r, and I have
not seen him since.

"Sept. 25th.--One of the hands, Walters, died during the night in
great agony. We sighted the Peak of Teneriffe early in the
afternoon, and I remained on deck with Mrs. Concanen, watching it.
The doctor is below, analysing the food. I believe he is completely
puzzled by this curious epidemic.

"Sept. 26th.--Wind N.E., but somewhat lighter. Three more men seized
last night with precisely the same symptoms. With three deaths and
five men ill, we are now left with but nine hands (not counting the
captain) to work the ship. Walters was buried to-day. I learned
from Mrs. Concanen that her husband has made a _post mortem_
examination of the body. I do not know what his conclusions are.

"I open my Journal again to record another disquieting accident.
It is odd, but I have missed one of the pieces of my father's clasp.
I am positive it was in my pocket last night. I now have an
indistinct recollection of hearing something fall whilst I was
dressing this morning, but although I have searched both cabin and
state-room thoroughly, I can find nothing. However, even if it has
fallen into Colliver's hands, which is unlikely, he can make nothing
of it, and luckily I know the words written upon it by heart.
Still the loss has vexed me not a little. I will have another search
before turning in to-night.

"Sept. 27th.--Wind has shifted to N.W. The doctor was summoned
during the night to visit one of the men taken ill two nights before.
The poor fellow died before daybreak, and I hear that another is not
expected to live until night. The doctor has only been on deck for a
few minutes to-day, and these he occupied in talk with the captain,
who seems to have caught the prevailing depression, for he has been
going about in a state of nervous disquietude all the afternoon.
I expect that want of sleep is telling upon him at last. The clasp
is still missing.

"Sept. 28th.--A rough day, and all hands busily engaged. Wind mostly
S.W., but shifted to due W. before nightfall. Three of the invalids
are better, but the other is still lying in a very critical state.

"Sept. 29th, 30th, Oct. 1st, 2nd.--Weather squally, so that we may
expect heavy seas in the Bay of Biscay. All the invalids are by this
time in a fair way of recovery, and one of them will be strong enough
to return to work in a couple of days. Doctor Concanen is still
strangely silent, however, and the captain's cheerfulness se