第14章

Atlastthecruelsummonscame；theyshuddered，asifitwastheirdeath-blow。Christopher，withafaceofagony，wasyethimself，andwouldhavepartedthen:andsobest。ButRosacouldnot。Shewouldseethelastofhim，andbecamealmostwildandviolentwhenheopposedit。

ThenhelethercomewithhimtoMilbaySteps；butintotheboathewouldnotletherstep。

Theship"sboatlayatthesteps，mannedbysixsailors，allseated，withtheiroarstossedintwoverticalrows。Asmartmiddyinchargeconductedthem，andDr。StainesandLordTadcastergotin，leavingRosa，inchargeofhermaid，onthequay。

"Shoveoff"——"Down"——"Giveway。"

Eachorderwasexecutedsoswiftlyandsurelythat，inasmanyseconds，theboatwasclear，theoarsstruckthewaterwithaloudsplash，andthehusbandwasshotawaylikeanarrow，andthewife"sdespairingcryrangonthestonyquay，asmanyapoorwoman"scryhadrungbefore。

Inhalfaminutetheboatshotunderthesternofthefrigate。

Theywerereceivedonthequarter-deckbyCaptainHamilton:heintroducedthemtotheofficers——atorturetopoorStaines，tohavehismindtakenforasingleinstantfromhiswife——thefirstlieutenantcameaft，andreported，"Readyformakingsail，sir。"

Stainesseizedtheexcuse，rushedtotheothersideofthevessel，leanedoverthetaffrail，asifhewouldflyashore，andstretchedouthishandstohisbelovedRosa；andshestretchedoutherhandstohim。Theyweresonear，hecouldreadtheexpressionofherface。Itwaswildandtroubled，asonewhodidnotyetrealizetheterriblesituation，butwouldnotbelongfirst。

"HANDSMAKESAIL——AWAY，ALOFT——UPANCHOR"——ranginChristopher"sear，asifinadream。Allhissoulandsenseswerebentonthatdesolateyoungcreature。Howyoungandamazedherlovelyface!

Yetthisbewilderedchildwasabouttobecomeamother。Evenastranger"sheartmighthaveyearnedwithpityforher:howmuchmorehermiserablehusband"s!

Thecapstanwasmanned，andworkedtoamerrytunethatstruckchilltothebereaved；yardswerebracedforcasting，anchorhove，catted，andfished，sailwasspreadwithamazingswiftness，theship"sheaddipped，andslowlyandgracefullypaidofftowardsthebreakwater，andshestoodouttoseaunderswiftly-swellingcanvasandalightnorth-westerlybreeze。

Stainesonlyfeltthemotion:hisbodywasintheship，hissoulwithhisRosa。Hegazed，hestrainedhiseyestoseehereyes，astheshipglidedfromEnglandandher。Whilehewasthusgazingandtremblingallover，upcametohimasmartsecondlieutenant，withabrilliantvoicethatstruckhimlikeasword。"Captain"sorderstoshowyouberths；pleasechooseforLordTadcasterandyourself。"

Theman"swildanswermadetheyoungofficerstare。"Oh，sir!notnow——tryanddomydutywhenIhavequitelosther——mypoorwife——achild——amother——there——sir——onthesteps——there!——there!"

Nowthisofficeralwayswenttoseasinging"Ohbejoyful。"Butastrongman"sagony，whocanmakelightofit?Itwasarevelationtohim；buthetookitquickly。Thefirstthinghedid，beingamanofaction，wastodashintohiscabin，andcomebackwithashort，powerfuldoubleglass。"There!"saidheroughly，butkindly，andshoveditintoStaines"shand。Hetookit，staredatitstupidly，thenusedit，withoutawordofthanks，sowrappedwasheinhisanguish。

