1 6 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



smoking saloon wanted to talk to Mr. Chamberlain, 

 and edged up to him whenever a chance offered. 

 These well-meant attentions bored him to distrac- 

 tion, so much so that he eventually sought refuge in 

 the chief officer's cabin, where we had many a 

 smoke and chat together in peace, or comparative 

 peace leastways, as perfect peace on the Atlantic in 

 November is an unknown quantity. Bar the weather, 

 the voyage was as uneventful as most sea voyages 

 are. On November 4 the hurricane abated a bit, 

 and we got on deck, and the sight of a whale was 

 reported. Every one rushed up on deck to see what 

 was to be seen, which was not much beyond the 

 crest of a dark object about 100 yards from the vessel 

 throwing up occasional jets of water. To the best 

 of my recollection we only met one vessel during 

 the whole voyage, homeward bound, thus exempli- 

 fying the truth of what my old mariner at Clovelly 

 had said. 



On Saturday, November 5, we were 700 miles 

 from Sandy Hook, rather better weather, and steam- 

 ing about 454 knots a day. We had a concert that 

 night, with Mr. Chamberlain in the chair, and 

 realised £22 for the Sailors' Orphanage. Poor 

 Barton M'Guckin, since deceased, who was going 

 out to fulfil a professional engagement at New York, 



