OFF NORTH-WEST AFRICA
_October 19th._--On the way from Vigo to Tangier.
Permission came last evening for us to proceed. At 7 a.m. to-day the
fleet weighed anchor and left Vigo Bay.
I did not succeed in getting ashore. Yesterday an engineer of the
_Anadir_ fell from the upper deck into the hold, but escaped uninjured.
There is a report in the newspapers that, during the firing on the
steamers in the German Ocean, the chaplain of the _Aurora_ was
wounded, and now they have sent him into hospital at Tangier, where
the remainder of the fleet are lying. There is no proper harbour at
Tangier--merely the open sea. It is unlike Vigo. The latter is one of
the best harbours in the world. It is deep and long and broad. The
Spaniards do not know how to profit by such natural wealth. Vigo might
carry on a universal trade. At present it is a small provincial town
on the sea. The Spaniards are very poor, because they are uncommonly
lazy. Vigo trades mostly in sardines. They have a sardine factory.
The sardines are caught in the bay, which is divided into squares for
each party of fishermen. Heaven help the fishermen who trespass in the
square of the others. There is a fight at once. This occurs so often,
that there are special ships who part the fighters and tow the guilty
fishermen in their boats to the shore, for punishment.
The weather is fine at present; but what darkness! Literally nothing
can be seen, and there are no stars. Only lights that are absolutely
necessary are left on deck. It is dark everywhere. One has to look out
and not bump one's head or fall.
Something has gone wrong again with the _Orel's_ steering engine. She
continues to keep up with the others.
About 10 p.m. some ships chased us. They are now around us, and on the
same course as ourselves. There are five or six of them. At one time
it was completely dark, and then the ships behaved very defiantly--now
extinguishing all their lights, now passing us, now chasing us, and now
coming close up to us. Our division is steaming surrounded by them.
They appear to be warships, judging by their shape, which we saw when
one of them lighted up another with her searchlight. We are ordered to
log all their manoeuvres, lamp signals, place of meeting with them,
etc. Hammocks are not served out to the crew, and they sleep at the
guns.
The night has just become a little lighter. Stars have appeared, though
sometimes clouded over. The stars and the Milky Way recall Tashkend to
me. There, there are the same dark nights and bright stars.
It is supposed that the ships now surrounding us are English, and that
at dawn they will disperse.
Hope we shall soon get to the ocean. There you can shape a course one
hundred miles off, and no one will find you.
_October 20th._--The English ships escorted us all night. They are now
steaming on each side of us.
At eight o'clock the _Orel_ hoisted a signal that her steering engine
was damaged. All the ships stopped. The _Alexander_ lowered a boat and
sent the flag engineer to her. At nine o'clock our battleships and the
_Anadir_ proceeded to Tangier.
Sometimes the coasts of Portugal are visible.
When our ships stopped the English probably took it for a hostile
demonstration. They quickly assembled astern of our division and formed
in battle order. Horrid folk! They are Russia's eternal enemy. They are
cunning, powerful at sea, and insolent everywhere. All nations hate
England, but it suits them to tolerate her. If you could only hear
how furiously Spaniards abuse the English! They shake their fists and
nearly foam at the mouth. If they only could, they would gladly play
some low trick on them. How many impediments has this "Ruler of the
Seas" put on our voyage? Every impediment has come from Britannia.
Do you know, we have passed by the shores of nine countries--Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, England, France, Germany, Spain. We
are now passing by the tenth--Portugal.
Portugal is considered the ally of England, and upholds her everywhere.
Evening.--To-day there was a memorial service for the Emperor Alexander
III. The English cruisers accompanied us all day, and at dusk again
surrounded us in a semicircle. They are, however, steaming with lights,
and are not playing any of the tricks they played last night.
If nothing happens we shall be at Tangier at 3 p.m. to-morrow. An hour
ago we passed Cape St. Vincent (Portuguese), off which a great naval
battle once took place.
It is beginning to be hot and stuffy in the cabins, although it is
pouring with rain.
The number of English cruisers accompanying us has increased to ten. We
are steaming completely surrounded by them. The ships are in this order:
BORODINO SUVAROFF
OREL ALEXANDER III.
ANADIR
All this respectable company are going in the direction of the arrow.
How small our division appears compared with the English! Will they
escort us for long in this manner? Perhaps to Gibraltar, or perhaps
even further! The crews again do not undress, and sleep at the guns. It
is very trying for them.
