220 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



at the helm, I took the precaution to pass a lashing round my waist ; 

 a very necessary one it proved indeed, as a few minutes later a big wave 

 soused me from head to foot, and, but for the lashing, would inevita- 

 bly have carried me over the taffrail. We were four long hours 

 working our course to windward, which, in fine weather, had often 

 been performed in less than half that time ; consequently it was get- 

 ting dusk before we weathered our point at the entrance to the har- 

 bour. Every rope had remained true to its berth during the whole 

 struggle with wind and waves, although the severest strain had been 

 put upon them ; and so far fortunately, for had any of our principal ropes 

 been unequal to the strain, and given way, I could not have answered 

 for the consequences in such a gale and heavy sea. Several large 

 vessels were observed running for shelter in the harbour ; and whilst 

 rounding the point, a fine schooner, with loss of foretopmast, passed 

 us, as she was also making for a place of refuge. Her crew gave us 

 a hearty cheer, which was warmly responded to with our small united 

 efforts. One reef was now shaken out of our mainsail, and we ran 

 to leeward through the harbour at a rapid rate ; it was quite 

 dark before we came to anchor, after as dangerous a pitch-and-tumble 

 cruise in a winter's gale at sea as I ever experienced : as to my 

 friend, who had been lashed to the bulwarks in the waist of the 

 yacht, he seemed more dead than alive ; and, notwithstanding the 

 pleasure the sport afforded him in the morning, about which he had 

 been quite in ecstacy, he now thought far less of its attractions after 

 a taste of its disagreeables. Thus terminated a very trying adven- 

 ture, after as good a day's sport with the stanchion-gun as I have 

 ever had the pleasure to enjoy. 



<c Well may we pause to-day ! may Fortune smile 

 As loudly on each fowler's gen'rous toils 

 As she has done on ours !" 



The narrative above recorded is but a true picture of what the 

 wild-fowler must sometimes expect if he follows up, energetically, the 

 pursuit of wild-fowl shooting at sea. 



