TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 



cloth, far too large, flapped about his legs, which were 

 kept wide apart from the habit of accommodating him- 

 self to the rolling of the ship, and under his dress coat, 

 the large tails of which commenced almost at the 

 shoulders, there could be seen a thick vest of brown 

 wool. 



He wore a felt hat pushed down as far as his ears, 

 as if to guard against the wind, and his thick grey 

 hair was coarse and rigid, like the coat of the wild 

 boar. 



Add to this, that, as a curious bit of vanity, he wore 

 in his ears small gold rings, from each of which there 

 was suspended a little anchor, and that his countenance, 

 tanned by constant exposure to the sun, was sur- 

 rounded by whiskers and a beard almost completely 

 white, and you will have a tolerably faithful portrait 

 of the new arrival. 



The doctor took some steps towards him. " Father 

 Lucas ! " he said, and gave his hand to the old sailor 

 as if to encourage him. "But you are rigged out in 

 your best and got up in grand style ! Something 

 unusual and important must be going on." 



" Yes, Mister Doctor," replied the old man, turning 

 his hat round by twisting it between the fingers in 

 which he now held it. "I would even venture to say, 

 sir, by your permission, something very serious." 



" Let me hear about it," and Uncle Bob opened the 

 door of his study. 



