4 A GARDEN DIARY 



Coccospheres, of Rhabdospheres, and other long- 

 titled occupants of abyssmal depths. And if 

 one has been tempted to now and then share 

 the dismay felt by the youthful lieutenant, upon 

 being shown that single teaspoonful of grey 

 slop, as the result of nights of toil, which kept 

 the whole crew of Her Majesty's ship from 

 their bunks, well, one reflected that the wise 

 men probably knew what they were about, and 

 that the teaspoonful in question could hardly 

 be an ordinary teaspoonful. Later, hand in 

 hand one has journeyed with other travellers, 

 some biological, others merely exploratory, or 

 geographical. With Stanley groped for weeks 

 in African forests, and been shot at by un- 

 pleasant little beasts with hands. With Miss 

 North travelled far, yet unweariedly, in search 

 of unknown flowering trees, and other forms of 

 vegetation. With Nansen, until one grew to 

 feel brittle as any icicle, and occasionally almost 

 as callous as one. With Mrs. Bishop, across 

 many seas, and scenes ; and last of all with 

 Miss Kingsley, the only one of these illustrious 

 travellers in whose company I have always felt 

 entirely secure, sure that no dangerous animal 

 lion, rattlesnake, cobra, shiny tattooed warrior, 

 German trader, or the like would dare molest 

 me while under her aegis.* 



o 



Yes, I have been a great explorer. The earth, 



* Written in September, 1899. 



