very 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.

There was still a great deal of lumber about the deck, but the officers
were rapidly getting everything cleared, and we soon reached a
well-protected and sheltered spot forwards, where several large frames
had been fitted up on purpose, and the boards which had been screwed on
when they were brought on board having been removed, there they were,
several shallow trays of little fish swimming hurriedly about in shoals
in the clear water, but ready enough to dash at the tiny scraps of food
Mr Preddle threw in.

"For fresh food, sir?" said Walters. "Won't they be very small?"

The doctor laughed, while the naturalist's eyes opened very wide and
ro