A PLEASANT DAY AT SEA. 297 



true subject of his queen and country, which made me the 

 more appreciate him. Next morning we got to sea with a 

 fair wind, and every prospect of a short run; the schooner 

 was a remarkably fast sailer, built after the model 

 of one of our modern yachts, low and close to the 

 water; with plenty of beam, and long, tapering, rakish 

 spars. 



Her decks were without hamper, and showed from their 

 whiteness that holystone was not spared ; while the crew, 

 which consisted of six men, the redoubtable Jock, and a 

 sturdy nigger, were as efficient, clean, and smart as could 

 well have been found. The captain took a great deal of 

 pleasure in his craft, and handled her as none but a man 

 of experience could ; besides, he was half owner, and this 

 made him have an interest in all the details that one 

 employed by the month or cruise would be unlikely to 

 possess. In talking to the skipper, reading, and looking 

 over my tackle, the day passed rapidly, and as night closed 

 in and the breeze lessened, I concluded that I had seldom 

 passed a pleasanter day. 



After supper, MacGregor produced his rods and fly- 

 book for my inspection, and a long and careful examina- 

 tion we had of these common subjects of interest. His 

 rods were remarkably heavy, longer than I should deem 

 necessary, while his flies were coarsely tied, although the 

 colouring was all that could be desired. If one had been 

 dismembered, I have little doubt, from the dubbing and 

 feathers of which it was composed, three, or at least two, 

 of my treasures could have been fabricated. Of course, I 

 soon produced my tools, to all of which he gave an 



