THE BRAZILIAN CABLE 159 



.... My father has sent me the heartiest sort of 

 Jack Tar's cheer. 



1 S.S. Hooper. Off Funchal, June 29. Here we 

 are, off Madeira, at seven o'clock in the morning. 

 Thomson has been sounding with his special toy 

 ever since half -past three (1087 fathoms of water). 

 I have been watching the day break, and long 

 jagged islands start into being out of the dull 

 night. We are still some miles from land ; but the 

 sea is calmer than Loch Eil often was, and the big 

 Hooper rests very contentedly after a pleasant 

 voyage and favourable breezes. I have not been 

 able to do any real work except the testing [of the 

 cable], for though not sea-sick, I get a little giddy 

 when I try to think on board. . . . The ducks 

 have just had their daily souse and are quacking 

 and gabbling in a mighty way outside the door of 

 the captain's deck cabin where I write. The cocks 

 are crowing, and new-laid eggs are said to be found 

 in the coops. Four mild oxen have been untethered 

 and allowed to walk along the broad iron decks 

 a whole drove of sheep seem quite content while 

 licking big lumps of bay salt. Two exceedingly 

 impertinent goats lead the cook a perfect life of 

 misery. They steal round the galley and will 

 nibble the carrots or turnips if his back is turned 

 for one minute ; and then he throws something 

 at them and misses them; and they scuttle off 

 laughing impudently, and flick one ear at him 



