第4章

ThenthepictureseemedtobecomearealityandIsawNatalieherself，strangelychangefulinheraspect，strangelyvaryinginfaceandfigure，strangelybright，standinginthemouthofapasswhereofthelittleborderingcliffswerecoveredwithbushesandlowtrees，whosegreenwasalmosthidinlovelyflowers。

Thereinmydreamshestood，smilingmysteriously，andstretchedoutherarmstowardsme。

AsIawokeIseemedtohearhervoice，repeatingherdyingwords："Gowhereyouseemcalledtogo，faraway。Oh！thewonderfulplaceinwhichyouwillfindme，notknowingthatyouhavefoundme。"

Withsomevariationsthisdreamvisitedmetwicethatnight。InthemorningIwokeupquitedeterminedthatIwouldgototheSouthSeaIslands，evenifImustdosoalone。OnthatsameeveningBastinandBickleydinedwithme。Isaidnothingtothemaboutmydream，forBastinneverdreamedandBickleywouldhavesetitdowntoindigestion。Butwhentheclothhadbeenclearedawayandweweredrinkingourglassofport——bothBastinandBickleyonlytookone，theformerbecauseheconsideredportasinfulindulgenceoftheflesh，thelatterbecausehefeareditwouldgivehimgout——Iremarkedcasuallythattheybothlookedveryrundownandasthoughtheywantedarest。Theyagreed，atleasteachofthemsaidhehadnoticeditintheother。IndeedBastinaddedthatthedampandthecoldinthechurch，inwhichhehelddailyservicestonocongregationexcepttheoldwomanwhocleanedit，hadgivenhimrheumatism，whichpreventedhimfromsleeping。

"Docallthingsbytheirpropernames，"interruptedBickley。"I

toldyouyesterdaythatwhatyouaresufferingfromisneuritisinyourrightarm，whichwillbecomechronicifyouneglectitmuchlonger。Ihavethesamethingmyself，soIoughttoknow，andunlessIcanstopoperatingforawhileIbelievemyfingerswillbecomeuseless。Alsosomethingisaffectingmysight，overstrain，Isuppose，sothatIamobligedtowearstrongerandstrongerglasses。IthinkIshallhavetoleaveOgden"（hispartner）"inchargeforawhile，andgetawayintothesun。ThereisnoneherebeforeJune。"

"IwouldifIcouldpayalocumtenensandwerequitesureitisn’twrong，"saidBastin。

"Iamgladyouboththinklikethat，"Iremarked，"asIhaveasuggestiontomaketoyou。IwanttogototheSouthSeasaboutwhichweweretalkingyesterday，togetthethoroughchangethatBickleyhasbeenadvisingforme，andIshouldbeverygratefulifyouwouldbothcomeasmyguests。You，Bickley，makesomuchmoneyoutofcuttingpeopleabout，thatyoucanarrangeyourownaffairsduringyourabsence。Butasforyou，Bastin，Iwillseetothewherewithalforthelocumtenens，andeverythingelse。"

"Youareverykind，"saidBastin，"andcertainlyIshouldliketoexposethatmisguidedauthor，whoprobablypublishedhisoffensiveworkwithoutthinkingthatwhathewrotemightaffectthesubscriptionstothemissionarysocieties，alsotoshowBickleythatheisnotalwaysright，asheseemstothink。ButI

couldneverdreamofacceptingwithoutthefullapprovaloftheBishop。

"Youmightgetthatofyournursealso，ifshehappenstobestillalive，"mockedBickley。"AsforhisLordship，Idon’tthinkhewillraiseanyobjectionwhenheseesthecertificateIwillgiveyouaboutthestateofyourhealth。HeisagreatbelieverinmeeversinceItookthatcarbuncleoutofhisneckwhichhegotbecausehewillnoteatenough。Asforme，Imeantocomeifonlytoshowyouhowcontinuallyandpersistentlyyouarewrong。

