156 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



about us. The captain stood aft, holding on to the 

 weather mainstay, occasionally giving an order to the 

 men at the wheel. From the spread of canvas we had 

 formerly carried we were now reduced to a close-reefed 

 mainsail, foresail, and storm jib. Sometimes the vessel 

 would appear to jump, as she would leave the top of 

 one roller to reach the next. Nobly the gallant craft 

 bore the ordeal, and splendidly did she behave ; still, 

 the cool self-possession of the captain failed to prevent 

 my thinking how much better I should be satisfied to 

 be again standing on terra firma, and although pride 

 prevented my making the confession, I internally 

 registered a vow, that if ever I again placed my foot on 

 land, nothing should again tempt me to trust my safety 

 on board a coaster. 



I fear, however, my vow had no more stability in it 

 than many made by others under similar circumstances. 

 On the coast of China I was on board a vessel which 

 had the misfortune to be caught in a typhoon, and all 

 thought our last hour was not far distant. The person 

 who commanded her was the most profane man it ever 

 was my chance to encounter ; he could not give an order 

 of the most simple nature without qualifying it with 

 an oath. As sea after sea broke over us, and we were 

 in momentary danger of being swamped, I heard him 

 say that if he got out of this fix he'd never use a foul 



