224 THE ALBATROSS. 



northward, we should have favorable winds ; but 

 I could think of no port in that direction where 

 we could be sure of getting spars and whale-boats 

 and rigging. In fact, the only port really to be 

 considered was Mauritius. So thither we turned, 

 keeping the ship headed to the southward, and 

 beat around the south of Madagascar. Forty 

 days after the hurricane we sighted the Mauritian 

 harbor of Port Louis. Considering that the Pope 

 was a wrecked ship under frail jury-masts, and 

 considering also that we had to contend against 

 rugged weather nearly all the way, I thought that 

 I had done my duty faithfully and succeeded 

 triumphantly. 



As we were limping into port, Russell came up 

 to me with an insinuating look in his sly little 

 eyes. " Cap'n Robbins," he said, " if you will 

 pardon me, I have something unpleasant to say to 

 you. I think it only just to myself to insist that 

 if you had taken my advice we should not now be 

 putting into Port Louis for repairs ! " 



" What advice, pray ? " 



" Why, don't you remember ? I mean my 

 advice about the albatross, of course — the poor, 

 white murdered albatross. Have you forgotten 

 that when you insisted upon having that bird 

 killed I said, ' Cap'n Robbins, we shall all be very 

 sorry for this ? ' " 



