Lost And Saved ; Or Nellie Powers The Missionary's Daughter.

his left hand he held a concha shell , while iu his right hand , to represent the trident , he carried the grains impaling a fish . He was received by the captain and officers with a salute , and he in turn saluted them . " How d ' ye do , hearties ? what ' s the good ivord 1 I ' m from clown beloAV , and have come to tell you that Madame Neptune is brewing a small gale clown there , and that even now the water is boiling under your keel . But I must be off . Hope you'll have

a pleasant voj'age on the ocean of life , as ivell as through my domains , ancl if any of you find it necessary to make me a visit , I will try and entertain you with the best my caves afford ; but I must be getting along , Good bye , come ancl see me off . " As he turned to go over the side , Slow Simon and two or throe other greenhorns , who had been curiously watching him , ran to the side just in time to receive a deluge of water from the main top , ivhich the old hands had been preparing for them during the afternoon

watch . As Neptune disappeared a tab of fire was seen to float astern . Nellie was as much surprised as the green hands , and ivhen Neptune was lost to sight ancl the brig put on her course she vented her curiosity by exclaiming" For goodness sake what kind of an apparition was that , Avhere did it come from , and where has it gone to ? " Ancl as her large blue eyes opened to their utmost , she said , " Oh , what a fright it did give me i "

liiat was King Neptune , replied the captain , " paying us a visit as he usually does any vessel entering his domain . Sometimes ivhen a vessel of importance , like a man-ofwar , crosses the line , he comes aboard accompanied by his wife and son . " The smile that flitted across the captain ' s face made Nellie more curious , and thinking perhaps she would get no better definition from him , she turned to the mate . " Mr . Evans , the captain seems to evade my question . You tell me how that strange creature got aboard here , and the cause of those men getting such a ducking . "

"To give that information would be against the law of sailors , " replied Mr . Evans . "But then you know I ' m not a sailor , Mr . Evans . " " That ' s so , Miss Powers , I did not think of that ; then besides , old Neptune would be pleased to claim so fair a being as yourself for one of his acquaintances . " " I am not very anxious for any nearer acquaintance , " laughingly replied Nellie , " but I am anxious to hear the story . " The mate looked about him as though looking to see if there was anyone else near likely to hear the secret , ancl then told the freaks of old Neptune .

" You must know , Miss Powers , that almost every vessel that goes to sea carries some greenhorns along , or at least some sailors who have never crossed the Equator . These green hands according to usage must be initiated when they cross the line . The part of Neptune is taken by one of the old hands who is rigged up by some of the knowing ones , who , watching their opportunity when the green hands are out of sight , let him oi'er alongside on a hanging platform , and at the proper moment , as you

see , he makes his appearance on deck . The green hands are as curious as yourself , and as Neptune talks fast and does not give them a chance to get near him" ivhen he says ' come see me off , ' they run to the side in time to get wet as you just observed . " " What is that fire floating astern ?" " That is a half barrel filled with pitch , which is supposed to have been the fire ship in which Neptune came up from the ocean caves , and in which he is supposed to bo going back . ''

" What a strange custom , " said Nellie in a thoughtful ivay , " I thought the evil spirit from down below had come aboard . " Beautiful clays came and went , fair winds sped the brig on her way . Nellie Powers , when not engrossed ivith her favourite authors , spent some of her time leaning over the rail , ancl dreamily peering down into the deep dark sea . AVith her eye she would follow the spotted dolhins that played alongsideor watched the porpoises that sported under

p , the boivs . In her joy she built fairy castles away doivn below the sea ; filled them w ith mermaids and various kinds of fish , decorated the walls with sea-fans and sea-weeds , the niches she trimmed with pink ancl white coral , the floor she made of beautiful seashells , and the whole , after brilliantly lighting it ivith a thousand tiny candles , she placed in charge of King Neptune .