Thisglassprolongedthemiseryofthatbitterhour。WhenRosacouldnolongertellherhusbandfromanother，shefelthewasreallygone，andshethrewherhandsaloft，andclaspedthemaboveherhead，withthewildabandonofawomanwhocouldneveragainbeachild；andStainessawit，andasharpsighburstfromhim，andhesawhermaidandothersgatherroundher。Hesawthepooryoungthingledaway，withherheadalldown，ashehadneverseenherbefore，andsupportedtotheinn；andthenhesawhernomore。

Hisheartseemedtogooutofhisbosominsearchofher，andleavenothingbutastonebehind:hehungoverthetaffraillikeadeadthing。Asteadyfoot-fallslappedhisear。Heraisedhiswhitefaceandfilmyeyes，andsawLieutenantFitzroymarchingtoandfrolikeasentinel，keepingeverybodyawayfromthemourner，withthesteady，resolute，business-likefaceofamaninwhomsentimentisconfinedtoaction；itsphrasesanditsflourishesbeingliterallyterraincognitatothehonestfellow。

Stainesstaggeredtowardshim，holdingoutbothhands，andgaspedout，"Godblessyou。Hidemesomewhere——mustnotbeseenSO——gotdutytodo——Patient——can"tdoityet——onehourtodrawmybreath——

oh，myGod，myGod!——onehour，sir。Thendomyduty，ifIdie——asyouwould。"

Fitzroytorehimdownintohisowncabin，shuthiminandrantothefirstlieutenant，withatearinhiseye。"CanIhaveasentry，sir?"

"Sentry!Whatfor?"

"Thedoctor——awfullycutupatleavinghiswife:gothiminmycabin。Wantstohavehiscrytohimself。"

"Fancyafellowcryingatgoingtosea!"

"Itisnotthat，sir；itisleavinghiswife。"

"Well，ishetheonlymanonboardthathasgotawife?"

"Why，no，sir。Itisodd，nowIthinkofit。PerhapshehasonlygotthatONE。"

"Curiouscreatures，landsmen，"saidthefirstlieutenant。

"However，youcanstickamarinethere。"

"AndIsay，showtheYOUNGSTERtheberths，andlethimchoose，asthedoctor"saground。"

"Yes，sir。"

SoFitzoyplantedhismarine，andthenwentafterLordTadcaster:

hehaddrawnupalongsidehiscousin，CaptainHamilton。Thecaptain，beinganadmirerofLadyCicely，wasmightyciviltohislittlelordship，andtalkedtohimmorethanwashiswontonthequarterdeck；forthoughhehadagoodflowofconversation，anddispensedwithceremonyinhiscabin，hewasapttoberathershortondeck。However，hetoldlittleTadcasterhewasfortunate；theyhadagoodstart，and，ifthewindheld，mighthopetobeclearoftheChannelintwenty-fourhours。"YouwillseeEddystonelighthouseaboutfourbells，"saidhe。

"Shallwegooutofsightoflandaltogether?"inquiredhislordship。

"Ofcourseweshall，andthesoonerthebetter。"Hethenexplainedtothenovicethattheonlydangertoagoodshipwasfromtheland。

WhileTadcasterwasdigestingthisparadox，CaptainHamiltonproceededtodescantonthebeautiesofbluewateranditsfinemedicinalqualities，which，hesaid，wereparticularlysuitedtoyounggentlemenwithbiliousstomachs，butpresently，catchingsightofLieutenantFitzroystandingapart，butwiththemannerofalieutenantnottherebyaccident，hestopped，andsaid，civillybutsmartly，"Well，sir?"

Fitzroycameforwarddirectly，saluted，andsaidhehadordersfromthefirstlieutenanttoshowLordTadcastertheberths。Hislordshipmustbegoodenoughtochoose，becausethedoctor——

couldn"t。

"Whynot?"

"Broughtto，sir——forthepresent——by——well，bygrief。"

"Broughttobygrief!Whothedeuceisgrief?Noriddlesonthequarter-deck，ifyouplease，sir。"

"Ohno，sir。Iassureyouheisawfullycutup；andheishavinghiscryoutinmycabin。"

"Havinghiscryout!why，whatfor?"

