rth Carolinian； is the principal keeper； and a most efficient one he is。
The temperature was falling rapidly when I crawled into the high rushes of the wet marsh near the light…house to seek shelter from the strong wind that was blowing。 As this treeless beach was destitute of fire…wood； or natural shelter of any kind； necessity compelled me to have recourse to other means for procuring them。 I carried in my pocket a talisman which must open any light…keeper's door； from Maine to the Rio Grande； from Southern California to Alaska； even to the vicinity of the Arctic Circle； the Lighthouse Establishment of the United States has planted a tower or erected a light。 While shivering in wet clothes on this desolate beach； most thankfully did I remember that kind and thoughtful friend； who through his potent influence had supplied me with this open sesame to lightkeepers。
There resides in Washington； when not engaged elsewhere in the important duties of the Commission of Fisheries； a genial gentleman； an ardent naturalist； a great scientist。 To him the young naturalists of America turn for information and advice； and to the humblest applicant Professor Spencer F。 Baird never turns a deaf ear。 How this distinguished author can attend to so many and such varied duties with his laborious investigations； and can so successfully keep up a large correspondence with perhaps one thousand scientific associations of nearly every nation of the universe； is a difficult thing to imagine； but the popular and much beloved Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution； seemingly ubiquitous in his busy life； does all this and much more。 America may well feel proud of this man of noble nature； shedding light and truth wheresoever he moves； encouraging alike old and young with his kindly sympathy； now taking his precious moments to answer with his own busy hand the question in the letter of some boy naturalist about beasts； birds； reptiles； or fishes； with which epistles his desk is always covered； now stimulating to further effort the old man of science as he struggles with the cares of this world； striving； sometimes vainly； save for this ever ready aid； to work out patiently theories which are soon to blaze forth as substantial facts。 The young generation of naturalists； which is soon to fill the place of their predecessors； have in this man the type of all they need ever strive to attain。 How many； alas； will fall far short of it！
Since boyhood the counsels of this friend had guided me on many a journey of exploration。 He had not deserted me even in this experiment； which my friends called 〃your wildest and most foolish undertaking。〃 He had obtained from the Light House Board a general letter to the lightkeepers of the United States； signed by the naval secretary； Mr。 Walker； in which the keepers were authorized to grant me shelter； &c。； when necessary。 I did not have occasion to use this letter more than twice during my journey。 Having secreted my canoe in the coarse grass of the lowland； I trudged； with my letter in hand； over the sands to the house of the light…keeper； Captain Hatzel； who received me cordially； and after recording in his log…book the circumstances and date of my arrival； conducted me into a comfortable room； which was warmed by a cheerful fire； and lighted up by the smiles of his most orderly wife。 Everything showed discipline and neatness； both in the house and the light…tower。 The whitest of cloths was spread upon the table； and covered with a well…cooked meal； then the father； mother； and two sons； with the stranger within their gates； thanked the Giver of good gifts for his mercies。
Joining the night…watch of the chief lightkeeper； I also joined in the good man's enthusiasm for his wonderful 〃fixed white light；〃 the bright beams of which poured out upon the surrounding waters a flood if brilliancy； gladdening hearts far out at sea； even though twenty miles away； and plainly saying； 〃This is Body Island Beach： keep off！〃 How grand it was to walk out on this gallery in the sky！ Looking eastward； a limitless expanse of ocean； gazing westward； the waters of the great sound； the shores of which were low marshes miles away。 Below me could be heard the soft cackle of the snow…goose （Anser hyperboreus）； which had left its nesting…place on the barren grounds of arctic America； and was now feeding contentedly in its winter home in the shallow salt…ponds； which the gentle shur…r…r… of the waves softly broke on the strand。 Above； the star…lit heavens； whose tender beauty seemed almost within my grasp。 Perched thus upon a single shaft； on a narrow strip of sand far out in the great water； the many thoughts born of solitude crowded my mind； when my reverie was abruptly broken by an exclamation from Captain Hatzel； who threw open the door； and exclaimed； with beaming eyes peering into the darkness as he spoke； 〃I see it！ Yes； it is！ Hatteras Light； thirty…five miles away。 This night； December 13th； is the first time I have caught its flash。 Tell it to the Hatteras keeper when you visit the cape。〃
