e heave the log, as I had sent all my
ship's company below to make up their sleep, except the second
engineer. Captain Mayfield would not permit me to do anything about it.
He called a couple of his seamen, and went aft to do it. He soon
reported twelve knots, with the remark that he did not suppose the
steamer to be capable of such a high rate of speed. He then begged me
to turn in. He was perfectly familiar with the coast and the soundings.
He sent two of his men on the topgallant forecastle to serve as
lookouts, and declared that the mates should keep the wheel all the
time. I was too sleepy to resist, and I turned in. I was soon fast
asleep. The motion of the vessel was now quite steady, though she rose
and fell upon the long seas.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon when I woke, for the new captain
would not permit me to be called. Gopher had dined all on board but the
crew, who had turned in before I did. Ben Bowman had waked himself, and
gone to the engine-room to relieve Moses, at eleven. The attentive cook
had a fresh dinner ready for me; and before I had finished it most of
the other sleepers appeared.

I went to the pilot-house and looked at the log-slate. It had been
faithfully kept during the absence of Washburn and myself. The last
entry was American Shoal, with the time of passing it.

"Where are we now, Captain Mayfield?" I asked.

"Do you see that beacon with a big B on the vane?" he said, pointing to
the beacon, which was within fifty yards of the steamer's bow. "That is
the Eastern Sambo, about a dozen sea miles from Key West."

"You have been making time since I went to sleep."

"We have logged twelve knots every time," he replied. "We shall have a
head wind after we have passed the Western Sambo, or soon after, and we
must take in sail."

I directed Washburn to call all hands and take in sail, with the
assistance at the sheets and halyards of the crew of the Olive.

"Where do you suppose the Islander is about this time?" I asked of
Washburn, after he had taken in sail and squared the yards.

"She may be at the bottom," replied the mate.

Captain Mayfield asked me what I meant, and I told him all about the
Islander.

"Her captain must have understood the navigation, or he would not have
gone inside on such a night as last we had," added Captain Mayfield. "I
don't think you will see the other steamer till you get to Key West, in
little more than an hour."

"He may have gone to the bott