There has just been a short mass and prayer. Three engineers, not yet
having taken the oath, were sworn. The officers and men were fallen in
on deck as on Sundays. The admiral made a short speech on the subject
of the ten years' reign of the Czar, drank a toast, the crew cheered,
and the band played. After that there was a grand lunch in the wardroom.
Morocco, in Tangier harbour.
The town of Tangier is unlike any we see in Europe. It is inhabited by
Moors and Arabs. There are Europeans, but they live principally outside
the town, which, with its white houses, is widely scattered over the
hilly coast. From afar the town is beautiful. No one is allowed on
shore.
You may remember once all the papers wrote that a Moorish robber had
captured an American and demanded a ransom. This much-respected person
lives twenty-five versts (nearly seventeen miles) from Tangier, and has
built himself a costly villa with the money. It appears that he still
occupies himself in robbery, and has a tribe of eight hundred men. No
one is allowed to go far from the town.
We arrived here at three o'clock, and found all our fleet except the
torpedo-boats at anchor. There are two French ships and an English one
lying here as well.
At five o'clock the hospital-ship _Orel_ arrived. She is painted white
with red crosses on her funnels. The Red Cross flag is flying at her
masthead. The chaplain of the _Aurora_ who was wounded on the 8th died
from blood-poisoning.
There is a report that there are two Japanese torpedo-boats at Hull,
in England. They are probably some of those who tried to attack our
division.
It is rumoured that Russia has bought seven more cruisers, and that
they will join us soon. This would be excellent. The battleships of our
division are now coaling. There is frightful confusion on board. The
sailors of the ship which coals quickest get a prize. The crew of the
_Alexander III._ won 1,200 roubles (£120) at the last coaling.
As usual, we have no news about the war! Yesterday was an anxious day
for Port Arthur. The Japanese wished to hoist their flag there on the
Mikado's birthday.
Scarcely had the _Suvaroff_ anchored, when from all sides came steam
cutters and boats with captains of ships, paymasters, and other
officers. From the shore came the local authorities, our consul,
contractors, captains of foreign ships--in a word, every one is
hastening to the _Suvaroff_ like the public to the play at the theatre!
Truly it is like it! From our ship salutes constantly thunder, various
flags are hoisted, and the band plays. From the other ships and from
the shore they salute the _Suvaroff_. The scene is full of animation.
The native inhabitants dress very picturesquely, as though they were
masquerading. Some are in jackets with wide breeches and a fez, and
others in turbans and hooded tunics, all of various colours. The faces
of all are very dark. They consider themselves of importance. It would
be interesting to see them in the town.
Our torpedo-boats have already left for the Mediterranean. They have
done this enormous journey in nineteen days.
10 p.m.--In the _Gibraltar Chronicle_ they announce that Alexieff is
leaving, and that Stössel has telegraphed that Port Arthur will be his
grave.
_October 22nd_ (night).--If you could only see what an inferno this
coaling is! The steamers and battleships are lighted by electricity.
The holds below and the decks are swarming with people. Words of
command are abruptly given, and the band plays the gayest tunes. The
work goes better to music. Though Morocco is considered under the
protection of France, there is an English post-office, a German one,
and I believe a Spanish one as well.
I have just returned from the steamer _Pallas_, which brought coal for
us and damaged her side while coaling.
A pedlar has just come on board, bringing picture postcards, mats,
nets, white shoes and helmets (you know the kind the English wear in
the tropics). I have already bought myself a helmet, and the postcards
that are left are not much good, though I bought six of them and gave
one to my servant. He is delighted. The boots do not fit, and white
boots are an absolute necessity in the tropics.
Our consul's "cavass" has just come on board. He has a black face;
wears a red fez, and a blue tunic with a hood; has bare legs and yellow
heelless slippers. He is a curious object. He will stay with us till
we leave, and will collect the mails. We shall have to pay a hundred
francs for his boat. A modest sum!
Am just going on board the _Orel_. Something is damaged.... How wet I
got! My legs were wet up to the knees. I went in the cutter to all the
private coal-merchants, looking for the director of the company, and
then on to the _Orel_. The rain is falling in bucketfuls, with such
heaviness that it hides the other ships from view like a dense curtain.
It is perfectly beastly. Luckily I have a mackintosh.
I have a trip to the steamer _Esperanza_ before me. Hope I shall escape
it.
