138 thp: call of the ska 



If, on the other hand, he takes pleasure in naval 

 tactics, he will assuredly have full scope for his 

 taste. But it must be borne in mind how large a 

 proportion of the time, during a long' voyage, is 

 spent on the water, as compared with the days in 

 harbour. And what are the boasted glories of the 

 illimitable ocean ? A tedious waste, a desert of 

 water, as the Arabian calls it. No doubt there are 

 some delightful scenes. A moonlight night, with 

 the clear heavens and the dark glittering sea, and 

 the white sails filled by the soft air of a gently- 

 blowing trade-wind ; a dead calm, with the heaving 

 surface polished like a mirror, and all still except 

 the occasional flapping of the canvas. It is well 

 once to behold a squall with its rising arch and 

 coming fury, or the heavy gale of v/ind and moun- 

 tainous waves. I confess, however, my imagina- 

 tion had painted something more grand, more 

 terrific, in the full-grown storm. It is an incom- 

 parably finer spectacle when beheld on shore, 

 where the waving trees, the wild flight of the 

 birds, the dark shadows and bright lights, the 

 rushing of the torrents, all proclaim the strife of 

 tlie unloosed elements. At sea the albatross and 

 little petrel fly as if the storm were their proper 

 sphere, the water rises and sinks as if fulfilling its 

 usual task, the ship alone and its inhabitants seem 

 the objects of wrath. On a forlorn and weather- 

 beaten coast the scene is indeed different, but the 



