see, my fine fellows," exclaimed the captain, on seeing them
doggedly standing with their arms folded in a group forward.

At once ordering his boat, which was pulled by Jack and Jim, Miles Soper
and Brown, he went on shore. He soon returned, with the deputy captain
of the port, who, stepping on board, called the men aft, and inquired
what they had to complain of. As they were all silent, Captain
McL--- made them a speech, pointing out to them that they were fortunate
in being aboard a well-found and well-provisioned ship.

"And, my lads," he continued, "you need not have any fear of falling
sick, for the captain has an ample supply for you of anti-scorbutics."

As none of the mutineers had a notion what this long word meant, they
were taken completely aback; and after staring at him and then at each
other, first one and then another went forward to the windlass, and we
soon had the ship under way.

Whenever during the voyage any of us talked about the matter, we always
called Captain McL--- "Old Anti-Scorbutic." I felt happier than I had
been for a long time when the ship's head was directed northward, and as
we had a fresh breeze the men declared that their friends at home had
got hold of the tow-rope, and that we should soon be there.

On running down to Saint Helena we were followed for several days by
some black whales of immense length. Sometimes they were so close to
the ship's side that we might have lanced them from the deck. The
fourth day after we saw them the second mate and Horner took it into
their heads wantonly to fire musket-shots at them. At last one of the
poor creatures was hit, when it dived, the others following its example,
and we saw them no more. The only object of interest we met with
crossing the north-east trades was the passage through the Gulf Stream,
or Sargasso Sea, as it is sometimes called. It was curious to find
ourselves surrounded by thick masses of seaweed as far as the eye could
reach on every side, so that no clear water could be seen for miles
away. I can compare it to nothing else than to sailing through a
farmyard covered with deep straw.

The first land we made was Fyal. Thence we ran across to Pico, where we
obtained provisions and water. If we had got nothing else it would have
been well, but the crew managed to smuggle on board a quantity of new
rum, the effects of which were soon visible.

Leaving Pico, we shaped a course for old England. The wind was now