"Leavinghiswife，sir。"

"Oh，isthatall?"

"Well，Idon"twonder，"criedlittleTadcasterwarmly。"Sheis，oh，sobeautiful!"andasuddenblusho"erspreadhispastycheeks。

"Whyonearthdidn"twebringheralongwithushere?"saidhe，suddenlyopeninghiseyeswithastonishmentatthechildishomission。

"Why，indeed?"saidthecaptaincomically，anddivedbelow，attendedbythewell-disciplinedlaughterofLieutenantFitzroy，whowastoogoodanofficernottobeamusedathiscaptain"sjokes。Havingacquittedhimselfofthatduty——anditisaverydifficultonesometimes——hetookLordTadcastertothemain-deck，andshowedhimtwocomfortablesleeping-berthsthathadbeenscreenedoffforhimandDr。Staines；oneofthesewasfittedwithastandingbed-place，theotherhadacotswunginit。Fitzroyofferedhimthechoice，buthintedthathehimselfpreferredacot。

"No，thankyou，"saysmylordmightydryly。

"Allright，"saidFitzroycheerfully。"Taketheother，then，mylord。"

Hislittlelordshipcockedhiseyelikeajackdaw，andlookedalmostascunning。"Yousee，"saidhe，"Ihavebeenreadingupforthisvoyage。"

"Oh，indeed!Logarithms?"

"Ofcoursenot。"

"Whatthen?"

"Why，"PeterSimple"——tobesure。"

"Ah，ha!"saidFitzroy，withachucklethatshowedplainlyhehadsomedeliciousreminiscencesofyouthfulstudyinthesamequarter。

Thelittlelordchuckledtoo，andputonefingeronFitzroy"sshoulder，andpointedatthecotwithanother。"Tumbleouttheotherside，youknow——slipperyhitches——cordscut——downyoucomeflopinthemiddleofthenight。"

Fitzroy"seyeflashedmerriment:butonlyforamoment。Hiscountenancefellthenext。"Lordblessyou，"saidhesorrowfully，"allthatgameisovernow。HerMajesty"sship!——itisachurchafloat。Theserviceisgoingtothedevil，astheoldfogiessay。"

"Ain"tyousorry?"saysthelittlelord，cockinghiseyeagainlikethebirdhereinbeforementioned。

"OfcourseIam。"

"ThenI"lltakethestandingbed。"

"Allright。Isay，youdon"tmindthedoctorcomingdownwitharun，eh?"

"Heisnotill:Iam。Heispaidtotakecareofme:Iamnotpaidtotakecareofhim，"saidtheyounglordsententiously。

"Iunderstand，"repliedFitzroy，dryly。"Well，everyoneforhimself，andProvidenceforusall——astheelephantsaidwhenhedancedamongthechickens。"

Heremylordwassummonedtodinewiththecaptain。Staineswasnotthere；buthehadnotforgottenhisduty；inthemidstofhisgriefhehadwrittenanotetothecaptain，hopingthatabereavedhusbandmightnotseemtodeserthispostifhehidforafewhoursthesorrowhefelthimselfunabletocontrol。MeantimehewouldbegratefulifCaptainHamiltonwouldgiveordersthatLordTadcastershouldeatnopastry，anddrinkonlysixouncesofclaret，otherwiseheshouldfeelthathewasindeedbetrayinghistrust。

Thecaptainwaspleasedandtouchedwiththisletter。Itrecalledtohimhowhismothersobbedwhenshelaunchedherlittlemiddy，swellingwithhisfirstcockedhatanddirk。

Therewaschampagneatdinner，andlittleTadcasterbegantopouroutatumbler。"Holdon!"saidCaptainHamilton；"youarenottodrinkthat；"andhequietlyremovedthetumbler。"Bringhimsixouncesofclaret。"

Whiletheywereweighingtheclaretwithscientificprecision，Tadcasterremonstrated；and，beingtolditwasthedoctor"sorder，hesqueakedout，"Confoundhim!whydidnothestaywithhiswife?

