Dinner being over, I sat for hours reading the life of Columbus, and as the day wore on I watched the birds all flying in one direction, and said, "Land lies there." Early the next morning, August 4, I discovered Spain.

I saw fires on shore, and knew that the country was inhabited.

The _Spray_ continued on her course till well in with the land, which was that about Trafalgar.

Then keeping away a point, she passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, where she cast anchor at 3 P.M.of the same day, less than twenty-nine days from Cape Sable.

At the finish of this preliminary trip I found myself in excellent health, not overworked or cramped, but as well as ever in my life, though I was as thin as a reef-point.
[Illustration: Coming to anchor at Gibraltar.] Two Italian barks, which had been close alongside at daylight, I saw long after I had anchored, passing up the African side of the strait.
The _Spray_ had sailed them both hull down before she reached Tarifa.
So far as I know, the _Spray_ beat everything going across the Atlantic except the steamers.
All was well, but I had forgotten to bring a bill of health from Horta, and so when the fierce old port doctor came to inspect there was a row.