y sunset, with exquisite
rosy, purple, and crimson tints on sea and sky.

I have not quite got over my attack in Cairo yet, and for the last
three days have been completely laid up with a various mixture of land
illness and sea sickness. We stopped steaming late in the day, but
fires were lighted again in the middle of the night, as the wind was
still ahead. There was a discussion whether or not to go round the
north side of the Island of Kandia, so as to have a glimpse of the
British Fleet at anchor in Suda Bay, if they have already arrived
there.

_Sunday, May 6th, and Monday, May 7th_.--Early in the morning the
snowy mountains of Crete were still in sight. Service was held as
usual at eleven, but it was too rough in the afternoon for it to be
repeated.

Sail and steam, wind and calm, alternated with one another all day.
Tom is anxious to sail every mile he can, and yet not to lose any
unnecessary time, and finds it exceedingly difficult to combine these
two objects.

_Tuesday, May 8th_.--A fine morning, with a cold strong head breeze.
At noon we rejoiced to think that Malta was not more than a few miles
ahead, or we should assuredly have failed to reach our port before
nightfall. About three we closed in with the land about Marsa
Scirocco and Delamara Point, and, after one or two tacks, rounded the
Point of Ricasole, and leaving Port St. Elmo on our right, we swiftly
glided into the grand harbour of Valetta. We have been here so often
that it feels quite like reaching home. We soon found ourselves in our
old quarters in the Dockyard Creek, and had scarcely moored before one
of the officers came on board with the usual complimentary offers of
assistance, whilst directly afterwards came an invitation to a
farewell ball at the Palace, given to the Duke of Edinburgh. Our old
boatman, Bubbly Joe, took us ashore to dinner, and we found everything
looking as bright and cheerful and steep as it always does and always
will do; not the least bit altered or modernised. The landlord of the
Hotel d'Angleterre was delighted to see us again, and so were his
servants, who came flocking from all parts of the house, nearly
pulling the children to pieces, and plying our own servants with
questions in their anxiety to know all about us.

[Illustration: Faldetta, Malta.]

We had to go back on board the yacht to dress, and then return for the
ball, by which time I was so thoroughly tired, and had so bad a
headache, that I could n