Further of the captain:  ’He is a good man, and has been most kind to us —­almost fatherly.  He says that if he had been offered the command of the ship sooner he should have brought his two daughters with him.’  It makes one shudder yet to think how narrow an escape it was.

The two meals (rations) a day are as follows:  fourteen raisins and a piece of cracker the size of a penny for tea; a gill of water, and a piece of ham and a piece of bread, each the size of a penny, for breakfast.—­Captain’s Log.

He means a penny in thickness as well as in circumference.  Samuel Ferguson’s diary says the ham was shaved ’about as thin as it could be cut.’

[Diary entry] June 1.  Last night and to-day sea very high and cobbling, breaking over and making us all wet and cold.  Weather squally, and there is no doubt that only careful management—­with God’s protecting care—­preserved us through both the night and the day; and really it is most marvellous how every morsel that passes our lips is blessed to us.  It makes me think daily of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.  Henry keeps up wonderfully, which is a great consolation to me.  I somehow have great confidence, and hope that our afflictions will soon be ended, though we are running rapidly across the track of both outward and inward bound vessels, and away from them; our chief hope is a whaler, man-of-war, or some Australian ship.  The isles we are steering for are put down in Bowditch, but on my map are said to be doubtful.  God grant they may be there!

     Hardest day yet.—­Captain’s Log.

Doubtful!  It was worse than that.  A week later they sailed straight over them.

     [Diary entry] June 2.  Latitude 18 degrees 9 minutes.  Squally,
     cloudy, a heavy sea....  I cannot help thinking of the cheerful and
     comfortable time we had aboard the ‘Hornet.’

     Two days’ scanty supplies left—­ten rations of water apiece and a
     little morsel of bread.  But the sun Shines and god is merciful. 
     —­Captain’s Log.

[Diary entry] Sunday, June 3.  Latitude 17 degrees 54 minutes.  Heavy sea all night, and from 4 A.M. very wet, the sea breaking over us in frequent sluices, and soaking everything aft, particularly.  All day the sea has been very high, and it is a wonder that we are not swamped.  Heaven grant that it may go down this evening!  Our suspense and condition are getting terrible.  I managed this morning to crawl, more than step, to the forward end of the boat, and was surprised to find that I was so weak, especially in the legs and knees.  The sun has been out again, and I have dried some things, and hope for a better night.

June 4.  Latitude 17 degrees 6 minutes, longitude 131 degrees 30 minutes.  Shipped hardly any seas last night, and to-day the