_Tuesday, May 15th_.--Cape de Gat was abeam early this morning. The
wind fell light, but Tom hoped it would freshen again; otherwise, with
steam we might easily have got into Gibraltar to-night. As it was,
fires were not lighted until ten o'clock.
_Wednesday, May 16th_.--At 3 a.m. I was called to see the light on
Europa Point, and stayed on deck to watch the day dawn and the rising
of the sun. It was not, however, a very agreeable morning; the
Levanter was blowing, the signal station was enveloped in mist, the
tops of the mountains of Africa were scarcely discernible above the
clouds, and Ceuta and Ape's Hill were invisible. Algeciras and San
Roque gleamed white on the opposite shore of the bay, while the dear
old Rock itself looked fresher and cleaner than usual, exhaling a
most delicious perfume of flowers. As the sun rose, the twitterings of
the birds in the Alameda sounded most homelike and delightful.
We had dropped our anchor inside the New Mole about 4.30, and before
six the familiar sounds of English martial music could be heard from
all the different barracks, as the regiments came marching down the
hill and along the Alameda to the north front with all their baggage,
military trains, tents, and ambulances, for a day's camping out. We
were anxious to get on shore to see about coals, water, and
provisions, but no health-boat came near us.
Pages:
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633