YACSTIlS-^. 15() 



— I knows de Triton, and I knows she karn't npset — 'taint possa- 

 ble — 'cause Sampson wont let her. Why, Sampson karn't 'ford 

 ter have 'er upset — 'twould ruin him. I couldn't live. No; I 

 keeps watch all der time; I keeps my eye on 'er; I doesn't 'pend 

 on luffin' 'er up alone, but yer see — with one hand on her tiller, 

 I hold the main-sheet in t'other hand on a bite, so I ken instantly 

 shake der wind all out of 'er main-sail if I seed it coming nor 

 furrer den dat house. And if I 'spects der wind any, I makes 

 one man hold 'er jib sheet on a flying turn — 'cause e'en if I emp- 

 ties 'er main-sheet, der wind in der jib mite upset her — no sah! 

 I tells yer der Triton can't upset — 'cause Sampson wont let 'er. 

 But I 'spects yer opinion, an' 'twont do no harm to take der small 

 boat along — but no sah! she karnt upset." 



And Caj^t. Charley Mitchell, (now, we regret to say, deceased,) 

 between whom and Sampson a friendly rivalry formerly existed, 

 upon another occasion expressed equal confidence in the Frolic, 

 (a center-board yacht which he sailed,) and in his ability to avoid 

 serious accidents while prosecuting his vocation in water around 

 the island of New Providence. "Why," said he, ''nows'jDOse 

 Mr. I., ye're way oif heah, ever so far from yer home, with only 

 a hundred dollars in yer pocket — wouldn't you be karful of deni 

 hundred dollars? Wouldn't yer mind and study how yer spend 

 'em? Well, now, der Frolic is for Mitchell dem hundred dollars. 

 No, sah! Mitchell isn't gwine to lose his boat, 'cause he'd starve. '* 



It is pleasant at times, notwithstanding some increase of dan- 

 ger, to sail outside the natural breakwaters of the harbor of Nas- 

 sau, and cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with an ocean 

 which has and requires great continents to restrain and confine 

 it when tossed and maddened by the tempests, or when stirred 

 to its profoundest depths by the hurricane. A little peril adds 

 an agreeable condiment to prosaic life, and breaks a monotony 

 which finally becomes oppressive even in an atmosphere that 



