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to Suva in Fiji； about 1；700 miles away； and after a stay there；
on to Hawaii or the Sandwich Islands； stopping perhaps at the
Phoenix Islands and the Central Polynesian Sporades； such as
Christmas and Fanning Isles。 Then we proposed to turn south again
through the Marshall Archipelago and the Caroline Islands； and so
on to New Guinea and the Coral Sea。 Particularly did we wish to
visit Easter Island on account of its marvelous sculptures that
are supposed to be the relics of a preeminent…historic race。 In truth；
however； we had no fixed plan except to go wherever circumstance
and chance might take us。 Chance； I may add； or something else；
took full advantage of its opportunities。
We came to Suva in safety and spent a while in exploring the
beautiful Fiji Isles where both Bastin and Bickley made full
inquiries about the work of the missionaries； each of them
drawing exactly opposite conclusions from the same set of
admitted facts。 Thence we steamed to Samoa and put our two
natives ashore at Apia； where we procured some coal。 We did not
stay long enough in these islands to investigate them； however；
because persons of experience there assured us from certain
familiar signs that one of the terrible hurricanes with which
they are afflicted； was due to arrive shortly and that we should
do well to put ourselves beyond its reach。 So having coaled and
watered we departed in a hurry。
Up to this time I should state we had met with the most
wonderful good fortune in the matter of weather； so good indeed
that never on one occasion since we left Marseilles； had we been
obliged to put the fiddles on the tables。 With the superstition
of a sailor Captain Astley； when I alluded to the matter； shook
his head saying that doubtless we should pay for it later on；
since 〃luck never goes all the way〃 and cyclones were reported to
be about。
Here I must tell that after we were clear of Apia； it was
discovered that the Danish mate who was believed to be in his
cabin unwell from something he had eaten； was missing。 The
question arose whether we should put back to find him； as we
supposed that he had made a trip inland and met with an accident；
or been otherwise delayed。 I was in favour of doing so though the
captain； thinking of the threatened hurricane； shook his head and
said that Jacobsen was a queer fellow who might just as well have
gone overboard as anywhere else； if he thought he heard 〃the
spirits； of whom he was so fond；〃 calling him。 While the matter
was still in suspense I happened to go into my own stateroom and
there； stuck in the looking…glass； saw an envelope in the Dane's
handwriting addressed to myself。 On opening it I found another
sealed letter； unaddressed； also a note that ran as follows：
〃Honoured Sir；
〃You will think very badly of me for leaving you； but the
enclosed which I implore you not to open until you have seen the
last of the Star of the South； will explain my reason and I hope
clear my reputation。 I thank you again and again for all your
kindness and pray that the Spirits who rule the world may bless
and preserve you； also the Doctor and Mr。 Bastin。〃
This letter； which left the fate of Jacobsen quite unsolved；
for it might mean either that he had deserted or drowned himself；
I put away with the enclosure in my pocket。 Of course there was
no obligation on me to refrain from opening the letter； but I
shrank from doing so both from some kind of sense of honour and；
to tell the truth； for fear of what it might contain。 I felt that
this would be disagreeable； also； although there was nothing to
connect them together； I bethought me of the scene when Jacobsen
had smashed the planchette。
On my return to the deck I said nothing whatsoever about the
discovery of the letter； but only remarked that on reflection I
had changed my mind and agreed with the captain that it would be
unwise to attempt to return in order to look for Jacobsen。 So the
boatswain； a capable individual who had seen better days； was
promoted to take his watches and we went on as before。 How
curiously things come about in the world！ For nautical reasons
that were explained to me； but which I will not trouble to set
down； if indeed I could remember them； I believe that if we had
returned to Apia we should have missed the great gale and
subsequent cyclone； and with these much else。 But it was not so
fated。
It was on the fourth day； when we were roughly seven hundred
miles or more north of Samoa； that we met the edge of this gale
about sundown。 The captain put on steam in the hope of pushing
through it； but that night we dined for the first time with the
fiddles on； and by eleven o'clock it was as much as one could do
to stand in the cabin； while the water was washing freely over
the deck。 Fortunately； however； the wind veered more aft of us；
so that by putting about her head a little （seamen must forgive
me if I talk of these matters as a landlubber） we ran almost
before the wind； though not quite in the direction that we wished
to go。
When the light came it was blowing very hard indeed； and the
sky was utterly overcast； so that we got no glimpse of the sun；
or of the stars on the following night。 Unfortunately； there was
no moon visible； indeed； if there had been I do not suppose that
it would have helped us because of the thick pall of clouds。 For
quite seventy…two hours we ran on beneath bare poles before that
gale。 The little vessel behaved splendidly； riding the seas like
a duck； but I could see that Captain Astley was growing alarmed。
When I said something complimentary to him about the conduct of
the Star of the South； he replied that she was forging ahead all
right； but the question waswhere to？ He had been unable to take
an observation of any sort since we left Samoa； both his patent
logs had been carried away； so that now only the compass
remained； and he had not the slightest idea where we were in that
great ocean studded with atolls and islands。
I asked him whether we could not steam back to our proper
course； but he answered that to do so he would have to travel
dead in the eye of the gale； and he doubted whether the engines
would stand it。 Also there was the question of coal to be
considered。 However； he had kept the fires going and would do
what he could if the weather moderated。
That night during dinner which now consisted of tinned foods
and whisky and water； for the seas had got to the galley fire；
suddenly the gale dropped； whereat we rejoiced exceedingly。 The
captain came down into the saloon very white and shaken； I
thought； and I asked him to have a nip of whisky to warm him up；
and to celebrate our good fortune in having run out of the wind。
He took the bottle and； to my alarm； poured out a full half
tumbler of spirit； which he swallowed undiluted in two or three
gulps。
〃That's better！〃 he said with a hoarse laugh。 〃But man； what is
it you are saying about having run out of the wind？ Look at the
glass！〃
〃We have；〃 said Bastin； 〃and it is wonderfully steady。 About 29
degrees or a little over； which it has been for the last three
days。〃
Again Astley laughed in a mirthless fashion； as he answered：
〃Oh； that thing！ That's the passengers' glass。 I told the
'steward to put it out of gear so that you might not be
frightened； it is an old trick。 Look at this；〃 and he produced
one of the portable variety out of his pocket。
We looked； and it stood somewhere between 27 degrees and 28
degrees。
〃That's the lowest glass I ever saw in the Polynesian or any
other seas during thirty years。 It's right； too； for I have
tested it by three others；〃 he said。
〃What does it mean？〃 I asked rather anxiously。
〃South Sea cyclone of the worst breed；〃 he replied。 〃That
cursed Dane knew it was coming and that's why he left the ship。
Pray as you never prayed before；〃 and again he stretched out his
hand towards the whisky bottle。 But I stepped between him and it；
shaking my head。 Thereon he laughed for the third time and left
the cabin。 Though I saw him once or twice afterwards； these were
really the last words of intelligible conversation that I ever
had with Captain Astley。
〃It seems that we are in some danger；〃 said Bastin； in an
unmoved kind of way。 〃I think that was a good idea of the
captain's； to put up a petition； I mean； but as Bickley will
scarcely care to join in it I will go into the cabin and do so
myself。〃
Bickley snorted； then said：
〃Confound that captain！ Why did he play such a trick upon us
about the barometer？ Humphrey； I believe he had been drinking。〃
〃So do I；〃 I said； looking at the whisky bottle。 〃Otherwise；
after taking those precautions to keep us in the dark； he would
not have let on like that。〃
〃Well；〃 said Bickley； 〃he can't get to the liquor； except
through this saloon； as it is locked up forward with the other