HARK FORRARD! 29 



(as far as getting the least atom of pleasure out 

 of each other's society was concerned) have 

 travelled in different compartments. That, 

 however, was before the author had been round 

 the world. 



The old order changeth, and for one person 

 who ten years ago girdled the zone, there are 

 now a hundred, who without any more prepara- 

 tion than our grandfathers made on the eve of 

 a journey from London to Paris, place them- 

 selves and their ' impedimenta ' in the Ply- 

 mouth express at Paddington, and thence 

 transfer themselves to one of the magnificent 

 steamers of either the P. & 0., Orient, Shaw 

 Saville, or New Zealand Shipping Companies. 

 It is even betting too that during the whole of 

 that voyage of thirteen thousand miles, they 

 will experience far less discomfort than did our 

 aforementioned ancestors during their short 

 transit of the English Channel. In the pre- 

 sent instance, however, Captain Hay, as all 

 who have the privilege of his acquaintance are 

 aware, being the life and soul of any and every 



