London To The Riviera By Sea.

pose . On a largo steamer like tlic " Caledonia" there is nothing discernable beyond an occasional roll , and , with the exception of having the "iiddles" p laced upon the tables during meal-times , I should never have noticed that wc were in this dreaded locality . This feclino' seemed to be shaved by one rather young voyager—a little fellow of not more than four years of age . He was justly called

" the little champion " ; to see him sway to and fro with the movement of the ship , putting his little legs astride like an old sailor , was a sig ht to be remembered . I was told that he was the only one who put in an appearance at tho children ' s dinner on that rou ° 'h day . It appeared , however , that he had crossed before , being the child of a doctor residout in Cairo .

Monday morning found the wind rather high , with a rough swell , which continued until about 3 . 30 , when we sighted Kinisterre , and , running along the coasts of Spain and Portugal , the wind an 1 sea moderated considerably , which revived the passengers , more especially the ladies , and a great improvement was apparent when we took our places at the dinner tables .

Tuesday morning opened with bright sunshine . We passed Cape de Roeo and Lisbon early in the afternoon , and , with the calm sea , tho scene was entirely changed . Ladies and children in their gay costumes , sitting along the deck or promenading many intent upon the newest novels , while others wore busy with needlework . The gentlemen were amusing themselves with dcokquoits , cricket , and other games . The children—not to be

behindhand—brought out their toj's and kept the ayahs and nurses pretty well employed until about 5 p . m ., when all eyes were directed to the shore as wc were coming in sight of Cape St . Vincent . As usual , wc came into company with steamers and sailing ships which seem to assemble about this point . Before dusk we passed Cape St . Mary aud were in the Bay of Cadiz . During the night we passed through Trafalgar Bay , along the coast of Morocco , passing on one side Tarifa Point and on the other Cape Spartel .

At daybreak on Wednesday wo entered the Bay of Gibraltar and anchored about S . 30 . An early breakfast enabled us to get on shore about 9 a . m ., where we spent about three hours—some visiting the various places of interest such as ( he Alemada , Point Eui'opa , the North Front , and Catalan Bay—while others enjoyed strolling through the main streets and purchasing enriosities from the well-known stores of Messrs . Benolicl , and other dealers . At

12 o ' clock all wei'e again on board , and at 12 . 30 we steamed away round the Enropa lig hthouse , having a good view of Apes Hill and Ceuta on the opposite side . From this point the Coast of Spain is grand , the lofty mountains towering high . On the Sierra Nevada range , which came plainly in view as we passed Cape Malaga , about 3 . 30 , miles of snow could be seen while we were steaming along in brig ht , warm sunshine , which continued throughout the day .

On Thursday , about G . 30 a . m ., we passed Point St . Antonio and were olf Valentia on the one side and the Balearic Islands on the other , the sun shining brilliantly until the afternoon , when , on entering the Gulf of Lyons we ran into a heavy thunderstorm , and although wc did not experience one of those dreaded mistrals which arc so often met with in this gulf , the day ended rather unpleasantly so far as the weather was concerned . This , however , did not entirely mar the enjoyment of those on board .

On Friday morning 1 woke up early , as usual , and found that we were passing the fortifications of the Chateau d'lf and picturesque Islands at the entrance to Marseilles Harbour , the rain still pouring down , but before disembarking—about ten o ' clock—the rain ceased , the sky cleared , and bright sunshine followed .

In conclusion , 1 must express my extreme gratification for one of the most enjoyable weeks 1 have ever spent at sea . The courtesy and thou g htful kindness of the captain and all under his commandfrom the chief oflicer down to the Lascar bath-steward , the excellent cuisine , the attention of the stewards both in the cabin and at table , all combined to make life on board worth living , and when I again

London To The Riviera By Sea.

placed my foot upon terra firma I felt in every way better for my short voyage . My visit to the Sunny South , and my return home on the " Oceana " ( another of the magnificent fleet owned by the P . & 0 " Company ) , may form the subject of another Sketch .

Old Billy.

Old Billy .

SKETCH No . III .

LOOKING back a good many years , I can well remember when but a lad of about sixteen , I started from an office in a country town on my homewavd walk to a village about two miles distant . My way for about one half of the distance was along the towingpath of a canal , and the remainder across some meadows .

The change from the well-li ghted streets to the dismal canal-side intensified the darkness , and , until my eyes had got somewhat accustomed to it , I had difficult y in keeping on terni-firma , as the path was scarcely distinguishable from the water .

Sometimes I was startled by the splash of a rat jnmping into the canal from the bank , and the occasional " swish , swish " of the towing line of a canal boat , which , in those days , travelled more frequently than at the present time .

Once or twice on this particular night , after I had passed a boat , I heard the horse ' s hoofs grinding up the loose gravel as though shying at something , at the same time the steersman on the boat , who at ni ght frequently acted as driver also , would crack his whip with a shout of " Get thee along with thee ! " and in a few minutes

after exclaimed " Why , dang me , what be that ? " However , as I was pretty well accustomed to hear boatmen use some peculiar expressions , I did not at the time take notice of them . As I passed over tho foot-bridge to tho path across the meadows , the darkness and consequent dreariness seemed to increase .

An old owl from the Longford woods on the one side made nig ht hideous with his unearthly " scr-e-c-ch-o-ow , scr-e-e-ch-o-ow , " while on tho other side the noises of the denisens of the Windchat scars

increased the dreariness of the situation . Saving the ring of my footsteps upon the hard road and the noises above-mentioned , all w as perfect silence for some time , when all at once I began to fancy that 1 could hear some kind of steps behind me .

At first I thought it must be one of the gangs of poachers whom I had sometimes met starting on their midni ght depredations , but the darkness of the night convinced me that they could not then bo inirsiiing their illegal avocation .

The " pit-pat , pit-pat " became nearer and more distinct , so that I felt sure that I was being followed b y some living being . In the days I am now alluding to , I was looked upon as a good pedestrian , and I put into full play my powers in this respect , and soon crossed the first meadow , and was over the stile into the second , but , notwithstanding my increased speed , the " pit-pat , pit-pat " kept close behind me .

I must confess that I felt considerably alarmed and put on a little more pace , and in my hurry omitted to keep a good look out before me . All at once I stumbled against something which appeared to my mind to be a man lying across the path . Up the creature jumped ,

taking me off my feet and then landing me at full length upon the road . In falling , I caught hold of a pair of horns , and , as the beast did not move further , but after rising stood perfectl y still , I discovered that I had run on to the prostrate form of one of the bullocks which I knew were pastured in the field .

Before I could recover my footing the " pit-pat , pit-pat" had come close upon me , there was a low moan , and then the hot breath of some living creature was on my face . I stretched out my hand and passed it over a hairy surface , and

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