54 Hark Away, 



monotonous it may be, of the waves, as they break 

 upon the rugged shore. 



The following day I am induced to venture on 

 a voyage on board the good ship " Don Quixote," a 

 yawl of repute, being of a burden of eight tons, and 

 warranted a seaworthy craft, that could go the pace 

 before the wind. I admit that no sooner was the 

 anchor weighed than I wished I had not been so 

 venturesome, and began to feel certain qualms — not 

 of conscience — as we bounded over the white-topped 

 waves, and scudded along with " a flowing sheet " 

 — vide Dibdin. Soon, however, these discomforting 

 symptons vanish by the aid of a flask of cognac, 

 Avhich the filial solicitude of him who has assumed 

 the command of this little craft has provided against 

 possible contingencies. Then I begin — albeit no 

 sailor — to take a delight in going at a big wave, and 

 surmounting it, in much the same fashion as I should 

 go at a tall fence, or a stiff" flight of post and rails, in 

 the Shires. There is always a certain amount of 

 pleasure, by the way, in getting over a difficulty. 



A suggestion is next morning made that I should 

 go deep-sea fishing. I like the fancy, and am soon 

 borne over the bosom of the deep blue sea to a spot 

 where we anchor in thirteen fathoms, and cast our 

 baits upon the waters. Scarcely can our lines have 

 touched the ground, ere a tug is felt, and up comes 

 a sea bream of four pounds weight, followed by an- 

 other and another of the same description, occasion- 

 ally two at a time. Next we pull up two or three 

 horse-mackerel, and then follows an exciting inci- 

 dent. The line being taut, it is evident that we 

 have hold of one of the monsters of the deep, at 



