CHAPTER XI.
"Roose the fair day at e'en." _Scotch Proverb_.
After leaving New York, we no longer hugged the coast.

We stood right off, and to my great delight, I found we were going to put in at Bermuda for repairs.

I never knew, but I always fancy that these were done cheaper there than at New York.

Or it may merely have been because when we had been at sea two days the wretched _Slut_ leaked so that, though we were pumping day and night, till we were nearly worn out, we couldn't keep the wet from the gimcrack cargo.
Fortunately for us the weather was absolutely lovely, and though it was hot by day, we wore uncommonly little clothing, and "carried our change of air with us," as Dennis said.
As to the nights, I never can forget the ideal beauty of the last three before we reached Bermuda.

I had had no conception of what starlight can be and what stars can look like.