60 BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR. 



" nothing but a schooner in the way, sir ; " and people rushed 

 to their doors and to the decks to see what was exciting such a 

 commotion, just as the anchor was let go with a roar and we 

 quietly swung to and ran our mooring line, as though we had 

 done that thing all our lives. 



Here about one hundred letters were brought aboard amid 

 much rejoicing, for many had not heard from home at all during 

 the trip. 



By the time we were ready to make what we hoped would 

 prove the last departure from a Labrador harbor, the next 

 morning, the wind, which had changed in the night and was 

 blowing in exactly the opposite direction, had become so strong 

 that the little steam launch of Bayne & Co., which had been 

 tendered us to tow us out of the harbor, was not powerful 

 enough to pull the schooner against it. The other entrance, 

 for like all the rest this Labrador harbor was merely a " tickle" 

 and had its two entrances, was narrow, shoal, and had such 

 short turns that it seemed impossible to run so large a vessel as 

 the Julia through it. However, our impatience would not 

 brook the uncertain delay of waiting for the wind to change, so 

 taking on board the best pilot that town of pilots could afford, 

 we made the attempt. Three times we held our breaths, almost, 

 as we anxiously watched the great green spots in the water, 

 indicating sunken rocks, glide under our counter or along our 

 side, while the steady voice of the weatherbeaten old man at 

 the fore rigging sounded " port," then in quick, sharp, seem- 

 ingly anxious tones, " now starboard — hard ! " and again " port 

 — lively now," and the graceful vessel turned to the right or 

 left, just grazing the rock or ledge, as though she too could see 

 just how near to them it was safe to go and yet pass through 

 without a scrape. It was a decided relief to all, and the silence 

 on board, that had been broken only by the rush of wind and 

 water, the pilot's voice and the creaking of the wheel as it was 

 whirled around by the skillful hands of the captain, suddenly 

 ceased, when the pilot left his place and walked slowly aft, 

 praising the admirable way in which the vessel behaved at the 

 critical points, and apparently unconscious that in the eyes of 

 twenty college boys he had performed an almost impossible feat. 



