BATHING AT SEA DANCING ON liOARD. 17 



a mn sing your selves on deck." William de- 

 fended himself earnestly in Low Dutch, and thought- 

 lessly seating himself on his mother's cap-box, the lid 

 gave way under his weight ; his ears were well boxed 

 in consequence. 



June 4th. A calm, with the sea as smooth as a 

 mirror, except occasionally when a long swell disturbed 

 the surface ; the ship was motionless. I felt a great 

 inclination to bathe, but the captain had forbidden it, 

 on account of the sharks. Early in the morning, 

 however, II. and I sprang overboard before he was up, 

 and felt as light as feathers in the warm sea; I was 

 much more fatigued than ever I had been in river 

 bathing, and I had swallowed no slight quantity of 

 salt water. 



I went to sleep after dinner, and as I came on deck 

 again about two o'clock, I found dancing going on. 

 The ship was not motionless, though without headway; 

 the swell made her roll heavily at times, and occasion- 

 ally a party of dancers, five or six couple, would be 

 carried from one side to the other, and thereafter, for 

 a moment attempting to maintain the perpendicular, 

 yield at last to the laws of gravity, and fall together 

 in a heap. Towards dark, dancing ceased ; a light 

 breeze sprang up at sunset, driving us gently before it, 

 the sea looking still more beautiful with its little light 

 foam-crested waves. At night it appeared to be sown 

 with myriads of stars and sparks, particularly where 

 the ship dashed through the waters, throwing off the 

 spray: it shone as if a iire was under the water 

 every wave that broke against the bows, gave light 

 enough to exhibit the letters in a book. Although 

 2* 



