"Oh!" I cried, catching his meaning, "I hope not, sir, unless it's very rough, but I think I can stand it." "So do a good many folks," he continued. "Morning." This was to a big, heavy-looking gentleman of about eight-and-twenty, who came up just then and shook hands with the doctor, holding on to him it seemed to me in a weak, helpless, amiable fashion, as if he was so glad he had found a friend that he didn't like to let go. "Good--good-morning, doctor," he said, and as he spoke, I felt as if I must laugh, for his voice was a regular high-pitched squeak, and it sounded so queer coming from a big, stoutish, smooth-faced man of six feet high. Walters looked at me with a grin. "Oh, here's a Tommy soft," he whispered. "Don't," I said with my eyes, as I screwed up my face quite firmly. "I'm so glad I met you, as every one is so strange, and I don't like to question the servants--I mean the stewards--because they are all so busy. How long will it be to breakfast?" "Quite half-an-hour," said the doctor, smiling, as he looked at his watch. "Hungry?" "Oh no; I wanted to know if there would be time to see to my little charges first." "Your little--Oh yes, I remember the captain told me. You have quite a collection." "Yes, very large, and I am anxious to get them all across safely." "I wish you success, I'm sure," said the doctor quietly. "You naturalists take a great deal of pains over your studies." "Oh, we do our best," said the big man mildly, and it was just as if a girl was speaking. "Perhaps your two young gentlemen would like to see them." "To be sure they would," said the doctor. "Let me introduce them. Let me see, your name is--" "Preddle--Arthur Preddle." "To be sure, you told me last night in the cabin. Then here are two of our embryo captains, Mr--" "Nicholas Walters," said my companion, trying to speak gruffly. "And--" "Alison Dale." "That's right; I like to know the name of my patients present or to be. Let me make you known to Mr Arthur Preddle, FZS." "And FLS," said the big passenger, mildly. "To be sure, forgive my ignorance," said the doctor. "Now let's go and see the fish." Mr Preddle led the way--that is, his words and looks were eager, but his body was very slow and lumbering as he walked with us to the steps, and then down to the main-deck, and forward; and all the time, as he moved his feet, I could not for the life of me help thinking about the way in which an elephant walked onward in his slow, soft way. It put one in mind of india-rubber, and all the time our new acquaintance gave a peculiar roll from side to side.