ulty, that though all my ship's papers were _en
regle_, they must be signed "by two persons on board," so I offered to
sign first as captain and then as cook. They never troubled me again in
any other port, probably thinking the boat too small to have come from a
foreign harbour. In France the law of their paternal Government prevents
any Frenchman from sailing thus alone.

The sun warmed a fine fresh breeze from the N.E. as we coasted from
Boulogne, and to sail with it was a luxury all day. The first pleasure
was the morning ablution, either by a wholesale dip under the waves, or a
more particular toilette if the Rob Roy was then in full sail.

To effect this we push the hatch forward, and open the interior of the
boat. If the water we float on is clean (whether it be salt or fresh) we
dip the tin basin at once, but if we are in a muddy river or doubtful
harbour we must draw from our zinc water tank, which holds water for one
week. This tank is concealed by the figure of the cook kneeling in the
opposite sketch, but it is next to my large portmanteau in the lower
shelf.

A large hole in the top of the tank allows it to be filled at intervals
through a tun-dish, while a long vulcanized tube through the cork to the
bottom has an end hanging over. When I wish to draw water it is done by
applying the mouth for a moment with suction, and the clear stream then
flows by syphon action into a strong tin can of about eight inches cube,
which holds fresh water for one day. By means of this tube, the end of
which hangs within an inch or two of my face when in bed, I can drink a
cool draught at night without trouble or chance of spilling a drop. On
the tank top is soap, and also a clean towel, which to-morrow will be
degraded into a duster, and "relegated," the newspapers would say, to the
kitchen, and from whence it will again be promoted backwards over the
bulkhead to the washing-bag. This, you see, is the red-tape order of
dealing with towels on board the Rob Roy.

[Picture: Cooking in Rain]

On the left shelf of the cabin we find two boxes of japanned tin each
about eighteen inches by six inches wide, as shown in the woodcut. Below
the shelf is a portmanteau full of clothes. One of the boxes holds
"Dressing," another "Reading and writing." The aneroid barometer, and my
watch are seen suspended alongside. The boxes on the other side, shown
in section at a future page, are marked "Tools" a