THE MONSTEKS OF THE ATLANTIC, 163 



was literally like a mirror, vast and immeasurable, 

 and although the sails were unfurled, the ship did 

 not advance a hair's breadth. There it lay, like a 

 stranded whale, floating on the water. The tropical 

 heat, the burning sun, everything tended to render 

 the motionless condition of the San Christoval in- 

 supportable. One day passed in this manner ; then 

 two, three, and finally a week. If we gradually lost 

 sight of land the fact was due to the currents. In 

 fact, we were enjoying — if such a word can be ap- 

 plicable to our feelings — a dead calm, and it was 

 most irritating both to the crew and the passengers. 

 In vain did the captain exercise his ingenuity to amuse 

 the travellers who were under his care. His excel- 

 lent dinners, his musical soirees, and the dancing 

 parties which he organised were quite unable to dissi- 

 pate the weariness and impatience which fell upon all 

 who were thus imprisoned in the San Christoval. 



The only amusement we had was that of fishing. 

 It was pleasant to watch the shoals of enormous dol- 

 phins playing along the side of the ship, their bronze 

 skins and iridescent colours sparkling and shining in 

 the sun. We amused ourselves with watching the 

 captain and sailors harpooning these monsters of the 

 Atlantic, and catching them with large hooks. It 

 was curious to watch these creatures dart at the 

 bait. As soon as they felt that they were hooked, they 

 hurried ofl" in a contrary direction, carrying the line 

 with them, and when they had taken it all out 



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