A RAPID DESCENT. 283 



Having come to this conclusion, on examining the 

 local papers, I found that the good schooner Alert, 

 registered A 1, would sail on the morrow for the Straits 

 of Belle Isle, to collect salt fish from the coast, 

 weather permitting; so without delay I hastened to 

 the designated wharf to examine the craft and strike a 

 hargain with the skipper. The captain was below, in 

 the cabin, one of the deck hands informed me, as I 

 passed the gangway, indicating the position of the 

 companion-ladder with a jerk of his finger over the 

 left shoulder. On getting at the bottom of that most 

 inconvenient piece of mechanism in eveiy small craft, 

 a little faster than expected, having slipped niy foot 

 on the second or third step, and slid the rest of 

 the way to the bottom, only saving my neck by the 

 hold I had of the banisters, and making a tre- 

 mendous racket by my rapid descent, I was saluted 

 with, "Jock, you careless lubber, can't you mind 

 your feet ? This is the second time you have made 

 that infernal clatter this day ! " And what more 

 would have come I know not, for I interrupted the 

 speaker in his invective by knocking with considerable 

 energy at the door which appeared to stand between 

 us. On being desired to enter, I turned the handle, 

 when Captain MacGregor was presented to my view, 

 lathered all over, and in the act of giving the finishing 

 touch 011 the strap to his razor. He was a big man, 

 powerful, raw-boned, but kindly-looking, and with great 

 courtesy he apologised for his undress and the rough 

 salute he had given me. The companion-ladder he 

 condemned in 110 measured terms, but at the same 

 time he could make no allowance for a young callant 

 like Jock being not spry enough with his feet to keep 



