I told you truly how it would be. Ha, ha! you were bound to go to
Africa, of course! Well, old merriman, now you are going to
Africa, how do you like it?"

The cruellest part of it was that, from the retreat where he was
moaning, the hapless invalid could hear the passengers in the grand
saloon laughing, munching, singing, and playing at cards. On board
the Zouave the company was as jolly as numerous, composed of
officers going back to join their regiments, ladies from the
Marseilles Alcazar Music Hall, strolling-players, a rich Mussulman
returning from Mecca, and a very jocular Montenegrin prince, who
favoured them with imitations of the low comedians of Paris. Not
one of these jokers felt the sea-sickness, and their time was passed
in quaffing champagne with the steamer captain, a good fat born
Marseillais, who had a wife and family as well at Algiers as at
home, and who answered to the merry name of Barbassou.

Tartarin of Tarascon hated this pack of wretches; their mirthfulness
deepened his ails.

At length, on the third afternoon, there was such an extraordinary
hullabaloo on the deck that our hero was roused out of his long
torpor. The ship's bell was ringing and the seamen's heavy boots
ran over the planks.

"Go ahead! Stop her! Turn astern!" barked the hoarse voice of
Captain Barbassou; and then, "Stop her dead!"

There was an abrupt check of movement, a shock, and no more,
save the silent rolling of the boat from side to side like a balloon in