The north light of Block Island was passed on the left, and along the west shore of that gem of the sea the boat sped. At the southern end the sloop was turned to the east, and it was evident that Budd was going to run around the island. It was now after twelve o'clock, and Judd asked:
"Shall you land for dinner, Budd, or shall I get it ready in the cabin?"
"We are not going to land anywhere until we touch our own dock," said Budd, in high glee. "I came out for a sail, and I'm going to have it. You can get dinner ready when you like."
Judd went into the cabin, built a fire in the tiny stove, and soon the fragrant odor of coffee filled the air. After awhile he announced dinner, and Mr. Boyd and Mr. Floyd went down to partake of it.
Budd, left alone on deck, and, as he afterward said, taken with a freak, put the sloop about again and ran off to sea. Those at dinner thought little of it until they felt the sloop suddenly heave up into the wind and heard Budd call out:
"Here, Judd, quick; I want you."
They all jumped to their feet and rushed out of the cabin. The sloop was miles off the southeast of Block Island, which looked like a mere cloud at the northwest. Her sails flapped idly in the wind, her helm was lashed, and Budd, with the scoop-net in band, was trying to reach several large bunches of grayish matter that were tossing a few feet away upon the waves.
"What is it?" asked Judd, coming to Budd's assistance, and letting the sloop off a little so she would swing nearer to the object his partner was endeavoring to reach.
"I don't know," answered Budd, catching the largest bunch in his net and drawing it on board, "but I'll soon find out."
But the more he examined the object, the more puzzled he was. While grayish in color at a distance, on close inspection it proved to be variegated, like marble. It also had a fatty, oily appearance, but was solid to the touch, and when rubbed gave forth a peculiar sweet, earthy odor.