Chapter 28

           Itwaswithfeelingsofawe,notunmingledwithfear,thatInowseatedmyselfonthecabinskylightandgazedupontherigidfeaturesofmylatecomrade,whilemymindwanderedoverhispasthistoryandcontemplatedwithanxietymypresentposition.AloneinthemidstofthewidePacific,havingamostimperfectknowledgeofnavigation,andinaschoonerrequiringatleasteightmenasherpropercrew!ButIwillnottaxthereader’spatiencewithaminutedetailofmyfeelingsanddoingsduringthefirstfewdaysthatfollowedthedeathofmycompanion.IwillmerelymentionthatItiedacannon-balltohisfeet,andwithfeelingsofthedeepestsorrow,consignedhimtothedeep.

           Forfullyaweekafterthatasteadybreezeblewfromtheeast,andasmycourselaywestandbynorth,Imaderapidprogresstowardsmydestination.Icouldnottakeanobservation,whichIverymuchregretted,asthecaptain’squadrantwasinthecabin;butfromthedayofsettingsailfromtheislandofthesavagesIhadkeptadeadreckoning,andasIknewprettywellnowhowmuchleewaytheschoonermade,IhopedtohittheCoralIslandwithoutmuchdifficulty.InthisIwasthemoreconfidentthatIknewitspositiononthechart—which,Iunderstood,wasaverygoodone—andsohaditscorrectbearingsbycompass.

           Astheweatherseemednowquitesettledandfine,andasIhadgotintothetrade-winds,Isetaboutpreparationsforhoistingthetopsails.

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