e powerful talisman which
appeals to the whole dark race. I must not trust it in Goring's hands
again.

November 8, 9.--What splendid weather we are having! Beyond one little
blow, we have had nothing but fresh breezes the whole voyage. These two
days we have made better runs than any hitherto.

It is a pretty thing to watch the spray fly up from our prow as it cuts
through the waves. The sun shines through it and breaks it up into a
number of miniature rainbows--"sun-dogs," the sailors call them. I stood
on the fo'csle-head for several hours to-day watching the effect, and
surrounded by a halo of prismatic colours.

The steersman has evidently told the other blacks about my wonderful
stone, for I am treated by them all with the greatest respect. Talking
about optical phenomena, we had a curious one yesterday evening which
was pointed out to me by Hyson. This was the appearance of a triangular
well-defined object high up in the heavens to the north of us. He
explained that it was exactly like the Peak of Teneriffe as seen from
a great distance--the peak was, however, at that moment at least five
hundred miles to the south. It may have been a cloud, or it may have
been one of those strange reflections of which one reads. The weather
is very warm. The mate says that he never knew it so warm in these
latitudes. Played chess with Harton in the evening.

November 10.--It is getting warmer and warmer. Some land birds came and
perched in the rigging today, though we are still a considerable way
from our destination. The heat is so great that we are too lazy to do
anything but lounge about the decks and smoke. Goring came over to me
to-day and asked me some more questions about my stone; but I answered
him rather shortly, for I have not quite forgiven him yet for the cool
way in which he attempted to deprive me of it.

November 11, 12.--Still making good progress. I had no idea Portugal was
ever as hot as this, but no doubt it is cooler on land. Hyson himself
seemed surprised at it, and so do the men.

November 13.--A most extraordinary event has happened, so extraordinary
as to be almost inexplicable. Either Hyson has blundered wonderfully,
or some magnetic influence has disturbed our instruments. Just about
daybreak the watch on the fo'csle-head shouted out that he heard the
sound of surf ahead, and Hyson thought he saw the loom of land. The ship
was put about, and, though no lights were seen, none of us doubted that
w