voice, which seemed to come from the end of the flying jib-boom, yelled out, "Brig, ahoy!"

"Hallo!" replied the captain.

"Have you any strangers on board?"

"Ay, ay!"

"Heave me a rope! I'll come alongside and shave them directly!"

A cordial greeting was soon interchanged between Captain Page and Old Neptune on deck, to which we prisoners listened with much interest. The slide of the scuttle was removed, and orders given for one of the "strangers" to come on deck and be shaved. Anxious to develop the mystery and be qualified to bear a part in the frolic, I pressed forward; but as soon as my hand appeared above the rim of the scuttle I was seized, blindfolded, and led to the main deck, where I was urged, by a press of politeness I could not withstand, to be seated on a plank.

The process of shaving commenced, which, owing to the peculiar roughness of the razor and the repulsive qualities of the lather, was more painful and disagreeable than pleasant, but to which I submitted without a murmur. When the scarifying process was finished, I was told to hold up my head, raise my voice to its highest pitch, and say "Yarns!" I obeyed the mandate; and to give full and distinct utterance to the word, opened my mouth as if about to swallow a whale, when some remorseless knave, amid shouts of laughter

from the surrounding group, popped into my open mouth the huge tar-brush, well charged with the unsavoury ingredients for shaving.

was interrogated through a speaking trumpet on several miscellaneous subjects; but, suspecting some trick, my answers were brief and given through closed teeth. At length, Captain Page ex

claimed, "Old Neptune, this will never do. Give him a speaking trumpet also, and let him answer according to rule, and in ship-shape fashion, so that we can all hear and understand him.”

I put the trumpet to my mouth, and to the next question attempted to reply in stunning tones, "None of your business!"—for I was getting impatient, and felt somewhat angry. The sentence was but half uttered when a whole bucket of salt water was hurled into the broad end of the speaking trumpet, which conducted it into my mouth and down my throat, nearly producing strangulation; at the same time, the seat was pulled from beneath me, and I was plunged over head and ears in the briny element.

As soon as I recovered my breath, the bandage was removed from my eyes, and I found myself floating in the long-boat, which had been nearly filled with water for the occasion, and surrounded by as jovial a set of fellows as ever played off a practical joke. Old Neptune proved to be Jim Sinclair, of Marblehead, but so disguised that his own mother could not have known him. His illfavoured and weather-beaten visage was covered with streaks of paint, like the face of a wild Indian on the war-path. He had a thick beard made of oakum; and a wig of rope-yarns, the curls hanging gracefully on his shoulders, was surmounted with a paper cap, fashioned and pointed so as to bear a greater resemblance to the papal tiara than to the

diadem of the ocean monarch. In one hand he held a huge speaking-trumpet, and in the other he brandished, instead of a trident, the ship's grains with five prongs.

The shades of evening fell before the frolic was over, and the wonted order and discipline restored. J. S. SLEEPER.

Equinoctial line.-The Equator. It has long been custom

ary to shave in the way mentioned in the lesson those who cross the line for the first time.

Neptune. The god of the sea, frequently used for the sea itself.

Meridian altitude of the sun.-The position of the sun in

the heavens at twelve o'clock noon. It is by observing the sun's position at noon each day that the vessel's course is guided. Weather-bow.-The bow is the fore part of the ship-the weather-bow is that side of the bow on which the wind is blowing. The opposite side is called the lee-bow. The forecastle.-The forward part of a ship, generally containing the sleeping places of the sailors. The entrance to the forecastle is covered by the forescuttle, which can be removed or put on at pleasure.

Papal tiara.—The mitre worn by the higher grades of ecclesiastics in the Roman Catholic Church.

Trident.—This three-pronged fork was the special badge of Neptune. It may be seen on our copper coins.

QUESTIONS:-1. What is the equinoctial line? 2. Why is it so called? 3. What curious custom is observed on board ship when crossing the line? 4. Who is Neptune? 5. What is "latitude"? 6. How is latitude determined? 7. What is the "horizon"? 8. What is the "weather-bow"? 9. What is the "forecastle "? 10. What is the "forescuttle"? 11. Describe the process of shaving. 12. What practical jokes were played on those who crossed the line for the first time? 13. What is meant by "papal tirara"? 14. What is a "trident"?

LESSON LIV.

The Spanish Champion.

a-maze', amazement, surprise. | per'-jured,

crest'-ed, wearing a crest or

having sworn

falsely. pledge, promise, oath. ran'-som-ed, freed, set at liberty.

sued, asked, begged earnestly. wil'-der'd, astonished,amazed. yearn'-ed, longed for, desired vehemently.

THE warrior bowed his crested head,
And tamed his heart of fire,

And sued the haughty king to free
His long imprisoned sire:

I bring thee here my fortress keys,
I bring my captive train,

I pledge my faith, my liege, my lord,
Oh, break my father's chain."

66

Rise, rise! even now thy father comes,
A ransomed man this day,

Mount thy good steed, and thou and I
Will meet him on his way."

Then lightly rose that loyal son,

And bounded on his steed,

And urged, as if with lance in hand,
His charger's foaming speed.