Coils of rope were brought forward
by the steward, and with the help of two French seamen (the third
was at the wheel) we secured the drunkards and tied them up, so
that it was impossible for them to speak or move. They were
placed under the fore-hatch, as their officers had been under the
after one, and Kerouan was directed twice a day to give them food
and drink. So at last we found that the Black Swan was entirely
our own.
Had there been bad weather I do not know what we should have
done, but we still went gaily upon our way with a wind which was
strong enough to drive us swiftly south, but not strong enough to
cause us alarm. On the evening of the third day I found Captain
Fourneau gazing eagerly out from the platform in the front of the
vessel. "Look, Gerard, look!" he cried, and pointed over the
pole which stuck out in front.
A light blue sky rose from a dark blue sea, and far away, at the
point where they met, was a shadowy something like a cloud, but
more definite in shape.
"What is it?" I cried.
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