et with in the tropics; and, just starting as we
were upon what all hands regarded as a holiday cruise, it is but small
wonder that we experienced and enjoyed its exhilarating influence to an
almost intoxicating extent. Jocularity and laughter pervaded the little
craft from end to end; and throughout the second dog-watch dancing,
singing, and skylarking--all, of course, within the limits of proper
discipline--were the order of the evening. As the sun disappeared in
the west, the full, round orb of the moon floated majestically up over
the purple rim of the horizon to leeward; and the swift yet
imperceptible change from the golden glory of sunset to the silvery
radiance of a clear, moonlit night was a sight of beauty that must be
left to the imagination, for no mortal pen could possibly do justice to
it.

"Now, Harry, me bhoy," exclaimed Ryan, speaking in the broad brogue that
always sprang to his lips when he was excited or exhilarated, and
slapping me upon the back as we emerged from the companion after dinner
that evening, and stood for a moment contemplating the glory of the
night, "from this moment we're slavers, we're pirates, we're cut-throats
of the first wather, to be hail-fellow-well-met with every dirty
blagguard that sails the says--until we can get them within rache of
these pretty little barkers," affectionately tapping the breech of one
of our long nines as he spoke; "and thin see if we won't give thim such
a surprise as they haven't met with for manny a day!"

And he quite looked the character, too--for he was of very powerful,
athletic build, though not very tall, swarthy in complexion, and burnt
as dark as a mulatto by the sun; with a thick, bushy black beard, and a
most ferocious-looking moustache that he had been assiduously
cultivating ever since he had known that he was to have the command of
the schooner--as he stepped out on deck at eight bells on the following
morning, attired in white drill jacket and long flowing trousers of the
same, girt about the waist with a gaudy silken sash glowing in all the
colours of the rain bow, the costume being topped off with a
broad-brimmed Panama hat swathed round with a white puggaree. He was
indeed the beau-ideal of a dandy pirate skipper, and I was not a very
bad imitation of him--barring the whiskers. The only things perhaps
that a too captious critic might have objected to were the spotless
purity of our clothing, and an utter absence of that ruffianly