224 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



But I must now return to our steamer. "When it began to 

 get darker we retired to the cabin to take our last dinner on 

 board, and having finished our meal, went on deck again to 

 enjoy the delightful air. 



It was just like a beautiful summer night ; crickets were 

 chirping on the river-banks, the water rippled softly past, and 

 before us lay the boundless plains of Hungary melting away 

 into the distance, while countless stars glittered in the 

 heavens, and the crescent moon stood out clear and silver- 

 bright, mirroring itself in the waters of the stream. 



Brehm and I, fascinated by the beauty of the night, stayed 

 long on deck, talking over the charming incidents of this 

 journey and planning fresh expeditions, and it was late when 

 we retired to rest, while the steamer ran up-stream all night 

 long without stopping. 



