blacks was stationed on board the _Water Lily_, with instructions to
pull the trigger-line directly he saw the schooner fairly in motion on
the ways. A bottle of wine was also slung from the schooner's stem,
that the ceremony of christening might not be shorn of its usual rite.

This occupied the two mates until breakfast was ready, when we all sat
down to the meal in most exuberant spirits. As soon as it was over we
all proceeded to the beach, and Bob climbed on board the craft, and took
his station forward, in readiness to let go the anchor as soon as she
had slid far enough off from the land. Ella took up a position under
the bows, supported by my father, who instructed her how to perform the
ceremony of christening after the most approved fashion, whilst Winter
and I stood by to knock away the spur-shores, and the second native
launched and jumped into a canoe, to go alongside and fetch Bob ashore,
as soon as his share of the duty was performed.

When we had all taken our stations--

"Is everybody ready?" inquired my father.

A general "Ay, ay," was the response. Ella took the bottle of wine in
her hand, and Winter and I poised our hammers.

"Then knock away with a will, lads!" exclaimed the skipper.

A few lusty strokes brought the shores down, the schooner began to move,
and Ella dashed the bottle against the craft's bows, exclaiming in a
clear, silvery voice, as the wine dripped from the stem:

"God bless the _Ada_, and send her success and prosperity!"

We all took off our hats and cheered lustily as the schooner rushed down
the ways and plunged stern foremost into the sparkling sea; the gun went
off with a sharp _bang_, and the native gunner instantly, with a
terrific yell, sprang over the side of the cutter, and struck out for
the shore with all the vigour and activity that fear could impart to his
movements.

The schooner clove the water smoothly and easily as she drove astern
when once fairly afloat, and held her way long enough to shoot far
beyond her consorts at anchor in the bay. As soon as her speed was
sufficiently reduced, Bob let go his anchor, and we had the satisfaction
of seeing that she floated lightly and on a perfectly even keel.

As soon as Bob came on shore, he, of course, joined us, and lent his aid
in admiring and praising our own handiwork, as is pretty generally the
custom with all mortals, though some are not so ingenuous in the
exhibition of their actual feelings as we w