第83章

Of course I was to some extent anxious lest another squall should come, but I made the best provision I could in the circumstances, and concluded that by letting go the weather-braces of the top-sails and the top-sail halyards at the same time, I should thereby render these sails almost powerless.Besides this, I proposed to myself to keep a sharp look-out on the barometer in the cabin, and if I observed at any time a sudden fall in it, I resolved that Iwould instantly set about my multiform appliances for reducing sail, so as to avoid being taken at unawares.Thus I sailed prosperously for two weeks, with a fair wind, so that I calculated I must be drawing near to the Coral Island; at the thought of which my heart bounded with joyful expectation.

The only book I found on board, after a careful search, was a volume of Captain Cook's voyages.This, I suppose, the pirate captain had brought with him in order to guide him, and to furnish him with information regarding the islands of these seas.I found this a most delightful book indeed, and I not only obtained much interesting knowledge about the sea in which I was sailing, but Ihad many of my own opinions, derived from experience, corroborated;and not a few of them corrected.Besides the reading of this charming book, and the daily routine of occupations, nothing of particular note happened to me during this voyage, except once, when on rising one night, after my three hours' nap, while it was yet dark, I was amazed and a little alarmed to find myself floating in what appeared to be a sea of blue fire! I had often noticed the beautiful appearance of phosphorescent light, but this far exceeded anything of the sort I ever saw before.The whole sea appeared somewhat like milk and was remarkably luminous.

I rose in haste, and, letting down a bucket into the sea, brought some of the water on board and took it down to the cabin to examine it; but no sooner did I approach the light than the strange appearance disappeared, and when I removed the cabin lamp the luminous light appeared again.I was much puzzled with this, and took up a little of the water in the hollow of my hand and then let it run off, when I found that the luminous substance was left behind on my palm.I ran with it to the lamp; but when I got there it was gone.I found, however, that when I went into the dark my hand shone again; so I took the large glass of the ship's telescope and examined my hand minutely, when I found that there were on it one or two small patches of a clear, transparent substance like jelly, which were so thin as to be almost invisible to the naked eye.Thus I came to know that the beautiful phosphoric light, which I had so often admired before, was caused by animals, for Ihad no doubt that these were of the same kind as the medusae or jelly-fish which are seen in all parts of the world.

On the evening of my fourteenth day, I was awakened out of a nap into which I had fallen by a loud cry, and starting up, I gazed around me.I was surprised and delighted to see a large albatross soaring majestically over the ship.I immediately took it into my head that this was the albatross I had seen at Penguin Island.Ihad, of course, no good reason for supposing this, but the idea occurred to me, I know not why, and I cherished it, and regarded the bird with as much affection as if he had been an old friend.

He kept me company all that day and left me as night fell.

Next morning as I stood motionless and with heavy eyes at the helm, for I had not slept well, I began to weary anxiously for day-light, and peered towards the horizon, where I thought I observed something like a black cloud against the dark sky.Being always on the alert for squalls, I ran to the bow.There could be no doubt it was a squall, and as I listened I thought I heard the murmur of the coming gale.Instantly I began to work might and main at my cumbrous tackle for shortening sail, and in the course of an hour and a half had the most of it reduced, - the top-sail yards down on the caps, the top-sails clewed up, the sheets hauled in, the main and fore peaks lowered, and the flying-jib down.While thus engaged the dawn advanced, and I cast an occasional furtive glance ahead in the midst of my labour.But now that things were prepared for the worst, I ran forward again and looked anxiously over the bow.I now heard the roar of the waves distinctly, and as a single ray of the rising sun gleamed over the ocean I saw - what! could it be that I was dreaming? - that magnificent breaker with its ceaseless roar! - that mountain top! - yes, once more I beheld the Coral Island!