40 



THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



is under the charge of a bright -faced young English 

 nurse, who has a native assistant. A young doctor is sent 

 over during the summer season, but returns to England 

 for the winter. The brave young nurse stays all the 

 year round, notwithstanding the rigors of the winter season, 

 and acts the part of both nurse and doctor during the long 

 months when the ice has cut off all communication with the 

 outer world. A few of us greatly enjoyed an impromptu 

 afternoon tea gotten up for us by the nurse, in which the 

 doctor participated ; indeed, we were entertained by an angel 

 unawares, for some staunch hot buns and comfortable sand- 

 wiches that we ate stood us in lieu of the dinner we expected 

 to have on the Miranda; for it was many hours before 



we tasted food 

 again. This 

 was the reason : 

 When we start- 

 ed on the return 

 trip the wind 

 was so strong, 

 and the waves 

 were running 

 so high, that we 

 decided to skirt 

 around some 

 islands and to 

 get back to the 

 ship by a much 

 longer but more 

 sheltered route. 

 "The longest way round is the shortest way home," says 

 an old saw ; but I have never known it to work. After 

 rowing for miles, with the waves dashing over us every 

 now and then, we found it impossible to make any headway 



THE DESERT ISLAND. 



