Some excellent step-dancing followed, and then hats off and "God save the Queen," which was never omitted.
Our musical talents were further turned to account, and a choir having been formed, we managed to chant the whole service on Sundays, both morning and evening, very creditably.
The dawn was just breaking as we dropped anchor at Port Said, and as we were to go through the disagreeable proceeding of coaling, every one who could get ashore did so directly after breakfast. The town lies on a dead level scarcely two feet above the water, and as far as the eye can reach is one endless extent of sand as flat as a billiard-table. We found some good ship-chandlers, where we bought sundry provisions at a price, also one or two shops of the Bon Marché order, where one could obtain anything, from a tea-tray to a double-barrelled gun, or from a Bath bun to a complete suit of Chinese armour. Port Said has, however, been described over and over again, no doubt, so it is not worth while wasting many words on it here. By 11.30 a.m, we were all on board, and shortly afterwards we started to wend our weary way along the canal to Suez. I say "weary way" because this is a very wearisome journey. The
