Page:Sixteen years of an artist's life in Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands.djvu/17

6 the narrow world of the ship, was, more or less, the "observed of all observers." His fine figure, Moorish features, and flowing dress singled him out his fellow-travellers, in a scene where everything was essentially and unmistakably English. As an artist, my first impulse was to add his imposing figure to the number of my sketches from life; and as soon as he was informed of my desire, he politely consented to grant me a sitting. It was indeed a bright idea for all parties, for we were just entering the Bay of Biscay, and as it happened at the time to be as calm as Lake Como, it did not promise much to interest or amuse those who were anxious to witness it in some of its grander and more restless moments. Every passenger who could leave his bed felt some interest in the proposed sketch; and all were eager in the offer of their services to rig up an atelier.

When the captain shortly after came on deck, with his hands in his pockets, his pipe in his mouth, and hist face shining like a winter apple, he was rather astonished at the unexpected evidence of our suddenly awakened zeal and activity on which his eyes rested, and he was at a loss to conceive what use we intended to make of the ropes, pieces of wood, and other odds and ends we had borrowed from one or other on board. When he