a
shark, and so fearfully injured that he died before he could be got on
board. The weary voyage recommenced, and, as before, their chief
diversion was fishing. The sharks, skipjacks, dolphins, and bonetas
which were caught were counted by hundreds, for they literally sailed
through a sea of fish. Two parrots had been added to their crew, and
were a great amusement, becoming so tame that they would obey their
master's call, and follow him afterwards through the streets like a dog.

The 9th of December was marked by a serious disaster. Seeing a huge
shark alongside, they had fastened a boneta as a bait to a piece of
small line, and made a running bowline in the end of a peak-halliard
with the fish towing a little ahead of it; the shark immediately saw it
and swam after it; they were already on the bowline to run him up the
side with his head a little out of water; gliding silently along, not
two feet from them, he came up to the bowline, which was held wide open,
while the bait was quietly hauled ahead until he was far enough through
it; then, giving a sudden jerk on it, they closed it just behind the two
side-fins and tried to catch a turn with the rope; but, quick as
lightning, the shark gave a terrific plunge and tore it through their
hands, when Mr Murray unfortunately got in the middle of the coil, and
as the men had all let go, it had got a half-hitch round his leg, and in
an instant he was drawn up and over the gunwale. Catching at the
peak-halliards, which were belayed close to him, he held on with his
only sound hand as he was flying overboard, the men also seizing him by
the arm. Before he could be extricated, the limb was severely injured
and torn. The only remedy which could be applied was bathing it in oil.

In the meantime the _Dores_ progressed, though very slowly; she had
become much more leaky, the cargo was completely rotten, and the stench
drove them all on deck; nor could they heave a particle of it overboard,
for then the vessel would have capsized, as she had no ballast in. The
sails were perfectly rotten--so bad that the vessel was often a whole
day without a stitch of canvas set when the wind fell light, that they
might be repaired with monkey skins, of which there was a good stock on
board.

The fourth month closed, and the schooner had not yet performed a voyage
of ten days, from seven to fifteen miles a day being the progress lately
made; but now the current seemed to favour her, for