"You tread the plank pretty steady. Have you ever been to sea before?" "Not for some years; but we are descended from a race of seamen, and dearly love the deep blue waves." Well, then, I fancy, ladies, you will have a chance of proving Neptune's power before you touch land again," and, smilingly, the Captain stepped forward to the edge of the last plank, and hailed an officer of his own ship. "Ah! ah! sir," responded a handsome looking young seaman, who, in turn, called to some of the crew. "Bring those steps this way, my hearties." Ahoy! ahoy! rang through the vessel as the Captain assisted his passengers to descend, then, in kind and courteous tones, bid them welcome on board the Trade Wind. "You will, I fear," he said, "find this voyage, or rather the issue of it, dangerous, as the island to which you go is generally considered unhealthy, especially at this season of the year. However, we shall be glad to do all within our power to render the journey pleasant, and make you as comfortable as circumstances admit." "Do you purpose setting sail this evening?" inquired the friend who had accompanied the sisters on board. "We may, and we may not," was the Captain's response, as he motioned for them to follow him towards the cabins, at the entrance of which stood the steward, an intelligentlooking Mulatto, in gay turban, embroidered with many coloured beads. "Here, steward, take the ladies' wraps and shawls, and attend to the placing of their luggage." 66 'Certainly sir, Captain, I shall be happy to do anything you request. Glad to see you ladies," and the darkie bowed with all the elegance of a ball-room exquisite. May I inquire whether you take many passengers this voyage?" "Only these two young friends of your's," said the Captain, in reply to the gentleman's question. "Well, now, I suppose I must say farewell. Amy and Ida, may God bless and go with you both," said their friend, as he stood with the younger sister's hand clasped in his own. "Good bye, Mr. C—,' was the response given in trembling tones, for the girls' hearts ached as they said farewell to this last of many friends. He went; they watched him re cross the plank, and still they stood irresolute. Memory was busily at work, thoughts of early home, of loved ones dead, of kindred ties for long years broken, of church, of country, and of friends, crowded upon their dizzy brains, and caused Amy to murmur— "For what, and to what are we going?" Was it a foreshadowing of the great sorrow-a cloud before the tempest-that fell so heavily over the hearts of the young wanderers, and caused the elder of them to muse "For what purpose are we going?" Ah! for what? To find long absent ones; to fulfil a request held by them sacred; to seek repose after years of turmoil in the home of a much-loved brother and an equally dear sister; to speak to them of the past; to tell of those o'er whose graves the green grass grew. Poor dreamers! they forgot, perhaps, that time changes all things. They thought of the noble form of him so dear to their hearts, and scarcely deemed it possible for that treasured one to be snatched away ere the Mexican Gulf was crossed; they thought not, and yet a strange sensation was around the urn of life-a whisper of the woe to come. Thus they stood, those orphan sisters, until the kindly tones of the ship's commander roused them from their reverie by saying— "Has the landsman gone?" The Captain smiled, then walked across the deck to meet a second gentleman—not this time a landsman, but a seaman ; a seaman in every sense of the phrase, the broadly-set shoulders, the open, genial face, the perfect grace and freedom of carriage, easy, yet thoroughly well-bred manners, proclaimed him to be a true son of Neptune, and one of nature's noblemen. As his foot first trod the deck, he looked around with that well-pleased expression, which seems to imply I am at home again, and thank God for it." Captain St. John's fine face beamed also with a welcome as he spoke to him, and then returned with him to where the ladies stood, saying "Ladies, allow me to introduce my first officer-a countryman, I believe, of your own." "Not exactly, Captain," responded the gentleman, "these ladies, if I mistake not, are English, I am from the Highlands of Scotland." 66 'Well, well, that stands for little since you are all subjects of Queen Victoria." "Yes, and I think I may say we are all equally blessed in being under the rule of so good a sovereign," and the blue eyes of the loyal clansman brightened as he spoke of his Queen. At that moment Frank, a dark-eyed sailor boy, approached the spot, and lifting his cap, said respectfully "You are wanted, sir." "By whom?" questioned the Captain. "The second officer, about the anchor, if you please, sir." "All right, my boy, tell him I will come directly. Will you accompany me, Mr. Stuart ?" "Certainly, Captain St. John." "You must excuse us, ladies, for a short time," said the Captain, "we are anxious, if possible, to set sail this evening. Can you find anything in the saloon to amuse you?" "Yes, thank you, Mr. St. John, we are well supplied with books." "I am glad of that; you will require something to help you to pass the time. It is rather dull for ladies on ship The saloon of the Trade Wind was a pretty apartment, painted gilt and white, well lighted from the ceiling, and neatly furnished. Amy was aroused by a loud hoy! ahoy! Leaving the couch where she had been seated, went on deck. "Just in time, ladies, to see the anchor raised," said the second mate. The pilot was on board. Captain St. John-a fine type of a North American-walked the deck. The first officer, Mr. Stuart, stood at the bow, and in groups, at various parts of the vessel, were the crew-a mingled throng-sons of Spain, of France, and Italy, dark, swarthy faces, flashing eyes, and long curly locks from Portugal; Germans, broad-set and fair in features; Norwegians, tall, thin, and handsome; Russian Finlanders, types of their cold and barren land; and last, but not least, the second mate, son of bonny Ireland, the clime of warm hearts and trusty arms,-standing leaning over the ship's side, watching, perhaps, to catch the last glimpse of his wife and child. A tear trickled down his bronzed cheek; it might be that it came unbidden, for with impatient haste he dashed it away, drew out his pipe, placed a match to it, and walked to the other end of the Trade Wind, his countenance appearing to express Shakespeare's words "Come what, come may, Time and the hour run through the roughest day." The heaving of the anchor chain ceased, the crew raised a tune to old Neptune's honour, the noble barque was fairly under weigh, and two weary hearts on board the Trade Wind ached as they bid adieu to England-the land of their forefathers and thought of the distant cotton fields and sunny skies of Texas. CHAPTER II. THE LONE STAR STATE. So the Trade Wind held her course, as Allan Cunningham writes, with 66 A wet sheet and a flowing sea, A wind that follows fast, And fills the white and rustling sail, St. George's Channel was entered, Holyhead, with the range of Welsh hills, and Tuska's Rock were left behind; very soon even the coast land of Ireland waned dim in the distance, as before the young wanderers stretched the vast and broad Atlantic, with its varied beauties and mighty power, all strange and full of enchanting interest to minds like those of Amy and her sister, reared with a passionate love of Neptune, and yet novices as regarded the sea-king's power; dearly they loved to recline upon the quarter-deck, shielded from the rays of the summer's sun by the white sails, watching for shoals of porpoises, stray venetas, or those monsters of the deep called sharks. It was the opening of a new life to them; a dream changed into reality. Scarcely could they realize the fact that they were swiftly crossing the ocean, for amusements they lacked none, the song of the seamen, the changing of sails, repairing the rigging, all were matters of considerable interest, and then came those happy, peaceful evenings, when the sailors' work was, partially at least, over, and in groups the crew collected on the main or lower deck relating to each other sea yarns or stories of far-away lands, whilst now and then music broke upon the ear. Captain St. John was possessed of a kind heart; he liked not only to be happy himself, but to make others so likewise, studying the comfort of every one on board, |