7 p.m.--Went on board the _Esperanza_. Wore high boots, but there was
no rain.
The local papers say that another of our ships has perished off Port
Arthur. What is one to believe? For instance, there is a story in the
papers that our admiral insulted the English admiral after the latter
had tried to prevent our leaving Vigo. A quarrel ensued, guns were
fired, and the English were beaten by us. They write so many lies in
the local papers.
_October 25th._--From Tangier to Dakar.
We left Tangier on the morning of the 23rd, and are now on our way to
Dakar, which lies on the western shores of Africa, not far from St.
Louis and Cape Verde, and belongs to France.
Have not written to you for a couple of days, for two reasons.
I am very angry and very busy. I am angry because at Tangier I
never received a wire from you in answer to mine. All day long
yesterday, till the depths of the night, I was busy with sketches and
calculations. I had not a spare moment.
When weighing anchor at Tangier the _Anadir's_ anchor caught in the
telegraph cable. By order of the admiral the cable was cut. I suppose
there will again be diplomatic representations over this affair. No
doubt the English will say that it was done purposely, so that no
telegrams should be sent announcing our departure. It is lucky that the
cable belongs to France. Had it been English the scandal would have
been terrific.
At Tangier I saw a peculiar rainbow. It stretched from the foot to the
summit of a hill.
7 p.m.--My work is accumulating tremendously. I began early in the
morning, and probably will be busy again to-night with sketches and
calculations. It will be a long time before you get this letter. As
time goes on, letters will be less frequent. We have a tremendous
journey before us--seventeen or eighteen days from port to port--so do
not be anxious at not receiving news for a very long time. During our
present cruise this is quite a normal state of affairs.
It is twenty-three days now since I set foot on shore. The shore is
not attractive as a rule. I long to get quickly to Vladivostok. I am
sick to death of it all. They say the sea is beautiful! I do not agree
with that entirely. It is true the water is blue, but that is all you
can say for it; it is only blue in calm weather, but in stormy weather
it appears to me to be a stupid, insane, infuriated element. Perhaps
the sea is beautiful, but only to those on dry land. I could never be
fascinated by the sea.
_October 26th._--The transport _Malay_ broke some of her machinery
at one o'clock last night. The whole fleet stopped and waited until
she had made the defect good. We remained on the spot till 7 a.m. The
_Malay_ repaired engines and the fleet proceeded. We wasted six hours
over it. I count every hour. The less time we spend in harbour and the
quicker we go, the sooner we shall arrive at Vladivostok. In a word,
Vladivostok is the goal of our desires.
_October 27th._--We passed the Tropic of Cancer at 4 p.m., and are
going towards the Equator. We are in the tropics, and yet I cannot say
that it is specially hot and airless.
Our squadron going round Africa consists of the following ships:
the battleships _Suvaroff_, _Alexander_, _Borodino_, _Orel_,
_Oslyabya_; cruisers, _Dimitry Donskoi_, _Aurora_, _Nachimoff_;
transports, _Kamchatka_, _Anadir_, _Meteor_, _Korea_, _Malay_, and the
hospital-ship _Orel_. The _Meteor_, _Korea_, and _Malay_ are under the
merchant flag; and so is the _Orel_, but she is also flying the Red
Cross.
We heard an unpleasant rumour to-day. It is said the squadron will make
a long stay at Madagascar and carry out various exercises. Can it be
so? This news annoys me. If we are there so long, when shall we get to
Vladivostok? I console myself with the thought that this is a clever
fiction.
The captain laid in a reserve of white soap, which dissolves in salt
water (generally soap does not). The fresh water is preserved for
steaming, so you can only have a salt-water bath on board. My servant
brought me a piece of this soap yesterday. I do not know how he
obtained it. There is nearly 100 roubles' worth of it on board the
_Suvaroff_.
I have very few cigarettes left--only six boxes. It is a good thing you
bought me 1,000 at Revel, and that I bought some at Libau, or I should
be without them.
_October 28th._--My servant is evidently attached to me. He is
industrious and inquisitive. Just after we left Libau he saw a box of
pastilles and said, "Did our barina [lady] really come to Libau, sir?"
He came into my cabin to-day with a bucket and mop, and said, "Shall I
interfere with your worship if I wash the deck?"
