There is no reason to keep any of this secret. Therefore I am permitted to use the information, and give you a copy, leaving out only the technical details. It almost seems as though the captain had been suffering from some kind of mania even before the ship had got well into blue water. These problems became steadily worse during the voyage.

Of course my statement must be taken with a grain of salt. I am writing from the dictation of a clerk of the Russian consul, who kindly translated for me, because time is short.

LOG OF THE DEMETER.
Varna to Whitby.
Written 18 July. Strange things are happening. I shall keep accurate records until we land. On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes of earth. At noon we set sail. East wind, fresh. Crew, five sailors, two mates, a cook, and myself (the captain).

Vocabulary:

Permit: Allow, give permission
Technical: Detailed information for professionals
Mania: Mental problem
Blue water: The deep sea
Voyage: A journey, usually by sea
A grain of salt: Not fully trusted
Dictation: Someone speaking slowly for someone else to write down
Accurate: Without even small mistakes
Mates: Assistants to the captain