A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 79: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

"6 A QUEER RAOE. And I did. The Diana was progressing through the water at the rate of a knot an hour. «If we have been going at this speed all along for the last five weeks,” I said, making a rapid mental calcula- tion, ‘‘ we have done eight hundred and forty miles.” «“T don’t think we have been going at this speed all along. When I fell ill it was as dead a calm asit could be, and as hot as blazes. And now it is cooier—I am sure it is cooler. Don’t you think so?” “T know itis. I look at the thermometer every day, and the average temperature is from seven to ten degrees lower than it was a fortnight since.” “If we have been doing a knot an hour these last three weeks, how much would that make?’ _** Five hundred and four miles.” ‘Which means that much further south. Well, { shouldn’t wonder. Have you looked at the chart lately?” ‘¢T have pored over it till my head aches; and the more I look the more puzzled I become. I never in my life felt so ignorant and helpless. How I wish I had got poor Captain Peyton to give me a few lessons in naviga- tion.” “‘T wish you had, Mr. Harle. It almost seems as we shall have to keep on as we are till something turns up, doesn’t it?”’ “Like a couple of Micawbers.” ‘«Bhe” ‘“[ mean it vexes me to be so utterly helpless, and [ weary of having nothing to do.” ‘‘ Don’t worrit yourself, sir. We shall get somewhere sometime, if you will only be quiet; and when the weather changes you will have quite enough to do. And there is a feel in the air and a look about the sun as tells me that the change won’t be long incoming. That signal with our number seems to be stirring a bit, doesn’t it?” “Yes; | think itis fluttering just a little.” “There must be a light breeze aloft, then; and if we could only set our topsails, and main and mizzen top- gallant sails, we might get steering way on her, and make, maybe, two or three knots an hour.” | _ **'Two or three knots! I wish we could make twenty knots and get somewhere,” I exclaimed, passionately, CE(oylpallice JOO cS