THROUGH COOK’S STRAIT. 287

in goods. Some of the articles must have been extremely useful,
as among them were sixty red night-caps, and twelve sticks of sealing
wax, and twelve shaving brushes! If this is a specimen of the land
transactions, we don’t wonder that there has been trouble with the
natives. There is only one safe way to proceed in this world,
boys, and that is to be sure and start right; then, you may go ahead.”

The call of the Antelope at Wellington was very brief. A few
goods were left and a few received, and two passengers came ahoard.
Then, the Antelope lifted her white antlers again and bounded away
to sea. The passengers were ladies who had been teachers in New
Zealand, but now wished to return to their homes in America, and
for “ variety’s sake” preferred to go part of the way im a sailing vessel.

“What is the oldest one’s name?” asked Rick.

“Wayland; Miss Wayland, they call her,” said Ralph.

“And I heard Miss Wayland call the other Lissa, and Uncle
Nat called her also Miss Percy.”

“Yes, Miss Lissa Percy or Miss Me-lissa Percy,” said Ralph. “ That’s
the way she writes her name, for I saw it on a card.”

“Wouldn’t it be funny if Uncle Nat should like Miss Wayland,
and the doctor like Miss Lissa Percy?”

These gentlemen were both bachelors, and Rick’s remark was
quite a blow to Ralph who had already taken a fancy to Miss Lissa.

Uncle Nat quickly found out that they were singers. He was
quite a musician himself, and he proposed the first evening of
the voyage that they have a sing together out upon the deck. There
stood Uncle Nat, playing away, his cheeks swollen to the size
of small bellows. The first mate, Jenks, held the lantern. The doctor,
. Miss Wayland and Miss Lissa were looking over a sheet of music,
while Gibbs, the second mate, stood in the rear and assisted in the
singing.