L. 14, P. 6. In the morning we found that by tacking all night we had only gained about one mile. However after coffee we felt better and as the day cleared up and the wind pulled over a trifle more south we made fairly good speed until just off the island. There we found the tide against us, and had to make three or four more long tacks to get up to the pier which we reached about eleven oclock, having taken just on 24 hours to do what we ought to have accomplished in eight at the most. At Daru things were about the same. A garden had been made, drains finished about the house, and the plane with Rogers and Julstedt was away in Port. Rand and Archbold reported a more or less fruitless trip out to the reef, but at least they saw it. But the most important thing to me was that I found a lot of mail waiting. The "Maira" (that is how it is spelt, it seems) is due about the 28th, and we all expect to get away on her before many more days have passed for Palmer Junction. Meanwhile a mail notice has come around for a boat leaving tomorrow for T. I., and this letter goes with her.