TOUR IN THE WESTERN ISLES. 95 



any part of it, his fancy might, ten to one, have never 

 conjured up such a collection of agreeable traits as 

 conspired to illuminate our debut upon the sea. This 

 you'll think mighty romantic for one who at that 

 moment was sitting aloft with a pint tumbler of 

 claret in one hand and a sea-biscuit in t'other ; but 

 true it is and of verity we were all sympathetically 

 struck. As we got down towards Govan, and the 

 Channel, I went to deck; and after viewing the lumin- 

 ous track of the ship's wake, sometimes from deck, 

 sometimes in the boat hoisted for me, I retired to the 

 cabin, where we supped in perfect harmony. I took 

 a last walk, and then slept for an hour aloft : this put 

 me in mind of bed, so to bed I went. Turn the leaf, 

 and you'll find fortune beforehand with you. 



"At four in the morning I awoke, and found the 

 vessel rolling and pitching, the wind blowing, the 

 captain swearing, and the sailors, as is usual, all 

 abroad. Force brought them to their posts, and fear, 

 more than shame, kept them at work. "We were 

 making for the Mull of Cantire, the doubling of 

 which is more dreaded than twenty West India 

 voyages. This I knew, and had prepared for, keep- 

 ing myself quiet and easy, by stripping naked in 

 my berth, and taking towels, &c., to bed with me. 

 By nine the storm increased. I seemed destined, 

 within twenty-four hours, to experience every dif- 

 ferent feeling. Now all was confusion and bustle : 

 the captain alone was calm as I am at present. I 

 heard his orders in the wind : as things blackened 



