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in me ever since I took that carbuncle out of his neck which he
got because he will not eat enough。 As for me； I mean to come if
only to show you how continually and persistently you are wrong。
But； Arbuthnot； how do you mean to go？〃
〃I don't know。 In a mail steamer； I suppose。〃
〃If you can run to it； a yacht would be much better。〃
〃That's a good idea； for one could get out of the beaten tracks
and see the places that are never； or seldom； visited。 I will
make some inquiries。 And now； to celebrate the occasion； let us
all have another glass of port and drink a toast。〃
They hesitated and were lost； Bastin murmuring something about
doing without his stout next day as a penance。 Then they both
asked what was the toast； each of them； after thought； suggesting
that it should be the utter confusion of the other。
I shook my head； whereon as a result of further cogitation；
Bastin submitted that the Unknown would be suitable。 Bickley said
that he thought this a foolish idea as everything worth knowing
was already known； and what was the good of drinking to the rest？
A toast to the Truth would be better。
A notion came to me。
〃Let us combine them；〃 I said； 〃and drink to the Unknown
Truth。〃
So we did； though Bastin grumbled that the performance made him
feel like Pilate。
〃We are all Pilates in our way；〃 I replied with a sigh。
〃That is what I think every time I diagnose a case；〃 exclaimed
Bickley。
As for me I laughed and for some unknown reason felt happier
than I had done for months。 Oh！ if only the writer of that
tourist tale of the South Sea Islands could have guessed what
fruit his light…thrown seed would yield to us and to the world！
I made my inquiries through a London agency which hired out
yachts or sold them to the idle rich。 As I expected； there were
plenty to be had； at a price； but wealthy as I was； the figure
asked of the buyer of any suitable craft； staggered me。 In the
end； however； I chartered one for six months certain and at so
much per month for as long as I liked afterwards。 The owners paid
insurance and everything else on condition that they appointed
the captain and first mate； also the engineer； for this yacht；
which was named Star of the South； could steam at about ten knots
as well as sail。
I know nothing about yachts； and therefore shall not attempt to
describe her； further than to say that she was of five hundred
and fifty tons burden； very well constructed； and smart to look
at； as well she might be； seeing that a deceased millionaire from
whose executors I hired her had spent a fortune in building and
equipping her in the best possible style。 In all； her crew
consisted of thirty…two hands。 A peculiarity of the vessel was
that owing to some fancy of the late owner； the passenger
accommodation； which was splendid； lay forward of the bridge；
this with the ship's store…rooms； refrigerating chamber； etc。；
being almost in the bows。 It was owing to these arrangements；
which were unusual； that the executors found it impossible to
sell； and were therefore glad to accept such an offer as mine in
order to save expenses。 Perhaps they hoped that she might go to
the bottom； being heavily insured。 If so； the Fates did not
disappoint them。
The captain； named Astley； was a jovial person who held every
kind of certificate。 He seemed so extraordinarily able at his
business that personally I suspected him of having made mistakes
in the course of his career； not unconnected with the worship of
Bacchus。 In this I believe I was right； otherwise a man of such
attainments would have been commanding something bigger than a
private yacht。 The first mate； Jacobsen； was a melancholy Dane； a
spiritualist who played the concertina； and seemed to be able to
do without sleep。 The crew were a mixed lot； good men for the
most part and quite unobjectionable； more than half of them being
Scandinavian。 I think that is all I need say about the Star of
the South。
The arrangement was that the Star of the South should proceed
through the Straits of Gibraltar to Marseilles； where we would
join her； and thence travel via the Suez Canal； to Australia and
on to the South Seas； returning home as our fancy or convenience
might dictate。
All the first part of the plan we carried out to the letter。 Of
the remainder I say nothing at present。
The Star of the South was amply provided with every kind of
store。 Among them were medicines and surgical instruments；
selected by Bickley； and a case of Bibles and other religious
works in sundry languages of the South Seas； selected by Bastin；
whose bishop； when he understood the pious objects of his
journey； had rather encouraged than hindered his departure on
sick leave； and a large number of novels； books of reference；
etc。； laid in by myself。 She duly sailed from the Thames and
reached Marseilles after a safe and easy passage； where all three
of us boarded her。
I forgot to add that she had another passenger； the little
spaniel； Tommy。 I had intended to leave him behind； but while I
was packing up he followed me about with such evident
understanding of my purpose that my heart was touched。 When I
entered the motor to drive to the station he escaped from the
hands of the servant； whimpering； and took refuge on my knee。
After this I felt that Destiny intended him to be our companion。
Moreover； was he not linked with my dead past； and； had I but
known it； with my living future also？
Chapter V
The Cyclone
We enjoyed our voyage exceedingly。 In Egypt； a land I was glad
to revisit； we only stopped a week while the Star of the South；
which we rejoined at Suez； coaled and went through the Canal。
This； however； gave us time to spend a few days in Cairo； visit
the Pyramids and Sakkara which Bastin and Bickley had never seen
before； and inspect the great Museum。 The journey up the Nile was
postponed until our return。 It was a pleasant break and gave
Bickley； a most omnivorous reader who was well acquainted with
Egyptian history and theology； the opportunity of trying to prove
to Bastin that Christianity was a mere development of the ancient
Egyptian faith。 The arguments that ensued may be imagined。 It
never seemed to occur to either of them that all faiths may be
and indeed probably are progressive； in short； different rays of
light thrown from the various facets of the same crystal； as in
turn these are shone upon by the sun of Truth。
Our passage down the Red Sea was cool and agreeable。 Thence we
shaped our course for Ceylon。 Here again we stopped a little
while to run up to Kandy and to visit the ruined city of
Anarajapura with its great Buddhist topes that once again gave
rise to religious argument between my two friends。 Leaving Ceylon
we struck across the Indian Ocean for Perth in Western Australia。
It was a long voyage； since to save our coal we made most of it
under canv