CHAPTER II.

At Spithead--Admiral’s Inspection--Sail to Plymouth--Departure from England--My first Look-out--How to see--Phosphorescent Waves--Making Sail--Our two Gun-boats--The _Plover’s_ Hawser breaks--A Growl--Calms and Breezes--A Day’s Routine--Work and Watches--Land ho! The Peak of Teneriffe--Anchor off Santa Cruz--A Run on Shore--Mules, Fishwomen, and Shopkeepers--To Sea again--A Taste of Black List--Strike me lucky--Guy Fawkes--Equatorial Weather--Coming down anyhow--A Bit of Fun--Buckets and Hoses--A Drencher for Captain and Chaplain--Cross the Line--Shaving and Bathing--Besiegers and Besieged--An Officer’s Honour, and a Pig’s Feathers--Make him speak, Bull-dogs--Shipmates and Messmates--A rough Lick and Black List 21