Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1884 — Saved by a Cricket. [ARTICLE]

Saved by a Cricket.

Mr. Southey, in his History of Brazil thus describes the perilous situation, of Cabeza de Vaca, who, sailing towards Brazil, is preserved from shipwreclpby a grillo, or ground cricket:—“When they had crossed the lino, the state of the water was inquired into; and it was found that of a hundred casks there remained but three to supply four hundred men and thirty horses ; upon this ths Adelantado gave orders to make the ’Trfaf'SstTabd'. " Three davs they stoocl towards it. A soldier, who had set out in ill health, had brought a grillo, or ground Cricket, with him frdm Cadiz, thinking to be amused by the insect’s voice; but it had been silent the hole — way, to his no little disappointment. Now on the fourth morning the grillo began to sing its shrill rattle, scenting, as was immediately supposed, the land. Such was the miserable watch which had been kept, that upon locking out at this warning they perceived high rocks within bow shot; against which, had it not been for the insect, they must have inevitably been lost They had just time to drop anchor. From hence they coasted along, the grillo singing every night as if it had been on shore, till they reached the island of S. Catalina.