But，Arbuthnot，howdoyoumeantogo？"

"Idon’tknow。Inamailsteamer，Isuppose。"

"Ifyoucanruntoit，ayachtwouldbemuchbetter。"

"That’sagoodidea，foronecouldgetoutofthebeatentracksandseetheplacesthatarenever，orseldom，visited。Iwillmakesomeinquiries。Andnow，tocelebratetheoccasion，letusallhaveanotherglassofportanddrinkatoast。"

Theyhesitatedandwerelost，Bastinmurmuringsomethingaboutdoingwithouthisstoutnextdayasapenance。Thentheybothaskedwhatwasthetoast，eachofthem，afterthought，suggestingthatitshouldbetheutterconfusionoftheother。

Ishookmyhead，whereonasaresultoffurthercogitation，BastinsubmittedthattheUnknownwouldbesuitable。Bickleysaidthathethoughtthisafoolishideaaseverythingworthknowingwasalreadyknown，andwhatwasthegoodofdrinkingtotherest？

AtoasttotheTruthwouldbebetter。

Anotioncametome。

"Letuscombinethem，"Isaid，"anddrinktotheUnknownTruth。"

Sowedid，thoughBastingrumbledthattheperformancemadehimfeellikePilate。

"WeareallPilatesinourway，"Irepliedwithasigh。

"ThatiswhatIthinkeverytimeIdiagnoseacase，"exclaimedBickley。

AsformeIlaughedandforsomeunknownreasonfelthappierthanIhaddoneformonths。Oh！ifonlythewriterofthattouristtaleoftheSouthSeaIslandscouldhaveguessedwhatfruithislight—thrownseedwouldyieldtousandtotheworld！

ImademyinquiriesthroughaLondonagencywhichhiredoutyachtsorsoldthemtotheidlerich。AsIexpected，therewereplentytobehad，ataprice，butwealthyasIwas，thefigureaskedofthebuyerofanysuitablecraft，staggeredme。Intheend，however，IcharteredoneforsixmonthscertainandatsomuchpermonthforaslongasIlikedafterwards。Theownerspaidinsuranceandeverythingelseonconditionthattheyappointedthecaptainandfirstmate，alsotheengineer，forthisyacht，whichwasnamedStaroftheSouth，couldsteamatabouttenknotsaswellassail。

Iknownothingaboutyachts，andthereforeshallnotattempttodescribeher，furtherthantosaythatshewasoffivehundredandfiftytonsburden，verywellconstructed，andsmarttolookat，aswellshemightbe，seeingthatadeceasedmillionairefromwhoseexecutorsIhiredherhadspentafortuneinbuildingandequippingherinthebestpossiblestyle。Inall，hercrewconsistedofthirty—twohands。Apeculiarityofthevesselwasthatowingtosomefancyofthelateowner，thepassengeraccommodation，whichwassplendid，layforwardofthebridge，thiswiththeship’sstore—rooms，refrigeratingchamber，etc。，beingalmostinthebows。Itwasowingtothesearrangements，whichwereunusual，thattheexecutorsfounditimpossibletosell，andwerethereforegladtoacceptsuchanofferasmineinordertosaveexpenses。Perhapstheyhopedthatshemightgotothebottom，beingheavilyinsured。Ifso，theFatesdidnotdisappointthem。

Thecaptain，namedAstley，wasajovialpersonwhoheldeverykindofcertificate。HeseemedsoextraordinarilyableathisbusinessthatpersonallyIsuspectedhimofhavingmademistakesinthecourseofhiscareer，notunconnectedwiththeworshipofBacchus。InthisIbelieveIwasright；otherwiseamanofsuchattainmentswouldhavebeencommandingsomethingbiggerthanaprivateyacht。Thefirstmate，Jacobsen，wasamelancholyDane，aspiritualistwhoplayedtheconcertina，andseemedtobeabletodowithoutsleep。Thecrewwereamixedlot，goodmenforthemostpartandquiteunobjectionable，morethanhalfofthembeingScandinavian。IthinkthatisallIneedsayabouttheStaroftheSouth。

