THE STORY OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH.BY JOHN ESTEN COOKE.
I.
Captain Smith was born at Willoughby, in England, in the month of January, 1579.His parents died when he was a mere child, and he was left alone in the world without any one to take care of him.Yet he was a brave and independent boy, and he soon showed that he was well able to make his own way in the world.He was fond of adventure, as most boys are; and while he was still a youth he wandered away to Holland, and spent some time with the English army which was there.
When he came back to England, he began to train himself for the life of a soldier.Instead of passing his time in idleness with other young men of WilloughLy, he went out to the woods near by and built a sort of house for himself of the boughs of trees.Here he intended to stay; and as for food, he meant to shoot deer, and live on the venison.In this "Bower," as he called it, he got together as many books on warlike matters as he could find; and he spent the greater part of his time in studying them.
Young John Smith had a horse and lance with which he practiced every day, riding swiftly and trying to strike a ring or other object from the bough of a tree to which it had been hung.He also practiced with his sword to make his eye keen and his wrist tough; and he fired at trees with his pistol, to become a good marksman.By such means as these he fitted himself for the life of a soldier; and then he set out in search of adventures.
He crossed the English Channel and landed in France; but three Frenchmen who had come over with him in the ship treated him very badly.They saw that he was but a mere boy, and stole the trunk in which were all his clothing and his money.They left him in great trouble, for he was in a strange country without friends.But he kept a brave heart, and soon showed that he could take care of himself.He wandered on throughFrance, meeting many kind persons on the way who helped him, until at last he came to the city of Marseilles on the Mediterranean Sea.
As his plan was to go and fight the Turks, he went on board a ship bound for Rome, which was on his way.The ship set sail, but soon a great storm arose, and the vessel was tossed about, and in danger of being wrecked.Some of the men on board said that Smith, being a stranger, had brought them bad luck, and that the only way to escape the storm was to get rid of him; so they seized him and threw him into the sea.
The waves were running very high at the time, and there was great danger of his being drowned.But he was a good swimmer, and struck out for the nearest land.This was a small island, called the Isle of St.Mary's, not far from the coast of Nice, and here he was thrown on shore by the waves.The weather was very cold, and he had nothing to eat.But soon another ship came in sight; he was seen by the crew; and a boat was sent to take him off of the island.As he went on board the ship he was overjoyed to find that the captain was an old friend of his.
The ship was bound for Egypt; but as Smith was in search of adventures, he cared nothing for that.He agreed to go to Egypt, and as usual something happened to him on the way.They met with an enemy's ship; a sharp fight took place, and the enemy's ship was taken.As young Smith had fought bravely, he received about two thousand dollars in gold as his share of the prize money.
This made him quite rich, and he resolved to go on in search of further adventures.The captain of the ship put him ashore, and he set out for Transylvania, east of Austria, where there was fighting between the Christians and the Turks.He had to pass through a rough, wild country, but he did so safely, and at last reached the Christian army, and was enrolled as a soldier in it.He soon proved to his friends that he was no common soldier.
II.
The Turks had shut themselves up in a strong castle, where they were closely besieged by the Christians.From the castle a Turkish lord sent word to the Christian camp that he was ready to fight any soldier thatmight be sent against him.The Christians accepted the offer, and drew lots to see who should meet him.The lot fell on John Smith, and when the day came he rode forward to meet his enemy.
The Turk was ready.The two enemies rushed upon each other, but the fight was soon over.Smith's lance struck the Turk in the forehead and hurled him dead to the ground.Smith then leaped from his horse and cut off the Turk's head, and the whole Christian army shouted with joy.
Very soon a second Turk came out to avenge his friend, and he and Smith rode at each other.Both their lances were shivered in pieces, but Smith fired his pistol and broke his enemy's arm.He fell from his horse, and Smith, leaping down, struck off his head, as he had struck off that of the first Turk.
The young soldier was now in high spirits, and he sent a challenge to the Turks.The challenge was accepted by a famous Turk called Bonnymulgro.It was agreed that they were to fight hand to hand with swords, pistols, and battle-axes.They rushed at full gallop toward each other.After firing their pistols they began to use their battle-axes.
Bonnymulgro was a strong man and a dangerous enemy.He struck Smith so heavy a blow on the head that he reeled in his saddle and dropped his ax.At this a loud shout rose from the Turks on the walls, and they shouted louder still, as they saw Smith wheel his horse and fly, with the big Turk after him.But this was only a part of Smith's plan.As soon as the Turk caught up with him and raised his ax, the young soldier quickly wheeled his horse and ran his sword through Bonnymulgro's breast.The Turk fell from the saddle, still trying to fight.But Smith struck him down and cut off his head, which he held up to show that the fight was ended.
