make a very convenient stopping place on our way across. If we
should need supplies or repairs it would be very handy to put in
there."

"How long will it take us from here to the Capa Blancas?" I
asked.

"About six days," said the Doctor--"Well, we can decide later.
For the next two days at any rate our direction would be the same
practically in either case. If you have finished breakfast let's
go and get under way."

Upstairs I found our vessel surrounded by white and gray seagulls
who flashed and circled about in the sunny morning air, looking
for food-scraps thrown out by the ships into the harbor.

By about half past seven we had the anchor up and the sails set
to a nice steady breeze; and this time we got out into the open
sea without bumping into a single thing. We met the Penzance
fishing fleet coming in from the night's fishing, and very trim
and neat they looked, in a line like soldiers, with their
red-brown sails all leaning over the same way and the white water
dancing before their bows.

For the next three or four days everything went smoothly and
nothing unusual happened. During this time we all got settled
down into our regular jobs; and in spare moments the Doctor
showed each of us how to take our turns at the wheel, the proper
manner of keeping a ship on her right course, and what to do if
the wind changed suddenly. We divided the twenty-four hours of