ThearrangementwasthattheStaroftheSouthshouldproceedthroughtheStraitsofGibraltartoMarseilles，wherewewouldjoinher，andthencetravelviatheSuezCanal，toAustraliaandontotheSouthSeas，returninghomeasourfancyorconveniencemightdictate。

Allthefirstpartoftheplanwecarriedouttotheletter。OftheremainderIsaynothingatpresent。

TheStaroftheSouthwasamplyprovidedwitheverykindofstore。Amongthemweremedicinesandsurgicalinstruments，selectedbyBickley，andacaseofBiblesandotherreligiousworksinsundrylanguagesoftheSouthSeas，selectedbyBastin，whosebishop，whenheunderstoodthepiousobjectsofhisjourney，hadratherencouragedthanhinderedhisdepartureonsickleave，andalargenumberofnovels，booksofreference，etc。，laidinbymyself。ShedulysailedfromtheThamesandreachedMarseillesafterasafeandeasypassage，whereallthreeofusboardedher。

Iforgottoaddthatshehadanotherpassenger，thelittlespaniel，Tommy。Ihadintendedtoleavehimbehind，butwhileI

waspackinguphefollowedmeaboutwithsuchevidentunderstandingofmypurposethatmyheartwastouched。WhenI

enteredthemotortodrivetothestationheescapedfromthehandsoftheservant，whimpering，andtookrefugeonmyknee。

AfterthisIfeltthatDestinyintendedhimtobeourcompanion。

Moreover，washenotlinkedwithmydeadpast，and，hadIbutknownit，withmylivingfuturealso？

ChapterV

TheCycloneWeenjoyedourvoyageexceedingly。InEgypt，alandIwasgladtorevisit，weonlystoppedaweekwhiletheStaroftheSouth，whichwerejoinedatSuez，coaledandwentthroughtheCanal。

This，however，gaveustimetospendafewdaysinCairo，visitthePyramidsandSakkarawhichBastinandBickleyhadneverseenbefore，andinspectthegreatMuseum。ThejourneyuptheNilewaspostponeduntilourreturn。ItwasapleasantbreakandgaveBickley，amostomnivorousreaderwhowaswellacquaintedwithEgyptianhistoryandtheology，theopportunityoftryingtoprovetoBastinthatChristianitywasameredevelopmentoftheancientEgyptianfaith。Theargumentsthatensuedmaybeimagined。Itneverseemedtooccurtoeitherofthemthatallfaithsmaybeandindeedprobablyareprogressive；inshort，differentraysoflightthrownfromthevariousfacetsofthesamecrystal，asinturntheseareshoneuponbythesunofTruth。

OurpassagedowntheRedSeawascoolandagreeable。ThenceweshapedourcourseforCeylon。HereagainwestoppedalittlewhiletorunuptoKandyandtovisittheruinedcityofAnarajapurawithitsgreatBuddhisttopesthatonceagaingaverisetoreligiousargumentbetweenmytwofriends。LeavingCeylonwestruckacrosstheIndianOceanforPerthinWesternAustralia。

Itwasalongvoyage，sincetosaveourcoalwemademostofitundercanvas。However，wewerenotdullasCaptainAstleywasagoodcompanion，andevenoutofthemelancholyDane，Jacobsen，wehadentertainment。Heinsistedonholdingseancesinthecabin，atwhichtheusualphenomenaoccurred。Thetabletwistedabout，voiceswereheardandJacobsen’saccordionwailedouttunesaboveourheads。ThesehappeningsdroveBickleytoakindofmadness，forherewereeventswhichhecouldnotexplain。Hewasconvincedthatsomeonewasplayingtricksuponhim，anddevisedthemostelaboratesnarestodetecttherogue，entirelywithoutresult。

