FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK, 183 



you see a bad one* coming, and let her take it stern to." I had scarcely- 

 seated myself on the weather side of- the forecastle table, with a piece of 

 bread in one hand and a mug of tea in the other, when the vessel was 

 thrown completely on her beam ends. Dropping whatever I held, I sprang 

 for the companion-way the instant I felt her going over. But the water, 

 rushing over the top of the companion doors, met me as I gained the top 

 of the steps, and as the vessel was at that time lying flat on her side, the 

 prospect of her righting again before she filled looked rather dubious. 

 There was a strong probability, too, that the man at the wheel had been 

 washed overboard, or injured, and if such was the case the vessel (should 

 she right) would be in danger of broaching to and having another sea 

 sweep over her. Fortunately, as in the morning, she soon straightened up 

 again, and I jumped out on deck and ran for the wheel. By the time I 

 reached the main hatch, though it took scarcely an instant, the wind struck 

 into the sails, and the vessel, starting ahead with a rush, drew herself out 

 from beneath the water under which she was buried from the mainmast aft, 

 and which went dashing and splashing out over the stern and both rails as 

 our " old boat" onc.e more rose buoyant on top of the waves. So far under 

 water had the stern been that the wheelsman — a six footer — was entirely 

 submerged when the vessel righted, though he stood on his feet, still retain- 

 ing his grip of the wheel ; the men in the cabin were nearly smothered by 

 steam and gas which was driven from the cabin stove by a stream of water 

 which ran down the stove pipe on to the burning coal. Barefooted, bare- 

 headed, and panting for breath, they were glad enough to get out on top of 

 the house where they might get the fresh air. 



Although we had met with little or no damage, from being sprawled out 

 twice, it was, nevertheless, a little more than we had advertised for, so We 

 hove to for a few hours until the moon rose, when, the sea having gone 

 down somewhat, we started again on the home stretch. 



" Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," it has been well said, and the 

 foregoing will show that the success and safety of the winter fisherman de- 

 mands almost as great watchfulness and circumspection, since the incidents 

 mentioned above are only two of hundreds that might be related. 



*A sharp and heavy cross sea, which would be likely to break aboard and sweep the deck, 

 if nothing worse happened. 