Sheisbeautiful。"Nordidhegiveitupwithoutastruggle。

"Here"shospitality!"saidhe。"Sixounces!"

Receivingnoreply，heinquiredofthethirdlieutenant，whichwasgenerallyconsideredthegreatestauthorityinaship——thecaptain，orthedoctor。

Thethirdlieutenantanswerednot，butturnedhisheadaway，and，byviolentexertion，succeededinnotsplitting。

"I"llanswerthat，"saidHamiltonpolitely。"Thecaptainisthehighestinhisdepartment，andthedoctorinhis:nowDoctorStainesisstrictlywithinhisdepartment，andwillbesupportedbymeandmyofficers。Youarebilious，andepileptical，andalltherestofit，andyouaretobecuredbydietandbluewater。"

Tadcasterwasinclinedtosnivel:however，hesubduedthatweaknesswithavisibleeffort，and，induecourse，returnedtothecharge。

"Howwouldyoulook，"quaveredhe，"iftherewastobeamutinyinthisshipofyours，andIwastoheadit?"

"Well，IshouldlookSHARP——hangalltheringleadersattheyardarm，claptherestunderhatches，andsteerforthenearestprison。"

"Oh!"saidTadcaster，anddigestedthisschemeabit。Atlastheperkedupagain，andmadehisfinalhit。"Well，Ishouldn"tcare，forone，ifyoudidn"tflogus。"

"Inthatcase，"saidCaptainHamilton，"I"dflogyou——andstopyoursixounces。"

"Thencursethesea；thatisallIsay。"

"Why，youhavenotseenit；youhaveonlyseentheBritishChannel。"ItwasMr。Fitzroywhocontributedthislastobservation。

Afterdinnerallbutthecaptainwentondeck，andsawtheEddystonelighthouseaheadandtoleeward。Theypassedit。

Fitzroytoldhislordshipitsstory，andthatofitsunfortunatepredecessors。SoonafterthisLordTadcasterturnedin。

Presentlythecaptainobservedachangeinthethermometer，whichbroughthimondeck。Hescannedthewaterandthesky，andastheseexperiencedcommandershaveasubtleinsightintotheweather，especiallyinfamiliarlatitudes，heremarkedtothefirstlieutenantthatitlookedratherunsettled；and，asamatterofprudence，orderedareefinthetopsails，andtheroyalyardstobesentdown:shiptobesteeredW。byS。Thisdone，heturnedin，buttoldthemtocallhimiftherewasanychangeintheweather。

Duringthenightthewindgraduallyheaded；andatfourbellsinthemiddlewatchaheavysquallcameupfromthesouth-west。

Thisbroughtthecaptainondeckagain:hefoundtheofficerofthewatchathispost，andatwork。Sailwasshortened，andtheshipmadesnugforheavyweather。

AtfourA。M。itwasblowinghard，and，beingtooneartheFrenchcoast，theyworetheship。

Now，thisoperationwasbadforlittleTadcaster。Whilethevesselwasonthestarboardtack，thesidekepthimsnug；but，whentheyworeher，ofcoursehehadnoleeboardtokeephimin。Theshipgavealee-lurch，andshothimcleanoutofhisbunkintothemiddleofthecabin。

Heshriekedandshrieked，withterrorandpain，tillthecaptainandStaines，whowerehisnearestneighbors，cametohim，andtheygavehimalittlebrandy，andgothimtobedagain。Herehesufferednothingbutviolentseasicknessforsomehours。AsforStaines，hehadbeenswingingheavilyinhiscot；butsuchwashismentaldistressthathewouldhavewelcomedseasickness，oranyreasonablebodilysuffering。Hewasinthatstatewhenthestingofawaspisatouchofcomfort。

