have ordinary arrivals; for has she not scarce two months since,
perhaps, looked on the very scenes we so long to behold? She is thus a
link between us and home. Then there is also the additional interest of
seeing fresh faces, whilst to the more fortunate who are about to leave
us she is the absorbing topic. She remained only eight days. On the
occasion of her departure we were allowed to cheer--a wonderful
concession; at the same time we were given clearly to understand that we
were to accept it in the light of a great privilege; and that there
should be no mistake on this point, the commander conducted the
arrangements with the order "Three cheers for H.M.S. 'Tyne,' homeward
bound;" "And no extras," added somebody in parenthesis.

* * * * *

And now came April 15th, not so rapidly as would appear from the above
sketch; but it came, and with it the commencement of a second voyage to
the northward.

In the interval between the sailing of the "Tyne" and our departure we
were not idle. We had gone outside twice--once at target practice and
once on steam tactics. The "Armide," French flag-ship, had left for
Europe, and her relief, the "Themis," had arrived on the station, losing
several sheets of copper off her starboard bow on the passage up from
Singapore.

It is curious to observe the different customs of foreign sailors when
sailing, homeward bound. The French, for instance, rig up a dummy man
and trice him up to the main top, where he is made to oscillate with a
pendulum movement until he gains sufficient impetus to clear the side,
when he is let go overboard amidst the cheering of the men. The Russians
man yards, white caps in hand, which, after waving in the air to make
their cheering more energetic, they fling into the sea.

But to return to April 15th.--We had but cleared Hong Kong when we
sighted the "Charybdis," with the long pennant flying. Fortunate
fellows! how long, I wonder, before we shall be similarly decorated? I
write this almost three years afterwards, and still the question remains
unanswered.

On the way we put in to White Dogs, in expectation of finding the
"Vigilant" with our mail. The mails latterly have been very erratic in
their arrivals, due to a change in the postal system at home. Henceforth
there is to be no penny mail--a fact which, seemingly, our friends have
not yet grasped; hence it is no uncommon thing to go weeks without
letters, and then sudden