AKRIVAL AT N-ASSAtf. 54'!' 



shores, the honey-combed rocks, the stretches of white sand 

 beaches, the low green islets, the tropical verdure, and the spark- 

 ling and gleaming waters, dotted and striped •^vith colors wliich 

 no pen can adeqnatel}'' describe. We seemed to feel their welcome 

 in the soft and soothing wind. For men and their works we 

 cared little — they were so dwarfed by those which we had left 

 behind us. But for the coral isles and keys, and for the elements 

 above and around them — the handiwork of the world's great 

 Architect — we entertained a genuine affection, and our hearts ex- 

 perienced a thrill of pleasure as we gazed upon the beautiful 

 panorama which Avas gradually disclosed as we neared the place 

 of our landing. 



It being Sunday, a much smaller crowd than usual awaited our 

 arrival ujjon the neighboring streets and adjacent wharfs. A few 

 young negroes, black and glossy, nearly nude, were perched like 

 great frogs upon the dock, and soon amused the new-comers by 

 diving for pennies and other coin. The first on shore to recog- 

 nize us, as we scanned the duskj upturned faces, were those little 

 black dots of children — Moody and Sankey. They bowed and 

 smiled and waved their hands, while eyes and teeth gleamed with 

 unmistakable pleasure at seeing once more those who had listened 

 to and taken an interest in their songs. The tall, manly form 

 of our old yachtsman, Capt. Sampson, with his neat nautical blue 

 uniform and " Triton " hat, was a very noticeable landmark, and, 

 when he discovered us, he triumphantly exclaimed, as one of his 

 hearers informed us — " Dere's a gentleman who's consigned to 

 me; he knows de Trident; he ken tell you about her; he sailed 

 with Sampson when der Trident was first built; he's consigned to 

 Sampson — sure!" He was not long in finding us, and, with a 

 hearty shake of the hands, interlarded his speech of welcome with 

 those graceful, courtly airs and diplomatic plirases which, un- 

 studied, he knows so well how to employ. Seizing our bundle^ 



