184 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



and settled into a deep calm ; and we found we were in the 

 grip of the current which, flowing through the Tsugaru 

 Straits at about four or five miles an hour, was gradually 

 drifting us out to sea and away from our destination. 



While Snow and the skipper went below for a much- 

 needed rest, Baker and I sewed up the jib, set it, and, 

 rigging a main staysail in the place of the tattered foresail, 

 a few ribbands of which only remained to remind us of the 

 night so lately passed, we strove to take advantage of 

 every air that offered to hold our own against the adverse 

 current. 



During the day we drifted by the wreck of one of the 

 large junks which we had passed the preceding night, 

 crowded with her happy family of passengers and crew. 



Her great bulk, surmounted by the huge square sail, 

 which had towered above the quiet waters so short a time 

 before, had all disappeared before the fury of the typhoon. 

 The high-peaked stern and all her upper works had 

 vanished, and only the lofty prow and a few rugged 

 timbers rose above the surface of the now placid sea. The 

 scorching sun shone pitilessly down upon the saddest 

 scene of a sailor's life. A gentle swell raised and lowered 

 the poor bruised timbers in rhythmic motion and mute 

 protest to the great Sun God who, hiding his face in the 

 black darkness of the night, had let loose the cruel wind 

 dogs of havoc and destruction. Not all his smiles or 

 glinting rays reflected from the wet timbers, so untimely 

 shattered, could warm them into shape, or bring back the 

 flush of life to the merry little faces which but a few hours 

 before had turned admiring eyes and uplifted hearts as 

 the great Sun God sank beneath the waters in his golden 

 setting Verily the gods have strange and unaccountable 

 ways of manifesting their divine attributes to poor suffering 

 humanity. One could not help thinking that the chastening 

 process had better fallen upon ourselves, with our ruder 

 speech and rougher manners, than upon the gentle little 

 daughters of the Rising Sun. 



