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-royaltobeloweredtorendersignalmorevisibleandthe\"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。
Toreturntomynarrativewithapologies，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。