28 THE GERMAN AECTIO EXPEDITION. 



order. Our chests were already unpacked, and tlie 

 cabin, whither most of our effects had been brought, 

 somewhat cleared, that we might at least have room for 

 ourselves. At eight o'clock the two captains met once 

 more to have a necessary consultation as to the course 

 they should now take. We then, for the first time, took 

 our tea and supper all together at a modestly-laid table, 

 took one more walk on the deck of the ship, now gaily 

 sailing northward, sent one more long earnest look, 

 many a wish, back to our now no longer visible country, 

 and then, tired and worn out with the noise and excite- 

 ment of the day, sought an early rest in our berths. 



The wind remained in the same quarter during the 

 night, so that about midnight we passed the beacon off 

 Heligoland. 



The daily ship's life, that is, the occupation of the 

 community on the Germania while at sea, was, of 

 course, like that on any other ship : and the gentlemen in 

 the cabin did their best to divide their time as follows : — 

 " We are " (writes one of them) " awakened at half-past 

 six, dress, and take our turns in the small washing-room, 

 finish our toilet, and go on deck to enjoy the fresh 

 morning air, and look after the weather, which at sea is a 

 much more important object than on land. In the cabin, 

 meanwhile, where cleaning has been begun quite early, the 

 table is laid, and punctually at seven o'clock we sit down 

 to breakfast, to which, besides bread and butter, is ad^ded 

 cold meat of some kind or other, to which we were un- 

 accustomed. The captain takes his meals with us, so 

 that, as one officer is obliged to be on deck, we are seven. 

 After breakfast, we generally stay a short time on deck, 

 either sitting on the bulwarks or walking up and down, 



