THE CAPTAIN. 235 



Tell us some of your adventures while there, 

 Captain. 



"Yes, I think I have given you geography and 

 history enough. But it is pleasant for me to 

 remember I have been in the very rooms where 

 the great Napoleon planned and thought and 

 regretted his life away. 



" Our adventures ? Well, here's one. The 

 very first day we went ashore we had dinner in 

 Smith's hotel. While we were eating, down came 

 the walls over our heads covering us with plaster. 



" No, it wasn't an earthquake, but the work of 

 the white ant which eats up the woodwork of the 

 houses and down they fall when least expected. 

 I tell you, it is dangerous. So some of the 

 dwellings are made of teak wood and the ware- 

 houses of iron, both indestructible by this pest. 



" We had many drives about the island, visiting 

 Napoleon's grave and drinking from the spring 

 near Longwood, where he walked every day as 

 long as he was able. It is a pleasant spot, cool 

 and shady from the overhanging willow trees. 



" Pleasant as was our stay in St. Helena, after 

 our long ocean voyage, we were glad to point the 

 bow of our vessel homeward. 



" Yet we were troubled greatly by rumors we 

 had heard of the Confederate cruisers, always 



