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-144-

September 26 - 

The wind this morning is brisk and cool, but the sun shone as we came down the coast. Storm warnings were flying at every lighthouse, and the Captain told us that a Japanese liner in Boston had stayed there rather than follow us along the threatening coast into New York. It gave us an uneasy feeling, and we had the cages in Number 6 tied together again. May of them were loosely stacked since being moved out of Number 5, but the carpenter, for the last time, brought out planks and nailed the cages together in sections, so that one would hold the other upright. 

At eight o'clock we passed Ambrose Light, and hung over the rail for the last time watching the pilot come aboard. As in a small town, where the natives go down to the depot to see the train come in, so we [[strikethrough]] han [[/strikethrough]] gather at the rail to watch the pilot come aboard- any event that breaks the monotony of days at sea is interesting. Besides, in a swell, such as we have tonight, one has to admire the agility of the man who steps from a bouncing rowboat to the rope ladder and brings himself up on to the main deck. 

A few moments later Captain Rowe came into the day room, [[strikethrough]] eyes [[/strikethrough]] smiling, hat cocked rakishly over one eye, and reported "I've found your last port for you. After this you'll have to find your own ports."

We were, of course, too late to land. [[strikethrough]] For the sec [[/strikethrough]] It never seemed odd to sleep in the harbor of Singaport, Belawan, or Bombay, but somehow going to bed in full sight of the Statue of Liberty with a huge Wrigley sign flashing colored lights into our cabin, seemed strange. [[strikethrough]] So near to home, and yet [[/strikethrough]]

September 27 - 

I was up at five o'clock, and as soon as it was light enough clambered down into Number 6 to feed my charges for the last time. Davis and Jennier had been up most of the night, and had all the cages nailed fast, and everything ready to move. There was delay, of course, in landing, but by ten o'clock the big cages began to go over the side, where they were loaded into trucks waiting on the pier. 

The New York office had been pretty strict about allowing visitors to the Silverash, and Bernice Siebold, who sails to-morrow for Liberia, was our only unofficial guest. Of course the quarantine inspectors, customs men, express agents, etc., were all over the place, and kept Bill busy. Just after lunch Frank Buck showed up for a brief visit. 

We had lunch on board - our last curry - and shortly thereafter went ashore ourselves. I hated to leave the ship that had been our home for fifty days, and could only keep myself cheered up by making the Captain reiterate his promise that he would let us know when she came into Baltimore, and we could see him and it again there. 

There was considerable difficulty in getting the giraffes off the pier. The Sudan government had shipped them to us in