Wornoutwithsickness，Tadcasterwouldnotmove。Invitedtobreakfast，hesworefaintly，andinsistedondyinginpeace。Atlastexhaustiongavehimasortofsleep，inspiteofthemotion，whichwasviolent，foritwasnowblowinggreatguns，aheavyseaon，andthegreatwavesdirtyincolorandcrestedwithragingfoam。

Theyhadtowearshipagain，alwaysaticklishmanoeuvreinweatherlikethis。

Atremendousseastruckherquarter，stoveintheveryportabreastofwhichthelittlelordwaslying，andwashedhimcleanoutofbedintotheleescuppers，andsetallswimmingaroundhim。

Didn"theyell，andwashaboutthecabin，andgrabatallthechairsandtablesandthingsthatdriftedabout，nimbleaseels，avoidinghisgrasp!

Inrushedthecaptain，andinstaggeredStaines。Theystoppedhis"voyageautourdesachambre，"anddraggedhimintotheaftersaloon。

Heclungtothembyturns，andbegged，withmanytears，tobeputonthenearestland；arockwoulddo。

"Muchobliged，"saidthecaptain；"nowistheverytimetogiverocksawideberth。"

"Adeadwhale，then——alighthouse——anythingbutabeastofaship。"

Theypacifiedhimwithalittlebrandy，andforthenexttwenty-

fourhourshescarcelyopenedhismouth，exceptforapurposeitisneedlesstodwellon。Wecantrusttoourterrestrialreaders"

personalreminiscencesoflee-lurches，weather-rolls，andtheirfaithfulconcomitant。

AtlasttheywriggledoutoftheChannel，andsoonafterthatthewindabated，andnextdayveeredroundtothenorthward，andtheshipsailedalmostonanevenkeel。Themotionbecameasheavenlyasithadbeendiabolical，andthepassengerscameondeck。

Staineshadsufferedonewholedayfromsea-sickness，butnevercomplained。Ibelieveitdidhismindmoregoodthanharm。

AsforTadcaster，hecontinuedtosuffer，atintervals，fortwodaysmore，butonthefifthdayoutheappearedwithalittlepinktingeonhischeekandawolfishappetite。Dr。Stainescontrolledhisdietseverely，astoquality，and，whentheyhadbeenatseajustelevendays，thephysician"sheavyheartwasnotalittlelightenedbythemarvellouschangeinhim。Theunthinking，whobelieveinthedrugsystem，shouldhaveseenwhataphysiciancandowithairandfood，whencircumstancesenablehimtoENFORCEthedietheenjoins。Moneywillsometimesbuyevenhealth，ifyouAVOIDDRUGSENTIRELY，andgoanotherroad。

LittleTadcasterwentonboard，pasty，dim-eyed，andverysubjecttofits，becausehisstomachwasconstantlyoverloadedwithindigestibletrash，andthebloodinhisbrain-vesselswasalwayseithergallopingorcreeping，underthefirstorsecondeffectofstimulantsadministered，atfirst，bythoughtlessphysicians。

Beholdhimnow——bronzed，pinky，bright-eyed，elastic；andonlyonefitintwelvedays。

Thequarter-deckwashailedfromthe"look-out"withacrythatissometimesterrible，butinthislatitudeandweatherwelcomeandexciting。"Land，ho!"

