t of friends,
he warning me to make the last of my preparations next morning, as he
intended to make a start by the midday tide, having now shipped all
his cargo. I went back to my hotel, where I found a letter from my wife
awaiting me, and, after a refreshing night's sleep, returned to the
boat in the morning. From this point I am able to quote from the journal
which I kept in order to vary the monotony of the long sea-voyage. If
it is somewhat bald in places I can at least rely upon its accuracy in
details, as it was written conscientiously from day to day.

October 16.--Cast off our warps at half-past two and were towed out into
the bay, where the tug left us, and with all sail set we bowled along at
about nine knots an hour. I stood upon the poop watching the low land of
America sinking gradually upon the horizon until the evening haze hid it
from my sight. A single red light, however, continued to blaze balefully
behind us, throwing a long track like a trail of blood upon the water,
and it is still visible as I write, though reduced to a mere speck. The
Captain is in a bad humour, for two of his hands disappointed him at
the last moment, and he was compelled to ship a couple of negroes
who happened to be on the quay. The missing men were steady, reliable
fellows, who had been with him several voyages, and their non-appearance
puzzled as well as irritated him. Where a crew of seven men have to work
a fair-sized ship the loss of two experienced seamen is a serious one,
for though the negroes may take a spell at the wheel or swab the decks,
they are of little or no use in rough weather. Our cook is also a black
man, and Mr. Septimius Goring has a little darkie servant, so that we
are rather a piebald community. The accountant, John Harton, promises to
be an acquisition, for he is a cheery, amusing young fellow. Strange how
little wealth has to do with happiness! He has all the world before him
and is seeking his fortune in a far land, yet he is as transparently
happy as a man can be. Goring is rich, if I am not mistaken, and so am
I; but I know that I have a lung, and Goring has some deeper trouble
still, to judge by his features. How poorly do we both contrast with the
careless, penniless clerk!

October 17.--Mrs. Tibbs appeared upon deck for the first time this
morning--a cheerful, energetic woman, with a dear little child just able
to walk and prattle. Young Harton pounced on it at once, and carried
it away to his