At 10 a.m. the _Douglas Castle_ kept away for the Macclesfield Channel, and about noon _Wild Deer_ made for Clements Channel, whilst the _Peter Denny_ held on for the Stolze; this would save her tacking again once she was clear of the Straits, as the S.E. monsoon was blowing steadily in the Java Sea. Thus the ships were parted for a time. That night was another clear moonlight night with a nice little breeze. During the first watch the Brothers were sighted on the _Wild Deer_, and Duncan reported them to Captain Smith, who was lying asleep on the skylight. Smith, however, had none of the alertness of a crack China trader and went off into a heavy sleep again, then during the middle watch he woke up like a bear with a sore head and asked the big Highland second mate if he had seen the Brothers yet. Of course the second mate said he had not seen them, as they had been passed whilst his watch was below. At this old Smith got in a panic; the mainyard was backed, the courses hauled up and the royal yards lowered down. On coming on deck at 4 a.m. Duncan found to his amazement that the ship was hove to, and to his disgust that one of the others had passed her during the night whilst she lay with her head under her wing. On finding out the reason from the second mate, he roused out the “Old Man” and reminded him that he had reported the Brothers during the first watch. And you may be sure that it was “jump and go” for the crew until the _Wild Deer_ was off again. The wind fell light as the ship approached Sunda Straits, and as _Wild Deer_ crawled towards Anjer the other two ships were sighted ahead, almost becalmed. _Wild Deer_ managed to avoid the calm patch by going to the norrard of Thwarttheway Island and Krakatoa, and thus stole a march on her rivals; however, they finally came out of the Straits, neck and neck. Just before dark the S.E. trade came away. _Wild Deer_ was still leading, but the _Douglas Castle_ was so close astern that each crew could hear the other singing out as they trimmed sail for the run across the trades. The next morning found _Wild Deer_ still in the lead with the other two ships one on each quarter, and the following day the three ships separated until they were off the Cape. Then, on a day of baffling and squally winds the _Wild Deer_ and _Douglas Castle_ passed each other on opposite tacks, the _Douglas_ signalling that she had spoken the _Denny_ that morning. The _Wild Deer_ found a head wind in the mouth of the Channel, but eventually after two days’ beating a fine slashing breeze came out of the south-west. At Dungeness the pilot had no news of the other two ships; but just as the _Wild Deer_ was making fast to her buoy at Gravesend the _Douglas Castle_ came up, and, as she passed, hailed to say that the _Peter Denny_ was close astern.