ens, in a country dance, followed by as many couples as the
space would permit; the greater number of officers dancing, as
necessity required, with one another. In this amusement every
person, from the Admiral and General, down to the youngest ensign
and midshipman, joined, laying aside for the time all restraint
or form of discipline; and having kept it up with great spirit
till considerably beyond midnight, a blue light was hoisted as a
signal for the different boats to come off for the strangers, and
each returned to his own ship highly gratified with the evening's
entertainment.

CHAPTER VI.

BERMUDA

By employing ourselves in this manner, and by keeping up what is
emphatically called a good heart, we contrived to pass out time
agreeably enough. As often as the weather would permit, and the
fleet lay well together, we made parties of pleasure to the
different ships; when the wind was too high, and the fleet too
much scattered for such proceedings, we remained at home, and
amused ourselves in the best way we could. Some of the captains,
and ours among the number, were possessed of very tolerable
libraries, the doors of which they politely threw open for the
benefit of their military guests; and thus, by reading, fishing,
and boating, we were enabled to make head, with some success,
against the encroachments of ennui. It must be confessed,
however, that in spite of strenuous efforts to the contrary, that
determined enemy of all idle persons was beginning to gain ground
upon us, when, about mid-day on the 24th of July, a cry of land
was heard from the mast-head. All eyes were immediately turned
in the direction to which the sailor pointed, and as wind blew
fair and moderately fresh, no great length of time before the
same object was distinguishable from the deck. A signal was
immediately hoisted for a pilot, who lost no time in coming off
to us; and before dark we were at anchor opposite to the tanks in
Bermuda.

The appearance of Bermuda is altogether as different from that of
St. Michael's as one thing can be from another. Whilst the last,
with its lofty mountains and bold shores, can be seen at the
distance of many leagues, a ship must be within a few miles of
the first before the slightest symptom of land is discernible.
On this account it is that mariners find greater difficulty in
making Bermuda than perhaps any other island or continent in the
known world; the most experienced seaman frequentl