almost deafening.

Inexorable time brought round the morning of our departure. Willing
hands lifted our anchor, and hoisted the sails, so that we had nothing
to do but look on. A scarcely perceptible breeze, stealing softly over
the tree-tops, filled our upper canvas, sparing us the labour of towing
her out of the little bay where we had lain so long, and gradually
wafted us away from its lovely shores, amid the fast-flowing tears of
the great crowd. With multitudinous cries of "Ofa, al-ofa, papalang"
ringing in our ears ("Good-bye; good-bye, white man"), we rounded the
point, and, with increasing pace, bore away through the outlying islands
for the open sea. There was a strong trade blowing, making the old
barky caper like a dancing-master, which long unfamiliar motion almost
disagreed with some of us, after our long quiet. Under its hastening
influence we made such good time that before dinner Vau Vau had faded
into nothingness, mingling like the clouds with the soft haze on the
horizon, from henceforth only a memory.

We were not a very cheerful crowd that night, most of us being busy with
his own reflections. I must confess that I felt far greater sorrow at
leaving Vau Vau than ever I did at leaving England; because by the time
I was able to secure a berth, I have usually drunk pretty deep of the
bitter cup of the "outward bounder," than whom there is no more forlorn,
miserable creature on earth. No one but the much abused boarding-master
will have anything to do with him, and that worthy is generally careful
to let him know that he is but a hanger-on, a dependant on sufferance
for a meal, and that his presence on shore is an outrage. As for the
sailors' homes, I have hardly patience to speak of them. I know the
sailor is usually a big baby that wants protecting against himself, and
that once within the four walls of the institution he is safe; but right
there commendation must end. Why are good folks ashore systematically
misled into the belief that the sailor is an object of charity, and that
it is necessary to subscribe continually and liberally to provide him
with food and shelter when ashore? Most of the contributors would be
surprised to know that the cost of board and lodging at the "home" is
precisely the same as it is outside, and much higher than a landsman of
the same grade can live for in better style. With the exception of the
sleeping accommodation, most men prefer the boarding-house, where, if
they p