68 FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
George, the second mate, found it there, and though he 
has a sailor's reverence for cats, and is generally fond of 
animals, he felt it was his duty to do away with it. 
... At 2 P.M. this Tuesday the cat was dropped over 
board with a piece of furnace-bar tied to its neck. 
Since we made a Jonah of the cat, we have had two 
perfect sailing days, with a clear sky and warm sun, and 
blue white-crested waves tumbling under our counter. 
was quiet, the sails aloft were all asleep in each other's 
shadows, and the Balsena rolled gently before the north 
wind, and at every roll the dark warm sea came flopping 
Poor beast ! how it would 
have enjoyed some warm 
corner on deck now ! . . . 
I have not yet introduced 
Willie Watson in my log. 
I must do so here. He is 
one of the jolliest characters 
on board. Some call him 
Willie Watson, others ' Dee 
Dong;' from his generally 
Frenchie appearance and 
lively wit. But Willie 
Watson, The Hayne, Car- 
noustie, would find him 
any day. I was talking to 
him to-night for a long time 
under the break of the poop. 
It was just the sort of night 
for story-telling: everything 
