156 PATNA DURING THE MUTINY. 



the journey in a pleasant novel manner is certainly required, and 

 doubting my capacity in this respect, I will take my readers lightly 

 by the hand ; especially as I concur with a great authority in 

 humble life, that the true art of writing consists, not in wearying by 

 prolixity, but in generating a wish for more when the story's ended. 



I stepped on board the P. and O. steamer at Southampton with 

 considerable satisfaction ; feeling that now I had fairly started, and 

 was about to see something of the world. Every step I took 

 showed something new, and the joyous sound of " Cheery-man, ho ! 

 heigho ! good gin and brandy, heigho ! " with fiddle accompani- 

 ment, as the sailors weighed anchor, will never be forgotten. But 

 my exultation cooled down considerably in the Bay of Biscay, where 

 the sea was running mountains high, although the officers declared 

 to me, as their old representatives did to Robinson Crusoe, that it 

 was merely a capfull of wind. 



For several days our good ship was tossed about upon the ocean, 

 and I was almost wishing myself back again safe in England, when 

 I fell into a soothing slumber, and slept until the lullaby of the 

 storm had ceased. Then I awoke, and as the ship was no longer 

 rolling, I thought it must be settling down into the depths of the 

 sea, and that I should soon be introduced to the mermaids ; so I 

 sprung from my berth, and looked out of the window. 



What a splendid sight met my delighted eyes ! The steward, 

 who had just come in with coffee, told me we had arrived at 

 Gibraltar ; there was the Rock above, and there were boats actually 

 laden with pomegranates, oranges, and grapes, in the clear blue sea 

 below. How on earth I got into my clothes, in my impatience to 

 be off, goodness only knows. But when I did get in them I 

 rushed on deck, and with an ardour which could only have been 

 equalled by Mr. Pickwick, I started off to pay a visit to my poor 

 relations — the Barbary apes, which ever since I could articulate 

 I had heard resided there. That certainly was a joyous day ; I 

 was actually " abroad," and I thought as I strutted about how 

 everyone I met must wish to stand in those shoes of mine, and 



