104 THE SEA. 



were to be shot one ran away, and got over a parapet, where he was afterwards shot: 

 another is thought to have escaped. 



Colonel Shaw tells the story of a soldier of the Sicilian regiment who had frequently 

 deserted. He was condemned to be shot. A priest who visited him in prison left behind 

 him purposely, there can be little doubt his iron crucifix. The soldier used it to scrape 

 away the mortar, and moved stone after stone, until he got into an adjoining cell, where 

 he found himself no better off, as it was locked. The same process was repeated, until 

 he at last reached a cell of which the door was open, entered the passage and climbed a 

 wall, beneath which a seniry was posted. Fortunately for the prisoner, a regular Maltese 

 shower was pouring down, and the guard remained in his box. The fugitive next reached 

 a high gate, where it seemed he must be foiled. Not at all ! He went back, got his 

 blanket, cut it into strips, made a rope, and by its means climbed the gate, dropped into 

 a fosse, from which he reached and swam across the harbour. He lived concealed for some 

 time among the natives, but venturing one day into the town, was recognised and captured. 

 The governor considered that after all this he deserved his life, and changed his sentence to 

 transportation. 



Before leaving Malta, which, with its docks, navy-yard, and splendid harbours, 

 fortifications, batteries, and magazines, is such an important naval and military station, 

 we may briefly mention the revenue derived, and expenditure incurred by the Government 

 in connection with it, as both are considerable. The revenue derived from imposts 

 of the usual nature, harbour dues, &c., is about 175,000. The military expenditure is 

 about 366,000, which includes the expenses connected with the detachments of artillery, 

 and the Royal Maltese Fencibles, a native regiment of 600 to 700 men. The expenses 

 of the Royal Navy would, of course, be incurred somewhere, if not in Malta, and have 

 therefore nothing to do with the matter. 



Our next points of destination are Alexandria and Suez, both intimately identified 

 with British interests. On our way we shall be passing through or near the same waters 

 as did St. Paul when in the custody of the centurion Julius, " one of Augustus' band." 

 It was in " a ship of Alexandria " that he was a passenger on that disastrous voyage. 

 At Fair Havens, Crete (or Candia), we know that the Apostle admonished them to stay, 

 for " sailing was now dangerous," but his advice was disregarded, and " when the south 

 wind blew softly " the master and owner of the vessel feared nothing, but 



" The flattering wind that late with promis'd aid, 

 From Candia' s Bay th' unwilling ship betray 'd, 

 No longer fawns beneath the fair disguise," 



and "not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon," beforo 

 which the ship drave under bare poles. We know that she had to be undergirded; cables 

 being passed under her hull to keep her from parting; and lightened, by throwing the 

 freight overboard. For fourteen days the ship was driven hither and thither, till at 

 length she was wrecked off Melita. Sudden gales, whirlwinds, and typhoons are not 

 uiicr mmon in the Mediterranean ; albeit soft winds and calm seas alternate with them. 



On the 22nd May, 1798, Nelson, while in the Gulf of Genoa, was assailed by a 



