all the available help at that port came down the river to our
assistance; besides the "Vigilant," "Eyera," "Midge," and "Growler,"
there were two American war vessels, the "Monocasy" and "Palos," also a
Chinese paddle steamer.

On the third night a combined attempt was made to either haul us off or
to pull us to pieces. With all their tugging they effected neither the
one nor the other, and, had not nature "lent us a fin"--in the shape of
a breeze of wind--we might have been lying there to this day; a few
pulls on our hawsers and we had the satisfaction of feeling that the
dear old craft was once more on her proper element. The commander of one
of the American ships afterwards commenting on the difficulty
experienced in removing us, hailed our captain with "Guess, Cap'n, that
piece of machinery of yours is lumpy!" "Rather, Jonothan, I calculate."

Had we not floated to-day the alternative was rather consoling; nothing
less than the removal of all our heavy guns and spars.

Before our departure Shanghai was all astir at the visit of General
Grant of the United States. Ostensibly, the general is travelling
_incog._, but really as the representative of the United States, for he
flies the "stars and stripes" at the main, and gets a salute of
twenty-one guns wherever he goes. For some reason or other we did not
salute as he passed up the river.

May 22nd saw us clearing out of the dangerous precincts of the Shanghai
river and shaping our course across the turbid waters of the Yellow Sea
for pastures new--that is to say--for Japan. Under double-reefed canvas
and a nine knot breeze we sighted land in the vicinity of Nagasaki on
the 25th, and by evening our anchor "kissed the mud" in as lovely a spot
as ever mortal set eyes on. But I will reserve my eulogies for another
chapter.

CHAPTER IX.

"It was a fresh and glorious world,
A banner bright that shone unfurled
Before me suddenly."

ARRIVAL AT NAGASAKI.--SOMETHING ABOUT JAPAN.--A
RUN THROUGH THE TOWN.--VISIT TO A SINTOR TEMPLE.

I know not if the author of the above lines had ever been to Japan. I
should think it very unlikely; and possibly the poet is but describing
the scenery of his Cumberland home. In no disparagement of the beauteous
country of the lake and mountain, yet we must confess that nothing there
can compare with Japan's natural magnificence.

All who have ever written of Japan, or who have ever visited its shores,
are unanim