136 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



A Night in Boston Bay. 



BY JACOB S. LORD. 



" Yes f \ve had a rougii nig-Tit, you may Ijclicvc, Uucle IMoore ; ^ 

 Tlius spoke a young fisherman, as lie stepped on the shore; 



" TV'c ran off yestenlay noon to set our trawl, 

 Thinking to Ixi home long ere nightfall ; 

 But the wind stniek nor'west and did heavily blow, 

 Accompimied with squalls of rain, sleet and snow. 

 We three-reefed our mainsail, expectrng a lianl beat, 

 Fron) orn- jib took the bonnet, and trinumd liowii the sheet; 

 We double-reefed the foi-esail and rolled it up snug. 

 Well knowing jib and mainsail were ail she eonld lug; 

 The dories were laslied down, secure and eompaet. 

 Then we gave her a good full, down helm and tacked. 

 Though the sea was running heavy sIk; did not misstay. 

 And soon we were close hauled, standing up Boston Bay. 

 It was fast gi-owing cold, with the wind still increasing; 

 But our twenty-ton boat was steadily forcreacliing; 

 Quite fast made the fee from spray that she'd hea^-e 

 As through the turbulent watei-s her way she would cleave. 

 The man at t?ie wheel, and the lookout as well. 

 Every half hour were given a spell ; 

 For those who've lx»at up in a Winter^s nor'west breeze 

 Know full well how quickly tlie helmsman will freeze. 

 So the night wore away till pa-^t four o'clcx'k, 

 "Wlieu luider the lee we made llalf-Way Kock. 

 The water now smooth, our position made clear, 

 We gave her the foresail — ott'she went like a deer. 

 For Norniiin's Woe Kock we now shaped our coui-se, 

 The wind Ix'ing more westerly and lighter in force ; 

 In due season we heard the deej) sullen ii>ar 

 Of the scras as they broke on the Ma,^ni(>lia shore; 

 A few minutes later, as thi-ough the water we plough. 

 The rock shows itself upon the i)ort how. 

 Our hearts were made light as out of dangt>r we passed. 

 At least for the present, and were near hanu^ at last. 

 Passing Ten Pound Island, we shockt into the cove. 

 And do\Mi goes tlu' anchor of tlie W. II. (iove. 

 Bight i>roud an' we of llie staunch little lx)at. 

 Which tliiiMigh so tcrrihle a night kept us safely afloat. 

 lA't those wlio cat fish and gi\>wl at the price, 

 Take a ti'ii) offshoii', sliovcl snow and i>ound ice; 

 On<' good sliiiking uj) in old Hoston Hay, 

 And they'll ne'er more lind fault with tislicrmcu's iiay." 



