could indulge in the luxury of a good square sleep of at least twelve. When we came on deck next morning we found the bumboat man. had already been alongside, and had left a basket containing oranges, apples, and last, though not least, some fresh fish, eggs and milk, luxuries. which one thoroughly appreciates when one has been deprived of them for a few days. How many oranges we each of us consumed before breakfast I should be ashamed now to confess, but under the circumstances gluttony was excusable.

We seemed to have jumped from winter into summer. "The day was fair and sunny: sea and sky drank its inspiring radiance," and not a ripple disturbed the water; the poor weatherbeaten burgee floated listlessly at the masthead, and the ensign hung in heavy folds over the counter. It was a morning to make you throw off your clothes and bask luxuriously in the sun, while you feasted your eyes on the lovely prospect. The houses with their eastern-looking latticed balconies rising one above the other on terraces facing the water, and the blue hills on the other side of this lovely bay standing out sharp and clear in the bright sun, made a picture which only an artist could portray. While we were thus enjoying ourselves, some one asked,

C

"What more could you want?" "Breakfast!" was the Commodore's unsentimental reply. At that moment it was announced, and forgetting all about the sunshine and scenery, we promptly tumbled below.

CHAPTER II

DIRECTLY after breakfast we went ashore, and, under the guidance of our bumboat man, found the telegraph-office and sent messages off to our friends.

Vigo is so well known that I need say nothing further about it, except that we were charmed with its quaint, narrow streets, which opened suddenly upon some funny little squares, from some of which queer, narrow tunnelled passages led down to the water, through which from time to time you got a charming view of the Bay.

We were especially fortunate, as it was apparently a market-day, and the bright coloured head-dresses of the women and the men's brilliant costumes lent colouring to what was already a picturesque scene.

We called on the English Consul, who turned out to be a Spaniard. He had already heard. of our little difficulty about the bill of health. He was most obliging, and sent one of his