VOYAGE TO ALGERIA 173 



maximum of grandeur out of tlie height. We weighed 

 anchor at eight A.M., passing for a time through shoal 

 water, the bottom having been evidently stirred up. • The 

 adjacent land seemed eroded in a remarkable manner. It 

 has its floods, which excavate these valleys and ravines, 

 and leave those singular ridges behind. Toward evening 

 I climbed the mainmast, and, standing on the cross-trees, 

 saw the sun set amid a blaze of fiery clouds. The wind 

 was strong and bitterly cold, and I was glad to slide back 

 to the deck along a rope, which stretched from the mast- 

 head to the ship's side. That night we cast anchor beside 

 the Mole of Gibraltar. 



On the morning of the 27th, in company with two 

 friends, I drove to the Spanish lines, with the view of 

 seeing the rock from that side. It is an exceedingly noble 

 mass. The Peninsular and Oriental mail-boat had been 

 signalled and had come. Heavy duties called me home- 

 ward, and by transferring myself from the "Urgent" to 

 the mail- steamer I should gain three days. I hired a 

 boat, rowed to the steamer, learned that she was to start 

 at one, and returned with all speed to the "Urgent.'* 

 Making known to Captain Henderson my wish to get 

 away, he expressed doubts as to the possibility of reach- 

 ing the mail- steamer in time. With his accustomed kind- 

 ness, he, however, placed a boat at my disposal. Four 

 hardy fellows and one of the ship's officers jumped into 

 it; my luggage, hastily thrown together, was tumbled in, 

 and we were immediately on oar way. We had nearly 

 four miles to row in about twenty minutes ; but we hoped 

 the mail-boat might not be punctual. For a time we 

 watched her anxiously; there was no motion; we came 

 nearer, but the flags were no4; yet hauled in. The men 



