the old enjoyment is renewed, and many occasions arise for bringing some pleasure into the life of one another. Spain has been as charming socially as it is in its brilliant colours, mountains and sunshine. "Now we can be pretty sure of the weather for ten days," said a lady as we started on a perfect morning, glad indeed to be free from the uncertainty of climate.

Life at Gibraltar, as I came into it, had different kinds of interest. The officers and ladies, being free to leave the Rock and to cross the border, were happy in going about as they inclined. It was different with the men, who might not leave it, and felt the very narrow limits they were in; but some who were hearty Christian people would say: "The Rock is all right for me now. I could not bear it formerly, but since I found the true Rock-Christ Himself I am quite happy here." Many a conversation we had in the beautiful plantations, for although soldiers go in regiments, each one has his own history and heart full of subjects in which he rejoices to have sympathy. "I am glad you came round here this morning," said one, after we had stayed long among the brilliant flowers, and I listened to his thoughts and doubts, happy to cheer a brave fellow who valued friendly interest. They often had to escort me home in warm, bright evenings-tall, stalwart Scotchmen whose interesting histories filled our long walks, making me familiar with a soldier's mind and life-brave, honourable

fellows, a praise to any country. Two centres of kind and Christian work for the troops exist on the Rock, one in North Street, Gibraltar, and one at Europa. There they come in, having a welcome at any time; they can write letters, read books, practise music and singing, find kind friends whom they rejoice to meet, and are entirely at home. Annually for eight years I often joined their meetings, and with indescribable joy when coming fresh from weeks or months among Mohammedans without a ray of Christian happiness. The soldiers' hearty expressions had a power through contrast that was most impressive. The sailors also and the ships in the bay are a world of interest. On one of the little warships, Captain R asking two of us to a charming dinner in his bright saloon on board, we considered together the plans before us, whether our kind host should follow the thought before him of changing his career, and whether his friend Mr. B― should make his permanent place of work in Syria, and sail there, or should his life be spent in Morocco; and whether I should accept a kind invitation to Malta, or refusing all other lands, sail only to Morocco ? It was appropriate to leave the flowers and decorations of the dining-room, and, in serious earnestness among the guns to seek in prayer His guidance for paths which only God Himself could rightly direct. It was quaintly pathetic as our kind Captain, in that surrounding, asked in prayer for us each that our way might be ordered and blessed.

No attractive persuasions could turn me from Morocco, and when eight years had passed and we met again, Captain R and I felt with greatest joy that our way had been rightly made, difficulties had been overcome, and blessing had abounded beyond all our thoughts in the Bay of Gibraltar.

Incidents of interest fill ordinary life on this Rock. An intelligent soldier appointed to take me through the galleries spoke while exploring them of the torrents of abuse falling on men of the regiments who became decided Christian people, saying, "I couldn't stand that-boots thrown at you at night, your things taken away, and jeering-any amount of it."

He was an open-hearted fellow; I asked if he would like to come to the next service at Europa. When the time came, not knowing if he were present, I suggested singing the hymn "Over the line," and told the soldiers its origin. A young gentleman was walking home with two older ones, one of them a well-known officer, and they sought to persuade their young friend not to drift on in life, careless or undecided between the world and a Christian course. They bade him good-bye at the entrance to his father's grounds, believing he disregarded their words, but as he walked up the drive he stopped, deeply impressed in heart with the truths set before him, and drawing a line across the road with his walking-stick, he would take no step further, saying to himself he ought to decide now.

Still hesitating, but at last resolutely praying, he decided he would live for Christ and break off from all that is contrary to Him, and he stepped over the line across the road, soon telling his parents who had longed for his making this decision, and proving in life that the grace of God had led him to it. The hymn and its story and the subjects dwelt on that day, were made a blessing to my friend of the galleries, and he too decided he would bear what came-for he would acknowledge Christ and live for Him.

XII

VOYAGES

SIXTE

IXTEEN voyages across the Bay of Biscay made an experience of many storms.

When we steamed into the dark, bluish black clouds covering the horizon, we knew what was coming. Seventy-two hours going against a high east wind —we were kept that length of time in the Bay one autumn,-snow beating against my cabin port-hole, and water dripping into the berth where I gladly stayed, making ineffectual attempts to keep warm, until fellow-passengers kindly urged my taking the trouble to come out and cheer them in the almost dark saloon, where it went to one's heart to see the strongest men dismayed-lengthways on sofas in fear, and calling on God, to whom they were little accustomed to appeal, while others exclaimed as they saw wreckage about, knowing we too might become a wreck in this most disastrous storm of the season. In another crossing of the Bay, the captain doubted if he could bring our ship through the tremendous sea and tempest we encountered; we were battened down two nights and part of three days. With two