CHAP. IV.] THE VOYAGE ROME. 233 



it. We had all many friends in the fleet, and much to say and 

 hear. AVhile we were lying in Vigo Bay, we were aware of a 

 change of the weatlier, the clouds hurrying up from the south- 

 west ; so, early in the afternoon of the 21st, we weighed and 

 proceeded to sea. Our anticipations were not disappointed ; 

 outside the bay it was blowing half a gale from the south-west, 

 and the old Challenger sped across the Bay of Biscay and up 

 Channel at a pace very unusual to her. On the evening of 

 the 2od we passed Ushant Light, and at 9.15 p.m., on the 24:th 

 of May, 1876, after an absence of three years and a half, we 

 stopped and came to an anchor in seven fathoms' water at 

 Spithead. 

 II.— IG 



