"HOLYSTONING" THE DECK. 179 



October 20th. Wind still fiercer. At five o'clock this morning 

 there was a slight lull, and I was nicely asleep, when the men must 

 needs holystone the deck just over my head. The noise beats the 

 shunting all to fits. 



We were living near a railway terminus just at this 

 time, and the goods traffic was carried on principally 

 during the small hours of the morning: hence the 

 allusion. 



Holystones look like gigantic Bath bricks fixed at the ends of 

 broom-handles. First, the deck is sluiced, and while it is wet brick 

 powder is scattered over it, and two men run the holystone up and 

 down, making a noise much like the escape steam of a locomotive. 

 This went on until seven, when I had had enough of it, and got up. I 

 mean to turn in early to-night, for the noises on boai'd a steamer are 

 much the same at all hours, and nothing is to be gained by waiting. 



This morning the waves were so huge that, when I stood at the 

 stem, they rose above my head like mountains of blue glass. The 

 wind veered northward about mid-day, so that some sails were got 

 up, and we are much steadier. Since noon yesterday we have run 

 234 miles, and hope to do better by the same time to-morrow, as the 

 wind is not directly ahead. Please remember that the vessel is pitch- 

 ing some thirty feet, rolling about ten feet, and throbbing all over 

 with the engines, so that my writing can't be expected to be very 

 good. Nothing eventful occurred to-day, except that we shipped a 

 sea which swept over the upper deck, evoking great screams from 

 the emigrants on the lower deck, and the ladies on the upper deck. I 

 was at dinner at the time, and saw the great wave climb over all the 

 ports in the most leisurely manner. 



The captain asked if I would preach to-morrow morning. So I 

 said that I would give an unconventional discourse, and pleased him 

 much by offering to do the same in the evening. 



October 21st. Everyone delighted with morning and evening, 



and requests all round for repetition. This morning the wind lulled 



partially. One of the stewardesses told me that she had not been to 



bed since we started, i.e., for four consecutive days. One lady has 



M 2 



