a storm. Under
these circumstances, the ship rolling as if she would dip her
topmasts in the water, and the waves breaking in at the back
windows of the cabin, nothing remained to be done but to go to
bed. Thither most of us accordingly repaired, and holding
ourselves in our berths by clinging to the posts, we amused
ourselves by watching the motions of stools, books, trunks, and
other articles, as they floated majestically from one side of the
cabin to the other. But the effects of the gale were not in
every respect ludicrous. Two small schooners, which had been
captured at Alexandria and converted into tenders, foundered and
went down, without an opportunity being afforded of saving an
individual of their crews.

AT SEA.

At length the wind began to moderate, and on the 18th there was a
dead calm. In point of comfort, however, I cannot say that much
change was experienced; for though the gale had ceased, the swell
still continued; and the motion produced by a heavy sea after a
storm is even more disagreeable than that occasioned by the storm
itself. But on this day the minds of all were set at ease as to
the place whither we were going, a telegraph signal being made to
steer for Jamaica. It was likewise understood that we should be
there joined by strong reinforcements, and proceed upon a secret
expedition against some place on the southern borders of the
United States.

The calm which had succeeded the storm did not last long, for on
the 19th a fair breeze sprang up, and sent us at a moderate and
agreeable rate upon our course. The heat, however, was most
oppressive; even awnings being unable to afford sufficient
shelter. We were fast approaching the tropic of Cancer, and
every day experienced a greater degree of sultriness; till at
length, on the 25th, we crossed that imaginary boundary. Here we
were visited, according to custom, by Neptune and his wife; and
as the ceremony of shaving may be unknown to some of my readers,
I shall beg leave to relate the particulars of that operation.

A clever active seaman, dressed up grotesquely in party-coloured
rags, adorned with a long beard made of the stuff which sailors
call spun-yarn, and armed with a tri-pronged harpoon, personates
the God of the Ocean. Another seaman, arrayed in like manner,
except that, instead of a beard, he wears a hideous mask,
performs the part of the lady. These are attended by a troop of
sea-gods and nymphs, similarly equipped;