From Captain Hatzel I gleaned some facts of deep interest in regard to the inhabitants of the sound。 Some of them； he told me； had Indian blood in their veins； and to prove the truth of his assertion he handed me a well…worn copy of the 〃History of North Carolina；〃 by Dr。 Francis L。 Hawks； D。 D。 From this I obtained facts which might serve for the intricate mazes of a romance。 It had been a pet scheme with Sir Walter Raleigh to colonize the coast of North Carolina； then known as Virginia； and though several expeditions had been sent out for that object； each had failed of successful issue。 One of these expeditions sent by Sir Walter to Roanoke Island consisted of one hundred and twenty…one persons； of whom seventeen were women and six children。 Of all these souls only two men returned to the old country； the fate of the remainder being unknown； and shrouded in the gloom which always attends mystery。 England did not； however； leave her children to perish on a barren shore in the new land without at least an effort to succor them。
On March 20； in the year 1590； there sailed from Plymouth three ships； the Hopewell； John Evangelist； and Little John； taking in tow two shallops which were afterwards lost at sea。 In these days the largest vessels of a fleet did not exceed one hundred to one hundred and forty tons burden。 This expedition was under the charge of Admiral John White； governor of the colony of Sir Walter Raleigh on Roanoke Island； and who had left the feeble band on the island in 1587。 In thirty…six days and eight hours these small vessels arrived off 〃Hatorask〃 Hatteras Beach。 The fleet dropped anchor three leagues off the beach； and sent a well…manned boat through an inlet to Pamplico Sound。
There existed in those days passages from the ocean through the beaches into the sounds； which have since been filled up by the action of the sea。 Old Roanoke Inlet； now closed； which was about four miles north of the modern Oregon Inlet； is supposed to be the one used by Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions。 It is only four miles from the site of this closed inlet to Shallowbag Bay； on Roanoke Island。 At the southern entrance of the bay； near Ballast Point； some vessel evidently grounded and threw overboard her stone ballast； hence the name of the point。 Captain Hatzel has examined this stone； and gives his opinion； as an old pilot； that it is foreign in character。 He never met with similar stones； and believes that this ballast was deposited at Shallowbag Bay by some of the vessels of Sir Walter's expeditions。
As the boat's crew above mentioned rowed northward to Roanoke Island made famous two hundred and seventy…two years later by the National and Confederate struggles they sounded their trumpets and sang familiar songs； which they hoped might be borne to their countrymen on the shore； but the marshes and upland wilderness returned no answering voice。
At daybreak the explorers landed upon Roanoke Island； which is twelve miles long by two and a half wide； and found the spot where Admiral White had left the colony in 1587。 Eagerly searching for any tokens of the lost ones； they soon traced in the light soil of the island the imprint of the moccasin of the savage； but looked in vain for any footprint of civilized man。 What had become of their countrymen？
At last some one spied a conspicuous tree； far up on a sandy bank； blazed and carved。 There were but three letters cut upon it； C。R。O。； but these simple symbols possessed a world of meaning。 Three years before； when the sad farewells were being spoken； and the ships were ready to set sail for England； this feeble band； left to struggle in the wilds of the new land with sad forebodings of their possible fate； had agreed upon a signal； and had promised Admiral White that if driven to starvation upon the island； they would plant their colony fifty miles inland； near a tribe of friendly Indians。 Indeed； before the ships sailed for England； they were making preparations for this move。 Admiral White requested them to carve upon a tree the name of the locality to which they should remove； and if distress had overtaken them th