-3- 
which Is next to ours. It is pretty di scour agin g to have all 
your books and papers swimming about on the cabin floor while you 
wonder just how water-tight your metal trunks and suitcases are. 
Apparently no damage was done, and sailors came and mopped up for 
us In short order. 
//e passed a ship one evening about nine o’clock; it was 
sailing along with no lights at all, but flashed on its riding 
lights for a few moments while it was close to us. Our radio 
man asked them who they were, but they did not ansx«rer, apparently 
a or British freighter that did not want to give its 
position to a possibly listening German raider. We ourselves 
turn on all the lights at night, and have a big flood-light on 
eacn side to illuminate the American flag painted on both 
port and starboard sides of the ship. Another flag* 4.3 painted 
on the boat deck, and one on a hatch cover. Nobody can mistake 
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the cabin 
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------ * - — — - which gets pretty stuffy or 
In the dining room, which Is much too warm. Every step one 
takes has to be a careful one, for it is difficult' to keep one’s 
balance. u oing back and forth across the open deck is hazardous 
with great waves breaking completely over it. I got a nice salt 
water shower one night most unexpectedly. Glasses and soup 
plates slide off the table. Everybody has a few bruises, but 
nobody has been really hurt, which is lucky, with no doctor on 
board. 
The night of the 23rd was the roughest, with waves 
crashing against the ship, and breaking over the bridge at 
regular intervals. Most of the portholes leak a little. However, 
we plow along, making about 230 miles a day, and one finds out all 
over again what a lot of punishment a ship can really take. And 
it is a good chance to get caught up on reading. If" you lie In 
your bunk with a book In front of you, it takes your mind off the 
cockroaches. Nobody has been seasick, except Miss Nelson, and 
she has now recovered. 
February 24 
A beautiful bright blue day, with the sea subsiding. 
The steering wheel broke early this morning, and the ship is 
now being steered from the poop, while the engineer tries to 
mend it. It is the first day that has been calm enough to 
enjoy being out on deck, or to get out the typewriter. ^ In rough 
weather the carriage doesn’t slide properly, and one keens on 
writing letters on top of each other. 
U ) All night a watchman stands on the forecastle head, 
and as one bells ring at half-hour interva3.s, he echoes them 
on his bell, and calls out "Eight bells and all lights burning, ” 
so that the man on the bridge will know that "our flag is still 
there . " 
