self heard through wind and sea
from one end of the deck to the other; and that it issued orders which
the greatest fool on board discovered to be orders that had saved the
ship. Throughout his professional life, the general impression that this
variously gifted man produced on the little world about him was always
the same. Some few liked him; everybody respected him; nobody understood
him. The Captain accepted these results. He persisted in reading his
books and protecting his complexion, with this result: his owners shook
hands with him, and put up with his gloves.

The _Fortuna_ touched at Rio for water, and for supplies of food which
might prove useful in case of scurvy. In due time the ship rounded Cape
Horn, favored by the finest weather ever known in those latitudes by the
oldest hand on board. The mate--one Mr. Duncalf--a boozing, wheezing,
self-confident old sea-dog, with a flaming face and a vast vocabulary
of oaths, swore that he didn't like it. "The foul weather's coming, my
lads," said Mr. Duncalf. "Mark my words, there'll be wind enough to take
the curl out of the Captain's whiskers before we are many days older!"

For one uneventful week, the ship cruised in search of the islands to
which the owners had directed her. At the end of that time the wind took
the predicted liberties with the Captain's whiskers; and Mr. Duncalf
stood revealed to an admiring crew in the character of a true prophet.

For three days and three nights the _Fortuna_ ran before the storm, at
the mercy of wind and sea. On the fourth morning the gale blew itself
out, the sun appeared again toward noon, and the Captain was able to
take an observation. The result informed him that he was in a part of
the Pacific Ocean with which he was entirely unacquainted. Thereupon,
the officers were called to a council in the cabin.

Mr. Duncalf, as became his rank, was consulted first. His opinion
possessed the merit of brevity. "My lads, this ship's bewitched. Take my
word for it, we shall wish ourselves back in our own latitudes before we
are many days older." Which, being interpreted, meant that Mr. Duncalf
was lost, like his superior officer, in a part of the ocean of which he
knew nothing.

The remaining members of the council having no suggestions to offer,
left the Captain to take his own way. He decided (the weather being fine
again) to stand on under an easy press of sail for four-and-twenty hours
more, and to see if anything came of it