SKETCHES OF SEA-LIFE. 345 



And the officer, turning about, stalked off in all the pride of 

 conscious cunning. Ah, Mr. Beattie, if you had had the dilated 

 pupils of my eyes in that dark corner, you might not have been 

 quite so well pleased, as you saw your medicine taking rather an 

 external route to the digestives of that mischievous lad. Of 

 course it was several days before boy Harry could do any more 

 work ; and of course he presented a most doleful appearance, 

 especially when any officer was in sight. 



Onward and onward we ploughed through the wide waste, not 

 once being obliged by contrary winds to turn from our course, 

 and frequently cleaving the waters at the rapid rate of fifteen 

 knots an hour. On the evening of the sixteenth day out from 

 New York, the bold shores of Lizard Point, on the coast of Eng- 

 land, loomed into view. Passing this almost within the distance 

 of a stone's cast, we sailed on up the Channel. And when morn- 

 ing again broke upon us, we were standing, with shortened sail, 

 off the blue hills of Normandy. Oh ! glorious sight ! For what 

 though lovely France be now raving in a wild crazy-fit, and with 

 bloody arm is dealing death to myriads of her sons; her soil 

 will give us respite from the ceaseless tumble of old ocean, and 

 we long to look on her beauty. During the morning a French 

 pilot boarded us, arid we again made sail. Ah ! what a noble 

 sight do we present, as the gallant St. Denis dashes by the light- 

 house and along the pier, and a thousand delighted eyes are 

 fastened on us from the shore. " Starboard the helm ! " " Let 

 go all halyards !" "Drop the larboard anchor there for'ard!" 

 " "What ! cable chain parted ? " " Let fly the other ! " And here 

 we are, safe moored in one of those beautiful basins which inter- 

 sect the maritime city of " Havre de Grace." 



For want of time and space to continue, at present, these 

 desultory sketches, I must, kind reader, leave you at this part of 

 the narrative. 



