STEERING A CLIPPER. 291 



obliged to get out and carefully crowd myself in 

 on the other. 



"That comes of going in a clipper," remarked 

 one who was as unfortunate as myself in his 

 sleeping place. 



The first day on board was passed in idleness. 

 After washing the deck, we were told there was 

 nothing more to do. So I sat down to a book, 

 while my shipmates played cards, smoked, and 

 talked over old times. They were a tolerably 

 hard set; and I thought, not without satisfaction, 

 that our officers would gain but very little by any 

 but the most civil conduct toward us. 



At daylight on the following morning, we cast 

 loose from our moorings, and dropped down the 

 harbor. Once clear of the shipping, all sail was 

 set, and we glided quickly seaward. 



"Send Yankee Charley aft, to the wheel I'' 

 shouted the skipper. 



I proceeded aft. 



" Keep her straight. She steers like a boat ; and 

 I count half a quarter of point a good bit out of 

 the way. If you watch her closely, she need not 

 go off her course at all." 



Now a quarter of a point off, or to, is consid- 

 ered pretty good steering in most vessels. So 

 that this narrowing down to half a quarter was by 

 by no means comfortable. Nevertheless, as 1 

 was always counted a good helmsman, I cared lit- 

 tle for, what the skipper said content to rest up. 

 on laurels already won in that line. 