"Whereaway?"criedtheofficerofthewatch。

"Apointonthelee-bow，sir。"

ItwastheislandofMadeira:theydroppedanchorinFunchalRoads，furledsails，squaredyards，andfiredasaluteoftwenty-onegunsforthePortugueseflag。

Theywentashore，andfoundagoodhotel，andwerenolongerdosed，asinformerdays，withoil，onions，garlic，eggs。Butthewinequeer，andnomadeiratobegot。

Staineswrotehometohiswife:hetoldherhowdeeplyhehadfeltthebereavement；butdidnotdwellonthat；hisobjectbeingtocheerher。Hetoldheritpromisedtobearapidandwonderfulcure，andonethatmightverywellgivehimafreshstartinLondon。Theyneednotbepartedawholeyear，hethought。Hesentheraverylongletter，andalsosuchextractsfromhisseajournalashethoughtmightpleaseher。Afterdinnertheyinspectedthetown，andwhatstruckthemmostwastofindthestreetspavedwithflag-stones，andmostofthecartsdrawnbybullocksonsledges。A

maneverynowandthenwouldrunforwardanddropagreasyclothinfrontofthesledge，tolubricatetheway。

Nextday，afterbreakfast，theyorderedhorses；theseoninspection，provedtobeofexcellentbreed，eitherfromAustraliaorAmerica——veryroughshod，forthestonyroads。StartedfortheGrandCanal——peepeddownthatmightychasm，whichhastheappearanceofanimmensemasshavingbeenblownoutofthecentreofthemountain。

Theylunchedunderthegreatdragontreenearitsbrink，thenrodebackadmiringtheboldmountainscenery。Nextmorningatdawn，rodeonhorsesupthehilltotheconvent。Admiredthebeautifulgardensontheway。Remainedashorttime；thencamedowninhand-

sleighs——littlebasketsslungonsledges，guidedbytwonatives；

thesesledgesrundownthehillwithsurprisingrapidity，andthemenguidethemroundcornersbystickingoutafoottoportorstarboard。

Embarkedat11。30A。M。

At1。30，themenhavingdined，theshipwasgotunderwayfortheCapeofGoodHope，andallsailmadeforasoutherlycourse，togetintothenorth-easttrades。

Theweatherwasnowbalmyanddelightful，andsogenialthateverybodylivedondeck，andcouldhardlybegottoturnintotheircabins，evenforsleep。

Dr。Stainesbecameafavoritewiththeofficers。Thereisagreatdealofscienceonboardamodernshipofwar，and，ofcourse，onsomepointsStaines，aCambridgewrangler，andamanofmanysciencesandbooks，wasanoracle。Onothershewasquitebehind，butareadyandquickpupil。Hemadeuptothenavigatingofficer，andlearned，withhishelp，totakeobservations。Inreturnhewasalwaysatanyyoungster"sserviceinatrigonometricalproblem；andheamusedthemidshipmenandyounglieutenantswithanalyticaltests；someofthesewereapplicabletocertainliquidsdispensedbythepaymaster。Underoneofthemtheportwineassumedsomeverydrollcolorsandappearancesnotpropertogrape-juice。

Onelovelynightthattheshipclovethedarkseaintoablazeofphosphorescence，andherwakestreamedlikeacomet"stail，awaggishmiddygotabucketfulhoistedondeck，andaskedthedoctortoanalyzethat。Hedidnotmuchlikeit，butyieldedtothegeneralrequest；andbydividingitintosmallervessels，anddroppinginvariouschemicals，maderainbowsandsilveryflamesandwhatnot。Buthedeclinedtorepeattheexperiment:"No，no；onceisphilosophy；twiceiscruelty。I"veslainmorethanSamsonalready。"

AsforTadcaster，sciencehadnocharmsforhim；butfictionhad；

andhegotitgalore；forhecruisedabouttheforecastle，andtherethequartermastersandoldseamenspunhimyarnsthatheldhimbreathless。

Butonedaymylordhadafitonthequarter-deck，andabadone；

andStainesfoundhimsmellingstrongofrum。HerepresentedthistoCaptainHamilton。Thecaptaincausedstrictinquiriestobemade，anditcameoutthatmylordhadgoneamongthemen，withmoneyinbothpockets，andboughtalittleofoneman"sgrog，andalittleofanother，andhadbeensippingthefurtivebuttransientjoysofsolitaryintoxication。

CaptainHamiltontalkedtohimseriously；toldhimitwassuicide。

"Nevermind，oldboy，"saidtheyoungmonkey；"ashortlifeandamerryone。"

ThenHamiltonrepresentedthatitwasveryungentleman-liketogoandtemptpoorJackwithhismoney，tooffenddiscipline，andgetflogged。"Howwillyoufeel，Tadcaster，whenyouseetheirbacksbleedingunderthecat?"

