six o'clock
If the girls had counted upon a peaceful night , they were much disappointed . They retired , indeed , to their berths , but not to sleep . The short crossing between Malta and Sicily is one of the worst in the world , and there was a swell which almost rivalled their experiences in the Bay of Biscay . The little vessel pitched and tossed and rolled , and caused them many hours of discomfort , till at length , at six o'clock , it steamed into the harbor at Syracuse , and landed them on Sicilian soil . A train journey of a few hours followed , to Targia Vecchia , which was the nearest railway station to Montalesso , where Carmel 's home was situated . Mr. Greville met them at Targia Vecchia , and after kissing Carmel , who rushed straight into his arms , gave a most hearty welcome to the rest of the party . He had two cars waiting , and after the usual preliminaries of counting up luggage , and giving up checks and tickets , they found themselves whisking along a good Sicilian road in the direction of Etna , whose white , snow-covered peak was the commanding feature in the whole of the surrounding landscape .