AT DAWN. 361 



starts up from a reclining posture on die com- 

 panion hatch. 



" How many mackerel did you get to day ? " 



" About twenty wash-barrels, mostly large." 



" Did the fleet do anything ? " 



" Some of them lay still a good while, and 

 ^uess had pretty good fishing." 



Here some of our crew mutter out a weak im- 

 precation upon the weather, which has prevented 

 us from joining the fleet before. Our friend hails 

 us 



" Are you just from home ? " 



"Yes; all well there." And the faint sound of 

 the waves as they surge under his bows tells us 

 that we are too wide apart for speaking purpose?. 



Standing a little farther on, into the thickest of 

 the fleet, we too, about nine o'clock, hauled down 

 our mainsail and jibs, and leaving one man on 

 deck as a look-out, went below to prepare by a 

 sound sleep for the labors of the morrow. 



At early dawn we turned out to make sail. 

 Although yet too dark to distinguish the numer- 

 ous fleet in whose midst we had taken our place, 

 our ears were saluted on all sides by the rattle of 

 ropes, the creak of blocks, and the rustling of can- 

 vas and we were conscious that ten thousand men 

 jrere actively employed around us, at the same 

 moment, in the same work, and preparing for 

 similar duties and labors. 



As the day breaks, a grand spectacle bursts upon 

 our view. The sky is clear, and' the sun, as he 



