88 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



I was witness, while the steward and crew, who had 

 previously decorated the cabin with bunting, together 

 with one or two Livyeres from the creek, were con- 

 gregation. After all was over, hard biscuits and 

 tea were served, in lieu of a wedding breakfast, 

 while the occasion was honoured from a few old 

 fowling-pieces and by a couple of dynamite distress 

 rockets on the Albert's deck. Altogether, we visited 

 in the Alfred and the Albert some thirty-five har- 

 bours, exertions which so told on the Alfred's con- 

 stitution that now she is taking her last rest at 

 Great Yarmouth. 



Our dingey also upset in Domino Run, when en- 

 deavouring to get ashore ; an accident which proved 

 nearly fatal to the ship's carpenter, for he happened 

 to come up under the sail, and was unable to 

 swim. Happily it only ended in an undignified 

 rescue. A more serious accident happened to the 

 Albert's winch, for in Winsor Harbour, while let- 

 ting go the anchor, a catch got wrong and stripped 

 off all the teeth of the cog-wheels. After this we 

 were unable to get our anchor in, except with the 

 help of a great many men, for it was impossible to 

 replace the cog-wheel on the Labrador. It was quite 

 a sight on leaving harbours to see often fifty men, 

 who had come off voluntarily, " walking in " the 

 anchor by means of a system of pulleys, each as he 

 came to the stern of the ship trotting back to catch 

 hold of the rope again near the bow, a continuous 

 chain of men being thus maintained, and all singing, 



