io8 OLD WHALING DAYS. 



waited for daylight. During the night the wind rose, and 

 began to blow with thick snow. All hands were on deck, 

 and several times the ship was close to some breakers. It was 

 a most anxious time for everybody, especially the captain, for 

 we were in an unknown place amongst many sunken rocks. 

 However, Providence guided us, and when daylight 

 appeared, the snow had ceased, although the wind was 

 blowing strong. We found ourselves a few miles from the 

 land, and the captain decided to bear up for home, to the 

 great relief of the whole ship's company. When the ship 

 was headed to the eastward, a line of breakers was seen 

 ahead. She was hauled to the northward for a short time, 

 and that was the last view we took of Nugumut. We had 

 a stormy passage until the Butt of Lewis was sighted, and 

 then followed a few fine days, which enabled me to be 

 removed on deck for a short time each day. It gave me great 

 pleasure to be once more on deck and look around, after 

 being cramped in a close berth such a long time. 



In those days the accommodation was very poor compared 

 with the present time. The furniture consisted of a table 

 in the centre of the small cabin, the transome forming the 

 after seat. The captain's chest was the starboard seat, 

 the mate's on the port. Such were the cqmforts of our 

 cabin. The sleeping berths were very small, so that only 

 one person could dress at a time, every available space 

 being taken up for stores, etc. 



When we reached the North Sea the weather was very 

 cold and damp, and being too venturesome I caught a 

 severe cold that affected my lungs, which had been very 

 much contused by the stroke from the whale's tail. On 

 arriving home I was shocked to find my dear mother had 

 died about six months previously, which was a great grief to 

 me in my weak state. I was carefully nursed, and had the 

 best medical advice. I slowly recovered, and by the middle 

 of January was able to walk out. My medical advisers 



