In Search of an Unknown Race — page 211: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. 197 ham—twenty-seven hundred tons—the largest American vessel afloat, bound for Yokohama,” said Captain Peter- son, answering Van’s look of eager inquiry as he re- turned to the side of his berth. Captain Peterson went on to explain that having struck a tremendous gale from the east, the ship had been forced to run before it for three days, going far out of her course. ‘* But it's an ill wind that blows nobody good,” he said, ‘‘and only for it I should not have had the won- derful fortune of finding you as I did.” And then the captain told Van that it was only by one of those mere chances on which life and death some- times hang, that, as he was taking his glass from his eye, after watching the moving spar, he caught a glimpse of Van himself in the life buoy. And when in turn Van spoke of the service done him by the harnessed shark, Captain Peterson’s astonishment was great indeed. ‘‘But no more for to-night, my boy,” he said, as Van was about to begin a more extended narrative. ‘You are not strong enough to talk too much, and a few hours’ more sleep will be better than medicine.” And so it was that Van closed his eyes for a second edition of the much needed slumber. He was wakened from time to time by the deep clangor of the ship's bell, or the tread of feet along the gangway, as some of the after sails were loosed and set, or yards checked in by the weather braces. And in the morning Van was himselfagain. The stew- ard brought him hot coffee and toast as a prelude to a heartier breakfast to follow, while Captain Peterson exhausted the resources of the slop chest to furnish him with wearing apparel. EOMiIGdoOO “S (E(@) im