from the Lizard and eight from Weymouth we arrived at Funchal at
half-past five o'clock on the Wednesday evening following that on which
I took leave of my dear sister.

As Bob was busy below getting tea, and I was stowing the canvas, a
steamer came in with a flag flying, which, on taking a look at it
through the glass, I recognised as the distinguishing flag of the Cape
mail-boats, _so_ I left everything just as it was, dashed down below,
and penned a few hasty lines home, giving a brief outline of our
adventures so far, and taking care not to lay too much stress upon the
gale, whilst I was equally careful to do full justice to the _Water
Lily's_ sea-going qualities, that my sister's apprehensions might be as
much allayed as possible.

As soon as I had finished and sealed the epistle, I joined Bob upon deck
to assist him in putting our novel boat together, which done, we pulled
on board the mail-boat, where we were very kindly received; and I gave
my letter into the hands of the captain, who promised (and faithfully
redeemed his promise too) to post it on his arrival home.

I afterwards found that he reported us also, so that the _Water Lily_
duly appeared in the "shipping" columns of the various papers, and my
yachting friends thus got an inkling of our success so far.

I shall not attempt any description of Madeira, or indeed of any other
of the well-known spots at which we touched. The places have been so
often and so fully described in the many books of travel which have been
written, that any further description, or at all events such description
as I could give, is quite superfluous. It will suffice for me merely to
say that Bob and I spent three days stretching our somewhat cramped
limbs in this most lovely island, and discussing which route we should
take to the Pacific.

We had often discussed this question before; but it was with a feeling
of indifference which precluded our arriving at any definite and
absolute decision upon the matter. It was now, however, time that this
point was settled, as it would affect our course soon after leaving the
island, or, at all events, when we came to the Cape de Verdes.

The eastern route would be much longer than the western; but I felt
disposed to adopt it, in the belief that we should be favoured with much
better weather. I entertained a very wholesome dread of the "Horn"--the
notorious "Cape of Storms." Bob, on the other hand, was all for the
western route.