336 WHALING AND FISHING 



" I think we won't try that any more. Greatei 

 perfection is not desirable," said he, as he gath- 

 ered up his ammunition and retired to the cabin. 



I will confess to being exceedingly rejoiced at 

 his determination. It was by no means pleasant 

 to stand still and be in this manner indirectly 

 shot at. 



Hard work, poor provisions (and a very small 

 allowance at that), and two quarts of water per 

 day to drink and cook with, with officers that 

 were brutes, and a vessel in the last stage of decay 

 all these things make a sailor's life the reverse 

 of pleasant. And so we did not even enjoy as one 

 ought the glorious region of the South-east Trades: 

 those purer skies and brighter stars, bluer waves 

 and softer breezes, which he who has once experi- 

 enced will certainly never forget, nor ever think 

 on without longing for their return. 



On these followed the tedious and exhausting 

 calms of the equator. Then, after weeks of idle 

 drifting about at the mercy of every chance cur- 

 rent and catspaw, came the re-invigorating North- 

 east Trades. And finally, the lowering heavens 

 and gloomy sea of the English Channel. By this 

 time we had only three men fit for duty. Even 

 Paddy had at length succumbed to ill treatment, 

 and now lay despairing in his berth, little caring 

 for the diurnal threats of the captain, that he 

 would hoist him on deck with a tackle. 



The last actual torture which this poor fellow 

 suffered, frightened him into a sickness. Having 



