1894
April 19
At Sea
Noon observation: Lat. 31"05'; lon. 68"03; run 196 miles


  The wind hauled more to the eastward this morning
giving us a roll instead of a pitch but otherwise
there was no change in the weather which
continues remarkably fine. The color of the sea
is paler and duller than it was yesterday and
we have seen much less Saragossa weed. The blue
of the sky is also fading perceptably.

  There were no Petrels following the ship but I
saw one early in the morning, crossing the bows.
At about the same time an immature Herring Gull
paid us a visit and circled over our wake
finally alighting to feed on something that has
been thrown overboard.

  Just before breakfast, as I was standing on the deck
talking with Mr. Fortune, the machinery stopped
very suddenly after a loud clatter. The next moment
clouds of black, ill-smelling smoke poured up from
the engine room and penetrated to every part
of the ship. The passengers were in no doubt all more
or less alarmed but they behaved extremely well and
for some time no one moved and no questions
were asked, but presently the news spread that
we had burnt out one of the flues of the boiler
and that we should not be long delayed by the
necessary repairs which, indeed, were completed within
half-an-hour. In the meantime the steamer drifted
off sideways before the wind, rolling heavily. The perfect
silence and entire absence of vibration were very impressive.