It is very probable that from Dakar we shall go to Gaboon. We shall
call at ports which I have never heard of before, or if I have it was
a very long time ago--perhaps at school.
I told the ship's photographer to prepare me a series of photographs
which I will send you. They are not very characteristic, but better
ones are not to be had.
_October 29th._--It is very stuffy to-day. One perspires a good deal.
Last night I slept with only a sheet over me, and had nothing on but
a cross. Notwithstanding the stuffiness, one is obliged to sleep with
closed ports and deadlights. In time of war all superfluous lights in
a ship are either extinguished or covered over. If it is so hot here,
it will positively be hell at the Equator. The air is offensive, being
impregnated with steam. It is damp. The drawers of the tables are
beginning to shut badly. They are sodden. Soon all metallic objects
will begin to rust. I am sitting in my cabin with my shirt unbuttoned.
Experienced people say that every one will get prickly heat. This
eruption appears in the tropics because the pores of the skin are
constantly irritated. The heat and stuffiness are unbearable. There is
no wind--we are in a calm belt. The fans are kept going incessantly on
board. Every one goes about sunburnt and sleepy.
Speed has purposely been lessened in order to get into Dakar to-morrow
morning, and not this evening.
I think we shall stay in Dakar some days. Heavy coaling awaits us
there--2,000 tons. All the decks will be loaded with coal.
_Dakar, Senegambia._
_October 30th._--Just arrived at Dakar. The fleet is anchoring.
The town is situated partly on shore and partly on a small island.
To-day is the admiral's names-day. They say there will be an official
dinner.
The heat and stuffiness are fearful. Perspiration pours off one. The
air is damp--towels will not dry.
2 p.m.--I have been on duty on board the cruiser _Admiral Nachimoff_.
There I met an engineer whom I knew at school. I lunched in the
_Nachimoff_, though there was an official lunch in the _Suvaroff_. I
was not present. A sister of mercy from the _Orel_ was there. She is a
relation of the admiral's. The admiral has permitted communication with
the shore after the coal has been taken on board. We remain here until
the evening of November 3rd. All the ships except ours have begun to
coal.
Negroes in small boats are rowing round the fleet. You throw money
into the water for them and they dive for it. The whole of their
costume consists of a loin-cloth and not a stitch more. They are
repulsive--black with long, thin legs and arms. They gave me the
impression of being sick, incapable people.
Apparently, when the _Oslyabya_ was at Tangier, she asked for a
barge and baskets for coaling from Gibraltar. The English purposely
employed all the barges themselves, and bought up all the baskets. The
_Oslyabya_ received nothing.
5 p.m.--The French Governor has just arrived in great state, and
explained that he cannot permit us to coal. The admiral told him that
he should, nevertheless, continue to coal until he had a telegram from
Europe. They have long ago begun coaling in the other ships, and will
soon begin in us. Perhaps the Governor will announce that we are not
to remain here. That would be a great surprise to every one. Probably
things are going badly in Manchuria--the French are evidently also
sailing with the wind. From there (Manchuria) we have no decisive news.
Evening.--I hurried off my twenty-second letter to you as the post was
going. It appears that telegraphing is very expensive from here. The
cable between Dakar and Europe is damaged somewhere, so telegrams have
to be sent round by America.
There is a report that Stössel is wounded in the leg. At first the
French allowed us to coal, and then came an order from Paris not
allowing us in harbour. Nevertheless, our fleet remains, and we are
coaling. All the doors and scuttles are tightly closed to keep out the
coal-dust. The stuffiness is dreadful inside the ship. We are tormented
by thirst. Drinks are hot and unpleasant. All the same, one drinks
incessantly. I alone drank six bottles of lemonade to-day.
Can you guess what our one topic of conversation in the fleet is about?
Coal! It is our weak spot. Our comings, our goings, our voyage, and
even our success depend on coal. In order to stimulate the men, they
have established prizes, which are given to the crew of the ship that
coals quickest.
The everlasting conversation about coaling drives one frantic, still
one talks of it and quarrels about it.
_October 31st._--Since early this morning I have been round the
harbour. Coal-dust has penetrated everywhere--into the cabins, the
cupboards, and on to the tables. The decks are clouded with dust.
Every one is so black that you do not recognise people at once.
There is a report that we shall not call at Gaboon. Perhaps it is for
the best, as we shall proceed sooner; besides, Gaboon lies almost on
the Equator. That means it would be somewhat warm.
