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。