BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



speaking less. Our boat was the largest of the fishermen's 

 one-masted craft with lateen sails, and was decked over, leav- 

 ing an apartment below in which one might sit or crawl about 

 in the darkness. All being ready, the anchor was drawn in 

 and stowed below, and the long oars were brought into use 

 to carry us well out into the stream. By this time the breeze 

 had freshened so that the water was flecked with big white 

 combers. Several fishing boats had started out before us and 

 a number followed closely after, making a picturesque little 

 flotilla scudding along under closely reefed sails. The raising 

 of our mainsail in so stiff a breeze was attended with no little 

 difficulty, but at last, after much pulling, jumping about, shout- 

 ing, and dodging of flapping canvas and swinging boom, it 

 was up and we were started on our voyage. 



My companion and I were safely stowed out of harm's 

 way below deck, with the hatch tightly closed over our heads 

 and the odors of unsavory viands and bilge water about us in 

 the darkness. The boat was bobbing about like a cork and 

 the one controlling passion of our lives was to get out of our 

 prison into the sunlight. This we presently insisted on doing, 

 and after we had opened the hatch and stood up in the well, 

 life took on quite a different aspect. The cold, salt air soon 

 restored us to a more comfortable frame of mind, although, 

 every few minutes, a vigorous wave would come cthud! 

 against the bow and hurl a bucketful of water in our faces. 

 The fortunate possession of a rubber coat saved me from being 

 completely drenched, and, with the exception of the seepage 

 from an occasional shower of spray running down my neck, 

 and a pair of wet shoes, I kept tolerably dry. The case was 

 otherwise with my companion, however; he had no rubber 



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