66 A NAUTICAL PANTOMIME. 
Horn, and destroyed so many ships. One of 
them had recently read to his messmates the 
history of Lord Anson’s unfortunate voyage: 
they were therefore not quite free from ap- 
prehension on approaching this dangerous point, 
and were agreeably surprised at passing it so 
quietly. In their joy they hit on the proud, 
poetical idea, that the very elements themselves 
respected the Russian flag. This bold ima- 
gination took such possession of their minds, 
that, in the elevation of their spirits, they 
resolved to represent it in a pantomime, to 
which I willingly assented, as my own cheer- 
fulness greatly depended on theirs. Accord- 
ingly, a throne was erected on the capstan, 
adorned with coloured flags and streamers, 
which we were to take for the extreme point 
of Cape Horn, upon which, shrouded in red 
drapery, with all becoming dignity and serious- 
ness of aspect, sat the hitherto unknown God 
Horn, (begotten and born of the sailors’ fancy,) 
the tremendous ruler of the winds and waves 
in this tempestuous ocean. In his strong right 
hand he held a large three-pronged oven fork, 
and in his left a telescope, with which he sur- 
