COLD COMFORT. 399 



dead weig-bt; its remaining in its present quarter, 

 west-north-west, being our only bope of getting in; 

 and to be lying bere witbin a few miles, almost in 

 sigbt, of bome, witbout power to pursue our voyage 

 tbitber, was a probation by no means gratifying. I 

 strove to sbake off tbe feeling, calling to my aid all 

 tbe resources of manbood ; but in vain. I tben 

 attempted to gain some consolation from tbe old 

 gray-beaded seaman, wbo bad for years followed tbe 

 coast in all its windings from Newfoundland to 

 Florida ; but be, like me, was under tbe tbrall of tbe 

 same vague and un definable depression, and in- 

 stead of administering consolation, went off into a 

 narration of bow, time after time, be bad made tbe 

 same ligbt witb a soutberly wind, bove tbe ship to 

 tbrougb tbe nigbt, anticipating a run in during tbe 

 next morning, but at dawn tbe wind came out at 

 nortb-east witb bail and snow, and for weeks notbing 

 could be done but to lay to and sweat it out. Tbis 

 was adding gall to wormwood, and tbe old fellow, 

 perceiving my lugubriousness, slapped me on tbe 

 back, and said, " Cbeer up, my bearty ! we bave 

 weathered man}' a gale together, and, please God, 

 we will make port to-morrow, wben we can laugb at 

 our forebodings of to-nigbt." In tbis state of mental 

 inquietude, at 11 o'clock at nigbt I went below, and 

 with a prayer that the wind sbould favor us at dawn, 

 I threw myself in my berth, hoping to rid myself of 

 tbe solicitude in sleep, but fruitlessly; it was a mere 

 repetition of the afternoon's performance. I rolled, 

 tumbled, and almost worried mvself into a fever; 

 several times I caught a moment's nap, only to be 

 visited by visions in which the voices of home were 



