CHAPTER XXI 



From Clare Island to Inishturk on a stormy Sea Doing an over- 

 land Journey in state Captain Darby Green 



DURING the night preceding the morning we had 

 chosen to leave Clare Island for Inishturk the wind 

 changed and freshened so much that I was glad we 

 had decided on one of the larger fishing boats for 

 the journey. 



Edward O'Malley, Hugh Kill and the boy, all 

 good sailors, had readily consented to forego their 

 fishing for what they anticipated would be a pleasant 

 sail, but when we met them at the jetty in the 

 morning O'Malley inclined his head sideways to- 

 wards me and said : " Bit fresh, sorr." Owners 

 of other boats came down, looked seawards, and, 

 having apparently satisfied themselves, turned back, 

 took a glance at their craft, dug their hands deeper 

 into their trousers pockets and marched off home. 



We started with a reef or two in the sails but, 

 before we had been out long or made much progress, 

 more were taken in and, soon after that, a sail 

 was furled. The men took a peep at us to see how 

 we were faring or possibly to gather from our looks 

 if we had thoughts of turning back. If this was the 

 question they desired to ask it was answered by our 

 rising and helping each other into oilskins to protect 

 ourselves from the increasing spray. 



It was certainly a wet journey and the outlook as 



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