These Dutch pilots, although well acquainted with shoals and dangers, do not understand the handling of a fast fore and aft rigged schooner. They have no idea of the time they are in stays, nor of the length of time they hold their way; consequently, instead of merely pointing out to the captain of the vessel the dangers or shoals he had to avoid, took to working her himself and twice fixed her on the mud bank. The second time she was only got off by a rising tide. Much time was lost, and we brought up for the night earlier than we otherwise should. [Sidenote: Aug. 24.] Weighed at an early hour, with a southerly wind. Haywood, the master, appeared to have had enough of narrow channels and mud banks, so took the Keeten Mast Channel, leading to the southward, and we stood on to Brouwershaven, where we came to at 9 A.M. to wait tide, change pilot for a deep-sea one, and obtain provisions. This being the main channel for large ships to Helviotsluys and Rotterdam, we found several French, American, and Dutch. Water being low as we came down, the banks were covered with various birds. Two of the crew landed in the night and had got within twenty yards of a flock of wild ducks, but, unsportmanlike, they had neglected to examine their guns, which obstinately refused to go off, so the ducks did! At 11.30 boat returned with a regular old salt as sea pilot; not much to be done in the way of grub, and the only newspaper, dated Friday last, was in the possession of one of the American skippers, with most likely news from the States. Weighed, wind W.S.W., fresh ebb tide; worked out cleverly; twelve miles before we were clear of the outer shoals; discharged pilot and took our departure from the Fairway buoy. I took the helm. A refreshing breeze, but rising sea. Name it not, but at four, dinner-time, my old inside revolted. I felt so sea-sick that I preferred turning in, to facing dinner. Made a second attempt at supper-time with same result. By 11.30 made Lowestoft Light. [Sidenote: Aug. 25.] At noon we were off the North Foreland. Dirty weather; we wisely came to in Margate Roads. Glass falling; westerly gale. [Sidenote: Aug. 26.] Gale continuing. Got _Daily Telegraph_ from a stranger, but neither he nor three others could tell what horse had won the Ebor Handicap last week at York! [Sidenote: Sept. 16.] Sad death of friend Speke. Accidentally shot getting over a stone wall near Box, Bath. [Sidenote: Oct.] It was about this time that my kind friends at Singapore realised the position in which I was placed. Now that the subject of the transfer of the Straits Settlements from the India to the Colonial Office was under the consideration of the Government, I think my friends were almost unanimous in wishing that I should be appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements. CHAPTER LXXXI COUNTRY HOUSE VISITS [Sidenote: 1865. Jan. 2.] Re-established myself at Bishopstoke. Prepared for hunting and jobbed horses. [Sidenote: Jan. 3.]