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?