362 FACTS AND INFERENCES, GRAVE AND GAY. 



The shock made her lurch so to leeward that an immense 

 surge came right over the lee gunwale, unceremoniously 

 meeting the secretary in the face, and washing the afore- 

 said Jack off his legs. Meanwhile there was a corre- 

 sponding row below. For ourself, knowing that we could. 

 in no way alter or amend the state of matters either by 

 speech or action, we continued in a state of complacent, 

 or at least uncomplaining repose. But an acquaintance 

 in the after-cabin, connected with the Fishery service, be- 

 came alarmed by the concussions which were taking place 

 around. Fie was just about to spring from his berth, 

 when unfortunately a large bag of potatoes, which had 

 been somewhat hastily stowed away in his too near neigh- 

 bourhood, suddenly opened its mouth, and after gaping 

 at him for a couple of seconds, discharged its entire con- 

 tents with angry violence on his unoffending person. 

 However, he extricated himself with inconceivable rapidity, 

 and made his appearance in dishabille to inquire into the 

 cause of such contentious doings. 



" He tax'd not you, ye elements, with unkindness ; 

 He never gave yon kingdoms, called ye daughters ; " 



but he thought that Jack ought to have turned the key of 

 the potato store. We ourselves, inhabiting the main-cabin, 

 escaped with a bottle of ink upon the bedclothes, while 

 Mackenzie's Charts, an excellent work in three volumes 

 elephant folio, flew across the cabin like so many butter- 



