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safe in his hands。〃
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This steward； with his harsh face and stern eyes； looked a very warlike
person for so peaceful an employment。
I said nothing； however； though you may guess that I kept my eyes
open。 A berth had been prepared for me next the cabin； which would
have seemed comfortable enough had it not contrasted with the
extraordinary splendour of Fourneau's quarters。 He was certainly a most
luxurious person； for his room was new…fitted with velvet and silver in a
way which would have suited the yacht of a noble better than a little West
African trader。
So thought the mate； Mr。 Burns； who could not hide his amusement
and contempt whenever he looked at it。
This fellow； a big； solid； red…headed Englishman； had the other berth
connected with the cabin。 There was a second mate named Turner； who
lodged in the middle of the ship； and there were nine men and one boy in
the crew； three of whom； as I was informed by Mr。 Burns； were Channel
Islanders like myself。 This Burns； the first mate； was much interested to
know why I was coming with them。
〃I come for pleasure；〃 said I。
He stared at me。
〃Ever been to the West Coast？〃 he asked。
I said that I had not。
〃I thought not；〃 said he。 〃You'll never come again for that reason；
anyhow。〃
Some three days after my arrival we untied the ropes by which the ship
was tethered and we set off upon our journey。 I was never a good sailor；
and I may confess that we were far out of sight of any land before I was
able to venture upon deck。 At last； however； upon the fifth day I drank
the soup which the good Kerouan brought me； and I was able to crawl
from my bunk and up the stair。 The fresh air revived me； and from that
time onward I accommodated myself to the motion of the vessel。 My
beard had begun to grow also； and I have no doubt that I should have
made as fine a sailor as I have a soldier had I chanced to be born to that
branch of the service。 I learned to pull the ropes which hoisted the sails；
and also to haul round the long sticks to which they are attached。 For the
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most part； however； my duties were to play ecarte with Captain Fourneau；
and to act as his companion。 It was not strange that he should need one；
for neither of his mates could read or write； though each of them was an
excellent seaman。
If our captain had died suddenly I cannot imagine how we should have
found our way in that waste of waters； for it was only he who had the
knowledge which enabled him to mark our place upon the chart。 He had
this fixed upon the cabin wall； and every day he put our course upon it so
that we could see at a glance how far we were from our destination。 It
was wonderful how well he could calculate it； for one morning he said that
we should see the Cape Verd light that very night； and there it was； sure
enough； upon our left front the moment that darkness came。 Next day；
however； the land was out of sight； and Burns； the mate； explained to me
that we should see no more until we came to our port in the Gulf of Biafra。
Every day we flew south with a favouring wind； and always at noon the
pin upon the chart was moved nearer and nearer to the African coast。 I
may explain that palm oil was the cargo which we were in search of； and
that our own lading consisted of coloured cloths； old muskets； and such
other trifles as the English sell to the savages。
At last the wind which had followed us so long died away； and for
several days we drifted about on a calm and oily sea； under a sun which
brought the pitch bubbling out between the planks upon the deck。 We
turned and turned our sails to catch every wandering puff； until at last we
came out of this belt of calm and ran south again with a brisk breeze； the
sea all round us being alive with flying fishes。 For some days Burns
appeared to be uneasy； and I observed him continually shading his eyes
with his hand and staring at the horizon as if he were looking for land。
Twice I caught him with his red head against the chart in the cabin； gazing
at that pin； which was always approaching and yet never reaching the
African coast。 At last one evening； as Captain Fourneau and I were
playing ecarte in the cabin； the mate entered with an angry look upon his
sunburned face。
〃I beg your pardon； Captain Fourneau；〃 said he。
〃But do you know what course the man at the wheel is steering？〃
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〃Due south；〃 the captain answered； with his eyes fixed upon his cards。
〃And he should be steering due east。〃
〃How do you make that out？〃
The mate gave an angry growl。
〃I may not have much education；〃 said he； 〃but let me tell you this；
Captain Fourneau； I've sailed these waters since I was a little nipper of ten；
and I know the line when I'm on it； and I know the doldrums； and I know
how to find my way to the oil rivers。 We are south of the line now； and
we should be steering due east instead of due south if your port is the port
that the owners sent you to。〃
〃Excuse me； Mr。 Gerard。 Just remember that it is my lead；〃 said the
captain； laying down his cards。
〃Come to the map here； Mr。 Burns； and I will give you a lesson in
practical navigation。 Here is the trade wind from the southwest and here
is the line； and here is the port that we want to make； and here is a man
who will have his own way aboard his own ship。〃 As he spoke he seized
the unfortunate mate by the throat and squeezed him until he was nearly
senseless。 Kerouan； the steward； had rushed in with a rope； and between
them they gagged and trussed the man； so that he was utterly helpless。
〃There is one of our Frenchmen at the wheel。 We had best put the
mate overboard；〃 said the steward。
〃That is safest；〃 said Captain Fourneau。
But that was more than I could stand。 Nothing would p