he difference of manner, and not
only so, but they seemed to possess the faculty of interpreting one's
meaning from the tones of one's voice, so that they quickly grew to
understand what I wanted them to do, and did it cheerfully and with
alacrity. In this manner, with persistent calm recurring day after day,
we passed no less than the almost incredible time of over three weeks
without moving as many miles from the spot where the wind had deserted
us, Mendouca's temper growing steadily worse every day, until at length
he became absolutely unbearable, and I spoke to him as little as
possible. And the climax was reached when one day the steward, who had
been sent down into the hold to overhaul the stores, came on deck with a
face as long as the main-bowline, and reported that there was only food
and water enough in the ship to last ten days longer.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

MENDOUCA BECOMES COMMUNICATIVE.

"Only ten days longer?" roared Mendouca, his face livid with fury and
consternation. "Nonsense, Juan! you must have made some stupid mistake;
there surely is--there _must_ be--more than that!"

"I have not made any mistake at all, senor," answered the man sulkily;
"it is just as I have said; there are only provisions and water enough
to last us, on a full allowance, ten days longer."

"Then, if that is the case, all hands must be put on short allowance--
half rations--at once!" exclaimed Mendouca, with an oath. "But, stop a
little; there _must_ be some mistake. Light your lantern again, and I
will go down below with you, and satisfy myself on the point."

Accordingly Mendouca and the steward went down into the hold together,
and gave the stores an exhaustive overhaul, with the result that the
original report of the latter was fully confirmed!

Mendouca came up from the hold, raging like a maniac, cursing the
weather, the provisions, and everything else that he could think of,
including myself, whom he denounced as a Jonah, his ill-luck having
commenced, according to his assertion, with the sparing of my life and
my reception on board the _Francesca_. As for the calm, he declared
that it should detain him no longer; and, having searched the sky and
examined the barometer in vain for any signs of a change, he gave orders
for all canvas to be furled, and for the negroes to be set to work
forthwith upon the sweeps, his intention being, as he stated, to keep
them at it in relays or gangs until the region of appare