In the Eastern Seas   By: William Henry Giles Kingston (1814-1880)

The book, quite a long one, is concerned with the adventures of a boy, Walter Heathfield, and of his sister Emily. They appear on the scene in chapter one, in rather a dramatic fashion, as they are rescued from a sinking ship, along with their dying father, moments before the ship finally vanishes. On reaching London their relations are traced, but none appear at all interested in them, except for Uncle Tom, who has but little money, and who unfortunately dies before the chapter is done, of a horse riding accident.

As a result the ship's captain and his family decide to look after them.

The captain has a daughter, Grace, and a kindly wife. He asks them all to accompany him on the ship's next voyage, which is to the eastern seas. There is a passenger, a Mr Nicholas Hooker, who is a naturalist, and who of course delivers himself of numerous speeches describing the animals and plants they see during the trip.

They have numerous adventures, including of course (as you would expect in a Kingston novel) the loss of the ship. Walter keeps a journal, though at times Emily has to write it for him. When they finally get back to Old England, the old relative, Lord Heatherly, who had refused to help them, dies, and it turns out Walter is his heir. So the fortunes of Walter and Emily are very much changed.

Quite a good read, or listen.

IN THE EASTERN SEAS, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.

CHAPTER ONE.

THE INDIAMAN.

"Well, Thudicumb, I hope by noon we may at last get a glimpse of the sun," said Captain Davenport to his first officer, as they walked the deck of the Bussorah Merchant , homeward bound from the East Indies, and at that time rolling on over the long heaving seas of the Atlantic. The sky was overcast, but ever and anon a gleam of light burst forth amid the clouds, playing on the foaming crest of a wave. It was blowing hard, but had evidently been blowing much harder, of which fact the condition of the Indiaman gave evidence. A portion of the starboard bulwarks were stove in, one of her quarter boats was shattered, and other slight damages were visible.

"We must be ready for him, sir, at all events," said the first officer, looking at his watch. "It is not far off noon now."

"Tell Oliver to bring me my sextant," said the captain, as the mate descended from the poop into his cabin.

Mr Thudicumb soon returned, bringing his own instrument, and followed by a boy with the captain's. Continuing their walk, they looked anxiously every now and then at the spot in the heavens where they expected the sun to appear. They were accompanied by one who seemed to take as much interest as they did in what was going forward. When they turned, he turned; when they looked up at the sky, he looked up also; balancing himself when the ship rolled as they did, by leaning over to the opposite direction to which she was heeling. He, however, could not have afforded them any assistance in their observation, for though his eye and the expression of his countenance exhibited much sagacity, he was of the canine species a large dog a magnificent looking fellow, who could, the crew declared, for he was a great favourite with them, do everything but talk and, they might have added, take a meridional observation, or a lunar.

Mr Thudicumb again looked at his watch. "There he is, sir," he exclaimed at length.

He and the captain stopped in their walk; their sextants were quickly at their eyes; and there they stood, their feet planted firmly on the heaving deck, in an attitude long practice alone could have enabled them to maintain. A clear space was seen in the sky, increasing rapidly, and yet not altogether blue, but the vapour which drove across it was not sufficiently thick to prevent the sun's rays descending upon the sea.