ans the murmurings and
dissatisfaction were nipped in the bud, harmony and good-humour
returning and triumphantly maintaining their position for the remainder
of the voyage. The newspaper was a great success, every incident in the
least out of the common being duly recorded therein. The editor was one
O'Reilly, an Irishman, who enjoyed the reputation of being one of the
most successful barristers in New South Wales, to which colony he was
returning after a short holiday trip "home." The paper was published in
manuscript, and consisted of twenty foolscap pages, which O'Reilly
prided himself upon completely filling at every issue. Interesting
facts being for the most part very scarce commodities, fiction was
freely indulged in, the contributors vieing with each other in the
effort to produce humorous advertisements, letters to the editor upon
real or imaginary grievances, and startling accounts of purely
fictitious occurrences.

In the meantime two of the passengers had discovered a species of
amusement quite out of the line of the captain's programme, and which
caused that worthy seaman no small amount of anxiety and embarrassment.
In a word, Rex Fortescue and Violet Dudley found in each other's society
a solace from the ennui of the voyage which onlookers had every reason
to believe was of the most perfect kind. Such a condition of things was
almost inevitable under the circumstances. There were four ladies on
board, and thirteen gentlemen passengers, of whom no less than nine were
bachelors. Of the four ladies one, Mrs Staunton, was married and
therefore unapproachable. Miss Butler was an old maid, with a subdued
expression and manner ill calculated to arouse any feeling warmer than
respectful esteem, so that there remained only Blanche and Violet, both
young, pretty, and agreeable, to act as recipients of all the ardent
emotions of the bachelor mind. Although the art, science, or pastime--
whichever you will--of love-making has many difficulties to contend with
on board ship, in consequence of the lamentable lack of privacy which
prevails there, it is doubtful whether it ever flourishes so vigorously
anywhere else. Even so was it on board the _Galatea_; Violet and
Blanche being waited upon hand and foot and followed about the decks
from early morn to dewy eve, each by her own phalanx of devoted
admirers. These attentions had at first been productive of nothing more
serious than amusement to their recipients