_Tuesday, 13th July._--The weather this morning was somewhat finer, but still a good deal unsettled. We have failed as yet to get hold of the S.E. Trades, but are living in hopes that a favourable breeze will soon waft us onward to our destination. The great excitement this morning was the smoke of a steamer, which at first we wildly imagined must be the vessel expected from Sydney to meet us at Norfolk Island, giving us chase. However, wiser heads, by the direction of the ship’s head and the course of the smoke, made it out to be the _Rockton_ or some steamer from Fiji towards New Caledonia. Whatever ship it may have been, the excitement all ended in smoke. Beyond this, we have had nothing stirring all day. The moon at night dispersed the clouds, and the concertina forward enlivened the monotony of the evening. And so has passed another day, leaving little record of any work done. _Wednesday, 14th July._--We were to-day somewhere in the neighbourhood of Walpole Island, a flat, uninhabited island lying by itself in mid ocean, on which myriads of sea birds have their dwelling, and lay their eggs and hatch their young. The weather was somewhat hazy, so we got no sight of the sun although the Captain was anxious to do so, not having been able to see that orb either to-day or yesterday. The ‘dead reckoning’ alone showed him our probable whereabouts, but he was not able to get any definite position laid down. Shoals of fish were seen about the ship to-day, and the boys perched on the bowsprit end succeeded in cleverly catching two fine skipjacks, one of which we had cooked for dinner, and which was pronounced as very good eating. No bait is required for these fish, a line, rod, and hook to which a piece of red rag is attached, are requisite, and the motion of the vessel makes the tempting object skip along the surface of the water, to which the fish rises and swallows hook and all. They are large fish, and peculiarly strong, especially with their tails. At times they breach out of the water to a great height, the motive power being seated in their tails. One of the boys unadvisedly took hold of one of those caught to-day too near the tail, and the fish lashing out struck him on the forefinger, and at first I fancied had sprained it, for the whole hand swelled, and he was in considerable pain for some time. This evening it was very quiet and pleasant, and the moon added to the pleasantness of the occasion. It is wonderful to mark how the days lengthen as we go further North, and how the weather grows warmer. Soon we shall dispense with waistcoats, and bye and bye coats will likewise go, except at meals and at prayers. We saw nothing of Walpole Island, and the Captain got no sight of the sun again to-day.