ands at the sail-maker
thus turning the tables so completely on the Irishman, who got so angry
at our merriment for the moment that he retired within his caboose,
slamming the half-door too, and declaring that not a single mother's son
of those present should have the taste of hot coffee again in the
morning watch!

However, Pat's fits of temper were as evanescent as they were quickly
produced, and presently he was laughing and talking away as if he had
not been offended, enjoying the joke Sails had against him almost as
much as any of the others.

Two days after crossing the Line we sighted the Rocas, on passing the
parallel of Fernando Noronha, where the Brazilians have a penal
settlement; and, on the third day, we cleared the Cape of Saint Roque,
which is the most projecting point of the South American continent--
stretching out, as it does, miles into the Atlantic Ocean, while the
coast-line on either side of it trends away in a wide sweep, away
westwards, north and south, back from the sea.

After passing Saint Roque, we ran down our latitudes rapidly, the south-
east Trades keeping with us until we had reached the twentieth parallel;
and we fetched Rio on our forty-second day out. This was not bad time,
considering the great distance we were driven out of our way by the
gale, and the fact of our subsequently knocking about for a week in the
Doldrums.

With regard to matters on board the ship, I may state here, that, from
the date of that eventful night when the _Esmeralda_ had so
providentially escaped being wrecked on the Rocks of Saint Paul, and
Captain Billings, after "dressing down" the mate, had restored me to my
former position aft, Mr Macdougall had not spoken a single word to me,
although I had made many overtures of peace towards him, wishing the
matter to drop--nothing being so unpleasant as to be on awkward terms
with any one with whom one is brought in constant contact, especially
when the daggers-drawn parties are cooped up together in a vessel on the
high seas.

But, no; he would not accept the olive branch.

When it was time for me to relieve his watch, the mate invariably sent
one of the hands to summon me, telling me through the same medium the
course to be steered, and giving what orders were necessary for the
working of the ship, so that there should be no occasion for any
conversation between us; and it likewise happened that when we were on
deck together, as was frequently the case du