THE DECKS. 17 



any other rules than those which are usual in all well 

 disciplined ships. 



To make the schooner comfortable was impractica- 

 ble, and to make her tidy equally so. I found my- 

 self rocking about on the Atlantic with decks in a 

 condition to have sorely tried the patience of the 

 most practised sailor. Barrels, boxes, boards, boats, 

 and other articles were spiked or lashed to the bul- 

 warks and masts, until all available space was covered, 

 and there was left only a narrow, winding pathway 

 from the quarter to the forecastle deck, and no place 

 whatever for exercise but the top of the trunk cabin, 

 which was just twelve feet by ten ; and even this was 

 partly covered, and that too with articles which, if 

 they have existence, should at least never be in sight 

 on a well-regulated craft. But this was not to be 

 helped, — there was no room for any thing more be- 

 low hatches ; every nook and cranny in the vessel 

 was full, and we had no alternative but to allow the 

 decks to be " lumbered up " until some friendly sea 

 should xiome and wash the incumbrance overboard 

 (We were entirely too prudent to throw any thing 

 away.) That such an event would happen seemed 

 likely enough, for we were loaded down until the 

 deck, in the waist, was only a foot and a half above 

 the water ; and, standing in the gangway, you could 

 at any time lean over the monkey-rail and touch the 

 sea with your fingers. The galley filled up the entire 

 space between the fore hatch and the mainmast ; and 

 the water, coming in over the gangway, poured 

 through it frequently without restraint. The cook 

 and the fire were often put out together, and the 

 regularity of our meals was a little disturbed in con- 

 sequence. 



2 



