after cow came up, until at length the boat was wholly cleared.

By the time that the first boat was empty another one came. This second one contained the bull, but instead of being free as the cows had been, he was secured fast in one of the moveable stalls which Mrs. Morelle had seen at the landing The stall was a narrow box, just wide enough for the bull to stand in it. It had a floor, two sides, two ends, but no top. Instead of a top, there were two irons passing over from one side to the other, above, giving the box the appearance of a monstrous oblong pail with two bails to it. When the chain was lowered the hooks were attached to these two bails, and the box, bull and all, was run up rapidly to the deck, and placed there in a secure position among the piers.

As fast as the remaining cattle were brought up, new pens were made upon the deck, and when at length the pens were all full, the hatches were opened, and a great many cows, after being hoisted up from the boat and swung round over the hatchways, were lowered down into the hold, to some dark and dismal region there, which the boys could not see.

Besides the cows and a load of oxen, there was a boat full of sheep that came on board, and also one of pigs. The pigs were hoisted two at a

time each of them having a band passed round him, and the hook taking hold of the rings of each band. The pigs made a frightful outcry at being hoisted in this manner.

There were a great many boxes containing fish, and packages of wool, and bags of grain, and other such things, the produce of the islands, that were also taken on board. The work of getting all the cargo in, and on board, occupied several hours, and it was near noon before the steamer was ready to sail.

19*

CHAPTER XIX.

CONCLUSION.

THE sea was very smooth, and the air calm, on the day that Mrs. Morelle and her party made the voyage back from the Orkneys to what may be called in relation to them, the main land. Mrs. Morelle and Florence having some misgivings in respect to the effect which the sea might produce upon them, thought it best to remain below, at least until the steamer should arrive at Wick, because they could lie down while they were below, and a horizontal position is found to be the best means, both for guarding against the approach of sea-sickness, and for alleviating the sufferings produced by it when it comes.

"But we will not go into our stateroom, Grimkie," said Mrs. Morelle. "We will lie down upon the sofas in the great cabin, and then if we can not read we can amuse ourselves with observing what is going on."

Grimkie accordingly accompanied his aunt and cousin below, and found nice sofas for them there. He put two or three soft cushions at the head of

each sofa, and when Mrs. Morelle and Florence had come down, he spread shawls over their feet, and gave them their books. Then leaving them to themselves he went unon deck again to join John.

When

Grimkie and John remained upon the deck all the afternoon, except that from time to time they went below to see if the ladies were doing well in the cabin. They watched the different islands as the steamer passed along their shores on her way to the southward, identifying them one after another by means of the map. at length they came opposite to the Pentland Firth, John looked in that direction long and earnestly to see if he could discern any signs of the whirlpools, or foaming breakers that he read accounts of in the books,-but excepting a white line of surf which often appeared along the rocky shores at the margin of the water, nothing was to be seen.

In the meantime the coast of Caithness, the northern part of Scotland, had come fully into view, and presently the steamer, drawing nearer and nearer to the coast began to follow the line of it, at a little distance in the offing, toward Wick.

The steamer remained several hours at Wick, and the boys were at first very anxious to go on

shore during the interval, but Mrs. Morelle thought it not prudent for them to do so. They afterward concluded, however, that they liked quite as well to remain on board, for a great many boat loads of cattle, sheep, and other animals were brought out and hoisted on board, and they were very much entertained in watching the operations.

At length, about nine o'clock in the evening, the steamer sailed again, and now her course led her out quite into the open sea, as will appear by an inspection of the map, which shows a great bay entering into the land between Wick and Aberdeen, across the mouth of which the track of the steamer lay. Mrs. Morelle and Florence determined to go into their stateroom at once, and go to bed, hoping to sleep during the whole time of passing across this bay. Grimkie and John remained on deck till eleven o'clock, and then, though it was still very light, they went below and took their places on the couches or sofas where Mrs. Morelle and Florence had lain during the afternoon, and were both soon sound asleep. They slept without any intermission until morning.

After this brief and prosperous voyage the whole party landed safely in Scotland, which seemed to them like a continent in comparison