A BLACK SEA CRUISE. 45 



have I trusted myself on its bosom, though 

 never except under compulsion and with a 

 distinct feeling of dread. But though I have 

 known it all the year round, it has never 

 plaj^ed me false yet, nor robbed me of my 

 daily bread to feed its scaly hordes. 



AVhen Frank and I o-ot back to Odessa 

 our steamer lay at the pier, and far as the eye 

 could see, the waves had assumed a glassy, 

 immovable appearance, inexpressibly com- 

 forting to the heart of the timid mariner ; so 

 that with litrht hearts we hurried throuo^h 

 what business we had to perform, and with a 

 letter of introduction to the most influential 

 sportsman in the Caucasus safe in our keeping, 

 turned our backs on Odessa full of the most 

 sanguine hope for the future, A cruise round 

 the coast of the Crimea and Caucasus in brilliant 

 summer weather, on a comfortable, well found 

 Black Sea steamer, is a distinctly pleasant 

 experience, and we enjoyed it to the full. At 