"Oh，d——nitall，George，don"tdothat，"saystheyounggentleman，allinahurry。

Thenthecommandersawhehadtouchedtherightchord。Soheplayedonit，tillhegotLordTadcastertopledgehishonornottodoitagain。

Thelittlefellowgavethepledge，butrelievedhismindasfollows:"Butitisacursedtyrannicalhole，thistiresomeoldship。Youcan"tdowhatyoulikeinit。"

"Well，butnomoreyoucaninthegrave:andthatistheagreeableresidenceyouwerehurryingtobutforthistiresomeoldship。"

"Lord!nomoreyoucan，"saidTadcaster，withsuddencandor。"I

FORGOTTHAT。"

Theairswereverylight；theshiphardlymoved。Itwasbeginningtogetdull，whenonedayasailwassightedontheweather-bow，standingtotheeastward:onnearingher，shewasseen，bythecutofhersails，tobeaman-of-war，evidentlyhomewardbound:soCaptainHamiltonorderedthemain-royaltobelowered(torendersignalmorevisible)andthe"demand"hoisted。Nonoticebeingtakenofthis，agunwasfiredtodrawherattentiontothesignal。

Thishadthedesiredeffect；downwenthermain-royal，upwenther"number。"Onreferringtothesignalbook，sheprovedtobetheVindictivefromthePacificStation。

Thisbeingascertained，CaptainHamilton，beingthatcaptain"ssenior，signalled"Closeandpreparetoreceiveletters。"Inobediencetothissheboreup，randown，androundedto；thesailintheAmphitritewasalsoshortened，themaintopsaillaidtothemast，andaboatlowered。Thecaptainhavingfinishedhisdespatches，they，withtheletter-bags，werehandedintotheboat，whichshovedoff，pulledtotheleesideoftheVindictive，andleftthedespatches，withCaptainHamilton"scompliments。Onitsreturn，bothshipsmadesailontheirrespectivecourse，exchanging"bonvoyage"bysignal，andsoontheuppersailsofthehomeward-

bounderwereseendippingbelowthehorizon:longingeyesfollowedheronboardtheAmphitrite。

Howmanyhurriedmissiveshadbeenwrittenanddespatchedinthathalf-hour。ButasforStaines，hewasamanofforethought，andhadavolumereadyforhisdearwife。

LordTadcasterwrotetoLadyCicelyTreherne。Hisepistle，thoughbrief，containedaplumortwo。

Hewrote:"Whatwithsailing，andfishing，andeatingnothingbutroastmeat，I"mquiteanotherman。"

Thisamusedherladyshipalittle，butnotsomuchasthepostscript，whichwasindeedtheneatestthinginitswayshehadmetwith，andshehadsomeexperience，too。

"P。S——Isay，Cicely，IthinkIshouldliketomarryyou。Wouldyoumind?"

LetusdefytimeandspacetogiveyouLadyCicely"sreply:"I

shouldenjoyitofallthings，Taddy。But，alas!Iamtooyoung。"

N。B——Shewastwenty-seven，andTadsixteen。Tobesure，Tadwasfourfeeteleven，andshewasonlyfivefeetsixandahalf。

Toreturntomynarrative(withapologies)，thismeetingofthevesselscausedaveryagreeableexcitementthatday；butagreaterwasinstore。Intheafternoon，Tadcaster，Staines，andtheprincipalofficersoftheship，beingatdinnerinthecaptain"scabin，incametheofficerofthewatch，andreportedalargesparontheweather-bow。

"Well，closeit，ifyoucan；andletmeknowifitlooksworthpickingup。"

HethenexplainedtoLordTadcasterthat，onacruise，heneverlikedtopassaspar，oranythingthatmightpossiblyrevealthefateofsomevesselorother。

Inthemiddleofhisdiscoursetheofficercameinagain，butnotinthesamecoolbusinessway:heraninexcitedly，andsaid，"Captain，thesignalmanreportsitALIVE!"

