"Ay, Log-book, Journal, Master, Crew, and Cargo, all lie in the green Seas! They hailed their port, but they never landed; and how they fared, whether they brought home a clear ship or a full one, whether the voyage had

been foul or fair, why I reckon that's what we shan't know, till it's not worth the knowing."

"And where did the Fire-Drake strike, and go down?" asked Cutwater, "Why here," said Swaen Rosensköld, "between the brig and the MaidenSkerry,that huge upright holm yonder."

"Well then, here," returned the Captain, "we'll send down the Diving. Bell, we may find some of their papers and stowage yet,-so moor the ship astern my lads, splice a sprit to the mainmast, reeve the running braces, and hang on the Diving-Bell.”

While these orders were being carried into effect, I drew the Captain aside, and told him all my previous friendship with Harvey, our mutual vows, his actions at the moment he was sinking, and my own distressed thoughts; and finally, I conjured him by every feeling of humanity, to permit me to descend in the Diving-Bell, in search of the body of my friend. The Captain at first listened to me with politeness, then with interest, then, as my vanity interpreted it, with admiration; but when I came to my request, all these feelings appeared united, while he denied me in a manner friendly and compassionate, but which seemed somewhat blended with wonder at my presumption.

"Young man," said he, "I admire your heart and honour, and your bravery, but they carry you too far; do you know what you ask? Why the bravest divers have many trials in shallow water with these bells, before they go into the deep; and besides, they require long experience with their mechanism and management."

"It seems to me,” replied I, "that the principal experience which they require, is a determined heart, and a steady head; both of which, unless I be greatly mistaken, I have often proved in climbing all the most fearful cliffs of Zetland; as Sumburgh-head, and Fitful-head, and the Holm of Noss, and Herman-ness, and Rona's-hill, as many others can tell."

"Still," rejoined Cutwater, "I cannot conscientiously permit you to encounter so hazardous an enterprize as that of descending in a Diving-Bell."

better than the finest composition could have done. As every circumstance attending my descent is firmly fixed in my remembrance, I have also retained the recollection of their song, which was as follows:

CHORUS OF THE SEA-GULL MARINERS. "Down to the Sea,-down to the Sea.

Down to the Sea, we go my hearts! Mariners we,-mariners be.

As free as the winds that blow, my hearts.

Over the Sea,-over the Sea,

Over the Sea we soar, my boys;

And the wonders that we, look on at Sea,

Were never yet known upon shore, my boys.
Under the Sea, under the Sea,-under the Sea,
Under the Sea there is gold, my hearts;
But the riches that be, in the caves of the sea,
A mortal shall never behold, my hearts."

The strain grew fainter and fainter, as the Bell descended through the green fluid that surrounded me; and I now began to experience that variety and intensity of feeling, which I have so often seen described by divers. The first sensation was a painful pressure upon my ears, as if a body of consider able power and magnitude had been endeavouring to enter my brain through those apertures. After awhile, their cavities became expanded, and the pain was relieved; but as the Bell sank, it was frequently again renewed, and as often exchanged for ease. I had scarcely descended above three or four fathoms, when I felt the amazing weight of the Ocean, pressing upon, and girding round my head, like an iron crown rivetted fast to the scull; the force of which was so very tremendous, that it was with difficulty that my senses were preserved. This painful feeling was then exchanged for a species of restless agitation and excitement, which might not entirely be the effect of my situation and extraordinary voyage, but might partly arise from some recollection of the imminent danger in which I was placed. A kind of languor, which increased almost to fainting, now overcame me; the blood left my face, and my limbs grew cold; and indeed, although I was well supplied with air, by a continual exchange of the barrels from above, life seemed upon the point of departing. In the course of my voyage, I frequently looked out upon the waters, which of themselves pre

