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February 23, 1899. Clear and pleasant. Hazy around horizon. At 4:00 AM, changed course to S by N3/8W. N.Ely breezes, accompanied by a long N Ely swell. At 7 :00 AM, passed a Felucca standing to E'd. Loaded with fish and laboring heavily in the head sea. Lawrence was released from confinement and restored to duty. Went to General Quarters - all divisions ready in four minutes – set the clock back 9 minutes. The Comd’g Officer had us all mustered aft, and told us 4 revolver belts were missing and someone stole them, what for he did not know. Had a careful search of the ship, but failed to find them. He also said, "Men, there's a thief on board this ship, and a thief on board ship is worse than a thief on shore. On numerous occasions, I have had complaints of articles of wearing apparel, etc. being missed. My icebox was, by some overthought on the part of my steward, left open. Some dastardly sneak steals all the fruit in it. It isn't for the fruit I'm speaking, but for the principle of the thing. -   Forewarned men is forearmed and the sooner you find who the thief is, the better it will be for yourselves. Go forward". See page 37 - I must keep quiet, as this may be the cause of someone being court-martialed – Very singular, but in the gloom I could not discern features. Barometer Falling at 3 o'clock high land was sighted off starboard beam. Exercised at physical drill. Lightning nearly all evening. At 5:00 PM - changed course to SW by W

Lat. 22° 54’ at noon, DR. 

Long 41 09’ at noon DR

Distance made good since noon Feb 22, 296 miles. Wrote to J. 

I will here add, that on the morning of the discovery I made, I notified's ship's writer (Moulton) of the fact, this was several days previous to our being called aft and notified of the fact by the Captain. There was a special order issued owing to a break in the distiller, water would be cut down to a gallon a day, for both officers and crew. At this rate, there is barely enough water left to last until we reach our next port. Finished reading ‘Raft Mates’ by Kirk Monroe.