ssive buildings,
that is hardly rivalled by the fascinations of any other harbour, that
of San Francisco and the Golden Gates alone excepted. If you grant that
the mere material of man's making is all very new, its power and
dignity is no less impressive. Nor in any other city of the world that
I know does the grandeur of the natural environment force itself so
close to the very gates, as in this bay which Hudson claimed, and a
Dutch colony took possession of so long ago as 1614.

It was about six o'clock in the evening when we brought the _Celsis_
through the Narrows between Staten and Long Islands, and passed Forts
Wandsworth and Hamilton. Then the greater harbour before the city
itself rolled out upon our view; and as we steamed slowly into it the
Customs took possession of us, and made their search. It was a short
business, for we satisfied them that Paolo suffered from no malignant
disease, although one small and singularly objectionable fellow seemed
suspicious of everything aboard us. I do not wonder that he made the
men angry, or that Dan had a word with him.

"Look here, sir," he whispered, making pretence to great honesty; "I
won't go for to deceive you--p'r'aps that dog's stuffed wi' di'monds."

"Do you reckon I'm a fool?" asked the man.

"Well," said old Dan, "I never was good at calcerlations; but you
search that dog, and p'r'aps you'll find somethin'."

The man seemed to think a moment; but Dan looked so very solemn, and
Belle came sniffing up at the officer's legs; so he passed his hand
over her back, and lost some of his leg in return.

"Didn't I tell you," said Dan, "as you'd get something if you searched
that dog?--well, don't you go for to doubt me word next time we're
meetin'. Good-day to yer honour. Is there any other animal as I could
oblige you with?"

The officer went off, the men howling with laughter; and a short while
after we had made fast at the landing-stage, and were ready to go
ashore.

Paolo still lay very sick in his cabin, and we determined in common
charity to take no action until he had his health again; but we set the
men to keep a watch about the place, and for ourselves went off to dine
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. There, before a sumptuous dinner, and with
all the novelty of the new scene, we nigh forgot all that happened
since the previous month; when, without thought of adventure or of
future, we had gone to Paris with the aimless purpose of the idle
traveller. And, ind