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。