20 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



remarks had already been made on their inefficiency. During 

 our walk, the vessel was struck by a heavy sea, and gave a 

 tremendous lurch to leeward, that caused us both to lose 

 our footing. I being the lighter of the two, and unencum- 

 bered with a large cloak, soon caught hold of some object 

 and regained my feet; but Hardman, less fortunate, was 

 precipitated over the side into the roaring ocean, where, by 

 a bright moonlight, I saw the poor fellow's last look of 

 imploring despair, as he vainly endeavoured to extricate his 

 arms from their encumbrances. An alarm was instantly 

 given, the ship brought-to, and a boat lowered, but all too 

 late; my poor friend had disappeared beneath the waves long 

 before any human aid could reach him. 



The second was as follows : We were seated at the cuddy- 

 table at breakfast, on a broiling morning in the tropics, when 

 suddenly a loud cry of terror issued from one of the side 



cabins occupied by a Captain R s and his newly-married 



wife, who were en route to Madras. A sudden rush was 

 made to the door of the cabin in question, and the cause was 

 soon explained. Madame, who was leaving her "highland 

 home" for the first time in her life, and whose rather 

 robust figure, golden hair, and freckled complexion, were all 

 decidedly anti-tropical, had been reclining in her cot in a 

 state of light deshabille, the upper part of her person close to 

 the open port-hole, in order to catch any breath of air that 

 might arise, when an adventurous or amorous flying-fish 

 darted through the aperture, and lit upon her bosom. This 

 piscatory intrusion was the cause of the screams we heard ; 

 the lady's knowledge of natural history, or perhaps her 

 belief in its laws, not having extended to this very remark- 

 able marine phenomenon; and all the answer she could be 

 induced to give to her husband's explanations and endear- 

 ments, was the repeated assertion of " Auch mon, it's the 

 deil!" 



