SKILFUL SEAMANSHIP. 



23T 



From this I judged that the wind had veered to the south- 

 east and would grow lighter. About noon the water began 

 to tumble in very badly on the port quarter ; and the boat 

 was down by the stern. We were thoroughly wet, and the 

 sleeping gear was so water-soaked and swollen that it 

 jammed between the thwarts and could not be shifted in 

 trimming. I rigged the mackintosh on the port quarter, the 

 stroke oarsman holding one corner and I the other for seven 

 hours. This kept a great deal of water out of the boat and 

 acted like a 'tarpaulin in the rigging' to keep her head to 

 sea. At 4.40 P. M., per log, I called Melville and told him 

 that it was time to get under way. The sea was very heavy, 

 but was falling, and by standing west at first we could grad- 

 ually haul up to south-southwest as the sea went down. 



We got under way without getting a sea aboard and stood 

 to the westward, and by eight p. M. were able to haul up to 

 south-southwest, on which course we stood during the night 

 The second night was more comfortable, but still we were 

 all very wet ; but we were perfectly safe. I lay down for an 

 hour abreast the foremast while Melville relieved me, bul 

 could not sleep, and soon returned to my old place. 



