wind not blowing right on shore (it was a blunder of the Greeks who missed stays),—­the Doctor exclaimed, ’Save him, indeed! by G—­d! save me rather—­I’ll be first if I can’—­a piece of egotism which he pronounced with such emphatic simplicity as to set all who had leisure to hear him laughing[2], and in a minute after the vessel drove off again after striking twice.  She sprung a small leak, but nothing further happened, except that the captain was very nervous afterwards.

[Footnote 1:  He meant to have taken the boy on his shoulders and swum with him to shore.  This feat would have been but a repetition of one of his early sports at Harrow; where it was a frequent practice of his thus to mount one of the smaller boys on his shoulders, and, much to the alarm of the urchin, dive with him into the water.]

[Footnote 2:  In the Doctor’s own account this scene is described, as might be expected, somewhat differently:—­“Ma nel di lui passaggio marittimo una fregata Turca insegui la di lui nave, obligandola di ricoverarsi dentro le Scrofes, dove per l’impeto dei venti fu gettata sopra i scogli:  tutti i marinari dell’ equipaggio saltarono a terra per salvare la loro vita:  Milord solo col di lui Medico Dottr.  Bruno rimasero sulla nave che ognuno vedeva colare a fondo:  ma dopo qualche tempo non essendosi visto che cio avveniva, le persone fuggite a terra respinsero la nave nell’ acque:  ma il tempestoso mare la ribasto una seconda volta contro i scogli, ed allora si aveva per certo che la nave coll’ illustre personaggio, una grande quantita di denari, e molti preziosi effetti per i Greci anderebbero a fondo.  Tuttavia Lord Byron non si perturbo per nulla; anzi disse al di lui medico che voleva gettarsi al nuoto onde raggiungere la spiaggia:  ’Non abbandonate la nave finche abbiamo forze per direggerla:  allorche saremo coperti dall’ acque, allora gettatevi pure, che io vi salvo.’”]

“To be brief, we had bad weather almost always, though not contrary; slept on deck in the wet generally for seven or eight nights, but never was in better health (I speak personally)—­so much so that I actually bathed for a quarter of an hour on the evening of the 4th instant in the sea, (to kill the fleas, and other &c.) and was all the better for it.

“We were received at Missolonghi with all kinds of kindness and honours; and the sight of the fleet saluting, &c. and the crowds and different costumes, was really picturesque.  We think of undertaking an expedition soon, and I expect to be ordered with the Suliotes to join the army.

“All well at present.  We found Gamba already arrived, and every thing in good condition.  Remember me to all friends.

“Yours ever, N. B.