Part 10 (1/2)

'Steady it is, sir!'

'Port a little! Steady!'

Then caained the deck of our cabin there was another, and still another Had we run on shore? We dreaded to ask each other

But just then the steward, with kindly thought, drew back our curtain and reassured us

'We're only buentlemen--we'll be in smooth water in a jiffey'

We were soon all dressed and on deck We were passing the giant hill called Sugar Loaf, and the row taller and taller, and to frown over us as we got nearer

Once through the entrance, the splendid bay itself lay spread out before us in all its silver beauty Full twenty randest hills iinable Not even in our dreams could we have conceived of such a noble harbour, for here not only could all the fleets in the world lie snug, but even cruise and manoeuvre

Away to the west lay the picturesque town itself, its houses and public buildings shi+ning clear in thein a beauty of tropical foliage I have never seen surpassed

My brothers and I felt burning to land at once, but regulations must be carried out, and before we had cleared the custoot a clean bill of health, the day was far spent Our picnic must be deferred till to-morrow

However, we could land

As they took their seats in the boat and she was rowed shoreward, I noticed that Donald and Dugald seeht and admiration; as for me, I felt as if suddenly transported to a neorld

And such a world--beauty and loveliness everywhere around us! How should I ever be able to describe it, I kept wondering--how give dear old mother and Flora any notion, even the ht instilled into our souls by alland felt in this strange, strange land! Without doubt, the beauty of our surroundings constitutes one great factor in our happiness, wherever we are

When we landed--indeed, before we landed--while the boat was still ski to , I felt conquered, if I ave in iance to the spirit of the scene, I abandoned all thoughts of being able to describe anything, I abandoned myself to enjoyment _Laisser faire_, I said tohere seems happy To partake of the _dolce far niente_ appears the whole aim and object of their lives

And so I stepped on shore, regretting so how utterly iood letter'

home descriptive of this wondrous medley of tropical life and loveliness, but soive full rein to , however, if everything I saas real Was I in a dream, from which I should presently be rudely awakened by the rattle and clatter of theup ashes, and find myself in bed on board the Canton? Never mind, I would enjoy it were it even a dream

What a roes look! How gaily the black ladies are dressed! How the black reen stuff! What a rich, delicious, warm aroma hovers everywhere!

An interpreter? You needn't ask _e Ask es Or ask that tall brawny Scot, who is hustling the darkies about as if South Ae, Moncrieff? Oh, this is delightful! Auntie, dear, let ald Jue of sitting beside the driver Off we go Hurrah! Do you like it, Donald? But aren't the streets rough! I won't talk any h, if Paradise itself was a bit lih the sun is shi+ning in a blue and cloudless sky!

What dark shadows those gently waving pale verandahs! Look, oh, look at the wealth of gorgeous flowers--the cli flowers! What colours! What fantastic shapes! What a merry mood Nature must have been in when she fras heavy on the air; the delicious balreen palm-leaves is not sufficient to waft away the odour of that orange blossoroups, on terraces and lawns, at s, or in verandahs--so gaily are they dressed that they theht be mistaken for bouquets of lovely flowers!

I wonder what the na shrubs are

But, bah! ould bother about names of flowers on a day like this? The butterflies do not, and the bees do not Are those really butterflies, though--really and truly? Are they not gorgeously painted fans, waved and wafted by fairies, theaily as we pass, but they do not appear to possess a deal of curiosity; they are too contented for anything All life here must be one delicious round of enjoyment And nobody surely ever dies here; I do not see how they could