24 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



the mainsail. This done, I go below for the night, giving the usual order 

 to "call me if there is any change in the force or direction of the wind." 



Thus ends the first day out ; and never, perhaps, were words written 

 which so fitly describe the situation of the outward bound fisherman as those 

 of Byron, when he says : 



" Once more upon the waters ; yet once more, 



And the waves beneath me as a steed 

 That knows his rider. Welcome to their roar ! 



Swift be their guidance wheresoe'er it lead ; 



Though the strained mast should quiver as a reed, 



Still must I on : for I am as a weed 

 Flung from the rock, on ocean's foam to sail 

 "Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail." 



RUNNING FOR THE BANK IN A GALE. 



Sunday, January 26th, 1879.— This ^^Y began with a strong breeze, west- 

 nor'west, and the barometer, which was on 29.15, indicated still more wind. 

 The night (or early morning) was intensely dark, and having previously 

 taken in and furled the mainsail and gaff-topsail, we double-reefed the fore- 

 sail at 1.20 A. M., and took the bonnet out of the jib. At this time the wind 

 was increasing rapidly, blowing in sharp puffs, and hauling to N. N. E., 

 while it grew cold very fast, causing the flying spray to soon congeal into 

 ice on the rigging and such portions of the hull as were not too much under 

 water. At 4.3d A. M. the wind had freshened to a gale, and the sea ran 

 sharp and high, causing our vessel, which was running with the wind abeam, 

 to occasionally take a heavy lurch to leeward. Fearing the dories might be 

 injured if we continued on our course, we furled the jib and hove to under 

 the reefed foresail until 7 o'clock in the morning, at which time we kept off 

 again, the wind in the interim having changed to N. N. W., which was fair 

 for us, though it was still blowing hard.* It was intensely cold all the 

 morning and ice made rapidly on deck and about the rigging. Notwith- 

 standing this, however, we set the jib and riding-sail soon after breakfast, 

 and a half hour later saw a vessel at anchor ahead, which, as we approached 

 nearer, we knew was the Everett Steele. There was no one to be seen on 

 her deck, and as we passed close to her stern our men, most of whom had 

 gathered aft on the quarter, joined in a general shout. This had the desired 

 effect, and four or five of the Steele's crew rushed up, bare-headed and 

 stocking-footed, to be greeted by the laughter of our fellows as we went 

 dashing by. At 10 o'clock, A. M., we passed a brig, which was lying to 



*The schooner Howard, of Gloucester, was knocked down and came near being lost in 

 this gale ; the Thresher, of the same port, also had her deck swept, and it is believed by 

 many that the Gwendolen, which was also bound to the Banks, went down the same day, 

 since she was never seen afterwards. 



