Atlas Nightshade

Day 98

_30 October._--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I called

on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of

Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord

Godalming's telegraphed request, asking us to show them any civility in

their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and took us at once

on board the _Czarina Catherine_, which lay at anchor out in the river

harbour. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us of his

voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so favourable a

run.

"Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expeckit that we should

have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to keep up the

average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black Sea wi' a wind

ahint