120 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



'Sleep ! Look at us. But we'll tell you all about 

 our journey down, dad, when we get on board.' 



It was a glorious morning, and the breeze was 

 just sufficient to show our Uttle craft o^ to advan- 

 tage; when clear of the bay her full sheets gave her 

 a hst, and such speed as made her captain smilingly 

 look to the new-comer's faces to see what they thought 

 of her. 



In the meantime the mate, who was cook, and every 

 other needed man in turn, had prepared a breakfast 

 which was much enjoyed in spite of difficulties with 

 restless cups and plates. 



When the meal was finished both my sons expressed 

 willingness to tell of their journey down, but the 

 younger of the two seemed the fuller of the strange 

 doings of the night they had passed through, and from 

 his recital I think it probable he will do the journey 

 now and then in dreamland. This is his description 

 of it :— 



'The difference between our present happy state 

 and the horrors of our journey is so great that it is 

 hard to realise that it is still Bank HoHday and 

 only eleven hours since we took oiu seats at Pad- 

 dington. 



'Unfortunately for us. Cockneys innumerable had 

 chosen to spend their hoHday in the west and to 

 travel by the same train, and to travel, too, with 

 as much pleasure as possible both for themselves 

 and those who might have the gift to appreciate their 

 music and fun. 



'Those who came to fill our compartment were eight 

 undoubted Cockneys who displayed an earnest deter- 

 mination to be gay, for, instead of giving signs of a 

 desire to make themselves snug, they took off their 

 coats, improvised a table^ and played some game of 

 cards that permitted laughter and uproar unlimited, 

 which continued throughout the night, with only 

 such breaks as stoppages at stations, where tired 



