HUNTING THE S-EA OTTER. i 79 



a severe blow, evidently by one of these small whales, 

 which made the vessel quiver ; nor were we sorry that the 

 experience was not repeated. 



With light airs and variable for the next two days, we 

 sighted Cape Yerimo in the evening and were abreast of it 

 next morning, air still very light. There is an ancient 

 marine story that tells how Polly of Portsmouth, cursing her 

 defaulting lover, and praying that his approaching voyage 

 should be one of continuous storm and tempest, was cor- 

 rected by the old and more experienced bumboat woman. 

 " Nay, nay, my lass, wish him light winds and variable." 

 And she was right, for when the ship is "laid to" in a storm 

 Jack may go below and sleep; but with light and variable 

 winds his work, pulling and hauling on braces and sheets, 

 is as exhausting as it is unending. 



Cape Yerimo ends in a reef of giant boulders and pin- 

 nacled rocks, on some of which houses are built, stretching 

 about a couple of miles from the shore. For about eight or 

 ten miles inland the land is comparatively low, backed 

 by mountains according to the chart some 3500 feet in 

 height while these, again, were in turn overshadowed by 

 a range considerably higher. 



We sailed slowly past two large junks laden with 

 passengers, amongst whom we saw many gaily dressed 

 women and children, and across the quiet water floated the 

 well-remembered strains of a shamisen or kota. 



Alas ! gentlest and merriest of all womenkind, with their 

 beautiful manners, exquisite politeness, and kindly little 

 hearts, who would rather step aside than tread upon a 

 worm, how little did they know that life's last sunset 

 had been passed ! 



The setting sun was gilding the quiet waters with 

 crimson and gold, the sky a deep blue and cloudless, 

 and the gentle air, freshening somewhat, scarce ruffled 

 the surface of the sea. 



But, unknown to us all, the great storm fiend, the dreaded 

 typhoon, already brooding over us, was gathering together 



