Once more we were on the boundless ocean, out of sight of land, the stars only as our guides, and the sagacity of the Polynesian chief and his followers to depend on.  What made us feel most strange was our utter ignorance where we were going.  From the quantity of provisions and water the natives had thought it necessary to provide, it was evident that we had a long voyage before us--perhaps many weeks might be occupied in performing it.  We could scarcely hope not to experience a gale of wind even in the Pacific during that time, and how could we hope to weather it out in so frail a craft, especially deeply laden as we were?