"Alive?——aspar!Whatdoyoumean?SomethingaliveONit，eh?"

"No，sir；aliveitself。"

"Howcanthatbe?Hailhimagain。Askhimwhatitis。"

Theofficerwentout，andhailedthesignalmanatthemast-head。

"Whatisit?"

"Sea-sarpint，Ithink。"

Thishailreachedthecaptain"searsfaintly。However，hewaitedquietlytilltheofficercameinandreportedit；thenheburstout，"Absurd!thereisnosuchcreatureintheuniverse。Whatdoyousay，Dr。Staines?——Itisinyourdepartment。"

"Theuniverseinmydepartment，captain?"

"Haw!haw!haw!"wentFitzroyandtwomore。

"No，yourogue，theserpent。"

Dr。Staines，thusappealedto，askedthecaptainifhehadeverseensmallsnakesoutatsea。

"Why，ofcourse。Sailedthroughamileofthemonce，inthearchipelago。"

"Suretheyweresnakes?"

"Quitesure；andthebiggestwasnoteightfeetlong。"

"Verywell，captain；thensea-serpentsexist，anditbecomesamerequestionofsize。Nowwhichproducesthelargeranimalsineverykind，——landorsea?Thegrownelephantweighs，Ibelieve，aboutfivetons。Theverysmallestofthewhaletribeweighsten；andtheygoashighasfortytons。Therearesmallerfishthanthewhale，thatarefourtimesasheavyastheelephant。Whydoubt，then，thattheseacanbreedasnaketoeclipsetheboa-

constrictor?Evenifthecreaturehadneverbeenseen，Ishould，bymerereasoningfromanalogy，expecttheseatoproduceaserpentexcellingtheboa-constrictor，asthelobsterexcelsacrayfishofourrivers:seehowlargethingsgrowatsea!thesalmonborninourriversweighsinsixmonthsaquarterofapound，orless；itgoesouttosea，andcomesbackinoneyearweighingsevenpounds。

Sofarfromdoubtingthelargesea-serpents，Ibelievetheyexistbythemillion。Theonlythingthatpuzzlesmeis，whytheyshouldevershowanoseabovewater；theymustbeverynumerous，Ithink。"

CaptainHamiltonlaughed，andsaid，"Well，thisISnew。Doctor，incomplimenttoyouropinion，wewillgoondeck，andinspectthereptileyouthinksocommon。"Hestoppedatthedoor，andsaid，"Doctor，thesaltcellarisbyyou。Wouldyoumindbringingitondeck?Weshallwantalittletosecuretheanimal。"

Sotheyallwentondeckrightmerrily。

Thecaptainwentupafewratlinesinthemizzenrigging，andlookedtowindward，laughingallthetime:but，allofasudden，therewasagreatchangeinhismanner。"Goodheavens，itisalive——LUFF!"

Thehelmsmanobeyed；thenewsspreadlikewildfire。Messkids，grogkids，pipes，wereallletfall，andsomethreehundredsailorsclusteredontherigginglikebees，toviewthelong-talked-ofmonster。

Itwassoondiscoveredtobemovinglazilyalong，thepropellingpartbeingunderwater，andabouttwenty-fivefeetvisible。Ithadasmallheadforsolargeabody，and，astheygotnearer，roughscaleswereseen，endinginsmalleronesfurtherdownthebody。Ithadamane，butnotlikealion"s，assomehavepretended。Ifyouhaveeverseenaponywithahog-mane，thatwasmorethecharacterofthiscreature"smane，ifmaneitwas。