View PDF version of this page

morning began to flash in the windows, and soon Ave detected boats putting out to meet us. Larnaca lias no harbour ; there is only an open roadstead ; and we dropped our anchor about half a mile from shore. I was bus}' in the saloon over some coffee, when voices and shouts outside proclaimed that the islanders were already beginning to board us ; and when I passed presently into my cabin, which was, like the saloon, on deck, there was a red fez cap at the window, and a brown bearded face, court-ing my attention with a plaintive, enquiring smile. I lowered the glass, and a voice in delightful English (by which I mean that it was just bad enough to be pathetic) asked if I was the gentleman who was going to land at Larnaca. I said that I was. ' Eight, sir,' the voice replied. 'You show me your things. I have good boat here ; I put you ashore directly— take you to custom house ; if you want it, get you a carriage. Yes, sir, I manage—yes, sir.' The man's manner had something very taking in it, and so had his whole appearance when I saw him at full length outside. His dress, except for his Oriental head-gear, might very well have belonged to a British sailor—a loose pea-jacket and trousers of blue serge—but his face, handsome in feature and dark in colour, had the curious expression only to be found in the East, an expression of appeal and devotion like that of a faithful dog. He was as good as his word. He very soon had me in a boat, manned by a negro and two brigand-like Greeks. As I sat by him in the stern he 38 IN AN ENCHANTED ISLAND

View PDF version of this page