3 p.m.--They gave us ices for lunch to-day; they were steaming
though cold. The heat is awful. Precautions are being taken against
sunstrokes. There are some indications that we shall stay here till
Wednesday--_i.e._ November 3rd. If we do not go to Gaboon, but steer
for the next port on the list, we shall have a tremendous trip.
Our admiral called on the local commandant and invited him to lunch.
Just been urgently summoned on board the _Donskoi_.
_November 1st._--Just returned from the transport _Malay_. She is
damaged below the water-line.
Evening.--At 3 p.m. Lieutenant Nelidoff (son of our ambassador at
Paris) died from sunstroke. The deceased was a wonderful linguist,
knowing seven or eight languages. He will be buried to-morrow.
Our officers have just returned from the shore. According to them
there is nothing interesting to be seen. If I can manage it, I shall go
ashore to-morrow. I am too tired to-day.
_November 2nd_ (5 p.m.)--I am sitting in a restaurant, drinking
lemonade. How you would have laughed just now! I asked the negro waiter
for the menu, and he brought me cards, dice, and a board covered with
cloth. There is nothing to do on shore. I shall go on board by the
first boat. They are burying Nelidoff. I hear the volleys.
I returned from the shore by the seven o'clock boat. Our doctor
distinguished himself. He tore some fruit from a tree and ate it.
Scarcely had he returned on board when he was seized with colic and
vomiting.
There are some Japanese here. Our officers saw two of them. Evidently
they are spies.
We leave to-morrow, and I go on board the _Donskoi_ in the morning. I
shall scarcely have time when I return to add two or three words to
this letter before the post goes. Our trip will be a long one--about
ten days.
I wandered about Dakar and thought of you all the time--with what
curiosity you would regard all these unfamiliar pictures, the niggers,
negresses, children, and lastly even the Europeans! Everything here is
so original. Little children run about the streets without any signs
of clothing. All the natives are bedecked with amulets. They are very
lazy and obtrusive. One of them came to the captain and begged for
money. The latter said to him, "Look here, you do nothing, so you have
no money." The nigger fired back, "You have lots of money--do you do
anything?"
There are few Europeans here, and very few elderly ones among them.
After they have passed their youth here they leave the colony. The
climate is said to be bad. An epidemic of yellow fever is raging. You
may imagine that it is impossible to buy fruit.
The niggers to whom we threw coins into the water are already selling
them, offering them back to the officers, as Russian money is not
accepted here.
Many of the natives are rather picturesquely dressed in white and
coloured tunics. The niggers go about with sunshades, but all are
barelegged. The negresses sometimes wear European hats and garments
something like dressing gowns. They carry their babies on their backs.
Arabs are also to be met with here.
The religions are Catholic, Mohammedan, and idolatrous.
What a trade the town is doing since the fleet anchored! Many articles
are doubled in value, and others cannot be obtained. The post-office
is original. The clerks (niggers) sit in the building, and the public
stand in the street and transact business with them through the windows.
_November 3rd._--I have been all over the fleet this morning. I went
on board the _Donskoi_, _Oslyabya_, _Alexander_, and _Borodino_. About
3 p.m. we weighed anchor. I do not know if we are going to Gaboon.
There is news here that the storming of Port Arthur on October 20th was
repulsed with heavy losses to the Japanese.
_November 4th._--I went to bed early last night, leaving my port open.
Early this morning, when they were scrubbing decks, water came in on to
the table and sprinkled me a little. I jumped up and closed the port.
Last night they changed from one means of steering to another, for
practice, in the _Suvaroff_. Something in her was not adjusted, and she
very nearly rammed the _Orel_. Thank God all passed off successfully.
9 p.m.--The wardroom officers bought some birds at Dakar, but did not
buy food for them. They fed them with anything they could find, and
now they are beginning to die.
Usually the band plays at lunch on holidays. To-day they suddenly began
playing at dinner.
At meals we drink more than we eat. We suffer from dreadful thirst
and drink pure water, mineral waters, red and white wine, beer, and
different kinds of lemon juices. The admiral suffers most of all from
the heat. During the coaling, when all doors and ports were closed, the
temperature in his cabin reached 45° R. There are now 27° in my cabin,
with the port open and the fans going which drive in the fresh air.
Some of the officers have bought themselves mats and sleep on them in
the wardroom. The crew sleep on the upper deck.
