10 BOWDOIN BOYS IN LABRADOR 



only last March, and hence the cuts furnished admirable fields in 

 which to examine the geology. The road is surveyed and bed made 

 along the Cape Breton shore of the Gut nearly to the northern end, 

 and when completed will be a delightful ride. I think the Gut for 

 10 miles north of Port Hawkesbury resembles the Hudson just by 

 the Palisades. It is grander than Eggemoggin Reach and on a far 

 larger scale than Somes' Sound. At the northern end it broadens 

 and becomes just a magnificent waterway, without the grand 

 scenery. We were becalmed nearly all day in George's Bay, at one 

 time getting pretty near Antigonish, but got a breeze towards even- 

 ing. We tried fishing several times but could not get a bite though 

 several fishermen were in sight and trawls innumerable. We passed 

 one fisherman, a fine three-master, just as we were coming out of 

 the Gut from Frenchman's Bay, going home, but with very little fish. 



I got the captain to call me about 4, Wednesday morning, to fish, 

 but got none. We were then off North Cape, having had a good 

 breeze all night. The wind was light all day, but towards the latter 

 part of the afternoon commenced to blow from the southeast, kick- 

 ing up a nasty sea very soon. We double reefed the mainsail 

 reefed the foresail and hauled the flying jib down. About 8 P. M. 

 we laid to with the jib hauled down, on the starboard tack. The 

 wind had backed to the east about four points and was blowing a 

 gale. About 12 M. it suddenly dropped, a flat calm, leaving a 

 tremendous sea running from the southeast, combined with a smaller 

 one from the east. Our motions, jumps, rolls and pitches, can be 

 better imagined than described. It seemed at times that our bow 

 and our stern were where the mastheads usually are, and our rails 

 were frequently rolled under. 



Rice and Hunt stood one watch, Cary and I the second, and here 

 Rice, though a good sailor and an experienced yachtsman, finally 

 succumbed. We hauled everything down with infinite difficulty, 

 owing to the violent motion, and made it fast, then let her roll and 

 pitch to her heart's content. A sorrier looking place than our ward- 

 room, and a sicker set of fellows it would be hard to find. The 

 dishes had some play in the racks, and kept up an infernal racket 

 that I tried in every way to stop and could not. To cap all, the 

 wind came off a gale northwest about 4 A. M., and made yet 

 another sea. As soon as possible we set a double-reefed foresail, 

 and then I turned in. When I turned out at noon we had made 

 Newfoundland and set a whole foresail, jib and one reef out of the 

 mainsail. We were becalmed, but found excellent fishing, so did 



