Have you ever sailed with him before ?" "No; this is our first voyage together.

Again last night I spoke to him about the route we were taking, but he only said he knew all about it, and that it was all right." "What do Lieutenant Walter and your boatswain think of it all ?" I inquired.
"Think; why they think just the same as I do," replied the mate; "but if the captain chooses to take the ship to China we should obey his orders." "But surely," I exclaimed, "there must be some limit to your obedience! Suppose the man is actually mad, what then ?" "If he should be mad enough, Mr.Kazallon, to bring the vessel into any real danger, I shall know what to do." With this assurance I am forced to be content.

Matters, however, have taken a different turn to what I bargained for when I took my passage on board the "Chancellor." The weather has become worse and worse.

As I have already said, the ship under her large low-reefed top-sail and fore stay-sail has been brought ahull, that is to say, she copes directly with the wind, by presenting her broad bows to the sea; and so we go on still drift, drift, continually to the south.
How southerly our course has been is very apparent; for upon the night of the 11th we fairly entered upon that portion of the Atlantic which is known as the Sargassos Sea.

An extensive tract of water is this, enclosed by the warm current of the Gulf Stream, and thickly covered with the wrack, called by the Spaniards "sargasso," the abundance of which so seriously impeded the progress of Columbus's vessels on his first voyage across the ocean.
Each morning at daybreak the Atlantic has presented an aspect so remarkable, that at my solicitation, M.Letourneur and his son have ventured upon deck to witness the unusual spectacle.