y bad crossing;
every minute I think our end is coming. I have never been in such a
horrid boat. We have no stewardesses, only stewards, and they are
Africans--all black. The captain is English, and the first and second
mates Greeks.
The other thirty of our unit left to-day; they go from Folkestone to
Boulogne and thence by train to Marseilles, where they catch another
boat for Salonica. Owing to our leaving a day later they may arrive at
Salonica before we do.
Monday, _April 5, 1915._
We are still having a terrible tossing. I have given up my berth and
am sleeping on deck. The noises at night are something terrible, all
kinds of things falling and smashing. On Saturday night I jumped up at
2.30; I thought our end had come. I went round to see what had
happened; the luggage was pitched all over the place. I have slept in
the dining saloon the last two nights. The captain told us to-day that
we could undress at night, we were out of danger of submarines, but I
shall not until we are out of the Bay of Biscay. Most of us have been
on deck to-day. I am hoping by to-morrow they will all be well again.
To-night about 12 o'clock we hope to be at Cape Finisterre. I shall be
thankful, for I have not slept since I left home; the noise on this
boat has been so terrific.
We passed Villan's lighthouse at 10 p.m. It was a lovely night and the
water lit up with phosphorus. The captain appeared at dinner this
evening, so things are getting better for us.
Tuesday, _April 6, 1915._
All the sick are sitting on deck to-day, so we have not much to do.
This morning I played deck quoits with several of the passengers. I
learnt a little Serbian. We are a happy party; every one is so
friendly. We have sheep, ducks and fowls on board--all have been sick;
also two dogs. I slept on deck last night, a perfectly lovely night.
Wednesday, _April 7, 1915._
The weather has quite changed; it is perfectly glorious to-day. This
morning we learnt Serbian for a little and wrote letters. This
afternoon I have been sitting in a lifeboat, with the sun streaming on
me; it was heavenly. We have just passed Portugal. I took several
photos. We passed Cape St. Vincent at 2.30 p.m. We could never have
been saved if anything had gone wrong with this boat; it is a terrible
old tub. We get to Gibraltar to-morrow, I hear, about 10
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