1^6 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



lav well over to leeward, and we moved slowly on 

 our course. To avoid being becalmed under the lee 

 of Guadeloupe, our captain had taken the longer route 

 to windward, and we were now crossing the pathway 

 of Columbus when he first approached these islands 

 of the Caribbees. Next morning, when we went 

 "about" for Marie Galante, the only island in sight 

 was that lone rock of Desirade — the "desired island" 

 of Columbus, when he was expecting to discover land. 



Our captain was a negro, black as his African an- 

 cestor and without a brutish instinct the less. Plainly, 

 he had missed his calling, which was to labor in the 

 cane-fields beneath the lash of insolence-rebuking 

 overseer. His provisions of yam and fish gave out on 

 the evening of the second day, and my private store, 

 also, failed me. The only meat on board was in 

 living shape — a turkey and a jackass. That night 

 the turkey died, welcoming death as a relief from 

 sore disease. The jackass, patient for a day, waxed 

 wroth as time passed on without food or drink, and 

 broke the stillness of the second night with discordant 

 brays. 



The deck was crowded with sable passengers ; the 

 "cabin" was filled high with bags of coffee and guano 

 and sundry boxes, and at the farther end was a stifled 

 room in which was a berth allotted by the captain to 

 me as a first-class passenger. Late in the evening I 

 worked my way with difficulty to the room to retire. 

 It was very dark and very evil-smelling, and I reached 

 my hand up to open a little slide above the bunk, for 

 air and light. It came in contact with something for- 

 eign, which, upon being shaken, gave signs of life 

 and alarm, and a woman's voice demanded what I 



