266 Reminiscences of 



sert me, although he could have taken a route for shore 

 with comparative ease. At times he would be out of 

 sight, and apparently engulfed by the waves, giving me 

 much anxiety ; but he bobbed up serene after the first 

 severity was over, but could gain no footing with me 

 for some time, as my boat gave me a treadmill step, and 

 it was with some difficulty that I could keep aboard of 

 her against the wind and waves. Lying flat upon her 

 side, and her stern higher than the bow, held down by 

 the way-forward mast and sail, flat upon the water, the 

 wind would bring around the stern, until the wind 

 would catch in the sail, which, lifting and filling would 

 turn the boat over on its opposite side. In this pleas- 

 ant manoeuvre the boat, water-logged, would sink 

 bodily a few feet under water as the mast came up, 

 falling flat on the opposite side, so I had nothing to do 

 but keep step, and clear of the ropes, and wonder 

 how long the play would continue. For a dozen times 

 this continued, when, the squall abating, I had a com- 

 fortable resting-place on the side of the boat with my 

 lovely Paris by my side. 



The wind died away, and the sun came out bright 

 and clear with many apologies for its previous disap- 

 pearance. But dear Paris could not enjoy his pipe as 

 I did, for he had never cultivated the habit. I had 

 taken pains at the first outset, when I saw I was in for 

 it, to tuck my pipe and water-proof pouch and match- 

 box down inside under my collar, and buttoned up my 

 rubber coat at the neck, so that my tobacco was dry. 

 My rubber coat would have been blown off me if 

 I had not tied it closely around my waist with a 

 small rope I had in my pocket, after losing the lower 

 buttons, I would have^ lost them all but for the rope. 



