CHAPTER IV 



FROM MADEIRA TO THE BARRIER 



ON the following morning we anchored in Funchal 

 Roads. My brother was to arrive at Funchal, by arrange- 

 ment, early enough to be sure of preceding us there. 

 It was, however, a good while before we saw anything 

 of him, and we were already flattering ourselves that we 

 had arrived first when he was suddenly observed in 

 a boat coming under our stern. We were able to tell 

 him that all was well on board, and he brought us a big 

 packet of letters and newspapers that gave us news of 

 home. A little officious gentleman, who said he was 

 a doctor, and as such had come in an official capacity to 

 inquire as to the state of our health, was in an amazing 

 hurry to leave the ship again when, at the top of the 

 gangway, he found himself confronted with a score of 

 dogs' jaws, which at the moment were opened wide on 

 account of the heat. The learned man's interest in our 

 health had suddenly vanished; his thoughts flew to the 

 safety of his own life and limbs. 



As Funchal was the last place where we could com- 

 municate with the outside world, arrangements were 



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