ay, amounting to about 1300 men, 60 officers, about 700
horses and mules; besides 20 tons of explosives and 50 tons of barbed
wire, and wagons by the hundred, we set sail at 10 p.m. under sealed
orders. No lights were allowed owing to the danger from submarines
which had been busy within the last few days in the Bristol Channel
and about the Scilly Islands. As escort we had two torpedo-boat
destroyers, one on each side and slightly ahead. These left us after
twelve hours, when we were in less danger, and 100 miles west of the
usual course, sailing W.S.W. into the Atlantic.

_March 19th._--Beautiful day with slight breeze, but biting cold at
first; ship pitching and rolling moderately, a few officers a little
sick early, and about 80 per cent of the men, the latter suffering
badly from the close atmosphere in their deck, in which their hammocks
are slung as close as sardines in a tin and all port holes closed. The
electric light had been shut off so that no one might be able to show
a light.

Dr. K----, the ship's ancient doctor, is a curious customer, full of
stories and quaint remarks. Captain Findlay is very communicative but
will not reveal any private orders. He is directed to steer for the
Mediterranean by a certain course. About 5 p.m. to-day he altered his
course from W.S.W. to S. At 5 an order was issued to have the iron
shutters put over the port holes, otherwise no lights to be allowed.

Very little shipping has been seen to-day, although several ships of a
small size have passed at a long distance on our port side. One of the
reasons for choosing this course was to avoid ships that might carry a
wireless installation and signal our movements to the enemy.

The captain, when swearing at the head steward about some
forgetfulness, gave what he considered proof of the superiority of the
memory of the lower animals over the human in a little story. He had
carried Barnum and Bailey's menagerie once from America and
occasionally fed a young elephant, Ruth by name, after President
Cleveland's daughter, she taking apples from his pocket. After three
years he came across her again, and calling her by name, she came up
and put her trunk into the same pocket as of old. On the trip over he
carried 1200 animals, only two dying, one being the giraffe which fell
down a hatchway and broke his neck in two places--somehow a very
fitting death for a giraffe.

Saw several porpoises playing and jumping beside the boat. A wi