16 



THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



but an accident to our compass caused the captain to change 

 the course. 



The first days out were not crowded with incident, as is 

 but natural on the ocean. The air was so balmy and the 

 water so smooth that there was but little seasickness, though 

 here and there men were stretched on steamer-chairs look- 

 ing with jaun- 



" " diced eyes upon 



the wrinkled sea. 

 Most of the 

 huntsmen, with a 

 restless energy, 

 kept up for sev- 

 eral days a con- 

 tinual rifle 

 practice, and 

 shot at any shin- 

 ing mark that 

 offered. Our 

 deck, bristling 

 with polished 

 gun - barrels, re- 

 sembled that of 

 a pirate ship. 



On July 9 

 several whales ap- 

 peared and broke 

 the monotony of 

 the watery ex- 

 panse. Many of 

 them rose so close 

 to the ship as 

 to become targets for the sharpshooters, and a chorus of 

 volleys saluted their advent, seemingly to the satisfaction 



HENRY COLLINS WALSH 



