14000 MILES 



ready to welcome a deluge ; Jumbo, whose wake we had 

 struck, and the green beach-flies. The proprietor of the 

 quiet tavern where we took our mid-day rest brought us 

 "Jumbo Illustrated" for our literary entertainment, and 

 told us his probable losses on horse-hire, etc., the follow- 

 ing month, on account of all the people in the vicinity 

 giving their money to Barnum. He also assured us the 

 "green heads" would trouble us for about three miles. 

 True to prophecy, they took possession of our horse and 

 phaeton for that distance, then disappeared as suddenly 

 as they came. We speculated as to their habits of life ; 

 wondered why they did not stay on the beach, where 

 their name implies they belong, and why they did not 

 steal five miles' ride as well as three ; then thought how 

 humiliating it would be to feel compelled to turn away 

 from the seashore overcome by an insignificant insect, 

 when we could follow our own sweet will for all fear of 

 highway robbers, or a Jumbo even. 



Night found us at Portsmouth, where the discomfort 

 was in keeping with the day, and it was with pleasure we 

 granted our horse a rest in the morning and took passage 

 ourselves for the Isles of Shoals. The day was perfect 

 on the water — so fresh and cool. We landed at Apple- 

 dore, and an hour passed very quickly as we met one 

 friend after another. Suddenly a thunderstorm burst 

 upon us ; the rain fell in torrents, and hailstones rolled 

 like marbles along the broad piazza. Surely the deluge 

 we wished for had come, and, although it was not needed 

 where water was everyhere, it could do no harm, and we 

 enjoyed it to the utmost. We had planned to spend the 

 night amid ocean, but it was so glorious after the skies 



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