But why should I? My descriptions, after all, would fall flat on the senses of the reader, even with the aid of the best of illustrations, for no artist can give colour and movement combined. Go, reader, and see the world for yourself if you feel so inclined, and if ever you have the chance, I can tell you from long experience it is a very beautiful one. "Well," said Kenneth, "we came up here, Archie, lad, to have a walk, but I don't see much chance. What a night it is going to be! How black the sky! How vivid the lightning! How close the horizon is--" The last part of Kenneth's sentence was lost in a peal of thunder. "Stand by! Jump, Archie. There is a comber." They both leapt on the top of the capstan as an immense green sea swept over the bows and came tearing aft, carrying everything movable before it. When it passed away, and the water found partial exit by the scuppers,-- "I don't think there will be much pleasure in a walk to-night, Kennie," said Archie. "Wouldn't I like to be back again on that flower mountain of yours!" "Poor dear old Gasco!" said Kennie with a sigh. "You find good among people of all nations." "He was very sad when you bade him good-bye." "Yes, and I won't forget his last words. They are so true `Farewell,' he sighed rather than said, `farewell, if farewell it must be. This meeting to part, and meeting _but_ to part with those one gets to love, is one of the most soul-sobering feelings attached to our lot here below. Ah!' he continued, lifting up a finger--you know his style, Archie--`Ah! my young friend, what a joyful place heaven must be, if only for this one reason, we shall meet all our dear, dear friends again, and parting will be unknown! Farewell; we'll meet Yonder, if not on earth again.'" There was a pause in the conversation, filled in by the whistling wind and the ceaseless rush of the dashing waves. "Well," said Archie at last, "I cannot say that a night like this, Kennie, makes one feel enamoured of a sailor's life." "You must take the shadow as well as the sunshine, though," returned Kenneth. "You would rather be back at my boathouse cave, I daresay, at Cotago, launching the tub for a pleasant day among the islands, wouldn't you?" "Yes, indeed. Stand by; there is another wave." "Hark?" said Kennie during a lull. "They are singing forward, round the galley fire. I've a good mind to go and join them; will you come? a second officer can do what a first can't." "Yes, take your flute; that will be an excuse." Given a trim ship and plenty of sea room, and it isn't all the wind that can blow that will succeed in lowering the spirits of the British sailor.