224 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
But I must now return to our steamer. When it began to 
get darker we retired to the cabin to take our last dinner on 
board, and having finished our meal, went on deck again to 
enjoy the delightful air. 
It was just like a beautiful summer night; crickets were 
chirping on the river-banks, the water rippled softly past, and 
before us lay the boundless plains of Hungary melting away 
into the distance, while countless stars glittered in the 
heavens, and the crescent moon stood out clear and silver- 
bright, mirroring itself in the waters of the stream. 
Brehm and I, fascinated by the beauty of the night, stayed 
long on deck, talking over the charming incidents of this 
journey and planning fresh expeditions, and it was late when 
we retired to rest, while the steamer ran up-stream all night 
long without stopping. 
