PREPARATIONS FOR STARTING. 75 



bright orb of day has become visible, and their 

 snowy tops, reflecting the beautiful colour over 

 the mirror-like channel of Corfu, clear as crystal, 

 commence to dispel the dark shades of night. 



The citadel clock has just struck seven. Be- 

 sides a Greek or two seen idly smoking his pipe 

 on the esplanade, and the fishing boats returning 

 from their night's cruize, and skimming lightly 

 along over the unrippled surface of the channel, 

 attended by myriads of sea-gulls fluttering about 

 them, attracted by the smell of the fish which 

 they contain, the only signs of animation appa- 

 rent in the ditch of the citadel of Corfu, are a 

 large six-oared whale-boat, with her crew, and 

 the second gig of the twenty-eight gun frigate 

 at anchor in the port, which has evidently been 

 sent on shore with the gun-room steward, for the 

 latter to make purchases for the breakfast of the 

 officers. 



On a sudden, the sentry challenges some one 

 descending the steps. "Who comes there?" 

 "Officer." "Pass, officer." The gigs stare; 

 they have not heard the reply, "officer," and 

 wonder what extraordinary animal has escaped 

 from the mountains. They pass their remarks 

 E 2 



