CHAPTER X. 



LEAVING the schooner at five o'clock in the morning, an 

 otter was at once sighted and gave us an exciting chase for 

 over an hour, when, as usual, a dense fog rolled up and 

 under cover of this he made his escape. Our want of luck 

 Was very discouraging, nor was it compensated by any 

 success during the day. Several otters were seen, but none 

 secured, for the lumpy sea and saturated atmosphere made 

 good shooting very difficult. The risk of shooting each other 

 also was very great ; so, after several rather narrow "shaves " 

 from bullets uncomfortably close, we gave it up and 

 returned to the schooner. That evening we completed our 

 cargo of wood and water a great advantage, as we were 

 now independent of an anchorage. At eight it was blowing 

 a gale, but under lee of the low-lying point we lay in 

 -comparative quiet, and slept soundly after our exertions, 

 'unmindful of the wind that alternately howled and shrieked 

 through the rigging. Next day no change in the weather, 

 or prospect of it, so the men were sent on shore to wash 

 clothes, while I fished. At three the fog cleared off, 

 and having caught fifty-seven small trout out of one pool we 

 returned to the schooner and got under way. With all sail 

 set and a steady breeze, we soon tacked out of the bay. 

 But no further progress was to be made that day, for 

 the wind dropped, to give place to fog again, this time 

 accompanied with a fine wetting rain ; and we were once 

 more reduced to helplessness. We anchored at midnight, 

 after as nearly as possible going ashore while making short 

 tacks under the influence of fitful breezes. Whether we 

 were out of the bay or inside it, we knew not ; in fact, the 



