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。