Still，itisamusingtoseethesetarryfellows，eveninthismodernday，taketheirlastfarewelloftheharbourtown。Theshipisstowed，andallreadyforsea，andtheywashandputonalltheirbraveryofattire。Ashoretheygo，theirfaceslongwithpiety，andseeksomeobscuretemplewhoseGodhaslittleflavourwithshorefolk，andheretheymakesacrificewithclamourandlavishoutlay。And，finally，therefollowsafeastinhonouroftheGod，andtheyarrivebackonboard，andputtoseaforthemostpartdrunken，andallheavyandevil—humouredwithgluttonyandtheirotherexcesses。
Thevoyagewasverydifferenttomyprevioussea—going。Therewasnocreepingtimorouslyalongintouchwiththecoasts。Westoodstraightacrosstheopengulfinthedirectionofhome，cameupwiththebandoftheCaribIslands，andworkedconfidentlythroughthem，asthoughtheyhadbeensignpoststomarktheseahighway;andstoppedonlytwicetoreplenishwithwood，water，andfruit。Thesecommodities，too，thesavagesbroughtusfreely，sogreatwastheirsubjection，andinneitherplacedidwehaveeventhesemblanceofafight。ItwasagreatcertificateofthegrowingpowerofAtlantisandherfinestover—seacolony。
Thenboldlyonwewentacrossthevastoceanbeyond，withneverasacrificetoimploretheGodsthattheyshouldhelpourdirection。Onemightfeelcensuretowardstheseruggedmarinersfortheirimpiety，butonecouldnothelpanadmirationfortheirlustyskillandconfidence。
ThedangersofthedesolateseaaredealtoutastheGodswill，andmancanonlytakethemastheycome。Stormsweencountered，andthemarinersfoughtthemwithstubbornendurance;twiceablazingstonefromHeavenhissedintotheseabesideus，thoughwithoutinjuringanyofourships;and，aswasunavoidable，thegreatbeastsoftheseahunteduswiththeiraccustomedsavagery。Butonlyoncedidwesuffermateriallossfromtheselast，andthatwaswhenthreeofthegreatersealizardsattackedthe\"Bear，\"theshipwhereonItravelled，atoneandthesametime。
Thehouroftheironsetwasduringtheblazingmiddayheat，andtheSunbeingatthefullofHispower，ourmachinesweregettingfullforcefromHim。Thevesselwastravellingforwardfasterthanamanondrylandcouldwalk。Butforthepowerescapeshemightaswellhavebeenstandingstillwhenthebeastssightedher。Therewerethreeofthem，asIhavesaid，andwesawthemcomeupoverthecurveofthehorizon，beatingtheseaintofoamwiththeirflappers，andwavingtheirgreatneckslikemastsastheyswam。Ournavywasspreadoutinalonglineofships，andinoldendayseachofthebeastswouldhaveselectedaseparateprey，andproceededforit;but，likeman，thesebeastshavelearnedthenecessitiesofwarfare，andtheyhuntinpacknowanddonotseparatetheirforces。