l, reefed foresail, and
number three jib. Under this canvas the little _Lily_ made very
excellent weather of it, though the incessant showers of spray which she
threw over herself necessitated the constant use of our macintoshes
whilst on deck, and this we found extremely inconvenient, from their
warmth.

However, as we had been wonderfully favoured in the matter of weather so
far, we had no right to grumble if we were now treated to a few of the
inconveniences of such a voyage as ours. Though still making very good
way, we were not getting on so fast as we had been, our low canvas, and
the heavy sea (for a craft of our size) which began to get up, not
permitting us to do more than our seven knots.

Still, this was remarkably good work, and we ought to have been
perfectly satisfied; but the little barkie had stepped out at such a
rattling pace all the earlier part of the voyage, that we could not be
contented with any reduction in speed.

This lasted for five days, and then, about one p.m., the wind suddenly
dropped altogether, and left us tumbling helplessly about without even
steerage-way. The sky had gradually become overcast, and the air
suffocatingly close, and when I went below to look at the aneroid, I
found it had gone back considerably.

This might mean only a thunderstorm, or it might mean something much
worse, so we set to work to prepare for whatever might come. The
mainsail was stowed and the cover put on, the foresail hauled down and
unbent, and the trysail bent, reefed, and stowed, to be set or not, as
circumstances might require.

As it turned out, it was only a thunderstorm, but it was a regular
tropical one whilst it lasted. The rain came down in _sheets_, without
a breath of wind; and we not only filled our tank, but also every
available cask, can, and empty bottle we had on board, and as this was
done long before the rain was over (though the thunderstorm soon passed
off), Bob and I stripped, and enjoyed to our heart's content the
unwonted luxury of a wash from head to foot in the most deliciously soft
water, after which we roused out our dirty clothes, and had a regular
good washing-day.

The rain lasted about three hours, and then cleared away as rapidly as
it had come on, leaving the air beautifully fresh and pure, the sea
beaten down until nothing but a long, lazy swell remained of the late
breeze, and ourselves refreshed beyond description by our soap and water
bath. The sun came o