ody--to the
captain's not less than to our own--we were not to go to Manilla at all!
This in the face of what the admiral said to the captain! Well, up helm,
and away we go for Loo-Choo; it does not signify much where we go for
the next six or eight months, I suppose.

April 25th.--_Caught our first shark._ Yes; one out of the many scores
in the vicinity actually meditated an attack on our four-pound piece.
However he discovered, to his cost, that a barbed hook is no easy matter
to digest. He was landed inboard in a trice, and handed over to the
tender mercies of the forecastle hands. Now it was a most unfortunate
thing for that shark that one of these same _tender_ hands had, that
very morning, lost a "hook pot" of fish off the range, through the kind
services of some obliging shipmate. Hence revenge was the dominant
feeling in that man's breast. Electing himself butcher-in-chief,
sharko's spirit was soon gathered to his fathers.

A most devilish contrivance--torpedo, electric wire, and all
complete--was invented by our torpedo officer for the accommodation of
the next friendly shark. With this little affair safely stowed within
his stomach, he would find his internal arrangements subject to sudden
and unaccountable tension. Enough this to make the shark parliament pass
a bill condemning all illicit grabbing.

April 20th.--Off the east of Formosa, and during the middle watch, the
ships of the squadron were caught aback in a sudden squall. There was a
deuce of a commotion up aloft, sails flapping and splitting, ropes
cracking, and blocks rattling till further orders. To establish order
amongst these refractory things the hands were called. Next day the wind
crept ahead and gradually freshened to what looked and felt extremely
like a gale. The poor little "Foxhound" had a lively time of it, and
proved herself unequal to such a buffetting. The "Curacoa" was signalled
to take her in tow, and the two fell rapidly astern, and finally
disappeared, to rejoin us about the third day afterwards. On May first
the "Daring" parted company for Napa, the capital of Great Loo-Choo, our
destination being Little Loo-Choo.

May 3rd.--I don't know if we do, but sailors ought to feel it a great
privilege that they are enabled to see all the wonderful and varied
sights so constantly surrounding them--the many countries and people
they come in contact with. Of all strange, out of the way, scarce heard
of places, perhaps, Loo-Choo has been