Am I deceived? No, they are indeed always the same letters."
Fabian's excited imagination saw in these eddyings that which it wished to see. But what could these letters signify? What remembrance did they call forth in Fabian's mind? The latter had resumed his silent contemplation, when suddenly he said to me: "Come to me, come; that gulf will draw me in!"
"What is the matter with you, Fabian," said I, taking him by both hands; "what is the matter, my friend?"
"I have here," said he, pressing his hand on his heart. "I have here a disease which will kill me."
"A disease?" said I to him, "a disease with no hope of cure?"
"No hope." And without another word Fabian went to the saloon, and then on to his cabin.
CHAPTER XI
I HEAR THE STORY OF FABIAN'S TROUBLE
The next day, Saturday, 30th of March, the weather was fine; our progress was more rapid, and the Great Eastern was now going at the rate of twelve knots an hour.
The wind had set south, and the first officer ordered the mizzen and the top-mast sails to be hoisted, so that the ship was perfectly steady. Under this fine sunny sky the upper decks again became crowded; ladies appeared in fresh costumes, some walking about, others sitting down—I was going to say on the grass-plats beneath the shady trees—and the children resumed their interrupted games. With a few soldiers in uniform, strutting about with their hands in their pockets, one might have fancied oneself on a French promenade.
At noon, the weather being favorable, Captain Anderson and two officers went onto the bridge, in order to take the sun's altitude; each held a sextant in his hand, and from time to time scanned the southern horizon, towards which their horizon-glasses were inclined.
"Noon," exclaimed Captain Anderson, after a short time.
Immediately a steersman rang a bell on the bridge, and
