h room for the men to swing their
hammocks, and it also held a brightly polished copper kitchen range.

Everything looked as neat and clean "as if the yacht had been kept in a
glass case," as Paul observed.

Papa, having looked over the stores, took us on shore to obtain a number
of things which he found we should require. We thus had an opportunity
of seeing something of the town.

The old walls of Southampton have been pulled down, or are crumbling
away, the most perfect portion being the gateway, or Bar Gate, in the
High Street. On either side of it stand two curious old heraldic
figures, and beside them are two blackened pictures--one representing
Sir Bevis of Hampton, and the other his companion, Ascapart. Sir Bevis,
who lived in the reign of Edgar, had a castle in the neighbourhood. It
is said he bestowed his love on a pagan lady, Josian, who, having been
converted to Christianity, gave him a sword called Morglay, and a horse
named Arundel. Thus equipped he was wont to kill four or five men at
one blow. Among his renowned deeds were those he performed against the
Saracens, and also his slaughter of an enormous dragon.

The extensive docks at the mouth of the river Itchen, to the east of the
town, have, of course, greatly increased its wealth. We saw a
magnificent foreign-bound steamer coming out of the docks. The West
India ships start from here, as do other lines of steamers running to
the Cape, and to various parts of the world; so that Southampton is a
bustling seaport. There is another river to the west of the town,
called the Test; and that joining with the Itchen at the point where the
town is built, forms the beautiful Southampton Water.

But perhaps the most interesting fact about Southampton is that Isaac
Watts, the Christian poet, was born here in 1671. The house in French
Street is still standing, and we went to look at it. There he passed
his play-days of childhood; there the dreamy, studious boy stored up his
first spoils of knowledge; there he wrote his first hymns; and thither
he went to visit his parents, when he himself was old and famous. We
also went to see the remains of Saint Michael's Gaol, in which Watts'
father had been confined for his nonconformity. And as we looked on the
old prison we thanked God that nowadays, in England at least, religious
persecution is unknown.

When we returned on board, we noticed with surprise on each side of the
river what had the appearance o