286 WHALING AND PISHING. 



thing, alow and aloft: all these tended to mak 

 her the delight of a true seaman, proving, as they 

 did, that she was a clipper in every sense of the 

 word. 



She came into port on the same day with ua, 

 *ind as she easily glided past us, with a light 

 breeze, all hands congregated on our deck to look 

 at and admire her. I think I never saw so perfect 

 a little craft, or one so consistently rigged and 

 fitted throughout. To my rather matter of fact 

 spirit, it had always seemed an ahsurdity to love 

 a vessel. But this time I was forced myself to 

 entertain the feeling. She was a heauty, and as 1 

 stood in silence examining her matchless hull, no 

 line or curve of which, but was artistically true, 

 I owned, with an inward smile, that this was 

 really a case of "love at first sight." 



" That's the vessel I am going in next voyage," 

 said I to one of the other sea-connies, 



" You'd better keep out of her. Her captain is 

 the meanest Scotchman that ever lived. And 

 moreover the mate is his brother. The man that 

 ships in her will smell brimstone, I can assure 

 you." 



"Brimstone or no brimstone," thought I, "that's 

 iny ship, if I can prevail on the captain to carry 

 me" 



On farther inquiry I learnt that the Annie's 

 Captain was indeed a tyrant, and that the little 

 beauty never carried the same crew two voyages- 