FirstheaccusedJacobsen，whowasveryindignant，andthenme，wholaughed。IntheendJacobsenandIleftthe"circle"andthecabin，whichwaslockedbehindus；onlyBastinandBickleyremainingthereinthedark。Presentlyweheardsoundsofaltercation，andBickleyemergedlookingveryredintheface，followedbyBastin，whowassaying：

"CanIhelpitifsomethingpulledyournoseandsnatchedoffyoureyeglasses，whichanyhowarequiteuselesstoyouwhenthereisnolight？Again，isitpossibleforme，sittingontheothersideofthattable，tohaveplacedtheconcertinaonyourheadandmadeitplaytheNationalAnthem，athingthatIhavenottheslightestideahowtodo？"

"Pleasedonottrytoexplain，"snappedBickley。"Iamperfectlyawarethatyoudeceivedmesomehow，whichnodoubtyouthinkagoodjoke。"

"Mydearfellow，"Iinterrupted，"isitpossibletoimagineoldBasildeceivinganyone？"

"Whynot，"snortedBickley，"seeingthathedeceiveshimselffromoneyear’sendtotheother？"

"Ithink，"saidBastin，"thatthisisanunholybusinessandthatwearebothdeceivedbythedevil。Iwillhavenomoretodowithit，"andhedepartedtohiscabin，probablytosaysomeappropriateprayers。

AfterthistheseancesweregivenupbutJacobsenproducedaninstrumentcalledaplanchetteandwithdifficultypersuadedBickleytotryit，whichhedidaftermanyprecautions。Thething，aheart—shapedpieceofwoodmountedonwheelsandwithapencilstuckatitsnarrowend，canteredaboutthesheetofpaperonwhichitwasplaced，Bickley，whosehandsresteduponit，staringattheroofofthecabin。Thenitbegantoscribbleandafterawhilestoppedstill。

"WilltheDoctorlook？"saidJacobsen。"Perhapsthespiritshavetoldhimsomething。"

"Oh！curseallthissillytalkaboutspirits，"exclaimedBickley，ashearrangedhiseyeglassesandheldupthepapertothelight，foritwasafterdinner。

Hestared，thenwithanexclamationwhichIwillnotrepeat，andaglanceofsavagesuspicionatthepoorDaneandtherestofus，threwitdownandleftthecabin。Ipickeditupandnextmomentwasscreamingwithlaughter。ThereonthetopofthesheetwasaroughbutentirelyrecognizableportraitofBickleywiththeaccordiononhishead，andunderneath，writteninadelicate，Italianfemalehand，absolutelydifferentfromhisown，werethesewordstakenfromoneofSt。Paul’sEpistles——"Oppositionsofsciencefalselysocalled。"Underneaththemagaininascrawling，schoolboyfist，verylikeBastin’s，wasinscribed，"Tellushowthisisdone，yousillydoctor，whothinkyourselfsoclever。"

"ItseemsthatthedevilreallycanquoteScripture，"wasBastin’sonlycomment，whileJacobsenstaredbeforehimandsmiled。

Bickleyneveralludedtothematter，butfordaysafterwardsI

sawhimexperimentingwithpaperandchemicals，evidentlytryingtodiscoveraformofinvisibleinkwhichwouldappearupontheapplicationofthehand。Asheneversaidanythingaboutit，I

fearthathefailed。

Thisplanchettebusinesshadasomewhatcuriousending。AfewnightslaterJacobsenwasworkingitandaskedmetoputaquestion。ToobligehimIinquiredonwhatdayweshouldreachFremantle，theportofPerth。Itwroteananswerwhich，Imayremark，subsequentlyprovedtobequitecorrect。

"Thatisnotagoodquestion，"saidJacobsen，"sinceasasailorImightguessthereply。Tryagain，Mr。Arbuthnot。"

