FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 105 
ample waist, and her mahogany-coloured legs dangling 
beneath the red and white checked blanket that did duty 
for petticoat The officials sat on either side, the clerk 
on the corner of the galley, overhauling the names of the 
crew in his ledger, and the barber and doctor stood in 
front. Behind the figures, the arc of soft blue sea showing 
under the foot of the foresail made a perfect background, 
and the blaze of sunlight made the colouring of the tableau 
most beautifully gorgeous. 
All the preparations being completed, the police officers, 
dressed in long black coats with medals and white straw 
hats and bare feet, come round the ship to summon all 
those in the clerk's list to the Royal presence. 
When some of these unfortunates are captured they 
are brought to the steps at the starboard side of the 
staging, where they are blindfolded, and led up the 
steps before his Majesty, pretending not to be the least 
afraid, but all the sai*ne, not quite sure how to conduct 
themselves in the novel and trying circumstances. Then 
supposing it is a youth who comes up, Neptune addresses 
some kindly words to him so as to gain his confidence. 
' Wot is the name of this fine young lad ? ' asks his 
Majesty, in tones expressing kindly interest, and the 
clerk reads out from his list, — i Kant — from the Ferry, 
age 18/ 
'Hall the way from the ferry?' drawls the king; £ woi, 
that's a wery long voyage for such a young man. 'Ow 
'ave you henjoyed it so far? — Oh yer needn't be afraid to 
speak, mi boy. — 'Ow did yer leave 'em hall at ome, the 
old people, — was they well and 'appy w'en you left?' Still 
