NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



77 



tumble. It was rough enough already, but some real weather 

 was ahead. By dawn a fresh gale was whipping the sea into a 

 frenzy, and we had to heave to for it to moderate. A torrent of 

 rain fell after the blow, to trickle its way to our book-shelves and 

 bunks. All attempts to stop the leaking failed; for permanent 

 relief we must await repairs in port. Meanwhile the ingenuity 

 of the party was directed to deflecting the streams of water to 

 the floor of the cabin by the least damaging route. Glass funnels, 

 rubber tubing, towels, pots, pans, canvas troughs, were all used 



The Carnegie Running before the Wind 

 On an earlier cruise. 



in an attempt to save our personal effects, and to give us dry beds. 

 In the end either they were successful, or else we had become ac- 

 customed to living under water, for we went about our work un- 

 concerned. Captain Ault did much to keep us in high spirits by 

 promising days of beautiful weather and moonlight nights in the 

 tropics. Our daily radio contacts with home helped as well. 



On May 27 we saw the most perfect solar halo of the cruise. 

 There were grand arguments between members of the crew as to 

 what it presaged. Some thought it a sign of better weather, but 

 the gloomier predictions prevailed. On the next day we had the 



