68 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



gaiety, and looking on the great ocean while the 

 old year was dying. I do not want to labour this 

 effect in what I am writing, but merely to suggest 

 it, and let my readers think it out for themselves. 

 It was now near midnight — and such a beautiful 

 night, too ! I went inside to see the saloon clock : 

 only one minute more to go. I watched it half a 

 minute, then went on deck and bade adieu to the 

 old, young year, 1901, and welcomed the newcomer, 

 1902. 



" With that — being to the manner born — I 

 hastened down to pose as ' lucky bird,' or ' first 

 foot,' and wish a ' Happy New Year ' to others who 

 had not borne with me in my vigil ; but here my 

 dream was ended, for, by some I was sternly repri- 

 manded for having been on deck without a great 

 coat, and having cold hands ; by others I was objur- 

 gated, even more forcibly, for waking them, until 

 it occurred to me that, after all, I was little better 

 than the ' Waits ' at Christmas, and so I began, 

 almost with shame, to turn in. 



** Then, however, I had my revenge, for the 

 chief officer — a great and good man — had appointed 

 12.30 a.m. as the proper time to holystone the 

 decks, and the alarming sound overhead did me 

 no hurt, for I was still awake ; but it wrought 

 panic among others, and I quickly saw the electric 

 light turned up in the cabin of Mr. S. Darling, 



