est of the company."

"Greek! Greek!" said the purser.

"Ay, certainly--it was Greek to Mr Smallcoates," muttered Thompson.

"To be sure it was," said the innocent marine. "Major Flushfire,"
continued he, once more upon his legs, "may I again entreat the honour
of your attention. Dr Thompson has just proved by a quotation from a
Greek author, Virgil or Paracelsus, I am not certain which, that the
entrance of the night air into a hot room is highly injurious, and in--
in--and all that. You understand me perfectly--would it be asking too
much to have all the windows closed?"

"Ovens and furnaces!" cried out the chairman, starting up. "Look at me
and worthy Dr Thompson. Are we persons to enjoy a repetition of the
Black Hole of Calcutta? The sangaree, Quasha--suffocation! The thought
chokes me!" and he recommenced his devotions to the sangaree.

"It melts me," responded the doctor, swabbing his face with the napkin.

"Are you afraid of taking cold?" said the purser to Mr Smallcoates.

"Taking cold--let the gentleman take his wine," said the major.

"I must confess I am not so much afraid of cold as of fever. I believe,
major, you have been three years in this very singularly hot and cold
climate. Now, my dear sir, may I tax your experience to tell us which
is the better method of living? Some say temperance, carried out even
to abstemiousness, is the safer; others, that the fever is best repelled
by devil's punch, burnt brandy, and high living. Indeed, I may say that
I speak at the request of my messmates. Do, major, give us your
opinion."

"I think," said the man of thirst, "the medical gentlemen should be
applied to in preference to an old soldier like myself. They have great
practice in disposing of fever cases."

"But if we must die, either of diet or the doctor, I am for knowing,"
said the purser, "not what doctor, but what sort of diet, is most
dilatory in its despatch."

"Well, I will not answer the question, but state the facts. My
messmates can vouch for the truth of them. Five years ago, and not
three, I came out with a battalion of this regiment. We mustered
twenty-five officers in all. We asked ourselves the very same question
you have just asked of me. We split into two parties, nearly even in
number. Twelve of us took to water, temperance, and all manner of
preservatives; the other thirteen of us led a harum-scarum life, ate
whenever we were hungry, and when we were not hungry;