peeches, of which the Indian reporters, if any were
present, have not given in their reports. It was a remarkably joyous
occasion, and it was two o'clock in the morning when the banquet-hall was
cleared.

All the forenoon was spent in exchanging the parting greetings. Both Lord
Tremlyn and Sir Modava invited any or all of the party who might be in
India or in England to visit them; and the commander and Mrs. Belgrave, as
well as the others, extended similar invitations to the three gentlemen.
After tiffin, when the party started for the steamer that was to convey
them to the two ships, it seemed as though all the citizens of Colombo,
with their ladies, had gathered to assist in the parting benedictions. The
military band alternated with the Italian, cheers without number rent the
air, and the party had all they could do to return the salutes, and answer
all the kindly words spoken to them by entire strangers.

The steamer cast off her fasts, and then the din was greater than ever. The
guests at the banquet went off to the ships, from the smoke-stacks of which
the black smoke was pouring out, as if to emphasize the reality of the
departure. All manner of courtesies were exchanged, but finally the
passengers were all on board of the Blanche and Guardian-Mother. A salute
was fired from the heaviest guns on both vessels, the screws began to turn,
the final words were shouted, and the steamers stood to the southward.

It required some time to digest the sights the voyagers had seen in India;
but when, a few days later, the Nickobar Islands were reported off the port
bow, the "Big Four" began to think and wonder what new and strange climes
they were to visit. They were inclined to believe they had seen everything
that was worth seeing in the civilized world, and they had some decided
views of their own in regard to the future. They were eager to engage for a
time in something more stirring than gazing at palaces, churches, temples,
and other wonders of the great cities; and they were not diffident in the
expression of their wishes when the commander called a meeting in
Conference Hall to consider what ports the Guardian-Mother should visit
next, as well as to inform the tourists in regard to the islands in the
immediate vicinity. Those who are interested in the decision of the
company, and in the events which followed in consequence of it, are
referred to the next volume of the series: "HALF ROUND THE WORLD; OR, SOME
ADVENTU