of  gratitude.  I  can  hardly  say  how  much  this  trivial
incident  affected  me.  I  have  felt  unstrung  all  day.
A  week's  record  of  our  voyage  is  here  omitted,  as
nothing  eventful  occurred  during  the  time,  and  my
log  consists  merely  of  a  few  pages  of  unimportant
gossip.
November  Wh. — Harton  and  I  sat  on  the  poop  all
the  morning,  for  the  weather  is  becoming  very  warm
as  we  come  into  southern  latitudes.  We  reckon  that
we  have  done  two-thirds  of  our  voyage.  How  glad  we
shall  be  to  see  the  green  banks  of  the  Tagus,  and
leave  this  unlucky  ship  forever!  I  was  endeavoring
to  amuse  Harton  to-day  and  to  while  away  the  time
by  telling  him  some  of  the  experiences  of  my  past
life.  Among  others  I  related  to  him  how  I  came
into  the  possession  of  my  black  stone,  and  as  a  finale
I  rummaged  in  the  side  pocket  of  my  old  shooting
coat  and  produced  the  identical  object  in  question.
He  and  I  were  bending  over  it  together,  I  pointing
out  to  him  the  curious  ridges  upon  its  surface,  whea
we  were  conscious  of  a  shadow  falling  between  us
and  the  sun,  and  looking  round  saw  Goring  standings
behind  us  glaring  over  our  shoulders  at  the  stone.
