A BALL ON BOARD SHIP. 89 
shore during their preparations, and till the 
hour appointed for the ball, I was really asto- 
nished to see how much they had been able to 
achieve. The deck was changed into a large 
illuminated saloon, decorated with fine myrtle 
trees, luxuriant garlands, and bouquets of flow- 
ers of every colour, exhaling the sweetest per- 
fumes, and appropriate transparencies in the 
background opposite the entrance. The cabins 
had been cleared for refreshment-rooms; and 
the musicians, concealed behind a curtain, were 
to pour forth their animating strains unseen by 
the dancers. The cheerful scene was rapidly 
filled with cheerful faces; graceful figures moved 
in the lively dances ; and love and beauty alone 
seemed to preside within the joyous precincts. 
But suddenly a universal confusion and panic 
terror was spread among the company, and 
chiefly among the ladies. Some suspicious 
simpleton or mischievous wag had whispered 
that we had a design of secretly weighing an- 
chor during this festivity, and sailing away with 
our beautiful prisoners. My friend Mendiburu, 
howeyer, at length succeeded in banishing this 
ridiculous apprehension, and restoring tranquil- 
