1853.] VISIT OF A WOLF. 65 



force us to seek its shelter, it will afford an admirable re- 

 treat for healthy exercise and amusement, possibly for 

 the seamen's theatricals. The latter did not take so 

 well as expected last season with the officers; indeed, 

 most of them were of a more serious turn, and I cannot 

 observe any chance of their resuscitation. For myself I 

 did not enter into the spirit of or admire them much, 

 and to make a man mdlgre lid render himself ridiculous 

 by failure, is little less than a miserable attempt at buf- 

 foonery ; such, too, I believe to be the prevailing opinion. 

 Nevertheless, even to kill time, I shall use my best endea- 

 vours to promote them, should our " indefatigable pro- 

 prietor" intimate any such disposition, particularly on the 

 pail of the seamen. The mere act of learning their 

 parts frequently inculcates some moral which may prove 

 the keystone to future development of abilities. 



November 1 . This morning the officer of the watch, 

 Mr. Pirn, on his visit at two A.M. to the external ther- 

 mometer under the stern, noticed, as he imagined, a 

 strange and taller dog than any belonging to our esta- 

 blishment, and not liking his appearance, returned on 

 board to assure himself of their presence. This satisfied 

 him that the visitor was no less than a wolf: not at all 

 a pleasant companion at that early hour, and unarmed. 

 These matters seldom lose by telling, and the version 

 first promulgated was, that Pirn was about to pat him, 

 when he discovered his mistake : but his own version I 

 prefer : " he did not approach nearer than ten yards ; 

 the weather was thick and sleety, and he did not feel the 

 slightest inclination to fraternize." Was this our myste- 

 rious wolf from Arthur's Strait ? 



VOL. II. F 



