80 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



had come over from Cottage City the night before 

 for the express purpose of having a day with the 

 mackerel we concluded to try it notwithstanding 

 the weather. Dr. G. had brought along his boy of 

 twelve, and as we sailed down the quiet water of 

 the bay that boy was simply bubbling over with 

 happiness. The lad besought his father to make 

 an arrangement with the captain whereby he should 

 spend at least a month on this boat the following 

 summer. The captain seemed willing, and as we 

 crossed the bar the boy was exulting in the assur- 

 ance of long days of perfect bliss only one year 

 ahead. The wind was blowing fresh from the 

 north-west and as soon as we were out from under 

 the shelter of the land the boat began to curvet and 

 jump and roll and quick-step just as any respect- 

 able boat is bound to do under such circumstances. 

 In less time than it takes to write this down the 

 joy of life had departed for that lad and he was 

 carefully laid away. The lone layman of the party 

 was a close second, and, losing all interest in mack- 

 erel, he stretched himself out on deck. The Pro- 

 fessor followed suit, and Dr. G., after a heroic 

 struggle, proceeded to part company not only with 

 one breakfast, but, seemingly, with a dozen or 

 more. The captain, who was an interested spec- 

 tator of the process, murmured to the writer, 

 " Holy mackerel ! What an eater that man must 

 be." All day we rolled and pitched, w r ith three of 

 the party groaning to be put on shore. We caught 