Last night something happened to the engines of the transport _Malay_.
All the fleet stopped and waited for her.
About 4 a.m. the _Donskoi_ signalled that sand had got into her
Kingston valves. That means the ship had passed a shallow spot,
although the fleet was steaming 90 versts (sixty miles) from land.
After the mishap to the _Donskoi_ they went further out to sea.
It will doubtless be very hot to-day. Do you know, the floor of my
cabin is so hot that I can feel it through the soles of my boots.
7 p.m.--What awful heat! Again I have to keep the port closed, as the
sea is splashing in.
One of the _Borodino's_ engines is damaged. We stopped and waited for
her. She is now steaming with one engine.
Storms are visible passing away from us in three places. The clouds are
black and lightning flashes. It is close.
_November 7th._--Something is wrong with the _Borodino_. The other
engine does not work now. She gets hot bearings from time to time.
We all stopped and waited for her. We are losing time over all these
mishaps, and are losing it needlessly. The cruise of our fleet round
Africa has no precedent in history.
Only by 8 a.m. did the _Borodino_ put right her engines. The fleet is
now pursuing its customary way.
7 p.m.--I saw two whales for the first time yesterday. There is nothing
to look at except sea and sky.
Sometimes the men on watch collapse from the heat and have to be
carried below. There are 61° R. at the top of the engine-room
compartment, and we have not yet passed the hottest place.
They are preparing to celebrate the crossing of the line. The ceremony
usually takes the form of a play given by the crew, and the immersion
of all those who are crossing the line for the first time.
Twenty minutes ago something happened to our dynamo engine, and all the
electric lights went out. The ship was steeped in absolute darkness.
Now all is repaired.
My servant has just brought a white tunic and trousers, which he washed
himself. They have turned out very well. "I don't think a washerwoman
could have done it better," he said. "There is one drawback--they are
not starched. But no matter; that's a trifle."
_November 8th_ (11 p.m.).--As soon as ever night falls the same old
story begins. From 8 p.m. until now the fleet stopped. We are only
going at five knots. The unfortunate _Malay_ has again delayed us.
Something broke in her engine and the pump refused to work. I am very
anxious about her. At Dakar she sprang a leak. I saw it, and reported
that she could proceed without danger, working her pump. Just imagine
it! The only pump she has is broken. She has nothing with which she
can get rid of the water, and there are no docks near. At the present
moment the _Roland_ is towing the _Malay_, as one of her engines is
broken and a blade of the screw of the other engine is broken off.
Briefly, the _Malay_ is unable to steam by herself. We are still far
from Gaboon. Again there is a great delay. Thank God the sea is calm!
If it were rough, the _Malay's_ situation would be very dangerous. As
it was, the _Roland_ took a long time passing the tow-rope to her.
_November 9th_.--The _Roland_ is still towing the _Malay_. As soon as
they are able to coal her, she will be sent back. She will not then
hinder and delay us.
When we were at lunch to-day they signalled to the admiral, saying that
the _Kamchatka_ had gone out of her course and signalled, "Dangerously
damaged. Cannot proceed." Luckily, it turned out that the damage was
trifling, and she was able to continue.
What a number of changes in climate we shall have had if we reach
Vladivostok! We left Russia in very cold weather. Gradually it became
hotter and hotter, till the heat was intense; then it will become cold
again; then hot; and finally it will be very cold, as we shall reach
Vladivostok in winter.
_November 10th_ (night).--Again a bother with the _Borodino_.
Something went wrong with her machinery. It was soon put right, but,
nevertheless, time was lost over it. The _Malay_ is still being towed.
Have found out about Gaboon. The fleet will not go within thirty versts
of it.
All communications with Gaboon will be _viâ_ the _Roland_. Of course,
no one will be allowed to land, and we shall all kick our heels on
board. Our ships cannot go nearer, owing to shallows and banks.
The _Meteor_ signalled to-day that one of her stokers has struck work
and refuses to keep up the necessary amount of steam. The captain asked
to be allowed to deal with him himself. The crew of the _Meteor_ are
volunteers.
I have been sitting all day long over plans and calculations. The
scuttles were open, and now and then waves came splashing over my
table. I went to the ship's ice-chamber, and it seemed cold to me after
the heat which reigns everywhere.
The day passed strangely. I hardly went out of my cabin, and got
through a lot of work. I must go and air myself, as my head has grown
heavy.