ECCENTRICITIES OF MR. HOLLY. 21 



without clothing, and sing " The Eed, White, and Blue." 

 This was the only song, to my knowledge, he ever at- 

 tempted, nor did he ever get beyond the second line. 

 After that there was a pause, when, with a sudden 

 yawn, or rather snort, he would evidently become con- 

 scious that he had forgotten or neglected something, 

 and again start with, " Three cheers," &c. &c. 



He was a good companion to have in the next bunk ; 

 for you were ever kept sufficiently wakeful to be first in 

 the boats if collision or other fearful accident should 

 chance to occur. 



Oh! Holly was a jolly fellow; fought the Basutos 

 on the side of the Boers, distinguished himself in sundry 

 raids where cattle were to be captured. Jumping horses 

 and bullocks were the most perfect pleasures of his life, 

 and fighting the Boer or Kaffir he took them from, for 

 friends and foes were the same to him, was only adding 

 piquancy to the joke. Holly was a confirmed smoker ; 

 his mouth must have been like a kitchen grate, fairly 

 encrusted with smut ; and even when asleep, there was 

 the pipe, out, of course, in its accustomed place. There 

 was one point on which he was grand that was loyalty. 

 " The Queen, Grod bless her, right or wrong ! if you 

 don't believe in her when she's wrong, well, you are a 

 confounded traitor, sir ; I should like to have your com- 

 pany to a quieter part of the deck." That he meant it, 

 too, was most certain, and he would have challenged on 

 this point the whole ship's company, with the passengers 

 thrown in. It was grand to see him attack the man 

 who made himself disagreeable in arranging our dinner 

 places, afterwards discovered to be a Poundmaster; he 

 did it so urbanely, a gentle but playful smile illu- 

 minating his face, and a charming buttonhole familiarity 