"WillanythingremarkablehappenonourvoyagetotheSouthSeas？"Iinquiredcasually。

Theplanchettehesitatedawhilethenwroterapidlyandstopped。Jacobsentookupthepaperandbegantoreadtheansweraloud——"ToA，BtheD，andBtheC，themostremarkablethingswillhappenthathavehappenedtomenlivingintheworld。"

"Thatmustmeanme，BickleythedoctorandBastintheclergyman，"Isaid，laughing。

Jacobsenpaidnoattention，forhewasreadingwhatfollowed。

AshedidsoIsawhisfaceturnwhiteandhiseyesbegintostartfromhishead。Thensuddenlyhetorethepaperinpieceswhichhethrustintohispocket。LiftinghisgreatfistheutteredsomeDanishoathandwithasingleblowsmashedtheplanchettetofragments，afterwhichhestrodeaway，leavingmeastonishedandsomewhatdisturbed。WhenImethimthenextmorningIaskedhimwhatwasonthepaper。

"Oh！"hesaidquietly，"somethingIshouldnotlikeyoutoo—

properEnglishgentlemenstosee。Somethingnotnice。Youunderstand。Thosespiritsnotalwaysgood；theydothatkindofthingsometimes。That’swhyIbrokeupthisplanchette。"

Thenhebegantotalkofsomethingelseandtherethematterended。

Ishouldhavesaidthat，principallywithaviewtoputtingthemselvesinapositiontoconfuteeachother，eversincewehadstartedfromMarseillesbothBastinandBickleyspentanumberofhourseachdayinassiduousstudyofthelanguageoftheSouthSeaIslands。Itbecameakindofcompetitionbetweenthemastowhichcouldlearnthemost。NowBastin，althoughsimpleandevenstupidinsomeways，wasagoodscholar，andasIknewatcollege，hadquiteafacultyforacquiringlanguagesinwhichhehadtakenhighmarksatexaminations。Bickley，too，wasanextraordinarilyablepersonwithanexcellentmemory，especiallywhenhewasonhismettle。TheresultwasthatbeforeweeverreachedaSouthSeaislandtheyhadagoodworkingknowledgeofthelocaltongues。

Asitchanced，too，atPerthwepickedupaSamoanandhiswifewho，undersomeofthe"whiteAustralia"regulations，werenotallowedtoremaininthecountryandofferedtoworkasservantsinreturnforapassagetoApiawhereweproposedtocallsometimeorother。WiththesepeopleBastinandBickleytalkedalldaylongtillreallytheybecamefairlyproficientintheirsoftandbeautifuldialect。Theywishedmetolearnalso，butIsaidthatwithtwosuchexcellentinterpretersandthenativeswhiletheyremainedwithus，itseemedquiteunnecessary。Still，I

pickedupagooddealinaquietway，asmuchastheydidperhaps。

Atlength，travellingonandonasavoyagertotheplanetMarsmightdo，wesightedthelowshoresofAustraliaandthatsameeveningweretowed，forourcoalwasquiteexhausted，tothewharfatFremantle。HerewespentafewdaysexploringthebeautifultownofPerthanditsneighbourhoodwhereitwasveryhotjustthen，andeatingpeachesandgrapestillwemadeourselvesill，asavisitoroftendoeswhoisunawarethatfruitshouldnotbetakeninquantityinAustraliawhilethesunishigh。ThenwedepartedforMelbournealmostbeforeourarrivalwasgenerallyknown，sinceIdidnotwishtoadvertiseourpresenceortheobjectofourjourney。

WecrossedtheGreatAustralianBight，ofevilreputation，inthemostperfectweather；indeeditmighthavebeenamillpond，andafterashortstayatMelbourne，wentontoSydney，wherewecoaledagainandlaidinsupplies。

