sailors call spreading
the tablecloth: it is a sign of bad weather."

"Then I hope they will not spread the tablecloth while we are here,
Ready," said William, "for I shall certainly have no appetite. We have
had bad weather enough already, and mamma suffers so much from it. What
a pretty place it is!"

"We shall remain here two days, sir," said Captain Osborn to Mr
Seagrave, "if you and Mrs Seagrave would like to go on shore."

"I will go down and ask Mrs Seagrave," said her husband, who went down
the ladder, followed by William.

Upon the question being put to Mrs Seagrave, she replied that she was
quite satisfied with the ship having no motion, and did not feel herself
equal to going on shore; it was therefore decided that she should remain
on board with the two younger children, and that, on the following day,
Mr Seagrave should take William and Tommy to see Cape Town, and return
on board before night.

The next morning, Captain Osborn lowered down one of the large boats,
and Mr Seagrave, accompanied by Captain Osborn, went on shore with
William and Tommy. Tommy had promised his mamma to be very good; but
that he always did, and almost always forgot his promise directly he was
out of sight. As soon as they landed, they went up to a gentleman's
house, with whom Captain Osborn was acquainted. They stayed for a few
minutes to drink a glass of lemonade, for it was very warm; and then it
was proposed that they should go to the Company's Gardens and see the
wild beasts which were confined there, at which William was much
delighted, and Tommy clapped his hands with joy.

"What are the Company's Gardens, papa?" inquired William.

"They were made by the Dutch East India Company, at the time that the
Cape of Good Hope was in their possession. They are, properly speaking,
Botanical Gardens; but, at the same time, the wild animals are kept
there. Formerly there were a great many, but they have not been paid
attention to lately, for we have plenty of these animals in England
now."

"What shall we see?" said Tommy.

"You will see lions, Tommy, a great many in a large den together," said
Captain Osborn.

"Oh! I want to see a lion."

"You must not go too near them, recollect."

"No, I won't," said Tommy.

As soon as they entered the gates, Tommy escaped from Captain Osborn,
and ran away in his hurry to see the lions; but Captain Osborn caught
him again, and held him fast by the hand.

"Here is a pair of