106 THE SEA. 



so much so that the men on the Royal Sovereign called out, "The admiral's gone down!" 

 She righted again, however, but was terribly disabled. Lord Collingwood said afterwards 

 that the heavy guns were suspended almost vertically, and that " he thought the topsides 

 were actually parting from the lower frame of the ship." Admiral Smyth, in his 

 important physical, hydrographical, and nautical work on the Mediterranean, relates that in 

 1812, when on the Rodney, a new 74-gun ship, she was so torn by the united violence 

 of wind and wave, that the admiral had to send her to England, although sadly in need 

 of ships. He adds, however, that noble as was her appearance on the waters, " she was 

 one of that hastily-built batch of men-of-war sarcastically termed the Forty Thieves /" 



Many are the varieties of winds accompanied by special characteristics met in the 

 Mediterranean, and, indeed, sudden squalls are common enough in all usually calm waters. 

 The writer well remembers such an incident in the beautiful Bay of San Francisco, 

 California. He had, with friends, started in the morning from the gay city of " Frisco " 

 on a deep-sea fishing excursion. The vessel was what is technically known as a " plunger," 

 a strongly-built two-masted boat, with deck and cabins, used in the bay and coast trade 

 of the North Pacific, or for fishing purposes. When the party, consisting of five ladies, four 

 gentlemen, the master and two men, started in the morning, there was scarcely a breath 

 of wind or a ripple on the water, and oars as large as those used on a barge were employed 

 to propel the vessel. 



" The sea was bright, and the bark rode well," 



and at length the desired haven, a sheltered nook, with fine cliffs, seaweed-covered rocks, 

 and deep, clear water, was reached, and a dozen strong lines, with heavy sinkers, put out. 

 The sea was bountiful : in a couple of hours enough fish were caught to furnish a 

 capital lunch for all. A camp was formed on the beach, a large fire of driftwood 

 lighted, and sundry hampers unpacked, from which the necks of bottles had protruded 

 suspiciously. It was an al fresco picnic by the seaside. The sky was blue, the weather 

 was delightful, "and all went merry as a marriage bell." Later, while some wandered to 

 a distance and bathed and swam, others clambered over the hills, among the iiowers 

 and waving wild oats for which the country is celebrated. Then, as evening drew on, 

 preparations were made for a return to the city, and "All aboard" was the signal, for the 

 wind was freshening. All remained on deck, for there was an abundance of overcoats and 

 rugs, and shortly the passing schooners and yachts could hear the strains of minstrelsy from 

 a not altogether incompetent choir, several of the ladies on board being musically inclined. 

 The sea gives rise to thoughts of the sea. The reader may be sure that "The Bay of 

 Biscay," "The Larboard Watch," "The Minute Gun," and "What are the Wild Waves 

 saying?" came among a score of others. Meantime, the wind kept freshening, but all of 

 the number being well accustomed to the sea, heeded it not. Suddenly, in the midst of 

 one of the gayest songs, a squall struck the vessel, and as she was carrying all sail, put 

 her nearly on her beam-ends. So violent was the shock, that most things movable on 

 deck, including the passengers, were thrown or slid to the lower side, many boxes and 

 baskets going overboard. These would have been trifles, but alas, there is something 

 sadder to relate. As one of the men was helping to take in sail, a great sea dashed over 

 the vessel and threw him overboard, and for a few seconds only, his stalwart form was 