Thenourrealjourneybegan。TheplanwelaidoutwastosailtoSuvainFiji，about1，700milesaway，andafterastaythere，ontoHawaiiortheSandwichIslands，stoppingperhapsatthePhoenixIslandsandtheCentralPolynesianSporades，suchasChristmasandFanningIsles。ThenweproposedtoturnsouthagainthroughtheMarshallArchipelagoandtheCarolineIslands，andsoontoNewGuineaandtheCoralSea。ParticularlydidwewishtovisitEasterIslandonaccountofitsmarveloussculpturesthataresupposedtobetherelicsofapreeminent—historicrace。Intruth，however，wehadnofixedplanexcepttogowherevercircumstanceandchancemighttakeus。Chance，Imayadd，orsomethingelse，tookfulladvantageofitsopportunities。

WecametoSuvainsafetyandspentawhileinexploringthebeautifulFijiIsleswherebothBastinandBickleymadefullinquiriesabouttheworkofthemissionaries，eachofthemdrawingexactlyoppositeconclusionsfromthesamesetofadmittedfacts。ThencewesteamedtoSamoaandputourtwonativesashoreatApia，whereweprocuredsomecoal。Wedidnotstaylongenoughintheseislandstoinvestigatethem，however，becausepersonsofexperiencethereassuredusfromcertainfamiliarsignsthatoneoftheterriblehurricaneswithwhichtheyareafflicted，wasduetoarriveshortlyandthatweshoulddowelltoputourselvesbeyonditsreach。Sohavingcoaledandwateredwedepartedinahurry。

UptothistimeIshouldstatewehadmetwiththemostwonderfulgoodfortuneinthematterofweather，sogoodindeedthatneverononeoccasionsinceweleftMarseilles，hadwebeenobligedtoputthefiddlesonthetables。WiththesuperstitionofasailorCaptainAstley，whenIalludedtothematter，shookhisheadsayingthatdoubtlessweshouldpayforitlateron，since"lucknevergoesalltheway"andcycloneswerereportedtobeabout。

HereImusttellthatafterwewereclearofApia，itwasdiscoveredthattheDanishmatewhowasbelievedtobeinhiscabinunwellfromsomethinghehadeaten，wasmissing。Thequestionarosewhetherweshouldputbacktofindhim，aswesupposedthathehadmadeatripinlandandmetwithanaccident，orbeenotherwisedelayed。Iwasinfavourofdoingsothoughthecaptain，thinkingofthethreatenedhurricane，shookhisheadandsaidthatJacobsenwasaqueerfellowwhomightjustaswellhavegoneoverboardasanywhereelse，ifhethoughtheheard"thespirits，ofwhomhewassofond，"callinghim。WhilethematterwasstillinsuspenseIhappenedtogointomyownstateroomandthere，stuckinthelooking—glass，sawanenvelopeintheDane’shandwritingaddressedtomyself。OnopeningitIfoundanothersealedletter，unaddressed，alsoanotethatranasfollows：

"HonouredSir，"Youwillthinkverybadlyofmeforleavingyou，buttheenclosedwhichIimploreyounottoopenuntilyouhaveseenthelastoftheStaroftheSouth，willexplainmyreasonandIhopeclearmyreputation。IthankyouagainandagainforallyourkindnessandpraythattheSpiritswhoruletheworldmayblessandpreserveyou，alsotheDoctorandMr。Bastin。"

Thisletter，whichleftthefateofJacobsenquiteunsolved，foritmightmeaneitherthathehaddesertedordrownedhimself，Iputawaywiththeenclosureinmypocket。Ofcoursetherewasnoobligationonmetorefrainfromopeningtheletter，butI

shrankfromdoingsobothfromsomekindofsenseofhonourand，totellthetruth，forfearofwhatitmightcontain。Ifeltthatthiswouldbedisagreeable；also，althoughtherewasnothingtoconnectthemtogether，IbethoughtmeofthescenewhenJacobsenhadsmashedtheplanchette。

