VI. 



ADEN. 



IT was cooler ; and for a change we had 

 turned into our bunks, when B. pounded on 

 our stateroom door. 



" In the name of the Eternal East," said he, 

 " come on deck ! " 



We slipped on kimonos, and joined the row 

 of scantily draped and interested figures along 

 the rail. 



The ship lay quite still on a perfect sea of 

 moonlight, bordered by a low flat distant shore 

 on one side, and nearer mountains on the other. 

 A strong flare, centred from two ship reflectors 

 overside, made a focus of illumination that sub- 

 dued, but could not quench, the soft moonlight 

 with which all outside was silvered. A dozen 

 boats, striving against a current or clinging as 

 best they could to the ship's side, glided into 

 the light and became real and solid ; or dropped 



