120 TKAVEL, ADVENTUKE, AND SPORT. 



helping on a judgment. Besides, if you do nothing 

 else, you will at least have a pleasant day, and leave 

 a good impression." 



I cannot say that I felt particularly disposed to 

 join a mirthful party. But at least I should see 

 once more assemhled in their glory the kind creatures 

 on whom I depended for pleasant recollections. I 

 should be able to see whether any of them appeared 

 sorry to leave us, who had borne them company in so 

 many a deed of mirth. And as at all events I should 

 escape a fair portion of the twice twenty-four hours' 

 moping that otherwise must be endured, I determined 

 to go, though at the risk of sharpening the regrets of 

 parting. 



There was also another reason why I was the readier 

 to go ; and as thereby hangs the adventure of this 

 present inditing, I may as well explain at once. This 

 was the last day on which I could write myself owner 

 of my pretty little Mudian boat, the Wave. I had sold 

 her off with my nag and the usual encumbrances, and 

 the next day she was to be the property of a new 

 master. Any one who knows the island within the 

 last few years will remember the Wave, that used to 

 beat everything in her waters. The only thing that 

 at all came up to her was the launch of the old 

 Bucephalus. This was the fancy-boat of the first 

 lieutenant, who after many experiments had hit upon 

 the lug as the becoming rig. With the wind well on 

 the quarter, the old launch would beat me, and close 



