At Marseilles, he embarked for Italy, in company with a number of pilgrims. But here, also, new troubles awaited him. During the voyage, a tempest arising, the ship was forced into Toulon, after leaving which, contrary winds so impeded their progress, that, in a fit of rage, the pilgrims, imputing their ill fortune to the presence of a heretic, threw him into the sea.

Being a good swimmer, he was enabled to reach the island of St. Mary, off Nice, at no great distance, where he was taken on board a ship, in which, altering his course, he sailed to Alexandria, in Egypt, and thence coasted the Levant. Having spent some time in this region of country, he sailed on his return; and, on leaving the ship, received about two thousand dollars, as his portion of a rich prize, which had been taken during the voyage.

Smith landed at Antibes. He now travelled through Italy, crossed the Adriatic, and passed into Stiria, to the seat of Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria. The emperor being at that time at war with the Turks, he entered his army, as a volunteer.

By means of his valor and ingenuity, aided by his milita ry knowledge and experience, he soon distinguished himself, and was advanced to the command of a company, consisting of two hundred and fifty horsemen, in the regiment of Count Meldrick, a nobleman of Transylvania.

The regiment in which he served was engaged in several hazardous enterprises, in which Smith exhibited a bravery admired by all the army, and when Meldrick left the imperial service for that of his native prince, Smith followed.

At the siege of Regal he was destined to new adventures. The Ottomans, deriding the slow advance of the Transylvania army, the Lord Turbisha dispatched a messenger with a challenge, that, for the diversion of the ladies of the place, he would fight any captain of the Christian troops.

The honor of accepting this challenge was determined by lot, and fell on Smith. At the time appointed, the two champions appeared in the field on horseback, and, in the presence of the armies, and of the ladies of the insulting Ottoman, rushed impetuously to the attack. A short, but desperate conflict ensued, at the end of which Smith was seen bearing the head of the lifeless Turbisha in triumph to his ge neral.

The fall of the chief filled his friend, Crualgo, with indignation, and roused him to avenge his death. Smith accordingly soon after received a challenge from him, which

Capt. John Smith defending himself from the Indians. P. 51.

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he did not hesitate to accept, and the two exasperated combatants, upon their chargers, fell with desperate fury upon Victory again followed the falchion of Smith, who sent the Turk headlong to the ground.

each other.

It was now the turn of Smith to make the advance. He dispatched a message, therefore, to the Turkish ladies, that if they were desirous of more diversion of a similar kind, they should be welcome to his head, in case their third champion could take it.

Bonamalgro tendered his services, and haughtily accepted the Christian's challenge. When the day arrived, the spectators assembled, and the combatants entered the field. It was an hour of deep anxiety to all; as the horsemen approached, a deathless silence pervaded the multitude. A blow from the sabre of the Turk brought Smith to the ground; and, for a moment, it seemed as if the deed of death was done. Smith, however, was only stunned. He rose like a lion, when he shakes the dew from his mane for the fight, and vaulting into his saddle, made his falchion "shed fast atonement for its first delay." It is hardly necessary to add, that the head of Bonamalgro was added to the number.

Smith was received with transports of joy by the prince of Transylvania, who, after the capture of the place, presented him with his picture set in gold, granted him a pension of three hundred ducats a year, and conferred on him a coat of arms, bearing three Turks' heads in a shield.

In a subsequent battle between the Transylvanian army and a body of Turks and Tartars, the former was defeated, with a loss of many killed and wounded. Among the wounded was the gallant Smith. His dress bespoke his consequence, and he was treated kindly. On his recovery from his wounds, he was sold to the Basha Bogul, who sent him as a present to his mistress at Constantinople, assuring her that he was a Bohemian nobleman, whom he had conquered, and whom he now presented to her as her slave.

The present proved more acceptable to the lady than her lord intended. As she understood Italian, in that language Smith informed her of his country and quality, and, by his singular address and engaging manners, won the affection of her heart.

Designing to secure him to herself, but fearing lest some misfortune should befall him, she sent him to her brother, a bashaw, on the borders of the sea of Asoph, with directiona

that he should be initiated into the manners and language, as well as the religior of the Tartars.

From the terms of her letter, her brother suspected her design, and resolved to disappoint her. Immediately after Smith's arrival, therefore, he ordered him to be stripped, his head and beard to be shaven, and with an iron collar about his neck, and a dress of hair cloth, he was driven forth to labor among some Christian slaves.

The circumstances of Smith were now peculiarly afflicting. He could indulge no hope, except from the attachment of his mistress; but, as her distance was great, it was improbable that she would soon become acquainted with the story of his misfortunes.

In the midst of his distress, an opportunity to escape presented itself, but under circumstances, which, to a person of a less adventurous spirit, would have served only to heighten this distress. His employment was thrashing, at the dis tance of a league from the residence of the bashaw, who daily visited him, but treated him with rigorous severity, and, in fits of anger, even abused him with blows. This last was treatment to which the independent spirit of Smith could not submit. Watching a favorable opportunity, on an occasion of the tyrant's visit, and when his attendants were absent, he levelled his thrashing instrument at him, and laid him in the dust.

He then hastily filled a bag with grain, and mounting the bashaw's horse, put himself upon fortune. Directing his course towards a desert, he entered its recesses, and continuing to conceal himself in its obscurities for several days, at length made his escape. In sixteen days he arrived at Exapolis, on the river Don, where, meeting with the Russian garrison, the commander treated him kindly, and gave him letters of recommendation to other commanders in that region.

He now travelled through a part of Russia and Poland, and at length reached his friends in Transylvania. At Leipsic, he enjoyed the pleasure of meeting his colonel, Count Meldrick, and Sigismund, prince of Transylvania, who presented him with fifteen hundred ducats. His fortune being thus in a measure repaired, he travelled through Germany, France, and Spain, and having visited the kingdom of Morocco, returned once more to England.

Such is a rapid view of the life of this interesting adventurer, down to his arrival in his native land. At this time, the settlement of America was occupying the attention of