Anyhow, a philosophical turn of thought now was not amiss, else one's patience would have given out almost at the harbor entrance.

The term of her probation was eight days.

Evening after evening during this time I read by the light of a candle on deck.

There was no wind at all, and the sea became smooth and monotonous.

For three days I saw a full-rigged ship on the horizon, also becalmed.
Sargasso, scattered over the sea in bunches, or trailed curiously along down the wind in narrow lanes, now gathered together in great fields, strange sea-animals, little and big, swimming in and out, the most curious among them being a tiny seahorse which I captured and brought home preserved in a bottle.