sented nothing but a clear green fluid; but frequently there came rushing by the Bell, fishes of extraordinary forms and magnitude, some of the most beautiful colours and appearance, and others armed with dreadful teeth, stings, and fangs, with scales and eyes of a fiery lustre. I felt a constant dread, which perhaps tended to keep off other fears, that some of them might enter through the lower part of the Diving Bell, and attack me in my strong hold, where escape and opposition would be equally in vain. Occasionally I passed some marine production, between a fish and a plant, which spread out into branches filled with innumerable mouths, and every part in quick and never-ceasing motion. Now and then methought I heard a noise like music in the deeps; but the continual rushing, roaring, and washing of the current against the sides of the Bell, prevented any thing like a distinct hearing; only from this I am convinced, that the Ocean is not a silent world. Sometimes the waters would seem deserted and vacant; and then again there would rush by such shoals of living beings pursuing each other either in sport or anger, that their course was too rapid for the eye to discern their forms. Once or twice, indeed, I thought there appeared somewhat like a human figure covered with scales of a silvery green, but the image was too swiftly gone for me to speak with certainty; added to which, the optical illusion occasioned by the waters might have deceived. At length, at the depth of seventy fathoms, the Bell rested on the basin of the Sea; and it may be imagined only what were my feelings at that moment. I was more than four hundred feet below the Ocean! in a frail machine of wood, depending upon a few ropes! and in a world which seems to be the principal abode of the most terrific monsters! I cannot, however, even at this distant period, trust my recollection with the maddening subject; and therefore I hasten forward with my tale. The bed of the deeps is in itself a fair and beautiful sand, on which are placed rocks which seem to glow with a metallic lustre of various colours, on which is to be seen many a fair living

free of silvery whiteness, in constant motion, while shells of all kinds and hues are scattered over them. The view is indeed a landscape, the most wild and magical than can be imagined; and although there really want the artificial erections of man, yet are the rocks shivered and hollowed out, into the forms of temples, domes, pinnacles, minarets, and palaces; upon which there is a continual change of light, produced by the continual move ment of the Sea. When I arrived at this place, the painful sensations which I had experienced in my voyage had left me; I could breathe freely, and upon viewing the beautiful objects around me, I began to think that the Ocean World was indeed as delightful as the poets and water-spirits had described it to be. But after emerging from the Bell, I saw many a sight that filled me with terror. The rocks were interspersed with the half-devoured corses of those lost in the late wreck, on which the fishes were still feeding; while thousands of whitening bones and skeletons lay scattered about, some resting on the out-stretched arms of the Giant Polypus which had fed on them, and others in the dreadful opening made by the shell of the enormous Clamp-fish. The packages, jewels, gold, anchors, and fragments of wrecks, which appeared strewed about, were innumerable; but my respiration now becoming difficult, from the agitation produced by so terrible yet sublime a spectacle, I turned from it to search for the body of my friend. After a long, dangerous, and almost hopeless examination, I discovered it in a cave some distance from the Diving Bell, still dressed as when I last saw him, but blue, swoln, and livid. I raised the body in my arms, and taking one hand, drew from it a seal-ring with an aquamarine stone, which well preserves the memory of my friend's death, and my own hazards in obtaining of it; and since I first put it on, neither force nor any other methods will draw it off. When I had done this, I looked the corse steadily in the face, still holding it by the right hand, said, "George Harvey, the pledge of Raymond Mortlake is redeemed:" when to my sur

prise, yet not to my terror, the eyes opened and gazed fervently upon me, while a smile played around the mouth, and the hand returned my pressure. At this moment I discovered that a Sea Monster, consisting of a huge misshapen mass of scaly flesh, somewhat resembling a man, had fastened his long teeth on the body of my friend. I caught up a large piece of wreck that lay near me, and with one blow laid the monster level and howling; whilst I hastened to secure a burial for the corse, by dropping it into one of the many springs which gush from the bottom of the sea; whose strength is such, as to terrify all the inhabitants of the deep. This was scarcely effected, with a very brief farewell, when the monster having recovered, returned and fixed his tusks on my right arm. With a rapidity of motion that I have often since wondered and shuddered at, I regained the Bell, and with my terrible companion entered it, and gave the signal to be drawn up. Whether it were loss of blood from the deep wound given me by this Water-Fiend, or the effect of rising, I know not, but my senses seemed to be leaving me, and my head to be going upwards away from my body. I soon became、 senseless, and recovered not, until I found myself in a hammock on board the Sea-gull. It was then that I learned, that my extraordinary stay had greatly alarmed them; and that their terror was wonderfully increased upon drawing up the Bell, and finding my aquatic comrade, who leaped again into the sea over the vessel's side, the moment he escaped from the Bell; so that they could scarcely discern his form. A long and dangerous illness, the effect of my wound and voyage, followed; and when I recovered, my first care was to visit the Church of Lerwick, at once to offer up thanks for my own preservation, and to erect a stone to the memory of Harvey. The marks of the Sea-Monster's teeth yet remain upon my arm, though the wound is healed: and, like the impression which this adventure has made upon my memory, they will never be effaced!