LAST HARBOR IN LABRADOR. 61 



After a hard pull to windward for two of us, to set the pilot 

 ashore, and a wet and rough time getting aboard again, and 

 after our laugh at the expense of the mate, who had cast off 

 our shore warp, as we started out of the harbor, and then had 

 been unable to catch the schooner, which was equally unable to 

 wait for him in the narrow passage, and who had, therefore, to 

 row all the way after us at the top of his speed, and only caught 

 us when we lay to to send off the pilot; we made everything 

 snug and started down the straits, hoping to reach Canso with- 

 out further delay. 



That was not our fortune, however, for soon the wind hauled 

 ahead, and with a strong current against us it was impossible to 

 make any progress, so after jumping in a most lively manner all 

 day, in the chops of Belle Isle, we made a harbor for the night 

 at Chateau Bay, in almost the same spot where we had waited 

 two dreary days two months before. The next day we worked 

 along the coast, but at night again put in to what proved our 

 last, as well as our first harbor on the Labrador — Red Bay. 

 Here we found a mail steamer and were allowed irregularly to 

 open the bag to Battle Harbor and take out that which belonged 

 to us, much to our delight, of course, for it gave us news com- 

 paratively fresh, that is, not over a month old, from home. 



Here, also, we laid in a supply of the only fruit that Labrador 

 produces, called " bake apple." It is a berry of a beautiful 

 waxen color when ripe, otherwise looking much like a large 

 raspberry, and having a most peculiar flavor, which we learned 

 to like, and grew very fond of, when the berries were served, 

 stewed with sugar. We had been deprived of fresh fruit so 

 long that we should probably have learned to like anything, 

 however odd its flavor, that had its general characteristics. 



Here, too, we again fell in with our little Halifax trader, which 

 gave us so hot a race to Halifax in the coming week, both ves- 

 sels arriving at Halifax within an hour of each other, after start- 

 ing at the same time from Red Bay and keeping within sight 

 nearly all the time. At length the wind came to the south, and 

 we started, laying our course west, along the Labrador shore, so 

 as to get a windward position and be able to " fetch " Canso 



