A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 73: what you’re looking at

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70 A QUEER RACE. and when all was ready returned to the cabin to look after Tom. He was just opening his eyes. ‘¢Have you had a good sleep?” I asked. «“ Very; and you?” ‘Oh, pretty well. I must have had three or four hours, and if I had not been so hungry I should have gone on awhile longer.” «“Three or four hours! Why, bless you, Mr. Erle, you have slept more like thirty hours!” ‘¢ Nonsense, Bolsover. I know better.” ‘¢ Well, then, the sun is going wrong. It was a good deal past noon when I turned in, and”—glancing at the sun—‘‘it cannot be much past eleven now. Yes, Mr. Erle, you have slept something like thirty hours, and me about twenty-four—and a good thing, too. We wanted it. When it fell calm I knew as the ship could take care of herself, so I just lashed the wheel amidships, laid my- self down on the cabin floor just as I was, and let you go on with your sleep. And now let us have some grub, for I am most terribly sharp-set, and that lobscouse smellsas sweet as a posy. We may take our ease a bit now, Mr. Erle. This is a calm as will last, this is.” ‘* How long will it last, do yoa think?” ‘The Lord only knows! May be a fortnight, may be three weeks. J have heard of calms in these latitudes— we must be somewhere about the doldrums—Il’ve heard of ’em lasting six and seven weeks.” ‘© A pleasant prospect! Why, we shall be nearly friz- -zled! I would rather have a storm or two.” «‘That’s a sentiment as I should say amen to, if we had a rather more powerful crew, Mr. Erle; but with a ship’s company of two, officers and passengers included, I would not pray for a gale, though I might whistle for a wind. With our small spread of canvas a light breeze would not dc us much good, and it would not be safe to spread more, even if we could. But I’m in no hurry, Mr. Erle—I’m in no hurry. We’ve plenty of grub and water aboard, and ’m quite content to abide in these Jatitudes awhile longer; for it is hereabouts—or, if not hereabouts, a bit further south—that I expect to light on the Santa Anna.” | ‘You old idiot!” I was going to say; but not wanting to hurt the foolish fellow’s feelings or fall out with him, cGcomicbooks:com —