ng ever so far off. I say, are those
burning mountains?"

"I suppose so, unless it's steam. But what a lovely place!"

There were orders for shortening sail given just then, and they had no
more opportunity for talking during the next quarter of an hour, when,
much closer in, they lay in the top once more, gazing eagerly at the
glorious prospect of sea and sky, and verdant land and mountain. The
vessel slowly rounded what appeared to be a headland, and in a short
time the wind seemed to have dropped, and the sea to have grown calm.
It was like entering a lovely lake; and as they went slowly on and on,
it was to find that they were forging ahead in a perfect archipelago,
with fresh beauties opening up each minute.

The land was deliciously green, and cut up into valley, hill, and
mountain. One island they were passing sent forth into the clear sunny
air a cloud of silvery steam, which floated slowly away, like a white
ensign spread to welcome the newcomers from a civilised land. At their
distance from the shore it was impossible to make out the individual
trees, but there seemed to be clumps of noble pines some distance in,
and the valleys were made ornamental with some kind of feathery growth.

"Well, all I've got to say, Mas' Don, is this here--Singpore arn't to be
grumbled at, and China's all very well, only hot; but if you and me's
going to say good-bye to sailoring, let's do it here."

"That's exactly what I was thinking, Jem," replied Don.

"Say, Mas' Don, p'r'aps it arn't for me, being a servant and you a young
master, to make remarks."

"Don't talk nonsense, Jem; we are both common sailors."

"Well then, sir, as one sailor to another sailor, I says I wish you
wouldn't get into bad habits."

"I wish so too, Jem."

"There you are again!" said Jem testily.

"What do you mean?"

"Why, so sure as I thinks something sensible and good, you always
ketches me up and says you had thought it before."

"Nonsense, Jem! Well, have it your way. I quite agree with you."

"No, I won't, sir; you're master. Have it your way. I quite agree with
you. Let's go ashore here."

"If you can get the chance, Jem.--How lovely it looks!"

"Lovely's nothing to it, sir. Mike used to brag about what he'd seen in
foreign countries, but he never see anything to come up to this."

"I don't think any one could see a more beautiful place, Jem."

"But I don't like the look o' that, sir."

"Of what?"

"That there yon