ould
speed us.

The friends who greeted the Rob Roy here knew her well from a long way
off, as she danced lightly over the sea; for hence had we started months
ago, and here was, in one sense, the end of my voyage, as Ulysses said
when he came alone from his raft.

"And now two nights, and now two days were past,
Since wide I wandered on the wat'ry waste;
Heaved on the surge with intermitting breath,
And hourly panting in the arms of death."

_Pope's_ 'Odyssey,' Book V.

"Then first my eyes, by watchful toils opprest,
Complied to take the balmy gifts of rest;
Then first my hands did from the rudder part,
So much the love of home possessed my heart."

_Ibid._, Book X.

I went up to the Lord Warden hotel, meaning to write home, dine, and go
to bed after fifty-three hours without sleep; but while waiting for the
servant to bring hot water, and with my jacket off, I tumbled on the bed
for a moment--then it was three o'clock, P.M.

Soon (as it seemed) awake again, I saw it was still light, and with
bright sun shining; also my watch had run down, the water-jug was cold,
and it was a puzzle to make out how I felt so wonderfully fresh.

Why, it was _next day_, and I had soundly slept on the top of the bed in
my soaking wet clothes for seventeen hours!

CHAPTER XX.

Di Vernon--The Gull light--Naked warriors--Monkey--Medway--Eyes
right!--Old things--Bargees--Street boys--Young skipper--Scene by
night--Barge lingo--Holy Haven--Sailing solicitor--Margate.

Perhaps a sleep in wet clothes, such as we have awakened from, was more
likely to do harm than any of the blasts and breezes at sea; but nothing
followed, and indeed during the whole of my six voyages alone there was
neither a headache nor any other ache, not even a cold, and the floating
medicine-chest yawl was never opened.

Dover had been the port of departure and again of arrival, for my first
canoe voyage, and the memory of that delightful tour was recalled now by
seeing a canoe paddling in the harbour. On closer scrutiny it was
perceived that a young lady was its crew. Now there are several fair
Members {272} of our Royal Canoe Club, and we are quite prepared to
ballot for some more, but the captain had not yet been fortunate enough
to see one of these canoeistes on the water, so at once the dingey gave
chase.