OnmyreturntothedeckIsaidnothingwhatsoeveraboutthediscoveryoftheletter，butonlyremarkedthatonreflectionI

hadchangedmymindandagreedwiththecaptainthatitwouldbeunwisetoattempttoreturninordertolookforJacobsen。Sotheboatswain，acapableindividualwhohadseenbetterdays，waspromotedtotakehiswatchesandwewentonasbefore。Howcuriouslythingscomeaboutintheworld！Fornauticalreasonsthatwereexplainedtome，butwhichIwillnottroubletosetdown，ifindeedIcouldrememberthem，IbelievethatifwehadreturnedtoApiaweshouldhavemissedthegreatgaleandsubsequentcyclone，andwiththesemuchelse。Butitwasnotsofated。

Itwasonthefourthday，whenwewereroughlysevenhundredmilesormorenorthofSamoa，thatwemettheedgeofthisgaleaboutsundown。Thecaptainputonsteaminthehopeofpushingthroughit，butthatnightwedinedforthefirsttimewiththefiddleson，andbyeleveno’clockitwasasmuchasonecoulddotostandinthecabin，whilethewaterwaswashingfreelyoverthedeck。Fortunately，however，thewindveeredmoreaftofus，sothatbyputtingaboutherheadalittle（seamenmustforgivemeifItalkofthesemattersasalandlubber）weranalmostbeforethewind，thoughnotquiteinthedirectionthatwewishedtogo。

Whenthelightcameitwasblowingveryhardindeed，andtheskywasutterlyovercast，sothatwegotnoglimpseofthesun，orofthestarsonthefollowingnight。Unfortunately，therewasnomoonvisible；indeed，iftherehadbeenIdonotsupposethatitwouldhavehelpedusbecauseofthethickpallofclouds。Forquiteseventy—twohoursweranonbeneathbarepolesbeforethatgale。Thelittlevesselbehavedsplendidly，ridingtheseaslikeaduck，butIcouldseethatCaptainAstleywasgrowingalarmed。

WhenIsaidsomethingcomplimentarytohimabouttheconductoftheStaroftheSouth，herepliedthatshewasforgingaheadallright，butthequestionwas——whereto？HehadbeenunabletotakeanobservationofanysortsinceweleftSamoa；bothhispatentlogshadbeencarriedaway，sothatnowonlythecompassremained，andhehadnottheslightestideawherewewereinthatgreatoceanstuddedwithatollsandislands。

Iaskedhimwhetherwecouldnotsteambacktoourpropercourse，butheansweredthattodosohewouldhavetotraveldeadintheeyeofthegale，andhedoubtedwhethertheengineswouldstandit。Alsotherewasthequestionofcoaltobeconsidered。However，hehadkeptthefiresgoingandwoulddowhathecouldiftheweathermoderated。

Thatnightduringdinnerwhichnowconsistedoftinnedfoodsandwhiskyandwater，fortheseashadgottothegalleyfire，suddenlythegaledropped，whereatwerejoicedexceedingly。Thecaptaincamedownintothesaloonverywhiteandshaken，I

thought，andIaskedhimtohaveanipofwhiskytowarmhimup，andtocelebrateourgoodfortuneinhavingrunoutofthewind。

Hetookthebottleand，tomyalarm，pouredoutafullhalftumblerofspirit，whichheswallowedundilutedintwoorthreegulps。

"That’sbetter！"hesaidwithahoarselaugh。"Butman，whatisityouaresayingabouthavingrunoutofthewind？Lookattheglass！"

"Wehave，"saidBastin，"anditiswonderfullysteady。About29

degreesoralittleover，whichithasbeenforthelastthreedays。"

AgainAstleylaughedinamirthlessfashion，asheanswered：

"Oh，thatthing！That’sthepassengers’glass。Itoldthe’stewardtoputitoutofgearsothatyoumightnotbefrightened；itisanoldtrick。Lookatthis，"andheproducedoneoftheportablevarietyoutofhispocket。

Welooked，anditstoodsomewherebetween27degreesand28

degrees。