I happened to be looking over the stern watching the clouds gathering in dark, black masses, when a strange upheaval of the waters took place almost at my feet, and a huge black fish, like an exaggerated porpoise, leaped into the air close to the stern of my little vessel.
It was a monstrous, ungainly looking creature, nearly the size of a small whale.

The strange way it disported itself alongside the ship filled me with all manner of doubtings, and I was heartily thankful when it suddenly disappeared from sight.

The weather then became more boisterous, and as the day advanced I strove my utmost to keep the ship's head well before the wind; it was very exhausting work.

I was unable to keep anything like an adequate look-out ahead, and had to trust to Providence to pull me through safely.
All this time I did not want for food.

Certainly I could not cook anything, but there was any quantity of tinned provisions.