“My name is D’Aeth. It is twelve o’clock--slack-water. You are on board _Dido_, in the Captain’s cabin.” Home then roared out: “Captain Keppel, they are playing tricks. A man comes dripping, as if from the sea, with a lanthorn in his hand, saying his name is Death.” It was some minutes before I could persuade my friend that it was blowing and pouring with rain, and that he had better go to sleep again. CHAPTER XXVI _DIDO_--CHINA [Sidenote: 1842. Sept. 25.] Read Lieutenant Horton’s commission to ship’s company. Harangued and forgave all culprits. [Sidenote: Sept. 26.] Surveyed invalids on board _North Star_. Some bad cases, poor fellows! [Sidenote: Sept. 27.] Got under weigh; _Belleisle_ first. Fine breeze. Came to; invited Sir E. Home, Henry Seymour, Freemantle, Horton, and Rice to dine. [Sidenote: Sept. 28.] Weighed at six, and passed _Belleisle_ hard and fast on the bar, at the top, nearly, of high-water. [Sidenote: Sept. 29.] Arrived at Chapoo. Found Nias with his _Herald_. Not being well, he came on board, and did me no good. [Sidenote: Oct. 6.] _Pelican_ arrived, bringing orders for _Dido_ to go to Chusan. Troops to evacuate citadel. [Sidenote: Oct. 8.] Walked round the fortifications and over the town of Shanghai; natives civil. [Sidenote: Oct. 10.] Chinamen mustering courage on the strength of peace. Hundreds of large picturesque junks coming down the river. Chinese soldiers smart in taking possession of citadel as our troops marched out. [Sidenote: Chusan, Oct. 12.] Weighed at daylight, reaching Chusan in four hours. Walk on shore with Rundle Burges Watson, of _Modeste_, 18. Watson was a clever artist; he came on board to breakfast, and left afterwards to take a sketch of my _Dido_. We had been at the Naval College together. Having been in the early part of the war, he had succeeded Captain Harry Eyres in command of the _Modeste_. Before storming one of the forts, Watson tried the experiment of putting his uniform cap on the point of his sword and thrusting it through the embrasure, at which the Chinese muskets exploded and he took possession. I have his drawing of the _Dido_ now.[5] [5] Page 267. [Sidenote: Oct. 12.] Dined with Frederick Grey. Had an attack of fever and ague. [Sidenote: Oct. 16.] Heard last evening of the death of my brother-in-law, Lord Leicester, fifty-five years my senior. Admiral arrived, and _Columbine_, 16, another of Symonds’ handsome brigs. Nias sick and growling as usual. [Sidenote: Oct. 18.] Plenipo arrived. Visited him. Rode into the city. [Sidenote: Oct. 25.] To breakfast with Frederick Grey. He, Skipwith, Henry Seymour, Hall, and Molesworth, dined with me. [Sidenote: Oct. 27.] Improved weather. Sick-list reduced to twenty-five. Nice little dinner with Bouchier; like him. [Sidenote: Oct. 28.] Dined with Admiral Sir William Parker. Our Master, Aylen, appointed to _Endymion_. He sorry to leave, and we to lose him.