ng the following ships:
"Iron Duke," "Comus," "Encounter," "Curacoa," "Pegasus," "Albatross,"
"Zephyr," and "Vigilant," were signalled to get under sail, except our
ship, the "Zephyr," and the "Vigilant." Unfortunately for the
accomplishment of this evolution, the wind, after holding out hopes that
it would last all day, with the force of the morning fell light just as
the ships had tripped their anchors. The little "Zephyr," in this
emergency, proved of invaluable service. She was here, there, and
everywhere to the rescue of her great sisters, which could not be
induced anyhow to come to the wind. We were over four hours clearing the
harbour, and even then steam had to be got up for the purpose.

Next day we reached Vladivostock, anchoring in a semicircle in front of
the town. Scarce had our anchor left the bows when another of our young
lads, William McGill, was suddenly ushered into that unknown world that
lies beyond. Whilst uncovering the mizen gaff, he lost his hold, fell,
and was so shattered that he died ere he could be borne below. He lies
in the Russian cemetery on shore, a wild, neglected, "God's acre,"
without any pretensions to the sanctity usual to such places. Another of
the "Iron Duke's" crosses, of stout old English oak, also marks this
spot.

I must now request the reader to take a leap with me--permissible enough
to book writers, though scarcely possible to pedestrians. You are now in
the straits of Tsugar, and near the scene of our former misadventure.
Before you are the ships of the squadron drawn up in line for a
race--no, not all, for the "Mosquito" parted company during the night
through stress of weather. The breeze is now blowing at force eight;
or, as we should say, "slashing." During the night we had met with a few
casualties to our sails, but so slight were they that in the morning we
were able to take our place among the coursers, as judge, referee, and
starter. At this moment the admiral signals "chase to windward." What
takes place now is a pretty sight. Clouds of snowy balloon-like canvas
spring, as if by magic, to masts and yards, straining and bellying out
with tremendous effort. The steel corvettes were able to carry all plain
sail with impunity. Not so with the "Encounter," however, for she is
obliged to take a reef in her topsails and to furl her royals, a
proceeding which does not lessen her chance of coming in first in the
slightest, for she is known to be such a good sailer, tha